One year

Slowly, Kakashi returned to consciousness, gradually feeling his body again. A dull ache ran through him, and he still felt weak, his chakra still low.

Lying in his sleeping bag, Kakashi was embraced by the gentle crackling of the campfire. The warm light played on his closed eyelids as he enjoyed the pleasant warmth. His wounds were carefully tended to, and he felt the firm bandages around the various injuries on his body.

It took Kakashi some time to grasp what had happened and why he felt so exhausted. Memories gradually returned. But one of them didn't make sense. Was it just a dream? It must have been a dream.

As he forced his right eye to open, Kakashi expected to see his team gathered around him, taking care of him and finding a safe hiding spot. However, his first glance fell on the campfire, which provided a pleasant light and warmth.

Slowly, his gaze wandered further, and he realized they were in a cave. As Kakashi looked out of the cave, he realized it was already night. They were attacked in the morning. He must have slept all day.

As Kakashi continued to scan the cave, he couldn't see his team. A feeling of emptiness washed over him as he realized they were dead. But how had he come here? Who had tended to his wounds? Suddenly, his dream resurfaced in his consciousness. But it was just a dream, he told himself.

With a painful hiss, Kakashi struggled to rise on his elbows. Immediately, he clutched his arm tightly around his aching stomach, his face contorting with pain. He froze as he heard Minato's voice again. "Stay down, you're pretty badly injured," it reassured him softly.

Kakashi's head snapped to the side as Minato approached him. The gentle smile remained on his lips. Minato immediately stopped as Kakashi gave him a threatening look. Carefully and without taking his eyes off Minato, Kakashi struggled to his feet.

He gritted his teeth and ignored his pain. "Who are you and why are you posing as the Fourth Hokage?" he asked sharply, slowly opening his left eye. Even though his chakra was low, he risked it.

A hint of concern crossed Minato's face. "Keep your eye closed! Your chakra is too low," he tried to sound reassuring, raising his hands placatingly. "I can explain everything and prove that I'm real. Please close your eye and stay calm," he begged gently.

For a moment, they stared at each other in silence. Kakashi closed his left eye and covered it with his hand, feeling a slight pain through his eye. "I'm listening!" he forced out, staggering a step back and leaning against the cave wall with his other hand.

Minato took a small step forward, ready to support Kakashi. Carefully, he nodded. "Okay, I'll prove to you that I'm real," Minato began gently. "I know how confusing it must be. It's impossible that I..."

"He's dead!" Kakashi hissed angrily, his eye flashing with fury. "The Fourth Hokage died a year ago with his wife!"

Sympathy creased Minato's brow, concern reflected in his eyes. "I know," he murmured compassionately. "Please give me a chance, Kashi!"

Kakashi flinched. Only three people called him that: his father, Minato, and Kushina. But that was hardly proof anymore. He remained suspicious.

Minato continued: "At the age of five, you graduated and became my student. At the age of six, you took the Chunin exam and passed. After the exam, Kushina and I invited you to dinner. A few weeks later, your father took his own life. You found him in his study, and I found you. I wanted to take you in after that, but you stubbornly refused."

Minato took a step forward. "A short time later, Rin and Obito joined our team. You didn't get along well with Obito. It was terrible for you that he was late every time." He paused briefly, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Our last mission as a team took us to the Kannabi Bridge. There, Obito died when you saved Rin. He gave you your Sharingan before he died. Rin..." Minato stopped.

Tears burned in Kakashi's right eye, and desperately he tried to hold them back. But with every word Minato spoke, it became more difficult. Eventually, tears flowed from his closed left eye. His whole body trembled with emotion. There were just too many details. Slowly, his hand fell from his eye.

His gaze dropped to the ground as he struggled to calm his emotions. A soft sob escaped his lips as all the painful memories resurfaced. Everything he had carefully locked away was now bursting out of him.

A warm hand landed on his shoulder, and Kakashi's gaze lifted. Minato stood before him, looking at him sympathetically. For a moment, their eyes met, then Minato pulled him into a tight hug and held him close.

For a moment, Kakashi was frozen, until he breathed in the familiar scent of Minato. That snapped him out of his daze. He buried his face in Minato's chest and wrapped his arms around him. "It's really you," he said muffled.

Minato rested his chin on Kakashi's head and rubbed his back soothingly. "Yes, it's really me," he whispered, just holding Kakashi tight.

Slowly, Kakashi calmed down, but the pain returned with full force. A hiss escaped his lips. Carefully, Minato backed away and supported him. "You should sit back down, you're pretty badly injured."

Minato gently helped Kakashi to sit back down. Kakashi leaned against the cave wall, holding his aching stomach. Minato crouched in front of him and spoke softly, "I took care of your wounds. You should be careful and not overexert yourself. Also, your chakra is very low, so be sure to keep your Sharingan covered." He paused briefly before adding with a smile, "Otherwise, I would have gone through all that trouble for nothing."

Kakashi nodded weakly, his gaze fixed on Minato. "How is it possible that you're back?" he asked softly.

Minato snorted briefly, shrugged, and then settled down beside Kakashi. "Honestly, I can't say for sure, but somehow I've been given a second chance," he explained calmly.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "A second chance? But how?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"It was strange, suddenly I felt life within me again, and a voice explained to me that I would be given a second chance," Minato explained thoughtfully, his gaze resting on the campfire. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you more."

Kakashi now looked at the campfire, trying to process what he had heard. But it just sounded too unbelievable. "Do you know who gave you this second chance?" he asked finally.

Minato shook his head. "No, unfortunately not," he began. "I didn't really get much information. Just that I have a year to prove that I deserve this second chance."

Kakashi flinched and turned his gaze to Minato. "What happens after the year? If you haven't succeeded?"

With a reassuring smile, Minato looked at Kakashi. "I think then I'll have to go back."

Kakashi avoided Minato's gaze and bit his lip. "How are you supposed to prove yourself?"

Minato leaned his head against the cave wall. "I have to figure that out myself. Like I said, I didn't get much information," he explained, then turned his head to Kakashi. "Actually, I'm just grateful to have gotten this chance now."

Kakashi looked back at Minato. "Why now of all times?" he asked. "I think it would have been incredible at any time. Not everyone gets such an opportunity."

A smile appeared on Minato's lips. "Because I was able to save you!" he replied. "If I hadn't come, you would probably have died. At least I was able to save one of my students."

Kakashi looked back at the campfire. "I would have found a way out somehow," he explained. "Just like I always do." His tone was calm but determined.

Minato's smile faded from his lips as he too looked at the campfire. "Of course," Minato murmured, then added, "As I can see, you're still with the Anbu?" His voice sounded thoughtful as he asked the question.

With a nod, Kakashi confirmed, "Yes, I am."

"How was the last year for you?" Minato asked calmly.

Surprised, Kakashi looked at Minato. "Why are you asking?"

Minato looked at Kakashi and smiled gently. "Because you're important to me!" he said sincerely, his words warm.

Kakashi's eye returned to the campfire. "I've been fine, don't worry," he reassured. Then he bit his lip. "You should worry more about Naruto."

Minato's eyes widened, concern evident on his face. "What about Naruto?" he asked, alarmed.

Kakashi shifted uncomfortably in his seat before answering. "Naruto lives in the orphanage, no one wants to adopt him or have anything to do with him. It's spread throughout the village that you sealed the Nine-Tails in him. They see him as a monster," he began to explain. "I... I wanted to take care of him, but the Third forbade me. I'm sorry." His words were heavy, full of regret and resentment.

Minato kept his gaze fixed on the campfire, and Kakashi could see anger flickering in his eyes. "From your stories, I can conclude that the Third has been reinstated as Hokage?" he asked calmly, though there was a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Yes, he agreed to take the position again," Kakashi confirmed.

Minato nodded weakly, but his gaze remained stern. "I understand," he muttered through clenched teeth.

"Sensei? Is everything okay?" Kakashi asked after a moment of silence.

Minato turned his attention back to Kakashi and nodded with a warm smile. "Of course, everything's fine. I'm just a bit tired," he admitted. "We should probably lie down and get some sleep first. Tomorrow we'll return to Konoha, it'll be a tiring journey. But don't worry, we'll manage."

"What happens when we're back in Konoha?" Kakashi asked, concerned.

But Minato maintained his smile. "Don't worry about that. First, I'll have to prove that I'm the real deal, and then I'll take care of Naruto."

Kakashi sat up a bit straighter. "I'll vouch for you and support you. They'll surely believe us." Then he leaned back again and added thoughtfully, "Maybe that's your first task, to become Hokage again."

Minato got up beside Kakashi, gently tousling Kakashi's hair. "That could be, but for now, let's sleep and then make sure we return to Konoha safely. Everything will be fine." He crouched in front of Kakashi. "Come on, I'll help you lie down."

With Minato's help, Kakashi carefully climbed into his sleeping bag. As he lay back down, he keenly felt his exhaustion. Minato crouched beside him and lovingly ran his fingers through Kakashi's silver hair. With a tired gaze, he looked up at his sensei, who stood up from his crouch.

Just as his sensei turned around, Kakashi stopped him. "Sensei?" Minato turned back and looked at him. "I'm glad you're back."

Minato looked at him for a moment before his expression softened. "I'm relieved too," he admitted. "Now, rest, Kashi."

Kakashi closed his eye. "Goodnight, Sensei." It didn't take long before sleep embraced him, whisking him away into his dream world.