Team Ro's Barrack

There was a new assignment for Team Ro, and it was a long term internal mission no less. Kakashi was surprised there was any for his team, the last time he had one was… guarding pregnant Kushina and later guarding their son very briefly. A mission so close to home and long term was either infiltration or security, and Kakashi was right on the mark.

He and his team would be put on escort duties for Kyuubi's jinchuuriki for an unspecified duration, and Kakashi was unsure what to feel about it. On one hand, he would no longer neglect Sensei's son and be able to care for the boy in some capacity but at the same time he would be watching from close distance and witness the misery this village put the poor boy through.

It showed Kakashi the ugliest side of his own village, they were worse than trash, abandoning the hero who had lost his entire family by the first day of his life. It wasn't like he expected the villagers to worship his teacher's son, but a common decency to treat him like a human being was the least Naruto deserved.

Regardless of Kakashi's personal feelings, he would do his duty.

It was only in team briefing, Kakashi found out he had lost track of his Sensei's son so much to the point he didn't even know the kid was no longer in academy and was in the same team as Itachi and Shisui of all people in the rank of regular ninja corps. Like any good ninja, the pair of Uchiha had not said anything about it.

"Guarding a chuunin huh-" Yugao murmured softly. "Wow, this kid is almost as impressive as Itachi… he made it to Chuunin through expertise in Fuuinjutsu."

"How did that even work?" Kou, one of his subordinates wondered.

Kakashi answered him, "Those considered mid-level experts in Fuuinjutsu rise to the rank of Chuunin by default, it's something established by Shodaime's wife and the first leader of the Sealing Division."

"So a seal master can just bypass the Chuunin Exam?"

The Copy-nin nodded, "Yes, but they can also make the choice to join the exam and refuse the promotion through Fuuinjutsu mastery. It's what Yondaime did because he wishes to fight in the frontline and so… he needs proper assessment for his ability in other aspects, not just Fuuinjutsu."

Tenzo chimed in, "The promotion makes sense though… Seal Master caters to the rich who can afford their service and they travel a lot outside the village." Being a genin would not work for them in the long term.

"That makes sense, with Chuunin rank they're free to take missions unsupervised outside the village." Genin rank was restricted, especially during the peace period. They needed supervision of Jounin or Chuunin to take missions outside the village. Also, seal master tend to be in positions of command in missions that require their specialties.

Kakashi looked at Naruto's file again and held back a sigh, 'Seal Master Rank 5 going to 6 soon and a Chuunin…'

Yugao asked, "A shame Itachi and Shisui are not in, but… how impressive is Rank 5 Seal Master really?"

Silence filled the room and Kakashi was surprised once again he was the only one in the know. "Maa… Yondaime was a rank 9 Seal Master, the highest qualification…" As expected of an Uzumaki, Kakashi supposed.

"...He is nine years old." Tenzo whistled, "Chuunin and could easily be Tokubetsu Jounin in a few years."

Yugao frowned, "He didn't take a lot of missions, less than Chuunin on average…. is it because he is a specialist?"

"Didn't seem that eager for promotion, unusual for a prodigy." Kakashi didn't miss the discreet look Koumori shot in his direction.

Kakashi hoped it was a good thing, the boy wasn't that desperate for a quick promotion in spite of his record. Kakashi supposed Naruto wouldn't be in a hurry to acquire his Tokubetsu Jounin rank. Also, a specialist could be quite distanced from the regular chain of command in Konoha. Ibiki and Anko for example could give order to ANBU when needed, and Kakashi himself had taken orders from a seal master and medic nin on a mission before. It was a good mindset to have, to not bite more than you can chew.

Kakashi had been the very opposite, and was born in a time of war that allowed for fast paced promotion.

Looking at Naruto's file once again, "Hm, he was genin at 7 so…" About two years of service, and by quick calculation Kakashi believed Yugao was correct. It was indeed not a lot of missions he had taken but the rank tended to be higher than average, more B than C- with occasional A, Kakashi noted. "Also normal, Seal Master can get by selling their seals so they don't have to take regular missions to fill their pocket as often." Kakashi knew firsthand that in spite of their frugal lifestyle, his sensei was rich. "Or it's due to his other duty." Kakashi tried his best to not react to someone's snort, likely Tsuru at the back.

It was Konoha's policy to not 'use' Jinchuuriki in the frontline, Kushina-san was active but she didn't use her tenant's power excessively as far as Kakashi knew. He had no idea about Naruto, but Sensei gave him a different seal than one Kushiha had. Then again with his talent, Kakashi could see Councilman Danzo being restless about wasting the boy's potential, growing on his own.

'Team To was in charge of him until their demise…' He knew ANBU mission was classified and noticed the team was gone, but he wished Sandaime would have told him that Naruto lost his escorts within the village where he should be safe.

There were even several kidnapping attempts foiled by Itachi and Shisui, nothing serious except… for one. The file tried to be vague, obviously hiding the culprit but Kakashi was no beginner in confidential-speak; there was internal conflict over the jinchuuriki. The boy was ambushed on his way back from a mission, to be exact his team took a detour to check on an archeological site- which was already permitted by the Hokage.

So Danzo had tried, perhaps Kakashi shouldn't be surprised. The man had tried to poach Kakashi from Hokage before and only gave up because Kakashi was firmly loyal to Hokage. The man would want to control Naruto too. 'At least I would be there to protect him this time…'


Hokage's OFFICE

Sandaime had called him into the office and revealed more recent missions not yet recorded in his file, and perhaps never would be in record for anyone with clearance lower than ANBU captain. Naruto should not have any like that in the first place!

Kakashi was disturbed but he couldn't dwell on what had passed. His heart almost stopped when he saw A rank turn S rank in the report. What the hell a chuunin who was not part of ANBU but a specialist became part of a double mission to root out a traitor? This mission could be easily passed to ANBU but it was given to regular shinobi… no, both Itachi and Shisui were in ANBU so it wasn't really unreasonable.

If he could make a guess, Naruto was allowed to tag along to be more vigilant to his fellow Shinobi. It made Kakashi wince, thinking Naruto's closest friends were both Uchiha and thus it was no wonder he was deemed too careless around the clan in general. Whatever the council had in mind, this mission didn't go the way they expected.

It was a partial success, Mukai was dead and the mission scroll was retrieved but… there was intervention from foreign Shinobi. There was a note that said Kakashi had to go to Hokage personally to be briefed on the unknown enemy they had to protect Uzumaki Naruto from. Kakashi wondered whether it was Danzo or the Uchiha clan themselves, not a lot could get past the barrier.

Kakashi was no stranger to being called directly for a face to face meeting and received direct order, it would be the most sensitive mission or Sandaime wanted to give him a choice about said mission. In this case, it was the first. There was a threat too dangerous for his teacher's son to be spoken about through written letters.

He was not prepared when Sandaime told him the Uchiha who unleashed the Kyuubi had confronted Uzumaki Naruto's team and the boy almost died. "The only consolation is that… this masked man is not going after Naruto specifically, he came across them in the middle of the mission and decided to check on Kyuubi's jinchuuriki and his Uchiha teammates."

The tone Sandaime used, the emphasis on the clan's name made Kakashi suppress a shudder. Kakashi didn't know what consideration Sandaime had to form a three man cell team consisting of two Uchiha and an Uzumaki, but it was obvious what was the logical conclusion one would come up with.

Protection and control.

Shisui and Itachi were both the most talented Uchiha prodigies in their generation, their lineage was also very ideal for the position. Itachi was the heir of the Uchiha clan and son of Uchiha Mikoto, Kushina's close friend. While Shisui was the grandson of Uchiha Kagami, Niidaime's student. Considering the suspicion upon the Uchiha clan at the moment, they were the only Uchihas that could be fully trusted with Naruto's safety.

For this rogue Uchiha, the team's composition was obviously made with him in mind. A pair of Uchiha's finest to counter an Uchiha, and that was an open challenge he would not overlook. What was meant to be protection became a glaring target on Naruto's back.

Kakashi was terrified for Naruto but also uncomfortable Sandaime also had them around Naruto for a leash. That never happened with Kushina, she had ANBU squad guarding her but not teammates for anything but comrade. Even though Kakashi liked both Itachi and Shisui as comrades and subordinates, he found himself despising the idea they were never real teammates like Obito was.

Kakashi almost flinched, his Sensei and Obito would be so scandalized by the idea of this team existing at all.

"This masked shinobi is revealed to be a user of time-space technique, one superior to Hiraishin."

What?!

Sandaime explained that, like Hiraishin, it was sealless but there was no need for a seal formula to mark anything. "There was… a pocket dimension, and Naruto-kun was held hostage against his teammates within it."

Kakashi knew the existence of pocket dimension in theory, it was how storage seals work and the mystical realm of summon. However, one 'owned' by an Uchiha was something else, and terrifying to even comprehend, Naruto described the realm as an endless void cubic world. He even secured a sample of the surface he landed on, which apparently required considerable strenght to break. The material was apparently unknown and declared alien in nature by analysis team.

To be captured by your enemy was one of the worst fates for shinobi, but not hopeless. However, where was the escape when one was stuck in a different plane of existence.

"Naruto is safe in the village now, isn't he?" There would be a panic within their rank if a jinchuuriki disappeared, and Kakashi doubted Shisui and Itachi would be as composed as the last time he saw them.

Sandaime smiled proudly, "Naruto-kun has matured, but he is never one to stay still… so he took the matter into his own hands…" He shook his head, "He is the pride of his clan, and so of course he already has the theory of hiraishin and time-space seal in general in his repertoire… he just never put it into practice."

He was forced to try it to save himself, so he was not used against his teammates.

Kakashi was more terrified than proud of his Sensei's son following the man's footsteps. He might be a half-baked fuuinjutsu user, but Kakashi knew it was recklessness of highest degree to attempt that. Even Kushina-san said being an Uzumaki would not excuse you from using untested seals in the field.

"...Naruto-kun survived the botched teleportation seal he devised, but he was heavily injured if not for Kyuubi's healing." His voice was hard. "He was half-way recovered when he made his report, and his teammates…"

And since the boy was a seal master, obviously he was aware of his status and betting on it to make up for his recklessness. Sandaime's message was clear. Naruto could escape this rogue Uchiha by himself at a cost and so there should be no next time. Sandaime also never gave confirmation of Naruto's safety, because the boy could be taken from Konoha. Even at this very moment, he was still not truly safe even behind their wall.

"His teammates are very… distraught and admitted they're over their head against this rogue Uchiha."

Hence once again an entire squad was given the mission to protect Uzumaki Naruto, now there was an open threat.

"Well… Naruto-kun is not happy he is pulled out of the active roster, but I told him about Team Ro's new mission." Sandaime sighed, "He is a chuunin and jinchuuriki, it's absurd to confine him for safety."

That sounded like Kushina-san's son rather than Minato-sensei's child.

"His reasoning is very sound though… Naruto-kun believes it didn't matter because someone with that level of time-space technique could waltz into Konoha or the sealing tower whenever he wants."

Kakashi agreed Naruto was right, but it was incredibly disheartening. How matter of fact the child could be about his mortality or the lack of his village's protection for his person.

"...Any question, Hound?"

"...would he be cooperative?" Kakashi had guarded Naruto's mother, and she was nice about it because the one watching was Kakashi and she was pregnant. She had sharp senses so she didn't tolerate most of her ANBU watchers.

Sandaime's smile turned amused once more, "He is no longer an overly active child who would run from his ANBU guards, Hound." He exhaled deeply. "He is actually a joy to escort." The Kage assured him. "The boy is cooperative, has a neat schedule, and… very aware of dangers to his person."

"I see."

"I will also formally transfer Itachi and Shisui to Team Ro but they will still act as his teammates in regular force."

"..."

"...Is there any other concern?"

"May I speak as Hatake Kakashi?" At Sandaime's nod, he took a deep breath. "Why did you let Naruto graduate so early? And giving him teammates several years older, why not those closer in age?"

Kakashi had been a personal apprentice of Minato-sensei until he was placed with Obito and Rin at ten, they were just a year older. When Kakashi was young, he foolishly assumed older ninja as teammates would be better but it was horrible for him. Those older remembered his father and tended to be biased against him, they were more often than not underestimate him too much. For all his arguments with Obito and Rin's crush on him, they both would defer to him whenever Sensei left him in charge. While ninja was expected to adapt, during your formative years it was for the best to have teammates closer in age.

Itachi was four years older than Naruto, Shisui was even older. Even worse, Itachi's brother was Naruto's age so it was unlikely the Uchiha's heir viewed Naruto as an equal teammate. That was bound to cause an issue, especially without a jounin instructor to supervise them. A position that was technically unneeded in the team, Kakashi knew Shisui would be a jounin soon and Itachi just didn't bother since he was busy with ANBU. Naruto himself was taking his time judging from his record, but the boy was obviously Tokubetsu Jounin material.

Kakashi had seen Itachi's record and how his jounin sensei didn't know what to do with him, no more than academy instructors do when it comes to mentoring the prodigy. Naruto's own record with mentor figures was not very stellar either, worse, the boy might develop a bias against long term teachers in general.

Sandaime frowned, "...Naruto had nothing more to learn in the academy, it's one of many failures of mine I owe to that child… when he has proven himself a capable seal master apprentice, he earned his chance to leave the academy."

Leave not graduating.

Kakashi recalled his five years old self 'graduating' and leaving the academy as soon as possible after his father's fall from grace. He was qualified for early graduation, but Kakashi could hardly deny it wasn't just because he could.

Naruto didn't have a disgraced father, and he wasn't an antisocial child who didn't want friends either. The child he knew desperately wanted friends, but he was also a jinchuuriki of Kyuubi. Kakashi could easily imagine a bright child who was fed up with the academy, with nothing to learn and no friends to stay behind for either.

"Itachi and Shisui are his friends, they truly are…" The Hokage was firm on this. "They're as thick as thieves… easily a team with the best relationship I have the pleasure to see in Konoha."

Kakashi wondered how much he could believe Sandaime, he trusted the two young Uchiha as his junior and comrades. He could even say, he had some fondness for them because they still remembered their 'Obito-nii' and had repeated encounters with them in front of Obito's empty grave with flowers and dango. In ANBU they could ignore the discomfort but not so much in front of Obito's empty grave when the eye was still in his skull.

But to believe in them with that child was… difficult.

When the majority of your village had one turned on your father and then your teacher's wish, Kakashi didn't have a lot of faith in good will. Being an ANBU was not helping his skepticism.

Sandaime smiled sadly, "They inherited the will of fire like your teammates and my old friend, Kagami…"

Kakashi just nodded, as usual beneath the veneer of a kindly grandfather, Sandaime was quite a manipulator. Told him to trust Naruto's teammates, because they were Obito's baby cousins. Still, Kakashi held back the chuckle of how indignant his old teammate would be that Kakashi would ever suspect Itachi and Shisui to be anything but perfect angels.

'Shut up Obito, they grew up and are no longer the chubby cheeked kids you spoiled rotten with gifts from grandmas. They're proper shinobi that can kill with dango sticks if they want.'

Obito wouldn't care and flipped him a bird in their defense.


Sealing Tower

It had been years since Hatake Kakashi saw Shiomitsu Hakurei, Kushina-san's vassal and a comrade from Sandaime's generation. The young Shiomitsu by the name Tokusa, like any Uzu native openly looked at him as if he stink. Which was familiar, Kushina-san used to give him that same look whenever little Kakashi was being a jerk. the boy still bring Kakashi to his granduncle's office, and Kakashi wisely called out before he could be rejected.

"It's me, Hakurei-dono… it's important." The door opened but he was not let in.

The old man took one look at Kakashi's face and scoffed as if he was a petulant child who forgot his curfew.

"Did you get lost or something? The memorial stone is in the other direction, Kakashi-kun."

He supposed after almost a decade of… no contact, Hakurei didn't have any pleasantries left to spare for Kakashi. His father had been friends with this man's son so he was familiar with the Shiomitsus. Kakashi recognized the man with thick hair wearing an apologetic expression behind Hakurei was likely Uncle Shion.

"...Sandaime said I should inform you that my team will take over Naruto's guard duty from now on." The implication was obvious, they would be in contact and had to relearn tolerating each other's presence.

"Report received."

The door was slammed to his face.

A few moments later, Uncle Shion opened the door for Kakashi again and apologized for his father's behavior. He left Kakashi to his own office and Kakashi decided he should take his chance with his father's old friend instead. "How are you, Kakashi-kun?" He asked kindly, still looking apologetic.

"Maa… I'm fine." Kakashi lied through his teeth and mask, because he was apparently not as indifferent as he thought about old family friends and the closest figure to a father in law his teacher ever had.

Either Obito and Rin would have been so much better in dealing with strained relationships like this, especially Obito who was always a favorite to elders like Hakurei. The old seal master had more than once warned Kakashi's father about his ridiculous record breaking promotion, and how there was nothing to be proud about a snot nosed brat sent to the battlefield. Shodaime would roll in his grave at the sacrilege. The same warning was told to Minato-sensei when Kakashi signed up for Jounin's qualification, which was totally not Sensei's fault because Kakashi felt ready and very stubborn about it.

"Do you even understand the burden you sign up for with that new shiny rank?"

That ended up haunting him for years to come because his first mission as jounin was a disaster to no surprise of many, but they still didn't expect Kakashi would get a teammate killed. Obito was dead and he had a new eye in place of his father's broken tanto. That blade was forged by Hakurei, and one of his masterpieces. Kakashi had given it back to Hakurei in shame, as the blade was too early as much as jounin rank was. Kakashi never looked back for that tanto, Shirashi.

After a long stretch of silence, Shion asked. "...Kakashi-kun, do you… do you want Shirashi back?"

The cup of tea almost slip from Kakashi's fingers, "...No, Shion-san… that blade is not for me." Never had, he felt unworthy of it as much as he did Obito's eye but the blade could be left behind as it was not planted in Kakashi's skull and held no promise.

Shion shook his head, "Father was never angry in the first place over Shirashi, he was angrier with himself and your father the blade couldn't protect you."

The blade broke during the Kannabi mission, "Shion-san, the blade is not guilty… it's in the name in the first place. It's a blade of pure white will, and I was always wavering whenever I wielded it, no wonder it broke." The blade could only be as sharp and unyielding as the wielder.

"..."

"..."

Silence fell between them and Kakashi wondered what else he could say. "Thank you for arranging my father's funeral for me." Kakashi wanted to hit himself for starting with that. Then again he couldn't let this tension fester, not if he wanted to be around Sealing Tower unhindered by his unresolved feelings for its residence.

"I am sorry I yelled at you." Kakashi had been a very angry child in the aftermath of Hatake Sakumo's suicide and the Shiomitsus had been very patient with him. They managed to get the Sannin to attend the funeral, made it a spectacle to honor Sakumo in a desperate attempt to get the people to 'forgive' and 'move on' because the man died to pay for his failure. Kakashi was too young at the time to understand, their effort was more to lessen the stigma on Kakashi than for his dead father.

Kakashi was furious because his father made the mistake and the Shiomitsu made a grand stand on the eve of the third war to defend him. The child he used to be couldn't handle the anger and grief, and how they tried to convince him to not be angry at Sakumo. They had to give up guardianship over him, as willed by Sakumo's suicide note because Kakashi rejected them. So they roped in Sandaime to assign Minato-sensei to take him as an apprentice, who couldn't refuse being saddled with a kid because he was courting their lady. Then again, his sensei was also too nice.

He felt so alone back then but he had people who cared to protect him after his father's death. Sandaime had revealed the arrangement made for his sake by the Shiomitsu after Sensei's death, but Kakashi was too ashamed to face them. Even now, that didn't change.

"You don't have to be sorry."

Kakashi was a shinobi but he would always be Sakumo's son to them. " I should be sorry for being such an ungrateful brat." Not just for yelling at his father's funeral. "...And this idiot will be frequenting the tower from now on since my team will be watching over your young master." He would be an eyesore even if he did his best to stay out of sight.

Shion just sighed, "...Kakashi-kun, you were hurt… and you have all the right to be angry at the world back then."

"...I am still sorry."

"You're forgiven." Shion said with a smile then offered an olive branch that made Kakashi's inside twist. "Do you want to meet Naruto-sama?"

"I-"

"...Your team would be protecting him, and that means access to his workshop." Shion shook his head, "...Knowing you will make the process easier, especially if you want to be the other pair allowed aside from Itachi-kun and Shisui-kun."

Now?!

Shion smiled sadly at the look on his face, "Our young master is not big on formality but he is very protective of his time." That reminded Kakashi strongly of his Sensei. "Only Itachi and Shisui can drop in unannounced, unless it's an emergency he is very stubborn about interruption."

"Ah-"

"He is focusing on several seals he wanted to complete before the end of the year." Shion told Kakashi, "There should be a downtime tomorrow I can arrange for you… in the afternoon I believe… we would be having a briefing with the team he would bring to the capital right after."

He would see his sensei's son soon.

"You don't have to worry, Naruto-sama is a very kind person." Then Shion began his incessant bragging about Minato-sensei's son, nothing important for a bodyguard to know but enlightening nonetheless.


The next day

Azure colored eyes and bright yellow hair like a canary, as someone described in the past. The striking coloring the boy inherited from sensei, but everything else was Kushina's. He was a boy that seemed to personify the sun on the clearest day in summer. His smile however, resembled neither Sensei nor Kushina.

"Hello, I am Uzumaki Naruto." The name they had chosen with care, the maelstrom that protected Kushina's fallen homeland and the main character of Sensei's favorite book. "I will be in your care." There was that smile again, beautiful, polite and pleasing.

Kakashi's eyes wandered to assess the boy, the person he had to protect from now on. It was necessary to profile him right away, so he could form the best plan of protection. Kakashi suppressed his urge to grimace, when he saw Naruto's overall appearance. The boy was wearing a high collar shirt with flowing sleeves that was traditional to Uzumaki clan with the spiral symbol on the right upper arm, dark orange kataginu, knee length pants with crisp cut and clean white jika tabi.

Then it clicked in his mind, 'oh-'

He was dressed in a way that was pleasing to the eyes- not for shinobi- for nobles, catering more to their refined aesthetic than shinobi's brutal practicality. Kakashi had once asked Kushina, why several seal masters in the tower dressed beautifully unlike a shinobi. The redhead had to explain to Kakashi that some of them worked closely with nobles and had to cater to their beauty standard, and she was so glad she didn't have to. Kakashi had been learning the fundamentals of fuuinjutsu back then with her and Sensei. She gave him a strict warning, it was almost the norm to work closely with nobility for seal masters but there was a tendency for those missions to easily cross dangerous territory.

Shinobi's life and danger went hand in hand, he had argued back then. Kushina didn't laugh, and enlightened him that danger was not always a simple threat against your life. Uzushio didn't fall just because several great hidden villages banded together to attack them, and Konoha was too late to save them. Uzushio held too many secrets close to their heart as a village full of seal masters, too many connections with nobility but none of the loyalty. Kushina had to accept the downfall was never the matter of if but when.

Kakashi always hated missions that involved nobility. It was always hard to end those cleanly, even if you accomplished the mission. The one that marked his father's downfall was also one, and it resulted in the third war. And now… Naruto was obviously at the thick of it.

"Are you alright?" And from his mouth, came the most hated line Sensei sparsely used because Kakashi would always clamp up if he asked.

He was not alright, at the privacy of his mind he could at least admit it. His internal Obito was hollering at him to stop freaking out like a paranoid bastard and look at their sensei's son in the eye. The kid was alive and whole so don't scare him because Obito and Rin weren't there to soften Kakashi's edge. Naruto didn't look scared, he was sad… and looking exactly like Minato-sensei whenever he caught Kakashi washing his hand excessively.

"I am Captain Hound, in the name of Sandaime we will protect you from now on." He introduced himself to divert the topic.

Now, both his inner Obito and Rin were exasperatedly telling him to not ignore a kid who was worried for him.

He made the worst first impression, and both Cat and Hakurei swiftly ran an intervention to dissolve the awkwardness. Tenzo revealed his mokuton, which should be helpful for Naruto but most much without the Senju's heirloom owned by Lady Tsunade. Hakurei had the gall to reveal decades old running bet between him and Uchiha Kagami, and the money goes to Shisui.

"He is dim."

Kakashi knew provocation when he heard it, an insult to Obito was a sure way to spark his temper. However, before he could react, Shisui came to Obito's defense. "What?"

"Is that a secret?" Itachi wondered with a wide eyed expression, and Kakashi could see the 'cutest lil cousin' Obito speak of whenever he mentioned Itachi instead of the talented prodigy that intimidated at least half of Team Ro.

Shisui shrugged, "Yeah, you're too little to remember but we promise not to tattling how he ace every animal related mission like dog walking and cat searching."

Kakashi then remembered the utter humiliation in their D-rank days (for team bonding) that Obito got a wolf-hybrid dog owned by a civilian to behave for their walk, when the very same dog outright hated him and his pack. He knew animals liked Obito, but he was never bested when it came to dogs until that day. That son of…

Obito, you lil shit! YOU CHEATED! His ten years old self scowled at the back of his mind.

But more importantly… Obito was always talented in genjutsu. It was news to him, and likely he was the only one in the team who didn't know. There was no way Minato-sensei didn't notice, and Obito told Rin everything. He could understand Obito 'hating' any form of mental manipulation with his straightforward personality. Well, personality and talent didn't have to go together. Even Shisui was more well known for his skill for Shunshin than genjutsu, even though he was absolutely more devastating at it. And apparently… the kid was taught by Obito how to weave genjutsu so fine, it was hard to notice.

Then again… Kakashi never really knew Obito until their last mission together, he was always 'more' and never less.

Naruto loudly cleared his throat, and said. "Ahem… Shisui, Itachi… we can talk about that later." Then he added, "We have a meeting in ten minutes."

And just like that the guard duty began and Kakashi made himself the emotionless shield and sword, standing behind Sensei's son. The boy fidgeted a little when he did, a new presence to turn his vulnerable back to. It felt just like yesterday, the toddler 'knew' they were around and felt safe. That wasn't the case anymore, this was a shinobi who didn't like unknown people behind their back for an extended period of time.

"As you all know… we're going to be under the employment of the royal family for one or two weeks depending on the condition of the seal system our ancestors left in the capital." Naruto began with a smile on his lips, "Your good work in this mission would be a lifelong debt for me." Naruto placed a hand on his chest in dramatic fashion. "Because I have to make a good impression on my future in-laws."

That was new, Kakashi knew the boy had a connection in the court of Fire Country but not the 'how' he was making them. Even among shinobi, arranged marriage was not uncommon especially in a more traditional clan like the Hyuuga and Uchiha. Naruto's parents had married for love first and foremost, even though it was politically ideal for Sensei to achieve his dream.

Naruto didn't even know the girl at all. However, judging from his casual behavior, the boy was likely raised by the Shiomitsus with more traditional values than Kushina.

They had moved on to talk about the logistics of their trip and also people they would bring to capital. It seemed the choice had been made, but more than needed because they had to ensure the tower still had enough staff after a decent chunk of their human resource was brought out for a long term mission. Kakashi was not surprised at all when an argument started because they couldn't reach a decision everyone was happy with. The Sealing Tower for all its lofty status was not occupied by quiet and studious folks.

Hakurei, the leader, let them scream it out at each other.

Shion, the vice leader cleared his throat. "This has gone long enough, look at the time… we have to come to a conclusion so we can get back to our work. Let's just vote."

"But Sir."

"We have decided to go with the majority rule if we don't come to a conclusion by 2PM." Shion reminded them firmly.

Naruto chimed in, "As you say, Shion-san." They all turned to him, "I will go with the first option… it's more efficient, we will be pushing it for a bit but the lord would be pleased for sure." He casted his vote. "Houshou's concern for social season in capital on the eve of founding day can he handled by Iwafune-san."

Iwafune, an old timer Kakashi recognized from his father's generation, groaned. "Sure- sure… I will get my contacts from the capital." He obviously didn't want to work that much, but order was order even if it was phrased like a suggestion.

Kagari, a seal master around Kakashi's age he believed must be distantly related to the Yuuhi clan from the red eyes sighed loudly. "Why didn't you volunteer from the get go, old man?"

And just like that, all of them fell into place- was it a majority rule at all. From what Kakashi saw, their way of meeting was basically discussing several alternatives until they came up with a compromise everybody was happy with but if not… Naruto got to decide and they would defer to him. It wasn't the most efficient leadership, but it worked for them.

"With that, our meeting is concurred- dismissed."

"Yes, Sir."

After the meeting, both he and Tenzou received the mark of Naruto's chakra in our palm. It was quite an adorable symbol to be honest, but Kakashi was startled when their palms made contact. Naruto acted so mature but his hand was still small and warmer than adults. This person- no… boy, he was nine years old this year and already a chuunin. Just like Kakashi back then… .

Kakashi wondered if this was how Minato-sensei felt when looking at five years old Genin Kakashi. In his defense, nine years old Kakashi was a chuunin but spent most of his days bickering like brats with Obito and giving Minato-sensei early grey hairs, not catching attention of nobles.


Naruto's workshop was an organized chaos, just like both of his parents but not completely. There were research papers piled up but marked meticulously with sticky markers, there were colorful highlights he remembered Kushina favored everywhere. There was large and long tables, sturdy and made of wood in U shape arrangement that gave the seal master as much room as possible for large scrolls, sheets of papers and writing supplies. The wall was bare for most part, and there was several shelves of what Kakashi believed was seals Naruto was working on or finished products. There was also smaller room connected, which Kakashi believed was either a pantry or more storage.

Kakashi also couldn't help but note the room was bigger- compared to the workshop his teacher had at home. Perhaps around the same size as Hokage's office. The ceiling was also high, the signature of Uzushio's and Amegakure's architecture. When Kakashi looked up to check the lighting and windows, he was quite confused to see a mezzanine floor in half circle about 4 meters from the floor, absolutely filled with greenery and there was a door and window there too.

Itachi and Shisui noticed him staring of course, he wasn't trying to be subtle how he and Tenzo were taking in the room arrangement for escape route and possible ambush (as pointless as that could be with opponent that could just pop up anywhere). Itachi answered, because Naruto had disappeared with Shisui to a smaller room.

"That's the door leading to Naruto's quarter and personal greenhouse." Itachi explained, "there's a daybed there and sometime he takes a nap in that terrace. The windows are warded with seals so it's just sky light…"

"...There are more than just security seals over there…"

"Naruto recently add seal that detect space distortion." Itachi told them, "It's not perfect because the person we faced before is very good in controlling the distortion… and it's not sensitive enough for the delicate controlthe enemy is capable of."

Kakashi didn't even know there was even a seal capable of that. If Namikaze was not a heavy hitter, his sensei would make a career as an infiltrator from hiraishin alone. Time-space technique was an unexplored realm beyond the storage scroll. Also- didn't this kid just have his first encounter with that rogue a month ago?

"There are also seals that filter the sunlight so it didn't harm papers in the workshop." Itachi finished the explanation about the extensive ward within the workshop. "The personal quarter is off course… part of our perimeter for guard duty, but please avoid the cluster of plants Naruto has."

"Huh?"

Itachi's eyes narrowed dangerously, not a threat towards them but Kakashi swore he was not imagining the stoic Uchiha heir was shaking a little. "They… they're part of Naruto's longest running project and it's best to give it a wide berth, especially if Naruto is not around to save you."

"...Save?" Why would they be in need of saving in the first place."

"Just stay away from them, especially ones that have teeth where they shouldn't be."

Since when plants have teeth?

Naruto returned to the main workshop with refreshments, which Kakashi wanted to refuse until he saw the clear glass teapot and cup- and then… the color of the supposed drink he was offering. The drink was the same color as his eyes and there was an unfamiliar scent in the air. "Here you go."

"...We call this drink, Naruto's eyeball- made with his tears as the main material." Shisui explained with a grin.

Naruto nodded, "Yes- yes, my tears." He deadpanned.

Before Kakashi and Tenzou could respond to that bizarre explanation, Itachi chimed in. "They're joking." As if an explanation was ever needed, "It's blue matcha imported from Tsuki."

"Itachi, why are you explaining the joke." Shisui protested with a pout.

"Why would you joke with Taichou?"

"It means to be ice breaker, geeze~"

Itachi looked around and in a smaller voice asked, "...Are we awkward?"

"Remember- the 'fun' tea is out for conversation starters! If not, Naruto will just brew the ol' boring tea!"

"...But the fun tea-"

Naruto's left eye twitched, "Shisui! Don't confuse Itachi, you know fun tea is our code word for spiked food." Then he added, "And Itachi, just eat the dango…"

Kakashi should be amused by how the three of them didn't act like their age wasn't pretty far apart, and how they were truly friends with their bickering- not when he heard 'spiked food' and code word put in the same sentence. It implied they were familiar with that kind of sabotage, in peace period- in regular force.

"Should we be wary of poison?" Jinchuuriki can shrug off most poison due to their tenant but he remembered Kushina protesting it didn't mean she was fine being poisoned, and the detox process was not always pleasant.

Naruto sighed, "...Not in the tower, during my regular mission… with nobles- poison is a common thing."

Kakashi didn't relent. "Specifically?"

"...At worst attempt at bloodline theft usually." Naruto was smiling, eyes closed because he didn't want to meet their eyes.

He knew there was that kind of risk with the job, but Naruto was nine and… in the peace period the kid shouldn't be aware of that kind of danger yet. He shouldn't fend off that kind of threat from his own clients, and during village sanctioned missions no less.

"It didn't happen that often, most nobles didn't try when they noticed my teammates… especially Itachi- who have the classic Uchiha look." He was chuckling as he poured the tea, iced and sprinkled it with lemon and the color changed. Kakashi supposed, this was why it was the ice breaker tea. "Usually, it's just… collateral damage- we just happen to share the dining table with the target."

It was always easier to just poison the entire table, and wipe out the entire lineage.

Naruto began briefing them on his schedule and Kakashi was surprised by how mundane it was. Aside from regular training expected for any active shinobi and occasional missions with his team, Naruto spent most of his time in the tower. His duties varied and it was obvious the tower treated him as proper heir to his clan and a seal master, they made him teach in classes, producing his quota in commercial seal sold by the tower and furthering his personal research.

Honestly, if not for the training and mission- Naruto could pass for a scholar.

Also something new to learn, Naruto really wanted to go exploring ruins and other historical sites again with his team. Itachi, Shisui and Naruto were… history nerds, Kakashi was floored by the revelation. That was new… what was so interesting about those places?

"There's a site near the capital, do you think I can make a trip there after we're done with our mission?" His eyes were sparkling.

Kakashi could only say, "We will see… maybe." He promised nothing.

At last the boy smiled, somewhat more genuine than the first one he gave Kakashi and it was perhaps a small victory.


If there was any concern for the age gap with his teammates in Kakashi, it disappeared when he saw Narut speaking to academy students having sealing art class in the tower. They were supposedly the same age as Naruto, and all treated Naruto as one of their teachers. Kakashi also noted, Naruto was tall for his age compared to his supposed age-mate and his demeanor was so unlike a child. It took the young shinobi placed right next to shinobi in training for Kakashi to really see Naruto would be even more out of place than Kakashi was as a five years old genin.

Kakashi knew he used to be teased by adults around him for behaving like a tiny adult, Naruto didn't feel like that at all. He didn't scoff at kids his age and think they were immature, he didn't try projecting maturity because childishness was beneath him.

Itachi's little brother was pouting because Itachi was so busy nowadays, it was unfair he couldn't see him at home at all while Naruto could. Naruto just smiled, poke the boy who was supposed to be a few months older in the forehead before promising to make it up to Sasuke. The pink haired girl who was waiting to speak to Naruto behind Sasuke huffed and he whirled around, offended. She told him, she had a more important question to ask Naruto-sensei. There were very few combat seal masters in the tower, and Naruto was one of them.

"We rarely get to see him, Sasuke-kun! Don't hog Naruto-sensei!"

"I have questions too!"

"You get to see him more." She shot back.

"Troublesome." Grumbled Nara behind them, obviously he also had questions but too lazy to compete with the more aggressive students for his turn.

Kakashi suddenly had a deja vu of himself and Obito, overlapping with an overly serious girl obviously a step ahead than her peers and a hot-tempered Uchiha boy. He almost expected Naruto to take the role of Rin, a patient mediator of the team. He did no such thing, he just waited for them to notice him watching and they both got embarrassed for fighting in front of him and sheepishly asked their question in turn.

Oh- that was more like Minato-sensei, but subtler and more off handed.

He also stopped Shikaku's son from leaving, who turned out not to be there to ask for Fuuinjutsu but the record of the game Naruto had played with Daimyo's younger brother.

Naruto was quite bemused that Shikaku found out about the game and made his son ask for it. "Sure, I think I have it in my room. I will have someone send it to Nara's main house later."

Kakashi supposed the Nara was approaching the Tower too, nothing alarming but worthy of note anyway. He observed Naruto further from the shadow, while Itachi and Shisui walked with him side by side. As soon as they were out of earshots, Naruto turned to Shisui and his demeanor changed instantly. There was a skip in his step and his expression relaxed.

"I see what you mean when you say Sasuke-kun has a temper." He told Shisui. "He is also very competitive." He mused.

Shisui nodded in agreement. "I know, right? If I dare to imply I am the stronger Uchiha than Itachi, all his sweet facade will go out of the window." Shisui snickered. "He would be even more huffy and puffy than he did just now, and his ears would be as red as tomatoes as he defended Itachi's honor."

Naruto let out a gasp, "Do it next time I'm around, that sounds so adorable." He told Shisui seriously.

Itachi coughed, "You two… don't use my brother as your source of entertainment."

"Cuteness needs to be shared." Shisui spouted his usual bullshit, as expected of a genjutsu master. Kakashi wondered if this too was Obito's teaching.

Naruto gave his full support, "I can agree to that, don't be stingy, Itachi. It's not like there would be less for you." Then he smirked at Itachi, a full toothed one that clashed with the refined and gentle image he had going. "He is very unlike you." Naruto concluded.

"Itachi is an old man in teenage body, Sasuke is a genuine lil boy." Shisui quirked an eyebrow at Naruto, implying something.

Naruto huffed, he didn't rise to the bait. "Itachi has his moments, you left me to deal with that Cat Bingo Book stamp. Those poor kitties!"

Shisui was not sorry, "I'm glad I wasn't there."

"...Do you guys forget I am here?" Itachi attempted to poke their side, but both dodged his finger without even looking.

"How immature, you can't just poke people when you're losing, Itachi-kun."

"That only works for Sasuke-kun." Naruto said, patting the finger he captured.

They teased the hell out of Itachi and Kakashi could feel the rest of his team was floored by what they had witnessed. While his team was surprised the stoic Uchiha heir was subject to so much teasing in his team, Kakashi was more surprised by how jarring this team felt compared to his old one with Obito and Rin. It was Naruto's comment about Itachi's brother that made him realize the reason.

This team… they didn't have even a shred of competitiveness for each other, there was no demand to keep up with each other or they would be left behind. They were just… easy to each other, like being friends and comrades was natural and effortless like how trees grew chasing the sun in the sky.


The sun had set when Itachi and Shisui left the tower to go home, and it was the real first shift of protecting Uzumaki Naruto on their own. As promised, he and Tenzo would be in the workshop openly while the rest of their team guarded the perimeter.

It was then Kakashi realized when they were out on meeting and visiting the classroom, the workshop had not been idle. There were five clones of Naruto continuing his research vigorously and the one they guarded blended in right away without a word. Kakashi had his sharingan open, and he was relieved he could tell the 'real' one was the one they had been protecting since the meeting began.

Naruto whipped his head, the real one smiled sheepishly. "Don't worry, I am not going to swap with a clone and run off on my own."

Judging from Tenzo's tensed body, they were both thinking the same thing and the chuunin read them like an open book. Were they that obvious?!

"Anyway… feel free to observe." He pointed at a spot, "I will be using that chair and won't move for the next few hours, I promise."

Kakashi wondered if he should tell Naruto he didn't have to accommodate them, but stayed in his spot without answering. It was only half an hour later of Naruto reading and making calculation, he realized Naruto wasn't joking about not moving was for the best. He created two more clones and much to Kakashi's shock there was no chakra smoke, it was a slow process but the chakra Naruto emitted just slowly morphed to his likeness like a ghost materializing.

If he was not looking, Kakashi wouldn't believe it either.

"The reference…" Naruto looked around, eyes locked to a bookshelves in the other side of the room. Kakashi was about to ask what the boy needed but Naruto threw his hand forward and adamantine chain shot up and the tip latched on the target, like leaf sticking with chakra and the Uzumaki pulled it to him. "Let's see, the matrix if written in parallel, might work…"

He had only seen Kushina using her chain before but to grab a book?! Another chain shot forward, and this time for a refill of ink. Kakashi amusedly noted the tip of Naruto's chain was not diamond shaped like Kushina's but a koma. Another chain was grabbing a pot of tea, and Naruto grimaced when it was already cold.

Then the seal master started writing a seal on a paper and placed it below the pot, and it warmed up slowly. He was so casual about it, Kakashi took a second to comprehend there was a seal that created smokeless heat with so little chakra.

Tenzo blurted out. "That… would be amazing for long term missions."

"Ah this?" Naruto glanced at the seal. "I keep forgetting to patent it, but I had free time recently. It shouldn't take long for this to be available in the market by next week." His expression turned a bit gloomy, his eyes haunted. "...I am not looking forward to the negotiation about royalties, seriously… money is like water when you're a seal master."

Kakashi almost choked at the same line both Kushina and Minato repeated over and over again. Money was like water, because your research fund was never ending.

"Sometimes I miss the time when I am happy with enough money to buy a bowl of ramen." He grumbled, sipping his hot tea. "And now… there are too many zeros to deal with." He looked strangely fragile with that dazed look.

Naruto worked until dinner time and Kakashi was quite concerned by vigorous work he did in a day with his clones, even though he claimed there was no physical training today because he should take it easy before the trip to the capital. If this was how much time he spent daily dividing his chakra and also memory through clones, it was no wonder he 'aged' in mentality so rapidly.

It was really concerning.

Kakashi didn't know what to think of the boy when the night came and… he slept with a fox plushie of all stuffed animals in existence.

"Good night, I love you Kuu-"

Did the doll's huge ear just twitched?

That night was not very peaceful in the end, it wasn't that Naruto had a nightmare or the intruder came barelling to Naruto's bedroom. It was Tenzo… to be fair they had been warned about Naruto's plants, but they had thought the Uchiha cousins were talking about ones he kept in his greenhouse. Not any plants the kid owned, including ones in his bedroom.

Kakashi was so focused on Naruto's peaceful sleeping face, he didn't notice Tenzou had wandered to check the perimeter of the bedroom. Which included the corner of the room with a couple of tiny plants that bring color to the room.

Then Tenzou scream, loudly- "AAAAARRRRGH!"

Kakashi turned around, kunai ready in hand and saw Tenzo's face being eaten flower with teeth- where the hell did it come from?!

"Hmph- hmph!"

Tenzo's face was caught by a hanging plant, specifically his lips were being slurped like ramen and Kakashi froze, his junior didn't seem hurt but the situation was bizarre.

"Oh…dear." Naruto had woken up, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "Did you… approach my plants?"

Kakashi gestured towards Tenzo, "What should I do to help him?"

"Just don't pull him off forcefully." Naruto told Kakashi, "Let Pichuu-san finish."

"Fi- finish?!"

"In a minute-"

A long minute later, Tenzo was released with lips swollen like pollock roe. His mask was askew and he fell backward limply. "Ah… I- my first- my first kiss…" He covered his lips, crying softly.

Naruto, still half-asleep then said. "Don't count it, Shisui didn't either… I thought he had warned you all to not get too close to my plants? They don't recognize your chakra signature yet so they're… not gentle."

Kakashi stepped away very slowly from any greenery in the room, which took like one third of the sizeable bedroom. "They're part of your defense mechanism?"

"Yes, actually…" He admitted. "I'm surprised they like you… it takes a while for them to take a liking to Itachi and Shisui, was it the quality of your chakra?"

Tenzo's mokuton was likely why.

"Classified." Kakashi stopped the boy from asking further. "And we haven't heard about these plants being dangerous… did you take them from Forest of Death?"

"No." Unlike them, Naruto didn't have the plant as classified information to keep to himself. "They're random result from my experiment… I am best with yang release and my chakra is really dense, censor described my chakra is like the sun… warm and nourishing." At the look they shot him, "No, it's not Mokuton… I can't control them to do anything- at best they're like untrained puppies. They like me but they don't take orders."

Then he flopped back to his bed, "If that's all, good night."

Kakashi had reached a very sad conclusion about his sensei's son, he didn't understand Uzumaki Naruto at all.


Merry X-mas and please review..

And yes, Kakashi didn't realize it but he is somewhat jealous of the team because they get along so well and seems easy. To be fair to the guy, he wasn't there for the rough phase between Itachi-Shisui with Naruto because he was sus of them. Also unlike regular team, Naruto-Shisui-Itachi have shared hobby as history nerds- they have a life with their team outside of shinobi life. The most determining factor is that... they're NOT competitive with each other. Which is a thing in most team- they also don't really have 'peers' their age either, they also don't have a jounin sensei so they sorta... 'free range' raised themselves without knowing a template to follow as a team.

Kakashi's team on the other hand... is on DIRECT teaching line of Hokage, so there's expectation and also rivalry seems to be the theme. I think each sensei unknowingly encouraged competition in their team. Naruto's team don't have that, they fit eithout grinding their edges.

I am thinking to publish OBito centric fanfic soon- with Kakashi as the deuteragonist. I wonder if there's a demand?

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