Chapter Text
The sky was still dark, the moon fading low on the horizon with no sign of the sun yet. Yet unlike every other morning, Kakashi was already dressed and slipping out the door. He made his way to the team’s usual training ground, finding it empty at this hour.
With no one around, he began running through the routine he’d designed himself — drills from his Anbu days. His smaller, younger frame still threw him off sometimes, but he kept at it, determined to finish before anyone else arrived.
The night before, Itachi had told him that Sakumo would pick him up, but he was still expected to train with Gojo as usual until then. Kakashi wasn’t thrilled about another morning with Gojo’s antics, and he couldn’t help hoping Sakumo would show up quickly.
I wish he’d come soon—
“Oho~” a voice drawled behind him, slicing through his thoughts. “My, my… never thought I’d see this.”
Kakashi didn’t even turn. “Gojo-sensei, must you be this loud in the morning?” he asked flatly, unimpressed.
“Better loud than gloomy.” Gojo strolled closer, flashing a grin. “You should try lightening up once in a while. You’re still young.” He poked Kakashi lightly on the shoulder with one long finger.
Kakashi shot him a look so flat it was practically a nerfed Tsunade.
“Sensei,” he said instead. “Do you care for a spar?”
Gojo blinked, surprised, then grinned wider. “Eh? For real? What’s gotten into you, Kakashi-kun~?” He rolled his shoulders, excitement crackling off him.
POW!
The sound of a fist connecting with a jaw cut through the clearing. Gojo’s head snapped to the side, his blindfold nearly flying off.
“…Huh?” he mumbled, touching his chin in disbelief. “Did you just—?”
Kakashi was already hopping back, hands in his pockets like nothing happened. “You’re slow in the morning.”
Deep down, Gojo had never considered Kakashi as a threat. Not that he’d ever admit it — but he’d grown unexpectedly fond of the kid, which was exactly why that punch had landed in the first place. Still, letting a twelve-year-old land a hit felt like the ultimate betrayal of his pride, and he fully intended to issue Kakashi an invoice for the damages.
Gojo’s voice dropped an octave, playful but with that dangerous sing-song edge. “You know what that means, brat?”
Kakashi tilted his head, feigning innocence. “Nap time?”
Gojo’s grin widened. “Exactly.”
He blurred and appeared behind Kakashi in a blink, swinging his leg in a powerful kick. Kakashi’s body flew forward and smacked into a tree with a thud.
Cracking his knuckles one by one, Gojo sauntered toward the prone figure. “You wanted a spar? Congratulations. You’re getting the premium package~.”
POOF!
A cloud of smoke hissed out. When it cleared, a splintered log rolled onto the ground.
“Tsk, I hate ninjas” he clicked his tongue, pivoting just in time to spot a kunai slicing through the air toward his face. With a lazy swipe, he caught it between two fingers. “That’s not gonna work—”
BOOM!
The explosive tag wrapped around the handle went off with a blinding flash. Dust and splinters rained across the training ground.
Gojo emerged from the cloud, not a single hair out of place, and one eye twitching.
I fucking hate ninjas. Gojo thought, once again reaffirming his complete and utter disdain for the people running this world.
“I thought we were only doing Taijutsu,.” He narrowed his eyes in Kakashi’s direction.
From somewhere in the trees, Kakashi’s voice floated down. “You did say premium package, Sensei.”
Gojo appeared instantly in front of Kakashi, who perched on a tree branch. “You shouldn’t have given away your location, Kakashi-kun.” He swung a kick toward Kakashi’s head, but Kakashi leapt off the tree just in time. “Not that I wouldn’t have found you anyway,” Gojo added, teleporting after him.
Kakashi used his own teleportation technique, Body Flicker, darting through the trees. Just as Gojo closed in, Kakashi leapt into another tree and—exactly as Kakashi had anticipated—Gojo followed.
The high-speed chase, combined with nearly invisible ninja wires, proved his undoing. Gojo ran straight into a trap, the wire snapping taut and suspending him mid-air like a witch about to be burned at the stake.
In a flash, a blink of light flickered before he managed to free himself. Kakashi, standing ahead, suddenly dissolved into a swirl of leaves, leaving behind the limping corpses of Geto Suguru and Amanai Riko—figures Gojo instantly recognized, and was momentarily shocked to see.
Since arriving in this world, Gojo had learned the hard way that some things were beyond his control, some skills he lacked, and some norms he simply couldn’t get used to. Despite twelve years of studying ninja arts, he still struggled with distinguishing chakra from curse energy. Despite his All-Seeing Eyes, the invisible ninja wires caught him off guard. Despite Infinity, his impenetrable defense, shielding him from physical attack, he had no defense against the biological and mental assault of a Genjutsu. Yet, he knew just enough and perhaps more, to survive in this unfamiliar world.
Breaking free from the Genjutsu while still tangled in the wire, Gojo looked up to see Kakashi sitting calmly on a tree branch before him, twirling his blindfold.
“I won,” Kakashi said casually.
“All right, all right,” Gojo replied, finally freeing himself and dropping to the ground. “What do you want? Candy?”
“You weren’t even serious,” Kakashi pointed out, stepping down and handing Gojo’s blindfold back.
“I don’t intend to kill you,” Gojo said, taking the blindfold and ruffling Kakashi’s hair. “But that genjutsu was not nice.” He heavily hammered Kakashi on the head. Kakashi winced, clutching his throbbing skull.
Soon after, Naruto and Sasuke joined them, and the morning sun fully rose, ready for training. Since Kakashi had started the spar, Gojo went along with it, rolling with the punches and taking turns sparring with both Naruto and Sasuke.
Halfway through a break, the sound of approaching footsteps reached them. Two figures emerged from the treeline, striding toward the group.
“Yo! Satoru!”
The voice belonged to none other than the legendary Toad Sage, Jiraiya, a wide grin stretching across his face.
Sakumo followed closely behind, scanning the group with a mix of amusement and concern, seeing a blown up ground from an earlier incident.
Gojo raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Oh, good day to Konoha’s fine gentlemen.”
Naruto bounced on his heels. “Ero-Sennin!”
Sasuke folded his arms, giving Jiraiya a wary look, while Kakashi’s eyes literally lit up.
Jiraiya chuckled, clapping Gojo on the shoulder. “Heard you’ve been wrangling these little monsters. Mind if I take one off your hands?” He winked at Naruto.
“I’ll be taking Kakashi-kun, as I informed you yesterday,” Sakumo said, resting a hand on Kakashi’s shoulder and offering him a warm smile.
Gojo threw up his hands, mock despair in his voice. “Finally! Two less brats. Anyone want the last one?” He gestured at Sasuke.
Sasuke, unimpressed, dashed forward and barreled his head into Gojo’s stomach. “You’re not abandoning me!”
Gojo stumbled back, laughing despite the pain, while Kakashi shook his head, muttering, “So mature, Sasuke.”
“Hmph!” Sasuke replied, crossing his arms and scowling.
—————
Jiraiya, Naruto, Sakumo, and Kakashi set off together, the sun casted long shadows as they walked through the forest path. Naruto bounced along enthusiastically, his energy was infectious. Sakumo trailed behind little Kakashi, a fond smile tugging at his lips as he watched the boy.
“So, Naruto,” Jiraiya said, falling into step beside him, “have you been practicing your summoning jutsu?”
Naruto’s eyes lit up. “Of course, Ero-Sennin! I’m gonna bring out Gamabunta real soon!”
Kakashi, trailing a few steps behind, perked up at the word. “Summon?” His voice carried a note of curiosity—and something else, something almost wistful. His mind flashed to the loyal ninkens he used to summon in the past. Images of them flickered in his mind—the warmth of their fur, the weight of their presence at his side during missions. Ever since arriving in this world, he had tried, countless times, but nothing ever worked.
Sakumo noticed the subtle change in Kakashi’s demeanor. He studied him quietly for a moment, then spoke, “Jiraiya, Kakashi and I are going another way.”
Jiraiya raised a brow but only smirked knowingly. “Suit yourself.”
Sakumo crouched slightly to ruffle Naruto’s hair. “Good luck with your training, Future Hokage.”
Naruto straightened like a little soldier. “Yes, sir!” he chirped, giving a playful salute.
—————
Kakashi and Sakumo walked in silence for a while, the trees thickening as they turned toward the old Hatake compound. The air grew cooler, tinged with moss and water. Kakashi glanced sideways at Sakumo, who for once didn’t rush to fill the silence.
Finally, Kakashi asked, “Why are we going this way?”
Sakumo smiled faintly. “You’ll see.”
When the old gates came into view, Kakashi’s breath hitched. The compound stood exactly as he remembered—quiet, a little weatherworn, but familiar. The wooden beams still bore the faint marks of sparring weapons. The stone lantern at the entrance still leaned to one side. The smell of damp pine needles filled the air.
He trailed his fingers across the wooden fence as they walked in. “It hasn’t changed,” he murmured. “Not even a little.”
Sakumo watched Kakashi’s expression soften. “You’ve been here before?”
Kakashi blinked, evading eye contact. “No, Sakumo-sama.”
Perhaps he explored this part of the village before. Sakumo shrugged it off.
Inside, the old house carried the quiet weight of memory. Sliding shoji doors framed narrow corridors, their paper panels softened to a warm cream with age. Wooden beams stretched across the ceilings, polished smooth by time. A low table still sat at the heart of the main room, exactly where Kakashi remembered it, as though waiting for a family meal that never happened.
Sakumo moved along the shelves stacked with training manuals and clan records, his touch lingering on the spines before reaching into a basket and drawing out a worn scroll bound with black string. “I have something for you,” he said softly.
Kakashi stepped closer. “What’s that?”
“A summoning contract,” Sakumo said, holding it out with both hands. “It’s been in our family for generations. I thought… maybe you’d be interested.”
Kakashi froze, staring at the scroll as though it might vanish. “You’re serious?”
Sakumo nodded once. “Completely.”
Kakashi took it reverently, kneeling to unfurl the scroll on the floor. The inked pawprints of past summons lined the parchment, each one familiar and yet strange.
“Sign it with your blood,” Sakumo murmured. “You’ll gain companions for life. Eight of them—ninja hounds.”
Kakashi swallowed hard. His hands trembled as he bit his thumb, pressing blood to the contract and scrawling his name beneath the pawprints.
They moved to the back of the compound near the pond, where dragonflies skated over the water. Sakumo cut his own thumb, demonstrating the hand seals. A burst of smoke, and a wolf-like dog appeared, dipped its head in greeting, and vanished again.
“Your turn,” Sakumo prompted gently.
Kakashi formed the hand signs, chakra surging through his fingers. “Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Jutsu).”
Smoke erupted. When it cleared, a small brown pug blinked up at him, sniffing his boots.
Kakashi’s lips curled upward—his brightest smile of the day. “Hey there.”
The pug gave him an unimpressed stare.
Sakumo chuckled, arms folded. “Orochimaru was right. You really are a genius—you nailed it on the first try.”
As if remembering something, Sakumo went back inside and returned with cloth and a sewing kit. “Want to design uniforms for them?”
Kakashi’s eyes flicked to the pug, then back to Sakumo. “Yes,” he said quickly, a flicker of excitement crossing his face.
“How about Henohenomoheji as the pack symbol?” Sakumo suggested with a smile. “Your name is Kakashi, after all.”
All at once, the memories crashed over him. The dam broke before he could hold it back. Hot tears slid down his cheeks as he clutched the little pug to his chest, shoulders trembling with quiet sobs.
In his past life, it had been Kakashi’s own idea to mark his ninken with the scarecrow face. And like father, like son, they’d reached the same thought, sharing the same sense of humor. And that, more than anything, undid him.
“Kakashi-kun?” Sakumo crouched beside him, worried. “What’s wrong?”
But Kakashi couldn’t speak.
Sakumo hesitated, then pulled the boy gently against his side, unknowingly letting him lean into the warmth of a father he’d longed for. He patted his back, saying nothing, just staying there until the tears ran dry.
“Enough now,” the pug muttered at last, giving Kakashi an awkward pat on the head.
Sakumo’s laugh broke the silence like sunlight through clouds. “Guess even Pakkun has a soft spot for you,” he said, still chuckling as he hugged Kakashi a little tighter.
“It’s not that funny,” Kakashi mumbled, swiping at his eyes with his sleeve.
Sakumo’s smile softened into something apologetic, almost shy.
Kakashi got up and walked toward the pond, then, in a quiet voice, he asked, “Do you believe in reincarnation?”
Sakumo blinked, the question landing heavier than the boy’s tone suggested. “reincarnation?” he repeated slowly, tilting his head. “That’s… a strange thing to ask.”
Kakashi kept his gaze on the pond. “Like if someone died… and woke up, restarting life again. But…the world kinda jumbled and everything was in the wrong place. Would you believe that’s possible?”
The evening breeze stirred the cedar branches above them. Sakumo studied him, the way his voice trembled just enough to betray that this wasn’t idle curiosity.
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned back, eyes narrowing in thought. “Twelve years ago,” he said softly, “the sky itself tore open. A rupture. That’s when… I crossed over to another world.”
Kakashi’s breath hitched. “…Is that why I’ve never seen you around before?”
Sakumo gave a small, almost rueful smile. “I just found my way back recently.” He hesitated, gaze sharpening with curiosity as he studied Kakashi. “But I don’t think it’s quite the same as being reborn in a different world.”
“It’s not an entirely different world,” Kakashi said at last, his voice barely above a whisper. He turned to look at Sakumo, almost pleading. Inside, his mind turned over the decision—whether to tell Sakumo the truth, whether he’d understand, or whether he’d dismiss him as unhinged.
—————