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"Oi! It's that old weirdo who was hanging around my house last week!"

Kakashi has to reign in a sigh and pretend his heart doesn't pick up its pace at the familiar voice.

He'd been enjoying a stroll through the village before his mission, counting down the time to ensure he's on time, but only at the last possible second. He needs to be in top shape and a model shinobi - he mentally snorts at that - but he can't make it too easy on his team leader.

That plan is officially shot to hell as he turns to see Naruto, Kiba, Chouji, and Shikamaru coming towards him with varying levels of enthusiasm with none other than Naruto in the lead.

He tries for a friendly wave. "Hello, nice day we're having, isn't it?"

Chouji seems mostly unconcerned as he munches on some chips, no gautness to his face that Kakashi has come to see more and more as the battles at home become more dangerous and war looms ever closer. Kiba looks a little intimidated (probably leftover fear of Rin) but overall the same, if not a little less abrasive from Kurenai's non-existent retirement. Shikamaru is watching him closely beneath his thin veil of boredom, but other than the carefully hidden suspicion, Kakashi can't find the shadows of grief lurking in his sharp gaze, no lines of tension on his young face and no smell of cigarettes lingering on his clothes from his own favorite brand because this Shikamaru doesn't smoke, doesn't have a reason to.

It about what he expects from them, a curious little insight into the other side, and it twists the knife a little deeper.

They each give their own somewhat stilted greeting but Kiba's the one to tip his head respectfully in a surprising show of maturity and awareness, elbowing Naruto and stage-whispering, "Dude, that's Kurenai-sensei and Asuma-sensei's friend, Hatake Kakashi. Wasn't he your dad's old student or something? He smells weird." It's obvious by his quick look that weird actually means dangerous.

Kakashi mentally amends what he said to Kurenai. Maybe Kiba's senses are sharper than he thought.

Chouji glances at him, expression dubious. "The dead guy?"

Shikamaru sighs like Kakashi wanted to earlier. "Not exactly. He's from a different world. The Hatake Kakashi of this world is dead, obviously, but this one is technically the person your father's student would've been if the man of this world had survived the war."

Seriously, what is with these kids and talking about him like he isn't there?

Naruto's nose scrunches in disbelief and probably confusion and looks at him harder with a little less menace, as if trying to find physical proof of his identity besides his face mask and hair and the fact that he'd been hanging out with Kushina the day he came back. "You're tou-san's old student? The one that keeled over like twenty years ago?"

Even with parents to guide him, Naruto's mouth still runs unheeded.

"That would be me, yes," Kakashi blandly confirms.

Naruto squints balefully up at him, tall but still a few inches shorter than Kakashi and so much like this twelve-year old self it makes Kakashi want to smile as he punts him into a river. "But-but Obito-jii always talked about how cool and awesome you were! And Rin-nee says you were super strong and handsome! But you're just an old man who reads perverted books and bums around in my house-"

The blonde squawks when Kakashi reaches out to bonk him on the forehead with the spine of his book in admonishment, filing those little tidbits of information for later blackmail.

"Oi, don't be rude. I'm your elder, you know? You should respect old men like me."

Shikamaru snorts at that and Kiba relaxes as he snickers behind his hand. Choji nearly chokes on his chips and Naruto complains loudly about weird old guys hitting him.

Brats, he thinks fondly.

Itachi enters the office with little fanfare.

There are no guards - sent out just seconds before he made his approach by the Hokage - so he allows himself to relax just a touch as he stands before the Yondaime's desk and slips a single scroll to the other man. The blonde looks up at him with a genuine and welcoming smile, and Itachi wonders if Hatake learned his sharp edges from the man in front of him.

"I'm here to report my interactions with Hatake Kakashi."

"Ah, so he's approached you then?" Minato asks lightly, blue eyes kind and curious and not even sparing a glance at his written report, but that does not mask the lurking worry.

"We only spoke of substance twice," Itachi confirms, but it takes a moment to describe the encounter. He finally settles on, "He is...aggravating."

Minato blinks for a moment, chin resting on laced fingers, before barking a laugh with sincere amusement. "I see. Sorry, Itachi-kun, I didn't mean to laugh. It's just," the Yondaime's gaze is far away for a moment, "he's always been like that, in a sense." His reminiscent smile becomes more teasing. "Prodigies tend to be that way. Birds of a feather, I suppose."

Itachi has to refrain from sighing at the joke - a reference to his summons, no doubt - especially since his Hokage seems so amused.

"He's like a cat, don't you think?" The blond muses, a little smile still on his face. "Always there when you least expect it and acting like he's where he needed to be all along."

Itachi's noticed that too. It describes Hatake's feline grace well. "Unfortunately."

The smile on the Yondaime's face lingers before he sighs and Itachi straightens at the sound. Back to business. "So what have you two discussed?"

FInally, familiar ground. "Initial contact occurred two weeks ago. I believe was reconnaissance; Hatake-san must've heard of my...reputation and come to see for himself. He didn't reveal much then. The second, we discussed the Jinchuuriki. He is very knowledgeable about our current events and has insight into interpersonal relationships, which leads me to believe similar events have passed in his world and he has history with them. I can confirm he's had contact with multiple Akatsuki members. He knows of Deidara, Sasori of the Red Sand, and Hoshikage Kisame, but it is likely he knows more than he's letting on." He frowns a little. "He also knows about Naruto-kun and the Kyuubi."

The Yondaime doesn't look surprised, and that may be because Hatake has told his teacher more than he's told him or maybe the Yondaime is just that adept at reading Hatake in general, but he has tried to stay as far away from the situation as he could outside of his requested assistance. It makes Itachi question why the Yondaime wants to keep an eye on his former student, but it's not his place so he does not ask.

He also doesn't mention the times when Hatake drops into his greenhouse unannounced to bully him into getting dango or tea, doing nothing but sitting in companionable silence. It's not like Hatake's teacher doesn't already know.

The Yondaime sighs, looking pensive. "I see. I should've talked to him about it beforehand, but I didn't want to get him involved yet. He's already been through so much and deserves a break...now it seems I have no choice."

That explains some of his Hokage's behavior. His overprotective nature is well known.

"He also wants me to co-captain with him while training ANBU," Itachi reveals after a moment. "I told him no."

Ah, there's the surprise, but it doesn't last long. Something in him shivers when Minato adopts a thoughtful expression, and suddenly Hatake's words come back to haunt him.

We'll see, he'd said.

"That's not a bad idea, but I understand your reasons for refusing. I won't order you to play along with his whims, but I have a feeling he might not give you much choice." Minato's expression is compassionate and borderline angelic, but there's something sly about it and Itachi now knows without a shred of doubt that Hatake has learned more than jutsu and leadership from the man in front of him.

He feels a minor headache starting to throb in his temples.

"Understood, Hokage-sama."

Although Kakashi would've endeavored to be a good teammate otherwise, he's kind of glad Genma's the team leader. He would've been fine with a different jounin and there's nothing wrong with being lead by chunin like Shikamaru - Kakashi's never really understood some jounins aversion to listening to someone below their rank - but he knows he wouldn't be entirely comfortable leaving all his faith in anyone but someone he knows well.

Unfortunately, Genma, like one of his favorite weapons, is a double-edged blade.

He'll be a more than competent team leader, will follow through on the mission despite any misgivings he may have, will do everything in his power to ensure that all his teammates make it home as safe and whole as possible. But he'll also keep a close eye on people he doesn't completely trust (cough Kakashi cough) and as much as it pains Kakashi to think it, he doesn't know where Genma's allegiances lie or if he even knows what's happening in Konoha.

After hearing about Shizune's actions from Rin just hours before leaving (someone he's never suspected, a talented medic-nin who he's always trusted implicitly because she was Tsunade's apprentice and Sakura's senpai and a good shinobi to the core)...he doesn't want to admit it, but it shakes him, opens his eyes to a different kind of warfare, a possible, horrible reality of this world that he hadn't considered before.

Rin had grimly informed him that Shizune was being investigated by the Torture and Interrogation Department. The whole affair is being handled discreetly and they'll have information when he returns, but he doesn't know if he wants to be kept updated.

He shakes away the drawn, tired look on Rin's face and decides to think on it later when there isn't an A-rank mission that requires his attention.

This is part of his exam - of two supervised missions, one with him as a team leader and one with him as a team member, and he is currently the latter - and he should at least try to be exemplary. He wonders why Minato insisted on the missions before his last two proctored exams but figures his teacher has his reasons. Sensei more than anyone knows of his capabilities in ninjutsu, and no one can question his ability with the Sharingan after his match with Gai.

So two days later and here Kakashi is, speeding through familiar forest treetops on his way to a place so close to where his rogue student had run to.

Kotetsu and Izumo had held up to the grueling pace admirably so it had taken less time than anticipated to reach the border. The first night they'd set up camp, it'd been with experienced efficacy - the chunin doing their duties in tandem with incredible precision while he and Genma set up a perimeter.

He'd eyed some of Genma's nastier traps warily without a word, understanding the warning easily.

Genma's smile had been as sharp as the tip of his senbon. "Can never be too careful right?"

Kakashi had only hummed noncommittally and headed back to the campsite before the other jounin could see where his words had stung.

Kotetsu and Izumo had been all set up with their packs and a fire hidden under a low-level genjutsu, talking in hushed tones and coded words, and had fallen silent at his approach. Genma had been a bit better about it when he'd come back and took first watch, but outside the safety of the village and two teammates lives at stake, he seemed far less amiable than before.

Kakashi isn't prone to bouts of insecurity, but the lack of overall faith and camaraderie is disheartening to say the least.

He pushes those thoughts back as his senses pick up on signs of life a little while ahead. He makes a signal and all four of them drop down to the ground soundlessly.

Genma's chewing on his senbon, a bad habit he's had since he first got them, and Kakashi refrains from mentioning the time Genma had accidentally stuck himself with it and got hospitalized for a day due to the poison. He doesn't even know if that had happened here and the joke definitely be appreciated by someone considered an outsider.

"Alright guys, somewhat cut and dry mission. Kids from minor clans in the Land of Hot Springs have gone missing. While these guys need our help, they're also wary as hell - their fighting force is tiny and they only have a few dozen chunin and above level shinobi in the country total who are out on long-term or far away missions. They want this mission kept secret - only the police chief, village head, and clan heads know about our investigation."

Kotetsu frowns grimly. "So they're suspicious of shinobi, but they're desperate enough to hire some? And quietly?"

Izumo nudges him, just as grave. "They don't have the same manpower as us to find four missing people. And these are kids we're talking about, of course they're desperate."

"They didn't give us many details in the request, so we're going to talk to the village head and their chief of police." Genma gestures to Kotetsu and Izumo, "Afterwards, you will investigate the area the children went missing, see what you can find and stay out of sight. Don't use henge either, just found out this area of the country has quite a few chakra sensors. Kakashi and I will talk to the clans whose kids are missing and backtrack."

They all nod and change into merchant clothes to head to the village on foot.

Trees thin out to swampy farmlands and clusters of houses. The landscape isn't clear in his memory, but he recognizes enough to not feel too uncomfortable.

Genma's apparently lost some of his paranoia since leaving the corps - he only sent out one shadow clones to scope out the area to report back stead of the three Kakashi would've sent three (which he does).

Once they reach the heart of the village, it's clear its citizens are all in mourning. Many are glaring distrustfully at them as they pass, wary of outsiders, but some look hopeful too.

Kakashi is more comfortable with distrust.

"You four must be the team from Konohagakure!" Someone murmurs nearby.

They turn to see an older gentleman in royal blue robes coming towards them with a friendly but subdued smile. He reaches out to shake their hands, a custom Kakashi has always found a little odd out in the minor countries, but he doesn't balk at the strange gesture like Kotetsu does before Izumo subtly steps on his foot.

"Welcome! Thank you so much for your swift arrival! Please, follow me into the main building and we can discuss…" his smile dims into something much sadder, "-ahem, to business then."

As the village is rather small and mostly populated by farmers and lumber-gatherers, their city hall is nothing grand or eye-catching like Hokage Tower, but it holds its own dignity.

They take their seats at a long table, waving away offers of food and drink.

Genma, senbon gone since seeing the first house, starts. "I'm Shiranui Genma, jounin and captain of this team. The guy with the mask is Hatake Kakashi, and the other two are Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo."

They'd debated for an hour on whether or not Kakashi should assume another name until he's officially reinstated, but in the end Izumo's logical, "Hatake's a big name in Konoha and other hidden villages, but it's just another name in the boonies," won out. And as expected, the mayor shows no real recognition to any of the names except Genma's because of the acceptance letter they'd sent back stating him as the team leader.

The man, Inazi Hayato, nods and smiles graciously. "It is an honor to meet you. Thank you all for coming so quickly, I don't-" he sighs tiredly, "I'm not sure how much longer the village would stay sane."

"That's understandable with four missing kids," Genma says, compassionate but still professional and distanced.

The thread of nervousness Kakashi detected earlier becomes more like a rope wrapping around the man. He'd chalked it up to having the very shinobi he distrusted enter his village before, but now he's not so sure.

Hayato nods. "The kidnapping happened a week ago. Four children, two boys and two girls, were last seen playing amongst their classmates while the teacher took them on a short trip to one of our watercress fields a mile out. The teacher, Akaashi-sensei, claims that he only saw a shadow before everything went black. He woke to find that most of the children had hidden themselves among the crops, but the four were long gone. We've been investigating and searching this whole time but haven't found a clue."

Hayato truly sounds distraught, hands clasped tightly together on the table top, but Kakashi isn't the only one who feels something is amiss.

Now's not the time though. They're here investigating the disappearances of four children from this village, and if their investigation takes them to the surrounding areas then so be it.

But first he asks, "Is there a ransom note? Some sort of contact asking for money or valuables?"

Hayato pales and shakes his head. "No, nothing of the sort."

"No reason why those four specific children were taken?" Izumo presses.

Again, Hayato shakes his head. "No, for the life of me, I don't know why those four were chosen. We have many clans spread across the country, perhaps they were coincidental?"

"Have incidents like this happened in the area before?"

A pause. "Well, there is a group of undesirables closer to the next town over. An acquaintance of mine has told me of their misdeeds - attacking vendors for money, vandalizing and stealing from incoming merchant caravans and the like."

Kakashi's eye lazily drifts over to the entrance of the hall, nose twitching.

After a few more questions, it's clear that they're going in almost blind, but that's nothing really new.

Genma works his jaw subtly, probably missing his senbon, and nods. "Understood. We'll conduct our investigation and reconvene here to discuss what we've found tomorrow morning. If I may, we will need access to any and all records in the village concerning those four children and their clans."

The mayor hesitates before nodding his assent. "Very well then. I'll have my guards collect those documents for you with a letter and my signature. Unfortunately, many are still in shock and won't take well to outsiders asking for personal records, I'm sure you understand. They'll be here, locked with guards, for you and your team to access at any time."

That's not exactly necessary since they could always enter and leave without the guards ever knowing, but Kakashi supposes Genma's reassurances are about diplomatic relations. He's always been better at those.

As soon as the man totters off to write those letters and Kakashi ensures they are well and truly alone, Genma turns to them with a grim slash across his face. "Well, something's definitely up with this place."

Izumo crosses his arms. "You can say that again. He's not lying but he's definitely misleading us. A bunch of missing clan kids and no ransom note? C'mon."

"Why would he though?" Kotetsu frowns. "Those were real tears. Besides, how much could they possibly get? No offense, but this place isn't exactly swimming in money."

Genma sighs. "Doesn't matter now, we have a job to do. Change of plans: Kotetsu, Izumo, go out to where those kids were last seen and see if you can find any clues. Residual chakra, weapons, footprints, anything. I'll interview the teacher and Kakashi will start talking to the clans. We'll all meet back here to look over those records."

Kakashi tips his head in agreement when Genma looks at him and calculates how long it will take his shadows clones to reach their destination.

"It's been awhile since we've been on a mission together," Rin comments airily, landing on the branch right beside him.

She doesn't make a sound, hardly stirs the air around her, and Obito thinks it should be dumb how he falls for her all over again for just that one graceful move but he can't really help himself.

"So why aren't you and Rin married?"

"I didn't die for you to not make a move, idiot."

"Rin, I'm in love with you. Six words. Or marry me. Two words, even easier."

He scowls a little in spite of the warmth in his cheeks. "Yeah, it has, even though it's just a stupid B-rank right outside the village."

Rin laughs at his putout expression. "You know how sensei gets, though." That he does wholeheartedly. "I'm actually surprised he let us on this mission, what with Kakashi out and about too. I mean, yeah we're just checking up on some seals and something exciting happening is unlikely. Maybe he's finally finally relaxing about the whole situation? I mean, Kakashi did show up right after Akatsuki declared war on us. Not that Kakashi knows." Probably.

Obito snorts. "Yeah, right. More like Kushina-nee finally bullied him into letting us out. He's only let me have two A-ranks since Kakashi showed up. Two! I didn't even get hurt that bad on the second one, Deidara's damn bomb got a lucky shot! Jeez, doesn't he know I have to pay rent and buy food for two now?"

Rin's looking at him with that knowing smile he both loves and dreads. "You like it though, don't you?"

"What?" A familiar heat rushes to his face again and he can only thank their fast pace that she probably can't see it. "Who said that? Not me! Definitely not me!"

Rin hums and doesn't say anything more, but Obito knows he's not off the hook yet.

"Well, regardless, we should do something special when Kakashi gets back!" Rin suggests cheerily.

"You don't know if he's gonna pass or not," Obito grumbles. "Genma's a hardass when it comes to missions. That's what happens to guys who are in ANBU for more than a few years."

"You and I both know he's going to pass," Rin insists, "and we need to take him out or something! He's always cooking for us!"

"Because neither of us can cook," Obito mumbles, then yelps when a kunai embeds itself at his feet.

"I'm serious Obito!" She huffs, cheeks puffing out.

Obito gulps, recognizing that expression because she adopted it from Kushina. "I know, Rin, but he's not a 'going out' kind of guy. Look, when he gets back, we'll invite Asuma, Kurenai, and Gai over and we'll have a little dinner party. That sound good?" Barring Kakashi getting himself injured, but that's unlikely on an A-rank with another jounin and two high level chunin.

Rin doesn't look completely appeased but she shoots him a pleased smile anyway.

Obito wonders if this is what being married feels like and thinks maybe he can get used to the idea of making it official.

Kakashi looks up at the relatively homey manor and wonders how many people are going to glare at him this time.

Didn't learn anything useful from the last three families, he mentally sighs. Maybe fourth time's the charm.

Before he can reach up to knock, he senses another person on the other side of the door open it. He's greeted with the stern, tired visage of an older man maybe around Jiraiya's age with shockingly bright white hair and an X shaped scar across his nose.

"Ah, would this happen to be the Hyorinmaru residence?"

He knows it is so he's not surprised when the man frowns and nods once. "Yes, that is correct. I am Hyorinmaru Kagami. You must be the shinobi Hayato warned us about."

Warned?

Kakashi tries for a sympathetic smile. "Yes, that would be me. I have a few questions concerning the disappearance of one of your clan children. May we sit and talk?"

The man steps back, not looking any more pleased. "Hinazuki-baasan will be answering your questions. Her grandson is the one who is missing."

Kakashi blinks. "I see. Alright then."

He follows the attendant that appears at Kagami's call to the back of the compound, larger than it looks from the outside, and they come to a stop before another set of watercress-decorated paper sliding doors. The attendant doesn't say a word and keeps his eyes down as he knocks gently on the wooden frame and takes his leave, unobtrusive the entire time.

The woman who answers is definitely older but she's aged gracefully. Her hair is the same shocking white, not exactly from age, so it seems to be a family trait. "Shinobi-san, welcome. Please have a seat and we can talk."

He stays quiet as she makes some tea and settles herself opposite to him.

"So, you are here about the missing children, yes?" She asks. "It has been…a trying week. Thank you for your assistance."

Kakashi dips his head. "Just doing my job." He holds the teacup gently in his hands and doesn't take a sip. "Hinazuki-san, what do you recall about that day?"

Hinazuki sighs. "It was average by our standards. There was a field trip for the children to visit the outer reaches of our farmlands to learn more of our trade, but it is hardly a unique event. Every month or so the children are taken to the edges of the village to learn trade routes and farming techniques as they are expected to take over in the future."

"And the missing child...is your grandson?" he asks.

"Yes, that's right."

"Is there any reason why someone would want to kidnap your grandson?" It's unlikely there's a personal grudge against the clan, not with three other clan children missing as well, but it's always best to make sure.

"I suppose…" she hesitates, "no, it can't be our clan ability."

That's interesting. Kakashi knows it's not uncommon for Kekkei Genkai to appear in smaller, rural areas like this one.

"Why not?" he prods.

"It's not a very useful or powerful ability, I'm afraid. And even if the people responsible really cared that much for it, they would not have chosen my Yoki-kun," she says. Her smile is sweet and loving and so, so sad. "He's always been somewhat ostracized from the clan. His abilities never developed to the same level as other children his age and the Clan Head stopped taking an interest in his life. Other clan members followed his lead, and soon not even is cousins would play with him."

It sounds unsettlingly familiar.

"Power is power, Hinazuki-san," Kakashi states gravely.

Her lips press together in a line, considering. "Even still, they would not have chosen Yoki-kun. If whoever took him had done their research, they would know that Yoki-kun had a heart defect when he was born that prevented him from fully developing."

She hesitates for a long moment, gaze boring into him, and he meets it evenly without flinching. She seems to find what she's looking for after a moment. She raises a hand, and Kakashi watches in fascination as it slowly transforms into something similar to a ducks foot. The webbing between her fingers becomes more pronounced and the skin itself changes to a smooth, scaly texture.

"It's a very far offshoot from the well known Body Modification Technique. We use it predominantly for farming and hunting."

"And Yoki-kun couldn't do that?"

Her hand changes back and folds neatly into her lap. "It requires quite a bit of concentration, and the repercussions are that the transformed limbs lose all natural body heat as we take on the characteristics of cold-blooded animals. His heart couldn't take pumping blood to his hands and feet, and the cold blood circulating back to his chest caused him to go into hypothermic shock, and so we had limit him from doing it."

"It's quite an interesting skillset," he remarks softly. But it's not something to kidnap or kill for.

Unlike the Shadow Technique that nearly assassinated the Mizukage or the Ice Creation Technique Haku had used to do incredible things like form icy needles and glossy mirrors, minor body transformations are hardly rare and mostly kept secret out of habitual familial loyalty than fear of other clans coveting the talent. And Yoki, a young, sick boy whose weak body could hardly handle it...why take him where there are so many healthy children in the clan who are just as easily accessible?

"It's the same with the missing children before. None of their families had powerful abilities, and yet our village has been plagued with these- these sacrifices for so long!"

An aged hand immediately comes up to cover her mouth, eyes wide with horror.

That doesn't sound good.

Kakashi's brows furrow. "Sacrifices? Hinazuki-san, are you saying these four children are not the first to go missing?"

She's quiet for a long time. Her hands tremble, one still clasped over her mouth as if to hold in another shout and one clenched tightly in her lap. Fear permeates from her so strongly that he almost wants to leave, but soon grief overtakes her scent once more.

She's quiet for a long, long time, but Kakashi is patient.

The tea goes cold long before she speaks.

"Yes." Her voice is a croak. "Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying."

Kakashi watches her without a word.

"I can't say more now, Shinobi-san. Perhaps later when there are not so many eyes." Her face is pale and makes her eyes stand out, like two bright crystals embedded in her face. It's like staring at a skull before the skin is gone.

"I will look into it, Hinazuki-san, while looking for your grandson." It's the best he can do with the information gained here, mind racing to figure out the hows and whys of this mission. Genma's not gonna like this.

The reassurance settles her somewhat, but it doesn't completely alleviate the pervasive scent of terror.

"Shinobi-san," the woman starts after a moment of silence, voice hoarse and eyes on her hands, "what is the likelihood of finding Yoki-kun?"

She's not crying but everything about her screams that she is and Kakashi is far out of his element.

Rin is the perceptive one, the one that can pick out someone's thoughts and feelings and find the right way to respond. Obito's the natural, the one whose seemingly endless compassion seems to draw in and keep people close. Rin tries to understand and Obito just does, yet Kakashi has never been able to do either. Sasuke certainly didn't seem to think so.

He tries not to think of Yoki-kun's funeral because it will remind him of one he's already attended.

(and hadn't it been quite a nasty shock to find out Obito's excuses, frivolous and farfetched, were nothing but truths? His burial had been held on a bright sunny day for a bright sunny boy, and in the spots the Uchiha refused to take, double the number of civilians and retired shinobi came in their place with tears in their eyes and sincere words on their lips and-

Kakashi couldn't look at any of them)

Kakashi blinks and he's back in the present, looking into the eyes of a grieving grandmother who's lost her only black sheep of a grandson, wonders if this is some divine punishment for a crime he hasn't committed in this world. A little tendril of panic curls around his throat because his quick mind his failing him now - empathy has never been a part of his skillset for all the horrors he's endured - but he doesn't let it show, swallows down bile and guilt and apologies,.

He just evenly reassures, "We will do everything in our power to find your grandson."

He doesn't promise sane or whole or alive and the woman is too old and too wise to not see through his words.

The shadows on her face etch deeper as sorrow takes root, clawing unforgivingly into once-young skin and morphing crows feet and laugh lines into deep, craggy gouges that age her one hundred years. The weight of her fear and dread settle heavily on her thin shoulders, but her back does not bow. Not now, not in front of him.

When she says, "Thank you, shinobi-san," it isn't for his help or his words. It's for his honesty.

Unsurprisingly, Genma doesn't look all that surprised at his little revelation.

Kotetsu and Izumo on the other hand…

"Kids have been missing for years?"

The reactions are expected. It's not the first time they as shinobi have been lied to about a mission - Wave comes to mind - but this is big.

Genma takes a steadying breath, Kakashi suspects more for show than actually needing it. "So we can assume multiple children have actually been missing for years," he repeats. He rubs his forehead tiredly. "I heard rumors about more missing kids, but nothing about it going back so far. Damn."

"And that Inazi guy is part of it somehow," Kotetsu grunts.

"Not gonna let that go, are ya?" Genma sighs. "Well, I didn't find out much either. The teacher was knocked out too early to know anything useful and I can't do a Yamanaka mind wipe on all the citizens we interview."

"Whoever did the kidnapping was good," Izumo says grudgingly before his face splits into a smirk, "but not as good as us." He unseals a scroll and out pops an old spearhead, torn clothing, and something resembling a waterlogged watch with a noticeable cross scratched on the face.

Genma stares at the items, nonplussed.

Kotetsu scowls at him. "Don't look so impressed guys, really."

Izumo kicks his chair, making his partner flail to keep his balance before elaborating, "It's not much, but like I said, whoever did it was a professional. No usable prints and residual chakra's been naturally dispersed since it has been a week. We found the site of the scuffle, but Pakkun did pick up a scent - one of those kids put up a helluva fight. He said he smelled blood and it didn't match any of the scents from the villagers, so it means those kids are unharmed for the most part."

Kotetsu adds, "And it rules out the group Hayato was talking about earlier. Thugs couldn't have pulled this off."

Unharmed means they're more likely to be alive, Kakashi thinks. "Pakkun can use the clothing to trace their scent if it isn't too washed out."

"And I suppose we can trace the origins of the spear, see if it has any connections with the villagers or the kidnapper," Genma muses. "But what's with the watch?"

Kotetsu grins and shrugs, "Dunno, just looked cool."

Izumo kicks him out of his chair this time, but even their familiar antics and bickering don't settle the turmoil churning in Kakashi's gut. He has a bad feeling about all of this.

Kakashi doesn't know if his memory is going in his old age of if this is another strange ripple effect from his early death, but he swears the place looks...newer. Or better maintained, he should say, for all that it looks abandoned.

The traps are around where he remembers them, with the same triggers and mechanisms he can dismantle easily, and his new skills in fuinjutsu thanks to Kushina allow him to disable the seals in minutes whereas it would've taken up to an hour before. He still feels incredibly underprepared for this though, but he supposes he never will quite match up to the devastating might of a genius Sannin.

Better watch my step, he thinks wryly as another snake attempts to take a bite out of him. Doesn't seem like anyone's raided this lab yet, and this wasn't in Jiraiya-sama's notes.

Then again, Jiraiya's most comprehensive and up to date information is probably somewhere on his person. Even Kakashi isn't stupid enough to try and snatch it from him.

Besides, the Sannin might not even know of any of Orochimaru's labs in this section of the country. His spy network, while still vast and useful, is considerably smaller now, and Kakashi doubts Minato had spent as much time and manpower in hunting down all of Orochimaru's secret hiding places like Sarutobi had.

He slips by the entrance, hidden deep within the thick, twisted roots of a centuries-old willow tree, and gets through the first few levels of security with relatively little trouble. Kakashi doesn't know if it's a sign or arrogance or negligence on Orochimaru's part, but he isn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. The sooner he can collect all the information from the lab and get back to his Original, the better. Clone or not, the place is creepy.

He stiffens where he is moments before a voice calls out:

"Stop where you are."

Well, damn.

Sorry for the long delay! This chapter and the plot from here on out is giving me a bit of trouble, and I can hardly remember all the details of my own fic let alone the messed up canon plot so, sorry if you find any consistencies! Let me know if there are any glaring problems! Thanks again for all the support, leave a review and let me know what you thought :)