A/N: This fic is the very reason I haven't updated any of my own the past month. This one is written for the Kakasaku Challenge on LJ and all my spare time has gone into this. I'm sorry for those who wanted another update of Rebirth etc., but I really wanted to join in. I hope you can forgive me. Anyhow, enjoy and I hope you like. Those who can't wait till the next update (the whole story is already on my LJ profile. I warn you though, I'm changing some things in that storyline, adding some thing maybe even remove some of them. I'm not quite happy how i finished it (ran out of time) so this one is how I had visioned it in my mind. the theme I had chosen is pirates.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, only my OC's.

Summary:
Faced with losing his home forever, Kakashi goes on a treasure hunt to regain his lands and pride he once held; gaining something more than he bargained for.


The Legend of the Darkblood Serpent

Prologue


The day was about to get worse, Kakashi feared as he looked up from his work. The continued barking of his dogs interrupted him from his work on the field and warned him of incoming visitors on his land. He got up from his kneeling position, brushing off the dirt from his pants before he straightened. With one sharp, short whistle he signalled his young pug, Pakkun, whom had been playing around him in the field, keeping him company. His eyes trained over the fields, before a small brown spot jumped out of the grain field and raced towards him.

With a smile he greeted the pug as he jumped around him, his tail wagging to show his happiness. He chuckled, wiggling his fingers in front of him before grabbing the basket he'd filled with the vegetables he'd taken from his land. "Let's find out who wants to honour us with a visit," Kakashi mumbled, staring down at the big brown eyes staring up at him. A small bark was his answer before the small dog raced towards the place Kakashi called home.

After a short walk, Kakashi entered his kitchen through the backdoor, putting the freshly plucked vegetables on the counter before dipping his dirt-covered hands in the wash water he used this morning until they were clean. He noticed that the barking was getting louder and another sound had been added, the sound of hooves galloping over his stone path towards his home. He opened the twin doors that led to the entrance hall, careful not to step on his furry companion as he jumped around his feet from excitement.

The front door opened with a loud creak, groaning as Kakashi pushed it open. Unlike before, when the rest of his dogs would immediately react to his presence, they didn't do it this time. The biggest of them all, Bull, already abandoned the porch and ran towards the visitors with his canines bared. The horse that rode in front of the others started to whine nervously when his eye caught the large black dog racing towards them. Kakashi recognized the rider as Ebisu, followed by two guardsmen of their king. The red with golden threads forming the weapon of their kingdom was clearly to see on their tabards and shields.

Kakashi knew why they were here, dreaded the arrival of this day. He lifted his hands to his mouth, slipping from both hands his index and middle finger into his mouth and let out a loud whistle. Bull's barking decreased, his speed halting to a stop until he turned around to answer his master's call. He stopped in front of Kakashi's feet, wagging his tail but at the hard look given by his master, he was quickly reduced to a soft whine. Normally that would have broken Kakashi's sternness; he hated to see his dogs cower before him. But today he didn't falter. Bull had disobeyed his order for the third time this week and needed to be punished. He watched as Bull joined his brethren, circling around on his spot until he lay down, his mouth resting on his front paws. When Kakashi turned his head to regard his visitors, they were already dismounting.

"Watch your dog's Hatake! Next time when they show such disrespect towards the King's men, they'll be put down," one of the guardsmen shouted. Seeing at his slightly shaking form, Kakashi knew he was frightened. And yet it didn't bother him one bit. He hated guardsmen who thought themselves above everyone else and the law with passion.

"You two stay here while I take care of this," Ebisu ordered as he moved towards Kakashi. The man whom had shouted earlier, opened his mouth to protest, and was harshly cut off by Ebisu. "Do you want to spend the night in the dungeons for disobeying my orders soldier?"

The guardsmen quickly shook his head and walked, although reluctantly towards his fellow man, which was greeting the dogs with enthusiasm. Some may think that was madness, but as Kakashi looked closer, he could see the short black hair peeking out of her helmet and a rounding normal man didn't have. He recognized her as Shizune, a known friend of the family, and grinned at the sight how warmly the dogs greeted her.

"I ask of you to not feed them anymore treats miss, I fear they be getting fatter with your kindness."

Shizune turned her head and grinned, waving a small greeting before she turned her attention back to the pack. Kakashi turned his head back to Ebisu as he clasped his hand on his shoulder as greeting. "It's unfortunate that we meet again under these circumstances." He looked apologetically and Kakashi knew he meant it. The man had been a good friend of his late father, one of the few that didn't dismiss him as he went downhill.

They walked back towards the kitchen, Kakashi moving to fill two goblets with water as Ebisu took place at the servant's table. He nodded gratefully as Kakashi handed him his goblet, and quickly swallowed some water to quell his thirst. Kakashi sat down at the opposite side of him, not touching his drink. He waited patiently for Ebisu to finish, offering him his own when Ebisu's goblet was empty.

"Thank you Kakashi, you upheld this mansion and land well without help of your servants."

Kakashi nodded grimly. It was a lie and they both knew it. It was a far cry away from the glory and pride the Hatake household once held. The only thing that remains was the cold stones and broken fences that marked their lands. Kakashi knew his home and lands, how it had looked before it was reduced to this piece of shame and abandonment. The pride he felt when he could call this his home and hold up his head high had been long gone, vanished into thin air. Their reputation shattered when his father made deals he couldn't uphold. They landed into a downwards spiral with an alarming rate until his father, a man of pride, strength and justice was reduced to a drunken idiot, filled with a lifetime of debts and regret. Kakashi watched as his safe heaven and place he called his home lose his glory and strength. With a last attempt to restore their reputation, the man committed suicide. But alas it was too late. Kakashi was already of age to be seen as adult and thus inherited both his father's land and debts. And here he was now, his home cold and lost all his warmth it once held. Working his whole life to rectify his father's mistakes and making sure he didn't make the same. Now the day had come that Kakashi had ran out of time. He watched as Ebisu pulled out the scroll, the kind's seal glaring up at him as it was placed on the table before him.

"I wish I could give you more time, but the King is getting impatient. He held off the men you owe for a very long time now."

Kakashi sighed, running his hand over his face tiredly. With the other he reached out for the scroll that condemned him. He cut the King's seal with a knife lying on the table. When he was done reading, he lay it back down.

"I'm sorry Kakashi."

Kakashi shook his head. "No, you've done what you can, I can ask no more. I knew this time would come, only hoped it wasn't this soon."

Ebisu nodded his eyes sad as he looked at the man before him. He had been a lively kid full of potential, but by his father's mistake he had suffered a great deal. He had to see his mother walk away from his family, servants abandoning their masters, believing that there was no future left, people he called friends turning their back on him. He had endured so much; he didn't serve such a faith. Ebisu took a swing of his drink, the taste bitter now as he watched the young Hatake accept his faith. The more he saw the defeat sink into his stance, the more he loathed it. He needed to do something. With a loud thud he placed the goblet down.

"If you want, I give you some money to pay off a chunk of the debt you owe; maybe the King will give you more time then."

"No, you will not do such thing," Kakashi replied, a frown upon his face. "That's the same way my father went down. I will not become like him, I refuse to do so."

"It's not a loan I'm giving you, boy. It's a gift," Ebisu tried to reason with him.

"No, my word is final. You need the money yourself to support your family. I cannot and will not take it."

Ebisu sighed defeated, but pride swelled up within him as well. "Very well, I won't speak of this anymore. But please remember my offer will stand until the day I die. Your father helped me in time of need; I would disgrace our friendship if I wouldn't do the same for his son. It was unthinkable that the King placed this burden upon you. He knows as much as I that this debt is one you can't pay off in such a short timeline he'd given you."

"And yet it is the burden I must carry. Thank you, Ebisu, but I simply cannot bear the thought of taking you down with me."

Ebisu stood up, Kakashi following as they moved back to the front door. "Remember that my door will always be open for you, Kakashi." He clapped him on the shoulder before signalling his two guards to move out.

Kakashi chuckled as Shizune kissed every dog on the head, gave him a quick hug before running towards her horse.

He watched them leave, smiling as he felt his pack surround him. Even if he was going to lose his land and home, he would always have the loyal companions with him.

TBC..