Chapter 11
"I'M NOT SOME BROODMARE!"
Kakashi jumped. He and Bull had been approaching the Hokage's office, only to startle at the sudden screech. Bull whined up at him, so Kakashi petted his fur soothingly. Kakashi had been summoned back the Hokage's office after three days enjoying the peaceful quiet of the flat. Izumi had been handling his students, because apparently she had 'unfinished' business.
A bit worrying when she put it like that, but Izumu wouldn't do too much damage.
Hopefully.
After all, one of them was Sasuke, her own pack mate. So yeah, his team should be relatively unharmed, if perhaps scarred for life.
"Izumi!" Lord Third protested.
"What? If these old fuckers think I'll spread my legs for anyone, even as some misguided punishment, they better think again. I was helping out my friend, you may not get that, considering you bastards don't have any, but I happen to like keeping them alive-"
"Izumi. Stop deliberately upsetting the council, please-" Lord Third sighed.
"They started it," she said dryly.
"How disrespectful-" Koharu complained.
Kakashi grimaced. Izumi had been brought in to seek out a potential mate as punishment then, huh? Kakashi knew exactly how these things went. The Elders would nag, and throw potential files with suitors who had strong, healthy bloodlines to Omegas whose Clans were almost extinct on them, and Kakashi would gleefully tear up all their hopes and dreams. By literally tearing the files apart with the potential suitors in front of their faces.
It had been a bad day.
"I don't give a shit! And if you dare send an Alpha to my home when I'm in heat again I'll cut off their dick next time!"
Kakashi grimaced. He remembered that too. His hounds has chased the bastard out and bit him bloody. Pakkun even pissed on the asshole once he was down. That had happened just before he had been given his genin team. It had made Kakashi awfully cranky once his heat was over. He had terrorised a few people as the Hound that week.
"I'm surprised you were even able to resist-" Koharu said.
"I have a mate, even if he murdered my entire Clan. My Omega only wants her mate despite that. Me however? I just want to be left in peace with my pup. Sasuke and I have suffered enough."
"I know you dislike it," Homaru began. "But you are one of the few ninja clan Omegas of your generation. You, Kakashi Hatake, Iruka Umino and Kurenai Yuhi are all that's left. Our Ninja Omegas are receding."
"I wonder why," Izumi said sweetly. "You did use a lot of them as lures during the World War, and many got dragged off to become pets to the other Hidden Villages. I wonder how well they were treated!"
"Young lady!" Koharu admonished.
"You don't have many clan Omegas in this generation either. Hinata Hyuga, Sasuke Uchiha, Shikamaru Nara... And... Oh wait... That's it, isn't it? Oh dear-"
"Izumi, please. Enough," Lord Third pleaded. "Otherwise you will have to go in a time out to cool off."
"Charming. Fine, I'm off. Call me for something actually important, right now I'm tormenting Kakashi's midgets!"
Kakashi flinched when the door banged open, Izumi storming out the Hokage's office. Lord Third groaned, but Kakashi ignored him in favour of offering Izumi a tentative wave as she booted the door shut behind her.
"Hi."
Izumi startled, then flushed and laughed sheepishly. "Did you hear all that, Kakashi?"
"Ah, it's not so bad." Kakashi smiled. "Last time I had a meeting like that my ninken went and took dumps on their doorsteps."
Izumi strangled down a laugh, before sighing. "They summoned you in then?" she asked.
"Yeah, not sure what for just yet. But I believe it's a mission."
Izumi rolled her eyes. "That or to talk about what you should do with your body. Always the same business, yeah?"
Kakashi shrugged helplessly.
"Oh yeah, did you ever visit the medics?" She tilted her head, scanning him with her eyes. "You look much better, chakra level wise I mean, you looked fine before that anyway."
Kakashi laughed sheepishly. "Thanks? But no, I didn't bother. I'm feeling perfectly fine anyway."
"Just try to take care of yourself," Izumi sighed. "Your tiny brats miss you."
Kakashi startled. "Wait. Really?"
But why? Kakashi had barely done anything for them. They should be delighted that someone as relentless and strong as Izumi was actually putting in so much more time and effort to train them. Kakashi barely managed anything.
He wasn't a good teacher. He was better as an ANBU Captain, far better. Although, considering how his last mission went, then maybe he wasn't. He was overestimating his capabilities.
Kakashi really needed to train himself up properly again. These D Rank missions must have dulled his senses and abilities. A wet nose nuzzling his hand startled him out his thoughts. He blinked down at Bull, then back up at Izumi who frowned deeply at him.
"You're still way too hard on yourself." She shook her head. "Kakashi, your team adores you, even if you drive them nuts with your lame excuses for being late. Just, trust me, yeah? They were the ones who planned that visit, not me."
"They did?" Kakashi startled. He had assumed Izumi had been up to that.
"Yeah, Sakura went and got the flowers," Izumi groaned. "And into some argument with that Yamanaka Beta. Ino? Inoichi's little girl. Anyway, the pair wrecked the shop and then Ino's mother made them clean it all up with just one look."
Kakashi chuckled. "They have a thing for Sasuke."
Izumi laughed. "And yet Sasuke's mate is Naruto, and those two are way too head over heels for each other. Not even went through their heat or rut and the pair act like a married couple." Izumi paused. "Oh yeah, I should probably warn you..."
"About what?" Kakashi blinked.
Izumi grimaced. "I broke Sakura's arm when you were out on your mission."
Kakashi blanked. It took him a moment to register that statement and then his Omega screeched. "WHAT?!"
No wonder Sakura was happy to see him!
"I took her to a medic. Anyway, I also stabbed Naruto, but he healed himself with his chakra, and Sasuke's used to my training, so he made sure to avoid everything I did. The pup's so much better at dodging than when he first began training together. But I'll get him yet."
That was when she started laughing evilly. By the Sage! Kakashi needed to get back to his students before this maniac killed his poor pups.
"Congratulations," Kakashi said dryly. "You're scarier than Guy."
Izumi's laughter cut off, and she paled. "Holy shit. When you put it that way I am!"
Kakashi smiled, but it fell when he saw the door to the Hokage's office just past Izumi's shoulder. "Anyway, I better head in."
Izumi grimaced. "Try not to let them harass you too much, alright?"
Kakashi waved her off. "I'll be fine."
He and Bull headed into the office, and Kakashi braced himself.
"Kakashi, thanks for coming," Lord Third greeted warmly. "We tried looking into the Alpha who bonded you during your imprisonment, but sadly his scent has faded from everything, including the yukata you had sealed-"
Kakashi startled. "How is that possible?"
"It should have contained his scent, but somehow it hasn't," Lord Third agreed grimly. "And your scents have mixed too well in together to get a decent sample of his, even if we used your gland."
"Trying to take a sample of your gland while you might be pregnant is also too much of a risk!" Koharu said fiercely. "Scent glands are sensitive at the best of times, but then adding in a bond mark to it? No, it needs to be left alone so your Omega isn't stressed and accidentally hurts the baby you might be carrying. Speaking of which, you should be about three weeks along, correct?"
"I suppose so..." Kakashi grimaced.
"It will still be early for you to take a pregnancy test then. Your hormones won't have built up enough," she said. "Finally though, one of you might actually be pregnant after all this time! It's such a relief-"
Kakashi blanked her out. It was better that than throttling her.
The bitch.
He hushed his Omega.
Bull grumbled lowly, so Kakashi patted him, trying to sooth him. He swore Bull said something under his breath, but Kakashi missed it. Whatever it was, it was probably something unflattering.
"Now if only Izumi would listen..." Homura huffed.
"It's of no matter at this moment," Lord Third dismissed. "Right now, Kakashi, I wanted to check if you were up for going on missions with your team again. You never reported in to the medics so I have no idea if you're ready to return to the field or not."
"I can manage that." Kakashi nodded. "I've been feeling fine."
Koharu frowned. "No sickness, exhaustion or anything?"
"I've recovered from my chakra exhaustion."
"Hm, maybe you'll feel differently in another week or so." Koharu scowled.
Kakashi fought the urge to roll his eyes. Bull grumbled too, and all Kakashi could do to comfort him was give him lots and lots of pets.
"I do have a mission that would be best suited for you," Lord Third cut in smoothly. "The Daimyo's sister has had something she treasures highly stolen from her by bandits when she was being escorted for a shopping trip-"
Kakashi knew the girl. She was a spoiled Omega who liked trying to dress up any Omegas she found in pretty outfits. Kakashi always avoided her like the plague during missions.
"You are to retrieve the golden statue and return it to the Daimyo personally. He would be happy to see you."
Kakashi barely stopped a cringe. Bull sniggered something about another 'proposal' and Kakashi just managed to restrain a groan.
This mission was going to drive him crazy, if this meeting didn't first.
.::.
Days later he stared at a half mangled golden bear statue, and debated if he should just shock all three pups again as they once again squabbled. Kakashi needed a nap, or two, and listening to his pups complaining no matter how much he liked them was giving him a mild headache.
Sakura had gotten kidnapped after both Naruto and Sasuke jumped into a fight without having scouted out what the enemies abilities were. Nor came up with a single plan involving all of them, or even listening to the actual plan and alerting Kakashi like what was supposed to happen.
The only good thing was that Naruto and Sasuke could work well together, even bound as they were.
"Oh-" Naruto paused, then laughed sheepishly. "I've gotta go again."
"Again?" Sasuke scowled.
"This time it's a number two."
Sasuke paled, eyes wide even as he struggled and shook his head, tugging on their bound arms. "You've got to be kidding. Don't you dare, Naruto!"
Kakashi couldn't hide a smirk. That seemed like a decent enough punishment for one of the kids.
"Don't fret about it, Sasuke. It's not like we haven't already peed together."
Sakura's laughter instantly cut off.
"This is even worse!" Sasuke wailed.
Sakura huffed and turned away, crossing her arms.
Kakashi delighted in their suffering. Sure, it was petty of him, but he had been feeling like his stomach had been doing cartwheels the entire day. And what was the saying? Misery loves company.
Misery especially loved company when the bratty Daimyo's sister began sobbing over her golden teddy. The woman was twenty and she was throwing a tantrum. The pups were more composed- Pups. Children barely half her damn age- It could be melted down and reforged for the love of-
Then of course said Daiymo got on his knees and proposed to Kakashi once more. He even made a show of it, singing with a group of dancers behind him, and a light show.
Sasuke had looked disgusted, Naruto- still attached to him- looked amazed, and Sakura looked horrified.
He rejected the proposal as usual, along with the offer to stay for the night, and quickly ushered his pups out. Later that night he vomited into the bushes when Sakura began cooking dinner (Sakura's cooking admittedly was a little terrifying, but that wasn't why he was sick), and cursed Konoha's council for being absolute assholes.
Hopefully if he needed to vomit he would do so on the council. All of them, and the Hokage included. No matter how much he liked the Professor.
The moment Kakashi returned to Konoha he promptly dumped the pups on Izumi (she thankfully wasn't doing anything important) and retreated back to his apartment without reporting a thing. No, instead Kakashi buried himself into his bed and immediately fell asleep amidst the pillows and blankets.
It was the best sleep he had gotten since his time with Mr. Kidnapper.