Okay here's part 3.0
Chapter 7
Tenzo/Yamato
Itachi/Renji
The Tea Room in Hokage Tower
Kakashi POV
The room was pretty quiet after Mebuki told us her story, my throat was very dry from the thoughts running thru my head. Who would have thought that this whole time I was training my sister. Whoa that sounds weird. Good but weird. I have grown up so used to being just me. A choked cough from Kizashi drinking his tea made realize that we still need figure out what to do. If there is any luck, Danzo has no idea we are meeting now.
"Well, " spoke up Lord Hiruzen, "now that we have discussed how Kakashi and Sakura are truly connected, we need to discuss how to handle this and Danzo's activities."
"You really had no idea that Danzo had been doing this in your name Lord Hokage?" asked a now sober and reluctant Mebuki.
"No. Danzo...is a complicated man. What he does, no matter how underhanded it seems, he does it with the village's best interest at heart."
I scoffed before I could stop myself. Now everyone was glancing my way. "Lord Hokage, I have been patient for a long time because you forgive Danzo's 'missteps' and move on. But what about the consequences left afterward when he does get his way. He may have the Will of Fire sir, but I highly doubt that he has the capability of honoring all of his fellow comrades as such."
"Kakashi…," Lord Hiruzen he started with a warning tone.
"No you listen," I pushed, almost gritting my teeth. "I have had it with him viewing us as objects that are either a nuisance to him or useful to whatever his schemes are. Everyone in this room and more knows how sketchy he is and willing to throw one us so easily under the carriage if it suits him. I am not letting this one go. Enough is enough. If I can't trust you then who!?"
The room was quiet again at my speech. Lord Hiruzen just looked at me as if I grew another head at my insistence. He knows I'm right. Danzo's crossed the line too many times. If I didn't spoke up or just let this out, I don't how long Sakura's measure of peace within the village would've lasted. Danzo had invested this much time into this, then there's a less likely chance he'll let Sakura go like he did with Tenzo, which was a lucky break, him being a Wood User.
"Kakashi, I…," he started trying to find his words. "I am sorry that my actions, no, my inactions has caused you to doubt my position as hokage. I had this belief that I would be a better hokage if trusted the safety and the welfare of the village with the council members. I did believe them that even though I was a capable shinobi yet that I was too soft with my idealism for peace. I thought if by shared authority that I could manage the village and do what was necessary to protect it. It seems that I was too lenient with their activities. After this ordeal is dealt with, I will step down from my position from hokage."
"No. That is not where I was going sir. You misunderstand. Everyone, well nearly everyone, in this village respects you. I'm not saying to step down, just don't let the people that you trust take advantage you and leave us to the gutter. I respect you sir, but I have more to lose now so don't expect me to be so accepting of your decisions if no punishment is going to go to Danzo."
Lord Hiruzen stroked his beard in contemplation before looking to Yugao. "Please summon Captain Fugaku Uchiha, Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, Ibiki Morino to my office immediately. Be discreet and quick, it's an emergency. Oh, and let Renji and Sakura know that we are meeting in my office."
"Hai! Hokage-sama!" saluted Yugao. She disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving us alone with the with each other.
"I believe we have finally our tempers cooled down now. Kakashi, I know this is very soon for you. But do you want to continue spending time with Sakura and acknowledge her as your sister?" As he rose to his feet, us following suit.
"Yes," I answered in a quiet voice without hesitating. I saw Kizashi smile a little and Mebuki look suspicious, out of my peripheral vision. Lord Hiruzen led us out of the tea room and into the hall to his office.
"I still don't want Sakura around you Hatake," grumbled Mebuki.
"Mebuki, enough," admonishes Kizashi.
"I'm not saying I'll stop you from seeing her if she stills wants to spend time with you. It's just that I don't know. I don't know if you're sane or in proper living conditions. Do you know how to care for a child for a long period of time? I honestly don't know if you know anything else other doing ninja stuff! And I certainly am aware of you being part of ANBU. Not exactly a secret around the village."
"I….," I started with nothing. Crap! Crap on top of crap! Do I even know how to care for Sakura if she was left in my hands? I live in a basic one room apartment with a bathroom and the room open to the kitchen. I lived in necessity and never inclined towards anything in abundance. What kind of home life did Sakura live?
We reached the Hokage's office, filing in with me in the back. I felt a hand on my shoulder, turning to see it was Tenzo. He gave a firm squeeze and nodded. I nodded back, thanking him for the gesture before we went through the door. Lord Hiruzen asked me and Tenzo to set the chairs for Sakura's parents and the other head clan members. I guess he knew how fidgety I was, especially under Mebuki's scrutiny, so he gave me something to do. After the chairs were set, Itachi then came through the door with Sakura. Sandaime motioned for them to sit on his right side of the chairs closest to him. Mebuki made a move towards Sakura, but is stopped by Sandaime raising his hand and motioning for her and Kizashi to sit on the other side of the left.
"You as well Kakashi, please take a seat," he adds.
I looked at him with surprise before hesitatingly sitting next to Kizashi. I looked over to Sakura sitting next to Itachi, looking down at her folded hands. It's only half an hour til noon and I wonder how much more stress she can take. I suddenly found myself wondering how she would look like with silver grey hair. That's when the door opened up with Yugao coming with the summoned party behind her. They greeted Sandaime before being motioned to take a seat.
"Gentlemen it has come to my attention that this family Haruno and Kakashi Hatake may be in danger from someone within our own ranks."
"Who is this man Sandaime?" asked Shikaku.
"Our witness here accuses Danzo Shimura of conspiring to remove their child, Sakura Haruno," he motions over to Sakura, who lifts her head at the mention of her name, "from them and into his custody under a claim of a project that included her parents. I will share details later, but now we must discuss the priority of witness protection for all four of them. I'm taking advantage of this while Danzo is meeting a contact of his outside the village"
"Four, sir?" I asked, seeing where he was going with this.
"Yes, Kakashi that includes you. You are connected to this personally as well and will be sidelined from this investigation. It would be easier if you were placed under the same protection with the Harunos until the matter is resolved. Do you understand Kakashi?" asked Samdaime, though I'm sure without a doubt with his tone, that this is not a request, but an order.
"Yes sir," I affirmed.
"Good. Fugaku Uchiha this is where you come in. I need you to place them under your department's protection and if you don not mind, within your clan's property to ensure their safety. You can choose whatever you deem best for their protection, I have complete faith in you."
Fugaku nodded before answering. "Hai, thank you for handing my clan this responsibility, Hokage-sama. I think your suggestion of placing them within my clan's district will afford them more security and increase difficulty for any harm to them behind our walls."
"Sounds like an idea Fugaku," commented Shikaku. "I know when your boys are alert it nearly impossible to infiltrate your territory or charge. But this is Danzo we're talking about, he'll try to beat your moves with whatever he feels necessary….," he glances over to Sakura who paying attention with wide eyes and a pale perplexion returning to her face. Sandaime noticed this as well.
"Understable Shikaku," answered Sandaime, pulling out his pipe to his mouth.
"That's not very healthy Hokage-sama," piped up Sakura, who then realizes what she had said out loud, slapping her hands over her mouth, blushing cheeks replacing her paleness. Everyone shared looks before looking at Sandaime, changing his surprise to being amused, placing his pipe back in his robes.
"As I was saying, it's understandable. Before we proceed, the Harunos and Kakashi should leave for the Uchiha Clan immediately, Kakashi will leave with Yamato to gather his things and Renji will do the same for the Harunos. Both will escort them to the gates of the Uchiha District."
"I will have guards will meet them at the gate. I have a guest house near my home where we can keep close surveillance on them," added Fugaku.
"Very well. Thank you Fugaku, but please stay for the rest of these proceedings. I have a messenger bird you can use to contact the force. As for the rest stay as well. Renji, Yamato."
"Hai, " they answered, Tenzo opened the door while Itachi got Sakura up and walked her to the door with us.
Once we left the tower, Itachi and Tenzo arranged to meet at the Uchiha Gate at two o'clock.
Sakura and her family turned to leave. Sakura turned back to wave at me, which I returned before her mother noticed what she was doing and jerk Sakura's hand toward her and to where they were walking.
"I see Mebuki is warming up to you. Does she still have a problem with you?" asked Tenzo as we took off to my apartment across the rooftops.
"What do you think?" I scoffed as we reached my building. Slipping thru the window after inspecting it for any unwanted surprise visitors, I grabbed my duffel bag and packed everything into it. I really didn't own a lot of things aside from books, weapons, money and clothes.
"I mean, look at how I live, Tenzo. It's just maintenance. I have been on my own since I was five, I wake up with nightmares sometimes and I know more ways how to kill and harm than how to care and socialize with a six year old!" I shouted at him without meaning to, let out all the insecurities that I gained in a short period of time. "Can you honestly say that I'm capable of anything outside of what I do for a living?" I demanded, throwing my bag to the floor. Tenzo didn't say anything for couple moments as I looked at him. He reached up to his face, taking off his masked and looked at me with an unreadable expression.
"Kakashi, I don't know why you keep doubting yourself. Even though you are a part of the shadowy life we live, that has never changed the one thing that you have."
"And what's that?"
"A heart. You do care Kakashi. I know after observing you for so long. Long before I joined your team I watched you from the distance. You had friends waiting on you almost everyday, always inviting you, wanting to spend time with throughout the years, despite the fact that keep rejecting them. And every mission we go on, it's like you lock your heart away further into yourself and kill our targets much different from how we do it."
"What is your point on how I eliminate the target. The manner is still quick and efficient. And it's our job Tenzo," I shot back irritated.
"It's like you use chidori to punish yourself! It's like you want the whole world to know that you are cold and heartless, using the very technique Rin died with. It wasn't your fault…" before he could finish that sentence, my lid just blew and pinned him to the wall. Not enough to hurt him since he was also counteracting a little to avoid being totally pinned.
"What would know about that, I may have told that I didn't want to kill her, but I never mentioned that it was or wasn't my fault!"
"And a drunk man's words bear truth," he gritted.
"What?"
"A month ago, when we had private drinking party with our team. I was helping you get home and into your cot. You confessed to me what happened that night. You were protecting Rin and trying to get her back here to the village from Mist ninjas. But she mentioned that they put something in her that would mean the destruction of Konoha. She wouldn't listen to you as you try to cut through their numbers with your chidori. She jumped in front of you just as you were turning. She didn't leave you with a choice Kakashi. It was on her whether or not she wanted to live or not. Yes, it was wrong how she used you at the last minute, to leave you with this guilt but it doesn't change the fact the she caused her own death not you! So stop wallowing in self pity and for once take advantage of life!"
"Shut up!" I roared, sending a punch into the wall, next to his face. He wasn't afraid or angry that I was like this. I finally understood what his expression was. It was sadness. He was sad that I was like this. I slowly let go of him and sunk down to the floor next him, as he followed suit.
We just sat there for a while in comfortable silence. "Tenzo...I...I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything sempai. I wanted to do for you what you did for me. Wack you over the head with reality and see what's good in life."
"Yeah, from one ANBU unit to the next," I chuckled.
"Hey it's better than serving under Danzo and doing his dirty work. I mean I was an assassin whose targets are my comrades and the Hokage. You really helped me and I do like being in ANBU. Wouldn't change it. Would you change the fact that a sweet little pink haired girl, is your sister? I mean you have family now. How do you feel?" he asked with an encouraging smile.
I couldn't help but begin to smile. "If the circumstances weren't so dire and hurried, I would be shocked at first, confused, but very happy. Especially I knew her before then. She's like this little sweet ray of light for my end of crappy weeks. Like, with her I could be this other person who could care and feel good about himself again. I can't describe it any other way. And the thought of her being in danger. I would protect her without question."
Tenzo, listening patiently to my gut spilling moment, grinned before putting his mask back on. He stood up, putting out his hand which I grabbed, helping me getting up from the ground. We noticed that the time was getting close to two o'clock, so we began our trek to the Uchiha District.
"You know sempai, I have been wondering since we left the office, how would Sakura look with your hair? I mean surely it can't be pink like her father, Kizashi?"
"You know what? Been wondering the same thing."
And there is Chapter Seven! Sorry for the delay. I want to write more but have school work to do! Please enjoy this and be patient for the next one which will be soon following Sakura to the Uchiha District. How do you think Sakura would look like with the Hatake silver hair? Or does she have Mebuki's hair? Your reviews please.
