A/N: So sorry for the sudden hiatus! I was busy with revision and exams. I should have told you all last chapter, but I thought I was able to put out another chapter. Oops D'X
"Hokage-sama," Inoichi bites out, "Kakashi could be in danger."
"I cannot simply order a search of clan property simply because of a missed meeting," Hiruzen says sternly. "Furthermore, there are records that Kakashi has been sent on a mission."
Inoichi's brow pinches together as he examines the mission papers that Hiruzen produces from a drawer. Sakumo and Rin also scowl at them— trust Danzou to have all these documents forged and at the ready. "Hokage-sama, the veracity of these records are the very issue in question. Kakashi never mentioned this mission to me."
"Well, it is confidential."
"Hokage-sama. This is all according to Danzou—"
"And this is all according to you. I'm sorry, Inoichi. I know you're concerned about Kakashi's activities in ROOT, but what exactly are you afraid will happen to him?"
"Disappearing by itself is concerning enough."
Hiruzen raises an eyebrow at the mission records on the desk. Inoichi sighs.
They can't mention anything related to their plans to take down Danzou, Sakumo knows. Not when Hiruzen stands on Danzou's side. If Danzou catches wind of their plans, Kakashi could be in even more danger. If this is how he treats Kakashi for going against him... Sakumo is sure that he would not hesitate to dispose of Kakashi if Danzou believes him to be a real threat.
"Excuse me, Hokage-sama," Inochi says stiffly, bowing.
"We'll revisit the issue if Kakashi is not back by the mission deadline," Hiruzen offers.
That's... two whole weeks later. Sakumo draws a hand over his face, feeling that tense knot in his stomach grow tighter as Inoichi turns and leaves.
It's the warm pressure of Rin's hand at his elbow that finally makes him look up. She smiles up at him fiercely. "Kakashi's strong. You have to believe in him, Sakumo-san."
Ah, Sakumo thinks, what a steady look of faith in her eyes. He exhales. "Thank you."
Everything has been hanging in balance since Sakumo left to observe Inochi's meeting with the Sandaime. The two ROOT boys remain hidden in the Hatake estate, waiting for the inevitable when Orochimaru finally manages to break the wards. The Ino-Shika-Chou remains quiet too, unable to pursue Danzou without risking Kakashi's safety or going against the Hokage. Fugaku broods, but neither can he do anything without risking his clan. No-one dares to make a move... and Kakashi is not doing well.
"Hold on just a while longer," Sakumo murmurs into the dark, and only Kakashi's shallow breathing answers him.
It has been almost a week since he'd been thrown in here and the silence stretches on and on, broken only when guards slip rations and water under the door's gap. Every other day they knock him out with a genjutsu and carry him out in order to clean out the cell, but by the time Kakashi comes to himself and starts banging at the locked door again, he's alone.
There are times when Kakashi just lays there quietly; others when he wheezes and gasps and scratches at the walls, coughing hard enough to turn his lungs out as he tries to shout. The worst times are when he curls up in the corner and his breath hitches with suppressed sobs... Sakumo can only imagine who he's hallucinating, as his mind tries to make up for his deprived senses.
The only thing Sakumo can do is to speak to him, and by some miracle that Sakumo dares not second guess, Kakashi seems to calm a little when he does.
But this can't go on. Two weeks is too long, and who knows if Danzou will really let him go by then. When Kakashi openly acted against him when he saved those two boys, Danzou surely suspected him of other, more covert betrayals. Missions get delayed all the time, and mission casualties are not unusual when shinobi are operating at ANBU level. Kakashi could disappear just like Hawk.
Sakumo can't just sit here and watch Kakashi slowly break before his very eyes, waiting for aid that might never come. He knows Kakashi is strong, but Sakumo is so very afraid for him.
'This will be the end,' Sakumo muses the next day, feeling a strange sense of detachment as he stares into the darkness. Kakashi has suffered enough.
Closing his eyes, he spends a last few seconds listening to Kakashi's breathing. "Kakashi," he murmurs. Kakashi shifts slightly and Sakumo imagines him listening. "Tou-san is proud of you, do you know that? You've come so far. Just hold on a little more... Tou-san knows you can do it."
He hears Kakashi's clothes rustle as he turns, before the silence settles over them again. Sakumo rubs at his aching eyes.
Reluctant to leave but knowing that it has to be done, he gets up and feels his way out of the two-foot wide hellhole they have been squeezed in, squinting when he finally steps into the light again.
All that he has to do now is to get rid of the root of the problem.
The corner of his mouth curls in a humourless smile as his footsteps quicken with anticipation. He doesn't bother to move out of the way of ROOT agents as he leap from pillar to pillar and passes through walls. He needs to find Rin.
It takes a while, but he finds her on the rooftop of ANBU's HQ, staring at the moon.
"Sakumo-san?" She turns to him, her face brightening.
"Where's Kagami?" Sakumo asks, moderating his tone to something approximating calm.
"Here, probably. The Ino-Shika-Chou clans' ghosts have been badgering him."
Sakumo nods in relief. He had been prepared to fight Kagami, but the heavens must be smiling down upon him. He can take on any of the guards that Kagami has posted, he's sure.
She frown at him. "Is Kakashi alright?"
"He is. Thanks, Rin." He wishes he could say more, to hug her and tell her goodbye, but he doesn't want her sensing that anything's wrong. He doesn't want her to get dragged in.
"Where are you going?" she asks, already climbing to her feet. Sakumo waves for her to stay.
"I need to talk to Kagami."
"Oh. Alright."
He gives her one last smile and heads off before he can change his mind, running first towards the ANBU quarters before detouring back to the Shimura estate. There is a distinct sense of déjà vu. He's abandoning her, isn't he? Guilt makes his throat tight, but Sakumo pushes it away.
He remembers this feeling burning in his chest, choking him. It is the same reckless pounding heart that he had when he'd given up that disastrous mission for his comrades. In the end, perhaps he has to confess a little selfishness. He can't bear losing anyone precious to him anymore.
After spending so much time in the Shimura estate, he's familiar enough with its layout that it only takes him a few minutes to find Danzou's bedroom. There's are a pair of ANBU ghosts outside his door, but they're distracted and unmotivated, more interested in playing cards than guarding a man that they have no respect for.
Sakumo slips in through the opposite side of the room, and there he is.
The old man is asleep, a half-melted candle still warm by his futon and a stack of scrolls on his bedside table. He sleeps like a corpse, with his legs straight and one hand folded over stomach. Sakumo manifests his tantou and stands over his target, considering how to strike best in order to drain Kakashi of as little energy as possible.
"Sorry, Kakashi," Sakumo murmurs, raising his sword in preparation to end this mess with ROOT once and for all. All the intel and all the ROOT agents that Kakashi might save won't replace his son. Not ever. It's time to break the stalemate, before it breaks Kakashi.
The tantou slides between Danzou's ribs and he pushes a burst of lightning chakra through the blade, intent on stopping Danzou's heart. The old shinobi snaps awake immediately, his entire body twisting as he clutches at his chest, any last words he might have had caught in his spasming throat. He struggles in vain, his hands clawing at Sakumo's blade but unable to grasp it, his legs tangling in his sheets as his eyes roll up in his head.
Sakumo snarls in bitter satisfaction as Danzou's jerking subsides into twitches.
Withdrawing his blade, Sakumo closes his eyes and lets himself breathe. He did what was necessary. If Kagami doesn't agree, he can go—
Something hooks behind his ankle and an elbow drives into his stomach, sending him crashing onto the ground hard and driving all the breath from his lungs. A heavy hand clamps down on his throat the next instant, pressing down with the crushing weight of a grown man.
He catches a glimpse of black hair and a Sharingan before the grip on his throat tightens, making his eyes water and blur as the pain - so sharp and unexpected after years of muted sensation - hits him.
Sakumo tightens his grip on his tantou and drives it upwards, but his opponent doesn't even flinch as the tantou thrusts through him.
"Hatake Sakumo," his attacker grunts, but it isn't Kagami's voice at all. "I wondered if you'd show up."
Shock threatens to freeze his limbs, but Sakumo curls back his leg and kicks out hard, aiming for the sword-wound in Danzou's abdomen. The smell of iron fills the air as the elder curses, his grip loosening just enough for Sakumo to twist away from under him. He scrambles to put distance between them, his mouth opening instinctively to gasp for the air that won't come. Blood bubbles hot and coppery into his mouth as he coughs— Danzou had crushed his throat.
'Are you a ghost too?' Sakumo thinks in horror as Danzou grasps the hilt of his tantou and pulls it out with a grimace. That wretched Sharingan spins in the socket of his right eye, glowing a bloody red. Nothing make sense.
"What the fuck—" he hears one of the ghost guards saying, before they back out of the room.
Danzou ignores the guard as he straightens with a grunt. Then, right before Sakumo's eyes, he disappears.
Sakumo turns, only pure instinct borne from years of experience saving him from being decapitated by his own sword. A shower of silver strands scatters across the floor as Sakumo stumbles back, his lungs spasming painfully as he tries to draw breath through his collapsed throat. Sakumo can hardly believe what he's seeing. There's no sign that Danzou had just taken Sakumo's tanto through his stomach, not even a bloodstain. Struggling to keep moving, Sakumo summons a kunai to his hand and parries Danzou's heavy blows, his other hand twisting through the seals of a jutsu.
'Raiton!' Lightning whips through the air, burning off one of Danzou's sleeves and crawling up his arm before Danzou hisses and shunshins away. A flash of silver is Sakumo's only warning before Danzou tries to sheath the blade between his ribs, the tantou opens up a long cut along his side as Sakumo just barely manages to twist away. Sakumo's hand closes over Danzou's wrist, touching burnt skin and wet blood before the man disappears right before his eyes, again. 'No!'
Sakumo croaks in confused protest as the tanto reappears, already impaled through his guts. He reaches down to grasp the protruding blade, and it's real enough to cut into his hand.
'It must be a doujutsu,' Sakumo thinks hazily, feeling as if he's watching another person's blood pool on the tatami. But flexing his chakra does nothing; it's not a genjutsu.
"Stay dead this time," Danzou snarls, withdrawing the blade with a sickeningly wet sound, and Sakumo's knees give out completely. The elder kicks at him, rolling him onto his back to stare down at him in disgust. The Sharingan is clouding over with a milky film, but Sakumo doesn't know what that means.
He only knows that this scene is too familiar— his sticky blood staining the tatami and his guts warm against his hand.
His edges are dissolving into specks of light.
'Kakashi...'
His eyes slip closed.