Chapter 3

The Blunted Tool

Three months had passed since Kakashi's capture, and life was just returning to normal in the Hidden Leaf Village when the first news of the Akatsuki becoming more active reached Tsunade's ear. Kage's from other villages were reporting that attempts to remove valuable scrolls were barely stopped, and that when the attacks were over, other items were discovered missing. Items of incredible power. The attacks were carried out with a precision that, up to now, had not been shown by the organization.

Tsunade lowered the latest report to the desk and sighed. She knew it had been too good to last. She wondered briefly if she'd made a mistake agreeing to become the Fifth Hokage, but that thought disappeared when she looked out the window and saw the life of the village.

"Shizune, I need our top three jonin in here. Now."

"Yes, Lady Tsunade."

Moments later, they arrived. Tsunade looked up and frowned. Even after all this time, she still expected to see Kakashi's face when asking for the top jonin. Instead, she was looking at Asuma, Kurenai and Guy. Each stood at attention.

"OK gang…we've received intelligence that the Akatsuki is back in action. And I need you three to find out what you can before they strike here."

They all cringed when she'd said 'Akatsuki' and she knew they were all thinking about their failed missions to locate Kakashi after his abduction. Tsunade watched them carefully for a moment before she continued.

"Gathering intel on the Akatsuki's actions is your mission. Do not be tempted to look beyond that." She paused, noting the discomfort in their faces. "We can't be sure Kakashi's even still alive…so do not let your wishes to know his fate dull your duty."

They bowed their heads in acceptance and were gone on their way. Tsunade looked out the window, unsure if she was hoping for news on Kakashi or not.

It took the three-man team a week to finally track down the Akatsuki, but now they were perched in the trees at the top of a mountain, near the hidden cave entrance where the organization appeared to be dwelling. Currently, they watched as the group lined up in that entrance to look down over the lands below.

They recognized some of the members from previous encounters, Itachi and Kisame, most notably. But this was their first view of all of them together. One after another, the members of the Akatsuki approached the edge, until all eight were visible. Each one was an S-class felon…as they'd feared.

Asuma jotted down notes on the gathering to report back to the Hokage. He was about to signal for them to leave when he noticed all eight of the Akatsuki turned toward the cave entrance, as though watching something of great importance. That was when a ninth robed man stepped forward.

Asuma glanced at his teammates. Had Orochimaru returned? They both had the same question flash in their eyes. They watched the gathering closely as the ninth man stepped into the light. He was tall and thin, with silver hair and a chiseled face that was somehow familiar. The man turned in the direction where they were hiding, and the three Konoha shinobi realized why he looked familiar…as the scarred left eye with its sharingan orb came into sight.

"Dammit!" The word hissed through Asuma's teeth as he signaled to the others for an immediate withdrawal. This twist of fate changed everything. If Kakashi Hatake was truly the ninth member of the Akatsuki, the Hidden Leaf Village was in deep trouble.

The three shinobi raced back – hopeful that they hadn't been seen by their one-time comrade.

Once Kakashi embraced the organization, the Akatsuki's plans moved swiftly forward. The information the former Konoha jonin brought to the table spanned multiple villages and artifacts. Itachi's respect for Kakashi's abilities increased yet again the first time he watched him use his Lightening Blade. At least now he knew how his little brother had picked up that skill. Of course, Kakashi's were more powerful and far more effectively used then Sasuke's were. But he was sure that would change the longer his brother practiced.

With each new task accomplished, Kakashi's place in the organization was assured. After the first month, no one in the Akatsuki questioned any information or suggestions he brought forward. Kakashi Hatake was indeed a new man…a fact which was symbolized the day he removed his trademark mask. Even with his scarred left eye, the picture he now presented was breathtaking. There was a sense of confidence in his every word and action that the others seemed to cling to.

So why was it that Itachi just couldn't bring himself to trust the man?

Perhaps it was because he'd seen the fierce loyalty to Konoha before it had been broken. Or perhaps because he alone knew the complexities of Kakashi's mind and was waiting for some unknown plan to be sprung upon them.

"You look concerned, Itachi Uchiha. What's troubling you?"

Itachi barely controlled his surprise that Kakashi had advanced on him unnoticed. He kept his voice even when he replied.

"Nothing more than has always concerned me when things go so smoothly."

Kakashi laughed. "You always have looked for storms on the calmest days."

Itachi scowled. "And it has helped us avoid serious trouble in the past."

Kakashi leaned casually against the wall with his arms folded. "True enough. So, are you that fearful that I might change sides again?"

Itachi narrowed his eyes. Kakashi was amazingly able to read his feelings like no other. His keen observation skills were beginning to wear on Itachi's nerves.

"Should I be?"

Kakashi paused before answering, meeting Itachi's eyes with a penetrating gaze. "Only if what you told me proves false."

That should have been enough to set Itachi at ease, as he hadn't used subterfuge to sway Kakashi, but somehow it set him on edge instead.

"Is it that you are eager to find a way out of our bargain, Kakashi?"

The jonin smiled easily. "I must admit that the thought crossed my mind at the beginning…but everything you promised me, and more, has since set my mind at ease." His smile disappeared. "It's a shame it hasn't done the same for you."

"I am suspicious by nature, Kakashi Hatake. I meant no offense to you."

Kakashi smiled once more, and pushed himself away from the wall. He placed one arm around Itachi's shoulder.

"None taken, Itachi Uchiha. Let's rejoin the others and see where our next adventure shall be."

Tsunade rubbed at her temples trying to push back a headache while looking at the face of Asuma Sarutobi. "Are you sure it was him?"

Asuma was noticeably having difficulty reigning in his patience. "Forgive me Mistress Hokage, but just how many silver-haired, one-eyed, sharingan wielders do you think there are?"

"I'm sorry Asuma…I'm still in shock at this twist, I guess." She steepled her fingers in front of her face and leaned her elbows on the desk. "This definitely changes things."

She sat back in her chair. Asuma came directly to her to report his team's findings, and had interrupted a meeting she'd been having with Iruka. The purpose of that administrative meeting seemed absurd in light of this latest news.

"Shizune! I need every mission report Kakashi Hatake has ever submitted…or been referenced in."

Shizune exchanged a nervous look with Iruka and gulped. "Every one?"

Tsunade glared at her aide and saw a strange, pained look on her face. "Now…if you don't mind."

The young woman's brow covered with sweat, but she bowed and headed out the door without another word to Tsunade. She could be heard calling for every available hand on staff as she headed down the hall, and Tsunade shook her head in disbelief.

"I swear, you'd think I asked her to bring Mount Fuji to me!"

Asuma chuckled. Tsunade leveled her gaze at him. "What's so funny?"

The bearded jonin smirked, causing the unlit cigarette in his mouth to dance. "You really don't get how many missions Kakashi has been involved in, do you?"

Tsunade crossed her arms impatiently, and waited for Asuma to enlighten her.

"Kakashi has been performing missions, in one way or another, since he became a genin." Asuma paused dramatically. "When he was five."

Tsunade tried to do the math in her head, but Asuma wasn't finished yet.

"Oh, and that doesn't count the ones where he just happened to show up, or the ones where he was used as a reference source. He's been involved directly or indirectly in more than seventy five percent of Konoha's total missions since he was five."

Tsunade's headache grew stronger. "Shit!" She looked at Asuma with pleading in her eyes. "And you're sure . . ."

Asuma put a hand up to stop her words. "Hokage, I'm sure it was Kakashi, and I'm sure of what we saw. He was in an honored spot. Wearing the overcoat identical to the other members of the Akatsuki. And he no longer wears his mask."

"Dammit!" She closed her eyes for a moment and saw Kakashi's masked face as it was the last time that she'd seen him in his hospital room. "I should have broken his damn legs."

She opened her eyes. "Asuma. Assemble every shinobi of all ranks in the arena. Iruka, start recalling every team we have out. We have an indeterminate amount of time to prepare for an attack by someone who knows this village better then every single inhabitant."

At that point, Shizune returned with the first stack of files. These were the most recent missions, and as the third aide followed Shizune into the room with their arms stacked with files, Tsunade felt despair creep into her awareness. If the Akatsuki was able to convert one as loyal as Kakashi Hatake, what chance did Konoha have against them?

Orochimaru sat in contemplation of the latest report on the Akatsuki. They were fully active, and readily acquiring the items on the long list of artifacts he'd helped to create. At this rate, the organization would be ready for the final stages of their design at exactly the time originally planned. It could mean only one thing…they'd replaced him with someone new.

He glanced at the porcelain ring still worn by a past body's hand as it floated within the specimen jar. The jutsu used to create the rings of binding was strong. If he hadn't removed himself from the body wearing the ring, its power would still hold him tied to that organization. He wondered who they could have found that would be accepted by the ring's power…and whether the new ring would bear the same character as the one he stared at now: transformation. But then again, perhaps the fools finally realized that there were other characters that would work just as well in their plan.

"You look concerned, Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto stepped out of the shadows and bowed.

"Kabuto. Have you brought news to lessen that concern…or increase it?"

Kabuto's expression darkened. "The news is…unexpected, my Lord."

That peaked Orochimaru's curiosity. He leaned forward. "Unexpected?"

His henchman pushed his glasses up. "As you surely guessed already, the Akatsuki has found its ninth member."

Orochimaru licked his lips. "And?"

Kabuto looked away momentarily, as though trying to decide how to say it.

"Out with it, Kabuto. I'm in no mood for games."

The white-haired youth met his eyes once more. "Lord Orochimaru, the ninth was bestowed on Kakashi Hatake."

"Kakashi? Impossible. His views are opposite of everything the Akatsuki proposes."

Kabuto rubbed at the back of his neck. "From the information gathered, it appears Kakashi has spent more than a quarter of the year in the Akatsuki's company. I have no data on what occurred during that period, but it was enough to make him pledge his allegiance to the organization. What's more, I have learned that they plan to seal him tomorrow night to the Akatsuki's intent with the ring ceremony."

Orochimaru knew his disbelief at this latest news was plain on his face. "How reliable is this source, Kabuto?"

The young man fidgeted with his glasses again. "Undeniably reliable, Lord Orochimaru."

"Send them back to obtain data on which character Kakashi is sealed with. That will tell me what steps must be taken next."

Kabuto bowed. "Yes, my Lord."

Once he was alone in the room again, he leaned back in his chair. "Kakashi Hatake. Have you changed so much in the years since our first meeting that you could be deemed a worthy replacement for me within the Akatsuki?"

He thought back to his last encounter with the masked shinobi, when the fool sealed young Sasuke's curse-mark. The man had grown in strength, true enough. But what other secrets could Kakashi hold? What had Orochimaru missed?

The full moon rose far above the grove where all nine members of the Akatsuki were gathered. Although Kakashi's deeds over the past few months more than demonstrated his intent to be a part of the group, tonight's ceremony was the final step to being seen by the others as a full member of the Akatsuki. Kakashi found that he was nervous, and that in itself made him wonder if he was making a mistake. He closed his eyes, thinking back to all that he'd accomplished throughout his life.

He'd lost countless family and friends over the many years in service to Konoha. They'd worked him harder than any other shinobi in the village since he'd first taken up his headband. True, there were times when his squad members had helped him. But there were far more when they had abandoned him to his own fate. He had Itachi to thank for that revelation. At first the words had sounded false and Kakashi had refused to see them for the facts they were. He had clung to the ideals drilled into him from birth: that his only purpose was as the tool of whoever happened to be Hokage at the time. He'd served, and survived under the rule of three out of five of the village's Hokage. And he'd finally come to the realization that he'd been a fool. No one should ever blindly follow the wants of another.

Kakashi opened his eyes and saw gathered around him the eight faces which gave him his new purpose. The members of the Akatsuki saw in him the potential to aide in the attainment of their dream…his dream now…to use their skills and the many powerful items around the lands to ensure no one ever held all the power alone again.

Three of the current members approached Kakashi from three sides of the circle – Kisame, Kogoejini, and the founder of the organization, Pein. Once they reached him, he knelt on the ground and removed his overcoat and shirt to expose his pale skin to the full moon's rays. The three moved as one, using their blood to mark Kakashi's torso, arms and neck with a series of mystical characters. Kakashi's memories turned to similar markings he'd placed on his student what felt like a lifetime ago.

He pushed the thoughts away and concentrated on those in the present. Only when the final character was drawn did Itachi step forward with a small silver box in his hand. The younger man met Kakashi's eyes steadily.

"Now you will become one of us. You will complete the Akatsuki and help lead us to a new tomorrow."

Itachi held the box up for Pein to open. The founder opened the small box reverently and lifted a pure white porcelain ring out of it. The face of the ring was unmarked. Pein held the ring, while making a series of hand signs to complete the jutsu. He then placed the blank face of the ring onto Kakashi's skin…directly over his heart.

Pein's voice echoed in the clearing. "Complete!"

Kakashi's body was engulfed in pain as the characters were absorbed into the jutsu. He trembled from the power infusing into every fiber of his being, and when he thought he might explode from the force of it all, it was over. He leaned forward, only to be caught in the strong arms of Kisame and Kogoejini.

He looked into the black and white eyes of Pein to see the founder smiling. "We weren't sure which character to imprint you with to join you with our purpose, so I searched through the scrolls we recently acquired with your aide, and found one that allowed the imprint to form from your inner being."

Pein held the porcelain ring up to Kakashi's line of sight. Where there had been a blank white surface moments before, there were now two distinct characters etched in red. The first – knowledge; the second – fate. Pein took Kakashi's right hand and placed the ring on his middle finger.

The moment the ring met his skin, it seared itself in place. He felt a surge of energy start from his center and radiate out to every point in his body making him feel dizzy. When it subsided, he took a deep, steadying breath, and slowly stood up. His shirt and overcoat were returned to him, and the group gathered in closer to welcome their ninth into the fold.

Kakashi felt it was all a dream, and he wondered what would happen if he should ever wake from it. Pushing the thought aside, he let the others lead him back to the caves and spent the night celebrating with food and sake amidst his new family.

Sakura shifted the box of scrolls in her arms as a group of genin made their way deep into the forest surrounding Konoha. She caught Naruto's attention with a sigh.

"What's wrong, Sakura? Is the box too heavy? I can carry it for you if you want."

Sakura smiled. "No Naruto. I was just thinking about Kakashi-sensei." She stopped walking and looked at Naruto with tear-filled eyes. "Naruto…we haven't lost him too, have we?"

Naruto didn't hesitate to answer. "No way! He must just have a plan to fool them all. He's sneaky like that."

Sakura smiled sadly. "Yeah. That's got to be it."

Still, Sakura had her doubts. After all, if that was the case, why was the Fifth Hokage so worked up? Plus, every jonin they passed by looked ill. If it was really a plan to fool the Akatsuki, why was the entire village preparing for the end?

"Okay kids. That's far enough. Stack the boxes up and head back for the next load." Asuma's gruff voice left nothing to question, as he stood smoking his cigarette until the last box was set down.

Naruto stood next to Sakura, scratching his head. "Why doesn't he want us to help bring the boxes to the hiding spot? It doesn't make sense."

Sakura crossed her arms. "Actually, it makes perfect sense Naruto. Or it would if you'd paid attention to any of our classes over the years. Asuma-sensei will take the boxes the rest of the way – probably by three or four different routes – first to make sure no one is watching – and second so no one else can tell the enemy what the hiding spot is. All the other jonin are doing the same thing throughout the village with the rest of the teams."

Naruto crossed his arms as well. "Seems like we should use the spots closer to the village."

Sakura started walking back, and waited for Naruto to catch up before she spoke. "We can't use any spots that Kakashi-sensei ever knew about."

"Oh." He was silent for a bit, but then he chuckled.

Sakura blinked at him. "What's so funny Naruto?"

"I was just thinking about how silly this will all seem when Kakashi-sensei shows up with all of the members of the Akatsuki tied up."

Sakura couldn't help chuckling as well, and Naruto sounded so sure of himself, she felt a spark of hope ignite in her soul.

"Oh Naruto, I hope you're right."

Naruto gave her a silly grin, a wink, and thrust his thumb up to the sky. "Believe it, Sakura!"

They continued to lug countless boxes for the rest of the day, but Sakura clung to the hope that maybe – just maybe – Naruto would be right this time.

"Jiraiya, what do you want me to say?" Tsunade was leaning forward over the desk. "You failed to see this threat any more than the rest of us."

Jiraiya paced to the window and leaned on the sill, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "We were all concentrating so hard on Sasuke and Orochimaru, and then on Naruto's Kyuubi, that we were blind to the other possible targets of the Akatsuki." He stood and looked back toward Tsunade. "But Kakashi? Why the hell would the Akatsuki even think that was a possibility?"

Tsunade sighed and waved her arm in an arc that encompassed the files strewn all over her office.

"Perhaps they figured out what I failed to. Kakashi Hatake has a font of knowledge regarding every major artifact of this village - and most of the other villages - that is second to none. In addition, he has suffered more loss than any other shinobi in the history of Konoha."

Jiraiya crossed to the desk and sat on its edge. "Don't be ridiculous, Tsunade. Kakashi has had no more loss than any other jonin."

Tsunade sighed. "The numbers say otherwise." She held up a file. "Did you know he's also been abandoned by three different sets of teammates?"

"What!?" Jiraiya grabbed the folder from her hands and looked through it.

Tsunade watched his face pale as he read over what she knew was in it. It was a detailed accounting of three different ambushes when Kakashi was a genin or a chunin where his teams left him for dead. Each time, he fought his way back to the village. And each time the others who survived were stripped of their headbands.

She knew this was part of why Kakashi stressed teamwork so much in any of the other squads he'd been placed in after that. In fact, any team Kakashi had been a part of was known for their ability to carry out complex missions without a need to talk every step through.

Tsunade knew Jiraiya was aware that Kakashi was promoted to chunin at age six, and had since become the perfect leader. And once he'd reached jonin level, whether working alone or in a squad, he'd been successful more than ninety-two percent of the time. Which in turn made him the shinobi of choice for any mission where failure was not an option. The statistics were staggering. Kakashi Hatake had more missions completed by the time he was a jonin then most shinobis completed in a lifetime. And he'd been made jonin when he was only thirteen!

Jiraiya looked up at her. "This was how they'd find a way in. If any one of them knew how hard he was worked, and what had happened to him in the past, it would give them the starting point to break his loyalty."

Tsunade sighed again. "I know. And it worked. Because he's become an integral part of the Akatsuki now."

Jiraiya nodded slowly. "That makes sense. Up to now, the Akatsuki's efforts were anything but focused. Now they are organized to an extreme, and their strikes are carried out with almost clinical precision."

Tsunade met his eyes. "So, what do we do?"

Jiraiya turned back toward the window. "You've already done what you can by relocating everything of importance. All that's left is for you to continue drilling the shinobi."

He stood up and met Tsunade's eyes once more. "We can't risk them getting a hold of the Kyuubi, so leave Naruto to me. We'll leave in the morning. A moving target in this case will serve far better than the best hiding place."

Tsunade closed her eyes. "You may be right. Thank you Jiraiya."