HybridTrash13: Yay! Haha. Changes are drastically visible already, because time is a sensitive thing. Characters are introduced ten time earlier than canon and such, while some might be introduced a little bit later. Yeah Kishimoto did a shit job at the timeline. Minato would've have to die at twenty-six or twenty-seven when he actually died at the age of twenty-four…sigh. The ObiRin and KakaRin pairings are most definitely not permanent. After much thinking and more writing, I've decided not to make it official. Thanks for your review. :3

I'll be updating this story like I updated TOWIB: On weekends or Friday's, with the rare occasion of a day or so earlier.

Original word count: 5.5k~

Recommended songs: I See Fire by Ed Sheeran.

Enjoy! :3

Chapter 2: Eisvoliphobia

Arrival was abrupt.

Kakashi practically remembered it as a blur. He just sat down at the base of a tree, studying the moves of the duo chūnin—Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina. Some moves were sloppy and too unrefined, but corrected at the last millisecond and improved through more use. His own thought process sped along as quickly as the fight progressed, red wind flashing by yellow spikes with the sparks of metal hitting metal flying about.

Sakumo was watching along with his son, interest sparkling in his eyes.

Kakashi was interested as well. He knew that Minato and Kushina were damn good. But he's never seen them fight as intensely against each other, and frankly he was impressed. For their age, they were advanced. Typically a thirteen year old chūnin would barely know how to move with such fluency no matter how many battles they fought during a time of war. That was why so many ninja died during the three great wars. The fourth was more mellow in that area, since rank didn't matter.

"Watch closely," Sakumo suddenly said.

Kakashi stopped thinking about the wars, and stared at the fight.

Kushina jabbed her kunai way too far forward. It left multiple openings that Minato could hit. That was what the blonde did, too. He side stepped and grabbed her wrist, his kunai about to reach her back. But the kunoichi ripped out of his grip with alarming strength, twisting around and slamming her palm into Minato's nose.

"Ow!" the Namikaze cried, his hand instantly covering his bloodied nose. His eyes were squeezed shut and when he opened one of them, he rubbed his injured nose only to wince. "Um…Kushina-chan, I think you broke my nose…"

"Good! That just means I win and it shows dattebane!"

Kakashi sucked his cheeks in, keeping a perfectly straight face best he could. He stood up and looked at his father. "That looked like an irrational version of a Hyūga move," he said.

"Uzumaki taijutsu uses palms," Sakumo explained. He smiled. "Force, too. They would often print seals on their hands and transfer those seals over to a target. It's quite simple for them, but to an average shinobi it takes years to master."

"So if Kushina put a seal on her hand, she could've actually landed a fatal hit," Kakashi finished.

Sakumo gave a thumbs up and a toothy grin that looked very much like Gai. "Correct-O!"

The young Hatake almost cringed heavily, but the reaction was cut short when Obito suddenly dropped from the tree branches above. "Uzumaki taijutsu looks very much like a defensive mechanism," he explained, "but it's not. That's partially why Uzumaki are so feared. They deceive. Of course, taijutsu wasn't their strong suit so anybody who wasn't fast enough to turn the tables while revealing openings will get hurt or die because that was what Uzumaki taijutsu was all about."

"Minato, come on over here," Sakumo said as he branched away from his spot. "Let me check."

Kakashi stepped out of his spot, too, Obito somewhat hanging back. Kushina shivered as she tucked away her weaponry, as did Minato. Why are they so cold?

Sakumo examined the broken bone, backing away when he finished. "Nothing super serious, it should heal quickly. Though the cut might scar," he said.

"That's fine," Minato grumbled. "But it hurts…"

Kushina giggled. "You're such a sissy," she teased. She pulled down her sleeves that were rolled up prior. "It's getting cold, though dattebane, and I don't like it."

Minato nodded his agreement, keeping his head tipped up. "Should I go to the hospital?"

"You're fine," Kushina snapped. She rolled her eyes. "It's just a scratch."

Kakashi giggled happily. Their interaction never truly changed, and he was so glad that it didn't.

"Let's stop by the compound, then," Sakumo said as he patted his sons head. "I've got some medical supplies you can use."

Minato nodded in agreement.

"I didn't know you were invested in the medical field," Kushina chimed as they turned away and started to walk towards the Hatake home.

"I had a friend who taught me some neat tricks," Sakumo explained. Kakashi raised his arms silently, and the man picked him up, allowing him to rest on his back. "She was a really good teacher, so I learned things quicker than I thought I could."

"What's your main profession, then?" Kushina inquired.

"Ninjutsu, kenjutsu and taijutsu. Primarily ninjutsu, though. Kenjutsu is way more secondary than taijutsu, but I do know some other things in multiple other subjects. That includes fūinjutsu."

"Mine is taijutsu and fūinjutsu dattebane. I know plenty of ninjutsu, though…"

Kakashi rested his head on his father's shoulder, closing his eyes. He stopped himself from falling asleep multiple times, but he gave up when Obito's cold hand touched his shoulder.

"I think you three will become good friends," Sakumo said as he arrived back from getting the said medical supplies he had.

Minato took them with a gesture of thanks. "You can tell?" he asked.

"I can. He managed to fall asleep around you two," the Hatake pointed out. "He only does that when he trusts people like they're family."

Kushina blinked. "That was quick. We barely even spoke to each other."

Sakumo smiled nostalgically. "He's like his mother in that same way," he said. "She followed her instincts as an extreme individual, and I've seen those qualities in Kakashi more than enough."

"He looks a lot like you, though…" Minato pondered.

"He's got his mother's face."

The blonde blinked, his hand still hovering over his bandaged nose. "Why does he wear a mask?"

"Mama."

"Oh. But why would she want it on?"

Sakumo shrugged, looking away and down at the medical supply box. "Beats me. It's like a second skin now."

"Am I the only one who's on the verge of freezing?" Kushina suddenly chimed in sharply. She was sitting on the dining room chair, hugging herself and shivering. "Autumn is relatively warm here, y'know, so it doesn't need to be this cold in the house dattebane."

"Excuse her," Minato said apologetically. He had a nervous, ticked smile, obviously fearing a bad second impression.

Sakumo frowned, waving the edginess off completely. "It's been set at room temperature," he stated. "It shouldn't be as cold as you think it is. I've been getting minor chills, but that's it."

Obito, who had been eavesdropping for the fun of it from the kitchen and dining room entrance, blinked. He sighed. "You're awfully sharp today, Kushina-chan…" he murmured rhetorically. "But that would make sense. You are a jinchūriki, after all…"

Kushina glanced in Obito's general direction before turning towards Sakumo. "You should get that checked, if that's the case."

"I got it fixed last week, though," Sakumo pointed out. He laughed a little, scratching his cheek sheepishly. "Money wasted, perhaps?"

"Most definitely dattebane."

Obito smiled in amusement, turning away and walking down the hall that lead towards Kakashi's room. He arrived at the entrance a turn and a minute later. However, he didn't even need to step forward for a kunai to race through his chest—right around the area of his heart. Naturally, the kunai phased through his form. So instead, the weapon splintered through the wooden wall behind, some pieces of wood actually falling out of the wall.

The Uchiha grinned in amusement. "Oh boy, you've done it now," he said.

"Kakashi," Sakumo called. His head poked around the corner of the turn the hallway. Kushina's head poked around, as well, Minato simply just stepped into the hallway, his hand holding a tissue that was bloody from a nose bleed. "Why are you throwing kunai?"

Kakashi pushed his door open, his hair somewhat messy and his eyes still droopy from sleep. He glared pointedly at Obito before going to yank the kunai out, which Sakumo took the instant he used Shunshin no Jutsu to leap to his sons side. He raised a criticizing brow.

Kakashi blinked, his ears going hot and his cheeks becoming pink with embarrassment. "I-it was the stupid rat…again!" he said.

"We don't have rats," Sakumo pointed out.

"Clearly—"

"We don't."

"But I saw it, tou-chan!" Kakashi insisted. He rushed up to the wall, his hand pointing up to the wound in the wall. "It climbed up there!"

"Well, if you keep making holes in the wall then actual rats might as well move in," Sakumo shot back. He sighed, putting his hands on his hips. "If this keeps up, I'll be using your allowance money in no time."

"We can use branches, then."

The eld Hatake tried his hardest not to laugh, because when an adult (or an idol) laughs around a child—or, really, anybody in general, they'll keep doing it. So instead, he pressed his lips together and pinched his nose. It was so very obvious that Kushina was giggling behind him along with Minato.

Kakashi giggled into his hand as well.

Sakumo gave in, smiling in amusement. He chuckled. "If that's the case then why don't you show me?" he asked. "I'd like to see that."

Kakashi ran past him. "Just watch! I'll make it!"

"Wait for me dattebane!" Kushina called, jogging after the child.

Minato smiled and waved at Sakumo, rushing after the red-haired kunoichi and leaving the eld Hatake behind with the spirit of Obito.

The Uchiha stepped forward, but he stopped the instant Sakumo slashed the kunai through his chest. The man shivered, pulling his hand away with dark eyes that practically looked straight into Obito's eyes.

It was scary, and instantly Obito knew that he needed to steer as much distance as he could from Sakumo.

A full five days with Sakumo made Kakashi almost lose sight of his objective. It was very nice: Quality time, very memories made, bonds of this dimension formed…he could've listed plenty of more things, but two days were cut off.

Sakumo was needed on the front lines.

Their last night was spent sleeping in the same room, though Kakashi kept waking up with violently shaking limbs and just streams of sweat because he kept having anxiety dreams.

It was four in the morning when he gave up. But that was when Sakumo rose, as well.

"You didn't sleep, did you?" Sakumo questioned.

Kakashi's hands were shaking. He was afraid that his father would take this chance and die easy—to commit suicide on the battle field and cover up the fact that he wanted to die. The traveler wouldn't allow it though. Obito managed to land him right on the day Sakumo chose to commit seppuku—Kakashi stopped him, though, with the events of an injured hand that healed in seconds and a seizure.

Sakumo picked Kakashi up, holding the child close to him bridal style. He kissed his sons crown, leaning his cheek on a sweaty forehead. The eld Hatake honestly felt so pathetic. Kakashi's nightmare would've come true almost a week ago, and the trauma he was witnessing could've been permanent if that happened. He was Kakashi's only family, and as guilty as he felt he actually was mere seconds away from going through with it.

"Don't worry," Sakumo reassured. "I won't die. I'll come back unharmed, and then we can do whatever again."

Kakashi buried his hot face into his father's chest. He honestly didn't believe those words. He would follow, or send a Kage Bushin after his father to act as a meat shield if necessary. His father's life was, currently, his highest priority and being revealed was one of his least concerns…but it would be thought over nonetheless. He gripped his father's shirt with a deathly grip. "Promise…"

"Yes. Yes—of course. I promise; I'll come back alive."

The young Hatake felt some sort of relief hearing that. He sucked in a deep breath, feeling Obito's large, cool hand in his limp and small baby hand. The relaxation remained, his breathing evening out. His grip loosened and fell, and it was at that very moment that Sakumo knew his son had fallen into a reassuring slumber. He put the child into the futon, pulling the blanket over the boy and standing.

Sakumo stepped over his son, his legs getting sudden goosebumps when he made it to the other side. He stopped dead in his tracks, looking around the room. He turned around, taking a few steps back from the futon with a guarded look. The coldness went away instantly.

A dark figure fluctuated into view, showing a pale skinned man with scars across the right side of his face. He wore all black, and had ebony black eyes and a raven shade of black hair.

But he was pretty much glowing, and that was what made Sakumo hesitate. He couldn't feel the man's presence, and the said man was very still—much like a statue, matter of fact.

The eld Hatake reached out, aiming to touch the man's shoulder, but his hand went straight through. He yanked his arm back in alarm, his eyes wide.

The man smiled, his scarred lips parting with amusement. His eyes narrowed and he almost grinned like a madman. "Did you know that nightmares come from the outside world, Sakumo?" he asked rhetorically. "The nightmare Kakashi had was on the night you almost committed seppuku. Whatever strong vibes of sorrow you gave off he picked up, Sakumo. He was so traumatized after that dream. You should be thankful that he forgot a majority of it…Sakumo."

Sakumo blinked, a lump forming in his throat. His face went blank and he could feel a headache coming.

"He told me about it, too," the man continued. "He was the one who found you dead, on your side, with a pool of blood surrounding you…he was crying in his sleep, and if it wasn't for the loudness of the storm and your mental breakdown, his screams of horror and sadness would have been heard, Sakumo. Did you know that, Sakumo? Did you know that his anxiety dreams, clinging and anxiety bursts are because you're selfishly drowning in shame, Sakumo?"

The eld Hatake snapped out of it. He glared. "What would you know?" he asked as he kneeled a little, his hand creeping to grab a nearby kunai stashed away.

"Plenty," the man retorted. His ebony black eyes turned and looked straight into Sakumo's. "I'm merely a spirit. But a spirit can do a lot of things. Creating cold spots is one of them."

Sakumo's jaw tensed, the hairs on his neck standing up. His mouth went dry and his hands were suddenly very cold and clammy. "So you've been watching."

"What else could I do?" the man shot back. He looked back at Kakashi. His pale fingers were gripped by the young boy, who had a pinched expression. "You better keep your promise, Sakumo."

The Hatake stopped dead once more. The man looked at him with angry red eyes—but he couldn't observe more because he woke up around a campfire with a point blank slot of memory he just couldn't recall very clearly.

Who said that they could create cold spots, again…?

Kakashi woke up to the loud sound of a string of explosions. His eyes shot open, and he rushed out of the futon. Another string of explosions happened again, and he hurried to his zori. He shoved them onto his feet, grabbing a kunai that was stashed away under a floorboard.

"Iwa is invading," Obito reported.

Kakashi's eyes flew wide open. He whipped around and faced the spirit. "They can't be! They never invaded our village! Not since the first war!"

"Things have changed," Obito pointed out. "Drastically, as a matter of fact."

Kakashi's fist clenched, his teeth grinding together with irritation and rage. "Dammit!"

He ran out of the room, exiting the compound through the back. He climbed up on supports till he got onto the roof. Fires were alarmingly close, black smoke rising high in the air. The afternoon sun and clouds were already starting to become muddled with the marks of war invasion.

"Kakashi! Watch out dattebane!"

The young Hatake bunched up in surprise, instantly registering the fact that six presences were surrounding him. All of them were jōnin level, too.

He felt himself choke up with shock. Six jōnin sent after him? That was ridiculous.

Kakashi leaped away, dodging a rain of kunai. Ninja wire shot up from the ground below, aiming to slice his back like a whip. He lunged forward and right, just barley managing to dodge a man made of Doton rock. The roof caved in, but luckily it lead to the outside hallway of the traditional Hatake compound.

The child hopped up in the air, dodging a roundhouse kick from a quick Iwa-nin. He slashed his kunai almost blindly and instinctively, aiming a fatal blow to his opponent's neck. He managed to land the killing hit, blood getting on his clothes. The Iwa shinobi fell with ease, choking and gagging for air.

Kakashi backed away, getting into a low position. He kept his senses sharp and his mind moving. It seemed that his memories served well, because his mind appeared to have imported the illusion muscle memory.

"Damn, you're pretty good," the kunoichi behind him commented.

Kakashi turned around sharply, keeping his back to the dead Iwa-nin. He glared.

"Oh, scary," she taunted.

With amazing speed, the rock man charged Kakashi and swung a heavy fist. The child leaped out of the way, dodging shuriken that was attached to ninja wire that came from a distanced Iwa nin. The scent of oil hit his nose quick, and barely a second later fire zipped down the line. The wires surrounded his sides, one of them even arching over his head. The only openings were in between, and they were a tight squeeze.

Kakashi took the chance and pushed through, only getting minor blistered red skin from the deadly blazing heat. The rock man was already right under him, an upper cut prepared. Kakashi felt the excitement of battle creep up on him, overwhelming him and making him think fast.

He continued falling from his leap of faith, the fist coming forward. But at the last minute, Kakashi twisted around the fist, his back brushing against the beastly arm of the ninja. His kunai stabbed into the man's ear, blood and pain becoming the result. The man shouted, his arms flailing blindly as blood got on his face and in his eyes.

The young Hatake leaped off of the rock man's back, landing in the grassy yard of the compound. The man stumbled forward and fell onto his hands and knees. The area Kakshi landed in was used as a training ground a lot, which was a lucky shot, because now hidden weapons were everywhere. He didn't know if he could use it, but still. It was a good idea.

Kakashi felt the movement of the kunoichi. He looked up, the woman neatly and elegantly flipping through the air. She landed on her feet, wires flying through the wind from a clawed glove mechanism. He raised his kunai as the woman charged in a lazy but strong zig zagged pattern, wire whipping everywhere. She swiped her hand, four wires lashing out and aiming to take out his legs.

The Hatake leaped up, controlling his jump and quickly ducking as the second wave of wire rushed towards his upper body. He landed in a crouch, the woman unsheathing a weapon with amazing speed. She swiped it, but it was blocked by Kakashi's kunai. He winced at the backlash and created easy distance instantly, though the woman never gave rest.

She grinned, her wires flailing about again with seemingly no order, but the closer Kakashi looked the more he could see that they were weaving in untraceable movements.

It seemed that only the Sharingan could track it.

Kakashi blinked. He wondered if his Sharingan was carried over, as well. His memories were, along with his muscle memory. His chakra reserves and strength didn't, though.

"You have it," Obito suddenly said. "But I wouldn't use it just yet. Until you're dead on your knees and struggling to catch a breath, use them."

The young Hatake had no choice but to agree.

The Iwa kunoichi jerked her arms, and the wire closed in. Kakashi's eyes widened. They were all done in such orderly fashion to catch him—not kill him, provided one or two minor injuries to shove him down some notches.

Dots instantly connected. But the shock of the revelation gave the woman time to finalize the move and tighten the wires around Kakashi's ankles and upper body in general. Some wires actually wrapped around his neck and head, which seemed overkill, but considering he killed one of their own and dealt a heavy blow on another that could become fatal…well, it didn't seem to be very overkill.

"Why didn't you kill me?" Kakashi questioned fearlessly.

The kunoichi narrowed her eyes. "I would gladly kill you at any time, you little brat."

"Then why don't you?" he challenged.

The woman glared. The wires disconnected, and she grabbed his silver hair. They were almost nose-to-nose, her blue eyes glaring into his dark grey ones. She rammed her head into his, causing sudden painful disorientation and dizziness.

Kakashi stayed awake though, albeit barely. The hit was hard, and honestly he was surprised she didn't stumble or anything. He felt himself get tucked under her arm, the lurch of his stomach informing the fact that they were leaping from the roofs of the village.

"Kakashi!" Kushina shouted desperately from where she was incapacitated. "Kakashi!"

The child snapped out of it. He blinked out of his dizzy daze, squirming.

(He still had his kunai in his hand).

Kakashi yanked his arm out of the wire, his skin sliced, raw and bloody. He stabbed the woman in the chest, blood spraying from the wound. She screamed in surprise and pain, instantly dropping the child on a roof.

Kakashi landed on his side roughly, keeping a hold on his bloody kunai. The woman was quick to move and retaliate. New wires broke the current ones wrapped around him, the lashes of the weaponry cutting through his skin. Kakashi felt sharp pains along his arms, thighs and back. The rock man was quick to charge him, though there was fear in the man's eyes.

Kakashi stumbled a step back, the rock man jabbng his stone elbow in hopes of hitting the child.

But a wire from a third party snapped out and grabbed Kakashi's wrist and ankle, tightening to the point of where blood was drawn in thick, severe amounts. The Hatake winced, the wire yanking him down and allowing an opening to be created. The rock man grinned, but his triumph was ephemeral.

Minato suddenly appeared and sliced through a majority of the wire with a sharp blade, blocking the rock man's attack and snatching Kakashi free. Kakashi was quick to grab his bleeding wrist. It was pretty deep, and the wound was alarmingly concerning in both location and infliction.

Honestly, Kakashi was shocked. He managed to fend off five experienced jōnin as a five year old, managing to severely injure two and kill one. The sixth seemed to be handling Kushina, though, and when he looked in her direction it was confirmed to be correct.

Minato kept a protective hold on Kakashi, backing away with a sharpened kunai raised.

There was a sudden cry of surprise and pain, though, and Kushina was at their side with a bloody kunai in her hand. "Get him to a hospital," she said. "I'll fend them off."

Minato was obviously hesitant. A five-one ratio was nowhere near reasonable and balanced. "But you could get killed…"

"I'm not gonna die. I have to beat you to becoming the Hokage dattebane," she said with a big grin.

Kakashi blinked. He stared at her with wide glassy eyes. Ah, yes, those were the words of the one and only Uzumaki Namikaze Naruto and Uchiha Obito. Kushina looked at him with an assuring look, turning away and charging the enemy ninja.

No time was to be wasted.

Minato turned and jumped away, landing and moving lithely across the blazing village.

Kakashi's eyes widened. "We're actually gonna leave her?" he asked in genuine shock and surprise. He honestly didn't expect Minato to leave Kushina so suddenly without much hesitation.

"I have faith," Minato stated, though his tone sounded like he was reluctant to pull through. "But the instant you are safe, I'm going back to help her."

The Hatake could only go with it.

Kakashi was feeling lightheaded, the world spinning slowly and becoming nothing but a scene to gaze at on a relaxing day even though he knew that the village was being invaded.

He stretched his senses, keeping a tight hold on his bloody wrist that was slowly weakening. His eyes closed completely, though, in the center of his concentration; and then his breathing slowed to the point of where he felt like he couldn't consume much more oxygen than just a wheeze of breath.

But in spite of that, he could sense a few hundred of civilians trickling to shelters, thousands of more ninja fighting against a mere few hundred Iwa nin. Iwa's numbers were dwindling, too, chakra signatures becoming weak or simply disappearing. A lot of signatures flared, most being ninja's of Konoha, but a lot were also that of Iwa.

"C'mom, Kakashi, stay with me," Minato murmured, gently the shaking the five year old. "Don't die on me, please."

Kakashi blinked his eyes open. His head was spinning, and he couldn't tell if he was moving or not, but the lack of wind told him that Minato had stopped. He came to realize that his breathing was very weak, and that he was no longer holding his wrist. They were in an alleyway, if his perception was correct, and there were pitched sounds of weapons clashing. "Where are we…" he rasped quietly.

"Too close to a fight between jōnin and ANBU," Minato whispered. "Keep quiet, okay? I'll get you out of this mess. Promise."

Kakashi kept alert, focusing all of his senses on his surroundings. His head limply rested against the blonde chūnin's chest, his eyelids dropping like a mouse dragging a hundred pound weight. He felt chakra burst, and a mere second later, something exploded. His eyes opened, Minato hugging him close for security.

There were cries of pain, the sound of multiple bones shattering, and three Iwa signatures faded out of existence very quickly. The origin was a kunoichi—

Kakashi blinked and turned his head. A blonde haired woman with hazel brown eyes stood barely in view at the entrance of the alleyway. She wore a green flak jacket and a long-sleeved muscle shirt and fingerless gloves. She had Konoha shinobi pants, weaponry and zori on her feet. Around her forehead was the proud symbol of the village—but the young Hatake could easily identify the woman as the healer of the trio Sannin.

"Is that Tsunade…" he croaked.

The said kunoichi's head turned towards the duo. She blinked and stared in surprise, unsure of what to do. But when Minato blinked back and gave a pleading look, the woman pulled back in a few leaps, landing next to them. She sighed. "I need to make this quick," she said quietly. "I'm still needed in the frontline."

Minato relaxed tremendously. He let go of a shaky breath, kneeling down and putting Kakashi in front of Tsunade. "Thank you," he murmured.

She blinked again. "Sakumo's boy?" she said in surprise. "Why's he so beaten up?"

"Six Iwa jōnin were sent after him," Minato explained. "Kushina knows more of the story, but currently she's fighting off four of those said six jōnin."

Tsunade quickly accumulated chakra, carefully starting on using emergency jutsu to close up as many wounds as she could before moving onto his wrist injury—which was very dangerous. The rest were mere centimeter deep slices that didn't even reach the third centi of the mark on a ruler.

"Kakashi managed to injure one or two very badly," Minato continued quietly, "and I saw that two more of them were dead."

"Did Kushina kill them?" Tsunade inquired absently. "I'd be impressed if she did. Going up against six jōnin and managing to kill two off is a formidable feat." Jinchūriki or not.

"Actually, I'm pretty sure Kakashi killed one of them," the Namikaze stated.

Tsunade pulled a needle and thread out, propping up Kakashi's arm and instantly started stitching. "If that's the case I wouldn't be surprised."

"What? Why?"

"Sakumo killed at the age of six, and his wife at the age of seven. Don't forget: They grew up in war, and this little Hatake is going through the same process," Tsunade explained. "He might've killed someone a little bit earlier than either of his parents, but still." She went silent, quickly covering the stitches with a few gauze pads before wrapping it up. "Make sure he doesn't move his wrist too much. I'd get him to a hospital, or a shelter infirmary as quick as possible. He's lost a lot of blood and he will be needing a needle in his arm."

Kakashi cringed at the way it was described. He was used to having needles in his arms for medicinal uses, but to hear the words "needle in his arm" was just blatantly grim.

A flashlight shined in his eyes though, and he was quick to push it away with irritation. "What are you doing…"

Tsunade huffed. "I need to go. I'll help Kushina. Where is she?"

"Hatake compound."

The Senju stood. "Alright. Remember what I said," she stated before she disappeared in a blur.

The battle was rough. Sakumo had multiple light injuries scattered across his body, though the most serious one he harbored was a slash across his upper arm. He was holding it, though, keeping the blood confined to his hand and sleeve.

He was standing by a tree, watching with tired dark eyes as medics handled the severely injured ninja. The battle was declared over in this area, and he was to be dispatched immediately after his wounds were treated without needing to wait for his unit.

A cocky-looking, beaten up chūnin suddenly walked up next to him, crossing his arms and leaning against the tree trunk. The ninja chuckled mockingly. "You gonna wait for your unit, Hatake?"

Sakumo turned his head towards the chūnin. He didn't even look to be in his twenties. Maybe seventeen. So he simply smiled. Teenagers, no matter the intelligence, still had a developing brain—therefore they didn't make wise choices just yet. "No," he said. "I'm gonna hurry back."

"Why? Are you gonna hole up in your home and feel constant self-pity like the coward you are?" the chūnin harassed.

Sakumo kept his smile, though he curved his eyes up in a dangerous way. "You're stepping into very dangerous territory," he warned. "I could report this, and you could automatically get demoted to genin."

The chūnin glared. "Coward."

"Coward or not, I'm smart enough to know that a demotion isn't good," Sakumo cooed amusedly. "Go rest, yes? You'll need it. Can't let Iwa beat you like they did me."

The chūnin stared, obviously unsure about what to say next. So, instead, he just settled for a disappointed shake of his head and walked away, unfolding his arms and disappearing in the bustling crowd.

Sakumo sighed. Teenagers were difficult, and he honestly hoped that Kakashi wouldn't be a difficult child. Though his son very truly was, he had his easy moments.

Fifteen minutes later, he was stashing up his supplies. He reported that he would be leaving, wounds treated and energy boosted, and when the report was cleared, he took off.

Konoha was only four hours away. This battlefield was dangerously close, which was primarily why he was sent to it in the first place: To end it quickly. It worked, too, but he had to be reckless to get the job completely done.

Multiple rests took place, rations getting munched down once or twice. Sakumo was rather eager to get home to Kakashi, and his speed was vital.

He was just about to enter the gate—and that's when a string of explosions shook the ground under his feet.

The scariest part was that it came from the direction of the Hatake's compound…where an anxious five year old was waiting for his father to return home safely.