Chapter Text
Not enough, again, Kakashi thought, forcing a pair of arms to move.
His knuckles clashed again with the rough surface of the wooden log, producing a dull sound that broke the afternoon silence in the backyard. The wooden log stood firmly, much taller and thicker than his own five-year-old self, but he continuously struck it without stopping. The front part of the wood was already ruined, its fibers peeling off and scattered on the grass due to the constant strikes he delivered.
Cold sweat poured down his forehead, sliding down past his temples, dripping onto his cheeks, before finally being absorbed by the cloth mask that always covered half of his face. Kakashi's eyes narrowed, wrinkling to withstand the stinging pain that began to spread from his joints, yet his movements didn't slow down the slightest bit. He had been hitting the log for thirty minutes non-stop. Air went in and out of his lungs in a rapid rhythm.
I have to become stronger, he chanted inwardly. I cannot be weak in this world.
His mind drifted back to yesterday's events. Kakashi had just entered the Academy. The large building was filled with the noisy sounds of kids running around, and inside the classroom, they had just done an introduction session one by one. That was where he saw those kids in person for the first time, Obito and Rin.
Seeing them for real gave Kakashi a strange mental blow. In his eyes, the two of them were truly cheerful, very innocent, full of laughter and life. They talked about their dreams with loud voices and sparkling eyes in front of the class, completely unaware of what kind of future awaited them. They didn't know that the path to achieve those dreams would be paid with blood and despair. Knowing the fate that lurked over those children made Kakashi's stomach churn.
He hit the log again, harder this time until small wood splinters flew into the air.
His thoughts then shifted to his father, Sakumo. A sudden hot sensation spread in the corners of his eyes due to pent-up emotions. His father was a very good person. Since he woke up in this body a few months ago, waking up with tremendous confusion and panic, his father was the anchor of his sanity. Sakumo was the main reason that made him able to accept this nonsensical reality. The man made Kakashi realize that he had to keep living, no matter how messed up the world he was stranded in now.
Will he die?
That question continuously haunted him, creeping in the dark corners of his mind every time he saw his father's broad back leaving to carry out a mission. He was very scared. He knew the original story, he knew that there was a failed mission that would make his father shunned by the whole village, which in the end would push the man to end his own life. The problem was, he didn't know the exact date. The timeline of the Naruto world had always felt chaotic and full of plot holes to him. That event could happen next year, next month, or even next week.
One thing was for sure: if that time came, he had to stop it. He would do anything to break that destiny and keep his father alive.
Kakashi bit his lip behind his mask. He didn't want to be left alone in this world. In his previous life, in his old world, he did have a father and a mother. However, the memories of them were just gray shadows. They both divorced when he was little, then each was busy building a perfect new family. Kakashi was just a remnant of their past. Every time he visited one of their houses, looking at his step-siblings laughing at the dining table, he always felt that he was a stranger. An uninvited guest hitching a ride in someone else's life.
But here... in this house, everything was different.
His father never ignored him. Sakumo always looked into his eyes when talking, always asked how he spent his day, always enthusiastically asked what he wanted to eat tonight, and always used all sorts of silly ways just to make Kakashi smile. For the first time, Kakashi felt that he had truly come home.
Bam!
His last punch landed very hard, making the wooden log vibrate violently down to its roots. Kakashi stopped his assault. His hands were still pressed against the ruined wooden surface, while his chest rose and fell rapidly, panting for oxygen. The afternoon breeze blew softly sweeping across the yard, hitting his entire body that was soaked in sweat, and carrying with it the scent of pine from the forest near their residence. Kakashi let his eyelids close, absorbing the coolness of the wind that chilled his heated skin.
Taking a long breath that sounded trembling, he pulled back his arms which now felt sapped of energy. He looked down and observed both of his hands.
His knuckles were severely reddened, some parts were even grazed and bleeding slightly. His hands felt stinging, hot, and stiff. However, Kakashi knew from these months of experience that the wounds would heal very quickly. The anatomy and physical endurance of humans in this world, especially someone with strong shinobi genetics like the Hatake clan, were truly nonsensical according to his old world's standards. The chakra flowing in his blood vessels naturally accelerated the cell regeneration process. It was a huge advantage that he had to utilize to the fullest.
Kakashi shook his head slowly, chasing away the remnants of his daydream. When he opened his eyes and looked up, the sun had already started to slide down, painting the Konoha sky with a stunning gradation of orange, purple, and red colors. It was time to wrap up today's training.
He needed to take a bath to clean himself, and after that, he had to start cooking. His father would definitely be coming home soon from his duty, and Kakashi really wanted to prepare a warm dinner so the man could eat right away and rest immediately.
He stepped away from the wooden log, walked across the yard, and entered the house through the back door, heading straight for the bathroom. He took off his clothes that were already wet and sticky with sweat, putting them in the laundry basket.
After turning on the faucet, he cleaned his body with soap, scrubbing off the leftover dirt and dust, then rinsed it off with water that felt refreshing. After cleaning himself, he stepped into the wooden bathtub. It crept up and enveloped his tense muscles, making Kakashi sigh in relief. He slumped down until the water reached his chin, closed his eyes, and let the silence of the house calm him.
Twenty minutes later, Kakashi stepped out of the bathroom. He put on clean casual clothes, a dark long-sleeved shirt and loose pants; he felt fresh, as if he had just been reborn.
With light, soundless steps, he walked towards the kitchen. The kitchen counter was designed for adults, and his current body was still too short to reach it. So, Kakashi pulled a small wooden step stool from the corner of the room and climbed it. Standing on that stool gave him the perfect height to start working.
He took the ingredients out of the fridge, and began chopping green onions, silken tofu, and some vegetables with a steady rhythm to make miso soup. In another bowl, he cracked a few eggs, seasoned them, and whisked them quickly until frothy to make an omelet.
Kakashi did all those cooking processes in silence. There was only the sound of the knife hitting the wooden cutting board and the sizzling of oil in the hot pan. Slowly, the savory aroma of the boiling broth began to fill the kitchen air. Kakashi smiled faintly behind his mask. He picked up a ladle, gently blew on the hot liquid inside it, then tasted a little bit. He nodded in satisfaction. The taste was just right.
The sun had fully set, replacing the orange sky with a star-studded blanket of night when he finally turned off the stove. Kakashi arranged the soup bowls, a plate containing a golden-yellow rolled omelet, and rice bowls on their small dining table. After making sure everything was ready, he walked to the living room and turned on the television to kill time, looking for background noise so the house wouldn't be too quiet. His father would be home, maybe in about an hour.
…
"I'm home!"
A deep, warm voice echoed from the entrance, followed by the sound of shoes being taken off. Slow footsteps walked down the hallway, and shortly after, Sakumo's tall figure appeared in the doorway of the dining room. His long silver hair was tied loosely, his jōnin vest looked a bit dull, but his tired eyes immediately softened upon seeing him.
In one of his hands, Sakumo carried a fairly large transparent plastic bag. He raised an eyebrow when he saw the dishes already neatly arranged on the table.
"You cooked again, Kakashi?" Sakumo greeted gently, walking closer. "I've told you over and over again, you don't need to force yourself to do all that, Son. I can buy it."
Kakashi smiled. "There are a lot of ingredients in the fridge, Dad. I was afraid the vegetables and tofu would rot if we kept them for too long. Besides, I don't mind. What did you bring tonight?"
Hearing that excuse, Sakumo could only chuckle softly. He pulled up a wooden chair and sat opposite Kakashi, then placed the plastic bag in the middle of the dining table. Carefully he untied the plastic, taking out a cardboard box that was still steaming hot.
"Fried chicken," Sakumo said with a slightly proud tone. The savory smell of seasoned flour and fried meat instantly dominated the aroma of the room. "This will be very delicious if we eat it with your homemade soup, right?"
Seeing those golden pieces of fried chicken, Kakashi's eyes widened slightly. He nodded in agreement. "It looks very delicious, and the portion is quite large. Where did you buy it?"
"Near the main gate of the village," Sakumo answered with a smile. "They just opened that stall two days ago. I saw the young man selling there looked enthusiastic, so I decided to drop by and buy some. Your dad is a loyal supporter of local businesses, you know?"
Laughing softly at his father's joke, Kakashi used his chopsticks to pick up one large piece of chicken thigh, moving it to his rice bowl. "That's a very good move. We really should do that often so the money circulation remains smooth and the village's economy can develop well."
Sakumo, who was just about to bite into his chicken breast, paused. He looked at his son with an amused gaze. "You talk about inflation and the economy as if you yourself have gone to work and earned money every day."
"You're the one who always teaches me about things like that from your reading books, Dad," Kakashi grinned.
Sakumo shook his head in resignation, unable to argue. "Alright, alright. Little master, let's stop talking for a moment. We should eat now or these chickens will get cold and lose their crunchiness."
Kakashi nodded in agreement. He pulled his cloth mask down beneath his chin and started biting into the fried chicken thigh. He chewed slowly, feeling the meat juices spread in his mouth. His eyes widened slightly in surprise before he nodded in satisfaction, looking at his father who was also enjoying his food.
"This is truly extraordinary. The meat inside is very tender but the skin is crispy. The seasoning has seeped in, and the spice mixture here plays its role in just the right proportions."
"Yes, you're right. That guy clearly knows how to cook properly," Sakumo agreed, then sipped the soup, followed by a piece of omelet. "That stall will definitely become very busy in the future, I bet on it."
"If that really happens and the stall grows bigger, we should make time to eat there in person someday," Kakashi suggested enthusiastically.
Sakumo's eyes glinted mischievously. "Sure, that's a good idea. But on one condition, you have to treat me and pay the bill later."
"Hey, I don't have a single penny!" Kakashi laughed freely. "You have to wait for me to graduate from the academy, and grow up first to be able to get a treat from me."
Hearing that, Sakumo's expression softened, looking at his son's face with full of affection. "Well, in that case... I will be very happy to wait for it."
Those simple words made Kakashi's hand movement stop in the air. He stared intently at his father's face who was smiling while chewing his rice. Kakashi's chest felt tight with suddenly intensifying emotions. Yes. You really have to wait, Dad. Because of that, whatever happens, please don't die. Promise me not to die.
He immediately looked down, hiding his eyes by pretending to be busy picking meat off the bone, not wanting his father to see the weakness there.
"So, how was your day at the Academy, Son?" Sakumo suddenly changed the subject.
Kakashi shrugged. "Nothing impressive at all. Everything was pretty much the same as the first day yesterday. Theory classes, an introduction to the village's history, and break time."
"You didn't try to approach your classmates and get to know them?" one of Sakumo's eyebrows rose.
"I already got to know some of them during class hours," Kakashi replied while pinching a piece of tofu from his soup. "But I deliberately didn't join in playing during break time. I much prefer sitting alone under the shade of a tree, reading a book, rather than having to run around aimlessly chasing a ball with them in the yard."
Sakumo placed his chopsticks down slowly. He fell silent for a moment, letting out a faint sigh before leaning his body forward. "Kakashi... you know, you should try it."
"Try what exactly?"
"Socializing with your peers. Join them. It will make your days there feel busier and more fun so you don't get bored quickly. Having friends is also very important. Someday, they will become comrades you can rely on when you encounter difficulties."
Kakashi's chopsticks stopped in the air. He looked at his father in silence. Socializing with those kids was troublesome, how could he possibly really blend in? His mentality was that of a young man who had already gone through puberty and graduated from high school. He couldn't possibly enjoy silly games of tag or talking about which ninja looked the coolest. However, of course, his father knew absolutely nothing about his biggest secret. In Sakumo's eyes, Kakashi was just a genius child who grew up too fast.
Not wanting to make his father worry, Kakashi forced a faint smile on his face. "Alright, I will try it tomorrow, besides, I saw there are some kids in my class who also don't seem to like running around and prefer quietness like me. Maybe... they and I will get along if we chat."
Hearing that promise, Sakumo's expression instantly brightened. A relieved smile bloomed on his face, temporarily erasing the traces of exhaustion etched there. "That's my boy. Excellent."
…
They spent the rest of the dinner with light chatter about the weather and the village's condition. After the bowls and plates were completely clean without any leftovers, Sakumo slid his chair back, getting ready to stand up to start collecting the dirty dishes.
Seeing that, Kakashi quickly grabbed his father's arm. "Let me clean all of this up. Sit down, you're already very tired from working outside all day."
However, his father remained standing and shook his head firmly. "No bargaining. You went to the trouble of cooking this dinner, Kakashi, and as a parent who appreciates his child's hard work, it's only proper that I take the task of washing the dishes. Besides, my duty today wasn't heavy at all. Just doing routine patrols and setting up some new traps in the Konoha forest."
"Just because the mission was light, doesn't mean your back doesn't feel tired, right?" Kakashi retorted stubbornly, his hands already reaching for two empty plates to stack.
Sakumo chuckled. He looked down, staring deeply into Kakashi's pair of dark eyes, then affectionately ruffled his soft silver hair until it was messy. "Alright, alright, how about this deal? I will wash the dishes with soap, and you're in charge of rinsing and drying them with a towel. Isn't that a very fair division of labor?"
Kakashi frowned for a moment, weighing the offer, before finally sighing and nodding. "Alright then. I agree."
The two of them walked towards the sink area in the kitchen. Kakashi dragged his reliable small step stool again so he could reach the height of the counter. As his father began to turn on the faucet and soap the dishes, Kakashi, standing beside him with a clean towel in hand, spoke up.
"Dad, when can we train together again in the yard? The teachers at the Academy haven't started teaching me fighting techniques at all, they only discuss basic things. And every day after school, I can only practice taijutsu alone hitting the wooden log."
Hearing that complaint, his father laughed, his laugh sounding warm. "Of course they haven't taught you how to really fight yet, Kakashi. You've only been to school there for two days! You have to be a little patient, Son. Everything has its stages. But, to answer your question... what if we train this Sunday?"
"Sunday?"
"Yes. I already asked for permission to take a day off this weekend. We can practice taijutsu together in the morning, and afterward, we can go to the village's main park for a walk to refresh our minds."
"Really? You promise?" Kakashi's eyes sparkled with joy, his five-year-old mind couldn't hold it back.
"Of course, Son. Why not? We can also wake up earlier to make some packed lunches. It will be our perfect little family picnic."
Kakashi rubbed the plate in his hand enthusiastically. "In that case, I will be in charge of making fruit sandwiches... and I will add a lot of sweet cream inside them!"
Sakumo looked at him with a mock-scolding gaze. "Picnic or not, you have to start eating less sugar, Kakashi, or you will get cavities before you graduate from the Academy."
Kakashi laughed freely hearing that.