Naraku met Kakashi's gaze, showing no unusual expression on his face, but his mind was still racing.
--What's wrong with me?
--Am I... regretting something?
--Regretting what?
After the Matsukata mission, Naraku realized he was too deeply involved and couldn't let Sakumo and Kakashi follow their original paths, wanting to try and change destiny.
So, was he regretting not being able to save Sakumo?
Although he tried his best, sacrificing many years of his life only barely saved half of Sakumo's life, but at least he could wake up someday, couldn't he?
He also wouldn't let Sakumo weaken because of this. On the day he woke up, Sakumo would definitely be stronger than before.
So, was he regretting not being able to protect Kakashi?
Back then, Black Zetsu wanted to force him to activate his Mangekyo and chose to target Kakashi. He was indeed furious, wishing he could immediately chop this black mud into pieces and feed it to dogs.
But to protect Kakashi from further harm, he had already given Black Zetsu exactly what he wanted, and used himself as bait, gaining the trust of Black Zetsu and Madara with his dual personality. Kakashi was safe now, wasn't he?
Even if he had to leave Konoha later and operate as Ash, he could still maximize the guarantee that Kakashi would not be harmed by the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan.
--So, what am I regretting?
The wheels of the wheelchair rolled in the corridor, making a low, faint friction sound.
Naraku looked up at Kakashi, who was pushing the wheelchair behind him with a calm expression, and suddenly remembered that deep night when he had heard a call.
An extremely faint cry, as if from far away, so weak it was like tinnitus.
But he knew—as if by some telepathy—that it was Kakashi calling him.
His body reacted even before his consciousness, wanting to grasp the hand extended towards him.
Later, Kakashi appeared before him, covered in dirt and looking distraught, sobbing on the ground, looking utterly pitiful.
At that moment, even the excruciating pain on his body, as if being burned by fire or hacked by an axe and knife, couldn't compare to the feeling of an invisible hand squeezing a part of his heart, wringing out a bitter, aching sorrow.
So he couldn't control himself, and reached out a finger to touch the back of the other's hand, which was covered in mud and black ash.
Enduring the agony each word brought, he still had to say a few words to comfort him.
"Ka... Kakashi..."
[Kakashi.]
"It's okay... Don't... be sad..."
[I'm back, don't cry.]
Since then, every time he saw Kakashi's tears, Naraku became increasingly unable to bear it, even wanting to break his current persona to smile at him and say that everything was fine.
He didn't want to see Kakashi cry, didn't want to see Kakashi so sad, didn't want Kakashi to suffer because of his departure.
He wanted Kakashi to find happiness, joy, and all the best things in the world—because Kakashi deserved all the best things in the world.
--So, what am I regretting?
Naraku buried his head, asking himself, then realized that drops of water were falling into his palm.
--Ah, so that's it.
He pursed his trembling lips, knowing the answer to that question.
--I regret only realizing it after deciding to leave.
--It turns out I'm so afraid of leaving Kakashi alone.
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