I do not own Naruto – if I did, Kakashi would really be great – like a Sannin etc etc etc… and we'd see what's under his mask.

Revelation of the Wolf: The Glory of the Hatake Clan

Genma: Fly Away

Genma was once again stuck behind a tree.

If Sand wasn't allied to us now – I'd think they'd sent Temari after me. Winds. Long range fighting. Good strategist. Where's Shikamaru-san when you need him?

He sighed.

One more man to go.

And already he knew something big was going down. The ground shook continuously from the steps of he didn't want to know what.

What I need to do is get my needles to him – but he keeps deflecting them and I can't pick them up after I've thrown them…. I'm seriously running out of weaponry here…..

Unless….

Genma's tired eyes lit up.

It would sap the last of my chakra… but it could work…..

Then, it flashed before his eyes. A split second memory as still as a photograph.

A close friend just recently gone. Well, it seemed like ages ago.

Is a year and then some an age?

Brown hair stirred gently in the breeze as dark eyes turned away from a glorious view of Konoha at sunset. He pulled away from his window and the reflected glow of the sun fell from his cheeks revealing once again ghastly waxen skin, baggy eyes and pale lips.

He coughed.

Perhaps it was due to his talk with Iruka, Genma wasn't sure, but memories had been resurrected – memories of Hayate, which always affected him strangely.

He still remembered the day Hayate had left ANBU.

"Life has better things for me," he coughed and smiled, scooping out a cup of bird seed for his many bird feeders which hung off of his balcony.

Raido complained about the shells that were always falling onto Genma and his balcony from Hayate's 'mess of a bird's nest' above.

Hayate would just smile (and cough).

Bird watching was relaxing.

Here he was.

In the middle of a forest. In the middle of executing a plan. In a fight to the death. Well… the possibility of death had shrunk drastically – but things could happen.

Here he was.

And his mind was blank.

Except for the memories.

Such as the last day he had seen the young man who had become more like a brother to him.

"So…. You're enjoying being an examiner? Geez! What a life!"

"C'mon! (cough) You've refereed before."

"Am I now?"

"…ummmm…. No….."

"My point. I got out before insanity took over."

Hayate's normally tired face lifted in a smile and he chuckled before subsiding into a violent fit of coughing.

"It's not that bad. I like it. There are days when through the insanity, you see seeds of greatness."

"Seeds of greatness, huh? Been talking to Gai or the kage lately?"

"…. Ummmmm…. No……" Hayate looked out over Konoha. They were on his balcony again, watching the bolder birds approach the wooden feeder. "But this upcoming exam gets me excited. I can hardly wait. There's a lot of geniuses coming up."

"Hoe?"

"Ummmm…. Gaara of Sand…. His sister, Temari….. his brother, Kankuuro…. Ummm….. Neji of the Hyuuga and that Uchiha kid, Sasuke…. Aburame's son, Shino… some guy from Sound – Dosu? – I think…. Um… that lazy kid who's smart…. Shikamaru – you know, Shikaku's son…. Naruto…."

"Some losers too, huh?"

"None of them are losers," Hayate said, his brows furrowed and he coughed again. "They're all geniuses in their own right."

"Yeah…" Genma sighed. "Watching those kids, I wonder what's so special about us, ya know? The Byukugan, the Sharingan, Shadow Manipulation, sound techniques, bugs…. Stuff like that – makes you feel superfluous."

Hayate coughed and sighed.

He turned and gave Genma a sickly smile.

"Nonsense. Everyone in the Konoha is special –"

"So speaks "Dance of the Crescent Moon" genius Jounin Gekkou –"

"I was taught that by father – you on the other hand never got the opportunity to learn any secret family jutsu…. Ummm….. it's not your fault you were orphaned at an early age. (Cough cough)"

Genma drew back, eyes wide at his friend's perception.

Hayate's face softened.

"That's why I look up to you, Genma-senpai – you…. umm….. make your own path. I know one day one of your needles will save many lives."

"Thanks, Hayate," Genma smiled, crookedly. "You're a sweetie."

Hayate coughed and blushed.

"Although, call me senpai again and I'll raise these aching bones up to beat on you."

Hayate's laughter ended up in another fit of coughing and hacking.

"…. Have mercy on a sick man!" he protested, faking feebleness.

But it wasn't a really good joke.

The conversation drifted that day. My husky voice and Hayate's slow voice, laced with its gentle warmness and good humour, floated away on the breeze.

"Believe me."

"It was a new way sure… original…."

"She WAS good, Genma. Just her (cough)… bad luck she was pitched against… um….. Temari-san. Chakra guided weaponry. Good thinking on the part of a Genin kunoichi. Very pretty to look at – her moves… that is…. She'll make a good weapons specialist one day…. She'll rebound as all good kunoichi do…. You should have (cough cough) seen Kakashi's girl – broke out of Shintenshin no Jutsu… very… ummm…. Bizarre…. Do you know what he did to them?"

I remember that day. He had to do night patrol. I joked and told him to take care of himself or else his girlfriend would kill me. It was sad. She was the one after all who found his body. I won't ever forget the ebony crows that circled overhead.

And there was the question of who should referee. I volunteered for Hayate – I believed in him enough to carry on his dream of hope. And when the time came, I was able to say what he would have wanted to say.

When captured birds grow wiser, they try to open their cage with their beaks.

A message of freedom and of making your own way.

"I look up to you, Genma…. You make your own path."

In retrospect, today is an appropriate time to commemorate you, Hayate. This move wouldn't have happened unless you lived to be my encouragement.

Thank you, Hayate.

With that last thought, Genma, creating several clones, sent some off as a diversion. Eventually, Genma's prey walked into the clearing.

Immediately, the shinobi was being targeted on all sides with senbon. With his signature wind, he once again deflected all of them – they fell to his feet in a wide circle around him.

Perfect.

Gathering chakra to his feet, he jumped into the air. Sickling winds tore through the multitudes of clones who had aped his movements – their bodies absorbed the impact of the wind and their presence disguised Genma who flew above.

Knowing gravity would be taking over soon, Genma savoured the feel of flight.

Hayate would've enjoyed this.

Bird freak.

The Sound-nin below watching for Genma didn't even notice the twitch of senbon at his feet.

Bad mistake.

Chakra strings yanked upwards hard. The enemy died three seconds later, bristling with senbon and a few well-placed kunai. Disengaging the chakra strings, Genma fell – for the most part, he managed to remain unharmed – although he sprained his wrist. Gasping hard, he found he had enough strength to stagger back to the clearing where they had left Iruka.

That pansy better be alive or I'll kick his butt!