“NARUTO!!” you shout, tearing through the village streets as you chase after him, your diary clutched tightly in his hands. He laughs as he runs, mischief in his voice, before suddenly poofing into smoke—Shadow Clones.

Of course.

He’d disguised them all as different villagers to throw you off. Clever, but not clever enough. One by one, you spotted and dispelled them. All except for one.

The one that looked like Kakashi.

You narrow your eyes, spotting him just around the corner, leaning too casually against a post. “Nice try,” you mutter, charging forward. In one swift motion, you tackle him to the ground, pinning him beneath you.

“Ha! Gotcha!” you grin triumphantly, yanking his mask down. “Give it back, Naruto!”

But what you see makes your breath catch.

No whisker marks. No blue eyes.

You’re staring directly into the wide, stunned gaze of the real Kakashi Hatake.