Chapter five

Pakkun was waiting north-west of the main gate. He nodded once in Naruto's direction but then forgot about him. "It's faint," he said, "they knew what they were doing, which way the wind was blowing, used it to their advantage so that it would leave as little evidence as possible."

Alternatives: knowledge of tracing, possibly of tracing by smell. Did they suspect they were followed? Traps? Had they accounted for the use of ninken? If yes, did they suspect that he was coming? Was this a decoy?

"Are you sure there were no other trails?"

Bisuke, that had showed them the way to Pakkun, shook his head.

"We should be prepared for traps." he said, and released all ninken except Pakkun. It took chakra to maintain them and he started to suspect this mission would eat up everything he had and more.

"They have at least six hours head start."

They followed Pakkun without speaking, all three of them hurried but didn't rush. This was a time you could not afford to miss anything.

When he thought of it, this was the second time he'd been on a mission with himself and only one other person. The first time had been when he'd been working for ANBU. It was an S-rank with Tenzō, an infiltration and assassinate. By then Kakashi had become a reliable employee, a valued shadow. Tenzō showed promise and it was up to him to show him the ropes. From the very start he was calm, collected, and he knew instantly that they would get along. The mission had taken longer than anticipated, instead of a month it was going on six. They evolved, blended in, did as the locals did, pulled their shirts up to cover their necks and chin, at first from the mosquitoes but then as the year progressed, to keep the icy cold wind from making it under their clothes. It was a habit neither one of them was able to discard, by then it was so securely ingrained into their bodies. And at the end, when the mission went so wrong, Tenzō hadn't hesitated. That was a definite difference between his two companions- where Naruto doubted, Tenzō did not.

Kakashi assumed something had happened in his past, causing him never to ask questions, simply obeying. He'd been like that himself too. It was easier on yourself, it almost allowed you to meet the eyes in the mirror. "I only followed orders. I didn't make the call." It was true that neither of them was responsible for any long-term goals within the operational strategy, but they were still the ones holding a knife. Just as the thing with Obito- sometimes the "right" thing to do was so inherently wrong that it ached in his body.

He didn't blame Tenzō for doing everything by the books, for trusting those who made the calls. If he could, he would too.

They stopped by a slowly flowing river, yet no change in the nature surrounding them. Kakashi held up a hand, covered his eyes and looked at where the sun was headed. It was straight above them.

"Do you want to eat something?" he asked Naruto, who was down by the water, drinking and then filling up his water bottle.

"No, I'm good. I'd like to go for as long as possible before pausing."

Kakashi nodded in agreement, he too felt the nervous urge to keep running, anxious not to lose anymore ground to the thieves.

Pakkun was still in the tree, had instantaneously nodded off on a thick branch, he did his best to recuperate at any given moment.

"Pakkun. We're ready."

Judging by his alertness, he hadn't been sleeping after all. Kakashi and Naruto joined him in the ocean of leaves and watched him as he skipped from one branch to the next, sniffed for a scent and found it, and they were off again. The pace was somewhat calmer now, effective but one they could keep for hours if need be.

Pakkun first, Naruto second and Kakashi last, listening intently around him.

Since things had ended like they did, he and Minato had kept in touch, even after he left for ANBU, though then their talks were far apart. He'd eaten many dinners at his place, Kushina loved to cook and he was grateful for the chance to eat a proper home-cooked meal. He was rarely home and when he was he never cooked. He could of course, but he never bothered. He despised the kitchen because more than anything he hated eating alone. And so he didn't, instead he became a regular at the food-stand closest to his home.

He didn't like to intrude but he always felt welcome at Minato and Kushinas place. She was a swift cook, and he admired the way she moved about in the kitchen after deciding what to make. She eyed him suspiciously.

"You've lost weight again. What could they possibly be feeding you in ANBU to make you look like that?"

He shrugged, apologetic, knowing that she meant he should look after himself better.

"I've been away and it took a while to get used to the local diet..."

He didn't dare specify but knew they understood that. She put a plate with fried rice in front of him.

"I hope it's okay, you looked so hungry that I thought I'd whip something quick together."

He thanked her and told her that it was more than enough, and he meant it. They weren't that much older than him, but it almost felt like having a family. He was so grateful for the place they had made for him in their lives.

It was that evening that he noticed there was something going on, something more, beyond the usual routines. He was sitting opposite them both, they shared a side of the table as usual in the evenings, and they looked at each other and Kakashi looked away. He couldn't take the intimacy of it without feeling ashamed, like gawking at something clearly private. It wasn't flirtatious or insinuating, but so direct. It made him unbearably sad that no one might ever look at him like that. Their eyes had a quiet conversation, never ending exclamations of their worth.

There you are.

Here I am.

A week later, after a particularly easy mission, he knocked at their door again. It was lunch time and he figured there would be no one home, but wanted to check just in case. Minato opened.

"Hi there." He smiled, an easy honest smile. "Come on in!"

Kakashi mumbled a greeting, for a moment young again, shy at the prospect of being alone with his sensei, but he hurried after him.

"Please take a seat." Kakashi sat down.

"Kushina is away so I'm fixing lunch today."

"Now that is something you don't see everyday." Kakashi said and smiled, knowing that his teacher was quite lost in the kitchen.

The remark didn't affect him though as he rummaged through the contents of their fridge.

His movements with the knife were somewhat insecure, still not sure of how much pressure would suffice.

"Oh, I figured it was time, you know?"

Kakashi didn't know but figured there would be an explanation.

"...now that the baby is on the way."

The baby. It took a second for his brain to catch on. Baby, child.

Minato had turned around, clearly awaiting his reaction, his smile hesitant at first but bigger once he saw his joy.

"Wow, congratulations."

Kakashi felt a deep happiness wash over him, a feeling so existential he hadn't even known he was capable of.

Minato turned back to the chopping board but kept talking about this and that, clearly relieved to have it out in the open. There was a stop in the conversation and Kakashi took the chance to keep it going.

"What are you making?" he asked.

He didn't reply, just put the pot down on the table and smiled, proud of his culinary accomplishment.

"I made ramen!"