Author's Notes: Thank you for your continued support! Sorry that I'm always so late to update :( School has been hectic. Just for a few more months! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING!

Chapter 3

"Jiraiya," Hiruzen started slowly.

"I know what you want to tell me, Sarutobi-sensei," Jiraiya interrupted as the Sandaime opened his mouth to say more. Jiraiya shook his head and an emotion the Hokage couldn't name crossed his features for a mere second before it was gone, "I can't do it, Sensei," In all the years he had known him, Hiruzen had never heard Jiraiya's voice be anything but confident. The broken, pleading tone was foreign to his ears, and he didn't like the change, "I'm sorry," Hiruzen wasn't entirely sure Jiraiya was apologizing to him or to someone else completely; someone who couldn't hear his apology.

Behind his desk, Hiruzen sighed and didn't say anything for too long a moment. He stood up and walked towards his student. He slipped from his Hokage role and took up his old job. His student needed him, he realized that now. Perhaps not him as a person, but him as a beacon of light. He needed someone to tell him what to do, to show him what his current actions would do before it was too late to change them. Hiruzen realized that he had to be that someone. Because if he didn't act now… he would never dare to do anything again; he would continue being a leader just like before and would never give this another thought, and at least one soul would suffer for it. Two, he corrected as he viewed his student's downcast expression.

He wasn't quite tall enough to reach Jiraiya's shoulders. He remembered a day when he would mess up a white-haired insufferable, yet tolerated student's hair after a particularly grueling session, a blonde young beauty with a spirit like no other and a silent, watching black-haired boy with guarded golden eyes. He sighed ruefully, nostalgically, for those were simpler times, even though the war had been at its peak.

Maybe if I had seen what Orochimaru was becoming- But Hiruzen cut that thought short. He was no stranger to should-haves and what-ifs. However, he knew that things that had passed could no longer be changed, only half-healed and partially forgotten. But, then, there was that somewhere inside him, he had already known what Orochimaru was becoming. How could he not when his student had been growing more distant day by day? How could he not when his student's eyes turned more malicious and secretive? And yet, he stood by and watched but did nothing. He'd decided that he would not do the same mistake again.

Hiruzen stopped watching his student and acted, "Jiraiya, look at me," The sternness of his tone could not be mistaken for anything else. Jiraiya unconsciously obeyed. His unsure expression was met with the fire and determination that shone in the older man's eyes, "Why are you running away?"

"Running away?" Jiraiya repeated. He let the question hang in the air as he thought about it. Of course, he had known he was trying to escape. From the possibility of running into Kakashi. From his promise to Sakumo. He knew why. He couldn't deal with the pressure of any of those when he knew that the situation was largely his fault, and he was afraid he'd cause more trouble, "I'm trying to do everyone a favor,"

For all his bravado and general cheer, Jiraiya could be a bit of an idiot at times, especially during his younger years. Hiruzen gave him a skeptical, questioning look. Jiraiya sighed loudly, "You don't understand, Sensei… I helped him," Jiraiya said, "I was trying to make him open up, but… all it did was make him even more distant," The Sandaime didn't need to ask who he was referring to.

"You have done nothing of the sort, Jiraiya," The Hokage said, even though he knew and thought otherwise. Jiraiya shook his head in quick succession.

"No, you don't understand. I helped him, Sensei. I knew he wasn't himself, and… I shouldn't have left him with Kakashi unchecked," Jiraiya explained, barely taking a breath before he continued, "If I had at least… Things wouldn't," Jiraiya huffed and shook his head again. Of course, Hiruzen had known of what Jiraiya had done. If things were a little less complicated, he would have blamed Jiraiya for their current predicament, but still not completely so. However, there were other things at play, and it seemed that Jiraiya had forgotten them.

"You were trying to help him, Jiraiya," Hiruzen said slowly, "You were trying to help a teammate… and a friend. You saw your chance, and you tried to take it. But, things did not go as planned," That's the understatement of the century… Jiraiya thought wryly, "Yes, you did help him. And yes, you should have given it more thought, but," Hiruzen paused and gave Jiraiya a small smile, "I would have done the same thing as you had. If I had a chance to try to help Orochimaru… I would have taken it," And I still would… Because Hokage or not, Hiruzen couldn't order Orochimaru's demise, not yet. He couldn't forsake the man he trained and favored as a boy. However, he also knew that sooner or later, he would have to take such measures.

"However… it is what you're doing now that I do not and will not approve of," The Sandaime continued after a short while had passed.

"Sensei… it would be better for everyone, especially Kakashi… if I don't stick around to cause more trouble," Jiraiya tried to argue, but he sounded defeated.

"That's where you're wrong, Jiraiya," The Sarutobi said softly, gently steering Jiraiya away from such thoughts, "It would be better if you stay. You have to fix what you have caused. Or at least try to," Jiraiya averted his eyes to look outside the window, "Running away is never the answer, Jiraiya," Hiruzen knew that Jiraiya would not want to give what he told him any thought, but he couldn't allow that, and if he could prevent it, he would, "And to answer your earlier question… No, I do not have a mission for you. Take some time off,"

That was the most Hiruzen could do for now. He stepped away from his student and sat down at his desk. Jiraiya sighed one final time before he exited his office, slamming the door shut on his way out. At least, some things… don't change. The Hokage thought as the loud thud of the door's closing resonated in his ears.

-oOo-

The ramen sloshed inside the container as Kushina swayed the bag back and forth while skipping down the road towards the hospital. She thankfully didn't run into anyone she knew or felt inclined to talk to. Not everyone knows about Kakashi-kun yet… She thought, I'd rather it remain that way for a while yet. It was then that she saw a familiar black-haired boy. She remembered Kakashi whining (even if Kakashi would deny it) about this particular boy.

"Hey, kid!" Kushina called out, making the boy look at her with a bright, all teeth smile, "Feel up for a hospital visit?" She didn't let the boy say anything before she grabbed his arm and pulled him along with her. Maybe if he has someone about his age… he'd feel more at ease. She winced as the boy started talking non-stop and asking questions faster than she could hear them, even if that boy is a bit… energetic.

-oOo-

"Ano," Kakashi started hesitantly, unsure of just how much he could ask this man. He wanted to trust him, but he couldn't do so easily.

"Yes?" Minato asked when Kakashi seemed to trail off, "You can ask me anything," Minato offered with a bright, gentle smile, "I really don't mind," I'd be very glad, actually. Minato thought as he continued giving his student a comforting smile.

"Oh," Kakashi fell silent and seemed to try to piece a question in his mind, "I live here, right?"

"Yes. Here, in Konoha. We're in the hospital now, though," Minato said slowly and patiently. He didn't feel the least bit relaxed though. His heart was beating rapidly in panic. He was afraid Kakashi would ask about something he didn't want to be the one to give an answer to.

"Yes, I know," Kakashi said as he gazed at the white ceiling and the bland walls, "B-But," Kakashi sighed and hesitantly looked up at Minato. You're my teacher, and you're here. There were those other two… Kakashi remembered a voice. Deep, calm and loving, but very much unlike this blonde man's voice, "Do I live alone?"

Author's Notes: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I think I totally messed up Kakashi's interaction with Minato, but I figured he'd ask about that sooner or later :S And also… before you say it… yes, I do getting a certain someone into my stories with kid!Kakashi. Those of you who've read 'A Future Remade' will understand who I'm talking about XD

A Response to the Reviews on Chapter 2:

Prescripto13: Thanks for the review! I'm glad that the feelings I'm trying to convey are reaching my readers! Thanks for letting me know ;)

superstar072299: Let me start by saying that I really like it when people follow up with everything that happens in the story and comment about it. It makes me think that they're really interested in it, y'know :D It'll take them some time to get adjusted and adapt to the situation, but will we get there? Or will something happen to stop it? As for Kakashi's Curse Mark… tune in on next chapter ;)

Until next time!