42 Nani?!

(Kakashi POV)

I was making my way towards the border, my head filled with different thoughts. Some of my thoughts were for the Hokage, some for the mission at hand… and some…

Death… the most common way out of shinobi life. I had prepared myself for it, I had many regrets, but many I could not resolve anymore… and the ones I could, I would have to take with me in my grave.

The Godaime Hokage, a child by any standard… except those of shinobi. He was a genius, a force to be reckoned with, as well as someone who strived for much much more than this village could afford to give. The look in his eyes, I had seen it many times.

Strength, the primary driving force of every shinobi, to become more powerful. But there was a difference, he knew what he wanted, and he was as controlled in his actions as a person could get. He reminded me of the Fourth Hokage, my teacher, in that aspect. That look of calmness when dealing with any situation… at least from what I had observed. But that was where the similarities ended.

Kei Uchiha was ruthless. I already knew of the different decisions made under his leadership… at least some of them. If it happened before, when I was young, I am sure I would have followed him to the end… but I had changed, I no longer seek strength as I did before.

Was it for the best? I believed it to be so until a few months ago. A strength that could change everything… had I been too weak in my resolve to achieve it? Too weak in my will to pay the price for it? It was too late, and now answering these questions would only lower my resolve.

I didn't know anymore, but this was the route I had chosen, my ninja way, and I would see it through. I would continue to serve the village, would protect it to the best of my abilities… but I would also follow what I believed to be right. I had no delusions that I could continue this double life for long. Sooner or later the Hokage would find out… and in my indecisiveness, I would no longer be of use to the village in his vision.

I had been given a mission that, based on what all my senses told me, was likely to be my final task…

In a way I was grateful. I was not going to die a traitor's death, but merely an unlucky shinobi who died trying to accomplish his mission. Not the first, not the last, merely one of the many.

I had already sent my final report to Jiraya. Likely nothing was going to come out of it, but he was going to know that my death would not be coincidental nor accidental. Maybe it would help him keep his guard up against our current Hokage… maybe it would merely lead him to his own death. That being said, everything from now on was up to him, my part was done. I had done what I believed was best…

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It was in the forest, on my way towards the border… where I was attacked. I noticed it quickly, but the projectile was faster and sliced through my hand that attempted to grab it and straight into my shoulder, making me fall to the ground from the force of the attack.

'Strong' – was the thought that went through my mind as I removed the Kunai from my shoulder and threw it to the side.

Fighting back was a given, but given that the enemy was strong this time, it seemed that I would not need to hold back. Going back was impossible. I would face a worse death than even my father, or even imprisonment for life by some political conspiracy. I was going to die fighting, this was my only real option from the beginning… and I was a little happy about it.

Being allowed to die as a shinobi… was a form of kindness from the Hokage. He certainly knew about my father, if he wanted to punish me for betraying him, he knew the way to do it… but he didn't. Thinking about useless things once again, I raised the mask covering my eye, searching for my opponent as I locked into his incoming shuriken and threw a pair of my own, clashing in between as I retreated further, my eyes locked into his silhouette, moving at fast speeds.

'If he can't defeat me, I'll have to tone it down… but for now...'

I waved through hand signs with speed as I planted my hands into the ground.

"Earth Style: Mobile Core" – I poured much more chakra into the technique, raising a rather small platform above tree level as my opponent landed on it, allowing me the opportunity to inspect him.

Garbed in black shinobi attire that seemed to cover his entire body and moving with that kind of speed it was rather easy to recognize my assailant, especially by his glowing red Sharingan.

"Hokage-sama huh… well, at least I won't fall to a nobody." – Is what came out of my mouth as I planned my next move while recalling the information I had read in the bingo book. I knew I was going to lose, the question being how easy I was going to make it for him.

"Kakashi… do not hold back, I will be disappointed if you do. I hold you in quite high regard." – He said with that slight smile he always carried on his face.

'Extreme Speed, Extreme Strength, Powerful Ninjutsu Abilities as well as mastery in swords as of lately as well as Taijutsu… I was completely outclassed, and this without considering his Sharingan abilities. Reminds me a little of Guy and me bundled up together… and then quite some more.'

"Before we start… can you tell me how you knew?"

"… Did you believe you could hide it?" – He asked back, his expression not shifting one bit.

"Rather than that, I am a little ashamed as a shinobi… nevertheless… I would like to thank you."

"Is that so? For what?"

"It's not every day that a traitor is given the chance to die as a shinobi." – I said as I smiled slightly as well.

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(Meanwhile with our MC)

Thank you? A traitor? Kakashi?

'Nani the fuck is going on?'

(A/N: Hello once again, this was a chapter to show how the existence and the minimal interaction of our mc with Kakashi had slightly changed him… and yeah… that's basically it. Don't forget to vote… becaaaauuuuussssse… Kakashi lives if we get 50 votes in 12 hrs(nah, maybe, I don't know)…. I'm obviously kidding. Or am I?(I am). See you guys…. Or am I?(Highly likely that i am but you are free to try.))