Kakashi was calmly reading a mathematical text to get a better understanding of infinity when he felt someone's eyes on him. He looked over his shoulder to see Suguru. "Well it's been a bit, Geto." Kakashi hummed and snapped his book shut with nimble grace. "To what do I owe the pleasure? You've been a hard guy to catch."

Geto sighed and walked over to the windows. He opened it and then leaned forward. Kakashi was now intrigued. It had only been a few weeks since the disastrous assignment. "Why do you fight, Gojo?"

Kakashi blinked, but he wasn't surprised. He sighed and leaned his back on the nearby window. With his arms folded, one foot placed against the wall and his hand not occupied by the text sitting in his pocket, he was the picture of relaxed. "Why do I fight? I can't say because it's for any noble purpose. I'm not a knight with a naive moral code. At best I see myself as a morally gray soldier. So I suppose if you're looking for a more honorable answer I would say it is loyalty to my fellow man."

"But if you want an honest answer, it's much more selfish. I just want to protect those that are precious to me." Kakashi shrugged and looked up at the ceiling. He revelled in the warmth the dying sunlight gave him.

"You want to protect, Satoru? From what? He's the strongest being on this planet." Geto snorted.

"From himself mostly." Geto's eyes widened. "I understand that he is perfectly capable of protecting himself from outside forces. But have you ever wondered the burdens that is placed on the strong? I mean I am sure you have subconsciously felt it. I myself understand the burden all too well. Much like Satoru we were both born with high expectations. Islands with only each other." Geto felt the wind blowing his face and tussling his dark locks.

"The burden of the strongest has been placed on his shoulders, but despite that we've always had each other. He may not agree that I should burden myself with concern for him, but I do. Because he's the most precious person in the world to me." Kakashi shrugged, "so I fight to be by his side. To keep him safe from the self destructive nature that can come from being the pillar that the Jujutsu Sorcerer society placed on him."

Geto looked back at the pink and purple hues of the sky. "I see…thanks. I think I can understand that." Geto shut the window with much more reverence than he had opened it with. He stuck his hands in his pockets and walked away.

Kakashi watched him leave and when he was gone Kakashi sighed. "I wonder…if that helped any."

Kakashi opened his eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall. "I wonder why…I dreamt about that…it was so long ago…" Kakashi's sleep addled brain was slowly churning. His lone gray eye was staring at his pale fingers that had yet to even twitch at his awakened state. He sat up and rubbed at his neck. 4:30 am. Time to get to work.

Kakashi dressed in his leather jacket and was out of the hotel room at 5:30. He checked out and stepped out into the cool morning air.

"First I'll check up on Uragiri." Kakashi pulled out his cell phone. He saw the good morning text from Satoru and smiled. He responded in kind and hopped on his motorcycle. His favorite form of transportation in this day and age. It was the closest taste to freedom he would get from a vehicle. He hated the boxes that this time called cars.

More like a coffin on wheels.

He secured the helmet and sped off to where Uragiri should be on his mission.

"Gak!" Yuji went flying back. He rolled away head first and came to a pathetic stop at the wall. He groaned and flopped onto the ground with very little grace. He looked up to see Satoru spinning his phone on his finger tip. He seemed anxious and Yuji had an idea the cause of his sensei's displeasure.

"Ne Sensei! Where is Shishou?" Yuji pouted. The younger twin would usually be there to comment or be the trade in sparring partner. However, Kakashi was nowhere to be seen.

"He had an assignment." Satoru sighed.

Bingo. Yuji paled and looked away, "when will he be back?"

Satoru pouted, "Who knows."

A man with dark hair and plain features paled. The swipe of the curses claw sent him into a wall. With a thunderous crash a crater was the evidence of his body having hit it.

He crumpled to the ground. "Third grade class my-" The man was cut off as he was smacked around once more. He could hear ringing in his ear as he struggled to get his body to move. His vision was wobbly and his whole frame shook. His hands slipped in the blood he was losing. He crashed to the ground with a loud slap.

The curse ominously made its way to him. The hot breath on his back was enough to tell him that he was about to die.

Then it started.

One chirp. Then thousands. He opened his eyes to see Gojo Kakashi soaring through the air like the lightning coursing in his palm. And just like that his hand sliced through the curse like hot butter. The curse let out an agonizing scream of pain that only caused Uragiri to wince.

He watched the curse writhe in agony as it's whole being disappeared from this plane of existence.

"Maa Uragiri-San. You look pretty beat up." Uragiri felt the familiar stitching and he sat up. Kakashi straightened from his kneeling position when he saw Uragiri sitting up.

"Gojo-San. What brings you here? If you aren't on a mission then you're attached to your brother's side." Uragiri smiled at him. What was the Gojo's game? He wouldn't be here to see him. He was a second grade sorcerer that did little jobs.

"Well Satoru is busy training his new brats." Kakashi said with fondness in his tone. He tilted his head and smiled, "kids need a lot of attention and love. So I decided to take a trip. I sensed the curse and decided to see how I could help. You're lucky. I hear that turning in injury paperwork these days are a pain. But I healed up most of the damage."

"We don't have to turn in injury paperwork, Gojo-San." Uragiri said with confusion. This Gojo was definitely after something. Uragiri could feel the sweat dripping down his neck.

Kakashi hummed, "we don't? I suppose I am just remembering Konoha."

Uragiri didn't outwardly react, but he bit down on his tongue. "Pardon?"

Kakashi raised a snowy white eyebrow, "Maa Uragiri. Did you know what is a secret about the mangekyou sharingan?" Uragiri was pushed into a wall and Kakashi's boot slammed on the right side of his head. He could hear the cement crack under his boot. "I can see residual chakra from your previous life. I do recall seeing similar chakra from a root member…"

Uragiri hissed and smacked the leg away and pushed off of the ground. He ran for the nearest window, "I am no match for Cold Blooded Kakashi! Especially not in this state!" However, he never got to the window because a blue bone fingers encircled him. He gasped and squirmed against the monstrous grip.

He was turned and brought back to Kakashi. The swirl of mangekyou an ominous light in the dark. "So tell me, Uragiri. There are rumors that Curses are getting help from traitorous sorcerers. I hate to spill the blood of a fellow shinobi and now sorcerer. However, you can forgive me if I am wary of root." Kakashi smiled and the skeleton hand tightened his grip. "So…will you tell me willingly or will I have to crush it out of you?"

Uragiri let out a shout of pure pain. He began to gasp violently, "As if-! I would! Urk! I won't break! Even if it's you!" Uragiri was talking a big game, but he could tell that his pain threshold was reaching it's breaking point.

"Is that right?" That is when Uragiri made a big mistake. He looked Kakashi in the eye. He felt his world swirl violently. However, before anything could happen he vomited. It broke the genjutsu before it could truly begin.

"Interesting way of causing pain to break the jutsu." Kakashi sighed. He yanked the Uragiri's mouth open and Uragiri felt himself try to pull away, but it was too late.

"I see. So it would be a waste to interrogate you. I've only seen a curse seal like that before from one man." Kakashi spat venemously and Uragiri paled. The killing intent filled the room and it was suffocating. If Uragiri hadn't been sweating because of the curse then he was now. He was full of pure terror.

"So…that mad man is back." The icy tone was enough to cause any grown man to drop to his knees. "Any final requests before you are executed?"

Uragiri felt his shaking increase, "how…how did you know? Is it true that you can see the residual chakra?"

Then a low chuckle escaped his executioner, "of course not, but it convinced you didn't it?"

Uragiri's world went black.

Kakashi sighed at the Amaterasu engulfing the dead body of Uragiri. He pulled out his phone and tapped on Satoru's contact. "Yo….I think I have a lead."

"Is that right? Does that mean Uragiri is the mole?" Satoru's cheery voice came through the device.

Kakashi hummed and sighed, "I doubt it. Before he died he mentioned there are some more players. I am a bit worried, but I can't say that he was connected to our Curses allegiance."

There was a pause on Satoru's end, "so you are saying there is more than the curses to worry about. We have a whole traitor ring we have to root out?" Kakashi smirked at that. Unfortunately, Satoru could not see the humor from that sentence.

"Unfortunately. I'll see what I can keep digging up." Kakashi spoke.

"Whaaaaaaaaat? But Kashiiiii!" Kakashi smiled at Satoru's whine. He sighed fondly.

"I promise when I get back we can do whatever you want. Besides this isn't something we can just hand off." Kakashi reasoned. No one else knew about the spy. Not until Satoru talked to Utahime. Satoru was silent for a bit.

"Anything? You mean it."

"Anything. We can even go eat at that gelato place you've been talking about." Kakashi offered.

"Okay!" Satoru was so easy to please, but that is one reason that made him loveable, "Oh wait! I have news! Nanami agreed! Yuji is going on a field trip!" Satoru happily told him. This surprised Kakashi, but he bet that Satoru wrestled him down. His brother had a talent for getting what he wants. Especially out of Kakashi.

"Well Nanami will be good for him." Kakashi said as he walked out of the abandoned building.

"Right? Anyways! Gotta get going!"

"Talk to you later, Nissan." Kakashi smiled.

"Bye!" Satoru hung up and Kakashi looked up at the darkening sky.

"Why do you fight, Gojo?" Kakashi closed his eyes at that memory.

"If only I could have really reached you, Geto." Kakashi spoke to himself. He got on the bike and drove off with the whispers of the past trailing in his wake.

Kakashi sighed as another lead went cold. He stepped on the man's back and rolled him over. "Yet another decoy." He looked away from the dead body.

Kakashi ran a hand through his hair, "I suppose I have shaken the tree enough. Let's just hope some fruits fall."

He was about to reach his bike when his phone rang. He felt the buzz and reached into his jacket pocket. When he saw the name he raised an eyebrow, "Nanami? You're not one to call. What's up?"

"This case Yuji and I are working on…there is a special grade involved…" Kakashi's grip on his phone tightened. Satoru had said that there was a good possibility, but Nanami just confirmed it.

"Is Yuji alright?" Kakashi questioned with concern for the bubbly boy.

"I'm having him stick to the side for now, but I doubt that will be the case for long." Nanami admitted a bit sourly.

Kakashi chuckled, "The boy is tenacious, Nanami. Reminds me of Satoru."

"And yourself." Nanami inserted his perspective.

"So do you need my help?" Kakashi sat down on his bike and leaned forward.

"Deflecting." Nanami grumbled and Kakashi smirked. "Gojo…there is something I need to tell you. Before you get here."

Kakashi was silent and waiting patiently, "I had Yuji befriend a witness to the crime. See what he could find out about the other boy. The other night…the boy…his mother was killed. We found a finger of Sukuna at the scene."

Kakashi's skin felt like ice in an instant and his throat constricted. "It's the real deal?"

"Unfortunately."

"Does Yuji know this?" Kakashi quietly and reverently questioned.

"No…he would just blame himself." Nanami responded with a solemn tone.

"That may be the case, but Nanami. Hiding that from him won't make him feel any better about it. Just…think about it. Ultimately the decision is between you and Satoru." Kakashi replied. He looked at the clock. "I will be there soon." Then he hung up.

He closed his eyes and thought about how Yaga had tried to hide what happened with Geto. He thought about how the Third hid the truth about Itachi from him. He thought about how his father hid his depression from him. He thought about how he hid so much information from Naruto.

Withholding information from a kid might seem like a good option on the surface. But it only led to heartbreak eventually.

Kakashi revved the engine and sped off down the streets of Japan.

Loud sounds of fists could be heard coming from the courtyard. A fight was going on and it was turning for the worst.

Mahito opened his mouth and began his domain expansion. Black hands sprang from him as an origin point and reached out for the sorcerers.

Yuji was almost entangled in it when he felt strong warm arms pull him to safety. He was suddenly in the air and he could feel his rescuer flip perfectly and land with ease. He looked up and gaped.

"Shishou?!" Yuji says with surprise.

Kakashi looks down at the boy riddled with holes. His mind played back to when he found Naruto with a hole in his beloved jacket. Guilt stabbed at his heart from the memory and the state Yuji was in. "Looks like you've been fighting hard. Sorry I didn't get here sooner." Kakashi ruffled the teens hair gently.

"Wait! Nanamin!" Yuji jumps from Kakashi's secure grasp and bangs on the domain with his balled fists.

"Easy Yuji." Kakashi advised.

"Easy! Shishou! Nanamin-!" Kakashi blinked. There it was again. He covered his mouth and chuckled.

"Nanamin, huh? How cute." As expected Yuji's cheeks blushed.

"Is now really the time?!" Yuji huffed.

"Alright. Just hold on." Kakashi patted his shoulder. He stepped forward. "After all. To beat a domain expansion. You will need a domain expansion of your own." Kakashi took in a deep breath.

"Punch the barrier as hard as you can and I'll take care of the rest." Kakashi instructed with his calm and soothing tone.

Yuji nodded and reared his fist back.

Nanami closed his eyes and accepted his fate. He hoped that Kakashi would arrive soon. Once he was dead Yuji would need the support to take Mahito down. He was glad he had the foresight to call the Gojo.

He smiled. He was glad he had the chance to make these friends. He thought of everyone: Satoru, Kakashi, Haibara, Shoko, Yuji. And so many more.

He could die in peace.

He heard shattering glass. He turned to see a fist crashing into the domain and his eyes widened. Because the minute it did the world shifted.

He stood on crystal clear water with the night sky being filled with red moonlight.

"Domain Expansion: Tsukuyomi." A cool and familiar voice spoke.

Nanami turned to see none other than Gojo Kakashi walking over with his hands in his pockets. The red moonlight was shining off of his silver hair and brightened the red of the sharingan.

"So you're the special grade."

"Who are you? How did you nullify my Domain?!" Mahito was panicking.

Kakashi tilted his head. "I suppose introductions could be arranged." Kakashi rubbed at his neck in a bored fashion before he took that same hand and lightning came to life.

"My name is Gojo Kakashi. But don't worry about remembering it. You'll be dead soon anyways." Kakashi sprang forward. Mahito hissed and went to cut Kakashi with an extended arm, but he was thoroughly shocked when it went right through the man. The lightning cut his whole arm off and he howled with pain as he stepped back.

Kakashi looked down on the curse, "Time, space, and even physical matter. I control it all." Suddenly Susano'o came forward encompassing Kakashi. "You're finished." Susano'o struck with kamui shuriken. The blades tore at the curse practically devouring it hungrily.

After this Kakashi let out a breath of relief. The curse was lying there barely moving, but Kakashi knew he hadn't been able to finish the job. He still needed to improve his Domain Expansion. He didn't have it so he could use too many techniques with it. Especially draining techniques such as Susano'o and Kamui.

As he was about to stumble back Nanami placed a placating hand on his shoulder, "Thanks. Looks like Tsukuyomi is still not perfected."

"It worked, did it not?" Nanami raised an eyebrows

"I suppose it did, Nanamin." Kakashi smirked and Nanami's eyebrow twitched.

While this occurred the curse began to expand. Kakashi glared, what was his game? They needed to let this play out. They needed to be ready.

Then Yuji was moving, "Wait! Yuji!" But the boy had already been set into motion.

Kakashi could only watch as his fist connected and the curse quite literally popped. His sharingan blazed as he took in the movement. "Nanami!"

"On it!" As the blonde had said he moved forward and slammed his wrapped weapon onto the hard metal grate. However, the curse was gone.

Kakashi turned his attention to the falling Yuji. Kakashi cursed as his body stumbled. He threw himself forward and caught the boy before he hit the dirt.

"Nanami!" Kakashi called and the other sorcerer cursed. Nanami quickly yanked out his phone as Kakashi quickly began first aid.

"Yuji! Yuji! I need you to stay awake!" Kakashi demanded, but the boy's eyes were closing.

Nanami rushed over and saw the familiar green glow emitting from Kakashi's palms. "You've already been pushing yourself. I can tell you didn't rest after that top secret mission. You should take it easy." Nanami lectured.

"I'll be fine. I won't push myself too much, since it'll be just basic first aid. I am just stopping the bleeding so we can clean the wounds and bandage them." Kakashi was already sweating from exhaustion. Nanami had been right. Before coming here he had fought another root turned sorcerer. In an attempt to get him to talk he had used Tsukuyomi. It hadn't gone over well.

Then he just used it again in a much larger scale. He was lucky he was able to get here in his own two feet.

Nanami looked like he wanted to argue, but ultimately decided against it. "Stubborn Gojos." He grumbled and Kakashi smiled.

Once Ijichi had arrived Itadori had been placed to rest in the front. Kakashi was driving his bike right behind them. He thought in what the curse had been like. If he had been a second later would Nanami still be here.

He hopes that if he hadn't been then Yuji would have thought of something.

Kakashi sipped on his tea. He tapped his forefinger on the spine of his now closed book. "You disagree?" Nanami glanced at Kakashi.

"Yuji has a right to know." Kakashi was referring to Junpei's mother and how she had died.

Nanami and Satoru glanced at each other and Kakashi sighed, "I promise this isn't personal. Look this kid is going to see this as a sign that we don't trust him."

"Very well, but-"

"Sensei! Shishou! Oh! Nanamin is here too!" Yuji beamed as he skidded to a halt in front of them. Kakashi listened to the chatter vaguely, but then he actually looked paler at the idea of this plan curing global warming. Fortunately Yuji ate this plan right up. Or would this be unfortunately.

Kakashi sighed and then smiled at the antics. His mind involuntarily wandered. He gripped the seat's arm with frustration. This ring had a leader and if it was who he feared it was…then he had his work cut out for him.

This man was cunning.

This man was Danzo.

Kakashi snapped out of it when he saw Satoru waving his arms like an octopus and then he smiled again. Later. He would worry about this later.