Kakashi paced the length of Minato's office repeatedly, annoying the hell out of both Iruka and the Fourth Hokage.

"What are we supposed to do? Itachi's smart; eventually he's going to figure out what happened to his parents," Iruka said, trying to ignore the masked ninja. "We can't keep lying to him."

Minato glanced up from his paperwork. "And if Itachi keeps asking questions without getting answers, he's going to ask questions elsewhere. Then Sasuke, when he's older, will start wondering also," he pointed out tiredly. "We have to get this problem out of the way."

"I've got it!" Kakashi shouted triumphantly. Iruka glanced at him worriedly.

"It took you over an hour to get an idea?" Minato asked, gazing at his former student in disbelief. Kakashi ignored him.

"Where's Inoichi?" he questioned, looking around like the older blonde would appear out of thin air.

"Obviously not here," Iruka muttered under his breath; no one heard him.

"At his family's flower shop. Why?" Minato answered, raising an eyebrow at Kakashi.

"Because I need him." Kakashi stated simply, before he was gone, disappearing out the door. Probably to find Inoichi.

Iruka gazed out the window behind Minato's head, smiling inwardly at how peaceful the village was.

It was only a couple of months ago that the Nine-Tails was released, but with the Third Hokage's help, Minato was able to subdue the demon and seal it into his newborn son. Unfortunately, Sarutobi was killed, and Kushina almost lost her life. Luckily, Tsunade, who had helped raise Minato, was able to save her, and she was currently at home, watching Sasuke, Itachi, and Naruto.

Kakashi burst back into the room, dragging Inoichi behind him.

"I found him!" he announced proudly, and Inoichi stared at him for a moment before shuffling to the side, a good distance away from the masked ninja.

"What do you need, Hokage-sama?" the Yamanaka asked. Minato sighed and ran a hand through his blonde hair.

"Truthfully? I have no idea. Ask the man who brought you here." He said.

Inoichi glanced back at Kakashi, then at Iruka. The brunette understood the pleading look in his gaze and reluctantly turned to Kakashi.

"So," he started. "What was your brilliant idea?"

Kakashi brightened and said, "We erase Itachi's memory."

"No," Minato said immediately. "We can't erase a three-year-olds memory—"

"Are you sure, Sensei?" It's the only way." Kakashi argued.

Iruka spoke up. "Hokage-sama, it's actually not that bad of an idea."

"I know it's not that bad of an idea, but we can't erase his memory. That would probably be bad." Minato countered.

"Probably? Sensei, you should know whether it's bad or not."

"Hokage-sama, I hate to say it, but I think it is the only way."Iruka said. Kakashi grinned, throwing an arm over the brunette's shoulder.

"See? He's on my side." He said. Iruka ignored him.

Minato sighed, raking a hand through his hair repeatedly. "I know. I just can't understand how—"he broke off and narrowed his eyes, staring at Kakashi. "You knew I was going to say yes, didn't you? That's why you brought Inoichi."

Kakashi stared back innocently, even though there was nothing innocent about him.