Whole Again
By RiaCola and ShinobiWolf
ShinobiWolf here. Following this chapter, Miss Tsunade will be working on a very big stack of paperwork, thus appearing in little more than cameos for a long while. Want this story to actually be based on Kakashi, Hayate, and the younger ones we all know and love. .;;
Chapter 6: Memories
Tsunade had shown up shortly after the girls awoke the next morning, wanting to waste as little time as possible. She gave Hayate concise orders to interrogate the Kiji girl while she invited the other one into the living room.
Kiji studied her soon-to-be interrogator apprehensively.
Without his jounin vest and forehead protector, Hayate appeared to be a normal, sickly young man. Although he certainly wasn't build for endurance, he was still a Konoha jounin. And Kiji's mind made sure she knew that.
He took a casual seat on Koikawa's already-made futon.
"An old injury."
Kiji blinked at his unexpected remark.
He grinned grimly, poking the left side of his chest below his heart. "Sword pierced my lung, and it never healed properly. Got a fantastic scar to prove it, too."
Hayate was explaining his sickly appearance.
So he wasn't ill.
"I can see how that would cause your cough. My mom is- ...was... a medical ninja. She taught me a lot before... you know..."
If the young man's comment was meant to put her at ease, he succeeded by at least a little, even though the girl was a natural at keeping her composure.
His patient gaze encouraged her on.
"I woke up in the middle of the night to smoke and heat. The village was already half-burned down by the time I got out of bed."
Hayate nodded. "Meaning you're not responsible. So do you have any idea who is?" It was difficult to tell whether he was humoring her or believed her. The latter seemed a little more likely.
"My Uncle." A thought occurred to her. "Well, he was part of it. He mostly wanted to kill me."
Judging from her bluntness, the two were obviously never close to begin with. "Why?"
Kiji was relieved to know the questioning would be simple and easy by speaking standards. She hated when people danced around the subject and she didn't know what the hell they wanted. Judging from what he told her was an injury, Hayate wouldn't be one to squander his precious oxygen.
She smiled and straightened her posture. "Because I'm a bastard child."
He raised an eyebrow. Was she acting... proud?
Kiji shrugged, entertained by his expression. "' You have the youngest and sexiest mom in the village' – mom told me that ever since I was five." She giggled; but her mood quickly grew solemn. "Mom's brother hates the both of us for it. And he would lop off all his limbs for the chance to murder my dad."
"He wasn't killed in the massacre?"
Kiji shook her head. "No. Unless he's already died in the line of duty, he should be living in Konohagakure. Not a clue who it could be, though. Not even a name.
There are no bloodlimits in any of my family. I have no idea where my mom was originally from, but she had only lived in Kouseki Hikari since she was pregnant with me. My parents were both fifteen; mom didn't want to hurt dad's career as an honorable Konoha ninja. I can assure you they didn't part on bad terms."
Hayate off-hand wondered if the father was anyone he knew; if he were indeed still alive, he would only be a few years Hayate's elder.
"I'm assuming your 'uncle' wasn't working alone."
"The group of ninja he belonged to was from Sound Country, and he did come with many others. I told you already he'll stop at nothing to get at my father, and he's sure to find out that I survived..."
He instinctively tensed at the mention of "Sound", but the girl knew little else about that night. "Tell me anything you know about your uncle's physical appearance and we'll be done."
She didn't bother to hide her relief. "Didn't get a good look at anyone else. Honey-brown hair, long, and covering his right eye; hazel eyes, should be about twenty-three by now. Sound headband twisted to the left side of his head."
He stood, but Kiji called to him before he left. "If you don't mind me asking... how... did you get your injury?"
Hayate smiled. A small one. "I wasn't about to let my teammate die."
"...You remind me of Koikawa's brother." She paused. "...she'll like you..."
Hayate nodded in understanding before reaching for the door.
xxxxx
"Those seals tattooed on your palms are rather interesting."
"I may be twelve, but I understand to what lengths hidden villages will go to get their hands on a foreign blood limit."
The venomous comment surprised Tsunade; not for its audacity, but for her maturity in such a situation. The older woman smiled.
"As long as you're not planning to assassinate me or harm this country, I have no need to hurt or take advantage of you."
Koikawa turned up her palms, gazing at the elaborate markings on each.
On her right hand, the kanji for "light;" and on the other, the kanji for "darkness;" each symbol was surrounded by seal markings, as were tattooed in respective colors.
"Everyone in my clan had them. Each baby is marked a couple of years after birth. But unlike the Hyuuga family, it's hardly a curse."
Tsunade took the girl's left hand in her own, examining the seal. "And what would having these markings entail?"
Koikawa hesitated for a moment.
"The power to call any summon spirit you can think of, and near limitless chakra to do it with."
The Fifth widened her eyes in shock, half expecting the girl to be pulling her leg.
"Within reason." Koikawa smiled at Tsunade's surprise. "Only the most highly skilled Tsute can summon the higher spirits. I would not be able to reach that level of expertise for many more years; and even then, my family's extraordinary chakra would be barely enough to summon just one. Even if someone were to copy the seals onto their own hands, they would be useless without Tsute blood in the user's veins. Meaning we're obvious naturals for chakra control.
Tsunade's mind immediately went to Naruto and his failed attempts at summoning frogs.
"I know it sounds like I'm bragging," Koikawa said. "But you did ask what I was capable of."
"And I'm truly grateful for that." Tsunade had fun learning about a new blood-limit, but it was time to get down to business. "So... can you tell me why Kouseki Hikari was destroyed?" She let her initial question register in the girl's mind. "To eliminate it as a possible power, or was it something else?"
Koikawa played with a stray thread on the couch cushion. "...My family's blood-limit... that was probably the primary reason."
The Hokage watched as the girl's eyes grew vacant. The full grief of her loss had not come yet, and there was no telling when her breaking point would be.
"I was chosen to be the one kept alive... and my family was murdered to deter the obstacle of anyone who could match me. They either want my summoning ability, or my reserve of chakra."
"They?" Tsunade questioned.
"The one who killed my family wasn't alone."
"Can you describe any of them?"
Koikawa shook her head.
"Only two, and Kiji could give you a better description of one, but the other..." Koikawa's voice wavered in fear as she remembered the hateful, piercing stare.
Over the next few minutes, the severity of the situation grew heavy on the Fifth's mind. She had her suspicions as the young summoner described the assassin's silver hair and bespeckled eyes; but the music note on his forehead protector eliminated all doubt.
"I see." Tsunade stood. "This changes the situation entirely."
Koikawa's green eyes had a tinge of fear and defensiveness in them, but she was relieved when Tsunade gave her a reassuring pat on the head.
Just then, Hayate emerged from the spare room.
xxxxx
The lantern-lit trees were silent, for the springtime birds had long since gone to sleep. The grounds below, however, were another story entirely.
The coming of springtime to Konoha Village was always a big celebration. Nearly everything was decorated, and thousands of paper lanterns gave the village a soft yellow glow. Minor missions were put off for the duration of the festival, giving most of the shinobi of the village some much appreciated time off.
Hyuuga Neji and Hinata were expected to attend various events and occasions as members of their prestigious clan, but the time off was nonetheless a relief, the usually tense air between the two cousins much more relaxed and almost enjoyable. Much more so when Hinata's father, the head of the clan, had the unfortunate pleasure of a visit from Hinata's rambunctious teammate Inuzuka Kiba... and a few high-strung dogs, soaked to the bone from romping around in the river. Neji's teammates, Rock Lee and TenTen, had no family of their own and were celebrating with their teacher, Maito Gai. Most of the other young ninja were out with their families.
Clad in her peach and lavender-colored kimono, Sakura was enjoying a picnic dinner with her family. She was caught off-guard when a shrill, familiar yell shattered the peaceful air.
"Saakuraaa!"
She smiled as her parents winced; Sakura was used to Naruto's antics by now, annoying as they were. "Hehe... hi, Naruto."
xxxxx
While the calm night breeze danced through the leaves, Kakashi relaxed against the trunk of a large, old tree; one old enough to remember both the troubled times and the peaceful ones alike. There was still a slight buzz in his system, from a light drinking contest with other teachers, jounins, and dateless wonders in general. He laughed bitter-sweetly.
Tenchiko never could hold her liquor.
Ignoring how his competitors marveled at Kakashi's ability to down a cup of sake without revealing his face, said Copy Ninja had retreated to this deserted corner of the festival grounds to spy on what other people were up to.
Gai had turned down the friendly drinking competition, declaring that, "the flowers of youth were in need of careful tending."
Tending shmending. He just didn't want Lee to get smashed.
...what if Kakashi hadn't listened to him? If he had ignored Gai and blindly run after Tenchiko, would things have been any different?
She and their baby-to-be were probably long gone by the time he had read that note.
Kakashi laughed, thinking about his students.
Naruto would have done something, and beat up anyone who got in his way.
xxxxx
While Kakashi watched the people at the festival, little did he know that he was also someone else's point of interest.
Warm brown eyes spied from a branch in a neighboring tree. Their owner thought there was something familiar about the man, other than the fact that he had been there when she woke up in the hospital. He seemed to have something on his mind.
"I've never seen a festival this big."
Kakashi jerked his face to the side, mildly surprised. Either he had more to drink than he thought, or he was losing it with age.
Kiji gracefully dropped from the tree. "Sorry if I startled you..."
He waved it off. "It's my fault for dropping my guard." Kakashi smiled.
"Nonsense. I'm the one who's good at hiding my chakra..."
"Impressive. So are our humble festivities to your liking?"
"It's like a breath of fresh air. For once my mind wasn't on my village."Kakashi nodded in understanding. "So where's your friend?"
She smiled, shaking her head. "TenTen and Lee pulled her to goodness-knows-where... oh-" A thought occurred to her. "Miss Tsunade told me you were the teacher of... " She thought. "...cell seven, correct?"
"Yes. Does she need something?"
She said nothing, but pulled a folded paper from her hip bag and handed it to him.
"Hmm..." His eyes scanned over the note. It was from the Fifth, just as he had guessed.
Kiji tried hopelessly to read the man's thoughts; but that mask just covered too much. Miss Tsunade was testing their loyalty already by telling Kiji not to read it.
The girl complied faithfully.
"Well." Kakashi folded the note and tucked it into his vest. Kiji waited with anticipation.
Was it about us?
"It seems Tsunade has already placed you on temporary teams, to evaluate and keep an eye on you until your probation is up."
"Really?" It seemed the interrogation that morning went well for the two girls. Kiji was afraid the Hokage would jump to the wrong conclusion... but it seems her fears were unfounded.
"From this moment on, you can call me 'Kakashi-sensei'."
xxxxx
Elsewhere, TenTen and Koikawa were sipping tea, watching Lee dance.
At least, that's what they assumed he was doing. Koikawa never was skilled at that kind of thing. Whenever Kiji wanted to dance, Koikawa would give some lame excuse to get out of it. The whole thing usually ended with Kiji and her future teammates dragging the other girl to the dance floor by her feet. The first time Koikawa had been stubborn, the silver-haired girl tried to force her friend to dance on her own; it proved futile, because Koikawa was much heavier and stronger than her.
Rather than protect and preserve his student's health, Gai was adding fuel to the fire by cheering Lee on, proudly remarking that only one of his bright flowers of youth recover from such injuries so quickly.
TenTen took a hearty swig of her tea.
They would be in for a rude awakening when the prescription painkillers wore off.
"Maybe we should stop him..."
"Hey, you'd better get over here before I eat your ramen!" TenTen shouted. This caught Lee's attention rather quickly.
The three began to eat as Lee went on about all the "dance" moves that he had yet to try.
"Really now. Miss Tsunade wouldn't be too happy to know you're this active so shortly after surgery. I've only been in this village for a couple days, and I already know not to mess with her. But I cringe at what may happen if I'm forced to take drastic action..."
Koikawa paused. Lee was staring at her with the oddest expression on his face.
He eagerly took her hand in both of his, earning from her a bewildered stare.
"I am lucky to have a charming angel such as yourself watch over my recovery..."
xxxxx
Long after the festivities were over, after the partying, sleeping, people watching, and treating his new student to some dinner, Kakashi arrived home to his haphazard apartment sometime in the early morning. Tossing his vest onto his bed and cracking his neck with one of his rough hands, he noticed a familiar, red book sitting on his shelf, apart from his usual questionable reading. One brown eye dull, he pulled the well-kept photo album onto his lap.
It hurt to not have her with him.
Funny... Kakashi had numerous pictures of Tenchiko sitting right there in front of him, yet she was so many miles away...
A fresh look at some of his most cherished pictures spurred a thought. He looked to one of the picture frames by the head of his bed.
Himself, Obito, Rin, and the Fourth as their teacher.
Early in term or not, a pregnant teenager would not be able to travel a dramatic distance. That was even moreso clear when Kakashi took into account that Tenchiko was no ninja. She may have passed through Kouseki Hikari all those years ago.
Another, darker thought played around Kakashi's mind.
...that Tenchiko may not have passed through Kouseki Hikari...
...that she may have taken up residence there...
He dared not to think of what he may find when both his and Gai's teams visited the remains of that small village to tally the dead. Kiji and Koikawa were the only two documented survivors. Maybe... just maybe, there were more.
Kakashi knew it was just a shot in the dark. Through all his experiences, though, he learned that giving up on anyone was not an option. He credited that to his teammates.
He glanced at the picture of his former team again.
The Fourth died protecting the village.
Kakashi would have lost his life had Obito not given his own.
Rin died in the line of duty, healing a fellow teammate; she never saw the enemy approaching behind her.
He remembered that time clearly.
Rin was nineteen, and it was her last mission before retiring to start a family. The wedding was due to take place three months later...
Attending the funeral with honors, the morbid thought of Tenchiko dying in a similar way tortured him.
Kakashi sighed as he closed the photo album, admonishing his over-active mind for making him depressed. He turned out the lights and flopped on his bed, rubbing his eyes with an ungloved hand.
There was a long journey ahead of them tomorrow.
Little did Kakashi know that he eventually would find his lover and child.
Just not the way he expected...