From the scowl that crossed Fugaku-sama's face, Sakura did not envy the man who had seemed to just put himself in the line of fire.
Thankfully, it seemed the presence of the genin was not necessary for this conversation as Itachi quickly extended an arm indicating it was time they made their way to the heavy double doors of the exit.
Without argument, the three filed out single file.
Sasuke turned to search Itachi's face for any indication of what this may mean, but his brother's expression was as stoic as ever as he gently shut the doors behind them.
Sakura felt a ripple of chakra spark like static across the wood of the door, expanding outward to encompass the connecting walls. No doubt Itachi had sealed the room with genjutsu to eliminate any chance of eavesdropping.
The three looked at each other, a bit bewildered in the wide empty hallway.
"What was that about?" Naruto pondered out loud. "Shouldn't we have a say? Not like this affects the whole future of Team 7 or anything."
"Sasuke, who is that man?" Sakura's soft question was directed at the door before them as she had yet to turn away from it, coincidently where Sasuke's eyes still rested as well.
"His name is Hatake Kakashi. He's known in all the Five Great Nations as the Copy Ninja."
Sakura pulled back at this, giving Sasuke her full attention.
"Hatake…? But… He has the sharingan. I saw it."
Onyx eyes flitted to her, his expression hardening.
"Yeah. I don't know all the details, but a long time ago his Uchiha teammate gave that eye to him as a dying gift. It was before my father became the Hokage. I remember there was a lot of heated discussion about whether or not the clan would allow him keep it after my father rose to power."
"So why did they? Let him keep it, I mean? I don't think your dad likes him very much…" Naruto observed.
"From what I heard my father say, he's been a real pain in his ass. But the decision to let him keep the eye ultimately came down to not wanting to dishonor the memory of the fallen Uchiha."
Sasuke looked back at the door in thought.
"Hopefully my father agrees to let him take over Team 7. He's a very well respected shinobi. And my brother has always spoken highly of him as well."
Sakura wondered if being mentored by someone who was not in the Hokage's good graces may affect her career in the long run, but left the thought to drift with no real weight.
After all, this decision was nothing she had any control over.
xXx
When the three men were alone in the large circular room, Fugaku leveled a dark stare on the shinobi before him, who watched him with unwavering pseudo-apathy.
"You have never shown any desire to mentor genin before. Why now?"
Dismissing the suspicious tone, Kakashi gave a light shrug. "Perhaps I've been feeling the need for a bit of a career change. Something with more… purpose."
"And ANBU serves no purpose?"
"…not at the rate we've been going."
Angry fists slammed against hard wood as the Godaime stood.
"You pompous brat-!"
"Father." Itachi interjected seamlessly, stepping beside Kakashi in indirect solidarity. "Kakashi is a highly capable shinobi- a fact that does not need to be stated aloud. He can ensure the safety and growth of Team 7. It is imperative in these uncertain times that we prepare our younger shinobi for the possibility of war as quickly and efficiently as we can."
Fugaku had not broken eye contact with Kakashi the entire time Itachi had spoken; the two seemed to be in the middle of an unspoken stare-down.
"I do not understand your hesitation in this decision." The Uchiha heir stated, exasperation barely present in his flat tone.
"My hesitation," Fugaku all but spat as he swept his robes behind him to sit back into his seat, fingers laced beneath his tensed chin. "Lies in my doubt in Hatake's ability to properly train Sasuke in regards to the sharingan, or to be able to control the kyuubi if needed." He began to shuffle papers, indicating his mind was made up. "That team needs an Uchiha at the helm."
A huff of amusement came from the tall man beside him. Itachi leveled an unimpressed stare at his father.
"Kakashi is world-renowned as the Copy Ninja, or Kakashi of the Sharingan, and has copied over 1000 jutsu using our kekkei genkai; a notable feat for one who was not already born with the genetics to help support such an ability. Some would argue he has used our kekkei genkai more efficiently than most of those who boast of Uchiha blood."
"Be that as it may, he is an outsider to our clan." He paused, giving the shinobi in question a quick once over before looking down his nose at him. "Besides, I am still not entirely convinced that he gained that eye from consensual means."
Kakashi's lean figure tightened at the accusation.
"The only one to corroborate his story was a little girl who's love for him could easily override her sense of duty."
"Father…" The warning in Itachi's voice was evident.
"As a matter of fact," Fugaku pushed on. "It is likely that both his past teammates met their fate at his hands. There is no proof to the contrary. Would you really trust such a man to look after your younger brother?"
There was the slightest tremble in Kakashi's shoulders now- whether from anger or undeserved guilt, Itachi was unsure.
"Without hesitation." He answered. "I have trusted the man beside me with my own life, and he has yet to let me down. Furthermore, I would not be the shinobi I am today without his early guidance and leadership. You would be remiss to deny Sasuke the opportunity to have him as a mentor."
The Godaime was silent; his black eyes flicked between the two men before him with scrutiny.
"Very well." He harumphed, finally giving in with a scowl across his face. It was not his preference by any means. He did not trust the Hatake- it was the primary reason he kept him close as ANBU, ensuring the man was sent on so many missions he didn't have the time or energy to plot against him if he was so inclined.
But without any proof of motives of insurrection, he was limited from more permanent means of keeping the man under control.
Reassigning him as a jonin sensei meant allowing him more freedom and movement- not to mention potential influence over his own son and the nine-tails jinchuuriki.
But Itachi was right. There was no other substitute available at the moment, and Fugaku was not willing to allow his son to fall behind in the meantime.
It could not be helped. For now.
He reluctance was palpable.
"Starting tomorrow, Hatake Kakashi, you will be the new sensei of Team 7. Your primary focus needs to be training Sasuke to use his sharingan now that he has awakened it. Ensure he is properly prepared as there is now a target on his back as well."
Kakashi was a statue.
Fugaku took his silence as compliance.
xXx
As the two jonin walked side by side in silence down the halls of the primary administration building, Itachi felt the need to break it.
"I apologize for-"
"Don't bother." The silver haired nin interrupted. "He is right not to trust me, after all."
Dark eyes shot askance in warning.
Even if they appeared to be alone, there were ears everywhere.
"He had no right to say such things about your teammates." The heir pushed. "We all know their deaths were no fault of your own."
"Were they not?" The words were a mere whisper. As they walked out of the building, Kakashi lifted his head towards the sun's heat. His eyes were closed, hands in pockets. He looked older in that moment, the regrets from his past weighing him down.
"Not intentionally." Itachi amended.
From beneath the mask, he could see an unironic smile form.
"I am happy you are the one who will be Team 7's lead. My faith in your abilities is unquestionable. But… I do not hope you made this decision purely for my peace of mind."
Kakashi peeked open his solitary eye, taking in the uncertainty etched on his younger companion's face.
It was true he knew how worried the Uchiha heir was in regards to his brother's future. Many of the Uchiha had grown to be pompous and untrusting; he didn't want to see his brother fall down the same path. Renjiro was a kind hearted man who did not see eye to eye with much of the clans decisions and politics, which had been the reason Itachi had pushed so hard for him to become a sensei. Neither Itachi nor Shisui would ever be permitted to leave the ANBU to pursue such a role.
But now with Renjiro out of commission, Itachi's fear was that the Godaime would employ one of his own confidants to mold Sasuke accordingly.
The more Itachi stood his ground in opposition to the Godaime, the more likely the man would turn to Sasuke as a back-up to replace Itachi as heir, if it came to that.
"As I mentioned back in Ine," Kakashi began, fullheardedly. "I saw something in those three."
He turned to face the dark haired man beside him fully.
"I'm doing this for them." His statement was unwavering. Then, as a quiet after thought- "And maybe… for myself as well."
xXx
The trio had decided to not visit the hospital until after they had picked up a couple things for their sensei first.
Sasuke had quickly purchased a medium sized basket of assorted fruit.
Naruto had ran back to his own apartment and returned with a crumpled coupon for a free bowl of Ichiraku Ramen.
Which, coming from him, honestly couldn't be a more heartfelt gift.
But Sakura dawdled on her gift, weaving between different merchant carts without giving them more than a passing glance.
If she were honest with herself, she was stalling the visit.
As much as she wanted to see Renjiro-sensei- to confirm his survival with her own eyes- the memory of his hollow visage haunted her.
Her hands quickly passed up and down her arms as they broke out in goosebumps.
"Ooh! What about that?" Naruto pointed to a stall boasting of books and magazines. Upon closer inspection Sakura saw all the covers had a giant red 'X' over them and each were wrapped in cellophane. The blonde boy was giggling feverishly into his own hand.
"Inappropriate." Sakura muttered, shooting him an acidic look. It only caused his laughter to escalate.
"Aww come on! I bet hospital rooms get really lonely at night!"
"It would be a crappy gift, considering he has no eyes to see it with anymore." Sasuke cut in quietly, his eyes downcast.
Apparently, the sight of those hollowed sockets was haunting him as well.
"What? Wait… what do you mean he has no eyes?!" Naruto's voice pitched in terror, not having been filled in on this little detail yet.
He looked between his teammates for an elaboration only to find them both staring in opposite directions.
"Oh man… I- oh man."
Sakura spotted a familiar storefront and hurried inside, eager to distract herself while Naruto came to terms with the new information. Ino didn't seem to be working that day, but the young woman that she had hired to help her run the shop inherited after her parents' passing was knowledgeable and quickly set Sakura off with a beautiful bouquet consisting of hydrangeas and peonies. She had stated they symbolized honor, bravery and heartfelt gratitude.
Fitting, the young kunoichi felt.
When they had finally reached the hospital, Sakura had to take a deep breath before following her teammates into their sensei's assigned room. Her eyes stayed stubbornly fixed on the flowers resting within her arms.
"Wow sensei, you look like crap."
Her eyes immediately snapped up at Naruto's blasé tone. Their sensei gave a slightly abashed chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. His back was propped up in bed by several plush pillows.
The entire top half of his face was wrapped in gauze and bandages.
Of course they wouldn't have just left his raw sockets out in the open. Sakura scolded herself internally, feeling mildly guilty for prolonging their visit as that was the exact thing she had been so fearful to face again.
"Yeah…" Agreed Renjiro. "I've definitely seen better days."
Heavy silence soaked the three genin with tense rigidity.
"… that wasn't funny, Renjiro-sensei." Sasuke's flat tone was the only one brave enough to breach the uneasiness.
"Well. I was holding onto that one all day and I stand by it." Renjiro retorted, crossing his arms stubbornly despite the soreness and pain that clearly rippled with the movement.
Sakura couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips.
At least he seemed to be in decent spirits despite everything.
xXx
I'm so sorry for the hiatus everyone. I have no excuses. T_T