Early autumn.
The morning sunlight, like a thin layer of golden gauze, lazily spilled into the room through the Hatake family's window.
"Mmm... Father..."
A tender, milky voice woke Hatake Sakumo from his deep sleep.
He slowly opened his eyes, and what came into view was a fuzzy, silver-white little head.
Hatake Kakashi had woken up at some point.
The little guy, wearing blue pajamas, was using both his hands and feet to try and climb onto his father.
His short silver hair, identical to his father's, was messy from sleeping all night, looking like a spirited little hedgehog.
"Kakashi, stop playing, let Father sleep a little longer."
Sakumo's voice was hoarse from sleep. He reached out a hand, wanting to brush this energetic little guy off him.
"Hmph! No! The sun is shining on your butt!"
Kakashi was relentless. His small hands grabbed his father's pajamas, and with a push, he successfully climbed onto his father's chest. Then he sat down on his bottom, looking down at his father from above, his eyes shining brightly.
Sakumo sighed helplessly, his sleepiness completely gone.
He reached out his large hands and hugged his son. Those hands, which had once held the White Fang short sword and drunk countless blood on the battlefield, were now incredibly gentle, afraid of hurting the small body in his arms.
"Alright, alright, I'm up."
"Hehe."
Kakashi let out a triumphant laugh, rubbing his small head against his father's broad chest.
The sliding door was gently opened, and Sakumo's wife, Hatake Yoshiko, walked in carrying a wooden tray.
Seeing her husband and son in this "little bear crushing big bear" pose, a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"You father and son are so energetic early in the morning."
She placed the tray on the low table. On it were two bowls of steaming miso soup, a few pieces of golden grilled fish, and a small dish of pickles.
"It's Kakashi who's too energetic."
Sakumo sat up, tidying his son's messy hair while complaining with a smile.
"Father, lazy pig." Kakashi mimicked him, poking Sakumo's face with his little finger.
"You little brat."
Sakumo didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he could only pinch his son's chubby cheek.
Hatake Yoshiko laid out the breakfast. Looking at the faint dark circles under her husband's eyes, she said with some heartache, "You, you've been working too hard at the farm recently. Leaving before dawn every day and coming back after dark. Even if it's an S-rank mission, you should have some time to rest."
"Can't be helped. The farm just started a while ago, there are a lot of things to do."
Sakumo picked up the miso soup and took a sip, the warmth spreading from his stomach throughout his body. "The first batch of rice is about to be harvested, and a batch of piglets from the Akimichi family has also reached the fattening period."
When he spoke of these farm chores, his tone was as natural as if he were born a farmer, not the White Fang of Konoha who made Sunagakure tremble with fear.
"Even so, you need to rest."
Yoshiko's tone left no room for negotiation. "Look at you, you've lost weight. If this goes on, your body will collapse."
She paused, then thought of an idea. "How about we all go to the farm together today? I'm also very curious about what that ecological farm you talk about every day looks like. And let Kakashi see how amazing the place his father works is."
"Go to the farm?"
Sakumo was stunned for a moment.
"Go! Go! Go see big pigs!"
Hearing the word "pig," Kakashi's eyes instantly lit up. He put down his spoon and shouted, "I want to see... talking pigs!"
"Pfft."
Yoshiko was amused by her son. "Who told you pigs can talk?"
"A... big brother I don't know said so!"
Kakashi answered seriously. "He said the pigs Father raises are all raised with genjutsu and can sing the Konoha village song!"
Sakumo's face instantly turned black.
Looking at the expectant eyes of his wife and son, Sakumo couldn't bring himself to say no.
He was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
"...Alright."
"Great!"
A happy smile appeared on Yoshiko's face.
Kakashi was so happy he jumped up and down. "Woohoo—"
After breakfast, Sakumo began his most difficult mission of the day—dressing Hatake Kakashi.
"Come, Kakashi, put your hand in here... no, it's this hand."
"Lift your leg, put on your pants... hey, don't move!"
"......."
Hatake Sakumo, a top jonin who could take the head of an enemy general amidst an army of thousands, was now sweating profusely over a small piece of children's clothing.
Kakashi was like a boneless little loach, twisting and turning in his father's arms, giggling, seeming to think this was a very fun game.
Hatake Yoshiko leaned against the door, watching the clumsy father and son, laughing until tears almost came out.
She walked forward, took the clothes that had been ravaged out of shape from her husband's hands, and dressed Kakashi neatly in no time.
Finally, she skillfully helped him put on a small black mask, revealing only a pair of large, dark eyes.
"Done... I don't know why you like wearing a black mask so much..."
Yoshiko patted Kakashi's little head.
"It's cool!"
"Because I want to become an amazing ninja like Father in the future! Ninja have to be cool and handsome!"
Sakumo looked at his refreshed son, then at his own clumsy hands, a rare look of embarrassment on his face.
He suddenly felt that raising a child might be more difficult than assassinating the Kazekage.
"Hehe—Father, clumsy."
Kakashi smiled triumphantly behind the mask, giving a muffled evaluation.
The corner of Sakumo's mouth twitched.
He walked to the entryway, took down the White Fang short sword that had accompanied him for many years from the wall, and habitually tucked it behind his waist.
Sakumo looked at his reflection in the mirror: silver-white short hair, calm eyes, and light home clothes.
This appearance made him feel a little unfamiliar to himself.
Ever since he was transferred out by Lord Hokage to be responsible for this farm, he hadn't smelled blood for a long time.
Every day, he dealt with crops in the fields, livestock in the pens, the Akimichi clansmen who were simple and honest but worked hard for the village, and the boisterous but incredibly reliable Inuzuka clansmen.
Life had become peaceful and fulfilling.
I hope this peace lasts a long time...
Just then, a small hand grabbed the corner of his clothes.
"Father, let's go."
Kakashi looked up at him, his black eyes unblinking.
Sakumo lowered his head and met his son's pure eyes, free of any impurities.
He suddenly understood the deep meaning of Lord Hokage's words back then.
There are many ways to protect.
Killing enemies on the battlefield is protection.
And now, letting his son, letting thousands of children in the village, grow up carefree in a peaceful environment, looking forward to seeing "talking pigs," isn't this also a more important kind of protection?
"Mm, let's go."
A gentle smile, one that even he didn't notice, appeared on Sakumo's face.
He bent down, picked Kakashi up, and with his other hand, tightly held his wife's hand.
The family of three, all ready, walked out of the house hand in hand, bathed in the warm autumn sunlight.
Kakashi was full of anticipation for the "talking pigs" he was about to see, muttering non-stop.
Listening to his son's childish words and looking at his wife's gentle smile beside him, Sakumo felt his heart filled with a sense of peace and happiness.
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