The Red String of Fate: New Generation

Our Wonderful Girls - Kakashi

"Lord Sixth, may I join you?"

Kakashi didn't have to look up to know it was Kizashi Haruno speaking to him. He motioned to the seat next to him, offering it to the pink-haired shinobi. Without even looking at him, Kakashi spoke.

"What do you want, Haruno?"

After a moment of silence, he glanced over at the old shinobi. Kizashi looked haggard these days, but the disgust in his face had softened.

Kakashi stared into his nearly empty cup.

"How is she?"

"Mizuka? She's doing really well. Motherhood suits her just as well as healing."

Kakashi saw Kizashi flinch subtly out of the corner of his eye at the mention of his wife's name. Kizashi sat quietly, finally speaking after a few moments.

"Do you think she'll ever want to see me again?"

Kakashi sighed deeply.

"You know I can't answer that."

"I never did apologize for all of those years ago. I struck her out of fear and ignorance. And you had every right to kill me that day."

Kakashi wasn't sure if he should hate or pity the old man sitting next to him. He poured himself another cup of sake from the nearly empty bottle, choosing his words carefully.

"You're right, I should've killed you that day. But I hesitated before Tsunade arrived. I didn't kill you after that because I made a promise to Mizuka that I wouldn't. She didn't hit you back, Kizashi; she could've easily killed you. Her taijutsu is nothing to take lightly. Neither is her water prison jutsu. I don't think she hates you as much as she should."

"You're right."

Kakashi turned to examine the old shinobi. He did feel more pity than anger in his heart at this point. Here was a man who neglected and abandoned his first born to pursue the path to becoming a great ninja, and the person he abandoned turned out to far surpass him.

"I'm glad to hear that she's happy. And I was wrong, the love you have for each other is so strong that even an old fool like me can see it. She must be absolutely crazy over you: she came back to the village after she swore she would never come back here again.  Also, I've never thanked you for your compassion toward my youngest daughter. Sakura has always been very fond of you, and you've always been very supportive of her becoming a strong shinobi. I've seen her in action: she is confident against the enemy and confident in her own abilities. It's been an honor to watch her blossom into the strong kunoichi she is, even though I never wanted to admit it was because of you."

"She would've become a strong kunoichi with or without my guidance. I see a lot of Mizuka's resolve in her."

"Things didn't turn out the way I thought they would, I guess. I'm a fool. I abandoned my eldest child so I could pursue my dream and now here I am. An old, retired shinobi who has nothing to show for a lifetime of failure."

Kakashi was surprised by this statement.

"That's not true. You have two talented, beautiful daughters. Whether or not that means anything to you is a different story, but they are part of your bloodline."

Kakashi could see tears rolling down Kizashi's cheeks. He couldn't believe the pity he was feeling for this old man. More than this old man probably deserved.

"I do care about her. Mizuka. It crushes me when I see her and your boys walking through the village, that she hates me, and they and that my own grandchildren have no idea who I am. And everyone in the village really seems to love her. An elite healer of Tenchi and wife of the Sixth Hokage. Life is funny: the little girl I abandoned for my own dreams achieved it instead. She's done more than I ever could have imagined."

"She's better than both of us. She saved my life the night I reunited with her. She resuscitated me. And even though Sakura didn't train in Tenchi, she's just about as talented as her older sister. They're both wonderful girls."

Kizashi raised his sake cup in a toast.

"To our wonderful girls!"

As much as Kakashi didn't think that Kizashi had much right to say anything about how great his wife is, he couldn't turn down a toast for his wife and student, especially since Kizashi was finally admitting to being a huge asshole.

"To our wonderful girls."

Kizashi stood and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your time, Lord Sixth."

"Kizashi, why don't you stay for another drink?"

The old man's face looked surprised. He slowly sat down as Kakashi filled his cup again. He didn't appear to be the threat he was five years ago. Even then, there wasn't much of a threat: Mizuka could've easily blasted his across the room or imprisoned him with her water style. This was a broken man; learning his lesson by failing through his own stupidity. However, maybe he had heard from Sakura. She had left the village months ago and no one had heard a word from her.

"Have you heard from Sakura at all?"

The old man shook his head no.

"I'm honestly surprised she ran off with an enemy of the village. ; it's not something I would've expected her to do."

"Sasuke's not bad; he just needs to straighten his priorities out. I don't think that Sakura should've left with him: she is not his priority right now. Not even close. But I do think that he will protect her."

Kizashi stared into his cup.

"I hope so. She doesn't think straight when she's with him. She's blindsided by love."

Kakashi sighed deeply.

"I hope she figures out what she wants before she gets in over her head and does something that will make her life harder, like getting pregnant. There's no way Sasuke will let her travel with him if she has his child."

They sat in silence for a bit. Kakashi could tell the old man was thinking about his youngest daughter. His baby girl. He suddenly looked up at Kakashi, tears in his eyes.

"Will you tell me about my grandchildren? Sakumaru and Inari, right?"

Kakashi nodded, a smile spreading across his face that he couldn't help.

"You look like a proud father."

"I couldn't be prouder. And we have a third on the way."

Tears slowly and quietly slid down Kizashi's cheeks.

"Another grandchild? That's wonderful."

Kakashi crossed his arms, contemplating.

"Let's see... Sakumaru looks like me, but he has his mother's kind and caring nature. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if he follows in Mizuka's footsteps and becomes a great healer as well. And Inari.... he's a lot more adventurous than his brother. He loves hearing stories about the missions I've been on and he loves to pretend that he's a shinobi with his brother. He came to us from the Land of Tea, after their major earthquake a couple of years ago. His mother handed him to Mizuka moments before she died. He went from mother to mother. Both of them are very brave and very smart. And our new baby will be here in the autumn."

"It sounds like you have a beautiful family, Lord Sixth."

"Please, call me Kakashi."

They talked a bit longer before Kakashi excused himself, having to get home to his family.

"Will you tell her that we talked, Kakashi? And that I send her my best?"

"I will, but if she wants anything to do with you and Mebuki, that will be solely up to her. Goodnight."