Sorry for the wait. Exams were hectic but they're almost done now, just got one more then I'm all done. XD
Thanks for the reviews in the last chapter and for the suggestions. I'll type them up and add them as omakes at the bottom of future chapters with some other omakes.
A big thank you to my beta Lil Miss Morningstar who has written her own Naruto fic and you guys should go check it out. It's called Looking Up into the Sky.
The pain of a new day
Chapter 14
Kakashi reappeared inside the nursery where Gaara was waiting for him. The woman that usually cared for Gaara Junior stiffened but otherwise kept her surprise to herself. "Back for good this time?" Gaara intoned from his spot by the door frame where he was watching the girl like a hawk since he still hadn't decided whether or not he trusted her. Poor girl. It was no wonder she was always so jumpy.
"Yes. Everything is sorted." Kakashi replied walking over to where Naru lay and picking up the wiggling child. "In terms of events, Iruka graduated the genin exams with an oddly lower mark than I expected him to but I think that was his own doing. Wonder what he's up to. Anyways, my younger self in now in possession of both of Obito's eyes, just like me. Naruto has the Kyuubi sealed within him while still having both his parents around to protect him. Jiraiya is still trying to get my Icha Icha books. The villagers think I'm on holiday. Minato thinks he has me under his thumb and the other hidden villages are growing restless. Story of my life."
"I can't imagine why one Shinobi is making such a fuss." Gaara replied. "Even if that Shinobi has a lot of information. It's not like you're a Jinchuriki."
"It doesn't matter. They'll get over it. For now, our primary objective is reconnaissance. I've been thinking about something. I'll talk more about it when we're alone." Kakashi shrugged, content to give his attention to the little bundle in his arms. He really had missed the odd little baby.
"Is he your son?" A timid voice asked, her gaze not meeting Kakashi's. She also knew better than to rat on Kakashi and Gaara. The red haired Suna nin was very persuasive when he wanted to be.
"Well I'm supposed to be raising him." Kakashi grinned back. Gaara did not miss the fact that Kakashi never openly claimed Naru as his son. Was that his way of making up to his sensei for not telling him the truth about the boy? Gaara highly doubted that the Fourth Hokage of Konoha did not at least suspect that the child was his son. He just hadn't said anything about it to Kakashi so Gaara concluded that it was only speculation and nothing more.
He also didn't think that 'they'll get over it' was the correct way to approach the growing tension among the neighbouring Villages. But he wasn't entirely sure what to do about it either. Give them what they wanted? What did they want anyway? Kakashi's death or Kakashi's secrets?
Gaara watched silently as Kakashi gave Naru a once over and the girl in the room finished dressing his younger self. It was odd, seeing the child and knowing it was himself. He wondered if he could perhaps convince his father to allow the younger Gaara to see his siblings. He closed his eyes as he remembered that his siblings had taken in the fear of villages and had learned to fear him as well. They were still young though, young enough that perhaps they would be curious before they were fearful.
However Gaara Junior was still too young, just under a year. Kankuro and Temari were also still too young. Neither would fully understand the danger of the sand. He could wait for now and risk the fear taking root in his siblings, or he could start forming the bonds of family. He'd seen young siblings like that. Parents hovering close by as the older sibling carefully held the younger infant. Perhaps Kakashi would help him in this regard. Although the idea of Kakashi as a parent was laughable even if he was in charge of Naru. Such things were, understandably, things that only ever happened once in a blue moon. Gaara wished he'd been staring at the moon the night they had decided to create Naru.
Kakashi placed Naru into the crib that Gaara had been placed in when the girl had finished her duties. She had left without a word, her fear evident. It was a wonder Gaara had managed to remain sane at all. He'd been surrounded by the bitterness of fear his whole life. Gaara's father had not seen fit to forbid anyone from knowing the truth about Gaara like the Third Hokage had with Naruto. It was a shame really and Gaara had paid many times over for that. Word of his demon had spread quickly and there had always been enemies for the young Shinobi. Never peace.
Thank the Gods for Naruto and that big fat mouth of his as well as his hard head.
"No one comes here except for that girl, but she lives here too. I also stay here." Gaara said quietly as he watched his younger self take in the world around him. He was always like that, silent and observant. Gaara was surprised when Kakashi lifted the small boy into his arms, straightening the clothing he'd ruffled as he'd lifted the child who seemed just as startled at being picked up. In Gaara Junior's tiny hands was a stuffed bear that was clutched to his tiny person as though afraid that too would leave him all alone.
"Well little Gaara, you want to see more than this room?" Kakashi grinned at the child, not at all worried about sudden sand attacks. "You wouldn't believe it kiddo, from the way you've been living so far, but there are several other rooms in this place and even more outside of it. You'd think that your older self would show you but perhaps he thinks you're happier in here. I dunno, I'll ask him. Naruto was born a little while ago. You don't know it yet but you two are going to be great friends . . ."
Gaara watched in amazement as Kakashi had a long one sided conversation with the little red haired child, who listened without fail. Whether he understood what was being said to him or not was another story but Kakashi kept talking, keeping his tone and chakra friendly and comforting.
For the first time Gaara witnessed his younger self smile. He realised that Kakashi was trying to expose younger Gaara to something other than fear and hatred. Children needed to be touched, simply to know that you were there. Gaara never had that. They'd all been too afraid of him.
"Thank-you." Gaara muttered.
"Huh?" Kakashi asked, turning his attention to the older Gaara with confusion and breaking off his little conversation of nonsense.
"For doing that. I hadn't realised." Gaara explained awkwardly, gesturing to the younger red head in Kakashi's arms. Some things were so instinctual that one did not realise that it was happening at all. He'd accepted his life of fear and loneliness a long time ago and as such had forgotten about the small things.
"No biggy. You've been stuck with Naru for a while so it's only fair right?" Kakashi grinned.
"So what was it you wanted to talk about?" Gaara asked with a cough, still not comfortable with normal everyday conversation that didn't involve killing that someone or other.
"Uh, yes. Well for the next little while this is going to be our base of operations. Your father will make sure it's well guarded so we won't have to be as vigilant. The people's fear of the Shukaku will make sure it's private, aside for the girl, but I'm sure you can win her over with your charm and good looks." Kakashi especially enjoyed the shock that one got him. Gaara appreciated the fact that Kakashi had said fear of the Shukaku and not him. It was thoughtful. "From here we'll take turns between guarding the brats and gathering information. Our main objectives are Orochimaru and the Akatsuki. I've been wondering though, between the Akatsuki and Kabuto, dead Shinobi had become troublesome. We either need to completely destroy the Shinobi we kill so that no trace of their DNA remains or we need to recruit them for when the time comes that we'll need them."
"I agree. Dead Shinobi have never before been a problem but that was before Kabuto. Why don't we just kill the idiot and be done with it?" Gaara almost growled. "While he's still nothing but a powerless child."
"I thought we'd wait till after those lovely chunin exams. See we can use that to calculate just how much our interference with the Kyuubi attack will have changed the events of our past and their future." Kakashi grinned, now looking at little Gaara, his voice going all gooey and annoying.
"Alright. If we're faced with an opponent that had been resurrected by Kabuto we'll just have to make the decision from there based upon whether they can be swayed over to our side and just how useful they'll be to us." Gaara replied with a small nod.
"Harsh but adequate. Don't you think so little Gaara." Kakashi's voice had gone all gooey again. Once the jonin had figured out that babies didn't understand you he'd caught on rather quickly to the 'talking like an idiot in front of the child' fad all adults seemed to get when in front of babies and it was quickly getting on Gaara's nerves.
"Cut that out will you!" Gaara snapped and his younger self actually giggled. "But why, Gaara likes it?" Kakashi drawled. "I do NOT like it." Gaara snapped which only made Kakashi chuckle and younger Gaara giggle again.
"You know, if we play our cards right. We can end this war by the chunin exams." Kakashi mused.
"How do you figure?"
"Well we killed the Akatsuki but then Kabuto managed to revive them. Kabuto will be at the chunin exams. Take care of Orochimaru and Kabuto there then we can spend the rest of our days happily flushing out Sound ninja rats and Akatsuki bastards as Naruto so eloquently describes them." Kakashi cooed down at the younger Gaara.
"I understand." Gaara all but snarled, pointedly ignoring the fact that Kakashi was doing it again. "However, Orochimaru and Kabuto were only ever at those specific exams because of Sasuke. Even if Kabuto was in the other exams, who's to say that should we prevent the Uchiha massacre that Orochimaru will even bother going to those one's at all?"
"Simple. Orochimaru likes quality. He won't settle for a Sharingan just because it's easy to get a hold of. No, he'll go for the two brothers, Itachi and Sasuke. I'm planning on keeping Itachi close by so he'll probably go for Sasuke yet again. We'll just be there to stop him." Kakashi replied.
"As you assume." Gaara deadpanned.
"As I assume." Kakashi agreed knowing the meaning of those words. This was all speculation and as such it could all change in an instant.
"However, that is what we'll be gathering information for so that we may be able to make better assumptions." Gaara added thoughtfully.
"Lovely way of putting it." Kakashi agreed with a grin before promptly handing the mini Gaara to the older one and saying cheerfully, "I think he needs changing."
Kakashi was actually quite amazed at how peaceful Gaara seemed here in Suna. Kakashi himself was boiling but that couldn't be helped. He silently apologised to Naru for leaving him here for so long but it wasn't like the boy was old enough to understand the sentiment behind the words so he kept them to himself.
Gaara approached him about three days after he had arrived with a rather odd but important request, to Gaara that was. Kakashi could see that this was something the nineteen year old felt very strongly about and as such he didn't question it, simply obeyed. Together they sat down and planned it all out, taking into account as many variables as their collective minds could, even if it was a little hard since neither of them had an actual understanding of the topic. The topic?
Toddlers.
Two days later they were ready, plan set and waiting to be put into action. Kakashi watched as Gaara suggested family bonding to the Kazekage. Of course Kakashi had been disguised as a mere pupil of Gaara's at the time, a weak one at that so as not to raise suspicions about his presence. Kankuro was two years older than Gaara and Temari was three years older. Kakashi didn't know how Gaara planned for family bonding when they were so small but he left the nineteen year old to do whatever it was he was doing. It was amusing to watch though.
Gaara's reasoning to his father was that giving Gaara a reason to fight for the village would make it easier for him to control the sand and therefore his family bonding would come in handy. While he had proposed the idea, he'd sounded incredibly cold and uncaring. He'd only stated what could be gained in terms of value and Kakashi figured out that this is how the Kazekage saw the world, in shades of value. He didn't care about things that he didn't see any worth in. Like the way he had kept giving Kakashi glares throughout the whole meeting even though Kakashi kept his head bowed and never spoke a word, sticking to the shadows. He had seen Kakashi as weak and a waste of time.
Nevertheless the Kazekage agreed and that was how the weekly 'play dates' came about. Obviously, since Temari was the only one who had any sort of understanding, a remarkable amount since she was only three or so, she was the one that seemed to take charge of the situation. Kankuro appeared to be used to her bossy treatment and happily went along with it, since the poor boy really didn't know any better.
Gaara had had to instruct them, carefully reminding them that young Gaara should not be startled or hurt since he had the sand that would always protect him. Temari was interested in Naru but she knew there were no family ties. That didn't mean she left the poor child alone though. She fussed over him just as much as she fussed over her two brothers.
And that was when Kakashi finally understood Gaara's reasoning for starting this so early even though he'd have to be far more observant, work so much harder to make sure everyone was safe. Temari and Kankuro were far too young to understand the fear the people had of their brother. Sure they felt it and even had their doubts in the beginning but they were not yet old enough to have adopted the same attitude. They were still young enough and curious enough about this mysterious baby brother of theirs to get to know him, to get near enough to actually play with him, even if Gaara himself was far too young to participate much.
Once a week had changed to twice and soon that grew to three times a week. Kakashi was growing so used to being surrounded by small people that he hardly flinched in their presence anymore. The girl that had been charged with caring for Gaara had grown less timid and seemed to actually see that Gaara wasn't the monster she had first believed him to be. She started to show affection for the small child and this pleased the older Gaara greatly, even if he didn't show it.
Gaara and Kakashi didn't just focus their attention on the sand siblings, whom they had begun to train as well. Since they already knew their strengths it was easy. (The Kazekage had made one request, Gaara's ninjutsu training was to be left to him.) The two Shinobi from the future had been doing as planned, each one taking turns to venture out of Suna and gather the information they needed. It was more Kakashi than Gaara but one of them was always with Naru and the Sand siblings. Stealth was of the essence and so far no one had caught on.
Naru had been receiving training as well. As soon as he'd started walking he'd been roped into it by the Sand siblings who had come to see Naru as a younger brother, who usually ended up being the butt of their jokes. Odd jokes in Kakashi's opinion, mainly because he didn't get toddler humour. Gaara thought it was funny though so he figured it was Sand Shinobi humour.
The training wasn't out right training but rather turned into silly games, like hide and seek with genjutsu involved and playing tag with discretely placed weights that none of the children knew about. The weights themselves weren't very strong, just enough to not be noticed yet still have an effect and were gradually strengthened over time. The girl that usually looked after younger Gaara turned out to be a genin who was training in the art of wind manipulation similar to what Temari had used and Gaara managed to convince her to teach Temari as well, only without the wind and only the fan for now. Kankuro was still too young in Gaara's opinion for puppet master training and Kakashi didn't question it as Gaara was the expert here.
Gaara and Kakashi had also taken great pains to convince Naru in a highly roundabout way to wear a mask, like Kakashi's. They wanted to hide his whiskers and part of the reason Kakashi had decided to do his information gathering away from Konoha was so that no one could make the connection between the Yondiame's son and Naru.
Before the two knew it, it had been almost two years since Kakashi had left the Leaf, well gone on an extended holiday. They had also changed the way they had started to gather their information. There was only so much one could gather by simply watching. Open reactions could also be useful and that was what the two were aiming for now. Kakashi had made sure that he was spotted, several times and in several of the hidden villages. Gaara remained hidden though. He was enjoying his false identity, telling Kakashi frequently that he did not envy him in the slightest.
There was also the Kage meeting coming up. Kakashi knew that it had been moved closer, and closer still so that they could all discuss a topic that was making every Hidden Village leader very nervous, Kakashi Hatake.
Minato rubbed his eyes tiredly as he sat at his place during the meeting. He hated these darn things and this was his first one! They'd discussed so many mundane and unnecessary things! Minato knew exactly what they really wanted to talk about and hell he wanted to get to that too, not really but it was something that had to be gotten out the way, and soon. The tension was building and that didn't bode well in a room full of tentative alliances. They had only just ended a war not two years prior. It was still a sore sport.
"Alright. Enough about the weather predictions and possible, very vague possibilities at that, for food shortages. Can we please just get to the reason we're all really here." Minato finally stated when everyone looked to him when it was his turn to comment on the possible food shortage, a shortage Minato was convinced wasn't real at all, just everyone playing nice.
Minato was the youngest there and his inexperience was something that really grated the other Kages. He could see it but they would just have to get over it. Sarutobi was here as well, only he was more background and only added his opinions to Minato and not all that often either much to Minato's annoyance.
"Alright then. The next topic of discussion is Kakashi Hatake."
Minato really hated the way they didn't make the distinction between the two. Younger Kakashi was not an issue so they should make a point to add something like Future or Older. Not just Kakashi Hatake. It made him feel like they were gunning for both of them.
"Since Hatake is of the Leaf, and has more personal connections I don't think Yondaime Hokage should have much say in this discussion. Hatake is after all, his student."
"That's absurd! I have about as much control over that man as you do." Minato stated, his voice calm but inside he was livid. "In case you've forgotten he deliberately kept events that affected the Leaf substantially to himself. He has no inclination to tell me anything and all our efforts to learn anything have been fruitless. Everything we do know is because he's allowed us to and everything he says has a reason. Nothing is given without cause." Not entirely true. He knew that if he asked Kakashi out right then the other would not lie to him. He just hadn't asked.
"So you're saying that you cannot control a potential threat such as Hatake. Is it wise to even let him live at all?"
"I believe Hatake is more valuable to us alive." The Mizukage said quietly, her face thoughtful. Apparently, there had been some sort of internal conflict after Tobi had been killed in Konoha. From what little information that Minato had been able to gather, the Yondaime Mizukage had been controlled for most of his rein. Mei, as far as Minato was concerned, was a far better Kage than Yagura. More level headed and less inclined to randomly kill people.
"For information." Minato stated drily. "Whether he is from the future or not, Hatake is still a Shinobi of Konoha." He added firmly.
"That does not appear to matter much. After all, we capture ninja from other villages all the time. Why should this be any different?" A's gruff tone asked. That man grated on Minato's nerves. They had a standing dislike for each other as well as a grudging respect. Each one was willing to do what was best for their respective villages.
"Killing him or capturing him won't be easy. He is a man who has come from a time where he is desperate enough to attempt something as ludicrous as time travel. That means he's survived through whatever horrors made him so desperate. He is not an opponent to be trivial about." The Yondaime Kazekage added quietly. "For the moment, Yondaime Hokage is perhaps our best hope of keeping the Shinobi in check. After all, he is the man's Kage and Sensei. However, can the Hokage perform this task without fail?"
Minato didn't reply immediately. Now that his attention was focused on the Kazekage, he also noticed those around the Kazekage. One of them was a Shinobi that was hunched over, with a heavy cloak obscuring their features. This was a familiar Shinobi and he realised with a start that it was Gaara. However, Kakashi had told him that the boy's father knew nothing of his true identity.
Behind Gaara was another Shinobi that made Minato choke on the water he'd just taken a sip of. He coughed and spluttered. The gall of that man! Sneaking into a Kage meeting! Minato wanted nothing more than to throttle him and demand when he was coming home. It had been two years already!
But he forced himself to remain composed after receiving some odd looks. He waved a hand and smiled brightly. "Nothing to worry about. I was just remembering a scene my sensei was describing to me as his idea for his newest book."
At his statement there were some disgusted hisses and surprisingly some murmurs of interest.
Minato pushed that all aside to focus on the meeting, only now he was painfully aware of the Shinobi standing by the Kazekage, an evil gleam in his eye and his henged face grinned mischievously.
"So Minato, can you keep your dog on a leash?" that fence-sitter bastard from Iwa asked sweetly but his intentions were anything but. He hated Minato with a passion and really, the feeling was mutual.
"Kakashi is a Shinobi of Konoha and as such he obeys my orders. If I told him to do something he'd do it. He will not question it. He will not fail it. He is a Shinobi of exceptional skill. Can you say the same of your own Shinobi?" Minato replied back just as sweetly.
"Then where is he now?" Mei asked. A reasonable question to be sure and one that couldn't be answered with 'right over there'.
"He wanted to go on holiday. Most don't realise this, but Hatake has been a Shinobi of the Leaf since he was five years old. I think that at the age of thirty-three, one can ask for a holiday and get it after serving for that long." Minato replied casually. "Actually, I have a question of my own. What business is it of the other villages when it involves Kakashi Hatake? Why is it an issue at all?"
There was silence at his question for a full minute before A finally spoke up. He wasn't one to sugar coat things and that was one of the reason's Minato respected him. After all each Kage probably had their own reasons for wanting Kakashi either dead or captured.
"A ninja with knowledge of the future presents a complication for the other villages. Everything we plan to do, every mission we take, we have to wonder if that ninja knows about it, if they know that we plan to make some action or other. It's actually quite frustrating. He's your Shinobi so you don't have to worry about these things."
"Do you really think that I do not think of such things myself? That it does not cause me the same amount of endless worrying as it does for you?" Minato smiled sadly. "It is perhaps worse for me because I would expect Kakashi to have the best interest of his comrades at heart and as such would tell me whether the mission I had assigned to that team three weeks ago was going to meet an ambush leaving no survivors. But then I have to realise that Kakashi is but one Shinobi who couldn't possibly know the outcome of every mission, of every choice ever made by merely his own village. As Kages yourselves, you know how much is hidden from the Shinobi who serve under you. Why would one Shinobi automatically know all Konoha's secrets, never mind that of the other villages?"
Minato paused to consider his own words. "I have to wonder whether Kakashi would step in to stop something as trivial as a few skirmishes between two teams from different villages that would end badly. Would he care enough to actually do something about it? Or is he only concerned about events that would affect the whole village? So far, all he's done is cause me headaches. The Kyuubi disaster was one that might have been avoided had he said something but he didn't. He, for all intents and purposes, is thoroughly unmotivated to interfere with the events of our time."
"Why would you not simply order him to tell you?" Iwa again. That old croak really ought to die sometime soon.
"Because I don't want to."
Minato's quiet statement was met with an uproar of disbelief. They couldn't understand.
"Everyone here wants clear answers with no room for confusion. They want to know everything right this moment . . . yet that's not the way life works. You don't get to know what tomorrow will bring and just because I'm here that doesn't mean it's suddenly okay to find out when you're going to die and how, because really that's what most of you are worried about. In life, you don't get to know the why's and how's of all the things in your life just because someone knows the answers." Kakashi paused to look up at the ceiling. He was silent for a full minute before he continued, still staring at the ceiling. "I don't want your perception of the future, based on what I tell you, to change the way you make decisions. There are many things that can change just by a simply event and should I tell you exactly how things are supposed to play out, you'll let that rule your decisions. Everything will be made with the thought in mind of how it'll change what is to come, like reading the last chapter of a book before you've even started it."
No, the other Kage didn't understand. How could they when they didn't see how truly special Kakashi was.
"If you won't do something about him, then perhaps it'll be interesting to see what happens when the younger Kakashi Hatake, one much less skilled, is targeted." Iwa bastard. May you eternally burn in hell with a runny tummy and no toilet paper.
"Oh, you can try, but little Kakashi is so much harder to kill than one would initially believe. He likes his ANBU mask for all the wrong reasons." Kushina said suddenly. Up till now she hadn't uttered a word.
"So what? Is the child as unstable as the adult?" the Kazekage mused. "Like a rabid dog that should be put down."
"More like a trained dog ready to bite at a moment's notice."
"Kakashi. You shouldn't be here." Minato sighed. The shadow clone of Hatake was grinning at the gathered Kage with an odd familiarity that was probably all too true. Meaning he'd spent too much time around the people in this room.
"Aww, but sensei. I was supposed to send in my report two days ago and I was told I could find you here. I just thought you'd like to know that Suna is still as hot as ever, Mist is still far too wet and Iwa still hates Konoha." Kakashi pouted before tossing him a scroll.
"Why is it covered in bits of raw macaroni?" Minato asked, holding the scroll gingerly.
"Hahaha, the kids thought it was fun to play with my stuff. That idiot red head thought it would be funny to teach them noodle art or whatever that is." Kakashi explained and for once Minato found his excuse to be slightly plausible. He did have a two year old Naruto after all.
"Red head? Kids?" Mei asked.
"Long story." Kakashi waved away. "Been staying at this inn where there's a red head and kids."
"Didn't seem so long when you say it like that." Minato muttered under his breath.
"Oh, sensei. Do you know where I can get a pet monkey? That's the reason I came here." Kakashi asked, his grin hopeful.
"A pet monkey, why on earth would you want one of those?" Minato asked incredulously.
"Well the kid that was gluing the macaroni to my scroll wouldn't give it back till I promised him something. He said that he wanted a pet monkey. I told him that we have plenty of pets back at home, you know in the forest of death." Kakashi explained.
All the Shinobi from Konoha started to sweat drop before Kushina stated very comfortingly which confused Kakashi. "Sweetie, you do know that there aren't really any animals in the forest of death right? We just tell that to the genin so that they'll stay away from it." In fact it was so that the ANBU had somewhere to meet other than their headquarters without fear for being discovered.
"There aren't?" Kakashi for some reason looked utterly stricken at this. "But what about Fluffy?"
"Who's Fluffy?" Minato found himself compelled to ask with a raised brow.
"I'm more worried about what." Kushina muttered under her breath.
"He's my pet from the forest of death. We go waaaaaaaay back to when I was a genin. I feed him all the time." Kakashi replied with a sagely nod.
Minato leaned back a little to look at the ANBU behind him. "Are there any animals in the forest of death?"
"No Lord Hokage. Nothing dangerous. Only the usual forest dwelling creatures." Was the curt toneless reply.
"Want to meet him?" Kakashi asked with a wide excited grin.
"Sure." Minato replied thinking that it couldn't be more than a squirrel or something and that Kakashi would show him back at home. How wrong he'd been.
Kakashi disappeared with a quick hold on.
"Is he going to bring it here?" the Kazekage replied his tone conveying a hint of worry.
Minato wanted to slam his head against the nearest flat surface. This meeting had gotten way off track. Please let it be a squirrel, please let it be a squirrel . . .
When Kakashi reappeared in the room there wasn't a squirrel with him. Minato was vaguely impressed with the feat of Kakashi reappearing in the room at all seeing as they weren't in Konoha and teleporting jutsus weren't all that useful for distance unless they were modified, such as the Flying Thunder God technique.
"See? Fluffy." Kakashi grinned before gesturing to the not so fluffy giant Onbaa.
"Is that an Onbaa?" Kushina squealed in excitement.
"Onbaa? Is that what he is? Aren't those really rare?" Kakashi replied.
Kushina hopped over the desk and ran over to the giant white furred thing, that well, didn't look at all happy to be there. A soft growling vibrated throughout the room and Minato found himself gulping and leaning back slightly. The other Kage were watching in interest as Kushina and Kakashi talked about the creature in an almost loving manner and how the Hokage was starting to turn pale. Just what exactly was an Onbaa?
"Hay big brother, can I go play with the Onbaa too?" B suddenly asked, his eyes shining in adoration.
"S-sure." A replied while B whooped and approached the creature. B spoke to the creature in his usual fashion, amazing those present apart from A and Kakashi with his ability to speak to and understand animals.
"Alright Kakashi, I think it's time to take Fluffy home. He's starting to look grumpy." Minato stated nervously when the growling began to subtly increase. Minato coughed into his fist to hide his groan when three Awwws chorused back at him. Kushina was going to be nearly impossible to please for a few weeks.
"Say good bye to your new friends Fluffy." Kakashi said very seriously to the behemoth of a pet. When the hell did Kakashi get that thing anyways?
"ONBAA!" Oh, so it actually made a noise and apparently that was where it got its name from. Surprisingly the gruff noise that was more of a growl actually sounded somewhat like a farewell.
Kakashi waved before disappearing with the large animal.
"You know I'm starting to think that Kakashi's never really had a very healthy perception of the world." The ANBU behind him muttered. "Perhaps giving him the Wolf mask wasn't such a bad idea after all."
Minato chose not to comment. If Kakashi could summon that beast to the battle field it would mean a lot of trouble for the enemy. Minato wasn't clueless about those animals and their reputations. He also wasn't oblivious to what Kakashi was doing. He'd just showed the council of Kages that he had ways of protecting himself without even having to lift a finger. By stating he had the thing since a genin, which he probably had, it told the council that this beast was also a pet of the younger Kakashi. Crazy, but lethally intelligent.
He had just ensured the one thing that was sought after in the Shinobi world more than information, which was what they wanted from Kakashi, the fear of attacking.
Very clever Kakashi.
"Shall we continue with the meeting?" Minato asked, shaking everyone from their dazes.
"What was that thing?" A asked with some interest. Kumo was known for its animal sanctuary.
"It's called an Onbaa. A fearsome creature that up till now was believed to be nothing but a legend in Konoha. It's not something to be taken lightly as most Shinobi would have difficulty in killing it. Even Jiraiya, whom apparently met one, said he almost died while confronting it." Minato skilfully left out the part where Jiraiya had been a genin at the time.
"And he keeps that thing as a pet?" Iwa bastard may you rot in the very bowels of hell.
"It seems so." Minato sighed, seeing that this wasn't going to be dropped any time soon.
"Amazing. Big Brother, we must get one." B said happily.
"Not now B. That creature is not native to our country." A replied while his brother went back to his spot behind him.
Kushina also hopped back over the desk and sat down again. "Awww Minato, I think he's cute. I want one too."
"And where are we supposed to find one much less put it?" Minato sighed, praying to any God that would listen that his wife would be reasonable about this.
"Kakashi found one when he was a genin. It can't be too hard." Kushina's eyes were alight with determination and excitement. He knew that look all too well and he really didn't like it. "Just think! Naruto will love it." The boy probably would too.
"What if it eats him?" Minato asked carefully, his own face going green at the thought.
"Don't be silly Minato, why would it do that?"
"I don't know maybe because it's a ferocious man eating beast." Minato replied with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
"Oh yeah." Kushina pouted. "If forgot about that part."
"I propose we take a break and get back to this meeting some time later." Minato sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I second that." Mei stated.
"I agree." The Kazekage stated tonelessly. Done and dusted. Three out of five meant it was happening. Now all Minato needed to do was find a nice quiet room with a sound proof seal on it and a nice pile of comfy pillows that would be marvellously suited for screaming one's frustrations into.
They were once again seated in the suffocating room with the annoying issues that still needed to be resolved. Kakashi Hatake still being the number one issue on that list.
"I would like to know when Hatake will be returning to Konoha." Mei asked with a slight inclination of her head. A bloody good question too, one that Minato truthfully didn't know how to answer.
"Well, he'd just been to Konoha. After all he just visited the forest of death." Minato replied with a cheerful smile that was met with glares. "Permanently? I suppose he'll return once he's gotten bored with his holiday." Or gotten bored with whatever scheme he's cooked up.
"What was in that report he gave you?" Iwa bastard that really needed to fall from his self-imagined high pedestal and into some dark deep pit of despair that held Ibiki within it.
Minato wanted to reply that it was none of his business but this meeting was more about convincing the other nations that attacking Konoha all because of one Shinobi was a bit of an over kill.
Instead the young blond Hokage reached into his vest and pulled out the macaroni covered scroll. He unrolled it and began to read "The Village Hidden in the Rain is well, how can I put this . . . is wet. It's always raining here – without fail – and while the buildings are interesting and very refreshing to see, I find that the rain tends to put a slight damper on things. For a village that is shrouded in rain all the time it sure has a lot of metallic buildings. I wonder how they keep them from rusting. It would be useful to know since I could then apply the same technique to my ninja tools instead of that messy oil we use. I also noticed that the rain is rather heavy on a Monday and even more so on a Wednesday. On a Saturday the rain is less than all the other days by exactly three millimetres. I measured. I think the rain knows what day of the week it is. Why it would make a difference is beyond me. I believe that I'll stay here until there's a break in the rain. I'm interested to see what the villagers do when that happens. I wonder where they do their washing since it's always raining. Where do they hang it out to dry? Not for the first time I have to be grateful that I live in Konoha since I'm not sure I like this much rain. My feet are starting to become constantly wrinkly. Like an old person or something. I did hear rumours that there's a group in here somewhere that opposes their leader. Kudos to them since any man that makes his followers live in perpetual rain is a bastard that deserves a thousand deaths. Have I mention how much I don't like rain? Every time it rains in Konoha it usually means something bad happened. I wonder why that is. Anyways this place is actually quite sad because despite the rain, there are still a lot of signs reminiscent of the Second Shinobi War. I know we, as Konoha, played a part in that and it's sad to think that we chose another village to be our battle ground. It's no wonder Hanzo is such a grouch.–"
"Alright. I think we've heard enough." Mei sighed, cutting off the rather dismal report. That was too bad it actually got better, more humorous. It was also a good thing because the report went on to explain about Hanzo and the Akatsuki. Apparently Danzou had been interfering there as well. As a result of this revelation, Minato was forced to conclude that he was going to have to do something about the man. It also revealed something about a man named Nagato, an old student of Jiraiya's who had been believed to have been dead. The Toad Sage had left an hour ago to go to the man at Kakashi's urging.
"So Hatake truly is on vacation?" the Kazekage asked.
To reply to his question, Minato briefly scanned over the report before reading out another part, "I really think that seeing the world's largest raindrop is overrated in a village filled with rain. It made the difficulty of getting inside the place, and let me just add that their security really is a bitch, rather anti-climactic. After all who wants to see the world's largest raindrop when it's constantly raining? I think next on my list I'm going to see the elemental nation's largest rice patty in the land of rice patties. Jiraiya highly recommended it for some reason. I think it's more to do with the bath houses than anything else really. Speaking of Jiraiya, he's still finding me at the oddest time. Today I saw a toad and I think it was one of his toads. It kept staring at me. Wonder what it wants. I even think it tried to eat me, or at least kidnap me. But I distracted it with some macaroni. Toads like food, it's weird but I'm not complaining. Still I wonder what it wanted."
"Did you have to read that?" A asked blandly.
"Well I guess it does answer the question." Mei reasoned. "Still, one must ask, does Hatake have ulterior motives? What I mean is that there have been troubling reports from all of the Hidden Villages, not just the Five Great Shinobi Nations."
"All these reports have stated was that he'd been spotted. There's no proof that he's done anything at all." The Raikage scoffed. Minato was beginning to like the man as well as respect him.
But those reports were troubling to Minato as well. He'd read them all and as A had pointed out, they said nothing more than times and locations. The lack of information didn't bother Minato at all. No, he was more concerned that there was information to begin with. He knew that even at the age Kakashi was now, he could move through a Hidden Village without being seen at all. This was only amplified by the fact that there had been no reports at all for a year and about four months. These reports only started flooding in, yes flooding, around three months ago. What was that man up to?
"We cannot assume that he's doing nothing. In fact due to the very nature of the situation we find ourselves in I believe it would be in our best interest if we assumed the worst and just dealt with it as such." This was from the Tsuchikage of Iwa. Typical. Those morons were still sore about Minato. Crawl into an insect invested cesspool of vermin with Danzou would you already!
"For all we know Kakashi could just be passing through." Minato stated with a shrug. He didn't believe his own words for a moment not that he let that show. He knew Kakashi well enough to know that he was up to something. Besides the sightings were too random to be simply passing through. There was no start or stop, a continuous sequence of places. He was literally everywhere and anywhere. It certainly did give them all reason to be worried.
Besides all that, he really welcomed anyone here to try tokill the future-nin. Something told him that they'd be about as successful as his own two year old son might be should he try.
"Honestly, do you really think that's the case?" Someone scoffed but it was muttered too low to be sure who had said it.
No, Minato didn't but he refused to admit as much. He might be the man's former teacher but he'd eat his own sealing scrolls if he ever knew what was going on in Kakashi Hatake's mind.
"You know he could be killing other Shinobi. We have no way of knowing which ninja that have died under mysterious circumstances or have yet to be found are not just Hatake's actions."
"Oh lay off. The number of dead and missing Shinobi have not increased at all since Kakashi Hatake's arrival so it's highly unlikely that it was the Leaf Shinobi at all." A argued.
A roar of noise greeted that statement and Minato did nothing to stop it. Everyone was yelling their own points, angrily proclaiming that they were correct.
"We can't just blame everything on Kakashi Hatake just because it appears convenient. If we adopt that attitude now, we will stop looking for the actual reason behind things. Actual crimes and things of worry will go unnoticed and it could potentially ruin us." Minato finally said when the noise had reached its peak and arguments were just repetitions. He'd said it slightly louder than what everyone was used to hearing from him so it got the desired results.
"What makes you so sure that Hatake isn't a threat right now?"
It was a very good question.
"Kakashi has, as of yet, only acted out towards individuals after they have committed a crime that has exposed their true natures. Kakashi has not made any pre-emptive strikes. Annoyingly enough, he's only acted when the people have implicated themselves and have threatened the safety of the Leaf and her people." Minato replied, trying to be as non-threatening as he could. After all he was trying to put out fires here. "I know it's not a lot but the reality is, Kakashi has only acted defensively thus far. If he's this good at what he does while on the defensive, I don't want to see what he'd like when he's decided to attack."
"For how long will Hatake continue to act only after a deed has been committed? How long before he begins to take matters into his own hands, doing as he sees fit?"
Minato really didn't think it was fair to upload all of these questions onto him. He wasn't Kakashi and therefore he really couldn't answer them. He definitely would never be able to give these people a satisfactory answer. They were determined to find fault in everything he said or did.
"Did any of you notice that Kakashi does not wear the Leaf headband?" Sarutobi suddenly spoke up, pulling the pipe from his mouth. So far the other Hokage had been as silent as a statue, only observing.
"He doesn't?"
"No. He wears another. This one is not one that is known to us. In fact it's one still to be created if my understandings are correct. His headband symbolises Shinobi." Sarutobi explained.
"Yes. He told a pre-genin that his headband was a symbol of our future. He stated that all the Shinobi would come together as one and that would be the headband they wore." Minato recited from memory. He'd been on duty at the time and this statement had troubled him.
"Now we should ask ourselves, in what event would all the Shinobi come together as one? Which enemy could ever be so great that we had to rise up as one unit to defeat them? I say that this news is far more troubling than one lone Shinobi from the future that has of yet done nothing at all. All of Kakashi Hatake's actions, all the words that he has spoken thus far have all pointed to a dark and terrifying future. I believe that we should be focusing on this, rather than whether or not we should kill the man." Sarutobi stated with a nod and a puff on his pipe.
It was a good point. In fact everyone in the room was for once blissfully quiet. Yes. It was something to think on. It was something to worry about but there was nothing they could do.
Later, once they had returned to Konoha, Minato and Sarutobi sat in the Hokage's office. Neither spoke for a while as they simply sat, each one consumed in their own thoughts.
"I won't be able to hold them off forever." Minato muttered. "The council grows more restless with each new report."
"I have faith in you Minato. You will do what you believe is right." Sarutobi said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I never told them. At the meeting. I never told anyone, not even you. Kakashi is on a mission. He's planning something, something big and his appearances, they mean something. I don't know what though. He, he's gathering information right now. That's what he told me he needed to do, before he left." Minato said softly, his sentences jerking as his exhausted brain tried to explain adequately.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Sarutobi asked, anger didn't lace his tones but rather disappointment.
"I didn't believe he'd be gone this long. I know him well enough to know that he will return, eventually. He wouldn't want people to catch onto the idea that whenever he is around it means something's going to happen." Minato explained.
"I see. No matter, what's done is done. Is there something else he said?"
Minato shook his head, "Only that he had the best intentions at heart and he was trying to save everyone, not just Konoha. However that meeting disturbs me. There was definitely a lot that went unsaid. Some of the Kage really wanted Kakashi dead. I don't understand their vehemence on the matter unless they're up to something and they're afraid Kakashi will stop them."
"Yes. That is troublesome. We can't do anything other than be more vigilant." Sarutobi frowned, "If a threat does come, well face it like we always do. It doesn't exactly hurt that Kakashi is a Leaf Shinobi. Perhaps his loyalties will fall here should there be any confrontations."
"That's just it. Kakashi still wears the other headband. You know how he is. He's loyal to a fault. What if he decides to do nothing rather than something because he can't decide who to fight for?" Minato was glad to voice his frustration to the older ninja. His fears really.
"Kakashi is loyal to the Leaf. You shouldn't have to question that." Sarutobi reminded him.
"Oh, sorry. I guess I've just had more time to think about it, more time to really understand what he's been saying all along and it's like you said at the meeting, something's coming. Something big and I personally want to let Kakashi deal with it. He knows what he's doing." Minato sighed, "but other's don't appear to see it that way."
"That's because they're worried. Other Hidden Villages don't know whether what they're planning to do is something they've already done in Kakashi's mind or if it's something entirely new. They're stuck in an awkward phase of indecision. It won't last long. Soon they'll either abandon their plans all together or they'll stream roll ahead, determined to accomplish their task. Others will simply try to capture or kill Kakashi." Sarutobi explained, his many years as Hokage coming in handy.
"I don't know what to do, but one thing was clear at that meeting, no matter how silent it was. Kakashi better be dealt with or they'll turn on us, all of them." Minato squeezed his eyes shut.
If push came to shove he'd have to choose his Village over that of a loyal Shinobi. He didn't want to but as the Hokage he'd lost the privilege to decline. He just hoped he wouldn't have to.
The celebrations were enormous, everyone in Konoha standing and cheering the signing of a peace treaty with Kumo, the Hidden Village in the Land of Lightning. Surely any day that offered peace was a day to be celebrated.
However, not everyone had tended the festivities. The Hyugas were having a celebration of their own. It was Lady Hinata's third birthday and her cousin Neji, was to receive the Cage Bird Seal.
Unknown to Konoha, a silver haired jonin was watching from atop the Hokage monument, taking in the celebrations with a focused gaze. It had been three years since he'd 'gone on holiday', and it had been that long since he had laid eyes on his home. He still chuckled when he thought of the Onbaa he'd bought to the Kage council meeting. After those hawks had been dropping them from the sky like gift baskets, Konoha had gotten very much acquainted with how to deal with them. So he'd never really had an Onbaa as a pet but the other nations thought he did so that's what mattered.
Tonight then, he would act tonight.
Extra (Kakashi in the Land of rice patties)
Minato sighed as he took the report off of the messenger bird's foot. This was going to be interesting. This scroll was decorated in orange crayon scribbles. There was a minimal amount of blue and a speck of red as well, but mostly, it was bright eyeball burning orange. Where did one even find crayons like that? Naruto would love them.
Minato put it on his desk before poking it wearily. These reports had a habit of having strange surprises in them. Last time it had been an explosion of rice confetti. Kakashi's idea of announcing he was now in the Land of Rice Patties.
Rice had nothing to do with rice patties. But Kakashi seemed to think it did.
Nothing happened with this scroll so he carefully unravelled it.
Still nothing happened. Minato was starting to breathe a little easier now.
"Sensei. I think I might be paranoid."
Now there was an understatement if ever there was one.
"The frog is back."
Oh. So Jiraiya was still trying to get the Icha Icha books. Hmmm. Well in Minato's opinion, if Jiraiya spent more time writing and less time trying to steal the books then perhaps he would have published something by now.
"Also, the people in the Land of rice patties have the strangest customs. I was sitting in the middle of the largest rice patty, the one I told you I was going to come see after seeing what the people in the Land of Rain did when there wasn't any rain. (Nothing special. They just don't wear their rain coats) and the people of the Land of Rice patties kept shaking their fists at me. So I thought it was a greeting of some sort and shook mine back at them. I was in the midst of eating my lunch when the frog appeared. I thought to hell with it and decided to ask you if it was indeed one of the summons. I captured it and enclosed it within the scroll." There was even a little smiley face here.
Minato on the other hand paled. He unfurled the scroll frantically, ignoring the rest of the report, looking for the seal that was supposed to contain a live frog. Kakashi! Sometimes he was an utter idiot.
Minato found it at the end of the scroll with a postit note attached stating "I didn't know how long my report was going to be so I stuck the frog at the back, just in case."
Minato expected to find a shrivelled up and panting for dear life little frog when he bit his thumb and swiped it across the seal. But his fears were put to rest when a jar of water appeared instead. Minato picked up the jar and walked over to one of his plants, tipping the water out into it.
When the little frog came swooshing out with it, Minato froze. Oh man this was priceless.
"So Sensei, what's it like being sealed into a jar and then into a report?" Minato asked cheerfully.
A puff of smoke latter and a haggard looking Jiraiya with spinning eyes greeted him, making Minato laugh harder.
"Why don't you give up on the chase, eh Sensei?" Minato suggested knowing that Jiraiya wouldn't give up any time soon.
"Never. I have to get those books." Jiraiya wheezed.
"Well so long as you're sure. Just try to use a different disguise next time, kay." Minato went back to the report where the previous postit note had fallen off to reveal a message on the other side. "Tell Jiraiya the answer is still no."
Extra 1 (Swimming)
Kakashi grinned widely when he thought about his personalised graduation exam. He'd managed to get Minato to agree that should his students pass this exam, their jonin sensei weren't allowed to give them a test afterwards.
For now though he was with Chibi.
They were sparring in the same rapid invested waters they had been practising in earlier. Only this time, not only did they have to focus on keeping their balance on the churning waters, but they had to stick leaves to their person, as many as they could manage while trying not to get their asses kicked.
With an evil grin Kakashi side stepped a hit aimed for his diaphragm and tapped his Chibi's shoulder lightly, just enough to disrupt the flow of his chakra. The poor ninja sunk into the water like a stone, leaves fluttering through the air, and found himself swept away by the current before he could catch himself only to be thrown through the air from the momentum of the rushing water when he went over the edge of the waterfall.
Kakashi went down to the edge of the water so that he could meet his spluttering Chibi with a wide grin.
"You're the biggest bastard I know. You make Ibiki look tame." Chibi hissed with a narrowed gaze.
"Well you did say you wanted to get right what I failed to do, so consider this pay back." Kakashi replied, his grin widening. "I find I learn faster when I fail anyways. Consider this a compromise. Rather me than on the battle field. I know your weaknesses better than you do. You're still fourteen and as much as you don't want to admit it, you're still arrogant. After all you're heading into ANBU soon, with promising potential to make it to ANBU captain almost immediately. I have to cool down that hot head. It's a hard lesson but someone has to teach it. How else are you not going to make my same mistakes?"
"Humbleness never suits a Hatake." Chibi replied looking away.
"True. But it's enough to know your weaknesses, to acknowledge that you have them and then work on fixing them." Kakashi said quietly.
"You're definitely not crazy. You think too much like me for that to be a possibility." Chibi sniffed before getting out of the water and pulling off his shirt.
"How do you know you're not crazy?" Kakashi asked seriously, holding back the grin.
Kakashi shot his hand out, lightly tapping the other ninja and sending a burst of chakra into the chibi. Since it was the same chakra, his chakra networks absorbed it but it also disoriented the ninja, enough so that he fell backwards into the water.
. . . But not enough that he didn't have the sense to grab Kakashi's shirt as he fell pulling the older Shinobi with him.
Kakashi flapped his arms uselessly, forgetting for a moment that he was a Shinobi and was supposed to appear to be graceful before he splashed into the water, a look of utter panic on his features. Well maybe not panic. Surprise was far more accurate.
When he resurfaced Chibi was laughing at him. CHIBI was laughing at him! That wasn't even registering correctly in his brain. He blamed it on the icy temperature of the water.
Kakashi pulled himself out of the water, glad that he'd left his jonin jacket at home today. As it was, one of his Icha Icha novels was probably soaking wet right about now. Ah well, not like that hadn't happened before. He was now infinitely more grateful that he'd asked Jiraiya to request that the books be made with ninja friendliness in mind. Flame proof and water proof were just some of the things that come to mind. Made the books a little pricier but it was worth it.
Kakashi shook the water from his hair, while Chibi's laughs died down to amused chuckles. "You should have seen your face!" Chibi told him mirthfully. "You really didn't expect that one. Where's your sense of fun?"
"I'm twenty years older than you Kakashi. What do you expect? Besides, I'm not going to let that one go. I'll think of something. Perhaps another hair colour change?" Kakashi suggested with a grin.
Instead of paling, the Chibi frowned. "You used my name."
"So?"
Chibi didn't reply but got out of the water as well. He stretched before methodically removing his clothing from the waste up. Kakashi did the same, leaving the mask in place though, dropping everything else into a neat pile.
"You know, I like water and all." Chibi grumbled, "But why does it have to be so wet?"
"Hmmmmm, perhaps because it's a liquid? I guess the molecules make it so hard to stand on when it comes to chakra control as opposed to tree walking, which is solid. I wonder how hard it would be to stand on air. It is possible. But I'm not sure if the Shinobi I saw doing it was using a jutsu to do it." Kakashi mused. Chibi just shook his head in exasperation. Sometimes, in times such as these, he was sure that his older self really was crazy.
As Kakashi dropped his last shirt onto the pile and stretched his arms over his head he heard the tiniest of rustles from the trees behind them and froze.
"Chibi." Kakashi stated calmly.
The younger Hatake removed his last shirt as well before looking to him. Chibi frowned slightly before commenting. "You have a lot more scars than what I'd like."
"Comes with being a Shinobi. Now I think it's time to move our training area." Kakashi replied hastily, picking up on more rustles. If one didn't know any better they'd shrug it off to the wind. As it was however, the older Hatake definitely knew better, having been exposed to these techniques before, far, far too many times.
Chibi could also sense it now and he paled before swiftly scooping up his clothing. Kakashi forced his frozen body to move, scooping up his own soaked items. "Kushina?" He offered to the Chibi who nodded hurriedly.
Kakashi grabbed his shoulder before teleporting them to the familiar front door. As they disappeared they heard the frightening scream of God like worship, one that the older Hatake was becoming quite intimate with and quickly beginning to fear. It just wasn't natural.
"What the hell was that?" Chibi asked, his visible eye wide.
Kakashi shivered. "Fangirls." He hissed in reply. "Now hurry up and go inside before they find us." Kakashi ushered the Chibi towards the door, not bothering to knock before entering.
Upon doing so, he froze.
No.
Oh no.
"Oh Kakashi, and uh Kakashi. Nice to see you two out and about. Did you go swimming? In your clothes?" Kushina asked looking up and smiling at them, the smile changing to amusement at their dilemma.
"Turn around and walk away very slowly." Kakashi whispered to the Chibi who nodded his head in acceptance of the plan.
"Leaving so soon? You just got here?"
The high pitched voice belonged to one of the more vocal kunoichi in the village. It seemed that Kushina was having some sort of gathering today. All of them with their own little bundles of future Shinobi in their arms.
Kakashi risked a glance over his shoulder and had to suppress a wince.
Every single kunoichi in the room aside from Kushina was staring at the two silver haired Shinobi who just happened to be shirtless and dripping wet. Their eyes were alight with a kind of ravenous delight, a small smile twitching on their lips while their faces slowly turned a rosy pink. Kakashi knew the expressions on their faces. He knew them well. After all he had had to endure Sakura and Sasuke on the same team together.
Why oh why was this happening to him?
"Stay a little, let those shirts dry off. Kakashi you haven't even said hello to Naruto properly." Kushina continued for the kunoichi, silently laughing at the two Hatakes' tense and frozen forms.
"Uhm, nah that's alright Kushina. I just remembered that I left the bath running and I really should go turn it off. I lost the top of the tap so Chibi here is going to help me look for it." The older Hatake said cheerfully with a grin over his shoulder before clamping a hand on the smaller Shinobi's shoulder and once again teleporting them out of there.
Before he had left completely Kushina yelled gleefully, "Remember Hatake, both of you, they're Shinobi TOO!"
Extra (Genin graduation exam)
Minato had just finished announcing who the graduating genin were from Kakashi's class when a sudden sense of foreboding tingled down his spine.
"Well I guess that concludes today's meeting. You're all free to go now." Minato stated cheerfully and waving at the same time.
"But, Lord Hokage we haven't fini–" Someone tried to protest but Minato was already gone from the room, having used that oh so handy Flying Thunder God technique of his to leave the room. That really should have been a warning in itself.
But as it was, the jonin had incorrectly assumed that since the little exam was over they were all save.
Chibi of course took his sensei's unstated advice and disappeared into the rafters where he noticed a certain other silver haired jonin.
They shared a look before grinning evilly and leaving the room but not before setting off the mission report he'd given Minato, who had conveniently left it behind. The entire room was doused in sparkly silver paint, leaving no question as to who was responsible.
"Just wait until they figure out that it sparkles like a disco ball the more you try to wash it off." Chibi chuckled.
"Nah, I'm more interested to see what they do when they learn that the glitter squeaks every time they move." Kakashi replied with a nostalgic sigh. "That one took me three months to develop and every time I use it, it gets better and better."