Warnings: blood and violence, minor swearing, child abuse, minor character death, and horrible editing on the authors part (sorry)
Please enjoy!
"Uh... What the hell just happened?" Jiraiya asked, wanting to know what Danzo wanted with the bastard that tried to kill his honorary nephew.
However, Jiraiya looked around to see that Inoichi, the Third Hokage, were back in the middle of a dome-shaped room. Still, in front of memory scroll that blackout on him, as multiple of those mysterious black marks that are circling around the walls started giving off a faint humming sound.
"Is Kado resisting the jutsu again?" Hiruzen asked wondering, why the memory disappeared. While a bit concerned about Danzo's role in this situation, or if his old teammate and friend were in the wrong place at the wrong time, again.
"Well, yes and no," Inoichi answered in an unsure tone as he studied the humming black that was slightly vibrating. Then added, "I think it's the curse mark that is causing the instant blackouts." The young Yamanaka interrogator knew it was obvious that the curse mark was interfering with his jutsu. However, he needs to make sure the Third Hokage and Jiraiya were on the same page as him. They warned, "We are going to have to proceed carefully. If this mark kills the brain, there is a high possibility that we could be put in the same position, as well."
Before Jiraiya could speak, Hiruzen asked, "is it still safe enough to proceed?"
"Yes, sir," Inoichi answered with confidence radiating from his calm tone.
The Third Hokage nodded as he spoke, "Good. I want to make sure Kado's mind is intact for his punishment for what he's done to a child of our village."
"Shall we proceed, then?" Inoichi replied, only to receive silent nods. Then with a strong pulse of chakra, the Yamanaka interrogator forcefully opened the next memory scroll.
The room was dark, with only a single overhead light dangling above a wooden square table. That's had a calendar and other pieces of paper scattered about on top of the wooden surface. Around the table stood a group of eight shinobi, all wearing the Anbu uniforms. Each one was wearing different masks most of them were plain masks with different colors and patterns painted on them. While the higher-ranking members of the group had masks that represented an animal. Kado didn't really know how he felt about his mouse mask since it's not the cat mask he wanted all those years ago.
"When should we do this?" Kado asked, deciding to get back on topic before they get caught.
"I suggest this date," the male voice beneath the canary porcelain mask says while pointing at the date on the calendar. Then added, "the Hokage and his council will be gone for a meeting with the Lord of Fire. The sannin will also be gone in a mission."
"What about Sakumo Hatake and his brat?" Another voice asked from the shinobi in the tiger mask.
"They will both be in a village during this time. This is when we must strike it is our best opportunity," The man in the Canary mask replied.
"And you, newbie? Are you going to hold up your end of the bargain?" The broader male shinobi in the bear mask asked in a mocking tone.
One of the shinobi standing at the far end of the table removed his owl mask to reveal themselves as Reiji Kudo. The Fujino could tell that this was no longer the Reiji that he knew. The man's eyes were sunken in as his cheekbones were far sharper than they used to be. However, the darkness in his eyes is what sets him sets them far apart from the man that Kado once knew.
"Yes, sir. It's Sakumo's fault we are at war. For all the people who have fallen, it's time for us to put an end to this," Reiji replied, face and voice blank of all emotion.
"Alright, inform the others, and be in your destinated positions by the twelve hundred hours, that is where we spring our trap," with that said, the man in the Canary mask disappeared along with several other members that arrived with him.
"He's getting better at fighting," Inoichi commented as he slightly shook his hand off the pain from Kado's mental defenses.
"How come we weren't able to read it?" Jiraiya asked, trying to keep his temper in check for how Kado was able to force the Yamanaka out of his memories.
The toad sage was confused and frustrated about not seeing what was on the papers or the day on the calendar that was presented on the table in Kado's memories. However, he follows very oddly how Reiji's personality changed so drastically Within a short amount of time. Hell, Jiraiya didn't even recognize Reiji anymore it made the sannin wonder what happened to the Kudo to affect him so much in such little time.
"The curse mark is preventing me from showing any writing. We'll just have to go by what is being said," Inoichi answered with a small, shake of his head.
"Alright, let's just get this over with," Jiraiya begrudgingly replied but couldn't help feeling about what's going to happen next.
The darkness of night was illuminated by the moon, highlighting the trees within the familiar outskirts of the Konoha forest. The Fujino watched from his perch on a branch in the dense trees, blending into the shadows of the lightly swaying branches, as a gentle breeze rustled the autumn leaves. Looking around he spotted twenty-five other Anbu shinobi moving into their positions, preparing themselves to ambush their prey when it arrives.
Luckily, the wait was not too much longer until two figures in distance start to approach. One was their ally, the other was the prey. A small part of Kado knew that this was treason against a village, but the target was the man responsible for this war and the death of Ryo and Taiki.
"Reiji? Where are we going?" The voice of Sakumo Hatake called out, but let out a sigh when childhood friend said nothing. However, he still followed the Kudo, and Kado could see the concerned expression on Sakumo's face. Then added in a calmer tone, "we don't need to go training outside the village. We can just go to one of the training fields nearby. Besides, I need to be home before Kakashi's bedtime."
"It's not much further. Thanks for agreeing to train with me, things have been difficult for a while. And it's been hard to sleep, you know?" Reiji spoke out with a dry chuckle, looking more exhausted than he usually has these past few months.
There was a brief, solemn silence before Kado heard Sakumo's gently understanding tone. "I know... Reiji, you were there for me and Kakashi when Akari passed... You're my friend, Reiji. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me-"
Sakumo pulled the Kudo with him as he jumped back, narrowly missing the kunai and shuriken flying at them. However, he only to jump away, when he noticed Reiji's kunai almost succeeding in stabbing him in the liver. The Hatake looked at his teammate and friend, since they were genin, with shock at the unexpected attack.
Then, Kado watched as all hell broke loose. Kunai and shuriken whizzing as they cut through the air, and jutsu of various natures flying, all targeting the White Fang. Who expertly dodged and weaved through all of it without getting a scratch. That was when the Fujino started came to the conclusion that the Hatake clan was not exactly human. Not when he saw Sakumo's eyes, which seemed to have a golden hue that was not there before, and the subtle way the Hatake's white chakra changed, almost as if there were suddenly two chakra signatures in one body.
It was only for a moment before the White Fang's eyes went back to normal, but his chakra still felt split in a way that Kado only felt from the Uzumaki kunoichi. However, the split chakra wasn't making Sakumo stronger, as it would for a jinūriki, but it was giving a rhythm of low pulses like an unfamiliar vision of morse code. Besides, no regular human could dodge all those attacks and not get hit once.
"What is the meaning of this?" Sakumo growled in a loud furious tone as he's surrounded by twenty-five shinobi most dressed in a similar version of Anbu attire. Especially, when the White Fang saw Reiji put on a porcelain owl mask and became one of the crowds of mask shinobi disappearing into the shadows.
"It's exactly how it looks like, Sakumo Hatake! Your judgment day is here. Now you must parish for your crimes," a male voice emulated from the shinobi wearing the canary porcelain mask. While everyone surrounding the White Fang started to form a circle trying to corner the elite jonin, Sakumo looked at those around him with an expression that gives the meaning of pure and utter betrayal.
"Please, I don't want to hurt anyone," Sakumo implored with a hint of warning as he calmly gets into his fighting stance.
"Sakumo Hatake, tonight is the night, you will die!" Reiji declared in a malice hiss behind his mask.
The Fujino knew this was the White Fang's last stand, as he watched five shinobi attack Sakumo together. While Sakumo sidestepped the first down slash of ninja in a red strip mask, then swiftly ducked under the side swipe aimed for his throat, by the katana of a leopard masked shinobi. Before pivoting around giving the sharp hit to the back of the shinobi in the red stripped masked on the base of his neck. Then catches the slack body in one arm, as he takes a sharp step and twisting to the side, and slams his elbow the leopard masked shinobi in the side of the head.
Sakumo grabbed the now unconscious shinobi in his other arm, and his body flickered to the base of a nearby tree. Barely missed the katanas of the other three masked shinobi, that came dangerously close to injuring him, and possibly killed their two unconscious masked allies. Sakumo gently placed his two sleeping attackers on the ground, before flickering behind one of the remaining three, kicking the Shinobi's knee in before knocking them out with a roundhouse kick. Before grabbing the katana's bamboo sheath from the now unconscious Shinobi's belt. Then stood over the now limp body on the ground, and block the next strikes of the remaining two by blocking one sword with his borrowed bamboo sheath. While the other by a quick step forward when the blade was raised, grabbed a ninja's wrist in a crushing grip, making a masked enemy release the katana by digging his thumb into their wrist's pressure point. Then quickly and easily parried and knocked the blade out of the masked Shinobi's hands. Before jabbing the katana sheath into the Shinobi's solar plexus, making the shinobi fall to their knee, only for Sakumo to swiftly kick them in the side of the face. Making the shinobi roll like a tossed rag doll, as Sakumo finished subduing the last ninja with a solid punch to the face. Then walk a safe distance away from the five unconscious shinobi, his face remained neutral seriousness as he readied himself for the next wave.
Kado was amazed as the next five masked shinobi engaged the White Fang, and they didn't do much better than the first set of five. Then another five jumped into the fray, making it ten against one, while Sakumo called out for the Kudo. Who, the Fujino knew left to complete the second step in their plan, in removing the future of the Hatake clan.
It didn't take much longer for Sakumo to notice the missing Kudo, then released a large pulse of chakra that expanded out at a fast rate. The Fujino let out an annoyed curse when Sakumo's eyes widened, as his calm expression turned fearful at the realization of where Reiji in five other masked shinobi were heading to. The White Fang used some unfamiliar lighting jutsu that spread out like a net and zapped the ten shinobi fighting him, making them drop like fried flies. However, instead of finishing off his fallen opponents, Sakumo fled back towards the village outskirts to the Hatake compound.
Darkness consumed the area spreading like a plague, infecting everything within its touch. Until everything was devoid of color and life before shriveling into dust. Leave an empty dark void as the memory closes in on itself and dissolves away.
"Damn, that hurt," Inoichi whispered in a frustrated tone.
"Jiraiya, Inoichi, are you alright?" Hiruzen questioned, trying to ignore his now pulsing headache.
"Never better," Jiraiya spoke in a sarcastic tone, rubbing his eyes with his free hand.
"Inoichi?" The Third Hokage asked again when the Yamanaka interrogator didn't answer.
"I'm alright, just give me a moment," Inoichi answered, shaking the numb buzzing out of his hand. Then added, "alright, I'm going to push into the memory again."
Before the other two could say anything, the memory started again. It was faded and almost translucent as they could see through Kado's eyes. Seeing through the eyes of the mouse mask, The Fujino was thrusting his katana blade at the White Fang, who glared at the Fujino, as Sakumo caught the blade in his fingerless-gloved hand. The sharp metal didn't cut the Hatake, whose white chakra was created a protective layer over his hand. However, the Fujino noticed the changes in the White Fang's appearance. Kado's hammering heart dropped when he was face-to-face with narrowed golden wolf eyes. The Hatake let out a vicious growl at the mouse masked shinobi, as he stared into Kado's fearful eyes with lips curled baring fangs sharper than any Inuzuka the Fujino has ever seen.
'Is he a jinūriki? Holy shit! This is really bad!' Kado's thoughts echoed into the three shinobi's minds. Who was surprised at the difference in the Hatake's appearance, while the Fujino voice in their minds really added, 'Doesn't matter, either way, this monster needs to die!'
The Hatake growled out in warning for the masked shinobi to stay out of his way. Before bolting off at high speeds to the direction of the Hatake compound. The memory went static and fades away, to the darkness of the void, again.
The three shinobi spots the image of the Hatake compound in the static-like darkness.
The faded sound of what sounded like a door slamming.
The memory went black, but they could hear Sakumo's voice in an echoing plead, "please don't do this."
Then the young shaky voice of what sounded like a young child cried out, through the darkness, "Dad, I'm scared. "
Then silence.
"Daddddy!" The resounding cry of a child screaming out in agony echoed throughout the pitch-black void.
The memory disappeared permanently this time, and the symbols of the curse mark cover the memory scroll. The Yamanaka interrogator felt a chill run down his spine at the child's cry, it was the first time he has ever heard such fear from a child, and the sickening satisfaction it gave Kado. Hiruzen was furious, they planned for Sakumo for what highly seemed like Sakumo's assassination during one of his conferences with the Feudal Lord and framed it as suicide. While Jiraiya was frozen with what he saw and heard.
In the past, there were times when Jiraiya would notice Sakumo or Kakashi would growl or glare when angry. Plus, the Toad Sage knew that Kakashi had sharp canine teeth, like Akari, but he has never seen Sakumo with fangs, and can't help but wonder if it is part of the Hatake's abilities. The whole wolf eyes thing is new for the Sannin as well, and he doesn't know how to completely feel about it. Sakumo was his best friend, maybe even a big brother figure to him. However, did Sakumo feel the same? Did he even really know the slightly elder Hatake? Since Sakumo seemed to be keeping all these secrets from him. From everyone. So, was he included in that group with everyone else?
No. Jiraiya refused to believe that. Not when an eight-year-old Sakumo invited him to the compound and got scolded by his father for talking a little too much about the mysterious past of the Hatake clan. Not when, that two years later Jiraiya was asked by his Hatake friend's soft-spoken mother to watch over Sakumo, who was mourning the death of his master, Tobirama Senju. Only for the ten-year-old Sakumo to smile, and tell him that he was fine, but Jiraiya could tell that his wide smile was fake. Then almost three years later, staying at the Hatake compound helps Auel and Saria comfort and support a grieving Sakumo and a young Orochimaru. After they both lost their parents. Jiraiya remembers that mess for sure. Then moved into the compound with Sakumo and Orochimaru when he got tired of his parent's overbearing rules and consent arguing with them.
Although, he didn't feel too much of anything when his sensei sadly informed him of their deaths when he returned from a mission. They were civilians and did not approve of him becoming a shinobi, but he didn't feel happy or sad when they died only numb. For several years the three lived together, and he can't lie, it was some of the happiest and funniest years of his life so far.
However, Orochimaru decided to move out to his own apartment after a few years, when they were all in their mid-teens. Even though, his snake-like teammate did visit often, mostly for training and sometimes dinner. Then the situation with Akari happened, and she moved into the compound, which didn't change the routine of the compound too much, as she added more of a women's touch to the house giving it a stronger sense of home. He moved out of the compound when the young couple started dating, then years later Kakashi was brought into this world, while Akari left it.
Yes, there were times members of the Hatake pissed him out, but Jiraiya never felt like a burden to the remains of the Hatake family and pack. Sakumo made sure that Jiraiya knew that, even if it meant beating it into his skull. After that time when Kyo was telling a toddler Kakashi to not talk about the clan with Jiraiya because he was an outsider.
Although, Kakashi not telling him just how bad things in the village have gotten for the little Hatake orphan, did piss him off. Plus, Jiraiya is furious with the village for their treatment of his little honorary nephew, who is only nine years old. However, he is also mad at Kakashi for not telling him, and going through everything all alone. He is definitely going to give that reckless stubborn pup one hell of a lecture when this is over.
"-ya, Jiraiya!" The loud sound of his name, stop the Toad Sage's sprawling thoughts and look up to where the sound was coming from. Looking at his Sensei, he heard the old man ask in a concerned tone, "are you alright?"
"Yeah. It's just, I have never Sakumo like that before," the Sannin answered with half honestly, but it was true.
"I agree, it seems there is much more to the Hatake clan than meets the eye. And you're sure there don't have a bloodline ability?" Hiruzen answered with an acknowledging hum, before asking in a slightly uncertain tone.
"From what the Hatake wolves say, anyone can learn all of their abilities. However, the abilities vary from person to person within the clan," the Toad Sage explained, as the two others stared at him.
"Like, only a few members of the clan possess these abilities?" Inoichi questioned, with a raised blonde eyebrow.
"No, more like... Certain members only have certain abilities, but they all inherit one common ability. But I have no idea what that is," Jiraiya answered warily since he doesn't know if his observations on the Hatake clan's abilities are hundred percent true.
"It seems we will need to ask Kakashi about this," The Yamanaka spoke carefully keeping his pale green eyes on the white-haired Sannin.
Jiraiya said nothing but knows that questioning his little, nine-year-old nephew was unavoidable, so he gave a solemn nod. He wished it wasn't, but there are too many unanswered questions, and it is only a matter of time before the rest of the village learns what has happened. The Toad Sage knows that this could stop the treatment toward Kakashi or escalate it. They will have to be careful about how they handle the situation.
"Alright. Let's fine up the rest and get out of here," Inoichi answered, as he made the rest of the scroll combine into one. Now it would be easier to roll through the rest of the Fujino's memories that focused more on Kakashi.
The young Yamanaka interrogator tried to play the memories after the child's cry, the curse marks started humming again, and the memory scroll faded into an unhealthy gray. Luckily, Inoichi quickly pulled his gloved hands away from the morphing scroll and used a medical jutsu to analyze the part of the brain the scroll is connected to. Resulting in the discovery of Kado's brain suddenly gaining major brain damage, as he got kicked in the head.
The next few memories that the Yamanaka showed were short memories consisting of Kado and other mask shinobi following Kakashi throughout the village. At first, they were spying on the five-year-old Hatake, day and night, as if they were taking different shifts watching the newly orphaned boy. Like one late evening Kado and three other masked shinobi watch from their hiding spots as they hear a woman's voice yelling loudly within a yellow medium-sized house in the civilian district as the young Hatake's crawled out the second-floor window onto the roof, then slide down the rain gutter and started running off into the night. Although he did follow the little brat to one of the smaller bookstores in the village, which Kado knew was owned by a little old civilian woman, that has strict rules in her store and no problem with yelling at shinobi that break any rules within her shop. When entering the store, the short, thin, old lady step in front of him and forced him to leave.
Even though the Fujino knew that the Hatake brat was in the store, the woman claimed that there was no boy in her store. It was almost a year until the old woman died of a sudden heart attack, and Kado and his other masked comrades watched as the six-year-old chunnin asked him if they caused the old lady's death. Only for his group to take the chance to kill the little bastard, but Kakashi ran into the back hills and suddenly vanished. That was when the group of masked shinobi started to form a real wolf hunt.
The air was cold and crisp, which burned when inhaled into the lungs. The first fall of snow speckled the forest ground and yet couldn't stick to the ground just yet. Kado watched as the shinobi in the tiger mask kicked the little Hatake brat into the dirt slope of a grassy small hill. After finally cornering him, and ready to end this wolf hunt once and for all. The five of them surrounded the six-year-old that curled into a trembling, little ball, trying to hide in the shadow of the hill's dirt slope.
However, just before any of them could move for the killing strike, the group hear a deep low growl. The growl was definitely canine, as one threatening growl turned into two, then three, and four. The five masked shinobi quickly went on guard, searching for the source of the threat. Only to look up at the light silhouette of a massive white wolf starring down at then from the top of the hill. While two other giant wolves surrounded them, centering them in a triangle formation. The enraged, intimidating wolves were the size of an average man, as the one left had a light brown wolf with a white muzzle and underbelly with blazing copper eyes, and the other on the right was a cream-colored wolf that had a tuff of blonde fur on the top of its muzzle that was curled up showing large sharp fangs. There was also blond fur on the tips of the wolf's ears that stood straight up. While the thick patch of blonde fur between its upper shoulders remained standing up, with deep brown eyes that look as if the creature wanted nothing more than soaking the earth in its enemies' blood.
Then all hell broke out, when one of the ninjas in Kado's group the shinobi in the lizard mask, suddenly finish off the Hatake. However, before he can make the killing strike, a wolf with dark grey fur and a light grey muzzle, suddenly lunched out of the shadow covering the dirt slope of the hill. The shinobi stood there frozen in place as the lizard masked man was attacked by the grey wolf, as it sinks its large sharp fangs into their throat going right through their windpipe. It wasn't an instant killed, as the shinobi grabbed its canine's muzzle, while the mask slipped off revealing the man's panic expression.
After the initial shock faded the rest of the shinobi and Kado's group jumped away from the run the wolves trying to scatter. While Kado went to Kakashi, trying to grab him, as the dark grey wolf finished off his kill, of the lizard masked shinobi. However, the cream color wolf beat him to the boy as it grabbed Kakashi by his leather harness straps and ran to the deeper denser area of the forest. Kado let out a curse knowing that they've now lost their chance to finish off the little traitor. The Fujino turned around to see another one of the shinobi in their group of five, be killed by a wolf with the more brownish coat and white underbelly whose muzzle was now stained red with the blood of the kunoichi behind the bird mask. The Fujino knew that the Hatake clan was hiding something, but he had no idea that it was these monsters. Then though that maybe one of these creatures might be sealed inside of Kakashi, and that Sakumo could have had one sealed inside of his body too. That would at least explain the changes in appearance he saw the White Fang had, that faithful night.
Kado watched as one and more of his comrades in a cow mask was taken down by the dark gray wolf. He signaled for his partner and the cat mask to run, while they still have the chance. Kado went towards the way Kakashi was taken to see if he can find out where the boy hides, so they can lead him into a trap for the next hunt.
However, without even making ten steps forward, the wolf that was on top of the hill was now standing in front of him he could tell that the wolf was not just a solid white but had patches of a silvery grey strip on the spine, to her tail, and the edges on her ears and nose. The creature's eyes were a flaming orange but did not have the appearance of normal wolf eyes it shocked the Fujino when he noticed how human the wolf's eyes looked as it bared its fangs at him growling.
"Tell me shinobi, why hunt a child? Your kind always praises itself on how you look towards the next generation. And yet, here you are, hunting a boy not even the age of ten," the creature spoke in a feminine yet dark tone. While she approached Kado, he noticed that this wolf was slightly taller than him, as he had to look up to meet the creature's unusual eyes.
"You can talk? What the hell are you demon!" Kado cried out, shocked by the words spoken to him by the monster that stands before him.
"My name is Sairi, and I will be the last thing you ever meet if you hurt any member of my pack!" The wolf threatened with blazing orange eyes glaring at him. As if they were glowing like hell's fire that seemed to light the darkness of the night.
Not wanting to tempt the wolf's threat, Kado retreated. That night, the Fujino stayed awake along after returning back to his home. Paranoia took over as he set up traps around every entrance of his home as well as alarms. The wolf's threats, the blood on their teeth, and the chakra overflowing with killing intent. That he felt rolling off of the creatures and will ocean waves striking a rocky bay.
Luckily, the next morning, Cat already told the shinobi at the mission's desk that the three dead shinobi in their group were killed in their last mission, and their bodies could not be recovered, so they disposed of them. Before any of the enemies could catch up to them. This was usually the procedure that they use before going on hunts. They plan to meet up after completing a mission, but not inform the village of their return, so if something were to happen to them during the hunt, then it could not be traced to their activities. This method has not yet failed them, since the only way they could be caught was either end up injured or killed. While they were status of being in of the village during the hunt, or if one of their own reported their activities, but that has yet happened. It didn't take long for the word among their group to hear the change of events and the deaths of three of their comrades. That only seemed to cement the consideration of the elimination of the Hatake clan. Even though Kado only knows a limited section of the group, that is scattered around the village. A safe precaution to help prevent everyone from being caught by a Yamanaka, if they used their mind jutsu techniques on them, or if someone ratted them out.
After two years of them trying the kill the last Hatake, they discovered that the Hatake brat was assigned to a genin team with the Yellow Flash as the Jonin-sensei. However, Kakashi never mentioned to Minato what happens at night. It was a pleasant surprise to Kado and his other comrades when they were watching over the team's practice.
Jiraiya, Inoichi, and Hiruzen were surprised by how organized this group was when it came to hunting down a small child. Even if it was sickening to praise them on their organization and the process of how to prevent being found out. However, it's been working for around three years, until now. They know they'll never let this go unnoticed again, as they promise to themselves that they will not allow this to continue anymore.
Skipping through many of the memories they have at least seen fifteen separate memories of Kado in small groups combing through the woods. Mostly in the back hills of the east side of Konoha, searching for the son of the White Fang. Some of them have shown them cornering Kakashi, and get a few good hits on the child, but almost all of them were of the boy disappearing without a trace.
This surprised the three shinobi watching the memories, that a nine-year-old child was able to outsmart and so many higher-ranking shinobi. Plus, they also found it amusing to watch the masked shinobi struggle, as they ran into Kakashi's traps that he laid out in multiple areas of the Back Hills of Konoha making it like a deadly maze for his attackers. Yet, none of the traps set in the dense vegetation of the Back Hills couldn't kill any of the shinobi may be hurt, but not kill.
"How?" Inoichi asked, in amazement and concern.
"'How,' what?" Hiruzen answered, curious, about what the Yamanaka is referring to.
"How does a child, who is not even ten years old, be able to survive against numerous high-level shinobi?" The Yamanaka interrogator questioned, to no one in particular.
"I know that you mention that, Sakumo was focusing on teaching Kakashi survival skills a few months before he died. At the time, I thought it was just Sakumo being paranoid. Besides, Sakumo may have been strong when fighting, but he was a much better survivor than I could ever be," Jiraiya spoke with a slight grin.
"What do you mean?" Inoichi replied, surprised by Jiraiya's statement.
"Well, I'm sure you know, that the Second Hokage was more focused on the survival of Konoha. That's why he taught Sakumo everything he knew about surviving, through all his years of war, and living off the land on dangerous missions. He wants to ensure Sakumo would survive in wartime conditions. Hell, Lord Second was the same way with Tsunade," Jiraiya answered in a matter-of-fact voice.
"Hmph, that does sound like my late Sensei," Hiruzen solemnly answered, remembering the white-haired Senju, teaching his team what could have been the very same lessons when he was around that age.
"My apologies for interrupting, but I like to get this done in before my chakra reaches its halfway point," the Yamanaka spoke carefully, not wanting to anger his superiors.
"Of course, carry on," Hiruzen replied before they were pulled into more recent memory.
The Fujino and his two companions, one had a blank mask with a red stripe, and the other with a fish mask was finally able to surround the mutt. After chasing the kids for about three hours around the Back Hills, they have succeeded in breaking the little Hatake's forearm.
Although the attack was meant for Hatake's head, the broken arm as a result of Kakashi blocking Kado's kick. Now the brat is tired and injured, and has little to no chakra, looking around with wide eyes searching for an escape, but there will be no escape this time.
Even, if the boy wasn't alone. While the Fujino warily kept an eye on the large timber wolf standing next to Kakashi. It continued growling at three full adults with its tail raised high, ears pointing forward, and pearly white fangs peeking under curled lips.
The fish masked shinobi lunged at the boy, only to pierce the air next to his neck, missing by a hair. While the Fujino went to attack what appeared to be a normal timber wolf, the Hatake brat turned and jumped to the side before getting back into a defensive position. The boy was panting as he cradled his injured arm to his heaving chest. While Kado managed to put a cut on the wolf's hind leg but was bitten in the calf on his left leg. Ignoring the pain, he was able to separate the kid and the wolf, since Kakashi was starting to struggle with keeping up with the attacks. The wolf was trying to defend the kid and kept trying to close the gap between itself and Kakashi. Only for Kado to use a chakra-infused kick on the animal's side causing it to skid a few feet on its side, letting out a sharp whelp.
That made Kakashi's dark grey eyes widen at the wolf, that was starting to stand on slightly shaky legs. The Hatake charged at the Fujino, who stood between the two, as he widened his stance ready to grab the mask of almost nine years ago boy. However, the child manages to take off the mask and dodge, and jump out of the way from being snatched by the Fujino, and bolting to the injured wolf. Before the Hatake could reach the timber wolf, the shinobi with the blank mask with a red stripe, used the Water Whip Jutsu to lasso the boy, throwing him back towards their way. Kakashi quickly breaks the water jutsu in mid-air, and kicks the masked man in the face causing his red strip mask to crack, but unable to break. While he pushed himself off and land on his feet next to the wolf. However, the kid still crumbled to the ground, as exhaustion started to take place and a lack of adrenaline, as the wolf stood protectively next to the boy.
Kado and his comrades crept closer to the child and the animal, like a predator approaching their prey. Kakashi let out a vicious growl, shouting at the three men to stay back. Kado was close enough to faintly notice that with a mask Kakashi's teeth looked more like fangs, as the boy crinkled his nose bearing sharp canines. Although, the kid's fangs looked more like the fangs of an Inuzuka, instead of the sharp fangs of the now deceased, Sakumo Hatake.
The wolf made a grunting sound, as it stepped in front of the boy. However, Kado watched as the Hatake's dark grey eyes widened, as his appalled expression paled, while his gaze shifted to the timber wolf. The Fujino watched as the wolf let out another grunt, then a low, yet soft sharp bark-like howl.
"No, Taro! I'm not going to..." The Hatake's voice was shaky, as he raised to his feet, but his stance was shaky.
However, the wolf turned to Kakashi and let out a loud bark. Kakashi flinch as his posture straightened towards the wolf, with what Kado thought were watery eyes and a slight quiver of his bottom lip. All the while, the timber wolf was growling and making other low canine sounds.
"But-"
Another sharp growl.
"U-understood."
The Fujino tensed when he noticed, the little Hatake dropped his broken arm, letting the unusable appendage dangle at his side. While his other hand slipped into his weapon pouch and quickly grabbed something that was small enough to hide in his small, closed hand. When the fish masked shinobi suddenly charged at the two, Kakashi set off a smoke bomb. That covered the area in a heavy dark purple smoke. Kado immediately placed his back against the tree when he heard the screaming and the sound of growling and the terrible sound of tearing fabric. Since the Fujino left his katana at home, he pulled out a kunai and readied himself for an attack. The sounds of the struggle continued until the purple hazy dissipated enough for Kado to see the outline of the wolf standing on top of the fish masked shinobi, whose back was on the ground and his torn up bloody forearm in the animal's mouth.
The Fujino flipped the kunai in his hand, gripping the handle between his thumb and forefinger. While raising his arm preparing to throw, as he lifts his other arm to steady his aim. Kado narrowed his eyes carefully aiming at the growling canine that its long fangs, sinking into the flesh of Fish's forearm. Then with the swift movement of his arm, Kado released the kunai, watching the silver light of the moon flashing along the travel blade before the sharp metal tip buried itself in the timber wolf's neck. The animal let out a sharp cry before the fish masked shinobi pushed the wolf out of him making it fall heavily on its side, as he crawled a couple of feet away from the carcass.
"Is it dead?" The shinobi with the red stripped masked asked, carefully approaching the Fujino's side.
"Don't know. Fish, check it," Kado ordered since the injured shinobi is the closest to the canine's body.
The shinobi clearly did not want to be near the wolf, but he already knew the consequences of disobeying orders. The shinobi stood up, and studied the motionless wolf, feeling more comfortable with the sight of no movement. There was still no movement as he approached the wolf. When he reaches the body, the shinobi grabbed the kunai sticking out of the wolf's neck.
However, the wolf suddenly launched itself at the Shinobi, sinking its bloody fangs into Fish's unguarded throat. The fish masked shinobi panics and vigorously struggles to shake of wolf off his neck, as his two teammates were shocked and frozen in place. The wolf's near-silent growl was tuned out, by the way, it used its weight to pull its victim down to the ground, before tightening its grip on the man's throat and ripping its head to the side. Upon the sight of deep gashes forming, Kado was able to come out of his stupor, and threw another kunai, this time sinking it deep in the animal's eye. However, its damage was done, as Fish's last moments of life were drowning in his own blood and dying from a broken neck.
"Well. It's dead now," Kado spoke after a heavy moment of silence, and a quick kick at the now-dead animal.
"I can dispose of the Fish's body and report it as a death during the mission. What do we about that have Hatake bastard or this monster?" The shinobi with the red stripped masked asked, tilting its head to the dead wolf.
"Leave it for the little shit to find," Kado darkly answered. Then added with an eerie smirk under his mouse mask, "as an example."
The memory shut down again, and Inoichi check the last scroll which was started mid-afternoon until now. However, parts of the school were starting to be corrupted by the curse mark. Inoichi gave a short nod to the Third Hokage and the Toad Sage, signaling to the two men that he was about to begin the memory. Once the other two gave a small nod for confirmation, the Yamanaka interrogator started the memory, which had the same translucent appearance as it did before with the other corrupted memories.
That was when they heard the heavy banging on Kado's front door, who opened it to reveal a masked shinobi with a blink mask. That was in a worried state, and in a panic, manner told the Fujino how they almost succeeded in finishing the last Hatake. However, the kid was able to get to the Yellow Flash, before they could finish the job, by suddenly teleporting out of the training fields.
Kado cursed knowing that Minato was one of those soft-hearted shinobi that would try to protect that little demon. Hell, if the Namikaze was able to accept that redhead demon, then there's no doubt he would take in a silver-haired demon. When he was questioned by the shinobi at the door about where the Hatake was located, and as far as they know Kakashi was not at the hospital or the Hokage's tower. This gave the Fujino the idea that Kakashi was at Minato's house near the civilian district. Kado quickly grabbed his Anbu gear and mask, as well as the chakra restrictors and his strongest paralyzing seal. He was planning on using it on the Hatake, but the jinūriki is not an opponent they can handle, and she is a valuable asset to the Hidden Leaf Village. That Kado ordered the shinobi to go retrieve his team telling them to prepare for one final attack.
The memory fades but quickly shifts to a different scene. This was memories were clearer than the last.
The Fujino stood in front of Minato's front door of his house. He was dressed in his Anbu uniform wearing his mouse mask, as three other members of their group joins them. Their masks represent a tiger, bear, and fish, that had a new painted pattern from the dead shinobi that wore the last fish mask. Kado knocked on the door, not long after Kushina Uzumaki opened the door.
"Hello, how can I help you?" The Uzumaki kunoichi asked in a neutral manner.
"Lord Hokage has ordered Kakashi Hatake to his office," Kado spoke behind his mask.
The Uzumaki woman nodded and was about to let them enter when they heard a sound from the other room. Kushina immediately slams the door shut, as her eyes narrow as if coming to a realization. Using a was well-placed kick, Tiger broke open the door, and Kushina threw several kunai at as she tried to get to the room that had a door half-open.
The memory disappeared for a moment. Due to the Fujino resisting the jutsu, but the memory reappeared in a more washed-out tone.
Kushina was fighting Tiger and Mouse, who had the paralyzing seal ready for the jinūriki. However, it wasn't easy, as the Uzumaki used her water jutsu to keep them away, which upturned the furniture and drenched the home. While Fish and Bear went to the room the children were hidden in, and they could hear the kids screaming. The young cries distracted the redhead jinūriki enough to place the paralyzing seal on her back between her shoulder blades. Kado grinned as one jinūriki fell to the floor, happy to put this boisterous Uzumaki in her place.
The memory shut down again. Inoichi let out a frustrated growl pushing more chakra into the jutsu. The memory reopened, but it was more blurry and faded than the last one.
The group of four masked shinobi that broke into Minato's house, take Kakashi to the deep parts of the west side of the forest was more baron. The brat struggles as Tiger painfully tightened a white dog collar around his thin neck. Kado remembers buying the collar from one of the Inuzuka's pet stores. However, he can tell Tiger to modify it, as Kado saw crimson patches start to seep through the fabric that happened a silver bell and a tracking sealing attached to it.
The memory fades again. However, becomes clear when it showed Kakashi, who was already badly beaten to the point where the boy appeared to be tortured, was barely able to escape. Through the use of a well-placed Electrical Discharge jutsu on Tiger, making the shinobi drop him before Kakashi vanished with a body flicker jutsu. All to use to the last Hatake suddenly escaping, Tiger let out a curse, as they start following the signal from the tracking sealing on the Hatake's collar.
The memory fades again for a slight moment. Then shows the group standing on some branches over a trail of small footprints and red-stained snow. While Bear went on ahead when he felt one of his wire traps going off, but quickly returned with an almost frantic look in his eyes. While telling his teammate that the Hatake's rescue team is the famous Yellow Flash, Toad Sage, and the Senju Princess. Kado started telling them that they need to retreat and lay low since they all have little doubt that the Hatake brat wasn't going to live for much longer.
However, that's when the enraged Namikaze suddenly appeared, and the Fujino ordered them to retreat. The Fujino knew he could not escape Minato but did his best to keep the angry Namikaze busy so his teammates could escape. The memory flickered in and out during Kado's fight with Minato, and his capture with Jiraiya. Then everything went black, and the trio was forced out of Kado's mind.
Jiraiya opened his eyes despite his killer headache, to see that they were back in the interrogation room, and the Fujino still strapped to the metal with Shikaku Nara's shadows tightly wrapped around him. While Kado had his head down gasping for air, beads of sweat traveled down his now pale face. The Toad Sage looked at the Third Hokage, relieved to see his sensei appears to be alright. While Inoichi looked a bit winded as he wiped the dripping blood from his nose, and quickly took a food pill, to help restore his chakra.
However, before anyone could say anything the Third Hokage, approach the Fujino. He was barely able to raise his head to meet the Hokage's heated, piercing gaze. Instead of begging for mercy, as Jiraiya expected. The Fujino smiled, in his beyond the exhausted state.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself!" The Hokage hissed, glaring down at their prisoner.
"I am no traitor, only a savior," Kado answered with confidence radiating from his shaky voice. Before his eyes rolled back and slipped into unconsciousness.
A/N: Hello everyone! I'm sorry for the long wait! There's just so much information that I waited to put into this chapter that I struggled with writing it for the way I wanted it to play out. I'm pretty sure I rewrote this chapter at least four times, maybe five? So, here it is! Sorry for all the grammar and spelling mistakes, I rushed to get this edited for you all. I hope you enjoy the long chapter and please a favorite, and a comment. In the next, we will be going back to team Minato and Kushina. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter, and I hope you all are looking forward to the next update! Thanks again!
I'm curious what are some of the unanswered questions you have so far? What do you think about Kado's past? How different would it be from Kakashi's memories?