"Kakashi-sensei?"

A little one appeared around the corner, white hair glowing red in the evening sunset. It sparkled off the ends like blood. "Naruto-san!"

The tall blonde man knelt down with a blinding grin. "Hey there, Nakasha! Where's your daddy?"

"He's in the kitchen. I'll go get him!" With that, the Hatake girl disappeared into the back of the house. Kakashi appeared a moment later, pulling his mask up over his nose.

"Naruto? What can I do for you?"

At this, the man got sheepish. "Tsunade told me that she's been to the Feudal Lord and they came to a decision on her successor."

"Oh? Do you want to stay for dinner and tell me? I'm making ramen."

"Sure!" He was sick of eating alone anyways. Even screwing around with Sasuke didn't cut it anymore. Since his return, however, Sasuke had been much more indulgent with Naruto and Sakura. Sai, even, had gotten a place in the Uchiha's heart.

"So? What did Tsunade tell you?" Kakashi walked back to the stove as Nakasha pulled out a setting for him, wobbling over and placing it just so.

Naruto took a deep breath. "They chose me."

"Really?"

"Yay!" Nakasha threw her arms around her father's student. She liked Naruto probably the most. He was funny and played with her unlike most of the other adults (which excluded her father, Uncle Tenzou (who had a weakness when it came to her) and Guy (who had never really grown up)). "I'm so happy for you!"

Kakashi looked down at the boiling grease before him. "Maybe I should take you out for ramen instead."

"I've never had your cooking, sensei. That's enough of a treat." Naruto winked down at the little white-haired girl he'd hoisted into his lap. She laughed and adjusted her jumper. "How old are you now, Nakasha?"

"I turn four next week! On the twentieth!"

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise and a grin spread across his lips. "Looks like we're going to have to share your special day. I get inaugerated that day."

Kakashi sighed. "It looks like I owe you both a dinner date. My poor wallet."

{|}

They were using the ANBU training grounds as his team watched. Guy, Anita and Tenzou looked on as Kakashi danced around Nakasha's kunai.

"Perhaps he was right." Guy murmured.

"About what?" Anita whispered back, awed to see the two Hatake fight. Despite not using chakra only a month and a half into the training, Nakasha was fluent in all of the blades and techniques. She thrived on them and even when she was panting in exertion and dead on her feet, she still fought doggedly.

"I thought training her at four would be too much, considering how small she is. Kakashi disagreed. It seems my Eternal Rival was correct once again."

"Well, she certainly seems to take after him." The woman answered.

Kakashi deflected a shuriken and jumped over the swipe of her legs, kicking out as he landed. She slipped underneath him and caught him in the elbow with her own. Momentarily thrown off balance, she got in a quick, powerful strike to his solar plexus. Never one to be outdone, but extremely winded, Kakashi sprung back on his hands, gaining distance to give himself time to recover. His daughter would have none of it, however, quickly forming a set of handsigns. Due to the overextension, Kakashi let himself stumble, back pressing against one of the few remaining trees.

"Nakasha, no!" Tenzou cried.

Before Kakashi even knew what was happening, he felt electricity tingle along his skin. Opening his eye, he was face to face with Nakasha, who had her Chidori fist buried next to his head in the tree. She gave him a cheeky smile.

"I win."

Anita, Guy and Tenzou stared in horror and shock. She'd . . . faked him out?! With a Chidori?!

Tenzou passed out. Both Anita and Guy were too paralyzed to help him, staring as lightning sparked on Nakasha's hand as she withdrew it, making it easier. She pulled her father back to his feet, her smile faltering when he didn't return it.

"What's wrong?"

"Where were you aiming?"

She frowned. "Your heart."

"Why did that change?"

"I realized I couldn't hit you. So, I changed aim to beside your head, knowing that I would make contact with the tree. Did I do something wrong?"

Kakashi knelt down beside her, pulling up his hitai-ite. As per the custom, her small hand came up to trace the scar over his eye, then around the Sharingan. "Do you remember me telling you about Rin?"

She nodded mutely.

"Rin was killed by me. I put my Chidori through her chest and killed her."

"I'm sorry, Dad."

Kakashi shook his head. "It was a long time ago. I'm proud of you."

Her silver brows furrowed. "What does you being proud of me have to do with Rin?"

"I wasn't able to stop myself from killing her. I should have been. You were able to stop yourself from killing me and that gives me more comfort than you'll ever understand. You'll never do what I did."

Her tiny hands cupped his face and brought his eyes back up to meet hers. It was like staring at himself in the mirror. "You shouldn't keep that blame. Rin is as much at fault as you for not knowing where you were."

"Thank you." Kakashi whispered back, pulling Nakasha against him.