Summary: The Kakashi that everyone knew was a laid-back, masked, hid an eye and had this crazy gravity-defying hair that one couldn't help but stare at upon meeting him. Now, what better choice could you possibly make when you needed someone to go undercover in Konoha without anyone knowing? After all, all that Kakashi needed to do, was to unmask himself. That the Jounin didn't like doing so? Well, Tsunda thought, he would just have to deal with it.

Hocus-pocus-quick-idea-that-appeared-in-my-head-and-wouldn't-let-me-rest. Obviously no beta. Also, I don't own Naruto... Nor Kakashi.

Unmasked Cover

Chapter 1 Assignment

"Yo Hokage-sama."

Following his survival instincts, the newly arrived Shinobi immediately leaned to the right as a pencil was flung his way. His eyes widened ever so slightly as it practically ghosted past his shoulder.

Tsunade-sama did not seem to be in a good mood today, the man decided.

He heard the pencil hit the wall with a loud 'crack' and it was only through practice that he was able to keep himself from shuddering. Instead, his only visible eye quirked into a amused and composed expression.

"I thought I was on time?" He inquired, only half-joking.

"Two hours late Hatake!" Tsunade growled at him, her outstretched hand slammed down her desk. "As usual!"

Kakashi opened his mouth to say something but waited when Tsunade cut him off.

"Sometimes I wonder if I should beat the tardiness out of you in a spar." She threatened but it sounded half-heartedly which showed Kakashi that it was not him she was really angry at – and hopefully that it would be an empty threat.

Which probably saved him an ever unpleasunt hospital stay.

He shrugged nonchalantly and started automatically his newest excuse. "Well there was this-".

"If you know what is good for you Kakashi, you will not finish that dumb excuse." Tsunade warned. "I might choose to beat that out of you as well…"

Kakashi glanced back to the pencil that was still quivering from the force it was thrown and wisely kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to know who had provoked the wrath from the woman earlier today, but he had the feeling that he would find out soon.

"I have an undercover mission for you." The Sannin said. Her change in body language told him that she got down to business, immediately gaining his attention.

He raised his visible eyebrow at the odd request but then nodded.

Kakashi had only been on an undercover mission a few times. They were not the most exciting missions seeing as it was a lot of work to get infiltrate a place without anyone noticing – with little physical confrontation - but Kakashi was sure that he would manage well. It had been very interesting in its own right.

It was just slightly unusual that they asked him. Normally they prefered his skills for other high-ranked mission. "Where to?" He asked.

She met his eye for a moment before she hesitantly told him. "Nowhere. You will go undercover in Konoha itself."

Konoha?

Kakashi remained composed on the outside but inside was another story. The wheels in his head spinning rapidly. It was a very unusual request. Konoha. Was there a big threat? Was Danzou behind this somehow? Why did she request him? He was too well-known in this village. Tsunade leaned her chin against her hand, the corner of her lip twitching upward as she saw the calculating look in his eyes.

"There is no reason for too much concern yet, Hatake. It's only B rank." He visibly relaxed at the reassurance, but the question 'why ask him?' still remained.

B-rank.

He decided to risk humoring her.

"Am I being demoted?" He asked and silently wondered if he should put some more effort in appearing on time.

"As much as it would amuse me, not this time." Tsunade smirked slightly, probably thinking along the same lines.

The man hummed before he pointedly shifting his weight to his other leg, earning him a pointed look.

"It's not about your leg injury either, Kakashi."

"It isn't?" Kakashi repeated, not completely believing her.

"No." She scoffed. "Though it does give me the perfect opportunity to force you to let it rest."

"It's fine." The man objected.

"Of course it is, I healed it." Tsunade smirked before flicking her hand in a dismissive manner. "But I'm getting tired of it. So this will be good for you."

She reached out and threw a scroll towards him. He caught it easily and couldn't help but frown upon seeing the orange color – which indeed indicated it to be B ranked mission.

A feeling of dread appeared in his stomach.

The last time the Copy-Cat had been on a B-ranked mission, it had been with Sakura to give her more battle and travel experience. The only reason why he had tagged along was to keep an eye on her. She was the Godaime's apprentice after all, plus he was pretty sure that Naruto would follow up on his threat if something happened to her. So he had kept his promise and kept her safe - while she did all the work.

A fact that she had complained about a lot, which he had quite enjoyed.

He had even got to read his books, which was rare during missions these days – hence most of Sakura's complaining.

So, now that he had to do such a low-ranked mission for his caliber - one that wasn't even for his team's sake… - it made him feel oddly disappointed.

The Hokage's lip twitched as she watched the feared Copy-cat sulk. Proved him right for making her wait about two hours, she thought with a smirk.

Yet, Kakashi had improved a lot from the previous three hours delay a few months ago – probably a way to test her. Unfortunately for Kakashi,Tsunade didn't like to be kept waiting, nor losing. The woman had made that very clear as well. In the end, that one hour and a half hour of tardiness had been their stalemate. She had even already taken his tardiness onto account upon making appointments.

Tell Hatake Kakashi to meet you about two hours earlier than you intent to meet him and he will be on time - or even slightly 'early'.

Everyone was used to planning this way when it came to Kakashi. Well, nearly everyone. That one time that he was suddenly an hour earlier than his usual tardiness hadn't helped to get him completely on time either.

Especially with this incident to back him up, it – unfortunately - gave said shinobi the perfect excuse for sticking to this behavior.

"I wouldn't want to mess up one's schedule." he had casually stated with a shrug, for once not intimidated by the glower that she had send him.

The Sannin sighed at the memory and decided to get back to business.

"Stop sulking Hatake and read the damn thing."

Not wanting to risk actually being demoted by angering her – he had heard enough rumors of one-day demotions filled with loads of D-ranked missions to know that they must hold some truth - Kakashi did as he was told.

His eyes flew over the words, automatically memorizing it before burning the scroll with a quick low-ranked jutsu like he was used to do – it was protocol with high ranked missions.

It wasn't the case with B-ranked missions.

She glared at him and he winched.

"Oops." The jounin said rather lamely and scratched his head, not seeming that sorry at all.

Tsunade sighed. Luckily she had made an extra copy in preparation for exactly that reason.

Kakashi probably suspected this as well.

'Brat' She thought as she gave him a pointed look.

The man's visible eye curved in response.

"Any comments on the information?" She asked tiredly, eager to have a small break after this meeting.

Her secret stash of sake was calling out to her.

"Just that one of the suspects named is most unlikely Hokage-sama." Kakashi commented as he deliberated the value of the information a little longer.

"I knew you would think so." Tsunade nodded. "- and I agree with you, but it is protocol to point out everyone that matches the abilities that the target seems to possess." She reassured him. "Just make sure to check up on him…"

Her face darkened.

"It wouldn't be the first time that a friend strays off the right path." She finished making Kakashi's expression turn gloomy as well.

"I understand."Kakashi answered with a nod.

Her eyes narrowed at him, showing that she was serious about what she was going to tell him.

"More important, this disguised ninja is going around blackmailing citizens and I want him caught. You hear me Hatake? People are losing their trust and I can't have that! I refuse to be mocked like this." The woman glowered and Kakashi silently agreed.

The infiltration during the Chuunin Exams was not that far behind them and there was still some tension left between the two parties. Sure, the civilians knew that it was a ninja world out there and that not everything could be stopped but the ninja still had vowed to protect them. So letting a ninja go about to do as he wished, would not improve the image of the newly instated Hokage.

Kakashi bowed at her in understanding and couldn't help but stand a little more attentive as he straightened again. No matter that this was an 'easy' mission, he didn't like the idea of the Hokage's image being sullied.

A soft smile escapes Tsunade's face as she noticed his slight change in demeanor, but didn't comment on it.

"This is not the first time I send out someone. The previous ninja that was sent was spotted as soon as she used chakra to change her appearance. As you could see from the list, we suspect a good chakra-sensor being involved. The one before her was probably recognized, because the blackmailing stopped as soon as he set food in the area. This might mean a larger network being at hand or that the target is keeping an eye on us." She explained to him.

During her story she stood and turned to the windows and took out a cup of sake that she had hidden underneath a loose wooden beam – knowing that Kakashi already knew that it was there.

She raised an eyebrow at him, as if daring for him to comment on it, but he ignored it. Gulping it down, she stowed it away and continued her story.

"Also, I couldn't find anything that might show a connection to Danzou, but keep an eye out alright? I would love to get some blackmail of my own on that bastard." A feral grin escaped her at the thought.

Kakashi was stuck between frowning at the mention of the organization and grinning at the thought of blackmailing him. He allowed a small nearly invisible smirk instead.

"Hai." He stated, before feeling a sense of dread when he saw Tsunade's expression change to an amused one.

"Now for the fun part…" She mused and the Copy Cat tensed.

"You will go undercover as an older Genin. " Kakashi mentally groaned and barely composed himself, causing her to smile.

"-whom has returned after a long mission from Suna. You were send to Suna directly from a location that you were gathering 'important' information if you need to explain an even longer absence. Seeing as the peace treaty is currently reliable again, you were pulled back. Try not to tell the story unless necessary, but it will be put in "your file"and I will let you read it later. It is based on a deceased Genin from just before the invasion." She paused and the jounin nodded heavily to show that he understood what had probably happened to said genin.

"Also, to make sure that your chakra remains unrecognized, you will use a dampener seal. It will also help you keep up the lower ranked status. " The Hokage said and calmly continued as she watched his thoughtful expression."You're experienced enough to handle the situation without your full capacity and should the need arise, you can always cancel them."

It was true, but that didn't mean that Kakashi enjoyed that annoying tugging sensation that would constantly bother him while it was activated. She knew it is well, so he didn't bother to comment on it.

"Hai." Kakashi repeated warily instead, before he felt a sense of foreboding.

'A chakra sensor… No Henge or genjutsu. So I have no way to mask myself with my chakra and yet she wants me to go undercover in my own home…'

Kakashi twitched.

"Isn't there anyone more capable of thi-" He subtly tried to offer but she cut him off with a smirk.

"Are you saying that you can't handle this Hatake? Not to forget that you are supposed to be great at tracking…"

Damn it, she was provoking him.

They stared at each other for a while, both replaying different possible conversations and their outcomes. Kakashi shoulders tensed slightly, very aware that she would continue until he gave in. After a minute the poor Shinobi sighed in defeat and she raised an amused eyebrow at him.

"Is something wrong brat?" She sounded suspiciously amused.

"It's not that difficult for you to change your appearance." Seeing her wicked amusement, the Jounin knew that his suspicions had been right.

He let part of his composure fall way and let out a groan and stared at the ceiling in silent wonder. Why people were always so obsessed with –

"You just have to take off that mask of yours." She said with a far too delighted tone for Kakashi's liking.

-unmasking him?

~~~ end chapter ~~~

At least a few chapters will eventually be added, but how many and when... I'm not sure yet.

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Seeing as I obviously don't get paid for this - which would have been awesome - those acts of acknowlegdement is what mostly keeps me motivated to take the effort to write down the ideas thar my overactive imagination produce in the very little free time that I currently have.

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