New Paths

To Kakashi’s surprise, he didn’t have to wait long for an opportunity to speak with Orochimaru. Just three days after his conversation with Minato and Kushina, he received a message from the Sannin, asking to meet him at the training grounds to resume their joint training.

Kakashi wasn’t sure what to make of the message. Kushina, on the other hand, was convinced it was a trap and insisted that Minato accompany him. But Kakashi refused—he wanted to face Orochimaru alone at first. If it was a trap, he could still call for Minato’s help. But if it wasn’t, this was the perfect chance to talk to the Sannin and find out what he was planning.

Even if there was only the slightest chance that Orochimaru hadn’t told Danzo anything—or at least hadn’t seen everything, no matter how slim Kakashi believed that possibility to be—he had to take it. He had to try to convince Orochimaru to keep everything to himself. Still, he knew it wouldn’t be an easy conversation. Over the past few days, he had thought again and again about how best to approach it, but the more he thought, the harder it seemed.

With one last deep breath, Kakashi slipped on his sandals and called into the house, “I’m heading out!”

Before he could even reach the door, his father called out behind him, “Wait!”

Kakashi stopped and sighed quietly, clearly frustrated. They had already had a long conversation the night before, where he had assured his father multiple times that he would take things slower from now on and apologize to Orochimaru for disobeying orders. He had also sincerely apologized to his father and promised not to go off on reckless solo missions anymore. That conversation had ended with a stern reminder of how important it was to listen to the squad leader—especially with the danger at the front lines.

Kakashi had endured the lecture silently, even if it was hard to take. He knew all too well how dangerous it was out there—he’d experienced it firsthand. But to avoid further conflict, he had listened and accepted his father’s warnings, difficult as they were to hear.

Sakumo stepped up to him and stopped right in front of him. “Are you sure you’re really ready for this?”

Kakashi had to hold back an eye-roll as he gave a short nod. “Yeah, I’m ready. I’m fine. I’ve recovered. Besides, Orochimaru-sensei will probably just want to go over what went wrong on the way to the front. We might not even really train.” He tried to sound reassuring, crossing his arms. “And you’ve already started training again yourself. I saw you in the garden the other night.”

Sakumo chuckled softly and scratched the back of his head. “Alright, you caught me. Just promise me you’ll be careful,” he said calmly, though his tone grew more serious. “You’ve seemed tense these past few days. I just want to be sure you’re really okay.”

Of course his father had noticed. Kakashi had tried to hide how on edge he’d been, but not even he could fool Sakumo. His father was far too perceptive to miss something like that.

Kakashi nodded and gave him a reassuring smile. “I really am okay,” he assured him convincingly, then waved it off. “I’ve just been worried about whether Orochimaru-sensei is still mad at me, or if he’ll punish me. I don’t want to lose him as my teacher.”

Sakumo ruffled Kakashi’s hair with a fond smile. But in his eyes, Kakashi noticed something right away—a flicker of concern, maybe even doubt. His father had always been observant, someone who picked up on the little things others overlooked.

Kakashi knew he had to be careful. Sakumo was not a man who could be easily deceived, and once he became suspicious, it would be hard to hide anything from him. Kakashi wasn’t ready to tell him the truth just yet. If he could buy a little more time, he would use it—for as long as possible.

"Then you better get going, or you'll be late. Orochimaru values punctuality," said Sakumo with a smile as he opened the front door.

Kakashi nodded and quickly set off before his father could ask any more questions. Just before he passed through the garden gate, he paused, turned back, and waved to his father. Sakumo returned the gesture with a smile and watched his son head off.

Once Kakashi was out of his father's sight, he wasted no time and took the direct route to the training ground. He wanted to speak with Orochimaru as soon as possible and finally find out what the Sannin was planning. But the closer he got to the meeting point, the more his nervousness grew—he couldn’t predict what awaited him there.

He wasn’t too worried that it might be a trap. Still, it was unclear what the Sannin truly had in mind and how much he already knew. To avoid making any mistakes, Kakashi had to stay fully focused now and choose his words carefully. It was crucial to win Orochimaru over and convince him to remain silent.

He reached the training ground quickly, but to his surprise, no one was there. Kakashi was already late, and he knew how much the Sannin valued punctuality. A bad feeling crept over him, making him instantly more alert. Instinctively, he sharpened his senses, stepped into the middle of the field, and scanned the surroundings carefully. Something was off—and with every passing second, his nervousness grew.

Slowly, he reached for his weapons pouch, preparing for a possible attack. Had he walked right into a trap after all? For a moment, he gripped Minato’s special kunai, wondering if he should call for help right away. But he decided against it. If it really was a trap, he wanted to learn more before calling in reinforcements. Instead, Kakashi drew one of his regular kunai and held it ready in his hand.

Once he reached the center of the field, he stopped and kept a watchful eye on the area. His grip on the kunai tightened unconsciously. He couldn’t sense any chakra or see any movement—yet he was certain: he wasn’t alone.

Suddenly, Kakashi felt a flicker of chakra behind him. Instinctively, he spun around—just in time to see several kunai flying toward him. With a swift jump, he dodged the first ones and deflected the next with his own kunai. Before he could properly react, he saw Orochimaru rushing toward him at high speed—ready to attack.

Kakashi instinctively dodged to the side, but he could still feel the force of the attack in the air. Orochimaru wasn’t holding back. His speed was impressive, his movements precise—this wasn’t a game, he meant business.

But Kakashi had no time to orient himself or come up with a plan. Orochimaru immediately launched his next assault, raining blows and steps down on him that Kakashi could barely dodge or parry. The Sannin gave him no time to breathe, no chance to recover or get an overview of the situation. Kakashi knew: this couldn’t go on. He had to think of something fast to put distance between them and force a conversation. In his current state, he wouldn't be able to keep up with this pace for long.

Frantically, Kakashi ran through his options while still evading Orochimaru’s swift kicks. Finally, an idea came to him—a way to buy a brief moment to catch his breath. With a powerful jump, he pushed himself away from the Sannin, landed safely, and quickly formed hand seals.

„Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!“ he shouted, inhaling deeply before releasing a massive fireball that roared through the air in a blazing arc toward Orochimaru.

The massive fireball lit up the training ground in a blinding flash, kicking up dust and dry leaves as it rushed toward Orochimaru. Kakashi used the brief respite to retreat, steady his breathing, and tighten his grip on the kunai.

He knew the fire attack wouldn't stop Orochimaru, but it bought him a precious moment to pause and assess the situation. If the Sannin kept attacking so relentlessly, Kakashi wouldn’t last much longer. In that moment, he cursed his weakened body.

Still, maybe he could turn his smaller frame to his advantage—make himself more agile, more evasive. Maybe there would even be a chance to strike back. One thing was certain: this wasn’t ordinary training. The precise kunai throws and the brutal kicks weren’t just part of a lesson—they were meant to hurt, maybe even kill.

Once again, Kakashi considered calling Minato for help, but again he dismissed the thought. He wanted to force Orochimaru into a conversation—even if it took all his remaining strength. Besides, he didn’t want to put Minato in danger. As strong as his sensei was, even he wouldn’t have an easy time against the Sannin right now. Somehow, Kakashi had to make Orochimaru stop the attack and talk to him. He had to find out why the Sannin was attacking him at all. Maybe Danzo had sent him.

But there was no time to rest—more kunai flew from the smoke cloud, followed closely by Orochimaru himself. Kakashi quickly deflected the projectiles with his own kunai and rolled skillfully across the ground to dodge the Sannin’s kick. Without hesitation, he jumped to his feet, ready to meet the next strike. But to his surprise, Orochimaru suddenly stopped and eyed him closely. Kakashi narrowed his eyes, body tense, ready to react at any second.

"I expected more, somehow," Orochimaru said coolly, slipping a kunai back into his weapons pouch. "I thought I’d be fighting the Sixth Hokage," he added casually, turning slightly away from Kakashi.

Kakashi let his shoulders drop and sighed quietly, visibly frustrated. So Orochimaru really had seen everything. His gaze dropped to the ground, and a faint, almost resigned smile formed on his lips. "You shouldn't set your expectations too high. I'm a little out of practice," he said calmly, then continued after a brief pause, "Let’s not dance around the issue. I know you saw and heard everything."

Orochimaru didn’t move. His eyes remained fixed in the distance as he spoke in his usual calm, icy tone:
"I never planned to dance around the issue."
Then he turned his gaze toward Kakashi.
"You're right—I saw and heard everything."

Kakashi nodded silently, letting his eyes fall to the grass beneath him as the wind gently swept through his hair. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Now every word mattered—he had to stay calm and choose them wisely.

Slowly, he opened his eyes again and raised his gaze. Orochimaru watched him closely, motionless like a statue. Though the Sannin couldn’t see it, a faint smile appeared on Kakashi’s lips.

"Did you already tell Danzo? Is that why you're attacking me—on his orders?" he asked, voice calm, tilting his head slightly back and looking up at the sky.

Orochimaru remained silent for a moment before he finally began to speak in a calm voice. “I’ve spent a long time thinking about what I saw that day. And I couldn’t find a logical explanation for it.” Kakashi looked back at him while Orochimaru maintained his usual casual stance and continued, “It makes no sense that you possess the Sharingan or speak of being the Sixth Hokage. The jutsu you used, your fighting style—all of it far exceeds the abilities of a six-year-old Genin. And yet, I saw it with my own eyes. So I kept thinking. About the past few weeks I’ve spent with you, and suddenly, everything became clear. It hit me like a bolt from the blue.”

Orochimaru’s gaze sharpened as he studied Kakashi intently. “You’re not who you claim to be. And I should’ve realized long ago that you’re no ordinary Genin.” His voice lowered slightly but gained an even sharper edge. “So who are you really?”

Kakashi hummed thoughtfully, folding his arms behind his head and staring off into the distance. Still, he remained alert, keeping a close watch on his surroundings—he wasn’t yet convinced it wasn’t a trap.
“You still haven’t answered my question,” he said calmly. “Until I know what game you’re playing, I won’t tell you anything more. It’s a matter of my own safety. Maybe you’re just here to gather information. And I can’t take that risk.”

Orochimaru let out a short laugh before fixing Kakashi again with his piercing gaze. “It seems we can speak as equals—that pleases me,” he remarked with amusement. “You want to know if I told Danzo? Why would I do that?”

Kakashi merely shrugged, maintaining his composed demeanor.
“You work with him—it’s only natural to assume you’ve told him.”

“I saw no reason to explain anything to him,” Orochimaru replied calmly, crossing his arms. “Just because I work with him doesn’t mean I report to him. Besides, I wanted to get a full picture for myself before telling anyone anything.” A faint flicker of curiosity crossed his face. “And I’m very interested in your explanation.”

Kakashi lowered his arms, narrowed his eyes, and fixed his gaze firmly on Orochimaru.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you—but I’m not telling you anything. Not until I know I can trust you.”

Orochimaru slowly ran a hand across his face, appearing to consider something before turning back to Kakashi.
“What if I decide to share my information with the village if you don’t answer my questions? Have you thought about that? I’d have a certain advantage.”

Kakashi dismissed the idea with a short, dry laugh and took a deep breath. Of course the conversation was heading in this direction.
“Then I’d tell you that I know what you’re doing. And that I have information about you—things that could harm you as well, if I decided to reveal them,” he said seriously.

“You’re a damn annoying brat! I should’ve never let myself be talked into becoming your sensei,” Orochimaru hissed, crossing his arms again. A deep crease formed on his forehead as he appeared lost in thought.
“Fine. I’ll assume you’re telling the truth. So—what do you propose we do about this problem?”

Kakashi remained silent for a moment. He knew exactly what would be necessary for the two of them to find peace. But he wasn’t ready to give up on Orochimaru so easily.

He had made a firm decision not to abandon the Sannin, to bring him back onto the right path. Even though Orochimaru hid it well, Kakashi could still see the pain in him—and the guilt he carried over Tsunade’s tragedy.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Kakashi began softly, his gaze dropping to his feet. Even if only faintly and for a brief second, he had felt the barely perceptible twitch in Orochimaru’s body. “Not Nawaki’s death, not Dan’s—and not the fact that Tsunade is still suffering. You’re not alone in this village.”

“Stop!” Orochimaru hissed, his voice dangerously sharp as he stepped toward Kakashi with menace. His chakra flared—tangible and threatening.

But Kakashi stood his ground, still staring at his feet, unmoving.

“I’m not here to talk about such things!” Orochimaru snapped, his voice rising. “I want to know what’s behind your Sharingan—and your claim of being the Sixth Hokage! You know as well as I do that you stand no chance against me. If I wanted, I could take you and get the answers by force. So watch what you say.”

Kakashi raised his gaze and looked Orochimaru straight in the eyes, undeterred by the threat. In response, he too allowed his chakra to flare—firm, controlled, and equally menacing.

“I won’t be intimidated,” he said firmly, piercing the Sannin with a cold stare. “And believe me—no torture method in the world could force the information you’re after out of me.”

He meant every word. During his time with the ANBU, Kakashi had learned how to endure torture—as well as how to administer it. He had experienced it firsthand and survived.

He was prepared to take that risk—not just to protect himself, but also to keep Kushina and Minato safe. It was better if no one knew that they, too, were aware of the truth.

Then Kakashi relaxed again and continued in a calm, steady voice: “But that’s not something I need to worry about. If you’d really wanted to take me, you would’ve done so already.” His gaze remained composed, almost serene. “Besides, you’d never willingly go up against my father—and we both know it would only be a matter of time before he figured something out.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips, hidden behind the mask. “Instead, you followed me to the front lines, helped me. And even now, you’re consciously keeping what you know to yourself.”

Kakashi paused for a moment, letting the words sink in before he continued with a quiet, almost teasing curiosity: “We both know Danzo would be very interested. If he’d had even the slightest suspicion, something would’ve already happened. So… are you trying to protect me, Orochimaru?”

Orochimaru looked at him with an unreadable expression. Kakashi couldn’t tell what was going on inside the Sannin, but something in his words seemed to have struck a chord. Without another word, Orochimaru turned slightly away before speaking.

“I have the feeling you’re telling the truth. You’re not someone who breaks easily.” His voice was calm, almost thoughtful. “Honestly, that only makes you more interesting.”

For a moment, he closed his eyes, as if organizing his thoughts. “So… what do you propose? How do we proceed?”

“I’d like to propose a deal,” Kakashi said calmly, with a firm voice. He was confident the Sannin would accept.

After this conversation, he hardly doubted anymore that Orochimaru had no intention of sharing the information. In fact, it seemed like he was deliberately keeping it to himself—maybe even to protect Kakashi. It confirmed his suspicion: Orochimaru had begun to develop a certain sympathy for him.

Orochimaru looked directly at him. “What kind of deal do you have in mind?” he asked, a trace of curiosity in his voice.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes and stared at Orochimaru. “Mutual silence,” he began, calm but resolute. “I won’t report your connection to Danzo or your experiments. And in return, you’ll stay silent too—about everything you’ve seen and heard.”

For a moment, silence hung between them, and for a fleeting second Kakashi thought Orochimaru would reject the offer. But after a few seconds, the Sannin slowly nodded. “Agreed. I’ll keep it to myself—and I’ll trust that you will too. Even from your father. Though I suspect he already knows something is going on.”

Kakashi nodded slowly, doing his best to keep a neutral expression. “You have my word,” he said calmly, hoping he could truly rely on Orochimaru. But his gut told him the Sannin would keep his promise. It didn’t seem to be in Orochimaru’s interest to betray him or put him in danger carelessly.

“Then everything is settled,” Orochimaru said firmly, turning to leave. Just as he was about to walk off, he paused, turned his head slightly, and cast a glance over his shoulder at Kakashi. In a low voice, he added, “Take care of yourself and your father. That’s my advice to you as your former sensei. Danzo is far from pleased with the decision to name your father the next Hokage.”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow in surprise, then gave a short nod. “I figured as much. I’m working on the problem.”

It wasn’t entirely true—he was still far from finding a solution to deal with Danzo. The elder remained a serious threat, and Kakashi had to stay alert to uncover his plans in time.

“And what did I do to deserve such a warning from you?” he asked eventually, wearing a crooked smile.

Orochimaru shrugged and turned away again. “Like I said—a piece of advice from your former sensei. Nothing more, nothing less. What you do with it is up to you.” With those words, he started walking, leaving Kakashi behind.

Just before Orochimaru could fully leave the training grounds, Kakashi called after him, “Orochimaru-sensei!”

The Sannin stopped and glanced back at him with mild curiosity.

“Don’t think I’ll just leave you alone that easily. I’ll come visit sometime,” Kakashi said with a wide grin, his head tilted slightly. “And… thank you. For everything.”

Orochimaru rolled his eyes in exasperation, turned away again, and continued walking. As he moved off, he called over his shoulder, “Don’t you dare get on my nerves, Hatake! Or I might reconsider my decision.”

With that, Orochimaru left the training grounds, leaving Kakashi alone. The young shinobi took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and let himself drop to the ground. Lying on his back, he stared up at the sky.

Even though things hadn’t gone exactly as he’d envisioned, he was satisfied with the outcome. Now it was time to stay the course and slowly pull the Sannin to his side. Trust wouldn’t form overnight—but with patience, determination, and the right instincts, he could make it happen.

The Sannin liked him—even if he would never admit it. Kakashi had sensed it on the way to the front, and now that feeling was stronger than ever. Still, it would take time, patience, and serious effort to guide Orochimaru down the right path. But Kakashi was ready. Giving up was never an option.

For now, he could at least allow himself a brief moment of rest. The conversation had gone well, and for the time being, he didn’t have to worry. But the secret of his Sharingan still weighed heavily on him, and he needed to find a way to train it. Unfortunately, he currently didn’t know anyone from the Uchiha clan he could ask for advice without arousing suspicion. Kushina hadn’t had much success with Mikoto and hadn’t received any useful information. Maybe Obito knew more about the Sharingan, but Kakashi would have to be careful if he wanted to question him. Obito was curious and would quickly start asking why Kakashi was so interested in the Sharingan.

So for now, all he could do was work with the knowledge he had and hope that somehow he would manage to awaken his eyes again and improve his control over them.

But right now, he simply enjoyed the moment of peace and closed his eyes. It felt like it had been forever since he last took time to relax and enjoy the fresh air and silence. Ever since his journey into the past, he had spent most of his time training and solving problems. Now it was time to simply experience this precious moment of calm. It was still too early to return home. His father would wonder why the training had ended so quickly and worry unnecessarily. So he decided to stay where he was and enjoy the warmth of the sun on his skin. Another day, he would train again and face the next set of challenges.

**********

As the sun was already sinking behind the rooftops of Konoha, Kakashi finally reached his home. For the first time in weeks, he felt truly relaxed. It felt good to simply enjoy the peace and quiet and let his thoughts drift for a moment. Even during his time as Hokage, he had learned how essential it was to allow himself moments of rest, even in the midst of the greatest stress.

Carefully, Kakashi opened the front door and stepped inside. He was just about to announce his return when he froze—there was a pair of unfamiliar sandals in the entryway. Frowning, he peered deeper into the house and listened intently. At first, everything was quiet. Silently, he slipped off his own sandals and crept down the hallway. The closer he got to the study, the more clearly he could hear soft voices. Curious, he tiptoed to the door, leaned gently against it, and peeked through the keyhole.

"Have we covered everything?" asked Shikato in a tired voice.

Sakumo sighed, sounding just as weary as he replied, "That should be enough for today. Kakashi should be home any moment now."

Shikato leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his hair. "Has he been recovering well?"

"He has," Sakumo responded, furrowing his brow thoughtfully. "Today, he trained with Orochimaru again."

Kakashi's eyebrows drew together. Something seemed to be weighing on his father’s mind. Shikato seemed to notice it, too. "What is it? What are you thinking about?" he asked calmly but attentively.

Sakumo shrugged and finally waved it off. "I don’t want to burden you with it. Your wife is probably waiting for you."

Shikato shook his head and leaned forward slightly again. "Come on, Sakumo. You know you can talk to me about anything."

A tense silence settled over the room, and Kakashi kept listening intently. Finally, Sakumo broke the quiet with a deep sigh and lowered his gaze. "Something is going on between Orochimaru and Kakashi. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it worries me."

Kakashi flinched involuntarily. Had Sakumo noticed more than he’d expected? Inside the room, Shikato shifted forward slightly. "What makes you say that? And what exactly do you mean?"

Sakumo shrugged again, resting his head in his hands while his gaze drifted thoughtfully out the window. "Even at the front lines, I noticed something. When Orochimaru came to us after the attack, he gave Kakashi a look I couldn’t quite read. It felt like he was trying to send a message—or maybe intimidate him. I’m not sure. But Kakashi was clearly tense. And nothing has changed since we returned. When he got that message from Orochimaru, he was pensive and withdrawn." His voice remained calm, but his gaze stayed lost in the twilight outside.

Shikato hummed thoughtfully and crossed his arms over his chest. "Have you talked to him about it?"

Sakumo shook his head slightly. “I tried this morning, but I didn’t want to put too much pressure on him. He tends to shut down even more when that happens. I have to approach this carefully,” he explained, looking back at Shikato. “Honestly, I was on the verge of forbidding him from seeing Orochimaru. But I know that would’ve only made him angry and destroyed any chance that he might open up to me. I still don’t know how to handle the situation—but I can’t ignore it either.”

He sighed deeply and rubbed his face wearily. “I’ll probably have to speak to Orochimaru directly.”

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, mulling over the thought of his father confronting the Sannin. Orochimaru likely assumed Sakumo already knew everything—so he wouldn’t hold anything back. If his father found out what had truly happened, there would be no going back. Kakashi would be forced to give him an explanation.

He slowly opened his eyes again. Was he really ready to tell his father the truth? A tight knot formed in his stomach, but he forced himself to stay focused and keep listening.

“What do you think is going on between them?” Shikato asked, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other.

After a moment of silence, Sakumo straightened up slightly and began to speak. “I fear it has something to do with Danzo. Maybe he tasked Orochimaru with exerting a bad influence on Kakashi. Kakashi probably wants to protect me and is trying to handle it on his own. Danzo will do everything in his power to stop me from becoming the next Hokage. I can imagine him trying to get to me through Kakashi—through Orochimaru.”

Shikato was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he considered the words. Then he slowly nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation. “And Orochimaru would certainly support Danzo in that. It’s no secret he’d benefit if Danzo became Hokage.” With a quiet sigh, the Nara leaned forward, his voice low and serious. “If that’s really the case, Sakumo, then we’re in a very dangerous situation. Why did you allow Kakashi to train with him today?”

Kakashi swallowed hard, Shikato’s words echoing in his mind. His eyes narrowed slightly as he continued to follow the conversation. He couldn’t deny it: if Sakumo suspected even a fraction of this, he had every reason to forbid the training. His father never acted carelessly. At even the slightest hint of trouble, he became cautious—sometimes even suspicious. A cold shiver ran down Kakashi’s spine as he considered what consequences this could have.

Sakumo let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping. “We already argued once when I interfered in his training. He was furious back then, and the look in his eyes was full of disappointment. I was afraid we might drift apart. We already spend so little time together, and our father-son relationship isn’t exactly the strongest. But I don’t want to damage it further. I don’t want to lose him. And the more I think about it, the more I feel that interfering again might do exactly that.”

“Sakumo …” Shikato began gently, but he didn’t get far.

With a brief gesture, Sakumo raised his hand, his gaze fixed on an invisible point. “Let it be, Shikato,” he said calmly.

“I know it’s a risk—especially if my suspicions are true,” Sakumo said firmly, his expression serious. “But I don’t need a lecture or warnings right now, Shikato.”

He took a deep breath, the tension visible on his face as he continued more calmly, “I won’t waste any time. I’ll speak to Orochimaru as soon as possible and find out what’s really going on.”

Shikato studied his friend in silence for a moment. Then he gave a slow nod, his expression thoughtful but respectful. “Alright. I’ll stay out of it—for now. But if you need help… you know you can count on me.”

Sakumo briefly closed his eyes and inclined his head in gratitude. “Thank you, old friend. I just hope I’m wrong… and that it’s not as bad as it feels.”

Kakashi, still eavesdropping quietly at the door, felt a lump forming in his throat. His father’s worry and uncertainty touched him more deeply than he’d expected. Maybe it was time to admit that he couldn’t keep hiding things from him forever.

Slowly, he moved away from the door, his thoughts swirling. If Sakumo really was going to speak with Orochimaru, then he had to be ready.