Kakashi felt irked. That woman had managed to evade him three times now. And all three times she had fled to a different town where she proceeded to gamble and drink. How does a drunk woman move so fast and silently anyway?
Now she stood before him looking smug, the woman with the pig in her arms next to her looking worried. He hadn't even gotten the chance to say a word, let alone to explain his reasons for searching her out before she disappeared on him. But as determined as she seemed to avoid Kakashi, Kakashi was even more so to get her to come to Konoha with him. Or more specifically, to Shizuka.
But it seemed she now accepted the fact that she couldn't get rid of him until, at the very least, she had heard him out. "Well, come one then. Why does Sarutobi-senpai suddenly want me back this badly, sending you of all people after me?" She asked impatiently. Kakashi's eyebrow twitched irksomely. The woman was a nightmare. Why did she have to be the only hope for Shizuka to regain his voice?
"He doesn't." Kakashi said in a low voice. He felt on edge, ready to attack, but was keeping his patience as best he could. "I need you to come with me and help my lover."
Tsunade laughed at that, making Kakashi sigh and Shizune step away from her, awkwardly laughing as well. "Really? You think I would just come with you to treat her because you asked nicely? She must be one crazy woman to want to be around you."
"Don't go calling someone crazy when you don't even know who we're talking about. And yes, I was hoping we could keep it that simple, but if I have to, I'll drag you, her and the pig with me back to Konoha." He said pointing at Tsunade, Shizune and Tonton in turn, before determination staring at Tsunade, who stared back equally stubbornly.
"Hmpf, what's wrong with her, anyway, that you would need my help for? Maybe I wouldn't even need to come." Tsunade crossed her arms.
"Shizuka's throat was cut. There was no medical aid when it happened, so now there is a scar and damages to the vocal cords." Kakashi took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He had accepted never to hear Shizuka's voice, but now that it was possible, he felt nearly desperate for it. "I just want to hear my lover's voice..." He added, closing his eyes and stumbling back half a step.
Tsunade watched in amazement as one of the most ruthless Shinobi of the Leaf was practically crumbling in front of her. "How did she survive a cut like that without medical treatment? Who is she?"
"Do you have the latest Bingo book?" Kakashi asked. Tsunade nodded, taking the small book out of her pocket. "Page three." There was a silence as both Tsunade and Shizune studied the page. "He's also an Uzumaki." Kakashi added after a few seconds, hoping that that information would be enticing in any way to the stubborn women.
Shizune was looking between Kakashi and Tsunade. "Sensei, this might be a good reason to go back. There's nothing to hold us there if you want to leave again after that, but at least we'll have been there again." Shizune whispered.
"As interesting as this character seems, it still has nothing to do with me and you haven't given me any reason for me to help. If you can give me a good reason, I will come with you. But not all the way to the Leaf. You'll have to come to me." Tsunade said. She was still staring Kakashi down determinately, wanting him to back off and admit defeat, but dogs were nothing if not loyal and Kakashi always seemed a bit like a dog to her. She wouldn't be surprised if it someday came to light Kakashi was related to the Inuzuki clan. Right now, Kakashi's loyalties were obviously focussed on this Shizuka, though it was clear Shizuka was not his real name judging by the Bingo book.
Kakashi didn't back down, but instead, he just seemed more determined. "He's Jiraya's Godson, and they are out on a mission together to stop Uzumaki Nagato and Konan." It was the shortest possible summary Kakashi could make of the situation, hoping a want for more information would entice Tsunade, or at the very least spark her interest in Shizuka.
Tsunade looked at him wide-eyed, remembering the orphans Jiraya had taken under his wing a long time ago. Kakashi couldn't mean the same children, right? She never really knew what happened to them, never really thought about them, to be honest. And how did Kakashi dream up the idea that a grown man could be Jiraya's Godson? She only knew of Kushina's son and that boy couldn't be older than eleven something. Kakashi couldn't have meant Naruto. Oh, God, she hoped not. That would be wrong on so many levels and Naruto didn't have anyone she knew of to help him through something like that! But Kakashi had shown her the Bingo book. How would Naruto be in the Bingo book described as an adult male, or in that book at all for that matter? How could Kakashi so easily admit something so wrong? There had to be more to the story and she would be lying if she'd said she didn't want to know more. "With Jiraya's Godson, you don't mean Naruto, do you?" She asked carefully, almost fearing the answer.
"That's the only Godson Jiraya has." Kakashi answered seriously. "And if you want to know more about everything, you'll have to come and ask Shizuka himself about it. We'll be in the first village north of Konoha in a month. We'll meet again then." Kakashi turned around, ready to walk away. "And if we don't, we'll come and find you. Konoha has always and will always know exactly where you are, after all." With a closed eye smile, he Shunshinned away, appearing on a rooftop a little distance away, taking a deep breath. Was this enough? He guessed he would find out in a month.
He took his time getting back to Konoha. After all, his mission didn't have a hard time limit and Shizuka was out on a mission, so he had no reason to hurry. The day was nice, the weather calm, and Kakashi was inherently lazy at every opportunity.
Taking a day or two extra and camping out in the open wasn't going to be so bad. The wide-open skies strewn with stars reminded him of the nights he had spent out with his team, and now also of the nights he had spent out with Shizuka.
The smells of fire and cooking food permeated the area, and the sound of a small stream nearby settled the surrounding area into peaceful bliss.
It took a while before he noticed that he was being watched from beyond the dancing flames. The person was standing at the other side of the fire, not hiding but also not in sight. Using the light and flames to obscure himself, he was staring straight at Kakashi, seemingly studying Kakashi in silence. Kakashi didn't immediately feel the panic he knew he should be feeling, but there was something familiar about him, a familiarity that felt painful. It was replaced by dread, an instinctual fear, and Kakashi knew something bad was going to happen. Kakashi stood up in a crouch, hand hovering over his weapon pouch, and waited.
The long black cloak with red clouds didn't hide the seemingly relaxed posture underneath. But it was the man's visible eye that drew Kakashi's full attention. The rest of his face was hidden behind an orange mask, a swirl, drawing all attention into the blackness behind the mask.
"Hiya, Kakashi!" The man said cheerfully, his voice slightly too high pitched for what Kakashi had expected. "I'm here to fetch you!"
"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Kakashi asked cautiously as he straightened up a bit.
"Tobi! My name is Tobi! And I'm taking you with me! Someone important wants to talk to you!" Kakashi was sure the man was smiling behind the mask, and it unsettled him. Tobi was too relaxed, too sure that he was able to take Kakashi on just like that.
"Why?" The question was almost a growl, wary and on edge.
"Well, Kakashi..." Tobi sang playfully, stepping through to fire and leaning in close to Kakashi's face. "Your boyfriend is causing trouble, and we don't really like that." The edge of seriousness Tobi ended his sentence in was enough to send shivers down Kakashi's spine. It was like Kakashi watched a big smile morph into pure evil within the length of that sentence. There was a flow of air, and Kakashi felt himself get trapped in something he couldn't fight.
