Into the Fire

Chapter Thirty-Three

“Now That We Have Finished With Our Task, ” Gai stated firmly, “I Would Like You To Explain Exactly What Is Going On.”

“How well do you know Kakashi?” Ibiki replied enigmatically.

“He Is My Eternal Rival . . . We Have Pitted Our Skills Since We Were Youths.” the flamboyant man responded passionately, “So I Know Him Better Than Anyone . . . But I Can Not Honestly Say That Is Well. My Eternal Rival Is Secretive To The Extreme.”

The interrogator studied the dramatically frowning man in front of him. Gai would generally be his last choice for companionship . . . but he sensed an opportunity to gain valuable insight into the copy-nin. “How would you like to join me for sake?” Ibiki asked as he grasped a green clad arm firmly and began to steer them towards the nearest bar, not stopping until they were seated in a secluded corner away from prying eyes.

“Why Have You Brought Me Here Ibiki?” the green beast asked cautiously, “If You Wish To Know What My Rival Looks Like I’m Afraid I’ll Have To Disappoint You . . . I Have Not Seen Him Without His Mask.”

“I have.” the scarred man said confidently, “I just thought a drink would be nice after moving all those boxes . . . my treat.”

“You Have Seen Kakashi Without His Mask?” Gai said suspiciously, “When?”

“It’s . . . complicated.” Ibiki demurred as he poured them each a saucer of sake, lifting one to his lips and toasting “Kanpai” so the green-clad man would do the same.

“I’m Sure It Is.” the green beast stated drily, even as the interrogation master refilled his cup. “Never The Less I Would Like An Explanation. We Have Been Rivals For Over Twenty Years And Kakashi Has Never Trusted Me To See His Face . . . Did You Force Him?” he continued angrily, “Because I Can Not Allow That.”

“Oh no, no.” the scarred man soothed, pouring the enraged jounin another sake, “I would never hurt Kakashi . . . I just want to understand him a bit better.”

“You Understand Him Better Than I If He Took Off His Mask For You.” Gai asserted with a broad grin and a thumbs up.

It’s going to be a long night, Ibiki thought bleakly, I hope it’s worth it.

Several hours later both men were noticeably inebriated. Gai due to Ibiki’s efforts . . . and Ibiki in a misguided attempt to dull the assault on his senses the other man presented. Worst of all, the interrogator had made no headway whatsoever on uncovering information about Kakashi.

“Well My Friend,” the green beast slurred as he leaned heavily on the scarred man, “I Believe It Is Time For A Contest.”

“Contest?” Ibiki queried dully.

“Indeed, A Manly Contest Of Strength And Skill To End Our Evening Of Comradery!” Gai proclaimed ecstatically, “If I Win You Shall Tell Me How You Saw My Rival’s Face.”

“And if I win?” the interrogator asked, thinking he saw a way out of this fiasco of an evening.

“Then I Shall Answer A Question Of Yours, Of Course.” the other man beamed, showing far too many teeth for the scarred man’s taste.

“You’re on.” Ibiki growled with his own slightly sadistic smile, “What does the contest consist of?”

“Hand To Hand Combat, Of Course.” the drunken jounin proclaimed, smile growing even wider, “Are You Ready?”

Ibiki realized he was drunker than he thought not ten minutes later, when he found himself pinned under the taijutsu master. “I Win.” Gai proclaimed excitedly, “Now You Must Tell Me How You Saw Kakashi’s Face.”

Without thinking the scarred man reached up, cradling the green beast’s face in his hands, and muttered, “How else could I do this?” before kissing the startled jounin thoroughly.

Iruka eventually trudged back into his office and began once again sorting through the slowly diminishing stack of paper, squinting crossly at the mess. One of the stacks slid sideways, creating a small avalanche across the surface of the desk and frustrating the Hokage further. He randomly grabbed a small volume from the pile and flipped it open, interest piquing when he realized it was Tsunade’s private journal.

“Oh my god.” he choked, dropping the journal as if it were diseased, “Genma.” he cried, “I figured it out.”

“Figured what out Ru?” his lover asked quietly.

“Why Tsunade hated Kakashi so much.” the Rokudaime stated in an overly calm voice, even though his face was now the color of cottage cheese.

“Put your head down.” Genma barked as the teacher began to sway dangerously, pushing him back in the chair and shoving his head between his legs, “Breathe deeply and relax.”

“I’m okay Gen.” Iruka’s muffled voice floated up, “It was just startling. She didn’t really lie about it . . . but she didn’t tell the whole truth either. The mission Sakumo failed, the one she said caused Dan’s death. . .”

“Yeah, what about it?” the senbon sucker asked in confusion.

“It wasn’t the mission we thought it was . . . not the one for which Hatake-san was publicly disgraced, that is.” the Hokage stated slowly, “There was a retrieval from Stone, Dan was the prisoner to be returned in exchange for a week with Sakumo . . . and his nine year old son, Kakashi. Sakumo committed suicide, the exchange never took place . . . and Tsunade’s beloved was killed. She hates him for not going on that mission, even though he was just a child.”

“He was a chuunin.” Genma stated slowly, “That carries certain obligations.”

“The mission was dropped before Kakashi was ever told about it.” Iruka retorted, “He isn’t responsible for the failure of a mission he was never on.”

“I didn’t say that he was.” the tokubetsu spat back, “I just meant that he’d fought and killed . . . he wasn’t a child anymore Ru.”

“He was nine years old . . . shinobi or not, no nine year old should ever be put in that position.” the former teacher argued passionately, “How would you feel if it had been me instead of Kakashi?”

“I get your point Ru.” Genma conceded with a shudder, “So what does it mean to us now?”

“Nothing really, with Tsunade dead it’s a moot point . . . just more dirty laundry to bury.” the Rokudaime concluded with a bitter laugh, “Even if we knew her motivation from the start it wouldn’t have changed anything.”

“So, do yourself a favor and let it go.” the honey-haired man urged, “It didn’t happen, that’s what’s important.”

“Thank you.” Iruka said softly, impulsively pulling his lover into a tight embrace, “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Me either.” Genma retorted cockily as he kissed the Hokage, smiling when the lithe figure melted into him.

“Ahem.” a deep voice interrupted their lip lock, causing both men to turn towards it in irritation. “Sorry to interrupt,” Jiraiya snorted, “but I need to speak with Iruka before I go.”

“Go, where are you going?” the Rokaudaime asked in surprise, “We need your help here.”

“I’m going to meet with Kakashi and Orochimaru . . . they asked me to come.” the white maned sage explained, pulling out the scroll in question and tossing it over.

“We can’t let you just go traipsing off to Orochimaru’s lair . . . even with an invitation.” Iruka decided, pursing his lips.

“You can’t stop me,” the toad sage growled angrily, “Hokage or no. I owe it to both of them . . . they’re willing to give me a chance to fix things between us, isn’t that what you wanted?” he almost whined the last part in frustration.

“That depends . . . are you going to make things better or worse?” the Rokudaime asked pointedly, “Because we really can’t afford to have you pissing them off.”

“Iruka, you wound me.” Jiraiya said with a broad easy smile, “Don’t you think I’m capable of tact?”

“No.” came the blunt reply, “I think you’re a homophobic idiot who blurts out disgusting things when he’s scared.”

“I was a child.” the sage bellowed angrily, “That was almost forty years ago.”

“Stop it.” Genma barked, “Jiraiya, things have been very stressful and I understand you’re upset . . . but if you yell at Ru like that again I’m going to throw you out of this office.” Once he had both their attention he continued calmly, “How can you be sure you’re not walking into a trap Jiraiya?”

“I’m not.” the white maned man answered bluntly, “But I’m willing to take the chance . . . you should be too. Don’t you want to get Kakashi back?”