"First, I believe congratulations are in order," Kakashi said, taking off his mask and sitting at a low table across from Sasuke.

With a smile, Sasuke sighed. "So that's what you're here for: The truth."

"So the baby is yours then," Kakashi stated rather than asked.

Sasuke nodded. "How is she – Sakura? And the baby? Is it a boy or a girl?"

"I'll answer your questions when you answer mine," Kakashi replied. "You abandoned your mission," he began. "Why?"

With no hesitation or pause for reservation, Sasuke answered, "Because those anti-shinobi forces were a joke." He had been anticipating this conversation with Kakashi – knew it would happen sooner or later – and with the news of his baby being born, Sasuke had no intention of lying – at least, not anymore. "After watching them for two weeks, I knew they would need years before amounting to any real threat, but I wanted to do a good job, so I stayed, waited to see if they were hiding any trump cards, dug around to see who their leaders and big players were."

"And?"

Sasuke chortled dismissively and made a gesture indicating that the rebels had nothing. "Then I got bored. I got lonely; I missed my wife and my friends. I grew frustrated because I wanted to do something important, a job that meant something to the Village. Watching a bunch of third-rate swordsmen squabble wasn't it. So I left."

Kakashi exchanged glances with Yamato but said nothing. He looked back at Sasuke, indicating that he should continue. "Of course I was going to make my report, but it was late when I returned to the village, so I went home first and spent the night with Sakura." Sasuke paused. "After that night, I realized just how important the mission actually was. That motley band of mercenaries might have been harmless but all they needed was one person to bring them together, focus them, polish them into a hardened sword, ready to attack and cut down any Hidden Village." He looked up and met the gaze of his teacher, his mentor, and now his Leader. "I wasn't going to let that happen."

"So you went back," Kakashi said.

Sasuke nodded. "I went back. I infiltrated their forces, posing as a swordsman. I rose through their ranks easily enough and convinced their leaders to gather the entire strength of their troops to strike against Konoha. They believed in me, they followed me." It was impossible for Sasuke to suppress a sardonic smile: It was ironic that he had been right about the anti-shinobi forces needing someone to unify them into something of worth – and that he had been the one to achieve that. "With the entirety of their forces gathered," Sasuke concluded, speaking slowly and calmly, "I neutralized the threat of the anti-shinobi factions."

Kakashi had remained stoic, though when he spoke, his words were a bit strained. "Your mission was to gather information. You had no authority and no clearance to act the way you did."

"I understand, however – "

"I don't think that you do understand," Kakashi continued, speaking over the younger man. "You exist outside of our prison system due to an incomprehensible amount of grace and forgiveness. I could have ordered you locked up for the rest of your life and the only person to oppose me would have been Naruto – and let's be honest, I don't have to listen to him. But instead I decided to trust you, and to grant you not only freedom but the opportunity to serve this Village – that, however, does not mean that you are allowed to act on your own will." Kakashi narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice to a near growl. "You act on my will."

A few things passed through Sasuke's mind as Kakashi reprimanded him – yes, he should have checked in the moment he passed through the village borders; yes, he should have consulted with Kakashi and his superiors before engaging the enemy; and yes, eradicating the opposition should have been a move of last resort, of absolute necessity. But he didn't regret his actions; he had zero remorse for erasing a threat – even the smallest whisper of a threat – to protect the Village – Sakura's village, Naruto's village, his village. And now his child's village. No, Sasuke had done what he deemed right, and if he had to pay for his actions, so be it.

"What now?" he asked Kakashi.

The Sixth Hokage of Konoha sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. If he was shocked or angry, he hid it well, but the one thing that was starting to show, was how tired he was. "Now you make a full report stating the truth of what happened. I want every last detail: the names of the people you met, the plans they had in place, the number of bodies you left behind." He leaned into the table, toward Sasuke. "And no more lies. No more secrets, no more acting how you see fit. If this is going to work, I need to be able to trust you – I need to know you are going to do what you are told to do, no more, no less."

Sasuke knew things could have been worse; he knew Kakashi was operating within the incomprehensible grace and forgiveness he had mentioned. With a nod, Sasuke agreed.

"Also," Kakashi added, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest. "I think I'll suspend you from duty – for, oh let's say six months. Effective immediately." Not many people could read an expression that was half-hidden behind a mask, but Sasuke had spent extensive time training with Kakashi, and knew when the man smiled. "It's a girl," he said at last. "She's healthy and so is Sakura."

Despite Sasuke's elation to this news, he noticed that Kakashi seemed to watch him more closely than when he had told him the truth about his mission. He had no idea why though. "A girl," Sasuke echoed, a smile forming on his lips. "And six months off to spend with her."