A Story of Resolve.
Nothing to gain, nothing owned.

He really did care.

It was hard to tell sometimes, with the way he acted. He knew that. He understood that he sometimes put people off with his strange mannerisms. His flippant nature. His...questionable...taste in literature. He was just so accustomed to being alone.

It was a comfort to him, to be surrounded by all of his friends. Of which, he had none. Not quite desperate enough to call a little orange book my friend, he thinks to himself. As he reads a page, a small blush forms and a giggle escapes his lips.

Well...not yet anyway.

He has teammates. Allies certainly, comrades maybe, but never friends. Not again.

His first friend, no, his first true brother was gone, and the parting gift still drives him to the edge of insanity.

If he would take the time to describe this insanity, he would call it "that uncomfortably pleasant itch at the back of my brain." Strangely calmed in the presence of erotic literature. Fancy that. Better keep reading.

He would. He would keep reading, and more importantly, keep to himself. The last three individuals he formed a connection with all ended up dead. Not exactly an encouraging experience. His new attitude, this loner mentality, keeps people away.

Or maybe it's the porn he's waving around.

Regardless, he would stay as far away from others as he can. He won't be brought back into that social nightmare. He would not be chained down by anything. No women, no pets, nothing like that.

Hell, he was considering giving away his house plant. Sorry fern, but papa is a rolling stone.

It was just his luck really, that he would never live to get chained down by woman, pets, or needy plants.

Instead, he gets three children.

I'm taking you off ANBU, your skills are needed elsewhere.

When he first gets the news, Kakashi begins to seriously analyze the situation from every angle. An instinct that has saved his life in the most dangerous and stressful of situations.

You will be in charge of some new genin, three children from the academy.

Beginning analysis...

You- Me. Got it.

in charge- I like where this is going, sounds like a promotion.

new genin- I don't like this anymore.

Three- A number, harmless by itself.

Children- A slightly scarier word. Not only is the word child present, but it's plural as well.

Three children- Terror. Complete and absolute horror. The only way this can end is in tears. And property damage.

Analysis complete.

Well...that analysis didn't do shit for him.

If being saddled with three children wasn't bad enough, Kakashi gets stuck with the students who need the most work.

Top rookie...Ah yes, the survivor...impressive aptitude...So I've heard...lacks true understanding...Working hard for all the wrong reasons...

...barely passed...His legacy?...unique circumstances... So, he managed to pull it off eh?...needs discipline...Well, I am known for my strict, unyielding schedule, after all.

...and most studious...Sorry, never heard of her...lacks training...Must be a first generation in her family...needs to learn focus...Oh dear god. It's boys, isn't it?

0o0o0

In front of a classroom door, stands a man lost in thought. He takes an uneven breath, trying hard to prepare himself for the dangerous encounter soon to come. His nerves are getting the better of him, and the reason is clear.

For the first time in what seemed like forever, Hatake Kakashi is preparing to engage in social interaction.

He's fought in wars. Starting from a young age, he battled Rock and Cloud in scarred landscapes bereft of mercy or hope. Those were the bloodiest times in recent history. Life was not treated as something sacred. Life was expendable, a resource to be used or discarded in the name of efficiency.

Anyone that could fight was considered a soldier. Anyone that couldn't fight, well they weren't considered anything. One's worth was directly proportional to how many lives one took. He was worth a lot by the end of all that bloodshed. He fought in those wars, including the ones that never existed.

On an unrelated note, he has never been to the Hidden Mist before. He would like to visit the hot springs, but rumor has it that political assassinations are causing a lot of turmoil. Sounds a little too dangerous to him.

Countless battles behind him, Kakashi is a veteran, a professional Jonin, an ANBU officer of the highest rank...

…and he is scared shitless at the thought of meeting three small children.

These kids have nothing to learn from him of all people! What was the Hokage thinking? How could he help them? What if he fails them? Lets them down? What if they become important to him? Chain him down once again? What if they swallow something poisonous? What if they poke their eyes out?

Okay, that's just ridiculous. Calm down. These aren't children, not anymore. These are Genin, soldiers to be controlled, disciplined, and shaped into proficient killers to serve this village. Nothing more.

Suddenly finding his fears silly, Kakashi dismisses them from his thoughts. With renewed vigor, he confidently strides forwards and puts his hand on the door that holds the new genin team.

His new genin team.

His grip falters, and the fears, those silly fears, rush back full force.

Maybe he can wait awhile before he meets them. Yeah, that sounds good. After all, what's the rush? He can introduce himself in another hour. Give the genin a chance to get acquainted with each other.

Two hours later, Kakashi is getting ready to open the door. It's time to get to work.

Two more hours pass.

Kakashi can feel it. This door is about to finally meet its equal.

Then it snaps. A sudden, horrible realization. Something is definitely wrong here.

Kakashi was comparing himself to a fucking door!

Screw this crap. I'm going home. With a blur of speed and practice, Kakashi whips out his erotic literature, and turns on his heel, ready to leave.

Unfortunately, that annoying sense of duty chimes in, just as Kakashi is almost out of the academy gates. Strange, Kakashi was sure that his sense of duty was no match for the allure of lewd sexual fiction. He tries to ignore this horrible feeling, but it is to no avail.

I need to lead this team! These soldiers are counting on me! The next thought that crosses Kakashi's mind is almost unthinkable. No time for porn!

Impossibly, the once rigid book seems to go flaccid in his hand, sensing the dejection by it's beloved master.

This was quite possibly the most confusing time of Kakashi's life. In desperation, he begins to rely once more his analytical thinking skills, hopefully to find which path was the best choice. Disobeying a direct order in the name of seclusion, exile, and pornography? Or taking the responsibility of leading this team?

With great strain, Kakashi's mind begins to blur with frenzied thought. Countless possibilities, probabilities, and outcomes begin to hum behind his mismatched eyes. His mind burns through countless plans, strategies, and experiences that he has gleaned knowledge from, all in the hope of finding some strategy or insight he could use. It is with a sudden jolt of inspiration, that everything suddenly clicks together in his mind. He has found his solution.

That's it! Kakashi laughs to himself. It's so simple!

With a confidence he had lacked for so long, Hatake Kakashi strides resolutely into the classroom...an hour later.

0o0o0

Uchiha Sasuke did his best to sit away from his supposed peers, trying hard to go unnoticed. He seemed to lack any desire to get to know his new teammates. In fact, he seemed quite perturbed at the idea of working with others. Sasuke was obviously ignorant of how important squads were to both mission success and individual growth. His thoughts were consumed by killing his traitorous brother. An understandable feeling. Betrayal is a lasting pain, one that can't disappear overnight. Pain can be a driving force, but only if handled the right way. He wished to handle this pain by himself, made obvious by his self-imposed social isolation. Any experienced ninja would notice behavior like this immediately.

Uzumaki Naruto seemed to be the polar opposite of Sasuke. His exile has left him starved for acceptance and acknowledgment, and his pranks are obviously used to gain attention, even if it's bad attention. Naruto just wants his existence to be validated. This is obvious to anyone who knows of his currently less than happy childhood. All things considered, Uzumaki handled things fairly well, considering the fact that he was still emotionally stable...for the most part. He obviously had plenty of self-confidence, maybe a little too much for his own good.

Haruno Sakura is obviously in search of something worth fighting for. Many first-gen ninjas are confused during this early stage in their career. Add the fact that she has self-esteem issues, and it is obvious she is experiencing an identity crisis of sorts. She is not sure where she fits in. Her affections for the Uchiha clearly represent her own desires to excel. She doubts she could achieve such greatness on her own merit, so she clings to Sasuke in the hopes that he will somehow make her a better ninja. She views him as a symbol of hope.

Or maybe she just thinks he has a cute butt. Either way, a gifted ninja would uncover the truth behind her actions.

Each of these three children need a leader who can see underneath the underneath. A leader who can see through their silent pleas for help.

The door opens. All three children turn to see. Kakashi has arrived.

But Kakashi does not see Sasuke's need to understand the importance of teamwork, nor does he see Naruto's desperate need for acceptance from his peers. And nothing about Sakura seems desperate or unsure.

Maybe he will notice when he pulls his nose out of his erotic novel.

As he opens the door, Kakashi ignores the harmless eraser that bounces of his head. Moving would simply interrupt his reading.

His genin seem disturbed by his blatant enjoyment of adult fiction. It brings a smile to his face. He has found peace. He has found balance.

He had a choice between being a ruthless team leader, or an annoying pervert.

He chose both.

If only it was that simple.

oooo

Words of Resolve:

Most likely riddled with mistakes, but I'm gonna post it anyway. An experimental oneshot that might evolve into a larger story if I can find the strength to give a damn.

If it sucks, don't hesitate to say so, just give me a reason why. It may be my first time, but some virgins like it rough.

Rawr.