Chapter 123 — The Return Home
As Akira and Kakashi stepped into the soft shimmer of the dimensional passage, the air rippled faintly — calm, cool, and yet somehow more alive than before. The hum of chakra resonated in the stillness, like the quiet breath of a living world.
Ahead stood a small wooden house, familiar yet heavy with memories. Its warm glow spilled across the misty air, painting the ground in soft hues of blue and gold.
Kakashi's gaze lingered on it for a moment. His voice was calm, though touched with nostalgia.
"This house… feels different," he murmured.
The corners of his lips lifted faintly. "Hard to believe it's been four years since we built this place, huh? You, me, and Dad — all of us."
Akira looked at him, eyes glimmering faintly gold under the soft light.
"Yeah," he replied quietly. "It's strange. The air feels… alive. More than before."
He took a slow breath, sensing something stirring within the dimension itself — a pulse of life that hadn't been there before.
"Maybe it's because you're here," he said softly. "The fairy once told me this dimension was created by both of us… in our past life. Maybe now that we're both back, it's recognizing its owners again."
Kakashi glanced sideways, his Byakugan faintly glowing with blue rings.
"Maybe you're right," he said. "It feels like it's breathing again."
They reached the door, and Kakashi called out gently,
"Dad, we're back."
For a moment, the silence inside was heavy — even their breathing felt loud.
Then came hurried footsteps, the faint clatter of something being set aside — perhaps a cup or a book. Moments later, Sakumo Hatake appeared at the top of the stairs.
His silver hair was unkempt, eyes shadowed with fatigue. Dark circles marked his sleepless nights. But the instant his gaze fell upon Kakashi, everything froze.
The air shifted. His breath caught.
And then, relief washed over his face.
"Kakashi…" Sakumo's voice trembled. "Thank God you're safe."
He didn't wait another second. In two strides, he reached his son and pulled him into a tight embrace. His arms trembled slightly — a father afraid to let go.
Kakashi blinked, momentarily stunned, then smiled softly and hugged him back.
"I'm alright, Dad."
But deep inside, his mind whispered a quiet, ironic thought.
Which god are you thanking, Dad?
After all, he was once known as the God Hunter — the one who had slain thousands, perhaps even millions of divine beings.
If there was a god left worthy of his father's prayer, that god must indeed be a good one.
Sakumo finally let go, though his hands still rested on Kakashi's shoulders. His voice softened.
"Are you feeling better, Kakashi? Any pain or discomfort?"
Kakashi shook his head. "No, I'm fine. Really. I'm not feeling bad at all."
He paused, tone turning serious. "Actually… there's something important I need to tell you. About my memories. And Akira."
Sakumo's eyes sharpened with understanding. He nodded.
"Alright. Let's sit down and talk."
They moved into the living room. The hum of dimensional energy filled the quiet space. A half-drunk cup of tea sat cold on the table — a silent witness to Sakumo's sleepless nights.
Akira and Kakashi sat together on the couch while Sakumo took the seat across from them, composed yet focused.
Kakashi exhaled slowly. "Dad, you already know I've regained memories from my past life."
Sakumo nodded. "Yes. Akira mentioned it briefly."
"I did," Kakashi said quietly. "And what I remembered… it's not small. It's everything connected to why I was reborn here — and the reason the Fifth Prince is coming to this world."
"The Fifth Prince?" Sakumo asked, frowning slightly. "Who is that? And what does he have to do with your memories?"
Kakashi leaned back slightly, eyes distant.
"The Fifth Prince… is not of this world. He's the prince of both the Ruby Kingdom and the Liminal Expanse — two realms that existed long before the fall of the Empyrean Schism."
He paused, glancing at Akira.
"In my past life, I was part of the royal family of the Liminal Expanse. And Akira…" — his tone softened — "was the Crown Prince of Liminal Expanse, and the Second Prince of Ruby."
Sakumo blinked, slowly absorbing each word.
"So this Fifth Prince — he's someone from both of your pasts?"
Kakashi nodded. "Yes. His arrival here triggered my soul's awakening — that's why my memories came rushing back."
He looked toward Akira, whose eyes flickered faintly with confusion.
Sakumo turned to him gently. "Akira, do you remember any of this?"
Before Akira could answer, Kakashi spoke softly, "He doesn't, Dad. Not really. Only fragments — flashes. It's because of the White Moon Earrings."
Sakumo raised an eyebrow. "White Moon Earrings?"
"They're relics from the Empyrean Schism era," Kakashi explained. "Artifacts that let reincarnated souls glimpse their pasts — not completely, but enough to remember the people they loved. Faces, feelings, moments. That's all. But they can't break seals or reveal everything."
His gaze softened toward Akira again. "The problem is, Akira's soul is sealed. The earrings can't pierce that, so all he gets are faint memories — emotions that fade before he can understand them."
Akira lowered his gaze. "That explains it. Sometimes I see places I've never been, people I've never met… and then it all disappears before I can hold on."
Kakashi nodded. "Those are echoes from your soul — remnants of your past life trying to reach you through the cracks in the seal."
Sakumo's expression grew thoughtful. "Do you know who placed the seal?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Not yet. But it's connected to the fall of the Empyrean Schism — when everything vanished."
Silence fell. The dimension's hum was the only sound that remained.
Finally, Sakumo spoke. "And this Fifth Prince — what does he want in this world?"
Kakashi leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "That's the thing. I don't know his goal. But I know his arrival means something — something dangerous. His presence disrupts balance. He was powerful… powerful enough that even the High Deities feared him."
He looked down, voice low. "If he's coming here… it means something big is about to happen."
Akira frowned. "So the Fifth Prince might be the key to all this?"
"Maybe," Kakashi murmured. "Or the beginning of something worse. But I don't sense hatred from him. In our past lives, he wasn't our enemy. He was… something else."
Sakumo tilted his head. "A friend?"
Kakashi hesitated. "No. Not exactly. He was born near the end of the Empyrean Schism. I didn't know him personally. But from my memories, I saw him — fighting alone, against forces beyond reason. Even after the Schism fell, he kept fighting for something unseen. And…" — Kakashi's voice softened — "he's Akira's younger cousin."
Akira's eyes widened slightly. A strange warmth bloomed in his chest — nostalgic, faint, but real.
"I don't know why," he whispered, "but that feels familiar."
Kakashi smiled gently. "That's your soul remembering, even if your mind can't."
Akira didn't say anything. His thoughts drifted — No, he didn't know what that feeling was, but it was strong.
A faint image flickered through his mind — the face of a young boy.
Akira realized something: the Fifth Prince and he had already met — not in the incarnations he'd forgotten, but in the one he remembered clearly. The one he believed was his first.
Sakumo leaned back, voice steady. "Then we'll have to be careful. If his coming affects the balance between realms…"
"There's more," Kakashi interrupted softly. "When my memories returned, I saw a vision — his soul descending through the dimensional planes. That means he's already on his way."
Sakumo exhaled deeply. "If the Fifth Prince comes, will that bring danger to this world?"
Kakashi went silent for a moment, eyes half-closed. Then he said quietly, "I don't know for sure. But his coming itself might be dangerous." He gave a faint chuckle. "Though, I guess danger follows us no matter which world we're in."
Akira frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
Kakashi smiled faintly, teasingly this time. "The Fifth Prince is from the Blaze Clan. And the Creator despises the Blaze Clan more than anything."
Sakumo blinked. "Why?"
Kakashi's smile faded. "Because the Blaze are ruthless. When they're angered, they don't just destroy worlds — they erase entire universes. To them, creation and destruction are the same act. And the Aqua Clan… they're not much different. If they're displeased, they'll do the same."
The air grew heavy again. Even the hum of the dimension seemed to still.
Akira's voice dropped low. "Then what happens if the Fifth Prince remembers who he is… and his power returns?"
Kakashi looked at him quietly, the faint light of his Byakugan flickering.
"Then the heavens will tremble again," he said softly. "Just like they did the last time the Empyrean Schism fell."
Akira looked thoughtful. "But, Kakashi… I have a feeling it's not as bad as it sounds."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?"
Akira hesitated. "I don't know. It's just… a feeling."
He didn't want to tell Kakashi — not in front of Sakumo — that he remembered meeting the Fifth Prince long ago.
---