Author's Rambling: Sorry 'bout the long wait. I've been lazy, tired, busy, or other wise preoccupied with other stories. Though, that's hardly an excuse for…what, almost a year? But this story's gone through a lot of changes in my head. It's going to be longer than I intended, and a lot more complicated for me. Hopefully, I can keep up with the whirlwind that is my brain. Though, I doubt it. . Enough rambling. On with the fic….

…On another note, this story has no particular time frame set. And it's alternate universe in a way with quite a bit of OOCness. There will be huge gaps in the time frame quite often without my mentioning it more than likely… This chapter itself takes place maybe a week or so from the last one.

Final Answer

By: PikaNaNoDa

.:.Part Two.:.

The jounin sat, patiently waiting for his superior to enter. He had been surprised to receive a summon so early in the morning; the sun was only now due to rise. He had showered quickly and dressed in a like hastened manner. Before he left, he made sure his mask was in place and his headband was pulled over his sharingen.

A door slid open and the soft sounds of light footsteps broke the silence. "Thank you for coming on such short notice, Kakashi." The jounin had risen and did not return to his seat until Tsunade had seated herself. "The matter I need to discuss with you is about a former student of yours by the name of Uchiha Sasuke." The nod she received was all the confirmation she needed; Kakashi had guessed the topic of the meeting. They had discussed Sasuke some three weeks earlier. The discussion had left him with many questions and this meeting only added to his earlier inquiries.

There was an understanding silence about the room until the man finally decided that he needed answers to at least some of his questions. "Why me? Why choose me to protect him?"

The Hokage brought her gaze to rest on the man's face. Before she spoke, her expression seemed to soften, something he did not see from her often. "Because he trust you. Whether it is because you simply earned it, his attraction to you, or both I cannot be sure. It could something entirely all together. But you're the one person he will listen to and confide in." She smiled at him, causing him to be slightly taken aback. "And you care about him as well." Tsunade's voice was not angry, suspicious, or even judgmental; she spoke with the simple clarity of well-known fact.

The jounin remained quiet for some time, his brow creased in deep contemplation as he mulled over the thoughts running through his mind. The Hokage sat quietly and waited for him to speak if he so wished to. "What do you think he will do if he gets hold of Sasuke?" Without mention of a specific name, the Hokage knew to whom Kakashi was referring.

Tsunade shook her head, her own thoughts sending her into a momentary silence. "I do not know. I had a run in with him just outside of town. I'm sure you have noticed that he is resting right outside our gates. Usually, I would have sent a few jounin to look into it, but I felt that I should take care of it. He made no mention of wanting to hurt anyone and the fact that he has been around here so long and not once entered the city has me worried." She took some time to catch her breath. "I want you to stay close to Sasuke. I do not want him to leave your sight. Also, I will have guards placed around the city to make sure that everyone gets inside some time before dark. It will not help if he wishes to hurt someone, but it will me feel more at ease."

The Hokage gave a small wave of her hand as she began thumbing through a stake of papers, the movement signaling that the jounin was being dismissed. "I will report to you within the week." He received a nod in acknowledgement to his words. Without anything farther, he left.

As usually, he walked through the door to an empty, too-quiet apartment. Sasuke went through the normal routine of leaving his shoes by the door and bolting the structure without seeming to be aware of his actions; they were like second nature to him now. The thoughts that he had been mulling over left him unaware of his surroundings. This being the case, he was startled to find his former teacher sitting on his couch, his gaze focused on a book. He dropped the key he had been in the process of shoving into his pocket, reached down to retrieve it, pocketed it, and looked up to find a single orb concentrated on him. "Uh," Sasuke began when he located his voice, "Kakashi-sensei, what are you doing here?" His voiced was a bit airy and his breathing was quickened. He had obviously been out training.

Kakashi threw up a hand in greeting, offering the young ninja one of his rare smiles that the other could barely make out behind the mask. "Orders from the Hokage." At the boy's questioning look, Kakashi motioned him to sit and began to explain the situation.

Sasuke seemed utterly shocked. "If he is so close, then how come I haven't felt anything?" Surely, if Itachi were anywhere near Konoha, he would know. He could usually catch the older Uchiha's aura when he was miles outward from the city gates. "I haven't felt anything from him."

"Nothing?" The boy shook his head. "Then maybe," Kakashi ventured, "he doesn't want you to know he's here. Most of the ninjas have been about to feel his presence. All except you." Kakashi leaned against the plush-ness of the sofa's back. "I just can't figure out why he'd hide from you."

The boy shrugged his shoulders, lost in thought once more; the jounin had given him plenty to think about. "Kakashi…" he spoke in whisper, "…There was something…a few weeks ago…" The jounin lifted a brow and nodded, beckoning the other to continue. "I thought it was just a dream but…"

Sasuke recalled the night where he had dreamt about Itachi coming into his room and strangling him to Kakashi. He had thought only a dream then, because when he woke and looked around, no one was there. "If he was here though, wouldn't someone had noticed?"

Kakashi did not respond at first as he pondered over the possible explanations. "It depends on how good he is at shielding his aura and what he does and does not want us to know about his reasons for being here." The explanation sounded good in his ears but not to his mind. He still could not grasp what was going on.

"In any event, Sasuke, you cannot be left here alone. You need someone to watch over you." The boy opened his mouth to protest, exclamations about how he could take care of himself dangling at the tip of his tongue. "I will be staying with you Sasuke. The choice is not yours. Hokage has given orders and this is how it is going to be."

Sasuke's anger was blooming inside, but he refused to let his expression betray him. He nodded and wandered off toward the kitchen. "I'm going to make lunch."

He made his way into the kitchen, waiting until he was out of the jounin's sight before his masked expression failed. Who do they think they are making decisions about my life? Though in all actuality he knew they were only concerned for him, but he felt he owed it to his pride to be upset and slam a few cabinet doors.

Sasuke slammed a pot of water onto the stove, the water sloshing about and some of the liquid escaping. He couldn't direct his anger at anyone nearby, so he felt that the kitchenware would have to suffice. Just because Itachi decides to hang around, everyone wants to protect 'poor Sasuke' so he can restore the clan. The ninja froze his movements, having thought Kakashi had spoken to him. "What!"

"I said…I hope you're okay in here." Kakashi said to a startled Sasuke as he appeared in the doorway. "Need some help?" the man questioned, chuckling softly as he slid passed the speechless Sasuke. He picked up a set of chopsticks from the counter and began to stir the noodles in the pot.

"N-no. I have it." The words were a bit late, Sasuke realized when a bowl of hot ramen was thrust into his hand. "Thanks." he uttered, Kakashi halfway out the door. As he made his way out of the kitchen, his mind returned to earlier thoughts. Did it ever occur to them that maybe I don't want to restore the clan?

Sasuke sat down across from his elder at the small wooden table. He began to eat quietly with his head down, his lips curving downward in pout. Kakashi watched him, not saying a word. He could only guess the things going through Sasuke's mind and there was nothing he could say the young ninja that would make his pain go away.

.:.End Part Two.:.

Author's Rambling: I had meant for this chapter to be a little longer, but it's four in the morning and I am in need of sleep. Obviously, this chapter has not been proofread/edited yet; so if they're mistakes, I apologize. Hopefully, if all goes as planned I should have another chapter up real soon.