If the morning light represents the beginning, it is full of energy. Then the sunset is the end, which makes people sad. But today, the smiles in the orphanage cover up that sadness.

Except for Kakashi.

Kakashi looked at the scene where Hinata Kei was playing with the children in the clearing. The happier the children were at the moment, the more he contrasted with the wary and defensive look he had when he first saw them.

In this comparison, his thoughts became more and more disordered, and he always felt that something was not good.

The sun had completely set, and it was time to separate. Hinata Kei pulls Kakashi to say goodbye to the children and the acting dean Reina.

Feeling the almost overflowing reluctance of the children, Kakashi's side also came back to his senses, and reluctantly smiled and waved to them.

Kakashi walked out of the orphanage surrounded by children, his mind still not coming to his senses. This long and short afternoon gave him a lot of spiritual shocks that he had never felt before.

Kakashi felt that his cognition was once again problematic. He saw the smiles on the faces of these plainly dressed children, and for some reason, he felt a little ashamed.

Obviously, everything in the orphanage was not caused by him, but he just felt panicked in his heart. Did his forbearance indirectly contribute to all this? Doesn't that mean he's a criminal too?

At this moment, a little girl among the children came over with two clay statues. Perceiving this scene, Hinata Kei glanced at Kakashi on the side and looked forward to it.

The little girl's eyes were full of gratitude and expectation, and she said, "Brother Doctor, Brother Kakashi, this is a gift made by everyone, I hope you can accept it." ”

The little girl held the clay statue in both hands, serious and nervous, and she mustered up the courage to step forward.

This is made of ordinary clay, and there is no polished clay statue at all, which looks very rough. Such a gift is undoubtedly unqualified in terms of actual value.

As long as there is a little financial condition and a little ability, the children will definitely not choose to give such a gift.

Apparently, the little girl and the children behind her knew this. So with nervousness in their eyes, they were afraid that Hinata Kei and Kakashi would not accept this cheap and rough gift.

Hinata Kei squatted down and 'looked directly' at the little girl with his own eyes, and said with a gentle smile, "Thank you for the gifts, I will definitely keep them." ”

"But may I ask, what are you carving?"

In fact, he perceived, and even perceived it clearly. Although the clay statue was very rough, it had the same blind crutch as in his hand.

The little girl saw Hinata Kai take the clay statue seriously, and she smiled and said, "It's you, brother, and Brother Kakashi." Actually, we want to give some better gifts, it's just that we don't have any good things. Sorry ......"

"It's not you who should apologize, it's those who didn't make your life better." Hinata Kai shook his head, and then said, "This is the best gift I've received so far, thank you!" ”

Hinata Kei touched the little girl's head, 'looked' at Kakashi on the side, and said, "Kakashi, what do you think?" ”

Hearing this, the children all looked at Kakashi, their expressions becoming more and more nervous. They were really afraid that Kakashi would say no words from his mouth.

Kakashi pursed his lips and quickly took the clay statue given to him by the children with the same seriousness, saying, "Yes, this is the best gift I have ever received!" ”

Accepting the gift, the little girl and the children waved goodbye reluctantly in joy. Hinata Kei and Kakashi walk on their way home.

The road here is no different from when he came, the difference is that Kakashi's steps were not so heavy when he came, and now Kakashi walks very slowly, and he keeps looking at the clay statue in his hand.

After walking for a while, Hinata Kei suddenly stopped and asked, "Kakashi, is this the status quo you want to protect?" ”

Kakashi paused as he heard this, and looked at the clay statue in his hand.

The more the children treat him, the more he feels a sense of self-blame. Obviously, this group of lovely people only needs a little kindness to live happily, but why is no one willing to give?

Is it because the village doesn't know about it? Or did the orphanage never tell the village children about their difficulties?

Or maybe they actually knew, but as Hinata Kei said, they never cared......

So as Hinata Kai said, what exactly did he protect?

Some didn't dare to stay on Hinata's side anymore, Kakashi said, "I'm a little tired, I'll go back first if it's okay." ”

Kakashi wanted to escape, and Hinata Kei said, "Kakashi, you can doubt my purpose, question my motives, and even hate me. ”

"But I hope you don't live up to the gifts your children have given you."

"At least they're sincere, they're not miserable and false. They give you a gift of love with everything they can do. ”

"But what about you? Do you want to continue to escape? Sit back and watch more tragedies unfold? ”

Kakashi turned and fell silent.

Hinata Kei's tone was serious and serious, and he said, "Kakashi Hachiki, you claim to be a believer in the Will of Fire, but in fact you are an accomplice of the executioner, and you have failed this village!" ”

"You were a child, and you were a child. You should know that the pain that children go through is likely to stay with them for the rest of their lives. ”

"You're grown up now, and you should have been committed to protecting the children from undeserved suffering."

"But what have you done? You're still watching your children suffer what you've suffered! ”

Hinata Kai shook his head and turned to leave, and before leaving, he said, "The gift in your hand is rough and simple, but I think you may not be worthy of this gift full of heart." ”

"Tell me, are you worthy?"

Kakashi's heart shuddered, and he clutched the somewhat rough clay figure in his hand, but the weight of the pressure was too much for him to grasp.

Kakashi recalled childhood memories, the pain in his heart on the day his father died. On that day, how he wished that someone would be able to stop everything, but no one stepped forward.

So what now? Are the children in the orphanage much different from his situation at the time?

No, maybe worse. Because he still had teachers and friends at that time, and his economic conditions were also good. And this group of children has nothing, not even a chance to decide their fate.

But that's how they still gave themselves a gift and worked hard to express their hearts. Simply because today he had a meal with them!

Looking at the clay statue in his hand, Kakashi thought of the adoration and affection that the children had shown for him in the orphanage. Guilt and self-blame made his vision gradually blurred.

I don't know how long it took for Kakashi to finally come to his senses. He wiped his face and carefully stroked the clay figure with his hand, his expression gradually firm.

At this time, he suddenly heard the somewhat familiar sound of blind crutches falling to the ground, and a sentence that followed: "How is it, have you thought clearly?" ”

Kakashi subconsciously took a step back, quickly turned his back to Hinata Kei, and said in a hoarse voice, "Aren't you already gone?!" ”

"I've been waiting for you, or the children and the village have been waiting for you."

"I can promise you for the time being." Kakashi took a deep breath and said, "But if one day I find out that you are using me to damage the interests of the village, I will not let you go." ”

"Don't worry, there won't be this day."

Hinata Kei sensed Kakashi's emotions and said, "Also, I have something I want to ask you for, and I hope you can agree. ”

Kakashi was silent for a moment and said, "You tell me what it is first, and then I'll think about whether to say yes or not." ”

"That's right, the family has been struggling with my eye problem lately......"

After telling Shennong that he might have a way to heal his eyes, Hinata Kei walked directly in front of Kakashi and said seriously, "I hope you can accompany me out of the village when the time comes." ”

"You know, I'm just blind. All I would like to hire you to do as a guard. If I get into any trouble, you can help me solve it. ”

Kakashi thought for a moment and said, "Are you sure it's just a guard, nothing to add?" ”

"Just guards, of course." Hinata Kai nodded and said, "You only need to be responsible for protecting me when I am in danger." ”

"If that's all there is to it, I say yes." Kakashi said.

Hinata Kai smiled more gently and said, "Thank you, Kakashi. You're such a nice guy. ”

"Don't overthink it." Kakashi said, "You helped me get out of the obsession in my heart last time, so I'm just returning your favor this time." After paying it back, you and I don't owe each other! ”

"Kakashi, we're friends, why bother?" Hinata Kei stretched out his hand and said, "What's more, we have to work together in the future to live up to the expectations of the children, right?" ”

Kakashi didn't stretch out his hand, but Hinata Kei already knew the answer, so he left first.