No Revenge Is As Complete As Forgiveness

A/N: I apologize for the lengthly delay between the last update and this one. There was some personal stuff that I had to look into. I also wrote a couple of one-shots which I have long wished to write, so they drained my muses for a little while. He's the new chapter, I hope you like it!



CHAPTER 9







When Kakashi woke up in the morning, it was still dark and he felt pleasantly sore. Naruto had been quite rough the previous night and he still felt the sting of penetration now, even after several hours of fitful sleep. He slipped from under the covers as stealthily as he could, leaving Naruto to scoot over the place he had just vacated, instinctively searching for his warmth and scent, his wild blonde hair even more disheveled than usual. The sheet fell down to his hips, tantalizingly baring his tanned, muscled back and the lighter flesh of his smooth, tight bottom and despite the soreness, Kakashi felt a pang of arousal which he quickly smothered. Naruto needed his sleep, and then there was their “guest”. The Jounin had all but forgotten about him the previous night, after Naruto so lovingly distracted him from his anger. Now the feeling returned, even more intense than before and he grabbed his robe from the chair by the window, wrapping his naked body in it before leaving the room quietly to see if Nagato was causing any kind of trouble.



The living room, he discovered, was empty, the blankets and sheets that had cluttered the sofa the previous night were carefully folded and placed in a neat little stack. He felt the faint resonance of Chakra from the general direction of the bathroom and headed that way, grabbing the handle of the door and sharply pulling it open to look inside.



Nagato jerked away from the sink and turned to look at him, vibrant blue eyes wild and surprised before he recognized him and glared.



“Would you had felt at least a little embarrassed to open the door without knocking and found me sitting on the toilet taking a dump?” he challenged with annoyance.



Kakashi glowered back at him.



“You seem terribly grateful to regain your normal bodily functions, I see.”



The red-head glared even harder, but said nothing.



“Do you not believe in showering in the morning?” Kakashi sniped.



“And have you grumbling about using up all the hot water? Hardly.”



The Jounin rolled his eyes.



“Just take a shower. You should look presentable at breakfast.”



“Oh? There’ll be breakfast?” despite his animosity, the man visibly perked up at the notion of food and Kakashi shrugged.



“I might disapprove, but Naruto did invite you and you’re a guest.” He spat the last word as if it was poison. “I am courteous to my guests.”



His words were followed by a long, awkward pause until Nagato finally said with visible effort to sound polite:



“Thank you.”



“Just take a shower.” Kakashi grumbled and slammed the door shut, then headed for the other bathroom, still fuming at himself for giving the man such courtesy. Still, both Itachi and Sasuke had asked him to give him a chance, not to mention Naruto, so he owed them to at least try. The thought left him with a bitter taste in his mouth, but Kakashi knew all about sacrificing his personal feelings for the good of the Village. IF this was for the good of Konoha, however, remained to be seen.



Twenty minutes later, after he had showered and shaved, he wrapped a clean robe around his form and headed for the kitchen. When he got there, he found Nagato pulling the curtains and letting in the pale predawn light, then noticed with annoyance that he was wrapped in one of his own robes. It was a bit too large on his frame, as he was shorter and a little lighter than Kakashi. When he turned their eyes met and the Jounin noticed, perhaps for the first time, that he looked terribly young. His hair, flattened around his scalp by the water just enhanced the effect. If he didn’t know for a fact that he was actually a little older than Minato, he would’ve thought that he was around the same age as Naruto, or just a little older than him.



They stared at each other awkwardly before Kakashi pointed to one of the chairs.



“Sit down. I’ll start breakfast.”



“May I help?”



“I’d rather not have you puttering around the food.” He answered flatly. The red-head smiled thinly at him.



“I assure you that I have more dignity than using poison to kill people.” He informed him sharply. Kakashi opened his mouth for a biting retort when he saw Naruto standing by the door, looking sleepy and rumpled and annoyed.



“It’s way too early to bicker like that.” He informed them. “Can’t you two wait at least until the sun goes up?”



Nagato had the grace to look guilty.



“I apologize, Naruto-san. I didn’t mean to offend one of my hosts.”



“I am sure that your host also didn’t mean to offend you.” Naruto grumbled and gave Kakashi a warning look. Kakashi sighed and nodded. “I am going to take a shower too, now. I expect my kitchen to still be in one piece when I return.” And with that, he turned and left. They both stared after him, Kakashi with loving annoyance, and Nagato, it appeared, with open admiration.



Kakashi carefully filed that information to analyze later and turned back to the food. By the time he was done, Naruto returned, looking freshly showered and shaved as well, dressed in a pair of black and fiery red pants and shirt. The combination, as usual, was eye-wateringly bright, but Kakashi had long given up on trying to impress on him the notion of wearing clothes that enhanced stealth. Nagato, on the other hand, was looking at him curiously.



“You seem to like bright colours.” He noted as they began to eat.



“They enhance my natural beauty.” Naruto answered carelessly and shoved more food in his mouth.



“Your visibility as well.” Nagato added thoughtfully. “Although now that you are a Hokage, that is probably a plus.”



Naruto’s blue eyes gleamed mischievously when he pointed out light:



“It’s hard to take fashion tips from a guy whose subordinates wore straw hats with bells hanging from them. Not to mention the toe nailpolish. Or the cloaks with red clouds on them. No offense, but you guys looked like pimps.”



Kakashi smothered a snicker in his cup of tea. A pout appeared on the full, pierced lips and the red-head answered indignantly:



“All those were Madara’s idea.”

Naruto thought about the swirly, bright orange mask. Being an evil genius aside, Uchiha Madara had been more than a little cooky, so this revelation came was no surprise.



“That, actually, explains a lot.” Kakashi muttered with exaggerated seriousness.



They all couldn’t help but snicker together and it lightened the atmosphere a bit, even if Kakashi tried to feel mortified that he was sharing a joke with this man. To change the subject, he turned to Naruto.



“I spoke with Itachi and Sasuke yesterday. They want to stop living like prisoners in the compound. And they want a job.”



“A job?”



“Yes. Any job. As long as it gives them a little financial independency, they seem ready to do anything.”



Naruto chewed thoughtfully.



“This is actually a good idea. I can think of a few things that Sasuke can do, but Itachi…”



“I am sure that Itachi can be very useful, despite his condition.” Nagato pointed out.



Kakashi threw him a sharp look to show him that his input wasn’t welcome, but Naruto turned to the other man.



“I wasn’t suggesting that his handicap makes him useless. I am simply worried that because of it, it would be harder for him to protect himself from the scorn he’d undoubtedly meet if he leaves the safety of the compound. I am not that worried about Sasuke, but Itachi is another matter.”



“Ninja are like bloodhounds, I know. They’ll sense what they think is a weakness and they’ll go in for the kill.” Nagato observed. “Although, I watched him for the year after his battle with Sasuke, and I assure you that he is quite capable of taking care of himself, should the need arise.”



Kakashi thought back to the little confrontation between the brothers and the group of Chuunin and Genin that had sneaked into the compound some time ago.



“Indeed.” He said. “Itachi is far from helpless, Naruto.” He paused. “And I also have an idea, of sorts.”



“Oh?”



“You know that the Uchihas have a contract with spirit cats, the way I have with Pakkun and the rest of my dogs and you with your frogs?”



Naruto looked surprised.



“They do?”

“They’re quite adorable.” Nagato pointed out and Kakashi stared at him.



“You using such a word is creepy.” He told him. “Please don’t do it again.”



“What, I am not allowed to like animals?”



“Keep this up, both of you, and I’ll be very unhappy.” Naruto interjected lightly. They both quieted down like scolded children. The blonde turned to Kakashi again. “What about the cats?”



“I was thinking that if you allow them, they could summon one of them to act as Itachi’s guide and helper. Bodyguard, of sorts, even.”



Naruto thought about it for a little while, then said:



“This, actually, is an excellent idea.” He took another bite, chewed, swallowed, then said “As for the job, for now I’ll put Sasuke on a desk. Somewhere down at the archives – where they store the reports of the D and C missions, away from sensitive material. It’d give him something to do but also keep him away from people for most of the time. We need to be slow and careful when we ease them back into the general population.”



“And Itachi? I was thinking, especially if he has the cat with him, that we could put him in charge of the Academy armory. The one that dispenses training weapons to the youngest students. This is a job that no one wants to do, but which would be safe for him – the weapons are blunt or made of wood, so he wouldn’t hurt himself.”



“Alright. After breakfast, Nagato and I will head for the tower to begin the talks on the peace treaty, and you go to inform them that they can have those jobs, if they want them.”



Pleased, Kakashi nodded.



“I would like to meet them at some point.” Nagato piped in. “To see for myself how they are doing.



“The Clan Heads wouldn’t be happy about it.” Naruto pointed out. “But I’ll see what I can do.”



“Thank you.”



“One of us would be there to watch you, of course.” Kakashi interjected. “You understand that we can’t let you be alone with people which so many view as your accomplices.”



“They were my subordinates, and later my charges. I still feel responsible for them.” Nagato told him, voice full of annoyance. He looked down at his plate sadly. “But I do understand why it has to be done this way.”



Soon afterwards they left the house, Naruto and Nagato heading for the Hokage Tower and Kakashi for the Uchiha compound, but not before sending the red-head a warning look to remind him of his threat. Nagato didn’t dignify it with any response, pointedly turning away and looking at Naruto, listening to whatever the Hokage was talking about.



He found the brothers in the garden, working on a vegetable bed, trying to plant a bunch of sad-looking radish plants. Still, they worked deftly in unison, Itachi not falling behind at all.



Sasuke looked up when he approached and Itachi straightened as well.



“Good morning.” Kakashi greeted cheerfully. “I see the two of you have found something to keep you busy, although gardening would’ve been the last on the list of things I’d have thought you’d do.”



Sasuke shrugged.



“It’d provide more food. And we know how to do it. Sort of. Mother used to do it all the time and we loved watching her.”



Kakashi noticed that behind Sasuke Itachi flinched visibly at his words but chose not to comment on it. He knew that their wounds were deep and only time and patience could close them, if not heal them completely.



“I came to tell you that Naruto agreed about the jobs.”



“This is good!” Itachi said, his face lightening up a bit. Sasuke only nodded.



“You, Sasuke, will report to the archiving office in the basement of the Hokage tower. Naruto will put you as part of the team that files the D and C missions while Itachi will go to the Academy armory – the one dispensing training weapons to the youngest students. You will help with the maintenance.”



Itachi nodded, looking quite pleased, while Sasuke was wiping the dirt off his hands with an already dirty rag, his expression unreadable.



“You understand that under the current circumstances, a desk job is the best Naruto could do, right?”



“I do understand, Kakashi. It doesn’t mean I have to jump for joy over it.” The younger Uchiha muttered.



“For all its worth, Naruto believes that once people got a little used to you, you both could move up to something more interesting. Although I am not sure if you’ll ever be allowed to go on an actual mission.”



“I know.” He looked sad, thoughtful, melancholy even. “I screw up, didn’t I?”



Itachi’s expression was pained, guilty, but despite that he reached and timidly hugged him, his dirty fingers staining Sasuke’s shirt. Surprisingly, the young man didn’t jerk away from the embrace, leaning into it instead.



Kakashi couldn’t help but smile a little under his mask. Despite everything, things seemed to be getting a little better for everyone. If only he could bring himself to trust Nagato’s good intentions.



“I also have an idea.” He said and they turned to him.



“An idea?”



He nodded and explained. When he was done, Sasuke’s eyes were gleaming.



“I can’t believe I didn’t think that up myself.”



“You had other worries.” Itachi answered.



“That’s no excuse.” Sasuke answered sternly, then turned to Kakashi “So I have official permission from Naruto to do a summon?”



Kakashi nodded.



“As official as it can be when it’s verbal. You two go ahead. I need to return to the Tower now, because the negotiations must have started already.”



“The negotiations with Nagato?” Itachi piped in.



“Yes. They’re just preliminary talks for now and will go over some documents, but it’d still be better to be around.”



He said goodbye and left, heading back to the Tower.



Sasuke stared after his retreating back for a while then said:



“I think we should see what food suitable for a cat we have. You know how they are.”



A small, wistful smile appeared on Itachi’s face.



“Yes. ‘Feed me’ would probably be its first words when you summon it.”



Although Kakashi had every intention of showing up at the tower as soon as possible, his plans went down the drain when he was intercepted by Gai on the street. His eccentric friend wore his customary slightly manic grin, but it did not reach his eyes. It rarely did, these days.



“Is it true, Kakashi?” he asked him quietly without his usual speeches about youth and springtime and daisies or whatever he chose to incorporate in his latest antics devised to distract his opponent enough in order for Gai to get close enough to strike. “He is here now? Up in the tower with the Hokage-sama?”



Kakashi sighed and nodded silently, then grabbed Gai by the elbow and pushed him into the nearest dark alley he could spot.



“The whole village is buzzing with rumours.” Gai informed him.



“I would assume so, yes.” Kakashi muttered and looked at the entrance of the alley, finding it empty and deserted.



“People aren’t happy, you should know. First the Uchiha boys, and now Pein?”



“I know. I wasn’t happy at all about it either, but if we are to move forward, we need to reach out even to those who were once our enemies. After all, our conflict with Suna didn’t stop our alliance with them or Naruto’s friendship with Gaara.”



“Suna’s forces didn’t level Konoha with the ground and Gaara didn’t murder Naruto’s mentor.” Gai pointed out. “Still, I understand your sentiment. I am sure that a lot of other people do as well, but I think that I should warn you to be careful. Both of you. Naruto’s walking on very thin ice, especially considering that rumours about Danzou being alive somewhere are filtering in. It makes people nervous and this is never good in our occupation.”



“I know. I’ll pass on the message.” He patted Gai’s shoulder, hoping to soothe his worries. “I really need to go now, though.”



Gai bid him goodbye after that and left, and Kakashi continued on his way down to the Tower.



When he finally arrived and quietly slipped into the conference hall, the talks were going at full speed – although it was more like the screaming rather than the talks.



“So you, Hokage-sama, are suggesting that we should not only sign a peace treaty with this man here, but also start doing business with him? Are you out of your mind!?” an irate Hyuuga was yelling at an exasperated-looking Naruto, although Hiashi himself seemed more thoughtful than pissed off and that gave Kakashi some hope. Nagato, on the other hand, sat next to Naruto, his pretty face absolutely unreadable, blue eyes hidden behind the Rin’negan imitating contact lenses. ‘So, he can control his expression when he puts his mind into it.’ Kakashi observed with offhanded amusement.



“Need I remind you what HE did?” the Hyuuga kept yelling and pointing at Nagato.



“Apparently, you are in need of reminding.” Naruto answered quietly, his silky drawl commanding attention and cutting through the man’s hysterics like a knife. “Despite his attack on us, the final result was huge property damage and no actual fatalities. On the contrary, he made a conscious, concentrated and most of all, successful, effort to restore all those he had harmed to full health. One would think that his act of large-scale vandalism would pale in comparison to the good he did.”



“He did so only because you would’ve ripped him a new asshole if he hadn’t!” the man snapped and Nagato’s eyes narrowed viciously at him.



“If you’re a Hyuuga, then you must’ve watched our entire exchange after Naruto-san here discovered my hiding place. Tell me, did I strike you as a person who had anything left to lose?”



The man glared back and was about to say something else when Hiashi interjected:



“Enough. I, like the Hokage-sama, believe that we can profit from establishing a civil relationship with Ame, especially now that Akatsuki is no more.” He gestured to the closed folders on the table in front of every person. “This is the preliminary draft of the peace treaty. Those who haven’t read it before can do so now.”



As it turned out, a lot of people hadn’t and they reached for the folders. After a short hesitation, Nagato did as well. He opened it and looked at it. To Kakashi’s surprise he noticed him paling slightly and a pair of red spots appeared high on his cheeks. The Jounin had read the document and he knew that there were some parts of it that would make the man fume with indignation, this was not the expected reaction. In fact, the red-head’s eyes weren’t moving at all along the page, even if he held he folder open before himself and looked at it. He watched him a little more and noticed that he wasn’t turning the page either. A realization dawned on him.



“Ladies and gentlemen.” Kakashi said suddenly and they all looked up. “How about we have a little recess? You have been working and arguing since early morning and I am sure that you are all quite hungry by now. Why don’t you go out to have a little snack and then return?”



Natuto looked at him questioningly and Kakashi met his eyes, hoping that the blond would catch on and follow his lead. Thankfully, he did and nodded to the rest of the Clan Leaders and their assistants. “Yes, what an excellent idea. Go ahead, we can continue in half an hour or so.”



There was no argument and they slowly began to file out of the room until only Kakashi, Naruto and Nagato remained. Naruto turned to his lover and said:



“Now, what was all that about?”



Kakashi turned to look at Nagato, whose blush appeared to be deepening:



“I’m saving our guest the embarrassment of having to admit that he can’t read well enough to understand a text written in such complex language and glyphs.”



A/N: Yes, I know that I used the "semi-literate Nagato" idea in the Loyalty arc, but this is such an integral and important part of the image I have of him that it seems to appear in most of my fics regarding him. D8