Snakes and Foxes

By: roterritter

A/N: This is only a flashback. The story continues in the time where it left off at in Chapter 3.

Chapter 02: Kakashi's Flashback!

October 10, the last battle against Kyuubi

The silence after the battle seemed deafening compared to the monstrous growling of Kyuubi and the screams of the dying ninja that had come before. The only thing that seemed to break the silence was the tiny, yet loud crying of a baby.

For many of the ninja it was confusing. How did a baby get on the battlefield? Although the entire village of Konoha was at stake, the battle had raged in what was once a vast, green and lush forest, yet now everywhere they looked was upturned soil and broken trees. It hadn't been like a real battle, it was more like fighting a force of nature.

The dead and dying laid everywhere and many of the living were not left without wounds. The battle itself had ended with a sudden frightening halt. One moment they were fighting a losing battle for their lives against an inhuman demon and in the next everything was over. Perhaps it would have been better if the demon had disappeared in a huge explosion of smoke, but instead its body just lay on the ground lifeless and eerily peaceful as it slowly dissolved away into whiffs of smoke, decaying back into the ethereal nothingness that it came from. The anxiety on everyone's hearts caused by the demon was not quickly going way, as if they expected any moment for it to lurch back to life.

However, one thing was clear, Kyuubi's terrible red chakra was gone. It was a disgusting, unpleasant chakra that left an overwhelming feeling in the air like a rancid smell. It was the feeling of something filled with eternal rage and has killed and killed until it was stained with red blood. Not even the most evil of men could feel like this. Yet suddenly it was gone, leaving only their unsettled fear.

All of the eyes were locked on the demon's body dissolving into smoke until it was gone. Only then could they relax and take note of their surroundings, but the moonlight covered red-furred monstrosity, revealing every vicious tooth, every terrible claw. Even the nine tails were thought to also be horrible because unlike ordinary tails these had created untold destruction. Even in death Kyuubi created a frightening image, at least until the demon fox had finally disappeared.

"It's over!"

Everyone sighed with relief as the last whiff of smoke carried away the last bit of red fur. The sight had disturbed even the most hardened of the ninja. Fighting other ninja was one thing, but fighting a demon was entirely different matter. Death had almost been guaranteed until the Fourth Hokage showed up and performed a blindingly powerful jutsu.

One by one their eyes settled on Gamabunta, the giant toad boss summoned by the Fourth Hokage. The giant toad had not disappeared into a giant puff of smoke, as most summoned animals tended to do. Instead he stood still.

The ninja had expected to see the Fourth Hokage standing tall on top of Gamabunta's head like the great Hokage that he was. They were prepared to cheer happily for him, but what they saw broke whatever happiness replacing the fear in their hearts.

The ninja could easily see the form of the Fourth collapsed on top of Gamabunta's head. They could see his form covered by his white and red coat, curled up in almost a peaceful position on his side. Those with sharp ears could also tell it was from the direction of Gamabunta's head that the sound of a baby crying could be heard.

"Hokage-sama!" whispered the ninja as they started realize at what cost the Fourth had taken to stop Kyuubi's rampage.

Gamabunta sighed. The sigh alone was like a harsh wind below him. He didn't say a word. There were no words for this situation, at least none that a toad boss would have for the ninja below him.

He didn't dare move for fear that the Fourth's lifeless body may fall. He couldn't go home either or risk the body falling as he vanished into smoke. Not even using his tongue to gently snatch up the body would work, out of fear he would cause the crying human infant to roll off and fall. The infant's loud crying annoyed him, but he didn't wish harm to it either.

The Fourth had explained the basics of his last technique to Gamabunta, making the toad boss understand the need of bring a newborn child into battle. He had used the terribleDead Demon Sealtechnique; Gamabunta still had shivers for being so close to Shinigami. He had felt the God of Death rip the Fourth and Kyuubi's souls from their bodies. It was something he would never forget.

"Sensei!"

A fourteen-year-old boy pushed his way through a growing crowd of the surviving ninja. A black mask over his face and one single Sharingan eye marked him easily as the Copy Ninja Kakashi, a young genius ninja who was already a jounin and a former student of the Fourth Hokage. Being a former student also made him understandably closer to the Fourth than many others.

Kakashi didn't slow down as he ran up Gamabunta, attaching his feet to the toad's skin by using his chakra. He ran toward the crumbled body of the Fourth, paying no attentions to the dangers of walking on top of Gamabunta. At the moment he was ignorant of the self-restraint Gamabunta was displaying. It was wide known that Gamabunta let no one, but a select few to ride him and was very hostile to anyone who tried, but in this case even Gamabunta didn't want to accidentally throw off the Fourth's body and the baby he was still holding onto even in death.

"Kakashi! Is the Fourth--?" yelled one of the ninja in the crowd below. None of them could say the word dead.

The survivors had begun gathering together in a group. They all looked ragged, bloody, and worn. Their clothing was ripped, in many cases soaked with blood and in some cases it wasn't their own blood, and their weapons were either worn or broken. Most of them were empty of chakra and only their concern for the Hokage was keeping them on their feet.

They had been fighting against impossible odds and never giving up, but for as many of them that stood now, there were many more times that of the dead that stretched across the battlefield. Not a single person had escaped losing someone they knew. Just looking at the ground was a bitter reminder of their loss. However, the Fourth's death was one more death too many.

Kakashi walked slowly toward the Fourth's body. He already knew the answer the other's question. Being the Fourth's former student also gave him a certain amount of trust in the other man's planning. Therefore he was well aware of theDead Demon Sealtechnique and why there was a baby there.

The Fourth's body was crumbled on top of Gamabunta's head in such a way Kakashi could only see his white and red coat that he always wore over his green Konoha ninja vest. Of his face Kakashi only saw the Fourth's spiky blonde hair.

However, the Fourth's arms were wrapped protectively around the source of the loud crying. Kakashi pried the Fourth's arms apart with difficulty, as if the baby underneath was the last thing in the world the Fourth was trying to protect.

Kakashi managed to pull the baby away, along with a blanket that barely covered him. The child awkwardly fit into the masked teenager's arms; he had no experience with babies and could only try to comfort the howling child as best he could.

It was a baby boy, with blonde hair and blue eyes that eerily resembled the Fourth.

"He didn't! Did he?" Kakashi thought in shock. "How can fate be so cruel, but to have this child born on this night?"

Of course he knew for the Dead Demon Seal to work against Kyuubi it needed a newly born baby. What were the chances that there would be more than one child born tonight? Kakashi hadn't even questioned how long it took to the Fourth to return with a baby, but then again even a Hokage wouldn't have been so cruel to have just taken a baby off the streets.

"How many personal sacrifices did sensei make for Konoha tonight?"

Kakashi focused on the boy's face, trying to find the remembrance between the child and parents, but he immediately saw the three fresh cuts on each of the baby's cheeks were bleeding and Kakashi was sure they would leave scars. He knew the Fourth wouldn't have done this and the whisker-like shape of the cuts made him suspect Kyuubi. Perhaps a last malicious attack on humans before it was finally sealed away.

The blanket slipped a bit and Kakashi could easily see the seal on the baby's stomach. An obsolete black mark against the child's pale, pink skin: two four point seals surrounding a spiral in the center. The spiral was the Fourth's favorite symbol and now the child almost seemed branded by it.

The baby continued to cry, no matter what Kakashi tried to do, but it was if the child's crying was a sum of all the anguish and sorrow the ninja felt below.

"Kakashi," yelled an old, wizened voice. "Bring the baby down."

The teenager looked down and saw the crowd was now making way for the familiar figure of the Third. The retired Hokage looked serious and saddened at the same time and the crowd of ninja was throwing him endless questions.

Kakashi carefully held the baby as he ran down Gamabunta. At the same time Gamabunta picked up the Fourth's body with this tongue, with no fear of accidentally dropping the baby, and placed his body on the ground. Kakashi had barely reached the ground before the toad boss disappeared in smoke.

When the smoke cleared the medical-nin had run to the Fourth's body, but Kakashi knew it was already too late. The questions were getting angrier by the minute. Tired ninja who had lost too much, too many friends and family, were getting more upset.

"The Fourth is dead," announced the Third softly. "He explained to me what technique he would use when he joined you in battle with Kyuubi. It was a technique that would require him to sacrifice his life."

"NOOOO!" yelled numerous ninja within the crowd.

The Third looked around and saw their faces fall. Every single on of them would have probably given their life for the Fourth. It was harder to take that he had given his life for theirs.

"He did what he had to do to protect Konoha and its people, its children, as the Hokage," the Third explained calmly yet there was weariness in his voice.

"Where did that baby come from?"

"The Fourth sealed the soul of the demon fox into that child. Kyuubi can not be defeated by ordinary means and only by sealing it inside this child could he save everyone."

"Sealed? You mean that demon isn't dead!"

Kakashi shifted uncomfortably, realizing how many angry glares were on the bundle in his arms. Some were looking at him like he was holding a live explosive waiting to go off at any moment. The disgusting feeling of the red chakra was not forgotten, like a bad taste, and they couldn't imagine a child just being a child with something like that within it. To them it was like an apple perfect on the outside, but a vile worm on the inside.

"We should kill it now while it's weak!"

"We can't risk Kyuubi still being alive!"

"That thing killed everyone!"

Kakashi groaned.

The giant fox seemed so big compared to a small baby and their fear of the fox had quickly turned to hate now that it was gone. That hate was too much for them to have any compassion for some unknown child.

"Stop it!" yelled the Third. "I told you. Kyuubi is sealed inside this baby. This is a child a Konoha!"

However, that didn't work either. The ninja were tired both physically and mentally and not even the Third compassionate words were preventing the crowd from becoming a mob. They were yelling and arguing, their words were overlapping into an angry roar. Even Kakashi was regretting even holding the child.

It was understandable. Everywhere they could look was the death and destruction Kyuubi brought. Every single person could say they lost a friend, a family member, or teammate. Just look at the ground and you probably could recognize someone. It was understandable, but it wasn't right.

"That is enough!" the Third's tone had changed. It was not the voice of a compassionate old man, but of a stern and strict leader that made everyone straighten up and listen. It was the voice of a Hokage.

The Third stepped forward Kakashi and took the child in his arms. Even though he was considerably gentle to the child, the fearsome look on his face silenced the others. He briefly looked at child's face, masking the sympathy on his own face, but visibly frowned when he saw the cuts on the baby's face.

"Would you rather the Kyuubi be set loose? Because none of the techniques or skills we have would be able to kill it. Sealing the demon is more than even the death god to handle. Only someone with a human will could force the Kyuubi into a deep place where he can never harm anyone again, but human will can be flawed. Only something as innocent and new as a baby can truly be vessel of something like Kyuubi without being overridden by its bloodthirsty nature. Kyuubi is now powerless and caged and will be so as long as this child lives. This child has the same potential of any child of Konoha to grow into a good ninja."

That seemed to satisfy some of the ninja, even if it was begrudgingly.

"But whose child is he?" asked someone, although Kakashi noticed irritably it was not with the same energy as they had before when they wanted to kill the boy.

The Third made an audible sigh while looking at the child in his arms. Kakashi noticed the child has stopped crying and appeared asleep. It was almost humorous that the child could sleep while so many ninja looked angry with him.

"He is an orphan. Both his parents were killed in Kyuubi's attack. Unfortunately, we do not know who his parents were, there was little left of the remains," the Third said, but Kakashi blinked.

"Wait, that isn't true…is it?"

However, a subtle look from the Third kept Kakashi silent. Even the Fourth had secrets and apparently they were still to be kept.

"We don't know his name. We do not even know to which family or clan he belongs to, but as of now he belongs to Konoha. Because he is as much as a hero today as the Fourth," said the Third, but even as he said it he could tell the others really didn't buy it. Somehow, as invisible as it was, the spirit of Kyuubi had overshadowed everything about the boy.

Maybe, but perhaps not…

"Sarutobi-sama," said Kakashi, despite his age everyone looked at him with a certain amount of respect. His single unhidden eye looked sad as he was remembering something. "Before the Fourth went off to fight Kyuubi he told me the name he gave the boy…Naruto."

The Third smiled, a warm grandfatherly smile, but there was also something in the look of his eyes that told him that the Third knew that he knew or perhaps that the Third knew that Kakashi knew.

"Naruto," said the Third softly to the boy. He looked up back at the ninja, whose expressions had lost some of their anger. The Third's own expression had become more wise than harsh. "Then as the former Hokage I will give this boy his family name. He will be named Uzumaki Naruto."

Even Kakashi, who knew more about the truth of the situation than anyone else, looked shocked. "Sarutobi-sama, what are you doing?"

"WHAT!"

"But Sarutobi-sama! Uzumaki is the Fourth's family name!"

"The people of Konoha are all of a Hokage's children. This is especially true of the Fourth who didn't have a clan of his own or any family to leave behind," the Third spoke with a clear voice that everyone listened to.

"No family that anyone knows about," thought Kakashi, but he didn't speak it out loud. "He made a lot of enemies while he was alive. Any wife or children he had would be at risk of being used against him. That is the danger of any leader, whether it is family or village."

"This child is now the Fourth's heritage. The burden placed on this child's shoulders is the product of the Fourth's last technique. It is a burden that the Fourth cannot help him with, but this child shall be known as an Uzumaki, in honor of the Fourth. This child can bear that name proudly," said the Third.

There were a few mutters at that.

"They can live with it, but you can't expect them to be happy about it," thought Kakashi. "Of course, it is better this way than if they knew the truth!"

For now the situation was diffused. The ninja began treating their wounds and gathering the dead, but it was noticeable that every time someone found a familiar body they would angrily glace at the baby still in the Third's arms.

"Sarutobi-sama," Kakashi said softly in a whispered tone that clearly signaled he wanted the Third to hear him and no one else.

"Sorry, but you will have to get used to calling me Hokage again Kakashi. I have no doubt that the feudal lord of the Country of Fire and the Konoha advisors will vote me for me to be Hokage again rather than elect a Fifth," the Third sighed. "No matter…your sensei certainly left me a mess for me to clean up!"

"H-Hokage-sama, what about her? Surely she wouldn't give up her own child!"

"Kakashi! You will never speak of what you know about her and the Fourth! It was the Fourth's last wish that this child and his mother be accepted into Konoha, but do you know what would happen if the truth would be known to everyone? There is simply no way mother and child can live in Konoha together. Even the Fourth saw that."

"But, what will happen to her?"

"I've already seen to it. I've placed her among those I can trust. They will ensure she will remaina Konoha ninja, despite her master's actions" explained the Third, but his expression suddenly twisted into sadness…perhaps even guilt. "I had to use memory blocking jutsu on her. She must not remember her child, it is the only way she can move on. She will likely assume the memory of the events of the last month are gone due to his techniques."

"What!"

"Kakashi, do you realize what the others would do if they realized the container for Kyuubi was the son of a subordinate of one of the vilest S-rank criminals of Konoha? The people have not forgotten his actions yet, the Fourth did everything in his power to protect her from his crimes, protect her from the things she had no control over, but he won't be able to protect them both now. It would have been bad enough if she tried to raise him alone, remember that in Konoha family is important and the sins of the parents can drift down to their children. Now that he has the stigma of Kyuubi inside of him, it would be almost impossible. Perhaps as an orphan he might have hope."

"But to take away her memories? That seems cruel."

"Perhaps, but sheunderstood this too and willingly let me place the memory block on her. She has done what any parent would do and sacrifice herself to ensure a better future for her child."

"But he is also the son of…"

"The Hokage is the greatest position in Konoha. He is not only the village leader, but also the most skilled ninja of the village. It is a position where people do not see the leader's flaws if the exist. In other words in their minds the Hokage is perfect.

"Ah, the Fourth falling in love with a missing-nin sent to kill him is so troublesome, but even after her master threw her away like garbage, the Fourth showed his overwhelming compassion. I doubt there will be any like him again."

Kakashi understood without having the Third finish. The people would easily dismiss the fact that the Hokage was related to the child or rather they wouldn't believe it. All they would believe is that the child couldn't be trusted. Revealing the truth would do nothing. It would just make it worse on the child. He would have enough troubles with growing up with a seal.

The Fourth had certainly left a mess behind him, despite his short rule. Yet Kakashi was glad that the Third was cleaning it up with an amount of compassion that he doubted others would have. A ninja did not need to be compassionate.

Kakashi sighed underneath his mask. His gaze at the child was the only one lacking anger. "Uzumaki Naruto, eh? You are sure to have an interesting life."

It started to rain; first with a few drops then everything was covering from upturned soil, broken trees, and the leafs caught in the wind. The raindrops broke the tension and seemed to wash away the anger, leaving only the sorrow and weariness of a battle being over.

Kakashi suddenly realized the last precious person in his life was gone: first his father, then Obito, and then Rin. Finally the only person left that mattered was gone. He felt suddenly tired and didn't care about anything anymore.

He was thankful for the rain because of the tears in his eye and he wondered silently if underneath his forehead protector if Obito's eye was also crying for their teacher.

Author's Note: This chapter really began as an one-shot, but I felt it setup some explanation to why Naruto would have the name Uzumaki if that name was also the Fourth's. One of the biggest arguements is that if the Fourth was an Uzumaki then why doesn't any one realize Naruto is his son? Well, I tried to explain it as they were told it was in memory of him. The truth was held back to protect Naruto for a variety of reasons, one of them is the Fourth had a lot of enemies in the Ninja War and an important figure's family are always subject to harm. That's my version at least.
Version 1.2

1.0: Originally Chapter 1.

1.1: Moved to Chapter 2 to avoid confusion, it is a flashback and the rest of the story doesn't take place in the past.

1.2: Cleaned up the header. Added "Author's Note". Changed the Fourth's name from Arashi to something else. Arashi was already used in recent anime filler for a filler character. The new name is much more original and fits better, but I'll save it for when it actually is used in the story. I've also rewritten references to Naruto's mother to fit better.