Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its characters, or its OSTs in any way. Those rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I do own the techniques I add and any OC I may choose to create for the betterment of the story.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews and the love that my story is receiving, I'm honoured. I did not expect it to turn out well so thank you guys for proving me wrong. The advice and productive criticism have also been noted, thank you. I would also like to apologize for taking down the chapter a while ago, my cousin had uploaded a document I was still working, a faulty one. Everything is fine with this one though. So last time I left the story at a cliffhanger and I'm here to remedy that. I know a lot of people are anticipating how Naruto will react, and I am too, but I am at an impasse, that's why Naruto will not be in this chapter, sadly. Worry not though, there are people who still care and will show their love and compassion for our loudmouth blonde. We also get to meet Tenten's mother! As to why I'm at an impasse... I just can't decide whether to have Naruto meet the kyuubi or not. I know in canon they officially met when Naruto was around 12 and right now he is 7. As the people who read this story, what do you guys think, too soon? Please let me know with your reviews. Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope you guys enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 2: Aftermath

Tap, tap, tap.

A hooded figure ran in the forest, easily evading the large trees to make her escape. Her anbu uniform was exposed as her cloak flapped with the wind, a hawk mask over her face to keep her identity a secret, as per rules of the anbu black ops.

They had received a mission to intercept and eliminate a B-rank missing nin that was spotted around the part of the forest she was running away from. Only they did not find a missing nin. They found something even more terrifying.

'Why is he doing this? Has he betrayed the leaf?' She kept running. 'Regardless, I should get to the village and report this to Hokage-sama.'

She had to jump to the side when she caught a glint at the corner of her eye and a kunai landed where she had been a moment later. She cursed when she saw the paperbomb attached to the blade before the aforementioned paperbomb exploded.

'He caught up already?'

Hawk brought up her white cloak to shield herself from the flames. She succeeded in not getting burnt but the force of the blast still pushed her back.

The veteran captain spun in the air and she landed on the round, skidding a few feet rearward before she stopped, in time to see a figure emerge from the cloud of smoke. He wore the same uniform as her, the only difference was that he was not wearing a cloak and he had on a dog mask.

Inu threw another kunai, it did not have a paperbomb this time, at Hawk who swatted the blade to the side with her palmed kunai. That was all the time Inu needed to get close to aim a punch at the woman's face but Hawk dodged under it and she sliced through the man's femoral artery before she twirled the kunai in her hand. She gripped the blade again, in a reverse grip this time, as she brought the kunai into the back of the man's head.

Hawk expected victory but she cursed when the assailant disappeared in a plume of smoke. No matter though, she will be getting to the leaf shortly. She started running again, now wary of being ambushed by the original.

She could see the gate just up ahead. She was almost out of the forest. She would be there soon. Home, where it was safe.

Well, she would be, if the figure that jumped in her way moved. She stopped running which placed her at a considerable distance away from her opponent. Not too close, and not too far, just right.

(OST Plays: Strong and Strike)

The screeching of birds that the forest did not have, at the moment, made her notice how Inu's right hand was now cackling with lightning.

"Inu, why are you doing this?" She asked.

Inu did not reply. She heard more screeching from behind and she turned to see another Inu with a hand cackling with lightning.

"Yo, Hawk-senpai." This Inu did speak. The tone was oddly casual considering how they were trying to kill each other.

'That lightning blade of his may be powerful but he can only use it a few times before he runs out of chakra. Also considering how a Shadow clone consumes massive amounts of chakra, I doubt he can make another one with chakra to spare for a Raikiri after how he had to struggle with the other five. One of them must be a regular clone.' Hawk looked at the Inu who did not reply. 'Him!'

The ground splitting apart beneath her feet startled her.

'Shit, below!' Hawk cursed.

Inu came from the ground with his kunai aimed to stab Hawk under her chin but she was able to toss her kunai to her left hand in time to catch Inu's wrist with her right hand before the attack succeeded.

'He must be the real one!' "Die!" She caught the kunai wih her left hand and stabbed Inu in his throat with it which caused him to erupt into a mass of lightning that Hawk could not escape from. "AAAAHHHH!" The lightning tore through her. It felt as if it was cutting though her muscle tissue and into her bones.

The two Inu also started running the same time the lightning clone erupted into a mass of lightning. The original Inu drove his lightning enfused hand through the back of Hawk and through her heart, and the clone drove its hand though the front of Hawk and through her right lung. The opposing forces of the original and clone that were equal, plus the lightning of the lightning clone cutting into her, forced Hawk's body to spit in half under the intense pressure.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Hawk screamed when she felt the tear that started from her right shoulder. The splitting process cut diagonal until the other force diverted it below to where the woman was split between her legs.

Blood flew over the bodies of the original Inu and the clone with a mixture of gore as Hawk's organs were spilt on the ground.

"Raikiri (Lightning Blade)..." The Original started. "... Niju no Eikyo (Double Impact)!" The clone finished.

The original swatted half the body off which left gore on his arm, a menacing crimson color coming from the left eye of his dog mask as he spoke.

"Ninmu Kanryo (Mission Complete)."

(OST Ends)

The clone disappeared in a plume of smoke and other half of the woman fell on the ground. The only connection the two halves of Hawk had was the large intestine that barely held them together. Inu also saw how Hawk's mask had fallen off her face which allowed his eye to drink the sweet agony that was portrayed by her face in her dying moments.

Thud, swish, swish.

Only one of her three kunai hit, even if just barely, the tree and the other two sailed past. She couldn't concentrate. She threw another kunai and she missed the tree. She just couldn't slip away from the previous day's events.

After Naruto fell unconscious, an Anbu squad of six arrived soon after. It was too fast especially since no one could've called. Did that mean that they were watching all of that? Tenten did not want to believe that, but she ended up doing so.

The previous day shone a light on things she had never been aware of before. When the anbu got to the scene, two of the elite shinobi treated Tenten and the man she stabbed, on-site, while one of them just picked up Naruto and left with him while the other three dealt with the crowd.

Tenten was sure that the elite shinobi could see that the child was bleeding to death, but he ran like he didn't care. She also noticed how carelessly Naruto was held considering how severe his injuries were, but most of all, she noticed how the bleeding could've been stopped by the medic anbu on-site. Yet they didn't. They chose not to. Why?

After being treated Tenten was safely brought home to her mother who had grown frantic that it was dark and her daughter was not home. Her mother looked so scared that Tenten thought she would be grounded for life. She would have been, had she not told her mother about Naruto.

Tenten was surprised when her mother was not opposed to Naruto having spent time together with her, especially when it got dangerous at the end. Dangerous for Naruto though, but Tenten was lucky to not be considered a sympathizer. It seemed that not all adults hated the boy. But why hate him at all?

Growing up with her mother in her life, Tenten was mostly spoilt and showered with attention and a suffocating amount of affection that wasn't necessary most of the time, so it was both shocking and traumatizing to actually see the greys of her black and white life in the form of Naruto.

Besides the previous day, Tenten had never actually met the boy, so her impression of him was that of the previous day alone. It was her first and only impression that the boy made sure lasted, whether he realised it or not.

Naruto was loud, brash and obnoxious, sure, but that's also what made him kind and endearing as he expressed his compassion towards others with as much, if not much more, vigor as his loudness.

From what she saw when Naruto was being beaten up, it was one-sided. An entire village of adults against a boy who didn't know how to defend himself. No, a boy who didn't even try to defend himself.

Her fists clenched over her trousers, her oculus pulsating in her silent rage. 'Are these the type of people I'm training to protect? Is this what Konoha truly stands for, preaching peace and prosperity while beating on innocent children?' She was starting to wonder, and the more she wondered, the more her perfect image of the Hidden Leaf was slowly crumbling down.

Hiruzen Sarutobi. Third Hokage of the village Hidden in the Leaves. God of Shinobi. Had his hand on his forehead as he stared at the death count of leaf genin that had left for chunin exams in the Hidden Sand a month ago. Out of the five squads that left, only five people returned, those being only the jonin senseis. It was safe to say that the quality of ninja in Konohagakure was in decline.

The ninja academy lessened its standards after the third great ninja war because of peaceful times and to allow the system to accommodate more civilian-born shinobi. It was safe to say that it was a bad idea. The leaf may have been producing more ninja, but it was useless if they all died immediately after leaving the academy.

He glanced at the document that lay on the table. It had a picture of a snake-eyed man that Hiruzen once called his favourite student. With the balance of power in the elemental nations being as shaky as it was, it wouldn't take much to tip the scale towards war. It also wasn't helping that Hiruzen got a report from Jiraiya saying that there was a rumour of Orochimaru starting his own village.

'There are a lot of feeble activities in the ninja academy that will have to be abolished in order for the new academy curriculum to be ushered in. The new generation of ninja has to be strong for the dark times that are coming. We c-'

There was a knock on the door.

The great leader sighed before he spoke. "Come in." Who could it be at such a stressful time? Hopefully no one bearing more bad news.

The figure strolled into office. Dry blood was all over his black and gray armour and his dog mask. His arm guards were also bloody, but the one on his right was more bloody. His silver-grey hair was also laid down compared to how it normally looked like it defied gravity.

As the figure walked towards Hiruzen, the veteran shinobi noticed the bag the agent had over his right shoulder. It wouldn't have been anything special at first glance, or even on the second one. What was interesting about the bag was how it wreaked of the red substance the agent was covered in, blood.

Hiruzen gave the young man a wary gaze. "Inu, what can I do for you?"

"Permission to speak freely."

Hiruzen nodded. "Granted."

"Nothing." The emotionless reply came from Inu. He placed the bag on the floor before he spoke again. "All members that were tasked with the observation and protection of Uzumaki Naruto have been dealt with upon failure to not only adhere to mission parameters, but also endangering and conspiring to kill said client. I cremated their bodies and these are the six heads of the perpetrators." He pointed to the bag.

"Kakashi!" The old man blurted out the agent's name in confused rage. "What have you done?!" Hiruzen was clearly lost.

"Uzumaki Naruto was hospitalized yesterday evening with severe damage on his genetalia that would have warranted careful surgical castration, on par with Lady Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin, for him to survive, had his tenant not intervened to repair his reproductive system. As a squad leader myself, and one of my own having been in the squad overseeing the mission, I took it upon myself to enforce the rules that were set as I did not require your permission to do so. I gave them a mission that led them outside the village to avoid civilian casualties and damage to village infrastructure as collateral. I have not come here to be lectured about how to lead my squad, but only to let you know of the necessary actions I took, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen's eyes widened. What had happened to Naruto? The disbelief in his eyes would've been comical if the situation was serious. In that moment though, it peeved Inu.

The reply was disrespectful but it was true, Inu did not need Hiruzen's permission to do what he did. The anbu had their internal way of dealing with traitors within the organization. It was a harsh but necessary way. He was also given permission to speak freely, something Hiruzen was beginning to regret.

"Where is Naruto hospitalized? I would like to see him." Hiruzen could not hide the horror in his eyes when he spoke.

"Before I answer that, first let me say this, Hokage-sama..." There was a brief pause before Inu spoke, as if he was contemplating what he was about to say. "... I find it alarmingly disappointing that you still do not know what happened to Naruto as you're the first person who should've known. As for your question, I would suggest you not see him, seeing an unfamiliar face could agitate him in his current state."

A wave of of calm washed over Hiruzen, like he wasn't surprised a moment ago. "Kakashi, I may tolerate your attitude from time-to-time but you are out of line now. I will do as I please, now where is he?"

"Forgive me, Hokage-sama, but it was Minato-sensei's wish that Naruto be happy, and I don't think your presence will benefit that wish." 'But I know who can.' Inu kept the last bit to himself.

Hiruzen's chakra flared, along with his killing intent as he finally snapped. "I will not be questioned by a mere child! You will tell me where he is, or I will slay you where you stand for your insolence!"

"I will not. And you will not. With the Uchiha growing brazen with each passing day, you need me in the battlefield when the civil war comes. As far as skills, tactical mindset and jutsu rapporteur goes, with the addition of me having the Sharingan, you cannot afford to lose me. Also, while I may not be able to adopt him, I'm still listed as his family in Minato-sensei's and Kushina-san's will, so you cannot dictate my personal matters, Hokage-sama." Inu's voice remained monotone, not gaining or losing even a tiny bit of volume the entire time he spoke. Seeing as the Hokage had nothing left to say, Inu turned to leave. "That will be all, Hokage-sama." He left the bag there, the pungent smell of death filling into the office.

Hiruzen was seething as he watched Inu leave. How the mighty have fallen.

Inu ran across the rooftops of buildings as he blitzed towards his destination. If anyone were to look up, they would only be able to see a glitching black blur before he was gone entirely.

'Even if he uses his authority to search all hospitals in Konoha, he still won't find him because he's not in a hospital. He can still use his crystal orb to watch my every move but It doesn't matter since he won't just barge into where I placed Naruto. Plus the seals around my house restrict his telescope technique so we can have our privacy.' Inu landed on a building that gave him a good view of his destination. It was a ninja shop he frequented.

The masked elite jumped and landed gracefully on the ground. He walked only a few steps and pushed the door to the establishment open. The bell at the door rung in a pleasant welcome to a customer.

The woman at the counter tore her eyes away from the paper she was reading to smile at her customer.

"Wel-" The woman's eyes widened. "Kakashi, what happened?!"

"My mission got a bit tricky since the stars came falling down but you don't have to worry, Reiko-san." Inu replied. "Is Tenten home?"

Recognition flashed in Reiko's eyes. "Not at the moment, is this about Naruto?"

Reiko was the splitting image of Tenten but the woman's more mature looks made her more attractive compared to her daughter's more cute, budding looks. She had large bright grey eyes with long black hair that was tied loosely, a low side ponytail on her right shoulder.

"Yes, I would like her to be there when Naruto wakes up since she's the only one he knows. I believe a familiar face will be good for him at the moment. Thank you for letting me know about it by the way."

"It was the right thing to do. I'll close up for today and we can find Tenten."

"I have already sent out someone who will bring her to us."

Reiko grinned as they walked out of the shop together.

"Always prepared, I see." She locked the door.

Inu started walking and Reiko followed, walking next to him. It was early into daytime which meant that the streets of Konoha were bustling with life, but people parted the second they saw the infamous Inu. They did not want to get in his way, especially since he was practically soaked in blood.

"I will have to be if I want to be the best at my job." Replied Inu.

"I see." Reiko nodded.

A blanket of comfortable silence washed over them. They were quiet as they walked amongst the people of the leaf. They couldn't just talk since they didn't know who else could be listening beside the Hokage.

They had ventured out of the busy streets of Konoha and into a quiet path that led to the outskirts of the village when Reiko finally broke the silence.

"How is he?" A troubled frown was on her face when she asked.

"It would've been bad if his tenant had not intervened. He suffered severe damage to his genetalia but he's mostly healed now. All he needs now is rest, a dose of positivity, and proper food."

Reiko was apalled by what she heard happened to her friend's son. Naruto didn't deserve it. No child deserved what Naruto was going through. She was considering all of Inu's requests but she knew that the last two would be hard to fulfil.

"What of Hokage-sama?"

"He may not permit us to adopt him but if Naruto befriends Tenten, and Tenten invites him for breakfast, lunch, dinner and sleepovers everyday, then as a mother who wants her daughter to be happy at all times, you had no choice but to give in to the demands." Replied Inu.

Reiko's smile returned. "Sounds to me like you have given this a lot of thought."

"I have." Admitted the anbu captain shamelessly.

Reiko nodded. "I have no objections to your plan."

A subtly chuckle came from Inu. "I was hoping you wouldn't."

WHAM!

"Ow! What was that for?!" Complained the anbu in an uncharacteristically high-pitched voice.

"While I may not mind, you will not be seeing the children looking like that!" Reiko shook her first in his face.

"Okay okay, I'll put on a genjutsu and some deodorant I use to mask my scent." He put his hands up over his head in surrender.

Reiko elongated her arm and Inu tensed, closing his yes and bracing for impact, but he was surprised when he felt a soft hand run through his hair.

When his eyes opened he was stunned by the motherly smile on Reiko's face. "Okaeri, Kakashi (Welcome home, Kakashi)."

When Kakashi lost both Minato and Kushina on the same night, Reiko was the person he cried to. From then she went on to nursing him back to as full mental and physical health as she could. She was the only one who was left and Kakashi did not even want to think about losing her.

Inu dropped his arms slowly. If there wasn't a mask over his face, a blush would've been seen as he grinned with his eyes closed. "Tadaima."

Hiruzen watched Kakashi and Reiko with his telescope technique. He listened to everything they said as they walked together, hoping for anything that would tell him where Naruto was. He wouldn't go, but he would feel more at ease knowing he was.

He noticed that the road they were on was going to take them to the outskirts of the village, where the Hatake house was, which also confirmed Naruto's location to Hiruzen.

While the old monkey couldn't let them adopt Naruto, he had no qualms with their current plan. Naruto needed someone by his side. It will work, but only for a short time.

'But during that time I would have figured something out. Good work, Kakashi, Reiko. You are doing more than what I have ever done.' Hiruzen removed his hands from the orb and the clairvoyance ended.

Hiruzen had an excuse as to why he didn't see Naruto get hurt but he didn't use it because he didn't have the right to. He failed the child the moment he announced his jinchuriki status, and there was no coming back from that.

Now back to things that required his immediate attention. 'Since Naruto has Reiko and Kakashi, I will prioritise the peace talks with the Uchiha and the curriculum of the academy.' Hiruzen flared his chakra.

An anbu appeared a second later. "Hokage-sama?"

"Summon Umino Iruka immediately."

"Hai, Hokage-sama." The shinobi disappeared to fulfil his mission.

Hiruzen took the five reports of the dead genin in his hands again. 'This isn't good at all.'

Tenten was sitting under the shade of a tree resting when she saw the shrub at her far right rustle before a dog emerged from it. In her panicked haste, Tenten had pulled out a kunai, but she dropped it and squealed when she saw the dog.

It was a small, pug-like dog with brown fur and a dark brown snout and ears. The dog had a blue Konoha headband on the top of its head and a blue vest with a heno-heno-moheji seal.

"Pakkun!" She opened her arms and the dog leapt into her welcoming embrace.

The dog nestle itself into her embrace."Hey Ten-chan." The dog's voice was surprisingly gruff despite its cute appearance.

"Where's Inu?" Questioned the girl. She was excited to show the anbu what she could do with her kunai and how good her penmanship had gotten. And of course Tenten knew Inu's real identity but she found it cooler to refer to him by his codename.

"If you put me down, I'll take you to him."

Tenten immediately put the dog down. "Well what are we waiting for?" The excitement that oozed from her made the dog chuckle.

Pakkun took off running and Tenten followed behind the pug after she took her kunai from where she dropped it.

"Hey wait for me!" She took off after the dog.

Pakkun ran ahead and Tenten followed behind. She noticed that the way they were taking was leading them further away from the village.

"So where are we going?"

"We are going to Inu's home." Replied Pakkun.

Tenten was confused. "I thought Inu lived in the village."

"That's his house. We are going to his home."

Tenten was even more confused but she followed the dog anyway. They ran through the forest for a few minutes before she noticed that the trees were starting to thin out. She could also see a house a bit further away.

They continued to run.

When they were closer to the house Tenten noticed two figures standing by the gate. The first figure she made out quickly to be her mother. When she got even closer she saw the silver-grey, gravity defying hair that could only belong to Inu.

"Inu!" Tenten went to hug the anbu captain but Reiko held her back. We couldn't have her hugging a blood-soaked anbu now could we?

"Tenten, how are you?" Greeted Inu before the girl could complain about her mother's intervention.

"I'm okay. Oh and I got better with my kunai and penmanship, want me to show you?!" Tenten could not contain her excitement.

"Now now dear, now isn't the time for that." Reiko squeezed her daughter's shoulder gently.

"Then why am I here?" Asked Tenten. Looking into the eyes of her mother and reading the emotions they portrayed, she could tell that it was something serious. "What's going on?"

"You're here to see Naruto." Inu was the one who replied. "I believe it would make him feel better if he saw you."

Tenten's eye's dimmed when she heard that. She felt guilty for not looking for him. "Is he okay?" And she still remembered all the blood that was coming out of him.

Both Reiko and Inu were glad to see that she was concerned about Naruto.

Inu held a thumb up. "He is!"

It was weird how Tenten could tell that he was smiling despite the mask that covered his entire face. Knowing that though made her smile as well. "Let's go see him then!"

Kakashi pushed open the gate and they walked into the path that led them to the house.

"Tadaima." Kakashi pushed the door open.

Reiko and Tenten followed behind the masked shinobi. They walked into the main corridor that led into different areas of the house. They passed all of the doors and it was clear that the door at the end of the corridor was where they were headed as it was the last and only door left.

"AAAAAHHHHHH!" The blood-curdling scream came from behind the door.

Kakashi was quick to push the door open.

"AAAAHHH!" Tenten also screamed when she saw inside the room.

A/N: Well there you have it, and what did you guys think? I wanted to make Kakashi's entrance as badass as possible, so how did I do? And what do you think of his new move? I found it unfair how Sasuke was allowed to experiment with the chidori more often, so I had Kakashi do the same. And again, I anticipate your reviews for the kyuubi matter. For those who are wondering, no, I'm not bashing Hiruzen, just showing how he claimed to care for Naruto only to put him second when it actually mattered. For now Tenten learnt everything from her mother but I plan on having Kakashi teach Tenten more about seals later on since I have her practicing her penmanship. I thought it would work since it was never revealed who taught Tenten seals, or maybe I missed it? Also, it sucks for me, but it's revision period right now and I'll be writing exams next month so I won't be able to update as much as I want to. What I can promise though is a chapter every Monday, and if I get the time... I may release another chapter on a Friday. I wonder if anyone noticed that... nvm. Again, thank you for taking the time to read, until next time!