(Let's see how you plan to be a crooked melon on a straight vine...)

"The legendary Mount Kara... is a veritable ghost mountain. Every seven months, it appears to the west of this town, and disappears two days later. No one knows where it came from or where it went into hiding..."

"Very few people dare to climb that mountain because...because it is said to be a dwelling place for ghosts... This is not a joke! It's true! Some have personally seen a ghost in red clothes... Get close enough, and you can even hear a woman crying at times..."

"Most who have gone up the mountain went insane... Mumbling the names of dead relatives and friends... So it's said to be haunted! However, there were also a rare few who successfully crossed the mountain, but they ended up at Stone Country's borderlands. No one knows how that happened..."

"But there is one thing everyone knows for sure."

"Mount Kara, also known as the Mountain of Death... it's the closest place to the departed souls."

Kakashi's mind echoed with the innkeeper's words. He looked up at the black-haired boy walking steadily in front, and then at the blonde boy trembling lightly as he walked between them. Kakashi frowned, feeling somewhat hesitant.

Such a dangerous place... is it really okay to bring these kids in?

As if sensing Kakashi's concerns, Chitose walking ahead suddenly said, "Don't worry Master Kakashi."

Kakashi thought for a while before stopping in his tracks, "Do you know this mountain well, Chitose?"

Boruto, who had been vigilantly looking left and right as he walked nervously in the middle, also immediately stopped and looked at Chitose's back expectantly.

The black-haired boy heard them stop and had no choice but to turn around. There was a trace of obvious helplessness on his face, "They're just ghosts."

He looked at the ashen face of the blonde boy whose eyes flickered around anxiously, a glint of understanding and amusement flashing through his obsidian eyes.

"Boruto, are you afraid of ghosts?"

The called out boy shuddered violently as if his tail was stepped on, and was about to leap up. His still unbroken, somewhat childish voice made people want to cover their ears, "How is that possible, idiot?!!"

Yet the black-haired boy only glanced at the flush that rapidly crept up his visible face, the slight wet sheen in those wide azure eyes resembling a small animal – filled with anger yet also obvious panic and unease – he nodded indifferently, "I see."

"Hey! What do you mean?! What's with that look, huh?!"

There were the sounds of a scuffle ahead while Kakashi watched on with dead fish eyes and a twitching brow.

Still having the leisure to tease the brat, looks like things should be fine.

But able to see the deceased?

The forty-something years old Sixth Hokage with silver-white hair and skin as fair as in his youth despite his age frowned slightly, his agile mind racing.

***

It was a bizarre mountain.

Kakashi poked at the campfire, a habit ingrained from years as a shinobi making him subconsciously analyze the situation even when they hadn't met any danger that day. The orange flames illuminated his pitch black pupils, bringing out an oddly feral allure in the vertical scar over his left eye.

The mountain was freakishly huge. Fortunately they had a clear sense of direction – west – so there was no fear of getting lost. The lush vegetation was astonishing, with branches extending straight up vertically, forcing the shinobi who were used to traveling by tree to walk on the nearly impassable forest floor instead – though not without constantly using kunai to hack out a path through the dense undergrowth first.

Nothing seemed too out of the ordinary so far.

What was bizarre was—The burning tree branch gave a crisp snap. Kakashi's musing gaze stirred before regaining its tranquility.

—the suffocating silence.

There were no animals to be seen on the mountain. No chirping birds, no scurrying small creatures, not even the minute sounds of microbial respiration. It was as if the mountain was dead.

No one knew how much time passed in the quiet. One of the two sleeping bags beside Kakashi shifted before the black-haired boy noiselessly sat up, not a shred of disorientation in those dark eyes. He exchanged a glance with Kakashi leaning against a nearby tree then got to his feet, walking over to the other sleeping bag with a noticeable tuft of golden hair. He knelt down on one knee and smashed a chakra-enhanced fist right into the bulging bundle. His hand shot out just in time to grab the boy who had almost shot up like a carp flipping over. Muffling his yell, the boy found himself staring into an impassive pair of inky orbs with a raised finger over tightly pursed lips.

At the same moment, Kakashi swiftly extinguished the campfire and tensed, straining his ears for any minuscule sound.

With the sole light source gone, their surroundings were instantly plunged into pitch darkness. Chitose felt the body under his hand – already icy cold – tense up even further. Before he knew it, Boruto had grabbed onto the hand that had left his mouth, clearly about to reach for a weapon in his panic.

Deafening silence reigned. Before long, Boruto slowly became aware of the increasingly oppressive humidity in the air. Then his hand clenched involuntarily over Chitose's – instantly followed by his heart leaping in trepidation without a chance to feel bewildered. He immediately heard the faint sound of a woman sobbing, clear as day despite sounding an arm's length away!

Every hair on Boruto's body stood on end. His grip over Chitose's hand grew increasingly tighter as he held his breath and concentrated with all his might. The more attention he paid, the clearer that bone-chilling voice seemed, already closing in to just tens of meters from them.

What should he do? The thought flashed through his mind. The next moment, he noticed a spot of warmth in his already frigid body that finally made its existence known to his senses. He knew it was from Chitose's hand. That hand gripping his reminded him that he wasn't alone here – Chitose was by his side.

It had to be that bit of warmth keeping him from breaking down completely. Who knew how hard the tears were already pressing at his eyes.

But right now Boruto had no time to dwell on something that embarrassing. He focused intently on the weeping, mind going blank as he unconsciously held his breath. The more he strained his senses, the closer it seemed as if a gust of sinister wind kept blowing against his back. He almost fainted from fright but forced his unsteady legs to keep pace with Chitose ahead. Keep going, just keep going forward.

It wasn't long before Boruto was gasping violently for air from their mad dash through the hindering terrain. An intermittent stabbing pain started up in his lower right abdomen that intensified sharply with every step, squeezing out beads of sweat from pain and fright. He gritted his teeth, instinctively clenching the hand held in his right – Chitose's hand he belated realized – when an intense sense of wrongness struck him all at once. His heart seemed to stop beating for an instant.

That hand...when had it lost all warmth? No, to be precise, it no longer felt like a human hand at all. Rather, it was more like—

A ray of moonlight suddenly speared through the dense tree cover, helping Boruto see just what he was holding onto. At the same time, it illuminated the disbelief, panic, despair and gut-wrenching terror surfacing uncontrollably in those azure eyes.

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—what he had grabbing onto was nothing more than a withered, branch-like severed arm.

In the next second, an eerie cackle carrying a sinister gale blew right against his ear, far too close for comfort.

"Ha..."

A frigid hand landed on his left shoulder.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

***

The instant Kakashi lost track of the two kids' chakra signatures, panic flashed through him before he swiftly calmed himself down. Chitose wouldn't just wait helplessly for death after all. He would protect Boruto and himself.

Kakashi had already guessed something was off in the distance when Chitose woke up Boruto first thing before he even noticed the anomalous sounds himself.

Temporarily setting aside his worry for the two kids, Kakashi concentrated on taking stock of his own circumstances. His surroundings were still pitch black but the sensation somehow felt different from earlier.

He keenly observed his vicinity with sharp eyes but regrettably discovered nothing aside from darkness. He didn't dare let his guard down, while his brilliant mind raced swiftly.

Genjutsu?

Enemies?

Purpose?

Things didn't seem to align with the innkeeper's account.

—Wait.

Kakashi silently gazed at the light that suddenly appeared in his vision.

Hesitating for a while, he took a step forward.

Based on how things were progressing, his next step should be...

"Ka...Kakashi?"

A call that was all-too familiar yet made him want to sigh rang out by his ear the instant the glare made him unable to open his eyes. He had expected this.

Waiting patiently for his vision to adapt to the intense radiance, he tidied up the turmoil in his heart before lazily responding, "...Long time no see...Obito."

—Things seemed to be going just as expected; he would see the departed next.

Lowering his shielding hand, he gazed upon the figure with the same unchanged appearance in his memories from fourteen years ago during the Great War – his friend, companion, rival, comrade, Obito Uchiha, who had perished then.

The scars still marred half his face, with the left eye a Rinnegan and right the Mangekyo Sharingan as always.

Right now he was dressed in a dark blue kimono with an orange sash around his waist, wooden clogs on his feet and hands tucked into the spacious bell sleeves. The very image of leisure in housewear.

Seeing Kakashi, his eyes first widened in incredulous shock and disbelief before his brows knitted together as he looked over the nearly unaged face, "Oi, don't tell me you went and died so young."

—When you died so much earlier than me.

Kakashi's eyes drooped lifelessly. "Who said I died? Idiot."

Obito's temple throbbed with anger. "Don't pretend to be dumb! If you're not dead what're you doing here huh?! And who're you calling an idiot!"

"Well...I don't really get the situation either but I'm pretty sure I can tell if I'm dead or alive."

Kakashi eyed the longtime unseen old friend before him. The corners of his masked lips imperceptibly lifted. Then he turned and displayed the giant words on the back of his jōnin vest to the man.

[Sixth Fire]

Obito fell silent as he stared at those three characters, pupils contracting minutely. The air seemed to turn still.

After who knew how long Obito's gentle nostalgia gradually faded from his eyes. He suddenly chuckled and scratched his head, "I see... So what, you trying to show off to me huh! I'll have you know I won't be jealous oh!"

Kakashi turned back around with an unchanging smile. He wasn't showing off at all, of course. They both understood.

—I fulfilled your dream in your place.

—Thank you.

"That's right, you haven't seen Rin yet..." Obito suddenly recalled and quickly continued. His face naturally revealed overwhelming joy and satisfaction, "You'll have to address her as Lady Uchiha when you see her!"

Kakashi was slightly astonished but his smile only grew wider, truly happy for them from the bottom of his heart. Obito knew he was genuinely glad and grinned as he scratched his cheek, "Lemme go get her..."

"No need, Obito. I should head back." He smiled at his friend.

"It was really great to be able to talk with you again."

Obito lowered his hand, smile dimming slightly but immediately beamed at Kakashi again, "Ha, of course!" He paused briefly.

"Me too." Kakashi's eyes softened as he closed them. Turning, he meant to retrace his original path back.

"Oh right, Kakashi, don't tell me you..." Obito's voice suddenly sounded from behind him, his teasing tone far too obvious, "Haven't gotten married yet huh!"

Then he witnessed his lifelong undefeated rival, teammate and friend stumble over flat ground.

Twisting his eyes, he opened his mouth without an ounce of mercy, "Hah! So the great heartthrob Hatake Kakashi would have a day like this too ahahaha......"

"......You can shut up now." Kakashi's furious growl and the image of him disappearing into the darkness was his reply.

When Kakashi could no longer see him, Obito gradually wiped the grin off his face.

—Hey idiot Kakashi, did you know the deceased can see many possible futures?

His mismatched eyes blinked before he casually pillowed both hands behind his head and slowly turned away—

"Aah, gotta go... Sensed someone still alive coming so popped by to check things out. Good thing too, otherwise how could I tell Rin something this amusing..."

The corners of his uncrushed lips languidly lifted in schadenfreude.

"Heheh, Kakashi oh Kakashi, I'll just quietly watch and see how you plan to be a crooked melon on a straight vine..."

Through the blinding light, ornately beautiful low buildings and tranquil, peaceful streets could vaguely be seen. Elderly and children walked about.

The man in dark blue kimono turned into an elegant two-story courtyard residence.

"I'm back, Rin!"

"Welcome home!"

"Rin, guess who I saw just now..."

Their conversing voices gradually faded into the increasingly dense radiance.

And from the pitch black tunnel that had been shrinking, a man wearing a black long-sleeved top with an uchiwa fan on the back suddenly walked out. Glancing back at the darkness disappearing behind him, profound emotions – reluctance, helplessness and deep remorse – surfaced in those depthless eyes along with—Utter self-reproach and affection.

***

“Ah!” Boruto threw away the dried-up branch and ran forward like a madman.

He dared not look back, just randomly took weapons from his ninja tool pouch and threw them backward without even looking.

However, feeling the continuous chilling presence behind him and the eerie crying sound right behind his ears, Boruto felt that the despair in his heart was about to engulf him. Or perhaps, it already had.

He was suddenly tripped by a tree root, falling forward due to the rapid speed. Just as he was about to be caught again by that icy hand, Boruto felt like his whole body was about to explode. He broke down, fell to the ground, covered his face with both hands, tensed his entire body, and screamed loudly, piercing enough to rupture human eardrums: "Help me! Chitose——!!!!"

This call seemed to pierce through time, traverse space, and shake the heart of the black-haired boy deeply, leaving a profound mark.

—Once again, he was relied upon by a friend, needed, seeking his protection.

He rushed towards the location of the boy with a torch, making the pitiful and hateful female ghost scream sharply and flee.

—So why did he feel at that moment that the enemy was extinguishing the bonfire to conceal their tracks?

Chitose, for the first time, hated the instinct of ninjas shared with Kakashi in the jungle.

He lit several bonfires around, illuminating a large area until the brightness of the bonfires could light up the surroundings. Then, he extinguished the torch, turned to look at the still dumbfounded, blue-eyed, tear-stained blond boy.

His body was still immersed in fear and the fatigue of a long escape, trembling slightly. Chitose took a step towards him, and he suddenly shrank. Chitose hesitated, carefully squatting down, slowly reaching out to Boruto.

"Boruto?"

A small, probing, gentle call filled with caution and soothing tenderness made the frightened boy tremble violently. Then, he looked at the black eyes with warm orange-red flames dancing in them and suddenly rushed towards him.

Chitose was knocked back to the ground by the tremendous force but had already securely caught the terrified blond boy. Like a frightened little dog finding its mother, the pitiful boy clung to him desperately and kept burrowing into his embrace. Chitose decisively tightened his arms.

The tears that had just stopped fell again when they felt the warmth of Chitose's body, dripping like beads. Chitose hesitated for a moment, gently patting his back. "It's okay, besides me, there's nothing here."

Boruto's response was once again the tightening of his arms around Chitose's waist. He felt like he was being strangled.

Chitose silently paused for a second, then dismissed the question. He embraced the terrified blond boy, softly whispering in his ear, "It's okay... I'm here, Boruto... I'll protect you... It's okay..."

After how long, the boy in his arms finally stopped crying and trembling. His muffled voice sounded in Chitose's embrace, "Where did you go just now?"

Chitose's eyes flickered. He remembered the man who guided him.

"I got lost."

He looked at Boruto's bright big eyes that suddenly raised, and in those black eyes full of overflowing emotions, there was a tenderness that Boruto had never felt before.

"But, I got help later and successfully... I found you."

At this moment, Boruto, looking at those dark eyes that reflected himself, felt an unprecedented warmth on his cheeks, making him wonder if he was running a fever.

He vaguely felt his heart beating rapidly, but couldn't pinpoint why. But, he didn't dislike this strange feeling. On the contrary, he seemed to be obsessed with it.

—What should I do? It seems like I've become a bit... unlike myself? He tightened the clothes behind Chitose and just wanted to stare at those black eyes.

—In the future, he didn't want to see anything cold from there.

Every time he thought of the gaze of Chitose, his heart felt like it was being held by a cold giant hand, making him unable to breathe, incredibly sad.

—He wanted... Chitose to look at him with that kind of gaze.

He wanted more...

He wanted, from now on, Chitose only to look at him with that kind of gaze.

When Boruto, who rarely listened to Chitose's words, obediently lay in his arms—afraid to leave Chitose's embrace for a second—ready to sleep, his exhaustion and fear turned into a surging drowsiness due to the relaxed nerves. He suddenly felt like he had lost something. But before he could remember, he fell into a deep sleep.

Chitose, holding Boruto who clung to him, looked at the blond boy's eyes, and something flashed in his deep black eyes, revealing a calm and proud confidence as if everything was under control.

Then, he silently thought.

—Master Kakashi, where are you?