Sakumo held a fist full of the boy's shirt to keep him from squirming away while Sakumo and his team stood before Lord Third to report on the mission from Iwa. The hokage had been quiet through the entire report Sakumo and Fugaku gave. He puffed quietly on his pipe as he looked at each of three shinobi in front of him, his mind racing with thoughts. Several things needed to be addressed: going to war with Iwa, the young boy who had Explosion Release and was listed as a missing-nin from Iwa, and the fact that a chunin medic hid during a battle. The chunin had a young daughter Lord Third recalled in Asuma's class at the academy. Their age group had just started a few weeks ago. Perhaps it would be best to have young Rin learn how to be a shinobi away from her father's cowardly influence? It was about time Tsunade took an apprentice and at such a young age she could mold Rin into being the world's best-well second best-medic. It would also be best to confine Chunin Nohara to the village and only let him work at the hospital. Once Tsunade found out Sakumo had healed himself while the squad assigned medic hid behind a rock said medic would probably be in the hospital as a patient for awhile. That might be why Nohara looked worried.

"Chunin Nohara you are to report to Tsunade immediately and inform her you are assigned to the hospital indefinitely seeing as how you are incapable of being a combat medic. Also tell her to see me immediately as your daughter will soon be her apprentice," said Lord Third, his tone cold enough to make the young boy in the room stop squirming and the medic to turn green. The medic disappeared in a pile of leaves.

"Now about the child," said the hokage.

"I wish to adopt him and raise him alongside Kakashi," stated Sakumo.

"Good luck with that," mumbled Fugaku. Lord Third smirked at his comment. He saw nothing wrong with Sakumo adopting the boy. He looked to be about Kakashi's age and Kami knew that boy needed friends. A brother might even be better.

"I'll allow it. But be warned that Iwa has declared him a missing-nin. With him having their renowned Explosion Release they might decide to come after him in the Hidden Leaf, especially since his entire clan was wiped out," said Lord Third.

"What?" said the boy, finally listening to the adults. The men all glanced at each other. Sakumo and Fugaku decided to let Lord Third handle it. The hokage stood up and approached the boy, slowly crouching down in front of him. He motioned for Sakumo to let the boy go. The Hatake reluctantly did.

"The Shiranui Clan was wiped out by order of the Third Tsuchikage. I'm sorry young one," stated Lord Third.

" No! You're lying! They can't be dead! They can't! " said the boy. He took off running and jumped through the office window, using the early morning sun to see where he was jumping.

"One of us should have seen that coming," said Fugaku.

"Yeah we should have," said Sakumo, leaping after the boy. Fugaku actually followed , leaving Lord Third alone in his office.

"The boy is in an unfamiliar village. Where is he going to go?" called Fugaku to Sakumo as the two jumped from rooftop to rooftop.

"Smells like he's headed towards the forest on Hokage Mountain," called Sakumo.

"You Hatakes sure do have a strong sense of smell," commented Fugaku.

"You Uchihas sure do have a strong sense of sight," chuckled Sakumo .

"Hn," responded Fugaku.

"He's switching directions. He knows we are following him," commented Sakumo.

"Would be better if he wasn't fast enough to give Namikaze a run for his money," grumbled Fugaku. Sakumo made no comment as the kid ran towards Hatake Forest. He and Fugaku continued their pursuit until Sakumo caught whiff of two familiar scents.

"Fugaku stop," commanded Sakumo. The younger jonin did. He knew Hatake Forest was like Nara Forest. If you weren't clan or escorted by clan, then the forest inhabitants considered you fair game.

"It appears our young friend is about to meet my son," said Sakumo.

Genma ran. That old man had to be lying. His family couldn't be dead. Tears poured down his face. He hadn't been paying attention to where he was running. He felt two of the shinobi that had brought him here follow him, so he had switched directions. He noticed the trees and heard what sounded like metal hitting wood. He started climbing a tree, focusing his chakra to his feet like his mother showed him. He sat on a branch sniffling as he looked for the source of the noise.

"How's that Pakkun?" asked a silver haired boy who had been throwing kunai at a training post in the clear beside the tree Genma was in.

"Not bad pup. But we have company," stated the small brown dog beside the kid. The dog sniffed the air and started walking towards the tree Genma was in. Genma pulled his knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around them.

"Up there?" asked the kid to the dog.

" Yeah, " answered the dog. Genma buried his face in his legs. It was quiet for a few minutes. Then he felt a cold nose on his ankle. He looked through his hair to find the silver haired kid standing across from him. The boy's lower part of his face was covered by a dark blue mask and his arms were folded across his chest.

"Who are you?" asked the curious and somewhat rude boy.

"Genma Shiranui," answered Genma .

"Why are you here?" asked the boy.

"I just needed to be alone," answered Genma. He sniffled as he rubbed his eyes.

"Why do you smell like smoke?" asked the dog.

"And here I thought I taught you two manners," called Sakumo as he and Fugaku landed on the tree beside the one the kids and dog was in.

"Father! You're back from your mission!" exclaimed Kakashi as he flung himself at his father.

"Your father adopted Genma," stated Fugaku.

"Why?" asked Pakkun, jumping onto Genma.

"Cause it's not right for someone to be alone," answered Sakumo. Fugaku rolled his eyes .

"I'm Fugaku Uchiha. This is Sakumo Hatake. The brat there is his son Kakashi and his son's mutt Pakkun," said Fugaku, pointing to them each in turn. He flashed to Genma. Pakkun, from Genma's shoulder, growled at the Uchiha.

"I am not a brat!" growled Kakashi.

"Oh yes you are," remarked Fugaku.

"Enough children. We are going home," ordered Sakumo as he slung Kakashi onto his back. Fugaku motioned for Genma to get on his back. After a moment's hesitation he did, Pakkun still on his shoulder. The two jonin immediately set off for the Hatake Compound just as rain started to fall.

"I'm sorry pup," said Pakkun. The brown haired boy buried his face in the raven haired jonin's shoulder. The Uchiha squeezed the boy's legs, an attempt at reassurance. Neither the Uchiha or the dog said anything about the young boy's tears. They dropped from the trees into a training ground that was behind a two story house.

Sakumo lead the way into the Hatake Compound. It wasn't even really a compound. It was just a small group of houses surrounded by the Hatake Forest, same as the Nara Compound, but the Naras had a much bigger number of houses and members. Quickly flaring his chakra, Sakumo disarmed the numerous traps and entered the house. He sat his son down in the foyer, Fugaku doing the same to Genma. Genma had no more tears to shed. He just felt numb.

"I think I should be off. Have a good day Captain, Genma," said Fugaku turning to leave. Then he looked back and said, "Take care mutt. Brat." Then he was gone.

The three humans and one dog stood in the foyer of the house, none of them looking at the other or speaking. Sakumo broke the silence by dropping his pack on the floor.

"Okay then. We are going out," declared Sakumo. Both boys looked at him, shocked.

"I still have to fill out paperwork at the Hokage's office. We need to go shopping for groceries, since I'm sure there is no food in the house, and Genma needs things like clothes, training gear, and stuff," explained Sakumo.

"Father why must he stay with us?" asked Kakashi.

"Kashi. The boy basically saved our lives and did our mission for us," stated Sakumo softly. Kakashi looked at the floor, apologetic. Sakumo tossed his wallet at his son, who caught it and looked at his father for an explanation.

"I doubt Kushina or Mikoto has been by today so why don't you and Genma go find some breakfast in the village while I talk to Lord Third? After I'm done there I'll meet you at Buki. Until then why don't you show Genma around? As two future shinobi I trust the rain does not bother either of you," said Sakumo.

"Of course, Father. Come on Genma. Come on Pakkun," said Kakashi. Kakashi grabbed Genma's hand and with Pakkun on his heels they were gone. Sakumo chuckled, then was gone back to the Hokage's office.