New Paths

A gentle breeze blew through the window of Kakashi's hospital room. He looked out, still exhausted from the previous night. Once again, nausea had plagued him; he could suppress it for a while, but eventually it had become too strong. He had spent half the night in the bathroom, and the delicious dinner he had enjoyed the evening before had come back up. He had been so excited the night before when his father had kept his promise and brought him something to eat. But obviously, it hadn't agreed with him.

Exhausted, Kakashi lay in his bed, once again with an annoying infusion attached. He cursed himself for his carelessness with the dosage, although now he couldn't change anything. Perhaps it was a just punishment. Sakumo had been greatly concerned, but the doctors assured him that everything was fine. The poison hadn't been completely eliminated from his body yet, but after last night, Kakashi was sure it must have been completely removed.

A yawn escaped him, and he felt his father beside him catching it too and yawning. Kakashi looked over at Sakumo. Although he still felt guilty, he had given up trying to persuade him to leave. Instead, he pinned his hopes on Minato visiting him soon. Maybe his father would go home then, knowing Kakashi wasn't alone.

Slowly, Kakashi sat up, and his father glanced at him. "Is everything alright?" he asked, his voice tired.

Kakashi nodded and stretched slightly. "I just can't lie here anymore. When can I finally go home?" Of course, he didn't hold out much hope of being discharged in the next few days, but he was slowly getting tired of the hospital. He also hoped to get rid of the constant surveillance by the Anbu; he didn't like being watched. Even as Hokage, he was bothered by the constant surveillance; often, he would simply dismiss the guards because he wanted to be alone.

Sakumo smiled weakly and shrugged. "I can't say for sure, but I think we'll have to wait a little longer," he explained calmly.

Kakashi snorted and sank back into his pillow. "Could you please raise the headrest so I can sit up?" he asked, glancing at his father. Sakumo nodded, got up, and adjusted the headrest so that Kakashi could comfortably lean back. As Sakumo was busy, Kakashi thought it wouldn't hurt to interrogate his father a bit. "Hey, Dad, why were you so angry yesterday? Did Danzo do something?"

Sakumo paused briefly and looked at Kakashi. Then he sat back down on his chair and seemed to consider what to say. His gaze drifted out the window as he began to speak. "I taught you to listen to your instincts, didn't I?"

Kakashi nodded in response, a guiding principle that had accompanied him throughout his life. His father had taught him early on not to just see the obvious, and that was something Kakashi always tried to heed. "So you think Danzo did something?" He tried to sound as curious as possible, tilting his head slightly.

Sakumo quickly shook his head. "Everything's fine, Kakashi. Let's continue this conversation another time. It's nothing for you to worry about."

Kakashi frowned, his suspicion deepening that something had happened between Sakumo and Danzo. Somehow, he needed to find out what it was; he didn't want to leave anything to chance. He was abruptly pulled out of his thoughts when there was a knock on the door. His gaze shifted to the door; he hadn't noticed anyone approaching his room. Sakumo also seemed not to have noticed anything as his surprised gaze went to the door. "Come in!" Sakumo called out calmly.

Immediately, the door opened, and Minato entered the room with a smile. Kakashi straightened up slightly, relieved to see the blond. As their eyes met, Minato's gaze became somewhat tense, and he gestured slightly behind him. Kakashi let his gaze pass Minato, who continued into the room, toward the door. Immediately, his eyes widened, a lump formed in his throat, and a slight tremor ran through his body as he saw a familiar figure. Kushina entered the room with a bag in hand.

She smiled as kindly as Kakashi remembered. Her red hair was tied back in a ponytail. Kakashi couldn't tear his gaze away from her. He felt himself on the verge of losing control; he had to focus now. He could do this; he had been with the Anbu long enough to keep himself well under control.

Sakumo immediately stood up when he saw the two teenagers and gave them a warm smile. "Hello, you two," he greeted warmly. "It's nice of you to come for a visit. Kakashi is also glad to see a different face."

Kushina closed the door behind her and beamed at Sakumo. "Of course, we just wanted to see how the little one is doing." Her gaze shifted to Kakashi, immediately turning into a concerned expression. "Are you okay?" she asked with a gentle voice, which made Kakashi flinch and snap out of his daze.

Now all eyes were on him. While Kushina and Sakumo looked at him with concern, Minato's gaze was apologetic. Kakashi swallowed hard and took a deep breath, then put on a relaxed face. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just felt a bit nauseous, but don't worry, I'm getting better," Kakashi reassured them, smiling. He quickly decided to change the subject, focusing his attention on Sakumo. "Now that Minato and Kushina are here, it would be a good opportunity for you to go home," Kakashi innocently suggested.

Sakumo raised an eyebrow, crossed his arms, and a slight smile played on his lips. "I somehow get the feeling that you're trying to get rid of me. Am I such bad company?" he teased, stepping closer to Kakashi.

Kushina chuckled softly and placed her bag on a chair. "That's how it is with children, right? It's not the parents who eventually kick them out, but the other way around," she commented with a wink, adding, "Isn't that right, Kakashi?"

Kakashi's heart ached. Kushina never had the chance to see Naruto grow up and could never experience what it's like to be a mother. He was sure she would have been a great mother. But he forced himself to quickly interrupt that thought and looked at his father. "No, I'm glad you're here, but you also need some rest," Kakashi said, putting on his cutest and most innocent face. "I'm just worried about you and want you to get some rest."

Sakumo let his hands slide down to his sides and sighed as he approached Kakashi's bed. "I'd hate to leave you alone after last night," he confessed, then glanced at Minato and Kushina. "Plus, I don't think they want to spend the whole day in the hospital. I can't impose that on them again."

Kakashi glanced briefly at Minato, seeking assistance. Minato understood immediately and spoke up. "You're welcome to go home; we don't have any plans for today. I don't mind staying with Kakashi," Minato assured with a friendly smile.

To Kakashi's relief, Kushina also chimed in. "Minato's right, go ahead and go home. You look pretty tired," she agreed with Minato. Sensing that Sakumo wasn't entirely convinced, she gently added, "Go on, if anything comes up, we'll let you know."

Sakumo glanced between Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi, before his gaze settled on Kakashi. A sigh escaped his lips as he gently sat on the edge of the bed, placing a hand on Kakashi's thigh. "Are you sure this is okay with you?" he asked softly, looking at him affectionately.

A gentle smile played on Kakashi's lips as he nodded. "Of course, go ahead and go home. You don't need to come back today; I'll manage on my own tonight. There's probably a lot of work waiting for you at home," he said, hoping his father would agree. Sakumo really needed to rest.

A gentle hand landed on his head, fingers softly running through his hair. Kakashi looked up at Sakumo's face. "Thank you. But I'll come back tonight and spend the night with you," Sakumo promised. Then he pulled Kakashi into his arms. Kakashi stiffened briefly but eventually relaxed into his father's embrace. "I love you, Kashi!"

Kakashi wrapped his short arms around Sakumo and sank deeper into the hug. "I love you too!"

Slowly, Sakumo released the hug and planted a gentle kiss on Kakashi's forehead. Then he stood up, tousled Kakashi's hair once more, and turned to the two teenagers. "Thank you both, I'll be back tonight," Sakumo assured with a weary smile.

Kushina nodded with a smile. "Don't worry. We'll have a nice day, won't we, Kakashi?" She winked at Kakashi, who just nodded and turned away, avoiding looking into her eyes for too long.

Sakumo smiled kindly at Kushina and then turned to Minato. "Would you please come outside with me again?" His voice sounded serious.

Minato nodded in agreement. Sakumo turned to Kakashi once more, smiling, and Kakashi returned the smile, his gaze following Sakumo and Minato as they walked out into the hallway. The door remained open, allowing Kakashi to continue watching them. However, Kushina positioned herself in front of him and began talking to him while unpacking her bag. "We brought you something. I thought some reading material wouldn't hurt. You must be getting bored," she said.

Carefully, she began unpacking three books and stacked them on Kakashi's bedside table. "How are you, Kakashi?" Kushina asked kindly, looking at Kakashi expectantly. But Kakashi's attention was on Minato and Sakumo. He frowned, unable to understand what they were saying. Just as he saw them saying their goodbyes, a book landed on his lap. Kakashi looked up and saw Kushina's slightly annoyed expression. "Are you even listening to me?" she asked.

Kakashi briefly glanced at Minato, who was coming back into the room. Then he looked back at Kushina. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" he asked politely, apologizing to Kushina with his gaze.

Kushina snorted once and pulled the book back to herself. "You're forgiven, but only because you're not feeling well." A small smile appeared on her lips as she settled into the chair. Minato walked around the bed and sat on the edge of it. "By the way, I asked you earlier, how are you feeling?" Kushina repeated her earlier question.

Kakashi glanced at Minato for a moment before slowly turning his gaze to Kushina. "I'm feeling better now, but I was really nauseous last night," Kakashi reported, forcing a smile. He felt caught off guard by this encounter and had to focus on controlling his emotions and thoughts. "And honestly, I'm even a little hungry. Could you maybe get me something?" Kakashi knew Kushina wouldn't say no. He felt a bit guilty for taking advantage of this, but he wanted a moment alone with Minato.

Kushina smiled widely and nodded immediately. "Of course! I'll get you something." She stood up and placed the book with the other three books. "Would you like anything, Minato?" She turned to Minato.

Minato gently shook his head. "I'm good, thank you." He smiled warmly at her.

"I'll be right back. Behave yourselves while I'm gone." Kushina winked at the two of them and left the room with a casual wave.

Kakashi took a deep breath. Seeing Kushina again wasn't easy for him. Although he had prepared himself, her presence still stirred up many old feelings. However, thanks to his years of experience in the Anbu, he knew how to handle it. After a few days during this time and the opportunity to get used to the situation, it became easier for him. The first encounters with his father and Minato had been much more emotional.

Minato interrupted Kakashi's train of thought. "I should have asked you if it was okay for Kushina to come along. She really wanted to see you and was worried," Minato confessed, his voice soft.

Kakashi waved it off without looking at Minato, his gaze fixed on the opposite wall. "It's fine, I'll manage," as he always did. Then he politely asked, "Could you please close the window? I'm feeling a bit cold." He didn't want the curious ANBU to eavesdrop on their conversation. They probably wouldn't pay attention to what Kakashi was doing anyway. He could imagine how boring their duty must be. No one in the ANBU would voluntarily sign up to watch over a five-year-old.

Minato nodded, stood up, closed the window, and pulled the curtains slightly closed. He sat back down on the edge of the bed, swallowed hard, and began to speak. "Kakashi, is Kushina..."

Kakashi shook his head, gently interrupting Minato. He regretted having to reject Minato again, but now wasn't the right moment to tell him about Kushina. Yet Kakashi felt that Minato already harbored a suspicion. It wouldn't be long before he had to talk to Minato. "I promise you," Kakashi began softly, "once I'm discharged from the hospital and the Anbu guards are gone, we'll talk. I owe you that. Please, just have a little patience." He let his gaze wander to Minato, the seriousness in his eyes unmistakable.

Minato smiled weakly and nodded. Kakashi returned the nod before his expression turned serious again. "What did my father want from you?" He asked the question directly and without hesitation. He didn't want to waste time, especially since Kushina would soon be back.

"He asked me to be informed immediately if anything happens, and he promised to be back here tonight. And, as last time, he requested that you not be left unattended, even if you try to send me away," Minato explained, fixing his gaze on Kakashi.

Kakashi crossed his arms, gazing thoughtfully out of the window and furrowing his brow. After a moment of silence, he began to speak. "Yesterday, the Hokage and Danzo were here. They questioned me about the alleged assassination attempt," he recounted, turning his gaze back to Minato. "When Danzo entered the room, I felt my father tense up. Throughout the entire conversation, my father kept a watchful eye on him. There was a tense atmosphere between them. But what particularly troubles me is that this tension seemed to originate from my father."

Minato raised an eyebrow and leaned back slightly. "Do you have any idea why that might be?" he asked, thoughtful. "I usually see your father as a very fair and composed man. Even in difficult situations, he usually keeps a cool head."

Kakashi nodded in agreement. "I feel the same way. I have two theories," he began, furrowing his brow slightly. "The first one seems most plausible to me at the moment."

Minato leaned in impatiently closer to Kakashi. "What do you think it is?"

"Perhaps there was a disagreement between my father and Danzo, maybe even regarding my future. But that's just a speculation, there could be many reasons." Kakashi looked Minato directly in the eyes. "Was Danzo at the hospital when I was unconscious? Did something happen?"

Minato shook his head and crossed his arms. "Danzo wasn't here, only the Hokage. But it's entirely possible that there was a disagreement between them before. I find that quite likely as well." He looked pensive. "What's your second theory?"

Kakashi sighed deeply, his expression relaxing and a slight smile playing on his lips. "This might sound absurd, but I have a feeling my father suspects Danzo of poisoning me." He chuckled amusedly and leaned back into the pillows. "But that just doesn't make sense. Sure, Danzo is capable of many things, and my father is anything but naive. But ultimately, Danzo's top priority is the village's protection, even if he often chooses a questionable path."

Kakashi paused, tilting his head back and fixing his gaze on the ceiling. "It just doesn't make sense for Danzo to weaken my father. That would definitely be the case if he were to kill me. My father is too important to the village for Danzo to take that risk." He brought his head back down and looked directly at Minato. "I'm sure my father is aware of that. So, it seems illogical to me that he would blame Danzo for the assassination attempt."

Frustrated, Kakashi sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Damn it!" He let his hands fall into his lap and stared at them. A deep sigh escaped him. "I need to figure out what's going on. I don't want to leave anything to chance. It feels like I'm so close to the solution, like I just need one crucial piece to solve the puzzle." His gaze remained fixed on his hands.

A reassuring hand rested on Kakashi's shoulder. He looked up into Minato's comforting face, a gentle smile adorning the blond's lips. "Don't worry, we'll figure out what's going on. How about I talk to Sakumo?" Minato suggested. "Maybe he'll tell me more." His voice sounded optimistic.

Kakashi nodded thoughtfully. "I had already considered that and wanted to ask you for precisely that reason. We should carefully plan what you should say so that my father doesn't suspect anything," he explained seriously, avoiding Minato's gaze. "Thank you, Minato-sensei," Kakashi murmured, then lifted his gaze and looked at Minato. "I'm really grateful for your help. I'm sorry I've pushed you away so many times. I know you have a lot of questions," he said, feeling relieved to have said it out loud.

Minato withdrew his hand, his smile deepening. "I'm happy to help, Kashi!" His expression became slightly more serious, and a hint of sadness shimmered in his eyes. "The time will come when you'll answer all my questions. Don't worry, take all the time you need. I'll wait," Minato confessed, gently stroking Kakashi's hair once.

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, feeling warmth in his chest. But before he could respond, the door swung open, and Kushina entered the room with a grin. Immediately, Kakashi and Minato's gazes turned to her. As she closed the door behind her and glanced at the two of them, a suspicious look crossed her face, and she raised an eyebrow. With a mischievous smile, she asked, "So, what have you two been up to? What secret are you hiding?"

Kakashi flinched slightly as Minato responded with a shrug and a smile, "What do you mean, Kushina? We were just having a nice chat." He looked at her innocently, his smile still wide.

Kushina gave Minato a mischievous grin and placed a plate of cookies on the table. "The expressions on your faces when I entered the room say it all. Don't even try to pretend otherwise!"

Kakashi sighed and looked at Kushina with a serious but honest expression. "You're right, I'll tell you what we were talking about," he said in an innocent tone.

He noticed Minato next to him flinch slightly and look at him in surprise. Obviously, he was at a loss for words. Kushina took a seat on the chair next to Kakashi's bed and fixed her eyes eagerly on Kakashi. Kakashi took a deep breath before continuing, "Minato-sensei is planning a surprise for you."

Kushina sat up eagerly, fixing Kakashi with wide eyes. Minato looked at him bewilderedly for a moment before snapping back to attention. "I'm planning a surprise!?" he repeated, surprised.

Kakashi couldn't help but grin, leaning back relaxed in his pillow. Kushina turned to Minato, smiling mischievously at him. "Is that so?"

Minato jerked in surprise, meeting Kushina's gaze. "Well... um..." He cast a quick, uncertain glance at Kakashi before sighing. "Yes, it's true, but it was supposed to be a surprise!" A reproachful glance from Minato landed on Kakashi. It might have seemed unfair, but now Minato was forced to come up with something. Kakashi thought it wouldn't hurt for the two of them to spend a nice moment together. He had learned how quickly everything could change. If necessary, he would even be willing to help the blond come up with something.

Kakashi just shrugged and waved it off casually. "She already figured it out anyway. Otherwise, she would have kept asking and driven both of us crazy," he replied calmly.

Kushina sat up in her chair, placing her hands on her hips. "You're quite cheeky! Since when did you become so relaxed? You used to be much more serious," she remarked.

Kushina's words hit the mark. As a child, Kakashi was anything but relaxed, as he showed today. Even back then, he was serious and determined. Every day, he strove to impress his father and become an outstanding shinobi. The urge to constantly prove himself was always present. Back then, he wasn't even aware that he never had the chance to just be a child.

It wasn't until over time, as he grew older, that Kakashi began to understand. He realized that his father, like Minato, repeatedly tried to give him the opportunity to be a normal child. But Kakashi didn't seize that opportunity, he didn't even recognize it. His focus was solely on training and becoming stronger.

Kakashi grinned mischievously behind his mask at Kushina. "It must be the medication," he remarked, playfully raising his hand with the IV drip. "I feel quite relaxed." His comment brought a smile to his face as he noticed the amused reactions from Kushina and Minato.

Minato sighed softly and decided to change the subject. "What did you bring for Kakashi, by the way?" he asked, nodding towards the plate that Kushina had placed on Kakashi's bedside table.

Kushina flinched slightly, directing her gaze to the plate and then to Kakashi. "I'm sorry, I got you some cookies. They're not very sweet, since you don't like that, but you should start slowly anyway," she explained with a smile. She picked up the plate and handed it to Kakashi.

Kakashi glanced briefly at the plate before slowly looking up at Kushina. A warm smile adorned her lips, and Kakashi felt a pang of guilt rise within him. It suddenly didn't feel fair that she was taking care of him. Naruto never got the chance to meet his parents, aside from his brief encounters with them. His hands clenched into fists as he thought about making it right this time. He vowed to do everything in his power to ensure that they both survived, so they could be a happy family together with Naruto.

"Kakashi?" Kushina's gentle voice broke through his thoughts, causing him to shudder.

He blinked several times before putting on a smile and reaching for a cookie. "Thank you for getting them!" Kakashi's gaze shifted to Kushina, who replied with a gentle smile before setting the plate aside.

Then she turned her attention back to Kakashi. "Of course, I'm happy to do it," she replied with a smile before she flinched slightly and reached for her bag. "I almost forgot! We brought a game so we can entertain ourselves." With a wide grin, Kushina pulled out a deck of cards from her bag and looked at the two of them expectantly.

For a moment, the two of them silently regarded Kushina. Then Minato turned his gaze to Kakashi. Kakashi sighed inwardly. A card game wasn't exactly what he felt like doing, but he recognized the significance of such moments and agreed. Immediately, Kushina began to unpack the game, and Kakashi watched her. A smile flickered across his face, hidden beneath his mask.

He reminded himself that he shouldn't see it in such a negative light. Instead, he should be grateful for the opportunity to sit here with them once again. He vividly remembered the time after their death and the emptiness he felt back then. Back then, he longed for nothing more than for them to still be with him so he could experience moments like these with them.

While Kushina began to shuffle the cards and Minato cleared the table, Kakashi's gaze rested on the cookie he still held in his hand. Perhaps a short break wouldn't hurt before he pondered what to do next. For a moment, he decided to enjoy the moment and fully engage with Kushina. He felt obligated to her, and that's what he would do.

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Kakashi lay curled up under his blanket, eyelids heavy and barely able to stay open. He vaguely sensed his father returning. Kushina crouched down in front of his face, and Kakashi forced himself to keep his eyes open. She gently stroked his hair. "Until next time, Kashi! Get well soon and sleep well now." Kakashi nodded in response and closed his eyes again.

He felt her straightening up again, another hand brushing through his hair once. Minato's voice penetrated his consciousness. "Take care, Kashi. I'll come to visit you again soon," the blond assured him.

Then he heard the two of them saying goodbye to Sakumo, and he thanked them. They had spent the whole day with Kakashi, and he had enjoyed spending time with them. In fact, he could just enjoy the time and set aside his thoughts for a moment. He realized how much he needed to relax again.

Gentle fingers ran through his hair as someone sat down on his bedside. Kakashi forced himself to open his eyes again and look up at his father. "Dad..." He didn't say more before his eyes closed again.

"Shhh, sleep now. I'll stay with you," Sakumo reassured him, continuing to gently run his fingers through Kakashi's hair. Kakashi drifted into a peaceful sleep, sinking further into the darkness. Until he eventually fell asleep.