Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kakashi Hatake.
Copy-nin.
Former ANBU captain.

Naruto, no matter how naïve he may seem, does know that his sensei is extremely skilled.

Aside, of course, from the fact that the only thing that is capable of defeating him is chakra exhaustion.

And Icha Icha but he doesn’t talk about that.

So, here they were, team seven, sitting in a cave with a passed-out sensei after completing what was meant to be a B-rank mission turned S-rank, having encountered a S-rank missing-nin that Naruto didn’t know the name of.

But it had been just over a day since Sasuke had dragged Kakashi-sensei to the cave, and an hour before that he had beat the missing-nin.

“Sakura-chan, are you sure Kakashi-sensei is okay? He is normally awake by now-” Naruto asks, loud as always.

Sakura looks up from her bag, rolls her eyes before she says, “no, Naruto, Kakashi-sensei isn’t okay, he got poisoned by the missing-nin, and it didn’t work as intended – I’m guessing, or they put the wrong poison on it, so I’m trying to find the antidote.” A small smile appears on Sakura’s face, “the thing is, the antidote can only be ingested orally.”

Sasuke looks up at that, a small smile on his face. The smile is more of a smirk, and Sasuke mutters, “if I ever go missing-nin, I’d only do it after I see Kakashi’s face. ”

Naruto looks to Sasuke, yelling, “WHAT? TEME? Are you gonna-”

Sasuke glares at Naruto, “hn. Shut up, dobe.”

Sakura lets out a loud sigh. It implies, shut the hell up or next time you’re dying you’re gonna die.

The silence returns in full force.

Until Sakura yells, “SHANNARŌ! I found it!”

This time, Sasuke stands fully, walking quickly from where he was sitting at the front of the cave, back towards where Sakura and Naruto are, with Kakashi-sensei.

Sasuke’s smirk makes an appearance again.

Sakura is quick to instruct both Sasuke and Naruto, “Okay. We aren’t going to waste this opportunity,” she says, staring both of the boys in the eyes. “Sasuke-kun, grab the left side of the mask, Naruto grab the right.”

The boys do as they are told.

“Okay. Pull down gently.” She says, preparing the antidote.

They do it, revealing the mask underneath.

“WHAT? ” Naruto shrieks, voice breaking.

Sakura slaps her hand over Naruto’s mouth, and says, “shut up! Do it again with this mask.”

“Hn.” Sasuke mutters, before grabbing the second mask. Naruto does the same.

Slowly, they pull the mask off his ears, then off his nose and around his neck.

A seal glows light blue on the inside mask, before a little bit of chakra fills the cave, then dispersing again.

The seal glows brighter, so much so that they cover their eyes.

Then, all at once, the light disappears.

As their eyes adjust to the dark, gasps echo around the cave.

Their eyes widen in unison.

Kakashi-sensei’s ears are longer, bigger, and they look like a wolf’s ears, and they moved upwards, closer to the top of his head, so now they are in his hair. They have white-silver fur on them, that shimmers slightly in the moonlight leaking in from the front of the cave.

The fur continues just onto his face before stopping.

The fur gives way to freckles.

The freckles are silver in the moonlight, almost white, then as they get closer to his nose they darken into black, and they become denser.

That is when they notice.

Kakashi-sensei’s nose is a button nose.

The bottom of his nose if black, reaching just upward of the underside, and if you look straight at him it seems like a small, squished oval. Two thin black lines go from the centre of his nose to his top lip, which is black.

Sakura’s eyes widen further, and she whispers, “oh. My. Gosh. Kakashi-sensei is a wolf!” Stars appear in her eyes.

Sasuke, trying to hide the smile on his face says, “hn.” His voice is shaking, as if he is struggling to not laugh, “Pinky, are you going to give him the antidote?”

Sakura’s eyes widen even further – somehow – and she says, “Oh, thank you Sasuke-kun.” She puts a little bit of a green liquid on a spoon and opens Kakashi-sensei’s mouth.

Then she gasps again, and just after pouring the antidote into Kakashi-sensei’s mouth, she says, “oh my gosh, he is actually a wolf.”

Naruto looks at her, “what?”

She looks at Naruto, “he has canine teeth.”

She gets out a sealing scroll, and she unseals the book inside it.

The title reads, Guide to Clans & Hidden Villages! Everything You Need to Know.

Sakura flips open the thick book to the contents page, before saying, “I saw the Hatake clan in here… I know I marked the page…” She continues to flip the pages until she gets to Uzushiogakure Clans & General Information

Sakura starts to read out loud, “This is at the top of the page in pen, ‘redacted information is to keep the ruins safe.’ Okay! Onto what the book says: Uzushiogakure was one of, if not the most powerful Hidden Village before it’s downfall. It is located in the [redacted] strait, in the Land of Whirlpools.

“Uzushiogakure has had two leaders, the first Uzushiokage was Tosen Uzumaki. He was a descendant of Mito Uzumaki, who became well-known for discovering how to seal Bijuu.

“Uzushiogakure was home to five clans, the Chinami, the Daitomi, the Kintsugi, the Uzumaki and the Hatake clans. After the fall of Uzushiogakure, the clans were scattered, and presumed dead.

“Clans in Uzushiogakure were extremely skilled, and they were all masters of Fuinjutsu. Each clan had their own mastery of other elements. However, the two sister clans of the Uzumaki and Hatake were the most powerful.

“I’m going to skip a bit and go straight to the Uzumaki and Hatake clans, okay?” Sakura says. Naruto nods, excited, “my last name is Uzumaki!”
“Hn.” Sasuke answers, raising his eyebrows.

Sakura, too enraptured in the book doesn’t register what Naruto says and continues reading, “Uzumaki and Hatake Clans: these clans, despite being opposites lived in harmony. Traits:
“Uzumaki: Sun. Unbalanced yin-yang chakra. 2:1 ratio, more yang. Red hair. Extremely large chakra reserves. Often associated with foxes. Keepers of the [redacted]. Can [redacted] themselves and others with their chakra. Some have unique [redacted] abilities. Some are fox shifters. [redacted] with [redacted] and [redacted], [redacted] but [redacted]. Was a larger clan than the Hatake clan before the fall.

“Hatake: Moon. Unbalanced yin-yang chakra. 2:1 ratio, more yin. Silver/white hair. Had chakra reserves on par with Uzumaki be[redacted]. Sealed [redacted] to prevent [redacted]. Often associated with wolves. Keepers of the [redacted]. Only clan to have contact with [redacted]. Affinity with lightning, but unnatural control of [redacted] and [redacted]. Some have unique [redacted] abilities. Some are wolf shifters. But – the next line is completely redacted – Small clan, but extremely skilled.”

“That is very cool.” Naruto says, before asking, “where did you get it?”

Sakura’s whole face goes red. “U-uhm…”

Sasuke flashes forwards and grabs the book from Sakura, before reading out loud, “this bit is in pen. A Hokage’s pen. ‘make sure to keep the seals on the Hatakes and Uzumakis. We don’t want a repeat of-’ then it’s inked out.” Sasuke closes the book, “there’s something they don’t want us to know. So, where’d you get it?”

Sakura’s face becomes a tomato as she stutters out, “I-I got i-it from t-the l-library b-behind the h-hospital."

Rustling starts behind them, “that library is for extremely high-ranking individuals, Sakura. I’m not allowed in there, so you definitely wouldn’t be."

“Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto yells, latching onto his vest.

“You’re a wolf-shifter, sensei.” Sakura says.

“Yep!” Kakashi says with an eye smile.

“So, do you have a wolf form-thing if you’re a shifter, sensei?” Naruto yells, at the same volume.

“Yes, that I do.” Kakashi answers.

“Can you-”

“Another time. Let’s get back to Konoha."

“Hn."

Chapter Text

Kakashi is fully aware that his students are trying to get teams eight and ten on board with their devious plan.

He also knows it’s Not Going Well.

However, he is actually proud of the teamwork displayed in the team for this plan – especially from Sasuke, who is somehow leading the charge.

So, his Amazing Great Very Good Plan (trademarked) is to ask Kurenai and Asuma whether he could take their teams (along with his), on a seven-week survival training exercise in the mountains.

If they were apprehensive, he would then tell them why. And he knows they would then agree.

This is because the majority of the Jounin and some teachers have a betting pool on the weirdest of things.
Said people also think he is not aware of this betting pool on ‘How big is Kakashi’s wolf form’ and ‘what’s underneath Kakashi’s mask.’
They don’t collaborate on bets often, so that’s how he figured these 2 out.

He knows for a fact that Genma and Anko worked together to do it. He also knows of at least one more, but they’re better at hiding it.

He would also have to convince Hiruzen, but he can pull favours. Hiruzen owes him a lot.

Time to put the plan into action.

Step 1:
Confront his victi- no, fellow teachers – in the Jounin lounge and tell them.

“Yo.” He appears behind Asuma and Kurenai, and they spin around so fast he swears that they have whiplash.

Asuma sighs, “what is it Kakashi?”

Ah, good. Kakashi can smell sake on Asuma’s breath. People don’t think as much when they’re woozy.

Kakashi crouches down so he is in line with their heads, “I have a proposition.”

Kurenai nods, “what is it?”

Kakashi takes a deep breath in, almost choking on the scent of alcohol, “I would like to take your teams along with my team on a two-week survival training expedition in the mountains.”

Asuma raises an eyebrow, “and why should we agree to this?”

Kakashi sighs, but he did account for this, “I can help you with the bets on me.”

Asuma’s eyes light up, “DEAL!”

Kurenai sighs, but nods. Kakashi is so happy that Kurenai is a sober drunk, a perfect counter to Asuma.

Kakashi, with permission from the senseis, starts to walk away. Until Asuma grabs his arm and says, “we’re coming with you though. I know there’s a reason behind this, and I want to know what it is… Also, you aren’t just going to tell us what’s under the mask, we’re seeing it.”

Kakashi sighs, he should’ve known he wouldn’t get away with it that easily. “Okay, I’ll go ask Hiru- Hokage-sama.” Kakashi winces at his near slip-up.

As he walks away, he can hear Asuma talking about how they’d need at least Genma, Anko, Gai, and any other people that annoy Kakashi, just to piss him off.

He sighs, what did he get himself into?

ɛ= ɛ= ɛ= ɛ= ɛ= ɛ= ɛ=( o｀ω′)ノ

Stepping into the Hokage tower via the window, Kakashi can hear Hiruzen’s sigh already.

“What is it, Kakashi?”

Kakashi gives the old man an eye-smile, before passing him a scroll that has the parameters of what he wants to do.

Hiruzen sighs, the first of this conversation, and says, “no one is getting kidnapped, no one is passing out from chakra exhaustion, no one’s dying, and we have a deal.”

Kakashi nods. It’s a good deal.

ԅ[ •́ ﹏├┬┴┬┴ ɛ=ε=ε= ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿'̿'\̵͇̿̿\ ~( ￣▽￣)~/̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ε=ε=ε=┏(゜ロ゜)┛

“Asuma, I am forever in your debt, as you have allowed me to-” Anko bows to Asuma before being karate-chopped on the head.

“Okay! Anko, who’s coming?” Genma asks.

“Okay, so, Asuma, you and I are already here, but Gai, the twins, Kurenai, and Iruka are also coming.” Anko reads off the list.

“IT IS A YOUTHFUL SPRING MORNING TO SEE MY ETERNAL RIVAL’S FACE!” Gai yells. Anko glances over and sees Kurenai, the twins, and Iruka with Gai.

The only person they’re missing is Kakashi.

Of course he’s late.

O(><；)oo├┬┴┬┴ ̿̿’̿’\̵͇̿̿\=(•̪●)=/̵͇̿̿/’̿̿ ̿ ̿ ̿ Σ(っ °Д °;)っ

Anko feels a spike of chakra in the clearing.

She whips out her ninja wire – he wasn’t getting away this time.

Kakashi lifts a hand, “yo?”

She notices something, “you aren’t wearing your hitai-ate?”

Kakashi chuckles nervously, “it gets uncomfortable?”

Anko shrugs, “okay.” There’s an awkward silence before Gai yells, “YOU CAN DO IT YOUTHFUL RIVAL!!!”

Kakashi sighs, and it feels as though he’s saying, oh Kami, why did I agree to this?

Anko can practically see the thought run through his mind, Ah, fuck it.

Kakashi lifts his hand up to his mask, a tense moment passes before he drags the first one to rest around his neck.

When he lifts his hand up again, the nerves are obviously getting to him. His hand shakes a miniscule amount before steadying again and resting his hand on his second mask.

Through the building glow, Anko can see Kakashi wince. Whatever the seal was hiding away hurt to come back out.

The glow builds, and Anko can feel warmth coming from the light, quickly becoming uncomfortable.

Iruka breaks the silence, “Kakashi?”

The light dissipates, along with the build-up of chakra in the clearing.

The seal is still glowing a light blue on the inside of Kakashi’s mask.

┬┴┬┴┤ヾ(o´０Д├┬┴┬ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿'̿'\̵͇̿̿\з= ( ▀ ͜͞ʖ▀) =ε/̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ε=ε=ε=ε=ε=ヾ(;ﾟﾛﾟ)ﾉ

Iruka prides himself on being one of the only sealing masters in the village.

He’s poured all his time and effort into mastering Fuinjutsu. But he’s never seen a seal like the one on Kakashi’s neck. He finds it awfully similar to the bijuu seals he’s been studying.

He dismisses the thought as soon as he thinks it. Kakashi wasn’t a Jinchuriki, he had none of that explosive anger that Kushina – and the rumoured temper of the Suna Jinchuriki. When Kakashi was mad, the air didn’t heat with tension like it did around Kushina, instead it always felt like it plunged sub-zero.

It was the complete opposite of the piercing heat of the releasing seal.

The light fades, and the smell of burning flesh winds around the clearing, before being blown away by a light breeze.

(A/N: dramatic anime wind hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa *deflates*)

The seal on Kakashi’s mask is still glowing, and the seal that Iruka saw on his neck has faded so much it just looks like a scar.

Iruka drags his gaze up to Kakashi’s face.

It is far from what he expected.

There is a pause for about ten seconds before Yonaka gasps in unison with her twin, Nishida.

“Kakashi-senpai-” Yonaka says –

“-has a button nose.” Nishida finishes.

Iruka quickly becomes overwhelmed with the thoughts in his head, oh my gosh, why is he cute?! … No Iruka, bad thoughts – what are those seals? They look like bijuu seals. Why are his gloves chakra-protected? Oh, wait Chidori, it makes sense- what was- seal? No. blood- infused – no that would kill. Uhm… massive chakra build-up, Kakashi’s glowing, actually very brightly -

Wait a second - WHY IS KAKASHI GLOWING?

wait is that a tail-? NO! IRUKA NOT NOW!

It looks like a star is dying inside Kakashi, all that chakra and nowhere to go.
It looks as though some thing otherworldly has awakened under Kakashi’s skin. He really wishes Minato and Kushina were here. They may not be on active duty anymore, but the jutsu Kakashi had cast on That Night preserved their souls to wander for however long they wanted to, unless someone performed a Forbidden jutsu and returned their souls to their bodies.

He hears what is similar to a whine of pain from a nin-ken when you step on its tail from where he is guessing Kakashi is.

In what feels to be an instant, the temperature plunges, and Iruka can hear frost crackle around the clearing.

Kakashi’s eyes snap up from the ground, what was previously the Sharingan a slitted blue eye and the other a light brown.

“I didn’t know Hatakes had a Kekkei genkai…” Iruka whispers.

A grey blur, then Kakashi’s body collapses with the tension never leaving his shoulders, even if he is unconscious.

“… The Hatake clan does not have a Kekkei genkai according to the public,” Genma says, uncharacteristically quiet. “Nor anywhere else but the Uzushio Archive, but only those with direct clan access or permission. We should probably also borrow a Yamanaka, because they could’ve sealed memories too.”

┐(ﾟ ～ﾟ )┌ ゞ◎Д◎ヾ

“Maybe Uzushio could be a chakra control test?” Nishida suggests.
“And a history lesson!” Yonaka adds.

Asuma and Kurenai nod, and Kurenai says, “just have to wait for Kakashi to wake up.” Kurenai takes a breath, so Genma steps in to say, “no matter what you do, do not tell Danzō.”

They all nod, parting ways to use their time wiely.

Chapter Text

Kakashi woke up in his futon. How he got here? He has no idea-
Wait.

Yeah okay brain, he remembers.

God, he hopes that someone bothered to take care of the little demons called his genin team.

Timeskip because I can – the genin teams are leaving to go to mountains now, ‘what mountains’ you may ask, well, my answer is ‘I don’t really give a shit, some mountains.’

Kakashi shunshined in front of the three genin teams he’s taking for ‘survival’ training.

“GAH! Kakashi-sensei, you’re late, dattebayo!“ Naruto yelled, right in Kakashi’s ear. This is going to be a long seven weeks.

He didn’t think this through. He has the next generation of Ino-Shika-Cho, the Hyūga heiress, an Inuzuka, an Aburame, his sensei’s son, the last Uchiha, and a civilian. This is going to be a ride and a half.

Kakashi sighed, he knows it’s going to be useful to them, if they ever encounter the Hatakes from Kumo. Or any other clan with animal related kekkei genkai.

He sighed again, before starting to talk, “Okay, you lot. We’re going up to the mountains for survival training, if Asuma or Kurenai didn’t tell ya. Does everyone have equipment appropriate for this?”

After seeing a multitude of shaken heads, from everyone except Shikamaru, the Hyuga, the Inuzuka and Sakura, he sends them off to get supplies ready. Shikamaru goes boneless and flops down onto the dirt, looking up, seemingly to cloud-watch. The Inuzuka sits down and his ninken join him. The Hyuga stands awkwardly before Sakura approaches, and they start talking.

Kakashi is fairly certain there is only one Inuzuka shifter left. They were drawn to ninken, leaving behind most of their shifting heritage. Unlike the Hatakes, and quite a few others. He knows a few Hatake from Kumo’s branch when he went to visit.

The visit was meant to be an ANBU mission to gather intelligence on A, the Raikage. It ended up being a family catch up. And a dogpile.
Just thinking about it brings a smile to his face. Ahh, memories.

He misses Kumogakure. And A, Killer Bee and everyone else. The more he thinks about it, the more the Konoha weather pushes down on him. It’ll be great to get out of Konoha… but he has to take care of a bunch of pups.

Wait a second… a few direwolves owe him a favour from when he saved the pack from hunters. Ignore what he thought earlier, this’ll befun.

ψ(｀∇´)ψ ( •̀ ω •́ )✧ (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)

Sakura is so done with Kakashi-sensei. Why? The reason is simple: the speed he’s going is stupid. Kakashi is taking them to mountains, he had said.

Said mountains are far away. Stupidly far away. She’d worked up her stamina for the past few months, but the speed he is going is stupid.

╚(c•⌂•)╝ φ(゜▽゜*)♪

Although Kiba is normally regarded as stupid or dumb, he’s not dumb enough to not notice the scent of lightning and mountain air on Team 7’s sensei. Underneath that, there is the scent of loneliness and direwolves – which can easily be mistaken for musty ninken. Don’t ask.

This is one of the few times Kiba is thankful for the number of times his kaa-chan has drilled different places with animals in them. He knows where they’re headed. But he’s gonna find it hilarious, he knows it. And because of that, he has come to the conclusion that Team 7’s sensei is awesome. He’s planning to talk to the lightning-mountain-lonely sensei and tell him he’s aware of the plan. So that’s what he’s gonna do.

___*( ￣皿￣)/#____

Once they had set up a ‘camp,’ Kiba goes over to their sensei. Closer, the scent is even more intense. He looks up towards his masked face – oh, that’s a good idea, wonder what material it’s made of – and towards the stormy eye. Swallowing, “Uh… sensei? We going to the direwolf mountain range, ain’t we?”

The silver-haired face smiled with an eye - fake-liar-no-lonely - and said, “yup! Wondered when you’d figure it out. Follow me.”
He shunshins away, and Kiba follows his scent with Akamaru following close behind. Going through the brush, he finds the jounin sitting upside-down on a tree branch. He claps his hands, “okay! The idea behind this is to teach them about natural dangers, and also kekkei genkai of shifters – especially Kumo’s shifters. I’m going to take this time to teach you about how to talk to direwolves and not die.”

Kiba’s eyes widen. This man talks to direwolves? Wait a second- “you’re a shifter, ain’ you?”
Although Kiba can’t see the shifter’s mouth, when his eye curls but doesn’t close, he can imagine the sharp-toothed grin underneath the mask.

“Bingo!” He claps his hands, “what’s your and your ninken’s names, brat? Mine’s Hatake Kakashi, but you can call be Kakashi-sensei.” His voice takes a teasing quality.

“I’m Kiba Inuzuka, the ninken’s Akamaru.”

“Oh, yes… This is gonna be fun.”

(ｏ ‵-′)ノ”(ノ﹏<。)

Despite what many believe, Ino has eyes for more than just Sasuke.

So yes, she noticed when they entered direwolf territory. Did she say anything? No. Why? She has too much confidence in people, despite her father working in torture and interrogation.

(╯▔皿▔)╯щ(゜ロ゜щ)

Sasuke was really bored. His ‘resting bitch face’ (as Sakura likes to call it) is pasted on at all times.

Normally, it’s a little better than this. But no, Kakashi decided to do ‘survival training’ in the mountains. They weren’t even at the mountains yet.

(∪.∪ )…zzz (_　_)。゜zｚＺ (￣o￣) . z Z

After a day and a half of tree-hopping, Sakura is almost out of stamina. Although she understands that Kakashi had been in some kind of special forces – but she doesn’t understand the significance of that, aren’t they just masked nin? – he had set the pace stupidly fast. She was too busy trying to adjust to the difference in trees to notice their group approaching a massive mountain range.

So, when Sasuke-kun stopped in front of her, she was very close to her momentum carrying her into him.

And of course, Kakashi shunshins right in front of them. Obviously.

“Yo.” That word is the bane of Sakura’s existence.

Kakashi sits down on the tree in front of the group and starts talking, “okay. So, I have no idea how much you learnt in the academy about kekkei genkais, because I was only there for a year – but I’m gonna do a ‘how to identify and survive kekkei genkai tutorial, by the copy-nin’ because they are a pain in the ass.”

From where he was lying down, Shikamaru slowly sits up. It’s important then, because as hard as he tried to make it look unprompted, it was very obvious when Shikamaru is interested in something. Ino turns to look at him, and, diverting chakra to her ears, Sakura can hear her whisper, “but we already know about kekkei genkais? It’s like your shadows, Sasuke-kun’s Sharingan, Hinata-chan’s Byakugan and my mind techniques.”

Shikamaru rolls his eyes, before staring straight at Ino, “yes, but there are far more than that. Probably over a thousand. Unless you didn’t know, Hatake Kakashi is known as the ‘Copy-nin.’ From his ten years in ANBU, he’s copied over one thousand, maybe even two thousand jutsu. A lot of them are kekkei genkais.”

That’s when Kiba starts talking, to everyone’s surprise, “although stealing a kekkei genkai is illegal, and can start wars. However, if stolen by an ANBU, they cannot be prosecuted. But Kakashi-sensei uses them in battles against missing-nin, jounin and other ANBU, so if word gets back to the village that originally owned the kekkei genkai, he could be charged.”

Naruto turns to Kakashi, “why haven’t you been arrested? ‘ttebayo?”

Kakashi sighs, his pain-in-the-ass façade dropping off his body, “I wasn’t expecting this to be a trivia session about me, but sure. You,” he points at Shikamaru, “would just ask Shikaku about me if I didn’t answer, and he’d stop giving me S-ranks.”

Shikamaru didn’t deny it.

“Y’know what? Sure, it’d slip at some point. Hello, I am Kakashi Hatake, the one remaining kekkei genkai specialist, a third-removed cousin of the Raikage and descended from the Uzushio branch of Hatake.” Shikamaru’s eyes widened, he obviously didn’t know this, so it probably wasn’t well known – wait, when did she become a professional at reading Nara? And since when was Shikamaru her judgement for information? Huh?

this next bit is my AU, and the backstory will be coming out soon.
“I entered the academy at four, reached genin at four and a half, chūnin at five and a half, tokubetsu-jounin nine, jounin at eleven, and ANBU at twelve and a half, before being recruited into ROOT until Minato-sensei died, when I was fourteen and returned to being normal ANBU, was denied access to the red corps-” Shikamaru let a little gasp slip at that, what was so important about the red corps- “and given Team Rō in the ANBU, I became their captain. I then rescued Tenzō from ROOT, he entered my ANBU team, I had Genma for a while, then we got Itachi Uchiha, until he defected- oh my gosh I will hate Tsukuyomi forever, that little shit - and then Tenzō and I served only under the Hokage on S and SS-ranked missions exclusively before I was forcibly retired after being yelled at by Hiruzen and saddled with you shits.”

“I’ll let you figure out what this means, and I’ll go see if there are any direwolves around!” Kakashi shunshined away.

O(一︿一+)o ヾ(•ω•`)o

When Shikamaru was four, he had asked his father why the Nara act so lazy. He was told, “we do not want to end up like Hatake Kakashi.” When he’d asked who that was, Shikaku had looked at him with haunted eyes and said, “when you get older.”

Naturally, Shikamaru was interested. So, he researched – using his father’s clearance as Jounin Commander – to get to places he shouldn’t be. It’s probably the most effort he’s put into something since he was four.

Hatake Kakashi’s story was something of a tragedy. But Shikamaru knows that there’s more than what was on paper about the ninja, because he had overheard his father and Inoichi talking about how ‘a seal had been placed on Kakashi, and the roots made it.’ Shikamaru didn’t know much about that at the time, but he’s guessing that the ‘ROOT’ that Kakashi-sensei was talking about and the ‘roots’ that Inoichi had mentioned were the same thing.

“Shika!” Ino hissed, right in his ear, drew him out of his train of thought.

“Explain!” She pulled on his ear.

Shikamaru sighed, “troublesome… What do you want to know?”

Sakura’s almost toxic green eyes pierced into his. “Everything.”

Shikamaru sighed even deeper- if that was possible- and said, “no snitching, okay? This is illegal information I’m telling you.”

Nods were echoed around the circle. “Keep an eye out for Kakashi-sensei.”

“Okay, well, Hatake Kakashi was born on the 15th of September, twenty-four years ago to Sakumo Hatake and someone – that absolutely no one knows about, aside from apparently Senju Tsunade, and she had said, ‘I ain’t tellin’ no one that shit. It’s a secret for a reason, brats.’ So, we probably don’t want to know or it’s an otherworldly force. Born in Uzushio, the first four years of his life were spent bouncing around between Kumo, Uzushio and Konoha. After Uzushio’s destruction, the remaining Hatake – of which there were two, Hatake-san and Kakashi-san – settled in Konoha.”

“Hatake Sakumo was known as Konoha’s White Fang. He served in both the second and early third shinobi wars, he was extremely feared. He had a kill count of around five thousand, but they are only confirmed kills. Anyways, Kakashi-san entered the academy, and graduated at four and a half to genin, after a month of unsuccessful Jounin senseis, he was given to Namikaze Minato.”

“He graduated to chūnin on the front of the third shinobi war when he was five. He was on that front for about six months. He made his first kill when he turned five. When he returned to the village, he had gotten to the compound only to stumble upon Hatake-san’s dead body. He’d committed seppuku. Don’t ask why, I don’t know,” He did know, but Shikamaru didn’t feel like sharing that.

“When he turned six, he was assigned a genin team under Namikaze-sama. After two months of D and C-ranks, keep in mind they were a lot harder than ours, they went out onto the front. After getting Tokubetsu-jounin at nine, Kakashi-san led a mission to destroy Kannabi bridge. It didn’t go well. It took two months over the limit and ended in the death of one of his teammates, Uchiha Obito – who gave Kakashi-san the Sharingan he has today.”

“He got jounin after a mission when he was eleven years old, which involved Kiri trying to seal the Sanbi into his other teammate, Nohara Rin. She committed suicide by his hand after discovering it was an unstable seal. He continued serving as jounin until twelve, when Yondaime-sama recruited him into ROOT. Now, ROOT is extremely classified and only accessible to the Hokage. Anyways Yondaime-sama died sealing the Kyūbi, and Kakashi-san was one of the Hokage guards that night. He saved basically all of Konoha from being evaporated by doing something – no one knows what it was, aside from the ANBU that survived the watch that night. All of them refuse to tell.”

“The red corps is the suicide corps. Where ANBU go if they want to die in an honourable way, even though their names will never be on the memorial stone. S and SS ranked missions are the closed one can get. You are very rarely in the village if you take these missions, which only elite ANBU teams do- Team Rō was one of seven ever elite teams in Konoha’s history. You spend less than seven weeks a year in between missions, including hospital recovery time.”

This got reactions out of everyone sitting there. Their quirky sensei, and elite ANBU? What a joke.

“Being a kekkei genkai specialist in extremely hard. I don’t know what all of it entails, but you need to be great at basically everything – especially chakra control and ninjutsu. You need to have amazing control over all the elements and be able to use both yin and yang chakra to a very good extent.”

After about ten minutes of silence, Kakashi-san comes back. “Maa, you’re all so droopy. Do you still want that kekkei genkai lesson?”

He’s met with silence.

“…Maa… I guess that’s a no then?”

O((⊙﹏⊙))o .Σ(っ °Д °;)っ ⚆_⚆

The kekkei genkai lesson came the next day.

“Maa… Anyone here know about shifter kekkei genkai?” Kakashi asked.

Kiba raised his hand, to everyone (but Kakashi’s) surprise.

“Really?” Ino scoffed, “you, of all people know something that others don’t?”

Kiba stared her straight in the eyes, “it ain’t your clan thing. Don’t blame me if ya parent’s thought it not important!”

Ino stared straight back, “then care to share with the class?”

“Yip! Okay, so shifter kekkei genkai are associated with clans that are known for an animal – like Inuzuka are known for ninken and Hatakes for wolves-”

Sakura interrupted, “sensei, you don’t have wolves though?”

Kakashi looked at Sakura, “don’t say things you don’t know.”

Kiba didn’t stop, “there’s only one remaining Inuzuka shifter that I know of, and the Hatake branch in Kumo are known for being shifters.”

Kiba paused for dramatic effect, “and are known for chatting to the direwolves that live in this mountain range.”

Naruto made the connection first, “SENSEI! Can you talk to wolves?”

Kakashi rolled his eyes, “yep.”

Shikamaru frowned because it was almost impossible to talk to direwolves.

Shino’s head shot up. “Sensei, we should hide. Why? My kikaichū have found a powerful chakra presence.”

A rumbling sound echoed through the trees. Kakashi stood up and then a blur lunged at him.

“BEE, YOU PIECE OF SHIT-!” Kakashi yelled, whilst being tackled into a hug.

Killer Bee, the Jinchūriki of Kumogakure had just arrived.

Chapter Text

Shikamaru POV:

I slid my hands into the sequence for the shadow possession to trap the shinobi that just barrelled into the clearing. My mind was cleared of all input when I started the shadow jutsu, but everything started coming back, and I heard Kakashi yell, “BEE, YOU PIECE OF SHIT-!” before being tackled into a hug.

It was obvious that Kakashi knew the nin that came, so I started to sort through any nin that have ‘Bee’ as a part of their name. I filtered my brain-search to someone from Kumo, as I could see the colour of their skin.

Bee, bee, bee… Oh. “It’s Killer Bee.” I muttered under my breath, “how troublesome.”

What do I know about Killer Bee? Uh… Jinchūriki of the Hachibi, S-rank and extremely powerful.

I upgraded this from ‘troublesome’ to ‘overly troublesome, I want a nap.’

Kakashi POV:

“BEE YOU PIECE OF SHIT-!” I yelled, being cut off by Killer Bee who had barrelled into me for a hug. I sighed internally, Hiruzen will never let me take genin on a training trip again.

“Hey Kakashi, my bro, how are you? They’re,” Bee pointed to the genin, “rather slow, yo!”

“Hey Bee, I’m good. I was gonna teach them about kekkei genkai. I was interrupted.” I deadpanned, staring Bee in the eyes.

“Oh! You’re a sensei, hey! I could help, they won’t need to yelp!” Bee rapped. This reminded me why I like to not interact with people. Bee tries to rhyme, but often sounds unusual when he does.

Then I realised, that yes, Bee could help, because he has a kekkei genkai – along with the usual Kumo ration affinity.

“Y’know what? Sure, Bee, you can help me teach.” I said to Bee, before turning around to the genin, some of which were ready to fight, others who were frozen. The Nara, – isn’t his name Shikamaru? Yeah, that sounds right – had his hands in a shadow seal, Sakura had kunai in hand, Sasuke had his Sharingan activated and had weaved the handseals for a Katon jutsu. I subtly scented the air – Kiba wasn’t worried, he could probably smell that I wasn’t either – Naruto was shocked but not scared, and underneath that there was a hint of excitement. The Yamanaka – Ino, I think – was crouched with a kunai in hand, the Akimichi (Chōji?) was gathering his chakra, the Aburame’s (Shino?) kikaichū were buzzing and the Hyūga’s Byakugan was activated.

Again, I sighed internally. Sure, it’s good that they aren’t slacking off, but they need to be able to differentiate hostile and friendly chakra signatures.

I waved my hand, “calm down, my cute little students. Say hello to Killer Bee, one of my acquaintances from Kumogakure.”

The genin relaxed and those with jutsu released their built-up chakra. Bee decided my introduction wasn’t enough, so he said, “Yo! I ain’t just an acquaint-ance, Imma friend of your skill smith! I’m Killer Bee of Kumo. I can guarantee, you’ve heard of me!” Bee ended his verse with a grin towards the genin.

It’s very obvious from their expressions that they weren’t expecting this from a supposedly enemy nin. “Thanks Bee,” I sighed - again, “now, can anyone tell me what you know about Killer Bee over here?” I waved my hands to encompass Bee’s form.

I hear a muttered, “troublesome,” and Shikamaru raised his voice, “Killer Bee of Kumogakure, S-rank, do not engage. Approximately thirty-five years old. Suspected and semi-confirmed to be Jinchūriki of the Hachibi. Has a raiton affinity and an unknown lightning kekkei genkai. Highly skilled with both raiton and his kekkei genkai. Rumoured to have become balanced with the Hachibi.” Shikamaru replied.

Kiba sniffed the air, “also he smells like storm clouds. Dunno whether ‘hat’s relevan’ or nah.”

⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
After Kakashi-sensei and Killer Bee had introduced him, Kakashi-sensei told the genin to set up camp and they would talk about kekkei genkai later. He’d gestured for Killer Bee to follow him and they’d both walked into the trees.
No one noticed Kiba slipping away.

⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
Sakura POV:

At the base of the mountain the rest of the Rookie nine and I finished setting up camp half an hour after the two elite jounin left.
Around the unlit fireplace, we all sat in a circle and waited in an awkward silence until Hinata broke it.

“U-uhm… W-what should we d-do now?” she stuttered, obviously nervous but done with the silence.

I looked around, thinking about who should take charge. Shikamaru, maybe. Then again, he’s lazy, but he’s smart enough to not get us killed.

I had been right, Shikamaru started to speak, “I don’t know what that was, but we should be okay now- Hinata-san, can you activate your Byakugan-” Hinata nodded, and whisper-yelled “Byakugan!” as the veins in her face started to bulge. “Thanks, Hinata-san,” Shikamaru said absentmindedly, seeming almost lost in thought.

“P-please don’t call me ‘-san’, Shikamaru-kun,” Hinata whispered. Shikamaru nodded in response, moving onto the next person, “Shino-san, could you get your kikaichū to spread out and alert us if either Kakashi-sensei and/or Killer Bee-san are coming.”

Shino nodded, “I will do that. Why? Because it will be advantageous.”

“Hinata-chan, where is Kakashi-sensei?” I asked.
“K-Kakashi-sensei and K-Killer Bee-san seem to be twenty-kilometres-plus away from here. They’re moving west.” Hinata doesn’t stutter when in what she calls ‘mission report mode,’ which is very helpful for a situation like this. “Well, Shikamaru-kun, what do we do now?” I ask, bored already.

Shikamaru shrugged, “I’m gonna cloud-watch now. Someone bother me when we’re either eating rations or hunting.” Being the person he is, he gets up and walks away not waiting for a response.

I sighed, Shikamaru’s smart but lazy. I’m glad I bought my books, I had thought. I had bought along ‘Human anatomy for medics’ and ‘Chakra controlling techniques – medic and sensory addition’ to read, because I thought I could have almost guaranteed we’d have a lot of free time, whether purposeful or not. I got up and walked to the tent I was going to share with Hinata and Ino to get my books.

Sasuke POV:

I could hear the Nara and the others talking around the fire. I was sitting there, but I was in my head. Kakashi knows people from Kumo. He’d gone through almost as much – if not as much trauma as I had. He’d lost his family too – and implied he had also been Tsukuyomi’d when that man defected.

“What if I kill the most important person in your life- maybe then I’d listen to you, because maybe then you’d have some idea how I feel!” I had yelled, after being tied up with ninja wire to a tree.

Now that I think back on the memory, Kakashi had gotten a particular glint in his eyes, and a flash of guilt seemed to echo across his face before he had responded to my outburst. “Maa, well, it’s a good theory, but I’m afraid you’re a little late to put it to the test… Everyone you’re talking about has already been killed.”

My body had frozen in shock, but I had looked up to him to see him do that stupid smile with his eye – when I looked, I could see that the muscles underneath his mask didn’t move. I felt like an idiot to have just realised, but I doubted he had ever actually smiled at us.

Kakashi had walked away soon after but left me tied to the tree. My thoughts felt like they were running and stumbling through my head, their first try waterwalking. A thought in Kakashi’s voice drifted through my head, “the ending for those who seek revenge isn’t fulfilling nor satisfying – it’s tragic. Once you’ve gotten your revenge through whatever means, what do you have left?”

I had thought no one could’ve understood me, because no one had gone through what I had, but I realised that no two people’s experiences were the same, the closest would be ‘remotely similar.’ Someone from the Tsubasa clan had come to try and get me to stop seeking revenge after the massacre, because her clan had been massacred too – by a clan member. But I had refused to listen because she hadn’t experienced the Tsukuyomi like I had. I had refused to listen to Kakashi because how was I meant to believe he had had a similar experience according to how he acted? He acted nothing like me, nor the Tsubasa woman. But he’d gone through the Tsukuyomi and lost everything like me.

But I had refused to listen to either of them.

Once I had gotten my Sharingan, I had snuck into the archives and skimmed Itachi’s file, where I had discovered his ANBU taichō was Hound, or Hatake Kakashi. I then went and skimmed through Kakashi’s file from both the council room and the classified archives – there were two more sets of files that I couldn’t find though. When I had re-skimmed through my memories of Kakashi’s file, I couldn’t find anything Itachi-related that wasn’t in Itachi’s file.

Going back over those memories now, I look through what was written.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatake Kakashi (ANBU Hound)
Elite Jounin, ANBU taichō, SS-rank in Konoha Bingo Book.
Ninjutsu, Tracking, assassination, kekkei genkai specialist.
Kekkei genkai: White Chakra, no affinity, wolf summons, dog summons, Hatake jutsu. (Presumed secondary clan kekkei genkai; unknown). Gifted Sharingan. (see:ObitoUchiha)
Five known original jutsu. REDACTED

Born on Uzushiogakure to Hatake Sakumo (see:row#183 box#816) and unknown. Delivered by Tsunade, (when asked about the mother, “I ain’t tellin’ no one that shit. It’s a secret for a reason, brats.”)
Lineage: Hatake(Uzushio & Kumo), Unknown, large mix of other clans from everywhere when DNA was tested.
Rank progression: genin at 4, chūnin at 5 and a half, tokubetsu-jounin at 9, jounin at 11, (elite jounin at 11 ½) ANBU at 12, ROOT at 13, ANBU at 15, ANBU taichō at 15 ½, forcibly resigned from ANBU at 24 to become jounin-sensei to team 7. Hokage candidate.

Bingo Books:
Iwa: SS-rank. flee-on-sight.
Kiri: SS-rank. flee-on-sight.
Kumo: SSS-rank. hug-on-sight. (Presumably tampered with by associates. Knows many high-ranking Kumo-nin well. Will not engage.)
Suna: S-rank. kill-on-sight: Jounin. Flee-on-sight: Chūnin and under. (orders nullified under treaties agreement)
Ame: SS-rank. kill-on-sight: Akatsuki & elite jounin. Flee-on-sight: jounin and under.
Kusa: S-rank. Do not engage if possible.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Holy shit. I knew Kakashi was extremely powerful if his habit of chakra exhaustion was taken out of account, but I wasn’t expecting this. Actually, it’d be a good time to ask either Kakashi or Killer Bee what the fuck happened to the Kumo Bingo Book.

⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
Rookie Nine POV:

“Hatake-san and Killer Bee-san are returning.” Shino stated, loudly enough for everyone to hear him. In almost eerie unison, everyone’s heads turn towards the Aburame. “My kikaichū also report other chakra signatures with them. Why? They have collected approximately twelve direwolves.” Shino continues, before turning to face south-west, towards the inner mountain range.

Everyone starts to put away what they had been doing and come out of their tents – or in Shikamaru’s case, sit up off the floor.

“Oh. It seems the Inuzuka is also with them.” Shino says but sounding a little confused.

⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒

Two minutes later, three shinobi jump out from the trees. Kiba goes to join the rookie nine sitting near the fire whilst Kakashi and Bee go and stand in front of them.

“Maa, well, my cute little genin, we’re going to start the lesson now.” Kakashi says, slouching in front of his audience. “Anything that needs to happen beforehand?”

There is silence for ten seconds before – surprisingly – Sasuke speaks up to ask, “I remember reading the Kumo bingo book, and your entry is, and I quote: ‘triple-S-rank, hug-on-site. Do not engage in fighting, rather in conversation. Is a good cook and has very fluffy wolves that make great pillows. If engaged, alert the Raikage Tower and someone will come and stop the fight. Do not kill under any circumstances. Try to talk him into coming to visit Kumo.’ Why the fuck is that your entry, Kakashi?” Sasuke’s voice is raised at the end of his miniature rant.

Kakashi awkwardly laughs and rubs his neck, “maa… I don’t suppose I can get out of this one?”

Shikamaru and Sakura obviously weren’t aware of this, and they both level a glare at Kakashi, the glare can be read, plain as day, as ‘Kakashi, I did not know this, and now I do, and I want to know why.’

Kakashi glances at Killer Bee, and Bee gets the memo. “Once, Kakashi was on a deep cover infiltration that lasted months, yo! This was when he was ANBU, and Ay’s crew recognised the dude. Back then, he was but a little pup, and he had run out of luck! Yo! The Hatake in the village wanted him to stay, but Konoha is his home, yo! But for months he was shown, the beauty of the clouds, and he loved it and wanted to stay but wasn’t allowed. We loved him too (and still do) so whenever he’s ‘round, he’s hugged, so he can’t forget where his clan and him met! YO!” Killer Bee raps the whole story, and he finishes on a massive ‘YO!’ that shook the ground under their feet.

“Thanks, Bee.” Kakashi says. “Now, onto the lesson – shifter kekkei genkai.” Kakashi smiles with a seemingly sadistic edge to it. Team seven gulps. Teams ten and eight shiver as chills runs down their spines. Kakashi’s grin sharpens, and he whistles and ear-splitting sound. Howls echo around them.

The lesson has started.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
“…Shifter kekkei genkai are extremely rare, only 62 individuals an 6 clans – all of which are under 20 people – have the genes to be shifters. For example, Chōmei Tsubasa is the last butterfly shifter alive today, and Orochimaru is the last snake shifter – both Hatake branches have the possibility to be shifters, but not everyone is. For example, there are nineteen Hatake in Kumo, and only eight of them can shift. As far as I’m aware, I’m the last Uzushio Hatake, and I can also shift…”
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

“… Shifters go for a lot of ryō on the black market. When I was fifteen, I was captured after the ANBU mission that Bee talked about and was about to be sold to the highest bidder – the base bid was 4,982,038,000 ryō I think – a lot of money. Anyways, Bee and Ay…”
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

“…There is a type of poison that can force a shift – it’s a very painful type of shift, and there is a jutsu from Kiri that can also induce a painful shift. It’s not very well-known and generally only used by bloodline hunters…”
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

“…That’s the specifics about how shifting works! Now, I’m sure at least some of you have noticed- I brought direwolves with me!”

Kiba POV:

I found the shifta’ lesson very interesting. And I stayed focused! That’s great, go Kiba. Then again, it was about something my clan could (maybe, hopefully) do.

Then Kakashi said ‘direwolves’.
When we (Kakashi, Bee and I) had gone to get the wolves, Kakashi – I suppose it’d be Kakashi-sensei, now wouldn’t it – helped me ‘ta understand their accent and how ‘ta approach them so that you can chat with ‘em.

The direwolves came out of the trees, the smallest – just a pup – about the size of the ‘Great Dain’ that Baa-san has, and the largest the size of a stallion. Kakashi-sensei had told me that there were a few outliers that were larger, but the only ones that could get larger were shifters or summons.

The massive trek up the mountain was worth it because of the rest of the rookie’s faces. It was hilarious.

Also, the direwolves smelt awesome, and they were all different – some were similar but never the same.

The one as big as the horse had told us we could call him Okami-sama, as he was basically in charge o’ the range’s wolves. Okami-sama was the only one that could talk properly, so ‘twas hard to talk to ‘ta others properly. But the hour of negotiations was worth it to be able ‘ta say, “excuse me, Okami-sama, but may I ride on your back?”

The giant wolf looked down at me and did a wolfy smile, “sure, pup.” He put his neck down, and I climbed on. It felt like I was on top of the world.

Ino POV:

Massive wolves leapt and bounded out of the bushes. I blanched, but no one noticed (thank Kami).

I’m not very fond of wolves, I prefer felines. Wolves are vicious, brutal and they make a mess. Unlike cats.

I was in my head when a series of growls, clicks and quiet barks came out of Kiba-baka’s mouth, directed at the wolf bigger than a horse. The wolf grinned a hungry grin and responded in the same language. Kiba-baka stepped forward and the wolf lowered its head to bite-

Kiba climbed onto the wolf’s neck and clambered up to it’s back, and the wolf raised its head.

Ino’s heartrate slowly came down.

⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
Sasuke POV:

After twenty minutes of the direwolves that Kakashi, Killer Bee and Kiba brought back, I was starting to get annoyed with the constant noise that came with Kiba facilitating a conversation between Okami-sama and Naruto.

My eyes drifted over to Kakashi, and it struck me that he may have wolf summons – when Sakura had said ‘you don’t have wolves’ or something similar Kakashi had said ‘don’t say things you don’t know.’

Kakashi caught my gaze and nodded, as if he just read my mind.
He bit his thumb, weaved the handseals, slammed his thumb to the ground and said, “Kuchiyose no Jutsu!”

The other rookies and wolves turned their heads to Kakashi, and I could feel the build-up of chakra surrounding him and then- ’POOF!’

Seven nin-okami of varying sizes appeared around Kakashi. Kakashi flops onto the largest one, a massive stallion-sized white wolf. The wolf seems to look confusedly at Kakashi on their back before Kakashi waves his hand and speaks into the fur, muffled, “I’mf gon do watch. ‘is Sunōru. She ‘an ‘alk. Goo’ nigh’.” Kakashi lowers his head further into Sunōru’s fur, moving and latching onto her.
“Ah,” Sunōru says, “well, I’ll introduce the pack. I’m Sunōurufu, I specialise in transportation and killing, that,” she gestures to a light grey pony-sized wolf, “is Kumori, he does recon and messages…”

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
Seiteki is miniature-horse-sized. She’s dark grey with blue-grey highlights. Emphasis on speed.
Kumonoue is great-dain sized and agile. She’s Light blonde with streaks of red. Emphasis on evasion.
Kōtō is the size of a small horse. He’s a light red wolf. He’s an all-rounder.
Hyōryū is the size of a large great-dain. She’s a dusty red wolf. Slight emphasis on traversing terrain, but she’s an all-rounder.
Kūsho is somewhere between a small horse and large dain. He’s black wolf. Blind, but uses chakra and his remaining senses to track – partnered with Hyōryū.
Kieru is a little smaller than Kūsho. She’s a pitch-black wolf. Does assassinations when she can.
Every wolf is deadly, according to Sunōru, but she’s the alpha, and therefore a little bit bias.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
3rd Person POV:

After dinner was eaten and everyone’s ready to sleep, Kakashi volunteers as watch for the night. Everyone agrees with little complaint, because the adrenaline crash has hit, and they’re all dead on their feet – Naruto included.

Everyone gets into their respective tents- Hinata, Ino and Sakura share one tent, Shino, Shikamaru and Sasuke share another, and Naruto, Kiba and Chōji share the last tent. Killer Bee is sleeping under a tree, the direwolves have left to go to their den and Kakashi is buried in his nin-okami.

Kakashi is using a meditation technique from ANBU to regain both energy and chakra without shutting down – all his senses are open and he is ready to fight, but his eyes are closed and he is ‘resting’, but even if he wasn’t meditating, he would trust the pack to take care of everyone.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
??? POV:
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Oi! Gyū!
…
OI! Gyūki!
…
please don’t be pissed- HACHIBI! EIGHT-TAILS! BIJŪ! OI!
…
Kurama to Gyūki
…
Hellooo? Bonjour? Güten tag? Hõla? Salut?
...
Gah, this is bullshit!
... Language.
There you are!
Which sibling is this?
The annoying crafty one.
Ah. Hello Kurama. How is life in a Jinchūriki that won’t talk to you going?
Oh, shut up, Gyū. I need an opinion. I keep feeling Kyarō’s chakra when I’m in my team, but you’re a better sensor than me so I need to know who they’re sealed in.
Didn’t you meet their pseudo-Jinchūriki when you were sealed in the other Uzumaki?
Yeah, but someone did some funky fūinjutsu, and I can’t remember who it was.
Well, there’s only one person old enough to have Kyarō sealed in them.
… Oh my Sage, this is why I needed another-
…Ku…ra…ma?
Gyū did you hear that?
Huh?
…Sea…led…in..the….wolf…
Is that Kyarō?
Yes, you baka, it’s Kyarō. They said they’re sealed in the wolf. Can you figure out who that is, Kurama?
Uhm… The Hatake?
Congrats, you did it.
…I..was….sealed….help..please.
Gyū, I think we need to get Shukaku. She knows more about fūinjutsu than me.
Yeah, we’re both hopeless at fūinjutsu.
…connet…stron…ger…ple……I…..explai-
Do we just shove more chakra into the connection to make it stronger?
Okay, Kurama, let’s try that.
…
…
Hello? Kurama?
Kyarō!
Hey! How are you two?
Aw, thanks Kyarō, I’m doing great. I’ve got a nice Jinchūriki and everything.
EXCUSE YOU- Kakashi is perfectly nice, he’s awesome and everything and we were well on the way to becoming a perfect pair, but this asshole named Danzō sealed me, Hiryū and some of Kakashi’s memories out of his Mindspace using a cursed seal.
Oh. I just thought your Jinchūriki was an asshole or something.
Language, Kurama. Also, no, Kakashi was hatched for me and me alone, so it’s designed to work. Also, if you tried being polite to your Jinchūriki then maybe it’d go better.
You can take your life advice and annoy someone else-
Twins, stop your bickering. Kyarō, do you know what the seal looks like?
Sorry Gyūki-sama
And yes, I can ‘send’ you the seal when we’re finished.
Good. Now you can have your catch-up with your asshole of a twin.
RUDE!

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
Three Days Later
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

3rd Person POV:

Somehow, the genin only just realised that Kakashi had taken watch for four nights straight and was dead on his feet. It wasn’t a good situation.

Seven missing-nin from Kiri were attacking their ‘camp’ and they were bloodline hunters. Kakashi was only half-full of chakra, and his reaction speed was lagging behind because he hadn’t slept. He hadn’t unsummoned his nin-okami so the passive drain on his reserves could be felt more than usual.

Then genin had teamed up with the wolves, one wolf per hunter to keep them busy while the genin take the others out. Killer Bee was fighting with an S-rank whose affinity was doton, so it was a bad match-up for Bee. Kakashi isn’t very sure who he’s fighting, but they’re definitely ANBU level.

“…shifter…?” Kakashi hears one of the nin whisper.

With his eye blurred by tiredness, he can blearily see another nin nod and slip a senbon between his fingers.

He’s locked in a blade hold with the nin he’s fighting, and he has just enough time to register that there’s a senbon flying at him and think, ‘oh shit-’

3rd Person Sasuke POV:

With his Sharingan, Sasuke defeats the blind nin and turns to help Kakashi - because for some reason he didn’t realise who had been on watch, idiot - and sees Kakashi’s eyes widen in the realisation of ‘oh shit-’ and see the senbon bury itself in Kakashi’s neck.

Using a burst of speed, he leaps over where Kakashi and the nin he was fighting are locked as Kakashi freezes. Sasuke almost decapitates him and slices through the majority of his neck before kicking the body away.

Kakashi’s muscles are frozen, and his pupils have dilated. Sasuke hears the defeat of the rest of the enemy nin and Kakashi’s hands start to shake.

An ear-piercing scream comes out of Kakashi’s mouth as the nin-okami sprint to their summoner. Canine whines of pain come from where Kakashi is now buried in wolves.

Sasuke can feel the corrosive chakra of not one, but two bijū as Killer Bee and Naruto run towards the pile of fur. Waves of chakra infused with pain roll away from the pile. Sasuke can feel a shiver run down his spine.

The remaining seven of the rookies walk towards Sasuke and stay at his back. He can hear Ino whisper, “what’s going on?” and he can hear Kiba whining and walking towards the pile.
Naruto and Killer Bee were met with teeth and claws whereas Kiba and Akamaru are met with a small pathway. The massive white wolf – Sunōurufu, Sasuke remembers – is curled around Kakashi, aggressively growling at Killer Bee and Naruto. “You can come in,” she snarls, “once you’ve gotten that corrosive chakra under control!”

Sasuke channels chakra to his ears and can hear the crack of bones and tearing of skin. He winces as another whine-whimper-scream meets his ears. Sunōurufu mutters something and gathers her chakra into a bubble, covering Kakashi in a bubble of light. Sasuke peers in it with his Sharingan – Kakashi has developed ears, a tail, claws, and his legs are in the process of transforming.

Sasuke turns off his Sharingan, his newfound respect for his sensei making him not invade Kakashi’s privacy – just like he wouldn’t tell Kakashi what he sees in nightmares, Kakashi wouldn’t want the genin to see him this vulnerable.

⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒

Four hours later, Sunōurufu stands up and releases the bubble around Kakashi. Sunōurufu says, “he’s gonna start small, and get larger as his chakra reserves increase. When he’s larger than me and his reserves are full, he can transform back.”

Sasuke nods and sends a tendril of chakra towards wolf-Kakashi’s prone form lying on the ground. ‘No shit, Sunōurufu.’ he thinks, ‘there’s nothing there.’

Sunōurufu continues, “also, because it was a forced transformation, he won’t remember what occurs – as if he was asleep – and because he’s in the body of a pup he’s going to be very cuddly. The transformation doesn’t have the Sharingan, so it’s going to take approximately two weeks to recharge. He won’t be able to talk until at least a week and a half. And remember he can’t remember any of this, so perfect opportunity for blackmail!” Sunōurufu smiles happily, and Sasuke can’t help but ask.

“Aren’t you meant to be nice to your summoner?”

“We have been. For twenty years. We like a bit ‘o’ fun sometimes. Anyways. He’s gonna walk towards someone and they’re gonna be his person. Good luck! I’ll come back if you yell.”

Sunōurufu and the rest of the pack disappear with a P O O F !

The last layer of the bubble disappears and Minikashi is left lying on the ground.

3rd Person POV:

Minikashi stands up on wobbly legs and promptly spins in a circle.

(Ino highly dislikes canines but Minikashi and his pack is melting her heart, she can’t resist)

Shino gets up and walks away, “I am not fit for this.” He mutters, “why? Because miniature Hatake-san is a canine, not of the insect kingdom.”

Eight remaining contestants are in the game for Minikashi.

“I propose,” Ino states, raising her voice above the ambient sound, “that we call him,” she gestures to the pup, “Minikashi.”
Sakura follows this up by saying, “All in favour, say aye!”
“Aye.”
“A-aye.”
“Aye-aye, Captain. Dattebayo!”
“Aye.”
“…Aye.”
“Aye…AYE!”
“Aye! come on Akamaru-”
“*Bark!*”
“That means aye!”
“Ayeee!”
“Great!” Ino semi-shouts, “he is Minikashi. We must wait for him to choose his person.”

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

The rookies sit there for twenty minutes until Sunōurufu comes back to check whether a person has been chosen.

She looks around then down at Minikashi and makes a series of clicking noses, barks and whines.

“Whaddya do?” Kiba asks.

“I told him he doesn’t have to stick with one person the whole time.” Sunōurufu answers, before P O O F I N G ! away.

Minikashi starts in a direction.

Sakura 3rd Person POV:

Minikashi, as we have so smartly named him, has started – on wobbly legs – walk, but it’s more of a hobble – oh wait he fell over – and now he’s walking as if he’s been doing it his whole life, what the fuck?

Minikashi has started on a path straight to Sakura. How fun.

⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒

End of the trip
3rd Person POV:

“THANKS BEE!” is yelled in unison by the rookie nine, Kakashi and the pack as they start the path back to Konoha.

⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
Bye Gyū!
Bye Kyarō and Kurama. Get that seal done!
Yes Gyū, I know. So, he’ll start slowly remembering stuff in dreams then eventually the cursed seal’s hold will break?
That’s the idea, correct.
Thanks, Gyū. Bye!

⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒

“Kakashi.” The Hokage said, the tone of voice reserved only for Kakashi called, Oh, Kakashi, why? What did you do this time? “I thought I said no chakra exhaustion.”

Kakashi cringes, “I haven’t practiced the mediation thing-”

“No excuses. That aside, did anything happen with the Hachibi and Kyūbi being close together?” Hiruzen asks.

“Not that I noticed Hokage-sama.”

“Okay. Dismissed.”

⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🌕︎ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ⭒⁺₊⋆:▹ ✩ ◃:⋆⁺₊⭒
Time to start working on that cursed seal of yours…

Fin.