Chapter 11
White Walls and Whispers
Two weeks had gone by, and Kakashi still wasn't allowed outside his hospital room. It was beginning to drive him just a bit insane. After all – how many times can you stare at four white walls before it becomes torture?
Of course, he doubted any of those people who demanded he remain locked up cared one way or another how he felt about the room. After all, the counselors in particular were pushing for his immediate execution – so what was a little mental torture in the meanwhile? Other villagers voiced their desires to have him thrown into Konoha's prison – injuries be damned. But thankfully, Lady Tsunade and a handful of her most loyal ANBU and shinobi were able to keep them from physically pulling Kakashi out of the hospital by his hair.
Kakashi turned onto his back and folded his arms under his head. The same cracks that he'd mentally mapped a week ago still traced their way across the ceiling – which, of course, was the oh so cheery shade of white. He sighed – and tried to think of anything other than the tribunal he'd be participating in tomorrow.
This wouldn't be his first tribunal – but it would be the first time he was on the receiving end of such a process. Kakashi frowned. He'd heard whispers in the halls over the past few days – rumors of just who would be heading up the Tribunal – and it did nothing to set his mind at ease. Danzou had never been a fan of his – ever since the man tried to recruit him into the ROOT branch of ANBU all those years ago, and Kakashi refused him outright. He'd seen the bandaged man for what he was – a power hungry bastard who would sell his first-born child if it meant removing Tsunade as Hokage and filling the role himself. So to have him heading up the proceedings which would decide his fate – knowing the the man already knew Kakashi held a special place in Tsunade's heart – only made him more anxious.
Still – Danzou couldn't make any decisions on his own – not without losing vast amounts of face. He'd have to convince the other four members of the Tribunal to agree with him before anything could be decided – a fact Kakashi was eternally grateful to the Second Hokage for making part of the process.
Of course – everything depended on who those other four members of the Tribunal were. If they were supporters of Tsunade, he may just have a chance yet. But if they supported Danzou...well, he may as well send for the funeral director now. A large yawn escaped Kakashi's mouth as the troublesome thoughts continued running around in his mind.
Two weeks – it was somehow hard to wrap his mind around it. Two weeks had passed since they'd carried his broken and beaten body back into the boundaries of Konoha. Two weeks since he'd felt anything other than the harsh lights of this hospital room on his face. Two weeks since he'd seen anyone outside of medical personnel – with the exception of Genma, that is. Two weeks since his life utterly fell apart...again.
Kakashi sat up and swung his body until his feet dangled over the side of the bed. He pushed himself to standing – glad to see the room did not spin while he steadied his balance on legs still riddled with healing wounds. He placed one hand on the edge of the bed for support and gingerly walked across the room toward the attached washroom. Once inside – Kakashi propped himself up at the sink and ran cool water into the basin. He splashed some of the liquid onto his face, and took a moment to look at the reflection staring back at him.
His silver hair no longer was caked with blood, and it was pulled back into a loose tail at his neck – having grown quite a bit during his months away from the village – almost as long as his father's had been. The bruising on his face was just a trace of what it had been two weeks ago, but was still discolored enough that it was a constant reminder of his time with Orochimaru. There was a tired, almost defeated look to his mismatched eyes that caused a sigh to escape his lips. He turned his head away from the mirror and his gaze fell on the neatly folded cloth on the edge of the basin.
Kakashi ran his fingers over the sleek black material and felt a small frown creep across his face. The day Genma brought the cloth in, Kakashi had just finished another round of healing on his broken cheek bones, and the very last thing he would have considered doing would be to place the mask on his face. But now – with those painful injuries just a memory – he stared down at the cloth and wondered if he'd ever feel right wearing the mask again.
In his mind, that simple stretch of black fabric symbolized everything he was before being taken away from Konoha. It stood for the mysterious, deadly tool he once was...for the lazy, porn-reading sensei he'd let people see...and for the confused, lonely genius he truly was. Kakashi's fingers gripped the fabric, and he held the black material in front of his face – glancing into the mirror to see the lower half of his face blocked by it.
How easy it would be to simply don the mask once more – to slip back into the role he'd played for so many years. Hell – seeing him back in such a familiar trademark as his mask might even win some of the Tribunal over to his side – make them think he'd resolved all his 'issues' and was ready to become Konoha's infamous Copy-ninja once more.
Kakashi growled low in his throat and balled the mask in his hand before throwing it into the corner of the wash room floor. He just couldn't bring himself to do it...couldn't start to pretend everything that happened to him over the past months could be swept away with a simple piece of material – and he didn't even need to be a genius to figure that one out.
"You know, Kakashi, if you didn't like my gift you could have just given it back."
Genma's laid back drawl from the doorway caught Kakashi by surprise. He knew part of the reason he hadn't sensed the jonin's approach was the chakra-inhibiting seals running down the length of his spine – but still, he should have at least been able to hear the fool's approach...especially considering he wasn't known for being quiet when not on duty.
"Yeah – sorry about that." Kakashi scratched at the back of his head and then moved back out into the main room – pushing past Genma with practiced ease.
"I don't get it Kakashi...I figured you'd want to get back to normal."
Kakashi climbed into his bed, crossed his legs in front of him, and leaned back against the pillows with his arms behind his head. He sighed. "Genma – you can't be so naive as to think I could go back to normal just by putting a mask back on, could you? You and I both know that, this time, there's no going back."
Genma jumped up onto the end of the bed and crouched on the mattress so he could stare into Kakashi's eyes. "You can't be serious, Kashi. Are you trying to tell me that, after everything we did to get you back here, you don't want to stay in Konoha?"
The anger in Genma's voice struck Kakashi almost like a physical blow. "I never said that Genma. I'm just saying I can't erase what's already happened – and putting that mask back on....it just wouldn't be right...I'm not that man anymore."
Genma settled into a sitting position – and pulled out one of his senbon to chew. "Kakashi – I didn't mean to imply you could forget what happened. Shit – I've only gone through half what you've been through – between the Akatsuki and Orochimaru – and even I know there's no going back. But, dammit, I was just trying to show you that you're not a lost cause to some of us...hell...to most of us if you must know."
Kakashi turned his head until he could see outside to where the villagers were busy packing up whatever they could. "If you all think I'm not a lost cause Genma, answer me this...why is Konoha being evacuated?"
He was met by silence, and that in itself was all the answer he really needed. Even if Genma and his fellow shinobi still believed in him...even if there was a chance that he could be forgiven for everything he'd done since he left Konoha...it didn't change the fact that the Akatsuki would be coming back for him...soon. And as such – Konoha was in danger – all because of him.
-- --
Iruka watched the villagers packing up their shops and houses with a touch of sadness. In all his life – through the Kyuubi attack, and all the chaos that followed – he had never seen Konoha so distraught. It was as though having Kakashi Hatake back from the Akatsuki wasn't a good thing at all. But – although he may not be the biggest fan of the Copy-ninja – he really was glad to have the man back in the Village.
He just wished Naruto was here to see his teacher return to Konoha. The genin had been the only one to continually shout about how Kakashi was obviously undercover, and how he'd definitely be back before we knew it. Of course, if Naruto had been there when Asuma carried Kakashi's severely injured body through the streets of the Village, it might have shaken even that boy's enthusiasm.
Heck – when he saw Kakashi shortly after he arrived, Iruka thought for certain the jonin was done for. He would have bet a year's pay that the Copy-ninja would have died from blood loss alone. But word from the Hokage was that Kakashi not only was still alive – but he was hoping to become an active part of the Village once more.
Iruka was actually glad to hear it – but other, more vocal members of Konoha – spent their idle time spreading threats and more about Kakashi. He'd even heard members of the Counsel throw about words like 'traitor' and 'disgrace' where anyone could hear them...even when they were visiting the Academy yards earlier in the week. It had taken Iruka half the afternoon to answer all the questions those few misplaced words had generated from the pre-genin he was working with in the practice yard.
Iruka frowned with the realization that the words probably weren't misplaced at all – rather they were deliberately used during that time-frame by the old geezers so that the children would bombard their parents with comments and questions about what a failure Kakashi Hatake was. He gripped his hand tightly around the strap of his messenger bag and walked through the busy streets toward the Hospital. He allowed his growing anger to speed his steps and he concentrated only on the task that he'd volunteered for just that morning.
Keeping his emotions firmly in check...well...in so far as he'd ever been able to – Iruka pushed his way through the crowd that seemed to gather at the entrance to the Hospital every day since word of Kakashi's return had gotten out. Most of those gathered were just average citizens who had been riled up with all the rumors, and who needed someone to blame for the impending movement of their homes. What disturbed Iruka today, as he passed through the crowd, was that within that mass of civilians he could make out a few of the younger shinobi. How far did this nonsense reach if members of Konoha's shinobi were willing to side against one of their own?
Iruka greeted the guards posted at the entrance and presented them with the slip from the Hokage that authorized him to enter the building – another sign of how far things had deteriorated. After all – anyone in the Village used to be able to access the Hospital without a security check – but since Kakashi was placed within its walls, no one could enter unless cleared by one of the ANBU posted at the doors. It was a precaution that was added after one of the more zealous villagers smuggled in an explosive tag and tried to solve the 'Kakashi-problem' on their own.
A shiver ran up Iruka's spine at how far some people might go without knowing all the facts. He adjusted his bag once more and then headed toward his destination – room 247 in the secure wing of the building.
He had to pass through two more obvious check points – and at least four more hidden posts – before finally getting to the door. He pushed it open and was surprised to see Genma perched on the end of Kakashi's bed – staring at the Copy-ninja while chewing on his senbon. He wondered just what he was interrupting – as none of the guards mentioned the honey-haired shinobi would be here as well.
Iruka shrugged it off and stepped into the room. At that movement, both pairs of eyes turned toward him with a cold glare. Iruka swallowed back a spike of fear at those glances and moved closer to where the two men we settled on the bed.
"Good day, Genma – Kakashi. I hope you are both well."
Kakashi frowned and growled at him, while Genma left his perch on the bed and jumped back down to the floor. The senbon seemed to dance between the man's lips as he spoke.
"What brings you here, Sensei? Are you lost?"
Iruka scowled at the man and tried his best to keep his courage while taking his bag off his shoulder and setting it on the side chair. "No, Genma – I'm right where I should be."
Kakashi gave a short snort and glared at him. "What's wrong Sensei – not enough snot-nosed brats to keep you busy these days? You figured you'd come to see if the rumors were true yourself?"
Iruka frowned at Kakashi's insults, but considering everything that had gone on since the man's return, he could hardly blame him for being on edge. He sighed and sat on the edge of the chair.
"Kakashi, they're not snot-nosed brats...cold-season is long gone after all. And as for rumors...I try not to pay much mind to words that have no basis in fact."
Genma moved over to his side – arms crossed and eyes set in a stare that silently demanded a better answer. Iruka rolled his eyes at the jonin and reached into his bag to pull out the scroll he'd been handed earlier in the day. The way both men tensed at the movement didn't go unnoticed by the Academy Teacher.
Iruka turned to look directly at the Copy-ninja and tossed the man the scroll. Kakashi caught it without looking and closed his pale fingers around the parchment – using it to wave toward the wall behind his bed.
"What's this, Sensei? Another drawing to add to my growing collection?"
Iruka turned his attention to where the man pointed, and he felt his jaw drop in something more than shame. All over the wall were hastily scribbled drawings – some obviously done by smaller children judging by the lack of complexity – while others were just as obviously penned by adults. Every one of them held some version of the Copy-ninja and what the creators probably hoped would happen to him. In some scenes he was hung – in others, set aflame – and in still others he was decapitated...some while performing ritual suicide. On a few of those last scenes there were also captions stating "Like Father like Son."
"What's wrong Iruka? Don't you like my fan-art?" There was a steely edge to Kakashi's voice that made it seem as though he thoroughly expected Iruka to be just as bad as all the rest.
He whispered into the silence that followed Kakashi's question. "How can you even ask that Kakashi?"
Iruka looked back at Kakashi when he heard the soul-weary sigh come from him. "Why else would you be here, Iruka?"
Now Iruka's ire broke free, and he felt his anger grow until he was quite sure his face was bright red. "You know – for a genius you really can be stupid sometimes! I'm here because I want to be...in fact I even had to beg Tsunade to let me come...to act as your Advocate!"
If the situation wasn't so damned serious, Iruka would have loved to relish in the complete look of shock that had settled onto both Kakashi and Genma's faces at his abrupt – and rather loud – declaration. Kakashi was actually the first to recover – although he still didn't seem to believe him.
"You...you are going to be my Advocate? You're kidding...right?"
Iruka felt all his anger disappear in an instant and let his shoulders sag. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kakashi."
Genma stepped closer to Iruka and placed one hand on his shoulder – gripping it lightly while addressing Kakashi. "Actually Kakashi – think about it. Iruka's perfect for the job!"
A smile lit Iruka's face at Genma's praise...until the jonin kept speaking. "After all – with the Sensei in your corner, you're guaranteed to win over at least the parents of the Academy students...and maybe get the pity vote from some of the others on the Tribunal!"
Iruka groaned while Kakashi laughed. "You're right Genma. And worst case scenario, at least I'll die with a smile on my face!"
Iruka glared at the jonin. "Play your cards right, Hatake, and you'll never make it to the Tribunal!"
Now Genma joined in the laughter – and soon Iruka couldn't help but chuckle too. And who knows...maybe they could pull the pity vote.