It had happened so quickly for Sakumo that he had been unable to move as Hachiko sprang forward with the agileness of a cat for Kakashi. He hadnt even processed a single thought when a man appeared and slammed his fist into the top of his wards head with enough force to make the little girl crumble up like a lawn chair.

Maybe he was getting rusty for this stranger to get passed his normally quick reflexes and sharp nose. But when Sakumo had tried to pick up on this lanky man before him he noticed he had no scent.

That was when Sakumo knew him, by reputation alone. This was Hauru Inuzuka. He had a tact for silent assassinations and being that he was practically untraceable made him perfect for it. He was highly recommend and requested for solo S-rank missions, that and his teamwork skills were nonexistent. The man who was now staring down at the little white haired girl was a master at murder. The thought alone made his brain kick start to protect Hachiko, seeing him as a threat immediately.

Sakumo stepped forward to body block Hachiko where she sat on her butt holding her head with big tear filled eyes. Crimson eyes. Sakumo inwardly let out a sigh of relief.

"Chill out Papa wolf, ya look ready to take a bite outta me."

Sakumo gave Hauru a glare, finally noticing his amused lopsided grin.

Hauru wasnt what the stories said he was. He wasnt 7 feet tall, he was 6 foot if Sakumo had to guess. And there wasnt long fangs or scars covering his face. No, this man looked normal. His dark brown shaggy hair stood in several directions but was half tamed by the leaf village Hitai-ate on his forehead. His bangs were mushed into his black slitted eyes that were scanning him with an intelligent humor. One lone small red triangle sat below his bottom lip, one of the three corners pointed to his chin. His clothes were mostly black, other than the dark green Jonin vest.

Hauru glanced down at Hachiko before crouching down to her eye level peeking around the legs of the older man in front of her. Sakumo noted the way his eyes softened slightly only to glaze into an amused eye smile.

"Hey there, kid, ya good?"

Hachiko stared at him for a moment, her gaze flicking up to Sakumo for support. He simply kept his glare on the lanky man.

"...im f-"

"Good!" Hauru stood with a grin before turning to reguard Sakumo with obvious humor radiating from his body language.

"Down Papa Wolf, no need ta get ya panties in a twist."

The older Hatake's face scrunched with displeasure and went to fire back a retort but Hauru interupted before he could get out a word.

"This kids been put under my watch now. Take care on ya way home."

"Wait what?"

Sakumo reached down to try and snag her from the dirt but a snarky voice made him freeze.

"Ya heard me. Hachi is an Inuzuka, not a Hatake."

"Inuzuka's never claimed her before, why now?" The suspicion in the silverhaired mans voice was ignored, much to Sakumo's chargin.

Hachiko leaped to her feet and went to grab Sakumo's trousers but Hauru's hand snapped out and grabbed her shirt collar to pull her back into his legs. The little girl let out a pitiful squeal, arms reaching for Sakumo. Her eyes were wide with terror as her fingers wiggled helplessly at him.

Sakumo went to step for her but a hand shot out to stop his approach. His eyes followed the arm to the owner, the lanky man's lopsided grin begging to be kicked clean off.

"Get your hands off her."

"Yeh, yeh. Talk to the Third not me. But i am her guardian now and i have the papers to prove it. Ya didnt honestly think ya'd have her forever, did ya?"

The Inuzuka pulled a folded paper out of his pants pocket and held it out for Sakumo to see. It was a legal document, signed by the Hokage himself. Sakumo felt his knees grow weak as he stared at the paper that single handedly trashed his mind. Slowly his slate colored orbs drifted down to the little girl who was watching him with scared eyes, begging him silently for help. He looked away, closing his eyes to it all. Afraid. Scared. He didnt want to see her look like that. Not while she was waiting for him to save her.

Hauru reached down to grab Hachiko's wrist, the girl struggled against his grasp as Hauru turned to walk away. In her desperation Hachiko dug her heels into the dirt while leaning her body weight back. She reached for Sakumo with tear filled eyes, her face twisted into a pained expression.

"Sakumo! Dont let him take me! Please! Help me! Ill be good! I promise!"

Hauru began walking, pulling her along as her screams and pleas got choked up by tears and boarder line hysteria.

"I dont wanna go! Sakumo!"

Sakumo felt his heart shatter, his chest tightened as the air in his lungs left him. He faught back tears as the sounds of Hachiko's screams for him grew farther away. His hands trembled as he shoved them in his pockets, unsure what else to do with them. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat but it only made his nose and eyes burn from unshed tears. A pained gasp felt his lips as he faught to control himself. When he opened his eyes he nearly lost all self control. There in front of him watching Hachiko be dragged away was Kakashi.

Kakashi had heard the whole thing, his brain unable to process the information over the sickening feeling in his gut. Not only had he said such awful things to Hachiko but now it was the last thing they had said to each other before she was taken away.

His arms folded around his middle as his breathing became labored. Why had he said all that? Why didnt he try to help her from that man? He just stood there like a startled rabbit. Kakashi felt heat gather in his eyes, tasted the salty liquid of tears drifting down into his mask onto his lips. His knees began to shake as he turned to his father with a tight faced frown and raised eyebrows.

"..T-tou-san..."

Sakumo quickly crouched down, pulling his striken son into a tight embrace. His hand craddling the back of Kakashi's head while to other wrapped around the small boys back.

"Its ok, Strawboy. Shhh...Its ok."

A muffled sob and his son's body quaking from rasping tears was all that answered him.

"Its ok. It will be fine, ill fix it."

Three weeks later

Hachiko walked along the street, her hand in Hauru's as the man glanced around the market place shops with a bored expression.

Her eyes were heavy with dark rings under them. She had been given a uniform to wear unstead of Kakashi's old clothes. A simple long sleeved tight fitting black shirt with a pair of black pants that were tapped from her calfs to her ankles with white athletic tape. Black ninja sandles that buckled on the sides. And a crimson bandana that was drapped over one hip.

Hachiko had kept on the fingerless gloves Sakumo had given her, refusing to let them go. Needless to say she missed the Hatake boys so much. It kept her awake at night when she was allowed to sleep. Hauru trained her day and night, seeming to forget that she was just a child. He wasnt hateful or spiteful but he wasnt Sakumo or Kakashi.

She missed waking up snuggled to Kakashi, the smell of Sakumo making breakfast. Missed the afternoon cleaning she shared with Sakumo, even missed his horrible singing. Hachiko felt as if a piece of her was broken off.

"Oi, Hach, wake up kiddo. Ya get to pick out a pup today. Its a Inuzuka tradition."

Hachiko glanced up at her new care-taker with obvious disgust.

"I dont want a puppy. I like cats."

Hauru paused in his walk to look down at her, his face unreadable. Hachiko stiffened, unsure what the man would do. She didnt trust him yet, not in the slightest.

Hauru was silent for a few seconds before he turned his eyes to the sky with a thoughtful look. Her head tilted as she watched him. Hachiko was beginning to read him alot easier now, not that he left anything to the imagination. He had a way of telling everyone what it was he felt or thought with body language alone.

"Hmm, I guess a cat could work. I dont like 'em but everybodys got their own taste, i guess."

"I want Kai and Kibo."

Hauru blinked in shock for a moment before a soft smile spread across his face, he crouched down while ruffling her hair fondly.

"Alright kiddo, you can have the mangy old tom cats. Whatever ya want."

The little girl watched Hauru, her eyes shinning. It was times like this that Hachiko didnt understand this strange man. He seemed to care for her but always kept his guard up around her, putting up a front, but sometimes it was almost like that vail would drop and she would see a softer, kinder side to him. Hachiko was sure of it. Hauru Inuzuka was a strange man.

She couldnt help her eyes from looking at his lopsided smile, a tug at her brain told her she had seen that smile before. In fact the more she looked at him the more she thought he looked familar.

Just who was he?

Kakashi had been walking to the market when he saw her, his eyes widened at the state of the little girl. She looked so different.

Hachiko was leaner and more toned than she was three weeks pryer. Her hair had gotten longer, now touching her shoulders. The bangs that had once cover half of her face had been whacked off until they rested on her eyebrows. But the most shocking change was the way she carried herself. No longer was she hunched with her head ducked as she walked through the crowds. Now she had her head raised with her shoulders squared, an air of confidence around her that made citizens pause to appraise her with awe. She looked like a tiny shinobi, a force to be reckoned with.

A glint of metal on her upper arm caught his attention as it blinded him slightly from the sun reflecting off of it.

Hachiko was a genin now, the Hitai-ate on her person proving it. Kakashi felt his jaw drop in shock. She had passed the exam and now was that the same level as him at the same age. How much training did she do to get there? When did she get so strong? Why hadnt he noticed it before?

Kakashi felt a new ugly emotion creeping up his spine. The bitter feeling of jealousy. Hachiko, the girl who hadnt wanted to be a Shinobi, was now on his level in a matter of a few weeks. He turned to stalk into a grocery store without a second glance in her direction.

'...Hachiko...'

The coming months flew by quickly, much to Hauru's pleasure. He had never been a patient person by nature. He long missed the days of coming home from missions and relaxing but those were gone now. And if he were honest he actually enjoyed having Hachiko around his two bedroom apartment. He had never realised how lonely it was before now and how Hachiko seemed to chase away those feelings in him so easily.

In the beginning his reasoning for taking guardianship of her had been selfish. Still were actually, but now he saw her fully and saw the potential for a great Kunoichi in her. Little Hachiko was family by blood, his niece, and he had been curious to see who she was. By his own foolhardyness he had asked the Hokage and ended up saddled with her. He hadnt been pleased but now as he watched her getting stronger and growing her self esteem he was proud to have been given the chance to raise her.

Hauru wasnt thrilled by her way of picking up on peoples personalities, his if he were being correct, and found that people were right when they told him he was annoying. Hachiko had luckily enough not taken up all hisspeech habits but had chosen him as her role model in a way. Though he wasnt sure she even knew that she was doing it. Hachiko was lonely by nature, much like himself, so it was easy for both of them to cling to the other in times of need. They didnt cry or lose their cool they simply would find the other and sit there quietly for moral support. Hauru hadnt liked it at first, not in the slightest. But Hachiko had never spoken of it or taunted him because of it.

All in all they grew to enjoy the other. Accept them as parts of their lives. Hauru knew how much she missed the Hatakes, it was obvious in the way she would scan the market place for them in the beginning. Or the times when theyd be walking home and Hachiko's feet would be drawn back to that house. The way her face would light up when she heard their names. How her eyes brightened when she thought she saw them in town.

Hauru didnt like it but had allowed her to continue on with this codependent way of being until one day she stopped searching for them in crowds. Stopped trying to walk back to their house. Her face didnt brighten at their names anylonger.

The Hatakes after that day never came to see her or keep in contact. It had broken her heart but Hachiko didnt wallow in it like Hauru thought she would. The little girl just grit her teeth and pretended it didnt hurt until the ache finally stopped.

Hachiko was growing up, maybe too quickly, but she was growing.

Hauru wanted to test her new found strength towards the Hatakes, it was childish but he was jealous of the loyalty she had shown them so far. So he set up a trap of some sorts.

He'd send Hachiko on an errand at the same time Kakashi and Sakumo went into town for their evening walks. Hauru was hoping for a good outcome, maybe Hachiko be hateful, a geneiune reaction that would be normal for the circumstances.

Hachiko walked along the road outside of town, she didnt know why Hauru had sent her this way but trusted his judgement -not really- enough to follow through with it.

It was only when she heard familiar voices on the breeze that she really began to question Hauru's motives. Scowling around to the trees near by, knowing he was there watching. He had to be, he was too curious to not watch his demented plan fall into place.

With a heavy sigh Hachiko straightened her back and walked along towards the two people headed her way. They had noticed her as well, most likely by scent. It hurt seeing them, she felt the sting of betrayal but swallowed it down as she came face to face with Sakumo and Kakashi. Sakumo looked pleasently surprised but Kakashi stared blankly at her as if she was a random stranger.

"Hello Hachiko, how are you?"

Hachiko blinked at him before answering while shoving her hands in her pockets with a small yawn.

"Im fine, thanks. Hows life going for ya, Hatake-san?"

Sakumo's eyes widened slightly at her formal name drop. Kakashi answered then, his arms crossing over his chest while giving her the beginnings of a glare.

"Were perfectly fine."

Hachiko glanced over at Kakashi, her heart seemed to be squeezing its self as she tried to remain neutral on the outside. She could see that whatever bond they all had shared was on the edge now. It broke her heart but now wasnt the time for tears. Hauru had told her that Shinobi dont cry, dont show weakness to others. And with Hauru probably watching she decided to give him a show while getting the satisfaction of making the Hatakes squrim.

"Yeah? Thats just great. Welp, not that this hasnt been just peachy, but i got shit to do. See ya around Hatake-san."

With a halfsmile she went to step around them but Sakumos large hand rested on the top of her head making her freeze mid-step.

"Im sorry, Hachiko."

Hachiko struggled to control her breathing, she wanted nothing more than to cling to his leg like she once had and cry for him to hold her. But she couldnt anymore. She wasnt a little defenceless girl, now she could handle herself. A cold tingle up her spine made her eyes narrow in annoyance. Who was he to assume she needed an apology? And why was he even apologizing in the first place?

A slap rang out, echoing of the tree line around the three people on the street. Sakumo stared in shock, wrist stinging from the back hand that Hachiko delivered. When she lifted her head he expected the black slitted eyes but they were bright crimson and burning with anger.

"Dont touch me."

Hachiko clenched her fists at her sides, trying to gather her self control but failing miserably. She tried taking deep breaths and it was working until a hand shot out and shoved her back a step.

The owner of that hand didnt say a word but the glare she recieved rang loud a clear.

"You ingrate, we took you in and this is how you thank us?"

The white haired girl felt her heart rip. Its not that she wasnt thankful but theyre rejection to help her or even see her after all this time had secretly made so much damage to her already withered trust of people that it had all but broken her insides. It wasnt a pain she was used to and over time had learned to control but seeing them had opened the flood gates wide. Hachiko swore as she stared into the almost unrecognizable eyes of Kakashi to never again allow anyone into her life fully. Because humans are just plan evil and cruel.

Hachiko's bravo faultered, her eyes glistened with unshed tears and her lips turned down in the corners barely noticeable to the untrained eye, it only lasted a moment before she smoothed them over into a controled mask. Her eyes becoming unattached and unfocused as she continued walking as if nothing happened.

Kakashi took a step after her on instinct, his hand flexing to reach toward her. In that moment he felt a crippling agony choke him. This new feeling made his whole being ache, even his toes. It was a pulsating throb that traveled from his chest to his limbs and no matter what he did or how he breathed it still hurt. Almost like a phantom pain.

"Whats wrong with me?"

He hadnt realised hed said that aloud until his fathers voice made him look up, seeing the pain he felt reflected in his fathers face.

"You care, Crow-boy. Having a heart is a big responsibility, you have to nurture it as it decides who you care for."

"But why is it so heavy all the time?"

Sakumo crouched down, smiling sadly at his son as he ruffled his hair softly. His voice was heavy with raw emotions Kakashi couldnt understand.

"Its heavy from all the love you want to give. It gets lighter when you meet people you can share that love with be it friends, family or even a true kindred soul that was made just for you by Kami."

Kakashi stared down at his chest with thoughtful eyes.

"Where you and Okka-san true kindred souls?"

A small heartfelt chuckle escaped Sakumo as his eyes grew misty, the far off look in them as he remembered his wife.

"We were. I miss her everyday."

Sakumo turned his eyes on his son with a deep seeded love. A large warm hand rested on Kakashis shoulder as Sakumo used his other hand to poke gently at Kakashi's heart.

"Sometimes in life things get messy and complicated no matter how wonderful it was before. People dont live forever and we all have set time on this journey of ours. You need to learn when to forgive and forget because if you dont one day youll find yourself all alone in this big world with no one to give all that love to."

Sakumo's voice took on a lighter tone, a wisp of sadness was detected by Kakashi's sharp hearing.

"I would give just about anything to see your mother one more time. I lost her and i cant even remember the last thing i said to her. Do you understand, son?"

Kakashi nodded and Sakumo stood after ruffling his hair. The older Hatake contined on a little ways before turning back to find Kakashi right where he left him. He paused with a small smile as Kakashi tilted his head, his little hand reaching up to place it over his heart.

Kakashi watching Hachiko's form continue walking, her shoulders shaking. When she was finally gone from his sight Kakashi straightened his back and turned to find his father looking towards the sky with a smile.

'Talking to Mother.'

Kakashi too turned his eyes skyward, a small flutter in his stomach as he closed his eyes to imagine his mother sitting in the garden like she always did. She'd wear that straw floppy hat he had given her for Christmas and watch the clouds together as they waited for Father to come home.

'Okka-san what should i do? Im kinda lost.'

Just then a mighty breeze kicked up and Kakashi opened his eyes to laugh at the way his father's ponytail was wrapped around his head.

"I think shes telling us something. Knowing her its something obvious but you know we never were any good with obvious."

Kakashi smiled with nod. But the more he thought on it that more he could understand.

'Thanks Mother.'

AN:

Hey sorry for the late posting. Me and my son came down with a chest cold and anyone that has children know that a coughing baby is extremely nerve-racking. I apologize again for the lateness. Hope you enjoyed.

-Savage