My timing has gotten better, only a bit more than a week...
This chapter (second to last) includes a lot of tangents (most of) which connect at the end of the chapter. So, even if something doesn't seem like it connects to the plot, it (probably) does in some convoluted shape or form.
Anyway, I'm just a college student trying to figure out what to do with her life, do you honestly think I own Naruto?
"Talking" 'Thoughts' Written Material
Chapter 3: Ensnared by Roots
'How does Danzo-sama have a Mokuton user? I've never heard of the Shodaime's Kekkei Genkai surfacing again in the Senju after he died. And even then, the only Senju still alive is Tsunade-sama. So unless Tsunade-sama had children, which would be the talk of the village, where did the Mokuton user come from? Did another Senju secretly have the Mokuton and survive? Did a member of the Senju survive and have a Mokuton wielding child? Is the Mokuton user even a Senju? But then, how is that possible? And how did Danzo get his hands on the Mokuton wielder? This makes no sense.'
Kakashi was sitting in his futon, having just woken up, thinking about the events that had transpired the previous night.
'Why does Danzo-sama keep the Mokuton user hidden? It would be a great use to the village. It would bring fear to our enemies to know that the Shodaime's Kekkei Genkai still runs strong. It would also boost the morale of the village after what happened with the Kyuubi... Sensei...Kushina-nee...Kohari-oba...Ikkaku-oji...'
Kakashi wiped away the tears that had begun to form in his eyes.
'I can't keep letting myself get so emotional over their deaths, but I can't just let myself forget them either. They've been some of the most important people in my life for years. To forget them is to forget the impact they've made and the lives they changed, mine especially... And not just mine Iruka's as well... Iruka... I still haven't checked on him! I told myself I would do it back at the graveyard yesterday, but I never did with all that happened. How could I forget what matters most?! After I've nearly lost it all?!'
Kakashi quickly got up and moved to the nearest window, jumping out of it before closing it behind him and activating his wards as he left. He landed on the side of the building and then ran up to the roof before making his way to the Umino residence.
'I am an idiot, it's been three days and I've been so busy helping with village security that I forgot to check on what I want to keep secure.'
Kakashi soon arrived at the Umino house and knocked on the door.
'It's a good thing that the house was on the opposite side of the village than the Kyuubi. Otherwise it would have been destroyed just like the other part of the village was.'
Kakashi waited for a few minutes, but no one answered, no sound was heard from the inside of the house either.
'Isn't Iruka home? I suppose not if no one answered.'
Kakashi sighed and walked away from the door, heading back towards central Konoha.
'Where else would he be though? The academy hasn't reopened yet, so he's not there. Grocery shopping? No, Kohari-oba dragged me along with her the day before the attack... The hospital? No, he has no reason to be there. They evacuated all the children, besides wouldn't someone have told me if something happened to him. I'm probably somewhere along the lines of guardianship for him... Guardianship! The law states that a child can't live on their own! I was considered an adult when tou-san died because I was a nin, but Iruka is still an academy student. He wouldn't have been allowed to live on his own! Which means I should check the orphanage.'
Kakashi rapidly leapt across the rooftops and trees until he reached the Konoha orphanage. Children were running around in the midday light causing a ruckus. Far too many children for the orphanage to handle were present.
'I hadn't realized that the Kyuubi had caused so many orphans. How many of them will leave when things have settled down a bit and other family is found and how many will have to stay here until they become adults.'
Kakashi walked into the orphanage yard and walked over to one of the workers outside, who was bandaging a small pale skinned, black haired child's scrapped knee.
'He seems to be about one... What is he even doing outside?'
"Do you know where I can find the Head Matron?"
The worker handed the small child to another older child before turning to Kakashi.
"Hatake-san. Are you here about the demon brat?"
'Demon brat? Is there really a child misbehaves so much that they need to be called demon.'
Kakashi gave the worker a confused look, not understanding what she was speaking of.
"No... But I need to see the head matron."
The worker visibly saddened as well as angered upon hearing Kakashi's words.
"She's inside, trying to separate the demon brat from its protector."
'What did the child do?'
Kakashi moved away from the worker and began to walk towards the door, not willing to dignify the worker with response. Once Kakashi was inside he heard a loud argument occurring as well as crying in the background to it.
"No! I will not give him to you! All you've done since Sandaime-sama dropped him off here, at dawn, is treat him horribly."
'Iruka? So you were here.'
"The demon brat doesn't deserve any good treatment."
'There's that mention of a demon brat again.'
"He is not a demon! So stop calling him that! You're only making him cry!"
Kakashi quickly followed the noise until he got to the room it was coming from. He peered inside to see Iruka holding a wrapped bundle in his arms, away from the Head Matron.
'A baby? How is a baby a demon?'
"Maa, what's going on here?"
The Head Matron and Iruka both turned towards the door, their expressions growing happier upon seeing and recognizing him. However, the Matron's expression had a darkness clinging to it that Iruka's did not.
"Kakashi!"
'He doesn't even call me Kakashi-nii anymore.'
"Hatake-san!"
Kakashi stepped into the room heading towards Iruka.
"As I said before, what is going on here?"
Iruka held the bundle out towards Kakashi.
"She's trying to hurt Naruto!"
'Naruto?! That's impossible. Kushina-nee's seal broke. That killed her. It should have also killed the baby!'
Kakashi looked at the bundle in Iruka's hands in disbelief. Now that Kakashi was close he could see the blond hair and blue eyes of the baby as well as the three whisker marks that adorned each cheek.
'Naruto... Kushina-nee had the baby before the seal broke... You're a tou-san sensei!... How could you let Naruto lose you, like I lost tou-san?! Why did you let yourself die?!'
Kakashi slowly reached his hands towards Naruto stopping just before he could touch the infant. Naruto's eyes turned towards Kakashi, not entirely focusing on him, but still looking in Kakashi's general direction, causing Kakashi to move his hand back. Iruka noticed Kakashi's hesitation and moved Naruto a little closer to Kakashi. Kakashi relented and finally picked up Naruto.
"He looks so much like them."
Iruka smiled at Kakashi's comment.
"I know. That's why I promised that I'd look after him as soon as I saw him. That and Sandaime-sama said his name was Uzumaki Naruto. It was obvious after that."
Kakashi smiled as Naruto began to fall asleep in his arms.
"Just looking at him makes it obvious."
'Why does he have Kushina-nee's last name instead of Sensei's? He's sensei's son as well and sensei deserves to be remembered! He was the Yondaime Hokage, a hero of Konoha and the Third Shinobi War!... Maybe that's why... Sensei's enemies would love to kill his son, if they even know Naruto exists.'
The Head Matron sneered at Iruka and Kakashi.
"How could you feel affection for the creature? Don't who know what that is?"
Iruka frowned and glared at the Matron.
"He is not the fox!"
"Don't let his appearance fool you. He is a demon child."
"No he's not a demon, he's Nam-Uzumaki Naruto!"
Kakashi looked back and forth between the Matron and Iruka.
"What do you mean by demon?"
Iruka gave Kakashi a confused look.
"Didn't you hear Sandaime-sama's announcement this morning."
Kakashi blushed, if he wasn't using both hands to hold Naruto, then he would have lifted a hand to scratch the back of his head.
'I was answering a missive of the Hokage and reporting to Danzo-sama late last night. I didn't wake up until shortly before noon.'
"I was attending to other matters. What did he say?"
"That the child is a demon!"
Kakashi gave the Matron a blank look at her answer.
"I doubt Sandaime-sama would say something like that."
'Even if I don't trust his decisions. He isn't the type to condemn someone.'
Kakashi turned towards Iruka, shifting Naruto to a slightly more comfortable position.
"What did Sandaime-sama say?"
Iruka looked at the ground and began to rub his hands together.
'Was it really that bad? Or was some of it classified and he's trying to get around the restrictions?'
"Sandaime-sama said that Yondaime-sama couldn't defeat the Kyuubi, so he sealed it. A lot of people started yelling, saying that Naruto should be killed. They kept acting like he was the demon. I'm just happy Sandaime-sama had already dropped Naruto off here at that point so they didn't know what he looked like. Once everyone stopped yelling, Sandaime-sama told everyone that no one was to speak about it. Naruto and the other kids that don't know aren't supposed to find out. The villages are all idiots though. Naruto is not a demon."
'Sensei sealed the Kyuubi into his own son?! Why?! He knew Kushina-nee didn't like being a Jinchuriki. Why would he wish the same burden onto his son?!'
"How have you fallen for the demon's trickery? Didn't the Kyuubi kill your parents?"
Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he gave the Matron a glare. Iruka turned red and rounded onto the Matron.
"Naruto is not the Kyuubi! He's just a baby that hasn't even learned how to walk or talk stuck with a horrible burden! The Kyuubi may have killed my parents, but Naruto has nothing to do with it!"
As soon as Iruka finished his tirade, Kakashi began to speak in a dead yet chilling tone.
"You aren't fit to watch children if you can't distinguish a child from a demon. Now if you don't mind, I'll be taking both Iruka AND Naruto with me. Give me the guardianship papers so I can sign them. As a jonin I am more than capable of caring for the two."
The Head Matron's face twisted into an angry frown.
"Sandaime-sama has ordered it that the demon brat cannot be adopted out. I would give him to you if I was allowed. Inari knows why you would want a demon child."
Kakashi pulled Naruto closer to himself.
"What."
'No. I can't leave Naruto here with her.'
The Matron cast a sharp glare at all three males, the longest glare at Naruto.
"You are prohibited from adopting the demon. Take the other boy with you, but the demon stay here. Hopefully if Inari wills, it will die soon."
Kakashi glanced at Iruka, who seemed as worried about Naruto as he was.
'Naruto has to come with us. There has to be a way to change this law.'
"Iruka, stay here with Naruto. I'm going to go speak with Sandaime-sama."
Iruka nodded and Kakashi passed Naruto back to Iruka before turning to the Matron.
"I will return soon. If you've harmed a single hair on either of their heads, you'll learn exactly why I'm called Reiketsu Kakashi (1) by my fellow nin."
The Matron gulped before reluctantly nodding.
"I will have the guardianship papers ready when you return."
Kakashi reached out to shift Naruto's blanket to cover him better.
"I'll be back soon. Stay safe and don't let anything happen to him."
Iruka looked up at Kakashi, strong conviction present in his eyes.
"I will and I won't. I swear it on my honor as a shinobi."
Kakashi smiled and lightly pulled on Iruka's ponytail.
"You're not a shinobi yet, but I'll hold you to it."
With that Kakashi did the hand seals for Shushin no Jutsu before disappearing in a swirl of smoke.
Kakashi reappeared outside the Hokage's office, a blade immediately at his neck.
"Relax it's only me."
The ANBU did not move his blade.
"If the Hokage guards the leaves shining bright in the sun."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the start of the variation of the Root saying.
'So a member of Root is keeping an eye on Sandaime-sama. Danzo-sama must want to make sure that Sandaime-sama doesn't do anything insane. And I suppose it's an easy way to see if I am who I say I am since only Root ANBU know I'm also a Root ANBU.'
"Then we guard the roots hidden in the shadows."
The ANBU lifted his blade once Kakashi finished the saying.
"You should not use Shushin no Jutsu in order to come here Hatake-san."
Kakashi shrugged as he began to walk towards the door.
"I have important business to discuss with Hokage-sama. If you see Danzo-sama, tell him I will speak with him after nightfall."
The ANBU tilted his head in acknowledgement before disappearing from sight, but not from the hall. Kakashi knocked on the door and entered as soon as he was allowed. Sitting at the Hokage's desk once again was the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Surrounding him were piles of paperwork, which were slowly diminishing in size. The Hokage looked up and smiled upon recognizing Kakashi.
"Kakashi. Is there something you need?"
"I want guardianship of Naruto."
A frown formed on Hiruzen's face.
"I'm sorry Kakashi, but I cannot allow that. How did you find out? You were not at the announcement this morning."
Kakashi's eyes hardened at the Hokage's answer.
'Did he honestly think I would never find out? Was he hoping I never would? Was he trying to keep Naruto away from me and me away from Naruto?'
"I was Kushina-nee's guard during her pregnancy, so you're a fool if you think I can't recognize her and sensei's child."
Sandaime sighed and picked up his pipe from his desk.
"What were you doing at the orphanage Kakashi?"
'Is he trying to distract me from the fact that he's trying to keep me away from Naruto?'
"I went there to get Iruka, who was watching Naruto. The Matron claims that you've banned anyone from adopting Naruto."
Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe.
"She is right. You may claim guardianship of Iruka, but you can't take Naruto."
"But-"
The Hokage's face hardened at Kakashi's interruption.
"If Minato's student suddenly took custody of a child that looked like him, even if the child has a different name than Minato, what would our enemies believe? That the child was Minato's and they would be right. I cannot allow you to take custody of him."
Kakashi winced as the truth of the Hokage's statement hit him.
'He's right, I would bring hell upon Naruto if I take custody of him. I won't even be around all the time to protect him... But that doesn't mean that I can't get someone I trust to adopt Naruto.'
"What if someone else-"
The pipe was placed back on the desk.
"No. Naruto is the village's Jinchuriki. To allow anyone to have custody of him would skew the political power of that village into that individuals' favor."
"Maybe I can find-"
The Sandaime lifted his hand up to rub his forehead.
"Kakashi nothing you will say will convince me to allow Naruto to be adopted out of the orphanage. He will be safe there and he will have other children his age to play with as he grows older. He will have a loving and healthy environment to grow in. Can you say the same will happen if Naruto lives with you and Iruka? You will be out on missions quite often and Iruka will become a ninja soon enough, leading him to also be out on missions. You are also young and have no experience with such a young child. Leave Naruto in a place he can be taken care of and looked after, for his sake."
'But he won't be looked after. The Matron only thinks of him as a demon.'
"The Matron will only harm him. He won't grow up in a caring environment. He'll be abused and treated badly because of what he is."
The Sandaime slammed his hand down on his desk.
"Are you doubting my ability to judge people's character?! I have known the Matron for years! She would never let any harm come to Naruto!"
"I didn't mean-"
"Leave Kakashi. I don't want to do something I will later regret. You may take Iruka from the orphanage, but Naruto stays there."
Kakashi nodded, not wanting to anger the Sandaime further. He then turned to leave and walked out as quickly as possible, closing the door behind him.
'Damn it. He's too blind to see the truth. The Head Matron will do nothing to treat Naruto well. There has to be some way to get Naruto out of there. Some loophole in the laws.'
Kakashi reflexively waved at the people he passed as he made his way out of the tower, lost in thought on how to fix things.
'Maybe I should search the library to find a loophole. I could also try to find something about the Mokuton user... I need to find out before I report to Danzo-sama tonight. I don't trust him either, but he's currently the lesser of two evils.'
Kakashi stepped out of the tower and quickly jumped on the nearest rooftop, wanting to be able to go orphanage and the library before the sun set.
'Iruka is not going to like this. He hasn't shown any signs of his grudge against me so far, but that's most likely because he's been too worried about Naruto. Having to abandon Naruto is only going to make him hate me more. It's like Sandaime is trying to ruin everything that I still have good in my life.'
Kakashi stopped as he reached the entrance of the orphanage.
'I'm sorry Iruka, I wasn't able to adopt Naruto. I'm sorry Naruto, I wasn't able to get you out of what will soon become your living hell. I'm sorry sensei, Kushina-nee, I wasn't able to help your son. I'm sorry.'
'How is there no loophole that doesn't have to do with being a blood relation? Neither sensei nor Kushina-nee have any living blood relations and I can't get Naruto that way. It was no help at all going to the library. It had no information on a loophole or any information beyond the basics on the Mokuton.'
Kakashi was standing outside a window of the Hokage's Tower, getting ready to sneak in to view the village records on Kekkei Genkai.
'How did the library have so little on the Mokuton? It was the Shodaime's Kekkei Genkai, there should have been more about it. If there had been more, then I wouldn't need to be doing this.'
Kakashi avoided the ANBU on guard duty and entered the building, making his way to the library.
'Should I find a book about the Senju in general or just the Shodaime?'
Kakashi pushed open the door open slightly, enough for him to get inside, and then closed it behind him. He then took out a small flashlight and began to shine it on the section titles, reading titles as he went. He stopped when a title caught his eye.
Hashirama Chronicles
'This might be useful.'
Kakashi began to look through the books on information that might be useful.
Hashirama Senju, the leader of the Senju Clan of the Forest, brought peace and stability to this bloody, war-torn world. He and he alone mastered the Mokuton Kekkei Genkai.
'No that's not true. There's one more. What does it mean? How was the Root ANBU I encountered able to use the Mokuton?'
Kakashi put down the book he was reading and started looking through the other books. Eventually he came across a sealed file.
Top Secret
'Top Secret? What could be in here?'
Kakashi opened the file only to find it empty.
'Where are the contents?'
"Is this what you're looking for?"
Kakashi looked up as a pile of papers landed on the table in front of him. He shined his light forward only for it to land on the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
'How did he know I was here?'
"Sandaime-sama."
Kakashi quickly kneeled down, putting the envelope back on the table.
"It's alright, I give you permission. Read it."
Kakashi stood back up and reached for the papers, reading them as the Sandaime began to speak.
"Long ago, the Shodaime Hokage, Senju Hashirama, after a death match with Uchiha Madara, used the Mokuton Kekkei Genkai to suppress the Kyuubi. After that, there was no one to take over the Mokuton Kekkei Genkai. Either the Sharingan or the Mokuton are necessary to suppress the Biju. In Konohagakure no Sato, there was a time when they researched and tried to revived the Shodaime's Mokuton."
The Sandaime's face darkened as he continued.
"However, despite the dedicated efforts of many, the tests to transplant Hashirama-sama's cells failed one after another and the number of lives that were sacrificed continued to grow. And so the Mokuton was deemed a kinjutsu and the cells used in testing sealed away."
Kakashi looked up from the papers as he finished, reading exactly the same thing the Sandaime had just said.
'What about the Mokuton user that serves Danzo?'
Before Kakashi could ask any questions, the Sandaime continued speaking.
"Recently, genin and chunnin, even members of ANBU have gone missing. What's even more disturbing is incidents where newborn infants of known ninja families have been kidnapped from areas surrounding the Hidden Leaf Village."
Kakashi's eyes widened and he nearly dropped his flashlight.
"Infants?"
'Who would do such a horrible thing?'
The Sandaime nodded gravely, taking a puff from his pipe.
"Yes, there have been 60 confirmed kidnappings. Strangely, no orphanage infants have been targeted. The most probable reason is because they are mainly civilian children with no ninja background and an unknown ninja potential. However, that is only infants that are in the orphanage, some of the infants taken had been adopted out of the orphanage earlier. I don't know the exact reason for this, but the kidnapper must have one."
The Sandaime looked directly at Kakashi, his face more serious than before.
"This leads me to why I banned the adoption of Naruto. No one knows where he is other than the orphanage workers and myself, not even the council of elders knows. Naruto will seem to be another random orphanage infant. If Naruto was with you, a prominent Konoha shinobi, he would become a more likely target. I applaud your and Iruka's efforts to look after him. I know that some of the workers bear grudges against him, but they know that I will rain hell down upon them if even a single hair on Naruto's head is harmed. There currently is no place Naruto can be safer."
Kakashi placed the papers on the table and turned off his flashlight.
'Does this mean I might have a chance to take custody of Naruto later? I can have a chance to make things up to my old sensei?'
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I do not trust Danzo, old friend he may be. I fear he may have something to do with this. I know one of his Root ANBU was stationed as a guard today and although I am sure he did not hear a great deal of vital information, he will report what he has heard to Danzo. If he knows where Naruto is, it will be easier to target him, especially if Danzo is involved with the disappearances as I fear he may be."
Kakashi nearly flinched, but managed to stop himself in time.
'He doesn't know I plan on reporting to Danzo-sama after this.'
Sandaime took Kakashi's silence as a sign to continue.
"What I am about to tell you is hearsay, but I believe that someone is continuing the experiments and trying to implant the cells of Hashirama-sama into a new set of test subjects."
"Even if they're rumors, why would anyone..."
"There are those who want to obtain every jutsu that exists. There are also those who covet power. However, I have wondered if they had succeeded and there was someone who was capable of Mokuton, would the Yondaime need to have sacrificed his life?"
Kakashi took a step back as he remembered his encounter with Danzo in the graveyard.
'Danzo had a Mokuton user the entire time. Why didn't he step in and help? Sensei, Kushina-nee, Ikkaku-oji, Kohari-oba. They could all still be alive.'
"Mind you, this is all just hearsay."
Kakashi started to lift his hand before moving it back down.
"If... If Hashirama-sama's cells had really been implanted into infants"
"Implanting cells into infants is forbidden. It has been since the attempt of transplanting Hashirama-sama's cells the first time. And even if someone was doing so, the possibility of success would be very low."
The Sandaime then began to walk away leaving Kakashi to his thoughts.
'The Root ANBU was young. Does this mean he was a recent genin or chunnin subject? Or was he an infant subject from before?'
Before he could leave, Hiruzen stopped.
"If... Just if... An infant from the tests we did so long ago survived. He or she would be ten years old already."
With that the Hokage left the library and Kakashi.
'Ten years. That would be around the age that ANBU was... Is it possible for him to have been a subject from back then?'
'They should all be here soon.'
Danzo was standing in the center of the open area of ANBU Root Headquarters waiting for the men he had called. Suddenly, with a breeze of wind, they arrived. Danzo glanced them over to see ten ANBU present. He also sensed another chakra signature waiting in the shadows.
'So Kakashi is here to report? He will have to wait until I finish with the others.'
"Are you all here?"
"Yes, Danzo-sama."
"Tomorrow morning at the hour of the tiger (2), the Sandaime Hokage and five of his ANBU will depart for the Fire Daimyo's Prefecture. His intention is to resume the post of the Hokage, left empty by Yondaime-sama's death. If we allow this, Konohagakure no Sato will again be forced to accept a weak and indecisive leader. For the sake of the village, we must prevent this at all cost. Hence your mission is to somewhere along the route, take the life of Sandaime-sama quickly and discreetly. Remember no one must know it was you, it must appear to be the work of nukenin. Understood?"
"Yes, Danzo-sama."
"Dismissed."
With that ten of the ANBU present disappeared.
"You may come out now Kakashi."
Kakashi stepped out of the shadows and came closer to Danzo.
"Danzo-sama."
"Report."
Kakashi kneeled in front of Danzo and began his report.
"Sandaime-sama has begun to make erratic decisions already. As is shown by his announcement this past morning."
'So the boy was there for the announcement as early as it was. He seems to be fully functional at this point. I suppose he does not need as much sleep as I thought...'
"Publicly announcing the identity of the village Jinchuriki is foolish. He should never have announced it. Doing so makes the Jinchuriki a more viable target for our enemies."
Kakashi nodded from his position at the floor.
"Yes. He has also placed the Jinchuriki in the orphanage where the Matron will do nothing but mistreat him. This will weaken his loyalty to Konoha."
'What are you thinking Hiruzen? You will lose us one of our most valuable weapons at this rate! However, I can use this in my favor. It will be very easy to make the Jinchuriki mine.'
"Thank you for telling me the location of the Jinchuriki. I will have one of the ANBU pick him up from there. He will be placed under my guardianship and be raised to become a Shinobi of Root."
Kakashi stayed silent for a few seconds, thinking of what to say.
"Sandaime-sama has banned the adoption of the Jinchuriki."
'He has done what?'
"Has he given a reason for this decision?"
"He does not what the political power of the village to sway in one direction."
'Damn you Hiruzen. You knew I would try to acquire the Jinchuriki, so you devised a way to keep the Jinchuriki out of my grasp. No matter, when you are gone and I have become Hokage, the Jinchuriki will be mine.'
"Your intel is of great use Kakashi. You are dismissed."
Kakashi rose to his feet and did a quick bow before disappearing from the room.
'Soon Hiruzen, you will meet your fate.'
Sarutobi Hiruzen was standing at the top of the Hokage Monument, gazing out at Konoha in the moonlight. He half turned when he heard someone approach. Kakashi appeared from the tree line and placed his mask on the floor beside him as he kneeled.
"Sandaime-sama. I am not fit to be ANBU."
Hiruzen turned around fully, removing his pipe form his lips.
'What is causing you to think this way, Kakashi?'
"Why? Thanks to you, I am alive. Danzo was intending to have me killed and you warned me in time."
Kakashi lowered his head to stare at the ground.
"Still, I nearly betrayed you. What kind of shinobi am I if I am willing to betray my comrades? I couldn't even protect Minato-sensei, Kushina-nee, or any of the others. What kind of shinobi am I if I can't protect the people that matter? If you hate me for any of it, I wouldn't blame you."
Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe.
'All this death and disaster has pushed Kakashi too far. He is teetering at the edge. I can only hope I can bring him back from it.'
"When Minato was still alive, he came to speak to me about you. He allowed you to join ANBU, hoping it would lessen the pain that burdens you. However, he feared that he had made it worse. I told him that as much as we try, some wounds can only be healed by time. I then suggested that you be assigned to guard Kushina, saying that maybe seeing new life form would trigger a change in you."
Kakashi's eyes widened, but he did not speak.
'Maybe I am reaching him.'
"When Minato and Kushina died I thought about releasing you from ANBU to prevent you from breaking further. However, I have come to realize that maybe you have changed, maybe you have begun to heal the pain in your heart. You fought with me over Naruto's custody and I prevented you from having him. Something that I am sure made you resent me. Yet, you went against Danzo to warn me even though at the time, you were one of his Root."
Kakashi nearly got up and fled.
"You knew?!"
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe and smiled.
'It amazes me how you young shinobi underestimate me.'
"Yes, I knew. That leads me to my next question, will you be willing to continue as an ANBU, but serving directly under my command?"
Although Kakashi's facial expression didn't change, the Sandaime could see him eyes brighten.
"Yes!"
"Then I hope Minato forgives me for allowing you to remain in ANBU, although I believe that if he could see you now he wouldn't be completely adverse to my decision. He would be proud of you. As would the other people that care about you."
'I am among those people. You have grown into a strong and able shinobi, Kakashi.'
Kakashi stayed silent for a few second, hesitating over his next words.
"Sandaime-sama... There is something I believe that you should know. There is a member of Root who is capable of using the Mokuton Kekkei Genkai. He is about ten years old."
Hiruzen sighed at the information.
'Where did I go wrong with you, old friend?'
"I had suspected that Danzo had a Mokuton user, but I was hoping my suspicions were wrong. It seems that the web is just as deep as I feared it to be."
'I should have realized that something foul was happening when you suggested Orochimaru as the Hokage. I couldn't shake the feeling I had then about there being something dark going on with the two of you, but to know it could be true...'
Kakashi looked at the Sandaime in surprised confusion.
"Hokage-sama?"
Hiruzen took a deep puff from his pipe.
"I fear that there is more going on than just the one Mokuton user. If there was already a Mokuton user why were are the shinobi and infants abducted? There is something deeper and more foul going on in this village and my old friend is in the center of it. I fear my student is also involved."
Kakashi looked horrified at the prospect.
"Danzo-sama and Orochimaru-san? Traitors?"
"Kakashi, I order you to find out what is happening to the abducted victims. I need to know who is involved and how. I can't allow my decisions to be based on mere speculation for this. I can't allow anymore of the innocent to fall because of this, especially the children."
'I only pray that I am wrong and neither my student nor my old friend are involved.'
Kakashi nodded and got up.
"I will do my best Hokage-sama. I swear on it."
"How dare he betray me?"
Danzo pushed some papers around on his desk, anger consuming him.
"Everything was perfect. Years' worth of manipulation ruined. All because Hiruzen did something to pull him back to his side. Kakashi was mine, finally mine. His skill and power were at my disposal. I had what will become one of the strongest shinobi in the history of the village answering to me. I had something vital over Hiruzen. Then the brat destroyed it. If that wasn't bad enough he went and told Hiruzen what I had been planning to do. I've been pushed into a corner because of him."
'Where did I go wrong?'
Danzo was about to rant some more when he sensed one of his ANBU approaching.
"What do you have to report?"
The ANBU kneeled in front of Danzo.
"Danzo-sama. Sandaime-sama is having Hatake-san investigate the abductions."
'As if the fact that the brat wasn't mine anymore was bad enough. He is now looking into my dealings. It will be easy for him to find his way into this base since he was shown around back when he was still mine. I cannot allow him to discover what I've done.'
"Send a missive to Orochimaru. I would like to meet with him immediately. Dismissed."
As quickly as he had appeared, the ANBU disappeared, leaving Danzo again alone to his thoughts.
'I can't allow my connections to Orochimaru to be found. If they are, all the power I have in this village will be lost and it will be my death will come instead of Hiruzen's.'
'I hope that there's enough in that report to sentence Orochimaru. Although it is strange that I couldn't find much on Danzo. I was sure Danzo was involved.'
Kakashi was watching the Sandaime Hokage read a report that he had managed to collect detailing the actions that Orochimaru had been involved with in the past year and a half. Eventually, the Hokage finished reading the papers, a resigned look forming on his face. His hand beginning to reach for his pipe.
"I was hoping my student wasn't so involved in all of this. I suppose it was only an old man's wishful thinking. Jiraiya and I will handle this Kakashi. I have a separate mission for you."
"Why? I was the main collector of intel. Orochimaru wasn't in the village most of the time either. That's why it took so long to collect intel. Shouldn't I also go on the mission since I know the most about what's going on?"
The Sandaime stroked his beard for a few seconds, filling his pipe with the other hand.
"It would be a good idea, but this page of intel tells me it would be a good idea to leave you here."
Sandaime lifted up a page and Kakashi looked at the handwriting.
'This was a page that Yugao submitted, not me. What did she discover?'
"I didn't write that page, Yugao did. What did she find out?"
"Someone is planning on taking children from the orphanage. The Head Matron has agreed to the adoption of the children so it isn't supposed to be illegal. However, Naruto's name is on the list of intended children. Someone believes that since it has been more than a year since I placed the ban on Naruto's adoption that it is alright to adopt him. I want you to stay here and make sure that Naruto is not taken, I cannot do something about the other children without it seeming like I am abusing my power."
Kakashi took a step back at the shock induced by the Hokage's words.
'Someone is trying to steal Naruto? No. I can't let that happen!'
"Can't I take Naruto out of the orphanage for the time being?"
The Hokage raised an eyebrow.
"And where would you keep him. Your apartment is in Central Konoha, making it easy for people to realize he is there. On top of that, you apartment is too small for both you and a child. Unless you know somewhere else, then I cannot allow it."
Kakashi stared at the floor in concentration.
'The only other place I can take Naruto is the Hatake Compound, but I can't take him there. There are too many ghosts there...And no one's cleaned it since I moved out which means that there's more than eight years' worth of dust in there. It would take days to clean it.'
"I can't think of a place that is available right now, but can you give me a chance to find somewhere? I'm sure I can find something."
"I could give you time, but I have a suggestion instead."
Kakashi looked up, hope filling his eyes.
"What?"
"Do you remember Umino Iruka?"
Kakashi winced upon hearing Iruka's name.
'I haven't spoken to Iruka since the orphanage. Sure I've checked in on him and Naruto from time to time, but there have been no face to face conversations.'
"Yes, but we haven't spoken in over a year. After you denied Naruto's guardianship to me, Iruka was upset and rejected my offer of guardianship. He blamed me for Naruto being stuck in the orphanage, our already rocky relationship not helping. I didn't stay around after he said he would stay at the orphanage to look after Naruto. I didn't even congratulate him when he became a genin."
A small smile formed on the Sandaime's face.
"I remember that argument, my ANBU reported it thinking it was a disturbance. Iruka has quite the mouth on him. It seems that it's only grown with age."
Kakashi grinned behind his mask, knowing exactly what the Sandaime was talking about.
'Iruka's the type of person to always speak out for what he believes is right.'
"So are we going to give Naruto to Iruka? Doesn't his genin team have missions?"
The Sandaime took a puff from his pipe.
"One of his teammates was injured on their last C-rank. Their leg was broken. Until he recovers, the team is on leave. Iruka can watch Naruto for a few days."
"Then should I get Naruto from the orphanage and take him to the Umino Residence?"
"You are not going to ask Iruka first?"
Kakashi waved a hand in dismissal.
"Iruka goes to the orphanage every once in a while to check on Naruto since neither of us trust the Matron. I don't think he'll mind watching over Naruto for a few days."
The Hokage pulled out a sheet of paper and then wrote something on it before stamping it with his seal. He then held out the paper to Kakashi.
"This missive should allow the Matron to give Naruto to you. Once Naruto is safely with Iruka, return here so I can give you the mission details for the raid."
Kakashi took the paper from the Hokage and nodded.
"I'll return within the hour."
"I will be waiting for you with Jiraiya... Kakashi, after all this is over, I am allowing you and Iruka to interact with Naruto as long as your interactions are seemingly coincidental. However, you are not allowed to teach Naruto ninja techniques, there should be nothing that can lead to a solid connection between the two of you."
A full blown smile formed on Kakashi's face and with that Kakashi left the office.
'Even if it is only for a few days, you're going to have a real home Naruto. And afterwards, I'll go out of my way to be a brother to you, even if it will have to be a distant one.'
Kakashi arrived at the orphanage shortly before the sun set. He glanced around the courtyard to see Naruto outside playing near a pale-skinned black haired boy.
'Isn't that the same boy that the worker was bandaging when I came here after the Kyuubi attack?'
Kakashi walked over to a nearby worker and held out the missive the Sandaime had given him.
'She has the same shade of hair as the black-haired boy. Is he her son and not an orphan?'
"Hokage-sama has ordered me to take Naruto somewhere else."
The worker took the paper and looked it over.
"It seems everything is in order. You can take Naruto with you."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the worker's words.
'I thought everyone here called him the demon brat?'
"You called him Naruto."
The worker's face hardened.
"Minato, Kushina, and I were in the same year at the academy. I am not blind nor am I stupid. I also trust Minato's sealing abilities especially since I believe Kushina had a hand in them. Now take the child, I will get his belongings."
The worker pushed Kakashi in the direction of Naruto and then moved away to gather Naruto's things. Kakashi walked towards Naruto and the black haired child, squatting down next to them.
"Hello."
Naruto looked up, but didn't speak. The black haired boy moved slightly in front of Naruto.
"Are you gowing to be mean to Nawuto?"
Kakashi chuckled lightly at the second boy's over protectiveness.
'It's nice to know Naruto has some friends here.'
"No. I'm actually here to take Naruto someone safe for a few days. Hokage-sama asked me to."
"Jiji?"
Kakashi turned to Naruto who had moved so his head was sticking out from behind the black haired boy.
'It's good to see that Naruto remembers Hokage-sama from the times he's come here to visit Naruto.'
"Yes, jiji. He asked me to take you to see Iruka."
"Iwuka-nii?"
Kakashi smiled his eye smile.
"Yes, do you want to go?"
Naruto lifted up his arms in response and Kakashi hoisted him onto his hip.
'Now to get his possessions.'
Kakashi turned around, ready to hunt down the worker from before, but the worker was already standing behind Kakashi with a bag. Kakashi grabbed the bag from the worker who then leaned down to pick up the black-haired boy.
"Keep him safe Hatake-san. The Matron is planning something and I worry for these children."
Kakashi nodded rapidly.
"I will. You just keep the rest of your charges safe."
The worker gave him a sad smile.
"There is only so much I can do, you should go now. The Matron is supposed to have a meeting in less than half an hour."
Kakashi's eyes widened and he clumsily began the seals for Shushin no Jutsu.
'I didn't think whoever it was would make their move so soon.'
Kakashi gave the worker and the small boy one last wave before he disappeared from the orphanage with Naruto, reappearing in front of the Umino Residence a few seconds later. With both feet on solid ground, Kakashi walked forwards and knocked on the door.
'Hopefully Iruka is home.'
A moment later the door opened a fraction, allowing Kakashi to see Iruka's face.
'He's grown a lot since then... He's just turned twelve if memory serves me right.'
"Iruka?"
Iruka's eyes widened.
"Kakashi, is that really you?"
Kakashi smiled at Iruka's incredulous tone.
"Maa. Has it really been that long?"
Iruka looked down at the floor.
"It's been more than a year... I'm sorry for the argument back then. I was being such a rash little child with a grudge, one that doesn't even make sense when I think about it. I'm surprised you even came to speak with me again."
"I probably wouldn't have come here if I didn't need to. And you were right to hold that grudge. I was an idiot."
Iruka shook his head with a frown.
"No you weren't. I don't remember much, but you were lashing out at your tou-san's death just like how I was lashing out about both my parents' deaths when we last spoke... Wait. You needed to come here? Did Sandaime-sama need me for something?"
Kakashi nodded and moved Naruto so he was visible to Iruka.
"Someone needs to be baby sat."
Naruto who had by some miracle been silent the entire time Kakashi and Iruka were talking, grinned brightly upon seeing Iruka.
"Iwuka-nii!"
Iruka smiled and pushed the door open all the way.
"Naruto! Why don't the two of you come in?"
Kakashi stepped into the house and handed off Naruto and his things to Iruka before leaning down removing his sandals.
"I can't stay long. I promised Hokage-sama I would be back in an hour almost twenty minutes ago."
Iruka visibly saddened at the news, his sadness spreading to Naruto causing a frown to form on the 17 month old's face.
"Are you going to come back?"
Kakashi straightened and turned back towards Iruka with an eye smile already in place.
"Of course. I'm going to have to take Naruto back in a few days. Besides I couldn't leave poor Ruka-chan alone could I?"
Iruka began to turn red, gritting his teeth.
"Don't call me that!"
Kakashi grinned, before his expression sobered.
"Maa… I need to tell you why Naruto is here before I have to leave. Do you have food in your kitchen? Something other than ramen?"
With that, Kakashi started walking towards the kitchen, leaving a speechless Iruka behind him.
'It's good to have Iruka back again. Even if we will never have the same sibling-like bond we had as children. I know that we're still going to be friends at the very least.'
Kakashi's grin reformed when he heard Iruka splutter and Naruto laugh.
"Kakashi!"
'How did I ever give this up?'
Danzo was sitting at his desk filing away paperwork related to the Kekkei Genkai holders of Root.
'I have far too few Kekkei Genkai users among my ranks.'
Danzo shifted through the paper's eventually coming across the incomplete Kekkei Genkai transplant research.
'All because of the brat so many of my plans have been put on hold. Without Orochimaru, most of my Kekkei Genkai research cannot be completed. It is impossible to even attempt to contact him since he has hidden himself so well to not be found these past two years. There has to be a method by which I can reach out to him.'
"Danzo-sama!"
Danzo broke away from his musing to turn towards the ANBU who had called his name.
"Any information of importance?"
The ANBU stopped in front of Danzo and kneeled.
"Yes, a base belonging to Orochimaru has been found. Hokage-sama is going to send out a team."
'Perfect. I can send one of my own out to contact Orochimaru.'
Danzo was about to open his mouth to reply when pain shot through his implanted Sharingan.
'I will need to have it replaced if it keeps causing me pain. My vision through it has also begun to fade... I need to find a replacement soon.'
"Where has the base been found? And who is leading the team there?"
"The base has been found near the border with the Land of Rice Fields. Hatake Kakashi will lead the team."
'The brat again? There has to be some way to get rid of him.'
"Is there a reason as to why the Hatake is leading the team?"
The ANBU slowly nodded.
"Yes, Sandaime-sama believes that Hatake's Sharingan will be of use on the mission."
'The brat's Sharingan. It is fully formed and quite a powerful specimen of the dojutsu... I do need a replacement. This way I can kill multiple nin with one kunai.'
"Send for Kinoe and Kinoto. Dismissed."
The ANBU quickly rose to his feet before disappearing.
Danzo pulled out a paper and began to draft a message to Hiruzen asking for permission to send two Root agents on the mission.
'I will have Kinoto determine Orochimaru's location so I can send a missive to him. In the meantime Kinoe will steal the brat's Sharingan for my use. If the circumstances play out properly the brat will be killed in the encounter and I will be able to gain Orochimaru's aid once again.'
'I should have come up with a better plan before rushing into this.'
Kakashi was running from Danzo and Root Agents through Root Headquarters trying to find a way to escape. He was being chased due to him knocking out the guards to sneak in and rescue Kinoe. Kinoe and Kakashi had formed a friendship years prior, so when Danzo ordered Kinoe to kill Kakashi and steal Kakashi's Sharingan, Kinoe disobeyed and gave Danzo a fake. An enraged Danzo had locked Kinoe up and was planning on finding a way to brainwash him.
'I am never going to be able to thank Kinoe enough for betraying Danzo like this. At least when I betrayed Danzo I didn't allow myself to return here. Kinoe willingly walked back into the hands of the enemy to keep up the facade.'
Kakashi knowing his friend was in danger convinced the Hokage to send him to Root Headquarters with a missive for Danzo. Once he was there, he knocked out the guards blocking his way inside and began to look for his friend. He found Kinoe and broke him free, but then they ran into Danzo. Kinoe had used Mokuton to create a barrier, to prevent pursuit by Danzo. However, it was only a matter of time until they were found.
"Kinoe. How long can that barrier hold them?"
"Not that long once they realize that wood burns, Kakashi-senpai."
'Danzo isn't stupid. He'll have realized that already and we aren't that close to the exit yet.'
Noticing a door coming up, Kakashi pointed at it.
"Where does that lead?"
Kinoe eye's followed Kakashi's hand.
"That's the records room, where records on everything pertaining to Root are kept. It has multiple exits. One even comes out near the entrance of the base!"
Kakashi gave an internal sigh of relief at the news.
'I guess I hadn't been part of Root long enough to hear of it, but I am happy to know of it now.'
"Through the record room we go."
Kakashi and Kinoe ran to the door and pushed it open before running into the room and closing the door behind them.
"Kinoe. Use Mokuton to barricade the door. It may buy us some more time."
Kinoe nodded and began to add a matrix of wood behind the door to prevent it from being opened. Kakashi glanced around the room, seeing files and folder on shelves everywhere. The entire room was alphabetically organized from what Kakashi could see.
'I wonder just how much information Root has on everyone in Konoha.'
Kakashi glanced around the room, noticing a total of two other doors in the room. One door was along the same wall they came in from, but the other door was on a different wall.
'I am sure that the door on the different wall is the one that will get us out of here.'
Kakashi was snapped out of his thoughts, when Kinoe placed a hand on his shoulder.
"The exit is this way, senpai."
Kakashi followed Kinoe through the shelves to the exit, the door on the different wall, glancing at titles of files as he went by, but not reading them.
'Hopefully the Sharingan stores the image. I can analyze it all later.'
Kakashi and Kinoe soon made it to the door and were back to running in the hall. The two quickly ran down the corridor, beginning to see moonlight at the end.
'We're almost out.'
Once the two stepped into the moonlight they were met with the sight of Danzo and four more ANBU.
'Luck is not on our side.'
"Futon: Shinkugyoku" (3)
Suddenly balls of razor sharp wind was heading towards the duo.
"Mokuton: Mokujoheki" (4)
Kinoe's dome managed to stop Danzo' jutsu from hitting the two, but it knocked both Kakashi and Kinoe to the ground as it was shattered.
"How good of you to come here, Kakashi. You have entered Root jurisdiction without authorization and tried to take one of our own. Don't think you'll get out of here alive."
Kakashi got up and began to look around.
'We're surrounded. There are at least a hundred Root agents here.'
Kinoe slowly stood up and turned towards Danzo.
"Danzo-sama. Kakashi is not at f-"
"Silence! You will not get away with this either"
Kinoe took a step back at Danzo's yell, realizing just how much trouble he was also in.
"Neither shall you!"
Everyone looked around trying to figure out where the new voice came from. Suddenly, the Sandaime Hokage appeared, standing next to Danzo.
"Hiruzen."
The Sandaime Hokage tilted his head in acknowledgement before looking at Kakashi and Kinoe.
"I know that you bear a grudge against Kakashi, but that is no reason to target him."
Danzo scoffed and turned form his friend to Kakashi and Kinoe.
"What are you talking about, Hiruzen? I could not care less about what happens to Kakashi. However, he trespassed by his own will into Root territory. That is something I cannot allow to go unpunished."
The Hokage glanced in Danzo's direction, his expression showing that he did not believe a word Danzo had said.
"By his own accord? I dispatched Kakashi with a summons from me. When you were not available to receive the summons he went looking for you, all on my orders."
Kakashi's eyes widened slightly.
'Sandaime-sama is lying to protect me? I never had permission to enter the base and he knows it.'
Danzo's face blanked, but some displeasure was still visible.
"There must have been a mistake in the communication line."
Kakashi let out an unnoticeable sigh of relief when Danzo conceded defeat.
'I'm going to get out of this alive.'
"That settles things with Kakashi. Now this next issue involves the reason for my desire to summon you..."
'I didn't think Hokage-sama would be able to cow Danzo so easily.'
Kakashi was in his apartment, lying in his futon, finally able to rest after the hectic night.
'He even managed to convince Danzo to release Kin-Tenzo into normal ANBU. I need to remember to tell Tenzo that that's his name now. He doesn't need to have any more connections to Root at this point in time. I suppose that it will have to wait until tomorrow thought. It'll be nice to tease my soon to be kohai since he'll be the newbie of ANBU.'
Kakashi shifted in his bed to lay on his side, his eyes landing on a photo of him, Iruka, and Naruto in the process. A smile formed on Kakashi's face at the sight.
'I should also visit Iruka tomorrow. It's been a while and it would be nice to catch up on what I've missed these past few weeks. Maybe a run in with Naruto should also be planned, I haven't seen the little knucklehead in a while either. I wonder if I should go to the orphanage or check on him outside of it... Maybe in the orphanage, I never did get a chance to thank the worker that helped me two years ago. I haven't seen her or her possible son since. She risked a lot in helping me... All things to do tomorrow I suppose.'
Kakashi closed his eyes with the intent of going to sleep, but images from the Root Records Room consistently flashed in front his eyes.
'I'm never going to go to sleep like this. I suppose I should look over some of the images, like my subconscious is telling me to do.'
Kakashi concentrated on the first image seeing the shelf with a bunch of files on it. He then concentrated harder to read the labels on the files, managing to read a few of them.
Nara Chieko
Nara Isamu
Nara Kenshin
Nara Moriko
Nara Tadao
Nara Yasuhiro
'So this shelf has do to with Nara clan members that have some involvement with Root. There are quite a few. I wonder how many of them are actually part of Root and not just loosely affiliated.'
Kakashi switched to another image, reading some of the names off a different shelf.
Kurama Kirara
Kurama Unkai
'More names I don't really care about.'
Kakashi was about to switch to another image when his eyes landed on one he knew.
Kinoe
'So Ki-Tenzo's file is here. It's a thicker than most of the others I've seen, probably a sign of that fact that he was part of Root. I wish we had had enough time to pull it out so we could find out more about his past. It's not like we will have another chance since Danzo has banned us from entering the base any more on pain of death. I suppose the contents of the file will have to remain a mystery, not that either of us really mind.'
Kakashi sighed and moved his memory image forward a few seconds.
Inuzuka
'I don't really care for how many members of the Inuzuka have affiliations with Root. I doubt it will be that many since Inuzuka don't generally join ANBU due to their dogs.'
Another image was pulled to the front of Kakashi's thoughts.
Hyuuga
'The Hyuuga are perfect for Root since they're the cold emotional type.'
Kakashi let his mind wander to an image of the next shelf in the room.
Hyuuga
Hyuuga
Hyuuga
'Just how many Hyuuga have connections with Root? Wouldn't the branch house, main house split prevent the branch members from having extra loyalties?'
Kakashi was about to change images once again when he saw that the names changed near the top of the shelf.
'Finally no more Hyuuga.'
Hatake Kakashi
'Not that surprising since I was part of Root even if it was for less than two days.'
It was only as Kakashi scanned his eyes to the right that he noticed how large his file was.
'That's thicker than Tenzo's file and he's actually been in Root for longer than I hate. His more than three years compared to my less than two days! Why is my file so thick? Why does Danzo have so much intel on me? What have I been doing to earn so much interest? My Sharingan shouldn't have warranted this much! Would it? Danzo did send someone after me in an attempt to steal it.'
Kakashi shook his head at the unreasonable size of his file before moving on to the next file.
Hatake Sakumo
'No. No. No! Tou-san wouldn't have had anything to do with Root. He wouldn't have. He valued too many things that went against Root ideals. Family, Friends, Comrades. They're all things that Root does not like to have involvement with.'
Kakashi stared at his father's file a little longer, not believing that it existed, nor how thick it was.
'It's not much thinner than Kinoe's file. Why? What involvement did you have with Root, tou-san? Did you end up taking missions for Root before your death since other Konoha nin did not want to work with you? Is that what caused you to break? What connection is there, tou-san? What? Did Root have a hand in your death? Was Root the reason why you took you own life? What happened tou-san? I can't go there to find out the answers.'
"Why aren't you here to answer me? Why?"
Kakashi tried to change the image of the shelf, but it remained stuck in his mind. His father's Root file haunting all his thoughts until exhaustion caused him to fall asleep. When Kakashi woke up the next morning, he immediately locked away all memories of the Root Records Room in a secure location of his mind, not wanting to think of the revelations its contents had brought.
'I should not have gone into that room as a shortcut out of the base. I should not have left my Sharingan open to record the room. I shouldn't allow any of this to change my opinions of what happened and what I think of the people I care about.'
Kakashi pushed his covers aside and got up to do his morning rituals.
'I shouldn't spend forever dwelling on the past either.'
Kakashi then left his apartment heading to training ground three, stopping to visit the memorial stone and pay his respects to his fallen precious people.
To Be Continued...
(1) Cold-Blooded Kakashi
(2) The hour of the tiger is from 3 am to 5 am.
(3) Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere
(4) Wood Style: Wood Locking Wall
The chapter title was sort of misleading. The 'root' mentioned in it is a person's roots, the origin of who they are, their identity. Kakashi was shaped by the people he grew up with, they provide his roots. These same roots are what trap or ensnare him, and they will continued to do so until he decides to use them as the advantage they are supposed to be instead of the hindrance they've become.
Anyway, Review?
