New Paths

Hiruzen's brow was deeply furrowed as he studied the map before him. His gaze was focused as he carefully reviewed the details. Sakumo kept his eyes fixed on the Hokage and began his report.

“The front is well established, and the camp has been successfully set up. The patrol teams have taken their positions and are spread along the border. The medical unit has everything organized and is ready for any potential injuries among our shinobi. According to the reports, there have already been some skirmishes, but the situation remains calm for now.”

Hiruzen’s face showed a mixture of tension and relief as he processed the latest information. The first challenges had been overcome, but the situation still required careful attention.

With a deep sigh, the Third Hokage sank back into his chair. “We are well-positioned, our troops are excellently organized, and the village's protection is ensured with enough shinobi present.” A satisfied smile spread across Hiruzen's lips. “I want to thank you, Sakumo. Your work in the past few weeks has been immensely helpful. It means a lot to me that I can rely on you.”

Sakumo waved it off casually, a slight smile playing on his lips. “It's part of my duties as your right hand,” he explained, crossing his arms comfortably.

The Hokage remained in thoughtful silence for a moment, his gaze wandering across the desk in front of him. Sakumo noticed the hesitation and raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “What's wrong?” he asked, taking a deep breath.

Hiruzen leaned forward slightly and looked at Sakumo with a serious expression. “There’s another important matter I need to discuss with you,” he began, his voice heavy with significance. “The situation at the front is currently stable, and our troops are well-organized. To ensure it stays that way and we don’t show any weaknesses, I want to ask you to take command on site.”

Sakumo regarded Hiruzen for a moment as he absorbed the significance of the request. He knew that taking command at the front would mean being away from the village for an extended period—probably two to three months. The thought of leaving Kakashi alone during this time troubled him. Just now, with Kakashi freshly integrated into his first team, Sakumo was eager to see how he would manage. The thought of leaving Kakashi at this moment, especially after his nightmare last night, worried him.

Despite his concerns, Sakumo knew he couldn’t abandon the village. After a brief moment of reflection, he nodded resolutely. “Of course, I will take command. However, I request to stay in the village for one more week. It’s important for me to prepare the transition carefully and ensure everything is well-organized before I leave.”

The Third Hokage took his pipe, lit it, and drew on it slowly as he watched Sakumo attentively. “This is about Kakashi, isn’t it?” he asked thoughtfully. “I’ve heard the boy is developing excellently and becoming stronger. He’s joining his new team today, right?”

Sakumo shouldn’t have been surprised that the Hokage knew his concerns. “Kakashi met his new team members today. From now on, he’ll be in a Genin team with Minato. I want to make sure he adjusts well to this new situation. I think he’s worried,” Sakumo said, glancing out the window. “In the past few weeks, Kakashi has made great progress. It’s amazing how quickly he’s improving. He works incredibly hard on himself.”

The Third Hokage leaned back and smiled slightly. “Of course, it’s fine, you can stay in the village for one more week.” His expression grew more serious. “I know I’m asking a lot, for you to be away from the village for so long. But you’re the only one I trust with this task. Someone has to be at the front whom I can rely on. It won’t be like this forever.”

"Don't worry, Lord Hokage, I'll do my best. Thank you." Sakumo paused, lost in thought, before continuing. "There is one more thing. If you don't mind, I would like to ask Shikato Nara to accompany me. I'd like to have an experienced advisor and strategist by my side, in case anything should happen to me."

There was always the risk of unforeseen events at the front. Sakumo was aware that he was not invincible, so it was important to have a capable replacement on site. He knew he could rely on his friend blindly in case he should fall, although the thought displeased him. He had no fear of death; as a shinobi, one had to come to terms with it, given the many dangerous missions. But the thought of leaving Kakashi all alone gave him a painful pang. His child was still too young to grow up without parents. Even though Kakashi was already self-sufficient, he still needed a guiding presence in his life.

Too often had Sakumo let his son down. This time, he would do everything to ensure he didn’t disappoint Kakashi again and would strive to return safely. Hiruzen stood up and walked to the window, his gaze sweeping over the village. “I agree, it's wise to have a reliable partner by your side. I have no objections on my part.” He paused briefly, then turned to Sakumo. “Take good care of yourself, Sakumo. You can trust that I'll keep a close watch on Kakashi.”

Grateful, Sakumo nodded and smiled. “Thank you. If we’ve discussed everything, I’ll be on my way.” Hiruzen nodded in agreement, then turned back to the window, letting his gaze wander over the village.

Sakumo left the office, deep in thought about the many preparations that still needed to be made before he headed to the front next week. As he exited the Hokage Tower and planned his next steps, he spotted a familiar figure strolling through the streets. A warm smile spread across his lips as he saw Kakashi with his new team.

Kakashi was walking with his hands deep in his pockets, listening attentively to the other boy. Sakumo immediately noticed the Uchiha emblem on his clothes and the characteristic dark hair that unmistakably belonged to the Uchiha clan. Next to the Uchiha walked a brown-haired girl who was smiling warmly and also listening to the Uchiha. Sakumo noticed that her gaze kept drifting to Kakashi. The new team members seemed older; Sakumo estimated them to be around nine years old.

Behind the children walked Minato, with a satisfied smile, observing his students. His relaxed expression reassured Sakumo a little. It was clear that the training had been successful; the group moved harmoniously through the village. Although Kakashi didn’t appear particularly enthusiastic and seemed rather bored, Sakumo could still see that his son was relaxed and at ease.

Sakumo decided to approach the group. “Kakashi!” he called out, quickening his pace with a relaxed smile on his lips.

The two older Genin turned curiously and eyed Sakumo. While Kakashi rubbed his face and rolled his eyes, Sakumo remained unfazed and chuckled. He didn’t mind unsettling his son a little. Minato greeted him warmly and smiled as he stopped in front of them. “Good day!”

The Uchiha raised an eyebrow skeptically and scrutinized Sakumo from head to toe. “And who are you?” he asked bluntly. The girl next to him flinched slightly and cast a concerned glance at the Uchiha, as if finding the question uncomfortable.

Kakashi sighed and crossed his arms behind his head, deliberately refraining from commenting. Minato, looking slightly embarrassed, turned to the Uchiha and tried to defuse the situation. “Obito, don’t be so direct,” he said with a chuckle. “There’s a more polite way to ask.” He continued, “This is Kakashi’s father, Sakumo Hatake. Also known as the White Fang of Konoha.”

Obito’s eyes widened, and he stared at Sakumo in astonishment. Sakumo returned the look with a friendly smile and a nod. “Yes, that’s right,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. What are your names?”

Obito ignored Sakumo's question and instead addressed Kakashi directly. "You never told me your father was the White Fang!" he exclaimed in astonishment.

Kakashi shrugged, acting as if it didn’t matter. "You never asked," he replied calmly, ignoring Obito's indignant reaction. Instead, he turned to Sakumo. "What are you doing here, Dad?" His voice carried a hint of irritation.

Sakumo was unfazed by Kakashi's displeasure and continued to smile. "I just came from the Hokage," he explained, "and when I saw you, I thought it would be a good opportunity to meet your new team. Would you introduce them to me?" His voice was gentle but firm.

Kakashi sighed, brought his arms forward, and pointed first at the girl. "This is Rin Nohara," he began.

Rin smiled shyly and bowed slightly. "It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Hatake," she said politely.

Kakashi pointed at Obito, but before he could say anything, the Uchiha cut him off. "I'm Obito Uchiha, and one day I'll become Hokage!" Obito declared loudly, his chest puffed out with pride.

Kakashi rolled his eyes and sighed. "Before that happens, you'll need to get stronger and achieve something," he said dryly.

Sakumo stepped forward to ease the tension. "It's really nice to meet both of you," he said kindly, glancing at the girl next to Obito.

"I’m pleased to meet you too. I've heard so much about you. You’re a great shinobi, and one day I want to be as strong as you," Obito announced with admiration and determination.

Sakumo raised an eyebrow and smiled amusedly. "I hope you've only heard good things," he replied. "But enough about that. How did your first training go?" He looked at Minato, who nodded in confirmation.

Excitedly, Obito began to explain: "We passed Minato-sensei's test and are now officially Genin! As a reward, Sensei is taking us out for lunch."

"I'm glad to hear that," Sakumo responded with a warm smile. His gaze shifted to Kakashi, realizing it was time to stop embarrassing his son. He tousled Kakashi's hair briefly. "I won't keep you any longer; I have a lot of work to do."

Kakashi sighed in annoyance and tried to fix his hair. Sakumo turned to Minato. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

Minato nodded and turned to his three students. "You go on ahead, I’ll join you shortly," he said with a reassuring smile.

The three students nodded, politely bid farewell to Sakumo, and went on their way. Sakumo watched Kakashi for a moment before turning to Minato with a smile. "You've really got yourself a challenge with these three," he remarked with a wink.

Minato crossed his arms and laughed lightly. "You can say that again," he replied, chuckling. After a brief moment of silence, he continued more seriously, "But I suspect that's not the reason you wanted to talk to me, is it?"

"I need to discuss something with you," Sakumo began seriously. "Starting next week, I'll be at the front for a while. It's likely that Kakashi will want to stay with you during my absence. I just want to make sure that won't be too much for you. If necessary, I'll talk to him again." Sakumo looked Minato directly in the eyes to emphasize the importance of his words. He trusted Minato and knew Kakashi would be well taken care of with him, but he wanted to ensure he wasn’t asking too much. After all, while Minato was mature for his age, he was still a teenager.

Sakumo pondered whether this was a reason for the close bond between Kakashi and Minato. The two indeed shared some similarities: both had lost their mothers early and had grown into exceptional talents of their generation. Even at a young age, they showed remarkable maturity and an unending curiosity to learn and develop. Sakumo could almost imagine them as siblings, so much did they resemble each other. For him, it was a great relief to know that Kakashi had someone he trusted and felt comfortable with besides him.

Before Sakumo could dwell further on the similarities between Kakashi and Minato, Minato interrupted him. "Don't worry, Kakashi can stay with me as long as he wants. I always enjoy his company. He's also quite self-sufficient, so you can head to the front with peace of mind." Minato smiled, but then his face turned serious. "But I thought you were the Hokage's right hand? How will you advise him if you're at the front?"

Sakumo crossed his arms and took on a thoughtful expression. "Well, I'll be representing the Hokage at the front and taking command. This means I'll have to stay there for some time until the situation stabilizes. In case of emergencies, my deployment could even be extended. That's why I want to ensure Kakashi is well taken care of during my absence. It reassures me that he's willing to stay with you. He's very independent and values his freedom, but leaving him alone for so long would still make me nervous."

Minato nodded understandingly and gave Sakumo a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about Kakashi. I'll take good care of him. Focus on your duties and make sure you come back safely. You have my word."

Sakumo smiled and placed a comforting hand on Minato's shoulder. "I trust you completely; otherwise, I wouldn't have left Kakashi in your care. Thank you for looking after him. Please don't tell him yet; I want to talk to him myself tonight." He withdrew his hand and added, "I don't want to keep you any longer. Your students are probably waiting for you."

Minato waved dismissively and smiled. "It's all good, Sakumo. I wish you the best of luck and take care of yourself."

Sakumo smiled politely and nodded slightly. "Thank you, Minato. Until next time." With a friendly wave, he bid farewell and went on his way. It reassured him to know that Kakashi was well taken care of during this time. Next on the agenda was a conversation with Shikato.

**********

Sakumo entered the house exhausted. The organization had taken much more time than expected. He quickly removed his sandals and pushed them aside carelessly. As he walked down the hallway towards the kitchen, he called out, "I'm home!"

As expected, Shikato agreed to accompany him to the front and serve as an advisor. This was a great relief for Sakumo, as he now had someone by his side whom he could trust implicitly and expect valuable advice from. Shikato was an exceptional shinobi whose intelligence was second to none. Sakumo knew his friend would be an immense help.

He placed a bag of takeout food on the counter. If he had to cook now, it would be too late since Kakashi needed to go to bed soon. Just as he began to take out the food, he paused. There was no response to his greeting.

He turned towards the hallway and listened for a moment. It was suspiciously quiet. Sakumo concentrated and couldn't sense Kakashi's chakra. A sigh escaped his lips. Where was the boy now?

Leaving everything behind, he started to search the house. "Kakashi!? Are you here?" he called out as he hurried through the rooms.

Sakumo searched each room in turn, but Kakashi was nowhere to be found. A slight worry spread within him, but he tried to push it away. Kakashi was probably with Minato and had just lost track of time. Tired, he stood in the hallway and rubbed his face in frustration. The idea of searching the entire village for his son was very bothersome, but he knew he had no other choice.

Just as Sakumo turned to go to the front door, he noticed that the door to the garden was ajar. He frowned and walked towards it. Carefully, he opened it and looked into the garden. A wave of relief washed over him when he saw Kakashi sitting under a tree, surrounded by his entire pack. The dogs were lying close to him, snuggling against his body. Pakkun was relaxed on Kakashi's lap, visibly enjoying being petted while Kakashi was deeply engrossed in a book.

For a moment, Sakumo watched the scene before him, fascinated by the perfect harmony between Kakashi and his pack. It amazed him how skillfully both the pack and his son suppressed their chakra. During the last training session he had witnessed, they weren't this adept yet. Sakumo wondered why Kakashi was so carefully suppressing his chakra. There was no obvious reason for it.

Sakumo decided to approach Kakashi; it was time to come inside. With a warm smile, he approached and said, "Isn't it a bit chilly to be reading outside?" His comment was meant to catch Kakashi's attention.

At that moment, many curious eyes turned to him, watching intently. Sakumo wished he could quickly take a photo because the scene was simply enchanting. As he came closer, all the dogs except Pakkun jumped up and greeted him warmly, sniffing and nudging him with their noses.

"I'm happy to see you all too," he said with a smile as he petted the dogs' heads. Then his gaze turned to Kakashi, who looked at him curiously. "What are you doing out here? I meant it – it's a bit cold to be sitting on the ground."

Kakashi closed his book and shrugged. "I spread out a blanket, and the pack keeps me warm. I can just concentrate better out here," he explained as he continued to gently pet Pakkun.

Sakumo made his way through the pack, which respectfully gave him space. He gently sat down next to Kakashi, and the pack immediately snuggled close around him again. "Why are you all suppressing your chakra?" he asked, adding, "Since when have you become so skilled at it? I have to give you all great praise – that was really impressive.”

Kakashi glanced at Pakkun, who was relaxed on his lap. "We’ve been training. The war has started, and we need to be prepared. Sometimes I even suppress my chakra while reading to perfect my control. It might be useful to master it well someday. Good chakra control is just essential," he explained calmly.

Sakumo was continually impressed by the maturity Kakashi displayed. If he didn’t know better, one could believe his son was much older than six. Smiling to himself, he said, “You’re right about that. You continue to surprise me, and I’m really proud of the progress you’ve made in the past few weeks. But don’t overdo it and remember to take breaks.” He picked up the book from Kakashi’s lap and looked at the title. “The Most Common Antidotes. This is by Orochimaru, isn’t it? Have you finished the topic of poisons?”

“Yes, we’ve finished that. Orochimaru left me a big stack of books on antidotes and medicinal plants,” Kakashi confirmed, leaning his head comfortably against the tree. “Where have you been for so long?”

Sakumo moved closer to Kakashi to share some warmth. “I had a lot to organize. Starting next week, I’ll be at the front for a while, and I don’t know when I’ll be back,” he explained calmly.

Kakashi looked at him, and a hint of worry reflected in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared. “It’s no problem,” he said reassuringly, “I’ll manage on my own.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve spoken to Minato; you can stay with him during that time.” Sakumo began to scratch Bull behind the ear as the dog rested his head on Sakumo’s lap.

Kakashi snorted and looked up at the sky. “I’m fine on my own and don’t need a babysitter anymore. Besides, I thought you wanted to trust me more,” he said, a bit irritated.

Sakumo was silent for a moment, watching Bull, who had closed his eyes contentedly. Then he turned to Kakashi. “Please do me this favor. I just want to make sure you’re well taken care of while I’m away. Please relieve me of that worry.”

He paused and looked at Bull again. For a moment, Sakumo considered whether he should say it, but maybe it would help Kakashi understand better. “Of course, I trust you. But it’s quite possible that I might not return for several months. It’s always dangerous at the front, and you never know what to expect. I just want to have the assurance that you’re well taken care of if something happens to me.”

Sakumo felt Kakashi’s intense gaze, his eyes wide open. He didn’t dare to look at his son. After a moment, Kakashi gently leaned his head against Sakumo’s and whispered, “You’ll take care of yourself, right?”

Sakumo carefully rested his head against Kakashi’s and nodded, whispering back, “Of course I will.”

They stayed in this position for a moment until Kakashi eventually pulled his head back. “Alright, I’ll stay with Minato. You can count on me,” he said determinedly.

Sakumo laughed and patted Kakashi gently on the shoulder. Then he stood up and offered his hand to his son. Kakashi took it and was pulled up, while Pakkun jumped off his lap and stretched, just like the other dogs.

“Tell me about your team,” Sakumo began as they started to move. “They seem pretty nice.”

Kakashi followed him immediately and gave him a reproachful look. “It’s good you brought that up! Was it really necessary to intercept us today? That was so embarrassing.”

Sakumo laughed and placed a hand on Kakashi’s shoulder. “I didn’t intercept you; I just happened to see you. Besides, I was curious about how your team is doing. Let your old man have a little fun.”

Kakashi sighed in frustration and shot him an annoyed look. “Please don’t ever do that again. I was really embarrassed.”

“I’m not that bad. Don’t be so mean,” Sakumo replied, slightly hurt.

Kakashi shrugged and replied casually, “But still an old man.”

Sakumo lovingly rolled his eyes; his son could be quite cheeky. Still, he was the most important thing in his life. These moments warmed his heart, and he wished they could share more carefree moments together. But Sakumo knew better: the war had begun, and it was likely he wouldn’t see Kakashi for a long time. As long as his son was safe in the village, he could be at ease. For Sakumo, the most important thing was that Kakashi was well and safe.