~Chapter 2: Best Laid Plans ~


(Tuesday September 15 Kakashi's birthday Akimichi's Bakery)

~Genma~

Genma watched from against the bakery wall, arms folded, as Guy handed over the money in exchange for a rather large box on the counter. "You know he's not going to be happy about this."

"Nonsense," Guy proclaimed, flashing a wide smile. "You can't have a birthday party without a cake."

Sighing, Genma followed behind Guy, who struggled to navigate through the crowds with the oversized boxed dessert. In all the years he'd partaken in birthday celebrations for Kakashi, not once had he witnessed him actually eat the cake. Yet, Guy would order one from Akimichi's bakery each year, and without fail. The design was somehow more outrageous than the previous year, and this years' creation was no exception. Genma would have to make sure he was well out of Hatake's reach tonight when the cake was brought out; that's if the elusive Copy-Nin made an appearance.

Kakashi's alibis ranged from his poor time-keeping skills, apparent laziness, and lack of people skills to the curious and unknown—like the man himself. Genma let out a laugh.

Konoha has a serious cat infestation if you were to go off the favoured excuse from the Copy-Nin.


(Konoha's Hokage's Office)

~Tsunade~

Half of a sake bottle into mission reports, Tsunade was disturbed by a recognisable knock at her door. "Come in," she ushered, clearing desk space for the incoming files. Tsunade was used to seeing her subordinate tired—any decent medical-nin would tell you that it comes with the territory. Still, the bags under Nina's eyes seemed darker and heavier, and her entire posture was slumped unevenly. Nina's past fortnight's workload included hospital shifts—many of which were back-to-back—and then there was the investigation into the five deaths.

Tsunade exhaled heavily through her nose, "Go home, Nina. Take today…"—giving the bedraggled kunoichi another look over—"and tomorrow off." She grinned at Nina's stubborn pride showing through her attempt to somewhat straighten her stance.

~Nina~

Usually, Nina would attest to duty restrictions, and she opened her mouth to protest the demands of the Hokage but thought again. She really did feel rubbish. Despite thirteen hours of sleep, she had damned her alarm clock's unwanted awakening and dragged herself out of bed for another 5am shift at the hospital.

Like any other early morning shift, the clinic was mayhem on a gurney. Discharges and admissions, and because of the time spent on the investigation, medical files were piled high in Treatment Room Four awaiting her review. She'd set aside the last thirty minutes of her shift to go through the files, and her efforts hardly made a dent. She was prepared to drop what she had signed off on to Tsunade and return to the rest because they really needed the space, and it was aggravating her not having patient files where they ought to be—filed.

~Tsunade~

Tsunade raised an eyebrow; Nina hadn't replied and appeared lost in thought—probably contemplating more work on the investigation.

Fool.

"Nina, go home."

"Yes, Milady," Nina said, sounding both relieved and resigned to the fact as she bowed.

After Nina left, Tsunade poured herself another drink, set aside the medical files she'd been handed and started reading the next mission request.

Hmm, a recon mission to a small village in Amegakure.

She took another sip of her sake and read on for the mission's outline. Amegakure's Kage wanted to establish if and what the current threat level of rebels was in the area.

Hmpf. This is easily a B-ranked mission, borderline A-ranked mission.

The deal-sweetener was the offer to pay the equivalent rate of an S-ranked mission, which the village could use.

Tsunade grabbed the bottle of sake from the front corner of her desk, refilled her cup and skulled it. She propped her head up with her elbows on her desk, rubbing her temples with her fingertips. Amegakure—Rain Country—posed a significant threat as the political ties were strained—at best—with Konohagakure, increasing the chances of encountering rebels.

So, who to send?

Tsunade's mind wandered back to Nina.

"You started without me!" The white-haired man trumpeted, clambering in through the window behind Tsunade.

Unvexed by the intrusion, she dipped into her desk drawer on her right and pulled out another cup and a fresh bottle of sake. "Jiraiya," she greeted him dryly, setting down the second cup next to hers to fill.

She took a moment to look at him.

It's been what since I saw him? Weeks? Months?

Uninvited or not, Jiraiya's presence brought comfort to her life that no amount of sake could.

"So, what's got you drinking so early in the morning?" Jiraiya asked, flopping into the chair across from Tsunade.

"Mission allocations," she blew at her bangs, crossing her arms. "What brings you home?"

~Jiraiya

A goofy grin spread across Jiraiya's face. "Well, my two biggest fans just happen to live in Konoha,"—rummaging into one of the internal pockets of his vest—"I have gifts for them." He laughed at Tsunade's twitching left eyebrow. "I have other motives too,"—pocketing the crudely bound books, fearful his counterpart would disintegrate them at any second. "I'd like them to review it before sending it off to the printers."

"Rumour has it, one will be at Shushu-ya tonight for his birthday celebrations," Tsunade refilled their cups.

Good ole Konoha rumour mill.

Jiraiya couldn't begrudge it. It was sometimes handy for his writing. But it, too, had limitations. Not even Konoha's Fifth Hokage would know who else he was referring to, and he wasn't about to name drop. "Hm, Shushu-ya then?"

"Yes."

Jiraiya chuckled at the speedy reply from Tsunade—the last syllable barely left his tongue when she'd uttered her first. The Toad Sage nodded, throwing up a one-handed wave, "Nice to see you as always, Tsunade."


(Konoha's Jōnin lounge)

~Genma~

When leaving the Jōnin lounge, Genma is met with a haggard-looking medic-nin door. He tongued the senbon to the left side of his mouth, clenching it firmly between his teeth. "Need a little bit of love, little Sarutobi?"

"Fuck off, Genma," Nina grouched, giving him a rueful shove and side-stepping him into the lounge.

He knows it's dangerous to play this game with her. His endearing pet name for her is not quite as applicable today as it had been almost two decades ago. In all likelihood, this could end with him apologising whilst she mended whatever damage she'd inflicted. "Somebody needs to be laid."

"No," Nina grumbled into the fridge before glaring at him with narrowed eyes from around the fridge door. "Somebody just needs you to stop talking."

Spying the container left on the coffee table, Genma removed the second last biscuit and held out the container to Nina, offering the remaining one to her. "Come out to Shushu-ya tonight."

He could almost hear her internal cogs turning over—assessing a possible underhanded ploy to have her agree to a night out in exchange for food.

Partly warranted.

Genma shook the container. "It's for the Captain's birthday."

Again, he was all too aware of his own endangerment. There were rules which safeguarded identities for those involved in that sector of the village's shinobi force, and the kunoichi was a stickler for the rules. But that wasn't to say, she wouldn't test the ones that posed as an obstacle to her either.

Seeing Nina's clamped fists hanging by her sides, Genma placed the container on the coffee table and reclined back into the lounge, exchanging the senbon for a bite of the biscuit. "After the past fortnight, Nina,"—swallowing to clear his mouth—"I think you owe yourself a night out with good company over a quality sake or two."

~Nina~

In a bid to suppress the urge to punish him for flaunting a known rule, Nina forgot why she'd stuck her head in the fridge.

Dammit.

She knew Genma was right; the good company that he spoke of was precious, and she'd been reminded—quite savagely—how fickle life could be in the ninja world. She drummed her fingers on the top edge of the fridge door.

A few drinks wouldn't be the worst thing, and then there is the other thing.

The permitted exceptions for not attending whatever function Guy put together in his rival's honour were limited to out-of-village missions or if you were on your death bed. Although Nina could clearly recall the two or three times, Guy attended heavily bandaged and attached to an IV. She'd spent the night triaging him whenever he'd overexerted himself.

Idiot.

Then there was that time Kakashi was bedridden, and Guy took the party to him. Tsunade had given them all a pass, too reluctant to implicate herself because she'd also joined in on the revelry.

It was a sort of unspoken understanding since way back when. As Nina was neither out of the village nor on her death bed, she rolled her eyes and closed the fridge door. "Okay," she yielded.

~Genma~

Midway in pinching the last biscuit, Genma hesitantly looked up to the back of Nina's head, not sure if he should believe what he'd heard. The woman was married to her work. He'd discovered this for himself when he tried to get Nina on one date.

A man is bound to lose interest after so many rainchecks.

"Okay," Nina repeated. She turned to him, a shadow of a smile on her face. It was worn out but no less genuine.

Well, I'll be fucked.

Genma closed his eyes in bemused disbelief, missing Nina closing in on him.

Now Hatake would have someone to commiserate with over the disdain for social gatherings.

The kunoichi scrambled the top of his head and, with her damnable nimbleness, broke away far from his reach. "Goddammit, Sarutobi!"

She skipped out of the lounge giggling, all too satisfied with her cheeky handiwork.

If upsetting the placement of his hitai-ate, worn as a bandana with the plate at the back, wasn't enough, when batting Nina's hand away, Genma had dropped his biscuit. There was no question; he'd have to bin it.

What a waste.

Muttering to himself while reconfiguring his hitai-ate, he decided to enlist help from Hanako—equal parts wanting payback and as a sort-of insurance policy for Nina's attendance tonight. As for Hanako, she was his…

Girlfriend? Friend with benefits? Bedmate? What on earth are we?

They hadn't really discussed it, and with that, Genma made a mental note to bring it up sometime soon.


(Ichiraku Ramen Bar)

~Naruto~

Teuchi and Ayame, the father-daughter duo of Konoha's famed Ichiraku bar, were run off their feet as Naruto inhaled bowl after bowl of ramen—hopeful that his mentor would foot the bill. Clanging his bowl atop a stack that was six deep, Naruto eyed Jiraiya's still half-full bowl.

Man, he's slow.

"So, Pervy Sage"—slurping the noodles off his chopsticks—"are you going to teach me a new Jutsu?"

"Sorry, kiddo. Strictly a social visit this time."

Naruto stopped eating—his ramen tasting off because of his disappointment in the sage's reply. His rigorous training since Jiraiya's last visit forced the Genin to invest in a new set of his token orange and black jacket and pants because they'd been damaged beyond his mending skills. Sure, his rasengan wasn't perfect, but… but I worked so hard.

Sparring sessions with Sasuke and Bushy-Brows, many of which resulted in hospital trips afterwards, had increased his speed and taijutsu techniques. While it was nice being acknowledged by his peers, Naruto was eager to prove himself to Jiraiya—one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin.

~Jiraiya~

"Don't look so sad," Jiraiya reached out his hand, giving the middle of Naruto's shoulders a hearty pat. "I'll pay for lunch." Instantly, his knuckle-headed student's face lit up, quickly demanding another three bowls of ramen. Jiraiya joined in a chorus of laughter with Teuchi and Ayame. The kid could eat, and he'd be damned if anyone else loved ramen as much as Naruto did.

"Are you going to Shushu-ya tonight for Kakashi-sensei's birthday?" Naruto asked, setting down a fresh bowl of ramen Teuchi handed him.

A loud crash came from behind the bar.

Hm?

Ayame had bumped a pile of bowls and sent a few crashing to the floor. The way her cheeks flushed a brilliant shade of crimson and her flustered apology whilst tucking a piece of her brunette hair behind her right ear were all too-telling signs for the Toad Sage.

Clearly another admirer of Hatake's.

Jiraiya picked up his cup of sake and took a sip. "I am. I have a birthday gift for him."

~Naruto~

Naruto exactly what sort of gift Jiraiya was talking about. Upon returning to Konoha from his first training under Jiraiya, Naruto passed on that gift to Kakashi.

It's been a few years; maybe I'd actually enjoy reading them now? Eh, pass.

Along with being dragged around the countryside from one hot spring to the next—all in the name of supposed research—Naruto had been victim to hearing many recounts of romantic exploits between Jiraiya and Tsunade.

Who knows how many were actually true.

On the one hand, it was rather embarrassing that Jiraiya had so many failed attempts to win Tsunade's heart. But at the same time, Naruto found his tenacity and loyalty admirable. "Why don't you ask Granny to go with you?"

"There's an idea." A mischievous grin spread across the old man's face. "I owe her two bottles of sake for a missed report or something," Jiraiya added, finishing his drink and pulling out his wallet to pay for their lunch.

I knew he had his own money.

Naruto thought back to his shrivelled froggy wallet Jiraiya would give back after funding one of his nights of research.

Stingy old perv.

As for the two bottles of sake, Naruto wasn't buying that either. "Well, thanks, Pervy-Sage."

"Hey, how many times must I ask you not to call me—"

Naruto slid off his stool, rubbing his over-full stomach, "Bye, Pervy-Sage!"


(Konoha's Cenotaph)

~Kakashi~

Standing with shoulders hunched and hands stuffed into the pants pockets, Kakashi exhaled slowly, letting his uncovered eye close. He was once again in front of the cenotaph, reflecting on life. The names of his sensei and teammates were etched into the black marble stone before him—fallen hero shinobi of Konoha.

Kakashi brought his right foot up, tapping the top of his sandal on the ground.

Thirty-one, huh?

To him, it was just another year, another day. Everyone had a birthday. A muffled scoff left his mouth. If Obito were here, he would probably be laughing at him; likely just as insufferably keen as Guy in celebrating his birthday.

Or maybe not.

The hours Kakashi whiled away here, he often pondered the impact of altering events in his past—if there was ever a way—and how different his life would look. If the circumstances preceding his father's passing had been anything but what they were, would it have changed the fates of Obito and Rin?

Would I have still so desperately abided by the shinobi principals leading into the Kannabi Bridge mission?

Kakashi's semi-gloved fingers flexed in the depths of his pockets. All that he was left with were unanswered questions and the regret of unsaid words.

The sudden but familiar puff of smoke broke Kakashi from his mind. "Happy birthday, Boss," gruffled Pakkun.

"Thanks, Pakkun," Kakashi replied, crouching down to scratch behind the pug's ears.

The sunlight gleamed off Pakkun's hitai-ate that was strapped around his head.

Hm?

For the first time since arriving here before sunrise, Kakashi surveyed his surroundings—other than the cenotaph—estimating it to be well after midday.

It's probably time to go.

As they turned away from the memorial stone towards town, Pakkun snuffled a question, "So, what's Guy got planned for you this year?"