Silver Dog and the Dog General
60...
Sesshiou looked down at her surrogate son in everything but papers. And that was only because this stupid human village's bureaucracy.
"You smell, this one cannot stand it, go bath yourself"
Naruto laughed, hugged her, and then skipped off to the bathroom hopefully to soak for at least half an hour.
Thankfully he didn't stay long enough to see the scowl blooming on her face.
With the tip of a claw, the silver haired Lady pulled on her hakama with a disgusted sneer. Now she also smelled like 'him'. Oh joy.
61…
The day began like any other.
Naruto woke up with a ruckus after being tossed out of his futon by a very unamused Silver haired lady. After showering because he still smelled particularly fowl to her delicate nose, the blond haired ray of sunshine was allowed to approach the breakfast table. Nanami, the house keeper, gave him a greeting smile.
Answering in kind, Naruto was led to remember the time he spent with Nanami. She was a gentle middle aged woman who's been widowed during the Kyuubi attack. Of course he felt ridiculously guilty about it after he learned the fact that the Kyuubi was sealed in his stomach and apologized profusely on his knees for three days before the house keeper had enough.
She asked on the dawn of the third day: 'What is it that your stomach craves the most?' to which he confusedly answered. 'Ramen' – and that dawn marked a new age inside Lady Sesshiou's house hold, for from that day forward, Naruto was forbidden Ramen in the vicinities.
When asked about it, Nanami cunningly answered. 'Fox in his stomach, so it will suffer the pangs of hunger as penance for my Kotarou' And Naruto had to stop his sniveling about the lack of Ramen because it was actually a very fitting punishment in his mind.
Nanami never, ever blamed him for Kotarou's death, she'd said in the end of her week long internship with the Lady's ward. 'It was his dream to serve as a shinobi, and he died protecting me… there is no way he'd hate you Naruto-kun, since you're doing the job he sacrificed his life to complete'
Next few days, Nanami received a mysterious raise in her salary.
62...
"Ne, Sesshou-sama, why did you agree to help Sakura-chan and Sasuke?"
"Those children will be by your side when you are out on your missions, this Sesshiou want them sufficiently prepared to carry the weight of your life while this one is not there"
"... Thanks, I really..." love you.
"Hn"
63...
The scent teasing his nose was... Despicably grating. It smelled like forest, earth, poison and dog.
A certain pug sitting by his side snorted with all the wisdom of a dog who thought his owner was being particularly obtuse.
The silver haired jounnin narrowed his eyes in thought, on his lap lay forgotten that prized x-rated book he was so fond of, such was the size of his woe.
Pakkun nuzzled against his pant leg. "You will get your chance, yeah?"
The smile given by the human half of their duo was bittersweet. "Barely mine and they are already leaving me behind" his voice trailed off a little gloomily. "Ehh... It can't be helped, though I'm proud of them"
Even so, as he stared at his three students approaching him inside the chunnin exam room with their determined, hopeful faces, the swell of pride in his chest was entirely unavoidable.
64...
Naruto stared down at the paper in his hands. Was this a test? He wondered silently munching on the back of his B2 pencil.
Hinata was beside him shifting nervously on her seat and stealing glances of him when she thought he wouldn't notice. She was a strange girl, that Hinata. Gentle and meek, but Naruto knew she was pretty strong from the few spars in the academy. If only she had confidence in herself.
With a blinding smile, Naruto turned to the dark haired girl. "Do your best, Hinata-chan!"
She blushed, and the blond haired boy would never know the monumental effort it took her not to pass out.
65…
"This Sesshiou is proud of you for advancing on to the next stage" The silver haired Lady announced as Naruto stepped out of the bath smelling like fresh water and whatever scent saults he had in there.
Hearing her praise, the boy grinned the master of all grins and tried in vain to tackle her. Sidestepping his attack was easy enough, though he got a hold of her hair and wouldn't let go. Sighing, Sesshiou sat down in front of her office's table and re-started that boring accounting work.
But this time she had a feral smirk on her lips only brought by when her not-so-hidden sadism reared its ugly head.
Scooting to her lap because come-on, he'd never be old enough to stop cuddling against the fluffy boa around her shoulder, Naruto looked down at the pile of scribbles he marginally understood.
Cocking his head cutely to the side in a frighteningly similar manner to the lady, Naruto asked hopefully. "Is that…"
The feral smirk became jagged and dangerous. "Yes, this one has gotten receipt enough to start building a palace"
66…
Inside the room designated to those overly motherly Jounnin who wanted to watch their gennin's progress inside the deadly maze known as Forest of Death, Kakashi sat down in front of the practically positioned TV and stared.
Asuma plopped down beside him, cigarette lit and smoking furiously. "You weren't kidding when you said we'd be up for a surprise!" The old monkey' son astonishedly admitted with eyes drawn wide.
On the TV, playing the feed from one of the cameras near the tower, was team seven all but skipping happily toward said tower. Naruto at the front had a suspicious amount of red splatters on his previously orange outfit. Sakura, while driving forward with an obviously strained smile, had this horrified pale tint to her skin and Sasuke seemed three times more sullen.
Kakashi's neck made sharp turn as he looked at the satisfied form of Anko. "Do you know what happened?" Because if anyone would know, it would be her.
Anko's grin was predatory. "That brat of yours, he is like an unstoppable demon!" She cackled in delight. "Although, that sand team beat your brats to the tower, your kids are not half bad"
Demon indeed. Tennoarashi's blade glinted under the sunlight that wasn't filtered by the canopies of trees.
67…
"We have to talk" Kakashi said, letting himself in her house through the window to the irritated twitch in a pale silvery eyebrow. It didn't escape his notice that her hand was perilously close to the handle of one of her two swords.
"What would this Sesshiou have to speak with you about?" Her voice was cold and clipped. Eyes a shard of frozen star shine that glinted with inner power and malicious promises. Kakashi felt like he stepped on the wrong bitch's tail, but gulped his fear and showcased his manliness because who'd cower in front of a lady?
Leveling an unimpressed eye on the silver haired woman's face, the jounnin slouched against a wall. Near a window where escape would be easier, of course. "Aa, our mutual little apprentice" His voice was bored.
"Is his performance lacking?" She asked dully. The amount of killing intent permeating the air would have made a lesser being weep.
He grinned behind his mask. "Not at all" A pause to gauge his opponent. "I find myself bewildered by his prowess with the sword, so I decided to meet the one who trained him, you see, I may not look like it, but I'm also good with a sword"
Sesshiou's lips pulled. Challenge Accepted.
68…
Hatake Kakashi has proven to be more than a pest.
Maybe not up there with her brother level of peskiness, but definitely not enough to fit in Naraku's category. So despite the fact he was another Alpha and was encroaching on her territory, she was, kind of, having fun.
Preposterous!
But true. Fun crossing swords with that silver haired menace that for once wasn't
Inuyasha. How she missed a rival! It was liberating and so nostalgic she had to curb thoughts of revenge and scheming that automatically rose to mind when she thought of silver hair and swords.
Sesshiou actually took little comfort in the fact that he was able to pass through her barrier – it meant in a roundabout way that he had no ill intentions to those in her household.
She was having fun for the first time in years, perhaps since she was first brought here and lost Inuyasha, she had someone who wasn't endearingly dependent on her to lash out building frustrations on.
69…
Five days.
Five days was the amount of time Naruto had to spend locked in a tower with a bunch of blood-thirsty mini-killers.
If that wasn't asking for a massive prank marathon than he didn't know who he was anymore…
Recruiting Kiba and surprisingly enough that freaky suna kid who wore makeup was easy.
Suffice to say, no one else had peace during those five days revenue.
70…
Gai was feeling strangely dejected.
Ever since Kakashi threw himself into a new rivalry, he's been less than amicable to Gai's antics, adopting an even more hipster style than usual. The Beautiful Green Beast of Konoha didn't know what to do. Just who was it that stole Kakashi from him?
So one day when his gennin had finally reached the tower, Gai dashed out in search of his Eternal Rival and found him trading vicious sword blows against a slight, very beautiful woman.
The fight was as brutal as it was similar to moving poetry. The woman's movements were almost choreographed to reach a perfect mixture between deadliness and grace. Her pure silver hair trailed behind her as she danced with his rival in expert levels, the intent to kill was there but not prominent.
Then there was Kakashi. Gai couldn't remember with precision the last time Kakashi picked up his father's tanto without wearing an ANBU mask. But there he was, swift concentration written in the visible brow, muscles taut and expression free.
Understanding filled Gai. A grin lit his lips as bright as the sun above them. For some reason, Kakashi had a sudden bad feeling.
71…
Let it be known that browbeating Sarutobi Hiruzen in sheer stubbornness alone is a feat only Danzo was able to do, and that is because growing together the other ancient one had a monumental pile of blackmail. So the current hokage sat down, pipe lit and crossed hands leaning against his chin as he stared in a growing mix of amusement and grudging perplexity at the figure sitting daintily in front of him.
Let it also be known that no one, not even death could beat Sesshiou in stubbornness. She was the one who managed to find her father's dead body in the limbo using a jewel hidden in her brother's eyes. She was the one who controlled a sword that had the power to bring the dead back to life. She even regrew a limb!
The paper slid smoothly from her hand to the desk, and then to the old man's hands.
"You want to…"
"Yes"
"This much…"
"Hn"
Bemused, the hokage checked the amount of zeros next to her offer and chuckled at the absurdity of it all. It seems konoha will have its first palace built – his stamp never made such a glorious sound as it came down on that particular document.
Let it be known that he'd be laughing when sound invaded, only to discover their allies from suna gave up their ridiculous coup because they mysteriously found evidence that their kazekage was a fraud and had no will to be crushed by konoha. All thanks to the lady sitting in front of him now they had a delicious trap mounted to catch a very slithery snake.
Least he could do was allow the silver haired noble woman her own castle. It'd look pretty by the river side and invite more business from the daimyo.
72…
"Because the number of gennin that got through the second phase was way larger than we expected, we will be holding matches to determine who will pass to the third phase." Kakashi explained lazily, laying down on the bench as if he owned it and reading as if there'd be no tomorrow. He heard a delicate swish of air leaving the woman's mouth and continued with a smile. "Naruto will get through, don't worry"
She shot him a poisonous yellow glare. "As if this Sesshiou was not already aware of her disciple's prowess"
The silver haired man lifted his visible eye to stare at the other silver haired creature looming over him. "Hnmm… good" Then he got back to his book.
"Hn" He could feel her raw presence getting away. Maybe comparing to a storm that was over and passing, getting more distant as time went by and calm settled back in. As much as the gentle wind and sun beating down on him was pleasant, he found himself missing the rain.
Strange.
At any case, he should go to the tower soon anyway.
73…
Realizing he was the only adept swordsman amongst his rank peers had a weird sense of accomplishment make his eyes suspiciously bright. As if absently led by his thought, his hand found Tennoarashi's handle. His… damn it… his mother's presence pulsed quietly inside the blade, enveloping him and lending him power.
Sitting by his side while waiting for his match, Sasuke watched the blond's actions with a curious brow lifted. "That blade, is it a chakra blade?" He knew about a special metal that could work with chakra. His clan had been wealthy enough that the chance to see one up and close was common, though Naruto' sword had a strange presence that unsettled him greatly.
"Not really" Naruto grinned brightly, spurred by the opening to show off, the blond pulled the blade lightly to free it from its sheath. "See? I think the lady made this sword herself, so it's very special"
Listening to his cute student's words, Kakashi spied on said blade with that same curious glint in his eye that Sasuke had. Even Sakura was interested.
"You mean the Lady is a blacksmith" Sakura asked incredulously. The sentiment was passed around through three fourths of the team.
Naruto laughed "No! She said she hired the best blacksmith she could find in fire country and commissioned this sword, though she gave the material – can't you feel it?"
The oppressing energy that made Kakashi's mind remote to the Kyuubi attack twelve years ago, and earlier, to Rin… It wasn't quite the same, but the corrosive quality matched.
74…
Naruto tried not to appear too smug as the medics had to practically peel Kiba off the ground.
Sasuke owned his opponent using a clever mix of ingenuity, sharingan tricks and a move he borrowed from Rock Lee.
Then it was Sakura's turn. Against Ino. This was actually the hardest she ever fought in her life. She had to give at least a hundred and ten percent and if that wasn't enough… She had to reach the finals if she wanted to be recognized by Naruto's private teacher.
Daiyokai Sesshiou-sama was a woman that oozed power and poise. She's so elegant and beautiful that Sakura couldn't help the admiration that bloomed in her chest. That the lady was willing to help her get stronger was awesome – but only if she passed through this.
Ino was going down. Sakura wasn't stupid. She wasn't the smartest kunoichi in her year by being pretty alone. She might not be from a grand clan – her parents are humble retired ninja that couldn't help her past the basics – but Sakura understood things to a finer level that would one day make her great.
The blonde girl was failing… she's cut her hair and Sakura could feel the underhand tactic a mile away. But this was her chance, she'd realized. 'Shannaro! Let's do this!'
75…
"Sa-sakura-chan!" Naruto gaped like an inelegant toad at the longest brawl so far. He saw how Sakura was lacking in technic and strength, but she could hold her own against a clan girl like Ino. It proved Sakura's potential.
Sasuke had his sharingan eye spinning madly. Even he was surprised about the turnabout. Everyone who knew a Yamanaka's jutsu had their mouths hanging open.
"She… she has two chakra signatures in her head…" Sasuke breathed out simply wide eyed. Neji also had his eyes peeled open and was dutifully but monotonously narrating everything he saw to his bewildered teacher and everyone who'd listen.
Sakura had two chakra sources in her head. One Ino's, one her own. She should have been under Ino's power but her body was still moving. Ino was being held back by Sakura and a third something was moving the body.
"That's it, you pig thought you could enter our head a second time? Hell no!" Our? Was the collective thought going around.
"Mah… it seems there is more to Sakura than we thought" Kakashi chuckled. Naruto guffawed after that while Sasuke sighed. Sakura delivered a mean right hook to Ino's head sending the blond to the ground in a heap. There was a pause as chakra fluctuated around them. Sakura slumped forward, caught herself and grinned even though her lips were cracked. Ino opened her eyes, tried to say something but passed out before she could.
Sakura whooped. She just won!
76…
"What!? Next month?" Naruto whined unrepentantly.
"Take this time to train and prepare for your opponent" Yesh, Neji still had to pay for what he did to Hinata-chan. Kakashi messed his hair with one hand, a proud smile lit but unseen behind his mask. "Eh… I'm sure your guardian will be more than happy to help you"
A pang of sadness fired in his chest, brief but painful. He'd be helping Minato-sensei's kid, it was his own legacy. But Sasuke needed him more.
So much more it was bittersweet.
He didn't forget about Sakura.
77…
"Well… since the only student of yours that passed the exam will be busy training clan technics, I thought I'd ask the most powerful genjutsu mistress a favor" Kakashi slid effortlessly beside Kurenai on the restaurant bench she was meeting Asuma in.
The smoking jounnin gave an amused chortle. Kurenai narrowed her eyes. She was proud of her kids, no matter what.
"You mean, you want me to help one of your students?" Kurenai guessed cleverly. Kakashi was not one to ask favors, and going by the style of each gennin he had, she has concluded that out of all of them Sakura was the least one he'd relate. Sasuke would need help mastering his doujutsu, Naruto had that rich lady of his but Sakura had no one. "It's Haruno Sakura isn't it?"
Kakashi nodded. "She is very smart book wise, her chakra control is impeccable and she is greatly determined as of lately, I think she'd do well learning a trick or two from you"
"Alright, I'll see what I can do"
Kakashi stayed through their lunch, Asuma kept shooting third wheel jokes to Kurenai's embarrassment and Kakashi's amusement.
78…
"My lady, the land is being cleared, building will begin shortly"
"This one is pleased with the progress" Sesshiou rested her cheek on a slim, pale hand, regarding the blue prints of her glorious castle with a critical eye.
Naruto only grinned as he continued on the calligraphy exercise he was assigned previously, but listened with an avid ear to the comings and goings of his guardian's business.
79…
One month passed quickly with how busy everyone was. Soon, the village was in an uproar with so many foreign merchants coming in, the number of visitors grew and the air was thick with the stench of humanity…
A single dog demon was not pleased. Not in the least.
Her palace attracted quite the attention from nobility who went into an uproar about the fact. Why didn't they thought of it first? Then they gradually remembered why as the torrent of ninja came and went. The only ones who had the guts to settle in a ninja village were those with absolutely nothing to fear. Usually ninja clans' civilian side of things who managed mundane stuff like agriculture, forgery, and others.
The moon Palace, it was already being called. A beautiful construction located by the river side, just a few minutes' walk from the hokage monument. By now, there were only the faint sketches of a skeleton structure, but give it a year or two and it could be considered another land mark in the land of fire. Sesshiou didn't do things by half.
She'd contacted the same architect line responsible for the Fire Temple and the Daimyo's castle not sparing expenses.
To the hokage undying amusement, she was starting to be recognized as a noble by the cusp of society.
That she lived in a mansion in Konoha's proper was of great interest as well. By the next several weeks, the number of missions being forwarded to Konoha's central practically doubled.
80…
Sesshiou's face was the very image of poise and elegant nobility. Today her clothes have been precisely chosen to inspire wealth and to showcase her impressive beauty. Every line on her face was placid like a lake under a summer' sky, the silver hair went down in one smooth motion much like molten moonlight almost touching the floor. She wore no jewelry, though the crescent moon adorning her forehead was enough on it's on.
No one in their right mind would think this lady meant business if her petal delicate hands ever touched a sword handle, but konoha's ninja knew better already and made sure to give a wide berth when they passed through her as she made her way to the booth she rented in the stadium.
Though they still laughed quietly when one or two braver men tried to approach only to be glared at until they fled with their dignity bruised and beaten.
81…
Orochimaru was stumped. His plans simply crumbled down under his eyes and he could do nothing to salvage the situation.
Konoha' security been tripled, and he had no access to his spies. Not even Danzo was being forthcoming – the only thing he managed to drag out the warmonger was a name.
Daiyokai Sesshiou.
Without being able to lay out instructions to Kabuto however, proved to be the last grain of sand that was missing for his castle to fall down… Unable to mark Sasuke, unable of even setting foot in the village… What happened and what a seemingly noveou-rich merchant had to do with it?
He had two options. He could go forth and invade even when sand has given up making part of the plans or he could quietly retreat and try another day. Seeing as konoha never been as attentive and on guard – the snake sannin decided to try another day…
82…
Without an impending invasion to muck things up, the third phase of the exam went without interruption.
Sesshiou smiled, a little, almost imperceptible smile that bellied the pride she felt for her apprentice. Was this how her father felt when she won her first tournament? It was… warm. A warmth that rose up her chest and made swallowing difficult.
Seeing Naruto, that scrawny, loud and relentless little kid she rescued from the streets defeat opponent after opponent using the sword she had crafted with one of her own fangs was brilliant. It compared to the feeling she got when Rin showed a complete scroll of letters after learning to write, or when Inuyasha finally got the hind when they fought and started to use the silent lessons she parted to him in the form of focused hits to his weak spots.
She would bet that annoying male (Kakashi) was also feeling something similar, if his blatant pleased half-lidded warmth filled gaze as he regarded the blond was any indication.
For once, she wasn't irritated by it, rather, she magnanimously decided to share.
83…
Sakura lost to Temari on the second ground. Kankurou lost to Shino who finally lost to Temari as well. Sasuke lost to Gaara who lost control and had to be detained – it was found that he was a jinchuriki after all and that his seal was poorly made and faulty enough that even Danzo felt sorry for the kid.
After Gaara was put under and a deal was made between suna and konoha – Jiraiya would take a look at the boy' seal when the exam ended – Temari and Naruto were locked in a battle of winds in the finals…
Kamaitachi against Tennoarashi. By the end, kamaitachi laid in pieces on the ground and Temari had a new hairstyle along with a deep dislike of a certain blue eyed blond.
84…
"This Sesshiou's word is still standing. This one shall honor it by aiding in your training" The lady spoke in a tone of voice that denied all sorts of negative response from her audience. Sakura, who spent the best of last month being drilled in the basics of genjutsu by Kurenai-sensei acquired an almost hero-worship for the silver haired woman and curbed the urge to eagerly nod in answer.
Sasuke, coming from a noble clan had the appropriate response. His head lowered respectfully to the ground. "Please accept us as your apprentices"
Sunny golden eyes flashed calculatingly. "Very well, rise now, let this Sesshiou evaluate your progress"
Sasuke and Sakura had a very painful day.
85…
"You can't steal my students" Kakashi grouched shamelessly. He was slouching with both hands in his pockets and a very unhappy cloud in his eyes.
Sesshiou's head tilted to the side. "This one has stolen nothing of yours, much less students" Was the cool, almost offended answer. Kakashi, feeling like a Gai to Sesshiou's Kakashi shook his head to dislodge the gloom.
"Maa, the munchkins are suspiciously tired and bright eyed when we meet" And they smelt like her in a sort of way that had his inner canine uncomfortably rioted. She was doing it on purpose if the criminally sadistic glint in her eyes was any indication.
Still holding her head endearingly tilted – she really looked like a curious puppy when she did that, albeit a really regal one – the lady's lips lifted into a little mocking smile. "The reportedly time you meet is before noon, this Sesshiou has nothing to do with your lack of punctuality" Sharp. A razor really… a bubble of amusement rose in his chest and he couldn't help the wave of fondness from crashing over him and sweeping him away.
"Hmm" He hummed uncommittedly, an idea popping into his head even as he sent a silent wish for forgiveness toward the people in the Memorial Stone. "Would you mind too terribly if I showed up sometime?"
Looking at him from over her nose as if he was a detested pest she learned to grudgingly accept, the lady was generous beyond belief. "Make sure you take a throughout bath before coming to this one's abode"
86…
Crashing in a training session led by the mysterious silver haired woman, Kakashi sat on top of a tree in her vast garden, simply observing how she tutored. By the way her eyes sought out his position, he gathered he wasn't as clandestine as he thought.
Sakura still looked awkward trying to hold onto the kata position with the weight of a bamboo sword. Sasuke, while obviously struggling with maintaining the kata, was more graceful in his endeavor since he possessed superior upper body strength and didn't strain as much. In front of them, pacing and looking gloriously beautiful at it was the lady herself.
Kakashi could see Naruto dutifully practicing a little ways away, a different set of katas that were more advanced. The blond's fingers were suspiciously black, as if he'd been dabbling them in ink before Kakashi came. Well, he's heard the blonde was learning seals, though he thought the one teaching was Jiraiya.
So he wasn't the only one being unjustly substituted in their blonde's life. Kakashi felt strangely comforted by this.
87…
"So you're saying that Naruto has been living with that woman for four years now?" Jiraiya asked, strangely blankly. Hiruzen chuckled dryly behind an old weathered hand.
"You heard correctly. Daiyokai Sesshiou-dono has been generous enough to take on Naruto's living expenses and offered him a home. She also teaches him kenjutsu and recently has taken Naruto-kun's teammates under her guidance as well" He paused to gauge his old students face. "I have in good faith that she is also teaching him a little bit of fuinjutsu"
Jiraiya balked, face inscrutable. Then he gradually relaxed.
"I guess it was for the best… I… I'm relieved Naruto found someone to take care of him" The one third of the sannin smiled subtly. "Though I feel a little jealous, how is Kakashi-kun dealing with this?"
Here, the hokage gave a very ominous, promising smile. "Oh, he's dealing just fine, now tell me more about …"
88…
Kakashi parried another blow directed to his head with a sigh. Had that connected, he'd have to learn how to live headless and that would be a hassle, wouldn't it? His willful opponent sunk into a deadly spin uncaringly about defense. Though seeing as he was too busy deflecting her swiping attack to his knees and thighs to think about attacking back that tactic was effective in opening his guard.
That long hair of hers was awfully distracting. Her scent was everywhere that hair went, and for some reason it really liked to end up on his face, silvery strands as fine as silk. Thankfully he wore a mask.
89…
Jiraiya mumbled something horribly uncouth under his breath as he walked away from konoha. His little friend was being terribly forward in his request, but Jiraiya owned him something for all the wealth of information he'd provide over the years.
Stopping in the nearest village next to the hidden leaf village, the sannin searched through the main street for the place that sold the best dango sticks in this part of fire country.
There, sitting in a booth wearing non-descript clothes and a particularly unfashionable hat was his contact, if he could even be called that. "How do you do. Jiraiya-sama?" That smooth candy like voice in a low timbre. A smile blossomed on the middle aged man.
"I find myself curious as of late Weasel-kun" Nearby, women tittered when they saw Jiraiya. He paid them no mind beside a bright flirty smile and joined the young man's booth. "What is it that I might help you with?"
Itachi's face was blank and pale. The boy should take better care of his health. "What… is going on?"
90…
Sasuke was obliviously unaware that his hated older brother was but a few miles away from konoha, comfortably having tea and snacking on dango with a third of the sannin. Instead, the Uchiha heir was sweating inelegantly, struggling not to wince even as his arms protested violently against the exercise and silently cheering himself on when he saw Naruto doing the same exercise easily in half the time.
Sitting on a rich looking cushion much like a queen was his impromptu benefactor. Deceptively beautiful, only her students truly knew how much of a demonic task master she could be. Not even Kakashi during their month's long training trip was that rough.
He was loving every minute of it.
The feeling that he was being pushed beyond his limits by someone who held, even if it was remote, a candle of belief in his strength… The Lady said he had potential to be great – his build was good for the sword as it was, only Sasuke never really saw himself as a swordsman - it had a boyish shine with an appeal he couldn't deny.
And damned be the one who said he wasn't giving his all.
91…
"Naruto…" Kakashi called a week later. A week filled with spars against the silver haired lady and a handful of those he was able to walk away intact. She was a vicious monster with a sword. The moment he thought he had her cornered, she always pulled a trick out of her vast sleeves and trumped him in the end. Whoever invented first blood as a rule of combat should be neutered, painfully.
Not that she won every time, he wasn't considered a genius out of his good looks alone. If he was keeping a score, it would be about fifty fifty.
As it was, that week gave him ample time to come to terms with his feelings… An infatuation actually… maybe he should give it a try, maybe it wouldn't be so disastrous. He never, ever in his life remembered ever feeling infatuation for someone. Maybe a new sword, definitely IchaIcha paradise series, but another living, breathing person?
Nope.
Every time he thought he could like someone, that person's face always overlapped Rin's and her own quiet love for him. She should have loved Obito, not Kakashi, then he wouldn't have to feel so guilty in his amorous escapes.
Daiyokai Sesshiou was different though, so different there was no chance he'd see Rin's face when he looked at her. The lady was perfect icy beauty to Rin's homely charm. The lady was blunt to a fault and spared no one's feelings to Rin's compassionate nature. The lady simply wore power like one would wear a scarf to Rin's helplessness.
Naruto looked suspicious, regarding his teacher with pursued lips and a half lidded gaze. "Whaddaya want?"
92…
"Well met, Naruto-kun" The old man hokage smiled behind his pipe at the boy. Naruto had this cute weirded out expression on his face that was suspiciously pale. Of course the meddlesome old man knew what was going on – if his crystal ball sitting innocently in front of him was any indication – and couldn't help the sadistic amusement from showing in his eyes. "What brings you here?"
The blond plopped himself on the chair in front of the hokage's table tiredly. "I…I don't know what to do…" He confessed after a monumental silence in which Hiruzen spent mentally laughing fondly.
"And how can this old man help you?" The hokage could picture the face of his ANBU guards right now. Yes, it was in the hokage's job description to give counseling to his followers in mundane matters, the happiness of his people was very important.
"It's just… I think Kakashi-sensei likes my mom" The admission made everyone in the room blink – even the ones concealed in the ceiling. "I asked Teuchi, Ayame and Iruka-sensei, but they just told me to talk to mom, I can't do that!" Naruto's voice had that edge of awkward desperation. "Kakashi-sensei asked me about things she likes the other day, and now…" Cue horrified wide eyes.
The old man could resist no longer and chuckled.
"It's just puppy love, I'm sure lady Sesshiou will be alright"
Naruto shook his head violently. "It's not her I'm worried about!"
93…
Orochimaru never felt so frustrated. Maybe he could go for an upfront attack, that was always a classic option. His artfully crafted scheming has been toppled by a relatively unknown woman who decided to poke her nose (literally) into business not her own.
Perhaps it was right time she suffered an unfortunate accident. He had just the team for the job. If not, he could also put a prize on her head and be comforted by the thought that should she ever set foot outside the village, she'd be targeted by greedy bounty-hunters.
It wasn't that unusual for a civilian to have a bounty on their head after all, just severely unlikely since ninja with a grudge dealt comeuppance with their own two bloody hands. Ah, the wonders of being professional killers.
However he liked to think himself omnipotent and powerful, Daiyokai Sesshiou was sat on a gilded throne under the old man's watchful gaze – and a whole platoon of ANBU itching to put their hands on some snake skin – so she was inaccessible to his hands for the moment. But not for others hands. He still had infiltrators, spies and a few sleeping agents on the inside, and if all else failed Danzo still owned him a favor.
Whatever happened, the end would be the same. Daiyokai Sesshiou was going to beg for mercy.
94…
How to court a woman who apparently had the world at her fingertips?
It all started with a bouquet of beautiful and fresh spring flowers in the colors of white, purple, red and yellow – her house's colors – sitting quite innocently on her porch. There was a card, but she didn't need to read it to know from whom the absurd offering came from.
The scant traces of his scent gave away mercilessly just who was the culprit.
Then her golden eyes sharpened, moving along the top of the trees for where she knew a spike of killing intent came from. No matter how good an assassin you are, by feeling bloodlust you just give yourself away to a perceptive opponent. There, perched like a deformed bird was her would-be-killer. She had to valiantly resist the urge to scoff disdainfully.
A little girl. Pink haired and scruffy looking. She started to play her flute and for a second, Sesshiou felt her insides clench as a foreign energy tried to take over her senses. Narrowing her eyes, the lady forced a very dangerous amount of youki to flush over her skin, creating a vast halo of glowing, acidic green energy around her form. Poison dripping from her claws in response to the deadly challenge, Sesshiou lunged.
For a second, it felt as if she was fighting against another youkai. But then she belatedly realized that it wasn't really possible and noticed how human heavy the girl' scent was. It felt familiar, she couldn't pinpoint from where.
It ended ridiculously soon though. The girl barely had time to transform into that grotesque half-demon form before defenselessly being torn to pieces by Sesshiou's eager claws.
The next day, sitting on her porch was another bouquet.
95…
"Four assassination attempts in under two days, three at the same day, and she fought them all without a single scratch!" An ANBU who wasn't really supposed to be discussing this type of information in the middle of a bar with his peers gaped verily unmanly like. "They were chunnin level assassins. By the time we got there they were all disposed of in a most illsome manner" He finished with a deep swallow of alcohol.
"Are you talking about Daiyokai-sama?" Asuma asked carefully. The guy who once upon a time wore an ANBU mask to do patrol around the lady's proper – he never seemed to be able to cross to the inside itself, always standing on the sidelines – Witnessed, these past few days, a very interesting turnabout. "The noble lady who took residence here and is supposedly a sword master?" He didn't sound skeptic on purpose.
"The very same… we've been following these assassin's movements for a while, but since they couldn't really enter her lands we focused on keeping track of them only. One day, she must have lowered the wards for a moment, because those bodies were definitely inside her proper." A rather traumatized shudder for someone in such a gruesome profession. Asuma shot the man an unimpressed stare.
"Are you sure you're supposed to be disclosing this in such a public place?" He asked bluntly. The ANBU waved a hand unmindful of the stares he gathered.
"Not really a secret, if you listen to the folks gossip, every one already knows about it" Ah, what a wonder it was civilian information network… Asuma slumped on his chair, giving up.
96…
Those bouquets kept coming. She'd rather they send more assassins she could unwind on. Maybe next time they could last more than a few swipes of her claws… what were these people made of that they crumbled like paper under her hand? Sure they were super humans, faster, stronger and all that. She might have been judging them by a too high standard, then again, Kakashi was a jounnin and a whole new league on his own. He wasn't a weakling, that's certain.
97…
"I feel my attempts at wooing the lady have been outshined by the assassins…" Kakashi was not sulking. But he slouched all the same in front of the memorial stone. "I think she rather kill things than smell flowers" He confessed to the stone, almost able to feel Obito's presence laughing his ass off at Kakashi's woes.
The Stone didn't answer him, nor parted with any divine council. Sighing, the spiky haired male stuffed his hands inside the conveniently placed pockets on his pants.
Honestly, the dog rearing male was feeling very stalkerish lately, and Naruto keeps sending him pityingly looks. Sasuke and Sakura might have picked up on what was going on for he found several dating advice magazines around the training grounds when his team parted for the day.
Dejectedly, Kakashi wondered what he could do to attract the Lady's attention. Flipping through his mental list friends, he didn't really have many romantically inclined friends in his list.
If the woman you were crushing on rather kill than date, what was he supposed to do?
Suddenly, a light sparked in his head… Well, his team was too busy training and he found himself with a lot more time in his hands, maybe if he explained his situation to the hokage, the old man would be open minded to his idea.
It was worth a try.
98…
"You want to go hunting?" Sarutobi Hiruzen resisted the urge to sigh. He'd have Kakashi removed from ANBU so the man didn't kill himself, how dare the brat come crawling back and demand to have his old job back? Steeling his face, the old hokage got ready to stamp a denial on Kakashi's request when the younger man interfered.
"It's for me and lady Sesshiou" He hastily added. "I feel it would be beneficial to our relationship if we could share a battle side by side in a life or death situation" What better way to get close to someone than having their back in battle?
If the hokage's cough sounded suspiciously like a laugh, no one said anything.
99…
"Go after Tsunade-sama… that's what he said" Kakashi told Jiraiya once the sannin came back from whatever trip he self-imposedly went. Originally, Hiruzen would have asked his own apprentice to go on such a quest seeing as Tsunade was much more likely to be agreeable if the request to come back to the village came from a familiar face.
Jiraiya, who already suspected the old man wanted to try and pass off the mantle once again to the (relatively) younger generation, politely excused himself to the council and indulged in a brilliant binge of women peeking. What self-respected village would have a peeking-tom perverted old man as their hokage?
…
"And he wants me to come along?" Jiraiya asked, internally hoping for a negative answer. If his path never crossed the slug hime's in all these years they've been on the road, it wasn't mere coincidence.
Kakashi thankfully shook his head. "That's not necessary, this will count as an A rank mission and I already have someone in mind to accompany me, I just wish to know Tsunade-sama's approximate location" If anyone would know, it would be Jiraiya.
100…
"What do you say?"
"This one is not opposed to traveling"
Naruto banged his head against the ground – it was grassy, he was in a field and in front of him was a large stone with Kakashi's name scratched into it. Above the stone was a realistic scarecrow with an absurd amount of likeness to said jounnin.
Behind where Naruto was conducting the 'service', Sasuke and Sakura exchange befuddled glances.
"Ne, Naruto, what's going on?" Sakura asked with a huge amount of uncertain in her voice.
Swallowing thickly, the blonde third of their team spoke slowly. "The Lady and Kakashi-sensei went out on a mission…"
Dawning understanding colored team 7's faces and they joined Naruto in his sloppily arranged funeral.
TBC~