Author's Note: So it has been over a year since I have last updated, and to be honest I had almost given up on this story. This chapter was extremely difficult to write (for reasons I will mention in the Author's Note at the end due to spoilers) and I had a severe writer's block. The only reason why I decided to try my hand on this again is because I stumbled upon the reviews for this story. They really encouraged me to try again so thank you everyone who reviewed! (They really do work!) But after not writing for so long, I fear I may have lost my flow and style, so I can't help but feel like my writing became more stilted. I apologize if this disappoints you all. But I tried my best and forced myself to not give up.
Also, I changed my username so it would match my tumblr account.
Warning: As usual, this is un-betaed.
Standard Disclaimer applies.
-o-
Chapter Three: Goldenrod Amber
The Sandaime of Konohagakure was tired. From his office window, he could see the state of his village, broken, but slowly building itself back together. It gave him hope and pride at Konoha's Will of Fire, but he was just so, so tired. At his age, he was too old to bear the burdens of this village, but his successor had died shortly after his retirement, leaving him with no choice but to once again carry the weight of the village on his aged shoulders.
It was exhausting, having to be the foundation that supported his village as it rebuild itself back together after all the blood and the tears that were shed. He had hoped for a new era, an era of peace after the Third Shinobi War had finally come to an end, but the attack of the Kyuubi gave him a sense of dark forewarning. The era of peace that he had longed for was yet not here. However, he had faith that it would come soon because he had full confidence in the Will of Fire that burned strongly in his people.
One such person stood before him now.
"What is it, Kakashi-kun? I had everyone leave this room, except for you and me, just like you asked."
The addressed teen bowed. "Hokage-sama, I have a request."
"Oh?" Hiruzen raised a brow. "What is it?"
The boy shifted his weight from one foot to the other; clearly uncomfortable with what he was going to say. It was subtle, but Hiruzen had known Kakashi for years, and could distinguish the tale-tell signs that the boy hadn't yet been able to get rid of. Hiruzen's curiosity rose.
"Hokage-sama… I would like to adopt someone as my ward."
"Oh?" Both eyebrows rose this time, as Hiruzen stretched out the monosyllable. "Who is this child that you would like under your care, Kakashi-kun?"
Kakashi coughed into his fist, a sign of embarrassment.
"Haruno Sakura."
Hiruzen couldn't stop the grin that was spreading across his face. He knew that name. It was the infant that Kakashi had rescued from Kiri. Minato had told him all about it. Right before his death, Minato had been worried that Kakashi was slowly starting to lose himself in isolation. He had wanted the boy to form a bond with the blind orphan so that Kakashi's heart wouldn't become completely closed off. Maybe he hadn't needed to be so worried.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Judging from your reaction, I assume that…"
There was a pause, and the atmosphere in the room immediately shifted to something more somber.
"Minato-sensei told you who she is." Kakashi finished quietly.
I'm sorry. Hiruzen wanted to say, but knew that those words wouldn't do any good. Instead he closed his eyes and reflected on how he wasn't the only one who had lost someone significant due to the Kyuubi. They both lost their families that day.
"Yes, yes he did." Hiruzen answered softly.
Kakashi nodded, his face ridding all traces of loss. "Right. Hokage-sama, by your permission, I would like to adopt Haruno Sakura as my ward."
Hiruzen smiled. They both might've lost family, but it didn't mean that family could be restored.
"Permission granted."
The teen before him bowed low at the waist. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
"However, I have one more request." Kakashi announced after straightening his back.
"Hm? What is it?"
"Ah well," the silver-haired teen lifted a hand to scratch the back of his head, a sign of nervousness. "As the pupil of the Yondaime of Konoha, the son of the White Fang, bearer of the Sharingan, and Chidori becoming widely known, I know that my name is in the Bingo Book. I have no illusions about the amount of enemies that most likely want my head. I fear that some of them might try to use Sakura to get to me if it is made known that she is under my care. So… I would like to make a request that she being my ward is to be made a secret."
Hiruzen was impressed. This boy had really thought it through.
"Very well, permission granted. Is that all?"
"Yes Hokage-sama."
"Very well, dismissed."
As the boy thanked him and walked out, Hiruzen could feel the pride and hope blossom within his chest. The Will of Fire still burned brightly within Konohagakure.
-o-
In all of his fourteen years of life, Hatake Kakashi never imagined that he would willingly adopt a child as his ward. And as soon as he arrived home with Sakura in tow, he was at loss. He didn't know the first thing about child rearing.
During the escape from Kirigakure six months ago, he had Usagi to help him out. She did most of the work, the feeding, the diaper changing, ect. All he did was carry Sakura because she would cry whenever he didn't, but that was it.
Although by observing Usagi, he remembered the basics of what he needed to do for Sakura. However, those are only good for babysitting at best, not for rearing a baby for life. So he relied on books that his kage bunshin in henge (transformed shadow clone) had checked out from the library. And the books were helpful, and being the genius that he was, Kakashi was quick in learning.
But none of those books had warned him about the flying poop. If it weren't for his shinobi reflexes, he would've been bombarded with excrement multiple times. He couldn't say the same for his walls though. He now had many random splotches of various yellow, brown and green hues staining his walls. It's fortunate that he rarely receives visitors these days, he supposed.
Although rearing the baby was a pain, and some days he regretted his decision, his favorite part of his day was reading to Sakura, something those books had advised. At first, he didn't know what to read but eventually decided that the book choice didn't matter because Sakura wouldn't understand anyway. So he read to her the only book he had in his possession, which was The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi. And he found out that Minato-sensei was right, he did enjoy the novel.
However despite his genius and the books' tips, Kakashi still had his insecurities. He didn't know how to be a caretaker. His father committed suicide, and after living with Minato-sensei for a few years, he moved out after Kushina moved in, not wanting to intrude upon the couple. For a good portion of his life, Kakashi had grown up alone, and now that he had someone relying on him to take of care her, Kakashi didn't know if he could do it. The people that he was supposed to take care of had died and he was powerless to stop it. What if he failed Sakura too?
But when the doubts would begin to consume him, Sakura would smile, and Kakashi would remember the promise that he had made her that one rainy day at the memorial, the promise that everything was going to be alright, and he would banish those insecurities and strengthen his resolve. He was so tired of breaking promises, so this was the promise that he was determined to keep. No matter what, he'll keep his promise.
-o-
Everything Shimura Danzo had ever done was always for the sake of the village. Konohagakure was his home, and he was forever loyal to it. And he always had Konoha's best interests in mind, even if it didn't seem like it at times.
But for the last several years, Danzo was frustrated by the direction the village was going.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was not fit to be Hokage. Danzo was upset when the young Namikaze was initiated as the Yondaime, but he knew that at that moment, there was no other choice but to accept the blond as his leader.
Danzo was too old to be Hokage, being Hiruzen's peer, so the council wouldn't have accepted him. They wanted someone younger, for the sake of the "new era." So Danzo had nominated Orochimaru, a brilliant young man who would've benefitted Konoha with his intellect and drive. He wouldn't have let Konoha become so weak.
But the council was afraid, afraid because they saw his strength as darkness, thus the suggestion of Orochimaru as a candidate was shut down. Danzo had been frustrated, because although the young Namikaze was strong in his own right, he was too influenced by Hiruzen, adopting the same weak philosophy as the Sandaime.
Danzo had feared for Konoha's future. Under the rule of the Yondaime, the shinobi of Konohagakure would've been weak because of the peace. So Danzo prepared for the worst. He picked up the orphans of the Third Shinobi War and installed them into Root. If Konoha was ever to be attacked, then Danzo would be prepared. He would never let his village fall.
But the Yondaime had fallen and Hiruzen is once more Hokage. That was unacceptable because the old Sarutobi would lead Konoha to its ruin. But there was no other suitable candidates for Hokage, and that put Danzo in a dilemma.
Sitting on his desk, Danzo sorted through the Jounin files. He needed to see who had the most potential to be Hokage. The problem was that most of these jounin were too old and would not be swayed away from Hiruzen's side.
All of them were too old for what Danzo was planning to do… except one.
Hatake Kakashi.
Danzo pulled out the file that caught his interest proceeded to read it.
Hatake was an exceptional jounin, and was even in ANBU. That was promising. He was the student of the Yondaime, so the council would probably approve of him. But he was young, only a child, and children were easily manipulated.
With just the right words, Danzo could convince the young Hatake to join ROOT, thus he would grow up in Danzo's teachings and philosophies. And when Kakashi is eventually made Hokage, Danzo would stand behind him, making sure that Konohagakure was led by weakness no longer.
The Hatake was perfect.
The plan would take some time, but that was alright. Danzo was confident that he would succeed.
The ring finger on his right hand twitched.
Immediately a root operative appeared and kneeled before him.
"Find me the location of Hatake Kakashi and bring me to him."
"Yes, Danzo-sama!"
Shimura Danzo was determined to see through this plan. He couldn't afford to fail, the fate of his village was at stake.
-o-
Kakashi was right in his predictions of the Kyuubi adding on to his nightmares.
He hated the gift that Obito had given him sometimes. It was both a blessing and a curse to be able to remember everything that the Sharingan eye sees to the very last detail. A blessing, because the amount of jutsu in his arsenal had greatly increased, but a curse because he will never forget all the deaths that he witnessed, and caused.
Ever since Rin's death, Kakashi had hated sleeping. He knew that it was necessary in order to be healthy, but her death by his hand replayed in his dreams every single night. Recently, the Kyuubi had been thrown into the mix, and although he didn't witness the death of Minato-sensei, his mind came up of versions of its own of it.
He was grateful for Sakura's presence because her crying would wake him up at odd hours, not giving him enough time to dream. But there were times when he did dream, and after he woke up, he wouldn't be able to bring himself to go near the girl.
This was one of those times.
Kakashi's hands wouldn't stop shaking. Even though he knew that his mind was playing tricks on him, he couldn't unsee the blood that coated his hands. A wave of nausea washed over him as images of Rin, Minato-sensei, the Kyuubi, and this time the Sandaime as well, spun around in his mind's eye on repeat.
Sakura started crying in the background, but the voices of the dead were so much louder. Kakashi couldn't stop staring at his trembling hands, even though in the back of his mind he knew that he had to move and attend to his ward. But he felt so dirty, guilty and unworthy that he was paralyzed. He didn't deserve to take care of Sakura.
So he sat there, waiting for the voices and the images to fade, as they usually did. Finally, when Sakura's wails became louder than the condemnations, he rose and made his way to the sink. Washing his hands was redundant, since there really wasn't any blood on his hands physically, but he did so anyway. The action gave him temporary relief as he imagined his hands being cleansed from the crime. It was only a farce though, because no amount of water could ever wash off the blood his hands were soaked in. He had killed too much.
He turned the facet off after the last visions of red disappeared and made his way to his crying ward. It amazed him how needy babies were. Checking Sakura's still clean diaper, Kakashi ascertained that the girl was hungry.
Thoughts plagued his mind as he meandered towards the kitchen, intent on finding some vegetable and mashing it for Sakura's sake. The Sandaime showing up in his dreams were new. He reasoned it was because of the conversation he had with Shimura Danzo at the memorial the other day.
He hadn't wanted to believe what the old war hawk was saying, but judging from his dreams his mind was suspicious of the Sandaime anyway, and that worried him. Was Sarutobi-sama truly unfit to be Hokage? Yes it was the order of the Sandaime that didn't allow any of the children shinobi to fight the Kyuubi, but did that really make it his fault that Kakashi was unable to save Minato-sensei? Did the Professor stop Kakashi because he wanted to reclaim the title of Hokage because he found no pleasure in retirement? Did Sarutobi Hiruzen care only for himself and not of the village?
Kakashi didn't want to believe it, because Sarutobi-sama was family. Distant family, but still family. But shinobi were suspicious by nature and Kakashi knew that his mind would be plagued with doubts unless he disproved them himself. He didn't want to believe Danzo, because he wanted to believe in the Sandaime, but he couldn't. A seed of doubt had been planted and he needed to go back to ANBU in order investigate.
The problem was, if Kakashi returned to ANBU, Sakura would be alone. Whenever he went outside to visit the memorial, he had created a bunshin to supervise her while he was away. But he would need his chakra reserves to be full if he's on duty and a kage bunshin took too much. He needed to find someone that he could trust with this secret to take care of her while he took on his ANBU duties. But there wasn't anyone he could think of.
His sharingan eye swirled and a memory came back to him. A completed Chidori, trauma, enemy shinobi, flashes of green, and a close encounter with death. He closed his eye and breathed out a sigh. Opening his lone grey eye, he observed that he was done pouring milk into Sakura's bottle. He screwed closed the cap and made his way back to the wailing girl.
There was one. He knew just one person that he could trust, and Kakashi trusted him with his life.
-o-
Maito Gai was worried about his Eternal Rival. Ever since the Kyuubi attack, he hadn't seen Kakashi much. Although he wasn't supposed to know it, he knew that Kakashi was in ANBU, so he supposed that may have been the reason why the hip teen hadn't been seen, but Kakashi had been in ANBU before the Kyuubi, and Gai had always managed to at least exchange salutations with him. But now all traces of Kakashi were just… gone.
Gai knew that after Rin's death, Kakashi would never be the same. The event had changed him, leaving him a bit broken and Gai had worried. Kakashi joining ANBU had done nothing to alleviate that worry. So Gai had always done his best to make sure that Kakashi hadn't forgotten how to live youthfully. But he feared that the death of the Yondaime may have destroyed him.
So imagine his surprise when his Eternal Rival shows up on his door step as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Kakashi! It has been ages since I have seen you last!"
"Hey, Gai," His rival greeted, looking as cool as ever. But Gai was an excellent shinobi in his own right, and he noticed the way that Kakashi didn't look him in the eye, but instead eyed his surroundings. Something was wrong.
"Come on in to my humble abode, my Eternal Rival, for I challenge you to a cooking contest! Whoever makes the most delicious meal wins, and if I do not win, I will run 100 laps around Konoha!"
"Ah."
His rival stepped inside and Gai closed the door. Immediately Gai dropped his act.
"What is it, Kakashi?"
Kakashi's visible eye creased slightly, indicating that he was somewhat smiling. "I knew I could count on you to catch on."
"That something is not right? Yes, but I do not know what. So tell me, Kakashi, what is it?"
Once again, Kakashi's lone eye scoured the room. Patiently, Gai waited. He understood Kakashi's paranoia. Shinobi had to be, and Kakashi was admittedly a good one.
Finally, Kakashi seemed to have deemed his place safe and spoke.
"What I'm about to tell you is a secret, and I need to be able to count on you to keep it with your life."
Gai didn't expect that. Certainly he knew a lot of Kakashi's secrets, whether from rumors, conversations with the Yondaime and just plain stalking, but Kakashi never indulged him with those secrets himself. But the surprise wore off after a few moments because Kakashi knew that Gai knew these secrets, and also knew that Gai would try his best to keep them unknown to others.
And Gai was elated, because his rival trusted him enough to keep a secret that he would have to keep with his own life, so it must be something important. Kakashi was finally responding to all of Gai's attempts on friendship.
-o-
Kakashi knew that he could trust Gai to be Sakura's babysitter, but he was a bit intimidated by the green clad ninja's enthusiasm. After he had entrusted the energetic teen with his secret, the guy had wept and blubbered something about youth and springtime, donned on a frilly pink apron and ran towards the direction of Kakashi's home.
He was starting to doubt his decision of Gai, but Kakashi knew that he had no other choice. And now that Gai was on board to be Sakura's babysitter when he didn't have long term missions, Kakashi was free to rejoin the ops.
It was time to start the investigation.
-o-
Kakashi was angry.
Naruto was alive, alive, and no one had informed him. Granted, the existence of the Yondaime's son was an S-class secret, and Kakashi had been away from ANBU for some time, but that was beside the point. As the pupil of Namikaze Minato, Kakashi should have been informed.
"Hokage-sama, why have I not been told this until now?"
The Sandaime responded with an understanding smile. "I'm sorry Kakashi-kun, but only the council and those in ANBU know of this secret. This world is too dangerous for such a thing to be made known to the public."
"I understand, Hokage-sama, but to my understanding, Naruto is in the orphanage right now. But he is Minato-sensei's son! If I had been told this earlier, I could've requested him to be my ward. In fact, with your permission, I ask that he would become my ward!" Kakashi knew that he was being irrationally angry, but for weeks he had thought that Naruto was dead. He had mourned for the infant, believing that he had been killed at birth. But his last connection to Minato-sensei was alive, and he hadn't even known until now!
"Kakashi!" the Hokage rebuked. "Think about what you are saying! Making Naruto your ward will put him in danger."
Kakashi tried in vain to stop the tremors of anger coursing through him by fisting his hands. He ground out, "What do you mean?"
"Kakashi, think. The world knows that you were Minato's pupil. If you were to adopt a boy who was the spitting image of the Yondaime, people would draw their own conclusions. Even though we disguised Naruto as an Uzumaki, the enemies of the fourth would still come after him."
Kakashi bit down his protests because he knew the Professor's reasoning was true. Adoption would put Naruto at risk, but Kakashi still didn't like it.
"Think about your ward, Kakashi. Not only would you be putting yourself and Naruto in danger, but Sakura as well."
The Sandaime was right, but Kakashi was still angry. He tried his best to keep his anger in check as he nodded, bowed, and hastily left the Hokage tower.
Kakashi understood the reasons the Hokage gave. But he still couldn't help but feel hurt and a bit betrayed by being kept in the dark in the matters concerning Naruto. He really should've been informed that his ex-mentor's son was still alive. It would've saved him some grief.
And this betrayal was doing nothing to salve the doubts that Kakashi had towards Sarutobi Hiruzen.
-o-
It had been a few days since Danzo had seen the Hatake boy last, but Danzo hadn't worried. He was confident that the doubt he had planted into the young boy's head had grown over the past few days, and he should be ready to turn to him by now. So Danzo headed over to where he had seen the prodigal teen last.
Just like before, he spotted the Hatake at the memorial, and he was pleasantly surprised that he seemed to be expected.
"Hello, Kakashi."
"Shimura-sama," the boy bowed in response.
"Did you think about my offer?"
The boy nodded. "Yes, and I would like to accept. I would like to join ROOT."
Danzo smiled and returned a nod in acknowledgment. Excellent, everything was going according to plan.
-o-
Kakashi closed The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Ninja after he noticed that Sakura was now sound asleep. She was awake for a particular long time. It seemed that he wasn't the only one enjoying their reading sessions together.
However these days, reading the tale about Naruto would bring an onslaught of emotions. Before, when he first started the novel, to see the name of the protagonist would bring unexplainable pain to his chest. Every time the name Naruto was in a sentence, he would stop in order to bring air back to his lungs, to try breathing again. Just knowing that Namikaze Naruto was dead, dead before he even had a chance to live up to his legacy, a protagonist who was strong, courageous, charismatic, everything Kakashi imagined the Namikaze heir to be, hurt. But as days went on, the heart wrenching pain would lessen, and the name Naruto became easier to read.
But now, now Kakashi knew that Namikaze Naruto was alive, except now he's Uzumaki Naruto. However that didn't matter; what did was that Naruto, his baby brother Naruto, was alive. He was alive and Kakashi was supposed to his older brother figure but he wasn't allowed to see to him. Kakashi wanted to visit Naruto at the orphanage so badly, to confirm that he really is alive, to rejoice that his family wasn't as dead as he believed it to be, to grieve at the moments between them lost because he was kept in the dark, to really just see him, but Kakashi knew that he couldn't. He knew that Sandaime-sama was correct. Kakashi had too many known connections and reputations, and Konohagakure had eyes everywhere, friendly or not, and if he were to take a particular interest in an orphan, an orphan who apparently looked so similar to the Yondaime, suspicions would arise. So for Naruto's safety, Kakashi refrained.
Yet Kakashi hated that he had to refrain. It was proof that once again, he was too weak to properly protect someone. Naruto was much safer without him. And he already knew that he was endangering another baby anyway, just by accepting her into his life.
Kakashi sighed, and stroked the soft tufts of pink that was steadily growing, little by little. He promised, he promised Sakura that everything would be alright, and that meant keeping her safe, resulting in him needing to be stronger. Stronger so that he would one day be able to protect both her and Naruto. And to do that, he needed to join ROOT.
He didn't even know the existence of ROOT until Danzo had approached him for the first time the other day. In all honesty, he didn't understand it fully, just that it was an organization meant to be the foundation for Konoha, protecting the village from enemies both from the outside and from within. It was a group whose secrecy was more guarded than ANBU, and didn't even exist on paper. But Kakashi was used to secrecy and performing atrocious acts for the sake of protecting Konoha, and if joining meant being able to keep his family safe, then so be it.
"Sorry Sakura, but it seems you may have to be spending more time with Gai."
-o-
There was something suspicious about that Kinoe character. The night before, Kakashi was assigned to spar with the younger boy for ROOT training under Shimura-sama's supervision. It was an anything goes spar with the exception of killing the opponent. The training session had been surprising because Kakashi had not expected Kinoe to perform Mokuton (Wood Release) techniques. The only known person to have that kekkai genkai (bloodline ability) was the first Hokage, and to the best of Kakashi's knowledge, no other Senju had inherited it. So here he was, in the Hokage's secret archives at the dead of night, trying to figure out why a boy in ROOT would have such an ability.
"The Shodaime was truly a powerful man."
Kakashi whirled around at the sound of Sarutobi-sama's unexpected voice.
"Hokage-sama!" he called out in shock. Shit, he was going to get in trouble for sneaking around unauthorized. He curled up his fist in anticipation, wracking his brain for a plausible excuse for why he was here. Kakashi knew that trying to sneak around the Hokage of all people wasn't a good idea, but for all his genius, he went along with it anyway.
But before he could blurt anything out, the Sandaime smiled and took the book Kakashi was currently holding from his hands.
"What of the Shodaime would you like to know?"
Kakashi blinked in surprise, taken aback. He opened and closed his mouth a couple times to find his voice. "The… The Mokuton, sir."
"Ah," the Hokage breathed out in acknowledgment and closed the book. He then maneuvered around Kakashi in the archives and took out a small scroll. He spread it out across a table and Kakashi gasped slightly at the contents. The Hokage came him a solemn look.
"Yes, it's true, the Mokuton is a coveted ability, and it's a shame that no one else had inherited it from the Hashirama-sama. And unfortunately, in the past, Konohagakure had sponsored an experiment to see if we could transplant the kekkai genkai into others. However, the experiment was a failure and all the test subjects had died."
Kakashi gulped as he processed the information. It was morbid, the thought of human experimentation. But he, who had committed countless atrocious acts, also for the sake of Konoha, was no different.
Yet what the Hokage said was wrong. Not all of the test subjects had died. He knew of someone who had succeeded in obtaining the Mokuton, he knew a survivor. But the Hokage didn't know.
Sarutobi-sama sighed. "It's tragic, all those lives wasted. And yet, if we could have succeeded, we might not have such tragic losses when the Kyuubi struck. Since the Mokuton has the ability to suppress the Kyuubi's chakra. But alas, that is all wishful thinking now."
Kakashi's eye widened, and he didn't know what to think. Sarutobi Hiruzen did not allow Kakashi the chance to protect Minato-sensei, nor the chance to protect Naruto. However Shimura Danzo had hidden a valuable asset to the village, even to the Hokage. An asset that could've prevented all of the lives lost. Thoughts and suspicions kept colliding with each other within his mind, and the feelings of betrayal, relief, guilt and hope swirled. They swirled around and around and Kakashi didn't know what to believe anymore.
A hand was laid on his shoulder and he looked up at the Hokage in desperation. There were understanding in those aged eyes as the Sandaime smiled down at him.
"Kakashi-kun." The Hokage began, "I'm sorry for all the pain that I have caused you. I want you to know that none of them are intentional. As Hokage, I need to be able to make difficult decisions at times, but I always choose the answer that would protect my people the most. You, are my people too, Kakashi-kun. As are Sakura-chan and Naruto-kun. You are all my people and it is my job to protect you."
"H-Hokage-sama," Kakashi choked out. He was relieved. He was relieved that he wasn't betrayed by one of his family, relieved that he could still trust Sarutobi Hiruzen. But overpowering that relief was guilt – guilt that Kakashi had betrayed him. And Kakashi knew that he had failed again. He was always failing.
The teen bowed low at the waist. "I apologize, Hokage-sama, for I have betrayed you."
There was silence that followed, but Kakashi didn't dare to look up. Still bowing low, he continued, "I had believed that you were inadequate to be Hokage, so I had joined ROOT, agreeing to be a spy in ANBU for the sake of Shimura Danzo."
Then taking a shuddering breath in resolution, Kakashi went down on one knee. "Please, Hokage-sama. I request that I resign from ANBU, for I am unfit and unworthy to be serving at such a division for I have betrayed your trust in me."
He didn't even deserve to consider Sarutobi-sama as family.
"Kakashi-kun," two hands were placed upon the teen's shoulders and Kakashi looked up to see the Hokage once again smiling down at him. "You are and always will be someone precious to me. And not only me, but you are also a valuable asset to Konoha as well. This village needs your strength, especially now of all times, when we are trying to gain our footing from the Kyuubi's attack. You are still needed in ANBU.
"And most importantly, you are my family, I forgive you and I trust you. I know that you will never betray me again. So would you be willing to accept my request?"
Kakashi couldn't believe what he was hearing. The Hokage had forgiven him, forgiven him for his failure and betrayal and would continue to put his trust in him. Kakashi wasn't worthy, and waves of gratefulness crashed over him. He wouldn't, couldn't betray Sarutobi-sama's trust again.
"Yes Hokage-sama. What is it?"
"Just as you have served as Minato-kun's trusted right hand man, I ask that you would do the same for me."
Kakashi gaped at the Hokage in disbelief. After a few moments, he collected himself and resumed his subservient position. Head bowed low and on bended knee, he answered with a voice full of gratitude, "It would be an honor, Hokage-sama."
-o-
"Kakashi-kun, you really should clean your walls."
After Kakashi informed that Sakura was being taken care of by a kage bunshin, the Hokage declared that he wanted to visit the little girl for he hadn't met her yet.
Kakashi shrugged in response to Sarutobi-sama's comment. If he had expected company, other than Gai, maybe he would've cleaned his apartment beforehand. "I'll get around to it."
The Hokage chuckled, trailing behind Kakashi as he led him to the futon where Sakura was laid. Upon dispelling his bunshin, he could hear the tell-tale sniffles that Sakura was about to wake up for another meal. He lifted Sakura with practice ease and made his way to the fridge. Carrying her had become less awkward after constantly having to do so for the past few weeks. He was able to lessen the time it would take to relax himself upon her touch. That was an accomplishment since shinobi were wary of human contact, since the only times they would receive it was during fights. Human contact usually came accompanied by injury, or even death.
He took a bottle out of the fridge and was about to feed Sakura when Sarutobi-sama laid a hand on his shoulder. Kakashi paused and gave the elder man an inquiring look. The Sandaime smiled and held out his hands in response. "May I?"
Kakashi was taken aback by the request but quickly recovered and obliged, transferring Sakura from his arms to the Hokage's. He hoped that upon separating from him, that Sakura wouldn't cry. She used to cry a lot when Gai was first taking over, but as Kakashi came back each time, she seemed to know that whenever Gai came, Kakashi would be back. He hoped that even though Sarutobi-sama was a new face, Sakura would still be reassured by Kakashi's presence.
To Kakashi's relief, she didn't. So Kakashi relaxed and watched the bizarre sight of Konoha's strongest expertly feed a baby. But it shouldn't be so strange, Kakashi mused, since the Sandaime was good with children and even had two kids of his own.
"Kakashi-kun, I want you to stay in ROOT."
Sarutobi-sama's sudden declaration broke Kakashi out of his thoughts. He looked at the Hokage in shock.
Unperturbed, the Hokage continued to feed Sakura as he elaborated, "I know that Danzo wants you to stay in ANBU so that you would spy on me. And so you will. But now I want you to spy for me. I want you to keep an eye on Danzo and report to me the happenings of ROOT, as you did about the Mokuton boy. I know Danzo, and I know that he truly believes that what he does is for the best of Konohagakure. He is devoted to this village just as, or maybe even more so, than any other shinobi. But sometimes his good-intentions have hurtful outcomes, and I would like to keep those from happening. So I need you there."
Sarutobi-sama paused to burp Sakura. After he readjusted her, he gave Kakashi a smile full of pride. "And I have a feeling I know why Danzo had chosen you of all people to take under his wing. He's an intelligent man, Kakashi, and I would have chosen the same. Learn from him, but do not follow after him. Never lose sight of the Will of Fire that burns within you and maybe one day, you will become the man that both of us expect you to be."
Those were pretty high expectations and Kakashi didn't know if he would ever be able to meet them. He didn't know what kind of man Sarutobi-sama and Shimura-Danzo envisioned him to become, but he was given a mission, and he was determined not to fail it. He bowed his head and gave his reply: "Yes, Hokage-sama!"
The Sandaime nodded in response and returned his attentions back to Sakura. He lifted his mouth to the little infant's ear and whispered, "I apologize for taking more of Kakashi-kun's time away from you, Sakura-chan."
The girl didn't reply, not able to comprehend the words spoken just yet, and for that Kakashi was grateful. Her stomach was satisfied and she looked like she was about to fall asleep, and Kakashi didn't want her to start crying. It was amusing though, to watch the Hokage rocked his ward to sleep. As Kakashi watched Sarutobi-sama with Sakura, he wondered if during the time the Hokage's sons were infants if the Sandaime gave out orders holding them as he did now. It was truly a peculiar sight.
"Now Kakashi-kun, how would you like your first assignment back in ANBU to be taking over one of the shifts for watching Naruto-kun?"
-o-
Author's Note: Not the best chapter, I know, so I apologize if I disappointed anyone. The reason for my long hiatus was because I had no idea what I wanted to do with Danzo. I did a lot of research about Kakashi's past (especially since I never really watched the anime and kind of skipped parts in the manga), and I was surprised about him joining ROOT. A lot of the stuff that happened during that time period, like the attempt on assassinating the Sandaime was just poorly executed and didn't make sense to me, because to me, Danzo is so much more smarter than that. And to me, Danzo is a war hawk who truly loves Konoha and wants what's best for the village, not just some power hungry old coot as Kishimoto made him to be. And I didn't know if I wanted to stick to the timeline of the anime, or if I wanted to throw everything out the window and create a new timeline, but I didn't even know where to start. In the end, I decided I was going to do something along the middle. I'm sorry if that's disappointing, but that's what I'm going to go with and makes the most sense to correspond with the rest of the plot.
Also, this is the first chapter with so many different perspectives! That was definitely a challenge to write as well. Hopefully I was able to accomplish that well.
Hopefully the next update won't take so long, and thank you everyone for reading and a special thank you to those who review! And as usual, I would love to read your thoughts, whether it's opinions or suggestions or criticisms. Until next time!