In the cold of space you find the heat of suns

Apologies if the characters have grown differently in their new environment.

Author’s note: Thanks to all the reviewers – as an author who has written for 40 years but never for an audience before I find reviews surprisingly addictive; Prism0467 you are correct that someone significant gave Jiraiya the ring but your guess is just off – there were some clues earlier; sadie237 I have found that units of 2000-2500 work best for me – feel free to wait and read 2-3 updates at a time - however I have brought this posting forward for you.

Spacer crews travel the Far Borders and the Fringe of occupied space, trading. Spacing is an ancient and honourable profession carved out by millenniums. Most spacers start out as fourteen-year-old boys seeking a future. Few survive a decade spacing.

36. Kakashi

Kakashi had a headache, both literally and figuratively. He rubbed his temple. By the Lady, had they always been this bad? Had he ever been like that? Less than forty minutes in and they had almost lost Neji. Kakashi found himself grateful for Shikamaru’s usually non-existent presence of mind and for Naruto’s over-protective instincts.

“What happened?” Sasuke demanded in a low voice as Kakashi and Iruka rejoined him, leaving Naruto with Shikamaru and Neji.

“They groped Shikamaru.” Kakashi told him. “They wanted Neji to challenge so they could kill him. They’ve never been fond of Hyuga.”

“It is unacceptable,” Iruka declared. “I will not have my crew exposed to men who behave like that.”

Kakashi realised that Iruka was very, very angry.

“I will deal with it, Iruka-sensei,” Sasuke promised.

Kakashi was not sure what Sasuke meant by that and he did not mind waiting to find out; at least until his headache subsided. “Naruto reminded them that members of the crew are off limit.”

“They should not need reminding,” Iruka stated. “They could also learn some manners. Even Asuma, who appears pleasant, cannot keep his eyes off our arses and a civilised tongue in his head.”

Kakashi winced. They had overheard what Asuma had said to Sasuke on the way to the viewdeck. Iruka had a long memory when it came to insults.

“Manners may need a little more work,” Sasuke admitted, “but if one of them threatens one of my crewmates again he will regret it greatly, if only for an extremely short period of time.”

“We need them,” Kakashi reminded him.

“We could cope with a few less,” Sasuke stated, “if that is what it takes for the rest of them to learn. Shikamaru or Neji is worth more than all of them combined. I will ask Hiruzen-sama if I can speak to them here after the function. Kakashi, please ask Asuma-san to ensure that they are present rather than off fucking or fighting. If possible, they should be sober.”


Kakashi placed himself in Asuma’s line of sight and waited until Asuma chose to acknowledge him.

“Kakashi.”

“Asuma.”

“Can I help you?” Asuma asked.

Kakashi realised that he should have spoken to his old friend by now. The headache must be affecting his judgement. Or perhaps his judgement was just off. He hated it when he began second-guessing himself and he had been doing that ever since they had met Itachi. A small part of him knew he should have killed Kisame when they had him helpless. Chanx had been worse: he should have never agreed to drop there. Then there was Haku: the boy knew so much, how could they let him walk away in Tarrasade? Even the current situation: without Naruto they would have been utterly unprepared for today’s meeting.

“Please,” he asked and a familiar expression of concern came over Asuma’s face. Had it really been over sixteen standards?

Asuma guided him to a quiet part of the viewdeck. “You have done a magnificent job, Kakashi-san,” his friend told him. “We gave you a damaged boy and you have brought back a leader that men will flock to follow.”

It was kind of Asuma to say so. “I built this crew to do it,” he explained. “Every component of it. Even Iruka, he wasn’t for me he was for Sasuke, because Sasuke had lost his family and he needed a substitute. I admit Naruto was a fluke, but I took advantage of it when the Lady dropped a neglected fox-boy into our laps. The only one I didn’t find was Neji. Neji had one look at Sasuke and offered himself.”

“You even found your type seven genius,” Asuma observed.

Kakaski managed a very small smile. “Yes. After all those standards of looking. And all Hamaki, Terai and Fu can think about is using him as a way to kill the Hyuga before he causes them too much trouble.”

Asuma grimaced. “You always were the best of us. That’s why you were chosen to look after Sasuke.” His voice dropped. “That was why Obito loved you.”

Kakashi did not want to think about Obito. He could not afford to think about Obito. He would not look over to Naruto. He looked across. The tags suited him. Kakashi had argued so hard that they were too flashy for someone plain like him but Obito would not listen.

“Lady’s teats, Kakashi,” Asuma hissed. “Those are your tags, aren’t they? Is the first time you’ve seen him wearing them?”

“He tried them on a few days ago. I didn’t think it would be this hard.” Kakashi admitted. “It’s all moved on too fast. There wasn’t time to get any made. And it felt right. Sasuke loves him so much and Naruto is very special.” He pulled himself together. “I am proud that he should wear them.”

“Ka-chan…”

“Don’t call me that, Asuma, please,” Kakashi asked. “I have to hold myself together and help Sasuke get the Uchiha wolves back under control before they cause some irreparable damage. He wants to meet them after this is over. Here. Could you tell them?”

Asuma snorted. “I’ll tell them it’s an order. What’s he going to say to them?”

“I wish I knew. He isn’t happy. He’s talking about killing a couple as an object lesson.”

Asuma pursed his lips. “Not totally unlike Fugaku-kyou then.”

“Perhaps,” Kakashi admitted. “On second thoughts, no, he’s absolutely nothing like Fugaku-kyou but, perhaps, he can behave like him when it is necessary.”


It took Tsunade’s intervention to persuade Naruto back to the Silver Leaf when they split the crew. She told him that it was utterly unacceptable for both him and Kakashi to stay with Sasuke. Kakashi watched Sasuke talking to him afterwards, persuading him that all would be well, that the Uchiha fighters may be dangerous but never to him and that if anyone issued a personal challenge to Sasuke, which they would not, Sasuke was still wearing his earrings and bracelets and that he would be summoned. Finally Sasuke suggested that Shikamaru may still be feeling vulnerable. It was enough to tip the balance and saved the Captain from having to issue a direct order.


The majority of the Silver Leaf’s crew left, Hiruzen-sama’s party retired and the servants arranged the centre of the room as Jiraiya requested. Sasuke settled on a zabuton that looked like it was usually reserved for Hiruzen-sama. Kakashi sat on his right and Jiraiya on his left. Asuma took the mat to the right of Kakashi and Gai followed his suggestion that he occupy the position in Jiraiya’s left. The remaining fighters found places around the oval and sat.

“This is the final meeting of the Old Uchiha,” Sasuke begun.

Kakashi watched them, wishing that it had been appropriate for Neji to be present. They were so hard to read.

“The last nine standards have been hard,” Sasuke continued. “So much was lost and so much more was let go. All that remained was a single Uchiha, you eleven and a handful of our most trusted, of whom Jiraiya-san is one.

“I, Sasuke Uchiha, thank you for your service.” Sasuke bowed.

Kakashi decided that was a good choice of bow, about forty-five degrees, deep enough to have meaning. Everyone bowed more deeply in return.

“Now we move forward. It is no longer about preserving the past. It is about building a new future.

“Those who move forward will be the models, the pattern from which the future will be taken. They will also be the face of the new Uchiha. Their behaviour must be both exemplary and impeccable.”

Sasuke paused briefly, giving Hamaki, Terai and Fu the opportunity to take the initiative and defuse the situation. Kakashi openly studied them. It was not going to happen. They would need to be forced.

“On Hiruzen-sama’s ship,” Sasuke continued, “at a social function at which Hiruzen-sama was present, I would expect the same standard of behaviour as if it were a function in the Uchiha household presided over by my mother.”

Sasuke waited. Kakashi kept very still. It was a sudden escalation: by mentioning his mother, Sasuke had given them no option but to apologise. He hoped that they had enough manners to see that.

Hamaki broke first. He bowed until his forehead was a handbreadth from the floor. “I apologise for my behaviour, Sasuke-sama. It has been many standards since I was present a such a function.”

Terai and Fu bowed to a similar depth and managed acceptable apologies. Kakashi noticed that although Sasuke gave a slight bow to each, indicating that he accepted their apologies, he did not declare the matter closed.

Sasuke moved on. “That brings us to the issue of recruitment. Today you met seven people whom I, personally, have recruited to Uchiha. Not all of them are elite fighters. This does not make them or their service less valuable or less needed. These people are precious to me. I hope this is clear,

“Even if they were not members of my crew, they are sworn to Uchiha and I would expect you to treat them with respect.

“I open this meeting to your contributions.”

Gai bowed. “Sasuke-sama.”

Sasuke gave a small bow in return. “Gai-san.”

“You have recruited a woman. Is she an exception or will many women be recruited to the new Uchiha?”

Kakashi wondered if Asuma had planted the question. It was better to deal with the subject quickly before the misogynists among them worked themselves up about it.

“Rin-san is exceptional but is unlikely that she will be an exception. Individuals will be considered on their own merits, not their gender. You may know individuals who you have thought could serve Uchiha but were excluded by their gender. If so, please mention them to me or Jiraiya-san.”

Fu bowed. “Sasuke-sama.”

Kakashi was surprised. He had thought that Hamaki, Terai and Fu would have the sense to stay quiet for the rest of the meeting.

“Fu-san,” Sasuke acknowledged. His bow was marginally shallower than the one he had given Gai.

“Naruto-san is an Uchiha elite warrior without an implant. Are there plans to fit him with one in Tarrasade?”

Kakashi’s gut clenched at the thought of Naruto losing one of those beautiful blue eyes. On the other hand, Fu had just openly accepted Naruto as one of them.

“No,” Sasuke said simply. Then, to Kakashi’s surprise, he yielded a little. “I know that Naruto-san would demand an implant if he felt that it would raise his overall performance. However, his speed and reaction time are already at the limit provided by the implant. Any meagre benefits would not outweigh the loss in depth perception or the possible side effects of using the implant.”

“Sasuke-sama, will Naruto-san be training with us?” Fu asked.

Kakashi did not know if he should sigh or smile. He could feel their sudden interest. He wondered if some of them had even listened to what Sasuke had said before. They all knew Naruto had killed Tenzo. Most of them had seen the effortless speed at which he had moved to Hamaki’s side. They wanted to know the limits of what he could do.

“Kakashi-sensei?” Sasuke asked.

“It would be sensible to train together as we proceed to Tarrasade,” he agreed. “I will ask about a suitable venue.” He decided to give them something on which to ponder. “It will do Naruto good to have a choice of training partners. I have to activate my implant to provide him with any significant opposition and, as one of those for whom the side effects are harsh, the number of times I do that is limited.”

They looked like little boys who had been offered candy.


Asuma escorted them back to the docking bay. Sasuke walked ahead, with Jiraiya. Kakashi knew he was doing it to give him privacy with Asuma. Sasuke did not usually volunteer for one-to-one time with Jiraiya.

“Did that go well?” he asked his friend.

Asuma considered. “I think so. It is good that he does not imitate his father. Speaking about his mother was extremely clever, because they all know how traumatised he was by her death and that merely mentioning her used to risk sending him into a fugue. It showed them how much he has healed.

“In fact, the whole Mikoto-san thing is good, because it reminds us how good it was for those ten standards when she was running the Uchiha household. I know you were undercover for most of that time…”

“I remember her,” Kakashi interrupted. In his mind’s eye he saw Mikoto and Obito laughing together.

Asuma lifted an eyebrow. “Then you can appreciate that him looking so like her and wearing her ring, even that waiting for people to respond appropriately thing he does, connects to good times we have lost.”

Kakashi nodded. They walked the length of a corridor in silence. “I find I have missed you, Asuma,” Kakashi heard himself admitting.

Asuma snorted. “That’s because you are so close to your limit.” He stopped before they turned the next corner, halting Kakashi with a hand on his arm.

Kakashi felt Asuma’s large, callused hand on his cheek. He leaned into it. “Iruka’s angry,” he confided. “About what happened with Shikamaru and Neji and what you said to Sasuke.”

Asuma sucked air though his teeth. “I should have been more careful. So your little queen has prickles.”

Kakashi laughed. He took Asuma’s hand from his face and held it. “By the Lady, Asuma, you are hopeless. What if he overheard that? I wouldn’t get to fuck him for half a div. I will just have keep the two of you far apart.”

“You love him,” Asuma observed. “That is good.”

“Yes,” Kakashi admitted. “If I have the choice, I will spend the rest of my life with him. I would like to grow old with him.”

“I have someone,” Asuma told him. “Her name is Kurenai. She will be in Tarrasade. I would like you to meet her.”

Kakashi was not surprised it was a woman. “It would be an honour,” he said.


Jiraiya and Sasuke were waiting at the end of the next stretch of corridor.

“I was imagining Naruto’s face if I turned up without you,” Sasuke explained.

Kakashi sighed.

“You made him that way,” Jiraiya accused.

“I only said to him what you used to say to me,” complained Kakashi.

“You were a feckless youth with far too much optimism,” Jiraiya reminded him. “Naruto is, well, Naruto.”

Asuma raised his eyebrows.

“A bit overprotective,” Sasuke admitted.

“That, Sasuke-san, is like saying a black hole is badly lit,” Jiraiya retorted. “Given who you are, it is probably, on balance, a good thing.” He started walking. “He’ll be waiting in the airlock. There is no way even Tsunade could get him to go any further than the airlock.”

Naruto was, indeed, in the airlock. He opened the outer door as they approached and, to Kakashi’s surprise, Iruka was with him. Iruka made his way down the ramp but Naruto stood stubbornly just inside: Kakashi realised that he had been forbidden to leave the ship. Sasuke sped up and ran up the ramp into Naruto’s arms. Naruto’s sulk lasted all of a moment before he accepted Sasuke’s offer of a kiss.

“Lady’s teats,” Asuma murmured, dragging his eyes away from the spectacle.

Jiraiya leered.

Kakashi walked toward Iruka. When they met Iruka hugged him. It felt good.

Asuma greeted Iruka respectfully. “Iruka-san.”

“Asuma-san,” Iruka acknowledged.

“Have a quiet day tomorrow, Kakashi.” Asuma suggested. “I will ask Hiruzen-sama about a space for training and sort out the details. You rest. Good evening, Iruka-san, Jiraiya-san, Kakashi.” He looked towards the airlock. “Please relay my farewells to Sasuke-sama and Naruto-san if they ever come up for air.”