Warnings: swearing, blood, mention of minor character death, depressing thoughts, attempted suicide, and lots of dialogue.
Please enjoy!
'Why can't people just behave? Especially during a storm like this!' Inoichi thought with bitter annoyance as he quickly made his way to the torture and interrogation's building.
The Yamanaka clan heir soon arrived at the building where his teammate informed him to go too. The young man looked like he just stepped out of the shower with his work uniform on. Quickly making his way down the hall, Inoichi thinks about the coded message Shikaku sent him by carrier pigeon. The coded note gave him a short debriefing on the young chunnin, Kakashi Hatake's situation. Which consisted of a failed assassination attempt by a group of four Konoha shinobi, but only one was captured.
When Shikaku opens the door to let the young interrogator in, Inoichi could see relief in Nara's eyes. The blonde man stepped into the room, so the newly appointed jonin commander could shut the door behind him. Then turns and shakes hands with the Nara apologizing for not being able to arrive any sooner. Before stepping into the light, so the Toad Sage and the Third Hokage can see him.
"And you are?" Jiraiya asked in a firm tone that made Inoichi unconsciously stand straighter.
"Lord Hokage, Master Jiraiya," he began short formal bow. Before standing straight and continuing in a professional tone, "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."
Inoichi could feel a shiver run up the spine at the crooked smile Jiraiya gave to the prisoner. The Yamanaka would've been lying if he said that he wasn't surprised to see Kado Funjino strapped to the chair, who's looking at him with worried eyes. Even though he's never been on a mission with the man, he has heard about his skills as a high-level jonin.
"Inoichi, what's your plan? How do you want to do this?" Shikaku questioned as he still kept a tight hold on his shadow possession jutsu.
"Let see... do to these circumstances. We will skip the rest of the questioning and evaluation and undergo the memory reading." Inoichi spoke in a neutral tone, as he referred to his clan's famous mind jutsu while holding his chin in his gloved hand. Before his dull green eyes darted from a still retained Kado to Shikaku, Jiraiya, and the Third Hokage, then back to the captured Anbu candidate again. Before calmly adding, "however, Kado a high ranking jonin, which means he knows how to resist my mind jutsu. If possible, I would like to speak with Kakashi about these events and perform a memory read on him as well."
Although Inoichi didn't state the last part as a question, the Yamanaka interrogator looked towards Jiraiya as if asking for permission. Jiraiya may not be related to Kakashi by blood but is still the closest thing to a guardian that the orphan Hatake has, besides his sensei, Minato. Plus, Inoichi could easily see how protective the famous Toad Sage was over Kakashi. So, if he could gain Jiraiya's trust, then maybe Kakashi would trust him enough to allow him to see his memories.
"No. The mind jutsu that allows you to read other people's memories is known for being painful. And I will not allow Kakashi to go through any more pain." Jiraiya replied sternly, knowing how painful the Yamanaka's mind jutsu can be, from when he had to undergo torture training before becoming a jonin.
"I know what you jutsu you're referring too, and I refuse to use that technique on a child. The mind Jutsu that I'm talking about is a technique that I created. As long as the subject doesn't resist the jutsu, they will feel no pain or discomfort. It will also allow me to bring more than just two people with me into the subject's memories as well." Inoichi corrected, trying to reassure the toad sannin.
"How can you be certain that there will be no pain or discomfort to those this jutsu is used on?" Hiruzen questioned, knowing that if they could not get the information they needed from Kado, then Kakashi would have to give them the answers they need.
"I can vouch for Inoichi and the new jutsu," Shikaku spoke out, capturing the attention of the Third Hokage and toad sannin. Then casually added, "Inoichi has tested it out on me, and Chōza. The only time I ever felt any discomfort was when we tested out what happens when you resist the jutsu."
"What are the side effects of this Jutsu when using it?" Jiraiya asked the two members of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation.
"Temporary drowsiness, and a minor headache if you try to resist the Jutsu," Shikaku answered with a small shrug of his shoulders.
Jiraiya crossed his arms and stared at the concrete floor under his feet as he remained deep in thought. After thinking through the information he was given, Jiraiya's gaze shifted back Inoichi and spoke in a considering tone, "I'll think about it."
While the conversation divergent of attention from their prisoner, Kado carefully retrieved the small senbon that was embedded into the small openings of the hem of his right long-sleeved mesh shirt. The ex Anbu candidate slowly and carefully maneuvered the small throwing needle to one of the veins in his right wrist. Knowing it would only take a minute at most, for the poison that covered the smooth metal to run it's course, putting him into a fatal cardiac arrest.
'This is my last chance. I've already failed my mission, for the good of the village, and for my fallen friends. I will not let this information fall into the hands of our village's weakness,' the Fujino thought as he plunged the needle into the underside of his right wrist.
"Are you feeling alright, Eri?" A familiar voice startled the dire wolf, who was currently lying on her side on the roof of the house that her pack's human pup was recovering in.
The large wolf turned her head toward the newcomer as she felt the soft pelts of the freezing rain land on her light brown fur, before seeping down to her skin. However, she did not shiver from the cold. Despite the ice-cold water dripping from the short hair on her white muzzle or the fridged snow pressing against her white-coated underbelly. Since she was utilizing a fraction of her chakra to maintain her body heat, as she kept track of all the human chakra signatures within a seven-mile radius.
"Brother, you know not to sneak up on me when I'm sensing chakra!" Eri silently growled as Kyo strode soundlessly through the snow on the roof before laying down next to her.
"Its been a while since you've called that," Kyo smirked. But knowing that his little sister has been going through a lot of stress lately, and want to make sure she okay. Kyo smirk faded into a concerned frown as he asked, "what's wrong? Your chakra still feels nervous and unstable. Even before any of this even happened today, but now it's full of hatred. If this is what's about what happened to Kakashi, you know that no one will lay a hand against the pup, now that we're here."
"That man... the one that Jiraiya took with him to their leader. It was him. He was the one who killed Taro. He has the same disgusting stench." Eri growled in a deadly tone that Kyo hasn't heard in a long time, as her copper daze focused on the red tower in the distance through the shifting waves of freezing rain and howling winds.
Kyo's dark gray ears flattened at the memory of the lone timber wolf that joined their pack four years before Sakumo's death. Taro did not care for humans due to bad past experiences with hunters. However, the timber wolf loved Eri, so he learned to accept the two people making up the Hatake clan. Although, there several moments where Taro got aggressive with Kakashi, which resulted in Sakumo putting the timber wolf in his place a couple of times.
However, in the end, Taro saved Kakashi and was willing to die to protect him, not long after finding out Eri was going to have his puppies. Kyo still remembered how the full-grown wolf act just as excited as a puppy when he found out he and Eri were going to have puppies, were going to be parents. The worst part for Kyo was watched his little sister even more heartbroken then the time they lost their first pack.
"Let the bastard be punished by his own pack, and if they don't do anything. Then we'll bring justice to our all fallen loved ones," Kyo replied with confidence, making it sound more like a promise. While his golden eyes seemed to be piercing through the frigid rain and raging winds focusing on the red Hokage tower, but was unable to sense any chakra from inside.
"Since when did you become the voice of reason?" Eri joked kind-heartedly, knowing Kyo was usually quick to anger, leaving her to often play as the peacekeeper. In a way, it reminded her of their first few months after join Lady Faiashi's pack, but at that time, she was known as Aunt Faiashi.
"I have my moments," Kyo huffed in mock annoyance, as his dark grey tail lightly thumping against the pack water down snow.
"More like, Auel has finally tamed you," Eri replied, giving her bother a knowing smirk just to mess with him.
As expected, Kyo gives the brown and white wolf the same pouting expression he had when he was still a pup. Looking down with a flat stare with his eyebrows frowned, and dark grey ears pressed flat against his head as his tail stopped thumping on the snowy roof. While grumbling about how he hasn't been tamed, just more agreeable. This made Eri dramatically roll her copper-colored eyes and softly shake her head, as water droplets drip from the edges of her soak fur coat.
"I swear you're the same as you were as a pup," Eri added with a light chuckle with a light shake of her head.
"Handsome and intelligent," Kyo smirked with pride.
"Reckless and hothead," the brown and white wolf clarified in a flat tone.
"Always so rude to your precious big brother," Kyo huffed as he looked to his sister with that same pouting expression again.
Eri gave a light chuckle, as Kyo was relieved to feel his little sister's chakra shift from the cold fury of the fiercest blizzard to a tranquil waterfall. Reminding him of his father's chakra, calming and awe-inspiring but terrifying and a force of nature when angered. Even though Eri has chakra similar to their father, she has the same coat patterning and coloring as their mother. However, her copper eyes are the same as their father's. While Kyo inherited their mother's color pattern, but his colors are similar to his father's, and his eyes are golden like his aunt Faiashi's eyes. However, unlike his ordinary gold eyes, Faiashi's eyes allow her to see chakra signatures and their element nature from hundreds of miles away. Even with his shadow abilities, Eri's chakra tracking skills, and Auel's transformation techniques, as well as Sairi's camouflage abilities all together are nothing compared to Faiashi's power and her mastery over the light chakra, or his father's dark chakra. Even with their large chakra reserves, which are about half the sized of the nine-tailed beasts, is nothing but a fraction compared to his father's and Faiashi's enormous chakra reserves.
"Maybe you should start acting your age," Eri huffed with amusement.
"I would, but not many wolves live up to the age of a hundred and fifty," Kyo simply countered.
His Sister's gaze immediately shifted towards him, as if she was confused at what he said. Before replying in a knowing tone, "you are not a hundred and fifty."
"Aren't I? I've lost count," Kyo hummed as he raised an eyebrow at the wolf next to him.
"Good grief, you're only a hundred and nine," Eri answered a sigh and another soft shake of her head.
"Really?" Kyo questioned, with a slight tilt of his head, before adding, "then what does that make you? Ninety?"
Eri gave her brother a flat stare as she answered, " we're only about four years apart, you idiot. I'm a hundred and four."
"Wrong," Kyo countered with absolute certainty.
"I'm not wrong, Kyo. I think I would know my own age. Is your age starting to affect your memory now?" Eri joked, before adding in a mocking tone, "you know humans often say that age of effects the memory."
"Maybe, if you were a hundred and four," Kyo replied.
"Kyo," Eri spoke in a slightly irritated warning tone, like how a mother is preparing to scold a stubborn child. Then sternly added, "you're answering the questions again, and you better stop before I-"
"You're a hundred and five," Kyo interrupted his sister's threat. When he received no response, he continues with, "well, approximately about two hours ago, but I do not know sure now since I cannot see the moon right now."
"Oh... I forget," Eri replied as she lost her train of thought and what she was about to say.
"I know, I heard that it usually comes with age," Kyo nonchalantly added, as he got and stretch.
"Jerk," Eri mumbled, only to get drenched even further by Kyo purposefully shaking the excess water from his dark grey fur coat.
"Happy birthday, my little sister," Kyo spoke softly for only Eri to hear, who was currently giving him a half-hearted glare. Before gently pressing his muzzle to the side of his sister's face.
"Thank you, brother," Eri replied softly as her eyes softened before closing and light pressing against her brother's muzzle with a light smile. Taking in the comforting feeling of her brother's warm protective chakra. She knows that Kyo is aware of her fatigue and that she's still mourning for all their fallen loved ones, but she will remain strong. If not for herself, then for her pack, her two precious puppies, for Kakashi, for her brother, and for the memories of all those who have passed away before her.
With an acknowledging huffed, Kyo pulled away feeling a bit more relieved that he accomplished in making his little sister feel even a little bit better. Then change the topic by adding, "okay. As much as I would rather go and hunt down those other three scents that were in the forest, it's more important if I go and keep an eye out for Jiraiya. Just in case if anyone is planning on targeting him. You'll watch my back for me, right?"
"Always," Eri soft replied. 'As if he needs to ask?' she thought humorlessly, as she watched her brother walk towards the roof's edge.
Once at the roof's edge, Kyo jumped, but instead of landing on the slushy muddy street, he sank into the road, becoming a shadow. Eri glanced over the edge of the roof from where she laid as she watches the shadow outside of the top view of Kyo glided across the road. Before disappearing into the shadows of an alley between two houses. Almost as if the shadow form of the large wolf was swimming through muddy water-downed snow earth. The brown and white wolf knows that shadow techniques quite well. She still remembers how her brother managed to save them, during the mad slaughter of their birth pack, by merging them with the shadows next to their mother's den and fleeing into the darkness of the forest's night.
Eri was only two years old, and Kyo was six when it happened. Sometimes the nightmares of that tragic night still haunt her. The yelps and howls of agony echoing in her ears, as images of their mother and other pack mates being torn apart by dark green, almost black vines. While relentlessly fighting the black and white humanoid figure that seemed to be able to force nature to do it's bidding. Forcing their father to fight in his strongest form as he silently signaled Kyo to take Eri and run, run, and live.
When the fighting stopped and the forest fall silent, the two dire wolf pups returned to search for survivors, only to discover the mangled corpses of all their friends and family. All but one, their father's body, was missing. After about a month of surviving on their own, Faiashi found them and adopted them into her pack. Raising them alongside her two pups, Auel and Sairi. Treating them with all the love and kindness, they thought they forever lost as if she and Kyo were born within her pack, the Hatake pack.
Eri shakes her head again, 'what am I doing? now is not the time to focus on the past, I need to focus if I want to protect my family, my pack.' Eri gently criticized herself before focusing on sensing chakra again.
Kado slowly opens his eyes, not even realizing I close them. 'What the? Am I still alive? But how?' The Fujino mindfully questioned as still felt the prick of the needle pressing against the vein in his wrist. When Kado peered down to see what has happened, he immediately notices a black line twisting around his where the senbon was supposed to pierce. Then to his hand, and all the way to his thumb and forefinger that still held the needle.
"What did I say earlier. You are not getting off the hook that easily," Shikaku spoke out with an annoyed calmness that made the Nara sound bored and serious all at the same time.
The others in the dimly lit room watched as Shikaku calmly walked up to the prisoner and plucked the small senbon needle from the man's trapped hand. Kado growled and started struggling again, trying to escape his restraints with brute force, knowing he has run out of options. While the Toad Sage and the Nara watch with a hint of satisfaction, and the Third Hokage, the Yamanaka watch with impassive expressions.
After observing Kado's pointless struggling for a couple more seconds, Shikaku turned his attention back to his teammate, asking, "so how do you want to do this, Inoichi?"
"Since my new mind technique requires more chakra, I think it would be best to use my clan's original mind jutsu. That way, I can preserve more chakra," Inoichi spoke with an almost emotionless tone, as his dull green eyes remained on their prisoner. Then looked towards the Nara and added with a slight sympathetic tone, "however, I can only take two people with me."
"Have Jiraiya and the Hokage go with you. I'll keep watch out here and keep this guy restraint," Shikaku replied in understanding as he gestured his head towards Kado. The child abuser has finally stopped struggling and started putting up his mental defenses to prevent the Yamanaka from getting any critical information from him.
Inoichi sighed as he stood in front of the ex Anbu candidate, knowing Kado isn't going to give up any information that he knows, easily. Then turned to the Third Hokage and Jiraiya requesting them to place a hand on one of his shoulders. The other two obeyed the Yamanaka's request, as Inoichi gave Shikaku a short firm nod. Before looking over his shoulder at the others and giving them a small nod letting them know he's about to begin the jutsu.
Then turned his attention back on Kado Fujino, who appears to be in a deep meditative state, Inoichi resisted the urge to sigh again. Instead, he softly spoke, "once we enter his mindscape, please keep your emotions in check," with that being said, Inoichi placed the palm of his right hand on Kado's forehead and activated the Jutsu.
After the spinning sensation stopped, Jiraiya didn't know what was worse, having your eyes open or closed. Once the feeling of vomiting has passed, Jiraiya carefully opens his eyes to see young Yamanaka interrogator in front as he still held onto Inoichi's shoulder. A quick glance to the side showed his sensei doing the same. Other than that, the Tod Sage notices that they were floating in what appears to be a black abyss.
"Is everyone all right?" The Yamanaka questioned, knowing how disorienting this part of the mind jutsu can be.
Hiruzen lets out a slow, measured breath before replying, "yes. Though it's been quite some time since I've entered someone else's mind."
"Master Jiraiya?"
"Peachy," Jiraiya retorted joylessly but relieved to feel his nausea slowly fading away. Before taking in his surroundings again, but there was nothing more than empty black space. Then shifted his gaze to the back of the Yamanaka's head as he asked, "where are we?"
"We're in the first level of Kado's subconscious," the Yamanaka answered simply, as they continued to through the empty void.
Before Jiraiya question anything else, he saw a pair of shoji sliding doors. That had chains and metal wires warped tightly around them, with all ends meeting together at the hand-sized lock in the middle of the sliding doors with a seal tag with the word "lock" inscribed on it. When the group reaches the locked door, Jiraiya could see Inoichi's arms move as he made various hand signs, which resulted in the lock to shatter and fade away. After making another set of several hand signs Jiraiya and Hiruzen watch as the young Yamanaka interrogator slamming both hands in the middle of the two doors, sending a pulse of chakra into the doors.
However, instead of opening one door, Jiraiya was surprised to see fifteen other locked shoji doors open. The last shoji door in front of was as secured as the other doors, but it had a mark printed on it, making it look like two black bolded V's stacked on each other. It didn't take long for the group to understand the purpose of the mark on the door. Inoichi made quick work of the chains, wires, and the lock, before working on finding a weak spot in the black mark's chakra. The Third Hokage and Jiraiya passionately watched the Yamanaka working on the door that was sealed shut by the black symbol. Hiruzen noticed a hint of familiar chakra. However, refused to dwell on the fact of who this achingly familiar chakra signature belongs to until he has more information.
After several stressful minutes, Inoichi was finally able to bypass the chakra formula that made up the black mark. While the group watches the strange symbol slowly disappear, Jiraiya and the third Hokage could hear the Yamanaka mutter "finally," with an exhausted sigh.
Once the doors finally door, Jiraiya wasn't expecting to see a brain in the middle of a dome-shaped room with multiple of those mysterious black marks covering the circling around the walls. Jiraiya mentally notes to find out what these marks are but stays silent as Inoichi leads them to what he can only guess is Kado's brain.
When they reached their designation, Inoichi places his gloved hands that were radiating with the chakra on the organ before pulling a large scroll out of the brain's tissue. As if feeling the confusion of the others, Inoichi explained, "alright, I finished collecting all the information I can about Sakumo Hatake and Kakashi Hatake."
"If you can, see what you can dig up on that black mark that was on the door," Hiruzen ordered, hoping to prove his instincts wrong.
"Yes sir," Inoichi replied, before searching for any information on the black chakra mark. "What? That's odd," Inoichi verbally commented in confusion.
"What is it?" Jiraiya asked, not liking the confusion and surprise in the Yamanaka.
"It won't let me... the chakra mark is acting like a barrier, a dangerous one at that," Inoichi clarified in an almost concerned voice.
"What do you mean?" Hiruzen questioned, hoping that his theory wasn't correct.
"If I keep interfering with the chakra in the mark while examining his memories, it will start affecting Kado's body. By shutting down his brain," Inoichi explained, knowing how dangerous it was for them if the chakra mark shut down Kado's brain with them still inside his mind.
"What the hell what kind of chakra mark is this?" Jiraiya exclaimed in a loud, angry voice.
The Third Hokage sighed, now knowing what this mark is, and explained warily, "a dark one. There's similar to a silencing seal, to prevent information from reaching Konoha enemies. They are known as curse marks."
"You know what these are, old man?" Jiraiya questioned carefully, not liking the tone in his Sensei's voice.
Hiruzen slowly inclined his head as he answered, "yes. Though their design is far different from when I last heard of them. Lord Second created these marks to prevent captured high ranking Konoha shinobi from revealing any critical information to any village enemies. However, Lord Second passed away before he could even finish or test out these marks, and from what I know of his notes is that these marks post no threat to the shinobi carrying them."
"Who else had access to the Lord Second's notes?" Jiraiya questioned, not knowing much about the infamous bother of the God of Shinobi, Tobirama Senju. Other than some of the jutsu that he's learned or passed down to Minato.
"Only his students," Hiruzen replied shortly. He already has a good idea of who is creating the curse mark, and wondering what other experiments are being continued without him knowing.
"Is this a type of forbidden Jutsu?" Inoichi asked almost hopefully, not liking the mark's tainted chakra and how it spreads through the carrier's body.
The Third Hokage nodded again before replying, "yes. However, we do use a similar version in the Anbu. In case if an agent is captured or interrogated, but it does not shut down the brain or kill the agent. The mark only prevents them from speaking or showing the information to anyone except me and a select few."
"Is there anyone else who might know of Lord Second's notes?" Jiraiya questioned, again, worrying that someone might of accidentally or let the Second Hokage's more dangerous research become public.
"Well, maybe one, but she's been dead for quite some time now," the Third Hokage answered slowly, as if unsure he should mention it or not.
"Who is this 'she'?" Jiraiya asked, wanting answers, not caring that they were still floating in the dome-shaped room next to the Kado's brain, or at least all of his memories.
Jiraiya watched as his Sensei let out another sigh before elaborating, "her name is Faia Hatake. She was close friends with Tobirama-sensei, and she was the first Anbu, as well as Anbu commander."
Inoichi raises an eyebrow and confusion, never hearing is that name before. Although, he's never been really interested in the Hatake clan until now, so there is a chance this person did exist without him knowing. However, the Yamanaka did think it was strange that he has never heard or seen any records of this Faia Hatake. Since she was the first Anbu, let alone an Anbu Commander.
However, Jiraiya's jaw almost dropped at the mention of the name. Before Sakumo's death, Kakashi used to tell his Uncle Jiji about all the fun adventures he had with Lady Fai or Faia. Who would babysit Kakashi when Jiraiya and Sakumo were both on missions. The sannin always thought that was Kakashi's nickname for Lady Faiashi. But now that he thinks about it, Kakashi has never mentioned or described Lady Faiashi being a wolf or a human. Jiraiya still faintly remembers when Kakashi was a toddler, and how he blab about Lady Faiashi letting him ride on her back. Before, she would take him for a run through the forest, and other times how she would spar with Sakumo in what sounded like, hand to hand combat. Judging by how a toddler Kakashi, would start throwing small punches in the air or trying to mimicking the hand signs that he's seen in the spars. 'If this Faia Hatake is Lady Faiashi, then maybe she's using a type of transformation jutsu to conceal herself within a human form? Or, maybe this Faia Hatake was a real person and was named after Lady Faiashi, or may have just been a coincidence?' The toad sannin thought, adding these questions to already long mental list, but figured that he might as well get some information now.
While keeping his facial expression neutral, Jiraiya asked, "what happened to this Faia Hatake?"
"To be honest, I don't really know. Faia was killed on a mission a couple of weeks after Tobirama-sensei's death," the Third Hokage replied honestly, sadly shaking his head.
"Hmm, interesting," Inoichi commented slowly, but then decided to get back to the topic at hand. By adding, "after we're done with the memory reading and speaking to Kakashi about these events, Shikaku and I will check the records to see what we can find about the Hatake clan members."
"Sounds like a good plan to me, so let's hurry up and get this over with." Jiraiya agreed with a short nod knowing he'll have a lot of questions for the Hatake wolf pack the next time he sees one of them. Then almost sheepishly added to light the mood, "not only do I want to get out of this lunatics head. But I promised Kakashi that I'd be back before he wakes up or else I'll have to teach me a new jutsu."
"Understand," the young Yamanaka interrogator replied with an amused huff. Then spoke in a professional tone, "we'll start with the earliest significant memories and work our way up from there. Also, keep your hands on my shoulders to keep your chakras linked to mine, that way you'll be able to see the memories that I see."
Jiraiya and Hiruzen nodded when the Yamanaka glanced over his shoulder at them as if silently asking if they're ready. Inoichi place both gloved hands on the end of the scroll, sending another pulse of chakra into it, making the scroll to begin to unravel. Jiraiya's eyes closed as the world around him began to fade as he felt his chakra that was linked to the Yamanaka being pulled into the jutsu.
Kyo continued making his rounds around the village travel through the shadows. By using the Namikaze's house as the focal point, Kyo stalked around each neighborhood. Slowly expanding his circle, while locating and categorizing each scent and chakra signature that he knows has harmed his pack's little human pup. Kyo continued to suppress his chakra signature, making sure none of the sensor type shinobi in the village could sense him. While making sure to keep his distance from the Inuzuka clan, not wanting it's clan members or ninken to catch his scent and alerting the village of his presence. Similar to having to avoid the members of the Nara clan who would be able to detect his presence within the shadows.
However, the large grey wolf focused on keeping his chakra signature calm and collected. To make sure he does not worry, his little sister, or Auel, who is still watching over Kakashi and the rest of his human pack to ensure no further harm comes to them. While his killer intent raged inside of him along with his bloodlust, when he located the other three scents that were in the forest with Kakashi and the man Jiraiya and the Namikaze captured. A small part of Kyo still wanted to take out the threats now. However, he gave Kakashi his word that he would not hurt everyone within the village. But Kakashi never said anything about when the bastards were out on missions.
After checking several more surrounding streets, Kyo reached a neighborhood filled with civilian houses that stretches from the village's marketplace and the home of Minato Namikaze. The large grey wolf kept himself emerge in the shadows as let his stealthy move through the neighborhood that he was, unfortunately, all too familiar with. It's been almost three years since he's made around this part of the village. The dire wolf unmerged with the shadows and was now standing in front of a modest-looking civilian house. That still carries the old traces of Kakashi's blood within its walls. Just being in the same presence of the building makes Kyo's muscle tense and the grey fur on his back raise.
Three months. Kakashi lived in this house for three months. After Lady Faiashi took Kakashi away from that house, the last Hatake was able to persuade the Third Hokage to let him live on his own. After that, Kyo and the others in the ninken packs learned what their human-pup went through in that house. How it started off with neglect, to how the little six-year-old orphan Hatake became skin and bones, and how it leads to the quick smacks and faint bruises, then to the beatings. This led to his Aunt, Lady Faiashi, to force the seal that keeps her from entering the village to be temporarily released to infiltrate the Leaf Village. To retrieve Kakashi before the six-year-old could be killed. Kyo still remembers Lady Faiashi's silent fury. When she returned from her self-appointed mission to save her pack's little scarecrow, and how Kakashi clang to her shaking, like a leaf. The only reason Kakashi was still in the Leaf Village was that the boy demanded to stay with his human pack, even if they don't deserve his loyalty.
A part of the dire wolf still has resentment towards Kakashi's decision. He wanted nothing more than to enter the house and kill the middle-aged civilian couple that was probably sleeping right now. However, Kyo refuses to break the young Hatake's trust by breaking his promise even for people like them. Kyo let out a heavy sigh before slowly making his way to the Hokage Tower to check on Jiraiya.
"Kyo? Can you hear me?" A familiar female voice calmly echoed in the grey wolf's mind. It took her a moment to recognize that this was Lady Faiashi's telepathy.
"Lady Faiashi, is something wrong? Are all the pups okay?" Kyo inwardly replied with a slight panic tone. Since he still worries about that black and white humanoid creature finding their wolf pack, and this would be the perfect chance.
"Do not worry yourself, everything's fine here, the pups are asleep," Faiashi replied in a reassuring tone, causing Kyo to let out a sigh of relief. Then Faiashi's voice calmly flooded his mind again, "however, Kakashi's ninken pack are still in a panic state of mind from when Kakashi's heart stopped."
Kyo let out a quiet dry chuckle and mindfully commented, "understandable." Knowing that he, Eri, Auel, and Sage were acting similarly in the woods, which forced them to split up to cover more ground and find Kakashi faster. Then asked, "Is there something you need? If you want, I can give you the report on the situation in the village, now?"
"No, you can give me the report when you and the others return." Faiashi replied, but after a short pause, she added, "however, I have a message for you to pass on to Jiraiya, and the others in Kakashi's human pack."
"Of course, my lady, and what is the message?" The dire wolf mindfully questioned respectfully, ready to obey his Alpha's orders.
"Tell them..." the kind voice started before giving short meaningful pause, before finishing in a more serious tone, "to prepare for my arrival."
"As you wish, Lady Faiashi," Kyo respectfully replied in his mind, careful not to actually speak his words. At the reply, Kyo felt his Aunt's presence leave his mind, as he sank back into the shadows and started making his way back to the Namikaze's house.
Hundreds of miles away from the village, deep in the mist-covered mountains between the Land of Fire and the Land of Whirlpools, was a dense forest full of luscious green trees and a small clear blue lake that softly sparkled in the moonlight. Near the lake stood a large, well-made wooden cabin that had the Hatake and Senju clan symbols carved into a solid oak door. While not too far off was a large cave entrance that leads to a massive tunnel system containing the purest form of chakra crystals in all the elemental nations. Standing inside the cave entrance was a wolf gazing up at the light of the crested moon and twinkling stars illuminating the night sky.
The wolf's pulpless golden eyes continued staring up at the night sky. But she was not focusing the universe above this war-torn world. Instead, she was focusing on the small flickering flame of white chakra that has hundreds of miles separating them. Her fur was white as snow. Aside from the red markings around her eyes, curling around her front legs drifting across her ribcage then slightly curling up towards her back before reaching the curve of her hind legs, and the red circle on top of her head with a thin line moving to the back of her head end just before reaching the back of her neck and another tiny red line between her eyes ending before reaching her muzzle.
However, the white hair on her tail slowly turned black at the tip. While the thick white fur just above her elbow on her front legs grew longer than the rest of her fur pelt as it twists and curled upwards. However, her most unique characteristics that made her different from all the other wolves and ninken in her pack was the circular stone tablet on her back. That has several meticulous seals inscribed on it. It hovered just a few inches from her body slightly behind her shoulder blades. While a soft rainbow-colored mist that flowed from the bottom of the sealed tablet. It contains every type of chakra nature, as well as Nature energy. It was her greatest strength, as well as her greatest weakness.
Long ago, her father once told her that she is the holder and protector of the "Devine's chakra" while her brother is the same for its body, the "Husk." It's been over a thousand years since that conversation. Nearly a hundred years since she's seen, hear, or feel her brother's chakra and can only assume that he's no longer among the living. Unlike her half-siblings, the nine-tailed beasts that can't be killed, she and her brother can be, which is what releases what they live to protect. The wolf's heart hurts, knowing that she's alone. Her brother is gone. Her father is gone. Many of her children are gone. Her siblings are scattered and enslaved by the seals that bind them to their jinūriki. She's lost so many members of her pack are gone human and canine. Slowly closing her eyes and letting out a deep breath, she focuses on Kakashi's chakra signature. Like a small flame of hope leading her away from the cold, judgemental, darkness of her mind and focus on the joy, hope, and love that life can bring. The large white wolf gave an almost silent huff of amusement as old memories came flooded back to her.
The first memory was the time when a five-year-old Hashirama said that the twisting upward fur looked like a pair of wings. Before running around in small circles with arms outstretched as if soaring through the air with a wide excited smile on his young, innocent face. While a three-year-old Tobirama's round chubby cheeks puffed out as he pouted, and argued that the fur that curling upwards resembles a cloud. Before the toddler clung to the short hair on her forearm from where the massive wolf laid half curled on the forest floor, then carefully tried to climb up to sit on top of the large wolf's forearm. Only to succeed with the aid of his mother, who at the time was heavily pregnant with her third child. The mother of the Senju brothers had a gentle smile as she continued her conversation with the large wolf. Before tucking a loose strain of long silver hair back behind her ear as she looked into the wolf's eyes with her own pulpless golden eyes.
Another fond memory was when a six-year-old Sakumo met her in her original wolf's form for the first time. Instead of being scared or nervous, like she expected, the young Hatake boy smiled at her in awe and dark grey eyes filled with wonder. Then a few months later, Sakumo used the reverse summoning jutsu unexpectedly one early morning, face covered in a red substance. Horrified that the boy could be injured, the wolf raced over to the little Hatake, shifting her size to the height of the dire wolves. However, when she reached the young Hatake, Sakumo jumped onto her, small arms latching around her neck, begging for her to protect him. The wolf lowered her head, pressing the boy closer to her body to comfort the child, but still wasn't able to see his face. Then just as she started asking what happened, she felt another person arrive using the reverse summoning jutsu. A moment later, a loud enraged but familiar voice yelled Sakumo's name. The wolf looked up and tried her best not to laugh, as a six-year-old Sakumo jumped in surprise. Before slowly turning towards his newly appointed master and guardian until his parents return from their escort mission. Tobirama stood before his new and youngest apprentice with his arms crossed over his chest as his foot tapped, repeatedly in annoyance. Now the wolf could see both the young Hatake and the Second Hokage's faces and couldn't help but laugh. Since, Sakumo clumsily painted her red face markings on both of their faces, in Tobirama's red sealing ink. While adding Tobirama's three face marks onto his face, too. When asked why he did it, the child sheepishly answered that he liked their tattoos and thought it would be cool if they all had the same face tattoos. Seeing that the boy was sorry, and didn't mean to anger the Second Hokage, and didn't know that he used Tobirama's rare red sealing ink. That the Senju could only purchase in the hidden Eddie village in the land of Whirlpools. Tobirama decided to have Sakumo run five laps around the small lake as punishment, but not before getting a quick picture of the three of them and hanging it in the cabin.
However, more recent memory was when Kakashi first met her in this form. The boy was only two years old and a bit intimidated by the large wolf. However, after spending some with the small toddler, she was able to gain the trust of the wary child. This resulted in Kakashi begging his father to let her watch over him when Sakumo and Jiraiya were on a mission or just to visit. The Clan Head of the Hatake clan saw no problem with this and used the opportunity to help Kakashi open up to others. Although, now, when Kakashi often comes to visit, she would shift into the size of the dire wolves and let the nine-year-old Hatake on top of her and let him ride on her back. Kakashi would run his pale or sometimes bruised fingers through the multicolored mist that continuously seeps through the bottom of the stone tablet that had a soft glow of a rainbow. Before clutching onto the white fur and politely asking her if they can run through the trees again with hidden excitement in his tone. And she did she would run through the forest at high-speed, not just for the exercise, but for the chance to catch a glimpse of Kakashi's real and treasured smile, one more time.
"Uh, Lady Faiashi?" A small unsure voice called out below her, catching her attention.
Looking down to see Pakkun sitting down next to her front right paw looking worried. Faiashi gave the pug a sympathetic look as she silently shifted out of her original size and into the size of the other dire wolves in the pack. Then gently spoke to the worried ninken, "Don't worry, Pakkun, I can feel Kakashi's chakra signature growing strong. He will live. Auel and the others will return shortly. I want you and the other ninken to be ready in case Kakashi needs you."
"What about Kyo, Auel, Eri, and Sage? Aren't they with the boss right now? Shouldn't we go now and help Kakashi?" Pakkun questioned, almost starting to raise his tone in the end. Still a bit skittish for his young summoner especially, when he and the others felt their blood contract broke when Kakashi's heart stopped.
"No." Faiashi countered in a calm but firm tone, as she and pug walked to the cabin.
"But-" Pakkun started as he watches Faiashi skillfully open the wooden door with her paw, and closing the door behind them with her tail after they entered the cabin.
"If we continue to shadow the village and its people, then we'll only create distrust and fear among its people." Faiashi interrupted the pug as she strolled into the living area were Kakashi's other ninken laid about tensed with worry. While five puppies laid huddled together on a tarp, covered with several fluffy blankets, in the middle of the floor.
"I understand that but,-" the pug started again.
Faiashi interrupted again, "Pakkun, just give him one day. Kakashi needs to recover mentally and physically, and he needs to understand that there are good people in this world." She understands the ninken's worries. She's worried as well but knows the situation must be handled delicately, or Kakashi and the pack could be put in danger.
Pakkun sadly nodded in understanding. The only reason he doesn't challenge Faiashi's words is that that's what he and the rest of Kakashi's ninken pack have been trying to do. Something they've been trying to do for almost three years now, and this was Kakashi's opportunity to strengthen his bonds with his team, his human pack.
However, Biscuit didn't agree with the others, as he growled furiously at Faiashi, "but they have already betrayed his trust! They've hurt him over and over, and over again, while we stay here and do nothing! Shouldn't we actually be protecting the last member of the Hatake clan, cause the village clearly doesn't care for its orphan pups!"
Faiashi was just about to exit the living room but stopped at the small blonde dog's outburst. When she slowly turns to face the ninken, all eight of the dogs tucked their tails behind their legs, with their ears flattened to their heads as they all lowered themselves to the ground. She deliberately made sure her not to flare her chakra as she gave the little blonde dog a stern look.
That was when her calm tone turned sharp and serious, as she spoke, "And what would you have me do Biscuit? Would it be better for me to attack the leaf village? Slander all those people? Give the villagers something to truly the fear?"
Biscuit silently shook his head as he looked down at the hardwood floor. Ashamed, he let his anger get the best of him and lashed out at the true Alpha of the Hatake pack. Then Biscuit let out a soft whine in apology.
"No," Faiashi answered her own questions after none of the dogs answered them for her. "Humans already believe that my kin is monsters, and some of them believe me to be that as well." Faiashi continued, thinking back to the time where she and Hashirama argued about her being a threat to the Leaf Village like the other nine tailed beasts. Before finishing in a hush but confident tone, "however, that does not mean that I am willing to abandon my pack, human or canine."
Faiashi then left the living room and went into an empty room. That had a large seal painted on the floor stretching up on to some of the walls. A few moments later, Pakkun and Ūhie entered the room to see Faiashi finish shifting into her human form, her real body, and her most vulnerable form. The two dogs watched the back of the woman standing in the middle of the darkroom as Faiashi stood in the center point of the seal. The characters and symbols making up the seal glowed bright shades of multiple colors, before slowly twisting around her tan skin, up to the center of her back. Faiashi let out a pained growl. The sealing process of this special seal was never easy, no matter how many times she's used it throughout her long life. When the light faded, and the seal was in place. Faiashi let out a heavy sigh of relief but felt a bit faint. Since the majority of her chakra has been tightly sealed within the circular stone tablet. That has now been fully sealed inside of her body. Only showing a painted outline of it in the center of her back.
After a few deep breaths to steady herself. Faiashi crossed her arms over her chest as her human body realized how cold the inside of the cabin is. She continued to silently shiver as she took slow, careful steps out of the dark empty room to the room next door. Once inside, Faiashi went straight to the small closet and put on one of the old outfits she used to wear when she lived among the humans. After putting on a pair of long black leggings with a heel cut out, and a black long-sleeved blouse with a high neck collar. That had a small gold line design around the edges of the shirt bottom and the sleeves and collar. Faiashi looks at herself in the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. Her skin was a few shades darker than Sakumo's but lighter than some of the people in the land of lightning. Her eyes were the same golden shade with no pulps and white hair with pinkish-red tips reaching the middle of her neck.
"What's your plan? How can we help?" Ūhie questioned, as she and Pakkun sit at the door's threshold, as their pack leader was focusing on the same little chakra she hasn't sealed to keep her body warm.
"As I have already said, we will give Kakashi a day to recover, as well as inform the Hokage about the situation." Faiashi hummed, keeping her voice patient and calm as a soft smile stretched across her lips. Skill trying to adjust to the drastic change in chakra level if it's skill around jonin to kage levels, as well as get used to being in her human form again.
"Why are you activating the seal that conceals your powers and the sealed tablet on your back?" Pakkun asked curiously, even though he has a pretty good idea as to why.
"It's quite some time since I've been seen the Hidden Leaf Village, and it's been even longer since I've actually conversed with its people. Plus, this gives me a good opportunity to finally meet Jiraiya and see little Saru again." Faiashi spoke with a hint of excitement but was also going to make Kakashi's human pack were really going to love Kakashi and not just use him for his skills.
"You're just gonna scare them straight, aren't you?" Pakkun huffed, but it sounds more amused then grumpy.
"Well, it is in my nature to be a bit protective over my pups," The pack leader spoke cheerfully as her smile turned a tad bit sinister.
"So, you're serious you're going to Leaf Village?" Ūhie hesitantly asked, but her worries were not for Faiashi, but for the villagers instead.
"Yes, I am. I have already told Kyo to inform Kakashi's team to be prepared for my arrival." Faiashi clarified in a neutral tone. However, mindfully added in a darker, more serious tone, 'and this time I will be the judge of whether Kakashi stays in the village or not.'
A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back, and I'm sorry for being gone for so long. Life has been crazy busy this summer. Plus, I had a horrible case of writer's block and was having some trouble with how I wanted things to play out. So, instead of putting Kado's memories in this chapter, I felt like it would be less confusing if I made it into its own chapter. So, the next chapter will be Kado's memories. My other stories will be getting another update at some point as well. Sorry for any grammar errors, and leave a favorite if you liked this chapter and comment on what you thought about it. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter, and I hope you are looking forward to the next update. Thanks again!