AN: Hi guys, sorry it took longer than I thought, but as promised here is the next installment. Sorry for any typos, I was a bit lazy with the proofreading!


Chapter 9

Their eyes were burning him. He felt like they were scorching his pale skin as they looked him up and down and then lingered on his bare face. He could see Obito mouthing the words "I'm sorry" at him, but he didn't dare say it out loud. Kakashi was so embarrassed he couldn't make eye contact with him.

Some of the table's occupant's jaws had dropped in the revelation; clearly they had not expected Fugaku to have gone this far. Enslaving Kakashi, giving away his land, and removing his title was one thing, but forcing him to serve them like a woman, with his mask taken from him, that was another insult entirely. There was no question of the power Fugaku had over him. The Uchiha Head had exerted his dominance in full force. They had all heard that Hatake had had been initiated into their home by Zabuza no less, followed by a summons to Fugaku's rooms… which left little to the imagination. Everyone knew how the man used his servants. He even encouraged it amongst the other men of his clan.

Of course, Mikoto was also present and knew what her husband was like. It did not escape her that all the newest young serving girls tended to be summoned to her husband's private chambers more than their chores could warrant. But this was common in all samurai household, and she had known that even before her marriage. She only despaired that over the years she was intimate with her husband less and less, especially now her womb was no longer proving fertile. She just thanks the gods that she had born two sons at least, the heir and the spare. She had performed her duties well enough not to bring shame to the Uchiha at least.

She, like the others, surveyed the newest addition to their staff; a Lord no less. This time her husband's actions had surprised even her. He didn't generally tend to call serving boys to his room, but the idea of taking a Lord must have been something he had been unable to resist, especially one with the Hatake's reputation. She her husband and she knew he would have delighted in using such a renowned enemy for his pleasure. The word of men was brutal and cruel and now that the Hatake fortunes had fallen so low he would realise this at such a tender age.

This boy had known power and superiority and fortune, and it had been stripped from him. Whereas women were born knowing they were always to be second to a man. The only different was how much money you had decided how comfortable you would be serving them, whether it be a master or a husband. She had been born into a good clan at least, so she had married well, and at least ruled over the other women of the house who served her. That was good as it could get for a woman. Although she had hear of the ghastly female samurais, she had never seen one in the flesh.

As they young Hatake took a deep breath, before Ebisu pushed him towards the table of Uchiha, he awkwardly began to fill cups, eyes cast down the whole time, trying to ignore the attention on himself. Mikoto's gaze went to her husband, who looked like the cat that got the cream, to her youngest son Sasuke, who watched the new servant with a sullen contempt, to her elder son. Itachi was staring intently at the Lord who was once a rival. As usual his face gave away nothing, but call it mother's intuition, Mikoto sensed something in that look... it seemed to her that there was a strong emotion behind her son's expressionless face, she could see the gleam of it in his eyes. Of course her son must have known Kakashi from his previous life, maybe there was more to their relationship, but she couldn't tell what; love, hate, anger, she had no idea. And Itachi certainly wouldn't tell her.

May of the Uchiha men were calling for top ups of their drinks, and jeering as the young man made his way around the table, his ears burning with humiliation. Some serving girls moved forwards to help, but Ebisu held them back.

"Oh no," he said quietly. "Let them have their moment; after all, our master has triumphed over a talented enemy. Let him enjoy this. Hatake needs to get used to the way things work here, and his new place- right at the bottom of the pile, hm." The man folded with arms, a smirk just visible with his head tilted down.

The men laughed as they 'accidentally' spilled their drinks and demanded more, some sticking their legs out to try and trip the humbled Hatake, and some even daring to leer, make rude gestures about Fugaku 'welcome' to the clan, moving into his personal space and touch him. One bigger man, some sort of cousin to Fugaku called Nobu, patted the teen's hips predatorily. Kakashi tried not to react but couldn't stop his hands from shaking and spilling some of the liquid, making the men laugh even more.

He felt burning behind his eyes, but knew he couldn't cry here, in front of these arrogant and cruel men. He couldn't give them the satisfaction. After all even without his title he was still a warrior. He was still a Hatake at heart.

Obito was quite throughout the affair. He tried to catch Kakashi's eye more than once. He could feel his feelings bubbling up inside, as he had never been one for hiding them well. He felt disgusted with his Uncle Fugaku for putting a noble heir through such humiliation and he felt protective of Kakashi, who had not so long ago been in his care… who knew he would have saved him from Minato just so he could suffer here. Yet there was also another instinct he was feeling, though he was struggling to recognise it… when he heard the references to Kakashi being summoned to his uncle's rooms… he felt a sense of loss… pain and… could it really be- jealousy? But that was absurd. He didn't like Kakashi is such a way- he loved Nohara RIn and only his sweet Rin. Though she had crushed his heart with her rejection, it still beat only for her.

There was also another at the table who was quiet. Shisui, like the teen's mother, had also picked up on his friend's odd behaviour. Itachi was watching the newcomer silently, his gaze barely wavering. He was barely eating. Shisui knew Itachi had never been a big eater, unlike the heir's loud mouthed cousin Obito, but he usually ate more than this. He decided to push it a bit and see where this was going and what it meant.

"Hatake," Shisui called. "Over here. Itachi-sama is thirsty."

Kakashi groaned internally. He had been purposely avoiding Itachi. While the others had made fun of him before digging into their breakfast (which had smelled delicious in comparison to the servant's own lukewarm, tasteless and meagre rations) Itachi had been mostly watching his movements, like a hawk. It was disturbing and made things even more awkward for him. He felt the same level of discomfort when Minato stared at him. He just hoped his instincts were wrong and the he was misinterpreting the vibes he was getting from the Uchiha heir.

He was sweating with nerves as he approached the two men who were the same age as him. "Calm down," he thought to himself. "He isn't Minato, he is completely different from Minato- look how quiet and serious he is, nothing like the generally cheery blond despite the way he watches you."

But Kakashi couldn't shake the fear that Itachi, despite being younger than his instructor, was watching him the way Minato would watch him when he though no one was looking. The Uchiha was more open about it though, not trying to hide it like the blond who had inferior to Kakashi's position.

Kakashi was so caught up in his thoughts, that he didn't notice when one of the Uchiha- a female surprisingly- stuck her foot out and successfully tripped the usually observant Hatake. He fell face forwards into the tatami, the clay jug still in his hands, and smashing as it hit the floor with him. The Uchiha roared with laughter and berated him for his clumsiness, saying that if he had a wage the jug should come out of it.

The sharp pieces on the floor had cut into Kakashi's delicate hands and making them bleed, and he felt his eyes watering, so he didn't dare move until he had gained more control over himself.

It was then the table seemed to fall silent as Kakashi heard the soft pad of feet and a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Kakashi," Obito said quietly. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

As he felt the man sink down beside him, Kakashi looked up to meet his eyes for the first time that morning. They were dark and full of concern. For a moment, a single stupid moment, Obito's kind eyes and broad form beside him made him feel safe. He should have known it was silly and could not last.