A/N: Just a brief Interlude of the Hokage's POV from last chapter!
Next chapter should be posted over the weekend like normal, barring catastrophe!
Or author distraction.
Which is pretty much the same thing.
Thanks for reading!
"With all due respect, Hokage-sama, this is an awful idea."
Kakashi's book is nowhere in sight, Hiruzen notes as he relaxes into his chair. He's serious.
"With Orochimaru directly influencing their minds, it's necessary to keep them separated - we don't know how this seal is meant to work, or how aware he is of the children. So what, exactly, is your problem with this, Hatake-san?"
Kakashi falls into a parade rest, hands clasped behind his back. "I understand that isolating them is necessary until we know more about the situation. But in that safe house - at the very least, I request we use my clan's retreat. It's large enough, and I can monitor them as effectively as any ANBU squad-"
"You let your emotions influence your decisions. Hatake-san." Hiruzen sighs.
Kakashi bristles, then takes a breath to settle his reflexes. "I've trained with these children for nearly two months now, Hokage-sama. I know them. And in taking all of that into consideration, I know this isn't going to work. At the very least, give them a larger safe-house so they can have a live-in guard."
Hiruzen shakes his head. "And allow Orochimaru the chance to spread his influence? We don't know that he can't, and I will not take that risk. Any larger a safe-house won't be so easily protected by seals either. This is the best way to handle it."
Kakashi scowls, though his voice is even when he speaks. "Then at least allow me to spend more time with them - I know them well, and I will be able to recognize when they are acting under their own impulses. I can have daily or even regulated meetings with Inoichi-sama to make certain nothing spreads. I honestly do not believe either of them will respond well to this-"
"You think they will resist? That they are not loyal enough to understand the necessity of this?"
Kakashi stiffens. "I… believe that their personalities are not… very compatible without a buffer to temper their impulses. And that they do not always think before they act."
Such is the way of children, Hiruzen knows. But even so.
"The seals will keep such behavior contained. And the ANBU will check in when they need to supply groceries. You and Naruto-kun will be permitted to visit briefly once the ANBU are certain everything is secure. This is final."
Kakashi's arm spasms faintly, and Hiruzen wonders what urge he was suppressing. To reach for a weapon? His book, to hide behind? His headband?
Regardless, best not push the man. Fiercely dedicated to teamwork, Hiruzen thinks Kakashi might actually oppose him for his students if he thinks he has to.
"If you still have concerns after your permitted visit, we can continue this discussion then. Dismissed, Hatake-san."
Kakashi offers a curt bow and none of his witty farewells, disappearing in a flurry of leaves. It's understandable, considering he only barely got to the fight in time to protect his students, that he might feel somewhat possessive of them in the wake of it all.
Even so, Hiruzen must consider the good of the village, especially over the lives of a traitor's son and an unnatural interloper.
It is only for Itachi's loyalty that he lets the security risk remain at all. If he cannot swear to have made every attempt to save them that he could, well.
The damage that Itachi could do should he go forward with the truth is great. Best to at least give the boy a chance.
Kakashi stands in front of his desk with a look that's equal parts smug and worried.
As well he should, Hiruzen thinks, contemplating the ANBU's report. Destroying two inner walls without triggering any of the alerts - for all that they only bound the alert threads to the outward-facing ones since such seals work better when used purely as a surrounding force, the fact that the Dragneel boy's power could be so selective…
"You don't seem surprised, Hatake-san." he says eventually, voice measured.
"Natsu is a very active person. It doesn't surprise me that he would try and give himself more space to move about." Kakashi shrugs casually, as though the boy just shuffled some furniture instead of collapsing entire sections of an elaborate seal.
Without damaging the other parts, which is nearly more terrifying by sheer implication.
"And his methods? They don't surprise you either?"
Kakashi sighs, as though the question bores him. "Natsu claims his natural power is the use of pure spiritual energy - even before he ended up possessing Sakura-chan, he supposedly shaped jutsu out of nothing else. He didn't even know physical chakra existed. Considering how unheard-of such an ability is, I've simply been keeping mark of anything he does to try and create a baseline. Considering he is capable of making fire but choosing who it burns and who it passes over without harm, something like this isn't all that spectacular."
Hiruzen would beg to differ, though he knows geniuses like Kakashi see things differently. The sheer danger of a person who can freely affect bits and pieces of a seal without taking into consideration how it's bound together, is horrifying. But, perhaps to Kakashi the complexity of making other people immune to a jutsu on a case-by-case basis is more impressive, simply because he trusts his student not to mess with… certain seals.
Hiruzen has no such luxury.
"He continues to claim his powers are not bloodline-based?" Hiruzen asks after a moment, because arguing the threat-level of Kakashi's students will get them nowhere.
The sensei nods. "He insists that anyone back home can learn if they start young enough - it might well be true, teaching children how to mold their chakra separately is possible at a young age, but the fact that he says he wasn't even aware of physical chakra means that either he lacks physical chakra entirely, or it somehow does not naturally interact with his spiritual chakra. Which is what makes me certain he's wrong. He has a bloodline, and is just unaware of it due to how prolific it is among his people."
"I see. And I have not seen a report regarding his power because…?" Hiruzen trails leadingly, letting displeasure tint his voice.
Kakashi doesn't react. "Until very recently, I only had his word and a single unusual occurrence to base everything from. As I understand, he hasn't been able to freely use his power until now. I did include in my report of the Wave mission how he managed to melt a Yuki-born's ice. I'm afraid none of us know exactly what he's capable of, but I'm equally certain that he is not a threat, Hokage-sama. Regardless of Orochimaru and whatever influence he might have at the moment."
"Would you say it likely then," Hiruzen starts, removing his pipe, "that the reason Haruno-chan cannot take control of her own mind and body, is because a person so heavily trained in spiritual chakra, which is an entirely mental power, cannot help but to naturally overpower her?"
To his credit, Kakashi considers the possibility for a moment. "You would know better than I, Hokage-sama, though Natsu-san seems rather in control of himself. I do not think the problem with Sakura-chan would be something like that."
"I see. Dismissed, Hatake-san."
"Hokage-sama-"
"In a few days, if they show no adverse signs of Orochimaru's influence, we can discuss alternate arrangements. For now, I will prioritize the safety of my village."
Kakashi bows sharply and leaves.
Hiruzen sighs.
This situation has become so complicated…
"Hokage-sama!" ANBU Tiger perches on the window sill, poised to leap away in a moment's notice.
Kakashi cuts himself off mid-argument for moving his team to a new location, resignation painted across his face.
Hiruzen scowls.
"Report!"
"Uchiha and Haruno escaped custody - Haruno attacked Gazelle-taicho immediately upon detection."
Kakashi doesn't even look surprised, merely annoyed, so Hiruzen bites down on his first order and focuses his attention on the man.
"You don't believe this to be a result of outside influence, Hatake-san?" he asks, voice edged with threat.
"No, Hokage-sama. As I tried to say before, neither Natsu nor Sasuke have the sort of temperament to behave themselves in long-term isolation." Kakashi meets his gaze evenly, and Hiruzen thinks he might believe the man.
Even so.
Attacking ANBU.
Some things cannot go unpunished.
"Have them brought here immediately upon capture. Conscious, if it's not too late."
"Hai."
Tiger leaps from the window, chakra already flaring in an alert pattern.
.
It takes ten minutes for ANBU to drag the bedraggled children of Team 7 into his office, which is five more than Hiruzen expected to have to wait.
Sasuke walks in front of them, arms crossed and expression annoyed, and both Cat and Boar frog-march Dragneel in, holding him between them like a fragile seal-bomb.
Gazelle has Naruto slung over his shoulder, and the blond gives him a cheery wave.
"Hi Jiji!"
Hiruzen feels ten years fall off the edge of his lifespan, and wishes he had a successor he could trust his village to.
Retirement has never sounded so sweet.