"You are the Hokage. You are supposed to be punctual Kakashi."

Kakashi sighed as he leapt into the Hokage's office – his office. It was the morning of his first day in the Hokage position and he'd had every intention of being prompt. He decided that the truth wasn't worth mentioning. He had lost track of time at the Memorial Stone this morning, just as he did most mornings. Distracted by his own thoughts of the night before, he had not realised that it was barely still morning. Surely the Hidden Leaf knew of this tendency when they'd promoted him to Hokage? After all, he was a creature of habit and elevated responsibilities weren't going to change that. He eyed the Hokage cloak upon the desk, before making his way towards it, reluctantly. He had asked for the cloak to be left at his office, alongside the ceremonial hat. He was not ready to wear them in public just yet. Everyone knew who Kakashi Hatake was without it. He slid the white material over his shoulders, left the hat to one side and sat down.

"Sorry Shiho, I got lost on the way to the Hokage's office." The haphazard smile he gave her was met with an icy glare.

Kakashi watched as his frazzled assistant pulled a scroll out of her pocket and placed it in front of him.

"A list of tasks to be completed today. Lady Tsunade thought it might help to have some guidance."

Kakashi opened the scroll and observed the list of tasks set by the Fifth. His sigh was audible as he read the first task. He felt it ironic that Tsunade of all people would give him instructions, considering how often she would shirk her duties to go out drinking. His mind wandered to her assistant, Shizune and how she often bore the brunt of the Lady's negligence. He decided he didn't want to repeat that behaviour.

'Call for Obito Uchiha. Instruct him to meet Naruto Uzumaki at the Third Training Ground.' He uttered, after studying the list for a moment.

"As you were late I had Yamato fetch Obito Uchiha on your behalf. They returned a short while ago. Are you ready to see them?" Shiho said.

Kakashi nodded in response as he adjusted himself in his seat. It was the first time he had seen Obito since they had kissed last night. The walk back to the apartment was silent and awkward, neither knowing what to say or how to react to the event that transpired. Kakashi had hoped to discuss the issue further once he'd summoned the courage to say anything, however Obito went to the bathroom and Kakashi waited until realising Obito was not there anymore. Kamui he had guessed. Obito had chosen to hide rather than confront what had happened, and Kakashi was only too jealous of him that he couldn't do the same. He didn't feel much like seeing him now either, and wished he had his own dimension he could come freely to whenever he chose. Hiding from the world seemed a wonderful idea.

Kakashi's mind was brought back to the Hokage's office by Shiho opening the door.

"Good morning Hokage. Obito Uchiha as you requested." Yamato bowed his head slightly.

"Thank you Yamato." Kakashi replied turning his attention towards the Uchiha.

Obito now stood before him; arms crossed and face full of a ridiculous pout. Kakashi thanked his signature mask for hiding his slight smile. Obito's expression was similar to a genin who had just been lectured by their sensei. Kakashi would know, after all he had witnessed the interaction between his former sensei Minato and Obito more times than Obito would care to admit. He couldn't help but wonder what had caused this visible chastisement. Perhaps the awkwardness wasn't resigned to Kakashi alone.

"Good morning Obito." Kakashi watched as Obito reluctantly met his gaze.

"Kakashi." Obito responded.

"Hokage!" Shiho interjected, anger clear.

The tension between Kakashi and Obito was palpable. Surrounded by other people it was impossible to even ask Obito what was on his mind. He knew that he had to do so before the day was out, it just happened to be his poor luck that his first task as Hokage was to instruct the easily angered Uchiha.

"Hokage." Obito finally muttered through clenched teeth.

Kakashi swallowed as he felt his cheeks flush. The unexpected formality of Obito's second response had caught him off guard. He cleared his throat.

"You are required to meet with Naruto at the Third Training Ground. Naruto will no doubt be expecting you already."

"Shall I escort him?" Yamato asked.

"No need." Kakashi lazily waved Yamato away. Shiho bowed courteously and both left the room.

This left Obito alone in front of the Hokage's desk. Kakashi rested his chin on the palm of his hand and continued to read Tsunade's hand written list. He glanced up to see Obito's expression change from a look of aggression, to that of confusion. It was evident that he had something he wanted to say. He studied Kakashi intensely, eventually breaking the silence.

"Will that be all Hokage? Are we done here?"

Something in the manner and tone of Obito's voice rankled with Kakashi, especially the way he spat out the word Hokage. The lack of respect was evident; whether it be for him or the position was hard to say. Kakashi hesitated for a moment. He had so much that he wished to speak with Obito about, but his reaction at the apartment last night and his mood as he stood before him in the office had him worried that he had made the wrong decision, and that perhaps that he was being too hasty. He had never asked what Obito felt and that was a mistake. The fear of losing Obito for a third time was a constant thought in the back of his mind.

"No, that is all." Kakashi replied, eventually.

Obito spun on his heel and left the office with haste as Shiho trailed him outside of the room. He could hear her scold Obito for not having the courtesy to bow to the Hokage. He lent back in his chair and closed his eyes. The last thing he needed right now was for Obito to become even more frustrated with him due to the interference of others.

The tasks that Tsunade had left for Kakashi had turned out to be rather simple. Shiho had so far turned out to be a valuable assistant and together they had completed all of the tasks much earlier than either of them had anticipated. Kakashi stood up and stretched his arms up over his head. Working in an office was much more sedentary than he was used to. His role as a shinobi had kept him active over the years, but this was akin to administration and it left him a little restless. The many facets of being Hokage would take some getting used to. He slid off his Hokage cloak and placed it on the desk, ready to leave.

"That is all for today Shiho. You may leave now." Kakashi told his assistant.

"Would you not rather start on the tasks set for tomorrow Kakashi? We should continue when we still have time." Shiho raised an eyebrow.

"No, that isn't necessary. Besides, there is somewhere that I need to be."

Kakashi walked towards the window and flung himself outside the office. The breeze on his face instantly fading the worries in his mind. The need to focus on his footsteps as he traversed the rooftops always cleared his head of the day's worries. He couldn't care less about the office he left behind.

"There is a door you know!" Shiho shouted out the window. She could sense he was going to be a particular nuisance moving forward.

Traversing the Hidden Leaf via rooftop was the fastest method of getting to the Third Training Ground. As Kakashi neared his destination he suppressed his chakra. He was unsure if he would be a welcome guest at the training session. He effortlessly climbed up a tree and perched himself on a branch. He was positioned close enough to hear the two shinobi as they trained. Almost subconsciously he removed his worn novel from his pocket and began to peruse the pages, while maintaining a watchful eye on proceedings.

"THIS IS NOT FAIR OBITO-SENSEI. YOU CAN HIT ME BUT I CAN'T HIT YOU, FIGHT FAIR Y'KNOW?" Kakashi heard Naruto whine.

Kakashi looked up as Naruto and his shadow clones sent a flurry of punches in Obito's direction. Obito easily avoided each of Naruto's advances and counter attacked with a Fire Style technique, quickly ending the battle for three of Naruto's shadow clones.

"Ugh! Rasengan!"

Naruto created the small, yet dangerous ball of multi-directional, multi-flowing chakra in his hand and then ran at Obito with vicious intent.

"Wood Style!"

Obito dropped his palms to the floor and created a solid wooden wall in front of him. Kakashi was impressed. He had expected Obito to use Kamui to avoid the attack. Still, Naruto was being sloppy and reckless, and having access to such a powerful jutsu, who wouldn't use it?

"Argh!"

Naruto's Rasengan hit the wooden wall and sent him sprawling backwards. Kakashi watched as Obito's Wood Style spawned tree roots out of the ground. They wound around Naruto's feet and hands tightly and bound him in place. As Kakashi watched his former student train with the man who had not only killed his parents, his friends and destroyed his village he was yet again amazed by Naruto's Will of Fire and ability to forgive. He had no doubt that one day Naruto would become Hokage. Kakashi recognised that Naruto and Obito were comparable in many ways. Naruto could have walked down the path that Obito had and yet here he stood; the most valuable shinobi in the Hidden Leaf Village.

"Hey! Obito-sensei where are you going?"

Before Kakashi had a chance to see what had happened, Obito materialised at the end of the tree branch that Kakashi was sat on.

"Come back here Obito-sensei! I'm stuck and I'm hung-ry!" Naruto shouted after him.

"I thought it was Tenzo's, or should I say Yamato's job to observe me? Has the Hokage taken a special interest?" Obito raised an eyebrow.

"It seems that your body has fully recovered from the injuries you sustained." Kakashi replied coolly, eyes fixed squarely on the book in front of him.

"I did go head to head with the whole Allied Shinobi Forces did I not? It would take far more than one Hidden Leaf shinobi to injure me, even one as… talented as the boy."

"That may be so." Kakashi responded. "Obito I have been meaning to speak with you."

Obito jumped down to the ground and folded his arms.

"Are you ordering me to speak with you? Or am I free to leave Hokage?"

"You are free to do as you wish." He replied.

"Purple Lightning!"

Kakashi cut away the wood that bound Naruto's hands and feet. His new jutsu Purple Lightning was effective although he still longed for the Sharingan. He noticed it every single time he saw Obito and felt a pang of jealousy. It was Obito's eye after all.

"Uh, sorry about that Naruto." Kakashi awkwardly ran his hand through his hair.

"Guess you had to replace your jutsu without having the Sharingan anymore, huh Sensei?"

Naruto's attention turned quickly back to himself however.

"Of course he would leave when I had the upper hand! Did you see me Kakashi-sensei? Did you?" Naruto pointed to himself proudly – a signature trait.

"I'm not too sure about that Naruto." Kakashi was in no mood to humour him.

"Well I will show you next time! Where did he go anyway, He just took off?" Naruto asked.

"His body took a large toll from the war. He must still be recovering. We will reschedule. Go home." Kakashi knew he sounded convincing.

"But-" Naruto protested

"Go home Naruto." Kakashi pressed.

"You're so mean now that you're the Hokage Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto stuck his tongue out as he walked away.

Kakashi sighed as he watched Naruto reluctantly walk back towards the village. He hesitated at the gate: he could go home or he could go find the Uchiha. Admittedly Kakashi found his chakra distinctive and therefore found him easy to track; a secret he would never tell Obito as it was one of the few advantages he held over his teammate. He struggled with the decision. Kakashi felt like he didn't know Obito anymore, he'd seemed reluctant to talk earlier and Kakashi didn't want to push him away any further. The Obito in Kakashi's memories would have wanted Kakashi to follow him though.

The unmistakable chakra led Kakashi into the forest to find Obito sitting next to the river deep in thought. Kakashi wasn't sure whether or not he should interrupt him. He lingered at the edge of the clearing as Obito continued to stare at his own reflection in the clear water.

"Kakashi?" Obito now standing spun around to face him.

Kakashi walked towards Obito, stopping himself when he was only an arms distance away.

"Kakashi.." Obito began.

"What is it Obito?"

Kakashi watched the Uchiha before him, eyes to the ground, fists clenched. Mannerisms he was very familiar with from their youth.

"I.. I don't hate you." Obito forced, turning away.

"I know that you don't hate me Obito." Kakashi softly replied.

"I mean I'm sorry." Obito shifted in his spot.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the awkward Uchiha. This sudden apology had caught him off guard. He liked this side of Obito. He knew that deep inside he was still the same big hearted Uchiha that he lost long ago and he longed to find that person again. Kakashi knew that getting to that stage would be hard work though, as Obito had years of anger built up inside of him with violence his only outlet for his emotions. He also failed to share the life experiences of growing up in the Hidden Leaf; friendships, the hierarchy and even relationships. Kakashi was unsure how to approach this situation as he always felt on edge around the fiery Uchiha.

"Why?" Kakashi asked.

"I'm sorry that I failed Team Minato; Rin, Minato and you."

"Everyone has a past. But not everyone has a future and we do, we should embrace that and move on, with time." Kakashi reached out and placed his hand on Obito's shoulder.

He felt Obito flinch at his touch and pulled away quickly worried that he had made a mistake.

"Don't." Obito whispered and roughly pulled Kakashi into him.

Kakashi pushed Obito away, shocked by his sudden forwardness. He immediately regretted the decision as he watched the look of rejection on Obito's face turn to anger. Obito grabbed Kakashi's shoulders and painfully slammed him into the tree behind them. Kakashi focused on his breathing. It was hard to keep calm and not react.

"Tell me Kakashi! Tell me what it is that you want from me because I don't know!" Obito shouted.

"Calm down Obito!" Kakashi tried to remain collected.

He felt Obito tighten his grip on his shoulders. He knew that it would bruise.

"Why?" Obito sneered.

"There are always ANBU in the forest. I don't have the desire to explain the situation to them. This is not something to do in public." Kakashi replied coolly. The total lack of emotion shown infuriated Obito further.

"Public? We're in a forest. So what if we are in public stupid Kakashi! Are you embarrassed to be seen with me? Why didn't you say that before, you could have saved me a lot of time!"

"Obito.. Things have changed now. I'm the Hokage and you're.."

Obito punched the tree mere millimetres from Kakashi's face. His continuing composure became farcical as he tried to slow his heartbeat down. Kakashi was relieved when Obito let go and turned his back on him as he walked back towards the river. As Kakashi straightened himself out, his eyes moved to Obito's hand as blood dripped from the wound to the floor. He sighed, reached into his ninja tools bag and pulled out a bandage. With a deep breath, he walked towards the enraged Obito who stood arms crossed and pouting.

"Your hand needs to be tended to." Kakashi took Obito's rough hand into his.

"Why do you care stupid Kakashi?" Obito swung it out of his grasp and hid it behind his back.

"I've always cared Obito. Every single day I mourned for you. I couldn't help you then.. But I can help you now." Kakashi reached for his hand again.

Kakashi waited, as the obviously reluctant Obito placed his wounded hand into Kakashi's.

Once Kakashi had cleaned and bandaged the wound for his teammate, he sat down along the riverbank. He dipped his fingers into the cool running water. All of his life he spent fighting for the Hidden Leaf and it wasn't often that he got to enjoy the beautiful scenery it offered.

"I didn't ask to be the Hokage, Obito." He looked at his friend, who remained nonplussed.

When Obito didn't respond Kakashi leaned back and looked up towards the sky. He wished that his life was different. Why did he have to experience so much pain? No one should have to feel as alone as he felt, as Obito felt. At least Kakashi had a chance to help Obito.

Obito hesitated before sitting down next to Kakashi. He hadn't responded to Kakashi's question but he felt the close proximity was enough reassurance to carry on the conversation.

"What are you thinking about Obito?"

"Something someone said to me once. I finally understand its meaning."

"Oh?" Kakashi questioned, not expecting an answer.

"Someone once said to me that the hole in your heart is something other people can fill. If you reject your friends' feelings and this world just because something didn't go as you wished, no one will ever come to you. And so that hole won't be filled either, if you just run away without doing anything people won't do anything for you either. As long as you don't give up, you can still be saved! I understand what they meant now."

Kakashi's eyes widened. Back in that moment he was full of emotion, forced to face his old teammate and pressed to his physical limits. He had meant every word that he had said, but believed that it had fallen on deaf ears.

"I started to believe that once someone had come to know love, they run the risk of carrying hate. It was you who told me that you need the love of others to fill the hole in your heart." Obito added.

Kakashi flung his arms around Obito, pulling him into his body. He hadn't expected Obito to remember what he had told him. He buried his face into his neck, Obito's chakra soothing his anxious heart. Kakashi knew that the other villages would be outraged to hear that the Hidden Leaf's Hokage held feelings for the missing-nin who had instigated the Fourth Great Ninja War. However Obito was so much more than that, if only they knew! Kakashi had always known it would be a fine balancing act, with his responsibilities as leader of the village on one side and his personal feelings on the other, but he was determined to live and work as he saw fit. If the villagers opposed this, that was their problem. Kakashi knew that in time Obito's mask would crack and he would be himself again, and he vowed then and there to be the one to make that happen. Together he knew that they could prove the villagers wrong.

"Obito. I'm sorry?" Kakashi murmured into the crook of his neck.

"What for?" Obito asked.

"Everything." Kakashi replied.