Tsunade scowled at the pile of papers on her desk. She scanned the one on top and looked up at her assistant hovering nearby.

"Are you sure this all we have on him. That he was a gennin who failed the chuunin exam four times and then dropped out of sight?"

Shizune suppressed an angry scowl, her own emotions didn't belong here. "Three of the four men who attacked Iruka-sensei were Konoha gennin at one time. And as far as we can tell none of them have left the village in the past three years."

"And before that?"

"We don't know. Those were amongst the records destroyed in the attack by Sound."

Tsunade made an irritated grunt at the back of her throat. "Convenient for them. So they could have been recruited by Orochimaru and been lying low these past few years. Which means there could be more."

"That would seem to be the case Hokage-sama."

"And the other one, the bricklayer?"

"He came here to work on the rebuilding effort. Agouti Hiroshi, originally from Earth Country. His background was thoroughly checked at the time and he had no history of shinobi training. He was just a bricklayer. If he was a spy or a sleeper then it was very carefully and professionally done."

"Clearly. And for some reason Orochimaru felt that a chance of capturing Hatake Keshi was worth exposing so many valuable moles? We're missing something Shizune. I know Orochimaru as well as anyone ever will. He's not a gambler like me. There's no way he would have risked this kind of investment without being very confident that he stood to get a great deal more in return."

Shizune couldn't help suspecting that Tsunade was being at least a little paranoid. But then she hardly knew Orochimaru at all. After all it had just been his rotten luck that two of Konoha's very best shinobi were in the marketplace when his men attacked. And even she was surprised that Iruka-sensei hadn't stayed in the hospital with Kakashi.

"It's frustrating Hokage-sama, but I think we're wasting our time trying to understand all the nitty details.

"Kakashi knows, I can tell. He's just like his father, he keeps everything so tight to his chest… even if it ends up killing them. These damn Hatakes and their underneaths. Surely you don't expect me to believe for a moment that he agreed to send Keshi away just to protect Konoha?"

Shizune was stunned, she'd never questioned it. Any loyal Konoha nin would do anything to protect the village. But on the other hand what was the village if not its people, and what was worth protecting more than its children, the village's future? She pushed the thought aside, she'd always been too rational to be a first rate ninja.

"Well in a few hours it won't matter. Whatever reason Orochimaru has for wanting Keshi-hime, her chakra will be sealed and Kakashi-san will be the only one who can release it. She'll be useless to him as a konoichi."

"Yes, of course you're right Shizune. He'd never expect me to give up such a potentially valuable weapon, just for sentimental reasons."

She gave the pile of papers a final disdainful look. "So, shall we go?"

There was a rare flicker of softness in Shizune's eyes as she scooped up the papers and sealed them into a scroll. "Then obviously Orochimaru doesn't know you half as well as you know him Tsunade-sama."

Oooooooooooooooo

The tall white pillars that supported the building above loomed around them, reminding Iruka that the whole weight of the Hokage tower was bearing down on their heads. It was not a good feeling. They were in one of the underground chambers used for secret council meetings and even more secret jutsus. They were there to place a blood seal on Keshi to seal her chakra points, so that she could live as a civilian, so that she'd have no choice.

He bounced his daughter on his knee and nervously combed his fingers through her soft hair. The pale blond dye had taken well, and the effect was completely natural. It was no longer Kakashi's hair, it was Kagura's hair, and it was almost enough to break his heart.

"So you remember what I told you? You're to lie very still and Daddy One and Jiraiya-sama will paint some pictures on your tummy."

Keshi scrunched her rosebud mouth into a pout, as if she was thinking very hard. "Will it hurt?"

"No sweetheart, it won't hurt. But it might… tickle a bit." Iruka tickled her sensitive sides until she was a flailing mess of giggles.

"Stop, no fair. Daddy One save me!" Keshi launched herself into Kakashi's arms.

Iruka hid a scowl, he hadn't even noticed the other man's approach. He always started to lose his focus when he got too emotional.

"Hey." With a big smile that was only half fake, he stood up from the stone bench and brushed his fingertips along Kakashi's cheek. It was too pale, and his skin looked thin and fragile, like tissue paper stretched over the delicate framework of his face.

They should wait. Kakashi wasn't strong enough to do this yet. But Iruka knew that for Kakashi that wasn't an option. Kakashi needed to get this done before Naruto and Sakura came back from their mission, with or without Sasuske.

If their mission failed Keshi had to be kept out of Orochimaru's clutches at all cost. But if the mission was a success, and Orochimaru had survived, having both Sasuske and Keshi in the village would more than double the danger for them both. Of course if Orochimaru was dead, and his followers neutralized… No. He couldn't allow himself that false hope. Orochimaru was harder to kill than a swarm of roaches.

Tsunade and Jiraiya entered the cavernous room together, looking far too solemn for either of them. Sizune followed, holding an ancient yellowed scroll.

"Everyone here? Let's get to it then. Come on little mite, you're the star of this show." Jiraiya took Keshi and spun her above his head. She shrieked with laughter until the world swirled around her in a vortex of colour and light.

The next thing she knew she was opening her eyes and her Daddy Two was wrapping her in a blanket. With the total security that can only be known by a two year old in a parent's arms, she slipped back into the land of sleep.

When she woke again she was in her Daddys' big bed, next to Daddy One. She wrinkled her nose at the sour man-sweat odour clinging to the sheets. Daddy One smelled like this when he came home from missions. Had he been on a mission? In that case she should be quiet. Daddy Two got cranky when she woke up Daddy One when he'd been on missions. She slipped out of bed and ran into the Kitchen.

Daddy Two was sitting at the table talking to Kagura. "… you must keep the seals hidden at all times, it shouldn't be too hard. Bathe her in private and don't let her swim naked. If someone does catch a glimpse, no one without the training will recognise the significance. Say it's an unusual birthmark…"

There were two other people there. All thoughts of quiet forgotten she raced towards them. "Ruto! S'kura!"

Naruto allowed her to knock him backwards and onto his butt. "Keshi-hime! Well I can tell Iruka-sensei's been feeding you plenty of Ramen. You'll be bigger than me in no time."

She clambered onto him. Beyond his grin there was sadness in his eyes, she didn't like it. "You didn't get your other bastard back did you Ruto-kun?"

The whisker marks on his face stood out in stark contrast as he flushed scarlet, but the expected outburst from Iruka-sensei didn't come. All his attention was on Kakashi, who had appeared in the doorway, wrapped in a heavy robe and chuckling through his mask. "Intuitive little minx isn't she. Must get that from Iruka."

The eye that wasn't covered by his hair scanned his teammates. A bit beaten up, but stronger than ever.

"So you're back. No wonder it's loud enough in here to wake the dead. Perfect timing too. As soon as we have Keshi ready we'd like you to take her and Kagura-san to do some shopping. I'm not quite up for escort duty yet, and it will give you a chance to spend some time with her. You see they're going to be leaving on a long trip together very soon."

Keshi squealed with glee. "Really really? We're going on holidays, like Spot the doggy went on holidays and made sandcastles and covered his Daddy all up with sand. I'm going to make lots and lots of sandcastles and cover Daddy One all up with sand and Daddy Two will help me, won't you Daddy?"

Iruka tried, hard, but he just couldn't meet her eyes.

Kakashi scooped her up and sat her on the edge of the table.

"I'm sorry Princess, but Daddy Two and I… well we can't go with you. You see we have very important work to do in the village so we have to stay here. But you'll have fun with Kagura-san. She'll take you to lots and lots of interesting places. And there are a lot of nice people for you to stay with. You'll get to meet your Gandma and Gandpa in Grass Country too, you'll like that won't you."

Keshi sucked in her lips as she considered. "Doesn't K'gura have very important work?"

"Oh yes, she has the most important work of all. You see from now on she's going to be your Mummy, and there's nothing in the world more important than that."

Naruto and Sakura exchanged a puzzled glance and in the silence that followed Kakashi was the only one to notice Iruka slipping out of the room.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

It took them three days to get ready for their journey. Three days of saying goodbyes and collecting best wishes for a safe trip. Two days longer than Kakashi wanted, despite Naruto and Sakura's assurances that they'd left Orochimaru in no state to be pursuing anyone.

Iruka would never be ready.

The morning of the fourth day found the four of them clustered at the gate, after a breakfast of eggs and leftover cake from their quiet farewell gathering the day before. Well, maybe not so quiet, Gai and lee had been there. And Jiraiya, and Naruto too. In fact they'd had complaints from half the neighbours.

Kakashi waved the guards away with a promise that he'd watch things until they got back. He didn't know them very well and this was private.

Keshi was clinging to Iruka with the same ferocity she'd used when Kakashi had been brought back to the village unconscious. Was that really just a few weeks ago?

"Don't want to go with just K'gura. I want Daddy Two and Daddy One to come to. Why can't you come to?"

"Now now, we already explained." Kakashi peeled her off his partner and rested her weight against his hip.

"And anyway, you are going to take us all with you, see? He held up a silver charm bracelet and fastened it around her wrist, one handed.

Keshi held it up to eye level and laughed, showing her tiny white teeth. "Look! The dolphin's you Daddy Two, an Daddy One's the scarecrow, an Ruto's the froggy…"

She held a tiny green enamel frog between her finger and thumb, its hind legs splayed and outstretched as if it had been caught mid-leap.

"No, the frog's Grandpa Jiraiya-sama. The fox is Naruto. Don't worry, you'll have lot's of time to work them all out."

"Wass this one Daddy?" She fingered a tiny rectangle, The Queen of Hearts, pierced by the chain at one corner.

"That's Hokage-sama of course. She's the queen of all our hearts, isn't she?" He kissed his fingertip and dabbed it on her nose. "And you're the princess."

He hadn't been able to find a slug charm, no surprise. Choosing a playing card to represent the chronic gambler had amused him, and with Iruka standing right beside him he was glad he'd passed on his other option, the little sake cup.

"You see we're all here. We'll always be with you, not only on this bracelet but in here too." He placed his hand over her heart.

Iruka put his hand on top and kissed her cheek. "That's right Sweetheart, we'll always be in your heart and you'll always be in ours, forever and ever. Wherever you are."

The tension in the air was thick enough to slice with an axe.

"So… ready to go on your big adventure Little Princess?" Kakashi put her in her old stroller, her very first baby gift, and nodded to Kagura, who, too choked for words, pushed her daughter out through the massive gates. She didn't look back as Keshi twisted her body and waved as hard as she could. Kakashi wasn't hers, he never had been, but at least she'd got half of everything she'd come to Konoha to find.

Keshi's two fathers' hands were still clasped together. They stood there watching until long after the two figures had been swallowed by Fire Country's thick forests.

Eventually Iruka broke the heavy silence. "Kakashi? When did you get that bracelet?"

Kakashi was still staring into the distance. "Oh, I've been working on it for a while, collecting bits and pieces, here and there."

A while. Iruka broke his grip and turned to face him.

"You've been planning this for a long time haven't you? Sending Keshi away. This was what you meant, before that last mission? When you asked if you could ever do anything that would upset me so much that I'd stop loving you."

For once in his life Kakashi looked him in the eye and gave him a straightforward honest answer. "Yes."

It was Iruka who looked away first.

Kakashi caught his chin and brought his face back up to his. "You do though don't you, still love me?"

Iruka slowly raised his eyes and the thick lashes that had been dusting his cheeks pulled open, like shutters to the windows on his soul. "Kakashi you've torn my heart out. But you could cut me up into little pieces and scatter them to the ends of the Earth and the pieces would still love you just as much."

Kakashi folded his lover into his arms. "Gods Ruka, I don't deserve you. I can't imagine anyone who could deserve you. I wish I was half as strong as you are."

"Strong? Kakashi, I know you're hurting from this just as much as I am but you haven't shed a single tear."

"That's what I mean. I only wish I was strong enough to cry."

"Oh God, I miss her so much already." Kakashi held him for as long as his silent tears kept flowing, letting him cry for both of them.

Eventually Iruka pulled away and looked at him through red-rimmed eyes. "Will we ever see her again?"

Kakashi nodded against his shoulder. "As long everything works out, and I don't see why it wouldn't. We'll give things a few months to settle down, then take a few days off and see if we can track her down. Maybe bring the kids along, it will be good practice, for all of us."

"A few days! I know Grass Country's not that big, but you can't seriously expect to find someone in just a few days!"

Kakashi smirked his most annoying smirk and twitched a scrap of paper between his fingers. "You can if you have their address."

A second later Iruka was the one smirking. Kakashi was sitting on the ground rubbing at the swelling on his head. Of course he could have dodged, could have stopped Iruka from snatching the paper, but where was the fun in that?

"Kakashi! This address isn't in Grass, it's in Wave."

"Mmm. I lied. Wave's much more convenient don't you think? Without all those annoying border jutsus to sneak past. I've arranged for them to take a scenic route, through Grass to visit Kagura's parents, and then back and along the coast. It will keep them within Fire Country borders most of the way, just in case someone thinks they're worth following, which I doubt. But they should be settled in before September, in time for us to visit for Keshi's birthday. According to Kagura she's two weeks younger than we thought, well she should know."

Iruka opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He was too stunned.

"Perhaps by her next birthday we'll have her back, or if not, then maybe the one after. We should get another goat for her party."

Iruka had finally found his voice. Although it was high and squeaky and didn't really sound like his at all. "Back? You really think she can come back one day?"

Icy determination glittered in Kakshi's eye. "Oh yes. As soon as Orochimaru's dead we'll bring her back. We can share custody with Kagura and when she's old enough to go to the academy I'll lift the blood seal. And once Sasuske's safely back in Konoha who knows? There's only fourteen years between them, they are plenty of happy marriages around with bigger age gaps than that. Maybe we'll live to see a whole new generation of Sharingan Hatakes."

"Kakashi! You scheming… you've got it all worked out haven't you. And since when were you a meddling matchmaker. What if she doesn't like Sasuske?"

"Hey it was just a thought. Frankly I don't know why any girl would, but if I remember right plenty of them used to."

Iruka was wrapping his mind around the idea of grandchildren with silver hair, frosty looks and sharingan eyes. "Anyway, that would be at least twenty years in the future."

"That's right. The future Ru. Keshi's our future. As long as we have her, wherever she is, we have a future. And with kids like her Konoha has a future too. These are troubled times but we'll get past them, just wait and see."

For the first time in days Iruka smiled. He'd never seen this side of Kakashi before, this bright wild optimism that was making his eyes shine and firing him with so much energy that Iruka could feel it tingling all around. He liked it.

"The future huh? I'm not sure if any bars are open yet but since they're not expecting me at work I think I'd like to drink to that."

Kakashi grabbed him and kissed him hard, not caring that the guards were already back up in the tower, and watching with considerable interest. Particularly the Konoichi.

"Sake? At this hour? Iruka-sensei, we'll make a Hokage of you yet."

Iruka did care. "Kakashi!"

He pulled away and straightened Kakashi's mask then straightened his jacket, while willing the blush away from his cheeks. But he kept Kakashi's hand in his as they made their way back towards the heart of Konoha.

"By the way, what charm did you get as Sakura?"

"A flower."

"Mmm, predictable, but cute. How about Gai?"

"A Turtle."

"Shizune?"

"A cattle prod."

"You did not. They don't make silver charms of cattle prods."

"Do to, it's a miniature working model, all you have to do is infuse a little chakra in it…"

oooooooooooooooooooo

A?N Well that's it folks, the end. Maybe, I'll do a follow-up story sometime. One with Keshi all grown up and Naruto as Hokage. It might be fun to see how the guys cope with their teenage daughter going on dates. But that's for the future to decide.

Love and kisses,

T.