AN: I'm really sorry this took so long. I was busy trying to come up with a proper ending, and after a lot of thought, and some help from a few friends, I finally got an idea. This chapter actually rounds up to over 10,000 words, so I hope that makes up for it. There's probably only going to be one more chapter, unless I decide to split it which isn't very likely to happen. Enjoy and tell me if you like the way it's going.
Chapter 10: The Hatake Tanto
They walked through the gates of the only place they'd ever call home with an easy stride. It wasn't that they were proud or that they were homesick and now full of joy to be returning.
It was that they were able to see that beautiful place one more time.
Sakumo knew that this would be his last visit. Jiraiya sensed that this was what it felt like when the end was drawing near. And Naruto was just happy to be home; to be in the village that he worked to lead and protect in the future.
This was their home, and this is where they had all lived.
It was easy to see that each had their own thoughts when they walked through those streets. And it would be safe to say that they did get a little attention from those who recognized Sakumo, but no one spoke to them.
They were heading straight to the Hokage Tower and this was the White Fang and a Legendary Sannin. It would've been considered rude to interrupt when it matters seemed most important; that and the fact that one of them was supposed to be dead.
When they entered the Tower they caused quite a commotion. So much so that Tsunade came down from her office to see why everything had either stopped or been dropped on the floor in surprise.
Almost everyone working in the Hokage Tower was a well-informed shinobi. Each one was fully aware of whom Sakumo was but none had been expecting to see him walk through those doors alive and well demanding to see Tsunade.
To say the least it was a very interesting afternoon.
--
When Sasuke woke up that morning he was surprised to sense what smelled like breakfast in the kitchen. When he walked in he could see that it was a former Hokage cooking the early meal.
'Better than Kakashi,' Sasuke thought vaguely before sitting down at the table.
It turns out that Kakashi was already awake and gathering plates for them to eat out of. He was wearing a dark blue shirt with black pants. A little mitch-matched considering how he usually dresses but what caught Sasuke's attention was that he was again without a mask.
It wasn't that Kakashi had a bad face, as Sasuke and the rest of Team 7 had thought when wondering exactly what their teacher looked like, it was just that he had an unexpected face.
He had a straight nose and delicate lips. His whole face was about the same shade, remarkable seeing as how he never takes off his mask. He was also slightly tan, though Sasuke figured that that was because they lived in Konoha. The sun was almost always shining.
Kakashi brought the plates to the table and sat them down quickly, then went straight to getting the glasses. It was then that Sasuke realized that Kakashi was still wearing a mask.
It wasn't a physical facial cloth but instead was a mask that Sasuke himself wore. It was a mask that hid emotions. Facial expressions meant nothing and you could never tell what that person was thinking without asking, and even then you would never know if it was the truth.
Kakashi sat down the glasses and noticed how Sasuke seemed a bit dazed, "Good morning Sasuke, sleep well?"
Sasuke looked up, 'He asked that like a worried mother.'
"Yeah fine, considering I took the couch."
"Sorry about that," Kakashi replied grinning sheepishly, "But it's my house so I wasn't sleeping there. You're just unlucky is all."
Sasuke crossed his arms on the table and laid his head between them, "Unlucky is the perfect word to describe me."
Kakashi raised his eyebrows in question, "And why is that?"
Sasuke looked up without much thought, "When your life goes in a downward spiral then you know that you're either unlucky or damned. I'm going with unlucky."
Kakashi sighed as he sat down, "Yeah, I know where you're coming from."
Sasuke put his head back down to rest while continuing to think of the simple things in life that he had never known of before; or that he had never cared to learn of.
Kakashi was curious and that meant that he had to find his answer, "Sasuke."
Sasuke turned his head and shifted his gaze to Kakashi, "What?"
"Why did you come to me instead of Sakura or the Hokage?"
Sasuke sat up, "What do you mean?"
"When you came home you found me instead of Sakura or Naruto or going straight to Tsunade. Why did you do that?"
"Because I couldn't think," Sasuke answered, "I was being tortured about killing my brother when he was innocent. I didn't know what to do."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, "That didn't answer my question."
"You fixed it."
"Fixed what?"
Sasuke was obviously having trouble thinking of the words that would best describe what he did that night, but every question needs an answer.
He started in what Kakashi would've described as beating around the bush, "In Team 7 you were our leader and you were the one who guided us through everything. You taught us how to survive, even though we did go to other teachers to become stronger."
Sasuke placed his hands in his lap as he turned to fully face Kakashi, "To us you were strength. You gave us hope in a way that never made sense, and none of us were willing to admit that. It seems strange now, but I came to you knowing that you could fix everything. You could have me accepted back into the village and you could give me peace when my mind was being tortured about Itachi."
"You saved me," Sasuke said slowly.
Kakashi had no idea what a person was supposed to say in a situation like this, but lucky for him his old teacher had been listening in on the whole conversation and decided that now would be the best time to announce that breakfast was ready.
"It's done, let's eat!" Minato cheered as he placed an equal amount of food in each plate.
Kakashi was grateful that Minato wasn't really an idiot and that he was, at one point, his leader, his teacher, and his sense of hope. He could only guess that people like Sasuke and Naruto, and even himself, come to think of their team as their family.
It does have meaning, no matter what anyone says. When you lose everything and there's only a thread keeping you from going insane, you become so attached to that one peace of thread that when it leaves it feels like you die.
Kakashi suffered this when Rin died in the battle of the Nine-Tailed Fox. His entire team was now dead and he had no family and no person that he loved enough to die for. But he knew that whether he loved someone or not didn't matter, his mission as a shinobi required him to be ready to give his life no matter the odds.
Then those kids cam along, and they broke into his heart without even realizing it. He loves them even though he would admit it, no one would ask him to. Everyone already knows.
Kakashi couldn't help but think of all the similarities between himself and Sasuke as they began to eat their meal. Life had thrown many trials towards them and they had barely managed to get by. Losing everyone and then having to live alone for years was not very enjoyable.
Even so, Kakashi understood that people like Sasuke and himself need a purpose, they need a goal. Kakashi had always had himself believe that serving his village was his most important goal in life. But Sasuke…?
Sasuke most important goal in life had always revolved around Itachi. Becoming just as good as Itachi at first, and then killing Itachi later.
It's not that Kakashi couldn't understand this as he finished his meal and calmly placed the dishes in the sink, it was just that he had experienced something similar and yet so different.
When Kakashi's father died it was like he had lost his purpose. As a child Kakashi just wanted to make his father proud and to one day match his father in skill. Once that man had been taken away it felt like he didn't have anyone to work for, so he made himself work solely for his village.
And in doing so for many years he became attached.
Obito was that philosophy's undoing. By once again allowing Kakashi to see his father as a hero he had calmed a raging storm. But who had been there to calm Sasuke's storm?
Kakashi glanced towards the boy in question before leaving down the hall to his room. Sasuke didn't deserve such pain, though he couldn't say the same for himself. Kakashi knew that his soul wasn't pure, but he also knew that when Sasuke had been put through this pain that his soul was pure.
Kakashi walked into his room and quickly grabbed his usual attire from his closet. It was when he was zipping up his vest that he realized being a shinobi and learning to become a shinobi are extremely different in innocence.
When learning to become a shinobi blood is never spilt. But when being a shinobi you've spilled over the years to the point where you no longer have any innocence.
Kakashi was aware that this innocence was a different kind than that of the body's innocence. This innocence was an innocence of the soul. Kakashi knew that he had lost this pureness very long ago, and that he would never be able to make amends to that; not that he would even think of changing his life.
Many tragedies had happened in his life, and each one hurt considerably. But it was during these painful times that Kakashi wished he could have chosen to not become a ninja, to not kill for the sake of duty, and to not have to be emotionless when you feel that your heart is being stabbed by a thousand needles.
But it was after these tragedies that he realized he wouldn't have changed it, even if at that moment he wished he could. When his world was broken and when his heart could no longer feel the joy he once knew he wished he could have that choice, but he was aware that he would reject it just as soon as it was offered.
His father had once told him, "Live life, don't let it pass you by."
Afterwards he had ruffled Kakashi's already messy hair. It was his father's way of showing that he was proud because it was on that day that Kakashi was accepted as a chunin.
Kakashi had always known that when he had repeated that same act upon his students that it became his way of showing affection.
"Live life, don't let it pass you by," Kakashi restated looking at his reflection in the mirror, noticing how differect his voice was from his father's. He traced his scar and found himself looking into Obito's sharingan.
He would never admit it but he especially liked the blood red color of that eye. He knew that he probably shouldn't since he had seen that color covering the very land that he walked across during his most extreme battles.
He was also regularly coming home soaked in the liquid color, but something about it made it seem attractive to him. He felt that it was what was always flowing inside of you and was always there no matter what. But without those cells that carry that color you could not live, and watching that liquid splatter across you're body when you slashed your sword through your opponent should make you hate it.
But he knew that he loved that color, it felt peaceful when you weren't fighting to survive when seeing it, and sometimes even when you were. He had asked Jiraiya about it when he was young, the sage told him that it was simply his favorite color.
He wasn't satisfied so he had asked Tsunade who told him to read his father's scrolls if he wanted to know.
Kakashi couldn't do that.
His father's scrolls were kept in his old room, and that was one place that Kakashi feared entering. It made the image of his father's suicide become so vivid that it was hard to breathe.
But he had always seen his father reading those same scrolls. Sakumo had told him that he was looking for an answer to the Hatake.
It hadn't made any sense, and it still doesn't. Kakashi looked over his face, picturing it as his father waiting for him on the porch to come home.
He sighed, "An answer to the Hatake, what does it mean?"
"Talking to yourself?"
Kakashi jumped, then instantly remembered that he wasn't alone in his house. He turned around and met Sasuke standing in the doorway. He realized that Sasuke was now around his own height and he could see that the boy's hair had a bluish content to it. He was dressed in the outfit that Kakashi had bought him the day before.
"Just thinking," he answered quietly while observing the fact that his old students were now adults.
Sasuke eyed him suspiciously, "The Kakashi I know doesn't allow himself to think of matters that don't have importance. And to speak those thoughts aloud is very unlike him."
Kakashi's lips quirked up in what Sasuke thought might have been a smile, "Are you trying to say I'm some kind of imposter? Because if that's the case you're wasting your time."
Kakashi walked over to his desk where his mask lay, he heard Sasuke's answer dripped in sincerity, "You aren't acting like yourself."
Kakashi began slipping his mask over his head, "What happened when at that house? Why did you start crying?"
Kakashi froze, but only for a second before continuing to position his mask comfortably, "Sasuke, you know what happened there, so don't ask."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, "Your father killed himself there, but would that really be enough to make you cry? To make the Copy Ninja himself break down in tears?"
"I wasn't the one crying."
"It was your sharingan, that Obito kid. It was releasing the emotions that you couldn't through something weaker than you, something not of your body."
Kakashi sighed once again and turned around to start walking towards Sasuke who was blocking the door, "You already know all of this so what's the point of explaining it to me?"
Sasuke's crossed arms tightened, "What was it about the Hatake that you were just asking?"
"That's none of your concern."
Sasuke didn't move but instead waited for Kakashi to speak again, he waited for his answer. But he knew that Kakashi was about as stubborn as Naruto when he wanted to be, now just so happened to be one of those times.
Sasuke lowered his head and began explaining, "When I was reading about the White Fang some of those documents were based on the Hatake, not just Sakumo."
"So what does that mean?"
"You don't understand do you?"
Kakashi was losing patience, "Sasuke you're wasting my time. If you aren't going to finish then move, because you still haven't told me why you're asking all of this."
"What's got you in such a bad mood?"
Kakashi wasn't looking very happy, but that only made Sasuke want to ask more.
"While reading I found out that there was never a child born between the Hatake and the Uchiha. I even checked the records to make sure that there wasn't a mistake."
"And why does that matter? The Hatake were few in numbers anyway, so it shouldn't surprise you that this could very well be a coincident."
Sasuke nodded, "That's what I thought, but then I read more into it. The Hatake weren't always such a rarity. They were here before the Uchiha; before the village was made."
"I know that."
"What else do you know?" Sasuke asked genuinely interesting.
"They were here as farmers and made an agreement with the First Hokage about the land. The ninja population grew and there came a need for even more military strength. My clan was asked to become shinobi."
"What happened after that?"
"They excelled," Kakashi stated bored, "They became powerful and fought in the First Great Shinobi War. Most of them were killed as a result. The ones who survived decided it would be wiser to stop being shinobi before they were all killed."
"And the ones that were left?" Sasuke pushed.
"All but one died. He was my great grandfather."
"So from then on there was only one child born to each generation of Hatake?"
Kakashi shook his head, "No, my great grandfather had 3 children and my grandfather had 2. My father only had me because my mother died when she gave birth to me."
Sasuke was truly interested now, "So what happened to the rest of your family?"
Kakashi walked stood straight as a soldier would do, "They died in the line of duty."
Sasuke stood stunned for a moment, 'His entire family was killed just by being ninja. They died for their mission; for their village…and my brother killed my family in the same name. For the village and for his mission. Why?! Why does it have to be like that?'
"Sasuke," Kakashi called sharply. Sasuke looked up to see that Kakashi looked the same as he had when he was lecturing them at the end of the Bell Test.
"We are ninja and it is our job to carry out our mission. We accepted this when we entered the academy trying to pass so that we could call ourselves shinobi."
Kakashi walked forward and placed his hand on Sasuke's tense shoulder, "It's not just a title," Kakashi said softly. "It's what we chose to live and die as. My family died doing what they agreed to do; what they wanted to do. They village didn't force it, and they didn't force Itachi to take that mission."
Sasuke's expression changed in a flash. One moment he looked disturbed and the next moment he looked shocked and disgusted.
"He chose to be a shinobi for the sake of his home."
Sasuke glared at the floor, "So he chose it? He chose to kill his family and his friends; his comrades that stood by him threw life and death just because it was his mission?"
"You don't understand Sasuke."
Sasuke looked up to Kakashi, and what he saw surprised him. Kakashi was looking at him tenderly, like he was a child who had just lost a game and received a wounded pride.
But Sasuke found himself disliking that stare. It made it seem as though Kakashi pitied him, and Sasuke was not going to accept pity. No, not from this man; not from the man who he admired most.
"What would you choose, Sasuke?"
Sasuke's eyes showed both confusion and disbelief. He had never thought of the question, he had never even thought of dying for the same reasons that the Hatake were now dead, but he was now trying to find his answer.
Sasuke lowered his head and allowed his eyes to roam over the pictures sitting above Kakashi's bed, seeing each faces expression and each person's purpose, "Given the situation I might do the same thing."
Kakashi smiled proudly, "Well done."
"What do you mean? I thought I was the one questioning you."
"You were, but now you know what to do when faced with that choice."
Sasuke glared playfully, slapping Kakashi's hand off his shoulder he said, "You never answered my question."
"I didn't?"
"No, you didn't."
Kakashi grinned, "I don't remember being asked a question."
Sasuke's eyes widened in the realization that the conversation they just had had made it near impossible to ask what he originally wanted without not being able to get the other information he gathered.
"What I wanted to ask was 'Why didn't the Hatake and Uchiha ever have kids? If there were so many Hatake back then, then why wouldn't have it been possible?"
Kakashi sighed, knowing that there was no way out of this, "Sasuke there's a very complicated reason for that."
"Tell me."
"The Hatake's White Chakra and the Uchiha's Sharingan should not be matched genetically. It was something that Tsunade discovered. They just weren't attracted to each other."
Sasuke glared at him, "Stop lying."
"Fine, the truth is that our clans hated each other because my clan resented yours for coming into our land and naming it as their home."
"There's more to it, isn't there?"
"You're too smart for your own good," Kakashi replied, "There was one incident where a child was born, but that child had an extraordinary chakra and an unusual Kekkei-Genkai."
"And why is that?"
Kakashi facial expression became serious, "Because when mixing two different types Kekkei-Genkai there are always problems, it's a simple truth. This child was showing signs of great power and was thought to be destined to become a great warrior."
"What happened to it?"
"He tried to combine the chakra of my clan with the sharingan of yours. In doing so he created a new jutsu, an extremely powerful and unique ability. You would have to have the blood of both clans to perform it of course, but it came at a deadly price."
"How could something so simple have been so dangerous?"
Kakashi shut his eye, recalling what his father had told him, "The Hatake's chakra is a refined, hardened energy. When chakra is made in a Hatake's body it is immediately combined with other stored chakra to make it more powerful. This was a defense my clans' members' bodies naturally acquired to help fight against the shinobi attacking their lands."
Kakashi looked up at Sasuke, "When combining refined chakra to the Sharingan it is said that the Sharingan turned white, just as the chakra being used, but once the chakra was drawn from that Sharingan the boy died. Tsunade studied this and concluded that in adding extreme power to something already powerful a body like his wasn't able to hold out; she also said that it might have been his chakra network that had worked against him. It was a tragedy, and because of it there wasn't any more interaction than necessary between our clans."
"It was because his body couldn't contain it," Sasuke observed, "So if he had had a stronger body and network then he would have survived, and not only that, but had gained a power that no one else had."
"Sasuke, you and I are the only ones left from our clans."
Sasuke nodded, "I know, but a white sharingan interests me. Is this all legend or did it actually happen?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Curiosity."
"It happened."
"Hey, Kakashi, are you ready yet? We wanted to meet Tsunade again this morning to give her the scrolls I finished up last night," Minato said as he pushed past Sasuke.
He looked between the two and immediately turned to Kakashi, "What were you talking about?"
Kakashi smiled, "I was just telling Sasuke why Hatake and Uchiha don't mate."
Sasuke faced looked near disgusted, "Don't say mate, stupid! They aren't dogs!"
Kakashi chuckled as Minato walked by to grab a picture of him, Kakashi, and who Sasuke could only guess to be Obito and Rin.
He held it in his left hand and ran his right hand fingers across the faces of the three students standing over a foot beneath him. He had a genuine smile plastered on his lips and he seemed to be remembering each one the way he had known them.
Sasuke was a little unsettled. No one dared to touch those pictures. They naturally seemed precious to Kakashi, knowing him and what he could do people left them there with thoughts of their own health at stake.
He instantly calmed when Kakashi spoke, "How are they?"
"Obito says that you're a fool for going to that memorial stone every morning, and Rin worries about your health."
"That so?" Kakashi responded aimlessly.
Minato set the picture down and turned to face his current companions, "Isn't your father supposed to be here some time soon?"
"Yeah, speaking of which," Kakashi addressed Sasuke, "You should go over to Sakura's. We'll pick you up later, after this mess is straightened out; besides, you'd be bored."
Sasuke glared, knowing full well that Kakashi didn't care one bit about whether or not Sasuke was bored during these meetings, "You're trying to get rid of me."
"You haven't seen her since you got engaged."
"That doesn't matter."
"Sasuke," Kakashi said warningly. Sasuke knew that Kakashi wasn't joking. His presence was unwelcomed for the time being. Kakashi had something that he had to do that didn't involve Sasuke, which put Sasuke a little on edge.
The Copy-nin didn't do things for no reasons; minus reading porn, but Sasuke was sure that there was a reason even for that too.
"Alright, come get me as soon as it's over."
"Of course," Kakashi said far too cheerily to be believable. But it was enough to show Sasuke that Kakashi knew he had caught own, though Sasuke thought it was odd how Kakashi would so openly try to get rid of him, and make it so clear that he did so with reason that included the third person in the room, when the Fourth was with them.
Sasuke walked out of the room silently, without question, and in complete obedience. He knew that it had been evident that Kakashi's trust of the situation had been deterred from its original foundation.
Sasuke was excited to see the outcome of this battle.
--
Tsunade sat behind her desk glaring at the two dangerous men standing in front of her. They were both slouched and obviously comfortable.
"Jiraiya, Sakumo," Tsunade addressed, "Why are you being so laid back when a dead man is living and breathing in this very room?"
Jiraiya grinned, "Because he's back Tsunade."
Tsunade sighed a breath of pure frustration, "Why are all of you so naïve?"
All three men glared at the blond Hokage in insult, but she responded nonetheless, "I'm talking about Kakashi as well."
Sakumo's glared deepened, but his expression changed when his dark eyes caught sight of a black and red box sitting next to Tsunade's newest stack of paperwork.
"Don't even think about it," She warned.
Sakumo blinked up to meet the gaze of a very troubled leader.
"What's wrong with it?"
"So you can tell what it is?"
"Of course, it's my weapon, but why is it here? I gave it to Kakashi."
Tsunade blinked rapidly in confusion, "You don't know that it's broken?"
"Broken, how did that happen?"
"A mission, when Kakashi was young. It was split in half. He brought it here so that I could arrange for it to be fixed. I don't really see why he would want it fixed after all these years; he hasn't used it since his first perfected chidori."
"Maybe he wants it fixed for Sakumo," Jiraiya offered.
"That might very well be the case, but I can't give it to him."
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, "Why not?"
"Because we have no idea whether or not Sakumo and Minato are a threat."
"But we know that Sakumo was revived; not cloned or controlled," Jiraiya started but was silenced by Sakumo placing his hand over the large man's chest.
"She's right Jiraiya, even I don't trust myself. There's nothing that says I am not a threat," Sakumo looked up, "That's why as soon as I talk to Kakashi I'm leaving."
"You're leaving?! You came all this way with us and you're just gonna leave!"
Sakumo removed his hand and faced his old friend, "I don't want to hurt anyone."
Jiraiya glared, "Then you shouldn't have come here in the first place," was what he said before he walked straight past everyone.
Naruto sputtered after the Sannin but was stopped by his new friend's deep voice saying, "Leave him be, he just needs some time to cool down."
Tsunade nodded in agreement. An angry Jiraiya was not something that you came across often, and when he did happen to be enraged it's smarter to stay away from him.
"Sakumo," Tsunade started, "I need you to fetch me those scrolls you were studying before you died. I've asked Kakashi to, but he refused, and every other chunin or jonin that I've asked also refused, either from fear or respect."
"What about Anbu?" Sakumo questioned.
Tsunade sighed, "Even them. Kakashi gained the respect of many while in Anbu. It seems he even left a legend there when he decided to resign."
"Kakashi was in Anbu?"
Tsunade smiled, "You really shouldn't be surprised, he was always talented. He's already 32."
Sakumo's eyes widened, "But that means…"
"He's older than you," Tsunade finished.
Naruto laughed on Sakumo's right, which only served to further irritate the silver haired man.
"In any case," Tsunade interrupted, "I need those documents."
"Why didn't you just go get them yourself?"
"I'm a busy woman."
"You liar, you just didn't want to go because they're in my room."
Tsunade gave Sakumo a glare that far outmatched any Uchiha, "Out."
Sakumo chuckled lightly, "C'mon kid."
Naruto and Sakumo quickly exited, with Sakumo waving his goodbye over his shoulder.
"Hokage Stone Faces, sunset!" She called.
Tsunade sighed; putting those men together was bound to cause trouble. She looked down and began to study the box containing Kakashi's family heritage. The wolves on the sides looked so real, and so delicately carved. It was definitely a work of art.
She placed both hands on the sides and began removing the top to make observations on the blade's damage. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw that the weapon was now missing.
"Who the hell…?" Tsunade wasn't able to finish her sentence as Shizune chose to walk through the door at that moment.
Tsunade quickly replaced the top and slid the box underneath her desk. It was better not to let Shizune know that one of the most dangerous weapons was missing when a specialist in the art of using it was now roaming the village's roads.
Tsunade smiled her welcome to her would-have-been-niece.
"What happened?" Shizune asked worriedly, "Master Jiraiya looked awfully upset when he left."
"It's nothing. The old fool threw a fit is all."
"Oh, I see, well after your done with those papers you'll be done for today. Afterwards, if I remember right, it's time for Sakura's training."
"Right, I haven't seen my apprentice since this mess started."
Tsunade may have appeared to be in a good mood, but Shizune found something about how easy she was talking to be a dead give away that something was off. But she brushed it off her shoulders as her merely being happy to see an old childhood friend after all these years.
Unbeknownst to her Tsunade was trying desperately to figure out who could have taken Sakumo's tanto. It had been there when Kakashi dropped it off and it hadn't left her sight so it must have been taken by someone very skilled.
Tsunade bit her lip in anticipation for what might come of this new development, Shizune took the look as a sign of renewed concentration.
--
Sasuke walked down the streets of Konoha with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He was looking from one side of the street to the other taking in every detail that had been added or changed as he continued to his destination.
The blue pack on his back felt light, only holding a single object. He wasn't concerned about going to Sakura's, since he wasn't being expected it wouldn't matter if he didn't show up; the best thing being that Kakashi would never know. As long as he dumped the evidence of his actions today before he was caught nothing could go wrong.
He felt a little guilty about what he was doing, but he had to remind himself that it had been his choice.
He had secretly waited outside Tsunade's office, even going so far as to use chakra to hold on to the wall and to perform a camouflage jutsu so that he wasn't caught. He knew that Kakashi and the Fourth wouldn't be coming to her office for at least a few more hours, there were things to be discussed between the two before that could happen. So he waited patiently.
It hadn't been ten minutes before he heard a great commotion. He looked down just in time to see Naruto and that idiot teacher of his walking inside the doors of the Hokage Tower along with a person who looked just like Kakashi.
'That must be this Sakumo guy,' Sasuke thought studying his form, 'He seems to be the same height and weight as Kakashi; not to mention the other resemblances between them. I wonder if he's really as powerful as they say, or is he only as strong as Kakashi.'
They three below shut the door behind them and Sasuke could immediately hear a loud 'Bang!' before everything inside went silent. He saw Tsunade run out of her office and down the hallway through the window.
A few moments later he could see her dragging the three troublemakers through the door and slamming it behind her.
He activated his sharingan to take in the surroundings in the room, something that he had not done when he was there with Kakashi. He recognized the box sitting on her desk as she was yelling at them for making suck a racket.
He began to wonder why Kakashi had left it there and decided to eavesdrop just a bit longer.
After hearing that Kakashi had brought it there to be fixed, he decided that he would take it. To him it didn't seem like it would matter who fixed it as long as it was fixed.
Once he determined that everyone in the room was distracted by the conversation he quickly performed the seals required and expertly added his speed to get inside, grab the weapon while leaving the box, and then get straight back out.
He climbed down to the steps below him and kept the camouflage jutsu going as he walked slowing behind a bush. There he had used his speed to get far away from the Tower in a short amount of time.
He had stopped by his old home to pick up something to carry the broken weapon in that would cause suspicion. He had found a small blue bag that would be perfect for lugging it around.
He still felt a little guilty about throwing it into that sack so callously when Kakashi had handled it with suck delicacy. But also he knew that what he was doing was wrong anyway, it just made since to him.
Something told him to fix this weapon, and something told him to do so quickly. It would be needed soon by that man who everyone deems to be so dangerous. Somehow Sasuke felt as though he deserved to be armed when defending himself, no matter the man.
And this man seemed less dangerous than the Hokage. Of course the Sakumo's words had seemed doubtful in his own ability, but Sasuke found himself thinking that it must be the man's personality. The White Fang seemed like he wanted to protect, but Sasuke knew that he wasn't as adapt to reading a person's heart as his old mentor is.
'But still…this man is different, and I don't trust leaving him defenseless.'
Why Sasuke was so concerned about this newcomer made no sense to him, but his intuition told him that it wouldn't be safe to leave things as they were.
This was important. Even more important than greeting his best friend after returning home, but it had to be done.
--
"Jiraiya," Sakumo called as they continued walking past the many homes and shops of the village's people, "Did you notice it?"
"Notice what?" Jiraiya asked coming to walk to the right of his old friend, "That you're being a bastard for leaving? Yeah, I noticed that."
"That didn't stop you from waiting for me and the kid did it?" Sakumo reminded, "But no, I was talking about outside Tsunade's office. Someone was there."
"Who?" Naruto asked turning around and walking backwards so that he could face Sakumo Hatake, The White Fang of Konoha, and the man who currently held information that the young boy found interesting.
"I'm not sure. It was definitely a young male, about your age. He was doing quite an impressive job of hiding himself if neither Jiraiya nor Tsunade noticed."
Jiraiya playfully threw his arm over his friend's shoulders, "But that's why you're the tracker, remember?"
Sakumo smiled back at the goofball on his side, but the boy infront of him seemed more dedicated to the intruder than the Legendary Sannin; at least Jiraiya's mood was better, it would be easier that way.
"About my age, and definitely a boy," Naruto turned back around and came to walk on Sakumo's left, "Could you tell me if it was an Uchiha?"
"Well I might have been able to, but he was masking his scent and his chakra. My best guess is that it was an Uchiha, but from what I've heard the Uchiha are all dead now, aren't they?"
"There's one still alive," Jiraiya answered, immediately becoming serious, "Naruto, you are to stay with us, got it? No searching for him by yourself."
Naruto turned around and began running in the other direction, straight back to Tsunade and hopefully the intruder. He was going to stop Sasuke.
"Is there something I missed?" Sakumo asked.
"The last Uchiha happens to be a lost friend of Naruto's. It's best not to leave him alone," Jiraiya said quickly while removing his arm and taking off down the street after Naruto.
Sakumo sighed, "This is gonna be a very, very long day."
--
"Is it done yet?" Sasuke asked impatiently, leaning on the wall beside the closed door where inside a powerful weapon was now being remade.
The blacksmith answered tiredly, "Not quite."
"Tch, figures. Everyone in this village is so slow."
He pushed himself off of the wall with his left foot while simultaneously grabbing the wooden chair in front of him. He sat down and popped his feet up on the table meant for a quite dinner; it wasn't like anyone would say anything anyway.
'But maybe I should behave a bit better. I'm trying to get the village to accept me and then I go stealing something like that! Am I stupid?!'
Sasuke continued to silently fume to himself until a large man with a black beard, covered in sweat by the way, walked out from the same door Sasuke had been staring at for what felt like half a day; and with his luck it probably was.
The man smiled, "It's done."
"Better be, after what I'm paying you I'd hate to be disappointed."
Sasuke stood up and walked over to the towering man, "I really hope this is worth it, Zoku. I'm not that friendly when I'm in a bad mood."
Zoku nodded, knowing full well that the stories of this Uchiha were not mere rumors, "I'm very satisfied with the result. The blade was magnificent, and it was an honor just being able to work on it. It should appeal to you, something like that would usually take much longer, but the sword astounded me and-"
"Stop rambling and let me see it."
"Yes sir," Zoku responded quickly. He immediately ran into the room and returned with the desired weapon in his hands.
Sasuke grabbed it by its handle and raised it to his eyes. After being taught the use of a sword for three years by Orochimaru he was sure that he could tell whether or not a blade was worth his time at all.
"Remarkable," he commented, "A fine blade indeed."
Zoku grinned, "Thank you sir."
Sasuke nodded his approval and placed the wonderfully crafted sword back into his bag. He opened the door leaving, having already paid in advance with saved money hidden in his apartment.
He walked with his hands shoved deep into his pockets, the bag hanging off his right shoulder. He glanced to his left, and then to his right, before jumping onto the nearest rooftop.
It would be better to ditch evidence of having ever been involved with the object now residing in a bag flung over his shoulder, before Kakashi finds him. Then there would be loads of trouble, not to mention getting the punishment from the Hokage as well.
Sasuke sighed; he'd have to find Sakumo to return it.
But that would mean a run in with Naruto; in which case Kakashi would be sure to find out. If only that loser wasn't with that White Fang guy then this plan would've been much easier.
Sasuke set down, he had intended to get this over with quickly, but now he needed to think some things through.
It was now noon. Kakashi would be coming back to get him some time between sunset and dark, so he had a good 5 hours to make his drop off.
Next problem is finding this guy. There's no telling where he could be, or what he could be doing. That's defiantly something he could only know by tracking Sakumo himself, because there is no way he's gonna get himself caught by asking where the guy is.
Another big problem is getting Sakumo to trust him. That couldn't be too hard. He's just an extremely dangerous S-class shinobi, professional strategist, best tracker you'll ever meet, has experience dying, and he's also probably got no hesitations about killing someone he considers a threat.
Yeah, this is gonna be a piece of cake. Who is he kidding? He might get killed.
--
When Sakumo finally arrived he found that during his walk Jiraiya and Naruto had thoroughly checked everywhere near the Tower.
"Not so lucky are we. I told you he was skilled," Sakumo teased.
"Shut up."
"Watch it boy."
"Listen Old Man, I don't have time to waste! I have to find Sasuke."
Sakumo lightly glared at the raging blond infront of him, "You'll never find him by charging in like that. Since Kakashi trained you I thought you'd be a bit smarter."
Naruto's anger at losing Sasuke's trail again was now directed towards the "supposed to be" dead man now scolding and mocking him, "If you would've done something when we came here then he wouldn't have gotten away!"
Sakumo's expression showed about as much emotion as ever, "Like that's my fault."
"It is your fault!" Naruto screamed.
Sakumo crossed his arms, "You're the one who didn't sense him."
"How was I supposed to sense him, that's your job?! I was never trained in tracking, you bastard!"
Sakumo smirked, "Such foul language. If you were searching for someone, then wouldn't it make sense if you could track them?"
"Sakumo," Jiraiya called from behind Naruto, "Stop fooling around, we need to find him. He couldn't have gotten too far."
Sakumo shrugged then placed his hands in his pockets while turning to walk back down the road he had just come from, "He'll show up."
"And how do you know that?" Jiraiya demanded.
Sakumo looked over his shoulder, "A hunch."
Naruto turned roughly towards Jiraiya mumbling something close to "Just like Kakashi."
With Naruto and Sakumo heading in opposite directions Jiraiya decided that it would be wiser to follow Sakumo instead of Naruto, since Naruto couldn't cause any more chaos than he regularly did anyway.
--
As Jiraiya followed Sakumo he noticed immediately where they were going.
Sakumo was heading to his home. Probably to pick up those documents that Tsunade asked for, but at this point Jiraiya wasn't sure. He could never be completely sure when Sakumo had that determined look that he was now wearing.
Something was horribly wrong, or at least it was going to be; that's all the old Sage was sure of. And that's all he could think as they turned down the small dusty street that led to the former home of Konoha's White Fang.
It was still just as much of a masterpiece as it had been when Sakumo was alive.
Jiraiya followed Sakumo into the old house shutting the door behind him with a strained creak. It was hard to believe how long it had been since he'd seen it from inside.
Sakumo's favorite objects were still covered in white sheets, now grey with dust. The wooden floors were covered in dirt, save for two trails of footprints that could be seen through an open hallway door. It looked like the dirt was kicked just recently.
Sakumo walked around his living room and his kitchen, now realizing that it wasn't his. It was his son's, and the fact that it was in this condition meant that Kakashi really didn't live there and that it seemed he couldn't.
"Did I cause him that much pain?" Sakumo asked in a low whisper, though his deep voice was heard by Jiraiya his friend chose that it was a question that didn't need answering. The extent of damage caused by the suicide was clearly seen.
Sakumo ran his fingers across a nearby counter, bringing his hand to his face and rubbing the dust off his fingers with his thumb. Life was so unfair to true shinobi.
Sometimes they seemed as small and fragile as the dust now falling off his dirtied hand.
Jiraiya stared emotionlessly to Sakumo's right, behind a counter that seemed like a barrier. Jiraiya knew now the exact thoughts running through his silver haired friends mind. It was something that was common among their kind.
"Let's hurry up," Jiraiya said sternly, breaking Sakumo's daze.
Sakumo's hand dropped to his side, he stared at the sink, "Right," he said turning to walk back to Jiraiya. The Sannin stepping out of the way so that Sakumo may lead the way in this forgotten home.
Their steps could be heard on the hard floor. It was bright outside and the windows glinted in the sun, casting light in to the various rooms of the house.
Sakumo and Jiraiya stepped into Sakumo's room. Sakumo and the Sannin had both noticed the note still placed on the door, but decided that not speaking of it would be the best solution.
The documents were scattered, but the most important of them still sitting in perfect order on the shelf above his desk. Sakumo grabbed the shelved documents first and placed them on his bed, made just the same as he had left it, every wrinkly in the sheets and every tuck and turn that been mistakenly made when his mind was calculating his death.
He moved from the bed and started gathering the papers spread across the room, purposely avoiding the bloodstain in the middle of the floor. Jiraiya walked over to the desk and went about picking up and quickly organizing the mess of documents that had been left there with much carelessness; not that he would ever mention it.
--
Jiraiya set in the dark brown wooden chair before the desk, reading and categorizing his half of the documents. Sakumo set cross-legged on his bed doing his share of the work.
No words had needed to be discussed. Sakumo had simply handed Jiraiya a fair amount of the stack that covered his bed, and the Sage had set about his own work.
"Sakumo," Jiraiya started trying to begin a small conversation, "What happened in Tsunade's office after I left?"
Sakumo sighed, obviously one that meant he was happy that the silence was over, "Nothin' much, we just need to meet at the Stone Faces at sunset."
Jiraiya tipped the chair back and spun it on one leg to face his friend, he was seriously enjoying a break from paperwork, "That all?"
Sakumo smirked, "'Bout it actually."
"Well that sucks," Jiraiya pouted.
"Why?"
"Because I'm bored."
Sakumo gasped, "How can you be bored Jiraiya? We're working in the very same room the Legend Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang Warrior, the greatest tracker in Konoha history, not the mention father of Kakashi Hatake worked!" Sakumo said, his voice dripping in sarcasm.
"Tch, like that matters, the fact that you killed yourself here makes it harder to work."
Sakumo waved his finger back in forth in front of Jiraiya, "Where's your team spirit?"
Jiraiya stared at him blankly, "Dude, you're acting like a chick."
They both laughed but it was short lived joy as it was interrupted by Sakumo's stomach.
"Uh, are you alright?"
"Yeah, just a bit hungry."
"Then let's eat dummy," Jiraiya decided.
"But don't we have to get done with this first?"
"Not if you're starving."
"Jiraiya, I've already died once, a little hunger won't bother me."
Jiraiya crossed his arms, "Fine, be that way," he said flipping his chair back around to the desk he was coming to name 'Danger Work Zone.'
Sakumo chuckled behind him, which only served to make Jiraiya glare harder at the two identical foot-tall stacks of paper still waiting to be recorded.
He sighed while reaching up to grab the first thin sheet on the top of the stack to his right, he quickly read over it, "No way…"
Sakumo's head snapped up, "What's wrong?"
Jiraiya jumped, turning his chair back around with his right hand and snatching the slip of paper behind him with his left, "Nothing, why, is something wrong?"
Sakumo glared playfully, "You think I'm an idiot?"
Jiraiya gulped.
"What's behind you my dear friend?"
Jiraiya's muscles tensed, but released in the knowledge that this could not be helped, "You sure you want to read this?"
Sakumo looked at him with what could be described as either confused or suspicious.
"Of course, I've already read every document in here at least once."
Jiraiya let his head drop, "Not this one buddy."
"Give it to me," Sakumo said holding out his hand.
Jiraiya slowly handed the paper to his friend, worried of his reaction, but sure it couldn't do any more damage than what had already been done, and who knows, it may help.
Sakumo looked down at the paper held between both hands.
Dear Father,
How did you do it? How did you find the courage to take your own life? Was it pain that made you sacrifice your future? Was it shame? Did I really mean nothing to you? Were you honestly willing to leave me behind? Should I cry? Or should I hate you for what you did to me? You hurt me father.
Sakumo's throat tightened as he felt something squeeze his heart, still he continued.
You broke my world when you went away. And it wasn't an enemy who killed you; it wasn't a person who I could forgive. It was you. You killed yourself in an act of self pity. I don't know if I can ever forgive you for running away; for leaving me behind all alone. Mother was dead before I knew her and you were all I had. You took that from me without a second thought.
Sakumo felt his body's muscles tense, it was one thing to think that your son might harbor these thoughts, but it was an entirely more painful experience when you knew he did.
Did you think that anything would change if you died? Did you think that they would treat me better if you were gone? Well I hope that you can see that no one is treating me any different than when you were alive; only now I have no one to come home to.
He could hear Kakashi's voice speaking these words and it hurt.
Is it right to feel bitter towards you? Was it right to think that I hated you when they layed your body down to rest; when you left me for good. Am I still considered your son even if those thoughts crossed my mind?
"What?" Sakumo said, obviously surprised by the question.
Well I have hated you. I hated you for a long time. And now I'm tired of it because the truth is that I love you. It hurt so much when you died that I didn't know what to do. So father I ask that you forgive me for my thoughts and my misguided feelings toward you.
Father, I forgive you.
Kakashi Hatake
Sakumo felt a tear slid down his face and soak into his mask at the same moment he smiled in pure gratefulness and joy.
His muscles relaxed immediately and he looked up to find Jiraiya smiling back at him.
"Told ya he grew up."
Sakumo glanced back down at the letter that was written to a man who was never supposed to receive it. He folded it into a perfect square, fully knowing that it was a very old piece of paper and that those folds could very well rip it; so he took care in what he did.
"Anywhere good to eat?" he asked already standing and holding out his hand to Jiraiya.
"I know a few good places," the Sannin replied as he accepted the hand.
There was a light squeeze before Sakumo pulled Jiraiya up, the old Sage knowing that it was his friend's way of saying thanks hit him on the shoulder in his own custom way of saying you're welcome before exiting the room.
--
Sasuke still set on that now very familiar rooftop. The heat of the sun no longer bothered him; no, not after what he'd gone through with that Orochimaru's-Preparing-His-Perfect-Vessel-training. Weather rarely affected him.
What was bothering him was the same question that had been bothering him for the past hour or so. He couldn't think of one damn good plan of getting Sakumo to trust him. He was at a complete loss, and he had no intention of going up to him without some sort of preparation. It would be like walking in front of a firing squad wearing a bandanna over your eyes.
Sasuke released a frustrated breath and plopped down on the warm tiles below him. He gazed at the sky; it calmed it in some weird way, maybe that was how Shikamaru felt. Too much to think about and not enough space to fit it all.
He shut his eyes, feeling like a flawlessly prepared plan was just at his fingertips, but the only thing his mind heard was the loud and completely overjoyed voice of that large, perverted idiot that trains Naruto.
He set up roughly to look down at the streets. He was surprised to see both Jiraiya and Sakumo entering Ichiraku. He mentally slapped himself for not noticing where he was, considering this is Naruto's favorite place in the world.
But strangely enough, Naruto wasn't with them.
'Well that solves part of the problem.'
He stood up, 'now on to the next one.'
He figured that as long as Jiraiya was around he might at least live, and he was pretty sure that Sakumo was in the same position as himself.
One slip up and the village won't accept you back.
On top of that the most the Sage would do is knock him unconscious and carry his body to Tsunade, and that wouldn't be much of a problem seeing as how she already knows he's here.
That was his mistake when planning. He had never calculated what would happen if Jiraiya was with him. All he was concerned with was getting Naruto away without revealing himself and then getting Sakumo to trust him.
So it looks like over half the problem is solved.
Next half: return the tanto without incident.
'Here's the hard part.
If Kakashi finds out he's as good as dead.
--
Sakumo set comfortably in the chair next to his life long friend Jiraiya while his food was being prepared. He couldn't help himself from being grateful that the Ichiraku shop was still running, even if it was being run by a different person.
"Hey, Jiraiya, what happened to the old goof ball that ran this place?" Sakumo asked in the hopes of starting some sort of small talk to pass time.
"Well, he died. He was getting pretty old ya know."
Sakumo crossed his arms, put his foot on the edge of the counter, and started balancing himself laying back in his stool, "Yeah, but now it's boring around here."
Crack! Crash! "Ow!"
Sakumo set up from his position on the ground. His clothes were now covered in with dry dirt and his head hurt like hell. He crossed his legs and slammed his hands on the ground, "What was that for?!"
Teuchi, the shop owner, tapped the large metal spoon on his shoulder, "You put your dirty feet on my counter."
Sakumo glared, "Yeah, so what?"
"It's rude and unsanitary."
Sakumo flicked his eyes as well as his head towards Jiraiya in a help-me-out-here-bud kind of look. Jiraiya just smirked and shut his eyes shaking his head back and forth.
Sakumo stood up and dusted himself off, muttering something about that bastard Jiraiya abandoning him again, "I liked the white haired old man better."
Teuchi narrowed his eye, "Who're you talking about?"
Sakumo took his seat again, confident that he could dodge any other hits that may be thrown in his direction now that he was aware of the cook with the big spoon, "The guy who used to run this place, I forgot his name."
"His name wouldn't happen to be Waizu would it?"
"Yeah, that's it," Sakumo declared tossed his hands behind his head, and catching himself from putting his foot back on the countertop to lean back.
Teuchi smiled, "That was my old man."
Sakumo and Jiraiya blinked simultaneously in disbelief, "You're seriously Waizu's son?"
"Yeah, Pop taught me how to cook!"
Sakumo's eyes widened unexpectedly, "You were that kid!"
Teuchi sighed, "Age has not been kind."
Sakumo chuckled and glanced at Jiraiya who was quickly connecting the dots. Their laughed was interrupted by a clatter on the floor. Apparently during Teuchi's realization he had dropped the metal spoon, creating the loud noise.
"You…you can't be…he's dead," Teuchi said slowly as to not stutter.
Sakumo grinned, "Bingo."
There was a long silence, and then an oddly loud, "Welcome back!"
"Don't get too excited, he's leaving as soon as he sees Kakashi," Jiraiya stated coolly, though he was still thoroughly irked by the fact.
"Ah, Kakashi," Teuchi remembered looking down at Sakumo, "He was boy from before. Ya know what? He looks just like you!"
"Boy? I thought he was grown," Sakumo asked in confusion.
"Well he looked young enough to me," Teuchi answered returning to preparing the meals soon to be served, "Caught Ayame's eye, that's for sure."
"Ayame?"
"My daughter."
"Oh, you have a daughter?"
"She should be returning any minute."
Jiraiya sighed happily, "Gorgeous."
Sakumo turned his seat towards Jiraiya, ending his short two man talk with Teuchi; the old man already picking up their bowls, "What's she look like?"
Jiraiya displayed his perverted toothy grin while answering the man to his left, "Perfect breasts, curved body, long legs, oh man…"
Sakumo raised his eyebrows, "That so? Sounds like most of the women you look at."
Jiraiya glared, "Sounds like most of the women Kakashi gets."
Sakumo choked on his own spit and Jiraiya patted his firmly on the back, "What'd you say?"
Jiraiya decided now to go back to his old ways, "You didn't think he was still a virgin did you. He lost that innocence a long time ago, not that I can blame him."
Sakumo set back up straight while Jiraiya asked him, "Does it bother you?"
"No, not really," Sakumo said rest his head on his left hand to look at the man to his right, "It's just weird. I mean the last time I saw him he was only eight."
"And already a trained killer," Jiraiya added without thought, "He was in Anbu at fourteen, how long did you think it would last?"
"What do you mean his sanity?"
Jiraiya smirked again that fine lunch, "No he lost that too."
"Then what do you mean?"
Jiraiya face took on a serious expression, "His pure heart."
Sakumo looked down as Jiraiya continued, neither willing to reach for their food, "He is a man now you know, not a child. It may not be a pure heart, but it is noble."
Jiraiya pulled his bowl towards him and grabbed his chopsticks, "He became a leader."
Sakumo pulled down his mask tugging the stubborn bowl forward, "Leader?"
Jiraiya swallowed his first bite, "You name it, he's lead it."
"The village," Sakumo tested, knowing full well that Kakashi was neither an Elder nor Hokage so he couldn't possibly…
"Yep," Jiraiya said stuffing his face.
Sakumo stopped half way to his mouth and the noodles splashed back down, "Say what?"
"Maybe not an official leader," Jiraiya explained, "But one like you or me."
"Oh," Sakumo said in fully understanding that in that one sentence Jiraiya was also telling him that Kakashi was one of the most elite of the village, leading it through the respect of its people.
Sakumo ate with a smile on his face, now happy knowing that his shameful act of suicide had not destroyed his son's life. His boy was stronger than that and instead became powerful not weak.
He was finishing off his last bite when he heard Jiraiya say, "He isn't like you."
Sakumo wiped his mouth, not bothering to replace his mask before asking his close friend to evaluate his statement by a small nearly unnoticed look sent through his dark eyes.
"He would never kill himself like you did, never give up."
"If you're trying to say my willpower is weaker than his, then trust me I get it."
Jiraiya tossed some money on the table, "I just meant that he sees things that you didn't that always kept him from wanting to end it."
"Like what?" Sakumo asked, already knowing that Jiraiya had included him in the budget.
"Like everyone and everything that depends on him," Jiraiya said with a smile.
"Yeah, guess you're right."
Sakumo pulled up his mask and stood up to follow the giant man beside him, but not before Jiraiya added, "And that's why Tsunade chose him as the next Hokage."
Sakumo tripped, "Hokage?!"
--
'No way,' Sasuke thought while listening on from across the street. He was leaning on the outer wall of a small tea shop, 'Kakashi as Hokage, that'd be the day.'
He chuckled softly, 'Take that man from the battlefield and he might throw a hissyfit,' Sasuke pushed himself up and began to walk towards the much older gentlemen; well one gentleman and one pervert.
It was clear that Jiraiya wasn't going to say anything else on the subject, leaving his old partner-in-crime thinking furiously.
"Have a nice lunch?" Sasuke asked casually.
Jiraiya glared, "It's you."
Sasuke placed his hands in his pockets and nodded his head towards Sakumo, "I have business with him."
Sakumo's expression did nothing to betray him, "You shouldn't be here."
"I need to talk to you."
"I'm not in the mood to listen."
"You don't have a choice."
"Boy, this is your only warning."
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha."
"I don't give a fuck what you're name is," Sakumo said in an icy cold voice, "I don't trust you."
Sasuke sighed, "And why not?"
"Because you're carrying my weapon in your bag."
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly, "How did you…?"
"Chakra has been poured into the blade many times before, so much so that it makes a unique smell," Sakumo explained calmly, as one would do when facing an enemy about to die, "That's Hatake chakra, and your bag did little to hid Kakashi's scent."
Sasuke's eye twitched, "A stupid mistake like that could be life or death in battle, and I just slipped up in front of one of the best trackers in history."
"You're not that smart are you?" Sakumo more stated than asked as he stuffed his hands deep in his pockets and slouched identically to Kakashi.
"We need to have this talk elsewhere."
"Why's that?"
"Because there are Anbu stationed all over the village, and if they were to know that you were so close to your precious tanto then they may take it as a sign that you came here to get it and I'm supposed to be helping you."
"I'm not taking it."
Jiraiya looked between the two, both dangerous in their own right, and yet both equally stubborn, "Sakumo, hear the kid out. He might have something useful to say."
Sakumo's fury was redirected towards Jiraiya through nothing more than a sharp glare before again focusing his attention on Sasuke, "Fine, you lead."
Phew, that took forever to write. I hope you liked it, expect action in the next chapter!