Frustrated
Kakashi sat on the floor, pulling on his sandals. A brief glance at his small feet made him pause; the change in his stature was still unfamiliar, and he hadn't quite gotten used to it yet. But today was a day to return to training. It was time to strengthen his body and get fit to protect those he cared about. With determination, he rose to his feet and grabbed his backpack. "I'm heading out now!" Kakashi called into the house, reaching for the door handle.
But before Kakashi could open the door, he was stopped by his father. "Wait, please! I'll accompany you," his father said with a smile, strolling over to him and also starting to put on his sandals. Kakashi snorted lightly; he knew his father wouldn't just let him leave the house like that, but it was worth a try.
Having overheard the conversation, Kakashi harbored no illusions that he'd be allowed to go alone. "You really don't need to accompany me. I can find my way to the training grounds on my own," he protested, crossing his arms resolutely. He could at least try to argue with his father.
But Sakumo wasn't swayed by Kakashi's protests. After putting on his sandals, he looked at his son affectionately. "I know you can find your way alone. But still, I'd like to accompany you," he explained gently, opening the front door. "Come on, you don't want to be late, do you?"
Kakashi sighed lightly and set off, followed by his father. Internally, he chuckled at the statement that he probably wouldn't mind being late. It had become a habit over time, one that he even maintained as Hokage – much to the annoyance of others. Especially Shikamaru and Shizune were often the ones affected, and he would frequently get scolded by them. But that didn't bother Kakashi, on the contrary, it amused him.
As they left their garden, Sakumo turned to Kakashi. "Besides, I need to have a quick word with Minato anyway," he explained.
Kakashi's gaze immediately shot up to his father, sensing what his father wanted to talk to Minato about. But he played dumb. "What do you need to discuss with him?" he asked casually, stuffing his hands casually into his pockets.
Sakumo smiled reassuringly. "That's a matter between Minato and me. Don't worry, it's nothing serious," he explained. Kakashi raised an eyebrow but decided to drop the subject.
For a moment, they continued on in silence until Sakumo glanced down at Kakashi. "Are you looking forward to training again?" he asked gently, his gaze full of interest.
Kakashi shrugged slightly. "A little bit. It's about time to get back into training. It's been a while since I've done anything," he sighed, adding, "It's going to be pretty tough catching up on the missed training. My muscles have really atrophied." Kakashi wasn't exactly thrilled about starting back at the basics, but for now, he needed to rebuild his muscles.
Sakumo looked at him for a moment before his gaze drifted forward again. "You're quite reflective," he remarked. "Honestly, I would have expected you to think you could jump right back into training full force."
As a child, that would probably have been the case. He wouldn't have listened to his body as he did now. Instead, he would have recklessly plunged back into training and felt frustrated if everything didn't go as planned. But now, he had become calmer and could better assess his situation. He felt that his muscle strength had decreased and that he needed to start by rebuilding it.
"Minato-sensei already warned me when we arranged to train together. He probably thought the same as you and wanted to preemptively ease my worries," Kakashi lied with a shrug, quickly changing the subject. "Can I ask you something?" Sakumo hummed in agreement and nodded, so Kakashi continued. "Are you accompanying me because you're still worried about what happened?"
Sakumo glanced briefly at Kakashi before redirecting his gaze forward and sighed. "I want to be honest with you, yes, I am still worried. For the time being, I don't want you to be alone," Sakumo confessed.
Kakashi was somewhat surprised by his father's honest response, but perhaps it was for the best. He could try to reassure his father. "You don't need to worry. Everything will surely be fine. In the future, I'll be more aware of my surroundings and always take busy streets. I can take care of myself."
Sakumo ruffled Kakashi's hair once as they continued on their way. Kakashi snorted, pulling his hands out of his pockets and trying to fix his hair. "I know I can rely on you and that you would do that. But for now, I feel better when you're not alone," Sakumo explained with a gentle smile, but there was also a hint of concern in his gaze.
Kakashi slipped his hands back into his pockets. "But what if you have to go on a mission again?" He knew Sakumo's plans and had already considered discussing with him to have more time to persuade his father to stay with Minato.
"Good that you brought that up," Sakumo began. "I wanted to talk to you about it anyway. Shikato Nara offered that you can stay with them if I have to go on a mission again," his father explained with a tense smile. He was well aware that Kakashi wouldn't just give in easily.
Kakashi snorted in annoyance. "I'm perfectly capable on my own. I don't need a babysitter as long as you're not in the village," he protested, looking up at his father. He didn't really feel like having a discussion, but Kakashi had to go through with it.
His father placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder, forcing him to stop. Curiously, Kakashi turned to face Sakumo and looked at him. Sakumo crouched down in front of Kakashi, placing both hands on Kakashi's shoulders and looking him directly in the eyes. "I know it's not easy for you, and you're independent by nature, but please do me this favor. It won't be forever," Sakumo pleaded. He paused briefly, collected himself, and then continued. "I would feel better knowing that you're not alone. Otherwise, I would worry about you," he confessed, looking at Kakashi gently.
Of course, Kakashi wanted his father to fully focus on his mission - otherwise, serious consequences could arise. Kakashi sighed once, withdrew his hands from his pockets, and looked at his father imploringly. "Can I at least choose who I stay with during that time?" Kakashi began. "The Naras are nice, but I'd never get any peace and quiet."
Sakumo sighed and let his gaze fall to the ground for a moment as he seemed to ponder. Then he looked back up at Kakashi. "Who did you have in mind?"
"Minato-sensei," Kakashi replied, hoping his father wasn't in the mood for a long discussion. Kakashi could be quite persistent as a child. Sometimes his father just gave in reluctantly, conceding to Kakashi's will.
Sakumo raised an eyebrow as he looked at Kakashi for a moment. "Minato?" he repeated. "Why do you want to stay with Minato? I'm not sure if I like that idea. Not that I don't trust him, but I think that might be asking too much," Sakumo explained calmly.
Kakashi shrugged slightly. "I like Minato-sensei, and if I stayed with him, maybe we could train more," Kakashi explained calmly. "I can at least ask him, please, Dad!" Sakumo furrowed his brow, seeming to consider.
Until he finally relented, sighing and glancing at the ground. "Fine," he confirmed, looking back up at Kakashi. "You can ask him, but if he says no, you accept that. There will be no trying to persuade him!" he said sternly.
Kakashi nodded resolutely, meeting his father's gaze firmly. His father smiled contentedly and rose from his crouch. "Let's keep going," he said, nudging Kakashi gently. Together, they continued on their way.
They proceeded in silence for the remainder of the journey, each lost in their own thoughts. Kakashi had noticed frustration rising within him as he had debated with his father. But he tried to push it aside quickly. He had chosen this path. That meant having to ask for permission again and having to argue again.
Arriving at the training ground, Minato was already there, greeting them with a bright smile. Kakashi could detect a slight surprise in Minato's eyes; he probably hadn't expected Sakumo to be with him. "Good morning, you two!" he greeted them as they approached.
Kakashi and Sakumo came to a stop in front of Minato. Minato looked down at Kakashi and smiled warmly. "Glad to see you're feeling better. I'm looking forward to training with you again." Then he turned to Sakumo. "I didn't realize you'd be joining us too, but it's good to see you."
Sakumo returned Minato's friendly smile. "Good morning, Minato. I won't keep you long, but I need to discuss something with you briefly." Minato nodded in response, and then Sakumo turned to Kakashi, gently nudging him towards the training ground. "Come on, go ahead and warm up. Minato will be right along," Sakumo encouraged with a smile.
Kakashi snorted softly and started moving. Of course, he would have liked to hear what the two of them were discussing, even though he already knew what it was about. After taking a few steps, his father stopped him once more. "Kakashi!" Kakashi halted and turned to Sakumo, who looked at him with a gentle smile. "See you later! Don't overdo it, okay?"
"See you later, Dad!" Kakashi replied, then turned back to continue walking towards the center of the training ground. Upon reaching it, he began to stretch, preparing his muscles for the upcoming training session. As he did so, he kept an eye on Minato and Sakumo. While Minato appeared relaxed, Sakumo seemed tense, and Kakashi could still see a hint of worry in his eyes.
Having overheard their conversation, Kakashi understood his father's concerns. He could even empathize with them, especially considering he assumed it was Danzo. Nonetheless, he hoped his father would quickly regain his composure and grant him more freedom. Kakashi harbored the hope that once Sakumo was back on a mission, he would realize that everything was fine.
It didn't take long for the two of them to bid farewell, and Minato strolled over to Kakashi. Kakashi finished his stretch and looked up at Minato. Minato squatted down in front of him. "Stop staring at me like that. I'll tell you what your father wanted," he whispered.
Kakashi shook his head and glanced around. "Not here and now. Let's talk later at a quiet place." Then he turned his gaze back to Minato. "I found out something I can't discuss here. But tell me, did my father say if he wants me to come back with him?"
Minato nodded. "I think you're right," he began. "He did want to pick you up later, but don't worry. I offered to take you home," he explained with a smile.
A grateful smile played on Kakashi's lips as he felt Minato's attention. "Thank you!" he said sincerely. Minato waved it off casually and stood up again. Kakashi watched him for another moment, once again grateful to have the blond by his side.
"Come on, let's start training," Minato suggested.
Kakashi flinched slightly as he was pulled out of his thoughts. "I wanted to talk to you about that," he said, looking expectantly at Minato. Minato raised an eyebrow and regarded Kakashi suspiciously. But before Minato could say anything, Kakashi continued, "I already have my own training regimen that I'd like to follow," Kakashi explained.
Minato regarded him for a moment, and Kakashi could see his skepticism clearly. Another sigh escaped him. "Come on, I'm not five anymore! I know what I'm doing. I've been training according to this plan for years," he said, frustration growing, unable to hide it.
After a moment of silence, Minato sighed and eventually nodded. "Alright!" But his gaze remained distrustful.
Ignoring his distrust, Kakashi nodded gratefully. Then he turned around, swallowed his frustration, and focused entirely on his training.
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Breathing heavily, Kakashi dropped to his knees, feeling every muscle in his body. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked up as Minato stepped forward and squatted down. His expression showed no enthusiasm as his gaze rested on Kakashi. He sighed once before calmly asking, "Are you done? Can we go now?"
Kakashi shook his head. He hadn't reached his limit yet. Normally, he would be able to do the training five times before his body gave in. Now he had only managed two rounds. "I'm not done yet. I need to do the exercises three more times," he explained as he slowly began to breathe again. Then he straightened up and got to his feet. He felt his muscles trembling and weak.
Just as he was about to take a step, his legs gave way, and he toppled forward. Minato immediately supported him, gently pushing him back onto his feet while keeping his hands on Kakashi to support him. "Can we finally stop now?" he asked sternly.
Kakashi avoided his gaze, disappointed in himself. He knew he could normally do more. Even though he had been out of training for a long time now, he would have expected to manage another round. Then he looked at Minato. "Please let me do one more round," Kakashi calmly requested. "Normally, I should be able to do five."
Minato shook his head. "I thought you knew what you were doing. To be honest, I'm not so sure that's the case. You can barely stand, let alone walk properly." A sigh escaped Minato, and his gaze became pleading. "I don't want to have to tell your father that you ended up back in the hospital because you pushed yourself to exhaustion."
Kakashi's gaze darted to the side, and he bit his lip, trying to calm himself and smooth out his emotions. Meanwhile, Minato continued. "Remember, even though your mind is 35, your body is only five. I think you're overestimating it. Please start listening to your body," Minato explained calmly, tapping on Kakashi's chest.
Kakashi kept his gaze fixed into the distance, realizing that Minato was right. Even though his mind was that of a 35-year-old, his body was only five. It was a constant struggle to remember that. That had also been an issue with dosing the poison; he had misjudged his body. But shutting off those thoughts was a challenge because it had been a long time since he truly was a child. The frustration he had been feeling since this morning seemed to grow with each passing moment.
Eventually, Kakashi relented, sighed softly, and nodded in agreement. A content smile spread across Minato's face as he gently patted Kakashi's upper arm. "Thank you," the Blond said in a calm voice. "Let's then go to my apartment. There you can rest, and we can talk in peace."
Minato straightened up again, letting his hand rest gently on Kakashi's shoulder and offering him a reassuring smile. Kakashi looked up at him. "Okay," he confirmed, and together they slowly began to make their way.
As they made their way back to Minato's apartment, Kakashi continued to wrestle with himself. He had hoped to have overcome this phase and to listen better to his body. Yet now he realized how he was beginning to neglect his body again. It wasn't intentional; he just underestimated it and considered himself too grown-up. Nevertheless, the desire to become stronger burned within him – he had to become stronger. To protect everyone, he couldn't afford any negligence.
Especially because he was uncertain about what lay ahead. The revelation that Sakumo could be appointed as Hokage brought new potential dangers, particularly from Danzo. Kakashi knew he had to stay vigilant and urgently become stronger. But for the moment, he tried to push these thoughts aside and focus on the upcoming conversation with Minato.
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"Your father is going to be Hokage?" Minato asked, surprised, as he placed a glass of water in front of Kakashi, who had already made himself comfortable at the kitchen table. After placing his own glass down, Minato took a seat, facing Kakashi.
Kakashi nodded slightly. "Yes, at least sometime in the future. Right now, he's supposed to be the Third's right hand to assist him as an advisor and to be prepared when the time comes," he explained. He pulled down his mask and gratefully took a sip of water, his throat feeling quite dry. "He just wants to ensure that the village transitions into capable hands if something were to happen to him or when he eventually decides to step down."
Minato leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Did you know about this?" he asked, curious.
Kakashi let his mask hang around his neck and adjusted in his chair to get more comfortable. "No, I didn't know. My father probably hadn't decided before his mission, and afterward, it didn't matter anymore. The village wouldn't have wanted him as Hokage," Kakashi explained thoughtfully. A sigh escaped him at the thought. Though it had been many years, he still felt his father had been treated unfairly. His father could have been a fantastic Hokage. All the more reason Kakashi hoped his father would accept the offer now.
Minato nodded understandingly. "That makes sense," he confirmed, a thoughtful expression settling on his face. "But now you'll have to explain to me what your poisoning or Danzo have to do with this."
"My father suspects that Danzo is behind the assassination attempt and responsible for my poisoning," Kakashi began. "He believes it was an attempt to weaken him. If I had died, my father would never have accepted the position." Kakashi's gaze wandered out the window, and he rubbed his face tiredly, feeling exhaustion washing over him.
Minato leaned forward slightly. "Is it likely that Danzo would resort to such measures? I know one should never trust him and always keep a vigilant eye on him."
A grin appeared on Kakashi's face as he glanced over at Minato. "He'd be willing to go to even greater lengths to achieve his goals." Kakashi knew firsthand, having become Hokage himself and dealt with Danzo's schemes. The records he had reviewed during that time were alarming.
"Could he ever become Hokage?" Minato asked.
Kakashi leaned back in his chair. "Yes, but only for a very short time. Somehow, he managed to convince everyone that he should be Hokage. But essentially, it was never truly official," he recounted.
Minato raised an eyebrow. "What happened then?"
Kakashi replied dryly, without changing his expression: "One of my students killed him."
Kakashi couldn't help but let out a short chuckle as he saw Minato's shocked reaction. The blond seemed to take a moment to compose himself before finding his words. "Your student killed the Hokage?" he asked, horrified, letting his arms drop to his sides and slumping back in his chair. "I don't know where to begin. You were a jonin sensei? And why did your student kill Danzo? Even though he's ruthless, he was Hokage, and that would be treason."
With a sigh, Kakashi crossed his arms and leaned back slightly in his chair. "Believe me, it was all quite complicated and a difficult time back then," he began. "My student had strayed from the path and was driven by feelings of revenge. It would be too cumbersome to explain everything now, and it would only lead to further questions." Kakashi kept his voice calm to avoid further complicating the situation. Explaining how the fight between Sasuke and Danzo had unfolded would require too many details and would only prompt Minato to ask more questions.
"Yes, I was a sensei," Kakashi continued, turning his gaze back to the window. "But I would argue that I wasn't the best sensei for my students."
Minato looked at Kakashi for a moment before a smile graced his lips. "I bet you turned your students into the greatest shinobi this village has ever seen."
With a brief sidelong glance, Kakashi smiled back at Minato before returning his gaze to the window. "They are the strongest shinobi the world has ever seen, but it wasn't my merit that made them so strong. They definitely had better teachers after me who made them into what they are today," explained Kakashi with a hint of sadness in his voice as he thought of his students. He had to admit that he missed them somewhat. However, he didn't dwell on it and quickly changed the subject. "What did my father discuss with you?"
Minato shook himself briefly. "Of course, your father asked me to be particularly vigilant in the near future and not to leave you alone. He told me that he would accompany you to training and pick you up. But don't worry, I offered to take you home. He seemed grateful for my help. Given what you've told me, I can now understand why he didn't want to leave you alone. It all makes sense."
Kakashi nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's definitely understandable why he's so concerned about me. But it's still annoying," he confessed frustratedly. He didn't get a chance to calmly plan out his next steps.
"Ah, and one more thing," Minato began, smiling at Kakashi. "Your father already prepared me once that you have a question for me."
Kakashi chuckled fondly and shook his head. He should have known his father had mentioned it. "Of course he did. And what did you answer?"
Minato smiled reassuringly and straightened up again. "I said I didn't mind and that you're welcome to stay with me," he explained.
"Thank you, that means a lot," confessed Kakashi. While he hadn't had great doubts that Minato would refuse, even when he was really a child, Minato had often offered him to stay with him. Even when his father was still alive and found out that Kakashi was staying home alone. But Kakashi had declined back then. He wanted to be alone and valued his independence. At that time, he didn't understand the problem; for him, being alone was normal.
"Of course, you're always welcome here," Minato said with a gentle look. "What's next for you? This time, I'd like to be warned in advance about what's coming my way."
Kakashi grinned amusedly and shrugged. "Don't worry, I don't have a precise plan yet. I think, first, I should focus on getting my body back in shape. Then I'll have to wait and see what my father decides," explained Kakashi, before furrowing his brow. "I'm currently worried if Danzo even knows yet that my father is to become the next Hokage. We know he hasn't taken any action so far, but I fear Danzo might really be up to something."
A concerned expression appeared on Minato's face. "Do you think he might try to harm you or your father?"
Kakashi sighed and straightened up a bit. "No idea, Danzo is unpredictable. But it wouldn't be out of the question. If there was anything positive about my poisoning, it's that my father is now vigilant. He'll keep a close eye on Danzo. However, I doubt Danzo will openly confront my father. He has too much respect for him," Kakashi explained, but he avoided voicing his concerns that Danzo might actually target him.
Minato briefly closed his eyes, seeming to ponder for a moment. When he opened them again, he looked at Kakashi with concern. "He might indeed try to go after Sakumo through you," Minato concluded. Kakashi sighed. Of course, Minato had drawn the same conclusions. "We should definitely be careful. Please take good care of yourself," Minato pleaded.
Kakashi smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll take care of myself. Besides, I won't be alone for the time being."
Minato glanced at the clock. "We should start making our way," he said, then turned his gaze back to Kakashi. "Please promise me not to do anything reckless and to take good care of yourself."
Kakashi waved it off casually and slid off his chair. "Don't worry, let's just go. The rest will fall into place."
Just as Kakashi was heading towards the hallway, Minato called out to him. "Wait a moment, I forgot something." Curiously, Kakashi turned to Minato, who approached him and crouched down in front of him. "I overheard a conversation two days ago. It was about the mission that your father was supposed to lead."
Kakashi's eyes widened, and he turned fully to face Minato. "How did the mission go?"
Minato lowered his gaze. "They couldn't complete the mission. Only one made it back to the village, severely injured. The others from the team died."
Kakashi avoided Minato's gaze and bit his lip. He had never wanted others to die for this cause. He also knew the consequences of the failure of this mission. The tensions between the villages were escalating further, inevitably leading to war. Of course, Kakashi knew he couldn't have stopped the war easily. With a sigh, he turned around and walked into the hallway. He didn't want to dwell on it any longer. Carefully, he sat down on the floor and began to put on his sandals. Minato stepped behind him. "Is everything okay?" he asked with concern.
Kakashi paused and looked down at the ground in front of him. "It was never my intention for anyone else to die," Kakashi confessed. He didn't know what the consequences of changing things would be. But for now, he didn't want to dwell on it any longer. Quickly, he put on his sandals and stood up. With a smile, he turned to Minato. "Let's please go, or we'll get in trouble with my father."
For a moment, Minato looked at Kakashi, then nodded and also put on his sandals. Then they set off together. Kakashi sank into his thoughts, putting his hands in his pockets. Only the future would show what his changes would bring. For now, he shouldn't dwell on it too much. The first priority was to plan the next steps. Somehow, he would find a way, and everything would be alright.