The Day Orochimaru Meet This Boy

Come morning Orochi was so busy caring for the little silver-haired tot he noticed not when an Anbu with a stag mask shunshined into his living room area.

"Orochimaru-san, Hokage-sama has asked me to bring you an update."

Kakashi weary of the stranger crawled onto his lap from where he was playing with a snake summons on the floor.

"Maahhh, proceed Anbu-san, unless you'd like me to prepare tea and food?"

The sarcasm was not lost on the Anbu as he rolled his eyes behind the mask. Orochi petted the child's hair and gave off an aura of ease to calm the child.

"Hai, the child of Hatake Sakumo was being tended to by an old lady that lived on the Hatake compound as the groundskeeper. She was found dead in her bed. Passed from what is presumed to be old age. Hatake Sakumo was on a week-long escort mission and was due to return yesterday with his team of genin. Due to the situation, Hokage-sama has sent a team to retrieve them."

"Is that all Anbu-san?"

"Hai."

"Tell Sensei we will be seeing him at the appointed time."

With that, the Anbu flickered away. Orochi had decided to go to the Hatake compound and retrieve some of Kakashi's things. Clothes and toys and whatever else the Hatchling would require. By 1300 they were back and had eaten and were making their way to Sensei's office.

"Ah, Orochi my boy, how is it going?"

"It's fine, Sensei. Though I did break into the Hatake compound to fetch some things for Kakashi. Have you any word from the retrieval team?

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face grew grim and he looked at Orochi with disgust and anger written on his face seeping a little K.I. which had Kakashi burying his face in Orochi's hair and whimpering before he reined it in.

"I just got word they found team 5. The genin slaughtered along with the merchant they were escorting. No signs of Sakumo. Though it looks like they were outnumbered and Sakumo may have been taken.
I sent the messenger back and three other teams of Jonin and one Anbu team. It seems our merchant was lying about the rank of the mission. He was selling secrets as well as merchandise and we believe he was the original target for capture. He must have been wounded in the altercation and died; leaving the bandits to take Sakumo possibly instead...mind you this is just speculation."

Kakashi had decided to fall asleep on Orochi's lap while he petted the child and rubbed his back.

"My question to you, Orochi, is are you willing to continue to care for Kakashi until a time we can bring Sakumo home if we can?"

"Maaah, Sensei, I assume there were no other caretakers for him beside the old groundskeeper?"

"That is what we have determined. If this task is too much for you, please speak up. I know you are not fond of children, besides Nawaki when he was alive, you tend to avoid them like they are a plague. Other lodgings can be found. And no one will look unkindly toward you because of your decision."

Orochi contemplated his statement. It was true most children bothered him to no end. Nawaki had been an exception, but that was more due to Nawaki being a little brother figure to his team. He was Nade's little brother in blood, but Raiya and he had cared for that child deeply. He still felt that loss.

But Kakashi was something different. He was a whirlwind of new emotions that Orochi could not explain. But the thought of turning over 'his Hatchling' to someone other than Kakashi's To-san made him ache and become sad and angry and No, just no! He could not.

"Sensei, I request Kakashi stay with me until Hatake-san returns or..."

He could not finish the thought. For the hatchling's sake, he dearly hoped his father could be returned.

"I agree. Accepted. Orochi, this child has changed you in some way, the only way I can describe it is... paternal. You have become like his parent. My only issue with this is when the time comes can you give him back?"

"Sensei, when the time comes I'll do what is best for the Hatchling. If that means breaking all ties, so be it. But this little one has awoken something?"

Saratobi puffed on his unlit pipe and cocked his head. Confusion could be seen in his eyes, so Orochi tried to explain.

"It is almost like a different creature has taken over my nature. My summons comes from my clan affinity to snakes. I am the last of my clan. We were compared to our summons as cold and calculating, no emotions. But my mother told stories of her mother's clan. To the dragons. Her mother was the last of her clan. An affinity to the dragons who had roamed our world when shinobi were just starting out. She married into the snake clan as the only other clan with an affinity like hers. Only dragons are different from snakes in the way they treat their offspring. Snakes allow the Hatchling to leave the nest and fend for themselves as soon as they hatch. Dragons protect, guard, teach, and care for their young well into adulthood of the hatchling. Mother had told me lots of stories of dragons. I feel as though one has awoken in me when I look at this child. A fire burns inside me when I hold this one."

Hiruzen nodded and remarked.

"I had heard of such clans from my own granny. All but lost to time. If your maternal grandmother was such, she was most likely the last. She did well to hide in a snake clan as the features would be much the same. Interesting, very interesting. Most clans have an affinity. One was we hold an animal hindbrain. Sarutobi it is apes. Inuzuka it's canines the same with Hatake. Nara the deer. Every clan holds such claims. Though some have bred it out."

I looked down on the sleeping child. A smile forming. If this child had brought me in touch with a hidden part of myself, I was completely fine with it.

"Ahh, I'd like if Tsunade did a check upon him. The old lady may have been passed for a few days before he found you. Just want to make sure he is ok."

"That is fine, Sensei, I was wanting Nade to meet him anyway. I'll take him to her now if I'm dismissed?"

Sensei smiled.

"Of course, and if you need someone for him to play with bringing him to the house. Biwaki is aware of the situation, she said if you need help or a sitter to come to her. And Asuma is only a few years older than Kakashi."

"Hai, thank you, Sensei."

Orochi left with the sleeping Kakashi and went to the hospital to find his teammate and friend to get the Hatchling checked over.

Tusnade couldn't believe her eyes when her cold, heartless teammate came into her office. A child nestled into his chest, fast asleep, and Orochi daunting over him as a mother would. Orochi explained what had happened. He told her of his role until the father could be located. He woke the child and introduced her. And explained what she was going to do. When she went to take blood to run some various tests. The little silver-haired boy cried. Orochi hovered and grouched at her for a horrible bedside manner. Orochi soothed the upset child. But when the child called out for Orochi by calling him 'Kaa-chan', Tsunade finally lost her composure.

"Kaa-chan! Hahaha. If Only Raiya was here to hear some gaki call you 'Kaa-chan'. Oh, Orochi, I mean I know you look like a girl and you been with your fair share of men and women, but the gaki knows your a boy right!? Hahaha! Hey, brat, you know Orochi is not your Kaa-chan!?"

Kakashi looked puzzled. And he turned to Orochi. His look focusing and becoming determined.

"My Kaa-chan. No Rochi. No. No. Kaa-chan!? Kaa-chan..."

"Yes, hatchling, if that is what you wish. It matters not to me. Boy or girl. You can call me Kaa-chan."

"Holy shit, I hope Hatake is an understanding man. Because that one has some power over you."

She sympathized as Kakashi wrapped his chubby little finger into my hair and leaned into him after confirming Orochi was his 'Kaa-chan'.

"I agree. As the situation has been removed from my hands. This little one wants me, but in truth, I want him also."

"What the fuck? And here I thought hell had frozen over when Raiya decided to play parent. I would of never of bet anything on you becoming one."