Chapter 10: Gone

Lunch the next afternoon found Sakumo and Jiraiya sitting in the living-room discussing the enigma, Kakashi.

"I don't know what happened," the Hatake said, hand rubbing across his weary face. "I swear Kakashi wasn't like that before." The man gave a deep sigh. "I mean, I know I never used to spend much time with him, but I'm certain something's wrong."

"He hasn't said anything about it?" the white-haired Sennin asked.

Sakumo shook his head in distress. Last night, Kakashi had been acting too… mournful? The way he looked at Jiraiya was like he never expected the man to appear before him, and there was a mouthful of words he wouldn't allow himself to speak forth. Honestly, it was like Kakashi couldn't believe the whole Konoha village was booming around him sometime, from way he looked at things. Kids didn't behave that way, prodigy or not.

Jiraiya glanced over at the father, eyes thoughtful at the situation. "Well, it's probably nothing," he said slowly, "The kid's just growing up. You know, puberty and all that."

"Kakashi's five." the silver-haired man deadpanned.

Jiraiya shrugged. "Early puberty, then," he corrected without missing a beat. "Your kid's a genius, and so are his cells."

Sakumo groaned into his hands. "Why am I even asking you for help in the first place?"

"How should I know?"

As the White Fang tried to suppress another groan, Kakashi strolled into the room, looking like nothing was wrong with the world. "I'm going out," the boy said, a nonchalant glower in his eyes. "Training," he added, as though that word would certainly grant him permission.

Which it would, Sakumo would admit. After that unusual father-son training that occurred what seemed like ages ago, Sakumo had come to the conclusion that when Kakashi was able to train again, it meant that whatever slump had befallen him was finally over. So seeing Kakashi head out to train was encouraging for him. And above everything it also meant that, despite the oddness he saw in his boy every now and then, there was a normal habit that would never change.

Sakumo nodded. "Sure. Be home by dinner," he said.

Jiriaya frowned, cutting in suddenly. "Wait… I thought you didn't want to be a ninja?" he shot out, confusion clinging on his voice.

"Hmm," was the noncommittal answer.

"So what're you training for?" the sennin asked, suspicious.

The White Fang froze at that question. That was a good question, dammit. He was so used to Kakashi going out to train that he didn't even think about it. From the corner of his eyes, he observed his son. The kid merely stood there, slouching and staring them like it was the stupidest question ever. "What do you think?"

"That's why I'm asking you, kid."

The boy grinned cheekily. "Some ninja you are. Aren't you supposed to know everything without being told?"

"Oho, you've mistaken 'Ninja' for 'God'. Common mistake, I've been told. Especially around me." Jiraiya smirked as Kakashi rolled his eyes at his antics. "Let's see now; my personal opinion is that you need the exercise," he answered with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"Ahh, fat jokes," Kakashi commented drily. "Dad, he's teaching me bad manners." And then, after a low chuckle, "Make him stop!"

Jiraiya held up his hands in defeat as Sakumo turned his grey glaring eyes at his friend. "What? It's not like he hasn't heard it before!" he defended himself. The sennin turned to pin Kakashi a glare of his own, only to watch as the young boy leave, laughing the whole while. He turned back to Sakumo the moment Kakashi was out of earshot. "That was weird," he declared. "I swear, the last time I visited, he was all like 'if you're not going to say anything productive, go away', and he wouldn't even respond to my jokes. What happened?"

Sakumo shook his head, eyes looking worriedly back at him. "That's what I want to know. And some help you were for that," he snapped, scowl on his face.

"Hey, he's your kid, not mine," the older man protested.

The two long-time friends lapsed into silence for a long time before: "He never answered my question, did he?" Jiraiya realised. Kakashi had pulled him into his teasing, and the attitude had been so foreign on the boy that Jiraiya focused on that instead of the original problem.

Sakumo let out a large sigh before shaking his head. "Forget it. Let's go out; you wanted to visit that new dango place, right?"

Jiraiya pursed his lip before echoing his friend with a sigh. He shook the problem away, shelving it for later analysis. "I don't know," he answered, pulling a grin on his face, "… do I have to pay?"

"Jiraiya," Sakumo grumbled, and the other man only grinned harder. "Oh alright, fine. Let me grab my wallet."

Sakumo slipped out of the room, shaking his head at Jiraiya's antics. But then again, that was so like his friend. The father crossed into his room, prepared to rummage through his belongings to find his hidden wallet. He froze the moment he entered it.

Grey eyes flickered across the room, trying to pinpoint their source of distress. But nothing seemed out of place?

Messy bed, clothes on floor, traps not tripped, weapons in place; nothing was wrong. But something about the air seemed different, and was screaming at his instincts. Everything was in its proper place, except- except … !

Sakumo's grey eyes fluttered wide open. No, it couldn't be! He rushed across the room, dropping carefully placed traps, and threw open a hidden vault hidden behind the wall. His gloved hands rummaged through its contents, stopping when he noted he was short one.

With speed only a jounin could compete with, he rushed out of his room, skidding to a stop before his long-time friend. His eyes were wide and frantic.

"It's gone!" he cried before rushing back to his room again for a second search.

He could hear Jiraiya scrambling after him, but he paid the man no heed.

It was GONE!