Prefacing Author Notes: Everything beneath this note was done in the past, I haven't altered it in the slightest (hence the 2015 new years author's note)

I recently rummaged my older works and found this chapter unpublished and thought it was a shame not to post it. Iirc I didn't post it due to irrational reasons that I don't quite care about anymore and so without further adieu. Here's the fourth chapter. I hope you enjoy. All of the stories in this account has been discontinued due to my forgotten Naruto knowledge and general lack of motivation/interest to continue them.

"Could you please not do this?" Kakashi asked Minato grumpily as he finally gave up and let himself be ruffled. I chuckled. Well, Minato seems quite young here. I scrutinized him and noticed several things. He was a bit shorter by Sakumo by a few centimeters and seemed extremely young. Was he around fourteen? How accomplished of him to have become a jounin by that age!

"Ah, Minato, so you've received the message from my summons have you?" Sakumo questioned Minato, tone lighthearted and amused. Probably from how hilarious Kakashi was acting, what with how he was literally writhing in his position and seemed ready to swipe at Minato at any given opportunity…! I mean, if I was alive and still had a body, I would totally crack up… Not to say I wasn't cracking up right now and possibly influencing Kakashi's emotions as well…

Mid-ruffle of Kakashi's hair, Minato paused and looked at Sakumo and nodded. "I have, and have you received the report by the Yamanaka looking into Kakashi…?"

I froze. Did he know? And…wow, Kata sure works fast in writing up a report. I wonder how he got so experienced writing up reports that fast.

Sakumo sent Kakashi a small glance before looking back at Minato and shook his head. "No, not yet. Do you still have Kakashi's report with you?"

The teen nodded and let go of his hold on Kakashi's hair.

"Finally." Kakashi grumbled. '…This Risato person is annoying.'

I chuckled, feeling Kakashi's relief quite clearly. His name's Minato, Kakashi. Not Risato, that was just the hint I gave you…Which I shouldn't have told you, but I had slipped…

'Whatever.' He waved me off.

I twitched. Annoying little brat.

With some rustling sound, Minato opened his flap jacket and took out a scroll from it.

…Isn't…Isn't that uncomfortable? I wondered out-loud looking at how wide and definitely not intended to be carried in a flap jacket the scroll was. I can't believe anyone would just chuck that wide of a scroll in the insides of their flap jacket. Ugh, must have been a pain in the butt to have carried.

'…I'm guessing this Risato person is used to it by now. Or that it simply isn't as uncomfortable as it seems.' Kakashi mused to me.

I gave an appraising nod. Hmmm… True. True.

The teen then gave it to Kakashi's father. "It entails about…a person named Aoi, isn't that right Kakashi?" Minato asks Kakashi and Kakashi looks at him with a disinterested expression and nodded.

"Dad, now that this Risato person ("Risato?" Minato questioned him, eyebrows raised, and Kakashi deftly ignored the question asked to him.) is here, can we just go on and head to wherever it was you said we were going to meet him in?" Kakashi asked (whined!) to his father. His father who was currently intently reading whatever has been entailed in the scroll.

With a snap, the scroll was closed and Sakumo smiled at his son. "Of course Kakashi, although your mentor's name is Minato, not Risato! Do try to remember that!"

Kakashi looked away and nodded. "Of course, tou-san. Misato. Got it."

Kakashi, are you misremembering his name on purpose or are you degrading back into how a normal non-prodigious two-year-old is? I asked him.

'….a little bit of both, but mostly the first one.' He sheepishly admitted. I nodded in understanding. Of course he would somewhat degrade back into how a two-year old is…No matter how prodigious he is. Especially considering how I had been the one to have organized the clutter in his brain must have helped increase his cognitive development as well…wait, was I the mutation? …damn. I don't really want to think about that. I'll file it away…for now.

Glad to know you have a sense of humor, kid! I cheerfully told Kakashi that.

Kakashi inwardly seethed. 'Call me by my name! Not kid!'

I nervously chuckled. Okay, okay, sheesh. No need to get so prissy about it, geez…

The blond teen squatted down and looked at Kakashi in the eye. "My name's Minato, Kakashi-kun. Since, I'm not yet your sensei officially as of yet, just call me Minato instead of Minato-sensei for now, alright?"

I shivered. Teen-version Minato sounds a bit annoyed. Huh, Teenage Angst ay? I don't remember the Minato in the show to be so…easily irritable. I remembered the guy to be more of a patient, understanding, and kind person. …Guess he's not like that yet until he's an adult maybe? Eh, what do I know about people. I'm just a teen who has apparently spent two years of her life dead in a kid's mind….Urgh.

Kakashi stiffened and looked away, grumbling. "Okay….Minato."

"Great! Sakumo-san, you seem to have finished reading the report, would you like to go now?" Minato asked Kakashi's dad with a smile on his face. All traces of anger wiped off within a few seconds.

As if on cue, Kakashi's stomach grumbled and I started to feel his hunger as well.

Urgh…I'm feeling hungry too now….Dammit! Let's hurry up and eat! I complained to Kakashi. Kakashi who was apparently, blushing red and feeling highly embarrassed from having let out quite a loud growl in front of his dad and soon-to-be mentor and…me? Eh. I'm not quite sure about that.

Looking down in shame, Kakashi sucked in his lip inside tightly and did not let go. 'I can't believe…my stomach let out such a big growl in front of tou-san, this Minato person, and you, Aoi…!'

I smiled. Don't worry, it's a normal thing for all of us to experience.

Kakashi shook his head at me. 'No…! You don't get it…! Showing weakness in front of others, especially if we had been in enemy territory would increase the risk of failure and plummet down the chances of success for a mission…!'

I frowned at that. Stop thinking too much about such things. You're still only two, and anyways, we're currently in allies' territory so it should most definitely have been fine for you to have showed weakness! So don't beat yourself up much for it!

'…It does not matter if I am only two. I am Sakumo's son and I will not adhere to the failure of a mission.' I twitched. Listening to him go on about failure, success, missions, and being Sakumo's son is pissing me off.

Fine, but kid, trust me when I say this: One day you'll have to experience failure to succeed in any fields of life, understand? And if you keep on keeping this mentality, you'll meet a person who's going to stand up to you and beat you up and show you how much failure and success does not matter as much as does the experiences of either one. I snapped at him... I probably shouldn't have, but I was feeling far too pissed off to care at his attitude. …and I may have hinted the future appearance of Obito to him accidentally…again. I really need to fix that. Though I don't care if I was spouting bullshit I never really follow, but I don't mind being a hypocrite to make this kid, fictional as he may or may not be, needs to fully understand this before he experiences the tragedies the cannon made him experience to fully understand such concepts.

'…What are you talking about…Why would I have to experience failure when I can obviously avoid it through preparation? What's wrong with my mentality?!' Kakashi frowned and confusedly asked. 'Who will? If I fail, I fail. There is no experience to gain from failure than I would have gained from success…! A person who truly believes in failure being necessary is a fool!'

I sighed. Why am I caring about his mentality now? Why not just let Obito's and Rin's death become the catalyst needed to make it all clear for him…?

Because I don't want to see this world go down the same road the canon world has.

I frowned. Where did that thought come from…? I grimaced. Oh well…I'll just let things go as it should for now and decide what to do when the time calls for it. When exactly would the time call for it be at, you ask? I have no idea… Hopefully not soon, that's for sure!

"Kakashi-kun here already seems impatient to eat." Minato chuckled out.

In a moment, an extremely familiar looking piece of dark navy blue cloth appeared in front of Kakashi's eyes.

That's right! If you've guessed it being Kakashi''s mask, you are correct…! I paused. I really need to stop talking as if there was an audience.

…Nah. I feel less lonely this way. No matter how pathetic that may have sounded like…!

"Here, Kakashi, the deal?" Kakashi and I heard Sakumo's voice right besides Kakashi's ear.

"Now…?! Today?!" Kakashi yelped, surprised and looked at him in reprehension and hesitation of having to wear the outfit with the mask.

Sakumo nodded and Kakashi sighed. I kept my laughter held inside. Seems like he's regretting having made a compromise with his dad! Hah! Hillarious!

Kakashi sighed but took the outfit and went into the bathroom.

'…I shouldn't have made that deal with Tou-san.' Kakashi lamented.

The moment Kakashi started to undress, I gaped. Wait, wait, wait. Oh. Oh. Baby Kakashi is changing? Baby Kakashi is changing by himself. Without help from his dad. At all.

… I sighed. Based off my previous experience with Kakashi and Sakumo. I should have known better. Of course the freaking two-year-old brat could change his own outfit without help. Of course he could.

After undressing, small chubby baby hands picked up the piece of dark navy cloth from gloved hands and tentatively popped his head through it. Adjusting the clothing so it would not cover his eyes.

'…Like this? Aoi?' He asked me. '…I can barely breath.'

I nodded. Yeah. Like that… As your dad told you Kakashi, you'll probably get used to it after awhile… although for now you better keep it down because your body is still that of a two-year-old body, it still needs plenty of oxygen for you to grow.

…At least, that's what I hope your body is like. Since I can't know for sure, what with the possibility of you having a mutation that had caused you to gain rather quite good cognitive skills and beyond great capability for a two year old.

"Kakashi, how is it? Are you done yet?" Sakumo asked as he knocked on the door.

Kakashi hummed. "Almost, tou-san." Pulling his mask back up again, he unlocked the door and faced his dad and Minato.

Say How do I look Kakashi…! I giggled out. Just for the kicks!

"…how do I look?" Kakashi asked them without any energy.

I pouted. ...You didn't do it with any robustness…

'…I don't think I have to.' He proclaimed with…a tad bit of…is that smugness I see/feel? I believe it might be so. 'Tou-san's and Risato's expressions are fantastic!'

I blinked and nodded in agreement. Sakumo looked like he was struggling between laughing or being irritated.

Minato….Minato looked way too happy smiley. "You look fine Kakashi-kun, although less cute."

Kakashi snapped his eyes at that.

I blinked at that. …Why did I feel Kakashi's interest in the mask piqued? …does he not want to look cute?

I paused thinking back to the past where I've read about Kakashi's mask and him. I snapped my fingers. Ah! There was that chapter…where he was sitting in Ichiraku ramen and pulled his mask down to eat his food and Teuchi and his daughter, Ayame had lovey dovey eyes the moment they saw the lower part of his face.

…I suppose he found it to be distracting and draw enemy attention… which I begrudgingly have to admit, is correct….

"…great Kakashi. You're looking great. Here's a mirror." Sakumo managed to say without seeping any amusement into it, but his face said it all.

Looking at the mirror of his own reflection, Kakashi hummed in acceptance and nodded.

"Let's go to Ichiraku Ramen shall we?" He asked, eyes closed.

Sakumo chuckled and patted Kakashi's shoulder. "Minato, mind demonstrating us one of the teleportation jutsu you've devised?"

Minato nodded and grinned. "Sure! Sakumo-san, Kakashi-kun, pardon me." Placing a hand on Kakashi's head and Sakumo's shoulder, the three of them teleported In a flash of yellow and silver, and arrived in front of the Ramen stand.

"Hello, Ichiraku-san!" Minato cheerfully greeted the man behind the counter as all three entered.

"Ah! Welcome! Hello, Minato-kun! It seems like you've brought others with you this time?" Ichiraku asked Minato as he served a bowl of ramen to another customer sitting at the edge.

The teenage jounin nodded and sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Hahha, yeah…I'll order the usual, and Sakumo-san, Kakashi-kun? What would you two like to order?"

I hummed. Hey Kakashi…look at the menu.

'…? Okay.' He adhered and looked at it.

…Miso. Shioyu. Other ramen language I can't understand/too lazy to read.

Sweet or Salt, Kakashi? I asked him.

He blinked. 'Huh? What do you mean, Aoi?'

Which flavors do you like more? Sweet or Salty? I repeated my question.

'Ah… Salty. I despise sweet.' I gaped at that.

Noooo…really? I asked.

'Really.' He confirmed.

I sighed. Bah. Two years old and dislike sweet things… That's just adding another pile of unusualness on top of another. Alrighty then. If you like salty, I recommend Miso. If you like sweet, I recommend Shioyu…but since you like salty flavours than you do sweet, pick Miso.

'Ah, okay then.' He nodded. "I'd like one Miso…beef and pork ramen please! Thank you!"

Sakumo chuckled. "One Miso beef and pork ramen for me too please. Thank you."

Ahhh. I mused. Like father, like son.

"So, Kakashi. How was the Hiraishin no jutsu? Did you like it?" Minato asked him.

"Hiraishin no jutsu? Is that its name?" Kakashi hummed. At Minato's nod, he hummed again and continued. "It's useful. Efficient in time. Although I'm unsure about the chakra usage and ("…Yeah it's not that efficient regarding chakra usage." Minato admitted sheepishly.) whether it would cause side-effects to injured people regarding whether it would further worsen their condition or not due to the rush of wind I've felt during the teleportation process."

Minato nodded. "You've made quite the rather accurate observation and based off my experience, it does take a heavy toll of chakra strain on the user, but not on the passengers."

Sakumo chuckled. "Ah, sorry to interrupt you geniuses, but our ramen has arrived."

'Geniuses?' Kakashi asked inwardly to me as he noticed the plural form. 'Is Risato also a genius?'

I chuckled. Of course Kakashi wouldn't know and ask me first before he would actually ask the person right besides him. I nodded. He is, but you should ask more information about that to Minato himself Kakashi.

Kakashi nodded and craned his head to the right to face Minato and asked. "Minato-san, you are also a genius?"

Minato chuckled at that. "Maa…Well, I guess you could call me that, but you're quite the genius yourself Kakashi! Look at you, you're two years old and can converse with me, someone who is septenary times older than you!"

Kakashi hummed at that and nodded before opening his mouth only to stop and close it shut.

I blinked. What's up Kakashi? Why'd you stop yourself from saying something?

'…I was…about to insult him, but that would be considered rude and I shouldn't do such things, should I? Especially not to someone older and stronger than I am.' He mused to himself.

I blinked. Huh. Seems like the kid is on to respect and the likes… maybe I just need to prod him constantly some more and he'll get the value of other people?

It is. You're right Kakashi, it's not good to do such things and you probably shouldn't say rude things to others even if they're not older or strong than you are… I paused. Unless if what you're telling is the truth and you've made sure to confirm it through researching before saying it is the truth.

Kakashi hummed. '…I see. That's good to know.'

…that…wasn't the particular reaction I'd expected. Humming, I tapped my fingers on my arms and snapped my fingers. Ah!

But, that doesn't mean you can say it harshly, you have to say it nicely Kakashi, nicely as in, you don't hurt their feelings or cause any negative feelings of inadequacy, stupidity, resentment, etc! Do you understand? I reprimanded him. Then I paused. Heh, lookie me, I'm preaching what I don't follow… What a hypocrite I am, am I right?

'…yes, I do.' He nodded, although I could feel the boiling resentment hidden underneath his indifferent expression.

I sighed. Two year old prodigies…I've never thought they would be so emotionally invested.

Look…Kakashi, I don't mean saying such things as a way to say you're wrong…just…

'Just what?' He snapped. Crikey! His anger meter seems to have reached a boiling pot.

…you need to understand the goings of life. There are politics you must know and etiquette just happens to be one of them. I groaned. If only he was just a normal two year old brat and not a prodigy or main character brat… I wouldn't have given two butts about him and his personal development.

'…' He kept silent at that and I sighed. I totally did not want to deal with a grumpy main character.

"Kakashi." Kakashi snapped his head up at his name being called.

"Yes?" He asked.

"…your miso ramen is going cold and you've been staring intensely making the angriest of faces at the air…are you alright Kakashi?" Sakumo worriedly asked his son.

Kakashi blinked and shook his head. "…I'm…" He paused and looked down. "…not fine, Aoi lectured me."

Both Minato and Sakumo simultaneously looked at him shocked. "She…she did?"

He stiffly nodded and I groaned. …did, did you really have to tell them Kakashi? Really?

'…I find it fine to tell them the truth about my own well being whether or not I'm fine thank you very much.' He grumpily gritted out.

I groaned. …fair enough…although it would have been nice of you to not tell them so it wouldn't further complicate things?

He frowned. '…further complicate what exactly? Your…reputation?' He guessed.

I flinched and laughed sheepishly. …something like that….yeah. More like your mentality and well yeah, the picture you're painting of myself to them isn't very nice either…

"..well, what about we finish our ramen and head home alright? Kakashi?" Sakumo asked his son worriedly. A flash of anger appearing in his eyes as did Minato's.

Kakashi hummed and pulled down his mask and immediately picked up his chopsticks and immediately picked up the noodles and slurped them from his ramen bowl and munched on the pork, beef, seaweed, and the other miniscule food on it as well. In an instant he was finished and wiped his face with the napkin provided by Teuchi before pulling his mask back up. "…was that good Tou-san?" He asked Sakumo.

I slightly laughed and smiled. Oh, hey. I can taste what you eat Kakashi…damn. Ichiraku ramen tastes goooood!

'…indeed it does.' He inwardly agrees with me.

Sakumo laughed. "…It was pretty good Kakashi, although…you did get the soup and sauce on your face and clothes…." Picking up another new tissue napkin, Sakumo wiped off the soup that had splattered against Kakashi's face and shirt.

I chuckled. …can't eat neatly ay? Well, at least that's a childish aspect of you that you didn't rid of.

'…yet.' Kakashi added as he squirmed a bit in his seat as his dad cleaned his face and clothes from the ramen soup.

Sliding off the chair from the counter, Minato bid farewell to the both of them. "Well, I'd better go back home, I have to go on a mission tomorrow with Jiraiya-sensei pretty early in the morning." Minato smiled and waved at them. "Bye Sakumo-san, Kakashi-kun!"

"Alright, see you Minato-kun." Sakumo waved back with a smile.

"Bye Ri- Minato-san." Kakashi stopped himself halfway of saying Risato with a cough.

"Oh, also, Kakashi-kun, right after my mission, I'll start teaching you, alright? See you!" In a flash, Minato disappeared and left both Hatakes in the ramen stand.

I blankly stared at where Minato had been standing and pointed out something I'm pretty sure Kakashi would and should tell Sakumo about. Did he…Did Minato just…eat and run and left the bill to you and your dad…?

Kakashi widened his eyes at that. '…That Risato…!'

"Tou-san! He-" Kakashi started but was cut off.

"Erm…" Ichiraku coughed at them both. They both blinked and turned to face him. "…Minato-kun seems to have left before he could pay…so…"

Sakumo hummed and nodded. "Ah…I see…Alright, that's fine, we'll be seeing him tomorrow so I'll just get the money back from him." Taking out several yen paper money and coins, Sakumo paid for his, Kakashi's, and Minato's meal before leaving. "Okay, let's go Kakashi. It's already past your bed time."

I blinked. …when exactly do you sleep?

He shrugged. '…seven.'

…You….Kakashi…You're able to sleep that early? I questioned him. Holy balls. Aren't little kids supposed to be extremely hyperactive and unable to sleep early and all that jazz…?

'…Is it unusual, Aoi?' He asked me and I paused.

Hmm, well, actually…Considering the fact that you're two and went under what I presume to be chakra strain from entering your own mindscape in the age of two…I suppose it's not…do you usually train everyday putting strain onto your body? I half-questioned, half-started a musing monologue, to Kakashi.

He shook his head. '…not always, but yes, often.'

I hummed and tapped my chin as I observed the street Kakashi and his dad walked together in silence. I cringed as I held my arm… Why did my arm hurt? …I'll ask Kata that, maybe he knows. I better not worry Kakashi.

I…see. I nodded and looked around, following Kakashi's sight of vision stray to his father's face. …you're staring at your dad's face, Kakashi? Admiring your dad?

He snapped his head back straight ahead flustered. '…yes. Tou-san, Sakumo, is a great shinobi and father. I look up to him. He has yet to fail a mission, and I plan to follow along his legacy as well to continue it.'

I hummed. What if he were to fail one someday? Would you despise him because of it? Or will you forgive him for not meeting your expectations?

Kakashi stiffened up and stilled in the middle of the road at that. '…Tou-san would never! He's the perfect embodiment of a shinobi! He can never fail!'

I frowned. Kakashi's mindset really irks me because of how he reminds me a bit of myself of my mindset to my mom about how she was impervious to all disease before she passed away from cancer. Thinking that she was perfect and had almost no flaws… that was a dangerous thing to have viewed her as because I didn't manage to help her in her time of need when she was weakened… and prone to diseases… my biggest regret….gah! Shut up train of thoughts. I don't need you.

Kakashi, no one's perfect. I started out softly. Something I've heard constantly but never truly understood until now. Freaking bloody hell. And maybe not even until now do I truly understand it. We all make mistakes, we're not perfect, we're imperfect, and that's what makes us unique and full of deep complexity. We're born complex, complicated, and difficult. Not straightforward, simple, or easy…what I'm trying to get to from this is that…if someone does make mistakes, even if it's you, don't go too harsh on them or yourself. Remember, we're all imperfect, it's what makes us, us. I felt my face flush a bit at that. God. That felt cheesy and corny as balls. I feel so fucking embarrassed urgh. What am I doing with my life? Teaching a two year old prodigy about life when I've barely experienced it fully myself…

'…' Kakashi silently mused. I could feel his feelings are in discordance right now and it's most probably my fault…but fuck it. The canon fucked him up far worse than I possibly could by preempting the philosophy / wisdom he has to learn from the events the canon prepared for him. Like, seriously. What the bloody hell Kishimoto. Did you have to make him kills his own last teammate? Like seriously? He already felt bad indirectly causing Obito's presumed death for having to be saved by him and feeling like crap for having treated Obito like crap previous to this. But then so he could truly understand pain you made him kill his own last teammate that he had promised to Obito as his final request to protect Rin, but nooooo you had to make it all dramatic and shitty for him by making him kill Rin. I get that it's for dramatic effect, but god damn it you just don't do that to a kid who just lost his team mate barely a year and a half before it! And then take away his parental figures Minato and Kushina. Nice. Then leave him with the crazy old dudes Danzo and unfortunately far too lenient Sarutobi. Good job Kishimoto. Good job. Nice. …Yeah, if you can't tell I'm bashing Kishimoto to the heavens above and back and forth down to the hell underneath the Earth we stand in. Brrrr.

"…Kakashi?" Sakumo asked, bringing both Kakashi and myself out of our stupor.

"…yes? Tou-san?" Kakashi asked his dad, feeling quite embarrassed for having stopped still in public to the point he worried Sakumo. "I'm sorry, I was…thinking deeply. What Aoi told me…made me think about…if you were to…one day…fail a mission. You won't do that though…right? Tou-san?"

Sakumo froze at that and lifted Kakashi and leeched him onto the back of his neck. "…we'll discuss this more at home Kakashi…I'm quite interested in meeting this Aoi-san far more than I had previously now…"

I flinched at that. …I should have laid low. I've messed with the wrong person's kid. I'm dead the moment Katashi makes me meet Sakumo, I'll be murdered before I could say a word, I'm d-

"…we're here. So, Kakashi," Sakumo said as he unlocked the door to the house's residence. "Mind repeating what you said before?"

Kakashi flinched and made a gikku sound. The sound that basically means flinching because you're caught doing something bad in Japanese. "…so Aoi and I were having a discussion about how I admired you, tou-san." In a split second, Sakumo made a heart-felt touched look before erasing it from his face in the next split second.

Sakumo nodded. A faint smile could be seen from the way the rim of his lips tilted upwards. His eye muscles lost tension and relaxed as he did so. …watching this through Kakashi's eyesight pretty much tells me Kakashi saw the same thing and I hope he caught that look his dad expressed, because it was just extremely heartwarming to me to see a dad feel like that from his son simply saying he admires him.

"And…well, I told her one of my reasons of admiring you was that you have never failed a mission once at all before." Kakashi continued. Sakumon nodded, urging him on to continue. "She then asked me, What if you were to fail a mission someday? Would I no longer admire you?"

Sakumo froze. "…and what did you say?" He breathed out.

Author's Note

Super duper sorry about the late update… My brain was fried several times and couldn't find the right tempo to write this chapter for some odd reason…hmmm…oh well. (Well, that and writing other plot stories I like among some other things….hahahah….ha…okay ._.)

There are probably lots of grammar mistakes as per usual…I just realized that hoping to finish not only one, but four stories at the same time is impoooossssiiibblleeee, so I'll probably just focus one week on one story? (First week being Teeter Tottering, and then Trick or Treat, and then Tangent and then Tame…Hohoho….See all those alliterations? Nomnomnom…!)

Anyways…. Merry belated Christmas and Happy Belated New Year 2015! Yaaaaayyyy~