I never wanted it to end up this way. Maybe because it's an obligation, or Shimura Danzou is just an asshole.
More than so, I never wished to be reunited with one of the few people I considered as friends, even yet my own teammates. "Orochimaru." That familiar feminine soft yet deemed authority voice. Tsunade.
"Tsunade." I said bluntly while narrowing my eyes.
"Ever the serious, huh?" She slowly stepped towards my direction and each step she took— I slowly retracted.
"Oro-" I flinched and glared at her, "Don't call me that. You should know better than to talk to me Tsunade. By this time you should already be throwing attacks at me, oh great hokage." I emphasized 'hokage' in an attempt to throw her off. Unfortunately, she barely faltered at my tone.
"I don't want to. We're teammates, Oro. Can't we just talk?" Her lower lip quivering as she frowned at me.
"What's there to talk about?" I hastily asked.
"Everything. About Konoha, Jiraiya-" Before she could continue, I interrupted her, "Don't." I glared menacingly at her. "Don't say his name." I swallowed while clenching my fist, trembling, both afraid of my past finally coming to haunt me and angry, because she knows just how much his name alone affects me.
"Stop being a coward, Orochimaru!" She shouted with spite evident in her tone, but at the same time fondness and hurt could be seen in her expression. "You need to stop this now! Don't you know just how many people miss you? It isn't just me and Jiraiya."
I looked down and felt my heart throb. "Kakashi's still there! waiting for you to come back. You're the only one left he has and you're choosing not to give that to him all because of your selfish reasons?!" her brows furrowed while my eyes gradually widened at the revelation. Ofcourse. How could I be stupid and careless? How could I forget Kakashi? That sad and hurt child that's lost too many people in his life. His father, his sensei, his teammates, even the Uchiha clan has long perished. I can only tremble at the thought, that's how much of a coward I am. "What am I supposed to do then, Tsunade? Everyone in that wretched village despises me!" I exclaimed, holding back tears.
"Just.." She quieted down, unsure of her words.
"It isn't that easy. I've tried before. And I can't risk everything I've worked hard for just to try and watch myself fail once again." I closed my eyes weakly.
"If this is about what you had with Jiraiya.. I can tell you right now that he-"
"He likes me?" I snapped, "Jiraiya doesn't understand me- you don't understand me. Heck even sensei doesn't understand me! No one does. No one tries. Jiraiya's just pretending. He doesn't like me, the way I do. No one all of a suddenly gets feelings for their teammate the moment their teammate goes rogue and leaves the village! What's that? Last minute realization? What a bunch of bullshit. It isn't that easy."
Her expression shifted from hurt to betrayed the moment I opened my mouth. Yet, I still stood by my words with an angry expression. "Who told you that?" She asks.
"We have tried, Oro! But, you wouldn't let us! How is that our fault?" She frowned even more. "Don't you wanna go back to the old days? Those days when we were happy and thriving, without any casualties heading our way." She said.
"Do I wanna go back when I watched the only person I have ever loved pursue you? Do I wanna go back to those times when the village looked down on me for my appearance and constantly questioned my lineage? When everyone I cherished slowly died one by one? When the love of my life only saw me as his rival and teammate? No. I don't want to." I felt tears slowly trim down from the edge of my eyes down to my cheeks.
"Didn't you love the moments all three of us spent together?" Tears started to form in her eyes. Her voice raspy, yet full of emotion. "Those times we went to ichiraku's ramen to eat everytime we were done with a mission? The times when we worked together to prank sensei and laughed together wholeheartedly? Or do you only look back on the bad moments we had?" Her voice gradually breaking as tears fell down to her cheeks one by one.
I stood speechless in silence as I watched her wipe her tears off using her fists. I'm sorry.. was what I wanted to say but couldn't. I looked up and saw the vibrant blue sky. Remembering times when all three of us would stargaze on a hill, talking about what we wanted to do in the future, still full of innocence, unaware of what we were going to become.
She walked closer, closing our distance and pulled me in a warm embrace. An embrace that I can't help but give in return. An embrace that's cooped with a familiar warmth I haven't felt in such a long time.
"Just give me this. Please.." She muttered, her voice full of emotion.
I felt my lips twitch and exhale shakily. I want to stay in this moment forever. I never want this to end. I've missed her, I've missed everyone. Everyone that I cared for in that village. Everyone who made living in that village feel like a euphoria.
"Can we.. just talk?" She pulled back and locked eyes with me, her expression full of determination and her eyes swollen from crying.
I hesitated but gradually gave in and nodded reluctantly. "...fine." I mumbled.
She smiled and caressed my cheek. Oh. Tsunade's always been like this. She's always been like a mother to me. Her kind words and comforting touch made me feel at ease, excluding the part where jealousy filled me everytime Jiraiya tried to pursue her and everytime she rejected him, fueling my jealousy even more because I knew that if I was in her position, I'd accept his advances in a heartbeat.
She sat down on the green grass and patted the empty space next to her, gesturing me to sit there. I was hesitant at first but then sat nonetheless.
We both sat in utter silence before her soft and soothing voice broke the sheer silence that flooded the area, "So.. why don't we start from the beginning? You uhm, won't mind if I ask questions won't you?" She looked at me with expectant eyes.
I crossed my arms and slowly distanced myself from her. I sighed, "Sure..."
She smiled awkwardly while I maintained a blank expression. Yet deep inside I was waiting for this awkward encounter to end. It's bad enough that I cried infront of her, talking to her will only make things worse. Though, I think I already did that way before I started crying.
Her expression was overflowed with sadness and she continued to steal nostalgic glances towards me as each minute passed.
"Uhm.. well... what was the deal with you and Sakumo Hatake?" She hummed, her tone quite unsure and slightly hinted awkwardness.
I looked at her with wide eyes and blinked. "Huh? What about me and Sakumo?" I raised a brow at her inquiry.
"Yeah well, let's just say he was part of the reason why Jiraiya realized his feelings for you." She nudged me with her elbow playfully, starting to feel atleast slightly comfortable now. I furrowed my eyebrows at her and scowled.
Why would Sakumo be part of Jiraiya allegedly realizing his feelings for me? Sakumo was like family to me. And he still is, things just weren't the same after he... you know.
She looked at me and asked, "By the way, why didn't you take Kakashi in under your roof after Sakumo.. uhm, did what he did?" She struggled in between, trying to find the right words.
"I tried." I sighed with exasperation, "Sensei wouldn't let me. I tried talking the Uchiha clan into doing it but, they also rejected me, not wanting to take the risks that came from taking the only Hatake left under their roof.. even though they wanted to help Kakashi too. You know how the village people are like, Tsunade. Especially back then when the Uchiha clan were criticized heavily for things their ancestor did. Their reputation wasn't exactly well perceived back then."
Tsunade looked down and patted my back. "I understand. Yet the best you could've done was be there for Kakashi you know."
"Don't start this with me again, Tsunade. I know my choices in life are wrong but, my intentions are the exact opposite of that." I frowned.
"Elaborate, then. How did leaving the village make shit better for the rest of us?" She raised a brow in speculation.
"I don't want to talk about it. We swore we wouldn't get into personal matters." I narrowed my eyes at her.
She scoffed, "We swore nothing,"
"Then, let's swear right now." I countered. "Fine." She answered.
"So, the thing with you and Sakumo?" She glanced at me.
"You said we weren't gonna press into personal matters." I glared at her.
"So you guys were in a personal-type of relationship, then. If it were friendship, it wouldn't be too personal." She mused.
"I- no! We were just close friends, okay? Nothing more." I felt my shoulders slump.
"Jiraiya seemed to think otherwise." She smirked.
"Jiraiya doesn't think. He acts and he does a terrible job on it." I rolled my eyes.
"You're finally starting to get comfy." Her expression softens with fondness inscribed in her tone, making me flinch and feel a warm sensation circulating my heart. She continues, "Oh and— He's actually making an improvement."
"I doubt that. I heard he's training Minato's son. Naruto, was it?" I asked.
"Oh. You won't believe what happened just a few weeks ago." Her tone a bit too amused for my liking.
"What did you do?" I speculated as she just laughed it off.
"Nothing much." Her gaze turns towards me, "Turns out Uzumakis truly have a knack for Uchihas. It's like an inheritance at this point."
My mouth opened yet no words came out. I paled in utter disbelief. "No way." I blinked, flabbergasted. Hoping for her to not say what I was exactly thinking at that very moment.
"Naruto looks too much like Minato." She joked.
"Unbelievable. Please tell me he has a personality like Kushina's." I deadpanned.
"He used to." She hummed.
"What does that even mean?" I asked, confused.
"Well.. I told him a certain story to make him realize his feelings for the Uchiha kid and surprise, surprise.. he did! And now he's clinging onto the Uchiha like his life depended on it." she said.
"That's stupid. You're stupid. That was especially uncalled for. You know how an Uzumaki acts when he's too deeply inlove. And, I have a feeling I know exactly what story you told him." I rolled my eyes and glared menacingly at her in the last part. "Bunch of nonsense, I presume."
"Far from it. Be grateful. I saved another you and Jiraiya from happening," She winked at me, obviously feeling content with what she had done. That was far from it infact, that's what I wanted to say. An Uzumaki and Uchiha is dangerous territory, she knows that. Yet still did it anyways. We both know what happened the last time an Uchiha and an Uzumaki got involved with eachother, and when a Namikaze got caught in the crossfire and fell down deep in the rabbit hole too.
"I hope you know the consequences of your actions." Were all I could blurt out. "I'm aware." She smiled, too wide for my liking that I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"It was about a snake and a toad." She blissfully said.
I scowled and frowned, "Stop. If you continue that sentence, I will walk away right at this very moment." I threatened her.
"Oh, fine. He was touched by the story though,"
"Tsunade." I glared at her.
"Kami, you're like sensei at this point." She chuckled. But, I'm terribly offended with the comparison.
"You're not gonna tell Jiraiya about this are you?" I gazed at her direction.
She shook her head and said playfully, "I'm not telling unless we come and meet eachother every now and then at this place."
"No." I bluntly declined.
She groaned, "It's been so long since I last saw you. Let us catch up with eachother every now and then. Please, Oro?" I felt my mask slowly break when she called me that nickname. Okay, maybe I wanted to suggest what she had suggested right now. I really do want to catch up with Tsunade about our lives every now and then. It's been way too long since I last saw or even spoke with her. Setting jiraiya aside, we can probably make this work if we try.
So, subconsciously, I slowly nodded which she beamed at. We then left our separate ways. The hurt and sad moment we had at the start was now just a faint memory from earlier. All we could look back to was the relief and warmth we found the moment we talked to eachither for the first time in years. We could only anticipate for the next encounters we might have in this same spot.
"Kakashi.. this is Orochimaru. A close friend of dad's." Sakumo gestured towards the man with straight ebony black hair that reached down to his waist and gold-yellow eyes with almond shaped pupils alongside purple markings on his face.
Orochimaru smiled and crouched at the young Kakashi. "Hi, Kakashi. You can call me uncle Oro if you'd like." His expression flowing with fondness.
Kakashi tugged his shirt and shyly smiled at Orochimaru. "Hi.." He mumbled.
"He seems like a sweet kid, Sakumo." Orochimaru straightened his composure and chuckled, "Unlike you that is."
"Hey! He's just a kid after all. When he's an adult, the next thing you know, he'll become just like his old man." Sakumo gave a toothy grin and ruffled Kakashi's silver locks.
Orochimaru glanced at Kakashi and whispered loud enough for Sakumo to hear, "Don't be like your father okay?" Sakumo pouted while grunting angrily at his words.
Kakashi shook his head and said, "No.. I'm gonna be just like my father! I'm gonna be strong, courageous, and always ready to fight and serve for my village!" he huffed. Orochimaru and Sakumo both smiled at his ecstatic words and bright eyes. "Well, I'm sure you'll grow up to be quite the ninja after all, young Hatake." Orochimaru poked Kakashi's nose gracefully while Kakashi proudly beamed at him.
"Well, then. I'm off now. Be good to Oro, okay little wolf?" Sakumo kissed Kakashi's forehead lightly, which Kakashi nodded enthusiastically at.
After Sakumo was nowhere to be seen, Kakashi followed in tow, right behind Orochimaru into what seemed to have been the Uchiha compound.
"Uhm.. uncle Oro?" Kakashi looked up. Orochimaru looked down at him, acknowledging him. "What is it?"
"Why are we going inside the Uchiha compound? Are you perhaps an Uchiha?" Kakashi asked, full of curiosity.
"Maybe so, maybe not," Orochimaru hummed.
Before Kakashi could say another word, Fugaku appeared with a welcoming smile, beside him his wife and son. "Greetings to the snake sannin. To what do we owe the pleasure?" Fugaku greeted politely.
"I'm here as your friend, Fu." Orochimaru rolled his eyes while Fugaky chuckled and patted his back.
Mikoto glanced at Kakashi, who was fidgeting his fingers, unsure of what he should do. "And who's this little cub?" She mused.
"That's Sakumo's kid, Kakashi Hatake." Orochimaru gestured for Kakashi to introduce himself to them Kakashi hesitated at first but then eventually gave in, "H-hi.. I'm Kakashi Hatake and I'm 5 years old." He said.
"Oh, well then, Kakashi, this is Itachi. I hope you two will become the bestest of friends." Mikoto smiled warmly.
Itachi looked up at Kakashi and scrunched his nose, "You're ugly! You look like a grandpa!" He stuck his tongue out.
Kakashi, for the first time ever, felt his eye twitch— he knows he shouldn't be mad at a literal 2 year old but, it was so hard not to at that time. Orochimaru bit his lower lip, trying not to laugh while fugaku laughed rather loudly and Mikoto kept on apologizing to Kakashi while continuously scolding Itachi to apologize to Kakashi— in which Itachi keeps on declining in doing so.
Kakashi is absolutely pissed but what he wouldn't have imagined, was that, that unruly 2 year old would later become one of the few people he'd actually call a friend. His best friend.