Tangled Web

AU-ish story set in Kakashi's youth. Hope you enjoy. Please review and let me know.

I own nothing. Nothing.

Chapter Three

Kakashi was no different when he checked up on him that evening as he was early the next morning when Minato decided on visiting his student prior to going to the police station. He was surprised to see Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the Hokage already there.

"Unsettling," Sarutobi breathed, looking to the still boy in the bed, "I had hoped that this could be solved quickly. Who did this and why? For a tanto? Sakumo's tanto was his trademark, but it was his skills and manipulation of his chakra with the blade that made it special and not the weapon itself."

"I know," Minato agreed before looking to Tsunade as she checked over his student, "Any changes, Lady Tsunade?"

"Not really," Tsunade denied, "The swelling will get worse before it gets better, but I have Kakashi on a regular healing regimen that should help and hopefully get him to wake soon. Maybe then he can identify his attacker."

"We need to get going, Minato," Jiraiya voiced.

"Coming," Minato replied before pausing as something drew his attentions, "Wait. What is this?"

"What?" Jiraiya asked as the blonde leaned over Kakashi and seemed to be trying to open the boy's hand on his broken arm, "Minato?"

"Kakashi's got a death grip on something he's hidden in his fist," Minato explained, "I can't get his fingers to relax."

"Allow me," Tsunade instructed as she used her medical jutsu to relax the boy's muscles, allowing Minato to open the fist, "What is that?"

Minato studied what lay in his student's palm without touching it. It looked familiar. Ah! He knew what it was now.

"Looks like a piece of a flak jacket," Minato voiced, before grinning widely as he realized what the boy had done, "Brilliant, Kakashi!"

"How so?" Jiraiya asked as his sensei and Tsunade rolled their eyes, "It's early and I'm tired. Give me some slack."

"Kakashi tried to help the best he could in this investigation," Minato explained, "The boy's mind was still coming up with options of what to do while under attack. He's left us a clue to find who did this. Give me a tissue so I can pick this up without getting my scent on the scrap."

The Hokage came to look at the scrap while Minato lifted the torn fabric from his student's hand. There was no denying that the bit of fabric was from a flak jacket, but the scrap was old and in a darker green color that hadn't been used for flak jackets in years.

"So the attacker is truly a shinobi," Sarutobi growled in disgust, "Looks like a piece of a flak jacket from over twenty years ago so whomever the attacker is must be a veteran. A veteran should have more control over themselves than to harm a child."

"Perhaps this person is no longer in his or her right mind," Tsunade suggested, "The brutality of the attack on Kakashi shows strong emotion and not a shinobi in control of themselves. The culprit needs to be found soon before he or she strikes again."

"Agreed," the Hokage sniffed before blinking as Minato pricked one of Kakashi's finger on his good hand and summoned a familiar pug to most within the room, "Ah, Minato-san. That is a very good idea."

Pakkun glared at the one who summoned him before he froze and sniffed at the air. The pug wasted no time in leaping up on the hospital bed in a panic.

"Pup! Pup, can you hear me? Just look at you! My poor, little boss. I'm here, Pup."

"Calm down, Pakkun," Minato tried before stiffening as the ninken whirled on him with a deep growl.

"What has happened to my pup, Minato-san!?" Pakkun snarled, "Who did this to Boss. Tell me now!"

"He was attacked, Pakkun, and left for dead, but your pup is fighting still. Kakashi was clever and may have given us the very clue to find the one who hurt him. Do you think you can get a scent off of this scrap of cloth?"

Pakkun glanced at the fabric and snorted in disgust as he gave the jonin a "What do you think?" face. Minato sighed within his mind. Pakkun could be just as trying as Kakashi at times.

"Of course I can track from that scrap. My pup has trained me well. You summon the rest of my pack and we will hunt the one who did this to the very pits of hell if we must," Pakkun growled, "Do it, Minato-san. No one messes with our pup and gets away with it."

"Very well, Pakkun," Minato agreed quickly and used a bit more of his student's blood to summon the other ninken.

Sarutobi smiled as Minato had to reassure the rest of Kakashi's pack and allow them to sniff around their little master before steeling themselves to hunt. Angry growls and snarls erupted as the ninkens' game faces showed. This wasn't ninken doing their duties, but a pack out for revenge over the hurt of their alpha. Hopefully, the one that did this would be caught soon.

"Hunt for Konoha," Sarutobi ordered as the dogs turned to him, "Bring the one who did this to justice."

"We hunt for our pup," Pakkun insisted, "Our loyalties to our pup overrides even our loyalties to this village. We won't apologize for that, Hokage-sama."

"Then hunt for your master's sake," Sarutobi nodded out, "I understand your anger, but bringing whoever did this to justice will keep Konoha safe as well. Bring me the one that did this."

"Ready?" Minato asked the pack as angry faces locked on his and nodded, "Lead the way."

oOo

Genma Shiranui was not a stupid person. Something was totally up and had been ever since yesterday. He had seen Rin talking frantically with Obito Uchiha yesterday and this very morning. Both had looked frazzled and up to something. Plus, Gai somehow had something to do with all of this so he set out to find his teammate to try and keep the idiot out of trouble. Problem was, Gai could be hard to track down since the youth was so damn fast.

"Where are you?" Genma growled to himself as he made his way to where he'd promised to meet Raidou later today, "What are…ah. Ground shaking means only one thing."

Genma groaned when he saw his green-clad teammate racing down the street with Obito clutched by an arm late in the morning. The poor Uchiha was practically blowing in the wind.

"GAI!"

"Yes, oh youthful Team Leader?" Gai called as he spun to a halt, making Obito land in a heap at his feet.

"What the heck are you doing? You can't drag people around like this," Genma hissed, helping Obito up as the goggle-wearing boy turned a bit green and gagged, "Look what you've done. Obito, are you okay?"

"Fine," Obito squeaked, hunching over to dry heave a bit, "Don't mind me. Ugh!"

"Genma, we're in a hurry," Gai pushed as Obito nodded beside him, "Really, Gen, we have no time to chat."

"What is going on, Gai?" Genma snarled, "Anbu are acting all jumpy and the Uchiha police force have been patrolling like mad. Why are you hanging with Mr. Goggles here-no offense, Obito, but my teammate only seems to want to bother Kakashi these days. What are you two up to?"

Genma frowned when both Gai and Obito flinched at the silver-haired genius's name. What was this now?

"Gai, did you and your eternal rival finally break up and you've taken up with the Uchiha?" Genma asked as Gai grumbled while Obito gagged again, "What are you two up to? Explain yourselves. Well?"

"No, I've not take up with Obito and what do you mean 'break up' with my eternal rival? That's a lewd suggestion," Gai snarled, making Genma's eyes widen as his teammate dragged him into an alley with Obito following which made him drop the senbon he'd been chewing on, "There is much you do not know, Gen."

"Then tell me," Genma ordered.

The long-haired boy inhaled sharply in shock as Obito described what had happened to Kakashi. This couldn't be right. How did this happen and in the middle of the village with no one witnessing anything?

"Are you kidding me?" Genma gasped, staring at the two in front of him.

"No, we are not. Obito and I are just making some inquiries into who maybe showed up for a visit while Rin continues to investigate things in the hospital," Gai explained, "The attacker has to be caught."

"That's right," Obito nodded out as Genma scowled.

"You idiots," Genma fussed, "Don't you realize why it is that no one has heard about Kakashi's attack within the village?"

Twin looks of confusion stared back at Genma as the nin sighed.

"The attacker thought they left Kakashi for dead," Genma whispered, "If word gets out that Kakashi is alive…"

"God! Then the person will go after him again," Obito breathed, looking horrified, "Gai, how did you find out?"

"I had been visiting Ebisu in the hospital to cheer him up after he broke his leg at training the day before and heard Shizune-san talking to one of the medic nins who brought my rival to be treated," Gai stated, "I just overheard."

"Liar," Genma grinned out, "Shizune-san wouldn't have been having that conversation where others could overhear her. Shizune-san understands discretion. You were spying because you still think that kunoichi is pretty."

"Shut up," Gai groaned as Obito chuckled in amusement, "I wasn't…um…I'd never…ugh! Yes. Fine, I was spying. Happy?"

"You two need to stop," Genma ordered, "Continuing to do what you are doing will get Kakashi or yourselves killed. Leave this to the proper authorities. Obviously, security has been stepped up in the village and I'm sure that Kakashi is under guard now. I hate that this happened to Kakashi. I wish we could help, but we can't."

"We?" Obito asked in confusion.

"Kakashi's an odd one, but not bad," Genma admitted, "He's a comrade and I'm pissed as hell that someone hurt one of our classmates. I'd volunteer in a hot minute to help you two, but this must end now. I'm sorry, but if you continue…I'll have no choice, but to tell Chouza-sensei. I can't allow you two to do something stupid and then Kakashi will come and kick my ass good if he knew I allowed Obito off his leash."

"How dare you…I don't have a leash!" Obito spluttered before sighing, "Fine. I understand what you are saying, Genma. Bakakashi's safety is the most important. I'll back off. Come on, Gai, let's go tell Rin."

"Hai," Gai groaned as the he and the Uchiha stalked away.

Genma watched the two leave and shook his head. Both were "youthfully exuberant" as Gai liked to say, but they needed to think this through better. There was no warning. The youth gasped at sensing the one behind him too late and had no time to react as a hand clamped down over his mouth and dragged him further into the shadows of the alley. He fought against the hold on him, but whoever had him was damn strong. Genma cried out as he was slammed into a wall and felt a sharp blade held to his throat.

"Tell me what you know about Kakashi Hatake," a voice snarled as the young man tried to push the hand holding the blade away before stilling as the tanto drew blood, "Move and die. I heard you talking with those boys I've been following. I heard you say the Hatake's brat's name. Tell me, Kid, is the brat still alive?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Genma lied smoothly before grunting at the fist that backhanded him across his face, drawing blood from a busted lip, "I only mentioned Kakashi to Obito because that is one of his teammates. We were all fussing about our training schedules. Is…is Kakashi-san dead? W-when?"

Genma's acting could have been award winning. He knew this was Kakashi's attacker, judging by the fresh bruises on the man's arms, and hoped he could buy some time until someone noticed what was happening in the alley.

"You're a good liar, but I heard you say, "I can't allow you two to do something stupid and then Kakashi will come and kick my ass good.' The damn brat lives—the stubborn little shit that he is!" the man bit out before startling as loud, angry howls broke out giving Genma the opportunity to see the blade the nin held was Kakashi's weapon, "Kuso! I've gleaned enough from you, Kid. Don't need you blabbing about."

Genma grunted and then choked as the tanto stabbed deep into his gut as his brown eyes widened in shocked horror. He was dropped to the ground after the blade was withdrawn when the howls grew closer as pain ripped through his abdomen and raced like lava through his veins. Genma could only be thankful that the tanto hadn't been twisted in the wound as he curled in agony while his attacker flicked his blood from the blade.

"B-bastard," Genma stuttered as he saw the red of his blood pooling around him while his attacker leapt away, "Know your face, Coward. Uhn! Don't deserve…shinobi…name."

Genma panted in his suffering and shuddered as shock set in. What a way to go, huh? Dying in an alley before ever really living. That sucked, but at least Obito and Gai had been kept safe. Team leaders' responsibility, right? Genma waited to die with his honor intact.

To be continued…