[ On a side-note, I've been wanting to write this since chapter 8. XD ]

Book XII: Izumo and Kotetsu

It was a long-standing suspicion within the Yamanaka Clan that Izumo and Kotetsu had once been a single shinobi that had fallen under a forbidden - and badly executed - mind transference jutsu. According to the frivolous legend, the fractured soul had then been reincarnated within two people. Of course, that was all just wild speculation, but no one could deny that the two of them may as well have been inseparable twin brothers born to different families.

They were the only people outside of the Inuzuka Clan and their ninken to be officially classified as a permanent team. Just as Kiba would never be without Akamaru, Izumo and Kotetsu could not function well as shinobi independently. All of their unique fighting techniques depended upon each other, and their teamwork was so ingrained that they reflexively fought as if the other was there to back them up even if they weren't.

It didn't take long for the Hokage to realize that they were perfectly suited for gate duty. Other than the obvious bond they shared that would prevent them from getting sick of being stuck with the same person all day during the often boring task, they were quite the force to be reckoned with when they worked together. They were also trustworthy and dependable, and social enough to recognize almost everyone. So, it was to their immense surprise one day that they saw someone who appeared to be Hatake Kakashi toss them something that almost seemed like a cheerful jaunty wave as he left the village.

Shocked and bewildered, they both sat frozen for a minute with their hands raised and their mouths slightly agape to voice a greeting that had never made it past their stunned lips. As one, they turned to look at each other, then at their own hands, then back at each other, and finally they leaned precariously over the table to see if they could catch a glimpse of the Jounin who may or may not have been a ghost, an imposter, or under the influence of some sort of drug. Unfortunately, he was long gone, and they were left wondering whether or not they should report the incident.

"What was that?!" Izumo said quietly, still looking out the gates as he sat back in his chair.

"What was what?" Ayame asked, walking up to the shaded table with their lunch delivery.

"He waved at us!" Kotetsu said, turning wide astonished eyes toward her as she set the carrying case holding their bowls of ramen on the table.

Ayame blinked and looked between them with hesitant confusion. "Who waved at you?"

"Kakashi-san," Izumo replied, scratching his head and starting to get genuinely worried about the possibility of that man having been an imposter.

"I brought the day's schedule," Shikamaru said, stepping up the to the table to hand over the sheet of paper to an all too eager Izumo. "What was that about Kakashi-sensei?"

"He's on the list, that was really him!" Izumo breathed, swiftly cross-checking the list of personnel that were scheduled to be going in and out of the gates with those they'd seen that day.

"Don't you think the two of you might be overreacting just a little?" Ayame asked, setting the bowls on the table.

"No, you don't get it, he waved at us!" Kotetsu insisted, looking at Shikamaru and Ayame while pointing at his hand to show the significance of the obviously unprecedented act.

"And he was smiling, too," Izumo said, feeling perplexed as he set the paper aside and reached into his pocket for his wallet. It was his turn to pay for lunch. "Kakashi-san just doesn't do that kind of thing, it isn't normal."

"Oi, oi, are you guys seriously getting worked up over something like this?" Shikamaru asked in lazy disbelief, giving them the familiar look they'd labeled: 'Why are you acting insane, and why do you have to be bothering me with it?'

Kotetsu shook his head, trying to figure out how to explain the monumental situation that had just happened. "But he-"

"That's enough," Ayame scolded, pocketing the money for the ramen and setting her hands on her hips. "You're acting like Kakashi-san isn't even human."

The two friends glanced at each other, silently debating on how to respond to that statement. Kotetsu wanted to come right out and say Kakashi couldn't really be classed as a normal human, but Izumo's scowl silenced him because he'd come up with a more tactful response.

"You have to admit it's out of character for him, though," Izumo sighed, breaking his chopsticks and lifting the lid off his bowl of ramen. He didn't want to relinquish the subject, but even as shocking as it had been it was starting to feel like they might be blowing things a bit out of proportion.

Shikamaru shrugged noncommittally, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Ayame said, picking up the carrying case. "Back when the Yondaime had only just been inducted as Hokage, he'd brought Kushina-san to Ichiraku for a lunch date. I remember it because it was the first time I'd seen him wearing that flamboyant Hokage robe of his. When Kakashi-san came to drag him back to the tower for a meeting he was late for, Kushina-san was livid because she thought she was being left with the bill," she laughed. "But I saw the Yondaime tuck the money under her napkin when she wasn't looking, and I know Kakashi-san saw it too. He'd rolled his eye at Kushina-san's outburst, and was about to say something when the Yondaime grabbed his arm with a laugh and they both vanished."

"Aww, that's romantic," Kotetsu sighed, propping his chin on his palm and stirring his noodles.

"Except it more or less proves their point," Shikamaru said dryly.

"Seems that way, doesn't it," Ayame replied. "I would bet a lot of money that Kakashi-san forgot that day years ago, and wouldn't recall it unless he was asked about it specifically. Maybe not even then."

"No contest," Izumo agreed with a nod.

"It's funny, then, isn't it? Because I've seen him play that same game twice with someone," she said with a sly smile.

"No way!" Kotetsu sputtered as Izumo promptly choked on his food.

As Kotetsu whapped his friend on the back to clear his throat he saw Shikamaru's expression go from startled, to a calculating scowl, then finally settle into the annoyed look of defeat he always wore when faced with a difficult task he was not looking forward to dealing with.

"Who was it?" Kotetsu asked after Izumo had managed to swallow his food safely.

"Who knows," Ayame said with a lift of her shoulders.

"It's plain cruel teasing us like that!" Kotetsu whined pitifully.

"Hey, there's enough gossip turning the village inside-out already," Shikamaru said sharply. "Don't make things more troublesome than they are."

"Drop the empty bowls off whenever you can," Ayame chuckled as she started to walk away, then paused and looked over her shoulder. "Oh, Shikamaru, if you see Shizune-san, could you tell her I haven't heard anything new about Naruto's girlfriend?"

"Yeah," Shikamaru sighed before turning a thoughtful glance out the gates for a moment. "Honestly, all this nonsense gives my stomach a turn. I'm going to get something to eat," he grumbled, strolling back into the village.

"Wow, who'd have guessed it?" Kotetsu said after a few minutes of silence, placing the lid over his empty ramen bowl and setting it aside.

"I know, it's like there's something in the water lately," Izumo said, shaking his head and putting his own empty bowl aside as well.

"I wonder who it was..."

"You start asking around and you'll probably find yourself in a world of trouble," Izumo said, leaning back in his chair to gaze up at the clear sky.

"I bet Naruto knows."

"I bet even if he does, he won't say a word."

"Probably," Kotetsu sighed, cradling his chin in his hands as he leaned his elbows on the table. "It's not fair, I want some of the water they've been drinking..."