New Paths

Kakashi lay relaxed in his hospital bed, gazing at the ceiling of the room. The quiet atmosphere was only interrupted by the gentle ticking of the wall clock, lulling him into a pleasant trance. He still didn't feel quite fit. A slight pain still coursed through his body, while his chakra slowly returned to its full strength. The situation was frustrating - he longed to be active again. Every moment spent in the hospital meant lost time. But the possibility of speaking with his father seemed out of reach. He was adamant and unwilling to engage in any discussion.

After Sakumo served the meal, Kakashi tried in vain to persuade him to take him home. But Sakumo remained unyielding, insisting that Kakashi stay in the hospital until the doctors discharged him. Given that his father assumed Kakashi had overexerted himself during training, his reaction was understandable. Perhaps Kakashi would have reacted the same way. But that didn't change his frustration. Despite his adult position as Hokage, he had to remind himself time and again that he was now a child again. It was easy to forget this, especially given the dilemma he had been in since yesterday morning.

A sigh escaped his lips as he looked out the window. The sun was in the process of painting the sky with a palette of various shades of orange as it slowly set. It was a pleasant summer evening, perfect for relaxing with a book under a tree. But at the moment, that was out of the question. He had no time for rest. There was so much to do, especially getting out of this hospital. But he saw no way to accomplish that before the next morning. For a fleeting moment, he toyed with the idea of just running away. But he decided against it. He didn't want to cause his father any more trouble and thought it best to cooperate for the time being.

At least he managed to convince his father to go home. He had spent the entire previous day and night at his bedside. The exhaustion was evident, at least to Kakashi. As a child, he probably wouldn't have noticed it immediately, as his father had masterfully kept it hidden. Of course, Kakashi had always been attentive as a child, but his experience and perceptiveness had developed significantly over the years.

Despite his joy at seeing his father again, he longed for peace. He had to keep his feelings in check and push back the old memories. Even though he had long made peace with the past, this encounter touched him deeply. Old feelings and memories resurfaced, and he had to confront them.

In addition to all this, he was also preoccupied with the question of what to do next. In essence, he was sure that he would not allow his father to die again – that no one should die. But still, he had concerns. Could he really risk jeopardizing the current peace? He had no idea how everything would change, what impact it would have to save his father and everyone else. But perhaps he had been given a second chance, and he had to take it. Especially since he didn't even know if or how he would ever return to his own time.

He watched a bird outside gracefully glide through the air, while he comfortably repositioned himself in bed to make himself more comfortable. Since waking up, he had been trying repeatedly over the past few hours to remember how he got here. But the entire previous day was missing from his memory. Basically, he could only remember getting up in the morning, and the next thing he knew, he woke up as a child again. Suddenly, the thought of his students crossed his mind. Did they miss him and worry about him? They were probably already looking for him. But he quickly shook his head and dismissed the thought. Even if he couldn't return, he would see them again someday. At least he hoped so.

A knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned his head towards the door, watching eagerly as it slowly opened. His eyes widened as he saw who entered the room. Immediately, he sat up in bed, unable to look away from the person who approached him with a friendly smile. His heart began to race in his chest, his hands trembling, and his stomach knotting as beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Standing before him was his sensei, Minato – the man Kakashi couldn't protect. Despite his efforts, he couldn't tear his gaze away from Minato. The latter paused briefly, his expression turning concerned, and he seemed to notice that something was wrong with Kakashi.

Minato quickly sat down on the edge of the bed opposite Kakashi, whose gaze was unwaveringly fixed on him. Kakashi lost himself in Minato's deep blue eyes, while the familiar scent of the man filled his nostrils, flooding him with a wave of familiarity. He was frozen, unable to react, unable to break free from his trance. This unexpected encounter overwhelmed him even more than his first meeting with his father. Perhaps it was because he was more sober now, more aware of reality.

Minato reached for Kakashi's hand and held it firmly in his own, leaning slightly towards Kakashi. The touch was gentle and pleasant, immediately spreading warmth through Kakashi, calming him. Then Minato's concerned voice penetrated his consciousness. "Hey, what's wrong, Kakashi? You need to calm down." Kakashi managed to avert his gaze from Minato.

He lowered his gaze to his hand, resting in Minato's hand. Quickly, he closed his eyes and tried to calm himself, taking deep breaths. Slowly, he felt his body relax, but the emotions still held him firmly in their grip. Step by step, he regained his composure and then looked back at Minato. "It's okay, I'm just a little disoriented," Kakashi quickly lied, trying to maintain eye contact with Minato.

Minato leaned back again, raising an eyebrow suspiciously and scrutinizing Kakashi attentively. "Are you sure? If you want, I can fetch a doctor." His voice sounded concerned as he watched Kakashi intently.

Reassuringly, Kakashi shook his head and forced a smile, although he wore his mask, he knew Minato could see it in his eyes. "You really don't need to," he assured. "I was just a little disoriented, probably because of my chakra exhaustion. And you woke me up from my half-sleep." A touch of regret arose in Kakashi as he saw Minato's sympathetic face. Minato was probably feeling guilty now. But Kakashi didn't have a better explanation for his reaction. To reassure the blond, he quickly added, "You don't need to feel bad. After all, you couldn't have known."

Minato's gaze remained steadfastly on Kakashi as he watched him distrustfully. It seemed he wasn't entirely convinced, and he was probably weighing his options. Kakashi held steady eye contact with Minato, striving to maintain a neutral expression. After a moment, Minato seemed somewhat more convinced and released Kakashi's hand, his gaze still fixed on Kakashi. Kakashi still recognized a trace of concern in his gaze. So he decided to change the subject quickly. "I'm glad you came to visit me." Kakashi tried to put on a friendly expression and remain calm. Inside, it was a different story.

Minato blinked a few times, visibly puzzled by Kakashi's statement. After a few seconds, however, he found his words again. "Of course, when Sakumo told me about the incident, I was worried. Originally, I even planned to come earlier, but I had some things to take care of." Kakashi was slightly annoyed as he heard Minato's slight confusion. At this age, he wouldn't normally react like that. It was important for him to refocus.

Kakashi forced himself to keep his emotions in check. He needed to focus on clarifying the situation and not be overwhelmed by his emotions. "I understand," he replied calmly, although turmoil raged within him. But the reunion with Minato left Kakashi even more disoriented. A flood of emotions overwhelmed him, in addition to those already surfacing about his father. It felt like the burden on his shoulders was getting heavier, as if he were being crushed under the weight.

Slowly, Kakashi let his gaze wander out the window, unsure how to proceed with the conversation with Minato. He was too focused on not losing his composure again. At that moment, he wondered how he would handle future encounters. But he quickly pushed aside those thoughts. If he dwelled on them now, he wouldn't be able to pull himself together anymore. He felt a sense of relief as Minato spoke up. "Your father told me that you continued training alone after our session," he began, crossing his arms over his chest and giving Kakashi a reproachful look. Then he continued, "You were already completely exhausted after our training. How did you even come up with the idea of continuing to train?"

Kakashi glanced briefly at Minato and then shrugged. "After I got home, I thought I could manage another training session. I just want to get better," Kakashi admitted, then turned back to the window. He definitely would have said that at this age. Although it wasn't usual for him to push himself beyond his limits at this time.

It was after Sakumo's mission and the accusations of the villagers against his father and him that Kakashi began even more intense training. At that time, he felt the urge to improve quickly to prove that he was a good shinobi and could be useful to the village. At that time, he collapsed from exhaustion more often. It got even worse after his father's death; training became a kind of therapy for him. But he also learned where his limits were and only stayed close to them enough to still be able to run home.

Minato sighed softly and let his hands sink into his lap. His expression softened, and he placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "Please look at me," he requested. Kakashi took a deep breath and turned to Minato, who smiled kindly at him. "I know you'd like to be even stronger right away, but I've told you that takes time. Plus, it's dangerous to deplete your chakra, especially when you're as young as you are. It could lead to permanent damage. Promise me you'll take better care of yourself in the future. I don't want to have to visit you in the hospital again."

His voice was as gentle as Kakashi remembered. Even after all the mistakes he had made, after all the people he couldn't protect, Minato maintained his gentle demeanor towards Kakashi. But Kakashi had never acknowledged it, continuing to slide into darkness. He had never realized that Minato wanted to extend a helping hand to him. It wasn't until Minato was gone that Kakashi became aware over the years of what Minato had done for him. But Kakashi could never repay it; on the contrary, he had let down Minato and his family. He had allowed them to die, had allowed Naruto to be alone.

"I promise!" Kakashi replied firmly to Minato and then looked away. He just couldn't bear to look into his eyes. Minato withdrew his hand from Kakashi's shoulder and followed his gaze out the window. The sun was gradually setting behind the horizon as a pleasant silence spread through the room. Kakashi felt grateful for this moment of peace.

Minato quickly turned his gaze back to Kakashi, apparently remembering something. "I almost forgot, that would have caused a lot of trouble. I'm supposed to give you greetings from Kushina. She wishes you a speedy recovery." Minato looked at Kakashi expectantly, as if waiting for a reaction.

When he heard her name, Kakashi flinched as if a switch had been flipped. His thoughts raced as he thought of Kushina. The guilt continued to grow, and the burden on his shoulders seemed to crush him. Kushina - she was the kindest person Kakashi knew. She was always there for him, not like Minato, but in her own loving way. He remembered how much she had looked forward to motherhood. Kakashi was sure she would have been an excellent mother. But she never got the chance.

His gaze fell to his lap where his hands rested. Tears welled in his eyes, which he couldn't hold back. The guilt became too much, Kakashi couldn't suppress it anymore. Slowly, tears began to flow down Kakashi's cheeks, seeping into his mask. Minato seemed to notice and placed a comforting hand on Kakashi's back. "Are you crying?" he asked gently, moving closer.

Kakashi lifted his gaze and met Minato's concerned eyes. His inner turmoil grew too great, as if Kushina's name alone had been enough to break down his carefully constructed wall. Kakashi hadn't expected it to be so easy to unsettle him. Once again, the question nagged at his mind: How would he survive future encounters? How could he face Obito and Rin? So far, he had successfully banished them from his thoughts, forcing himself not to think about them.

But now he broke, as if everything was crashing down on him, and he could no longer hold back. It burst out of him. "I... I'm sorry. I... I didn't want this... I wanted to protect her... I didn't want to disappoint you..." Sobs escaped his lips as he looked at Minato pleadingly. Kakashi longed for forgiveness, wanting to hear that everything was okay again. Even though deep down he knew that Minato didn't know what was going on.

In the first moment, Minato seemed overwhelmed by the situation. His gaze met Kakashi's, full of shock and uncertainty about how to react. But after a few moments, he collected himself and impulsively pulled Kakashi into a hug. He held Kakashi tightly, without hesitation, feeling the trembling of his body. It was a hug full of unspoken words and unclear feelings, yet full of warmth and comfort. Kakashi returned the hug, seeking a glimmer of reassurance in this uncertain situation. It had been a while since he had felt such closeness and security, especially the comforting aura emanating from Minato. He buried his face in Minato's shoulder, allowing himself to release his suppressed emotions, while Minato gently stroked his back, in a silent promise of understanding and support.

Kakashi needed a few minutes to compose himself and calm his tumultuous emotions. With iron discipline, he managed to smooth the waves of feelings and regain control. But despite his inner calm, a feeling of shame now rose within him as he reflected on the moment he lost control. It gnawed at him that he had lost control so easily, even though he was normally a master of his emotions. But given the special circumstances, he might be able to forgive himself - but how would he explain to Minato what had happened? He knew that Minato would demand an explanation, and it wouldn't be enough to simply brush him off. The thought that Minato might involve his father made Kakashi shudder inwardly. That would only lead to further complications, which he desperately wanted to avoid. Kakashi cursed himself for being thrown off balance by a single name and set about finding a way to explain the situation before it was too late.

As Minato felt Kakashi regain his composure, he gently released himself from the hug. His hand continued to rest reassuringly on Kakashi's shoulder, while his concerned gaze fell on Kakashi. "Are you feeling better?" he asked softly, gently running his other hand through Kakashi's tousled hair.

Kakashi raised his arm to wipe his eyes and then pulled down his mask. A silent expression of determination was on his face as he nodded and replied, "Yes, I'm okay." His gaze met Minato's, who looked puzzled. For a moment, Kakashi didn't know what surprised Minato so much, but then he realized that it was his unusual action that amazed him: Kakashi had removed his mask. It was unusual for him at this age to be so unprotected in front of Minato. Normally, he wouldn't even remove his mask in this situation. It wasn't until much later, after his father's death, that he had built up enough trust in Minato to break through this barrier. Kakashi was annoyed at his carelessness and knew that he had to quickly pull himself together again.

Minato blinked a few times as he shook off his obvious confusion and then put on a gentle but concerned smile. "Are you sure?" His gaze still bore concern as he added gently, "You still look pretty shaken up."

Kakashi slowly shook his head. "I'm really okay," he assured calmly, but his gaze betrayed an unspoken plea for understanding. He knew that his words alone wouldn't satisfy Minato. At the moment, he simply lacked an explanation for his sudden outburst of emotions. Kakashi hoped to temporarily distract Minato from this topic. Surely there would be a conversation about it later, because Minato wouldn't forget it so easily. But maybe he could buy some time to come up with a plausible excuse.

Suspiciously, Minato raised an eyebrow and let his hand slip from Kakashi's shoulder. Kakashi felt the skepticism hanging in the air and knew that Minato didn't believe him. To skillfully change the subject, Kakashi quickly opened his mouth. "I haven't even had the chance to thank Kushina for her greeting. Please convey my thanks to her." A fleeting smile played on his lips, but his eyes betrayed the turmoil brewing within him. He desperately hoped that Minato would respond to it.

Minato seemed visibly unsure, as if something had thrown him off balance. "Convey thanks to Kushina?" he muttered to himself, before shaking his head slightly and continuing, "I know what you're trying to do. You want to distract from what just happened. You suddenly started crying, and I won't just ignore that. I want to know what's going on. Does it have anything to do with you lying here?" His gaze pierced Kakashi, waiting for an answer.

Naively, Kakashi had hoped that his little trick would work. Minato was still young, but already an outstanding shinobi. He wouldn't be fooled by such simple distractions. Kakashi was aware that he wouldn't easily get out of this situation. Minato would stay until he got a satisfactory answer. This would certainly attract attention, and Kakashi worried whether his father would come by again. If that were the case and Minato was still here, he would tell his father. Then there would be no chance to resolve the matter reasonably.

Minato's patience seemed to be slowly wearing thin as Kakashi remained silent. A soft sigh escaped him. "Perhaps it would be better if I fetched your father," he suggested finally, rising from the edge of the bed. But before he could take a step, Kakashi suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Minato's wrist to hold it firmly. Minato looked at him questioningly as their eyes met.

"No, please don't get him," Kakashi pleaded, holding Minato's wrist firmly. His voice sounded urgent, his eyes pleading for understanding. He couldn't allow Minato to fetch his father. He must not find out, it would be better that way. Yet at the same time, he felt an inner conflict. Perhaps he was compelled to tell Minato everything, and perhaps that wouldn't be so bad after all. Deep down, he longed to talk to someone. Since he had been here, he felt alone. There was no one to talk to about everything, no one to seek advice from. Even Kakashi didn't have all the answers in this situation and felt somewhat overwhelmed.

Minato's gaze was undecidedly fixed on Kakashi. "Will you then tell me what's going on with you?" His voice left no room for discussion; Kakashi had to tell him something now.

With determination, Kakashi nodded and slowly released Minato's wrist. Minato gently sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Kakashi eagerly. Before he began to speak, Kakashi took a deep breath. "Before I tell you everything, you must promise me not to tell anyone else," his gaze was penetrating as he looked at Minato. After a brief moment of hesitation, Minato finally nodded. A gentle smile played on Kakashi's lips as his gaze lowered to the ground. "You trust me, don't you, Minato-sensei?"

Kakashi felt Minato flinch, then a reassuring hand rested on his shoulder, and with a gentle voice, Minato spoke to Kakashi: "Of course, I trust you, no matter what's bothering you. I'll always support you!" The sincerity in Minato's words was unmistakable.

Once again, he took a deep breath and slowly turned his gaze back to Minato. "I'm not the Kakashi you knew. I'm still Kakashi, but not the one from a few days ago." Minato raised a confused eyebrow, and Kakashi felt that the beginning wasn't perfect. Nevertheless, he continued resolutely and decided to get to the heart of the matter. "To cut to the chase: I come from the future."