Shisui walks off the training grounds, and heads for the markets, hoping to distract himself with food.
He turns down the street and spots a fluff of white hair and snorts.
Kakashi, as subtle as a train wreck.
Shisui wanders over as Kakashi makes eye contact with him.
"Hokage-sama has pegged me for Jounin-sensei," Shisui says, not bothering to beat around the matter. Kakashi would know he was hiding something straight away regardless. They've been dating for over a year and they both know each other too well.
Kakashi's eye widens and he puts his book into his pocket.
"Which ones?" he says and Shisui grins because there's a lot more to that reaction that Shisui wants confirmed now.
"Hyuuga, Inuzuka and Aburame. What, did you get picked for it too?"
Kakashi sighs as though everything is too hard and nods, "Uzumaki, your little cousin and a civilian girl, Haruno."
"Aw you got Sasuke?" he says, and adjusts the material covering his right eye. "Looks like we have our work cut out for us."
Kakashi nods and they fall into step with one another.
They're walking through the busy town centre when there's a yell. High pitched and frantic - a child.
Kakashi glances at him through a lazy and supposedly uninterested eye, but they've both always been too perceptive for their own good and Shisui can see the untamed determination under his skin that everyone else never seems to spot. He loves that side to Kakashi, That determined, fiercely protective side that's often tampered down.
Shisui shrugs back in a seemingly just as lazy gesture and Kakashi nods. They really read each other far too well.
They both wander to the sound and round a corner of an unremarkable clothing shop. The first thing they spot is bright yellow hair.
Naruto is on the ground, sitting his back facing them. There's another small figure in front of him. Brown hair and unremarkable.
There are several boys in front of them, older, and obviously trying to beat up Naruto. The moment they spot Kakashi and Shisui is more than obvious. The one at the front freezes and the blood drains from his face leaving his skin a pasty white. The other two standing behind him notice, and the one to the right grabs the shirts of the other two, dragging them away.
It's different when it's Jounin. The academy kids are used to being around Chuunin, but the presence of Jounin is always weightier than that of a Chuunin.
The brown haired kid whips his head around, a fierce grin on his face, clearly assuming he'd scared them away.
Red clan markings, and a puppy tucked into his jacket - Inuzuka Kiba. His grin fades rapidly when he spots the two Jounin.
Naruto jumps up and whips around to face them both. He looks like he's about to start yelling but Kiba interrupts.
"Shisui," he moans, "I had it!"
Shisui snorts and leans forward ruffling the kid's hair, "I'm sure you did," he says. Kakashi crouches down so he's eye-level with Naruto. "Are you okay?" he asks, and Naruto nods his head hurriedly.
"Course I am!" Naruto yells, and he points his thumb at himself "It's gonna take more than that to hurt me."
Kakashi nods in solemn agreement and stands back up.
"You kids look after yourself, okay?" Shisui says, "me and Kakashi aren't always going to be around to save you."
Kiba shuffles his feet and mumbles out a complaint, Akamaru barks and licks his's face.
Kakashi and Shisui turn to walk away, and Shisui keeps an ear out for the trail end of the kid's conversation.
"They're so cool," Naruto says, and Shisui can practically feel the excitement rolling off Kiba despite the fact they're out of sight.
"We're gonna be as cool as them, definitely," Kiba says. There's a bark and a yell as likely Akamaru has taken to affectionately lick one of them to death.
Kakashi looks at him, his only visible eye droopy and uninterested
Shisui raises his only uncovered eyebrow at Kakashi's expression.
"Cute kids," Shisui says.
Kakashi nods and pats his book against his thigh absently. "How do you feel, about all this?" he asks. His voice drops off quieter.
Shisui shrugs and stuffs his hands in his pockets, "I don't really know..." They dodge a tiny girl running down the street. "I don't know if I'm the right person for looking after kids." He trails off, uncertain. He hopes that this change will be good, will be better, but how can he know?
Shisui has been a shinobi since he could walk. He's never known a life outside of this.
He's fought in a war and he's killed people – shinobi and civilian alike. Shisui is a spy, an assassin down to his core. Is an assassin really good teacher for impressionable children?
Shisui's not the most stable person the Hokage could choose. He was a hair width away from going right off the deep end. Kakashi's not the most stable person either. They're not okay. Not really. They're both just very good at pretending to be.
Around Kakashi, everything seems easier to say. It's easier to look at the world, look at himself and work out their flaws and accept them. Kakashi isn't the most talkative of people, but he talks around Shisui. He never treats him like glass and respects him when he can't deal with talking to anyone that day. Shisui always tries to do the same and he hopes Kakashi appreciates it.
Kakashi hums in thought, they round a street corner, no destination on their minds.
"I'm not..." Kakashi starts and pauses. They reach a bench at the edge of an empty park and sit down in unspoken agreement.
"I'm not sure if I'm the best person either." The admission is a heavy one, and Kakashi closes his eye, listing back against the seat.
"It's hard enough to look after myself," he says and the words are tinted with poorly hidden mirth.
Anbu humour has infected both of them it seems.
Shisui sighs and lifts his leg up to rest his ankle on his knee. "They seem like good kids, and plus there are no regulations against teams working together."
Kakashi opens his eye and eye-smiles at him, "that might actually work."
Shisui hasn't been able to have a range of friends in his life, his particular role as a shinobi basically making it all not worth the effort. Itachi has been the only one he's had for years.
He still considers Itachi his best friend and always will, but Kakashi's a little different.
There was never an awkward stage with them. They just fell into step with one another from the beginning. And maybe a part of Shisui is unnerved about how well they clicked. But the other part is more than a little thankful.
The day that Danzou had stolen his eye, he was going to kill himself.
He was so close to ending it.
But, he had thought of Kakashi and he had hesitated. Maybe it was the delirium of the pain and the poison, but he hesitated, and in the end that had saved his life.
He had thanked Kakashi, he deserved that much at least. Kakashi had given him a long look that Shisui wasn't sure what to make of, but had smiled in the end and told him it was fine.
Shisui doesn't think it is, but Kakashi has always understood him in a way that's almost unnerving yet relieving at the same time and he's always seemed to know what to say and what to do. Shisui hadn't realised how badly he had needed a steady and unwavering rock in his life until Kakashi came along.
Shisui's doing better, much better than he was four years ago after the Danzou incident. But there's room for improvement. There are still too many gaping holes that he's ignored and never tried to fix, but with Kakashi by his side, Shisui thinks he can finally face those things that have been tearing him up inside.
He's gotten better. The nightmares don't come as hardly as much, the days where he wants to lay down and never get up are fewer and fewer between but there's room for improvement, and with Kakashi, he might - he will - be able to do it.
He's looking after children now. Small impressionable children and if they're going to make it in this world then they're going to need help. That's why Shisui and Kakashi are here.
Kakashi may not be the best person for the job, his demons still alive and well, lurking and never, never gone.
They're both seasoned Jounin now, fighting since they could walk and they have the scars to show for it.
Kakashi carefully grasps Shisui's hand in his own. It's a gentle touch and rare. Even though they've been dating, touches like this have always been reserved for moments when they need it the most.
"They're kids, and we're Jounin. I'm sure we can manage it," he smiles and Shisui feels lighter immediately.
"Hell yeah," Shisui says.
Shisui and Kakashi were in the black ops. They're assassins. They can handle children.
Kakashi sighs and fights the temptation of just... leaving.
Sasuke glares at him from his position at the trunk where Naruto is still tied up and continues to feed Naruto small pieces of lunch.
Apparently, Kakashi has yet to pass the test of whether or not he's truly suitable for his 'very precious cousin.'
They've been dating for a year and he's almost positive that Shisui's happy. He seems content when Kakashi's with him so whatever he's doing seems to be working. You'd think that was enough.
Being with Shisui has made him unexpectedly happy. He was hesitant, so, so hesitant to get romantically involved with anyone but Shisui hadn't pressured him. Kakashi had thought about it long and hard, he'd asked Raidou and Genma for advice, they've been dating for about 3 years despite the complexities of their job and he figured they were the best people to ask.
In the end, their advice had been simple. Be outright with each other and talk about what you want from the relationship. Voice your worries and once you've established that understanding everything is a lot easier to deal with.
When he thought about it more, he wasn't sure what he wanted from the relationship, but he knew for certain he wanted to be with him for as long as possible.
Shisui had smiled when Kakashi had told him. The smile was genuine and made his face scrunch up in a way that made Kakashi want to call him adorable. Shisui wanted to be with him too and it didn't matter the specifics of their relationship. They kissed sometimes, held hands sometimes, had sex sometimes and for them it worked.
They love each other, and Kakashi often wonders how he's survived this long without Shisui.
So why Sasuke's still not sure if Kakashi is 'the one' is honestly beyond him.
And Itachi never even tried to help in the matter.
Asshole.
Sakura stares at Sasuke's face for a long moment and this is another thing Kakashi doesn't want to deal with - the fangirl.
Naruto sneezes, unnecessarily loud and abrupt and Sasuke and Sakura flinch. They both whip their head around simultaneously and send vicious glares at Naruto.
Sasuke hisses out an insult and shoves another piece of food into Naruto's mouth before he can respond.
Naruto tries to talk back anyway and a bit of rice falls out of his mouth as tries to get out a response and Sakura looks disgusted.
How these children passed his test, Kakashi does not know. Shisui's more happy-go-lucky attitude would be more suited for these kids.
But then again, Inuzuka Kiba is as energetic as Naruto, coupled with a Hyuuga, and an Aburame Kakashi thinks that's one too many clan kids thank you.
Kakashi leans back on his heels slightly and reads the next few lines of his book. He can start sorting out some of the major issues in this team right now really. First Sakura needs to have a better drive than 'Sasuke-kun' or she will get nowhere as a shinobi.
Sasuke needs to look beyond Itachi and become the best in his own eyes. Itachi is Itachi and really the only one who could compare to him is Shisui, but the more he learns about Shisui the more different those two seem.
Naruto needs... well Naruto needs a lot of things. Kakashi can't offer them. He can't just take in a child and give him the love he deserves. Not when he resembles Minato so closely.
He'll get over that. He just needs a little time. Kakashi will make sure Naruto is looked after. Kakashi doesn't want Kushina to haunt him and knowing her it's not out of the range of possibility.
Tomorrow though, Kakashi's going to treat the kid to some ramen. Kakashi is his teacher but Naruto deserves someone to show him kindness and love even if Kakashi's pretty sure he's the worst candidate for the job.
He walks over and crouches in front of them, sliding the book into his back pocket. They silence and look up at him.
"You say you want to be a shinobi," he starts off easily, "but why do want to be shinobi?" Kakashi lets them mull it over for a few moments. Sasuke opens his mouth but Kakashi interrupts. "Itachi isn't a good reason. If you want to succeed as a shinobi you need something more substantial."
Sakura looks down at her lap then, blushing and embarrassed and Kakashi knows what she's thinking. If becoming as strong as his big brother isn't a reason enough then there's no way Sakura's crush on Sasuke is going to have standing.
Naruto puffs his chest and strains against the ropes, "I'm going to be Hokage!" he says.
Kakashi sighs and pulls the cloth covering his eye down more firmly. "Why. Do you want to become Hokage so everyone will acknowledge you? Is that really enough of a reason though. That goal is very single-minded. Have you thought about the village?"
He's being harsh, but the world is harsh.
Kakashi's been a shinobi his entire life. He's lost Rin. He's lost Obito. He's lost Minato. He's lost Kushina. The world is a cruel place, and he doesn't want these tiny Genin to go through what he did, he can't hide them away from the world. That won't help.
When all else fails, if a shinobi is able to look back on their reasoning to become what they are today and keep going then they have solid foundations. And sometimes, just having those foundations can keep you alive, give you a reason to keep going.
Kakashi stands up, cuts the ropes binding Naruto with a flicker of chakra from his fingertips and looks down on the three of them silently.
"We'll meet here again tomorrow morning, 6 o'clock and I hope to get an answer." He winks at them and shunshins away with a puff of smoke.
These kids need to have those foundations. People like him and Shisui never got a choice. Born into the job, it's the only thing they've ever known and those kinds of foundations are weak at best.
Kakashi knows that. Knows that feeling of wanting to close his eyes and never wake up again. The urge to just want it all to stop. He had nothing to fall back on. No reason to keep going. And Shisui has been through the same. He knows what it's like to just not care if you live or die. That indifference is in some ways more terrifying than wanting to die.
These children won't have that. Firstly, they have each other. They have their strong foundations and they have him. And Kakashi's not going to let anything happen to them. No way in hell.
Shisui shuffles his weight on the branch, stopping his feet from going numb from crouching for too long.
He may be enjoying himself a bit more than he should. If Shisui was truly trying to stay hidden from his three Genin they would never find him, so he is going easy on them although probably not as easy as he should.
His little Genin are clan kids. They know the pressure that's on them to pass this initial test and there is a lot of pressure on Shisui to pass them and begin teaching them. But, Shisui has never gone easy on anyone he's trained, including himself. If these kids fail, then they fail. Even if it will cause more political drama that Shisui has definitely had enough of, he's not going to let that get in the way of doing his job and doing it properly.
Luckily enough, the three of them seem to be working together and trying to work through this surprisingly well.
Kiba's sense of smell is strong, combined with Hinata's Byakugan and Shino's insects, Shisui finds himself enjoying the challenge. He'll never be confronted with these odds on the battlefield because they're all leaf shinobi so he has to make the most of it. They're nowhere where they need to be, but that's why Shisui's here.
Hide and seek seems like an inferior game to be playing but it's even played by Anbu often (although in the Anbu it's just a bit more extreme and will often involve the entire village as their playground and significantly more bloodshed.) It's a fantastic way to improve, well, everything. Speed, time management, agility, ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, team work, working individually and more.
And it's fun.
Tenzou was the best at it, and managed to catch Kakashi, Shisui, Itachi and any other Anbu who joined them.
No one is really sure how he was so efficient at it and Tenzou just smiled at them when asked.
Shisui had made a mental note then and there to make sure to be very, very thankful that Tenzou was an ally.
There's a ruffle of leaves below and Shisui grins despite himself. They're getting close now, having been at this for over four hours they're picking up on Shisui's hiding pattern. It had taken them a while to get the feel of each other and start working as a team but that's basically the reasoning behind why he picked this game.
They need to be able to function as a team without anyone's help and the sooner they realise that the better.
They win by touching his Hitai-ate. So they need to work together or they'll fail indefinitely.
Shisui shunshins to another branch and listens carefully for the rustling.
Kiba knows his scent now, and he's seen a few of Shino's bugs. Hinata's Byakugan is likely searching for him too.
They're a perfect tracker team. Damn formidable given the right push.
Shisui still isn't sure he's right for this job. Still feeling like he's walking blindfolded across a skinny pole but he'll adapt. These kids need him.
A particularly loud buzz echoes near his ear and Shisui catches the bug in his hand, careful not to harm it, but holds it long enough that Shino understands that he could if he wanted to.
He lets it go and shunshins to a particularly dense bush. Shisui's taijutsu is no less formidable than when he had two eyes. If anything it's better, helped along by Gai in his recovery. He'll strike with taijutsu first and see how they respond.
There's a rustle a few metres away and Shisui readies himself. He'll win of course, but this a good opportunity to work out several things. One of them being how well they can work together in a combat situation.
Shisui's been through a lot of teams, and he needs to be able to work effectively in all of them despite having never even spoken to them. Basic skills that these kids need.
Shisui can sense their chakras about a hundred metres or so away and he leans back on his heals - any second now.
There's a snap of a twig and Shisui leaps out of the way of a wave of Shino's bugs. He lands a few metres away and blocks the kick that Kiba sends at him, and then the flurry of punches that's followed by Hinata.
Those attacks were good. They were planned, and they would have had to come up with it quickly. Shisui looks down at the three Genin and gets into a defensive stance. This team just might work.
Hinata and Kiba dart around to either side, Hinata on his right and Kiba's obviously meant to distract him so Hinata can strike the side where his vision is worst.
People target Shisui's blind side so much, that the fact that he is half-blind really isn't that much of a liability anymore and plus, Shisui's been a shinobi for a long time. He knows how to work with far greater handicaps than a missing eye.
It's a basic and amateur strategy, but they're still working together and not throwing random punches and hoping for the best.
Kiba kicks out, aiming for kidneys and Shisui jumps over it, landing on his hands and rolling. Hinata comes at him then, aiming for his blind side. He spins from his crouched position and kicks Hinata back a few metres.
She grunts from the impact and despite her small size and how nervous and hesitant she seems, apparently in a combat situation, there is not much of that previous hesitation at all.
Shino's bugs whirl around him, but Shisui's already moving. He jumps to a branch above. Claws grip into his back, not hard enough to reach skin through his Jounin vest, and he rips Akamaru from his back with a yank and drops him back down to the ground. He shunshins over to another branch.
He still hasn't seen Shino yet which means these kids have come up with a pretty solid plans since their attempt not a moment ago.
Kiba and Akamaru leap up to the branch from behind him, Kiba's crouched, canines a glaring white against his tanned skin. He lunges, Akamaru alongside him.
Shisui's trained with enough Inuzuka to know that Kiba's claws will be even sharper than they appear. He leans back dodging the attack. Kiba and Akamaru catch themselves on the branch with their claws and Shisui can't help but feel impressed with the speed behind both the attack and reaction time.
He feels Hinata's presence behind him and leaps over where Kiba is still crouched to avoid Hinata's punches.
Hinata charges at him this time and there's a determined glint in her eyes that screams of fearlessness and determination that is so easily looked over.
Her punches are solid and her form is steady, he notes as he carefully dodges her. There are a few holes he can spot. She doesn't cover her left side enough, leaving herself open but that's something he can work on with her.
Kiba makes a sound, almost a whine but Hinata seems to understand. She drops to the floor and Kiba leaps over her, bouncing off her back. Shisui could easily shunshin out of the way, but he finds himself fascinated.
This team has potential. And a lot of it.
Bugs curl around Shisui's feet after he steps back enough to avoid Kiba, and Shino appears in front of him and reaches out. Shino's fingernail barely touches the metal of the Hitai-ate before Shisui grabs his wrist.
He hadn't activated his Sharingan and he's glad he hadn't.
These kids actively planned several attacks, Kiba and Hinata with their close combat abilities had made good use of their abilities. Shino had stayed out of the way so he could focus on his better mid-range attacks.
Shisui went easy on them. He had to if they were to actually stand a chance against him. But he wasn't too easy. He forced them to track him non-stop for 5 hours without a break and made them fight him.
The four of them stare up at him, three human faces tense and Akamaru braced and seemingly ready to launch an attack again.
He releases Shino's hand and rocks back on his heels, looking down at his Genin.
"You've passed the first obstacle, kids," he says and Akamaru barks loudly, launching himself at Kiba and fiercely licking his face. It diffuses the tension immediately. Hinata giggles as Akamaru moves onto her. Shino has turned slightly, looking on the scene with his hands firmly back in his pockets. His expression is covered, but Shisui can't see any tension in his shoulders and his chakra is calm. He's a little awkward, but that seems to be all it is.
Kiba picks Akamaru up and he barks again, giving Kiba's cheek another lick. The two seem to share a conversation, as Akamaru whines softly nuzzling his hair. Kiba hums and holds out Akamaru to Shino. He gives Shino's face a careful lick.
Shisui watches the exchange in strange fascination, forces down an unexpected, immature surge of jealousy and coughs lightly to get their attention.
He never had a Genin team, but it's inappropriate for him to force his grievances onto children who know nothing about him.
The three turn to him and Shisui taps his Hitai-ate twice. "You passed, but only barely. Your strong suits are that you're able to work together as a team relatively well." He looks at each of them, keeping his face placid.
"However… Hinata, your close combat has holes. It's solid but there were moments where you could have struck harder but didn't."
A read streak blossoms across her cheeks and she ducks her head, sinking into her jacket like she wants to disappear. Too shy. Something else he needs to smooth out of her.
If she can overcome even some of her shyness, gain a bit more confidence in herself, then she will open up many, many doors for herself and possibly become an extremely strong shinobi. She just needs to believe in herself.
"Kiba and Akamaru. Too brash, a lot of moving but not a lot of thinking. Striking aimlessly is a recipe for getting stabbed."
Kiba's fighting was as good as Hinata's but Shisui could feel the untapped rage and far too much energy and that seemed to be doing a lot of the thinking for him. If he can tame that down, put it on a leash and be able to release it with several effective blows he could become a very dangerous shinobi.
Kiba presses his lips together and grips Akamaru tightly in his hands. He's listening, which is a good as start as any.
"Shino. Smart to stay out of the way, but be harsher with your attacks. Kiba and Hinata are more than capable to dodge any attacks if you're worried about hurting them. Learn to attack hard and fast and efficient."
Shino had only struck a few times during the last part of the test. More confidence in his abilities to be able to take out an enemy and not hold back could do him wonders. It's likely Shino hasn't practised fighting with other people much, especially people who are more suited to close combat.
The Genin look up at him, and Shisui can tell he's put a damper on their previously happy mood at their victory. He's never been one for giving praise where it's not absolutely warranted but he'd been genuinely surprised at how well they had managed to fit together and work to achieve the goal.
Shisui hums slightly and leans over, he tugs on Hinata's nose gently and grins at the squeak she lets out.
"Your teamwork deserves a mention, however." He ruffles Kiba's hair and scratches Akamaru between the ears. "You worked very well together especially for Genin who've never fought together before."
He pokes Shino's glasses back up his nose. "Teamwork is vital in that test and there's no way throwing punches and hoping for a lucky hit was going to hit. You planned for more than one attack. I'm impressed," Shisui smiles, hands on his hips.
Hinata hesitantly smiles back, big eyes staring back at him and he wonders if she gets much praise at the Hyuuga compound. Probably not.
Kiba grins fiercely, but it's humbled after Shisui's reprimand. Kiba is by no means weak or stupid and he can absolutely change if he's determined enough to do it and Shisui definitely thinks he is. He's embarrassed, he's not the first shinobi to ever deal with such a problem of letting the muscles do the thinking for you but he's obviously realised Shisui's undertones.
You need to fix this now or it never will get fixed. The Hokage doesn't promote hot-headed idiots who can't think a situation through.
Shino nods at him. Shino's awkward and hard to be friends with and it seems he's aware of this issue himself. Afraid to hurt Kiba or Hinata in case their tiny seedling of a friendship gets destroyed before it's even started.
He's a serious kid and Shisui has no doubt Shino has listened to Shisui's concerns.
Shisui is Anbu, an assassin, unstable. He still can't bring himself to believe that there wasn't a better option than him to be a goddamn Jounin Sensei but he's here now. It's started and he's going to give it his absolute best.
Sorry if there are any mistakes! I kept falling asleep while trying to edit this heckkkkkk
Got ideas? pls share
(comments are the only thing keeping me alive!)
