IV: Approaching the Brink
"Are you ready, Iruka?" Kakashi asked while adjusting his face mask in front of the bathroom mirror.
"Not yet. Give me a minute," Iruka responded from the adjacent bedroom. He walked up to Kakashi and peered in the mirror as he tied up his hair.
Kakashi stepped behind the other man and put his arms around his waist while kissing his bared neck.
A bright red colored the Iruka's face. In a weak protest, he squirmed out of the jounin's arms and mildly complained, "Kakashi, now's not the time."
"It was just a kiss, Iruka."
"Still..." Iruka walked out of the bathroom, a frustrated look on his face. "I'm sorry, I'm just really nervous to see Sasuke."
"Ah," Kakashi muttered as he grabbed his novel from the nightstand next to the bed. "Ready to go now?"
Iruka nodded and followed Kakashi out the door.
The day was bright and clear for autumn, and the wind was reduced to a gentle breeze. The sun shined through the sparse clouds above in the blue sky. However, the smell of fall was still distinct as the two men walked side by side in the nearly empty streets of an early Sunday morning. They never spoke a word nor made any contact with the each other, leaving Iruka feeling quite isolated and lonesome. He wished Kakashi would perhaps put an arm around him or brush against him even slightly so while they walked, but the jounin did neither. Nervousness only latched more firmly onto Iruka's heart when the Hokage Tower loomed before them.
He felt hesitant, reluctant to take a step inside the building. The Anbu guards standing at the entrance did not help, but then he felt a gentle yet persistent hand on his back and knew he had to continue. They were not questioned by the guards, surprisingly enough, and entered the building without hassle. As soon as they entered the main lobby, a messenger ran towards them.
"The Hokage will see you now. Please hurry."
The two teachers exchanged looks and teleported to the entrance of the Hokage's office.
"Separate them? There must be another way."
"I'm afraid not, Kakashi."
"Kakashi," Iruka gently placed his hand on the other man's arm. "I think this is for the best. Sasuke and Naruto both need some space and time alone."
The jounin jerked away from Iruka's touch and glared at him. "I don't need you to tell me what's best for them. They might have been your former students, but you have had many come and go. They have been my first and only team, my team to lead. Don't assist me with my job."
"Then it is your job to do what's best for the team, even if it means dissolving it temporarily," Tsunade looked solemnly at the jounin. There was no alternative. The Hokage had made up her mind.
Kakashi sighed in defeat, "Yes, Hokage-sama," and turned around to look outside the window.
There was a tense moment of silence before Iruka spoke up, "Will we able to see Sasuke today?"
Tsunade raised her eyebrows then frowned. "I'm not sure. It depends on his condition. Follow me."
Iruka and Kakashi exchanged looks and hesitantly followed the Hokage out of her office and down the corridor. After making several turns, they arrived in front of a double door guarded by two masked Anbu. Tsunade nodded to them, and they immediately swung both doors open, clicking their heels as they held the way. The trio arrived at a narrow spiral staircase that led downwards. Cold gray stone walls were dimly lit by small torches undoubtedly fueled by chakra.
"No one knows of this stairwell nor the chamber to which it leads," Tsunade said as they made their way down the stairs.
"Ah, I can't even remember how we got here," Iruka said, feeling slightly uneasy.
"I used genjutsu. Even though I trust both of you with my life, I can't take chances."
Iruka watched the descending figure of the Hokage while he stood still in temporary shock. The powers of the Hokage overwhelmed the chuunin; he began to feel a sick ache in the bottom of his stomach and the first waves of claustrophobia. Kakashi paused in back of him, patiently waiting for his companion to continue walking.
When they arrived at the bottom, they came upon a small chamber, equally gray and cold as the stairwell. Two Anbu soldiers were sitting at a table in front four surveillance screens, while two others stood guard outside what appeared to be a thick steel door. They greeted the Hokage respectfully, the two at the table immediately standing, while she spoke in a sotto voice. The two Leaf ninjas stared at the lone figure in the middle of each screen.
"How is the boy?"
"He has calmed down considerably since this morning. It appears that he is contemplating something. He hasn't moved from that position all day."
"Has he eaten?"
"Yes, in fact, he ate half of his meals and drank all his water."
"Good."
"Excuse me, Hokage-sama, but is this kind of internment necessary?" Iruka asked, feeling more uneasy by the second.
"Yes. It is by all means necessary. I will explain my reasons to you later, but now," she turned to the guards, "I must know if he is ready for visitors."
The two guards at the table looked at the two other ninja then at each other. One spoke up, "We are not a hundred percent sure of his readiness, but we suspect he is in good condition to receive other visitors. We only advise you both to be cautious and ready at all times to evacuate the cell."
A tight knot twisted in Iruka's chest at the Anbu's words. Kakashi nodded and walked up to the doors after taking off his holsters and putting all his scrolls onto the table. Iruka began to follow when Kakashi put out his hand to stop him and shook his head.
"Let me go first."
The chuunin was about to protest until he noted the solemn, determined look gleaming in the jounin's eyes. He nodded and stood by Tsunade, looking almost fearfully at the unmoving figure on the screens.
"Sasuke-san," an Anbu spoke into a microphone, "you have a visitor." The dot on the screen did not acknowledge the statement with any sound or movement.
The two Anbus at the steel doors put their hands together, their fingers and hands moving so quickly that all one could see was a blur of black. Red chakra crackled and glowed around their hands before they pushed their palms flat against the door and undid the seal.
"Remember that seal, Hatake-san. It's the only way to exit," one guard instructed. The jounin nodded and passed through the steel doors that never opened. Worried black eyes never left the screens as one black dot slowly approached the other.
AN: I apologize profusely for the long wait between chapters. I originally intended to update this fanfic weekly, but with schoolwork and plenty of tests coming up, I don't think I can keep my promise. I'm typing more chapters in advance so such a long wait won't, hopefully, happen again. That means I've got my plot pretty much planned, so just sit tight and enjoy.