AN: Finally got another chapter up: phew, this took a while to write! So has anyone seen picture of the Naruto musical?! Oh my gosh Kakashi looks hot- I think I drooled when I saw him...
Thank you for the reviews and I hope this answers some of the questions :) I had one particularly lovely review from a guest, thank you!
I wonder how you will all react to this chapter hmmm...
Chapter 10
Tsunade swept towards her chair with the air of a hungover diva. She had other things she wanted to do; like getting through a nice bottle of sake and some of that flavoured tobacco she had been sent as a gift from another kage. Damn she hated morning and how people made a great thing of it if she drank. Who made it a crime to drink in the day anyway? Some miserable old codgers clearly...
Once Tsunade was through the door, Gai had bounded over to his esteemed rival. Upon seeing him, Kakashi's eyes widened and he leaned further into the wall. It was the only real reaction they had had from Kakashi so far that morning.
"My dear rival! I cannot believe it, you're even more youthful again! You look so... adorable!" Gai pulled the sullen teen into a hug. A tight, over bearing hug.
Kakashi scowled and did nothing. Gai had always broke his boundaries when others didn't. He was used to another, slightly shorter version of the green blob doing this. It seemed the green beast hadn't really changed all that much. Kakashi knew he could not escape one of these hugs; he couldn't with a teenage Gai, so what chance did he have with a fully grown one?
"Oh my sweet chibi and most youthful rival!" Gai was nuzzling his silver locks with a stubbled cheek. He knew just how to handle an emotionally constipated Kakashi- shower him with manly affection, of course!
The room watched the interaction with mixed reactions: Tsunade sighed, rubbing her head as she sat at her desk. Most of the younger people cringed. Yamato shook his head. Sasuke scowled, wondering why anyone- let alone Kakashi- would put up with this moron.
"Oi! Bushier-brow-sensei," Naruto called. "You're choking him!"
"What? Oh, so I am indeed!" Gai promptly released the young ANBU who looked slightly blue. "You see, sometimes when a man's feelings for his friend are most pure and noble he can-"
"Alright, Gai, enough," the Hokage moaned. She really didn't need this so early in the morning. Now then, let's get down to business. I suppose you all managed to work out why you are all here?" She cast a mocking look in Naruto's direction.
"Hey!" the boy demanded, outraged at her implied meaning.
She laughed at her own joke here. "So obviously you have been invited to hear my decision regarding our young friend."
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi spoke. Gai and Tsunade watched him seriously, as if anticipated what was to come. "I request to join ANBU and fight to protect Konoha as I do back in my time. I will serve you as I always have, discreetly and efficiently." He bowed as if it was all signed and sealed.
Tsunade smirked. "I knew you'd say that."
"May I take my leave then, Hokage-sama, and report to the base?"
"No."
Kakashi watched her with the slightest of frowns, but did not react otherwise. Gai could sense his irritation though, knowing the man so well, even though he was from a time previous.
"I have spoken with your two oldest friends, Kakashi, and we do not think that ANBU is best for you here. You will be joining a squad. The question is, which one?"
Kakashi remained silent and impassive, yet Kurenai and Gai felt uneasy. They knew that ANBU wasn't good for Kakashi, especially in this time of peace, but they knew the teen would be pissed with their interference.
Although they had considered putting him there for the sheer familiarity, they cons outweighed this. ANBU was a merciless place of secrets and death. Kakashi in this time jump was too vulnerable for the dirty work of ANBU- hell, Gai had insisted he should never have been there in the first place. Kakashi already saw blood on his hands as it was, his time in ANBU only made it worse.
Tsunade looked at both Naruto and Sasuke now. The two friends and team mates knew what was coming.
"Tsunade-baachan! Kaka-sensei is a part of Team 7 and you know it! Let him come with us! Please Baa-chan-"
The Hokage slammed her hands down on the desk. "Naruto, stop calling me that. Now I do think Kakashi should be placed in either Team 7 or Team Taka. He should be around those who know him- the Kakashi of this time that is. After all you know his fighting style and you can fall back into a comfortable rhythm soon, I am sure."
"Team Taka should take him on. He would be better suited to us," Sasuke said. His face gave away nothing and he spoke calmly.
Naruto was about to argue but Tsunade put up a hand to silence him and spoke instead.
"How so, Sasuke?"
"Kakashi and I both use the chidori. We both have the sharingan. His old team mate in his time was an Uchiha, I believe." Kakashi winced here. Obito's death was still a great burden of guilt to him. His old team mate haunted his dreams. "Team Taka's fighting style compliments Kakashi's. He is also used to fighting in ANBU, and we are quiet and quick, like them."
"Ha! What about Suigetsu and Karin- they are anything but quiet! They argue more than me and Sakura!"
Sasuke turned his glare upon Naruto.
"Yes, yes, thanks for teh observation Naruto. Now will you calmly tell me why you think you should have Kakashi on your team."
"Tsunade-sama, Kakashi-sensei is a part of our team," Sakura said. "We aren't Team 7 without him."
Yamato nodded his agreement to this.
"That's right baa-chan! Kaka-sensei is our team. This is where he belongs. I might be his sensei's son,and Sai may be ex-ANBU, but reasons like that alone isn't good enough to claim him. We all look out for each other, we are friends. He taught us that those who break the shinobi code are trash, but those who abandon their friends are worse than trash. He is one of us and we will give our lives for him, as he would for us. Regardless of how old he is, we will still have that bond, believe it!"
Kakashi was watching Naruto now, eye wide and moist. Those words had affected the ANBU who projected a cold-hearted demeanor. Those words were Obito's words. That team held Obito's principles in their hearts. It touched Kakashi to think that Obito's ideals lived on.
Tsunade smiled. Her heart had also been melted. She knew who to pick. Later she would curse herself for giving this lovable brat his own way again; she was way too soft on him, but his words and ninja way always won her over.
"Yamato."
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
"You're in charge of Team 7 while the Kakashi of our time is away. You will carry out the same mission they had planned for tomorrow. I hope you can handle being in charge of four teenage brats."
"Yes!" Naruto and Sakura high-fived, before she threw a worried, guilty look in Sasuke's direction.
"I am also happy," said Sai emotionlessly. He moved over to shake Kakashi's hand while the ANBU watched him with suspiciously.
"I challenge you rival! You must see I have improved in the future!" Gai excitedly pulled Kakashi towards the training grounds.
"Go easy on him, Gai," called Kurenai.
Kakashi looked at her disbelievingly as if she were mad; Gai could never have improved that much.
Everyone headed out to the street below. Sakura sidled up to Sasuke.
"Hey, Sasuke-kun," she said shyly. "As neither if us have any missions today, do you fancy getting some tea or something?"
"No."
"Oh, right." She looked down, hurt. "Maybe another time then?"
Sasuke didn't answer and started wandering off.
"I'm up for some tea, Sakura-chan," Yamato piped up.
"No thanks, Yamato-taichou. Suddenly I don't feel like it anymore." She headed in the direction of Ino's house, no doubt to confide yet another rejection to the blond haired girl. Ever since Sasuke had been seen with another girl the day after he had slept with Ino, the blond had no time for him. Instead she had set her sights on Sai. Though in Naruto's opinion, this was another bizarre choice of boyfriend material. Still, at least Sai wouldn't mess her around like Sasuke did to his fan club.
"Yamato-senpai, I am able to accompany you. Tea would be most refreshing," Sai offered.
Yamato sighed.
"Sasuke, wait," Naruto called.
The raven paused and turned, eyes narrowed as usual. "What?"
"Look, I need to know: why do you suddenly want Kaka-sensei in your team? You've never shown an interest in him before, as a team mate, sensei or comrade."
"Because he didn't interest me before."
Naruto rubbed his chin, frowning. "What do you mean?"
"Not that it is any of your business, but I find this new development curious. The younger ANBU Kakashi is... refreshing. He always acted so high and mighty before. He always acted like he knew better than me, always lecturing me as if I were an idiotic child and couldn't make a decision for myself. And now we will see him for what he really his; I will be able to see through his facade and find his flaws."
Naruto ground his teeth. "He is a person. He always had another side, with insecurities and doubts. You just never took the time to look underneath the underneath."
Sasuke smirked at Naruto's self-righteous attitude. "Oh, don't you worry, I will this time. I have the feeling that there is a lot to find. I sense a darker, secretive nature and I am intrigued by it. It seems sensei wasn't always so fucking perfect after all."
"Just leave him alone! He isn't someone for you to play around with for your own amusement. It's gonna be hard enough for him fitting in here with out you causing trouble, sniffing around."
"Sniffing around? What do you think I'm planning then?" Sasuke's eyes were alight with merriment.
"Nothing good."
Sasuke laughed. "Why don't you want me around your precious sensei anyway? Afraid he's vulnerable and the nasty Uchiha will take advantage?"
Naruto slammed Sasuke into the wall. His face was red with fury at Sasuke's goading. Some civilians saw and fled the scene, still fearing the kyubi inside the blond man.
"Leave. Him. Alone." Naruto ground out.
Sasuke only smiled, pleased at the rise he had gotten from his old rival and friend. "Or what?"
"You'll regret it."
Sasuke laughed again.
"Kakashi is a part of Team 7 so there's no reason for you to bother him. Just keep away from my sensei."
"Huh, your sensei? You're a bit of a possessive student, aren't you?"
Naruto didn't respond and let go of the Uchiha. He jumped up to the rooftops and was on his way.
"I think things are about to get interesting around here," Sasuke said to himself, a smirk still on his face.
AN: I love sasuke being a little shit :D