Five years ago 10th October

Kakashi was walking along the main street of Konoha with Gai when the Kyuubi jumped out in the middle of the sky. Although they were told to stay put, it was one of the rare occasion that Kakashi decided to ignore the order, as he wanted to check on Minato as he has a bad feeling. The bad omen lured around his mind and that if he did not go and check on the man, he was afraid that he would be consumed by the thought. He felt the evil charka in the air, which even pushed him to believe in his instinct. And he was right. When he managed to reach the edge of the forest, Sandaime and two shinobi were standing at the edge of a kekkai. At a rare occasion, such as this one at the moment, he was so glad that he was born as a Hatake, as his chichiue has taught him the techniques that were passed down in the Hatake family surreptitiously. He quickly performed the hand seals that were required and pull the kekkai apart, large enough for him to pass though, as if there was an imaginary door.

Once he was inside the kekkai, he was stunned to see that Minato has used that forbidden jutsu as he could see the evil grin on the silver haried shinigami, who was ready to take Minato's life. Therefore, he quickly ran towards the pair who was poked though by Kyuubi's claw.

"Why you are here, Kakashi-kun!" Minato shouted when he sensed a familiar charka.

"Sensei, shibo!" Kakashi quickly placed his hands on Kushina's shoulder. "Shibo, please, stay strong for Naruto."

"It's too late, Kakashi-kun. Nothing you can do. I am the Hokage, and I have vowed to protect the village. Please take care of our son… I am depending on you... Kakashi…" Minato spoke, almost whispered as he was getting weaker and weaker. "Hakke Fuin."

"No!" Kakashi barked, refusing to give up. He made a set of hand seals in the fastest speed that he could possibly complete. Luckily, he managed to finish his hand seals right on time, as the shinigami tried to take Minato's soul with his dagger. The dagger stabbed though Kakashi from his back to Minato's chest, where the death seal was. "Argh." Kakashi screamed, while blood leaked out from his mouth, wetting his mask. A similar death seal was then appeared at his back, which he tried to ignore the pain as he has to focus, trying to find another way to rescue Kushina.

On the other hand, in his supposing last breathe, Minato asked in his still stern voice, "what have you done, Kashi-kun?"

But Kakashi simply ignored the voice, and answered the question rather calmly, if he was not actually puking blood, "I'm your ANBU buitaicho… my Hokage…" He paused as he tried to stay focus, "I have vowed to protect you, sen-nsei…"

As the shinigami took what he wanted, he disappeared swiftly along with half of Kyuubi's charka. The kekkai dissolved in the air at the same time when Kushina dropped dead on top of the baby Naruto. Sandaime quickly dashed towards the four and checked on them. He sadly closed Kushina's eyelids. "Arigatou, Kushina -chan." Then, he turned his attention to the other men, and said to one of the shinobi, "we need the medic-nin now."

Minato woke up 3 days later in the hospital, feeling dreadful. In his dreams, he was with Kushina, and then shockingly, he was having a conversation with the shinigami. He could not remember the conversation clearly, but there was something about his silver hair protégé. However, the first thing he could think of when he opened his eyes, was not Kakashi, but Naruto. "Naruto?"

"He is safely with the medic- nin upstairs in the infant ward, Yondaime- sama," said the chunin who was assigned to stay and look after Minato, as nobody knew when he would wake up. "Please wait here and let me get the medic to come." As he finished his word, the man dashed out of the room, leaving Minato behind, who was still organising his memories and dreams.

Minato was still puzzled what actually happened when the medic-nin arrived. After a quick check up, he was told that he was on a good track for his recovery, for which he could hopefully leave the hospital within a week. He sighed softly as he was already concerning the amount of paperwork that he has to do and that he suddenly felt so loss when Kushina would no longer be with him. Then he remembered his young protégé. "Where's Kakashi?"

"He is next door, Yondaime- sama."

Without waiting another moment, Minato dashed, well, actually walked, as he was not in shape, to next door. He was quite surprised to see Sandaime's personal ANBU there by the bed; and the said ANBU nodded politely to the blond.

"How's he?" Minato asked nervously, as the boy was so pale that he thought he was seeing a ghost.

Before the masked man could reply, Sandaime opened the door and walked into the room. "Coyote, let me talk."

As the man left and blocked the door, Sandaime sat at the previously occupied chair and Minato quickly pull the other chair towards the bed. The older man took out a scroll and passed it to Minato, "I am not sure whether you have time to read this, but this part of the Konoha agreement is not known, part from a few. When the Hatake clan moved to Konoha with other clan, they have made an agreement that they have the right to keep their jutsu secretly, like other clans did. But somehow, as the Hatake tend to only produce one heir, their secrets were not well known of. When Sakumo committed seppuku, I was slightly concerning that Kakashi would not be loyal to Konoha. But when I know that Sakumo has assigned you as his mentor, I was glad and so pleased with his decision. And obviously, at this moment, I can also say that you have the most loyal servant."

Minato placed his gaze on the pale boy on the bed. He brushed the silver flop gently. He did not really sure what kind of emotion he should have. He did not afraid of death, but obviously that he wanted to live as he could look after his son, raise him up as a good man. "So does anyone know what kind of effect will have on Kakashi-kun?"

"I am afraid that nobody will know other than Kakashi himself," Sandaime replied, placing his gaze softly, like a grandfather, on Kakashi. "I have assigned Coyote to take care of him. You better have more rest and I will be taking care of the admin work for you in the mean while."

"Right. Arigatou, Sandaime." Minato sighed, not in relief, but then there was nothing he could do, really.

And when Kakashi woke up 3 weeks later, Minato has decided that since it was the Hatake's secret, he would not questioned furthermore; which in some extend, Kakashi was quite relief as he did not want to explain him as he then has to confess his love to the man. However, on the other hand, he was somehow sad as then, to the man that he love, he knew that he could be his most beloved protégé, his most loyal servant, but nothing apart from that.

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