CHAPTER SIX: Ties that Bind
Despite their rocky introduction and much to Kakashi's dismay, Naruto immediately takes a liking to Nise. They spend the next three days whispering together like a pair of thieves, running off at random times to do what Nise called "Family Bonding Time".
And Kakashi isn't sure how he feels about how easily Naruto accepts his cousin into his life. Though Naruto is no longer the lonely kid Kakashi first met all those months ago, he knows the boy still craves a family. Kakashi wants so badly to be happy for his student, but his senses are still going haywire around Nise so it's difficult to feel anything other than frustration. He had hoped that learning Nise was a jinchuuriki would have settled the feeling of wrongness but it hasn't.
In the hours that they're not together, Nise is glued to Jiraiya's side. Kakashi's certain that neither of them slept that first night, locked in Jiraiya's rooms talking about who knows what. When they had emerged the next morning, what little tenseness Kakashi had noticed from their first reunion had disappeared. In the hours where Naruto was off training, they spread paper and ink over the kitchen table in their rented rooms and spent hours drawing seals and arguing theory.
Nise is obviously comfortable being with Jiraiya and Naruto. He jokes with them and seems so happy around them that it's hard to reconcile him with the quiet, serious man he's been traveling with. In the days Kakashi had spent following Nise around Konoha he had seen his carefree demeanor with Tsunade, how he had always greeted Genma with a smile, how he had been downright playful with the ANBU. But after traveling with him he had concluded that it had been nothing but a persona, an exception rather than the rule. Now, however, seeing the reemergence of his carefree attitude, Kakashi is starting to believe that he is the exception, that Nise is a naturally cheery guy who just doesn't like him. The fact that Nise hasn't said more than a handful of words to Kakashi the whole three days only reinforces this. He starts to second guess that sense of easy peace he had been feeling when traveling with the man.
He had stuck around Nise the first two days hoping that, in this more relaxed state, the man would let something slip. But Nise avoided him like the plague and it was slowly grating on his nerves.
It all comes to a head on the third night when Kakashi, fed up with it all, 'accidentally' stumbles upon Nise and Jiraiya talking in the kitchen, heads bent over what looks like a half a dozen seals.
Nise head shoots over to look at him and he immediately stops talking. Kakashi stares at him and tries not to let his frustration show. Apparently, their trust is one-sided.
Jiraiya hits Nise upside the head. "You keep saying you want to tell us together and here I am thinking Kakashi is the one avoiding you but it's actually you? Why did you bring him if you're so reluctant to share information with him? I thought you liked him?"
"Of course I like him!" Nise says, indigent. At Jiraiya's leering look Nise yelps and waves his hands in the air. He looks wide-eyed at Kakashi. "Don't misunderstand! He's talking about something different! I don't like you! I mean I do like you! But not in the way you're thinking! And I'm not avoiding you! I just— Well, I mean—"
Something settles in Kakashi's chest at Nise's blushing face and his frustration evaporates as if it had never been there. "Maa, is that why you've been avoiding me Nise-chan? You can tell me if you have a crush on me," he teases.
Nise's face turns impossibly more red, clashing terribly with his hair. "Shut up you pervert! You were the one who stalked me for two days straight!"
Kakashi doesn't have the decency to feel embarrassed about being called out on his behavior. He bends forward and puts on a fake hurt face. "I just wanted to get to know my cute kouhai, but you made it so hard to track you. Were you playing hard to get?"
Jiraiya bursts out laughing and Kakashi is suddenly aware of how close their faces are. He pulls back and casually leans against the counter. "It's okay Nise-chan. I won't tell anyone about your crush on me."
Nise screams in frustration and Kakashi can't help but join Jiraiya in laughing at the embarrassed man.
Jiraiya pulls out a chair and Kakashi takes the hint, joining them at the table. Now that he has a closer look at the seals on the table, he notices they kind of look like the ones inked on Nise's arms.
"Come on brat. I've been patient but you're just being stubborn now. Either tell us both like you said you wanted to or just tell me; make up your mind," Jiraiya says.
Nise crosses his arms over his chest. "Fine!" he pouts. He looks over at Kakashi, his eyes serious. "How much do you know about the Akatsuki?"
Kakashi leans back in his chair. "Akatsuki is the organization that Jiraiya-sama left the village to investigate. Their members are all missing-nin. I believe Orochimaru is, or was, a member. Itachi as well."
Jiraiya frowns, his earlier jovial attitude gone. "There are seven member that I can confirm right now, but there's probably more. Each of them are powerful in their own right. Their current leader is a man called Pain. He doesn't run ops with them, but orders them from their base which is rumored to be in Ame. We don't know much about them other than that their end goal is to collect all the bijuu."
Nise nods. "Pain is nothing but a puppet. The real leader is a man who calls himself Tobi."
"I've never heard of such a guy."
"He's not an official member, at least not yet. The other Akatsuki members aren't aware of him, it's only Pain and—" he pauses for a moment and bites his lip. He looks at Jiraiya. "Pain's right hand man is a woman called Konan."
Jiraiya flinches back in shock. "Konan? As in— Are you certain? What on earth is she— Where are Yahiko and Nagato?"
Just like downstairs in the bar, when they first met up, Kakashi is feeling distinctly left out. The names sound vaguely familiar and he has a fuzzy recollection of a much younger Jiraiya telling him about three orphans.
"Nagato is Pain. Yahiko died years ago."
Jiraiya slumps back in his chair. "Yahiko's dead?" he whispers.
Nise stretches an awkward hand out and squeezes Jiraiya's shoulder. "Nagato and Konan are lost right now, Tobi has blinded them but I know that they can be helped. I need you to talk to them, try to get them to turn on Tobi. Without them, Akatsuki won't be able to seal the bijuu."
Jiraiya's eyes harden. "Of course," he says. "Tell me everything about this Tobi."
Hesitation returns to Nise's eyes and he looks down.
"Tell me what I need to know then," Jiraiya says, easily conceding.
Nise looks gratefully at Jiraiya and Kakashi is struck with the realization that maybe it's not that Nise is intentionally hiding things from them, but that, for some reason, he just can't tell them.
"Tobi is an Uchiha. He has awakened his mangekyo sharingan which allows him to perform a space-time ninjutsu called Kamui."
Kakashi leans forward at that but Nise is resolutely not looking at him.
"It's similar to yours, Kakashi-san, except that he can only do it short-ranged, when he is touching the object. But he can also perform it on himself and is able to make himself intangible. It's a damn tricky ninjutsu but it has a weakness. He's not able to make himself intangible and warp himself away at the same time. Still, it's best if we avoid him for now. You should only approach Nagato and Konan when you're certain he isn't there."
Kakashi's heart stops for a moment and his covered eye starts itching so bad that he has to fight down the urge to rub at it. He has taken painful steps over the years to ensure that there are very few people in the world who know about his Kamui. In fact, he can count on one hand how many people know about it any none of them are in this room. He glances at Jiraiya but he's just slowly nodding, listening intently.
"While he calls himself Tobi to most people, to some he calls himself Madara Uchiha. But—" he raises a hand when Jiraiya opens his mouth, "But this isn't true. He is just another Uchiha."
Jiraiya scratches at his chin. "That's a lot of information to take in Nise-chan," he says.
Nise takes off the white armour on his right arm, pushes down his sleeve and then takes that off. Kakashi stares at the exposed arm; the seal that are always visible on his exposed upper arms continue down the entirety of his arm and over the back of his hand. Nise weaves a few hand signs and pulls a scroll out from the seal on the back of his right hand.
"I've written down everything you need to know about Nagato and Konan's techniques." He hands the scroll to Jiraiya but when Jiraiya takes it he holds on tight. "I know you love them but they are not the kids you remember. You're one of the only people who they might listen to, but they're not going to let you get close to them without a fight. Please be careful sensei or they will kill you."
Jiraiya takes the scroll and tucks it inside his vest. "Seems you've prepared for almost everything Nise-chan. Anything else you want to tell me to do?"
Nise gives a lopsided grin. "Well, there is one more thing I want to ask of you. How well do you know the Raikage and his brother?"
Kakashi sits quietly and listens as Nise strongly suggests, "You don't have to but I highly recommend it ", that Naruto go to Kumo and receive training from the Hachibi and his jinchuuriki. He's just explaining how gentle and kind the Hachibi actually is, much to Jiraiya and Kakashi's incredulity, when a sweaty and grumpy Naruto comes bursting through the door.
"Nii-san! He's being mean again! Make him stop! I can't concentrate on training when he keeps saying stupid stuff!"
Nise laughs and goes over to ruffle Naruto's hair. Naruto swats his hand away but he isn't fooling anyone with the pleased smile on his face.
"He's your friend Naruto. You can handle him."
"We're not friends!"
"Naruto-chan," Jiraiya interrupts. "How do you feel about going to Kumo when you've finished your training here?"
Kakashi is sitting on the roof of the brothel that night, reading Icha Icha Paradise even though there's barely enough light to see anything. He turns a page as someone sits down next to him.
"I didn't mean to avoid you," Nise says quietly.
"I know," he says, even though he really didn't.
They sit in silence for a while, Kakashi reading his book and Nise staring at the stars.
"I'm leaving tomorrow morning. To Suna. To see Gaara."
"Okay."
Nise squirms. "Are you coming?"
"Yes."
"Right, good. Okay." Nise stands up. "Um, Ero-sennin says it's only polite to let them know we're coming."
Kakashi doesn't look up from his book.
"Um, my summons are toads and they're not that good at the whole delivering messages quickly thing. I heard your summons are good at running long distances?"
Kakashi turns a page and mentally catalogues that Nise can summon toads, though he had already been entertaining the possibility, what with Jiraiya's obvious trust in the man. But then his frustration from earlier threatens to rear its ugly head at Nise's questioning tone. Just a few hours ago Nise had been confidently telling Jiraiya what to do. Yet now he seems to be having trouble asking something simple of him. Why was he treating him differently? Does he still not trust him?
It really shouldn't bother him this much but he can't stop petty spite from filling his veins. "No doubt from where you heard about my Kamui," he says, forcing his tone to be unassuming.
Nise's hurt expression makes him immediately regret his words but he can't take them back. He really shouldn't be this worked up. He's always kept a cool head but everything about the redhead works him up.
He stands up before Nise can respond. "I'll send Pakkun and Shiba. They're the fastest. Goodnight."
Their first day of traveling is tense and it's only when he notices that Kakashi isn't staring at him anymore that he realizes just how comfortable they had been around each other those first few days of traveling. Nise knows the awkward atmosphere is his fault but he doesn't know what he did or how to fix it.
The sun is just starting to set on their first day, Nise still trying to think of how to mend whatever it is that is broken, when he senses they're being followed. He skids to a halt and looks around but they're in a rocky mountainous area with a dozen places where their enemies could be hiding.
Kakashi's back presses against his and he can practically taste the man's alertness. It's slightly ridiculous how relieved Nise is at that. Even though he knows Kakashi would never abandon a comrade, an irrational fear of being left alone had started fester in his stomach at Kakashi's standoffish behavior.
A kunai comes flying at Nise's head and he knocks it out of the air with his arm guard. His eyes immediately zero in on a large boulder in front of him. Another kunai comes for his neck and he brings his arm back, hand in a claw—
"NO!" Nine voices shout in his head and Nise's body freezes. He can't move a muscle. He can't blink.
He's suddenly floating underwater, level with Kokuou's blue eyes. She stares at him. "You need to calm down," she says.
Adrenaline burns through Nise and his body shakes with the need to eliminate the threat. To get rid of it before it can hurt anyone. He can't remember the last time he went this long without using his chakra and it's just begging to be used. It's been so long since they've been this well rested and he can feel the full power of all the bijuu flowing through him, right at his fingertips. All it would take would be a single swipe of his hand and he can eliminate everything. "Let me go," he says through gritted teeth.
"No," she says calmly.
"Let me go!" he screams, thrashing around, but it's useless when he's suspended like this.
She leans forward and touches her massive forehead to his, just like she does for Shukaku when he becomes too lost in his head. "If we let you go you'll kill them."
Something nudges at his leg. "They are just Iwa ANBU. There is no need for such force. Calm down," Isobu says.
Nise takes a deep breath and tries to center himself. This isn't like his play-tag sessions with Tsunade; an agreed upon friendly game where neither of them really used much energy and there was no threat. This was an unknown person trying to hurt him. His reflexes had automatically responded to the threat, telling him to fight back. He knows they're right, that there's no need to use so much power, but he barely remembers what it's like to fight against someone that isn't a monster.
He can't see the others but he knows they're there, can feel their chakra. Even though he had just reached for their power minutes ago, had almost shown the world what a ten-tails jinchuuriki can do, they don't draw back from him. He floats there for a bit and lets their familiar chakra flow over him, calming him. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. I didn't mean it."
Kokuou's clear laugh ripples through the water. "We know. Now go. Your companion is waiting."
Isobu nudges her head against his stomach, the water disappears and the sun is suddenly shining in his eyes. He blinks and Kakashi is in front of him.
"Oh? You finally decided to join us?" Kakashi asks, casually leaning against a rock.
Nise blinks again and though he can control his body again, his step forward is unsteady. With the adrenaline gone, he's exhausted, feels like he's been fighting for days. "What happened?" he asks.
Kakashi raises an eyebrow. "Shouldn't I be the one asking that?"
"Where are—"
Kakashi points at two unconscious Iwa ANBU tied to a rock.
"Oh." He cringes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to...you know, freeze."
Kakashi too-casually walks towards him. "No need to apologize. They were after me. I'm quite popular in Iwa you know," he says, his voice light. "Have my own page in their Bingo Book and everything."
Nise's whole body aches and Kokuou is still murmuring calming things to him but he's certain that Kakashi is trying to distract him from something.
"But even with my ANBU mask on they still would have recognized me. Maybe my time in ANBU really is over, I've been thinking of quitting soon anyway. You feeling better now?"
"Uh yeah." He takes a step back as Kakashi gets a little too close. His face flushes for some reason. "I'm fine really. I was just surprised, it's been—"
Kakashi's hand darts out and yanks something out of Nise's left shoulder. He stares in shock as Kakashi raises a questioning eyebrow and casually dangles a bloody kunai in front of his face.
Nise looks down at his shoulder to see blood slowly seeping from a stab wound, trickling down his arm. He hadn't even noticed it. With his ANBU uniform leaving his shoulders bare, he has a clear view as his skin starts to pull itself back together, steam emitting from the rapidly healing gash. Nise clamps a hand over it, trying to hide it, but it's too late. There's no way Kakashi hasn't noticed.
Kakashi gently pulls Nise's hand away and runs a finger over the sizzling wound, not seeming to care about the blood he's getting on his glove. "That's quite a wound to not realize," Kakashi says, his voice curious. "Kushina Uzumaki—" he hesitates.
Kakashi is still too close and Nise has never heard him talk about his mother before. He holds his breath, afraid that a single breath will shatter the moment. He can't look away from where Kakashi's touching him.
"I remember once when a Kumo ninja broke her leg. It was pretty bad, the bone had broken through the skin and she couldn't move. I saw her use some of the Kyuubi's chakra and it healed within a few minutes. Minato-sensei swore me to secrecy, but it's hard to forget something like that." His finger pushes hard against the almost healed wound. "I remember it perfectly. I remember how much pain she was in."
With a sizzle, the wound completely seals. His tan skin looks as good as new; even the inked lines from his seals are perfectly intact.
Kakashi stares at him and Nise can't think, can't look away from his grey eye. He doesn't know what to say. Has no idea what Kakashi is thinking.
Kakashi eye smiles and flicks his shoulder. "Didn't want to pull it out while you were spaced out," he says cheerfully. "Come on, we don't want to be around here when their friends realize they're missing."
They only stop to rest when Shiba and Pakkun return. Gaara had received their message and was willing to meet them but he gave no meeting place, just said that he would be watching out for them.
They find a relatively secure outcropping of rocks and set up the customary traps. In a routine firmly established, it's Nise's turn to make their dinner while Kakashi sets up the tents.
Nise is stirring the stew, or what he hopes will turn out as stew, when Kakashi sits down next to him.
"The two tents can combine to make one. It's more spacious that way. Easier to set up too"
Nise looks up in confusion but Kakashi doesn't say anything else, just takes over making the stew in an attempt to salvage what grey monstrosity Nise has created. Nise looks behind him and instead of the standard two tents he sees one giant one.
When they finish eating Kakashi heads to his, their, tent with a jovial "Goodnight!"
Nise mediates for two hours, talking to the bijuu and trying to relearn what amount of damage the average ninja can take, before he joins Kakashi in his, their, tent.
And Kakashi was right; combined, there is a lot more room inside than seperate. Nise's bed roll is already rolled out and he hesitates only for a moment when he sees how close Kakashi has laid it to where he is lying on his side on his own. He doesn't know what goes through the man's head but apparently he's been forgiven for whatever it was that he messed up earlier.
Nise lies down on his bedroll and he's so close to Kakashi that they might as well be sharing one. This close up Kakashi looks asleep, but that doesn't really mean much. He watches the rise and fall of Kakashi's chest for a bit, the slow and even movements drawing him closer to the edge of sleep. Kakashi still has his mask on and Nise doubts that he'll ever stop wondering what is underneath it. He turns over so his back is to the man, so he doesn't have to see his half covered face, and goes to sleep.
They've just passed the border into the Land of Wind when Nise senses Gaara. Nise stumbles at the familiar chakra and would have face planted into the ground if Kakashi hadn't grabbed at him at the last second.
Pull yourself together kid, Shukaku growls.
Nise takes a deep breath and tries to steady his pounding heart. After seeing Tsunade, he had quickly realized how hard it would be to to see those who he had been close to in his previous life. So during his short stay in Konoha he had gone out of his way to avoid running into any familiar faces. Jiraiya had been unavoidable but it he had been lost so long ago that Nise had long come to terms with his death. And while Kakashi had been unexpected, he had never actually seen the man die and it was almost too easy now to separate his childhood sensei from the maybe-friend that was this Kakashi. But Gaara. Gaara was a fresh, gaping wound.
Nise's throat feels tight and he takes another deep breath. It smells like metal.
"Not that I'm not flattered, but is this really the time?"
Nise hurriedly takes a step back as he realizes he's been all but clinging to the front of Kakashi's flak jacket.
"Ah! Sorry! I just wasn't expecting to feel Gaara all the way out here. He must not want to meet so close to the village...or something..." he trails off awkwardly when he realized Kakashi isn't paying attention to him.
Instead, he's staring off towards the horizon, towards Suna. "You can sense him? Or you can sense the Ichibi?"
"One in the same I suppose."
"That's the second time you've said that," he comments. He turns to look at him, his eyes guarded. "You didn't react like this when we were near Naruto."
Nise doesn't really know how to answer that non-question.
Just tell him you've got a bro-boner for—
Be quiet Shukaku! Saiken snaps.
"Yes, well...oh! Gaara's seal isn't quite right so the Ichibi's chakra caught me off guard. It's a little...rougher than it should be."
Kakashi doesn't look like he believes him but he lets his excuse slide.
Sixty meters later and Nise can feel Temari and Kankuro's chakra signatures as well. From Kakashi's slowing pace, he must sense them as well.
And even though he thought he was ready for it, the sight of a young Gaara nearly knocks the breath out of him. A lump forms in his throat and he wants nothing more than to hug his brother.
Gaara's eyes are impassive as he steps forward, Temari and Kankuro hanging a few feet behind him. He crosses his arms over his chest and Nise can see the beginnings of the great commander he will hopefully never have to become. "Your message was very vague. You say the Godaime Hokage has sent you, yet you do not come here on official Konoha business," he says, his voice soft. "What do you want?"
Nise steps forward and bows low. He will do right by Gaara. "The Godaime Hokage has sent me to assist with the Ichibi's seal, as a gesture of goodwill between our villages and to strength our new alliance." He straightens up and smiles. "Naruto also sends his regards. He even wrote you a letter."
Gaara turns to him, eyes sharp and suspicious. "You smell like Shukaku."
Nise nods and bends down on one knee. He holds out his right hand, palm up, and focuses on letting just Shukaku's red chakra bubble up and coat his arm.
Temari and Kankuro take a step forward in alarm but Gaara hold out a hand to stop them. He narrows his eyes and the sand shifts restlessly around him. A thin strain of sand sprouts out from the ground and curls around Nise's outstretched arm but he doesn't flinch. Gaara's days of indiscriminate bloodshed are long over.
"It's...calm," Gaara says as he takes a step forward, holding out his own hand. A crack appears in his hand and his protective layer of sand breaks off, exposing his real skin. He reaches out and gently lays his hand in Nise's.
Nise tightly grips Gaara's pale hand, pulls him closer and places his other hand on Gaara's stomach, right over where his misshapen seal is.
And then Nise is standing in a red desert. A red moon, so large it takes up half the night sky, shines bright above. Gaara stands at his side, looking around confused.
A terrible roar draws their attention to their right. In the distance, Shukaku screams at the red moon in fury. Chains wrap around his legs and neck, pinning him upright against a giant black stone slab.
Gaara takes a step back but Nise puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Look," he says, pointing to the chains. Even at this distance the spikes protruding from them are visible, their tips coated in dark red. "He's in pain."
Gaara stares at Shukaku, the red light of the moon making his green eyes look yellow, but doesn't say anything.
"Come on," Nise says.
Together, they take a step forward and are suddenly standing right in front of Shukaku.
"What are you?!" the one-tailed demon screams in rage. "Where did you get my chakra?" He thrashes against his chains, causing the spikes to sink deeper into his fur. "I'll kill you! I'll rip you—"
"Shukaku!" Nise yells but he's either unheard or ignored.
Shukaku thrashes harder and blood starts to pour from where the spikes pierce his skin.
Nise turns to Gaara. "It will be easier to fix your seal if both of you are cooperating. I am here to help both of you. Will you make him stop hurting himself?" he asks.
Gaara slowly nods and, without giving any visible cue, the red sand around them starts to rise up and surround Shukaku.
Shukaku thrashes harder. "I am the one who gave you those powers! You think you can use them against me! You think you can control me !"
"You're hurting yourself," Gaara says softly.
Shukaku laughs as the chains loosen enough to allow the red sand to force him down onto his belly.
Nise walks up to Shukaku's massive head and can't help but tsk. "Even Kurama wasn't this difficult," he says as he gathers Shukaku's chakra in his hand. Shukaku's eyes widen as Nise places it on his forehead. "This belongs to you," he says and pushes the memories into its original body.
the brat thinks he can be kaze- he's being ripped from- it's dark and quie- the Uchiha commands him to- someone keeps draining his- he's being pulled agai- Kokuou is here and- the brat falls and doesn't get u- he's so tired- the kid's soul is bein-
Nise pulls his hand back and eyes the dazed one-tailed demon wearily. He's not saying anything but with Shukaku that could mean anything; his moods were volatile even on a good day. For now at least, he seems calm.
Shukaku turns his massive head to look at Gaara. "You can let me go now brat," he says.
Gaara turns to looks at Nise, uncertainty in his eyes, and Nise nods. With his future-self's memories, Shukaku should be more stable.
The red sand slowly falls away and Shukaku growls when the chains pull him back upright against the stone slab. "Do something about these stupid chains. They hurt like a bitch."
Nise smiles. "Are you going to behave? You own Gaara an apology."
Shukaku's lip curls up in disgust. "Don't think you can order me around. I'm not like the others."
"I know," he says and he really does. Shukaku had never developed his empathy for humans to the extent that the others had.
Shukaku growls. "The brat has never bothered to apologize to me," he says.
Nise rolls his eyes. "That doesn't even make any sense," he mumbles. He turns to Gaara when he feels coarse sand wrapping around his ankle.
"What did you do?" Gaara asks. "I can not allow you to set him free."
Nise clasps his hand on his shoulder. "Gaara. This is Shukaku. I helped him calm down a bit but I still need to fix his seal." He gives his best smile at Gaara's suspicious look. "You and Shukaku are partners. You guys will accomplish great things together, but it's going to take a lot of patience and effort. Are you willing to work for it?"
Gaara stares at Shukaku, distrust clear in his eyes, but he nods.
"Excellent!" Nise says and backs up. He crouches down and slams his hand down on the ground and the red sand blows away to reveal a black stone ground with jagged carvings in it. The sloppy and harsh seal is horrific to Nise's eyes. "Come here," he says to Gaara. "You should learn this."
Kakashi vaguely wishes that Nise would have given everyone a heads up before diving into another seal. It's not a problem, but it's incredibly inconvenient trying to read his beloved Icha Icha Paradise with Gaara's siblings sending him murderous glares.
"Are you still reading that damn book?" Temari yells at him. Her knuckles white from where she's gripping her fan so hard.
If Kakashi was a nicer person he might feel a little bad for her. It had only been last week when he himself had been pretty upset at Nise making Naruto go practically comatose. He turns a page. He could probably give them some kind of explanation but he would rather Nise face the angry siblings. Maybe then he would learn to explain himself before acting.
It's been thirty minutes since the two jinchuuriki started their weird stare off and Nise still hasn't released his hold on Gaara. Temari and Kankuro had tried to get to their brother at first, but anytime they came within a few feet of the frozen jinchuuriki a wall of sand would rise and block their path. They had eventually settled for throwing insults at Kakashi.
And Kakashi supposes he has to give credit where credit is due. At least they were both smart enough to know that an attack on him would mean an attack on Konoha. It was poorly kept news that their brother was aiming for the Kazekage seat and damaging Suna's delicate alliance with Konoha was a guaranteed way to lose favor.
"Tell your man to release Gaara this instant!" Kankuro yells.
Kakashi ignores them, blushes, and turns another page.
Ten minutes later and Kakashi is just starting to think he might have to intervene when Nise finally releases Gaara.
Gaara's face is paler than normal and Temari and Kankuro immediately rush to his side; this time no wall of sand stops them.
"See, I told you it was nothing to worry about. Nise-chan just forgets to explain things before he does them," Kakashi says. He's already by Nise's side, steadying the swaying man with an arm around his waist.
"Temari, Kankuro. I am alright. I am...better," Gaara says, his voice rougher than normal. He gives a small smile. "Please, Nise-sensei, Kakashi-san, let Suna accommodate you for a few nights. We have much to discuss."
Gaara turns, his siblings hovering at his side, and starts the long run to Sun. He seems to be relatively steady on his feet but Kakashi suspects his sand armour is supporting him more than it normally does. Kakashi keeps a steadying hand on the small of Nise's back, bites his cheek to hold back commenting on Nise being called sensei, and follows.
The walk through Suna to their temporary lodgings is tense. Wary eyes follow them and there is a tenseness in the air that doesn't belong in a hidden village. Gaara, Temari and Kankuro walk with their heads high, giving no indication that they notice anything is amiss. Kakashi walks with his nose buried in Icha Icha Paradise and pretends he doesn't notice anything either.
"These will be your rooms for the duration of your stay. I apologize that they are not—"
Nise claps a hand on Gaara's shoulder, not seeming to notice the grains of sand that trickle over his hand. "They're just fine Gaara. We gave such short notice that it's more than we expected."
Gaara nods and the sand siblings have only just left the room after agreeing to meet them for dinner in a few hours when Nise turns to him with serious eyes. "What's with the tense atmosphere?"
"Well, Suna is pretty vulnerable right now. What with not having a Kazekage," he says, refusing to point out the obvious. Nise has to know how Suna fears Gaara.
"Gaara is aiming to be the next Kazekage."
Kakashi drops his pack on the sole bed in the middle of the room and sighs at the obvious statement. "Yes."
"You were close with Sandaime. You know the political side of the office."
Kakashi feels a headache coming on so suddenly that he doesn't even really care how Nise knows that. "No."
Nise takes an eager step forward. "Kakashi-san, just think about it! Suna's Council is going to give the seat to him anyway; there's no way they're letting his bloodline go, but you can bet they're going to try to turn him into a figure head. Gaara will do great things for the village! And with Shuk— the Ichibi working with him he'll be unstoppable. But he's so much more that just a chakra powerhouse. He cares about this village and he can do so much more if the Council isn't holding him back. You can teach him!"
Kakashi runs a hand through his hair. "You knew I would come on this mission with you," he accuses. "You planned this from the start."
"What? No! I thought I was doing this solo! I didn't even know you before this!"
That's one hell of a lie, Kakashi thinks but lets it slide. "So it just so happens that you brought along an easily recognizable and well-known Konoha shinobi. One who, if seen parading around the village with Gaara, makes it seems like Konoha supports his candidacy. Which would show that he also has powerful connections to Konoha, who they just so happen to have a new and unsteady alliance with. Which would also endure him with the Council. And—" he pauses at the look in Nise's eye, as if he's never considered what he's saying as a possibility. He points an accusing finger at the redhead. "You didn't plan any of this. You're making this up as you go!"
Nise blinks and his cheeks tinge pink. "No!" he weakly protests.
Kakashi sits down on the bed and rubs his temples. "What exactly is it that you want to accomplish here?"
Nise leans against the dresser and bites his lip. "I want to train Gaara and the Ichibi."
"So this is more than just fixing his seal. You didn't stay to train Naruto and the Kyuubi. You told him to go to Kumo for that."'
"Gaara really is a special case. He was a jinchuuriki before he was even born so his chakra is so mixed up with the Ichibi's that he's always been able to use the Ichibi's chakra. Killer B and the Hachibi can teach how to accept one's self and how to share chakra but that's not what they need. They've always been in resonance with one another. What they need is trust and someone who can understand them."
Kakashi sees the fire in Nise's eyes, the iron faith he has in Gaara and the Ichibi. "And you understand," he says quietly.
"Yes," Nise says firmly. "Gaara doesn't really sleep so I can train him at night and during the day you can...do whatever it is that you were talking about. I was just going to say teach him like law stuff, but what you were saying sounded better. Please, Kakashi-san."
Kakashi sighs and flops backwards onto the bed. "I suppose I can do a few things," he mumbles.
He feels Nise sit down on the bed next to him and hides a smile. "Oh and Nise-chan. We've slept together enough that you can just call me Kakashi."
Nise's subsequent blush and screeching is worth it.
Gaara kneels in the sand, breathing harshly. His whole body aches and he just wants to lie down and sleep. He spits a mouthful of blood out and wipes his lips with the back of his hand
Come on brat, I'm literally offering you all my chakra, free of charge. This idiot is just gonna keep beating you into the ground without me. You haven't even touched him yet. Let me fight!
I don't trust you, Gaara thinks.
The whole point of this is for us to work together! You're embarrassing me!
"Get up," Nise says and Shukaku's annoyed growl echoes in his head.
As soon as the sun had set, Nise had dragged him out, miles from the village, saying that it was time to test the teamwork him and Shukaku had been working on for the past two days. Just a small spar, he had said, just to gauge their current abilities. And while he had warned Gaara that he was bad at holding back, Gaara couldn't help but feel like he wasn't even trying to hold back.
"Up, Gaara. You can do this."
Gaara looks up and his new sensei cuts a truly frightening sight. His once tan skin is so pale that the moonlight reflects off of him, making him appear to glow white, which only emphasizes his ink black eyes. He holds one of those damn black balls in his hands, tossing it up and down.
Gaara slowly gets up, ignoring his protesting joints, and drags his sand up with him. He thrusts his hands out but the sand has barely moved when Nise is gone.
Use my chakra! Shukaku roars.
And Nise is suddenly standing in front of him, swinging a black rod right at Gaara's side.
The sand rushes to his defense but its too little too late. The rod hits his left side and he hears something crack before he's sent flying through the air. Sand rises up to catch him as gently as it can but even just breathing hurts. The sand cradles him as it sets him back on the ground and Gaara is certain he's broken something.
"You're not applying anything you've learned. Are you even talking to one another? You are a team, you two are stronger together. You'll never be able to dodge me on your own," Nise says, his voice just this side of taunting.
Gaara grits his teeth and the taste of iron is back in his mouth. How do I know I can trust you , he thinks to Shukaku.
Trust that I want to beat this little shit up more than I want to hurt you.
Gaara spits out more blood and shakes his head. He's heard that excuse before and it's just not enough. They've made extraordinary strides in the last days, a few months ago he never would have imagined that he would be able to hold a civil conversation with Shukaku, but it's hard to forget a lifetime of torment.
The black rod comes shooting towards his head but he can't move a muscle, can't defend himself. The rod is going to pierce through his skull.
Trust that he will be able to stop us, Shukaku says and Gaara is suddenly reminded of Naruto.
Naruto, an untrained jinchuuriki, had been able to stop them. Surely Nise, who obviously had complete control, would be able to stop them too.
He feels a wave of energy flow through him and then there's a tan tail with blue markings holding the black rod, inches from his face. Gaara stares wide eyed and maniacal laughter echoes in his head.
More energy rushes through him and with a pleasant ache, strength returns to his limbs. Something settles in his stomach and everything seems to sharpen into focus.
Let's show this pipsqueak what we can do, Shukaku growls.
Gaara stands up and his heart skips a beat as he realizes how high up he is, how he's no longer in human form.
Calm down brat. You're still awake aren't you?
He pushes the panic in his chest down as he realizes that he is indeed awake. With barely a thought, he swings his tail and tosses the rod aside. He's awake and in full control.
"Oh?" Nise says, holding his hand out as the black rod, now a ball again, returns to him. He looks so small from up here. "I wasn't expecting this for another week."
He's standing in the red desert again, except he's also standing in front of Nise. Shukaku sits behind him, explaining something to him but he can also hear Nise encouraging him to attack.
Gaara opens his mouth, Shukaku's mouth, and a mass of black chakra forms. A Beast Ball, Shukaku had called it. Gaara fires it at Nise.
Nise throws his head back and laughs. "Excellent job Gaara!" he yells as he brings his own hand up and forms a Beast Ball of his own. He throws it and it collides with Gaara's in an explosion of light and energy.
Sand whirls around them, forming a storm, but he feels connected to the sand in a way he never has before. It's everywhere, in the ground, in the air, and even though he shouldn't be able to see through it, he can easily sense where Nise is standing, can sense everything. He calls to the sand around Nise's feet and it easily bends to his will. Nise is looking towards the explosion and Gaara beckons the sand to crawls up his legs—
Nise throws a hand out and a gust of wind clears the sand storm. Nise takes a step forward, breaking free from where the sand has wrapped around his legs as if it weren't even there. He smiles, pale and ominous as ever as his nine black orbs float around him. "That was fantastic! I knew this would be easier for you! Afterall, you—"
The fine balance him and Shukaku have been holding slips and his energy leaves him in a rush. Abruptly, he's close to the ground again, falling forwards but something catches him before he can hit the ground.
"Easy there," Nise says, and Gaara wearily opens his eyes to see he's slumped over Nise's back. His skin is tan and he's in his Konoha ANBU uniform once again. "You're not used to handling that much chakra at once. How about we call it a night?"
Gaara's limbs feel like lead and Shukaku is being quiet so he nods.
Nise shifts him so he's more centered onto his back, hooks his arms under his knees and lifts him up. "You did really well, Gaara. I'm very proud of you."
Gaara rest his cheek against Nise's shoulder and wonders at the warmth blossoming in his chest. It should be weird having his sensei who he only met a few days ago carrying him like this, but it's somehow not. No one has touched him so casually like this before. Except for Naruto.
The warmth in his chest spreads. Naruto had been strong enough to defeat him, to save him. He glances at his sensei's side profile and thinks of his white skin. Nise would make it so he would be strong enough to save others.
"Why?" he mumbles as Nise starts the long trek back to the village. "Why are you helping us? Why do you care?"
Gaara is almost asleep when Nise finally replies. "Because my cousin would be devastated if something were to happen to you. Naruto loves you very much, you know."
Gaara thinks about that for a while. Thinks about Naruto's letter Nise had given him that first night. It had been long, nonsensical, disorderly and wonderful. He still hasn't written a reply, hasn't found the right words to answer the question 'How have you been?'
"We are...friends," he says.
Nise's back shakes as he laughs. "Yes. Yes you are. I would like to be your friend too. If you'll let me."
Garra frowns. "You are my sensei," he says.
Nise laughs so hard he almost drops him.
In the five days that they have been here, Nise has only seen Kakashi for a handful of hours. When Nise returns to their room to go to bed Kakashi is usually still sleeping, not due to get up and start his day for another hour or so. And it's the same when Kakashi returns to go to bed at night, just hours before Nise is due to wake up.
Nise thinks that it should be awkward, sharing a bed with someone he has technically just met, but he's already used to sleeping at Kakashi's side. In fact, he's almost certain that he actually falls asleep faster with Kakashi's comforting presence near him. Kakashi doesn't comment on their sleeping arrangements so Nise can only hope that he feels somewhat the same.
They might not have talked much to each other in the past few days, the most they really say is a mumbled 'good morning' or 'good night', but that doesn't mean he doesn't know what the other man has been up to. Gaara can be quite chatty when he's comfortable around someone and he spends their downtime between teamwork lessons and spars telling Nise all about what Kakashi has been doing and teaching him.
He tells him about how a council members had even approached him and told him what a great job he was doing on solidifying Suna's relationship with Konoha after 'that terrible misunderstanding'. Gaara had even regaled to him an amusing tale about how Kakashi had tried to teach Temari about inter-village processes which had ended with an angry Temari chasing the Copy Ninja through the streets of Suna.
Still, Nise thinks that the most amazing thing is how Kakashi takes it all in stride. After that first evening here, Kakashi hadn't asked any more question, seeming content to follow Nise's lead. It's on their fifth night in Suna, when Nise is getting up to start his night, that he's struck dumb with a realization.
He's looking down at Kakashi's sleeping face and it's so relaxed and peaceful that it is almost weird. It's only now that he's looking at Kakashi's relaxed form that he realizes that there has been a deliberate distance about Kakashi the entire time. Its sudden disappearance is jolting and Nise can't really recall a time when Kakashi has ever been this unguarded before. Nise isn't sure what he did, but it seems like Kakashi has finally accepted him. He knows the other Kakashi had accepted him as an equal but it had never been like this.
He doesn't want to abuse the trust Kakashi is showing him and it gives him the final push he needs to be as honest as he can with the man. So that night Nise spars with Gaara for a few hours longer than usual and returns to their room two hours later than he normally would.
He awkwardly knocks on their door and Kakashi opens it, his eye tired and curious. Nise doesn't blame his confusion as neither of them have ever knocked before entering before, but Kakashi lets him in without any questions.
Nise can't imagine what it's like for Kakashi, but he has never truly felt uncomfortable around the other man. Sure, in the beginning he had been confused for a while but he had never felt uneasy. He wonders what it must be like for Kakashi to just have someone barge into his life like he has.
"I intend to do this with all the bijuu and jinchuuriki," he says quietly.
Kakashi doesn't say anything, just leans against the dresser and folds his arms. His silver hair is a mess and his right eye looks droopier than usual but he is awake and that relaxed air is still there. It's the final confirmation Nise needs.
"After this, I'm headed to Kiri. The Sanbi is there. She's normally pretty gentle but her jinchuuriki is being manipulated. They both need help or they'll both be killed. I won't deny them what's within my abilities."
Kakashi tilts his head to the side. "You genuinely love the bijuu don't you?" he asks.
Nise frowns at the off hand comment but continues. "After that I'm headed to Iwa, then Taki, then Kumo. What I'm trying to say is that I'm not returning to Konoha anytime soon."
"But it's not just the bijuu. You care for the people they're in as well." Kakashi takes a step towards Nise and this isn't how he imagined this conversation going.
"Kakashi. You don't have to stick around and watch me for months. You can—"
"I like watching you."
The room is suddenly too small and Kakashi is too close. Nise's stomach clenches and he doesn't know what to say.
Kakashi reaches out and his hand hovers over the seals on his left shoulder. Right over where the kunai had pierced him. "How many bits of bijuu are trapped within you?"
"They're not trapped. They can go whenever they want," Nise says.
His eyes widen at what he's just revealed but Kakashi doesn't look surprised, just nods slightly, as if he had expected it. Nise's stomach turns as he wonders what else the man suspects. How much he's already guessed.
Kakashi's finger gently brushes Nise's shoulder, a mimicry of what he had done a week ago, and Nise shivers. Kakashi isn't wearing his gloves this time and the difference is electric. "In Iwa, before you froze. Your skin started to turn white. I could feel more than just the chakra of the Kyuubi and Ichibi." He withdraws his hand but doesn't make to step away. His grey eye is serious. "The Uzumaki's were killed for their fuuinjutsu skills. You and Jiraiya are probably the only fuuinjutsu masters left."
Nise can't tell what he's thinking but he's still too close. "I can teach you."
Kakashi looks amused. "My sensei already tried. I know more than most, but my talents lie in other places." He takes a step back and Nise can breathe again.
"At least let me teach you one. If you're coming with me to Kiri then you should probably know it, just in case," he says, desperately trying remember what his original plan had been.
Kakashi tilts his head to the side and slowly looks him up and down. "I haven't made up my mind on a few things yet so I'll be coming with you to Kiri."
"Okay," Nise says, trying not to sound too relieved. He hesitates for a moment. "The seal, it might look familiar. I call it Flying Thunder God: Third Step." He carefully watches Kakashi's reaction but his face is neutral and doesn't give anything away.
"It's a variation of the Yondaime Hokage's jutsu. I have a seal here," he turns around and pulls his hair up, pointing to the seal on the back of his neck, "and when I put a matching one on a person it connects us. But instead of just me being able to teleport to my mark's location, whoever I mark can also teleport to my location. It also acts as a life sensor, able to tell us when the other is seriously injured." He drops his hair and turns back around. "It's incredibly useful during battle and…" he trails off.
For the first time since they've been traveling together, Kakashi has his left eye open. Nise stares at the sharingan but Kakashi's eyes are still looking at his neck even though he can't possibly see the seal anymore. Kakashi's eyes slowly travel across his shoulders and stare at his upper arms. He doesn't say a word and his intense gaze makes Nise acutely aware of just how much skin his uniform hides.
"You're expecting trouble." Kakashi says.
"No, but it's best to be prepared," Nise says, hoping he doesn't sound as breathless as he feels.
Kakashi closes his eye and leans against the dresser again. "Tell me about the Sanbi and its jinchuuriki."