Hey Guys, hope you like the story. This is only my second attempt ever at writing, so any and all feedback would be appreciated. This story will be long "hopefully" spanning from Naruto as a baby all the way to him being the hero of the Elemental nations. Pairings undecided for both Kakashi and Naruto, Though I don't know if Kakashi will have a pairing yet. We'll just have to see what happens. PM me with any questions, and I'll do my very best to get back to you in a timely manner. Without further ado, enjoy Chapter one of A Debt Unpaid.

Numb. That was all Kakashi felt as he watched the life bleed from the eyes of the enemy shinobi limply hanging on the blade of his Anbu issued tanto. He removed his blade and slowly lowered the now dead man to the ground.

The sixteen year old paused briefly and sent a small burst of chakra to his ears enhancing his hearing. He needed to make sure he hadn't been detected by the other hostiles in the bandit camp he was now crouched just outside of. Judging by the sounds of drunken laughter he heard from the middle of the clearing his cover was secure.

After sheathing his tanto and double checking that the body was securely hidden in the roots of a large oak he began circling the camp making notes of the positions of all the targets within.

While observing his prey he couldn't help but think back on how he had ended up assigned this mission.

The targets, a group of bandits that had been plaguing the Land of Fire for a few months were laughably unprepared for any type of assault.

The majority of them were civilian criminals, most of which had no skill in combat relying purely on their bulk and sadistic natures to dissuade any would be assailant. The only true threats were the two missing nin who led the group and even they weren't very impressive, especially given that one of them was already lying dead in the bushes.

They were rogue ninjas from Kusagakure both at barely chunin level. The deceased was one Tanjiro Matsube; he and his brother Ko had fled the grass village a few years back during the Third Great Ninja War doing small freelance missions for hire before apparently deciding to earn their bread by robbing merchant caravans across Fire country.

They were small time enough that they would have been able to continue without much notice if their most recent target hadn't been under the employment of one of Konoha's largest clans, the Hyuuga.

Their Clan Head Hisashi had immediately requested an audience with the Hokage upon hearing of the death of his largest supplier of textiles and the following theft of said goods.

This sort of thing could be carried out by a squad of chunin, hell even an experienced Jounin with a squad of Genin students could handle this without much trouble. But when you mess with one of Konoha's clans the retribution is always swift and often bloody. So the mission was passed to Anbu, and Kakashi had requested the job. Not because of any special affection for the Hyuuga, but purely because he didn't want to sit idle in the village any longer than he had to.

The war was over, they were in peace times now and anbu missions were not as prevalent as they once were. The job needed to be done and he jumped at the chance. The silver haired teen had to keep himself busy. He couldn't just go back to his empty apartment and sit, not anymore. Not when any time he spent unoccupied was plagued with regret and the everpresent ghosts of the ones he had failed.

The young man was quickly brought out of his musings as he had to dart behind a tent to avoid a rather seedy looking bandit stumbling to the outskirts of the clearing to relieve himself.

Once the man was far enough out of the range of the fire's light a well placed shuriken to the back of the neck ensured he would not be returning to his comrades. There were only 7 bandits left, not including the remaining Matsube brother.

He palmed a kunai in each hand, and locked onto his first victim with his sharingan.

It was time to get to work.

Ko Matsube was pleased.

The shaggy brown haired man was practically giggling as he counted the bounty of his crew's latest conquest. He couldn't believe how easy it had been for his bandits to run rampant thru Fire country.

He had expected the "Mighty" Konoha to have at least attempted some sort of investigation by now, but his sources were reporting that they were in the clear. With his mood high he decided that he would join his brother and the other men outside for a drink to celebrate their success.

He removed his flak vest and grabbed his special bottle of Imported Kumo sake he had taken from that cowardly merchant he'd killed the week prior and stepped out of his tent.

His jovial mood vanished at the sight laid out before him.

His entire crew lying dead around the campfire in what had now become a makeshift graveyard. He didn't even have time to process what he was seeing when he heard it.

The sound of what seemed to be a thousand screeching birds. He turned around just in time for a gloved hand covered in lighting chakra to pierce his heart. As his life left him the last thing Ko Matsube saw was a painted mask, and a haunting red eye.

Kakashi sighed as he removed his porcelain Anbu mask and bent down to clean his hands in a river near the bandits camp.

He stared at his reflection in the surface of the water for a moment and took in his tired appearance. Gravity defying silver hair above mismatched eyes. One a deep charcoal black and the other a stark red with three black marks circling the pupil with scarring evident above and below the crimson orb. Below that the teens nose and jaw were completely covered by a black cloth mask that extended from the collar of his shirt.

He stared for a moment longer before plunging his hands into the Ice cold waters to begin cleaning bodies of the deceased ninja had already been sealed into scrolls for transport along with all the misbegotten valuables. After he finished cleaning and rested for a moment it would be time to head back to Konoha and confirm completion of his mission.

As he washed his hand clean of the blood and viscera of the former bandit leader he couldn't help the shudder that shook through him.

He didn't use the chidori much anymore. This was actually the first time in over a year since he had performed the jutsu he had created as a child. It's not that it wasn't an effective technique, far from it. As evidenced by the dead ninja now sealed into the scroll on his belt, it was an extremely effective assassination weapon.

No, the reluctance came from the memories he had attached to the lightning justu. He still saw it on nights when he couldn't train his body into exhaustion to avoid the dreams, or more accurately nightmares. The look on Rin's face as she died. His childhood friend and teammate had looked so sad, so broken as his hand pierced her heart. He would never forget the feeling, the betrayal.

"What would Obito have thought?" He asked himself for what felt like the millionth time.

The teen shook himself before he could go too far down that hole.

After double checking that his hands were clean he stood from the river bank, slipped his mask back onto his face, and began his trek back to Konoha.

It had been a long night but he wasn't looking forward to resting, maybe he could talk The Hokage into assigning him another mission near to the village. Though he doubted the man would entertain such a request.

He already thought that Kakashi was working himself too hard, pushing himself too far past the normal restraints set for the Black Ops division.

Kakashi was sure that as soon as he entered the old man's office he would be offered leave.

The teen would decline then the village leader would insist, and after five minutes of back and forth that benefited no one Kakashi would be forced to take a few days off.

He was dreading it already.

The village was quiet as he passed through the gate.

The two chunin guards on duty, Izumo and Kotetsu he thought their names were, just waved him through at the sight of his Anbu mask.

After a quick nod of acknowledgement he took to the rooftops with a chakra enhanced jump and began speeding across Konoha's skyline headed towards the Hokage's tower in the center of the village.

It was just after five a.m. meaning most in the village were just waking up to begin their day never noticing the cloaked specter that raced above them.

Kakashi arrived with little difficulty, and after using a secret entrance put in place specifically for the Black Ops division, the silver haired teen found himself on one knee in front of the most powerful man in all of Fire country, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He was an elderly man in his late sixties with tan liver spotted skin and a head bald on top with a crown of hair on the sides covered by his ceremonial robes and hat. The look on his face though was much more akin to a kind grandfather than a seasoned veteran able to bring entire armies to their knees.

He removed his still smoking pipe from his mouth as he addressed the kneeling teen by his codename.

"Ah Dog, I see you have returned from your mission. I trust it was successful then."

Without standing up the teen responded in a dull tone "Yes Lord Hokage, the bandit camp has been disposed of."

The ANBU captain then paused as he removed the sealing scrolls attached to his belt.

"I have the bodies of the rogue nin, and their stolen valuables sealed here." He continued as he passed the handful of scrolls to the tired looking chunin who had been "lucky enough" to be assigned to the aged Hokage as an assistant for the day.

The old man smiled before replying "Wonderful, great work as always Dog. Hisashi will be pleased to hear it was handled so swiftly. Though I did not foresee you having any trouble with a few bandits."

The man paused for a moment, and motioned for the chunin with the scrolls to leave the room.

"If you would please excuse us young Reishi." The young chunin bowed at the waist and with a quickly uttered "Hokage-Sama" he quickly left the room.

The village leader's face clouded over for a moment as he watched the young man go.

The old Hokage was not looking forward to the discussion he needed to have with the young anbu still kneeling before him, but current circumstances had left him no other choice.

"Rise Dog if you would there is something I'd like to discuss with you."

The teen sighed mentally as he stood and slid his hands into his pockets. "Here it comes" he thought to himself preparing for the lecture that was sure to follow.

The old man continued "I would like to discuss an assignment I have for you."

To say the teen was surprised would be an understatement, but he covered his shock well and quickly removed his hands from his pockets, all prior signs of weariness gone.

"Absolutely sir I live to serve."

The Hokage grimaced but it went unseen by the masked teen as the old man's back was to him while he gazed out the window at his beloved Konoha. The sight was usually enough to bring a smile to his face, but this time all he felt as he gazed out at his people was frustration.

He hated hearing that monotone from Kakashi.

When the boy was younger he wasn't exactly expressive but at least he sounded human. The young man had been practically killing himself since he joined Anbu two years ago. Requesting mission after mission, never staying in the village for more than a few days at a time.

It broke Sarutobi's old heart to see this young promising ninja buried so deep in the sorrows of his past. The life of a ninja was easy for no one, but it had been particularly unkind to young Kakashi Hatake.

But he was hoping that the task he had for the young shinobi could begin to turn things around.

Hiruzen then realized he'd been lost in thought for a moment leaving the boy in waiting, and cleared his throat before continuing.

"The mission is long term, no set time frame."

Kakashi winced at that. While he wanted to be kept busy Konoha was still his home and the thought of leaving it behind for possibly years twisted his heart a bit.

His worries were then calmed by the elder man's following statement.

"The assignment will take place largely in Konoha, with only possible sporadic travel in the future."

Seeing the way the teens shoulders relaxed just a hair the old Hokage continued.

"It will in essence be a security detail requiring daily support and supervision of the client."

The man paused turning around to face the teen before continuing. "While this mission will not take you outside of Konoha it is classified as S-Rank".

Kakashi's eyes widened a bit behind his mask upon hearing that.

Only the most difficult missions were bestowed with an S-Ranking. He completed a few already in his tenure as an ANBU Captain, and each one had nearly cost him his life.

Sensing the teens anticipation the wizened Hokage continued on.

"This rank is not given for degree of difficulty or a high risk of death, but for its supreme importance to the village and its future."

At this point the teen was wracking his brain trying to decipher who exactly was important enough to require such protection.

"Perhaps one of the clan heirs?" the young man mused to himself. He knew that in the past three years almost all of the Heads of the major clans of the village had produced an offspring.

That thought was cast off as quickly as it came.

Each of those children had an entire clan that would die to protect them. One lone anbu wouldn't make a difference regardless of how skilled the teen was.

No it must have been some political figure, perhaps a council member.

The Hokage, unaware of his subordinate's internal debate carried on, knowing his next statement would not be well received by the teen.

"This mission will require your retirement from the Anbu Corps effective immediately."

Kakashi froze.

Retire from Anbu, he couldn't. He wouldn't, it just wasn't an option.

He was in his prime and his squad needed him. He couldn't walk out on his promising career for a fancy bodyguard assignment, S-rank or not. On top of that if he didn't have anbu he would lose his main distraction, and the teen knew he could not handle that nor did he want to try.

The Hokage would have to find someone else.

Hiruzen saw the teens body language change as soon as he said it.

To most the young man would look like any soldier standing at attention, but the Hokage knew better.

He saw the clenched fist held at his sides, and the sudden tensing of his shoulders. The experienced shinobi could practically hear the teen's teeth grind as his jaw tensed. The man knew he had to act fast.

"The one you would be protecting is Naruto Uzumaki."

Twice in the span of five minutes Kakashi was floored by the old man before him. He felt his righteous indignation at Hokage's suggestion that he retire slip away and be replaced with the cold weight of guilt.

Naruto Uzumaki, the son of his former Sensei, Minato Namikaze, and the container of the nine-tailed demon fox that had decimated the village less than two years ago.

Suddenly, he was back on the outskirts of the village watching a monstrous orange beast the size of the Hokage monument ripping through Konoha's forces, before it was suddenly teleported out of the village by what could have only been his teacher signature justu, The Hiraishin.

He remembered the absolute horror he felt when he heard that his sensei, the closest thing he had to a father and his wife Kushina, one of the kindest "albeit terrifying" women he had ever met were gone, killed by the beast while trying to protect their son.

Then the numbness set in as he wandered around the broken village for days until he was called before the Hokage and laid eyes on him for the first time, baby Naruto.

He should have been overjoyed to see that the son his mentor had been so excited to meet had survived, but he felt nothing except a dull ache at the fact that the child already looked exactly like his father.

The only difference being three whisker marks that adorned each cheek, a side effect of housing the fox he assumed.

The boy had smiled up at him with his sunny blond hair, and cerulean blue eyes, he made no noise just a smile. Kakashi then realized that while he had Minato's features, that smile was all Kushina.

The sight had warmed his numbness for a moment, and for the first time in days Kakashi had smiled.

It was a small thing, just a slight upturn of the lips barely noticeable behind his mask, but it was enough.

From then on every time Kakashi was on leave he would take some time and check up on the child. He never got to close or introduced himself to his caretakers or the boy himself. He would always just watch from a distance for a moment to ensure his sensei's legacy still lived before disappearing into his self-isolation..

"-kashi are you with me?"

The teen was jolted back to the present as the Hokage called his name for the third time in a row.

The teen bowed in apology before answering

"I'm sorry sir I just wasn't expecting that." He stated slowly before regaining his wits and continuing.

"I was under the impression that Naruto already had caregivers and a protection detail."

The old man sighed and he seemed to age another ten years as he sunk into the chair at his desk and replied "He did until last night."

He glanced at the teen and took his silence as a request to continue.

"At roughly eleven-thirty p.m. last night Naruto was found alone and unconscious in an alleyway in the red light district."

Kakashi couldn't help the small gasp that escaped his lips.

While it wasn't quite fall yet the night had been getting considerably colder as of late, and Naruto a child of not even two was abandoned in an alley.

He felt his chakra begin to flare as his mind raced through all of the terrible possibilities of what could have happened.

Seeing the worry the silver haired teen exuded the Hokage quickly continued. "The boy is fine now."

Kakashi released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"He will be in the hospital for the next two days, but that's less for his health and more for the fact that he no longer has a place to live.

His former caretakers are in T&I having a long chat with Ibiki as we speak and the ANBU agent that was supposed to be guarding the boy has been stripped of his rank and will be on probation for the next five years."

Kakashi was both relieved and frustrated upon hearing that.

The caretakers would be getting what they deserved. Ibiki may not have been in Torture and Interrogation long, but he had already made a name for himself as a vicious bastard.

The Anbu on the other hand got off too light in his opinion, maybe he'd ask around and find out exactly who it was and pay them a visit…Just to have a chat of their own.

Sarutobi sensing the teens chakra calming down continued on.

"Given everything that's happened I have decided it is too dangerous for young Naruto to be left in civilian care. This is the sixth foster family he has been placed with in less than two years. Each one passing him on faster than the last."

Hiruzen sighed in frustration. Every time a different excuse was given, but The Old Hokage knew the truth of the matter. Each time it was the same underlying reason, the stigma associated with the child had caused their neighbors to turn their backs on them by association.

The thought made him sick.

Kakashi was unknowingly mirroring the Hokage's current line of thought.

"Six families in less than two years?! That's ridiculous." He had noticed over the course of his check ups Naruto had been in different locations, but he had assumed they were just visiting friends. He cursed himself for not paying more attention.

Sarutobi then continued "He needs to be placed with someone who can be trusted, and that can both care for him and protect him."

The old man's next words sent the young Hatake floundering.

"And after much thought I have decided that someone is you."

The teen's eyes widened behind his mask, and after getting over the initial shock he immediately began to protest.

"Hokage sama I agree wholeheartedly that Naruto needs to be cared for and protected and I have absolutely no problem being that protection, but you can't honestly believe that I'm the best person to raise the boy."

The "when I can barely take care of myself" was left unsaid but the older man heard it loud and clear.

When the silver haired Anbu's statement was met with no response he continued.

"There must be other shinobi more suited for the role, or one of the clans can take him in. I know the Nara in particular had expressed interest when he was younger." Before he could continue he was interrupted by the tired tone of the older man.

"Almost all of the clans have expressed interest which is precisely why none of them can take him. You mustn't forget Kakashi that while he is only a child he is also the jinchuriki of the nine-tails.

To put that much power and influence into the hands of any of the clans no matter how noble the intentions would be disastrous.

Each clan is kept in a delicate balance of power and if one of them were to suddenly have the family rights to the village's demon vessel then that delicate balance would be destroyed, which could result in a civil war that Konoha would not survive."

Seeing the teen was digesting his words the man continued

"To address your other point while yes there are other shinobi within the village who would be more suited to care for a child there is none more suited to care for this child. You are the one of only a few people still alive who know of Naruto's true parentage, and on top of that you are one of the only shinobi who has the skills to protect the boy from anyone that would cause him harm."

"If word of his lineage were to get out or if the truth about what was sealed within him was released every Kage in the Elemental Nations would have it out for the boy. Either to kill him for revenge against his father or kidnap him to create a weapon for their forces."

While the teen didn't like it he could see the logic behind the Hokage's words, but that didn't mean he had given up yet.

"What about Jiraiya? He is Naruto's Godfather. It's literally his job to care for him in the wake of his parents' death, and he could decimate anyone who would threaten the boy with ease."

Hiruzen was already shaking his head before Kakashi finished speaking.

"While you're right that as the boy's godfather the responsibility should fall to him, Jiraiya can't care for him. His spy network keeps him out of the village, and on the move for the majority of the year. He can't quit. His network is too important for the security of Konoha, and he can't take Naruto with him because the road is no place for an infant."

He paused looking irritated as he made his next statement.

"That and the fact that there is no way the council would let the village's jinchuriki leave the safety of the village for such extensive periods of time as a child, accompanied by a legendary sannin or not."

He paused and stared Kakashi straight in the face, and the teen couldn't help but feel as if the powerful man could see right through his mask.

"There is no one else Kakashi."

He paused again sighing as his shoulders sagged and he looked every bit the sixty eight year old man that he was. Hiruzen hated to do it but he knew it was time to twist the knife.

"You are the closest thing to family Naruto has left. Minato took you in after Sakumo died-" Kakashi cursed his weakness as his body involuntarily flinched at the mention of his father. "it is now your turn to repay that debt."

"Or do you not care for the child Minato died to save."

Kakashi recoiled as if the older man had struck him.

Of course he cared about Naruto. Sarutobi just didn't understand, he couldn't raise a child.

He was broken, damaged goods with more issues that he could count. He couldn't subject a child to that, especially sensei's son. Plus he was only sixteen dammit, he was no more fit to be a parent than he was to be hokage.

He wanted to rage and scream and explain to the old man that he was crazy to want to put a child under his care.

But he couldn't, because at the end of the day Sarutobi was right. His argument was sound, and any rebuttals Kakashi could muster had been crushed by the elder's last words.

He had a debt that had to be paid.

His mind made up, he slowly reached up and removed the porcelain mask from his face.

"Effective immediately I Kakashi Hatake relinquish the codename Dog and resign from the ANBU Black Ops Division." He placed the mask on the desk in front of the Hokage.

He paused for a moment knowing once he uttered his next statement there was no going back. His life would irrevocably be changed for better or worse. He took a deep breath and shored up his resolve.

"And I accept full guardianship of Naruto Uzumaki."