Meanwhile in the village...
" Heh, I can't wait for father to come back from his mission!"
" I'll be sure to show father how how much i have improved these past few months from the academy!"
Kakashi who was preparing a meal for himself was also talking to himself and spouting about his excitement to meet his father and show his improvements. He was diligent with his chores, studies, and was even constantly improving his skills as a shinobi to prove to his father and make him proud.
'Oh its such a bummer that Lady Tsunade and Jiraiya-sama was called suddenly out of the Hot Springs, but it was just the right time as well since Jiraiya-sama had given me a great opportunity during the time of our talk. Hehehe'
On the other hand our protagonist Shiiro Uchiha had strolled around for a bit after he went to the Hot Springs. And luckily was just around the neighborhood of the Hatake Family.
'ah isn't this around the place where Kakashi-kun lived? Ah and then there he is'
Shiiro followed Kakashi who was about to go to a forest near the Konohagakure Mountain Monument, and there he saw the training field that Kakashi frequented along with his father. But right now Kakashi was alone and had just started to train.
' Well, I guess this was why he managed to become an elite Chuunin at the age of 12 then? He constantly trained heavily by himself and managed to improve so much huh.'
After a bit of waiting Shiiro slowly walked down in the training field and greeted Kakashi.
" Hi there Kakashi-kun!"
Kakashi who was focused on his training looked at Shiiro surprised because other than his father no one else knew of this training field...
" Ah I'm sorry, I actually saw you earlier when i was strolling around the village and well hahaha i followed you here to your training field."
" I am sorry if it was weird but would it be okay for you to spar and train with me too?"
Kakashi around this age was 5 years old and yet he was diligent with his training, chores, and studies while akehiiro or hiiro Uchiha who was close at Kakashi's age and can become far more stronger with the Uchiha Potential was much more lazy than Kakashi...
This was also partly the reason why Akehiiro wasn't part of the next Elite Class and yet Kakashi was invited but he rejected it so openly.
" I am sorry but I don't know who you are so I decline big brother "
'Ah, i just got rejected... And by a five years old too no less.'
" Oh okay, then do you mind if just watch you train? And maybe give some pointers?"
" ah right, I am Uchiha Shiiro by the way! I knew of you by Sakumo-sama. Your father and my father are acquainted Kakashi."
Kakashi looked at Shiiro and nodded in a respectful manner, but only continued to train then. This was definitely the same Kakashi, alright.
Shiiro right about then remembered that Kakashi will be taking the original Ninja Academy test a few weeks from now and would become a full fledged Genin. But during the time he graduated he became more gloomier and introverted.
The same Kakashi now wouldn't even compare to the Kakashi after he graduated, his skin would become more pale, he would have eye bags, and worse his much more introverted and a jerk in the near future.
This had made Shiiro ponder on what happened before the Ninja Academy Examination. But he suddenly remembered why...
'argh right! Tsk! That was why Lady Tsunade and Jiraiya-sama left abruptly and Anbu even escorted them out of the Hot Spring'
'News about Sakumo Hatake would be my guess, and who'd be invited to witness the failure of the best ninja of Konohagakure of this time? Yeah! The three aspiring ninja of Konoha lady Tsunade, Orochimaru and Jiraiya - sama.'
'And there is no doubt that that's exactly what happened because it was right before Kakashi had graduated from the academy that we'd known about his Father's death'
'argh! From representing the strength of Konohagakure and even being known as the White Fang of Konohagakure to being shamed and ridiculed by his very own people is disgusting to think about! Konohagakure really sank lower than the Titanic in these times.'
" Hey Kakashi you can't refuse training and sparring with me for now! Let's make your father proud! I am gonna help you pass the Academy Exam faster little bro!"
Kakashi was taken aback by the sudden demand of Shiiro as he was literally silent during the time that Kakashi trained almost as if he had blanked out but suddenly he got so motivated that Kakashi wasn't even allowed to reject him...
" Uh... Then please do take care of me big brother Shiiro!"
But upon hearing out Shiiro's proposal to Kakashi he immediately got excited about the notion that he was gonna get help from a really strong Shinobi Senior. And even make his Father proud.
"heh! Keep smiling kid I know you're father will be proud of you when we're done training! I will teach you all that I know Kakashi be prepared for it!"
Although a small gesture of kindness from Shiiro, this had ultimately caused a butterfly effect. It made Kakashi way more stronger than intended and also improved the psyche of Kakashi to the point that he had adopted a sense of pride higher than when he graduated normally.
One week went by and it was the day that Sakumo would arrive, Although Danzo had extracted all the information they could from Sakumo since he willingly gave every information away. He still managed to keep his sanity and sense of self so Danzo was forced to release Sakumo.
The reason that Sakumo could still be hiding something could only last as long as a week, and since Sakumo didn't show signs of succumbing to Danzo's antics he was released and Danzo was forced to create another plan. This was the moment that Danzo had used Sakumo's comrades and even the people of Konohagakure to despise of Sakumo Hatake for failing a very important mission.
In turn the death of Sakumo Hatake had stayed as a cannon event in the world of Naruto... And thus led to the depressing state of Kakashi right before he was about to take the exam and leaving him alone and dejected for months to come.
" Hey uh Kakashi? Are you alright there? Wanna train for more little bud?"
Shiiro who was on a mission with his father as experience just after Sakumo died had heard of the news that Kakashi had graduated splendidly but the death of his father had him depressed and not even once went out of his house...
" Go Away Shiiro-san!!"
For the first time Kakashi had responded to someone. He who didn't even respond once to the Hokage or his friends from the academy, managed to find the courage to reject Shiiro Uchiha again...
"Kakashi! I'm going in okay!? You can't reject me again brat I'm worried about you!"
"And look we'll be training again with Akehiiro and Hiiro soon so let's get along together again Kakashi!"
Kakashi was still in distraught and mourning his father's death for weeks on end. And Shiiro couldn't help but want to comfort this poor child. He may have only been acquainted for a week or two but Kakashi had grown soft to Shiiro and Shiiro as well as his two siblings had also thought of Kakashi as their brother too. Shiiro was genuinely trying to help Kakashi get stronger and Kakashi could feel the genuineness of Shiiro, even Akehiiro and Hiiro who comes to visit Kakashi when training with Shiiro have given the feeling of genuine belongingness to them.
"Kakashi where are you? I brought some Kibi Dango for us both to enjoy."
Shiiro went in the household and looked around, only to find the mess that the house had turned into. as the moonlight passed through the living room, it was seen that the blood splatters of Sakumo Hatake was still there and uncleaned. The house that was lit up by the moonlight showed a depressing and sullen scene, Shiiro couldn't believe that a child of mere 5 years old had lived like this.
After going in and looking around he had heard of the mourning sound of Kakashi, at the corner of the house was the bathroom of the Hatake Household. As Shiiro got closer, he saw Kakashi in the bathtub crying non-stop. And when he turned the lights of the bathroom on, he saw the pale and skinny Kakashi. Due to his depressive state, Kakashi hadn't even got a wink of sleep and caused him to become pale. Kakashi who was already skinny had gotten more skinnier as he had not eaten anything for a whole week, he couldn't bear himself to go outside or even look for food in the kitchen.