Author Notes: Hey all, thanks for reading and enjoying the story so far. If y'all have feedback please leave a review, however, I ask that the feedback be specific. Being clear and concise about what y'all dislike and highlighting any inconsistencies or vagueness in the story will help me improve my writing. Also, I will try to release chapters consistently (I have a job and do this for fun). I'm still deciding if I should decrease the length of chapters or keep them as is. Anyway, let me know what y'all like and don't like, but here is the next chapter. It's going to get crazy; I'm taking the story in an interesting direction, and I hope y'all will like it. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 6

ONE MONTH LATER, UCHIHA COMPOUND

It had been a month since Team 7's surprise encounter with Jugo. Despite facing off against a strong foe and defeating him, Team 7 had been relegated to low-ranking missions. Mostly D-ranks and an occasional C-rank but nothing special. They had to capture a cat many times, plant trees, deliver messages, and even help build houses on the outskirts of the village. The young genin squad was hungry for better missions, especially Naruto, as he was extremely bored. However, Team 7 would soon receive a mission that would change everything.

Now we go to one Kiyomi Uchiha who was sound asleep in her bed, reflecting on the last month; her missions, her sensei, her clan, her brother, and… Naruto. She often thought about him, especially recently due to them being on the same team. Kiyomi wanted to know if he thought about her or felt the same way she felt. She had had a crush on him ever since they were kids, but she was on the fence about revealing her feelings as she didn't know how he would respond. Naruto acted like a goofball most of them but he would have moments of sincerity, tenderness, or seriousness but those moments were rare.

Another reason why she was hesitant to tell him how she felt was a fear of ruining the dynamics of Team 7. Kiyomi didn't want it to be any more awkward; she and Sasuke already had a strained relationship, she didn't see Hinata often, and her father wasn't the best to talk with on these subjects. Her mother was someone who she could confide in, but she wasn't here anymore. Kiyomi had already lost so many loved ones and was barely holding it together… she didn't want to lose anyone else.

As Kiyomi wrestled with her thoughts, she was rudely awakened by the sound of footsteps near her bed. Groaning, she rolled over, ready to give Sasuke a piece of her mind about using his shikigami or whatever they were, to wake her up.

"I thought I told you to stop—" Kiyomi began, but her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Naruto crouching beside her bed, peering at her through his glasses.

"Oh, you're awake," Naruto said casually as if it were perfectly normal to find himself in her bedroom. "Get ready, the old man summoned us for a mission."

Kiyomi blinked at him for a moment before scrambling out of bed, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "What's wrong with you!?"

Naruto cocked his head, puzzled. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"What do I mean!? You just entered my room without permission, and you're acting as if everything is fine," she said angrily.

"I don't see what the big deal is," Naruto shrugged, completely oblivious to Kiyomi's mounting frustration.

Kiyomi's fists clenched at her sides, her patience wearing thin. What do I see in him? she thought, her mind racing with frustration. Before she could say anything else, a shadow started to emerge from the floor. After a couple of moments, a black dog emerged.

"Woof!" it barked at Naruto.

Naruto knelt to take a closer look. "I thought you were out of chakra. But it seems you are flesh and bones". He stroked the dog's fur, feeling its warmth and softness. The dog wagged its tail and licked his face, making him laugh. "Good boy," he said, scratching the dog's ears.

Kiyomi was open to yell for Naruto to leave her room until the down slid open revealing Sasuke.

"Kiyomi, it's time to wake up―" he stopped upon seeing Naruto petting his divine dog. "What are you doing here?"

Naruto looked up at Sasuke. "Getting you two, the old man has summoned us for a mission."

The two continued to engage in their conversation while Kiyomi stood with a puzzled but angry look. Don't they realize they're in MY ROOM?! she thought, her frustration reaching its all-time peak. However, at this moment, she gained true awareness of her surroundings, in particular, what she was wearing. She looked down at her loose pajamas and her face started to turn bright red.

Her embarrassment was now turning into anger. She clenched her fists and yelled, "AGRH!" Veins started to appear on her forehead, and an ominous glow started to radiate from her. "YOU TWO ENTER MY ROOM WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, INTERRUPT MY SLEEP, AND CONTINUE TO BE A PAIN IN MY ASS."

"Huh?" said both boys, completely taken aback by Kiyomi's sudden outburst.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY ROOM!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the house as she slapped Naruto and Sasuke in quick succession, causing the two to fall on the floor with their faces smoking. She glared down at the divine dog with narrow eyes.

The dog whimpered before he pulled his master and Naruto out of Kiyomi's room, leaving her seething with anger as she slammed the door shut.

Team 7 walked through the bustling streets of the village, Kiyomi leading the way with determined strides while Naruto and Sasuke trailed behind, still feeling the sting of her slap on their faces.

Naruto rubbed his cheek sheepishly, shooting a glance at Sasuke, who was doing the same. "Man, she packs quite a punch, doesn't she?"

Sasuke grunted in agreement, his expression a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "You could say that again."

Kiyomi turned around. "What did you say?" Even though most of her anger had been subsidized she was still pissed.

"Oh nothing", Naruto quickly said as Sasuke looked at him nervously.

"I thought so", she replied turning back around.

Naruto leaned closer to Sasuke. "She's been in a crappy mood lately, what's her deal?" he said with a whisper, hiding his mouth.

"I couldn't tell you. She's been like this ever since the bell test with Kakashi-sensei", Sasuke responded.

Naruto nodded; his eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Oh yeah!" he stopped whispering. "Speaking of Kakashi-sensei, we need to get him before we head to the old man."

"Where are we supposed to find him?" Sasuke asked.

"I'm surprised you don't know where he lives considering you love to appear at people's houses uninvited", Kiyomi interjected.

"Umm yeah… anyway", Naruto said rubbing the back of his head. "I have an idea where he lives but haven't pinpointed exactly. Our sensei is crafty and uses a lot of deception to throw me off his trail. Even my eyes can't detect where he is."

Kiyomi rolled her eyes. "Why don't we just wait for him in the Hokage's office?"

"That would be the boring option. Come on, aren't you a little bit curious about his personal life? He never shares anything." Naruto said.

"I mean… I have always wondered" Kiyomi confessed. Their sensei was laidback but also extremely secretive. She didn't even know what type of food he liked. "S-sure let's go find him" She gave a genuine smile.

"Alright that's more like it" He looked at Sasuke. "So, what do you say Sasuke?"

Sasuke looked at Naruto and Kiyomi before shrugging his shoulders. "Why not?"

Naruto grinned. "Alright," he said. "Let's split and look for him. Don't bother trying to sense his chakra, he uses Kage Bunshins (Shadow Clones) to confuse you."

"Wait how we will signal if we find something?" Kiyomi asked.

Sasuke made a dog hand seal summoning his black divine dog. "This is how. He can alert me once you've found something. Once he disperses, I'll be alerted and head over to you."

"What about Naruto?" she asked.

Naruto put a finger on his glasses. "You forget that I'm a sensor. When the jutsu is released, I'll track the chakra spike. If there's no more questions, let's do this", he said. "Meet back here after an hour."

With a nod of agreement, Team 7 split up, each member heading in a different direction.

Naruto jumped from rooftop to rooftop, surveying the village, trying to find his sensei. He had come across a few shadow clones but couldn't find the real Kakashi. As the hour drew near, Naruto was about to give up until he saw something.

One of the nearby Kakashi's shadow clones disappeared with a 'poof,' meaning the clone had been dismissed. Naruto's eyes widened as he realized what this meant. He drew a wide grin. "I've got you now," he said, clasping his hands together and teleporting away.

Naruto arrived at the meeting where he saw Sasuke and Kiyomi sitting around.

"I'm assuming you two didn't find him," he said.

The twins nodded.

"Fear not," Naruto said, making a pose, "I know where he is."

"How?" Kiyomi asked, intrigued.

"When I was going around the village, I came across one of his shadow clones disappearing."

"How is that helpful?" Sasuke asked.

"I was getting to that before I was rudely interrupted. Now, when a shadow clone disperses, the clone's chakra returns to the caster. Using my eyes, I tracked the clone's chakra and pinpointed the location of the source." Naruto pointed his finger in the direction of Konoha's residential zone. "Let us journey onward!"

"Yeah, let's do this" Kiyomi responded.

Despite their excitement, Sasuke remained calm. "Is it really necessary to hunt him down like this?" he questioned.

Kiyomi chimed in. "Oh, come on, Sasuke! Don't you want to know what Kakashi-sensei does outside of missions?"

"No, I highly doubt he does anything interesting," he replied, unimpressed. "It's a waste to do this. I'm going to the Hokage office to wait for him to arrive." Sasuke turned and started walking away.

Naruto scratched the back of his head, contemplating how to convince Sasuke to join them. "Wait, Sasuke," he called out, his voice laced with mischief. "Are you going to pass up this chance to gain some leverage over Kakashi-sensei?"

Sasuke turned around, intrigued by Naruto's words. "Leverage?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

Naruto nodded enthusiastically, his grin widening. "That's right! Imagine Sasuke. Our sensei values his secrets and if you get a hold of one, the possibilities are endless. Think of it as retribution for all the times he's messed with and embarrassed us." Naruto puts his hands out with his palms facing up. "You would have so much power over him."

Sasuke contemplated Naruto's proposition. After a moment of silent deliberation, he sighed and turned to rejoin his teammates. "Fine," he relented, his tone begrudging. "But if sensei retaliates, you're on your own."

Naruto flashed a thumbs-up, his grin reaching ear to ear. "You won't regret it, Sasuke! All right, let's discover the secrets of Kakashi sensei."

The trio walked until they came across a secluded house nestled amidst the trees. It was an old, rustic house with wooden architecture and a dark, tiled roof, but it looked full of life. The house had two distinct sections: one with a slanted roof and another with a gabled roof. A wooden fence surrounded the property and a small garden outside.

"Is this it?" Sasuke asked.

Kiyomi examined the home with fascination. "It's so quaint!" She tried looking through the windows to see if anyone was home. She couldn't find anyone. "It doesn't seem like anyone is at home."

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "It looks like we just missed him. The residual chakra in the area indicates he was here."

"So, this was for nothing?" Kiyomi said, starting to get annoyed that they had wasted so much time looking for him.

Sasuke, sensing his sister's frustration, intervened before anything could happen. "Let's just head back so we don't waste any more time," he said, walking away.

"Wait," Naruto said. "I can see two chakra signatures in the house, they're similar to Kakashi-sensei."

"So? It's none of our business who's in his house," Sasuke responded. "We've already found out where he lives. We don't need to investigate any further."

"Come on, Sasuke. What about the leverage?" Naruto teased.

"I'm not going to invade someone's privacy for such a silly reason." Sasuke scoffed. "Unlike you, I know how to respect the privacy of people." He turned to face Naruto. "There's only one fundamental rule when interacting with others."

Naruto put his hands in his pockets. "Oh, what may that be then?" he asked sarcastically.

"It's 'I won't kill you so don't kill me, either'. You can replace kill with anything you like but the point is that we all must draw a line where you agree not to infringe on the other person." Sasuke responded.

Naruto laughed at Sasuke's comments. "Ha! Sounds like an excuse to not get into confrontations. What are you, a scaredy-cat?"

"Scare-dy... cat?" Sasuke said, getting annoyed. "How I am the scared one? You hide behind those glasses of yours; always infringing on others but never letting anyone in. You're the one who's scared of showing the real you because you know everyone only values you because of your strength."

Naruto's smile waived for a quick second before returning. He gave a fake laugh.

Kiyomi noticing this, tried to stop Sasuke. "Hey we should―"

However, Sasuke continued, ignoring her. "You are strong but that's all you have." Sasuke closed his eyes and then opened them revealing his Sharingan. "My eyes can see everything. So let me ask you this Naruto. Are you the strongest because you're Naruto Uzumaki or are you Naruto Uzumaki because you're the strongest?"

Naruto's smile wavers for a moment before fading entirely. His posture stiffens, and he averts his gaze, hiding his eyes behind his glasses. It's a subtle gesture, but Sasuke catches the shift in Naruto's demeanor, the tension palpable in the air.

Sasuke deactivates his Sharingan, realizing his words. His expression softened as he observed Naruto's reaction and a pang of guilt settled in his chest. He let his emotions get the best of him. By confronting Naruto, he realized his hypocrisy; he had told Naruto not to infringe on others when he, himself, just did the same thing. Sasuke stood there in silence, thinking about his words. Feeling shame and regret.

No one spoke. The wind howled through the trees; the leaves blew past them as the two stood staring at each other.

"Naruto… I…" Sasuke whispered, however, was sound stopped by the sound of the house door sliding open.

"Could you three quiet down? If you're looking for my Otousan, he isn't here." A voice spoke.

Team 7 turned their heads in the direction of the voice. What they saw surprised them. They were greeted by a boy with the same spikey, silverly white, gravity-defying hair as Kakashi. He also had onyx eyes and looked to be about 7 years old. old. The boy stood at 4 feet, had grey shorts, and a long-sleeved black shirt on.

The trio was stunned they never imagined their sensei of all people to have a wife and no less a son.

Kiyomi gasped, her eyes widened in disbelief. "W-wow, Kakashi-sensei… has a son?" She never thought any woman who marry a pervert like him.

He looks just like him… minus the mask, Sasuke thought.

The kid rubbed his eye. He looked like he had just woken up from a nap. "Who are you? Also, what's with that weird face?" he asked pointing at Naruto.

Sasuke and Kiyomi turned their heads to see Naruto's shocked face and wide-open mouth.

"Oh nothing," Naruto said regaining his composure. "You just look like your tousan. What's your name kid?"

"Sakuto Hatake" he responded, "now who are you?"

Naruto readjusted his glasses. "Well, Sakuto, we are Team 7. And I am the great Naruto Uzumaki!"

"Hi, I'm Kiyomi Uchiha. It's nice to meet ya!" she said giving Sakuto a wave.

"I am Sasuke Uchiha." Sasuke replied. "Do you know where Kakashi-sensei went?"

"Oh," Sakuto scratched the back of his head. "I believe he went to the Hokage's office for a mission or something."

Kiyomi shot Naruto a glare upon hearing this information. Naruto acted like he didn't see her stare. She crouched down to Sakuto's level.

"Are you home alone?" she asked. "Where's your kaasan?"

"She's on a mission, it's just me and Maki-san," he said.

"Maki-san?" Kiyomi asked.

"Tousan!" Just then a four-year-old girl came from out the door, headed straight towards them. She wore a black dress with red flowers on it. She had onyx eyes similar to her brother's, but her hair was short silverly white hair that extended, slightly past her neck. However, there were streaks of violet scattered across her head.

She ran to Naruto and hugged him. "Tousan!" she said, smushing her face into his leg.

"Awwww, that's so cute," Kiyomi said, "she thinks you're Kakashi sensei."

"You two do look alike." Sasuke chimed in.

Naruto was confused by the child's gesture but after a quick moment, he softened up. He smiled at her and ruffled her hair tenderly.

"Ah sorry, about," Sakuto said. "Maki-san, that isn't tousan."

"Huh?" she said, taking her head off his head. She looked up to see Naruto smiling down at her.

Naruto bent down and picked her up, bringing her to eye level. "So, you're Kakashi-sensei's kid, huh?" he gave a small laugh. "You do look just like him… the eyes at least."

Maki was fascinated with Naruto's glasses. "Hey mister, can I see your glasses?" Her small arms reaching forward.

"Sure." He responded.

She reached forward and took Naruto's glasses off his face, revealing his blue eyes.

"Wow," Naruto said squinting his eyes. "It's been a while since I last had these off."

Sasuke, Kiyomi, and Sakuto were amazed at Naruto's eyes—especially Sasuke and Kiyomi, who had never seen him without his glasses off.

Woah… his eyes are beautiful, Kiyomi marveled, gazing into them.

They've got this peculiar glow to them… I wonder why he wears the glasses, Sasuke thought.

Maki climbed on Naruto's shoulders and tried on his glasses. "Hey, mister your glasses are weird. I can't see anything through them!"

Naruto chuckled. "We'll they're special glasses for people with special eyes."

"Ahh." She replied. "I wish I had special eyes."

Naruto's smile softened, touched by her innocence. "You don't need special eyes to be amazing Maki-chan. You're already amazing."

Maki's eyes lit up at his words, and she threw her arms around Naruto's neck in a spontaneous hug. "Thanks, mister Naruto! You're the best!"

Naruto just laughed at her gesture.

Kiyomi looked back at Sakuto. "So how is Kakashi-sensei at home? What's he like?"

"Uhh… he doesn't say much and isn't super strict. The only thing he is serious about is his stash of books. He's always protective over them and told me to make sure I don't touch them or let Maki near them." Sakuto put a hand on his chin. "Now that I think about it, he and Kaasan are always giggling every time they read this orange book. I don't understand what's so funny."

Naruto, Sasuke, and Kiyomi deadpanned over his statements.

…So his wife's a pervert too, Kiyomi thought.

Sasuke facepalmed his head while Naruto just laughed.

Maki returned Naruto's glasses, and he gently set her down, shooting Sakuto a mischievous grin. "Hey, Sakuto," Naruto began, his tone mischievous, "you know that orange book your parents always seem to enjoy reading? Well, it's actually por—"

Before Naruto could finish his sentence, Kiyomi swiftly elbowed him in the side, causing him to wince and halt mid-sentence. "Oof! What was that for?" Naruto exclaimed, rubbing his side, and shooting Kiyomi a bewildered look.

Kiyomi responded with a forced smile, her eyes flickering with a hint of panic. "Oh, nothing," she said, her voice strained with urgency as she glanced nervously at the children. "Just a little, uh, friendly reminder to watch our language around the little ones."

Sakuto looked at Team 7 with a puzzled expression. These three are weirder than tousan "Anyway, do you need anything else?" he asked, oblivious to the exchange between Naruto and Kiyomi.

"No," Naruto responded quickly, his smile strained as he tried to recover from Kiyomi's interruption. "It's time we head off." He patted the top of Maki's head. "Bye Maki-chan."

As Team 7 began their departure towards the Hatake residence, Maki's sudden cry stopped them in their tracks. With her small figure racing towards them, her plea echoed in the quiet surroundings. "Wait!" she cried out, her voice filled with urgency. "You three need to promise to protect my tousan."

Sakuto's sigh resonated with a sense of resignation, acknowledging the routine interruption.

However, Naruto's response was swift and reassuring, his demeanor untroubled as he crouched down to Maki's eye level. "Don't worry, Maki-chan," he assured her with a genuine smile. "We'll protect your tousan."

Maki's smile in response was radiant, a reflection of her innocent trust, before she returned to her brother's side, waving goodbye as Team 7 resumed their journey toward the Hokage's office.

Naruto's soft voice broke the silence, his words carrying a hint of sadness tinged with admiration. "They're a nice group of kids," he remarked, his gaze lingering on the fading figures of the siblings. "They haven't been exposed to the pain of this world."

Kiyomi's agreement was accompanied by a wistful sigh, her thoughts drifting to a longing for simpler times. "I wish I could go back to when I was younger," she admitted softly, "and not know anything about reality or suffering. I honestly wish we could create a world without pain, without suffering."

Sasuke's addition was measured and somber, his voice tinged with bitterness as he reflected on the harsh realities of their world. "The difficulty in creating such a world... is that suffering is a part of life," he acknowledged. "We all suffer. So many innocents have been robbed of fairness by the actions of evil people. Yet these evil people run amuck, and the innocents forgive them. It makes me want to vomit with how they go around forgiving them."

Naruto and Kiyomi absorbed Sasuke's words, each lost in their thoughts as they contemplated the complexities of their existence.

"I don't believe that forgiveness is weakness," she responded, her voice full of hope and determination. She turned to face Naruto and Sasuke. "It's an act of strength and compassion. When we forgive, we release ourselves from the shackles of hatred and resentment. We choose love over hate, and in doing so, we heal ourselves and others."

Naruto's agreement was accompanied by a small smile, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "Yeah," he murmured, his voice soft and contemplative. "I can understand what you're saying."

Sasuke remained silent, his expression unreadable as he pondered Kiyomi's words, his thoughts shrouded in contemplation.

The journey back was shrouded in silence, each member of Team 7 lost in their reflections as they grappled with the weight of their conversation.

After a couple of minutes of walking, Naruto spoke up. "Wait a minute. Why are we walking back?"

Kiyomi and Sasuke eye's widened as they realized what he meant.

"Oh no, we are teleporting with you again. I still get chills thinking about what happened last time." Kiyomi said, her spine shivering.

"I'll have you that I've fixed that issue." Naruto refuted. "Come on, trust me. Pretty please." He begged.

"Don't do it Kiyomi," Sasuke said. He had trusted Naruto too many times and suffered the consequences.

Naruto got on his knees and grabbed her hand. "Pretty please."

Kiyomi's face turned slightly pink before quickly slapping her hand back. "F-f-ine. However, if the same thing happens as last time… you'll surely regret it," she said ominously.

"Okay!" Naruto quickly got up and began drawing kanji in a circle. Naruto's hands moved swiftly as he sketched the intricate symbols into the ground, his brow furrowed in concentration. Kiyomi and Sasuke watched with both curiosity and apprehension as the patterns took shape.

"Is this the Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique)?" Sasuke asked, recognizing the kanji from his studies. From what he could remember it was a S-rank space-time ninjutsu heavily used by the Fourth Hokage.

"Not exactly," Naruto said as he continued to draw the kanji. "It appears the same on the surface level, but at a closer examination it's different."

Kiyomi's eyes widened with intrigue. "What's the difference?" she inquired.

Naruto paused, considering his words. "Well, you see," he began, his tone getting animated, "unlike the traditional Hiraishin, which creates a wormhole, a shortcut, that pops you out on the other side. My technique warps space-time by bringing negative numbers into reality. In this case, a negative distance."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, impressed at Naruto's ability. "That sounds… complicated," he remarked.

Naruto laughed. "It is very complicated."

"I still don't get it," Kiyomi said.

"Basically, my technique creates negative space which the universe doesn't like, so it tries to fix this irregularity by pulling matter and space towards the gap," Naruto responded. "For teleporting this means creating a negative distance on myself which corresponds with the distance I need to travel. With this created negative space, the universe pulls space together violently eliminating the space, effectively warping the space together."

Kiyomi looked at him even more blankly.

"Come on this isn't that hard. Did you even pay attention at the academy," Naruto responded.

A tick mark formed on her head. "Not everyone was gifted in math like you!" Kiyomi responded, getting pissed at Naruto.

"Good grief." Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Are you finished?" he asked Naruto.

"Yeah, we're good to go," Naruto said. Sasuke and Kiyomi stood in the circle and braced themselves. "Here goes." Naruto clasped his hands together as the three vanished, destroying some of the pavement beneath them.

KONOHA, HOKAGE'S OFFICE

Kakashi ascended the steps of the Hokage Tower with a nonchalant demeanor. However, his attention was divided between the pages of his cherished volume and the familiar faces of the guards who stood outside the Hokage's office. As he reached the door to the Hokage's office, he paused, gently closing his book before knocking his knuckles against the wood.

"Enter," came the deep, authoritative voice from within.

Pushing open the door, Kakashi stepped into the room, his single visible eye taking in the sight of the Third Hokage seated behind his desk, signing forms and completing tasks befitting a Hokage. Hiruzen's gaze lifted from the documents before him, settling on Kakashi with a warm smile.

"Ah, Kakashi," Hiruzen greeted him, the lines of his face softening briefly with a hint of paternal affection. "I've been expecting you."

Kakashi inclined his head respectfully. "Hokage-sama. I'm assuming you have a mission for us."

"Yes I do, but where is your team?" Hiruzen looked around for the other members of Team 7. "I had sent Naruto out to bring you all back here. With showing up here, I thought it meant he had informed everyone."

"Hmm, that's strange. I haven't seen them all da―", before Kakashi could finish his sentence his team appeared from thin air almost as if something had pulled them there.

"See? What did I say?" Naruto said. "Oh, look it's Kakashi-sensei."

Kiyomi stumbled, feeling a bit disorientated while Sasuke stretched out his shoulders.

Kakashi turned around to his team. "Where have you three been?"

Naruto and Kiyomi glanced at each other before a wide and mischievous grin formed on their faces. "Oh, nowhere special, sensei~," they said.

Sasuke remained silent as he wished to take no part in the retribution that would happen once their sensei realized what had happened.

Kakashi simply shrugged his shoulders and turned back towards the Hokage. "Well, Hokage-sama it seems Team 7 has now assembled."

"The reason I have summoned you all here is to debrief you on your next mission." The Hokage's expression shifted, his demeanor growing solemn as he motioned for Kakashi to take a seat opposite him. "I must warn you this mission will test your capabilities as shinobi. I had wanted to give this mission to higher ranking nin but this team are the only ones currently available."

Kakashi's posture stiffened imperceptibly, his eye sharpening with a keen awareness of the gravity of his sensei's words. "What is the mission, Hokage-sama?" he replied evenly, though a flicker of concern passed through his gaze.

"Your mission is to rescue Karin Uzumaki from Kusagakure," Hiruzen stated.

A smile formed across Naruto's lips. That old man works fast, he mused.

"Uzumaki?" Kiyomi questioned. She must be from Naruto's clan.

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair. "From the intel that has been gathered, she is an extraordinary kunoichi with proficiency in fūinjutsu and medical ninjutsu."

"Excuse me Hokage-sama, but why are rescuing her? I'm assuming she was born in Kusagakure, so why would she come here?" Sasuke asked.

"Spies in Kusagakure were contacted by her. She also possesses remarkable sensory abilities." Hiruzen leaned forward. "From what she has told us, the village has mistreated and abused her medical abilities. She does not wish to die the same way her mother did."

Team 7 nodded, understanding her current living conditions.

"That is why this mission was created. Having her in Konoha would add to a great kunoichi to our forces, especially one with high skill in medical ninjutsu and fūinjutsu." Hiruzen added. "This will be an A-rank mission?"

"A-rank, Hokage-sama?" Kakashi asked, concern in his voice. "I beg your pardon, but don't you think this mission is too high ranking for such fresh genin."

"I understand your concerns Kakashi and believe me I felt the same way." Hiruzen's gaze held Kakashi steadily, his voice carrying a weight born of both wisdom and responsibility. "This mission is not to be taken lightly. It carries a level of danger that demands the utmost caution and skill. That is why you and Naruto will be the ones taking on this mission."

Kakashi slightly lowered his head understanding the Hokage's logic. This mission would be dangerous and at Sasuke's and Kiyomi's current level, there would be too much risk to bring them along. Sasuke was ahead of his sister and actually quite strong, but Kakashi didn't believe he had the conviction and drive for a mission of this caliber. Naruto, now he could understand as even though he was just a genin, his skills in ninjutsu and sensory made him extremely valuable for missions such as these.

Sasuke and Kiyomi's eyes widened. They were being left behind, were they really that weak? Kiyomi lowered her eyes while Sasuke clenched his fists.

Naruto upon his teammates' frustration spoke up. "Nah jiji, Sasuke and Kiyomi will be fine. Let them come on the mission."

"Are you sure Naruto?" Hiruzen asked.

"I'm confident, they may not look ready, but they are. Out of the available teams you have, we're the strongest." Naruto responded confidently.

The twins were surprised by Naruto's words.

"Hmph, so," Hiruzen looked at the twins, "do you two accept this mission?"

Sasuke and Kiyomi glanced at each other before looking back at Hiruzen, "Hai Hokage-sama!"

"Well then, Team 7 you have your mission. You are dismissed!" Hiruzen spoke.

"Hai!" Team 7 responded before leaving out of the Hokage's office.

As the sun pierced through the clouds in the late morning, the rays of light coating the village, and the birds chirped, Team 7 emerged from within the Hokage Tower.

Naruto stretched his arms out as he walked out the doors into the sunlight. Sasuke covered his eyes to block out some of the light.

Kakashi turned to his team, bringing his hands together. "So, my little genin it seems we have our first mission? Pretty exciting, huh?"

The genin looked at him with blank expressions. "Um… okay," he said, rubbing his hands together to ease the tension. "Gather your items and pack for the journey. It'll take us about four days to reach the village on foot. Any questions?"

It was silent for a moment until Kiyomi spoke up. "N-naruto? Did you mean what you said back there? That you consider us the strongest." She asked.

Naruto put his hands in his pockets. "I did mean what I said," he smiled. "You're easily stronger than the average genin. You two may not be the 'strongest' yet but I believe in you and your potential."

Kakashi smiled from underneath his mask as well. "I second that; this mission will be challenging but it will help you two grow, especially you Kiyomi. Sasuke is already quite adept, but you still have a way to go to reach his level." He said placing his hand on Kiyomi's shoulder. "If there are no more questions, you're―" As Kakashi was about to finish his sentence, a feminine voice interrupted him, calling out to them.

"Oh, there you are," the voice exclaimed.

Team 7 turned around to see a young woman in her mid-20s, who was 5'5", and had a slender frame with light brown eyes and violet hair in a short, spikey, fanned-out ponytail. She wore a shirt/fishnet with cris crosses on it that were crafted out of a thin metal mesh that covered her neck to her thighs. She also had on a tan overcoat with a purple seam-in and pockets on each side, a dark orange miniskirt, a dark blue belt, and pale grey shin guards.

Kakashi's visible eye widened in surprise, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks beneath his mask. "Ah, Anko... What a pleasant surprise," he greeted, his voice slightly flustered.

Naruto nudged Sasuke and whispered, "Who's she?"

Sasuke shrugged, equally puzzled, but his attention was soon diverted back to the interaction between Kakashi and the newcomer.

Anko grinned, her gaze on Kakashi. "I heard you were heading off on a mission. Thought I'd come and wish you luck... and maybe steal you for a good time before you left," she licked her lips before leaning in closer with a playful smirk.

Kakashi chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Ah, well, you know me, Anko. Always ready for a good time," he replied, his tone containing a hint of embarrassment.

Kiyomi rubbed her chin. "I can't put my finger on it, but she seems familiar."

"Yeah, I thought so too," Naruto said, making the same gesture. Also, what's with that weird chakra near her neck? He thought.

Sasuke rolled his eyes at the two, but also couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity from the woman before them. After a couple of moments, Sasuke spoke up. "She looks like Maki-chan."

A light bulb appeared over Kiyomi's and Naruto's head.

Kiyomi snapped her fingers. "I knew it! That's why she looks so familiar."

Naruto smiled. "I can't believe Kakashi-sensei was able to bag such a hott―" He caught a death glare from Kiyomi, "―I mean, such a respectable and graceful woman" Naruto corrected himself with sweat dripping down his face. "Let's have some fun then."

"~OHH SENSEI~!" Naruto called out with a wide smile, interrupting their conversation. "You mind introducing us to your friend?"

Kakashi cleared his throat, shooting Anko a warning glance before turning to his team. "Right, of course. Team 7, this is Anko Mitarashi... a close friend of mine," he said, the last word coming out with a mixture of pride and embarrassment.

Anko flashed a mischievous grin at the genin, her violet eyes twinkling with amusement as she looked at the genin before her. "So, you're Kakashi's little genin. Huh," she turned to Kakashi, "it seems failing all those genin the years prior was worth it."

"Yes, these three have some rough edges but they've been good students. And I'm proud to be their sensei." He turned back to Team 7. "You three are dismissed, meet me at the village gates at noon. You have a couple of hours before we leave so I would advise you to get some rest."

"See ya, sensei. Say hi to Maki-chan for me," Naruto said before teleporting away.

Anko and Kakashi's eyes widened. HUH!? "What did he just say?" Kakashi asked the nearby Sasuke and Kiyomi.

"Nothing!" Sasuke said as he frantically grabbed his sister's arm and sank into the shadows.

The two looked at each other with a puzzled look before heading back home. Kakashi still had an uneasy feeling in his gut.

KONOHA, HATAKE RESIDENCE

"We're home," Anko announced as she swung open the door, revealing their cozy family home.

Their daughter, Maki, immediately darted forward, her face lighting up with excitement. "Kaasan!" she shouted, rushing into Anko's waiting arms for a warm embrace.

Meanwhile, Sakuto emerged from the kitchen, catching sight of his parents as they entered. "Yo!" Kakashi greeted his son with a casual wave.

"I wasn't expecting you two to be back so soon," Sakuto remarked, his tone betraying a hint of surprise.

Kakashi kicked off his sandals, sinking into the familiar comfort of their living room. "It'll just be a for a little bit. I'll be leaving in a couple of hours. New mission," he explained as he settled onto the couch, letting out a tired sigh.

"Oh, I guess that's why your team came over here," Sakuto deduced.

Kakashi's interest peaked instantly. "Wait, my team was here?"

Sakuto nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Uhh… yeah. An annoying white-haired kid with glasses, a loud girl, and an emo stopped by, saying they were looking for you."

A sense of dread washed over Kakashi as he realized that Naruto and Kiyomi had likely discovered Anko's identity as his wife. He had wondered why they were giggling and gossiping amongst themselves. He had left a carefully guarded secret slip away and now Naruto knew where he lived; this wasn't going to end well.

"Tousan, are you all right?" Sakuto piped up, concern evident in his voice.

Kakashi grumbled a vague affirmative, his mind racing with the implications of his team's visit.

Anko entered the room, Maki in tow, her expression curious as she noticed Kakashi's dejected demeanor.

"What's wrong with him?" Anko inquired, her confusion palpable.

Sakuto shrugged, equally puzzled by his father's unusual behavior.

"Kaasan, I need to tell Tousan something," Maki interjected, her small voice breaking the tense silence.

Anko smiled encouragingly at her daughter. "Of course, sweetie," she said, leading Maki over to where Kakashi sat on the floor, lost in thought.

Perched on her father's lap, Maki hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Tousan...?" she began, her tone earnest.

"Yes, Maki-san?" Kakashi responded eagerly, his attention finally shifting to his daughter.

"I want to marry Naru-nii," Maki announced innocently, her words hanging in the air.

"N-na-ru-nii?" Kakashi echoed, his mind struggling to process her unexpected declaration.

Anko couldn't contain her laughter at their daughter's candid confession, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Finally, the realization dawned on Kakashi, and he bolted upright, a mixture of disbelief and panic flooding his features. "NAARRRUUUTOOO!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the Hatake household.

Meanwhile, Naruto sat at Ichiraku Ramen, enjoying a bowl of his favorite dish, when suddenly he sneezed. "Achoo!" he exclaimed, startling Ayame who was serving nearby.

"Naruto, are you okay?" Ayame asked, her concern evident in her voice.

Naruto chuckled, grabbing a napkin to wipe his nose. "Yeah, I'm fine… Just had the weirdest feeling. Like someone was shouting my name," he mused, shrugging it off. "Must've been the wind," he concluded before diving back into his meal.

/END OF CHAPTER/