Oh hi canon.
Kotori's days in the village were not all that different than before. She completed her training each morning, worked with her ANBU team, checked the ANBU patrols and monitored her chakra bird network. She wrote reports. A lot of reports. Mostly recommendations for improvements that she was pretty sure sat buried under a mountain of other reports on Lady Tsunade's desk.
… and she refocused her efforts into making Danzo's life hell by chipping away at his organization.
Kotori smiled to herself as she sketched out some training drills at her dining room table, all the while envisioning the noose she was slowly wrapping around Danzo's neck. If she couldn't help her comrades by being active on missions, while she could help them by eliminating this home grown threat.
"I'm glad to see you're taking this well," Kakashi said, pressing a kiss to the side of her head as he put an omelette in front of her. He had spent the night to refresh after camping in a training field with Naruto and Yamato for the last four days.
Kakashi had been smart enough to not be anything other than perfectly supportive when she vented her frustrations the night before. He had held her close as he stoked her hair and said all the right things. Which made her even more frustrated because she could tell from the relaxed slope of his shoulders that he was privately relieved she wasn't out searching for the Akatsuki even if he knew better to voice that thought.
She narrowed her eyes, but chose not to pick another fight when they had such limited time together.
Kotori shrugged. "I've thought about it, it's given me more time to focus on some other priorities."
"Such as?" Kakashi blinked, looking worried at Kotori's all-too-easy acceptance of having her wings clipped.
"Improving security measures, I've come up with some training drills to ready the village in the event of an emergency," she said. She had a lot of free time on her hands without missions or Kakashi to keep her occupied most days. Her smile became more sincere as she stood up to take their empty plates. "And it means I can take the morning off training to spend it with you."
She left out her extracurricular activity of pissing off Danzo. While Kakashi knew she was on the task force investigating Root, things had cooled off with Yamato being reassigned and she didn't want to cause him to worry. She knew Kakashi was stressed enough with Naruto and Sasuke and Sakura and now Sai. She didn't mean to add to it by having him worry over her too.
She washed the dishes, her mind's eye passively monitoring her chakra bird network for anything out of the ordinary. Kakashi startled her out of her thoughts, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on the top of her head. Kotori stilled, relaxing into his embrace. She always felt so small in his arms. And safe. As if he could cocoon her from the world around them.
His hands slipped under her shirt, brushing against the smooth plains of her stomach before slipping underneath her elastic waistband and playfully slipping lower.
"Kakashi."
"Hmmm." His teeth playfully nipped at her ear.
"It's half past eight. Weren't you supposed to meet Naruto an hour ago?"
She could feel rather than hear his throaty chuckle. "It's fine, he's figured out he can train without me. I'll just tell him a little birdie distracted me on my way there."
xXx
Kotori sat in lotus on top of the Hokage monument, her eyes closed as she manipulated her chakra birds throughout the Land of Fire. Twenty platoons had been dispatched after a Fire Temple had been attacked by two members of the Akatsuki.
Hinoki appeared in front of her. "Hokage-sama has received intel that the Akatsuki are heading towards one of the collectors' offices."
Kotori nodded without opening her eyes. She got to work, sending her chakra birds to each of the platoon leaders, chirping in morse code their new instructions.
"Still nothing?" Hinoki asked.
"No. I haven't even been able to get a glimpse of them." Kotori cracked open an eye. She had searched far and wide for the signature black-with-red-clouds cloak the members of the Akatsuki wore. For an organization that were not exactly known for being inconspicuous, they were extremely difficult to find.
She felt light headed from hopping around her chakra birds so much and holding onto her jutsu for long periods of time. However this was a delicate operation. Her job was to watch over the platoons, communicating between them and dispatching backup as needed.
It was another hour as all the teams got into position, raiding several collectors offices scattered throughout the Land of Fire. Until finally -
Kotori blinked her eyes open. "Team Asuma has made contact with the Akatsuki."
"I want at least two more squads coming as backup. Team Kakashi had the help from Team Guy and were only successful in eliminating Sasori."
"I'll send word to Raidou, his team is the closest, about forty-five minutes out. Genma's team is the next at eighty minutes out."
She held the bird seal as she tunnelled through her chakra bird network, locating Team Raidou. His team was lying in wait at one of the collector's offices. Raidou held out a finger for her to land on. She warbled before tweeting her message in morse code.
"I understand," he responded.
She quickly spread word to the rest of the platoons. Having pushed far past the limit of her jutsu, she released it and stared up at the blue sky with her own eyes. Kotori abruptly stood up, stretching out all of her muscles after sitting in lotus for hours. Now there was nothing more for her to do other than wait. She felt restless knowing that her comrades were out fighting two members of the Akatsuki this very moment.
"I should be preparing a team of jonin and meeting them," Kotori murmured.
"You're needed here," Hinoki simply said. "Besides, most of our top jonin are already out on this mission. Raidou, Aoba and Genma will be there soon. The only ones you could possibly request are Kakashi and Yamato, who have their own priorities. Asuma and Raidou were my students, many years ago. I have complete faith in their abilities to handle this."
"There's got to be - "
"It seems counter productive," Hinoki interrupted. "But there comes a point in your career where you're more valuable to the village making decisions behind a desk than out on missions. Otherwise the Hokage would never be here. Nor would I or Masato or Shikaku or any of the department heads. I know, more than you can understand, how difficult it is to delegate to your comrades when you're used to being out in the action with them."
"But - !" Kotori sputtered in protest. She wasn't part of the senior leadership team and had no desire to be. She was just one of many ANBU captains. "There are plenty of paper ninja. I can make more of a difference out there."
"Hmm. Of the nineteen security recommendations you provided in last week's report, sixteen of them were passed in the latest meeting," Hinoki informed her. "The other three are being further investigated because it would require additional funding and adding another platoon to ANBU. There are other ways to make a difference and help your comrades. They need people who represent their best interests in power, advocating for them during council meetings. Danzo and Homura and Koharu haven't seen a mission since the second war. They're so far removed from the average shinobi, it's pathetic. And to be blunt, there are a few of us aware of your personal relationship."
Kotori bit the inside of her cheek, annoyed at the implication she was being treated differently because of her relationship. If Kakashi had anything to do with her being stuck in the village… Kotori tried to smother the flame of burning indignation as Hinoki continued.
"Kakashi is our choice for the next Hokage should something happen to Tsunade-sama. The wives of the Hokages have historically held influence themselves and were advisors… even if not in an official capacity. It is beneficial to give you more exposure to the internal workings of this village should that day come. And for others to come to respect you as a powerful and intelligent kunoichi in your own right. Not just as Kakashi's girlfriend. Because you know there are those who will dismiss you and try to tear you down."
Kotori's teeth clenched as Hinoki's words stroked the angry fire in a new direction. She was quite certain that Kakashi had no say in this whatsoever. And she knew Kakashi. He would accept the title and stupid hat and all of the responsibilities that came with it as his duty. It would kill him, the crushing weight of being responsible for every life in Konoha. After everything he had done and sacrificed for the good of the village - they couldn't ask this of him.
Kotori balled her fists as she turned on Hinoki. "Did any of you ever bother to consult Kakashi in all this succession planning? Because he doesn't want to be Hokage. He's sacrificed enough for this village!"
"I know," Hinoki's voice was heavy. "But he may not have a choice, we all know who is waiting in the wings for his chance. Given the alternative, I'm sure Kakashi would accept."
Kotori could hear the pounding of her heart in her chest. He would. She knew he would. He cared for this village with every fibre of his being. So she would just have to do everything in her power to make sure Danzo wasn't a threat.
Chika dee dee dee
Kotori immediately held the bird seal, checking in on Team Asuma's fight.
One of the Akatsuki member's skin had turned ink black with bone-white markings all over him. He looked demonic, like something from the deepest levels of hell and she was more than a little terrified of him. He was standing over a symbol painted in blood on the ground - the same she had seen from the photos of Rabbit's death. Kotori tried not to think of whose blood, but Asuma was so badly injured it could only be his. He was on his knees before the Akatsuki member, burns visible from his face and hands, breathing heavily from pain. The other Akatsuki member had Izumo and Kotetsu both lifted off the ground, his hands wrapped around their necks. Shikamaru pushed himself off the ground, sprinting towards Asuma. Kotori could scarcely breathe, fearful that she was about to witness the entire team slaughtered by the Akatsuki.
No, no, no. This can't be happening. Come on Shikamaru, you can do it. Raidou is only about five minutes out.
Everything happened so fast after that.
Her eyes snapped open. The vision of Asuma collapsing, Shikamaru's anguished scream as he raced to his side lingered in her mind's eye. Her heart was hammering in her chest. Bile rose in her throat.
Asuma was badly injured, but they could extract him and take him back for surgery. The others, they could help them retreat… A half formulated plan formed in her mind.
"What is it?" Hinoki was kneeling at her side.
"It's Asuma. We need to leave, now. Fuck the stay-in-village order. Are you coming?"
Hinok paled. Kotori belatedly remembered that Asuma wasn't just her former student, but also her brother-in-law. Then Hinoki's blue eyes blazed with determination. "I always liked Team Ro's style. Let's go then."
The flight was eerily quiet after Kotori filled Hinoki in on what she had observed, each focused on their own thoughts.
"You'll extract Asuma to take him to the hospital, most likely with Ino," Hinoki said. "I'll help the others regroup. Team Raidou should be on scene now and Team Genma will be there soon."
The storm clouds gathered above them and it was raining by the time they arrived at the same time as Team Genma. However the Akatsuki members were long gone and the two teams were clustered on the roof. She lifted a hand to cover her small gasp.
"No," Hinoki quietly bemoaned behind her, coming to the same conclusion. Kotori could hear the heartbreak and pain in that one simple syllable. But Hinoki had been a shinobi for much longer than any of them and immediately masked her grief. While she was not wearing the usual porcelain ANBU mask, her face was one of impenetrable stone.
"Hinoki-sensei - " Raidou greeted, his own voice thick with grief. "I - I'm sorry."
xXx
Kotori knocked on the door of Shikaku's office.
"What now?" He barked.
"Dunno if you've heard the news yet," Kotori said, leaning against the doorframe. "Asuma was killed by the Akatsuki."
Shikaku froze, his eyes widening in shock before the calm, neutral mask of the Jonin Commander slipped back in place. His voice was carefully measured as he asked, "Does my son know yet?"
"He witnessed it."
"I see." His expression softened, just enough that Kotori knew he was worried. "Thank you, I'll handle things from here."
She nodded, wordlessly walking out and closing the door behind her. Her footsteps heavy as she regrouped with Raidou, Genma and Aoba. The group had split off upon their arrival to Konoha. Hinoki had immediately separated to find her husband and son. Kotori suspected she wanted to be alone as she processed her grief. Kotori had provided intel to the Intelligence division to update the Bingo Book and had taken the opportunity to give Inoichi and Shikaku a head's up over the situation. The remains of Team Asuma reported to Lady Tsunade first and then Team Raidou reported afterwards. Genma had taken care of escorting Asuma's body to the morgue.
The four of them relocated to the jonin standby station once their tasks were done. Raidou took the armchair while Aoba and Genma slumped onto the couch. Kotori perched on the armrest next to Genma. Each of them lost to their own thoughts. She closed her eyes, the image of Asuma kneeling on the ground in agony haunting her.
Aimi immediately rushed over to greet them.
"Oh thank gods you're all alright," she muttered, hugging Genma as he stood up to greet her. "I - I heard one of the jonin were killed by the Akatsuki."
Genma seemed to deflate, pulling Aimi closer and holding her tight. "It was Asuma."
Aimi pulled away, her face going pale at the news. "N-no! But - Does Kurenai know yet? At the rate rumours are flying - "
"Shikamaru left to tell her while we debriefed Hokage-sama. I offered, but he was insistent," Raidou explained.
"Oh no, and the baby -!" Aimi tearfully said.
"Kurenai's pregnant?" Aoba quietly asked, his face ashen.
"Yeah, Asuma told me before we left," Raidou admitted with a haunted look on his face. "He was so excited."
Genma ran a tired hand over his face. "Fucking hell. I hate this."
The next to find their group was Kakashi, moving with much more urgency than his usual languid pace.
"I just heard the news," he said, disbelief colouring his words.
Raidou grimly nodded.
Kakashi's eye sought hers and Kotori's composure crumbled. He was at her side in an instance, pulling her in as she wrapped her arms around his midsection, burying her face into his chest as her shoulders trembled. Grief and guilt clawed at her throat, threatening to choke her.
She hadn't really known Asuma that well. Sure, she had known him in that way that most jonin of a similar age knew each other. They had never been on a mission together, but they had crossed paths often enough socially. Especially as she knew him through Kurenai while he knew her through Kakashi.
Oh gods, Kurenai.
Her heart ached in sympathy for her friend. She couldn't imagine - she didn't want to imagine how it must feel to be told the one you loved most had been killed in action.
The two of them had been together for so long it was impossible to think of one surviving without the other. She thought of Kurenai's joyful announcement only days earlier about her pregnancy. How another child would be born in this village, never getting the chance to know their father. Never getting the chance to know Asuma because Kotori was certain he would have been an excellent father. Kotori's heart ached for Kurenai and Asuma, their unborn child and the family that had been destroyed before it could even begin.
"Those guys - the Akatsuki, if they hadn't been called off they would have killed the rest of us," Raidou commented. "There's a war coming, and it won't be anything like the one we grew up in."
Aimi's pale blue eyes widened in fear at this words. Genma draped an arm over her shoulders, but who was supporting who was anyone's guess as Aimi seemed to be the only one keeping him on his feet.
"Nine Akatsuki for nine jinchuriki," Aoba thoughtfully said. "Deidara went for Gaara while Hidan captured Yugito. If we know who's left, then we can assume who's coming for Naruto."
"Itachi," Kotori muttered. She glanced around. Only Kakashi didn't look surprised so he must have come to the same conclusion she had. She would have thought that was apparent. "He knows Konoha better than all of them and the sharingan is one of two ways to control the kyubi. Although, any of them would do it if they had the opportunity. Deidara proved that."
"Do we even know how many jinchuriki are left?" Raidou asked.
Kotori couldn't answer that. Lady Tsunade had her suspicions, but Kumo and Iwa were hardly being forthcoming about the whereabouts of their jinchuriki. Including Naruto, there were three, maybe four, left. It the villages joined forces perhaps they would stand a chance, but it seemed there was too much bad blood between them.
"Perhaps Sasuke will handle Itachi for us. He took care of Orochimaru," Aoba muttered.
"Seriously?" Aimi scolded. "Our only hope is a traumatized teenager seeking revenge on his brother?"
"You know, when you say it like that Aimi-chan," Genma said. "We're fucked."
They made their way over to see if Kurenai wanted company. Her parents had passed away some years ago so no one wanted to leave her alone at a time like this.
Kurenai rushed out to greet them with an uncharacteristic reckless abandonment of her usual poise and grace. She threw her arms around Raidou, her entire body shook with sobs as he patted her back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't get to him in time." His own voice was thick with emotion.
Kotori stil felt sick with her own guilt. If she had immediately taken a group on Raiden, could she have prevented this?
"Shikamaru-kun told me everything," Kurenai said, tears freely flowing as she gave him a watery smile. "And I've already told him - This wasn't anyone's fault."
The teenaged boy in question was still in Kurenai's sitting room, although he didn't seem fully there. He didn't even glance up at the sudden invasion of several shinobi in Kurenai's home. Kotori exchanged a worried glance with Kakashi, knowing all too well the telltale signs of traumatic shock. While it was likely that Shikamaru had seen death before, it was unlikely he had experienced loss of this significance.
"Yo," Kakashi greeted the teen, drawing him out of his head.
Shikamaru blinked, schooling his expression into the careful blank mask of a shinobi at Kakashi's appearance. He stood up, trying to relay what he had learned about the two members of the Akatsuki in shaky breaths.
Kakashi put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down onto the couch. "We can discuss the details later. Alright?"
Kotori silently prepared tea as Kurenai's apartment became ground zero for those who cared for her and came to show their support. When Kiba, Shino and Hinata showed up at the door with flowers and eyes full of concern, Kotori didn't have the heart to turn them away. Yugao had also appeared, her face drawn as she asked how Kurenai was doing.
Aimi and Shiori got to work in the kitchen, packaging a number of bentos so that Kurenai wouldn't have to worry about cooking for the next little while. Kurenai had long since cried herself to sleep on Yugao's shoulder, the younger woman trying her best to comfort Kurenai. Raidou carefully picked her up and carried her to her bedroom.
Kakashi had the cluster of teenaged chunin sitting with him. Kotori set the tray with several teacups down on the table in front of them. Ino was sitting next to Hinata, leaning on her as she cried. Choji was sitting in an armchair, his forearms resting on his knees as he stared at the ground, seemingly lost to the conversation around him. Meanwhile Kiba and Shino were both quiet. Aside from Kakashi's own students, the only one missing was -
Kotori glanced to the ajar balcony door. Shikamaru was alone outside. He took a swift drag on the cigarette and ended up doubled over, coughing up a lung. Kotori winced, watching him was painful.
She silently slipped outside, kneeling down and patting him on the back until he could breathe normally again.
She gave a thin smile. "That's not how you do it."
The family resemblance to Ensui was strong as Shikamaru glared at her from the corner of his eye.
"What would you know."
Her lips pulled as she remembered her years of teenaged angst. Long after the shock of grief had worn off, rage had settled in. She had spent many years angry at the world with no real outlet so she had rebelled in small ways.
"I stole a pack off your uncle when I was a bit younger than you and proceeded to do exactly what you just did."
And Ensui had immediately grounded her for her trouble. Although the entire experience had been awful enough that she had never tried again.
She gently squeezed his upper arm, conveying she was here for him without words.
"I should get going," he said, glancing back at the now crowded apartment. With that, he leapt down, disappearing into the street below. Kotori lost sight of him as Kakashi approached from behind her.
"Let me know if Team Asuma heads to the gate," Kakashi whispered in Kotori's ear.
She nodded in understanding. When she used to babysit Shikamaru as a small child, she would bring puzzles to keep him entertained. Not that it was particularly hard. Shikamaru was the only kid she willingly babysat because he was so easy. He'd disappear into his room for hours and then quietly emerge once he completed one.
It had been years since she had done that. She had become an ANBU when Shikamaru was five and hadn't had time to babysit anymore. Not that he really needed one much beyond that age.
Kotori knew one thing for certain. Whenever he re-emerged… he would no doubt have a plan to take down Hidan and Kazuku.
"I have a chakra bird tailing him," she said. She carefully observed Kakashi. She could see the pain and grief in his eye. As much as he tried to hide it for the sake of comforting everyone around him.
She knew that Asuma had been among Kakashi's oldest friends and he cherished the easy going nature of their friendship.
"How are you holding up?" She asked, lightly touching his arm.
He shook his head, leaning forward and resting his forearms on the railing. "I never thought he'd be killed out of all of us."
"I'm sorry."
A deep sign reverberated through him as his head hung low.
"I should have gone sooner - " Kotori gave voice to the thought that had been troubling her all along.
"You saw it," Kakashi lifted his head up in realization.
"Yes. That's the problem with being a living surveillance system," Kotori tiredly said. "I see everything and can't stop it from happening."
"I don't envy the burden the village has given you - to keep watch, but not be able to fight," Kakashi said. "You can't be expected to be everything and everywhere at once. You'll only burn yourself out. Shikamaru and the others would have been killed if you hadn't been monitoring and sent for backup when you did."
Kotori closed her eyes. "It doesn't feel like enough."
"It's enough," he firmly said.
It wasn't until three days later that Kotori's chakra birds caught Team Asuma meeting in the cemetery, all three dressed and packed as if they were leaving on a mission.
Kotori watched as Kakashi prepared his own. It was rare that Kotori felt so crippled with anxiety over one of Kakashi's missions. He had been on hundreds over the years, without her knowing where he was going, what he was doing or who he was fighting.
But perhaps it was worst to know ahead of time.
"I'll go with you." Her voice trembled, betraying her fear. Tears were streaming down her face. Because she knew - she knew - what Hidan would do to Kakashi… to those kids if they failed.
The images of Rabbit and the other ANBU's bodies and now Asuma stuck to the back of her mind. She tried to shake the juxtaposed image of Kakashi meeting a similar end.
She couldn't stop him from going. She knew Kakashi would never turn from a fight and would never let Ino, Shikamaru and Choji go off on their own.
Kakashi was already shaking his head. "Absolutely not."
He reached out to cup her face. "I love you. I promise, I will do everything in my power to come home."
"I love you too."
"Don't watch," he gently said. "If something were to happen - I don't want you to have to live with it."
It was perhaps the longest she had ever held onto her jutsu. Her chakra birds following from a distance every second of the battle until finally, finally the two Akatsuki were defeated.