The First Meeting
Kakashi woke up with beads of sweat on his forehead, his breathing heavy. Struggling against the images of his nightmare flashing before his eyes, he felt himself losing control. Hastily pushing the blanket aside, he sprung out of bed. Desperately trying to organize his scattered thoughts and calm himself down, adrenaline surged through his veins, racing his heart.
After a few minutes, he felt a semblance of inner peace returning and the nightmare subsiding. Exhausted, he sank back onto his bed and rubbed his face wearily. Over the past weeks, his nightmares had intensified. Kakashi knew the reason all too well — he was tense. Two weeks ago, Minato had informed him that Rin and Obito would soon join their team. He had prepared for this moment, but as the day approached, his nerves grew.
Kakashi dreaded meeting Rin. Since his return to the past, he hadn't seen her yet and was secretly glad about it. If possible, he would avoid facing her altogether. It was difficult for him to look into her cheerful eyes, burdened as he was by guilt. His guilt had only intensified since returning to this time, making it hard for him to even think about her. He didn't know how to behave around her.
He glanced at his hand, clenched into a fist to momentarily dispel his thoughts. Yet, he knew he had to pull himself together — the first meeting was only hours away. Deciding to get up since sleep was out of the question now, he quietly slipped out of his room, crossed the hallway, and reached the living room. There, he turned on a small floor lamp and sank into a chair. Kakashi pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. His head rested on his knees as he stared thoughtfully out of the window.
In recent weeks, Kakashi had consciously held back to avoid repeating the same mistakes as with Kushina. Instead, he focused intensely on his training. His father had kept his promise and spoke with Orochimaru — the Sannin was willing to teach Kakashi again. Sakumo remained reserved but kept a watchful eye on him, insisting on the rules they had set. Yet Kakashi felt his father's mixed feelings about his training with Orochimaru.
Orochimaru remained an enigmatic figure. Kakashi tried to engage him in conversation, but the Sannin showed little interest, focusing solely on Kakashi's training and progress. Despite frequently being away on missions, Orochimaru made time for Kakashi's education whenever possible, leaving him extensive reading material in his absence, mostly about poisons — knowledge that could never hurt.
Otherwise, Orochimaru proved to be a relentless sensei; their training sessions were intense and grueling. He pushed Kakashi to exhaustion, which only fueled his determination. Under such rigorous guidance, Kakashi's body adapted to the training, greatly improving his endurance. For Kakashi, having such a demanding and competent trainer as the Sannin by his side was a source of joy.
During training with Minato, Kakashi's main goal was to enhance and expand his chakra reserves. To his relief, his chakra network actually began to grow faster, though it still resembled that of a five-year-old. Minato speculated it might be due to his time travel, but Kakashi didn't really care. The main thing was that he was getting stronger quickly, and he had made significant progress in recent weeks. That was crucial to him; he needed to become strong enough to protect everyone.
Meanwhile, Kakashi had celebrated his birthday and was now six — no, technically 36 years old. Kakashi usually didn't place much importance on this day, as his father had been on a mission. Still, Minato and Kushina insisted on taking him out for a meal, and Kakashi eventually agreed. He resolved to cherish and fully enjoy their time together.
After their conversation, Kushina had retreated to process the information Minato had told Kakashi. She needed time for it, but she kept her promise and remained silent. Kakashi hadn't expected anything else from her. To his relief, she hadn't yet asked for more future information, but he knew it was only a matter of time. Already, he feared seeing her disappointed face when she learned how much he had failed.
A few weeks ago, his father revealed that he was to become the next Hokage, and Kakashi felt relieved that Sakumo accepted the offer. It was the right decision; Sakumo had the potential to be a great Hokage and bring about changes in the village. Yet, tension also rose regarding how Danzo would react. Kakashi knew he had to be even more vigilant.
Kakashi was pulled from his thoughts when the ceiling light was turned on and his father appeared in the doorway. With a concerned expression, Sakumo stepped closer. "Is everything okay with you?" he asked, placing a hand on Kakashi's forehead. "You look so pale."
Carefully, Kakashi pushed his father's hand away. "I'm fine," he muttered, turning slightly. He wasn't in the mood for a conversation with his father right now.
Sakumo frowned and crouched beside Kakashi. Gently nudging him, he spoke calmly, "Hey, what's going on?" His voice was full of worry and understanding.
Kakashi cautiously met Sakumo's gaze, which was filled with soothing concern. "I can't sleep," he explained softly, turning his eyes away again.
Sakumo remained silent for a moment, then gently rubbed Kakashi's upper arm. "Did you have a bad dream?" Kakashi merely shrugged and continued to stare out the window, knowing he couldn't hide anything from his father. "Do you want to talk about it?" Sakumo asked gently.
"There's nothing to talk about," Kakashi whispered, tightening his arms around his legs. He hoped his father would understand he didn't want to discuss it. But Kakashi knew Sakumo wouldn't just leave him sitting here in the middle of the night.
Sakumo hummed thoughtfully and withdrew his hand. "It seems to be bothering you a lot," he noted, his concerned gaze still on Kakashi.
Kakashi took a deep breath before speaking. "I dreamed about my team," he finally said. He didn't need to tell his father the whole truth—that he had killed Rin. "I let them all down, and they died because of me. In the end, I was all alone."
Sakumo was silent for a moment before gently patting Kakashi's upper arm. "You aren't solely responsible for your team," he said softly. "Everyone is responsible for each other. In a team, you look out for one another. You don't have to carry this burden alone. Share the responsibility—that's what your team is there for.”
Would Sakumo still think this way if he knew how miserably Kakashi had failed on his first mission as team leader? If he knew that Kakashi had killed Rin with his Chidori? Or that he hadn’t been there as an ANBU guard when Minato and Kushina needed him most? Kakashi was certain his father would be deeply disappointed in him.
"Why are you awake anyway?" Kakashi asked, changing the subject.
Sakumo sighed softly and withdrew his hand, accepting that Kakashi wanted to end the topic. "Believe it or not, for the same reason as you. I had a bad dream," he admitted, smiling gently at his son.
Surprised, Kakashi raised his eyebrows and looked at Sakumo. It was unusual to hear his father admit something like that. As a child, Sakumo had always shown him his strong side. It wasn't until after the failed mission, when his father could no longer maintain the facade, that Kakashi had seen his vulnerable side.
"You had a nightmare?" Kakashi asked cautiously, turning more towards him. "What did you dream about?"
Sakumo slowly stood up from his crouch and stepped to the window, gazing into the distance. "I'm not sure if I should really tell you, but I want to show you that it's perfectly normal to talk about it," he began, then looked back at Kakashi. "I dreamed about you. In my dream, I couldn't protect you, and you died." His voice was filled with deep pain. "That’s why I got up—I wanted to check on you, to make sure you were okay." Sakumo smiled faintly, but his eyes were filled with deep concern.
Kakashi stared at his father silently for a moment before looking away. "I'm sorry," he murmured. He knew that his father's dreams were only because of his own guilt and the poisoning.
With a gentle smile, Sakumo shook his head. "You don’t need to apologize," he said soothingly. "How about I make us some tea? It always helps me fall asleep, and it’s still too early to stay up." He extended his hand to Kakashi and patiently waited for his response.
Kakashi hesitated for a moment before taking his father’s hand. Together, they made their way to the kitchen.
***********
Kakashi sat on a branch, leaning his head against the tree trunk. His gaze was fixed on the empty training ground, waiting for the others to arrive. He had come an hour early to enjoy a moment of peace.
Last night, while having tea with his father, he had actually fallen asleep again. Sakumo had talked to him about trivial things for so long that Kakashi must have nodded off at the kitchen table. In the morning, he woke up in his father's bed. Apparently, Sakumo had taken him to his own room, probably so they both could sleep better. And it seemed to have helped. Kakashi felt embarrassed that he had fallen asleep like that and ended up in his father's bed. But if it helped his father, he would accept it.
It reminded him of the time when he was smaller, about three or four years old. Even then, he often had nightmares, mostly about his father not coming home. When he woke up in the middle of the night, he would usually run to his father's room to make sure he was there. In those days, he often slept in his father's bed, seeking comfort in his presence.
A deep sigh escaped his lips as he rubbed his tired face. The tension weighed on him like a heavy blanket, and the worry about facing his team again gnawed at him. But now he had to pull himself together. Years of experience in the ANBU would help him keep his emotions in check. He had more than enough time to prepare for this.
Kakashi straightened up as he saw Minato entering the training ground. It didn't take long for his sensei to notice him and appear next to him on the branch with a friendly smile. Carefully, Minato settled beside Kakashi and looked into the distance. "Good morning, Kakashi!" he greeted warmly.
"Good morning, Sensei," Kakashi replied, leaning his head back against the tree trunk. "What brings you here so early? Our meeting doesn't start for a while."
Minato hummed thoughtfully, letting his gaze wander over the training ground. "Well, you're already here," he finally said, turning to Kakashi and nudging him playfully with his shoulder. "It seemed like you were trying to avoid me the past few days, so I thought I'd try my luck and meet you here earlier."
Kakashi shrugged. "It wasn't my fault we didn't see each other the past few days," he explained. "I was training with Orochimaru, and then my father came home. He wanted to spend the last two days with me and forced me to take a training break." Kakashi didn't have to admit that he was relieved to avoid Minato the past few days.
After Minato had told him that Rin and Obito would be joining their team, Kakashi feared that his sensei would soon ask what had happened to them. It was hard enough to talk about Kushina and Naruto. Kakashi tried to delay that conversation as long as possible, even though he knew it wasn't the best solution.
"Are you nervous about Rin and Obito?" Minato asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You barely said anything about it, only mentioned that they joined our team in your timeline too.”
Kakashi sighed deeply. "What do you want to know?" he asked curtly, avoiding looking at the blonde.
Minato was silent for a moment before looking directly at Kakashi. "What happened to them? Are they still alive?" he finally asked.
"No, they both died," Kakashi replied directly, meeting Minato's gaze seriously.
Minato took a moment to compose himself before responding. "I see," he murmured quietly, briefly averting his gaze. Then he looked back at Kakashi and asked, "What happened?"
Kakashi bit his lower lip and looked up at the sky as a gentle breeze rustled his hair. "I failed both of them and couldn't protect them," he began softly. "Obito's story is too complex to tell right now. Rin died by my hand because I couldn't protect her."
"Maybe we should discuss this in a quieter moment," Minato gently suggested, placing a reassuring hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "Remember, we can do better this time."
Kakashi turned to Minato and looked at him for a moment. His sensei gave him an encouraging smile and squeezed his shoulder lightly. For a moment, Kakashi closed his eyes and then nodded resolutely. "Of course we'll do better. I'll think about how to prepare them for what's to come," he said, opening his eyes again.
Minato removed his hand from Kakashi's shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "Knowing you, you've already got something in mind," he remarked with a mischievous smile.
Kakashi chuckled softly and scratched his head thoughtfully. "You got me. I've been thinking about it for the past few weeks," he admitted, crossing his arms and leaning back slightly. "I'm least worried about Obito. He has the potential to become a strong shinobi. As long as he sees me as his rival, he'll strive to keep up with me. We'll use that. Let me handle Obito."
"You want to train Obito? Wouldn't that be too obvious? Remember, you're still a Genin yourself," Minato said, frowning thoughtfully.
Kakashi shook his head slightly. "I'll do it subtly. During training, make sure that Obito and I practice together. I'll focus on him while you take care of Rin," he suggested, his voice determined.
Minato furrowed his brows in confusion. "Rin aspires to become a medical ninja. But how can I help her with that? I can certainly assist her with chakra control, but I'm not particularly skilled in medical ninjutsu.”
"I understand that, but she shouldn't only focus on her medical training. She needs to learn how to fight and defend herself. That's where I need your help. Teach her how to fight. Also, I was considering if it might be useful to teach her the Hiraishin," Kakashi explained, looking at Minato expectantly.
Minato closed his eyes for a moment, deep in thought, before looking back at Kakashi. "It makes sense for her to be able to defend herself. There might be situations where she can't count on immediate help. As a medical ninja, she's already a prime target for our enemies," he said thoughtfully. He paused for a moment, his gaze wandering before adding, "So you want me to teach her the Hiraishin?"
Kakashi nodded. "It could be very helpful. She would be able to teleport out of dangerous situations at any time, and not just that, she could also bring the wounded to safety from the battlefield," he emphasized. "You don't have to teach her right away. First, she should learn the basics of combat and master some ninjutsu. After that, you could teach her the Hiraishin."
In the past weeks, Kakashi had thought intensely about how he could prepare his team for what was to come. Time was of the essence, as they would soon be heading into war, sooner than Kakashi would have liked. It was crucial that not only he was well-prepared, but also that Rin and Obito could defend themselves.
"To be honest, I've been thinking about whether you could teach me the Hiraishin as well. I need to become stronger to protect everyone," Kakashi confessed, clenching his hands into determined fists.
Minato hummed beside him, crossing his arms. "Don't you think that's too much? You're training with Orochimaru, then with our team. Knowing you, you'll probably also train alone and occasionally with your father. On your birthday, you talked with Kushina about fuinjutsu and mentioned you were never really good at it. You're probably planning to get lessons from her as well. Kakashi, you're taking on too much!"
"The war has begun, and it won't be long before we're sent out as well. If everything goes as it did last time, the Chunin Exams will be moved up and will take place soon. By then, I need to be prepared. I need to pass that exam and become a Chunin so I can be sent to the front," Kakashi explained resolutely. "I can't just stay in the village twiddling my thumbs. I need to help the troops on the front lines!"
Kakashi couldn't bear the thought of all the other shinobi from Konoha fighting on the front lines and risking their lives while he was stuck doing Genin missions in the village. He had the skills to fight on the front lines, and he wanted to prove it. Even though he wasn't the Hokage right now, he cared deeply about the village and its people. He wanted to protect not only his loved ones from their fates but also as many people from Konoha as possible.
Minato stared at him with wide eyes, momentarily speechless, before finding his words again. "You're six! I know you're actually 36, but you can't be serious!? It's way too dangerous for a child to be on the front lines. I won't allow it!"
Kakashi smiled slightly under his mask, his gaze drifting thoughtfully into the distance. "I'm used to fighting on the front lines. This isn't my first war, and it's not the first time I've become a Chunin at six," he said calmly. "You must have realized by now that I won't be stopped. I'll do whatever it takes to protect our village and its people."
"Kakashi," Minato murmured desperately. He took a deep breath, quickly pulled Kakashi onto his lap, and hugged him tightly. Kakashi squeaked in surprise and tried to free himself from Minato's grip, but the blonde held him firmly.
"I won't just stand by and watch you carry all the burden alone. I'll explain it to you as many times as it takes for you to understand," Minato continued. "Nevertheless, I'm willing to accept your training plan. You'll take care of Obito while I focus on Rin. And if necessary, I'll teach you the Hiraishin. But I won't support you in carrying all the responsibility alone. We're a team, and we work together. I won't let you down!”
Kakashi tensed up and bit his lower lip before slightly relaxing. "I know, Sensei. But I won't let you or the others down either," he whispered quietly.
Minato loosened his grip and looked into the distance. "Someone's coming," he noted, then turned back to Kakashi. "Don't think this conversation is over." He gently pushed Kakashi off his lap, making him slide down next to Minato on the branch. Before Kakashi could respond, Minato winked at him and gracefully jumped down from the tree.
Kakashi rubbed his face and rolled his eyes. His Sensei would never stop wanting to protect him, but now it was the other way around: Kakashi wanted to protect him. When he saw who had entered the training ground—Rin—he pushed those thoughts aside.
A lump formed in his throat as he saw the warm smile on her lips. Rin approached Minato and greeted him kindly, "Good morning. I hope it's not a problem that I'm a bit early."
Minato returned her smile and shook his head slightly. "No, not at all. Kakashi and I are already here," he explained, pointing up at Kakashi in the tree. Rin beamed at him and waved. Kakashi smiled weakly under his mask and waved back. Rin turned her attention back to the blonde as he continued speaking. "So, you're Rin. It's nice to meet you. I'm your Jonin-Sensei, Minato Namikaze. Now we just have to wait for Obito."
Kakashi swallowed his emotions, gently jumped down from the tree, and landed next to Minato. "That might take a while. Obito tends to lose his way sometimes," he remarked, then casually sat down on the ground.
Rin giggled softly. "Don't be too hard on him, he'll hurry," she defended the Uchiha.
Kakashi waved dismissively without saying anything, watching the passing clouds. The sound of her laughter tightened the knot in his throat. Rin was the kindest person he knew. She didn't deserve to go to war. She didn't deserve to die so young.
Kakashi flinched slightly and looked away when Rin sat down next to him. Minato had moved a bit away and was leaning casually against a tree. Quickly, Kakashi focused his attention back on Rin, who was smiling at him kindly. "We haven't seen each other in a long time. How have you been?"
"I'm fine," he replied, gazing back up at the sky. He was silent for a moment before cautiously adding, "And how are you?"
Rin looked at Kakashi in surprise, speechless. Obviously, she hadn't expected a reciprocal question from him, something he normally never would have asked. After a brief moment, she found her words again and replied, "Thank you, I'm doing well too." Then she fell silent again, unsure of what to say next, before turning back to him. "You've been training with Minato-Sensei for a while. What's he like?"
Kakashi glanced briefly at Rin before looking back at the sky. It felt surprisingly good to have a normal conversation with her. "Don't worry," he reassured her, sensing her uncertainty. "Minato-Sensei is really kind and fair. You'll enjoy working with him."
A slight blush rose to Rin's cheeks as she avoided his gaze. "That's reassuring," she murmured, then drifted into her thoughts.
Kakashi closed his eyes and enjoyed the peace, trying hard to bury his feelings deep down. Surprisingly, the atmosphere was relaxed. When their team first came together, Kakashi hadn't noticed how nervous Rin was. Now, he could clearly sense her tension. It was no wonder—back then, Kakashi hadn't cared about his teammates, but now he was much more attentive to his surroundings.
It took almost another hour before Kakashi heard hurried footsteps. He opened his eyes and stood up, stretched briefly, then turned to Rin, extending his hand. She looked at him in surprise, hesitated for a moment, then took his hand and let him help her up. "Thanks," she said, slightly embarrassed.
"You're welcome," Kakashi replied, then turned to Minato, who was approaching them. The next moment, Obito dashed onto the training ground, coming to a sliding stop in front of them, gasping for breath.
After a brief moment, Obito began to speak. "Sorry I'm late, but there was an old lady who needed my help."
Kakashi crossed his arms and decided to tease Obito a little. He had to be careful not to be too nice to him. "You seem to meet a lot of elderly people who need your help. Maybe you should focus on important things and finally be on time."
Obito shot him an angry look. "Shut up! You have no right to tell me what to do; after all, you're much younger than I am!"
Before anyone could respond, Minato stepped forward and raised his hands reassuringly. "It's not a big deal," he said calmly and smiled at Obito as he lowered his arms. "I'm glad you're here, Obito. I'm Minato Namikaze, and from today on, I'm your Jonin-Sensei." Then he addressed the other two as well. "I'm looking forward to teaching you as a team and am excited about our time together."
Rin and Obito nodded and smiled proudly at Minato. Then Obito spoke up. "I won't disappoint you, Sensei. After all, I'm an Uchiha, and soon I'll awaken my Sharingan. Then no one will be able to stop me. One day, I'll become Hokage!" he declared proudly, puffing out his chest.
Minato chuckled softly and gave Obito a warm smile. "I'm glad we share the same dream, Obito. But for now, let's start with our training."
With these words, he pulled out two bells from his pocket and smiled at the three. Kakashi knew exactly what was coming, and this time, they would get the bells faster. With Rin and Obito's help, he would make his Sensei sweat. A mischievous smile played on Kakashi's lips as he met Minato's gaze, and they exchanged challenging looks. The first training session promised to be interesting.