Into the Fire

Chapter Sixty-Two

The green beast paced anxiously outside the hospital room. This was the first opportunity he’d been given to see Kakashi since they had arrived in Suna and he was anxious to bring him up to speed on everything that had been happening in Konoha since the copy-nin’s departure.

“Just a few minutes Gai. He’s still recovering.” Ibiki warned as he ushered the taijutsu master into the room, “And no dramatics . . . that’s the last thing he needs.”

“I Swear Not To Upset My Eternal Rival Or I Will . . .” the green-clad jounin began, only to be cut off.

“That’s what I mean by dramatics.” the interrogator explained, “Use your inside voice, please . . . and NO challenges.”

“Of Course, Lover Of My Eternal Rival. I Would Never Want . . .” he began.

“Just go.” the scarred man sighed, shaking his head and pinching his nose against his impending, Gai-induced headache.

“My Eternal Rival It Is Wonderful To See You Again!” the spandex-clad jounin boomed excitedly, noisily dragging a chair next to the bed and plopping into it. “It Has Been Far Too Long Since We Have Engaged In A Contest Of Skill.”

“What did I say about this?” Ibiki growled angrily, stepping forward and laying a heavy hand on the taijutsu master’s shoulder.

“It’s okay Ibiki.” the copy-nin soothed, “Go stretch your legs . . . give us a few minutes.”

“Are you sure, sweetheart?” the interrogator asked worriedly.

“I’ll be fine.” Kakashi insisted, “You haven’t left this room in hours. I promise I’ll still be here when you get back.”

“I Will Guard My Eternal Rival With My Life.” Gai declared forcefully.

“You’d better.” Ibiki rumbled threateningly before casting one last worried look at the bed-ridden jounin and slipping out of the room.

As soon as the door clicked shut, the copy-nin turned a too-serious eye on his visitor, gauging his reaction carefully before beginning to speak. “Gai, I’m afraid I can’t be your rival anymore.”

“Have I done something to offend you Kakashi?” the spandex-clad man responded stiffly with none of his usual dramatics.

“No, no, nothing like that.” the copy-nin hurried to assure him, “It’s just . . . I’m not a ninja anymore. Hell, I’m barely a man.” he continued wryly, eyeing the sheet tented over his lower half, “You need to find someone more . . . capable.”

“What do you mean you’re not a ninja anymore?” Gai asked suspiciously.

“I have been removed from duty.” Kakashi said in a soft, sad voice, “I am no longer ft to serve.”

“What will you do?” the taijutsu master wondered.

“I honestly don’t know . . . I have always been shinobi.” the copy-nin declared with an expressive shrug. “It seems everything comes to an end though, my friend . . . and that includes our rivalry. Odd as it may sound, I will miss your challenges.”

“Why does this sound like goodbye Kakashi?” Gai questioned bitingly.

“Don’t mind me.” the copy-nin demurred, “The pain pills make me ramble. In any event,” he continued relentlessly, “it’s time to stop hiding from the truth.”

“Which is?” the taijutsu master asked with trepidation.

“That things will never be the same.” Kakashi whispered, pain evident in his tone, “No matter how hard I try.”

“Are you sure that’s a bad thing, my friend?” the green beast inquired encouragingly.

“I have no idea.” the copy-nin responded with a sarcastic snort, “Won’t matter much either way now, will it?”

Jiraiya opened the thick folder the doctor handed him, unsure if he really wanted to see its contents, but feeling he had no choice. He carefully studied the file photos of the damage . . . from the initial injury through the various states of repair, and barely managed to make it outside before his stomach rebelled and he vomited up its contents.

“I wish to speak with your brother Kazekage-sama.” the toad sage requested formally, “About the injuries to my nephew, Kakashi.”

“Of course Jiraiya-sama.” Gaara answered tonelessly, “The guards will show you to his cell.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Raidou asked his fiancé worriedly, “Kankuro almost killed Hatake-san, after all.”

“Kakashi made Morino-san swear not to punish my brother . . . and he managed to extract the same promise from almost everyone who knows him. I can’t do it myself for fear of reprisal. The only one he’s refused to see is Jiraiya-sama,” the Kazekage explained crisply, “therefore I thought he should be filled in on Hatake-san’s condition . . . before he can be roped into any ill-advised promises.”

“Who’re you?” the puppeteer spat defiantly when the sannin entered his cell.

“I am Jiraiya, the great toad sage.” the white-maned man declared, “I’m here to question you about the attack on Hatake-san.”

“That whore corrupted my brother.” Kankuro hissed vehemently, “He had to be stopped.”

“That whore, as you like to refer to him, is my nephew.” the sannin retorted angrily, “He is a brilliant shinobi and an asset to any nation lucky enough to have him.”

“He’s a dirty old man and he turned my baby brother into a queer.” the angry Sand sibling argued, “No one in their right mind could possibly consider that to be an asset.”

“Your brother sought Kakashi out . . . not the other way around. It seems to me the Kazekage knew exactly what he wanted and my nephew was the one getting corrupted.” Jiraiya insisted.

“That’s not true,” the puppeteer protested violently, “Gaara said he brought Hatake here to teach him about pleasure.”

“Sex and pleasure are not necessarily the same thing.” the toad sage explained patiently, “It sounds like your brother needed to be taught the difference.”

“Not by a man.” Kankuro snapped, “Father would kill him if he were still alive.”

“How did your father die?” the sannin asked curiously.

“Gaara crushed him in his sand coffin.” the puppeteer whispered, “He always hated our father . . . he always hated everyone.”

“You loved your father, didn’t you?” Jiraiya asked almost gently, “You learned at his side?”

“Of course . . . Father was a great man.” Kankuro declared confidently, “His shinobi cowered before him.”

“Your father was a bully and a pervert.” the sannin retorted, “He abused Kakashi when he was just a teenager . . . and repeatedly throughout the years, but you knew that, didn’t you? You recognized him as soon as they arrived. Did you watch your father rape Gaara, too? Is that what this is all about . . . you’re jealous because you want your brother all to yourself?”

“I would never . . .” the puppeteer sputtered impotently, “I like women, thank you very much.”

“You sure seemed to enjoy playing with another man’s dick . . . for a supposedly straight man, that is.” the white-maned sage sneered, “I think you’re just afraid to admit you like it.”

“You perverted piece of shit.” the Sand sibling shrieked, “I’ll make you pay for that.”

“Oh really . . . and how were you planning on accomplishing that exactly?” Jiraiya asked with a smirk, “It seems to me that I’m calling the shots here.”

“I have powerful friends.” the puppeteer threatened, “You better keep one eye open old man.”

“I guess I’ll have to make sure you don’t have a chance to talk to them then.” Jiraiya shot back coldly, all traces of the affable, bumbling pervert gone. “I may not have been much of an uncle . . . but I’ll be damned if I’ll give you another chance to hurt Kakashi.” The sannin stepped back and bit his thumb, making a series of hand signs and slapping his hand on the ground.

“What do you want?” Pakkun growled when he realized who had summoned them.

“You may be a Hatake, but we don’t recognize any ties to you.” Bull rumbled.

“This gentleman,” the toad sage explained, indicating cowering Kankuro, “is the one who attacked Kakashi. I thought, perhaps, you guys would like to have a little talk with him about it.”

“The brat’s hurt?” Pakkun asked suspiciously, “Why hasn’t he summoned us?”

“This asshole almost ripped his dick off.” Jiraiya spat, “Kakashi’s still in the hospital . . . but if you don’t want to handle it . . .”

“We’ll be happy to have a talk with him.” Tomodachi barked, watching with sharp eyes as the frightened puppeteer’s eyes flashed between the hounds, calculating a way out. Before he could make his move, however, Bull darted forward, catching the panicked nin before he could escape, easily pinning him with a massive paw as he nosed his pants open.

“Not worth my trouble.” the massive hound rumbled, “Any of you guys in the mood for sausage?” Bull’s query was met by a chorus of barks and howls, overpowering the screams of their victim as the ninken took revenge for their beloved master . . . eventually Kankuro’s protests faded to a few gurgled moans and then, finally, silence reigned as the dogs carefully washed the blood from their fur.