Well... there's been a wait because I've been too busy running around campus trying to find my around the university I'm attending right now... The story is now officially completed on my computer and as I mentioned before, I'm thinking on writing a sequel.
Already it has a title... but I'm not sure if it would be worth writing. Gentle Lesson: The Restoration of the Hatake Clan.
To those who reviewed:
allyluv - I'm glad you liked Kakashi kicking ass! This fic, although it doesn't have the calibre of its prequel, does have more action. D Although my idea is now void seeing as Kakashi's secret jutsu is in fact the Mangekyou Sharingan...
Kunoichi 008 - Glad I could make you smile.
Krows Scared - Yup! These were hard to write since I was trying to make a point with them. Genma-freedom-birds, Raido-acceptance-leaves, Iruka-growth-water... The flashbacks were difficult to format- I needed to italicize them to set them out but ran into problems when the people were thinking while in flashback... grrr!
aldex - Oooo! New reviewer! Glad you like the development of character. AsumA, yes, I'm just to lazy to go back and correct all those mistakes I made.
Sabireru - Thanks for the compliments. Kakashi isindeed awesome! Naruto's coming back in thelast chapter - next upload.
PLEASE! IF YOU ENJOYED IT, PLEASE REVIEW! IT ONLY TAKES A COUPLE OF SECS! IT'S THE ONLY JUSTIFICATION I HAVE FOR WRITING THIS STUFF.
Warning: GenxRai in this chapter. Nothing R but still...
I do not own Naruto –what happens to Kakashi in my fics is all my imagination. Rather sick, really.
Revelation of the Wolf: The Glory of the Hatake Clan
Bound by an Oath
In half an hour, Tsunade slowed down, her temper finally abated and after finding a secure spot, the team decided to rest for the rest of the night and take their time later on the next day.
Around a small fire (courtesy of Kakashi's Katon Goukakyuu no jutsu) the men huddled laughing and chatting over their water and fish.
"Still…." Tsunade sighed. "That whole paralysis potion business still worries me…"
"You mean – that wasn't an act?" Genma asked, trying to erase disbelief from his voice.
Tsunade glared and whacked Genma upside the head.
Iruka cringed. Kakashi winced.
Tsunade's blows were something nobody wanted – she tended to be heavy handed.
"The only thing could've been the tea," she said, thoughtfully, ignoring Genma's whimpering.
"Who was at the tea?" asked Kakashi, miffed that he hadn't been able to go.
"The concert had taken place at ten in the morning – a special gathering of elite people," Iruka said. "It was so – so –"
His eyes sparkled.
Tsunade sighed. Raido looked up from Genma's boo-boo.
"So – so – awe inspiring! Beautiful!"
Kakashi's eyebrows rose at the sight of the stars sparkling in Iruka's eyes.
"Yuh-huh…."
"Pure! Divine!"
"I can't see how you stood that stuff, day after day after day," Genma said, recovering fast from his injury. "But she IS hot! You're one lucky dog, Kakashi!"
Genma winked, Tsunade glowered, Iruka frowned.
"Anyway…" Tsunade said. "The tea afterwards wasn't that long – it had very elite personages there – we can rule out anybody from Cloud Village – they wouldn't do something like that. Plus, the attack afterwards suggested it was a double attack and it looks like Sound to me….."
"So maybe someone there slipped it into your drink and it took affect later on…."
"Eight hours later? Impossible."
"What about those headache pills you took, Tsunade-sama?" Iruka asked.
"Hmmmm…. Good thinking….."
"They were from Megami-san," Genma frowned. "You don't think you were poisoned by a singer, do you?"
"….nnnnoooooo…."
Kakashi wrinkled his forehead.
"Maybe somebody in her party did it…."
"Or a waitress…"
"Or someone in the kitchen…."
"Where DID the pills come from? Did anybody see?" asked Kakashi, wondering once again why he traveled with dolts who took medication without double-checking where it came from.
Tsunade, the Hokage, the great Slug Princess, the famous medic ninja with superhuman powers AND the Legendary Sucker took medication without checking?
"I can't remember right off…." Tsunade said, looking abashed.
"I'll try remembering," Iruka said, seriously. "I'm good at recalling stuff."
"Cloud will figure it out if we tell them about this," Raido shrugged. "I'm sure they'll find some leads too."
There was a thoughtful silence.
"Well… it went well, despite everything." Tsunade said, calmly. "Iruka. I'm proud of you. You were fast and lethal. It's good to know that your book smarts are good for something. I think it's high time you considered taking the Jounin exam."
"J-j-j-jounin exam?" Iruka squeaked.
"Great idea, Tsunade-sama," Raido smiled. "We three can be the ones to nominate him."
"We can?" asked Kakashi, scratching his head and pretending to be puzzled.
Genma nudged him.
'Oh… yeah…. We can." Kakashi said hastily, seeing Tsunade's thunderous face. "It'll be interesting to watch Iruka experience pain."
"Sadist!" mumbled Genma.
Iruka glared.
"I heard that!" He huffed. "The only pain experienced will be yours – when you eat humble pie!"
"Yeah, yeah," Kakashi said lazily. "It's your funeral."
Don't change too quickly, Iruka-sensei. Why rush onto such a dark road?
Iruka noticed the silver-haired jounin's pensive look and blinked.
What?
Tsunade smirked.
"Genma and Raido didn't do too badly either…"
"Didn't do too badly?" Genma choked out indignation.
"A little too suicidal – taking on a platoon by oneself, but a move that saved our asses," Tsunade said. "I see that Iruka hasn't been the only one training – and I'm glad for it. You're alive and that's all that matters, right?"
Raido blushed and thanked his kage with a small smile.
Genma, with a poke, did likewise while muttering about unappreciation and cruel women.
"…. And Kakashi….."
Tsunade stopped.
"So you summon…. Truly, you're living up the expectations of Sakumo, Yellow Flash and Jiraiya – and I applaud you for your dedication. Thanks to you, we have an edge in the upcoming war with Sound. Although…." Here she paused.
"Sakumo?" whispered Iruka.
"Don't know….."
Tsunade went on while Kakashi glared at everybody.
I hate it when people find out things about me…. Grrrr… stupid mission…..
"I want all three of you – Iruka, Genma and Raido – to swear on the honour of your clans never to mention Kakashi's newest jutsus to anybody else."
Genma, Iruka and Raido blinked and then slowly nodded. They looked at each other, then the two men looked at Genma.
Genma sighed.
What the hell? I don't see Tsunade hiding Iruka's newest jutsus!
"I, Shiranui Genma, swear on the honour of the Shiranui clan never to reveal the secret jutsus of Hatake Kakashi."
Raido nodded and quickly followed with, 'I, Namashi Raido, swear on the honour of the Namashi clan never to reveal the secret jutsus of Hatake Kakashi.'
Iruka's mouth felt dry.
I know that this is the best for Konoha – that with no gossip we could have a definite secret weapon against Sound – that wolf dog looked fierce and with Kakashi's other jutsus – well…. Orochimaru can't stand a chance but…..
"I, Umino Iruka, swear on the honour of the Umino clan never to reveal the secret jutsus of Hatake Kakashi."
But…. All of his life, Kakashi has hidden in the shadows for his village – hiding his strengths, his dedication and his accomplishments from us all – and we take him for granted. How can this be good?
He grinned suddenly in memory.
No wonder he was antsy that day – that day so long ago when we first sent him off to care for Yukimoto Megami!
"What're you grinning about?" Kakashi asked sourly (just a little).
"Just thinking on that day you were sent off to Yukimoto Megami – how you were so displeased about being given a babysitting job when you had this exciting new jutsu under your belt."
"Yeah… and I hope you're going to keep your end of the bargain."
"I'll tell you later."
"You got news?"
"Have I got news!"
"Tell! Tell! Tell!"
"Nope. Later."
"Teeeelllll mmmmmeeeeeee!"
"I said LATER."
"C'mmmooooonnnnnn!"
"No. Not listening!"
Tsunade, Genma and Raido burst out laughing as the high and mighty Copy Nin begged Iruka on his hands and knees (literally).
"What's this all about?" asked Genma.
"Bet you it's perverted," Raido said.
"Well, it's getting dark, so let's leave them for the first watch. I need sleep."
Tsunade rolled out a blanket and finding a spot on the other side of the site, flopped her head on a pack and fell asleep promptly.
Genma and Raido, picking up their packs, left with a wave.
"Eh? Where're they going?" asked Iruka.
Kakashi rolled his eyes. "Celebrating life, no doubt."
"What? They've got some drinks and they didn't share with us?"
Iruka looked put out.
Kakashi smacked himself on the forehead.
"They're not drinking – that is forbidden on a mission – you should know that, Iruka-sensei!"
Iruka blushed.
"Oh, yeah." He stood up. "What're they doing then? Let me go check –"
"No."
"What? Let me go!"
"No. Just sit."
"I can go if –"
"Iruka. Take my word for it."
"But –"
"I don't know about you, but when I have sex I'm not really into having an audience – but hey, if you swing that way, just go ahead. I'm sure Genma wouldn't mind."
Iruka turned a beet red and plopped himself down beside the Jounin.
Suddenly he was very aware that he was sitting down beside Kakashi – Kakashi who was super powerful and rather odd. Normally that was no problem for Iruka but after today, he couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy.
Kakashi is ANBU. Kakashi summons things like a Sannin. And who is Sakumo?
The silence stretched as the men spent the following uncomfortable minutes checking their surroundings for chakra signatures. Iruka was more and more aware of his companion's unique white chakra – that and the two flares in the distance.
"Something wrong, Iruka?"
"……. Noooo….."
"Are you sure? You seem tense to me…. Although after today, I guess any Chuunin might feel uneasy or excited."
"No. I'm fine, Kakashi-san."
"Kakashi is fine."
Silence.
"I'm not going to bite you, you know."
"I know." Iruka hesitated. "It's just –"
"Let me guess. ANBU right?"
"…. Yeah…. I didn't know –"
"I don't like advertising it. It's something I don't speak of – never have, never like to, never will."
Iruka nodded.
"Genma said it takes some people that way."
"Genma blabs," Kakashi said, but his voice held some resignation and fondness.
"I guess you must have been in there for a while. More than – say…. Five years?"
"…….. yeah……."
Iruka tried not to gawk, instead, he focused on the flames of their small camp fire and imagined life for more than five years living life on the edge of hell. Alone. Isolated. No friends. Nothing.
And he lost his sensei, the Yondaime, Yellow Flash. How young was he? How old is he now?
Iruka frowned. Nobody to his knowledge ever celebrated the Jounin's birthday.
Has he even celebrated his birthday ever?
Taking a quick peek at Kakashi (who was staring ruminatively at the fire), Iruka made up his mind.
"I know the reference to Yellow Flash and Jiraiya – but who's Sakumo? An old teammate?"
Kakashi turned his head, his mismatched eyes glinted dangerously in the firelight. Iruka gulped and turned away.
"Forget I asked."
There was a silence.
Kakashi idly scratched at his glove's metal protector, sitting cross-legged and brooding.
"Father."
"Eh?"
"He was…. My father."
Iruka felt like he stepped on a land mine.
Shit.
"Oh." He stopped. "I see."
"You don't. But that's okay."
"I thought –"
Iruka shrugged nonchalantly.
"You thought what?"
"I thought you were – um – orphaned. Like Naruto."
Or me. Or Sasuke.
There was so many ways to be orphaned. By large tragic disasters – the Kyuubi. Or by chance like Naruto. Or by genocide – like Sasuke with Itachi. Or by mistake like Genma.
"What made you think that?" asked Kakashi curiously.
"Well… there's that look in your eyes….. eye….."
"Look?"
"Lost and lonely."
Kakashi raised his eyebrow.
"Orphaned isn't quite the word for it – but I guess technically – yeah."
"How?"
Silence.
"I mean, what happened?"
Kakashi said nothing.
After a moment, Iruka sighed.
I guess it's a sore point for him. All the same – everybody has had their parents taken away from them because of something – like he's any different! Sometimes this guy really –
"Sometimes I find it good to talk about these things to a close friend," Iruka said. "The Hokage was kind to me and often listened."
"Tsunade?"
"No. I mean. The Sandaime."
"Aaahhh…. Yeah…. Same here."
"It's not bad to open up – not everybody is condemning –"
"Heh. You think."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"So never be afraid to tell me –"
"That's Iruka-sensitive-sensei for you."
"Eh?"
"Nothing, never mind."
"You seem to be saying that a lot."
"It's for your own protection, Iruka. What I have to say – what stories I have to tell – are just best forgotten. Why else do you think I've not said anything to Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke about it? You think we keep silent for nothing?"
We.
Iruka felt more out of it than normal.
What can I as a simple Chuunin teacher do? He wondered. Really?He wondered
Then he remembered Genma's words.
If you don't retain that eternal, irritating optimism, you'll end up like us. Asumo and Kurenai in denial, Gai bizarre, Ebisu a peeping tom…. Ibiki…. 'nuff said. Kakashi….. he hasn't been in a decent relationship for YEARS! And I mean, like more than a decade…. I don't know when was the last time he had sex to my knowledge…
Whatever. That's not the point. The point is – Iruka, you are our strength. Your optimism, your tales, your normality, your innocence is the light at the end of our tunnel. Maybe that's why we all put up with your pansy ways and your general weepiness.
Well….. the thing to fear is not the death or your opponent but your own nerves. The day you lose your nerve, lose your resolved is the day the enemy wins. That's the day you die, or desert, or crack up or do something equally stupid. And without you…. well…. Jounins like Kakashi will just have one more HUGE disillusionment.
Provide hope even when it seems shoved in my face. Provide an outlet even when it seems unappreciated.
"Well… I just want you to know that I'm there," Iruka said stubbornly, filled with new resolve.
"How can I forget?"
"I HEARD THAT!"
"Gaaaaa!"
Iruka had jumped Kakashi suddenly – there was a scuffling in the dark, before Kakashi froze at the sight of Tsunade stirring restlessly.
"If you guys don't shut the fuck up, I'm going to kill you and leave your corpses for Orochimaru," she said sleepily.
"Eeeep!"
"Go play your sex games elsewhere."
Kakashi and Iruka jumped several yards away from each other, Tsunade rolled over and fell asleep once again, smirking. That comment always worked with manly men.
"How does she do that?" asked Iruka with reverence.
Meanwhile, Genma and Raido lay satiated in a clearing not too far away. For a long time now, they had learned how to find pleasure in silence – in the silence of the evening. Leaning back, enjoying the air on their bared and cooling skin, they watched the stars. Raido's hand lay cupped in Genma's as they thought happily about their bizarre but successful mission.
"Today I thought about Hayate."
"Mmm…"
Genma had been close to Hayate in a brotherly type of way. A rarity for the cynical Jounin who disliked emotional ties of any kind.
"I remembered how he always saw hope in the hopeless, ya know? Something I need to practice…"
"Yeah. Today was a red letter day for me, too."
"Eh?"
"Father."
"Geez! Here I thought I was in the dumps!"
"I'm no longer afraid."
A thoughtful pause.
"I'm no longer afraid – I feel – so light! And it's all thanks to you."
Another pause.
Then in a lower huskier voice, "Genma."
Genma turned, his lips crooked upwards.
"Say my name like that – and I just might –"
Any nonsense was lost in another long kiss.
"We need sleep," Raido murmured. "Guard duty later on –"
"I – just can't. Flying too high."
"Hmmm…. Can't be helped, I guess."
"Screw regrets anyway."
When Genma and Raido rose, it was their turn for the watch. They had slept fitfully and after a quiet wash off at a nearby stream, they returned to the clearing just in time to see Tsunade slip back into her blanket.
Kakashi had fallen asleep, curled up protectively, no doubt a left over habit from his ANBU days. Next to him, endearing as he snuggled up against the silver-haired summoner, was Iruka.
Genma quirked his senbon and pointed, giggling at the pair. Raido smirked.
"Wish we had a camera," he breathed, looking down at the two.
Genma winked and pulled one out of his pack.
"You didn't!"
He nodded and raised a finger.
A moment later and a few photos later, Genma tucked it away – if his fellow Elite Jounin found out, he'd be dead.
Aaahhhhh! What a day that had been! We'll all be glad to get back!
READ AND REVIEW PLEASE!