"Kaeru!" Anko yelled as she watched the boy leaped from rooftop to rooftop ahead of her, as she had told him yesterday she would buy him dango the next morning (which is today) if he came down from the tree.

Little did Anko know that Kaeru would be awake at 7 am ready for the sweets.

So here was the jōnin, running along roof tops of Konoha in her PJ's after a silver haired ninja who was more than determined to get what he wanted.

"No, Anko-chan, it's time!! It's time for dangos!" He shouted as he ran along the roofs, and Anko just sighed heavily.

"They won't be open for a couple of hours Kaeru!" She shouted, and he slid to a stop and turned to her with a pout.

"Then will Anko-chan train with me some more before they open?!" He asked, and Anko sighed but nodded her head.

"Of course I will."

| × | × | × | × | × |

Kaeru

"Kaeru! Are you-... Stop playing around!" Anko exclaimed as soon as she realized that my pain is a fake.

I grinned, giving her a peace-sign. "Hehe... You fell for it, Anko-chan!"

A soft amused smile crept into her face.

"If you can cross the lake without falling, we'll go home, get changed, and buy that dango." She said, "Hurry up, Kaeru."

I nodded, and turned away, my back facing her, as I stared at the lake in front of me.

I smiled a little. Anko-chan is so kind... Just like Obito...

"Anko." I heard someone called. His voice make me froze, and I slowly turned. My eyes widened.

It was Aniki.

He was standing in front of Anko, his hands in his pockets. He still had that cold look, and I winced at the aura he gave off.

"Kaeru! Just continue training! I'll be talking with your brother for a while!"

"Hai, Anko-chan!" I replied, trying to sound as cheery as possible, while turning my gaze away.

What did Aniki want? Please don't let him make Anko hates me, Kami...

I don't understand. Why does Anko wants to take care of me? Am I really worth it?

I shook my head at the thought. No, I can't think about that.

And thus, I start over.

Kakashi

I watched as my bro-... Kaeru mutters to himself, before shaking his head and began to take steady steps on the lake surface.

"He already... managed to do... that?" I asked the purple-haired jōnin, pointing at the boy.

She sighed, nodding. "He's actually a genius. No offense, but maybe even better than you." She said, "Sadly, he never got any chance to prove himself worthy."

I narrowed my eyes. "What are you trying to say?"

"Don't hate him. Please." The Mitarashi technically begged to me, "He's not insane. He's broken. He never felt any love before, and that's why his behaviour is this way. Don't you notice how he had changed since the first time we met him?"

I slowly, reluctantly, nodded. Yes, the crazed look in his eyes is gone, replaced by happiness. The smile never left his face.

My fingers twitched. He looked so innocent, and it sickens me.

"Anko-chan! Look at me!"

Both of us turned, to find him standing at the other end of the lake, waving at Anko. The Mitarashi smiled, waving back. She pushed me away.

"I have to go, Kakashi. Come back when you decided to accept him as your little brother."

Her tone held no emotion. No anger, no sadness, no disappointment.

It was strange, because as far as I know, Anko is a hyperactive, noisy, cheerful teen.

I watched silently as Anko left me, walking towards the lake.

"I guess it's time for dango, eh?" She asked the boy, who nodded and began to jump around in excitement.

| × | × | × | × | × |

No One

After Kaeru basically dragged Anko all the way to the shop in a mad dash, he finally slowed down and walked at a normal pace. Anko was more than relieved (her arm felt like it was about to rip off) when Kaeru came to a stop in front of the shop.

"Oh my Kami! Dango!" He said, Anko just laughed and let go of his hand.

"Go on." Anko said, and the young Hatake basically ran into the shop and to a seat. He sat down and placed his hands on his lap as if he was trying to keep himself still. He was still bouncing in his spot though.

Anko sat down across from him, and when the waitress came over to ask them what they wanted, Anko ordered for both of them. Getting what she used to get for him when he was younger, and the joy on Kaeru's face was enough to bring a single tear to Anko's eyes.

"Thank you Anko-chan!" He said as he stared at the dango when it was placed in front of him, but he barely had time to finish his sentence before he had shoved half of the dango he had gotten into his mouth.

Anko watched him and couldn't help but laugh at him. His child like attitude was one of the best parts about him lately, showing that some of the old Kaeru was there. Anko truly did believe that with some work, love, and affection, the old Kaeru could be brought back. She just had to do her best to get him there.

"Done!" His exclamation brought her out of her thoughts. She ruffled his hair, chuckling. "You're so fast, Kaeru! It's actually awesome!"

Kaeru grinned. "I just love them! Now what are we going to do, Anko-chan?"

Anko frowned. She never thought about that.

Fortunately, the Hokage saved her. He suddenly appeared behind them, wearing his almighty white-and-red uniform.

"Hello, Anko, Kaeru." He greeted.

"Old man!" Kaeru exclaimed in reply, grinning and waving, "Hello!"

"Would you two mind to go with me?

" Not at all, Old Man! Let's go!"

| × | × | × | × | × |

"Uh... A-Anko-chan... I don't wanna go there..." Kaeru stuttered, as he slowly backed away, trying to release himself from the jōnin's grip.

"Kaeru... What's wrong?"

Kaeru only shook his head, "I hate white buildings!" He shrieked, and she sighed.

"We don't hurt people at hospitals, Kaeru. We heal them. All we want to do is to check your health and also see your DNA." Hiruzen said, sighing heavily.

The boy finally nodded hesitantly, and turned at Anko. She gave him a reassuring smile, and took his hand, pulling him inside the hospital.

How everyone bowed when the Hokage walked by makes Kaeru wonder. It was nice, seeing the nurses greeted them all and even smiled at him. People don't fear him here. People adore him. And he likes that.

"We're here." The Hokage said, as he came into a halt. "Come on."

They entered the room, and Kaeru's eyes widened.

Just like his cell, everything has same color. Instead of grey, it's white.

Just like his old 'doctors', everyone is wearing a medical mask and gloves, holding medicines and injections.

Just like that laboratory, there's a bed, monitors, a metal sink, and other familiar equipments.

And just like his old world, everyone was staring, analyzing him.

"I... K-Kaeru..." He muttered, his voice too weak to be heard. He froze when the medic nins began to talk to him.

"Come on sweetie! Sit down here and don't move around too much!"

"It won't take long! And it won't hurt!"

He was paralyzed. It was as if he was tied again, in that same dark cell, surrounded by those evil men. Kaeru doesn't realize that someone had lifted him up and put him on the bed.

He didn't listen to whatever the people were talking about. It was as if his eyes were blindfolded again, as if his nose were covered again. He was scared. He could feel cold metal brushed against his arm, and he quickly shut his eyes tight. His body starts trembling, and his head began to hurt.

Then he felt it. He felt a needle went through his skin, and a foreign liquid entered his veins.

The silverette's eyes snapped open, and he let out a bloodcurdling scream.

| × | × | × | × | × |

Kakashi was having a normal day. As normal as a day for Kakashi as it could get. He was training, as he normally did, hiding from his 'eternal rival', his usual routine.

A few more punches, and Kakashi felt like he was successful for the day and began to pack up his items. That is, until a blood-curdling scream filled his ears.

Not just any scream, but the scream of his little brother.

Without hesitation, Kakashi leaped from the ground and began to ran towards the hospital. He didn't know why he was trying to go help his little brother, he didn't even really care about his brother that much.

But something, almost an instinct, made Kakashi leap towards the hospital. He bursted into the doors, and he followed the screams that were still escaping his baby brother's lips.

Outside the open door was the Hokage, quickly making his way back into the room. Inside the room, Anko was standing beside Kaeru with her hands placed on his chest in an attempt to calm him down.

"NO! KAERU DOESN'T LIKE IT! NO MORE BAD STUFF, PLEASE!" Kaeru screamed, and Kakashi could hear Anko gently trying to shush him as she placed her arms across Kaeru's fragile body.

Hiruzen made his way over to the boy, also placing his arms over the boy to hold him down. But it seemed as if the two people we having no affect on the spazzing boy.

In a split second, Kakashi decided to help. He ran over to his brother and placed his hands against the boys shoulder to hold him down against the bed.

"Kaeru! You need to calm down!" Kakashi yelled at the boy, and he froze in the middle of his panic attack, and just stared at the other Hatake above him.

"Listen to me Kaeru, you just have to calm down. You cannot freak out like this, understand?" Kakashi said, and Kaeru gently raised his hand up and placed his hand on his brother's masked face.

"D-Daddy..?" Kaeru mumbled, before his eyes fluttered closed and he fell limp against the bed, passing out from using so much energy.

Kakashi's eyes widened. "W-What...?"

"Did he just think that you're Sakumo...?" Hiruzen muttered out of disbelief, receiving a weak nod from Anko.

Kakashi's hands began to tremble, still in shock. He slowly backs away, shaking his head slightly.

"No way..." He breathed out, gritting his teeth.

And then, he teleported away.

| × | × | × | × | × |

"This boy has serious health issues." The medic-nin said, glaring slightly at the paper in front of her, "He has so many drugs in his body. It's bad for his liver."

Anko gulped.

"Don't you see how thin he is?! He's malnourished! He also suffers a major sleeping and eating disorder! Look at his face! He's so pale! He hasn't been getting enough rest!"

Anko cringed, but listened to the scolding nevertheless. "I know, I know. He has been having hard time, and it was hard for him to recover."

"That explains his panic attack, I suppose?"

Anko nodded. "He has bad experiences with drugs, injections, medicines, pills, you know what I'm talking about."

"I see. That makes things difficult."

Anko sighed. "Any medication he has to take?"

"I don't think meds are good for him... Just make sure he eats and sleeps properly, plus don't eat to much sugar, and please have him drink lots of milk and water. It might help his liver and neutralize all the drugs."

"Okay. When may he leave?"

"As soon as he wakes up." The medic-nin said, before she left the room.

Anko sighed, running her fingers through her purple hair, "Kaeru... I just don't understand... You don't deserve any of this..."

"Did he tell you what happened to him in that 'Earth'?" A voice asked. Anko turned, to find Ibiki.

She slowly nodded. "It was horrible. I just can't believe it. He's just 13, for Kami's sake! I can't imagine myself going through all of that!"

Ibiki narrowed his eyes. Anko herself had went through many of Orochimaru's experiments. She had survived the curse mark, and she already suffers a lot, maybe even more than the tortures Ibiki went through.

It must be something far from normal, if Anko is scared of it.

"What did happen to him?" Ibiki asked as he moved slightly closer to the unconscious boy.

Anko sighed heavily and began to tell him what all poor Kaeru had been through.

| × | × | × | × | × |

Ibiki stared at Kaeru with sad, wide eyes. His story was enough to make even Ibiki feel bad. Kaeru had been through more than Ibiki could have ever imagined, and he now understood why the boy was so messed up.

"I feel so... bad for him." Ibiki said as he stared at Kaeru, and then looked back at Anko. "We need to fix him as best we can. But I don't think we can without Kakashi helping us."

"You? You wanna help? The big bad Morino wants to help? The world must be ending." Anko said with a laugh, and Ibiki glared at her slightly.

"Shut it."

"Fine. But you're right, we do need Kakashi." Anko said with a sigh.

| × | × | × | × | × |

Kakashi sat somewhere he hadn't been a while, never actually. In front of his fathers grave. He was staring at the stone that had his father's name on it.

"I'm only here because I need to talk about Kaeru." Kakashi started. "He's back. And I'm not sure how to feel about it. He's crazy. Borderline insane. He thought I was you today for Kami sake. But he needs someone to help, and the only person who has been there for him is Anko. I don't know how to be there for him, Dad. Do I help, or let Anko do her thing with him?"

He sighed, and shook his head. "I mean... We were never be that close... I just don't like him... He's so ignorant... He- He took away Mom..."

"I guess I just don't know how should I react... He disappeared all of a sudden, and he suddenly returned as a psychotic brat who seemed to have no right mind."

"I was never close to him anyways. But I think I should give it a try. I'll talk to him." He finished, as he stood up.

"I guess I'll see you later. Bye, Dad."

And Kakashi left the cemetery. He strolled through the village, his hands shoved in his pockets. Occasionally, he would nod at the greetings of the passing fellow shinobis, who acknowledged him as one of the best shinobi in Konoha.

Kakashi

"Hey, Kakashi! I heard you had become a captain ANBU now!" Inoichi said as I walked past his flower shop. I gave him a confirming nod, and he grinned widely.

"It's amazing! Such young age! You are very talented, Hatake! I don't know anyone with the skill as great as yours!"

"Thank you, Inoichi-san." I replied, and he chuckled in return. Now that I think about it... Even before he disappeared, I never heard anything about Kaeru and his achievements. Not even from the Academy.

I soon reached my house, and quickly walked in, before locking the door. What surprised me, is that I found a letter just in front of the entrance. Someone must have slipped it inside from the space between the door and the floor.

I took the envelope, and pulled out the paper inside it, before I began to read.

'Kakashi,

I bet you know who wrote this. It's a relief if you can read my handwriting. But anyways, I think I'm going to need your help. You see... Kaeru has gone through a lot of sufferings. It was the one which affected his mentality. And now, I want to ask you a favor. You are the last family he has, and to help him recover, Ibiki said that he needs you. Please consider of coming here and talk to him. Thank you.'

I narrowed my eyes. It was from Anko, obviously. I know she wants me to be a brother to Kaeru. How come Ibiki is involved in this?

And the last, what does she mean by 'sufferings'?

| × | × | × | × | × |

Picture of Kaeru!

Don't forget to Vote and Comment!