Capitulo VII: Tempus
"Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away."
-Marcus Aurelius
Utter mayhem.
Her home was under attack by swirls of green and silver. Her ears felt as if they were burst from the loud rumbling of gears.
She felt Konohamaru press closer to her. His eyes wide in shock with his hands covering his ears protectively. "Um... Boss what's going on?"
A resigned sigh escaped her pink lips as she quickly caught onto what had more than likely occurred.
Gai found him.
Dropping her grocery bags beside her, Naruto planted her hands on her hips and stated loudly, "My bets on something really weird. Isn't that right... Kakashi?"
Immediately, the silver blur stopped right in front of the unimpressed blonde and bewildered boy. "Ah... Naruto... You're back... I can explain." Kakashi finished lamely.
Yet, before she could respond, the green blur halted mid-step and with a wide, dazzling smile came to stand next to the masked Jonin. "Is this her? Is this your most youthful wife?"
"W-Wife!?" Konohamaru yelled, his brown eyes the size of saucers as he stared at the blonde girl questioningly.
Hearing the childish cry, a grey eye took notice of the young boy before him. Curious, Kakashi pointed downwards with a raised silver brow. "Maa, Naruto, who's the kid?"
Like flipping a switch, Konohamaru's shock quickly turned to righteous anger. "Who are you callling a kid?!"
Ignoring her subordinate's cries of outrage, Naruto ruffled his brown hair as she introduced him. "This is Konohamaru Sarutobi."
Recognizing the name, Kakashi was about to ask what she was doing with the Hokage's grandson, when he was roughly pushed aside by his overly exuberant spandex wearing friend. "Hello, beautiful blossom! I am the Mighty Green Beast of Konoha, Maito Gai! I am the eternal rival of your husband!"
"Husband?!" The young Sarutobi exclaimed once again. His young face heating up with rage and frustration.
Taking notice of how red his face was turning, Naruto looked at him with concern placing her palm againist his forehead. "Hey, Konohamaru, are you okay?"
Brushing her hand away, Konohamaru frowned. "Boss, you're married?!"
Seeing no point in denying it, Naruto nodded. "Yeah, to Kakashi", She pointed towards the stoic Jonin who waved at him with a crinkle in his visible eye.
Konohamaru looked as if he had been stricken. He protested avidly, "B-But, I was going to marry you!"
Flushing, Naruto rubbed her head with a sheepish smile. "Konohamaru, you have plenty of time to find another nice girl."
"But I want only you!" She could see that all too familiar stubborn fire in his eyes and knew he would not easily be swayed. Internally, she was beating back Kurama's laughter.
Amused by the situation, Kakashi couldn't help but tease her. "Maa, Naruto, he's a little young don't you think?"
Naruto's already red cheeks darkened. "Sh-shut up! It isn't like that! I'm his teacher!" Thoroughly embarrassed, she picked up her bags and stomped towards the estate before remembering the manners Yoshino had beat into her.
Stopping, she turned around and smiled abashed saying, "I'm going to go put the groceries up. It was nice meeting you, Gai. Will you like to stay for lunch?"
Ever eager, Gai happily nodded. "I accept the invitation, youthful blossom!"
Once she disappeared into the grand home, Konohamaru looked over what he perceived to be his rival with a dismissive glance. "Why did Naruto-chan marry such an old guy like you?"
"I'm not that old", Kakashi deadpanned in his defense. It wasn't like he hadn't heard that one before. What was it with people always taking a crack at his age?
Konohamaru waved his words away with a smug smirk. "Well, whatever I just have to wait longer than I thought."
"Oh? Wait for what, Leaf-chan?", Kakashi asked intrigued, his eye twinkling in delight at seeing the return of outrage in the boy.
The young Sarutobi's bravado quickly evaporated at the childish nickname. "Leaf-chan?!"
Kakashi shrugged. "Weren't you named after the village? Your name is Konohamaru after all." It seemed fitting to him.
Konohamaru cursed his grandfather for the umptheeth time as he grumbled, "Well yeah... But don't call me Leaf-chan old man!"
"That aside, what were you going to wait for?" Kakashi pressed on.
The smug smile came back on Konohamaru's face as he responded with barely contained glee, "That should be obvious. I want to marry Naruto-chan. Since she's married to you, I just have to wait for you to die. You're already pretty old, so I won't have to wait too long. So from now on we're rivals!"
Kakashi felt his brow twitch at the declaration. Dear lord... He had two of them now...
Gai, however, didn't share his sentiment and chortled loudly, "Haha! You burn with passionate flames of youth, Leaf-chan!"
"Don't encourage him, Gai." Kakashi deadpanned in resigination.
Deciding that he had wasted enough time with them, Konohamaru left with his head held high as he shouted back, "I'm going to go help Naruto-chan and don't call me Leaf-chan!"
Watching the seething boy enter the house with mirthful eyes, Gai turned to his long time friend. "It seems you now have a youthful love rival, Kakashi."
Unable to pass up the chance, Kakashi responded with a confused tone, "Hm? Did you say something?"
And as expected, Gai bursted into a flames. "Curse your cool and hip attitude Hatake!"
Leaving behind the odd duo, Konohamaru made his way following the noises of rummaging as he took in awe the grand estate. It was certainly not what he was expecting when Naruto invited him to lunch. He passed by what appeared to be the living room when something caught his eye.
Taking a closer look, he saw a couple of picture frames on the fireplace mantle. There were several pictures of people he didn't recognize but could tell they were in someway related to Naruto and her husband, but only one completely captured his attention.
He was so mesmerized by it that he didn't notice Naruto coming up behind him until she laid her hand on his head. Startled, he turned around and looked up at her with a guilty grin.
"Hey, whatcha looking at?" Naruto asked as she looked over his head at the mantle. She was surprised to see picture frames on it. 'Did Kakashi put those up?' It definitely wasn't her or one of her clones.
"I was just looking at these pictures. You look very pretty in this one!" He pointed at the one in front of him.
Glancing at the frame, she gasped at the image before her.
It was her and Kakashi the day they had gotten married. She could never forget the beautiful kimono she wore or how handsome Kakashi had looked in his. They weren't looking at the camera, but were facing each other.
She realized that whoever took it had excellent timing since they looked as if they were smiling at each other. Kakashi had his eye crinkled and she had a small smile on her lips. It was when they were saying good-bye after everything was settled.
Who took it and how had she not realized it was taken in the first place? But most importantly... who and when put it in her house?!
Frustrated by this new puzzle, the moment Kakashi's presence entered the room, she whirled around and asked with a frown, "Kakashi, did you put these here?"
Confused, he looked at where she was pointing and frowned as well. Where had those come from?
"No, I didn't. Since when have those been there?" He approached to get a better look with Gai trailing after who was also intrigued.
"I'm just now seeing them myself. They weren't there this morning before we left were they?"
Kakashi thought back and shook his head. Those definitely weren't there when they left.
Naruto tapped her chin in thought and mused aloud, "So whoever put them here must have done it when we were in the village."
"It was most likely the Hokage. He does have a key to the estate." Kakashi added in a contemplative tone.
Naruto's frown deepened as she replied, "But I was with him this morning... He didn't mention anything about this."
"He probably did it after you left. How long were you in the market after you left him?"
"A couple of hours. We spent most of the time at the Yamanaka's flower shop."
Nodding his head slightly in speculation, Kakashi seemed to come to a conclusion. "I just got back about an hour ago, so there is a wide enough window for him to have come and gone."
Naruto sighed in acceptance and gestured towards the most troublesome picture. "Well that would explain how this got here then."
Seeing what it was, Kakashi rose a silver brow in surprise. "Maa... When did he take this?" He reached for it to examine it closer.
"That's what I'm wondering." Naruto grumbled as she came back to square one in regards to finding out how the elder Hokage had managed to take the picture without either one of them being aware.
"Hey, there's something written on the back!" Konohamaru exclaimed, having noticed the scribbles on the back of the frame when Kakashi lifted it from the mantle.
Turning the frame over, Kakashi read the inscription aloud.
"Kakashi, Naruto, I hope you both enjoy this little wedding gift from me. It wasn't easy getting this picture afer all!"
- Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Naruto sweatdropped. "Well that answers that. But still... when did he take the picture?"
"Maa... we may never know. So what's for lunch?"
Grinning, Naruto shook her head. "That's a surprise! It should be ready in thirty minutes. So you have to wait a little while."
Just as Kakashi was going to reply, Gai peered over his shoulder and nearly exploded in barely contained excitement. "Yosh! Kakashi, you and your wife look most youthful! When was this?"
"Oh, that's the day we got married."
A mortified look crossed Konohamaru's face. "You mean... this is your wedding picture!"
Naruto giggled and nodded. "Heh, guess so!"
"How long have you been married then?"
She tapped her finger against her chin in thought. "Let me think... It should be about ten days now."
Konohamaru resembled a gaping whale as he cried out, "What?! It's only been ten days!"
Kakashi chuckled at the boys scandalized expression. "Maa... Time sure does fly by."
Unable to hold back the manly tears of joy, Gai enveloped the newly wed couple in his steel arms. "How youthful! I congratulate you both!"
After a few seconds, Kakashi realized that the man wasn't going to let go of them anytime soon, and he grew worried when Naruto started to resemble a blueberry. "Gai... please let us down. Naruto's turning blue."
Gasping, Gai immediately released them. "I am sorry! To show my sincerest apologies, I will race around the village on my hands one hundred times!"
Kakashi sweatdropped before dragging the upset Gai by his collar out the door saying over his shoulder, "How about you help me finish cutting the lawn instead?"
His youthful flames never extinguished, Gai resoundly agreed. "Very well! I will finish cutting the youthful weeds before lunch is ready or I'll run laps around the village two hundred times!"
Naruto and Konohamaru watched him break away from Kakashi and race out to the lawn. He once again became a rumbling green blur as he sped around the property. Kakashi sighed suffering as he shut the door after them.
A silence filled of awe, disbelief, and incredulity fell upon the remaining duo.
"Well, that happened... So Konohamaru wanna help me finish making lunch?" Naruto said after a moment, putting the older man's strange behavior out of her mind.
"Yeah!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi solemnly gazed out the paneled windows of the Hokage Tower. His village had recovered and prospered since that fateful night thirteen years ago.
This was how the ANBU operative found the elder man when he emerged from the shadows. "Lord Third, I have been unable to locate Jonin Hatake. He is not in the village."
"Ah... That's right. I had almost forgotten. Do not be alarmed. I know where he is. I'll go retrieve him myself."
"Very well, sir." Without another word, the masked shinobi disappeared once again into the obscurity of the dark.
Standing up from his desk, Hiruzen shunshined to the top of the Hokage Mountain and made the long walk to the Hatake estate. There was no more delaying the inevitable.
It didn't take Kakashi long to spot the solemn looking Hokage at the estate entrance. He wasn't surprised to see him, but the expression on the elder's face was. It was only a matter of time after all.
"So, it's finally time. How long do I have?"
"Less than an hour. Do not be late Kakashi. It is imperative that you show a strong front, but do not worry. Shikaku and I will be there to help."
The masked clan head inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Alright. I'll see you there then. Naruto is making lunch and I don't want to fight on an empty stomach." Kakashi replied with a falsely cheerful tone.
Hiruzen's eyes saddened as he nodded. "Very well. Also let my errant grandson know that his tutor has been searching for him for the past couple of hours."
"Maa... Leaf-chan has a tutor?"
"Indeed, it is Ebisu." Hiruzen chose to ignore the sudden nickname given to his grandson. There would be time for that later.
Kakashi inclined his head in agreement. When he heard Gai's lawn mower stop, he glanced at him warningly from the corner of his eye before returning to gaze evenly at the elder man before him. "Hm, I'll let Leaf-chan know."
"Thank you, Kakashi, and for what it's worth... I truly am sorry that this is even happening."
Kakashi hid a rueful smile as he responded, "You and I both. Naruto doesn't deserve all this." After having said his piece, he turned away from the remorseful Hokage and headed to find Naruto.
The elder Sarutobi sighed and murmured softly, "Neither do you, my boy... No matter what you may believe." Steeling himself, Hiruzen headed back down the mountain. Their time had finally run out.
After taking Naruto to a private room, Kakashi informed her of what was going on.
She couldn't stop the gasp that left her pink lips. "Council meeting? Already?! I thought we would have more time... What did the old man say?"
"I'm to take my place as Clan Head and join the meeting in about half an hour."
Naruto sighed, but kept a smile on her face. "Well at least lunch is ready... It's miso soup with egg-plants!"
Kakashi's eye crinkled upwards at seeing the positive attitude she maintained. "Maa... That's my favorite dish. Did you know that?"
Her cheeks reddened having been caught. "Yeah, I asked the old man if he knew what your favorite food was and he told me. I'm glad I decided to make it today. They say it's good luck to eat your favorite things before something important."
A warm sensation bloomed in his chest. His gaze softened and he placed a gloved hand on her head gently ruffling her blond locks. "Thank you, I appreciate it."
No more words needed to be said as she beamed a brilliant smile up at him.
Together they headed back to the others waiting for them in the dining room. Their meal was eaten with plenty of laughs and smiles, but all too soon the minutes passed and with a meaningful look to Gai, Kakashi stood with the spandex wearing man.
Getting the message, Gai grinned his sparkling smile and waved goodbye. "Yosh! This meal is absolutely delicious young blossom, but I best be on my way. My most youthful students are waiting for me!"
"Thank you, Gai. I tried my best. You're welcome to visit anytime." Naruto thanked him with a gracious smile.
Still seated, Konohamaru chimed in, "Yeah, Boss, this tasted great!"
"Haha, thanks Konohamaru."
Kakashi chuckled and stepped to the entrance with Gai following after him. Letting Gai go through first, Kakashi turned to his young wife. "Thank you for lunch, Naruto, but now it's time for me to go as well. I'll be back as soon as I can. I don't know how long this will take."
Reprising the urge to sigh, Naruto nodded, "Good luck!", and waved the pair off.
Closing the dark wood doors, she headed to the kitchen to start on the dishes when Konohamaru came bounding up next to her with a puzzled look on his face. "Hey, where's the old guy going?"
Seeing no reason to lie, she spoke earnestly, "He's going to a council meeting."
"Council meeting? But I thought those were only for the Clan Heads and stuff?"
Her eyes took an amused sheen. "Kakashi is a Clan Head."
"No way! That guy? What clan?" Naruto had to fight back a laugh at the outrageously skeptical look on his face.
Her cheerful expression fell as she somberly responded,"The Hatake Clan."
Noticing how solemn she suddenly was, Konohamaru stopped any further questions and helped her dry the dishes. 'Something important must be going on in that meeting for boss to look so worried. The old guy better make sure nothing happens to upset Naruto-chan or I'll beat him up!'
When Kakashi walked into the council room, the room became immediately silent. He paused momentarily at the doorway and casted a seemingly bored glance around at the different members of the council he was now a part of.
His grey eye widened slightly in surprise at seeing Asuma among one of the seated Clan Heads. He chose to ignore the incredulous and shocked look the tan man was sending him as he made his way to his seat.
The Shinobi Clan Heads, which included Aburame Shibi, Akamichi Chouza, Hyuga Hiashi, Inuzuka Tsume, Nara Shikaku, and Yamanaka Inoichi, inclined their heads in respect to their new fellow clan head as he passed them. A part of him was relieved to see the reassuring glances and smirks most of them sent his way. They, as the most influential in Konoha, were people he needed on his and Naruto's side.
Kakashi absentmindedly noted the reserved and vacant seats for the Senju and Uchiha beside Inoichi serving as a barrier between him and civilian council members. He also noticed each individual clan emblem depicted on banners on the wall behind each designated clan seat.
There was even a white banner with the black symbol of his clan behind his empty seat in between Chouza and Hiashi. Chancing a quick look to Asuma, Kakashi recognized the Sarutobi regalia behind him and concluded that he was acting as clan head since his father was the Hokage.
He took his place and waited for the Sandaime to arrive. The room remained deathly silent. Numerous pairs of eyes glanced apprehensively at him and it was beginning to put him more on edge than he already was. Yet, Kakashi kept his cool composure and held his head high. He would not bow down to any of these people. Naruto was counting on him and he would not fail her, not ever again.
The oval table that he now faced also put him in front of the elders, Mitokado Homura, Shimura Danzo, and Utatane Koharu who all but Danzo were giving him a displeased glare. Kakashi took small comfort in being next to the kind Akimichi and ever impassive Hyuga instead of one of the grim faced elders.
The clan heads were seated to the right of the Hokage, who had his place at the top of the table, and the elders and civilian council were to the left.
He took a closer look at the civilian council members who for the most part were unknown to him. However, some of them he recognized from past missions or from around the village. Kakashi did note that they were all wealthy merchants, or members of prominent civilian families. It was almost a required requisite to even be nominated to hold a seat on the council.
The majority of them weren't anything special besides their money. One of the men did have pink hair and he wondered if it was dyed or natural. You could never be certain these days after all, but he had a hunch it was natural.
The sound of the oak doors opening drew Kakashi's attention. In strode in the Third Hokage in his usual robes, but the displeased frown on his wrinkled face belied his foul mood.
"Now then..." Hiruzen began as he took his spot, "... I welcome our newest member, Kakashi Hatake to the ranks of this council."
Before the Hokage could continue with the pleasantries, Danzo spoke up in a curt tone, "Enough with this nonsense, there are more important matters to be addressed."
For once in agreement with the warhawk, Hiruzen inclined his head in his direction. "Very well, what would you like to bring forward then elder Danzo?"
Having the floor, he stood and brought the most controversial topic to the forefront. "The annulment of the marriage between Clan Head Hatake and the Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki."
Shikaku and Kakashi's eyes narrowed dangerously at the elder man, but it was Hiashi of all people who spoke first. "Marriages are clan business and the council and Hokage can not interfere unless it threatens the village."
"The Jinchuriki is the business of the village and of this council. It had already been decided that she was to be wed to the Uchiha boy. But as a show of good faith, Hatake can retain his seat even once separated."
Scowling, Hiruzen pointed out with a rigid, unyielding voice, "Danzo, you forget that I was the one to wed them. It doesn't matter what the council decides when she is under my protection as Hokage, my word is final. The marriage will not be annulled."
"And you forget, old friend, that any marriage that has not been consummated can be annulled with a two-thirds vote of the council. This was a safety measure our dear sensei, Tobirama, had put in place so unfavorable and potentially dangerous unions weren't committed." Danzo was quick to retort with a smug gleam in his eye.
Neither man was going to back down and Shikaku wasn't going to let the old warhawk have the final word.
His usual lazy drawl now stern and deadly, he interjected, "Who's to say the union hasn't already been consummated?"
Tearing his gaze away from his rival, Danzo glowered at the Nara. "Are you implying it has?"
Shikaku shrugged with a scoff. "It isn't my place to say yes or no, now is it."
Backed into a corner, Danzo turned his focus to the silent man who was at the center of all the drama. "Tell us then, Clan Head Hatake, did you and your wife consummate your marriage?" The elder man did not hesitate or mince words as he asked a very personal question.
Kakashi sat rigid in his seat, his broad shoulders taut with tension. This was something he hadn't foreseen. Knowing that lying was only going to make things worse, Kakashi stiffly shook his head. "No, we have not." He refused to acknowledge the rush of heat to his face at the very thought of such an action with Naruto.
"Then I rest my case." With a satisfied smirk, Danzo retook his seat.
Yet before the elder could further rejoice in his perceived victory, Shikaku killed his elation with his next words.
"However, elder Danzo, there is a required time limit for an annulment. Thirty days after the day of the marriage to be exact. Only ten have passed. If you wish to proceed with this, you will have to wait twenty more days. And if the marriage is consummated within those days, an annulment is no longer optional."
No one noticed how deathly pale Kakashi went at that damning statement.
Hiding a grin at seeing Danzo's irritation, Hiruzen closed the matter before the argument could escalate. "Very well then. Twenty days from today, we will once again address this. Now on to other matters."
His quick decision riled both the council and elders who were not at all pleased with the outcome and open anger was being displayed both physically and vocally.
"Silence!" This time, it was not the Hokage, but Danzo himself who was currently scowling at the council. "The issue has been dealt with at the moment and the Third is correct. There are more pressing matters. One of which being the new Genin team placements."
Several members and clan heads were confused by the sudden change in attitude of the elder, but settled down nonetheless. This change of subject was bizarre as well.
"Why would the team placements be a concern for the council? That is left up to the Hokage and academy instructors." Hiashi protested with a frown.
Being one of the few that was in the known, Homura decided to enlighten the rest. "Some of you may not be aware, but there was a traitor recently apprehended. He was one of the teachers for the recent batch of graduates."
Frowning, Shikaku turned toward Hiruzen. "This a serious matter. Why were we not informed earlier?" He was more miffed that he was not told since he was the Jonin Commander.
Sighing, Hiruzen explained, "The case is still under investigation and it would hinder the capture of any accomplices if it was publicly known that the man was caught."
Satisfied by the answer, Shikaku bowed his head in deference.
Still not entirely understanding, Inoichi spoke up for the first time since the meeting started, "That still does not answer why the team placements is something that the council should be dealing with."
Kohaku answered this time. "With this new development, it is uncertain if there has been any foul play in regards to the teaching of the students. Hence way the announcement of the teams has been pushed back to next month to investigate. Now as to why this is a concern is because one of the potential Jonin sensei is Hatake Kakashi."
When all eyes were drawn to him, Kakashi cursed the old woman. Why were they all hell bent on making his life difficult?!
"Why is this a concern?" Shikaku countered.
"Kakashi Hatake is the obvious choice to teach Uchiha Sasuke and also would be one of the few that is able to restrain the Jinchuuriki should she ever lose control. However, you can all see that now there is a conflict of interest. Can we truly trust Hatake to do what must be done even if it means eliminating his own wife for the safety of the village?"
Seeing where she was going with this, Hiruzen asked, "And what would your solution to this be then? You admitted yourself, Kakashi is capable of restraining her if the worse happened."
Kohaku nodded in agreement. "That is why I purpose to keep him as a sensei, but make the team of five instead of the usual four. There is an operative that can be added to the Genin roster who is capable enough to keep an eye on Clan Head Hatake and protect the Uchiha boy."
The shinobi portion of the council was very well aware of which kind of operative they had in mind. The roots ran deep after all.
Shikaku scowled in disapproval. "Why specifically protect the Uchiha? A ninja's life is difficult and dangerous. If the boy wanted a peaceful life, he would have never joined in the first place. It would be detrimental to him if he is coddled."
"Because..." Danzo took over for Kohaku, and Shikaku's stern brown eyes turned to him as he explained, "...the Uchiha bloodline is too valuable for us to lose, and having him placed in a secure team with a capable Jonin sensei who can teach him efficiently will ensure his safety as he progresses in his training."
"I believe that would be of no great loss." Hiashi scoffed, and Danzo frowned at the Hyuuga head as he responded with a dry tone, "You would be of that opinion, Lord Hiashi. The feud between the Hyuga and the Uchiha clan's is well-recorded both before and after the creation of the village. However, just because you believe that, does not make it true."
"Regardless of any personal feelings, there has never been a five man genin squad. There is no precedent and frankly it is an unfair advantage to the other teams when the Chunin exams come around." Inoichi interjected with a frown.
It wasn't long after that more arguments were made before Hiruzen put a stop to it.
"This is what we will do. Four Genin will be grouped together, but to ensure that they are all taught equally, there will also be another sensei. So in the end it will be a six man squad. However, when it comes to the Chunin exam only three of the Genin will be allowed to participate in it as usual. Is everyone in agreement?"
A bit perplexed at the sudden turn of events, Kakashi asked tentatively, "Who would this other sensei be?"
The conniving smirk the elder Hokage had as he said- "I have the perfect man in mind, but I will speak to him first before revealing who he is"- did nothing to ease Kakashi's worries.
Was it too late to kidnap Naruto and go nuke-nin?
After cleaning up the dishes, Naruto led an excited Konohamaru outside to teach him that jutsu she had promised. She was pleasantly surprised to see that Kakashi and Gai had actually finished mowing. They had even cleared out an area for a training ground a few feet past the treeline towards the back of the property.
As the pair stretched to warm up, Naruto wondered if she should follow what she did before and teach the impressionable boy the Sexy Jutsu or something different like tree-walking. She internally winced as ghost pains from the whacks she received the last time she taught him came back to mind. Maybe it was best to ask the ever sleepy furball.
"You're a girl now and it would be considered strange for you to teach a boy how to turn into a naked girl. You're better off showing him the tree-walking at least you'll be helping him begin to learn to control his chakra. However, you are a known prankster so you still can if you want." Kurama chimed in with a yawn.
A bit put out by the good advice from the bijuu, Naruto had to bow down to his words. She could still teach him the sexy jutsu, but it was better to teach him the fundamentals of ninjutsu first. Pranking was best saved for last.
"So whatcha going to teach me boss?" Konohamaru happily asked with an enthusiastic grin having finished up his stretches.
With a foxy grin, Naruto beckoned him to follow her to a nearby tree. "I'm going to show you how to climb trees!"
Crest-fallen, Konohamaru began to complain, "Wha- But! That's not a jutsu! Anybody can do that!"
"Can you climb without using your hands?"
"Well, no... That's impossible!"
Her grin turned mischievous as she turned to the tree. "Watch and learn!" With the ease that came after three of years of practicing chakra control, Naruto easily scaled the trunk of the tree.
Konohamaru observed in awe. His mouth gaping like a fish out of water. "Woah! How'd you do that?!"
Naruto jumped down from her perch and gracefully landed on her feet in front of the amazed boy. With a fond gaze, she began to explain the arduous process that was learning chakra control. How she missed this spunky kid.
After the council meeting from hell was over, Hiruzen held Kakashi and Shikaku back and the trio went into his office to have a much needed conversation. With wordless gestures and glances, the Sandaime and Jonin Commander held a private conversation of their own during the trek to the office. Kakashi was too lost in his own thoughts to notice.
With the dark oak doors shut firmly behind them and a privacy seal activated, Hiruzen opened his mouth to say something, but was abruptly cut off by a very distressed Hatake.
"I know what you want to tell me, but I'm not crossing that line!"
The firm and unyielding determination in his voice made the two older men want to sigh.
Trying to placate him, Hiruzen responded, "Kakashi, I'm not going to make you do anything against your will, but please let's think this through."
Adamant in his position, Kakashi shook his head and began to pace in front of the desk where Shikaku and Hiruzen sat.
"You were the one that forbade me from even going near that subject with her!"
"Yes, I'm well aware of that. You won't tell Naruto anything. I will explain it to her." Hiruzen tried to reason.
"What is there to explain? We have to think of another way!"
Shikaku sighed and rubbed his goatee, the only visible sign of his agitation. "There is no other way. I don't know how Danzo found that legislation, but it's legitimate and now that it's been brought forth, we can't ignore it."
Halting in his fretful pacing, Kakashi gazed into the eyes of the elder Hokage and pleaded, showing a very vulnerable side of himself that hadn't been seen in a very long time. "Please, sir... I... don't want to take anymore from her. This is asking a lot. She'll suffer." 'I'll suffer...'
Hiruzen felt a heavyweight in his heart, but not matter what he wished, there was no going back. "As much as we tried to deny it, we both knew that the day would come when she would become your wife to the fullest extent of the law."
Tensing, Kakashi raked a rough hand through his silver hair as he resumed his pacing. "Yes, but I didn't think it would come so soon. I had hoped for at least a couple of years where she could get comfortable with the idea. It's way too soon."
Both Hiruzen and Shikaku had to agree with him. It was too soon, but they ran out of options and they were running out of time.
"I assure you, I know, but there is not much we can do now." The Sandaime lamented. He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out his pipe. His nerves were a mess and when he flickered his dark eyes to the agitated Jonin, he knew it wasn't going to get better anytime soon.
The trio spent a moment of silence lost in their respective thoughts. The occasional puffs of smoke being exhaled the only sounds in the room.
Feeling slightly more calmed than earlier, Kakashi tried to keep an objective focus. Maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Taking a seat on the window ledge, Kakashi turned his grey eye towards the contemplative Nara. "What happens if the marriage is annulled?"
Glancing up at him, Shikaku hummed in thought before replying, "Best case scenario, we have a few years before they force Naruto into marrying Sasuke Uchiha."
Kakashi chose to ignore the pang in his heart at the thought of being separated from the blonde Uzumaki. "And the worst case scenario...?" He almost didn't want to know the answer when he saw the pained grimaces on both men's faces.
"They pull her from the ranks all together and begin the process of... reproduction with suitable candidates. Sasuke is still too young to father children, but Naruto's psych evaluations and medical reports show she is mature enough both mentally and physically to be a mother. The council will take that as a green light to start as soon as possible." Hiruzen answered with a troubled frown.
He felt as if an abyss opened under his feet at the response. None of the scenario's were favorable or pleasant to even think about. The solution to the problem truly seemed to be the one that his commanding officers were suggesting. Kakashi was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. He couldn't win.
In one final attempt, Kakashi asked, "You can't put a stop to something like that?"
Hiruzen's lips thinned in displeasure. "If it's someone who doesn't have a backing of a clan then yes, but if for example, a Hyuuga was chosen it makes it a clan matter and my hands would be tied."
Kakashi swallowed thickly. A sensation of burning bile choking him into silence. The walls were starting to close in and he was being pulled into that abyss. He was drowning.
With agony twisting his heart, Kakashi gazed out the window, trying to find some peace of mind, some form of heavenly advice. Another silence enveloped them, this one heavier and more palpable than the last.
The sun was beginning to set before another word was spoken. Seeing the beautiful shades of orange and yellow take over the blue sky, Kakashi knew what he had to do.
"It'll be done... But I'm not going to be the one to tell her. I'll leave that to you." Kakashi ultimately agreed in defeat. He had already sold his soul to the devil, may as well sell his heart too. He said no more before disappearing in a cloud of white smoke.
Hiruzen bowed his head in shame. "Minato and Kushina must weep for their daughter. How I've failed them..."
Shikaku stood, no longer able to take the gloomy atmosphere, he turned to leave, but not before saying with a resigned sigh, "No... How we've failed them."
It was around six in the afternoon when Naruto decided they had done enough training and called an end to it. Noticing how late it was, Konohamaru reluctantly agreed. As Naruto walked him down to the village, Kurama reminded her of an important detail.
"Brat, tell the boy to keep your marriage a secret. It's imperative that no one find out right now, especially since Hatake still hasn't returned." The Nine-Tailed fox was never going to admit it to his container, but this meeting had him worried. He was growing more uneasy the longer Kakashi was gone. Something was up. Something that was undoubtedly not good.
Frowning, she glanced down at the cheerful boy holding her hand. Naruto wished her life wasn't so complicated, but when you travel back in time and the Shinigami himself turns you into a girl, all bets were off. "Konohamaru, I'm going to ask a favor of you."
"Sure boss!" He looked up at her with wide, brown eyes.
"Please don't tell anyone that I'm married to Kakashi. Not many people know, and we want to keep it that way for a while."
Recalling the somber mood after lunch, Konohamaru nodded. If whatever was going on involved the sad look in her eyes, he'd do anything to keep her smiling. "Okay, I can do that, but I'm doing it cause you asked Naruto-chan and not for that old guy!"
Chuckling, Naruto ruffled his tuft of hair that stuck out of his helmet affectionately. "Thank you, Konohamaru."
It wasn't long after that they reached the main road that went through the middle of the village. She waved goodbye with a fond smile on her lips as she watched him race down the street. It had been so long since she had seen him look so innocent and carefree. War had changed him, just like it had every one else.
Her heart ached when the image of his bloody corpse flashed in her mind. Would those memories ever stop haunting her? With each reminder, her resolve to change the future grew ever more stronger.
The hike back to the estate was silent. She missed her little subordinate already. Inhaling deeply, the scents of nature comforted her. During the walk, she remembered to make some clones to clean up the road to the estate. It was a mess and she would not have her family's pretty estate have such a terrible pathway.
When she crossed the dark wood gates, Naruto saw the area for the garden untouched. She smiled. Kakashi had remembered.
With more pep in her step, she headed to the living room where she left the storage scroll with the purchases from the Yamanaka flower shop. Returning back outside, she set to work on what she hoped would turn out to be a beautiful garden. Naruto unsealed the scroll and sighed at the prospective work ahead of her.
She had half a mind to make some clones to help, but with a little over two weeks more till the team placements and missions, she was going to need something to do in her spare time when she took breaks off of training. However, she did make a pair of clones to help with the weeding. That was probably the most annoying part of gardening, no way she was going to do that for longer than she needed to.
Between the weeding and removing stones from the areas she wanted to plant her flowers, time flew by quickly. It wasn't until the sun was setting that she begun to wonder where Kakashi was. Meetings shouldn't take all afternoon after all.
With a concerned frown, Naruto set the potted flowers to the side of a small shed at the back of the estate and placed the gardening tools on one of the shelves inside. Once everything was picked up, she dusted herself off and went in search of the missing Hatake.
Her first thought was to go to the Hokage tower and see if he was still there, but after catching a glimpse of the Ino-Shika-Cho clan heads getting drunk in one of the bars, she realized the meeting was long over with.
She searched high and low, but there was no sign of Kakashi in any of his usual haunts. The memorial stone was empty, his old apartment had already been given to someone else, and the training grounds were being used by various other shinobi. Where on earth could he be?
His uneasy growing, Kurama knew it was better to be in familiar territory then out in the darkening evening. "Brat, go home. Hatake will appear sooner or later."
Displeased, but with no other choice Naruto agreed and turned back. 'Yeah, I guess you're right. Whatever happened at this meeting must be serious enough for him to go into hiding.'
Kurama was silent for a moment as he thought over the possibilities before saying, "Who knows... Go check in with the Hokage before heading back. He will know what is going on."
'Oh yeah! The old man will tell us!'
Checking her surroundings, Naruto made sure no one was around to see her use the Shunshin technique before disappearing in a gust of white and swirl of leaves.
She took pleasure in startling the elder Hokage when she appeared in front of the windows of his office. The old man was starting to lose his touch if she could sneak up on him.
Stepping into the dimly lit room, she asked with a frown, "Hey, have you seen Kakashi? He hasn't come back yet and it's pretty late now."
Hiruzen wondered what sins he had committed when saw the blonde kunoichi. It was now or never it seemed. "Ah, yes... Kakashi left here quite some time ago, but I'm sure he'll show up eventually. It's best to give him time. However, Naru-chan I have something to discuss with you."
"Is it about the meeting?" The suspicion in her voice causing the elder to grimace.
Steeling himself for the coming conversation, Hiruzen closed his eyes. "Yes."
Her brows scrunching in worry, she took a seat. "What's going on old man?"
The day had not dawned yet, and there was the faintest tints of orange and red streaking across the dull blue sky. The air was still misty, but abundant in fresh, cool air. One could smell the sweet dew and the trees, along with everything that made the essence of nature.
Kakashi found himself awake basking in the quiet solace of the morning when he was unable to return to sleep after falling asleep in a tree. The need to find something to take his mind from his troubling thoughts brought him to his new private training ground.
He could feel the familiar strain of each movement. His chakra steadily flowing within his body. His forehead was lined with beads of sweat that slid down, at times blurring his vision, but he didn't dare break his rhythm to wipe them away.
With each perfect hand strike and each well executed kick came a memory that flashed in his mind like a film, spurring him on to continue. Memories and images of his dark past, distressful present, and unknown future.
The image of Naruto smiling, the unyielding face of his teacher, the determined gaze of the elder Hokage, and finally the faces of the council, where words were spoken that set the wheels of fate in motion once again. The sequence of flashbacks ended as he finished his long combo of taijutsu katas.
Once he stopped moving, his body ached for rest. He slumped against a tree, shaking the trunk slightly with his weight. A grey eye looked to the heavens as he rested barely taking notice of the brightening sky.
Kakashi's gloved fingers curled tightly into fist at his side as he questioned softly. "Father... are you watching me? Are you and Minato-sensei seeing what it is going on?"
A bird suddenly fluttered past the tree canopy as it flew above him into the misty sky, as if answering his questions. Perhaps they had always been watching.
Kakashi felt so hopelessly lost. What he wouldn't give to hear his father's words of wisdom one more time or hear the advice his sensei used to always have whenever he needed them most. They would know what to do in this situation.
Eventually, his hunger forced him back to the estate. Imagine his surprise when he realized he wasn't the only one up so early in the morning. There, exhausted, sat Naruto drinking tea in the kitchen.
"Oh, Kakashi. You're back." The fatigue in her voice caused guilt to swell in his chest.
"You didn't wait up for me did you?'
She paused mid sip and hummed in thought. "Hm. I guess I did. I was worried something had happened. Are you okay?"
Taking a seat, Kakashi nodded and averted her gaze. "I'm fine. Just have a lot on my mind is all. Lost track of time."
Secretly relieved that he at the very least hadn't given her a half-assed excuse, Naruto gave him a small knowing smile.
"I talked to the old man last night. He told me everything."
The abyss was underneath him again.
Knowing he was treading in foreign waters, Kakashi chanced a glance at her and scrunched his brows in worry at seeing the tension in her shoulders and pensive look in her eyes. He was unsure how to continue with the conversation as an awkward silence fell between them like a dense fog.
Things weren't going to be the way they use to be. Their time had run out.
A/N: Well, late is better than never right?
I know some of you are wondering why I didn't take the Uzumaki clan route, but truthfully I chose to focus on the Hatake clan instead because there is already so many Uzumaki one's and a little variation is nice once in awhile, don't you think?
Shoutout to whoever can tell me who's birthday today is? I'll gave ya a hint. He's a K-pop singer and dancer.
Well, that's all for now! Until next time dear readers!