Dowry
Dowry - An antiquated tradition where a woman is seen as a burden and monetary property.
Kakashi and his team had barely arrived at the Leaf Village yesterday evening, everyone thoroughly exhausted and bearing some form of injury. Mental. Physical. Kakashi wanted to stay in bed and pretend nothing happened on the mission. He tried to forget that nearly everything that could've gone wrong did in the most catastrophic ways. Yet here he was in front of the Shinobi Memorial like he did every day, thinking of the events as if he was filling Minato, Obito, and Rin about it.
Rogue ninjas attacked them just as the mission began.
Zabuza, a ninja registered in the Bingo Book, rendered Kakashi useless. His students, who were so inexperienced, had to rescue him.
Later, a brutal battle took place on the yet-unfinished bridge. Sasuke and Naruto fought against Haku, while Sakura did her best to protect Tazuna. Meanwhile, Kakashi was in a rematch with Zabuza. He was seconds, inches from securing his victory, his lightning blade aimed at the chest of the Demon of the Mist. Zabuza was a breath before death when Haku, the young masked boy the rogue took in, appeared before Kakashi.
There was no chance to divert the blow. Kakashi's hand tore into Haku's chest as if he were paper. The boy's eyes were wide in shock, staring right into Kakashi. He was so young, not much older than his students. Not much older than Rin.
He didn't want to think about it.
He didn't want to, but it was all he could see. In the face of Haku, he saw Rin staring back at him. It was as if Kakashi was a child again, with his arm through his dearest friend's chest, covering himself with her blood.
It happened again! God, dammit, it happened again!
It took all his advanced-level training not to throw up then and there. He wanted nothing more than to scream into the sky for placing him back where he was many years ago. The thought of his team, those three children, kept him tethered and focused. They were the ones he needed to stay safe.
It wasn't enough since Sasuke nearly lost his life as well. He praised every god he knew when he saw the Uchiha back on his feet.
In the end, Zabuza regained his soul and assured their victory. He died by Haku's side, returning the loyalty the boy gave him right at the end. And there, as pure white snow drifted from the sky, his students got a good look at how life as a shinobi could end.
Kakashi wasn't sure what he expected when everything was concluded, but Naruto's moving declaration of finding his ninja way shouldn't have surprised him. Sasuke's determination to get stronger increased a thousandfold, especially being the one who was out at the end. Sakura. There was something about Sakura that also changed, but it was subtle. Her demeanor became more mature, more serious. Kakashi saw the bud of something begin to grow in her. It would lie if he said he wasn't proud of them all.
Kakashi glanced at the sky and figured he was late enough to drag himself to the Shinobi Center to complete his mission report. With a deep sigh, he said farewell to his fallen comrades and went to the town center.
One aspect no one likes about their job is the endless paperwork. Missions outside the village into other lands especially required extensive detailed reporting due to international relations. Lord Third was also very eager to hear about this particular mission due to those involved. Kakashi debated whether he should withhold some information about one fox demon vessel. Still, he knew he would be tried for treason if he tried as treason. Besides, Lord Third finds everything out in the end.
Kakashi decided to make this as quick and painless as possible by jumping from the rooftops. Soon enough, he was in front of the massive building with several other shinobi filing in and out in a never-ending flow. He walked through the door to the lobby and started in the direction of the Mission Report Department.
Turning the corner of a long hallway, he spotted Iruka at the front desk, handing another Jonin a stack of papers. The Chunin looked up and smiled at Kakashi in greeting.
"Cutting it close, Kakashi! Glad to see you all returned safely from your mission." Iruka chirped.
"Iruka," the masked ninja greeted. I'm glad it's over, but now the real work begins." Kakashi sighed. His expression was about as dead as he felt on the inside, but Iruka didn't comment. "Can I get an IA-4 form?"
Iruka's smile faltered, eyebrows pinched. "IA-4? Wasn't this mission a C rank?"
Kakashi sighed heavily. "So Naruto hasn't told you all the details yet, huh?"
"I haven't had the chance yet, but I'm going to treat him to ramen tonight to celebrate his first away mission. Did it really escalate that badly?" Iruka's brows were creased deeply, and his smile was gone. The look in Kakashi's eye was enough to confirm. "Then Naruto definitely deserves this treat."
"Indeed he does." Kakashi smiled. I should do something, too.
"Didn't your genin team do picnics?" Iruka asked as he turned around to gather the papers Kakashi requested.
Kakashi hummed in thought. His mind flashed past images of laughter, bickering, and homemade foods. Obito and he constantly provoked one another to stupid challenges and endless arguing. Minato-sensei would watch on in amusement or step in when it went too far. His wife, Kushina, would often be there to bring additional treats and to enjoy their company. Rin, beautiful Rin, would smile and laugh at all their antics. It would be the best when she would scold them both, though. She was always patient and logical, but it was a win for them when they could get a rise from her. There was a lot of smiling back then. A picnic wasn't a bad idea at all. It was a bittersweet idea, but it was time to honor the past with new memories.
"Excuse me?" A woman's voice called. The silver-haired Jonin turned to see a middle-aged woman with blonde hair and a white dress approach. She had a circle crest embroidered at the bottom of her dress, telling him exactly who she was. "Are you Kakashi?"
"Yes. How can I help you?" Kakashi said politely.
"My name is Mebuki, I'm Sakura Haruno's mother." Just as he thought, there was some resemblance, but the coloring was very different. Mebuki's hair was dark blonde and in a strange style; her eyes were smaller and a much darker green. There was something else about her that didn't match with his young student, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Ah, yes! I haven't had the chance to meet you yet. Due to its rank, I'm supposed to debrief you on the mission." Kakashi glanced at the clock. "Do you have time now?"
Mebuki smiled a bit uncomfortably. Kakashi figured she might be nervous to hear about the potential dangers of the life her daughter has taken on. From what he remembered, Sakura was an only child, so her mother must have been even more terrified than she appeared.
To Kakashi's surprise, Mebuki waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, Sakura's already told me some of what happened. I actually had a question for you." The older woman produced a set of forms from her bag. Kakashi's heart sank as he saw what set of forms they were. "I was advised to take out a life insurance policy for Sakura if anything happened."
This was a common practice, just a very bleak one. It was more for any shinobi that had family and children of their own that they wanted to be financially secure if they were killed in action. However, parents of underage shinobi were also allowed to file policies, especially if the child was the primary provider of the household in extreme cases. Judging by Mebuki's healthy physical state and the condition of her clothing, that was not the case. It was wise, but Kakashi didn't feel right having this conversation.
Mebuki handed Kakashi the forms. With a glance, he saw his little kunoichi's whole life on paper: her full name, Ninja Registration Number, Leaf Village ID Number, Team Number, and birthday. Kakashi hadn't realized that Sakura was the baby of the team until now, and knowing why all this information was written down made his heart sink even more. He looked down at the payout amount, and his body turned to lead. This woman had circled the max payout.
"No one could give me a direct answer, but I figured, as her teacher, you would know more directly. After all, when she gets killed, you'll be the one dealing with all the death certificate business." Mebuki rambled casually as if she were talking to a neighbor about how best to season beef or remove stains.
"You said 'when'." The statement left Kakashi's lips before he fully digested the thought.
Mebuki looked up at him, confused. "Oh, did I? Well, she's not necessarily talented for this work. Our family isn't a noble ninja clan or anything like that. In fact, there hasn't been a shinobi on either side of the family for decades." She shrugged. "And with this last mission, I figured we might as well file a policy." She laughed lightly. This was just a silly little errand for her.
Kakashi was sick. He felt nauseated as he listened to this woman speak. He had thought Sakura was his only ordinary student with an average family, but he was wrong. He would give the benefit of the doubt to Sakura's father, but his signature was at the bottom of the page. It was right there next to Mebuki's name on the beneficiaries list.
"Anyway," Mebuki continued, and Kakashi nearly flinched, internally praying that she would stop. "My question is, how long after death do we have to wait for a payout?"
The world must've stopped spinning. This woman, a mother, wouldn't ask such a question so eagerly. Who could name a price high enough for the life of their child? To be so assured and near hopeful that her daughter would not only fail as a ninja but die while in his charge filled his throat with bile. Is this the sort of parent his student was raised by? He would've never known.
Sakura was always so cheerful and bright. She always had a broad smile on her face throughout the day. She was feisty, too. She wasn't afraid to give himself or Naruto a piece of her mind. Sakura even included Sasuke in her scolding when he made himself sick from overeating in competition with Naruto.
Yet, at the same time, Sakura was compassionate and open-hearted. She realized some of her mistakes and worked hard to correct them, evidently in her efforts to be a friend to Naruto. She loved deeply, as he could tell by her maturing feelings for Sasuke. How could anyone wish for her death? Sakura's own mother and father?
"Kakashi?" Mebuki, the horrid woman, spoke up again. Kakashi looked up from the documents still in his hands as she stood with her head on her hips and forced a smile. She was nothing like her daughter. Even the resemblance he saw before was fading to nothing now. Sakura's eyes were brighter, kinder. Her smile had an everlasting warmth. This woman was cold and false.
"I'm afraid there's no set timeline," Kakashi said, forcing himself to sound impartial. "It's a case-by-case scenario. In most situations, a thorough investigation could take months or even years, depending on the manner of death, location, and political climate. In Sakura's case, it would likely take months due to her being a minor. Cases involving minors take priority, and even more so in peacetime." It was all true. Kakashi hated that it was all true. More, he hated the pensive look on Mebuki's face.
"What if I did a regular life insurance policy?" Mebuki asked. "I've seen somewhere they usually pay even sooner, regardless of the manner of death or occupation."
"Why didn't you go to those first?" Kakashi couldn't keep the cold tone from his voice.
Mebuki caught it and crossed her arms defensively in response. "The Shinobi Life Insurance Corporation has a higher payout. You have to understand, Kakashi, that we, as Sakura's parents, have provided for and cared for her entire life. If she were to die suddenly, what would we do? It might as well be for something. To provide for her dear parents as they get older and older. Is that not what a good daughter should do?"
Disgusting. Kakashi was absolutely disgusted. What could he even say to her? She was looking at him with the expectation of understanding and sympathy.
"Can I file multiple policies? Both Shinobi and private companies?"
When Kakashi didn't respond, Iruka said, "I'm afraid that you can only do one if the policyholder is a Shinobi. Some do the smaller companies for timelines, but most sign up with the Shinobi Corporation."
The older woman frowned in disappointment. "Well, I guess I have no choice. Kakashi, would you mind going over the paperwork? There were so many questions. I may have missed something."
After swallowing the bile that had accumulated in his throat, Kakashi returned his attention to the forms. He flipped through them until he found the page with the final monthly billing amount. Of course, the monthly payments would be astronomical with the high payout amount. He read the financial account information and saw only Sakura's Ninja Registration ID and bank routing numbers written out. Not only were Sakura's parents trying to file an expensive life insurance policy on her, but they would make her pay for it, too. The amount was so high that it would take most of Sakura's earnings.
In most cases, the parents are either the sole billing party or partial, with the child's earnings paying a smaller amount. This was clearly not the intention here. Kakashi wished he could arrest her then and there, but for reasons beyond his comprehension, it was legal.
Kakashi flipped through the rest of the paperwork. "Everything is in order." He admitted. It was a spoonful of broken glass in his mouth. He could taste blood from how hard he was gritting his teeth.
Mebuki smiled widely with a girlish giddiness. "Great! I'll just have to file them on the next floor." She gestured to take the papers back, and with a heavy heart, he returned them to her. She tucked the papers back in the bag, securing Sakura's death. She thanked the both of them and walked away, disappearing past a corner.
Kakashi stood there in silence, disbelieving everything that transpired. Iruka was also in absolute disgust. "I never had any idea that Sakura's parents could be like that."
Kakashi agreed with him but said nothing. The forms that he needed were on the counter. He took the papers and walked to the Jonin offices. He sat down at his desk and mindlessly filled in the paperwork. At the same time, the interaction with Sakura's mother played in his head over and over.
"—she's not necessarily talented for this kind of work…"
Sakura was rough around the edges when it came to her training; that was true. She's distracted by her affection for Sasuke and lacks a clear goal for her career. Regardless, Kakashi saw immense potential in her. Her natural proficiency in chakra control seemed like a gift from the divine when he saw how mediocre her parents were.
"When she gets killed…"
Mebuki didn't know the whole meaning of what she was saying. That woman had no idea what it was like to lose someone on duty. To watch them die. Images of Rin's still body were taken over by Sakura's. Green eyes clouding over with white. Vivid pink hair growing dull. Sakura's blood sinking into Kakashi's skin, never to be washed off, no matter how hard he scrubbed. That is what Mebuki Haruno didn't take into consideration. Instead, she only considered how much money she could get from it.
Kakashi's heart was heavy for his little kunoichi. He already felt immense sorrow for Naruto and Sasuke for the circumstances they both had to grow up with. He knew somewhat what to expect from the boys. Kakashi was a boy himself once and, like Sasuke, experienced an incredible amount of loss. To an extent, he even understood what it was like to be othered and alone — but nowhere near the same as Naruto. He did not expect Sakura to be another child with issues.
There was no indication to suggest that Sakura was anything but the happy and cheerful girl he knew. She always smiled at everyone, even after being annoyed by Naruto or himself. Sakura always looked well-kept. Her clothes were always clean and in good condition. Her hygiene was excellent, with teeth like pearls and shining hair like silk. Her skin was never marked in any way that didn't result from training or missions. She was rather skinny for her age, but Kakashi always chalked it up to the diet trends of teenage girls. He wasn't so sure now. That was something he needed to follow up on.
Kakashi stared down at his finished report on his desk. All the incredible and terrible details of the mission laid bare. He looked up at the clock on the wall and saw he had been there far longer than he initially planned. The center would be closing in ten minutes. He quickly reorganized the papers and returned to the Report Department.
Iruka was gone for the day, so he handed his report to the desk ninja on duty.
That was that.
Kakashi found himself in front of the staircase Mebuki Haruno climbed with the life insurance forms. The forms that ensured that Sakura's death would be profitable for her mother and father. Kakashi glanced around him and found no one was nearby, so he took his first step up the 15 steps to the Insurance Department floor.
The hallway was empty, and when Kakashi turned a corner, he saw the counters and desks were also vacant. He walked around the reception counter and eyed the many locked drawers. For a moment, he wondered what he was thinking. This was absurd and illegal. But it was right. He couldn't do much for Naruto or Sasuke; he could do this for Sakura. Kakashi retrieved a ninja needle from his pack and began picking at the locks individually.
The drawers were well organized, so it took only a short time before Kakashi found the papers he sought. Konohagakure Shinobi Corp Life Insurance Association. He carefully flipped through the documents until Sakura's form was again in his hands. He breathed in relief that it hadn't been processed yet.
File number S-713656D.
Name: Haruno Sakura
Birthdate: March 28
ID Number: xxx-xxxx-xxx
Shinobi Rank: Genin
Shinobi Registration Number: K09162670115
Years of Service at Time of Filing: 3 Months
Guardians if Underage: Please Specify Relation
- Haruno Mebuki - Mother
- Haruno Kizashi - Father
Squadron: 7
Squadron Leader: Hatake Kakashi
Pale blue light grew from Kakashi's fingers as a soft chirping sound filled the quiet space of the office. He watched with satisfaction as the paper was slowly consumed and destroyed by lightning, burning so hot that no ashes were left behind. The blue light faded, casting Kakashi in darkness once more.
The other forms were locked, secured, and returned to the drawer. There will be no physical evidence of Kakashi ever being there. The form that set a high price for his young student's demise no longer existed. It was barely anything, but Kakashi felt he had finally done something right to protect his students. Maybe he would get in some trouble, but he doubted anyone was willing to fight him on it. Even if they were, they wouldn't win.
Kakashi surprised his young and adorable students the following morning at the training grounds with his timely appearance. He was still late by at least an hour and a half, but it was much earlier than usual. Even Sasuke was taken aback, though he was surprised as well. Naruto was startled and already so loud in the morning hour.
"Woah, you're never this early, Sensei!" The orange-clad boy exclaimed, eyes wide and mouth shaped.
Sasuke scoffed at the boy's reaction, but he agreed. "Is the world ending?" He asked dryly.
Kakashi smiled widely. "Is that humor I'm detecting, Sasuke?" He asked, teasing. He was amused further by the scowl Sasuke threw at him. Next to the Uchiha was Sakura, looking just as amused for a moment before her smile faltered.
Ah. So she knows.
"So what are we doing today, sensei?" Naruto asked eagerly, big blue eyes sparkling in excitement. "This has got to be super important if you're here so early!"
"You're right, it is important." Sasuke and Sakura perked up at this. Naruto's grin widened further. "We're going to the Shinobi Center to teach you the importance of completing mission reports!"
Kakashi retrained his laughter at the shock and offended look on Naruto's and Sasuke's faces. They were all expecting some dangerous mission briefing or a new secret technique. Sakura's face, however, grew from confused to suspicious. Naruto opened his mouth to protest, but Kakashi walked away, leading them into the bustling late-morning crowd.
Entering the Shinobi Center, Kakashi quickly guided them up the stairs, passing the Mission Report Department. The children were filed in the relatively vacant lobby of the Insurance Department.
"Sensei?" Sakura piped up for the first time that day. Kakashi turned to her, big, bright eyes staring up at him. He was reminded again of the fact that she was indeed the baby of the group.
Unable to help himself, Kakashi patted her head gently with a soft smile. "I've got you."
Sakura's eyes watered slightly as she understood what he meant. A tight smile formed on her face as she tried to compose herself, wiping the unshed tears as discreetly as possible. There was so much relief from her that Kakashi found it easier to breathe, too. He gave her another pat before turning around to see Sasuke watching them from the corner of his eye.
Kakashi quirked an eyebrow at the boy, fully expecting him to turn away and pretend he wasn't looking. However, he was mildly surprised when Sasuke turned to face him. "Why are we here? I thought we were learning how to submit mission reports."
"We are," The older man said, smiling at Sasuke's attempt at diversion.
Naruto looked back at them from where he was, by the window, checking out the decent view of the village. "So what is this place for?"
"This is the life insurance department." Kakashi walked up to the counter. "It is a quality of a well-organized mind to anticipate death and what happens after death in this profession." He quietly asked the shinobi at the counter for three forms and an update form, receiving them quickly. The small stack of papers in his hands was heavy.
They felt heavier still as he passed them out.
One for Naruto.
One for Sasuke.
One for Sakura.
The children gazed at the forms, each with a different expression. Naruto seemed a bit confused as he read the form. His expression twisted and fell with every word. Unfortunately, Sasuke was very familiar with these documents. His eyes held an unfathomable sadness, but his expression remained resigned. Sakura's face was the most astonished of all. Her eyes were wide, bright, and deeply relieved.
The young girl quickly grabbed a pen from the counter and filled out the form. Kakashi noticed how her eyes flittered to the entryway after finishing a line or a question, her hand clutching tightly to the pen. The two boys followed her lead. They grabbed their pens and began filling the papers beside her.
"Hey, Sakura, what does this mean?" Naruto asked quietly, pointing toward a question on the form.
Sakura glanced at his form before sighing in light exasperation. "You don't know your registration number?"
"Idiot," Sasuke mumbled, earning a glare from the other boy.
Kakashi smiled in amusement as he leaned down to Naruto, quietly reciting the number for him to jot down. He also repeated Naruto's ID number, anticipating that he didn't know it either. He was rewarded with a sheepish grin from the blonde. "I assume neither of you need your numbers?" Kakashi asked the other two. Sakura shook her head politely while Sasuke ignored him completely.
"Hey, Sensei, what about this part?" Kakashi glanced down again at Naruto's form, his finger pointing at the beneficiaries list.
Oh.
Why was this part never easy?
"That's where you list who will be responsible for the insurance payout," Kakashi says. "They'll be the ones who get paid after you die."
Naruto hummed. "So…like a family member?"
Sasuke was stone still as he listened in on the conversation—Sakura's continued scribbling along.
"Usually." Kakashi braced himself as Naruto's face fell. The boy stared at the paper, completely lost as to what to do.
"Done!" She announced with a broad smile, drawing the attention of the boys. "I hope you guys don't mind." She gestured to her paper, turning it over for Naruto and Kakashi to see the very bottom of the page.
List beneficiaries below -- please state the relation.
Primary Benefactor: Hatake Kakashi - Squadron Leader / Teacher
Benefactor: Uzumaki Naruto - Teammate
Benefactor: Uchiha Sasuke - Teammate
Signed: Haruno Sakura
The blonde boy swallowed as he stared at the paper before him, his eyes wide in surprise. "Are you sure, Sakura? What about your parents?"
Sakura's lips twitched, but her smile stayed broad and determined. "I've never been so sure in my life." She said before handing the paper to Kakashi.
Her sensei stared at his name, the heaviness resettling in his heart. Kakashi hated it, but he knew it was the smartest choice. With himself listed as the primary benefactor, he could protect her and ensure the funds are handled appropriately. If any children were still minors in the unlikely, impossible event, he could withdraw the funds for them if necessary.
"Here." Sasuke handed his form to Kakashi next, not showing any hostility when Naruto peaked at it, Sakura briefly joining him.
List beneficiaries below -- please state the relation.
Primary Benefactor: Hatake Kakashi - Squadron Leader
Benefactor - Haruno Sakura - Teammate
Benefactor - Uzumaki Naruto - Teammate
Signed: Uchiha Sasuke
Sakura's cheeks grew light pink as she glanced at Sasuke, who leaned on the counter with his arms crossed.
Kakashi smirked slightly beneath his mask as he watched the dark-haired boy ignore his teammates' stares of surprise. Naruto smiled fondly at his two teammates before he grabbed his pen and finished filling out his forms. In moments, he presented the paper proudly to his sensei and Sakura.
List beneficiaries below -- please state the relation.
Primary Benefactor - Hatake Kakashi - Squadron Leader
Benefactor - Haruno Sakura - Teammate
Benefactor - Uchicha Sasuke - Teammate
Signed: Uzumaki Naruto
Sakura giggled. "Well, sensei, you'll be wealthy."
Naruto laughed with her before catching on. "Hey!" He exclaimed indignantly. A fleeting smirk crossed Sasuke's face as he stood from the counter. Kakashi sighed as he looked over the forms for mistakes, praying this would be the last time he saw these papers. He would rather die a destitute man in the street than receive a single coin from his students' deaths. Despite the dreadful thought, Kakashi watched as Sakura laughed and smiled brightly, free from the burden of her parents' attempt at exploitation. Sasuke and Naruto also looked lighter as they bickered together.
It was a strange type of joy to have, Kakashi supposed. To know that even when you're gone from the world, the precious ones you leave behind will be ok. At least financially. He smiled at his young students and turned his attention to updating his own form.
Fill Out Updated Beneficaciries - Please specify the relation.
Primary Benefactor/s - Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke - Subordinates
Signed - Hatake Kakashi