Secret of the Copy Ninja

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Chapter 6: Sunrise

"So, is that all that happened last night?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Minato and Kushina weren't entirely convinced. Tsunade sure wasn't convinced. Kakashi felt like a caged stray dog. He wasn't sure why he had to be there and he wasn't sure why they were boxing in on him. They probably expected him to make a run for it, and they were correct to assume so considering Kakashi was intending on running the moment they left him alone.

"Minato, come with me," Tsunade said as she opened the door a few feet away.

Minato nodded and said, "We'll be right back."

Kushina nodded as she sat down where Minato was and sat with Kakashi with a slight smile on her face. Minato left the room with Tsunade and they walked to the living room, where they knew Kakashi wouldn't hear them. Tsunade stood with her arms crossed across from Minato.

"Can you explain to me how exactly you plan on keeping him here, 'cause all I see is a broken child that is going to run back home to the same abuse bastard he calls his father?"

Minato flinched and admitted, "I'm not entirely sure just yet. I want to talk to the Hokage about formally adopting Kakashi and reporting his father."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow at him. "Minato, taking this boy out of the house doesn't fix all his issues. We don't know what hell this boy has lived through before this point. Do you understand the trauma this boy has been through? We don't know the extent of the damage done to his mind."

Minato knew she was right, but he wasn't willing to back down. He saw his team as his family, and that meant Kakashi as well.

"Tsunade, I understand your point, but we can't just let him go back to all that! I won't let that man abuse an innocent child! I won't allow him to return, whatever that may mean!"

Tsunade sighed, "I would've freaked out even more last night if there had been more blood, you know. Besides that, I think that maybe you should take him to get checked out by the hospital. Physically, he's fine. It's the mental part that worries me most."

Minato commented, "Kakashi's a strong kid, Tsunade."

"I'm not saying he isn't. I'm saying he's a human being. He has feelings and he can feel trauma. Just... Keep an eye on him, please," Tsunade said bitterly.

Minato nodded and said, "Yeah, I know, I know."

She said, "Examine him later and tell me if you see any injuries. Just please, no more blood. God, that was horrible."

Minato laughed weakly and said, "Yeah, sorry about all that."

Tsunade shrugged and left without another word. Minato sighed and walked back down the hall to where Kakashi and Kushina were. Minato opened the door to see Kakashi still curled with his knees to his chest and Kushina sitting where Minato had before he left.

"Sorry about that," Minato said as he entered.

He noticed the worry on Kushina's face and he looked to Kakashi. The boy looked sick and terrified. Minato's face twisted in confusion as he noticed the boy was still shaking.

Minato sat beside Kushina and he asked, "Kakashi, what's wrong?"

"N-Nothing. I'm fine," the boy blurted out.

Kushina was clearly saying otherwise. Kushina moved closer to Kakashi and wrapped him in a hug. She held him to her and Minato felt helpless as he watched.

Kakashi put his head down on his knees as Kushina said, "It's okay, Kakashi. It'll be alright."

He just shook his head and Minato asked, "Kakashi?"

"Y-Yes, sensei?"

Minato had to ask him something, he had to know a few things.

"Kakashi, I need to ask you a few questions, okay?"

The boy nodded, waiting anxiously.

"How long has this been going on?"

Kakashi sighed. "It... It's been going on for a while. A few years I'd say. Before, it wasn't like this. After I entered the academy, things started to change. He started drinking and coming home late. After I graduated, things had already gotten violent. However, most recently, he's gotten worse as time has gone on. It started with a few comments and then... It got worse from there."

His voice stopped as he looked down again. Kushina's face filled with pain. She wasn't sure what to do but hug him and try not to go to the compound and break every bone in his fathers body for what he'd done. Minato's expression was the same as Kushina's. He couldn't being to understand what Kakashi had been living with for so long, and somehow, he felt as if he should've known sooner.

Minato sighed and asked, "Is there anything else we don't know?"

Kakashi shook his head. "No..."

His voice failed him. Minato knew the tone Kakashi was using. He was hiding something he knew would upset his sensei, but he still said nothing. He wasn't going to just give up necessary information if it meant something would be changed or altered because of what he had to say. Kushina wrapped the small boy in her arms and put her head on his shoulder. Kakashi's face was pale aside from the redness around his eyes because, finally, he was crying. Silently, he sat there with tears pouring down his face as his body shook.

"Kakashi," Minato said, trying to get him to look up.

The boy looked up slightly, tears still on his face. Minato felt his heart begin to twist. He hated seeing children cry, let alone anyone else. The sensei had seen his share of horror, but something he never got over was a child crying, no matter who it was.

"Yes sensei?"

Minato hated himself for what he was about to ask. "This time, will you please stay? I know you feel like you need to go home, but you shouldn't anymore. Please, just stay here. We won't hurt you."

Kakashi shook his head. "No."

"Kakashi, this is wrong! It's not right for your father to just abuse you like this!"

Kakashi shivered at the word that came out of his mouth. Abuse. It was a word that Kakashi never truly understood until his father became abusive. After a while, Kakashi understood clearly the meaning of the word. As much as he wanted to stay, he knew it would lead to lots of problems. He also felt like he still loved his father, the father he knew when he was much, much younger. Kakashi didn't want to give his father up. Partly, he wanted to believe his father could change.

"Sensei, please. He can change," Kakashi begged.

Minato replied, "Kakashi, I did give him a chance. When I walked in after you left the first time, that was me warning him if it happened again, he'd regret that decision. That was his chance to change. He will pay for this."

Kakashi felt panic rising in his chest. He knew he couldn't hold himself together for long. He had to get away from them. He had to do it now. Kakashi weakly got up out of the bed and slid off the other side and out of Kushina's hold. She jolted to her feet and Minato tensed up, ready to lung at the boy if he tried to jump out the window again. Kakashi ran to the window, but before he could get the window even open, his sensei had already wrapped is arms around him and started pulling him away.

"Let go of me!" Kakashi hissed.

Minato didn't let go. Kakashi fought his sensei, barely keeping it together. He was trapped, and that was all. He hated being trapped, he hated the feeling that he was stuck and there was no escape. It was at this moment, Kakashi snapped.

"Leave me alone! I just... I just wanna go home," Kakashi began to sob.

He finally lost the little bit of energy he had and lost the will to fight Minato anymore. He broke down into sobs against his sensei's shoulder. Minato felt nothing but agony as Kakashi cried. Kakashi never cried, and even he knew that. Minato picked Kakashi up and carried him to the bed. He set him down carefully and the sobs seemed to quiet down, but his body still shuddered.

"I... I'm sorry..." Kakashi's voice was barely audible.

Minato said softly, "It's okay, Kakashi. You haven't done anything wrong, I promise. We'll figure it out."

The boy shuddered at the thought of things changing once again. He just wanted the father he once knew before he became a drunk and before he got angry at Kakashi for absolutely nothing. Kushina was crying just watching the boy breakdown into tears. He'd been through a lot, and the two adults knew it. There was nothing they could do to fix anything that had been done, but they could at least try to make Kakashi happier and give him a better life at the very least. Minato patted the boys back as his shudders continued, but gradually ceased.

Kushina and Minato concluded Kakashi was just too exhausted and stressed out. Minato and Kushina left Kakashi to sleep after he passed out in Minato's arms. Both adults were hurting just from knowing what was going on. When they left, they made sure to leave the door open in case Kakashi tried to escape again. The two adults sat on their couch, Kushina sobbing into Minato's chest.

Minato knew Kushina loved his students like they were her own children. She treasured all three of them. While Obito was her favorite, she kept Rin and Kakashi close to her heart as well.

"What are we going to do?" Minato asked in a grim tone.

Kushina wiped her eyes and sat up straight. "I think we need to speak to Lord Third about this. We can't just let Sakumo do this anymore. He doesn't deserve to be Kakashi's father either. That bastard, I should've kicked his ass weeks ago."

Minato said, "I know how you feel, but we don't want to upset Kakashi by hurting his father, physically anyway. I will have to speak to Jiraiya about this as well. Should we take Kakashi to the hospital?"

Kushina shook her head. "No, he'll be alright for the moment, he just needs to rest. I think that maybe we should let him rest and speak to the Hokage and see what he wants to do, for now."

Minato nodded and stood up. "Might as well get this over with. Can you keep an eye on Kakashi until I get back?"

She nodded and said, "I can take things from here."

Minato nodded and left to see the Hokage.

xXxXxXx

When Sarutobi finally took a second to take a break from paper work, a knock came to door. Normally, he'd just have someone enter without much resistance, but this time, they waited outside the door. Sarutobi was curious what was going on.

"Come in."

When he replied, a familiar blond shinobi walked into the room. Sarutobi greeted, "Minato, good to see you."

He noticed the look on the sensei's face and realized that this was not going to be good.

Minato said, "I apologize for barging in."

"Nonsense. You're always welcome," Sarutobi replied. "So, what brings you in this early?"

Minato's eyes filled with seriousness. "I would like to report on another shinobi."

Sarutobi had never heard something from Minato like this but a few times. He asked, "Who?"

"Sakumo Hatake. I'd like to have his parental rights taken from him effect of immediately."

Sarutobi was shocked. "Under what grounds?"

"Child abuse."

The Hokage's body language changed from shook to anger. He stood up and asked, "Against Kakashi?"

"Yes sir. Kakashi's summon came to my apartment last night after being summoned. He claimed Kakashi summoned him while unconscious and that he was hurt. I followed him to the compound and found Kakashi. He was severely bruised and had a head injury from a glass bottle being throw into his head. I took him to my apartment and had Tsunade take a look at him. She said it was a miracle his bones weren't broken. She healed him and we kept him overnight. He's awake and he told us what happened," Minato said, summing up the entire story.

Sarutobi asked, "Has this happened before?"

Minato nodded with shame. "A few weeks ago, Kakashi had two broken ribs. Tsunade concluded then he had been hurt by someone. Kakashi lied and said he fell out of a tree. He went home and I followed him, just to be sure what was going on. When I arrived, Sakumo was drunk and he had a kunai to his throat. I knocked him out and took Kakashi with me. He was bruised, but nothing was broken."

The third Hokage asked, "Is Kakashi safe?"

"He's with Kushina."

Sarutobi sighed. "I will speak to the council about this and come to a decision on the matter right away. Until further notice, Kakashi is not allowed to return to the Hatake Compound. Are we clear?"

"Yes sir."

Sarutobi was not in the mood to deal with drunk bastards who hurt children. He was pissed. He left the room and called, "Gather the elders at once! We need to hold an emergency meeting right away!"

Advisers and other shinobi rushed off as asked and Sarutobi walked back into the room. He sighed and said, "Thank you for bring this to my attention, Minato. If you don't mind, please come with me. We need to see the council."

Minato nodded and followed the Hokage down the hallway and into a series of other halls and then into the council room. They both waited as the council members were gathered. Many of them confused yet serious as ever. Some, however, demanded to know what was so urgent they were called in so early. Sarutobi even summoned Jiraiya to the meeting.

"Minato? What's this about?" Jiraiya asked, very confused.

Minato said, "Kakashi."

The white-haired sensei understood with just those words. Minato had told Jiraiya before what happened, and was advised to wait and see if things changed. Clearly, they hadn't. The Toad Sage nodded and stood beside his former student and his former sensei as the meeting began.

"Sarutobi, we're all a little surprised you called an emergency meeting considering this early," the head council woman stated with surprise.

"I understand your surprise and your confusion, do forgive me for the short notice, however we have a matter to discuss about a fellow shinobi," the Hokage replied.

"Do tell."

Sarutobi announced loudly, "I wish to take away the parental rights of Sakumo Hatake for the abuse of his own son."

Some of the council members whispered among themselves, but some were quiet with shock. One of the older men asked, "Do you have any witnesses to such claims and evidence?"

Minato stepped forward and stated, "Yes, sir. I am Kakashi Hatake's sensei. A few weeks ago, Kakashi claimed he broke two ribs falling out of a tree."

"I concluded those injuries did not line up with his story," a familiar female voice interjected from behind him.

Tsunade walked forward from behind the three men and said, "Kakashi's injuries were signs of a fight of sorts. It was unlikely his story was true."

The council remained silent. Minato clarified, "Later that day, I followed Kakashi home and heard loud noises from inside the home and ran inside. When I entered, Sakumo had a kunai to his throat, threatening his son's life. I proceeded to defend Kakashi and left with him. He returned home after he stayed with me and my wife Kushina. Until the other night, his summon came to our apartment and told me Kakashi was seriously hurt and lead me to him at the Hatake Compound. I found him with a head injury and severe bruising. He was unconscious when he summoned Pakkun. I took him with me and Tsunade treated him late last night. He confirmed this morning that his father did attack him and has been for some time."

The council began to ramble and seem to argue among themselves. The head of the council asked, "Where is the boy now?"

"He is with my wife, Kushina Uzumaki-Namikaze."

"We will discuss this. Please exit while we determine our answer."

Minato, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Sarutobi left the room. Sarutobi looked calm, Tsunade seemed to be thinking very hard about the situation. Jiraiya, however, did what he always did and stared at Tsunade's large breasts while she was too focused to pay him any attention. Minato noticed and sighed, but continued to think to himself as the council behind the door reached a verdict.

xXxXxXx

Yes, I know, lots of chapters and updates and all that at once. To be honest, I felt like having a productive day and was inspired to write a whole lot. Seriously, some chapters are just so hard to work through and leave you stuck plot wise (chapter 4 made me hit a creative road block). Hope you guys enjoy the updates and the story so far. Prepare yourselves for the next chapter, because we're going dark. Like, darker than this story has seen yet. Hope you guys are ready for more angst and probably dying inside a little bit more.

I know where the story will end, it's the whole getting there part that always gets me. All my stories, fanficiton or not, I know the ending and the beginning before the middle. Anyone else? No? (Just me?)

Not sure if or when the next update will be, to be honest. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy.

-xXstarryXnightXx