It took only about five minutes for Pakkun to convince Kakashi …

  Pakkun knew the pup better … Kakashi desperately wanted to connect with what could be the only actual family he had left … because behind the uncaring mask, Kakashi cared too much …

  Kakashi spent most of his life convincing himself that the safest place anyone could be was as far away from himself as possible … anyone close to him Died one way or another, generally because Kakashi wasn't strong enough to protect them …

  Pakkun took a sip of his now empty flask …

  [Pakkun] - You know as well as I do that you're not bringing death to anyone pup … -

  Pakkun said to the empty room, having finally convinced Kakashi to simply be honest with the boy …

  *** *** ***

  Kakashi walked towards the training room, anxiousness welling up in his chest …

  Kakashi felt like he was walking behind enemy lines all over again … only this time the enemy lines contained puppies yipping and barking while they tried to learn how to use chakra strings …

  Kakashi gave a small smile remembering his own training of that particular skill … most associated the skill with puppeteers, but they are just specialists. Being able to control objects at a distance with dexterity is useful for any ninja, puppets or not …

  Putting his best amused eye smile, Kakashi spoke to Jay, who was currently serving as a warm resting place for tired puppies.

  [Kakashi] - … I see that the training is going well … -

  Jay looked up at him, making sure that the puppy on his head didn't fall …

  [Jay] - The pups are sleeping the exhaustion off. Apparently, chakra exhaustion is a thing and failing to form a stable chakra string wastes a lot of chakra … can't say I noticed … -

  Jay smugly smiled at the matron responsible for teaching the unruly pups, Donna just growled in annoyance at being had.

  Kakashi could feel Jay focusing chakra on his hand, focusing his senses, Kakashi could feel the string slowly taking form, consolidating and then fading …

  [Kakashi] - What's getting you stuck ? … -

  [Jay] - I’m trying to get a feel for it … Forming the tentacle-like structure of the string it's hard but doable, moving is harder but that's just practice … -

  [Kakashi] - You're trying to feel the proprioception, you are a sensor ? -

  [Jay] - I can perceive chakra with some detail, especially my own, not with any actual range mind you … -

  [Kakashi] - That's everyone boy … -

  Kakashi rolled his eyes.

  [Jay] - Are you sure ? -

  Jay raised an eyebrow.

  [Jay] - My handlers said it was quite impressive for me to be able to focus on such fine details, it helps me a lot while writing Fuinjutsu -

  Kakashi gave pause.

  [Kakashi] “ Does he have an affinity for short range sensorial jutsus ?”

  [Kakashi] - I just remembered that Yūgao-san is your current handler, she was on my team in the past, a good med-nin -

  Kakashi nodded, trying to establish contact …

  [Kakashi] - Did you learn any sensor techniques from her ? -

  Jay smiled.

  [Jay] - Well, there is only so many times someone can be healed and not learn a thing or two … at least that's what I thought, people seen to have difficulty connecting dots now that I think about it … -

  [Kakashi] - That talent is what makes a genius, things that are obvious to us might be unreasonably confusing for others … So … Can we talk about what you told me in the training grounds ? -

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  A Bark interrupted them, as the Matron that was still teaching the Pups glared at Kakashi …

  [Jay] - Let’s move the conversation to another room … -

  Jay picked up the pup taking a nap on his head and placed him on the ground before getting up and walking up to Kakashi …

  [Jay] - … And Kakashi-sensei, what exactly are you asking about … What you know, is a very vague question after all … Lead the way ? -

  Kakashi gave a slight smile at his student’s paranoia, just like a true ninja … Kakashi walked then back to the Tea room, Pakkun, who was listening was nowhere to be seen …

  ***

  Kakashi sat in front of his student once more … what Jay said to him still sounded in his mind …

  [Kakashi] “ Privacy is one thing … but who is asking ? … How should I answer that ? … What answer are you looking for ? … Fishing for information by being vague isn’t gonna cut it, the boy is annoyingly caged like I was at his age … but Pakkun said there isn’t anything to it … So what are you looking for ? … “

  Jay was still silently waiting in front of Kakashi, practicing forming the chakra treads, keeping only half a mind to the conversation … wasted chakra was already filling up the room, leaving Kakashi with the distinct feeling that he was being scrutinised by it, but his head was still in Pakkun’s words … “Just talk to him … Normally” …

  … How does someone talk normally ? …

  Frustration welled up inside Kakashi as he came up short on something that was supposed to be simple …

  Jay’s brought Kakashi's attention back to the present …

  [Jay] - So … are you going to give me an answer ? What you want to know and who is talking to me right now ? … -

  Kakashi released a tired sigh.

  [Kakashi] - How am I supposed to answer that ? … I’m talking to you, and I want to know … you … -

  Jay blinked his eyes in slight surprise.

  [Jay] - Hmm … Right, so you want to know more about me … for yourself … don’t you already have my file ? … they are easing up on the security now that I’m a gennin, but I was chalking that up to you being the responsible for it now … -

  Jay inclined his head, smiling a bit, a smile that reached his eyes a little bit.

  [Jay] - Well now … this is actually fun, so, what does Hatake Kakashi want to know ? -

  Kakashi did a double take at the change in tone, even the Chakra around him softened a little …

  [Kakashi] “ Sensory technique ? … “

  Kakashi shook his head slightly …

  [Kakashi] - Well … I wanted to do a little Q and A, get to know each other, but you hit the nail on the head with your comment about my relation to you … I was on your father's team, Minato was almost a father figure to me, one that I needed after I became an orphan … -

  Kakashi shrugged, trying to play it down.

  [Kakashi] - When Kushina had her pregnancy, I was one of her body-guards … -

  Kakashi looked at the boy in front of him …

  [Kakashi] - You know … your name wasn't supposed to be inspired by the ramen topping, Naruto was the main character of a book made by your father's teacher and your godfather, Jiraya of mount myoboku … Your father loved the book, the tale of the utterly gutsy shinobi … -

  [Jay] - Kakashi, I can see that my previous name was something that you had a connection to … but I don't have that, I know none of those people, I didn't know Minato nor Kushina, I don't know you nor my supposed godfather besides the bingo book entry you both have … -

  Kakashi went to say something but Jay raised his hand.

  [Jay] - And that's fine, my parents died and choices were made about my life that you or Jiraya could have done something about … -

  [Kakashi] - It's not like that Na… Jay -

  [Jay] - Isn't it ? You could take care of me and train me as one of my handlers, you think Hiruzen would have a choice if you pressed the issue ? … -

  Jay shrugged his shoulders.

  [Jay] - Choices were made and that ‘Naruto’ you are looking for, he is not real … I'm Jay Uzumaki, and Kakashi … we just met … -

  Kakashi felt the weight of those words settle in his heart …

  [Jay] - That doesn't mean we can't start something new … Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad or anything, I'm just making sure you understand that I don't have the same emotional attachments you have … Right now, you are just Hatake Kakashi, my jounin sensei … -

  Kakashi gave a muffled laugh.

  [Kakashi] - I was hoping for something more … -

  [Jay] - By asking me cryptic questions and hoping that you could profile me with what I revealed ? -

  Kakashi blinked minutely at the assessment, the words were harsh but Kakashi could see a small smile on the boy's face, like he was expecting something …

  [Kakashi] - … Itachi is training you with genjutsus isn't he ? … -

  [Jay] - He is a menace, I still can't believe he was under your command in Anbu … he doesn't have the profile of a leader ? … -

  Kakashi smiled, genuinely … he could make a connection after all … through mutual acquaintances …

  [Kakashi] - At the time ? Not at all, he was a follower at heart, you couldn't ask for a better subordinate though, competency Itachi is thy name … -

  Kakashi and Jay shared a small laugh at that.

  [Jay] - Can't be a Jounin if you're not competent at most things … -

  [Kakashi] - Unless your name is Maito Guy … -

  [Jay] - Don't underestimate him, he knows quite a lot … -

  [Kakashi] - Yes, I know that better than most … but don't ask him to perform combat ninjutsu or genjutsu, he can do those, but compared to the pace he moves ? Guy is better off mailing the Jutsu to the enemies … -

  Kakashi laughed at how slow Guy was with handseals.

  [Jay] - Can't say I’m much different, handseals are a problem … So he is fast even to you then ? -

  [Kakashi] - Boy, you don't get to be called a deterrent without being overwhelming in one way or another … I'm an elite jounin, I'm up there, I train with him occasionally and we do engage in some silly competitions from time to time … Maito Guy is a good man with a big heart … The Green Beast is not … You know if he has any intention of teaching you about the Inner Gates ? -

  [Jay] - He approached the topic as a thanks for giving him the clues he needed to figure out medical ninjutsu for himself -

  [Kakashi] - Then I'll let him do it. Now that we are on a training topic, I was looking to do this during our next team meeting, but Sakura only has the academy skills and Sasuke seems like a well trained Uchiha … I have a good idea on what to train them both in … but you seem to be making your own style ? -

  [Jay] - Why do you say that ? -

  Jay asked curious.

  [Kakashi] - Well, aren't you ? Guy's strong-fist doesn't make much use of tools and the Academy assumes that the civilian ninjas won't be able to buy gear immediately, but you're incorporating them in your fighting from the get go … -

  Jay gave a small laugh.

  [Jay] - I'm just covering up weaknesses, a spear gives me extra range that I lack, fuinjutsu gives me extra tricks … Guy-san is a great tutor but he is teaching me the basics. I'm not his apprentice. I'm getting Taijutsu lessons in exchange for Yūgao-san also treating his apprentice, though we are close to our last lessons now that I'm a genin and Yūgao-san will be redeployed … -

  Kakashi blinked …

  [Kakashi] “ That's true, Guy took in that other boy, Rock Lee a few years back … he even got a genin team now if I remember correctly … “

  [Kakashi] - Well, would you like me to fill in for Guy ? I know your days have more hours than most, with you not needing as much sleep and being able to recuperate faster … -

  [Jay] - Are you … asking me to be your apprentice ? … -

  [Kakashi] - Well … You can't be my little brother, I see that now … but as you said, it is not like we can't start something new … -

  Kakashi said with a smile.

  [Kakashi] - How would you like being trained by an ex-anbu commander ? -

  Kakashi said with a raised hand, Jay just smiled and grasped the opportunity presented.

  Writing Kakashi is a weird mix of trying to keep his aloof appearance, giving him the ‘genius’ competency while also making sure he presents some kind of emotional attachment that we are led to believe he has for Naruto … with his whole backstory and shit … So … yeah, this is what came out …

  Also … summons … those are a thing and they are a MESS to begin with …

  Summons are literally, another sentient species living on the same planet, both Mount Myoboku and Ryūchi Cave are actual places that one can reach by WALKING … those are PEOPLE with their secret societies like some kind of ‘Atlantis’ civilization … they have a history with sagehood and shit, hells, Hagoromo was trained by one of the Toads, so at least the Toads would have some kind of reputation …

  And that leaves some implications for the Naruto world … The toads and shit were there before Hagoromo, before the Ootsutsuki … The earth of Naruto has more than simply humans living there, and people kind of know about them … so … that leaves some questions to be answered …

  What summons get by being summoned ? … just ‘Chakra’ ain’t an answer, they have their own chakra, why the hell would they need a summoner for it ? … No, they need them for something else and I’ll probably chalk that up to actual Reputation … they are ‘secret’ independent societies, their numbers can’t be that big, so they need some ‘favors’ from their summoners, actual deals and shit … resources …

  A summoner has what basically amounts to a Military Alliance with his summons, and those can’t be made by having one ONE or TWO summoners at a time, especially since the Summoners are generally very powerful and very ‘desirable’ people on the human side …

  Having an Elite jounin like Kakashi as a summon means the Dogs have an ‘in’ with Konoha, same thing with Jiraya and the Toads, hells, Minato became Hokage, you can probably guess that the Toads had a lot to gain from that relationship … way more than Minato by the end of it …

  With that done, I can finally move on to a small Sakura and Sasuke bonding and then time skip things, weeeeeeee.