The scene initially focused on Kakashi's perspective, set after Naraku had been discharged from the hospital.
Lights and shadows flickered as he sat blankly in his empty home, caught in a daze.
He didn't know how much time had passed, letting the hours slip by amidst the occasional sharp pains in his mind.
Finally, his unfocused pupils refocused, regaining a faint glimmer of light.
Kakashi shook his head as if waking from a long dream.
Loneliness and hunger made him instinctively ask the question he had repeated countless times.
But no one answered.
[This feeling of being left alone in an empty house...]
[Kakashi, your Naraku is gone!]
[Damn, this is so ruthless. I acknowledge the emotional damage.]
[This is nothing; it's not as brutal as the "Old Thief's" knives in the first two episodes.]
[The author definitely needs to give an explanation; Kakashi is clearly in trouble.]
It wasn't until Minato knocked on the Hatake household's door, announcing an escort mission, that Kakashi was pulled from his spiral.
After dinner, at Minato's insistence, Kakashi finally lay down in bed to recover his strength.
[If Minato hadn't come, would Kakashi have just withered away at home?]
[I think it's very possible.]
[I'm starting to believe the forum theory about Kakashi being under an influence; who else would nearly starve themselves to death?]
[Actually, the hints are already quite obvious...]
Early the next morning, the two left the village, following a merchant caravan westward into the Land of Rain.
Several scenes flashed by, accompanied by the voice of the elderly employer.
"The Land of Rain has newly renovated two trade routes..."
Minato and Kakashi took turns scouting ahead, ensuring the road conditions were safe.
"It is said to be an organization called 'Akatsuki'..."
Occasionally, bandits or rogue shinobi attacked, but most were eliminated by shuriken or kunai before they could even get close.
The remaining few were finished off by Kakashi's exquisite swordsmanship.
"Even now, they..."
At night, the two sat in a vacant cart by a bonfire, chatting about trivial matters.
The warm, yellow light reflected on their faces.
"...They are truly incredible people, hahaha."
The old man's narration ended just as the caravan entered the Land of Rain.
Coinciding with the rising sun, the clouds rolled back to reveal a simple gravel road gleaming with morning dew.
The light-colored road flowed like a river across the wilderness, its end disappearing into the boundless jungle.
It guided travelers and merchants toward distant horizons.
Sunny days are few in the Land of Rain, yet its people had forged their own "sun" to illuminate their future.
[How amazing! Yahiko and the others really did it!]
[Even if it's just gravel, it's a broad road leading to happiness.]
[Tears are falling. Akatsuki is the light of hope for the ninja world!]
[With an organization like Akatsuki, the Land of Rain will definitely get better.]
Watching the screen, Naraku was awestruck by everything Akatsuki had accomplished.
He had only mentioned the idea as a favor, yet Yahiko had truly embraced that hope.
He had led others through hardships to complete it.
Although the Land of Rain is small, this breakthrough from nothing was touching.
But what surprised Naraku most was hearing his own name from a shinobi named Kasa.
"It was probably Naraku."
From the mouth of a shinobi a thousand miles away came a name that Minato and Kakashi had not expected at all.
It turned out that among the countless stones paving that road, there was one named "Uchiha Naraku."
[Naraku also contributed!]
[Is Kasa the ninja who rescued Naraku?]
[First he rescues a spy, and then the spy becomes an ally.]
[Kasa, you've done so many good deeds; you deserve this happiness.]
[Even if they are in different places, their desire to improve the world is the same.]
The camera moved from behind Minato to the eastern horizon, where the clouds were pure white.
Then the screen blurred for an instant.
The clouds remained the same, but the audience realized they were now back in Konoha.
Naraku walked a few steps out of the hospital and stopped, looking unsure of where to go.
["No matter who you are, no matter where you are..."]
["We are all under the same blue sky."]
[The author's subtle tenderness is the most deadly.]
[Finally, it's Naraku's turn to appear again!]
[Naraku, you must get better!]
In the next episode, Naraku "coincidentally" met Mikoto at the hospital entrance.
With a mix of persuasion and feigned tears, she took Naraku back to her home.
When Naraku feared he would be a bother, she gently encouraged him.
[Wow, Mikoto is pregnant! Congratulations!]
[Mikoto, your acting really needs work.]
[I think Naraku knows she's faking it.]
[How could he not? He just couldn't bear to refuse such kindness.]
[Just thinking about what Naraku went through makes me want to cry.]
[Naraku is going back to his cautious, reserved self.]
The animator included a cute chibi flashback showing Mikoto kicking Fugaku out of the house.
Fugaku stood at the door with a bewildered expression and a bundle of luggage at his feet.
[Mikoto is so kind!]
[Fugaku: "So, honey, the love is gone?"]
[Hahahahaha, Fugaku is so henpecked.]
[Fugaku: "Do you think I dare to say anything?"]
Fearing he might lose control of his emotions, Naraku volunteered to go to the market.
He started selecting items carefully, but his eyes eventually glazed over.
He didn't even notice the vegetables in his hand were being crushed.
Kakashi... how is he doing now?
Is he still angry with me?
If it weren't for me, things wouldn't have turned out this way...
Self-reproach dyed Naraku's surroundings black, leaving him swallowed by emptiness.
[Naraku probably had nightmares; I dreamt about the breakup scene myself. It was hell.]
[You're so miserable, my friend.]
[He still subconsciously cares about Kakashi; I'm crying my eyes out.]
[How could he not? Kakashi was the first ray of light in his life.]
His descent was interrupted by a voice.
Naraku awoke, looking blankly at the ruined radish in his hand.
Uchiha Fuyo stood in the sunlight like a savior.
His straightforward concern earned immediate praise from the viewers.
[The "darkening" progress bar was interrupted, yay!]
[Author: "Young man, did you think I'd let you guess the plot?"]
[Fuyo came at just the right time! What a reliable adult!]
Hearing Naraku's self-deprecating words, Fuyo messed up Naraku's soft black hair.
It was a rough action, but the warmth of it touched the audience.
"You are the hope of those you love."
"Don't give up on yourself."
These words were like a bullet, shattering Naraku's shackles.
[Yes, Sakumo is counting on you. Naraku, you must stay strong.]
[Raise the Fuyo-Naraku flag!]
[Sorry, Kakashi, but I'm shipping this just for a second.]
[Why can't we have both?]
The scene shifted to Naraku visiting Tsunade to adjust his seals.
Her relieved demeanor suggested his condition was stable.
However, when she demanded he learn the Mystical Palm Technique and Healing Seal in two months, the audience grew anxious.
[I'm constantly worried Naraku's illness will flare up.]
[If the bloodline limit sickness worsens, the body collapses fast.]
[Wait, two months? For an ordinary medical ninja, that's just the basics.]
[Is Naraku really this versatile? Fire, Lightning, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, and now Medical Ninjutsu? He's a god.]
The audience's joy turned to sorrow as Naraku entered Sakumo's private room.
The room was filled only with the ticking of medical instruments.
Naraku pulled Sakumo's hand over his head.
He closed his eyes, pretending he could still feel his father's comfort.
[Waaahhhhh! ToT]
[I can't... my eyes are all blurry...]
[My baby Naraku, my heart aches for him.]
[Don't use family trauma to kill me!]
[Naraku just wants to be a child who can act spoiled again, but he can't.]
Amidst a pale stillness, the new ending theme flowed mournfully.
The comment section was a mess of tears.
Naraku's conscience throbbed faintly, but to save Sakumo, he couldn't stop.
He would let Danzo take the blame for the audience's suffering.
In the modern world, the forum was flooded with new posts.
"Looking back at the Hatake family counting fireworks... the more they smiled, the louder I cried."
1L (OP): [Image of the Hatake family in the courtyard]
I recommended the show to a friend. He just reached the New Year's special. My tears immediately gushed out.
2L: +1. Knowing the future makes every warm scene feel like a tragedy.
3L: I don't cry easily, but this broke me.
4L: My younger brother tries to act like a tough guy, but he was howling today. He told me, "Sister, Naraku doesn't have a dad again."
"A Dream as Long as Daybreak [Hand-drawn Animation] (Hatake Family Love)"
1L (OP): I told myself they would reconcile, so I managed not to cry.
But that head pat completely broke me. I stayed up all night to draw this!
[Video].
Please enjoy; it's guaranteed to be sweet!
2L: A sweet animation from Qingfeng Ruxu?!
3L: Did the sun rise in the west today?
4L: The "Old Thief" is truly superior; he even made the top fan-artist go emo.
After indulging in fanfiction, Naraku saw that "Fuyo-Naraku" was becoming a popular ship.
He needed the popularity points, so an extra source was welcome.
However, he checked on the Kakashi-Naraku fans to make sure they hadn't given up hope.
Fortunately, they remained the most stable source of points.
After reading a few more stories, his time was up.
Naraku closed the interface and returned to reality.
Feeling the chill of the room even under the blankets, he slowly closed his eyesç