Kakashi knelt as the Hokage cycled through his report, dark eyes tracing over every line before he passed the pages to his advisor, Shikaku Nara. He took his time to review the document and then nodded at Lord Fugaku. The Uchiha shifted forward in his seat.

"Do you verify that all information presented in your report are accurate according to your recollection?"

"Yes, Lord Fourth," Kakashi replied. The Hokage stood, beckoning him to stand as well. He heard Yugao and Sugaru's weapons clink as they rose behind him.

"Yugao Uzuki and Yoji Aburame, Captain Kakashi Hatake's report praised you for your decisive actions in eliminating the last of the Root conspirators and preserving invaluable information to protect our village. Because of this, I officially promote you to Team Ro under the leadership of Captain Hatake."

The two young shinobi quickly bowed and responded in unison with, "Yes, Lord Fourth. Thank you."

The Hokage dipped his head and turned to his advisor. "See that they are compensated."

Shikaku stepped from around the desk and walked toward them. "If you'd follow me..." Kakashi stayed in place as Yugao and Sugaru disappeared with him out of the Hokage's office.

Lord Fugaku didn't spare a blink. "There's something that you wish to discuss?" he asked as he grabbed a quill and ink, writing on a blank piece of paper.

"Yes, my lord," Kakashi replied, then let out a quiet exhale. "Once we'd eliminated the target, I wanted to confirm that there wasn't a bait and switch with the scrolls so I...examined the contents within."

"Oh?" The Hokage raised his eyes. "And?"

"Most of it contained faulty information about our military, doctored troops numbers, and defensive arrangements. But, there was something else hidden in ink imperceptible to the naked eye. But, partially readable with the Sharingan." Lord Fugaku's gaze was steady and Kakashi had trouble reading what his expression meant. When the Hokage offered no words, he continued. "Lord Fourth, there was information regarding Kushina Uzumaki and a fuinjutsu sealing technique that I believe is used to contain the Kyūbi. But, since it's only legible to those with..."

"You're wondering who wrote it and who the intended target was?" Lord Fugaku asked.

"Yes, my lord," Kakashi replied then after a breath, he added, "I was hoping that since your eyes are more perceptive than my own, you could tell me exactly what the scroll says."

Silence passed between them and the Hokage's expression seemed to darken. For a brief moment, Kakashi was afraid that he'd crossed a line. Lord Fugaku's stare was a piercing, black dagger aimed at his heart.

"When you arrived back in the village nine years ago cradling the body of my clansman with his Sharingan eye in your socket, some within our clan wanted you killed. However, when you stated that it was his dying wish that you take his eye, I relented and calmed the cries for retaliation. Over the years, I've watched your progress, and admittedly, you use that eye almost as if you were one of us." The Hokage put the pen to the side, his eyes locked on Kakashi's. "But never presume to claim the eye as 'your own' in my presence."

Kakashi's heart fell and so did his head as he bowed. "I apologize, Lord Fourth. I only meant to..."

There was a knock on the door and Shikaku entered a few moments afterward. Behind him, Kakashi recognized Lord Fugaku's son, Itachi as well as Shisui Uchiha. The pair were dressed in their ANBU uniforms and stepped confidently into the room.

They must have already been summoned, Kakashi surmised. Quickly, he bowed to Lord Fugaku again. "Lord Fourth, if I may be excused."

"You are," he said, his tone not absent of the indignant fire that had scorched the ANBU captain earlier. Kakashi turned quickly to exit the room. As he passed Itachi, he caught younger shinobi looking at him, his expression impossible to decipher. The sound of the Hokage's office door closing behind him seemed to echo in the hallway. He stared at the ground for a few moments, collecting his thoughts.

Good job, Kakashi. The ANBU captain stalked down the hallway towards the steps out of the building. He pulled up the hood on his cloak and put on his porcelain mask before the cold could hit him and began darting over the rooftops, high enough to avoid the gaze of most of the civilians. Why was Itachi looking at me like that? He hadn't even known how to define what "that" meant. Kakashi had been a shinobi since he was five years old and regarded as a prodigy, graduating earlier than anyone had in the village. His instincts were honed from more than ten years of relentless usage and with the inclusion of the Sharingan, amplified higher than before. But with all of that experience, he had never been unable to read someone as he had with Itachi.

He'd met the boy before, working with him after the Uchiha had been promoted to the ANBU Black Ops under his father's orders. Kakashi had suspected that Itachi's promotion also came with the job of testing his abilities since Obito's implanted Sharingan hadn't been seen in action by any of the Uchiha. Itachi's eyes seemed to stare at nothing but pierce through everything and within this paradox, his gaze could block any attempt to infer or interpret anything about him. Even though they'd gone out on missions together often staking out positions for days on end, Kakashi hadn't been able to learn who Itachi was as a person besides what his dossier was required to offer. The boy was a prodigious talent, even among his Uchiha clansmen. He'd taken down enemies that would've given Kakashi trouble at his age.

If the son is that strong, how powerful is Lord Fugaku? His strength was certainly respected enough that he could order the execution of Danzo without so much as a trial beforehand. But not enough for Lord Third to let his favorite student be killed as well. Orochimaru had been captured before Danzo and within hours, the report of the elder's death came down. The rumor was that the Third's pupil had leveraged the strength of his status as one of the Legendary Sannin in exchange for his life before he hissed his confessions, choosing self-preservation over any ties that there may have been to Danzo. Orochimaru had given enough secrets about the elder that Fugaku was able to sanction his execution with as little as his word. The report had read like a thriller novel and was the only way that Kakashi had been able to determine that Danzo's assassin had been Shisui Uchiha. It was too precise and meticulous of a description to be anything other than an eyewitness account and Shisui's penmanship was distinct, with wispy strokes that flowed over the paper.

And now the three most powerful members of Konoha's ruling family are having a private meeting. As he passed through the metal checkpoint door in the ANBU barracks, Kakashi's mind created dozens of situations, each scenario more sinister than the last.

"Hey, Kakashi!" Yugao's voice drew him back into reality. He was sitting on a bench in front of his locker, drawing his civilian attire from its depths. His purple-haired teammate had already dressed down into a black jumpsuit and stared at him eagerly. He blinked at her and the kunoichi flushed red. "Sorry, I meant, 'Captain Hatake'," she said. "Forgive me."

"Uh, it's not a problem," Kakashi answered. "I was just lost in thought."

Nodding, Yugao exhaled slowly. "I wanted to invite you out for dinner." Dumbfounded, Kakashi stared at her until the realization washed over her face. "No," she said. "Sugaru and I are grateful for your guidance on our missions. We just wanted to celebrate with you as part of our promotion to Team Ro."

Ah, Kakashi thought. "I appreciate the offer, but I already have other plans." He stood up and closed his locker. Yugao whirled around as he walked behind her.

"Maybe another time, Captain Hatake," she said.

He didn't answer.

Kakashi made one stop at the Yamanaka clan's flower shop before he set out for the Konoha Cemetery. The flowers he'd left on his previous visit had been buried beneath the snow, preserved until the frost began to melt. He hoped the new ones would last a bit longer. He purchased daffodils this time at the suggestion of the cashier. He set two bouquets down, first on Obito's grave then on Rin's. The air was chilly and dry. Kakashi wouldn't stay out here long. He said a brief prayer of thanks for his comrades' lives and then talked to the gravestones, hoping his words could reach the ears of his fallen friends. He imagined their faces hearing his updates, realizing how far the village had come. He stayed until the sun started to descend below the horizon, painting the sky a mixture of purple, orange, and red.

Now, it was time for the last part of his day.

When he knocked on the door of the house, he'd expected to wait a little longer than two seconds before it swung open and a yellow-haired rocket buried itself into his chest. Kakashi let out a small gasp for breath as he held the little boy in his arms. Naruto's bright blue eyes shined up at him, his smile infectious and genuine. It was enough to make Kakashi's lips curl underneath his mask.

"Energetic as ever, I see," he said. The savory scents of dinner wafted into his nose as he entered the house and Naruto scampered ahead of him.

"Mom! Dad! Kakashi's here!" he announced.

"Yes, and half the village knows now," Kushina teased, rubbing her son's head as she gently pushed him towards the hallway. "Please, go wash yourself up." Naruto disappeared behind the wall and his mother turned her attention to Kakashi, checking over him with maternal concern. "Are you okay? Are they paying you enough so that you can eat? You look thin."

"I've been on the move for days. There's not really any time to actually prepare a meal out in the field," he said.

Kushina narrowed her eyes and Kakashi thought that his matter-of-fact response would ignite her infamous temper. Flashes of her clubbing Obito across the back of his head when they were young entered his mind, and he readied himself to dodge. But, the punch never came. Instead, she went back to cooking and sighed. "Then, I'm glad you've decided to come to eat dinner with us. Naruto's been dying to talk to you."

Great, Kakashi thought, though his annoyance was amiable. He remembered the day that his sensei had revealed to him that Kushina was expecting a child and it was the first time he'd seen Minato so nervous. When he learned the risk of the seal containing the Kyūbi breaking and unleashing the demon, he understood why. Pregnancy was a dangerous prospect for women in general but for a jinchūriki, it was exponentially more so. He was glad he'd been able to retrieve the scroll concerning information about the seal that held the Kyūbi at bay.

Kakashi looked around. "Where's Mina–"

There was a small flash of yellow light and his former sensei instantly materialized in the room, carrying a clear container filled with green tea cookies. Kakashi also heard the slight clinking of glass in the bag he held and wondered what was inside. He placed them on the countertop and then embraced Kushina from behind. He whispered something that made his red-haired wife giggle before he turned and faced Kakashi.

"Good to see you, Kakashi," he said smiling. "Glad that you're back home safely."

"So am I, Minato-sensei." Naruto rounded the corner, water splashed on his chest. He looked annoyed until he saw everyone together and his face lit up.

"I was looking for you," he said as he walked up to his father.

"Your mother asked me to make a stop for her," he explained. "I got you something too." Minato showed the box of sweets and Naruto's eyes widened.

The boy raised his fist into the air and grinned. "Alright, a celebration of me being number one in my class!" he declared proudly.

Number one? Kakashi looked at how confident the boy was and couldn't see an ounce of apprehension in his eyes. Either he actually believed it or it'd already been confirmed to him. Had he forgotten what today was...?

"Number one in taijutsu," Kushina pointed out. "Don't forget, you have to round out the rest of your skills and that includes teamwork and positivity."

Naruto rubbed his chin, squinted his eyes, and said, "Well, I use shadow clones so teamwork with the other kids should be a piece of cake. And since I'm gonna do great at everything, of course, I'll be positive, ya know?"

"As long as you're humble too, ya know."

"So many things," Naruto said, exasperated. Kakashi shook his head and glanced over the kitchen. The food was almost done, Kushina had prepared rice, grilled fish, and green been gomaae. Noodles sat in a bowl as a replacement specifically made for Naruto and after Kakashi had washed his hands, he sat at the table next to the blonde boy. Minato said a prayer of thanks for the food and to give peace to those loved ones that had passed on. Kushina set up a small partition on the table so that Kakashi could eat freely without the discomfort of revealing his face. The top of it rested near the bridge of his nose so he could see Naruto inching toward him with a clone beneath the table. When the boy's replicant had gotten too close to him, Kakashi pretended to drop his chopstix and ducked under, covering the bottom of his face with a napkin. He flashed his Sharingan at the clone, scaring it into a puff of smoke. Kushina's eyebrows furrowed, Minato chuckled in his cup, and Naruto flinched as his mother's hand came down to pinch his ear. He pouted and ate his ramen until Kakashi gave him a wink.

The rest of the dinner proceeded in relative peace and when they were finished, Minato invited him to the balcony for a talk. Naruto had pleaded to come with them and after he'd promised to use two clones to help his mother, did his parents relent. Kakashi wondered if the boy's presence would keep Minato from speaking freely, but he knew that his sensei would figure out a way.

The blonde man returned outside with two cups, steaming in the chill of the night air. When he passed Kakashi the cup, he could smell the sake. Minato leaned over the balcony and took a sip and beckoned him to his side.

"How has the rat-catching been?" he asked.

Kakashi covered his face and took a sip of sake. It was hot, savory, and tasted of fruit at the same time. He raised his mask and sighed. "It's been...fine. I had to use a cat and spider with my dogs to chase them out today."

"Sounds exciting," Minato replied.

"On the way though, I ran into a book about a fox in a cage."

To Minato's credit, he didn't stumble. "I bet it might've been an interesting read."

"It wasn't finished. There weren't pages missing but empty spaces where there should've been words."

"Stylistic choice," Minato said.

"Fancy ink."

His sensei nodded. "Author wrote it so that only certain people could see what his true message was."

"I just don't who wrote the book. There's nothing identifying the author on the cover and the style isn't by someone I've read before." Kakashi hid his face and took another deep gulp of sake.

"Well, based on the genre, who do you think it could be?"

"The man who fans the flames and the shadow's shadow. Those authors."

"A posthumous work?"

"Maybe while the Shadows author was still living. But I've read his other books, and he wouldn't have written in this style."

"Ghostwriter, then. Someone he trusted." Minato finished his cup and turned to walk inside. "There's only one," he said as he left Kakashi.

Naruto looked up at him and scrunched his face. "Why are you using cats and spiders to catch rats?"

Kakashi shrugged. "It's what I'm given to work with."

"That doesn't make sense. If I was trying to catch a rat, as much I think they're creepy, I'd use a snake." Kakashi blinked at his words and felt a chill rush over him. He looked down at Naruto and the boy stared up at him, oblivious to what he'd just said.

"I'll take that into consideration, knucklehead."

And there's only one snake hidden within the leaves.