Chapter 4

As he grew from toddler to preschooler, it became clear that Kakashi had inherited a fair amount of his father's skills and abilities. He was able to analyze situations quickly and devise a course of action. His shuriken and kunai hit the center of the target more often than not. He could draw upon and manipulate his own chakra and had begun developing his chakra control. His ninjutsu skills were remarkable as were his taijutsu abilities. Most children his age had rudimentary chakra control at best, able to perform only the simplest of jutsu and even those not very well as they simply lacked the amount of chakra and the control necessary to be effective.

Sakumo was setting the table for dinner when Kakashi entered the house, somewhat dirty from a day of playing outside at the park with some of the other village children. If he had his way, the boy would spend all his time training or reading. His father made certain he didn't isolate himself as he tended to want to do. No matter his skills, it would do him no good to grow up alone and without friends. Kakashi had the potential to be an excellent shinobi someday. But for now he was still a little boy and play and socializing were as important as training.

"Hi, Dad!" Kakashi called as he pulled off his sandals, leaving them neatly by the door.

At almost five years old, Kakashi was a bit small for his age. His slender build belied his strength, often to the detriment of any who assumed the small boy would be an easy target for bullying. His spiky silver hair fell forward over his left eye. Looking at his son was almost like looking at a mirror back in time, Sakumo mused. Kakashi looked a great deal like he had at that age. He suspected the resemblance would become more pronounced as he got older. A part of him was saddened by that. He saw very little of Sayomi in Kakashi other than his heavy-lidded eyes. Even their color matched his own.

Of course, that was when he could actually see his face. Shortly after Sakumo had returned home from the War, Kakashi had begun wearing a dark mask that covered the lower half of his face. Sakumo never had gotten a satisfactory answer from him as to what had prompted the wardrobe addition. Seeing no harm in it, he had indulged his son, thinking it was nothing more than a passing phase that he'd soon outgrow. Sakumo was now beginning to think it was a bit more than just a passing fancy. As it wasn't harming anything, he simply shrugged and allowed it to pass without comment. Kakashi would let him in on his reasons when he was ready and not a minute before.

"Did you have fun with your friends?" Sakumo asked.

Kakashi nodded as he climbed up onto the counter to wash his hands. "Yeah. Though even after I beat him in kunai throwing, Obito just kept going on and on about how he's a member of the elite Uchiha Clan and how awesome his Sharingan is going to be and how he's going to be so much better than me once it awakens. It hasn't awakened yet – and who knows if it even will - so who cares. Seriously!" He jumped down, landing lightly on the floor.

Sakumo forced himself not to smile at his son's disgruntled tone. For once he sounded just like the child he still was. It was refreshing. Kakashi's natural genius often made him forget that not everyone possessed his talents. Due to that, he tended to have unnaturally high expectations of others. He needed to learn that the ease at which the shinobi arts came to him was the exception, not the rule. And to be more tolerant of those who didn't live up to his exceedingly high expectations. From Kakashi's descriptions of their interactions it seemed to Sakumo that Obito was jealous of the natural talent Kakashi possessed. It sounded as though Obito had entered into a one-sided rivalry with his son. One-sided as Kakashi wouldn't view the other boy as a rival since they were mismatched in their respective skills. Though that could very well begin to change as he and his peers entered the Ninja Academy and began training in earnest. Sakumo wasn't going to force the issue right now. All he could do was gently remind his son that no matter what the abilities of his peers he still needed to respect them as they embarked on the path to becoming shinobi.

"The Academy entrance exam is coming up soon," Kakashi said nonchalantly as they seated themselves at the table. He glanced at his father out of the corner of his eye to gauge his reaction. "I'm old enough to apply this year."

"I see."

"I want to apply," Kakashi continued after several moments of silence. He looked up at his father, meeting his appraising gaze evenly.

Sakumo was unsurprised to hear Kakashi wanted to apply to the Leaf's Ninja Academy as soon as he was able. He'd wanted to be a shinobi practically since he could talk. The age requirements had recently been lowered recently to allow students as young as five to apply. A consequence of the losses incurred during the last War. Sakumo knew Kakashi would be granted entrance should he apply. He had trained his son himself, after all, and knew full well the extent of his abilities. He still had mixed feelings about allowing Kakashi to begin formal ninja training so young.

He looked into the dark eyes that silently pleaded with him. With his mask pushed down around his throat, Kakashi looked very young. Yet there was a determined set to his jaw and his gaze was steady and unwavering. This was what he'd always wanted and he was dead-set on getting his father to agree.

"Please, Dad," Kakashi said softly. "Being a shinobi is all I've ever wanted."

Sakumo sighed inwardly. Other than his age, he had no good reason to forbid Kakashi from entering the Academy. Even that reason wouldn't hold up as Sakumo had only been slightly older when he had entered the Academy himself. As young as he is, Kakashi has always been decisive. I could make him wait a year or two but what will that accomplish? This is what he wants. He has the skill. Please forgive me, Sayomi. Our boy is growing up too quickly! "Alright," he agreed. "You can apply."

"Thanks, Dad!" Kakashi beamed at him.

Kakashi's smart but the Academy is different than just training with me or by himself. He still has a lot to learn before becoming a genin. He'll have a few years to grow while there. The thought allowed Sakumo to match his son's smile, consoled that his son wouldn't be facing the harsh realities of shinobi life just yet.


"You're going to be a jonin instructor?" Sakumo asked with a laugh. He and Jiraiya sat in a tea house, enjoying a lazy afternoon catching up. It had been a number of years since they'd had the opportunity to just sit down and talk.

"Hey, you don't have to sound so surprised. I think I have quite a bit to offer fresh young genin!"

"I'm not so sure peeping techniques are part of the standard curriculum."

Jiraiya looked affronted. "Is that what you think of me, Sakumo? I'm insulted." His grin belied his hurt tone. He took a sip of his tea. "I'm a bit surprised you're not a squad leader."

"No thanks. I've got enough on my plate as it is. Besides, I'm hardly cut out for the job."

"Hm." Jiraiya couldn't completely disagree. Sakumo was an extremely skilled shinobi, that was true. He was quite possibly even stronger than Jiraiya. Jiraiya would hesitate to challenge him to a one-on-one fight without very good reason. As skilled as he was, a great deal of Sakumo's skills were inherent and therefore not teachable. He could teach techniques and formations and strategy but not the instinct that allowed him to make split-second decisions based off of nothing more than his gut feeling. Nor the natural genius that he possessed. It would leave both him and his students frustrated at best.

"Have you gotten your genin yet?" Jiraiya swore he heard the snicker in the other man's tone. Was it really so hard to believe that he could be a teacher? Perhaps it was a little out of character, he conceded. But the last war had left the Leaf Village at its lowest military strength in recent history. They needed every able-bodied shinobi. Many chunin and jonin had been killed in battle, leaving a lot of genin without guidance and many teams short-handed. Being an instructor was not Jiraiya's first choice of assignments but it was where he could currently do the most good. Besides, several of these kids looked to be rather promising.

"As a matter of fact, I have. One in particular looks to have quite a bit of potential. A kid by the name of Minato Namikaze. Already begun making a bit of a name for himself, I hear. Graduated top of his class at the Academy. Broke some of your records if the rumors are true." He waited to see how that last bit would be received. Sakumo was about the least arrogant man Jiraiya knew. That didn't mean he didn't enjoy needling him now and then.

"About time someone did," Sakumo commented casually, taking a sip of his drink. "I'd have hated to put that all on Kakashi."

"Speaking of, how is your brat, anyway? Last time I saw him he was a drooling mess. What is he, three or something now?"

"He just turned five," Sakumo said sourly. "Honestly, has all the heat from the hot springs you keep peeping in fried your brain? He's taking the Academy entrance exam in a few days."

"Already? Huh. Isn't he a little young?"

Sakumo shrugged. "Not really. They've lowered the enrollment age. A consequence of losing so many shinobi in the last war, I imagine."

"Yeah…" Jiraiya swirled his tea around in his cup as he sobered. "You heard about Dan and Nawaki?"

Sakumo nodded, sobering as well. "Yeah. How's Tsunade? I noticed she hasn't come back to the village yet."

"I don't expect she will for a while, if ever," Jiraiya said. "Dan bled out in her arms. She hasn't been dealing well. Developed a crippling fear of blood. Not a good thing for a medical shinobi. And losing both her fiancé and her little brother so close together… Dan's niece, Shizune went with her. That's something, at least."

"Yeah…." Sakumo knew all too well the pain of losing a loved one. There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't feel the loss of his wife, even after nearly five years. He knew it would kill him if anything ever happened to Kakashi. He wasn't surprised that Tsunade didn't want to return to a place that reminded her of what she had lost. Both Nawaki and Dan had loved the Hidden Leaf dearly. Loyalty to the village and duty were one thing, but her heart needed time to heal. Too many had been lost, Sakumo mused bitterly. His wife had died in the early days of the last war, many friends in the years since. He desperately hoped that the Five Great Shinobi Nations could maintain a lasting peace. Kakashi was entering the Academy along with many other children. Would they have to know the horrors of war in the way their parents did? Sakumo hoped not.


The results of the Academy entrance exams were in and the list for that year's new class had just been posted. The courtyard outside the Academy was filled with parents and prospective students, all eager to see who'd been accepted. Sakumo waited near the entrance of the courtyard, allowing Kakashi to go check the notice board by himself. The boy's distinctive silver hair made him easy to spot in the crowd. There was no danger here at any rate and no need for Sakumo to hover over him. At five years old Kakashi was already fiercely independent.

Sakumo leaned with his back against the wall, hands in the front pockets of his pants as he waited. There was no doubt in his mind that Kakashi had been accepted into the Academy. It wasn't hubris. Kakashi's skills far surpassed his peers, there was no denying that. Though Sakumo knew from experience that prodigy carried its own burdens. He pushed the thought away as his son returned, looking rather smug.

"You got in I take it."

"Of course," Kakashi's voice held a note of supreme confidence. It wasn't arrogance, though he often came across that way. He simply knew what he was capable of. He was well aware of his skills and had not once doubted he'd begin the Academy this year. The entrance exam hadn't even been hard as far as he was concerned. "The entrance ceremony is in a couple of days and we'll get the enrollment paperwork there."

Sakumo knew how it worked already but he didn't interrupt Kakashi. He knew the boy was excited, even if he had been certain of his acceptance in to the Academy. Kakashi had always been a curious child and he was anxious to begin his formal shinobi training.

"Well then," he said, pushing off from the wall and walking towards the exit, hands still in his pockets. "Why don't we stop by that new ramen shop on the way home to celebrate?"

Kakashi grinned up at him. Sakumo smiled and reached out to pat the unruly silver head. Kakashi ducked but Sakumo, anticipating the move, caught him anyway.

"Daaaaad!" it wasn't quite a whine.

Sakumo's smile turned into a full-fledged grin. It would do Kakashi good to be reminded that despite his genius, he was still very much still a child, especially to his father.


A few days later found Sakumo and Kakashi once again walking towards the Leaf's Ninja Academy.

"Come on, Dad! Let's go" Kakashi said impatiently.

"There's no rush. The Academy won't run away, will it?"

Kakashi scowled up at his father as they walked. He hated being late and didn't appreciate the teasing about it. Shinobi were supposed to follow the rules and being on time was one of them. The boy failed to remember that his father was rarely late himself and when he was, he always had a good reason for his tardiness.

"There's a set time to submit entrance applications," Kakashi stated.

Sakumo, for his part, was amused by his son's seriousness on the matter. He was glad that Kakashi took his responsibilities as a future shinobi seriously. He never would have begun training him if he didn't. But he could be entirely too fussy at times. There was a set time that the Academy began accepting entrants. It wouldn't kill Kakashi to not be there right at that moment. They had most of the day to get his entrance application submitted and squared away. But Sakumo humored him. If Kakashi was dead set on being at the Academy the moment enrollment opened, they'd be at the Academy the moment enrollment opened. It would leave the rest of the day for them to spend together.

A part of Sakumo was still trying to make up for all the time he'd missed out on while away fighting in the last war or out on missions for the village. It was part of life as a shinobi and he knew that intellectually. But his heart hurt that he'd missed so much of Kakashi's early years. He'd promised his late wife he would always care for and protect their son and he had done so to the best of his ability. Having been just the two of them for as long as Kakashi could remember, they had always been close. Sakumo was glad of that, though he wished Kakashi had some memories of his mother. He had only been four months old when she had died. He'd asked about her once or twice but had never seemed all that interested in knowing much about her. Sakumo had to remind himself that Kakashi wasn't being insensitive by not showing more interest in his mother. Her absence was his normal and he'd accepted it, never being bothered by only having one parent. It wasn't that unusual. Being a shinobi was a dangerous profession and many of Kakashi's friends had lost family members over the years. Sakumo was glad that Kakashi accepted that was how his family was and would remain. He knew that he would never remarry. No other woman would ever be able to hold the place in his heart that Sayomi had. He turned his thoughts to happier subjects. He didn't need to spoil Kakashi's excitement by brooding over the past.

As they approached the entrance to the Academy grounds, they came across a dark-haired boy about Kakashi's age and a man who could only be his father, both wearing identical green bodysuits. Kakashi had seen the boy around a few times though he didn't know his name or much about him. Only that he'd flunked the Academy entrance exams because apparently the boy couldn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu at all. Trying to get into the Ninja Academy without being able to utilize even the most basic of ninja skills seemed ridiculous to Kakashi. Why would anyone bother even trying when failure was a foregone conclusion?

Kakashi would have continued walking on by, but his father stopped in front of the pair. Uh oh, Kakashi thought as his father introduced himself and began chatting with the other man. He clearly had no idea the boy had failed the entrance tests. Kakashi cringed inwardly as he informed his father that the other boy couldn't use ninjutsu and it was pointless for him to even try getting into the Academy, earning himself a reprimand for rudeness. Kakashi preferred to think of it as being honest. Besides, he felt his father had been a whole lot ruder just a minute before. After another few awkward moments, Kakashi managed to get his father moving again by reminding him they were going to be late. They excused themselves and continued towards the Academy. Sakumo stopped before the entryway, crouching down beside Kakashi.

"At the rate that boy is training, he'll become stronger than you," he said. He had noticed the signs of intense training the boy exhibited.

"Seriously?" Kakashi muttered, clearly not sharing his father's opinion.

Sakumo smiled at the disbelief in Kakashi's voice. He patted his son's head. "You should ask him his name. And remember it. He'll make a great rival for you."

Kakashi didn't believe it for a minute. He was no fool, however. He knew his father was observant and usually right when assessing someone's skills.

"Hey! You!" he called after the retreating boy. The other paused and turned back to face him. "Who are you, anyway?"

The boy grinned broadly. "Might Guy!" He said. "I'm going to become stronger than anyone around."

Kakashi watched, bemused, as the other boy turned back around and continued on his way. That kid was going to be stronger than him? Did his father really think he would make a suitable rival or was he kidding? His father generally didn't joke about things like that and he'd seemed completely serious about it. Still… He shook his head and continued toward the Academy, putting the matter from his mind.


Author's Note: The last scene in front to the Academy was adapted from manga chapter 672 "Night Guy…!" and Shippuden Episode 421 "The Sage of Six Paths".