A/N: AMG I can't believe I'm finishing this book after about 1,5 year!

I am ever so grateful to EVERYONE who has read the whole thing, really, you guys and gals are the best!

So here we go, one more time. Don't worry, I'm linking Book 2 below the epilogue, of which the prologue is already uploaded, too! ^^

Kakashi gazed down from a hill at what was left of the village he loved and grew up in. He never would have thought it would ever come to this. Konoha had always seemed… indestructible.

But this was not the only thing that was bringing him down. The village will be rebuilt. This wound was going to heal. That was not it.

No. He was ashamed, so very ashamed of himself.

I died. I was really dead, he kept thinking to himself. If it hadn't been for Naruto…

He had willingly used up all of his Chakra to save Chouji and get him to pass on that information about Pain. He had accepted that it was his duty to save the village, even at the cost of his own life. He had only had one regret: that he had broken yet another promise.

And he was still regretting it. Why did he keep breaking promises to those most important to him?

"Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi didn't move. He'd already heard Naruto approach him.

"Yo," he said weakly. He was actually not really in the mood to talk.

Naruto came to stand beside him, looking over the village with him. "You've been standing here all afternoon," he said.

"I know," replied Kakashi.

After about 2 minutes of silence, Naruto spoke up: "Sensei…"

"Hm?" Kakashi looked at him from the corner of his eye, still unmoving.

"During the battle with Pain…" started Naruto. Kakashi already knew what was coming next: "… you died, didn't you?"

"… Yes," replied Kakashi.

"Shizune-neechan told me how it happened," said Naruto. "I understand why you did it – I probably would have done the same, but… you know…"

"I know, Naruto," said Kakashi. "I had those mixed feelings as well before I died."

"I just want you to know that I'm glad you're still here," said Naruto. "I just lost my teacher and godfather. I don't know what I'd do if any more of my friends were gone."

Kakashi was instantly reminded of himself right after the attack of the Kyuubi. He had lost all his friends back then. He was so glad that Naruto didn't have to go through that in the end. Naruto had already been through so much ever since he was born.

"And I'm glad for Nee-chan, as well," added Naruto before he looked directly at Kakashi. "I don't think she'd ever get over it if you were gone."

"That's enough," said Kakashi. That was just too painful a thought. He sat down on the ground and sighed.

"So that's why you're up here," said Naruto with a careful smile. He sat down next to him. "Are you ashamed of what happened to you?"

Kakashi gave him a brief glance, then bumped his fist lightly on Naruto's shoulder. "So you're not always an idiot," he replied with a chuckle.

Naruto scowled at him for a moment, but then returned to being serious. "Sensei," he started, "you're still alive, aren't you? That means you can still be with Nee-chan. You can still carry out your promise to her. See it as… kind of a second chance, I guess?"

Kakashi blinked. Was this still the same Naruto? Had his fight with Pain made him wiser, somehow? Was that even possible?

"A second chance…" he repeated softly.

Then his father's words resounded in his head: "It's not your time yet. You still have things you need to do."

Kakashi stood up and looked up into the clear blue sky.

"Let's get back to the village," he said to Naruto with a smile. "We've got a lot of stuff to do around here."

Naruto blinked, but then he smiled back and stood up.

They both took a final glance over the village before they headed towards it.

Kaede… Wait for me. I have a feeling we'll meet again soon. I've been given a second chance, and I'm not going to blow it this time.

A/N: One last 'thank you' to all of you! Seriously, you have all made me so happy by reading this entire story, reviewing and having so much patience with me and my slow uploading progress over the past 1,5 year! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

For those of you who cannot get enough of the story and would like to stick with me, here is the link to Book 2:

s/8219585/1/Book_2_Kakashis_Muse