Darkness Falls

Chapter 27

Konoha, Ten Days Later

The silver haired jonin let out a long sigh as the gates of the village came into view. It had been a long ten days traveling back from Yuki no Kuni, now named Haru no Kuni, the Land of Spring. Almost the entire trip back he had to endure the complaining and ranting from the sole Uchiha. Most of it revolving how it was all the blonde dobe's fault that the princess had rejected him and that she was a fool to refuse such an honor to bear his children.

It had gotten to the point that two days ago, Kakashi had snapped at the raven haired teen. Reminding the brooding emo that he had strongly suggested that he take it slow with the princess and woo her with his charm. Failing the realize that the last Uchiha had about as much charm as a dead fish. Instead, Sasuke had all but forced himself unto the princess. Destroying any chances the Uchiha would have had with the young woman. Since then, Sasuke had barely said a word to the masked jonin. Opting instead to silently seethe and stew in his own anger and hatred towards his blonde team mate.

Arriving at the village gates, Kakashi quickly signed the two of them in before dismissing the raven haired teen for the day. Ignoring the scoff the Uchiha made, the masked jonin slowly made his way towards the Hokage's Tower. Before he knew it, he was at the large wooden doors. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves for the report he was about to give the Hokage about the previous mission, the actions of Sasuke, and his own failure, he pushed the doors open and entered.

"Welcome back Kakashi." Hiruzen greeted the masked jonin as he set down the scroll he had just received less then an hour ago. "I trust the mission went well."

"Mission was a success, Hokage-sama." The silver haired man replied, before sighing. "All thanks to Naruto."

"I sense there is something you need to get off your chest." The old man answered with a slight frown.

Nodding, the silver haired man began to report his experience on the mission. The masked jonin had left nothing out. Reciting how the team had encountered the princess and the film crew, the princess running off initially after Sasuke had attempted to force her to return to the film crew, and how Naruto had managed to calm her down to the point that she was suddenly eager to start filming again. Revealing that he later learned that it was due to finalizing the deal for the Demon Heart movie that had spruced up the princess once more.

Hiruzen remained silent as Kakashi continued to give his report, as the masked jonin began to explain what had happened during the boat ride. How he had attempted to have Sasuke seduce the princess once her heritage was learned by assigning the Uchiha to watch over her, and how it had subsequently failed due to the boys ego and forcefulness. Then moving on to how Sasuke had nearly killed the princess during his rant, that had triggered the avalanche. Once again citing that it had been Naruto that had saved the day and had managed to secure Koyuki and keep her safe on his own. Though admitted that he didn't know the details of what had transpired between the two.

Then the masked man began to recount what had happened during the ambush, and how he had brushed off Naruto's warning about the possible ambush, shrugging it off as the blonde genin only wanting to make himself look better at the time and admitting his own failure to look underneath the underneath, as he had always preached. Though with no small amount of pride in his voice, he praised Naruto for not only having the foresight to predict such an ambush, but also saving the rebels from being slaughter by the Snow Shinobi forces that had set up the ambush to begin with.

Through it all, the elder village leader remained silent as the masked man finished his report. Taking a puff from his pipe, Hiruzen let out a long sigh, turning his gaze towards Kakashi.