A/N: Revamp finished.
.:Chapter Two:.
Minato leapt from the tree down to the forest floor, harbouring the appearance of an elderly gentleman, face and body ridden with age. The three genin gaped at him. Who had ever heard of a an elderly villager leaping from a tree like a ninja? "Ah, sorry, sorry! Couldn't help but watch the three little kiddies bickering away! Very interesting...Oh ho ho ho!" He laughed, placing a hand to his mouth mischievously. Kakashi looked towards the main, raising a brow. There was something familiar hidden in his fabricated laugh. He narrowed his one visible eye for signs of an illusion.
"Genjutsu...?" Kakashi inquired in a whisper. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke looked back to their sensei, confused. Minato blinked. He had totally forgotten what a genius his former student was.
"Um, haha, what are you all doing in this neck of the woods, eh? From Konoha, yes?" He asked quickly, attempting to find a scapegoat. This is bad...if they find out...
"Who are you?" Kakashi demanded, straightening himself.
"Me? Oh, I'm just an old peddler on his way back home for the night! Out shopping for the mistress, ah, you know?"
Kakashi didn't buy it even for a second. "Really? I'm assuming you're from Iwagakure. Wouldn't the woods here be a little out of the way, sir?"
"Well... sort of. I live right off the edge of the northern border!" He was telling the truth. He actually had two places. One house right outside the wall of Iwagakure, and one apartment room inside.
There was most definitely something peculiar of the elder's speech. It wasn't the proper speech of an elder Kakashi knew majority would have used with complete strangers. Normally, every word would obtain some trait of formality. Although, this man was making it seem like he had know him for years, using 'kimi' instead of 'anata', 'boku' and 'ore' in place of 'washi'...the jounin narrowed his vision, suspicions rising.
"I see..."
"Does this village have elaborate gates like Konoha- er... if you've ever been there." Naruto interjected.
Minato still couldn't place his finger on it yet, but there was definitely something familiar about that blonde kid. What had they called him before? Naruto? Could it have been a coincidence?
"Uh... well, sure, doesn't everywhere? Not as glamorous as Konohagakure's, of course, but we still have some. They're golden, actually." Minato replied casually, almost forgetting to disguise his voice.
Kakashi stiffened. Something just wasn't right and he knew it.
"Oi... Naruto. Sasuke, Sakura?" He spoke without looking away from the man. "Why don't you three go out scope out the area, for training of course." He didn't add any sort of explanation. He figured he didn't need to. His students were smart.
Sasuke was the first to turn and walk off into the woods. Sakura, about to follow suit, noted Naruto's complaining face beginning to rise, and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him backwards along with her. Suprisingly, the blonde accompanied her without question, a hue of blush tainting his cheeks.
Kayaku and Kakashi were then left alone.
"Now..." The silver-haired man began, taking a defensive stance. "I'm going to ask you this one last time. Who are you?" Kakashi growled in accompaniment to his most threatening glare. Minato smirked.
"I told you... a mere peddler from Iwagakure... You're not going to pick on this old man, now, are you, you naughty child?" He concluded, resisting warping his voice to the husky old man's he had been using and flashing his former student a fox-like grin.
Kakashi's eye widened in astonishment at the recognition, jaw dropping in lieu of his shock. "You-" A blinding bright yellow flash cut through the trees as Minato appeared behind the jounin, binding him with chakra and holding a kunai to his throat.
"Who's the blonde kid?" Hot breath beat on Kakashi's ear.
"Your son..." Kakashi growled, not bothering to struggle. He knew he was no match for the man. "That is, if you're..."
Minato released his hold on the man, allowing him to turn slowly and their eyes to meet as he allowed his genjutsu to drop, glittering golden strands and cerulean blue eyes glimmering a creamy hue in the moonlight. The man smiled, this time genuinely as Kakashi felt his heart skip a beat and constrict into a spiral inside him.
"Hello, Kakashi-kun," He whispered, reaching up to strip the man of his mask. Kakashi didn't resist, allowing him to pull the navy fabric from his skin. Minato's smile became warmer as he delicately cocked his head to the side. "You haven't changed one bit, kiddo."
"Shut up." Kakashi retorted weakly, brow furrowing in pain. Minato shook his head, allowing his gaze to drop.
"So, you say that Naruto kid is my son? You mean... the one I sealed the kyuubi into?" Though his final syllables dropped tenfold in amplification, the jounin caught wind of the barely audible inquiry.
"Unfortunately..."
"And his last name. He took Kushina's like I asked, yes?"
"Uzumaki...indeed, it was decided thus." There was a slight pause before Kakashi found the nerve to continue. "Speaking of the kyuubi, aren't you supposed to be...dead?"
The former Yondaime's smile faded. "I suppose so, yes." He sighed, giving a weak shrug.
"Do you even know what kind of absolute misery and hell you put Rin and I through? And the village? Did you even think about what kind of downfall and utter chaos that led to?" Kakashi hissed, fists balling at his sides. Minato took a step back, cringing.
"If I hadn't-"
"If you hadn't, the entire village would have been a lot better off!"
Minato swallowed, attempting to regain his composure. "If I hadn't, I wouldn't have had the strength to lead the village into the new age that we all knew was needed. If I hadn't, the entire government would have fallen from within. It was inevitable unless I had-"
"Shut the hell up." The man didn't raise his voice often, but when he did, it was almost threatening. "I don't even want to hear it. You're not the man I once knew. You're not the man Konoha loved and cherished. You're a coward. The Namikaze Minato I once knew wouldn't have done something so drastic simply out of stress and apprehension to change."
Minato felt his breath catch in his throat, eyes widening at the words he had been so afraid to hear all these years. Swallowing the burning tears attempting to escape him, the blonde straightened himself out, clearing his throat. "Kakashi, I was your sensei. And, as your elder now, I have the right to tell you what's wrong and what's right. And let me tell you now that if you ever use that tone with me again-"
"So now you're treating me like you did when I was six? How very mature, sensei."
Minato bit down on his lower lip, teeth grinding. Kakashi had sure grown into a man that could upstage just about anyone. A small smile cause the man's lips to twitch upwards. "Kakashi, you-"
"NO WAY! YOU WERE KAKASHI-SENSEI'S SENSEI!?"
The duo paused to look towards the source of the interruption only to find Sakura holding a hand over Naruto's loud mouth.
"Uh... don't mind us, really! Ahaha..." The kunoichi laughed nervously.
Naruto broke from Sakura's grasp, running to the clearing. "Wait! N-Naruto-!"
"AND YOU'RE THE FOURTH HOKAGE!" The genin shouted, looks of excitement and disbelief pulling his mouth into a half smile.
Minato blinked then slowly took one step backwards, already having been caught of guard by Kakashi's lecture. "Y-yes, I suppose you could say tha-"
"AND YOU'RE MY FATHER?!" Naruto shouted, fiery tears reflecting the turmoil of emotion he was currently feeling as they made their way over the swell of his cheeks. The man's eyes lit up with terror. He hadn't intended for the boy to find out any time soon...or ever, for that matter.
"You heard that..." He breathed in defeat.
"Yes, Naruto. He's your father, my sensei, and the Yondaime Hokage. Namikaze Minato." Kakashi stated haphazardly, laying a hand on his sensei's shoulder. Minato looked between the two, then dropped his gaze to the floor, sighing.
"You're... my..." Naruto's expression had faded to a monochrome of blankness as his fragment of a sentence died out. Minato nodded slowly, not quite sure of whether he should be confirming or denying the accusations placed upond him.
Naruto sniffed, wiping the tears on his sleeve, before running to the man and jumping atop him, knocking him to the forest floor as he buried his head in the man's chest, allowing sobs to snake their way past his lips. Sasuke and Sakura only then worked up the nerve to appear from the bushes, walking up to stop beside Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei... is he really...?" Sakura questioned, words slowing to a standstill of shock.
"Indeed." Kakashi whispered, pulling his mask back above his nose.
"O-Oi! N-Naruto! What are you-?"
"Dad..." The boy smiled, playing with the new word on his tongue. It felt good to say it, to say something so important. It felt good to fill the gaping hole he had felt his entire life.
Minato blinked, hearing the estranged syllable. "Dad?" He parroted, almost as though the word were unfathomable.
"Why...why did you..." Naruto's words were barely audible as his brain attempted to decipher the inquiry he was attempting to form.
"Sensei," Kakashi cut in, clearing his throat. "I hate to break up the meeting, but...how would you feel about coming back to Konoha?"
"No." The response was quick and steady, a look of severe seriousness ridden in his expression. "I will not go back. And you are not to tell anyone of our meeting here. Understood?"
Kakashi looked the man over, studying the rare expression. "I see. Well, then...I guess I've got no choice."
Minato's expression narrowed. "No choice?" He repeated. "Kashi-kun, do you honestly think you can best me?"
The man didn't respond for a moment, before recalling an appropriate eulogy. "It is the fate of all students to surpass their masters. If that were not true, society would never progress. Am I right?"
Minato sighed, smiling. "You always did have the best comebacks of anyone I ever knew." The blonde got to his feet, pulling Naruto up with him. "I'm sorry, Kakashi. But I won't come back to Konoha willingly."
"I see..." The words touched his lips before the thought had fully crossed the membrane. "Then I suppose you're going to have to be taken by force." The threat wasn't an empty one, but, for now, was impossible. The future was yet to come, though, and Kakashi knew that.
"You can try." The blonde replied. Kakashi felt himself cringe. The relationship they used to have, the jovial man he once knew, everything had changed. "Hiraishin." As his thoughts came to a standstill, Kakashi's eyes widened at the word. Before he could react, though, a flash of yellow temporarily blinded the four, giving the former Yondaime room to escape. When their sight came to, Minato was long gone.
"Dad!" Naruto yelled, eyes widening.
"Kakashi-sensei? Was that the hiraishin?"
Kakashi looked sideways at Sakura for a moment, then back to the spot where Minato had been, tracing the outline of his shoe print.
"Yes, indeed, it was."
"Well, what're we waiting for! Let's go after him!" Naruto yelled, voice an unstable pitch of mixed emotion.
"Tomorrow, Naruto. Tomorrow after the mission. I promise you, he won't go anywhere. Not for a while." Kakashi muttered, eyes distant with thought. "For now... get some rest."
Kakashi stared up at the twinkling bits of matter in the sky, not really focusing on any constellation or anything of the sort, but deeply lost in thought. A shiver caused the man to sit erect, staring into the darkness.
They were being watched. Not just by anyone, but by Minato.
"Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke whispered, sitting up as well. Kakashi slightly turned his head to right to glance at Sasuke. Naruto and Sakura were both in deep sleep beside them.
"You sense it?" Kakashi inquired, proud the raven haired boy had that much ability at such an early age.
"Yeah, but who...?"
There was a pause before the jounin revealed the perpetrator. "Minato." He replied shortly, searching the dark for signs of his former sensei.
"Minato? You mean... the Yondaime." Sasuke wrapped his arms around himself, shivering slightly in the cool of the night.
"Indeed..." The jounin whispered, getting to his feet. "Minato? Sensei?" Kakashi whispered loud enough for both Minato and Sasuke to hear, yet quiet enough as not to wake Naruto and Sakura. Konoha's Yellow Flash leapt from high above the tree tops and landed swiftly right in front of the duo. Straightening himself out, their eyes locked.
Kakashi could tell that this meeting was not to simply have a chat.
"Sensei?" The Hatake questioned, wondering what the meaning of this could be.
"Kakashi. Leave Konoha. Fetch Rin, bring her to me, and come with me." The blonde stated solemnly. "I promise you, it will all be worth it in the end if you just trust me."
"...what?" Kakashi asked, astonished. Sasuke got to his feet, looking to his sensei as he spoke. "Just where in the hell are you planning on going?"
"To Otogakure no Sato."
Kakashi and Sasuke's eyes both widened simultaneously.
"The sound village?" Kakashi whispered breathlessly. "Why would you want to go there of all places?"
"I can't tell you...yet." Minato whispered, his gaze collecting a different level of severity than before.
"You aren't in partnership with Orochimaru, are you?" The Hatake asked, suspicion dripping from his vocals.
There was an uncertainty in the man's stance as he replied. "...no."
"Sensei?" Kakashi blinked and stared into Minato's eyes. "You're not acting like yourself." He suspected another genjutsu or maybe a bunnshin, but found signs of neither. Besides, he knew Minato. He knew it was him. What he didn't know was why the heck he was presenting himself so oddly.
"I can't tell you anything yet. Just fetch Rin for me and take your genin back. Leave Konoha without permission and meet me right back here...please." A hint of desperation grazed the man's vocals.
"I can't do that, Minato." Kakashi whispered loudly. "I don't know what's going on, but I'm not betraying the village I love."
"I know the consequences, Kakashi. But, nevertheless, it's imperative that you follow my orders...and I recommend you tell no one. Please, Kakashi...don't let me down." In a flash of yellow, the man was gone once more.
"Goddamn it." Kakashi hissed, pain circulating through his throat.
"Sensei?"
The Hatake suddenly remembered Sasuke.
"Hn?" His response was staggered, but apathetic as normal.
"What are you going to do?" It was unlike Sasuke to be so curious, yet there seemed almost an underlying and devious curiosity piquing the boys interest. Kakashi looked down at the boy, who averted both ebony orbs instantaneously.
"...I'm not sure," He began, looking away as he attempted to dismiss any suspicion he had in his voice. "But, regardless, we've got to find Rin..."
"Rin?"
Kakashi nodded. "An old teammate of mine. She'll know what to do, I'm sure of it. She's essential. Sasuke," The Hatake paused for a moment, grabbing the teen's gaze and fixating his attention. "I need you to go on a submission, for I can't leave the team as we are now. I need you to find her for me. I must admit, you're best suited for this and I trust you to handle yourself. You've got the skill to handle opponents on your own."
Sasuke stared at him for a moment, then nodded.
"I can do that. Do you have a reference?" The Uchiha muttered, attempting to ignore the unintentional flattery his sensei had pushed on him. Kakashi pulled out a picture from under the cover of Icha Icha Paradise and handed it to Sasuke. Both onyx orbs faltered focus for an instant. "An Uchiha?" He whispered, peering at the picture. Kakashi looked at him for a moment, then suddenly recalled that Sasuke was an Uchiha himself. "Sensei... why don't you have the sharingan in this picture...?"
"Eh?" Kakashi hadn't thought of that. "Hn. I believe that's a story for another day." The man mused, looking away. "For now, just find that little girl on the left, okay? She probably has the same style of clothing and hair, so look for a medic nin befitting of that appearence. And... I'm sorry, but I have no idea where she is. Now, are you sure you'll be alright by yourself out there? Are you sure you can handle this?"
"Yeah, of course." Sasuke growled and stuffed the picture in his pocket. Without further instruction or diction, the boy jumped off into the trees. Kakashi stared after him for a bit, before allowing a sigh to escape him as he took a seat on a nearby boulder to contemplate the scenario in the pale light of the moon.
"What in the hell is going on..."