"Well… that was dumb," Kakashi muttered, staring at his reflection.
Still, he couldn't exactly blame his past self. Back then, he had no idea that Obito had survived, rescued and manipulated by Madara, turned into nothing more than a pawn. His old self had carried a crushing guilt for years, blaming himself for Rin's death. That pain had festered, dragged him into dark thoughts, and suicidal episodes weren't uncommon.
"Typical," he sighed, shaking his head.
As he skimmed over the details of The Shadow of the Eye, Kakashi found himself genuinely impressed. For the first time, he saw how well-thought-out the seal was, tailored specifically for him.
Three core functions. Each one was brilliant.
"The first hides the Sharingan behind a thin layer of chakra… makes it look like a normal eye when inactive," he recited quietly to himself.
A low hum of understanding passed through him.
"The second… halts chakra flow completely when deactivated. So no passive drain."
He exhaled slowly, nodding to himself.
"And the third… lets me activate it manually by channeling chakra into it."
He leaned back a bit, eyes flicking upward in thought.
"Kushina… you really outdid yourself."
He hadn't realized just how much time and thought she must've poured into crafting something this precise. She didn't want him to suffer, she had wanted to protect him from the consequences of using the Sharingan.
"No wonder even Minato-sensei's knowledge of sealing came mostly from her," he whispered, a flicker of gratitude lighting up inside him.
And now… with this seal right in front of him, unused, collecting dust in his memory… it was time.
"Well then," Kakashi said, taking a slow breath, "let's try it."
Focusing his chakra toward his left eye, he immediately felt something stir beneath the surface of his skin.
A warmth bloomed under his eyelid.
Crimson lines began to form, pulsing quietly, curling outward from the corner of his eye in a slow spiral. The Uzumaki mark—delicate and precise, etched itself into motion, moving just under his skin. Faint, subtle, almost invisible to the naked eye.
It glowed for a second. A soft red hue.
Then came a low, sizzling sound as the spiral rotated once.
And just like that, it faded.
The Sharingan, always present, always hungry, dimmed.
The three tomoe faded from view.
Kakashi's eye returned to its natural black.
He lowered his hand slowly, staring at himself.
His body shuddered slightly as a gentle warmth surged through him. His chakra, no longer draining like a leaking faucet, settled. It felt whole. Clean. Like taking a deep breath after being underwater too long.
He blinked once, twice.
"That's… incredible," he murmured.
It had always been a background ache—like a low battery that never fully charged. With the Sharingan sealed, that feeling was gone. His chakra reserves felt full for the first time in years.
Looking back at the mirror, he saw only his natural eye now. The glow had disappeared, but beneath the skin, he could still see faint spiraling lines if he focused—like a subtle tattoo running along the corner of his eye and temple.
"Barely noticeable. Perfect."
He studied his face for another moment, then dropped his gaze to his hands.
"Let's try it," he muttered and began weaving hand signs.
Lightning crackled to life in his palm. A dense mass of chakra formed instantly. It was stable. Controlled. But something felt off.
"Without the enhanced vision from the Sharingan… the precision's not the same," he said with a frown.
Still, the fact that he could maintain it so easily now was promising.
"Guess I should rework Shiden next… the one I developed after the war in the future."
Tucking that thought away for later, Kakashi glanced back at the mirror. This time, he slipped into a light blue kimono, loose-fitting and relaxed. After all, this month was his last bit of free time. Once that was over, he'd officially be taking charge of Team 7—just as the Third Hokage had told him before his final ANBU mission.
"Early Naruto isn't nearly as deadly as what comes later in Shippuden… so I've got time to grow."
He tightened the sash on his kimono, giving himself one last look.
There was something different now.
The lazy, detached look in his eyes had softened, replaced by clarity. He still looked like Kakashi, but the weight on his shoulders wasn't as heavy. People who really knew him, like Gai or the Third Hokage, would probably notice. But that was fine. He had a dozen excuses ready.
Giving himself a final nod, he stepped out of the battered inn under the cautious gaze of the manager.
The man practically bowed in relief as Kakashi passed. The building might've been cracked, but the guest hadn't burned the place down.
Kakashi gave him a polite wave and continued walking.
The streets of the small village were peaceful.
Shops lined both sides—fruit stalls, small inns, simple clothing stores. No guards. No patrols. Just quiet commerce.
He took his time, letting the breeze brush over him. After everything, a peaceful walk was… refreshing.
Eventually, he reached the village center.
A massive building towered ahead—the largest inn in the whole village. You couldn't miss it even if you tried.
"Perfect place to lay low for a bit," Kakashi murmured.
All kinds of people filled the inn—travelers, merchants, even a few shinobi. The place buzzed with life. Laughter, food, casual chatter.
Unlike most hidden villages, this one had long moved on from war. It had turned its focus to business. There weren't many ninjas around, but surprisingly, no one dared to attack.
Too many big names passed through here—famous shinobi, nobles, the occasional war hero. It had built a reputation as neutral ground.
"So that's why it's been so peaceful," Kakashi mused.
Of course, there were always exceptions. Rogue shinobi still existed, Hidan and that twisted Jashin cult had been known to lurk around here.
This was a good place to rest, to think, plan and prepare for the future.
And Kakashi, finally free from his past burdens, was more ready than ever.