Chapter 5: The 5 Kage Summit
A/N: Thanks to the two more people who followed this story, I appreciate it. Please review and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Also let me know if y'all would be interested in a SasuSaku or SaIno fic.
Kakashi's POV
We reach Suna by dusk of that same day, and Kankuro comes to meet us at the gates. "Hokage-sama, we've been expecting you. The Lords Kazekage and Raikage have already arrived. Lady Mizukage should be arriving shortly, and we expect Lady Tsuchikage to arrive early in the morning." Kankuro says as we walk through the gates. I haven't been to the Hidden Sand in a while, so it will be nice to see everyone again. Kankuro leads us to a small hotel close to the Sand Palace. "Well this is it. The summit starts at 9 am tomorrow morning. Please don't be late, Hokage-sama. Oh and Shikamaru, Temari says to meet her on the north side of town, at the spot. I don't know what that means, but she said you will." And with that final message and a bow, Kankuro left us in the lobby. "I apologize for that Kakashi-sensei, I told her that I could not meet tonight due to the summit," Shikamaru says trying to hide the blush already forming on his cheeks. "Go Shikamaru. Take the chance while you have it." I reply. The young man opens his mouth as if to protest, but shuts it again, nods and leaves the inn.
The innkeeper leads us to a hallway and informs us of the room placements. I'm across from Emiko. Which is fine, it's not like I care.
Emiko's POV
I haven't been to the Hidden Sand since the end of the war. It's the same yet so different. Though this village has always been calmer than my own. The room is nice, Lord Kazekage knows how to please his guests. Also according to KankurÅ Lord Gaara owes something to Hokage-sama. Anyways the next few days are going to be boring. My job will be to stand outside the summit room and guard the Kage. It's an honor but a boring one. A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. I opened it to find Hokage-sama. "Oh. Lord Hokage, how can I help you?" I ask flashing him a smile. "I am going on a walk, and since reading your file I have some questions. So I was wondering if you would like to come with me?" He asks, rubbing the back of his head. Oh this is strange but it can't hurt right. "Alright I will go with you," I reply and lock the door as I step into the hallway. "Taketori-san, I read in your file that you were promoted to Captain after successfully completing a 9-year long mission. May I ask what that mission was?" Kakashi asks as we are leaving the hotel. So he wants to know that. Well he is the Hokage so even though it's classified information. Plus he likely knows the truth anyway. "Ah. Since you read my file you know that I was in part raised by the Uchiha clan, and due to that Itachi Uchiha was like a younger brother to me. Anyways even after the 9 tails attack Itachi and I were close. Then when the massacre occurred he chose to tell me the truth. I think he knew that he would likely be dead before having the chance to tell Sasuke himself. When Lord Third realized I knew, he promoted me to ANBU partially to keep my mouth shut. That's when the mission started. My mission was to gather intel from Itachi about the Leaf's enemies. We met 4 times a year unless there was an immediate threat to the village. A good example would be when Orochimaru attacked the Hidden Leaf during the Chunin exams 6 years ago. I was warned of the attack by Itachi but by the time I returned to the village the attack already began. Itachi knew everything about everyone, from Orochimaru to the Akatsuki, and even Madara. His intel likely saved many lives. But naturally, things got complicated and he became sick. Three days before we were set to meet, he died."
Kakashi's POV
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was not that. "Wow. I knew the basics of what really happened in terms of the Uchiha clan. But I did not know his faithfulness to the village ran that deep for so long." I reply looking over to find Emiko looking quite sad. "Aa. Most people don't." She replies as we turn down another sandy street. The Sand Village always has good weather this time of year. "Does Sasuke know?" I ask because he deserves too. "Not yet. I contacted him after the war and told him that I had information about Itachi if he wanted to speak with me. I expect he'll come when he is ready." She replies and I know she is right. Emiko gets more interesting every time I speak to her. "It's getting late, we should head back to the inn, Kakashi-sama." She says and picks up her pace. Damn now I probably made her uncomfortable. Sometimes I forget that I'm the Hokage and that people tell me things because they feel obligated too, not because they want to.
Thirty minutes later I'm in bed, hoping that the nightmares won't come. I notice a small box and a note on the table next to the bed. I pick up the box and find a few pills inside. The same ones from last night.
Hokage-sama,
I hope these help you rest peacefully during the summit. I will speak with Lady Tsunade about getting you some when we return to the Hidden Leaf.
Taketori-san
Perhaps I didn't ruin everything. At least I think we are still friends.
The following morning
Gaara's POV
When I arrived in the conference hall I was greatly surprised to find that the Hokage had already arrived. "Kakashi, you're early," I say not hiding my surprise. "Yes well I slept better than usual so I woke up early." He replies leaning back in the chair. Lord Hokage is an insomniac and he went to bed? The man never sleeps for more than 4 hours at a time. "Why is that? Perhaps the dry climate here in Sunakugre?" I ask prying, I wish to know the extent of this new development. "A friend has been helping me." He says shifting in the chair. Ah so it's as I thought. "I see. Well maybe when the summit is over we can meet her. Your girlfriend will need to meet the other Kage if she's going to become your wife at some point." Hehehe he's gonna kill me for that. Lady Tsuchikage enters at that point and gives both of us a bow. "She's not my girlfriend Gaara," Kakashi replies with a slight hint of annoyance in his tone. "If you say she isn't your girlfriend we're going to think she is." The tsuchikage says taking her seat and giving me a smile. "I heard the word girlfriend?" The voice of the mizukage says as she enters the room. "Hokage-same has a girlfriend," I reply, Kakashi is great to make fun of. Naruto was right about that too. "Agh now even Lord Hokage will marry before me!" Lady Mizukage replies dramatically. "For the last time Lord Kazekage, she is not my girlfriend," Kakashi replies, a slightly annoyed expression forming on his face. "Just do everyone a favor and don't marry her anytime soon, Hokage-sama. Then our villages will all want their respective Kage to marry as well." Lord Raikage says entering the room and taking a seat. "Since we are all here now can we please just get down to business?" Lord Hokage replies not making eye contact with anyone. Oh man we got him good.
Emiko's POV
"Hey Taketori-san, would you do me a favor?" Shikamaru Nara asks as he comes around the corner. "It depends on what the favor is," I reply unmovingly from my post. "When today's meeting is over, could you um oh man this is such a drag, but could you make sure Kakashi-sensei doesn't get into too much trouble? I um need to speak with Lord Gaara about something." He finishes, not meeting my eyes. Oh, my Kami! So Shikamaru will be first then eh? "Aa I understand. However, what's in it for me?" I ask, smirking. "Since I'm Lord Hokage's advisor, I'll make sure to put you into contact with some friends of mine that likely know more about what happened between Sasuke and Itachi than I ever will." Oh. So he knows about that. I mean I suppose his job is to read the things Kakashi-sama doesn't, which is 98% of the files that cross his desk. "Deal," I reply hoping that things won't be too awkward. Speaking of, the meeting is over. I make a beeline for Lord Hokage "Lord Hokage, you must be starving after that long meeting, come, I'll get you something to eat." I say and grab his arm whisking him down the hallway. As soon as we leave the building I let go immediately. "Sorry sir, Nara-san wishes to speak to Lord Kazekage privately, so he asked me to escort you out." But when I face him his eyes are smiling. "It's fine Emiko-san. I haven't been rushed like that in ages, not since Sakura returned from the moon and she wanted me to let Naruto and Hinata talk alone." He says in a happy tone. "Right then. Well if you don't require anything else, I will be going now." I turn to leave and feel his hand on my shoulder. "I believe you said we were getting food. I'll meet you at Yakiniku Q near the food market at 6 o'clock. Consider it my thank you for your help during the summit." He says and smiles. "Sir, helping you at the summit is my duty as Hidden Leaf ninja. I don't need compensation for doing my duty to my village." I reply. Not because I don't want to get food. More because Kakashi-sama makes my heart race and that's inappropriate because he's my boss. "While I agree with your statement Taketori-San, you have gone above and beyond duty to make my life easier and as both Hokage and a comrade I appreciate that. Yakiniku Q at 6." He replies and disappears with a puff of smoke.
