The First Cry
By the time Kakashi turned one, people had already started whispering that he was... different.
He rarely cried. While other children filled the streets of Konoha with restless noise and clumsy laughter, Kakashi often sat quietly, silver hair catching the sunlight as he watched the world with calm, unreadable eyes. Even as a baby, he seemed composed, movements small, gaze steady, as if he understood more than he should.
Sakumo noticed it too.
Sometimes he wondered if it was a blessing... or something heavier.
The Hatake compound was quiet that afternoon. A light breeze stirred the wind chimes while Sakumo sorted through mission scrolls at the low table, half-listening to the soft sounds of Kakashi playing nearby.
Then it happened.
A cry sharp, sudden, wrong.
Sakumo was on his feet before he realised he had moved.
"Kakashi?"
The child sat unsteadily near the futon, face flushed, small hands trembling as another weak cry escaped him. Sakumo reached down, lifting him too quickly and froze at the heat radiating through the tiny body.
"...You're burning up."
Panic struck harder than any battlefield instinct. Without another thought, Sakumo grabbed his cloak and moved toward the door, voice already calling for help.
Tsunade arrived not long after, pushing the door open with practised ease.
"You sounded like the village was under attack," she muttered, kneeling beside the futon as Sakumo carefully laid Kakashi down. Her hands glowed faintly with chakra as she checked his temperature, expression focused.
Kakashi whimpered softly, reaching weakly toward Sakumo's sleeve.
"He's got a high fever," Tsunade said at last. "But he'll be fine. Babies get sick. Even the quiet ones."
Sakumo exhaled slowly, tension easing only a little.
Tsunade glanced up at him, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.
"You know, you are a confusing man, Hatake Sakumo." She chuckled fondly, lifting a finger to poke him in the chest. "One minute you're a worried mess of a dad scared about his son's condition, and the next you're a stubborn shinobi. How do you do it?"
Sakumo paused, considering her words.
If there was one thing he had learned over the last year, it was how to shift between two worlds: the battlefield and this quiet home. Shinobi mode. Dad mode. He rarely let them mix.
"There are enough shinobi in all of Konoha to show my son how to act," he said quietly. "He doesn't need me to be another one. What he needs from me... is a father."
Someone understanding. Protective. A single person in this complicated world who would put him first.
Today.
Tomorrow.
Always.
Tsunade snorted softly. "Such a softie," she teased, poking him again. "I wonder what all the other villages would think if they found out. Konoha's Great White Fang is a big softie for his son."
Sakumo didn't respond. He only sat beside the futon, gently brushing a hand across Kakashi's silver hair as the child's breathing slowly steadied.
Outside, the wind chimes rang once, light and clear.
It was the first time Kakashi had truly cried, and the first time Sakumo realised how loud silence could become when that calm finally broke.
The Second Birthday
Sakumo had faced battlefields without hesitation, but planning a birthday party for a two-year-old felt strangely more difficult.
He stood in the Hatake kitchen before sunrise, staring at what was supposed to be a cake. Flour dusted his sleeves, and something pink, far too pink, covered most of the counter.
The memory of missing Kakashi's first birthday still lingered like an unfinished mission report. This time, he refused to fail.
A loud knock broke his concentration.
Might Dai burst through the door with unstoppable energy?
"Fear not, my rival! The power of youth shall save this cake!"
Behind him came Jiraiya carrying wrapped boxes, Tsunade already sighing at the mess, and a small group of familiar faces, Minato and Kushina whispering to each other, Fugaku and Mikoto offering quiet greetings as they stepped inside the compound.
Kakashi had been sent outside earlier with guy under the excuse of "training," though in truth, he had only been chasing leaves across the courtyard.
When he finally returned, the room lit up.
"Surprise!"
The sound wasn't loud, but it was warm laughter filling the house in a way Sakumo had once thought impossible.
Kakashi blinked slowly, silver hair falling into his eyes as he took in the decorations. He didn't jump or shout as other children might have. Instead, a small, genuine smile formed, soft and steady.
Dai presented a cake that actually looked edible, while the original pink bunny creation sat awkwardly to the side, lopsided ears threatening to collapse.
Jiraiya handed over a small wooden toy sword, Tsunade a neatly wrapped medical kit "for when he inevitably hurts himself," and Minato shyly offered a handmade charm that Kakashi held longer than anything else.
Kushina puffed her cheeks when Kakashi thanked Minato first.
Even Fugaku allowed a faint smile when the child bowed politely after each gift, far more composed than most toddlers.
For a few hours, the Hatake compound felt alive, voices overlapping, sake cups clinking softly while the children sat near Kakashi, watching him inspect every present with quiet curiosity.
Sakumo watched it all from the edge of the room.
This was what he had wanted to give his son: a moment untouched by war.
Several hours later, the two remaining members of the Hatake clan had their home to themselves again. Sakumo was considering taking a nap when Kakashi asked,
"May I have another piece of cake, Dad? I'll bring one for you, too, if you want."
"Well, it is your birthday, so, yes, you may. I think I will have one, too," he smiled at his son.
Kakashi returned with two pieces of the pink bunny monstrosity that the White Fang had completely forgotten about.
"Kakashi, I'm sorry I messed up your cake. I hope you didn't mind the other one at your party."
"Are you kidding? This is great, Dad! It's just what I asked for, and you made it for me." The considerate little genius shoved a forkful into his mouth after these words.
Sakumo set his plate down and scooped his son up into his lap. Wrapping his arms around the boy, he nuzzled the little head of silver hair that was so like his own.
"Happy Birthday, Kakashi. I love you."
The Third Grave
The question came on an ordinary afternoon.
Kakashi had been watching Sakumo clean his blade, small legs folded neatly beneath him, eyes thoughtful in that way that always made Sakumo pause. For a long time, the child said nothing. Then, quietly
"Dad... where is my mother?"
The cloth in Sakumo's hand stilled.
He had known this day would come. Still, hearing the words felt heavier than any mission report.
"...I'll show you," Sakumo said at last.
The cemetery rested at the edge of Konoha, quiet beneath drifting clouds. Kakashi walked beside him, small hand wrapped around two of Sakumo's fingers, steps careful on the stone path.
They stopped before a simple grave.
No grand markings. Just a wooden tablet, weathered by time.
Sakumo knelt first.
"This is her," he said softly. "Your mother was kind... stronger than she believed. She didn't fight with a blade, but she protected us in her own way."
Kakashi listened without interrupting, silver hair moving gently in the wind.
"She used to laugh at me," Sakumo added, a faint smile touching his lips. "Said I took everything too seriously."
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Then Kakashi stepped forward on his own.
He placed his small hands together, bowing slightly toward the grave.
"...Hello, Mom," he said quietly. "I'll protect Dad. So he won't be alone."
The words were simple, too simple, but they struck Sakumo harder than any battlefield memory. He looked away briefly, letting the wind hide the shift in his expression.
When Kakashi turned back, his eyes wandered across the cemetery.
"...Dad?" he asked, pointing toward two nearby graves, older and worn by years. "Who are they?"
Sakumo followed his gaze.
For a moment, he said nothing.
"...Next time," he answered gently. "I'll tell you next time."
Kakashi nodded, accepting the answer without question.
They began walking back toward the village, small footsteps echoing against stone.
Behind them, three graves remained in quiet stillness.
Sakumo glanced over his shoulder once more.
He had never truly known his own parents — only stories, fragments, the knowledge that they were gone long before he could remember their faces. Yet standing there now, he felt their presence more clearly than ever.
Three graves.
One for the woman he had loved.
Two for the parents he had never met.
And beside him walked the only future he had left to protect.
Without another word, Sakumo tightened his hold on Kakashi's hand and led him home.
The Fourth Night
The Hatake compound had never felt this large before.
Three-year-old Kakashi sat alone near the low table, small hands resting over an open book he wasn't really reading. Sunlight slipped through the paper windows, stretching across empty floors that still carried echoes of footsteps no longer there. Sakumo had left days ago for a long mission. The silence he left behind felt heavier than usual.
Kakashi didn't cry.
He rarely did.
Instead, he sat quietly, lost in thought, replaying his father's last words as he left.
Be good. I'll be back soon.
A knock broke the stillness.
Kakashi looked up slowly and padded toward the door. When he slid it open, a burst of red filled the frame.
"Kakashi!" Kushina grinned, hands on her hips. "You've been hiding in here too long."
He blinked once. "...Kushina."
She leaned down immediately and poked his forehead. "Hey, call me Kushina-nii. I told you that before."
Kakashi rubbed the spot, expression unchanged. "What do you want?"
"To take you out for ramen," she said proudly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I have food at home," he replied calmly, already beginning to close the door.
Kushina stuck her foot forward to stop it. "Too bad. You're coming anyway."
He hesitated.
"...No."
She studied him for a second, then her eyes sparkled with a new idea. "If you come, I'll teach you that sealing thing you keep asking about."
That made him pause.
Kakashi's gaze lifted slightly, curiosity breaking through his usual calm.
"...Seals?" he asked.
Kushina crossed her arms with a confident smile. "Yep. But only if you come eat ramen with me. Deal?"
A moment passed.
"...Deal," he said quietly.
The streets of Konoha felt louder than usual after days inside the compound. Kushina walked beside him with long, energetic steps, occasionally glancing down to make sure he kept up.
Halfway there, familiar voices called out.
Minato approached first, offering a gentle smile. "Kakashi, Kushina."
Behind him walked Fugaku and Mikoto, their presence calm and steady. Mikoto knelt slightly to Kakashi's height.
"We heard Sakumo-san is on a mission," she said kindly. "You're welcome to stay with us for a while, if you'd like."
Kakashi considered the offer quietly.
Kushina nudged him. "See? No more lonely house."
He didn't answer right away, but he didn't refuse either.
What began as ramen turned into something longer.
One night became two. Two became four.
Sleepovers filled with soft conversations, Minato helping him read scrolls late into the evening while Kushina loudly complained that Kakashi listened to Minato more than her. Mikoto's cooking warmed the quiet parts of him that missed home, and even Fugaku occasionally watched him train with a faint, approving look.
Kakashi remained composed as always, but something about those days felt... lighter.
Not loud.
Just less alone.
On the fourth night, as he lay awake staring at the ceiling, Kakashi realised the house didn't feel empty when voices surrounded him, even if his father was far away on a mission.
And for the first time since Sakumo had left, sleep came easily.
The Fifth Step
Morning light slipped through the paper windows of the Hatake compound, soft and steady. Four-year-old Kakashi stood near the door, already dressed, small backpack hanging neatly over his shoulders. His silver hair was still messy despite Sakumo's earlier attempt to fix it.
"Dad. I'm not letting you make me late. Let's go."
Sakumo tried not to laugh at his son. He was just so cute, trying to act all adult. If only he were adult enough to try to get along with the other kids.
Sakumo could almost hear the but Dad, they're so annoying, in response. Hopefully, the academy would help him make some friends. Kakashi could definitely use some people to keep him company, now that Sakumo would be taking more missions.
He wouldn't be home as often, but that didn't mean he would stop being a parent, and parents made their children eat before leaving in the morning.
"You're not leaving until you eat. We still have thirty minutes, but if you're really that worried, grab something you can eat on the way."
Kakashi snatched an apple off the counter and led the way out the door.
Sakumo followed, trying to remember what his own first day had been like. Ah, that's right. He knew he was forgetting something. Can't send your son off to school without the obligatory lecture.
"Now, Kakashi, I want you to respect your sensei, okay? No back-talk, and no sass, got it?"
"Yeah, yeah, I—"
"And you be nice to your classmates!"
"Bu—"
"I don't care how annoying they are, be nice to them. Oh, also, no starting fights, but that's a given. No breaking noses. Don't use deadly force. Pay attention in class.
Knowledge is just as important as taijutsu and ninjutsu, got it? And make sure you eat the lunch I packed. The academy cafeteria may seem cool, but it is full of nutrients that help you get stronger. You can't be a ninja if you're not strong. Don't overextend yourself, Kakashi?"
Kakashi had stopped walking and was staring at his half-eaten apple.
"What's wrong?"
He didn't reply, just handed over the apple. Sakumo turned it over, looking for the problem. The apple looked fine to him.
"Let's go, you don't wanna be late, do you?"
When Kakashi still didn't move, Sakumo crouched in front of him. "It's okay to be nervous. It's the first day, after all."
"I'm not nervous!"
That was when Sakumo saw it — and couldn't help but laugh.
There was a gap in Kakashi's teeth.
"Hey, your first tooth! You're growing up!"
Apparently, Kakashi didn't appreciate that, because he scowled. "No, it means I look like a little kid! Only little kids have missing teeth. I can't show up at the academy like this."
With that, Kakashi turned around and stomped in the opposite direction. Sakumo was about to protest when he realised the boy had only walked toward the shore of a nearby lake to check his reflection.
"Dad. How do I put it back?"
Kakashi looked so genuinely troubled that Sakumo felt his chest tighten.
"You can't, but..." Sakumo checked his wristwatch, then suddenly grabbed Kakashi's wrist. "I have an idea."
They hurried toward the shopping district, weaving through early morning crowds. Sakumo's idea seemed brilliant until they reached a small shop filled with colourful masks hanging from the walls.
Kakashi stared at them silently.
Fox masks. Cat masks. Plain white masks.
Sakumo picked up a simple one — pale, clean, with just enough shape to hide a missing tooth without looking childish.
"...What about this?" he asked.
Kakashi hesitated, then slowly tied it behind his head. The mask rested lightly over his lower face. His visible eye brightened just a little when he looked back at his reflection.
"...It works," he said quietly.
Sakumo smiled, relieved.
By the time they reached the academy gates, children gathered in noisy groups, laughter and chatter filling the air. Kakashi stood straighter beside him, mask in place, calm once again.
Sakumo rested a hand briefly on his head. "Go on."
Kakashi nodded and stepped forward without looking back, taking small steps that carried him toward the beginning of something new.
Sakumo watched until the doors closed behind him.
A missing tooth, a simple mask, and the first step toward becoming a shinobi.
He didn't realise it then, but that morning marked the start of a habit that would follow Kakashi for the rest of his life, a quiet shield between himself and the world.
"One more quiet moment, one more mask, one more lesson, just Baby Steps... and the fifth step on the path of a shinobi."
If you enjoyed it, please leave a comment and a Power Stone for earlier upgrades.