New Paths

Soft voices whispered in Kakashi's ear as a tangible sense of urgency filled the air. He tried to identify who was around him but felt too tired and detached. The sounds of voices and footsteps gradually faded, leaving him alone in the silent darkness. Eventually, unconsciousness embraced him once more.

When Kakashi next regained consciousness, his perception slowly cleared. He felt the softness of a bed beneath him and a warm blanket enveloping him. The previous hustle and voices had vanished, replaced by a soothing silence. For a moment, he was confused about his whereabouts, but memories started to return. Piece by piece, the puzzle of his memories came together, and Kakashi finally understood why he was lying there.

His eyelids felt heavy as if resisting opening. His entire body felt like it was made of lead, and sensations returned slowly. A mild pain coursed through his body, accompanied by fatigue and exhaustion. Every part of him yearned for more sleep. Yet, he forced himself to stay awake. He now knew he had survived, but whether his plan had succeeded remained unclear.

Summoning his body from sleep required great effort. After what felt like an eternity, his surroundings started to become clearer. Faint footsteps could be heard behind a door, and the chirping of birds from outside reached him through an open window. The distinct scent of disinfectant greeted his nostrils. Another scent reached him as well, causing his brow to furrow. He had expected a different smell, the presence of another person by his bedside. But that familiar scent was missing.

A pang of panic shot through Kakashi as he realized the familiar scent he missed. Had his plan failed? Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes, blinking against the bright light to take in his surroundings. He was in a small hospital room designed as a private room. The walls were mostly white and bare except for a picture hanging opposite his bed. To his right were two windows, while to his left was the hospital corridor. A needle was inserted into the back of his right hand, securely bandaged. Attached to this needle was an IV tube that elegantly wound its way up to an IV stand. The fluid dripped evenly into a small reservoir and then continued down the tube, entering Kakashi's vein.

His gaze settled on the person sitting by his bedside, back turned to the door. Legs crossed, he leaned back in the chair, engrossed in a book and unaware of Kakashi's awakening. But it wasn't the expected person. It wasn't his father; it was Minato.

A surge of panic rushed through him, and the fear that his plan had failed intensified. With a sudden movement, he overcame the weakness still holding his body down. Nausea spread through him, and a bitter taste of bile rose in his throat. The room seemed to spin, and the pain in his body intensified. A soft hissing sound escaped his lips.

Minato immediately set his book aside as Kakashi sat up. He stood and gently pushed Kakashi back into bed. His calming voice reached deep into Kakashi's consciousness: "You need to lie down; you're still too weak." He soothingly stroked Kakashi's hair.

Kakashi was anything but calm; his eyes darted around wildly. He opened his mouth but couldn't form words—his lips felt too dry. Slowly, he closed his mouth again, attempting to swallow. After a brief moment, he managed to force out a word: "Dad?" The fear was evident in his eyes and pulsated through his veins.

Minato smiled gently and withdrew his hand to sit cautiously on the edge of the bed. "Don't worry, he stayed in the village," reassured Minato. His voice sounded concerned, but Kakashi also sensed a hint of reproach. Kakashi frowned and looked at Minato. He sighed softly, reaching for the bedside table on Kakashi's left. "You should drink something first."

Minato grabbed a cup of water with a straw and handed it to Kakashi. With his free hand, he helped Kakashi lift his head to drink. After a few sips, Kakashi nodded gratefully. Minato gently laid Kakashi's head back on the pillow and placed the cup back on the bedside table.

Minato and Kakashi fell silent for a moment. As Kakashi's consciousness became clearer, his gaze briefly shifted to the window. His eyes narrowed before quickly returning to Minato. "Why are the Anbu outside?" Kakashi whispered, careful not to draw attention. At five years old, he shouldn't have been able to sense their presence.

Minato sighed softly and leaned closer to Kakashi. "I shouldn't be surprised you noticed them." He adjusted Kakashi's blanket and stood up. "I'll close the window if you're cold." Minato walked briskly to the window and closed it gently. He then gave the Anbu a reassuring smile and pulled the curtains slightly together. "To keep the sun from glaring at you," he added loud enough to calm the Anbu.

Kakashi watched Minato gratefully for his attention. Minato pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down. "Thank you," murmured Kakashi, letting out a deep sigh. He paused for a moment to assess his situation. He felt exhausted and weary. Every movement caused a sharp pain and was a struggle. An unpleasant nausea had taken hold of him.

Then Kakashi refocused his attention on Minato. "You really shouldn't be surprised," he began, glancing out the window. "The Anbu have been quite sloppy with their chakra suppression! If they were under my command, there'd be extra training sessions for that." He looked back at Minato, who was looking at him with surprise. However, Kakashi was unfazed by his expression. "Well, on the other hand, it's forgivable. It should normally be sufficient for a five-year-old."

Minato blinked for a moment before finding his voice again. "You're with the Anbu? And even a squad leader?" His voice was full of astonishment.

Kakashi put on a slight smile. "You don't trust me with that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Minato immediately shook his head and raised his hands defensively. "No, that's not what I meant. Of course, I trust you. You..."

Kakashi raised his hand slightly, silencing Minato while giving him a reassuring smile. If he were feeling better, he might have let Minato squirm a bit longer. "It's okay," Kakashi reassured Minato.

Minato visibly relaxed and grew curious. "Since when have you been with the Anbu?" Clearly, his curiosity was piqued. Kakashi didn't really feel like talking about it right now. Thousands of questions swirled in his mind that he wanted answers to. But he decided to answer Minato's question for now. He had turned the blonde away enough times.

"I haven't been with the Anbu for a while now. But I was there for a total of 10 years," Kakashi answered, trying to sit up a bit. However, he quickly gave up; his body wasn't really cooperating.

Minato raised an eyebrow, thinking for a moment. "You say you're not with the Anbu anymore, but you were there for a whole 10 years. Were you about twenty when you joined?"

Kakashi couldn't help but smile slightly and shook his head. "I was thirteen when I joined, and I left at twenty-three," he explained calmly.

"Thirteen?! That's barely more than a child. How could the Hokage allow you to join the Anbu so early?" Minato seemed visibly shocked as he looked at Kakashi. Then he added, "Besides, ten years with the Anbu is a long time; it's not common. Most either die before being there that long or can't return to duty due to injuries," Minato noted with mild astonishment in his voice.

Kakashi chuckled softly. "Yes, ten years is an eternity with the Anbu. During that time, I lost many comrades." He avoided addressing the part about the Hokage and decided to drop the subject for now. "Let's talk about it another time. Could you please explain why the Anbu are posted outside my window?" Kakashi asked calmly.

Minato's expression darkened immediately, and he nodded firmly. "You were poisoned!" He paused briefly, fixing Kakashi with a piercing gaze. "Or should I say, you poisoned yourself?" His tone was sharp and accusing.

"Did you tell them something?" Kakashi asked with a shocked tone. It didn't surprise him that Minato had come to this conclusion. Even though it wasn't part of his plan for anyone to find out it was poison. He had hoped to have dosed the poison in a way that would make him feel bad but remain conscious, convincing the doctors that he was just sick.

Minato took a deep breath and shook his head thoughtfully. "Don't worry, I haven't told anyone anything. I promised to keep your secret, and I will," he said in a calming tone, although his gaze still held accusations towards Kakashi. Kakashi felt initially relieved, but then he became annoyed with the imprecision of the poison dosage. The fact that everyone now knew he had been poisoned brought new complications. Before Kakashi could delve deeper into his thoughts, Minato cut him off. "What were you thinking, poisoning yourself?" he asked with a stern tone that quickly softened. His expression turned sad as he added, "You were really close to death, it was really touch and go."

Kakashi fixed Minato with a cool look for a moment, his face open and without a mask, making it difficult to hide his emotions. His gaze shifted to the opposite wall. "If it meant my father and everyone else could live, I would have gladly made that sacrifice," he admitted softly. "I fear neither death nor dying. There's something peaceful about it," he added, looking at the ceiling. He avoided Minato's gaze, and the blonde next to him visibly flinched.

Silence fell between them for a moment until Minato broke it. "But many people do care if you die. I can't say what happened to make you think this way. But have you ever considered how your father or I would feel about it?"

Kakashi looked at Minato with a troubled expression. "How is Dad?" he finally asked, choosing not to dwell on what Minato had said. "And why isn't he here?"

Minato leaned back and crossed his arms. "What do you think? He's not doing well. He's been watching over you continuously for the past few days. It took a lot of persuasion to get him to go home and rest. When he finally agreed, he asked me not to take my eyes off you," Minato explained with a heavy tone.

A hint of guilt appeared in Kakashi, but he set it aside for now. "How do you suspect I was poisoned?" he asked.

Minato smirked slightly and tilted his head back. "Your actions have caused quite a stir," he began, then refocused his gaze on Kakashi. "It's suspected to be a targeted attack, either as revenge against your father or to weaken him. When it became known that there might have been an intruder, security around the village was tightened. An Anbu team was dispatched to search for potential intruders and apprehend the culprit," he explained.

He paused briefly and leaned forward. "Your father was furious and determined to go out himself to find whoever was responsible. I've rarely felt such intent to kill," Minato confessed.

Kakashi looked out the window where sunbeams filtered into the room through closed curtains. A slight frown appeared on his forehead. "Then why didn't he go? Once my father sets his mind on something, he doesn't change it so easily," he noted.

Minato shrugged slightly and lowered his voice. "I can't say for sure. On one hand, the doctors were still fighting for your life. But I think there was another reason. After no signs of an intruder were found and no traces of poison in the house, your father's mood changed," he explained.

Kakashi looked at Minato, puzzled. "Changed?" he echoed. "How did he change?"

Minato glanced briefly at the window before turning back to Kakashi. "He became calmer and suddenly didn't want to leave the hospital anymore. Even when the Hokage assured him that the incident would be investigated and that you would be protected by the Anbu, your father remained suspiciously reserved," he began to recount, clearing his throat briefly.

"I can't exactly pinpoint what's bothering him, but there's definitely something. Of course, he's been incredibly worried about you," Minato admitted, pausing briefly before adding with a sad tone, "The first night, it was uncertain whether you would even survive."

Kakashi flinched slightly, looking at the ceiling. The thought of how his father must have felt amplified his guilt. "How long was I unconscious?" he finally asked without looking at Minato.

Minato sighed softly. "Four days," he replied shortly and added, "Your father went home late last night. He'll be back soon."

Kakashi nodded and sighed in frustration. His plan hadn't worked out as hoped. Of course, his father hadn't gone on a mission, sparing him that fate. But his miscalculated dosage had caused new problems. "Perhaps it's best to let everyone believe it's an assassination attempt for now. I can't admit I did this to myself," he pondered aloud.

Minato fell silent for a moment, placing his crossed arms on his thighs. "Even though I don't agree with what you've done, I believe you're right that it would be best for now. Do you have a plan on how to execute it?" he asked. But before Kakashi could answer, Minato added with a serious tone, "This time, I want to be informed about every step! After this stunt, I'm not letting you go on your own. I offered you my help, and I mean it!" His voice was determined, leaving no room for argument.

Kakashi gave a weak smile. He respected Minato, but he was older and not easily intimidated. Still, he understood Minato's anger. "I get that you're not thrilled about me going solo. But I'm not the five-year-old you met a few weeks ago," he began calmly. "I'm 35 years old, I've been through a lot, and I'm used to operating alone."

He paused briefly before continuing, "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate your support and I'm glad to have someone like you to talk to. But if I think it's too dangerous for you, I'll try to keep you out of it," he admitted with a weary voice. The exhaustion that had become apparent during their conversation was still palpable.

Minato gave a weak smile and lowered his gaze to the floor before speaking softly, "To me, it doesn't matter how old you are. You're still my student, and I won't let anything happen to you," he assured, looking Kakashi squarely in the eyes.

Kakashi was about to reply when he paused, sensing a familiar chakra approaching his room. "My father's coming. I already have an idea to divert attention to an enemy intruder. Don't worry, I promise not to do anything rash," Kakashi assured with a tired smile. Minato nodded briefly.

The door knocked in the next moment, and both turned their attention to it. It opened cautiously, and Sakumo entered the room. Kakashi immediately noticed his father's exhaustion; even though he had been home for a few hours, he didn't seem to have slept much. After closing the door and focusing his attention on the room, he paused and looked at Kakashi.

His gaze instantly softened, relief evident on his face. "Kakashi," he breathed out in relief and walked purposefully towards the bed. Minato stood up immediately, making space for Sakumo by standing at the foot of the bed.

Sakumo carefully sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at Kakashi with a deep mix of relief and sadness. Tenderly, he ran his hand through Kakashi's hair, which whispered softly under his fingers. "I'm so relieved you're finally awake," he whispered with a warm, gentle voice.

Despite the relief in his father's eyes, Kakashi recognized the deep exhaustion and the traces of the past few days. A heavy feeling of guilt washed over him. He had never intended to cause his father such worry. Slowly, Kakashi sat up, his face contorted in pain. Quickly, Sakumo withdrew his hand from Kakashi's hair and tried to support him. Once he was sitting, Kakashi looked into his father's eyes. "I'm so sorry," he said softly.

Sakumo looked at Kakashi for a moment before gently pulling him into his arms, burying his face in Kakashi's hair. Kakashi sank into the embrace, despite the effort it took him. He felt that his father needed this comfort. "You have nothing to apologize for," Sakumo whispered gently. "From now on, everything will be alright. I'll take care of you; nothing will happen to you," he assured, holding him tighter in his arms.

Minato watched the touching scene before him with calm empathy. After a moment, Sakumo released the hug and helped Kakashi lay back down carefully. With a gentle smile, he ran his fingers through Kakashi's hair once more before turning to Minato. "Thank you for looking after him," he said gratefully.

Minato smiled warmly at Sakumo and nodded. "Of course, I'm happy to. I'll leave you two alone now. If you need anything, just let me know," he said, addressing Sakumo. Then he looked at Kakashi once more, the exhaustion evident in his eyes. "Take care, Kakashi. I'll come visit you again in the next few days. Get well soon," he added.

Kakashi nodded to him and smiled faintly. "Thank you, Minato-Sensei!" With a final nod, Minato left the room.

Kakashi looked at his father, feeling his eyelids grow heavier. His father gently stroked his hair again and looked at him lovingly. "How are you feeling?" he asked calmly.

"I'm tired and still have some pain and nausea," Kakashi admitted sincerely. "Minato-Sensei told me what happened." He tried to sound uncertain to not make his father suspicious, even though it was hard. To divert attention from himself, he decided to act like a scared boy.

Sakumo took a deep breath, withdrew his hand from Kakashi's hair, and placed it reassuringly on his thigh. "You don't have to worry; I won't let anything happen to you. I promise," he assured firmly. Gently, he added, "Just focus on getting better. I'll take care of the rest."

Kakashi nodded slightly, his eyelids heavy with tiredness. A warm hand gently stroked his exposed cheek. "Sleep now, pup. I'm always here for you," his father whispered lovingly, holding Kakashi's hand to give him comfort and security.

Kakashi felt the exhaustion consuming him. Even though he wanted to talk to his father longer and learn more, his body wouldn't allow it. The clarity of his thoughts faded, and he let himself be enveloped by the calming darkness of sleep. Just before he completely sank into it, his father's warm, soothing voice reached him, "I love you, Kashi, and I won't let you down again."