Kakashi and his Raven part 2

Itachi’s body and clothing told them nothing except that he was actually killed by illness, not his brother’s hand. Kakashi already knew, or at least, suspected that. There was nothing to help them track Sasuke.

Kakashi wanted urgently to find Sasuke. He demanded they be allowed to go look for him. The Hokage agreed; the longer Sasuke stayed away after his brother’s death, the less likely he would be to come home at all. Kakashi was dispatched with Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Yamato, Shino, Kiba, and Hinata. They would find Sasuke.

-----

Sasuke loitered for quite some time after Madara told him the truth about his brother. Madara wanted him to join Akatsuki, but Sasuke was hesitating to come to a decision. The decision he had made was to destroy Konoha. He spent the next few days meditating thinking of his brother and of how to attack Konoha. He knew Madara was offering him great power with which to destroy the village, but he was reluctant to become entangled with Madara and his plans. He’d been manipulated for far too long to want to become someone else’s pawn.

One evening he announced, “We’re leaving.”

“Leaving?” Madara asked.

“My team and I have other things to do before we set ourselves on new goals. We’re leaving. I’ll let you know what I decide.”

“I can’t just let you leave.”

“You have my brother’s eyes, don’t you? That is reason enough to return and reason enough not to betray you or your location. We will return.”

“Very well.”

Once Karin judged them to be far enough away, she asked, “What other things, Sasuke?”

“Didn’t you have other business to attend to?” Sasuke asked, knowing full well she had been lying.

“It . . . it . . . was time sensitive. Running around with you lot made me too late.”

“My only goal was Samehada,” Suigetsu said.

“I have no goals,” Juugo said.

“So Sasuke,” Suigetsu prodded, “what is your goal now?”

“I need time to think away from that manipulative bastard. We’re heading to another of the Uchiha hideouts just inside the Fire Country.”

-----

Itachi had told Kakashi a lot of things over the years including the location of many of the Uchiha hideouts. Kakashi led his large team near them, hoping he, his hounds, or Kiba and Akamaru would pick up Sasuke’s scent. It took nearly a week, but Kiba finally caught the scent.

“Found him!” Kiba shouted.

“Where?” Kakashi demanded.

“To the southwest. There are other scents as well.”

“Good job, Kiba.”

-----

The four of them lounged in a disused room. There was furniture which had been covered and therefore dust free. Sasuke was sitting back in an imperious looking sofa while Juugo dozed nearby and Suigetsu polished his beloved sword. Karin was watching Sasuke, still trying to come up with plans to get rid of the others and seduce him.

But Sasuke had also tasked her with looking out for intruders. It was her skill as a sensor that inspired him to recruit her along with her healing ability. She was passively searching for any large chakra, but every half hour or so she put all her energy into it, to scan as far as she could. She did so now.

“Sasuke! There’s a large number of shinobi approaching! About sixteen individuals. Not all of them are human.”

“Akatsuki?”

“No. I don’t recognize any of the Akatsuki among them. Wait. Half of them have disappeared.”

“Summons?” Suigetsu asked.

“Eight disappeared?” Sasuke asked.

“Yes.”

“Konoha.” It had to be Kakashi. Sasuke knew Kakashi had eight ninja hounds and he was the only other person who could possibly know about this place. With his Sharingan he should be able to read everything in the Uchiha Shrine if he found the rooms beneath.

“You three,” Juugo had woken up at Karin’s cry, “go meet them just inside. Tell them I will speak with Kakashi alone. Karin, bring him to me then rejoin the others. Defend yourselves if you have to, but try not to kill them, not yet. Be cautious with the blond. He’ll be the one who leaps out front and starts screaming.” Sasuke unknowingly described Naruto the same way his brother had. “Don’t test him, he had no impulse control.”

“Should I make Kakashi leave his weapons?”

“His most dangerous weapon is not a kunai. No. Just bring him to me alone.”

They did as instructed.

-----

Kakashi led the group of eight shinobi and Akamaru into the hideout. It looked like a dilapidated concrete building from outside, but inside it looked much better cared for and constructed. They stopped when they sensed someone up ahead. They cautiously entered the main room and there were three shinobi, one sitting with his hand on the hilt of an enormous sword, a girl with hot pink hair and glasses, and a large man with flame like hair. No Sasuke.

“You’re from Konoha, right?” the woman asked.

Kakashi stepped forward to answer, but Naruto lunged forward.

“Where’s Sasuke?!”

“Naruto!” Kakashi put out a hand to restrain him.

“You’re the one Sasuke-kun told us about.”

“We are from Konoha,” Kakashi said.

“Which one of you is Kakashi?”

“I am.”

“Sasuke-kun wants to speak to you, alone.”

All the others were surprised that Sasuke was expecting them. They could see them anticipating the intruders, but knowing who they were . . .

Kakashi nodded and followed Karin out of the room.

-----

Sasuke still sat in the high backed sofa with his sword beside him, when Karin led Kakashi into the room. Karin left them.

Before Kakashi could speak, Sasuke was gone and reappeared on top of a ledge to Kakashi’s left, above him with his sword pointed down at him.

“I shouldn’t need to ask,” Sasuke said, “but what is your intention here?”

“To bring you back home to Konoha.”

“Humph. I understand Naruto and Sakura. But what about you, Kakashi? What am I to you? A student, a failure you feel you need to rectify? A criminal? A traitor? A lost soul you feel compelled to save? Or is it just for Naruto’s sake? Or Sakura’s? Why do you seek me out, why do you care about me?”

He knew truth would serve him best; Sasuke could likely smell a lie or half-truth and the truth was surprising enough to make him believe it was the truth. “Because you’re Itachi’s little brother.”

“Itachi? Why would that matter?” He asked in a soft voice.

“I knew your brother.”

“No one knew my brother,” Sasuke countered hoarsely.

“What’s happened? You don’t hate him anymore, do you?”

“Madara told me the truth.”

“Which truth?”

“Itachi killed our clan on orders from the elders and the Hokage!”

“That’s true.”

Sasuke’s face went slack with shock. “You knew?”

“Not back then, not when I was teaching you, no.”

“How do you know?”

“Itachi told me.”

“When?”

“A few months ago. I found him half dead and took care of him. He told me everything.”

“Why would you take him in and not turn him over to your Hokage?”

Kakashi hesitated. “Your brother and I were friends in ANBU. It was not my mission to kill him. I just neglected to tell anyone about him.”

Sasuke was definitely shaken and he lowered his sword. “I’m not returning to Konoha.” He leapt down into the center of the room. “How can you expect me to return to and serve a village that conspired to destroy my clan?”

“What will you do?”

“I—” Looking at Kakashi brought some sanity to his revenge clouded mind. Could he destroy a man who risked everything to help his brother? It started to sink in that not everyone in Konoha despised his clan or were in anyway involved in the massacre. Could he indiscriminately slaughter them? He hated Itachi for so long for doing something that was in some ways not as bad. But just the thought of anyone in that village being able to smile or laugh or live happily while his brother was forced to kill his own family and flee ignited intense anger within him. But looking at Kakashi, he could not destroy Konoha. But Kakashi was waiting for an answer.

“I will kill Danzo and those two elders who ordered my thirteen year old brother to slaughter his entire family.”

“Sasuke, take some time. Your mind must be whirling after what Madara told you. Don’t become his tool; all he’s ever wanted was to destroy what Senju created. The animosity between the two clans must end. At least give yourself some time to cool off. If you still want to kill them after that, I’ll do what I can for you.”

Kakashi was right, his mind was whirling; it hadn’t stopped since he met Itachi’s clone in that cavern. But then he realized something.

“Wait, you know who Madara is?”

“Itachi told me everything. He’s your ancestor, one of the founders of Konoha. Itachi told me he was still alive and the leader of Akatsuki.”

Itachi feared Sasuke would fall into Madara’s hands and planted Amaterasu into his eyes to kill him. Maybe it wasn’t just because he knew the truth. Then he remembered, Madara said Itachi didn’t know Madara knew the truth about him. That wasn’t why Itachi feared Madara. He feared Sasuke becoming his pawn. Sasuke realized he had a lucky escape coming out here. But Madara had Itachi’s eyes.

“I can’t come home. I have business with Madara then I will kill the elders and Danzo. Once I do that I will not be welcome in Konoha.”

“Danzo is an evil son of a bitch. I’ll find a way to lure him out of the village and you can slaughter him. He is very powerful, or so I understand. I will help you.”

“My plan was to destroy the entire village. Give me Danzo and I vow not to attack the village itself.”

“Killing him is the greatest charity you can give to the village. I’ll find a way to deliver him to you.”

“I don’t want to see the others. Karin!” Sasuke called. Karin appeared quickly. “We’re leaving. The blond pulled at his leash I expect.”

“Yes.”

“His own may not be enough to restrain him. I’ll leave first; the three of you follow and keep him and the girl with the pink hair away. I expect you Kakashi to keep them back yourself.”

“We may have to sedate Naruto.”

“Assure him he’ll see me shortly. Use that as bait for him to help you get me Danzo.” Sasuke waved Kakashi away. Once Kakashi and Karin were gone, Sasuke gathered their things and departed.

-----

When Kakashi returned, Naruto did buck on the leash.

“Where’s Sasuke?!”

“He’s left.”

Juugo and Suigetsu looked to Karin who nodded.

Naruto started to run forward. Sasuke’s new team took stances ready to stop Naruto. Kakashi grabbed him.

“Sasuke’s not here, Naruto. Calm down. At least he listened to what I had to say. We’re going back to Konoha now.”

“But Kakashi-sensei—”

“Enough, Naruto! Let’s go. I’ll explain once we’re away from here.”

Kakashi pulled Naruto out and the others followed, Sakura the last, staring daggers at the three shinobi blocking the way to Sasuke, especially at Karin. But she finally joined the others.

Naruto relaxed in Kakashi’s grip and he let him go. But Naruto immediately looked over at Kiba. Kiba hesitated, but then nodded. Naruto ran off and Kiba and Akamaru followed.

“Damn it!” Kakashi grumbled. “We have to stop them. Sasuke doesn’t have much compunction about killing.”

Yamato nodded sagely, having seen that himself. They all followed.

-----

Karin, Suigetsu, and Juugo were on their way after Sasuke, following Karin. Karin sensed Naruto, Kiba, and Akamaru.

“That blond, Naruto, the dog, and another of their group are heading for Sasuke. They have a better angle toward him than we do, they’ll get there first.”

-----

Sasuke could sense the trio as well when they got close enough. Sasuke dropped everything, unsheathed his sword and charged it with Chidori.

The charged chakra made Akamaru stop a few yards away with Kiba on his back. Kiba put out a hand. “Stop, Naruto!”

“What is it?”

“He’s straight ahead and ready to kill.”

Naruto approached more slowly. “Sasuke.” Sasuke was still poised to kill like a cornered tiger.

Sasuke’s team arrived. “They took a different path,” Karin explained.

Kiba rode in to help defend Naruto against his better judgment. He was regretting helping him.

“You didn’t even let Kakashi speak before rushing out here, did you Naruto?”

“This is the third time I’ve been so close to bringing you back.”

“I’m not going back, not now. Leave now or we will attack.”

Wood sprang out of the ground turning into a cage to stop Naruto. Kakashi landed on top of it. “Go, Sasuke.” Sasuke did so, he and his team disappearing into the trees. Naruto struggled against the wooden bars.

“Will you listen to me now?” Kakashi asked. “Sasuke was easier to talk to.”

The Konoha group gathered and Yamato dismantled the cage.

“Sasuke is still motivated by revenge, but it’s been redirected to Danzo. Danzo was . . . somewhat responsible for the destruction of the Uchiha.”

Yamato, Naruto, and Sakura couldn’t help looking over at Sai who stared back without emotion.

“Danzo was opposed to the Third Hokage and also opposes the Fifth. He wants the title of Hokage, but he is the head of the hawk faction of Konoha and leader of Root, a break off division of ANBU we believe is still in existence as his personal army.”

Sai still didn’t react.

“The village would be better off without him and delivering him into Sasuke’s hands might convince Sasuke to return to Konoha. We have to report to the Fifth.”

Sai was still the focus of several gazes.

“I do still work for him,” Sai admitted. “But I am on your side. I would tell you what you need to know, but I can’t.” Sai opened his mouth to reveal a seal. “I might be able to help lure him out for you, but it will be difficult. Or I can lead, but not tell, Sasuke to his sanctuary, where he gives us orders.”

“That’s something,” Kakashi said. “We’ll discuss it with the Hokage. Right now, let’s just get back to the village.”

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Okay, I don’t want to write the Danzo thing. If someone else wants to write that, let me know MisatosPenPen@gmail.com . I think I’ll skip it, it’s just business I don’t want to write. We’ll just take for granted that Sasuke kills Danzo, outside the village.