Dear father

I already miss you more than I can say. How are you? I hope the village is doing well and all my friends from the academy. It's lonely out here no one wants to be friends but it's not so bad other than being bored out of my mind. Every day is the same routine we rise early and patrols are sent out if I am not selected for patrols than drills and training are the order of the day. If I am selected for patrols than I can look forward to a full day of running, running, and more running broken up by periods of looking. I know, I know keeping watch for infiltrators and invasions from the land of water is an important task doesn't make it any less boring though. Nothing ever happens here and I have yet to see any sign that we are at war. I guess I should count myself lucky. I hope your well and I hear from you soon.

Love Kakashi

Kakashi stared up at the outpost on the eastern side of fire country placed on a cliff where it could overlook two beaches either of which could be ideal landing spots for an invading army. The outpost it's self wasn't much to look at from this distance. Just a sloppily made earthen wall surrounding a large area and a single watch tower rising above it.

But Kakashi supposed it would have to be home for now. It was hard for him to believe that it had only been a couple of week since he had stopped his father from killing himself. A few days since he had left his real home to come here and fight in the village's war until the sting of his clans dishonor had lessened in his superiors eyes. Kakashi tried not to think about how long that could take. It could have been worse there was worry that the land of water would attempt to invade the eastern border, like they were currently doing in tea country, but for the moment a worry was all it was.

A small village of tents came into view as Kakashi made his way into the outpost and he paused, a moment to get oriented with the base layout, as he headed to the command tent to check in his mind wandered back to a week ago when his life changed forever.

The anbu had arrived almost immediately after Sakumo decided to live, too quickly to be a coincidence. Clearly they had been watching for the outcome before making their presence known. 'They would have just watched as my father bleed out would they have even cared?' Kakashi wondered.

"Sakumo if you aren't indisposed" one of the anbu stated disapprovingly "Lord Danzo wishes your immediate presence." It was clear from the anbu's tone that he had very much hoped to find Sakumo indisposed or worse. And it was all Kakashi could do to not lash out he had never hated another person the way he hated that anbu at that moment.

Kakashi didn't know exactly what Danzo said to his father or how the Hokage got involved but the next few days seem to be one large meeting where his father, Danzo, and the Hokage took turns arguing with each other. Broken up by small periods of rest which the two Hatakes would by unspoken mutual agreement spend together.

He never did go to his graduation party refusing to leave his father side even when he went to meetings unless specifically ordered to by the Hokage or Danzo. An order Danzo had been all too happy to give whenever possible. Fortunately the Hokage seemed to go out of his way to override Danzo in this even ordering his presence at times when he had little business being there.

Eventually the meetings boiled down a stalemate. Danzo insisted that the Hatake clan couldn't be allowed to be dishonorable and receive the village's protection or blessing. But refused to allow Sakumo any chance to redeem himself short of an honorable death either by seppuku or suicide missions. While Sakumo argued to be allowed to remain with in the village until a chance to redeem the Hatake's honor could be found. With the Hokage stuck in the middle

In the end Kakashi was sent to the eastern border post were there was little chance of fighting and Sakumo was allowed to stay with in the village without censure at least that was the how the Hokage hoped it would go.

"Hatake" The word spat like a poison snapped Kakashi from his thoughts on the past "The commander is looking for you try not to keep him waiting." The shinobi glared at him as he quickened his pace clearly wanting to say more.

"Finally" the commander snapped as soon as Kakashi entered the tent as if he had been kept waiting and Kakashi hadn't arrived earlier than scheduled. There were three other shinobi present. Two stood at attention glaring at him as if he had personally affronted them somehow. The third appeared to be trying to trace the outline of the various clouds with her finger.

The commander was short for a grown man though at 5 foot 6 inches he still tower over Kakashi and seemed to enjoy the chance to use his height to intimidate.

"Nakamaru your last teammate has finally arrived head out immediately." The commander smirked.

The youngest of the three other shinobi present straightened seeming to notice Kakashi for the first time "Oh, so he has you heard the Commander move out."

Kakashi blinked he had just got here and it was already late in the afternoon 'What the hell is going on' Kakashi wondered surely they didn't expect him to leave already. But his newly assigned team was already moving and they didn't show any signs of wanting to wait for him. So after a moment's hesitation he leap after them.

"How slow, even a baby should be able to keep up better."

"What's wrong with you Hatake, we just barely started, how are you already tired?"

"Pathetic, didn't your father teach you not to slow others down?"

'My new teammates hate me' Kakashi thought they hadn't missed an opportunity to insult him or complain about his speed.

The team had kept up a brutal pace and Kakashi tried to keep up he really did but he'd spent the whole day traveling and after the second time he stumbled the team leader decided to stop for the night.

With the camp setup, Kakashi finally had a chance to get a feel for his new team. The team leader appeared to be the next youngest, other than Kakashi, on the team at about 12 years old. She had shoulder length black hair. Her blue eyes gleamed with malicious intent and she tended to grin too widely giving her a insane appearance. Every comment she made was mocking though she at least spread her abuse among the whole team rather than focusing on Kakashi like the other two did.

One of his other teammates wore a chunin's vest. Kakashi estimated that he was 14. He had spiky blonde hair. His eyes were covered by dark sunglasses and he wore a perpetual smirk as if the world revolved around him.

The last team member dark haired with forgettable features was the oldest and appeared to be an adult and still a genin. Normally an untalented shinobi like that would have been assigned to a permanent position in the village doing menial jobs no one else wanted to do. But with the war picking up he supposed an out of the way outpost was the best they could do.

Kakashi hesitated his teammates were currently ignoring him and he was loathed to draw the scathing remarks he was sure his question would cause.

"So what is the mission?" Kakashi finally decided that knowing the answer was important enough to risk it. A chill raced its way down his spine as his teammates smiled back at him with malicious glee.

"Well" the team leader smirked "there's the mission and the mission. The mission is to patrol the outposts along the coast. While the mission is to escort you to the drop off point for your transfer to the land of tea."

Kakashi froze he knew his eyes reflected his sheer terror but he couldn't help it. Because he had heard of the land of tea, it was a deathtrap pure and simple, with the highest mortality rate of any battlefield in the war and it wasn't close. The assignment that Danzo had favored and the Hokage and his father had shut down. Only it appears they hadn't and Kakashi couldn't help but feel stupid of course Danzo wouldn't have let himself been overridden so easily.

Kakashi opened his mouth but nothing came out he swallowed and tried again "th-that's"

"A death sentence" the team leader said with a smile though Kakashi noticed for the first time that the smile didn't reach her eyes the way it had when she was tormenting the other members of her team or as it had earlier in the day.

"Good riddance." The Genin scowled.

"What a cruel thing to say to a six year old how do you sleep at night Isshin?" now the team leaders eyes once again lit up in malicious delight.

"Having two soft pillows helps." Isshin replied with a meaningful look back at Jin who smirked.

"You should talk Jin" the other teammate remarked "you and your father have said much worse we should be asking you how you sleep at night." The other teammate remarked.

"Oh, we don't sleep we get our energy from the tears of babies." Jin grinned watching Kakashi with wide delighted eyes.

"I am not a baby" Kakashi scowled.

"Then why are you crying?" Jin asked grinning

"I am not crying." Kakashi insisted

"Look at him Keigo he totally is , man what a baby." Isshin the genin laughed.

"Adults are supposed to outgrow immaturity." Kakashi glared at Isshin who flushed as Jin snickered loudly.

"Shnobi aren't supposed to cry baby." Isshin hissed

"Don't let him get to you Isshin we'll be rid of him soon enough and he'll be on his way to the land of tea" Keigo stretched

It was just too much and Kakashi couldn't take it anymore. As tears came to his eyes he decided he hated his teammates.

"Well I have had enough tears for the night goodnight everyone." Jin said with a bow before heading to her tent.

Everyone but Kakashi muttered a goodnight and quickly turned in.