Unsealing Legacy

by fey Storyteller

A small twist of fate made him aware of his heritage; unsealing the legacies his parents left behind. Graduating from the academy at age seven, he's well on his way. He found a kindred spirit in Uchiha Itachi, and his cousin Shisui's along for the ride. They're on the path to unsealing the legacy left by their ancestors, both the dark and the light. Next chap teaser in AO3.

18. 18th Legacy

Unsealing Legacy 18 : Fall down seven times, stand up eight

"Someone who lives for others and forgetting to live for himself will not living a fulfilling life, if that's not disrespecting their sacrifice I don't know what is."
Uzumaki Naruto to Hatake Kakashi

Team Ro was one of forty eight ANBU squads under the Hokage, and one of the best in said special unit. While Naruto knew of ANBU existence he was quite surprised there were forty eight squads, which consist of two four man cells. That made up for small percentage of their force, but in Naruto's opinion that was a lot for him who was part of a division that consists of no more than fifty shinobi and kunoichi.

Apparently like genin teams, even though there were forty eight names (after hiragana alphabets) available, just around twenty or so squads were still in rotation. Because of their high risk missions it was no wonder the rotation was focused on teams that lost one or two spots. There was a reason Team To, who used to be on his guard duty, wasn't reformed with fresh recruits yet.

Although in one or two years his Uchiha teammates assured him that team To would be back on business. Apparently Sandaime was waiting for Shisui and Itachi to gain more experience and planning to place them as captain and vice-captain of new Team To. They also would be given fresh new recruits as team members.

The new team To would be Naruto's –their jinchuuriki- guards.

"Go figures I am not without bodyguards for long." Naruto rolled his eyes, "Then again you two are perhaps why I can get away with it for almost one year."

Then again with his constant travelling, the tendency that his mission would never ever be anywhere near Konoha and his penchant for trouble it was no wonder Sandaime wanted a squad of ANBU to follow him around. His recent position as future in law of Hi no Kuni's royal family didn't help either.

"So Team To will be an ANBU squad stationed as my guard, how about team Ro then?" He asked his teammates.

Team Ro was led by Hatake Kakashi who was astonishingly young for holding the rank of ANBU captain as long as he did. Like any other ANBU squads they answered directly to Hokage, but they also responsible for security detail of Hokage from time to time and were in the front line for the most sensitive missions.

Ironically for an elite unit of Konoha they were not the most tight-knit group, save for their captain and vice-captain, namely Hatake Kakashi and Tenzo.

"Why is that?"

Shisui sighed exasperatedly, "Hatake's reputation basically…"

Hatake Kakashi, their captain had a bad reputation among ANBU as sole survivor of his old team. Their cousin Obito died to save him, and it seemed there was an equally shady circumstance surrounding Yondaime's sole female student's death.

"Though the rumors in ANBU implied that he killed her." Itachi informed him. "I don't believe our captain is a comrade killer, our cousin didn't entrust his eye to someone like that."

Comrade Killer Kakashi.

His background as Hatake Sakumo's son didn't help his case, his indifferent attitude to the rumors if anything spurred them on.

For Itachi's and Shisui's sake he told them, it was one of the most intense memories from his father. "He didn't… I don't recall the detail such as the complete circumstances of Nohara Rin's death but, that sadness and despair I saw through my father's eyes is real."

Naruto might have no real emotional ties to his father's sole surviving student, but it didn't mean he didn't care for the Hatake at all. At least he still cared of Hatake's whereabout on his father's behalf. Not to mention…

'That boy… he never stop blaming himself and he keep living for their sake, to see the future for Obito's sake, protecting his comrades because he couldn't keep that promise…'

That kind of existence was just so… sad.

"Maa Naruto, it's not like you to not care at all after all!" Shisui beamed.

Naruto was ticked, "Shisui, shut up."

---

The next day (Koishi no Kuni)

Why of all places it had to be here? Naruto couldn't help but wonder, and he was sure Itachi and Shisui had the same line of thought. Their clash here with ROOT was off putting but the main reason was, Koishi no Kuni mostly consist of well… pebbles like its name but this particular part of this country was rocky grounds like Tsuchi no Kuni, a maze like canyon with steep sided cliffs.

Even though Kakashi couldn't see Ro members' faces, hidden beneath their mask, he was sure they were all thinking along the same line.

'Looking for a group of rogue-nin the whole night here is a pain.'

This place was too big to look for a group of stealthy shinobi. There were countless potential hiding places here, combing it would take forever. Not to mention…

He knelt, touching the moist ground and looked up at dark night sky that was even darker than usual because of the dark cloud. 'It's raining season, looking for our targets with my ninken is out of option.' Obviously Tenzou and the rest knew this too. 'This mission should go to a team with Hyuuga if I can complain, but Hokage-sama assigned this to us even though he knew so most likely…'

"So what should we do, Ryouken-taichou?" Tenzo asked him. "We can do a quick sweep and narrow down their possible hideouts."

Kakashi nodded, "Well Tora, this environment is not easy even for shinobi to live in long period, we can narrow it accordingly with access to water and the likes but…" That would take too long and skulking around here too much would alert their target of their presence. "Sekirei." He called their newest –but not permanent- addition. "What do you think?"

The Hatake sweat-dropped, 'I took my eyes off of this new kid for a second and he already…' Sekirei had a compass out, and crouching down as rubbing the ground thoughtfully. 'Then again as Minato-sensei used to say, being a seal master is all about being swift in battlefield.'

He was focus in his task but apparently not ignoring his surrounding since he heard them."I agree with Ryouken-taichou… but even if we narrow it down that way it can take two days and more to cover the whole canyon."

Itachi and Shisui were bending down, looking at their friend patting the ground for who knows why. "We have been here before." Shisui volunteered, "There is a forested area in South with a lake, so that should be a good place to start."

Kakashi couldn't help but elated they had cut down the workload for the night by half, "Is there any other place like that?"

"There are some but only in East part, but there is no big water source there as far as we know." It was Itachi who informed them this time, so they had been here as a team.

He nodded loftily at them and turned his attention back to Sekirei who was looking straight ahead as tapping his chin this time. "Do you have anything in mind? Sekirei-kun."Too bad because of the mask he couldn't give the seal master an eye smile, his question sounded more like an order without it.

"Yes, if I may be so bold… I would like to use a seal to track our target down first and I need assistance from the whole team to do it." He told them seriously.

Someone in their team snorted, most likely Koorogi. "Well, let's hear what Sekirei have in mind first then I will decide." He was not that desperate to rely on a rookie right away, beside he didn't want to pressure Sekirei.

In answer Sekirei whipped out a rolled up map and tag, there was a puff of smoke so it must be storage seal trick. But still… Kakashi narrowed his eye, 'Where did he put the seal? It looks like a sleight of hand.'

"Cool trick, Sekirei." Koumori whistled.

The newcomer paid Koumori's comment no mind and unrolled the map, the type made of waterproof paper. "So this is what I have in mind…"

---

Two Hours Later…

Tenzou clasped his hand together, and willed water and earth to mix. A pillar of wood sprung from his back, forming a replica of his visage. "Mokuton: Moku Bunshin!" The mokuton user quickly pasted the tag on his look alike. "That should do it."

He saw a puff of smoke from the corner of his eyes, and turned around. "Taichou."

"You're done, Tenzou?" Kakashi raised his hand in salute.

"Yes, let's return to rendezvous point."

They disappeared in blurry forms, moving quicker than eyes could see through the rocky landscape. They slowed down as they were just a mile away from rendezvous point.

"He is full of surprise, isn't he?"

"Hm?"

The Mokuton user chuckled, "Sekirei, I mean… who else?"

Kakashi shrugged. "All seal masters tend to be full of surprise… sensei and Jiraiya-sama are like that. If I hadn't learned Fuuinjutsu myself I would have thought everything is possible with a brush and ink than kunai and shuriken."

Tenzou snorted, "It's not as easy as he makes it looks like, hm?"

"Maa… while I would like to think I am proficient than most in Fuuinjutsu, I am nothing like Sekirei and Minato-sensei who received formal training in the tower." Yondaime taught him a lot but his study in Fuuinjutsu focused more on modifying and breaking existing seals rather than designing from scratch.

An interest he developed after what happened to Rin, that if only he knew Fuuinjutsu back then perhaps Rin didn't have to die.

"Yondaime-sama used to say that Fuuinjutsu is all about imagination, a drive to achieve it through trial and error and surviving said trial and error." He smiled at Tenzou, uncaring his kouhai couldn't see it.

Tenzou waved his hand in negative. "Iee… Kakashi-senpai, you made it sounds simple too."

He shrugged, "Maa, at least I agree with my sensei. Fuuinjutsu is an art everyone could learn." There was a number of obstacle to learn from what he knew, like hand coordination and visual problem. "It's just the matter whether or not people have enough devotion to go down that path."

"Hoo…"

"Though… once you're hooked you will be obsessed over it." He would never forget how Kushina-san almost killed him when he peered her notes over her shoulder. "So Tenzou, don't peak at Sekirei's note no matter how curious you are. I don't think he will be held accountable if you get killed."

Tenzou gaped, "Senpai! Why am I the one you told to be careful?!" And did he just imply a rookie could kill Tenzou?!

"We're here." Kakashi announced, gesturing towards the masked boy they were talking about just now who was tapping his feet in almost childish fashion while glaring at the map on the ground. "Yo, Sekirei-kun… how is it going?"

"Preparation is almost done, we just have to wait for Risu." He reported.

Kakashi blinked, he didn't expect Sekirei to know who had not finished when they were miles away from this spot. Only Shisui and Itachi had returned faster than he and Tenzou. Then he noticed the map was nailed to the ground with sacred tree branch he often saw in temple. Each branch had a bell tied to it.

"You look like you're doing some sort of ritual." Kakashi couldn't help but commented.

He shrugged, "Hm? A seal with a complicated mechanism beyond rank A would be some sort of ritual to work."

Kakashi was uncomfortably reminded of Shiki Fuuin.

Tenzo whistled, "This is a S rank seal, hm? A little overkill to track down a group of rogue-nin, don't you think?" Even though their mission was pretty information sensitive. Which was why ANBU was assigned to do it.

In the background more and more of their teammates approached from the distance, Sekirei inclined his head slightly at them. "Hm, actually this is just border A rank seal… but it's not refined enough to be used with only seal formula yet…"

Their eyes widened when on the map a line was drawn out of nowhere, it looked like some sort of burn mark. "Risu has marked the last point." Sekirei announced. "May I begin now Taichou? Or should we wait for the rest of our team?"

Kakashi nodded, "You may begin. We will ask the rest of the team to catch up with us later."

Sekirei exhaled softly, "Well then." He made a ram hand-sign. "Haitei Raoyue no Fuuin, hatsudou!"

At first it puzzled him why a seal was named scooping moon reflection from seabed but it started to made sense when above the map suddenly a puddle of water was suspended in the air. This was like Nidaime's suiton, drawing water from moisture in the air. It was nothing amazing as strong affinity with water enabled shinobi to do the same but not to the extent Niidaime could and it consumed a large amount of chakra even to call forth a puddle.

The water started to spin, thinning above the marked area on the map like a whirlpool. The bell tied to the branch started to chime, and water ripples appeared in tune with the chime. Then the water surface started to be uneven and forming a landscape resembling the canyon. It was a little hard to see clearly because it was all water that made up the miniature landscape.

"Aah… still not perfect." Sekirei grumbled, hands still locked in ram seal. "I find why sensor team we send didn't find anything though."

He almost thought Sekirei failed but then the young seal master told them he found something. "What?"

"A moment please." He switched his hand seal to some sort of modified ram and the water landscape rearranged itself.

The ANBU captain guessed Sekirei must had minor water affinity, second affinity perhaps? His eyes narrowed as he saw what the water formed, it had morphed to an upturned cone while the top shaped a water dome and it was rippling continuously. There was a thin sheet of water around the dome, and the water ripple chiming in tune with the bell was cut by the dome.

"This is… a barrier?"

Sekirei nodded, "It's a barrier and since in spite of the size it's not found yet I think it's a very old barrier, so it already blended so well with nature energy of surrounding area… I was expecting for my seal to show chakra signature of human but… I found something blocking detection instead."

Koumori, one of his subordinate hummed. "How sure you're that our target is inside this barrier?"

"Well, pretty sure… it's the likeliest location in twenty miles radius. They're on the run so they can't go too far from the only drinkable water source." Sekirei stated confidently.

Tokage, another ANBU added. "And the conveniently available barrier to hide them?"

It was Itachi who answered, "Leftover from war clan era most likely, Koishi no Kuni is an old battlefield… most likely this group of rogue nin made use of ancient clan's hideout."

Sekirei deactivate the seal, and collected the props before vanishing them back to hidden storage seal in his person. "To be exact… a Senju Clan's hideout most likely…"

Kakashi could almost hear the disgust on Sekirei's voice. "Senju Clan's?" He echoed in shock, "How do you know that?"

"Because… the Uzumaki clan is the only seal designer that could design a barrier based on fuuinjutsu that could last this long without proper maintenance." He answered confidently. "And the Uzumaki clan didn't give their barrier seals of this caliber to any clan, but their family… the Senju Clan."

The Hatake's eyes narrowed, 'Uzumaki hm… this boy is perhaps…'

Then Shisui added, "Not to mention." He pointed at one general direction, "Around thirty miles in that direction is an old Uchiha hideout."

No one asked about that one, Uchiha knew their legacy well. Beside it was not much a stretch that Uchiha and Senju never ever lived far apart since the genesis of Shinobi era.

"Let's move out then." Kakashi decided to not waste time mulling over history. "So where is this barrier again?"

It didn't take long for them to reach the area pinpointed by Sekirei before the seal master requested them to stop. Which was what Kakashi had in mind already before the seal master spoke first. He knew there was a barrier but Sekirei would like to send a scout to check it first before they infiltrate it.

Unfortunately the best candidate would be Sekirei himself but Kakashi didn't like the idea letting a young shinobi on his own without protection. "I will accompany you to the barrier, the rest of you should wait."

"Erm, Taichou… I am thinking to send a kage bunshin actually."

He could make a kage bunshin already? This made Kakashi's wild guess more likely to be true. "Good idea, but I am still going to send a Kage bunshin with yours. There is no point if your kagebunshin dispelled before it can get anything through to you."

Kakashi could almost see amused expression beneath that bird mask before the young shinobi replied, "As you wish, Ryouken-taichou."

---

Thirty minutes later…

"My apologies for the long wait, but I get it now." Sekirei announced suddenly just a second after Kakashi got his own memory transfer from the clone. "It's a double layered barrier."

Tokage always the curious one asked, "Is that a good news or a bad one?"

Sekirei shrugged, "Hm… the good news is this seal is not stopping anyone from entering, all long lasting seals are like that." Because a barrier that stopped people from physically breaching the border consumed a lot of chakra and conscious maintenance from its user. "The bad news are, one… there is a genjutsu barrier that giving suggestion to anyone approaching its general area to change direction. Then there is a strong detection barrier, so no matter how stealthy we are, our targets will be alerted of intruders…"

Kakashi nodded, "I see… I myself found that it seems our targets aren't using the hideout themselves. They're camping out of the hideout… it seems the hideout still have traps in them."

"Hai."

"Is it possible to dismantle the seal from outside?" Tenzou asked curiously.

Sekirei shook his head, "My apologies but the barrier is based on fuuinjutsu manifested from shiki (formula) that are located somewhere inside the barrier. Unless we destroy it, or the power source is cut off the barrier will stay up."

"And I suspect… both options are impossible without entering the barrier?" Kakashi guessed.

Sekirei nodded, "Hai..." He looked thoughtful as he cupped his chin. "I would like to think there is a hole in the defense mechanism somewhere, but it would be akin to trying to not cause a ripple in water surface when jumping to it…"

Kakashi hummed, 'So there is no way to catch our targets unaware, and even if there is I don't think it will worth the effort needed to dismantle the barrier.'

"We can perhaps try to flood the old fort." Someone said and it took a while for Kakashi to compute the extreme suggestion was made by none other than Uchiha Itachi.

Koumori snorted, "Where did you get the crazy idea?"

"Uchiha Tajima's journal that said the rainy season did a number to Senju clan's fort because it's located in lower ground, so when the river and lake overflows…" Itachi trailed off.

"We have to sabotage the drainage system added after that flood first though." Sekirei added. "Which won't be a problem considering it's connected to an underground not far from the fort but outside the barrier."

Tenzou raised his hand, which was odd because Kakashi was sure he had never been in academy but he does act like a student from time to time. "Erm, how do you guys know so much detail in history."

At that Itachi, Shisui and Sekirei shared a look with each other, he couldn't see their eyes but how they turned at each other in unison was telling enough. "You wouldn't want to know how meticulous Uchiha and Senju could be with their record in regards to their rival, seriously you wouldn't."

Considering whatever Uchiha record they read had Senju adding a sewer to their fort written inside, Kakashi didn't doubt them at all. Image of Obito writing furiously on not so secret note of his about how he was beaten by Kakashi for the third time that week had nothing to do with it.

Obito was just strangely meticulous about some things, that couldn't be a genetic obsession, right?

Uchiha and obsession aside, they began to make a plan. First they had to divide their team to three groups, one for destroying the pipeline, ambushing the fort and overseeing the whole operation carried out without the slightest mistake.

Ambush team would be lead by Kakashi himself, and he was going to bring the majority of squad members with him. Sabotage team would consist of Shisui and Itachi. As for the last team…

"Uhm… you can , sabotage team would consist of Itachi and Shisui and as for tower control…"

"Hm." Kakashi contemplated his choice, 'Obviously as the only seal master and one that can track our targets in case we chased them out of the barrier, Sekirei would be our control tower but…' Kakashi was uneasy to to leave the young seal master alone, combat oriented or not. "Toraneko, Sekirei… you guys stay out of the fight and inform us in case we miss anyone."

Sekirei inclined his head slightly to Tenzou who complied immediately. "Understood, Taichou!"

---

Konoha

"I compliment you that at last you see a better use of our jinchuuriki, but I don't think black ops is where a weapon of mass destruction belongs, do you?"

Sometimes Hiruzen couldn't decide who he wanted to kill first, Danzou or Hakurei for being a pain in the ass. "While he is a jinchuuriki, he also has a proper name… please use it, Danzou. While nothing I can say about how you address your soldier, I am not going to let you to call him such thing. And no, I will not leave it to you to find a better use of Naruto-kun."

"Pity, I can make him great."

"He is great enough as he is, and I don't see getting you involved with Naruto-kun's life will end well for you or Konoha." The Sandaime pointed out loftily, "Do not assume I close my eyes to all things you did behind my back, and anything involving Naruto-kun is one of it." Danzou smirked. "And I don't approve you trying to assassinate Tokugawa Ieyasu."

The war hawk narrowed his eyes, "We should get rid of Tokugawa Ieyasu, his relation with our jinchuuriki is worrying."

"Contrary to your belief Tokugawa Ieyasu will never ever seek destruction of Konoha, he is not a shortsighted man who felt threatened by a military body like us." Hiruzen stated with conviction, recalling the young boy who admired Muramasa's devotion to Konoha and Hi no Kuni. "We belong to the same country and quarrelling among ourselves is just foolish."

"Is that why you leave Uchiha clan be?"

Now he could sense emotion in Danzou's voice, he didn't know since when but his childhood friend had develop deep loathing for Uchiha clan. Of course Danzou would deny such emotional matter, but even though Danzou approved Uchiha Shisui and Itachi as assets, he saw Uchiha clan as a whole as a threat to their village.

He sighed, "Danzou… I have think long and hard about us, the village and Uchiha clan. They're a proud clan and we're stomping on their pride with hindering their involvement with the village… our villagers, civilians scorn them for doing their job."

A job that most often than not forced them to subdue and manhandle civilians, making them feared and hated figures while all they did was keeping order in civilian population.

"Is it any wonder why they felt dissatisfied and demand us to change our policy with them?"

"You can't be seriously thinking to give an inch to them! The Uchiha clan will demand more than just… a little more leeway, and what next?! Your hat?" Danzou hissed indignantly.

The Sandaime shrugged, "You talk as if I am going to give them Konoha, correction, I am willing to hear their demand as long as it's reasonable and alienating them even further would be detrimental for Konoha because the Tower is backing them up. I don't like how they're getting along on the ground of alienation. It will not end well for us." Both of them were Konoha's main inner defense, and if he read Ieyasu's next step right…

"Those foreigners…"

"They were never foreigners in Konoha, even when Uzushiogakure was still standing." Hiruzen steeled his voice. "I don't like our current situation more than you do, and if compromising with the Uchiha and the tower will save Konoha then so be it."

Danzou slammed his fist against Hokage's desk, Sandaime didn't even flinch at the rare display of Danzou's loss of composure. "You can't do this! Nidaime…"

"Put the village above everything, he did what he could for Uchiha clan… the best he could offer! You in the other hand just see them as a threat!" Hiruzen shot back. "A threat we make in our own home, and I am not sorry if I have to bow my head if that means I am not going through the path of self-fulfilling prophecy!"

Danzou gritted his teeth, 'Again Hiruzen… you and your soft hearted ideal!' He inhaled sharply and said. "Hiruzen, I hope you will not regret this."

But in the end Danzou would make sure Hiruzen regretted it, as once again as the root that supported their village from the shadow he will protect Konoha, even from their own Hokage.

---

Koishi no Kuni

Because of his masked face he couldn't feel the cold and wetness of rain but when he looked up he could feel the pitter patter of raindrops against his bone white mask. 'The rain is getting heavier.' His blue eyes narrowed beneath the porcelain mask. 'I have a bad feeling somehow… it makes me feel restless.'

Did something happen in Konoha in their absence? No, he couldn't think like that but focus in this mission first.

The pitter patter had been replaced by heavier noise, not as rhythmical and with it their vision was getting shorter. Whether this weather was a boon for their side was still up to question. He was not worried so much about this mission, because by standard for ANBU it fall on lower end.

Still… their targets chose a smart hiding place, by normal method it would take days to track them down. He was glad his seal could help team Ro.

"Sekirei-kun?"

"Hm?" He inclined his head towards the Mokuton user. "Yes? Toraneko-fukutaichou?" He turned his attention back to the water replica hovering over the map, so far nothing happened yet so why was the second in command of Ro team talking to him again?

The ANBU opened his mask, just enough for the younger Shinobi to see his friendly smile. "Sorry you get stuck with me, but please understand that Ryouken-taichou is thinking for the best for each of us… You're doing very well for your first mission in ANBU, in fact better than most newbies and..."

If he expected some reaction, chuckling was not one of it. "I am sorry Fuku-taichou… it's just funny that you think I have problem with being left out of action."

Tenzou blushed beneath his mask, "Oh, you're not?" Then again if Sekirei was anything like Itachi, Tenzou supposed he wouldn't be too concerned about getting to the good part of mission, namely fighting like most newbies. New recruits in ANBU more often than not revert to their genin mindset, excited for action.

At another burst of chuckle he got Tenzou added, "Sorry, I don't mean to treat you like a kid or anything." He meant it that way though, he just couldn't help it with young recruits like Itachi and Sekirei.

He waved his hand in negative. "Iee… it's fine Toraneko-fukutaichou. It's pretty refreshing really… that you still see me as a child my age and expect me to sulk like one too."

Tenzou quieted down at that, "Ah… most people treat you and Itachi-kun like adult, don't they?"

Sekirei hummed, "Usually after we open our mouth, after the first hour clients usually think we just look young until they confirm if we're really looks our age." He shrugged. "We definitely don't talk and act our age most of the time…"

"And you're fine with that?" He recalled how unnerving he was back when he saw himself as nothing but weapon. He was a creepy kid, but he didn't enjoy awkward way adults behaved around him.

Sekirei looked at him oddly, at least to Tenzou that bird mask gave off such impression. "Hm… I guess we're fine with that, after all we're the one who stop seeing ourselves as a child first."

"What do you mean?"

He shrugged, "We have different circumstances, Itachi and I... "

That confirmed Sekirei and Itachi were friends outside of ANBU.

"But I guess we started off the same… we act mature because that's what expected of our station and before we know it, that mask become us."

They were adult in young body…

"If asked whether or not we're alright with how people treat us, I guess after a while it hardly matters."

Tenzou narrowed his eyes, 'Rather than it hardly matters, more like you don't realize it should matter. They made you forgot you're not an adult...'

"Ah, the assault has started." He announced and Tenzou looked down, the barrier was rippling rapidly before it popped like balloon. The water rearranged itself to a building that reminded Tenzou of their Hokage Tower. "Oh good, it's a pillar based barrier after all…"

---

With Assault Team

"Boom!" Tokage cackled as he set the explosive tag off.

Kakashi opened his sharingan, and he could see the barrier popped off like bubble soap. Sekirei was right that the seal was pillar based seal, namely there was smaller boundary seal around the fort to stabilize the barrier and distribute energy to maintain it. Now there would be no chance for their targets to track them down with the seal, there were plenty of ways to do so but on his side he had surprise element.

It didn't take long for him to find their targets, just in time for them to emerge out of their camp in full shinobi gear. "Che! Konoha's ANBU!"

There were around over twenty of them, only a third were shinobis the rest was just normal mountain bandit. He noted none of these Shinobi scratched their headband, so perhaps it was sabotage mission from Kusa? No matter diplomatic shit this mission would turn up later, they had to eliminate their targets and perhaps catch one or two for T&I.

"Taichou." Sekirei's voice came from his wireless radio. "Did anyone in our team use kuchiyose no jutsu just now?"

Kakashi frowned, the only one in team with summoning contract was him. "No, we don't."

"Taichou! Send someone to two o'clock, intercept their summon! I think they're trying to send message with it or escaping!"

So that seal also informed Sekirei of new chakra signature, Kakashi guessed since it appeared out of nowhere he was on the same opinion as Sekirei that most likely it was a summon animal. "Got it! Koumori, I am going to handle the summon myself… round them up as planned."

"Hai!" The bat masked ANBU saluted before darting to the side to inform the rest of their team to relay his order.

Kakashi sped up with chakra boost, sharingan opened wide when he spotted a Kusa shinobi riding a dragonfly the size of a horse. "You're not going anywhere." Kakashi vowed, his hands blurred to a series of hand-seals. "Raikiri!"

The lightning chakra crackled, coating his right hand as he sped up with Obito's sharingan keeping his vision field wide. The Raikiri tore through the summon in one burst of chakra smoke and then through the summoner's stomach. He pulled his bloodied hand and let the Kusa nin to bleed out, and went after second Kusa nin that tried to escape using the smoke.

For the next Kusa-nin he aimed to capture but his target had another idea, after Kakashi used ninja wire to trip him and tied him up to nearest pillar he started to cough violently. Kakashi swore when his prisoner stilled, he was already gone.

---

With Koumori and co

"Going after them to Senju's old fort is a bad idea…"

Koumori rolled his eyes, "Yes, we're regretting it now." He grumbled to his radio as he and his team dodged another trap they set off.

"To be fair we're afraid they're going to use a secret passage to escape." Hitsuji said.

"But I think Kusa nin we're after is not having a better luck than we do to go through these traps unscatched… so obviously that's not the case." If they didn't know the trap well obviously they didn't know any secret passage.

Tokage nodded in agreement, in the same time dodging senbon thrown from hole on the wall. "If we're lucky all of them are going to be dead before they get out of here."

Their prayer was not answered as at last they managed to catch up with the group of Kusa-nin. Fighting in narrow hallway was not the best idea, especially if the building and your enemy were trying to kill you. In their defense, they fared better than Kusa group considering two of them were killed by the trap while the only damage they suffered was scratch from close call with senbon trap.

Koumori zoomed in to one nin he guessed was their leader, since he was barking orders just now. A brown haired guy with bulging eyes, and crescent tattoo around his eyes. Most of his face was covered in face mask like their taichou, but in white.

He was their main target for capture, not to mention so he aimed for knocking the guy out. However the Kusa-nin leader was more agile than expected and rolled away from Koumori's sweeping kick. Koumori quickly spun his body, grabbing tranquilizer in dart form in one hand and…

Clack!

He blinked when he saw the stone wall revealed to be a revolving hidden door and swept the groggy Kusa-nin inside before it spun shut.

"Erm… someone already escaped from that hideout. What just happened?"

At the announcement Sekirei made through their radio, Team Ro cursed inwardly. "How?"

"I am not sure, this Kusa-nin somehow went off course than the rest of his team. Perhaps he found a secret passage by accident?" Sekirei informed them.

Koumori groaned before informing the seal master, "That's exactly what happened actually..."

They couldn't help but groan again when not even five minutes later and ten triggered traps later, Tokage got a broken arm, Koumori embarrassingly twisted his ankle when trying to dodge a trap in awkward position. The worse thing however, the Kusa team was not as lucky. All of them were dead, either by Team Ro's hand or the trap.

Damn it.

---

Back with Kakashi

He was worried about his team but he believed that they could survive old traps in Senju clan's hideout. His main concern now should be the lucky guy that escaped from Senju's hideout. He managed to spot the Kusa-nin, but the terrain made it hard to keep the target in sight. The rain was getting heavier, and in this weather the visibility was getting poorer. Sure his sharingan was better than normal eye but it was not Byakugan, Obito's gift couldn't see through this heavy rain.

He contemplated trying his luck with tranquilizer and threw away that idea when he almost lost his footing because of wind. Damn it, now it would be a match of stamina between this Kusa-nin and him considering travelling through this storm was going to consume a lot of chakra. Considering he was never a stamina power house, that was a bad contest and he was not going to try his luck to see if his target had it worse.

They reached a lake, and Kakashi noted this was the lake his juniors were talking about before. Deciding to risk it his hand blurred to a series of seals. "Suiton: Suigadan no Jutsu!"

A whirlpool formed and a spiralling torrent shot up after the Kusa-nin, which he dodged to the side. Kakashi congratulated himself that even though he failed to hit his target with it, he managed to herd him to forested area. 'If we go there,I don't have to worry as much about wind.' And even if he was almost run out of juice.

Kakashi reached out for his weapon pouch not for his weapon but to made a cut with one of his blades, "Ninpou: Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

Chakra smoke quickly blown away by the wind, revealing his pack of hound. "Go after him!" he barked their order.

His pack didn't waste their time and run after the Kusa-nin, the fool made a mistake of looking back once and slowed down. Kakashi had to comment him for regaining his composure with a pack of hound on his heels, and using a bamboo tree as springboard to gain more distance from his pursuer. Too bad for him that Kakashi's hounds was not going to lost him anytime in this range.

Then it dawned on Kakashi to where they were heading to, the clearing they used as rendezvous point. And faster than he liked they were already on the edge of said clearing, for a moment Kakashi thought it was a good thing because Tenzou and Sekirei were here so they could surround their target.

The rain started to slow down, and the wind abated when he saw his two subordinates in the clearing. Kakashi thought the Kusa-nin was going to change direction at the sight of reinforcement, instead he ran straight towards Kakashi's teammates.

'What is that guy doing?!'

Tenzou didn't waste his time to form modified hand seal for Mokuton. Thick block of wood sprouted to subdue their target but dodged easily. 'This agile bastard!' Tenzou's mokuton was versatile but it was very slow, and definitely not ideal for capturing moving target.

Kakashi's eyes widened when he saw the Kusa-nin was running straight towards Sekirei who just released his seal. It seemed because of Sekirei's small stature, the Kusa-nin thought he was the weak link of the team. Which was not really wrong considering Sekirei was a specialist and a rookie.

"Sekirei! Watch out!" Damn it! Why Tenzou moved away from Sekirei just now, he should protect the seal master!

Unexpectedly instead of heeding Kakashi's warning, Sekirei drew his sword. For one moment Kakashi thought Sekirei was going to fight he Kusa-nin head on, but then the seal master threw his blade to the air in spinning motion. The blade had odd sheen of steel blue and it reminded Kakashi of Minato-sensei's eye color.

In that one moment all eyes were drawn by the incredulity and the beauty of the blade. His trained mind quickly snapped back to attention when he heard a grunt of pain. His eyes were wide in shock when he saw Sekirei digging some sort of staff- which Kakashi belatedly realized as the sheath of the blade- on the Kusa-nin's stomach. Judging from the pathetic gagging and choking noise he made, he ran to the blunt end of the sheath at full speed.

Sekirei withdrew the sheath and held the hollow end up, the thrown blade spun down and sheathed itself. Kakashi wondered what the showy technique was for when Sekirei's grip shifted to the bandaged hilt and whacked the sheathed blade at the Kusa-nin's head in chopping motion, giving him no chance to retaliate.

WHAM!

The target fell to the wet and muddy ground with a splash, twitching like a dying cockroach with a comical swelling on his head.

"Brutal." Tenzou couldn't help but commented.

Well, a lot of shinobi mistook seal master for scholar and incapable of brutality. Which was stupid because they forgot the pioneer of sealing art was a clan that was closely related to the Senju clan, and while they were peace loving, they were also notorious for their monstrous chakra and creative use of it. If one wanted to argue about seal master, they didn't have to look further than Tsunade-sama. She was a medic-nin, a seal master, and a scholar that was capable of bashing heads in without a sweat.

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his head while his nin-ken stared at the spectacle. "I concur that." Pakkun added. "Erm… if you don't need anything else, we will scram now Kakashi." Without waiting for his permission Pakkun and the rest of his nin-ken pack disappeared in a puff of smoke.

He didn't blame them really. "Uhm… Sekirei-kun?" Kakashi called the seal master who was poking his victim's twitching body with his sheathed blade, which was kind of childish of him. It reminded Kakashi eerily of himself when he was six, and couldn't resist poking the twitching defeated opponent from second round of Chuunin exam with a stick.

"He is alive." The younger shinobi said, "Do we want him alive or dead?"

The twitch of their target was getting wilder.

"Alive."

And the twitch stopped.

Sekirei nodded, before he took a tag prom his pocket and slapped it on Kusa-nin's forehead not to gently. The man stilled in instant and began to snore.

"A seal to knock people out hm…" Tenzou commented. "That's really handy but it's more like he is sleeping, what if he wake up later?" He asked, hand clasped to call out a wood to bind their prisoner.

"Oh, you don't have to worry." Sekirei assured him in a tone that made Tenzou's skin crawl, "He will never wake up unless I allow it."

Tenzou gulped, "Erm…" Their prisoner continued to snore, sleeping peacefully like a baby.

Kakashi eyed the Kusa-nin with his Sharingan, judging from the slow and calm chakra flow he was really sleeping. This man might be weaker than them, but still a jounin and not a slouch if his agility was anything to go by. It was simply outrageous for this ninja to be able to sleep peacefully while surrounded by enemies.

"Yo! So we got one guy!" That was Shisui, Kakashi was so deep in thought he belatedly realized the rest of their squad was approaching rendezvous point. "Hm? This guys is snoring." Shisui unrepentantly poked the sleeping Kusa-nin with his foot.

He didn't even stir when Shisui kicked him hard enough to roll him around. "Zzzz..."

"Oi! Shishi!" Tenzou scolded the younger shinobi.

"Nah…" Shisui shrugged, "Don't worry, this guy will sleep through animal stampede even."

Tenzou blinked beneath his mask, "Eh?"

"It's Sekirei's Kanashibari no Fuuin." The seal of sleep demon.

"Kanashibari like… Kanashibari no Jutsu?" Tenzou wondered out loud, looking at Sekirei pointedly for explanation.

The seal master shook his head, "Kanashibari no justu is a ninjutsu that physically restrains an opponent, in the other hand this seal of mine manipulate target's brainwave. Forcing their brain to fall to a deep sleep state."

Kakashi's lone eye narrow, he had closed his other eye to save chakra. "Such convenient seal…" He signaled his subordinate to carry their prisoner. "Amazing."

Sekirei shook his head, "It's only convenient for me… you see, I first develop this seal on request of Konoha's medic division as safer method to induce coma."

"And you succeed."

"Yes, but… the cost of chakra activation make this seal impractical in field. So I don't recommend using it unless you have confidence in your chakra reserve." Sekirei finished.

Tenzou frowned, "Hm… how much chakra this seal needs? I heard most seals need little chakra for activation?"

"True…" Sekirei nodded, "However this is the type of delicate seal usually need balanced chakra input to work, and in this case the chakra needed to activate had to be twice the amount of chakra reserve of intended victim."

Kakashi hummed at that, 'Definitely not a seal for me, unless I am trying to shut down a genin or academy student.'

"Maa… so it's guaranteed our prisoner won't wake up before we arrive in Konoha?" He asked.

"No, he won't." Sekirei answered with conviction.

"Is there any time limit?" Kakashi asked.

Sekirei nodded, "Not in theory but I have been told by medic that for patient that didn't need it, it's not recommended to let them sleep longer than two days."

"And the risk is?"

"Slipping to coma I suppose… and it will require medic-nin to wake them up." Sekirei informed them.

Definitely an overkill no matter how safe it made transporting a prisoner be.

"Alright… but Sekirei-kun, would you mind to tell me why you throw your blade like that and used the sheath to attack?" Kakashi asked the nagging question he couldn't help but curious about.

Sekirei nonchalantly answered, "It was a distraction, jounin or not I learned that something shiny is eye catching… and a distracted Shinobi is a dead Shinobi."

"..." He threw his weapon away for distraction?! Kakashi admitted even him was distracted by the gleaming blade and the incredulity of throwing one's weapon when an enemy was running towards you.

Still… this rookie had a lot of guts to pull it off.

---

The next day (Hokage's office)

Kakashi had foreseen this, in which Hokage would ask about how they fared with incorporating a seal master in their team. He guessed this was another program like when Tsunade-sama proposed program of field medic-nin, to increase efficiency of team dynamic. However he didn't expect Hokage-sama to ask about Sekirei's performance in particular, it as if Sandaime was more interested in the young seal master than the result of his induction to their team.

"Well..." Kakashi began, "He reminded me a little when we get Itachi for the first time." Before Hokage decided Itachi would be better off in Team To, until the demise that befall the team made him passed the Uchiha back. "A newbie who quickly adapt to his place in ANBU… his first performance in mission is flawless, he knew what expected of his specialization in the team, good in following orders, and very creative…"

Hokage frowned, "Reminded you of Itachi-kun?"

Somehow Kakashi had a feeling that was not what Sandaime expected. "Ah yes… in the way they fit seamlessly to their new role, and eagerness to work well in team. Though… I suppose Sekirei is livelier than Itachi-kun, as calm but not as subdued… Koumori made fun of his specialization, nothing heated or offensive and Sekirei gave him a witty retort that made everyone laugh..."

Sandaime smiled at him, the Hokage seemed pleased by his comment. "So… do you like the new addition on your team?"

"I suppose?" Kakashi was not sure how to respond to that. "I do, I think that if we're in need of an expert in sealing we would love to have him again."

The Hokage nodded sagely, "I am glad to hear that though… if you want him, make sure to make Sekirei feel welcome in your team, he is on high demand after all."

Kakashi nodded, as he was not sure how to respond to that either. So he left the Hokage's office with more puzzle than when he came. Who was Sekirei really? And why Hokage was so interested in him?

---

Konoha Shinobi Cemetery

Unlike civilian cemetery where citizens of the Konoha were buried, one reserved for Shinobi was located at its outskirts. He knew the cemetery since his academy day, that the place existed but he was always left out from cemetery maintenance duty. His instructors didn't believe he wouldn't make trouble, but Naruto was sure Sandaime didn't want him to look for grave with specific name.

Uzumaki Kushina
Uzumaki Mito
Namikaze Minato

It was not hard to find grave belonged to Hokage and their wives, they even located in completely different plot of land not far from other graves.

"I don't mind you guys going home first, you know." He told them as he balanced the bouquet of flower in his arms.

Shisui who was still in ANBU gear as the rest of their team pulled a face, "Absolutely not… we're going to accompany you even all the way to hell." He declared in dramatic fashion.

Naruto was not impressed, "I appreciate the sentiment, but we're just visiting my parents' grave not hell. Although… I don't want you guys to get in trouble if someone see us."

Because their anal retentive Hokage was still keeping his pedigree as a secret. While Naruto appreciate Sandaime's vigilance for his safety, he didn't see the point of keeping it from him to this extent. If anything it just hurt because Sandaime didn't trust him with his own secret. Though at this point he already pass point of hurt and leaning more to numb.

"It's fine, Naruto." Itachi assured him. "We will just say we want to pay respect before the tenth October when the cemetery will get too crowded."

Naruto sighed, "If you say so."

It was getting late but it didn't feel right to go straight home, he was not sleepy yet. Kakashi made his way towards the cenotaph located in third training ground, the memorial stone was a familiar artifact to him. Kakashi was pretty sure he could memorize every crack, cut d uneven surface of memorial stone by now, Obito's gift was good to memorize detail.

He almost stopped dead on his track when he saw that Yamanaka flower shop was still open until this late and a group of shinobi that just returned from mission was buying flowers. He belatedly realized that today was ninth October, a day before that day. He contemplated for a moment before making his way to the shop.

With flowers in hand he made his way towards Konoha cemetery, while the day was tomorrow he didn't want to deal with the crowd. He would spend tomorrow at home and if he felt like it he would visit memorial stone instead.

When he reached the cemetery he noted the academy students had cleaned the place well, the flower vases were emptied and no wild grass in sight. Silently he complimented the brats for a job well done. He was surprised when he reached Hokage's grave there was a new flower in front of Shodaime's and Uzumaki Mito's grave.

"Wow." Kakashi couldn't help but commented.

Yamabuki's long string of flowers seemed to overflow from the bamboo vase, contrasting with white petals of Suisen. It was a simply arranged combination, not particularly artful but there was grace in its simplicity. It was still unusual as most Shinobi, even Kunoichi didn't put much thought in arranging flower for their dead. It seemed pointless, tradition or not.

So who?

He didn't ponder for long as he sensed presence from somewhere ahead. He was not sure why himself but on reflex he hid his chakra and presence, creeping silently to presence he sensed ahead. Then he saw them, three familiar figure still dressed in ANBU gear paying their respect to Yondaime's and his wife's grave.

'Sekirei, Itachi and Shisui… why?' He wondered for a moment, then recalled another grave visited by them belonged to Shodaime and Uzumaki Mito. 'Oh, as I expected then that Sekirei is…'

It seemed they were almost done and waiting for the incense to finish burning, five minutes later they started cleaning up the incense and everything they brought as offering. It didn't escape Kakashi's observation they brought ramen with them as food offering.

"Is that all of it?" It was Shisui asking, it was very dark because there was almost no moonlight tonight.

"Yep…" Sekirei answered, Kakashi couldn't see his face from this angle but that long red hair was distinctive enough.

The last figure Kakashi guessed was Itachi tied the trash bag and said, "Shall we go home now? It's almost midnight."

Sekirei's body language was thick with hesitation, "I would like to stay for a while until…"

Itachi and Shisui shared a speaking look before they nodded in understanding. "Alright, we get it." Shisui said as he patted Sekire's shoulder comfortingly.

"Don't stay too late though." Itachi warned his friend. "You hardly have time for yourself lately, and you're not getting less busy anytime soon so take care of yourself."

"I know… it's fine."

They bid him a farewell and Kakashi held his breath when Itachi and Shisui walked pass the tree he was hiding behind on. Kakashi would be embarrassed if he noticed their narrowed eyes when they walked pass, but he didn't.

There was a long silence after the Uchiha cousin left, and Kakashi was snapped back to reality by a soft thud. He craned his neck and saw Sekirei had sat down on the stone pavement in front of Yondaime's grave, legs tucked close to his body as the young Shinobi hugged his knees. Then there was soft mumbling he couldn't comprehend.

Then there was a sharp intake of breath before something like a mangled, choked sob escaped his lips.

"Sekirei?"

The young seal master whirled around quickly, mask on and hood drawn. Kakashi would be impressed if he didn't stumble. Sekirei didn't fall but managed to catch himself though. "Ha… Hatake-Taichou? What are you… doing here?"

He was almost flailing. It was strange to Kakashi to see the young Shinobi who seemed unflappable on mission behaved like this. "Paying my respect like you do, it seems we have the same idea on avoiding crowd of visitors tomorrow."

"I see…" Sekirei mumbled, hesitation was clear in his body language.

Kakashi's eyes went toward the flowers, the only offering Sekirei had not yet taken back with him. Yellow tsubaki looked almost drowned by two large and one small sunflowers in the center, and the long branched flower that spilled out of the vase was rengyou. The sunflower was not in uniform color, one red, yellow and one small orange, the whole combination made the bouquet resembling a sun. If the vase was not built into the altar Kakashi would be worried it was going to fall down under the weight of all those flowers. It was not an extravagant attempt on Ikebana, and while Kakashi was no expert in Hanakotoba -embarrassingly Obito was more adept at this than he ever would be- he could tell they were full of emotion to be conveyed to the dead.

"Uhm… Taichou?"

"We're not on mission."

"Hatake-san then."

He snorted at the formal address. "Why… you're one formal Uzumaki, aren't you? One Uzumaki I knew before is not as formal and call me with my first name without asking for my permission." Sekirei tensed at that. "Of course it's just her friendly nature rather than rudeness…"

Sekirei swallowed, "Is that a guess?"

"That you're an Uzumaki?" Kakashi received a nod in response. "It is, but I am pretty sure you're an Uzumaki although I don't recall there is any Uzumaki around Itachi-kun's age the last time… when Kushina-san was still alive."

"Eh?"

Kakashi blinked, just now the younger Shinobi sounded flabbergasted by something he said. He didn't say anything odd, did he? "I mean… you have red hair, very skilled in Fuuinjutsu for your age, and also your immense stamina." Kakashi listed on. "It's pretty telling sign of an Uzumaki, I think."

There was a long silence afterward, and Kakashi was about to open his mouth to say something when the young seal master burst to a fit of laughter. "Ha ha ha ha! This is so… ha ha ha, I can't believe this datte-" He covered his mouth before the Uzumaki's verbal tic could slip out.

"I don't know why you laugh, but I believe that's the unmistakably Uzumaki's verbal tic that almost slipped out from you." Kakashi pointed out almost gleefully.

The Uzumaki snorted, "Fine Hatake-san, you got me there. I am an Uzumaki… but please don't tell Hokage-sama you found me out." Kakashi frowned at that, "Ah, I don't mean to make you keeping secret from Hokage-sama, but for his peace of mind it would be better if he thinks no one in the village notice existence of an Uzumaki… I am sure you know why we need to keep it underwraps."

Kakashi could think up a few, most centering on certain ball of sunshine that also happened to be his sensei's son. "Alright, I get it… you owe me though. Because I am sure Hokage-sama would be pretty cross you're easily found out."

"To be fair… I am not really trying."

Of course, after all that vibrant red shoulder length hair was only covered with hood. Sekirei also didn't keep his large chakra reserve a secret either.

"After all my clan is mostly forgotten… and to be frank I am pretty peeved with the academy, Uzushio is not included in history anymore."

Kakashi winced inwardly, he knew why it was omitted from their history lesson. Konoha was trying that hard to hide secret, even at the cost of leaving her future generation clueless of her once eternal ally. "I am sure you know why."

"Oh, of course I know why…" He didn't sound particularly bitter, just resigned. "There is no point looking at the past and regret, you're just going to hold yourself back."

Kakashi frowned at that, "And yet you're still here… paying your respect for Mito-sama and Kushina-san."

"Paying respect is different." Sekirei turned to face him fully now, that wagtail mask looked eerie in cloudy night. "Is that what confirm my blood to you?"

The Hatake's frowned deeper, for the first time Sekirei's voice sounded like he was displeased. "Yes."

He sighed, "Gee, I can't even visit my family's grave in peace. No wonder Hokage-sama didn't even let me…"

Kakashi almost choked at that somber musing, "Sekirei, it's fine! I will not tell Hokage-sama, you can keep visiting your family here, you don't have to worry!" It was his greatest comfort to be able to talk to his deceased loved ones, he couldn't imagine how it would feel if that was taken away from him.

Sekirei stared at him with an odd look, at least his body language had that kind of impression to Kakashi. "While I am sure your misunderstood me somewhere, thank you I guess…" The Uzumaki drawled on, hesitating before he broke the stretching silence. "May I ask you something?"

The Hatake blinked before shrugging, "Go ahead, no promise I will answer you though."

"It's fine… it's something I don't expect an answer for." He told Kakashi cryptically. "Ne… Hatake Kakashi, how long do you intent to let their death to weigh you down?"

Tremor ran through his vein like cold glacier at blunt question Sekirei asked so nonchalantly. "They are not weighing me down!" He hissed, and he was shocked by how angry he sounded. He wanted to sound assuring but he couldn't help it.

"Is that so? Perhaps you don't realize you make them be…" Before Kakashi could refute that he added, "Remembering is fine… talking to gravestone if it comfort you is also fine, that's how you cope and so be it." He sounded resigned and Kakashi suddenly felt familiar guilt because the Uzumaki wanted to get something across but Kakashi just couldn't help it.

"I…"

Sekirei turned around, "However… dwelling in guilt and questioning yourself on what ifs brings you nothing but pain."

Was this boy a mind reader? Even if somehow he found out about Kakashi's past, seeing through him was another matter entirely. He knew there was nothing he could do for Minato-sensei's and Kushina-san's death back then, and Rin chose to die for their village. However Obito was different problem entirely, Obito died for him.

He was selfish, condescending, and far too concerned about following the rules. The set of rules that should chucked out of the window, because what was the point of following rules if you had your comrade's blood in your hands? Had he cared about teamwork and friendship in the same way that Obito did, his kind friend might have survived that mission.

Tap

Kakashi's eyes widened when he saw glowing tomoe shaped blade right in front of his face, tapping his headband. He reacted, backing away with a burst of chakra. "What the…"

Kongō Fūsa, the fūinjutsu and Hiden that reserved to Uzumaki clan members. Sekirei's was different from Kushina's though, the color was richer gold instead of pale and the blade on the tip reminded Kakashi of Sharingan's tomoe.

"If I was an enemy you would be dead by now." Sekirei told him mildly. "Really… Kakashi." He must be hallucinating because even though the voice was different, the tone and pitch was Minato-sensei's. "You should pay attention."

"Mina-"

Before he could finish another tomoe blade spun menacingly before him. He didn't sense any hostile intent, but he could tell it was some sort of warning. Wasn't he the one who gets dressing down here?!

"Did you get it?" Sekirei asked after he retracted his Kongō Fūsa.

Sure there was no danger, Sekirei was just dangling the chain on his face but it was nowhere less unnerving when one had painful memory of dragged around by the same chain back then. He swore he would never made a sexist comment within Kushina's earshots ever again. Another evidence that genius didn't mean wise.

"Yes, you did. Just… don't wave your Kongō Fūsa on my face." Kakashi made shooing motion with his hand irately. "I am easily distracted when people brings up my issue." To be fair this was not a mission and Sekirei was not a hostile enemy. "And I heard enough of lecture on they wouldn't want this for me."

Sekirei scoffed, "Good, and I am not going to give you that. Because you know… the dead is dead, and whatever we think about what they want in the end is just our imagination. In the end what you did is what you want for yourself…" He pointed out.

Kakashi narrowed his lone eye at that, he knew what he was doing, imitating Obito as some sort of tribute for his fallen friend was not Obito's wish but his alone. In the same time he knew he couldn't be as kind as Obito who really did help people out of goodness of his heart rather than blatant lie Kakashi made out of himself. Kakashi was not ashamed to admit, that was why Obito even in death was always a better person than Kakashi.

"There is nothing bad about that, is there?"

"Is that what you think? Honestly, it's pretty simple… you let your past to dictate you. Can you honestly say that you have changed at all?"

If before it was like a solid hit on the gut, this was more like a killing blow. He couldn't deny that because his father's death he became obsessed with following rule out of selfish desire to protect himself, what so different now if he protect his comrades because of Obito's death?

"It's not about wrong or right, but do you even like yourselves? Not as a Shinobi but as a person?" He didn't answer that because if he did it would be a resounding no, and he had spent years hating himself for letting his precious people die.

Sekirei went on. "Someone who lives for others and forgetting to live for himself will not living a fulfilling life, if that's not disrespecting their sacrifice I don't know what is."

There was nothing Kakashi could say in response to that but he knew the feelings welling in his heart very well, shame and guilt.

Sekirei just sighed, taking his silence as negative. "Well, apparently this is a pretty pointless endeavor in my part." He muttered before walking away.

"Wait! Sekirei!" The Uzumaki stopped walking and craned his neck so Kakashi could see the profile of his masked face, a silent query. "Why you're telling me this?"

At that he rubbed the back of his head, groaning. "To tell you the truth I am not so sure myself." He sounded almost sheepish. "But Hatake-san, don't make what I told you tonight change our working relationship. Whatever I said in the end is still other's opinion, you may agree and disagree."

Kakashi sweat-dropped, 'Is it just me or this Uzumaki has a drastic change of mood?' He sounded almost detached. 'I don't remember Kushina-san had this moon swing even when she was pregnant.'

"Though I suppose my main reason… I am just passing a message." He told Kakashi.

Then it dawned to Kakashi since this talk began not even once Sekirei took credit of what he said as his. There was no opinion or thinking that was his, the way he talked was more like reciting some sort of script. "From who?"

In response Sekirei just inclined his head towards the grave, before he left with a swirl of leaves.

---

On the way back to Tower

"That's just so mean…" Naruto complained, resisting his urge to pout. "I can't believe you let him pass!"

Itachi shrugged, "To be fair, we don't have the right to stop him."

"And it's not like you're not itching to talk to him in private." Shisui added with a grin.

Naruto glared at the Uchiha cousins, before sighing. "I am not…" He grumbled, "I am not claiming credits on whatever I told him tonight, I was passing a message." He insisted. "I have no right to lecture him and I am not a hypocrite in denial. I am as guilty as he is about getting attached to the dead and past."

"Naruto, they're your parents and loyal guardians..." Shisui pointed out, "And yet I don't see you acting like a scarecrow in front of memorial stone." It was a pretty ironic take on Kakashi's name, Shisui admitted. "For hours, and picking up the dead's bad habit and get it wrong."

Naruto stared at annoyed face Shisui made, and noticed Itachi was making his own version of annoyed in which his lips curved down by two millimeters and eyes narrowed. "Get what right?"

"He's late to everything unless someone's life is on the line or Hokage's order. I get he's trying to copy Obito-niisan, but Hatake doesn't even actually help old grannies get their cats out of their trees or carry their groceries." Shisui explained with a huff. "If he want to honor Obito-nii or something he should at least do the charity part, while Obito-nii is tardy at least his excuse is not lies and it's out of goodness of his heart."

Naruto recalled the Uchiha his father was so fond of in his mind, a boy with naturally good heart and optimistic grin. He reminded Naruto of his old self a little, no, a lot. "Is that so?"

"And Obito-nii was never that late." Naruto almost couldn't believe Itachi was joining Shisui.

"Yes, at most he is half an hour late and he is sincerely apologetic about it!" Shisui added, recalling one time he had to wait for two hours when Hokage requested them to go on mission together.

The Hatake had the gall to walk to their meeting point, nose buried in his porn and unrepentantly mumbled about being late without picking his pace. Then he told them he was helping grannies with their grocery, and he got lost in road of life. Shisui was very tempted to correct Kakashi's botched attempt to copy his cousin, but he was not that petty to go for a low blow. Especially when Kakashi looked like he was smacked on the face when he noticed Shisui -who was standing apart from the team and practicing suppressing his chakra- was part of the team.

Still, Shisui was peeved.

Naruto sweat-dropped, 'Should I be worried that Shisui and to an extent Itachi have more problem with how not precise Hatake Kakashi at imitating their cousin was rather than the imitating part itself?'

He had heard that imitation was the highest form of respect -or was it flattery?- to one's idol. As a seal master imitation was the highest form of heresy in his art, so he didn't get it. And he didn't get Hatake either, not more than his father did at any rate and even his father's understanding should've expired by nine years.

"Alright… calm down you two." Not that Itachi need it, "I am more concerned of how he would act around me in the next mission I join."

"It's not like Hatake-taichou is someone who likes to pry." Itachi knew this well, because back when he asked about the transplanted sharingan it was like walking on eggshells with the Hatake. Even then the ANBU was pretty vague in answering Itachi, and most likely he answered because he thought he owed it to Obito's cousin.

He sighed, "I hope so." Naruto looked up to cloudy sky, the crescent moon tonight was eerie and reminding him a little of Kurama's pupil. "I just… want him to hear my father's last thought for him…"

For Kakashi to start living for himself and free of guilt. Though in the end what Kakashi would do with that advice was still up to him. Naruto's father believed Kakashi could pull it off someday, Naruto was not as optimistic. After all, Hatake Kakashi had done an exemplary job in avoiding that issues for years. Still, his father believed his student could overcome this and in spite his nonexistent faith on Hatake Kakashi, Naruto would like to see if that was true.

---

The Sealing Tower

"Muramasa… if only that terminal illness didn't get you I would have killed you myself." Hakurei murmured to himself as he dusted off documents after documents. It had been weeks and he didn't see even a single useful page in Muramasa's cabinet.

Shion sweat-dropped. "Tou-san, there is no point cursing Muramasa-san now is there?"

"There is! If he continue giving me trouble even beyond the grave!" Hakurei hissed, browsing through Muramasa's document. "Just because Minato-kun don't have Satori he thinks it would be fine to put the seal to stabilize Satori somewhere here without telling me where is the damn document! That moron, I wonder where did he get that confidence Satori end with him?"

"Can't we just make a new design?"

"I would love to if Muramasa himself didn't take five years designing that seal of his!" If Muramasa took that long he didn't even want to imagine how long it would take doing it themselves, heck, they didn't even comprehend Satori fully. Sure they knew what it did but how it worked in someone's head and chakra network? Not a clue.

Shion eyed the cabinet reserved for Muramasa alone, "Erm… question, why this cabinet is so messy?"

"Obviously Muramasa is not the most orderly person, genius seal master and blacksmith or not." Hakurei answered flatly.

The younger Shiomitsu cringed, "Is that so?" Now he get where Naruto-sama get his tendency to hand over messy paper for his side project. "When did he make the seal… it will be faster if we know."

"Hm… unlike Naruto-sama I believe he started to awaken Satori when he was eighteen years old…" Hakurei rubbed his chin. "Satori is not quite a bloodline in the first place so it's pretty random."

Shion tied his bushy hair up and Hakurei held back a laugh because his oldest son looked funny with that hairdo. His son inherited his wife's curly bushy hair and luckily for his grandsons, Mu and Atla didn't inherit Shion's hair but the more dominant straight hair of their clan.

"Eighteen…" Shion trailed off, unaware of his father's line of thought. "Wait a minute… didn't Muramasa-san returned to Konoha to settle down when he is almost thirty?"

"Hm? Yeah so?" He didn't recall the exact year himself.

"Isn't that mean… halfway in developing the seal he is called to capitol to be one of the Twelve Guardians?" Shion pointed out. "Did he even bring his notes on Satori Seal back with him?"

He tried to recall the almost forgotten conversation about the seal they were looking for. As a shinobi and seal master he had a good memory but it was still hard to call something over thirty years ago.

---

Flashback

'Haku… Sage, can you guys help me with this seal?' Muramasa asked, tying his hair up in pigtails.

His twin, Sangetsu sweat-dropped. "Alright, and again why Sage is my nick?"

"Hakurei is herb name so you guys will have matchi-"

Hakurei cut him off, "Alright… stop right there, Sangetsu if you question Muramasa's logic we will be here all day…" He was speaking from experience here.

Muramasa beamed and their eyes were drawn to his twin pigtails, surprisingly not out of place on him in even though he was in his late twenties and a man. "Your hair…"

"Sangetsu… don't question Muramasa's craziness, just let him be." Why his twin never get a clue to ignore Muramasa's eccentricity? Especially the taste for weird hairstyle he got from his mother, Senju Touka. Apparently the Senju wanted a daughter and since Muramasa was pretty enough…

"Guys? Help me please!" He whipped his face towards their direction, blond twintails swung following his movement.

One of these days Muramasa should feel something when someone was commenting on his hairdo. He quit his job in court because of stress, so he should know how to feel insulted in theory. "Alright… where is your note on this seal?" This seemed to be one complicated seal.

"Eh? It's not here… so maybe it's still there."

"Where is there?"

"Capitol of course."

"…"

"…You left your seal notes in the capital?"

"I think so?"

End of Flashback

---

Hakurei trembled as realization dawned on him. "MURAMASA!"

Shion sighed, "Tou-san… your blood pressure. It's nothing new when it comes to Muramasa-san."

"Shut up Shion! Sent someone to capitol to get the notes! I can't believe we forgot about that moron's notes for years!"

That was how a tired Naruto groggily woken up by a very flustered Hakurei apologized to his master that due to unexpected delay Naruto-sama had to wait for a month patiently in the end. Fortunately his caring master didn't seem to care, and mumbling about idiot student of his father and it was too early to deal with another problem.

So Naruto didn't ask for explanation. He didn't know how to explain to Naruto-sama that his idiotic grandfather left his notes –the life blood of a seal master- in capital and now HOMRA members and Shion –who got the short end of the stick- were looking for the missing notes with not much success. Muramasa the idiot had left almost everything in his old quarter in Houou palace and returned to Konoha only carrying three swords, some clothes and money with him, and thought it was a good idea to leave everything else behind.

Sorting through Muramasa's junks alone would take days. He had not told Naruto-sama about his not so far blood relation to the Uchiha and he was even more unprepared to explain Muramasa was a bit touched on the head.

Thankfully Naruto-sama didn't ask for explanation even after he was sober. Naruto-sama was thoroughly distracted by his birthday party and ensuing chaos, especially when Kagami's son thought it was a good idea to challenge Tokusa to a ridiculous game to make the party merrier. In which the game involved a long clear acrylic pipe -a sealing tool for research he had no idea whose workshop Shisui stole them from- then an alive squirming cockroach and the most affectionate vine plant from Naruto-sama's garden. Hakurei was not sure how the heck Shisui manage to convince Naruto-sama to lend the silver vine Tabi-san to him.

And just few days ago Kagami's son spouting nonsense about sueing Naruto-sama's plant for sexual harassment and demanded them to stay away from his chastity. The fruit didn't fall far from the tree, Shisui was as dramatic as Kagami.

For once Hakurei was thankful so for the sake of greater good he threw Tokusa to the wolves called Uchiha Shisui's creativity to wreck havoc, and watched his student - Tokusa's sacrifice would be worth it- blowing a cockroach trapped in clear pipe to go to opposite direction until his face became tomato red while Tabi-san's vine went *shiver* under his shirt and tickling both of them.

"No! Not there!"

"Where are you touching, you pervert!"

"Shisui, you're accusing a plant pervert?"

"They're mutated plants!"

"Ha ha ha ha! Naruto-sama help… Tabi-san is- have mercy!"

"And the cockroach?" He reminded them helpfully of the main point of the game, blowing the poor menace away from their orifice.

Tokusa blowed as hard as he could, and Shisui returned it. "I will not lose!"

"Why are they still playing this stupid game again?" Someone from the crowd wondered.

"Idiots."

Truly... Kagami's son was a genius in creating chaos like his father. And like any true Uzumaki, Naruto-sama couldn't draw his eyes away from unfolding chaos and mayhem.

---

The next day…

"Tokusa…" Naruto drawled dangerously, ignoring nagging feeling that he had forgot something and this was Hakurei trying to make him forget. But for the life of him, he didn't think it was anything worth to worry about.

"Why is that I heard from Hakurei who heard from Yamanaka-dono of all people that according to his daughter you put half of her class to sleep?" This constant headache since the end of his first ANBU mission was not helping his mood either.

Tokusa fidgeted.

Yuzuriha looked ashamed, "Well… I tried to stop Tokusa, young master. Trust me I tried, but you know Tokusa…"

Once the Shiomitsu boy started on Fuuinjutsu he would rant on and on with technical lingo that no one below 1st Dan seal master could comprehend. He also sucked all emotion out from his speech, even though he was talking about the wonder of their art. Once Hakurei commented Tokusa could put even Danzou's puppet to sleep with his lesson and as proven by Sai, Danzou's training couldn't help him to stay awake.

There was a good reason why Tokusa who was in spite being younger was as skilled as his sister, but for the life of him he couldn't teach.

Naruto himself couldn't comprehend how Tokusa made Fuuinjutsu sounds boring. Maybe it was his Uzumaki's bias but… it's Fuuinjutsu! The art of writing your imagination and made it reality! It was the well of infinite possibility and-

"Okay, stop right there! I have had enough of you singing praises for the damned fuuinjutsu!" Kurama protested from the depth of his mind, "I had it when I was inside Mito, your mother and now you too!"

"..."

"That came out wrong." Kurama grumbled, "I spend too long inside humans, you guys start to corrupt me with your disgusting way to procrea-"

'Kurama I will stop but you too, this is getting weird for us both.' They agreed and Naruto turned his attention back to his vassals. "At any rate… aside from a few candidates." Which was a ridiculously small pool considering there was almost a hundred students getting the same offer. "We expect it not going well, but I can't accept it's because they can't stay awake during your lecture."

"...I am really sorry Naruto-sama…"

He sighed, "I get it why this happened on the first day with third year, Tokusa started and when he finished you're already run out of time. But what happened with second, fourth and fifth year on the next days?" He was busy on mission so he had no idea, and the ANBU mission distracted him enough to make him forget asking. To be fair no report about it reached his desk.

Yuzuriha swallowed, "Uhm… I tried to do damage control, but… I was called for emergency mission so I pass the job over… so Tokusa, Iwafune-san and… Shion-nii were the ones to go."

Naruto would give himself a forehead-slap if not for the headache he was already suffering from. Tokusa was bad at simplifying explanation, Iwafune could be funny at teaching but he was prone to digressing and in the end getting nowhere, while Shion… guess from who Tokusa got his teaching skill from. "You know… there is nothing wrong with assigning anyone with lower rank than 2nd Dan, even a student in foundation year if anything, they could relate to amateur better."

"Ugh…" Their face said, Why we didn't we think of that?

Though the downside would be they might unable to answer everything curious and mischievous students threw at them.

Leaning back to the backrest of his chair, he sighed when the chair creak. "By the way who made the arrangement?" It couldn't be Hakurei because the old Shiomitsu had been rushed off of his feet for the last few days and holed up in archive room.

"Actually… whoever volunteer for the job and free…"

This time Naruto gave in to temptation and palmed his face. He knew it was just a side project that was not a priority, and majority of Tower's occupant view it as charity. Still, he wanted the Tower to integrate more with Konoha and pulled Uchiha clan along in the process. Itachi and his parents were still skirting around the issue with their clan, because poking the angry beehive Uchiha clan had become was dangerous.

In his side, his people was half-hearted and most of the time was just indulging him. In Itachi's and Shisui's side, they were dealing with a ticking time bomb they called their clan.

And Iemitsu-jii expected result in a year.

He inhaled deeply, and told himself to just take one step at a time rather than whining about his problem. "Alright… first thing first, see if we can arrange another seminar. And this time…" He swallowed. "I will go to Academy and choose the seal master to bring along myself."

If you wanted to get it right, sometimes you can't delegate it to someone else.

---

Shinobi Academy

Instructor's monthly meeting was held today in academy and Iruka was never this impatient waiting for second Tuesday of the month. He had been preparing for this meeting to share his finding with his peers and he pounced at the chance the moment his turn to speak came.

He explained his worry about declining quality of education in academy, that at first slowed down to accommodate civilian children after Kyuubi's attack. Now that they were slowly recovering their number they really had to pick up their pace.

One of senior instructor nodded sagely at his argument then pointed out that they had to run it through Hokage first, and even then changing the curriculum back to pre- third war was too drastic change. Even clan children would have problem to follow, and there was no way they could impose this change to students above third year.

"That's why I would like to propose a program, in which we're going to give our students a chance for early specialization." Iruka began, "So far only Sealing Division shows their interest in our students, which is a shame since they're not the only understaffed division as far as I know. For example… Medic-nin is especially on high demand all the time, and if we succeed to arrange a cooperative program with Medic division it would be a great boon for Konoha. Even if not all students pass Genin test they still have a chance to be a doctor."

It was no secret in Shinobi village there was never too many medics, especially in Konoha. It could be said that their victory in second and third Shinobi war was thanks to their superior medical force. Even in peace period there was never a shortage for medical request, from both shinobi and civilian.

"So I would like us to try contacting other divisions to hold a seminar like Sealing Division did, and even if we have to open an extra class to make time for it I believe it would be worth it." Iruka finished.

They began to discuss it among themselves, hushed whispers and mumbling filled the meeting room.

"So aside from Sealing Division we will ask Hokage-sa-"

Iruka shook his head, "No, I would like us to request Sealing Division to repeat their seminar! And this time I would like us to brief our students first, to prepare them what this chance mean for their career!"

He knew in Shinobi life, spoonfeeding your student was discouraged but Iruka also knew there was a time to compromise too. Especially if it would benefit their village in the long run.

As if answering his prayer a courier ninja send a letter that inform them that sealing division was interested for another seminar, promising a trial run of foundation lesson in sealing art to give their students a taste of their specialization.

"Did you ask them beforehand?" They were puzzled why the letter was marked as emergency one though.

Iruka shook his head, "I didn't." He couldn't believe his luck, he was almost afraid sealing division was so disappointed with his students and won't give them another chance.

Especially when more than half of his students fell asleep when Tokusa was teaching them on the wonder of his art, a shame since even though Iruka couldn't understand everything it was very interesting and enlightening.

That meeting was adjourned and in Iruka's favour, the chuunin instructor had never felt so accomplished since he passed instructor's exam. In his joy, Iruka never noticed his gray haired friends' narrowing eyes and pure jealousy that twisted the other Chuunin's face to an ugly sneer.

---

The next day, Sealing Tower

Today was the awaited and continuously delayed dinner with Itachi's family, and Naruto was pretty nervous about it. He had prepared gifts, and reviewing snippets of his parent's memories-which was not a lot- as reference. So far he knew Itachi's father was close with his father, so were their wives. Fugaku was fond of saury in autumn season, and secretly amused of Itachi's fondness for sweet. Mikoto learned how to cook from his mother and thought Kushina was fearless.

Not exactly helpful info to give a good first impression, but he would try. He knew how to act as Uzumaki's heir in presence of other clansmen but he was not going to Itachi's house a such but as Itachi's best friend and teammate.

Poking his breakfast with his chopstick absentmindedly, he wondered. How one should act in presence of a friend's parent again? He had no clue whatsoever.

"Naruto-sama! We got a letter, academy replied us already!" Yuzuriha announced enthusiastically, and Naruto almost choked on his hot morning tea.

Already? Didn't they just send the letter just yesterday? Yuzuriha did send the letter through courier ninja and marked it as emergency -an overkill- and declared anything coming from their young master should be treated as emergency.

After finishing his drink, he opened and scanned the letter. Naruto was not sure whether it was a good sign or not that academy was welcoming them with open arms once again. He belatedly realized answering academy's request would mean stepping inside the institution-he desperately wanted to get out from- once again.

Damn, maybe I shouldn't speak too fast about going back there.

Then again, he was not going back on his word even if he had to face academy once again.

---

Next preview :
"My name is classified, but you can call me sensei since I am teaching you now." He told them, and it sounded more like for convenience rather than military discrecy. " I am not sure you will be interested in my likes, and I dislike plenty of things." His eyes wandered to every crook and corner of their classroom. "My dream is an ambitious one and I am working on it now… with enlightening all of you about the wonders of Fuuinjutsu. Here and now we're going to write our imagination to a formula, tearing fabric of reality literally, and defy law of nature. All of that just part of inner working of Fuuinjutsu, so keep your eyes, ears and mind open."

Below is basically Naruto's family tree

Senju Touka+Namikaze Kaito
I
V
Namikaze Muramasa + Uchiha Mayumi
I
V
Namikaze Minato + Uzumaki Kushina
I
V
Uzumaki Naruto