"Kakashi, please talk to me. Kakashi!"

I ignored my father just like I had been doing for the past month. Since the accident.

"Mom, I'm going out!" I called. She came out of the kitchen and looked towards dad.

"Kakashi…" She sighed.

I frowned when I saw that she was unhappy, and clearly hasn't gotten much sleep lately. "What?"

"Could you make it quick? I need to talk to you about something."

"I'll try," I lied. "I want to get some training done today."

Dad seemed to perk up. "I can help you with that!"

"Well, I'll be back. Don't worry." I quickly jogged out the door and down the street until I came to the ninja academy. Things were so simple back then. I thought and looked into the window, trying to see what the students were learning about today. Hm. Transformation jutsu. Simple stuff. One by one, they all tried to transform into Lord Hokage. Most of them were starting to get it, but one kid with black spiky hair and orange goggles seemed to be struggling. When he turned to go back to his seat, I saw the Uchiha crest on his back. "HAH!" I laughed and muttered, "Stupid failure. And I thought the Uchihas were supposed to be great."

"Hey!" One of the senseis had seen me and come outside. "Aren't you Sakumo's kid?"

I glared at him. "Why do you care?"

He smirked. "Well, you look just like him. Is that the only way you resemble him? Hatake?"

That. Hurt. "Shut up." I muttered. I was so tired of people telling me how much I looked like dad. It hadn't occurred to me that they took it another way too.

"You're a softie, just like your dad. That it? Are you crying?" I tried to ignore him by watching the kids inside the class talking to each other. All except the Uchiha, who was looking at me, almost in admiration.

Then I saw my reflection in the window. I really DO look like dad even with my mask on, I thought. "I'm leaving! Is that what you want?"

Down the road was the ramen stand, somewhere I was usually welcome. I ducked away from anyone that knew me or dad on my way.

"Kakashi!" Teuchi cried when I sat down on a stool. I was the only one there.

"Hm?"

"We have good news!" Said his wife, Tomoko, as she came in from the back room.

"Really? What is it?"

They smiled at each other and then turned to me. "We're having a baby!"

"Oh, that's great! Congratulations!" I was happy for them. They had always been nice to me, and they deserved to have a child, which I knew they've wanted for a long time.

"So, would you like some ramen? On the house!" Teuchi smiled widely at me.

"Sure, thanks." I scratched the back of my head and adjusted my headband. Jiraiya sat down next to me.

"Hey," He nodded over at me.

"Hi," I mumbled.

"How's your dad?"

I wheeled around in my seat to face him. "All of you think that it's funny, don't you?! Have you ever considered the fact that maybe I'm just as disappointed in him as the rest of you?!"

He stared at me with his mouth half open. "It was just a question. I honestly wanted to know how he is."

"Oh," I shrugged. "I wouldn't know. Probably pretty bad. Whatever. He deserves it."

Jiraiya frowned at me. "Honestly? You really think that?"

Teuchi placed my ramen in front of me.

I pulled down my mask and waited for his reaction.

"Whoa… you really look like Sakumo. And it's hard to get him to take his mask off, but I've seen him." Right on. Just like everyone else.

"Just let me eat." The ramen was delicious, as always, and lucky for me he felt like listening for once. "Thanks, Teuchi," I called when I was finished. "Jiraiya."

"Saku-" He stopped and instantly knew he had made a mistake. "I- I mean,"

"I. Am. Not. Sakumo." I spat slowly. "I. Am. Kakashi." And then I turned, and not knowing where else to go, I returned to the academy. It was a break time, and some of the students were outside. The Uchiha from before was practicing his transformation jutsu. When he saw me, he came running over.

"Kakashi!" He cried. "I can't believe I get to meet you!"
"Huh? How old are you."

"Seven. Same as you! I've heard all about you!" Excitement lit up his eyes. "One day, I'll catch up to you! Just you wait!"

"Sure. What's your name?"

"Obito. Obito Uchiha."

"Okay, Obito. You and me… we're rivals now. If you want to beat me, we have to be. I won't make it easy for you. Remember that."

Saying no more, I slowly walked away and smiled. I had made my first friend.