Kakashi Masters All Elements, Rewrites the Ninja World for Rin!

"Rin!"

The boy's anguished cry echoed through the empty cave.

Then, with a sharp gasp, he bolted upright, breath ragged and eyes wild.

"Kakashi, are you alright?"

A soft, worried voice reached his ears.

He turned quickly toward the sound and saw Rin watching him beneath the firelight, her expression full of concern.

"Huh~"

Seeing that familiar face, Kakashi finally exhaled in relief.

"I'm fine. You okay, Rin?"

"Mhm~ I'm fine. I'm sorry, Kakashi..."

"This is all my fault for being weak. You and Shisui had to come all the way to save me, and you—"

Her voice cracked, and tears began spilling from her red eyes.

"Okay, okay, no waterworks," Kakashi said quickly, waving a hand like he was swatting away an annoying fly. "You're gonna short-circuit the campfire."

The faintest smirk touched his lips. He couldn't stand to see Rin cry.

"Didn't I say I'd protect you? As for Shisui—well, we definitely owe him one. How about we cook him something decent next time? You know, repay him in calories."

"Yeah! Like last time!"

At this, Kakashi raised a brow and grinned.

"Ah~"

Rin immediately remembered what had almost happened last time in the kitchen. Her cheeks lit up like signal flares. But at least the guilt faded a little.

"Awesome, Senior Silver Fox, you're awake!"

Shisui appeared at the cave entrance, visibly relieved.

Rin blinked, then asked curiously, "Kakashi, why does Shisui call you 'Silver Fox'?"

"Oh, that? Temporary code name. You know, secret mission stuff. Very hush-hush. Super original."

Kakashi waved his fingers mysteriously.

"So cool! Then I want a code name too~"

Rin tilted her head and smiled brightly. "You pick one for me, Silver Fox!"

Kakashi stared at her for a moment, then chuckled.

"Why not... Ahri?"

"Ahri? Ahri..."

"Silver Fox and Ahri… Fox..."

Wait.

Rin suddenly froze. Her eyes widened.

Was this... a couple's code name?!

Her blush came back with a vengeance.

While Rin panicked silently, Kakashi stood up. Immediately, he realized how much his body hated him.

Muscles screamed, bones creaked, and his balance wobbled like a drunk Jōnin on stilts.

Seeing this, Rin rushed over to support him, all thoughts of code names forgotten.

With her help, he finally steadied himself, then slowly shuffled toward the cave entrance to check outside.

A pitch-dark night greeted him, the rain relentless, drenching the forest in sheets of water.

Wind howled. Thunder cracked. Lightning sliced the sky like a divine Chidori.

Kakashi nodded slightly.

"Yep. Classic horror movie weather. Good choice, Shisui."

This place was secluded enough that even the most nosy Mist hunter-nin wouldn't dare search during a storm.

"By the way, Shun, how long was I out?"

"Senior Silver Fox, you've been unconscious for three days and three nights."

Shisui's voice was respectful, but laced with worry.

After all, he was the only one who saw Kakashi fall from the sky—covered in blood, limbs twisted unnaturally, body swelling in places it shouldn't.

He didn't know what kind of brutal hell Kakashi had just crawled out of... but he could guess.

Fighting the Fourth Mizukage wasn't exactly your average sparring match.

Luckily, Kakashi's body began healing on its own soon after. Shisui had seen that strange, rapid regeneration before, back during the Chūnin Exams.

Still, he couldn't stop the guilt from festering. If Kakashi had died there, it would've been on him.

"Three days and three nights, huh?"

Kakashi muttered.

Guess that punch took more out of him than he thought.

Still, if Yagura took the full hit of that technique... he wasn't going to be having tea and mochi anytime soon.

Ninjas, by nature, were glass cannons—deadly offense, terrible defense. Unless you were the Third Raikage or Senju Hashirama, a well-aimed kunai from a civilian could take you out if your guard was down.

That's why Kakashi never slacked on physical training.

He refused to be the guy who died in a flashback because he forgot to dodge.

But that was for later.

Right now, they were grounded until the rain stopped. Still, there was something more pressing.

"Shun, I need to check the Three-Tails seal on Ahri. Wait outside the cave and don't come in."

"Understood, Senior Silver Fox."

Shisui blinked but quickly stepped back.

He had no idea what kind of seal Kakashi was referring to—but if it was serious enough to pull rank, then it was serious enough to follow orders.

"Huh?"

Rin was caught off guard. Seal? What seal?

Since she had been unconscious during her rescue, she didn't know the details—just that something massive and scaly had taken up residence inside her.

"A seal may have been placed on your heart," Kakashi said seriously. "I need to check."

He met her eyes. "You trust me, right, Ahri?"

The way he said it made her heart flutter a little.

Still, she hesitated.

Seal on the heart?

Wasn't the heart... kind of... well... in the chest?

Was he going to—

No, no. It's Kakashi. He wouldn't—

But...

"Okay, okay... just—don't touch anything you're not supposed to!"

Rin looked away, blushing fiercely.

Kakashi raised a brow, suppressing a laugh.

This girl. Bleeding out on a battlefield? No problem. Touching her collarbone? Panic mode engaged.

"Hi~"

To be continued...