Disclaimer is in Chapter 1: Prologue
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A Different Kind of Reunion
Kakashi Hatake just passed his first genin team and wasn't sure how he felt about the three. They clearly brought him back to his own days in a genin squad. Naruto is just like Obito, the talker and class clown of the group with hidden talent and strength. Sakura is like Rin, but Kakashi doesn't remember her ever having that huge of a crush on him even though, like Naruto, it was obvious that Obito had a crush on her. Sasuke was the miniature of himself; arrogant, self-centered, and believed that he is surrounded by idiots or losers. Kakashi liked the fact that he can say he has changed and outgrew those feelings. Hopefully Sasuke can do the same.
"YAHOO!" Naruto continually shouted after they went back and untied him from the post. The excited genin whistled and stopped dead in his tracks. He muttered what sounded like, "Oops".
"What's wrong Naruto?" Sakura voiced the same question the other two males thought. Naruto muttered something else into his hands. All three waited for an explanation and got one when a beautiful kunoichi appeared out of nowhere.
"Naruto, what's wrong? Why did you call me?" The woman asked in a worried tone. She looked at her surroundings, didn't see anything threatening, and looked puzzled at the young boy.
"Hey Maiko-san." Sakura waved simply.
"Hello, I heard about you and Naruto being on the same team. I'm guessing you're Sasuke Uchiha then?" Sasuke nodded and she continued, "Wow. Asuma is right we both have changed." She directed at Kakashi. Kakashi couldn't have agreed more but was too speechless to say so. With no response she turned back to Naruto and plied his hands away from his face.
"Gomen nasai nee-chan; I was just so happy that I whistled. Nothing is wrong."
"I'm guessing that means you passed the bell test?" The three genin were now speechless as well. Naruto began spluttering about how if she knew this was going to happen than why didn't she warn him. She threw back her head and laughed a good laugh at their expressions. Kakashi loved the sound of her laughter and still couldn't believe that standing in front of him was the same girl he saved twelve years ago.
With a closer look he noticed that her facial structure suited her more now and gave off an ethereal beauty instead of little kid cuteness. She grew taller by at least four inches and her curves have definitely grown out. The provocative midriff showing off her flat stomach, which made her chest look bigger, did not help her case if she wanted to look anything like she did in the old days. Her hair was shorter than before but still framed her face. Only one thing was the same: her eyes. Her startling green eyes still bore into his own, as if staring into his soul.
'If this is true I wonder what she would see and think of me? Does she approve? Have I changed enough? Have I redeemed myself?' Were some of the things that flitted through his head. Looking at Sasuke, who looked like the only one who wasn't that familiar with her, seemed to be in deep thought. Like he was trying to place her or judge her. It didn't seem to escape Maiko's notice either.
"Is there something you would like to ask or say to me?" She asked trying to get Sasuke to spit out what he was thinking and struggling with.
"Demon whore." He blurted out without thinking. Everyone was shocked, the most obviously being Naruto. He was about to tackle his fellow team member if Maiko didn't hold him back.
"I see you still remember what your father thought of me." Was all she said. Sasuke just nodded but didn't apologize.
"Apologize to my sister you teme!" Naruto growled and struggled to get out of her grip.
"He is right, Sasuke. You should apologize for calling her such a horrible thing." Kakashi pointed out and Sakura nodded vigorously not wanting to upset Sasuke but also agree with the others. Sasuke said one but wasn't really sincere about it which upset Kakashi and Naruto. But Maiko accepted it without hesitation and changed topics.
"We should all go out to celebrate. I was thinking along the lines of Ichiraku's, my treat." She said in her melodic voice. Naruto jumped for joy at this, apparently not having any for over a week, and everyone else agreed to it not wanting it to be a hassle or pass up on the offer. The five man group strolled comfortably to the ramen stand and Kakashi listened in on Maiko's conversation with Sakura and Naruto. There was nothing really useful he learned other than Sakura hasn't seen her in a while until she brought up the fact that Maiko was a part of ANBU black ops.
"Actually I quit right before I met up with you guys. As of this moment I am a regular shinobi at the disposal of the Third. So no more masks for me." She explained to the young kunoichi.
"What part of ANBU did you work for?" Sasuke talked to her for the first time since he apologized earlier ago.
"Interrogation," Maiko replied simply and continued to walk with Naruto not realizing that the other three stopped dead in their tracks.
"Oh come on, I'm not doing it now nor do I plan on using it against any of you guys unless you betray my trust and this village." She replied simply which was a good enough of an answer for the three to follow her if not a bit more hesitantly.
Kakashi doesn't know why he stopped with the two genin but when she said she worked for such an intimidating unit it stopped him dead in his tracks. The interrogation unit, despite not being as secret as the other branches of ANBU, like the assassination squad he once was in, stilled stroke fear into anyone who has heard a gruesome story of one of their many interrogations. Especially with a legend of Ibiki Morino and his select group of apprentices, one of them being the fearsome Anko Mitarashi. If either two got a hold of you it's better to spill your guts than see what they will use to torture you with. Kakashi might not show this if he ever faced them but he wasn't stupid to ignore that fact of how they became so infamous either.
After catching up to the adoptive brother and sister, the group shortly entered the ramen stand. The meal at Ichiraku's was pleasant enough with everyone able to recount the bell test. Naruto of course overtly exaggerated about his performance which all three of his team members had to right much to Maiko's amusement. Kakashi told her about Naruto's comment about his hair and other insults he said.
"Well I would have to say your hair is pretty unusual." She replied and made the three genin giggle as Kakashi pouted. Whether it was noticeable under his mask he wasn't sure but Maiko just smirked at him. Same old Maiko that is for sure. She continued though with, "But Naruto, never under estimate your opponent. I hope you do know that you only succeeded with that eraser trick because he wanted you to feel cocky and doubt his true skills. A very smooth move I have to admit Kakashi."
He nodded an acceptance at her comment and couldn't help but also see the change in her mentally. Back then she was still as childish and open to anyone who needed help or just wanted to talk. She never thought, or at least demonstrated to him, her intellect in strategy on the battlefield. Then again he never really took any notice of her unless Obito was around. She has no clue how much during those years after Obito's death Kakashi wanted to talk to her about him and how he felt at the moment. Maybe he still can but he will wait until he can talk to her alone.
"May I ask you a question?" Sasuke stated as she was paying the bill.
"Hai, go ahead." Maiko replied with a kind smile. Kakashi almost wished she was smiling at him.
"Why did my father call you a demon whore?" Everyone was silent and flitting back and forth between her and Sasuke.
"How dare your father call this wonderful woman such a horrible thing? You know what she and her squad as genin did for my family, for this village?" The owner began to yell at the genin he earlier ago was so nice too.
"Teuchi-san, it's alright. I'm used to it. He wasn't the only one who called me that and he certainly wasn't the one who started it either. Your father and I, let's say, didn't agree on a lot of things and felt I was a bad influence to anyone in your family I worked with. That's why he called me that. Does that answer your question?" She replied gently and stopped any hostility with ease. Sasuke slightly shook his head in acceptance and spoke no more for fear of the owner becoming angry again. It seemed like the general consensus amongst the group was not to bring it up again. The group disbanded a few minutes later to go to their perspective homes. Well, all except for Kakashi.
He first walked in the opposite direction following Sasuke to the apartment complexes reserved for ninja's who have no family or are too busy to have an actual house to live in and take care. After sometime he went to a separate street leaving Sasuke to his own thoughts and redirected himself to the ramen stand. From there he followed Maiko's scent all the way to her house. Kakashi was surprised at how big her home was. Despite being only having one floor the house took up a lot of space on its lot. Putting his ANBU skills to use once more he silently entered her home.
"Good night Maiko-nee-chan." Naruto exclaimed throughout the comfortably furnished house. Kakashi wouldn't have mind living here himself if he could. Nothing was too fancy or tacky, but lived in. All along the walls there were pictures of Maiko when she was younger to the present moment with Naruto. Most of it was at random but seeing some pictures of her with her friends made him remember his regrets about Obito and her.
"Sweet dreams otuoto." She responded and closed the door to his bedroom. Kakashi quickly hid behind the island separating the kitchen from the rest of the open space. He heard her walk towards the living room and stop next to the small dining table.
"Kakashi, I know you are hiding behind the kitchen island." Maiko whispered to the dark room. Kakashi stood up and stared at the outline of the kunoichi. Carefully she stepped into the kitchen and turned on a small lamp so they could see each other better.
"Learn something new?" Kakashi began.
"Nope, I knew how to do that before I graduated the Academy. The range is what I improved on. Is there something you wish to talk about or do you normally break into people's houses?" She teased as she poured water into a kettle and set it on the stove top to heat. Next she floated over to the other side and grabbed two mugs.
"Just wanted to see if you are ok. What Sasuke said and asked of you was pretty rude and personal."
"In other words you really wanted to know why his father called me a demon whore." She responded with a knowing glint in her eyes.
'Damn, can she really see through me that easily?' Kakashi thought but replied, "Mmmhmm."
"Like I said earlier ago, Fugaku and I didn't agree on a lot of things." She reiterated. But Kakashi was not taking an "I'm not telling you" for an answer.
"Disagreement is one thing, calling you something as nasty as 'demon whore' is something different altogether." She just looked at him incredulously.
"Why else do you think everyone calls me a demon whore?" She asked simply and left Kakashi speechless. He had no clue as to why anyone would call someone that especially a beautiful kunoichi like her.
"You are either living underneath a rock or just don't listen to gossip much. Even then I thought it would be obvious." She continued. Seeing him not comment either way she tried giving him another hint, "You do know who Naruto is?"
It then hit Kakashi that Naruto was the demon container. He knew that everyone hated the kid for it but never knew that when Maiko took him in freely she was ostracized for it as well. Of course when he thought about it further it seemed more logical but then again when Kakashi was around Maiko logic wasn't exactly in the forefront of his brain. By the look in her expressive eyes she knew he figured it out.
"Yes that is the main reason why Fugaku and I never got along. Well, what he made it to appear for the public to accept his dislike for me." She explained no further or made any notion of enlightening Kakashi on what she meant. He knew that going any further would overstepping the boundary line, so he dropped Fugaku from the subject.
"Was it hard hearing people call you that?"
"At first it angered me but overtime you get used to it. I know I have it easier compared to Naruto so I don't complain. It helps that I had my friends for support though, it seems it's the same for Naruto although his worst fear right now is that they will find out and treat him the same way." She replied evenly enough, this time Kakashi saw through her facade.
"Really so if I just randomly called you a demon whore you wouldn't be upset?"
"Hahaha. Touché Kakashi. Just don't let any of the people who already do know that or else I will hear it more often than not." This sent Kakashi reeling at the fact that people still call her such a thing.
"Come now Kakashi, do you really think after 8 years they would stop?" She gawked and showed Kakashi just how perceptive she really was. She added with a chuckle, "You really do live underneath a rock." He laughed with her and realized he really does need to get out and socialize a bit more.
"How have you been these past twelve years Kakashi? I've heard some strange things from Asuma and Gai about you." She turned the tables on him. Asuma he trusted to give her an accurate account of him, but Gai… he shuddered to think about what that maniac told her.
"I don't know what you mean. You need to be a little more specific."
"Well I hear that you arrive late to everything and that your excuses can be quite elaborate and ridiculous. It reminds of someone else from long ago." She responded kindly. Maiko's green eyes captured his and held him there. They stood quietly looking at each other sharing their mutual grief of losing such a close friend and still feeling that lost even though it happened so long ago.
"Obito's habits have been passed onto me yes. I feel as if it's one way of remembering him and honoring his spirit. Why is it I never see you at the memorial or his grave?"
"I used to go all the time but hid in the shadows because I did not want to weep so openly in front of everyone. Ayame-sensei helped me through it so I can go to his grave once a year without breaking down. I go the day of the funeral. For me that is when Obito truly died, not in battle when he was with you and Rin." Tears welled up in her eyes but did not shed them. Clearly she still won't cry in front of anyone. Even if that person feels the same way and wouldn't think worse of her for it.
"I'm sorry Kakashi for bringing it up. I can see that you care for Obito deeply like me." She said knowingly. Kakashi held back the burning sensation of tears forming in his own eyes. It seems he too would not give in to the sadness when in others' presence.
"I understand and I don't take any offense from it." He responded and meant it from the bottom of his heart. Again the two ninja stood in the kitchen in silence staring at each other. It was broken when the kettle whistled and Maiko quickly took it off the flame. Kakashi was about to turn and leave when Maiko stopped him.
"Naruto won't wake up or come to investigate. He will feign sleeping and wait for the enemy to come to him. If I come and tell him everything is all right than he goes back to sleep." Maiko whispered once more and motioned for Kakashi to remain silent as she poured them tea. Afterwards she went to go check up on Naruto.
"It was hard to get him to go back to sleep but at least he isn't as gullible anymore." She replied after returning from the dark hallway within ten minutes.
"Isn't that dangerous? What if someone transformed themselves to look like you?" Kakashi spoke in a hush but serious tone.
"I gave him the safe word before I explained." She answered simply and Kakashi felt an unexpected weight lift off his shoulders. He should have known that with having Naruto live under her roof they would have put safety measures up just in case someone broke in and tried to harm them. If he recalled correctly, something along that line happened years ago.
"So do you talk to Asuma often?" Kakashi asked trying to start up another conversation.
"Hmm? Yeah, he is practically like a brother to me. We hit a little snag when he joined the Twelve Guardian Ninja, but we worked it out and everything else has been good thus far." She replied with a small smile that made him ask, "What?"
"I was thinking how funny it is that we have the same friends and acquaintances, worked for ANBU at one time or another, our senseis were siblings, we live and protect the same village, we are the same rank, and yet it took us this long to actual sit down and have a sensible conversation." As she said this Kakashi couldn't help but agree and laugh along with her.
"Well here's to a talk that took twelve years in the making. May this atrocity never happen again." He toasted to her.
"Here here!" She joined in and both smiled a ghost of a smile they once had twelve years ago, at least.