"Daddy!"
At dusk, Kakashi returned home, treading through the amber glow of the setting sun. As soon as he pushed open the door, an exquisite little girl threw herself into his arms.
Now eight years old, Mirai had inherited the beauty of both Kakashi and Kurenai. Her pure white hair paired perfectly with eyes like crimson jade, making her look like a doll straight out of a fairy tale.
"You haven't been home in so long," Mirai murmured, rubbing her face against her father's chest with an adorable, spoiled pout.
"I've been a bit busy lately. But I should be able to stay with little Mirai for a long time now."
An expression of fatherly affection appeared on Kakashi's face as his broad palm gently stroked his daughter's head.
"Dad."
At the threshold between the entryway and the living room, a boy with black hair and dark eyes stood watching Kakashi.
"While I was away these past few days, did Ichigo take good care of Mommy and your sister?"
Kakashi led Mirai over to the boy and knelt down, looking at his son with a slight smile.
"Mm-hmm!" Ichigo nodded solemnly.
"What? I don't need my little brother taking care of me!" Hearing Kakashi's words, Mirai immediately turned her head away in a huff.
Kakashi chuckled at the sight, then took Ichigo's hand and led them further into the house.
Compared to the lively Mirai, Ichigo was much more quiet and reserved. Both eight-year-olds were now enrolled in the Ninja Academy.
The Academy of today was no longer a mere petri dish for cultivating killing machines. It had been divided into three distinct branches.
The first was the Combat Branch, dedicated to improving individual strength and retaining the various cultivation methods of the former Academy.
The second was the Chakra Technology Branch, headed primarily by Katasuke Tōno. After all, there were always those whose talents didn't lie in combat, but who excelled in other fields.
The final branch focused on Agriculture.
Thinking that Tenzō alone could increase the resources of the entire Shinobi World by planting trees everywhere was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Ichigo's talent was exceptional; he had almost perfectly inherited the excellence of both Kakashi and Hikari. His potential was not inferior even to Hikari's own. Kakashi believed that even if Ichigo's future strength didn't surpass Guy's, it would at least be comparable to Tenzō's.
Kakashi didn't expect Ichigo to surpass him. After all, his own situation was a bit of a "cheat."
Mirai's talent wasn't quite on Ichigo's level, but she was fascinated by Chakra Technology. If possible, she would likely develop in that direction in the future.
After dinner, Kakashi sat alone on the rooftop.
The Shinobi World was now at peace. The enemies on the surface had all been dealt with. As for Madara Uchiha's Eye of the Moon Plan—let alone the Infinite Tsukuyomi—he hadn't even been given the chance to appear via Reanimation.
Aside from the future arrivals of Momoshiki, Kinshiki, and Urashiki Ōtsutsuki, the only enemy currently lurking in the shadows was Isshiki Ōtsutsuki.
Kakashi didn't plan on dealing with him immediately. While winning wouldn't be difficult, finding him was the prerequisite.
Previously, due to the death of Itachi Uchiha, large-scale shinobi mobilizations had already caused ripples within the Empire. If he continued to search for Isshiki with such fanfare, it would inevitably cause chaos.
This was something Kakashi would never allow. The Empire needed stability. Many regions required the productivity of shinobi for development.
"What are you thinking about?"
While Kakashi was contemplating how to further stabilize the world, a young woman with black hair and dark eyes—looking no older than seventeen or eighteen—approached him. She sat down beside him, carrying a pot of tea and a plate of snacks.
"Thinking about what to do next."
Seeing Hikari arrive, Kakashi smiled and took the tea she handed him.
"Is it troublesome?" Hikari blinked at him with a hint of playfulness.
"No, it's just that there probably won't be any major movements for a while."
After saying this, he drained the cup in one gulp. The fragrant, slightly bitter tea turned into a warm current in his stomach. Kakashi smiled; he hadn't cared for tea in the past, but he seemed to have grown fond of it now.
The night breeze brushed through Kakashi's longish white hair. The night was silent save for the chirping of insects. As the bright moon hung high, shedding its silver glow, Kakashi couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
"This is nice..."
Looking at Kakashi, Hikari also chuckled. When her parents had named her "Hikari" [Light], they had hoped she would bring light to this chaotic Shinobi World.
Although she hadn't achieved it herself, her husband had. In a way, she hadn't failed her parents' expectations, had she?
Thinking of this, a look of reminiscence appeared in Hikari's eyes.
"Have you ever thought about... living a bit longer?"
Kakashi's sudden question interrupted Hikari's thoughts.
"What? Am I supposed to be a short-lived ghost or something?" Hikari joked.
"No, I mean... stay with me longer..." Kakashi looked into Hikari's eyes with a serious expression.
Kakashi's current strength was unprecedented, and his lifespan had almost reached the peak of the Six Paths level. If not a thousand years, he had at least five hundred ahead of him. Moreover, with the establishment of the Empire, the amount of chakra in his body was staggering. Quantity had led to a qualitative change; barring any accidents, Kakashi's strength would continue to grow.
Especially as the first person in a millennium to bring peace to the world, whenever chaos arose in the future, a significant number of people would surely remember him. In this way, it wasn't impossible for Kakashi to live for a thousand years.
But while Kakashi could live that long... Hikari, Kurenai, Ichigo, and Mirai could not. He didn't want to watch his wives, son, and daughter leave him one by one.
"Kakashi, some things simply cannot be forced."
Hikari gently took her husband's hand. She had always cherished the familiar warmth and touch.
"I've always known how far I could go," the black-haired girl said with a touch of sentiment, rubbing his hand against her cheek.
The Six Paths. This was the barrier that loomed over all top-tier experts.
On their own, even Madara Uchiha couldn't cross it. Hashirama Senju, the strongest below the Six Paths, couldn't cross it either. Might Guy could achieve Six Paths-level power by risking his life, but that was power alone.
Although Hikari possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, she could not obtain the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. To awaken it, one had to transplant the Mangekyō of a close relative and merge their visual prowess.
Only Ichigo was eligible to provide that for Hikari. But Hikari would rather die than transplant her son's eyes. In fact, if necessary, she would give her own eyes to Ichigo without hesitation.
This alone cut off Hikari's hope of ascending to the Six Paths level. Furthermore, before she was sealed, she had used her Mangekyō powers almost without restraint. Even with her naturally powerful Yin Release, she couldn't withstand that kind of depletion.
Even now, five hundred years later, even though Wood Release research was progressing smoothly and helping to replenish her visual prowess, reaching the Six Paths was almost impossible.
Kakashi looked at his wife in silence. He had thought of various methods before, even collecting the Tailed Beasts to make Hikari a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, similar to Obito Uchiha in the original story.
But Obito as a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki could only be described as a "pseudo" Six Paths level. He couldn't quickly take down Naruto (linked with Kurama) and Sasuke (with the Eternal Mangekyō), and he was eventually defeated when the Tailed Beast chakra was pulled out of him due to his wavering resolve. His combat methods were limited to Truth-Seeker Orbs and the Cross Lantern.
A true Six Paths level against a Super Kage level should be a total stomp—not a stalemate.
In Kakashi's view, Obito was missing a vital component: his own Rinnegan. Contrast that with Madara, for whom becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki was a natural progression, whereas for Obito, it was a desperate gamble.
Possessing one's own Rinnegan was the most crucial link. And Hikari—forget the Rinnegan—even the Eternal Mangekyō was a struggle.
As for the Six Paths Yin and Yang powers that Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki had gifted to Naruto and Sasuke... Kakashi preferred to think of those as powers that originally belonged to them. Specifically, the powers of Ashura and Indra. Otherwise, it would be illogical for someone to create two top-tier Six Paths experts with just a gesture.
"Don't think too much about it~~"
"Meeting you has been the greatest luck of my life."
Hikari closed her eyes, rubbing her cheek against Kakashi's hand. Her voice was soft and gentle, with no trace of her former arrogance.
"Big Brother Kakashi!"
A shout came from downstairs, breaking the delicate atmosphere between the two.
It was Naruto.
"Go on, Naruto's looking for you." Hikari's gaze was as soft as water.
Kakashi let out a soft sigh, gently withdrew his hand, composed himself, and walked downstairs.
"Big Brother Kakashi, you're so slow!" Naruto complained as he watched Kakashi descend.
"Is something the matter, Naruto?" Kakashi looked at the young man, who was now almost as tall as he was.
"Eh? Is Big Brother Kakashi in a bad mood?" Naruto looked at him with some confusion.
"No."
Seeing Kakashi say this, Naruto immediately tossed his confusion aside and pulled Kakashi outside.
"Dad has something to say to you."
Outside the courtyard wall, Minato Namikaze sat alone under a tree by the river, waiting for Kakashi.
Minato was currently in a reanimated body. Having seen Naruto and learned about the girl his son liked, he had no more regrets. He intended to use the final moments before the Reanimation Jutsu was released to see his student one last time.
"Sensei." Kakashi nodded.
"Kakashi, let's talk privately." Minato stood up. Even a reanimated body couldn't hide his gentle smile.
"Alright."
Kakashi agreed, and in a flicker of movement, both vanished.
They reappeared by the lake on the back mountain. Looking at the familiar scenery, a flash of sentimentality crossed Minato's eyes. This had once been his training ground, and Kakashi had kept it exactly as it was.
But clearly, that wasn't the focus now.
Under the moonlight, the blonde man stared at Kakashi with a complex gaze.
"Can you tell me..."
"When did he leave?"
Silence.
Kakashi looked at the man before him. The lake surface rippled in the night breeze, and a chill lingered between the two men.
"The night you died."
Hearing Kakashi's words, Minato couldn't hide the sorrow in his heart.
"I see..."
A faint, fluorescent white light began to emanate from Minato's body. This was the sign of a reanimated soul whose lingering regrets were resolved, about to depart.
"When I arrived, he was already dead," Kakashi said calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.
"I know... I know..."
"I just..."
"I really am a failure."
"I couldn't protect my wife, my child, or my student..."
"Kakashi, make this imperfect world a better place."
"This is my blessing, and the only thing I can still do."
With his final words, Minato looked at the man before him with a smile. He tried to reach out and pat Kakashi's shoulder, but his hand passed through.
His soul had already detached from the vessel.
"Farewell, Kakashi..."
The words lingered in the air like a final echo. All that remained were scraps of paper and an anonymous corpse.
Kakashi watched the scene in silence.
He figured it out...
Year 6 of the Radiance Era
Water Province
A massive explosion suddenly thundered across the border of the Water Province.
Through the drifting smoke, a figure rushed out at high speed, followed closely by three others.
"Dammit..."
A man dressed in white robes with long black hair tied back—looking much like a monk—gritted his teeth as he looked at the three people pursuing him.
These three were none other than the nineteen-year-old Naruto, Sasuke, and Shion. At nineteen, they were at the peak of their combat power.
With the help of the Waterfall of Truth, Naruto had perfectly mastered the Nine-Tails and was equipped with the latest Sage Seal: Phase 3 Release. His combat power was not inferior to the older generation of experts.
Sasuke possessed his own Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and had successfully transplanted Hashirama cells, making him a match for Naruto.
Shion had come from behind, her strength surpassing Sakura Haruno's. Having perfectly mastered the power of Mōryō, the Lord of Demons from a thousand years ago, she could cause wide-scale destruction with a mere gesture.
The three could be said to be the pinnacle representatives of the Empire's younger generation. Under the Emperor's orders, they were currently executing a mission to completely eliminate Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, who had been hiding in the Shinobi World for a millennium.
"I have no grievance with you. Why do you persist in hounding me?"
Isshiki, in the body of Jigen, tried to avoid what he considered a meaningless battle. To win against these three, he would have to use his full power. But once he did, his millennium-old, unhealed wounds would put his life on a countdown.
"It's a mission."
The cold, black-haired youth had no intention of wasting words with Isshiki. His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan activated without hesitation.
In the blink of an eye, a colossal Susano'o that seemed to touch the heavens appeared over the sea!
A second later, a golden light flashed, and a golden Nine-Tails fox—no smaller than the Susano'o—emerged!
Naruto and Sasuke shared a silent understanding. The Nine-Tails and the Susano'o stood side by side, their fists meeting. Then, the Nine-Tails and Susano'o merged into one, becoming a beast clad in heavy armor—Majestic Attire: Susano'o!
At the same time, the sky grew dark. The previously clear, cloudless weather seemed to plunge into night in an instant.
A girl in armor with black hair, dark eyes, and a hint of demonic aura on her face appeared in the palm of the armored beast!
The armored beast held Shion and, without a word, hurled her violently toward Isshiki Ōtsutsuki!
On the coast, several figures appeared.
It was the backup team: the thirty-three-year-old Kakashi, Might Guy, Tenzō, and Hayama Shirakumo!
"Damned humans!"
Facing the combined force of Naruto, Sasuke, and Shion, Isshiki's expression became incredibly grim.
If he didn't unleash his full power, he might actually fall here today...