DISCLAIMER: I own nothing from the Naruto universe but I do have an imagination of my own. PLEASE REVIEW THE CHAPTERS IN MY STORIES! I will take advice and suggestions from my readers, (I can always add some fun, especially,) while continuing my story.

Thinking

Biju, etc. speaking

Biju, etc. thinking

Emphasis

It's been three years since… Kakashi sighed tiredly. Tired? No: he was utterly exhausted. Kneeling in front of his leader, the 3rd Hokage, (his sensei's predecessor,) he tried not to show just how bad off he was. He had been looking for his sensei's and Kushina-nee's daughter at every moment he wasn't assigned to a mission. Yes, he understood that he had specific skills - horrible as they were - that aided the village, but that made him even angrier at the Sandaime. No matter what, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to interfere in his search for his sensei's child. Naru-chan…

He looked at those next to him and wondered what was going on. They'd learn soon enough once everyone was gathered, but it wasn't often in times of peace that the jonin and ANBU would gather to listen to their leader's words on top of the Hokage Tower. Asuma Sarutobi, Genma Shuranui, Raido Namiashi, and Iwashi Tatami were next to him. It wasn't exactly a surprise - other than Iwashi-san, who normally worked in the barrier division nowadays. I guess he has for the past three or four years, now that I think about it. So what's he doing here?

Many seconds passed before the Sandaime spoke. He looked at the men directly in front of him - his predecessor's guard as well as the man's remaining student, plus his younger son in the front row. Hiruzen Sarutobi prayed to the gods that this time would be different. "We have found another one of Orochimaru's bases. Dragon-san is passing out maps of the area, which is just outside of the village…" Hiruzen cringed at that fact and closed his eyes as he continued. "You are to infiltrate and seek friendlies. Bring casualties directly to the hospital, as Tsunade-hime and her staff are here and awaiting more reinforcements. If you find A or S-classed interests…" The Sandaime looked pointedly at those directly in front of them, "you will bring them directly to me here in the Tower. Dismissed." Only left-over chakra signatures were viewed as all of those in front of him moved out, vanishing to those who knew no better.

"Do you think she's there?" Jonin Commander Shikaku Naru asked his leader.

"I can only pray, Shikaku-kun," frowned the Hokage, shaking his head. "How could I have been so stupid? Minato must.."

The Jonin commander placed his hand on his present leader's shoulder. Did he agree? Hai. Putting Uzumaki-Namikaze-chan in a civilian orphanage? Even if she had guards, what good had that done her? He closed his eyes. Maybe the Sandaime got her away from the War-Hawk, (whom Minato-kun had thrown out, by the way,) but she was gone - or at least missing.

The babe had been taken care of by ANBU, specifically the former Hokage's guard as well as Kakashi-kun, Minato's remaining student, plus the Sandaime's daughter-in-law, who was acting as a nurse-maid. Shikaku had no doubts as to the close relationship between the Hatake and his leader and former friend. Still, what could he do? He shook his head as more doubts came to his mind. I could have kidnapped her and brought her to the compound. Fuck Danzo and everyone else! It wasn't just him! They were a unit! For a moment he snarled internally as he considered how beyond furious his classmates were when they found that Naru-chan had disappeared from the civilian orphanage. It was no surprise to him that the Matron and other workers at the orphanage had "inexplicably" ended up dead soon after.

Kakashi had moved ahead of the others; he had always been fast. Coming to the base that had been marked, he paused, noting that it had been nearly destroyed from some prior explosions. Sensei, if she's here, please let her be alive! He moved into the debris and paused at the horror that awaited him.

Bodies. Bodies of children in various states of decay. How could this happen? How can the SNAKE be so disgusting?! Kakashi moved through the rooms, one by one, as did his comrades. He didn't see her. Kami, please let her not be here! The Hatake could imagine her, just like one of the others whom he had passed: for some reason singularly left dead in a tank full of water or whatever the hell it was. So many dead children. Kakashi again prayed for his sensei's child.

He ended at the last room available, a choked sob was all he had left. She isn't here! Kakashi sucked in his breath before hearing a tiny sucking sound. He looked to his left and didn't see anything, but used his most powerful jutsu to get into the cell. He could've sworn he heard a gasp, so he bent down to the floor to see if anyone was there.

There was a child! Sure, it couldn't be his sensei's, but still! Hair: brown and coppery, with a stench coming from the cell and the child itself. Boy or girl, the tiny child was hiding behind what he could only imagine was a so-called chamber pot. Kakashi tried to get the child to come to him, only to see the child shaking and scared, cowering more closely into the corner. "It's okay, I won't hurt you." For the first time in his life, the Hatake felt the need to lift his masks - both his ANBU mask as well as the cloth mask that had covered his face ever since he could remember. "Come, little one."

When the child looked up at him with those huge oh-so-familiar blue eyes he nearly cried. "Naruto-chan?"