New Paths

Impatiently, Kakashi paced restlessly around the room, eagerly awaiting his father. He couldn't let time pass idly in the hospital anymore – it was time to come up with a plan. His conversation with Minato the day before had made it clear that he couldn't afford to waste any more time. But so far, he lacked the spark of inspiration on how to proceed. After the conversation, he had exhaustedly fallen asleep; the strains of chakra exhaustion had taken their toll on him. But when he woke up this morning, he already felt some improvement. Though he wasn't completely recovered yet, he could safely ignore that for now.

Yet, from the conversation, Kakashi also drew hope: Minato's support stood by his side, and he was determined to accept it. Perhaps Minato had had a stroke of inspiration overnight. Nevertheless, Kakashi had to be careful about how much he told Minato – he didn't want to burden his sensei excessively. He was aware of the responsibility he had towards Minato. The dynamics between them had changed: it used to be Minato who looked after Kakashi. Now it was Kakashi who worried about Minato. It might seem strange, but Kakashi was now the older of the two – at least mentally, if not physically.

One question burned in Kakashi's mind: could his body keep up with his mind? He urgently needed to find out where his abilities lay. Already, he could feel that his chakra reserves were lower, which could become a serious problem. The thought of having to readjust and fight with a weaker body deeply troubled him. While he knew the jutsus and how to fight, it would all be in vain if his body couldn't keep up.

These thoughts led Kakashi to wonder how he could protect everyone if he wasn't at full strength. Frustration gnawed at him, and he longed to return to training as soon as possible. He knew that only then could he address these questions and find solutions. Time seemed to slip through his fingers, and there was simply too much to do. Kakashi felt like he was racing against time.

Frustrated, Kakashi let his upper body fall onto the hospital bed and stared up at the ceiling. His legs dangled over the edge as he lost himself in thought. After a few minutes of silence, he frowned as a sudden thought occurred to him: What about Pakkun and his pack? At this point, he had already accepted them as his pack, but could they also not remember anything? Had they turned into puppies again?

Silently, Kakashi slid off the bed and landed lightly on his feet. He thoughtfully bit his thumb and was just forming the first hand sign when suddenly the door swung open. "Kakashi!" Immediately, he looked up to see his father's angry face, striding towards him energetically and gently grabbing his wrist. "What do you think you're doing here!?" His voice was full of accusations.

Kakashi turned to face his father, shrugged casually, and replied nonchalantly, "I just wanted to summon Pakkun. It's so boring here, I thought some company wouldn't hurt."

Sakumo sighed heavily and let go of Kakashi's wrist as he rubbed his face. "You can't summon Pakkun, at least not now. First of all, you're still recovering from your chakra exhaustion, and secondly, this is a hospital – dogs have no place here," explained his father, fixing Kakashi with a determined look.

He sighed in response. Being a child again could be damn exhausting. As Hokage, no one could have told him what to do. Although Sakura probably would have scolded him anyway – she didn't mince words. Kakashi turned slightly away from his father and waved him off. "Fine, then I'll just wait until I'm home." Then he gave Sakumo a curious look. "By the way, can I finally go home? I'm bored to death here, and besides, I'm feeling much better."

Sakumo regarded Kakashi with a slightly puzzled expression for a moment before crossing his arms and looking at him intently. "The doctors actually cleared you for discharge," Sakumo began, and Kakashi raised an eyebrow suspiciously – he knew there was more to come. Then Sakumo continued, "But I'm considering asking the doctors to keep you here a little longer."

Kakashi let his arms fall to his sides and looked at his father indignantly. "Why would you do that?" he wanted to know, his eyes flashing with determination. He absolutely couldn't stay here any longer. Not only did he already hate hospitals – he couldn't afford to waste any more time here.

Sakumo frowned and looked down at Kakashi. "You should still rest, and what are you doing? You want to summon Pakkun. Maybe it would be better to keep you under observation a little longer," he said seriously.

Kakashi hadn't talked to his father in a long time, but he quickly realized that this wasn't an empty threat. His father meant it, so Kakashi had to convince him. "I'm sorry," he said, ashamed, lowering his gaze to the ground. With a despondent expression, he continued, "I wasn't really aware of that, no one told me anything. I promise I'll behave from now on." Then Kakashi raised his gaze to his father again. "Please, take me home."

Sakumo looked at Kakashi intensely for a moment before sighing and agreeing. "But if you don't rest in the next two days, I'll personally bring you back here," he said seriously, leaving no room for discussion.

Frustrated, Kakashi exhaled. Two days were definitely too long, but for the moment, it was better not to continue the discussion. "I promise! Can I at least see Minato-sensei? I have to let him know that I need two more days of rest and can't train," Kakashi noticed Sakumo's suspicious look, quickly adding, "Of course, I'll rest at his place."

Sakumo shook his head in response, and Kakashi knew he didn't need to continue the discussion, so he nodded. Immediately, Sakumo relaxed his posture, a smile playing on his lips as he placed a hand on Kakashi's head. "You don't need to worry about Minato. I'll let him know that you still can't train," Sakumo reassured gently, tousling Kakashi's hair affectionately. "Let's get you home first, then I have a few things to take care of," he explained lovingly.

Kakashi immediately became alert. This would be an opportunity to be alone and talk to Pakkun in peace. However, he didn't let any of it show and just nodded in response. Satisfied, Sakumo withdrew his hand from Kakashi's hair. After they had sorted everything out, they set off for home together.

As they left the hospital, Kakashi took a deep breath and enjoyed the fresh air around him. The pleasant summer air caressed his senses, and a gentle breeze played around the surroundings. As they strolled through the village, old memories flooded Kakashi's mind. Much had changed after the attack of the Kyuubi and Pain's assault, and he had to carefully choose the right path. He stayed slightly behind his father, following him, as it had been too long since he could remember the exact way, especially since the village had changed since then.

It was still relatively early in the morning; the sun was already sending out its rays, and it was pleasant outside. It promised to be a beautiful summer day. The shops had just opened, and the first villagers were out to do their shopping. Not much was happening yet; the streets would only become crowded later. Kakashi enjoyed this early hour of the day. It was still relatively quiet, and one could calmly run errands.

Kakashi's gaze fell on his father, who confidently strode through the village. Many greeted him and smiled at him—a stark contrast to the time after Sakumo's mission. Back then, it was the opposite. His father no longer seemed confident, no one noticed him, and those who paid attention to him gave him angry looks. Some even insulted him and threw accusations at him. His father had simply accepted it, never defended himself, until eventually, he stopped leaving the house.

They reached their familiar way home without any problems. It had been a while since Kakashi had visited the Hatake estate, apart from his brief stay upon his arrival. A strange feeling slowly began to rise in Kakashi, but since he had learned to better sort his thoughts and feelings, he could quickly suppress this feeling. Slowly, their house came into view, and Kakashi stopped briefly to take it all in.

The house was surrounded by a simple wooden fence and exuded modest elegance. A gate led to the front yard, while a narrow paved path led to the inviting porch. Upon entering the porch, one had to overcome two steps before reaching the front door. A rustic bench on the porch reminded Kakashi of the cozy moments his father had spent there, watching the activity on the quiet street. Although the house was located outside the village and rarely attracted visitors, his father always enjoyed greeting the few passersby warmly and engaging in conversation with them.

The front yard exuded loving care, which perfectly matched the character of the house. Every area, whether it was the front yard or the back garden, was carefully tended and testified to Sakumo's dedication. Despite his hectic life as a shinobi, Sakumo always attached great importance to the beauty of his garden and spent his rare free days nurturing and caring for it. Kakashi remembered asking his father once why he spent so much time in the garden despite his demanding work as a ninja. His father could have easily turned it into a simple D-rank mission that could have been done by younger ninjas. But Sakumo explained to him that the garden was a form of therapy for him and a welcome contrast to the missions he regularly carried out.

Kakashi forced himself to push aside his feelings and followed his father. This house held many bad memories for Kakashi, but after being able to talk to his father after his death in the battle against Pain, he finally managed to accept what had happened. Of course, Obito had contributed to Kakashi forgiving his father much earlier, but it was only after the conversation with his father that he could finally let it go.

Arriving at the house, Sakumo opened the front door and led Kakashi inside. Both took off their sandals and placed them neatly aside. Kakashi took a few steps into the hallway and looked around carefully. The last times he had been in this house, it had been abandoned and dusty. Now it was alive again with its old vibrancy. Kakashi closed his eyes and deeply inhaled the scent around him. It was the scent of family, the distinctive smell of his father and his pack.

A long, inviting hallway stretched through the modest house, branching off into several cozy rooms. Although the house was not particularly large and only had one floor, it provided enough space for father and son to live. Even if Kakashi's mother had still been alive, the house would have provided enough space for the whole family. At the end of the hallway was another door that opened the way to the back part of the garden. Upon arrival there, one entered an inviting porch, from which two steps could be descended to enter the lovingly designed garden. In the past, father and son had often trained there, especially kata that Sakumo had taught his son so that he could one day wield his own tanto.

He was interrupted from his thoughts when his father stood beside him. "Kakashi?" Slowly, Kakashi opened his eyes and looked at his father questioningly. "Is everything okay?" There was a slight concern in his father's voice.

Kakashi smiled hidden behind his mask and nodded. "I'm just glad to be home again," he confessed and let his gaze wander through the house. He tried to take in every detail and sort through the old memories. Not just the bad ones, but also the good memories flooded his mind, and the decision to save his father solidified even more.

Sakumo gave Kakashi a gentle push towards the living room, and immediately Kakashi set off, with his father following him. "You lie down on the couch and rest now. I still have something to take care of," Sakumo explained, pointing to the couch. Obediently, Kakashi nodded and sank onto the soft cushions. Sakumo crossed his arms and looked sternly at Kakashi. "While I'm away, you stay lying down. If I find out that you haven't followed that, I'll take you back to the hospital!"

Slowly, Kakashi became unsure whether it was just an empty threat to intimidate him. As a child, it would definitely have worked, so Kakashi nodded to his father. "I'll stay here obediently; you don't need to worry," he assured.

Sakumo's expression softened. He squatted down in front of Kakashi and placed his hands on Kakashi's thighs. "I'm sorry if I'm overdoing it. I'm just worried. I just want to make sure you're okay," he said gently, stroking Kakashi's cheek gently.

A warm feeling immediately rose in Kakashi, and he gently nodded to Sakumo. Of course, it had been quite a shock for his father to find Kakashi like that and not knowing what was wrong with him. Kakashi could hardly imagine how his father must have felt. "I promise to rest," Kakashi said sincerely.

Satisfied, Sakumo smiled, stood up, and ruffled Kakashi's hair. "See you later, Kashi!" With one last smile, Sakumo left the living room and set off.

When Kakashi heard the click of the front door, he stood up and walked to the window. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, watching as his father walked along the path. Slowly, Sakumo disappeared from his view, and his chakra weakened further. Kakashi sighed and pushed himself off the wall. Casually, he put his hands in his pockets and strolled leisurely to his bedroom.

As he walked down the hallway, he paused in front of the wide-open door to the study, letting his gaze wander inside. The room was not particularly spacious, but shelves lined one side, filled with a variety of books and scrolls. At the back of the room was a desk, surrounded by a matching chair. On this desk always sat two pictures, and Kakashi didn't need to approach to know what they showed.

One of the pictures depicted Kakashi's mother together with his father. Sakumo lovingly had his arm around his wife's shoulder, both smiling happily at the camera. Kakashi's mother radiated happiness while holding a bundle of blankets in her arms. Wrapped inside slept Kakashi peacefully – the picture was taken just a few days after his birth.

The other picture showed father and son in a tight embrace. Sakumo held Kakashi firmly in his arms, his gaze serious towards the camera, his smile less radiant than in the first photo. Kakashi, on the other hand, practically beamed in this picture, his wide grin betraying the innocence and joy of a toddler. He pointed upwards with his finger, his gaze following the direction he indicated. Back then, he could hardly have been older than a year, maybe even a bit younger.

Kakashi's expression remained blank, his thoughts empty. He shook himself slightly and resumed his path. Kakashi didn't want to waste any more time clinging to the past. There was much to do, and he was determined to look forward.

Now it was time to summon Pakkun. Kakashi had promised his father to rest, and he meant it. However, he knew how well he could assess his own condition. While his chakra was not yet fully restored, it was definitely enough to summon Pakkun.

Arriving in the bedroom, he closed the door behind him and sat cross-legged on the carpet. He bit his thumb, formed the necessary hand signs, and then placed his hand on the ground. A cloud of smoke appeared, in which sat a small pug, glaring fiercely at Kakashi. Kakashi raised an eyebrow. Pakkun was a puppy again. But judging by his fierce look, the pug didn't seem pleased.

Kakashi grinned at Pakkun and raised a hand. "Hey, Pakkun!" But Pakkun's gaze only grew fiercer, and Kakashi realized that his pack, just like him, remembered everything. Otherwise, Pakkun wouldn't look at him like that.

"Hey, Pakkun? What have you done, Kakashi? Or has Naruto been up to some nonsense again? We're all puppies again!" His tone sounded accusing as he cast a sharp glance at Kakashi. Kakashi laughed and scratched the back of his head. "That's not funny! We woke up a few days ago and suddenly were puppies again. You kept us waiting for quite a long time!" Pakkun reproached him.

Kakashi raised his hands in a calming gesture. "Sorry, please. I had my own problems," he said calmly with a smile.

Pakkun regarded Kakashi, sighed once, and then sat down in front of him. "I can see you're a puppy again too," he remarked, his gaze scanning the room. "Is this your childhood room?" he asked, then sniffed once and looked back at Kakashi. "That's Sakumo's scent, isn't it," he exclaimed in shock.

Kakashi's hands rested in his lap as he nodded in agreement with Pakkun. "Yes, exactly," he confirmed, lowering his gaze to his lap.

"Explain to me what's going on here. We've been worried about you because we haven't heard from you in so long," Pakkun admitted, fixing Kakashi with a scrutinizing gaze.

Kakashi grinned behind his mask and leaned forward again. "I didn't know I was so important to you," he teased, but only received a fierce look from Pakkun. Then Kakashi leaned back again and chuckled briefly before starting to speak. "Sorry, please, I'll explain, but I can't tell you much."

Calmly, Kakashi began to explain everything that had happened since he woke up here. Basically, Kakashi couldn't tell much because he didn't know exactly what had led to their situation. But he was glad to have his pack by his side again, and somehow it was nice to see them as puppies again. They were cute, he couldn't say that to Pakkun, he wouldn't be thrilled.

After he had told everything, silence fell while Pakkun snorted once. "What's your plan now? We can't just stay here," he stated.

Kakashi turned his gaze away; he had already decided. He wanted to find a way to save everyone; now he just needed to convince Pakkun. His opinion was important to him, and he hoped for his support. "I've been thinking a lot in the past few days, and I can't just leave without trying something," he explained with a firm and determined look at the pug.

Pakkun scrutinized Kakashi for a moment while they both remained silent. After a short pause, Pakkun broke the silence. "So, am I understanding correctly that you want to stay during this time and try to save everyone?" he asked. Kakashi nodded determinedly, prompting Pakkun to sigh once. "Have you thought about the possible consequences? I thought you had finally overcome and accepted your past. Finally, the long-awaited peace for which everyone sacrificed so much, including you! Who assures you that everything will be better if you save everyone?"

Kakashi slumped slightly and shrugged weakly. His gaze wandered around the room and lingered on a self-painted picture. It showed two people, a taller and a smaller one, clearly meant to represent Sakumo and Kakashi. They stood on a meadow surrounded by two trees. In the sky was a sun and three clouds, and both figures were painted with a smile on their faces. It wasn't a particularly remarkable drawing; it was made by a child - by Kakashi himself. Kakashi couldn't remember it anymore; it was too long ago. He must have been much younger back then. After he joined the academy, he didn't paint such things anymore - he was too grown up.

The picture was supposed to represent a happy moment, and Kakashi realized he couldn't remember the last time he experienced such a moment with his father. After Kakashi joined the academy, he was constantly studying and training. His father was often on missions, and they had no time to spend together. Then he became a genin and trained even more until Sakumo's mission came and everything changed. Maybe Kakashi could change that? Maybe he could experience beautiful moments with his father and create new memories.

Kakashi turned his gaze back to Pakkun. "No one can assure me that everything will be alright, but I have to at least try. I can't leave them all hanging again! When I looked my father in the eyes, I couldn't accept losing him again. I've been given a second chance; I can save everyone," Kakashi explained earnestly, keeping his gaze fixed on Pakkun. "I don't know if it's the right thing to do, and I'm aware it's a risk, but I can't just save my loved ones."

Pakkun tilted his head slightly and looked at Kakashi questioningly. "What do you mean by not just saving your loved ones?"

"I could give Naruto the family he deserves. Sasuke wouldn't have to lose his family, and Itachi wouldn't have to bear such a heavy burden. Obito could achieve his dream of becoming Hokage. I could help so many," Kakashi explained fervently, eagerly awaiting Pakkun's reaction.

Pakkun sighed, briefly glanced at the ground, and seemed to contemplate everything for a moment. Then he looked back at Kakashi. "That's one hell of a task, but I know you realize that. I'm honest with you, I'm worried about you," he said sincerely, his voice full of concern.

Surprised, Kakashi raised his eyebrows, then smiled reassuringly at Pakkun. "You don't need to worry about me, after all, I've endured much worse." It was an attempt to convince Pakkun, but he didn't seem convinced.

"I know you've been through a lot worse, and that's exactly what worries me. What if you can't handle it? Would you bear it again? The first time, you were almost broken, in fact, you were broken. Kakashi, I want you to be realistic, it's an almost impossible task for anyone alone," Pakkun shared his concerns, giving Kakashi a concerned look.

Kakashi briefly looked out the window and saw a bird perched on a branch of the tree. Could he bear it again? He reluctantly recalled that time, especially after the death of Minato and Kushina. He felt numb and trapped in his grief back then. For him, it seemed like he had no one left and was alone. He didn't realize that he still had friends who were worried about him and wanted to help him. Guy, in particular, had tried everything back then, and Kakashi had simply pushed him away, allowing himself to be pushed further into darkness. The ANBU became his refuge, and he hid behind the ANBU mask. No matter what mission he took on, he didn't care if he could have died.

It wasn't until he met Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, and they were the first to pass his test, that light came back into his life, and he found a way out of the darkness. He regained a sense of purpose in his life. From now on, he had to take care of them. They had to be taught, and he had to look after them. Most importantly, he could finally make contact with Naruto, no longer had to keep away from him. The Third had forbidden him to contact him back then, although he would have liked to be more present in Naruto's life. He could never have taken Naruto in, he had been too young, too traumatized. But still, he would have liked to visit him and show him that there was someone who cared about him.

Kakashi forced himself to end the thoughts before he wandered too far. He quickly refocused on their conversation and turned his gaze back to Pakkun. "This time, I'm not alone. I'll accept the help of others. I can't just watch everyone die again. This time, I'm prepared," Kakashi explained resolutely. "Please, Pakkun, I need you by my side too!"

Pakkun sighed and rested his head on his paws. "You know we, as a pack, always stick together, and if that's the path you want to take, we'll stand behind you. But I also want you to know my worries and concerns. It's an almost impossible task, but somehow, we'll find a way and make the best of it." Kakashi recognized from Pakkun's voice that he had concerns and wasn't necessarily in agreement. But he also knew that Pakkun meant it seriously and would support him as best as possible.

Kakashi smiled warmly and couldn't hold back. With a quick grab, he pulled Pakkun into his lap and stroked his head. "I knew I could count on you."

Pakkun gave Kakashi a dark look, muttered something dissatisfied about the action, before finally relaxing and lying down. "You can," the pug confirmed calmly. "So, what's your plan now? What are the next steps?" Pakkun asked curiously, resting his head comfortably on Kakashi's thigh.

Kakashi leaned back against his bed and gently stroked Pakkun's head. "At the moment, I'm a bit at a loss. First, I need to figure out how to change or even prevent Dad's mission altogether," Kakashi explained. Pakkun's presence gave him a sense of openness and trust; he could talk to him about anything. Minato was also by his side, and he was grateful for that, but there were things he preferred not to tell him. Kakashi wanted to protect him too.

"Do you know if Sakumo ever refused a mission?" Pakkun asked with a tired voice.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, letting the thought linger in his mind for a while. He couldn't remember Sakumo ever refusing a mission, and even if he had, they had never discussed it. But this consideration was fascinating, a new approach. "He never mentioned anything about it, but that's an interesting idea. If I could find out if he ever refused a mission and why, maybe I could build on that," Kakashi murmured. A faint hope began to grow within him. Finally, a way seemed to emerge that he could pursue.

A gentle nod brushed his thigh. "It's worth a try, but don't rely too much on it. He might never have refused a mission, or even if he did, you couldn't simply reconstruct the reason," Kakashi tiredly smiled and nodded in agreement. Pakkun was right. It couldn't hurt to have a plan B ready.

Finally, Kakashi felt a spark of hope ignite within him - a possible way to save his father. There was no guarantee of success, but it was at least a beginning. Now he just needed the opportunity to discreetly ask Sakumo. But he couldn't wait too long. "Thank you, Pakkun, really. I know you're not too thrilled, so I'm even more grateful for your help."

Pakkun snorted lightly and closed his eyes relaxed. "Of course, pup! Neither I nor the pack would ever leave you hanging. We'll protect and support you, no matter what. Together, we'll find a way to master this."

Kakashi smiled affectionately and gently ran his hand over Pakkun's head. He closed his eyes and immersed himself in the calm, cozy atmosphere that had spread between them. For a brief moment, he tried to forget his worries and savor the moment. Somehow, everything would be okay again. Kakashi was confident that he would find a solution.