Disclaimer: I own nothing but the general plot and OCs
I wrote this during a night shift and I'd already been up 17 hours at the start of it. So... I don't know what the fuck happened while I was writing it but it's about 3000 words longer than planned and I can't remember exactly what I wrote to make it that long.
Is it even understandable between one line and the next? I hope the characters are relatively consistent throughout the chap and not super choppy as my tired brain forgot what their moods were supposed to be five seconds ago.
English is underlined like always
No beta and barely any proof reading
Thank you so much for awesome reviews, as well as favs and follows! Let me know what works, or what doesn't work for you, as well as any prompts for scenes you'd like to see.
Chapter 49 - The Righteous Side Of Hell
With Tenzō on an Anbu mission, Kakashi and Genma spent five days painstakingly double checking every Genin and Chūnin corps death that had occurred going back over ten years. They paid particular attention to the instances in which no body was brought home, or the body was disfigured to the point that it was unrecognisable.
It was daunting and at times sickening work. Both men were submerged in the deaths of hundreds of children and teenagers, but they sternly battered their soft edges into place and continued onwards. If perhaps their appetites were diminished and their conversations stilted - they told themselves it was because they were too busy to eat and talk all that much.
It became obvious though, as patterns emerged, that Tenzō and Genma's hunch had been correct. After the age of graduation and before the age of eighteen - more often than not before sixteen - there had been a number of Genin and Chūnin whose medical reports post mortem had all been done by medics outside of the standard medic group for the corps. Dead shinobi were supposed to be dealt with in a very specific way once returned to Konoha, something that was designed and implemented during the second shinobi war due to some very disturbing justus performed with dead bodies.
A close look at the paperwork revealed that it was impossible for the standard procedure to have been followed out. On top of that, comparing the missing Genin and Chūnin showed an obvious similarity between them; all of them had shown potential for a particular skill or set of skills, but had failed to reach or show that potential in the Genin test.
"So... we have someone taking the poorer children before Academy graduation, when they're official shinobi of the leaf. We have the wealthier children with faked deaths before true adulthood, all Genin and Chūnin corps with talent that could have seen them onto a Genin team with a Jōnin-Sensei had circumstances been different.
"What's betting that the kids from the disadvantaged backgrounds also had burgeoning shinobi talent? The question is, were they looking for dead children with shinobi talent to use, or live shinobi? We also need to know if the shinobi clans have been targeted," Genma pondered.
They made their way out of the building as they spoke, careful to keep their voices low.
Kakashi frowned, "On top of that, we need to find out what the hell they promised or threatened these kids with to make them fake their own deaths. Most of the faked deaths couldn't have been achieved without cooperation."
"Anbu," came the abrupt voice behind them. They turned quickly, startled to see a young olive haired kunoichi holding files - she seemed to shrink a little at their combined attention, before gathering herself and straightening up.
"I- I'm sorry for listening into your conversation... but you requested the post mortem report for my team mate and so I couldn't help but want to know why," she averted her eyes, but other than that her posture remained sure.
"How did you sneak up on us?" Kakashi casually asked, his lazy slouch disguising the face that he had a kunai in his grip.
The olive haired girl blushed slightly, "it's the one thing I'm good at. I can suppress my chakra and move without detection to a very high level, but the rest of my skills are low Chūnin. Not enough to escape the life of a career Chūnin."
"Maa don't downplay yourself. That was very impressive, kunoichi-san. Now, what was that about Anbu?" Kakashi slouched even further, all the while keeping his senses even more carefully peeled for anyone listening in.
"O-oh right. You wanted to know what the shinobi who faked their deaths were promised to ensure their cooperation. My teammate was from a rich civilian clan, and up until the last year in the Academy he was near top of his class; he had high expectations for himself. He was quite good, and he even knew a few doton-justsu but... he was in a class full of Shinobi clan kids who were grouped together in Genin teams while he got stuck in a team with other civilian kids.
"He was bitter when his Jōnin-Sensei didn't give him an opportunity to show his skills before he failed them all for their bad tactical planning. He thought he deserved better than the Chūnin corps, and he had the drive and ambition to reach Jōnin one day if he kept at it, but he always said if he'd had a Jōnin-Sensei he'd reach that goal quicker.
"I overheard him one day, talking to someone. They were promising initiation in Anbu if he faked his death. When he asked why he had to fake his death, he was told that they do that for any Genin or Chūnin corps member who becomes an Anbu initiate. He believed them... I believed them - for most shinobi below Jōnin, Anbu is a very mysterious organisation. Was-was it not true after all?" Her voice weakened as fear and guilt stained her words, her eyes flicking up nervously toward the two Jōnin.
Genin thoughtfully twirled the senbon in his mouth as he and Kakashi made brief eye contact. The minute tilt of the scarecrow's head gave Genma the go ahead to speak his thoughts to woman.
"We don't know. We're still looking into it. But are you willing to testify that to the Hokage if it comes to it?"
The woman appeared flustered and overwhelmed by the request, but eventually nodded her head, "Yes, if it will help."
"Thank you. You've been very helpful," He charmingly grinned. Her face went bright red and she tripped over her words, squeaking when he winked.
As they left, Kakashi thoughtfully murmured in English, "Someone needs to keep an eye on her. She's a valuable eye witness."
"I'll take care of it," Genma confidently stated, also switching language - albeit much patchier in his pronunciation.
"I'm sure you will," he dryly replied.
"Now? You want to look at ninja families? See if the same is happening?"
"No. If this is being done by someone with the power to believably promise Anbu recruitment, I can make an easy guess as to how clan shinobi are being taken. This all comes back to Anbu, and considering today happens to be the day our two disgraced Anbu should be back from their suspension I want to know where fuck their official reports are." The fact that the Hokage hadn't yet called on either of them told Kakashi that the report hadn't been handed to the man yet and it was overdue.
Kakashi entered Anbu barracks confidently, a part of him relishing the immediate tensing of everyone in his vicinity.
"Taichou, you can't be in here," one of them muttered without strength, seeing that he wasn't a murderous ball of rage unlike last time.
Kakashi ignored them, and spoke to the whole room, "I need the team captain of Washi and Yamori here. Now."
There was a beat, during which no one knew whether to follow his command, or try to make him leave, but then one of them stood up and left to fetch the team captain and the rest subsided with only a mumble or two about protocol.
It was barely a minute before the shinobi returned with the team captain, someone with an ox mask.
"Can I help you, Hatake-san?" The question was asked in a neutral tone, but it was unmistakably male.
"You have two Anbu members in your team; Washi and Yamori. Their report before their suspension has yet to be handed to the Hokage. Where is it and why has it not reached him yet?"
There was a short pause, the captain clearly caught off guard, before he cautiously replied, "Washi and Yamori are due to arrive in half an hour for duty. I haven't seen them since the start of their suspension- they had yet to hand their report to me at that time and, as you are aware, Anbu on medical leave or on suspension have the option to hand their report into the Hokage personally. I believed until now that they had done so."
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed in suspicion at just how late their report was, distrust growing toward the two Anbu who had been so distracted during Su-chan's kidnapping.
"Very well, I'll inform the Hokage. Don't let them leave once they've entered the building. I have no doubt that the Anbu commander will want a word with them once he hears of this."
"The commander is not in village currently, but I will inform Nara Shikaku myself," the captain bowed his head, his anger at his subordinates not quite suppressed enough for Kakashi to miss it.
With the Anbu commander so often busy dealing with the highest level of confidential tasks by themself, the more day to day tasks of Anbu commander often fell to Nara Shikaku, the Jōnin commander - quite possibly the simultaneously most lazy and overworked man in Konoha. They really needed someone to officially create the role of assistant Anbu commander to give the man a break.
Kakashi didn't waste any time updating Genma and making his way to Hokage, prepared to have the man sign off on having Washi and Yamori taken to T&I if their explanations weren't fantastic and airtight. He landed on the windowsill and slipped inside the room, the Hokage immediately eyeing him curiously.
"Ah, Kakashi. What can I do for you?" Sarutobi genially smiled, placing his pen down and gladly placing the paperwork aside for the time being.
"I'm here to give you my report thus far."
Sarutobi made no comment about the report being before the deadline given for once, and merely waved his Anbu guard from the room while activating the security seals.
"Primarily you should be aware that Washi and Yamori have yet to hand their report in to their team captain. It is, as you know, almost two weeks late now. They have given no reason as to why, and have not been seen since their suspension. This is highly suspect and outside of all known Anbu protocols. I would like permission for them to be taken to T&I and rigorously questioned," Kakashi began, an undercurrent to his voice that revealed just how furious he was at the entire situation.
The Hokage puffed briefly at his pipe as his dark eyes revealed how serious he was taking the unspoken accusation within Kakashi's words, "Granted. Both Washi and Yamori are to be taken for interrogation. Torture techniques are not to be applied unless further proof of a crime has been revealed. As the leader in the investigation, you can of course preside over the interrogation if you wish."
The eye smile Kakashi gave the Hokage would have disturbed a lesser man.
Before he could say anything in response, though, the door burst open and an old man with a cane entered the room with a stately walk that seemed at odds with his need for a cane, one arm and half his face covered in bandages. He had an X scar on his chin, a permanently grim expression on his weathered face, and a cold calculating look in his visible eye.
Kakashi swallowed the rage and nausea back at the knowledge of the scarlet pigment that existed in the socket of his hidden eye, and all over his bandaged arm.
"Danzō, this a private meeting," Sarutobi frowned, though with little genuine censure.
"I heard the Hatake heir was missing, Hiruzen," Danzō spoke in his usual curt manner, ignoring the Hokage's previous words.
"Yes, we have people looking into it already," he patiently replied. The Hokage didn't bother asking how he knew such information, already aware that something like this couldn't be kept from the man for long. The fact that it had taken two weeks was a miracle, and his old friend must have been occupied by something very important.
"It's a disgrace. I told you when the Hyūga heir was almost taken but you didn't listen then, and now an heir has been successfully kidnapped from us. The soft training we give the Anbu churns out subpar shinobi. It's one thing to coddle the children as you insist, but to coddle the black ops is weak, and now we have the proof."
Sarutobi sighed, placing his pipe down on the desk and clasping his hands together, "What would you have me do then, Old friend?"
Kakashi grit his teeth together at the halfway conceding demeanour of Sarutobi and knew that whatever the outcome of the conversation, Danzō was going to walk away with too much of a victory. But in between the two old shinobi in the room, he was out of allies if he chose to speak up.
"Allow me to personally choose and train the next recruits. If there are no improved results, we will continue to do things your way. But if there is obvious gap in performance between those trained by my methods and those trained by yours, I redesign the Anbu training."
Sarutobi paused, thinking the offer over, "very well. But there are to be no Anbu recruits in your pick below the age of sixteen. Additionally, if a recruit wishes to drop out of your training they may do so just like any other Anbu recruitment training. How quickly do you intend to start recruiting?"
Danzō smiled slowly - an ugly thing, and replied smugly, "Today. I already have shinobi in mind."
"I will write to Nara Shikaku and the Anbu commander to inform of these changes," Sarutobi wrote a message for each, then signed and sealed them, "Kakashi, do you mind delivering the messages to Nara Shikaku on your way pick up our wayward Anbu? We can finish this report at another time, Danzō and I have more to speak about."
"Hai, Hokage-sama," Kakashi stepped forward to take them, reluctantly turning his back to the old warkawk. On his way out of the door, Danzō called out to him.
"I'll keep my ear to ground for you. An asset like the child belongs within Konoha," Danzō nodded to Kakashi gruffly, then turned back to Sarutobi.
Kakashi paused, his hand fisted as he dug his nails harshly into his palm to prevent himself from saying anything inadvisable, "Aa, that would be much appreciated."
By the time he reached Anbu barracks, enough time had passed since he'd left to meet with the Hokage that Washi and Yamori should have arrived.
"Where's Nara Shikaku?" Kakashi requested as soon as entered. Thankfully nobody bothered protesting his presence this time, although the rough quality to his voice certainly had them on edge.
"He's in his office," someone replied from the crowd. Kakashi didn't bother looking to identify who it was.
Nara Shikaku wasn't really supposed to have an office, due to not technically holding any position within Anbu, but overtime it had just materialised as he moved more and more things into a spare room that he couldn't be bothered to put back in its official place. One day a desk and chair had also shown up there and from then on it had been the Nara's unofficial office.
He knocked briefly on the door, flashing his chakra in a pattern the Nara would recognise, and then entered. He saw immediately from the man's expression that he was expecting him.
"This is so troublesome," the man sighed with genuine weary frustration, "Washi and Yamori didn't show up. We have shinobi out looking for them."
Kakashi's expression tightened, but he didn't comment beyond, "This is from the Hokage, for you and the Commander. The Hokage has given me permission to take Washi and Yamori to T&I when they're found."
"If they're found. Nobody's seen them since before their suspension. No one in Anbu knew who they were beneath their masks, and they don't have friends or family under the mask."
Nara wasn't officially supposed to depart with such personal information, but then again he also wasn't technically supposed to know such personal information about Anbu in the first place. Everyone above a certain level in the shinobi force knew that most of the rules only applied loosely to Kakashi due to his official title only being that of an ordinary Jōnin, but with the shadow of the Hokage title hanging constantly over his head.
"Hmm," Kakashi replied noncommittally.
Nara Shikaku immediately narrowed his eyes, "You know something. Or at least you suspect something."
"If I were you, I'd check that message from the Hokage sooner rather than later," was all Kakashi would say. The man was smart enough to put some of the pieces together just from the message and Kakashi's clues.
Before the Jōnin Commander could do so, though, an urgent fluctuation of chakra entered the building, and shortly burst into the room at the go ahead signal from the Nara.
"Nara-san! We believe we found Washi and Yamori," the Anbu panted, having clearly sprinted as fast as possible from where she'd come.
"Where are they?" The man sharply demanded, already gathering his weapons. If the missing Anbu didn't return with the woman then clearly there was a problem.
"Their bodies were found outside the walls of Konoha. It appears to be an enemy attack. I doubt they even made it home after their suspension."
"You said you believed they'd been found," Kakashi commented, as they quickly followed the Anbu to their bodies.
She hesitated before she replied, "Hai, Taichou. Their masks are badly broken and most of their faces have been disfigured by the wildlife over the last two weeks."
"Why did none of the patrols smell them?"
"It wasn't a technique I'm familiar with, Nara-san. Some kind of water vapour release, that absorbed the smell and prevented it from spreading. It resembled a Kiri silent killing technique, but that's just a guess. We disrupted it with a fuuton technique."
They arrived at the site, where there were two other Anbu waiting. Just as described, two bodies dressed in Anbu gear and with grotesquely disfigured features lay sprawled next to each other.
The bottom half of their faces were almost missing entirely right to the backs of their throats, and their eyes had been picked out by scavengers. The smell was horribly pungent and Kakashi was glad for his mask.
Following the suspicion that had been building slowly since he had realised the two hadn't handed their reports in, Kakashi crouched down and examined the missing section of their faces, his own face impassive even with the wave of rotten flesh that met his nose.
He quickly scanned the rest of the bodies, identifying the cause of death for both of them to be a blade piercing through the throat from behind.
"Did you move their bodies at all?" Kakashi questioned.
"No, Taichou. They're exactly as we found them," one of the Anbu replied.
"Hm, thank you," he stood up, brushing his pants off and glanced back at the Nara. Their eye contact was full of unspoken observations.
"Get their bodies back to base. I want an examination finished as soon as possible, and a report written up before the end of tomorrow," Shikaku commanded, then slouched and complained, "This has become even more troublesome."
Both men maintained their silence on the way back to Anbu barracks, Nara leading the way to the Anbu commander's office and immediately activating the commander's impressive security seals. Shikaku leaned back against the commander's desk and watched Kakashi with his perceptive dark eyes.
"You saw it too, then," the Jōnin Commander bluntly stated.
"Aa, the blood splatter indicated they fell where they were stabbed. Clean, straight from behind, same blade, same angle of height."
"Same person most likely, but the examination will confirm," the Nara sighed and rubbed his face as the implications truly settled, "so if they were stabbed one after the other, why did one of them not turn around to defend themselves? Why were they outside the gates in the first place? Genjutsu, or some sort of mind control? I think now is the time to tell me what you know, Hatake-san."
"Their faces were destroyed after death in such a way as to ensure their tongues were missing all the way back," Kakashi casually commented, "you should really read that message from the Hokage, Nara-san. Come to your own conclusions about what's been going on here, and what will be going on here imminently."
The Nara narrowed his eyes contemplatively at the other shinobi, his lightening fast brain ticking away, "You're so troublesome. Fine, but be sure that this isn't the end of the discussion."
Kakashi eye smiled, "Maa maa, I wouldn't dream of denying you my presence in such a way, Nara-san."
"Get out."
Kakashi did as instructed, and made his way immediately to Gai's apartment. As soon as he made it inside his face dropped from the laid back expression into something far more intimidating. He saw Gai, Genma and the newly returned Tenzō (still in his dirty blood splattered Anbu uniform, a fresh bandage applied to his left forearm) waiting for him - watching his posture tense and his fingers dig harshly into his palms.
He trembled, just for a moment, with fury and restrained the urge to snarl and break something.
"Kakashi?" Genma warily asked.
It took a moment for him to unclench his teeth and take a breath, "Danzō is involved in Su-chan's disappearance."
There was tense silence while the other two waited for Kakashi to explain himself, "There's still not strong enough proof to definitively link Su-chan and the missing children together. But both cases lead back to Anbu. There was only one person who came to mind when I thought of suspicious and untrustworthy Anbu."
"The most UnYouthful Danzō," Gai confirmed solemnly.
"Right. So I took a calculated risk. If it was Danzō, he'd have been aware of what we were investigated within the first few days that we began. If it was Danzō, and neither Washi and Yamori had handed their reports in - due almost two weeks ago - I figured chances were that they were Danzō's men. So I specifically mentioned their names in full view of the Anbu, and said I was taking the information to the Hokage.
"I believed that even if it wasn't Danzō, Washi and Yamori were still near certainly involved more than first appearances had suggested. Either the Hokage would allow me to interrogate the Anbu and give me proof of Danzō being involved by the seal on both their tongues, or give me proof of someone else in Konoha pulling their strings. Alternatively, it would pressure whoever was truly commanding them to show up to insert themselves into the situation in an attempt to control the outcome and cover up their involvement."
"I don't understand where the risk was in that decision," Genma slowly admitted.
"The risk was that if it was Danzō he was baiting, he was practically giving the man an opening to seek more control in Anbu as a method to cover up his actions. All he had to do was blame inefficiency in Anbu as it currently functions, with Su-chan's disappearance as proof," Tenzō explained, his voice heavy with dismay.
"And we all know the Hokage has a blind spot when it comes to the man," Kakashi nodded.
"Kakashi, what happened?" Genma asked, dread weighing his words down.
"I didn't anticipate Washi and Yamori already being dead. I should have, it was short sighted of me not to. Of course Danzō would have had them killed the moment it became clear that they would be under scrutiny due to their involvement in Su-chan's disappearance. Dead accomplices can't implicate him. I gave him everything he needed to persuade the Hokage to implement a harsher training regime personally overseen by him for the new recruts in Anbu - recruits he could pick himself.
"Now he has the perfect set up to flood Anbu with Root even more than they've already infiltrated it. After that it will be easy for him to gain full control of our black ops before three years have passed, by setting up the deaths of the Anbu loyal to Konoha one by one and replacing them with his own brainwashed shinobi."
"Shit," Genma breathed in horror, "Shitshitshitshitshit."
"What do you suggest we do about this most UnYouthful plan of Danzōs, Kakashi?"
"We need evidence against him a lot quicker than we can currently get hold of it. Strong evidence against him. The problem is that the old bastard has eyes everywhere thanks to treating with enemies and allies of Konoha alike. Any investigation we began would be noticed by him far too quickly. On top of that, I think we need someone with a more official title than I have helping us by slowing down his progress," Kakashi scrubbed his fingers harshly through his hair as he created and unmade plans, testing out scenario after scenario.
"You need a man on the inside, Taichou," Tenzō quietly spoke, unwavering eye contact with the man who held his loyalty above anyone else.
Kakashi stared at him for a moment as Tenzō's words landed, and then he went cold. His immediate response was to deny Tenzō, not willing to make him go back there - the place he'd been trying to leave behind mentally long after he left physically.
"Gai is not suitable for Root, Genma already has a seal on his tongue that would be immediately noticeable. The fact that mine is a different seal than the one that used to be there will not be identified due to looking almost identical. It cannot be you, because they would never trust you. I can, however, make myself seem like I am growing distant from you due to your attention being focussed on looking for Subaru. Danzō is certain to take advantage of me if I appear to be untethered during such a situation.
"I will be under suspicion for some time, but Danzō is arrogant in his ability to create completely loyal shinobi due to the belief that his training techniques are vastly superior. If I play the role well enough, I believe I can collect the evidence needed to deal with him by mid next year."
"The Chūnin exams that will be held in Konoha, according to Su-chan," Kakashi reluctantly confirmed, feeling like his blood flushing hot and cold with each heartbeat.
"Yes. I'm sure plans are already being created for it, and if not they will be soon. There is very little possibility that Danzō was not aware of most if not all of the Suna-Oto invasion plan, should Subaru's knowledge of events prove correct."
Kakashi's resulting silence was pained, as his thoughts and alternative plans flickered through his mind rapidly.
"I don't want to ask this of you, Tenzō," he tensely admitted, when he couldn't think of a better plan.
"You're not, Kakashi-senpai. You never would," the corner of the serious man's lips twitched into an almost smile, though his expression remained solemn with the weight of what he'd offered.
Kakashi's stomach and chest was tight, his whole body clenched uncomfortably and he struggled to swallow over the lump in the base of his throat. He knew there was a better idea, a plan that didn't risk Tenzō's mind and sanity as much as reentering Root did, but he couldn't think. All his thoughts were rushing too fast and too useless.
The last two weeks had been far less intense than so many of his missions, and yet there had been too many unresolved revelations. Too much life changing knowledge he'd barely given time to. The weight of the future of the entire world was suddenly on his shoulders, and although he knew he had the support of every man in the room, he was the Taichou of this group. He was responsible if they failed.
But he could barely give the future the time and attention the serious problem deserved when he was trying to unravel the complete mess that was Subaru's kidnapping. In the back of his mind, like a dull painful throb that wore him down over time, was the consistent betrayal and paradigm shift that was 'ObitoObitoObitoObitoObitoObito'. And now there was Danzō and Root as an immediate problem, one he had anticipated having a couple more years before he had to deal with.
It was a lot... it was too much. He was ashamed to admit it even to himself, because there was no one else to carry this weight. It wasn't fair to ask that of someone even if there was.
"Kakashi, you're making your hand bleed," Gai's concerned voice pierced through his spiralling thoughts, and he realised that he'd clenched his hand enough to cut his palm.
His breath was getting too shallow and fast, as he identified the tension in his muscles and the tightness in his stomach and lungs was anxiety that was turning into panic.
He swallowed harshly and forced his hand to unclench, breathing carefully as he avoided eye contact while he reigned in his control over himself, shame curling in his gut for losing his hold on himself in such a way, even for a moment, in front of the others.
"My Eternal Rival, I believe you were correct when you said that we need the support of someone Youthful. You must share the burden of your mind with someone capable - you have not had time to process the words shared by Su-hime and I think you will continue to struggle with yourself until you do," Gai shared his 'words of Wisdom' as Su-chan had called it when he said something perceptive.
"There are seals on our tongues for a reason, Gai," Kakashi argued, "I'm not sharing our secrets with someone just because I'm having a rough few days."
"No, I don't think he means your personal burdens. You're the best strategic and tactical planner here, Kakashi. We can only help you so much in that regard. Tenzō has practice leading a team... but the sort of long term wide spread consequences are your area. You need someone who can share that burden. Personally, I think it's pretty obvious who you should involve," Genma confidently stated.
Kakashi raised a brow in question, still barely keeping himself together.
"Well, you need a Nara. You need the Nara. Who better to help with Danzō than the unofficial second Anbu Commander? He could help not only with Danzō but in the search for Subaru, since it's starting to look like they might be two different aspects of the same thing."
Kakashi leaned back against the table and forced his body to relax as he considered it. He didn't necessarily need to tell Nara Shikaku about his knowledge of the future, and the man had no trust or liking for Danzō - he would certainly want to be part of keeping the Warhawk's talons out of Anbu. On top of that, he could keep a far better eye on Tenzō than Kakashi could if he went back into Root.
The Jōnin Commander was already curious about what Kakashi knew, and everyone knew a curious Nara was impossible to shake. He'd figure out what Danzō was doing eventually, even with the sparse pieces of the puzzle he currently had - but by that point it could well be too late for the genius to do anything. Perhaps it was better, then, to inform the Nara before that point and bring him on side.
A closer relationship with Nara Shikaku could only be a good thing if he needed to fill the vacuum of power that would be left when any combination of Danzō, the Elder council and the Hokage stepped down and/or died.
With Nara Shikaku's support came the support of the Yamanaka clan and the Aburame clan. A very good position to be in if he needed to fill the Hokage position himself, or put someone with his approval in the hat.
He finally released a breath and stretched out the tension in his neck, "Let's hope he can come up with something that doesn't lead to a new Hokage being needed before the Chūnin exams next year."
"Why's that?" Tenzō asked, the other two relaxing slightly when they saw Kakashi's implied agreement to Genma and Gai's suggestion.
"Because I really don't want to be Hokage, but from the way Su-chan made it sound - the only way we're getting the most stubborn woman any of us will ever meet to come back to Konoha and take the hat is by an obnoxiously orange Genin with more integrity and luck than every shinobi in Konoha put together. And he just so happens to still be an Academy student for another year."
There was a pause and then Kakashi eye smiled and added, "At least I get to see Nara's face when he realises I've just significantly increased his work load."
Genma snorted, "Kami, you're such a sadistic bastard."
Setting up a more detailed plan to make Tenzō appear to struggling in his 'abandonment' by his senpai took some time. It needed to be fluid and loose enough not to break apart at the first significant hurdle, but thorough and concise enough for Tenzō to cling to when Root was trying to break him apart and back into blind obedience.
If the Nara agreed, he was to be Tenzō's point of contact due to convenience and ease of meeting without suspicion, but if not then the mokuton user was to leave messages that were complete gibberish until a mixture of phonetic and non-phonetic translations into English were applied. It was a code that was useless to anyone but Kakashi; even Genma and Gai were not practiced enough in the language to understand the code.
Tenzō was only capable of it because when Subaru became particularly passionate and excited about traps she was designing, she often scrawled a messy combination of Englanese that made no sense to anyone who hadn't had practice deciphering it.
Once they had all come to something resembling an agreement on all the particulars of Tenzō's undercover mission, Kakashi knew the dead Anbu's bodies would have been through an autopsy and Nara Shikaku would likely want to see him, if just to resentfully mutter troublesome at him a few times. It was as good a time as any to fully inform the man of the Danzō shaped shit storm coming his way.
He walked into the Anbu barracks without anyone even attempting to suggest he shouldn't be there, clearly resigned to the fact that he was going to get away with showing up regardless.
A quick fluctuation of his chakra, a short signal to enter and Kakashi was treated to the sight of Nara massaging his forehead and looking aggrieved. He stood with nothing but a mild glare and lead the way to the Anbu commander's office where he could activate the seals needed for secrecy.
"Twelve minutes. That's how long I've been home in the last 24 hours. My troublesome wife is certainly going to be mad at me when this continues all week," the Nara grouched.
"Aa, definitely. You have no chance of getting home for a while," Kakashi cheerfully agreed.
Shikaku gave a deadpan stare, heavy with dark bags under his eyes, before he blinked slowly and seemed to change his mind about whatever violent thing he was momentarily tempted to commit.
"I have two dead Anbu linked to a case they were suspended over that I can't find any fucking information about, killed by the same person with no attempt to defend themselves, I have Danzō hijacking the new recruits and stepping all over Anbu command thanks to 'inefficient results', and I have your cryptic comment that points to these things things being connected.
"I've drawn my own theories, but that's all they are right now. You've been looking into records of dead Genin and Chūnin recently, clearly on a mission, but I checked the mission roster and neither you or Genma have any missions ongoing right now. I also checked to see if anyone was looking into whatever you were so furious about that Anbu are still talking about it two weeks later - according to the records, no one is looking into anything approaching the 'safety of Konoha's residents in the West Civilian District' three hours before you made the Anbu there wet themselves
"I analysed the reports of a few of the dead shinobi you were looking into and they all showed some fairly damning inconsistencies that pointed to them potentially not being dead at all. So now we have Kami knows how many missing shinobi, connected to a mystery off record mission that you're in charge of, connected to two murdered Anbu with their tongues destroyed, connected to Shimura fucking Danzō."
Nara Shikaku took a deep breath while Kakashi felt impressed that he'd actually made the man swear. Twice.
"Tell me, Hatake-san, that Root is still disbanded. Tell me that Root is not infiltrating Anbu with all but outright permission from our Hokage, in order to allow you to have a better chance of exposing Danzō for the treasonous scum he is."
"Root never was disbanded. It just went underground and Danzō began kidnapping his recruits instead. If he's taken that many from within Konoha, imagine how many he's snatched from outside the walls. As for my mission, I'm afraid it's worse than that, and I need your help," Kakashi calmly explained.
The Jōnin Commander released an exhausted sigh, "Troublesome. Alright, go ahead, ruin my week more than it already has been."
Kakashi proceeded to explain about Subaru occasionally going out under a pseudonym in order to become acquainted with Konoha without the risk of being linked to her father, her kidnapping, the chase after her trail and failure to find her, Washi and Yamori's negligence of their duty and suspension, the Hokage granting Kakashi leadership over an unofficial mission due to suspicion of a leak somewhere high up. He spoke of following the trail of the rumour that had distracted the Anbu back to its source, discovering the story of the missing children and the true tale behind the distraction - their suspicions about how the situation was set up specifically to waylay the Anbu and the potential link between the children and Subaru.
He talked Shikaku through Genma's investigation into the children and his discovery of their missing documents and their average ages, alongside the hunch about wealthier civilian children being taken from the Chūnin and Genin corps - only to discover it was true. He described the olive haired kunoichi's testimony that lead back to the Anbu and the realisation that the Hokage had not received a report yet from Washi and Yamori.
He shared his suspicions, about the validity of both Anbu's words and why they would lie, in the face of such news. He explained the bait he set for whoever was pulling the Anbu's strings - who he believed to be Danzō, and the subsequent fallout of his actions.
"...and the Hokage doesn't know that technically he's given you permission to investigate Danzō because he didn't allow you to finish your report. You haven't omitted information or lied to him in a full report yet; you haven't done anything disciplinable," Shikaku concluded once Kakashi was finished.
"Correct, for now," the man nodded.
"I don't suppose you're aware that if it's believed that the Hokage is either directly implicated or too biased in an investigation, he has ten days from the moment he is made aware of the investigation to state his defence to a panel of five clan heads before the case is turned over the Jōnin Commander and the Anbu Commander, while the Hokage becomes essentially locked out of any information regarding the investigation until its end?" Shikaku shrewdly questioned.
"It...rings a bell. It hasn't ever been implemented. How is this initiated?" Kakashi slowly replied.
"The Hokage needs to request a chance to state his defence, or he misses the opportunity entirely. Beyond that, all we need is the signature of the Anbu Commander, the signature of the Jōnin Commander and the written agreement of two shinobi clan heads," Shikaku smirked.
"The Anbu Commander is out of Konoha, and I'm not eager to involve him. I know he would have issues with Danzō getting involved in Anbu the way he is and he might not like the War Hawk, but his understanding of Konoha is one that needs men like Danzō," he admitted somewhat reluctantly.
"I agree. But it's been quite a few years since the Hokage gave me official permission to sign for the Anbu Commander in a range of circumstances. On a technicality, this is one of them. I can sign as the Jōnin Commander, the Anbu Commander, and one clan Head."
"While I can sign as the other," Kakashi spoke, his eye widened.
"Exactly. Be advised though, Hatake-san, that for the findings of such an investigation to be valid, they must be presented to ten clan heads who then hold a vote as to whether the party under investigation is guilty or not. There can't be a private and decisive end to Danzō if we go this route."
Kakashi gave it some thought, but he knew that this was the best way to get Shikaku's full support further down the road, "There are very few things the clan heads would unanimously agree about. But I'm certain that every single clan that might consider being divisive has been personally affected by Danzō - even if they don't know it yet."
Shikaku nodded, and then grimaced, "This is going to be so troublesome. I need to speak to Tenzō about a mission to send him on, which should leave him convincingly needing your support afterward and vulnerable without it."
Kakashi tilted his head curiously, even as his stomach sank at the expression on Shikaku's face.
"It's a honey pot mission, involving a budding warlord with violent tastes and an enjoyment in traumatising young men. We need to know who's funding him. I can easily rewrite the mission documents to erase the honey pot aspect of the mission and if Tenzō includes in the report an unexpected background with chakra training..."
"It will seem like he was raped while on a mission," Kakashi could barely squeeze the words out of his mouth, for all that they came out smooth and unbothered sounding.
"Exactly. I can ensure the event reaches Danzō's ears through means he will believe to be genuine. If Tenzō can remove section detailing the sexual assault in the medical report before it leaves the hospital, I will feign ignorance and outwardly treat it as a normal violent encounter during a mission."
Ashamed. Isolated. Traumatised. Vulnerable. Kakashi understood, with far too much clarity.
"I can't ask that of him," Kakashi denied, in a mirror of the day before - although with a far more controlled expression and body language. The Jōnin Commander still seemed to see through him.
"Kakashi," Shikaku gentled his voice, making Kakashi meet his eyes, "You won't be; I will. He's an adult now, it's up to him to choose whether he's capable of this or not. Despite appearances, he'll go through the usual procedure for a honey pot mission of a violent nature."
"He'll agree. I know he will," he quietly admitted.
There was a heavy silence before Shikaku offered, "If I provide the materials he needs to turn his Anbu mission reports into storage scrolls once he goes undercover, he can hide the unique coded messages you mentioned inside them, that I'll pass on to you."
Kakashi wanted to say no to it all, but with what was on the line and the fact that it wasn't his place to say no to anything he felt he had little choice but to grasp onto the offer with both hands.
He nodded briefly, "When would he leave?"
"I'll speak to him this evening. Provided he agrees, you'll have to say your goodbyes then, because after that he'll need a few days of prepping to see if he's capable of handling the physical and mental reality of the mission. After that you probably won't be able to see him very much, possibly not at all - not for a while."
The short timespan given sunk in and sat uncomfortably in the bottom of his stomach. Nonetheless, he maintained a slightly bored expression and casually asked "Is there anything else either of us needs to know while I'm here?"
"No, I'm sick of your troublesome presence now. You can leave," Nara waved him away lazily.
Just as his hand touched the handle of the door, Kakashi admitted, "I'm grateful for your assistance in this mission, Nara-san."
"Call me Shikaku, please. And I'm not; I'll be missing so much of my wife's cooking thanks to you."
"Maa, at least there are plenty of tasty ration bars in Anbu barracks for you to snack on," Kakashi forced an eye smiled as he opened the door and left.
Behind him came the satisfying thump of a head meeting a desk and a groaned, "Man what a drag."
Let me know what you think of Nara Shikaku being recruited to Kakashi's side. Also how do you feel about Tenzō's choice to go undercover in Root?
Surprised at Washi and Yamori's involvement in Sonaru's kidnapping? How do you feel about how Kakashi's responding to it all?
For those maybe thinking the Hokage gave Danzō what he wanted too easily - remember that he believes Danzō to be loyal (the treason incident having been something like a decade before), has a blind spot with him due to their history, only agreed to the man personally training one set of recruits as a test and would then implement the training using someone else if it worked, and had had two heirs kidnapped/almost kidnapped. One leading to the Hizashi death incident. With a successful kidnapping occurring he'd want make sure it didn't happen again and give Konoha a reputation to target them in such a way, even if it meant giving Danzō a small (in his eyes) foothold into Anbu. Plus with the man's believed infirmity I think Sarutobi underestimates Danzō because of it.