Kakashi looked around at the faces of his teammates. Their masks either attacked to their belts or to the side of their heads. Kakashi stood next to the only window in the room and sighed. Itachi and Shisui were in a quiet discussion about a problem at the Police headquarters, Tenzō was busy playing with a small tree in the corner of the room while the only female of Team Ro was flipping a scroll in the air, catching it, only to flip it again.
Kakashi straightened up, "Okay guys, effective immediately, I am once again the captain of Team Ro. Hokage-sama has given orders for us to be ready for rapid deployment. There is a situation going on in the Village Hidden in the Rain that may need our attention. So, everyone is ready to move in less than ten minutes once we get the word. Put in notice with your families or whatever you need to do. Make sure you have everything you will need for a long mission, also everything you will need for a long-term infiltration mission. I am not sure what we will be needed to do, so we need to be ready for anything."
"Kakashi-taichou? Can you give us anything more information?" Yūgao asked.
"I can tell you that there is a man who is amassing an army of everything from poor and desperate civilians to S-ranked nukenin. I can tell you that someone from Ame has been targeting a Konoha citizen and trying to eliminate said citizen. I can tell you that the masked man may or may not be the one trying to eliminate said citizen. I can also tell you that Ame is in the center of this whole problem."
"So, in other words, we have a lot of guesses but nothing concrete?" Yūgao replied.
"Yes, however the fact that Hokage wants us to be ready to move no matter what information he receives should be enough to tell you that this is important," Kakashi answered.
"Hai taichou," came the reply.
"Go and get yourselves prepared, I will notify you once we have our mission." Yūgao and Tenzō left quickly while Shisui and Itachi were left arguing over something.
Kakashi stood there and waited for them to finish their conversation. When Shisui threw his hands in the air and turned away, Kakashi figured the argument was over.
Itachi came closer to Kakashi, "Taichou, there is something you should know."
Kakashi turned his gaze to the serious teen in front of him, "Yes Itachi?"
"There is a man claiming to be Uchiha Madara who has been talking to the clan elders and he recently started to talk to Shisui."
Kakashi nodded, wondering where this was heading.
Itachi continued, his voice very calm, "He has been encouraging the Uchiha revolt, with the Uchiha convinced they are being pushed aside due to prejudice he doesn't have to try very hard."
Kakashi nodded again, Itachi had already shared this much with him already.
"Madara came to a clan meeting last night," Itachi took a breath, "He was wearing an orange mask."
Kakashi froze as another piece of the puzzle fell into place, "Everything keeps coming back to Amegakure, doesn't it."
"Taichou?" Itachi asked.
"Don't worry about it Itachi. After Jiraiya comes back with some more information we will know what to do with that information. But for now, you and Shisui are to continue to do your best to prevent the coup from happening."
"Hai taichou," Itachi replied.
"Hai sempai," Shisui replied, walking over to Itachi and grinning before jumping out the window with Itachi right behind him.
Kakashi sighed, he was packed, he finished packing everything he would need before he even came to the meeting, all because he knew he would need to have a long conversation with Harumi. Jumping onto the window sill, he noted the sun's position before jumping in the direction of the hospital. It didn't take long for him to walk through the front doors of the hospital, it took a considerable time for him to find Harumi. The first nurse sent him to another floor where Harumi was seeing a patient. Turns out that was where she spent her night and the medic stationed outside the door informed Kakashi that Harumi was doing rounds two floors above them.
After wandering around what felt like the whole hospital, Kakashi finally found out that Harumi had an office. Finding a medic or nurse willing to show him where it was, was a different story. For some reason, no one wanted to show him the way. He couldn't track her by scent, it was all over the hospital, he thought about tracking her chakra, but again, it was all over the hospital. Finally, he saw one of the nurses from the bar the other night. Thankfully, she gave him directions with the advice to grab her a cup of coffee because Harumi had been there all-night healing that person in the room Kakashi was sent to first. Taking her advice to heart, Kakashi grabbed a cup of coffee from the break room the nurse had left, picked up a couple of sugars and a small cup of milk, then walked down the stairs to Harumi's office.
Harumi's office was in one of the below-ground levels of the hospital. This was where ANBU were treated and were considered the most secure places in the hospital, but not to the depth of where Naruto was treated when Kakashi first saw him. It looked like there were lots of laboratory rooms, and lots of people with the dark Nara hair walking around with clipboards and beakers of stuff. Kakashi slowly made his way to the door that had Harumi's name on it, gave it a knock and was surprised when the door opened under the pressure of his knock. A glance in showed Harumi bent over a piece of paper with more paper stacked neatly around her desk.
"Come in," she replied not even looking up from what she was doing.
"Yo!" Kakashi said, sitting in the only other chair in her office. Harumi looked up and Kakashi gave her a small eye smile while holding up the cup of coffee, some packets of sugar, and the small plastic tubs of milk, to go in it, "I brought a gift," he said.
Harumi smiled and held her hand out to take the coffee, "Arigato, Kakashi. I really need this."
"Long morning?"
"I wish, long day, night and morning." Taking a long drink of her coffee, Harumi set the cup down and continued writing, "What brings you here to the dungeon, Kakashi?"
"A dungeon, huh? I have to say, I have seen worse ones in my life. Much better scenery, although," he continued thoughtfully as a nurse walked past with a tray full of vials of blood, "the amount of blood is about the same."
Harumi glanced up at him in surprise and laughed as she saw the humorous glint in his eye. "Well I guess so long as the amount of blood and the body count was the same, it counts."
Kakashi nodded. Harumi watched Kakashi for a minute, noting that while for a minute his eye was expressive, it returned to the previous state of flat. "Is something wrong? Did Pakkun not set the security back in place after I left? Was I not supposed to get into your house? Did Pakkun destroy the couch after I left?"
Kakashi blinked, "Nothing is wrong. The security of my house if just fine. Yes, I wanted you to be able to get into the house, that is why I asked Pakkun to ask you to get Naruto and no, Pakkun did not destroy the couch after you left."
"Then what is wrong? You have an unusual look in your eye right now."
Kakashi blinked again, "What kind of look?"
"The kind my tou-san used to get when he would tell us he would miss our birthday celebrations because he was on a mission."
Kakashi frowned, "I don't think I am going to miss your birthday, when is it anyway?"
"October 2."
"I have six months then," Kakashi replied, "So I don't think I will miss your birthday celebration."
Harumi sighed, "Kakashi, what is it you want to tell me?"
"I may have to leave on short notice, and I don't know when or for how long." Kakashi glanced around and asked before continuing, "What I need to say should be private."
Harumi nodded and stood up, grabbing a piece of paper from a folder on a bookshelf, she pressed the paper against the door, added chakra and activated the seal. She then closed the door and activated another seal next to the door. Glancing at Kakashi she explained, "The seal of the front of the door both lets people know that this office is currently under a privacy seal, not to disturb me and it also activates a privacy ward around the door, so no one can hear what we are saying. This seal," she motioned towards the one next to the door, "lets the nursing stations on other floors know that I am not to be disturbed unless it is an emergency."
"Well that is pretty handy," Kakashi replied. "I wonder if the Hokage has something like that?"
"No idea, but I do know that Shikaku-oji has something similar in his office." Harumi sat back down at her desk, moved the paper over into another pile and leaned back in her chair, the coffee in her hand, "So what is it you have to tell me?"
"So new information about the attack on Naruto has come to light and I may need to go and investigate. Hokage-sama is hoping that Jiraiya-sama can get the information we need, or at least something we can use, but if not, then I may need to go. The situation is unknown at the moment, but I would be grateful if I need to leave, if you would watch Naruto for me. I can have a bag set up for him and bring it by your place, so Naruto can have his clothes and other things he will need while I am gone." "I can do that. A bag would be helpful. Do you know how long you would be gone?"
"I don't know, I don't even know what the mission would be. It all depends on what information Jiraiya can find. I just wanted to make sure that Naruto had someplace to be and to let you know of the possibility that I may be gone for a long while," Kakashi replied.
Harumi nodded, "Will you have time to let me know you are leaving? Or how would you let me know that I needed to take care of Naruto?"
"If I need to leave, Hokage or someone from ANBU would come to let you know. As with last time, Naruto would have an ANBU guard while I am gone, but they won't interfere."
"Okay, I can work with that. However, you need to let Naruto know of this possibility, so he isn't confused by the change of plans. Or that he would worry if you were gone for a long time. I understand that you will not be able to tell many specifics, but it will be good for Naruto to know that you could be leaving and that you are doing it for a mission."
Kakashi nodded, "I can do that. I was planning on doing something like that anyway."
Harumi glanced at the door and saw a seal appear under the notification seal near the door. "Is there anything else?"
Kakashi shook his head, "Nothing classified."
"Good," Harumi stood back up, sent more chakra into the two seals and opened her door revealing two medics in full uniform. "What can I do for you?"
The tallest medic smiled, "We are heading to the Nara research facility now and was wondering if you needed anything from there."
Kakashi watched as Harumi smile lit up her whole face, "In fact, I do have a list," she walked over to get a piece of paper from her desk and then handing it to the two medics.
The tall medic glanced at the paper and asked, "Working on a new antidote?"
"Not really, just trying to figure out a way to get one more stable for transportation."
"Do you need more help?"
"I don't think so, half of the floor is currently working on a solution, and this is a shortlist of stuff they need and since most can only be found in the Nara research building…" Harumi's voice trailed off as the two medics nodded.
"We will do our best," the second medic replied before they turned and walked away.
Harumi turned back to Kakashi, "Were you and Naruto planning on staying for dinner?"
"Maa, maa, I was actually thinking of taking you all out for dinner. You have made us dinner for the past week, it seems like the right thing to do would be to give you dinner. Since my cooking leaves much to desire, I figured taking you to that new barbecue place would be appropriate."
Harumi laughed, "If you want to treat all of us for dinner, I am not going to say no. But be warned, Hideaki can and does eat as much as Naruto does."
Kakashi shrugged, "So long as it is less than what a small army can eat in a day, then I will be fine."
"Okay then, I will let Hideaki and Maiko know what is going on, did you want to leave from my house?"
"Sure."
"Great, then I will see you after the boys get out of the academy." Kakashi nodded, pulled his book out of his pocket and made his way out of the hospital. Before he even got two blocks away from the hospital Kakashi shuddered and groaned. Saying a quick prayer to any god listening to just let him get home unseen was sadly not heard.
"Dynamic entry!" Landing in front of Kakashi was a man dressed in a green suit with orange legwarmers, dark hair cut into the shape of a bowl and bushy eyebrows. Standing in his "standard greeting" good guy pose, the man continued, "Hello my Eternal Rival! I believe we are now tied fifty-one to fifty-one and it is your turn to pick our challenge."
"Oh, hello Gai," Kakashi said as if surprised by Gai's presents. "Were you talking to me?"
"I wish I was as hip as my Rival Kakashi. I said it is time again for our challenge. We are tied and this time I will beat you, or I will walk around Konoha one hundred times on my hands!"
Kakashi looked at Gai from over his book, "Rock, paper, scissors."
"You always choose that one!" Gai cried.
"Then you should have no problem beating me," Kakashi reasoned.
"You are correct once again, My Rival! Very well, a most Youthful game of Rock, Paper, scissors we will play!"
Kakashi put his book back in his pocket and took up a position across from Gai.
It took twenty tires, but Kakashi won and Gai left on his self-imposed punishment for losing. Kakashi took his book out, gave a sigh of relief and started to walk through the village again. He had a little bit of time before he needed to do anything, maybe he should go and get some more weapons, he might need some more depending on what he would be doing. No, he had plenty of weapons. He could go get some clothes or supplies for Naruto, he said something about needing more paper and ink, also wanting some senbon to practice with Masahiro. Kakashi could do that later, he decided. Since he was pulled straight from his bed into a meeting with the Hokage, Kakashi didn't have time to go to the memorial stone.
Turning, Kakashi quickly took to the roofs to avoid people. It only took a few minutes before Kakashi left the populated areas and had to make the transition from rooftops to treetops. A few minutes later, Kakashi landed just outside the clearing with the memorial stone he frequented. He could have landed in the clearing, but that seemed disrespectful somehow. Shoving his hands into his pockets, Kakashi slowly walked up to the stone, his grief and guilt settled over his shoulders like a comfortable coat.
"Hi, Obito, Rin, Sensei," Kakashi began like he always did. "Sorry I'm late, Hokage pulled me out of bed this morning. Something is happening in the Village Hidden in the Rain, I don't know what it is, but hopefully, something will happen, so we know." Kakashi fell silent for a few moments, just thinking of what he should say. "You will be happy to know Sensei if I get called away on a mission, Haru-chan has promised to take care of Naru-chan." Kakashi grinned at the rhyme. "Naruto loves going to Masahiro's house, Harumi will treat Naruto just like another little brother and they will all get along well. I am thinking of asking Jiraiya if he could make more secure seals for her house so that she is covered while I am gone, but I don't know if she will think that is overstepping my bounds." Kakashi laughed softly, "Shikaku keeps having to remind me that Harumi is a Nara woman, which means she is full of fire and is not shy about spewing it on you. So, I need to think long and hard to see if offering to have Jiraiya upgrade her security seals would be seen as saying she can't protect her family or if she would see it as I'm worried about protecting Naruto.
"Rin, I know you would tell me just to talk to her, after all, she insists that we talk. I swear I have not talked so much in my entire life as when Harumi wants to talk about a book. Did I tell you she started to read the Icha Icha books? And she offered some books to me in trade? I guess I could just ask her tonight at dinner."
Kakashi nodded, "Yes, you heard right, Obito, I am taking Harumi and her family, and Naturo out for dinner. I decided it was the only polite thing to do since she is always cooking dinner for me and Naruto. Sensei, you would approve, she gets Naruto to eat his vegetables without fighting. He still asks for ramen all of the time, but he eats almost everything she makes him. Although he has made it a point to repeatedly say that he doesn't like broccoli."
Kakashi stared down at the stone, watching how the sunlight danced across the shiny surface. "I hope I am doing the right thing with Naruto, Sensei. I follow what the book says I'm supposed to do. Sarutobi, Shikaku, and Harumi offer advice, which I try to follow. But I am very aware that I am probably failing. All I can say is that I am doing my best and I hope that it is good enough. Which according to the latest parenting book I read, 'is the best any parent could hope for'." Kakashi sighed, "However we all know that I am the least qualified person to be parenting anyone, much less Naruto. He has gained some weight, he no longer looks like he is starving. He is growing again. I will have to go out clothes shopping with him soon, or just leave money with Harumi to go and get him stuff." Kakashi scratched the back of his neck, "Maybe that would be the easiest, just have Harumi pick out clothes for Naruto when she goes shopping for Masahiro. She was complaining the other day that Masahiro's pants were all getting too short." From the village, Kakashi could hear the sharp ring of the bell at the academy. A quick glance at the sun showed that more time had passed than Kakashi had thought. Taking one step back, Kakashi bent his head for a moment before turning around and taking off towards the Academy to pick up Naruto.
"Going to dinner with the family, hmm, Kakashi?" the man whispered, his deep voice carrying through the empty clearing. "I wonder what your new family looks like. The one you went and replaced us with. Maybe I should go too."
"You might get caught," the one in the shadows replied.
"I will just have to be careful. No one ever looks at me if I don't want them too."
"Remember the plan, Madara."
"I am not likely to forget with you constantly reminding me!" came the rough reply.
"I apologize, Madara. What would you like me to do while you are watching Kakashi?"
"Make sure Pein is doing what we talked about. Since I am here, I might as well pop in to see if our rat has any useful information for me to work with."
"Very good, Madara. I will do as you request. Should I leave a clone here in case you need it?"
"I will be fine!"
"As you say," the shadow slowly melted away into nothing leaving only the masked man staring at the shiny stone at the edge of the clearing.
AN: And another chapter complete! Thank you to everyone who has followed and/or commented on this story, it is a great feeling to know that others appreciate the ideas running through my head. Please continue to let me know what you think about this story as it progresses. I will give you a heads up, we will be doing more time skips, no more than a few months, but it is important to the story to keep moving forward, and nothing drags a plot down faster than "And nothing happened today" or "The same stuff happened again for the seventh day in a row."
Also, we passed 100,000 words and 200 followers, what should I do to celebrate? An omake? A chapter from Itachi's or someone else's perspective? Let me know and if there is enough interest, I might do more than one.
Thank you all again. Until next time :)