Chapter Text
Sakumo opened the door to his home with the bigger-from-alternative-dimention son in tow. Sakumo knew the Big-Kakashi was feeling embarrassed from crying in front of him. So he let his Big-son reel while moving behind him throughout their way back home. Sakumo would sign to Kaori to ignore the red eyes--the poor boy (even though the Big-Kakashi was almost at the same age as Sakumo, he was still Sakumo’s pup) has enough heart to heart for a day. Sakumo knew how intense his wife could be, once she smelled the need for a hug.
The house was emptier than usual -- the kids must have gone to the Academy or training, he mused. He opened his sandal and quietly called for his wife. Kaori’s slight footsteps were heard and she smiled at him, with little Tamago-chan in her arms.
Sakumo knew he was very blessed. Kaori’s smile and Tamago’s cute gurgle were a miracle. In another world, the world where Big-Kakashi came from, he wasn’t that fortunate to still have a smiling wife, a bratty son and a lovely daughter. In Big-Kakashi’s world, it semeed Kaori died in childbirth and Sakumo comitted suicide, leaving his son to be a cold-blooded-emotionally stunted-barely human- jounin.
Listening about it from his wife was hard. Letting his son fall apart and watching him sobbed his heart out were even harder. Sakumo swallowed his guilt and did the best he could, hugging his son as tight as he could.
“Welcome back home,” She greeted softly with a smile and a peck on his lips. Then she turned to Big-Kakashi. “You two looked like you had a good spar. Go wash yourself first, the mid-morning meal is going to be ready in fifteen minutes.”
Surrendering to his wife’s authority in the house, Sakumo was going to show Kakashi where the bathroom was, but stopped in time to realise of course the Big-Kakashi knew, he was a Hatake, afterall. And this was their home. So he just got two towels and gave one to Kakashi.
Sakumo took for a longer soak, because he needed to think. He was glad he had the moment with Big-Kakashi. He was proud of the man his pup would become, but he was also guilty of how broken his pup could have been. Sakumo was a great team leader in the field, bringing his teams to safety across missions. But for the matter of heart and his own family, he seemed to be at loss. Sakumo knew Kaori would huff and tell him to stop overthinking, and focused on the now. Yeah, Sakumo could do that.
When he emerged from the bathroom, warm and clean, Sakumo couldn’t help but feel fond over what he saw.
Kaori was busy in the kitchen, slicing and cooking something that smelled delicious on the pot. It was normal for her and Sakumo appreciated her cooking very much. But the most amusing one was to see (clean, already bathe, wearing Sakumo’s clothes) Big-Kakashi having a crisis while holding his little sister.
Tamago-chan looked up to the bigger version of her brother, eyes large and unblinking, watching closely. Big-Kakashi looked like he was holding a time bomb, closing his eyes as if she would turn him into stone if he saw her eyes. They were sitting on the sofa, with Tamago facing Kakashi, sitting upright on Kakashi’s thighs, supported by his grip on her body.
“Gah!” The little infant screamed. “Shi!”
Kaori answered absent-mindedly from where she was stirring the pot, “Yes, it’s big Kakashi-nii chan, Tamago. Say hi!”
“Giii!” She squealed and laughed.
Kakashi dared to open his only exposed eye. Tamago-chan saw it and squealed louder, spit flowing everywhere. Kakashi winced. Sakumo barked a laugh.
Kakashi turned to him with a betrayed look. That one eye was really expressive.
“Give your big brother a kiss!” Kaori continued, as if she didn’t know Kakashi’s betrayed look. “Your nii chan wants a kiss from Tamago!”
Tamago huffed and nodded (Sakumo was amazed and proud of how smart his daughter was. She seemed to follow her brother’s footsteps as a genius. Sakumo’s sperm was really superior after all), then moving her hands. “Gaa! Shi!”
Kaori looked back and saw how far Kakashi was holding Tamago away from him, so she chuckled. “Kakashi, hold her closer please. Don’t let her hanging.”
“Uh...uhn.” Big-Kakashi nodded awkwardly and slowly let her close. Tamago forcefully pushed herself towards Kakashi, and when she was close enough, she planted a wet kiss on his nose.
Kakashi’s eye widened.
Sakumo laughed and came over, ready to take Tamago from poor Kakashi. But lo and behold, Kakashi actually pulled her from Sakumo’s offering hands.
“No… I’ll hold her. For a bit.” he gruffed in embarrassment, while letting Tamago play with his face. Sakumo just fondly smiled and went to help his wife. Kaori welcomed him with a smile.
“Sic Tamago at him already?” he grinned as he received the hot pot from his wife.
Kaori winked cutely. “I have my own way, darling.”
He laughed and kissed her forehead.
His father left for work, and Kakashi was left with little Tamago and his mother.
The silence was awkward. Kakashi hid his face behind Tamago’s chan tummy. His little sister gurgled and drooled over his hair, much to Kakashi’s chagrin, but it didn’t deter him from having her close. He had never hold a baby before, not for any mission. He was the Friend-Killer, the ANBU assassin captain, so he got no mission concerning children below two years old, ever.
Even Sandaime-sama didn’t want to tempt fate by releasing Kakashi to little children.
His mother was dragging the huge laundry basket, so Kakashi immediately moved to help. She smiled in thanks, and asked him to drag it into the living room. They ended up sitting on the floor together, his mother folding clothes while Kakashi played with (or just generally nodded when his sister said something intelligible) Tamago.
The afternoon was calm and filled with a warm afternoon breeze. Tamago slowly fell into sleep, then finally dropped on Kakashi’s shoulder. Kakashi wondered what to do now, and his mother helped him by letting Tamago sleep on the blankie and little pillows on it. Kakashi watched them closely, feeling very, very peaceful. Making him felt a bit sleepy.
“Sleep.” his mother gently said. “I’ll watch over you.”
Kakashi blushing from embarrassment. He didn’t need much sleep after all. “No, I am fine.”
“Indulge me, pup.” the woman (His mother ! His mother! His mother! ) “Come. you can sleep here, with Tamago-chan.”
His body moved by his own, slowly laying down around them. His little sister’s chest went up and down, breathing. Kakashi marvelled at his little sister. She was a marvel for him. Kakashi never knew he could have a sister, a real Hatake Blood real sister.
He closed his eyes and enjoyed the wonder.
When he woke up, he was under a dog pile. The children were around them, sleeping as well. The little Tenzou, little Uchiha Shisui, little Obito (and Kakashi wanted to hit himself again), and the little him were sleeping all around him. His mother was sitting beside him while writing on some papers. Kakashi remembered his father telling him that his mother was an author.
His mother also had her non dominant hand on his hair, slowly patting through his fluff of silver hair.
“...hnn? Are you awake?” She asked softly. “The little ones are still sleeping.”
Kakashi kept his silence, enjoying his mother’s hand. It felt warm. Safe. comfortable. As if he was home. With family. He was not drifting alone anymore. Maybe this was a dream. Maybe he could be honest here.
“...They called me the friend-killer.” he whispered.
“Hmmm.” His mother just hummed.
“I killed you. I killed Tou-chan. I killed Obito. I killed Rin. I killed Sensei. I killed Kushina-nee.”
His mother kept her silence.
“... I am exhausted.” Kakashi whispered hoarsely. “... kaa-san. ”
The hand kept patting his hair. Kakashi let himself cry a bit, again. He was raw from crying that morning, but it seemed once he cried, the tears easily came.
“Kakashi.” his mother spoke gently. Too gently, making him sob. “My pup.”
Kakashi was almost-ashamed to admit he snuggled closer to his mother’s side.
“You didn’t kill me. I love you so much I am willing to surrender my life for you. It was a gift, Kakashi. A gift from me to you. Please stop blaming yourself for it.”
Kakashi wanted to argue, but his throat was dry.
“Your father’s death was premeditated by the broken society in your reality. It wasn’t, and never , your fault. Rin’s death was her choice as well and you did what you had to do. Minato and Kushina-chan’s death were because of Zetsu, so it was never your fault. But again, I can give you all the reasonings in the world, but you will still find a way to blame yourself for it. In the end, you are the one who can live your life. Instead of looking back and blaming yourself, isn’t it better to start living as you want?”
Kakashi felt his mother pinching his earlobes gently, as if chiding a little naughty boy. And then she patted his cheek.
“Sakumo and I will always support you, pup. You are our pride and joy, afterall. I know the world isn’t fair, baby. I know you are tired. But as long as you live, you can always try to make it better. And you have three little genins to look over. They have potential, but more importantly, they need your guidance.”
Kakashi let his mother rub his temple. It was very soothing. “... What is better? What if I cannot be better?”
Suddenly another hand touched his hair, making Kakashi almost jump. Then he realised it was the little him, patting his hair, imitating their mother. It was their first real interaction.
“There, there. Listen to Kaa-chan. She knows everything. If she tells you that you can do it, that means you can.”
Their mother chuckled and thanked the little him. Kakashi was a bit mortified. But well, he couldn’t help but listen to little Kakashi. He was him, afterall.
“Sssh!” Kushina-nee shushed him and Naruto nodded, following her order.
They were behind the wall, looking towards the main street where Little sensei was walking with Minato-nii. They were doing the D-ranks. It was funny to see that Kakashi-sensei used to do D-ranks too!
Naruto gripped the itching powder bottle in his hand tightly. They were trying to get back at Little sensei for pranking them. The dog hair bed was funny, if a bit itchy to sleep on. The smell was bad though, and it was amusing to see Little sensei getting chewed by Kaori-baa san and the dorm keeper for adding to their jobs.
But a prank was a prank, and it demanded payback.
Kushina-nee smirked and patted Naruto’s hair. “Right. Once I give you the cue, you drop the whole bottle on him, alright? Be vigilant… that little brat is a hard one to catch. Use your Kage-bushing to keep him on the spot, alright?”
“Yes, nee-chan!”
Unfortunately Little-Kakashi was one hell of a slimy brat. He immediately kawarimi-ed away and used a simple wind jutsu, scattering the itching powder towards the masses.
Danzo-sama called them afterward and gave them the punishment of cleaning the outer wall of Konoha, by hand. An ANBU would be supervising them.
Kushina-nee grumbled while Minato-nii looked gloomy, stuttering about how he was ashamed. Little-sensei tried to shy away from the task, but the ANBU kept bringing him back. Naruto just enjoyed the punishment with a grin on his face, because it was more fun being punished with someone else.
Obito came over in the afternoon, munching onigiri made by Kaori-baa san, with Sakura in tow. They brought the message from Kaori-baa san, stating that if the brats haven’t finished it properly by dinner time, they will have to eat plain rice with green tea only for dinner. Obito-nii also gladly told them that they were going to eat sweet and sour pork that night. Sakura added fuel to fire by telling them that the dessert was sweet dango with red bean soup.
Kushina-nee looked horrified and increased her scrubbing speed. Minato-nii also did the same, crying about it was his ‘favourite’ food. Little-sensei huffed and reminded him that Kaori-baa san’s cookings were his ‘favourite’. Sakura giggled into her hands, and when Naruto asked why she was giggling, she said it was very funny to see Yondaime-sama being punished to clean Konoha’s wall. Naruto realised it was very funny indeed and laughed alongside her.
Minato-nii looked even mortified and ended up using his amazing wind jutsu to clean the whole wall. The ANBU said that they were cheating, so Danzo-sama might need to assign another punishment for them tomorrow. Obito crackled with glee, and Little-sensei swiped his leg, making the laughing boy fall onto his face.
Their fight kind of ruined a patch of the wall.
It kind of has a hole in the shape of a person now.
Danzo-sama seemed to be at loss when the ANBU reported how they ‘cheated’ their punishment and created a human-shaped hole on the wall. He sighed and called for Sakumo-jii san.
“Your brats. Please.” the Hokage sighed as he waved his hand at them. His words were short and curt, as if he couldn’t even form a coherent sentence for them anymore.
Sakumo-jii san looked embarrassed and bowed in apology.
Naruto felt a bit of guilt filled his chest, and he saw that Kushina-nee has the same feeling too. They immediately promised to fix the wall with their own money, immediately.
Sakumo-jii san’s proud smile at them made Naruto’s chest filled with happiness he could cry.
Dinner was lively, especially after Minato-nii sobs of relief because Kaori-baa san let them eat the really delicious pork and also dango. Naruto ate happily, feeling like he was in cloud nine. It was warm, fun and happy. He even noticed how Sasuke seemed happier that night, although his eyes were swollen from crying.
Kinoe-chan and Shisui-chan decided Naruto was the fun target for dango stealing though, so Naruto stopped reminiscing and guarded his dango bowl zealously.
Alas, three days later, it was time for them to go back to their own reality.
Naruto’s chest felt heavy as he stood before the huge seal on the ground, courtesy of Kushina-nee and Minato-nii. Everyone was there, standing before the seal. Naruto looked around and saw that everyone was kind of solemn. Nobody was laughing.
Sakura was the only one who looked sort of happy and sad, because she would be back with her family soon. Sasuke brooded even more than usual, hand tightly holding Shisui-chan's. Kakashi-sensei still has Tamago-chan on his arms, refusing to let her go. The little infant softly gurgled while playing with Kakashi-sensei’s finger.
Sakumo-jii san and Kaori-baa san were standing close with each other, his arms around her for support. She looked like she wanted to cry. Naruto felt the same. Kinoe-chan was standing beside his mother, holding onto her hand. Little-sensei stood beside his father, stiff and pretending to look bored.
Kushina-nee and Minato-nii weren’t smiling, looking sad and serious as they showed the seal.
“... This is it.” Kushina-nee said sadly. “The seal is done, you just need to stand in the middle and we will activate this seal. You will be transported back to your dimension.”
Naruto watched her and felt the longing. He didn’t want to leave, to be honest. He didn’t want to return to the cold, small, dark cheap apartment of his. He didn’t want to go back to where he was scorned and has no family to speak of. He didn’t want to be the joker again, he didn’t want to be the stupid member of the team. He didn’t want to go back to ‘that’ Konoha.
He wanted to stay here, forever.
“We need to go, Naruto.” Suddenly Kakashi-sense spoke. “The longer we stay here, the more unstable this dimension would be.”
Naruto wondered if Kakashi-sensei actually said it for himself. He looked like he didn’t want to let his sister go. Maybe it was the same reasoning that he used to force himself to go back too. Naruto looked at Sasuke, and the (last) Uchiha was watching Naruto with dark, sad eyes.
Oh. Sasuke felt the same too.
“It’s nicer here, though.” Naruto mumbled.
“It’s not a goodbye.” Suddenly, Kaori-baa san said out loud. She came towards them. “It’s not a goodbye, dears. We will always remember you and you will remember us. We can always remember each other and please know that you are our family too.”
She rubbed Naruto’s head and planted a gentle kiss. Naruto didn’t dare to breathe.
She did the same with Sakura and Sasuke. Sakura cried a bit, but quickly wiped her tears. Sasuke just looked away.
Then Kaori-baa san did the same with Kakashi-sensei too. Kakashi-sensei let her hugged him close for a long moment, Tamago-chan between them. When they released each other, Kaori-baa san was holding Tamago chan.
“I love you and I am proud of you, Kakashi. No matter what.”
Then it became a hug fest, everyone seemed to be hugging Naruto, Sakura or Sasuke.
Naruto also saw the awkward conversation between Kakashi-sensei and Little-sensei,but he was too busy with his own goodbyes to listen in.
When it was time for them to be transported, Naruto felt a hand on his head. He looked up to see Kushina-nee crying, but smiling at him. “You are the best son ever, dattebane. I love you, dearly.”
Minato-nii also put a hand on his shoulder. “Believe in yourself, Naruto. You are the best of us. I am also proud to have you as my son.”
Naruto’s eyes widened. “...Kaa-san? Tou-san?”
They waved as the seal activated and Naruto couldn’t even say his last goodbye when they disappeared. Naruto found himself on the ground, but this time the garden around him was unkempt and the house was collapsing from old age and disuse.
“.... Was that real?” Sakura was the one who asked.
But Naruto didn’t care and curled into himself, sobbing. He met his parents and it was so sweet.
Too bad he couldn’t hug them for the last time.
Naruto looked at the clock. It was ten in the morning. He didn’t move from underneath his futon. They were supposed to have a team meeting as usual. Kakashi-sensei would be late like usual. Sakura would be there, nagging Naruto for being late as usual. Sasuke would be brooding and ignoring him as usual.
But that morning, Naruto didn’t feel like caring anymore. So he stayed in his futon and cried.
He had a good dream about dimension-traveling to a place that is almost like heaven; where he has his parents, he has a warm family, he was having fun, and he was loved. He didn’t need to withstand cruel words from strangers on the street, he didn’t need to buy and cook his own food, he didn’t need to fight to get basic human rights. He was happy there.
And now, waking up from a fitful night, waking up to the moldy ceiling and alone in the small apartment made him lose his will to fight. He could just sleep in, hiding underneath his futon forever.
“Naruto.”
The boy shrugged his blanket and saw Kakashi-sensei by the window.
“... m sick.” Naruto said out loud and hid underneath his blanket again.
“No you are not.” suddenly another voice called out and Naruto turned his head to see Sakura and Sasuke inside his small apartment. The door was wide open, and the last person entered. Iruka-sensei was carrying a bag of groceries.
“Wh..what…” Naruto stuttered, wondering what was happening. Was he dreaming again? He pinched himself and found it was painful. So he wasn’t dreaming.
“Kakashi told me what happened to all of you. The four of you went missing for a day, but now you are back.” Iruka-sensei explained as he went to organize the food onto the kitchen table. “I think we all deserve a relaxing day before continuing tomorrow. So I asked all of them to come to your place for a meal together, is that alright?”
Naruto just watched the three people in his kitchen. Suddenly the room felt so cramped. Sasuke kicked him out of the futon, ordering him to get a bath because he stink. Naruto hissed in annoyance, but quickly followed the order, because Iruka-sensei looked at him with those eyes. Kakashi-sensei sat on the side while Sakura helped roll up the futon to create more space.
They ate the hot pot together, mostly Iruka-sensei and Sakura talking. Sakura was telling Iruka-sensei about the other world, about Kakashi-sensei’s parents, about little Shisui and Kinoe, about kind Kushina-nee and crybaby Minato-sama. Naruto winced because they were talking about the parents he never knew. And then they talked about little Kakashi sensei and Obito too. Also about Danzo-sama as the Yondaime.
Suddenly kakashi sensei added into the conversation, putting a seal paper with a very complicated seal on it.
“Iruka-sensei,” he asked. “Please tell me what you can see on this seal.”
Iruka-sensei took the paper and peered closely. He looked surprised and became excited.
“This is amazing!”
Kakashi-sensei shrugged. “Do you think it will work?”
“What’s that, sensei?” Sakura asked.
Kakashi-sensei’s eye was smiling. “I remembered the seal with my sharingan. With a tweak, we can always visit them again.”
Naruto’s eyes bulged and he almost jumped. “REALLY, DATTEBAYO?”
Iruka-sensei confirmed it but noted how it might need a bit more tweak so that it could be a door between reality without needing any other factors. Naruto was very excited about it, and he vowed to learn more about seals so that he could visit them again.
(Little that they knew, it became a catalyst for a better (cannon) future. Naruto became a seal master with his instinct and talent from his father; they managed to create the seal like a door that can be opened every year. Naruto spent time with his parents and learned their amazing ninja arts as well as becoming a stronger, more wholesome person. With exposure to Shisui, and with Kaori-san tutelage on meditation, Sasuke became calmer and realised that Itachi’s action didn’t make sense. He stopped planning for vengeance and focused on his team instead. Sakura was exposed to Kushina-nee and Kaori-baa san, then decided that she could be a great kunoichi ANBU. Kakashi, exposed to his father’s wisdom, his mother’s love and his little sister’s cuteness (also his little self brattiness) felt better and stronger. Iruka was also invited, and smothered with Kaori’s brand of love. He also learned about Uzumaki sealing from Kushina and became one of the best seal masters in Konoha.
Oh and they were very, very surprised to learn that Orochimaru was an amazing cook. Or an amazing person in general (Orochimaru was on a long mission the first time they accidentally went dimension-travel).
And lastly, Kaori told Kakashi about how Obito was still alive by casually bringing it up when they were having a light drinking session at night (all kids asleep, and only Sakumo, Kaori, Big-Kakashi, and Iruka were awake).
But that was for another story).