Fallen Leaves (Formerly Kakashi: No Regrets)

Sasuke fell asleep in their room Okoshi Inn while subduing Juugo. Now Karin was out buying supplies. Juugo stared out the window while Suigetsu sat at Sasuke’s side. Kakashi’s hounds approached. Karin sensed them and Kakashi, but decided they couldn’t be looking for Sasuke. Still only one shinobi . . . even if those animals were with him, it was suspicious. Probably just a rouge shinobi like them. She let her mind wonder back to the new perfume she just purchased and how she would seduce Sasuke.

-----

Pakkun met Kakashi. “We found him. He’s in a village up ahead.”

“Thanks, Pakkun.”

“Are you sure about this?” Pakkun motioned to the scarred headband on Kakashi’s forehead.

“I’m under a death sentence if I go back. I’ll send the contract to Sakura or Naruto if you don’t want to be associated with me anymore.”

“We dogs are loyal. We’re with you until the death.”

“Thank you. If Sasuke doesn’t accept my help, I’ll have to flee. I’d appreciate your company.”

“We won’t abandon you. This way.”

-----

When Karin returned, she thrusts the bags into Suigetsu’s arms, except her own things, and fawned over Sasuke. But he was still asleep. She checked on the approaching chakra again. It was closer, coming here. Only one animal.

“Sasuke!” Sasuke opened his eyes, the other two started, and the birds around Juugo flew off. “There’s a shinobi approaching with one animal, probably a summon. What should we do?”

“Only one?”

“Yes. He’ll be here soon.”

“The Akatsuki move in groups of two, always. Konoha and the other villages in groups of three or four. One shinobi is strange. Are you sure there are no others?”

“Just the animal.”

“Can you tell what kind?”

She concentrated. “Small. Maybe a dog or cat. It’s leading the shinobi.”

“Could it be a bird?”

“No. The chakra smells of little of . . . dog, I think.”

“Were there others before?”

“Several.”

“Kakashi.” But why is he alone? “If it’s just him, we’ll wait here to meet him. Clear away from the window. He never did like the concept of doors.”

Sasuke dressed, removed the bedroll and sat against the wall, his sword in hand, the others to either side.

Through the open window, Sasuke saw Kakashi land on the roof opposite, Pakkun on his shoulder. He and Kakashi locked eyes. Pakkun disappeared. A moment later, Kakashi was perched on the windowsill. Sasuke was surprised when Kakashi didn’t raise a hand and greet him with a cheery ‘Yo!’ Then he noticed the slash through the leaf symbol. This was probably the first time any of his team ever saw emotion escape to Sasuke’s face as his eyes widened.

“Akatsuki?”

“No. I’m under the sentence of death in Konoha.”

“A missing-nin, huh? I never expected that of you, Kakashi.”

“I wish I could say the same about you, Sasuke. But I knew I’d lose you to your lust for revenge.”

“Is this why you weren’t with the others when they came to find me last time?”

“No.”

“If you have no attachments to Konoha, you aren’t here to take me back.”

“No, I’m here to join you.”

That rocked the other three back, but Sasuke had already begun to suspect it.

“As you see, I already have a complete team.”

“With the purpose of killing Itachi?” Sasuke didn’t answer, but his glare was answer enough. “Then you should know, Itachi is already dead.”

Sasuke was too taken aback by the words, he didn’t note the sorrowful tone.

“How?”

“Disease. I was there. He asked me to give you this.” Kakashi raised the two veils wrapped in a cloth. “You know the dangers of the Mangyou Sharingan?”

“Enlighten me.”

“The user will go blind. The only others to ever have awakened the Mangekyô were another pair of brothers, Madara and Izuna. Madara went blind and stole his brother’s eyes, then his powers and vision became permanent. Itachi asked me to deliver his eyes to you. You are the last Uchiha now.”

“Leave us,” he ordered his team. They hesitantly obeyed and Kakashi slipped into the room. “How is it you were there at his death?”

Kakashi knew Sasuke could see through deception, especially with his Sharingan activated. He knew the truth was his only option. “Your brother and I were lovers.” Sasuke’s eyes not only widened, but his back went ramrod straight. “And we were before he slaughtered your clan. I didn’t see him again until he arrived in the village just after the Third’s death. It was about a week after you left and Naruto left with Jiraiya that he came to me. He was angry that I had lost you to Orochimaru. He was an emotional mess, berating me one moment, blaming himself the next. He knew Orochimaru would target you, but he didn’t think you would go to him voluntarily. Or that I would lose you. He’d made me promise before the slaughter that I would be the one to train you. He entrusted you to me. He was so distraught I could have killed him. I should have killed him. But I still loved him. He realized that I did nothing to attack him or call for help and he realized why. We both admitted we were still in love with each other. We met whenever we could get away. As the years went by, he grew more bold, coming to my home rather than meeting me outside the village. We were finally caught a few days ago. I actually had to push him out the window to get him to flee while I held ANBU off. I was captured and sentenced to death. But Itachi came back and rescued me. He was already dying, but he never told me. He died in my arms. The world is dead to me now. I will help you, follow you, no matter what.”

Sasuke absorbed all this calmly, though inwardly his emotions were swirling from one end of the spectrum to the other. He finally found his voice. “Even if I were to order you to help me destroy Konoha?”

“As I said, they are all dead to me. I will kill anyone you order me to.”

“If Itachi is dead . . .” Sasuke couldn’t finish that thought. Itachi dead, then it was all for nothing. What is left?

“You have no goal anymore,” Kakashi finished. “That doesn’t matter to me. I will protect and serve you. Your brother saved my life and I will protect yours. There’s nothing else left for me.”

“Ah.” Sasuke stared at the floor for a minute. “Bring them back in.”

Kakashi obeyed without hesitation.

“With Itachi dead, Hebi no longer has a purpose. You’re free to go or stay.” They were all distressed at their own levels, Suigetsu being the most distressed.

“I’m going after Samehada; I joined you to get it!”

“No one is stopping you.”

“Come with me.”

“Ha! You need Sasuke’s help to kill Kisame, huh?” Karin accused.

“Alright,” Sasuke said before Suigetsu could retort. “We’ll go after Akatsuki. We’ll start with Itachi’s partner.”