Needling the Scarecrow 3
Warning: Fem!Harry/Kakashi Hatake, some useless rambling on my part, probably crude language, violence...
Disclaimer: Neither 'Naruto' nor 'Harry Potter' are mine. I just play with them a little.
And that's it, folks. At least in regard to "Needling the Scarecrow".
Have a great evening!
-3-
Three weeks after the incident in the park, Kakashi returned from a messy A-Rank, having gotten to work alongside his former ANBU-team-mates. The mission had gone to hell in a hand-basket pretty much from the start, although none of his comrades had died. It was quite the miracle. Unfortunately, Kakashi was at best stumbling awkwardly through the village gates, stubbornly insisting on being fine now that they were back within their Konoha. The team jumped on the roofs, intent on reporting to the Hokage as soon as possible. Despite his exhaustion, the silver-haired Jōnin followed his comrades, not once complaining.
They entered through the office windows, noticing that the Hokage was not occupied by anything of importance. (Otherwise the ANBU on duty would have signaled them to stay back.)
The last living Hatake's iron-clad control over his emotions almost lapsed when he caught sight of the raven-haired woman sitting in front of the Sandaime. He had not expected her to be important enough for a personal audience with their Fire Shadow. This Black-woman was just a civilian!
In the meantime, the surprisingly unruffled woman stood, evidently intent on dismissing herself. However, the Hokage stopped her from leaving.
"Black-dono, why don't you take a look at Hatake-san? He seems to be barely standing," the old man remarked with a grandfatherly smile.
Apparently, there was more to the civilian woman than Kakashi had anticipated. Unfortunately, the leader sent his Jōnin a warning look, forcing him to endure the treatment. (If he had to guess, this was the old man's revenge for his initial disobedience.)
In response, the one-eyed male stiffened up, warily following every move of the young mother who cautiously approached him.
Meanwhile, the ANBU around him took their cues from their former taichō. Neither party trusted the strange woman with the large, leaf-green eyes.
"Hatake-san? Would you please take a seat on the couch?" Black-san asked politely, but something in her eyes reminded him of stories of Tsunade and steel. So, the silver-haired Jōnin allowed her to guide him over to the small couch next to a large shelf. His eyes never left her (unfortunately appealing) form.
When she had maneuvered him into a comfortable position, for both of them, the young woman unsealed a medic-kit from her pocket. "If you don't mind, I will explain my next steps for you, Hatake-san. First, I'll have to take your pulse. At the same time I will run a subtle diagnostic jutsu on you to tell me what exactly is damaged. For the most part, this means you won't have to undress, unless there is a large or deep wound I need to close up. Once I know what is ailing you, I shall give you the corresponding medicine as far as I have it on my person. Otherwise, I ask that you pick up a prescription as soon as possible from the hospital or the Nara pharmacy," the raven-haired woman explained patiently, generously allowing him to read her body language and facial expressions - even with the Sharingan.
She wasn't lying.
That - if nothing else - meant he would allow her near. So, Kakashi nodded cautiously, only once. But he did, nevertheless.
Therefore, the young woman telegraphed her reach for his wrist, ignoring the unpleasant stench of old blood and other biological matter, and he allowed her to touch him. There was a light tingle beginning from his head which reached his toes within seconds. Apparently, she had also ran her jutsu, although he wondered why her hands weren't glowing the typical green of a medic at work.
"It's a little different from what you're likely used to," Black-san stated calmly, "I have been told. This is one of my family's techniques, so you wouldn't have encountered it before."
This explanation calmed his cute kouhai down who had grown increasingly aggravated with the absence of the aforementioned green glow.
"Black-dono is the head of a small clan which relocated to Konoha two years ago," Sandaime-sama commented lightly, seemingly fascinated by the demonstration of something new. "Lady Hoshiko also works at the hospital and produces a part of the clan's medicines. They specialized in creams and liquids, unlike the Nara."
Even Kakashi's interest was piqued at this piece of information. His onyx eye still watched everything quite warily. However, mentally he adjusted his view of the ravenette. Apparently, she wasn't quite a mere civilian.
"Well, you have a slight cold, extremely depleted chakra reserves, a light fever stemming from an infection of one of the cuts in your side and several stab wounds," the Black-woman summarized professionally, outwardly at least paying no heed to the Hokage's words. "Also, I found that you pulled a tendon in your left ankle, two broken toes and that's not taking all the bruises into account."
Kakashi blinked at her for a moment. He was surprised she had found all of that with just a little tingle. Even the ANBU-medics couldn't catch everything without the aid of a more thorough jutsu.
Then, Black-san's impossibly green eyes drilled into him as if searching for his soul. "I think you don't want me to announce the rest of my findings to the world. Please don't escape after your report," she said nearly inaudibly, obviously trying to impress the seriousness of his situation on him.
What else could she have found? Was something wrong with Obito's gift? Reluctantly, the shinobi nodded his consent.
"Well," his unexpected healer muttered, opening her kit, "this is something against the exhaustion and cold. I want you take about a spoon-full daily, for the next week. That should prevent a case of pneumonia and help you recover a little quicker. Then, a small sake-cup worth of this (she held up a small flask containing a red liquid). It's going to expedite the body's replenishing of your lost blood. I will close those stab wounds now, but ask that you put some of this cream on the scars that will remain, despite my best efforts."
Kakashi wondered how the heck she got all these pots and vials stored in that little pouch. Her med-kit wasn't that large. Possibly another seal? At least that was what his mind supplied.
"If you would please strip out of your vest and shirt, it would be much appreciated," the Lady requested politely, not even a hint of a blush staining her cheeks.
A little dazed, Kakashi followed her instructions without even so much as a token protest. However, he kept his mask where it was. No one needed to see his face on top of everything else. Curious, the Jōnin wondered what would come now.
"Please don't startle. I'm going to use another of my family techniques to knit your skin back together," Black-san warned drily before getting to work.
Although Kakashi had performed first aid on his wounds, mainly to stop the blood flow, it still hurt to see his side all cut up. He really hated Iwa-nins and their oh-so-lovely rocks.
However, watching as the skin and tissue began to literally knit itself back together in front of their astonished eyes was something else.
One of his kōhais even gasped in shock, losing control of his emotions for a moment, imitating some sort of green rookie.
The same tingly energy that had traveled over his body in the beginning ran through him once more. It felt a little like a warm shower or an embrace, with a very mild, semi-transparent golden sheen only visible to his Sharingan. Gold-colored chakra? To Kakashi, it didn't feel quite as intrusive or...coolly sterilized as regular med-nin chakra.
When she was finished, the young woman smiled wryly at the assembled group. "I shall finish my treatment after your report. Please excuse me."
With that, the raven-haired, unassuming beauty bowed to the room's occupants, taking her kit and gracefully leaving the office.
"What the heck just happened?" Boar asked, quite stunned.
Sandaime-sama only chuckled in response. Moreover, he sent Kakashi a very loaded look. "I believe we just found out why Nara Yoshino befriended a new clan's head, even going so far as to selling their products in her pharmacy."
"Who is this woman?" Neko demanded, quite baffled by everything that had just taken place in front of their disbelieving eyes.
Kakashi would appreciate a bit more information as well.
The Hokage lit his pipe thoughtfully. "Black Hoshiko, turns nineteen years old soon. She is the first female clan head of the Blacks. Her village was destroyed, most of the clan's members brutally murdered and or tortured. They are down to three members total; Black-dono, her Obasan and adopted son. The boy was orphaned at two months, but they are blood-related somehow. Their story reminds me of Uzu's downfall and the Uchiha massacre, to be honest," the Sandaime explained patiently to the curious, stressed shinobi.
What is he playing at? Kakashi wondered suspiciously.
"However, Black-dono is technically a civilian, despite her prowess as a medic. I was curious about her techniques. She claims they are old family jutsu."
Brow furrowed in thought, Kakashi contemplated everything they had been told. Undoubtedly, the Hokage had held back a large chunk of information about the Black clan, but it was enough to soothe their more urgent itch demanding to sate their curiosity.
Forty minutes later, the Sandaime dismissed everyone except Kakashi. Instead, he asked Boar to call Black-dono back inside, apparently also curious about her more troubling findings. The silver-haired Jōnin decided not to protest, wasting that much effort for nothing was simply not worth it. In his eyes, anyway. After all, he would have to file everything with the paper-nins downstairs which would lead to the Hokage simply requesting said documents to be brought to him for perusal.
No one dared to question the God of Shinobi too loudly, balding, white-haired, and pipe-smoking, or not.
"Black-dono, what else has you concerned about Hatake-san's health," the Sandaime inquired politely, keeping his amusement and interest well-concealed from the young woman.
The raven-haired Lady sighed under her breath, but checked with the silver-haired Jōnin for permission, before sharing any of her jutsu's other results. It won her some brownie points with Kakashi, although he would rather bite his tongue off than admit it.
"May I request something to assure our privacy? I doubt neither you, Hokage-sama, nor your shinobi wish to discuss this so publicly," the rather bold, professional woman stated first, still too reluctant to comply to the request.
To his astonishment, the Sandaime activated the privacy seals stationed around the office. He inclined his head in response to another unasked question, allowing the foreigner to activate some other set of, presumably, privacy jutsu. Upon completion, the room flashed a soft gold, much to the two males' surprise. Kakashi had to admit, he was quite intrigued about her chakra. The Hatake Clan was known for its White Chakra, so to stumble on another clan with a similar specialization...
"Now, what is this important for you to reveal more of your skills, Black-dono?" Sarutobi-sama demanded to know in his usual grandfatherly manner.
Lady Hoshiko sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Lord Hokage, please tell me you have someone watching those who carry the same genes," she asked first, before explaining: "My technique indicated that the transplanted eye constantly feeds on Hatake-san's chakra, inadvertently enlarging his core."
Both males had already known about this, but it was good to hear that she was as competent as she seemed beforehand.
"Now, the worrying part is not the constant drain, but rather what else is attached to the transplant," the ravenette admitted calmly. However, Kakashi could read the genuine worry and trepidation in her eyes. It was endearing how much she cared for her patients, sincerely at that.
"Please elaborate, Black-dono," the Hokage asked, sitting up a little straighter. His voice had turned serious within a second.
Therefore Lady Hoshiko adopted a more professional posture as well, soberly glancing from one man to the other. "Well, I have seen something similar, once, when I was still an apprentice," she began softly. "It's nothing fatal, but should still be treated swiftly enough. I can't quite liken it to anything but a curse."
Now even Kakashi sat up, wondering if she was crazy or just some quagmire. So far, she had not shown any of the typical incompetence. So far.
"A curse, Black-dono?" Sandaime-sama repeated carefully, rubbing his chin in thought. "Why would you say that?"
Lady Hoshiko rubbed the bridge of her nose, clearly agitated and unhappy. "Firstly, it is a malevolent presence which is slowly spreading through Hatake-san's chakra pathways. Whoever transplanted the eye in the first place managed to contain it for the most part, so congratulations to that particular competent medic. Secondly, the - other chakra has mainly settled within the brain of my patient," Black-dono explained patiently. Her eyes practically shone with sincere regret, although that did not soften the blow of her concise words.
Kakashi had frozen in his seat, unwilling to believe the foreigner, but also unable to prove her wrong. Besides, supplied a small voice in the back of his mind, everything else was spot-on...
Even the Hokage seemed shocked by her unexpected findings. "So the Sharingan is trying to corrupt Jōnin Hatake's mind?" he summarized absentmindedly.
In response, the young woman nodded. "Yes, sir. If it is anything like what I encountered before, it tries to convince Hatake-san that he should solely rely on his Sharingan in a fight; that he should get more powerful than he already is by any means possible. Please remember that this is mostly speculation and to schedule a session with a skilled Yamanaka at the earliest opportunity," the ravenette advised gravely, trying to impress the seriousness of the situation on both other males.
Honestly, she was succeeding quite a bit with Kakashi. His mind had always been the last vestige of sanctuary for him, even if everything went up in flames around him. Now, having received such distressing information, information telling him that there was something influencing him so subtly he had never noticed, the Hatake would overcome his fear of hospitals and general dislike of mind-checks, just to make certain that whatever curse would no longer be able to corrupt him, as Black-dono phrased it. If she was proven right, he would owe her a favor and a thank you.
And if he was having trouble keeping the 'curse' at bay, what about the kid the villagers had begun to call The Last Uchiha? It was a frighteningly sobering thought.
"What would you say are other side-effects?" the aged Hokage demanded to know.
Lady Hoshiko sighed softly. Apparently, she considered the Sandaime's words very carefully, before replying: "Usually those kind of curses come with a prize. They may try to isolate the individual in question, to ease the corruption process. Some are supposed to resemble a drug, having an addicting effect on their host. For example, each time they are activated, they will release a rush of endorphins, adrenaline, and other hormones associated with pleasure or 'power' to trick the body into increasingly relying on the curse. Other times, they eventually poison the patient with varying speed."
It was indeed quite the sobering experience to hear such things from the foreigner. Although Kakashi couldn't help but doubt her still. However, he wondered if that was some voice in the back of his mind or actually himself. After all, what would she gain from lying?
"Very well. Hatake-san will consult Yamanaka Inoichi tomorrow morning, Black-dono. If it turns out that you were correct in your assessment, we may return to you," Sandaime-sama declared decisively, sounding almost as old as his actual age.
Kakashi watched a little panicked as the polite woman (still wearing pants!) bowed to the two as required, then deactivated her supplementary privacy techniques before actually leaving gracefully through the oak doors.
If nothing else, he might have the pleasure to watch her toned backside again.