New Paths

Kushina stared at them, dumbfounded. Minato and Kakashi exchanged quick, worried glances. Kakashi wanted to kick himself – how had he failed to notice her chakra and then stormed into the apartment so recklessly to spill everything? In a panic, he tried to find a way out. Kushina must not find out that he came from the future. The thought of telling her about her fate was unbearable for Kakashi.

Before Kakashi could think further, Kushina interrupted him. She crossed her arms and fixed him with an angry look. "I want to know immediately what you meant by poisoning yourself! If I don’t get a plausible explanation soon, I’ll fetch Sakumo," she warned sharply.

"No!" Kakashi exclaimed, taking a step towards her. "You can’t tell my father!"

Kushina raised an eyebrow and fixed him with a penetrating stare. "Then explain what’s going on," she demanded slowly, her voice brimming with determination.

Kakashi sighed and stared at the floor in front of him. He paused briefly, biting his lip as his thoughts raced to find a plausible excuse. Maybe he could claim she misunderstood him. But what exactly should she have misunderstood? If he didn’t find the right words now, there was a risk that Kushina would tell Sakumo everything. His hands clenched into fists, and for the first time, Kakashi felt the full weight of the situation on his shoulders. Everything seemed to be falling apart.

A gentle hand rested reassuringly on Kakashi’s shoulder. He looked up at Minato, who gave him an encouraging smile before turning his gaze to Kushina. "Maybe we should go to the living room first," he suggested calmly. "We can talk there in peace." Minato’s voice was calm, trying to defuse the tense situation.

A brief, grateful smile flitted across Kakashi’s lips. He was glad Minato was keeping his composure. Kakashi’s eyes shifted to Kushina, who remained motionless. After a few moments, she finally lowered her arms and nodded. "Alright," she said, turning and heading to the living room.

Minato was about to follow her when Kakashi grabbed his wrist. The blonde immediately turned his questioning gaze to Kakashi. "She mustn’t know," Kakashi whispered urgently. "I don’t want to tell her what happens in the future."

A hint of pity crossed Minato’s face for a moment. "Don’t worry, we’ll handle this together. You’re not alone! I’m by your side," he promised Kakashi with a sincere smile.

Kakashi avoided Minato’s gaze, not wanting to burden him too much. But at this moment, it was probably best to accept his help. Minato simply understood Kushina best and knew how to handle her. "Thank you, Minato-sensei," Kakashi whispered, releasing Minato.

Minato ruffled Kakashi’s hair with a smile. "You’re welcome!" Then he walked ahead, and Kakashi followed him into the living room.

In the living room, Kushina sat on the couch with her legs crossed and arms folded across her chest. When Minato and Kakashi entered, she fixed them with an angry glare. Kakashi entered the room cautiously, keeping his eyes on Kushina, who glared back at him. Minato moved between them and guided Kakashi toward a chair opposite Kushina. The blonde then sat down next to his girlfriend at the other end of the couch.

Kakashi sank into the chair, glancing tensely between Kushina and Minato. An awkward silence filled the room as Kakashi felt his mouth go dry. He nervously rubbed his sweaty hands on his pants. Kushina raised an eyebrow. "I’m listening. You said you were going to explain what all this means."

Minato glanced at Kakashi, who nodded in agreement before beginning. The blonde cleared his throat once before speaking. "Well, it’s incredible and admittedly hard to believe, but Kakashi is not the Kakashi you know."

Kushina straightened up in surprise and looked at Kakashi, then back at Minato. "What do you mean? Minato, what are you trying to tell me?"

Kakashi sighed quietly. Minato had started poorly, but he couldn't blame him; how could one explain coming from the future? It was time to stop hiding behind Minato and tell Kushina the truth. After all, he was the oldest among them.

Just as Minato was about to speak, Kakashi cut him off. "What Minato-sensei is trying to explain is that I come from the future. I woke up here a few weeks ago," he stated directly, maintaining steady eye contact with Kushina.

Kakashi could see the color drain from Kushina’s face as she stared at him speechlessly. After a moment, she let out a short laugh before glaring at Kakashi again. "You must be joking! From the future?" She then turned to Minato. "And you’re supporting him in this lie?"

Minato nodded firmly. "It’s not a lie; Kakashi is telling the truth. He was able to prove it to me, and I noticed it in his behavior over the past few weeks. He’s no longer the five-year-old boy I took on as a Genin."

"His behavior has always been strange. If you go by that, he could have been a time traveler all along," Kushina retorted sarcastically, leaning back.

Kakashi couldn't blame Kushina for her remarks; she was right. He had always felt different. As a child, he hadn’t realized how much he differed from others. His behavior seemed normal to him back then. He was reserved and withdrawn early on, avoiding large crowds. Unlike other children, he was serious and mature for his age. The death of his father had only made things worse. From then on, Kakashi focused solely on the rules and the drive to become a good Shinobi.

Kakashi was pulled from his thoughts as Minato began to speak. "It’s different; I noticed it during training. His progress has been tremendous. His entire demeanor and thinking during our missions and battles are simply too tactical and foresighted for a five-year-old – even for Kakashi," he explained firmly. He paused for a moment before adding softly, "Please, you have to trust me.”

Kushina looked at Minato for a moment before turning back to Kakashi, who was gazing at her sincerely. "Please, Kushina, it’s the truth," Kakashi added.

Kushina lowered her head, seeming to process everything for a moment before she began to speak. "So, you’re essentially much older but suddenly woke up in your five-year-old self. Did I understand that correctly?" She looked up at Kakashi, who nodded in response. "If that’s true, what do you intend to do? Have you found a way to return?”

Kakashi bit his lip and avoided her gaze. He had long accepted that he wouldn’t be returning and had instead focused on saving everyone. He had never really thought about how to go back or how he had even arrived here. His decision was firm: he would save everyone. "I’m not going to go back," Kakashi explained calmly and firmly.

"You want to stay here?" Kushina asked, slightly horrified, leaning forward on the sofa. "You can’t be serious! You can’t just stay here and live your life all over again."

Kakashi avoided her gaze. He hadn’t expected Kushina to react this way. He had thought she would want to know everything about the future, but apparently, she had concerns. "Why shouldn’t it work? What’s wrong with it?" Kakashi asked, trying to stay calm. "I have the chance to save everyone and make things better.”

Kushina rubbed her forehead with her hand and threw a desperate glance at Minato, who had stayed out of it so far. "This can’t be true. Please tell me you’re joking."

Minato smiled a bit awkwardly and shrugged. "I’m sorry, but it’s the truth," he said seriously and with a firm gaze.

With a sigh, Kushina fell back onto the sofa and stared silently at the ceiling. After a moment, she looked back at Kakashi. "How old are you?" she asked in a calm voice that made Kakashi nervous.

"Thirty-five," Kakashi replied shortly and swallowed hard.

Kushina hummed thoughtfully and looked out the window. "So, much older than Minato and me," she murmured before directing her gaze back to Kakashi. "Shouldn’t you then know how dangerous it is to tamper with time? Even if you think you’re saving someone, you can’t foresee the consequences."

Kakashi looked at her for a moment before he began to speak. "Should I just stand by and watch everything fall apart again?" he asked quietly, striving to keep his voice steady. The mere thought of losing everyone important to him again left a painful sting in his heart. Enduring his father’s loss once more was unimaginable to him.

"You should try to find a way back to your time," Kushina suggested.

Kakashi let out a breath and nervously started playing with his fingers. "I don't even know how I got here. Finding a way back is nearly impossible," he said with a heavy tone.

"Have you even tried?" countered Kushina sharply.

Kakashi clenched his fists and stared down at them. He didn't understand why Kushina was so opposed to his efforts to help everyone. She had no idea what the future held and what improvements could be made. Of course, he knew how dangerous it could be to change time—he had experienced it firsthand. Saving his father had resulted in other shinobi dying on the mission. Anger slowly boiled within him.

Minato placed a hand on Kushina's shoulder, sensing Kakashi's internal struggle. "Please, give him some time," he gently pleaded.

Kushina snorted with amusement and crossed her arms. "He's Thirty-five, he should be able to handle this. You act like messing with time is normal, without even considering the consequences it could have."

"That's not true!" shouted Kakashi, glaring at her fiercely. "I won't just stand by and watch everyone die again until no one is left! I can't go through that again!" he burst out, desperately trying to keep his breathing steady.

There was a moment of silence. Sympathy softened Kushina's expression. "I can't imagine what you've been through, but it seems like you've endured a lot," she said softly, closing her eyes.

Kakashi remained silent, staring at his hands. What could he say? Kushina was right; he had endured a lot in his life. Yet, even though it was in the past, old wounds reopened in this time. "I just want to do better this time," he muttered eventually.

Kushina opened her eyes again and looked at Kakashi calmly. The tension in the room noticeably eased. "Why did you poison yourself?" she asked, moving away from the previous topic.

Kakashi lifted his gaze and looked directly at her. "The mission that my father was supposed to undertake at this time ruined his life in my past," he explained calmly. "He prioritized his teammates over the mission, and the village held him responsible for it. They condemned him and made it clear to him. Until he couldn’t bear it anymore and took his own life. To prevent that from happening again, I poisoned myself so that my father would reject the mission and stay here."

Kushina raised an eyebrow and looked at him skeptically. "Let me get this straight: To save your father, you almost killed yourself?" she asked incredulously.

Kakashi pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. "That wasn't my intention," he muttered. "I misjudged the dosage—or rather, my body did.”

Kushina hummed thoughtfully and crossed her arms. "When the idea occurred to you, did you ever think it wasn't a good one? I mean, there surely could have been other ways to save your father."

"I didn't have much time and had to decide quickly," Kakashi explained, before adding quietly, "Besides, it wouldn't have been a big loss if I had died. Many things could have been prevented that way."

Minato flinched and was about to say something when Kushina cut in. "Stop saying things like that! You mean a lot to many people!" she began forcefully, sitting up straight. "Have you ever thought about how your father felt? He sat by your bedside day and night until he was exhausted. Don't think you would have saved him by dying. Stop forcing your will through stubbornness. If you really want to change something, figure out how to do it without sacrificing yourself. Because neither I nor Minato will allow that!"

A loving smile spread across Minato's face as Kakashi stared at her in silence for a moment. "Does that mean you want to help me?" Kakashi asked cautiously.

Kushina leaned back on the sofa and raised an eyebrow. "Apparently, you both need someone to look after you."

Minato protested lightly, "I've had everything under control so far."

Kushina gave him a skeptical look. "Should I really respond to that?" She winked at the blonde and then turned back to Kakashi. "I still have doubts about playing with time, but I won't stand in your way. Don't get me wrong, what you're planning is good, but it's also risky because you don't know the consequences of your actions. Just be careful." Her voice softened as she added, "Plus, you mean a lot to me. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Kakashi flinched and looked at Kushina with wide eyes. A warm feeling spread in his chest, but he quickly looked away. "Thank you, Kushina," he murmured softly.

"Of course, Kashi! Even though I still have some doubts about this crazy story," admitted Kushina. Kakashi chuckled softly, but Kushina's expression turned serious again. "Have you ever thought about telling your father everything?" she asked.

Kakashi shook his head. "I have to be careful not to let too many people know. Besides, I don't want to burden my father any further."

"It would be too dangerous if this information fell into the wrong hands. They could try to exploit knowledge of the future," Minato added thoughtfully.

Kushina crossed her arms and looked out the window. "It makes sense to be cautious, of course, but don't you think your father just wants your safety too? He surely wouldn't betray you or put you in danger." She turned her gaze back to Kakashi. "It must be a heavy responsibility you carry. You can't handle that alone.”

"I don't want to involve anyone else in this responsibility. Minato-sensei stands by me if necessary, but this is my affair," Kakashi stated firmly. He didn't want to put anyone in danger. As long as possible, Kakashi intended to keep everyone out of this. He was willing to make sacrifices for a better future.

Kushina sighed and was about to respond when there was a knock at the front door. All three turned towards the hallway, then Kakashi looked back at Kushina. "Will you keep it to yourself?"

"I won't tell anyone, I promise. But please give me some time to think this through," Kushina requested with a sincere smile. Kakashi returned the smile and nodded gratefully, while Minato stood up and walked towards the door.

"Hey Sakumo! What can I do for you?" Minato greeted the elder Hatake.

Kakashi jumped up from the chair and hurried to the hallway as his father began to speak. "I wanted to know if Kakashi is with you. I'm starting to worry. We..."

Sakumo paused as Kakashi entered the hallway and approached the two of them. He stood beside Minato and looked up at his father. Kakashi knew he needed to talk to him and apologize. "I'm sorry, Dad! I just needed a moment alone. And don't give Minato any trouble, he didn't know I slipped away."

"It's okay, I'm just glad you're okay," Sakumo said with a shake of his head. He paused briefly, took a deep breath, before continuing, "Would you please come with me? I want to talk to you." Kakashi heard a slight tremor in his father's voice, indicating he felt guilty even though he wasn't the one who had made a mistake. Kakashi's stomach clenched even tighter.

"I was just about to head over to you anyway," Kakashi lied, though he was indeed ready to talk to his father. Minato would take care of Kushina, and he was relieved to end the conversation for now. Kushina didn't mince words, and Kakashi feared what she would say if she found out how much he had failed.

Kakashi turned to Minato, who smiled reassuringly at him. "It's okay, we'll see each other tomorrow for training," he encouraged.

Kakashi nodded in agreement and began putting on his sandals. Once he was ready, he stood next to his father and turned back to Minato and Kushina, who were smiling at him from the living room door. Kakashi waved to them, his gaze lingering on Kushina. She responded with a wave and a wink.

"Thank you for looking after him. Until next time!" Sakumo bid farewell warmly. He and Kakashi set off together. Kakashi could feel his father's tension palpably and hoped that a conversation between them could help his father.

**********

Quickly, Kakashi noticed they weren't heading towards their house. Without questioning, he followed his father. Sakumo's expression was tense, his thoughts seemed deeply absorbed. Kakashi began to worry. Clearly, whatever had transpired between them weighed heavily on his father's mind.

As they turned into the next street, Kakashi immediately recognized their destination, further confusing him. Why did his father choose this place to talk to him? The street led to the cemetery. Kakashi had no particular aversion to the place; he often spent time there, sometimes at the memorial stone. Of course, he could do without having to visit anyone here. Yet the silence was comforting, offering a moment of reflection.

Arriving at the cemetery, they passed through the gate and walked along rows of graves until they stood before Kakashi's mother's grave. Silently, they gazed at it for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Then Sakumo crouched down, took incense sticks from his pocket, and lit them. Kakashi silently watched his father. Sakumo paused for a moment as the smoke slowly rose.

After a moment of silence, Sakumo sighed heavily and turned his gaze to Kakashi. "I'm sorry, Kakashi," he said softly. His eyes reflected more pain than Kakashi had anticipated. Confused by his father's unexpected apology, he wasn't sure why Sakumo was apologizing. Doubts circled in his mind because, in his eyes, it was Kakashi who should be apologizing.

He quickly shook his head and began to speak, "You don't need to apologize. It's me who should apologize to you. What I said earlier was unfair. You've always been there for me, wanting only the best. I'm sorry!"

Sakumo looked at Kakashi for a moment before looking back at the grave. "When your mother died, I promised her at her grave that I would take care of you, always be there for you, and protect you," he began softly. "I promised her that you would always be safe and that I would never leave you alone. But I'm afraid I haven't kept that promise. Instead of teaching you to be a child, I showed you how to be a shinobi and made you grow up too soon." His voice was heavy, slightly trembling. Kakashi stood silently, looking at his father, holding back initially. He felt his heart beating faster and his stomach tightening.

"Most of the time I'm on missions and leave you alone. You've been on your own early on and learned to be independent, and I supported you." Sakumo paused for a moment and then continued. "When I almost saw you die, lying in the hospital, I realized how young you actually are and how many mistakes I made. I wanted so much to protect you and keep the child in you, but it's already too late for that."

Kakashi stood in silence, unsure of what to say, his gaze resting on the gravestone. For a moment, he closed his eyes and felt the pain he had caused his father with his decision. Everything in him longed to reveal everything to his father and relieve him of the burden he carried. Sakumo had given everything for him, not only in this time but also in the past. Kakashi held onto many precious memories of his father, overshadowed by the shadow of what had happened. Yet he always cherished the memory of the loving father Sakumo had been for him.

Suddenly, Kakashi felt a hand on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and looked into his father's sadly smiling face. "I can't undo the past. You've become so independent and are finding your own way," Sakumo said gently. "It would be unfair of me to try to hold you back now. However, that doesn't mean I'll stop protecting you. I need to learn to give you more space and trust that you'll make the right decisions."

"Dad... I..." Kakashi paused for a moment, collected his thoughts, and then began again. "You didn't do anything wrong. On the contrary, you're a great father, and I love you. What I said this afternoon just came out because I was disappointed that things didn't work out with Orochimaru.”

Sakumo gently ran his hand through Kakashi's hair and smiled at him sadly. "I'm sorry for interfering. He was right, you've fought remarkably so far and had everything under control. I overreacted. Don't worry about Orochimaru; I'll talk to him tomorrow and apologize. If it's your wish to learn from him, I won't stand in your way any longer. But I expect you to be honest with me if anything seems off."

Kakashi looked at his father in disbelief. Clearly, Orochimaru's words had given him pause. Before he could say anything, Sakumo pulled Kakashi into his arms and held him tightly against his chest. After a moment, Kakashi returned the embrace. "I love you so much, Kakashi," he said softly.

Tears welled up in Kakashi's eyes as he tensed slightly. "I love you too, Dad," he replied softly. After a moment of silence, Kakashi murmured, "Please don't leave me alone." He wasn't sure where this impulse came from, but he felt deep within that he had to speak those words.

Sakumo held Kakashi tighter, kissed him on the forehead, and whispered softly, "I will never leave you alone.”