Nine

Author: princessgolux
Title: Nine
Fandom: Naruto
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and I gain no profit from this story.
Chapter Pairings: Kakashi/Tsubaki/Tenzou
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Story Rating: NC-17
Chapter Warnings: AU/AR; implication of M/F/M
A/N: A very grateful ‘thank you’ to all my reviewers. I’m very, very happy that you are enjoying the story. The next few chapters will take a little more time, I think. I have to work out this ceremony and I think it'll take more than one chapter to do it. I'm planning to write the entire ceremony out before posting anything, for continuity's sake. So although it may take a bit longer, you'll probably get more than one chapter when I do update. I hope. :)

Once again, Kakashi’s got two voices in his head. His thoughts are in italics and Obito’s are in italics with little // marks around ‘em. Minor character info here: http:// www(dot)leafninja (dot)com/biographies-T.php#Tsubaki (Note: There are two Tsubaki’s in the biographies. I mean the one labeled ‘Tsubaki 2.’


Chapter Fifteen: Messages

The Velvet Sheath
Konoha City, Konoha
Fire Country
521 A.T.D.

Tsubaki felt the bed shift and her heart jumped a bit. There was just enough early morning light to see the broad back moving away, muscles flexing and rippling as Kakashi glided soundlessly into the small bathroom and began to shower. The relentless sound of water hitting tile signaled the rapid approach of the end of the evening, and she felt a pang of guilt at her momentary sense of loss. Tenzou was a warm mass behind her, one hand curled around her breast, and although this was the first time she’d bedded the younger ANBU, she could tell it wouldn’t be the last. She shouldn’t mourn one client with another still clinging to her body.

Still, something in the quality of their encounter had felt like Kakashi was saying goodbye, and though she wasn’t foolish enough to have believed that he was in love with her, she was foolish enough to have let herself feel more for the Dog of Konoha than she should.

“Mmm.” Tenzou hummed into her shoulder. “Stop thinking so hard.”

As an apology, she turned and kissed him, a slow, teasing kiss. The dawn was still an hour or so off – they had time for more lovemaking. Kakashi always paid for the entire night, no matter how much or how little of her time was used, and he had paid over and above the normal extra charge for a double to bring his kouhai to her bed.

It hadn’t been a hardship, granted. Tenzou was a gorgeously dark and solid contrast to Kakashi’s quicksilver beauty. Plus he had been gratifyingly awed by both her body and her sensual skill, as well as beautifully responsive to (if initially somewhat shocked by) Kakashi’s caresses as well. Even if, as she suspected, Kakashi might no longer be a client of hers, Tenzou was a sweet and unexpected parting gift, and she hoped he would find his way back to her soon.

Tenzou pulled her underneath him and licked a path up to her ear. She steeled her heart, expecting endearments or pillow talk, ready to continue her session. She discovered, however, that she was underestimating the quiet young man.

“If you need to cry for Senpai,” he whispered quietly, one large, warm hand smoothing her hair away from her face, “I’ll understand.”

Her eyes widened in the dark. She turned and looked up at his face, mostly hidden in the dim light. She couldn’t quite make out his eyes, but something in the steady neutrality of his voice made her think he might just understand the tight feeling creeping up into her throat.

Maybe the gifting – and the parting – went more than one way.

“He’s gone now.” Tenzou murmured. “He’ll never know.”

Those words cut deep, both truths equally hurtful. Startled she lifted her head, realizing at once that the shower had gone silent. The lack of noise meant nothing – Kakashi never made noise anyway, even in the spasms of climax – but the room felt colder, and a whole lot emptier and she knew Tenzou was right.

Kakashi was gone.

She also knew she should be more professional, but sudden longing and the pain of loss swept over her and she threw away her pride, buried her face in his warmth and wept.

Akatsuki Training Facility
Kado City, Steel Country


Jiraiya blessed his new, ultra-powerful miniature spyglass. Though he hadn’t yet had the happiness of testing it out at any of the local bathhouses, it was so far proving up to the challenge of Steel Country fog, which even at midday was trying its best to rival the thick blinding mist that rose from the waterways and canals of Kiri. From his vantage point high on the roof of an opposing building, Jiraiya could clearly see the arrival of the Akatsuki Council party on one side of the facility and the emergence of a small, armed party of guards on the other side. The grim men and women exiting the far side of the building below surrounded a tall blond man, his casual tee shirt and blue jeans looking far too light for the late winter cold.

That must be Tsunade’s tadpole.

He adjusted the telescopic lenses of his spyglass, zooming in to get a better look.

The young man held his body loosely, appearing almost nonchalant. Jiraiya could see sweat beading at his temples, however, and a slight flicker of motion drew Jiraiya’s gaze to the tadpole’s left hand.

As he walked, the kid was rubbing his thumb and forefinger together. It was the tiniest of movements, hidden in the natural sway of his body as he walked. But Jiraiya focused closely on those fingers and saw a small trickle of blood form on the boy’s thumb. That thumb slowly curled into the cup of the tadpole’s hand and smeared the blood onto a small silver ring, which unwound itself from his finger and disappeared.

Hooouuuu...

One of the Aburame’s toys, I’d imagine.

With the smallest flick of a finger Jiraiya Summoned a tiny frog, no bigger than the viewing lens of his spyglass.

“There’s a small silver bug down there, inching it’s way toward Konoha.” He said to it. “Find it and wait for me here.”

The frog nodded and disappeared.

Jiraiya watched the guards take the blond into a nearby shop and followed, finding an unlocked access door on the shop’s roof that let him slip into the building. One of the guards passed him as he hid in the shadow of an open door, but he slipped into the upstairs part of the shop without being seen.

He found a security room with another one of the four Akatsuki guards standing over an irritated security woman.

“If you’re just going to shoot him,” the woman said nastily, “can’t you do it where we won’t have to clean his blood out of our upcoming spring line?”

“Not going to shoot him here.” The guard replied gruffly. “They’re having some sort of shindig, you know? He’s important or some such. Want him to look his best, I guess.”

“Why’re you lot ‘escorting’ him, then? Not many need an armed guard to attend a party.”

“It’s a private party, see?” the guard’s voice was gruffly sarcastic. “Don’t want none of his friends showing up. Might not have enough cake or something.”

Or something. Jiraiya thought. That bastard might just be expecting me.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

Oh, well. At least the tadpole isn’t in immediate danger.

He slipped out past the upstairs guard and back to his original perch overlooking the Akatsuki hideout. The small Summon was waiting patiently for him.

“Open a channel to the Old Man.” He said tersely. “We need to talk.”

Hokage Tower
Konoha City, Konoha
Fire Country


“Thank you, Jiraiya.” The Hokage said, chewing on the end of his pipe as he stared out of the window overlooking his city, unfocused eyes barely taking in the sunrise beginning outside his office. “We’ll send someone out there immediately. Even if they can’t get there in time for this ritual, hopefully you and our man on the inside can hold on until backup arrives.”

“I think I can get the tadpole and our target out, Sarutobi.” Jiraiya’s voice issued forth from the mouth of the small frog crouching on the Hokage’s desk. “The tricky part is going to be afterward. They’ll be expecting us to bring the boy directly to Konoha. I don’t know what condition the tadpole will be in, and I’ll have my hands full with Orochimaru and his partner. I can’t take them, not together, but I can slow them down. Tsunade could help protect the kids, but...well, she’s not going to be happy to blow her cover. And she’s not exactly...subtle.”

The Sandaime crooked a grin at his reflection.

“No,” he said ruefully, “subtle, she’s not.”

“If we up the ante too much, more of those really fucking powerful bastards will show. And we’ll lose this war before it’s really begun.”

“Just get them out alive and keep them under cover for a day or two.” Sarutobi ordered. “I’ll send someone...sufficiently subtle...to bring them home.”

“Better send an angel, Sarutobi. I have a gut feeling that this is going to get very, very ugly. And the kid’s gonna have to take the boy and disappear – I mean really disappear for a while. Long enough for these guys to focus on something or someone else, to decide it isn’t worth the time or the money. I don’t think they’ll give up, but at least we could force them to change their game plan. I don’t know.”

“If we wait long enough I believe Akatsuki will assume he’s not headed back there. By the time their sources tell them he’s come home, he’ll be at least somewhat integrated into Konoha society and it will be harder for them to simply snatch him. I believe they’ll shift their focus toward attempting to Collar, coerce or subvert him later in life, rather than trying to recapture him as a child.”

“Do you have a basis for that theory, Jiraiya?”

“They’ve got two Jinchuuriki that I know of. One they captured as a child, the Two Tail, and they used this same ritual or whatever that they’re gearing up for now. The other, the Four Tail, was a little older when they discovered him. Just about the same age the Nine Tail is now. They watched him for several years, but made no move to take him until he passed his Chuunin exam. Then they set a honey of a honey trap, and tangled him up good and proper. A woman, you know? Pretty little thing, too. Kid never knew what hit him.”

“I know it’s not a lot, Sarutobi, but it’s all we got.”

“Understood, Jiraiya. Thank you for your message. Tsunade sent something back with Ibiki a while ago that should help. Do what you can. I’ll get someone out there as soon as possible.”

The frog disappeared in a small puff of smoke and the Sandaime chewed his pipe and thought, watching the sky lighten and the stars go out.

“What do the Advisors think?” He asked presently.

Homura and Koharu exchanged troubled glances.

“Our main worry, frankly, is contamination.” Koharu said reluctantly.

“We don’t know how pervasive the Nine Tail’s influence could be.” Homura added. “The reports have been scanty at best. Given the situation, that is of course entirely reasonable. However what guarantees do we have that he hasn’t been tainted by the demon’s influence?”

“One of the reasons we agreed to this plan, Sarutobi, was that the boy was expendable.” Koharu’s reedy voice was hard and resolute. “Should the Nine Tail gain control of his psyche through the child, a young Chuunin wouldn’t be too difficult to kill. A few of our Jounin working together could take care of the situation, even with the Nine Tail’s power behind him.”

“If the Nine Tail was able to manipulate one of our Jounin, however...”

“Understood.” Sarutobi cut her off. “I will take that into consideration.”

“However,” he swung around and fixed them with a determined look. “I will not sacrifice Konoha shinobi lightly. We have set this gamble in motion. We must have the courage to see it through.”

“Courage is not the question, Sarutobi.” Koharu’s voice held the slightest hint of disapproval. “It is far better to be cautious than brave. The future of our village is at stake.”

“I know the stakes.” Sarutobi snapped. “I will place as many safeguards around the situation as possible. But the throw has been made. Hesitation now will only result in the worst possible outcome. We committed to this course of action years ago. We must see it through.”

“And,” he added quietly, but with determination, “It is not just our village at stake.”

“This is a fight for the very future of our world. We must never forget that.”

The Advisors bent their heads in troubled acquiescence.

“Very well.” Koharu said. “We will follow your lead on this.”

“Thank you. Thank you both.”

The Sandaime triggered the intercom.

“Have Hyuuga Hiashi prep his fastest plane.” He said. “And send me Morino Ibiki and Hatake Kakashi. I need them now.”


Residential District,
Konoha City, Konoha
Fire Country

//I think you did some damage there, Kakashi.//

She’ll get over it. Kakashi leapt across the Konoha rooftops, trying not to feel like he was fleeing the scene of a crime. And hey! I gave her Tenzou. He’s...solid. And...enthusiastic. And...um...well-proportioned?

//Yeah, fine. He’s got a great ass. Which you sampled quite thoroughly last night.

Kakashi grinned. Yeah...

//That’s not the point.//

Back off, Obito. Kakashi slid into his apartment through the upper window. It was time to move on. We both know that.

//Yeah. Any minute now you’d actually start to like her. Gotta watch out for that.//

Look. Just...fuck off, okay?

Kakashi swallowed a couple of painkillers as he stripped. He set his weapons down carefully, in the order he would put them back on again later, and then threw his clothes in the direction of the dirty clothes hamper and headed for his shower.

He needed his own smell back.

He emerged twenty minutes later, after a thorough scrubbing, with damp hair that smelled like him and the nascent headache behind his eyes slowing retreating.

A messenger hawk sat on his window. It gave three harsh cries, one long and two short, and then another two short screeches after a minute pause.

Fuck.

The hawk repeated the code, spread its wings, and took off. Kakashi pulled on a clean black uniform and all his various weapons. He’d stopped wearing his father’s tanto a while back after almost losing it during a particularly vicious battle. He didn’t have much except the tanto and his face to remember his dad by. He tried to keep both private.

He shoved his white katana into its sheath on his back, pulled on his mask, and took off towards the Tower.

At least I got laid. And I can eat on the road. And sleep? Who needs it?

He grinned to himself again.

Ah well. Fuck it.

I’ll sleep when I’m dead.


Hokage Tower
Konoha City, Konoha
Fire Country


Ibiki stepped into the Hokage’s office and dropped to one knee.

“Hokage-sama.”

“Ibiki.” The Hokage sat with his hands folded. “I have a mission for you.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.”

There was a strange silence.

“...Ibiki.”

Ibiki looked up at the unfamiliar note in the Sandaime’s voice.

“Yes?”

The Hokage sighed, looking tired. When he spoke, though, his voice was crisp and direct.

“We have received information that Touji Mizuki is currently in Steel Country.”

Ibiki’s mouth dropped open. He stared at his leader in shock.

“Your mission is to travel to Steel Country, capture Mizuki, and bring him back to stand trial at the next Council meeting in three months time.”

“Three...months?”

“Yes.” The Hokage looked him in the eye, face utterly neutral. “If you capture him before that time no one can know about it. You will have to keep his whereabouts known only to yourself –even I cannot know about it. You will be responsible for totally sequestering him until the trial date. We have too many ears around, and Mizuki’s connections are powerful.”

“Understood, Hokage-sama.” Ibiki hesitated, then asked, “If I cannot capture him in time, my Lord?”

“Then you will be recalled and I will send out a team of ANBU with orders to kill on sight.” The Hokage’s eyes were direct and hard. He threw a small scroll at Ibiki, who caught it without breaking eye contact. “With or without Touji Mizuki you are to present yourself at the Council Meeting. Your failure to show will be punished severely.

“The date and time is detailed in that scroll. Memorize it and destroy it. Now.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.” Obediently, Ibiki unrolled the scroll and memorized the information. A flick of his fingers ignited the scroll and he let it go as it turned to ash and disappeared.

“The Hyuuga will be waiting for you at the airstrip.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.” Ibiki said, his voice a little too loud, even to his own ears. “What about...our mutual friend?”

“I can’t tell you about that.” The Hokage said, not unkindly. “But you can take what comfort you can find in your fellow passenger on this trip.”

The door swung open and Hatake Kakashi strode in.

“You rang?” Kakashi said, his voice and posture loose and lazy. He pushed his mask up onto his wild shock of silver hair and raised an eyebrow at the room in general.

Ibiki began to grin.

“I believe I find myself comforted, Hokage-sama.”

He bowed.

“I must go make preparations.”

“The plane leaves in twenty minutes, Ibiki.” The Sandaime said, his tone a fraction warmer. “Don’t miss it.”

“Understood.”


Kakashi felt Ibiki leave but didn’t turn to watch him go. The message was urgent – all his attention was on his leader.

“I have a mission for you, Kakashi.” The Hokage said, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers. “It’s a long term, S ranked mission. You’ll be away from the village for months, perhaps up to a year.”

Kakashi looked intrigued.

“Infiltration?”

“No.” The Sandaime said, tapping the ends of his fingers together. “It’s an escort mission.”

“Who’s the client?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Where is he or she going?”

“I can’t tell you that, either.”

Kakashi raised his other eyebrow.

“Well. That...poses a challenge.”

“The person you will be guarding is a courier, of sorts.” The Hokage leaned forward and pressed a few buttons, opening a small drawer in his desk. He pulled out a scroll and opened it. He made a few hand seals and the writing in the center of the scroll disappeared, leaving a plain white tee shirt on the now-empty scroll.

“Summon your dogs.” Kakashi blinked, but obeyed. All eight ninken soon lolled about the small office.

The Hokage nodded at the shirt.

“That is the scent of the man I want you to escort. He is a master of disguise, so a picture would be useless. You and your dogs will be better served following his scent.”

Kakashi’s eyes narrowed. He made no move toward the garment on the desk.

“Why can’t I work out some sort of code with your courier? Some way he can let me know when he shifts disguises?”

The Hokage sighed and rubbed his head.

“Because hopefully he’ll never know you’re there.”

Kakashi folded his arms and tilted his head to the side. His eye curved into a happy crescent.

“Maybe you’d better start at the beginning, Hokage-sama. Just what is this mission?”

“Its the most important mission I have ever sent you on.” The Sandaime’s mouth tightened. Kakashi was startled to realize that his leader looked...old.

“Hokage-sama?”

“There is a man out there,” the Hokage said slowly, choosing his words with care. He was looking at Kakashi openly, as though he were holding his hands out to show that they were weaponless, empty, “there is a very brave young man out there, who is bringing something precious back to Konoha, something that was stolen from us years ago.”

The Sandaime’s mouth pursed.

“At least,” he added sourly, “he’ll be bringing it back if he manages to make it through tonight without being killed.”

“If he survives the next twenty-four hours, he will begin making his way here. And many, many dangerous people will be looking for him, looking to take back the package he’s carrying.”

“He can’t fight them alone. So I’m sending him you.”

“Okay.” Kakashi said soberly. “But why can’t I just take the package and come back here directly? If he’s as good as you say, he can draw them off my tail and then disappear. Meanwhile I can come back with the package at top speed. The whole thing would be over in three days.”

“Because you cannot touch the package.”

“Why?”

“I can’t explain that to you.”

“Hokage-sama...”Kakashi was getting frustrated.

“I know, Kakashi.” The Sandaime smiled a little, sadly. “There’s more.”

“More?” Kakashi said, disbelievingly.

“Here’s the full outline. I need to make this quick – you need to be on the same plane as Ibiki, and we only have about ten more minutes before Hiashi will need to take off. Although he will wait for you if need be, I’d rather get you in the air as soon as possible.”

The Hokage stood and leaned over his desk, careful not to touch the shirt crumpled on the top of the desk.

“You will go to Steel Country and track down the man whose scent is on this shirt. You will shadow him for however long it takes him to get back to Konoha – and it will take a long while, believe me. For one thing, the people hunting him will be expecting him to come straight here. Because of that expectation he would be placing the entire city – no, the entire country – in jeopardy were he to head here directly. And he’ll know it. So he will travel, hide, disappear into the population and bide his time.”

“But he won’t do this alone.”

“You will be his guardian angel. You will erase his tracks, sidetrack and kill his pursuers, do everything and anything you can to protect him, without revealing yourself to him.”

“How do I adequately protect someone I can’t talk to?” Kakashi’s voice rose. “If he’s good enough to be a courier for something this important, he’ll have to notice me sooner or later. And then what? What if he runs from me, thinks I’m an enemy? How do I keep him from blundering into someone else’s trap while he’s trying to avoid me?”

“Kakashi.” The Hokage said firmly. “You are one of Konoha’s best shinobi. You excel at pursuit, tracking, assassination, and most importantly, creative solutions to impossible problems. That’s why I’m sending you.”

“If at all possible, I’d prefer the courier not know you’re there. But that may not be possible. If you must make contact, however, there are three things to avoid at all costs.”

“First, don’t tell him your name. Second, don’t show him your face. Third, and most importantly, do not interact with the package. I cannot stress this enough. This can mean the difference between the success and failure of this mission.”

“What if he dies?”

The Hokage let out a long exhalation.

“If he dies. Well...”

He looked hard at Kakashi.

“If he dies, you are to pick up the package and get back to Konoha as fast as you can.”

There was a pregnant pause, full of implication.

“Ah. I see.” Kakashi’s voice was smooth, almost silken. “Of course, Hokage-sama.”

“But that would be the worst case scenario, Kakashi. Especially for you.” The Sandaime’s gaze didn’t waver. “If that happens, be prepared. There are those who will suspect foul play on your part, and the repercussions of that suspicion could be devastating to you. You would be questioned as a possible traitor to Konoha. You would be subject to every form of interrogation, under the assumption of misconduct.”

“If that happens,” Sarutobi finished coldly, “the chances of your remaining a Konoha shinobi will be incredibly slim.”

Kakashi stared at him, aghast.

“So this is an impossible situation, and if this guy fucks up and dies, I’ll be held accountable?”

“Kakashi.” The Hokage said firmly. “I’m not saying these things lightly. There are forces at work here that even I must obey. But I have faith in this courier. And I have faith in you. I believe that you will keep him safe, and that he, in turn, will restore to this village something precious, something that will help us tremendously in the war that is coming.”

“War?” Kakashi demanded, incredulously. “What war?”

The Hokage shook his head.

“We don’t have the time, Kakashi. If this mission is a success – and I pray to every god in the heavens that it is – I will tell you everything I can. For right now, all I can give you is this.”

He motioned to the shirt. Kakashi looked at him, resentment in every line of his body. After a sullen moment he gave Pakkun a tight, angry nod. The small dog leapt up and took the shirt, bearing to the floor where all the other dogs gathered around to smell it.

“Take it with you, you need to be as familiar with the scent as your dogs. Hiashi will be waiting for you, your supplies and rations are already on the plane.”

“Hokage-sama.” Kakashi said slowly, his voice utterly devoid of nuance. “What will you do if I refuse this mission?”

Sarutobi was silent for a few seconds.

“To you?” He asked. Kakashi simply continued looking at him. “Nothing.”

“Hokage-sama...”

“Hear me out!” Sarutobi bit out, and Kakashi subsided, his mouth set in a hard line.

“You are not a slave, Kakashi. You are an important member of this village, this family that we share. I will not send you out if you are dead set against it.”

The Sandaime came round the desk slowly, advancing on Kakashi, who fell back a step without thinking, his anger dwarfed by the intensity of the older man’s emotion.

“However! ” His voice was magnetic, his eyes hypnotic. Kakashi began to have trouble breathing. “I believe with every fiber of my being that you are the only shinobi that can complete this mission. I believe that no other shinobi could fulfill all the requisites involved and still bring both courier and package back safely.”

The Hokage was directly in front of Kakashi now. Kakashi fell back another step, and then another, his single eye wide now, and shocked.

Sarutobi reached up and pulled off his hat. He sunk to the floor in front of Kakashi’s horrified eyes and pressed his head to the ground.

“Please, Kakashi.” He said hoarsely, his voice cracking. “I beg of you. Help me protect Konoha. Please.”

Kakashi’s mouth worked, but no sound came out. His dogs poofed out of existence, one after another, in quick succession. Pakkun, his wrinkled face troubled, was the last to go, and he took the shirt with him.

“Kakashi...”Sarutobi said again, and Kakashi jerked violently and turned away.

“Please don’t...” Kakashi said, his voice trembling. “...please...don’t lower your head, Sandaime-sama. Not to me. Please.”

“I cannot order you to do this.” The Sandaime said, his head still lowered. “The stakes are too high for me to force compliance from an unwilling ninja. All I can do is ask, humbly and without pride. This is not a mission performed for an outside client. There is no money involved. This mission is about the future of Konoha, and I believe its success is vital to our survival. As Konohakagure’s Sandaime Hokage, how can I not throw away my petty and insignificant pride to ensure Konoha’s well-being?”

“Please.” Kakashi said again, clenching his fists. “Please stand up. How can I face you like that?”

“Kakashi...”

“I get it! I’ll be your damned Guardian Angel! I’ll protect your courier. I’ll follow him around and try to keep him from doing anything dumb, and I’ll kill anyone who even looks at him funny. Just...”Kakashi’s voice broke, “...just please, Hokage-sama! Get up!”

The Hokage closed his eyes, relieved.

“Kakashi. I thank you.”

Kakashi didn’t look at his leader, rising from the floor. His cheeks blazed with shame and humiliation.

He was a shinobi for fuck’s sake! He was supposed to serve his country faithfully, be a perfect extension of the Hokage’s will. Not complaining and weaseling to avoid an assignment – a vital assignment – because he didn’t like the details!

That he should have so far forgotten his status as a weapon, a tool, to be used in the service of his country, that his leader would be forced to debase himself for Kakashi’s sake...

Kakashi stared blindly at the ground, still shaking, furious with the Hokage, with the unknown courier, and mostly with himself. With his stupid, stupid ego.

Have I learned nothing?

“Kakashi. Don’t be too hard on yourself.” The Sandaime said gently, settling his hat back onto his head. “There will be enemies enough on this mission. Don’t treat yourself as if you were one of them.”

Kakashi didn’t answer.

“Kakashi.” The Hokage said, his voice still kind. “I wish we had more time. But you have a plane to catch. I wish you every form of luck under the sky.”

Kakashi took a deep breath, turned, and bowed very low, his back stiff and straight.

“I will bring him back safely, Hokage-sama. I give you my word.”

He turned to leave.

“Kakashi.” The Hokage called out. “Come back safely yourself, as well. Otherwise I won’t be able to face the Yondaime. Understood?”

Kakashi didn’t turn back, but he nodded.

“Good.” Sarutobi said, and Kakashi could hear the love in his voice as he said goodbye.

“Good hunting, my boy. Good hunting.”