Warnings: swearing, blood, mention of attempted suicide


Soon after Jiraiya left for the Hokage's tower, Kakashi lost consciousness. Whether the last Hatake passed out from exhaustion, or from the seal being placed, the group did not know. Everyone was silent as Sage and Kakashi slept until Auel carefully got up from the white husky's side as she leaned back on her hind legs while her upper body dipped towards the floor as her front legs stretched forward. Before rising and doing the same thing with her hind legs.

After the human-sized wolf was done stretching, Auel turned towards the Jonin-sensei as she asked, "Namikaze, do you have a room where Kakashi can rest after Jiraiya gets back?"

Minato and Kushina exchange a slightly worried glance to each other, before the blonde answered hesitantly, "yes. There's a guest bedroom, but that's where the four shinobi attack him."

Auel was quiet for a moment, before giving short nod while answering, "that's fine, by the time they're finished questioning my pup it should be midday, and hopefully safer. Oh, also would it be alright if Sage is allowed on the couch with Kashi-pup?"

"Of course," Minato stated. Then nervously glance at his girlfriend while asking in a hushed tone, "is the guestroom cleaned up?"

Kushina huffed as she boisterously answered, "Of course, ya know! I wasn't just sitting around doing nothing while you and the others went after those four..." Kushina paused as her gaze shifted to Obito and Rin, as they stared up at the redhead while listening intently to her words. Before Kushina carefully finishing her answer, "jerks, who took Kakashi!"

Auel chuckled softly, as she uses the transformation jutsu to take Jiraiya's form. Then gently pick up the unconscious husky, and carefully placed her on the other end of the couch. Before looking at the couple with her chocolate brown eyes as she spoke in a calm tone, but in Jiraiya's voice, "since your leader will probably be coming here, do you have clothes for Kashi-pup to wear?"

"There might some in one of Jiraiya-sensei's scrolls?" Minato answered, but wasn't sure. As he made his way to the kitchen table where Jiraiya left the sealing scrolls he used at the Hatake compound.

"Wait, I got it!" Obito called out as he digs through his weapons pouch. "That big toad guy made me packed Bakashi's clothes, while he did the rest of the compound."

"Thank you, Obito. You've done well," Auel spoke in Jiraiya's voice while still in the Toad Sage's form as she tenderly ruffled the young Uchiha's raven locks after Obito gave her his sealing scroll.

The group watches the use of transformation jutsu to shift into Obito. The young Uchiha's dark eyes widened and smiled in awe at the near-perfect image of himself, the only differences were Auel's chocolate brown eyes showed instead. Minato thought it was strange how the wolf's eyes remained the same whenever changing to different forms.

"See, Rin! I'm not the only one who struggles with the basics!" Obito pointed out boisterously pointing out the wolf's eyes that are not dark like his own. Which made Kakashi give a soft sound of protest and Sage's white ears twitch back at the Uchiha's loud voice.

"Hush, Kit. There's no reason to yell," Auel scolded in a calm, gentle tone, which sounded odd compared to the young Uchiha's usually boisterous voice, after secretly giving the white husky an amused smirk.

"Kit?" The real Obito questioned, as his nose wrinkled at the new nickname.

"Yes, even I know that the Uchiha's are known for their ninja cats," Auel explained with a smirk.

Minato carefully watched, as the dire wolf in Obito's form gracefully drop to her knees, and unrolled the sealing scroll across the hardwood floor. Before summoning a set of Kakashi's clothes out of Obito's sealing scroll. This made Minato's blue eyes widened in shock, knowing that only the chakra of the sealing scroll's writer can summon the content of the scroll unless the other person writes a counter seal to counteract the original sealer's chakra. The Namikaze shifted his gaze to the Uzumaki and the Senju, both gave him the same knowing expression.

"Well, you do have a point," the real Obito chuckled through a wide grin as he rubbed the back of his head.

The group watched as Auel form shifted into Akari's form again. However, this time with shoulder-length wavy light cream-colored hair, with blonde tips at the ends. Which framed the face that strikingly resembled Akari Hatake's face, making her chocolate brown eyes almost glowing due to the contrast with her pale skin. At first, Minato thought this was the dire wolf's true form, but the form was too similar to Kakashi's mother for it to just be a coincidence, right? But Minato decided not to voice his questions just yet, and see how things play out.

Auel kept her attention on the two ten-year-old students, as she gave Obito a teasing smirk while she spoke in a light tone, "Eri informed me that you kept giggling at the nickname Kashi-pup, so maybe we should start calling you Obi-kit. What do you think, Rin?"

"Please don't..." Obito replied with worried embarrassment. Before suddenly defending himself with pink-tinted cheeks, "and I wasn't giggling!"

"Of course, you weren't, Obi-kit," Rin added with a soft laugh, as she emphasized on Obito's new nickname.

"Rin!" Obito practically shrieked in embarrassment as his whole face turned to the same shade as a cherry. Which made the young Nohara laugh harder, and a chuckle from the adults in the room. Then Obito added in an embarrassed frantic tone, "I wasn't giggling, it was a chuckle at most! I swear on my Sharingan, and my title as the future Hokage!"

"Hokage?" Auel repeated in curiosity, after sending a quick glance at Kakashi and Sage to make sure they're not being too loud. While she rolled up the Obito's sealing scroll and held it out towards the young Uchiha.

"Yeah, I'm going to be the future Hokage someday!" Obito declared taking the scroll from the wolf in human form, as his other hand adjusted the goggles covering his Leaf headband on his forehead.

"I see," Auel spoke with an acknowledging nod as she stood up focusing on the young Uchiha and Nohara before her. "That is indeed something to strive for," Auel added softly with an encouraging smile. While one of her hands held Kakashi's clothes close to her chest as the other hand gently ruffles the ten-year-old Uchiha's raven hair, then continued: "as long as you stay true to what matters most in a village and a pack, then I wholeheartedly believe that you will achieve your dream."

Obito's eyes widened at the fact that someone other than Minato-sensei, Kushina, and Rin acknowledged his dream, and encouraged him. Which made the young Uchiha to freeze for a moment, before stuttering out and excited, "Y-yeah! Just you watch, I will become Hokage!" It was at that moment Obito remembers that during their team dinner a couple of days ago, Kakashi mentioned Auel was like a mother-figure to him. Which now got Obito thinking, 'is this what it's like to have a mother?'

Auel smiled softly at the young Uchiha's words. Before turning her attention back to the adults still holding the clothes close to her chest, "could someone help me? I don't want to accidentally hurt my pup."

"Here, I'll help," Tsunade answered, already calmly making her towards the couch, with Minato and Kushina following a step behind her.

"Thank you," Auel responded with a short incline of her head.

Then with careful handling, Tsunade and Auel unwrapped Kakashi from his cocoon of blankets, and quietly slipped a pair of underwear and long grey shorts. However, when trying to put on a black short-sleeved shirt on the unconscious Hatake, the injured boy frowned while letting out a low whine when Tsunade slowly shifted his arms over his head, as Auel carefully puts on the shirt.

"Uhm, wouldn't it be better if Kakashi had long sleeves and pants on?" Rin spoke out in slight confusion, but not knowing how to address the wolf.

"In a normal case, yes. But... here let me show you," Auel replied, beckoning everyone to come closer as she sits on the coffee table.

When everyone gathered around the couch, the wolf that was still in human form, carefully placed her fore and mid finger on Kakashi's bandaged forehead before softly saying, release. Surprising the group since none of them noticed a transformation jutsu or a genjutsu placed on Kakashi. With widened eyes, the group watched as Kakashi's pale bruised skin faded into a grayish tone with the same bruises but slightly darker than before. But what really caught everyone's worried eyes, was the tiny jagged red, blue, and purple lines that spread all over the nine-year-old boy's damaged gray-tinted skin, until disappearing under his bandages and clean clothes. Kushina could feel her heartbeat increasing in panic at how much Kakashi now looks like a corpse, and judging by the reactions of the others, they felt the same way.

"What are those weird lines on Bakashi's skin?" Obito questions nervously as his eyes remained on the injured Hatake.

"It looks like Telangiectasia," Tsunade commented, but she's never seen anything like this before.

"Telangie...what?" Obito questioned in confusion, looking up at the Senju medic.

"Spider veins," Rin translated her Uchiha teammate, who replied with an understanding, oh.

"Is Kakashi going to be alright?" Minato questioned, trying to hide the worried tone in his voice.

"Yes, this is what happens when you overuse a blood seal to accelerate your body's blood flow. The marks will fade away in an hour or two," Auel replies, giving the group a small confident smile to assure them that the little Hatake was going to be alright.

"When did you place the transformation jutsu? And why did you do it, ya know?" Kushina asked cautiously, not want to accidentally anger the large wolf again.

The wolf let out a sigh, before softly answering, "I place it while I was painting the blood seal's formula... when I noticed the symptoms starting. I just wanted Jiraiya to see that Kashi-pup was going to be alright before he left. Jiraiya may not be a pup anymore, but I wouldn't allow him to leave without some peace of mind."

"How long have you known, Jiraiya-sensei? Also, how did you open Obito's sealing scroll without using a counter seal?" Minato asked curiously, as he watched Auel gently brush Kakashi's bangs out of his face, before turning back into her real form as a five-foot wolf.

The large wolf stared at the blonde for a long moment then answered, "I was born with the ability to copy chakra signatures when I shift into their form. However, the drawback is that a part of me remains the same. I'm sure you've noticed my eyes," Auel explained, giving the three adults an amused expression knowing that they already noticed it. Then her chocolate brown eyes shifted down towards Kakashi as her lips curled up into a small grin while she added, "I met Jiraiya when he was still in the academy. Sakumo dragged him to the Hatake compound one day when his parents were done on a mission when my sister and I were in charge of watching over him. I swear, those two boys always found a way to get into trouble, without even trying."

Before Minato, or anyone could say anything, Kakashi let out a low groan that ended into a soft grimace, as his full body twitched and started breathing harder. Realizing that the boy had a nightmare, Auel leaned down and whispered something into the little Hatake's ear soft enough to where no one could hear what was being said. It wasn't long until Kakashi settled down into peaceful sleep again. After the nine-year-old finally relaxed in his cocoon of blankets, Auel quietly asked the group to give her honorary pup some space.

However, Auel did allow Tsunade to check Kakashi's vitals, again. When the Senju medic was finished with her examination, she informed the others that Kakashi is stable, and they must let him rest. Before taking a seat in the armchair, as Minato and his two ten-year-old students sit at the kitchen table. While the wolf sat on the floor between the upper side of the couch and the coffee table near Kakashi's head. As she focused on the rising and falling of Kakashi's covered chest, while her sensitive ears listened to the rhythm of the boy's breathing.

Kushina calmly and quietly sat down on the coffee table next to the wolf, who's full attention was focused on the son of the White Fang. After sitting quietly for a minute watching over the injured chunnin, Kushina turned her attention to the wolf. Who's cream-colored pelt was slightly damp from the storm still raging outside. "I'm sorry if my words earlier offended you, that was not my intention, ya know?" Kushina apologized in a hushed tone, not wanting the Wolf to be mad at her for miscommunication.

Auel's chocolate brown eyes shifted to the redhead as her black lips curled into an apologetic smile. The creamy blonde tipped wolf slightly bowed her head as she softly spoke, "The apology is mine, Lady Uzumaki. It has been a while since I have spoken to another human that was not Kakashi or Jiraiya. It was rude of me to jump to assumptions, please forgive my behavior earlier, I assure you I'm not usually that quick to anger."

Kushina gave the wolf one of her bright cheerful smiles before adding in a loud whisper, "it's okay, really! It was just the heat of the moment, and there's no need to be so formal, ya know!"

"Thank you for your forgiveness, and your advice, lady Kushina. Hopefully, Namikaze will accept my apology as well." Auel replied as her blonde tipped ears slightly flattened at the memory of her standing on top the Jonin-sensei really to rip out his throat.

"Don't worry about it, Minato needs a good scare every once in a while. It keeps him from getting a big head, ya know!" Kushina explained with a devious chuckle. While Minato and his two ten-year-old students sat in their chairs at the kitchen table, silently pouting at his girlfriend's comment.

"I don't have a big head," Minato muttered almost childishly, making Obito and Rin giggled at the pouting glare their Sensei gave to Kushina.

"Auel, I was wondering if you ever heard of Mito Uzumaki?" The wolf's ears perked up at the redhead jinūriki's question.

Tsunade shifted her attention to the conversation as the Auel answered, "why yes, I have I heard of Lady Mito. I've known her since she married Hashirama." The wolf gave a light chuckle, at the group's shocked faces before adding, "although, I did know Hashirama, Tobirama, and their two little brothers long before I met Lady Mito."

"Wait, I thought you and the rest of the wolves were only loyal to the Hatake clan?" Tsunade questioned since her grandfather or her uncle Tobirama never mentioned or shown her the Hatake wolves.

"We are loyal to the Hatake clan, but our pack also watches over those who have Hatake blood running through their veins," Auel clarified, as her chocolate brown eyes met with Tsunade's honey brown eyes. Before solemnly adding, "or least we used to before Hashirama sent us away for our own protection."

"Protection? From what?" Obito asked in a loud dramatic tone, as he studied the large wolf that was able to pin his Sensei to the floor with ease.

"Wait a minute... you say the Wolfpack watches over those who have Hatake blood, right? So, does that mean that there's a possibility that Kakashi has relatives in the village?" Tsunade asked the wolf from where she sat in the armchair with one leg crossed over the other.

"Well, yes there's is one, but they didn't inherit much from the small amount of the Hatake bloodline they possess," Auel replied slowly almost awkwardly to the medical sannin.

"Who is it?" Tsunade questioned, wanting a straight answer.

Auel sighed while answering with, "it's you, Tsunade Senju."

"What!" The group yelled but luckily didn't wake Kakashi. However, Sage's white ears twitched, but her eyes still remained closed.

"Lady Tsunade, were you really not informed?" Auel questioned in a concerned manner as she studies the shocked Senju expression. "Then again, Hashirama did request to be removed from the Hatake clan. So, it shouldn't surprise me that you haven't been informed of your great grandmother's origins."

"He never mentioned it," Tsunade replied in a neutral tone. She glanced at the last Hatake, before turning her gaze to the cream and blonde colored wolf as she asked, "why did my grandfather request to be taken out the Hatake clan?"

"I don't know, maybe to prevent foreign powers from taking interest in the Hatake clan's abilities? Hashirama never gave me his reason, but he made us vow that we would only look after the main branch of the Hatake clan. We agreed, to the only watch over the main branch of the family, but when Sakumo told us what happened to his young grandson, our whole pack mourned for the young boy we were never allowed to know. I am truly sorry for your loss," Auel answered with full honesty as her chocolate brown eyes looked at Tsunade with understanding eyes.

Tsunade remained silent to keep her emotions in check. She didn't like the look in the wolf's eyes they were the eyes of someone who has lost many loved ones, someone who has experienced the same pain. While lost in her own thoughts, the wolf asked Minato and Kushina to tell her everything that's been happening to make sure Kakashi hasn't left out any details.


The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, calmly walked down the long dark corridor making his way to the interrogation room. The smoke from his lit pipe that hanged from his bottom lip trailed behind him as his facial expression remained neutral and impassive while walking with a straight back as he held his hands behind his back. The Hokage may have looked calm and collected on the outside, but if anyone were to come down the same hallway, they would most certainly feel the heaviness of the old man's dangerous chakra.

Hiruzen could still recall the furious Kushina, almost breaking down his door. After the redhead jinūriki finally finished her loud report of what happened at Minato's house, she then proceeded at yelling at him for ignoring Kakashi's situation, not even caring that she was yelling at her Hokage. Which made the Hokage try to defend himself by explaining that Kakashi is lawfully an adult. During his explanation, Kushina was giving him a flat unamused stare. When Hiruzen finished his excuse, Kushina's chakra turned dangerous as her red hair raised into nine parts as her fist clenched in anger. Which caused the Hokage's Anbu to appear, ready to defend they Hokage from the enraged jinūriki. At their arrival, Kushina glared at them before exhaling while closing her eyes and taking a deep inhale through her nose, and exhaled again, before opening her violet eyes as her hair fell straight once more before turning to leave the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage could still hear last words the Uzumaki's spoke as her heated gazed focused on him from over her shoulder, before leaving. "Professor, I think you have forgotten one of the most important things about the will of fire. We fight for the children of our village, our job as shinobi is to protect and nurture the next generation so they won't have to fight in the battles that we had to."

Hiruzen quietly sighed when he reached the door to the interrogation room, as the guilt of the situation laid heavily on his shoulders. If he only tried harder to get the young Hatake to open up to him, then maybe none of this have happened. Maybe if he had taken Kakashi into the Sarutobi clan after Sakumo's death, then Kakashi wouldn't have had to live all alone for these past three years.

A frown grew on the Hokage's face at the thought of Sakumo's death. If he didn't assign Sakumo to that godforsaken mission, then none of this would have even happened. Sakumo could be alive, and maybe even become the next Hokage like Hiruzen wanted him to. But either way, Kakashi would still have his father and wouldn't have to live under the constant threat of his own village hurting and rejecting him. However, Sakumo was the only person the Third Hokage trusted to complete that mission, and even then there was only a fifty percent chance of success. He already knew that war was coming, and there was no escaping it. Hiruzen could still remember when he gave the mission to Sakumo, and he could tell from the older Hatake's expression that the White Fang knew the same.

Hiruzen let out a heavy sigh before opening the door to the room the would-be child killer was being held. The first person he sees is the newly appointed Jonin Commander, Shikaku Nara, who is leaning against the wall next to the door, and gives an acknowledging nod to his leader. The next person he sees in the dimly lit room was his former student, Jiraiya, who stood in front of the shinobi that was strapped to a chair. Jiraiya glances to the side as his intense dark eyes stared into his Sensei's older dark eyes. The Third Hokage's gaze then shifted to the male shinobi secured to the heavy metal chair with large chakra restraint bracelets attached to both of his wrists and ankles, ensuring that the man had no access to his chakra.

"Jiraiya, I received the message from your messenger toad, requesting to meet here so we can continue our previous conversation on urgent matters," Hiruzen spoke calmly as he held his pipe in his right hand while making his way to stand next to his former student. While the memory of a red and blue marked toad, he faintly recalled was named Kōsuke appeared in his office hours after Kushina left. Who gave him a brief rundown on what happened in the forest, and what interrogation room Jiraiya is holding the captured child abuser.

"Yeah, this is one of the four. The others got away, but I expect that more of them," Jiraiya spoke in an even tone as his gaze remained on the prisoner before him.

Hiruzen immediately recognized the jonin as Kado Fujino, not only an elite jonin but an Anbu candidate as well. The first thing that caught the Third Hokage's attention was Kado's forehead protector, that was turned around and tied tight to were knotted forced his jaw to remain open, as a thin trail of dry blood running down from the corners of his gagged mouth, before stopping at his chin. Next was the dark crimson patches, that littered the jonin's grey Anbu style vest. The patches ranged from the sizes of little red specks to a smear the size of Jiraiya's hand as if someone who was heavily bleeding brushed against him. The Hokage's calculating eyes could easily tell that Kado wasn't injured aside from a couple of bruises, which meant that the blood was not his.

The next thing that caught the Third Hokage's attention was a metal tray that laid on the small side table a few feet from the chair Kado was strapped to. Hiruzen leisurely made his way to the way to the table and picked up the red dog collar to inspect it. His stomach turned upon seeing jagged metal blackened with dried blood. Upon further inspection, the Third Hokage noticed a chakra suppressant seal, a tracking seal, and a small silver bell, which partially stained as well. Carefully setting the evidence back on the tray, Hiruzen turned his attention back to Jiraiya, who watched him with almost no emotion. Almost, after so many years of knowing the Toad Sage, he couldn't miss the raged and distress that vaguely showed in Jiraiya's dark eyes.

"Is Kakashi alright?" The Sarutobi asked, in a professional and concerned tone.

"Yes," Jiraiya answered swiftly with a short nod. Before settling his gaze on Kado as he elaborated, "His heart stopped, but thankfully Tsunade was able to bring him back. He's in bad shape, but he'll pull through."

"I see, I'm glad to hear it." The Hokage replied with a slight relief in the neutral tone of his voice. However, Kado's reaction to the news did not go unnoticed, as the sound of his bond fists clenching filled the dimly lit room. Hiruzen guest it was because the man failed to complete his objective, as he asked, "have you tried questioning him yet?"

"Yes, but he refuses to talk, then attempted to bite his tongue off," Jiraiya informed. Then added with a smug grin, "so, I put that forehead protector of his, to better use."

"I see," the Third Hokage replied with a slight grin of his own as he lightly held the tip of his hat. Before his expression became serious, as he now stood in front of the traitor strapped to the chair as he spoke in a firm tone, "Kado Fujino, I would prefer if you would answer our questions without us having to resort to more... unpleasant methods."

Jiraiya pulled down the gag letting the hitai-ate lay loosely around Kado's neck. Instead of answering, the Funjino's jaw clamped shut as his heated gazed was fixated on the red collar on the metal tray. Due to his inability to move or use his chakra, Kado considered trying to take his own life again. It would be a worthy death for a shinobi, by preventing information on their faction from falling into the hands of the Hokage and their enemies, like Jiraiya and Minato. That's when Kado slightly opens his jaw, readying himself to act quickly, so there was no hope for survival.

"Don't even think about it," an annoyed tone drawled out of the dim lighting.

Suddenly, Kado felt something wrapped around his body, it started from his feet, then swiftly traveled up to the back of his head and under his jaw, closing it before he could get his tongue between his teeth. With a quick glance down, the captured jonin spotted a flat black line wrapped securely around the grey Anbu cover his chest, as he can barely see the black tip of the line on the top part of his left cheek. Immediately recognizing the jutsu, Kado's heated gazed follow the line of the shadow to where Shikaku was still casually leaning on the wall next to the door.

"Damn you, Shikaku," Kado gritted out between clenched teeth, still glaring at the Nara.

"Hmph, don't think we're going to let you get off the hook that easily," the Jonin Commander spoke calmly, but gazed at the child abuser with dark eyes that are more serious than calculating.

The Third Hokage gave Shikaku an appreciative nod before turning his attention back on Kado, "let's start with the basic questions, why are you hunting Kakashi Hatake?"

Kado's gaze was fixated on a crack on the cement floor. While he remained silent, preparing himself for what tortures that may lie ahead.

"Let's try another question then, how many people are also targeting Kakashi Hatake?" The Hokage asked, looking down at the ex Anbu candidate before him.

However, the only answer he received was silence.

"How long have you been targeting Kakashi?" Hiruzen questioned after a minute of no answer.

Again, Kado gave no reply, as he tried to zone out the world around him.

"Sensei, let me give it a try," Jiraiya spoke in a hush, but the determined tone, as he placed a hand on his Sensei's shoulder. The Third Hokage answered with a firm nod, then took a step back, putting his trust in his former student.

Jiraiya grabbed the wooden chair that was set against the wall behind the metal chair Kado was strapped to. Then moved it in front of Kado, before sitting down, so they were face to face. Jiraiya noticed that Kado was now completely zoned out, a tactic most jonin use when being interrogated by enemy shinobi. With a small irritated huff, Jiraiya gave a hard pinched the skin on the inside of Kado's forearm through the material of his black long sleeve shirt and a metal mesh shirt. Kado let out a sharp hiss as his body flinches bring his mind back to its forefront.

"Hey, pay attention," Jiraiya spoke firm tone, making Kado's eyes meet Jiraiya's dark eyes. "In the forest, you told Minato that you want to kill Kakashi because he got them killed. So, my question is, who is 'them?'" Jiraiya questioned, remembering Minato reporting about his fight and what Kado said in-between. While they quickly raced through the trees, back to where they left Tsunade and the three students in the small shelter.

Kado glared at Jiraiya but still said nothing.

"Well, I guess whoever they were, they weren't worth remembering. Right, Kado? That what happens when weaklings charge-in on a real shinobi battle." Jiraiya stated nonchalantly with a shrug of his shoulders.

If looks could kill, then Shikaku was certain that Jiraiya would have burst into flames about now. From the death glare, Kado gave the toad sage, while struggling in his chair he hissed out through a close jaw. "Bastard! Shut your fucking mouth! You know nothing about them!"

"Oh? Then tell me about them?" Jiraiya replied, but when he saw Kado hesitating to answer. Jiraiya slightly leaned closer while sitting in his chair and added, "you said that you were doing this for the good of the village, now is your chance to tell why?"

"That mutt is poisoning the village," Kado answered after a moment of hesitation as his dark eyes looked up to the Third Hokage.

"And what makes you think this?" Hiruzen questioned in a neutral tone to hide the anger rising within him.

Kado let out a dark chuckle before answering, through clenched teeth, "Ask your precious student, he knows those monsters better than anyone."

"Monsters? I never have seen anything, that would make me think that the Hatake clan as monsters." Jiraiya replied in confusion, trying to hide the irritation in his voice.

"The Hatake clan controls demon wolves. Lord Hokage, I've seen these demons, and it's only a matter of time before they try to take over the village!" Kado spoke almost frantically near the end.

"Jiraiya what's he talking about?" The Third Hokage asked, not believe that the loyal Hatake clan was planning a coup d'etat. Which means, Kado may not be in his right mind, or he has seen something that has made him convinced that he and the village are in danger.

Jiraiya knew Kakashi is going to be pissed with what he's about to say the others, but there was no way in hell he's going to let his Sensei or the Jonin Commander get the idea of the Hatake clan being traitors. Jiraiya let out a tired sigh, then looked at his Sensei as he answered, "the Hatake clan has a blood contract with a special type of wolf summonings. The wolves can grow to the height of an average-sized man, but I've known the Wolfpack since I was around eight years old, and I can assure you, Sensei. They are not demons."

"You liar!" Koda practically screamed through his closed jaw. "Those demons have attacked me and other Konoha shinobi!"

"Pfft, yeah, because you're trying to kill their summoner," Shikaku spoke out from his spot next to the door in the shadows of the room. "Hell, the Nara Deer herds are the same when outsiders threaten clan members."

The Hokage hummed in agreement, knowing that his summoning the Monkey King: Enma is also a bit overprotective of him. Even though the large ape doesn't like to show his softer side, the monkey is willing to do everything and anything to protect him, and his family. So, Hiruzen completely understands if these human-size wolves are threatening shinobi that are trying to harm the little Hatake.

"That summoner is some sort of demon or freak! What kind of child has the power to not only outsmart, but killed a full-grown man!" Kado hissed through his teeth which he bared in his anger.

"Is that why you're trying to kill Kakashi Hatake?" The Third Hokage asked, knowing that in the past several shinobi envied Kakashi's rising through the ranks, but most of those shinobi were genin, and chunnin.

"That thing needs to be put down, like his filthy mutt of a father!" Kado tried to yell, frustrated at how nobody was understanding his reason. 'If it weren't for this stupid mark, I could tell how that little monster killed them,' Kado thought bitterly as he tried to think of a way to get himself killed or find a way to persuade the Hokage to agree and join their righteous cause.

Jiraiya felt something within him snap as he didn't even realize that he backhanded the prisoner in the side of the face. Then stood up and placed his right hand, that still stung from the smack, on the left top corner of the chair looming over the abuser with his large frame as he leaned down, so he was face to face with Kado. Before talking in a low threatening voice, "that thing is a nine-year-old boy, who watched his father die right in front of his eyes!"

"Jiraiya," Hiruzen spoke in his warning tone, and a bit surprised knowing that Jiraiya is a patient man and does not like to use force in his interrogations. He wanted to avoid torturing the Konoha shinobi if possible but inwardly admitted that Kado was asking for it.

Panic filled Kado's dark eyes, for a moment still shocked from was an attack. Then close eyes before looking back at Jiraiya with a smug smirk, as he calmly answered, "and the death of a traitor is supposed to change my mind?"

Jiraiya huffed as he stood up straight looking down at the jonin strapped to the metal chair with his own smug smile while speaking in a neutral tone, "Sakumo was a man worth a hundred of you, and even then, you couldn't hold a candle to him."

Kado chuckled with the same dark amusement as before. "Why use a candle against the White Fang when his pup works so much better," Kado commented without thinking, then insistently realized he just made a grave mistake.

"Really, would you like to elaborate on that?" Jiraiya asked, seeing Kado freeze up after his interesting comment.

"I'm done talking," Kado replied firmly, shifting his gaze to the unoccupied part of the room.

"You're not done talking until I say you are!" Jiraiya countered loudly cause the Funjino to flinch in his shadow bindings.

Already having a death wish, Kado looked at the angry toad sannin and tried to provoke the Toad Sage. By speaking in a low taunting voice, "do your worst."

Jiraiya let out an aggravated breath, then looked back at the old man that was slightly behind him, and spoke in a warning tone, "Sensei..."

The Third Hokage immediately knows that his student is warning him that he's going hit Kado again if he doesn't stop him. "Wait, Jiraiya. I would rather avoid torture if all possible," Hiruzen spoke calmly, taking a step forward to stand next to his tall student.

Kado was about to taunt the Toad Sage, again. However, Shikaku started talking first, "Lord Third, Master Jiraiya, I have contacted a friend of mine, who can help us with this turn of events. Please be patient for a little while longer, they will be here soon."


"So, who is this Akari?" Obito asked, trying to break the silence that has been lingering over the group for the past thirty minutes.

"Akari was Kakashi's mother," Auel answered softly while silently enjoying Kushina's fingers scratching behind her right blonde tipped ear.

"Really!" Rin and Kushina quietly exclaimed, already thinking that was the answer, but are still surprised by the confirmation.

"Wait, What! What was she like? How come we've met her before?" Obito asked quickly since Kakashi never talks about his family.

Auel gave a short soft chuckle, then answered with, "Akari was a smart, and creative person, with the same amount of stubbornness that can even rival with Kashi-pup." Then the dire wolf gave the group a sad smile as she adds in a slow solemn tone, "but she... passed away soon after childbirth due to illness."

Everyone was quiet for a couple of minutes, while Minato gently ruffles Obito's raven-colored hair when he noticed the usually cheerful boy, became quiet and started to look a shade paler. Minato's hand then patted the young Uchiha's shoulder, before giving a light reassuring squeeze hoping that it would bring some comfort to the depressed Uchiha. While Obito was inwardly criticizing himself because he had always thought that his youngest teammate was arrogant and nothing but a rule preacher that only had natural talent going for him.

However, the young Uchiha now realizes that he really doesn't know anything about Kakashi or his past. He knew that Kakashi's father died when Kakashi was five, but he always thought Kakashi's mother was alive, but just on a long term mission. Now, it makes sense why Kakashi's always so serious because he had to grow up much faster than the rest of his classmates and take care of himself.

"She was also an Inuzuka, wasn't she?" Tsunade asked, only knowing the Anbu captain when she was already married to Sakumo.

"Yes," Auel replied with a short nod.

"So why didn't the Inuzuka clan take in Kakashi after Sakumo and Akari died?" Tsunade asked curiously, which was something that Minato always wondered about as well.

The large wolf made what almost sounded like a whining sound, as she answered, "well, you see, it's a bit complicated..."

"How come?" Minato asked curiously, not liking the wolf's reaction.

Auel sighed, then explained, "Akari was born into one of the lowest branches of the Inuzuka clan. Of what I know, the Inuzuka clan is not as strict as the Uchiha or Hyuga, but when it comes to the lower branches, they tend to live in lower living arrangements, and from what Akari told me, her parents were not kind to her."

"Did they abuse her?" Kushina questioned, nervously as she stopped threading her fingers through the wolf's cream-colored fur.

Auel softly shook her head, then answered, "no. From what I was told, it was more like neglect. They treated her like she was a burden, and tend to leave her to her own devices, since a young age. Until she was eighteen when her parents tried to force her into an arranged marriage with one of the clan's high branching families. When Akari refused, her parents threatened to have her exiled from the clan."

"They can't do that!" Rin exclaimed in a medium tone, appalled at the idea of a clan exiling one of their own just because they don't want to be used as a way to gain power. But the Nohara clan was a civilian clan that operated on a different set of rules and laws. Knowing this, she looked at her Sensei with worried brown eyes as she warily asked, "right, Sensei?"

Minato frowned at his only female student, and quietly answered, "it depends on the clan's laws." Minato then shifted his blue gaze to Auel and asked in a sympathetic tone, "that's what happened in this case, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Auel confirmed with slightly flattened ears. Then continued, "Akari refused to marry, and her parents slandered her name to the other Inuzuka clan members. Which caused her to be ostracised from the Inuzuka clan. When Sakumo found out about her situation, he offered her a room in the Hatake compound with him and Jiraiya."

That piece of information caught Tsunade's attention and commented, "I didn't know that Jiraiya lived with Sakumo."

"Well, not officially. Jiraiya was accepted into the pack around that time, and would often visit the compound and hangout with Sakumo and his ninken pack. But when Akari moved into the room that's now the library, then Jiraiya officially moved into the room that is now Kakashi's room. Then when Sakumo and Akari started what you humans call 'dating,' he moved out into his own apartment." The wolf elaborated for the Senju medic, who is still sitting in the armchair.

"Were there anymore Hatakes around at this time?" Tsunade questioned out of curiously not remembering if there was or not, but has a feeling that there wasn't.

Auel shook her head, as her gaze looked towards to the Senju heiress and answered, "no, Sakumo become the last Hatake when he was around twelve years old when his mother and father were cut down during a mission. It was also the same mission where your other teammate lost his parents as well. Oh, what was his name again?" The wolf questioned slightly, tilting her head to the side, trying to remember.

"Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked shocked, Orochimaru told her that the team that his parents were on, all died during an infiltration mission that had done wrong. But she never knew the other shinobi that perished on that mission were Sakumo's parents.

"Yes, that was the name, he also stayed at the compound for a year before moving out. Since both boys were grieving over their losses, my sister and I thought it would be best to have them living in the same place, so we could watch over them." Auel spoke calmly with a hint of sorrow as her ears remained somewhat lowered.

"How come they never told me about this!" Tsunade almost yelled, slightly feeling a little betrayed that her two teammates never told her that they were struggling all those years ago.

"It was during a dark and lonely time for both Jiraiya and Orochimaru. My guess is that they don't want to remember those times," Auel explained when she sees the hurt in Tsunade's honey brown eyes.

"So, was Sakumo friends with Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked, wanting to know more.

After a moment of thinking back, Auel quietly answered, "I believe so, Orochimaru would come to the compound every so often to train with Sakumo, and talk over tea."

"Really!" Tsunade shouted in surprise with a smile on her face. However, the loud outburst caused Kakashi to groan rather grumpily, and try to turn on his side only to fail and remain on his back. But turned his head towards Auel muzzle that was gently pressing against his bruised cheek, while the wolf made calm hushing sounds easing his back to sleep. After a minute or two of complete silence, Tsunade whispered, "sorry, I'm just surprised. Jiraiya and I have been trying to get Orochimaru to socialize for years. I wonder if Jiraiya knew he was friends with Sakumo?"

"Well, prodigies tend to stick with prodigies," Auel replied in the same hush tone as she raises her head, but her chocolate brown eyes remained on the injured Hatake, who was now silently sleeping.

"What does that mean?" Obito whispered, raising one eyebrow and slightly tilting his head.

Auel softly chuckled, quietly replied with, "its something you will learn in time, little one."

"Fine," Obito answered with a silent pout. Before looking at the large wolf with excitement in his dark eyes and quietly asked. "Hey, while we wait for that toad guy to come back. Can you tell us what the first and second Hokages were like, sense you knew them?"

Auel watched as everyone's head looked towards her with interest, but the had no idea to start, and she's not used to talking so much. 'If Sairi were here she would be laughing at me, she always made this look easy,' Auel solemnly thought. But lightly answered with, "well, that depends if Lady Tsunade is alright with me talking about her pack."

Tsunade gave a single nod, as she spoke, "of course, I'm interested to know more myself."

"Alright, now how should I begin this tale?" Auel replied, trying to quickly think of a story that doesn't mention her pack too much. Then finally remembered the story her sister told Jiraiya and Akari when they first joined the pack, and they didn't want Sakumo to accidentally reveal clan secrets. "Ah, I know. Long ago, before the hidden leaf village was even created, there was a strong clan of shinobi known as the Senju."


After several more failed attempts to get the prisoner to talk, other than a few insulting jabs towards the Hatake clan. Jiraiya was a second from punching the Funjino's lights out when there was a knock on the door. While leaving the shadow in place, Shikaku cracked open the door to confirm who it was before opening it, letting the newcomer come in inside the dimly lit room.

Kado slightly struggles to turn his head to get a better view of who this newcomer was. Since the Funjino can't use his chakra to identify the person's chakra signature due to the chakra suppressors attached to his wrists and ankles. Out of the edge of his peripheral vision, Kado can barely make out what looked like a long blonde ponytail.

Jiraiya shifted his gaze to the newcomer, who was quietly conversing with Shikaku while shaking the Nara's hand with a black-gloved hand. The Toad Sage could tell that the Nara's friend was a man by the tone of their hush voice, while his long pale blonde that tied into a ponytail was still dripping wet from the raging storm outside. The man stepped into the light, revealing himself to the others in the room, Jiraiya didn't recognize the young man that appeared to be around the same age as the Jonin Commander. But the Toad Sage could tell that his Sensei knew the man who's long black jacket slightly shined form rainwater covering it. Judging by the long pale blonde hair and dull green eye and his serious expression, Jiraiya had a good guess that this man is part of the Yamanaka clan.

"And you are?" Jiraiya asked in a firm tone, not trying to be rude but is just in a bad mood.

"Lord Hokage, Master Jiraiya," the man started with a short formal bow. Before standing straight and continuing professionally, "my name is Inoichi Yamanaka. Shikaku already gave me a short debriefing on the situation, and asked for my services by performing a memory read on the prisoner."

Jiraiya couldn't stop the grin on his face at the Yamanaka's words. Which then turn into a small one-sided smirk when spotted the worry in Kado's eyes. 'Now, we will start getting some answers,' Jiraiya thought as his smirk grew wider when his dark eyes met with the prisoner's worried gaze.


A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back, and finally got a chapter ready for you all! First off, I want to apologize for not updating for so long, near the end of December I lost someone very precious to me, and I was not in the right mindset to write for a while. When I finally started writing again, I got so busy with school that I just couldn't keep up, so I chose to focus on my classes. Thank you for your patience and for understanding, as well as supporting this story it kept me smiling when I was going through some dark times. Also, I'm sorry for any grammar errors or missing or misplaced words, I typed this chapter on my phone and the autocorrect sucks. So please don't hate this chapter too much for it. I rushed this chapter, so I could get it posted for you all as quickly as possible. Again, thanks for being patient and for understanding, if you liked this chapter leave a favorite and comment on what you think is going to happen next or what you think about this chapter. Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter, and I hope it reaches your expectations. Thanks again!