Chapter 14: Out of the Bag

The next day started like any other. The large group of delegates breakfasted and began with the daily negotiations that seemed more and more like a charade. Kakashi hadn't had much sleep the night before, keeping his senses alert for anyone else attempting to enter Leaf Tower uninvited.

Kakashi was mildly concerned when Professor Jones came and sat, not behind or nearby, but right next to Naruto during the first meeting of the day.

One of the witches from Australia currently had the floor. She was making a point about the relative value of skill between ninja and wizards when Natsuko gasped. Kakashi kept his face blank as he glanced to the side at her. Her brow was furrowed and she was forming hand signs under the table, the better to focus. Reluctantly, the Hokage drew his attention away from her and back to the meeting. However, coincidentally, several wizards from the western districts began muttering to each other. Their talking became so disruptive that the Australian witch ceased to speak, quirking an eyebrow.

As Kakashi observed this he felt Natsuko get up and slink over to him, her face pained. He glanced to his side to watch her approach, only half listening to the fresh argument that had broken out among the wizards. The Hokage only had a second to wonder if the term "tall poppy", which had just come up in the argument, had really been translated correctly. He was beginning to understand why some wizards sought to learn other languages manually so as to better understand the culture of others. However, before he could dwell on this too far, Natsuko had arrived by his side and all of his attention turned to her.

"Lord Hokage, I'm so sorry to disturb you in the middle of the meeting," she said breathlessly. Her eyes looked slightly panicked and she was crouched at his side.

"It's alright Natsuko, it seems to have already been disturbed," even as Kakashi said this, some of the wizards who'd been muttering were turning to look at them. He also noticed the Headmaster leaning toward them and Kakashi lowered his voice. "What is it?"

The kunoichi looked nervous again. She licked her lips and said, "I thought I felt something down by the gate. When I focused on that point in particular…" She trailed off, then, "a lot of wizards just arrived out of nowhere."

Kakashi's expression remained the same but inside his head alarm bells were going off. Everyone who was involved with the proceedings was already there and had been for several days. Classes were ended for the summer, who could possibly want into the school at this time?

Professor Jones's eyes widened upon overhearing that several uninvited guests were now at the gates of his school. He opened his mouth to ask a question around Naruto but stopped when the previously whispering wizards rose. He shut his mouth and his hand unconsciously reached inside his robes.

The Australian witch, now truly miffed and shaking out her honey-ginger hair, began to tell the wizards off but they ignored her. Suddenly one of the wizards reached inside of his robes and the others followed suit.

Kakashi put his hand on top of Natsuko's head and shoved her under the thick wooden table. He looked over and saw Naruto tease and the noise began.

"Stupefy!" A wizard at the far end of the hall cried and others followed suit. It was the same man who had challenged the ninja during their skills demonstration. His spell was aimed straight at Kakashi. The Hokage rose and easily stepped to the side, far out of the way of the spell that would never reach him.

"Protego!" Professor Jones bellowed. He was suddenly standing next to Naruto where he'd previously been sitting. The malevolent spell shattered against the Headmaster's protection spell. Kakashi only had a moment to be surprised. He glanced aside and saw the Headmaster leveling a stern glare at the wizards across from him.

"Minister Kerensky what do you think you're doing?" Greyford shouted from Kakashi's left. "You can't just attack a-" The British Minister of Magic was abruptly cut off when his aid pulled him out of the way of a follow-up spell. They both sprawled awkwardly on the floor under their table for a moment. However, they quickly righted themselves into a crouch as multiple spells zoomed overhead.

All of the ninja hunkered down where they were or slipped behind cover, anticipating attack. Suddenly there was quiet and the wizards were at a standstill. Nearly all of the delegates, who hadn't been hit, were now standing with wands drawn if they had them. One older witch was firmly gripping a staff that didn't look so much like a walking stick anymore.

"Our reinforcements are here," Kerensky cried. He greedily eyed the Elemental Nation Delegation. "Take them prisoner! We'll need hostages to help us gain access to our new country!"

Greyford's eyes widened and then narrowed but he said nothing. His lips pressed into a hard line on his face. However, not everyone assembled was so reserved.

"What is this nonsense Kerensky?! What are you saying?" Viktor's dark eyes flashed, already dreading what the answer could be. Further down the table Draco's body was tense and engaged but his eyes were flitting around the room as if looking for something.

The offending wizard turned to Viktor, a look of appeal clear on his face even has he held his wand high in front of him. "Viktor, you know me, we've discussed this possibility before. It can be a reality now, a world where magical beings can be free again. No more hiding ourselves constantly, no more worrying if a muggle will see this or that, no more covering our tracks with even more spells that we have to hide. Freedom. Free to charm and conjure in the open, fly broomsticks to travel like we used to, free from the constant fear of discovery. No more hiding. No more fear. We can start a new world, a world only for magical creatures, in their world." Kerensky nodded at the Elemental Delegation.

Now Kakashi understood. He understood the inappropriate challenges against himself and his fellow ninja, the looks, the way he'd been able to push things over every meeting. They'd agreed to everything he'd suggested because they never intended to follow through. The drawn-out meetings had just been giving them time to prepare and rally more support. This was going to be a takeover and arguing about his demands was pointless to them. To some of them, he mentally amended.

As he glanced around the room Kakashi could read the faces of the magical delegates like spines in a library. Some knew this was the plan all along, some had hoped it was a possibility and would go along if it happened, some had suspected that something was amiss, and others were completely blindsided. Cedric and the witch from Australia were just two of many who fell into the last category. Cedric's jaw was hanging slack.

Viktor stared at his colleague, mouth set in a line. "And what of the locals? The world we spoke of was uninhabited by a native population." It had been a fanciful notion, something to stride toward as some wizards pushed for complete muggle/wizard amalgamation. Viktor hadn't ever considered the guards' world to be something they could obtain for themselves. The idea was ludicrous to him.

Kerensky shrugged, a mournful look on his face. "I'm afraid if they don't fall in line, we'd be forced to bend them to our will. We'll all get used to the arrangement in time. The freedom of the generations of wizards and witches who come after us will be worth the pain of going through this change."

The wizard turned and looked at the faces of his peers, fire in his eyes. His voice was strong and uplifting. "The day has come. The day has come that we might have our own world. We have dreamed of this liberation for generations, ever since we went into hiding. Our blood thirsts for that right. Imagine a world where we can live openly as wizards and not tucked away in the forgotten reaches of this earth. Where our children can learn their heritage and practice magic without fear of being shunned or 'discovered'. No more hiding." He looked around at the faces again.

Hermione and Harry were alarmed to see that there were several nodding heads among the magical delegation; more than Hermione or even Draco had predicted. But Draco wasn't looking at the swayed members. His eyes were now frantically darting about the room, searching for a particular witch.

"Join me," Kerensky said, "and we can build this new world with the backing of all of the ministries. Then we can begin the migration and leave this filthy cage behind us."

There was the sound of someone clearing their throat during Kerensky's dramatic pause. The man turned indignantly toward the source. All eyes in the room followed suit, turning and meeting the Hokage's tall form. "Kerensky, you do not want to go to war with us." It was a simple statement that seemed amiable enough by itself. However, the voice of the speaker made the phrase carry a very distinct threat.

Kerensky chuckled a bit, a half-smile curling his lip. "Lord Hokage, if you're one of the five best ninja in your entire world then we have nothing to fear. Your power is impressive for sure, but your little lightning trick couldn't possibly stop a killing curse. And even if it can, you will tire soon enough. I understand that your little displays use up your life energy or something," he waved the words away, the exact vocabulary irrelevant to him. "Whereas we will keep coming and we will win."

Kakashi gave the wizard a blank stare. "I'm embarrassed that you think I'm one of the five best ninja in our world. I'm sorry you're confused. A kage has to have substantial ability, yes, but they aren't necessarily the most powerful. That's not what's most important otherwise I wouldn't be in this position. I'm reminded of the Fourth Mizukage who-"

"No one cares to hear a history lesson," Kerensky shouted. "Just give up now and we won't have to kill you."

Kakashi quirked an eyebrow, "and here I thought you wanted hostages before. Very inconsistent of you."

"We can use your muggles as hostages," the wizard spat back.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed. Then a voice next to him almost made his eyes widen in surprise. "Give up? I think you're asking the wrong ninja. We don't give up." Naruto grinned fiercely, standing at his sensei's side.

Kerensky scowled, looking at Naruto as if he were scum at the bottom of his cauldron. "Be quiet child, this doesn't concern you."

Naruto practically growled.

Kakashi opened his mouth but Hinata, who was further down the table to his left, was already speaking. "Please, if we could just talk about this. There's no need for fighting," her voice was firm, eyes hard. She half-glanced at Naruto, hoping he'd calm down.

Kerensky rolled his eyes. "Don't you people have any restraint? I told you to be quiet." Naruto glared at Kerensky but Hinata was not deterred by the man's words.

"We will not allow you to-" Hinata did not get to finish.

Kerensky flicked his wand and a spell shot out toward the Hyuga. Kurenai cried out but Hinata dodged it easily. However, the wizard who had been sitting next to her grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her close to him, wand tip at her throat. "Make a move and we'll see how much blood she has pulsing through her neck," the wizard barked. The silent hall rang with his words.

The mental command to smile was still relaying from Kerensky's brain to his mouth when orange flame seemed to erupt all around the kunoichi. Hinata was instantly covered in a translucent red aura that moved and rippled as if afire. The wizard released her, jumping back in surprise and alarm. His wand, which had still been in contact with Hinata's neck, exploded into tiny pieces. The shards immediately fragmented into ash, falling to the ground.

It only took a second for the elemental ninja to get between their civilian delegates and the antagonizing wizards. Naruto's revelation had given them an opening and they stood at the ready to defend or attack. The wizards were startled by how quickly the foreigners had organized but some continued to observe the events with smug looks. The orange covering was a curiosity, not necessarily a setback.

It took all of Kakashi's self-control to keep from whipping around and looking at his blond student. He could see the shadows Naruto's own bright cloak was casting from the corner of his eye.

"Looks like the fox is out of the bag," Ebisu muttered too quiet to hear.