"Hokage-sama, good morning. My assistant said you want to speak with me?" Koyuki said from the other line, all business. Kakashi crossed his arms and leaned back on his chair as Shikamaru and Shizune stood by his side.
"I apologize for the early call, Koyuki-sama," he began, "but I believe this call is necessary and of utmost importance."
The leader was silent for a beat, "Tell me, Hokage-sama."
"A team of Genin and their sensei was attacked by shinobi wearing the same attire as Katsuo the other day on their way back from a mission," Kakashi informed, "Blank masks and white cloaks. They injured the kids and one of them had been infected by poison. Luckily, our Poison Specialist was knowledgeable with wide variety of poison and had set out on a mission to gather the ingredients needed for the antidote."
He sighed, "However, even her squad was attacked but they were able to confirm that those shinobi were the rogue ones from Yuki and they even threatened to take our Poison Specialist."
"I see," Koyuki replied, "Do we know why they want to kidnap Shizune-san?"
Kakashi's eyebrow raised in surprise and was impressed that Koyuki had remembered Shizune's name.
"Koyuki-sama, if I may speak? This is Shizune," his assistant interjected.
"Shizune-san, I'm glad to hear from you. I hope you're alright?" The young leader inquired.
"Yes, my squad and I were not seriously injured during our mission," Shizune replied, "They attacked us about 30 kilometers from our village gates. From our brief encounter with the rogue shinobi, they admitted that they were the ones who attacked the Genin team and poisoned the kid. They said that they know of my position as the expert in poisons from a 'chatty bird' and intentionally gave the kid a rare, slow-acting but deadly poison. They intended to kidnap me and use me as a bait to lure Hokage-sama out of the village. Though they didn't disclose their plan to the Hokage, we're fairly certain that they want to kill him, maybe even torture him," Shizune recounted the events of their mission.
"Shizune-san, I'm sorry for what happened to the kid and that you were attacked. I hope for his easy recovery," Koyuki replied sincerely, "Hokage-sama, please rest assured that we will continue hunting these criminals. Their crimes will not go unpunished."
Kakashi leaned forward on his seat, "I'm afraid I will not be able to rest easy now that this is happening,"
"Excuse me?" Koyuki sounded startled with his statement.
"Koyuki-sama, they attacked me and shinobi under my command, all because they want revenge. They're targeting my ninjas. I cannot continue sending my ninjas to mission without the fear that they may not come back to their families at all because of the careless actions of these people. On top of that, they're quickly closing in on our territory. Who can say that they will not attack our civilians? Our village is involved now," he insisted, his hands clasped together on his desk.
She sighed, "What do you suggest we do, then?"
"Koyuki-sama, with your permission, we want to hunt these criminals down," Kakashi proposed, "We'll be the one to hunt them down since they are, apparently, so close to our village now. We cannot allow anymore of our ninjas from being harmed recklessly."
There was a long silence from the other end of the line. It seemed that the young leader is thinking it over and Kakashi and his companions waited patiently.
"It cannot be helped," Koyuki finally said, "Alright. I can send three members of our ANBU and two of our Jounins to your village to assist with the hunt. As you know, it takes five days to get to your village but I'll instruct them to get there as fast as they can."
It was Kakashi's turn to be silent. They can't take their chances against this situation now, "Koyuki-sama, with all due respect, we cannot wait that long for your shinobi to arrive. Our village needs to take action immediately."
"Then so be it," Koyuki replied, "You can start searching for these renegades while my ninjas haven't arrived to your village yet."
Kakashi sighed quietly, "Thank you for cooperating with us, Koyuki-sama. It means a lot that you agreed to help us with our current dilemma."
The young leader sounded woeful when she spoke again, "Please, Hokage-sama. It's our land's failure. We in the Snow is willing to do everything to eradicate these rogues and not harm anymore of your shinobi."
Kakashi blinked. It seemed to him that the young leader is blaming herself for what is happening, "Koyuki-sama…" he began but was interrupted when she started speaking again.
"Thank you for informing us of your predicament, Hokage-sama. I'll have to summon them and give them the instructions. Have a good day," Koyuki said with finality.
"Uhh… thank you Koyuki-sama," Kakashi quickly replied, "Have a great day, as well."
A click and then silence. Kakashi dropped the call and turned to his companions.
"So, how was it?" he queried.
Shikamaru spoke, "That's a good start, Hokage-sama. We do need the additional help for the manhunt that we're planning since we have to add guards to station at the gates and around our perimeter. Who do you plan to send for the manhunt?"
Kakashi rested his chin on his hand and glanced at the papers on his desk, "I'm thinking of having Yamato lead this mission and have Sai with him. Perhaps he can take a Hyūga or a Yamanaka so they can have Sensory nin with them. I'm leaving it up to Yamato to choose the other two members."
Shikamaru nodded but he still looked disturbed, "Alright. You think Naruto can…?"
"Except Naruto," Kakashi interjected.
Shikamaru blinked, confused, "Huh? Why not?"
Kakashi glanced at Shizune. They already discussed why Naruto can't be part of the mission.
"Shikamaru, Team 7 was the one who took the mission to protect Koyuki 10 years ago. At the sight of any of us out there, you think they will hesitate to kill any of us at the slightest distraction?" Kakashi asked the young man rhetorically.
"I understand," Shikamaru replied, "Should I call Yamato-san?"
Kakashi nodded, "Yes, please. He needs to assemble his team immediately. Also, don't let Naruto know about this mission; he might blow his top and start hunting them himself. Shizune, please inform the ANBU that they have to widen their perimeter and to interrogate anyone within 500 meters that comes close to our gates."
They both nodded and left the room.
Kakashi exhaled tiredly. Last night was a roller coaster of emotion for him and he was quite surprised that he slept well last night, though it could be because Shizune's safe return and having her in his arms that he attained peace for a night. Probably worried about the work that had undoubtedly piled up on her desk and the amount of work that they had to do following the attack, Shizune decreed that they should have an early start for the day to finish their work in time.
Even though he admitted to her that he actually thought about leaving her, Shizune's understanding, patience and calm had touched his heart deeply. She didn't seem angry nor disappointed. Though she looked a little hurt, she still told him that she's grateful that he was honest with her and that he will never be a danger to her.
"You made so many good things in my life than you could imagine. Don't ever think that you do me harm for being with me."
How could there be a creation such as her? Her attitude and dedication infatuates him. She's understands him, she supports him, she remains patient with him, she takes care of him. She…
She loves him, right?
Kakashi chuckled in a self-depreciating way. He can't understand how someone like Shizune – a bright, skilled and loyal kunoichi who can catch the attention of any other shinobi out there – would love him: a loner with issues so many they couldn't be written in a single scroll.
He could only shake his head and pick up the pen to start today's work. It doesn't matter; he knows deep within himself that he loves her and he will show his love for her for as long as he can.
Because that's how love works, right, Sensei?
"Kakashi-senpai," Yamato greeted as he entered his office, closing the door behind him.
"Tenzo," Kakashi greeted as well, "I have a mission for you. This is an S-rank mission that will be a joint cooperation between our village and Yukigakure."
Yamato perked up at the mention of the said village, "Yukigakure? Is this about the group of rogue shinobi that attacked Shizune-san and her team during their mission?"
The Hokage nodded, "Yes. Koyuki-sama and I had come to the agreement that we will participate in handling these ninjas, since they are so close to our village now and they already attacked our shinobi. This will be a manhunt for those rogue shinobi. She will send five ninjas to assist us: three ANBUs and two Jounins," Kakashi discussed as he handed Yamato the scroll of mission assignment.
"You will be the leader for this mission, Tenzo, and I thought Sai would be a good addition to your team. It's up to your discretion who will be the other three members," he finished.
Yamato rubbed his chin in contemplation, "It would be good to have a sensory type, so Hyūga Hoheto would be a good member. The two remaining could be from ANBU Black Ops."
Kakashi nodded in acceptance, "I'll let you choose them, then. Once you completed your squad, you have to start searching from them and scanning the land surrounding our village immediately. We can't take our chances and wait for the ninjas from Yuki and Koyuki-sama had given her approval for us to start."
Yamato nodded, determination etched on his face, "I understand. I'll get going, senpai."
The man left and shut the door behind him. Kakashi picked up the pen again and started working. Not even ten minutes later, Naruto opened the door with a slam, quickly followed by Sakura and they entered his office. Shizune emerged from her office, obviously startled by the sound of his office door being violently opened.
"Naruto-kun! Sakura!" Shizune gasped as she made her way beside Kakashi, "What in the…"
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto said furiously as he glared at his former sensei, "What are we hearing about rogue ninjas from Yuki?!"
Kakashi met his glare head-on but he was cursing the one who made the news reach Naruto, "Nothing you had to worry about, Naruto, Sakura."
"Nothing to worry about?" Sakura said, sounding indignant, "Sensei, that group attacked a Genin team! Kiba also said they were attacked by that group when he's on a mission with Shizune-san!"
Fuck.
Kakashi shared a glance with Shizune. A glance between them is enough. They couldn't really keep it as a secret from the two of them anymore.
Kakashi rested his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together, "As the two of you know, I was attacked by a rogue nin almost four months ago. What we didn't disclose was the identity and the origin of the attacker. It was Roga Katsuo from Yukigakure."
Sakura gasped, recognizing the name, while Naruto looked confused.
"Roga… Katsuo? Roga," Naruto thought for awhile before realization finally dawned on his face, "Roga?! Sensei, you mean that shinobi from Yuki that we fought?!"
Kakashi nodded gravely, "Yes. The man that attacked me was the son of the man that I killed in Yuki a decade ago. He was doing it all for revenge. He revealed that he still had comrades out there who also wants revenge, not just against me but for the rest of us. From my meeting with Koyuki-sama, the Lady of the Land of Snow, they had branded those who followed Katsuo as rogue shinobi and had a kill on sight orders for them."
He sighed, "It got serious when they attacked the Genin team without provocation and then tried to kidnap Shizune to lure me out of the village. Our village is now involved and we had to take action. We cooperated with Koyuki-sama and she'd send her own ninjas to assist with the manhunt. Yamato already organized the squad that will work on tracking these people down and they are to start immediately."
Naruto and Sakura shared a look. Really, these two looked like a pair of siblings: fighting one moment and then working together the next moment.
They looked back at him after a moment, "Kakashi-sensei, we'll join the search!" Sakura declared.
"Absolutely not," Kakashi replied curtly and with finality.
"And why not?!" Naruto exclaimed, obviously enraged.
Kakashi gazed at them firmly, "Naruto, Sakura, the moment that they see any of us out there, we're immediately the target of these people."
"I don't care – " Naruto began but Kakashi interrupted him immediately.
"You don't care, Naruto?" he asked, an eyebrow raised in question, "What about your wife? Don't you want to go home safely to her?"
Naruto fell silent at that.
Kakashi sighed again, "Look, guys, I'm not underestimating your abilities. The three of you had certainly grown up from that Genins who can't even take a bell from me. But the slightest distraction is all these criminals need. They're skillful in kenjutsu, in using ninja tools and administering poison. None of us are immune to poison, aren't we?" he explained.
"But…" Naruto still protested.
"How about this," Kakashi began conciliatory, "You will not join the search. But, if you see that they managed to get inside our walls, then I'll allow you to kill them in whatever way is possible."
The two shared a look again.
"Fine," Naruto grumbled and Kakashi grinned behind his mask.
"Kakashi-sensei, if we ever see them here in the village…" Sakura told him.
"I give you my word that you can kill them," he confirmed.
They still looked like they want to argue but decided to rest their case.
"And, Naruto," he called to his successor, who looked at him questioningly, "Don't try to sneak out and join them or I'll have Yamato return you in a cage."
The young man actually blushed, as if he was actually thinking about it, "Y-yeah, Kakashi-sensei."
"We'll go now, Kakashi-sensei. Shizune-san. I'll tell Hinata to keep an eye on this knucklehead," Sakura assured and he waved at them as they left the office.
Shizune turned to look at him as the door closed behind them, "You handled them well, Kakashi," she commented with a smile.
He sighed and leaned back on his chair, looking at her gratefully, "Yeah, well thanks to you. You're the one who came up with that proposition for them."
She chuckled, her dark eyes shining with amusement as she stepped closer to him, "We both know that your students are the most stubborn shinobi under your command. If we didn't think of something to placate them, they'll probably be out there already the moment they left the Tower and screaming bloody murder to those rogue nin."
He laughed as well and reached for her hand, tugging her closer to him, "As I said, thanks to your idea. We managed to satisfy them for a little while longer."
Shizune leaned down and brushed her lips with his masked ones. Kakashi brought his hand up to her cheek, keeping her there for a little while longer. He couldn't seem to get enough of her; he was always drawn to her, it's like Shizune is some sort of a drug and Kakashi's so damn addicted to her. He never knew that he could feel so much emotion for another person before and it surprises him.
She pulled away, sooner than Kakashi would've liked. She was blushing slightly and the color on her cheeks made Kakashi grin.
"Shizune," he nearly whined, "Don't I deserve a little break? Come on, just a few minutes," he tried to coax her, tugging her hand lightly.
She was still blushing but she took a step back and pulled her hand away, "Hokage-sama," she said, a warning tone in her voice, "There's still a lot of work to do!" she exclaimed and gestured at his desk full of papers.
He barely glanced at his desk, "Shizuneee…"
"Nope!" she interrupted his whine firmly, "You need to finish this work by tonight, Hokage-sama! And then we'll see about the dinner that you were talking about."
Kakashi paused and then smirked, "Are you asking me out on a date?"
She blushed again and Kakashi delighted on the redness that rose up her cheeks, "Don't make it sound like it's the other way around! You were the one who asked me out first!"
He picked up his pen and pretended to read one of the papers, "Sure, Shizune. I'm free tonight."
Shizune fumed, "You…!"
A/N: our internet provider is an absolute bitch.