Alone No More

Concern

'What is going on with those three?' Minato thought dryly turning the page in his book and take a sip of his tea but wasn't focusing on the words but the tension that was in the air during today's training. While laying against the headboard of his bed with a small towel on top of his blonde locks still damp from his shower; Minato's mind continues to ponder on today's training. The blonde knows his students are hiding something he just hopes that not as bad as they think it is.

Obito and Rin were basically whispering to each other most of the practice while he was sparring with Kakashi. Minato frowned at the memory, in middle of the fight he basically threw the little nine-year-old away when meant to push him back a few feet. Since the team was created Kakashi away been the skinniest one but soon after the boy started to look like he was gaining weight. Which was a relief to Minato at first, but now the boy feels lighter than before which makes him even more concerned for his little chunnin.

'Maybe we should start having team lunches or dinners,' Minato thought as he took another sip of his tea. Minato knew that other shinobi judged the young Hatake more than others, but he never did anything about it because it wasn't really any of his business until he became the boy's Sensei. The blonde jonin couldn't fully understand why people told him that Kakashi is the worst student that he was going to have to deal with. So far Kakashi is one of his best, the boy is a quick and level-headed thinker, skilled, follows his orders, and was a good strategist. Sure the boy sticks to the rules too much and points out his comrade's flaws, but after losing his father who broke the rules, it doesn't really surprise Minato. Plus, when Kakashi points out flaws in others they're usually ones that can endanger the person's life or their teammates. Maybe it's just a coincidence but Minato couldn't tell, Kakashi never lets his personal walls down always keeping people at arm's length of him.

Minato's head shoots up when he hears a soft knock on the front door and looked at the clock that read 5:45 pm. 'Hmm, that's weird Kushina's not supposed to get off border patrol until 8:30, who could it be?' The blonde thought as he got up placing his mug on the nightstand and throwing the damp towel in the hamper. When a loud 'bang, bang, bang,' came from the door much harder than before.

"Hello," Minato spoke when he started opening the door, only to see Obito and Rin starring up at him with worried eyes.

"Sensei, Kakashi's in trouble-" Obito shouted before Rin quickly slapped her hand over his mouth.

"Minato-sensei, please there's something important that we need to tell you!" Rin whispered in urgency with a somewhat desperate look.

"Of course, come in I already made some tea," Minato answered with a kind smile stepping aside to let his students enter. Then did a quick scan of the area to make sure they weren't followed, before shutting the door and activating a privacy seal.

"Alright, what's the problem?" Minato questioned giving them each a cup of tea and one of himself as they sat around the table in his kitchen.

"I'm sorry, I messed up Minato-sensei," Obito apologized with his head lowered in shame.

"What happened?" Minato asked again with slight uneasiness in his voice remembering Obito shouting that Kakashi is in trouble.

"Well you see, we think somebody is hurting Kakashi," Obito declared with uncertainty.

"Why do you think that?" Minato practically demanded but tried to calm down when his students looked nervous at his questions.

"Because the villagers look at him like he's some sort of monster!" Obito exclaimed loudly, making Minato's blue eyes widened.

"And they're saying horrible things about him, and it's not just civilians several shinobi are doing it too!" Rin added in the same urgency as the loud Uchiha.