Thanks for waiting, everybody! I hope this chapter was worth the wait!

Disclaimer: This story has multiple mentions of trauma, death, and blood. So if it's not your cup of tea, please use discretion.

As a clarification, I do not own Naruto in any shape or form. However, I do own the plot so :D

Word count: 2230

'Thoughts...'

"A physical speech..."

"Kurama talking..."

"Past memory..."

Enjoy!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kakashi hastily pushes his Haiti up from eye, allowing a crimson red Sharingan to be seen by the on viewers resting on the grass at an acceptable distance.

Kinuki grins at the younger, dodging the boy's quick jab to his chest. "Did you manage to figure out the antics of the eye?"

"Kinda." He let out meekly before kicking at his legs, only for it to be grabbed and thrown by his target.

Dirt crumbled at the young boy's feet, pushing through grass and shrub as he struggled to stop his motion. The teen took a second to scan at the older, watching as his calm complexion never faltered and yet, remained on-guard and vigilant. "The perfect soldier," Kakashi muttered to himself.

But he didn't let this set him back. Once his feet hit the floor, he was slashing towards the redhead once again. There had to be a weakness in his defense, he just had to expose it.

"The Sharingan has many possibilities. Every evolution has its strengths; you just have to work hard in order to burn through the evolutions." Kinuki moved Kakashi's thrust with his index finger. "And most of all, you have to adapt it into your fighting style. You seem to prefer ninjutsu and taijutsu, you can use the Sharingan to aid those talents. Although, if you get onto the team, I want to introduce you to some basic genjustsu and fuinjutsu, if possible. But that all depends on how much effort you put in right now."

The redhead blocked another punch, noting the passion that flowed out of the hit. If that was enough to get the kid motivated, how far could Kakashi surpass his older version?

Kakashi pressed on the teen, eventually being able to land a hit on his leg without him being able to dodge. Of course, every time he did hit the man, the man would place an attack of his own, but progress was progress. 

Kinuki jumped back, summoning half a dozen clones with barely any chakra in each clone. 

The jonin grabbed a shuriken, from his pouch, throwing a few at the clones till they exploded into smoke. These, he noticed, had barely any means to attack him, it was only a test of his ease in tense, outnumbered situations. 

"I see what Kinuki saw in the kid. He's talented, alright." Miasaji placed a hand on her face while she watched the duo dance.

The blond sighed. "Of course, he's my student. But the fight is only a formality, Kinuki has no choice but to have Kakashi in his team if he wants the trust of the village." 

The older hit Minato on the back with her palm, straightening his spine like a mother hen.

"What's got you in the dumps, drinking-buddy." 

"I guess," He scratched his chin, "I'm scared to see what will happen to him when he sees the reality of the battlefield. I know he's been a part of the war for a while, but he hasn't had the chance to experience it without his childhood friends always watching him in awe. He's going to push himself far too hard so that he doesn't feel like he's dragging the rest of you behind."

"Then the kid will push himself to his limits. I'm not sure why you're looking at this in such a pessimistic way. Kakashi is pushing new borders and making himself stronger. And if he's in any danger, Kinuki is sure to help him out of it. He seems to really like your kids."

Minato felt a smile touch upon his face. This was what Kinuki was talking about last night. He has to let his chicks fly into new areas, improve. He's worrying was only going to slow down the process. 

Besides, Minato trusts Kinuki with his life, no matter his intentions. He proved time and time again to be a trustworthy worrywart. 

Hiashi gazed upon the redhead's endless locks flowing as he dodged another blow. Looking at his carefree face now, you would never expect the diagnosis the doctor gave them only weeks ago. And yet, a glint in his eye said another. He was truly an enigma to discover.

"At any rate," The mousy-eyed girl continued, "Kinuki's going to be pushed out of the battlefield for a while after his mission to Ame with Jariaya."

"What? Why?"

Misajii looked at the younger sadly. "The poor boy needs a break. He's malnourished, has PTSD and has a consistency of blanking out during battles due to short bursts of past memories. We wanted to get him all healed up immediately but-"

"The Kage and Lord Jariaya believe that he would only lose himself further after being away from the battlefield."

"Deep down I always knew something was wrong with that kid, he looked happy but it was always- off? He doesn't deserve this, he's so young but his eyes look-"

"Like those of a veteran." Hiashi cut in. "Like the eyes of a man who saw his entire life burn to the ground." 

The blond jonin fiddled with his sleeve. "Exactly."

The fight continued for long minutes, the majority of it continuing with fast jabs and dodges. But even so, not a single drop of sweat could be seen on the older.

Kinuki knew that this was mainly a battle of patience. How long would it take for Kakashi to lose his temper and try something new?

In its final moments, Kakashi pushed all his chakra into one last attempt at victory.

"Water dragon jutsu!"

A hand pressed itself firmly onto his shoulder

"This is not goodbye." The bowl cut soldier told him. "This is only a see you soon."

The enigma of Konoha did not block, he didn't even move his hands. He allowed the jutsu to hit him, burn through his flesh till blood drew from every inch of his body.

Kakashi's jaw dropped, his eyes piercing through the now corpse of what was to be his new captain. And it was all his fault.

He rushed towards the man, slapping at his pale face. It only then did he notice faint scars on each cheek. "Wake up. You can't die like this!"

He heard a chuckle from behind him. "We have to work on that but you're in, kid."

He swung his head around, his face immediately slamming into the chest of his new sensei.

Kinuki smiled and ruffled his pale locks. 

"B-but I thought I killed you, h-"

"You? Kill me? Maybe in a few years but not yet, Kakashi. You still have much to learn before you can hurt me that badly." The Anbu laughed. "That was a blood clone, you've been fighting him this entire time."

Kakashi bowing respectfully. "Then teach me, sensei. I want to learn how to protect Konoha."

The Uzumaki in Kinuki grinned back. "Of course." 'I owe this much to my sensei, don't I?' He thought briefly.

It took a while, but it felt like Kinuki finally learned to divide the Kakashi of this world from the Kakashi of the past. He had to let go. It was the first step in moving on.

He moved back towards his Anbu team, scratching the back of his head briefly. They gave him a smile of their own in return. They finally have an acceptable amount of members in their team. 

And yet, Minato's team felt the suffocating hole of abandonment deep within their hearts. Obito ran off, unable to bear the thought of his rival gaining the upper hand. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A drip echoed through the deep hallways of what seemed to be a sewer. 

"Kurama."

"Kurama!" Kinuki yelled again, his voice bouncing off the walls. "Stop ignoring me! I'm sorry, ok?"

"Your sorry, but you still won't help yourself?" 

"Aw, you're worried about me?"

"Yes, I'm worried about you, you fool!" He roared. "You think holding onto all your anger and sadness and letting go of your old self will solve everything. We work as a team, Kit. But you cast me aside and use me. I will not forgive you for using me, the great Kuruma, like nothing but a tool. If I say that you arent ready for something, you bet as hell my wise-ass knows best."

The teen stomped his foot in the murky water, frustrated with the large beast. "I know, Kuruma. I'm sorry but what do you want me to do? I'm a crucial part of the war now, I can't just push all that aside for my health."

"But you have to confront your past!" The demon bore his fangs at the boy. "No kage watches their village burn without repercussions!"

"I'm past repercussions, there's nothing that can be done to save the past, we can only save this version! And I'm not giving up on my one chance to save Konoha. I'll give up my life if I have to!"

"If you give up your life now, you won't have enough time to make an actual influence in this world. You have at least last to the time your younger joins the world! Until then, you have to take care of yourself, idiot. If you die, I die. We agreed on this before you even created the seal."

The redhead stayed silent. "I know, Kuruma. I'm sorry."

"My father but his trust and soul in you. Use it wisely." The fox turned away from his vessel, placing his head on the dirty floor. "I'll give you access to my powers again. But the next time you ignore me, it'll be taken from you entirely."

Kinuki sat on the ground beside his friend, placing his head on the elders gigantic paw. 

"I'm sorry Kuruma. I feel- lost, right now. I'm not sure what to do."

"I know kit."

"I'm sorry Kuruma."

"I know." 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Where's Obito?" Kakashi asked his sensei while fiddling with his new mask. A fox mask, to show how wise and keen he is even with his youth, Kinuki said. He scoffed.

ANBU Team 007 was being sent on an information mission near the fire's border. An enemy pill-box was discovered by a team a week ago, reporting numerous traps right into its center. And since Mouse and Aka were well acquainted with defusing traps, they were a prime team for the job. Kakashi just hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with too many angry shinobi along the way.

On top of carrying additional radio gear in case of emergency recon, the team was bulked up for the cold, windy weather that fall plowed onto them.

Team Minato wanted to wish their teammates one last goodbye and good luck just before that happens. And yet, Obito was nowhere in sight.

"He'll come," Minato glanced at the disheartened younger. "He's just jealous of you, you know? He didn't want you to get this far without him."

A panting raven could be seen combing the streets, pushing everyone out of his path. He glanced at the mask as he passed the boy, placing himself straight into the middle of gates out of Konoha. 

"I can't let you pass!" Obito yelled at the team of ANBU. "If I let Kakashi pass now, then team 7 dies!"

Kinuki walked toward the younger, placing a soft hand on his shoulder. "Team 7 will never die, trust me on that Obito."

"Yes, it will! Team 7 consists of Minato-sensei, Rin, Kakashi and me! Obito! If Kakashi leaves, then the whole team leaves with him!"

"No, Obito." The blond frowned at the teen. "Team 7 will not be joining Team Aka on this mission. This is an ANBU stealth mission only."

"That doesn't matter! Kakashi is-"

 "Your scared that if I leave now, I'll be twice as good as you when I get back." The fox mask scoffed at the younger. "It's not our problem, we have to fight in the war, Baka."  

Obito tightened his fists. "No, you'll be worried Kakashi! I'll be three times as good as you when you get back! Don't you worry! I'm thinking about Rin! What'll happen to us when you leave, we need another member!"

"Obito." Rin clasped his hand between her own, allowing her passion and determination to seep through her eyes, a single tear flowing freely from her rich brown. "Team 7 will never die."

Obito remained silent. "We have to let them go. We can train as hard as we can while their gone."

"Fine. But you guys better get back alive! I won't forgive you if you don't!"

Kinuki placed his mask square on his face. 

"Team 007, mission beginning at about 1000, estimated arrival at location at 1300." He whipped his head around, his locks reflecting the suns bright rays. 

"We'll be back soon."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We're back! A week late but we're back! Aren't ya'll excited? 

I don't have much to say in this episode, I wrote a lot more than I initially expected but all's well. I hope the short but frequent episodes will be enough to satisfy your thirst for your series. 

All constructive criticism is welcome and appreciated! Thank you to those of you who continued to read during the hiatus, its insane how many people actually read this book. Anyways, 

ƭɦαɳҡร ƒσ૨ ૨εα∂เɳɠ! ԋαʋҽ α ɳιƈҽ ԃαყ,

Aɳԃ ԃσɳƚ ϝσɾɠҽƚ ƚσ ʋσƚҽ αɳԃ ƈσɱɱҽɳƚ!