Chapter 62 – Moonlit Steps
The silver glow of the moon washed over the Hidden Leaf, softening the scars of a village preparing for war. Far above, the stars shimmered quietly, as if watching the fate of shinobi play out with a distant patience.
Two figures emerged from the folds of a rippling dimension space, their forms bending gently into the reality of the night. Akira and Kakashi stepped onto the familiar dirt path of Konoha, the world of their training retreat fading behind them.
Akira stretched his arms with a groan. "Finally… fresh air. Don't get me wrong, the dimension's nice and all, but I swear the air there is too perfect. No smell of food, no warmth of firewood. It's like eating bread without salt."
Kakashi gave him a side glance, hands tucked into his pockets, his usual calm expression unmoved. "You complain too much. You know people would kill to have a place like that."
"Yeah, yeah," Akira said, waving a hand lazily. "But would you want to spend every night breathing nothing but clean air? Not a hint of ramen shop steam? Not even the faint smell of damp earth after rain?"
For a moment, Kakashi's lips twitched. Then, in that understated way of his, he said, "You sound like an old man. Next you'll be telling me the stories about your glory days."
Akira froze, his face scrunching. "...Oi. Did you just call me an old man? I'm literally your age, Kakashi!"
"And yet," Kakashi replied smoothly, "you complain like someone's grandfather."
Akira huffed, crossing his arms dramatically. "Tch. You're lucky I don't sic Sakumo-san on you. He'd lecture you about respect."
The mention of Sakumo made Kakashi falter for half a step, but Akira quickly filled the silence with a grin. "Relax. He's still in the dimension. Probably chuckling right now that we sound like two brats fighting over toys."
Kakashi's shoulders loosened, and a faint chuckle escaped. It was rare, quiet, but real.
They walked on, the soft crunch of gravel under their sandals filling the spaces between words. Fireflies blinked lazily across the bushes, and the distant murmur of night insects hummed like background music.
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Small Jokes, Big Smiles
After a while, Akira tilted his head at Kakashi. "So… you think the girls in class will cry when they hear you're graduating early?"
Kakashi blinked. "Why would they cry?"
"Because," Akira said, adopting a smug tone, "you're the 'cool genius kid.' Always quiet, always broody. That's prime heartthrob material. I bet at least three of them have written secret diary entries with 'Kakashi Hatake ♥' scribbled all over."
Kakashi groaned softly. "You're imagining things."
"Am I?" Akira leaned close, eyes narrowing in mock seriousness. "Or maybe… you already know who has a crush on you?"
"...No." Kakashi looked away, his ears faintly red.
Akira laughed, slapping his friend lightly on the back. "Ah, that reaction says everything! My, my, little Kakashi already has fans."
Kakashi muttered, "If anyone's going to attract attention, it's you. You're the one who somehow managed to spar with half the teachers and walk out smiling. You're either admired or feared. Probably both."
Akira placed a hand on his chest dramatically. "Feared? Me? Never. I'm a kind, lovable soul."
"Lovable?" Kakashi deadpanned.
"Yes," Akira declared firmly. "Like a fox kit. Cute and cunning."
Kakashi stared at him flatly. "You're more like a stray dog. Loud, stubborn, and always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."
For a heartbeat, silence lingered. Then both of them burst into quiet laughter, the sound carrying softly into the night air.
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Homeward Path
By the time they reached the familiar neighborhood, the moon was high, its pale glow painting long shadows across the wooden fences and rooftops. The quiet of Konoha at night was soothing, a stark contrast to the tension brewing at the borders of nations.
Akira slowed, his eyes lifting to the sky. "You think… when this war really hits, we'll still have nights like this? Peaceful. Simple."
Kakashi followed his gaze. "...I don't know." His voice was soft, almost reluctant. "But… if not, then I hope we'll at least have people to share the burden with."
Akira glanced at him and smiled faintly. "Then you're stuck with me, Hatake. Burden-sharing contract, signed and sealed."
Kakashi looked at him for a moment, then gave a small nod. "...Fine. Just don't drag me into your stupid jokes when it's life or death."
Akira's grin widened. "No promises."
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Inside the Quiet House
They stepped into Kakashi's home. The Hatake residence was quiet, the silence almost heavy now that Sakumo remained hidden away in the dimension. Dust had begun to gather on shelves that once carried warmth, and the faint smell of old wood clung to the air.
Akira set his sandals aside and padded into the main room, flopping onto a cushion with a sigh. "Man… feels weird without Sakumo-san around. Like the house itself misses him."
Kakashi didn't answer immediately. He was standing in the doorway, staring at the empty hall, the quiet corners where his father once walked.
Akira noticed, his usual playful tone softening. "He's not gone, Kakashi. He's right there in the dimension, training us, making bad dad jokes. We'll keep him alive… both ways. You know?"
Kakashi's lips curved faintly. "Bad dad jokes, huh?"
"Yep," Akira said, crossing his arms with mock authority. "Don't deny it. He once tried to compare my sword stance to a chicken trying to fly."
That made Kakashi chuckle under his breath. "...He did say that."
The tension eased, and they moved into Kakashi's small room. It wasn't big—just enough space for a futon, a desk, and a shelf with a few scrolls. The faint glow of the moonlight slipped through the shoji screen, casting silver shapes on the tatami floor.
Akira stretched, yawning. "Man, I'm beat. Between training, jokes, and discovering that chakra spring, I think my brain's fried."
Kakashi pulled out the futon, giving Akira a glance. "You're not seriously planning to sleep here, are you?"
Akira plopped down onto the bed without hesitation. "Yup. What, you scared of sharing space with me?"
Kakashi sighed. "You're impossible."
Still, he didn't argue further. He set his things aside and lay down next to Akira, their shoulders brushing slightly in the narrow futon.
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The Weight of Silence
For a while, neither spoke. The quiet of the house wrapped around them, and the steady rhythm of their breathing filled the air.
Akira broke the silence first, voice soft, almost thoughtful. "Hey, Kakashi… Do you ever feel like we're running faster than everyone else? Like, we're forced to grow up before we even know what being a kid means?"
Kakashi turned his head slightly, looking at his friend in the dim light. "All the time."
Akira's gaze softened. "...Then let's promise something. No matter how far we're pushed, no matter how hard the war gets, we'll still find time for this. Just… stupid jokes, shared meals, and quiet nights."
Kakashi studied him for a moment, then gave a faint, almost invisible smile. "...Deal."
Slowly, sleep began to weigh down on them. Akira's eyes closed first, his breathing evening out, his expression peaceful for once. Kakashi stayed awake a little longer, watching the faint rise and fall of his friend's chest, listening to the comfort of another presence in a house that had felt too empty for too long.
As his own eyes finally drifted shut, Kakashi thought, Maybe… this is what Father wanted for me. To not be alone.
The moonlight slipped quietly across the floor, cradling the two boys in silver warmth as the night deepened.
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✨ End of Chapter 62 ✨