"Kashi-kun time to wake up." Sakumo said as he sat on the boy's bed.

"Daddy?" Kakashi mumbled as he sat up rubbing his eyes.

"Hi Baby."

Kakashi leaned over and hugged his neck while Sakumo gathered the little boy into his arms. Kakashi cuddled into him and closed his eyes again. Sakumo shook his head and stood up to take the boy to get him ready to go to the babysitters. He had to go to a meeting so Kakashi had to go to his usual babysitters, a civilian woman whose husband was a ninja.

As Sakumo dressed him he found himself thinking, like usual. It broke his heart to know that any day he could lose this little boy that he had raised from birth to his now 3 year old state. Kakashi was his world and if he was taken away it would break his heart. His life would probably end. The secret Sakumo had been trusted with could be leaked at any moment and he feared that if it was the boy would return to his real parents.

Sakumo looked at the clock then picked the now fully dressed in his coat and shoes toddler and carried him out stopping to grab his blanket and snacks. He walked him to the babysitters and knocked on the door.

"Hello Sakumo." The women said.

"Hello. He's still sleeping. I tried to wake him up but he went back to bed." Sakumo explained as she took the little boy from him.

"That's okay. The longer he sleeps the sooner you will be back in his mind."

"I shouldn't be long, maybe a few hours at the most. I'm not sure what my meeting is about."

"Take your time. "

Sakumo said goodbye then went to the meeting room. When he got there some of the other ninjas were already there.

"Morning Hatake-san." A familiar ninja said.

"Morning Umino-san. How are you today?" Sakumo asked.

"Tired, but good."

"I'm sure your little boy keeps you up. I understand why you'd be tired."

"How's your son Hatake-san?"

-Not my son- Sakumo thought but answered "He is his usual hyperactive self. He told me yesterday he wants to go to the academy and be like daddy."

Hiruzen came into the room and sat in his chair.

"I'm sorry I am late. I was having some issues with my son." Hiruzen said.

The meeting began. It was a standard weekly meeting about what the plan of action for the week was. Afterwards Hiruzen asked Sakumo to stay behind.

"Sakumo sit." Hiruzen said.

Sakumo listened. He had a horrible feeling and Hiruzen could tell by the look on his face he was worried.

"First I want to tell you that you shouldn't be worried. This is about Kakashi wanting to start the academy soon." He said as a wave of relief rushed over Sakumo.

"He's dead set on it." Sakumo said with a smile.

"So he has told me."

"He told you?"

"Yes. When your wife had him at the park the other day, Asuma was playing and he walked right up to me and said he was going to the academy and he was going to be a ninja just like his daddy. It made me laugh because he wants to go and doesn't but Asuma hates going and he does go. So I think that the next class he can start the academy because he seems to be ready to learn. I will get you the forms so you can fill them out before you leave."

"Thank you sir."

"No problem."

With that the door barged open and a 4 foot 5, at the most, little boy ran in. He climbed onto Hiruzen's lap.

"Daddy I am not going back!" Asuma said burying his face into Hiruzen. "I hate it!"

Sakumo smiled at him.

"Why don't you want to go?" Hiruzen asked.

"I hate it! I don't want to be a ninja anymore! I want to stay with you here!" Asuma said.

Hiruzen started to talk to him then Sakumo said he'd leave. He stopped at the main desk and got the forms for Kakashi then went to pick him up. When he got there he found out his wife had already picked him up so he went straight home.

He walked inside and wasn't greeted by Kakashi which he found weird. He walked into the living room and looked but couldn't find anyone. He looked all over the house until he finally checked Kakashi's room. He found his wife on the bed crying.

"What's wrong?" He asked her. "Where's Kashi?"

"They took him!" She cried.

Sakumo felt his heart break. They took his baby, his precious baby, the only thing that kept him going on bad days. He too joined his wife in crying, eventually falling asleep.

When he awoke he was angry. Somebody was going to pay for this and he knew exactly who he was going after. This would not end well.

TBC.