Chapter Twenty-One: Homecoming
A few weeks later the group were nearing the Leaf Village. Naruto had kept his nose in Ino's book the whole time, reading through it. Sakura trailed behind, hands in her pockets and eyes on the ground. Kakashi walked at the front, while Sasuke was just behind him, keeping an eye out.
As they walked over a puddle, Sasuke noticed Sakura glancing down. She shuddered, then stepped around it nervously.
"Hmm, it says here that the Hyuga can see all kinds of things with their Byakugan. But the abilities leaves them open to a sensory… overload…" said Naruto, tasing the word. "Kakashi-sensei, what's sensory overload?"
"It means you force someone to perceive so much that they can't understand any of it," said Kakashi. "Like making a light so bright that you have to look away. Or seeing a lot of different colors flashing at any point.
"It's one of the weaknesses of the Byakugan."
"What are some of the weaknesses of the Sharingan?" asked Naruto.
"Well they aren't as obvious," said Kakashi. "But the Sharingan burns through chakra must more quickly than most other bloodlines."
"Wow, is that true Sasuke?" asked Naruto.
Sasuke shrugged. "I haven't used it enough to know. But whenever I use it, I start feeling really tired after a while."
"Sakura, you've been very quiet of late. Are you alright?" asked Kakashi.
"Yeah, Sakura. What's wrong?" asked Naruto. "They named the bridge after us. Team 7 bridge. We're heroes."
"It's nothing I just, I just figured out that I killed people with that paper bomb I set off," said Sakura. "A lot of thugs got caught in the blast.
"With everything that was going on, I didn't even think of it until after.
"I should feel something. But I…"
"It was indirect," said Kakashi. "It's much easier to take a life indirectly. Gato probably never killed anyone in his entire life directly. He just told other people to do it for him. But it was still his responsibility."
"Sasuke, what was it like when you did it?" asked Sakura.
Sasuke thought back to the blur after her had killed Gato. He'd seen blood and death before. He'd watched his family die slowly. "I don't really know. It happened very quickly. After that, I went on autopilot. I realized that I had forgotten the thugs, so I tried to kill as many as possible. When I realized I couldn't take them out, I ran.
"It was like I became a machine.
"I don't feel bad about it. At all. Not Gato anyway."
"Most ninja who make it past genin have to kill someone eventually," said Kakashi. "We do assassin missions for a reason, you know."
"I know," said Sakura. "I should… I should feel something Kakashi. But I never saw them. I didn't see any of the bodies or see their eyes. It's like it never happened, but it did.
"Am I some kind of monster?"
"Sakura, if you were a monster you wouldn't be having these kinds of doubts," said Kakashi. "If you hadn't set off that paper bomb then the thugs would have killed dozens, maybe hundreds of the townsfolk. As it is, none of them died.
"You saved a lot of lives. And most of the people you killed deserved it."
"What was it like for you, Kakashi-sensei?" asked Sakura. "When you… first killed someone."
Kakashi looked away. "I don't remember. War between ninjas is a terrible thing. If you three are lucky, you'll only have to deal with people like Gato.
"Whenever I think of all the people I've killed, only one face springs to mind."
For a moment, there was silence. Then a familiar voice sounded. "Hey! Naruto! Sakura! Sasuke!" Sasuke looked up and saw Ino running toward them. Naruto shut his book and ran to meet her. "Ino! Hey, where have you-"
Ino plowed past Naruto and went straight to Sasuke. Typical really. "Hey, Sasuke? How did the mission go?"
Sasuke realized that the question actually had merit. He considered how ti went. "Terrible. We got ambushed by a rogue S ranked ninja. Kakashi-sensei got captured, and we spent days hiding while trying to find a way to save him."
"How'd you do it?" asked Ino.
"We arranged a meeting with the ninja's employer, Gato. Then I stabbed him to death with a kunai," said Sasuke. "Then I was captured, and Kakashi and I had to escape from being crucified by his thugs. We then spent two weeks waiting while the bridge was built and Kakashi sensei was able to travel."
Ino blinked. "Wasn't it supposed to be a C ranked mission?"
"Oh I forgot that part," said Sasuke. "The whole mission was made under false pretenses. Tazuna hired us for a C ranked mission because he couldn't afford to pay for an A rank. And like a bunch of idiots we kept going with it.
"Naruto, the next time we get cheated like this, and I want to keep going, please punch me." He supposed this was the part where he inquired about what she was doing. "So what did you do for your C rank?"
Ino looked a little deflated. "…Well, we protected a bunch of farmers from bandits."
"Wow?" said Naruto. "Were they tough?"
"No way," said Ino. "I used a shadow clone to seize control of one of them and scout out their encampment. Then Shikamaru trapped them all in place, and Choji ran them down. Of course, I had a huge headache for the whole day afterward. "That was a while ago. Asuma's been keeping us focused on a lot of D ranks with an occasional C rank. A lot of them don't even have us seeing any action. Just having ninja scares most threats off.
"What about you, Sakura?"
"I don't know," admitted Sakura. "I'm just glad to be back."
"Sorry if my students aren't feeling very talkative, Ino." said Kakashi "They've been through a lot."
"I'm feeling talkative!" said Naruto, jumping up and down. "So how did you use a shadow clone to take control of someone?" "Well I had the shadow clone use mind transfer jutsu on them," said Ino. "Once I did that I could direct it to blend in with the rest of the bandits and figure things out. Then I dispelled the clone and was gone without anyone knowing I'd been there.
"So how'd that book I compiled for you work out?"
Sasuke suddenly realized that he was friends with Ino. When had that happened? Back in class, she had just been that annoying girl who fought with that other annoying girl Sakura. The face of his mindless fangirls. Ever since the incident with Kakashi faking his death though she had advanced from that to an asset.
"Great," said Naruto. "I've got plans to beat those jerks Shino and Kiba big time."
"Glad to hear it," said Ino. Then she looked back to Sasuke. "Hey, that reminds me. Sasuke, how did Shikamaru and Choji beat you anyway?"
Sasuke flinched. He would say that they cheated, but that would not be cool. "…I don't want to talk about it.
"They won't be getting lucky a second time, though."
"Calm down, Sasuke," said Kakashi. "We just got back from a showdown with an S ranked ninja. Let's all take some time to relax. I sent word on ahead a few days ago, so all the higherups know what we've been up to.
"I'm sure the Hokage will be very pleased."
There was a cold air in the debriefing of Team 7's leader. Hiruzen's eyes were narrowed. Kakashi shifted nervously beneath his gaze. The Third Hokage's hands were clasped together in front of his forehead. To one side, Iruka Umino was shifting papers.
Most people viewed Iruka as only a humble teacher. This was true to an extent. But teachers at the academy had to be highly skilled, and Umino was nearly a jonin. He was also glaring at Kakashi.
"I am not pleased, Kakashi," said Hiruzen finally.
"May I ask in why?" asked Kakashi.
"You dragged a group of inexperienced genin into a combat situation with an S ranked ninja," said Hiruzen flatly.
"Well, I'll be the first to admit that I miscalculated," said Kakashi. "At the time, I had no idea that we would be facing Zabuza Momochi."
"Of course, you didn't. The mission had been made on false pretenses," said Hiruzen. "Itachi Uchiha could have been waiting for you in the mist, and you'd have never known. You merely assumed you could handle whatever enemy appeared."
Kakashi shifted. "I think my results speak for themselves."
"Results?" asked Iruka, voice cold. "The results have nothing to do with it! You brought three of my students into a battle against one of the most deadly rogue ninjas in history!"
Kakashi looked at him. "Your students? When last I looked, they had graduated from the academy."
"Lord Hokage I was against giving C mission this early in the first place, as you well know," said Iruka. "Even so, I accepted your decision. But Kakashi's actions are beyond inexcusable. All three of them nearly died. Even Kakashi nearly died!"
"I was far younger than they were when I made my first kill, Iruka," said Kakashi.
"That was a different time and place, and you know it," said Iruka. "I would have thought with your history you would be averse to getting your entire team killed. But I suppose I was wrong."
Kakashi stepped forward and realized suddenly that he was reaching for a kunai. Iruka tensed but didn't move openly. He merely stood there, looking at him as if daring him to do it.
Hiruzen raised a hand. "Enough! I will not have two of my best ninja fighting!
"Kakashi, it is true that you held the authority over the mission, and thus you have not violated any of our rules. However, the reality of the situation is that you were leading inexperienced recruits. And you brought them into a conflict beyond their ability to handle."
"With all due respect Hokage, they are all stronger for it." said Kakshi. "And had I not acted as I had Tazuna would be dead. The Land of Waves would be under Gato's control and would fall further and further into poverty. Meanwhile, Zabuza would still be at large, as would Haku.
"Whatever Iruka may think of my methods, the reality is that they worked."
"This cannot be denied," said Hiruzen. "But neither can the risk you took. Iruka, I believe you have some statistics for us."
"Yes, Hokage," said Iruka, standing up. "I took the liberty of running some war games. They are based on a hypothetical battle between Team 7 against Zabuza and Haku. The setting takes place on the half-finished Team 7 bridge. The situation is that you arrived safely in the Land of Waves. You have been taking shifts guarding Tazuna. Keep in mind that this is a very generous setting. All of you are present and accounted for. No one has the advantage of surprise. And Zabuza doesn't have the overwhelming advantage of water and natural mist.
"Your objective is to guard Tazuna against Zabuza's attack. Zabuza's objective is to kill Tazuna. Here are the first hundred general results based on what we know of the abilities of those involved:
"Result 1:
"Friendly casualties:
"Sasuke, Sakura, Tazuna.
"Enemy casualties:
"None.
"Result 2:
"Friendly casualties:
"Sasuke, Sakura, Tazuna,
"Enemy casualties:
"Haku, Zabuza
"Result 3:
"Friendly casualties:
"Sasuke, Sakura, Tazuna, Naruto, Kakashi
"Enemy casualties:
"Haku
"Result 4:
"Friendly casualties:
"Sasuke, Sakura, Tazuna, Naruto, Kakashi,
"Enemy casualties:
"None.
"Result 3:
"Friendly Casualties:
"Sakura, Naruto, Tazuna
"Enemy casualties:
"Haku, Zabuza
"Result 4:
"Friendly casualties:
"Sakura, Naruto, Tazuna, Sasuke, Kakashi,
"Enemy Casualties:
"Zabuza, Haku,
"Result 5:
"Friendly casualties:
"Sakura, Naruto, Tazuna, Sasuke, Kakashi
"Enemy casualties:
"None
"Result 6:
"Friendly casualties:
"Tazuna, Sakura
"Enemy casualties:
"None
"Result 7:
"Friendly casualties:
"Sakura, Tazuna, Kakashi
"Enemy casualties:
"None.
"Round 8:
"Friendly casualties:
"Sasuke, Sakura,
"Enemy casualties:
"Haku, Zabuza
"Round 9:
"Friendly casualties:
"Sakura
"Enemy casualties:
"Haku, Zabuza
"Round 9:
"Friendly casualties:
"Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Tazuna
"Enemy casualties:
"None." Iruka put down the stack of papers. It might as well have been the fall of a guillotine. "I could go on, but I think I've made my point.
"When war gamed Zabuza almost always wins. He has neutralized your primary advantage with his hidden mist. Haku is more than powerful enough to stalemate all three of your students. And Zabuza doesn't even have to defeat you to win. He only needs Haku to delay them long enough for him to get the kill on Tazuna. Once that happens, Zabuza retreats to get paid.
"Even in circumstances where Haku is defeated, your students are exhausted. Thus Zabuza frequently kills you anyway. He has every advantage, after all. Your Sharingan eye is useless against him, and he has a higher level of chakra.
"Keep in mind that these statistics do not account for Gato. In most of the battles where you win, the survivors are wiped out. Gato sends a large contingent of thugs to finish you off. Only in circumstances where the villager's rally is Gato stopped. Even then, his men cause significant casualties."
"You can tout the results all you want, Kakashi. But the only reason any of you are alive is because of your students. And they demonstrated a level of cunning far above that of the average genin.
"What if Zabuza had cut your throat and gone with Haku to Tazuna's house? All your students would be dead, and the mission failed.
"What if Haku had become more coldblooded since his showdown with Team 9? All your students would be dead, and you would be, at best, ransomed back to us.
"What if Naruto had taken over the leadership role instead of Sasuke? Your students would train extra hard while trying to protect Tazuna. And then they would be wiped out because they have only been ninja for a few weeks and Zabuza is an S ranked threat.
"When people think about sink or swim teaching, they only think about the successes. The small minority who survived and thrived. They forget about the ones who died because they were thrust into a situation they were not prepared for.
"We are not at war. The situation is not desperate. And as teachers, our duty is to nurture our students and allow them to reach their full potential. The mission rankings were established for this very reason. To avoid unnecessary loss of life. You circumvented those mission rankings. In a million universes your students paid the price.
"That is all."
He sat down. Hiruzen looked to him, then back to Kakashi. "Thank you, Iruka. I believe the point has been made, Kakashi. Still, as you say, the result was excellent.
"Your genin will be paid appropriately for an S ranked mission. However, I hope you understand why I will be paying you for a C rank."
"Perfectly, sir," said Kakashi.
"Iruka, dispatch Anko to the Land of Waves," said Hiruzen. "Tell them we wish to renegotiate our contract."
"Understood, Hokage," said Iruka.
Iruka was a humble schoolteacher. But he was also one of Hiruzen's chief assets. Kakashi wouldn't lie to himself by saying his results were inaccurate.
So he turned and left. And then he let himself shudder.
That mission had been far too close. All of them could have died. Just like Rin and Obito.
Author's Note:
Well, here we have chapter nineteen. I mean to go back to comedy as quickly as possible if only to give us a breather from all the constant blood and guts. I just need to find a way.