Epilogue
Kakashi carefully packed the last piece of clothing into his bag and let his gaze sweep across the bedroom. He mentally went over everything again to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Enough clothes? Check. His kunai and shuriken? Check. The important books? Also packed. Everything he truly needed was with him. He wouldn't need more, because he knew: if he did forget something, he could always come back here.
With determination, he closed his bag and lifted it, ready to set off. But as he slowly began to walk, he suddenly stopped. His gaze drifted back to the bedroom, and his eyes settled on a picture frame that sat silently and familiarly on the desk. For a moment, he froze, before letting the bag fall to the floor and walking over to the desk. Gently, he took the frame in his hand, his grip firm yet careful. His eyes focused on the picture.
The photo had been taken shortly after his birth. In it, Kakashi lay wrapped in a soft blanket, safely in his mother's arms. Beside her stood Sakumo, one arm around her shoulders. Both of them were smiling with pride and happiness at the camera – a moment of warmth and harmony, frozen in time. But that moment was more fleeting than the photo suggested: only a few weeks later, Kakashi lost his mother, who died on a mission.
Kakashi knew little about his mother. His father rarely spoke of her, and eventually, Kakashi understood that he simply couldn't. With a thoughtful expression, he gently traced the photo with his fingers, as if trying to feel the lost connection to her. A quiet frown formed on his face as reality set in: there was no one left who could tell him about her. For a moment, he paused, staring at the picture with melancholic attention, wondering if he should take it with him.
Before Kakashi could delve further into his thoughts, he was suddenly snapped out of them. “Kakashi? Are you done, or…?”
Minato fell silent as his gaze landed on the young ninja. For a moment, he studied him thoughtfully, then slowly approached and crouched beside him. His eyes wandered to the picture Kakashi held.
“That’s a nice photo,” he said softly, offering a gentle smile. “Do you want to take it with you?”
Kakashi paused for a moment in silent contemplation before shaking his head and carefully placing the picture back on the desk. “I’ve packed everything. We can go,” he said calmly, his eyes meeting his sensei’s. The decision was hard, but he knew he didn’t want to see the picture every day – the memories it held hurt too much.
Minato’s gaze lingered on the photo for a moment longer before turning back to Kakashi, his eyes full of understanding. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice soft and gentle, without a hint of pressure.
“I am!” Kakashi replied firmly, his gaze resolute as he met Minato’s eyes. “I can always come back and grab something if I need it,” he added quietly, though he could clearly feel the knot in his stomach. Deep down, he knew he would rather stay here and continue living in this house. But after the last dinner a week ago with Minato and Kushina, he had moved in with Minato – and had realized that he could no longer bear staying in this house. The memories that haunted every corner were too heavy.
So, Kakashi had agreed to move in with Minato for now, until he figured out what to do next. And, if he were honest, he was even relieved not to be alone anymore. The past few weeks, he had felt increasingly uncomfortable in the house. Over and over, the painful memories of the day he found his father resurfaced, and the pain gripped his chest. Since then, he could no longer enter the study – the room still reeked of blood and death, as if that shadow had permanently seeped into the walls.
“Can we go?” Kakashi finally asked, his voice soft, almost hesitant. His gaze averted, as if he wished to avoid the room around him. As much as it helped to have Minato with him, the suffocating weight of the house left him struggling to breathe. Every moment he stayed only heightened the feeling that the past wouldn’t let go of him.
Minato gave him an encouraging smile and nodded in understanding. “Then let’s go. There’s still a lot to do,” he said with gentle determination. Without hesitation, he grabbed Kakashi’s bag, swung it over his shoulder, and started walking as if to shake off the weight of the moment. His demeanor radiated a confidence that made Kakashi feel that everything might somehow turn out fine.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow as he followed his sensei out of the house. Together, they walked down the street that led to the village. “What else is there to do?” he asked skeptically, casting a wary glance at Minato. “You said we wouldn’t train today and that we were just picking up my things from the house.”
Minato shot him a wide grin that almost seemed mischievous. “You still need a shelf for your room,” he explained casually, before adding, “And Kushina said we absolutely need to get some decorations. She thinks your room looks too cold and impersonal.” His voice sounded amused, as though he had already replayed the discussion with Kushina in his head.
“That’s not necessary!” Kakashi blurted out immediately. His voice was sharper than he had intended, but he couldn’t suppress the urge to defend himself. He didn’t want to be a burden to anyone, let alone cause unnecessary work. The room was perfectly fine as it was.
“I have everything I need,” he added hastily, trying to soften his tone. “I can just put my books on the desk. It’s really not a problem. And decorations…” He paused briefly before shaking his head firmly. “Decorations are unnecessary anyway.”
Minato merely shrugged casually and playfully swung Kakashi’s bag over his shoulder. “Are you going to argue with Kushina about that?” he asked with an amused undertone, a slight grin on his lips. “I’m certainly not getting into it with her,” he admitted with a wink. “Do you really think the decorations in my house are my choice? I definitely didn’t pick them.”
Kakashi rolled his eyes in exasperation, but a small smile tugged at his lips. He couldn’t deny it – he had no chance of winning an argument with Kushina. Resistance was pointless. It was probably wiser to just give in, even if the thought didn’t sit entirely well with him.
Despite everything, Kakashi tried to see the benefits of living with Minato. After all, he was his sensei, and maybe extra training sessions would come out of it – opportunities he couldn’t afford to let slip by. His goal remained unwavering in his mind: he wanted to prove to the villagers that he was more than just his father’s son. He would never abandon a mission, he would never give up. He would do everything for the village – and then, eventually, the skeptical looks and quiet murmurs would finally cease.
“Sensei, you really should learn to stand up to Kushina. It makes you seem weak,” Kakashi explained in his typical calm tone as he casually put his hands in his pockets.
“Hey!” Minato immediately protested, throwing Kakashi a mock-indignant look. “Don’t get cheeky! Besides, it has nothing to do with being weak.” He scratched the back of his head with his free hand. “I just know when a battle is lost from the start – and trust me, any discussion with Kushina is hopeless.”
Kakashi sighed quietly and waved dismissively. “As you say,” he muttered, obviously unconvinced but willing to drop the topic. A brief silence fell between them, interrupted only by the rhythmic sound of their footsteps on the path. Finally, Kakashi took a deep breath, as though he had steeled himself to ask a question. “Minato-Sensei?” he said hesitantly, his voice quieter than before.
Minato hummed softly, signaling that he was listening attentively, and glanced at Kakashi out of the corner of his eye. “Is it really okay for me to move in with you?” Kakashi began cautiously, his gaze fixed ahead as if he didn’t want to see Minato’s reaction directly. “If I’m bothering you, I can always…”
Minato suddenly stopped, turned to Kakashi, and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. “Don’t say another word,” he said with emphasis, his gaze piercing as he looked Kakashi directly in the eyes. Kakashi flinched slightly, surprised by the intensity of his sensei.
“You’re not bothering me, Kakashi,” Minato continued, his voice both firm and gentle. “It’s perfectly fine that you’re moving in with me. On the contrary – I’m glad you’ll be staying with me.” His words were full of warmth, almost fatherly. “You can stay as long as you want. And please – never, truly never, should you feel that you’re a bother or a burden to me.” His voice softened further, almost soothing, as he looked Kakashi firmly in the eyes to make sure every word landed.
Kakashi’s eyes widened in surprise. He had never explicitly said that he feared being a burden or causing inconvenience. Yet Minato had recognized it nonetheless. Kakashi quickly turned his gaze away, letting it fall to the ground, as if that could shield him from the sudden openness of his sensei.
Of course, he should have expected it. Minato knew him – better than Kakashi sometimes knew himself. He understood exactly how to handle him, when to give him space, and when to intervene. It was that familiarity, that unobtrusive kind of care, that Kakashi had never anticipated but quietly appreciated. Slowly, he felt a pleasant warmth spread in his chest, a feeling that was unfamiliar yet comforting.
For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. Kakashi wrestled with himself, unsure if he should say anything. Finally, he took a deep breath without lifting his gaze.
“Thank you, Minato-Sensei,” he murmured quietly, almost inaudibly, but the words carried a weight that didn’t escape Minato.
Minato smiled gently and loosened his grip on Kakashi’s shoulder, but left his hand there for a moment longer. “You don’t need to thank me, Kakashi,” he replied calmly, with a hint of warmth in his voice. “I’m your sensei – and more than that, I’m here for you. No matter what comes. After all, we’re friends!”
Kakashi nodded silently, unable to put into words the unexpected surge of emotions. Yet, inwardly, he felt a small sense of relief, a feeling that reminded him that he wasn’t as alone as he sometimes thought.
Minato finally let go and took a step back. “Come on,” he said with a smile that seemed to dissolve the heaviness of the moment. “We still need to get a shelf – and if you want to convince Kushina not to put up decorations, you’d better come prepared with some arguments.”
Kakashi couldn’t help but smile slightly. He straightened up, shoved his hands into his pockets, and followed his sensei down the path. A part of him felt lighter – as if the weight on his shoulders had shifted for a moment.