Chapter 10

'' That's great Anko-chan. I'm going on a mission for three days, do you think you can be nice while I'm gone?"' Kakashi asked looking at the grimace forming on Anko face and ruffled her hair. She pouted, but it didn't take long for the snakes in the house to take her attention and for her to skip away trying to adorn her body with little reptiles.

Kakashi walked into the backyard, where Oro was lying down possible trying to take a nap in the sun. '' Hear you got a mission.'' Oro said not opening his eyes '' It sounds simple enough and you don't need to worry.''

'' Did you meddle with my missions again?'' Kakashi asked crossing his arms. It was the forth time already, after the second time when Kakashi realized that a this point he and Minato-sensei should have done escorting or gathering information mission, it become clear that someone was making him take easier missions.

'' I told you, I'm just introducing you to killing step be step.'' he finally opens his golden eyes '' And no the mice and birds you snatch when no one is looking don't count.''

It would be a nice thing if Kakashi was actually a child and not a child-ex-Hokage-too old for this, at this rate he actually has doubts. The first time around, he had his first kill a month after Tou-san died, when a group of bandits attacked and his body moved on his own, frying their nerves and making them living vegetables.

In his room he Summoned Pakkun. The rest of his pack was training in their Summon Realm, when all of them beginning to finally walk, they drafted a training regiment that it's actually running very fast after a ball Kakashi bought for them. That and accommodating their noses with different scents once more, was enough for Kakashi.

'' Pack light and no rations. You can always catch something now. How is the seal on your arm?'' Pakkun asked poking Kakashi forehand. When they left the Hatake Compound, he sealed all the items his father and his ancestors left behind. The fact that it was strictly forbidden to create a storage seal on a person body was unsaid.

'' Is good, no malfunction. I think it will hold if my chakra is not suddenly disturbed. '' Kakashi seal the mission bag and gets ready to leave. Pakkun, skillfully climbs him shoulder and after letting a wave of chakra around the house he Shunshin before Anko could stop him.

'' We will separate. There are 20 full grown bears in this forest. Your job is to find which one is female and which one is male, you can mark them however you want. I will go and find the nest's. Oh! right. If you find any young bear cubs take them as well, it will add in our mission as a bonus. '' Minato said before jumping away in another tree. He couldn't use his signature Jutsu in the forest, for the risk of scaring the birds away.

Once he left and Kakashi was sure Minato-sensei was far away, he breathed and leaned on the harsh tree, Pakkun still on his shoulder. In a couple of minutes he was back on his feet trying to find the distinctive smell of a bear or at last fish.

'' I'm stupid?'' Kakashi asked once they found the first bear '' I did countless missions before. I killed anything at some point, sleep with people I didn't want to, even impersonated a dead person for an entire month. Fuck sake, Tsunade give me the mission to be Hokage so I did. And now my stupid brain can't understand why I need to kill those bears and why would someone need their skin on their walls.'' he sighs frustrate, just his partner wet nose steadying him

'' Don't you dare say that again. You are and never were stupid. '' Pakkun stated nipping his ear '' Maybe is the same thing like us. We, as your Life-Ninkens, know certain smells and places, even some people, that our young minds never faced before. For exempla, right now you have memories of doings things you never wanted. You had an adult-ish body at that time, but now you don't. You are just a pup Kakashi, your mind couldn't possible take all the things you faced at that time. So my theory is that, this is how is protecting you.''

'' By hesitating? It's a mission, I need to finish it.'' Kakashi said throwing a small ball paint on the make bear '' It isn't helpful-'' he glance at his trembling fingers '' -at all.'' he throw another ball paint and goes further into the forest.

'' Well it was stupid of him to tell of the cubs. '' Pakkun adds smelling the air

'' True. Still, what should I do if I find them?'' Kakashi asked trying to find some other males

'' Let them with their mothers, if there is non...then, um we can think of something then. We always get out of sticky situations.'' Pakkun said licking Kakashi ear, making him whine

'' We can stop in Tonika Village for the night. I didn't expect for you to use so much chakra.'' Minato-sensei said nudging Kakashi forward '' Pakkun is not even here. They were just bears Hatake-kun.'' Minato scolded

'Hatake-kun' was a term that this Minato was using when he was upset with him and generally didn't want him around. Or at last that's the feeling Kakashi gets from him. It was never a pleasant feeling.

Kakashi for his part wasn't that tired so he couldn't speak, despite that he only moaned and let himself guided by Minato room in his unfamiliar futon. When he heard the door closing he throw the stuffy and itchy smelling futon away and with a little chakra Summoned Pakkun.

'' Did it work?'' he asked plastering his face of the nice fur

'' Course it did. Told you we always get out of sticky places.'' Pakkun said curling himself on Kakashi head, a pawn close to his masked nose

At the village entry Gai excited figure and a grinning Anko welcomed him. It was a startling comparation then the empty spots in Before from this time or even the occasional meeting with Asuma or Genma. He can wait for Gai to became a Genin and be in the team with Genma and Rindou. He wonders if they acted like a married couple even now? They were childhood friends if he remembers right.

Ah...maybe his chakra levels were still too small.

'' Kakashi! Welcome back !'' Gai said throwing his hands in the air and catching him in a strong hug. His sluggish mind feels more steady

'' Kashi-nii! I got you a present home. '' Anko said latching into his leg and almost making him fall '' It's nice!'' Gai let him go and without looking back they walked or more like dragged Kakashi back to the almost swallowed by nature house.

He never once looked back.

At some point Gai realized that he needed to go back to the Academy and after another bone crushing hug and the smell of freshly picked grass imprinted in his nose, Kakashi took Anko hand in his own and made her walk not run back and forth.

'' What did you do while I was away?'' Kakashi asked to stop her tugging, it didn't work, but her vicious little nails reminded him of the first time he hold a cat in his hand. The cat hated him on sight.

Anko chattered away getting all his attention, maybe it was because of that he didn't feel the new pair of eyes set on him.