It was another sleepless night. Kakashi was plagued with nightmares of the day Obito died. His left eye throbbed with pain. He sat up in his bed. His sheets smelled like sweat, blood, and tears. How he wished the torment would stop. Kakashi looked around his small apartment. The moonlight shone though his window. He saw his shadow cast before him, but it was not him. Instead of himself, Kakashi saw his father, Hatake Sakumo.
Kakashi threw the sheets of his legs and went into the bathroom. The water flowed out of his hands. The water seemed like blood. His hands were tainted long ago. Kakashi splashed the freezing water onto his face, hoping that the memories would fade. He looked up to the mirror that hung above his sink. Again he saw his father's reflection in place of his own. He stared long and hard at his late father. They were beginning to looked more and more alike as the days past.
Sakumo's image began to fade, but did not revert back to Kakashi. The Nidaime Hokage gave Kakashi a cold stare. Kakashi shook his head and washed his face once more. The past Hokage still looked at him. He could not take it any more. Kakashi slammed the bathroom door close and left his apartment.
His eye was still throbbing and he bit his lip. He had forgotten to take a mask with him and left his key inside. He tried to ignore those facts and walked to the end of the hall. Kakashi opened the door at the end. Inside were the stairs that led up to the roof of his apartment complex. No one would be up there. The torment might stop.
Ascending the flight of stairs took forever. Kakashi kicked the trap door shut and walked to the edge of the roof. The moon was bright tonight, though it was not a full moon. The wind blew harshly in his direction. The cold bit into his skin. Kakashi wished that he had brought a jacket along with a mask and his key. The Hokage Monument was visible from the rooftop. A beam of light from the moon landed directly on top of the face of the Nidaime. Kakashi ran one hand though his hair. He pulled a strand out and examined it closely. He remembered what Sakumo had said to him twenty-two years before.
"Dad? Why is our hair this color. You're not old and it'd be weird if I was. So how come it's like this?"
"Promise you'll keep this a secret Kakashi."
Sakumo balanced a four-year-old Kakashi on his leg. Kakashi hand his tiny hand on his chin, pondering his father's request. Sakumo gave his son a soft smile and a little chuckle. Kakashi swung his legs back and forth. He still thought if he could keep it a secret, whatever it was his father was going to tell him. He finally came across and answer. He nodded his head at his hero.
"Okay. Kakashi, our hair is like this because...we're related to the Nidaime Hokage!"
"That's a lie! If it wasn't, how is he related to us?"
"The Nidaime is my grandfather. See, look at the mountain. His hair is just as spiky as ours and it was the same color!"
"Do you have a picture?"
"Aww, c'mon Kakashi. You don't believe your old man?"
"I'm not stupid. But..."
"But?"
Kakashi hopped off Sakumo's leg. He ran up to the window of their house and pointed to the face of the Nidaime looking at them. Sakumo stood up and placed his hands on Kakashi's shoulders. They both looked on with pride at the Hokage. Kakashi gave the face a thumbs-up and a smile. Sakumo was surprised by this gesture and asked Kakashi what it meant.
"If it's a lie or not, relation or not. I promised the Nidaime something."
"What?"
"I'll make him proud. I'll be a great ninja and my name will be known across the continent. No one will ask 'Who's Hatake Kakashi'!"
"If you promised him that, I'll promise you something. I'll try my best to see that day. 'Coz I know you'll surpass me one day. You have the makings Kakashi. All you need now is the drive. Do your best."
"You bet. But what if you can't see the day I join ANBU and get my title?"
"I'll always be here."
"My heart?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks Dad."
Kakashi wiped away the tears with his sleeve. Sakumo picked him up and held him tightly. Then he let Kakashi ride on his shoulders. Kakashi grabbed onto Sakumo's hair lightly and grinned from ear to ear. Kakashi held his fist out in the air.
"Let's go eat out tonight!"
"To celebrate the best great-grandfather a kid could ask for!"
They went out, laughing...together.
Kakashi had his hands over his face. Tears seeped though his fingers. If only he had apologized to his father. He had shouted at him days before he killed himself. If only they could laugh again. There was no one left. Hatake Kakashi was alone.
The wind did not sting as much anymore. It felt calming against his face. The moonlight was still upon the face of the Nidaime, who looked directly at him. Kakashi placed his right foot forward and held up his thumb. He remembered his promised and smiled.
"I didn't let you down. And I won't. Sharingan no Kakashi will become as strong as the Sannin. Thank you. For everything that you've done."
"He looked up to the sky. His father looked at him. With a bright smile this time. He smiled back and laughed. Sakumo joined him. The wind blew at Kakashi's hair, revealing the Sharingan. It no longer throbbed with pain. Tears of joy leaked out, but Kakashi did not care.