Spider and Fox

When Kakashi saw the walls of Konoha in the distance, the tension adorning his shoulders like a mink coat fell away, leaving him three inches taller and more at ease then he had been the past week. He was more than ready to find his favorite tree and enjoy a warm afternoon watching the pups play. 

After checking in at the gate,  and passing a sack of the Wave Country specialty salt taffy to Izumo and Kotetsu—it was not a bribe—he headed for the Hokage’s office to check in.

What he found when he leaped through the window, was not what he expected. The air was thick with tobacco smoke, both stale and fresh. Hiruzen sat with his head resting on entwined fingers, gaze distant. 

Kakashi cast a glance at the ANBU guard, receiving a shake of the head from them. That wasn’t worrying at all…

“Hokage-sama?” he asked softly. 

His superior blinked, seemingly registering the silver-haired Jounin’s presence for the first time before attempting a smile that fell before it even formed. “Kakashi-kun, it’s good to see you back in one piece.”

Where was the old man? Where was the ever present pipe and a smile that never faded? This man looked too old to be the shadow of the leaf he’d visited only two weeks before. 

Forget formalities, something had happened and he needed to know. “Hiruzen, what happened?”

Sarutobi rubbed his face as if waking up from a bad dream and leaned back, hands folding over his chest. “Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Shisui, ANBU Cat, and Inuzuka Hana have all disappeared. Danzo came in about a week ago trying to say they were traitors. I’ve managed to hold him off for now but there’s not much else I can do. Without knowledge of their whereabouts I can’t say if they’ve gone missing-nin or if something has happened to them. It’s been a holding pattern until you returned.”

You’re the only one who can see if they’re with the boys, He doesn’t say. You’re the only one who I can trust to find out if Danzo killed them.

Returning to his favorite tree would have to wait. If they were on the estate, no one not keyed into the wards would be able to get through and that wasn’t counting how many ROOT the bastard had stalking the borders. 

“I’ll find them,” he promised, the steel in his spine coloring his voice. Then I’ll shove a chidori through the old warhawk’s heart myself. 

“Kami be with you.”

Kakashi took off, mission debrief be damned. Those were his friends, let the Shinigami take him before anything happened to them. 

He didn’t remember the trip from the Hokage tower to the forest. Too intent on his search, he almost tripped over a ROOT agent staking out the trees. With lethal, methodical force normally only wielded by Inu, he took them out, stashing their blank mask in a sealing scroll before he continued on. 

When he jumped through the wards and they pinged back, the Hatake stumbled, coming to a standstill as he pushed chakra into the ancient barriers. Not six, but eleven signatures pinged back. Relief wanted to boil to the surface, wanted to make him weak at the knees and thank Kami.

Kakashi didn’t allow it. He couldn’t. Not until he saw for himself. So with more effort then necessary, he pushed to his feet and continued on. Each jump felt like a mile, each breath pulled with the force of a storm. But finally, finally he landed on the branch of his favorite tree—the irony was bitter on his tongue—and stared at the clearing in front of him. 

Only then did Kakashi allow the relief wash over him. It hit with such force, he had to sit down, lest weakness send him toppling to the ground twenty feet below. There was Tenzo and Itachi, guiding the pups through katas. All six of them were fine, happy with the guidance if their expressions were to go by. On the other side, Hana sat with a bandaged Shisui, speaking of something or another while close by as if a Queen watching over her subjects, Kōri-san laid beside Hana’s three ninken. 

Knocking his head against the tree allowed a pinch of pain to focus his thoughts, and Kakashi gathered himself before he made his appearance. 

The canines sensed him first, he hadn’t exactly been hiding himself, but his travel musk must’ve been stronger then he thought for their heads swiveled in sync. His teammates followed next, Tenzo pulling away from their teaching while Shisui straightened from his slouch. 

Shisui looked bad. His head was completely shaved on the sides, leaving only a little bit on the top. It was so much an ANBU haircut and not a Shisui cut, Kakashi knew Itachi or Tenzo had to have done it. There was a bandage wrapping around the right side of the Uchiha’s head, covering the ear as well as dipping below the shirt. His arms and legs were completely covered and from the way he winced as Kakashi approached, the silver-haired Jounin suspected there were worse burns hidden under the t-shirt and shorts. 

There was only one way he could go about this. When in doubt, laugh it out. 

They converged at the Uchiha’s position, Kakashi kneeling to look Shisui in the eye. “You fall out of a tree again?” 

Shisui laughed, a huffing thing before he shook his head. “I haven’t done that in years.”

“I almost wish he had,” Hana grumbled. “Broken bones are easier to heal then burns. At least I can put a cone on my regular patients if they start scratching. This one I have to,” her hand snapped out, smacking him upside his head. “Stop it!”

Shisui flinched, the hand subconsciously worrying at a bandage on his leg retreating with the correction. 

“Burns?” Kakashi asked lowly, shifting his weight to shoot a questioning glance at Tenzo. 

“Danzo has had a platoon of soldiers stationed outside the wards for almost a week,” the brown-haired teen murmured, eyes worried. “They ambushed Shisui a few days back when he was coming back to help me shadow the kids one night. He jumped through a fire jutsu in order to escape and reach the wards. We haven’t been able to leave since.”

“And the others?”

This time, Shisui spoke up. “Kōri-san and Kirum were able to slip under their noses to get Hana.” he shrugged. “She’s the only medic we knew we could trust because you were planning on introducing her to the pups. Itachi noticed I hadn’t come home the next day and came with Sasuke. After that, we couldn’t risk our usual leave in ones and twos ‘cause we didn’t know if someone was going to get snatched up when they were alone.”

“After they explained what was happening, we all agreed to wait until you returned to decide our next step, Kakashi-san.” Hana stood up, clapping the dust off her hands then set them on her hips. “So what’s the plan?”

Danzo was done. He knew that for sure. Shisui had been injured, the others were penned up like caged animals, no matter how large the estate was and the pups… This had to end. 

“Kōri-san,” he called. The she-wolf nodded and lifted her head to howl. As expected, the pups came running. Once they were gathered, she turned and disappeared into the trees, Hana’s ninken cast a questioning glance at their human before they too followed. 

With the pups gone, Itachi made his way over to their group huddle. “What’s the plan, Kakashi-san?”

XxX

Inu wanted control. In the back of his mind, the ANBU warred with his rational mind. There were so many reasons, so many excuses for him to slip into the mask. This was an ANBU mission, a mask to hide from the blood that would be spilled but…

Inu would never allow him to become close to others. The mask would always be just that, a way to hide from the world and drown in his past. If he wanted to move forward, to see the pups grow by their side and not looking down on them, Kakashi had to set Inu aside, retire the mask and move. 

The only way he’d be able to do that, was finish the mission the Hokage had assigned Kakashi as Kakashi. Nevermind the contract, nevermind the thrice damned elders, it was time for him to stop being a Lone and become an Alpha. 

It was time for him to become a part of the pack. 

This driving motivation was what brought he and his teammates, minus Shisui, down into the bowels of the Hokage mountain, blade wet with blood as they hunted their prey. 

Enemy ahead he signed, split, Cat move on second objective. Meet after complete. Without a word, Tenzo split off, disappearing down a side tunnel in search of the children. He and Itachi continued on. 

Silent and deadly was their goal. The less chance Danzo knew they were coming, the better theirs would be to get him before he escaped. Even after so many years of letting others take the lead, he remembered his lessons among the pack. How to stalk the prey until they were paranoid. When and where to lie in wait for them. 

Tenzo, for all that he got along with the pack, was not a wolf. Too wily, too independent to fit into the hierarchy. Kakashi knew this, more then willing to send the teen off to finish his own mission. 

If he was being honest, neither was Itachi. But Itachi was a different beast altogether. He liked separation as much as mixing with others, always amicable and willing to chat. He was the crow, able to blend into any environment. And now Kakashi would use that. 

When they reached their destination, Itachi stepped forward, red eyes spinning with his sharingan. The door was kicked in, revealing an office that almost matched the Hokage’s to the letter. Almost.

The office was empty, a door sitting open in the back wall. 

It was too…easy. Chase Danzo through the door, find him in some dark room and then what? The silver-haired Jounin set a hand on Itachi’s shoulder, preventing him from darting across the room, and closed his eyes. Instincts, long honed, howled at him. Something was off about this. 

All these ROOT and yet no Danzo. They’d done their homework, knew the tunnel networks below the mountain like the back of their hand so then where?

The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, and Kakashi reacted, swinging his tanto back even as his eyes remained closed. 

Blood splattered across his cheek. Only then did he look. 

Danzo stumbled back, the stump of his arm spurting crimson and Kakashi grinned ferally. “Found you.”

“Boy,” the old warhawk spat. “You’ve found nothing. When I’m done with you, everyone in the village will know the heart of a traitor you bare.”

The bandages on his right side fell away even as the wound on his left began to seal itself closed. A flash of red was all it took for him to close his eyes once more. He was a wolf, hunter of the night and apex predator. The darkest night meant nothing when his other senses so easily heeded his call. 

Wolf and crow, over and under. They were handicapped, unable to use chakra lest it lead back to them but that didn’t mean they couldn’t use it internally. While their prey threw jutsu around like candy, they worked around it, hitting harder and faster then they would have otherwise.

Ten times, they killed him. Kakashi counted even as curses spilled from Itachi’s lips. Blood thief, traitor, bastard son, murderer and more colored the air. Still the bastard warhawk rose. 

The eleventh and final kill was Kakashi’s to take. 

In the end it was a simple move that ended the fight. Something even academy students could use. A dodge that rolled into a pivot kick. However the difference came when one added chakra to the mix. 

He’d need to thank Gai for teaching it to him sometime. 

Shinobi instinctually laced their muscles with chakra every day to survive jumping off buildings and prevent them from breaking a leg when they walked up walls, but that only required protecting the major muscles. This technique packed chakra into every muscle used in the motion. The end result was an explosive technique comparable to Tsunade-hime’s in effectiveness and deadliness.

When a kick packed with enough power to knock down a building met a ten pound ball that was the human head, grey matter protected only by a layer of bone thinner than a shuriken, the resulting mess was rather…extravagant. 

Danzo’s head gave way easily, shattering upon contact before the resulting impact and concussive blast destroyed the skin bag holding the fragments together and sprayed the entire hall, Itachi included. 

Kakashi blinked, staring at the blood and grey mattered covered teen, “Oops?” 

As the body fell forward, like a puppet with its’ strings cut, Itachi reached up to pull a shard of bone from his hair. “Go a little overboard?” An Uchiha’s normal expression dissected everything about a person, cutting to the core of the matter within minutes. Their sharingan did it in a fraction of the time and always gave Kakashi the impression they could not believe so much stupidity in one statement. 

Itachi hadn’t quite mastered it, but the look he gave the Hatake was pretty damn close. Kakashi shrugged, “Did you want him getting up again?” A shake of the head was his reply and the silver-haired Jounin chucked a sealing scroll at him. “Go grab the files, I’ll set up the seals. Once the last one is primed we’ll have all of five minutes to get out of here.”

While his teammate disappeared into the office, Kakashi withdrew a stack of seals from his weapons pouch. It had taken a week of nonstop studying, but with the scrolls Naruto had, he eventually came up with a variation of incendiary explosive tags that would not only eat themselves but used whatever residual chakra in the immediate area to fuel themselves. Any physical evidence of their presence would go up in flames and any possible chakra remnants would be used to do it. 

These tags, he posted along the hall, taking a couple up the hall they would exit by, and kept the last one in hand. When Itachi emerged from the office, his pale skin a shade whiter, Kakashi nodded and they made their exit, slapping the last tag on the wall to start the timer. 

By the time they returned to the estate, Tenzo was already there, speaking to Kōri-san and Shisui while the pups were off playing in the forest. They weren’t exactly hiding their signatures, nor did the amount of blood on Itachi go unnoticed as both looked up at the same time, the she-wolf’s ears perking up attentive. 

“I take it the hunt went well?”

“You could say that,” Itachi grumbled, “Somebody went a little overkill with their last hit. I need a shower.” He wrinkled his nose, “and probably to burn these clothes. I don’t think the stink will come out.”

At the barb, Kakashi shrugged, “It was either that or risk him getting up again.”

“So it’s over?” Shisui stood up. 

“For now,” Kakashi nodded. “Once Itachi gets cleaned up,” he ignored the piercing glare, “we all have to report to the Hokage before the village gets wind of Danzo’s death. How are the kids?”

Tenzo smiled, actually smiled, “Tsume was more then happy to house them once Hana-san explained the situation. She also said something about dogs being good for the soul? I wasn’t too sure what she meant, but she seemed sincere so they’re in good hands.”

That was the truth. Kakashi couldn’t count how many times his pack had pulled through on his worse days when death seemed around every corner and the world lost all color. Those kids would be fine. 

He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on their next step. “Tenzo, go with Itachi to the lake, get him as cleaned up as you can. Once you return, we’ll leave for the Hokage tower and debrief Hokage-sama on our mission. After that, we’ll see what he wants us to do.” Hopefully, he’d be able to get some sleep. 

Once their teammates departed, Kakashi sat down to wait, his eye wondering to the dark sky overhead. 

It had been a long week of planning, studying, worrying over every contingency. Now he could move on, move forward instead of always looking back. That thought brought another to mind and the silver-haired Jounin turned to the wolf still lying beside Shisui.

“Maa, Kōri-san does your offer still stand?”

She grinned, full of teeth, “That would depend on you, Hatake-san. Are you strong enough to take it?”

He should’ve known taking the mantle from her would not be easy, but whereas a lesser man would’ve balked at the thinly veiled threat, he grinned in return. “When this business has been settled, I will gladly put you in your place.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, we don’t need any more blood spilled!” Shisui cut in, waving his hands as if to prevent them from fighting then and there. 

The she-wolf barked a laugh, settling back into her relaxed slouch. “You’ve a long way to go before you understand the politics involved in a wolf pack.”

“Since when do you know what politics are?” The Uchiha retorted. 

Kakashi fought back an eyeroll, “Pack hierarchy is nothing but politics. They’re much more straightforward than human politics, for one. A wolf’s place in the pack depends on their strength and their standing at birth. By all rights, I would be Alpha already but because of human politiking, I have to fight for it.”

“As any Lone should,” Kōri-san nodded. “I am the Alpha of this pack only because there had been no Alpha previously. If Hatake-san wants to claim the title, he needs to prove he’s strong enough to take it.”

Shisui rubbed a hand down his face, “I’m never going to understand you wolves, am I?”

The Hatake hummed, tilting his head as he eyed the teen. “Not the inner workings, no. At best you’ll only ever be considered pack friend.” 

“Yeah right, I’m going to prove I’m perfect for the pack—” Kakashi tuned out Shisui’s ranting after that, sending a pulse of chakra into the wards to check on the others. The pups were off to the southwest, playing some game while two others were coming this way. 

He straightened up at that last bit of information and rose to his feet, turning to face the direction. Kōri-san fell quiet, the quip she’d been building toward Shisui falling short and Shisui stood as well. By then, Tenzo and Itachi emerged from the trees, the latter resembling a drowned cat even if he wore fresh clothes. 

When the two groups met, the clan heir glared at his cousin. “I will burn your Icha Icha collection if you say a word.” Shisui’s mouth snapped shut with an audible click and Kakashi sighed.

There were his friends—still couldn’t believe he’d admitted it even to himself—he couldn’t lash out because they were idiotic sometimes. Even if Shisui seemed to have a severe lack of self-preservation skills. 

“If we’re all ready,” he said instead, dragging their attention back, “let’s go.” He turned, walking to the edge of the clearing leading to town. Once the others joined him, they took to the trees, a quick but sustainable pace that saw them into the village at large and heading for the Hokage tower. When they reached the building, they went through the window, one after the other to land in front of the old man’s desk. 

He’d taken the time, a couple days back to send Pakkun with a message on their timetable being sped up, as such Hiruzen was waiting for them, standing behind his chair and watching smoke pour from the ears and mouths of the Hokage mountain. 

“Team Kakashi,” he greeted them wearily. “I take it the mission was a success?”

“Yes, Hokage-sama, the target has been eliminated.” Kakashi held out a held, waiting for the storage scroll to be laid in his palm before depositing it on the old man’s desk. “Here are the documents you asked for.”

“Some of them were…enlightening,” Itachi spoke up, all emotion gone from his bearing. “There is more then enough proof the target was planning on making things difficult in the upcoming years.”

When Kakashi shot him a questioning look, Itachi shook his head. Later, the gesture said. Yeah, that didn’t worry him at all. 

“How many?” Hiruzen asked softly. How many of Konoha’s children died on your blade?

“Sixteen,” He’d be damned for eternity for it but it had to be done. ROOT had come at them with the intent to kill. If Kakashi had done anything less, they would’ve been the ones lying lifeless instead. 

“Eighteen,” Tenzo corrected him, stepping forward, hands behind his back at a parade rest. “There were two guarding the children to ensure none escaped.”

That caught the Hokage’s attention. He turned, eyeing them. “And what of the children?”

The Mokuton user smiled, the gesture easing their superior’s tense frame. “Twenty-four children between the ages of one and nine were found. Currently, they reside with the Inuzuka clan. Inuzuka Hana and Inuzuka Tsume have offered to adopt all of them into their clan should you allow it.”

Wait, what? That wasn’t what he’d told them. When Kakashi caught a look at the teen’s eyes, the mischievous gleam was all the answer he needed. He was going to beat his kohai into the ground during their next spar. 

Hiruzen settled into his seat, a hand reaching for his ever present pipe. “Consider it approved. With the matter handled for the moment, I will see this proof makes it’s way to Uchiha Fugaku and his department. Between he, Jounin Commander Shikaku, and Inoichi-san, I have a feeling answers will come to light within the week. Until then, that only leaves one more situation.”

Tension steadily built as he packed his pipe. It was only after he lit it, stoking the flame, and exhaled a large cloud of sweet tobacco smoke, did he speak, a gleam in age old eyes. “Danzo has been spreading rumors all four of you have gone missing-nin. Your sudden disappearance from the village streets served to fuel the rumor mill. I would like your opinions on the matter and how you feel I should handle it.”

This old man…he took too much glee from messing with his shinobi. If Kakashi wasn’t under orders to keep the second condition of his deal with Hiruzen a secret he would’ve told them then and there just for the shock factor. As it was, he simply shrugged. 

“We were on a mission, as simple as that. An urgent request for a cell that left you floundering. You chose us for our accomplishments and the compatibility of our skills.” Kakashi could’ve gone without the jab but he was tired. He just wanted to go home and sleep for a week. 

Thankfully, his team saw the out for what it was, and agreed immediately, unable to come up with a better cover despite it being a partial truth. They were on a mission, just one that if all the details came to light would probably screw up something or another politically. The Hatake wasn’t too interested in the details. He had years before he had to actually learn them after all. 

“Very well,” Hiruzen ceded, “then that is the route we will take. For now you’re dismissed. Go home, get some well earned sleep, and Itachi,” the Uchiha paused as he turned to leave. “Get into some dry clothes, you look like you fought a koi pond.”

Shisui cackled, setting a hand on Itachi’s shoulder and shunshining out before the teen could say something to get himself into trouble.

Kakashi stayed behind. As much as he longed for his bed, he had a feeling there was something the old man wanted to say to him. Per usual, his instincts were correct.

Hiruzen leaned back in his seat, eyeing the Hatake. “Those brats are good for you.” Which brats, he didn’t say.

The silver-haired Jounin shrugged, smiling so wide his eye closed with the gesture. “I remembered why I fight. The pack reminded me what it meant to fight for another, and my friends,” He probably enjoyed the way Hiruzen’s shock a little too much at that, “have proven they can handle themselves with whatever I throw at them.” With that, he bowed to his superior before leaping out the window into the early morning gloom.