Kaoru slowly opened her eyes, the worry in her blue gaze impossible to hide.
The enemies of the future were terrifyingly strong.
Whether it was the mysterious Yin–Yang Release she had never even heard of, or that ability which rendered physical attacks completely meaningless—both were things far beyond her current understanding.
She didn't want to die.
And she wanted Kyusei to live even more.
So the only thing she could do was train desperately.
Become stronger.
Protect Kyusei.
Protect the village.
Kaoru let out a deep sigh, her heart heavy. Whether it was her and Kyusei's deaths in that future, or Naruko's childhood, none of it allowed her any peace of mind.
The only thing that gave her a shred of comfort was this—
In order to protect her and Naruko, Kyusei had chosen to use a technique that condemned both himself and his enemy to eternal suffering, a jutsu that erased even the possibility of reincarnation.
That kind of love…
Because they had witnessed everything from adult Kyusei's perspective, all of his thoughts and emotions were laid bare to them.
His love for adult Kaoru was absolute—
a devotion willing to shatter itself into dust without hesitation.
Compared to that, the uncertainty and hesitation she had once felt about her own feelings suddenly seemed laughable.
For a time, the atmosphere around the dinner table grew heavy and silent.
Moonlight flowed like water.
Inside a quiet, traditional courtyard, Hatake Sakumo and Kakashi sat on the wooden floor. A simple tea set rested between them.
Kakashi had already removed his green flak jacket, leaving only his black shinobi attire. Even his forehead protector was gone.
Cradling a cup of tea, Kakashi looked at the familiar courtyard, his exposed eye filled with nostalgia.
How long had it been… since he last came home?
"So that's how it was… These years must have been incredibly hard on you, Kakashi."
Sakumo's expression was complicated as he looked at his fully grown son, his heart aching.
So… he had committed suicide.
In a way, it fit his personality.
The only person capable of killing Hatake Sakumo… was Hatake Sakumo himself.
But he had never imagined that his death would scar Kakashi so deeply.
A father's suicide.
A friend's sacrifice.
A comrade choosing to die by his hand to protect the village.
A teacher giving his life for Konoha.
In just a few short years, every misfortune imaginable had piled onto his son.
"Ho… hold…"
A toddler with unsteady steps pushed open the door and toddled toward Kakashi, babbling softly.
Kakashi froze for a moment, then awkwardly picked up his two-year-old self.
Holding himself at the age of two…
Even Kakashi didn't know what expression he should be wearing.
Sakumo quietly watched the scene—one big, one small—his heart slowly firming into resolve.
Hadn't everything he ever done been for Kakashi?
Maybe… it was time to let go of certain burdens.
"Oh, right, Kakashi."
Sakumo suddenly spoke up, as if remembering something.
Both versions of Kakashi turned their eyes toward him at the same time.
Sakumo gently patted his two-year-old son's head, then looked at his thirty-year-old self with hopeful anticipation.
"Kakashi, how old is my grandson now?"
"…Huh?"
"…Well, um…"
Kakashi stared at his father, completely speechless.
He didn't even have a girlfriend—where was a grandson supposed to come from?
"That won't do at all, Kakashi."
One look at his son's awkward expression was enough for Sakumo to understand.
"You're already thirty, and you don't even have a child. Look at Uzumaki Kyusei!"
"He's only twelve and he's already got the top student in his grade—who's basically your world's Fourth Hokage!"
"Look at him, then look at you."
Sakumo shot Kakashi a look of utter disappointment.
"Didn't Might Guy—no, Yūhi Shinku's daughter—grow up around your age?"
"Hurry up and go get her."
Cold sweat trickled down Kakashi's temple as he faced his father's relentless matchmaking.
"Uh… that… Asuma is already pursuing Kurenai. Wouldn't it be kind of awkward for me to jump in now…?"
"Asuma?"
Sakumo frowned in confusion, so Kakashi quickly clarified.
"The Third Hokage's younger son."
"Oh, him."
Sakumo waved it off dismissively.
"So what?"
"He's the Third Hokage's son—you're the White Fang's son!"
"What's there to be afraid of? Once you get back, go win Shinku's daughter over."
"His wife's pretty good-looking—his daughter should be gorgeous too, right?"
Sakumo grinned shamelessly, eyebrows waggling.
Kakashi felt immense pressure.
He really hadn't expected to be nagged about marriage by his own father.
…Though, to be fair, Kurenai was beautiful. One of Konoha's finest.
Looking at the hopeful gleam in Sakumo's eyes, Kakashi let out a long sigh.
If I don't… won't the Hatake line just end with me?
"…I'll give it a try."
Please don't let Asuma beat me to death…
Still, Kakashi didn't have much confidence. Asuma had been chasing Kurenai for years and had only recently made progress.
What was Kakashi supposed to be—some last-minute ambusher?
Kyusei lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
Knowing the future for the first time had given him a real sense of urgency.
That mysterious scarred man wasn't just some random Uchiha.
From that single sequence alone, Kyusei had gleaned an alarming amount of information.
Kamui. Yin–Yang Release. Superhuman strength. Sharingan.
Every one of them was terrifying.
Especially Yin–Yang Release—it had destroyed adult Kyusei's seal almost instantly.
And he was fairly sure the man hadn't actually died.
"Brat. What are you thinking about?"
The Nine-Tails' voice echoed from within him.
"Well, this is rare. You're the one starting a conversation, Little Nine."
Kyusei replied in mild surprise.
"Feeling pressured after seeing that future?"
He added teasingly.
"Hmph. Why would I feel pressured?"
"At worst, I just get split in two."
"You're the one who actually dies."
The Nine-Tails snorted, clearly unconcerned.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm totally panicking right now."
Kyusei replied helplessly.
"You little—!"
The Nine-Tails bristled.
But truthfully, he had seen everything too.
That summoning jutsu the scarred man used brought back memories he absolutely hated.
Uchiha Madara.
That lunatic who had dragged him out of his peaceful mountain lair, activated Susanoo without warning, beat him senseless—
Then slapped him with a Mangekyō and forced him to fight Senju Hashirama.
In just three days—
He got beaten twice.
Damn it.
Absolutely damn it.
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