Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

The World Was All Before Him	By : SuishouTenshi Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Naruto/Sasuke Views: 2782 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
The World Was All Before
Him
- SuishouTenshi

A/N: Oh my god. If give
birth to a baby is half as hard as it was for me to squeeze out this chapter,
then I�ll have to give my mom a really, really
nice birthday present this year. I really can�t alter this anymore, because it
was driving me nutty. I can�t remember how many times I�ve rewritten the first
3 pages alone. Well, here ya have it. After all I
went through to get this out, I must say I feel no
excitement about it at all anymore!! Gah! Hope you�ll
enjoy the fruit of my painful labor more than I do.

Act IV, Scene II: To
Reverence and the Silver Hair

If a man speaks
and no one acknowledges him, is he in fact making a sound?

Kakashi replied
no, no, a hundred times no.

Gai was thoroughly
ignored as he twirled himself into a frenzy, praised Kakashi for his infamous
exploits in his youth, the impossibly difficult missions he�d carried out in
ANBU, and even for his popularity with women�a �fact� that Kakashi himself was
not aware of until Gai�s ramblings brought it to light.

Gai should
count himself lucky, Kakashi thought, since no harm could be done to him in the
presence of children and polite company.

And the Hyuugas
were courtesy personified. They withstood Gai�s visual and audio intensity with
a calm acceptance bordering on invitation. Moreover, in just half an hour, Naruto
had already enlightened two demure servant boys of the
whoopee cushion�s cosmic purpose, and had chosen one of the Hyuuga
elders as his victim. The Hyuugas responded by bowing in their grey garments,
staring back with their hollow eyes, and bowing some more.

Dressed in his
Jounin garbs, Kakashi was, as usual, covered from nose to toe in black and dark
green. His silver hair blended in perfectly with the Hyuuga color scheme. If it
weren�t for the small blond to his right and the rowdy green beast to his left,
Kakashi could have easily smiled and bowed and lived and died a Hyuuga.

Right at that
moment, Naruto climbed onto Gai�s back, stuck his oily fingers into the corners
of Gai�s mouth and pulled until Gai cried uncle. On the other side of the
banquet table, the Hyuuga princess hid her crimson cheeks behind a snowy white
sleeve and let out the tiniest giggle.

�Hey, Kaka-nii,
she smiled!� Naruto yelled into Gai�s ears.

Hyuuga Hinata
looked ready to bolt.

Her parents
shifted on their knees; guests traded derisive glances; the servants looked
down uncomfortably.

And Kakashi
thanked any spirit that might�ve been listening for giving him Naruto.

***

In Kakashi�s
opinion, Hyuuga stiffness aside, the entire celebration was lacking too much
testosterone to be considered comfortable.

Kunoichi,
housewives, teenage girls, old maids, grandmothers, granddaughters... Due to
the fact that most clan heads were required to appear at the festival thrown
for the Cloud envoy, it was left to the women of these families to come and
make merry with Miss Hinata. When grouped together, they were loud and
opinionated, started life-and-death arguments about anything from politics to
the perfect gyoza
recipe, and, at the sight of a young child tripping over himself, would drop all signs of blood thirst for the sake of
competing to see who can coo most genuinely.

Kakashi scanned
each of them carefully. Since the jewels of Konoha were all supposed to assemble
here, he surreptitiously tried to match the faces present to the miai pictures he
saw in Yondaime�s bag.

But his usual
photographic memory was failing him on this crucial day. Hair styles blended
into one another, kimonos meshed into a palette of randomized colors, and the
collections of perfumes tangled together to plot an olfactory strike against
his person.

He was
beginning to feel queasy.

�Kakash!� Gai literately leapt into
view just as he let out a loud sneeze. The vomit green spandex was not helping.

As if trying
not to startle a wild boar, Kakashi slowly took a step to the left and looked
away. �Just because we�re in the courtyard doesn�t mean you don�t have to
employ indoor voice, Gai.�

Gai�s lips
scrunched up in gross imitation of a pout. �But Kakashi, I just promised
Hinata-chan to perform my splendid taijutsu
for her.�

�Well, fetch me
a blindfold then feel free to go right ahead.�

Gai spun around
in circles for seemingly no reason at all and cried, �But I need a sparring
partner, and you are my rival. It�s common sense for us to perform together!�

Kakashi scanned
the courtyard with a sigh. Indeed, the hosts and guests all seemed to be
expecting their sparring to begin at any moment. If Kakashi�s trained composure
allowed him to snarl, he would have. For now, he merely stood his ground and
made damn sure Gai couldn�t move him despite their little tug-of-war with his
limbs.

Their tuff was
quickly drawing murmurs. Gai�s grip on his wrist�as much as Kakashi
loathed to admit�was beginning to hurt.

Help arrived in the form of Hyuuga Hizashi, distinct in appearance from
his elder twin brother by a slightly kinder crinkle around his eyes.

�Perhaps I could accompany you in this spar instead, Gai-san,� Hizashi
said without prelude.

Straightforward and harmless, that was the aura the younger Hyuuga
brother gave off. From the village files and rumors, Kakashi knew that as the
head of the Hyuuga branch family, Hizashi was more than formidable. Although
his warrior spirit was constantly repressed to better serve as protector and
servant to the main family, no one could deny that he was still an heir of the
Byakugan gene.

Besides, ever since Hizashi rose to Jounin status, he�d been using his
powers purely for the sake of the Hyuuga family. To be able to witness his strength
was a privilege that Kakashi was sure even Gai wouldn�t want to pass on.

As he predicted, Gai immediately let go upon hearing Hizashi�s offer.
Kakashi gave Hizashi a small bow of gratitude and rushed to find Naruto before
Gai could come up with any more inane ideas.

The battle was loud, though not in terms of explosive techniques. Gai�s
mouth seemed to move in direct proportion with his exaggerated taijutsu. In contrast, Hizashi�s limbs
were controlled and graceful. The very nature of Byakugan meant a mixture of taijutsu and chakra manipulation. But to
keep the spar fair, Hizashi did not employ an ounce of chakra. Even so, he
blocked Gai�s punches and kicks with ease and returned a few of his own.

It was a fascinating exchange with both individuals so utterly dissimilar
and yet undeniably remarkable. Nonetheless, Kakashi would never be caught
admiring any of Gai�s forms, so he denied the existence of the ongoing match
altogether and sought out Naruto instead.

Weary of Naruto�s safety, Yondaime had refused to bring him to the crowded
welcoming festival and instead gave him to Kakashi for the day, as if Naruto�s attendance
would balance out Gai�s irritating presence.

The strategy worked to an extent. Naruto's presence made the party just
interesting enough to distract Kakashi from creative thoughts of murder.

For the first time since his birth, Naruto was truly allowed to freely
interact with a child his age who wasn�t Uchiha Sasuke. Granted, when Uchiha Mikoto told her son that he had to be separated from Naruto
for a day in order to properly represent the �great� Uchiha clan before the
foreign delegates, Sasuke was not
happy.

Like a trained jester, Naruto went all out to put a smile on Hyuuga
Hinata�s face. All of the guests and servants� eyes left Gai and Hizashi in
order to observe his little orange-clad figure as he rolled around the dusty
courtyard attempting acrobatic moves, shaking every limb so much that he seemed
to be convulsing. Hinata�s parents were visibly nervous at first to let Naruto approach
Hinata, but their nervousness ultimately faded with their daughter�s giggles.
When Naruto finally succeeded in a full handstand, Hinata clapped her hands in
delight, and the rest of the crowd mirrored her elation.

Off in the distance, Gai�s spar with Hizashi was soon forgotten. When
Kakashi chanced a peak over to their direction, Hizashi caught his eyes and
smiled knowingly. Kakashi wordlessly blessed the man for his sacrifice.

The excitement generated by Naruto's performance�and in Kakashi�s
unbiased opinion, sheer adorableness�steadily grew among the guests. Looking up
to the head table though, it wasn�t hard to notice one person who did not seem
impressed. Sitting stiffly at the lower side of Hinata was a child not much
older. His pale irises spoke proof of his lineage. Rolls of bandages wrapped
around his forehead, and like a wounded warrior, he was unobtrusively silent,
and yet glaringly intimidating.

Naruto tried a somersault and landed on his butt. He bounced up with a jubilant
giggle and bowed dramatically. Amid the laughter one could hear the strange
boy�s loud and unappreciative snort.

All humor vanished from Naruto's chubby cheeks. He was up close and
personal with the boy�s stunned eyes in a matter of seconds. Small fists
slammed down on the table between them. �Are you makin�
fun of me?� Naruto accused.

Pale irises were caught off guard but quickly regained their composure.
The boy crossed his arms haughtily and said, �Only because I don�t understand
how you can show off when you can�t even do a flip correctly. How old are you
anyway?�

Naruto held up three fingers and barked indignantly, �I�m four!�

The boy looked at Naruto�s hand and scowled with disgust. Kakashi could
feel the incredulous stares from the guests, as if it was his fault that
Yondaime�s son had trouble counting with his fingers.

�Pathetic,� the Hyuuga boy sneered.

Naruto flushed pomegranate red. �No fair! You�re not allowed to say big words
I don�t know. And if you�re so great, you do it!�

The boy jumped up. Their height difference was slight but blatant.
Adults stared at each other in amusement and concern. No one wanted to be the
first one to make a big deal out of an insignificant verbal scuffle between
children.

�Neji,� reprimanded a slightly winded voice,
�what is this commotion about?�

Kakashi turned and was met with a bewildered Gai and Hizashi�s
disapproving frown. That name was a familiar one.

Hyuuga Neji�the
new Konoha poster boy. The last time such a great wave of
murmured appraisals had flooded the village was when Uchiha Itachi mastered the
Sharingan a year ago. They called him the next boy genius, one who had amazed
his teachers after only half a year at the academy. But what set him apart from
his predecessors were his supposedly good manners. Genius or not, Neji didn�t have Kakashi�s aloofness at that age or Itachi�s arrogance. He was said to be polite and humble at
all times. Judging by the village rumor mill, Neji�s
current behavior was extremely out of character.

Neji�s face was now as red as
Naruto's. Haughtiness was chastised by shame as he apologized to his �Otou-sama� for making a scene.

He was still bowing to an unmoved Hizashi when Hyuuga Hiashi spoke up, �They�re just children, Hizashi. Frankly,
I think we all would be entertained by Neji-kun�s
efforts as well. Won�t we, Hinata?�

Like a frightened little mouse, Hinata quickly deflected the crowd�s
attention, �Yes, Otou-sama.�

The rosy blush on her pale features was enough to dispel the entirety of
this awkward moment. Hizashi complied with his older brother�s wishes and
ordered Neji to perform some of his taijutsu. Naruto's grin was back on full
force, and he hopped along behind Neji, undeterred by
the older boy�s discouraging glower.

Neji bowed to his young cousin
upon taking center stage, and Kakashi caught a glimpse of the boy�s face as it
was enveloped with an eagerness to please and astonish. When Hinata awarded him
with a hint of a smile, he straightened his back and seemed to grow several
inches.

Usually, Kakashi could be categorized as pretty dim when it came to
interpreting familial matters, a flaw which he accredited to his own lack of
parental influence growing up. This time, however, the look Neji
gave Hinata was one expression Yondaime often wore, and Kakashi instantly
recognized it as the doting fondness Yondaime always bore when he looked down
on a sleeping Naruto. There was affection in that gaze and no small amount of incredulity,
as if Neji�like Yondaime�would never cease to be
amazed at the sight of something so utterly precious. Certainly, there was a
shimmer of possessiveness too, an instinctual self-imposed need to be
overprotective. It reminded Kakashi of the occasions when Yondaime would pout
because Naruto chose to bath with Kakashi instead of him, and Neji�s dislike of Naruto suddenly made sense.

But Neji�s aversion was not returned. No one
was more excited than Naruto as Neji went through the
basic forms of the simplest taijutsu
forms. The little blond skipped around a thoroughly embarrassed Neji, clapping and cheering, previous insults forgiven.
When Neji upped the ante to something more advanced,
Naruto yelled, �Whoa, Kakashi-niichan, he�s so
awesome!� Neji flashed a half-shy, half-satisfied
glance at his first fan, and Kakashi could practically see his defenses
crumble.

It was like watching a memory unfold, and five-year-old Hyuuga Neji was no more impervious to Naruto's charms than a
one-year-old Uchiha Sasuke. From the unadulterated baby kiss of three years
past to the present candid admiration, Naruto honored these two sheltered boys
with heartfelt sincerity. They could only respond in kind.

***

The sun had set and the courtyard was shrouded in darkness except for a
few strategically placed lanterns. A vast majority of guests said their
good-bye, leaving behind expensive presents. Gai had long passed out from the
unlimited alcohol and was snoring loudly and embarrassingly under the table he
shared with Kakashi. A servant brought over a blanket�because even the Fire
Country got a little cold this time of the year�and though Kakashi was tempted
to let Gai wake up with a cold, he grudgingly ended up draping the thing
haphazardly over the Jounin�s green spandex.

The �copy-ninja� himself had given up his mask for the time being and was
matching cup for cup with Hizashi. Drinking had never been his forte, but
Hizashi asked, and Kakashi couldn�t deny the man�s request after all he did to
distract Gai, an act which led to an opportunity for Naruto to win over the
crowd. Several times Kakashi was driven into cheating by using chakra to clear
the alcoholic haze in his brain. If Hizashi knew�and with his Byakugan, he
probably did�he�d politely neglected to let on.

If it were up to him, he would be back at Yondaime�s mansion, listening
to the Fourth complain about the delegation with false annoyance. But the
giggles ringing in the crispy winter air tempted him to always stay just a
little bit longer.

Now sitting at the head table between Hinata and Neji,
Naruto seemed to be juggling a myriad of conversation topics at once. His head
flicked back and forth between the two cousins, small hands soared and dove
like independent entities. Kakashi couldn�t quite hear their words, but
Hinata�s sleeve was now permanently glued to her mouth to cover her laughter,
and the easy grin Neji wore hadn�t faded for half an
hour.

�... here tonight?�

�I�m sorry, can you repeat that?� Kakashi turned back to the man sitting
beside him.

Hizashi smiled good-naturedly. The sake
brought out shadows of rouge on his face, making him look more human somehow. �I�ve
never seen my son enjoy himself so much with a stranger before,� he said
instead, eyes following Kakashi�s line of sight.

�Naruto has that effect on people.� Kakashi had to restrain himself from
preening.

Chuckling, Hizashi downed another cup. �I remember his father was just
as popular.�

�Sens... Yondaime-sama?�

�Oh, definitely. A blond
orphan, no family, no pedigree, but was so talented and good-natured he had the
rest of our class sticking to him like puppies begging for treats.� Hizashi
laughed; his body and tongue loosening. �Of course, he wasn�t as outgoing as
Naruto-kun is. He hated being praised by the teachers, and always blushed like
a girl under the spotlight. But we flocked to him no matter what.�

�Sensei used to blush?� Maybe the alcohol was getting to Kakashi too,
because laughter was bubbling up uncontrollably. It was time for another jolt
of chakra.

�All the time! He
didn�t get over that shyness until he became a team leader. Your team leader.�

That was more sobering that any chakra shock could ever be. Instead of recalling
the departed Obito and Rin, Kakashi thought of his standing as Yondaime�s only remaining
student. To everyone else, Namikaze Minato would always be �Yondaime
Hokage-sama�, but to Kakashi and Kakashi alone, �Sensei� was a title as sacrosanct
and untouchable as Naruto's �Papa�.

The thought propelled a stream of blood to his head and stirred up ember
in his cheeks, reminding him that he had voluntarily taken off his mask, his
protection, showed his face to someone
else.

He was hearing Yondaime�s voice in his head again, and the voice
demanded that he pull up his mask. Now.

Hizashi gave him a curious look but did not bring attention to Kakashi�s
abrupt mood change. He gestured toward the immobile Gai and said, �I don�t
think you�ll want to carry him home. You�re all welcome to stay here in one of
the guest rooms. My brother won�t mind. And I will send a servant to inform
Yondaime right away.�

There was very little hesitation in Kakashi�s mind. He was suddenly
diffident, even inconceivably afraid of meeting Yondaime�s eyes at the current
moment.

***

A drunken Gai was a lot easier to tolerate despite the man�s habit of
bellowing out Noh tunes under
intoxication. No amount of tugging, pinching, and punching from Naruto�though
the boy did try very admirably�could shut him up. Finally tired of it all,
Kakashi knocked him out with a strong sleep jutsu.

Naruto's fascination with his new friends could not be easily
terminated. Hinata was ushered back to her bedroom in the end with Naruto's
shouts of well-wishes trailing behind her. Her practically inaudible �Good
night� had Naruto and Neji glowing like fireflies.

They left the center complex with its newly renovated rooms and gardens
to follow Neji and his father toward the guest
compound where Hizashi always stayed during family emergencies.

Located at a far corner of the Hyuuga�s land
and shaded by trees and overgrown weed, the shoddy two-room structure possessed
so much natural camouflage that its seclusion from the pristine main house felt
almost intentional.

High moon didn�t necessarily mean the two boys were ready to be
separated. Neji was ready to hang on to Naruto's
every word right into the futon, and when Hizashi held him back, the little
aristocrat did something that rendered his father nearly apoplectic�he whined.

But Neji�s once-in-a-lifetime whine had
nothing on Naruto's experience. Seeing his new friend was being dragged away to
the other room, Naruto pasted himself onto Hizashi�s leg and switched on the
misty blue eyes that Kakashi swore Yondaime still
used sometimes.

�Pleeeeease,
Oji-san? Neji can stay with us?�

Hizashi frowned and shook his head. Kakashi could tell that the man
wasn�t being cold-hearted on purpose, but as a Hyuuga leader, branch family
notwithstanding, he couldn�t have his own son defy him in front of outsiders.

Naruto's retaliation arrived in the form of rounder and droopier eyes with
the added trembling lips for bonus effect. Hizashi�s resistance deflated like a
punctured balloon. Kakashi couldn�t keep a straight face long enough to tell
Hizashi that he�d lasted longer than Yondaime or Sandaime ever did.

�I think I�m too drunk to argue with these two,� Hizashi said to
Kakashi, and Kakashi nodded as if he bought Hizashi�s attempt to retain
dignity. But Hizashi did proceed to take Gai off Kakashi�s hands for the second
time that night, officially making him the most wonderfully snobby aristocrat
in Kakashi�s opinion.

Once the two boys got what they wanted, they were too energized to be
coaxed to sleep. They laid down their futons as compactly as possibly and lay
together so closely they might as well share the same pillow.

Kakashi went to rest fully dressed. He shut his eyes and let the boys�
fierce whispers lull him to rest. In his hazy mind, he could hear Naruto tell Neji excitedly, �Miso pork is the
best. Papa likes chicken. Kaka-nii�s boring. He only
eats plain.�

�Do you think I can try some of your ramen in the future, Naruto-kun?� Neji asked softly. �My father would never let me near that
type of food. He says it�s unbefitting.�

�What�s that mean?�

�It means not suitable, inappropriate.�

�What�s that mean? In... Ina-what?�

�Inappropriate, it means... it means... huh, I�m not sure how to
explain,� Neji said apologetically.

Naruto cackled. �Yer so funny, Neji! Teach me more funny words! Sasuke thinks he�s so
smart �cause he knows so much big words �cause his
brother�s really old and talks funny. But I told Mikoto-bachan
and she told �im he can�t say big words that I don�t
know, and he cried. Sasuke cries a lot!�

Ignoring the parts about Sasuke altogether, Neji
replied with a smile in his voice, �It would be a privilege, Naruto-kun.�

The second before his consciousness completely gave away, Kakashi heard
Naruto ask, �What�s that mean?�

***

The moon was still glowing brightly when Kakashi was woken up by a
disturbance. From the way his futon moved one would think the world was
quaking. Nothing screamed danger to him though, so Kakashi allowed his brain to
wake up slowly.

�Cold.�

Kakashi reluctantly looked down and a strand of yellow poked him in the
eyeball. �Naruto?�

�Can I sleep in your futon, Kaka-nii? �S cold.�

The Jounin groaned. �Finished talking?�

�Yeah, Neji fell asleep!� Naruto gloated, no doubt
happy that once again he was crowned the more energetic one.

�Hn.� Kakashi lifted his cover and let Naruto burrow
inside. He held the little body close and took a whiff of Naruto's hair out of
habit. �And you? Planning to sleep anytime soon? Naruto?�

His charge was already out cold, tiny fists clutching Kakashi�s vest.
Kakashi stroked Naruto's back softly, just as he used to do when Naruto was a
fussy baby with an overachieving father out of commission in the hospital.

Under the cloak of a starry night, Kakashi kissed Naruto's forehead and
let the thoughts that evaded daylight engulf him. He could remember every
instance where he�d secretly bid Naruto goodbye before undertaking a mission, the
adrenaline in his veins as he fought his way back to Konoha because he�d
thought he heard a boy cry for him, the unrelenting wretchedness that overcame
him whenever he challenge death and believed he would never hear Naruto's
laughter again.

An immense horror of loss grabbed hold of his chest, a fear embodied by
Naruto's hands which were so close and dear to his heart. Kakashi decided then
and there with a half-intoxicated mind that Yondaime was not allowed to
remarry, to introduce another mother figure into Naruto's life, not when Kakashi
had taken up the role and carried it worlds beyond the calls of duty. When
Sandaime placed the newborn in Kakashi�s arms and made him Kakashi�s
responsibility, Naruto was no longer solely Yondaime�s son, and as such,
Yondaime did not have the right to give Naruto away to a strange woman without
Kakashi�s agreement, something that Kakashi would never consent to.

With the silent vow made to himself, Kakashi
breathed easier. But sleep did not return, not when fear and determination continued
to trade blows. Those miai
pictures rushed persistently through his head, a panorama highlighted by images
of Naruto being pulled away from his protection. While he did feel betrayed and
irritated upon first finding out about the Yondaime�s intentions, it wasn�t
until this night when he�d touched Naruto's fragility with his hands that he
finally understood the basis for his anger.

First apprehension and now resentment, Kakashi�s feelings for Yondaime
was making too many anomalous leaps for him to rest peacefully. Gai�s snores reverberated
loudly in the room over and Kakashi reluctantly found comfort within its lively
rhythm. He squeezed Naruto a little too tightly, and then carefully unclenched
the boy�s fists from his vest. Even insensible, Naruto's nose scrunched up unhappily,
forcing Kakashi to give him a placating kiss.

Kakashi took security in the acknowledgement that the children would be
safe with Hyuuga Hizashi in the adjoined room and went out for a stroll. Winter
nights in the Fire Country were just chilly enough to drive a little
sensibility into one�s head.

The guest compound�shack, really�was too rundown and plainly depressing
to look at. Kakashi took to the roofs and subdued his chakra levels so he
wouldn�t wake up any grumpy Hyuugas. If he remembered correctly from the
pre-banquet tour today, the garden was somewhere in the East Wing...

Kakashi froze on a little ledge and crouched down reflexively and stayed
down for a whole minute before he thought to analyze his actions. Nothing was
overtly suspicious, in fact, the compound was so tranquil Kakashi could lie
down and meditate for days and probably still not be disturbed.

But something did stop him mid-jump, an awareness that had nothing to do
with ANBU training and everything to do with natural instincts. Something made
the hairs on his arms stand up in attention and his blood speed. The sensation was
not unlike the anticipation of readying himself for Chidori.

It was unmistakable. The scent of lightning was in the air. Delicious
opposing charges drew the lightning elemental chakra in Kakashi to them like a
food connoisseur to a buffet.

Stars and moon competed for brilliance in the still sky, not a storm
cloud was in sight. Kakashi let the electricity lead his feet; curiosity grew
into worry. The scent, however attractive, did not taste as pure as nature�s
production or even his own Raikiri.
It could only mean another person�s chakra, another lightning elemental who was exerting to suppress his presence but failing.

His worry was justified when he heard the barely discernible sounds of
running footsteps. Stealth trainings so deeply ingrained in him helped Kakashi
catch up with nearly no effort. Once he was within distance, he could make out
the clear outline of a long-haired child�s body draped over a cloaked figure.
There was no time to waste.

Kakashi had came to the party without his weapons just as the invitation
requested, and the usage of any jutsu would mean a surge in chakra and revealing
his position right away. His options limited, Kakashi decided to employ his
speed. He was no Yondaime with a Hiraishin, but
Kakashi was known to be fast even among the elite.

The kidnapper sensed Kakashi and turned just in time to catch a fist to
the stomach. He flinched back to avoid most of the impact and struck out, but
with one hand occupied and movement greatly hindered by the child on his
shoulder, he was no match for a fully capable Kakashi.

Any exorbitant jutsu would endanger the child, so it was a good thing
that Kakashi didn�t need to resort to anything of the kind. His taijutsu alone tore the opponent�s
defense apart.

Their furious battle soon jostled the child awake. A little black head
looked up in confusion. It was Hyuuga Hinata.

Irritation swelled up in Kakashi. Maybe he should propose to Yondaime
about setting up extra protection for the village�s high profile children,
since apparently they were favored targets in recent years. He started the seals
for Kuchiyose, hoping he could get Pakkun to fetch Hyuuga Hiashi.

But backup didn�t come in the form of adults. After realizing her
predicament, Hinata began to struggle earnestly. �Please, let me go,� she said
dulcetly, so serene that her plead sounded more like a command.

The kidnapper ignored her. Hinata gave him a two-second leeway before
her fingers moved and the veins around her eyes tightened. Her abductor was
caught completely unaware; Kakashi fared no better. He gaped at the sight of the
newly turned four-year-old�skinny as a pole and still blushing for no perceivable
reason�jabbing two chakra intense fingers into the back of the cloaked man�s
neck.

Hinata was unceremoniously dropped. Whatever she did to her kidnapper had the man howling like a wounded predator. She scrambled
to her bare feet and ran head first into Kakashi�s legs.

Clear eyes accessed Kakashi and deemed him familiar and safe. Hinata
spun around and clutched his pants and dug her face into the back of his right
thigh. From his experience with Naruto, Kakashi knew he wouldn�t be budging for
a while.

The man whose face was still well shielded was clutching his neck in
pain but seemed once again aware of his predicament. Kakashi quickly summoned
two Kage Bushin. Unfortunately, as his two clones appeared in wisps of clouds,
the enemy had disappeared with the help of a smoke bomb.

Kakashi exchanged exasperated glances with his clones. Hostage
situations always made him hesitant, and he could never successfully capture
the perpetrator.

�Hey, it�s all right. He�s gone,� he said to a quietly sobbing Hinata.
Angry shouts were belatedly rising up from within the compound. Hyuuga Hiashi�s anxious visage was the first to appear from around
the corner. Kakashi petted Hinata�s lowered head and inwardly winced at each of
the man�s angry steps.

He hated dealing with clan heads.

***

Kakashi was reprimanded thoroughly in the Hokage office by Hiashi for letting the kidnapper get away without getting a
good look at his face. A sleepy Yondaime looked on with his chin set above
folded palms, occasionally blinked and nodded to appease Hiashi�s
anger. The sun was just peeking over the horizon.

Eventually Hiashi must have realized that
without Kakashi�s good timing, he might have lost his daughter altogether, so
he settled for demanding an in-depth investigation and leaving agitatedly.

Yondaime yawned.

�Sensei, I�m sorry for...�

�Forget it,� he yawned again and thumped his head onto his desk. �Ah,
after the day I had, I just wanted a decent night�s sleep. You wouldn�t believe
how difficult the Cloud-nins were. I need my boy. Where�s my kid?�

�Naruto is resting safely in the Hyuuga household. Hizashi-san is
guarding him.�

Yondaime frowned unhappily. �So you really didn�t see the guy�s face? At all?� Yondaime asked incredulously with only one eye
open.

Kakashi sighed slightly. �No. But I sensed lightning in him. I�m certain
his chakra had the lightning attribute and he used lightning jutsu often.�

Both eyes opened. �Well, mystery solved. It�s got to be one of the Cloud
envoys. I should quit my job and write detective novels.�

Kakashi spluttered. �Are you serious?�

Yondaime nodded.

�You don�t look concerned, Sensei,� Kakashi observed disbelievingly.

�Actually, I was expecting this. They were just too offended to find out
that no one from the Hyuuga clan showed up to welcome them, and kept asking me
to clarify myths surrounding the Byakugan. Of course, I couldn�t answer much
except to say it�s all sorts of creepy to see white irises looking back at you,
and then they wanted to actually go visit Hyuuga. Too
obvious. Besides, there is no one in Konoha daring enough to go after
the Hyuuga princess, on her birthday no less, so it�d have to be an outsider. And of course, Cloud Village of Lightning Country. Lightning
attributes. One plus two equals guilty.�

Kakashi felt like he was the guilty one. �But we have no proof.�

He didn�t see Yondaime getting up, but a hard knuckle rapped sharply
against his head. Yondaime�s voice was soft. �No more beating yourself up for
things out of your control. It�s better that you
aren�t able to accuse anyone. We need this treaty to go through. I�ll explain
this to Hiashi when the delegation leaves the
village. He should understand. And Hinata-chan wasn�t hurt, just a bit shaken
up.� Yondaime rested an encouraging elbow on Kakashi�s shoulder and patted his
chest. �You did good, Kakashi. Really.�

Kakashi couldn�t resist. �You mean I did �well�, Sensei. Naruto's
grammar is bad enough without your influence.�

�Insolence!�
Yondaime scolded dramatically. The subject of the kidnapping was put aside by
mutual silent consent. Before Kakashi�s eyes, the mocking sarcasm on Yondaime�s
countenance rapidly changed into subdued embarrassment. �Speaking of Naruto...
I don�t doubt your judgment in people, Kakashi,� he said somewhat mournfully,
�and I know Hizashi since we were children. He�s a good man, a lot less
hoity-toity than his brother. Makes a great drinking buddy,
too. But erm...�

�Sensei?�

�Hey, do me a favor, just don�t, it�s bad enough that we have to depend
on Uchiha Mikoto to take care of Naruto because we�re
both so busy, but Hizashi doesn�t have to. I mean,� Yondaime looked to the
ceiling in search for words, �it sounds moronic, I know. But I�d feel better,
safer, if Naruto stays with you in situations like this instead of someone
else. I�m not sure how I feel about letting yet another outsider take care of Naruto. He�s... okay, promise you won�t laugh.
He�s ours, do you understand?�

Minato�s face was doing a little squinty-eyed action, making him look confused,
frustrated, and a touch too desperate.

Kakashi inhaled shakily. �I understand, Sensei.�

Yondaime appeared happy and relaxed again, and Kakashi was suddenly so
relieved he slumped onto the wall and closed his eyes. A few seconds passed
before he felt Yondaime�s arm press against his. Together, they slid down to
the floor leaning on one another.

�I think we can get a few hours of shut eye before my secretary barges
in,� murmured Minato.

�Hn.�

�Long night?�

Kakashi nodded his head on Yondaime�s shoulder.

�How was Gai?�

With the tightness in his chest finally gone, Kakashi could smile again.
�Hizashi-san took care of him for me.�

Minato stilled. �Oh, Hizashi? Good man. Good
man.�

Kakashi reach out unthinkingly. Sleep was coming for him. He grabbed
hold of Yondaime�s hand and mumbled, �Hn. Good man.�

Yondaime squeezed back, and Kakashi knew no more.

- TBC

A/N1: Chapter title comes from Canto 84 of Lord Alfred Tennyson�s �In
Memoriam�. I�m using �silver hair� to talk about Hyuuga Hizashi, but please
don�t misunderstand, Tennyson intended for it to indicated aging and death (man
was seriously ANGSTY when he wrote the thing).

A/N2: I wasn�t sure whether Hinata and Neji
called their fathers �Otou-san�, �Otou-sama�,
or �Chichi-ue�, so I went with the middle one. If
this is not compliant with the manga, please correct
me. Also, Hyuuga Hizashi
(younger, the dead one in canon) vs. Hyuuga Hiashi (older, clan leader).
If the names confused you, I�m sorry, but it�s not my fault! If they confused
me too and I accidentally used the wrong one and the storyline stopped making
sense, please tell me.

A/N3: Er... okay, last thing, important
question (and yes, I consider this important). Just to get a feel for my
audience... who would YOU want to see as the seme and
uke in the Yon/Kaka and Sasu/Naru relationships? (If you don�t understand �seme� and �uke�, then bless you,
get out of the yaoi fandom, and run for your lives
before you�re tainted forever like I am. Run, dammit,
run!)
- 8
- 9
- 10
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The World Was All Before Him