A/N: Just a warning there may be spoilers for some of the manga/anime. I don't really know how far along American manga is. But I know for sure American Anime isn't as far along as some minor spoilers are in this. I'll try my very best to insure I spoil nothing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. This is a fan-base story. Please support the official release.

It-it.. It's not coming off! No I didn't mean to! Really I! It's not coming off! I-I tried I really did! No Obito you need to understand! I was trying! It's all over my arm! She-she was just there! I didn't want to! I was going to protect her! It's not coming off it's-it's there forever! I'm so sorry Rin, I'm sorry so sorry! I know- I know how to wash it off! Just need to dig deeper! I can peel it off! It's-It's not coming off!I need to try harder! Sounds of water running from a faucet echoed in the nearly empty apartment along with the sounds of frantic scrubbing. The smell of copper was thick on him. Then the sounds of her voice rang in his head, "Ka- Ka- Kashi."

"No! No-no-no! NO PLEASE! I can get it off!" Kakashi's fingers dug into his skin still scrubbing frantically. Red mixed with water ran down the drain as sounds of frantic scrubbing was heard through out the lonesome dark empty apartment. Kakashi's eyes widened with fear when he saw the result of his work. Blood, thick dark nearly black red oozing from his arm and hand. "It- It's not working! It's not coming off!" He dropped to his knees holding his arm staring at it as if it was spawning a demon out of his flesh.

"Ka-..Kashi... Ka-Ka- Kashi..."

"No- no I... I.." Kakashi stared at his bleeding arm frantically panting. Sweet dripping off his forehead and hitting the floor and his forsaken arm. Then the ringing of his alarm sounded from his room disrupting the sound of the faucet water. Kakashi looked in the direction the alarm sounded and then back onto his arm. It's never going to come off... I can't let them see this... I can't let anyone see this...

He stood up allowing his arm to fall out of his focus and at his side; he shut the faucet off. Kakashi turned around and walked to the blaring alarm and shut it off. Kakashi stared at the clock for a moment. Particularly at the time clearly displayed. It was 5 a.m., which meant he spent at least an hour trying to cleanse his arm. He put the clock back in it's respective place. The whole apartment was deafening quiet. The kind of quiet he was all too accustom to in life. Sighing he bandaged the offending arm and began getting ready for a new day as Dog. He had no specific mission he knew of today. He was sure there were plenty missions lining up disregard-less of the time of peace they were situated in. If anything he could always get practice in.

He stood alone above the roof of his apartment looking onto Konoha in his ANBU gear. Today looked particularly filled with gloom as dark clouds refused to part the morning sky. He hit the streets barley showing any signs of life since it was still considerably early. Walking he looked down again onto his arm. White bandages were hidden underneath his gloves. I can still see it all over my arm... How does anyone else not question it... They don't want to ask. They already know. They all pretend like I'm some kind of wounded animal. His fist clenched and shoved them back into his pocket. He looked onto his shadow grim of how so many things made him loathe life.

"Good morning my youthful adversary!" Kakashi didn't even spare Gai a glance. It was almost a daily ritual, at least whenever they both were in Konoha. He continued walking knowing full well Gai would just go on his way. Until, he noticed two feet with obnoxious orange leg warmers blocking his path. "Come, Kakashi revel in this youthful day!" Kakashi still refusing to look Gai in the eye looked at the sky again. It still looked gloomy, and last he checked his eye sight did not at least deceive him there. Then again now a days in his lonesome at nights many things deceived him, he was sure.

"It doesn't look like a day to revel in Gai. I have somewhere I need to be." He averted his path walking around the feet that disturbed his original route still not sparing the owner of said feet a look.

"On the contrary my youthful rival! It is a day where rain comes down to nurture for the flowers of youth!" Kakashi didn't answer this time. He didn't have time for Gai's banter. He had work to do, he was sure. Gai did not allow him to leave so easily this time. After all it's probably been months since Kakashi so much as speared a word to Gai. "Kakashi let us race to your destination on our hands!" Gai's feet blocked his route once again. Kakashi felt irritated at Gai's persistence, cursing himself inwardly for saying anything to Gai. Kakashi jumped to the building closest to him and ran up and away from the annoying feet keeping him from reaching his destination. To prevent Gai from pursue he took to the shadows. Just as Kakashi anticipated Gai jumped onto the roof he was standing on seconds ago. Of course he tried to pursue me. But he won't ever find me in the darkness.

The room was thick in silence but very well lit in contrast to the still gloomy clouds darkening all the corners of Konoha. It was days like this the Third anticipated doom like as if the darkened days had become like a bad omen. He held optimism disregard less, it was just his ninja instincts that kept him on edge. Today, however, bad omens sprung at him in every way conceivable the moment he awoke. It made him fairly uncomfortable, especially when he got to his office.

The moment he reached his office his long time adviser and friend, Danzo, had been awaiting the Thirds presence. It had turned out that lately there have been skirmishes at Konoha's borders, and not just one specific border to another Country but rather all borders that encompassed the Land of Fire. It had only started to become a problem that needed Hiruzen's guidance and force when travelers, genin, chunin and even occasional ANBU had started disappearing. It was rare Danzo had ever shared this information with Hiruzen, but then that likely ment that even Danzo's Root ANBU had started to go missing. So when the Third was faced with his own personal set of ANBU to select a few on a mission to discover why people went missing it made the room heavy in silence.

The Third knew he could only send the very best to handle this issue if even Danzo's ANBU started to go missing. The Third inhaled the tobacco in his pipe and drew a heavy sigh making each and every ANBU knelt before him tense up. "I am sorry to make this stretch out longer then needs be. I am faced with a difficult choice. Normally the kind of mission I would assign to a jonin with the correct caliber I am assigning to a select few of you. The reason being is because this may require a certain level of stealth, deception and darkness I'm not sure I can easily assign to any specific jonin. I nor my council, Danzo, cannot think of anyone better to assign this mission then a few of you. This is a classless mission that is even beyond that of the scope of an S-rank and requires secrecy of the highest degree. I am choosing one of you and the rest of you are excused after this individual has chosen his team. It is not that I feel this one select individual is of anyway greater then the rest of you, it is that Danzo and I both feel this one individual fits the requirements to lead this mission." The Third drew another puff at his pipe and exhaled slowly drawing the uncomfortable silence to it's climax. Had the ANBU not been hidden behind masks Hiruzen was sure he'd see a roomful of tense expressions. He could already feel Danzo shift uncomfortably. Bad omen indeed.

"Dog you are the leader of the investigation team, choose the team you feel most comfortable with on this expedition. Know full well this must be a team you are the most comfortable in every situation. You may not even see Konoha for some time depending on how lengthy this may become. You are still to report to me alone. However, the common method of communication may not be appropriate so keep this in mind as you select your team. Should I miss a scheduled communication interval with you then 24 hours after that time you and your team will be presumed dead. As such, new tactical matters will fall into my hands and become a personal issue for all of Konoha. As my duties as your lord of Konoha and protector of the Land of Fire I myself will personally set out to exterminate what ever forces threatens this land. It will no longer become a small set of individuals responsibilities but will be addressed as a military threat." The seriousness in the Thirds voice made the room thick like as if the Thirds tobacco smoke was choking every last set of lungs in the room.

Dog stood at having his name addressed. No ANBU dare move their gaze off the front of the room like soldiers. Dog didn't even remove his gaze on Third Hokage to name what set of individuals would be accompanying him. No he already knew who well suited his personal team. "Weasel and Tanuki."

"Kakashi!.. Are you so sure a three man team is appropriate for this mission?" The Third voiced Dog's name harshly and made everyone visually flinch aside from Dog. Worry was very evident on the Thirds voice.

"Any more and they may slow me down. No one reads me better then Tanuki and Weasel." Itachi addressed as Weasel along with Kakashi's close comrade Tenzou known as Tanuki stood from where they once knelt. The Third drew another puff and looked at Danzo for any objections. When Danzo returned the glance and gave no objections, the Third sighed.

"Does anyone object to this team?" The room didn't budge for a minute until one by one each ANBU lost their composure as they looked from the Third to Danzo to Dog and back to the Third. They were shocked never had the Third asked for all of their personal opinions and thought surely it was a question directed to Danzo or Dog's team, but when Danzo nor Dog's team made a single budge it was clear the question was directed at all of the ANBU in the room. There was an uncomfortable shift in the room between the ANBU in question, until one by one all looked back onto the front of the room giving not an ounce of objection. "No, then huh? Well then all of you are excused that were not assigned this mission." One by one the ANBU left the Third's office to return to their other duties and training. The Third sighed at the last three remaining ANBU and Danzo when the door clicked closed behind the last person to leave.

"Well then Dog, Weasel, and Tanuki you set off at the dead hour of night and are to travel only in the shadows least you be discovered. We need not raise alarm from our neighboring countries of the kind of investigation you will be preforming. In your journey you will be traveling endlessly at the borders that encompass the Land of Fire until you completely annihilate the threat. The details of your mission will be enlisted in this scroll. I trust you will dispose of this scroll appropriately. Exactly one week after your mission has officially began I expect a report. The time interval is three hours. After your time interval has expired 24 hours after that you will be presumed dead and a full scale military response will be launched. We need to avoid a full scale military response least shinobi war break out between our neighboring nations." The Third puffed into his pipe one last time before handing the scroll to Kakashi.

"Kakashi, please be careful. This darkness in your heart, it concerns me." Kakashi's eyes widened at the Thirds caring voice. "I would have rather of kept you here in Konoha; but Danzo and I cannot think of anyone else more suited to lead this type of investigation."

Did he know? Did the Third know about my arm? Of course he knows. It's all over my arm and I can't get it off!

"Yes, lord Sandaime." Before the Third could make any other replies Dog turned on his heal and was fast out the door with Weasel and Tanuki tailing right behind Dog. The door shut with a soft click and it was as if all the tense atmosphere left with it until the Third remembered he was with a strangely quiet Danzo. Hiruzen drew a puff from his pipe and slowly exhaled smoke.

"Yes Danzo? Can I help you? You were strangely qui-"

"Hiruzen you need to stop being so soft on him. He is not a boy any longer. He is a man and a shinobi at that!" Hiruzen felt like laughing for once. His friend was so oblivious at times and trying to hard to be cunning before him; it made him want to laugh and explain why this was silly. However he knew he needed to be serious with him right now.

"Danzo, Kakashi may be a shinobi but before he is a shinobi he is a boy. Although he may physically be a man he is still a lost boy in the need of guidance. Guidance I fear I am not always around to give him. As such whenever the situation calls upon it I try helping him best I can. Perhaps this mission won't help him but I know it won't serve to hurt him either. Besides if I can recall correctly even you needed some form of guidance from Hashirama and Tobirama sensei in your later time." Danzo clenched his fist and eyed Hiruzen with anger in his visible eye.

"I've got important things to take care of. I don't know why I'm wasting my time with you." With that said between clenched teeth Danzo left the room without spearing another word or spearing Hiruzen a chance to reply. This left Hiruzen to his own devices alone in his office. He opened a drawer where he kept a shoddy old black and white photo of his team when he and Danzo were just boys. Even then Danzo had a darkness in his eyes. Hirzen sighed drawing out smoke deep within his lungs out into the air.

"Danzo, my old friend I wish both our senseis would have been around longer to help you. I was not wise enough at the time to realize you needed attention to lure you out from that darkness you hide yourself in. I won't fail again..."

Kakashi, Tenzo and Itachi each had re-read the details of the mission about five times each before properly disposing the scroll in fire. "I assume I need not tell either of you what to bring on our long hull quest?" Both Tenzo and Itachi nodded no in reply. "Good. We meet at O' three hundred two clicks north of here. I expect you both to be fully rested." Both nodded in agreement before dispersing to gather supplies. Kakashi sat alone in the ANBU locker room looking at his own locker. He looked at the contents of his locker and it was nearly empty aside from a couple of scrolls and a spear ANBU outfit he always kept. He sighed knowing he would need to buy supplies for his journey. It meant socializing and potentially running into people he didn't feel like talking to.

Before Kakashi realized it he was at his favorite weapons dispenser, the underground one that the ANBU frequented; above all the one that barely spoke a word or two. Kakashi looked at all the sharp blades glistening in the barely illuminated shop. Until he stopped at the mirrors they sold so ninja could peak around the corner. Is... Is that what I look like without my ANBU mask..? I look disgustingly tired... Has no one noticed.. Maybe it's just me... Ya i'm just being ridiculous.. I'm fine.. At the peak of my health. Kakashi's attention snapped when he noticed a very familiar shadow behind him. RIN! IMPOSSIBLE! Turning around quickly with a blade drawn he almost jumped when he saw there was actually some one behind him. His hand holding the blade was caught in a grip. The grip on his wrist was tight and forced him to drop the weapon. Kakashi lifted his leg intent on kicking the intruder- KAKASHI! Rin's scream of fury echoing in his skull making him slip but was caught by the intruder.

"Woah! Woah! Captain Dog, it's me, Hawk! Slow down I was just going to ask if you were looking for a different size!" Hawk was still holding Kakashi slowly pulling him up to stand. Kakashi looked around the dark weapons shop before looking back at the ANBU wearing a bird like mask.

"Wh- Wh- What..?" Kakashi looked at the Bird mask in complete confusion unsure of what just happened. The man wearing the Bird mask pointed at something behind Kakashi, motioning for Kakashi to look.

"The ninja mirrors." Hawk replied as if being questioned if the sky was blue.

"The-?" Kakashi glanced at the mirrors the Bird man was referring to. "Oh, uh... yeah the mirrors, um yeah uh... Do- do you have any smaller ones..?" Hawk looked at Kakashi in silence for a few moments; to Kakashi it felt like years.

"Are you okay Captain Dog?" Asked Hawk tilting his head to the side slightly reminding Kakashi of his Nin hounds whenever they gave him a questioning look. "Because for a moment ther-"

"No..! Yeah, no I'm perfectly fine Hawk. I need two of the smallest mirrors you have to offer and I'll still be looking around." Hawk looked at Kakashi in silence again, almost looking as if he were pondering something. Kakashi felt the hollow eyes of the mask scrutinizing him making uncomfortable. Hawk just turned the other way walking to the backroom of the store mumbling something about the pressures of leadership. Kakashi exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding. I'm fine. That was nothing I'm fine. I saw and heard nothing.

For the remainder of Kakashi's shopping trip he stayed focus on the weapons and the type he'd likely need over the course of a month. If he's mission extended beyond a month he could always re-sharpen any blades that fall out of perfect sharpness. Not only that but there were many arms dealers across the Land of Fire; re-stocking on his shuriken inventory would not be so difficult. Kakashi gathered all his things in the ANBU base and left for his apartment to prepare anything else for his long trek.

The apartment was small and to Kakashi this was not really his home no matter how many restless nights he spent in it. He didn't turn on the lights unless it was night and even then he hardly ever turned them on. Kakashi sat on the floor with a tatami mat lifted off revealing a hidden stash of weapons, scrolls, and various food pellets. It rained long before Kakashi reached his apartment and distorted shadows in his room. I have everything I need. I just need to rest for the mission. Kakashi eye'd the area he spent most nights in disdain. He hated his need for rest and just wished shinobi didn't require normal things civilians required. It reminded him he was human no matter how deep he was in the ninja world. I'm fine. I'm going on that mission tomorrow and I'm going to keep my team safe. Every last one of them will be safe in my care. I will protect my comrades with my life.

Kakashi slowly laid himself in the dark in his resting spot. It was only 4 p.m. but he knew he would need lots of rest for the early start tomorrow. Rain pilted the single window in his apartment as he heard distant thunder and silent flashes of light. His breathing slowed... then he heard it...

Ka... Ka... Kashi... Kakashi...

No no no. Stop. Please no. No-

Kakashi...

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this and I plan on continuing. Depending on how often this story is viewed may influence how often I am motivated to continue. Any creative criticism along with support is greatly appreciated. Any review is a good review because to me it means you've put your valued time to respond to my story. Thank you again for taking the time to read this.