Into the Fire

Chapter Seventy-Two

A week after the wedding Kakashi was finally ready to travel and the parties from Konoha and Oto assembled at the gates to begin their journey home.

“I'll miss you Rai.” Genma declared as he pulled in best friend into a tight hug, “Please come and visit sometime.”

“Of course I will.” the burly man retorted, “You guys can come here too, you know.”

“Hatake-san, I am eternally in your debt.” the Kazekage remarked with a smile, “If there is ever anything I can do for you . . .”

“Take care of each other and stay happy.” the copy-nin declared, “That's all I want.”

“Do you have everything sweetheart?” Ibiki asked anxiously, “Are you sure you're up to traveling?”

“I'm fine.” came the brusque reply, “You worry too much.”

“Of course I worry.” the interrogator retorted, “Every time you're out of my sight something awful happens.”

“I can take care of myself.” Kakashi snapped peevishly, “I'm not a child.”

“No one said that you were 'kashi.” Ibiki insisted, “I just want to protect you.”

“That's what I mean.” the copy-nin declared, “I don't need protecting . . . I can kick your ass, you know.”

“I have no doubt you could kick all our asses . . . you just seem to lose your desire to do so when you're the one that's threatened.” the interrogator demurred, “In any event, you've been through a lot since you arrived here . . . I just want to get you home safely.”

“About that.” the jounin began hesitantly, “I was thinking I might stop in Oto on the way back, spend some time with Itachi and Kisame.”

“I'm sure we could do that.” the scarred man agreed, “I should clear it with the Hokage first, though.”

“I was actually thinking I'd go by myself.” Kakashi ventured, “You've let your duties slide for far too long already.”

“You aren't getting away from me that easily Hatake.” Ibiki growled threateningly, “You promised me a year, and that means we need to be together.”

“Fine.” the copy-nin muttered, “We'll do it your way.”

“Do you still want to stop in Sound?” the interrogator asked calmly.

“No.” Kakashi grunted petulantly before falling silent, appearing to study the sand under his feet as he pointedly ignored his companion.

Several hours out the entire party pulled to a halt. “Rest break, fifteen minutes.” the guards announced before fanning out to secure the perimeter, mindful of the fact that there were two kages in the party entrusted to their care.

“We need to talk brat.” The words pulled the copy-nin out of his contemplation and he turned his head to study the speaker carefully.

“I really don't have anything to say to you Jiraiya.” Kakashi finally offered.

“Well, I have things to say to you.” the white maned sage insisted, “Walk with me.”

“He needs his rest old man.” Ibiki warned.

“I'm fine.” the jounin muttered, “You're treating me like I'm helpless again, 'biki.”

“Sorry, sweetheart.” the scarred man replied apologetically, “I'll try to relax.”

The copy-nin stood and stretched lazily before ambling off after the sannin, leaving Ibiki to follow their progress around the encampment with watchful eyes. “So, I'm here, what did you want?” Kakashi declared briskly.

“When did you mark Zabuza?” Jiraiya asked suddenly.

“Wha . . . how do you know about that?” the copy-nin said suspiciously.

“We fought after they took you to the hospital . . . I saw the marks on his face, he certainly didn't put them there himself.” the toad sage insisted, “When did you mark him?”

“Right after Sandaime gave me to the Mizukage, he thought it would be fun to share me with his favorite student.” the silver-haired nin muttered angrily, “I was young and I didn't realize that there was a price to be paid for rebellion . . . believe me, he got off easy by comparison.”

“He hurt you?” Jiraiya pushed.

“Of course he hurt me . . . they all hurt me. That was sort of the point, why else would someone want a whore like me.” came the bitter reply.

“You're beautiful, talented, intelligent . . . I can think of a million reasons, and none of them involve torture.” the sannin retorted, “Besides, you are not now, nor have you ever been a whore . . . you did as you were ordered, no more and no less. That makes you a shinobi, just like the rest of us.”

“Not anymore.” Kakashi responded bitterly, “I've been removed from duty.”

“I'm sorry, you know.” Jiraiya mumbled, “I've been a shitty excuse for an Uncle and I wouldn't blame you if you hated me . . . but I am trying to make up for it, if you'll let me.”

“There's nothing to atone for.” the copy-nin decided, “And I certainly don't blame you . . . at least not where I'm concerned. I can't, however, forgive you for the way you treated Orochimaru before he died. He was your teammate and your friend . . . would it have killed you to treat him decently?”

“I reacted badly, I admit it.” the toad sage allowed, “I wasn't expecting the two of you to have such a . . . physical relationship. I know, I should have anticipated something of the sort, but I just didn't.”

“He needed me.” the younger Hatake declared spitefully, “I was the first person he'd reached out to since he'd left Konoha . . . because of you.”

“Are you implying that everything he did was because I rejected him?” an affronted Jiraiya exclaimed.

“No . . . most of that blame lies on Sandaime's shoulders.” Kakashi admitted, “However, he might never have left if you'd reacted differently to his confession.”

“How was I supposed to act?” and indignant toad sage roared, “He accused our teacher . . . our Hokage, of terrible things, disgusting things.”

“Didn't you ever wonder where he came up with those ideas?” the copy-nin asked angrily, “After all, you claim that you never even imagined such perversions.”

“Of course I didn't, it's nauseating, why would I spend time dwelling on it?” the sannin retorted. “Besides, what's the big deal . . . lots of ninja get used sexually. . . I don't hear the kunoichi assigned to seduction missions complaining. What makes it any different?”

“No big deal?” Kakashi hissed, “I'll show you old man.” he lifted his hitai-ate to reveal his sharingan, grabbing Jiraiya by the shoulders and pinning him in place as he locked eyes with the sage, sending the memories of all the sexual torment he had undergone during his life screaming through the connection into the sannin's mind.

The toad sage let out a strangled shriek before dropping to the ground and curling up into a ball, begging for mercy as the copy-nin watched dispassionately.

“What Did You Do To Jiraiya-Sama, My Eternal Rival?” Gai asked in concern.

“Nothing.” Kakashi muttered sullenly.

“Hatake-san,” the Rokudaime ventured, “please drop the genjutsu and free Jiraiya-sama. I know he's a prejudiced fool . . . but this is not the way to deal with things.”

“He said it wasn't so bad.” the copy-nin spat, “Let's see if he still feels that way now.”

“Sempai, you and I both know, no one should have to suffer that.” Itachi murmured accusingly, “Release him.”

“Fine.” came the mumbled response, “But I'm not sorry I did it.” Kakashi wandered back over to Ibiki, lowering himself to sit next to the imposing figure. “Are you mad at me too?” he inquired softly.

“That asshole deserved whatever you did to him.” the interrogator replied calmly as he watched Itachi and Kurenai struggle to calm the flailing sage, “Is he still suffering?”

“No, they made me release him.” the copy-nin spat, “He'll be back to his normal asshole self in a few minutes.”

“Pity.” the scarred man declared as he wrapped an arm around the slender jounin and pulled him into his lap. “Just relax 'kashi, we'll be moving out soon.”

Jiraiya finally staggered to his feet, wending his way over to the couple and slumping to the ground next to them. “I deserved that.”, he grunted, “Truce?” He held out a hand and Kakashi studied it warily for a few moments before clasping it firmly.

“Truce.”