When I started writing fanfiction, I hadn't set out to write stories about these crazy ninjas going to visit brothels. But now that I've started, I can't seem to stop. This marks my third Konoha Brothel story and my first installment to the series that will be a chaptered fic. At some point, I will group them all together into a collection.

Although this chapter is tame, I have rated the overall piece as mature because there will be smut. ;-)

I do not own these characters, I had a wonderful time exploring them.

Not for the first time in his life, Kakashi allowed his mind to be pulled along by his feet.

He'd spent so much time thinking, second-guessing, thinking, doubting, and then thinking some more in recent days. He'd known exactly what to expect, and what was expected of him during his years in ANBU. After a decade of succinct and secretive orders, now he was supposed to adopt the mantle of 'teacher,' openly guiding genin through the dangers of the shinobi world. His first attempt at leading a team, albeit through no fault of his own, was a discouraging failure. The Sandaime's assurances and Kakashi's self-doubt were now trapped in cyclical, repeating patterns within his mind. He surrendered to his feet when they took charge of the situation, slipping into his sandals and tugging the rest of him out of his head.

The path they led Kakashi on was a familiar one. It held the promise of ease and escape at the end. Almost the same moment his brain registered the destination his feet had chosen, it approved of the plan, just as eager as the rest of him for a change of situation and scenery.

Giving himself over to his surroundings, he breathed in the sunset through the fabric mask he wore. Tucked between the smells of local cuisine behind him, and the fragrance of native shrubbery ahead of him was his own scent, trapped within the cloth that covered his nose. Kakashi closed his one exposed eye, reassured by the association of himself within the aromas he identified with his home. He felt himself just as inextricably linked to the Hidden Leaf village. This is where he belonged, even when he was unsure of his change of role within it.

Kakashi didn't want to linger on a thought that threatened to return him to the cycle he'd meant to break from. Instead, he readjusted his focus to the destination ahead of him in a section of Konoha that was beyond the marketplace and food stalls. Away from the bustle of chattering civilians. Separate from the silence and seriousness of shinobis. He reopened his right eye to the welcome sight of a river, flanked by many and varied trees along its banks. The single bridge that spanned the natural barrier stood directly in his path. On the other side lay a hidden place within the Hidden Leaf, where many secrets were confidently kept.

His thoughts were interrupted by movement within the long shadows cast by the trees that bordered the river when another familiar aspect of his home-this time in the form of a comrade-emerged. The other man didn't seem to notice him, which by itself was telling of a ninja with something substantial on their mind. Kakashi registered the frustration in the profile he recognized immediately. The other man's brows were knit together above eyes that hadn't lifted from the road. Hands decidedly shoved within the pockets of his trousers, and a senbon was furiously bobbing between his lips.

Kakashi thought it best to announce his presence. "Yo, Genma."

Genma raised his eyes to the source of the greeting, and the silver-haired elite didn't miss the split second it took for his comrade to collect himself before speaking.

"Hey there, Kakashi. Out for an evening stroll?"

"Something like that," one grey eye narrowed at two brown ones that nervously darted to the structure on the other side of the bridge. "You?"

Genma's eyes snapped back to Kakashi's hidden face, and the senbon in his mouth clicked against his teeth when he chuckled. "Something like that, yeah. I uh," he lifted a hand to unnecessarily straighten the kerchief he wore "take this path when I want to clear my head."

Kakashi turned his gaze to the river running alongside them and sighed, "same. At least," it was his turn to give in to the nervous habit of scratching the back of his head "that's why you find me here tonight, anyway."

"You met your first genin team yesterday, right?" Genma's proximity to the Hokage must mean he knew some of the inner workings of the village. "How did it go?"

The image of three genins that were too willing to fight each other came to mind, and Kakashi knew his comrade wouldn't miss the wince that played on his visible features. "About as bad as it could go. I sent them back to the academy." There was no way he would allow brats with no sense of teamwork to proceed to accept missions. In this at least, he was sure of himself.

Genma had indeed caught the wince and let go of the jabs he had lined up at his comrade's expense. "Well, I'm sure you had a good reason to fail them. You know better than most how rough it can be out there."

Kakashi continued to watch the river flow by. "I'm not so sure I'm cut out for teaching genin. I'm not exactly qualified to be a role model," he scoffed. "But enough about me," he turned his head and his attention away from himself and onto the tokubetsu jounin "what's clouding your head so badly that you need an 'evening stroll' to clear it?"

Genma wasn't quick to answer as he appeared to be choosing his next words with great care. "I have doubts…I mean, I have suspicions about a previous member of the Hokage's counsel."

Kakashi didn't have to wonder at who Genma might be talking about, but without knowing the extent of his fellow ninja's information on Danzo Shimura, he settled on offering the most obvious question he could think of. "Have you brought your concerns up to Lord Third?"

Genma's eyes met Kakashi's only briefly before he replied "no." Then he cast his gaze back in the direction he'd come from. "Not yet, anyway. I don't know as much as I'd like about the man I'm referring to or his relationship to the Sandaime. But," he closed his eyes and exhaled sharply. "I'm not convinced that simply leaving him under 'house arrest' is the best way to handle the situation."

"Hmm," Kakashi nodded in understanding as he considered whether any of his past dealings with Danzo could be shared with his comrade. Just as he reluctantly concluded that it wouldn't be his place to discuss them anyway, the perfect distraction presented itself.

The lights on the other side of the bridge flickered to life, illuminating the path both shinobi chose to take that evening.

Genma cleared his throat, "how about we just leave it at that for now. I could really use an uncomplicated evening for a change." He resumed walking towards the bridge, and upon reaching it, directed a smirk over his shoulder at the former ANBU Captain who remained where he stood. "Weren't you coming this way too?"

Any hesitation Kakashi may have felt after his unexpected meeting with a comrade was forgotten at the mention of having an 'uncomplicated evening.' "Yeah. Right behind you."

Kakashi removed a hand from his pocket and let his fingers trail along the railing as he crossed the bridge. This point marked a transformation, one that he welcomed each time he arrived at it. On one side of the river, he was a formidable weapon of Konoha. With each step, the weight of expectations and duty lessened. By the time he reached the other side, he had allowed himself to be just a man in a uniform.

It appeared that Genma underwent a similar experience. The senbon stilled in his mouth as a sigh slipped past it. He'd pulled his hands from his pockets as well, one removing the kerchief from his head, while the fingers of the other combed through his shaggy brown hair.

Kakashi held back before the steps that lead up to the entrance of their shared destination. He wasn't sure if he ought to proceed alongside his comrade or linger behind and offer Genma the opportunity to arrange his visit in private. He busied himself by inspecting the lily pads and lotus blossoms floating in the pond alongside the footpath. He heard the brunette's footsteps come to a halt before opening the door.

"Hey Hatake, have you had dinner? Because I haven't, and I wouldn't mind having a few laughs with you along with it."

Kakashi looked up at the stars that began poking out of the inky night sky. For ten years he'd refused every and all invitation because all he knew were Black Ops missions that he was forbidden to speak of. There had been precious few laughs shared with his fellow ANBU agents, but now he was no longer a part of that world, and it wasn't necessary to isolate himself because of it. Perhaps, it was time to take a step out of the shadows. He tugged his facial mask down to hang below his chin, before turning to face his fellow shinobi, offering a smirk in reply.

"Well alright then," Genma smiled broadly, tucking his senbon behind his ear and opening the door. "After you."