Hatake Kakashi made sure Sasuke was in front of him as they followed Hikari.
"Where is Arata!?" Hikari's desperate demand reached them.
Kakashi pushed his way forward until he could take in the scene. Hikari and Shikamaru faced Masaru. Unlike his previous impeccable appearance, Kotone's apprentice was disheveled. Dust covered his clothes, his face held no make up, and his eyes were bloodshot.
"Arata is - " Masaru hesitated. "Alive. He's not physically hurt at all."
Hikari closed her eyes and went down to her haunches, relieved. Kakashi didn't watch Shikamaru crouching to put his arm around her. Instead, he kept his eyes on Masaru, who kept swallowing compulsively.
"It's - " Masaru's voice broke. "It's Ami. She's dead."
Sasuke inhaled sharply. Shikamaru made an aborted motion to pull Hikari either up or to himself. Kakashi closed his eyes as he recalled the happy little girl asking him about his mask. They all waited. Hikari kept blinking.
"Did you hear me?" Masaru asked.
She didn't answer. Masaru scrubbed his face roughly. When he pulled his hands away, he looked like they'd asked him to do the impossible again. Kakashi moved Sasuke so he was next to Shikamaru and crouched in front of his student. She didn't react.
"Hikari-chan." He took her hands and cupped them in his, his voice so gentle it was near rumbling.
"I don't understand," she whispered, and, when she blinked, tears trailed down her face.
"Ishikawa Ami is dead, Hikari." He didn't blunt his words. She needed to be able to look back to this moment and have the certainty that her loved one was dead. Not gone, and maybe to return. Dead, and never coming back.
She shook her head. "I don't understand."
"She's dead, Hikari-chan. I am very sorry for your loss."
Small hands shifted inside of his own until they gripped his.
"Come on." He stood up but didn't break her hold. "We'll walk you home, and don't worry about repairs or missions for now."
"Hatake-san, I'm sorry but..." Masaru broke in, and to his credit he did sound apologetic. He turned to her. "I really am sorry, Hikari-chan. We can't go home yet."
Her nod was stiff and awkward. Kakashi's tongue flicked over sharp fangs, displeased.
"Why?" Shikamaru demanded.
"Because the Third Hokage is dead, and the seat cannot remain empty. Nara-san, where is your father?"
"I don't know."
"Why does it matter?" Sasuke put in as he walked so he flanked his teammate.
"He's a shogi master, I doubt it will take him long to arrange his pieces."
It took a beat for Kakashi to understand that Masaru was referring to Hikari. It took almost a minute for Hikari herself to get it. She wiggled her hands until Kakashi let go. She removed her hitaiate and handed it wordlessly to Sasuke. Her weapon's pouch was next. Her dirty jacket was tossed to the ground. Deft fingers unmade the braids and made a single one, which she then wrapped around her head.
"A crown?" Masaru questioned. "How unsubtle. But then again, we aren't going for subtle," the teen murmured.
Hikari didn't say anything, and everyone waited in silence.
Jiraiya joined them.
"Where is Naruto?"
"He took it hard, Kakashi. I sent him home." The tone dared him to protest, but Kakashi had no intention of making his student take on missions. Jiraiya gave him a brisk nod before facing Hikari. She hadn't turned to acknowledge the Sage, and her breaths stuttered every once in a while. "Please stop. I hate to see a pretty girl cry." The Sage grinned good-naturedly, trying to lighten the moment.
"How arrogant of you," she murmured. "To think your comfort is my priority."
Jiriayia's eyebrows rose and turned to Kakashi for an explanation.
He made a few brisk hand signs.
"My sympathies for your loss."
"Keep your pity for yourself, Jiraiya-san," Hikari hissed, her face contorting in an ugly sneer. Kakashi blinked at the hostility.
The man's broad shoulders stiffened as they registered her response. Not 'to yourself' but 'for yourself'. "Ah, there it is. The Singer's silver tongue. Like mother like daughter, huh?"
"I am my mother's daughter."
The man scoffed but didn't get a chance to reply before the Commander arrived.
"Team 7, Shikamaru. Congratulations on your successful A-rank, the hostages you acquired are secure." Kakashi nodded, knowing that having Gaara and Kankuro would be a huge leverage for the talks they'd have with Suna. "Shikamaru, Sasuke, report to the Mission Desk. Kakashi, the jounin will meet soon. Until then, stick close. Hikari-chan, Masaru-kun, I give you my most heartfelt condolences. Ami was a bright child, and we are lesser because of her loss." Hikari's breath stopped for a couple of seconds. Masaru face scrunched, but he managed to nod. "A meeting is about to start."
Kakashi put a hand on the nape of his student's nape and steered her towards the tower. Masaru kept pace next to her, not moving away even when Shikaku looked like he was going to protest. When they made it, the floor was chaos.
Nin of all ranks came and went, delivering reports. The heads of the major clans were seated with the council, and all of them were arguing. Shikaku and Jiraiya joined them. Kakashi let Hikari and Masaru have the sofa and leaned on the wall next to it, where he had full view of the room.
"Hikari-chan." Masaru put a hand on her knee. "We can't... We don't have the privilege of falling apart. Not yet. Okay?"
"The show must go on."
"Yes."
"What are we...?"
"We need to get your mom an invitation to these talks. And..." They both glanced over to the table and a message passed between them.
"We've never worked together," Hikari whispered, and to Kakashi she sounded young and afraid.
"We have. We did great on your performance. Let's split the jobs, alright? I'll listen and remember, you focus on what we'll say. Give the cue, and I'll follow."
"And we'll do this together." It was more question than statement.
"I'll be right behind you, every step of the way, until you no longer want me to."
"Beside me." She corrected. "You promise?"
"My word is my vow."
Reassured, Hikari's gaze locked on the discussion.
Kakashi refocused, but it was the same loop as when they'd come in.
The clan heads and elders' first choice was an unbiased Hokage, but there was no such thing. He and Gai were the strongest jounin without a major clan's backing, and they didn't fit the bill. No one wanted an ex-Anbu captain with less than a handful years in the regular forces as a Hokage. And Gai was strong, but his character and lack of ninjutsu would make it a hard sell for other countries. They'd test the waters, and Konoha couldn't afford another invasion.
That left the clans, but again, there were no real candidates. None of the Ino-Shika-Cho could be Hokage for fear they'd put the alliance before the village. The Inuzuka didn't have a strong enough member. Hiashi had too much friction with the Land of Lightning. The Aburame didn't have enough international clout, and Shibi had lost goodwill by abandoning the fight to look for Shino.
The first detour from the discussion came from elder Homura Mitokado proposing Jiraiya. Hyuga Hiashi shot it down even before Jiraiya could protest. He couldn't be nominated as a candidate when he was facing charges on the Daimyio's court. Utatane Koharu proposed to have Jirayia cleared by the court, but Danzo reminded them that they were short on time. Jiraiya finally got a word in, saying that if they wanted one of the Sannin, they should consider Tsunade because he wouldn't take the hat. An analysis of the advantages and disadvantages broke out, but someone pointed out that she wasn't even here, and looking for her would take time, too.
"We are in a state of war," Shimura Danzo stated. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hikari squeezing Masaru's knee. "Our first priority should be to prepare for future attacks."
"Other villages will soon learn of the attack, if they haven't already." Ututane added.
"We need a strong leader. Someone we can trust." Homura finished, looking at Jiraiya.
"Since Jiraiya is out of the running," Danzo tapped his cane on the floor. Kakashi tensed. Was the elder going to nominate himself? No. He refused. Root had been shut down, but he didn't want the man who founded it and tried to kill the Sandaime to lead. "We need a candidate that can act swiftly and definitively. Someone with experience. As such, and as a council-member who has served Konoha through both peace and war, I propose - "
"Excuse me."
Kakashi, alongside the rest of the room, turned towards Hikari as her voice filled the room.
"If you're lost, go down to - " A chunnin started before being shushed by the nin next to him.
She waited until everyone was looking at her to stand up. Masaru mirrored her.
"I am Sakasu Hikari, of the kyokuba-dan. We believe Language is an art. Let us use the correct vocabulary to avoid misunderstandings."
"What do you mean?" Homura demanded, impatient.
"Your companion said he was a council-member. He misspoke." She paused, allowing for a burst of outrage from the council and confused murmurs. Kakashi cocked his head. "He missed a prefix. It's only two letters, but I insist."
She locked eyes on Danzo's and Kakashi saw her hand tremble in a small tell.
Kakashi wanted to shove her down and tell her that puppies didn't take on war hawks. The elder's eyes made one thing crystal clear: anyone who got in his way would be taken care of, and he would not lose any sleep over it. The number of people who could drive a wedge in Danzo's plans could be counted on one hand. The ones who'd dare... He had only known two Hokages.
"Ex-council member Shimura doesn't have the authority to propose a candidate for Kage-ship." And with that sentence, Kakashi's student had made an enemy of one of the most powerful men in Konoha.
Chaos broke out and accusations were thrown her way. He stepped forward so he stood off to her side in a silent statement of support.
She squared her shoulders. "Senju Hashirama-sama wrote the procedure: each Kage chooses their council on their first month of office. Should the Kage fail to appoint a successor while living, the jounin commander, kyokuba-dan leader, and Daimyo propose and vote for a candidate. The previous council can express a preference, but their presence in the meeting is a courtesy." She paused. "Of course, you know this. I would never presume to know more of Konoha's laws than our esteemed clan heads," she inclined her head, facing Shikaku more than anyone else. "Or more than our ex-council members, who, like Shimura-san said, have served Konoha through peace and war."
Kakashi smiled behind his mask. He believed what she said to be true, but the Nidaime had set a precedent for keeping his predecessor's council-members. The Yondaime had further cemented it by keeping the Sandaime's. But now no one would feel comfortable disputing the text, since they'd come across as ignorant.
Where the council members couldn't see, he pulled a bit at her shirt. She took the hint and sat back down, with Masaru following her, to let the clan heads and elders talk among themselves.
"Hikari-hime, Masaru-san." Shikaku called some time later. Kakashi noted he'd set the guidelines for how Hikari would have to be addressed. "Please extend our invitation to Kotone-sama for an emergency meeting concerning Konoha's leadership."
Hikari inclined her head in a short bow.
"With whom will she have the pleasure?" Masaru asked.
"With representatives of the jounin forces, the ex-council-members as inactive jounin, and myself."
If he had any less control over his features, Kakashi's eyebrows would have risen. Hikari had done it. The elders would be there, yes, but as inactive jounin. Their voices would be heard but not weighted directly. Shikaku himself would have to nominate Danzo for him to even be a candidate. And that wasn't going to happen if he knew his commander at all.
Kakashi watched Sakasu Kotone fall to her knees to clutch Hikari close and whisper. "You're alright. Thank you, thank you. You're alright." Hikari's father said nothing at all, but his grip on her where his wife wasn't touching was tight. Desperate.
He took in the damage - one of the gymnasiums he'd been in was caved in, half of the building completely destroyed. The kyokuba-dan sat opposite to the village's gates. His lips tightened. He'd thought the jounin in the stadium and the barrier teams at the gates had managed to contain the Suna nin in a smaller radius.
A dozen Naras were milling around, sorting through the debris. One of them caught his eye and immediately signaled. No enemy nin got in. Most damage caused by summon. One fatality.
Kakashi grimaced. Collateral damage. He'd try to make sure Hikari didn't read that report.
He took one last look to make sure Hikari was with her parents and nodded to himself. That made two genin settled. And one to go. Despite his low chakra levels, he used the shunshin generously to get to Naruto's apartment.
While her daughter got out of her blood splattered clothes, Sakasu Kotone addressed Arata.
"Your parents will take care of the kyokuba-dan." The funeral, the reconstruction, and making sure no one fell apart too much. "Akio and I will head to the capital as soon as we can. The plan is to make sure Hikari-chan and you have a place in all the discussions taking place in the Tower."
"No." Arata's red-rimmed eyes were hard.
She raised her eyebrow. "No what?"
"I'm not going to the Tower. Why should we clean up their mess? Why didn't the Sandaime name a successor? Did he think he was immortal? It's not my problem, it's not our problem. If they choose wrong, then we don't negotiate. End of story. I am going to be here with my family."
"Yesterday, your choice was to open up the kyokuba-dan, and today you refuse to help Konoha?"
"We made a mistake."
They hadn't. The Nara had been here, keeping them safe to the best of their ability. And she hoped the information the kyokuba-dan had supplied had been enough to save even one life, shinobi or civilian. "Even if it were so, we have given our support to the Nara. Keeping Konoha stable benefits them as much as us. Or are you so eager to move, Arata-kun?" They had a double obligation.
"We can go back to the way things were and not be involved."
Kotone fought not to snap. Time couldn't be undone, they couldn't go back and unmake their alliance to the Nara. They couldn't go back even further, to the time when no one but kyokuba-dan and the rare outsider breached their painted walls. "Arata-kun, we can only go forward. Choices were made, and these are the consequences. Now we must face them and make new ones." She paused, but he didn't reply. "You'll help Hikari-chan in the Tower and uphold the kyokuba-dan's choices."
"No."
"Be ready to pay the price for that choice, Arata-kun." She warned. He would stand before the Heads of the Arts, the Head of Production, and her. And he would be judged.
He nodded, a smirk tugging at his lips. She pursed her lips in an effort to not yell at him that Hikari was his family, too, and she would need backup. You told her you'd always be right besides her. You are her partner, someone she trusts blindly. How can you betray my daughter like this? But if Arata was willing to break the kyokuba-dan's word, then what value did he place on his own?
They didn't have time for her to covince him when he was choking on his rage to avoid drowning in his grief. And her daughter would be better off alone than with someone who didn't keep his word, who was capable of turning his back on her. "Keep track of everything: who is where doing what and why; the progress that has been made; who needs the most help. Keep a major to-do list going down urgency and then importance. Each time Hikari comes home, you report to her a brief and thorough summary. Understood?"
Arata recoiled back. "She won't go to the Tower alone. We said together or not at all."
"You underestimate her. Now, do you understand what your duties are?"
"Yes."
"Masaru-kun." She called for her student. "Please keep track of all your friends in the village and - "
"Kotone-sensei? Someone else can do that."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm going with Hikari-chan."
Kotone closed her eyes, slumping with relief. Her baby wouldn't be alone. "Thank you, Masaru-kun."
"I'm not doing it for you."
A smile escaped her.
"You'll stay with her?" Akio, who'd entered the room, asked.
"Every step of the way."
"I'll hold you to your word, singer."
Her student gave a short bow.
The lights were off, and Hatake Kakashi couldn't hear his student.
He palmed a kunai.
A chocked sob from the bedroom broke the silence.
Kakashi put the weapon back in its pouch. His hands twitched to summon Pakkun, but he stopped himself. Naruto liked Guruko, but the kid had very few 'precious people' and one of them was gone. A dog he barely knew wasn't going to cut it.
He knocked on the bedroom's door, ignoring the fact that it was already open.
The sniffles cut out, and Naruto stumbled upright.
"Kakashi-sensei?"
He eye-smiled gently. His blond student made space for him, so he perched on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry, Naruto."
"Jiji was supposed to be the strongest!" He choked out. "That's what it means to be Hokage."
"The Hokage protects his people. The Sandaime died maiming the biggest threat to the village." He'd been told Orochimaru couldn't use his arms. He hadn't seen it, too busy cutting his way through enemies to go after his students. But Genma was one of the most reliable sources of information.
Naruto didn't reply, but he shuffled closer.
Now more sure of his welcome, Kakashi put his hand on his shoulder, drew him in, and let the silence stretch out.
Naruto wiped his tears away. "Gaara, he's like me, right?"
"Ah." Kakashi hadn't been expecting the change in subject. "He's a jinchuriki, but his seal is very different from yours. That's why we needed Jiraiya to modify it. Aside from that, no. You're not alike."
Naruto didn't seem to like his answer. "What's going to happen to him?"
"He's our hostage, and his release will get us a fair bit of concessions." He shrugged. "But that's after everything settles down a bit." First, they needed to do damage control and choose a new Hokage. He glanced at the window and reached out to pat Naruto's hair. "Take some days off, Naruto. We'll have an in-depth debrief later on, but I want you to know I'm impressed. You did very well on this mission."
"Really!?" Some enthusiasm returned to bright blue eyes.
"Yes. You focused on your mission objective, and you took care of your teammates." Pakkun had told him how Naruto hadn't protested when they'd had to go around what they now knew were Kankuro and Shino fighting. He had resisted going into a fight he knew nothing about; he'd kept his focus on the mission. He'd though ahead and as a teammate, leaving marks for Hikari and Shikamaru to do the same. The indications had been ignored, but Kakashi couldn't blame them, either, for following a kikaichu seeking help for its host. All Aburame were Konoha's shinobi.
With a last pat on Naruto's shoulder and ruffling his hair, Kakashi prepared to leave.
"Wait! What are you - what's going to happen now?"
He paused at the window. "Now we choose a Gondaime, steady the political situation with Suna, and work on reconstructing. Sasuke is helping other genin get civilians away from unstable infrastructure. Hikari lost family, and her parents are at the Tower. Both of you have some time off. When you're ready, we'll take missions as a team again."
Naruto nodded, but Kakashi knew he was overwhelmed.
He was late. "I'll come back soon to check on you, Naruto. Don't forget to eat."
When he got to the meeting floor, he smoothly switched out with his shadow clone. Tsume and Shibi side-eyed him, but the rest of the clan heads and leaders of divisions went unaware. He hadn't been Anbu Captain for nothing.
Hikari's parents stood out in the sea of shinobi. Kotone was wearing all white, which made the red stand out even more. Red on her braids, red on her lips, and a single red tear on her cheek. Akio wore white, too, and a lilac tear.
To his displeasure, Hikari and Masaru were standing off to the side, doing their best to blend in with the white walls. He didn't scowl, but he wanted to. He'd thought he'd finished making sure his three genin were fine. But here was Hikari, in a room full of the most powerful shinobi. Shinobi who were itching for a fight.
"This is a courtesy." Utatane finally snapped at Kotone. Kakashi, with his clone's memories of empty and polite roundabouts, perked up. "The Daimyo has always valued Konoha, and we are talking about its leadership now."
"The Daimyo values Fire's economic and politic well being, and Their Own privacy." And didn't that make Kakashi wonder what secrets the kyokuba-dan held about the Daimyo? "The kyokuba-dan can wait to tell the Daimyo who we're willing to negotiate with as a new Kage. This is, as you said, a courtesy." We are doing you a courtesy.
Kakashi was vaguely amused at watching the elder's words being used against her. He agreed with Kotone. The sooner everyone agreed that presenting a unified front to the Daimyo and a single candidate was their goal, everything should run smoother.
Danzo scoffed. "Stop this pretence. You'll negotiate with the Kage we choose. Your daughter is a shinobi, tied to the village's service. You won't leave without your child. The kyokuba-dan's weakness is well known."
"By Konoha's laws and our customs, my daughter is not a child. She's an adult. Sakasu Hikari has made her choices, and she will stand by them." Kotone's words echoed throughout the room.
Hikari stood straighter.
Jiraiya hummed. "Yes, but what choices has she made, hm? Her team was attacked by a missing nin that not even the Hokage could defeat. And she walked away unharmed. How curious. Now we need a new Kage, and you are threatening us? Konoha can't survive a fallout with our business patners right now." Jiraiya very carefully wasn't looking at Shikaku.
Chouza's fists clenched. Accusing the kyokuba-dan meant accusing the Nara of treason, and the Yamanaka and Akimichi. Jiraiya was skirting very close to what could be said without being said.
"Not more curious than a spy master failing to notice that his former teammate invading his village. The same village he hasn't spent more than a month in since the last decade."
The room lapsed into silence.
Kotone turned to Shikaku. "Who do you want as Godaime Hokage?"
The elders twitched. Although 'you' could mean 'shinobi', Kotone had addressed Shikaku. The next Hokage would be who the Nara wanted, and it wasn't because Shikaku was the jounin commander endorsed.
"Senju Tsunade."
Kotone's eyebrows went up, but she didn't disagree. "How soon can she be here?"
"..." The clan heads looked away, remembering that Tsunade had ignored or punched every Konoha nin she encountered. "Suna is searching for their Kazekage, now that we know Orochimaru has been impersonating him. We have time until our talks with them."
Kotone shook her head. "The Wind Kyokuba-dan is independent from shinobi leadership. They will soon come here soon to renegotiate."
Suna's circus wouldn't make the journey alone. And their shinobi escorts would report back that Konoha didn't have a leader.
"We'll look for her immediately. Either she returns to act as Godaime Hokage, or she returns to renounce her rank. Either way, the election of the new Kage will no longer allow her to ignore her duties as Konoha's kunoichi." Shikaku laid the ultimatum calmly.
Kakashi was struck by the notion that the Nara clan head wouldn't be a bad Hokage. His commander wasn't as powerful as other Kages, but he clearly didn't have any problem facing off against them. Sure, their jounin would have to fend off other nations testing the boundaries, but... Kakashi would follow Shikaku.
"Searching for her is priority. Why? Because we understand that a strong Gondaime is needed as deterrent of future conflicts." Shibi assured. "We will send scouts."
"Jiraiya-san," Hikari interjected. "Where do you think Senju-hime is?"
"I don't know." The older shinobi shrugged.
His student wasn't satisfied. "The limits of our language are the limits of our world. Every time you speak to me, you speak of Senju-hime. She is the center of your world, isn't she?" Kakashi blinked, because it was true, even though no one spoke of it. Jiraiya had always orbited around Tsunade. Anyone who'd seen them together, anyone who read Jiraiya's books, knew it. And, apparently, Hikari didn't need to read about a blonde, head-strong protagonist. "I think that, before you came to Konoha, you checked where she was to orient yourself."
"Well?" Danzo prompted at Jiraiya's silence.
"She was near Taika two months ago."
It was a decent starting point.
"Then, Jiraiya, your mission is to bring back Senju-hime as soon as possible." Shikaku declared. "If she refuses the hat, send back word so we can organize ourselves."
"Three Anbu will go with you." Danzo declared.
Of course the elder would assume he held authority even as an inactive jounin.
"No need, they'll just get in the way." Jiraiya shot him down. "Besides, I have a guy in mind already. Uzumaki Naruto."
Kakashi stiffened. Sure, Jiraiya had been teaching some stuff to Naruto, but he'd planned to dwindle that out. Naruto learned best under teachers like Ebisu, who could explain and give step by step guidance. Kotone glanced at him. He slouched into his usual posture.
"I doubt a genin will be of much help, since even Anbu will get in your way. His skills are more useful here, aiding in the reconstruction efforts." Shikaku rumbled.
"I believe he'll be invaluable at convincing Tsunade to come back. His spirit will remind her of someone she loved." Jiraiya argued.
"I hope Senju-hime has more reasons to assume leadership than someone she's never met." Kotone cut in.
Kakashi blinked, wondering how he'd gotten to the point where the people calling the shots had his back.
"Of course not." Elder Koharu Ututane was quick to reassure.
"He'll go by himself." Danzo ordered.
"The kyokuba-dan will pay off half of Senju Tsunade's debt." Kotone declared.
Kakashi, who prided himself on his poker-face, blinked twice. He comforted himself by checking that the others weren't doing much better. The leader of the Encryption division had been startled into a coughing fit, Tsume was in the middle of a double-take, and Shibi's hive was buzzing.
Even Danzo had stopped frowning.
"Konoha appreciates the kyokuba-dan's generosity." Elder Homura voice fought to be heard over the coughs.
It was a vast understatement. Konoha would have been forced to accept any and all missions that came in to pay off both reconstruction and their new Hokage's debt off. High-risk missions would have had to be accepted, and low-risk missions would decrease in number once the word of the Invasion got out. They would have been in a very tight spot for at least half a year.
"We request to be kept informed and involved until Senju Tsunade is named Godaime Hokage."
"That will be arranged, Kotone-sama." Inoichi interjected.
"Then I believe it is time for us to head to the capital." Kotone stood up. Kakashi noticed Hikari's breath hitching and Masaru's jaw tightening. He cocked his head, trying to see what had made them tense.
Chouza set his elbows on the table. "We need a representative capable of giving the Daimyo our recommendation. Shikaku's presence here is vital to coordinate our forces. Shibi, Hiashi, the village will need your skills. I propose myself as our spokesperson, and as the leader of Kotone-sama's escort."
Danzo's mouth pinched. Before he could open his mouth, Hiashi was speaking. "As long as you lead an Aburame-Hyuga-Inuzuka team, that is acceptable."
Shibi and Tsume nodded.
Chouza inclined his head in agreement.
Hikari's hands unclenched.
The meeting was adjourned. The divisions leaders and elders panned out.
Hikari turned and hugged her mom.
Kakashi glanced around the room. He and Tsume seemed to be out of the loop. She nudged the Huyga clan head.
"The last time Kage-ship was to be decided, the kyokuba-dan leaders left to the capital and didn't come back. Let the circus' hime say her goodbyes." Hiashi's voice was solemn as he prompted them out the door.
The implications were severe, but the last moments suddenly made sense. As the head of a noble clan and part of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Chouza would honour the Nara's alliance by leading an escort. Hikari had her hand in Hinata's medical training, where she was finally flourishing and becoming a pride to her family. And she'd passed her sole antidote to Shino, possibly saving him from chronic side-effects. Both the Hyuga and Aburame were honor-bound to agree. Since Itachi was a missing nin and Sasuke wasn't clan head, the Uchiha vote wasn't needed. Intentionally or not, Hikari had managed to gain the noble clans' favour.
Hikari couldn't breathe. The comfort of her dad's arms around her became too tight, too much, too raw. She wiggled out.
"Dad. Dad." When his dad's face remained so sad, so understanding, so... He wasn't looking at her. "Daddy!" How didn't he see it? "I can't do this. I'm not... You're asking me to juggle when I - I dropped the balls when I started the Academy. I can't do this. I don't know how. I can't." She turned to her mom. "I'm sorry, so sorry, but I - "
A sob stopped her form going further, and that proved her point, didn't it? She couldn't speak for the kyokuba-dan. Her mom did that. Not her, never her. She wasn't ready. She'd never be ready. She wasn't the voice her family needed her to be.
"Hikari-chan, you can." Her dad's gentle hands turned her towards him. "Listen to me, please. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, you can't do if you put your mind to it. Under the light of a spotlight or forging your own path, you shine so, so bright."
She choked on her sobs, vision blurry even before she shook her head frantically.
Above her daughter's head, Kotone locked eyes with her husband.
"Both of us?" She mouthed, looking at her daughter and hesitating. She could go alone. She couldn't go alone. Oh, Benzaiten-sama, were they really leaving their child alone?
Her husband nodded.
She knew it was the smart choice. Although grieving their niece, Arata's parents would handle everything internal. The external... She would go with the love of her life to the capital, both of them keeping an eye out. And Hikari and Masaru would hold down the kyokuba-dan's interests in the village.
Kotone clenched her eyes for a moment. Knowing it made sense didn't mean she liked it.
She looked at her student, who was trying to let them say their goodbyes without interrupting, and opened her arms. He crashed into them.
He'd shown initiative and so much fortitude. Like always, and yet not. From the moment Masaru had requested an apprenticeship, he'd been clear that he did not want her position. He did not want the power. 'I want to create melodies, and then entire shows, Kotone-sama. I want you to teach me to compose, and emote, and perform. I don't want... I am too selfish. The kyokuba-dan is better off without me at its head.'
But he had stepped up.
And Arata had refused to keep standing by her daughter's side.
Kotone worried. Even if it was grief talking, Hikari - and the rest of the kyokuba-dan - would never forget it. If Akio and she... if they didn't make it back, she didn't think that wound would ever heal. Hikari's life would change too much, too quickly. She had support, but...
Masaru pulled back. "You've made sure we won't be alone, Kotone-sensei."
She sniffed. Her brilliant student, an orphan from the Kyuubi attack they'd been blessed to welcome into their midst, was trying to comfort her.
"I'm the sensei." She protested.
He hugged her again. "The best sensei."
"You are good and great, Masaru. I am incredibly proud of you." She stroked his back. "Please take care of your voice, yes? No pushing too hard as you become even greater."
"Okay. Any other lesson, sensei?"
There was so much she could say, so much she didn't get to teach of both of art and politics. But all of that paled to what she had to say. "Masaru-kun, Hikari-chan, try to remember that, even though it hurts, loving is the most meaningful choice you can make." It was a lesson she'd struggled to learn for so long. It was a lesson Akio had helped her learn.
His tears fell on her shoulder as he nodded.
Everything else was in place. Akio and she had always planned for this eventuality. There were letters for every single one of Hikari's milestones that they could think of. Their financial and real estate assets were in order, leaving Hikari a very comfortable cushion to fall back on. The Graveyard of Dreams held a collection of her most private songs and lyrics, ready for Hikari if she ever wanted to piece back Kotone's life. Her work and pieces for the kyokuba-dan were in her office, and her will clearly put it in Masaru's care. She'd also written down the most important lessons she'd given and planned to give. He wouldn't have any excuse not to take care of his instrument.
She tucked an envelope into his jacket. "Give this to Ume-sensei. She'll be checking on you."
Ume was a hard woman who'd become disinterested in the comings and goings of the present. But Kotone still had one last piece of blackmail to ensure she'd do her best to look after her child and her student as they navigated these new waters.
He nodded and pulled back, letting her go to Hikari.
She knelt down in front of her daughter, wiping tears away until she could see her beautiful eyes. They were the same shade as hers, with Akio's softer shape. Their beautiful, incredible, child. She still didn't understand how they'd managed to raise such a resplendent being.
"Mommy."
Her heart broke. Hikari hadn't called her that in years. "Sweetheart, you're the light of my life." Her breath shuddered. She wrestled it back into control. "You are the light of my life, and that is the truest truth that I have ever known. Whatever you do, wherever you go, you carry your father and I's love with you."
Hikari's fingers crumpled her tunic. Small hands, her baby was still so little.
She'd wanted to see her grow up, become a fierce kunoichi, and help her plan her wedding. She'd wanted to create art together, and teach her everything and anything she wanted to learn. She yearned to be gentle as she revealed their secrets now that she was of age. She'd fantasized about handing over the reins smoothly. She'd wanted to do everything the way her parent's hadn't done it.
"Thank you." Hikari's voice wavered. "Thank you so much, mom. For everything. You - I - I couldn't ask for better parents. I love you, so so much. And I'll be waiting for you, okay? Chouza-dono will bring you back home. Okay? Masaru-senpai and I will do our best, and we'll be waiting. Right, Masaru-senpai?"
"Yes. We'll be waiting."
She could see Akio tearing up.
"And we'll do our best to come back to you." She promised for both of them.
Kotone made herself drop her arms, hoping she hadn't held her baby too hard. She took Akio's hand, and together they went to the door.
"Mom. Wait. Dad! There is - " Hikari's voice broke. "There is ebb. And - and flow."
"Oh, sweetheart, of course." Kotone knelt again and cupped Hikari's face in her hands, wiping away the tears. Akio knelt next to her, bringing Masaru with him to their little, misshapen circle.
"There is ebb and flow," she started.
"Song and silence," Masaru picked up.
"Open secrets." Akio rumbled.
"And constant change." Hikari finished the first sentence.
"Be smart, trust those who stand with you, and, most importantly, trust yourself." She gave her best advice.
"Be mindful of your choices, and do your best. It's all anyone should ask of you." Akio went on.
"And both of you, always, always remember that you are loved." She finished.