Chapter 8
Pakkun had summoned the rest of the pack the moment they made camp, and Kakashi had been swarmed by his hounds.
He had gotten so many kisses.
None of them left his side for the return journey home. As always Tenzo was an angel by bringing along a spare jonin uniform so Kakashi wouldn't have to arrive in a yukata. It would have made travel much more difficult.
He did seal the yukata up in a scroll, just in case they could find Mr. Kidnapper's scent on it, and maybe use that to trace him? He wasn't sure. The yukatas had been washed regularly by the owner of the inn, an inn Kakashi didn't even get to find out the name of, or where it was. All he knew is that it had been misty, but that could mean any fishing or lake town.
It didn't really help narrow anything down.
It took almost a week for them to reach Konoha. Kakashi felt refreshed. It was a strange feeling, like he had just taken a vacation and read Icha Icha books at a hot spring. Except he had been kidnapped, and should be exhausted after his ordeal.
Yeah, that had been the oddest kidnapping ever.
"We did it, Guy Sensei!" Lee cheered. "Mission accomplished."
Izumi stretched out her limbs. "Yeah, just hope your pups are doing fine, Kakashi. They were restless when I left them."
Kakashi grimaced. "I guess we'll need to see about what the Hokage has to say first before I worry about the pups."
"Yes, let's go!" Guy grinned. "He'll be relieved once he sees you're back, safe and sound."
"Perhaps," Kakashi mused. "But he also didn't authorise anyone to find me, now did he?"
Guy scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "Details."
Kakashi glanced down at his hounds, and couldn't help but smile warmly. They were probably exhausted, but still trying to remain by his side. "You guys should go get some rest. You have to be tired after all that searching."
"Worth it!" Shiba nuzzled his hand, and Kakashi couldn't help but scratch his ear.
"We were worried. You were just kidnapped and bonded." Pakkun grimaced. "Don't be surprised if we're sleeping in your apartment tonight."
Kakashi sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Ahahaha, right. I think I can see that."
"I'll watch Kakashi. The rest of you, to the apartment," Pakkun ordered.
There were a few whines, but as always, Pakkun was boss, so they accepted the orders and went. Pakkun snuggled back into his shoulder, getting comfortable once more.
Tenzo sighed. "I have to admit I have a lot of questions, just as you do, Kakashi, about this mysterious Alpha you're now bonded to."
Kakashi winced. "Yeah, and I feel like finding answers will be easier said than done."
"We could set a trap," Pakkun suggested. "He said he'd be back for your next heat. The problem is capturing him. He was powerful enough to sneak up on us, and he can teleport, maybe even anywhere he likes. We never found any seals in the forest."
They had looked for seals for ages, but sadly never found them. Kakashi had wanted to copy them, maybe even use them to try trap Mr. Kidnapper. But apparently Mr. Kidnapper didn't need seals to travel like Minato used to use.
"Yeah, that's the problem. How do we trap someone who can seemingly teleport anywhere without seals?" Kakashi grimaced, lowering his voice. "And depending on how closely Mr. Kidnapper arrives for my heat I might not even want to capture him. Well, in that way at least-"
Pakkun twitched. "Kakashi!"
Tenzo went bright red, just as Izumi cackled. Thankfully Guy and his students were further back, but now they were throwing them confused looks.
"What?" Kakashi asked innocently, despite his cheeks heating up.
"You enjoyed your nights with him way too much," Pakkun sighed. "But at least he never harmed you. I'm glad. Just worried about this bond between you two now."
"I'm more worried about Lord Third will says," Kakashi admitted, wincing. "And the council will complain, no doubt about that. They want me pregnant, not bonded."
"They seem to be trying harder and harder to get you pregnant." Pakkun growled lowly.
Izumi scoffed. "That sounds familiar."
"Trust me," Kakashi sighed. "They get worse as soon as you hit your twenties."
"Joy." Izumi let out a disgusted noise, voice thick with sarcasm.
.::.
The Third smiled warmly at their return, all while his council scowled, glaring daggers at them. Homura growled lowly, the old Alpha stood up, teeth bared at Guy.
"How dare you, Might Guy! First you disobey orders then you had the nerve to bring your genin with you for what would clearly have been a rank way above their level. Not only that, but then you got an ANBU and another jonin involved."
"As if I needed convincing," Izumi scoffed.
"And as I told you, I brought Kakashi back." Guy grinned, throwing them a thumbs up. "So mission accomplished!"
"It wasn't a mission!" Koharu scolded.
Tenten fidgeted behind them, and whispered to Neji. "How much trouble are we in?" she asked softly.
Neji grimaced.
"You did well, Guy." Lord Third nodded, smiling at Kakashi. "It's good to see you again, Kakashi. I had to admit, I thought you were lost to us."
"Thankfully not." Kakashi bowed his head, but hesitated. He strengthened his resolve though and met the Hokage's eyes once more. "The squad I was with... Did anyone manage to retrieve their bodies?"
Lord Third softened. "Yes, Pakkun told us where they were and we brought them home. My biggest concern though is about the man who captured you. What can you tell us about him?"
"Admittedly not much." Kakashi frowned. "He's a male Alpha, with short, dark hair, but since he never took off his mask I never saw his face. His abilities are highly advanced though. He teleported me to an unknown inn and placed the owner of it under a genjutsu that lasted the entire time I was there."
"An unknown inn?" Lord Third frowned.
"Yes, I wasn't able to leave my room without being recaptured instantly by his teleportation jutsu, which seems to require no seals, written or by hand. It's rather annoying, actually." Kakashi growled lowly. "The only thing I did see was that it was misty outside, but that could mean any fishing or lake town."
Lord Third grimaced. "Yes, that doesn't really help narrow anything down."
"He made sure I couldn't find anything noteworthy." Kakashi scowled. "He's good, very good, and unfortunately since I was drugged..."
He trailed off, eyeing the genin. The Third nodded, and returned his attention to them and Guy.
"While I don't appreciate you sneaking out of the village, I can understand why you did it. You did well in rescuing Kakashi, but put your entire team at risk."
"It's why Izumi and Tenzo was with us," Guy insisted.
"Nevertheless, you are to be downgraded back to D-Rank missions," Third said.
Tenten screeched. "We just got out of those, Guy Sensei! Why do you have to be so reckless?"
"That is annoying," Neji grumbled.
Lee sobbed. "We will have to work our hardest to get back up into C-Ranks, Guy Sensei!"
Kakashi almost squirmed. He did feel guilty that the group had been demoted all because Guy rescued him.
"That's right, Lee!" Guy beamed. "We will show them all our passionate and fiery youth! Chins up, my awesome students. We've completed a high ranking mission-"
"It wasn't a mission," Lord Third sighed.
"And completed it successfully!" Guy cheerfully bulldozed over Lord Third's grumble.
"YEAH! We also got Kakashi Sensei back. So everything is good!" Lee cheered, but tears were still rolling down his eyes.
Tenten deflated, groaning pitifully, while Neji huffed and looked away from the green clad pair.
"That's it?" Koharu scowled at the Third. "You're being too soft on them, Hiruzen!"
Lord Third snorted. "I believe they are distressed enough."
"And what about Izumi Uchiha and Tenzo? Perhaps Izumi could go through some more of the Omega etiquette training and look for some potential Alphas to bond to again-"
Izumi made disgusted sound. "Don't waste your time, or mine. I don't care for an Alpha at the moment."
"Indeed," Lord Third chuckled. "Guy, your genin are dismissed."
"Yes, sir!" Guy bowed, ushering his team out.
Once the door was shut the Third frowned. "Kakashi, you were drugged to induce your heat, yes?"
"Yeah, Kumo wanted to use it to keep me docile, but since Mr. Kidnapper took me-"
"Mr. Kidnapper?" Third blinked, then chuckled. "You named him?"
"He wouldn't give me a name?" Kakashi offered.
"Of course." Lord Third looked fond, but then frowned deeply. "But this is troubling. The fact a rogue Alpha managed to capture you from the borders of Konoha, after you and your squad had been defeated by twelve ANBU Kumo ninja. He managed to kill them all and teleport you to an unknown location-"
"And bonded to Kakashi during his heat," Koharu breathed out, excitement leaking from the Alpha. "A powerful Alpha at that? That is very good news. Kakashi Hatake might finally be pregnant!"
Guy glowered, and Izumi rolled her eyes.
"Of course that's your main concern," she scoffed.
Kakashi shook his head. "I shouldn't be. I take my contraception everyday apart from the week I have my heat, but since this was a drugged induced heat..."
He trailed off, because Koharu and Homura looked gleeful, while Lord Third looked resigned.
Tenzo's frown deepened. "My apologises," he said warily. "But are we missing something?"
Koharu smiled slyly. "We stopped giving Omega ninjas contraceptive pills years ago!"
Kakashi's blood ran cold. He barely managed an 'excuse me?' through the bile threatening to make him gag. Izumi bristled, her scent angrily flooding the room, all while Guy and Tenzo stared blankly at the council. Pakkun looked baffled, throwing him a confused look, and honestly, it was what Kakashi felt.
How the hell? It couldn't be true.
"After we lost so many of our ninja Omegas we couldn't afford to lose anymore children from the Ninja Clans," Lord Third said gravely. "The council decided that contraception pills would be made ineffective for ninja Omegas and Beta females. Civilians could still buy them, and they'd work, but the actual pills for ninjas were fakes."
Kakashi's mind raced. That couldn't be true though, there hadn't been an increase in births. No, the Academy wasn't overflowing with children, none of the ninja clans had an increase in children.
"I don't understand," Kakashi said through gritted teeth. "None of the clans have had an increase in children."
"Yes, it's more like a decrease," Tenzo agreed, throwing him nervous looks. "There are more civilian children in school than clan children."
Homura nodded. "Indeed. We've tried to create situations ideal for mating, but because of all the tension growing between villages even after the war it has given our Alpha ninjas less chances to impregnate their Omegas."
"The last of them at least," Koharu huffed. "Shikaku Nara, Chiharu Akimichi and Noriko Yamanaka have all had a child each, but now Shikaku is too busy herding deer or planning strategic moves to help improve missions, and since those three are stuck together like glue Choza and Inoichi are at his heels! Tsume Inuzka has also scared off her Alpha. I still can't believe she somehow scared off her own bonded-"
Kakashi would usually have been amused by that, but no. They had all been lied to and he could be pregnant and Kami that wasn't right-
Pakkun growled lowly, and it was only Kakashi's grip on his jacket that was keeping his oldest friend from lunging at the council. He could also see the bite mark on Lord Third's hand, and felt the ANBU's weariness as they eyed Pakkun.
What was he going to do if he was pregnant? He didn't- He couldn't- By the Sage!
"What the hell?" Guy breathed out, eyes wide. "Why does any of that matter? You've lied to our Omegas, our own comrades! That's horrible. We're all apart of the same village and yet you've treated them like sex slaves-"
"Don't be so dramatic-" Koharu scolded.
"Dramatic?" Guy growled, and Kakashi had to catch the back of his shirt to stop him pouncing. "Like hell! How dare you do this without their consent! You've betrayed our own people and you think you can just continue doing so now that we know?"
Izumi laughed darkly. "Of course they do. They are the council after all."
"Izumi, why aren't you more surprised?" Guy spat.
Izumi scoffed. "They've been poisoning the Uchiha's supplies of contraceptives for years so that our Omegas couldn't have babies-"
Kakashi flinched. What the fuck? That couldn't be true-
But he remembered seeing in the security cameras before the massacre, the Uchihas throwing out a stack of supplies each month. It was always the same box. He had been curious about it, but when he had asked Mikoto had grumbled about rotten crap then handed him a plate of biscuits to chew on.
Kakashi had quickly gotten the hint not to ask. At least if he didn't want a plate of biscuits shoved at him each time.
"I-I-" Guy stammered. "What?"
"We knew about it." Izumi smirked darkly, even as the council stared at her in horror. "We made our own supplies, but we decided to have less children just to keep suspicion off our backs."
Homura growled. "How do you know so much-"
"I was apart of the main household, because of my status as Itachi's mate. I was welcome to all our clan's meetings, just as Kakashi was as Obito Uchiha's mate," Izumi spat. "But of course Kakashi didn't come along, since that would be a conflict in his duties."
Kakashi couldn't get his thoughts straight.
"Kakashi senpai?" Tenzo called softly, his hand landing on his free shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Kakashi," Third said gently. "I know this must be a shock to you, but this is good news. If you have conceived a child your bloodline has a chance to carry on. You won't even need to look after them if you don't wish to. You can hand them into breeding grounds to be cared for by other Omegas-"
Kakashi tightened his grip on Pakkun who lunged. He yanked him back, but Pakkun was cursing colourfully. Kakashi's Omega was the one screaming bloody murder in his head, making it pound.
Like hell I'd put my child in there! That miserable, dark hole. Never. Never. Never. Never.
The breeding grounds were deep underground, for safety purposes apparently, but it sounded more like a prison to Kakashi. Deep underground where nobody could find you, were all you had were other Omega who had either been ordered or dragged down there. Not that there were many Omega left to go down there, apart from maybe civilians, or captured Omegas. The thought made Kakashi's blood run cold.
Apparently it was meant to be comfortable and safe, but Kakashi refused to go there. He'd go kicking and screaming.
"You even dare think about putting Kakashi in there and I will make you all pay!" Pakkun snarled. "I will go to our leader and she will-"
Kakashi scooped up Pakkun who whined, and rested him against his scent gland. Pakkun grumbled but settled in against his neck, tail slowly wagging.
"He's right to be angry!" Guy snapped, his fangs were growing, pupils sharpening, and nails turning into claws-
He was going feral.
"Guy-" Kakashi tried, reaching out for him again, but Tenzo tugged him back, shaking his head.
"Don't get in the way of an Alpha going feral," Tenzo whispered. "You could get hurt-"
"Guy would never hurt me," Kakashi insisted.
He startled. Because he hadn't even though about it, he had just blurted those words out, and it felt right. He didn't doubt them.
Guy would never hurt him.
"You let our Omegas be raped and you laugh about it?" Guy seethed. "Kakashi may look in great condition, but he was drugged! It wasn't his full consent! And here you are happy about it. What about the people who were traumatised by theirs? You'd still be sitting there, smug and happy!"
"Guy." The Third stood up, eyeing him warily. "Don't do something you will regret."
Izumi disappeared out the room. In an instant she was back, Lee underneath her arm, whom she immediately tossed to Guy. Guy automatically caught his pup, blinked at him, which earned him a confused look from Lee.
"Guy Sensei?" Lee asked, not even a hint of fear on him. "Are you okay? Izumi-san said you needed help."
The claws softened, as did the fangs and pupils. The anger smothering the room faded once more, but Guy still glowered at the council.
"No," he admitted. "I'm not."
Guy had never shown such anger at superiors before. He had never once went feral within Konoha's walls.
All of this was over the fact that Kakashi might be pregnant. Because he had been drugged and too weak to fight off the effects. He had forced an Alpha into a rut and Kakashi might be carrying his child-
He had betrayed Obito.
By the Sage, he had sex with another man, bonded to him, and might even be impregnated by him. The thought made Kakashi want to hurl. He felt weak and shaky, but managed to keep himself calm outwardly.
"May I be dismissed?" Kakashi asked quietly.
He felt horrible.
Guy, who had grown quiet, wrapped an arm around him and hugged him close, Lee once against squished in against Kakashi's side.
The Third Hokage looked solemn, he opened his mouth, about to say whatever, but seemed to change his mind and nod. "Alright, go report to medical, okay? Then go get some rest. But I must say this; I trust you all know that this is a gag order? That you will tell no one of the contractive pills."
"Seriously-" Guy bristled, letting Kakashi go.
"A gag order?" Lee blinked at them.
"I will have to have you locked up by ANBU if you try-" Lord Third began, but Izumi wrapped her arms around Guy, smiling over his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Lord Third. We Uchiha know how to be quiet," she purred. "I'll teach Guy to do the same. We'll never tell anyone."
"Izumi-" Guy frowned.
She whispered something into his ear, and he deflated. The Alpha's scent grew sullen. It was an alarming change from the fiery temper he had just a moment ago. Tenzo bowed, hand still on Kakashi's shoulder, and gestured for them to go.
Kakashi bowed his head, not even bothering to say anything else, and left with Tenzo right at his side. He missed Pakkun giving the council the evil eyes over his shoulder, too busy trying to organise his thoughts.