Chapter 2 - The illegitimate Hatake Save The suicidal Sakumo

_____________________

For the past three years, Kakashi's attitude toward his younger brother had been colder than a snowman in summer.

And not because he was trying to uphold some noble family honor; no, in Kakashi’s eyes, Mi Blade was more like a pesky fly buzzing around the perfect image of the father he once idolized. You know, the kind of fly that gets stuck in your soup and ruins your entire meal.

Now, with rumors swirling around like a ninja in a whirlwind Jutsu and villagers gossiping about his father’s alleged "epic fail" on a mission, Kakashi was more conflicted than a ninja trying to figure out how to fold a proper origami crane.

“What are you trying to do? Do you really think you can fix this mess, or are you waiting for Dad to pull off some last-minute miracle like he’s in a shounen anime?” Kakashi barked, his usual calm slipping away faster than a ninja on a bad day.

Mi Blade, bless his heart, didn’t flinch. He just shook his head, looking all serious. “I don’t know. But running back home like this—are you planning to ask Dad for all the answers, or do you, like the rest of the village, think he’s secretly auditioning for a role in a tragic drama?”

Kakashi froze, the weight of those words hitting him harder than a surprise ninjutsu in the middle of a snack break.

“I... I don’t know,” he admitted quietly, the frustration fading into a sigh that could’ve been heard all the way to the ramen shop.

Mi Blade stepped forward, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder like he was some kind of wise sage in a kid’s cartoon. He flashed a rare, sincere smile that could almost rival a sunny day.

“Hey, forget what everyone else thinks. As long as we believe in Dad, that’s what matters. We can’t let all this break us apart—fighting each other is like trying to duel a rock. It just doesn’t solve anything!”

Kakashi turned to look at his little brother, surprised. For the first time, Mi Blade didn’t seem like the carefree, goofy kid who usually turned life’s challenges into an impromptu comedy show.

Nope, he was serving up wisdom like an elder in a family sitcom! Kakashi couldn’t believe it—who knew his little brother had this hidden talent?

In that moment, Mi Blade’s words carried the kind of hope Kakashi desperately needed, and all it took was a little brotherly pep talk to remind him that even in a world full of chaos, family still had his back—even if they did sometimes feel like a sitcom waiting to happen!

_____________

“Dad, what do you think a ninja is?”

Mi Blade perched on the edge of his father’s bed, eyeing the once-majestic Sakumo Hatake, who had gradually turned into a shadow of his former self.

Seriously, if there were a competition for “Most Dramatic Decline,” Sakumo would have won hands down. The man who once stood tall with pride now seemed lost in a fog of quiet despair, like a leaf blown into a deep, dark corner of the yard.

Sakumo, trying to hold it together like a ninja who forgot his hand signs, glanced at his son.

“A ninja? Well, a ninja is just someone who knows ninjutsu. If you know ninjutsu, you’re a ninja.”

That answer even caught Kakashi off guard. It wasn’t the kind of wisdom you'd expect from a guy who once carried the weight of Konoha’s pride on his shoulders—more like a dad who forgot his anniversary and was trying to wing it.

Mi Blade, however, wasn’t having it.

“Really, Dad? Just knowing some tricks makes you a ninja?” he muttered, as if he were contemplating life’s great mysteries while staring at a bowl of ramen.

Then he boldly continued, “A ninja isn’t just someone who knows ninjutsu. That’s way too simple! Being a ninja means something more. It’s about responsibility, sacrifice, and protecting what matters!”

Even Kakashi, the stoic brother usually busy with his own angst, raised an eyebrow. Mi Blade’s words were so profound they could’ve been quoted on a motivational poster in the Ninja Academy. But it was also true that the Academy always emphasized that a ninja was someone who could endure things regular people couldn’t.

So, if that were the case, then every hardworking civilian who pushed through tough times would qualify as a ninja!

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Congrats, you survived Monday! You’re officially a ninja now! Here’s your headband and a coffee!”

Kakashi shook his head, a grin creeping onto his face. “So what you’re saying is that everyone in Konohagakure who doesn’t quit their job when it gets tough is a ninja? I guess I should start handing out headbands to the shopkeepers!"

Mi Blade let out a sigh, as if he was internally piecing together his own philosophy like a kid trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle while blindfolded.

“You can’t just throw ninjutsu around and call yourself a ninja. There’s more to it than that, Dad.”

Sakumo blinked in surprise, then chuckled softly, almost like he’d just seen a cat trying to fit itself into a shoebox.

“Mi Blade... that’s quite the theory. But it makes more sense than you’d think. You’ve got me there.”

Kakashi, standing nearby like a concerned statue, took a deep breath. The whole reason he had come with Mi Blade was to try and snap their father out of this slump. He hated seeing him like this—void of motivation and lost in regret.

Honestly, it was like watching a superhero forget how to fly. For Kakashi, this wasn’t just about ninjutsu or ideals anymore; it was about saving their dad from himself before he got sucked into a black hole of self-pity.

But here was Mi Blade, the brother who never took anything seriously, suddenly serving up a piece of wisdom that was strangely... profound. Who knew he had it in him? Maybe all those times he got smacked in the head for his antics were secretly molding him into a sage.

“Well, if nothing else, at least we’re getting you to smile again,” Mi Blade said, grinning like he just pulled off the ultimate prank and got away with it. You’d think the world’s greatest ninja had just delivered the best news since ramen was invented.

Kakashi wasn’t sure whether to laugh or sigh in relief, but one thing was crystal clear: they couldn’t give up on their father, no matter how much he seemed to give up on himself.

After all, if Mi Blade could toss out wisdom like a seasoned ninja, maybe there was hope yet! Maybe next, he’d teach their dad how to make a mean bowl of ramen—or at least remind him how to enjoy life again!

When Kakashi returned home, he was greeted by a heavy silence that felt thicker than a bowl of soggy ramen.

His thoughts were clearly weighing him down, but his brother Mi Blade—who usually expressed himself about as well as a rock—managed to speak up when it mattered most.

“Dad, are you seriously thinking about ending your life just because of this mistake?” Mi Blade asked, staring directly at Sakumo with a calm but intense gaze that could melt steel.

The question wasn’t meant to accuse; it was more like an emotional slap to the face, aimed at confronting the deep sadness swimming in their father’s eyes.

“Father?”

Kakashi’s voice trembled like he’d just discovered there was no more ramen in the cupboard. He had noticed their father’s growing sadness but hadn’t considered something so extreme. Like, were they really about to have a family intervention here?

Sakumo, taken aback by his sons’ awareness, tried to compose himself like a ninja trying to balance a bowl of soup on his head.

The idea had indeed crossed his mind, but every time it did, the thought of his children pulled him back faster than a runaway cart on a hill.

“No, no, what are you talking about? I’d never think of such a thing!” Sakumo chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

His smile, however, didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was like he was wearing a mask that screamed, “I’m totally fine!” while his eyes were saying, “Send help!”

Kakashi could see through the act like a ninja using a Sharingan. The failure of the mission was clearly affecting their father more than he was letting on. But was it really worth this much pain? Wasn’t life supposed to be a little more fun and a lot less tragic?

Just then, Mi Blade, being the unpredictable brother he was, suddenly kicked Kakashi in the shin. Kakashi winced, stumbling backward like he’d just faced a rogue kunai.

“What are you doing?” Kakashi snapped, still rubbing his shin like it had just been through a meat grinder.

Mi Blade, grinning mischievously, tossed him a practice blade—a simple iron tool that looked about as menacing as a rubber chicken.

“It’s easy! We spar until one of us wins. The winner will be buried with dad and the loser will bury either one of us. It’ll be like a brotherly duel, only with less honor and more accidental injuries!”

Sakumo’s eyes widened in alarm, the same way a cat looks when it realizes it’s about to be put in a bath. “Wait, what? No, no! Both of you, come here!”

He rushed over and pulled his sons into a tight hug that felt more like a bear trap. “Don’t worry about me. I’m not giving up that easily. Besides, you two are not going to fight in my living room—do you know how much that carpet cost?”

Mi Blade smiled, satisfied that he had gotten the reaction he was hoping for. He glanced at Kakashi, who understood what his younger brother was doing.

Mi Blade had managed to break the tension in his own chaotic, lovable way. If that wasn’t a talent, what was?

After things settled, Kakashi turned to Mi Blade, rubbing his shin and sighing. “Do you really think Dad’s going to be okay after this?”

Mi Blade paused, his expression suddenly serious. “He might stay with us, but I’m not sure if he’ll ever feel the same again. Dad’s the kind of person who values honor above all else. Without it, life might not feel quite right to him. Like ramen without the broth—just sad and dry!”

Kakashi nodded thoughtfully. Even though they had helped pull their father from a dark place, they both knew that some scars ran too deep to heal completely. Still, as long as they were together—and as long as there was ramen—there was hope.

“What do I have to do?” Kakashi asked, his voice dripping with uncertainty like a leaky faucet.

Miblade, wearing an exaggeratedly serious expression that would make any actor proud, patted his older brother's shoulder like he was about to give him the secret to life.

“So, the important task of restoring the Hatake family's reputation lies squarely on your shoulders! No pressure!”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across his face like a ninja's battle mask.

“And what about you? Aren’t you also a member of the Hatake family? Or did you forget that during your last nap?”

“Ah, yes, but does my dear brother consider me a true member of the illustrious Hatake clan?” Miblade teased, a playful smirk dancing on his lips like a ninja performing a poorly timed jutsu.

Kakashi turned to him, annoyance bubbling just below the surface like a boiling pot of ramen. “You’re still part of the Hatake family, whether you like it or not. I didn’t sign up for this family drama, you know!”

For years, Kakashi had cleverly avoided the whole “brother” discussion, grappling with the fact that their father’s choices were to blame, not Miblade.

But today, Miblade’s determination to convince their father to stop moping around seemed to crack open a door Kakashi thought was sealed shut with a giant “Do Not Enter” sign.

Although he wasn’t ready to fully embrace the idea of brotherhood, he felt a faint acceptance creeping in—like a ninja sneaking into a forbidden stash of snacks.

“Just don’t get too cocky,” Miblade warned, his tone suddenly serious, as if he was imparting sage advice from a wise sage.

“Now that Dad’s decided to take matters into his own hands, there’s no way he’ll back down easily. His stubbornness is legendary! Like, ‘won’t budge even if a thousand ninjas are trying to shove him out of the way’ stubborn!”

Kakashi nodded, his thoughts shifting to their father’s unwavering principles. He understood that reputation meant everything to Sakumo. For years, he had never failed a mission—not even once.

But now, not only had he failed this time, but the repercussions had affected both the village and the Fire Nation. That was a burden that weighed heavily on his heart, like trying to carry an anvil while dodging kunai.

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Kakashi said, scratching his head as if trying to find the right answer hidden in his messy hair.

“So, what’s the plan?"

Miblade leaned in conspiratorially, as if about to reveal the secret ingredients to instant ramen.

“First, we get Dad out of his funk. Then we come up with a brilliant scheme to restore the family name. And trust me, it’s going to be legendary! Like, ‘throwing a giant party that somehow gets interrupted by rogue ninjas’ legendary!

Kakashi couldn’t help but chuckle at his brother’s enthusiasm. “As long as your idea of ‘legendary’ doesn’t involve embarrassing us further or setting fire to the Hokage’s office, I’m in.”