100 Themes fics

Title: Test

Pairing: None Characters - Sandaime, Kakashi

Rating: G

Warnings: no sexual content, One-shot, COMPLETE

Summary: There was always a 'but.'

Disclaimer: Still not mine.



Kakashi bowed to the hokage, frowning as he did so. "You wanted to see me?" He kept his voice flat to avoid letting his irritation show.



"Hai. Please, sit." Sandaime motioned to the chair and reluctantly the copy-nin sat. "First of all, I want you to know, I appreciate everything you do. You're the best of your generation, the best ANBU we have."



Kakashi groaned, knowing what was coming next. Those words were always followed by a /But/.  'I know you don't want things to change, /but/ it's time you were on a real team.' 'I know he can pass the jounin exam Minato-kun, /but/ I feel he's too young.' 'I know how you feel Kakashi-kun, /but/ things can't be that way.' 'We did everything we could do, /but/ we couldn't save her.' There was /always/ a but, and it was never what he wanted to hear.



"But, I see that mask go on and I'm beginning to question whether it ever comes off." Sarutobi's words drew him back to the present and he scowled. "There are times now that you seem as cold as the porcelin."



"Maybe it's not a mask." Kakashi knew the cold rage he felt was irrational, and he didn't care. He was good at his job. Sarutobi had even said it. He was the best. So why did it feel like he was being punished for that.



"That's what worries me the most, that you're becoming the mask. I don't want to look up one day and see that you've disappeared behind it forever." The old man frowned and he slid a folder across the desk. "I want you to test another genin team."



"This again? What makes you think /this/ team will be any different?" Sarutobi was pushing it harder this time and Kakashi frowned as he picked up the folder. He read through the names, stopping as one caught his attention. 'Uzamaki, Naruto.' That explained things but it didn't change them. He wasn't going to pass a team that wasn't ready.



"That's this terms list of students. If /he/ passes I'd like you to test /his/ team." The hokage smiled, his words tone softened slightly by the action. "I think Minato-kun would have preferred it this way.



"I'll test his team, but I /won't/ guarantee he'll pass." He frowned as he saw the boy's rank in the class was dead last.



"I'll accept your decision on them as long as you test them." Kakashi handed the folder back to the hokage and stood to leave. "You might want to say your farewells to your team, I have a feeling you're going to have a new one soon."



Kakashi growled at Sarutobi's words and leapt out the window. He had a sinking feeling the old man was right.