Rewind

Running wasn't Kakashi's style. He never ran from an enemy, but the masked man was powerful; he could sense that even without Kurama's chakra. 

"He's coming," Kurama raised up as Kakashi stopped, turning around and taking his sword out. With hand signs he summoned his own pack of dogs, putting them on guard. 

"You really think dogs can save you?" The masked ninja asked, coming into view.

"No. They aren't here to save me," Kakashi replied, infusing his tanto with chakra. He couldn't see the man's expression, not that he wanted to. 

"Since Obito's alive, that masked man isn't him. The chakra is so different," Kurama instructed Kakashi. "Be careful, kid. I know nothing about him or his abilities."

"No need for that, Kyuubi. We are going to win this no matter what," Kakashi responded. "Please...for now, don't aid me. The targets are you bijuu, and my job is to keep you safe.

"You won't save anyone if you head straight for the enemy. Being dead isn't of any help." Kurama looked at him, eyes narrowed and focused on the child.

"Have faith," Kakashi smirked, creating a few clones.

"You hope to defeat me with some clones?" The masked man asked with sarcasm.

"Your mother never told you to not judge people without getting to know them first?" Kakashi asked.

"I don't judge. I know," the masked man looked at him.

The clones didn't hesitate to attack, each one of them carrying a kunai. Five clones in total. 

The man didn't lose his demeanor. Quite the opposite. He remained firm and steady dodging the clones' attacks. One of the clones swung his kunai from downwards, but the man dodged it without too much effort, striking the clone and sending it against a tree, destroying it within seconds. Two other clones rushed forward, their hands tied into a lightning chord. The man dodged at the last second, appearing behind one of the clones and striking him in the back, making him clash with the ground. The second clone used this moment for a sneak attack but ultimately was grabbed by his wrist and sent flying. 

Grabbing his shuriken, the man aimed it at the remaining clones. One vanished, the second deflected the weapons. 

"I can't deny you're fast," the clone smirked underneath the mask before jumping backwards with a backflip.

The real body was aiming at him, eyes glowing with a blue light, hand surrounded by chidori. 

The attack was fast, but with sage mode, Kakashi could easily sense the man's movements. 

"You're done," the kid aimed at the chest of the man. He thought it was all over for him. To his surprise and shock, the man grabbed his wrist, sending him flying against another tree. The sheer force of Chidori destroying a few nearby trees as well. 

"What?" Kakashi asked, getting up.

"He dodged it," Kurama raised up once more.

"No shit," Kakashi growled in response.

"Do you think you're the only one to know a sage mode?" The masked man asked, "I fought those like you. Didn't you wonder why and how I managed to enter your safe place without anyone noticing?" 

Kakashi got ready to attack but didn't attack.

"Make it easier on yourself, Kakashi. Hand me the bijuu, and I'll let you live."

"That's not going to happen. I made a promise to a friend.

"The kyuubi isn't your friend. He's nothing but chakra, just like the rest of them are."

"The kyuubi might be chakra, but he has a physical form. He has a brain and a heart that beats. No matter what you say, I'm not giving my friends to you. Kakashi growled, "Raiton: Lightning beast running technique!"

The electrical dog-like beast dashed toward the enemy, yet the masked man did little effort to dodge it.

"You're wasting chakra," Kurama scolded the young Hatake.

"I know that!" Kakshi growled back at the beast, "Do you have any better ideas?" 

"Yes. A bijuu-dama. All your attacks target only the enemy; it allows him to dodge it too easily. A bijuu-dama can damage the place around you; it won't allow him to dodge it that easily."

"Forget it. If that's the problem, I can use another jutsu. I'm not using you." Kakashi shook his head, looking back at the masked man, who seemed unfazed by his attempts.

"Kakashi," Pakkun called out, "we are ready."

"Thanks," Kakashi nodded, waving his hands. "Suiton: water mist." 

"You are wasting your time, Kakashi," the masked man spoke into the mist. When the earth shook, however, the masked man barely dodged the dogs coming from the ground. "I told you. Your dogs cannot save you."

"Yeah, but they can assist me." Kakashi came out from behind him, Chidori in hand. "Chidori!" 

"I'm really getting tired of this," the masked man spoke in annoyance, turning around and stabbing the Hatake. "Let's end this," he calmly spoke. The Hatake smirked underneath the mask as his body started to dispel into lightning, shocking the man. 

"The last clone. I see now why it was better than your clones. I must give this to you, Hatake; you're smarter than what I was told about.

The Hatake didn't reply, saving his hidden spot from which he was gathering more nature energy.

"Gotcha," the man appeared in front of him. Kakashi didn't know if it was intended or not, but at the very last second, the kunai in the hand of the enemy missed him.

The two separated quickly, but the masked man didn't seem to move.

"I didn't expect this from someone like you. But I am not that surprised. You're Sakumo's kid, after all. Then let's see how you can move with that new appearance".

The battle became more intense; Kakashi was faster and could sense his enemy's movements easier than before. He was using jutsus that he had never used before, and it seemed that the masked man was struggling against him. 

But the Kakashi stopped, his appendages raised, sensing a new presence near the masked man. 

"Oh?" A plant-looking guy raised from the ground, "He reached the maximum level of sage mode. Nice form." He congratulated the Hatake that stayed put in his place, fur puffing in worry. Two against one was a huge disadvantage that he couldn't afford. He was smart enough to know he couldn't take on two enemies at once, especially considering sage mode was starting to wear off. 

The masked man waved hand signs as a pool of water formed in front of Kakashi. Expecting an attack, Kakashi looked at it, catching a glimpse of his form. 

"What's this?" He asked, watching his paws and the spikes on them.

"The final form of Sage mode. Something that the Hatake ninjas had back then, before they forgot all about it. In this form you get new abilities and new attacks. They were so powerful that they weren't allowed to attack other ninjas with it. Every Hatake had their own form, their own ability. That's how you managed to dodge many of my attacks. You manipulated my spiritual chakra to force my body into another action. It doesn't work on jutsus, but you get that countered by anticipating their attacks. Similarly to how you sensed my partner before he could show up."

"Wait. Why are you telling me this?" Kakashi asked, confused. 

"I like to play by the rules. I hate cheaters. If you want to use your full power, I'm not taking advantage of your inability to understand it. However, if you're prone to going on full sage power... then I'm not avoiding doing the same," the masked man shrugged.

"Two against one is already cheating," Kakashi pointed out.

"He's not joining our little fight. He's just here so when I do defeat you...he can store away the bijuu you have. It's unfortunate. If Kyuubi hadn't done what he had done, if he had just stayed put, we might have avoided this story entirely," the man waved hand signs.

Kakashi stood little chance against him. He wasn't used to sage mode, and he had already consumed too much chakra to keep it up. The other wasn't even using his full power, but his attacks were too precise. Without his sage mode, he doubted he could do much. 

Then his human form returned. Kakashi just fell on the ground exhausted.

"Seems you're done," the masked man waved new handsigns. "I'm sorry, Hatake. I really wished to make things different. You chose to resist me, giving me no choice upon your destiny. It's an unfortunate thing, but it's just nature. The strong will always win over the weak," he narrowed his eyes. "Wings of death!" He called out. A black ray being released by his hands hitting Kakashi. At first Kakashi felt nothing. It seemed like the attack didn't even affect him. But then his back started to be heavy, his legs started to freeze, and soon Kakashi realized why. His entire body was turning into stone. 

"Trust me. It's the painless type of death you can have. Aren't you happy? Finally you get to end this solitary torture," he smirked.

Kakashi didn't have time to actually think of a sassy remark for the guy. He was unable to think of a way out. Maybe it was the desperation; maybe it was just the frustration of being alone. But in his final moments he saw Obito and Rin walk happily around the village. The desperate plea escaping his mouth 

"Obito.".

Obito and Rin were finally settling down to dinner at Minato's. Naruto was celebrating his birthday. Then, all of a sudden, happiness turned into a tense air. Obito turned toward the window, which opened with a gust of wind; a vase fell off, dragging with it the team frame Minato had kept around. Something in that gust sounded wrong, but Obito got up to take the picture and the vase. The team was still there. A smiling sensei and Rin and the grumpy boys. But when his eyes landed on the crack on the glass, right over Kakashi's face, Obito raised his gaze toward the moon. This wasn't a good sign. 

"Kakashi," he pleaded, hoping that the picture wasn't telling him what it was telling him.