Confluence

By Violet Garnets

Chapter Thirteen: Dispersed and Dispatched

o-x-o-x-o

Kakashi sat cross-legged on the ground, wishing he could do something other than what he did at the present moment, which was to carefully monitor Naruto as he went through his kyudo practice.

Although Naruto had indeed threatened him the other day in the library (Kakashi decided on calling it a threat, because that's what that unbearable heat felt like), the blond had not taken any extra steps towards seduction. It seemed clear to the both of them that Naruto would never be any sort of seducer in the traditional sense, and the younger man had seemingly decided to save himself some embarrassment.

Not that the boy wasn't doing any seducing, quite the contrary, and this led to the root of Kakashi's problems.

Naruto had decided to do without a shirt today as he practiced his archery, citing the unusual late summer heat as 'annoying as Sai with a new self-help book'. The jounin believed it; he was bothered by the sweltering temperature as well, although he unfortunately had an additional source of heat on top of it. He had never really ogled at any one person before. He just never had any interest to invest so much attention in someone. Just giving a woman (or man) a simple once-over after clear eye contact typically did the trick: wham, bam, thank you ma'am (or sir).

He had never done this before. His eyes would trail over to the blond before he knew it, and as soon as he felt the boy turning his head to look over at him, Kakashi would dart his gaze elsewhere, chastising himself and promising not to do it again. Yet, without fail, his gaze would once more be on that pliant body and the deep red heat that flushed his cheeks would be a distant memory, fade out to a softer warmth that made him think of better days.

Naruto didn't look over too often though, which was fortunate. His focus remained on his training and he methodically went through the motions of target practice, although Kakashi could tell that the younger man was thoroughly immersed in his work, as tedious as it was. His bright blue eyes took on a darker hue today, growing steadily darker as he became more and more intense about his training. Pretty soon the Jinchuuriki would switch to demon chakra training; Kakashi could tell by the closing distance between those furrowed brows and the way his feet began to shift apart to a more solid stance.

Now that the blond did not particularly need to focus on wrestling the chakra away from the Kyuubi, molding and controlling the power took precedent. Here was where Kakashi actually felt useful. For the past two days, they had been experimenting with the power output Naruto could handle, which, at the moment, equated to the stretch of Naruto's own chakra reserves over his body. For the time being, just the hands would do. However, perhaps in the long run, having the chakra protecting more or other parts of the body would be advantageous. A full-body armor of sorts, although the hellish power would also double as a weapon. They would have to take it in baby steps. Then again, with Naruto's unpredictability, perhaps that would be sooner than expected.

At present Naruto was working on fine-tuning his kyudo and synchronizing his skill with the new opportunities the freed supply of Kyuubi chakra. They had discovered that too much demon chakra simply disintegrated the arrows before they even got anywhere near their target, but clearly Naruto needed to up the strength of his weapons if he had new power to go behind it. Of course, Naruto always had difficulty maintaining a balance in the middle, being a person more suited towards extremes.

But after some cooling off and meditation with the standard kyudo, Naruto looked ready to try again with the demon chakra. He looked over at Kakashi and grinned. "Here I go!" he shouted.

Kakashi couldn't help but shake his head and smile a little. "Don't waste anymore time, Naruto."

His grin just widened for a brief moment before he returned to a more serious expression. In seconds the arrow was flying through the air and Kakashi heard it make a rather sharp sound as it left Naruto's bow. The target, a large wooden target, stood a respectably far distance away, about twenty meters or so. The arrow looked normal for the most part, glowing with a faint demon chakra but nothing like the intensity of previous sessions. It hit the target like a normal arrow, a whizzing sound in the air as it vibrated into stillness.

Naruto whooped triumphantly. Kakashi had to admit that he felt rather confused, and a little disappointed, until he saw what came next. The entire target glowed brightly and then simply disintegrated into a mound of ash.

"Impressive. It's much more subtle and intimidating. Maa, well, I guess that's that," Kakashi said with a little smile. "Tomorrow we should work on utilizing that chakra in other ways as well. I don't really know how it'll react with your Sage mode and I am hesitant on testing out the waters."

"I can just ask Fukasaku first, I think."

"This is a pretty singular situation, Naruto. I don't know anyone who would have experience with mixing demon chakra with natural chakra. On paper, it's doomed from the start."

"He probably knows more than anyone else though."

"Well, when you have time, then." Kakashi stretched his arms and sighed. "Should we get to sparring? Your taijutsu always needs work, Naruto." In reality, Naruto probably didn't need to work on taijutsu that much, but the boy was hesitant about genjutsu and Kakashi didn't particularly feel the need to push it too much. Between the other available options, Naruto always grumbled about taijutsu practice, so it was good to get him to stop his complaining on the matter.

The blonde started muttering about something or other, but nevertheless put away his archery as he approached Kakashi. "Hey, Kakashi? Who was your first...girlfriend? Or boyfriend? Or whatever?"

"Someone named Mr. Ukki."

"Oh..." and for a moment his face honestly, truly fell. Kakashi felt a little guilty, but not too much as the realization hit the boy. "Wait a minute, that's that damn plant I gave you!"

The jounin quirked a little smile. Teasing the boy never got old. "Well, I take care of Mr. Ukki, we live together, and we never fight. He's been sleeping next to me for years. And he's even got kids now. I've never done that with anyone else, so..."

Naruto frowned and crossed his arms over his bare, tanned chest and it took quite a lot of willpower on Kakashi's part not to change his expression. "No, really. Who was your first...significant other?"

"Why are you asking, Naruto? It's not like that kind of information is anything useful to you."

"Can't I just ask? We've known each other for five years now. I think I'm entitled to know."

"I hate small talk, Naruto." He looked down and started readjusting his gloves. "Let's just get to sparring."

"Can you just stop avoiding everything?" The younger man's blond brows were knit together closely. "I'm asking you a simple question, because I want to know more about you. No ulterior motives."

Kakashi sighed, ignored the skipping in his heart at Naruto's words. "Somehow I doubt that."

"Alright, how about this. We'll make it productive small talk. We spar. If I win, you answer ten questions. I get my training done, I get to kick your ass, and I get some answers. It's a win-win-win situation." He grinned as he laced his fingers and stretched his arms out in front of him, the chakra already flaring within him.

The older man, despite himself, took to the blatant show of arrogance in front of him, smiling slightly. "I don't think that's how this is going to go down."

"Well, let's go!" With that, Naruto launched himself at his opponent with a lightning-quick punch. An effortless laugh escaped them and rose into the air. Kakashi dodged the punch, but only at the last second. Naruto had certainly picked up his speed, but that wouldn't be enough to take the Sharingan no Kakashi down, not even a notch. He sidestepped the boy and attempted a jab at his back. It a was successful contact, but the jounin found his elbow immersed in a cloud of smoke. A bunshin? When did he...?

He felt a lethal force aimed for his own back just before he sunk into the ground. As he caught his breath for a brief moment and moved closer to the river, he smiled. Years of honed instinct gave him the edge over Naruto, though he knew he was up against Konoha's Number One Most Unpredictable Ninja. Considering Naruto's diehard motivation to learn more about Kakashi, the jounin wouldn't be able to let his guard down. However, it would take more than agility to one up the son of Konoha's White Fang.

When he came up again, he heard Naruto shout, "–cheating! We're supposed to be sparring!"

"Well, maybe you shouldn't be using your bunshin then," he quipped, looking at his companion from a good distance away.

Naruto shrugged. "I forgot. Instinct. Sorry."

The jounin shook his head. "Well, that'll be good for real missions. But you can't accuse me of cheating if you're going to do that."

"Fine. Taijutsu only!" The blonde grumbled, but shifted quickly to a sprint towards Kakashi, lunging with a punch once.

Kakashi ducked the punch into a crouch and attempted a sweeping kick to knock his opponent over, but Naruto jumped back into a more defensive position. The taller, broader man moved even farther into defensive move, pushing off his arms to land his feet solidly in Naruto's abdomen. The boy groaned and crumpled a little, but held his ground as Kakashi used the momentum to flip back off.

As Kakashi took a step forward to continue, he heard Sakura's voice coming from their right.

"Naruto! Kakashi-sensei!"

Naruto crossed his arms, pouting a little. "This happens a lot, doesn't it."

Kakashi 'hmmed'. For the time being, his privacy was saved.

The young woman was standing a good distance away, her hands cupped around her mouth. "Tsunade needs to see you both! Big news! I'm off to get Sai and Yamato-taichou!" With that, she dashed away. Kakashi and Naruto shared a curious look. Naruto shrugged before rushing off to Hokage Tower. The jounin followed.

Tsunade was watching the horizon when they arrived. They both had noticed the stillness in the room upon entering, and Naruto had choked back the shouting entrance he had planned.

"We'll wait for Sakura and the other two," the Hokage had said simply. They obeyed and stood in silence.

It didn't take long for the three to join them. Sai and Yamato gave curt bows toward the Hokage, and she nodded her acknowledgment.

"Baachan," Naruto finally spoke up. His voice rasped. "What's going on?"

She shook her head. "There's no bad news. Thus far."

"You're just trying to make a decision, right, sensei?" Sakura offered, to which her instructor agreed.

"Yes. I have two missions and I need all of you, give or take a few others. The matter is splitting you up." She groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "We have a new Hachibi."

Amidst the "What?"s from Sakura and Naruto, Kakashi felt a lurching in his stomach. So that's what happened to Killer Bee... He glanced over at Yamato, who met his eyes with an even gaze.

Tsunade continued. "Killer Bee performed a sealing ritual to pass the Hachibi from himself to a young child. Since he had formed a strong bond with the Eight Tails, he managed to survive, somehow. But he's been in a coma for the last few months or so. Kumo has kept this quiet, not to hide anything from us – they knew how much you respected him, Naruto – but Sasuke's team had been on the chase for so long, they couldn't afford to leak out that information.

"However, they couldn't keep it a secret for long. It seems like Akatsuki has gained this information and of course they have dispatched individuals to retrieve the host. Kumo has asked for our help, seeing as we are the closest hidden village and we've developed quite the reputation for being the quickest to respond in missions. They're also worried about the seal. Bee was exceptionally talented and what he sealed the demon with is stronger than his own Iron Armour seal, but they are concerned nonetheless."

"Why do you need to split us up though?" Kakashi asked. The answer was pretty obvious, but he wanted some more details.

"I can explain this bit, Tsunade-sensei," Sakura said. She pulled out a scroll from her pack. "The Sand siblings sent a courier with information. About Eien no Akira."

Kakashi and Naruto both leaned towards her subconsciously, their eyes alight. Sai and Yamato watched on with reserved curiosity.

"All they had to share was that more information could be gained from a family known as the Hei. They're an old clan, traditionally nomadic, but one branch of the family guards a catacomb reputed for recalling past lives. The Hei are an incredibly reclusive group and have only shared the knowledge of the catacomb to Suna, and they gave Gaara permission to pass this on to us. The fact that Konoha is even looking into pre-clan history intrigues them, I guess.

"The Hei live near a mountain pass just outside Kusagakure, in Bamboo Country (1). I believe that – excuse me, sensei, for the assumption – the plan is to send one of you to see the Hei and this catacomb. The memories we gain could be vital to protecting our future."

"So, baachan, how are you going to split us up?" Naruto asked. "Someone's bound to follow us. We don't want them to find out about the new jinchuuriki over everything, right?"

Tsunade's clasped fingers squeezed together and she closed her eyes, sighing. "Either way, these are huge risks. You're not wrong in saying that protecting the new Hachibi takes priority."

"I'm going to Bamboo Country, right? I mean, since I don't know shit at the moment, I'd have the most to gain from it. And you'll send Kakashi to go find the kid."

Kakashi started. His eyes flashed over at Naruto to see a stony, impenetrable expression. Somehow he didn't expect to be separated from Naruto for this. He didn't want to be apart from him, he realized grudgingly. But it was logical, being one of Konoha's most elite ninja. It would only be for a little while. They would come back. Besides, he was trying to push Naruto away, wasn't he?

And even through all of these words, a part of him still fell a little upset at the thought of going on his own.

"Sensei, if I could disagree with Naruto..."

All eyes turned to Sakura. Her bamboo green eyes had darkened, as if thunderous clouds shadowed them. "Kumogakure has military prestige unmatched by any of the other hidden villages, excepting Iwagakure. Even with the loss of Killer Bee, they still remain a force to be reckoned with. I think we can trust their power to protect their own. I would like to volunteer myself, with a few others of your selection, to reach the new host."

Naruto interrupted, glaring at her with the same stony look. "You want to meet up with Sasuke, don't you." It was a statement more than a question.

Unflinching, Sakura shook her head. "Although Kumogakure is one of the safest places for the child, they are resting on the hope that moving the baby is too high a risk and they can attack immediately. I am sure they are also prepared to see that the jinchuuriki has been moved, but they have a better chance starting with Kumo than choosing a village at random. We'd be more than capable of transporting it to another place."

"Where would this other place be, exactly?" Tsunade asked, her head tilted and mouth smirking in a rather impressed manner.

"In the end, the child needs to be at Sand, but there's no way that can be completed safely in one trip. But with Terumi-san as Mizukage, I'm sure we'd be well-received there."

If they found out that Konoha was heading operations, they would expect that the jinchuuriki would come back to Konoha, so a straight return was unlikely. The next closest hidden village after Konoha was Kirigakure. Any ties the Hidden Mist Village had to Akatsuki had been rooted out in the past few years, and that Kakashi knew that from personal experience. They would be least expected there. If Sasuke and his team were in pursuit of the child, they would most likely guess at Konoha anyway before Kiri, considering the political histories.

Kakashi couldn't help but feel thoroughly proud and impressed at the pink-haired kunoichi who stood before him, her green eyes dark as a jounin vest. He often forgot the scale of her intelligence. Of course, in competition with Shikamaru she wasn't quite at his level, but she had been assigned to Team Seven for her high marks in the Academy and her comprehensive knowledge of poisons, medicinal herbs, and battle strategies were always welcomed.

His first choice for Hokage would always be Naruto, but Sakura proved herself to be quite the formidable strategist, medic, and fighter. He knew she would be a jounin in no time. The young woman had certainly taken on many of her teacher's strong suits, even radiating the same solidarity Tsunade provided to the village when managing the hospital. She could certainly succeed Naruto as Hokage, or even precede him. Perhaps she was even a little more prepared for the task, if she could overcome the crutch of one Uchiha Sasuke.

Hell, all the remaining members of Team Seven still needed to overcome it.

While the plan seemed sound enough to Kakashi, he had a feeling that he would believe almost anything at this point just to figure out his situation with Naruto at that mountain pass. If he had reached this point of desperation, maybe his ability to complete the mission would be compromised... No; he had more focus than this. Were he to go off in search of the new Hachibi host, he would certainly have the mentality to succeed. He shouldn't over-think this.

Yamato added, "Truthfully speaking, Iwa is a little less expected than Kiri, considering our tense relations."

"Indeed," Tsunade agreed. "But I worry about Onoki and the state of that village in general. Not to mention, a small child can only be on the road for so long. If this is the plan, I'd like to send Shikamaru and his team with you, Sakura. Sai, are you fine with this? Your teammate just volunteered you, but I haven't heard anything from you yet."

Sai nodded. "No need to say anything, Godaime-sama."

The Hokage smirked a little before turning her attention to the others. "Kakashi, Yamato, and Naruto, you'll be sent off to Kusa. I think the three of you will be sufficient. Think of it as a simple recon mission."

Yamato and Kakashi gave their assent. But out of the corner of his eye, the jounin noticed that his teammate was still strangely quiet. His expression was still serious, his eyes set on the ground. He was not the only one to notice this.

Sakura tilted her head and smiled tenderly. "Hey, baka. Listen to me. I won't confront Sasuke. Not without you, Naruto."

The chuunin's face jerked upwards and his blue eyes widened in surprise for a brief moment. Then they flooded with quiet relief as he smiled at her.

She returned his smile. "And, maybe, once your team is finished, we can all meet in Whirlpool Country."

The surprise came back to his face. It was now dusk, almost fully nighttime. Shizune had come in for a moment during the conversation to turn on the lights, and Naruto's eyes, huge and wobbly, caught all the light there was. To be honest, he reminded Kakashi a little of an infant learning that he could stand on his own two feet for the first time.

Sakura pressed forward and stepped toward her companion. Her voice was soft as she said, "We can visit the place your mother's family once called home."

Naruto stared at her for a handful of seconds. Tears brimmed his blue eyes, blurred like the surface of a rippling lake, and he bit his lip as she gathered him in her arms. The young man tried to say something, but it only came out as a muffled string of noises as he buried his head into her shoulder. They all knew what he was trying to say though.

Sai opened his mouth, but Yamato quickly stifled it with his hand. Tsunade's face gave way to a smile as she propped her head on her hand, and she had a gentle expression Kakashi had not seen on her in a very long time.

Kakashi couldn't help but swell with pride at the sight. He may not have been the most dynamic and involved teacher, but he knew that he couldn't have messed up too badly. Tomorrow would bring dark omens and so would the day after, and the day after that... but for now, the fire of Konoha lived on.

-o-o-o-

(1) Bamboo Country/ Take no Kuni – I made Bamboo Country up. Kusagakure does exist in canon, but the country is never stated. I felt as if Bamboo fits in with Kishimoto-sensei's method of naming countries. I hope I didn't confuse it with anything else.

Ah, thank you, sincerely, to everyone that sent me a kind message or left a review. Even when I was teetering over the edge, from moderate to severe depression, reading the kind words you had to share reminded me to pull back. I've been very blessed to never have to deal with insensitive flames or trolling on the internet, and I'm so glad that I have the best readers ever :)

My moods fluctuated for a while, and when I finally felt stable, I still had schoolwork to deal with! However, over the summer I plan on working pretty consistently on this, so hopefully we'll get about three more chapters over the course of three or four months. Over the course of a particularly difficult year, I've learned how to just sit down and churn out a few pages, so I'll put that to good use this summer. (The majority of this chapter I wrote in two days. It took another few weeks to fine-tune, and I'm still not particularly pleased with the final result, but, eh.)

I apologize for the quality of any of this; it will take me a while to get back into the feel of Naruto. This one was pretty plot-heavy, but I'll try to balance things out more in the future. They're on the road next chapter, which lends itself to more intimate moments, physically and emotionally. Now that the group is split up, we'll also have three different threads to follow: Naruto and Kakashi, Sakura and the team, and Sasuke and Taka.

Thank you once again. I adore you all.

Ja ne,

Vi