Orochimaru sent their notes about Semblance, Malice and Knowledge to Tsunade, along with a copy of Kakashi's basic message. So far Kakashi had told each demon he met the same thing, and they were listening. "I wonder what makes you so persuasive that even demons more powerful than you listen."

"You do? I thought it was obvious."

Orochimaru glared. "You're going to have to get more specific about this 'divinity' you keep talking about. I need a precise definition to work with."

Kakashi scratched his head. "Mah, I can't get very specific. I can't describe what I can't see. This is the best I can." He repeated to Orochimaru all the reasons he had thought of why demons would not understand their names.

"It sounds as if you are saying that demons simply don't understand abstract concepts," Orochimaru said dismissively.

Kakashi sighed. "No, it's something else. Human beings can experience lack of it when lost in the false world, but we demons feel that lack all the time. What's missing is something like energy, or like a feeling…"

Orochimaru sighed. "This is going nowhere. Let's focus on what really matters, shall we?"

"Am I to send out many clones to search the world for demons?"

"No. Three is likely more than Tsunade was expecting you to get by this point. I'm talking about the children's ninja training."

They fell into deep discussion of how, when and where to train their little 3-man team. After much deliberation, they came to a rather straightforward set of conclusions.

How: Simo, as the most advanced, would train Adana under supervision. When Mitsuki was capable, they would train him. Meanwhile, Simo would continue to receive training, as would Adana and then Mitsuki once they caught up to him.

When: For Adana, immediately. For Mitsuki, the baby angel would most likely volunteer when he was ready.

Where: Wherever was appropriate. Hey, ninjas had to make do with whatever they had.

Thus was a new routine established.

.

One month later, Kakashi flew out on his own. His destination: the northern continent where the angels lived. He needed angelic advice and he wanted to visit in person. As fast as he could, he slipped silently through the Elemental Nations to the nearest coastline. Then, taking the form of a dragon, he winged his way around the coastline in a northward direction. Once he reached open water, his draconic form elongated its wings until it resembled a reptilian albatross, gliding over the seas with hardly a need to flap.

He reverted back to a short-winged form as he came within sight of land. He used demonic senses to pick up his dog clone's trail and followed it east. Below, ports and markets full of fishmongers gave way to stands of forest, then to luscious fields whom the forests shielded from salt air. The fields were patchy and each patch was small and irregular, making them less like fields and more like foraging areas where nearly every single living thing happened to be edible. Kakashi saw these fields arranged near and around clusters of buildings, but nothing developed enough for him to call it a village. Small towns, at best. But then, he saw a great big road. What luck! It leads in the same direction that I'm going. As he flew along its length, he saw that the road's size was maintained by large carts towing herds of animals behind them. The animals didn't look normal; Kakashi remembered learning something onboard the angels' ship that reminded him of the plant-man, Zetsu. He flew faster so as to reassure the driver that their expensive and years-in-the-making herd wasn't about to be entirely devoured.

The road led to a large settlement, a city by this continent's standards. It was nestled among mountains and the faint mist that hung over other parts of the country was not present, suggesting that this place was cold and its soil rocky. It must have grown up as a trading outpost, for the sole reason Kakashi could see to explain why anyone settled here was a river that ran down from the mountains, through the city and to the south. Other large roads led to it, and a number of smaller roads led from it up into the mountains. Perhaps it could have been established as a supply base for mountain people? I'm glad I visited in person. I have a lot to learn here. He flew off, hopefully before causing a panic.

Purple lived in a snug, isolated village carved out of a forest, not far from the nearest trade road. Kakashi struggled to find a place to land. People scattered to reveal a big square of bare dirt directly in the center of the village. Kakashi hardly gave the square a second's thought. It probably existed for some ceremonial purpose; he didn't feel the need to know any more than that. He was all business now. He landed on the square and retracted his darkness, revealing his human form. The people who had scattered now hovered nearby, watching and chattering to each other. Kakashi stood still, waiting for someone important to come to him.

Someone who reminded him of Tomoda was brought to the square by a couple of concerned citizens. Kakashi studied this person, wondering what resemblance he was seeing. Their clothes looked nothing like Tomoda's. They were long and flowing, yes, as were everyone's because this was a northern continent and it got cold in the spring. This person did not have any fancy materials woven through the fabric or through their hair, as Tomoda had had. They wore two sashes, one at the neck and the other at the waist. Their long robelike outfit was primarily brown, and the sashes dyed blue. The color contrast looked somewhat fancy? Maybe? Why do they remind me of Tomoda?

Perhaps it wasn't the outfit at all. This person's skin was different from that of the people surrounding them. Smoother, with fewer scars, and lines in different locations that suggested less squinting and more brow furrowing. The way they moved, too, was the fluid movement of someone who focused on the way they moved, who didn't use their body as merely a vehicle. Or maybe it was something in the feel of their soul.

Why do I care? As long as I'm sure the information is accurate, it doesn't matter where I get it from. Kakashi realized he was afraid of illusions. The strangeness of this land provoked a primal fear that what he thought he saw might turn out to be something else. He wanted all of his senses accounted for at all times.

Anyway, the person had reached him. They stood at the very edge of the square and examined him, then issued what seemed to be a greeting. It was hard to tell through their accent and distorted words. Kakashi touched his heart, remembering that that was a gesture of goodwill among these people. "Purple Sorrows," he said, looking around.

The person rocked back, surprised. Other people whispered. I'm not going to get much help from them, am I? Just as he thought that, he heard a dog barking. He turned toward the sound and howled. His dog clone raced toward him, reaching the square in less than a minute. Purple followed. "Dark one!" the angel exclaimed.

Kakashi knelt down to give his dog clone a thorough petting, rubbing his hands vigorously up and down its back. It woofed in pleasure and flopped onto its side. He scratched behind its ears and said, "Yeah, I thought I'd finally pay a visit in person. You know, see this land with my own eyes. It's beautiful."

"The corner," Purple muttered. "It is…different? Ah… The - the earth. The warmness. The corner is a place to touch it."

"A sacred place to commune with the earth?" Kakashi looked down. The bare dirt did seem awfully inviting. He took his hand away from the dog clone and placed it flat upon the ground. His hand sank in a little ways. On reflex, he closed his eyes. It's warmer than everything else. It feels almost alive. Purple and the important person started a whispered argument, but Kakashi didn't care. He felt an urge to lower his knees to the ground and place both hands in the dirt, which he followed. He lowered his head and felt himself slipping into a light trance. After only a short while, he opened his eyes feeling restored. His body felt energized in a way that made its voice louder. Kakashi could feel his skin begging him to go into the woods and climb among rocks, dip into a cool stream. His ears wanted to hear a cawing bird. When he thought about releasing darkness, he felt resistance, as if his body was forcibly imprisoning his soul inside it. He could defy his body's will, but decided not to. This is not my vehicle. It is my guide.

He stepped off the square. Purple and the special person stared at him. "What was heard?" Purple asked.

Kakashi held up his hand. "My skin wants me to sit on bare rocks."

Purple translated this for the other person. They looked again at Kakashi, this time with undisguised curiosity. Kakashi smiled back. Ten minutes, and already someone wants to study me. I'll take it as a compliment. Purple said something else to the other person and gestured for Kakashi to follow him. They threaded their way past onlookers, turning the nearest corner simply to get out of sight. The dog clone ran alongside, its tongue lolling out of its mouth. It took the lead.

They followed the dog clone to a small house on the edge of the village. Kakashi sensed sadness radiating from the house. A wooden welcome sign near the door immediately caught his attention. He guessed that it was a welcome sign because of its location; it was too sun-faded to make out any writing, and the wood was rotted and cracked enough to make reading difficult even without sun-bleaching. "Maman made it," Purple said.

Is this why he changed his name to Sorrows? "Would you like me to restore it?"

Purple stared at the old sign for several long seconds. "No. Circles, cy-cycles? Of hearts, and earth, the same. It goes to earth, I go on."

"I see. Well, I hope that day comes soon. This house radiates sadness. It doesn't feel like a good place for a person to live in."

Purple shook his head. "It takes and gives my sad heart. Is a good thing."

"Ah. My apologies; I don't understand this culture."

Purple smiled and patted his shoulder. They walked into the house. The dog clone cleaned its feet of all dirt before trotting inside. It behaved as if going inside the house was a novel experience. Purple was startled when he realized it had followed them in, but by that point the dog clone had already curled up on a dog bed that Kakashi made. Purple stared at the dog bed. It never occurred to him that a companion beast could live inside, did it? Kakashi chuckled and knelt down to rub the dog's ears. It headbutted his hand.

Purple brought out some snacks. They looked familiar. Kakashi struggled to place them. Eventually he remembered, Rind of rollorange! That's it! It's orange and it rolls! He wondered what exactly a rollorange was while eating two cubes of it.

"What cause be of stay?" Purple asked.

"Ah… Give me time to remember." Why did I come here again? "Oh! That's right. I need to ask you about the gods. We demons can't see the forces that create this world. I know they exist, but have no way to describe what they are. How do you describe them?"

Purple frowned in thought. "What see you, see dark ones, when life shows itself?"

Kakashi closed his eyes and channeled darkness into them. When he opened them, he saw very little. "I see objects, surfaces, souls. For the objects and surfaces, I see and feel them at the same time; it's as if my vision is a beam, like a beam of light, that settles on whatever surface I look at, allowing me to see its texture and hardness." He stood up and walked in a circle. "When I move, it feels as if I am a liquid slipping between solids. Imagine pouring water onto rocks. If the water had a mind, it might see the rocks the same way I see the world."

"You see the way they show themselves?"

Kakashi stopped in his tracks. "The way they show themselves? When you say that, it sounds like you are talking about illusions. About, ah, false appearances. Looks that are not true."

"Yes."

Kakashi stared at him. Purple stared back, just as shocked. The dog clone raised its head and looked between them. Kakashi said slowly, "What I see…is not real?"

Purple shook his head. Looking around, he spotted a small wooden shelf in the corner. He went to the shelf and patted it. "Dry, yes? B-breaking, yes?"

"Yes." But I already understand what he's going to say next!

"No. Tree, outside, alive. Wet, bending, young." Purple tapped the wooden shelf. "Same thing is dry and is wet, is bending and is breaking. It cannot be true. Dry, wet, bending, breaking: all not real. That…is the way it shows itself, but is not…not part of its name."

Its name? Kakashi's thoughts jumped onto a different track. "What is its name?"

"Wood," Purple replied. "Wood means part of tree. That is the only thing it means. Wood is always part of tree, and cannot not be. It can show itself as everything else, but is in all places part of tree."

"Like demons," Kakashi murmured. "Semblance can be anything, depending on who or what he's imitating. He could be a coward, a megalomaniac, a hero, anything. But he must always be imitating someone. He can show himself in any way, but his name is Semblance."

The dog clone barked. Kakashi looked at it. It pointed its muzzle at Purple, who was giving Kakashi a strange look. "I have met other demons," Kakashi explained. "They have names that define what they can possibly be. You just said that parts of the world also have names that define what they can be. Demons aren't as unnatural as they appear. The only thing that makes them very different from wood is that their names are abstract concepts. Imitation, knowledge: those names describe things that can't be touched, that have many different definitions. The demons I have met are insane because they cannot figure out which of those many definitions they are supposed to live up to."

Purple looked down at his bookshelf. Slowly, he said, "They cannot find their names. All that they have is the way they show themselves?"

"Yes. Demons don't have a real existence. We aren't actually made of a tangible material. We're living illusions." How are these things connected? Where does divinity fit in? I'm so close!

Purple's eyes roamed around his house. "Names are what…creates…the world. Demons cannot see names?"

Kakashi's mind was blown. The separate pieces came together. His eyes bulged as he sat, stunned into silence. The dog clone got up and licked his face. He closed his eyes.

"Dark one?"

"So that's it." Kakashi sighed. "I am the only demon that does not have a name branded into my soul. Because of that, I learned to read the names of other things in the world around me. I can perceive divinity as well as any human can. Other demons thought they knew what their names were, so they never learned to read names at all. What you just said about that shelf would be completely new information to other demons. They don't understand basic facts of life that even a five year old child knows. They're not so much insane as fatally ignorant."

Purple sat next to Kakashi. They both remained silent. The dog clone licked his face, too. There was no more that could be said.

Kakashi looked up. The house still radiated sadness. "Purple, you shape your house. But doesn't your house shape you, too? If it is filled with sadness, doesn't that prolong your own?"

Purple petted the dog clone. "Yes. I do not hope to let my name go."

"But it's not your name. It's only the way you show yourself."

Purple smiled, just a little. "Yes," he whispered.

"If you ever wish to show yourself differently, Dog will help. 'Dog' is his name, and it means loyal companion." Dog lowered the front half of his body into Purple's lap. His head rested on Purple's left knee.

Purple looked at Kakashi. "Dog is you."

Kakashi nodded. "As far as I know, I have no name. Or all of the possible names. I don't know which, and I don't care. I know I can choose my destiny, and that's enough for me."

Purple looked like he knew which of those options was the case, but he didn't say anything. He only smiled. "Lightbringers come to the earth knowing and reading real names. One who learns to do same is like us. Welcome, brother of light."

Tears filled Kakashi's eyes. He wiped them away. "Thank you." Purple offered him the rest of the snacks. He ate them all.

After a while, Purple said, "I must tell this story."

"Of course. Thank you. You've been an immense help." Dog reluctantly got off Purple's lap. They both stood up and shook hands. Kakashi sighed. "I wish I could stay to chat with you about the children, about our new training program, about everything. So much has happened. It would take forever to tell you about it all."

"Young ones?" Purple grinned. "Short story?"

Kakashi smiled. "There are three of them: Simo, Adana, and Mitsuki. Simo shows himself as a wolf; I'm his father. Orochimaru fathered both Adana and Mitsuki. Adana shows as a snake, while Mitsuki shows as a human. Oh, you'll love this: Mitsuki is an angel. A lightbringer. One of you."

Purple's jaw dropped. "A young lightbringer? In the dark lands?" He grabbed Kakashi's left hand and squeezed it for dear life. "Protect this one, brother."

"I will."

"We see names, but that does not protect us."

"I will teach him to use them," Kakashi promised.

"I will tell a long story. A very, very long story."

"Go and tell it. I will return to watch over my little lightbringer."

Purple let go. All three of them headed for the door. As they stepped outside, Purple paused. "I will show a different name next time."

Kakashi smiled. "I can't wait to learn it!" He waved, then sprouted wings. He flew straight up into the air. It feels selfish of me to give him this immense story and then leave him to share it all by himself. No; he's not by himself. Dog is with him. He'll be alright.

As he flew, other name-related topics came to mind. Orochimaru: his name means both snake and male. It's not his true name, is it? How true can any name given to you by other people be? Tomoda: his people gave supposed "names" that were little more than strings of syllables. Was that because they understood that true names cannot be given by others? Giving names that never meant anything in the first place might have been their way of avoiding the need for frequent name changes that Purple's people have.

Oh, there is so much to learn!

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A/N: The first half of this chapter, before they went to Purple's house, was written a month ago. Everything after that was written this morning. Looks like I needed all that time to figure out what exactly was going on with demons and divinity and angels and names. Hallelujah! Almost sixty chapters after it was begun, I finally have a coherent conceptual basis for this story. It feels good.