New Paths

Kakashi strolled through the bustling village, with a clear goal in mind: He wanted to meet Minato. Fortunately, he managed to convince his father that he could be on his own again. After apologizing several times and assuring him that he would take good care of himself, his father finally relented. Kakashi had to put in a lot of effort for that, cleverly taking advantage of being a child again. When he removed his mask, he could make a pretty adorable face. Perhaps his father simply couldn't resist him.

His hands were buried in his pockets as he carefully chose the right path. Once he made his decision, he continued on his way briskly. He longed to leave the busy streets behind; Kakashi didn't particularly enjoy the lively hustle and bustle. Just as he was about to take another step, a familiar voice reached his ears. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned in the direction of the voice.

"Thank you, young man, for helping me. The bags were really heavy. Here, take this as a little reward." The elderly lady pulled a candy out of her bag and handed it to the boy in front of her.

The boy smiled happily and reached for the candy. "Thank you!" With a friendly nod, they bid farewell, and the boy turned around and walked away. Suddenly, he spotted Kakashi. Their eyes met for a moment before the boy casually walked up to Kakashi. "Hey, long time no see."

Kakashi swallowed hard, needing a moment before responding. "Hey, Obito."

A silence fell between them, as they didn't know each other well at this point. Kakashi was only briefly in Obito and Rin's class before graduating. When he entered the academy, his talent was quickly recognized, and he didn't have much left to learn there. That's why he was allowed to graduate at the age of five.

Even back then, Obito had his eye on Kakashi and desperately wanted to keep up with him, especially to impress Rin, who was already fascinated by Kakashi's abilities at the time. But Kakashi was so focused on becoming a shinobi that he didn't notice any of that.

Shortly after Sakumo's death, Rin and Obito joined his team, and Kakashi remembered it wasn't an easy time for him. Not only did he struggle with the loss of his father and the reactions of the villagers, but also with the need to fit into his new team under Minato. That's when Kakashi began to strictly adhere to the rules, feeling he could never make the same mistake as his father. Obito, in particular, felt the brunt of it.

Obito rocked uncertainly on his toes, casually stuffing his hands into his pockets. "How are you?" Kakashi sensed his uncertainty. Obito didn't quite know how to handle the situation. He was probably trying to come across as cool as possible.

Kakashi also felt somewhat unsure facing Obito. He hadn't expected to meet him so soon. "Shouldn't you be in the academy by now?" Kakashi tried to ease the tension. He wasn't ready to have much contact with him yet. It was a relief that Rin wasn't there. Kakashi wasn't ready to face her. He couldn't bear to look her in the eye.

Obito flinched, quickly pulling his hands out of his pockets and exclaimed in frustration, "Damn, late again!" Then he immediately turned and ran off, but paused for a moment and turned back to Kakashi. "Take care!" Then Obito disappeared into the crowd.

With a smile under his mask, Kakashi shook his head affectionately. That was the Obito he preferred to remember – not the Obito he faced in war. After a brief moment of pause in the direction Obito had disappeared, Kakashi continued on his way.

Maybe this time he could do better, and Obito and he could become friends and help each other. But he also couldn't be too nice to Obito. Obito still needed to see Kakashi as a competitor so he would strive and become strong. The same went for Guy. Of course, Kakashi would like to be friends with them and would prefer to be friendlier to them, but that could also harm them. Both saw Kakashi as a rival, Guy considered him a competitor, and both were motivated during training to surpass Kakashi.

Kakashi was aware that he had to be careful about what he changed. Of course, his intention to save everyone was a major intervention in the future. But he only wanted to ensure the well-being of his important people. However, if he made Obito and Guy stop seeing Kakashi as competitors and therefore neglect their training, that wouldn't be advantageous. Both needed to become strong so they could take care of themselves and defend themselves in the future.

For now, he pushed aside his thoughts; his focus needed to be on his father. After saving him, he could think about the next steps. Even though he had devised a plan and had a strategy in place, he still hoped that Minato might have an alternative idea. His plan was extremely risky, and he truly only wanted to use it as a last resort. But time was running out; his father would receive the mission tomorrow evening, and the day after tomorrow, he would depart.

It didn't take long for Kakashi to reach the house where Minato lived. Although he wasn't sure of the direction anymore, he knew the way to Minato's apartment precisely. Purposefully, he climbed the stairs and finally reached Minato's apartment door. The apartment building was plain, with several units. Kakashi remembered that Minato liked living here; it was a quiet house where many single shinobi lived. Therefore, it was usually quiet since the neighbors were often on missions. Minato wanted to stay here, even when he wanted to move in with Kushina, but she made it clear that she didn't like the apartment.

After a brief knock, Minato quickly opened the door and greeted Kakashi with a warm smile. "Good morning, Kakashi. Come in." His voice sounded friendly as always. Kakashi entered immediately and took off his sandals. He immediately noticed that Minato, like him, valued cleanliness and order. The coat rack by the entrance was meticulously organized, everything neatly in place and hung in a clean row. As a child, Kakashi appreciated that his sensei also placed great importance on order.

Kakashi neatly placed his sandals next to Minato's and then walked a few steps further into the hallway. Old memories flooded back as he looked around. The apartment wasn't large, but it was perfectly adequate for Minato. The hallway was small, with the living room and adjacent kitchen to the right. Opposite the living room, a door led to a small bathroom. Next to the door was the entrance to Minato's bedroom, and at the end of the hallway, there was a small guest room. Kakashi had occasionally stayed there because Minato had offered him to move in with him after his father's death. Kakashi had declined the offer back then.

As he looked around carefully, he noticed the many photos. As a child, he had never noticed this, as he hadn't paid attention to it. His interest was more in training than in the people around him. Slowly, he approached a picture hanging on the wall. It showed Minato and Kushina, both smiling happily at the camera. Kakashi could imagine Naruto standing between them, and suddenly a wave of sadness washed over him.

But his thoughts were immediately interrupted when a hand gently landed on his shoulder. Kakashi turned immediately to Minato, who looked at him with a slightly concerned expression. "Is everything okay with you?"

Kakashi smiled faintly and nodded. "Everything's fine, I just haven't been here for a while," he explained, making his way to the living room. He decided to keep his true feelings to himself. It wasn't the right time to talk about it yet.

As they entered the living room, Kakashi took a seat at the dining table, followed by Minato, who stood next to him, holding onto the chair Kakashi was sitting on with one hand. "Would you like something to drink?" Minato asked kindly.

Kakashi looked up at Minato and nodded. "Just water, please." Immediately, Minato got up and went to the kitchen. From his seat, Kakashi could watch Minato as he took two glasses from the cabinet and filled them with water. Again, he sank into his thoughts. Although he hadn't been on the road for long today, he already had a lot to process. But to his delight, he was coping better with everything now than he had at the beginning. The first encounters had been more intense. Kakashi attributed this to not feeling well and feeling a bit confused. Now that he had been here for a few days and had gotten used to everything, he could handle it better.

Yet he was somewhat afraid of meeting Rin and Kushina. Rin had died because of him; he couldn't protect her. Even though he had learned to cope with it, sometimes he still felt guilty. Facing her again wouldn't be easy. It was similar with Kushina. He felt responsible for not protecting her. Of course, he was no longer responsible for her protection, and he was kept out of the fight, but he still felt guilty for not being there for her.

When he saw Minato again, he immediately felt old feelings of guilt rising within him. He felt like he had to apologize, and his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. But after a few nights of sleep and the opportunity to get used to his new situation, his feelings were a bit more orderly.

Minato set the glass in front of Kakashi, smiled gently, and sat opposite him. Kakashi pulled the glass a little closer to him, clasping it with his hands and letting his gaze rest on it. "Thank you," he murmured softly and sighed deeply.

Minato leaned back comfortably in his chair and raised an eyebrow. "What's on your mind, Kakashi?"

Kakashi slowly lifted his gaze and shook his head slightly. "It's hard to explain. Let's just say it's complicated." He didn't want to go into too much detail and reveal that his brief encounter with Obito had made him pensive.

Minato nodded understandingly and leaned forward slightly. "I understand. It's really not an ordinary situation," Minato began and paused briefly, his gaze scanning over his glass. "Have you thought about how to proceed now?"

Kakashi exhaled and leaned back in his chair. He had to be careful not to reveal anything about his plan to Minato. He would make sure that didn't happen, but at the moment, it was Kakashi's only option. He shook his head. "I have no idea how to stop my father from taking on this mission. Pakkun had a good approach." Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "You know Pakkun and my pack already, right? I think I introduced them to you early on."

Minato smiled gently. "Yes, I know your pack. You introduced them to me after about a month. Did Pakkun believe you?"

"My pack came back from the future with me, so they remember everything. But I don't know why," Kakashi explained calmly.

Minato crossed his arms and put on a thoughtful expression. "Maybe because you signed a contract, but I couldn't say for sure. What approach did Pakkun give you?"

Kakashi let his gaze wander out the window, watching a few loose clouds drifting across the sky. "He asked me if I knew if my father had ever declined a mission and if so, why." Kakashi began to tell, taking a sip of water and then continuing. "I asked him yesterday. Indeed, he once declined a mission. At that time, I was still a baby and got sick. He didn't want to leave me alone and declined the mission."

Minato watched Kakashi closely and thought for a moment before speaking. "That's an approach. Maybe we can repeat something similar. You could pretend not to feel well," Minato cautiously suggested.

Kakashi shook his head. "It's not that simple. My father isn't dumb; he would notice that nothing serious is wrong. Besides, he certainly didn't stay home every time I was sick. He could assess how bad I was back then. Even a broken arm wouldn't be enough," Kakashi explained thoughtfully.

Minato sighed and fixed Kakashi with a penetrating gaze. "Please, don't do anything rash! We'll find a solution." Minato tried to cheer up Kakashi, and Kakashi knew it. But he also suspected that they wouldn't come up with anything better. Nevertheless, he nodded in acknowledgment but remained silent.

For a moment, silence hung between them. Kakashi let his gaze wander around the room once more. It was a cozy living room, with a couch and an armchair at the back. A carpet lay on the floor, with a coffee table resting on it. On the wall, there was a bookshelf, filled to the brim with books and scrolls. In the front part of the room stood the dining table around which they sat, surrounded by four chairs. Behind the dining table was a small kitchen nook. Although the kitchen wasn't particularly large, it was entirely sufficient. Numerous pictures hung on the walls, along with flowers brought by Kushina, making the room very inviting. Even the small details that Kushina had integrated contributed to making one feel comfortable here.

Kakashi took a sip from his glass and glanced briefly at Minato. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a pensive expression on his forehead, while his gaze drifted out the window. He seemed lost in thought. Kakashi felt a pang of guilt, wondering if he was asking too much of Minato. Minato only knew Sakumo's story, but he was unaware of the many other problems that lay ahead for them. Of course, Minato was an experienced shinobi and had seen a lot, but this situation was entirely different. It was about the future, and Kakashi couldn't predict how Minato would react to their future, Kushina's fate, and everything related to Naruto.

"Kakashi?" Immediately, Kakashi shifted his attention to Minato, who continued to gaze out the window. Kakashi grunted in response, and Minato went on. "Have you ever thought about telling your father everything? Don't you think that would be the best option?" Slowly, Minato turned his gaze back to Kakashi.

Kakashi shook his head. "The less they know, the safer it is. Knowledge of the future can be useful, not just for good purposes. I have to be cautious; the wrong people mustn't find out," Kakashi explained seriously. A certain person hovered in his mind, someone who could be very interested in learning about the future. Danzo wouldn't hesitate to exploit this knowledge shamelessly.

Minato raised an eyebrow. "Do you have someone specific in mind?" he asked curiously. Despite his young age, Minato was already observant. Kakashi was sure that Minato already suspected why he wasn't talking about the future and why he had reacted the way he did during their first meeting.

Kakashi nodded and took another sip of water. "I do," he began. It was a good opportunity to divert the topic from his father. This problem he would handle alone. "Danzo could have a great interest. He clearly showed in the future that he wouldn't hesitate to do anything. If he found out that I come from the future and know everything about what he's doing underground, I would be in danger. First, he would want to prevent anything from being revealed, and on the other hand, he would want to know everything from me. He definitely wouldn't hesitate to torture me if necessary. I can do without that. I've been through a lot, but if it can be avoided, it would be nice." Kakashi's voice sounded indifferent.

Torture wasn't his biggest concern. He had learned to deal with it in the Anbu, but Minato didn't seem to like his indifference. An annoyed expression appeared on his face. "Not nice? You say that as if your glass of water had fallen over." Kakashi avoided Minato's gaze. He didn't feel like discussing the topic further. Minato sighed but dropped the subject. "So, Danzo. What did he do in the future?" Minato asked curiously.

Kakashi chuckled briefly and leaned back in his chair. "We would still be sitting here tomorrow if I told you everything. In short, he schemed a lot of intrigues and didn't hesitate to kill people for his purpose. He would do anything to become Hokage."

Minato nodded understandingly and rested his crossed arms on the table. "Then we should keep a close eye on him, even if it won't be easy. You can count on me; I won't tell anyone," Minato assured with a smile.

Kakashi returned the smile and let his gaze wander out the window. "Thank you, Minato-sensei."

"No problem, I'm happy to help," Minato said, taking a sip of water before continuing. "What do you plan to do now with your father? Time is running out."

Kakashi glanced back at Minato and shrugged slightly. "I think I'll talk to him and try to convince him to stay. I could be quite convincing as a child. Maybe he'll decide to stay when I tell him I'm still not feeling well after my chakra exhaustion." It was a feeble attempt by Kakashi to keep Minato from being suspicious; he wanted to keep his own plan hidden from Minato.

Minato paused for a moment, then sighed. "It's worth a try at least. If he still leaves, maybe we can prevent what happens next."

Kakashi nodded cautiously. It was an option, but he knew they would never be able to convince the villagers otherwise. He remembered trying to explain to a villager that his father had done nothing wrong, but the villager wouldn't listen and insulted Kakashi. That was the first time Kakashi had been insulted because of it. It was right at the beginning, shortly after the mission. At the time, he hadn't told his father. He noticed he wasn't doing well and didn't want to burden him further. That night, he had cried himself to sleep alone.

Much later, after his father had passed away, Kakashi realized that his father knew he had also been mistreated by the villagers. It was an additional reason for his suicide - an attempt to atone for his actions and divert the villagers' hatred from Kakashi. But it didn't work; it only got worse from then on.

"You're right. No matter what, we'll save my father," Kakashi lied, not meeting Minato's gaze. A sigh escaped Kakashi; he longed to be alone. He was glad to have Minato by his side, but at that moment, he craved solitude. His thoughts were swirling, and he needed to sort them out again.

Determined, Kakashi stood up from the chair, about to take a step when Minato stopped him. "What are you planning?" he asked, confused.

Kakashi turned to Minato. "I just need to be alone," he confessed, without inventing a lie. "It's just too much right now, and I need to calm down. Tomorrow, I'll stay with my father, and the day after tomorrow, I'll tell you how it went. Then we'll have to resume our training as well; anything else would be too conspicuous."

Minato's expression saddened as he slowly stood up and approached Kakashi around the table. Carefully, he squatted down in front of Kakashi. "I can't imagine what it must be like for you, and I have no idea what has happened in the future. But I sense that there's more to it than you're telling me, and I want you to know that I'll always be here to listen whenever you're ready to talk to me." His words were sincere, and Kakashi looked at Minato speechless for a moment. Despite their short acquaintance, Kakashi already seemed important to Minato.

Kakashi smiled and nodded gently. "I know, Minato-sensei, thank you! Just give me some more time." Minato gently patted Kakashi's upper arm and nodded. Then he stood up from the squat, and Kakashi made his way into the hallway. Quickly, he put on his sandals, said goodbye to Minato, and set off. He didn't want to go home yet. He had other plans. He longed to finally train something, at least a few chakra control exercises, to find out if and how his chakra had changed.

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Kakashi lay on the ground, gazing up at the sky as the sun slowly set. He sat up slowly and looked around the clearing. Surrounded by trees, this training ground was somewhat secluded from the others, and most of the time, it remained unused. But Kakashi always liked it here. He could be alone and simply enjoy the tranquility. Since becoming Hokage, they knew he often retreated here. Especially Shikamaru was annoyed when he had to walk so far to fetch Kakashi for important appointments. Kakashi himself found it amusing and didn't let it stress him. Eventually, Shikamaru gave up trying to push Kakashi. It was just too exhausting for him.

Kakashi sighed and then slowly got up from the ground. He had been away long enough; his father would probably be impatient. But Kakashi felt good about it. The time alone had allowed him to organize his thoughts and savor the moment. Plus, he had taken the opportunity to train. Fortunately, his chakra felt the same as usual, just a little less. However, his physical abilities were once again limited. It would require hard training to get his body back in top shape. This realization depressed him a little. He had hoped that at least his chakra would have been strengthened. But he didn't let it discourage him. He knew he just had to train hard.

Casually putting his hands in his pockets, he made his way home. All afternoon, Kakashi hadn't thought further about rescuing his father or his plan. He needed this time to unwind and gather himself. But now, he refocused on the next day and was determined to implement his plan. If he succeeded in dissuading his father from the mission, he was determined to enjoy time with him. Kakashi now realized how much his father loved him and how much he had drifted away from him. Since becoming a Genin, he had made every effort to become a shinobi. Every spare moment was dedicated to training, even their time together was dominated by training. But after 35 years, he now recognized the importance of shared special moments.

After achieving these goals, Kakashi would gradually begin to address the other issues. He knew it wouldn't be easy, especially stopping Danzo from his intrigues. Orochimaru proved to be a difficult challenge as well. Kakashi contemplated guiding him onto a better path. But that wasn't all by a long shot. There would be much to do, but Kakashi was aware of the importance of proceeding systematically and not rushing into anything.

He turned into another street, paused briefly, and looked at the sky. Kakashi took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Then he continued on his way decisively. He didn't want to waste any more time. His father would probably be slightly annoyed by now. A smile played on his lips as he thought about having his father by his side for longer. Suddenly, the question came to mind whether his father would be proud of him if he knew about his life. He would probably be disappointed to learn that Kakashi couldn't protect his team. But this time, he would make him proud. Kakashi would do anything for that. Tomorrow would decide everything about how things would proceed. Kakashi had to focus from now on, he couldn't afford to make any mistakes.