Hearing Takumi's sudden, sharp question, Kakashi's heart trembled.
'Did it really have to be said out loud?'
"That's right..."
After a long silence, Kakashi finally nodded, his expression somewhat desolate.
"She did indeed die by my hand."
"Even though... she rushed forward herself, I still cannot forgive myself, even now."
Seeing the dimness in Kakashi's eyes, Takumi believed he was telling the truth.
Even after all these years, Kakashi still hadn't forgiven himself.
The matter of Rin was like a layer of window paper. Once pierced, both fell into silence.
Especially Kakashi.
He had originally thought that speaking about it might make him feel better.
But who would have thought it didn't seem to help?
Perhaps it could be said that Kakashi had already somewhat forgotten the events of that day, but now that it was brought up, the images from that day immediately resurfaced in his mind.
The scene of him piercing Rin's chest with his own hand, her dying in his arms...
Everything was still vivid...
Seeing Kakashi's grief-stricken yet forcibly composed demeanor, Takumi knew the timing was ripe.
"Kakashi-senpai…"
After a long silence, Takumi suddenly spoke, capturing Kakashi's attention.
"If there was a chance now for you to speak with Rin-senpai again, would you be willing?"
"You... what do you mean?"
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, his head feeling a bit dizzy.
Takumi reached out and held the group photo, saying softly, "Actually... I know a secret technique that can revive the dead. If you're willing, I can help you revive Nohara Rin-senpai."
"?????"
Upon hearing this, Kakashi's expression instantly turned extremely grave, and his heartbeat accelerated rapidly!
"Y-you, what did you say?"
"Reviving the dead! This!? Do you know the Impure World Reincarnation!?"
Takumi shook his head, "What's the Impure World Reincarnation...? My technique just summons the deceased back from the Pure Land. They will still have flesh and blood like normal people. It's basically... bringing the dead back to life..."
Kakashi was utterly shocked!
He looked at Takumi in horror, as if seeing a monster!
'Reviving the dead?'
'And it wasn't the Impure World Reincarnation… it seemed like an even more advanced technique!'
'What exactly was this kid's origin?!'
"H-how do you know such a Ninjutsu?"
Kakashi's tongue felt a bit tied.
If Takumi really knew such a technique, he would definitely become the most watched person in the entire Shinobi World!
Leaving a resounding name in Shinobi History!
"Actually... I don't know either."
Takumi's eyes dimmed.
"Sometimes I just think about something in my mind, and then I learn a new Ninjutsu."
"I don't know how it happens. Maybe I'm a freak."
Takumi wasn't lying at all here.
Because all his abilities really did come from just thinking about them!
And hearing this...
Kakashi's eyes went wide!
'What was this?'
'Just thinking in your mind and directly coming up with a Ninjutsu?'
'Are you even human?!'
'Do you have any idea how much physical and mental effort it takes for an ordinary Shinobi to learn a single Ninjutsu?!'
'And you can do it just by thinking!?'
Kakashi was completely stunned.
He stared intently at Takumi, recalling all the details about him...
'The terrifying fists, the explosion ability...'
'And this technique that sounded terrifying just by its name… reviving the dead...'
'Perhaps...'
'This Takumi really wasn't ordinary.'
'He was fundamentally different from Shinobi like us.'
"What do you say, Kakashi-senpai?"
"Are you willing?"
Takumi pressed further.
"I can't bear the thought of such strong-willed seniors dying in vain. Besides, Nohara Rin-senpai was very young when she died, right? She wasn't much older than me."
"Framed by others, then forced to die by Kakashi-sensei's hand... It's really... too heartbreaking..."
Takumi's genuine emotional display diverted Kakashi's attention.
But he still wanted to hold onto his principles a bit.
"But reviving the dead... playing with the souls of the deceased..."
Kakashi seemed very conflicted.
When he first heard Takumi could revive others, Kakashi's initial reaction was disbelief.
But considering Takumi was an unusual existence himself, a sliver of hope inevitably arose in his heart.
Reviving Rin...
Honestly, why wouldn't he want that?
It was his biggest psychological burden, tormenting him for over a decade!
But easily reviving the dead went against ethics.
This was the source of his conflict.
Seeing Kakashi still struggling, Takumi guided him further.
"A Shinobi's life is already short. Dying by accident happens often."
"But is it okay to just leave it at that?"
"Seeing them die with dreams and regrets, unable to do anything about it... Is that really okay?"
"It was while reflecting on this that I learned this technique."
…
"But doing this is playing with the souls of the deceased, desecrating them..."
Kakashi was still putting up a final resistance.
But Takumi had anticipated this.
He spoke slowly.
"That's what Kakashi-senpai thinks, but what does Nohara Rin-senpai think?"
He looked directly into Kakashi's eyes, observing his reaction.
"Doesn't Nohara Rin-senpai have words she wants to say to you? And Uchiha Obito-senpai, wouldn't he want to see Konoha as it is now?"
"Defiling the souls of the deceased... that's just Kakashi-sensei's opinion. It doesn't represent Nohara Rin-senpai's, or even Uchiha Obito-senpai's, thoughts."
"If we can make up for regrets, why shouldn't we?"
"Should we grow old and die with lifelong regrets?"
Takumi's voice gradually grew louder. Kakashi remained silent, his eyes becoming restless.
This kind of reaction really shouldn't appear in a Jonin like Kakashi, who had long since cast aside his pain.
Over the years, to numb himself, he first joined the Anbu, then became a Konoha's Jonin, using countless missions to numb himself.
He had thought he was past that hurdle, but now...
"How many people wish to speak with the dead, even if just one sentence?"
"Do they not know that defiling the spirits of the dead is something that shouldn't be done?"
"But I think, if adhering to so-called morals and ethics only causes everyone pain, then why should we adhere to them?"
"I used to be confused about why god allowed me to learn this secret technique, this terrifying forbidden technique."
"But now I understand: this technique was born to make up for the countless regrets in this world!"
Under Takumi's relentless bombardment, Kakashi's eyes had become very lost.
Takumi's words had struck a chord deep within him.
So many years had passed, and he had countless things he wanted to say to both Obito and Rin.
He often went alone to the cemetery, telling their tombstones about his life over the years.
But the thought of being able to tell them in person... the intense desire that surged in his heart completely bewildered Kakashi.
"I... I don't know."
"D-does this technique require any price?"
"Does it need someone's life, or..."
"Just something related to Nohara Rin-senpai is enough."
Takumi picked up the group photo, smiling and shaking his head:
"This group photo will do."
"Th-this? Just this photo can revive her?"
Kakashi felt his entire worldview shatter!
'What kind of terrifying Ninjutsu was this?!'
'It was too absurd!'
'Reviving the dead was inherently altering fate, violating the laws of life.'
'The stronger the technique, the greater the price!'
'Like the Impure World Reincarnation… it required sacrificing one person's life to exchange for another's!'
'But Takumi's technique...'
'It only needed a group photo!?'
"It only costs this photo. Nothing else is needed."
"If Nohara Rin-senpai doesn't wish to be disturbed, then we'll let her rest in peace and never disturb her again."
When the words had reached this point, Kakashi really had no more resistance left.
With a pleading, almost begging attitude, he said solemnly to Takumi:
"Alright, then... please, go ahead!"
"I... I want to see them..."
A flash of joy appeared in Takumi's eyes. He had finally successfully pulled Kakashi into this.
But he didn't show it, only nodding solemnly.
"Alright, leave it to me."
With that, Takumi began performing the Heroic Spirit Summoning.
As Chakra surged in his hands, a circular magic circle suddenly appeared on the ground!
Takumi let go. The group photo in his hand floated above the magic circle, as if held up by an invisible force.
'This...'
Kakashi stared at the magic circle, feeling it was incredible.
It was clearly a Forbidden Technique for reviving the dead.
But the Chakra he felt from this magic circle was incredibly warm.
Unlike the evil techniques or Forbidden Techniques he knew, whose Chakra usually felt dark and ominous.
This unusual warmth made Kakashi's heart feel somewhat steadier.
He began to anticipate the revival of his former comrade!
Takumi began the incantation.
"Let thy body be under my command, thy fate be entrusted to my sword."
"Answer my summons, following this will and the natural order, answer me now!"
"I swear here! I shall be the one who performs all good acts of this world, the one who exterminates all evil acts of this world!"
"Let thy eyes be clouded, thy heart rage. Thou, prisoner bound in a cage of madness. I am the master who holds thy chain!"
"Binding thee, the three great words of power, come forth from the Seat of Suppression, guardian of the scales!"
After this extremely grand and theatrical speech, Kakashi hadn't understood a single word...
But the next second, the group photo floating above the magic circle began to emit a soft light.
The light grew increasingly intense…
Finally, it formed a girl-shaped ball of light.
"Rin..."
Kakashi couldn't help but call out.
Finally, when the light completely converged, a beautiful figure materialized before Takumi and Kakashi.
Nohara Rin!
A living, breathing Nohara Rin!
"Rin!"
Kakashi was utterly stunned!
He called out loudly. As his voice rang out, Rin, whose eyes were tightly closed, trembled, then slowly opened her eyes.
"This place is..."
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FOR EVERY 50 POWER STONES, I'LL UPLOAD ONE CHAPTER