Danzo sat in his office, in his underground lair in the ROOT Chamber. He was looking over files and pictures. He sneered, clenching his fist as he cursed himself. He... was getting soft. Emotional. A weakness that can be exploited!

"Look at yourself... why do you care so much?" Danzo asked himself, standing up and walking over to a mirror. He glared at his reflection.

Danzo stood before the mirror, his piercing gaze fixed on his reflection. The lines on his face seemed more pronounced, etched with the weight of recent events. The birth of his grandson had brought an unexpected torrent of emotions, almost shattering the fortress around his heart that he had meticulously built over the years.

"Why do you care so much?" he muttered to himself, the words carrying a weight of self-condemnation. The mirror revealed a man conflicted, torn between the hardened leader of ROOT and the newly awakened grandfather within him. His own eyes, once cold and calculating, betrayed a hint of vulnerability.

He paced the room, the shadows of the underground lair dancing around him like ghosts. He gritted his teeth, taking in deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. Emotions, regardless of what it is, love or hate... emotions are emotions and have no place in this world. When he finally calmed down, there was a knock on his door.

"Lord Danzo, may I come in?" a voice asked, bringing Danzo's full attention.

"Yes, come in."

The door slid open. A ROOT ANBU walked inside, carrying a scroll. He passed it off to Danzo, who took it and unrolled it, looking over the contents.

"Iwagakure is planning something?" Danzo said with intrigue, looking back to the ROOT agent.

"Agent Nono has provided this information... it appeared Iwagakure is making efforts to scout Konoha." The agent stated, kneeling and lowering his head. Danzo rolled the scroll back up and set it on his desk.

"Nono provided this information?" Danzo questioned, reaffirming that she had been working hard in enemy lines, even after the Kyubi attack. "Have her bring more information. If those stone throwers are planning something, I want to know!"

"Right away!" But before the agent could leave... he raised a hand.

"Send Kabuto to aid her."

"W-What? B- But he's still in training!"

"No buts! Consider it... training on the job." Danzo replied. Not wanting to argue, the agent nodded and left.

The old man sighed when the agent was out of earshot. It was foolish to send a child on a mission such as this, especially one who has such a connection to another agent. But he saw no other options... besides, it'd be easier to have him die on such a mission, rather than just waiting... waiting wasn't something he had much time for these days.

Kabuto was an orphan. Nono raised him. Having them together on a mission would mean that they had trust in one another. Yet there was that one variable... emotions. Nono loved Kabuto like her own son. Kabuto loved her like his own mother. Their success or their failure would be a win-win for him. If they succeed, very valuable information will be brought to him. Should they fail, they'll die.

"Now then... back to my files." Danzo sat back down, looking over the papers on his desk. Before he could even lift a pencil, the silent alarm went off in his office. A small red light glowed, signaling an intruder. "Now who could that be?"

In The Main Chamber:

Kakashi was jumping from one wall to another, dodging the wooden pillars bursting from the walls. Using his Sharingan, he saw the wood reaching out for him. He was more than surprised, being chased by the legendary wood style of the First Hokage. But the first was dead. None of his descendants inherited his wood style. So where is it coming from?

He searched for what would seem like minutes to others, dodging and weaving. But to him, it would only be seconds until he found the source. A child younger than him with short brown hair. His face was covered with a mask that resembled a cat's face covered in green, and red markings. The child brought their hands together, running at him before he extended an arm out and more pillars of wood burst from the child's arms.

"Wood Style: Great Forest Technique!"

Leaping into the air, Kakashi went through a small series of hand signs, weaving the Ox, the Hare, and the Monkey. Pulling an arm back, the sound of a thousand birds echoed through the chambers of the ROOT base, and lightning crackled from Kakashi's hand. He reached out, fully intent on killing the child.

"STOP!" Danzo shouted, causing the child to stop. The wood coming from his arms ceased and soon the lightning stopped along with the chirping. Kakashi landed next to the child as Danzo stood before them. "This one is a guest, Kinoe."

"I understand now, sir," Kinoe replied, bowing to his master.

Danzo looked at Kakashi, giving him a... smile. Well, the closest he could get to a smile. It's been a while since he last smiled. Many years have passed since he gave a smile. Yet, this wasn't a friendly smile but a more welcoming one, seeing how Kakashi came to him.

"So... you have a decision, then?" Danzo questioned him. Kakashi simply kneeled, handing him a green scroll.

"Here."

Danzo took it from him, opening it on the spot. He read through it. They were travel plans. Hiruzen was going to go to the Fire Daiyamo's offices. He read through more of it, going over the route he would take... it was filled was flaws. There were many openings he could exploit. A thought crossed his mind. An evil smirk grew across his face.

'Yes! This is it! That old monkey is going to die!' He thought. But he paused. His face went blank before he sighed. "No... no..."

He rolled the scroll back up, returning it to Kakashi. He huffed in silent frustration. The village right now needs a pillar to stand beside and so far, Hiruzen was that pillar. With the recent death of the Fourth, the people would go mad over the Third's death, causing more instability than there already was. Not to mention if he would take the spot immediately afterward... everyone would be out for his head. He clicked his tongue, shaking his head, realizing what he needed to do.

"Kakashi... welcome to ROOT," Danzo extended a hand, welcoming Kakashi into the organization. The young ANBU shook the old man's hand.

"Thank you for having me."

"Don't thank me yet... Kinoe... introduce yourself to your new partner." Kakashi's body shifted as he extended a hand. But Kinoe seemed to almost... flinch. This caught Kakashi's attention and even Danzo's.

"I'm... Kinoe. It's a pleasure to meet you." Kinoe stated, finally shaking hands with Kakashi.

"Good, you two can get to know each other better over the night. Your first mission is to guard me as I accompany Lord Third on his trip." Danzo's statement was a shock to Kakashi. In a situation like this, with recent events, and a certain pattern in his record, he would've thought now would be a perfect time to take the Hokage spot but no. To guard him? And accompany him?

'This... this is unlike anything Lord Third has told me about him.' Kakashi thought.

"I'll pack my things, immediately," Kinoe said, vanishing in a blur.

"Hmm... you best prepare your belongings as well, Kakashi. I'll have some agents send over your new uniform." Danzo walked away back to his office, deeper into the ROOT base, leaving Kakashi alone.