Into the Fire

Chapter Twenty-Six

Jiraiya shook his head wearily. “It was a long time ago.” he muttered sullenly, “I don’t see why it’s relevant.”

“Humor me.” Iruka demanded in a tight, hard voice.

“Apparently Sensei liked boys.” the toad sage gritted out angrily, “Kakashi wasn’t the first by a long shot . . . although Orochimaru might have been. He certainly thought he was. When he told me about what had been going on between them I got angry, called him a liar . . . he left the village that same day. When I went to confront Sensei I found him doing the same thing with Sakumo. We had words . . .” Jiraiya stopped and seemed to consider what he’d just said, “To be honest I accused him of terrible things, we never spoke again. I only recently found out about Kakashi, although I’m sure there were a string of others.”

“Well, that explains the connection Pakkun mentioned.” the Rokudaime muttered to himself.

“Pakkun was here? Is the brat okay?” the white-maned sage inquired anxiously.

“What difference does it make to you?” Iruka responded coldly, “It sounds like an awful lot of misery could have been avoided if you hadn’t been so disgusted by the thought of two men together.”

“It wasn’t like that.” Jiraiya said angrily, “Sensei was Hokage . . . I was his student . . . it seemed sacrilegious to accuse our leader of what amounted to rape. I realized my mistake, why do you think I stay away from the village. I’m not proud of my actions, but I can’t undo the past.”

“You may not be able to undo it . . . but it’s high time you faced up to it.” the Hokage declared passionately, “You can start by figuring out some way to bridge the gap between you and Kakashi. He needs to know he has family . . . and that they’re on his side.”

“No.” Ibiki suddenly growled, “You leave Kakashi the fuck alone old man, or I will personally remove your genitals, sautee them in some butter and serve them to him for dinner.”

“Relax.” Iruka soothed, laying a gentle hand on the scarred man’s chest and capturing his complete attention. “He’s not going to hurt Kakashi . . . are you Jiraiya?” he concluded threateningly.

“How can he not?” the interrogator whispered brokenly, “‘kashi already hates himself, finding out his only surviving family member hid their relationship his entire life . . .” he trailed off despairingly, “You know he refers to himself as a whore, Oh Wise Sage.” he continued sarcastically, “What do you think your thoughts on the matter will do to him?”

“Ibiki, that’s enough.” the Hokage snapped, “This isn’t helping anyone. Jiraiya already said he regrets his actions.”

“Like that changes anything.” the scarred man huffed, “He doesn’t need your judgement Jiraiya . . . or your forgiveness.”

“Go away Jiraiya.” Iruka said with a wave of his hand, “I’ll talk to you later.” He pointedly turned his back on the sannin, wrapping his arms around Ibiki and rubbing his back as he murmured comfortingly in his ear.

“He’ll never be happy here.” the interrogator muttered unhappily as he leaned into the comforting embrace.

“Shit.” the toad sage yelped as Iruka kissed the scarred man’s cheek, immediately dropping his eyes and cursing his reaction internally.

“Do you have a problem with something Jiraiya-sama?” the Rokudaime asked in a deadly cold voice.

“No, Hokage-sama, I was just leaving.” the sage wisely replied and he quickly fled the office, wiping the sweat from his brow once he was safely outside.

“Come back to bed Ibiki.” the former teacher crooned, tugging the larger man through the double doors and into his bedchamber as impatient fingers worked at their stubborn clothing.

“Iruka, wait.” he scarred man hesitated, “Last night was wonderful . . . but I don’t think we should make it a habit. Kakashi will be home soon and I don’t want him to get the wrong idea . . .” He trailed off at the lost look on the teacher’s normally happy face. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m worried about Genma . . . I just hoped you could distract me for a while. Gomen nasai Morino-san, it was wrong of me to assume.” Iruka sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose, “I forget that we really don’t know each other at all.”

“Well . . . why don’t we get to know each other then?” Ibiki rumbled as he pulled the startled Hokage into his arms, settling them easily on the bed as he stroked a comforting hand up and down the teacher’s tense back. “How long have you two been together?” he continued in a low, soothing voice.

“Almost fifteen years.” Iruka said with a sharp bark of laughter, “This may surprise you . . . but you’re the first man I’ve slept with other than Genma, although I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t considered it. We were just kids when we started seeing each other . . . well, I was a kid, and he wasn’t much older. I don’t know how I’ll survive without him.”

“You won’t have to, at least not now. Kakashi’s sending him home to you, remember. He won’t let you down Iruka . . . and I’ll be more than happy to distract you until Genma gets back.” Ibiki rumbled comfortingly as he raked his fingers through the younger man’s long hair, gently easing the tangles before scratching blunt nails against his skull.

“No, you’re right.” the Hokage muttered, “I need to make sure Genma’s safe.”

“He’ll be here before you know it . . . he won’t want to miss out on that foursome he conned me into.” the scarred man laughed. He pulled the small form more tightly against him, smoothing his hand over a bronze cheek and murmured, “Let’s just get some rest, shall we . . . everything will look brighter when we’ve had some sleep.”

Kakashi masked his chakra and hovered outside the medical lab, waiting until it was deserted save for Kabuto and the unconscious Genma before entering. He slipped up behind the grey haired medic and swiftly rendered him unconscious. He easily scooped up the unconscious form, putting it in Genma’s place and casting a genjutsu to make the medic appear to be the captured leaf shinobi. “Better safe than sorry.” he muttered as he injected his kidnapper with the sedative he’d been using on Genma.

“Wake up Genma.” he husked as he patted the sleepy man’s cheeks until toffee colored eyes fluttered open. “That’s it, I’m going to give you something to help you get going.” he explained as he injected a stimulant in the senbon sucker’s bicep.

“K’kashi,” he slurred sleepily, “Wht’r you doing?”

“Helping you get back home.” the copy-nin said distractedly, casting another illusion as he helped Genma to his feet. “You look like Kabuto now . . . so you should be able to walk right out of here. Go about a mile and you’ll run into an extraction team, they’ll be looking for you.” he explained as he hustled him towards a hidden door, “Oh, and make sure you drop the henge when you rendezvous or they may attack. Good luck.” he whispered, pushing the startled nin out the door and shutting it behind him.

He turned to see a smirking Tsunade surveying him intently. “What are you planning Hatake?” she asked suspiciously, “I know there’s no love lost between you and Kabuto.”

“There was news of more leaf shinobi snooping around . . . Orochimaru wished him to investigate.” he replied coldly, “By the way . . . you don’t need to worry about preparing Genma. There is a more suitable body on the way.”

“More suitable, huh?” she said snarkily, “And just who would that be?”

“Uchiha Itachi.” the copy-nin replied calmly, “He is, after all, far stronger than Genma . . . and therefore a much more worthy vessel for Oro-sama.”

“What game are you playing Hatake?” the blonde woman asked suspiciously, “You must have some ulterior motive for wanting that head case to show up here.”

“I really don’t want to waste time talking to you Tsunade.” the jounin replied haughtily, “If you insist on asking questions you’d do better to take them to Orochimaru himself.”

“Fine.” he huffed, pushing past him to head toward the snake summoners quarters, “It’s way past time for him to pay up anyway.” She stormed down the hall and threw open the door. “Hey, Oro, I want what you’ve promised, I’m tired of your stringing me along.”

“If I do will you shut up and go away?” the sannin inquired wryly, “Seriously princess, you need to work on your people skills.” He moved into the open living area, forming hand signs as he chanted under his breath.

He wouldn’t, Kakashi thought as he leaned back against the wall to watch the scene play out. A large wooden box slowly rose out of the ground in front of the snake summoner, the lid slowly cracking open when it reached its full height.

“Last chance to change your mind.” Orochimaru warned, but the busty blonde merely shook her head no, eyes never leaving the crack where the lid stood ever so slightly ajar. “Fine, then I hope you’re happy.”

The lid swung fully open and Tsunade dropped to her knees, tears pouring down her face. “Is it really you sweetheart?” she choked, rushing forward to fling her arms around the confused newcomer’s neck, nearly strangling him in her joy.

“Tsunade, what's going on?” he asked warily, “Where are we?”

“Dan, Dan, Dan.” she sobbed incoherently, “I thought I’d never see you again . . . it’s been so many years.”

“What happened to me?” he gasped even as he tried to pry tenacious arms from around his neck, “I need to breathe ‘nade.” he complained.

“I’ve missed you so much.” the blonde sobbed, “I’ve been trying to get you back for years.”

“Back from where?” the newly revived man asked in confusion.

“From the dead.” Orochimaru replied slowly, “She betrayed the leaf, ruined countless lives . . . almost destroyed Kakashi, just to get you back. You should feel honored.”

“You betrayed the village?” he asked in horror.

“She was Hokage before they removed her for treason.” Kakashi added nastily, “Now she’s nothing but a filthy traitor.”

“You should talk whore.” she snapped back, “You’re just sleeping with Orochimaru because you want something . . . I just haven’t figured out what yet.”

“Stop it Tsunade, you have no right to talk to him like that . . . or at all.” the snake summoner threatened.

“Get away from me.” Dan finally screamed, pushing the blonde to the ground. “Don’t ever touch me again.”