Chapter 14
"Are you familiar with a genin named Might Dai?" Hiruzen asked.
Sakumo considered for a moment. "Based on the name, I'm assuming he's related to Kakashi's friend Guy but I'm not familiar with him, no."
"He's Guy's father. Dai has spent his life as a genin. He's enthusiastic and loyal to the village but he seems to lack any real talent for being a shinobi. It's been recommended to me that he be removed from being a shinobi altogether."
Sakumo was surprised. Very few shinobi were stripped of their rank in the Hidden Leaf. Those who betrayed or left the village without leave were considered rogue ninja. Usually a shinobi died; most likely in the line of duty, sometimes from assassination, or very occasionally from old age. Only committing a crime against the village would cause someone who was already a shinobi to be removed from their position. Though Sakumo was also not familiar with many shinobi around his age still being genin, either. Genin who were unable to make chunin by their late teens to early twenties generally retired to pursue other careers.
The sole exception Sakumo was aware of was Kosuke Maruboshi. Sakumo had worked with him before and had been shocked to learn he was a genin. His skills were easily jonin-level. Sakumo had later learned that Kosuke had chosen to remain a genin after giving an order that had led to his teammates deaths when he had been young. The Second Hokage had refused to allow him to wallow in self-pity and expected him to continue training, even expecting him to learn the jutsu he had developed. Kosuke had been offered promotion to jonin many times by both the Second and Third Hokages and had turned it down each and every time. Even with his status as a genin, Kosuke was still respected by the shinobi of the Leaf Village and often specifically requested for missions by squad captains. That did not seem to be the case with Dai, however.
"Why tell me this?" he asked.
"Because I have a favor to ask of you." The Hokage paused. Sakumo wasn't going to like this. "I would ask that you take Dai along with you on your next mission."
"I can't take a genin with me on a mission. He'll get killed." It wasn't pride speaking. Sakumo was among the most powerful shinobi in the Hidden Leaf Village. The missions he carried out were high ranked and among the most dangerous. Most of the time he went out on missions by himself simply because there were so few capable of keeping up with him. Sakumo would hesitate to take Kakashi on most of his missions and his son was a capable shinobi in his own right already. To take along a genin, especially one who by all accounts was an unskilled ninja, was asking for trouble. Anyone who went on a mission with him needed to be able to look after themselves at the very least. It was the main reason he had never become a jonin leader. The village couldn't afford for him to not go on the missions he was accustomed to but it was far too dangerous for genin or even chunin to accompany him.
"I am well aware of that. I do have something in mind that needs a shinobi of your reputation rather than your skill. It is an A-ranked mission due to its importance and sensitive nature. I do not anticipate you'll run into hostilities beyond normal highwaymen on the road." At Sakumo's frown, Hiruzen continued. "I would ask that you do this as a personal favor to me. It would be difficult for Dai to find alternate employment should he be dropped. His son just made chunin and supporting them would be a terrible burden to put on one so young. Successfully completing a mission above 'D' ranked would help him a great deal."
"Why me? Why not some other jonin?"
"Frankly, because you are the only one who I believe would even consider my request. You are a fair man, Sakumo. You don't allow prejudice or preconception to cloud your judgement - you base it on skill alone. If, when you return, you tell me that Dai should be dropped, I will do so."
Sakumo sighed softly. He knew this was not something the Hokage was asking of him lightly. He didn't really want to do it but he also thought about how he'd feel should the burden of providing for them fall upon Kakashi's shoulders. Sakumo had been a jonin for many years, carrying out top ranked missions. With corresponding pay. He lived a modest lifestyle, which had allowed him to amass a considerable sum of money in the bank. While not wealthy, should he be unable to carry out another mission tomorrow he could continue to live in his current lifestyle for the remainder of his natural life. In the shinobi world, dangerous as it was, it was wise to plan ahead. For someone at a genin level trying to raise a child finances would be much tighter. A shinobi's pay was based on mission difficulty and 'D' ranked missions offered minimal pay as they were often not much more than errands and menial tasks designed to give new genin a chance to practice and hone their skills before they were assigned to higher level missions. Trying to survive on a genin's mission pay for a lifetime had to be difficult.
Finally, he relented. Guy had always been a good friend to Kakashi. He could do this for the boy if nothing else. "Very well."
"Thank you, Sakumo," Hiruzen said, relieved.
"You said you needed someone with my reputation. If this isn't combat... then diplomacy?"
The Hokage nodded. "Indeed."
Sakumo cringed inwardly. He was no diplomat. He was a plain-spoken man and did not enjoy the double-talk and hidden meanings that politicians so often used. Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face.
"Don't give me that look. You haven't even heard the mission details yet."
I'm beginning to think I don't want to! Sakumo wisely didn't say out loud. The Hokage knew him well enough to know he was thinking it anyway.
"I need you to deliver a proposal to the Hidden Valley Village in the Land of Rivers. They're situated between the Land of Fire and Land of Wind. Having them as an ally would allow us to shift a portion of our forces away from our western borders to engage the Hidden Stone and reinforce other weak points in case the Hidden Cloud decides to invade." Seeing Sakumo's puzzlement at that statement, he explained. "Minato Namikaze had a run-in with the new Raikage and the Eight-Tail's jinchuriki. The Raikakge was less than pleased with the outcome of their encounter. The Hidden Cloud has been more focused on harassing the Hidden Stone than us but that could change. I want to be prepared."
"We're already fighting a war on two fronts," Sakumo stated bluntly. "Not to mention the Hidden Mist sending incursions to harass the coastal villages. We're spread thin as it is. If we go into pitched battle against the Hidden Cloud as well -"
"I am well aware of the state of our forces," Hiruzen said sharply. "Hence the need for allies on our borders."
Sakumo's lips compressed into a thin line as he bit back a retort. He was afforded a certain amount of leeway with the Hokage but he knew better than to push matters too far. If the Hidden Cloud decides to invade, Hiruzen will have no choice but to send the younger shinobi to the front. Kakashi's this close to becoming a jonin. There's no way he won't be sent to the front lines. And his chunin and genin classmates. They're still children and are not ready for the horrors of war!
"How do we know the Land of Rivers hasn't already allied with the Hidden Sand?"
"It is a possibility," Hiruzen admitted, "though an unlikely one. The Land of Rivers has attempted to remain more or less neutral in this war thus far. Shinobi from both the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind have crossed through their territory unchallenged."
They're trying to keep from being crushed between us. If they choose a side, the other will have no qualms about destroying their villages, burning their crops, and killing their people on their way through. They could just be biding their time, waiting to see who will come out victorious before throwing in with them. The Village Hidden in the Valley doesn't have a lot of high-level shinobi. They're well aware that they'd be destroyed if they attempted to take on one of the larger nations.
Sakumo pulled himself from his musings. "What are we offering in return?" he asked.
"What we offer any of our allies - military aid should the Land of Wind invade. What medical help and supplies we can spare. Your reputation is known throughout the shinobi world. You are known as a powerful and honorable man. That will lend weight to your words and give you power in negotiations."
"Will the Hidden Leaf honor our word? Or am I simply a means to an end?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly. Sakumo was one of the few people he would tolerate such an insubordinate question from. "We shall honor our commitment to our allies to the best of our abilities," he replied.
"You'll forgive me if I want to make certain there are no misunderstandings about this treaty," Sakumo stated flatly.
"What are you implying, Sakumo?"
Sakumo met the angry gaze, unfazed. He was not some rank genin to be intimidated by the Hokage's ire. He'd been a shinobi in the service of the Hidden Leaf for over twenty-five years. He had served in two wars and he was tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of worrying for his son's safety. Tired of watching friends and comrades die for the whims of those in power to whom shinobi's lives were cheap and whose worth was only measured by how many of the enemy they could take down with them. "I'm not a fool. I'm well aware that treaties and alliances aren't worth the paper they're written on the moment they cease to benefit one side or the other. I may not like them but I'm not unversed in politics. My name carries weight but for how long should we decide that it is no longer advantageous to support those with whom we've negotiated an agreement? Shinobi are tools for their villages and daimyos. That doesn't mean we are ignorant of being nothing more than pawns in the hands of those in power."
"Are you quite finished?"
"Yes," Sakumo said simply, with no apology or contrition in his tone.
Hiruzen knew should reprimand the shinobi before him harshly. The White Fang or not, he was bordering on insubordination with his words and tone. Yet Sakumo wasn't wrong. While many may think such things, very few would dare voice them out loud. Fewer still would do so to the Hokage's face. Sakumo never had been much for subtlety or holding his tongue when he felt he was witnessing an injustice. It was part of what made him such an excellent shinobi. While making him a political headache at the same time. Hiruzen met stormy grey eyes steadily. He could handle an irate Sakumo Hatake. He'd certainly had enough practice over the years.
"Sakumo," he began, "None of us wanted this war. Nobody is happy about it dragging on for so long." He ignored the slight upward quirk of one silver brow. He was as aware as Sakumo that there were those who profited handsomely from war. That, however, was immaterial to the topic at hand. "Our forces are spread too thin to strike a decisive blow on any one front. We must reposition our forces and that means either an ally or more shinobi. We can attempt to ally with the Land of Rivers or we'll have no choice but to start sending out the younger chunin and genin." He paused for a moment to let that sink in. "I have no intention of going back on our word to the Land of Rivers," he continued mildly. Sakumo's posture didn't exactly relax, but he did become less stiff. It was as good as it was going to get. "I need you for this mission because I trust you, Sakumo. The Land of Rivers isn't going to want to get involved. The Hidden Leaf needs this alliance desperately and I believe you can make it happen. "
"And if they do not accept the terms of the treaty?" Sakumo asked, resigned. He knew he was going, no matter what he thought of the entire thing.
"You have the authority to negotiate on behalf of the Hidden Leaf. Within reason," Hiruzen added with a faint smile. Sakumo didn't return it.
"What is Dai's role in all this?"
"Beyond your assessment, observation only. You will be the sole arbitrator on behalf of the Hidden Leaf in this matter. Report back to me tomorrow morning. I'll have the treaty and any additional mission details for you at that time. You'll leave immediately after."
"Understood."
Author's Note: This was supposed to be a single, short, sweet chapter with an easy low-level mission. Then I remembered there's a war going on and Sakumo can hardly be off running errands in the middle of it. Yay, rewrites! I still think this chapter feels a bit awkward even after editing it and reworking it to death. I'll likely come back to it at some point and smooth it out but for now it is what it is.