In Memoriam Tales
by TwinEnigma
Warnings: Shogi, strategists
VII: Stratagem
Konohamaru stands in the door of one of the private studies in the library, leaning against the frame as he watches the individual inside.
Hakukaji, age fourteen, newly instated chuunin, is buried up to his elbows in scrolls and restricted volumes, scanning through them with fervor.
Naruto had given the boy permission to be here, but he was concerned and approached Konohamaru about finding out what was going on. As his jounin sensei, Konohamaru knew him best.
It was all but unsaid: we don't want another Orochimaru.
Konohamaru knows that isn't the case with this kid.
Hakukaji is a good kid with a damn fine head on his shoulders. He'd been a real brat a few years ago, but he cut that out fast as he came into his own. And that boy didn't move without knowing what he was up against or without some kind of plan in place. Whatever he is looking for in here, it is something he figured would be good for the team.
Still, he understands the concern. The stuff in this room could do so much damage in the wrong hands.
"Konohamaru-sensei, please come in," Hakukaji says stiffly, not even looking over his shoulder. "You're making it hard to concentrate."
Konohamaru chuckles and walks in, taking a seat at the table. "What are you up to, kid?"
"Research," Hakukaji says, turning a page in the journal he is looking through.
Konohamaru reaches forward and tips up the cover so he can get a look at it. Observations and Medical Data on Doujutsu: Supplementary Log: Sharingan. "A little light reading on your teammate, huh?" he asks. "What's wrong with just asking Rinji?"
"Rinji wouldn't be helpful," Hakukaji replies, flipping through another page. "He doesn't know anything about his Sharingan and, besides, he's terrified of it."
Sighing, Konohamaru leans back. "It's understandable. He's had a difficult experience."
"So I've heard," Hakukaji says. He sighs in frustration and looks up at Konohamaru, his face truly troubled. "Sensei, this can't continue. His fear of it is a liability to the team. He needs to learn how to use it and, if he's too scared to do it..."
"...Then you'll make him learn," Konohamaru finishes.
He is sure he will need a strong drink later.
Oh, he understands the logic – Hakukaji won't let his teammates get themselves killed and he can't complete his strategies if he knows his team's playing on a handicap, but Hakukaji is treading on very dangerous ground where Rinji Uchiha is concerned.
Some things just are better left buried and doubly true where it concerns the Uchiha.
"Hakukaji," he says, taking the book from him. "Rinji's demons are his own. One day he's going to face them, but you shouldn't force him."
Hakukaji is silent.
"I know you mean well," Konohamaru adds, "It's just not your decision."
Hakukaji frowns.
"Come on, you've done enough work today," he says, standing and offering a hand to his student. "I'll treat you to some lunch and a game of shogi."
"I want barbeque," Hakukaji says, smiling a little, and takes his hand.
Lunch is quiet but, then again, Hakukaji isn't much of a talker. Hana, the hyper brat of Sakura and Naruto, usually does most of the chatting. The only one on their team who talks less than Hakukaji is Rinji and he's so introverted that he makes his father – that poor bastard – look talkative by comparison.
Sasuke Uchiha, that poor, poor bastard. What happened to him and his family wasn't fair. It still pisses Konohamaru off and it's been nine years.
He supposes it's a bit personal now. Ever since Naruto saddled him with that hellion girl of his, Hakukaji and Rinji, he's found that their problems often end up bothering him like an ulcer. They're his squad and they'll remain so, even when he's finally got his coveted Hokage hat.
Damn kids.
He's not supposed to like them so much.
Before long, the shogi board is out and Hakukaji is patiently waiting.
Konohamaru immediately take the lead with an aggressive strategy, though he can see the underpinnings of a scheme in Hakukaji's careful choices.
"Konohamaru-sensei, why didn't you become Hokage?" Hakukaji asks thoughtfully. His eyes never leave the board.
The jounin blinks. "I'm sorry, what?"
"You were strongly being considered for the position two years ago," the boy says, casually. "And then, suddenly, you took a jounin sensei appointment."
Konohamaru narrows his eyes at the board. "Perhaps I was not ready to be Hokage."
"It's illogical," Hakukaji says, looking up at him. "You were ready, but you chose to turn it down. There's little to be gained by such a move."
He smiles at the boy then and executes a vicious trap on the board. "That isn't necessarily true."
"How so?" Hakukaji asks and he thinks he sees a suspicion of what the answer is in the boy's eyes.
Konohamaru easily captures another piece. "The period between two kages is a time of vulnerability. One might, if they were so inclined, take advantage of such a situation."
"So, you and the Hokage are stalling for time," Hakukaji murmurs, countering his move. "I see."
He smiles in amusement. "Do you, now?"
Hakukaji lapses into silence and they play quietly for a while.
At last, Hakukaji speaks again: "Sensei, suppose you knew something that might be able to help your team, but you couldn't prove it for sure. Would you still try it?"
Konohamaru frowns. He thinks that he knows where this is going. "What are you up to?"
"It's nothing," Hakukaji says, sacrificing his knight to clear the way for his other pieces to put the king in check. "It's just a theory."
AN: It will all be explained in the doujin, I swear.
