AN: This is my NaNoWriMo for this year. A number of requests are being squashed to create this. It's a Kakashi/OC kick butt civilian pairing. I am aware there are parallels with Sute, Rei, but that is how this goes. I'll update sporadically but expect short chapters. We'll be with them as kids for a while and then time skips.

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Kakashi knew his father was up to something. Sakumo left some mornings after grumbling as he explored the variety of items in his equipment and swirling a few vials. The ones that Kakashi was expressly never to touch. Then he'd sigh, hand over a scroll to keep his son distracted, and Sakumo would leave for hours. When he returned he'd have a large smile on his face and often a package with him. Though Kakashi was curious, his father never volunteered any information. Nor would he unpack the items if Kakashi was in the room. Likely they were kept in one of the other rooms down old dusty halls in the compound that the young boy never was curious enough to explore. Oh, he wondered at what his father was up to, certainly, but it was not enough to take time from training and learning to solve such a small question.

Except he began to notice it happened fairly often. Especially when his father would be called away for a mission. He'd do the same act before, and after, departing from Konoha. So Kakashi began to feel the burn of curiosity enter his thoughts. Once or twice Kakashi had tried to follow, but he was just barely too slow it seemed and it never panned out. Sakumo had grinned at him once, found only when well over an hour had passed and with that same content smile on his face. "If you can't figure it out, rascal, I'll show you when you get into the Academy."

Kakashi had taken this challenge as the mission it clearly was and worked hard on keeping his steps light and fast, trying to learn more about using chakra so he could stick to things and scramble after even if he hadn't the long enough stride to make use of the rooftops. Sometimes Sakumo would just grin and drop another scroll in his lap at the end of the day.

"At least tell me," Kakashi growled at him annoyed as he toweled off his hair. They'd been working on his dodging and Kakashi had chosen to throw himself in a pond instead of letting his father get near. For some reason the feared 'White Fang' would love little more than to start tickling his son instead of striking. It was humiliating and annoying but nothing Kakashi did save for dodging the 'attacks' ever worked.

"Ah." There was a moments thought before he nodded. "Well, you know no one can be good at everything son. So for those of us shinobi who focus on fighting and the like we often trust other specialists to handle other aspects. Like making our kunai, our gear..."

Kakashi nodded. He knew this, it was common sense. What he didn't expect was the lazy grin his father had next.

"For most skilled shinobi that also applies to their poisons and salves. The one I prefer to use in particular is very time-consuming and exacting to make." He chuckled at seeing how Kakashi flinched, clearly startled that his father would trust someone else with such lethal tools. Indeed, it was an important lesson. "You know there are only two blacksmith's I am willing to work with and who have worked with the family for generations, one in Konoha and one further towards the land of Iron. I may use other weapons if not the family blade, but they are not my preference. Likewise, the Hatake's have had our own contract for many generations with a family that makes most of our poisons, antidotes, and salves."

"How is this an advantage if anyone could go to them?" Kakashi asked, his brows furrowed. "There's no logic there."

"That, son, is the tricky part." Sakumo hummed and nodded. "They're exclusive. Some things they will share with any, certainly, but their best works are only for our clan. There used to be a few others, all of which mind was somehow allied with or blood kin to the Hatake's, but much as our own has dwindled from all the wars over the years so has their own. Out of the other fringe groups though we are all that remain."

"So they are just ours now," Kakashi concluded. "You trust them?"

His father shrugged. "Technically they're distant relatives. Back seven or eight generations but still. They've honored the agreement for all these years and in turn, we help them when they have needed it for things. It's one of the reasons we have wings to this compound that were rarely used. When I was a boy my parents and family kept a few rooms and areas for our allies to stay in and they only made our unique poisons here on site. Now it would be too obvious and they are a bit stubborn, wishing to stay off the grounds. Not that I blame them. Yes though, You could almost say it's a partnership of sorts, I've been friends with the seven still left these days and their various spouses for years. The one in charge was a good friend of your mother's and even threatened me if I had been leading her on. Mind, your dear mother was very surprised after we married and she was let in on finding out her friend had been my contact for years!"

The two sat in quiet for only another moment. "So we have our own what? Apothecary workers?"

"Well, frankly the slang when you get up high enough is a "Gooper." Sakumo snickered at the annoyed look his precious child sent him, so very like his mother at moments. "It was Goop Maker once but Gooper is common enough now, you could say you have your own herbalist I suppose if you felt the need but yes. Generally, you don't wish to let on whom they are as they will never advertise just how skilled they are. Hiding in plain sight as it were."

"I see, when will I meet them?" Kakashi sighed as his father seemed baffled at the jump in his logic. "You once said when I reached the academy age you would show me, that means you intend to have me meet them and if they are contracted to our family clan no doubt they are trustworthy."

Bemused Sakumo rubbed at his jaw. "You're not fighting this at all...?"

"They will help me succeed and you seem certain they will follow their code. I do not see the problem." Kakashi stated, wondering why his words made his father laugh.

"Fine, we'll go tomorrow. Hm. You're about the age of the 'little Goop' anyways.." Came the teasing grin and the beaming smile that made Kakashi groan.

"Father. Please stop sounding like an idiot."