"Can you confim this man is Uchiha Obito?" Jiraya-Sama asked.

They were standing in front of the memorial stone. Her uncovered eye followed the etching of his name on the stone. She did not understand. Had this been a lie? If he had been alive all this time, why didn't he come back? Rin had said there was nothing she could have done to save their teammate. Yet, there was this man wearing a face that could be his, his right side covered with healed scars.

"I'm not entirely sure. The resemblance is uncanny" She said. "But I don't see why someone would choose this face…"

"There are several possibilities. If it is not the body of Uchiha Obito, it can be someone trying to hide their face with the one of another. If it is his real body, and that he is indeed inhabited by something else… It could be to use his remaining Sharingan. Dôjutsu transplants usually don't end as well as yours."

The eye that wasn't hers watered under her mask. She did not like where this story was going.

"Itachi-Kun said he mastered the Uchiha clan Taijutsu and Ninjutsu style. And this man apparently meddled with Konoha on different occasions: the Kyuubi's attack and the Uchiha Massacre. He might come back for more, but we don't know his motivations."

"So, your idea is to know if Obito is what…? Inside him?"

"Itachi-Kun noticed he seemed to have several personalities. If he can be rehabilitated, or at least taken into custody…"

A silence passed and Kakashi thought about Orochimaru who had been Jiraya's teammate and friends all these years ago. He too had done terrible things. Anko and Tenzo, as well as many others were still suffering from him. What about all the people this man (Obito?) has killed? Many innocent lives were lost… But many could be saved if they had the right intel."

"Can I ask why we need him into custody? What are the whereabouts of this man? What do we know of him? All I know is that he has a Sharingan, that he trained Itachi-San and that I am needed somehow."

"Itachi-Kun said you mentioned the uniform the man was wearing. Have you heard of Akatsuki?" She shook her head and he continued. "Akatsuki is the organization Orochimaru joined for a few years. I don't know their goals, but they recruited Itachi-Kun, as well as several other criminals."

"An association of highly dangerous criminals?" Kakashi is reminded of Itachi-San's painted nails and the silver ring on one of his fingers. "It seems unlikely they sticked together if they didn't have something that linked them."

"Itachi-Kun thinks there is something else too. For now, they have been mostly tasked with hunting bounties. He said they were paired up, and that his partner was likely chosen to keep tabs on him. He thinks they don't believe them enough, probably because he still has strong ties with Konoha. Speaking of which, how are your little rascals doing?"

Kakashi glowered. Her hand had been forced, and the three kids on team seven were amongst the nine who had passed this year. Konoha only wanted quality Genins to be under a qualified instructor. But the Academy Instructors already knew who was most likely to pass when they made the teams. Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke had been put in the same team because of their skills, and the number of other clan kids in this promotion. Whoever they put on their team, and whatever instructor they chose for them, they would be promoted.

There was no logical reason they chose her. After years of this charade where she would show-up as a Jounin and fail a team, they decided to partner them all. She may have a Sharingan, they could have waited for Sasuke to require a apprenticeship and give him to her. Naruto was Jiraya's godson, and the man's hand would be forced too, so he would be taught. Sakura was expendable, being the child of two chuunin who had not had much of a brilliant carrier. She was smart, maybe she'd find her place on her own.

But they gave these three kids to her and reformed team seven. That made no sense. Unless... There was an idea growing in Kakashi's head. It was just a whisper, but it went round and round.

"The rascals are doing fine, considering I was appointed as their teacher." She said evasively. She was not foolish enough to give a spy master a hold on her half-baked ideas.

"I'm sure you will do great by them." Jiraya-Sama replied in the same light tone. "How's the training going?"

"Oh, you know, I show up late and I give them D ranks missions most of the time. At one point, maybe the higher ups will see that I am wasting their time and reallocate all of us where we belong."

She was an ANBU captain. They needed them for the dangerous missions! Not for some… babysitting. Once their time are wasted enough, they'll stop trying to have her taking care of these children. She didn't want to care. Caring only lead to suffering. They would all die on the field or come home broken. She was already damaged enough. There was no need to have her taint the future of Konoha. It was better in the hands of idealists like Iruka.

Didn't he ask her on a date or something? She could not remember. She had decided not to care.

"You're failing this assignment on purpose." Jiraya-Sama sighed. "But you can't this time."

"And why not?" She raised a brow.

"Because whoever this man looking like Obito Uchiha really is, you're our edge against him. Or rather, your little rascals and you are. And I'm quite sure he's posted near Kiri these days."

"You think he'll want Sasuke because he trained Itachi-San, and Naruto because of the Kyuubi?"

"This is the idea I had. But I had to convince Itachi-Kun to give a bit of leeway regarding his baby brother. He's the one who came up with the idea that this guy could be Obito, and that you could help."

Kakashi laughed derisively. What was she then? Her team was just a giant bet in front of a guy they knew close to nothing. The only thing they had was a hunch.

"I'd like to see you try. I will keep burying these kids under D rank missions. See how much leeway Konoha is going to give us."

Jiraya smiled mysteriously. Kakashi hated it. Seriously! They just had to give her an ANBU team and they would have an easier time catching this guy! But no, she had to deal with three kids and train them. She had to go to appointments with Inoichi, because someone spread the word the was not right in the head. She had to see Gai, and Tenzo, and Asuma and Kurenai, and all the others regularly. She had written her White Letters over and over again, and each time there was someone new she had to say goodbye too.

So, when Naruto threw a tantrum right before the Hokage for a C-Rank mission, and the man accepted! She should not have been surprised. Jiraya knew how to maneuver his old master. Maybe he was manipulating her as well. Everything for a chance to… what? Capture a guy who could be Uchiha Obito?

She grabbed her things in her house. This was the last thing she had from her father, and what was left of the Hatake Clan in Konoha. She had relatives at the Capital, but nobody lived there for a while. Sometimes Tenzo came to sleep. She noted that he hung out more now that she had returned to a "normal" life. They talked far more now that Inoichi made her speak of all her issues. She didn't know what to think of their relationship now. He was just… there. She didn't know if she liked it, but he had this longing stare that followed her last time he was there. He didn't like the fact that Iruka came for a coffee or two.

She shoved her thoughts back in her head to take care of her kids. Sasuke and Sakura needed minor adjustments in their packs… Naruto on the other hand, had tried to pack his entire house. She felt like a mom telling him what to take or not. Calmly, at each of his "why", she answered. The lack of culture of this boy was abysmal… And his hygiene standards were close to none. This bothered her greatly, and she filed a D-Rank mission to get his apartment clean.

"This is so cool when you're taking time with me, Kakashi-Sensei!" Naruto announced with embarrass, fingers scratching the back of his head.

Something tugs at her heart. Why did she had to care so much?

The first thing she noted about their client, is that he reeked alcohol. She was thankful that the mask hid her disgusted twitch. The fake smile she had practiced for infiltrations felt easy on her lips. The drunkard's eyes looked her up and down, before they came to criticize her kids.

"You're the guys I hired? A babysitter and three kids?"

"That would be us, yes!" Kakashi interrupted chirpily, preventing Naruto from saying anything stupid.

"I am Tazuna, the super bridge builder. I have a construction to finish in Wave country and you're accompanying me there. I'll need protection until I finish the contract."

Kakashi's smile almost faltered. Wave Country? But Kiri was close enough, wasn't it? Besides, there was a lot of criminal activity there, perfect to sell bounties… The kind of places their target was likely to visit. Even more likely if they were causing some ruckus there.

"Kakashi-Sensei? Why did Konoha receive Tazuna-Sans's request? Don't they have ninjas in Wave Country?" Sakura asked on the way.

So, Kakashi improvised a course on the current geopolitics. In the Academy, the students received an education on the history of the Fire Country, but they were not given many details about the other countries. It was something that dated from the previous wars: it was easier to spread false information about another country if you didn't know much to begin with. Ninjas were tools who took missions for the sake of the nobles and other clients in their countries and allied countries.

She must have been a better orator than she expected because her charges were listening to her every words. Kakashi found it cute somehow. She felt a pang of regret in her chest. She didn't want to care about them. And after all, weren't they just bait for some man wearing her dead's best friend face?

It was at that moment that the two ninjas shadowing them finally sprung their trap. She let everything follow as expected. Either one of her kids was their target, and Jiraya had been wrong about this whole story. Or the target was herself: rumors had circulated about her gender for years, and there was practically no official mission without a challenge from a man who thought she did not get there with her strength alone. Or the target could be their client: he was the one requesting protection from Konoha, but his C-Rank pay could not cover the expenses coming from a B-Rank mission.

They were two ninjas working in sync, a metal gauntlet linked by a saw chain. Ignoring my urges to escape their hold, I let it curl around my body and let it bite in my clothes. The moment they tugged harder, I replaced myself by a log layered by a Genjutsu. Various exclamations followed my gory illusion, and they plunged on Naruto next. Way before his teammates, Sasuke jumped and pinned the chain to the tree to a well-aimed shuriken and secured the hold with a kunai. Then he landed on their metal gauntlets.

Kakashi looked at the other kids. Sakura immediately assumed a protection stance before their client. Smart kid. She had made her priorities. However, her frail body would not stand against an attack. These guys were probably Chuunin. Kakashi noticed that the eyes of the girl were wide, and despite her fears, she had noticed the disappearance of her body.

The Chuunin freed themselves and circled around Naruto. His stance was so bad and he looked so out of it… Claws sunk in the boy's hand. Kakashi felt a pang of guilt. She had let these inexperienced kids on the field for her personal reasons. She squashed the feeling. They would make it. Their inexperience with her mistake would get her out of this assigned (bait) team.

Before any of the enemies could connect, she moved and neutralized them.

"I apologize for not intervening before you got injured Naruto. I wanted to see two things. One, I wanted to see how you three faired in the face of danger, with only D-Rank missions under your belt. I am pleasantly surprised. We will debrief this later. As for the other… Tazuna-San was targeted by these two Kiri Chuunin. Even without the political repercussions his missions can have on our village, this attack was not a coincidence. C-Rank missions only concerns minor menaces such as thieves and bandits. This means that you probably lied during briefing to reduce the price."

Sakura also underlined the need of anesthetics and medical supplies to treat Naruto's wound. Kakashi did not mention she had all the necessary materials with her (in Rin's gift, always renewed). She would rather not have to go near Kiri and play right into Jiraya's hand.

And she did not want to chance a meeting with that guy who wore Obito's face.

She looked at the two guys she had neutralized. She would have to ask about them too. Flipping through the latest issue of the Bingo Book, she was at least reassured by one thing: the demon brother's were amongst Kiri deserters. Since the village suffered from political disturbances, many of their loyal ninjas had decided to start a solo carrier.

And then Naruto did the stupid thing of taking advantage of his Uzumaki blood (or Kyuubi's abilities) for recovery and made a stupid promise of getting better, of not needing anyone to save him, of not being paralyzed. The determination in his blue eyes made Kakashi flinch. She was seeing ghosts beside him. She was the reason he failed.

'Minato-Sensei, Kushina-Nee, I'm sorry I failed your son…'

As she bandaged the kid's hand, Kakashi knew how Jiraya, and Iruka, knew they could play her. She still had a heart, and it beat in her chest at the most incongruous moments…

She knew their fate would forever be entwined the moment Naruto detected a movement in the bushes near them. Kakashi was almost blinded by his throw, missing where their observer had left. No smell residing on the animal helped her locate them either. On the other hand, she was now sure they were now under a way bigger threat than two Chuunin. And that was very daunting with a Genin team who could not deal with minor threats alone.

"Get down!" she yelled. A giant sword soared through the air and embedded itself on a nearby trunk.

It had to be one of the Seven Swordsmen. With an ANBU team, or alone, she could have engaged him right the second he landed, but the kids were counting on her.

"You three regroup and protect the client. I'll have to use more dire means against this opponent." She said, not letting her doubts transpire through her voice.

"Oh? Isn't that Sharingan no Kakashi? They send you on escort missions with kids these days?" The enemy taunted. "Give me the old man, I don't have time to fight you."

She nodded at him, recognizing her title. Sasuke flinched, but she said nothing. Instead, she looked at the man, ready to engage a little conversation. Either he was trying to buy time, or he really didn't want to fight her. Their adversary was a shirtless tall man, with camouflage loose pants and armbands. He too wore a Kiri headband. His irises were very pale, almost a transparent blue. This feature and pointy teeth confirmed he was from Water country.

"You're planning on using your Sharingan against me? I'm even more flattered than seeing you in person. You're prettier than that old teenager photo they keep in Bingo Books."

"Ne ne! What's Sharingan?" Naruto exclaimed, immediately prompting an explanation from Sasuke.

"The Sharingan is a Dôjutsu, a special eye that can analyze any attack, whether it's Taijutsu, Ninjutsu or Genjutsu and counter it." The other boy explained.

"Not only that. She can use this eye to copy these techniques. Back when I was in Kiri's special ops, I read that you learned more than 1 000 techniques."

"You came here to teach my kids, Zabuza?" Kakashi deadpanned.

"I thought I would chat a while before I kill the old man. But since you're in my way, I suppose I'll have to take care of you first Kakashi. And since we're already on a first name basis…"

He disappeared from his perch. She raised my guard and a kunai, struggling against the broad hit he landed.

"…why don't I take you out for a spin?"

They exchanged some other words and hits, seizing their opponent. She knew he was good the moment her eyes had landed on him, and she remembered most of the data about him. But knowing and experiencing it were two different things.

"Not many women in the wild I suppose." she said conversationally.

"Not of your caliber. Too bad I'm not here for a mock fight. It could have been fun."

He landed on the pond nearby without a sound. Three handsigns later and he disappeared in the mist. Not used to explain everything, Kakashi turned to her team, telling them about the Ninjutsu Zabuza had just used. And if they weren't spooked enough, the man let the fog thicken. Suddenly he was muttering from everywhere and nowhere at the same time, or maybe was it just outside Kakashi's ear. She refused to get unhinged by pitiful tricks. She felt the illusion layered in the mist and dispelled her with her chakra. It was her killing intent against his.

Sasuke's teeth clattered behind her. She turned to her kids.

"Don't worry! I won't let you get hurt." She said with a smile.

Just to contradict her, Zabuza appeared in the midst of their group, ready to strike their client. Guided by her Sharingan, she threw herself at Zabuza, ordering the Genin as she would untrained dogs. They were scattered by their fight. Her blade entered easily between two ribs. Water spurted from the wound. Wait. Water? Naruto yelled a warning, but it was useless. After all, she was also a Clone…

Her blade rested against the chest of the other Zabuza. She would have aimed for his throat, but he was too tall. It was over. She inched her blade towards his femoral artery when he chuckled. Another Zabuza appeared from behind her in the mist. She just had the time to stab his clone when he raised his sword. Crouching under his swing with her guard up, wary of other clones coming her way or the kid's, she didn't anticipate the moment he blocked his blade and used it as a support to deliver a kick to her chest.

She flew right to the pond, and right inside the water prison that was waiting for her.

"I got you!" Zabuza singsongued. "I'll deal with you later."

"Kakashi-Sensei!" Naruto yelled and I saw his muscles ripple.

"Don't engage him! Flee with Tazuna and complete the mission. I'll follow you."

Zabuza's clone that wall holding me prisoner gave me an unimpressed look. Kakashi replied with one of her own. Having the kids around tamed her, it seems. She'll pop his measly prison like a soap bubble and slit his throat…

Of course, Naruto was not the brightest kid in the bunch. But his heart was in the right place. She did not think he would risk his life for his shitty teacher, but he did. Once again, Zabuza decided to scare them away instead of fighting. She wondered if he had gotten soft over the years as well. It almost worked. But they set up the most improbable plan, and suddenly there was no clone holding her in a water cell… Unless it was the real deal? She was not sure. She just swam.

The fuuma shuriken Zabuza got from Sasuke never reached her student. The metal plate on the back of her hand was sliced by the blades. Unruly locks of silver hair escaped her bun, cascading around her face. Her Sharingan spun, catching the unaware angry man in a subtle illusion. Chakra was running away from her eye. Just like the other day with Itachi, she felt the pull. Something was wrong with her Sharingan.

"Back-off Zabuza!" She snarled, ready to tear his throat.

He felt the change in her demeanor, for he disengaged. His hands and hers, almost in sync, formed all the signs of that technique they both knew by heart. On his side and on hers, a water dragon erupted, half from the pond, half from their chakra. It was a fight for dominance, but also a calculated cost on her part. It would leave them with less chakra, and with all the techniques he used… There were great chances for a chakra exhaustion. And just as she managed to pin him to a tree and see the fear in his eyes… A senbon embedded itself in the missing nin's neck, and he was no more.

It was a child the age of hers, (when did they become her kids?) standing on a nearby tree. Gracefully, he landed before his victim. Naruto yelled something rude. She did not want to fight a Kiri ANBU, even if they looked like a child.

Why? Simply because her Sharingan would not stop spinning and burning chakra like crazy. She rarely used it in battle these days, keeping it covered. Obito's gift cost her greatly… The team let the boy leave with Zabuza's corpse.

Just as they departed, her body crumbled, just as some voice called her name.

She did not know how long she was out, but she made a strange dream. Chakra exhaustion did that sometimes to people. They had arrived on a wooden house built on water. They left her to sleep in a room while Sakura babbled about chakra exhaustion. She just saw the curtains move from her half-closed lids, like a movie that would never end. There was a man crouching on the windowsill, clad in regular black ninja clothes and a silly orange mask the side of his head. He was saying something with a soft voice, but she was too groggy to hear. He walked to the side of her futon and sat, a curious expression on his face. She should have yelled or be afraid, but she was not. Slowly, he approached his hand and let it rest on her covered cheek, stroking the old scar. Then, he almost curled against her, his head resting uncomfortably against her shoulder and the side of her neck. It took her time to notice that he was crying.

When she woke up from the dream, her cheeks were strained with tears.