Thank you to all reviewers! I really appreciate it. Special thanks to FluffPenguin for the list of things to consider. And I'm glad someone else (Ninja of Fire) thinks Kakashi could be the best. BlackGryphon101, I'll try to keep the humor coming. Ultima-Owner, I hope to include more snarky Kakashi moments in the future. And Prescipto13, thanks for pointing that out.

I'm glad people (Rama, Alepex, and Rbooks, thought that this rendition of Kakashi was cool. In my opinion he is. They should have a whole show dedicated to his anbu days.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected to see him so soon. The man made himself comfortable in Kakashi's apartment, having the gall to come in uninvited.

"Why, Danzo-sama, have a seat." Kakashi beckoned though the visitor had already sat down. "My house is your house, as they say." He smiled. "Would you like some coffee?"

"No, thank you, Hatake. I'm not here for a social visit." The old man with the signature sling and eye bandage straightened his back. "I understand you're in a spot of trouble?"

"Nothing I can't handle. You'd be surprised the amount of stuff I've talked myself out of. In fact, let me tell you a story about this one time in the land or iron. They thought I was a spy see—and I was one, don't get me wrong—but I convinced them…"

Danzo inhaled. "Enough of that. While others may be affected by this new flippant attitude, I don't tolerate nonsense." He paused and took Kakashi's silence as obedience. "The council has decided that the majority of the charges will be dropped. That means no execution, no imprisonment. However, what remains of the punishment is at the hokage's discretion," he finished with traces of sourness.

Kakashi leaned forward much more sober than before. "I know for a fact that Shimura and Homura would like nothing better than to see me swing. There are few things that could change their mind, at least not in the traditional persuasion sense. I wonder what possessed them to show me leniency."

Danzo brushed the loaded question off with his hand. "Indeed, it was looking very grim for you Kakashi. But once I reminded them of what a valuable asset you are to the village, they began to see reason. I'm sure you are very grateful."

Kakashi's look grew even more menacing. He picked up on Danzo's hidden meaning. The ultimate translation was something along the lines of, 'I bought your freedom, possibly your life, and now I expect something in return'.

But Kakashi wasn't going to be so easily conscripted. Casually he placed his knuckles on top of the dresser and sounded out a message in the code he picked up from root.

If you think something like this could make me feel obligated to you, then your assessment of me is way off. Come back when you have something real to engender my allegiance. Which will be…never.

Danzo didn't give any indication he understood the message. Instead, worried that the Anbu monitors could be growing suspicious he stood up to leave. "Well, that's all I have to say. I thought it'd be good to come in person to tell you this. I had a few things to offer you, but I can tell you're not interested. Another day, then?"

Kakashi kicked his feet out and leaned back in the sofa with his hands locked behind his head like he was enjoying a game on the television. "Sure, sure. Anytime. Call me though before you drop by. That way I can set up the tea and scones."

True to his word, Danzo was unaffected. He left, not giving any indication he knew where the Anbu perched right above the door was hiding.

Kakashi abandoned the carefree façade and sunk further down into the chair. He wondered how much of a failure he had to be to screw up this much in less than twenty-four hours. At this rate he doubted he'd last more than a week in this timeline before altering the fabric of space-time itself.

Theories circulated his brain about how such a thing could have occurred. Spontaneous time travel wasn't accurate, and the idea seemed too science fiction. Yet taking into account of how Obito's sharingan specialized in space techniques and that same mangekyo had replaced Kakashi's, a radical reaction would not be so far-fetched.

"Hey, anybody there?"

Kakashi snapped out his thinking to spy the female Anbu from earlier in the middle of his living room, flipping through a textbook. Her cocky stance compensated for her smaller build, and her short brown hair matched her earth camouflage.

"Don't you know the meaning of discreet? The target isn't supposed to know you're watching."

She shrugged. "It's not like you didn't know in the first place. I just decided to relax. It's a pointless job."

"And a thankless one," Kakashi muttered.

An awkward silence fell over the room, so decided to lighten the mood with an overwhelming perkiness "So, copy-nin. Can you show me any jutsu?"

"Is that what this is about? You want to learn some new ninjutsu? Who's to say I even have any suited to your combat style? Or your affinity?" Kakashi shook his head. Actually, he more than likely knew dozens she could use, but nobody knew that. He wasn't famed for more than one thousand yet. Such a large arsenal came with years of experience.

And contrary to popular beliefs, in particular Orochimaru, more jutsu's do not automatically make people better fighters. If anything they just gave you more headaches; the images constantly swirling around your head, burned into your memory, taking the place of memories you'd rather keep, but haven't because you didn't have your sharingan yet or it wasn't activated…Every morning Kakashi focused on remembering his father's face, but other time it has faded and now the white hair is the only thing that sticks out.

"Hey, are you listening?"

Kakashi blinked from his stupor, and tried to come up with something to show that he was okay. "You say 'hey' a lot, you know that?"

She rolled her eyes, but the mask probably didn't let Kakashi on to her exasperation. "So what's with the old man? He didn't seem too polite." She masked her suspicions with simple curiosity. She knew something big had transpired, but both seasoned ninjas did not provide anything concrete.

Kakashi's eye darkened. "Nothing that you should involve yourself with. Just report your observations to the hokage. He'll do the right thing."

Raccoon pouted. "Aw, now that you said that, I'm hooked. What could be so important that one of the council members would pay you a personal visit? And not just any council member. "Danzo," she emphasized. "The man rumored to have been responsible for—"

"Don't say it," Kakashi warned her. "You can't take it back." He didn't know the exact circumstances of Danzo's corruption in this timeline, but judging from the conversation he just had, the man possessed his share of schemes.

She snorted. "It's not like everyone in anbu doesn't know it. Even the hokage does. What's wrong with going right out and saying it?"

Kakashi shook his head. "You're too young to understand." He visually appraised her. "You don't strike me as the type to last long anyways."

Enraged she sent a spinning crescent kick crashing into where Kakashi was sitting, but he exploded into smoke with a poof. Deflated she turned around to see the boy leaning against the wall with a book in his hands.

"Yes, you're much too emotional. Those people are always the first to go. Followed by the cowards."

She flipped through the signs for a vine jutsu, but a strong hand gripped her forearm. "What's going on here?" Minato stood just beside her, visibly upset with both of them, but saving his disappointed stare for Kakashi. "Raccoon, you can go. And dismiss the whole detail."

She nodded, secretly thankful that Kakashi would receive the brunt of the hokage's wrath. She disappeared in a swirl of leaves leaving sensei and student alone.


"Kakashi, we need to have a talk."

Kakashi munched on some crackers which he had scooped up from the soup. He made a spectacle of how he finished the spoonful, loudly sipping away the rest of the liquid. He placed down the utensil and turned his attention to his former sensei who had been strangely quiet. Kushina had noticed the obvious tension and supplied the conversation throughout the night. Forced smiles and nervous laughs constituted their evening. Kakashi remembered a time when his relationship with Minato wasn't so awkward and strained especially when his wife was present. Like Naruto she possessed an ability to assuage any conflict by her single brashness.

Speaking of whom, Kakashi asked in a low tone, "Where is your son?"

Kushina's spoon hit the table. Minato tightened his grip on his. And Kakashi wondered if he said the wrong thing when the Hokage stood up and stormed out of the kitchen, a fierce look on his face. Meanwhile Kushina seemed to be studying Kakashi under a different light. Disbelief mixed with disgust dawned on her features as she too slid back her chair. Shaking her head she went to follow after her husband. Just before disappearing beyond the doorway she turned her head, with tears in her eye and whispered, "What has become of you?"

Kakashi, alone at the table, scratched his head. "What did I say?"

Yet the question struck a chord deep inside. What has he become? Sure, when he was younger, perhaps he was a tad stuck-up and obsessed with the rules, but in everyone's eyes he was normal guy, no different at least on an ethical level than the rest of them. Then through the years after seeing the things he did in Anbu and as a result of being a general jonin, he admits to becoming a little soft. He no longer accepted assassination missions for example. But when it came to dealing with people he made no effort. While in his chunin and early jonin days he at least made an attempt to socialize and get along with others (as long as they were his equal or superior), but by the time he took on Team 7 he had become a complete jerk to everyone. Jiraiya's books didn't help any. They were his mode of escape. They still are. Even now he has to resist the reflex to reach down into his pocket and pull out the third gold edition of volume II.

How many things came to pass because of his uncaring attitude? If he had actually taught Sasuke the shinobi way instead of criticizing him at every turn. If he had actually warmed up to Minato completely so that he could've been there when the Kyuubi struck; maybe he wouldn't have died. If he had actually remained in Anbu and eliminated the Akatsuki before things got out of hand. If he had actually raised Naruto instead of just making sure he didn't die. If he had actually been kind to Obito. If he had actually reciprocated Rin's affection. If he actually cared about what happened to his teammates.

Those who abandon the mission are trash. But those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash.

His entire life he assumed it applied primarily to the field, but looking back, he realized Minato was talking every aspect of life. How could he have been so stupid?

Yet the pessimistic part of him, which was content with the callous way he saw others, reminded in a small voice. Either way you're still trash. Kakashi recognized that the The voice needed to go. That part of him needed to be extinguished. For good.

Would you really kill a part of yourself? How are you going to reverse thirty years of who you are?

Where was this voice coming from anyways? Kakashi banged his fist on the table causing the dishes to jingle. The voice sounded so independent, yet at the same time, his mind was supplying the words. The poison.

I am the cure. Do you want to know the reason your life is so screwed up? It's because you haven't committed. You're stuck between me and you-know-who's philosophy, the outdated one, which won't get you anywhere. Look where trying to pursue friendship and nobility got you. Look where it got your father.

"Don't talk about my father."

What about Obito? Friendship doesn't last long. Eventually it gives way to bitterness. Given enough time or given enough pressure, all people break. They would forsake their country and their comrades as long as they keep their lives. Look what Rin became.

"I'm not listening to you anymore!" Kakashi threw the table on its side. Snarling he activated Chidori and ran the wall through, unaware of who was watching. Minato, with Kushina peeking around his shoulder, gazed on at a loss of what to do.


Once again Kakashi found himself under the scrutiny of Inoichi Yamanaka. The man inclined his head to the hokage. "You believe he's unbalanced? "

Minato nodded. "I'm afraid so. It's the best explanation of his recent behavior. And the incident inside my home worries me it might be serious." Minato uncrossed his arms, and walked over to whisper something in the mind-reader's ear.

Kakashi rolled his eyes. His younger body kept with it some of its childish mannerisms. "I'm right here, ya know. Didn't you ever learn not to whisper to each other about someone in the room? It's rude."

Oh yes. Kakashi was definitely enjoying just how childish sounding he could be and get away with it. "So when do we start the crystal ball session? I want to hear my fortune."

Ibiki finally nodded and approached a restrained Kakashi. Minato retreated a couple steps back behind his desk, the only other witness.

Placing a hand over Kakashi's forehead, Yamanaka entered his mind. At first very plain, the landscape reflected the nature of Kakashi's perfectionist tendencies. Books, photos, a field, all symbols which could be interpreted given time, were absolutely organized. But thus far nothing was out of the ordinary, a normal shinobi mind. There was some scarring, but that's to be expected. For example he delved into the dark history of Kakashi's father, sorting through the emotions of that period. While extreme, Kakashi had dealt with them in an adult fashion. This wasn't the source of what was plaguing Kakashi today.

However, coming upon a large door in a dimly lit tunnel, Yamanaka knew he arrived at something significant. On the wood was sketched a black and red design, similar to the sharingan, but with a more sinister appearance. He slowly pushed the door open, peeking his head around the edge to see only darkness. There was no telling how large the room was. In many cases places such as these turned out only to be where old memories had resided, but were forgotten leaving such an open space. Nonetheless, he explored a few steps when out of the black, a purple skeletal hand snatched him up and further into the gloom. The conclusion happened so fast, Inoichi couldn't even scream.

Minato panicked when he saw how Yamanaka's body suddenly go limp on top of Kakashi. He rushed over and escorted the shinobi to the couch, trying to shake him awake. "Inoichi. Inoichi! Wake up." Desperately Minato called for back-up. "Nurse!" Medically trained shinobi sprinted inside, and upon a cursory inspection, decided he needed to be transferred to the hospital.

Minato fell back into his chair emotionally drained and torn. The last twenty-four hours had been trying. He didn't even want to see a glimpse of the reports of Orochimaru sightings lying on his desk, much less deal with whatever is going on with his student who appeared to be waking from his stasis.

Kakashi had a pounding headache. But that didn't stop him from spying an opportunity to annoy Minato. "So," he began, "did you find anything out?"

Thank you all for your great reviews, especially CrystallineX for his or her detailed one. I really appreciate those because they help me write. Can anyone guess the mystery with Naruto?