Early the next morning, Kakashi was awake. Truth be told, he had not fallen asleep all night. Everytime he closed his eyes he could only see Aimi's fear filled eyes and the tip of a kunai pressing into her neck. He was so close to doing it, he could feel himself crumbling. The part that scared him the most was that, for a split second, he actually wanted to do it. It was not the demon's will influencing his own, it was his own. Down deep some dark, growing part of him craved it. He wanted to do it. He wanted to kill her.

That scared him more than anything.

He remembered the words that Jigoku spoke to him. Was he really turning into a demon himself? It could not be true. Kakashi jumped out of bed, running to the bathroom. He ripped off his mask and stared in the mirror. He looked normal. He looked human, but did that really mean he was human? What if, on the inside, he was something else?

"Kakashi? Are you up?"

Kakashi jumped and slid his mask back on, "Yes, I am!" He tried to look normal, but that did nothing to stop the feeling of wrong that was going on throughout his body and mind. He sat at the kitchen table, watching his dad finish preparing breakfast.

Sakumo inspected him closely, "Are you all right, son?"

Kakashi nodded, glad that his mask hid most of his face, "I'm fine."

Sakumo clearly did not believe him, but he knew that right now, Kakashi needed some time to think things through on his own. He nodded, "Alright."

He placed a plate in front of Kakashi, "You'll need to hurry up. The Hokage has called your team in."

…

The Hokage stared at the three ninja in his office. Words tumbled from his mouth, seemingly without his control. Still he was not worried about that. This all seemed very natural.

"I regret to inform you that Aimi has requested a transfer to another team, because of her parent's position in the government here, I have no choice but to allow it." Honestly, the three did not look to distressed about that.

The Hokage continued, "However, that is not the only reason I summoned you three here today. I know that Shiori has only joined the team yesterday, but I'm afraid that this mission cannot wait. You will be investigation a mysterious disturbance in a small village at the border between the lands. All the information you need is in this file."

Minato took the file and frowned, "Lord Hokage, we have never completed a mission before. This mission is a level B. Shouldn't this mission go to a team with higher training and more experience?"

"No!" The Hokage's voice was filled with anger. A tone that was never heard from the sweet man, "This mission is going to your team, Minato. I am the Hokage, and this is what I say. This mission is yours. Do you understand?"

Minato was stunned, but the Hokage's word was law. He bowed gently, "Yes, Lord Hokage."

"Good." The tone was that of obvious dismissal. The three ninja bowed again, not daring to question their orders, and left the room. As soon as they left, the Hokage slumped down onto his desk, unconscious.

…

Orochimaru smirked as he unraveled his mind from the Hokage's. This new jutsu was an obvious success, with no immediate side effects on his person, which was the only person he cared about. The smirk turned into a full blown grin as he thought of his plan. Even Minato had no overbearing suspicions about his new 'mission.' Everything was going according to plan, and soon the boy would be his.

Then, soon after, the world.

…

Minato only half-heartedly watched his two students train. They sparred with vigor, although it was obvious that Kakashi was holding himself back a lot. Still, both students were sweating from the exertion. Shiori was well skilled with weapons, using them as an extension of herself. Minato really hoped that the two of them would become good friends. Kakashi really needed that.

Signaling to his two students, Minato sat down on the ground. He was emotionally and mentally exhausted and all he wanted was a good night's rest. But first, he could not help the nagging suspicion that nestled in the corner of his mind. The Hokage would never normally send two inexperienced kids on a Level B mission. There were many good ninjas in town that could handle this mission with no problems whatsoever. Why did it have to be them? It was too dangerous, even more so because Kakashi still did not have the proper control he needed.

"Minato?" Kakashi's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

He smiled reassuringly at his students and waved off their worries, "We are going to cut training off a little early. Tomorrow morning we will meet at the village entrance 6 a.m. sharp."

"Yes, sir." The two students chorused.

"Good job today, team. See you tomorrow."

With a final nod, Shiori leaped away.

Kakashi sat down next to Minato and hugged his legs close to his chest, "Why were we given this mission?"

Minato sighed, "I have no idea."

"Do you think that it's because of Jigoku?"

Minato did not reply. Honestly, he did think that, but he did not want to frighten the young boy.

"I think so too," Kakashi read through his silence easily, "Do you think this is Orochimaru's doing?"

Minato sighed, "Most likely. His… experiment is not over yet."

"Yea, I know. Jigoku keeps talking about it. It scares him."

"It'll be ok, Kakashi. We will get through this as a team."

Kakashi smiled slightly and stood, "Thank you, Minato."

"See you tomorrow, Kashi."

Kakashi's smile broadened, "Don't forget that tomorrow is my birthday!" Then he was gone.

…

Minato opened the door to his apartment and his eyes locked immediately on the red-headed figure on his couch.

"Kushina? What are you doing here?"

Kushina smiled, "Good to see you too."

"Sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

"I know. I know."

"So why are you here, Kushina? I have a feeling this isn't a social visit."

"Sadly, no it's not. It's Kyuubi. He senses something."

"What do you mean?"

"The boy, Kakashi. That change that Jigoku talked about. It's happening now."

"What?"

"Kakashi's changing right now. All the way down to his chakra. He's becoming a demon too."

"What?"

"That's not the worst of it. There's a reason Orochimaru made Kakashi a jinchuuriki first. A human cannot just become a demon. It's impossible. Orochimaru plans on merging the two of them together, forcing Kakashi's body to complete the change and accept the powers. It will overload his mind and leave him open for the taking. He will create and ultimate, easily-controlled, demon-powered weapon."

"If Kakashi becomes that… what would happen to Jigoku? Would there be any way to reverse it?"

Kushina was already shaking her head, "No. Jigoku will die. He will vanish completely, but there's still a chance right now."

"A chance? What is it?"

"The Change will never be complete without the merge, which requires one final ritual. If we keep the ritual from happening, Kakashi will never become a true demon. Just a jinchuuriki with a little extra. His humanity will still be here. He would be saved."

"I bet this whole mission is a set-up to get Kakashi to the ritual."

"That's what Kyuubi thinks."

Minato ran his hands through his hair, "We can't not go. The Hokage was most likely under the influence of Orochimaru this morning. If we don't go, Orochimaru will just try again another time. At least this time we have the advantage. We know what he's planning, mostly. We can set a trap."

Kushina nodded, "Our thoughts exactly."

"Why did Kyuubi tell you this? Wouldn't he usually be all for demonic overrule?"

"He told me because if Orochimaru wins then he will have the ultimate weapon and everyone will die, including Kyuubi.

…

"Dad?" Kakashi gently closed the front door to his house. There was no reply to his call, and he started to worry.

"Dad?" Again there was no reply. Worry bubbled up in him even more. His father had superb hearing, there was no way he could not hear him. Something must have happened.

Kakashi slipped a kunai out of his weapon's pouch and crept down the hallway. The closest room was the kitchen so he would check their first. As he walked he could not help the fear the bubbled up inside of him. He loved his father a lot. He did not know what he would do if anything happened to him.

He gently eased into the kitchen, kunai at the ready. He reached for the light switch, and-

"Surprise!"

Kakashi jumped, but held himself back from attacking. His father stood before him, holding a cake.

"Since you won't be here tomorrow for your birthday, I thought we could celebrate it today."

Kakashi grinned and sat down, pulling down his mask. Sakumo cut the cake and soon both were enjoying the fine dessert.

"This is great, Dad."

"I'm glad you like it. Here, I got you a gift. I've been saving it for a special year, and I figure with your first big mission coming up tomorrow that now would be a good time."

Kakashi was handed a small box, which he opened. Inside was a carved bone in the shape of a wolf. The wolf was attached to a study cord which would hang around his neck.

"I know that Jigoku is a wolf," Sakumo said, "but wolves have been friends with our family for many generations. This pendant has been passed down through generations to represent us and if you ever need help all you have to do is place a drop of your blood on the bone. Help will come."

Kakashi smiled and looped it around his neck, "Thanks, Dad. I love it."

Sakumo smiled and ruffled his son's hair, "I'm glad, son. Happy Birthday."