A/N: Another relatively short chapter, but you get more Kakashi and Rin!
"I'm here," Rin whispered as she walked up to Kakashi.
They were more daring now, meeting closer to the gates, but she had convinced him that meeting with her leader was needed for both of them. If not for trust's sake, perhaps it would settle their nerves. Although the whole adrenaline rush that came from meeting secretly like two young lovers felt energizing the first time, it had quickly lost its luster once their talks grew longer, the news becoming more and more grim with each meeting. Though they tried to keep it light, discussing Arata's growth and whatever Naruto's shenanigans of the day were, the underlying, unspoken tension of the escalating trouble brewing on the horizon kept the mood sober.
"Any news?" She asked after taking off her hood.
"No, nothing," he answered with a shake of his head. "The king hasn't made a decision yet as to where we should go next."
"Good." She sighed heavily, leaning against his side. "Ayame-sama should be here any second."
He nodded, closing his eyes momentarily as he pulled her closer.
After a few moments, their peaceful silence was interrupted. "Look at you two. Not even a month and you're already getting on like teenagers."
Rin looked up with a smile. "Ayame-sama," she greeted.
"Hatake Kakashi." She greeted, though she didn't take off her hood. She looked him up and down with a chuckle. "Time has flown. I remember when you were just a boy. Minato's pupil, weren't you?"
"It has been a long time," he agreed, trying to force away the anguish he felt at the mention of his former teacher's name.
Rin squeezed his hand, giving him a knowing look.
His gaze softened as he turned to look at her. At her encouraging smile, he turned back to the older woman. "I was told you needed me to investigate something for you?" He questioned.
"Yes." The older woman grew serious, pacing about. "I have reason to believe that the king isn't acting for himself or his family. His actions for the past seven years don't line up with how he acted before, and something seems off with the information from my informant in the palace's letters."
"Indeed, he was a more benevolent ruler before my..." Rin trailed off, and Kakashi gave her hand a squeeze.
"Yes." Tsunade gave her a sympathetic nod before continuing. "I believe the Uchihas are being controlled. Someone who no one would suspect, someone who has intimate knowledge of them and would have nothing to lose."
She stopped and pointed at the silver-haired man. "I need you to do some work to uncover who it might be. I don't care about their history, I just need a name."
"Whatever I can do to help R- to help you," he stumbled for a moment before he caught himself, much to the two women's amusement, "I'll do it. Just give me a few days or so, and hopefully I'll have gotten word of something. I already have my suspicions; it shouldn't be that difficult."
"Excellent," she replied, pleased. She paused before mentioning, "When you do go back to the capital... check up on Naruto for me. Is he safe?"
"He is healthy and still pulling pranks on the staff," he deadpanned with an exhausted look towards his senior.
Tsunade let out a bark of laughter before she could stop herself. When at last she regained her composure, she said in reply, "Ah, still Kushina's son, even after all these years. What a relief that not everything has changed in Konoha."
"Sometimes I wish things would change," he wryly answered. "I fear that one day the prince will take after his attitude and then they'll really give me a headache."
This time both women giggled at the thought. Even Kakashi had to crack a smile at the thought of the stoic prince pulling pranks with his best friend.
"Well, they are just kids yet," the blonde knowingly replied. "I'd rather them act their age once in a while, just to assuage the fear that they're growing too quickly."
She turned, her dark cloak billowing out gracefully. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Hatake-san. I trust that Rin is safe with you?"
"I would never let anything happen to her," he swore, squeezing her hand again.
A ghost of a smile flickered across the aging woman's face, wry and bitter. "Good."
A/N: Please tell me what you thought.
