Chapter 109 Black Temple

It was no secret, Sasuke knew that, but he also knew that Kakashi didn't like drawing attention to himself.

Kakashi couldn't help but feel warm at his thoughtfulness, a calming warmth welling up even in his usually cold chest.

Of his three students, Sasuke was the least sentimental, so his words were all the more heartwarming.

He couldn't help but put his hand on the Uchiha's head and ruffled his black hair.

"I'm fine, kid. I can go later."

Sasuke endured the concern for a few seconds before pulling away, looking a little unhappy, as if Kakashi had completely missed his point.

"The curry won't be ready for another hour, Sensei. Really, it's okay." Then Sasuke looked up at him, his eyes firm but with a hint of vulnerability, as if he understood what Kakashi was worried about, and Kakashi realized that he probably did. "Go," he repeated.

Kakashi stared at him for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Okay. While I'm gone, help me make sure the ANBU don't tear my house down, okay?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, clearly expressing his disdain, and instantly returned to the kitchen.

Kakashi took a deep breath and walked past the partition.

Iruka saw him leaving but said nothing, nor did he try to stop him.

He just smiled, his eyes soft, full of sympathy rather than pity, then waved him away and turned back to the stove to continue playing mediator in Sasuke and Naruto's never-ending taste dispute.

Genma noticed Kakashi leaving, because he always noticed, but he didn't pay it much attention, instead he yelled at Anko to stop chasing Kiba and Hinata around the house.

******

He soon arrived at the memorial.

He didn't plan to stay long, because his students would soon start missing him, and if he missed the curry dinner, he would be kicked out of his own house.

But even as he approached he could feel his nerves beginning to calm, the monster of sadness that had been stirring deep in his chest quieting down for the moment.

This time, he didn't talk to many people, only to Minato, and once he started talking, his words flowed smoothly, soft and kind. He talked about Naruto's growing talent in sealing techniques, which seemed to be surpassing Minato's level soon, he talked about Sasuke's adaptability to various different weapons and his growing love of swordsmanship, which was beginning to become contagious, and he talked about Sakura's monstrous strength and intelligence, these qualities made her a formidable female ninja, and how he was a little worried about Sakura's joy when she found out that certain medical ninjutsu could theoretically be weaponized.

He talked about the upcoming Chunin Exams, asking some theoretical questions about what missions he should take them on, how he could best help them overcome their weaknesses and bring out their individual strengths, as well as their strengths as a team.

He would sometimes swear that he could feel the warmth, satisfaction, even comfort welling up from deep in his chest that didn't belong to him.

Maybe he was really going crazy. It wasn't the first time he had thought so.

By the time he finished speaking, he felt much better. Although it took a little longer than he expected, when he went back, he finally felt a little relieved in his heart.

******

When he got home, he found Ryouta standing by an outbuilding on the outskirts of the grounds, which he had spent the entire day tidying up.

Kakashi approached warily, but Ryouta seemed too interested in the building to even notice him, his cigarette burning happily in the corner of his mouth.

"What's up, Ryouta?" he asked - sneaking up on a former ANBU member was never a good idea. He knew that.

But Ryouta just hummed absentmindedly, reaching out to take the cigarette out of his mouth, his eyes never leaving the building's facade composed of dark walls and carvings.

He pointed ahead with his cigarette.

"Is this what I imagined?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Kakashi replied nonchalantly.

Ryouta's thoughtful expression turned serious.

"Don't play dumb with me, Kakashi. This is a black temple, right?"

Kakashi shrugged, he couldn't find any reason to lie.

"Yes. It's not fully usable yet. I've managed to get its basic functionality back, but that's it."

Ryouta snorted, still not looking away from the shrine-like exterior. The black chakra paint was finally starting to solidify, changing color from matte gray to deep black as the sun's energy baked its surface. When the moon rose, the hot chakra in the paint would crystallize into a smooth lacquer-like sheen.

"I just don't understand," Ryouta whispered.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

"What don't you understand?"

"I've seen black temples in the territories of the Aburame, Nara, and Inuzuka clans. Hell, I even maintained the black temple behind the Hokage's residence. I've even seen the two ancient giant black temples on the edge of the Hyuga clan's territory."

"So what?" Kakashi muttered, even though he had already guessed something.

"Then why does this one look older?"

"Because it's the first one." Kakashi said lightly.

Ryouta finally turned around and looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"Are you trying to tell me that the first Black Temple was built by Minato Namikaze?"

"Yes and no." Kakashi said ambiguously. "It is more like... the prototype of a traditional healing temple. If you dig an ancient member of the Hatake family out of their graves, they will tell you that those scattered across the various family territories are not real black temples."

Ryouta took a final drag on his cigarette before stubbing it out on his sandal and turning around, finally giving Kakashi his full attention.

"I don't understand you."

"The Black Temple on the family land is used for advanced healing, to help people recover from arduous tasks that are extremely draining of physical strength, spirit, and chakra."

"What else could they be?" Ryouta muttered, but Kakashi had his full attention, his gaze as sharp as a hawk.

"Well, in true Hatake tradition," Kakashi said sarcastically, "the Black Temple is used to strengthen, then heal. Their processes are similar, but not identical."

"So it was created during the First Shinobi World War, right?" Ryouta surmised. "A way to get injured soldiers back on the battlefield faster."