Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Gentle Lesson: The Restoration of the Hatake ❯ Ripples ( Chapter 9 )

I don't own Naruto… or Kakashi…

 

Gentle Lesson: The Restoration of the Hatake

 

 

Chapter 9: Ripples

 

 

Had it only be a week ago?

 

 

Here he was - out on the field already. It was the only way he knew how to forget. As he drew his katana out of its sheath, and glared at his equally masked opponent, he wondered if he ever could.

 

 

Cold steel slid along the flesh of his upper arm - it jolted him awake.

 

 

See…

 

 

There I go again, thinking, thinking, when I should be focusing on my work. All this moodiness is going to kill me - stop thinking about them and think about - guh!

 

 

Kakashi threw himself away - a quick flip upwards onto a tree branch - to safety.

 

 

Banishing images of pink hair, blue eyes and a pale face, he threw himself down - meeting the enemy's blade with his own. He would kill those memories - on the tip of his sword.

 

 

*

 

 

“There's something wrong,” Shizune stopped, glared at her drink and then sighed.

“Wrong?”

“With Iruka.”

“Iruka-sensei? Trouble in paradise, already?” Joked Genma.

Raido hit him hard in the side with his elbow.

“Ooof! You beating on me already?”

Genma grinned, a twinkle and a promise in his eye.

Anko stifled her giggles after a measured look from Ebisu.

“What is it?” she asked sobering up quickly.

“Iruka's been - I don't know - odd?”

Several more Jounin came in and sat down, ordering drinks and leaning in to hear the newest gossip.

“It is a mission?” asked Kurenai.

That was a loaded question. Missions - the danger, the not knowing - had torn apart many a couple before.

“No…. Iruka's been more involved with the Rehabilitation Center - with Haruno Sakura when she isn't sent out with her team… no… I just don't know…”

“Heeeyyyyy!!! Iruka!” yelled Genma, loudly, causing everyone to jump.

Shizune looked up and forced a smile, Iruka's grin also looked pain.

 

 

“She's right…” Murmured Kurenai, in Asuma's ear.

“Cat got your tongue?” joked Kotetsu from another table as the ex-Academy Teacher passed by.

“…. No….”

“Have a drink then,” Izumo laughed, signaling the bartender. “Drink all your worries away.”

 

 

Iruka said nothing in return. Underneath Izumo's laugh lay desperation - he had lost a sister in the war.

 

 

Everybody loses something in war…

 

 

Naruto. Sakura. Sasuke.

 

 

Kakashi-sama. Kakashi.

 

“I have been there,” he nodded.

 

“You WOULD say that,” Iruka snorted.

 

“I was there,” repeated Kakashi. “Several months ago. I had reached a plateau just as you have reached one.”

 

Iruka looked up.

 

“What did you do?” he asked.

 

“What did I do?” Kakashi asked. “You should know what I did. You sit beside Tsunade.”

 

“Uh… she said you were training.”

 

“So you should train too.”

 

“But I have nothing special! Even the Rookie Nine have more special traits individually than me!”

 

“Yes, but you are the one who taught them everything.” Kakashi said. “You're probably - no, you ARE - smarter than the whole bunch. Use those brains of yours. Think up your own jutsus - just like I have. Or do research on some old, forgotten ones - or something.”

 

“Iruka.” Kakashi took a deep breath. “My father once told me a wise saying and you would do well to remember it.”

 

Iruka looked up.

 

“What makes a shinobi is not his jutsu but love, loyalty, courage and hard work. That's what he said.”

 

Iruka nodded.

 

“Now. Knowing that,” Kakashi said. “We must go forward and fortify ourselves. I'm off to a very boring mission and you are to train yourself. I don't want to hear anymore on this matter. It is seriously getting old.”

 

He walked into the tavern.

 

I owe you.

 

 

*

 

 

Her hand had felt -

 

 

Had felt so small - so warm.

 

 

In that short moment, he had remembered those moments when they had sat together in the dark.

 

 

Her eyes - green and wide with sorry, sadness, shock and - a touch of fierceness - seemed so open - sincere.

 

 

An open book.

 

 

Even her chakra flared with emotion - all together, Sakura walked among the living.

 

 

Not like him.

 

 

Small and white, her fingers burnt his cold ones right through the cloth.

 

 

His hands were revealed - red - dripping in blood.

 

 

-the fuck?

 

 

“Kaka-sensei?” her young voice quavered. “Why?”

 

 

Why? WHY?

 

 

Kakashi jolted awake, sitting upright suddenly in terror.

 

 

But what was there to fear?

 

 

For a moment, Kakashi was confused. All of his traps, his seals and things seemed to be in order. The dark black curtains drawn over the closed patio door - no - Yukio wasn't here…

 

 

What had scared him?

 

 

Then the memories hit.

 

 

*

 

 

“Iruka,” Genma said, switching his senbon ruminatively as he watched Raido take a pull on his cigarette. “Give. What's up? You've got her worried.”

“I know.” Iruka sighed, “But I can't help it.”

“Is it work?”

“No.”

Raido puffed out a long stream of smoke and watched the stars appear.

 

 

Genma frowned.

 

 

He's taken up smoking - ever since the war - is it to hide his fear - to relax his shaking hands?

 

 

“Iruka. Is it a mission?” asked Raidou, after a moment.

“No.”

“Then what? For kami's sake, spit it out!”

“Kakashi-sensei.”

 

 

A moment.

 

 

“What?”

 

 

“Kakashi-sensei.”

“That's really -“

“Is that supposed to make sense?”

 

 

“When's the last time you saw him?” Iruka asked, staring at his hands. “We three hold his secret. And yet…”

 

 

Iruka sagged back against the wall of the tavern, and joined Raidou's perusal of the stars. The darkness of the alley dimmed the lamp light - and the sounds of drinking and games from inside seemed so far away and unreal to his ears. Hard and long, the war had torn away much of their peace - and now, they were all celebrating. Celebrating for months and intending to celebrate for many more years to come.

Raido and Genma would know.

 

 

He cast a side glance at his companions.

 

 

Genma stood there, looking shell-shocked.

Raido had the look of a man who had been hit over the head with a ton of bricks.

 

 

“What…. How could….”

“How could we have forgotten him?”

 

 

Raido's cigarette fell unheeded to the ground. It burned there for a moment, smoldering on the gravel and then, disintegrated into fine ash.

 

 

“Damn.”

“Yeah.”

“Is he - is he -“

“I don't know.”

Raido shook his head. “He couldn't have died - not with all those jutsus and -“

“There would have been a funeral. The last of the Hatake - it wouldn't be hushed up…”

Iruka sighed. “Yeah, I know, Genma - but I'm still worried…”

 

 

“He's a big boy,” Genma blinked. “He can take care of himself.”

“It's not his physicality that I'm worried about - not being injured - no… I'm not worried about that. In fact, if he lost the use of his hands, it would probably do him more good than ever -“

“What do you mean?”

“Well… if he isn't in the Jounin ranks, he's in ANBU. You know that as well as I. Which means… he's been there since the beginning of the war until now.”

 

 

“Holy shit.”

“Holy shit isn't the word for it, Gen-kun,” murmured Raido. His fingers automatically found another cigarette, soon it was lit and the smoke stilled his tension. “But then - is that a surprise? The war would need him.”

“But he's been in there too long!” Iruka whispered, trying to stop himself from crying like a baby over a man who he didn't even know. “You guys can't possibly realize what those people are like - they aren't even people anymore. Those who stayed within the ANBU ranks during the war - they ended up doing horrible things just so we could stay alive! A lot of ANBU dropped out to join the front lines - and only recently recruitment has started up again… and he's been through all of that…. What's he going to be like coming out?”

 

 

There was silence on the thought.

 

 

“I wouldn't worry about it.” Genma said, after a while. “First of all, he's Hatake. Second, he's got Naruto on his team to bring him back. Third, there's you to rehab him, and us to get him back to reality. We just need to find him.”

“But how?” asked Iruka.

“Good point.”

“I don't know… I could snoop around - talk to Ibiki - he's a good guy to rope in…”

 

 

“What if he doesn't want to be found?”

 

 

A heavy, solemn voice asked into the dark night, above their heads from the roof.

 

 

“GYYYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!”

The three Jounin jumped and yelled in surprise - and turned kunai ready - to face the white-haired Sannin Jiraiya on the roof top.

 

 

“J-j-j-jiraiya-sama?” Iruka stuttered.

“Hey, old man! Stop creeping up on us like that, you bastard!” roared Genma, trying to cover up the fact that he had been squealing like a girl only seconds before.

“What the hell is wrong with you? I lost ANOTHER cig tonight because of you!”

“GENMA! RAIDO!” shrieked Iruka, utterly shocked. “SHOW RESPECT! J-j-j-jiraiya-sama! I'm so sorry! I think they've had too much to drink….”

“Like hell we have!”

“Speaking of which….”

“No respect,” sighed Jiraiya.

 

 

His expression sobered. “You guys, were talking about Kakashi.”

“Yes, sir,” Iruka nodded. “I was - um - worried because we had seen one of his secret jutsu and I felt - um - sort of responsible… I thought we were friends at one point - and - well… he WAS Naruto's teacher… so… that is… when Sakura brought it up, I got worried, and I thought perhaps Genma and Raido would have news - or even ideas - and - and -“

Jiraiya raised his hand, jumped off the roof and leaning against the alley wall, turned his face up towards the stars.

 

 

“Yeah. I know. Seems like old hag Tsunade was in a stew about it, too.” He grinned, hiding his embarrassment. “You know… I felt bad not thinking about him all this time. But then… the war really took a lot out of us and things just fell out the way they did…”

“So… where WAS he?” asked Raido.

“ANBU.”

“See… what did I tell you?”

Genma shook his head. “All this time? I don't remember seeing any grey hair in the ranks…”

“He was in a special division.”

“Like that evil secret one I heard about? Ne?”

“Hmmm…. Not evil… but definitely secret - more secret than normal ANBU because of the things they do… so it begs the question - would he want to be found?”

“I don't think so.”

“GENMA!”

“It's true, Iruka. He hasn't shown his face - I don't think he'll ever show his face voluntarily. It'll be a long rehab session for you the day you get him into your office. Good luck!”

“So you will do nothing?”

Genma blinked and then sighed. His senbon flicked from one corner of his mouth to the other.

“I don't know. He's probably totally wild now - he was always stronger than us - no doubt about it. You'll just get your ass handed to you, Iruka-sensei… Still… I can't let you do it alone…”

 

 

There was a pause.

 

 

Jiraiya shifted.

“Still… it's been a while since I've seen the brat. Even longer since I sparred with him… has he grown that strong - that ANBU would fight to keep him? I mean… sure Sakumo was a great guy - heck, I know I owe him my life a time or two - or ten… but all that Hatake heritage crap - I thought it was just that - crap…”

“The Hatake heritage?”

“What's that?”

“Jiraiya-sama?” Iruka asked, eyes wide. “The Hatake have a bloodline limit?”

“Well…. I don't think so… unless you think weird white chakra is a bloodline limit…”

“Ah.”

 

 

Iruka said nothing, but he could already see that Genma and Raido knew what he was getting at.

 

 

“GRRRRRR-ARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!”