New Paths

As Kakashi regained consciousness, he was initially filled with a strange emptiness. The sensation of his body, still permeated by pain, gradually returned. He emerged slowly from the mists of unconsciousness, but the memories forming in his mind were like a disjointed puzzle. Perhaps it was just another dream, even though nightmares had become rare lately. Nevertheless, there were moments when they haunted him, usually scenarios where he felt helpless while Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke were in danger and he couldn't intervene in time to help them.

In this dream, an unusual authenticity enveloped Kakashi, penetrating him deeply as he slowly awoke from his unconscious state. Typically, his dreams were intense, their aftereffects often lingering long after waking. Yet, this dream was different, in a way Kakashi couldn't explain. A heaviness weighed upon him, exhausting him to the depths of his being. Even the simple act of opening his eyes seemed an insurmountable challenge. He couldn't recall what he had done yesterday to feel this way. Was it all because of this dream? Questions swirled in his mind as he struggled to orient himself.

It was a challenge for Kakashi to gather clear thoughts, as his mind felt sluggish and heavy. Yet, gradually, he began to perceive his surroundings more distinctly. With each passing moment, his body became more present, and along with it, scents wafted to him. The unmistakable scent of the hospital filled his nostrils, and immediately Kakashi recognized where he was. But how did he get here? He couldn't recall being injured or falling ill. Perhaps that could explain his current condition. Perhaps it was the medication Sakura had given him responsible for this strange dream. Questions piled up in his mind as he struggled to piece together the puzzle.

But there was another scent, a scent he hadn't encountered in a long time. Or had he? A déjà vu washed over him as he remembered that this scent had been present in his dream. Perhaps that's why it still lingered in his nose. It was a familiar scent, the scent of pack, of family. A wave of warmth flooded his chest, but he quickly banished it. He had accepted it and found his peace. Yet he dared not risk that this scent and the associated feelings could reopen old wounds.

Suddenly, sounds penetrated his consciousness. Muffled footsteps echoed from outside his door, presumably from hospital staff and visitors in the hallway. But then another sound became clearer, the soft breathing of a person – someone was in his room. Yet, it wasn't the usual visitors who would sit by his bedside. Neither the scent of Naruto nor Sakura filled the air, nor Guy's. Even Sasuke's, though the most unlikely, was absent. Normally, one of them would have been the one to sit by his bed. Instead, the pleasantly familiar scent remained.

Kakashi needed precious moments to regain control of his body. His throat felt dry as he attempted to swallow, but a scratchy feeling forced him to cough. The sound broke the silence and caught the attention of the person at the bedside, whose rustling clothes indicated that they were rising. They drew closer, and Kakashi felt their presence beside him. Gently, they placed a hand on his cheek, as soothing words reached his thoughts: "Calm down, Kakashi. Everything's alright, but you need to take it slow."

The familiar voice from his dream echoed once again. Like a key unlocking the lock, suddenly all the puzzle pieces fell into place, and memories flooded back into his mind. His eyes snapped open abruptly, meeting the familiar face of his father. Concern reflected in his gaze as he gently stroked Kakashi's cheek. A gentle smile, just like in Kakashi's memory, graced his lips. Kakashi could only stare in shock, unable to react. It felt like they were gazing at each other for an eternity.

Kakashi's heart began to race, his hands grew clammy and clenched into fists. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as his breathing quickened. It couldn't be – why was his deceased father staring at him? Had the dream been real after all? Doubt and disbelief surged through Kakashi. His father leaned closer, one hand soothingly on Kakashi's chest, the other still gently resting on his cheek. His eyes radiated gentleness and concern. "Stay calm, Kakashi. You're safe here," his father whispered soothingly, his words like balm to Kakashi's troubled soul. Automatically, Kakashi matched his breathing to his father's, and in that moment, the world around them seemed to stand still.

Minutes passed before Kakashi regained his composure, forcing his body to calm down. It was of utmost importance now to remain calm. His thoughts had to stay clear; he had to figure out what was going on. But as he looked into his father's eyes again, he found himself at a loss for words. Whatever he had experienced before, this situation just didn't make sense. Carefully, Sakumo withdrew his hands from Kakashi. "You should have something to drink first. Come, let me help you." His words were a gentle offer, inviting Kakashi to pause for a moment and collect himself.

Sakumo gently helped Kakashi sit up, adjusting the headrest of the hospital bed so Kakashi could lean back comfortably. Then he handed him a glass of water. Kakashi carefully took the glass in his still trembling hands. A single sip sufficed before he let the glass slowly sink, resting it in his lap. His gaze remained fixed on the glass and his hands, which were far too small, while his thoughts raced wildly. A bandage was wrapped around his left hand.

Kakashi looked up as he felt his father sit on the edge of the bed, gazing at him with concern. Their eyes met, but Kakashi's expression remained unchanged. Sakumo gently took the water glass from him and placed it on the table next to the bed. Then he turned his attention back to Kakashi. A hand slipped into his hair, gently stroking it. It was a gesture that hadn't been made in a long time. As a child, Kakashi had always enjoyed this touch, and now he almost instinctively leaned into it, out of habit and a hint of nostalgia.

Tears slowly welled up in his eyes, but he quickly forced them away. He had to stay strong. Although he was obviously in the body of a child, his mind remained adult. But this unusual situation overwhelmed him. He didn't know how to deal with it. It didn't feel right to be here, and he had no idea how to fix it. He didn't even know how he got here. The uncertainty weighed heavily on him as he tried to find a way out of this puzzle.

Abruptly, Kakashi was snapped out of his thoughts as his father began to speak. "You gave me quite a scare when I found you half-conscious and covered in blood on the floor of your room," he said, concern in his voice. It was no wonder - finding his son in such a state was definitely not normal.

Kakashi swallowed once, this time with more certainty, then forced himself to speak. "I'm sorry," he managed to say. He had to be careful not to flinch when he heard his childishly high voice. That was definitely something he needed to get used to. But not only that - the whole situation was a challenge that he had to get used to.

Slowly, Sakumo shook his head and smiled gently. "You don't need to apologize, as long as you're feeling better now." His fingers gently ran through Kakashi's hair, a gesture of comfort. But behind his calm exterior was a palpable curiosity as he gently asked, "Can you remember what happened before you collapsed? Be honest, I'm listening." Kakashi held his father's gaze, recognizing the deep concern in his eyes.

Slowly, his gaze drifted out the window, where the sun stood high in the sky, giving the impression of a summer noon sky. Kakashi frowned as he realized he knew nothing about his current situation. He couldn't determine his age, didn't know what year it was, or if he had already attained the rank of Genin. His only guess was that his father hadn't embarked on his fateful mission yet. He still seemed to be the confident man Kakashi fondly remembered. But the uncertainty of how he got into this situation gnawed relentlessly at him.

Now Kakashi faced the difficult question: Should he tell his father the truth? Somehow, he felt bad about lying to him, but for now, it was probably better to keep his knowledge to himself. Understandably, his father would probably think Kakashi was crazy. Kakashi had to carefully consider how to proceed. Perhaps it would be wiser to gather more information first. He needed to determine exactly what time he was in. If there was a way to return to his own time, he couldn't afford to cause unnecessary problems. The decision was of great importance, and Kakashi knew he couldn't make it lightly.

But as his gaze returned to his father, he was seized by a sudden twitch. Quickly, he lowered his gaze to his hands resting in his lap, his eyes wide with inner turmoil. Could he really allow himself to lose his father again? Perhaps now was the opportunity to save him - suddenly, a realization struck him. He could not only save his father. Like a storm, a thousand thoughts flooded his mind, threatening to overwhelm him, until Sakumo interrupted his thoughts. "Hey, Kakashi, what's wrong?" His father's urgent voice pulled him out of his inner turbulence, and Kakashi struggled to find words to organize the tangle of his thoughts.

He looked up at his father, forced a false smile, and nodded calmly. "It's okay. I've just been trying to remember what happened, but I can't really recall. I just didn't feel well somehow, but I don't know why," Kakashi quickly lied, not wanting to worry his father further. His years of experience in the Anbu came in handy now; he suppressed his emotions and quickly sorted his thoughts. "How long was I unconscious?" he finally asked, genuinely curious, while closely watching his father's reaction.

Sakumo gently withdrew his hand and clasped it in front of his chest. A hint of fatigue crept into his voice as he spoke, his eyes briefly glancing into the distance before returning to Kakashi. "I found you yesterday morning," he began with a sigh, his gaze full of concern. "The doctors couldn't find an explanation for your condition other than your chakra being depleted. Kakashi, I ask for honesty. Did you continue training with Minato after your initial training? You know, I don't mind, but you need to be careful not to overexert yourself." His words were serious, and Kakashi could feel the seriousness in his gaze, making him flinch.

After years, he felt like a child again, wanting to avoid his father's gaze. But this time, he held his ground. Kakashi put on a remorseful expression, seizing the opportunity to show his regret. With a ashamed look and full of remorse, he finally turned to his father. "I'm sorry. I just overestimated my limits," he confessed softly, knowing it was a good excuse.

It also had its advantages, as it gave him more information. Obviously, he was already a Genin, which allowed him to draw various conclusions. For one, he could deduce his age - he must be about five years old. Since his father hadn't embarked on his mission yet, he couldn't have been a Genin for long. If Kakashi remembered correctly, the mission was about three months after his promotion to Genin. That meant the mission wouldn't be long in coming. So he didn't have much time to decide what to do next.

Before he could form a clear thought, his father interrupted him again. A heavy sigh escaped him, his arms falling limp in his lap. His expression darkened sadly. "It's alright, but please be more careful next time. I was really worried." Kakashi nodded in response, but he felt his father wasn't finished yet. There was still something that needed to be addressed. After taking a deep breath, his father continued. "The wound on your hand - it wasn't from training, was it? It was still fresh, and there was a bloody kunai in your room. What happened there, Kakashi?"

Kakashi's gaze automatically drifted to his bandaged hand. He could hardly admit to his father that he had caused the injury himself. That would only intensify his father's worries. "When I woke up, I felt dizzy," he began hesitantly. "As I tried to go to the bathroom, I stumbled over the desk, and there was the kunai. I must have accidentally caught it. I dropped it in shock, but I can't really remember." He put on a sympathetic look and sank into the pillows, hoping his father would quickly change the subject.

Indeed, his tactic seemed to work. His father straightened up a bit, placing a concerned hand on Kakashi's cheek. "It's okay, you should rest some more. I'll stay with you." A warm smile played on his lips as he gently stroked Kakashi's cheek. Immediately, Kakashi felt guilty. He didn't really want to worry his father further. But for now, it was probably better if he didn't find out.

Kakashi nodded slightly. "Thank you, Dad. But to be honest, I'm a bit hungry. Could you get me something to eat?" His gaze was expectant as he looked up at Sakumo. He needed a moment for himself. His feelings were swirling, and he needed to gather his thoughts. But the fact that his father was sitting right in front of him didn't make it any easier. He couldn't just talk to him and spill everything. It was too dangerous for now. Yet inwardly, he longed to talk to someone.

Sakumo smiled warmly, gently withdrawing his hand from Kakashi's cheek and ruffling his hair affectionately. "Of course, I'll get you something to eat. Just stay lying down and rest some more. I'll be right back." With careful words, Sakumo got up, his smile warming the room, before he slowly turned around and left.

As Sakumo slowly made his way to the door, Kakashi watched his father attentively. A determination flowed through him; he couldn't allow his father to experience the same fate again. Somehow, he would find a way to deal with this situation. He had to find a solution. "Dad?" The words escaped his mouth before Kakashi realized what he actually wanted. Sakumo turned around and looked at his son expectantly. Kakashi forced a smile on his face, hidden beneath his mask. "I love you!" The words sounded sincere and meaningful in the silence of the room.

Sakumo looked surprised at Kakashi, but quickly his face softened, and he lovingly smiled at his son. "I love you too, pup!" With these words, he turned around again and left the room. Kakashi sighed softly and rubbed his face. Then he let his gaze wander to the ceiling and closed his eyes. It wasn't easy. A flood of feelings, even long-suppressed ones, surged within him. But it was important to keep a clear head and carefully plan the next steps.

Kakashi would somehow find a solution - he had always managed to. Now it was just important to take everything step by step. To develop a plan, he needed to get more information first, and for that, he had to get out of this damn hospital. Kakashi considered whether he should persuade his father to take him back home. The less time he had to spend here, the better. After all, he had already lost a whole day.

With determination, Kakashi opened his eyes, and a look of determination appeared on his face as he let his gaze wander out the window. Maybe he should use this second chance and try to save everyone who was important to him.