Spoilers in both the story and the A/N at the end.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 1

It has been three months since the Kannabi bridge mission, and Team Minato is not the same anymore. A month ago, Namikaze Minato was inaugurated as the Fourth Hokage of Konoha. Rin was no longer a field-active kunoichi, but rather, was called in to the hospital to refine her skills. Kakashi, well, Kakashi has not been doing so well. When the team got back short of a member, the Sandaime had decided that maybe it had been early for him to be a jounin, after all.

Jiraiya stood above the newly carved Fourth Hokage's face. His student had been back from a mission in which he lost a student of his, and had been too overprotective of the Hatake brat and the girl, Rin. Minato got the Sandaime to take them both out from the war, and offered to do more missions on his own. Well, at least the war was over within three weeks, and everything was good. But the countless sacrifices and losses from the war would not be forgotten. Shorty after the signing of the peace treaty, the Sandaime had decided that he needed some rest, so he named his successor. That was two months ago. Orochimaru left the village a week after Minato was named Yondaime. Jiraiya went after him, but came back with a little more than just a couple of bruises. Nothing much, but the feeling of betrayal was stronger, and hurt much more than any of his newly acquired wounds. He noticed how Tsunade's healing jutsu hurt, even as it healed him. He could tell that she wasn't anywhere near to trying to ease his pain. Was it because she was disappointed in him? Because he didn't stop Orochimaru? Or because she was worried about him?

As he thought about these things, Jiraiya decided to pay a visit to the memorial site where he was bound to find a certain student of his student. He had been watching the kid for a few days, and he would keep doing so until the right moment. He would let the kid have his chance to come back to his senses on his own. If not, he would step in and force him out of his grief. At least that seemed the young Hokage's intention regarding the unusual actions of the young jounin.

Minato was now standing in his office, looking out the windows. Being Hokage was not all about being the most powerful ninja in the village, nor was it about protecting his people. There was so much more to it. Who could have imagined that a single man would have to read, approve, sign, stamp, and stack those damn papers in a neat pile? And what about the fact that he couldn't eat properly? Or get enough sleep? Not to mention the fact that he didn't get to go on dates with Kushina. During the past month, he had so many appointments with damyos and the heads of certain organizations in Fire Country that he didn't even have time to have a talk with either of his students.

Flashback

"Sensei, I'm sorry. I was too weak, too stupid..." Kakashi started to talk to his sensei as he shifted to a kneeling position, after seeing that Rin was safe. Minato looked at him with understanding eyes. Kakashi was still looking at his fisted hands that he placed in front of his knees, above the cold boulder they were sitting on.

"Kakashi, you don't need to blame yourself. I told you already. I was the one who was late, I'm sorry." Minato placed a hand on Kakashi's silver-haired head and made eye-contact with his student. They talked through their eyes, the younger one frowning to prove his sensei wrong, that it was his own fault, not his sensei's, and the older one easily pushing away those guilty eyes. Kakashi knew he wouldn't be able to convey his message through a muted conversation. His sensei was just too good, too nice, too experienced.

"No, sensei. If only I had the courage to follow my father's steps. If I had listened to your words... Teamwork, friends... I'm sorry I didn't listen to you and I charged straight to the enemy with my Chidori..." As Kakashi said this, he closed his eyes, and let tears fall from his Sharingan, into his hands. Yes, it all started there and then. They had to stay back for half a day because of his stubbornly gained injury, while the enemy was on the watch, on the move.

Minato closed his eyes and relived those moments. How he got rid of the bunshin, how he moved fastly towards Kakashi and saved him from a fatal move, and how he killed that Stone-nin. Minato was surprised that Kakashi had mentioned Sakumo-san. It was a first. Ever since the man's funeral. He looked up at the starry sky, and gave a silent prayer. "Obito... I'm sorry I couldn't make it in time to save you. Always the hyper one. With excuses to your tardiness that amused me to no end. Thank you for teaching Kakashi the lesson that I couldn't. Thank you for being part of my first team of genin, Obito." Minato closed his eyes and remained silent for a while, for his prayer to sink in. Then he ruffled Kakashi's hair, harder than usual.

"This tragedy has made you grow up, Kakashi. A gain, a painful one, but as long as you use that eye to survive and save the people of Konoha, Kakashi, you'll get stronger. And I'm sure Obito will be proud of you. You'll have to live longer now, Kakashi. Obito is watching you." Kakashi looked up at him, and Minato smiled gently to the young boy who had become a man. "Yes, definitely. Those eyes have grown much deeper, Kakashi." Minato smiled sadly at the young man, and Kakashi lowered his sight once again to his fisted hands, where the last tears of his childhood had started to dry. After a silent ten minutes, Minato decided that they better get moving towards their target. They were still in war, after all. He wasn't going to let the remaining two die.

The Yellow Flash stood up and stretched. He jumped to the grass and called out to Rin. Rin, seeing that Kakashi was awake, and her sensei was ready to leave, walked back.

"Ok, team. We're moving out in five minutes. Let's do what we came here for." Minato gently slapped himself on both of his cheeks to wake himself up. Kakashi got up and came down next to his sensei. He stared at Rin, who had puffy and red eyes. He would have never imagined that his eyes looked the same as hers.

"Rin... I'm s-" Kakashi tried to apologize, but Rin cut him off.

"Kakashi, don't. None of this would've happened if I had been able to fight them in the first place. I was too weak... and that's why I was captured." Rin bowed her head, trying to hide the tears that were dropping into the grass. Minato saw that both needed a moment to themselves, so he slowly walked to the other side of the boulder to grab his bag.

"Let's get going, Rin, Kakashi. We better destroy it while it's still dark." He turned around and saw that Kakashi had put a hand over Rin, trying to console her. He walked towards them, and put a gentle smile on his face.

"Though it may be hard for a while, you guys will understand it someday. Trust me, I... have been through the same thing before, every shinobi does. But as long as you strive to live for those who have died, for their sake, for the lives that they could not lead, you guys will be fine. It all depends on how you guys think about it and whether you accept that fact or not. Obito won't blame you guys. He died like a true shinobi." Minato knew that a few words wouldn't be enough for them to understand everything fully, but that was all he could do at the moment. Besides, he couldn't break then and there. They still needed to get on with the mission, and he was supposed to be their sensei. Someone had to keep the team together.

"Let's get going." He placed both of his hands on their heads as a way of lifting their spirits.

They let out a weak "Yes, sir." each. Minato raised his right hand, and just like that last time when he dismissed Team Kakashi to complete their mission, he yelled out a "Let's go!", and the three headed out towards the bridge.

Flashback Ends

Minato smiled gently, and reminded himself to summon Kakashi in the morning. He had been hearing rumors and some reports about his student not doing what was assigned to him.

It took three weeks to end the war after the infiltration mission into Kannabi Bridge, and he had been named Sandaime's successor after peace was signed. It took about another month for him to learn the duties of the Hokage, and for all the papers to be signed and such. This past month he has been meeting with important figures of different countries to keep the peace terms intact even with the emergence of a new leader.

During the first month back, Kakashi was assigned to easier missions, and sometimes he was partnered with Rin to do some C-rank missions, all within the boundaries of Konoha. Both the Sandaime and Jiraiya saw that it was just too risky for the two-man cell to be doing anything above that. Especially, since Minato was out in the front-lines and had asked to remove them from the war. Kakashi didn't complain, and it showed Minato and the other two older men that the brat had grown up. The Sandaime remembered back when Kakashi had become a chuunin. Once, he got tired of D-rank missions, and refused to step out of the room without receiving a higher ranking mission. A true example of the kid's immaturity at that time.

A few days ago, Minato gave Kakashi a month off, in which he could get stronger, both mentally and physically. But the thing was, Kakashi did not engage in either, or so he heard. He spent his time in front of the memorial stone, mourning the dead, and letting his friend's Sharingan drain him of chakra. To think that Kakashi would not follow his order. Yes, he himself had assigned that task to Kakashi. To get stronger. After they returned from the boundaries of the country, a little hurt, a little broken, a little more grown up, he had expected Kakashi to understand the pain, the tragedy on his own, that it was not a matter of guilt. With all the events going on in his life, with becoming Hokage and what not, he had been unable to keep an eye on the now-man-boy. Now that he had a little more time to spare, he decided that he would put his student back in line. What were senseis for, anyway?

A/N:

Well, it's been a long time since I've written anything. Mmm... I'm not sure how long this story is going to be, but I'll be updating soon. Hope you enjoyed! R&R please!

The story happens after Team Minato, or what is left of it, comes back from the infiltration mission. Kakashi will be my main focus, but if you feel like it, please read the following paragraph too.

Jiraiya's death in the last few chapters in the manga made me want to write more about him. I like the scenes where he talks with Kakashi, and that made me believe that they have more than what Kishimoto shows. Also, the fact that him and Tsunade see Kakashi as a worthy candidate for Hokage made me happy to no end. I think that their connection of being a student's student, and sensei's sensei should be more highlighted. Kakashi's respect for Jiraiya seems to come from previous encounters and through the 4th Hokage, Minato, rather than just from the fact that Jiraiya is one of the Sannin. So, this story will have interactions between the three generations of senseis and students. I might add some Sarutobi as well.

p.s.: Oh, and I strongly believe that Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo were good friends. heh.