Chapter 31

"Dad!" The scream ripped itself from Kakashi's throat as Danzo impaled his father through the back with a sword. He couldn't breathe, move, think. His father couldn't be dead. Not like this. Not right in front of him while he watched, helpless.

Agony flared in Kakashi's left eye and stabbed through his skull. His vision blurred as Sakumo fell, unmoving. Gasping at the pain in his heart and his head pounding, he didn't resist the promised relief of unconsciousness.

Fugaku was moving before Sakumo hit the ground. A barrage of shuriken imbedded themselves deeply in Danzo's body. He met the Elder's gaze for a brief moment before his final Sharingan – this one implanted in the Elder's right eye socket - turned milky and closed forever. What he saw had him reeling. The final Sharingan had been a Mangekyo. And it's pattern…

Putting that aside to contemplate later, Fugaku dispassionately inflicted multiple fatal blows on Danzo. There would be no more surprises. His grim and gruesome task complete, he straightened. He had never imagined that Danzo possessed one Sharingan, much less seven. The perversion of his Clan's dojutsu sickened him. Izanagi was a strictly forbidden technique. It appeared that Danzo had implanted the stolen Sharingan into his arm with the express purpose of using it in the event of his death.

"The Hokage…?" he asked the medical ninja who were already loading Sakumo onto a stretcher as another poured chakra into the heavily bleeding wound.

"Alive," was the clipped answer as they disappeared.

Fugaku's deactivated his Sharingan as his gaze swept the rooftop. Several of the ANBU and jonin had been injured or killed by Danzo. Medics were attending to the wounded. Including… Fugaku made his way to where Kakashi Hatake lay. He looked down at the unconscious boy appraisingly. He had seen the tomoe in Kakashi's Sharingan transform into the Mangekyo right before he'd collapsed. Only about a third of the Uchiha ever awakened their Sharingan. The Mangekyo was even more rare. He'd had no idea it was even possible for a non-Uchiha to awaken the advanced form of the Sharingan. It was worth looking into further.

"How is he?" It would be moot if the boy was dead.

A medic spared him a quick glance. "Extreme chakra exhaustion. We've got him stabilized but he's going to be unconscious for days." Satisfied that Kakashi wasn't going to suddenly drop dead on them, he motioned for the boy to be taken to the hospital.

"Lord Fugaku," a masked ANBU had appeared at his side. "With the Hokage incapacitated we need to report what has occurred here to Minato Namikaze. Since it involved the Sharingan…"

Fugaku nodded. "I can explain it to Namikaze," he said. Better Minato hear about it from him than the rumors that were certainly already flying about the village. As they left the rooftop Fugaku offered a silent prayer that Sakumo pulled through. Progress had finally begun to be made in closing the rift between his clan and the rest of the village. Progress that Danzo may have well just undone. Minato was smart and had much potential as a future Hokage but the village needed Sakumo's Will of Fire right now.

"The Hidden Leaf is currently without a Hokage."

"We have a Hokage," Minato said, forcing himself not to snap. He was exhausted and stressed. It had been three days since Danzo's execution. The remaining Village Elders had wasted no time in trying to assert their authority with Sakumo currently in no condition to counter them. Minato was trying to do what he could to hold them at bay but he wasn't Sakumo. The White Fang had a presence about him that commanded respect.

"Who was gravely wounded and who knows how long it'll take him to recover, if he ever fully does," Koharu stated bluntly. Her tone seemed to indicate that outcome was fine by her.

Minato forced himself to remain calm. "I've kept in close contact with the physicians in charge of the Hokage's care. They expect him to make a full recovery."

"Well, in the meantime – "

Minato was not going to go down this road. He steamrolled right over the Elder. "In the meantime I'll continue to assume Sakumo's duties until he's able to resume them himself. That's the entire point of his having advisors is it not? To handle things when the Hokage is attending to other matters? The matter of Danzo's treason has been dealt with. The Foundation shinobi are being dealt with. Village security has been heightened for now but otherwise missions outside the village have resumed and there are no other pressing matters plaguing the Leaf."

"All the more reason to have someone in the Hokage's seat," Homura said. "The Village needs guidance and strong leadership, not uncertainty about when the Hokage may or may not recover."

"You seem awfully quick to dismiss Hatake," Fugaku said, folding his arms over his chest as he leaned back in his seat. He had never been a fan of the Councilors. He was well aware of their feelings towards his clan. Even though Kagami Uchiha had once been their teammate under the Second Hokage's tutelage as well. They had refused to even consider an Uchiha for the Hokage's role. Sakumo, on the other hand, had done more to mend the relationship between his clan and the village than the previous three Hokage combined. The Fourth Hokage had earned Fugaku's respect by his actions backing his words. Fugaku had been skeptical at first but these past months had proven that the White Fang was truly a man of his word. "Not only is he not dead, he's expected to recover fully. And he ended the largest internal threat to this village! Danzo's Foundation has been running around unchecked for far too long. It is well past time for Danzo's secrets to be laid bare."

"Danzo – "

"Stole my Clan's dojutsu! Perverted it! Used it against this very village!" Fugaku paused. "He stole Kagami Uchiha's Sharingan."

Silence.

"Kagami was our teammate. Danzo would have never – "

"Never what?" Fugaku challenged. "Desecrated a body in order to steal its secrets?"

"You must be mistaken."

Fugaku snorted at the Elder's willingness to dismiss and excuse Danzo even now. "I'm not. Each Mangekyo pattern is unique. Wakening the Mangekyo is extremely rare. Each pattern is recorded in the Uchiha's records. I double checked it myself. There is no mistake."

Another moment of uncomfortable silence.

"At any rate, the Foundation was created with the full knowledge and support of the previous Hokage."

"And look where we are now," Minato said, unable to completely keep the sarcasm from his voice. "A clan of the Hidden Leaf decimated - including civilians! – by shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. Our Hokage gravely injured. Our village mired in suspicion and fear. Tensions were just starting to ease after the Third War and now we're back to an even worse position than when Sakumo took office! We're just lucky the other Nations had their forces as badly depleted as ours in the war. We can barely handle our internal conflicts right now, much less an external one!"

His words were blunt but cut right to the heart of the matter. He'd been spending too much time with Sakumo, he mused. Minato tended to be diplomatic, trying to see all sides and not to upset anyone unduly. But in this case the Elders were clearly wrong in their continued justification for Danzo's actions. He knew that he did not have the authority to remove the Councilors from their positions. He would be recommending to Sakumo that he do so just as soon as he was well enough to resume his duties. The Third Hokage had been right – the village needed new leadership to bring about change in order to continue moving forward. The Elders seemed more interested in maintaining their own grasp on power rather than the good of the village as a whole. He knew Sakumo had seen things that way, it had been a driving factor in his creating a committee in which there was broader representation.

"Namikaze's correct," Shikaku Nara said softly. The masked ANBU representative beside him nodded as well. "Besides, if we get ahead of ourselves in electing a new Hokage the other Hidden Villages are going to wonder what happened to our last one. Sakumo was not an old man, nor was he in poor health. And he's one of the strongest shinobi in this village – in any village. We're best off simply acting as if everything is under control. Sakumo should be regaining consciousness within the next few days. I'm certain Minato is more than capable of handling things until then. Lord Third had faith in his ability to handle the Hokage's duties and Lord Fourth named him as one of his advisors after all."

The Elders relented unhappily. It was clear that Minato had the support of the military strength of the village. With both the Jonin Commander and ANBU backing him and Danzo dead, his Foundation in shambles, there was nothing to be done.

Minato had dreamed of becoming Hokage since he'd been a child. Right now he was grateful that he did not yet wear the hat. The Village Hidden in the Leaves was balancing on a razor's edge, tensions were running higher than ever and a single misstep could spell disaster. The doctors expected Sakumo to recover but for now the Hokage remained comatose. A fraction of an inch and he would not have survived. Minato sat behind Sakumo's desk trying to keep the village from falling apart at the seams.

He had lifted the lock-down orders as Sakumo had been planning on doing once Danzo's execution took place. It was assumed that the missing ninja had fled the village and it was doubtful they'd be returning anytime soon. Not when the entire shinobi population was on the look-out for them. Security had been heightened but the gates were reopened and people were permitted to pass through freely once again.

The news that Danzo had been behind the attack on the Uchiha had shaken the village to its core. Distrust was running high and Minato worried that it could spill into violence. Thus far there had been no incidents. It was a testament to the village's trust in her Hokage.

Minato stopped by the hospital on his way home that evening. He spoke with the doctors in charge of Sakumo's care. The assured him that the Hokage was doing better than expected and was stable even though he still hadn't awakened. That was not unexpected and they wanted him to come around on his own rather than forcing it.

Once he'd checked in on Sakumo's condition, he turned down another corridor, stopping before another room. Minato pushed open the door and entered the quiet room. The lights were low but there was enough illumination to see where he was going. He stood by the bed, gazing down fondly at its occupant. With his face uncovered, his silver hair mussed, and his features slack in sleep, Kakashi looked younger than his thirteen years. Minato knew how old he was, of course, having been his teacher for several years but Kakashi had always carried himself as one older. He'd become a jonin at an age where most shinobi children were only just becoming genin. In the entire time Minato had him under his command he'd rarely gotten more than a passing glimpse at the boy's naked face.

He smiled to himself. Kakashi's features still held a bit of childish softness though Minato could catch a glimpse of the man he would one day become. He's going to look just like Sakumo, he mused. He wondered if he was seeing what Sakumo had looked like at Kakashi's age. It wouldn't surprise him in the least.

As if sensing Minato's eyes on him, Kakashi stirred. His right eye opened and he blinked a few times to clear his vision. He brought a hand up to feel around the bandages that were covering his left eye. His hand dropped.

"Minato-sensei," Kakashi said, his voice weak.

Minato gave him a bright smile. "You're awake! Don't try to move around too much. You're suffering from extreme chakra exhaustion and don't want to overdo it."

Kakashi stared at him as if he hadn't understood his words. His features contorted in distress. "Dad…"

"Sakumo's going to be fine, Kakashi," Minato reassured him.

Kakashi shook his head, blinking the moisture from his eye. "I – I saw – "

"I know. The blade missed his heart. It was a near thing but he'll recover."

Kakashi stared at him, his expression lost. "Dad…?"

"He'll be fine, Kakashi," Minato repeated. It struck him just how expressive Kakashi's features were. He wondered if that was why he kept his face hidden behind a mask.

"I – I need to see – "

Minato gently pushed Kakashi back down as he struggled to get up. "You need to rest."

"But – "

"I just came from speaking with Sakumo's doctors. He's going to be okay. He's still unconscious, though. There's nothing you can do for him except get better yourself." Minato spoke slowly and firmly, as if to a young child. He normally wouldn't speak in such a fashion to Kakashi but he sensed the teen was still trying to process everything. The last thing he had seen had seemingly been his father killed right in front of him. It was no surprise he was having trouble thinking past that.

"What happened? Why did I -?"

"Severe chakra exhaustion," Minato answered. He understood that it had something to do with Kakashi's Sharingan but not the specifics. Fugaku had been unwilling to go into details with him, saying in not so many words that his clan's dojutsu was none of Minato's business. He had stated that Kakashi was not in any more danger than that already posed by the Sharingan so Minato reluctantly left it alone.

"Oh." Kakashi was exhausted and felt wrung out as he often did when he overused the Sharingan. "Minato-sensei?"

"Hm?"

"What happened to Lord Danzo?"

"Dead. He won't be using that technique to come back, either. It's been taken care of."

Kakashi wanted to ask about the strange and disturbing jutsu that Danzo had used but he was too tired. He settled back against his pillows. "Is – is my dad really going to be okay?"

"He is. I'll leave word that you be notified as soon as he's awake, okay?"

Kakashi nodded as he allowed his eye to drop shut. "Thank you, Minato-sensei."

Kakashi was pulled out of a light doze by the sound of the door to his room opening. He opened his right eye, his left hand coming up to finger the bandages over his left irritably. He'd been told in no uncertain terms that if he attempted to uncover the Sharingan before being cleared by the doctors to do so that he'd be restrained. Kakashi was stubborn but he wasn't so stubborn as to test the doctors. He knew they'd do it. He hated hospitals.

His hand fell away from his face and he turned his gaze to his visitor. He'd expected it to be Minato again, or perhaps Rin or Guy. All three had dropped in to check on him during the past week. He was shocked to see Fugaku Uchiha regarding him appraisingly from his position near the door.

"Lord Fugaku," Kakashi greeted, wondering what the Uchiha clan head wanted with him. He doubted the man had come for a casual visit.

"Kakashi," the other said, moving a bit closer. His gaze lingered on the bandages covering Kakashi's eye. "Do you know what happened on the rooftop? To your Sharingan?"

Kakashi frowned slightly as he thought back. He'd been avoiding thinking about it too much. He'd awoken from nightmares soaked in sweat, seeing Danzo plunge a sword through his father's back, shaken more than he'd ever admit. "The doctor said it caused a drain on my chakra," he said slowly. "But it always does." He hesitated. "It… hurt," he admitted. "Everything was blurry… then almost too clear… then… I think I passed out."

Fugaku seemed to consider his words. "The Sharingan evolved," he said. "I had no idea a non-Uchiha could even evolve the Mangekyo."

"Oh." Kakashi wasn't certain what to make of that.

Seeing Kakashi's confusion, Fugaku elaborated. "Among the Uchiha, only about a third will ever awaken the Sharingan. Of those, even fewer will awaken the Mangekyo. It is a very rare occurrence. As you are in possession of a Mangekyo Sharingan, you should learn how to use it safely. What you will learn about it is considered secret, knowledge for our clan members only. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Kakashi nodded. "Yes."

"Good. You are aware that there are those among the Uchiha who object to you possessing the Sharingan at all. It was Obito's dying wish to give you his Sharingan and we shall continue to honor his wish. The physicians say you should be released in another day or so. Come see me then."

"Each Mangekyo grants its wielder a different ability in each eye? Or sometimes the same ability twice?" Kakashi asked as he looked up from the scroll he was studying. He was sitting cross-legged in Fugaku's study. The clan leader had wanted to keep the lessons private. Kakashi was fine with that. The enormity of what he was being offered was not lost on him. The Uchiha had always been an insular clan. For him, an outsider, to be learning some of their secrets was no small thing.

"That's correct."

"How do you know what it can do?"

"Trial and error, mostly."

Kakashi frowned. "That seems rather… dangerous."

"Not as much as it seems. The real danger is in overuse of the Mangekyo. You are already aware that the Sharingan drains the user's chakra when active." Kakashi nodded. "And that overuse can lead to deterioration of sight." Another nod. Fugaku had warned him of that danger months ago. "Use of the Mangekyo will lead to blindness much faster. The drain on your chakra will be much steeper. As you do not have our kekkei genkai I cannot predict how it will affect you. I strongly advise you to make only extremely limited use of the Mangekyo. Only in the most dire of life and death situations if at all. I have my doubts about the wisdom of training you in its use due to the danger is poses. However, since it has awoken, it is better that you are aware of its capacities. If only so you do not inadvertently harm yourself."

Kakashi couldn't really be offended at Fugaku's doubts. He privately shared them. The Sharingan was a powerful gift, that much was certain. But it had a correspondingly steep cost. From what he had learned the Mangekyo would be even more so.

"How was I able to awaken the Mangekyo?" Kakashi asked. The question had been nagging at him since he had learned what had happened. "I didn't even know about it until a few days ago."

Fugaku had been giving that question quite a bit of thought himself. If he hadn't seen Kakashi's Sharingan evolve with his own eyes he would have sworn it was impossible for a non-Uchiha to evolve the Sharingan. He had even combed through his clan's records for any reference to a connection between the Uchiha and Hatake. If Kakashi had any Uchiha blood, even diluted, it would explain much. His search had turned up no indication that there had ever been a merging of the bloodlines. It appeared Kakashi's awakening of the Mangekyo would remain a mystery. "The Mangekyo is awakened by the trauma caused by witnessing the death of someone close to the user."

It took Kakashi several minutes to fully digest that. The scene on the rooftop replayed itself with frightening clarity again in his mind. He shuddered and pressed the heel of his hands against his eyes, trying to block the image out. "So when I thought – when Danzo –" he couldn't bring himself to say it. It was foolish, he knew. His father wasn't dead and was going to be okay. But he couldn't bear to say his deepest fear out loud.

Fugaku nodded, not pressing the matter. Kakashi had been traumatized enough, there was no reason to be needlessly cruel to the boy. "That is the only explanation."

"Is there anything beyond the Mangekyo?" Kakashi asked hesitantly. He didn't want any more surprises when it came to his Sharingan.

"Theoretically, there are two. The Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and the Rinnegan. The Eternal Mangekyo required the transplantation of a close relative's Mangekyo Sharingan. The Rinnegan is thought to be the final evolution of the Sharingan and has not been seen since the time of the Sage of Six Paths. You need not worry about either possibility."

Fugaku didn't miss the look of relief that passed over Kakashi's face. He had the grace to flush slightly once he realized he hadn't been as subtle as he'd hoped. "It's not that I don't appreciate the gift that Obito gave me," Kakashi said hurriedly, not wanting Fugaku to get the wrong idea. "But I don't think I'm strong enough to handle any more."

"Recognizing your own limits will serve you well when using the Sharingan."

A knock sounded on the door. Fugaku called out an invitation to enter. Itachi stood in the doorway. "Father, there's an ANBU here for you."

Fugaku indicated he should send the shinobi in. A masked ANBU stepped into the doorframe as Itachi stepped back. He looked towards Kakashi. "The Hokage is awake. He's asking for you."

Kakashi was halfway to the door before he remembered where he was. He started to turn back.

"Go," Fugaku said, waving him off.

With a sharp nod of thanks, Kakashi raced out the door.

Kakashi hesitated on the threshold to his father's hospital room. He knew it was his father there but the image was such a contradiction of his usual, energetic self that Kakashi was having a hard time reconciling the two. Sakumo was propped up in the bed. His face was unnaturally pale and his eyes were sunken and bloodshot. His long hair unbound and hanging limp, his bangs falling into his eyes. Wires disappeared beneath his loose shirt, connected to the beeping monitors above him. As if sensing Kakashi's presence, his gaze turned to the doorway. He smiled weakly.

"Kakashi," he said, his voice gravely and rough from disuse.

"Dad…" Kakashi didn't know what to say. He took a step into the room then halted again, uncertain.

Sakumo reached out a hand and Kakashi was instantly at his side. Kakashi didn't protest as his father ran a hand through his spiky hair. The lingering fear and doubt that had been plaguing him evaporated at the familiar gesture to be replaced by an almost giddy sense of relief.

"It's okay, son," Sakumo murmured as tears began trickling down Kakashi's cheeks. "It's over."

Kakashi scrubbed one hand across his eyes. He hated crying though he felt he was rather justified in this case. He reopened his eyes and managed to dredge up a smile. The raw edge of his terror or thinking his father had been killed was still too fresh for comfort. But it would be alright, he knew. That was enough.

Author's Notes: You didn't think I'd really kill off Sakumo, did you? Danzo, on the other hand... He makes a great antagonist because his ability to justify anything in the name of protecting the village is impressively terrifying. Which is also what made him so dangerous. A bit too dangerous to leave alone to continue plotting Bad Things.

Anyway, I'm going to try to get updates out a little faster - adulting sucks and I got into a bit of a funk with writing for a while there. I know where the plot is ultimately going. The problem is not opening Pandora's Box and falling down the rabbit hole to get there. This story has already gotten so much longer than I initially anticipated. Even if it takes a little while between updates, rest assured that I'm not going to abandon it. :)