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"Rare things…People who live together and still manage to behave with reserve towards each other. However much these people may try to hide their weaknesses, they usually fail." — Sei Shōnagon, 1002 CE

Henge- Underneath the Underneath

Chapter 8: Ebbing tides

They had a feast that night. Most of the villagers were out celebrating, but for the shinobi and Tazuna's family that day held enough excitement without them adding to it. It was enough to all sit together knowing they were alive and eat Tsunami's homely cooking.

Sasuke was recovering from being turned into a pincushion, and Kakashi wasn't feeling too much better than that himself. Naruto was slightly rugged from using the Kyūbi's chakra. Sakura was in the best shape of all the members of team seven. Besides feeling emotionally drained she was at full chakra capacity and uninjured. She helped wrap hear teammate's wounds under Kakashi's guidance and had even gone to aide the construction workers who had yet to recover from Zabuza's entrance.

Afterwards Kakashi 'destroyed' the clones of Zabuza and Haku using an old ANBU fire jutsu. He let the villagers take care of the dead mercenaries. His mission was to protect Tazuna, and he didn't want the kids getting any closer to those mangled corpses. He begged them off on account of injury, and the villagers were all too happy to give their new heroes a hard-earned rest.

Inari was practically hanging off Naruto, and the blonde was soaking up the attention like a sponge despite looking on the blink of collapse. They all fell into bed as soon as the meal was finished save for Naruto – who fell asleep in the middle of it with his face buried in his plate – and Tazuna who decided on going out and drinking with his employees was a good idea after all.

The next day everyone slept in late, and as afternoon was approaching Kakashi helped his genin erect a mound overlooking the construction site in memory of Zabuza and Haku. As he listened to Naruto pledge his new Nindo before their supposed graves, Kakashi felt confident in his decision to let the rogue ninja slip away. Sakura and Sasuke stood gravely by as their comrade gave his declaration.

Sasuke could feel Naruto grinning next to him as they stood shoulder to shoulder, heads tilted back staring at the lines they carved into the two trees several days before with their kunai. His breath came out in a 'humph!' as he held back his anticipatory laugh, but Sasuke knew there was a grin just as wild and fierce as Naruto's stretching across his face. He drew a knife from his kunai pouch, heard a rustle as Naruto did the same, and on an unspoken queue they both threw themselves forwards and raced towards the towering pines.

As he shot upwards, Sasuke felt his chest flood with exhilaration. The fight with Haku had been the tipping point and Sasuke could feel it. His control. There was no doubt in his mind he would make it to the top. He could see orange flashing along side him in his peripheral and knew Naruto was keeping pace. With an extra push Sasuke launched himself faster and faster, but the orange blur stayed with him until the trunk thinned and Sasuke threw himself forward to take hold of the final branch.

Sasuke cast his gaze around in wonder. He'd only seen a view from this high up when he'd climbed the Hokage Mountain on a very rare occasion. For kilometers to his right he could see nothing but trees. Behind him he could see spots of the miniaturized village peaking out, and to his left he could see the Bridge and the fog separating them from the mainland. When Sasuke faced forward he could see Tazuna's house but beyond that stretched the ocean, so much bigger even than it had seemed standing on the shore, spread infinitely out and sparkling in the sun.

Looking at it reminded him of the salty, briny smell of the ocean, and when Sasuke turned to face forward, there was Naruto; panting, grinning, and basking in their shared triumph and view. They stayed there for what must have been at least fifteen minutes; silently enjoying the birds-eye scene and each other's company. As the sun was starting to dip down Sakura strolled up along a nearby tree to call them back for supper. Naruto took off down the tree without a second glance, and Sakura followed shouting something about tracking mud in the house and washing up. Sasuke let himself smile as he leapt down after them.

Kakashi lounged against the stone edge of the bridge as he watched Naruto pass by on his fifth lap around the structure. The blonde was doing a decent job avoiding the construction workers, but for the life of him Kakashi couldn't deduce the cause for Naruto's sudden drive for increased stamina. He and Sasuke just mastered tree climbing last night, so what could he possibly have come up with between dinner and breakfast? Kakashi was still injured and it was too early in the day for intuitive thought, so as the blonde passed by on his next lap he decided to call out.

"Oi Naruto," all three of his ducklings looked over at the sound of their jōnin leader's voice, "Not that what you are doing isn't great and all, but why are you running circles around the bridge?" The blonde stopped to look at his team sprawled across boxes and unused support beams. If Kakashi had anticipated a lighthearted grin and a declaration of future Hokage-ness, he was sorely mistaken. Naruto's face fell and he walked closer so as he to avoid shouting his reply.

"Y'know when we were fightin' Haku?" Naruto's face was covered by the drawn out morning shadows, "I thought he'd really killed Sasuke there. And it was all my fault because I was too slow and he had to push me out of the way and ended up getting really hurt 'cause of it," Naruto looked up, and there was that familiar glint to his eye reflecting a steel determination, "So I'm gonna get faster so that it never happens again!" The blonde grinned and pumped his fist into the air, but as he was turning to continue the self-imposed training, Kakashi's conscious won the war in his mind. It really was a good thing for Naruto to be running laps but…

"Running long distances is great for your stamina, Naruto, but it trains your slow twitch muscles, not the fast twitch muscles that improve reflexes…"

"WHAT!? Why didn't you tell me earlier, huh!? Gah! All that time I spent running laps and it doesn't d—" Kakashi let out a heavy sigh. Instead of trying to get another word in that jabbering mess, maybe he'd just wait for Naruto to run out of steam before giving tips for reflex training…

"Tch, Dobe. I don't see what you're freaking out over: I told you there was no way I'd be defeated by a sissy fighter." Naruto froze.

"Take that back."

"What?" Kakashi could see Sasuke smirking. He was going to try and rile Naruto up again the best way he knew how, but hadn't developed the social awareness needed to see the line he was about to cross. That's why they say children are the cruelest of all, Kakashi mused as Sasuke foolishly continued, "That Haku guy really was a sissy, and Zabuza was the one who trained him right? I can't really picture a hard-hitter like Zabuza training that sissy to dance around and throw needles."

"Shut up!" Naruto lunged forward and grabbed Sasuke by the collar of his shirt. The dark haired boy just grinned widely at the intensity of emotion he was able to invoke in his teammate. "There's nothing wrong with the way Haku fought! He could've killed you! He could've killed you, and me, and Sakura, and who cares how he fought if you're dead, huh!? The ONLY reason he's dead and not you is 'cause he was a good guy! You owed him your life! Don't you EVER call Haku sissy!" Naruto was shaking Sasuke, and the Uchiha was no longer smirking.

Sasuke had finally noticed that he'd crossed a line and was looking more lost than anything. If Kakashi let things continue however, they boy would probably just grow angry himself and lash out without understanding why Naruto was so upset. Kakashi rose to physically separate the two, but as soon as his fingers brushed up against Naruto's fist, the blonde threw his teammate back and stormed off down the bridge. Kakashi withdrew from the dark-eyed boy, watching to see what would emerge from Sakura's frozen figure.

"That… That… Naruto's right you know," She stared at her feet, unmoving, "You really went too far that time, Sasuke-kun. You should know better than anyone not to insult the dead. That wasn't like you at all!" Her head flung up, watery eyes searching her teammate's for remorse, "And you're always going on and on about things being girly, and Naruto being a sissy, but that doesn't make a difference in real life! I beat you! I beat you in mastering tree climbing and that fake hunter-nin beat you in a fight! Quit pretending like you're so much better just because you think you're so macho!" A loud clap accented her final words, and Sasuke, Kakashi and Sakura's worlds slowed to untraceable levels as five pink lines slowly darkened across Sasuke's cheek connecting to a large, pink welt forming along his jaw. Slowly, Sakura turned her extended arm to stare at her hand in disbelief. Kakashi only vaguely remembered her moving from her position to Sasuke's side. They boy blinked.

"I'm going to train." Sasuke shoved his hands into his pockets and made his way towards shore.

Sasuke released the chakra he'd been channeling towards his eyes, punching the nearest tree in frustration. First Naruto freaked out on him, then Sakura, prissy Sakura slapped him, and now he couldn't even get his stupid Sharingan to work. He punched the tree again. He could easily admit he shouldn't have insulted a dead person. He felt bad about that, and would probably do something to make it up to the dobe later.

What he DIDN'T get was why Sakura hit him for saying 'sissy'. It was just one of those things people said when someone was being a wimp. He didn't get why it upset Naruto even more than being called 'dobe' because they might have been the same word as far as the intent behind saying them was concerned. Sakura always called Naruto an idiot, so what was so wrong with Sasuke calling Naruto a sissy?

'Are you a guy-guy, or are you like me?' Naruto's voice echoed in his mind, 'Were you born in the wrong body to?' and after Haku's question… 'sometimes I do.' Want to dress like a girl. Nothing Naruto said made any sense.

Kakashi found Sasuke staring blankly at a tree. His eye immediately picked up the raw skin on the boy's knuckles, accentuated as they were by the tightly clenched fists.

"You know, Naruto makes the funniest faces when you ruffle his hair?" Sasuke jumped and spun at the sound of his voice. "I've never seen the expression replicated outside the condition of ruffling his hair."

"Tch, like I care what faces the dobe makes," Sasuke attempted for nonchalance, but with a hand-shaped bruise swelling up his face it didn't quite carry over.

"Oh you don't, do you? Then why bother insulting him? Why not ignore him like you do Sakura? It's amazing how much control a single word gives you over someone, isn't it?" Kakashi drawled, but he was staring the boy down.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Itachi."

Sasuke froze. Kakashi observed as his eyes darkened and his fists trembled from the force exerted in clenching them. When he spoke his voice was barely contained and his eyes were wild.

"Don't you ever say That Man's name in front of me again! I'll kill him! I'll kill him a—"

"Naruto."

"—what!?"

"We were talking about Naruto? Your blond teammate? Fond of ramen and the color orange?" Kakashi waved his hand floppily in front of him.

"I know who he is!"

"Sasuke. How would you feel if from today forward I called you 'Little Brother'?" The jōnin switched topics. When Sasuke started growling he continued, "You'd hate it. And probably me for calling you by it …I think Naruto feels the same way about being called a 'sissy.'" Sasuke's eyes widened, before closing off.

"It's not the same."

"How is it different?"

"Because his whole family wasn't killed by That Man! That's how! It's just a word! I don't get what the big deal is!" Sasuke exploded on the jōnin, fists flung emphatically to the sides with unspent frustration. He probably wanted to continue, but Kakashi let some of his disapproval boil to the surface and glared the boy down.

"Like 'Little Brother' is just a word? Very few find 'Little Brother' insulting, some even like being called Little Brother. But you don't because you've had bad experiences you associate with it. What makes you think other people are any different, hmm?" Sasuke was still and eventually his eyes dropped away from Kakashi's. The jōnin let up on the pressure he was exerting.

"The fake hunter-nin, Haku, I lied when I said I didn't overhear his conversation with the do-Naruto. It wasn't something that would impact the mission," he added quickly, anticipating Kakashi's ire, "but I still can't make sense of it."

"Do you remember what they said?" If it hinted at what happened to the rogue ninja he'd have to report it. Any future destinations, goals, plans—

"Naruto said he was born in the wrong body and that he's not a 'guy-guy.' What the heck is that supposed to mean? And Naruto is a guy. I saw it when he was showing off his shinobi ID card and in the changing rooms at the academy. Why is he saying—" Kakashi nearly sputtered as his train of thought was derailed. So that was why Sasuke suddenly brought it up. He collected himself while Sasuke was distracted by his own thoughts. "And in the end he said he wants to dress like a girl," Sasuke concluded, looking at Kakashi for an answer.

"Well, what do you think he meant?"

"If I knew," Sasuke ground out, "why would I bother asking?"

"True, true," Kakashi's eye crinkled happily, "but don't you think you're asking the wrong person?" Sasuke gave him the stink eye, but Kakashi was entirely immune.

"Fine then, I'll just go ask the dobe what's wrong with him," the dark haired boy turned to leave, but Kakashi's hand on his shoulder kept him from getting very far. "What now?" Sasuke turned to glare over his shoulder. Kakashi was really getting tired of this attitude of his.

"It's true you should take your questions to Naruto, but given the way you're probably intending to ask I wouldn't be surprised if he refused to answer. At this point, even if you did ask nicely he probably won't be willing to open up." The pale boy was quiet while he thought about it, and Kakashi took the opportunity to voice his next thought:

"In the end, Naruto is Naruto. As shinobi it's only natural to be curious and want to understand what makes someone tick, but as friends — as teammates —" Kakashi corrected at Sasuke's glare, "— it's important to understand boundaries, and no matter how curious you are Naruto will decide what, when and how much he wants to tell you, and you'll have to respect that decision." Again Sasuke remained silent, although clearly less than thrilled with Kakashi's warning.

"Now, Tsunami-san wanted me to inform you that lunch is on the table and to hurry over before there's none left," Kakashi smiled and jumped away in a poof of smoke. From the branches above he watched Sasuke's face shift from brooding to horror-struck. "He waits 'till now to tell me!?" and with that thought in mind the Uchiha dashed off in the direction of the house. Growing boys will be growing boys after all, Kakashi thought with a chuckle as he jumped past his student and made his way to Tazuna's place.

Kakashi arrived at the house a shortly before Sasuke did, giving the jōnin the opportunity to see everyone's reactions to his face when the Uchiha walked in. Inari dropped his chopsticks and they clattered onto his plate before the boy burst out laughing. At the same time Naruto's jaw dropped and Tazuna-san's lips pulled up in a smirk. Sakura's frame crumpled, and Tsunami-san stepped forward with her hands on her hips, rice paddle in hand from dishing out second helpings.

"I hope you've gained a healthy respect for women now, Sasuke-kun," She waved the paddle at him. Clearly the story had spread, most likely thanks to Tazuna, who looked all too pleased. While the single mother reigned in her son Sakura slowly stood and made her way towards the Uchiha. Fidgeting and still withdrawn into herself, Sakura slowly dragged her eyes up from the floor.

"Erm, Sasuke-kun? I just wanted to apologize for hitting you earlier. I'm sorry, so… will you forgive me?" Sakura eyed the large swollen bruise spanning his left cheek and jawbone before casting her eyes to her feet.

"Hmph. If you always hit Naruto that hard it's no wonder he graduated Dead Last." But a wonder he's not always covered in black and blue lumps, Kakashi's mental commentary supplied, must be the Kyūbi's influence. For her part, Sakura looked devastated. Apparently she'd missed the sarcasm. It was as close to an apology or acknowledgement that she'd likely get from Sasuke at the moment, and the boy turned to find an open spot at the table. When it became clear that the only available seats were Sakura's vacated one, which she returned to sullenly as he watched, and the one next to Naruto, Sasuke slouched towards his blond teammate. Kakashi watched from his own seat as Naruto got a few angry digs in and the Uchiha bit his tongue. When the blonde took a vicious bite of food Sasuke used the opportunity to make amends.

"Haku may not have been a hard-hitter, but he was skilled. You better pick up your own training Dobe, because there's no way I'll let myself get taken out like that a second time." Naruto's eyes widened before a grin split his face.

"I'm gonna become strong so next time it'll be me saving you Teme, y'know!" After that Kakashi felt like the atmosphere has significantly lightened, or maybe it was simply his mood.

The team could have returned to Konoha at any given time since the threat to Tazuna-san's life had been eliminated, but each of his ducklings agreed they wanted to stay until it was completed, even when all their injuries had recovered. Kakashi was finally able to get his two cents in on reflex training and had seen some mild improvement in his ducklings. He was starting to think he should focus more on teaching them evasive measures than new kata until they reached a satisfactory level. After all that had happened on this defunct C-rank the jōnin would readily admit he was feeling rather protective of his ducklings.

Not that a repeat of the current mission was likely in the near future, but given the hotheads he was supposed to control, Kakashi wouldn't be surprised if they picked a fight with an opponent they couldn't soon defeat. He'd exclude Sakura from that, but if the silver-haired jōnin was honest, her fuse was just as short as either boy's. Only lately Sasuke had been a bit quieter, keeping a watchful eye on Nauruto. It made the blonde's fuse a bit shorter in turn, but at least the Uchiha was letting up a bit on the sissy comments. "Princess" was still in use, however.

Kakashi turned another page in his book as he hummed in thought. He could debate with himself all day, but then he couldn't enjoy watching his ducklings train. With a smile he increased the downward pressure on his feet and received two grunts in reply. Slowly the two boys pushed themselves back up into plank position before lowering again.

"Faster," Kakashi grinned from his seat atop the stone rail of the bridge. Beside them Pakkun bobbed up and down from atop Sakura's back looking entirely disinterested in the day's proceedings. A few workers smiled as they passed by and Kakashi turned another page in his book. When they reached the target number of push-ups Kakashi lifted his feet and let the boys collapse. They were too out of breath to even bother complaining. Another reason for the jōnin to enjoy intense training sessions. Pakkun ambled over for a treat, and once it was eaten the ninken returned to his perch atop Sakura's back. Turning another page in his book, Kakashi dropped his feet onto the boys' backs and with the command "Again!" they were back to puching themselves off the ground. After his ducklings finished a third rep Tazuna meandered over to the sweaty genin and their lazy instructor.

"We're going to push an hour or so overtime tonight, and have the bridge officially completed," the old drunk grinned, "Talked about finishing up tomorrow, but the guys all want to go celebrate. You're welcome to join if you'd like," he added for Kakashi. The jōnin smiled politely, but waved the invitation off with a simple "I'll pass," but of course Naruto was quick to jump in with an "I'll be there!" Thankfully Sakura took care of that lecture for him.

"Do you hear that team?" Kakashi grinned behind his mask once the bridge builder had left, "we have an extra hour to train!" He received a chorus of groans in response and nodded his head happily. "Mmhm, mmhm, we'll work on stamina while they finish up. See how many laps of the bridge you can do in an hour."

Kakashi slept well that night, and his ducklings slept like the dead. He made sure to cool them down thoroughly and stretch them out to minimize soreness, but chances were they'd still be feeling it tomorrow. Distantly Kakashi could hear loud partying from the construction workers carried over the wind. The next morning a small party suspiciously absent of the more enthusiastic celebrants sent Team Seven off on their return to Konoha. Naruto bid Inari a tearful farewell, and they were on the road. Stubborn as always the blonde refused to look back, and neither of his teammates had connected enough with the locals to turn and wave, but Kakashi took a moment to glance behind — he was always glancing behind — at the monolith he'd guarded over the past few weeks. Absently, he wondered what name Tazuna would give it.

I'm fishing for artists, if anyone is interested! Anyway, the good the bad and the ugly, let me know what you think in a review!

Published: May 22, 2014

Updated: September 19, 2016

Words: 4,083