Kakashi leaped across the rooftops of Konoha, his destination firmly in sight. Just minutes ago, he had left his office and instructed Shikamaru to cancel his remaining appointments for the day. The Nara wasn't thrilled and scolded Kakashi, but he had something urgent to attend to. He was aware that there was a lot of work waiting for him and that this interruption would mean overtime in the coming days, but the matter was important.
Suddenly, an ANBU guard appeared next to him. "What's wrong, Hokage-sama?"
"Take the rest of the day off, I can handle things on my own," Kakashi said casually, giving the ANBU a reassuring smile.
The ANBU sighed in frustration. "Are you sure?"
Kakashi nodded and looked at the ANBU reassuringly. "Absolutely. Don't worry, I can take care of myself," Kakashi assured with a wink. The ANBU nodded and disappeared silently. Kakashi turned his gaze forward and picked up his pace.
It didn't take long for him to reach his destination. He crouched on a tree and looked down at the training ground where someone sat in the grass - the person he was looking for. With a smile, he appeared next to him. "Hey, Naruto!" he called out with a broad grin, raising his hand in greeting.
Naruto glanced over at Kakashi and smiled. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei!" he returned the greeting. "Oh, sorry, Hokage-sama," he added with an amused wink.
Kakashi sat down next to Naruto in the grass and waved it off. "Nothing formal. Today, I'm not out as the Hokage," he explained calmly.
"I see, that's rare lately. Sakura is worried that you're overworking yourself," Naruto replied.
Kakashi looked to the other end of the training ground. "Oh, nonsense, everything's fine. There's just a lot to do at the moment," he explained calmly. Both fell silent for a while until Kakashi turned his gaze to Naruto. "Is there a specific reason you're training here?" he asked. Then he let his gaze sweep over the field, a small smile on his lips. "This is where it all started with Team 7."
Naruto laughed softly and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's true," he began. "I just wanted to be here again and enjoy a little peace."
"So you want some peace? That doesn't happen too often either," Kakashi replied gently, looking back at Naruto.
Naruto shrugged and smiled softly. "That's true," he confirmed.
Kakashi looked at the ground in front of him, watching a beetle crawl across a blade of grass. "Is it related to your and Sasuke's mission?" Kakashi asked cautiously. "He was just with me and told me about your mission." Then he turned to Naruto again. "Thank you both for saving me."
Naruto leaned back slightly and crossed his arms behind his head. "You don't have to thank us for that. We were happy to do it. Dattebayo!" Naruto assured casually, then looked at Kakashi, a broad grin on his face. "You were a cute kid," he commented with a wink.
Kakashi shook his head lovingly and looked back at the ground. "If you say so." There was silence for a moment as Naruto let his arms sink back into his lap and looked at his hands. "Sasuke told me you met Minato-sensei," Kakashi said.
He knew the encounter had made Naruto thoughtful, and that's why he was sitting here. Even though Naruto never showed that he missed his parents, meeting someone from his past would surely stir something within him. Originally, they weren't supposed to meet anyone from the past. The plan was to stop the assassin before he could even reach Kakashi. But they had underestimated him and arrived too late. And then Minato had seen them, which had been annoying but unavoidable.
"We did, but everything's fine," Naruto reassured calmly, and Kakashi knew he could believe him. But something made him seem pensive. "Do you actually remember the day? Normally it should be part of your past by now, right?"
Kakashi nodded. "After you returned, I felt something. But to be honest, the day is so long ago that I can hardly remember it anymore," he admitted thoughtfully.
"What did Dad tell you about why you got hurt?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, still looking at the ground. Of course, he still remembered, but he hesitated to tell Naruto. Instead, he shrugged and replied, "I can't say for sure anymore."
Naruto smiled slightly. "Too bad, I would have liked to know what happened afterward," he admitted. After a moment of silence, Naruto turned to Kakashi and asked gently, "Dad really loved you, didn't he?" Kakashi flinched briefly and looked at Naruto questioningly. Naruto continued, "He was really worried about you, and when he held you in his arms, I felt how important you were to him."
Kakashi smiled weakly and let his gaze sweep over the training ground. "Yes, he did," he confirmed, then drifted into his thoughts.
"Why did you never tell us anything about your past?" Naruto kept his gaze on Kakashi. "Of course, I know a little. About Obito and Rin, and that my dad was your sensei. You never really talked about your father either. The only thing you told us was before the mission, and even that was just to have a backup plan in case of emergency."
A sigh escaped Kakashi's lips. "There's not much to tell," he explained briefly. He didn't want to burden Naruto with the dark chapters of his past.
Naruto shook his head. "There must be a lot to tell! Why, for example, did you never accept Dad's offer and move in with him?" Naruto asked excitedly.
Kakashi remained silent and continued to stare into the distance. He hadn't expected the conversation to go in this direction. Finally, he sighed. "It wasn't an easy time back then. My father had just died, and the circumstances were anything but easy," he confessed.
Naruto turned further to Kakashi, looking at him curiously. "But then you would have needed Dad even more. Someone to take care of you," Naruto began, before pausing briefly and then adding, "You lived alone just like me, right? In the house where your father killed himself, and you found him. That must have been tough for you."
Kakashi felt that Naruto wouldn't give up easily. But he had made his peace with the past and wanted to leave it behind. For him, it was long gone, and his wounds could heal. Kakashi had the chance to see his father, Obito, and Minato again and bid them farewell. That helped him process his past, even though he often still thought about it - now, however, in a positive light.
He would have liked to have this chance with Rin as well, but unfortunately, that was not possible, and Kakashi accepted it. But one day, he would also have the opportunity to speak with her. He just had to be patient.
Kakashi stood up resolutely and reached out his hand to Naruto. Confused, Naruto stared at the hand. "Come on, I want to show you something," Kakashi explained. Naruto nodded, grabbed Kakashi's hand, and let himself be pulled to his feet. Together, they set off. As they walked through the village, Kakashi thought of Minato. Suddenly, the conversation with Minato came to his mind, when he wanted to take Kakashi in after his father's death.
******
Kakashi was in the midst of tidying up the kitchen after breakfast when there was a knock at the door. He paused, staring at his hands, a sigh escaping his lips. He didn't want to see anyone, not even his sensei. But he knew Minato was standing outside – otherwise, nobody would check on him. Even a month after his father's death, the village avoided him. The accusing glares still lingered.
The knocking came again, followed by a muffled voice. "Kakashi, please open the door," Minato requested gently.
Kakashi hesitated for a moment in the kitchen, staring at the dirty water in the sink. He knew Minato wouldn't give up; he would stand there until they had spoken. Even if Kakashi wanted to run away, he wouldn't stand a chance. No matter how long he delayed it, he couldn't escape this conversation.
Slowly, Kakashi made his way to the front door. Once there, he opened it and looked up at Minato, who greeted him with a gentle smile. "Good morning, Kakashi," he greeted warmly.
"Good morning, Minato-sensei. Did I forget training? We had a day off, didn't we?" Kakashi asked calmly.
Minato squatted down in front of him. "Everything's fine; you didn't forget any training. I just wanted to check on you," he reassured him.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, sensing there was another reason. "Oh, I'm fine," he assured. It was a lie; Kakashi was exhausted, slept poorly, and dreamed of his father every night. The villagers' hostility weighed heavily on him; shopkeepers demanded more money from him, and he had to be careful about what he bought and where he shopped. The entire household had to be managed, yet Kakashi didn't complain. This was his life now. "If there's nothing else, I have something to attend to," he added.
Minato looked at Kakashi for a moment before speaking. "There's something else I want to discuss with you. Would you let me in, please?" His voice remained calm and gentle.
Kakashi glanced briefly back into the house. It was tidy, but he didn't want to let Minato in. He didn't want to talk; he wanted to be alone. Eventually, he looked back at Minato and nodded reluctantly. The sooner he got it over with, the better. He stepped aside and opened the door a little wider.
Minato nodded approvingly, stood up from his crouch, and entered the house after removing his sandals. Once inside, they settled in the living room. Kakashi took a seat on the sofa, while Minato sat across from him in a chair. A coffee table stood between them. Apart from the faint ticking of the clock, silence filled the room as they stared at each other.
Eventually, Minato cleared his throat and leaned forward slightly. "I'll get straight to the point: I'm worried about you living here all alone. It's not good for you to be alone."
Kakashi furrowed his brow slightly. "You don't need to worry; I'm fine, I manage," he explained. "The house is clean, I bathe regularly, have enough food in the house, and get enough sleep," Kakashi continued matter-of-factly.
Minato shook his head slightly. "You're six; it's not right for you to live alone in a house and take care of everything yourself. Someone should take care of you and look after you. It's a big responsibility to take care of yourself," Minato explained gently.
Kakashi continued to look at him suspiciously, still not understanding what Minato was getting at. "I really do manage, it's no problem," Kakashi emphasized.
"Kakashi, I don't want you to stay in this house any longer. It's not an environment you should be in," Minato said firmly.
Kakashi tilted his head. "Do you want me to move into an apartment? I don't really want to leave here..."
"I want you to move in with me," Minato interrupted, looking at Kakashi seriously.
Kakashi blinked a few times as his mind processed what Minato had just said. They silently stared at each other. Kakashi didn't know what to say. His answer was clear: He wanted to stay here; he didn't want to be a burden on anyone. But Kakashi didn't want to disappoint his sensei, because that's what he would do if he answered that way.
In the end, Minato spoke again. "I'm sorry to spring this on you like this, but it's for the best," he said. Minato leaned forward, his expression becoming concerned. "You look tired and exhausted. The responsibility is just too much for you, and what happened with your father..."
This time, Kakashi interrupted Minato. "That's in the past. It's over, and you can't change it," Kakashi replied coolly.
Minato sighed and hung his head. "It's perfectly okay if you're still grieving, Kakashi. Your father's only been dead for a month," then Minato lifted his head again, looking at Kakashi.
Kakashi averted his gaze, although it still hurt. He missed his father, but he didn't want to admit it. His father had broken rules, and that was the consequence. Kakashi had to accept things as they were. He didn't want to mourn any longer, but every evening, he cried himself to sleep and was plagued by nightmares. Since the incident, he hadn't made it back to the study. Minato had been so kind to clean the room then. When Kakashi tried to enter, memories and emotions overwhelmed him. He struggled to make it to bed and pulled the blanket over himself. That was on the day of the funeral. Kakashi couldn't bring himself to get up again until Minato came and took care of him.
Instead of responding to Minato, Kakashi kept his gaze averted. Minato sighed. "You can talk to me; I'm here for you. I want to help you," he explained calmly.
Kakashi raised his gaze again. "I don't need your help. I'm fine, I manage on my own," he began to explain. "I want to stay here; this is my home. You really don't need to worry."
Minato fixed Kakashi with a serious look. "This isn't the right place for you. You shouldn't live here; it's not good for you," he said firmly.
Kakashi closed his eyes and lowered his head. He didn't want to argue anymore; his decision was made. "I'm staying here, Minato-sensei," Kakashi said firmly, then lifted his head again to look at Minato. "Please, at least let me keep my home," he pleaded.
Minato flinched and regarded Kakashi silently for a moment. When he found his words, he began to speak. "Kakashi, I didn't realize this place meant so much to you," Minato began sympathetically. "I won't take it away from you. You can come back here someday, but right now, I think it's best if you get some distance. It won't be forever, I promise."
Kakashi shook his head. "I want to stay here!" he said firmly. "Thank you for your offer, but I'll manage on my own." He slid off the couch and stood up to end the conversation. "I need to get back to work; there's still a lot to do. But thanks anyway for your offer."
Minato looked at Kakashi for a moment before sighing and standing up. "If anything comes up, let me know. I'll see you tomorrow for training," he said with a sad voice, turning away.
Kakashi clenched his fists, feeling a pang of guilt rising within him. But he quickly swallowed it down and followed Minato to the front door. The blond put on his sandals, opened the door, and gave Kakashi a sad smile goodbye. Kakashi ignored it. "See you tomorrow, Minato-sensei," he bid farewell and watched as Minato closed the door behind him.
Kakashi's fists trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes. He felt torn. On one hand, he longed for companionship and comfort, but on the other, the burden of his heritage weighed heavily on his shoulders. Yet he felt he didn't deserve to accept Minato's offer. His father was a disgrace, and Kakashi felt he had to bear this legacy alone. He struggled with a whirlwind of emotions and doubts as he turned resolutely and returned to his lonely home.
******
"Where are we headed, Kakashi-sensei?" asked Naruto curiously as they walked together through the long corridor in the basement of the Hokage Tower.
Kakashi glanced over his shoulder at Naruto and smiled at him. "We're almost there, just a moment of patience."
It didn't take long until they reached the end of the corridor and saw a door in front of them. With a gentle smile, Kakashi opened the door and led Naruto into the room. It was an ordinary room, a simple storage room, packed with shelves and boxes. Curiously, Naruto explored the room while Kakashi went to one of the back shelves and retrieved a box. Eventually, he returned to Naruto, who was waiting at the entrance, holding the box in his hands. "What are you hiding there?" Naruto asked with interest.
Kakashi casually walked to a small table next to the door and placed the box on it. "When I took over as Hokage, I went through countless old documents. I not only studied records of the previous Hokages but also those of Danzo and Orochimaru," he began, then turned to Naruto. "Among the documents, I found records of my father and set some aside. Everything I deemed important, I carefully preserved."
Naruto stepped closer, eyeing the box curiously. "Isn't that a bit like stealing?" he asked.
Kakashi waved it off casually. "One could see it that way. As Hokage, I'm allowed to do it."
Naruto rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Maybe you're right. But if this box is so important to you, why do you keep it in a storage room? It could be found or thrown away at any time."
Kakashi chuckled briefly. "Sometimes, the simplest hiding places are the safest. No one would think to look here. Plus, only I can open the box. I sealed it; only my chakra can open it," he explained, lifting the lid and setting it aside. Then he reached into the box and pulled out some papers.
Kakashi looked at the documents with a hint of sadness. "These are the records of my father's last mission," he explained quietly, scanning the papers. "My father was a hero. He knew what he was doing and knew the consequences, yet he saved his team. It took me a long time to fully understand that."
Naruto kept his gaze on Kakashi. "You've mentioned that he abandoned his mission to save his team, and as a result, the village shunned him, and he committed suicide. But how did you feel back then? What was your relationship with the villagers like?" he asked with curiosity.
Kakashi looked at Naruto and smiled gently. "They saw me as the son of a traitor," he replied calmly, before returning his gaze to the box and continuing to sift through the documents. He was looking for a specific document.
A pensive expression lingered on Naruto's face for a moment before he found his words. "Does that mean you were mistreated by them too?" he asked incredulously.
"That's exactly what it means," Kakashi confirmed calmly, without stopping his search. "Don't worry about it, it's fine. And no, it wasn't like what you went through," he explained, still rummaging through the documents. "Even though I didn't see it that way back then, unlike you, I wasn't alone. Minato-sensei and Kushina always took care of me."
Naruto bit his lip and murmured softly. "That's just not fair. You couldn't help it; you were only six years old."
A gentle smile graced Kakashi's lips, knowing that Naruto would see things that way. "It wasn't fair how you were treated either. You were even younger than me and had no one. You were practically alone most of the time," Kakashi explained, then decided to change the subject. "But that's not why I brought you here. I wanted to show you this." Kakashi handed him the document.
Curiously, Naruto took the document and read it attentively. His eyes widened, and he looked up at Kakashi. "But this is..." Naruto paused and then looked back at the document. "Mom and Dad wanted to adopt you!?"
Kakashi leaned against the table and crossed his arms. "I found the adoption papers among Minato-sensei's documents," Kakashi began to explain, looking at Naruto. "I'm not sure why they were in his files. Probably everything was just cleared away without careful examination after his death."
"They had already filled out everything and prepared it. It only needed your consent. Were you aware of this?" Naruto looked at Kakashi again.
Kakashi shook his head. "No, I had no idea. They probably wanted to discuss it with me after your birth. If they had, they would have adopted me even without my consent."
"But because you were a shinobi, you were considered an adult," Naruto added sadly. Kakashi nodded in response as Naruto looked back at the paper. "Would you have accepted the offer back then?"
Kakashi shrugged slightly. "Probably not, but your parents wouldn't have given up. I think eventually they would have convinced me. But these are all speculations. I don't know how things would have turned out if they had survived."
In fact, Kakashi had also pondered this question when he first held the document in his hand. He had thought about it for a long time and was almost certain that he wouldn't have simply accepted the offer. But now, as he thought about it, it would have been something beautiful.
Naruto grinned widely and then looked at Kakashi. "Then you would have been my big brother!" he announced proudly.
Kakashi looked at Naruto for a moment and smiled gently. His gaze shifted to the floor in front of him. "Would you have even wanted that?"
"Of course, dattebayo!" Naruto replied decisively.
Kakashi sighed deeply and closed his eyes for a moment. "I don't think I've ever apologized to you for not taking care of you," he said softly. Then he looked at Naruto. "I'm sorry, Naruto," he added sincerely.
The blond looked at Kakashi for a moment before patting him on the shoulder and leaning against the table next to him. "Stop apologizing, that's not like you at all," he said encouragingly. He paused briefly before continuing. "If it helps, I accept your apology. But I understand that it wasn't an easy time for you, and it was probably better that way."
Kakashi smiled and lowered his gaze to the floor again. "You've really grown up, have I told you that before?" Then he slowly lifted his gaze. "Your parents would have been incredibly proud of you!"
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto replied, adding, "It would have been really nice if we could have all been a family." His tone was tinged with sadness.
Kakashi couldn't deny that Naruto was right. "That's probably true," he agreed. Then he pushed himself off the table and began to carefully tidy up his box. "Although I'm not sure if I could have tolerated you as a little brother," Kakashi teased, walking past Naruto to lighten the younger one's mood.
Naruto immediately jumped up and watched Kakashi indignantly. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean? I would have been the best little brother," Naruto complained, catching up to Kakashi. "The question would be whether I could have put up with you as a brother." Kakashi laughed and put an arm around Naruto's shoulder. It felt good, just as it was now.
>They were a family <