Well, shit...I was not expecting this at all. Kakashi thought, staring worriedly at the Third Hokage and his summoned ninja. He had hoped Sarutobi wouldn't have sensed his chakra when he was holding onto Naruto, but he had underestimated the old man's spiritual energy; He wasn't called 'The Professor of Konoha' for nothing, after all! Hisashi had arrived first, using his Byakugan to track Kakashi and confirm to the Hokage that there was indeed something otherworldly watching the boy. Though even his Byakugan couldn't sense exactly what, he did know it was a ghost or apparition of some kind. Now if they were just able to find out its intent...

The Hokage turned to Inoichi, his stare quickly flashing to Naruto, who was too frightened to move. He had no idea what was going on; A six year old wouldn't be able understand the concepts of demons and denizens of the other planes. The three older shinobi thought that this thing attached to Naruto was some sort of guardian the Kyuubi had sent to watch out for its vessel, though they were not one-hundred percent sure. Inoichi was going to confirm this fact for them by latching onto the thing's mind and reading it thoughts and intent. Hisashi was standing by, the physical energy from his body latched onto the thing so Inoichi could target it precisely with his mind scanning ability. Kakashi swore at his predicament; He hadn't expected things to get so out of hand...but his spiritual energy was getting low from holding onto Naruto and flying to the office, so he could only watch as Inoichi began to make the infamous hand signs for his clan's jutsu.

Kakashi and Inoichi both groaned as the chakra pierced the place where the spirit was standing. If this had been a normal living being, it would have collapsed on the spot, unconscious. However, this was not the case, so Kakashi just shook his head and tried to block the intense pain that was bursting through his cranium as Inoichi began to scan his mind. The pain grew and concentrated on the center of his forehead, the main place where Inoichi began to scan for info. He winced involuntarily as waves of pain shot through his body, each coming more and more frequently. He could still hear things from outside his mind, the other two shinobi and Naruto watching intently as Inoichi did his thing.

"Hm?" Naruto mumbled, his face turning in confusion as he watched Kakashi's ghostly figure slowly fade away. The other two began to exhibit the same expression that then turned to one of shock and bewilderment. Inoichi blinked twice, then turned to face the three, holding his head from the sheer exhaustion of chakra that examining Kakashi had cost. Naruto quickly ran to the spot where Kakashi had been, tears starting to flood his eyes and anger on his pouting six year old face. The other three older shinobi just blinked in confusion, watching as Naruto went right inside the transparent ghost's body. Turning back to the three, the child pointed at the old man and squealed out

"Old man, what did you do! You made Tousan go away! Why?"

"Tousan...?" The three ninja mumbled, the Hokage walking next to the boy and patting him on the head, in a futile effort to calm him down.

"Your...Tousan is right here,Naruto-kun! We haven't done anything to him,see?"

Naruto was still pouting, his whiskered face scrunching up even more as he continued his tantrum.

"But...I can't see him! No more Tousan...and it's your fault,old man! He was gonna take care of me and everything! I wouldn't have to be alone any more and you...you..."

The six year old burst into tears then, his face turning a slight pinkish color from all the exertion. The other two shinobi just looked at each other and blinked, unsure what to do about the crying child. The Hokage sighed, knowing that this was starting to get really out of hand. I'm getting old for this job... Kakashi just watched the unfolding scene, his spiritual energy slowly starting to replenish itself. He wondered at this new piece of information, confused as to how in the world Naruto could see him one moment and the next nothing, while the other three could? I suppose it has to do with my spiritual energy level. Seeing as how Naruto's a Jinchuriki and all, with his concentration of spiritual energy from his chakra network as he's trying to suppress the Kyuubi. I must be attuned to that level, seeing as I was commanded to watch over him and such...so if it gets low, we must lose our ability to communicate. I wonder if it works in reverse as well...I'll have to watch out for that later.

"Well...I have found out something crucial about the identity of the spirit." Inoichi mumbled, unsure of how to proceed with his news. The Hokage and Hisashi waited for him to continue, the blonde jonin clearing his throat after a few moments.

"It seems...That Naruto's little helper is none other than...Hatake Kakashi, who died in the Kyuubi attack six years ago."

The Hokage and Hisashi just stared at the spot where Kakashi was beginning to materialize in front of them. Hiruzen knew the chakra has felt familiar, but he still was cautious, seeing as they were dealing with a spiritual entity of some sort. Now that he knew it was one of Minato's former students, he smirked slightly, wondering if the Fates had indeed planned this from the start. Kakashi just knelt there, waiting for one of the men to make a decision.

"This is interesting..." The Third mumbled, looking back and forth between the calming Naruto and ghostly apparition of the teenage Anbu member. Kakashi blinked, his placid expression turned to one of shock when he felt the Third lay a hand on his transparent shoulder. The other two shinobi just stood there, uncertain about what to do in this situation. Kakashi stood up and bowed to the Third like he would've if he was still alive, feeling more than a little odd for doing so. Naruto just watched, his eyes still red and puffy from his small tantrum.

"What is it you wanted to come here for, Kakashi-san? Naruto did mention something you...taking care of him, if I remember correctly." Sarutobi said, to which the little boy nodded furiously. The Third really couldn't see Kakashi as the fatherly type, but maybe spending time with his dead comrades had changed the boy. He certainly did look different than when he was alive; More vibrant and like a huge amount of doubt and grief had been lifted from him. Turning back to the deceased Anbu, Kakashi nodded, putting his hand behind his neck like he always did, though it was now transparent.

"I was wondering if...well, Naruto doesn't really seem happy in the orphanage. He hasn't made any good friends with the students or teachers at the academy either."

Sarutobi nodded,; He'd watched the boy through the years and was saddened to see most, if not everyone still treating him like a pest, going against Minato's final wishes. He didn't seem to be doing so well in his studies either, and the Third was afraid he'd have to make the boy quit the academy at this rate.

"Anyway, I was wondering if you'd be so kind as to let me raise the boy alone, in a small apartment or something. It won't have to be too big, since I won't be "living" there, per say. I was hoping to help the boy in his studies, and now that you've found me out, it won't be a problem if I train him. Then there won't be too many questions if you see his level of skill rise somewhat exponentially in the next few years. Plus, he seems to have taken a liking to me as well...Never thought I'd be hearing myself called Tousan, at least."

The Third sighed; He really was getting too old for this job. Dealing with the undead and ghosts was certainly not part of the list of Hokage requirements.

"Well...I'm not sure about the idea myself, but it couldn't hurt anyone, could it? I'll try and make some negotiations with a landlord or two, but you'd still have to pay the rent even if we found a place. Somewhere secluded would be good, but it'd have to be within walking distance to the Academy...*sigh*"

Naruto's blue eyes nearly poked out his sockets at hearing the Hokage. Running up and squeezing the now visible Kakashi in a tight hug, he felt a light pat on his head, someone running their fingers through his hair. The masked Anbu smiled at the boy, but on the inside was worried. Could he really raise a six year old? He shook the thought out of his head, listening to Naruto ramble on about how he and his new "Tousan" were going to be living happily ever after from now on.

"Kukukuku..." He grinned, his yellow snakelike eyes lighting up with excitement as he heard Kabuto speak.

"Yes My Lord, Study on Uchiha Sasuke has been going well. He should be ready at least in six years, if we let him mature enough. Hopefully his Sharingan will have awakened by then." His glasses wearing medic replied, his face leaning upward to look at Orochimaru.

"Good work. Soon, the Sharingan will be min,. along with the Hidden Leaf Village! I just need to set the proper pillars in their place. Then Konoha will crumble beneath my feet. Kufufufu..."

"There is something else My Lord..." Kabuto mumbled, gulping slightly as he waited for the predictable outburst of anger.

"What now?" Orochimaru seethed, red veins popping out from underneath tired eyes. He had been experimenting with how to implant fake Sharingans into multiple patients, using some sparse of Uchiha DNA he had found at the massacre. His results to reverse engineer the Sharingan's genetic code were failing horribly.

"It's about a boy, one that constantly picks fights with the Uchiha. He's the Kyuubi Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Naruto..."

"What about him? Just leave him to the Akatsuki; I'm no longer a part of that ragtag group."

"Well...it seems he has an odd arua around him most of the time. It's different from a bijuu's chakra and more...powerful than the boy's regular chakra. I have tried to study it, but my results have concluded very little. The only thing I was able to find out is that it's not part of the material plane of existence. I thought you should be aware of it sir, in case he could be an interruption to our plans."

"Hmm...A being from another plane of existence,huh? I wonder if I can capture it and reanimate it. I've been trying to perfect the Second's Edo Tensei for a while now..."

"Whatever you wish sir. Would you like me to gather more data on it?" Kabuto said, pushing up the frames of the glasses that were sliding down his face.

"Yes, that would be appropriate for now; We have plenty of time to set our plans into motion..."