If you recognise it… I don't own it.

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Harry Potter & Naruto– Start

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When it came to the date of October the tenth Kakashi was never sure if it hurt more if he was away from the Village or if he was in it.

If he was in the Village he was constantly reminded of his Sensei's death. The man who had become a father to him, after the suicide of his own.

If he wasn't in the Village he felt guilty about missing Naruto's birthday. Not that the young boy knew the cyclopic ninja celebrated it. The Hokage had forbidden any direct interaction between the two until the lad became a Genin at the very least.

That being said, Sarutobi-sama would look the other way on this one day to allow Kakashi to anonymously deliver a present.

The only restriction was that it couldn't be ninja related.

If he missed the day due to a mission, Kakashi could deliver it at the next opportunity.

However this year he would be able to deliver it on the day.

Late in the day, it was true. But still the day.

He'd finished his mission early. Technically he wasn't due back for another two days. However the target's security was much, much lower than initial reports had suggested.

Kakashi didn't even bother changing out of his Anbu gear as he picked up the already wrapped present from his apartment. It wasn't as if Naruto would see him. He never had before.

Lightly hopping across the virtually empty rooftops, Kakashi approached Naruto's flat.

It was only when he was one rooftop away that he realized there was a problem.

A small plume of smoke was seeping out through a smashed window.

Dashing forward, Kakashi was on the window-ledge opening the window in moments.

Inside, the smoke was worse. Kakashi quickly spotted and catalogued the source of the blaze. A Moltov Cocktail, still mainly intact on the floor. No doubt the fire had been intended to be far worse, but the failure of the bottle to break completely upon impact had reduced the spread of the accelerant.

One quick suiton jutsu later and the fire was out, leaving only the smoke behind, which Kakashi banished with a kaze jutsu.

Kakashi silently hurried to Naruto's room. He knew, like any good ninja, that it wasn't the fire that killed in cases like these, but the smoke. Naruto could already be…

No, he wouldn't think about that. He would take the boy to the hospital where he would recover.

That still didn't stop the relief flooding through him when he saw Naruto's sleeping form. Chest rising and falling as he breathed.

Kakashi moved forward and reached out to pick up the boy.

He didn't make contact.

Frowning, he tried again.

Once more he didn't touch the sleeping figure. Only this time he saw his hand pass through the boy.

Up went the mask and hiate. Much to Kakashi's surprise the genjutsu didn't break completely. Instead he was left with a ghost image.

It was not something he'd seen before, but that didn't matter. It still confirmed what Kakashi already suspected.

Naruto was not in his bed. He wasn't in his home. And someone didn't want anyone else to know that.

Kakashi moved to the laundry basket. It wasn't really a basket; more of a wooden crate with a sheet covering the inside. But it still held dirty clothes.

Kakashi grabbed the top item, pulled down his fabric mask and inhaled deeply. Many people didn't realize that the Hatake's had an increased sense of smell, which, although wasn't as strong as the Inzuakak's, was more like a wolf's than human.

The fabric smelt of metal oil, chalk, ramen, plants, dirt and the unmistakable, distinctive scent of Naruto. The one which hadn't changed since the boy had been born.

It hadn't faded a great deal. It was about a day old; at most two.

Not an insurmountable obstacle. They couldn't have gotten too far. With the burden of extra weight they would most likely still be within Fire's borders.

If he was very lucky they would still have to leave Konoha. No doubt they had expected the genjutsu to go undetected for longer. Naruto was not unknown for skipping the Academy for two days after the tenth.

He summoned his dogs.

"What's up, boss?" Pakkun asked; it had been a long time since the Jonin had called upon his whole pack.

"Naruto's been taken."

"The pup?" Pakkun frowned, "He's right behind you."

"No scent." Bull grumbled.

"Genjutsu." Kakashi confirmed, "Find him."

He held out Naruto's t-shirt. Immediately they all buried their noses in it, before leaping out of the bedroom window. Only Pakkun pausing for a moment.

"You okay, boss?"

"I will be." Kakashi stated, "When we find him."

With an agreeing nod, Pakkun leapt after the others.

Kakashi returned to the kitchen to gather what evidence he could. There was little doubt in his mind that the two crimes (Arson and kidnapping) were orchestrated by two separate people. It was mere coincidence that they had happened together. Although fortunate, had Kakashi not feared for Naruto's life he would never have reached out to touch the boy.

The problem with the Moltov Cocktail was that in a Village where every ninja knew at least one fire jutsu, even if only a campfire starter, a Moltov Cocktail pointed towards a civilian. However no civilian could have launched the bottle through Naruto's window. So it could only have been thrown by a ninja.

Most of what Kakashi was doing was to place stasis seals over the area. He had not the skill to interpret the evidence sufficiently. His skills had always leant towards combat and action rather than research and interrogation.

He hoped that he had not destroyed valuable evidence with his earlier actions, but could not regret them. It had been instinctive.

He was also trying to draw up a list of ninja he could trust. It was more difficult than it sounded. Many ninja he would trust to watch his back he would not trust with Naruto's safety. They had lost too much and trusted too little in his Sensei's work.

Many would be surprised that Kakashi settled on Gai as his first choice. Although the two were often seen in the company of each other, it was generally believed that Kakashi merely tolerated Gai and his eccentricities. Whereas Kakashi actually valued Gai as a loyal friend and a skilled ninja. Gai was capable enough to hold his own against Kakashi. In addition he never judged anyone solely upon rumours and speculation, but instead based his judgements upon actual evidence and personal observations. To that end, he didn't hate Konoha's hidden Jinchuuriki.

There was a time when Kakashi's next selection would have been Itachi. But that time was gone. Kakashi still wasn't sure what had set Itachi down the path he had chosen to walk. But he blamed himself to some degree. He should have seen the darkness that had infected the young prodigy. He should have been there. He should have brought the light back to Itachi's eyes. Made him see the good there was. Found him a different way to prove himself.

Tenzou was the next ninja to cross Kakashi's mind. The ninja was quiet, loyal and having had a lot of wary eyes pointed in his direction knew the harm that rumours could cause. It wasn't as if he had asked for Orochimaru to mess with his DNA and give him the skills of the First Hokage. It caused almost all the ninja, who knew about what had happened (which was nearly everyone at Chunin rank and upwards), to treat him one of two ways. Either they suspected he was a sleeper agent for Orochimaru. Or they revered him for having the same skill as the First.

The other advantage was that there was a theory that Tenzo could calm the Kyuubi if it started to break out. While Kakashi would like to believe that Naruto would still be in control he was just a child. He was most likely scared and Kakashi knew that strong negative emotions often brought demons to the surface of their Jinchuuriki.

Part of Kakashi wanted to take a kunoichi as the last member of his team. Preferably one with medic-nin training. But he didn't know any skilled enough that was sufficiently Naruto-neutral for his liking.

He quickly dismissed Inuzuka Tsume. Even taking into account the long held rivalry between the Inuzuka and Hatake clans, Kakashi wasn't sure about how the Inuzuka regarded Naruto. While they didn't discourage Kiba from playing with the blond orphan, they had never invited him to visit their home.

The same fact prevented Kakashi from considering the Nara or the Akimichi Clans as a source for a fourth member.

He considered Hizashi. The man was a talented ninja. Dedicated and loyal. He also held very few prejudices, in direct contrast to what most would expect given the brand on his forehead. However it was unlikely that the Hyuuga Branch Clan ninja would leave the Clan Compound so late at night. Particularly given the failed abduction of Hinata years previously.

Then again, a team of three would be sufficient. While he might prefer four it was unlikely to be necessary. Tenzou could protect the child, while he and Gai bought time for their escape.

Confident in the fact that any evidence he had managed not to destroy was safe, Kakashi slipped out the apartment and headed out over the rooftops.

He didn't have the nose to follow Naruto's scent. But he didn't need to. He could easily track his dogs through Konoha, or anywhere in the whole Continent if necessary.

He met up with Pakkun on the outskirts of the Training Fields.

"He hasn't left Konoha, boss." Pakkun reported, "Uhei and Guruko have checked the walls. No scent of him anywhere near them."

"They could have used a tunnel." Kakashi reminded.

"Possibly, boss." Pakkun agreed, "But the pup's scent led here. We're still narrowing it down. Good news is that so far, no blood."

No blood, Naruto wasn't bleeding. It shouldn't have been a comfort. Kami knows Kakashi knows over a hundred ways to hurt someone and not leave them bleeding. But it was. Because at least Naruto wasn't bleeding.

Bisuke ran up to them.

"Scent trail ends in Nine." He reported, "In the hut clearing."

Both Pakkun and Kakashi took off towards the clearing. Training Ground Nine was a general purpose Training Ground, usually used by new Genins or dedicated Academy Students. It was simply a wooded area with a few Wing Chun dummies and throwing targets scattered about. The only really distinguishing feature was the hut in a clearing. It was pretty run down and roof leaked really badly. At one point it had probably been used for when rain interrupted training (it was a low ranking Training Ground, it was expected that those that used it would stop for bad enough rain), but these days it was basically being left to fall down.

It wasn't large enough to practice infiltration or siege with. It wasn't even useful as a store. It wasn't worth the money to pay for a Genin team to either repair it or destroy it. So it had just been ignored.

Only now it was ringed at a distance by a pack of hounds.

"How many scents?" He asked.

"The pup's and one other." The report was quick, "Adult. Male. Smells kinda like a Nara. Grass and deer. But also some other stuff. Herbs. Spices. Stuff I've never smelt before. None of us have. It's all over this clearing. He's been here a lot. Years."

A threat inside Konoha's walls that had been hidden in their very Training Grounds for years? Kakashi could barely believe it. But he had faith in his hounds. If they said that, then it was true.

But if they had been there for so long, why act now? Who sent them? Who were they working for? What were they up to?

Because although the nin-ken could only smell one man, Kakashi knew there had to be others, probably scattered around Konoha. No infiltration would rely so much on one man hidden away in a small Training Ground.

Kakashi signalled to his dogs to hold their positions, guarding the clearing perimeter as he crept forward, towards the hut.

He sensed no alarms, no seals, no traps. He could see no guards, whether human or Summons (though given what they could be, he simply could be missing them).

As he moved forward his mind started to go through a list of tasks he needed to complete at some point. There was the report for his latest mission, which was expected to be in in less than twelve hours. He really should be writing it. But his reports were always late. It was part of his reputation. He ought to get himself checked out medically. But that wasn't really necessary. No ninja went to the medics unless they were actually in need of medical help, and sometimes not even then. Though he really ought to report the attempted murder of Naruto. Not that the evidence would degrade, but the criminal might have time to escape Konoha or hide all connections to the crime. Yes, he needed to do that quickly. Else Justice wouldn't be served.

A sudden jolt of pain shot through his leg. Looking down he saw Pakkun disengaging his jaw from around Kakashi's leg.

"Boss, what are you doing?" Pakkun asked, "Where are you going?"

Kakashi blinked. He was headed away from the clearing. Away from the hut. Away from Naruto.

He'd even got a good distance before Pakkun had managed to stop him.

"Has anyone else approached the hut?" Kakashi demanded.

"I did." Bisuke reported, "But then I remembered that you would want me to report the location as quickly as possible."

"Anyone else?" Kakashi pressed.

"We all did." Guruko sort of shrugged, "But you didn't ask us to engage. We thought you would like us to guard the area. So we backed off."

"Genjutsu." Kakashi murmured.

He had heard of a genjutsu that made the victim feel like they were underwater. It consisted of the sight, touch, scent, sound and taste of water. It was so effective at deceiving the victim that they actually drowned. Dry drowning, Kakashi had heard it called by a Medic-Nin. Drowning without any liquid in the lungs.

This seemed to be something similar. Messing with the brain. But in such a way that he hadn't noticed. A reordering of priorities really.

Kakashi resented that. Nothing was more important than Naruto's safety.

The threat level of this kidnapper had just risen. If they could pull off an area-wide genjutsu so subtle that he didn't notice then they weren't your average ninja. Special Jonin at least. Probably an infiltration specialist or a genjutsu specialist. The fact that Kakashi hadn't heard of this particular genjutsu before meant that they were very careful to stay under the radar. To never be identified as an elite ninja.

Kakashi carefully lifted the forehead protector up to his forehead. Behind his Anbu mask his gifted eye swirled as he took in the clearing.

His eyes widened.

"It's not a hut." He breathed, "It's a Diamyo's Tent."

Tents came in three types as far as Kakashi was aware.

There were the Shinobi Tents, which were only really used for low level C Ranks by Genin Teams (only when the Jonin-Sensei was feeling kind) and trips to the Land of Snow. They were small, one or two person tents. Simple to put up and dismantle, but very sturdy all the same. Light and easy to carry. Usually using Seals to keep out the cold and wet.

There were the Civillian Tents, which were used by merchants and travellers. They were larger and bulkier. Three or four person tents. Harder to put up. More prone to falling down. Heavier, even when in transit. Variable reliability in waterproofness and in protecting from the cold.

Finally there were the Diamyo's Tents. These were large elaborate things. Complicated to put up. Heavy to carry. Capable (depending upon the size) of entertaining up to twenty Lords for dinner (including servants and guards). It was possible to stand upright in one and even to enter without ducking. They were often gaudily decorated with lanterns, frills, tassels, streamers and wind-chimes outside.

This one wasn't as gaudy as some that Kakashi had seen in the past. The fabric of the tent was a rather plain muddy sort of green, more reminiscent of the Shinobi Tents, than the usually vibrant colours of Lords and Diamyos. There was a distinct lack of the decorations, and what little there was, was clearly homemade. Childlike in the simplicity. Deliberately mimicking a child's creations, Kakashi saw. No doubt meant to lure a child in.

Clever, Kakashi had to admit. But he could see through the deception now.

He motioned to his pack to stay where they were. To maintain a guard as he approached.

He held a kunai loosely in his hand, fingers wrapped around the blade. Every time he felt his mind wandering from his objective, he would squeeze. The sharp blade brought his attention back to where it needed to be.

With a fast dash to the edge of the tent, Kakashi managed to get there without having to cut himself too many times.

The moment Kakashi's fingers touched the tent fabric the constant pressing on his mind to go somewhere else and do something else disappeared like smoke in the wind.

Strangely the fabric seemed impervious to Kakashi's attempts at cutting it. Nor could he get his fingers underneath the edges to enter that way. The pegs refused to come out the ground as well.

It seemed that Kakashi's only option for entering the tent was the one route he really didn't like taking… The entrance.

He'd never used a door when he could use a window for years. It'd gotten to the point that Minato had installed a lock on his window that could be opened from both sides.

He couldn't actually remember the last time he'd used the front door to his apartment. Wasn't even entirely sure he knew where the key was.

Edging round to the entrance, Kakashi was careful not to make a sound. There was to be no alerting his prey to his presence.

Two paper lanterns, clearly made in the style used by children, framed the entranceway. Bizarrely some sort of jutsu had been used to give them light. There seemed to be no real purpose behind it. Unless they had been part of the lure for Naruto.

There were no guards or alarms on the entrance, as far as Kakashi could tell. He sidled in to the tent.

Then he snuck back outside again.

He stared very hard at the outside. Then he re-entered the tent.

It was larger on the inside. Significantly so. From the outside it looked like the tent could sleep possibly ten comfortably. Yet on the inside the tent could easily sleep three times that number. There was a solid floor, strewn with rugs; three chandeliers all dimly lit. A few windows could just be seen past draping fabric. There was what looked like a cast iron stove, complete with chimney. A few chairs were scattered around, most of them heavily padded. A full length, freestanding mirror was clearly on display.

There were a few offshoot rooms, five in total that Kakashi noted. Two with the fabric rolled down, concealing what lay beyond them. But he could make out a scroll rack and a bookcase in one of the rooms.

A mere whisper of a word and a flash of light brought Kakashi's attention back to the central room.

He didn't recognise the attack, and it clearly was an attack, but he dodged it anyway.

He retaliated with a thrown kunai. He didn't dare use any of his elemental jutsus. Not in such confined quarters. He wouldn't risk harming Naruto by accident.

The kunai was deflected by a transparent blue shield, which appeared and disappeared in an instant, with a word.

Another whispered word and again the flash of red light. Kakashi easily dodged it.

However he felt another blow hit him in the back.

And then darkness.

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Don't know where this one came from, but it virtually sprang into my head. Bit of left field one here though. Have left you some clues as to who is in the tent. Might post a second bit in the future. It's flowing quite nicely.

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