Chapter 69
Sasuke Interlude
The journey home was subdued.
Yes they had successfully completed their first C-rank mission but it left a somewhat bitter after taste in all their mouths. Zabuza may not have been a good man and their enemy at that but he had been an excellent shinobi and taken care of Haku since the ice user had been a young and vulnerable child. The more Sasuke learned about ninja life the more he realized how missions and opponents were more than clear set orders and how the human factor muddled up everything. And that made him uneasy for a very specific reason about which he really didn't want to think about.
A glance to the side let him know that he wasn't the only one that took away a lesson from the Wave mission. Naruto who had loudly proclaimed his nindo at Zabuza's grave stared uncommonly serious into the fields that lined the road, one hand gently placed on Haku's shoulder blade.
The ice user hadn't spoken a word since he had broken down at Zabuza's grave four days ago. He had let anything happen to him while he stared blankly at the walls or into the air. Sasuke knew that it was the shock and grief that made Haku react like this. He himself had been no different when his whole world had come crushing down on him. Once his condition became clear Team 7 had unanimously decided that Haku would come with them to Konoha. The ice user was just too fragile to be left alone in the Elemental countries in the state he was in.
What worried Sasuke was the fact that Haku didn't seem to have one opinion or another concerning Kakashi-sensei. The man who killed his master.
Sasuke didn't understand, shouldn't the ice user swear vengeance and attack his sensei at every opportunity? This apathy made him more wary than if the older boy had already attacked Kakashi-sensei at least once. In the end he decided to throw caution into the wind and simply ask, Naruto's methods had to be good for something, didn't they.
"Why?" he asked quietly that evening when they prepared the camp for the night.
Haku had quickly skinned and prepared the rabbits Naruto and Sakura had caught in the last hour and was now situating them over the camp fire. His own pet rabbit securely placed in his cage beside his feet. Haku looked up, question in his eyes but he didn't verbally acknowledge either way.
"Why are you not attacking Kakashi-sensei?"
Haku's eyes returned to the fire and there was silence for a long moment. Sasuke already accepted that the ice user wouldn't answer him when he let out a sigh and answered hoarsely.
"It was a shinobi fight on a battle field." Haku's hands tensed and relaxed again, "You can't swear vengeance against every shinobi that kills your comrades or loved ones in an open fight, Sasuke-kun. We are shinobi, and this is our work. Zabuza died in a fair fight against Kakashi-san and he would be more than furious if I tried to avenge his death in such a situation. He always told me that one day he would die on the battle field against a stronger opponent them himself and that he would welcome such a death. That it was the highest honor a swordsman could receive." at the last part Haku's voice broke, "I just wished that it would have been later in his life."
Haku was now sobbing. Not the silent ones that he had let out at his master's grave. No those were big and fat and shook his whole body. Sasuke was frozen into his seat for a moment and then he searched frantically for anyone who could deal with Haku's sudden emotional breakdown only to realize that the clearing was completely empty. Vaguely he remembered that Sakura and Naruto wanted to go clean up at the river a mile back and Kakashi had left on his nightly parameter check.
Shit.
Taking a shaky breath himself Sasuke finally stood up slowly and walked closer to the bawling ice user. He had never needed to comfort a crying person in his life. What the hell should he do?
Tentatively he sat down on the trunk beside Haku and grabbed his shoulder in comfort. He wanted to just squeeze it and convey his sympathy like that. Only for the older teen to suddenly throw his arms around the Uchiha and sob into his shoulder.
Sasuke froze once again. What the hell should he do now?
Kakashi Interlude
When he felt first Haku's and then Sasuke's chakra spike in distressed he hauled his ass as fast as he could back to their camp site only to freeze at the sight down below him.
Haku was crying his heart out. And Sasuke… well Sasuke sat frozen, eyes bugged out in unrestrained panic and clearly had no idea what he should do.
Kakashi had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing out. Okay so the scene wasn't that funny but Sasuke's expression? Oh this was gold. In a few years when Haku's pain wasn't as all encompassing anymore he would use this moment to tease his black haired student endlessly.
A nearly inaudible rustling of leaves let him glance over to his right to see his other two students stare at the scene just as wide eyed as Sasuke was. A moment passed and then both of his more boisterous students clamped their hands over their mouths to prevent any noise from escaping. Naruto even had to lean against the trunk of the tree they were hidden in and his shoulders shook while tears of mirth ran down his cheeks. Sakura elbowed him gently before she signed that they should retreat, regroup and then approach from the other side. Smart girl. Their Uchiha would have been in a snit if he knew that his moment of abject helplessness had been witness by all three of his team members.
Well it would stay a secret for now.
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Shortly after Haku's crying had subsided to just occasional tears and an awkward silence had descended on the clearing Kakashi dropped down in front of the two dark haired boys.
He glanced from one to the other before he silently offered Haku a pack of tissues that belonged to his standard gear. The ice user gratefully took said tissues and dried his face and nose. The crying fit had also finally ended the stupor Haku had been for the last few days since the fight. Kakashi would have really started to worry about the boy if he had still been in that state when they arrived in Konoha in two days. Intelligence had psychologist who could deal with that true, but it was always safer and healthier when the person came out of it himself.
Just minutes after his own arrival Sakura and Naruto tumbled out of the bushes and gave both Sasuke and Haku searching glances.
That night Haku finally participated in the conversation. He said only a few sentences but it was enough to have his cute little students beam at him. Well Sakura and Naruto beamed, Sasuke just nodded before looking away, clearly embarrassed.
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The moment the walls of Konoha came into sight Kakashi felt how his whole body relaxed and his thoughts turned to his family. He had been gone nearly a whole month, how much had Hinako grown in that time? He knew that toddlers grew and developed exceptionally fast in those first few years. He hoped he hadn't missed any important steps.
He let the kids check themselves in before he had a temporary pass fashioned for Haku. A few covered hand signs in direction of the hidden ANBU team and short message scroll with what had happened in Wave made sure that the Hokage would be informed before they arrived at his office.
Once they had the formalities out of the way Kakashi let Naruto drag Haku on the scenic tour through Konoha instead of them taking to the roofs. Sandaime-sama would probably appreciate some more time to contemplate what he wanted to do with Haku.
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The meeting went just as Kakashi had expected. They quickly briefed their leader on the most important details; Sakura had given a textbook perfect summary of the situation with all the needed details clearly highlighted. Kakashi had to suppress a proud smile, he knew some Jounin who couldn't report like that. His pink haired student was clearly competent enough in that skill set so he would make the other two report from now on, Naruto especially.
"Thank you Sakura-chan." The Sandaime said with a kind smile before he turned in Haku's direction, "So you must be Haku-kun then."
The ice user simply nodded, clearly out of his depth with this situation.
"And you want to live in Konoha."
"Hai." Haku answered softly, his eyes shortly on the Hokage before they fell to his hands once more.
"I will be frank Haku-kun, Konoha is always ready to take in new shinobi, especially when they carry a Kekkei Genkai. The only problem that I see is your missing nin status. Is Kirigakure going to make problems for us if we allow you to stay?"
"As far as I am aware they don't know about me." Haku answered softly, "Zabuza-sama took me in but never registered me as an apprentice or student before we left."
The Sandaime now looked interested, "So you never were a shinobi of the Mist."
Haku shook his head at that.
"This changes your situation of course. I don't see any problems with you staying here Haku-kun but you have to understand that certain precautions have to be taken before you can become a full citizen of Konoha."
Haku simply nodded, clearly hopeful but not completely convinced that it was that easy.
"Yatta!" Naruto crowed, he had been unnatural still for the last five minutes while Haku and the Hokage had talked.
The Sandaime's lips twitched in mirth before he turned to Kakashi, "Be so kind and accompany Haku-kun to the Intelligence division, as far as I am aware Inoichi is still there. Have him take a look and decide where to put Haku-kun."
Kakashi nodded at the order and shooed the kids out of the office that had gone just as he had thought it would. And off they were to check in at T&I to get Haku processed.
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Kakashi sighed while he read through Inoichi's initial report. Yeah he had thought that it would be something like this.
Depression, inferiority complex, fanatical loyalty to his deceased rescuer/ master (Zabuza), a rather distinct dislike concerning causing pain and violence in general and finally a rather alarming if somewhat predictable fixation on Team 7 and Naruto in particular.
His kids, really.
Kakashi slowly got the feeling that this was not the strangest situation he would come to experience in the next few years. He shuddered at the thought and hastily pushed it far, far back in his mind. Nope, denial would spare his nerves for at least a bit longer.
What was probably the most alarming about the whole personality assessment was the fact that Haku hated violence and conflict, which was a rather detrimental mindset for a ninja. Forcing pacifists into fighting and war was never EVER a good idea, they went crazy sooner or later and the ones as talented as Haku… well they caused a lot of collateral damage on their way out of this life.
His assets though would probably make the Council keep him in the shinobi force. He WAS a Kekkei Genkai user, one that they never had in their village before, that alone would let the old biddies take notice. Additionally Haku actually never had been an official ninja of Mist or missing nin of said country, so they couldn't officially complain about Konoha stealing one of their shinobi or harboring fugitives.
Beside him Inoichi sighed, well at least he wasn't alone with that headache.
"What do you think will be the best solution?" Kakashi asked the elder shinobi.
"Put him on a team. If possible a Genin team that will stay away from the truly bloody missions for a while, maybe a support one. That should teach him some loyalty to his comrades if not the village for the time being… and I have to ask you to continue your Team's acquaintance with Haku-kun, they are his strongest anchor at the moment." Inoichi answered after a moment of contemplation.
His kids and a mentally unstable shinobi prodigy that depended on them for guidance why did that sound like a recipe for disaster and mayhem? Kakashi allowed himself to sigh out loud in front of the elder shinobi. His noise only elicited a wry smile and a condescending pat on the shoulder, smug bastard.
"With his bloodline being what it is he will be urged to settle down and find a wife the moment he makes Tokubetsu Jounin or full Jounin." Inoichi murmured absentmindedly.
Kakashi came out of his self pity and nodded at that, "Better give him heads up for that so that he won't advance too fast. He is at least Tokubetsu Jounin level already."
Inoichi just vaguely hummed.
"Naruto reported that he met Haku while he was gathering healing herbs for Zabuza. I'm not sure how much medical training he has but maybe that could be a career path for him." Kakashi supplied after a moment of thought.
Inoichi nodded and actually put a side note on Haku's folder before he turned around completely.
"Well now we only have to search for a support team that we can stick with our newest Konoha shinobi." The Yamanaka clan head drawled as dry as the desert.
Kakashi just sighed again; he just knew that he would be drafted into helping with the research. Where had the time gone when most of his colleagues had left him alone?
They were just about to get out the folders of all active Genin and shinobi teams when fate struck… or in this case Naruto decided to play matchmaker.