At the beginning

Kakashi jolted awake suddenly, his breathing heavy. Beads of sweat adorned his forehead. After a few deep breaths, he slowly calmed down – it was just a dream. His gaze fell on the clock; it was still early. Nevertheless, he decided to get up without attempting another try at sleep. Slowly, he walked down the hallway and stopped at the door to his father's bedroom. Sakumo had left for a mission ten days ago. Although he would have preferred to crawl into his father's bed, snuggle up to him, and seek comfort, he suppressed that impulse since he entered the academy. As a Genin, he tried to be brave.

Kakashi turned away from the bedroom door and quietly entered the bathroom to prepare for the day. After washing up and changing into fresh clothes, he headed to the kitchen. There, he prepared himself breakfast and brewed tea. With everything set on the table, he sat down, paused for a moment, clasped his hands together, and bowed his head. "Enjoy your meal," he whispered softly and then began to eat.

Although he valued solitude and even enjoyed the silence, Kakashi longed for the familiar presence of his father after a night plagued by nightmares. Lately, it had been rare for Kakashi to go to his father to share his bad dreams. The times when he cuddled with his father for comfort were long gone. It wasn't his father's fault; it was Kakashi himself. He withdrew. Kakashi was a shinobi now. Sometimes, just knowing his father was there was enough for him. But on this morning, that assurance was missing, and so Kakashi swallowed down his loneliness as he continued his breakfast.

Kakashi thought about Minato-Sensei and today's training. They had been training together for two weeks now. Kakashi liked Minato and respected him as an impressive shinobi. However, he held back to avoid getting into trouble again. The day after their first joint training, Minato had talked to him, apologized, and explained his reasons. Kakashi had never intended to criticize Minato; he had just been impatient, wanting to learn something new but expressing it in the wrong way. Frustrated, Kakashi tried to avoid such situations, feeling that he and Minato couldn't find a common rhythm.

Maybe it only looked that way to Kakashi. Minato didn't complain. He was always polite and friendly. Kakashi didn't know how to respond, couldn't reciprocate. Of course, he was polite and listened to Minato. He carefully considered what he said. If he wasn't sure, he just nodded in response. All he wanted was not to upset Minato again. He was proud to be a Genin and afraid that Minato would reject him as a student if he misbehaved. Then he would probably have to go back to the academy and disappoint his father. Kakashi feared that Minato wanted to talk to his father when he accompanied him home after the first training. He thought Minato wanted to tell him how impossible Kakashi was. But his father said nothing when he entered the house. So Kakashi said nothing either.

Overall, Kakashi was satisfied with the training, even if not everything met his expectations. He was particularly bothered by the frequency of the breaks. In his opinion, there were too many – three in total, two short ones and one longer. Kakashi cautiously considered whether he should point out that he needed fewer breaks. However, Minato explained in detail why sufficient breaks were important. Sometimes Kakashi felt that the many breaks were due to his young age. In addition, he found the daily chakra control exercises annoying. He believed he already mastered them and didn't need further practice. However, Minato emphasized the importance of precise chakra control. Although Kakashi knew Minato was not wrong, this led to an almost hour-long discussion until Minato reminded him who the sensei was. Kakashi apologized, calling himself a fool for forgetting to behave appropriately.

Kakashi finished his breakfast, leaving the kitchen in an orderly state. Determined, he headed to the garden where it was still early enough to do warm-up exercises. After about an hour of training, he closed his eyes and immersed himself in meditation, a practice his father had taught him to organize his thoughts. However, the nightmare lingered within him, not an uncommon occurrence, especially when his father was on a mission. These dreams, occurring irregularly, often revolved around the worry for his father not returning from a mission and the accompanying loneliness.

After half an hour, Kakashi had to admit that he couldn't find peace. Resolutely, he packed his things, pulled his mask over his face, and set out. It would be almost two hours before he would meet Minato. Normally, Kakashi was always early, and he knew Minato would come earlier as well. It was never explicitly stated, but Kakashi was aware that Minato adjusted to him in return.

Kakashi buried his hands in his pockets and strolled through the empty streets of the village. It was still very early, and the village was slowly coming to life. This time was Kakashi's favorite – quiet and away from the hectic bustle of the village.

Arriving at the training ground, he settled comfortably under a tree and attempted to meditate again. To be optimally prepared for training, it was important to organize his thoughts. However, the nightmare proved persistent, and it didn't take long before he heard footsteps. Kakashi opened his eyes and saw Minato approaching. Slowly, Kakashi stood up, suppressing his emotions, and looked up at Minato, who greeted him with a smile. "Good morning, Kakashi!"

Kakashi returned the greeting with a tired smile hidden behind his mask. "Good morning, Minato-Sensei."

Minato's gaze became somewhat serious as he examined Kakashi closely. Kakashi looked at Minato curiously, waiting for him to say something. Minato squatted in front of Kakashi and observed him seriously. "Is everything okay with you? You look a bit tired today."

Kakashi took a step back, feeling uneasy. "Everything's fine, Sensei. Can we start?" Minato paused for a moment, then nodded and stood up.

"Today, I have a surprise for you. We'll be changing up the training a bit." A broad, albeit slightly uncertain, grin appeared on Minato's face. Kakashi raised an eyebrow, looking at Minato with anticipation. Minato continued, "We'll train as usual until noon, and then we have a mission."

Kakashi's eyes widened; it was his first mission. Immediately, he tried to appear more composed. "What kind of mission is it?" he asked curiously.

Minato scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "Well, it's nothing special, but it's a mission. A D-rank..."

Kakashi deflated a bit. He should have known better. "A D-rank? Aren't we too skilled for such trivial missions? Are we going to weed a garden?" he interjected, crossing his arms and eyeing Minato suspiciously.

Minato maintained his smile and responded kindly, "Kakashi, a mission is a mission. There are no trivial missions. We need to find a cat, and it's quite important; someone is worried about it."

Still skeptical, Kakashi looked at Minato. He knew his sensei was trying to spin the mission in a positive light. While Kakashi was well aware that every mission had a purpose, he couldn't deny feeling underwhelmed. "Searching for a cat?" he muttered, furrowing his brow.

Minato seemed to sense Kakashi's dissatisfaction, but he remained composed. "Yes, a cat. It may seem simple, but every mission presents learning opportunities. Sometimes, seemingly straightforward tasks harbor unexpected challenges. You can learn a lot about tracking and observation."

Kakashi sighed and nodded reluctantly. He knew Minato was right, even though he had secretly hoped for something more exciting. "Alright, Minato-Sensei. Let's find that cat."

Minato clapped his hands lightly. "Good, Kakashi! Let's start with our morning training, and afterward, we'll embark on the quest to locate the missing cat. It will be interesting, I promise."

They began their usual training routine, warming up and going through their customary chakra control exercises. Following that, they engaged in a practice spar against each other. However, Kakashi was frustrated; it didn't go as smoothly as usual. His concentration was lacking, and he made more mistakes than usual. Minato didn't say anything, but Kakashi felt that his sensei noticed.

After finishing the spar, they took their first break. Disappointed with his own performance, Kakashi reached for his water bottle and took a sip. Then, he sat down in the grass, pulled his legs to his chest, and clasped his arms around them. He needed to refocus; the rough night weighed heavily on his bones and wore him down.

He was abruptly pulled from his thoughts as Minato sat down beside him. Kakashi looked over to the blond. Minato's legs were stretched out, his upper body leaning slightly backward as he supported himself with his arms. His gaze was cheerful and relaxed, directed towards the sky. "Hey, Kakashi, is your father still on a mission?"

For a moment, Kakashi looked at Minato with confusion before averting his gaze and nodding. "Yeah, he said it might take longer."

Minato sat up, crossing his legs. "You must miss him, huh?"

Kakashi clenched his fists. He was aware that Minato noticed something was off, but he had no interest in talking about it. Sure, he missed his father, especially on a day like today after that unpleasant night. Nevertheless, he shrugged and shook his head. "Nah, I'm used to it. Dad is often on missions, sometimes for a while. I like being alone and enjoy my independence." It wasn't entirely a lie, at least not all of it.

Overall, Kakashi didn't mind being alone. He had gotten used to it and didn't know any different. His father had always been on many extended missions. When he was younger, Sakumo had arranged babysitters for him. Over time, they became annoying, and Kakashi had convinced his father that he could stay alone. Of course, he had to promise to take care of himself: get enough sleep, eat properly. Kakashi adhered to these agreements not only to avoid annoying babysitters but also because he knew it was important.

"I understand." Minato kept his gaze into the distance. Kakashi glanced at him briefly before looking down at his knees. They lapsed into a comfortable silence, enjoying the warmth of the sun. After a while, Minato asked, "When I arrived earlier, were you meditating?"

Kakashi rested his head on his knees, observing a small beetle crawling through the grass. "Yeah, my dad suggested it. He said it's important to stay balanced. I usually do it in the morning and evening. Sometimes with Dad too."

Minato nodded in understanding. "If you'd like, we can incorporate that into our training routine. It would fit well after the lunch break. What do you think?"

Kakashi lifted his head and looked at Minato. He considered it for a moment. Actually, there would be nothing against it. It would help to stay focused even after the lunch break. "Sounds good."

Minato looked at Kakashi and smiled. "Very well, then I'll integrate that into our training schedule starting tomorrow." Minato laid back, stretching his legs. With his eyes closed, he added, "Five more minutes, and then we'll resume the training."

"Hai!" Kakashi rested his head back on his knees, sinking once again into his thoughts. Sometimes he wondered what it would be like if a mother were waiting for him at home, welcoming him and asking about his day. He could only imagine it. His mother died when he was still a baby, and he knew very little about her. His father rarely spoke of her. But Kakashi accepted it, just as he accepted always being alone.

He couldn't deny that it was sometimes painful, especially when he entered the academy. Seeing the other children, he wanted to belong, to play with them. But he didn't know how. It didn't go well from the start. In his first attempt to connect with them, they refused to let him join in. He was too young, and they thought he couldn't keep up. When he tried to prove them wrong and showed what he could do, they considered him a show-off and pushed him away. Kakashi was hurt and felt lonely. So, he focused on learning and learned to accept it.

While Kakashi knew he had always been a loner, often holding back and enjoying time alone with his training, he still hoped to find friends at the academy, especially with whom he could train together, particularly when his father wasn't around. However, when his father was present, he cherished the time with him, proudly displaying what he had learned, seeking advice, and enjoying their shared moments of meditation.

But something had changed. Kakashi didn't understand it at first, but a few days ago, when his father had already been away for four days, he found himself looking forward to the training. Which, in itself, wasn't unusual. Kakashi realized that he also looked forward to the company of Minato. Of course, he kept it to himself, not wanting to show any weakness. He still wasn't sure what Minato thought of him, and doubts about whether they could form a good team persisted. Nevertheless, he enjoyed the training and the escape from the loneliness that awaited him every evening at home.

Next to Kakashi, Minato stood up, stretched once, and then held out a hand to Kakashi. "Come on, let's continue. I'd like to show you a new exercise." Minato smiled down at Kakashi.

Kakashi's eyes sparkled with joy. The prospect of learning something new lifted his spirits. He took Minato's hand and let himself be pulled to his feet. "Hai, Sensei!"

Minato led Kakashi to the center of the training ground and said, "Let's get started! After that, we'll find a cat!" Kakashi couldn't help but smile. He looked forward to learning something new, but he wasn't as motivated to find a cat.

_________________________________

"That went quite well," remarked Minato, and Kakashi shot Minato a brief annoyed look. He was covered in many small scratches. They had just come out of the Hokage Tower after submitting their report.

Kakashi was annoyed. He knew this mission was going to be dumb. As they strolled through the streets, he put his hands in his pockets and kicked a small stone. "We took almost three hours to find that stupid cat! I wouldn't label that as good work."

Minato chuckled a bit, clearly amused by Kakashi's situation. After all, it was Kakashi who had chased after that cat. "Do you not like cats?"

"From today on, I don't like cats anymore!" declared Kakashi, shrugging slightly, and added, "Dogs are much better anyway."

Kakashi observed Minato's surprised expression. Apparently, he hadn't expected this response. Kakashi never really talked much; there was no reason to. Minato, on the other hand, was different; he liked to talk a lot. It was okay; Kakashi just listened. "Good to know. I'll keep that in mind; maybe our next mission will have something to do with dogs. Perhaps we'll take them for a walk," Minato pondered, rubbing his chin.

Kakashi shot Minato a dark look. He had hoped that their next missions would be much more interesting. But probably, walking a dog was better than searching for a cat. Somehow, Kakashi found it nice that Minato was considering things, but he didn't show it. "As you wish, Minato-Sensei."

Minato stopped and chuckled lightly. Then he looked at Kakashi with a friendly smile, who had also come to a halt. "You did really well today. I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, Minato-Sensei! When we're done for today, I'll head home." Kakashi glanced at Minato; he nodded in response. As a farewell, Kakashi raised a hand and turned around.

Just as he was about to walk away, Minato stopped him. "Wait a moment, Kakashi!"

Turning around inquisitively, Kakashi asked, "Is there anything else, Sensei?"

Minato seemed slightly nervous, as Kakashi noticed. "I'm meeting Kushina in a bit, and we're planning to grab some Ramen together. Would you like to join us?" Minato asked, smiling cheerfully at Kakashi.

He turned around with wide eyes. Minato's offer overwhelmed him. Never before had Kakashi been invited to join, never had he been asked if he wanted to participate. A warm feeling spread in his chest. However, he quickly shook his head; he couldn't accept the offer. "It's okay, Sensei, but I'm sure your friend wouldn't want me to join. Besides, I don't have any money with me." He tried to sound as indifferent as possible.

Minato took a step closer to Kakashi. "Oh, nonsense! She'll be happy to have you. She's been wanting to meet you anyway. And don't worry about the money; I'll cover it. Consider it a gift for our first mission together."

Kakashi was overwhelmed. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. His gaze wandered around before settling on Minato. "I don't know, I can't accept that."

Minato chuckled briefly before crouching down in front of Kakashi. "Come on, Kakashi! There's no one at home anyway; you'd just be alone. I really don't mind, and it would make me very happy! Besides, you can leave anytime if you don't enjoy it."

Minato looked at Kakashi expectantly. After a moment of consideration, Kakashi nodded. There was nothing against it, and Minato was right. There was no one at home. It would probably be okay. So Kakashi nodded in response.

Minato jumped up again, visibly pleased. "Great! Then come along; you'll surely like Kushina!"

Placing a hand on Kakashi's shoulder, Minato led him through the streets. Kakashi was tempted to shake off the hand, but it wouldn't hurt to enjoy the warmth of the touch for a brief moment. Just a short moment.