Waking up, I stood. My apartment was silent. Of course, I knew it would be. I lived alone, no pets, so I would be more shocked if there was noise. Sighing, I went to take a shower. I had to be at the Hokage's Office at nine. Looking at the clock, I saw that it was 8:45. I was right on time. Stripping down, I let the warm water wash over my body. Holding my stomach, I still hurt. Stepping out after a few minutes, I put on my ANBU uniform, slipping my wolf mask in my belt, my black mask covering my face, my Hitai-ate covering my eye. Pulling on my gloves, I headed to the Hokage's office, doing a little detour, stopping at the Memorial Stone. Bowing my head, I updated Rin and Obito on what had happened since last I was able to come.

"Well, sorry it's been a bit. Minato-sensei had a baby…his name is Naruto. They named him after the character in Master Jiraiya's book. The nine tails came and ravaged the village…we are still trying to rebuild from that. Minato-sensei and Kushina died sealing the tailed beast. They wanted to seal the beast in Naruto." Sighing, I could still see that night…even though it had been a week ago. "But I couldn't let them. It would ruin the kid's life. He'd be feared and hated, seen as a monster. So…I figured why not let them seal it in a real monster, so I volunteered. Kurama is in me, and he is pissed. However, he's sealed, and I only hurt a little bit. Naruto is saved…so it's a win-win."

I frowned. There was more, but…I couldn't tell them…not yet. "Well, I better get going. It's already nine oh five." Standing, I headed towards the Hokage's Office, taking another detour.

"Hey, Kakashi…how are you?" The white haired man looked at me, bags under his eyes as he opened the door to my knocking. He smiled, ushering me into his home.

I smiled, even though he couldn't see it under my mask. "Fine. How is he?" I asked. Jiraiya smiled.

"Sleeping. Come on in." Leading me to the crib, the blonde was asleep, a little line of drool from his mouth. He was adorable.

"Heh. He looks like Minato-sensei." I whispered. Blue eyes opening, the infant smiled at me and cooed. I had seen him once before, the night Minato and Kushina had given their lives for the village. That was the night I got the élan vital mark. I had not told anyone. I was frustrated…I had to tell someone, so I decided I had to tell Jiraiya. He'd be the only one to understand and help. Looking at Jiraiya, I raised an eyebrow. "Could I speak to you privately?"

Jiraiya frowned, but nodded. Leading me to the kitchen, he ushered me to sit down. "What's on your mind that you couldn't say in front of an infant, Kakashi?"

Letting out a deep breath, I pulled my gloves off, showing him my wrist…the name Naruto was neatly imprinted on it in small, black letters. Eyes opening wide, he let out a low whistle. "When did you get that?" he asked.

"The night Minato-sensei died." I said.

Jiraiya nodded. "The first time you saw Naruto." He observed. I nodded. "That's why you volunteered?" He asked, although his tone already said that he knew the answer before I nodded yes.

"You don't think it's weird or gross?" I asked him, looking for any signs in Jiraiya's face.

"No. I knew someone who was twenty when her she got her mark…of course, she called it a soul mark, but soul mark, élan vital mark…it's the same thing, really. She told me that until he became about seventeen or so, it was just a paternal, protective love that she had for him…she just wanted to be around him, but never once did she think of him sexually. Now, after he got old enough and reciprocated her feelings, things heated up." Jiraiya patted my hand.

I kept looking at my hands. "Master Jiraiya, I came to you to talk to you about a couple things. First, I am staying in the ANBU, even though I was given the option to leave. Second, you can never, never tell Naruto what his parents were going to do…or what I did instead. The only people who know what the plan originally was is dead or in this room. Naruto needs to believe that it was always their intention to put the beast in me." I looked up as Jiraiya stared at me curiously.

"Why, Kakashi? Why the deception?" Jiraiya asked.

"Because…Naruto's suffered enough. I don't know if he'd get mad at his parents or not, but they don't deserve that. They did what they thought best to protect everyone. In addition, if he ends up being at all like Minato or Kushina, the guilt of what I did for him will tear him apart. I don't want that for him. Besides, I'm used to being vilified. So the taunts, the threats, the names…they mean nothing to me. I'm used to them. I am the Friend-Killer, after all."

"What will happen when he becomes of age and sees your name somewhere on his body?" Jiraiya asked.

"Well, that was the third thing I wanted to talk to you about. I'm fourteen years older than he is. That's way too old to be with someone. Naruto needs a life, to be happy with someone, be a great shinobi, and have a family. I'll never be able to give him that, not with my history, reputation, and physical state of being a kyuubi container. So, I want you to use a jutsu to cover my name when it appears." I looked up appealingly at him.

Jiraiya shook his head, a frown on his face. "No…that's not my choice to make. He has to have a choice in his future."

"He still will!" I demanded. "He will still have all opportunities open to him. Just because one side road is closed, doesn't mean all the others, nor the main road is closed to him. Promise me Jiraiya…promise me these two things. I asked for nothing upon accepting the seal…but I am asking this of you now. I think I deserve this, for giving up my life for Naruto's." I know I was using guilt, but I didn't care. This was too important. Naruto was too important. I couldn't let my soulmate's life be destroyed because mine already had been.

Frowning, Jiraiya sighed. "Fine. But I don't like it." He crossed his arms. Standing, I patted Jiraiya's shoulder.

"You don't have to. But it's what's best for Naruto…and that is what is important." Relieved, I headed out of the door, going to the Hokage's office, slipping on my wolf mask before entering to see what my next mission would be.