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

Glad to Get Back

When the gates of Konoha came into view between the trees, everybody gave a sigh of relief. Home. At last!

All five shinobi started to make mental lists of what to do.

Tsunade's list started with sake, her favorite dinner, a bath and Shizune.

Raido thought of hot showers, Genma and the inn.

Genma thought of hot showers, Raido and the inn.

Iruka sighed, thinking of Ichiraku ramen, hot showers and his soft comfy bed.

And maybe Shizune.

Kakashi daydreamed about his Icha Icha series, Iruka's news, ramen, his bed, a hot shower and somewhere at the end, he wondered where Sakura was.

Of course, they had all planned without considering how the village might feel.

"Well, Tsunade-sama? How did it go?" asked Homura, casting a raised eyebrow at Genma's bandages and bandaged wrist, Raido's black eyes, Iruka's slight limp and the kage's slow walk.

"Was the mission successful?" asked Koharu.

Tsunade felt too tired to riposte the annoying, overbearing, super strict village leaders. She merely shook her head, gave a weak smile to the small crowd gathered at the gate and waved limply.

"Fine. Yes."

She turned away.

Sakura ran down the street, yelling happily.

"Hokage-sama! Are you okay?"

"Get me out of here," hissed Tsunade, rolling her eyes at the following village idiots.

"Out of the way," Sakura said, importantly. "I must check her over!"

People parted reluctantly and Sakura led her new sensei toward the headquarters.

"Your office, your home or the hospital?" asked Sakura.

"Um…. Office….. I guess…. But I want sake, dinner and –"

"Got it."

Before she knew it, Tsunade was rejoined by her escort, all out of breath saying things like, "It's classified right now," "The mission was successful," "The kage is fine," "A statement will no doubt be made later in the day."

Eventually, they all reached her office door and pushing her through, Sakura trailed in after the Jounins and the Chuunin.

"SURPRISE! WELCOME BACK!"

It was Aoba, Iwashi, Izumo, Kotetsu and Shizune. They had decorated the office in bright colors – lanterns, paper chains, ornate paper decorations, balloons and confetti littered the air. A lot of it seemed attracted to Kakashi's hair – it looked like a shining tree.

Tsunade blinked and after a few moments was able to speak (yes, the tough nut was touched).

"What a surprise! Thank you so much for the warm welcome."

"Sit down!" Kotetsu said, sneaking a peek at the bosom of his superior. Izumo smacked him.

Tsunade sat back in her comfy, familiar chair and rested her feet on a stool, which seemed to appear from nowhere. A full glass of sake was shoved into her hand, and a small table with her favorite dinner meal was placed beside her.

Izumo (the only pure minded chuunin) relaxed her with a massage and Shizune checked her vitals, while Tsunade explained what happened.

Genma, Kakashi, Raido and Iruka snuck out of the room before the Hokage could remember to call them back for a joint report.

As they left they could hear Sakura laughing, Shizune snorting and Kotetsu saying, "Yeah? Well, check THIS out, Aoba."

The last thing they heard was Sakura's high pitched voice screeching, "PERVERT! That's worse than Naruto!"

Iruka wandered home, took his hot shower, but finding himself still energetic, returned to the headquarters, acknowledging the fact that he had no life since he still visited although it was his time off.

After a long chat with the chuunins on the mission report desk, Iruka found Sakura.

"Shizune's taken the kage home so we all disbanded… I know I'm not supposed to talk about details but – how do you feel?"

"Okay," Iruka said with a smile. "Thank you for asking!"

"I didn't know that Kaka-sensei went," Sakura said, thoughtfully. "I didn't see him with you guys when you left the village."

"Well…" Iruka hesitated.

What was he to say? Sakura isn't stupid – it'll be easy for her to remember the ANBU escort and make the connections if we talk longer about it.

"It's always good to keep one's enemies on their toes." Iruka said with a smile. "The less Konoha knows, the less chance Sound will know. It makes for an edge in battle."

"I see." Sakura smiled. "Were you able to exercise your new skills?"

Iruka grinned.

"Aaaahhhahaha! It was great!" Iruka's face turned pensive. "I was able to protect something precious to me – but I see now that there are many people in Konoha who have done it almost every day of their lives and have never been recognized for it."

Sakura nodded, then grinned.

"Well, if you see Kaka-sensei – tell him I'll be at the Ichiraku Ramen shop."

"See you there later, then!" Iruka said.

The sensei in question was in deep conversation with Ibiki.

"So, it would be good if you sent a counterpart to Cloud to discover who did the actual deed – it would be a link to Sound."

"For sure, that would be good knowledge, Kakashi – but, do you remember anything? Any lead?"

"Well…. If it was in the tea, it could have been anything. But if it was in the pills – it would have been from Meg – cough – Yukimoto-san's tour company."

"Which consist of?"

"Her two sons, her secretary, her maidservant, her makeup artist, her dresser."

"That's it?"

"Yeah. And rule out Raiden, her younger son, he's only eight or nine. And her maidservant – a simple woman, very low education."

"The others? Her secretary, a hot chick, well educated, smart and quick thinking, really nice girl. Nothing suspicious about her. Her makeup artist is dumb, not so well educated, good with faking stuff and really really gay. Same thing goes for her dresser."

"What's a dresser?"

"The guy who decides what she'll wear."

"People have those?"

"People don't – celebrities do."

"I see… and the other son?"

"Ahhhh…. Well, there you have it! If there was to be a candidate for poisoning Tsunade-sama it would be him. Big spender, untrustworthy, a liar, hates my guts, hates his mom, hates the world, womanizer, wrecks his cars, knows about the ninja world – did I say hates my guts? Because he really, really, really dislikes me."

"Right…." Ibiki said, scribbling madly on a clipboard. "Nothing like gut instinct to tip a shinobi off."

"Although how he could have connections with Sound is beyond me…."

"Well… this singer woman could have bumped into anybody on her travels."

"Kakashi-san?"

It was Iruka.

Ibiki smirked at the nervous Chuunin.

"Aaaahhhh…. If it isn't Iruka-kun!" The Chuunin examiner grinned – Iruka's smile wavered.

His memories of his Chuunin exam were always refreshed when he passed by Ibiki-san. The shinobi rumoured to be the best ANBU captain of the Interrogation and Torture Squadi. Even after his talks with Genma and Kakashi, ANBU still made Iruka uneasy – but he was no longer ashamed of that. A smart person was aware of danger and around ANBU, danger lurked. In fact, they were danger personified. Just remembering Kakashi's battle with the summoner made Iruka shiver.

"You said that you would think on Tsunade and her potion problem?" Kakashi prompted the obviously speechless Chuunin.

Genma is damn right sometimes…. Still a pansy…. But then, even Genma isn't really that relaxed around Ibiki…. Who is?

"Ummmm….." Iruka grinned weakly. "Well…. From what I can remember, Megami told one of her sons to get some headache stuff for the kage. Her exact words. It couldn't have been Raiden – because Raiden – her little boy – was kept at her side the whole time. We were chatting with him. Genma wanted to hear another person's opinion on your behaviour on missions. So… yeah…. We were talking and Tsunade took the pills – but not then and there… no… she took them before we started to travel…I think…. Anyway – the only person hanging around was the secretary lady and the other son – looked real sulky. Then he left after a while…. But to where, I don't know."

Ibiki nodded.

"Right. Looks like your instincts might be leading you right, Kakashi. I'll let you know what happens in the next few days. Right, then. I'm off."

Iruka watched as the tall, black cloaked shinobi took his solemnity and clouds of foreboding with him down the street. People parted before him like grass under the winds ofa storm.

Kakashi looked at Iruka expectantly. Like the Chuunin, after a hot shower, he had found himself more energized than he believed possible. Genma and Raido were still at their apartment – no surprise there – but he knew that they would emerge well rested for their daily drink at the inn.

"Ah. Kaka-sensei! It's Sakura – I believe she's looking for you! She'll be at the Ichiraku ramen shop if you want to chat with her for a bit."

Although Iruka tried to make it sound like a suggestion, his eyes sparked with an I'm-a-concerned-teacher-and-you-better-give-your-student-proper-attention look.

"Sure, sure," Kakashi sighed and lifting himself up, he sauntered down the road toward the ramen shop.

By the time he had arrived at the Ichiraku Ramen shop, Sakura was there and just on the verge of ordering.

"Kaka-sensei!"

"Sakura."

"How's it… going?" She turned and ordered a bowl of ramen, while he sat down and stashed away his book carefully.

"Okay."

"You guys were late! A day! You must stop influencing people this way. First Sasuke, now it's Tsunade-sama and Iruka-sensei!"

"Ohhhh? It's my fault is it?"

"All yours! Of course! What other shinobi has no enthusiasm?"

Kakashi drooped and ordered his favorite bowl.

"I'm getting no respect here…"

"Earn it!"

"Ehhh? What did you say?"

"Don't pull that on me! I'm not Gai-sensei!"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Don't 'yeah, yeah' me!"

A pause.

"Itadikamasu. Did you bump into Sound on this mission?"

An offhand question.

Or not.

"You know I can't really answer you on that one, Sakura," Kakashi said, watching Sakura blow on her noodles and take a tiny bit.

She really is a kawaiiii kunoichi….

Kakashi sighed. Suddenly, he felt super old. Old. Alone. Perverted. Tonight felt like one of those nights when being drunk seemed like a good option. And the sly reference to Sasuke wasn't lost on him either.

"There was no leads, no mentions of Sasuke, either," he said, softly and stared at the extra-large bowl (with extra toppings) that was slid in front of him.

"Oh." Sakura smiled sadly. "I hope Naruto is doing well. Shizune hears from Tsunade-sama, who sometimes gets notes by bird."

"So does Iruka."

"He gets notes from Naruto?"

"No. I mean, he gets word from Tsunade and sometimes sends an addendum for Naruto. They are really close though."

"Yeah."

A beat.

"I thought you ordered a medium bowl," Sakura said.

More than most people she was aware of how Kakashi was stingy with money.

"After this mission….."

"You'll treat us out to ramen?"

"Errr….no…. tea…. Ramen is… unhealthy…."

"Miser-sensei!"

"Idiot."

"Shut up, Sasuke-chan!"

"No, Naruto. Only one bowl for you guys."

"But!"

"One bowl of soup, one fish. That's all you get…"

"It's Naruto's birthday – what are you getting him?"

"I have to get something, Sakura?"

"Baka-sensei! Yes!"

"Geez! What do I –"

"Move it!"

Or when they were escorting Tazuna-san back to his home….

"What're we having?"

"Ration bars."

"They look so small!"

"They taste weird!"

"Tazuna-san! Are you okay?"

"What ARE these?"

"Ration bars, I just said that."

"Where did you get them?"

"Ummm… some shop was selling them at a discount price…."

"WHHAAAATTTT! BAKA-SENSEI! Look at the due date on these!"

"So speaks the brat who drank old milk!"

"Sensei? Why do you order such a small bowl?" asked Naruto, gaping at his sensei's soup.

"Maaaa… you could say I'm on a diet…"

"Diet?"

"Diet?"

Inner Sakura: WHAT THE HELL? ARE YOU ANOREXIC, SENSEI?

"Diet of his pocket book more like," muttered Sasuke.

"Ahahaha!" Kakashi rubbed the back of his head. "All these D-ranks are getting me fat…"

"Then do something! Train!"

"Yeah. Yeah!" Naruto agreed with Sasuke. "Help us on our missions. I'm sure you can walk dogs, right, right?"

"They might be D-ranked, but I'm sure that they'll give you enough exercise," Sakura suggested timidly.

Inner Sakura: HELL YEAH! GET OFF YOUR ASS AND STOP READING THOSE PERVERTED BOOKS, SENSEI!

Kakashi just shook his head, stubbornly.

Sakura's eyes narrowed. Sensei's order had been one medium bowl. As always.

"You ordered a medium bowl. There must have been a mistake! Did you take somebody else's order?"

She looked around. Nobody else was there at the moment.

"Somebody up there must be looking out for me," Kakashi said. "Itadikimasu!"

Sakura blinked at the sight of the ramen shop owner and his helper staring at Kakashi expectantly.

Oh, right!

That day…. When they had treated Kakashi out for the sole purpose of seeing his face without a mask. Shikamaru's team had blocked their view and when finally they had managed to calm down, Kakashi had (apparently) finished his bowl. (How DID he do that?) He must have inhaled it.

And the ramen shop owner and his helper girl…. They had hearts in their eyes and a blush on their cheeks… He must be hot to attract guys….

Sakura sighed and peeked out of the corner of her eye at her Jounin sensei as he finished popping apart his sticks and reached up to pull down his mask.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

She was sure everybody was hearing her heart beats – the tension was huge.

WHUMP!

The Rookie Nine suddenly appeared in her face.

Fucking fate.

"SAAAAKKKURRRRAAAA!" squealed Ino's irritating voice.

Sakura was going red.

"GUUUUYYYYYSSSSSS! Out of the way, idiots!"

It was too late.

By the time the idiots understood her, Kakashi had finished his bowl.

Record time.

One minute, six seconds.

Same scene.

The ramen shop owner was supporting himself over the stove with a massive – nosebleed (?) and the girl had fainted. Even Hinata was blushing red.

Hinata?

WHAT THE HELL? HINATA SAW IT AND I DIDN'T?

"Hinata?"

The shy girls turned to the pink haired kunoichi, her eyes were dazzled.

"What did you see?"

Ten Ten and Ino understood immediately.

"Eeeee…." squeaked Hinata feeling Kakashi's gaze on her back as he sweat-dropped at the sight of the ramen shop workers.

"Well?"

"Oh!... um…. I only saw …. Ahhhh….. a flash…. Ummmmm…. Just his side…."

"And?"

"Eee! Well…. He had a nice nose and really nice lips…. Um…. Cuter than Naruto-kun!"

Hinata swayed off.

"Lucky duck," Ten Ten sighed.

"Why is it the ones like her that get it?" Ino asked irritated.

"Well…." Growled Sakura. "If you hadn't interrupted me, I might have been able to –"

Her friends backed away, knowing that the kage's student was no doubt ready to blow in their faces.

"Bye Sakura!"

The two girls dashed off, followed by the guys.

"Hey! Where are you going, idiots!"

Sakura ran out after them.

Kakashi watched perplexed as his young student raced after her friends.

Even as the years roll by and I get to know her better, she still makes no sense sometimes….

Later on that night, Kakashi turned from the memorial to see an ANBU with long purple hair watching him.

Raising his hand he smiled.

"Still here, Kakashi-senpai?" asked a soft voice.

"Aahhhh… well… it's been a while…."

"Same for all of us."

"But I will never forget."

"Who could?"

"Well…." Kakashi hesitated.

I don't know her well… but after what Genma said during the mission….

"Sometimes it is our duty to remember," the silver haired Jounin rose silently and swiftly. "But also it is good to be able to live. It would be what they want. My life is lived for him – he wanted to see the future. I would not think that Hayate would want you to hold onto a ghost."

The mask tilted.

"Like you should talk."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You live alone. There is no one in your life. And you sit here, when your friends celebrate, no doubt, at the inn."

The ANBU girl settled down a couple of white flowers at the memorial. She straightened.

"You call that letting go of your ghosts."

"It can be hard work," Kakashi said, with a sigh. "And I regress."

"Every day?"

"Every day. But I'm trying. Tonight, after I'm done here, I will go and be with my friends. The question is – what will you do?"
"You're unsufferable."

"Same could be said about you."

A beat.

"So –"

"So I suggest you go home, clean up, rest and then find us at the bar. There's no reason for you to hide your face all the time."

She turned away and then paused, as if torn.

"Perhaps…."

"See you then."

Kakashi watched her jump away and then turned back to the memorial with a hidden twisted grin on his face.

"Pretty good bullshitting, huh, Obito?"

But then…. I don't want anybody to feel this pain. She is young. Why should she waste her life on the ghost of a man who would want the best for her?

Another evil part of him mocked, "Yeah, same goes for Rin, right?"

Kakashi shoved the thought away.