Author's Notes: I think I have too much fun coming up with weird titles for the chapters. LOL But I think it makes it more interesting and fits with the monologues. I tried to keep with the style I started with in the first chapter, but may have strayed a little. Although the first chapter was mostly Kakashi's mixed up thoughts, setting up the story. So I wont cry a river of tears if it isnt perfect. Anyway, enjoy and review if you please. I love to hear what you think!!

The Senbon Sucker and the Great Copy Brat

Kakashi was getting annoyed with the looks he was getting from the shinobi surrounding the table. He had expected some small amount of 'What the hell made you think of that?', but not looks that screamed 'Are you fucking crazy?' Shikamaru was the first to relax and sat in his chair, folding his hands as he considered Kakashi's proposal.

'Im not crazy!' Kakashi glared one last time at each of them as if they could read his mind.

Genma finally stood up, walking around the table to where he had unintentionally lodged his senbon in the wall. Plucking it out, he stuck it back in his mouth and shifted it nervously back and forth considering his friend. Even Sasuke looked shocked. If you considered raising one black eyebrow half a centimeter shocked.

Shikamaru looked up at him, staring for a long time, as if contemplating the rumors that Kakashi had indeed lost it. His idea seemed to suggest he had. But he couldn't completely ignore the idea of sending someone in undercover to gather more information. If he hadn't heard the rumors, would he still think the plan insane? No, not insane, just...complicated.

"Submit your..." he started as a scroll was chucked at his head. Snatching it from its flight of doom he gave Kakashi a reproachful look before un rolling it. It was indeed an detailed plan of the mission the jonin was pitching to his team. Shikamaru only saw one flaw. Kakashi wanted to go in alone. Any other mission he wouldn't have gave it a second thought.

But Ryuujin and his so called thugs were not something even the great Copy Nin could deal with on his own if the information was correct. It did make sense to send one undercover shinobi to reduce suspicion. But it increased the probability that the mission would fail. Would anyone think the famous Hatake had actually broke from Konoha, charged with a failed assassination attempt?

Shikamaru knew in fact they wouldn't. But if two shinobi were charged. Especially if one was a trained assassin with an oral fixation and just as perverted as the man proposing the mission, who he reminded himself, was rumored to be going mad. That scenario might be compelling enough to convince even someone as suspicious and untrusting as the so called Dragon God.

"Ill look over your plan. Work out the kinks. Until then, if no one has anything to add..."

"Why the sudden desire to take a mission when we all know you haven't had any motivation or interest to do anything for several months? And not just any mission. You want to take an S-class mission and you want to do it alone."

Everyone stared at Sasuke, who had said more in one breath than the entire time he had been back in Konoha. The Uchiha didn't take his eyes off Kakashi's and the tension in the room thickened to such a degree that Genma and Shikamaru felt the sudden desire to be somewhere else.

"He wont be going in alone."

Kakashi redirected his cold stare to Shikamaru, 'I knew I shouldn't have given this to a snot nosed...' Slowly he stood and headed for the door. Even he had enough sense to know he was two seconds from snapping. Once outside the door he tugged down his mask took a deep breath through his nose. If he was aware of himself and his reactions, he couldn't be crazy. Right?

"Uchiha has brass balls!" Genma grinned.

"Same time tomorrow."

Shikamaru pinched the bridge of his nose, sitting quietly as Sasuke and Genma disappeared through the door. He had a feeling, something deep in his gut, that warned him when Hatake Kakashi handed him this assignment and took a back seat, things would not end well. Maybe the rumors were true. Maybe the man had seen enough in his lifetime that he was finally breaking down.

Its not like it hadn't happened to other shinobi. Especially ones with experience in ANBU. He just never thought it would happen to someone like Kakashi. Grabbing nothing more than the scroll the man in question had given him, he headed out the door. He had something to do before he agreed to the plans in his hand.

It took over an hour to convince the Hokage that he needed Hatake's records without being able to tell her why. Then it took another hour, sitting in a small room in ANBU headquarters, for the file to arrive. And much to Shikamaru's surprise and irritation, it was incomplete.'Damn it.' He should have known, even with his clearance, if he didn't give her a reason she wouldn't give him everything.

Genma found Kakashi in the middle of a slightly disturbed ANBU training area. Slightly being an understatement. It was clear he had taken out some frustrations on the foliage, the rocks, the posts. Pretty much everything within a quarter mile radius had been uprooted, cracked, smashed, stabbed, punched, or burned.

He shook his head at the jonin laying on his back staring up at the sky. 'This guy needs to get laid.'

"Fuck you Genma."

Kakashi rolled over and pushed up, plucking a kunai out of the ground as he stood. Casually twirling it, he eyed the man grinning at him before quickly slipping the kunai into a hidden pocket in his vest. Genma's eyes had followed it from the moment he noticed the strange shape and kanji on the handle.

"So you can read minds now too. Im impressed." Genma scratched his chin while meandering over to his friend.

"Just your mind."

"Simple minds think a like? Is that what your trying to say?"

"Eat shit.

"Not a nice thing to say to your undercover partner." Genma grinned at the surprised look then the roll of one eye. 'Man, he really is worked up if it took him that long to figure out what I was talking about.'

It was obvious wasn't it? Between Genma, the not well known trained assassin, and a famous Uchiha who's face was plastered all over God's green Earth. Shikamaru would send the assassin to play pretend with the great Copy brat.

Sasuke was too well known to be believed that he would do something as lowly as be hired out by some moron he could kill just by thinking about him. The kid was the heir to an entire clan. Money was not an issue. Kakashi's only advantage over the Uchiha was that he already had a years worth of rumors saying he was slowly going crazy and losing his touch.

His behavior so far would back up those rumors if anyone came asking about him. Then Genma was suddenly inspired. What if he had just one good incident? Something that would spread like wildfire across Fire Country and really get people thinking and nodding their heads in agreement when it was announced he had betrayed Konoha.

Kakashi eyed Genma suspiciously, "What?"

But would be it a good idea to antagonize the kyuubi-harboring future Hokage into getting his ass kicked in public?

Even with the little bit of knowledge Shikamaru had managed to fit together from Kakashi's file, he felt he knew enough about the man to proceed with the mission. With a few of his own changes of coarse he sighed handing the thick file back to the ANBU he knew was waiting just outside the door.

Staring at the walls of information they had gathered so far, Shikamaru pulled open Kakashi's scroll and started going over every detail step by step. If anything, he was thorough. Nothing could be dismissed or overlooked. As much as Kakashi and Genma annoyed him to no end, they were valued members of Konoha and good shinobi.

Tsunade would have his ass for getting the two killed if he screwed up. Shikamaru pulled out a new scroll and started writing. Not to mention, the swooning female population who hold out hope that the famed Hatake would actually settle down or at the very least say yes to their never ending propositions. Then there was Genma. He couldn't decide if the women would be pissed or thankful when it came to the walking erection that was Shiranui.

Probably both he decided yawning.

"You want me to do what?"

Kakashi continued to gather the various weapons scattered over the recent landscaping job he had indulged himself in, stuffing them in his pack as he went, "Have you taken one too many thumps to the melon Shiranui?"

"Don't tell me you wouldn't love it. Knocking that little brat around and pissing him off. I know he's a demon carrying air head, but you can still take him."

Kakashi actually stopped and Genma could see he was actually picturing it in his mind. He had taken advantage of Kakashi's mood for lack of a better word and played it to the fullest. As testy as the elite jonin was, he had to be itching to kick someone's ass. Why not beat up on an old student for all the whining and complaining he had done over the years.

"Think about it. You could tell him things that you've been dying to say for years. Like therapy."

Kakashi threw Genma a very dangerous look, stopping him in his tracks. The man had a point, but it was pissing him off. He would never say or do anything to hurt Naruto intentionally. But for the mission. He knew Genma had a good idea and that it would work. Of all the people who trusted him. Naruto believing he had lost it, seeing it with his own eyes, would help the illusion become real for everyone else.

Especially when the witnesses began to spread the news.

Naruto would understand once the mission was over and he could finally explain. Buy him all the ramen he wanted to make up for it. He would have to lie in his verbal assault though and that's what would hurt the most. Hurt them both. And then there was the problem that if pushed, kyuubi might make an appearance. He would have to bring Yamato into the plan.

Genma watched silently as the wheels in Kakashi's head turned. He knew he had him. It was a good plan, no a great plan. 'Genma Shiranui, elite jonin and ANBU extraordinaire, as well as sexiest man in Konoha, came up with a brilliant plan!' he smiled around his senbon, 'And its killing the great Copy brat to admit it.'

Kakashi narrowed his eyes at his friend. It was obvious the man was gloating, patting himself on the back and waiting for recognition from him. He had a long wait he thought sarcastically. He wasn't so crazy that he would admit anything to the senbon sucking pervert. Especially if he was going gloat.

'Im not crazy.' he reminded himself, 'Just...unsettled.'