Kakashi: Aged 5

Kakashi sat nervously, although he hardly showed it; awaiting his father's return. Although he had been due an hour ago, Kakashi knew better than to expect Sakumo on time. Idly his gaze wandered around the room; he was trying to tell himself that this boredom was some sort of training, but he was beginning to get a little annoyed. For a second, his eyes settled on the image of his late mother, smiling in giddy joy at the camera, but his eyes were unreadable, and he moved on. In his hands he clutched a leaf headband.

It was dark, and it had been for quite some time, before Sakumo made it through the front door. His eyes scanned the blackened room, and came to rest on the barely-visible form of his son, lying asleep by the table, his shock of grey hair striking against his black outfit. He must have nodded off waiting for him- again. The man walked slowly towards Kakashi, with the silent tread of a shinobi, and crouched down to his level. Gently, he ran a hand through his son's hair and a faint smile played along his lips,

"Kakashi?" he whispered. To the child's credit, his eyes immediately snapped open,

"… Father…?" Kakashi blinked blearily, and then he suddenly gasped, "Father! Father!"

"What? What?" Sakumo mimicked his son's excited tone as he crossed the room and turned on the lights. Kakashi jumped up, his eyes shining in a rare display of unchained happiness. Wordlessly, he handed the headband to his father, who took it and stared at it for a moment. He didn't say anything.

"Father…?" Kakashi asked, and Sakumo shook himself, distractedly,

"What is this?"

"I graduated the Academy, father." Kakashi said with a small voice, but he couldn't help a little amount of pride seeping through again, "What do you think?"

Sakumo's distracted eyes focused on Kakashi and his eyes widened,

"Oh! I mean, that's excellent!" He managed a smile, but Kakashi's eyes narrowed,

"What's wrong, father?" he asked suspiciously, and Sakumo sighed,

"How can I not hide things from you, Kakashi?" He didn't expect a reply, and slumped down into his seat, "It doesn't matter. You're a genin now! Isn't that great?"

"It does matter." Kakashi said obstinately. Sakumo looked at his through a hand he had over his face and sighed again,

"It's… it… doesn't matter. You should be in bed. I told you not to stay up for me again!"

Kakashi looked hurt by the sudden change in his father's tone, and slammed to his feet, snatching the headband away and running up the stairs,

"Fine! I thought you would be happy!" He shouted down angrily, and shut himself into his room. Sakumo stared up at the point where Kakashi had disappeared for a moment, and then stood up a second before the knock came at the door.

"Hatake! Open up!" A multitude of voices cried, and he disappeared from the room, opening the door and glaring at the jounin.

"Don't shout. My son's asleep." He muttered, and the group eyed him coldly,

"You forfeited the mission," The leader said, quietly but still dangerously. Sakumo nodded,

"To save my comrade's life." He stated emotionlessly, and the jounin sneered,

"Your actions cost the village far more than the loss of one shinobi's life."

"I know." Sakumo muttered.

Above them, his eyes shining in the starlight, Kakashi listened to every word, too angry to sleep. Creeping as silently as he could, he peeked over his windowsill and watched as the jounin gave Sakumo his orders: to report to the Hokage first thing in the morning for a disciplinary hearing.

"And you know what that mean, don't you?" The jounin asked sourly. Sakumo said nothing, "It's goodbye to your beloved nickname, 'White Fang'!"

Sakumo glared at the jounin and stepped backwards,

"If that is all you have to say to me, I would like to get some rest. Goodbye." His words sounded final, and although the jounin shot a few more dirty looks at him, they jumped away into the night.

"Kakashi?" A voice called from the street. Kakashi, wide-eyed, looked out to see his father staring up at his window, "I thought I told you to go to sleep." Kakashi held his eyes for a minute before submitting and ducking away from the open window. He didn't hear his father re-enter the house as his head hit the pillow. He didn't remember anything else.

Ok, so this is a short one, but I wanted to split it from the next chapter… what will happen next, I wonder…? You know what, reviews are always helpful HINT HINT… love CANARYwolf