Chapter 130 — Heroes and the Unspoken Rule
As the group finally returned to the village, the sky had already turned dark.
One by one, everyone headed back to their own homes.
Obito left while still arguing loudly with Kakashi about something trivial.
Guy declared the day a "victory for youthful exploration" before running off dramatically.
Rin waved goodbye with a warm smile before heading toward her house.
Soon, only Akira and Kakashi remained.
They walked the rest of the way quietly.
When they reached their home, Kakashi immediately took out a barrier paper tag—one Akira had made earlier that morning.
Kakashi placed it on the door frame.
The paper shimmered faintly as chakra spread across the house, forming a silent barrier that blocked sound from escaping.
Only after the barrier fully activated did Kakashi turn toward Akira.
His expression was serious.
"What is happening, Akira?" Kakashi asked.
His voice was calm, but tension hid beneath it.
"…Do you know whose grave that was?"
Akira didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Kakashi stiffened slightly.
Akira continued quietly.
"That grave belongs to my younger brother."
Kakashi blinked.
"My brother from one of my previous incarnations," Akira added. "Either my second or my third life… I'm not completely sure."
He paused briefly before finishing the sentence.
"And after we died in that life… we both became heroes."
Kakashi's eyes widened instantly.
"Stop."
His voice cut sharply through the room.
Akira looked at him in confusion.
Kakashi stepped forward, grabbing Akira's shoulders firmly. His visible eye was filled with shock—along with something deeper.
Fear.
Worry.
Disbelief.
"Akira," Kakashi said quickly, his voice tense. "Are you alright?"
Akira blinked.
"What?"
"Did something happen to you there?"
Kakashi pressed urgently. "Did someone do something to you besides erasing their memories?"
Akira stared at him, confused by Kakashi's intense reaction.
"No… I'm fine," Akira said slowly.
Then he frowned slightly.
"…Kakashi, do you know what a Hero is?"
Kakashi released his shoulders but still looked uneasy.
"Yes," he answered.
"The Creator chooses certain souls who can contain holy energy. Those souls are sent to different worlds to fight evil forces—demons, evil spirits, corrupted entities."
He leaned back against the wall, thinking.
"I don't know the full ranking system, but I know there are levels."
"The lower-ranked heroes fight weaker evil beings."
"The strongest heroes… fight Demon Lords or Kings of Evil Spirits."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"But…"
Kakashi looked at Akira carefully.
"They're not supposed to choose people from the Empyrean Schism."
Akira tilted his head.
"Why?"
Kakashi's expression darkened slightly.
"Because people from the Empyrean Schism… don't belong to that system."
He crossed his arms.
"The Creator normally chooses souls from ordinary worlds. Souls that need growth. Souls that can be guided."
"But us?" Kakashi said quietly.
"We're different.
Akira remained silent.
Kakashi continued.
"People from the Empyrean Schism are already extremely powerful souls. Many of them are equal to the Creators themselves."
His voice dropped slightly.
"That's why there's an unspoken rule."
Akira watched him carefully.
Kakashi finished the sentence slowly.
"People from the Empyrean Schism… never become heroes."
Akira blinked once.
"…Why?"
Kakashi answered without hesitation.
"Because we don't kill."
The room went silent.
Akira frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Kakashi looked directly into his eyes.
"Empyrean Schism souls don't kill evil beings."