New Paths

Kakashi pulled his jacket tighter around him as a biting gust of wind swept over him. His gaze wandered to the sky, where dark clouds were ominously gathering—a sure sign that rain was imminent. With a deep sigh, he refocused his eyes on the village. It was only a matter of time before Orochimaru would show up for their planned journey. Kakashi's impatience burned within him, eager to finally learn how his father was faring and what the situation at the front was like. The weight of his responsibilities as Hokage pressed heavily on his shoulders. He felt the duty to ensure the well-being of his village—but at the same time, he had to hold back to avoid drawing attention.

The evening before, Kakashi had informed his sensei, Minato, that he would be going to the front with Orochimaru. As he had anticipated, Minato was far from pleased, and an argument quickly ensued. Kakashi had deliberately waited until the last minute to deliver this news, hoping to avoid a long, unnecessary discussion. It frustrated him that Minato apparently did not recognize that Kakashi no longer needed a protective hand. He was strong enough to forge his own path and assert himself. From now on, it was solely his responsibility to protect the people who mattered to him.

To avoid his sensei that morning, Kakashi had left the house early. The heated discussion from the night before still weighed heavily on him. Minato distrusted Orochimaru deeply, but Kakashi could not share this suspicion. He saw no reason to mistrust the Sannin. Orochimaru might not exude the same warmth and care as Minato or his father, but Kakashi was certain that he would never deliberately put him in danger. Deep down, he firmly believed that Orochimaru was not yet entirely consumed by darkness—and Kakashi would do everything in his power to prevent that.

Even though Kakashi felt like he was making no real progress with Orochimaru, he knew the Sannin was a tough nut to crack. He kept everyone at a distance and hid his true emotions behind an impenetrable facade. Kakashi was aware that it wouldn’t be easy, but after all this time, he had hoped to learn at least a little more about him. Instead, Orochimaru remained an enigma—a shadow that was barely graspable. Despite everything, giving up was not an option for Kakashi.

The journey to the front not only gave Kakashi the chance to see the situation for himself—it was also a valuable opportunity to spend time with Orochimaru. Perhaps he could manage to penetrate the Sannin’s hard shell a little and catch a glimpse of the person beneath. But that remained to be seen. One thing was clear: Kakashi would have to be persistent if he truly wanted to reach Orochimaru.

Kakashi was abruptly pulled from his thoughts as Orochimaru suddenly appeared before him. His eyes scrutinized him with an intense, almost probing gaze. “Ready?” the Sannin asked tersely, without a trace of emotion in his voice.

“I’m ready anytime,” Kakashi replied determinedly, nodding firmly.

Orochimaru turned his gaze away, took a step, and then abruptly stopped to speak. “Before we set off, I have a few rules,” he began, his voice as cold as usual. “You will not get in my way and will stay close to me at all times. I will not slow down for you, so keep up with my pace. If you can’t keep up, you’ll have to go back to the village. Once we’re at the front, you’ll go straight to your father and follow his orders. If you’re sent back, I won’t help you. Until we reach the front, you follow my instructions. Understood?”

Kakashi rolled his eyes inwardly but nodded with a determined expression. “Understood. I will do everything you say, Orochimaru-sensei.”

Satisfied, Orochimaru nodded and moved off without another word. Without hesitation, Kakashi followed him, and they leapt through the trees. As feared, Orochimaru set a rapid pace and did not adjust it for him. Normally, Kakashi could have kept up easily, but in this body, every movement was an immense effort. It was clear he would arrive at their destination completely exhausted and in need of a break—much to his dismay. This exhaustion would only confirm his father’s prejudice that he was not yet ready. Despite his frustration, he had no other choice. Once they arrived at the front, he would have to think about how to convince his father.

The trees flew past Kakashi at breakneck speed as he strained to keep Orochimaru in sight. The Sannin moved with a graceful ease that only frustrated Kakashi further. Every muscle in his body burned, and the relentless pressure to keep pace pushed him to the edge of his limits. At that moment, he desperately longed for his adult body back. Despite the intense training over the past weeks, he was far from achieving the stamina and strength of an adult. The difference was painfully noticeable.

After what seemed like an endless period, Orochimaru finally raised his hand, and they landed among the trees. Dusk had long since set in, and the sky was painted in deep orange hues. As soon as they hit the ground, Kakashi collapsed onto his knees, gasping for breath. Sweat poured down his forehead as he lifted his gaze and noticed his feet directly in front of him. Orochimaru stood motionless before him, his eyes fixed on Kakashi. For a moment, they held each other's gaze in silence before the Sannin handed him a water bottle without saying a word.

Kakashi sat up and gratefully accepted the bottle. For a moment, he stared at it, his forehead creased in thought. Was this an unexpectedly caring side of Orochimaru? But before he could pursue that thought further, the Sannin’s voice sounded. “I think we can slow down for the rest of the way. We’ve made good progress. Rest up; we’ll take a short break.” With these words, Orochimaru moved a short distance away, casually leaning against a tree and apparently keeping watch so Kakashi could recover in peace. A hint of surprise washed over Kakashi as he tried to understand the Sannin better.

Kakashi watched him for a moment before a slight smile appeared on his lips, and he took a long drink of water. After quenching his thirst, he decided to get up and join Orochimaru. The Sannin gave him a brief, scrutinizing glance before turning his gaze back to the distance. For a while, there was silence between them, only broken by the rustling of the leaves. Finally, Kakashi mustered up the courage to speak softly: “Thank you for taking me along.”

Orochimaru kept his gaze fixed on the trees. “Don’t get any ideas,” he said calmly. “I’m just curious to see how far you’ve come.” His voice was steady, but soon he gave Kakashi a fleeting glance. “If it were up to me, I would have taken you straight to the battlefield to see what you’re really capable of. But I know your father—he would send you back home with the next group without hesitation.” With these words, he refocused on the trees as if the conversation were already over.

Kakashi crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. “Then why don’t you help me convince my father to let me stay there?”

“I have no interest in dealing with your father. It’s enough that I have to explain why I brought you along,” Orochimaru said calmly, without acknowledging Kakashi further. But then, a faint smile appeared on the Sannin’s lips. “Besides, I’m not particularly concerned. If anyone can convince your father, it’s you. No one has him under control like you do. He would never have apologized to me willingly back then.”

Kakashi smiled wryly and sat up a little straighter. “It’s not that easy,” he admitted with a soft laugh. “I have to really put in the effort to convince him.” He remembered well how often he had to persuade his father as a child when he wanted something—especially when it was something Sakumo wasn’t convinced about. Since the poisoning, it had become even more difficult. His father had developed an almost unshakable protective instinct, which only made everything more complicated.

“You mentioned that reinforcements were requested. Was it really only you who was sent?” Kakashi asked curiously, his eyes sparkling with interest. For the past two days, he had thought a lot about it and could hardly believe that only Orochimaru had been sent. There must have been more troops requested; he was almost certain of it.

Orochimaru continued to look into the distance as he answered calmly, “The first team set out yesterday. I decided to make the journey alone.” His voice remained cool and composed. “Two more squads will follow in the next few days.”

Kakashi frowned. If so many troops were being sent to the front, something bigger must be going on. “Do you know why reinforcements were requested?” he asked, his thoughts whirling as he missed the Sannin’s fleeting glance.

“As far as I know, it’s a siege, but I don’t have any more details,” Orochimaru explained, his sigh betraying a hint of frustration. “In about 30 minutes, we’ll set off. I want to be there by tomorrow evening at the latest.”

Kakashi threw his head back and sighed. With this tight schedule, they wouldn’t be able to take significant breaks. He knew he would probably arrive at the front exhausted and asleep, as his body wouldn’t handle the strain easily. But before he could dwell on it further, he got up, stretched, and said, “I need to take care of something for a moment.” Then he set off to venture deeper into the forest.

As he moved further into the woods and had just chosen a tree as his target, he suddenly stopped and stared intently at the ground. His eyebrows furrowed as a glittering object caught his attention. He bent down, picked it up carefully, and his eyes widened slightly as he scanned the surroundings. In his hand, he held a Hitai-Ate from Iwagakure.

As he examined the surroundings more closely, Kakashi noticed clear signs of combat in the underbrush. His gaze shifted back to the Hitai-Ate in his hand. What were Shinobi from Iwagakure doing here? Was their goal to directly attack Konoha, or were they planning to weaken the front from behind? The traces suggested a smaller group that had moved skillfully and discreetly through the woods. An attack on Konoha seemed less likely; it was more plausible that their plan was to set up an ambush.

Orochimaru had mentioned that a squad had set out the previous day. This could explain the signs of battle; presumably, the squad had encountered Iwagakure Shinobi, leading to a fierce fight. Kakashi briefly considered whether he should inform Orochimaru. If his assumption was correct, they needed to act quickly to stop the enemy Shinobi and bring the situation under control.

Without further hesitation, Kakashi pulled down his mask, bit his thumb, put the mask back on, and summoned Pakkun. The small pug snorted slightly annoyed and scratched behind his ear. “Have you ever considered what time it is?” Pakkun asked, looking around. “What are we doing here, anyway?”

Kakashi crouched in front of Pakkun, his expression serious and focused. “No questions right now,” he began. “Orochimaru and I are on our way to the front, but we’re still behind the lines. I found a forehead protector from Iwagakure and fear that a squad from Konoha has encountered enemy Shinobi and gotten into a fight. I need you to pick up the trail and help us stop the Iwagakure Shinobi.”

Pakkun looked around skeptically before turning his gaze back to Kakashi. “Where’s Orochimaru?” he asked with a suspicious undertone.

Kakashi stood up with a relaxed smile and waved casually. “I’m keeping him out of this for now,” he said. “My theory is that they are still nearby. If that’s true, I’ll handle it on my own.”

Pakkun sighed in frustration. “How do you think you’re going to take on a whole team from Iwagakure? I don’t want to be too direct, but maybe it will become clearer: you’re not the Copy Ninja you used to be, and you’re not 36 anymore.”

“So kind as always,” Kakashi murmured, annoyed, as he held out the forehead protector to Pakkun. “Please take care of what I asked you. I’ll handle the rest.”

After a brief hesitation, Pakkun sniffed the headband and then turned back to Kakashi. “I’m worried about you. Take care of yourself.” With these words, the pug turned and began to pick up the trail. Both of them carefully suppressed their chakra as Pakkun started moving slowly.

Kakashi bit his lower lip. He wanted to prove to himself that he could do it. He had worked hard in the past few weeks, and now he needed to show that his efforts had paid off. Determined, he followed Pakkun, who led him safely through the forest. After about 15 minutes, Pakkun suddenly stopped, turned to Kakashi, and pointed behind him. Kakashi knelt beside him. “They should be around here,” the pug whispered. “The scent is quite clear.”

Kakashi nodded and gently patted Pakkun on the head. “Please hold back; I’ll take over from here,” he murmured before heading in the direction Pakkun had indicated.

It didn’t take long before Kakashi heard muffled voices. He cautiously crept through the trees and spotted four enemy Shinobi taking a break—a perfect opportunity for a surprise attack. As he devised a strategy, he listened attentively to the Shinobi’s conversation.

“We should continue to position ourselves here and intercept more Konoha troops,” one of the Shinobi suggested, as he focused on sharpening a kunai.

Another snorted in irritation. “We won’t always be this lucky. Don’t underestimate the Konoha Shinobi. We stick to our plan and continue our way to the front to gather more information.”

The other Shinobi sheathed his kunai and laughed derisively. “If it’s really going to do us any good.”

Kakashi took a deep breath, his muscles tensed and his senses on high alert. This was the moment—his chance to strike before the enemy Shinobi even realized they were in danger. They seemed careless, oblivious to the threat silently approaching them. The surroundings appeared safe to them, but Kakashi knew he had to use their negligence to his advantage.

With a fluid motion, he reached for a smoke bomb in his weapon pouch, while his eyes fixed on one of the Shinobi—his first target. The plan was clear: once the bomb hit the ground and the smoke obscured their vision, he would strike swiftly. He had to silently take out the first enemy before the smoke cleared. After that, it would be more difficult. The confusion of the opponents would give him only a brief advantage, and an open fight against all four was a risky endeavor he needed to avoid.

Kakashi felt the adrenaline coursing through his body as he held the smoke bomb tightly. With a quick motion, he threw it into the middle of the enemy group. A soft hissing filled the air, and the smoke began to spread immediately, enveloping the Shinobi in a thick mist that obscured their sight.

The moment the smoke exploded, Kakashi sprang into action. He was nothing more than a shadow moving through the dense veil. His target was clear—the Shinobi he had previously fixed on. Silently, he appeared behind him, a swift cut with the kunai across the throat, and the enemy fell to the ground before making a sound.

Kakashi immediately turned, his senses alert, the smoke giving him another moment. The remaining Shinobi began to react frantically, their voices echoing through the hazy air, but they were disoriented. Kakashi could see the tremors in their movements. He took ruthless advantage of this.

His next target moved uncertainly in the smoke, hand on the sword hilt, but too slow. Before the Shinobi could react, Kakashi was already upon him. A precise strike to the neck, and this opponent also fell silently to the ground. Two left.

The smoke began to thin, and the two remaining Shinobi grew restless. “What’s going on here?” one of them shouted as he tried to locate his comrades. Kakashi felt the urgency. There was no room for error.

Kakashi knew he needed to exploit the enemies' confusion while the smoke obscured their vision. Without hesitation, he moved again, kunai firmly in hand, the target clear before him. But as he lunged toward the next enemy, the Shinobi turned around with a broad, cold smile and locked eyes with him sharply.

The shock of the moment made Kakashi stop abruptly, his heart racing. The enemy had noticed him.

Kakashi immediately stepped back, his breath catching as his thoughts raced. The advantage of the surprise attack was lost, and he bit his lip in frustration. This Shinobi was not like the others—he was alert, ready.

Kakashi's heart raced as he suddenly heard the clicking sound beneath his feet. His gaze dropped, and his stomach tightened. Below him was a fine wire net, connected to several letter bombs hidden in the ground around him. He had not only attracted the attention of the enemy Shinobi but had also walked right into a perfectly placed trap.

This trap had undoubtedly been prepared for a long time, specifically for a surprise attack like this one. Kakashi wanted to slap himself—how could he be so careless? He hadn’t observed the surroundings attentively, had felt secure as if his enemies were careless. Naive. Exactly what he had always warned his students against: never blindly rush into a situation. And now he was making the same mistake he had often criticized in the past.

The enemy grinned mockingly and took a step back. "You're younger than I expected," he taunted. "But it doesn't matter. This is where your journey ends."

Kakashi felt his throat tighten as the bombs were activated with a soft hissing sound. He had only a split second to react—and he knew it was impossible to escape this inferno.

At the moment when the first sparks reached the explosives, Kakashi felt a sudden rush of air. A figure shot out of nowhere towards him. He suddenly felt a firm grip on his shoulder, pulling him with unnerving speed out of the danger zone and holding him protectively to its chest.

In the next moment, the letter bombs exploded with a deafening roar. The shockwave hurled dust, smoke, and debris in all directions, but Kakashi was already safe, high up on a branch of a nearby tree. Looking up, he saw Orochimaru holding him firmly, his eyes fixed intently on the distance.

"You’re too careless," Orochimaru said quietly, without looking directly at Kakashi. Kakashi frowned as he also detected anger in the Sannin’s voice.

Kakashi gasped, trying to regain his breath as the shock gradually subsided. "I... had everything under control," he murmured, though he knew that was far from the truth.

Orochimaru let him go and gave him a brief look. "If you say so, kid. But next time, make sure you spot your traps better. I can’t save you every time." Then he leaped from the tree and swiftly dealt with the remaining two enemies.

When the danger had passed, Kakashi silently dropped from the tree and landed behind Orochimaru, who was silently surveying the clearing. An uneasy silence hung over the place, as if even nature was holding its breath. Kakashi's gaze fell to his feet, where Pakkun was snuggled up to him, looking up with worried eyes. Kakashi gave him a reassuring nod, a silent promise that everything was alright. Without another word, Pakkun vanished in a small puff of smoke.

After what felt like an endless silence, Orochimaru finally turned to Kakashi. His expression was grim, and Kakashi expected the usual reprimand. But what surprised him was the underlying expression in the Sannin's eyes—not only anger but also a hint of concern. Kakashi frowned. Concern? Why would Orochimaru, who often seemed emotionless and aloof, be worried about him?

Before Kakashi could sink further into thought, Orochimaru broke the silence with a loud, cutting voice. “What do you think you’re doing, charging ahead alone in such a situation?! If I had come just a moment later, there would have been nothing left of you! How can you be so naive?”

It wasn't just anger in Orochimaru's voice but also an unexpected hint of concern. It was almost inconceivable that the Sannin, who had been so distant and cold in recent weeks, actually harbored some worry for him. Kakashi had always felt that Orochimaru saw him as just another student, not particularly interested in him. Yet it seemed there was more to it. Orochimaru seemed to have developed a certain bond with him—a fact that astonished Kakashi and made him wonder why the Sannin reacted so strongly to his supposed recklessness. Was it really concern behind the sharp tone, or was there something else behind this unusual display of emotion?

Orochimaru stepped decisively towards Kakashi, grabbed his arm, and yanked him up sharply. "Are you hurt?" he asked in a harsh tone.

Kakashi examined his arm, which was slightly burned but showed no direct injuries. He shook his head and pulled his arm back. Orochimaru let him go willingly and turned away. "I’d prefer to send you back to the village immediately," he muttered irritably, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "but that would probably be too risky now."

With a sigh and a glance around the surroundings, Orochimaru added, "For the rest of the way, I don’t want to hear anything from you. Just stay close. Who knows if there are more teams around here. Once we reach the front, I’ll leave you with your father."

Kakashi bit his lip and nodded silently. It was wiser not to say anything at that moment. Orochimaru paused for a moment longer, then started moving with a fluid motion and leaped through the trees. Kakashi promptly followed, staying close behind the Sannin. This time the pace was more moderate, allowing him to keep up without constantly losing his breath.

As they continued their silent journey, Kakashi was lost in thought. The Iwagakure Shinobi were increasingly occupying his mind. They had apparently planned a reconnaissance operation to obtain crucial information and possibly prepare an attack. This idea troubled Kakashi. Orochimaru was right: if more enemy teams were nearby, the situation could escalate quickly. They had to stay alert and consider every possibility to prevent further harm.

Kakashi cast a discreet glance at Orochimaru, who, since they had resumed their journey, had repeatedly shot short, scrutinizing glances in his direction, as if to ensure everything was alright. This unexpected attention confused Kakashi. In recent weeks, Orochimaru had mostly kept him at a distance and spoken only when necessary. Now, however, the Sannin showed an unusual degree of interest and concern, as if he wanted to protect him. Kakashi couldn’t fully understand what had triggered this sudden change of heart, and the situation only made him think more about what lay behind Orochimaru's behavior.

Suddenly, Kakashi had an insight. Perhaps Orochimaru was behaving this way because he remembered Nawaki. As far as Kakashi knew, Orochimaru had been present when Tsunade's brother died. Perhaps the Sannin carried a deep-seated guilt for the boy’s death, which was now manifesting in his behavior. This vulnerable side might offer Kakashi an opportunity to build a connection with him. Even if Orochimaru was angry at the moment, his mood could change. Maybe this was the moment to shift their relationship.

A smile played on Kakashi’s lips. This realization could be the key to making progress and improving their relationship. If he remained persistent, he had a chance to reach Orochimaru and help him find his way out of the darkness.

**********

Without further incidents, they finally reached the front the following evening. Darkness had already settled over the camp, and an almost eerie silence prevailed, interrupted only by the quiet footsteps of the guards patrolling attentively. As they entered the camp, the guards briefly assessed them and greeted them with a curt nod. Kakashi felt the astonished gazes on him—the surprise at seeing a child at the front was evident on their faces. But he was unfazed. He was long accustomed to such looks.

They proceeded deeper into the camp, past the dimly lit tents where a few Shinobi sat, talking quietly. Orochimaru walked past the others without a hint of interest, while Kakashi felt the oppressive atmosphere that filled the camp. Something unsaid hung in the air, a tension that alerted him. It seemed like something had happened.

They continued on undeterred, but suddenly they were stopped by a familiar voice. "Kakashi? What are you doing here?"

Kakashi and Orochimaru turned simultaneously, recognizing the voice. Shikato Nara approached them, his expression serious but his eyes showing concern for Kakashi. He briefly assessed him before his gaze shifted to Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru," he greeted the Sannin with a curt nod. The atmosphere between the two was cool, almost distant. One could almost feel the tension as Shikato hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I didn't expect to see Kakashi here. What happened?"

"Shikato," Orochimaru responded with a brief nod, his voice calm but his eyes flashing briefly. "I need to speak with Sakumo urgently. We had an... unpleasant encounter on the way to the front." The words were clipped and cool, almost as if it were a minor issue to be resolved.

Shikato raised an eyebrow as he grasped the seriousness of the situation. "I'll take you to him," he said tersely, his tone sharp and businesslike. His gaze then turned to Kakashi, and for a moment, concern seemed to creep into his features. "And I'm sure Sakumo will be interested to know his son is here," he added.

Kakashi remained outwardly calm and just nodded, though inwardly he longed for sleep. The past few days had been taxing— the journey to the front had been grueling, especially at the pace Orochimaru had set. Every muscle in his body ached for rest, but he knew he couldn’t show any weakness.

"I was planning to deliver him to Sakumo anyway. He should decide what happens with his son," Orochimaru explained calmly, showing not a hint of emotion.

Shikato nodded and gave Kakashi an encouraging look. With a gentle smile, he reassuringly placed a hand on Kakashi’s shoulder before signaling Orochimaru to follow him. As they moved through the camp, Shikato leaned slightly towards Kakashi and whispered softly, "Are you alright? You look pretty exhausted."

Shikato didn’t miss Kakashi’s fatigue. With a reassuring smile, he nodded back. "It’s fine, I’m just a bit tired," Kakashi murmured, trying to stand upright.

The Nara gave him a quick appraisal before a satisfied smile crossed his face. Without asking further, he turned his attention back to the front and led the group deeper into the camp.

They approached a larger tent, clearly used as a headquarters for strategic meetings. Two guards stood at the entrance and nodded respectfully to Shikato. The Nara turned to Orochimaru and Kakashi and explained, "I’ll let him know you’ve arrived. He’s currently in a meeting." With one last look at Kakashi, Shikato disappeared into the tent.

The tent itself was dimly lit from the outside, but through the gaps, Kakashi could make out flickering shadows and the glow of lamps. The atmosphere was tense, and Kakashi could almost feel the pressure of the situation.

Kakashi took a deep breath and tried to hide his exhaustion. He knew his father had a keen eye for details and would spot any weakness. At this moment, he had to conceal his fatigue well. He needed to convince his father that he was ready to stay and gain access to crucial information. Everything depended on how he presented himself in the next few minutes.