A/N: Kakashi is around 15 now!
"Well done on the mission," Kakashi says, giving his team a proud eye-smile as he sinks into the chair behind his desk. "It was challenging but you all pulled it off well."
His team playfully salutes their captain, Yugao beaming brightly enough to make up for her teammates' tired slouches. "We're proud of you too, taichou!"
"Maa..." Kakashi coughs, looking embarrassed. It's been a year since he'd first met them and they are becoming more cheeky by the day. "Thank you. Go take the night off and relax, we can file the paperwork tomorrow."
Mitsuo sighs in relief, and Yugao waves her hand in front of Kou's face until he reluctantly high-fives her. "We'll see you tomorrow, then," Mitsuo yawns. "Want us to get you anything?"
"Ah, I'm fine."
"Alright."
Kakashi waves them out, melting further into his chair once his team leaves. Alone in his office again, Kakashi closes his eyes and puts his feet up on the table. Sakumo smiles at him fondly, a wistful part of him wishing that he could bring Kakashi home for a warm meal like he'd in the past. But for years now, Kakashi has taken care of himself. Nowadays, it means takeaway eaten in the office and food shovelled into his mouth without tasting it, because his mind is on the paperwork instead. Sakumo knows Kakashi is trying his best; he just wishes he has some way to make all this easier for him.
With a groan and a pop of his spine, Kakashi gets out of his chair, using his foot to slide it back against the desk. As he stretches, his gaze floats over the small room, passing the organised shelves to land on the boxes left in the corner. Snake's things have been gathering dust ever since Kakashi took over her office, Kakashi being unwilling to throw them away but not knowing where to put them either.
Tearing his gaze away, Kakashi strips out of his armour, hangs it up, and leaves.
"RIVAAAAL!" Kakashi's head snaps up as Gai takes a flying leap from a roof, landing in the middle of the street in front of Kakashi and raising a small cloud of dust. With wide, almost disbelieving eyes, Gai reaches out slowly and clasps Kakashi's shoulders with both hands. "Kakashi! How wonderful and how rare it is to be able to lay my eyes on you!"
Kakashi chuckles awkwardly. "Sorry, Gai. I've been a bit busy." Gai lets go and Kakashi slouches further, his hands remaining deep in his pockets.
"That's alright, Rival! I know everyone has been asking a lot of you." Gai nods, as if confirming his own thoughts. "You are still truly youthful, Kakashi!"
"Thanks," Kakashi murmurs, his fixed expression softening into something more genuine. "Gai, how have you been?"
His rival looks fit to burst into tears. "How kind of you to ask! I have been doing well, Rival. Jounin missions are pushing me to greater heights and I am grateful for the challenge!" He strikes a pose, his face bright with determination.
"Gai, please," Rin laughs, not unkindly, and Kakashi seems equally amused by his enthusiasm. After the stoicism of ROOT shinobi and the older clan heads, Gai's loud declarations and energetic gestures are like a breath of fresh air to Sakumo too.
"Kakashi, would you join us for a while?" Gai asks, not quite bouncing on his feet but buzzing with tension all the same. "We are throwing Asuma a farewell party and everyone is invited!"
Surprise crosses Kakashi's face. "Asuma? He's really leaving?"
Gai's shoulders slump. "Indeed. Asuma is going to train with the Twelve Guardian Ninja, and hopefully, become one of them." He perks up as if by sheer force of will. "It is a noble pursuit! I believe Asuma will do wonderfully!"
"I see..." Kakashi glances back at the izakaya Gai points out. He looks torn. It has been a long day, a long week, and an even longer year.
Kakashi's preparations to bring down Danzou are coming to a head. The Ino-Shika-Chou have deciphered the silencing seal and have gone on to prepare the arrays which will unseal it. When the time comes, it will hopefully be enough to free Kakashi from Danzou's influence. Meanwhile, Kakashi's therapy sessions have turned into strategy sessions, during which he and Inoichi would attempt to come up with as many ways to bring down Danzou as possible, ranging from the purely legal to those less so, should Danzou decide that he has nothing left to lose. Shikaku and Chouza would comment, and on rare occasions, Fugaku as well, and they would continue to refine their plans.
The stress of juggling everything is wearing on Kakashi. Danzou has been ordering him about, too. The more Kakashi gives in, during clan head meetings or other shady missions, the more Danzou demands. In a bid to gather more evidence, Kakashi has stained his own hands with blood.
He hasn't told Fugaku about Hawk, and Inoichi has not brought it up either. It is conspicuously absent from their plans— to protect Kakashi, no doubt. But there are more people than Hawk that Danzou quietly does away with, and while Kakashi has not carried out an assassination of the likes of Snake's again, there is much information gathering, document forgery, cover-up, and disposal that has to be done and has been done... Danzou confidence in Kakashi's silence not only because of the seal, but because Kakashi is implicated in ROOT's activities as well.
Perhaps it is unfair, but Sakumo can only hope that Kakashi's part in these things will forgiven, as all of it has been done for the sake of bringing Danzou to justice. The thought of it weighs on him, and Sakumo can see it dragging Kakashi down too.
His preparations are all coming together, but the abyss is as deep and dark as it was before.
"Kakashi?" Gai's voice breaks through his spiralling thoughts. "If you're too tired, it's alright! I'm sure Asuma will understand. You can drop him a note later."
Kakashi scratches his head, looking guilty. "Nah. How long is he leaving for anyway? I should drop by."
Sparkles come to life in Gai's eyes. "A few years probably. Let's go then, they'll be thrilled to see you!"
Kakashi doesn't look quite sure about that, but he lets Gai pull him along. His friend's overjoyed chatter is infectious.
"Kakashi!" Asuma looks surprised as he reaches out to give Kakashi a brief, one-armed hug. "You came!" Perched on the bar stool beside Asuma, Kurenai stares wide-eyed at him.
"Yeah," Kakashi says, eye-smiling. "Twelve Ninja Guardians, huh? Good way to get away for a bit."
Asuma chuckles sheepishly. "Yeah. Otou-san's... I suppose you know. You're in the thick of it after all."
"Well, somewhat," Kakashi murmurs, playing down just how closely he has been watching the Sandaime. Asuma's decision to leave is a surprise, but not completely unexpected. The cold divide between Asuma and his father has only grown as Hiruzen proved, again and again, to be no barrier to Danzou's ambitions. There isn't anything good to say about the situation, nor any advice that Kakashi can give. "You'll do well with the Twelve Ninja Guardians," Kakashi says finally. "They're an excellent group."
"I sure hope so." Asuma seems grateful for Kakashi's support. "Thanks for coming, Kakashi. Get a good meal and a drink, ok? My father's paying the tab." Asuma smirks, and Kakashi chuckles. With one last clap on his back, and a short wave to Kurenai, Kakashi makes his retreat.
It takes a while before he manages to get away from the other people who are keen on snatching a few words with him, all of them exclaiming over how long it has been since they've seen him. First Genma, then Ebisu and Raidou, before other less familiar acquaintances spot Kakashi and want to talk to him too. Most of his peers are in attendance, except Anko, but she is just as elusive as Kakashi nowadays. There is a twitch under Kakashi's eye by the time Gai comes alongside him, pressing a drink into his hand and covering Kakashi's exhausted silences with his own exuberance.
It's been so long since Kakashi has interacted with his own peers that he's obviously having a hard time connecting with them. They are by no means naive, for the tensions in Konoha are on everyone's heart, but the things that have been troubling Kakashi are very much different. The past few years have taught him to always be on guard, to trust no-one, and to look underneath beneath the underneath in every sentence, every glance. His friends' open concern for his distant demeanour and permanent fatigue leave him visibly uncomfortable, even though he tries to show his appreciation.
Eventually, they give him the distance he wants. Kakashi makes his excuses soon after, bidding them goodnight and promising to drop by again, even though they all know that he both does and doesn't mean it.
The cool night air a relief after the crammed, noisy bar. Gai follows him out, seemingly the only one who doesn't seem alienated by Kakashi's quietness. "It's good to see you again, Rival," he says, brimming with such sincerity that it is almost painful to look him in the face. "Please don't let ANBU eat you up. We should do some challenges sometime, yes?"
Kakashi takes a deep breath as he hesitates, a conflicted look coming upon his face. Both Gai and the ghosts stare at him in concern.
"Rival?"
Finally, his shoulders slump. "Gai, I think I will quit ANBU soon."
Both ghosts gape at Kakashi. Neither of them had expected that— Kakashi is basically married to his work! Sakumo would not have thought it possible for Gai's eyes go grow any rounder, but they did. "Rival?"
"I'm tired," Kakashi says, forcing a small laugh. "My team will be alright on their own."
Gai nods with uncharacteristic solemness. "I'm behind you all the way, Rival. A break will do you good! What do you think about becoming a jounin-sensei?" Gai brightens. "We are both a bit young, but any jounin qualifies—"
A snort escapes Kakashi. "Maybe not that. I don't think I'll be very good for the poor kids assigned to me."
His friend pouts, but soon breaks out into a wide grin again. "Rival, I will look forward to challenging you again!"
Kakashi smiles.
A/N: Gai is a Most Excellent Friend.