Chapter 3: I'm Just a Kid

Warning: (M) Contains Gore, Explicit Language, and Death.

Rating: (T-M) Not for kids. At all.

Pairings: For now? None. Kind of a Gen-fic.

A/N: Hi guys! Here's the third chapter.


[. . .]


"My dad has an STD, a stupid, tiny, dick." - Probably Kakashi.


[. . .]


Chapter 3

I'm Just a Kid


[. . .]


There were a lot of things Kakashi regretted in his life. A lot.

Keyword regretted. Obito and Rin didn't weigh on him too much anymore, and neither did the deaths of anyone else. He's learned to accept that it wasn't his job, or to his ability at times, to help those in need. It was a gruesome process to get used to after many decades, but the fruits of his struggling labor came to bear at least the barest hints of sweetness. A sweetness that he found in Team 7 and friends.

Oh, no, he still regretted a lot of things, don't get him wrong. It's a habit to remember and blame himself, but he also recognized that their deaths were their choice, not his. Still, he was nonetheless a part to blame for Obito's end. If he hadn't been so hostile, he'd have saved him and avoided so many casualties...

A lot of things could've been detoured alternatively for the best if he had been a better person. Ah, but, as his therapist of many years had always said—Inoichi, even in grave liked to remind him of how unstable he is—the circumstances are always an important part to play in someone's life. The environment, the fairness—

Everything.

It was not his fault his father died. It was not his fault his friends died. It was not his fault he couldn't save everyone.

But stabbing his new father? That was entirely his fault.

And he loved it.

Without shame, he thought it was the best thing he'd done since he started living again.

Sure, it came with the consequences of being confined within the hospital room for the foreseeable future, but as he gazed lazily up at the towering Yeti with a pouty/ interested look on his face, Kakashi was having the time of his fucking life. With that woman's healing ability and a couple of gulps of water he'd been given much to his new father's chagrin, he felt like a god.

Well, that was pushing it, but it was true. He felt good.

"He stabbed me," The Yeti accused, and Kakashi would've been fearful if not for the humorous expression on the woman's face. Oh, and if he cared. Couldn't forget that little detail.

"He stabbed you." She agreed.

"Interesting," Yeti murmured, scrutinizing him blankly. His tone was sharp, but Kakashi caught on to his glimmer of surprise and curiosity. "Nobody's able to do that. Not one. I'm the strongest, keep in mind. So this... sperm of mine..." He went quiet, and a grin began to form on his face that Kakashi didn't give a shit about, before being immediately snuffed out when Kakashi quickly flicked him the finger while Shoko wasn't looking.

The pout was back. But it was playful now. Less hostile. Kakashi admitted he was disappointed he hadn't garnered a more outraged reaction. It would've been funny. "He's mean. And weak. He couldn't have passed through it!" He chirped. It was clear. This man had a god complex.

Kakashi replied by kicking his legs back and forth on the high cot he currently sat on.

Gojo turned his head to look at Shoko, pointing at him. "Look! He's bullying me!"

"He's just sitting there."

"Menacingly!"

"Alright," She sighed, righting herself, "I've had enough of this—"

"He's laughing now!"

"—and I have things to do. Gojo, get the fuck over it. He stabbed you, so what? Are you forgetting this is your kid, or did he stab you harder than I thought?"

"That first option."

"Gojo."

"He stabbed me!" The older male complained again, but it was hardly a complaint. His lips were quirked upward, whining faked, and from the look of it, seemed to be an excuse to shake Shoko's shoulders vigorously to the point the disdain was sneering off of her. A ploy, hiding his strange elation for the situation. It didn't hide Shoko's impulsive smack to the face though. It hit nothing but his infinity, and hauntingly as the Tobi Kakashi remembered in his merciless past life, Gojo flailed around, pretending to be hit.

"Yes," She groaned, "Nobody can stab you, yadda yadda, you're the strongest, blah, blah, blah. Don't touch me." She sounded lethargic.

As soon as she said that, he stopped moving exaggeratively. He grinned. "See?" He turned to the child, "Look, I just proved you wrong."

"He didn't even say anything."

"I read his mind."

"No, you didn't."

"His face says it all!"

"What."

"Look at him, with his little baby face. Asshole."

"Are you serious?"

"He clearly wants to fight."

"Maa... Shut up, pedophile," The kid declared, humming playfully afterward at the ensuing silence. Since it seemed this man took great offense at being accused as a sexual predator, Kakashi kept note that he'd use it at any given point possible. If he so wanted, he'd use it as a method of escape. Though, they were slim, since it appeared by the look in his new father's eye that he'll be kept locked up with chains.

Despite the cheery smile on his face, the man was aggravated. It was hard to tell but Kakashi supposed his new perceptive sensory ability detected that hint of darkness. Something told him it had to do with the stab he delightfully enjoyed, which Kakashi should ponder on as to how he managed to heal himself. How ironic it was that in both worlds, he was born from the strongest at the time. Allegedly for one. And both were stabbed.

'Hey, whoever just said that, shut up?'

His little victory was cut short when there was an unexpected ringing sound that caused him to flinch. He turned right at Shoko's breast pocket, where he noticed the barest hints of vibrations through the white coat. He raised his bandaged hand to cover one of his ears, withholding a wince as the woman looked at him curiously.

"Who's calling you? Tell them to get me some mochi, I've been abused," His father helpfully quipped, putting up a finger. He wasn't even looking at him anymore.

With a calculative gaze in Kakashi's direction, Shoko quickly removed her phone from her pocket and answered with a finger slide across the screen. "What."

Kakashi looked on, confused. A box? That sounded like a person? No buttons were pushed, or maybe there were some, and he couldn't see? The screen was black, though.

"Ne, gremlin, you seem confused."

Kakashi looked at his father, faltering his expression. It wasn't lost on the older man.

Gojo was smiling still—seriously, was he high?—looking like he knew exactly what Kakashi was thinking. The child guessed he had no idea. "You can get one if you tell me all your secrets~"

Kakashi didn't want one. This man was running out of things to say. "I don't care," His petite voice said softly.

Gojo sighed dramatically. "You don't have to lie~!"

"Can you stop bullying him?" Shoko hissed, pressing her finger onto the box. His ears caught a subtle 'boop' leaving.

What the hell was that thing? It looked like one of Boruto's video games.

His eyes drooped. The reminder of Boruto stung. His suffering throughout the years caused an unnecessary sadness to resurface. He questioned how the boy was now, without him in that little world of hell. Who was there to lead now, without Naruto? And Kawaki? Where had he gone, after so long? He'd failed the mission he'd given him, after all.

He hadn't seen Gai in the afterlife... Had his friend made it out? His distinct scream wasn't lost in his last moments. Had he died slower, after him?

He'd never know.

"Kid."

Kakashi blinked out of his daze to look at the two adults standing before him. He ignored the concern evident on their faces. Well, more so the pretty lady. The Yeti seemed disturbed.

"We lost you there."

Kakashi fiddled with the gown with his fingers, ignoring the sting. "What?" He asked, clear disinterest in his voice.

Shoko looked at Gojo with a knowing, exasperated look. The man feigned offense. She sighed. "I'm needed somewhere else," She announced, pointedly looking at Kakashi. "Don't escape, or we're chaining you in here. Got it? Since I don't trust this dickhead to take care of you—"

"Says the potty-mouth."

"—You're going to eat this," She took out a box of cookies, which Gojo gasped at, "In... about three hours." She dropped her wrist, ignoring Gojo's "who still uses watches?" comment.

Kakashi took the box and examined it.

There was a scoff on his side. "Give me the cookies, this fetus won't understand. He's three."

"Four," Kakashi corrected. There was an incoherent mumble from the Yeti.

Shoko looked further irritated. "If this brat can escape a high-security room without ringing the alarms I specifically set in place for emergencies, then he's smart enough to understand when to eat the cookies."

Kakashi opened the box, tempted to eat one just to shit on them. Only two official days since he was fully back, and already his favorite pass time was annoying people. Maybe Naruto was right when he said he'd taken out the stick up his ass to riddle it into other people just for shits and giggles.

He needed his old hobby back. With his book, he'd have a field day with everyone's new reactions.

Was it sad that this was the only thing he was looking forward to?

"So true bestie."

"Was that a new lingo you learned? Can you kill yourself?"

Kakashi glanced away from the box to look at the woman. "Are you asking me?" He asked her, both serious and joking.

Gojo opened his mouth—

"No," She snapped, glaring at the grown man. She regarded Kakashi warily. "And don't joke like that. I don't even think you know the context."

Kakashi shrugged.

"Boring," Gojo said. "Didn't you say this kid was smart?"

Shoko leveled him with a tired glare. "And you. Don't eat the cookies, stay here, and keep watch. This kid is a curse magnet, and his weakness is only making it worse." She ignored his jab.

Kakashi perked up. Curse?

"Yeah yeah," Gojo waved off, leaning onto the wall, "I get it. No eating cookies, no leaving, yadda, yadda, yadda, the gremlin is weak, and curse stuff." He huffed.

"I'm serious," Shoko grumbled but knew it was useless telling him anything. He'd never listened to her, and he wouldn't start now. He wasn't heartless though, so at the very least she knew he'd stay.

"Same," Came Gojo's lame reply.

"This isn't Imessage."

The boy had no idea of this dynamic, and no idea what the fuck a curse was. "What's a curse?" He asked, monotone. He figured asking wouldn't be much of a hassle. It seemed this place had tricks. Powers, he supposed, if her healing was anything to gawk at. His eyes hurt if he focused on them. Normally questions wouldn't be blurting from his mouth, but because he had little to no care about his well-being let alone dignity, asking was easier than monitoring around aimlessly.

"A big bad monster that'll eat you if you don't worship me and beg for my forgiveness," Gojo replied sternly.

Kakashi looked at Shoko.

She was busy typing away on her phone now. From her posture, he guessed she was listening but ignoring them entirely.

He darted back to his new father, slightly exasperated. "I hope it eats me."

The Yeti poked the boy's cheek. "So careless, baby-chan. And so, so mean."

"You called me a fetus."

"And?"

"And shut up."

"You shut up."

"No, you."

"Kid, I'm your dad. Respect your elders." He reached forward and pinched Kakashi's face, having the balls to coo.

Kakashi looked murderous. "I don't even know you. Pedophile." His hand dropped immediately.

"Gojo," Shoko interrupted, and both male participants turned toward her, equally attentive. She took a moment to drink in their familiarity before resuming her sudden declaration. "If this kid is fine after tomorrow, you're taking him in."

An inquisitive look formed on the adult's features, and Kakashi sighed. "If you don't want me, I can leave," He spoke casually. "Mommy had parents, maybe."

The atmosphere became docile.

Shoko looked awkward, and Gojo even more-so reluctant. But that was only because he thought the boy didn't know of his mother's passing.

"No can do," He told him, grounding him with a begrudging gaze. Or, what seemed like it. The top half of his face was covered. "Curses are going to eat you, and because you're, unfortunately—scratch that, fortunately, because I'm so great—related to me," He moved his hand flamboyantly, sighing dejectedly that wasn't sad at all, "There are a lot of people who'd kill to have you."

Kakashi rose an eyebrow. "What if I want them to get me?" He challenged, just because he could.

Gojo shot him a dry look. "With your ability to pierce through my infinity? You've got some jokes, kid," He said. "Don't be stupid. You don't even understand why your existence is such a problem."

The words of a man who didn't want him. Wow, great. Kakashi was dealing with a negligent father now. At least the first one was doing it out of duty. This one seemed to do it by choice.

Kakashi set the box aside, feeling sick. Not from what he said, but because the sweet smell was concentrated without his mask. "Maa... I hate sweets," He changed the subject, wrinkling his nose. He was done talking, it was boring.

Shoko walked out of the room before the man-baby recited the declaration of independence about sugar.


[. . .]


"You know," Gojo began casually, breaking the silence that longed for hours after Shoko had left him with the kid, "I don't even know your name."

The little brat, who's sitting upright and playing with the bottle of alcohol Shoko left out, stopped to look at him. His eyes were just as hauntingly piercing as his own, and yet, they held none of that obnoxious glimmer he's known for. Creepily, they looked almost... dead. Lifeless, bored. That and dry, like the little thing was mocking a stupidity.

They also looked cute, but he didn't care about that because it was obvious that was all his genes. This kid stole his look.

When the boy didn't reply, he smiled. "Maybe I should name you," He suggested.

The brat continued to hit the side of the bottle lightly with a toothpick far too big for his little hands.

"How about it, huh?" He crossed his arms, tilting his head in mocking thought. "Can't keep calling you midget in my head. It gets boring! Though, the name does suit you."

The boy blinked slowly at him.

Gojo is impatient as he is patient. Placing a lingering hand on his chin, he hummed. "How about..." He paused for dramatic effect, which later bubbled irritants within him upon seeing the little boy so disinterested in his majestic acting, "Little shit?" He offered, keeping his smile as innocent as he could. Staying annoying around this kid was backfiring him, and he wondered if it had something to do with genes. Nah, Gojo humored himself, my old man was boring as shit. Then again... Damn, everyone's annoying.

The boy stilled for a moment. The tenseness caused Gojo to snap himself out of his reverie, and gleam mirthlessly at the young lad. He stopped hitting that stupid bottle, looked toward him, and reacted. It was barely a face; a simple downturn of his brows and cheeks, but it was there.

Feeling a bit victorious at the furrow of his brows, Gojo's smile only widened. "It fits, ne? You're little, and you're a shit!"

Suddenly, the boy's eyes got very wide, and he sniffled.

For a moment, Gojo froze, thinking that he somehow made the kid cry. (It's not because he cared, it's because if the kid cried, he'd never shut up. Babies never shut up, he'd know!) However, his smile slipped off his face to become a blankness when the stupid gnome pushed the bottle hard enough to fall and break.

Now there was a toddler sitting on the table, a smashed bottle of alcohol, and a suspiciously calm man-child. Two, to be honest. Except one is child-man, and the other man-child.

Two opposites of the same shit-stain wormhole.

"Now that wasn't very nice," Gojo chastised lightly, waving his finger. "What will Shoko say when she comes in?"

The kid gave a reasonable pat on the table in a baby way as a reply.

The man-child moped. "You're awfully silent, little shit. What happened to all that bark, earlier?"

The boy wrinkled his nose for another sniff. Gojo didn't know that the chemicals in the room were bothering him. Or, well, he did, but he didn't really care. The kid would live just fine. "Mommy said not to speak to strangers," The boy said, clearly lying because he was speaking just fine a few hours ago.

"Mommy is dead now, so that rule is out of the question," Gojo carelessly replied. He hid a wince when he caught sight of the slight droop of the boy's eyes. Shoot, maybe that was a bit harsh on his part. But hey, this kid is getting on his nerves with this whole silent treatment.

Still, the kid didn't cry. Well, obviously, he's your kid, he ain't weak, His rare inner conscious answered for him in an abrupt wave of empathy. Oh, so that bastard was still alive? Damn.

He passed through your infinity, It spoke again, Why would he cry over some random lady that was supposedly his mom?

"What was your mother's name?" He asked, just because he could shut that guilt-ridden voice in his head. He knew who it was. But... Well, he was still in denial. Maybe a name could revive his memory; he'd remember who he fucked, right?

The boy shrugged. "Dunno," He said, honest.

"Really? Never mentioned her name or anything?" Gojo droned.

The kid banged the toothpick against the table, yet again as another baby-like response. "Mommy was too busy trying to run away to say names," He said, and Gojo saw the truth.

The male yeti crossed his arms. "Running away?" He questioned, partly understanding. It would explain the calls she'd ignored from him a couple of years back. Shoko brought up some pretty annoying points, Gojo groaned to himself.

The boy looked suspiciously calm. Too calm. "Mommy was a criminal," He said simply and to the point. He moved to settle himself more comfortably on the marble, and Gojo had to hold in a laugh from the boy's baby body. Seriously, how was this kid so damn tiny?

Focus, asshole.

'Shut up, subconscious.' He rose a playful brow. "Eh? Criminal? What, did she steal?"

"Yes."

"Really? That's nice," No it wasn't, "Anything else? What about Barney? Bad guys, politicians, inhumane grotesque creatures—?"

"Bad men liked me. But I killed them."

Gojo blanked.

The kid blinked like a lizard.

Shoko came into the room.

The silence became stifling.

"Now," She began, staring blandly at the floor with unresolved tipping frustration, "Why the hell is there a broken bottle on my floor?"

The boy immediately pointed at Gojo. "He tried to hit me with it."

Touche, boy.


[. . .]


After being dismissed into a room full of bags of clothes, time passed relatively quickly. The morning was quickly approaching, and the trauma of that apparent curse spirit was beginning to go away. No, he lied. That shit was terrifying. He also didn't like the tight, enclosed space of the brown room. It reminded him too much of caves.

Which was why he was now outside the building by the entrance with an irritated Shoko. Apparently, there was a change of plans now that some other person was available, and the woman didn't want him to linger inside the room anymore. Which was fair, because after breaking the bottle, he broke several jars afterward every time she left the room. All to blame Gojo, of course.

"You need the sugar intake," Shoko said to Kakashi, her eyebags further sunken than before. Likely from the lengths she took to obscure everyone from his existence. "Because you have that bastard as a father," She thumbed toward Gojo's direction, who, currently spoke with an equally as irritated blonde man that held onto another child older than him from across the yard. "You're assumably... Nevermind. I'm too tired to explain. Just eat sugar," She finished lamely with a sip of her coffee.

Kakashi scratched his arm laced in cloth. Particularly, he was dressed in small blue sweatpants and a large black t-shirt he'd found inside the bags—lost in found. It did nothing for the cold that seeped through his bare feet, or the frigidness that rose goosebumps on his arms. At least he had a mask now.

"You're coming for a thorough check-up in a week," She continued, rubbing her eyes. "I need some official papers before I get to do anything to you. Such as a birth certificate, medical report... All else that's a pain in the ass."

Kakashi nodded. "I never went to the doctors," He said, "You can include that in my medical report. I've also mostly eaten junk food, which would explain my height."

"Your advanced language is creepy," Shoko deadpanned. "Nonetheless, I'll keep what you said in mind. Anything else?" Her coffee sunk lower after another helpful gulp.

"My name is Hatake Kakashi," He supplied truthfully. "I love dogs, Icha-Icha, and I was born September 15th."

"Hatake? Never heard of that," She admitted, then made a face. "And Scarecrow? Just what the hell was Mami thinking naming you that?"

The boy shrugged. "It's a nice name," He mumbled. He didn't overlook her absence of intrigue over Icha-Icha. It meant it existed here.

Shoko snorted. "Sure." She paused. Then, "I'd ask if you've had any education, but that'd be a stupid question."

"Clearly," He agreed.

She scowled. "Don't get cheeky. I've only just started to tolerate you, don't become another Satoru."

He tilted his head. "That's his name?" He asked, reaching under his mask to scratch at his chin. "So, I was right. He has a god complex." The assessment was simple. Because Kakashi had nothing better to do other than blatantly humiliate his new father, he decided that studying him in the most thorough of fashions was all he could do for the time being. From the peek of the white eyelashes under the bandages to his lanky stance, Kakashi conducted absolute detective work.

The man was arrogant, careless, and calculative. He seemed to have a psychotic tendency—one Kakashi could tell based on how immediate his reactions changed, and his insistence to have the attention without any responsive care in return—and there was also undermined apathy. Which was also an inclusion with the psychotic part.

The man was smart, but he didn't care. He left a lot of the jobs to the people, and only worked to help if there was a desperate need, or if he would win something, hence the promised mochi-mochi he'd get if Kakashi was taken under his custody. Reluctant custody and a feared one, assuming that the knowing disappointed look Shoko shot his way was a warning.

So, in general? This man fucking sucked, and Kakashi was in for a fucking pounding. He only hoped things wouldn't be too difficult on him. This Yeti was lucky he was already a baby man. Man-baby? Whatever.

(He hadn't included his new father's name, but the primary meaning for one of them was 'to attain higher perception'. Which is just a fancy way of stating 'God-sight'.)

"Not going to ask how you know what any of that means, nor do I care," Shoko answered him with a careless air, stopping his inner monologue analysis. "Just make sure your twat of a father takes you to your checkup at ten o'clock sharp," She provided sternly in a slothful manner.

His hopes that things would be easy were diminishing by the second. "Okay," He said and watched her leave.

With that, Kakashi took the chance to look about the location. He couldn't move from where he stood for obvious reasons, so touring around to sight-see was all he was able to do now.

It wasn't much to look at with his experience, just a big building with trees and all else. Boring, in his opinion. Oh, and there were a few more buildings, but they were likely boring too. They were black, as well. Looked a lot more like some funeral place than a hospital.

These buildings were beautiful, though. His desperation and depression were just catching up with him, was all. Which wasn't good.

Being suicidal wasn't good either, but he'd lived with that for decades, so he knew how to suppress the urge to throw himself out of any high-topped window. As much as he wanted to see his loved ones again, he couldn't. Giving up was shameful, and because he didn't want to become like his father in the sense of taking a blade for his own life, he decided conducting dangerous missions was the way to go. (Plus, how would he be sure he'd land in the Pure Lands of his reality, and not in this one?)

He supposed that some of that 'not being like his father' talk stuck to him. He'd go while helping people, leaving none behind.

And that's how he ended up here. It was no heroism, no rightful justice, nor an achievement to become something great again.

It was simply him giving his life up because he couldn't carry on anymore. He'd been old. Frail.

There was nothing left for him there. Thousands of people were falling into death's embrace by the second.

Perhaps, he realized, this was why he felt so numb.

He'd failed, committed accidental suicide, and was reborn again to live another life.

Maybe this was his punishment for giving up.

He deserved it, anyhow.

"You look much like him." A voice remarked.

Kakashi turned his vacant eyes toward the voice, latching onto goggles and blonde hair once completely turned around. He was tall, probably a few inches shorter than the Yeti, and the ambiance around him was placating. "It's almost terrifying," The man continued, voice deep and rich with authority. Unknown to Kakashi, the male was quite astonished by his eyes. The blue Galaxial resemblance.

Based on the suit and tie, the man appeared responsible. Maybe not all hope is lost. "Maa... He stole my look," He replied, indifferent as always.

"I was here first," Gojo's friendly tone declared, and Kakashi took notice of the brief twitch of the new man's eyebrow. Interesting...

Silent, he stopped himself from replying with another jab when he noted the scowling boy with dark hair following after the white-haired asshole. He had a distinct similarity to Sasuke, topped in with a signature, irritated, frown. He was looking at his new father much like Sasuke used to look at him whenever he'd given them shit D-rank missions.

Something shriveled up inside him and he looked away immediately.

"Alright, guys, meet Little Shit," Gojo introduced, stepping beside Kakashi who gave him the stink-eye.

The blonde-haired man scowled. "Please use appropriate language. There are children present."

"Megumi, yeah. But this thing? A demon-spawn, more like."

"Wouldn't that make you the devil?" Kakashi asked innocently, looking at him with big, round eyes.

"Anyway~" Gojo smiled at Megumi, "This is Megumi-kun. And this here is Nanamin! He's a pervert."

"Kento Nanami," The blonde greeted with a nod, ignoring Gojo's outright lack of respect, "And you are?"

"I just said his name was Little Shit. You never listen to me!"

"Kakashi," He answered politely. "It's nice to meet you." He pointedly ignored Megumi's presence.

("Oh so now you want to say your name?" Gojo complained.

Megumi was confused.)

Nanami looked impressed. "How old are you?" He asked, darting a quick glance toward Gojo to make sure the snowman wasn't trying to prank him during meetings again. Kami help his blood pressure if he dared do such a thing again.

Kakashi held up a hand with four fingers. "Four," He answered.

Nanami nodded. "You speak very well for a toddler," He admitted, glancing at Gojo warily. "He hasn't fed anything to you yet, has he?"

There was a scoff when Kakashi answered, "No. I'm not stupid enough to get poisoned."

"Like I'd feed this rat."

Nanami glared at him.

Gojo put up his hands. "I mean, nope! Haven't fed the wittle-baby."

Kakashi immediately feigned hurt. "He's been very mean to me, sir." He spoke up, ignoring the skeptical fringe of Megumi.

"I'd imagine," Nanami grumbled, clutching his head with slight vexation. "I can't believe this," He turned to regard Gojo, disappointed. The male stood with an easy smile. "Out of all things, Satoru, it was this. This was the emergency Shoko-san asked of? Do you realize the hindrance this will put on my job?"

Gojo's smile became pinched. "Trust me, I don't want to deal with this any less than you want to. I didn't even know he existed," He informed candidly, which earned him a glower.

"Should've been expected," Nanami mumbled to himself, shaking his head. "This child is cursed," Nanami said, scrutinizing him.

"Rude," Kakashi said, just to fuel the drama. "I didn't ask to be born."

"Me neither," Gojo consented with a sigh.

"You're ridiculous," Nanami told the adult, and Gojo shrugged. "The Clans will not let this slide. This child will be forced into their affiliations if any record of him becomes public knowledge."

"Pfft," Gojo tsked, "Who cares? They wouldn't dare. I'm the strongest, remember?"

"This is serious, Satoru," The man hissed, pushing at his goggles. "You have doomed this child. You've bluntly put a target on his back—"

"Relax, I've got this all under control—"

"Did he kidnap you too?" Megumi asked amongst the turmoil of the older men, voice hushed. He clung to Gojo's attire despite it, standing with an awkward shuffle and an intention of reassurance. It was apparent this child didn't want to be here.

Kakashi eyed him, avoiding his face. "Yeah," He answered, sardonic. "I'm forced to be here."

Megumi loured. "Did he promise you to make you a jujutsu sorcerer?" He asked, determination loud in his words.

The white-haired toddler took a moment to listen in on the arguing of the older men before answering him. "No," Kakashi flatly said, "It's because I stabbed him."

Respect, Kakashi thought as the boy slowly sided with him, was easily attainable with children.


[. . .]


A/N: Again, let me know if the characters are OOC. I'm losing my marbles, here.

Toodles~

Ana.