II: Storm Clouds on the Horizon
Kakashi
Coming into the village through the main gates was always an experience, strategically placed so the Hokage Monument was clearly visible and framed by the gates and the village itself. It was designed to remind visitors of the power that protected and was vested in this place and also to remind returning ninja that they could rest easy, as they were now under the Hokage's protection.
Kakashi stood at the gates as the sun laid low in the western sky, looking at the faces in the distance, his own among them. Mirai was taking care of the paperwork involved with coming and going from the village, Guy waiting impatiently for her to finish, sitting in the wheelchair she typically piloted whenever they traveled together.
After finishing Mirai returned to Kakashi and as she approached the Hokage spoke. "Mirai, take Guy home, then report to captain Genma."
Mirai nodded, saying, "yes, sir."
However, Guy then spoke up, laughing slightly as he did so. "Come on Kakashi, can't you take me home, my old rival?"
Kakashi didn't remove his gaze from the Hokage Monument. "I would love to, Guy, but I have places I need to be."
Guy's expression turned serious as he remembered the reason they had come back to the village early. "Oh, right. See you, Kakashi."
With that Mirai and Guy headed off headed off towards the latter's apartment. Kakashi stood still as he watched them go. When they had disappeared from his sight he turned towards the gate guards.
"Anything interesting happened while we were gone?" he asked, casually grabbing a clipboard the guards were keeping on their desk, though he actually made no effort to read it.
"Other than you and the news about the Third Tsuchikage the only notable things were the arrival of Sasuke Uchiha and Lady Tsunade, both of whom were expected," one of the on-duty shinobi answered.
Kakashi nodded. "Alright, thank you."
Kakashi turned around, intending to start walking into the village but was stopped before he could even go a single step. In front of him stood Bolt Uzamaki, pointing at the former Hokage. "Grandpa Kakashi, teach me a jutsu!"
Bolt was the eldest child and only son of Naruto Uzamaki and Hinata Hyuga, 12 years old and very close to graduating from the academy. The degree to which Bolt looked like his father was amazing, even more so when he would stand defiantly in front of Kakashi as he was now. The only clear cut difference between Bolt and Naruto were in the eyes, where Bolt had inherited his mother's coloration, though they were no true Byakugan as evidenced by the visible pupils.
Kakshi closed his eyes and sighed. "Bolt, its pretty late in the day, shouldn't you be at home?"
"I was staying with Grandpa Hiashi, but I came here to demand you teach me an awesome jutsu!" Bolt again pointed at Kakashi in an attempt at further emphasis.
Kakashi walked right past the boy. "Come on Bolt, I don't have time for this, let's take you home." The precocious Uzamaki hanged his head in defeat and silently moved to follow the older man.
Kakashi, with Bolt in tow, began to make his way through the Old Village towards the Hokage Residence. The Hidden Leaf had grown since the Fourth Great Ninja War, the Old Village having been rebuilt after its destruction at the hands of Pain and the New Village expanding from there, with new buildings that reached high into the sky.
When Kakashi made it to the Hokage Residence he was greeted in the lobby by Shizune, now the personal assistant to Naruto as she had been to Tsunade and Kakashi before him. She ushered him towards the Hokage's office, where he was expected.
At the top of the steps leading to the office Kakashi ran into Hinata. The former heiress to the Hyuga clan had been removed from active duty after becoming a mother, though she maintained her skills and training regimen and most notably expanded the effective range of her Byakugan to incredible distances. Able to see the whole of the village and beyond in perfect clarity, Hinata rarely worried about losing her children, or anyone for that matter. Wearing a lavender kimono Hinata looked the picture of quiet confidence and composure, a far cry from her teenage self.
On her arm was Himawari, her daughter. Seven years of age, even more the image of her mother, plus a pair of whisker marks on each cheek, than Bolt was that of their father, and just starting at the academy, the younger of the Uzamaki siblings was little ball of energy. As Kakashi came within arms length of Hinata, Himawari made a flying leap from her mother's arm into those of the Sixth Hokage, yelling "Grandpa Kakashi!" as she did so.
Kakashi reacted quickly and caught the flying child. "Why hello little one, how are you doing?" he asked, chuckling.
Turning herself in his arms, Himawari responded, "we're almost finished with school for the year! Summer break! Summer break!".
Kakashi laughed at that while Hinata smiled at the scene. Meanwhile Bolt came skulking up the steps and stopped next to his mother, who put a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for bringing him home, Kakashi-sensei, you didn't have to."
Kakashi had started going through the involved process of untangling himself from Himawari when he responded, a big smile evident through his mask, "it's no problem at all, I take any chance I get to see these kids." With that said he finished his task and handed Himawari back to her mother. "I'd love to stay but they are expecting me," he said, pointing behind his back in the direction of the Hokage's office.
Hinata began to corral her children towards the Hokage's apartments. "I understand Kakashi-sensei. Until next time."
Kakashi turned as the Uzamaki family disappeared around a corner and continued down the hall towards the office. When Kakashi reached it he opened the door and stepped in. Built in the shape of an elliptical circle the Hokage's desk sat center and back from the door, under a row of windows overlooking the Old Village. Sitting at the desk was Naruto, wearing his white robe and with the hat of his office laying on the desk in front of him. To Naruto's right was Shikamaru, his primary advisor. On his left was a member of the ANBU Black Ops that Kakashi knew to be Yamato, despite the fact that he wore the division cloak and mask, because Kakashi himself had appointed him the division commander. To Kakashi's left was Sasuke, leaning against a window and looking out of it. To Kakashi's right was Tsunade, watching the scene silently.
Everyone looked up from their previous conversation when Kakashi entered the room. Naruto smiled at his former teacher. "Hey Kakashi-sensei, we just finished briefing Sasuke about the village's defensive situation." Naruto turned his attention back to his longtime friend and rival. "So, you'll be taking command of the village's defenses, while Shikamaru takes charge of administration until I return."
Sasuke nodded to show understanding but did not avert his gaze from the window.
Naruto leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together under his chin. "So, got any news to share with us before you go?"
Kakashi looked over at Sasuke. The Uchiha had changed dramatically since the end of the of the Fourth Great Ninja War. He had come to feel great shame for the crimes that he had committed before that conflict and felt a need to atone for his mistakes. He became a wanderer, traveling from place to place, protecting those who needed it and righting wrongs. He returned to the village periodically to visit family and friends and to share news and information gathered during his journeys.
Sasuke continued looking out of the window, though he did answer Naruto's question. "I'll start with the obvious. The other members of the Five Great Shinobi Nations are sending their Kage to Onoki's funeral."
Naruto got a very annoyed look on his face. "Yeah, we know that, we're going there too."
Sasuke's expression didn't change. "There are a couple of other things that you probably don't know and that worry me." One of Kakashi's eyebrows raised.
Naruto shared the same expression. "Let me guess. Orochimaru?"
Kakashi had to agree with his successor. After the Fourth Great Ninja War Orochimaru had been given a pardon by the international community for his part in the conflict. The Sannin, in return, vowed to never again use his forbidden immortality jutsu and the Reanimation summoning. Since then he devoted his time to the Hidden Sound, working hard to turn it into a true shinobi village rather than a front for his criminal activities. After this many years he had yet to pose a problem but with one such as Orochimaru you could never know.
Sasuke shook his head no, turning away from the window for the first time since Kakashi had entered the room, looking Naruto in the face. "No, but it does have something to do with Kabuto."
That didn't surprise Kakashi, and judging from his face Naruto wasn't surprised either. Kabuto, much like his former master, was given a pardon after the war and forswore some of his forbidden jutsu. He later began to wander the world in manner similar to Sasuke, going from place using his skills as a medical ninja to heal people wherever he went. While he was considered a possible threat he was held to be less dangerous than Orochimaru, owing to the fact that unlike his former master he didn't have the resources of an entire shinobi village at his back.
Naruto leaned in slightly. "What did Kabuto do?"
Sasuke shook his head again. "It wasn't anything he did, its what he hasn't been doing. Normally I hear about Kabuto during my travels, but over the past few months its been the exact opposite. In fact the only thing that I've heard of him is that he is nowhere to be found." Sasuke returned his gaze to the window. "But the most troubling news that I bring is from the Village Hidden in the Rain. The country has gone dark. The last time that I tried to pass through the country I was denied entrance and all information channels coming out of there have come to a standstill."
Naruto looked up to Shikamaru. "What do you think?"
Shikamaru closed his eyes and slowly stroked his goatee a few times. "We don't know enough information about this to really do anything with it. We should try to find out more."
Naruto nodded. "I agree." He turned to Yamato on his left. "Send ANBU teams to observe our border with the Land of Rain. I want to effectively double our patrols in the area. Make sure that their presence is hidden, we don't want to look like we're preparing for an invasion ourselves."
Yamato replied with a quick "yes, sir" before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
Naruto turned to face the rest of the room. "Alright, Sasuke if that's everything you've got then you and Shikamaru can go." The two men left the room, Sasuke more quickly, with a sense of purpose, Shikamaru in his usual lackadaisical manner.
After they had both left the room, leaving only the three Hokage, Naruto stood up and turned around to face the Old Village below. Naruto's cloak billowed out behind him, reminiscent of that his father wore, with a flame pattern along the border and the words "Seventh Hokage" on the back.
Naruto turned back around. "You both know the plan. Tomorrow we leave for the Village Hidden in the Stones. We'll bring no guards and no personal assistants. This will involve Kage and Kage only." Naruto walked over to his predecessors and placed a hand on one of each of their shoulders, a big, goofy grin on his face. "Grandma Tsunade, Kakashi-sensei, its great to see you guys again." The reigning Hokage left the room, leaving Kakashi and Tsunade alone.
"He has matured so much, hasn't he, Kakashi?" Tsunade said with a small smile of pride on her face.
Kakashi looked out the window at the fading sunlight as the sun began to fall behind the western horizon. "Yes, his generation has truly taken over." He looked over at Tsunade and smiled. "Well, I think that it is time to retire for the evening. I bid you good night Lady Hokage."
"And to you too," Tsunade said as Kakashi left the office.
The Village Hidden in the Rain had gone dark. After the war the Rain had established the Council of Seven, that number chosen to represent moving beyond the leadership of Pain. The last time that the Rain had become this isolationist was during Hanzo's reign, which allowed for Pain to rise without the world at large noticing and ultimately leading to the latter demolishing the Hidden Leaf. Kakashi couldn't shake this bad feeling in the back of his mind, that there were dark storm clouds on the horizon.
