Present

Minato can already tell it's going to be a hellish day the moment he wakes up. He's overslept by nearly an hour ("You've just been so exhausted, 'ttbane, and I-"), his hair absolutely refuses to lie flat, he's managed to spill half his mug of coffee onto his white (and really, whose bright idea had it been to make them white?) robes, and he gets dive-bombed by a raven the moment he steps outside. Three guesses as to whose summon that is, and the first two don't count.

It takes him nearly thirty minutes to traverse the distance between home and the Hokage tower because, it seems, that everywhere he turns there's someone with an issue, or a complaint, or who hasn't caught up with him in a while, or who just stood in the way and glanced around oblivious as Minato tried to get through-

He's not going to lose it this morning. He's not.

Staggering into his office, his receptionist shoots him a horribly disguised, highly judgemental look that has Minato cringing at his outward disarray, anxiously tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. He manages to shoot the Yamanaka a smile that probably looks more like a grimace before sliding into his office, banging the door shut behind him. Minato leans back against the thick oak, eyes squeezing shut as he strangles out a sigh, his Anbu settling into their perches from the hidden entrances in the rafters.

So, yes, his day has been hellish and it's not even ten. Groaning, Minato levers himself up from his slouch, plodding over to his desk as he politely signs to his Anbu the sign for 'Do Not Disturb' and flops down into his chair. Chewing his lip, Minato channels a dash of chakra into the seal binding Itachi's report. And isn't this just great timing? So far, Itachi's weekly updates have all been along the strain of 'no visual on target, target appears to be highly competent in leaving false trails and avoiding detection' and every rendition thereof. The fact that this missive comes not two days after the last one, though, does not bode particularly well for Minato's so far extremely lucky streak in all his shinobi avoiding contact.

Well, besides Obito, but he doesn't exactly count. Or so Minato keeps telling himself.

Resigning himself to another long day of trying to parse out just what this Kakashi person is trying to do, Minato flips open the top of the letter, apprehension swirling through his veins. At first glance, Minato can already tell it's a long, fully in-depth mission report, starting with the dreaded 'contact established' phrase. Shifting in his seat, Minato pulls open his top drawer, and with a quick burst of chakra through the seal located at the top, a small, hidden pocket dropped open at the base of his desk. Carefully, he pulls out Obito's full report and lays it next to Itachi's, prepared to compare the two interactions.

Turning back to Itachi's missive, Minato settles deeper into his chair and allows his mind to begin to whirl, diving into the report. He's not two lines in, however, when a harsh knock cracks across his doorframe, interrupting his train of thought. Confused, he gestures to one of the Anbu to answer the door as he removes the reports from sight, a stirring of unease swirling in his gut. Tsuru glides forward soundlessly, and as the door opens, Minato can feel his stomach drop.

The timing could be a coincidence, certainly, but such things do not actually exist in the shinobi world. Not truly.

"Shimura Danzou," Minato says, tone even despite his racing thoughts. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The man scoffs, cane rapping into the ground as he pushes his way past the Anbu, scowl ever-present. "I should think what I want is entirely obvious, Yondaime-sama."

Perhaps the sneer in his voice is unintentional, but Minato's Anbu tense all the same, Tsuru holding the door ajar. Minato shakes his head slightly, watching as the man reluctantly shuts the door and hops back up to his perch. The blond purposefully releases the tension in his jaw, readying himself.

"If you have an issue, Shimura-san, I would be more than happy to discuss it with you tomorrow evening with the rest of the council," Minato responds, tone sharp. "I am a busy man, as I'm sure you know, and have much to do today."

Danzou shifts in place, a cold emotion flashing through his eye before it is swiftly stifled, the man crossing his arms. Minato can see as Danzou's posture changes, bracing for war.

"Unfortunately, Yondaime-sama, I do not believe we have time to waste," he says, tone like silk over razor blades. "Reports of the mercenary known as Gin continue to grow, and yet we sit silent as he tears through Shinobi and Nukenin alike. He poses a massive threat to our village. Are we to just sit idly by and watch as he wreaks havoc along our borders?"

Minato refuses to react outwardly, allowing his mind to mercilessly dissect everything the councilman says even as he responds. "There has been absolutely no record of him having engaged with any Konoha shinobi in combat. Thus far, the only reports I have received have been of Gin eliminating Akatsuki members and the Oinin Butai sent after him. If anything, sending any kind of pursuit to interfere is more than likely to antagonize him into killing our Shinobi needlessly." Minato shakes his head, eyes raptly watching for even a twitch in Danzou's demeanor as he continues with an airy tone, "I see no reason to take such harsh action against a man we know so little about."

Minato pauses, pointed, before making direct eye contact.

"That is, of course, unless you know something I don't, Shimura-san."

Danzou bristles, defensive. "It is the hesitation in and of itself that will ruin Konohagakure's reputation, and show our enemies we are weak, Yondaime-sama," Danzou snaps, taking a step forward. "Preliminary action is the only way to put an end to this threat, and your refusal to do so is only painting us as cowards!"

"You are asking me to send shinobi outside our borders to apprehend a man who, by all accounts, is of entirely neutral allegiance. This could very well start an international incident that we are not equipped to handle at the time being," Minato remarks, watching as Danzou tenses further.

"We are more than prepared to eliminate our enemies, Yondaime," he growls, seeming oblivious to the rise in tension from the Anbu around the room. "It is your blatant foolishness-

"That is enough, Shimura-san," Minato snaps, eyes blazing. "It would do you good to remember that I am not, in fact, Sarutobi-sama, and I will not allow you to treat me with such blatant disrespect. If you have an issue with how I am handling this matter, you are more than welcome to address it in tomorrow's council meeting."

Danzou takes another step forward, single eye narrowed to a slit. "I am telling you, boy, that you will bring ruin to this village! The man is a threat! You presume to act as if-"

"Good day, Shimura-san," Minato spits, KI spiking slightly and causing his Anbu to shift, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.

Danzou stills, taking a moment to gather himself before spinning on his heel, surprisingly agile for a man who has been medically declared unfit for combat since the Second Shinobi War. "I hope you know you will regret this, Yondaime."

"We shall see," Minato responds to his back, measured despite the repeated slights. "We shall see."

The door slams shut behind the limping man, Minato's office settling into tense silence.

"Tsuru," he says, waiting for the Anbu to drop down in front of him. "Please make sure that our honorable councilman doesn't decide to take it upon himself to preemptively antagonize our neutral neighbor. If anyone comes or goes from his residence, particularly anyone in Anbu gear, I am to know about it."

The fact that Danzou has come - personally and without his band of harpies backing him up - rings dozens of alarm bells in Minato's head. The man knows more than he is letting on, certainly.

"As you say, Hokage-sama," Tsuru responds, disappearing in a swirl of leaves.

Minato sits in silence for a few moments, head tilted downwards, unpacking everything he's learned as he replays the conversation in his head. Danzou hasn't given much away, but at the same time…

"Takuki," Minato murmurs, near silent.

There's only a soft rustle of cloth suggesting any movement. It appears his Anbu have picked up on his mood.

"Hokage-sama," Tanuki replies softly, kneeling.

Minato sighs, allowing tension to drain from his shoulders.

"Hit Tsuru next time you see him for leaving a mess," he says, forcing a pained grin. "Also, please remind my lovely receptionist that Do Not Disturb means Do Not Disturb," Minato growls, shooting a loathing look at the missive on his desk.

Tanuki nods, his slight shifting betraying his nerves. Rising to his feet, he slips soundlessly through the door and Minato sags in his chair, hand settling over his eyes.

"I never should have gotten out of bed this morning," he mutters, blindly swiping Itachi's letter off the desk and flipping it open. "You're more trouble than you're worth, Kakashi."

A Short While Previously

Deja-vu has always been a bit of an odd topic to Kakashi. With his (not his, stolen) Sharingan's ability to capture and record memories down to the slightest of details, the creeping feeling of something familiar that comes with the sensation has been largely absent from his life since the day Kakashi (murdered his own teammate with his incompetence) had gained the eye.

As such, it's a bit startling to Kakashi when the feeling of his current reality and that of his memory collide and overlap as his fist punches through the other side of the cloaked figure before him. Blood spurts, and without hesitation Kakashi wrenches his fist sideways, allowing a powerful burst of brilliant, white chakra to tear through and mangle a second heart. Kakashi can feel as the Nukenin's chakra fluctuates, and springs backwards to avoid being impaled by black stitching.

The shinobi's chest heaves as his cloak writhes and roils; harsh, abrasive chakra flooding the surrounding area and bathing Kakashi in what feels like silt. "A shinobi not in the bingo books, destroying two of my hearts? You are worth nothing."

Kakuzu is furious- Kakashi can physically feel it. His pack shifts behind him, and Kakashi can't help but grin as the flow of natural chakra increases, sharpening his senses beyond anything he's ever achieved before. A black cloak adorned in red clouds flutters to the ground as Kakashi's eyes glow silver, twisting gracefully to dodge a blast of white-hot fire as two masks make themselves known from the man's back.

"I am going to defile you so utterly that even the carrion birds won't benefit from your death," he spits, ozone flooding the atmosphere as a bolt of lightning shrieks forward from the yellow mask on his left.

Kakashi doesn't flinch, the corner of his lip twitching upwards from beneath his mask as he raises his hands, catching the raw burst of electricity down the middle and deflecting it to either side. Kakuzu snarls as his joints unhinge, black stitching thrashing around before burrowing into the ground. Likewise, Kakashi springs backwards, no movement wasted as he fluidly dances around the chakra-filled wires attempting to ensnare him.

Kakuzu must see something, however, as he pauses suddenly, eyes narrowing.

"It has been decades since the last time I encountered a Sage," he hisses, tracing Kakashi's every move. "I had wondered who had managed to put my partner down so thoroughly and steal a bounty that was rightfully mine from the day we were acquainted."

A hand shoots out of the ground, barreling for Kakashi only to have a kunai pierce it through and pin it to a nearby tree.

"The fact that I don't recognize you means you're not in the bingo book, but that also means you belong to somebody. Or something," Kakuzu muses darkly, ripping his hand downwards and stitching it back together in one movement. "Somebody who I imagine would pay a lot of money to ensure nobody else knows of your existence."

Kakashi throws up a wall of water as another blast of fire appears to his left, effortlessly dodging the black tendons that attempt to seize him from the right.

"Am I correct, Shinobi-san? Because if that's the case, I may just leave them a body to validate my claims," Kakuzu says, raising his arms and recalling his hands. "Speak now or forever hold your peace. I know how Sage-mode works, and I know how to kill you regardless."

Kakashi stills from his backwards flight, tilting his head in consideration.

"Well, you are right about one thing," he acknowledges with a slight nod.

"Oh?" Kakuzu responds, an inhuman, crazed grin stretching his mask obscenely wide.

"Mhm," Kakashi drawls, inspecting his nails. "I may just be a mercenary lost on the road of life, but you are correct."

Kakashi smirks.

"I am a Sage."

Even Earlier

Two weeks. Two weeks Kakashi has been stuck on bed rest while Nao and his pack prowl around preventing him from sneaking out, Ūhei cuddling up to his side and guilting him into not even trying. It's horribly manipulative, and everything he expects from his ninken. And he gets it. Really, he does, but Kakashi has things he needs to do, and if he has to sit in this damn cot for even one more day, well… He can't guarantee what he might do.

He's had worse than a cracked spine before, so Kakashi's not going to let it hold him back. Besides, the salve that Nao had been using quite liberally had worked wonders, and it barely even aches when he's horizontal anymore. He knows his body, and with Ūhei totally passed out next to him and Pakkun drawn away to sort out some scuffle or another between his pack, Kakashi carefully maneuvers out from next to the sleeping basenji, padding noiselessly across the room and (painfully) scoops up his sandals.

Fresh air blows in from the foliage guarding the entrance, and Kakashi heaves a silent sigh of relief as he ducks out underneath, brushing off his hands. He makes it a whole five steps before an absolutely blood-chilling growl freezes him in place.

"And just where, exactly, do you think you're going, Kakashi?" comes a snarled accusation, absolutely wretched.

"Maa, Nao-sensei, I didn't see you there," Kakashi drawls with a tight eye-smile, slowly turning to face the seething Borzoi.

"Obviously," she responds, glaring. "Now, I believe I asked you a question, Kakashi."

Kakashi stands firm for a moment more before crumpling like wet paper, drooping in place. "It's been two weeks, Sensei. My body has recovered enough for at least basic training and meditation, and any more time spent on bed rest would be a waste."

Somehow, she looks entirely unimpressed by Kakashi's reasoning. "You presume to know the requirements of harnessing Natural Chakra better than me?"

It's not a threat, not by any real means, but Kakashi shivers regardless.

"Of course not, Nao-sensei," he placates with a nervous laugh, holding his hands up. "I simply know the limits of my body, and believe I would be of better use elsewhere."

It's diplomatic and bordering on simpering, everything Kakashi hates about politics, but suddenly he understands why, exactly, holding his tongue can be a good skill to have. Regardless, Nao still scoffs, giving Kakashi a baleful look.

"You may know the limits of your body, but you listen to them the same way your pack does Pakkun; with half an ear and only when it's convenient to them." Rolling her eyes, she steps past Kakashi and motions for him to follow. "However, if you are truly so intent on pushing yourself half to death, then I will show you why I have been so careful with your recovery."

Kakashi blinks, shocked, but nods. "Thank you, Sensei."

"Don't think I am doing this to appease you," she shoots back, swishing her tail. "You are too bull-headed for your own good, constantly trying to do everything on your own. If I don't do this now, then you will simply sneak out tomorrow, or the day after."

Kakashi suppresses a wince, but makes no move to refute her. She's not wrong, after all.

"Now then, pup, let us talk Natural Energy."

He nods at the large dog, following Nao as she guides him to a flat chunk on the grassy plain they've wandered into. She turns back to face him, sitting tall and regal while gesturing with a paw for him to do the same. Gracelessly, Kakashi flops down while crossing his legs, elbow resting on a knee while a palm cradles his chin. Nao rolls her eyes again.

"Tell me, Kakashi. What do you think Natural Energy is?" she inquires, head tilting slightly.

He takes a moment to think on the question, mentally reviewing everything he has learned over the years.

("It's really useful 'ttebayo! Even Ero-sannin never actually mastered it, so that just makes me even more awesome! H-hey! What's with that look? I'm telling you, I'm basically the best Shinobi ever now Kakashi-sensei! I'll totally be able to beat Sasuke-teme's ass now, just you watch!")

"Natural Energy, or Natural Chakra as it's called in some circles, is the essence of life that makes up all living things. Everyone has it, but an over-abundance of energy can cause it to rapidly crystallize and turn the body to stone," Kakashi starts, tone flat and eyes distant. "There are many uses for it, though the most useful come in the form of enhanced physical and chakric sensing, as well as amplified strength throughout the muscular system."

It's a rather clinical analysis, but Kakashi pays no mind, choosing to ignore the dull ache of memories in the back of his head.

Nao hums and nods, though, looking thoughtful. "All correct so far. Continue."

"There are numerous drawbacks to using Sage Mode," Kakashi muses, eyes distant. "For example, in order to gather enough Natural Energy, one must meditate completely unmoving for a not insignificant amount of time. Also, an imbalance in Natural Chakra and one's normal chakra can, as I said earlier, turn you into stone. With proper planning and control, however, the risks seem to balance out."

Neither move as Kakashi's near monotonous insight dies off, Nao seeming to turn the words over in her head before speaking.

"That was a rather in-depth refresher, thank you," she says, looking Kakashi up and down. "You certainly seem to understand the risks and rewards that come with harnessing something never meant to be tamed. Am I correct in assuming most of your knowledge comes from observation as opposed to proper instruction?"

"Yes, Nao-sensei," Kakashi agrees, looking somewhere over her shoulder.

(Naruto is- was- will be- many things, but a book smart young man he was not. It was almost laughable the way he would try and explain something to Konohamaru and watch as the academy student somehow managed to get worse, screeching in frustration as his little posse tried to cheer him up. So, no. Naruto was not exactly exemplary teacher material, and Jiraiya- well, he wasn't around to ask, anymore.)

"Regardless, it is rather impressive the amount of information you have managed to infer from an outside perspective," she praises, tossing her head. "That being said, you are slightly off about a few things."

Kakashi lets out a noncommittal grunt, unsurprised.

"Give yourself some credit, Kakashi," Nao admonishes with an amused huff. "If you were contracted to the Gama of Mount Myoboku, you would be absolutely correct. Unfortunately for your observations, you are here, instead. Tell me, Kakashi, what is the difference between the Gama and your Ninken summons?"

Kakashi balks, unable to suppress a somewhat incredulous expression from flashing across his face. Nao barks out a laugh.

"Ah, perhaps I could have phrased that better. Though, I am curious as to what your response would have been," she says with a sly grin. "Let's put it this way; as predators, what is the difference between the two?"

Kakashi thinks for a moment, fingers tapping on his chin. "Well, for one thing, toads tend to be rather solitary creatures. They hunt where there's food, and migrate seasonally. I don't know all that much about them beyond that. My Ninken, of course, are pack animals. They stay together constantly, balancing out each others' strengths and weaknesses. They also have set territory that they hunt in, and defend it fiercely." He pauses, glancing back at Nao-sensei. "Should I keep going?"

Nao snorts, whacking his knee with her paw. "I'm sure you can, brat, but you were headed towards the right vein. You would have gotten there eventually, I'm sure. However, in the interest of time, let's jump to the finish. You see, the Gama are what is referred to as 'Ambush Predators.' Your Ninken however, well…" Nao's smile takes on an absolutely vicious edge, eyes sparkling dangerously. "Your Ninken are pack. And in a pack's numbers lie their strength."

There's ash in the air as Kakashi dances around another gout of blisteringly hot fire, reflexively dodging the hand that darts up from the ground, ready to ensnare its target. The yellow mask lays in splintered pieces at his feet, and the fury emanating from the opposing Nukenin is so thick he could choke on it.

"You're beginning to tire, Shinobi-san," Kakuzu hisses with a menacingly, eyes glowing. "That is a disadvantage I don't have."

Kakashi pretends to ignore the comment even as he feels Bisuke dispel in the back of his mind, only Pakkun and Shiba still going strong. He needs to wrap this up, and fast.

"Sages really are quite powerful, it's true, but there's one weakness you all share," Kakuzu says, a deranged smile cracking his face nearly in two. "And you, Shinobi-san, you are running out of time."

There's sweat pouring down Kakashi's brow as he runs, decrepit pack staggering along beside him.

"In order to safely use this ability, the bond with your pack must stay continuously open," Nao snipes from her position in the middle of the clearing. "The Gama may be experts at lying in wait, but Ninken are bred to move. It keeps your mind sharp, and your chakra constantly circulating. In nature, if you stop moving, you die. It is the harsh reality of this world, and as a pack you must adapt. Humans have a natural advantage over canine, but once they run out of steam, you'll be forced to regulate your chakra yourself, and therein lies the need for meditation."

Bull collapses somewhere behind Kakashi, and he can feel as his connection with the bond stretches and snaps like frayed twine, the poor dog heaving for breath.

"For each member of your pack, you have a near constant output of Natural Energy. They are Natural Chakra made flesh, unlike you Shinobi," Nao lectures before dragging the useless bulldog off their track, dropping him next to the small pond. "As it stands right now, they appear to have about ten minutes of modulation capability each. This will grow with time, but it will be many years yet before you are able to go all day. As such, you must monitor both your time and the state of your pack constantly. You are their leader; their captain. As such, their wellbeing falls to you."

Kakashi feels again as another of his pack, Akino, falls behind and staggers to a stop. They've only been sprinting for half an hour, but without the aide of chakra and the feeling of the Natural Energy boiling through his coils, it feels like he's been going all day.

"Normally I would not concern myself as much with your pack being able to keep up. However, you are attempting to bring down enemies without mortal limits. If you get too far separated, so too will your bond be severed," she explains harshly, watching in satisfaction as Akino makes his way over to her with his own power. "And a Ryoken separated from his pack is as good as dead."

The echoing sound of a million birds screaming in rage fills the now sparsely wooded area as brilliant white and blue streaks of lightning collide, tearing through the red mask and leaving it in a useless, charred pile. Simultaneously, Kakashi can feel as Pakkun's chakra fades from his grasp, Shiba hunkering down in the bushes somewhere to the left. There's only one left.

"I don't know who you are, or where you came from," Kakuzu hisses in fury, his form contorting and twitching as he straightens, preparing to move. "but I know when to cut my losses and depart. I am not foolhardy, like my partner who you so thoroughly destroyed."

Kakashi allows Kakuzu to retrieve his cloak with a disembodied hand as his own dips into his weapons pouch, curling around the handle of a kunai.

"But know this, Shinobi-san," he snarls, wrath etched into every line of his body. "I will need replacements for all of my hearts, and when the time comes, yours shall be the one seated in my chest."

Kakashi supposes the sheer amount of KI leaking from the Nukenin would have most Shinobi quailing in their boots, but on him it's rather moot. Soundlessly, Kakashi lifts his weapon and winds his arm back. Now would be as good of time as any to try this, he supposes. With a half step forward, he lets the kunai shear across the scorched clearing, directly at Kakuzu's chest.

The Nukenin snorts out a derisive laugh, sidestepping before it even comes close. "Really now, Shinobi-san. After all this time you would disrespect me by-"

In a flash of white, Kakashi materializes behind Kakuzu, catching the kunai effortlessly even as a bolt of twisted nostalgia (pain, so much pain) splinters through his chest. With one hand occupied, Kakashi calls upon a jutsu he's never used in combat before, a tightly condensed ball of glowing chakra drilling through the Nukenin's chest like rain-dampened soil. Suddenly, the reason (Minato-sensei) the Yondaime developed such a complicated, convoluted jutsu makes a lot more sense.

Kakashi's hand stays firmly lodged in Kakuzu's abdomen even as the Rasengan putters out, the Nukenin's own hand grasping weakly at the limb lodged firmly through his chest.

"H-how?" He croaks, a wheezy, rattling sound escaping his throat. "K-Konohagakure. Only the Hokage know…"

Whatever else Kakuzu was going to say fades into silence as his body catches up to his obliterated heart. Kakashi feels as the weight grows heavier, tilting his arm down and allowing his latest bounty to slide off his arm with distant familiarity. He notes, somewhat dazedly, that corpses pull far less at him when the hole is twice as big.

Kakashi stares down at the hand clutching his kunai. It's a standard one, nothing fancy like (Minato-sensei) the Yondaime uses to differentiate between weapons, but the seal that curls around the hilt is one and the same. It had, somehow, against all odds, worked. The days spent (grief, so much grief curling around his heart, suffocating, burning, he can't breathe) tirelessly dissecting Kakashi's graduation gift from his sensei are finally starting to pay off. The Sharingan is a bit disorienting, but Kakashi's certain that if he simply keeps it closed, the Hiraishin will become his new emergency contingency.

("Are you sure you don't want me to teach you, Kakashi? I know I've been busy recently, but Kushina has been telling me about your aptitude for sealing! And it seems like a waste to go through all the work of developing this damned seal just for my students not to learn it." Scratching his head, face falling slightly in disappointment as Kakashi redirects. "Ah well, there's always later, yeah? You should stop by for dinner tonight, it feels like ages since the last time we-")

Kakashi shakes himself physically as he feels an exhausted, questioning ping down the ragged end of his mental bond, the last of his Ninken just barely holding on.

"Alright, Shiba," Kakashi calls, voice hoarse. "That's enough. Stand down."

There's an uncomfortable tugging sensation as all the Natural Energy in his body is tugged back through the bond and dispersed into the ground around Shiba's feet. As the exhausted silver dog trots over, small wildflowers bloom where his paw pads impact the ashen grass. He staggers to a stop in front of his summoner, leaning his full weight against Kakashi's legs.

"You okay boss?" He asks shakily, poking the cooling body in front of them. "I wasn't even actually fighting and I can barely stand. You're not hurt, are you?"

Kakashi willfully ignores the dozens of minor scratches and bruises that mottle his arms from all the shrapnel tossed into the air and the acute chakra exhaustion pulling at his muscles, instead patting his concerned Ninken on the bushy Mohawk. "I'll be just fine, nothing major that can't be treated myself."

There's suspicious silence for a moment, the dog looking up at him.

"No offense boss, but I don't really believe you," Shiba deadpans, looking him over skeptically. "After what happened the last time you went toe to toe with one of these guys, I think Nao-sensei should be the one to make that call."

Kakashi swats at the Ninken, clipping one of his ears. The dog yelps, but he ignores it.

"Don't be a brat, Shiba," he grumbles, drooping somewhat in exhaustion. "I'm a competent adult, no matter what Nao-sensei or Pakkun say." He sniffs, haughty, before patting the dog on the head again. "Are you okay to stick around a little longer, or do you need to rest first? I'd rather drop this bastard off sooner than later."

Shiba shifts off of Kakashi, shaking himself before nodding enthusiastically. "I can keep going for a while yet, boss! Let's go turn him in and get some anpan!"

Kakashi sighs mournfully, but figures the dog deserves some kind of treat for allowing himself to be pushed this far past his limits. Despite what he's saying, Kakashi can see the slight tremors in Shiba's stance, exhaustion weighing on his bones. If it wasn't for the fact that Kakashi needed to turn in the stupid bounty before the Akatsuki noticed Kakuzu was missing and before he passed out for a few days from chakra exhaustion, he'd simply wait until his pack had recovered enough to stand guard.

Ruffling the messy fur on the dog's head, Kakashi pulls a scroll out from his weapons pouch and kneels by the body. "Keep watch for a moment while I seal him and his masks up. I don't want anyone getting the jump on us after that fight."

And by anyone, Kakashi meant a potential Akatsuki member. He'd seen the one with the orange swirled mask in his own time (Sharingan swirling mockingly as he danced around his team's attacks like nothing-), and now recently he'd seen him hanging around Kakuzu. They didn't seem to get along, so far as Kakashi could tell, but they were teams regardless, and he knew first hand just how much damage they could do.

Not wasting a moment, Kakashi seals the last of the crumbled masks into his scroll, turning around. "Shiba, we're headed southwest. Take point, please."

"Sure thing boss!" the Ninken yips in response, nose coming up from where he'd been monitoring the perimeter and instead bounding over to the nearest tree that hadn't been destroyed in the chaos. "Is it very far from here?"

"No, we should reach it in just over an hour," Kakashi responds, pulling his headband back over his eye. "Perhaps a little longer if we need to slow our pace a bit."

Shiba nods, turning to glance at him. "You sure you want us separated?"

"Yes, but stay close. A few moments of advance notice is preferable to none at all," Kakashi elaborates distractedly, weak chakra branching out to check the surrounding area. "Now, let's get moving."

"Ah, right right!" Shiba barks, springing into action.

He's not quite as graceful as Pakkun or Bisuke, but it's Shiba's endurance that had saved Kakashi's life during this fight. He may be scrappy, but the silver dog had more stamina than nearly Kakashi's whole pack combined. He supposes it's probably because he's a mix of various breeds; not too heavy nor too light, and also missing the compressed face that slowed Bull and even Pakkun down on occasion. The wild head of hair just reminded Kakashi of himself, so he had no complaints there.

He sighs, pulling himself out of his, really, quite irrelevant thoughts and soldiers onwards.

(Shiba had been the best dog he'd had for stealth, before.)

"Absolutely not. Go to hell," the old woman snaps as Kakashi presents another bounty scroll to her, a placid smile on his masked face.

"Maa, but didn't you make a rather large profit off the last one?" He asks innocently, waggling the scroll in her face.

"After all the trouble that brought in?" she scoffs, incredulous. "Do you have any idea how many Shinobi came knocking on my door, asking about the 'mysterious mercenary' that took down an S ranked Nukenin? I'm still getting weekly letters from Yugakure asking about you! No, you can go to hell!"

Kakashi stops waving the scroll, giving her a patently wounded look. "So, should I just take it to Taki, then? It's such a long walk though…"

"Oh for fuck's sake!" she snarls, snatching the scroll from his still outstretched hand and marching towards the back room. "And I'm taking twenty five this time!" she shouts over her shoulder, slamming the door closed before Kakashi has a chance to respond.

There's a moment of tense silence.

"She is going to check and make sure there's actually a body in there, right?" He asks the man sulking in the corner, having been thrown out of the way the second Kakashi had poofed in with a friendly 'Yo!'

"Of course she is!" he hisses at Kakashi while looking nervously at the door, as if he isn't sure whether or not to believe it himself.

"I'll take your word for it!" Kakashi chirps, slipping his hands in his pockets and slouching, eye half-lidded.

After another few minutes, the door flies back open and a new scroll is chucked at his head. Kakashi allows it to bounce off before he catches it, shooting his assailant a wounded look.

"Oh, get the fuck out of here before I off you myself," she snaps, sneering.

"Pleasure doing business with you as always!" Kakashi responds before disappearing in a swirl of leaves, pretending he hasn't noticed the Yamanaka who's been standing in the corner since he entered.

The Yondaime would be getting some interesting news tonight, so it seemed.

(Kakashi hoped his sensei wouldn't be too upset. He wasn't sure if he could handle it.)

Author's Notes: I decided to give Shiba some love this chapter, since the last couple have been very Pakkun/Guruko/Ūhei heavy, and he loves all his dogs equally. You also got some insight to how Kakashi's Sage mode functions as opposed to Naruto's, and you'll learn more as you go. It's definitely different, though! I am once again going to recommend you read this on Ao3, as the strikethrough, a very important part of this story, does not copy over on FanFiction. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed!

Comments feed my soul!

~Nikki