Cosmos


"Even throughout life, 'tis death that makes life live, Gives it whatever the significance."

October 10th: Second year after the Kyuubi's destruction and the Yondaime's death.

Weary, disheartened eyes stared down at the village. Watching the citizen's below work merrily for the first celebration honoring their beloved Yondaime's heroic defeat of the Kyuubi, and the subsequent execution of the jinchuri that had cost him his life. The council had passed the petition for a celebration to be held in memory and honor of the all the shinobi that had fallen that night the Kyuubi attacked. After careful deliberation, they had decided on October 10th. In the past month the villagers had stepped up to make it into a real festival. Last year the village was still in too much disrepair to take the time to hold a memorial, so they were making up for it with vigor.

Sighing Sarutobi turned away from the roof walking towards the door slowly. His Anbu guards standing on either side of the roof making themselves visible as he moved. Time to finish his paperwork before the speech he was supposed to give in honor of the fallen shinobi that evening. He was getting to old to do this job, and his sons were not very sympathetic to him. Asuma trying to rebel as much as his chunnin position allowed, while his older brother refused to even visit having moved into his own place some time ago. Halting, Sarutobi waited while Raccoon-san entered the Hokage's personal office to ensure the possessor of the chakra system inside the room was of no danger. Reappearing at the door, he alerted Sarutobi that it was safe to reenter the room. Walking in, Sarutobi immediately recognized Taro, one of the four chunnin secretaries that worked for him.

"Hokage-sama."

He greeted bowing when he caught sight of Sarutobi.

"Hai, is there something I may do for you Taro-kun?"

Straightening his back, Taro held out a thin sheet of paper for him.

"No, Hokage-sama. I only wanted to alert you that Inu-san returned early from his mission, and left his mission report with me."

Sarutobi nodded at his words. The stiffening in the two Anbu's postures was barely perceptible. S-class mission reports were not supposed to be given to anyone under Anbu rank.

"Did he request another mission be given him?"

Staving off the urge to fidget under Sarutobi's solemn gaze, Taro shook his head.

"Not immediately. He told me to inform you he would come for his next assignment in two days. In the meantime he is resting at his home, and letting his injuries heal."

Careful to keep his expression neutrally schooled, Sarutobi held his hand out to receive the report from Taro.

"How bad were his injuries Taro-kun?"

Gulping as he handed over the report, Taro winced.

"His uniform was covered with blood. There were tears along the arms and left side of torso part of the uniform too. His left elbow seemed to be crooked. And he was limping with his right leg."

Waving his left hand, Sarutobi dismissed Taro-kun. Once the door was firmly shut, Sarutobi finally looked at the report in his hand. It was one sided. On top it read mission completed successfully, below it gave the number of enemy casualties and the bystander casualties. Each report had been getting simpler and simpler. Soon Sarutobi was going to have to force Kakashi into remedial mission report classes. There was little doubt in his mind, that with Kakashi's photographic memory he couldn't rewrite them all in detail at some later date. Most likely some mission where he was hurt so badly that he had no choice but to rest in the hospital for several days.

However that was not on the forefront of Sarutobi's worries. Given how long Kakashi tended to stay in between missions, especially in the past few months, Sarutobi doubted he had heard of the festival. It was just his luck that the young man would return on the exact day the festival was to take place. Exactly how would the young grieving Anbu react when he heard the news? Praying to Kami-sama, Sarutobi prayed it wasn't a civilian who told him. Because however Kakashi did react to the news, it was not going to be peaceful. And Sarutobi couldn't afford a ninja of Kakashi's caliber to leave Konoha in the same way that Tsunade and Jiraiya had.

Rare were the days when he received an intelligence report from Jiraiya. And while the report was much more detailed then Kakashi's report, that's all it was, an intelligence report. No words of greeting or familiar jibes they used to share with one another. Two years and the most familiar form of contact Sarutobi had with his former pupil was the Icha Icha Series he was now authoring. Of course that was more than Sarutobi heard from Tsunade in the last two years. /before the Kyuubi attack she would occasionally send him letters, but now he heard nothing from her. Jiraiya must have told her what happened at some point. At least Kakashi still spoke with him, if only tersely. He set the report down on the desk.

"Boar-san."

"Hai Hokage-sama?"

"Go find Inu-san, and make sure he gets his wounds properly tended too. And try and keep him away from the festivities this evening, he is likely still edgy from his last mission."

"Hai Hokage-sama."

As Boar exited the room through the window, Sarutobi sat down in his chair with a long inhale of his pipe. It was the best Sarutobi could do to keep another of his shinobi from leaving the village in disenchantment.

……………………………………………

The Big People were running in circles. They laughed and talked with each other, but he walked by them unseen. His hands curled up into fists, and grabbed at his old loose pants. Tears tried to come out of his eyes, but he sniffed so they wouldn't. Last night, the bigger kids had taken the last of his blankie, so he couldn't hug it anymore. And his nice nee-san couldn't help him anymore, cause a Kaa-san and a Tou-san had 'dopted her. She left 'fore he could say bye.

He cried a lot at bed that night. Nee-san always made the other big kids be nice to him. Now she couldn't help him anymore, and he got hit a lot. Ma'ron-sama wouldn't help him. She told him no Kaa-sans or Tou-sans would want him, cause his Kaa-san and Tou-san were rude foreigners who didn't want him. She was always nice to the other kids, but she was mean to him and wouldn't let him have what the others got. Like beds and stuff animals. 'times he would get hit by her too, cause he was trouble.

Only one nice to him 'sides nee-san was jiji. So when the big kids picked on him, and told him he couldn't go to celation he told them jiji would let him. They laughed and threw things at him that hurt. And called him a crybaby. So he ran away to find jiji. Jiji said he was at big tower so he try and find big tower, but to many Big People were running around and he got kicked and yelled at. And he couldn't go back to the orphanage, cause he was lost. And no one was nice, so he couldn't ask for jiji or orphanage. His tears ran on his face, and he moved to hide by a building where no Big People were.

It was dark now. He left when it was sunny. And all the Big People and kids were happy, but they didn't see him. So he cried more. He wanted a Kaa-san and a Tou-san, because kids with a Kaa-san and a Tou-san were always happy. But Ma'ron-sama said no Kaa-san or Tou-san would want him, so he was sad! His cries became louder, but he tried to stop. Ma'ron-sama and other Big People always yelled when he cried to loud.

"Hey kid. Why are you crying?"

He looked up, his nose wet at a Big Person. The Big Person was dark, but his hair was grey. He tried to cry less loud, but he hiccup. Closing his eyes, he waited for a hit. But the Big Person didn't hit him, so he open and eye. The Big Person was looking at him. Big People want answers to qushons or they got mad.

"I not find jiji! And it dark out. And I not know where orphanage."

The Big Person was not loud. Big Person stand still, but reach out arm to hit him. He closed eyes. Hands held him under arms and lift him. He open eyes.

"What?"

They were in light now. The Big Person look at him with one eye, not two. Looking around, other Big People look at them. And other things look at them too. The other things scared him. His hands grabbed the Big Person's shirt.

"It's okay. Those are people in masks. I'm going to take you to the orphanage, okay? I don't know who your jiji is."

"Go Orphanage?"

He asked happy. The Big Person nodded. He smiled. No more outside. The Big Person was nice. Or he was mean and he only pretend to be nice. Big kids pretend to be nice to him, but then they was mean later.

"So why are you outside so late? And far away from the orphanage?"

He look at Big Person with frown. Lying was bad, but he not want to tell tale. Big kids not like tell tales.

"Big 'ids were mean 'o me. Nee-san lef' wif 'aasan and 'ousan. So 'hey more mean, and hi' me. I go loo' for jiji, bu' 'o many Big People wal'ing and I no' find jiji. And sun go away."

He said loud, rubbing his wet nose. The Big Person's eye was kind, like nee-san's.

"Why were the big kids mean to you? You should have told the Matron, she would have helped you."

He shook his head. Big Person not understand.

"Big 'ids means 'o me 'ause 'aasan and 'ousan were bad foreners. And Ma'ron-sama say so 'oo. She no' help. Bu' jiji would have help."

Sad, he look at Big Person, scare he be mean now he know Kaa-san and Tou-san was foreigners. Big Person not look at him, he look at other Big People and Masks. The Big Persons arms shook like he did when crying. So he pat Big Persons arm so he feel better. Nee-san always pat him when he cried. The Big Person look at him in surprise. But he not ask more qushons. He feel warm in Big Person's arms, and sleepy. So he close eyes.

"Hey kid. We're here. I'm going to put you down."

He open eyes to see they at orphanage. And the Big Person was putting him on ground. Looking around he see one of the Big Big Kids walk to them. He was mad.

"There you are! Where have you been?! Matron-sama wouldn't let me go to the festival cause of you! You are so gonna get it when she comes back. But first I owe for making me miss the festival."

He say grabbing one of his arms. His arm hurt. And the Big Person was not there when he look. Tears start falling again. He knew Big Person not like foreigners.

"S-sorry….Wha' fesevil?"

"Shuddup! I don't a foreign brat like you talking to me."

The Big Kid said hitting his head. He cry, but try to stop. The Big Kid kick him, and hit him.

"I said shuddup brat. Now that your back I'm not staying here anymore. I'm gonna join the others at the festival. You are going to stay here though. Nobody wants you at our festival."

What? He look around, but no other kids were there. He shook his head, he not want to be alone!

"No!"

The Big Kid glare at him, then hit him hard.

"Don't talk back. You're lucky Matron-sama even keeps you here. A foreigner brat shouldn't be in Konoha. 'Specially when his parent's were enemy shinobi."

The Big Kid grab him by shirt and throw him in a room. He hear door lock, and Big Kid go away. The room was dark, but some light from moon came in. He cried really loud. No one want him. Why not? He not mean. Walking to door he try and hit it, but it not open, and he scream and cry. He crawl away from door, and try and find bed. If the room had bed. He try and rub tears so he could see. His cries less loud, he heard a noise. Scare he look around room, and in light he see other kid crying under the window. Sniffing, he crawled to her. She had long hair like nee-san, but hers not in 'tails, and it red not brown. When he got to window and stop, she look at him. Her look mad and sad and alone like him.

"Big 'ids be mean 'o you 'oo? 'hey lef' me for fesevil, and I alone. You alone 'oo?"

She look at him in surprise not mad now. She nod her head. He wipe his nose, and smile at her.

"You wanna be friends 'hen? So we no' alone?"

She look at him for long time. He look back. Nee-san was his only friend and she left. The girl nodded. He smile and crawl next to her. She was dirty, and her clothes were not better than his. But he thought she had pretty hair and her eyes were pretty too. She had scratches on her cheek too. He smile and hold out hand.

"I Uzuma'i Naru'o. Who you?"

………………………………………………………………………….

Somberly, Sarutobi regarded the large assembly in front of him. A combination of both shinobi and civilians bedecked in uniforms, formal dress, masked and mask less, but all sporting the colors black, red and yellow on their arms. In honor of the fallen, the heroes who faced off against the Kyuubi and a tribute to the Yondaime who had given them a future. The evening had started out as a festival where children could play while their parents and other adults drank and talked with one another. As it became later and closer to the end of the night, people had started to gather around the KIA monument. There was still laughter from the festival but it was more tempered and strained. A few moments ago, candles had begun being lit starting from the back and moving to the front. Once the group of orphans who stood in front of the monument had their candles lit, it would be time for the introduction.

Gazing intently at them, Sarutobi tried to identify a certain blonde, but failed to find him in the crowd of children. Sighing, he wondered if he should have visited him earlier that morning to check on his well-being, but waved it aside. As long his adopted nee-san, the spunky four year old Ten Ten was there, he would be fine. The boy absolutely adored the girl, and she was always friendly back. A loud phsing broke his reverie as he noticed the bonfire had been lit at last. Time for the finale to start at last. Homura, his old teammate stepped out first to make the introduction.

"Tonight, my fellow members of Konoha, we honor an event that took place, two years ago this night. A horrible, tragic event that killed numerous loyal, skilled shinobi. Fathers, Mothers, Uncles, Aunts, Brothers, Sisters, Sons, Daughters, Husbands, Wives, Lovers, Friends and Acquaintances killed by the nine tailed fox, the Kyuubi. The bijuu was powerful and wrathful, determined to destroy every last vestige of our beloved village. And for a time it seemed that the beast would be successful…That is until our heroic Yondaime came to the battlefield with a plan."

Homura paused for a moment, taking in the reactions of the crowd. Just the lightest breeze caused the army of candles to flicker.

"You see, the Yondaime knew something about the bijuu that many of the rest of us did not, he knew that the bijuu could not be killed."

A fidgeting in the crowd was visible. This was something the civilians had no knowledge of.

"Entities of pure chakra are not able to be slain by physical beings. So the Yondaime found a way to make the bijuu into a physical entity. All one had to do was make a jinchuri, a physical vessel that could contain the bijuu's chakra. It had been done by other elemental countries when they were attacked by a bijuu, but it was the first time to be performed by Konoha. The requirements for making a jinchuri entail two things: First the jinchuri or vessel must be a newborn baby whose chakra can adapt the bijuu's, and Second, the sealing process requires the sealer to die in the process too. Knowing this, the Yondaime was ready to sacrifice himself, so no more loyal Konoha shinobi would be killed, but first he needed a newborn infant.

And it so happened there was one infant born that evening, that the Yondaime with a dutiful heart took with him to the battlefield to become the Kyuubi's jinchuri. That infant was his own daughter whose Okaa-san died in birthing. With great care, the Yondaime made the seals upon his daughter that would absorb the bijuu and imprison its malicious chakra in her body. As he put the last of his chakra in her body and sealed the Kyuubi, he passed away without having to see what had become of his daughter. No longer was the quiet baby there, but a squalling hissing malicious being. Seeing the Kyuubi's had already over taken the body, the village council came to the decision that the hateful, revengeful vessel should be kept from growing to a point where it could be a threat to our village once again. An execution was held, and finally the threat to our village, and the killer of our heroic shinobi was removed. Tonight we grieve our losses, and celebrate our victory."

Homura finished her speech with vindication. Slowly a clapping began as she ended her recounting of that night, stepping away from the podium. Sarutobi kept his expression neutral, watching as a heavy gust of wind cause all the candles to be blown out. Oddly enough, he found it appropriate. As the cheering died down, he stepped forward to give the final words of the evening.

……………………………………………

Watchful, he avoided stepping on any branches that would make a lot of noise. The forest was quiet this evening, and only the occasional hoot of an owl or rustling of a nocturnal animal kept him from being to on edge. Tough when someone had just come off a solo S-class mission. At the moment he needed to be away from the village, and the sickening 'celebration' they were holding. Even if as an Anbu his duty was to attend. It would be so crowded no one would notice him missing. Or they might assume he would show up two hours late. Ever since the day two years ago, he hadn't seen the need to follow the shinobi rules anymore. Obito's sense of time made more sense now, three and a half years too late. Then again, a lot of things Obito did were making more sense to him. Too bad Obito wasn't here for him to share that information with him. If he were, he would most likely be avoiding him like Rin was.

Today hadn't been a good one for him. First, he'd finished his mission much too quickly for his taste, and had to come back to Konoha because of injuries. It would be at least another day before he could take another mission. Hokage-sama wasn't there when he delivered his mission report, so he gave it to a chunnin, which was probably going to get him in trouble with the other Anbu. If he ever stayed in the village long enough for them to chastise him that is. Then when he'd finally gotten home and gotten a chance to get clean, Boar-san had been at his door, bugging him to go to the hospital. Meaning he had to deal with nagging medics, who told him he needed a week or more to heal his injuries. Leading to the foolish medic telling him to enjoy the festival that evening, and even more foolishly informing him of the reason for the festival when he hadn't known about it. Boar-san had been smart enough to get the medic and every other person he ran across out of his way as he headed out to the training fields, feeling the need to break something.

After a few hours, he felt better and calm enough to stop. Shushining back to his house, Boar finally stopped watching him. He wouldn't have had he known Kakashi had every intention of going back out. But he didn't, and at dusk when the festival was beginning, he left the house a goal in mind. Stupidly at the time, he cursed himself for not having visited Obito or Sensei, but by the time the festival started it would have been too crowded for his liking. So he continued to his original destination, the Yamanaka flower shop. It was busy, but Yamanaka-chan wasn't too busy to help him. The other customers mostly wanted her prearranged flowers she had displayed, so she was surprised when he asked for something else. Leaving, he heard the laughter of a very familiar voice, and in his haste to avoid Gai, he had run into a certain blonde orphan he had hoped to never see again in his life. Guiltily, he took the boy back to the orphanage learning things that had made him furious, so he left before he does something to rash. Heading out of the village, so he could avoid the entire celebration had been his best idea.

So now he was easily a half day's distance out of the village, entering the rundown property of the Yondaime. Skirting the house, he went through a patch of bushes ignoring the briars that stuck him, and halted in front of a tree. Unwrapping the package in his hands, he carefully took a tiny stuffed fox and put it in a hole in the tree. At the trunk of the tree he started digging a small hole, before setting a tiny plant in it, and covering its roots in dirt again. Finished he looked back at the two names carved in the tree.

"Happy Birthday."

……………………………………………………………………….

Signing documents, Sarutobi glanced up when he heard the door open. Inu-san walked in. Raising his other hand, Sarutobi dismissed the other Anbu in the room. Kakashi was on time to collect his mission, meaning he wanted to talk. Or someone had caught him long enough to chastise him about his tardiness. Unlikely though, the seventeen years old had a sixth sense for avoiding people he didn't want to speak to. As soon as he was sure the Anbu were gone, Sarutobi laid a silencing jutsu around the room. He also set his pen down, and out the papers he was signing to edge, instead pulling out two forms from his drawer.

"Ah. Inu-san. I was wondering when you would make it. Two A-class missions like you asked for."

Sarutobi said handing both out to Kakashi. He didn't take them immediately, only after a moment of staring at them.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama."

Exhaling a puff of smoke, Sarutobi watched him glance briefly at the forms, before looking up again. It was clear he wasn't sure how to bring up whatever was on his mind.

"How are your injuries? Boar-san told me you were sporting a broken elbow, a sprained ankle and quite a few nasty gashes."

It probably wasn't very sporting of him to tattle on Boar-san, but Kakashi was too busy outside of Konoha to get payback. Or so Sarutobi hoped, but even if he did at least it would a normal action. Something that was very rare for Kakashi.

"Did he? My arm is only a little tender, my ankle fine and they were only little scratches."

Mentally sighing at the way Kakashi trivialized his injuries, Sarutobi could only hope he didn't get too injured on his next mission. It was time he looked into getting Kakashi an Anbu team; instead of, letting him take solo missions. One of these times he was going to get too injured to return home by himself.

"Hokage-sama…..Does Jiraiya-san….does Jiraiya-san have anything to do with anyone in Konoha anymore?"

Surprised, Sarutobi regarded Kakashi seriously.

"I receive intelligence reports from him from time to time. And I'm pretty sure he still talks to Tsunade-hime."

"No…that's not what I meant. I mean does he have personal interaction with anyone inside Konoha currently? Or does he provide support for anyone?"

Examining Kakashi critically Sarutobi wondered what he was getting at.

"No. He talks to no one. And I'm certain he doesn't 'support' anybody. If there is something you want to know Kakashi, why don't you just ask me?"

Even with his Anbu mask on, Sarutobi could tell Kakashi was biting his lip.

"In regards to estate and property…Have any assets of Uzumaki Kushina been made available to her successor? Or was the successor denied inheritance?"

Almost choking on a rapid inhalation of tobacco smoke, Sarutobi shook his head while coughing. What had brought up this topic? Kakashi almost avoided this subject more than Jiraiya. At least he had…

"You should know that is not any of your business Inu-san. However, I think I can tell you that like all minors, the successor of Uzumaki Kushina cannot collect inheritance until reaching the age of eighteen or gaining the status of a chunnin. And at the moment, inheritance hasn't been denied to my knowledge. May I know why you ask?"

Kakashi didn't answer instead he put his mission papers away in one of the pockets of his uniform. Then he started digging in a different pocket, pulling out a small envelope. Walking over to Sarutobi's desk he laid the envelope in front of him on the desk, before bowing and turning to leave.

"Inu-san. What is this about?"

Kakashi didn't turn around, but he did halt briefly, before reaching for the door.

"That should be enough to cover the cost for some clothes. Please buy him some that the other kids won't be tempted to steal."

Before Sarutobi could respond, Kakashi had fled, closing the door firmly behind him.


Author's Note:

Several things I think I should explain.

If the viewpoint of Naruto was hard to read, I apologize. I was attempting to make it seem like the mindset of a two year old. Secondly, I added Kakashi as the secondary character to this fic. Originally I had intended to have Naruto be the only character the fic was listed under, because I thought it would give the wrong impression if I added a secondary character. And my intentions are mainly to have this fic focused on Naruto, and if in case I ever create a pairing for him, it would be a long way into the fic. However, I think Kakashi will be a reoccurring minor character in this fic, so I have added him as the secondary character. His viewpoint is brought up in many of the chapters proceeding Naruto becoming a genin.

Thanks For Reading,

False Sourires