Title: Academy Days: Hatake Kakashi

Notes: So not much to really say on this chapter. Apart from just enjoy it I guess. Also Kakashi finally makes his appearance... And really it's hard to try and write little kids. I just kind of flailed over this chapter. No Sakumo sorry.


At the end of the day I kind of label the last few classes under the mental tag of shit that went badly, very badly really. Epic fail levels of badly. It's kind of absurd just how bad I am in the physical department. Not really baffling, but absurd. Even the civilian kids are faster than me, and that's well disheartening.

I kind of get the feeling that I'm missing something. But for the life of me I can't figure out what it is.

I kind of wish that I could just flash through my memories of other fanfiction that I read in my previous life. Because the answer is probably in one of them... Ugh. It's just that I've read so many sorting through the information would sooner give me a headache than an answer, and probably turn up something ridiculous like Sasuke in a dress...

I yelp and cover my eyes because argh! No, bad mind. Bad, bad... (Even if Sasuke does look kind of cute in a dress...) Any attention that my actions draw is soon placed elsewhere as there's not really that much to take away from it except that I'm reacting to something.

Of course since I'm doing so poorly in the physical aspect I quickly resolve to do better. I will do better, I'll catch up and then... Well I'll figure it out. I owe something to this chance after all. Even if it's ill-begotten.

It's been five years since I was reborn here and I still have issues over that fact. I'm not Obito, even if I am. I don't belong here, even if I do. I don't fit. And walking home after class has let out gives me way too much time to think on these things. To consider where my life is likely going and what the future holds. Which in all honesty is not something that I really want to be thinking about.

Reaching the Uchiha Clan compound I pause briefly to cheerfully offer a wave to one of my slightly older cousins. And there's Aunt Mikoto. I kind of freeze momentarily upon seeing her, it's a kind of surreal chill when I consider the relation there between us. Among everything else, because I don't belong.

Hell, even the real Obito didn't really belong in the Uchiha Clan. Not until Madara got him anyway.

Except I'm an oddity even compared to him. With my silence, and hypersensitivity... And Everything else. Moral issues included because I'm still not sure that I could really kill anyone, although considering how much I found myself researching serial killers and watching such documentaries well...

We'll just have to wait and see I think.

Reaching home I slide open the door to see Okaasan sitting at the table a soft smile on her face. I grin and trot happily up to her. Even if my performance in the final few classes was abysmal at least I'm actually going to be a shinobi. And, well I enjoyed it all things considered. Even if I'm going to be once more experiencing PE-itis. And possibly Monday-itis since Monday's are always the worst... Although really I dread Friday's the most since I'm used to random pop quizzes at the end of the week.

"So how was your first day?" she asks me quietly as I climb up onto her lap with a huge grin. My eyes slip shut and I laugh lightly. All things considered it wasn't that bad aside from my abysmal performance in Taijutsu Class. "You enjoyed it then?" I can feel her arms wrap around me and I nod my head resting it against her chest, listening to the beat of her heart.

It's comforting really, and calms me down a little bit. Releases some of the panic that had been gathering since morning.

It's something that reminds me of my old mother. Of snuggling up in warm blankets and reading story books. Of hot chocolate and shared memories. It's nostalgic but not in a bad way. It hurts a bit, and I feel horrible in the context that it should be Obito snuggling with his parents. Should be that little lonely orphan boy who's able to get to know his parents who care for and love him. Not me, not an impostor yet, some days I wonder... How much of an impostor am I now? I've been here for five years.

I remember being born.

I'm growing up... And learning at a rate that's almost normal now. Even if concepts are easy. But, I still stole this life from someone else.

Someone who had the potential to change the whole world. For the better, or for the worse.

"Obito!" I hum as I reopen my eyes and look curiously up at my Okaasan's face framed by her brown hair. "When Netsu gets back home in a few days he's going to start you in a physical training regime." I nod my head, almost eager, because yes. I'm going to be training with Otousan, learning some of the Uchiha taijutsu I would bet. "And, I'll also be helping out. With your stretches among other things..." I huff before she laughs lightly and lifts me up walking back towards the study. "Right now though, Calligraphy lessons..."

I whine but don't really struggle. As annoying as calligraphy is, it's useful.

And, it's also soothing.

An acceptable distraction from the world outside as I focus on the characters and brush strokes.


For the most part the first week passes in a fairly similar tone. Lessons are boring as anything, to the point where I begin mostly tuning out the teacher and instead playing around with my chakra. Seeing what exercises I could get away with, and exactly how long until it started to itch or feel too weird/uncomfortable.

I got fairly good at creating chakra strings really. Manipulating the paper on my desk and table and simply having fun, and getting away with making it seem as if it were simply the wind.

I didn't really make that much progress in the way of befriending Kakashi though. Mainly because any attempt is sort of stopped half-way through by my own nerves and a mini-panic attack. Or on one memorable occasion a teacher who noticed that I seemed to be having a breakdown. They thought that it was a medical emergency.

That was also how I learnt that iryo-chakra hurts. I ended up hissing and spitting at the Iryonin, refusing to let them or their glowing hands anywhere near me.

It didn't help that it felt inherently wrong. Just someone else's chakra trying to interact with my own... It seems so, intimate in some way. Ugh, yet when I remember the concept of Ninshu it intrigues and fascinates me... Again though, seems so intimate.

So yeah, and now it's Friday. The last day before the weekend, and I'm able to feel Kakashi all the way across the classroom. Today, today I promise myself that I'll attempt to make friends with him. I'll become his support and his friend no matter how hard it gets.

No matter how much I don't belong, that this isn't my life.

No matter that Kakashi is someone who Obito, the real Obito would have gotten to know in an entirely different context. I need to be able to function. I will be a shinobi after all. And I can't let this bump stop me.

So when they let us out for lunch I take several deep breaths and look around the field for Kakashi. Where's he usually at during this time...

It takes me a few moments to remember, Kakashi usually finally stops watching everyone else, and wanders over to the practice logs. He'll either toss the wooden kunai/shuriken or practice Katas. Honestly, he's much better at both than I am. Slowly I meander in that direction and then I just stop and watch him...

It's kind of entrancing really, because he's the same age as me, we're both five. Both still children lost in this world and heading towards war. And yet, it's obvious that he was born to fight. His movements fluid like dancing, almost all of the weapons hitting exactly where he's trying to throw them...

It makes me feel so small.

I was seventeen when I fell into this world, and I've been here for five years. I don't think that I'll ever fit in because of my issues with exactly what that means...

But...

But I'll try. And this is the first step.

So I take another set of deep breaths and fist my hands before gathering all of my confidence. And then I walk right over to him. I raise a hand as though to reach out and he slowly turns to face me. Those dark eyes meet my own and...

I can't do this...

I freak out, tears coming to my eyes and almost yelping as I turn ready to flee. Only for a hand to grab my arm. Okay...

I blink and turn back to him. He looks bored, and curious really.

"It would be a waste... To try so hard only to run away now wouldn't it?" he says and I blink my jaw opening and closing with no sound coming out. Not even one of my usual squeaks or barely translatable odd sounds.

Slowly I nod my head, it's weak, disbelieving. Kakashi's touch is warm, and kind of comforting. I can feel his chakra distantly as it kind of brushes alongside my own. Familiarizing itself really. It's different. From Okaasan's and Otousan's chakra milder and easier to deal with... And it makes me feel more at peace.

As I've mentioned before, the Hatake Clan's white chakra has it's own unique properties... This, this is part of it. A calming effect, a sense of peace and I relax. My fear ebbing away and a smile spreading across my face.

Of course, now comes the trickiest part. How do I explain without any words that I want to be his friend.

Does Kakashi even understand the concept of friendship? It's a question that I've always kind of wondered, because really he doesn't seem to have that stable a grasp on anything that has to do with relationships of any kind. He understands hero worship fairly well, but at the same time...

It's awkward as I shuffle in place in front of Kakashi for a few moments before eventually making a considering noise in the back of my throat.

I then pick up one of the discarded wooden weapons and mime throwing it and then look at him with an almost hopeful expression.

It's not exactly the best of attempts but Kakashi's eyes crinkle up in amusement anyway. And, it's a start really, as he corrects my grip and then my stance.

Since otherwise I apparently would have face-planted after even throwing the damn thing... Good to know if I ever need to toss and dodge simultaneously, but not so good when I need to keep my balance.

It's peaceful and afterwards when we head back to the classroom, since apparently today they're doing theory rather than taijutsu, he plops himself down beside me. It actually helps me focus on the lesson just that touch more really and, and it keeps me from stressing out about anything else that happens.

Such as being called upon. Which ends with me staring at the teacher with wide eyes and an expression that basically asks what!? because I refuse to talk. Everyone knows that... So I blink rapidly and Kakashi glares from beside me...

Because apparently he's an awkward little possessive dork who latches onto those who he begins to care for... That actually might explain a lot about his later pushing everyone away. Since I know that logic.

If you don't let them in when they die... It'll hurt less.

Which is completely wrong, because instead it hurts more. By the time they're dead it comes crashing down and you realize, they were already in.

I did understand the question though... I just don't get why the teacher called on me, so I tug at Kakashi's sleeve and offer a placating look before I stare back at the teacher and make a sound that's somewhere between discomfort and confusion.

They flush, which is fair enough before clearing their throat and calling on a different student instead.

And I snicker, because hell if I don't draw some amusement from other's discomfort. Hey, I'm only human after all.