ura_no_ura | video

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video | 002

[Action | Mid-afternoon]

[ Nothing to see here.

Just a man with silver hair darkened by rust-colored flecks walking through the middle of town from the underground tunnels in fatigues soaked through in some places with blood. He's got a dirty-looking bandage wrapped around his left arm, a slowly spreading red spot eating its way across the gauze surface. He walks like a man who hasn't slept in days -- shoulders slumped, each step weighted. But even despite the apparent exhaustion, he still attempts to make it look more like a lazy stroll than a tired march back to the apartment he'd claimed as his own in Building 1.

Assuming it's even still called Building 1, and his apartment hasn't been taken over by a new resident, anyway. He's been gone for a while, after all.

Two months is a long time to be on a combat mission, but not anything Kakashi isn't used to. Coming back to Luceti after a mission instead of Konoha, though -- that's new.

On the way back to ~~Building 1~~ Flame Building, Kakashi stops by the Convenience Store for some more bandages, rubbing alcohol, antibiotic ointment, a needle and thread, some pain killers, and a few packages of instant ramen. ]

[ Video | Night ]

[ Kakashi's looking a little better than he did earlier in the day. First aid, food, a hot shower, a fresh change of clothes, and a nice, long nap does wonders. ]

Yo.

[ Have a two-finger wave. ]

I'm back. Did I miss anything exciting?

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[ Well that's awkward. ]

We appear to be in the same building. I will meet you on the roof whenever it is convenient for you.

I'll meet you in ten minutes? [Because its cold as hell out there, and someone needs to bundle up.]

Yes, I'll see you then.

[ And with that, Kakashi heads up to the roof to make sure he's not late for a meeting of this nature. ]

[The last time he met with Kakashi in this type of weather had been when Danzo had attempted to manipulate the summit meeting and he had announced the Kages decision to make Kakashi acting Hokage...and to tell them of Sasuke's attack.

News doesn't seem to be much better this time, but this far from home its result is nothing more than curiosity sated.

But considering the significant amount of battle he adn the other kages missed, he's got some holes he wouldn't mind being filled in either.

So he steps out onto the roof, wrapped in his cloak and nods at the ninja there. If he knew the man better, he might be flattered by the timely arrival.]

[ Being late is something Kakashi usually does very well. But there are some exceptions to that rule. This is one of them.

The night air is frigid, cold enough for even Kakashi to see his own breath in the air even through his mask. He's layered a cloak and a scarf on for warmth, and had been watching the night skyline while waiting for Gaara to join him, turning when he heard Gaara's footsteps in the stairwell. ]

Kazekage-sama.

[ Kakashi doesn't just nod a greeting -- he actually bows enough for it to be polite, even removing his hands from his pockets where he'd been warming his exposed fingers.

Kakashi might not be very good at being on time, but when it comes to diplomacy -- that's another matter entirely. ]

[He politely waits for the bow to be finished before stepping a little more fully out onto the roof. There's a slight twitch of a grimace at the cold air, and out of habit his eyes quickly take in their surroundings.]

Before we continue our discussion on the war, would you tell me how long you've been here?

[ Kakashi crosses the roof to Gaara, as to not make him walk all the way over to where he was standing near the ledge. He would've suggested that they have this conversation indoors, but one can never be too careful about who might be listening. ]

I've been here for almost five months now. Two of which were spent on a jungle patrol mission, which Yondaime-sama assigned me to.

[There's a brief flicker of interest in his eyes at the mention of an assignment from the Hokage.]

It seems everyone I run into has been here for an extended period of time.

[Some of that seem far too compliant with their current surroundings. But that Kakashi and the Hokage are attempting something, finally makes something settle well for the first time since his arrival.]

Did it yield any worth-while results?

Well, it gave me quite a bit of field experience that required me to work closely with the Malnosso for an extended period of time. I also encountered a number of hostiles called "cultists", and performed reconnaissance. As Yondaime-sama personally relieved me of duty, I delivered my mission findings to him.

[ In other words, sir, you'll have to wait until Minato returns to really find out what Kakashi discovered because Kakashi isn't even entirely sure how much information Minato wants shared. ]

[He's used to shared information from Konoha, but since this is not their world and the Hokage that seems to be in charge is not one he knows, he'll leave the subject alone. Its enough, at the moment, to know that attempts are being made.]

It seems you certainly haven't spent your time being idle.

[So they can move on to other stuff then.]

Since you seem unfamiliar with the resurrection of the past Hokages, what is it you do know about the war?

[ What doesn't he know about the war?

This is the very conversation Kakashi would very much not like to have, but he doesn't much have a choice in the matter. ]

Well...

[ He begins, taking a breath, measuring his tone, making sure to keep his expression as impassive as possible. ]

The last thing I remember was being pulled into another dimension with Uchiha Obito, who you may know as the Madara imposter. I fought with him in that dimension, and was badly injured, before arriving here. I was certain I inflicted a mortal wound upon him, but judging by what you were saying about the resurrected past Hokage and you pulling the bijuu out of him-- it sounds like he survived that attack.

[The war has been taken its toll on everyone, it seems. He's seen those hardened expressions himself, has his own version of them. And there are really countless reasons behind them. So he certainly wouldn't be the type to pry.]

Yes, the other Kage and I attempted to hold off Madara and sent Naruto to take care of Obito. We failed to keep him away from the battlefield though. By the time we were capable of returning to battle...

Things were complicated. The past Hokage were on the battlefield supporting us. Obito had taken form of host of all the bijuu, and the flower necessary for their plan had blossomed. Its roots were attacking the army and stealing their chakra.

And Naruto and Sasuke stood together fighting Obito. Naruto found a way to pull the bijuu from him. It was a different technique than the one used to take the Ichibi from me, so I'm not sure what the results will be. But I'm quite confident the release of the bijuu was successful. [Even if he wasn't there to see it.]

[ Kakashi can't say that he entirely follows the explanation -- the flower thing doesn't make sense, and neither does the thing about the roots, but he supposes it has something to do with Obito becoming the Jyuubi jinchuuriki (which is what it sounds like, anyway, from the explanation). ]

I had heard that Sasuke was supporting the war effort, and am glad to hear he continued to stand by Naruto's side through this.

[ As for Obito... Kakashi would much rather not talk too much about him if he can. But not talking about it may seem strange, so he adds on -- ]

I'm also glad to hear that you are in the process of neutralizing Obito.

[ If only because that means that Obito won't be able to continue to hurt anyone else. ]

Edited 2013-11-25 01:14 (UTC)

I am too. [Kakashi had been there when he told Naruto he didn't believe Sasuke could be saved after all, that he had been wrong...well, he was glad for it.]

I'm sure Naruto and Sasuke will be capable of finishing that particular battle. [Though he's still a little disappointed he hadn't been there in the end, sure there was some satisfaction to be felt in pulling the Ichibi out of the men that had stolen it to begin with.

He has more questions about the war, the small bits that he should know as the General Commander. But since Kakashi had been in a different dimension, he's sure there's not much else Kakashi knows that he does not.]

[ Kakashi's certain that Naruto will triumph, as he always does, because he's Naruto, and he has all the hopes and dreams of shinobi, of his friends, to support him along the way. But what pride might come with that knowledge is tempered by the fact that the man they are fighting is Obito. By the fact that Kakashi is every bit as responsible for the events that had transgressed in such a terrible way as Obito himself, if only because he had failed Obito in the worst way possible. ]

There's something that I think you should know...

[ Kakashi says after a moment, taking a slow breath. ] Obito was once my teammate.

[There's silence for a moment as Gaara considers that.]

That darkness is a difficult thing to overcome.

[There's no accusation there. Only a brief moment of sympathy, the same given to Sasuke when Gaara realized he had succumbed to the darkness that he had first drawn him toward the Uchiha. And the same given to Naruto when he told him that there was no saving him.]

It must have been hard for you.

[ Kakashi shakes his head no, because this isn't about him. As difficult as it is for him, this goes far beyond his own struggle and experience. This war has devastated entire countries, has laid flat villages. Has seen tens of thousands of lives lost, countless more injured or maimed.

He closes his eye, shoulders slumping. ]

My personal feelings don't matter in this.

[ He opens his eye and meets Gaara's gaze then. ]

What matters... is the fact that Obito has done terrible things to your people, and I am partially responsible for what he has become. For that... I am sincerely sorry.

[ Kakashi executes a formal bow then, bending at the waist, eye closing once more. He knows that if Minato were here, he would most likely be doing this instead, because he feels as responsible for Obito as Kakashi does. And because he is, and always will be, Hokage.]

[Gaara's features tense a bit at the apology, a slight shake of his head that he doubts Kakashi can see in his bowed position.]

No.

[And Kakashi gets a bit of a scowl to accent the word.]

And it is not because I do not understand the necessity of claiming the mistakes of those tied to you. As Kazekage, I must amend for the mistakes of my village, past and present.

But I am also someone who has walked in that darkness.

[ Walking in darkness and being the cause of so much death, the reason for so much suffering and loss, are two completely separate things. Kakashi wants to tell Gaara that he's wrong. That the magnitude, the sheer gravity of what Obito has done is so much worse than anything Gaara might've done himself when he was a child lost to something far darker than any rage. Gaara may have done things that were grievous, things that he regrets. But he's never started a war, or laid waste to his own village.

Kakashi knows better than to argue with a kage, especially one that is not his own. Even if Gaara is much younger than him, when it comes to diplomacy of this nature, regardless of how much Kakashi disagrees, he doesn't want to cross a line or misstep.

But he also won't raise his head just yet, leather crinkling as cold fingers curl into fists.

The frigid wind cuts his hair across his eye, cloak billowing.

He says nothing. ]

[His words haven't gotten through, and he didn't expect them too. He's given no true explanation, isn't quite sure he even knows how to properly put his thoughts into words.

Obito has hurt and killed many people. In the war and with Akatsuki. He's effectively threatened their entire world, and such transactions will not be forgiven nearly as easily as his own were, as Sasuke's will probably be. And to see all that murder caused by a friend, a teammate, as someone that was supposed to help keep that loneliness away, to stand as the shining light in the darkness so he could find their way out, it must be difficult to witness. And impossible not to feel guilt.

That, and its hard to argue when he knows he's missing details, the events that made Obito fall down this path and away from Kakashi's team. But even so...]

It was a test. [The words are quiet in the wind, but there, the first he's spoken to anyone about the conversation that passed between him and his father.] The day I fell to the darkness, welcomed it. My father had set up all the events that proceeded it, watched to see how I would react.

I could blame him for all of it...but, I had a choice. To overcome it or succumb to it. It was a test, and I chose wrong.

I'm sure, whatever it was that caused it, your teammate had a choice too. That's not something you could make for him.

[ You're wrong, Kakashi wants to say, because it's so much more complicated than just that. Choices are never black and white, especially when they're steeped in blood. ]

Perhaps that is the case, but I contributed to that poor choice, and for the consequences that followed.

I understand. And I accept.

[While its not something he entirely agrees with, he can appreciate what Kakashi is doing, the sincerity in which he does it with. And its out of respect rather than agreement that he accepts it and doesn't attempt to argue his point any more.]

[ Kakashi doesn't really think he deserves forgiveness, but he accepts Gaara's acceptance of his apology, and straightens up once more. He'll let Gaara take the lead here with how he'd like this conversation to go. After all, even if Kakashi is older, Gaara still outranks him. And as far Kakashi goes, rank still matters in this world. ]

I appreciate the information you've shared with me today. While I understand their motive, I have to admit, I could not see the reason behind it. True peace can not come from an illusion.

Do you believe he's redeemable? [Redemption is not normally in his nature, he's never hesitated to kill those that caused a threat, but one thing he has learned speaking to those he had labeled very clearly as 'enemy', is that he is not the only one who's managed to change his path.]

[ There is a part of Kakashi, the desperate part, the part that doesn't want Obito to die again, that wants to believe Obito can be redeemed. That somehow, he can continue to live on and find a way to atone for the things he'd done. But that part is a tiny sliver of him, when Kakashi knows the truth: Obito will be defeated by the Allied Forces, and when that happens, he will most likely die. Without having ever been able to redeem himself. ]

I want to believe that.

[ Kakashi says honestly after a moment, his voice quiet. ]

But I don't know how likely it is.

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