After The Storm *Kakashi Hatake* (Naruto Fanfiction)

Chapter 24

Kakashi's P.O.V. 

I stand dumbfounded in the Hokage's office. 

A large eagle stands in front of me, with a small boy beside him. 

The bird's words echo in my ears as I stare, not processing what I'm seeing or hearing. 

"Lady Yokina, has been captured"

I didn't bother to listen to rest of the words that the animal uttered. His beak moved, but my mind didn't bother to take them in. 

Those five words continued to ring in my head, over and over, like a siren. 

"Kakashi... Kakashi! KAKASHI!" the Hokage yelled in my face. 

I blinked a few times and sucked in a breathe that I hadn't known I'd been holding. 

"Yes, Hokage-sama," I replied quietly. 

"Did you hear the eagle's words?" he asked in a softer voice. 

"Only that Yokina has been captured," I reply in a small voice. 

He sighed, "From what the eagle describes, her captors are almost definitely the Akatsuki. Their motives are unknown... but I believe they may be looking to absorb her into the juubi which would increase its power ten fold," he explained in a serious voice. 

"That would kill her wouldn't it?" I ask quietly. 

"Yes, it would," he replies solemnly. 

There is a long silence in the room, then the Hokage clears his throat, "We'll discuss retrieval plans in a moment. For now, child, what is your name?" the Hokage directs his attention to the young boy standing beside the eagle. 

"Satoru," he replies in a small voice. 

"Can you explain your story, and how you came to meet one of Konoha's ninja?" he asks kindly. 

"I am an orphan who worked as a servant, I lived in a village close to the one Yoki-san found me in," he begins, "The group that she killed were holding me captive because they thought I was my master's son. But, my master and his son hadn't been home when they attacked, and I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. They hoped to use me as ransom, but once they realized I wasn't who they wanted, I assume they were planning on killing me after their meeting with that group, the Akatsuki," he stated icily. 

The Hokage nodded in understanding, waiting for the boy to continue. 

"When Yoki-san came to kill the group, I was in the same room... she took me and had me wait while she went after the leader, but... we ended up running from the Akatsuki," he proved the Hokage's thoughts, "She placed me away from the fight, so I didn't see what was happening... but then she sent him and he took me here... and that's all I know," he finished, gesturing to the eagle, and speaking with a saddened tone. 

The Hokage's brows furrowed as he thought, "We'll have to do a few precautionary checks in order to let you stay, but you've been through a lot, and it won't be any trouble to find you somewhere to live," the Hokage said comfortingly. 

The boy's eyes widened, "Thank you Hokage-sama!" 

The old man grinned, "I'll place you with one of our jonin... how old are you?" 

"13," he answered. 

"And have you any ninja training?" the Hokage questioned again. 

"I only know the basics of kunai and a jutsu or two..." he said with a bit of embarassment. 

"Not a problem, we'll set you up in the academy, and you'll graduate in no time... for now I'll place you in Kakashi's care," he said with a smile. 

"Hokage-sama... I must politely decline," I say with widened eyes.

"Why is that Kakashi?" the Hokage asked narrowing his eyes. 

"I was hoping to be spending most of my time off from missions, searching for Yokina," I tell him, my eyes earnestly gazing at him. 

His eyes cloud, "I'm sorry Kakashi... but I can't allow that... I will send you on a retrieval mission... but if it fails... I can't spare more ninja, and I can't lose a powerful Shinobi like you if you plan on going on your own," he says in a reluctant and sorrowful voice. 

"But Hokage-sama!" I almost yell in anger and sadness, a whirlwind of emotions pooling within me. 

"I'm truly sorry Kakashi," he says, "but that's my final decision." 

I clench my fists at my side and they begin to tremble with anger and emotion. 

"You, and whomever you choose may go on a retrieval mission, and may leave at any moment you decide," he tells me after a small pause in conversation. 

I nod slowly, "Hai, Hokage-sama," I reply in a voice just above a whisper. 

"You are dismissed," he says tiredly. 

I walk out, the boy trails behind me, and the eagle transports back to his home with a small 'goodbye' and a poof of smoke. 

I rub my hair back and sigh, my build up of emotional stress in just the past half hour being over the top. 

"Kakashi-san... you don't have to worry about taking care of me, so take your time trying to find Yoki-san," the boy tells me in a quiet voice. 

I glance down at him and he walks with a slightly hunched over posture, with his hands in his pockets. 

"Thank you Satoru," I tell him. 

I lead him to my apartment and write a note to Yamato, explaining what has happened. 

"All right, so I'm going to leave right away, the bathroom is down the hall to your right, you can sleep on the couch since the guest room is already taken," I tell him in a slightly apologetic voice, "My other flatmates, Yamato and Sakana, should be back sometime today or tomorrow, so you won't be alone for to long... there's food in the kitchen... and.. uh, don't burn the place down," I tell him, rubbing the back of my neck in embarrasment at not knowing what else to explain to a child. 

"Got it, good luck Kakashi-san, and thank you," he says with a small grin. 

I nod in return and am out the door within a few minutes, after grabbing some weapons, scrolls, bandages, etc...

I make shadow clones and send them to find the people I intend to have come along with me. I quickly run along rooftops and get to the gates in a few minutes. I only stand for less than ten minutes before everyone arrives. 

Guy, Anko, Asuma, and Kurenai: Team Eagle Retrieval.