Notes: Guess what I found? Old hand-written fic notes in my tax files. (Naturally, where such things belong.) I can't guarantee there will be more of this 'verse, since I sorta can't remember where I was going with this, but... we'll see!
The Sandaime leaned back in his chair and sucked at his pipe thoughtfully. "What were your observations?"
Iruka stood at parade rest in the middle of the office, his ANBU mask tied loosely to one hip. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. "Hatake-san had the situation fully in hand by the time I arrived." He paused, but the Hokage said nothing so Iruka continued, "He deflected Mizuki's grand shuriken with a strike that was meant to seem accidental. While it hit very close to his spine, he was still able to move and did nothing to stop the traitor from revealing classified information. Hatake again engaged Mizuki in combat, yet pulled away when the jinchuuriki returned." Iruka met Sandaime's gaze. "Frankly, sir, I believe Hatake is more than capable of Jounin rank, but is making an effort to mask his abilities. He as good as allowed Mizuki to reveal the secret of the Nine-Tails to Naruto. This all may have been a ploy to get in good graces of yourself and the Jinchuuriki. I recommend Ibiki interrogate-"
"Iruka." The Hokage held up a hand to stop him. His lips were thinning-it looked like he were trying not to smile. "I meant, what are your observations about Naruto?"
"He... has exceptional chakra stores," Iruka hedged. "Probably due to the Kyuubi." Again, the Hokage remained silent, but Iruka didn't elaborate. He didn't know what else to say. 'He also appeared to treat his Chuunin-sensei like a big brother' seemed trite.
Finally, the Sandaime sighed. "You noticed, no doubt, the boy has graduated?"
Iruka narrowed his eye. He said nothing.
Sandaime continued. "His class also has the last Hyuga. Young Hinata graduated close to the top in every grade. With Naruto at the bottom, it would provide good team symmetry."
He knew where this was going. "No, Hokage-sama. I must decline."
"And every instructor says Nara Shikamaru has excellent potential," the Hokage continued as if Iruka had not spoke, "If only he can be interested in his work."
"Sandaime, please." Iruka took a step forward. "I cannot-I am the last person who should be asked to take on a genin team-any genin team."
"You are the only adult byakugan user left. If nothing else, Hinata will require instruction." Again, the Sandaime let out a long sigh. Taking his pipe from his mouth, he tapped the contents into a bowl. Then, folding his hands, he regarded the Jounin severely. "Iruka, I knew your parents well. Both of them. They would have wanted to see you happy. You have walked this path for a long time, and every year I see you drift further and further away."
Iruka flinched-not at the mention of his parents, he'd been an orphan since the age of three and hardly remembered them. No, the thought of setting aside his revenge was... unfathomable.
"It is my choice," he snapped, flushing. Under the eyepatch, the byakugan ached. "My path. I will not-I cannot rest until Orochimaru is dead. This is my nindo, and the very worst I could do is pull another genin team with me into danger." His lip curled, just slightly. "Enough comrades have died do to me, don't you think?"
"Iruka, you have more than atoned-"
But Iruka just shook his head, the angry flush on his face darkening the horizontal scar across his nose. "It would be a mistake to assign me to a genin team, Hokage-sama." The laugh he made was strained and sad. "What do I know about children?"
"I have more faith in your abilities in this than you." A pause. "Iruka, I do not want to order you, but I will if it comes to that."
The Jounin looked down for a long moment, his visible eye closed. It looked as if he were slowly counting backwards to reign in his legendary temper. Finally, he opened his eye.
"As the Hokage commands," he said flatly.
OoOoO
Kakashi woke to the sound of a heart monitor beeping somewhere over his head, the smell of strong antiseptic, and closer-sharp citrus and dog.
Memories returning, he groaned, and, as he was laying on his stomach no doubt to the stitches along his back, pushed his face into the pillow. "Just let me die in peace."
A man chuckled softly just to the side of his bed. The smell of citrus sharpened. His visitor was peeling an orange, Kakashi realized, not bothering to acknowledge him.
"You're not going to die, Kashi. Although you might want to, once the painkillers wear off."
"Don't call me that," he muttered, still into the pillow. Though he didn't argue about the pain. The area around his spine hurt now, but he was damned if he was going to show any weakness in front of him.
"Maa, I can call you anything I want. Comes with the job description. Orange slice?"
Kakashi considered it. He may as well endure the upcoming lecture while he was chewing.
He lifted his head, met his father's smirk with a glare, and held out his hand. "Very well."
Sakumo let his son eat for a few moments before saying, "From what I understand, you preformed very well against the traitor Mizuki. The back was the worst of it?"
"...Blood loss," Kakashi said, deciding he was not giving Sakumo anything he didn't already know.
"You'll be field fit shortly, then?"
"I have to be. I'm assigning genin teams in three days."
There was a pointed pause and the skin along Kakashi's back tingled as he braced himself.
"So," Sakumo said, "You are continuing with the academy, then. Even after Minato's son has graduated."
It was not a question, but Kakashi still nodded (and winced as the movement pulled at his stiches).
"Kakashi-"
"Let me tell you how this conversation will go," Kakashi said. "You are going to advise me, again, that my talents lie in the field and that I can make Jounin if I set my mind to it. And I will tell you, once again, that the students I teach not only have the highest graduation rate in this village, they have the highest five-year survival rate out of all the villages."
Sakumo leaned forward. "Help me understand. You made Chuunin at seven-years-old. You have been marked for greatness before you could walk. I know you felt obliged to oversee your sensei's son, but the boy has graduated now. It's past time you did the same."
Kakashi sucked in a breath. "Leave. Or I will make you leave."
It was almost laughable. Hatake Sakumo was a legend in the shinobi world-said to be on equal footing as the legendary Sannin. Kakashi couldn't make him do anything.
But Sakumo let out a long sigh, then rose. He paused at the door, looking over his shoulder. "Your mother told me to wish you well and to ask you to come over for dinner, sometime. She misses you." Then he was gone.
His half of the orange sat upon the side table, untouched.
