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Broken Kunai	By : MisatosPenPen Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Kakashi/Sasuke Views: 7784 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 20
- 21
It was good to be home. It was cooler and less dry without being outright humid. The desert had a clean smell, but Kakashi missed the scents of the forest.
They went straight to the Hokage’s office to report in. Tsunade seemed honestly relieved. Sasuke gave her a full report, including the personal attacks on them.
“Excellent. I knew you and your team were the best choice. You’ve more than solidified our alliance with Suna and taken out a dangerously destabilizing element. And you,” she turned her attention to Kakashi, “have proven that you’re still one of the most skilled jounin in our village.”
Kakashi rubbed the back of his head in feigned embarrassment. “I still broke my ribs.”
Tsunade scoffed. “Well done. S-rank pay for you both. Once the others return, the council will thank you all for preventing an all-out war, and you all get a few days’ rest.”
Sasuke nodded and Kakashi gave a short bow.
It was just before sunset that they walked home. Sasuke activated his Sharingan before they reached the gates to look for any signs of disturbance or traps. Ever since someone stole one of his shirts to use as a cruel prank, he was on high alert when they returned home after they were away for any length of time.
“All clear,” he announced after taking a tour of the building.
They unpacked, leaving a pile of laundry to do in the morning, and then took a shower. They didn’t get up to anything sexual.
Dried and dressed, they went to the kitchen.
“You feel like eating today?” Kakashi asked.
Sasuke scoffed. “Yes.”
The calendar was in the kitchen, and it caught Kakashi’s attention. He had to think about how long they’d been away. “We missed your birthday.”
Sasuke gave a small shrug. “Not like I’ve cerebrated many since I was a kid. Don’t worry about it.”
“It matters to me.”
“I told you, both of us coming home without serious wounds is good enough for me.” He saddled up to him. “Although, we were injured. You can just make me dinner.”
“We only have ramen and rice. We cleaned out the perishables before we left.” Kakashi only just now remembered that himself.
“Then you’re taking me out for my birthday.”
“Well, then I’m going to have wear something nicer.” He went back to the bedroom to change and dig through his weapons’ pouch to pull out a small paper wrapped item. He had forgotten about it during the climax of their mission. He pocketed it and rejoined Sasuke who had already dressed well enough to go out.
It was a normal, pleasant evening. Few paid them any heed. When they returned home, Kakashi stopped Sasuke from going straight to their room.
“I did actually buy something for you while we were in Suna.” He pulled out the small package and handed it to him.
Sasuke unwrapped it. An obsidian Kirin pendant. It was smooth backed with the Kirin carved in relief. Sasuke smiled at it. “Thank you.”
“After they gave you that Kirin mask, I remembered the jutsu you told me about. I thought you might like it.”
“Yes, thank you. I’ve always liked them.”
Kakashi came closer to kiss him. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks.”
-----
All the Konoha shinobi who fought in the Land of Wind were brought to the Hokage tower to be honored and they recognized those who died. When they arrived, Kakashi noticed Sasuke freeze. Not only did he stand still, but he was also giving off chilly chakra. Kakashi didn’t understand what had Sasuke’s hackles up. After a moment, he continued into the room to stand with their fellows.
Kakashi barely heard a word. He was surprised no one else was staring at Sasuke. He must have been acutely attuned to Sasuke. There was icy anger just flowing from him.
When it was all over, Sasuke approached the council. Tsunade’s council was still Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. And then it dawned on Kakashi why Sasuke was angry.
“I didn’t realize you two old bats were still living.”
“Uchiha,” Utatane greeted coldly.
Kakashi stood right behind Sasuke, ready to grab him and pull him away if it came to it. As it was, there was a taste of killing intent coming off Sasuke that was probably making ANBU nervous.
“Someone left your cage open, Uchiha?” Mitokado asked.
“I refuse to enter a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.”
“Wisdom is the benefit of a long life,” Utatane said.
“Then you show you are very young at heart.”
Tsunade didn’t want this polite war of words go on. “Well, I’m sure the council appreciates your efforts, Sasuke.”
She never used his given name unless she was trying to appeal to him. Sasuke flicked his eyes toward her then back to the council members.
“I will take my leave.”
Kakashi was beyond relieved when Sasuke walked away without attacking anyone. As they walked out, he realized he wasn’t the only person who noticed Sasuke hostility. Akihito, Mori, and Hara were watching Sasuke. Some of the truth of Sasuke’s brother and family was commonly known now, but Kakashi really didn’t know what all the general populace knew and how much Sasuke’s team knew. He doubted they knew that the elders plotted with Hiruzen and Danzo against the Uchiha clan, but they were attuned to Sasuke’s aura enough to recognize when he was angry.
The ANBU captain was there as well, his mask unreadable. He didn’t appear to be looking at Sasuke, but Kakashi was sure he was listening.
Whatever festivities were planned, Kakashi and Sasuke missed them. They went straight home.
Sasuke, of course, wore his sword and a weapon pouch, but he wasn’t armed to the teeth as he often was. As soon as they got home, Sasuke grabbed his gear.
“I’m going to train.”
“I’ll go with you,” Kakashi was quick to say. “I need to stay active.”
Sasuke didn’t object.
By nightfall, a portion of the training grounds was deforested by vicious swordplay and chidori. None of that was Kakashi’s fault. At least it bled off Sasuke’s agitation and wore him out. He ate little and went to bed, his chakra low.
Kakashi joined Sasuke after his own shower to find him fast asleep. He gently put a hand on Sasuke’s chest, over his heart. It was probably just Kakashi’s imagination, but he sensed anger festering in Sasuke’s chest. He visualized his emotions as a slow growing Rasengan, but instead of smooth swirls of blue and white, the hate and rage coiling in Sasuke’s heart were lightening like Sasuke’s lightening Rasengan but colored black and toxic green. It was small, but it worried him.
He let his hand slip down to Sasuke’s abdomen and channeled a gentle flow of chakra into his sleeping lover. Sasuke’s body relaxed noticeably, enough so that his throat closed a bit making his breathing a little louder. The imaginary Rasengan died away.
Kakashi cuddled up next to him, put his arm and thigh over Sasuke’s body. Sasuke’s breath hitched, but he didn’t wake. Kakashi had to smile at that. If anyone had approached the window or if anyone or anything touched him in any way, Sasuke would have been fully awake in a moment.
Fear started to boil up in his own chest. Oddly, it wasn’t that he feared Sasuke’s wrath and the violence he might unleash, it was that he would lose Sasuke. What would Sasuke sacrifice for further revenge?
If he needed proof how much he loved Sasuke, he had it. He was more concerned with their relationship than the destruction and murder Sasuke could unleash. He promised himself he would do anything to save Sasuke from ever touching that darkness again.
-----
Sasuke had turned his head, so they were facing each other when they woke up, nearly eye to eye. Sasuke’s groan woke Kakashi. He woke up easily compared to Sasuke who just groaned again and turned onto his side to snuggle back into the bed, wanting to shut out the world for a little while longer. It gave Kakashi time to stare at his beautiful lover. Sasuke would relax and expose his true self to Kakashi, but he was completely disarmed and his face was utterly relaxed in sleep.
But Sasuke was no longer asleep and even if he felt safe with Kakashi, he could still feel him staring at him. He stretched and begrudgingly got up. Kakashi slowly followed, finding Sasuke standing waiting for water to boil.
Sasuke didn’t seem to remember the elders this morning. He was serene if unawake. Kakashi needed, even more than with Itachi’s birthday, to keep Sasuke from thinking about negative things.
Kakashi came up behind Sasuke and wrapped his arms around him.
Sasuke turned his head and looked at Kakashi from the corner of his eye. “You don’t want to fuck right now, do you?” Sasuke asked bluntly.
“No, I just want to be with you.”
“That’s usually code for sex.”
“It is only if you want it to be.”
“We fuck enough when we’re naturally horny, too much to force it.”
“What were you planning today?” Kakashi asked, not releasing Sasuke from his embrace.
“You keep the house clean, but I wanted to do some chores like dusting in the living room.”
“I hate dusting,” Kakashi admitted.
“I’m home for a while; I’ll take on the chores. You can relax.”
Mind-numbing work might keep Sasuke from thinking about the two old bats. Right now, that hate Kakashi felt in Sasuke yesterday wasn’t there.
“Alright, I’ll just recline on the sofa and watch.”
“Hn,” Sasuke said with amusement.
The water began boiling and Kakashi let Sasuke pull away.
After breakfast, Kakashi did lay down on the sofa while Sasuke started cleaning the bookcase. From this angle, Kakashi could only see a little bit of the side of his face. Sasuke’s face was utterly blank, his eyes wide without any emotion to narrow them. A fool would have called those eyes open and vulnerable; Kakashi knew them to just be devoid of feeling.
He figured Sasuke was wherever he went while meditating. He’d thought to ask how Sasuke meditated. Where did he go? What did he focus on? Or was he able to utterly clear his mind of everything? He hoped the latter. That would mean, however, that Sasuke was a machine right now; an unthinking, unfeeling, automaton. That was a chilling thought.
But then, as Sasuke was tilting a book in order to pull it out and dust it, he froze. Kakashi knew that couldn’t be good. Sasuke’s glance toward the blue Uchiha banner on the far wall of the living room told Kakashi exactly what had crossed his lover’s mind. Shit. That cold, static feeling was back. That sense of hate and rage in Sasuke’s heart.
Kakashi got up, not trying to be silent at all, and took Sasuke in his arms again, pressing his chest into the raven’s back.
“They aren’t worth a thought from you.”
“They deserve death.”
“I know. They aren’t worthy of you. You’re the better man, not lashing out at an enemy. You’d prove them right if you did. You Uchiha are hot blooded and vindictive, but you’re not stupid. They’ll die soon enough.”
“I know. You’re right.” Sasuke took a deep breath. “With my brother dead, I just don’t want them to be alive.”
Kakashi suspected that “them” didn’t just include Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. He held him tighter.
Kakashi wanted to tell him that Itachi let himself die because he couldn’t live with what he did and that Sasuke should be glad his brother was free of it. But the reason for that was the situation he was forced into by the elders and his clan and Madara and Obito and Tobirama. Perhaps even fate. There was no making Sasuke feel better about his brother’s death. Sasuke didn’t make a sound or move, but Kakashi knew he’d started to weep.
“I wish with all my heart that Itachi was alive. Not just for your sake. If he were alive, he’d be Hokage. He’s more worthy of the title than anyone who ever held it. He did more, sacrificed more than anyone else for the village.”
“He’s a martyr. He said that I could have changed the Uchiha, but he was wrong. He was beyond revenge, but that’s all my clan was capable of. That’s all I’m capable of. He was the least Uchiha of all of us. He should have killed me with the rest.”
Kakashi didn’t think Sasuke had a death wish; it was just grief. “He couldn’t. You were more precious to him than anything else in the world.”
The dam broke. Kakashi’s arms were now holding Sasuke up. At least it was grief that was filling his heart right now, not rage. But that would come. Like thunder, it would come. Kakashi had moved on from his grief, but he could see that Sasuke might never move past his. Sasuke was still young, he reminded himself. Perhaps by the time he was thirty, Sasuke might find peace. But right now, this young man was still crippled by grief. And rage. It didn’t bubble up now, but Kakashi knew it would come again to fester in his heart.
“Your brother was wrong, not for sparing you, but for leaving you. They should have pinned the massacre on someone else, another Uchiha perhaps, Itachi avenged them, and he could have stayed and raised you.”
“I want them dead.”
“I know.” Kakashi put his hand on Sasuke’s forehead and pulled his head back and kissed his hair. “But it won’t make anything better. It would bring a shitstorm.”
“Yeah.”
Sasuke calmed, but Kakashi didn’t let him go. “You were more precious than the entire world to him; you are just as precious to me.” He renewed his silent vow. He added that he would protect Sasuke from everything. He couldn’t always be at his side to protect him physically, but he would do everything in his power to protect him from mental or emotional harm. He would prevent Sasuke delving into the darkness again.
-----
The outer bell rang, waking the pair the next morning. Sasuke snarled as he got up and snatched up a robe to see who was foolish enough to wake him. Kakashi turned onto his back and stretched before sitting up.
Sasuke was quite surprised to see an ANBU at his door who wasn’t his friend. “What?”
“Tsunade wants to see you and Kakashi-san immediately.”
“Why? I’m not supposed to be sent on another mission for at least a week. Kakashi too?”
“Immediately.”
Sasuke returned to their bedroom, confused. “Tsunade wants to see both of us.”
“Huh? That’s weird.” He checked the window; it wasn’t far past dawn.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow instead of shrugging his shoulders.
They were outside the Hokage’s office within ten minutes. Shizune met them.
“She would like to see Kakashi first.”
“First?”
Shizune shrugged. She didn’t seem to know what was going on.
Kakashi went in alone.
“Was Sasuke with you all night?”
“Eh? Yeah. I can’t swear he was there while I was asleep. We know and trust each other so much we don’t usually wake each other when we get into bed or leave it, but I’m pretty sure he never left the bed. I don’t think he ever moved in fact; I was partially laying on him. Why?”
“Utatane Koharu died last night.”
“She was murdered?” Kakashi asked with shock.
“No signs of violence.”
“Then why are you asking about Sasuke?”
She looked at him like he was purposely being an idiot. “Shinobi at his level can kill without leaving a mark.”
“I don’t believe Sasuke did anything. He admitted he was upset seeing Utatane and Mitokado alive, but he acknowledged that there’d be a shitstorm if he tried killing them. He was trying to get over it. And I think he would kill them both.”
“Bring Sasuke in.”
Kakashi opened the door for Sasuke, and they both stood at her desk. Sasuke looked honestly perplexed.
“Utatane Koharu died last night.”
Sasuke actually rocked back a bit at the news; he was genuinely shocked. “Alright.”
“Did you kill her?”
Sasuke was offended and let it show. “No.”
“Kakashi doesn’t think you left the house last night.”
“I didn’t.”
“Maybe it was her own guilt that killed her after seeing Sasuke again,” Kakashi offered.
“Or you might have done it for him.”
Sasuke scoffed. “I’m not that sound a sleeper.”
Kakashi willed himself not to react; he’d snuck out before.
Shizune knocked and entered. “Um, excuse me, Lady Tsunade, but Mitokado Homura has died as well.”
“When?”
“Within the last hour. He was told about Utatane’s death and then was dead when his guard check on him.”
“We didn’t do that.”
Tsunade was annoyed.
“Old couples are known to die shortly after the other,” Kakashi commented. “They weren’t married but they were very close.”
Tsunade sighed. “Go on,” she dismissed.
As they walked home, Kakashi concentrated on Sasuke. The hate and rage were gone. He was relieved.
When they entered the house, Sasuke rounded on Kakashi with a smile that surprised Kakashi. “Thank you.”
“Huh?”
“You killed them for me. Thank you.”
“I didn’t kill them.”
Sasuke smirked seductively at him. “You are a good liar.”
“I didn’t.”
“Whether you did or didn’t, you should accept my thanks.”
“Okay.” He thought that would be the end of it.
Sasuke dropped to his knees right there in the entrance. Kakashi was pleasantly surprised, but he leaned back against the door while Sasuke fished out his cock.
Sasuke started by rubbing his limp cock and rubbed his lips against the head. It stirred to life immediately. As it grew out of its sheath, Sasuke teased the uncovered rim causing Kakashi to shudder.
Kakashi pushed his pants completely from his hips. Sasuke took advantage and rubbed Kakashi’s thighs as he tapped his tongue against the frenulum. Kakashi’s eye rolled back. He shut them and leaned his head back.
Sasuke swirled his tongue around the head then flicked the tip of his tongue over the slit, picking up the precum already forming there. He closed his lips around the head and gave it a suck.
Kakashi let out a trembling sigh.
Sasuke took him further in and rubbed his tongue on the underside. He disengaged to wet his lips then started fucking his mouth with Kakashi’s cock. He stopped to suck at the head then went back to taking Kakashi deep. Sasuke’s soft palate felt incredible, but not as incredible as the ridge of his cock scraping against his hard palate as Sasuke pulled away every time.
Then Sasuke took him even deeper, until his lips were wrapped around the base. Sasuke swallowed causing his throat to convulse around him. It wasn’t a sigh as much as a whimper that came from Kakashi’s mouth. He couldn’t even look down to see the sight of this lovely young man devouring his cock. All he could do was blindly seek out Sasuke’s hair with his right hand. He gently fisted it.
Sasuke continued to give him the best blowjob of his life without touching anything but his thighs. It was a leisurely process leaving Kakashi near the edge for quite some time, but Kakashi’s mind was too fogged to be able to tell how much time. It was delicious torture.
Kakashi gasped as a spirt of precum was forced out of him. “I’m going to cum,” he breathed.
Sasuke leaned back, letting Kakashi’s cock fall from his lips.
Kakashi nearly growled at the denial of release. He looked down to see Sasuke’s evil smirk.
“In my mouth or my throat?” Sasuke asked.
“Dealer’s choice.”
Sasuke used his thumb to rub the underside of the base of Kakashi’s cock as he again tapped the frenulum with his tongue.
Kakashi gave a small cry of unexpected ecstasy. He felt his eyes cross before they rolled back. His orgasm was nearly literary mind-blowing. Sasuke was sucking out his cum as if his cock was a straw.
Kakashi’s legs were about to give out. Sasuke reached up to help ease the older man down. His mask was still up. It had a dark spot on it. Sasuke peeled it down.
Kakashi’s eyes were hazy and unfocused. He’d clearly been drooling from the pleasure. Sasuke kissed him. Sharing some of Kakashi’s semen with him.
“Thank you,” Sasuke whispered against his lips. “I appreciate the fact you would do anything for me.”
Kakashi couldn’t speak. It was like his brain had short circuited. His body was so relaxed after the tension of rising pleasure. He was boneless.
Soon, he looked up at Sasuke. “I would.”
“I would do anything for you too.”
“But I didn’t kill them.”
There was a slight change to Sasuke’s eyes. Maybe Sasuke believed him. But then, who killed the elders if not Kakashi? Sasuke seemed to decide that Kakashi did in fact kill them for him. He smiled and settled into Kakashi’s chest as he recovered from his orgasm. Kakashi wrapped his arms around the one thing in the world that was truly precious to him.
-----
Kakashi was admitted into Tsunade’s office later that afternoon. “I just wanted to let you know I’m certain Sasuke didn’t kill Utatane and Mitokado.”
“Oh?”
“He’s convinced I did it. He even ‘rewarded’ me. I just don’t want you have any suspicions about him.”
“Alright. But I’m still not convinced you didn’t do it.”
Kakashi shrugged. “I can’t prove my innocence, but you can’t prove my guilt, so . . .”
“Did seeing them bring him close to the brink?”
Kakashi stared at her sedately for a moment. “It brought out his grief and rage. It’s gone now. The rage, that is. The grief . . . it’s never gone.”
She nodded. “I’ve never fully recovered from my own grief, but I’ve moved on.”
“Have you? Have either of us really moved on? I do what I can to keep him from dwelling on it. Life isn’t doing me any favors, but he hasn’t lashed out yet. I think I can reign him in until the pain dulls a bit.”
“I will drop this matter, but not again. They were old and pains in my ass, but I don’t condone their murder.”
“It wasn’t Sasuke or me. I don’t know how they died.”
She waved that off. “There’s no evidence anyone killed them. I have to leave it at that.”
Kakashi gave a small bow.
He was relieved Tsunade let it go. Sasuke didn’t need those kind of speculations hanging over him. His limp reemerged as he walked home. It did get tiring to keep his walk normal. He hated this leg.
An ANBU dropped down in front of him. Kakashi didn’t recognize the mask, but he did recognize the voice. “She dropped the matter?” the captain asked.
Kakashi narrowed his eye at him. “She did. Do you know how they died?”
“Not at all,” he said airily. “I assume natural causes. They were older than dirt. I don’t think there are many grieving them. I expect a handful of people will be dancing this day.”
“Indeed.”
“You two have no plans today, right?”
“No,” Kakashi said cautiously.
“Good. We all missed Sasuke’s birthday while we were in Suna. His team is gathered together and I’m to gather the two of you.”
Kakashi let his masked expression soften.
“Sasuke, company,” Kakashi called as he entered the house.
Sasuke came out of the hall with his hair gathered in a topknot which sat more forward on his head than a normal topknot would be. He’d been doing chores while Kakashi had claimed he wanted to visit one of his friends.
Sasuke hesitated when he saw the unfamiliar mask.
“It’s me,” the captain said. “Your team and I wanted to buy you dinner for your birthday. Few realize we’re friends, so I thought I should change my mask for today. Hopefully, no one will notice it’s missing.”
Sasuke smiled. “I’ll get cleaned up.” He stopped and turned back around. “Who all is invited?”
“Just your team and the three of us.”
“Okay. No party crashers, please.”
The captain nodded, “Noted.”
-----
They met at a tavern for dinner. There were quite a few people there, but it wasn’t crowded. It made them just another gathering of shinobi, not sticking out at all. They didn’t make any show that this was a birthday dinner.
Akihiko, Mori, and Hara were not as close to Sasuke as Naruto and Kakashi, but they had slowly crossed the line to friends. Kakashi had also come to like them—even if Hara did flirt with Sasuke as shamelessly as ever.
“Well, to celebrate your nineteenth birthday,” Akihiko said, “we pooled our resources to buy you a fitting gift.”
Mori swung the covered basket up onto the table and the captain helped maneuver it in front of Sasuke. Sasuke pulled the cloth from it. It was a basket of nineteen tomatoes. Kakashi laughed in surprised amusement. Even Sasuke smiled and stifled a laugh. The others all laughed as well. He was becoming notorious for his love of the acidic fruit.
“So, we’re exhausted, hiding in a forest next to a farm. This son of a bitch,” Hara gestures to Sasuke, “sees a tomato plant. Mind you, we’re hiding. We had the crap kicked out of us and we’re hiding from enemy ANBU. Sasuke decides in the middle of the night to sneak over and steal a bunch of tomatoes. We’re all starving and there’s actual food to be stolen, but he just fills his shirt with those demon berries and starts eating one as he leaves. The farmer comes out for a leak or something and catches the formidable Uchiha sneaking away. He has the tomato in his mouth when the guy catches him.”
Sasuke pouts, but the rest of them are laughing.
“He doesn’t drop the tomatoes, just runs back to the forest. He has the good sense not to head toward us, but he’s high stepping through this farmer’s field like a kid caught pulling a prank. He never even drops the one he’s eating.
“We three just hunker down and sweat. The farmer’s yelling alerted the ANBU who drop in and ask what’s going on. He says he caught someone stealing tomatoes and he chased him into the woods. The ANBU were so disgusted, they believed it was just a common thief, that they just scoffed and jumped away, didn’t even pursue Sasuke. What high level, enemy shinobi would break cover just to steal some fruit?
“So, he regroups with us, and he’s got all these red stains on him and we get worried he’s been injured. No, it’s just his running damaged the tomatoes he was carrying and they bled on him. The red on his face was from scoffing them down.”
Sasuke was still trying not to laugh and continue sulking.
“Even when I was guarding him,” the captain said, “the only things he asked me for was fancy tea and tomatoes.”
“At least it wasn’t sake and dangos,” Sasuke muttered.
The captain laughed. That was obviously a dig at him. “I can’t help it. Give me some Hokuriku sake and some dumplings dripping with honey and I’ll give up any state secrets you want.”
“Our ANBU,” Sasuke said with a mocking presenting gesture.
“Any man can be bought,” Kakashi said. “We know your price,” Kakashi said motioning to the basket of red fruit.
Sasuke picked one up and examined it. Unblemished, shiny, smooth, crimson skin. He looked at it as if it were his lover, not the ex-jounin sitting next to him. He started to bring it to his mouth.
“Don’t you dare do that in public,” Kakashi warned in a stern voice. The others cracked up, knowing exactly what Sasuke was about to do: sensually eat out the fruit in a way that would get any man hard, and most women moist.
Sasuke stopped and eyed Kakashi without moving his head. Then he took a bite as if it was an apple.
After some more banter and food, the captain said, “I think we have to acknowledge the recent passing of the Elders.” There was a lilt to his voice that told them he wasn’t being sincere. They all lifted their drinks, half of them drinking alcohol, the others took up their tea. “To the death of the Elders.” They all answered the toast, all of them smirking.
Afterward, Sasuke was full on smiling. They were the last betrayers of the Uchiha. There did seem to be a peace about him. Maybe Sasuke could start healing. Maybe the grief would begin wane.
Akihiko was sitting next to Kakashi. Kakashi leaned back and stretched his leg out, his false one remained unmoving. The second oldest man at the table lean back too and they observed the younger men teasing Mori for how red he was getting from the sake.
“They’re good kids,” Akihiko said. “You’ve got yourself a good one there.”
“And you’ve got a hell of a team. Thank you for embracing Sasuke the way you have. I know he’s worried about fitting in after all that’s happened. I’m glad he was put on your team.”
“I was thrilled to have him. The man he replaced was promoted into ANBU. I don’t want to lose him.”
“I told him to reject any offer from ANBU.”
“No one trying to recruit him?” Akihiko said, glancing at the captain.
“Naw. I think the only reason you’d lose Sasuke is if he’s promoted to captain of his own team or given genin.”
“Oh, gods preserve us. If he were given genin . . .”
“He substituted for a jounin instructor. He did good.”
Akihiko laughed. “Did he teach them the chidori on day one?”
Kakashi chuckled. “Practically.”
“That’s good. Yeah, he’d make a fine captain and a fine sensei.”
“How long have the others been on your team?”
“Mori’s been with me since he became a chunin. About five years. Hara about three. The man he replaced was KIA.”
“Hard to lose someone under your command,” Kakashi sympathized; he lost one on his first mission as a captain.
“I don’t think I have to worry with this bunch. Sasuke’s the youngest of them and he’s the most powerful. He’s a hell of a survivor.”
“That he is. He’s been on Death’s door several times.”
“I’d say they were on a first name basis.”
Kakashi gave a small laugh. “So, what prompted a party? I don’t recall Sasuke mentioning you guys throwing birthday parties for each other before now.”
“We all noticed how upset Sasuke was at the ceremony. You two bailed after all. We wanted to raise his spirits.” He nodded to the bright scene of the younger men laughing. “He’s loosening up.”
“He has mellowed,” Kakashi agreed.
“Especially now. A happy birthday indeed.”
Kakashi resisted looking at the man. “What do you know?”
Akihiko smiled. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Our boy here has some good friends, that’s all I can say.”
“I think he does,” Kakashi said.
Akihiko nodded then sat up. “Well, I’ve got to get home. Happy birthday, Sasuke. Don’t eat you’re gift all in one night.”
“Thank you, taichou.”
Akihiko padded Sasuke’s back as he left.
-----
Naruto had been on a mission when Sasuke and Kakashi returned. On their way home from the training grounds, they saw a bright blond head bobbing around their wall. Naruto looked around and saw them. Most likely he saw Kakashi’s bright white hair moving toward him. Naruto ran up them.
“Happy birthday!” he greeted with a smile as bright as his hair. “Well, late birthday.”
Sasuke smiled.
“Whoa, that’s an awful henge, man. I mean, you look like him, but you’ve obviously never met the guy. The bastard never smiles.”
Kakashi laughed while Sasuke narrowed his eyes in mock annoyance.
“I got you something.” Sasuke had assumed the long, bright orange box was a gift.
“Let’s go inside.” Sasuke led the way into their home.
Once inside, Naruto presented the wrapped box. Sasuke put it on the table and unwrapped it and opened the box. He was shocked to see what was inside, though the shape should have given him a hint. It was a sword. It was a tachi with a snake motif. The sheath was white, lacquered wood with bass snakes coiled and slithering around it. The hilt was wrapped normally, but the pummel was a coiled snake.
“It’s wonderful.”
Naruto rubbed the back of his head. “I know you like swords and snakes, so when I saw that, I thought you’d like it.”
“I really do.” He normally used a katana, but he knew how to use the slightly longer and more curved tachi. He stepped around the table and held the sword to his hip and unsheathed it with a flourish. He smiled at the shine of the metal and the ease of the draw.
Naruto let out an awed sound. Kakashi thought that was sexy as hell. Though it was meant to be used on horses and this one was ornamental, Sasuke performed a few katas.
“That’s different and fun.” He ceremonially returned the blade to its sheath.
He went back to the box and found that it came with a carriage from which the sword would hang from rather than stashed in the belt.
“To a sword otaku like me, this was a perfect gift.”
“Those are normally used on horseback, right?” Kakashi said.
“Yeah.”
“Have you ever even ridden a horse?”
Sasuke smirked, then smiled, the laughed a little. “I killed the rider, jumped up to stand on the saddle and took on over a hundred men on foot and on horseback. I defeated them all. The horse was fine.”
Naruto and Kakashi laughed.
“But really,” Naruto said, “why you in such a good mood?”
“Our important mission in Suna was a success, the two elders who conspired against my clan died, and I had a very happy birthday.” Sasuke also glanced at Kakashi as if to say, ‘I also have him as my lover.’
“The elders died?” Naruto asked.
“I didn’t kill them,” Sasuke assured him. “Apparently, they died of natural causes. I couldn’t be happier. Even if I didn’t kill them, my clan has finally been avenged.”
Naruto smiled. He understood Sasuke enough to know that was the true darkness in his heart, the grief and vengeance. Despite it being the deaths of two people, if it alleviated that darkness from Sasuke’s heart, Naruto was glad.
Sasuke turned back to the sword. “I think I’ll hang it in here, where I can see it often. It really is beautiful.”
Kakashi’s heart felt light. Sasuke was happy. He may still fear his life would become a bit boring now that the rebels were dead and he may still feel isolated from most of the village, but those things weren’t as immediate as the grief and rage that was hopefully asleep for a while. He had friends, a lover, and he could be content knowing that all the people who conspired against his clan were dead.
Kakashi hoped this peace could last.
- 20
- 21
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Broken Kunai