Kakashi sprinted through the forest with his ninken by his side, tracking the trail of destruction left behind by Orochimaru.

The broken branches, scorched earth, and bloodstains showed that a battle had taken place, and only just been won.

But who had come out on top? Who was strong enough to contend against Orochimaru?

These questions burned in his mind as he burst into a small clearing.

What he found there stopped him in his tracks.

Orochimaru, wounded and leaning against a tree, was a shocking sight. But there was no sign of his attacker.

Kakashi approached cautiously, his senses on high alert for any sign of an ambush.

But all was quiet, except for the rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. His ragged breathing was the only other sound.

As he drew closer, Orochimaru's head snapped around, his eyes widening in recognition.

"You..." he hissed, his voice rough with pain.

Kakashi didn't respond. He just stared, taking in the sight of the man who had once been a respected ninja, now broken and defeated.

A small part of him, the part that remembered the man the Sannin used to be, felt a pang of pity.

But that was all it was – a small part. The man before him was a monster, and he needed to be stopped for the good of the village, for the good of the world.

Without a word, he charged, his chidori flashing to life, casting sharp shadows across his mask.

But Orochimaru was ready, even in his wounded state. He gritted his teeth, wincing inwardly as he grabbed Kakashi's forearm.

Using the Copy Ninja's momentum against him, he launched himself into the air, twisting like a snake to land in a crouch behind him.

His arms transformed into a mass of snakes, which shot forward like whips.

Kakashi leapt back, his Sharingan eye tracking the snakes as he slashed at them with his kunai, keeping them at bay.

Just as he was busy with the snakes, two more snake-like arms burst from the ground, snatching his ankles and holding him in place.

His eyes widened in surprise as he found himself trapped.

Seeing his chance, Orochimaru struck. His head shot forward like a cobra, aiming for Kakashi's neck.

Kakashi twisted his body at the last moment, and his fangs just grazed his shoulder.

But Orochimaru wasn't finished. As his head retracted, his mouth opened wide, and a long, sword-like snake shot out.

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Kakashi, still held by the snake arms, could only bring up his kunai to block the attack.

The impact was powerful, sending him flying back, and the snake arms released their grip.

He crashed to the ground, scrambling to his feet. His shoulder burned where Orochimaru's fangs had scratched him, and his arms ached from the impact of the snake-sword.

Orochimaru retracted his snake-sword, his arms and head returning to normal.

A smile spread across his face. "Is that all you've got, Kakashi? I expected more from the famous Copy Ninja."

Kakashi was stunned. He had known the Sannin was strong, but this was beyond anything he had expected.

Orochimaru seemed to sense his thoughts, his eyes lingering on the Sharingan as their gazes met.

Then, he turned and vanished into the trees, disappearing into the night.

The Copy Ninja stood rooted to the spot, still trying to process what had just happened.

He had just faced a Sannin in battle... and he had been thoroughly outmatched. Completely.

If not for his wounds, he had no illusions about how that confrontation would have ended.

He stood frozen, lost in thought, until the sound of footsteps snapped him back to reality.

He spun around, hand instinctively reaching for his kunai, but relaxed as a familiar figure emerged from the trees.

It was Kagami carrying an unconscious Hana Inuzuka in his arms.

"Kagami?" he blinked. "What are you doing here?"

The boy shifted Hana's limp form, his face straining with effort.

"We were training," he explained. "But then the alarms went off, and Hana's uncle told us to hide. We tried, but it was so dark... Hana tripped and hit her head."

Kakashi frowned behind his mask. How had they managed to be here, in the middle of all that chaos and destruction, and yet remain unscathed?

It seemed impossible, and yet, here they were. Hana had a bump on her head, but otherwise, they were okay.

He couldn't help but wonder. There was something that didn't quite add up about the story.

But that was a mystery for another time. Right now, he had a duty to perform.

"The village is safe now," he told Kagami, bending down to scoop Hana into his arms. "Orochimaru's gone. I'll take you both home."

The boy looked up at him, his dark eyes wide and innocent. "You promise? It's really over?"

Kakashi nodded, trying to sound reassuring. "I promise. You were very brave, Kagami. Both of you. Now let's get you back where you belong."

He tucked Hana close to his chest and set off through the trees, Kagami clinging to his back like a little monkey. They made an odd sight, but he didn't mind.

There was something comforting about the weight of them, the warmth of their breath on his neck.

A reminder of what he fought for, of the innocence he strove to protect.

Even if, in Kagami's case, that innocence wasn't entirely genuine.

They dropped Hana off first, leaving her in the care of her frantic mother.

Then it was on to the Gekko compound, where a pale and anxious Hayate was waiting at the gate.

"Kagami!" Hayate's voice was filled with relief as he swept his brother into a tight hug. "Where have you been? I was so worried..."

Kagami wrapped his arms around his brother. "Sorry. We were training at the Inuzuka compound, and we lost track of time. It won't happen again, I promise."

Hayate held him tighter. Over Kagami's shoulder, he met Kakashi's gaze, gratitude written all over his face.

"Thank you," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "Thank you for bringing him home."

Kakashi nodded, feeling a sudden lump in his throat.

"It was my pleasure," he said softly. "You have a very special brother, Hayate. Take good care of him."

With that, he leapt onto the nearest rooftop, leaving the Gekko brothers to their reunion.

But even as he raced across the village, his mind was racing faster still, turning over the events of the night.

As he walked away, he replayed the events of the night in his mind.

Orochimaru's escape, the mysterious battle in the woods, the strange feeling he got whenever he looked into Kagami's eyes...

It was all connected, he was sure of it. He just didn't know how. Not yet.

But he would find out. One way or another, he would uncover the truth behind this night's events.

----------

In his room, Kagami stood before his terrarium, a grim smile spreading across his face. The spider inside scurried forward.

"Well done," he murmured, reaching out to stroke one leg with a gentle finger. "You did well tonight. Very well indeed."

The spider seemed to enjoy his touch, its mandibles clicking in what might have been pleasure. Or hunger.

"Rest now," he whispered. "There will be more work for you soon enough."

With that, he turned away, leaving the spider to its own thoughts.