9
Kakashi's Dilemma
Kakashi was a jounin, and a good one at that. Maybe even the best, right below the Hokage himself. An elite jounin, as some may like to call him. Not only that, but he was also a genius. A child prodigy competing with the likes of Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage.
As a result, there weren't many – if any at all – things in life that confused him. But now, as ashamed as he was to admit it, Kakashi was confused. No wait, that was an understatement. He was bewildered.
Kakashi Hatake – who never got confused – was absolutely gobsmacked.
Reason? Sasuke Uchiha. It all began on the day of the team assignments.
Kakashi was sitting in the ceiling of Iruka's classroom, quietly observing his team-to-be. It was exactly as the Academy reports had stated. Blondie was loud, dumb, and obnoxious. Pinky was a vain fangirl. Pink-Eye was Brood McBroodyface. Nothing out of the ordinary… until the Uchiha had spoken.
"Self-centered, arrogant little fuckhead," Sasuke said, so quietly that Kakashi almost missed it. He raised an eyebrow in confusion, wondering why Sasuke was describing himself and where he learned that last word from.
Instantly, Naruto was offended – as expected, the blond thought the world revolved around him – but it was what followed that surprised Kakashi the most.
Sasuke's reaction was abrupt and violent, almost as if Sasuke had completely forgotten where he was. He looked at Naruto with a confused look before widening his eyes in surprise. He looked around as if in disbelief and then finally at the window before muttering, "no fucking way," and then sighing in resignation as the pink-haired girl – Sakura, was it? – asked him what was wrong.
The next event that surprised Kakashi was when Sasuke had said he was looking forward to working with Naruto. As soon as Naruto had voiced his objection at the team formation, Sasuke had smiled at Naruto and Kakashi had instantly pulsed his chakra once to dispel any genjutsu. "Naruto, I look forward to working with you," Sasuke had said and Naruto had somehow taken that as a challenge. Kakashi narrowed his eyes at Sasuke's new personality. It was almost as if he did a complete 180.
Kakashi sighed quietly and shook his head, deciding to finally go meet his new team when the new enigma started speaking again. His eyes got wider and wider in surprise as Sasuke described perfectly what each of their strengths and weaknesses was. For the first time in almost ten years, Kakashi brought his hand up to scratch his head in confusion.
The last time this had happened was when Minato was explaining to him why toads were better than dogs.
"Why are you helping and being nice now? You weren't like this before," Naruto asked and Kakashi listened keenly for Sasuke's answer.
"Life happened, Naruto," he answered and Kakashi commended Sasuke's ability to tell the truth without telling the truth. Like a true shinobi. Kakashi pushed off the floor and stood up, deciding to confront his team now.
...
Kakashi's eyelid twitched and he had a feeling it was something that was going to happen awfully often now. "Yeah my bad, I had to help an old granny with her groceries," Sasuke said when Kakashi called out his lateness.
The jounin didn't know how to reply to that, so he merely settled for a "I see," and moved onto introductions. Once again, Naruto and Sakura's introductions were exactly what he expected. It was when Sasuke had finally said his piece that Kakashi knew the boy had lost it. He liked training – fair enough, any half-decent shinobi should like to train – and sex…
What the hell!? Kakashi thought. And little shit was smiling like a devil. It was when Sasuke declared his future plans without even mentioning Itachi once was when Kakashi concluded, He's lost it!
...
By all means, he should've reported this to the Hokage earlier. Maybe even as early as when he first sensed a change in Sasuke's demeanour. Maybe when Sasuke said he liked training and sex. Maybe when he knowingly showed up late to the bell test. Maybe when he had made the connection between Minato, Kushina, and Naruto. Maybe when he had started blatantly showing attitude and disrespecting Kakashi.
But now, he realized, he should definitely report this to the Hokage. Not only because of what Sasuke said before the wave mission, but also because he was, in the Uchiha's own words: "a potential flight risk".
So now, he had stayed back with the Hokage after his and Gai's debriefing.
"Go ahead, Kakashi," the Hokage said with a nod from where he was seated behind his massive oak table.
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi said. "I believe Sasuke Uchiha is a flight risk and/or an enemy agent and needs to be brought in for interrogation."
The Hokage blinked slowly as he let his top jounin's words sink in. "Why do you say that?" the Hokage asked, bewildered beyond belief. Before it became this serious, Kakashi should've come to him with his concerns. Exclaiming that Sasuke Uchiha was a flight risk all of a sudden? What in the world happened on this one mission!?
"I… believe I should start from the very beginning, Hokage-sama," Kakashi said and the old man nodded.
"Yes, perhaps you should," he said.
"It began when I was spying on my team during the team assignments," Kakashi began and explained his tale of his student's wild behaviour.
...
"And that's why I suspect Sasuke Uchiha to be guilty of high treason, espionage, sabotage, and attempted terrorism and I believe we should bring in Ibiki for the interrogation also," Kakashi ended.
The Hokage sat in silence, staring at Kakashi for a minute before speaking. "And you didn't think to report this earlier, why?" he asked. From what Kakashi described, not only was Sasuke a flight risk, but also had knowledge more than any genin, no matter how smart, should have. Knowing that Kakashi was an ex-ANBU captain, figuring out the relation between Naruto and the Yondaime, and also figuring out the Kyuubi secret. The Hokage held no doubt that Sasuke had figured it out already. He had told Kakashi that he had 'theories' only to play with his words. Truly, Sasuke was a genin of great concern at this moment.
"Well… I thought I could get him under control soon, Hokage-sama," Kakashi said with an ashamed look.
"Hah…" the old man sighed. "Tora, Kagura," the Hokage called and two ANBU instantly appeared, kneeling beside him. "Tora, go with two squads and bring Sasuke Uchiha here. Kagura, fetch Ibiki and Anko, and if possible, brief them on the way here," he commanded and the two ANBU disappeared.
"Why Anko?" Kakashi asked curiously.
"I was contemplating instating Konoha's Seduction Division as its own separate one, and naming her in charge. This will be a good experience for her," the Hokage said and Kakashi nodded.
Within a couple of minutes, the two top T&I operatives of Konoha stood in front of the Hokage.
"Ibiki, Anko, I've summoned you here to interrogate Sasuke Uchiha who is deemed a flight risk. I take it you've been briefed by Kagura?" Hiruzen asked and both, Ibiki and Anko, replied with an affirmative. "Very well. The ANBU should be here with Sasuke any minute," the Hokage said and Kakashi, Ibiki, and Anko took up positions beside him.
Five minutes passed and Anko's patience had finally run out. "Where are they!?" she asked no one in particular.
"Knowing him, he probably resisted," Kakashi said.
Not two seconds later, an ANBU flickered in with a bound, gagged, shirtless, barefooted Sasuke who was glaring murderously at the ANBU and dropped him on the chair. A pin-drop silence blanketed the office.
"Ahem," the Hokage said, breaking everyone out of their stupor.
Sasuke tore his eyes away from the masked shinobi and looked at the four people in front of him. "Inh, funh fufunh gunh! Funnh aanh ah oou mmh maffohh!" he said immediately.
All four shinobi formed a sweatdrop at the sight and the clear sound of at least three swear words.
"He resisted, Hokage-sama," the ANBU said, explaining the reason for Sasuke's condition. At the Hokage's orders, he un-gaged him and the interrogation began.
...
The office stayed enveloped in an eerie silence following the departure of the Uchiha. Mostly because of the disbelief that had spread through everyone seeing Sasuke tank two shurikens to the torso and still joke about it and leave. Not to mention the blatant disrespect he showed to the most powerful man in the country.
"Anko," the Hokage said after a long while.
"H-Hai, Hokage-sama," Anko answered, suddenly being pulled out of her thoughts.
"You seem conflicted," he said, having sensed how turbulent her chakra had felt and the minor fidgeting motion of her hands.
"I- uh… I am- I was just thinking," Anko said, stuttering and floundering for words.
"I see," the Hokage nodded. "Ibiki, Anko, whatever you heard tonight is to stay completely off the books. Think of it as an unofficial state secret. I do not want anyone to hear about this. You're dismissed," he said.
"By your leave, Hokage-sama," they said in unison and exited the office.
A weary sigh escaped the aged leader immediately. "Kakashi," the Hokage said. "What do you think?"
"About what, Hokage-sama?" Kakashi asked.
"About Sasuke-kun's rant."
Silence ensued for a moment and the Hokage allowed his jounin the time he needed to think.
"Honestly, I do not know what to think," Kakashi replied. "I am just as much to blame – if not more so – as anyone else for the neglect in Naruto's childhood. I imagine I would've been like Naruto's surrogate brother had Minato-sensei and Kushina-san survived... But I was too cooped up in grief and self-pity to even notice his son, his legacy, suffering," he said, voice dripping with self-loathing. "I don't think I deserve to judge anyone for their actions when I couldn't put the well-being of a child ahead of my emotions."
"And you, Lynx?" the Hokage asked. "What are your thoughts on the matter?"
"I remain Konoha's humble servant, Hokage-sama," she said without a waver in her voice.
"That is commendable," Hiruzen said. "But take off your mask. I'd like to know what Yugao Uzuki thinks."
The ANBU slid her mask off and revealed a beautiful face with two striking honey coloured eyes. "Permission to speak freely, Hokage-sama?" she asked with a bow.
"Granted," came the reply.
"I... Believe Uchiha-kun's argument is very hard to disagree with. I strongly condemn how he expressed his emotions but disregarding that, he brought up some very solid and logical points," Yugao said, ready to be admonished by the Hokage. Instead, she was surprised when he merely nodded 'hum' with his eyes closed. "Also, Hokage-sama, about the violence I inflicted on Uchiha-kun..." she tried to say but was instantly waved off by the Hokage.
"Do not fret. Those were my orders. You will be exempt from any legal actions he tries to take against you," Hiruznen said. He went for a long while before speaking. "Perhaps, I have been in this seat for too long now," he said and both, Kakashi and Yugao were at a loss for words. "I believed that as Minato's last wish, the populace would treat Naruto like a hero. Or at least a normal child. I hoped that our people would not be as blind to hate as the other villages… I had faith that the Will of Fire burned brightly in the hearts of our citizens…"
Kakashi chuckled. "The 'Will of Fire', huh?"
Hiruzen raised his head. "Is there anything you'd like to say?" he asked Kakashi, daring him to go on.
The Copy Ninja opened his mouth to say something before clicking it shut. "No, Hokage-sama. If I did, I'd be considered a hypocrite," he said.
"Do not forget what we fight for, Kakashi. And the values and ideals that this village was built upon. Konoha as a collective might have done wrong by Naruto, but one mistake doesn't make everything else pointless," the Hokage said.
"What exactly is the 'Will of Fire', Hokage-sama?"
Hiruzen stared at Kakashi for a second before reciting exactly what his sensei – Tobirama – had told him. "Everyone that resides in Konoha, be they civilians or shinobi, are like a family that come together to fight off any and all threats, be they foreign or domestic. That is what we fight for," he said, not knowing whether he even believed his own words anymore.
"And what category from that does Naruto fall into? Family? Foreign threat? Or a domestic threat?" Kakashi asked in a more venomous tone than he intended.
The Hokage sighed once more, looking older than he ever did. "What do you want me to say, Kakashi?"
"The truth."
"The truth is that I made some mistakes, and I regret them very much now."
"Then why haven't you done anything to fix it!?" Kakashi almost yelled, wishing for nothing more than to ask for Minato's advice. Sensei was always there for him when he needed him the most… But nothing lasts forever.
"You haven't either," Hiruzen said, reminding the Copy Ninja of his own flaws.
"You're right," Kakashi said. "And you can bet that as soon as I meet my team tomorrow morning, I will be making amends. Will you?"
"I cannot force the populace to love him."
"You don't need to."
"Then what else can I possibly do?"
"How about telling Naruto the truth? About everything. At this age, the least he deserves is to know about his own family and heritage," Kakashi said, making the Hokage wince.
"I don't know if he can keep a secret like that," Hiruzen debated but stopped at the disbelieving stare he received from Kakashi.
"He kept the Kyuubi a secret from both his teammates for this long. You really think he can't keep his heritage a secret!?" Kakashi asked.
Hiruzen sat in silence for a moment. "I will think about it," he said finally and Kakashi sighed, contemplating the punishment he'd get for telling Naruto about this himself. "For now, the two of you are dismissed," he said to Yugao and Kakashi.
Yugao saluted and disappeared instantly. Kakashi merely nodded and opted to use the door. Before he was out, the Hokage gave one last order. "Give your team a week-long break. They'll need it. Especially Sasuke."
"Understood," Kakashi said and left, leaving the old man to his own thoughts for the night.
Aye, listen. I'm sorry for taking so long. I'm taking two summer courses right now and life's just been hectic. I'm gonna upload two chapters at once because this one is pretty short and I don't like it too much.