Sakumo Returns Ch. 9

"Ahh..." I begin, sighing and looking skyward, "When Karei was in labor, several complications arose, and if weren't for Akihira and Tsunades' efforts, I would have lost both my wife and my son." Narutos eyes widen at the thought of not having Kaakshi in the village. I went on to continue, "Karei was in her final moments of labor, and a certain look came to her face. A look mixed with fear, pain, exhaustion, joy, shock, tears down her face and a trace of death began to cloud her eyes. It was this nearly same expression that was on Kakashis face when I showed myself to him. I couldn't take it. Once the baby was delivered however, she was as happy as can be." I could feel my face relax, my tense mucles release themsleves.

"Telling that story again Sakumo-kun?" I hear a soft voice say. All of us turn our heads to see a visitor has come.

"Haha! I was wondering when you'd show up!" Jiraiya boomed. But I am frozen to my seat.


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The blonde haired empress appears through the clearing, but instead of her normal blue and gold warrior outfit, she is dressed in a formal, flowing, all white gown. I start to blush, cursing myself for not wearing my mask.
“A-akihira” I stammer out, “What’s going on? I didn’t even notice you approaching…” I say trying to de-rail the subject that I knew would be coming up soon.
“Well Sakumo,” The skilled kunoichi begins, “I came to talk with you, but I heard that story, and I just couldn’t resist listening.” She pauses momentarily, a quizzical look on her face, “You could not hear me coming? Maybe your skills have slipped a little…” I begin to blush but the silver-haired sannin comes to my aid,
“Hey I didn’t hear you either, lighten up on him will ya?” He smiles, standing up to greet the woman. They hug and for a moment only a highly skilled jounin would notice, a bit of longing flickers across their eyes, until both eyed fade back to reality.
“So White Fang? I know what went down when you revealed yourself to him, and I told him to go to the Stone, and to say out loud that he forgives you. I told him that it’ll work so long as he truly forgives you…but…we have a few problems…” I look at Naruto and Jiraiya, looks of confusion on both of their faces.
“Well what are they?” Said the Ero-Sannin.
“For one, I this “it” happens to be you Sakumo, and with what went down today, at the grounds, I really don’t think that could face Kakashi again. And second…well…” She paused, and the ever-curious Naruto spoke up,
“Well what?”
“I don’t really think he does truly forgive you Sakumo. I mean what he said to me when I asked him if he really does forgive you, it, it made me doubt him.”
“So what did he say?” Naruto said, interrupting once more, his voice full of anitcipaiton.
“He told me “You are smart enough Akihira, I’m sure you can figure it out”. And with that he left. I have yet to figure anything out.” She said in an almost sorrowful voice and with  that, I had to leave.
“Hey Sakumo, where you headed?” Said Jiraiya, somewhat confusedly. I looked over my shoulder at all of them and said,
“I’m going to make up for lost time.” And with that I left.

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Kakashi P.O.V.
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“I do” I said to myself, barely a whisper, “I really do forgive him. Truly. I do.” I looked at my reflection in my mothers’ blue circle mirror, a gift to me from when she died. Today was one of those rare times I had my mask and hitai-ate off.  I examine the long, tell-tale scar the resides on the left-half of my face, crossing my sharinghan right down the middle. I sigh loudly, putting my headband back over my eye, and Pakkun looks up from his resting place.
“That is the 15th time you’ve sighed in the past ten minuets, you forget we have a blood bond, Kakashi. Tell me what’s up?” His gruff voice asked. I sighed once more, retelling the story of today’s past event.
“Hmm” says the old hound, “I know you forgive him, but something is off about you.”
“I-I think I’m nervous.”I wait for the critical laugh, or the once ever present ‘What a Hatake? Nervous? Never? Surely you are joking.’ But no such remarks come. Instead I look at Pakkun, who is smiling.
“Hmph, I’ve seen your dad nervous a couple of times, like when all of us dogs had to practically force him down the aisle at his own wedding.” He went  on to continue, “It’s only natural that you’re nervous.” I sigh once more.
“Well it looks like another early day at the Stone tomorrow.” I say
“Yeah.” Says Pakkun.