". . .Mama?" Kakashi asked tentatively, and Orochimaru smiled tightly, crouching and stroking his son's hair.

"Everything will be fine, precious," he soothed, "you just go with Nori for a little while; Mama needs to . . . handle something."

Kakashi agreed, looking anxious, and let Nori shepherd him away while Orochimaru pulled the Edo Tensei scroll he had already prepared and muttered curses at his mate under his breath; he had a long list of things to say to Sakumo . . . and he had warned Nori to take Kakashi some distance away, because he suspected he would not be remaining quiet for this discussion.