Chapter 20
He didn't know how long he had actually been in the hospital but they hadn't allowed him to see Naruto yet.
It was for their safety that they were not allowed to visit until the bad days abated.
It had been at least five days since he had one of his episodes and he had been informed that Shikaku-sensei would be bringing Naruto and Shikamaru to visit him.
Shikaku-sensei had already come to visit him previously, perhaps even in the role of jonin captain, but Keigo had never managed to send the conversation on more formal notes.
The problem was that Keigo hadn't asked about the village yet.
Purposely.
He remembered who he lost that night, Mai, Itachi.
One killed, the other a traitor.
He was desperate for news but hadn't found the courage to ask.
Maybe he was a coward.
The spiral of dark thoughts into which he was falling was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Keigo didn't have time to respond before the door was thrown open and an orange blur hurtled towards him.
He barely had time to prepare to catch his little brother as he leapt into his arms.
Shortly behind Naruto, Shikamaru came to collide with his side.
Keigo with a laugh blossoming from his lips supported Naruto on his hip with one arm and cupped Shikamaru's head with the other.
Both boys tried to squeeze the life out of him.
"Thank you" he mouthed at his sensei.
As he basked in the moment, hugging his little brother and the one he also considered his little brother he didn't have the courage to ruin the moment by asking for news.
Keigo decided that maybe he could be a coward for a little while longer.
The first time his father came to visit him Keigo thought the man looked half dead.
When he crossed the threshold he still had his hokage cloak, all wrinkled as if he hadn't taken it off since the day of the massacre.
His hair was equally disheveled and dark circles hung from his eyes.
He didn't fail to give Keigo a bright smile and a big bear hug.
"Come on old man, spill the beans" Keigo teased, "We both know you're dying to say something".
He was ready to hear news.
Minato who was sitting at the desk chair sighed as he sank further down.
"You have to understand that this is going to be hard to hear and at any moment we can stop, okay Keigo?" The expression on his father's face was serious and Keigo braced himself.
"Then, Elder Danzou was executed as a traitor to the Leaf..."
Keigo was definitely not ready for that conversation and the ones that followed.
What his father said made his head even more confused than it already was.
The elder Danzou had secretly re-founded the root association that his father had already dissolved when he became hokage for the first time and by whom Tenzou had been saved.
He was also interested in the Uchiha clan's sharingan and after a few whispers of discontent from the clan reached his ears he decided to use the rumors to his advantage.
He magnified those whispers until they became rumors of an apparent revolt and with the right levers he managed to convince Itachi that the only solution was to exterminate the entire clan.
Shisui, Keigo, Sasuke.
The first died after his eye was stolen and Itachi didn't need any more prompting to follow orders. So with Root's support the massacre began.
At the time of his arrest, Danzou had over twelve Sharingans implanted in his arm, Shisui's in his right eye.
"So he was following Danzou's orders? Was Itachi following Danzou's orders?"
Keigo's voice was anxious as he asked the questions.
"Yes, with the order to eliminate any obstacles" his father nodded gravely.
Keigo couldn't believe his ears, Itachi had done everything he had done just to protect him. Itachi had tortured him but hadn't eliminated him like one of the other obstacles.
He was innocent but Keigo was still afraid of him.
"Go out" he said to his father as he stood up and walked towards the window.
Minato didn't answer and walked towards the door. At the doorframe he couldn't help but turn back and take one last look at his eldest son. Looking out that window and wearing his pajamas, Keigo looked younger than ever.
"I have already withdrawn his arrest warrant, Itachi is a victim and will be brought back to Konoha"
Minato said before finally leaving the room.
The conversation with his father brought to the surface nightmares that had given him respite in recent nights.
Keigo was on the floor in the corner staring at the door.
He couldn't force his muscles to move it was as if he had turned to stone.
In his thoughts he was screaming at himself to move.
Why couldn't he move?
He just had to get up.
GET UP.
Then as if a spring had been released, he sprinted towards the door and before having second thoughts he went out.
His room was the last one in the corridor.
Keigo's bare feet made no noise on the tile floor as he walked deeper into the hallway.
The walk was doing him good and no one had caught him wandering around.
On the way back to his room his positive mood was in danger of breaking when a door opened softly.
Keigo stopped in the middle of the hallway thinking of an excuse as to why he was there.
He couldn't believe he was caught just two doors down from his own.
He thought he was doomed to a lecture until a little black head popped out of the crack in the door.
"Sasuke what are you doing up?"
Keigo vaguely remembered someone telling him that Sasuke was a couple of doors down but he never paid it any mind since he never went out.
"What are YOU doing up?" the boy responded defensively.
"Don't question me I'm an adult"
"Well if you are an adult I am the hokage" Keigo couldn't believe the mouth the child had.
Standing in the corridor they continued to stare at each other in silence for a few moments.
"Obito snores too much" Sasuke admitted after a while.
Keigo just offered his hand to the boy.
"I might have some of those cookies you like so much in my room" He proposed when Sasuke didn't take his hand right away.
With a child in tow he then headed towards his room.
They ate the biscuits together in silence, understanding between them that they were both suffering.
They were basking in their shared company when Sasuke broke the silence with a small voice.
"Do you think they'll ever find him? Do you think they'll ever be able to bring him home?"
That was one of Keigo's biggest doubts since that afternoon but he certainly couldn't tell the kid.
"Of course, I promise that if they don't succeed, I will bring him home myself in time for your graduation"
In reality Keigo didn't know if he would ever be able to face the one he once would sacrifice himself for, much less take him home in person.
The day he could finally go home had arrived.
That morning when he got up he found his usual clothing on the chair next to his bed.
Keigo took his time getting ready.
The cargo shorts were a nice change to the long hospital pajama bottoms, same for the tank top.
With sandals already on his feet he proceeded with his equipment.
The x-shaped sheath of the katana was always present even without the blade inside. Only his headband was missing, Keigo was turning it over in his hands staring at the leaf symbol.
Once he put it on, the expectations would once again fall on his shoulders.
"So are you wearing it or not?"
Naruto's bright voice interrupted his thoughts, "If you don't want it I'll use it without any problems"
Keigo didn't even realize when he arrived.
"Not even if you paid me, firecracker"
Before his little brother attempted to steal his headband, Keigo put it on his forehead.
"Now you look very brave" Naruto exclaimed with that bright smile of his.
"Obviously who do you take me for" Keigo responded by giving a superhero pose.
He had never lied to Naruto so easily.
He looked brave but was he really?