endless_scrolls (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
endless_scrolls) wrote2013-06-03 05:51 pm
endless_scrolls) wrote2013-06-03 05:51 pm
Council of One
Title: Council of One
Type: Fanfic
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: "He is not a teacher, he is a soldier. It's easier to follow orders than facing people, their faults and the facts of the future. So how is he supposed to be a good Hokage?"
Character(s): Hatake Kakashi, OC: Sarutobi Mei; brief mentions of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Namikaze Minato, Senju Tsunade, Shimura Danzo, Tenten, Uzumaki Naruto, Uzumaki Kushina
Pairing(s): None.
Warning(s): None.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Written as a reply to a Angst Meme request.
Dedicated to: Um... whoever made the request I suppose. Sorry it took so long. >_>;
It had never been his ambition. Despite flying through the ranks at such a young age and achieving things only a fraction of shinobi three times his age only dreamed of, Kakashi never really wanted to become Hoakge. Perhaps, at one point in his career, he had. Like all children of shinobi did. But now, it was nothing more to him than a burden. A curse.
The responsibility of the village was something familiar an an old sort of comfort, though, for someone who lived through two world wars and the reign of three Hokages (and one clown who thought that he could become one). Having the safety of everyone he cared for rest so precariously on his slender but strong shoulders came like second nature. Like breathing. But Kakashi followed orders. He did what was needed and necessary to get the job done. He was a problem solver and a strategist. He wasn't a leader.
Nothing good ever came when he led.
So when Tsunade fell into a long coma - after Danzo proved that not even his pride could cheat death - Kakashi had felt terrified at the Council's ruling. That much was apparent on his face.
"...Stop over-thinking it."
But there were still, yet, charges under his banner that he could not ignore. Reasons to fight through the doubt, at least one last time, and do what he had to; again, what was necessary.
If not for his sake, he had to succeed for them. For her.
Like a phantom in the night, slender arms came out of the darkness and looped around his torso. Slender, but strong. Even now, he could feel the years of experience in her limbs; the impossibly long hours of training that she endured to live up to the Sarutobi legacy. And despite the scars that came with such diligence, he would have her no other way.
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" he inquired, idly running his fingers along her spindly limbs and enjoying the feel of pale skin under calloused fingers.
A soft breath caressed his ear in a quiet mix between a laugh and a scoff. Such a perfect mix - she was always the perfect combination - of cruel and kind gestures. "I would be if the bed weren't so cold without you."
He smiled at that, lips curving under the cloth of the mask. Even this late into the game and long after the end of the war, he never felt quite as comfortable anywhere without it. Even in bed. Of course, she did well to persuade him otherwise. And it's thoughts of her and their daughter that has him hesitating. They were in enough danger as it was, already, being connected to him. How much more would that threat escalate after news came out about the Council's decision?
"You'll be fine." Lips light like butterfly wings smoothed over the marred skin of his shoulder, giving the sort of comfort that others were ever rarely capable of giving; that very select few were allowed close enough to give. "The Council was ready to appoint you before Danzo convinced them otherwise. So, it's obvious that they've been considering this for a while."
"It should've been someone else," he countered.
He could almost feel the curve of her frown as she shifted her arms tighter around him. "No one is more qualified. And besides, Naruto's still too young for it."
"I beg to differ."
Chuckling, her palm slid easily over his chest, feeling the chiseled features that had been built from years of training and hardships; of wars and impossible missions, with the scars that came from them. "As much as I love that boy, he still has some growing up to do. And neither Minato nor Kushina would approve of him becoming Hokage a minute before. So, in the meantime..."
He wouldn't relent, though, holding on to his somber disposition and doubt.
Sighing, she conceded, or at least he hoped that she would. There were very little things in life that the kunoichi couldn't convince him of when she got the mind to persuade him, unrelenting and stubborn as she was. And in a way, she reminded him so much of his mentor and friend.
For that, Kakashi was ever thankful. He needed more of that unbending confidence and support in his life, even if he could never hold on to it for himself...
Type: Fanfic
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: "He is not a teacher, he is a soldier. It's easier to follow orders than facing people, their faults and the facts of the future. So how is he supposed to be a good Hokage?"
Character(s): Hatake Kakashi, OC: Sarutobi Mei; brief mentions of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Namikaze Minato, Senju Tsunade, Shimura Danzo, Tenten, Uzumaki Naruto, Uzumaki Kushina
Pairing(s): None.
Warning(s): None.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Written as a reply to a Angst Meme request.
Dedicated to: Um... whoever made the request I suppose. Sorry it took so long. >_>;
It had never been his ambition. Despite flying through the ranks at such a young age and achieving things only a fraction of shinobi three times his age only dreamed of, Kakashi never really wanted to become Hoakge. Perhaps, at one point in his career, he had. Like all children of shinobi did. But now, it was nothing more to him than a burden. A curse.
The responsibility of the village was something familiar an an old sort of comfort, though, for someone who lived through two world wars and the reign of three Hokages (and one clown who thought that he could become one). Having the safety of everyone he cared for rest so precariously on his slender but strong shoulders came like second nature. Like breathing. But Kakashi followed orders. He did what was needed and necessary to get the job done. He was a problem solver and a strategist. He wasn't a leader.
Nothing good ever came when he led.
So when Tsunade fell into a long coma - after Danzo proved that not even his pride could cheat death - Kakashi had felt terrified at the Council's ruling. That much was apparent on his face.
"...Stop over-thinking it."
But there were still, yet, charges under his banner that he could not ignore. Reasons to fight through the doubt, at least one last time, and do what he had to; again, what was necessary.
If not for his sake, he had to succeed for them. For her.
Like a phantom in the night, slender arms came out of the darkness and looped around his torso. Slender, but strong. Even now, he could feel the years of experience in her limbs; the impossibly long hours of training that she endured to live up to the Sarutobi legacy. And despite the scars that came with such diligence, he would have her no other way.
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" he inquired, idly running his fingers along her spindly limbs and enjoying the feel of pale skin under calloused fingers.
A soft breath caressed his ear in a quiet mix between a laugh and a scoff. Such a perfect mix - she was always the perfect combination - of cruel and kind gestures. "I would be if the bed weren't so cold without you."
He smiled at that, lips curving under the cloth of the mask. Even this late into the game and long after the end of the war, he never felt quite as comfortable anywhere without it. Even in bed. Of course, she did well to persuade him otherwise. And it's thoughts of her and their daughter that has him hesitating. They were in enough danger as it was, already, being connected to him. How much more would that threat escalate after news came out about the Council's decision?
"You'll be fine." Lips light like butterfly wings smoothed over the marred skin of his shoulder, giving the sort of comfort that others were ever rarely capable of giving; that very select few were allowed close enough to give. "The Council was ready to appoint you before Danzo convinced them otherwise. So, it's obvious that they've been considering this for a while."
"It should've been someone else," he countered.
He could almost feel the curve of her frown as she shifted her arms tighter around him. "No one is more qualified. And besides, Naruto's still too young for it."
"I beg to differ."
Chuckling, her palm slid easily over his chest, feeling the chiseled features that had been built from years of training and hardships; of wars and impossible missions, with the scars that came from them. "As much as I love that boy, he still has some growing up to do. And neither Minato nor Kushina would approve of him becoming Hokage a minute before. So, in the meantime..."
He wouldn't relent, though, holding on to his somber disposition and doubt.
Sighing, she conceded, or at least he hoped that she would. There were very little things in life that the kunoichi couldn't convince him of when she got the mind to persuade him, unrelenting and stubborn as she was. And in a way, she reminded him so much of his mentor and friend.
For that, Kakashi was ever thankful. He needed more of that unbending confidence and support in his life, even if he could never hold on to it for himself...