Chapter 3

Another couple weeks passed before the meeting Sakumo had been dreading finally occurred. He had just put Kakashi down for a nap when there came a knock on the front door. Answering it, he found the Hokage standing there.

"Lord Third!" Sakumo said, surprised that he had come to his home rather than summoning him to his office. "Uh, please, come in." He stepped aside, making note of the ANBU who had taken up guard positions in nearby trees. "Would you care for some tea?" he asked as he closed the door.

"That would be lovely, thank you." The Hokage sat at the table, removing his broad hat and placing it beside him as Sakumo put a teakettle on to boil. He observed the silver-haired jonin as he moved about the kitchen. The domestic acts belied the deadly skill the man possessed. "How is Kakashi?" he asked conversationally.

"Growing fast. He's napping right now. I can -"

"No, don't wake him."

Sakumo wasn't fooled by the casual conversation for a moment. He knew the Hokage hadn't come all the way out here to have tea and chat. A ninja must see through deception. It was one of the first things young would-be shinobi learned at the Academy.

Hiruzen knew full well Sakumo was aware there was a more important reason why he was here. The man was no fool and was patient enough to wait him out. He sighed inwardly, knowing the younger man was not going to like what he had to say. He waited until Sakumo had poured the tea and seated himself before getting to the reason for his visit.

"Sakumo," he said, cradling the cup between his hands on the table before him after he had taken a few sips. "You need to return to active duty."

Sakumo's face was blank, giving nothing of his thoughts away. Inwardly, he was in turmoil. He had known this was coming but it was still difficult now that the time was here. "Without Sayomi here –" He felt the crushing weight of grief crash down on him. He paused, drawing in a deep breath to steady himself. "I can't just leave Kakashi alone."

"No one is asking you to. But the Hidden Leaf is still at war, Sakumo. Your skills are needed. You will need to make arrangements for the boy's care. I can give you another week, maybe two. That's all we can spare."

Sakumo nodded dully. It had been almost a month since he had buried his wife. Now he was being told he needed to leave his son behind and return to the war. The very thought of leaving Kakashi so soon hurt his heart. How could he leave the village, leaving his infant son behind, knowing full well he may not ever return. How could they ask him to potentially orphan his child?

Intellectually, he knew the Hokage was right. Every able-bodied shinobi was needed to aid in the war effort. Hiruzen had already been more than generous with allowing him time off from his duties in order to care for his son, but his head and his heart were having a hard time agreeing at the moment about leaving once again. He had known he'd have to return to the battlefield sooner rather than later. It seemed the Hidden Leaf could no longer afford for him not to fight.

"I understand," Sakumo said heavily.

"I will have your assignment sent over in a few days," the Hokage said, getting to his feet. Sakumo stood as well, escorting him to the door. Hiruzen left without another word. He knew there was nothing that he could say that would ease Sakumo's heart and the other man would not thank him for empty words and promises that could not be kept. As Hokage, Hiruzen had to think of the entire village, not just one man. He had given Sakumo as much time as he could but the Leaf couldn't afford to have such a high-level jonin inactive indefinitely. It was times like these when he felt the heavy burden of the office which he had been entrusted.

Sakumo stared out across the battlefield. The landscape was littered with the dead from all sides. Carrion birds were already circling, anticipating a feast. He turned away and headed back to the Leaf camp. There was nothing he could do for the dead. There were too many to carry back to their respective villages and too many to properly bury on the battlefield. The corpses would be left for the scavengers to strip to the bones, which would then remain as a grisly reminder of what had occurred here. Normally, specialized units would be dispatched to destroy the bodies. In a full-scale war, there were too many dead for them to keep up with. Now those units only disposed of the bodies of the highest level shinobi or those with kekkei genkai. If the end of the war came soon enough, perhaps shallow mass graves would be dug. The longer this war dragged on, the less stomach he had for it. Too many had died already. He'd heard tell of shinobi who had abandoned their comrades on the battlefield to be slaughtered. He was disgusted by such tales. What were they fighting for if their comrades' lives meant nothing, if bonds were so easily sacrificed?

The Hidden Leaf had been embroiled in this war for almost five years. Sakumo had spent most of that time either on various battlefields or out on missions that supported the war effort. Or the occasional high-level "S" ranked mission that required a jonin of his skill. He'd spent less than a year total in the village during that time. The only time it had been for more than a few days had been right around the time Sayomi had given birth and then again four months later for her funeral. He'd been granted a month's leave to care for his wife and newborn son before being dragged back into the war. He'd been home for another month and a half after Sayomi had died. As a newly-single parent he'd had to arrange care for Kakashi while he was gone for long stretches. Most of the people he trusted were also shinobi and therefore not a reliable long-term solution. He had also been in no condition to carry out any sort of mission, so wrapped up in his own grief and exhaustion. But eventually, the Hokage had been forced to tell him he was needed again and would be heading out in a few days.

That had been almost three and a half years ago.

He walked through the camp, wrapped up in his own dark thoughts. Nobody stopped him or attempted to engage him in conversation; his dark aura warning all to keep their distance. He caught snippets of the conversations taking place around him. He mostly ignored them until he heard one in particular that caught his attention.

"Have you heard? There's talk that a peace treaty is being negotiated!"

Sakumo hoped it was true. He was tired of war. He wanted to get home to his son. He hated being gone for weeks or months at a time. Every time he returned he hardly recognized Kakashi, he'd grown so much. He was missing too much of his son's life - his first words, his first steps, everything new parents looked forward to experiencing. After her death, he had promised Sayomi he'd always be there for their boy. He was failing to keep his promise miserably. He hadn't spent more than four days at a time in the village these past three years. The time between those visits stretched longer and longer. He would have liked nothing more than to quit being a shinobi, to take his son and go live somewhere in peace. But that was impossible. Being a shinobi was all that he knew and he loved his village and its people. He could never turn his back on them. So, when the Hokage told him that the Village Hidden in the Leaves needed the White Fang yet again he answered the call, even as it broke his heart.

Oh, Kakashi was being well cared for in his absence. He'd found a retired couple whose children were already grown to care for him while he was away. They'd accepted gladly, happy to have a young child running around their home once again. The additional income was welcome as well. Sakumo was more grateful than ever that he had always lived a rather modest lifestyle. It meant he was able to still comfortably provide for his son while he was away. The couple were not so old or infirm as to not be able to care for an infant or keep up with an active toddler. Sakumo was able to concentrate on his missions, knowing his son was cared for and safe, if somewhat spoiled. He was doted on and lacked for nothing while his father was away at war.

Sakumo found a quiet spot to sit and spread his weapons out on the ground in front of him. He noticed he was running low on shuriken and explosive tags and made a mental note to pick up some more. He checked over the assorted kunai, sharpening those whose blades had dulled and rewrapping the handles of others. He examined the tanto he carried on his back last. The white chakra saber was his weapon of choice for close combat. It had been passed down through his family from father to son for generations and one day he'd pass it to Kakashi. Focusing one's chakra through the blade caused it to leave a white streak in its wake. It had been that distinctive white chakra trail which in part had given rise to the moniker 'White Fang'.

He pulled the blade from its sheath and examined the edge carefully. He tisked softly as he noted some dulling. He'd recently engaged with a pair of shinobi from the Hidden Sand Village who'd given him a bit of trouble. The blade must have gotten dulled in that encounter. As he sharpened it, he mused that he'd heard Tsunade had her hands full recently with someone from the Hidden Sand as well. Some sort of poison master who'd given the other villages a hell of a time with her concoctions. Tsunade had worked tirelessly to counteract the poisons, saving the lives of many. She had been lobbying for the inclusion of medical ninja to be included on all squads, or at least shinobi with some medical training. She argued it would increase the survival rate of the shinobi in the field. Sakumo agreed.

Finishing with his weapons, he returned them to their various places on his person. The tanto went into the sheath on his back. Kunai went into the holster on his thigh and the pouch on his hip. Shuriken joined them in the pouch. He stood and stretched. He wanted to go home. He was tired of this war.

At long last the Second Great Shinobi War drew to a close. Sakumo was glad to return to the Hidden Leaf Village. He knew there would still be plenty of missions to go on. He was fine with that. It was war he hated. He hated full scale battles. They seemed so pointless and wasteful. Hundreds or thousands died in a single conflict. And for what? The pride of nations? The desires of those far removed from the carnage and conflict; those who would never know the true cost of their war upon those who fought in them?

He returned to the Hidden Leaf. The atmosphere was one of both celebration and mourning. Peace had been successfully negotiated. Over the next few weeks there would be many funerals held for those who had not returned. That was for tomorrow, however. Right now Sakumo was on his way to collect his son and return home. He had no doubt it would need a good airing. It had been far too long since he had last been there. It had been months since he'd seen Kakashi and he was both excited to see him yet apprehensive about the greeting he'd receive.

"Dad?" Kakashi was almost four now. His hair was a mass of untamed silver spikes and his heavy-lidded eyes gave him the appearance of being half asleep or perpetually bored. The shape of his eyes was the only thing of Sayomi that Sakumo saw in Kakashi. Otherwise, the boy was a mirror image of himself. It was the only reason he even recognized him, he thought sadly. His son had grown so much. Too much.

"Hello, Kakashi. The war's over."

"You're coming home for good?"

Sakumo nodded and knelt down so he was on his son's level. "I'll still have regular missions to carry out. But yes, I'm staying home from now on."

"Good."

Sakumo smiled as Kakashi came to him and threw his small arms around his neck. He scooped Kakashi up into his arms and stood. He's gotten heavier. He spent a short time exchanging news and pleasantries with the couple who had cared for his son while he had been away. While he wanted nothing more than to catch up with what had been going on with Kakashi, he owed them a great debt for caring for his son for so long. Kakashi snuggled up in his arms, resting his head against his shoulder, his small hands clinging to his flak jacket. He was perfectly content. His father had promised he'd be home now and that was all the boy cared about.

The couple that had cared for him had been kind and they often spoiled him. They did not let him get away with mischief but Kakashi was a naturally well behaved and obedient child. The trouble he got into was usually caused by curiosity rather than malicious intent. They made certain to keep the inquisitive child busy, his days filled with activities and learning so he would not seek out trouble out of boredom. Their grown children had occasionally come by with their own children for him to play with. He had wanted for nothing while his father was away other than his father's presence. Kakashi was too young to truly understand why his father was gone from the village for such long stretches of time. More than once he had cried with loneliness, wondering if he had done something wrong that meant his father didn't want him anymore. The couple had reassured him that it wasn't anything he had done. A shinobi's duty to Village and Country came before even that to his family and that his father was doing his best to return home as soon as he could. Kakashi had cherished the few days that his father had been able to return from the battlefield. The visits were always too far apart had always ended much too soon for his liking. He had begged his father to be allowed to go with him, only to be told gently yet firmly that it was impossible. The boy had decided that he was going to become a great shinobi like his father so that he wouldn't be left behind any more.

"Kakashi," Sakumo said. "Go and get your things together."

Kakashi clung more tightly to his father, unwilling to be put down, and shook his head.

"Take Kakashi home, Sakumo. We'll drop his things off later."

"I –"

"Kakashi has missed you terribly these past months. And I'm certain you've missed him just as much. We'll bring some of his clothes by this evening. We can work out dropping the rest of his belongings off later. Go, now."

"Thank you." Sakumo said, grateful.

Sakumo carried Kakashi in his arms as he left, heading for the main roads that would take him back towards his own home. He had missed his son terribly and was saddened by how much he had grown in his absence. Kakashi was quiet, clinging to him tightly as if afraid he would disappear if he let go.

"We should probably pick up something for dinner on the way home," Sakumo mused out loud. "There's not much at the house and certainly nothing fresh." He knew there were some canned and dried good in the pantry but the refrigerator would be empty. He was gone too long for perishables to be kept. "What do you say to dumplings?"

Kakashi nodded. He would have said okay to anything so long as his father remained. Sakumo shifted Kakashi to his hip in order to free one hand to pay for and carry the food. Kakashi had always enjoyed being carried by his father, though he had never been quite so clingy before. Sakumo chalked it up to his long absences. He didn't mind carrying his son. He knew soon enough Kakashi would eschew being carried at all. He would enjoy it while it lasted.

Sakumo looked around as they entered the house. He had to toe his sandals off as Kakashi was showing no signs of being willing to be put down just yet. Kakashi kicked off his shoes and simply dropped them to the floor. Sakumo nudged them to the side and went to the kitchen, putting the bag containing their dinner on the counter.

"This place could use a bit of dusting, huh," he commented. "Why don't we take care of it after dinner?"

Kakashi nodded. Sakumo set him on his feet and dampened a cloth. He handed it to Kakashi with instructions to wipe down the table while he washed some dishes for them to eat off of. He set the dishes on the table along with the food and then went through the house, opening windows to allow fresh air in. Months of being closed up with no inhabitants had left the house feeling closed and musty.

As they ate Sakumo inquired to what Kakashi had done while he was away. The boy shrugged then told him of the various things he had done and seen. With bright eyes Kakashi asked about the missions Sakumo had gone on and what he'd done during the war. Sakumo didn't want to glorify or romanticize the war but he wasn't about to tell a four-year-old about the horrors he'd seen, either. He told Kakashi some toned down tales while they did some light cleaning, Kakashi hanging on every word.

Sakumo was half asleep when he heard the soft pitter patter of bare feet approaching. They stopped beside his bed. He waited for his son to tell him what he wanted.

"Dad?"

"What is it, Kakashi? What's wrong?"

The boy climbed up beside him. Sakumo opened his eyes to see his son staring intently back at him. The intensity of Kakashi's gaze was a bit disconcerting. Maybe it was just a trick of the dim moonlight that filtered in through the curtained window.

"Are you really staying home now? You're really not going to leave for so long again?"

"Yeah, son."

Kakashi lay down, snuggling against him. Sakumo allowed it. It had been much too long since he'd been home last. His son had already grown too much in that time. Kakashi's eyes drooped shut. "Promise?" he murmured sleepily.

Sakumo smiled as he gathered Kakashi in his arms, holding him close. "Promise." In the back of his mind he hoped it was a promise he could keep. He felt his son relax, content with his word. Comforted, Kakashi soon fell asleep. Sakumo allowed him to remain where he was. The extended absences had been hard for both of them and the boy wanted reassurance that he was still there. And, he admitted silently, he had missed his child also. Kakashi was still young enough to enjoy being held and cuddled. Sakumo knew that all too soon the boy would want independence and would shy away from his father's affection. He had missed so much of his life already, he would make the most of his time now.