Hidden Villages

I: A Taste of Friendship

His routine didn't change despite everything which changed almost two weeks ago. Every day Kakashi put on the mask and headed to whatever Anbu duty he found himself assigned to. Despite Iruka's promise he never heard one word regarding the promise of whether he could be kept apprised of Naruto's education from either Iruka or the Kazekage.

Eventually, he found himself summoned in front of the Kazekage. In the back of his head the silver-haired shinobi feared hearing he wasn't allowed to hear anything regarding how Naruto was doing. He arrived and knelt down so his head was low to the ground. "Sir? You summoned me?"

Hiruzen sat on his cushion watching Kakashi carefully. He lifted the pipe to his mouth and drew in a deep breath. Eventually he let the breath of air out allowing a ring of smoke to leave his mouth before traveling up to the ceiling. Hiruzen watched the smoke carefully, but Kakashi lifted his head slightly. Hiruzen tapped the pipe on the trey knocking out some ashes. The man's eyes remained on the ash trey when he spoke.

"You need to learn patience Hatake. Sit, and remove your mask. You're not here as an Anbu."

Kakashi sat in a traditional position on a cushion. He reached up and carefully removed his Anbu mask and set it down at his side. The young shinobi found himself sitting there staring at the ground wondering what Hiruzen wanted to speak with him about, but Kakashi felt his throat tighten when he remembered what Iruka said to him.

"I'll ask the Hokage if I can let you have information regarding how Naruto is doing in school, but I've got to get his permission first. If I can't, I'll ask he informs you himself."

"Just say it. Please just say it rather than leaving me hanging like this. It's eating me up. Please, just say it."

A shadow fell over the top of his head. His head jolted up as his eyes widened in surprise as a rather big hand slammed into the middle of his back. "Hello, my..."

Kakashi's reaction was instantaneous. The silver-haired shinobi used the palms of his hands to swing his legs up, but he quickly went into a handstand. He made to grab the person who touched him around the neck with his legs, only for said person to grab onto his legs and yank him off his hands.

"Calm down Hitake! It's just me, Asuma!"

Panic still ran through the young shinobi's blood. Kakashi felt his heart beat rather fast as he swung from Asuma's arms. He kept his momentum up and brought himself up and twisted slightly so his forehead made contact with Asuma's knocking the other young shinobi off his feet.

Both fell towards the ground, but Hiruzen lifted his pipe to his lips again. "Well, I guess I was correct in picking you for my other bodyguard."

"Yeah, well, he very well may have killed the bodyguard who is supposed to be working with him." Asuma maneuvered so Kakashi was now in a headlock. The silver-haired shinobi started to struggle, but less so as his panic succeeded. After a very short amount of time he simply went slack and glared at the Hokage.

"So, as I was trying telling you when you so kindly attacked my son, I am having a meeting with the Mizukage to discuss some things. I've selected the two of you as my bodyguards. As such you will not be acting as an Anbu Hatake Kakashi."

Asuma let go of Kakashi so the silver-haired shinobi could slip down to the floor. He let his body go lax, but didn't react when Asuma's hand reached up to ruffle his hair. "There we go. That's my little brother."

"I'm not your sibling."

"Sure, not by blood."

Kakashi pushed Asuma's hand away in irritation. "I am not a little kid Asuma."