Chapter 210: Iori
"Look at yourself—what have you become?"
"Kakashi, I believe you can overcome your own struggles."
"Come on, you annoying idiot."
"We've always been with you."
These voices echoed in Kakashi's mind, stirring something deep within him. They gave him encouragement, strength, and a clarity he hadn't felt in years.
Kakashi knew by now—this was genjutsu.
But he didn't feel angry, nor did he blame Uchiha Kei. In fact, part of him wished he could stay in this illusion just a little longer.
Still, he knew the time had come to leave. He had confronted his own heart, and he finally understood what he had to do.
"The way I was before… if I'd gone to the Pure Land like that, Rin and Obito wouldn't have accepted me. They'd have been ashamed of me."
Murmuring to himself, Kakashi slowly opened his eyes. The voices faded away, but their weight remained etched in his heart.
His gaze was calm now—no longer hollow, no longer filled with the cold detachment of someone who treated life as meaningless.
Even his Sharingan, that blood-red eye, no longer radiated the aura of a ghost crawling out of hell.
He felt different. He was no longer a soulless husk—he was human again.
"This feeling…"
For the first time in years, Kakashi noticed his spirit, his energy, his focus—all revitalized. The chirping of birds in the distance no longer grated against him; it filled him with a sense of life.
The warmth of the sun, the lush green of the forest—he realized the world had always been beautiful. He had simply locked himself away, refusing to see it.
"How beautiful…" he whispered.
His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his blade at his waist. Drawing it slowly, he heard the crisp ring of steel sliding free.
Perhaps it was only the friction of metal against the scabbard, but to Kakashi, it felt like the sword itself was speaking to him—closer, more connected than ever before.
Then he froze. Someone was approaching.
But instead of preparing to fight, Kakashi relaxed. He knew who it must be—his friend. The one who had pulled him back from the brink of becoming a monster.
Sure enough, Uchiha Kei appeared, and at his side was a small child.
"Yo, you're awake?" Kei said casually, but his eyes carefully examined Kakashi's aura. He nodded in approval.
Gone was the suffocating coldness. Gone was the stench of death. Kakashi still carried a trace of chill in his presence, but there was life in him now. Humanity.
Kei was satisfied—not just with the result, but with the proof that his genjutsu had worked. Kakashi's recovery meant he would once again be reliable in ANBU, and Kei had gained an even stronger card to play before Minato.
"Yeah, I'm awake," Kakashi replied with a faint smile. "At first it felt like a nightmare, but then… I realized it was the most beautiful dream. Thank you, Kei."
"Don't thank me," Kei shook his head. "Thank yourself. If you didn't have any light left inside, no illusion in the world could've saved you."
To Kei, it was nothing. But Kakashi knew otherwise. Without Kei, he would have sunk forever into darkness, his soul buried while his body moved like a shell.
Shaking his head, Kakashi turned his eyes to the child beside Kei.
It was a little girl, perhaps seven or eight years old. She looked shy, even timid, yet her wide, clear eyes immediately etched themselves into Kakashi's memory.
Her clothes were old and patched, her hands calloused from labor beyond her years.
Kakashi blinked in quiet confusion.
Who was this child?
After a brief moment of thought, Kakashi quickly drew a conclusion—the girl must be from an orphanage.
"Who is she?" Kakashi asked with some doubt, glancing at Uchiha Kei.
"Oh, her?" Kei tilted his head slightly. "Her name is Iori. No family name. She's a child from an orphanage."
"So, it really is the orphanage…" Kakashi nodded, his expression softening. "Be good to her. A child without a family's protection is especially pitiful in times like these."
Kakashi knew all too well how tragic the fate of orphanage children could be. During his years in the ANBU, he had seen many such cases. And having lived through the despair that followed his own father's death, he understood that kind of loneliness deeply—the bitter chill of growing up without the shelter of family.
Not that Konoha's way of handling orphans was wrong. In truth, every shinobi village treated them similarly. But not every orphan was like Naruto, whose unique lineage set him apart. Children like him were one in a million.
"Don't worry," Kei spread his hands casually. "She's not a tool, nor a slave. She will grow into someone of value."
He paused, then added, "A shinobi, perhaps. Though I don't expect her to run missions. I already have subordinates—and even you—to handle those things. I have a very clear role in mind for her. Rest assured."
"You…" Kakashi gave him a look, half exasperated, half amused. His recovery seemed genuine; even his expressions had regained a hint of humanity.
But soon he grew serious again. "If you ever need me, I'll help."
Kei smirked and shook his head. "We'll see. Right now, you're not even a match for me—how could you help? But congratulations, Kakashi. You've faced your demons, and you've picked up your blade again. I expect you'll find new strength this time."
"New strength…?"
Kakashi glanced down at the short sword in his hand. That strange sensation returned—the feeling that the blade itself carried emotions, resonating with him. With a deft twist, he sheathed the weapon, then suddenly felt a strong urge.
He wanted to return home quickly, to test this newfound bond again. Something told him that this connection between man and blade would bring him greater power.
---
Later, Kei brought Iori back to his home. For the first time, he realized how cramped the little house truly was.
When it was just the three of them, he hadn't noticed. Missions had kept him away most of the time anyway. But now that the war was over—and with another person joining them—the place suddenly felt too small.
Perhaps, Kei thought, it was time to buy a bigger house.
For now, though, they could manage. With some rearrangement, four people could still live here, even if it felt crowded. But considering his current position—second in command of the Uchiha clan and head of the Police Force—his humble dwelling no longer matched his status. His subordinates were bound to notice.
"I understand," Iori said softly. She didn't seem to care much about the living arrangements. What weighed on her was uncertainty about her future. "I don't know… what is it that you expect of me, sir?"
"All I expect," Kei said calmly, "is for you to study. If you have spare time, help out around the house. That's enough."
He continued, "Other than me, two of my relatives also live here—Uchiha Ryoko and Uchiha Keisuke. But your main responsibility will be to study. I'll provide you with materials. If you find them too difficult, I'll arrange a teacher."
"Study…?" Iori tilted her head. "What kind of subjects?"
"Medical knowledge," Kei replied directly. Now that they were home, there was no reason to hide it. "I want you to learn the foundations of medical ninjutsu. You won't be working in the Medical Corps in the future, but you'll still have a respectable role."
He paused, then added, "You'll study five days a week. Saturdays and Sundays, you can return to the orphanage to visit. Think of it as your rest time."
Truth be told, Kei had almost said six days a week. After all, in his previous life, that had been his own schedule. But in the end, he decided against it.
True learning required interest and initiative. Forced study would only breed resentment, and nothing lasting would come of it. He knew well from years of cramming for exams—subjects that didn't spark interest were quickly forgotten once the tests were over.
He didn't want that to happen with Iori. From his perspective, this girl was too important.
"Work hard," Kei said, gently patting her shoulder. "Who knows—someday, you might even become the pride of your orphanage."