Disclaimer - I wish Kishimoto would be so kind as to give me a crumb of ownership, but besides my OCs, I do not possess any of these characters or settings.
This is an Alternate Universe, and thus some things will not be the same. If you're confused, don't worry, all will be explained. Enjoy!
Legacy of The White Fang: Sharingan Saga: Prologue.
A pair of leaves swayed in the wind, and a lone eye followed. Its wielder sat perched on the village rooftops, his breathing controlled and warm under his mask. He had been called. The irritated cries he heard from the messenger hawk above told him as much. He would obey the call, just not yet. He had time. The graduation ceremony in the Village Hidden in the Leaves had been eventful. Therefore, a fresh batch of academy students were at the ready, waiting for a Jonin like him to mentor them. A brand-new Team 7, assembled with him in mind- by the Hokage himself no less. He should be honoured. Yet Kakashi just felt bitter. Will another squad die and leave him behind? No, not this time. This was what he had told Sandaime.
But the Hokage spoke in an unyielding voice. "I supported you back then," he had said, "because I saw the burden Mina's actions had left on you," before pausing, looking tired. "Because I saw the fear in your eye as you looked down at her boy, lost, while he smiled in your arms."
"I won't do this," Kakashi had said. "Ask someone else."
"Ask?" The Hokage repeated, standing from his seat. "Remember your place, Copy Ninja."
Kakashi watched as the wandering leaves spiralled downward, now almost level with himself, here above the village. He had forgotten it for just a moment. The life he lived. The life of a Shinobi. As a result, he'd ignored the reprimand and continued, saying he had the right to pick his team. That he would not take unprepared Genin to the battlefield.
The Third had only beaten away his craven words. "Do not pretend as though this is about anything other than Mina's son, Kakashi. Your father left you with many enemies," the Hokage had said. "The White Fang had a reputation eclipsing even that of my Sannin." Leaning over his desk, his hands pressed against its surface for support, the old man was now face to face with Kakashi. "Mina's reputation will manifest itself the same way with the boy. With his appearance- and if his Academy sensei are to be believed, his prodigious skill, the connection will be made. I remain surprised it hasn't already happened. The time has come Kakashi, tell him the truth before his enemies do."
"He's safer not knowing, Hokage-sama. You of all people should realise that."
"It would be better not to spare him pain right now, Kakashi, more than anyone else, I know that." The Third said, looking at the photo of the Sannin as Genin on his desk. "The boy is cursed with enough secrets. Find it in yourself to allow him a little mercy. Please, Kakashi."
"Every day he spends away from me is mercy. He doesn't deserve a teacher like me," he had said. "He'll have a challenging life as it is, so if this secret spares him pain, even for a while? I'm damn well keeping it. What Mina did- it was a mistake. My presence in the boy's life would be nothing but cruel."
"If you truly believed that," the old man had countered, "you wouldn't have left him with your father's blade."
Enough.
An enraged hawk and happy civilians filled his ears as the world faded back into place. The boy's squad would have to get through the Copy Ninja first, and despite his opinions, the Hokage hadn't taken the Jonin's authority to send them back to the academy if they failed. He would bear the introductions, commence the test, and do what had to be done.
Kakashi stood from his perch, inhaled, and vanished. Where he had left, the wandering leaves went their separate ways, a current of wind diverting their shared path. The wind carried one to faraway skies, leaving the other to fall on the village grounds, trodden upon by passers-by.
A/N : Wooo finally bit the bullet and published this. This will be my very first fanfic guys so please cut me a little slack haha, constructive criticism is of course appreciated. This was pretty short since its the prologue, but next chapter you'll meet the new character kenji, think hes pretty cool and hope you guys like him. Feel free to favourite/follow and leave a review to tell me what you think. :)