Hi ya all..

Well, I do know I shouldn't start a new story when I already have one, but I really really don't want this story circling around in my head, so it's gonna come out and get on to paper.

Hope you like it.

For the mission details of Sakumo, read 'the girl from whirlpool' great story. I am going to use that as my background for this story where it applies.

Hatake Sakumo laid out all the apparatus he needed. It's fairly stupid of a ninja to commit ritual suicide, but he had no other choice. The longer he lived, the longer people who are dear to him suffered. He couldn't watch it any more. If konoha wants some one to pay the price for the failed mission, he would gladly pay that price.

Sakumo sat in the designated place, picked up the dagger that's meant to slit his throat. He raised it, held it at ready.

He swung.

He would have connected with his intended target and slit his throat if mother nature hadn't interfered at that moment.

His house shook as if there's an earth quake, he is unbalanced, his dagger missed him by a hairs breadth. As such, Sakumo thanked his stars there isn't much in this house to be destroyed.

It is at this moment he remembered that they owned exactly one copy of his wife's photograph, it's quite possible that her picture will get destroyed in this earth quake if he did not get it to safety now.

With that, all those thoughts about grand suicide tossed about, he rushed to get that precious photo out of harms way.

His second thought is that Konoha might need help. He ran out.

He watched dirt grains shift on the ground, noting their ripples.

That's odd. In case of an earth quake, the pebbles, sand or whatever that constitutes dirt usually trembles in a zig-zag pattern. A ripple, such as the one he is seeing now, usually meant a centered quake. A centered quake more times than not pointed towards a meteor, or, he noted with growing dread, an earth Jutsu.

He stayed there frozen for exactly three seconds before his mind processed all of his senses, informed him that this attack is most similar to some thing called growing boulder attack, and it needs five earth Jounin to work in sync and strike a single point in order to send out an earth quake like attack.

Also, it came from eleven o'clock.

Sakumo literally flew towards that direction. According to what he remembered about konoha petrol's, he is the nearest jounin to this attack. A chunin squad, which is the usual response in times like this will reach a little too late. From what he knew, these kind of attacks more times than not had three stages. He needs to get there before the second stage starts.

When he arrived at the spot, there are no earth jounin waiting for him. There was just a huge crater with some thing lying in the middle. He ran towards that something.

Upon reachng the center of the crater, Sakumo stood still and stared at what's in front of him.

In all of his wildest imaginations, this is not what he expected to see in the middle of a huge crater that is still smoldering. In fact, it is so out of place, he tried to dispel genjutsu five times.

Alas, the scenery did not change.

So, he did the next best thing.

He formed a shadow clone, sent it to check pulse of the toddlers who are lying naked in front of him, apparently, still alive.

Shikaku Nara planned for many contingencies, plus contingencies for those contingencies while his team ran towards where they saw a unidentified flying object approximately hit ground and literally shook Konoha.

None of those contingencies even remotely involved a perplexed White Fang keeping watch over what seemed like three toddlers while two of his shadow clones ran perimeter check on what seemed like a crater resulting from meteor hit.

But, he is still a Nara, and they are genetically programmed to accept any thing and every thing with a calm befitting a hermit, come up with a plan that will put Konoha council to shame.

He stared at Sakumo Hatake.

Sakumo Hatake stared right back.

After two seconds in to staring contest, Shikaku realized he is going to loose at this and decided to go for plan-B of establishing his authority over famed White Fang.

"Report" Shikaku said in what he thought is his most commanding tone.

If Sakumo is offended by it, he did not show it.

"An attack felt at ten hundred. responded at ten hundred and three. Identified a meteor residue and perimeter check yields no external elements. The three subjects are aged two, unconscious at the moment. They smell same as meteor residue, supporting the fact they were put here as a result of meteor hitting rather than being put here after meteor struck."

Sakumo stared expectantly at the teen in front of him.

Shikaku gave instructions to his team to do a perimeter check and evidence collection first.

Then he turned towards Sakumo Hatake, put his plan-Z in to action. If all goes well, he will get out of glorified baby sitting duty which he most definitely will be straddled with otherwise.

"Sakumo San, You have been dishonorably discharged, is that correct?" he asked in a neutral tone. No need to make the most capable jounin in village after third Hokage angry, especially when he is planning on foisting babysitting duty on said Jounin.

Sakumo felt like he received a kick in the shins.

"Yes" Sakumo answered contritely.

"Submit an unjustified contempt action against it." Shikaku informed him in as mild tone as he can manage.

Sakumo recoiled like he's been kicked.

"I failed the mission, Shikaku-san. It's … justified action." Sakumo felt small saying that.

"Sakumo-san, At the moment, Konoha is severely short staffed. An unidentified threat like this should be treated as S-rank objective, as such will require surveillance in quarantine. For that, we need to use two anbu teams in shifts. I understand that your – discharge might be justified. When you submit an unjustified contempt action, which mandates assent only, you will be placed on ninja force as a reserve genin, thus, I can use you and a Chunin or genin squad." Shikaku paused here before he continued.

"I understand that when this comes up for review, grounds for your discharge might hold. I know this will be killing you twice with same arrow. How ever, dire times call for dire measures. Please consider it."

Shikaku could clearly see how conflicted Sakumo is over this decision. Complaints of unjustified contempt action are treated very very seriously. The results are ninety nine percent bad. If Sakumo is indeed dishonorably discharged, provided the grounds hold, next time punishment will be court-marshal. That's a fate worse than death.

Still, he hoped Sakumo will accept. After all, two free ANBU teams will translate in to more lives saved. One way or another.

Sakumo relented. He was going to die. It definitely will not be late do commit suicide when his next punishment get's decided. Till then, if he can help Konoha in any way, He will.

"I understand Shikaku-san. I will be back in an hour." he informed the jounin in front of him.

Sakumo Hatake stared at the three toddlers in front of him. They are the strangest set of babies he ever met.

The girl has pink hair. He did not even know natural pink hair is possible.

The blond one has birth marks which looked like whiskers on his cheeks. He had never seen such strange birth marks.

The other one is the most normal out of them. He had black hair and looked pretty much like any other baby. However, the other two toddler's abnormality made him stand out.

Sakumo sighed and stared at the sleeping toddlers again.

Now that all is over and done with, he had the strangest feeling that he had been conned in to baby sitting. By a green-horn at that. Regardless of how much of a genius that green-horn is.

Sakumo sighed and stared at the toddlers. The black one is stirring. He dearly hoped all of these toddlers are potty trained. They should be at their age. If not, he will be pulling his hair out in a day.

The black haired one opened his eyes. For a second, Sakumo thought it's not a toddler but a war-hardened veteran he is staring at. The feeling passed immediately though.

Sakumo moved over to the kid, picked him up.

The kid stared at Sakumo curiously, while sucking his thumb.

Sakumo pulled out his thumb out of his mouth almost habitually.

"What's your name?" he asked.

Sasuke stared at the white haired man. He felt safe with this man.

"Sask'ay" the kid answered, leaning his head on to Sakumo's shoulder, squirmed to get a better look at surroundings.

"Sasuke?" Sakumo repeated. The kid nodded in assent.

He pointed at the blond haired kid who is still sleeping soundly.

"Nawuto" the toddler answered.

"Naruto?" Sakumo asked doubtfully. The toddler nodded.

"Sakuwa" the toddler pointed to pink haired one, with out even being prompted.

Sakumo thought it's a fitting name.

"Sakura" he repeated just to make sure. Another nod.

Sakura started to squirm just as they are about to walk out. Sakumo waited for her to wake up and he had the same distinct feeling that he is looking at a war-veteran as the girl opened her eyes. But the feeling was gone just as quickly as it went away with Sasuke.

He picked up the girl as well, took them to kitchen. He placed the kids on mat, who stared at him expectantly, as if asking him for instructions.

"Are you hungry?" he asked them.

The kids nodded in answer.

He had a very basic idea of how to deal with kids, as he did not have to take care of Kakashi till he is three, even then, Kakashi is a very precocious child. As such, Sakumo skipped a great deal of child rearing lessons.

Talking about Kakashi, he should be home in two days.

Thus, when he heard a key turn, he pulled out a Kunai, waited behind the door to open.

How ever, it's not an enemy ninja who walked in, but Kakashi.

Sakumo stared at his son's back for a moment. He suddenly realized what Kakashi would have walked in to if earthquake hadn't happened. He paled at the realization.

Kakashi soon turned around, was babbling excitedly at him while waving his head band.

It took Sakumo a minute to come out of his stupor, notice what Kakashi is saying.

When he realized his son has just become a chunin, for a moment, his heart felt like it would burst. He is so proud of Kakashi.

"I am proud of you, my son." Sakumo told him. And he meant every word.

Kakashi glowed in response. guilt wreaked havoc in Sakumo's mind, as he realized Kakashi's graduation gift would have been his father's body if external forces hadn't interfered.

He thanked those external forces which prevented him from ruining Kakashi's mind for ever. He wouldn't have been able to live with him self even in his death had it happened that way.

They soon walked in to living room.

Kakashi stopped short upon noticing the toddlers on mat.

He looked at them interestedly. He had never came in to contact with kids other than at academy, even then, it's kids who are older than him. He never had much contact with little kids.

Kakashi walked over to the kids, examining their limbs.

"Are they my present? " he asked his dad almost curiously.

Sakumo wondered how he ever came to that conclusion.

He shook his head.

"I am just watching over them. They will be staying with us for some time." Sakumo answered.

It is at this moment a wail sounded from upstairs.

The other toddler has woken up.

Kakashi ran upstairs before Sakumo can even start walking towards stairs.

He brought out the blond toddler just as Sakumo came upstairs.

"Look dad, is he my present then?" he asked, pushing up the toddler at Sakumo's face like one would show a puppy.

Sakumo wondered how his kid became a Chunin with out knowing one could not get kids as presents. But then, in Ninja world it's not some thing that unheard of.

Sakumo plucked the blond kid from Kakashi's grasp. this kid's bottom felt too wet.

Inner sakumo wailed. He had one toddler who's not potty trained.

His shadow clone took that moment to rap on the door twice, entered house with supplies.

"No Kashi-Kun, you can't have kids as presents." he told Kakashi who deflated at that information.

"How ever, they will be staying with us for some time, so you can play with them if you want to." he told Kakashi, while taking the blond kid to changing station.

The blond seemed the youngest among them. Looking at the way he stopped sniffling but said nothing in response, Sakumo assumed he can't talk yet.

Soon, all the kids are clothed and fed, fell asleep.

As he got ready for the bed, Sakumo thanked the lucky stars for providing a second chance at life.

Authors Note : My first time travel / AU fic. Hopefully, you guys will like it.

The pairings are going to be not changed for the most part.