Thank you for all the reviews! Especially Prescripto13 and KakashiKrazed who have been offering great insights and advise even while I was writing "Reach your Limits". If I did not mention anybody else I'm sorry but you've all been amazing and I hope I always meet your expectations.
"Wake up!" a voice invaded Kakashi's sleep as he groggily opened one eye. It was dark and Kakashi could only see a figure of a tall man who could be none other than Akio. He sat up and rubbed his eye glancing at the clock that was blinking 4:00 pm.
"Anything the matter?" Kakashi yawned not happy about being woken up especially since he was still dead tired from Akio's training
"I have a mission and you're coming along" Akio stated as he opened the lamp on. Kakashi shielded his eyes at the sudden presence of light
"How much time do I have to get ready?" Kakashi asked as if he went on mission's with Akio every day. Truth be told he was actually curious and excited yet he still kept his calm and did not give an inclination about his feelings.
"Twenty minutes" Akio replied as Kakashi swung his legs to the side and stretched out "Our breakfast is getting ready. Pack what you need for three days."
"So no training with Kioshi tomorrow?" Kakashi noted as he performed his bathroom routine while Akio started to make his exit
"Some genius you are" Akio snorted and left with a bang of the door leaving an annoyed Kakashi behind.
Kakashi out on some black ninja pants, a black tank top and a sash around his torso to hold two of his swords as Akio requested. He was wearing a grey jacket on top of his attire and placed some fingerless gloves on. Kakashi missed his uniform but it didn't really matter and afterwards he left to join Akio.
"So what's the mission?" Kakashi asked as he and Akio bounded off into the trees
"Assassination" Akio replied indifferently
"What did the guy do to deserve death, hmm?" Kakashi asked
"I did not say the person was male. You shouldn't assume such things" Akio scolded him lightly
"So what did this female do?" Kakashi asked again rolling his eyes at Akio's statement
"No the person is defiantly a man" Akio shook his head a mental smirk forming
"Then why did you tell me off?" Kakashi muttered in irritation
"Because you still assumed" Akio grinned enjoying Kakashi's frustration "Anyway he is in the drug trade, the biggest problem that has us dealing with the issue is that the man in question is an S-ranked shinobi."
"Missing Nin I presume" Kakashi stated "Or am I not allowed to even assume that?" he added sarcastically
Akio pushed him off the branch and stood there glaring at Kakashi as he twisted and landed gracefully on the ground. "Respect" was all he said knowing there was no reason to say anymore
"I do respect you" Kakashi replied as he jumped back up next to him his eye curved into a smile
"Yes that shows a lot" Akio sighed as the continued on their way
"In my own way" Kakashi added as a sort of explanation
"Anyway you are going to be the one to assassinate him" Akio informed him
"Sure I've been meaning to show you how chidori is an amazing jutsu and prove you wrong" Kakashi leered
"There we go again with the lightening ball" Akio mumbled "Fine do whatever as long as he dies. I'll be in the sidelines timing you and staying out of sight in case you need backup."
"So you want me to finish him off as fast as I can?" Kakashi summarized
"I want to put your sneaking abilities to the test" Akio nodded
"I'll have you know I'm Konoha's number one assassin" Kakashi bragged
"And how gave you that title?" Akio asked sarcastically "Yourself"
Kakashi mocked laughed "If you must know I gained it the hard way through hard work"
"Care to explain your assassination career?" Akio asked concealing his worry. "Looks like you have more Hatake blood in you than I thought"
"When in ANBU, I was placed under a senpai whose specialty was assassination and I learned from him…" Kakashi began but Akio interrupted
"Were you placed with him on purpose or by chance?" Akio asked
"In ANBU nothing is by chance" Kakashi explained "I had little stamina at the time compared to ANBU members especially after I got the Sharingan. In addition to that, my sensei used to teach me a lot of sneaking skills saying I have a knack for stealth."
"What about a knack for killing?" Akio asked in curiosity
"What are you getting at?" Kakashi asked a bit of anger in his voice
"Nothing it's just an assassin has to be the type of person that can kill without hesitation" Akio said "There is nothing wrong with that. So do you kill without hesitation?"
"Well if the target deserves it or is trying to kill me" Kakashi answered reluctantly
"What if the Hokage asked you to assassinate someone and does not tell you why?" Akio asked
Kakashi stopped in his tracks and stared at Akio as if trying to understand the point of all this. Akio sensed the confusion in Kakashi's eyes but did not falter "What if the Hokage asked you to assassinate someone and does not tell you why?" Akio asked again, his eyes staring right through Kakashi for any hint of a lie in his answer
"Why are you asking me all of this?" Kakashi retorted instead, staring right back at Akio although with less confidence.
"That's for me to know" Akio replied "I am your master am I not?"
"Well yes but…" Kakashi was starting to feel uncomfortable
"Then I have the right to understand you" he said with authority, eyes tainted with a little anger now "and I have the right to ask you anything and I expect an answer." "I need to know exactly where you stand in assassination, how far you'll go, it's for your own good. Jiraya, I hope you're wrong.
Kakashi faltered and answered in a quiet voice "I'll kill them without hesitation as I trust the Hokage implicitly and will not question their judgment"
"And what would you do to get the job done?" Akio asked looking at Kakashi who was lowering his head, his chakra a beacon that showed how uncomfortable he was with the entire thing
"Whatever it takes" he muttered the answer "Now tell me why you are asking me all this?"
Akio ignored him and kept the questions coming "Would you torture children in front of their mothers to get information from the mother about the whereabouts of her husband if she did not surrender to your torture"
"You aren't serious?" Kakashi asked in shock
"Your answer" Akio asked
"I wouldn't need to" Kakashi spat the words out
Akio realizing that if he kept quizzing Kakashi on this he would get no results. He looked ahead onto the road and started leaping towards their target. Kakashi stood in his spot in confusion and reluctantly followed Akio.
"We'll camp here for the night" Akio ordered, the first thing that has been said between the two of them since the questioning. Kakashi simply nodded as he began setting camp while Akio perched himself on a tree branch and relaxed.
Kakashi remembered the times when he used to sit on a branch and have his genins do all such work. That seemed like a life time ago with Sasuke now rampaging and going crazy and with Sakura and Naruto losing their innocence due to the cruel life of the ninja. Both have matured a lot and he was proud of them greatly, especially Naruto.
Although Kakashi would like to think about Naruto's progress, Akio's bizarre behavior kept crossing his mind. He knew Akio was hiding something from him, otherwise why would he ask such weird questions. Kakashi was not an idiot like Akio seemed to think, ok not exactly an idiot but his impression on Kakashi's smartness was less than what he deserved. The look on his face when Kakashi was answering was searching for something, what, Kakashi had no idea.
Kakashi decided to find out and the only way he could was to be blunt and ask Akio out right. After starting the fire and surveying the campsite to make sure it was set, Kakashi addressed Akio.
"Why were you asking me those question?" Kakashi cutting right to the chase. Akio jumped down from the tree and sighed.
"I'll give you an answer depending on how you perform on the assassination tomorrow" Akio replied, his tone indicating that his word was the final and word and that the matter should be dropped
Kakashi, however, wanted answers even if not direct "What are you expecting from me?"
"To assassinate Juro I thought that was clear" Akio informed him in way as if Kakashi was an idiot.
Kakashi's anger rose "I'm not an idiot" he growled "What are trying to get from all of this? Do you want to see me kill him silently without alerting anyone and then sneaking out? Do you want me to kill everybody then him? What do you want from all of this?"
"I want you to assassinate Juro" Akio replied "In the way you see fit. You're over thinking things"
"If you want to know me so damn much than I'll tell you about my philosophy, 'Look underneath the underneath', and I can see there is something more with this mission" Kakashi replied, his anger subsiding
Akio grabbed him by the shoulders and looked him straight into his eyes "It does not matter. I trust you and that's all you need to know. All I want from you is to assassinate the guy whatever way you think is best and forget about all of this. Can you do that?"
"Trust me with what?" Kakashi sighed knowing he won't get an answer "But I guess I trust you too so fine, just know that I'm not happy with any of this"
"You aren't ever happy with anything" Akio muttered
And with that out of the way master and student sat down around the campfire munching on some fish Akio had packed in comfortable silence until Kakashi was beckoned to go to sleep.