At the beginning

With his arms full of shopping bags, Minato hurried back to his apartment. He had left reluctantly that morning, preferring to stay with Kakashi. But an appointment with the Hokage could not be postponed. Kakashi had finally fallen asleep, and Minato didn’t want to wake him – the boy desperately needed rest. Just as much as he needed food and drink. So, Minato decided to make a quick trip to the market to pick up fresh groceries. Originally, he had also planned to clean the study at the Hatake estate, but the thought of leaving Kakashi alone for too long troubled him. What if the boy had already woken up?

After Kushina had left the previous evening, Minato had quietly sat down beside Kakashi's bed. As he feared, the boy was still awake, but not a single word left his lips. The silence was heavy, almost tangible. It wasn’t until the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon that Kakashi fell into a restless sleep. Minato allowed himself only a few hours on the hard chair – it was neither comfortable nor restful, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want to leave his student alone.

The next morning, Minato had no choice but to leave Kakashi for a short while, even though guilt gnawed at him. The Hokage had summoned him to discuss the next steps. As expected, Kakashi had the freedom to choose where he wanted to live. No one would force him to move in with someone. Nevertheless, Minato was officially appointed as his emergency guardian – a responsibility that would only come into play if Kakashi were seriously injured on a mission, for example. But even Minato wasn’t allowed to dictate where the boy should live.

The only positive aspect of the situation was that both Minato and Kakashi were granted temporary leave. The Hokage understood the urgency of the situation and agreed with Minato: Kakashi needed time to recover and, even more importantly, someone he could trust. Since Kakashi no longer had any relatives and Minato was the only person close to him right now, it was the best decision not to leave him alone. Minato knew that his presence was now more important than any mission.

As Minato rounded the last corner, he finally saw his apartment in front of him. He hoped that Kakashi was still asleep and hadn’t noticed that he was gone. Normally, it wouldn’t have mattered – Kakashi was used to being alone. But after everything that had happened, it felt wrong to Minato to leave him by himself. Lost in thought, he wondered how he could convince Kakashi to stay with him for the time being. The idea of the boy being alone in that house full of painful memories deeply troubled him. Here, with him, Kakashi would not only be safe but also surrounded by someone who understood him.

Quickly, Minato climbed the stairs to his apartment and opened the door with a swift motion. As soon as he stepped inside, he took off his sandals and absentmindedly pushed them aside with his foot. He set the shopping bags down before quietly closing the door behind him. But when he turned around, he froze for a moment: Kakashi stood in the hallway, his eyes wide as if something had startled him. Minato thought he saw panic in his gaze. Without hesitation, he approached and knelt right in front of him.

Gently, Minato placed his hands on Kakashi's shoulders and looked at him carefully. The boy appeared even more exhausted and pale than usual, and his body trembled slightly – likely still weak from not having eaten for so long. Minato struggled not to let his concern show too clearly and forced himself to smile softly. "How are you feeling?" he asked quietly, gently reaching for Kakashi's hand. "How's your hand? Does it still hurt?" His voice remained calm, but inwardly, he worried about his student’s condition.

Kakashi immediately pulled his hand back and took a step backward. His gaze dropped to the floor, as if trying to hide behind it. "I'm fine. My hand doesn't hurt," he muttered, trying to suppress the tremble in his voice. But Minato heard it clearly.

Minato kept his gentle smile and nodded, making an effort to hide his growing concern. He knew he had to stay strong for Kakashi. "That's good," he said calmly, never taking his eyes off the boy. "How about I make us something to eat? You must be hungry." His voice remained warm and soothing, an attempt to pull Kakashi out of his rigid stance without pressuring him.

Kakashi briefly glanced at Minato, as if weighing his words. For a moment, he seemed uncertain before he eventually nodded and looked away again, as though even that small agreement had been too much for him. Minato watched him closely, but uncertainty gnawed at him – he wasn’t sure if Kakashi truly agreed or was just giving in to avoid further discussion.

Minato nodded with satisfaction and slowly stood up. "Alright, I'll make us something to eat," he said with a warm smile. "If you like, you can keep me company." With those words, he grabbed the shopping bags and headed into the kitchen to put away the fresh groceries.

As he unpacked the supplies and prepared the ingredients for cooking, he could sense Kakashi’s presence without needing to look. The boy stood silently in the doorway, his eyes intently watching Minato, yet he said nothing. Minato wasn’t fazed by the silence – sometimes just being there was enough. He continued laying out the first ingredients for cooking, hoping that the simple routine might bring the boy some comfort.

Minato hesitated as he spread the ingredients across the counter. Should he start a conversation? Doubt crept over him. Should he try to say something normal to ease the tension? Or would it be better to address what had happened directly? The atmosphere in the room felt heavy and unfamiliar, almost foreign. It wasn’t like before, when the silence between them had been light and carefree.

Kakashi stood silently in the doorway, not saying a word. It seemed as though he just wanted to make sure he wasn’t alone. Perhaps that was why he had looked so frightened when Minato found him in the hallway earlier. Maybe fear had overcome him when he woke up and found no one there. But Minato knew Kakashi would never admit it, even if he asked. It was probably better to say nothing and simply offer the reassurance Kakashi needed in that moment.

Once Minato had put away the last of the groceries and set out the ingredients, he began chopping the vegetables. The rhythmic tapping of the knife broke the silence as he glanced over his shoulder at Kakashi, who still stood quietly in the doorway. "Do you want to help me?" Minato asked gently, his voice calm and inviting. It was a careful attempt to draw the boy out of his silent observation and give him a sense of normalcy.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment before finally nodding and slowly walking over to Minato. Without saying anything, Minato quickly set out a second cutting board and knife. Kakashi pulled a chair up to the kitchen counter and climbed onto it so he could reach the workspace. “Here, you can cut this,” Minato said calmly, handing him some vegetables. It was a simple task, but for now, it was enough to give Kakashi a bit of distraction – and maybe, to pull him a little out of his inner retreat.

Satisfied, Minato watched as Kakashi began cutting the vegetables. Perhaps this simple task would help the boy organize his thoughts and distract him for a while. But although Minato wished it could be that easy, he knew it would likely take much more to truly reach Kakashi. Still, every small step mattered, and maybe this was a start.

It didn’t take long for the meal to be ready. Minato had chosen something quick but healthy. Throughout the entire preparation, Kakashi remained silent, and after finishing the vegetable chopping, he withdrew again. But his eyes stayed fixed on Minato, as though ensuring he wouldn’t disappear unexpectedly.

Minato felt uncertainty rising within him. Should he say something? Although Kakashi was showing a bit more engagement today than he had the day before, his behavior was still troubling. This boy, who was normally so independent and guarded, now seemed vulnerable, almost clingy. It was clear that the recent events had left deep scars, and Minato felt helpless. He knew Kakashi was traumatized, but he wasn’t sure how to handle it.

With a warm smile, Minato set the two plates on the table and looked over at Kakashi. "Come, let’s eat," he said gently. Hesitantly, Kakashi moved and sat down at the table, his gaze fixed on the food as though it was the only thing he could hold onto at that moment. Minato sat across from him, watching him carefully, trying to keep the atmosphere as relaxed as possible.

When Kakashi still hadn’t started eating after a few moments, Minato cleared his throat softly and leaned forward a little. "Aren’t you hungry?" he asked gently, hoping to pull the boy out of his thoughts. Kakashi continued staring at his plate, as though wrestling with himself.

After a brief moment, Kakashi glanced up, then hesitantly pulled down his mask and reached for his chopsticks. Slowly, he began to eat, but his movements were mechanical, as if hunger wasn’t the reason he was eating. Minato took a few bites as well, though he kept throwing concerned glances at his student. The silence that settled over the room was heavy and uncomfortable, almost palpable. Minato wondered how to break the emptiness between them, how to start a conversation to reach Kakashi, even a little.

But before he could find a way to break the silence, Kakashi spoke quietly and unexpectedly. "Where were you this morning?" His voice was barely more than a whisper as he set his chopsticks down and looked directly at Minato.

Minato raised an eyebrow slightly, noticing that Kakashi had only taken two bites. He chose not to comment on it and instead focused on the question. "I was with the Hokage," he explained calmly. He hesitated for a moment, unsure how much to say. But then he decided to be honest. Kakashi would find out soon enough anyway. "We were talking about what comes next for you," he added gently, searching his student's eyes carefully.

Kakashi’s eyes widened for a moment, as if fear had caught up with him like a shadow. He quickly looked away, his hands clenching into tight fists. "Did I… did I do something wrong?" His voice was tense, filled with uncertainty and self-doubt. Then he lifted his head again, meeting Minato’s gaze directly, and a deep pain reflected in his eyes. "I couldn’t… I couldn’t do anything for him." The words came out almost desperately, as though in that moment he was revealing all the guilt and helplessness he had been holding inside.

"No, Kakashi!" Minato couldn’t hide the alarm in his voice. Of course, Kakashi blamed himself—he should have seen it coming. "You didn’t do anything wrong!" he emphasized firmly, his eyes fixed on the boy. "We were only discussing where you’ll stay now and that we both have some time off to recover." Minato spoke in a calm, gentle tone, trying to ease Kakashi’s tension with a reassuring smile. Even though he wanted to pull him into a comforting embrace, he held back. Kakashi needed space, and Minato was determined to give it to him, no matter how hard it was.

Kakashi lowered his gaze, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I don’t need time off, I’m fine." But Minato could hear the tremble in his words. The boy remained silent for a moment before his hands tightened into fists. "When can I go home?" he finally asked, the tension in his body unmistakable.

Minato felt a pang in his chest at Kakashi’s question. Home… He knew that the house Kakashi wanted to return to was now just a place filled with painful memories. Yet he understood why the boy wanted to go back—it was the only place he knew, the only place that offered him some semblance of normalcy.

"Kakashi," Minato began cautiously, "I understand you want to go home, but… maybe you should stay here a little longer, just until you’ve had some time to rest." He paused, making sure his words didn’t sound like a command but more like an offer. "It wouldn’t be good for you to be alone right now."

Kakashi didn’t look at him, his gaze fixed on the floor. His shoulders twitched slightly, as if he were battling something inside. "I’ve always been alone," he murmured softly, almost as if he were saying it more to himself.

Minato’s heart ached as he felt the silence between them. The words caught in his throat, especially as he realized that Kakashi was right. His mother had been gone for so long, a shadow in his memory that he had never really known. His father, constantly on missions, had pushed Kakashi into a world where he had to fend for himself at an early age. The boy had been forced to take care of himself for so long—too soon, and in a world full of loss and pain.

The current situation only made it worse. Kakashi shouldn’t be alone—not now, and certainly not in that house filled with haunting memories. Minato knew he had to protect him from that isolation somehow. But how do you protect someone who is so used to fighting on their own?

Minato took a deep breath, searching for the right words, and then slowly leaned back in his chair. His eyes remained on Kakashi, filled with warmth and understanding. "How about this," he began gently, "you stay with me until the funeral? We can take care of everything together, and then we’ll figure things out after that." A reassuring smile played on his lips as he tried to ease the weight of the situation. "You don’t have to go through this alone, Kakashi. You’re always welcome with me—anytime."

Kakashi stared at the floor for a moment, as if Minato’s words were slowly sinking in. His shoulders remained tense, but a small, barely noticeable twitch suggested that he was considering the offer. He looked up, his eyes searching Minato’s, as if looking for some kind of reassurance. He exhaled slowly before finally murmuring, "Okay."

Minato let out a quiet sigh of relief. It was just a small step, but it gave him a few precious days to convince Kakashi to stay longer. Deep down, he knew the boy didn’t really want to return to that house—the memories were too painful. But Kakashi was too proud to admit that.

"Good," Minato said softly, "let’s finish eating then. Tomorrow we can start preparing for the funeral." He picked up his chopsticks again but paused before resuming his meal. His eyes rested on Kakashi, who still seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the plate. "Kakashi?" Minato asked quietly.

Kakashi slowly lifted his eyes to meet Minato’s. Minato held the gaze, calm and patient, and when he was sure he had the boy’s full attention, he continued.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" His voice was gentle, though the concern was clear beneath the surface. It wasn’t an easy question, but Minato knew it had to be asked at some point.

For a moment, they held each other’s gaze. But then Kakashi broke the connection, looking away and reaching for his chopsticks. "There’s nothing to talk about," he said quietly, his voice cold and distant, as though he were trying to shut down any further discussion.

Minato felt the icy wall Kakashi had built around himself more clearly than ever. The words sounded final, almost like a door slamming shut in front of him. But Minato knew his student well enough to recognize that behind this façade lay deep pain and despair.

Minato sighed inwardly as he realized that pushing wouldn't get him anywhere. Instead, he lowered his gaze to his plate and nodded slightly, as if accepting Kakashi's decision. "Whenever you're ready to talk, Kakashi... I'm here. You don't have to go through this alone." His voice was calm, almost a whisper, as he spoke the words. He wanted his student to know that he was there—without expectations, without pressure.

Carefully, he lifted his head to look at Kakashi once more. The boy continued eating, seemingly unaffected by Minato's offer, his expression closed off and emotionless. It was as if he had walled himself off in a fortress of silence, and Minato knew he couldn’t force a response.

Sighing quietly, he began to eat. But his thoughts kept drifting, searching for a way to reach Kakashi. It felt like the boy was breaking right before his eyes, and Minato didn’t know how to help him.

But he knew he had to be patient. Kakashi had been through so much, and trust wasn’t something that could be demanded. Minato would have to wait, to bide his time for the right moment, when Kakashi would be ready to let down the walls he had built around himself. Until then, all he could do was show that he was there—quiet, but steadfast.

The dinner passed in heavy silence. Minato kept glancing at Kakashi out of the corner of his eye, searching for any sign that the boy might want to say something, but he found none. It was as if Kakashi had completely withdrawn into himself. His face remained expressionless, his movements mechanical, as if eating was just a chore he wanted to get over with.

After they finished, with Kakashi having eaten only half of his food, Minato stood up, cleared the dishes, and washed them in silence. Kakashi sat motionless, staring ahead as if lost in thought. Minato wanted to give him space, but at the same time, he wished the boy would give him even the smallest sign that he didn’t completely reject his presence.

"Would you like to do something?" Minato asked cautiously as he sat back down with Kakashi. "Maybe take a walk? Or we could read something." It was an attempt to bring back a little normalcy, a small offer to help Kakashi at least distract himself.

Kakashi barely shrugged, "I don’t care," he muttered, not lifting his eyes from the empty table.

Minato closed his eyes for a moment, battling the feeling of helplessness that overwhelmed him. "How about we just take it easy? You could rest, and I'll stay here if you need me," he suggested gently.

Kakashi didn’t respond immediately. Eventually, he stood up, slowly and almost reluctantly, as if fighting an invisible weight. Without another word, he headed toward the small guest room. Minato watched him go, his heart heavy with worry.

The night dragged on, and the uncertainty gnawed at Minato. He knew that the wounds Kakashi carried within him ran deeper than any physical injury. It might take a long time before he could truly talk about it—but Minato was willing to wait. He would be there, whenever Kakashi was ready to share the burden.

Later, as the apartment was shrouded in darkness and Minato lay in his own bed, he heard the faint sound of footsteps in the hallway. It was almost like a whisper in the shadows. Kakashi, Minato thought immediately.

Minato sat up and listened. The footsteps stopped in front of his bedroom door. For a moment, there was silence, and then he heard the door quietly creak open. A shadow slipped into the room.

"Kakashi?" Minato whispered softly into the darkness.

The boy didn’t respond, but Minato could sense his presence, hearing the faint sound of his breathing. A moment later, he saw a small figure kneel beside his bed, as if searching for something it couldn’t quite find.

Minato remained still, his eyes fixed on Kakashi. Then, cautiously, like a wounded animal seeking shelter, Kakashi leaned against the bed, resting his forehead on the edge of the mattress. No words were spoken, but Minato understood.

Gently, he placed a hand on Kakashi's head, softly running his fingers through the boy’s messy hair. Kakashi didn’t move, but Minato could feel the tension slowly easing. This is the beginning, he thought. It would be a long road ahead, but perhaps this was the first step toward healing.