Chapter 8

A week later, Kakashi walked into the bright sunshine with his classmates at the end of the day. The students immediately began dispersing, singly and in small groups. Blinking against the glare, Kakashi caught sight of a familiar tall figure waiting beneath a tree in the courtyard.

"Dad!" Kakashi cried, surprised and delighted. He hadn't known his father was being released from the Leaf Hospital yet. But here he was, leaning casually against the tree rather than crutches, his hands stuffed into his front pockets as if he hadn't a care in the world. He ran over to his father, who smiled upon seeing him. Kakashi was still feeling a bit of guilt regarding his father's injuries. If he hadn't gone running off into the storm, his father never would have followed him and none of this would have ever happened. He knew his father had missed out on an important mission due to his injuries. Probably more than one. "What are you doing here?"

"I managed to escape with the promise of good behavior," he said dryly. "I thought I'd stop by on my way home and we could walk together. The Academy is on the way and I knew it was nearly time for class to let out for the day."

"They got tired of you sulking and kicked you out," Kakashi snickered.

"I do not sulk," Sakumo protested, affronted.

Kakashi snorted and muttered under his breath, "I'll remember that the next time you're sick." It was quiet enough they could both pretend he hadn't said anything. Sakumo glared though there was no heat behind the look. Kakashi gave him a look of wide-eyed innocence. Sakumo shook his head, chuckling softly. It was the exact look he had used not an hour before on the pretty medic to convince her to let him go home. He was certain he'd have gone mad if he'd had to remain at the hospital another minute. The forced inactivity was killing him. He understood not stressing the leg until it fully healed but that didn't mean he had to like it.

"Hey, Kakashi!" Obito cried as he jogged over to him. "Are we still on for -– oh!" He broke off as he realized the other boy wasn't alone. Even though he'd never gotten a clear look at Kakashi's face, the resemblance between him and his father was still obvious and striking. He shook off his surprise and grinned. "I suppose not."

"Obito, I – "

Obito waved a hand dismissively. "It's okay, Kakashi. We can practice later. You probably want to spend time with your dad. See ya tomorrow!" He skipped off before Kakashi could respond.

Sakumo watched the dark-haired boy with the Uchiha crest on his back run off. Kakashi had mentioned him the other week. How Obito had followed him, pestering him until he talked, and finally taking him to his house so he wouldn't be alone. They had been spending time together outside of their classes ever since. Sakumo was glad his son had finally begun to make real friends, not just acquaintances. He ruffled Kakashi's hair as he saw the look on his face.

"Obito seems like a very kind boy," he commented as Kakashi looked up at him.

"Yeah," Kakashi agreed. He had promised Obito he'd help him figure out why he was having trouble performing his clan's fireball jutsu properly this afternoon. He hadn't known his father was going to be coming home yet. Before Kakashi had a chance to say anything, Obito had cheerfully released him from his promise. Sometimes Kakashi found the other absolutely baffling. At the same time, he was grateful to his new friend.

They began walking out of the courtyard. Familiar guilt welled up in Kakashi as he noticed his father had a slight limp and was favoring his left leg. Sakumo, watching Kakashi out of the corner of his eye, picked up on it immediately. Kakashi may be good at hiding his feelings from others, but his father could read him like an open book.

"Did – did they say how much longer it'll be before…?" Kakashi couldn't bring himself to finish asking the question.

Sakumo lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. "About another two weeks," he said, "Assuming I – how did she put it? – ah, yes, 'realize that she is the doctor and, therefore, the one who gets the final say on exactly when I'm in condition to return to active duty. So I'd better listen and take it easy so I can finish healing if I want to step foot outside the village in the foreseeable future.'" His amusement was touched with a bit of exasperation. Sakumo had been a shinobi for a long time. He knew his capabilities and limits. He also knew better than to argue with the medical ninja without good reason. Yes, he'd missed out on an important mission and was still off the active duty roster for a bit longer but it wasn't the end of the world. There would be other missions and he was not so arrogant as to think there weren't any other jonin in the village who were capable of covering any missions he'd missed.

"I see." Kakashi's earlier good humor had evaporated.

Sakumo stifled a sigh. No matter how many times they had gone over this, Kakashi was still blaming himself for his injury. This had gone on for too long already. Sakumo needed to get to the root of what had been troubling his son. Tonight.

It was time to get to the bottom of whatever had upset Kakashi enough to cause him to run out into the middle of a raging storm. After dinner, Sakumo sat in the living room so that he was at Kakashi's eye level. Looming over the boy wasn't going to get him to open up to him. They had always been close and it concerned Sakumo greatly that Kakashi was clearly upset about something but hadn't said anything until he exploded. It was unlike him and he was determined to get answers.

Sakumo decided to open with something a little less blunt than 'what the hell is going on.' He could work up to that. "How are your classes going at the Academy?" he asked conversationally instead.

"Boring," Kakashi stated flatly. "I already know all this stuff."

Sakumo wasn't surprised by his son's answer. The first few months would be boring for Kakashi as they went over the basic skills that he had already mastered. "Well, I'm certain you'll get to something you don't know soon enough."

"I doubt it. No one else can even pull off a shadow clone, much less a transformation jutsu. We're still doing the most basic shinobi skills. It's little kid stuff!"

Sakumo bit the inside of his cheek, fighting the temptation to remind his son that he was just a little kid himself. The annoyed look on his son's face told him the boy knew full well what he was thinking.

"It's not funny!" Kakashi suddenly shouted, startling his father. His hands clenched into fists at his sides and he was shaking.

"Kakashi –?"

"Everybody keeps scolding me but nobody listens!" he cried, tears of frustration glistening in his dark eyes. "I already know everything that we're being taught. But if I say anything, I'm arrogant. If I win at sparring or shuriken throwing I'm showing off. If I try to read something quietly so I'm not bored out of my mind I'm disrespectful, even though I'm not bothering anybody! Other kids are actually disruptive and they just get told to settle down. I get told that they expect better from me." His tone turned bitter and angry. "I'm Sakumo Hatake's – the White Fang's - son. I'm supposed to be setting an example." He snorted derisively. "But when I'm better than everybody else, I'm showing off. I can't win."

Sakumo regarded his son for a long moment. The boy was barely holding himself together, frustrated and upset at the unfairness of it. No matter how you looked at it, Kakashi had a point. His skills were ahead of his classmates and peers. Far ahead. He was learning nothing at all in a first-year Academy class. It was doubtful he'd learn much outside of a final year class. Sakumo sighed. He'd wanted so badly for his son to have a normal childhood. But Kakashi wasn't a normal child. And he had allowed himself to forget that.

He suddenly remembered the night Kakashi had run into the storm. He had cried that no one was listening to him then, too. Guilt assailed him. Kakashi was right, he hadn't listened to him. He had been angry at the reports he was getting about Kakashi's behavior and hadn't bothered listening when his son tried to explain. He'd heard the words, but he hadn't listened. He had felt Kakashi was wasting his time at the Academy, something he had claimed he had wanted practically since he could talk. By jumping to conclusions, Sakumo had failed his son terribly.

"You're right. You aren't going to learn anything where you are now. And I'm sorry for not listening to you earlier. You were trying to tell me and I didn't listen." He held his arms open. Kakashi climbed up onto his lap, curling up against him, tucking his head under his chin as he held him tightly. Kakashi was the most precious thing in the world to him and he hated to see him upset. Especially when he'd inadvertently had a hand in causing it. "I will go and speak with your instructors tomorrow -" he said softly, "- and see what we can do about your class placement."

He felt Kakashi nod, some of the tension leaving the boy's small frame at his words. This was the down side to prodigy, he mused bitterly. Sakumo had been so narrowly focused on Kakashi being a normal child that he had ignored the fact that he wasn't a normal child, no matter how much he wished it was otherwise. Kakashi would never have the same childhood as his peers because he simply wasn't like them. But he would always be here for his son, no matter what, he vowed, resting his cheek against the top of the messy silver hair, wrapping the boy in a cocoon of warmth and love.

"Dad?" came a soft, somewhat muffled voice.

"Hm?"

"I – I shouldn't have run off the other day. It – it's my fault you got hurt and couldn't go on your mission."

"Hush. You shouldn't have run off, that's true. But I understand now why you were so upset. The fall was an accident and not your fault. Besides, it's nothing that won't heal."

Kakashi snuggled into his father's embrace, feeling safe and secure in his strong arms. While he was already on the path to becoming a shinobi and was fiercely independent, he was still young enough to need reassurance at times. He closed his eyes as he listened to his father's steady heartbeat in his ear. His lingering guilt and upset melted away and he fully relaxed, knowing he was forgiven, and relieved to have finally been heard.

Sakumo held his son until he fell asleep cradled in his arms. He had felt the tension drain from the small body once he realized he had finally been heard. Sakumo's heart ached that he had been the cause of so much distress for his son. As his father, he should have listened to Kakashi without jumping on him. He should have been the one Kakashi could talk to about his problems, without adding to them himself.

"I'm sorry, Kakashi," he murmured into the silver hair. "I failed you. I won't do so again," he promised. Kakashi sighed in his sleep as he shifted position a bit. Sakumo sat for a while, simply holding his son close. It was too infrequently that he had the chance nowadays.

Still holding Kakashi, Sakumo climbed somewhat awkwardly to his feet. His leg was no longer bound in the bulky cast or braces, but it was still weak. The bone had set and mended but he was still going through physical therapy to regain strength in the limb. It was a slow and tedious process that was driving him mad. He knew that pushing himself too hard would only set back his recovery. So he grit his teeth and took it easy. Luckily, Kakashi was a light burden. He found his balance then carried his son to his room. He tucked Kakashi in, brushing his hair back from his face with a soft smile. He kissed his son's forehead before turning off the lights and leaving the room. He had a lot to think about.

It turned out that Sakumo didn't have to go to the Academy to speak with them about Kakashi. Shortly after Kakashi left for class the following morning, Sakumo received a request for a meeting that afternoon. Curious, he arrived at the prescribed time early that afternoon to find Kakashi's homeroom teacher and the Academy principal already waiting for him. After a brief greeting, his homeroom teacher got straight to the point.

"Kakashi is an extremely talented boy," he said. "His abilities in all the ninja arts are far superior to his classmates. Perhaps even exceeding some of the instructors."

Sakumo nodded, waiting to see where the other was going. He wasn't telling him anything he didn't already know. Who did he think had trained Kakashi in the ninja arts prior to his entering the Academy and continued to work with him at home? He knew full well the extent of his son's abilities and knew he had the potential to become one of the Leaf Village's most powerful shinobi, perhaps someday even surpassing himself.

The other man continued. "I recommend placing him in the final year class. That's the only placement that makes sense for his level of skill. Though for him to skip ahead so far, especially at his age, we need parental consent."

Sakumo stuck his hands into his front pockets. "I am well aware of Kakashi's abilities," he stated. "And I agree. He is learning nothing where he is currently."

"Then it's settled. Starting tomorrow, Kakashi will move – "

"Tomorrow?" Sakumo interrupted. "This close to graduation?" He had expected Kakashi to start a new class the following year. As it was, there were only a few weeks left in the school year.

"Well… yes. Honestly, he could easily pass the graduation exams right now."

Sakumo knew the other was correct. Kakashi could already perform the jutsu required to graduate. He'd be able to pass the written exam without any problem as well. Allowing Kakashi to graduate so early was a double-edged sword. It would keep him from being bored and allow him to put his skills to good use serving the village, that was true. But he was still only five years old, just a few weeks short of his sixth birthday. Sakumo wasn't so sure being thrust into the harsh realities of shinobi life would be a good thing for one so young.

Sakumo had recently heard that the mission he was supposed to go on prior to his injury had gone badly for the team that had been sent in his place. All but one member of the team had perished. Rumor had it that the survivor had abandoned the others in order to complete the mission. Sakumo hoped it wasn't true, though he knew it most likely was. For a shinobi, the Village rules came before all else, even friends. If completing a mission meant abandoning your friends, you were expected to leave them behind and you'd be hailed as a hero for it.

He hated that way of thinking. He was a shinobi in order to protect those things that were precious to him – his son, his friends, his village and country. If they were willing – even encouraged – to abandon their friends and comrades in order to complete their missions, what was the point? He had tried instilling his own morals and values in Kakashi and he knew the boy had listened and took his words to heart. But could he hold on to those ideals when faced with a no-win situation? A time when he would be forced to choose what was more important to him – his mission or his comrades. And could he live with whatever choice he made? Sakumo hoped he would never have to find out. He was enough of a realist to know that it could very likely happen. As an adult Sakumo would struggle with that choice, how could he expect Kakashi to make it as a young child?

Sakumo knew the Academy couldn't force him to move Kakashi or force him to allow him to graduate so early. Not during peacetime unless they got the Hokage involved. He doubted Hiruzen would go against his wishes as Kakashi's father. He also knew his son needed to be challenged. Kakashi was miserable where he was now. But to allow him to graduate already… it was too soon. There had been young graduates before but a five-year old genin was unheard of. He could insist Kakashi spend another year at the Academy, but would it really be any different than this year had been? Forcing Kakashi to remain at the Academy meant he would be bored and unhappy. Allowing him to graduate meant he'd be a shinobi before his sixth birthday. Sakumo didn't like either option but he couldn't see a third. He sighed heavily.

"Alright," Sakumo reluctantly agreed. He simply hoped he was doing the best thing for Kakashi's sake.

Sakumo watched Kakashi's graduation with mixed feelings. He was proud, certainly. While Kakashi had inherited a certain amount of his skill and intelligence, he also worked very hard in honing his skills through arduous training. He read constantly, devouring knowledge like a starving man devours a feast. He'd open any scroll containing a new jutsu he could get his hands on, practicing until he was able to perform it flawlessly, adding it to his ever-increasing repertoire. He'd even been granted permission to study several advanced jutsu from the Hokage's personal library.

On the other hand, he looked small and very, very young compared to the other new genin that surrounded him. Most of the other new graduates ranged in age from around ten at the youngest to early teens. They seemed to tower over the skinny, not-quite six-year old boy. Sakumo couldn't help but notice that none of them spoke more than a few words to his son. For the most part, they completely ignored him. He didn't have a single friend among the older children. Though, to be completely fair, Kakashi had transferred into their class with only a few weeks left in the school year.

Sakumo pushed his doubts aside as the ceremony ended and Kakashi wandered over to him. He grinned up at his father, his silver bangs fell over the headband that proclaimed him to be a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf.

"Congratulations," Sakumo said simply.

"Thanks."

"Have you gotten your team assignments yet?"

Kakashi shook his head as he headed towards the exit. "We're supposed to report back here in three days. We'll be told our teams and jonin instructors then."

It's a good thing Jiraiya already has a team, Sakumo thought, amused, as he mentally ran through those jonin he knew did not currently have genin teams. I'd hate to have to kill a friend for corrupting my son.

A small group of children surrounded them as they walked outside, all around Kakashi's age. Sakumo recognized Obito and Guy, the two boys who had managed to get past Kakashi's cool exterior to actually befriend him. There was a brown-haired girl he suspected was Rin. Kakashi had mentioned she was Obito's friend who had also included Kakashi in their activities when the other boy had begun befriending him. He was able to guess at the identities of the others; there were several jonin who had children in Kakashi's former class.

"Wow, you're really a genin now!" Obito said as his gaze traveled to the new headband. "That's gotta be a new record!"

Kakashi shrugged. He knew that it was; he'd overheard the instructors saying he was the youngest graduate the Academy ever had. He simply didn't care and saw no reason to make a fuss over it.

"Let's go to the park!" Rin said, getting a chorus of agreement in response, "Are you coming, Kakashi?"

Sakumo smiled and gave Kakashi a gentle shove towards the other children. "Go on," he said. "Just be home by dark." He smiled as he watched Kakashi head off with the group. Do you see this, Sayomi? Kakashi has finally begun to form bonds with others, to make friends. He's even letting himself be a kid for a bit, even after making genin. Sakumo's heart eased. Perhaps his son's future wasn't so bleak as he had feared after all.

Author's Note: I realize the plot is moving along kinda slow. Kishimoto left such an untapped goldmine by never developing Sakumo or getting into Kakashi's early childhood when he was still alive that I can't help but want to delve in. Anyway, things should start picking up soon.