Discovered
Kakashi strolled through the streets, hands buried in his pockets. Absentmindedly, he kicked a small stone ahead of him. Sakumo had been on his mission for two weeks now, and since then, nothing exciting had happened. Kakashi would even say it was rather boring. He quickly found a common rhythm with Minato and could even enjoy the time spent with him.
In the first few days, Kakashi had been cautious and only left the apartment after nightfall. He didn't want to take any risks and wanted to avoid meeting anyone who might report back to his father. Minato didn't really like this; the blond was worried that something might happen. But Kakashi reassured him—after all, he was old enough to take care of himself. He enjoyed finally being able to go out alone and enjoy the peace.
Kakashi used the time to observe Orochimaru's apartment among other things. When he was sure the Sannin wasn't home, he broke in with Pakkun two days ago. But to his disappointment, he found nothing of significance. Kakashi would have liked to get an idea of how far Orochimaru was with his research. But he should have known that Orochimaru wouldn't keep anything important in his apartment. Now Kakashi was pondering how to proceed—he desperately wanted to find a solution.
By now, darkness had fallen, and the streets were almost deserted. Kakashi decided to leisurely stroll through the village and enjoy the cool evening air. Still, he shouldn't take too much time, as Minato was probably already worried. Kakashi had just come from training and had taken the opportunity to train alone again. It was a welcome change; no one was there to hold him back.
Just as he turned into a side street, he abruptly stopped and spun around. Instinctively, he reached for his weapons pouch, hand ready on the bag. His eyes narrowed as he attentively scanned the surroundings. For a moment, he had sensed something—someone was behind him. But the moment he turned around, the feeling vanished. When he could neither see nor sense anything, his tense posture relaxed. Frowning, he looked into the distance.
After a moment, he decided to continue on his way. It was probably better not to take any risks and get home quickly. Slowly, Kakashi turned around again. But no sooner had he fully turned than someone suddenly grabbed him by the collar and slammed him hard against the wall behind him.
Kakashi squinted and grabbed his attacker's wrist with one hand. The other hand slid to his weapon pouch as he opened his eyes again. When he recognized who was grinning at him, he froze, and his eyes widened. "Hello, Hatake!"
“Orochimaru?” Kakashi muttered incredulously, struggling to free himself from the iron grip, but it was too strong. “What do you want?” he asked sharply, his voice trembling slightly with tension.
Orochimaru merely smiled and loosened his grip just enough for Kakashi to catch his breath. "Relax, Hatake. I'm not here to hurt you. Not yet." His voice was a soft hiss that sent a shiver down Kakashi’s spine. "But I don't appreciate it when someone snoops around my apartment uninvited," he explained coolly.
Kakashi's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected Orochimaru to find any indication that someone had been in his apartment. After all, he and Pakkun had acted extremely carefully and left no traces. "But how...?" Kakashi stammered incredulously, his mind struggling to comprehend the situation.
"You don't seriously think that anyone can just stroll into my apartment without me noticing," the Sannin began to explain, his face darkening slightly. "Especially not a little errand boy like you! I don't know what bet you made with your little friends, but now you're going to face the consequences!"
Beads of sweat glistened on Kakashi's forehead, and his heartbeat quickened. He knew he didn't stand a chance against Orochimaru at the moment – he was too weak. Slowly, the Sannin moved his hand to his weapon pouch and drew out a kunai. With a smooth motion, he held the kunai to Kakashi's throat. A heavy lump formed in Kakashi's throat as he weighed his options. Just as he considered which jutsu he might use to surprise Orochimaru, the latter suddenly released him and stepped back.
Kakashi slid down the wall and landed awkwardly on his feet, but he managed to stay upright. Confused, he looked at the Sannin, who had stowed his kunai and now directed his attention to Kakashi. "Do you really think I would harm you? I would never mess with your father. I'm not that foolish," Orochimaru explained.
Kakashi rubbed his neck, keeping his gaze fixed on Orochimaru. "Then what was that all about?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with unease.
Orochimaru shrugged indifferently. "As I already explained, I simply do not tolerate anyone snooping around in my apartment, especially not a little brat like you," he began coldly. "I thought a small lesson might do you some good. If I ever find out again that you or any of your friends have been in my apartment, you won't get off so lightly," he warned sharply, his eyes glinting with menace.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, but Orochimaru remained unfazed and turned slightly away. "So in the future, stay away from my apartment, or I will pay your father a visit and tell him how you spend your free time. I imagine neither he nor you would like that," Orochimaru said, his voice icy. Then he stepped closer, sending a slight wave of killing intent to intimidate Kakashi. "Do we understand each other?" he asked menacingly.
With clenched teeth, Kakashi nodded in response. Orochimaru turned away and began to walk off. But before Kakashi could breathe a sigh of relief, Orochimaru turned back to him. "But I must give you credit," he said coolly, "for a child, you did an excellent job. Very impressive." Orochimaru paused, his eyes glinting with interest. "You really covered your tracks well, and when I was following you just now, I was surprised at how quickly you noticed me. That's no small feat."
Surprised, Kakashi looked at Orochimaru and felt his tension ease as the Sannin continued speaking. "You have real potential. I'll be keeping an eye on you, Hatake. Maybe you'll become interesting one day." With those words, the Sannin disappeared, leaving Kakashi stunned.
Kakashi stood motionless for a moment, his gaze fixed on the spot where Orochimaru had vanished. Gradually, his heartbeat calmed, but the Sannin's words echoed in his mind. Slowly, he let his hand fall from his neck and took a deep breath. Then he straightened his clothes and brushed off the dust. Thoughtfully, he began making his way home, pondering the encounter and trying to process the underlying threat and the unexpected praise from Orochimaru.
Kakashi replayed the situation in his mind repeatedly, wondering where he might have made a mistake. Had Orochimaru set a trap that he had missed? That seemed the most likely scenario at the moment. Still, he was frustrated with his own carelessness. Orochimaru was, of course, an impressive shinobi not to be underestimated. Kakashi had thought he had taken all necessary precautions, but obviously, it hadn't been enough.
Kakashi realized that from now on, he would have to act more cautiously. Another lapse in judgment could be dangerous, especially if Orochimaru noticed and reported it. The risk of Orochimaru passing information to Danzo was significant, and Kakashi wanted to avoid that at all costs. He was already on Danzo's radar.
Frustrated, Kakashi kicked a stone away and bit his lower lip. The annoyance of being discovered gnawed at him. He knew he couldn't afford any more mistakes. The encounter with Orochimaru was a stark reminder that even small lapses in vigilance could have significant consequences.
**********
"I'm back!" Kakashi called out as he entered the apartment, neatly placing his sandals aside. He had barely straightened up and taken a step into the hallway when Minato came towards him.
Minato's expression was worried, and Kakashi couldn't help but roll his eyes in annoyance. "Where have you been for so long?" Minato asked, his voice trembling slightly with anger. "I allowed you to roam the village alone, but not to stay out this long!"
Kakashi walked past Minato, ignoring the blond. He didn't feel like arguing. His anger was simmering, and he knew he would likely say something he would regret later. But Minato didn't seem to understand that. He grabbed Kakashi's shoulder and turned him around.
Kakashi glared at him with a dark look. "Leave me alone! I don't owe you an explanation. Technically, I'm older than you and don't have to justify myself!" he hissed, struggling to keep his anger in check. He had to remind himself that he wasn't angry at Minato. On the contrary, he was angry at himself and the whole situation.
Minato slowly released Kakashi and stared at him silently for a moment. Kakashi took a deep breath and turned away. "Please, just give me a moment," he pleaded, trying to keep his voice calm.
Kakashi heard Minato sigh. "Come to me if you want to talk," he said finally, before disappearing into the living room.
Kakashi stood still for a moment before heading to the guest room and throwing himself onto the bed in frustration. He desperately needed a break and had to think about how to proceed. At that moment, it felt like everything was collapsing around him. Not only had Orochimaru caught him, but he also wasn't making any progress with his plan regarding Orochimaru.
He was missing an approach; he had no idea what to do next. The situation was further complicated by Orochimaru's intent to keep an eye on him. He couldn't handle another person watching him. It was already enough that Danzo was likely monitoring his movements. At least, Kakashi suspected as much, even though he hadn't sensed anyone so far.
On the other hand, he doubted that Orochimaru had the time to constantly watch him. The Sannin was too engrossed in his own research. Nevertheless, Kakashi couldn't afford to be careless. He had to find a way to move forward without constantly looking over his shoulder.
Kakashi stared at the ceiling, his eyes widening suddenly as an idea flashed in his mind. He sat up quickly. He might have found a way to influence Orochimaru, at least to hinder his uninterrupted progress in his research. With renewed energy, Kakashi jumped off the bed and rushed into the living room.
Minato was sitting on the couch, leafing through a book. When Kakashi entered, he looked up and gave him a questioning glance. "Is everything okay?"
"I have an idea on how I might be able to help with Orochimaru!" Kakashi announced proudly.
Minato put his book aside, looking puzzled and frowning. "Orochimaru? Did I miss something? What do you have to do with him?" he asked, his confusion evident.
Kakashi stood opposite Minato, fixing him with an intense gaze. "You wanted to be informed about my next steps. Now I can tell you," he explained, a smile hidden under his mask.
Minato leaned back, studying Kakashi for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'm listening."
Kakashi walked around the coffee table and sat next to Minato on the couch. "To understand why I want to help with Orochimaru, I need to tell you what happens in the future," Kakashi began to explain. Minato looked at him attentively, crossing his arms, eager to hear more.
"I'll give you the short version. Orochimaru collaborates with Danzo and conducts illegal research underground that is not approved by the Hokage. It involves unauthorized experiments on humans, including children who are kidnapped," he explained with a serious expression.
Kakashi watched as the color drained from Minato's face, leaving him staring in stunned silence. "He did what!?" stammered the blonde, clearly shocked and speechless.
Undeterred, Kakashi continued his story. "Eventually, the Third Hokage learned of Orochimaru's activities and confronted him. But Orochimaru fled the village and became a rogue shinobi. That's the short version," Kakashi explained with a serious expression.
Minato leaned forward, fixing Kakashi with an intense gaze. "This just confirms the rumors that are already circulating about him. I know he shouldn't be underestimated. But what exactly do you plan to do now?" he asked, intrigued.
"I want to steal the time he needs for his research and keep him subtly occupied," Kakashi responded, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Minato frowned thoughtfully, taking a moment to consider. "How exactly do you plan to do that?" he asked eventually.
Kakashi smiled reassuringly and leaned back on the couch. "I'm going to make him my sensei!" he said calmly. Minato flinched beside him, visibly taken aback by this bold idea.
"You want to make him your sensei?" he said, slightly horrified.
Kakashi nodded resolutely, looking at Minato reassuringly. "Don't worry, you'll remain my primary sensei," he assured with a wink. "Orochimaru is often on missions, so he won't be able to train me often. But when he's in the village, he'll be busy with me and not with his research."
Minato rubbed his face with one hand. "I don't know," he began hesitantly. "It would probably be better if you stayed away from him. What if he finds out about your time travel? He could tell Danzo. Plus, I don't think he'll just accept you as a student. Orochimaru isn't exactly known for being sociable or liking children," he added, expressing his concerns.
Kakashi crossed his arms and looked down at his feet. "I'm aware of that, but let's consider it from a different perspective," he began thoughtfully. "Orochimaru isn't exactly popular in the village and doesn't have many supporters. Plus, he was also alone early in life. Maybe I could show that there are people in the village who like him and could have a long-term impact on him. Essentially, he's just misunderstood and was pushed down the wrong path. Maybe I still have the opportunity to help him," he concluded, not voicing what he realized: It reminded him of his own situation. Except Kakashi had Minato, Kushina, and later his team, even if he hadn't realized it at the time.
"And I think I can convince him to become my sensei. I've already caught his attention," Kakashi explained, looking back at Minato. He raised an eyebrow questioningly, prompting Kakashi to continue. "I snooped around his apartment to get an idea of how far he's gotten with his research. Somehow, he found out, probably I overlooked a trap. Anyway, he just intercepted me and questioned me."
Immediately, Minato straightened up and scrutinized Kakashi. "Did he do anything to you?" he asked, panic in his voice.
Kakashi shook his head. "No, he just wanted to scare me," he explained calmly.
Minato slowly relaxed and leaned back again. "Why didn't you tell me what you were planning? I would have come with you."
"Don't worry, I wasn't alone. Pakkun was with me. If anything had happened, he could have gotten help," Kakashi reassured his sensei.
A smile flickered across Minato's lips. "That's good to hear. So, what exactly did Orochimaru do?"
Kakashi waved it off casually. "Nothing serious, really. You don't need to worry. He would never harm me."
Minato looked curious. "How can you be so sure?"
Kakashi pulled his legs up and hugged them with his arms. "Because he has too much respect for my father. He knows my father would go berserk if he found out he had done anything to me. Orochimaru isn't stupid, after all. He would never unnecessarily antagonize my father."
Minato nodded understandingly, crossing his arms. "That's a good point. Assuming you manage to convince Orochimaru to be your sensei, your father would never approve," Minato observed.
Kakashi rested his chin on his knees, pondering. He had to admit Minato was right; he hadn't really thought about that until now. "You're right, I'd have to somehow convince him," Kakashi confirmed thoughtfully. Then he chuckled briefly and added, "That'll be even harder than convincing Orochimaru to be my sensei."
Minato smiled faintly, tilting his head slightly to the side. "What's your plan now? How do you want to approach this?"
"I think I'll pay Orochimaru a visit tomorrow and spend a day with him," Kakashi said.
Minato turned his head to Kakashi. "Should I come with you?" he asked, concerned.
Kakashi smiled reassuringly at him and shook his head. "That's not necessary, don't worry. I'll take care of myself, and like I said, Orochimaru wouldn't harm me. In essence, he's not such a bad person."
Minato's gaze wandered back to the ceiling. "Nevertheless, I'll give you a seal. If anything happens, you can call me anytime."
With an affirmative nod, Kakashi agreed. He knew it would reassure Minato, so he did him the favor. Then he let his gaze wander out the window. "When I come home tomorrow, it's time for us to talk," Kakashi began, pausing briefly to take a deep breath. "You probably have some questions."
"Why tomorrow specifically?" Minato asked, still not looking at Kakashi.
Kakashi tightened his grip around his legs. "Because I owe it to you. I would do it today, but I'm too tired. Tomorrow I'll answer your questions," he promised sincerely. Kakashi had made up his mind to talk to his sensei about it, and he felt like he needed to do it soon.
"Alright," Minato confirmed, looking at Kakashi. "But off to bed with you now!" Teasingly, Minato patted Kakashi's shoulder and then got up.
Kakashi rolled his eyes and shifted from his position. Slowly, he slid off the couch and gave Minato an annoyed look. "You don't have to send me to bed, I'm old enough," he said with a hint of irony in his voice.
Minato grinned cheekily at Kakashi. "Should I tell you a bedtime story?"
Kakashi theatrically groaned and got moving. "Please don't! Just leave me alone," he pleaded playfully and darted toward the hallway.
Minato laughed behind him, and before Kakashi slipped out of the room, he turned to Minato once more. "Sleep well, and see you tomorrow." He pulled down his mask and smiled gently at him.
Minato's expression softened as well. "Sleep well, Kashi. See you tomorrow." With that, Kakashi turned around and disappeared from the room, confident that tomorrow would be a good day.