A/N: And yep, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!!
Chapter 14: Confrontation
Raidou blinked a few times, trying to absorb the new piece of information. Genma stared incredulously at the two men in front of him. "You are kidding me! Kakashi and violence doesn't go together!"
"No, we are not." Asuma sighed. "Yamato witnessed the whole thing and I saw the bruise on Iruka. Damn. Things are happening even before we get a chance to talk to Tsunade-sama about Kakashi's mood swings."
Raidou shook his head. "How is Iruka now?"
"Kurenai and I spoke to him last night." Asuma leaned back in the couch. "He's in shock. But more than that, he's hurt."
"Of course he would be." Genma frowned. "Can you imagine that? The person who hit him is his boyfriend. Just what is wrong with Kakashi?"
"My apologies. But if I know, I wouldn't be here talking it out with you guys." Asuma snorted.
"Does Hokage-sama know about this?" Raidou asked quietly.
Yamato and Asuma exchanged glances.
"No. Iruka doesn't want to let her know." Yamato rubbed the nape of his neck. "I think he is worried about complicating matters."
"But that wouldn't do, would it?" Genma folded his arms. "He's under the influence of some foreign chemicals. That may be one of the after effects."
"I told Iruka that we should let Tsunade-sama know about this, so that she can tackle the problem. But he is pretty adamant about it." Asuma sighed deeply. "I'm beginning to think that he may be doing more harm to Kakashi than helping him."
"Iruka is the victim here. Be more sympathetic, will you?" Raidou scowled.
"I'm not saying it's his fault." Asuma pointed out. "I've tried convincing him that he should let Tsunade-sama know about this. I mean, who can promise that it won't happen a second time? But he just refused to report it."
Raidou shook his head exasperatedly. Genma's brows knitted tightly together. Yamato closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
No one said a single word. Asuma ruffled his hair in frustration. He had absolutely no idea how to deal with this new Kakashi.
While all of them were deep in thoughts, a loud sound came from the corridor, making them jump.
"Hatake! I swear if you do not open the door now, I'm setting my snakes in there to kill you!" A screeching voice was heard before the sound of a fist pounding the door reverberated again. Genma groaned, knowing full well who it was.
Raidou strode over to his apartment door and opened it, looking down the corridor.
"Anko, if you don't mind, every single person in this building can hear you. Can you lower your volume?"
The serpent user snapped her head around, fury burning in her eyes. "Why the hell would I care who can hear me? Isn't it better if every single person in this village hears me? Then they will know what kind of person Hatake Kakashi is!"
Asuma looked over Raidou's shoulder and sighed. "I guess Anko has found out too."
Raidou raised an eyebrow. Then he turned to the kunoichi. "Anko, I don't think Kakashi is at home. I haven't seen him since this morning. Would you like to come over for tea? I think I know why you are looking for Kakashi, and if that's the case, we are actually discussing the same issue as well."
Anko frowned. "Really?"
"Yes. Just come over." Raidou rolled his eyes. Anko stared at the door in front of her, and then turned to look at the two jounin by the door of Raidou's apartment. Then she turned back to the door again, before she shrugged and moved over to the two men.
"Make way!" She growled. Asuma and Raidou stepped aside and the purple-haired lady stomped into the room.
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"Alright, Kakashi. That's all the tests for your check-up." Tsunade sighed and sat down at her desk, gesturing for Kakashi to take a seat.
"So, just what exactly is wrong?"
"I don't know yet. We will have to wait for the full report." Tsunade pulled her drawer open and took out a capsule. "For now, I have something which I hope will help you."
"What is that?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow as Tsunade filled a syringe with the clear liquid in the capsule.
"Ibiki and some research medic-nins came up with this. It's a remedy for that drug which you came in contact with. It will help to clear off the remaining residue in your body. Though, whether it will be a permanent effect, we will have to wait and see. But so far, from the tests they have done, there doesn't seem to have any side effects. So it's quite safe."
The Hokage walked up to her subordinate and rolled up his sleeve, injecting the serum into his arm.
"There, that should do. Wait a while for it to settle and then you can leave." Tsunade returned to her seat and crossed her legs as she eyed the jounin. "So, how are things?"
Kakashi shrugged. "The same."
"What about with Iruka?" Tsunade leaned forward and propped her elbows against the table, resting her chin on her laced fingers.
Kakashi flinched. The memories from the previous night came back to him. Somehow, now that his mind is in a clearer state, the guilt seems to have multiplied ten-fold. He struggled to keep his calm.
"I….. We……" He sighed. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "What do you not know? Do you still doubt your relationship with him?"
Kakashi did not answer. Tsunade frowned.
"Kakashi, you know that –" Tsunade was cut off by a loud hollering voice along the corridor.
"Where is he?!" Doors crashing open were heard. Tsunade growled under her breath. Just who on earth is wreaking havoc in the hospital?
"Is he here?!" Another door being shoved roughly.
"Naruto, stop that!" A feminine voice. The blond lady recognised the voice almost immediately.
"What the hell are those two brats doing?" Tsunade sighed as she rubbed her temple.
"Naruto-kun, please stop. You are going to infuriate Tsunade-sama." This time it was Shizune's voice.
"All the better if she comes out now!" Naruto's anger was evident in his voice. Tsunade glowered and pushed her chair back. She stomped towards the door.
Just as she was about to open it, the door was being pushed aside and a blond fuming boy stood outside the door.
"Just where is he?!" Naruto growled, not at all registering who was standing in front of him. But the two behind him did.
"Tsunade-sama!" Sakura and Shizune immediately bowed apologetically. Naruto's eyes darted around before he caught sight of the busty lady.
"Baa-chan! I want you to –" Before the teen could complete his sentence, a punch landed on his head.
"Just what the hell do you think you are doing?! This is the hospital, not your home! First, you create an uproar along the corridors and now, you call me grandma?! Uzumaki Naruto, watch your place!" Tsunade growled.
"But –"
"Tsunade-sama, can I leave now?" A cool voice disrupted the little commotion. Naruto immediately pushed past the Hokage, much to her aggravation and stomped into the room.
"You bastard!" Without warning, the teen pounced on the other man in the room. Kakashi stepped aside swiftly and Naruto crashed into the table.
Sakura winced before she ran over. "Naruto, are you alright?"
Naruto shoved her aside and pointed an accusing finger at the jounin. "Just how much force did you put into that punch last night?!"
Kakashi gave him a passive look. Sakura was horrified.
"Naruto, we promised not to talk about it in front of Tsunade-sama." The kunoichi whispered hastily to the other boy. At that, Naruto seemed to calm down a little before the rage started boiling again.
"I don't care! If I have to, I will drag him over to apologise!" Naruto pounced again.
But somebody caught him before he could reach the jounin.
"Just what the hell is going on?" Tsunade's fury was evident. Shizune trembled slightly at the sight of her annoyed superior.
"Let me go!" Naruto struggled against the firm grip. But Tsunade held on, eyeing the blond boy, then her apprentice and finally, Kakashi.
"Kakashi, sit down! Sakura, you too! And Naruto, I swear, if you don't calm down, I will make sure you will spend your next two months in the hospital!"
That did it. Naruto stopped his struggles and immediately looked sheepish. Tsunade released her hold on the boy. "Sit down." She barked. Naruto jumped a little and moved to the chair beside Sakura.
Tsunade stomped over to her own chair and sat down heavily in it, eyeing the blond boy and his teammate. Shizune closed the door and moved to stand beside the angry lady.
"Now, tell me, just what on earth got you so work up?"
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