-1 Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in this story.

Hey guys. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Weekend. Glad to have chapter four up for you all. As always, thanks to my reviewers and those who faved and put me and my stories on alert. I know my chapters have been short, so I'm working on maybe making my chapters longer in the future. This one is a bit longer than they have been previously. I can't promise all will be longer, but I'll do my best to make many of them a little longer when I can. Keep in mind, longer chapters will more than likely mean longer waiting times for each chapter. Other than that, not much to say this chapter, so I guess I'll just let you all get to the story. Enjoy.

Previously:

The ends of his fingers grabbed a large portion of the edge of the top of the blankets, preparing to yank them off. Kakashi and Pakkun glanced at each other one last time before simultaneously nodding, both now mentally and physically ready for what they were about to face.

Kakashi, with one last little hesitation, pulled furiously, throwing the night blue blankets behind his back as he himself took a large step backward, hoping to avoid any kind of 'attack' that may come.

The blankets and sheets settled on the ground as Kakashi attempted to get a clearer view of what exactly he was looking at. Kakashi and Pakkun stared with open wide eyes and a gaping mouth, neither confident their eyes weren't playing tricks on there minds.

Kakashi quickly walked up to get a closer look. It couldn't be what he thought it was.

"It can't be…"

Chapter 4: Regredi

Kakashi and Pakkun looked down at the strange figure, not really believing their eyes. Kakashi himself was shocked and amazed at the same time. Could it really be what it looked like. "S-Sasuke?" the dog barked out in complete shock. Kakashi couldn't help but stare. Indeed. there, lying before him, was what appeared to be the dear middle child of his beloved students, except, he wasn't his usual 15 year old self. Not at all. He hardly looked too much past a year. It was a mere child, hardly a toddler, though it shared such an uncanny resemblance. Still, it just couldn't be Sasuke. No way. But, it certainly looked like him, well… like an extremely cute, baby version of him, anyway. So many questions were running through the jounin's mind. Kakashi bent over a bit to look closer at the small child.

"I-is that… really you…" Kakashi whispered shakily, as if the baby would blow up if he spoke too loud. "S-Sasuke?" The baby's eyes shot upward as if recognizing his very name. After a bit of sleepy blinking, and a cute little yawn, he looked up at Kakashi and just stared, seemingly a bit confused himself.

Pakkun jumped of his master's shoulder and onto the bed where the child laid. He walked up, taking thorough sniffs of the blankets, sheets, and eventually the child himself. He looked up at Kakashi.

"Yep. Got Sasuke's scent all over 'im. This is him alright. Question is 'how'd he get this way?'"

Kakashi, still skeptical, reached his arms out, and carefully took the child in his hands, holding him up carefully. Sasuke started to squirm in the man's grip, small whimpers escaping his pink lips. He really did look like Sasuke. The same raven hair, except it was a bit curly. There was still the little duck butt bundle of hair in the back though. His onyx eyes shown underneath the curly locks of hair slightly covering the top of his face. Both his dark hair and eyes stood out against his porcelain white skin. He really was a beautiful child. Then there was that pout that had formed on his face. Kakashi couldn't help but smile a little. It was sorta like watching a miniature 'death glare.' Kakashi was certain it really was his student he held in his hands.

Sasuke had had enough of this strange man holding him and seemed more agitated by the second. Before Kakashi knew it, the child was wailing, not very loud but not quietly either, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Shhh. No. Don't cry, please! Shhhhh." Kakashi whispered desperately, yet softly, trying to soothe the child. He laid Sasuke against his chest, with his head resting on Kakashi's shoulder. He rubbed the child's back gently, still trying his best to make soothing sounds. After a couple of minutes, the crying started to die down. Kakashi lowered him down, laying him in the cradle of his now rocking arms. He held Sasuke in one arm, and used his free hand to gently wipe the child's tear-streaked face. "See. It's okay. No need to be so upset." The child had stopped crying and now laid relaxed in Kakashi's arm, as he sucked his thumb, while babbling somewhat incomprehensible words.

"Who did this to you?" Kakashi said with a melancholic tone as he looked down sadly at the little boy in his arms. The child simply stared back innocently, not understanding a word the man had said. It was obvious to Kakashi that he wasn't going to get any answers from the baby.

"What's our next step Kakashi?" Pakkun, still seated on the bed, asked.

"I've gotta get him to Tsunade. Pakkun, I want you to hurry on to the bridge and tell Naruto and Sakura to meet me as soon as possible at the Hokage's office."

"Right." Pakkun nodded for extra emphasis that he understood. And with that, Kakashi grabbed what was now an overgrown shirt still lying on the bed and wrapped the child tightly in it, and left Sasuke's house, hoping Tsunade could fix the problem. Pakkun too, left and parted ways with Kakashi.

Dark eyes watched the grey-haired older man heading in the direction of the hokage. 'So close.' Kabuto thought to himself. He stood directly outside Sasuke's window, frown and disgusted expression affixed on his face. Just when the jutsu had taken full affect. Just when he was about to obtain his target and achieve his goal, the intrusive sensei came barging in. Still, he had to count his blessings. He was lucky that he wasn't detected. If the baby hadn't caught the dog's attention, he probably would have sniffed him out. As well as he could conceal his chakra signature, he could never truly cloak his scent.

He should've known. Everything was working out too perfectly in his favor. There had to be a hitch somewhere. He decided It didn't matter. He would just have to use another strategy. He needed a challenge anyway. Things were seeming a bit too easy.

"See you later… Sasuke." The man said somberly as he left into the shadows.

Thump Thump Thump

Tsunade, already in a sour mood from doing paperwork all night, lifted her head irritably at the banging of her door. She had a horrible headache and didn't want to hear it.

Thump Thump Thump

The sound resonated through the room again, making a vein visible on Tsunade's temple.

"Can't I go five minutes without someone trying to break my door in! What is it?

"Tsunade-Sama, please. It's an emergency! It's Sasuke!" Kakashi said, sounding completely out of breath after the frantic run over.

"Well, don't just stand behind the door. Come in. What is i-…" Tsunade stopped before she could finish as Kakashi pushed roughly through her door, baby in hands. She stared at Kakashi for a while, at the small child, then back at Kakashi.

"I thought this was about your student. Who's the brat?"

"This brat is Sasuke!"

Tsunade just looked annoyed. She obviously wasn't taking the man seriously.

"Did Jiraiya put you up to this?" Her voice sounded skeptical and not so amused.

"Tsunade, I'm being serious here. Just look at 'im." Kakashi said, passing the baby into her hands, catching her a little off guard.

Tsunade was getting the impression that maybe Kakashi wasn't joking. She turned her attention to the child that was being held awkwardly in her arms. He did look a bit like Sasuke. Tsunade's eyes opened wide as she realized that this was no joke.

"I need you to tell me everything." She looked up at the man, face now displayed with seriousness.

Kakashi had told her the series of events leading up to the strange situation at hand. She now had Sasuke in a back office, on a table with a small blanket spread across it. Her hands glowed green as it hovered over the boy's entire body, looking for some clue as to what the jutsu was and how it could be reversed. So far, she was having no luck in the matter. The squirming and crying didn't make the job any easier.

"He doesn't really like being man-handled." Kakashi chuckled, memory of a earlier situation popping up in his head.

"Yes, I see." Tsunade sighed in frustration, but she was just about done anyway.

"Well, that's it. I'm done," Tsunade said, handing over the crying child.

"Really? Well….-?" Kakashi asked desperately, though hopefully, as he tried his hardest to calm the child using the techniques used earlier.

"Well…I'm not really sure. Not yet at least." Tsunade said guiltily.

"So,… you can't do anything to help him."

"I'm going to have to look deeper into it, honestly. It's quite possible this jutsu is a forbidden technique. I've never heard of it. If so, it could take even longer to find a way to reverse it. Look Kakashi. I have to be honest with you. There's the possibility that I won't be able to change him back."

Kakashi looked dismayed. All of this only made his anger grow. He could feel a pain forming in his chest.

"How could I let this happen?"

"Don't go blaming yourself Kakashi. For now, let's just focus on Sasuke." By this time Sasuke's crying had quieted down to soft sobs. Both Kakashi and Tsunade was now looking at the baby. Sasuke seemed to sense the attention and looked up toward the both of them with watery, innocent eyes and a pouted lip.

"Awww. I think he's cuter this way. Maybe he should stay like this." Tsunade joked as she started stroking his tear streaked cheek with her finger. Sasuke instantly started to whimper again, preparing for another crying session. Tsunade pulled her hand back, amused look gone from her face. "Still as disagreeable as ever though. He doesn't even liked to be touched."

"That definitely sounds like Sasuke. I guess some things are the same, no matter the age." Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle. Tsunade face lightened back up as well.

She suddenly noticed that Sasuke was still wrapped in his now oversized shirt.

"He needs something more fitting to wear. We don't need him catching a cold." She motioned over an assistant. "Find the child something more suitable." The assistant nodded, and left the room with the Sasuke, already started to squirm and wriggle in the hands of another stranger. He was tired of being passed along like a rag doll. A few minute passed before the two were back, Sasuke fitted with something more suitable for his age and size. The infant came out sobbing, as to be expected, and was handed back to Kakashi immediately. Strangely, he calmed down as soon as the transition was made.

"Looks like he's taking to you well Kakashi." Kakashi looked down at the little bundle in his arms, whose tired eyes were only halve open due to the sleepiness that had come over him. He was quickly drifting to sleep in the comfort of Kakashi's rocking arms.

"How am I suppose to explain you to Naruto and Sakura?" It came out sounding more like a statement rather than a question. Kakashi couldn't help but smile. Sasuke looked far too cute. "… How am I gonna explain you to Naruto and Sakura?" He looked up asking Tsunade more than himself, more serious than before.

Suddenly, the doors burst open sending a loud 'bang' echoing through the room as an orange blur rushed through the doors and somehow immediately came crashing to the ground afterwards. Everyone, including the baby, jumped at the unexpected disturbance of peace. Kakashi looked down at the clumsy ninja who had apparently tripped over his own two feet, in a hurry. The orange ninja yelped slightly, rubbing the pain out his nose from smacking the ground face-first, until he looked up, finally noticing his sensei and jumping up onto his feet.

"Do you have to kick my door down every time!" Tsunade asked angrily. Her speech was directed at the orange-clad ninja who was still holding his nose. Sakura followed on feet behind, a little out of breathe. The small dog, came throttling in last, panting and quite out of breathe himself, not being able to keep up with the other two.

"Well. I guess now's your chance to explain." Kakashi could distinguish the mocking nature of Tsunade's voice. Kakashi sighed loudly, not even attempting to hide it. Well, at least someone would enjoy this, because he sure wouldn't.

-End

Yeah. The ending was a bit weak. Didn't quite know how to end this chapter. Sorry. Still, I hope you all were able to enjoy it. At least it wasn't like last chapter's cliffhanger. Haha. Well, thanks for reading. Please review, even if you have a negative response. See you all next time.

Amaterasu333

Note-

Regredi

Latin

Etymology

re- ("back") + gradi- ("to go").

Literal meaning: "to go back"

Regress, Regression