He walked toward the village, not looking back to see if they were following. He knew they were. For the first time in years, the Team 7 memorial didn't feel like a graveyard. It felt like a beginning.

In that heartbeat, Kakashi’s final decision wasn't just about passing them. It was about choosing to believe in a new generation. It was about honoring the name on the stone he had just been touching.

The midday sun beat down on the three Genin, but the air felt like ice.

"The three of us are one," Sasuke muttered, his voice like gravel.