A/N: So, this first half is leading up to Frodo's move to Crickhollow and Team 7 preparing to leave for Middle Earth (not that they know its Middle Earth). Some of this, like previous chapters, is verbatim from Tolkein. Hope you enjoy, DC
Chapter 13: Three is Company pt 2
April 3018 (Middle Earth)
My dearest son,
Gandalf has come to visit and with him comes news of the icky energy. It is not good.
I dare not write all that was discussed in a letter, not even one coded as ours is, but I will share some of his tidings.
Firstly, the Dead Marshes are located south-east of the Kingdom of Gondor and were the site of a great and terrible battle for the fate of Middle Earth against a Dark Lord whose name you've heard whispered amidst evil tidings. Gil-galad was the Elvish-king who entered the Last Alliance with Elendil, the Númenórean king.
It is from that battle that the ickiness comes, for the son of the human king did not destroy what should have been destroyed. As such, a Great Evil has persisted and His Precious has passed from King to obscurity, then to Gollum, Bilbo, and now me. In time, the ickiness of this Evil will possess me—even now its claws have sunk into me and is why I find myself unable to part with this Evil's Precious.
Oh, my child, the news grows worse, for Gollum was captured by that Great Evil's forces and during his torture came terrible words—words which shall lead enemies here to the Shire and Bag End. Worse, our last name can no longer be used, for the Enemy knows of it, and knows we hold that which is most Precious to Him.
Dôranna, I have never wished to endanger you. I have only ever sought to love you and care for you. But now, my son, it is time for you to disown my name and forsake our home. I don't know when I will leave yet, but I must leave. From then on, I shall be like one in exile, for the enemy will never stop pursuing me—not until He has reclaimed His Precious.
I love you with all my heart and soul,
Your Papa
Dôranna read the letter he had received that morning for (what felt like) the nth time. His mind had raced to make connections with each read through. The Dark Lord whose name was whispered in passing was Sauron—otherwise known as the Evil that had lurked in Mirkwood during the time of the Five Armies. He was the Enemy of the Dúnedain, the leader of Orcs and Darkness; he was everything that the rangers fought.
Worse, Papa's ring (for that was the icky presence which had dug its claws into Papa) was Sauron's most precious item—an item he now sought with a fervor. Dôranna might not understand what exactly the ring was or what exactly it meant to Sauron, but he could infer the danger it meant for the Shire and Papa. Afterall, the dangers coming from the East were multiplying by the day because rumor said the Dark Lord was regaining his power.
Dôranna felt sick to his stomach as he read the letter again and looked at the date posted at the top—it was dated nearly two weeks ago. Would his father still be in Bag End? If Dôranna left now, would he come upon a cleared-out hobbit hole?
"Dôranna, are you alright? You're paler than a wight," Branínaith joked stiffly.
The blonde boy shot his head up and stared at the ranger uncomprehendingly for a moment until the words finally processed. The blonde boy then shook his head. "My Papa—" his voice cracked. "He-he's in danger. I can't—I can't stay here any longer!" Dôranna's thoughts were swirling about his head, and he felt almost paralyzed by all that he needed to do.
Branínaith sobered immediately and nodded. Tirrandir was already packing up a sack of provisions for Dôranna which the boy realized he should have begun to do, but he still felt paralyzed from his whirling thoughts.
Langlas, meanwhile, spoke in a way which grounded Dôranna and drew his attention back to the present and not his thoughts. "Then go," the ranger said, "I will inform Halbarad you are leaving our camp and will be traveling to Bag End should he have need to contact you."
"Hobbiton, don't mention Bag End in any communications," Dôranna replied in a panic-strained voice. Langals was right; he needed to leave, so the boy stood and began to pack up his bedroll and other possessions. Branínaith helped him by stocking Dôranna's quiver and handing him a filled waterskin.
Tirrandir and Langlas shared concerned looks. "What kind of danger is your father in?" Tirrandir asked while Langlas questioned why Bag End should not be used.
"I don't know much other than that Gollum likely told the Enemy of the Shire, Bag End, and the name Baggins."
Each ranger stilled and paled, and then there was a flurry of movement around the camp. "Burn the note," Tirrandir ordered. Dôranna already planned to do so, but he did it now instead of before he left. Branínaith began taking down their campsite, and Langlas was pulling out several scraps of paper they tied to the messenger birds the Rangers used. Each unit had one hawk for emergency communications.
"We'll need to move all our units to the Southern and South-Eastern border," Langlas stated as he hastily began penning a coded message.
"Send it to the Western Camp," Branínaith recommended. "Radanir will likely take his unit along the southern border and thus inform Saeradan's unit. We'll likely all converge around the Sarn Ford." Langlas nodded in agreement and continued penning the missive.
Soon, the Northern dúnedain camp was disbanded and Dôranna was packed.
"I'm not sure if my Papa is still in Hobbiton, but—"
"Go," Tirrandir interrupted Dôranna with an understanding expression. He set an encouraging hand on the blonde boy's shoulder and squeezed it once.
"If you have need of us, we'll be on the Eastern border," Langlas added. Dôranna nodded and felt his throat tightening at the support and encouragement each ranger was giving him. They gave each other solemn goodbyes and then the boy began his race toward Bag End.
Perhaps he should be more discreet in his travel, but fear propelled him forward. He moved like the wind over the rolling plains and fields of the North Farthing. His muscles burned from the exertion and from the circulation of chakra. He had never used so much chakra for so long or so consistently.
At last, perhaps shortly after mid-day, Dôranna had arrived. He bounded up the Hill and soon was knocking at the door franticly. His legs were wobbly like an unset gelatin mold.
"Ah, young Dôranna!" a vaguely familiar voice called before the door had even opened.
Upon the threshold was a tall man with large bristly eyebrows and a great big beard. He shone with a brilliant energy that lit him as if from the inside. The hand holding his staff also bore a different power, one that reminded Dôranna of flame.
"Gandalf?" he questioned for he did not recall the wizard shining quite this brightly.
"Dôranna is here!?" his father called from inside the burrow.
Relief rushed through Dôranna, and he promptly sat on the threshold. "Oh! Thank goodness I did not miss you," he breathed.
Papa appeared in the entry hall now and he frowned. "Dôranna, whatever are you doing on the ground. Come in, come in," he urged.
"My legs are like jelly, Papa. I don't think I could move even if I tried," he exclaimed. "I ran here all the way from the North Moors this morning."
Gandalf choked. "The North Moors?" the wizard repeated. "This morning."
Papa pursed his lips in displeasure. "Did you even stop for food or water? Did you have second breakfast, elvensies, lunch?" Papa asked with his hands on his hips.
Dôranna smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. "I thought you had left already. The letter was dated two weeks ago!"
Papa began to tut and shake his head while Gandalf remained in a stupor. "You might be able to run non-stop, but it isn't good for you," Papa chastised as he helped Dôranna in. The ickiness zapped at him, but Doranna did not care. Papa also began to mutter about the Postmaster taking his time in delivering the mail, which was fair—it should have taken a week at most, but Dôranna just assumed the post was busier than usual or the Postmaster Boffin had a hard time finding the blonde.
The boy let himself be dragged to his feet and then led into the kitchen where he was given a cup of water and a cool, damp rag to mop at the sweat along his neck and brow. His legs were burning something fierce now, so he plopped down at the kitchen table. Dôranna was positive he wouldn't be able to move from this spot for a while yet.
Papa set a plate of cheese and fruit before him, which the boy happily began to eat. Gandalf seemed to finally have gathered his wits and was now in the kitchen with them.
"That journey would have taken at least a full day by horse if not longer, and to run the entirety of it at such a pace…" Gandalf trailed off and shook his head again as he sat down at the other end of the kitchen table.
Papa gave the wizard an affectionate pat on the arm as if to say, "don't worry, this is normal." Dôranna snickered into his snack. Papa gave the boy a look, though the hobbit appeared slightly amused too.
"Ah, well," Gandalf shook his head as if to dislodge some distracting thought. Then he regarded Frodo. "Dôranna does bring up a good point. When you leave, you ought to go quietly, and you ought to go soon."
Dôranna swallowed a mouthful of the food and then stared down at the plate. The cheese felt heavy as it slid down his throat, and then his stomach roiled slightly like he was suddenly nauseous. He wasn't sick, but he was worried. When exactly was his Papa leaving? How could he expect Dôranna to give up his ties to him?
"I know. But it is difficult to do both," Papa objected. He had begun to tidy up the kitchen, which was a sure sign of his anxiety. "If I just vanish like Bilbo, the tale will be all over the Shire in no time." Which would be bad because the Enemy would hear about it.
"Of course you mustn't vanish!" Gandalf agreed. "That wouldn't do at all! I said soon, not instantly." Both Papa and Dôranna's shoulders relaxed from where they had unintentionally bunched up. That was a relief to know. The wizard continued speaking. "If you think of any way of slipping out of the Shire without its being generally known, it will be worth a little delay. But you must not delay too long."
Papa leaned against the washbasin and looked thoughtful, even a little nostalgic. "I was thinking about autumn, on or after Our Birthday?" Papa suggested. "I think I could probably make some arrangements by then."
"Yours and Bilbo's Birthday?" Gandalf asked to clarify. Papa nodded slightly. The wizard hummed and regarded Papa closely.
Dôranna could see the reluctance in every part of Papa's body. He might hide it, but it was clear he did not want to leave. Or at least, based on the looks he gave Dôrana, Papa wanted to spend what time they had left together before he was off dodging Evils every which way.
"Very well," Gandalf said after his examination. "I think that will do—but it must not be any later. I am getting very anxious. In the meanwhile, do take care and don't let out any hint of where you are going! And see that Sam Gamgee does not talk. If he does, I really shall turn him into a toad."
Dôranna gave his papa a confused look and repeated the gardener's name followed by toad. Papa waved his hand in a manner that suggested he would tell the blonde about it later. Papa instead addressed the wizard.
"As for where I am going," the hobbit began, "it would be difficult to give that away, for I have no clear idea myself, yet."
"Don't be absurd!" the wizard exclaimed. "I am not warning you against leaving an address at the post-office! But you are leaving the Shire—and that should not be known until you are far away. And you must go, or at least set out, either North, South, West, or East—and the direction should certainly not be known."
Dôranna considered the circumstances his father needed to leave under and had several ideas forming in his mind while Papa addressed the wizard.
"I have been so taken up with the thoughts of leaving Bag End, and of saying farewell, that I have never considered the direction," Papa confessed. "For where am I to go? And by what shall I steer? What is to be my quest? Bilbo went to find a treasure, there and back again; but I go to lose one, and not return as far as I can see."
"Papa!" Dôranna began to protest at the same time Gandalf shook his head.
"But you cannot see very far, and neither can I. It may be your task to find the Cracks of Doom; but that quest may be for others: I do not know. At any rate, you are not ready for that long road yet," the wizard stated.
Dôranna, who had stood up in his shock upon hearing his father's pessimistic thoughts regarding his quest, sat back down—his legs were grateful to be resting again.
"No indeed," Papa agreed, relieved that the arduous task of finding the "Cracks of Doom"—which sounded just awful to the blonde—may not be his charge. "But in the meantime, what course am I to take?"
"Towards danger; but not too rashly, nor too straight," answered the wizard. "If you want my advice, make for Rivendell. That journey should not prove too perilous, though the Road is less easy than it was, and it will grow worse as the year fails."
"Rivendell!" Papa exclaimed as if the idea had not occurred to him. "Very good: I will go east, and I will make for Rivendell. I will take Sam to visit the Elves; he will be delighted."
Dôranna smiled at his Papa, though he was sad. "I want to come with you. I'd even offer to be the one to go to these Cracks of Doom, wherever that is, if it would—"
"Absolutely not," Papa cut him off fiercely. "You will not be putting yourself in danger. Not even to destroy the Ring. I will not have it." Papa grabbed Dôranna's hands and held them tightly between his small ones. "You are my boy, my son, and I want you as far from danger as I can get you to be."
Gandalf began to frown. "That may not be your decision to make, Frodo."
Papa sent a sharp glare at the wizard. "I have heard enough of what you think about my son." Dôranna had never heard his father speak so sharply before. "No matter if a Valar is inside of him, he is still my child, and I will have him far away from the Enemy."
The old wizard looked taken aback by Papa's ferocity. Dôranna couldn't help but smile and try not to laugh. He bit the inside of his cheeks and instead squeezed his Papa's hands back.
"I understand that, Papa, but I want to help you, even if it is by staying with the Rangers and clearing your path forward."
Before Papa could protest, Dôranna continued speaking. "Papa, I think you should go to the Bucklands, out beyond Bucklebury. I'm sure there are some properties right on the edge of the Old Forest that have been abandoned due to superstitions. It would be close to your kin in Buckland, and therefore the perfect cover." Dôranna hesitated here for a moment and began to blush. "You might even tell them that I moved to Bree, and that this allows you to be closer to me too."
Papa regarded Dôranna like he had said something astounding. Even Gandalf appeared impressed. The blonde boy fidgeted a bit more. "I also know the paths of the Old Forest well and could teach you how to traverse them. It would allow you to exit the Shire without anyone being the wiser," he argued.
Papa cupped Dôranna's cheek. "My boy, you are so smart. Yes, that is exactly what I will do. Oh, but I hope you will forgive me for not leaving Bag End in your name, but it is too dangerous to keep now."
Dôranna ducked his head. "I understand, Papa, you don't need to worry about my inheritance. You'll outlive me anyways," he said bashfully. He was human after all, not a dúnedain, and not a hobbit.
"Nonsense!" Papa admonished before smoothing down some of Dôranna's perpetually messy hair. "You'll be around long after me." Dôranna did not believe it but he saw how amused Gandalf was and that the wizard was not trying to dissuade the hobbit either.
Instead, Dôranna huffed. "Well, I suppose I should go to Bree then and perhaps buy a small place. Should I also bring news of nuptials?" he asked his elders. "I do believe humans start marrying around my age."
Papa's wide-eyed shock made Dôranna feel better already and led to the blonde laughing.
"Dôranna," Papa chastised him. "You gave me a shock. You're too young to marry. You're still my baby boy!"
"Papa!" Dôranna protested through laughter as the hobbit began to coddle him. He even pressed Dôranna's face to his chest like when the blonde had been a babe. The Ring was not happy about their closeness and made it abundantly clear through the uncomfortable zaps at his energy, but Dôranna stuck through the discomfort.
"Well, now you shan't ever leave my side," Papa teased. "I can't have my baby boy marrying strange women off in a strange town!"
"It is a good cover story, though," Gandalf mused. Papa sent a playful glare at the old wizard.
"Do not be a traitor, Gandalf. You're supposed to agree with me."
Dôranna was in a fit of giggles now and had to hide his face in his father's vest. The old wizard began to chuckle and, at last, Papa laughed too. They eventually settled, and the heaviness of what his father had to do fell over them again. It was silent for a moment.
"Papa, I truly do believe I need to make a home for myself in Bree to help with your cover and if…if you are worried about me being hunted for sharing your name, then I will try to pass as one of the humans or Dúnedain. Perhaps I will call my self Dôranna, son of Frodo?" he tried the human appellation and scrunched up his face.
"Frodo is a recognizably hobbitish name, and there is only one hobbit to have adopted a human child," Gandalf warned.
Dôranna thought for a moment. Mr. Fox had told him his father's name, hadn't he? No, but he had other names from his supposed birth world. "Dôranna, son of Konoha."
"Tree leaves?" Papa translated the village name.
Gandalf's eyes flashed with delight as he smiled. "I believe that is very fitting for a hunter and lover of this great green world."
Papa's lips thinned as he gave the wizard a side-eyed look. This probably had something to do with whatever Gandalf thought Dôranna was.
"Hey, since we have things roughly sorted," the blonde began as he fidgeted slightly and regarded the wizard. "Do you suppose you could start teaching me other languages? I know both forms of Elvish, my dream-language, Westron, and hobbitish. I've begun to learn a little of Rohirric but my teacher is stingy with the lessons." He code-switched to the dream-language for the descriptor.
"Withholding," Papa explained to Gandalf when the wizard raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I do know Rohirric and many other tongues of man, elf, and orc—though I won't be teaching you any Black Speech. Perhaps you could teach me more of your dream-language in return?"
"Yes!" Dôranna cheered. "And maybe we can practice magic too?" he asked eagerly.
Gandalf's eyes flashed with amusement again. "Yes, I suppose we can. Perhaps we will make a wizard of you yet, young Dôranna." Ah, Dôranna was so excited.
…
Late June (year equivalent to 3018 in Middle Earth)
Kakashi had been recalled from training Sai in as the new spymaster. The boy was quite proficient at infiltration if one ignored his social awkwardness. Fortunately, they were able to play this off as Sai being his awestruck student (which the boy was whenever he forgot what an unbearable troll Kakashi could be) who was intimidated by the wide world his master walked through easily.
Kakashi supposed it was the boy's ROOT training which allowed him to adapt to the intense infiltration mission. Though the boy's nervousness still came through, especially when they had gone to Kumo and Iwa. Both countries had upped their security measures in the wake of the Konoha invasion and the revelation that the hirashin seal had not died with its creator. Kumo and Iwa were both worried that some import would come in bearing the hirashin seal and then their "enemy" would have immediate access into their hidden villages.
It was honestly a bit laughable considering that Kakashi could, if he wanted, use Kamui to teleport into their nations without alerting anyone. He would be on the verge of chakra exhaustion, yes, but he could do it. Whereas the hirashin seal was a bit flashier and would make his infiltration much more obvious. Kakashi, could technically use the hirashin, but it was harder to do with his white chakra than the more neutral chakra he had gained from Tsunade's chakra transference. He imagined the seal would be easier to use for his students than himself, for their chakra was more like Minato-sensei's than Kakashi's. He even theorized Kushina-san would have struggled with the hirashin due to the potency of her chakra.
Of course, while it was harder to use the seal, he still could—especially when he was not in the heat of battle. It was far less draining than using kamui to teleport, but it took more concentration to make his chakra neutral. This, obviously, made the seal less ideal for battle, unless he already had neutral chakra in his pathways (one without his white chakra). Yes, Kakashi was a master of manipulating his chakra—he did know all the elemental natures and could perform them just fine—but all his jutsu had an undercurrent of his family's white chakra (save Kamui because that was the sharingan).
As such (regardless of the challenges his white chakra presented with the hirashin seal) his ability to teleport via two different means meant that, if Tsunade-sama wanted something, she expected him to return as soon as he got the summons. She also always knew when he delayed his return, which meant he'd receive a tongue lashing. Being yelled at by the Hokage was just annoying and dug into his busy life.
And so, he was here (in the Hokage's home) with her guest because Tsunade-sama had told him to go to the Hokage residence. Said guest was wearing the Kazekage's robes—hat included—and regarding the large painting Kakashi had made in the wake of Jiraiya's passing. The kid had had a slight growth spurt but was still much shorter than Kakashi and the robes (especially the hat) looked too big for the boy. Part of Kakashi wanted to coo at the sight, for he remembered the disturbing little boy who had held onto a teddy bear while watching him paint.
Gaara had been an adorable (albeit murderous) little kid that Kakashi had sometimes likened to Naruto. Of course, Kakashi knew Gaara was not a stand-in for Naruto, but a part of him would always regard the boy with a similar sort of fondness he assumed he'd reserve for Naruto; perhaps it was because Kakashi had never gotten to know Naruto and Gaara was a boy who shared so many similarities to Naruto (what with their shared jinchuuriki status, age, and fathers being yondaime kages—plus Gaara was colored like Kushina).
"Maa, I did not know the Yondaime Kazekage was a fan of art," he commented to make his presence known. Tsunade-sama was still at the office, which meant that Kakashi was either personally requested or he had been assigned to play diplomat as "training" for becoming the Rokudaime Hokage.
The boy, for he was still a boy even under the kage hat, turned slowly and gave Kakashi an acknowledging nod. "Hello Hatake-san," he greeted before turning back to the memorial. "I am not much of an art connoisseur," the boy confessed, "but I am fond of Sukea-sensei and his apprentice's works."
"Oh?" Kakashi asked politely. Part of him would always wonder if people were making a comment about his cover even, but he had long since learned to push aside the momentary panic such an occurrence inspired. It was a frequent occurrence in all honesty, but such is the problem with his cover being a prolific and famous artist.
"I was not aware the Godaime Hokage and the late Toad Sage were romantically entangled," the boy commented softly.
"Maa, it was a love never meant to be acted upon. Too much history and grief," Kakashi stated, for if Tsunade-sama had placed the painting here where diplomats were likely to see, then she must be fine with its meaning being shared.
"Yes, I can see that from the spider lilies dividing them," the young Kage murmured. "Sukea-sensei must have greatly admired the late Jiraiya."
Kakashi kept his panic internal. "I believe it was Tsunade-sama's request that he be given a noble, if accurate, representation."
The boy hummed and then turned his attention away from the massive painting. He took off his hat and moved to sit at the chabudai set up for a tea ceremony. Being the host, Kakashi began going through the tea ceremony—with the necessary checks (from both of them) for poison. Once the tea had been carefully poured and his guest took the first sip, the young leader spoke.
"I confess, Hatake-san, I came to Konoha for more than the Chūnin exams," the boy began. "I wished to speak with you, specifically."
Kakashi nodded. "Do you mind if I use an illusion on my mask. I'm a bit shy," he said with an eye-smile. The young Kage blinked, and his guard stiffened. "I swear, it will only be on my mask."
The boy cocked his head to one side and regarded Kakashi for a long moment—as if he was seeing into Kakashi's soul—before he nodded. Kakashi then slowly went through the unnecessary signs for an illusion which would make it appear as if his mask was still in place while he drank the tea unhurriedly with his guest.
Now having sipped his own tea, Kakashi set his cup down and regarded the boy. He seemed…calmer. He had seemed calm six months ago when he bought some of Sai's watercolors, but there had been some conflict he had been working through at the time.
"To what do I owe this honor, Kazekage-sama?" he asked with another eye-smile.
"I wished to thank you," the boy stated with a bow of his head to show difference but not too much given their different stations. Kakashi found his visible eyebrow rising in surprise.
"What for?" Kakashi asked, genuinely confused.
There was a sheepishness to the boy's posture now, and Kakashi supposed that he was blushing beneath his sand defense. "You silenced Mother and stopped her rampage."
Mother? Oh…oh the poor kid. Kakashi managed to keep his expression neutral, though internally he wanted to give the kid a hug. When the silence stretched an uncomfortably long amount of time, Kakashi figured he might play dumb. "Forgive me, Kazekage-sama, but who is this Mother?" he asked.
The boy's posture and mannerisms exuded more embarrassment, though it was subtle. He was probably blushing brightly beneath his sand armor. "M-mother," the boy stumbled over his words briefly. "She has always screamed within my mind and demanded blood. Whenever I slept, she would take over my body and try to destroy everything around me. It was…maddening," the boy confessed.
"Ah," Kakashi was at a loss of what to say. He knew the seal on the boy was faulty, that he was an unstable jinchūriki, but Kakashi had not been aware of the torment the boy must have been going through.
The boy looked up at him, his teal eyes searched for something in his mostly hidden expression. "You have questions, or wish to say something," the boy stated. "Please, speak freely." There was an almost desperateness in his voice. He wanted frank conversation, which no one had likely given him ever.
"As you wish, Kazekage-sama," Kakashi acquiesced with a nod. He paused a moment before asking, "Why do you call this voice Mother?"
The boy looked down at his tea and fidgeted with it a moment—perhaps embarrassed again—before he looked Kakashi in the eye and answered. "My sand has always come to my defense and it has felt like…" he trailed off at a loss for words. "I always associated it with the protection and…and love of a mother."
Kakashi hummed. "Maa, but your sand defense is not the voice," he guessed.
Gaara opened his mouth to protest before closing it and appearing thoughtful. "Everyone assumed my sand came from Mother," he murmured. It was clear his guards and advisor (who Kakashi noted was the boy's former sensei) were uncomfortable.
"Yes, but did your sand and the voice feel the same to you?" Kakashi asked.
"No," the boy confessed after a moment.
"Kazekage-sama, has anyone told you what that voice was? What had possessed you?"
The boy closed his eyes and held tighter to his teacup. "I always called it Mother, and it never disagreed. I did not listen to what anyone else said."
"But you know now that that voice was the Ichibi bijū, whose form is that of a massive tanuki," Kakashi said slowly, almost gently.
The boy opened his eyes and looked pained. "I had listened to it because I had thought…" he trailed off, pained. The boy was overwhelmed with remorse, Kakashi could see this.
Kakashi's hand twitched—part of him wanted to comfort the kid but he recalled the sand's defenses. "Maa, Kazekage-sama, the past is the past; it cannot be helped. We can do nothing but move forward and make sure our past mistakes are not repeated."
"But if my sand is from—"
"Kazekage-sama," he interrupted; the guards stiffened in offense, but the boy looked up at him with wide, almost hopeful eyes. "Forgive my interruption, but you had said already that they felt different. Why did you feel that your sand was your mother, if I may ask?"
The young kage furrowed his brow in thought and looked down at his tea. "I said before it felt like protection and love. I always assumed a mother would feel the same."
"Maa, our parents can leave chakra impressions within us, especially if—and forgive my presumption—they are the sacrificial power behind a jinchūriki's seal," Kakashi explained. He had found the notes his sensei had made regarding the seal he and Kushina had planned to put on the next Kyūbi host. He assumed a similar principle would be applied in other jinchūriki seals.
"My mother was…" the boy trailed off and turned to his former sensei. "Baki-sensei, is it true? Was my mother used to power the-the—" the young Kage did not finish the question. He swallowed instead.
Baki glared at Kakashi before making his expression neutral. "Your birth had been difficult, she was already dying," Baki stated neutrally.
"Maa, it would make sense that a mother would want to protect her child even beyond death. What better way than using her passing to give him the strength he will need, and a memento of her own love within his chakra," Kakashi said gently.
"Then my sand is not from Mo—the Ichibi?" the boy corrected himself.
Kakashi hummed. "Forgive my presumption, but do you not have your predecessors' magnet release?"
The boy opened his mouth in protest before furrowing his brow. "Sand is not metal," he argued after a moment.
"Ah, but the heavy minerals within it are a base for metals, are they not? You may have the most powerful magnet release of your ancestors," Kakashi said cheerfully. "I imagine with training you might come to control other metals too!"
The boy looked as if his whole world had been tilted on its axis. His former sensei and guards now looked shocked. "I…I had not thought of it as such," the young kage murmured.
Kakashi hummed pleasantly and sipped more of his tea. The boy mimicked him since he appeared at a loss of what to do as he processed this revelation. Kakashi let the silence persist for a few more minutes before speaking again.
"Maa, while this has been pleasant, I am curious to see how my cute former genin are doing in the exams," he said with an eye-smile.
The young Kage's eyes widened, and he looked up at Kakashi as if realizing they were still in the middle of a conversation. "Ah, yes, I imagine you are eager to see how they have progressed," the boy murmured, though something in his posture indicated he was disappointed in their conversation drawing to a close.
"Kazekage-sama, was there something else you wished to discuss?" Kakashi asked nonchalantly so as not to embarrass the awkward boy.
His efforts did not seem to work, for the kazekage's posture suggested embarrassment again. "I…was curious," he began haltingly, "what Hatake-san had done to M-the Ichibi to silence it."
Kakashi nodded his head and hummed. "I fixed the seal," he explained chipperly after a moment. Baki and several of the guards visibly showed their shock—one guard appeared to have begun choking on his own spit. Kakashi almost wanted to tell the young kage that he should get better guards if this was enough to break their stoicism.
"Fixed?" the boy repeated, unaware of his guards' unprofessional reactions.
Kakashi nodded his head and then began to pat at his person before he pulled out a blank mission report scroll and then some charcoal. "Maa, you see, your former seal was unbalanced," he began to sketch the seal. "My sharingan allowed me to see the seal when the Ichibi possessed you during the exams," he explained when he felt the questions coming from the guards (Gaara was far more interested in the seal Kakashi was replicating on the paper).
"Because of this imbalance, the barrier between you and the Ichibi was thin. He was able to invade your mind, which in turn made it possible to possess you when you were not actively resisting him—like when you fell asleep.
"Now this seal is a good basis. It allows you to have access to the Ichibi's chakra with minimal demonic chakra poisoning or burns. However, it is—as I've said—unbalanced," Kakashi pulled out a colored pencil he usually used for sketching and began to circle the aspects of the seal that made it unbalanced. He then redrew the seal further down the scroll with the changes he had made. "By adding these characters, and this additional circle, the seal became balanced."
The boy watched him in awe. Kakashi put away his writing utensils and smiled at the boy. "And you were able to do that after looking at my seal once?" the young kage asked.
"Maa, I am a seal master," Kakashi said with another eye-smile. In truth, he had noticed the boy's faulty seal years earlier and had been considering how to fix it as a thought/paranoid exercise.
"Could you teach me?" the young kage asked. His guard and former sensei made aborted moves. The former sensei was also now the one choking.
"Maa, Kazekage-sama, I am afraid I'd have clear that with my Hokage," he deflected. He did not need to say such a thing went beyond the usual sharing of resources between allied nations.
The boy's whole posture suggested he was embarrassed again and likely blushing. It was adorable. Although, there also appeared to be a bit of resignation and defeat there too. Oh, that just wasn't fair. It was like a cross between the dejected look Sasuke would wear and the kicked puppy look Sakura had when he said he wouldn't teach them a specific move—he had a soft spot for teaching kids advanced skills he shouldn't, it seems.
"But…" Kakashi began slowly, "I will tell you the secret to mastering seals." There was a palpable air of disbelief from the guards. Gaara just looked up at Kakashi with naked hope on his face.
"You have to discover what makes sense to you." If the Kazekage's guards were less trained, they probably would have face planted at Kakashi's response. The Kazekage, himself, just cocked his head to one side.
"How do you mean?" he asked genuinely curious.
"Well, I look at seals like calligraphy; each brush stroke has a purpose, and the overall picture creates the meaning and nuance. Jiraiya had looked at seals from the meaning of words used. Kushina-san had looked at seals as patterns, and my sensei saw seals through a mathematical lens. Each seal master makes sense of seals in their own way and that in turn allows them to master the seals and understand them on a different level than the average ninja copying a seal. This is why seals are one of the hardest branches of ninja skill to master and why there are so few masters."
Gaara was now regarding him with his mouth open in awe yet again, but the boy began to nod. "I see. Thank you, Hatake-san." The boy bowed his head again, though a bit lower than before. "I would be greatly honored to train under you in this art."
"Maa, Kazekage-sama, you'll make me blush!" he teased. The boy's former sensei was glaring at Kakashi now. He just eye-smiled back.
The young Kage smiled now too—it was small, but it was genuine. "I am glad we got to speak, but I should not hold you from your former genin any longer."
They then bid farewell to each other, and Kakashi left the Hokage's home. He should probably check in on his former genin and see how they were doing in the exams while he was here. Sai would be fine in Tea Country for a bit longer.
…
Late June 3018
It was late in the evening, and Gandalf had finished his latest magic lesson with Dôranna. The boy was like a sponge in many ways, though magic came slower to the boy than language did. The boy was now passable in dwarvish and Rohirric, but magic was still a struggle. The blonde explained that he had to find the right word to manifest his intentions, which meant he had to understand the words completely.
Magic came so intuitively to Gandalf that he had not realized how linguistical spell craft was, but Dôranna was correct. A spell required an intimate knowledge of the meanings to the words, for it is within that understanding the power comes and through the speech that the harmony is heard.
Frodo often became displeased with Gandalf if he pushed the boy to tap into his connection to Oromë—perhaps the hobbit feared that he would lose his son if Dôranna communed with the Valar too frequently. The boy seemed oblivious to the source of their argument, though he did find a joy when Gandalf fell under his papa's ire. The boy could be as mischievous as a fox.
The three of them had settled down for supper, much to Dôranna's delight—the boy could eat like a hobbit—when Frodo spoke again.
"The Sackville-Bagginses have met with an arbiter and the deed has been signed. I must be fully moved out before the end of September," Frodo announced. "I have also signed my deed for a small house near Crickhollow. It is right alongside the Old Forest, as you suggested, Dôranna."
The blonde boy perked up. "Oh, I know the cottage. It's very nice and has a beautiful garden! It's even by an old hunting trail, so your way into the Old Forest will be easy." The child then became thoughtful. "Hmm, but if you head due east from Crickhollow, you will run into Old Man Willow, and he is not pleasant at all. It would be best for you to turn away from the willow when you reach the river," he advised. "And never rest beneath his bows, even if you are very tired."
"That is sound advice. The trees of the Old Forest are very old, and some are awake," Gandalf agreed.
Dôranna smiled brightly before regarding his father. "But if you are ensnared by Old Man Willow's song, you should sing back 'Hey now old-willowman, tuck away your roots. / It is not your waking time, wait for the new shoots. / Drink deep the waters now, burrow in the earth. / It is not your waking time, wait to come forth.' It's a bit of a slanted rhyme at the end, but it's worked for me," Doranna said bashfully. He was blushing and rubbing at the back of his head.
"Hmm, did Tom Bombadil teach you spells for the Old Forest?" Gandalf asked. He was surprised to recognize the cheer in the song.
"You know the Jolly One?" Dôranna asked him amazed. Gandalf could not help but chuckle.
"Indeed, I do. I have heard of Tom and have talked to him in ages past," Gandalf admitted.
"And who is this Tom fellow exactly? Another wizard?" Frodo asked.
"No, Tom is the master of his domain, and he has long been part of this world, though he cares little for what goes on beyond his borders," Gandalf explained while Dôranna nodded along.
"Yeah, Tom and Goldberry seem separated from the rest of Middle Earth sometimes," the boy mused. "I know their house disappears for months at a time, perhaps full seasons even."
"Do you suppose he could be unaffected by the Ring?" Papa asked quietly.
"Most likely," Gandalf agreed, "But he cares little for things outside of his domain. I would not trust him with the Ring for he might one day toss it aside and then an enemy will find it."
Dôranna was nodding his head again. "Yeah, Tom would do that. He's sort of…single-minded, I guess?" The boy scratched his head at the words he decided to use. "He cares about his forest and his wife, but little else. I guess that's why he feels separated—like he's not really part of the rest of the world, you know?" the boy asked Gandalf.
"Indeed, I do. It is one of Tom's delightful but frustrating mysteries."
"Mr. Fox thinks Tom and Goldberry exist outside of reality," Dôranna stated, much to Gandalf's surprise. He had not realized he had such frank conversations with Oromë. "That when the winter closes in, Tom tucks their home away from the rest of the world, so his wife can be ever green as river reeds." The blonde chuckled at his own rhyme.
"Well, she is the River's Daughter. It would not do to have her freeze," Gandalf commented. Frodo watched their exchange with a lost but amazed look.
"Oh, my boy, the wonders you have seen," Frodo murmured. The boy blushed and ducked his head.
Frodo then blinked as if he had remembered something. "Ah, right, I had gotten news from Bree. A solicitor there sent me several descriptions of homes for you. One is a small farm just on the outskirts of Bree that might suit you. Though you have little experience farming, being outside of the walled city would allow you to join the rangers more easily without drawing attention."
"A farm is for sale?" Dôranna questioned, and Frodo nodded while frowning.
"Yes, it appears the landlord had been in debt and evicted the family that had been tending the—"
"I'll take that one and let the family stay there," Dôranna stated suddenly and decisively. The boy's heart was astounding, but Gandalf knew where from he learned such kindness.
"And your lodging then?" Gandalf questioned.
"I'll explain that the farm is more for me to have a forwarding address and a potential room to stay in when I need. Though I suppose I will need to set up a contract with the family and lay out expected rent from them?" Dôranna guessed. It made sense that the boy considered such things for the hobbits and humans of that town would surely gossip and the enemy might hear of it.
Gandalf smiled. He felt better now that both Bagginses had plans. "Well then, I believe it is time for me to head off then."
"What do you mean?" Frodo asked while Dôranna gave him an almost wounded look.
"I thought we were going to continue working on that light spell," the boy complained.
"I have faith that you will figure it out," he consoled the boy before addressing Frodo's concern. "I hope to be gone for only a short while," he explained. "But I am going down beyond the southern borders to get some news if I can. I have been idle far longer than I should."
He was worried about the Enemy's movements and feared the Ringwraiths had been set lose from Minas Morgul, but he need not worry the two Bagginses about that.
"Has anything happened?" Frodo asked, ever the intuitive hobbit.
"Well, no," Gandalf admitted. Nothing has happened that he could confirm without venturing out himself. "But I have heard something that has made me anxious and needs looking into. If I think it necessary after all for you to get off at once, I shall come back immediately, or at least send word. In the meanwhile, stick to your plan; but be more careful than ever, especially of the Ring. Let me impress on you once more: don't use it!"
Dôranna backed Gandalf up with a serious expression directed at his father. It almost made the wizard laugh except for the reason the boy was so worried. He had witnessed the young blonde attempt to banish the Ring's influence from his father, but it had greatly weakened the boy. It was to be expected, of course, the might of the Enemy was Great and Terrible, even for the vessel of a Valar.
"Ah, I should probably head out soon as well. I will need to go to Bree to sign the deed and then settle the family in," Dôranna stated with a sigh.
"Of course, and you are welcome to any of the furniture you believe you might need. We'll rent a few wagons and ponies as well for the move.
Dôranna smiled at his father fondly. "Thank you, Papa." Gandalf smiled at the picture of the father and son—as unconventional as they might appear (a hobbit who looked to be barely out of his tweens and an adolescent human). He wished them safety and peace, though he knew in his heart that was not meant to be.
…
Early July (year equivalent to 3018 in Middle Earth)
Sasuke nodded to Choji as the boy began to roll with devastating force in the direction of their quarry. This led said quarry right into Sasuke's trap of ninja wire which then allowed Ino to possess their enemy. Sasuke used a sharingan genjustu to further lull their enemies into a trance and allow for the information extraction. Choji watched their perimeter.
When Ino returned to her body, she was scowling. But instead of saying anything, she just nodded.
They were spies then. Sasuke kissed his teeth in disdain. He should kill them then—they worked for Madara after all, but he still did not care for killing.
"Take their weapons, but leave their rations and waterskins," Sasuke ordered. "We'll leave a flare for them so they can flag down a proctor."
"They have hidden their scroll here," Ino stated as she carefully disarmed the umbrella the team had hidden the scroll in. It wasn't the pair to their scroll, but they might be able to exchange it with another team.
This exam, with its hidden missions, was a pain. Since Sasuke was both a former student of the Konoha spymaster (and thus privy to knowledge most genin weren't) and on a team with a Yamanka, he had been charged with discerning if the trap for Akatsuki had worked. But even if it had worked, they couldn't talk openly about it.
Who knew if Madara was watching—the bastard could teleport anywhere. Worse, with his Kamui operating at a close range (or on his person) then he could just have an eye peeking in to any one place from that Kamui dimension. They were lucky enough that Sensei had yet to run into the bastard while teleporting from that dimensional waystation—they didn't need Madara to inadvertently learn that they knew about him.
Sasuke would have to ask Ino what she discovered when they camped in the even—the ground rumbled as only Sakura could make it and he lost his train of thought. He glanced over at his current teammates.
"That was Sakura, wasn't it?" Ino asked with a swallow.
"Yes," Sasuke said in resignation.
"We should check on Team 1," Choji suggested.
"Yes," Sasuke agreed, and then they were off.
It didn't take long to find Team 1 between the earth-shattering strikes and large explosions coming from their direction. Oh, and Sakura was cackling like a mad woman, again.
The Suna genin being harried by Sakura and her fellow kunoichi appeared genuinely terrified. When Sakura drove her fist or heel into the ground, it'd divert the enemy toward her teammate who literally swarmed them in chakra sucking insects. Between the universal fear of being covered in bugs to the terrifyingly fast drain on chakra, the enemy genin were understandably screaming.
"Sakura!" Sasuke couldn't keep the whine out of his voice. "What did you do to Aburame-san—she was one of the sane ones."
Suzuki Akira, the mad demolitions enthusiast and former program kid, threw another exploding seal at one of the genin who had gotten away from the two terrifying kunoichi. This blocked off his escape and then the girls were on him.
"Maa, I didn't do anything," Sakura said in an innocent tone that Sasuke didn't buy for a second.
"Sakura-san has shown me the way," Aburame Ichiko stated in the usual monotone of her clan. "What way? The way of being a strong kunoichi."
And then Sasuke saw the girl smile past the high color of her coat. "Revel, my darlings, in the glory of battle!" Ichiko cried as she unleashed another swarm. Her teammates were both cackling now.
"Your former teammate is insane," Choji whispered. He wasn't even eating his chips like usual.
"She's also Ino's friend," Sasuke replied defensively.
"We had a falling out," Ino murmured as she blinked at the one-sided battle.
"You two went for dango and tea the night before the exams," Sasuke deadpanned.
"I blame your former teacher for this," Ino said instead of acknowledging that Sasuke was right.
Team 1 was now tying up the genin they had defeated and picking off their weapons. Akira made a delighted noise as he found more exploding tags on them. Meanwhile, Sakura went about systematically dislocating limbs so the defeated genin couldn't escape or pursue them. Ichiko was not paying attention to either of her teammates and instead was cooing at her swarm as they went back inside of her. A handful of bugs were now bringing over the two scrolls the Suna team had had on them. Oh look, it was an actual pair.
"She didn't use to do that before, right?" Choji asked Ino, referring to Ichiko's current behavior. Sasuke and Ino both shook their heads.
"Maa, stop being so weird," Sakura told Team 10; she was imitating Kakashi-sensei to annoy him, wasn't she? "You know giving praise to your colleagues has been proven to raise morale?"
"Yes, and they have done so very well! Yes, you have, my darlings," Ichiko continued to coo.
Sasuke rubbed his forehead. "You were making your way for the main building, weren't you?" Sasuke asked. He had seen their tracks—they had been moving hastily. "Doesn't that mean you have both your scrolls already? Why did you attack an allied genin team?" He needed to know if Sakura had moved onto indiscriminately attacking others.
She rolled her eyes at his concern. "Relax. Akira-kun and Ichiko-chan discovered a way to literally bug them the night before the second exams—they were the most suspect of the Suna teams," Sakura explained chipperly while making a sign for mission. Ah, so there must have been a second purpose to the exam than rooting out Akatsuki. Possible coup against Kazekage, Sakura signed.
"Tch. How much time have you been spending around Sensei?" Sasuke asked while she was signing—if only to distract any observers. Although, it did feel like Sakura had gotten worse somehow, or maybe he had spent so much time round a normal genin team that the behavior just seemed stranger?
"Hmm?" Sakura said with an eyebrow raised. "Did you say something?" Okay, now she was just trolling him. He made his displeasure known with his blank look. In return, Sakura imitated Sensei's eye-smile.
Sasuke sighed—it had to be distance from Sensei's absurdity that made this all seem worse. He looked at the two conscious genin teams before him and sobered.
"Right, well we need to find a pair for our scroll," Sasuke said with another sigh.
"Just take theirs," Sakura said with a shrug and a gesture to the scrolls Ichiko was holding.
"We should get our own," Choji said slowly.
"Nonsense. We might as well work together," Sakura said chipperly.
"Maa, Choji's right, we should get our own," Sasuke interjected now while imitating sensei. He signed mission as well. There was one more Ame team they needed to investigate.
"Fine," Sakura said with a huff. "But you better be in the finals. I want to see how much I've grown," she said with her fist raised.
Sasuke smirked, and his eyes flashed with the sharingan. "Oh? You think you can take me?" he asked cockily.
"Well, we did have the same sensei," Sakura retorted. "I wager I stand a chance."
"Okay, we need to get moving," Ino interjected and began to bodily move Sasuke away from Sakura.
"Keep telling yourself that, Sakura-chan," Sasuke exaggerated the endearment and gave Sensei's usual two-fingered salute in goodbye. Sakura grinned ear-to-ear.
"I better see you in the finals," she called after him. Choji and Ino were shaking their heads as they ran off to find their next mark. Hopefully this Ame team had the scroll they'd need.
Sasuke ignored Ino's quiet mutterings about how she "stood no chance winning Sasuke-kun's heart now," and that she should "switch my focus to that Sai boy. He's pale, dark, and brooding too, but less crazy." Ino was just delusional, clearly Sakura was the crazy one of the two surviving genin from team 7.
…
Early August (Year Equivalent to 3018)
Kakashi stood in the office of the Kazekage and took in the surroundings. He was here "officially" as the Godaime Hokage's successor and had been given her thoughts on who should be promoted. In reality, he was here because a) he wanted to see how his cute former genin were doing; and b) he was the spymaster and should be updated on what all they learned about Akatsuki. The coup had already been thwarted thanks to the joint efforts of Suna and Konoha genin, but Team 1 still needed to debrief both Kakashi and the Kazekage on the mission.
As Kakashi waited for Teams 1 and 10, alongside their jōnin instructors, he noted that three of Sai's watercolors were framed in the Kazekage's office. Part of him couldn't wait to tell his apprentice that his artwork was in the office of the Kazekage.
"Ah, those were painted by Sukea-sensei's apprentice Satoshi," the young Kazekage explained—he must have caught Kakashi's examination.
"Maa, I was surprised to see such beautiful but humble paintings. Usually offices have grand portraits," Kakashi explained with an eye-smile.
The Kazekage made a small but genuine smile as he regarded the three pictures. "I bought them the day I decided to be Kage. They are reminders to me," Gaara explained quietly. Kakashi fought the compulsion to coo and ruffle the kid's hair.
"Good reminders, I hope?" he replied cheerfully.
Gaara turned his smile to Kakashi, and it grew bigger. "Yes, good reminders."
The kazekage's guards and advisors were shifting slightly as they stood in the silence. To them it likely felt awkward. Asuma, for his part, was also fidgeting slightly in discomfort, whereas Tenzō was fighting down a smile. He was clearly proud of his former student, just like Kakashi was proud of his apprentice.
Fortunately, they were all saved from the silence growing (more) awkward by the door opening and the genin teams involved in the hidden operations entering the room. Sakura and Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing him, and they both visibly fought the urge to rush to his side. This just made him eye-smile.
"Sensei!" they greeted (Sasuke less enthusiastic than Sakura) with eye-smiles of their own. Asuma and Tenzō both had twitching veins in their foreheads at the greetings.
"Maa, my cute little genin are all grown up!" he cried theatrically—and even put his hands to his cheeks. He could feel the Kazekage's guards collectively fighting the urge to face-plant. He liked having that effect on people.
"Sensei!" his adorable former genin whined. "We're not your genin anymore," Sasuke added.
"But you'll always be my little genin to me!" Kakashi protested in a tone he hoped matched the times he had heard parents tell their children that they would always be their babies.
It worked given the blushes his former genin wore and the laughter their new teammates were trying to suppress. Even the Kazekage looked amused by the display. Asuma and Tenzō were more annoyed, and the Kazekage's advisors and guards were trying their hardest not to lose all respect for the very deadly ninja in their midst. Ah, Kakashi did so love doing this to people—it made it so people would underestimate him which was always an advantage in battle.
"Yes, well I believe they will not be genin for much longer," the young Kazekage remarked, and thus shifted the focus away from Kakashi embarrassing his former genin.
"Ah, yes, we should get to the matter we're supposed to discuss," Kakashi said in a slightly more sober manner—he was still eye-smiling though. "Shall I put up the privacy seals."
"If you wouldn't mind explaining them, I could put activate them. I've found your calligraphy analogy to be the most accessible to me, perhaps because calligraphy is a calming hobby I have adopted since becoming kage," Gaara said almost serenely as he stood and began to follow Kakashi around the room as he set up the privacy seals.
Once the general ones were in place (during which the young kage asked several thoughtful and insightful questions which indicated he was studying seals on his own), Kakashi then began to prepare the anti-kamui seals.
"These characters are for time and space alterations," Gaara murmured as he examined the seal closely.
Kakashi eye-smiled. He wasn't too concerned about Gaara learning this one since it would protect the jinchūriki from Madara. "Very good eye, Kazekage-sama. In fact, if you would like, you are welcome to activate this seal."
He then explained the hand signs, which the young Kage showed he understood the meaning behind their use. His former genin were giving him deadpan looks that clearly said they knew what he was doing. Of course, such expressions alerted the Kazekage's guard to something being the matter and now Kakashi had several kunai to his throat.
"Maa, the seal will not harm your kage," he said placatingly. He could have dodged or used kamui but instead let the guards surround him. He could still kamui out of it he needed to.
"Sensei's just lazy and doesn't want to deal with the chakra drain," Sakura voiced with a shake of her head at the same time Sasuke said: "He's always struggled with that seal's chakra drain." The Uchiha rolled his eyes to express his exasperation with Kakashi.
Gaara blinked several times before nodding. "I see, and this will be a relatively long conversation," he reasoned. He then dismissed his guards. "I should be fine," he told them before proceeding to activate the anti-kamui seals. His guards were visibly waiting on the edges of the room now and were clearly prepared to attack Kakashi if the activated seal had an adverse effect.
After the seal was set, Gaara cocked his head to the side. "Hmm, I think I feel it. I imagine this would be daunting for one who did not carry a bijū," the young Kage mused. Kakashi sent a vindicated expression at his genin; they gave him dismissive non-verbal responses—Sakura rolled her eyes now, and Sasuke signed sage. Little shits.
"What did your genin just sign?" a guard snapped. A kunai was poised threateningly again.
Kakashi refrained from pouting, though he was pleased to see how much the guard's question annoyed Asuma and Tenzō. Yes, even the foreign guards could recognize that Kakashi was their sensei still.
"Maa, he's just—"
"Sage, because he needs to learn sage mode," Sasuke interrupted Kakashi with an annoyed shake of his head.
No one seemed to understand what this meant, which was good, but Kakashi was also annoyed with his former genin.
"You do need to learn it, Sensei," Sakura agreed because both of his genin could not leave the matter alone. "Then you won't end up in the hospital as much," she added flippantly.
"Like you're one to talk," Sasuke muttered.
"Excuse me!" Sakura snapped back. "You were admitted just before the exams because of exhaustion!"
"And you've been admitted four times in the last year," Sasuke argued. "Aburame-san was admitted twice, and Suzuki-san once!"
Asuma gave Tenzō a look, and the jōnin hung his head. "I have tried numerous times to get them to stop training so hard and using so much chakra, but they won't listen."
"I started bugging his personal training yard to keep an eye on him outside of team training. Stopped him twice from training to the point of exhaustion," Asuma remarked.
Sasuke's face flushed in embarrassment, and Sakura looked triumphant. Choji and Ino just stared wide-eyed at Sasuke.
"Senpai, you've instilled bad habits in your genin, and it's spreading," Tenzō commented.
"Are all Konoha ninja this crazy?" one of the guards whispered to another from behind Kakashi.
Fortunately, before things could devolve further, the Kazekage broke in. "I am afraid I cannot relate, but I will agree it is bad practice to train to the point of chakra exhaustion, even if it seems to have paid off. Both team leaders have shown their skills and executed their additional missions well," he commended Sakura and Sasuke. While Sakura was more visible in her preening at the compliment, both genin were standing up straighter.
Gaara smiled slightly as he moved back to his desk. "Shall we debrief then?" he asked them.
There were a chorus of affirmatives before Sakura and Team 1 stepped forward. "We had been assigned, in conjunction with one of your genin cells, to root out a possible coup," the former Root kid began.
"We made early contact with our Suna counterpart," the Aburame girl continued the debrief, "and then assessed the Suna teams who reached the second exam for suspect behavior. We marked three cells with bugs which would allow us to track them and overhear their conversations."
Sakura continued the debrief now. "We identified two of the three cells to be in support of the planned coup. We have transcribed the incriminating conversations and attached them to our mission report which the Suna genin cell will be turning in. We also found three coded messages which indicated some of the higher ranked ninja involved with the coup—we had turned this information over to our instructor upon meeting him again."
Each genin bowed slightly to the young Kazekage before they fell in line with their current jōnin instructor. Tenzō finished the report with what he and the joint Suna operation had done to eliminate the rest of the coup. The kage thanked the team for their service and then gestured to Team 10.
However, before anyone from Team 10 could explain the mission they had been assigned, Kakashi stepped forward. "Kazekage-sama, before Team 10 gives their debrief, I should provide some additional context. I believe our Hokage has informed you already that there is an organization of rogue-ninja after the Elemental Lands' jinchūriki. What was not disclosed was that we learned of this from our late Jiraiya of the Sannin. He had been on an infiltration mission in Ame where he discovered the headquarters of this organization.
"While there, he discovered a room wherein these rogue-ninja had been keeping information on the locations or identities of the jinchūriki. Kazekage-sama was one of the known and located jinchūriki and is likely under surveillance by this organization."
As Kakashi spoke, the guards around the young Kazekage were tense. Gaara merely regarded Kakashi stoically before turning to Team 10 and gesturing for them to proceed with their debrief.
Sasuke bowed slightly as he stepped forward to speak. "Kazekage-sama, we were assigned to gather information from any Ame teams in the exams. Between Yamanka-san and I, we would be able to gather the necessary information without our enemy learning that we were aware of them." He then gestured for Inoichi's daughter to speak.
The girl ducked her head slightly when all eyes turned onto her, but she quickly raised her chin confidently. "Kazekage-sama, during my mind walks I have learned that Hanzo the Salamander was killed by the new rulers of Ame. The one who poses as Hanzo now is a woman who can manipulate paper and uses them as exploding bombs. There is another ruler beside her, but he is seldom seen.
"The Ame teams sent to the exams were tasked with determining if any jinchūriki were in attendance at the exams. They were to identify these ninja so that the organization could then begin tracking the jinchūriki better. The second Ame team we encountered suspected the girl, Fū, from Takigakure to be one of the jinchūriki. Uchiha-san and I made sure that information was buried in his mind and thus not accessible."
"However," Sasuke added with a grimace, "we cannot verify that that information will stay hidden. We know that there is an Uchiha or at least someone claiming to be an Uchiha who is part of the organization. If they should suspect tampering, this Uchiha could undo our efforts."
"You do not speak of Uchiha Itachi, do you?" the young Kazekage asked quietly. Sasuke flinched but shook his head. "Who then do you speak of and what organization do you all refer to?"
Kakashi answered for his genin. "Uchiha Itachi was not alone in his attack on the Uchiha clan." Kakashi noted Sasuke had clenched his fists and was now looking at the carpet. "I engaged a masked man who went by the name of Madara during this fight. He exhibited several alarming skills including mukoton and a sharingan ability which allows teleportation.
"I have invented that space-time seal because he may be able to spy with this ability and because he could appear anywhere so long as he has enough chakra. I strongly suspect he has a great deal of chakra too."
"And the organization?" the young Kage pressed. "Is it the same one Uchiha Itachi joined: Akatsuki?"
Kakashi and Sasuke nodded. "One thing we do know, at the moment, is that they will not begin hunting any jinchūriki—not until the Sanbi reforms," Kakashi added solemnly.
"Then we have a few years yet to plan. I will get in contact with Genin Fū and explain the danger to her. In the interim, we will need to get warnings to the other Jinchūriki. I…do not believe the Ichibi will help in this endeavor."
"Our spymaster will do their best to get in contact with any jinchūriki they come across," Kakashi vowed. He could see Sasuke and Sakura both had different ideas about this plan, but didn't voice them.
Fortunately, it seemed only Kakashi had noticed his genin's reaction because the Kazekage was addressing him again. "Hatake-san," the young kage spoke, "I would like to learn from you more about seals, if it is possible. We may be able to stop this Madara individual if we…pool our resources, as it were."
"I will see what can be done," Kakashi replied. The genin were then dismissed along with their instructors. The kage and kage-successor then began to discuss the exams and eventually seals. It was rather pleasant not being the one made to keep Madara at bay—his chakra reserves certainly appreciated it.
When Kakashi left Suna the next day and teleported back to Sai (who had moved onto the next town), Kakashi knew it was time to begin learning sage mode. Not only was Sai ready to continue Kakashi's work as spymaster, but there was also an order waiting for him from Tsunade-sama regarding it. Could Kakashi argue that Sai needed more training under him, yes, but the kid would do well for the next year or two and, in that time, he would only get better at his spy-craft.
And so, with a heavy heart, Kakashi finally signed the toad summons scroll and was reversed summoned to Mt. Myōboku. No one knew how long it would take to find Naruto, but if Akatsuki was waiting to start their hunt for when the Sanbi reformed, then they did not have much time. They would need to leave for that distant planet before the year was through.
…
Early September (year equivalent to 3018)
Sakura was in the medical lab, again. She had been in there near constantly since they had first learned there might be water and oxygen on the planet that Naruto kid was on. Apparently, the light a planet gave off from reflecting its solar system's sun could tell scientists the chemical make-up of the atmosphere. It boggled Sasuke's mind and had certainly captivated Sakura.
Now, of course, the girl was obsessed with there being alien life on that planet. As such, there could be untold parasites and airborne pathogens they might have to face. Worse, according to her, they might get the natives or even this Naruto kid sick. So, Sakura had been busy making penicillin and various anti-biotics as well as creating a portable lab kit for testing blood for illnesses.
Honestly, Sasuke was just glad they didn't have to wear those ridiculous suits the R&D department had been building to keep them warm and safe from the vacuum of space. Sensei had certainly been happy when he no longer had to come up with an oxygen seal—especially since he was going to have to tie it to kamui rather than any one location on the Elemental Lands (the distance between here and that planet would have made the seal too costly).
Sasuke put on a mask and sterilized his hands before he came up to the lab's door. He opened it and, sure enough, Sakura was bent over a centrifuge. "Still trying to inoculate the world?" he half-asked, half-joked.
Sakura startled and blinked up at him. She was wearing gloves, a mask, and goggles. "Sasuke-kun," she greeted.
"The chances of you needing all of that are slim," he drawled as he walked further into the lab. He still believed there was little chance for there to be intelligent life on that planet and therefore no reason for Sakura to go to these lengths.
He shoved his hands in his uniform pants, not too dissimilar from the nonchalant pose Sensei often made. Sakura gave him a knowing look, and yeah, he did this pose when he was uncomfortable. But honestly, this place gave him the creeps—it was so sterile and industrial. He kept expecting there to be eyeballs in glass jars and various organs in display cases, but he supposed that would be more traditional décor in a mad scientist's lab—not a medical lab (even if the kunoichi using it the most was a bit mad).
"We've talked about this before. If there aren't patients, then the target's life is long gone," Sakura argued tiredly. And yes, she had a point. A newborn would only have survived if there was intelligent life on that planet that could have taken care of him. If Naruto was not alive, then they would be dealing with the Kyūbi once they warped through the portal.
Sasuke kissed his teeth rather than conceding to her point. "Still, you're over doing it. Half of these require refrigeration, do you really think there's going to be electricity in the field?"
"Sensei has a seal for perishables," Sakura retorted.
Sasuke sighed. "I honestly think your time would be better spent preparing for other worst-case scenarios. You have treatments for the flu to meningitis; we're going to be fine with what we have."
"It's not just about keeping us safe but the patients," Sakura retorted. When she said patients, she meant natives of that alien planet.
"I know, we've had this argument before. You're still going to be fine." Really, his teammate was a bit insane. "We should be making contingencies for codded messages, rogue-nin, sharingan resistant genjutsu, a village leveling attack." What he meant as he listed off challenges were: a foreign language, hostile natives, attacks or illusions they couldn't prevent or resist, the bloody Kyūbi on a rampage all by its lonesome.
Sakura sighed and pushed herself away from the counter she had been working over. "I know, I know, but beyond this, all I can think about is…is the village leveling attack. Sensei is the one who could stop that, but then that will mean…" They would be stranded on an alien planet by themselves.
"I know, but you could do a surgery," Sasuke whispered pointedly. He felt sick even suggesting it, but they needed Sensei's eye to get home. Sasuke knew he would have to be the new jinchūriki in that worst case scenario. Sakura wouldn't be able to refine her chakra control in time to do the surgery they needed to do if she took on the Kyūbi, and they would need to transplant the eye quickly after Sensei died sealing the bijū.
Sakura understood. Tears began to well up behind the goggles. She turned away from him and began to pace as she tried to regain control of her emotions.
"Sakura, that is the worst -case scenario," he assured her. He moved closer, turned her around, and gently held onto her elbows. "But there are lesser ones we need to plan for. Sensei is off learning Sage Mode, and I'm sure he's thinking of these things too, but we must make the contingencies so we can get going right away when he returns."
Sakura wasn't looking at him, and the tears had begun to pool at the bottom of her goggles. Sasuke retracted one hand so he could pull out a handkerchief he'd begun carrying in his chūnin vest—it helped when he had missions with little kids or moms because they seemed to cry a lot.
Sakura took the handkerchief with one hand while pulling her goggles up onto the top of her head with the other. She then wiped at the moisture on her cheeks. Sasuke gave her an eye-smile, which made her snort and lightly shove him.
"You have indents from the goggles, I'd say you've been in here too long," he teased and exaggerated the eye-smile even more.
"I do not!" Sakura protested.
"You almost look like a raccoon," Sasuke continued to tease.
"Shut up," she laughed. The tears had subsided at least. Sasuke dropped the eye-smile and began to pull on her elbow.
"Come on, let's go get barbeque," he offered.
"Ugh, it's always barbeque," she protested.
"Maa, better than dango and tea," Sasuke countered.
"Oi, Team 1's traditional food stop was the best," Sakura defended her former team's haunt.
"So was Team 10's, plus, we got a friends and family discount. I think I still get it too," Sasuke mused.
"Oh, so this is about being cheap then?" Sakura said amused. "Then we may as well go to that ramen stand Sensei took us to but never paid for us at."
"God that man was a cheap sensei," Sasuke muttered, but he was smiling beneath the surgical mask. Sakura was likely also smiling, even if he couldn't see it.
Of course, as they looked at each other, they decided (without needing to say anything) to eye-smile at the same time because that was what Team 7 did. They imitated their sensei to annoy each other and troll other ninja, but also because it was their shared past. No one else would ever know what exactly it meant to be a genin under Hatake Kakashi, and they were fine with that.
A/N: Next chapter is all Middle Earth and there will be some fighting in that one. Of course, that's also making it harder to right, so...I may update July 7th rather than the 15th. Anyways, hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Stay safe, DC