Drabble. My theories of why Kakashi is the way he is. A Character study, really.

He's used to settling for less. He's used to being the one to take the beating. He's used to taking one for the team.

Hypothesis

It started with his mother. His mother with the cold sharp nails and the frustrated eyes. She needed someone to live the life she couldn't. They didn't get a choice. Kakashi was the test subject.

It was okay that she used to slap him with her stinging nails to punish him for his flaws, because if she didn't punish him how would he learn?

He didn't really know why he didn't speak up for himself. Maybe it was because he didn't have the confidence to speak for himself, maybe because he was afraid to.

Experiement

Then there was his father. His father who had fallen into disgrace and sometimes came home drunk with clumsy violent fists. He needed someone to use. He didn't care who. Kakashi was the victim.

It was okay that he took out the anger of his shame on him, because maybe after all his frustration was spent the father he used to know would come back to him.

He didn't really know why he didn't run away. Maybe it was because he was paralyzed with terror, and sick fascination, how could someone so strong become so terribly weak?

Analysis

Next there were the children that used to shove him around as he passed them on his way home. The children who were just as and confused as he was; only they had other way of dealing with it. They needed someone to blame. Kakashi was there for them

But it was okay. It was okay that the children needed to take their anger out on him because if they didn't what else would they do with it?

He didn't really know why he had let himself be humiliated. Maybe it was because he knew it would help the kid's self-esteem or make them feel like they accomplished something.

Conclusion

After a while of this Kakashi broke. He looked back and learned. He saw where he went wrong and he vowed to never make the same mistakes again.

He became sharper. Sharp enough to devise a strategy. He remembered and he will never forget.

He didn't avoid the problem, take a different route home, He faced the kids and gave them some bruises to think about. He scowls at the naive children and criticizes their foolishness

He became smarter. Smart enough to know all the reasons why. He remembered and he will never forgive.

He never had the chance to confront the problem. Yet another chance to grow slipped away. He curses the name of the white fang and hates it with a passion.

He became bitter. Sour enough to look down on all below him. They were given things he had never gotten. They didn't deserve it. He remembers and he will never tell.

He doesn't recall what woman well, but he will always remember her ways of teaching.

He wasn't clever enough back then. He swore he would never fall so low again. It was his first lesson in bravery. He was tired of being pushed around. He was never going to live in fear again.

Now they would fear him. He'd teach them all a lesson. And he'd change the world when he did.

Kakashi had just created his own ninja way. His own formula for success

No one will ever underestimate him again.