Chapter Text
“I don’t believe you,” Kakashi states.
Well, fuck.
Ichigo sighs. He’s gotten used to this sort of disbelief in his parentage but that doesn’t mean he likes it either. He points to his red eyes. “Is this not enough proof for you? Come on Kakashi, quit playing around. I’m serious.”
Kakashi replies, “stop speaking to me as if you know me. I’ll concede that you are an Uchiha but that does not make this situation any more clear. I don’t know you!”
Ichigo searches for any hint of a lie in Kakashi’s exposed eye but there’s nothing there. There’s not even a hint of his usual playfulness. He looks at Ichigo like a stranger, like a threat.
“You…you really don’t know me.”
This isn’t a joke.
Kakashi says, “that’s what I’ve been saying.”
The doubt building in Ichigo’s gut rumbles uncomfortably. He knew something had felt off since he fell through that garganata. It’s a persistent feeling, one he tried to ignore. Ichigo thinks about the sight of the Hokage mountain and the face missing from there. Sasuke’s expression should’ve been another clue. His little brother didn’t just look confused or scared. Sasuke had the same expression on his face that Kakashi does now. He doesn’t recognize Ichigo…not at all.
Kakashi seizes the moment of pause to attack. Ichigo ducks the kunai slashed towards his head. The damn homework binder flops uselessly out of his messenger bag.
“What’s that?” Kakashi demands.
Secret bombing plans for the Leaf, Ichigo thinks in irritation.
“My homework! I’m a fucking civilan, okay?”
Kakashi grabs him. He locks Ichigo's arms behind his back and Ichigo thrusts his head back until it slams into his captor's jaw, making sure to surge his chakra. It gives him the moment he needs to break free.
“What the hell! You said you were a civilian!"
“I am!” Ichigo argues, “I'm not a shinobi!” He tosses the heavy bag aside, and raises his fist as Ichigo readies himself for the next attack. “I just like swords and sparring.”
Kakashi scoffs, “yeah, right, and I'm a Hyuuga.”
“I never would've guessed. You sure had me fooled!” Ichigo retorts.
They’re arms collide in a hard slam. Ichigo has to use all his strength to push Kakashi away into the trees. He barely manages to slip away from Kakashi, putting some distance between them. This is way easier than it used to be. Ichigo is surprised to find he keeps up with Kakashi’s speed. It’s weird to feel his chakra circulating so smoothly through his body.
But Kakashi still easily catches up regardless. He throws a solid punch that slams into Ichigo’s shoulder. Every time Ichigo blocks a hit, he feels the raw power Kakashi is putting into each attack. His own muscles burn in exertion. This isn’t like their old friendly spars. Kakashi is hitting harder, aiming with a brutality he doesn’t usually show to comrades. He doesn’t even pull out that weird book of his. Kakashi’s entire focus is on bringing Ichigo down.
He says, “I know that you are lying to me because I know that Uchiha Mikoto and Fugaku had only two sons.”
Ichigo bites his cheek when he nearly stumbles on a thick root jutting out from the ground. The tangy taste of iron hits his tongue.
Well, Urahara had said his portal system was experimental. The device's intention was to fixate on the anomaly impacting the balance of souls in the shinobi world, not where Ichigo wanted to go. He just assumed that it would.
Ichigo asks,“would you believe me if I said I think I’m from an alternate dimension?”
“Oh, you’re a crazy Uchiha?” Kakashi snorts in disbelief.“I don’t want to explain that to the Hokage.”
He tries to sweep Ichigo’s feet out from under him but Ichigo takes their fight into the trees. Kakashi follows in hot pursuit. Ichigo calls back to him over his shoulder. “Who is the Hokage here if you don’t mind me asking?”
A barrage of shuriken flies at Ichigo’s head, sticking into the tree bark behind him.
“The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. You would know that if you were a citizen of Konoha,” Kakashi answers.
“I am!” Ichigo argues, “Just not this Konoha! I know you have the sharingan, right? A friend gifted it to you when he died. I know that you try to visit the KIA Memorial every day, whenever you can. I know you aren’t the cold hard shinobi you want everyone to think you are.”
Kakashi doesn’t seem to find that as reassuring as Ichigo thought he would.
He lunges and tackles Ichigo out of the trees. He doesn’t care about the branches scratching his skin as they fall in a tangle of swinging limbs. When they hit the dirt below, Ichigo’s shoulder slams awkwardly against the hard ground. He can feel prickly brambles poking his back as Kakashi straddles him, a kunai pressed to his throat.
“Ooooo, what a scary puppy!” Ichigo taunts.
Kakashi unconsciously growls, a deep sound from the depth of his chest.
“You're trying to unsettle me,” he states.
“Is it working?” Ichigo asks.
He doesn’t even try to throw Kakashi off. Instead, Ichigo uses his free arm to tug off his old friend’s Konoha headband. Kakashi's shocked sharingan eye meets his own in a hypnotic spin. Ichigo might not know much about the sharingan, but he knows that he can do this.
Both Kakashi and Ichigo find their consciousness hurling into Ichigo’s inner world. They rapidly fall beside one another through a cloudy sky. Ichigo just rests his hands behind his head but Kakashi isn’t anywhere as calm as he is sent careening through the air.
He shouts, “Kai!”
“It’s not a genjutsu,” Ichigo replies.
He manages to catch himself on the edge of the skyscrapers that populate his inner world. Some of them look distinctly like the tallest buildings in Konoha with slanted roofs and wood instead of steel. Kakashi lands on the roof in a roll before he hastily gets to his feet. His sharingan eye scans the area, seeing nothing but the same landscape for miles on end.
“So much spiritual energy.” Kakashi says, “It's thick in the air here. What is this place?”
Ichigo doesn’t get the chance to answer. Instead, another voice, warbling with a Hollow’s echo, answers for him. Zangetsu says, “This isn’t the same guy I fought before.”
Kakashi turns, surprised to find another figure behind him. Zangetsu looks like a mirror image of the seventeen year old Ichigo just with black hair and sharingan eyes with inverted colors. Zangetsu raises his giant broadsword at Kakashi.
“I am Zangetsu, this idiot shinigami's Zanpakutō. Those words probably mean nothing to you, not yet, but it will.”
Zangetsu has Kakashi in his gaze before he can shut his eyes.
What memories Kakashi sees, Ichigo doesn’t know. It does give him a moment to finally think. He squats down and tries to collect himself. This isn’t his world. There’s no telling what else has changed, but he’s not eager to find out.
While Kakashi is still knocked out, Ichigo figures he might as well retrace his steps to gather his stuff. He finds the messenger bag and his binder. Thankfully nothing else slipped out. It would suck to lose the soul pager. The birds chirp above him as the sun’s rays peek through the treetops, uncaring to Ichigo’s racing heart. The breeze rattles the branches, clanking like bones.
He manages to find Urahara’s weird spider contraption and shoves it into his bag. It still takes about ten minutes before Kakashi finally comes to. His frown is visible through his mask as he glares at Ichigo as he kneels over him. He holds up his messenger bag and the spider contraption from Urahara.
“You were out for a bit, so I grabbed my stuff. I’ll meet your Hokage and explain everything, okay. I’m not here to hurt anyone. I’m here to help.”
That creature probably is something only a soul reaper can look into.
And Danzo doesn’t count.
Kakashi sits up, not taking his eyes off Ichigo. He finds his kunai and headband that Ichigo so kindly placed next to him.
“I…I will not be restraining you so long as you continue to prove that you are not a threat to Konoha. Activating your sharingan again will be treated as a threat. I will still be taking you to the Hokage.”
Ichigo says, “You know this technique because Uchiha Fugaku showed it to you. You allowed him to confirm the truth that you weren’t guilty of bloodline theft. Obito gifted you that eye.”
Kakashi snaps, “I’d prefer if you’d refrain from talking about things that you should know nothing about. I have no reason to trust you. I don’t even know what that twisted creature inside you was.”
“That’s just me. Don’t worry about it.”
“Was that meant to be reassuring?”
They walk until the red building of the Hokage tower comes into sight. It stands out like a beacon in front of the four faced Hokage mountain. It contains not only many administrative offices, the mission assignment room, but also the Hokage’s office on the very top floor. Ichigo already knows his way around the long winding hallways, even if Kakashi finds it disconcerting.
He still waits outside the door for Kakashi to knock. Ichigo isn't without manners.
When they enter the office, Ichigo glances at the piles of paperwork and scrolls that need to be reviewed. The Third Hokage really should allocate his work better. He doesn't look that much different here. Hiruzen is still the same wrinkled old man drowning in the regal Hokage robes and hat.
Hiruzen asks,“And who is this Kakashi?”
Kakashi gets right to the point. He gestures to Ichigo with jerk of his thumb.
“I have confirmed that this unknown entity is Uchiha. He says his name is Uchiha Ichigo. He claims to be affiliated with Konoha and to be a civilian. In my professional opinion, his threat level is unknown as his abilities exceed that of the average civilian.”
Hiruzen asks, “How old are you, Ichigo?”
Ichigo actually has to think for a minute. In Karakura, his body that Kon is inhabiting is now eighteen years old. His Uchiha probably shouldn’t be anymore than eighteen. Putting it all together, Ichigo wonders if he should be like…thirty four. He doesn’t feel it.
“I’m fifteen.”
Hiruzen muses, “he could be a bastard of Hyuusuke’s. The man was known for his proclivities. He has his nose.”
Rude old man, Ichigo thinks.
Kakashi shrugs, “he’s old enough.”
Ichigo crosses his arms, already annoyed by the conversation turn. He wants to say something but it wouldn’t do any good right now. In this world, Ichigo isn’t known to them as the Uchiha clan’s odd heir. His word doesn’t have much weight if Kakashi doesn’t want to cooperate with him.
It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t believe in dimension traveling. Kakashi is a good shinobi. All Ichigo has to do is make these shinobi believe that he’s no threat to Konoha. Simple.
Kakashi scratches the back of his neck as he glances at Ichigo. “Lord Third, you should understand that the sharingan has a little known ability. The Uchiha were not often to use it outside the clan. The users of the sharingan can share memories among one another. This rogue Uchiha had done the same to me.”
Ichigo knows the story. The sharingan eyes reflect the heart. It’s the center of memory. Every Uchiha child hears the stories because their parents' eyes always meant home.
“It could very well be a genjutsu,” Hiruzen replies. “We’d prefer to discern who this young man truly is before we offer him a place in this village.”
Ichigo interrupts, “I’m not the best at big genjutsu! I only just got my eyes. I’m not from this world. I didn’t mean to end up here so I’m not looking to cause trouble. I just want to check on my family.”
Hiruzen almost seems to age as soon as the words leave Ichigo’s mouth.
Kakashi explains,“he doesn’t know. Ichigo claims to be from a world where he was the firstborn son of Uchiha Mikoto and Fugaku. As you and I both know, that’s impossible.”
He doesn’t know what?
Hiruzen says, “Time and space jutsu are complex jutsu theories. There are even stories that these abilities are possible with advanced versions of the Uchiha’s sharingan. Could your eye discern the veracity of his claim?”
“I believe he is telling the truth, Lord Third, the truth as he knows it. In his timeline, the Hokage is Shimura Danzo and…things are quite different there.”
Ichigo gives Hiruzen a scrutinous look, “Where is Danzo anyway? Are you still letting him run right over you to do whatever the hell he wants in this village?”
Was it politically advantageous to insult the man? No, but it’s worth it to see Kakashi bristle in defense of his Hokage. Ichigo thinks that Mikoto would be proud of him for doing both.
Hiruzen even continues unbothered, "Regardless, we must consider more rational theories. It is possible that he is indeed their son. Mikoto would’ve often been away on missions at that time. If I recall, Uchiha Ryuichi was still next in line to lead the clan. I never saw much of her during that time.”
Kakashi says, “Neither did I.”
“It’s possible that Fugaku could have spurned the child because of his hair?”
That snaps Ichigo’s remaining patience. He’s tired of them dancing around him.
“Fuck you!” Ichigo scoffs, “My dad wouldn’t do that! An Uchiha is an Uchiha. I didn’t look like Itachi or Sasuke but they’re still my brothers. There’s something off about the spirits in this world and I’m here to fix it! I don’t want to cause trouble. I just want to see my brothers.”
He looks to both Kakashi and Hiruzen for an answer but both men pointedly refuse to meet his eyes. Ichigo considers his next words carefully.
He continues, “I know that I’m an anomaly here, okay! This still falls under the jurisdiction of my clan. I want to speak to my clan head. It’s still Uchiha Fugaku, right?”
Kakashi replies hesitantly, "unfortunately that’s not possible.”
“Why the fuck not?” Ichigo snaps, “I saw Sasuke.”
That admission seems to disturb Kakashi but Ichigo ignores him. He keeps his eyes on Hiruzen. The old man’s face turned grim the moment that Ichigo said Sasuke’s name.
Kakashi says, “I will acknowledge you are an Uchiha. I’m certain of that, but that only further complicates a very difficult situation.”
“How? Cut the bullshit and just tell me,” Ichigo demands.
Hiruzen puffs his pipe in a long and slow breath. He pauses a moment to exhale before he continues, “The Uchiha clan were killed by the main family’s eldest son, Uchiha Itachi. The youngest child, Uchiha Sasuke, was the sole survivor. This event became known as the Uchiha Massacre. You claim to be from another dimension. Did this not happen in this so-called world?”
What?
Ichigo shakes his head before Hiruzen is even finished speaking. He can’t be serious?
A terrible ache makes a home in his chest, scratching and digging the entire way. It isn’t as clean as a blade. This is ugly, painful hurt. Ichigo’s throat is bone dry. The words don’t come easily but he needs to know.
Ichigo asks,“Massacre?”
He saw Sasuke and Hiruzen said that Sasuke was the sole survivor.
Ichigo can’t believe it. It’s not possible. It can't be possible.
“You don’t mean…everyone right?”
Ichigo thinks about his aunt, his uncles, his cousins.What about the other children? The elderly? The sick? Akimomo hadn’t even had her baby. Was she dead too?
Sasuke is alive without mother and father. Who’s taking care of him?
The questions thump like hammers in his head but Ichigo just chews on the inside of his cheek. The taste of blood is something to focus on.
Kakashi replies, “Uchiha Sasuke is the only surviving member of the Uchiha clan in Konoha. Uchiha Itachi is a rogue shinobi, possibly now affiliated with a terrorist cell.”
Every Uchiha…they’re all dead?
Their clan was nearly over a thousand before the third shinobi war. So many died, throughout the entire village, the Uchiha’s numbers fell to just under four hundred clan members.
Now, there’s supposedly just two.
There were Danzo’s plans. Shisui said that he planned to kill everyone. He believed the Uchiha’s coup would mean disaster for Konoha. Even for all the work that Shisui did for Danzo, he never thought it would come to that. Ichigo just thought he meant every shinobi. That’s the rational assumption.
But no. Danzo saw the existence of the Uchiha clan as a threat.
That means everyone…
He has to breathe, even if it’s hard. It’s either he breathes or cries.
Ichigo manages to choke out a response to the Hokage. “No, this didn’t happen in my world. Itachi…he’s not even a shinobi.”
Urahara said that he might not end up in the right place.
But Ichigo remembers what his dad said.
The Uchiha are being watched.
It didn’t used to be this way, but their position within this village had been declining---for a while now.
Ichigo can hear the wind howling outside. It rattles against the windows of the Hokage’s office. He can finally hear it now. It sounds so clear that he doesn’t know how he didn’t notice it before. Oh. It’s crying. Horrible painful cries, howls of grief and fear. It tumbles against the windows assaulting Ichigo’s ears. This is not something as simple as a bird that stares too long. These spirits are furious, lost, and confused.
This isn’t his world, he was never born here, but knowing that doesn’t make the pain stop. He feels nauseous and he wants to scream, but he can’t do anything about it here.
Sasuke is here. Sasuke is alive and he’s alone.
“Please excuse me for a moment, Old man.” Ichigo turns and forces open the office door. He makes it a little bit down the hall. Of course, Kakashi follows him but Ichigo pays him little mind. Chakra pulses in his eyes but he just covers his eyes so the other man doesn’t see.
Ichigo falls to his knees. He can’t hold back the tears anymore. Kakashi says nothing. He leans against the wall as Ichigo’s body is wretched with sobs.
He can hear them outside.
They’re so loud but what else could you expect from kids?