One year

Kakashi sat tensely at the kitchen table as Minato cleared away the last of breakfast. Minato was about to talk to him, and Kakashi would have preferred to leave the apartment immediately. But there was no turning back now. He had to be careful not to reveal anything about what had happened the day before. Determined to solve the problem on his own, he was resolved to protect his family this time.

Last night, he had thought incessantly about the conversation with Danzo. It troubled him that Danzo might have had something to do with his father's suicide. Even though Danzo claimed not to have directly killed him, he was at least partly responsible for turning the village against his father. At some point, he wondered if Danzo was telling the truth or if he was lying to put more pressure on Kakashi. On the other hand, Kakashi could well imagine that there was a grain of truth in Danzo's words.

Ultimately, Kakashi didn't care whether the man was telling the truth or not. Danzo had openly threatened to harm Minato and Naruto, and Kakashi would never allow that. During the night, he wondered if he should really not tell Minato anything. Minato would surely have a chance against Danzo. But Kakashi decided against it. It shouldn't be Minato's job to get rid of Danzo. That was Kakashi's job – he was his ANBU guardian and responsible for his protection.

Kakashi was snapped out of his thoughts as Minato sat across from him and smiled gently. "Now we have some quiet time to talk," he explained, glancing over at Naruto, who was busy with his toys. The question was just how long that would take. Kakashi hoped that the little one would quickly lose interest so he could escape the conversation.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" Kakashi asked, although he knew exactly what Minato wanted to discuss. It was still about his outburst of emotions and the nightmares that Minato had noticed. But Kakashi didn't want to talk about it; he would deal with it on his own.

Minato looked back at Kakashi, his expression turning serious. "You know exactly what we need to talk about. I can't just ignore that you're not doing well," he said emphatically.

Kakashi waved it off casually and leaned back in his chair. "I'm really fine! You don't need to worry."

"What about the emotional outburst two weeks ago? And your nightmares? You don't have to lie to me; I notice that you have bad dreams almost every night," Minato said, leaning forward slightly.

Kakashi avoided his gaze. "How would you know that? Are you sneaking into my room at night?"

Minato sighed softly and shook his head. "I don't need to sneak into your room for that; I can hear you," he confessed sympathetically.

"That's nothing," Kakashi explained.

Minato looked at him for a moment before letting his gaze wander to Naruto. "Before I died, I left you alone for far too long. Instead of helping you, I only made it worse. I should never have brought you into the Anbu," he paused briefly, then looked back at Kakashi. "I'm sorry I let you down."

Kakashi's eye widened, and he met Minato's gaze. He shook his head resolutely. "You don't have to apologize for that."

"I want to bring you back from the Anbu. It's time for you to finally process what happened. The deaths of Obito, Rin, Kushina, and even my passing have left deep scars on you, and they won't heal in the Anbu." Minato's voice was determined, and Kakashi sensed that his sensei was serious.

But that couldn't happen. Kakashi had to stay in the Anbu to protect Minato. There, he could better guard his sensei, and Kakashi knew that times were uncertain. "That's not possible!" Kakashi burst out. "I have to stay in the Anbu and protect you!"

Minato raised an eyebrow and said firmly, "You're not supposed to protect me; I want to protect you."

Kakashi shook his head and clenched his fists. He couldn't risk anything happening to Minato or Naruto. In the Anbu, he could watch over Minato better and be aware of everything. But the conversation took a turn that made Kakashi fear Minato would take him out of the shinobi ranks altogether. "No! Please, I have to stay in the Anbu! I can't lose you again!" With a jerk, Kakashi stood up, placed his hands flat on the table, and pushed his chair back.

Confused and worried, Minato looked at Kakashi. Even Naruto had stopped playing and focused his attention on him. After a moment of silence, Minato asked calmly, "Why is it so important to you to stay in the Anbu? You're not to blame for my death or Kushina's. Not for Obito's or Rin's deaths, or even your father's. None of it was your fault; you're not responsible."

Kakashi sank back into his chair and tried to regain his composure. "Why do you want to pull me out of the Anbu so badly?" His voice was quiet, and his gaze rested on Naruto.

"I want you to process your trauma and recover first. Of course, you'll keep the rank of jonin and eventually take on missions again. But first, you need to start healing. It takes time for the wounds in the heart to heal." Minato's gaze softened, his voice remained calm.

Kakashi shrugged. "I can do that in the Anbu too," he argued. "I could take guard duty within the village. That way, I wouldn't have to go on missions and would have enough time to recover." He looked at Minato expectantly.

Minato rubbed his face and shook his head. "No, I'm sticking to my decision. You'll leave the Anbu," he said firmly.

Kakashi bit his lower lip. He knew it was futile to negotiate with Minato, but he didn't want to give up so easily. "You can't just decide like that. After all, I'm an adult," he countered, searching for a way to defend his position.

A weary smile appeared on Minato's lips. "Don't forget that I'll soon be the Hokage again. So I think I have something to say to you." He paused and seemed to consider for a moment before continuing. "Kakashi, I don't want to argue with you. Please accept my decision. I just want you to be safe."

"I want that for you too. Your safety means a lot to me," Kakashi whispered.

Minato stood up, circled the table, and crouched down next to Kakashi's chair. He gently placed a hand on Kakashi's thigh. "I never apologized to you," he began softly as Kakashi uncertainly met his gaze. "I'm sorry I left you alone."

Kakashi looked at Minato for a moment, his gentle eyes radiating calm and security. Tears welled up in Kakashi's eyes, unable to hold them back. "I know it wasn't your intention," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "I didn't want to blame you for that; it wasn't fair."

Minato smiled, stood up, and gently pulled Kakashi to his feet. Then he hugged him tightly. "Whatever happens, I'll make sure you and Naruto are okay! I promise you that!" His words radiated confidence and determination.

Kakashi returned the embrace and buried his face in Minato's chest. He breathed in the familiar scent of his sensei and felt determination rising within him again. Even though he was no longer in the Anbu, he would continue with his plans. Despite everything, he wouldn't tell Minato anything and would make sure nothing happened to the blond-haired man.

**********

"That settles everything for now. Tomorrow, I'll make the official announcement of your reinstatement. Starting next week, you'll be officially back in office. Until then, I'll provide you with all the necessary information. Of course, even after this week, I'll always be here for you to support you," Hiruzen assured with a warm smile.

Minato was in the Hokage's office to discuss further details for his inauguration. He was eager to put his plans into action and wanted to start officially as soon as possible. Eventually, he nodded in agreement. "That sounds good, let's do it that way. Thank you."

"Of course, I'll support you," Hiruzen reassured, leaning back. Minato sensed that the Third had something else on his mind. It didn't take long for him to speak up again. "Are you really sure about your plans?"

Minato frowned. "Why do you ask?"

Hiruzen crossed his arms and looked at Minato seriously. "I'm not opposed to your ideas. Protecting the children of this village is a noble cause. But are you really sure about taking Danzo's Anbu away from him?"

Minato smiled and turned to the window. "Based on the reports, I think it's for the best. I can't trust him. It's only a matter of time before he stabs me in the back. I can't just ignore that."

"But taking everything away from him directly, don't you think that's too drastic?" Hiruzen asked skeptically.

Minato furrowed his brow, his gaze turning slightly dark. "He threatened me and my family! If I let him continue, it's only a matter of time before something happens. I won't allow that. For now, he'll be allowed to serve as an advisor, but he won't have his own Anbu anymore."

Hiruzen leaned forward again. "I see," he murmured thoughtfully. "I can't imagine he'll be happy about that. After all, he's served the village loyally for many years."

Minato couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh. "I'm not so sure about that. To me, it doesn't seem like Danzo has really done much for the village."

The Third shook his head. "You misunderstand. He has done a lot, but in the wrong way. I won't deny that his methods aren't good and that he's made mistakes. That's why I believe he's not fit to take on the position of Hokage."

"Maybe it's time to show him his limits. I won't be swayed anymore, my decision is final," Minato declared firmly. He wouldn't stand idly by while Danzo continued to operate in the shadows. "If we've settled everything else, I'll be on my way. Naruto and Kakashi are waiting for me."

Hiruzen waved him off and nodded in agreement. "Of course, starting next week, you'll have plenty to do."

Minato nodded and turned around. Before leaving the room, he turned back to Hiruzen. "I know it's not easy, but it's time for change. Try to trust me." He winked once and then left the office.

**********

Kakashi stood before Rin's grave, his gaze fixed firmly on her stone. Since Minato's return, he hadn't had a chance to come here. But today, he felt drawn here. After Minato had returned home, he had immediately set out.

He sighed softly. "I'm sorry I haven't been here for so long, but a lot has happened," he whispered. The heavy weight of guilt still burdened him for having killed her.

At night, he dreamed of her appearing before him and him thrusting his Chidori through her chest. He still saw the blood on his hand vividly and could feel it distinctly. Kakashi didn't know if he could ever forgive himself.

"You won't believe it, but Minato-sensei is back," he said, then directed his gaze to the sky. "But it's not permanent. He has to prove himself first, or else he'll have to leave again."

A gust of wind swept over him as he watched the clouds continue to cover the sky. Soon, the rain would start. Kakashi could already smell it in the air.

"Danzo wants me to betray sensei. If I don't stop Minato-sensei from carrying out his plans, he'll take him away from me or do something to Naruto," he said with a heavy voice, his gaze returning to the gravestone. "I won't allow that! No matter what it takes, I'll stop Danzo and protect Minato-sensei. I promise you!"

The first raindrops fell gently from the sky as he crouched down and gently ran his fingers over her name. "Even if it means I have to sacrifice myself, I'm ready for it!”