After several days of traveling back from the Land of Wind, Kakashi finally returned to Konohagakure.
Inside the Hokage's office, the question he had anticipated never came. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, merely gave Kakashi a brief nod of approval and told him to take some time off, praising him for his diligence.
Kakashi wasn't surprised. His journey to the Land of Wind had been more of a precaution than a critical mission. Silence from the Hokage likely meant fewer complications—less risk of exposing any unnoticed gaps in his report.
After submitting his mission report, Kakashi decided to head to Ichiraku Ramen for a warm, hearty meal.
Lately, he had grown particularly fond of ramen. The generous servings, the balance of meat and vegetables, and the comforting warmth made Ichiraku's ramen the perfect reward after a mission. It was a stark contrast to the cold efficiency of his cooking during his ANBU days.
Though Kakashi had been a skilled cook in both his past and current lives, he rarely took the time to prepare meals now. Every spare moment was used to train. The pressure he put on himself since being reborn was relentless.
Seated at the familiar wooden counter, Kakashi quietly stared into the distance, lost in thought.
"Kakashi, your ramen is ready."
Teuchi, the ever-cheerful owner of Ichiraku Ramen, set down a steaming bowl in front of him with a smile.
"Thank you, Teuchi-san." Kakashi clasped his hands together in gratitude.
"Haha, you're still as polite as ever," Teuchi chuckled, clearly pleased.
"I'm digging in," Kakashi said, pulling down his mask just enough to eat.
Though Teuchi had seen Kakashi's face before, he couldn't help but marvel again at how strikingly refined the young jonin's features were.
"Kakashi, why do you always wear a mask?"
"Well," Kakashi touched the edge of his lowered mask and replied casually, "Just a habit."
As a child, Kakashi had started wearing a mask because Sakumo, his father, used to tease him about the beauty mole on his face. He'd been embarrassed, and that childish rebellion eventually became tradition. After Sakumo's suicide, the mask took on a deeper meaning—a silent tribute. Now, even with the memories of another life merged into him, he carried that symbol forward.
"I haven't seen you around lately. Were you on a mission?"
"Yeah, out of the village for a bit," Kakashi answered between bites.
The bowl was emptied quickly, Kakashi's motions clean and precise.
"Thanks for the meal."
Teuchi blinked, then chuckled. "You still eat so fast."
"That's just because your ramen's too good to waste time."
"Haha, flattery now? Alright, it's on the house today."
Grateful, Kakashi gave a slight bow. "Thank you. I'll be off then."
Teuchi waved him off. "Come by again when you're free."
"Of course."
Kakashi stepped away into the streets of Konoha, feeling oddly lighter. Teuchi watched him go, smiling to himself before returning to prep for the midday rush. The shop was still quiet, the other patrons yet to arrive.
In the days that followed, Kakashi resumed his usual training schedule. Some days he sparred alone, other days he trained alongside Might Guy. The routine was peaceful, almost leisurely.
During breaks, his mind wandered—to jutsu, to the future, to ideas he wanted to explore. He had inherited vast knowledge, but possessing theory was different from mastering application.
Some techniques he only understood in principle. To wield them properly, he needed hands-on trial and refinement. Fortunately, Kakashi's talent for comprehension was extraordinary. With time, he was confident he'd unlock each one's full potential.
Of course, mastering forbidden techniques was another matter entirely.
He continued his steady progress with Lightning Release. Other than the signature Raikiri, enhanced by his Sharingan, and his personal blade technique refined through training with the White Fang's Tanto style, he had few powerful offensive jutsu.
He recalled the Lightning Release: Kirin technique from his other life—devastating but impractical due to its weather dependency. Adapting it for regular use was proving difficult.
Rasengan also crossed his mind. Though powerful, its advanced form, the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, demanded Sage Mode to avoid severe backlash. For now, it wasn't feasible.
Kakashi sighed. Powerful techniques were never easy.
For the time being, he focused on the fundamentals: building stamina, increasing his chakra reserves, refining his blade skills, and honing his lightning techniques.
It was already a massive workload.
A few days later, he was summoned once more to the Hokage's office.
"You wanted to see me, Lord Third?"
Hiruzen looked up from a mountain of paperwork. "Ah, Kakashi. Yes, I have a new assignment for you."
"I'm ready, sir."
"The backlog of missions has been mostly cleared. I'm reassigning you to active ANBU duty. You'll be joining Team Six. Three members remain from the unit once personally led by the Fourth Hokage—you should recognize them."
"Yes, sir," Kakashi replied, already visualizing their faces.
"Go to the ANBU headquarters and report in."
"Understood."
He exited the Hokage Tower and made his way to the ANBU compound.
Team Six… If his memory was correct, its remaining members included Shiranui Genma and Iwashi Tatami. They'd once been part of Minato-sensei's personal guard detail. More importantly, they had been among those Minato had begun training in the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Kakashi's eyes lit up at the thought.
That space-time ninjutsu… it held immense power without the side effects of Kamui. If mastered, it could turn a shinobi into an untouchable force.
His hand instinctively touched the kunai in his pouch—the special three-pronged blade once gifted to him by the Fourth Hokage.
His heart stirred.
If there was a way to unlock that technique…
Then perhaps, the Yellow Flash's legacy could live on through his student.