Chapter 51
It was only a few short weeks after returning from Naruto and Hinata's wedding that Kakashi was set to again leave the Mist for the Leaf Village. The revised seals for the Leaf's power station had been prepared, the plans made, and nearly everyone was aware of the travel arrangements. Still, Mei felt uneasy. It wasn't just the politics around the whole thing that bothered her, although that was a large part.
As a Leaf Village diplomat, Kakashi could technically leave and return to the Mist Village as he pleased. Still, it was considered good manners to make sure everyone was kept informed of Kakashi's movements, from the guards to the Mist council. Just because Kakashi's freedom was fine with the Fire and Water Lords, did not mean it was proper for the Mizukage's husband. Despite all of the political niceties that had been flying, Kakashi still needed to show the Mist Village, specifically the Mist council, that he would continue to support Mei in every way he could. And he had done so admirably, as far as Mei was concerned. Still, the separation wasn't any easier on the couple.
"I've changed my mind, you can't go," Mei declared, making Kakashi turn.
The Mizukage's husband was packed and prepared to depart for the Leaf Village. Since there was no rush, they had booked him passage on a ship. Theoretically, running across the ocean could be faster than boat travel but taking a ship was easier, more convenient, and carried less risk.
"Mei, we've talked about this," Kakashi argued, his voice tired. His fingers brushed her cheek, making her downcast eyes turn up to look at him. "This isn't only important for our two villages, but," he lowered his voice, "the council needs to see that the ambassador comes back like a good dog."
Mei frowned, as she did whenever Kakashi used the comparison. Her husband was not a loyal pet to be whistled for or leashed. How Mei felt about it, however, had not stopped her council from treating him as such, even if they didn't use the words. Despite Kakashi's new position as ambassador, the council didn't seem to think anything had changed. The day when Mei announced the candidates for the expanded council couldn't come soon enough.
"I know," the Mizukage replied, rubbing her pendant with her thumb. "I'm going to miss you."
Kakashi smiled at Mei beneath his mask. "It's only for a couple of weeks." They locked eyes. "And I'll miss you too." He stepped away from his wife, straightening up with an effort. "I have to go now or else the boat will leave without me."
"Be careful," Mei whispered at his retreating back. She wanted to send someone with him, wanted to accompany him herself, but that would defeat half of the purpose of the mission. Mei tried to shrug off her fears. Her husband was Hatake Kakashi, he could travel alone and be perfectly fine. He'd completed dozens of solo missions before she'd even met him. Still, Mei felt unsettled by this entire trip.
Kakashi had been acting strange the last couple of weeks, ever since they'd returned from Naruto and Hinata's wedding. It was impossible for Mei not to notice. He was quiet and would stare off into the distance for long stretches of time. It had Mei worried but when she asked, Kakashi would just smile and say that everything was fine. She knew him well enough now to know that the smiles weren't genuine.
Something was very wrong in the Leaf and this journey was about more than a new power installation. Mei could see it in every line of Kakashi's face, in the tightness of his shoulders. What worried her more than the immediate problem was that Kakashi hadn't opened up to her about it. In fact, he'd pretended as if everything was fine and normal. But his "normal" behavior lately just came off as practiced to her, an act. Even his goodbye at the gate had seemed stiff and guarded. Mei hoped that whatever was wrong could be resolved, at least in part, with this trip.
Mei felt loneliness settle into her heart as she stared after her husband. The heavy weight kept her watching the road as Kakashi traversed it. As she looked on, his tall figure dwindled to a shadow among the fog. He did not turn or wave when he reached this point, he simply disappeared into the mist that cloaked her village. Mei stared after him, unreasonably afraid that the mist had swallowed him forever.
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The decision of what he'd say to Tsunade still hung about Kakashi as he traveled. The options and possibilities had been swirling in his mind for weeks and yet he still couldn't come up with a suitable solution. He looked out into the seemingly endless sea. Is this how you felt, father? When you made your choice on that mission? No matter what decision he made, Kakashi felt that it was the wrong one.
When Kakashi did arrive in the Leaf, Yamato was once again there to meet him.
"Kakashi-senpai," Yamato greeted him.
"Always so formal Yamato," Kakashi chided him, but his heart wasn't in it. "It's good to be back."
Yamato frowned, observing Kakashi's face. After a moment of hesitation, Yamato decided that boldness wasn't always a bad thing. "Is it?"
Kakashi had been hiding his mood from Mei the best he could over the last couple of weeks. Still, he hadn't realized he'd let it slide so badly on his way to the Leaf. He changed the subject. "So, Tsunade wants to see me immediately huh?"
Yamato blinked slowly. He feigned ignorance. "No, why would you say that?"
Kakashi's gaze sharpened and Yamato almost flinched under the assault, almost. Then Kakashi's shoulders suddenly slumped in an appearance of laziness. "Just here to see me? I'm flattered Yamato."
Yamato smiled, his own shoulders loosening. Kakashi's aloof act was just the slightest bit off. Yamato had known him long enough to be able to tell. Has he still not decided? Yamato wondered.
"I just thought you might appreciate some company," Yamato stated.
Kakashi watched Yamato for a long moment. Then he smiled and looked at the dirt under his sandals. "No, not this time." He glanced up to meet his eyes. "Thank you, but no."
Yamato smiled genuinely this time. "Right."
They parted ways. Kakashi headed to his jonin apartment to drop off his things. He wondered how long he could use setting up the power station as an excuse for not reporting to the Hokage. Once she saw him she'd want his answer, an answer he wasn't prepared to give. Kakashi decided to go for a walk instead.
Kakashi had made Tsunade wait for meetings before, but this would be a new record. He wandered around the village, taking in the streets and people that he'd sworn to protect with his life. That vow wasn't without weight. He'd died once for the Leaf already and the life he'd lived up until and since that point had been in service. Still, his answer to Tsunade wasn't easy to give, even if Mei wasn't a part of the equation.
Kakashi had been faced with this proposition before, and his hesitation had almost cost not just Naruto's freedom, but the security of the entire country. After Pain's assault and Tsunade's subsequent coma, Shikaku, the Jonin Commander at the time, had put events into motion for Kakashi to become the next Hokage should Tsunade not recover. In addition, Kakashi was to act in her stead in the meantime. When Kakashi had hesitated to accept the position, Danzo seized power without the jonin vote of consent. If Tsunade had not woken, the Leaf might have been plunged into civil war on the cusp of the largest world war the institution of villages had ever seen. Naruto and Tsunade would have never blamed him, but Kakashi did. How could he be trusted with the Leaf, now, when he still hesitated?
Without realizing it, Kakashi found himself in Training Ground Three, staring at the memorial stone. The irony almost choked him. Old habits, Kakashi admitted to himself, were part of his problem, and yet muscle memory led him there, sure as the sunrise. He stared down at that stone. Had the past Hokage come here to mourn those who'd died while under their care? Like Mei did? Was that now his burden to bear? Kakashi squinted his eyes closed in frustration. Then his eyes opened again in surprise, someone was coming.
Kakashi narrowed his focus, stretching out his senses. Multiple people were coming, three to be exact, three very familiar people. He didn't change his position or turn his head as they approached, but they knew he knew they were there. They were too wise now to think that they could sneak up on Kakashi.
Still, niceties had to be maintained. "Sensei?" Sakura spoke softly, requesting his full attention.
"Hm?" Kakashi responded, noncommittally. It seemed to be his pattern these days, not committing.
A grunt, "the least he could do is turn around."
"Says the guy who just stopped being blind," was the defensive retort. "You were not-looking at me for days!"
"Maybe if you weren't so ugly," came the trailed-off reply. There was teasing there but also hesitation.
"Why you-"
"Would you two stop it," a swift command from Sakura silenced the bickering duo.
Then there was movement and Sakura stepped up to stand next to Kakashi. She looked down at the stone, mirroring Kakashi's posture. Naruto stood on Kakashi's other side and Sasuke next to Naruto.
Normally his students all standing that close to him would be a cause for concern, mask pulling and hug huddles could be imminent, but today the proximity didn't worry Kakashi. It was comforting actually, the way his students shielded him from the world, at least on two sides.
Sakura began with a cough but then paused. "We've been talking since you left," she nodded at the boys. "And when Yamato came to tell me you were in town, I went and got them." She hesitated again. "Sensei, there's something we've been wanting to talk to you about."
Kakashi blinked in surprise. He looked up for the first time. "All of you?" He looked between the three of them.
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, it was hard to get Sasuke out of earshot of his observation guards. But I promised them we'd be right back."
Kakashi shook his head. Only Naruto…
"Anyway," Sasuke interjected but then he backed off, wanting Sakura to continue.
Sakura nodded but didn't look at Sasuke directly. Her attention was on her sensei. "No offense sensei, but we've discussed it, and we're convinced that it would be best for Naruto to become the Sixth Hokage."
Kakashi looked over at Naruto. The blonde's blue eyes were hard, the opposite of their usual open air look. Kakashi shook his head. "I can't let you do that Naruto. You and Hinata-"
"Hinata will understand," Naruto said, his strong gaze never wavering. "We've talked about, well, not this exactly," he smiled a little and scratched the back of his head, looking more like himself, "but we've talked about what we'd do if things, our plans, changed."
"You've just been married," Kakashi resisted. "You need time to build your family, to grow together into this new stage in life. Believe me, I know."
"When has the idiot ever done things the easy way?" Sasuke interjected. This time Sakura did look at him, and smiled.
Kakashi's voice was firm. "No, Naruto, this is my responsibility. Lady Tsunade asked me to handle this until you're ready."
"I'm ready now," the blonde replied, face as serious as before.
Kakashi wanted to shake his head. "There are other things you need to do, to enjoy, before taking on this burden. You don't need to do this."
"No," Naruto replied, almost angry now, "you don't need to do this." Before Kakashi could respond, Naruto cut him off. "Sensei, you've spent your entire life sacrificing yourself for the village and for us. Your life has been full of impossible choices. And I'm telling you, this is one you won't have to make. You already gave up your future when you moved to the Mist. I'm not going to let you do that again, and throw your life with Lady Mei away, just so that I can be comfortable for a few more years."
Kakashi really did shake his head this time. "What about your mission to root out the Baransu with Sasuke? He can't do it without your supervision. If you're Hokage, you won't be able to leave for such a long-term mission. You will be tied here in ways you've never known."
This seemed to pull Naruto up short but Sasuke swooped in. "I was just going to use Naruto as bait anyway, another jinchuriki will do just as well, right?"
Naruto's eyes lit up with hope at Sasuke's proposed solution, despite the insult.
Sakura frowned. "If you can survive Bee's rhyming without activating the Sharingan in your new eyes, then it will be deemed impossible for certain."
Kakashi had to fight the relief that rose in his chest like a flood. He struggled to push it down. He couldn't risk getting his hopes up. "There's no way A will agree to that."
"A is no longer Raikage," Naruto pointed out. "Darui is."
Kakashi thought about Darui's calm demeanor, about his willingness to help. Then he thought about Bee's inclination to travel. It just might work.
"Even if I awaken the Sharingan again," Sasuke interjected with a shake of his head. He was almost positive it wasn't possible without an Uchiha eye. "Bee could handle it."
Sakura blinked. "Are you sure?"
Sasuke nodded. "He has his beast to break him out of any genjutsu. Honestly, the last time we fought, he would have beaten me easily had I been alone."
"But his ability to be your chaperone doesn't mean he'll want the job. You tried to kill him the last time you fought," Kakashi pointed out.
"Capture, not kill," Sasuke insisted. Although he'd gone down a rage-induced rabbit hole shortly after that time, he'd at least tried to keep personal standards up until that point.
"I'll talk to him," Naruto said, his face set. "He and A turned their wedding visit into an extended stay. They're still in town. And all Bee will need is a fist bump to know what Sasuke's about. He'll understand, I know it!"
"Naruto," Kakashi spoke again, "you don't have to do this."
They locked eyes. "Someone told me once," Naruto replied evenly, "that not every sacrifice is about throwing yourself into danger."
Kakashi almost chuckled. "I believe what I said was, 'peace requires a different kind of sacrifice'."
Naruto turned to look at Sakura on Kakashi's other side, confused. "Isn't that what I said?"
Sakura just shook her head, holding back her laughter. Sasuke rolled his hazel eyes.
Naruto shook their negativity off. "The point is, you've sacrificed enough sensei. It's our turn."
Sasuke almost smiled and Sakura nodded. Kakashi looked from side to side at his adult students.
"And as your Hokage," Naruto continued, crossing his arms in a self-important manner. "I'll be ordering you to live in the Mist indefinitely. I can't have my number one ambassador leaving his post."
Sakura raised a twitching eyebrow. This time she leaned around Kakashi to look at Naruto. "Your number one ambassador? What am I? Chopped liver?"
Naruto stiffened. He was well acquainted with Sakura's rage. "Number one ambassador in the Mist, didn't I say that?" He looked over at Sasuke, glad that Kakashi was a buffer between Sakura and himself. "Isn't that what I said? Sasuke?"
"That's what I heard, Lord Hokage," Sasuke deadpanned.
Naruto frowned at Sasuke, unsure if the Uchiha was making fun of him or not.
Kakashi cleared his throat, hoping to forestall an argument. "It's getting late," he glanced at the setting sun. "We should all go talk to Lady Tsunade together."
The three sobered instantly.
Kakashi nodded, looking at the names on the memorial stone. "You'll make a good Hokage Naruto."
Kakashi's praise was rare but it was becoming more frequent the older they got. Whether that was because Kakashi was softening or because they were getting better, Naruto didn't know. He appreciated it all the same. The Orange Hokage grinned. "Thanks sensei."
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"I don't accept it," was Tsunade's sharp reply. They all went up to the Hokage's office to lay out their considerations and conclusions. Tsunade had not been receptive to Team Seven's idea.
Sakura's jaw went slack. "Lady Tsunade, Naruto will be a great Hokage, you admitted it yourself! There's no need to recall Kakashi-sensei when he's already given so much!"
Kakashi stood stiffly next to his students. He had feared that Tsunade would reject their solution. He just hadn't thought she'd reject it so fast.
"Naruto, you are too young," Tsunade continued, addressing the blonde now. "Kakashi will be Hokage until you're ready."
Kakashi took a deep breath, leveling his gaze at the Fifth Hokage. "Then I am going to have the shortest reign ever," Kakashi replied, still standing at attention. "My first and last action as Hokage will be appointing Naruto as the next one."
Now it was Tsunade's jaw that went slack. Then her mouth pinched shut and her eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't dare."
Naruto was about to interject but something about Kakashi's body language made him close his mouth and listen instead. The last Hatake remained at attention, but his attitude had changed. His presence was like magma, calm but with something dangerous simmering beneath the surface.
"You, Lady Tsunade, are the one who shouldn't dare," Kakashi growled out. "Months ago, I expressed to you, in confidence, that my personal feelings may be compromising my mission in the Mist. You encouraged me to embrace those feelings and assured me that you would have never asked any of us to enter into an arranged marriage if you thought it would lead us to choosing between the Leaf and our hearts. You have now asked me to do that, despite your promise."
"Well I thought wrong," Tsunade replied, voice deadly calm.
"Lady Tsunade," Sakura said cautiously. Her voice was like a cool breeze in the heated atmosphere. "Naruto is ready. The jonin will endorse him. The Fire Lord will accept him.
"Kakashi-sensei may be the obvious choice for Hokage but I don't believe he is the correct one. He has a job that he's already doing for the Leaf. He is our ambassador. We can replace Naruto in his jonin capacity but who will we get to replace Kakashi-sensei? There is no one better suited for his task in the Mist."
Tsunade looked at Naruto steadily. He hadn't said much since he'd entered the office, which was worthy of note. Naruto had allowed his teammates to speak for him, but his resolve was clear. There wasn't anything to say that he hadn't already said to Tsunade. What she saw in his gaze only reiterated what she already knew was in the young man's heart.
The Hokage switched her focus to Kakashi. Something seemed to drop in her shoulders, the fight going out of her. In a near whisper she asked, "is he ready?"
In that look, Kakashi saw every year that Tsunade had lived and more. She looked every bit her age, despite her youthful façade.
Tsunade could feel her life's energy slipping away like leaves falling from the trees in autumn. Kakashi was the convenient and fast solution but maybe Sakura was correct, he was not the right one.
Kakashi nodded at her, once.
Tsunade closed her eyes and rested her head on her steepled fingers. She sighed. "Alright then. I'll make the suggestion to the jonin tomorrow and send word to the Fire Lord after they approve." She looked up at Naruto. "I can't see the jonin disapproving. Anyone old enough to be jonin fought in the war or heard about it. Those who hold a grudge about the lives lost will be a minority."
Naruto frowned, looking at the floor. Despite everything he'd done, the Allied Shinobi Forces had still lost over half of their number during the last war. The orphanages were bursting with children. The civilians who catered to ninja were astonished, after the war, to discover half of their clients were now deceased. They had won the war, but the losses had been catastrophic. When it came to the blame game, jinchuriki were easy and familiar targets.
Tsunade continued. "The transition will still take months. Naruto, you will need to be by my side during that time, shadowing me."
Naruto grinned, "shadowing the Fire Shadow huh?"
Tsunade gave him a deadpanned expression.
Sakura coughed. "Lady Tsunade, as I've mentioned before, your condition does seem to be improving-"
Tsunade snorted. "Improving at survival level, not at kage level. This transition needs to happen as quickly as possible. Still, Naruto being close by gives me peace of mind."
"I am sorry for the delay Lady Tsunade," Kakashi apologized.
Tsunade looked up at Kakashi and met his eye. "You three, you're dismissed."
Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke didn't need to be told twice. They had plenty to do. Mainly, paying a visit to A and Bee. Naruto wanted to speak with Hinata as well. The door clicked shut behind them.
"Kakashi-" Tsunade started and then stopped. She didn't seem able to continue.
"Do you accept my apology?" Kakashi asked. His words were measured as they flowed into the quiet room.
"Yes," the Hokage replied. "But do you accept mine?" She shook her head at him, seeing the protestation in his eyes. "You're right, I forced you into an impossible situation and then expected you to make the 'right' choice, a choice I was never strong enough to make myself. I only came back to the village kicking and screaming from whatever fake mission sensei had me on all those years." She sighed. "After all your years of unwavering service, this was how I repay you?" She shook her head, resting her chin on her knuckles. "Your father would have flayed me alive."
The sudden mention of his father took Kakashi aback. People simply never spoke of him. Only recently had Kakashi himself been able to speak about the man without wincing. Tsunade didn't seem to notice.
"Either of you would have made a fine Hokage," Tsunade muttered, more to herself than to Kakashi. "I don't know what sensei was waiting for."
Kakashi was blindsided by this statement. His father? A Hokage candidate? It had been a consideration? When? And in a flash, Kakashi knew exactly when. The entire country, not just the Leaf, had turned against his father after that mission. It had never before occurred to Kakashi what the disfavor of the entire nation could mean for one's career.
"All the more reason I should have never asked this of you," Tsunade continued, as if reading his thoughts. She looked up at him then, meeting his eyes. "Don't ever be ashamed of who you are Kakashi. Not ever."
Tsunade's words rang in his ears as Kakashi headed back to his apartment. His feet felt like lead as he strode through the streets. A great weight had been lifted from him and yet, his mind was a raging storm. Suddenly Kakashi reversed direction and headed to another part of town. He hoped Guy was home. Kakashi checked the cross-streets and made a detour. He may as well swing by Yamato's on the way there.
Author's Note:
Thank you all! Shoot me a review to tell me what you liked, disliked, if you have questions, that sort of thing.
