My alarm kept ringing in my ear. I smashed my pillow against it trying to drown the sound. I was enjoying my sleep and didn't feel like training for the chunin exams. "Get up kiddo" my dad was shaking me awake "There is something I think you would like to see".
I moaned as I got out of bed. My dad simply pointed to the window and I staggered across my room. When I looked outside, I thought that my eye vision was slightly disturbed due to the lack of sleep. After I focused my eye sight, I realized that it wasn't my vision, but a snow blizzard has hit Konoha!
"Mom mom" I started shouting around the house "It's snowing". I was a ten year old boy named Uzumaki Minato after the legendary fourth hokage. My father was Uzumaki Naruto, the current hokage.
"Yes it is, which is why you should eat breakfast quickly if you want to go outside for the day" my mom was smiling. She loved the snow because it was the time of year where we lit the fireplace and my mom caught up with her hobby, cooking. She always bakes these ginger bread cookies which my brother and I devour.
"Came early this year" my father informed "Christmas is a month and half away". He was right. But I didn't care, I loved snow days. Dad takes me out and we have a snowball fight every time. My mom stays with Kakashi because he can't go outside due to his condition. Then, my mom and dad switch as my mother enjoys the snow.
"I'm going to wake Kakashi up" my mother announced "can the fire be ready by the time I get back?" this question was clearly addressed to dad. He chuckled at the remark as he attacked our supply of fire wood.
My entire family was crowding beside the fire. My mom took the biggest chair next to the fire place like usual. My dad was sitting on the floor in front of the fire with me on his lap. Kakashi was a little further behind because fire was extremely dangerous due to his condition. All was homey just the way I like it.
There was a knock on the door so I went to answer it. It was my friends Sakari and Sakami, they were twins. We did a lot of missions together under Neji Sensei. "Let's go and have a grand snowball fight with sensei." Sakari was excited "I already have a plan devised to destroy him." He had an evil grin on his face. Great, that means the day will be fun.
"Daaaad" I let out a voice "Is it ok if I go with my genin team to crush my sensei in snowball fighting?" My dad laughed. "Just make sure you watch out for that Byakugan" he warned sarcastically. I took that as a yes.
"Wait a minute while I grab my heavy jacket" and with that I ran outside the house and slammed the door. The snow was coming down rather heavily. Sakami was screaming at Sakari while we made our way through Konoha's streets.
________________________________________________________________ Snow Ball Fight ____________________________________________________________
Pow! I was hit. My sensei had great aim which I believed to be as unfair. The score was three to three. We had to win this for a free lunch or we treat sensei. "Minato, you and I will distract sensei from the right as Sakami goes from the left and steels the flag (she had the best sneaking skills)" Sakari was explaining the game plan "Once you get the flag signal Minato. He will take the flag from you and run for base (I had the best speed)".
Sakari and I attacked him as Sakami made her way to the flag. I threw two snowballs at him. He dodged them but was unable to notice Sakari's snowball from the back. Once Sakari got a hit I pounced on him and clung to his back. Sakari then threw a couple of more snowballs at him. I saw Sakami's signal. The game was in our hands. I dashed towards her and grabbed the flag. As I sped through the battle field my teammates kept sensei busy. "Base!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. We won!
"Well I guess lunch is on me guys "chuckled Neji Sensei. After I had six helping of ramen I asked permission to go back home. My snowball fights are still commencing. It was dad's turn to lose. When I arrived home my mom had hot chocolate ready.
"How was your day?" Kakashi asked me as he took another sip from his glass. His hot chocolate wasn't really hot just warm. Mom doesn't allow him to have something hotter incase it falls on him.
"My team and I beat my sensei in a snowball fight so he treated us to ramen" I explained "and now I'm going to beat dad". Kakashi was staring outside the window now. "Are you okay?" I asked.
"What does snow feel like?" Kakashi suddenly asked. His question shocked me but he was serious. I was wondering about how to answer his question. "Well, it's cold when it falls, and wet when it melts" I answered hoping it would be enough.
"Is that so" he giggled. "I was hoping for something a little more". I just smiled at this. I didn't know how to answer that question. He walked past me and back at the window.
"What are you staring at, Kakashi?" my mom came in asking "Kakashi?" My brother wasn't answering. "Kakashi look at me right now" my mom was beginning to lose her patience. She started walking towards him glowering. "Kakashi." My mom was almost screaming. She held him by the hand and turned him around to meet her view.
He had tears beginning to form in his eyes! "Honey, what's the matter?" my mom was really worried. Kakashi turned away "What does snow feel like?" he asked again. My mom hugged him and he looked up. They stared at each other for twenty three seconds but I felt it to be longer.
"It's nothing." Kakashi murmured. "I need to use the bathroom." And with that he left the kitchen and I heard the bathroom door slam shut. My mom was immensely concerned. Last time she was this worried was when I broke a very high fever and she had to nurse me for an entire week.
Kakashi was in the bathroom for ten minutes when mom went to check up on him. I followed. She forced the door open and found him glove removed and his hand very close to sticking out the window. "Kakashi!" my mom screamed. She lifted him up with force. He began trying to break free by squirming and kicking his legs.
"You are in a huge amount of trouble, Kakashi" she had just broken a fuse. I have never ever seen her this angry before. "Wait till you father gets home" my mother warned.
"I don't care" Kakashi answered back. I have never seen my brother like this as well. "I just want to touch something from the outside" he screamed. My mom hauled him away at once and started lecturing him about safety and regulations.
After my mom screamed at Kakashi for an entire hour, dad came home. I told him what happened and he immediately rushed to Kakashi's room. My mom came down and asked me to help her set the table. I obliged.
Dinner came around slower than I imagined. I decided to stay quiet and keep a neutral face that showed no fear, sadness or intimidation. "Kakashi, eat your dinner!" my mom was trying to keep a straight voice."
"What's the difference?" Kakashi said not lifting his head from the table "What is the point of living everyday as a prisoner in this house." Then he faced mom "Don't get me wrong, I love you and this family." He turned away again "I'm just tired of being so different." He ended at this.
My mom stood up and gave him a gentle kiss on his forehead. She went down on her knees to be in level with Kakashi. "You are special and nobody will ever deny that" she began to comfort him "You are smart, patient and you care about those you love more that yourself.
She was right! He always put my needs above his. I wondered if I should point this out. My dad started ruffling my hair. "You and Minato are very unique in your own way no matter what" he said "and I'm proud of both of you for your achievements" he smiled.
"What achievements?" Kakashi asked "Maybe Minato but not me. Most of the village doesn't even know that I exist." He said trying his best to suppress a tear.
"I do!" I immediately answered before anybody could say anything. "I always have looked up to you whether you are a ninja or not. You are smarter than anybody else I know and you no more than most of the grownups of Konoha." I was beginning to cry now. "I love you more than anything. When I think I'm losing a battle, I always remember you and stand up again." I was now sobering. What was this feeling? "I always try to double my achievements to make you proud." I explained. "My dream, my dream is to be like you! My big brother Uzumaki Kakashi." with this I ran away from the scene but my father stopped me.
"Slow down!" my father said as he rocked me up and down.
"Minato" Kakashi said in a whisper. I turned to look at him. "I'm sorry if I caused you to become this upset." He took me from my father's arms and into his. "It's just something I read that upsets me which has to do with my situation."
He put me down and continued to eat his dinner. My mom was staring at us all this time. She was very pale and wanted to sit down and relax after the drama. "What did you read?" my dad asked not fully satisfied with the events.
"Two things." Kakashi informed "but I don't want to talk about it now" my dad gave an inquisitive look. "I'm sorry if I ruined this day for all of you." And he returned to eating his dinner.
"I don't think I can handle more drama tomorrow so can you tell me now?" my mom said tiredly.
"Why am I the only one in Konoha with this disease? I read Konoha's medical history and nobody ever had this since birth. Also, why is my hair black while all your hair colors are light? Isn't black colored hair a dominant gene?" he asked confused.
"You weren't born in this state." My mother set the record straight "You had this symptom when you were two years old."
"As for your hair" my dad began "What's a dominant gene?" Kakashi gave my dad a look of disbelief. My mom told us that it is a gene that you get no matter what. It wins over almost everything else.
"And black wins over everything." Kakashi conformed "so why don't you have it?" my mom was staring at Kakashi in a mixture of fear "Aren't genes transmitted through a family?" he accused.
"I guess I can't hide the truth any longer." My mom began "You are different because.............. you are our adopted son."
Kakashi fell from his chair. He was in a state of shock and so was I. He suddenly exploded in tears and started to scream "I can't believe it! Why? Why didn't you tell me? I_ I…" he stammered hiccupping in between sobs.
I realized that I was crying too and my father held me in his lap. "When you were two" my mother continued "They were going to kill you because you were too much of a burden for them. I couldn't allow it so I raised you as my own son." She was crying as well. "I never loved you any less than Minato and always gave you everything I ever could." She was looking Kakashi in the eye. "I'm sorry for keeping it from you this long" my mom ended.
Kakashi ran to his room and slammed the door. My mother chased after him but my father intervened "Let him calm down first." He cautioned. Then he picked me up and took me in front of the fire. I was speechless I couldn't say anything. "And Minato should calm down as well" my dad addressed mom.
_______________________________________________________________ Climax ___________________________________________________________________
After fifteen minutes, we all went to check on Kakashi. When dad opened the door, he wasn't there. The window was open and there was a note on the bed.
(I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you all these years! I don't belong in your family and I never did. Don't come looking for me because I am going to find out my true identity. Sakura and Naruto, Thank you for everything you did to me. Minato, you will be the best ninja in history. Best of Luck, (?) Kakashi)
My mom exploded in a series of tears. She kept repeating "He's gone, he's gone…" with the occasional "He didn't call us mom and dad." My father was getting dressed.
"Don't worry Sakura" he looked at her "I'm going to find him". I followed him. I was going to find Kakashi no matter what. He remains to be my brother adopted or not. My mom was the first out of the door.
"I want each team to be on the search immediately" my dad was addressing some Konoha elite ninja's "If you find my son take him to the hospital" the ninja bowed with respect "Please, please find my eldest son" my dad was devastated.
One of the ninja, whom I recognized as Nara Shikamaru, stepped forward. "Leave it to us" he said "I owe you for the many things you helped me with" and then they left.
We searched the area near Konoha's gate. "His body might not be able to withstand this gruesome weather" my mom was terrified. "We need to find him quick and fast." She began to center some chakra at her feet. "He could be lost and scared" she was frantic "He doesn't know Konoha's streets, our home was all he ever knew."
We approached the gate and my dad noticed a small rope dangling at the end of the wall. "He probably left the village" my dad announced "We must trail after him." My mom was already ahead of him.
We kept searching for what seemed like hours. I heard my mom's screams all of a sudden and almost got a heart attack.
She was digging in the snow as Kakashi's body was beginning to appear. He was curled up and was shivering vigorously. His skin turned to a shade of blue from the cold and he was moaning in pain.
"Kakashi Kakashi baby I'm here now" my mom was cradling him "It's going to be alright". He didn't open his eyes or show any sign of life. I was terrified, I felt the earth shake and rumble, my world was falling apart and I was helpless to the situation.
We began rushing to the hospital. My mom kept talking to Kakashi who didn't respond. My mom was healing him with medical ninjutsu as we rode on a frog my dad summoned. Kakashi moaned again and clung to mom for warmth. My mom took off her jacket and extra warmth clothes and covered him.
The hospital was in view. The minute we entered, Kakashi was rushed to an emergency room. All we could do was wait. The morning came up as his doctor approached us.
"He is in a very serious state and we did everything in our power" the medical ninja began. "We were able to keep him on life support but that is the only thing keeping him going at the moment" my mom crashed into a series of cries and sobs.
My dad went to check on Kakashi but didn't allow mom. He decided that she was in an unfit state and should relax first. He also ordered me to stay.
A month has passed since the accident happened. Kakashi was still in the hospital and Christmas was coming soon. My mom and dad were rushing to the hospital back and forth while taking care of my needs as well. I was alone in the house and was waiting for some update on Kakashi's state.
The door opened as my mother came in with Kakashi in her arms. I nearly doubled over in happiness when he looked at me and gave a gentle smile. The door closed behind my dad, and Kakashi was set on the floor. He could barely walk but he was alive.
I ran and gave him the biggest hug I could, being careful as in not to add any more harm.
"Don't you ever do that again" I ordered him "You gave me a heart attack…" but before I could continue he put his hand on my mouth and motioned me to stop.
"I'm going to go to the hospital and live there a week from now" Kakashi informed me "They have an excellent rehab centre where I could interact with people in the same condition." I was confused and wasn't pleased. "It isn't confirmed yet" he continued "I still have a choice to make which mom and dad offered me." He ruffled my hair.
"Wait!" I started screaming "you can't go. THIS is your home and it's where you belong, with your family. I don't care whether you are adopted or not." I couldn't believe what he was saying.
"That's life" he said "things never go the way you want them to" then he gave me a hug "You can visit whenever you like." Kakashi was still going on "Right now, I'm tired and want to go to sleep."
He stood up and went to his room. The night was quiet and I couldn't go to sleep. What would my brother choose to do? I would like to believe he would say no, however, he wanted to be considered normal in a certain place and that was his best bet. All I could do was pray and hope he would stay.