Chapter Four - Hokage's punishment
The Third Hokage chewed on the tip of his pipe as he looked at the two men in front of his desk.
Uchiha Fugaku and Hatake Kakashi had always been a problem. Fugaku-sama because he liked to make his own rules and was responsible for the Police-force, and Kakashi-kun because he was stubborn and emotionally challenged.
Most of the time, when these two were in the office simultaneously, it was because one of the Uchiha-clan members was having a problem with Kakashi. The Hatake could be really annoying, and rude too, but the Uchiha had the tendencies to nag and nag and nag about everything, especially when the problem was centred around a certain white-haired jounin.
"What happened this time?" The Third sighed. Neither of the men spoke.
"Kakashi-kun, what did you do?"
The silver-haired man shrugged, and closed his lone eye, "I have no idea, Hokage-sama."
The Hokage then looked at Fugaku, "Fugaku-sama, what did he do now?"
The tall man stepped forwards, his voice polite and stern, "Hatake-san has insulted and hurt two of my clan-members. Again."
The Third saw Kakashi slouch in the corner of his eye, and watched in interest as the Hatake pulled out a familiar orange book, which was actually the same as the gift the Hokage had received himself about two weeks ago, from Jiraiya with love.
Kakashi must've picked up a copy when he was away on his previous mission, seeing the book only just came out last week.
"Kakashi, pay attention. This matter is concerning you." The old man said, fighting to keep fondness out of his voice – Fugaku-sama wouldn't appreciate a kind treatment this time.
Kakashi snapped the book shut, and gave both the clan-head and the leader of the village a bored stare, "…I understand."
Fugaku straightened his back even more, and started speaking again, "Hokage-sama, with all respect, but don't you think it's time to tell Hatake-san where he stands? He most certainly needs to know his place as it seems he is very unaware of his position."
"I'm pretty aware of where I'm standing, thank you very much, Uchiha-sama. Actually, we're in front of Hokage-sama's desk-"
"Kakashi-kun, be respectful."
"Yes, Hokage-sama. I apologize, Uchiha-sama, I did not mean to insult your pride." The Anbu-captain and clan-head then managed to have a stare down.
The Third sighed again when he felt a hidden wave of silent rage wash over him. Fugaku was very displeased, but at least polite enough not to show it openly.
The Hokage cleared his throat after pondering the matter for a few minutes, not even asking what happened or what kind of damage was done. "Hatake Kakashi, I hereby… Put down that book and listen to me, or I will suspend you longer than a week and all the missions you will get in the next two months will be C-rank missions." It was an empty threat – Konoha was pretty much economically depending on the hard work of Team Wolf – but it showed Uchiha-sama that the Hokage was regarding this matter with the uttermost importance.
"Captain, what in the world did you do to land yourself in this fucked up situation? I mean, seriously, having to teach a bunch of overeager, twelve-year-old, wannabe-ninjas is the job of those paperwork-nin, right? They've been trained to handle brats."
Genma waved his hands to emphasize his statement, "And has the Hokage gone crazy or something? You'll, like, kill those kiddos or slaughter their teacher in front of their eyes - you've never been the most social creature in the world – and what if they're going to make those 'Old-man'-jokes again? You'll go insane in there!"
Raido placed his hand on Genma's shoulder to calm him down, "Don't be that agitated. Kakashi's been through worse, and the Academy isn't that bad, ya know?"
"Have you never been in there? It's crazy I tell you!"
"Genma, remember the very place we started our career as shinobi? We were like those children too, long ago. Perhaps it's a good thing Kakashi's going there, to open up their eyes to the real world, to the death and pain they're going to face in the future."
Kakashi ran a hand through his hair and leaned against a nearby tree, "I'm not going to teach them that. All I am supposed to do is tell them about a strategy of some kind, it won't be life-changing. It'll just be one hour, and then I'm free to go."
Genma tried to grasp Kakashi's hand, but the silver-haired man put his hands in his pockets and slouched lazily as the honey-haired man continued to rant, "Kakashi-kun! You did not deserve such a severe punishment!"
"… Where's your senbon?" The masked shinobi remarked after regarding Genma for a few seconds, "Is that the reason you're anxious?"
"I'm not anxious." Genma answered too fast. Raido raised an eyebrow, "Don't lie to us, you've been tense the whole day and the fact that you just started rambling to the captain about the evils of Academy-students does not exactly help you at the moment."
"I. Am. Not. Anxious."
"No, of course not." Raido squeezed Genma's shoulder empathetically, "Just a little unbalanced."
Genma huffed, "You've got a senbon with you? Or a cigarette? A lollipop? Anything?"
Kakashi searched his pockets and pulled out a cigarette, "Take it."
Genma took it – were his hands shaking? – and he put it into his mouth with a smile so wide it was bordering on insanity, "Thanks mate. I owe you."
Everyone had their coping-systems, and to Genma small comfort came in the form a piece of sharpened wood. But for now an unlit cigarette was good enough.
"The cigarette was from last border patrol, it was yours anyway. I don't smoke, never have."
'Then why did you take it?'went unsaid, but up till now, no one had been able to fully understand the way Hatake's genius-brain functioned.
Kakashi patted Genma on his back and started walking very slowly into the direction of the Academy. Raido watched the retreating figure of his superior, and when he disappeared around a corner, the scarred man guided his friend away, "Alright, where do you think you lost your senbon… and why don't you have any spares or something?"
"Kakashi-senpai!" Tenzou pushed his way through the crowd, "Wait! Where are you going?"
The silver-haired man simply shrugged and lowered his pace, waiting for Tenzou to catch up with him, "Nowhere in particular, Tenzou."
The wood-user stopped right in front of his captain, shot him an intimidating look and placed his hands on his hips, "I heard from Shukaku-san that you angered two Uchiha cousins yesterday, or was it the other way around and are they blaming you again?"
Tenzou didn't give Kakashi a chance to speak up – knowing the other man would change the subject. The wood-user kept on talking, voicing his concern about the silver-haired man's behaviour and telling him that he would always have his back in trouble.
As he was doing so Kakashi was staring past him with a far-off look in his eye. The brown-haired man sincerely hoped Kakashi was seriously regarding his words, but it became clear he wasn't when he interrupted Tenzou mid-rant.
"Hey, have you ever been to that teahouse? I can't remember ever seeing it here – do you think it's new?"
"S-senpai! Why don't you ever listen to me?" The younger man growled. Kakashi was getting on his nerves with his ever-changing words and carelessness, "Can't you see it's not just you who is involved in this situation?"
Tenzou hated prejudice and unfairness with a fiery passion - he used to be the victim of many ill-spoken words and unfair treatment himself, before he joined Kakashi's Anbu-team and found friends he could trust (who then silently took out every person who dared to speak of him as 'Orochimaru's labrat' as soon as they found out about the bullying.)
He knew how terrible being subjected to Konoha's gossip mill was from experience, and the fact that Kakashi's little fight with the two Uchiha cousins was the talk of the town made his blood boil. How dare those arrogant Uchiha! They had no right to -!
"Tenzou." Kakashi's calm voice broke him out of his reverie. The brown-haired man looked up.
"It isn't your business. You're not involved and will not get involved, get it?" Kakashi was serious. It was an order.
"Yes sir."
"Good," Kakashi's gaze softened, "but what about having some tea?"
Tenzou sighed contentedly after he finished his tea, "Thanks, Kakashi-senpai."
The older man stood up, "Well, I guess it's time to go."
"What kind of punishment did Hokage-sama have in mind? You haven't told me yet." The brown-haired man asked before Kakashi could turn away. Even though the relaxing smell and sweet taste of the tea had calmed him down, Tenzou was still feeling very uncomfortable with his captain's predicament.
"I simply have to lecture a bunch of Academy-students. It's short, and I'll get paid for it – though I'm not sure if Uchiha-san knows about the last part of the deal." Kakashi answered airily, "I got away with it quite well."
"When is it scheduled?"
The silver-haired man chuckled, "About half an hour ago, but I'll just say I treated a stressed comrade to some tea to calm him down before he could scare any innocent villagers or Uchiha with his flashlight." With a wave of his hand, he disappeared in a whirl of leaves and smoke, "See you around."
Tenzou shook his head with a smile, and he stood up too. When he was about to leave the teahouse, a waiter stopped him, "I'm sorry sir, but you haven't paid yet."
Next time Tenzou would see his superior, there would be a hell to pay.