At the beginning

Minato waited outside the arena where the Chunin Exam battles would soon take place. These matches would be held without spectators—only the Jonin senseis and the other Genin participants were present. Perhaps that was for the best, as civilians might have judged Kakashi more harshly and failed to recognize his talent. The Shinobi, on the other hand, would undoubtedly acknowledge Kakashi’s abilities, even if they didn’t show it openly.

In the past few weeks, Minato had taken advantage of the training break with Kakashi to focus intensely on his own progress and refine his Jutsu. This time also allowed him to enjoy valuable moments of peace with Kushina. Even though he had to go on short missions occasionally, he was able to fully enjoy the past few weeks.

Still, Minato had missed his student. They had spent almost every day together over the past few months, and Kakashi had grown close to him. Kakashi was simply a part of Minato’s life. Although the upcoming battles worried him a bit, he looked forward to seeing Kakashi again.

It didn’t take long for Kakashi to appear, his eyes sparkling with determination as he approached Minato. Minato smiled and crouched down to get a closer look at Kakashi. “Hello, Kakashi! It’s so good to see you again. How are you? Did you have a good time with your father?”

“Hello, Sensei. I’m doing well,” Kakashi replied firmly. “I’m fully prepared for the fight and will show the others what I can do.”

Minato smiled warmly. “I have no doubt about that.”

Kakashi turned slightly away, watching the other Genin heading toward the arena. “We should go in; the matches will start soon,” he said. Before Kakashi could make his way, Minato gently placed a hand on his shoulder and turned him around. Kakashi looked at him questioningly. “What is it, Sensei?”

Before speaking, Minato took a deep breath and withdrew his hand. “I want you to know that no matter how it turns out, I’m incredibly proud of you.”

“Sensei!” Kakashi complained, rolling his eyes, but Minato noticed the smile hidden behind Kakashi’s mask. “You’ve said that enough times already.” Then he paused and lowered his gaze, embarrassed. “I… I also wanted to thank you. Thanks for being there for me these past weeks.” He almost whispered it, nervously shuffling his feet on the ground.

For a moment, Minato was speechless before he gave in to his emotions and pulled Kakashi into a warm hug. “I was happy to do it,” he said softly, “and I’ll always be there for you, no matter if you become a Chunin or not.”

For a brief moment, Kakashi leaned into the hug before quickly pulling away and taking a few steps toward the arena. “Come on, Sensei! I don’t want to be late for my match.”

With a smile, Minato stood up and watched Kakashi for a moment before following him into the arena. He was surprised at how relaxed and balanced Kakashi seemed—a state he hadn’t seen in him since Sakumo’s mission. This was undoubtedly a positive sign that the last few weeks with Sakumo had gone well. Perhaps father and son had grown closer again and were able to enjoy their time together.

Together, they entered the arena and reached the platform that offered a full view of the battlefield. As they climbed the stairs, they were immediately met with skeptical looks directed at Kakashi. Protectively, Minato placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder and guided him safely past the others. They positioned themselves at the end of the platform, a bit off to the side. Minato stood in front of Kakashi, shielding him from the stares.

Once everyone had arrived, the Hokage stepped forward and gave a brief speech. After that, he announced the order of the matches. Kakashi's fight would be the second one, with Kaito, a member of Kakashi’s team for the Chunin Exam, kicking things off.

Kaito and his opponent faced each other, and with a whistle, the match began. Minato watched the action closely, impressed by Kaito's progress. The boy had clearly trained hard in recent weeks and significantly improved his skills. During the fight, Minato glanced at the Hyuuga who would be Kakashi's opponent. He appeared calm and focused, his attention fully on the current battle.

Minato then looked at Kakashi, who was watching the fight with tense focus. He leaned down toward the boy, and Kakashi looked at him curiously. “I’m not sure exactly what Sakumo taught you over the past few weeks,” Minato whispered, “but I want to give you one more piece of advice. Your opponent seems confident, and I suspect he might underestimate you. Use that to your advantage.”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow and quickly glanced over Minato's shoulder at the Hyuuga. “Do you want me to hold back?” he asked, his voice full of curiosity but also tinged with a bit of doubt.

“Exactly!” Minato replied with a slight smile. “Hold back a bit at the start and don’t show your full potential right away. Let him think he has the upper hand. Wait for the perfect moment, then strike. A battle isn’t always about attacking with everything you’ve got right away. Sometimes it’s smarter to observe your opponent’s abilities first and assess them properly.”

Kakashi focused back on Minato, letting his words sink in for a moment. Then he nodded resolutely. “That makes sense. I’ll do just that.”

Minato tousled his hair affectionately and nodded in approval. “The most important thing is to take good care of yourself. If necessary, use your full abilities from the start. I want you to finish the fight without any serious injuries.”

“Of course, Sensei, you don’t need to worry,” Kakashi reassured him and turned his attention back to the fight. “I don’t intend to lose. Today, I’m going to leave this arena as a Chunin.”

Minato observed his student for a moment, then stood up and nodded in agreement. “You absolutely will.”

Minato turned his attention back to the fight. Just at that moment, Kaito landed a decisive blow, and his opponent fell to the ground, unable to get back up. The match was declared over, and Kaito was celebrated as the winner. The spectators clapped in acknowledgment, and Kakashi joined in the applause while looking up at Minato. “Kaito has really improved,” he remarked calmly.

Minato nodded in agreement. “He really has.” Then he looked back at Kakashi. “Now you should focus on your own fight. Remember what I told you, and good luck. I’ll be here to support you—you’ve got this.”

Kakashi nodded and replied confidently, “Thank you, Sensei!”

In the next moment, Kakashi's name was called. Minato and Kakashi exchanged one last glance and nodded to each other encouragingly before Kakashi made his way to the arena. Minato took a deep breath, hoping everything would turn out well. Despite his confidence in Kakashi, his tension was rising. As Kakashi approached the battlefield, Minato overheard the whispered conversation of the others. One Jonin expressed hope that the Hyuuga would teach Kakashi a lesson. Minato had to restrain himself from responding and instead focused all his attention back on Kakashi.

Kakashi focused his gaze on the battlefield as the final preparations for his upcoming match were being made. His opponent, a Hyuuga, was already in position, exuding a calm confidence. The Hyuuga was a little tall and brawny for his age. It made Kakashi look almost small in comparison. The Hyuuga's relaxed stance gave off an air of boredom, as if the upcoming fight were merely a formality for him. Kakashi, however, was deep in thought, his concentration unwavering. With a deep breath, he gathered his resolve and stepped firmly onto the battlefield, ready to face the challenge ahead.

Minato watched tensely as Kakashi took his position. The crowd fell silent as the fight officially began. Kakashi adopted a defensive stance, ready to counter his opponent's first move. The Hyuuga quickly rushed at him, and a swift exchange of strikes and blocks ensued. To Minato's surprise, the Hyuuga relied solely on Taijutsu, choosing not to activate his Byakugan. His confidence in not using that technique might prove to be a mistake, Minato thought. This situation confirmed his suspicion and could potentially give Kakashi a crucial advantage.

Minato noted quickly that Kakashi was implementing the strategy he suggested — and to great effect. The boy was seemingly starting to get a feel for the Hyuuga's technique. He was dodging or deflecting the Hyuuga's punches and kicks more cleanly as the battle wore on. Minato could also see that Kakashi had grown since this all began. He'd always been advanced but Minato used to worry about Kakashi's reaction time; for some reason, the boy always seemed a hair slow to put up a hand to block an attack. Minato had frequently worried that split-second hesitation would lead to trouble for his student. Now, the problem seemed all but fixed.

Minato's burgeoning hopes were knocked down alongside Kakashi as the boy fell from a kick to his chest and was left lying on the ground and gasping for breath. Before Kakashi could get back up, his opponent surged forward to loom over him; his hands up and ready to land another blow on Minato's student. He gripped the railing around the arena tightly as the Hyuuga went in for the kill. Minato sighed with relief when, at the last possible moment, Kakashi managed to block the attack, sprang to his feet, and created some distance between them. Still gasping for air, Kakashi pushed out his chest and turned to face the Hyuuga head-on.

Minato's nervousness grew as Kakashi continued to hold back during the Hyuuga's onslaught. Instead of fighting back, Kakashi continued to block his opponent's punches and kicks. Now, though, as he started to fatigue, more of the Hyuuga's strikes were hitting their marks on Kakashi's body. Minato could hardly stay still. He was growing desperate for Kakashi to turn the tables and win the fight.

Despite his unease, it was easy to see the effect of Sakumo's training on Kakashi's technique. His Taijutus had improved by leaps and bounds. But it was clear that the boy was patiently waiting for the perfect moment to counterattack.

The longer the fight went on, the more Minato’s tension grew. He began to regret his advice, as Kakashi continued to hold back even though his situation was becoming increasingly critical. It was clear that the boy was in pain, and his strength was beginning to wane. But the Hyuuga was also showing signs of fatigue; his guard was slipping, and he started making mistakes.

Minato watched the fight with growing tension as Kakashi tapped into his last reserves. Every hit Kakashi took increased Minato's worry. But then, a spark of excitement lit up in Kakashi's eyes. He had identified his opponent's weakness and knew that the decisive moment had arrived.

The Hyuuga launched another strike, this time aiming for Kakashi's torso. But Kakashi was ready. With a swift sidestep, he dodged the attack and ducked under the Hyuuga's arm. Before his opponent could react, Kakashi launched his own counterattack.

A precise kick from Kakashi struck the Hyuuga on the side of the knee, causing him to falter momentarily. Kakashi seized the opportunity immediately. With a fluid movement, he stepped closer, spun around, and delivered a powerful elbow strike directly to the Hyuuga's side. The blow hit its mark, knocking the wind out of the Hyuuga. Before he could recover, Kakashi followed up with a forceful kick to the chest, sending the Hyuuga crashing to the ground.

The Hyuuga tried to get back on his feet, but Kakashi was faster. He leaped toward him and held a kunai close to his face, the tip pointed directly at his opponent's throat. The referees quickly noticed the signal and declared the match over.

Minato couldn’t help but widen his eyes in admiration as he watched Kakashi’s technique. Every movement bore the unmistakable mark of Sakumo's training.

A heavy silence settled over the arena. Kakashi's gaze drifted to the few spectators, and Minato felt his heart tighten. Unlike the previous match, there was no applause; only an oppressive silence filled the air. For a fleeting moment, a hint of pain was visible in Kakashi’s eyes. Without hesitation, Minato moved to meet his student. To break the tense silence, the Hokage raised his voice and praised Kakashi's impressive performance.

Minato reached the edge of the battlefield just in time as the Hyuuga walked past him without a word. A few steps behind, Kakashi approached, visibly exhausted. Minato immediately knelt down, placed his hands firmly on Kakashi's shoulders, and looked him in the eyes with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice full of care.

Kakashi only nodded silently, his gaze fixed on the ground. Minato sighed quietly, gently ruffled his hair, and smiled encouragingly. “Hey, it's all right. You won and fought exceptionally well. I’m really proud of you.”

"I hoped to convince the others, but it seems I didn’t succeed," Kakashi murmured quietly, the disappointment evident in his voice.

Minato gently increased the pressure of his hands and maintained his encouraging smile. "No one can deny that you fought brilliantly and more than earned this victory. No matter what others say, you should be proud of yourself and enjoy this moment." He paused briefly, then placed a hand under Kakashi's chin, lifting his face so their eyes met. "I’m incredibly proud of you, and you should be too. Now, let’s watch the rest of the matches and be happy that you came out as the winner.”

Kakashi held Minato’s gaze for a moment before finally nodding, and together they returned to the platform. Despite Minato’s efforts to cheer him up, he could feel the disappointment in Kakashi, even though he tried to hide it. Especially when the others’ eyes were once again on him, Minato could sense the tension that gripped his student. He wished nothing more than to lift the burden from Kakashi’s shoulders so the boy could simply enjoy his victory.