I'm back! I'm not dead! WOOO! This chapter is going to be extra long so I can make up for my absence and I'll try to make other chapters this long (And probably fail miserably)

Alright, enough rambling! ENJOY!

Naruto doesn't belong to me if it did I would have an entire arc based on Sakumo

Kakashi stood up, fully decked out in his ANBU gear with the exception of his mask, which portrayed a wolf, quite fitting actually. Walking out his temporary room, he stalked into the kitchen where his Sensei was.

"Sen-" Kakashi cut himself off and corrected his sentence, "Hokage-Sama,"

'Here we go' Minato inwardly groaned, he knew that the question was coming up just from Kakashi's stance and tone alone. Whenever Kakashi needed, wanted or even requested something he always acted formal, well more so than he already is. It was a trick Kakashi used, acting professional to get what he needed, more so wanted, but let's not bother with that. Minato knew there was no way he was going to accept it, he hadn't even gotten the curse mark. It hasn't even been more than a few weeks! Minato sighed then look towards Kakashi, he knew what to expect.

"I feel like I've been off active duty for too long and I'm requesting that I start ANBU missions again," Kakashi kept his tone as formal as possible, if he played his cards right he may just get the Hokage's approval, "It's not beneficial to have me off of duty, Hokage-Sama."

Minato sighed, "Kakashi, you know full well that you can't go on missions just yet. Especially not ANBU. Jiraiya and I should have the seal done by weeks end, can you survive that long without nagging me for a mission?" Minato knew that Kakashi was anxious for another mission, Kakashi was shifting from foot to foot, eyes darting everywhere. He needed action, damn it!

"...Yes, Hokage-Sama..." Kakashi put down his ANBU mask, a wolf, and headed towards the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Minato said with a harsh tone that spoke 'No funny business'

"Out... outside to...train," Kakashi finally managed to speak without worry that he would lash out, really his anger was getting more and more out of control.

Minato gave Kakashi an exasperated look. "Fine, do not try to leave. Remember you have ANBU shadowing you."

Of course Kakashi knew, even though their chakra was suppressed he could still sense them (Wasn't that odd?) Hawk and Cat judging from their chakra, although they weren't on the same squad he was he knew them, they had a reputation with tracking, like Kakashi himself, and were apparently some of the best when it came to hunting down targets with high speeds at the highest efficiency.

Kakashi practically stormed out, managing to not slam the door. Why in Kami's name was he so angry? It's not like his sensei had said anything that bad. Kakashi brought his hand up to rub the curse mark on his left collarbone, he guessed it had to be something with that.

He continued his musings while taking the rooftops to one of the training grounds closest to the village wall at a relatively fast pace.

Since he got the curse mark his chakra has become erratic, harder to control, as if there's more of it and sometimes he even draws on that extra chakra unwillingly, that...really hurts. Kakashi came to a stop outside his favourite training grounds, except ANBU specific training but he wasn't allowed to do anything like that now.

Sitting down atop a tree, Kakashi sighed moving into the lotus position. He needed to clear his mind, he needed answers, he needed to be able to figure out what this mark does exactly and how it affects his chakra, mind, and body.

'Maybe this isn't such a good idea,' A rational part of his mind nagged on about the dangers.

No, who cares, he needed to know what the hell this curse mark does and why he specifically had it placed on him.

He closed his eyes, attempting to clear his mind of both negative and positive thoughts however he found he came back to the same lesson, one that his...father...taught him.

"Kakashi, son, come here. Let me tell you a story," Sakumo Hatake patted his lap knowing full well what his four-year-old son was going to say.

"I'm not going to sit on your knee, dad! I'm four years old, I'm grown up!" Told his father with seriousness a four-year-old really shouldn't possess.

"Okay, whatever you say Kashi. Just sit down next to me, OK? Or is that too grown up for you too?" Sakumo laughed jokingly as he watched his son grumble under his breath then sit down next to him.

Quickly, he grabbed his son in his firm but gentle grip, making sure he didn't hurt his son in the process. Sakumo sat Kakashi down on his lap, making sure not to let go so Kakashi doesn't escape.

After many minutes of struggle, Kakashi eventually gave up, going limp in his grip. Letting go, Sakumo laughed once again.

"Alright, this is a very important lesson-"

"I thought you said it was a story, dad." Kakashi cut in before Sakumo could finish his sentence.

Sakumo sighed, "Please Kashi, don't interrupt me. It's a moral story, it has a very important lesson at the end of it. This is the story about a famous samurai." Sakumo began,

"One day a very famous samurai came to Zen Master Hakuin. Being a samurai he knew only of life and death. So he just wanted to know where were the gates of heaven and hell, so that when the time comes he could escape hell and go to heaven.

So he asked Master Hakuin, "Where is Paradise? Where is Hell? Where are the gates for both?"

In reply, Hakuin questioned him, "Who are you?"

The samurai replied, "I am the leader of samurai's. I am a warrior and even the Emperor pays tribute to me."

The Master laughed, he replied, "Really? Are you the leader of the Samurai? But you seem like someone so weak, so poor.."

The samurai's pride was hurt, his ego bruised. He forgot why he came to the Master and at the same moment the samurai whipped out his sword, pointing it at the Master to kill him.

As he pointed the sword toward Hakuin, the Master started to laugh. The samurai was clearly confused by his actions. Hakuin raised his head higher and said, "This is the gate to hell, you will open it with your ego by holding the sword in anger. Anger will only cause further damage to your life."

The samurai was taken aback, he sheathed his sword.

Hakuin continued, "When you calm down, when you find true peace and when not just others but yourself, the gate of heaven will be open for you," Knowing his work was finished and the samurai had the potential to find peace, he vanished..." Sakumo finished, eyes closed and unmoving.

Kakashi turned around and looked up at his father in astonishment, "I think...I think I get it!"

"Go on then, tell me the moral, tell me the lesson." Sakumo smiled, knowing this lesson would be important for his son's future.

"By holding onto his anger, the samurai hurt himself and others. He forgot what was important and but his ego and pride above everything. By not staying calm he could never step towards the gate of peace," Kakashi looked up at his father expectantly, "That's the lesson...right?"

"Yes Kakashi, that's the lesson..."

Kakashi shook himself out of the memory, eyes still closed. Why should he listen to a traitor? His father abandoned him and Konoha! He didn't listen to his own lesson!

Kakashi felt himself tremble, he felt fire dancing along his skin but he didn't care. That damn memory, his damned father. No way in hell is he going to take not of any of his lessons if he couldn't even listen to himself!

Hawk and Cat looked at each other, their worry not showing because of the masks. Upon noticing the black marks spreading across the Hatake's face Cat extended his right hand.

'Orders?' Cat signaled to Hawk, glancing back at the silver haired prodigy, trying to make sure he didn't do anything reckless, he didn't know the brat on a personal level but he did know that he was the youngest ANBU yet, also holding the title of youngest Genin, Chūnin and Jōnin. Clearing his mind once more he watched Hawk form his reply with the official ANBU hand signs.

'Don't interfere, see if anything happens. If he begins to lash out or the mark seems to take control then we'll restrain him.' Hawk wasn't too confident that the Hatake kid wouldn't let the mark control him however he had to have faith. He had to try to make sure the kid didn't fall victim to the curse every time it tried to take advantage of his anger, Kakashi needed to figure it out for himself.

Minato just couldn't get his paperwork done, he was too worried about Kakashi, worried that the seal wouldn't work and even more worried about what would happen if Orochimaru got his grubby little hands on his last student.

"Kid, come on! You're so stressed out! Don't worry, the great JI-RAI-YA is HERE!" Jiraiya appeared in a puff of smoke in his office.

"Seriously, Minato, the seal WILL work. I've checked it a dozen times over. Sure, it'll hurt, but nothing more nothing less. That snakey bastard Orochimaru will not get his hands on Kakashi. I promise you."

Minato stared at his sensei, he couldn't deny his words.

"Alright, alright. I'm just so...worried!" Minato couldn't find the correct words.

"Yeah, I see that," Jiraiya laughed and gave him a cheesy thumbs up, "What would you do without me, hm?"

"Honestly, I have no idea..."

Kakashi couldn't hold back the rage, he knew he had to, but he just didn't care anymore. He was sick and tired of it all, he just wanted to...sleep...

And that's when the darkness came...

Kakashi thrashed around wildly, attempting to put out non-existent flames, trying to beat the darkness away. None of it worked.

He thought he might just give in, let it consume it. It couldn't be so bad right? The pain would go, it would all just fade. He could finally get some dreamless. No nightmare less rest.

And with that...

Kakashi let go.

A/N:

God, I love torturing you guys with cliffhangers. It's just so fun! Sorry, sorry. I just can't help myself sometimes.

Thank you all for reading and until next time!