Chronology

"Sometimes the hardest part isn't letting go, but rather learning to start over."

― Nicole Sobon

The walk to the cafeteria portion of the hospital was led in a somber silence. Until ultimately the younger of the two Hatake could no longer keep his curiosity at bay.

"So what's the matter with her? Why did she suddenly start to cry?" His grey eyes flickered momentarily towards his father before looking forward again, never faltering in his steps.

Sighing heavily, Sakumo wondered at the question. "Well, I can't say for sure, but I think it was the ramen."

"The ramen made her cry? Why did you bring her some then?" A scowl of bafflement formed on Kakashi's brow.

A rueful smile tugged at Sakumo's lips. "No, not quite. I don't know if you knew this yet, but certain scents can trigger memories. In Naru-chan's case it must have made her realize her loss."

"Loss?"

Sakumo nodded with solemn air about him. "Yes son, Naru-chan lost her memories. She has what's referred to as amnesia."

Wide ebony orbs bore into the older man. "So if she can't remember, why did the smell of the ramen make her cry?"

"I can only guess that she must have felt a sense of knowing, but she couldn't recall from where or when." Sakumo frowned slightly at the reminder.

Kakashi frowned at the answer. "I see... So how do you know her?"

"I actually brought her here from my last mission."

That had the boy's eyes widen in surprise. "Mission? What about her parents?"

Sakumo grimaced before turning his sad gaze toward his son. "She's an orphan Kakashi. She has no parents. It was a stroke of chance that she has relative here."

"What happened to them? Do you know?"

The silver haired man shook his head. "We're not sure, but we do know they are no longer alive."

A nagging suspicion was weighing on his young mind as Kakashi asked, "But if you found her on your mission, and you went outside Konoha's borders. You don't mean that..."

The woeful look his father shot at him made his stomach churn. "She was held captive by enemy shinobi."

"What?! But she seemed okay! I didn't see any bruises or bandages on her!" Kakashi frantically objected, not wishing to believe that the pretty girl had been in enemy hands.

"She may not have physical injuries, but the most dangerous wounds are the ones of the heart," Sakumo told him solemnly.

Kakashi scowled, confused with what his father was telling him.

"I thought it was her mind that she had injured."

The elder Hatake sighed heavily. "I'm not referring to the amnesia Kakashi. I mean the grief she'll suffer from losing her memories."

"But if she doesn't remember than how can she feel anything about people she doesn't know?"

Sakumo halted in his steps and knelt down to put his hands on the boy's shoulders.

"Kakashi, do you know why Konoha is the strongest of the hidden villages?"

The young Hatake crinkled his brows in confusion at his father's sudden question. "Of course. It's because of the powerful shinobi and kunoichi like you, the Hokage, and the Sannin that we have."

Sakumo smiled in amusement, but shook his head. "No, that's not it."

"It's not?"

"Nope. It's because of our Will of Fire."

Kakashi's eyes widened at the statement. "Will of Fire?"

The silver haired Jonin frowned at the question. "Has the academy not talked about it?"

"Not that I remember, but I've only been attending for a couple of months."

Sakumo sighed before explaining. "Well, this is what gives Konohagakure shinobi the strength to continue fighting against all odds, building willpower and strength of character. It is symbolic of the hopes and dreams of the previous generation being passed to the next. Understand?"

At the sight of his son's deadpanned look, the man chuckled sheepishly.

"Oh sorry, I got a little carried away..." He apologized then continued to say, "What I mean, son, is that the entire village is like a large family, and every Konoha shinobi with the Will of Fire loves, believes, and fights to protect the village, just as our forefathers did before us."

Kakashi nodded slowly, getting an idea as to what his father was speaking of. "I understand. So it's not fighting to become strong for ourselves, but fighting to protect others correct?"

Sakumo beamed at the answer. "Exactly! That's the Will of Fire! Fighting to protect your comrades and village."

"But I'm a little confused."

"About what, son?"

Kakashi rose a questioningly brow. "What does that have to do with Naru-chan?"

"Naru-chan, huh?" Sakumo teased, before saying more seriously, "She has to find the will to continue, son. She will be a very remarkable girl when she grows older. Yet, without those bonds, those memories, she may not find the strength to live her life."

Sakumo sighed deeply, his thoughts going to distant days long passed.

"I've seen many men over the years, good shinobi whom forget everything important, even their own name, because of an unfortunate injury. Amnesia is a very difficult thing to overcome."

His eyes had taken on a thousand yard stare, the kind that veteran shinobi attain after seeing one too many battles. A look that Kakashi often saw in his father.

"As humans we need those things to find ourselves and our purpose in life. That is why the Will of Fire is so important, Kakashi. I can only hope that Naru-chan learns this as well. She's young, and has time to form new memories and bonds," Sakumo finished saying.

"I sorta get it, but there is something that bugs me."

Intrigued at his son's words, the Jonin asked, "what is it?"

"Well the shinobi codes states that a shinobi must always put the mission first. If on a mission, you must choose between finishing the mission or saving a team-mate which one would you do?"

Sakumo smiled bitterly at the question. Only his son would be able to bluntly ask the very question he had asked himself. "If it was up to me, I would save my team-mate. A life of comrade is much more valuable than a success of a mission."

Kakashi was astonished at his father's answer. "Even if the village depended on the mission to succeed?"

The elder Hatake nodded soberly, "Yes, even then. You'll find, when you become a true shinobi Kakashi, that the life of a ninja is a cruel and dark path. Your comrades, teammates, are what is most important when you leave the safety of our village walls. Death will be a fact of life and it is worth trying to save the people who have bled and cried at your side."

Kakashi peered up in awe at his father. "So that's your secret huh?"

"My secret?"

The silver haired boy nodded with an eye smile. "I always wondered what made you such an awesome shinobi. Now I know it's because you fight for others."

Sakumo smiled warmly at him, before bringing him into an embrace. "Not just others Kakashi, I fight for the ones I love. That's you buddy."

It took her several minutes to get herself composed again after the two Hatake's left the room. The bowl of her favorite dish laid innocently on her lap as she ate slowly, savoring the noodles she hadn't had for such an agonizingly long time. The last time she could recall having Ichiraku ramen would be before the village had been destroyed by Nagato.

She could feel the warmth of the broth slide down her throat, into her chest. The sense of nostalgia still hadn't left her thoughts. Putting down the now emptied bowl on the bedside table next to the hospital bed, Naru directed her gaze out towards the window.

Birds of various sizes and colors chirped outside the glass panel, their songs a sound so pleasant you could lose yourself within it.

'They sure have been gone a while. I hope Kakashi's dad didn't go get Minato. That'll just make him go into mother hen mode.' Naru mused with a sigh. Her blue eyes examined her new childish bronzed hands, clenching them and unclenching them into fists.

Her cerulean orbs glazed over in remembrance.

"Hey Naru-chan, I brought your ramen and a... special guest." A familiar masculine voice called out.

She dropped the brush and scroll in her hand. Looking up, she saw Sakumo Hatake's towering form smiling widely at her. The figure next to him made her heart freeze and clench painfully in her chest.

It was him.

Except it wasn't the man she knew.

'Kakashi-sensei...'

She knew she was gawking so she quickly responded, "Hey, Sakumo-san! Who's the kid next to you?"

"This is my son, Naru-chan. I hope the two of you can become good friends." The man said, his eyes curving upward. An action so similar to her old sensei. The sight made her breath hitch slightly.

Pushing those thoughts far away, the young Jinchuuriki turned her attention to the silent boy.

'He's so small. Who knew Kakashi-sensei still wore that mask as a little child?' Naru internally sweat-dropped at the silver haired boy's appearance.

"So kid, what's your name?"

His response almost had her in bitter-sweet tears.

"Uh, did you say something?"

Once the shock of hearing the familiar old phrase her Jonin-sensei was so accustomed to saying passed, Naru realized something.

'The little twerp wasn't paying attention to me!' An irritated twitch developed over her eye at the conclusion.

Then the memories of her sweet, but awkward teacher came rushing back.

Of days long ago, in a time where everything was simpler and easier.

The mornings where she would wake up and catch him sneaking in fresh groceries for her to eat, or whenever he would randomly stop by to see how she was doing.

As she recalled those days, she also remembered how he acted when she returned from her training trip with Jiraiya three years later, after Sasuke's defection.

The way he would awkwardly shift on his feet as if itching, restless, to get away whenever they were left alone. How he would get so overprotective whenever a male would get a little too friendly. Of how he fought fiercely to keep her safe from the hands of the Akatsuki.

It was all those things that made her tear up again.

'I'll never get to meet that Kakashi-sensei again...'

The lazy bastard who was chronically late, and who made up the most ridiculous excuses for his tardiness.

The perverted one who would spend his days reading an erotic book, uncaring of the opinions of those around him.

The shinobi who would one day become so strong and feared he earned the title Rokudaime Hokage in times of war and desperation.

The man she grew to love so dearly.

She knew she would never get to know that Kakashi again. The events that shaped the man he was to become weren't going to occur this time around. She would make sure of it.

Even if they never got as close as they did back then... even if he never came to like her at all. Naru knew she would never let the man who became so much more than a teacher to her fall into the sorrow and despair his future self had.

He didn't deserve it.

He never did.

As she vowed silently to herself, she didn't notice the slight shift in the air, or the bright light announcing the return of her brother.

Seeing how deep in thought she was, Minato stood patiently for her to acknowledge him. As he waited, he couldn't help but marvel at how her cerulean orbs suddenly sharpen with determination.

'She's a fighter,' he blond mused with a fond smile, remembering the same look his own girlfriend sported on occasion. That errant thought reminded him of another thing. 'I need to go visit Kushina-chan before heading home tonight. The doctors said she should be waking up soon.'

Finally getting tired of just standing, the Jonin cleared his throat. That captured the little blonde's attention immediately.

"Minato-nii! When did you get here?" Her blue eyes wide in surprise.

The blond Jonin chuckled, bemused by her reaction. "Just a moment ago, Naru-chan. I see Hatake-san brought you your ramen." He gestured toward the empty bowl on her bedside table.

"Yeah, it was delicious!"

Minato's cerulean orbs glanced around the room in search of the silver haired Hatake. "Did he leave already?"

"No, he went with his kid to go get me something to drink. They'll be back soon."

Just as Naru had finished that statement, the hospital door opened to reveal the very one they had been talking about.

"Naru-chan I brought you some green tea is that alright?" Sakumo strolled calmly toward her and handed her the cup in his hands, internally relieved to see she was feeling much better.

"It's fine. Thank you!"

Sakumo's eyes curved up in a warm smile, "You're welcome," he then turned his attention toward the blond teen standing on the other side of the room next to the window, "Maa, I see you have returned, Namikaze-san."

Minato nodded and smiled politely in greeting, "Yes, thank you for getting the food for Naru-chan."

The Hatake waved his hands lackadaisically. "It was no problem. I took the opportunity to go and get my son. I thought it would be a good idea for Naru-chan to get to know someone closer to her age than just a bunch of old guys."

It was then that Minato noticed the young boy standing next to the Jonin.

"So this must be him then?" He smiled pleasantly in greeting, approaching the pair.

Sakumo's large hand clasped the boy's shoulder as he said, "Yup, this is Kakashi."

He waved his hands toward the blond Jonin, his attention on the five year old, "Son, this is Namikaze Minato. He's Naru-chan's..." Sakumo paused and sent Minato a sheepish look, "I'm afraid, I don't know the relation between the two of you."

Minato smiled reassuringly, "It's no problem. Turns out, we're half-siblings. She's my little sister."

Hearing that, Kakashi inclined his head respectfully at the older man. "It's nice to meet you." He refused to admit that a part of him was relieved to know that the girl wasn't so alone as he had first assumed.

"Likewise, Kakashi-kun."

Having finished off her beverage, Naru chimed in on the conversation, "Kakashi-kun is my new best friend, Minato-nii!"

'Bestfriend?' The collective thought left the males baffled, one in particular worried.

A drop of sweat was forming on Minato's brow at the declaration. "Ah... Naru-chan didn't you just meet him? I don't think you can just make anyone your best friend." His cerulean orbs flickered in suspicion toward the silver haired boy. He just got his sister, there was no way some boy was taking her from him already!

"Why not?" A cute pout on her lips, daring him to challenge her decision.

Minato scratched the back of his head, quickly trying to find a suitable response. "Well... Best friends are super important. You have to choose carefully."

Naru nodded in understanding. "Okay..."

Kakashi, for his part, couldn't help the slight deflation he felt at her quick agreement. So much for best friends...

However, Naruto continued to say, "But Kakashi will be my best friend, I'll choose more carefully next time!"

"Why?" This time it was the young Hatake who voiced his objection and slight disbelief. He never had met someone so determined to be his best friend. A rival he could understand, but best friend? 'She's different...'

Those same cerulean orbs he had admired before pierced into him as if seeing into his very soul. Those eyes captivated him.

"Because one day, you and me are going to take on the world! I'm going to become a super awesome kunoichi and you will be so strong that one day you will wear the white hat the old guy was wearing!"

Minato and Sakumo breath's hitched in sudden understanding of her statement. They had forgotten that Naruto had seen into the future alongside the Kyuubi.

They both turned with wide eyes to look at the masked boy who was as frozen in shock as they were, though for very different reasons.

'He's going to become Hokage?!' The pair unknowingly screamed together in the disbelief internally.

Oblivious to the older men's inner struggle, Kakashi was baffled at the confidant tone the blonde girl spoke in.

He crossed his arms over his chest and asked, "What old guy with a white hat?"

Naruto put a finger to her chin pretending to think over the question. "I think Minato-nii called him, Hokage. But that's a weird name, so it must be a title or something."

Then it was Kakashi's turn for his eyes to widen in astonishment.

"You think I'll become strong enough to be the Hokage?" He experienced the strangest feeling in his chest emerge at her words.

"No, I don't think it."

His silver brows quickly dropped into a scowl of confusion at her response.

Just as he was about to question her again, Naru stated with a large grin, "I know you'll become as strong as the Hokage, probably even stronger than him!"

That had been enough for Sakumo and Minato to know they had been correct in their assumption. They both promptly fainted from the shock. It was just too much to take in.

Hearing the heavy thumps of bodies hitting the floor, the young blonde peered curiously over the side of her bed to see the two prone and dazed figures of the Jonin shinobi.

"What happened to those two?" Naruto asked with a raised brow.

Yet, the silver haired boy didn't hear anything after her last sentence. His thoughts and memories plagued him like a roaring storm.

He knew he had to always work to get out of his father's impressive shadow. He loved his father dearly, but he resented, that many when they saw him for the first time, they already had a preconceived idea about him.

All those people always compared him to his father, expecting him to be just as impressive or to fall short of his father's greatness.

Yet, sitting before him was someone who didn't see that.

No, she saw the potential in him to surpass his father.

She saw him take the position of the strongest shinobi in the village.

'Hokage.'

It had never once crossed his mind to try and aim for that position. He just wanted to make his father proud of him.

As his amazingly perceptive mind worked overtime, he came to the conclusion that if he ever wanted to step out of his father's shadow and make a name for himself, becoming Hokage would do just that.

"Alright, I accept..." The words left his lips almost breathlessly, as if a weight had been taken from his shoulders.

Naruto, who had been busying herself poking at the two unconscious men in an attempt to awaken them, turned her head sharply toward the boy who had been in silent thought for the past couple of minutes. Her face scrunched up in confusion at his sudden words.

"Accept what?"

Kakashi then did something he rarely did with anyone other than his father. His eyes curved up in a familiar motion of smiling. An unconscious habit he had picked up from his dad.

"To be your best friend, of course."

Naruto felt the air leave her lungs, his words causing a lump to form at the base of her throat, robbing her of her ability to speak.

The golden haired girl blinked in a stunned awe. Casting away the sudden image of an older silver haired man, who had at his words and movements, merged with her vision of the young boy.

'Kakashi-sensei...'

Tears streamed down her face, as Naruto found herself unable to contain the rampant, torrent emotions that welled up.

"Wha-Naru are you okay? Please stop crying!" Kakashi's alarmed words, broke through the emotional storm.

She rubbed the stubborn tears away, a smile blooming on her face as she did so. She got up off the white sterile bed and approached the boy.

Before the young Hatake could comprehend what was happening she had enveloped him in her small arms. He didn't realize that he had let his guard down so damn much until her forehead had pressed against his, her arms wrapping themselves around his shoulders in an embrace ten times stronger than even his own father's.

The boy's body unconsciously stiffened in her hold, unaccustomed to being held in such a way by anyone other than his father. He locked eyes with her cerulean blue orbs and she smiled warmly at him.

His chest felt light and he couldn't understand a single thing of what was going on. It was getting so hot all of a sudden.

Seeing the confused look in Kakashi's grey eyes had, Naru's smile widen as she said, "I'm glad and my name's Naruto."

At those words Kakashi felt at once as if there was a snare in the center of his chest that bound the two of them together. Because at that moment with her arms around him, that bright tender smile on her face, and the way she was so deliciously warm.

He never wanted to let go of Naru or Naruto as she was so inclined to tell him.

He'd heard about it before, but seriously hoped that he wasn't falling in love with this golden haired girl because despite the fact that she was so pretty, he knew as she grew older she would only grow more beautiful. Her beauty would more than likely end up pulling him into some very troublesome situations.

Even now, as a five year old, he knew he would be doomed for eternity if he fell in love with the little blonde. He would only be able to love her, and only her, for the rest of his life.

When pained groans filled the room, Kakashi didn't know whether to curse or cheer at the distraction. Yet, when Naru's arms left him in favor of helping the grown men, he did silently curse in protest at the loss of the warmth.

As he watched her help her brother sit up, Kakashi realized that despite the shared age, she was shorter. A quiet snort escaped him as a thought occurred to him. 'I'm always going to be taller than her aren't I?'

He had unknowingly begun to laugh aloud, drawing the attention of the three other people in the room.

"What's so funny Kakashi?" Sakumo asked with a raised brow.

Realizing he was caught, Kakashi's mirthful dark eyes curled up in a smile as he said, "It's nothing, but Naruto's really short."

Said blonde's face instantly turned into a bright red color. "Hey! I'm not short! We're the same height!" Naruto fumed in irritation.

Kakashi couldn't help but smirk at the riled up girl. "No, we're not." To prove his point, he stood tall next to her and to her dismay, he was taller than her by an inch or two, but still taller.

"Sh-Shut up! Don't call me short! Old man!"

The boy's amusement was quickly taken over by irritation. "I'm not an old man! Fishcake!"

"Who are you calling a fishcake!? You gray haired old man!"

Minato and Sakumo just sat on the floor, watching in amused bafflement as the pair bantered. They looked like an old married couple. Especially when Naruto started to try and strangle the boy when he wouldn't quit antagonizing her. Calling her a fishcake was definitely not a wise move.

It was this very scene that one very bewildered doctor stepped into.

Said doctor received a sheepish smile from a pair of Jonin spectators.

"Ah, Doctor Hotako, how are you today?" Minato greeted the man ignoring the cries for help from the silver haired boy.

The brown haired, glasses wearing doctor chuckled, bemused by the whole situation. "Very well, Namikaze-san. I just came to let you know that the test results all came back positive and the young girl is able to leave now. You may take her home when you deem yourselves ready."

Minato beamed at the news. He had a surprise prepared for his little sister and couldn't wait to show her. "Oh, that's very good news. Hear that Naru-chan, we can go home!"

"Yay! About time!" The blonde Jinchuuriki cheered as she held a blue faced Hatake in a grapple hold.

Elsewhere in the village, a worn man sipped tiredly from a bottle of sake; trying to drown his worries and feelings in the liquid bitterness that was alcohol. The past few days had been some of the toughest of his life and that was saying something considering he had lived through two wars and was now going on to a third.

As he gazed into the cup in his hand, the battered figured staring back at him in the liquid's reflection drew a long drawn out sigh from him. His thoughts went out to the two people he believed he could have trusted with his life. Now that turned out to be one of his biggest mistakes so far.

Only hours ago the two very figures he had in mind had been in his office, demanding things of him and revealing to him who exactly they were beneath their well constructed facades.

Danzo

A beloved and trusted comrade.

Orochimaru

A student he loved and cherished as if he were his own son.

Those two were root of his growing despair and worry.

If Danzo were to find out the truth about Kushina and Naruto, Hiruzen feared what would happen.

Would Danzo take the girl from Minato?

Turn the council against the two of them until they handed her over?

The man always had a penchant for getting what he wanted and all in the name of the village. So would he take that cute little blonde child and turn her into a cruel hearted weapon of mass destruction for the sake of a village she had but one tie to?

Sarutobi did not want to think on that for too long. For now he had made arrangements to ensure the protection of both the redhead Uzumaki and blonde Namikaze child. He just hoped it would be enough.

Then the Sandaime Hokage's wonderings turned toward his prodigious student who had displayed an abnormal interest in the young Jinchuuriki. The sudden fixation on the girl unnerved the middle aged man.

Orochimaru even went as far as to ask about her placement in the academy. His inquiries brought another issue to mind.

'He's going to be a Jonin-sensei this time around, but if I'm to believe Kurama's warnings it would be best to not allow him to have a team just yet. With this war on the horizon, I'm going to need all of my students out on the field.'

Hiruzen's fatigued gaze turned toward the stone faces which had become a sort of crutch in his time in office, especially during turbulent situations such as these.

'It's time to retrieve your errant granddaughter and grandniece, Hashirama-sama and Tobirama-sensei.'

A/N:

Sorry for taking so long to update! Thank you so much for reviewing and following! It means a lot!

I needed to rewrite this because my timeline was so messed up I was confused on how to proceed with it, but now I should have an update up soon!

Until next time dear readers!