Smoke Rings in the Dark (Reader x Various)

The Choice

Kakashi watched the beautiful woman as she took the scroll and sat down on the bed. Then, opening the parchment, Y/n's eyes scanned the words. Her eyes read the terms over and over. It was true. The Hokage signature at the end of the pardon verified it. If she was walking and someone from the Leaf, or their few allies, stopped her, this document would allow her to be free.

Pardoned.

Zabuza had negotiated a pardon for her with this man standing before her. Her brother's dying wish was for her to be free- to live a NORMAL life. To have friends and a future with someone. Y/n let the rare emotions surface, and she hid the sob behind her hands as the scroll fell to the floor.

Kakashi wasn't exactly sure what to do. The woman was distraught, for a good reason. Doing what he thought was right, Kakashi took a seat next to her on the side of the bed. As he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, he felt Y/n tense momentarily. As she relaxed, Y/n turned into Kakashi's chest. No one's touch would ever compare to Asuma's, and while that was true, there was something about the embrace of the man beside her.

Perhaps it was the emotional state she was in. It could be the fact that she hasn't let anyone touch her in quite some time. Or maybe it was just the fact that he hailed from the same village. Her mind raced with the thought of seeing Asuma again.

The soft sobs had died down, and Y/n wiped her tears away. Then, sitting straighter to make Kakashi move away, Y/n looked at him directly, "What are the stipulations?"

Kakashi moved away from her a little, allowing him to see the woman's face more clearly. She saw the corner of his eye crinkle, indicating his lips held a smile on them. "There are a few," she frowned at the words, and Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle. "First, the Hokage would want you to be interviewed."

His pause was long enough for Y/n to say, "Interrogated," Kakashi's eye softened slightly, "It's okay to call it what it is. I was ANBU- I know how this works."

Nodding, Kakashi continued, "Yes," he held her stare, "He wants our TIF Commander to interrogate you. He's also asked for someone to scan your memories. Lastly, he'd like for you to wear a seal or chakra bracelets for a short period of time."

That was a lot to have to go through just to prove herself to the Kage of a rival village. But then again, could she keep up this cat and mouse game with Kiri? She was on the run from Kiri, as well as any bounty hunter or Shinobi that decided to try and capture her. This could be an elaborate ruse to do just that- was she willing to trust his man all because he held a picture of her?

"What happened with Zabuza?" Her question made Kakashi tense suddenly. "I already know that you and your team of Genin were the ones to intercept him. Although, from the rumors around the outlying villages, Haku died protecting Zabuza," her eyes grew hard, "from you. But then, it was as if Zabuza became the savior to the village. So I want to know what happened."

Her tone was pleading as she stared into Kakashi's lone eye. The black orb swirled as he mulled over his choices. He was asking this woman to travel with him to his home- a rival village- and start a new life. Later down the line, she could be his comrade. And while Kakashi was a man that preferred to separate business and pleasure, this woman was far too beautiful to keep his mind from wandering.

Kakashi dove into the story of how they first encountered Zabuza. Y/n frowned deeply at hearing of her brother's ruthless actions with the young ninjas. This was the most significant argument with her wanting to travel with him: I never turn down a job unless it involves children. The moment those children wore hitai-ate, it didn't matter, though.

Once the story of the bridge came, she was in tears. To hear Kakashi thought one of his students had died due to Haku caused her heartbreak. Kakashi couldn't believe that Y/n and Zabuza were siblings. Now he understood why Zabuza had wanted a different life for the woman. She was far too kind-hearted to be a cruel Kunoichi.