Kakashi returns from the other dimension with two red eyes. He shrugs off the medics who swarm toward him, giving Sakura a tight nod and slipping through them all. When Naruto bounds in his direction, an uncharacteristic soberness in his steps, he swerves sharply to avoid looking at the boy.

It wasn't supposed to end like this.

He is selfishly thankful there are just as many dead bodies on the battlefield as live ones. It means that Naruto will not smile, will not smile the smile of a boy long dead, not for a while yet.

If he does, I might just claw my eyes out.