Nocturne

Please listen to F. Chopin Nocturne Op. 55 No. 1, as this is the inspiration of the story

O o o o o o o o o o o O

A month after the end of the Forth Shinobi war

In the Hokage Office

It was another typical sunny day in Konoha. Although there were numerous work that needed to be done, the shinobi and kunoichi no Konoha were glad that the war was over. It was the day for the memorial to take place. It was the day that the men and women who died for their village to have their names engraved onto the Memorial Stone. Paperwork was flying everywhere in the mission room; and it was the same inside the Hokage office, except there was no chunin and genin running around.

A silver haired shinobi stood firmly in front of the desk where a blonde sat behind. "Tsunade-sama," the man spoke in his low voice, "you have summoned me."

"Yes, Kakashi," the blonde replied tiredly, unlike her appearance. "As we have discussed before, I am still waiting for your reply."

"If it is necessary, I will fulfil any duty that cast on me. Although I am not exactly interest in the position," he leaned forward and bowed, "I am honoured, Gondaime."

"I know you are not interested," the blonde replied, as she looked up at the photos of the previous Hokages, "but we need a successor to pass on the Will of Fire. The Konoha 11 are still young, and I want to focus on the medical research…" She paused as she fixed her gaze on the masked man. "So your answer?"

"Hai, Gondaime."

"Good," she exhaled in pleased. "I am expecting you to come on time to the memorial this afternoon."

"Hai," Kakashi replied and disappeared.

Tsunade turned her chair and looked at the blue sky though the window, "are you glad, Jiraiya? Another student of yours have appointed as the Hokage. It's kind of lonely without you, and also… Orochimaru..."

O o o o o o o o o o o O

Kakashi dashed to the Memorial Stone once he left the office. He wanted to talk to Obito, as always, for these twenty odd years, he talked to Obito every single day. Even though it was slightly crowded in the area, as there were a few chunin running around, preparing the memorial; this would not stop Kakashi to see the boy before the whole thing started.

He concealed his chakra perfectly and stood in front of the stone in silence. It was only twenty years ago. It might be a very long period for some people. But to him, it was nothing. The image of Obito smashed under a rock was engraved into his mind. He could even recall the image right into of him. He sighed softly, "Obito, ne… I have appointed as the Hokage, Nanadaime Hokage…" He kneeled down and brushed the name, Uchiha Obito with his index finger tip. "I…" Although he could say lots of things, he simply concluded, "arigatou."

He looked at his hands. He was made genin at age 5. Since then, his hands were covered in blood. It was the life of a shinobi. If he did not kill, he would have got himself killed. To be the Hokage, it meant that he has killed lots, hundreds, thousands. He could recall the time when he asked the blond how many he has killed. He remembered, the said blond said nothing, but simply ruffled his soft silver hair. Although he did not understand at that point; after the Third Shinobi War, he has understood, though the hard way, as he could not even remember how many he has killed. His life was simply made out of other's lives, fellow shinobi no Konoha, shinobi of other village, even civilians. He looked up at the sky. He thought the blond Hokage wanna be would give up, after he learnt the truth of being a shinobi. Instead of an idealism, the truth behind a shinobi, it was something that he forbade his protégés to execute, as long as they were still under him. He has completed missions in that nature for too long. He was brain washed by them, the blood that he stained his hands. However, as always, the blond surprised him. Even after the killings during the war, he could see the blond remained immaculate. His dream of being the Hokage remained. He smirked under his mask. He knew the purpose of appointing him as the Nanadaime Hokage. He was the buffer, the filling between Tsunade and the jinchūriki. It was obvious, as now the boy has stained his hands, but he has not still seen the dark side of administration and politics. As the Hokage, he has the power and duty to order the ANBU to achieve results that would never able to face the public. When Sandaime, Yondaime and even Godaime; they have Danzo, the Ne, to deal with all the dirty secrets. But now, with the disbanded of the foundation, the Hokage has to once take the tasks on his shoulder, just like Shodaime and Nidaime. He has served the village since he knew how to threw a kunai. If this were the last request from the village, he would fulfil her request without haste.

He leaned forward and placed his head against the cold surface of the stone. Being the Hokage was meant being the offering, for the sacrifice, for the sake of the village. He would remember the days when the older blond became the Hokage. He remembered the times when he was standing guarding for the man. He felt that the man was being a trapped bird. There was no freedom, but duty and responsibility.

He sighed. He understood what other has been dreaming of. But he has loss too much these years, he was not as arrogant and power-lust as Danzo. It might be that his arrogance was loss in the time flow; it might be that he was being old and aged; he has no desire to such recognition as the young blond.

He smirked as he felt a familiar chakra signature approaching. It was as always, the wood nin has managed to locate his position without difficulty. "Tenzo," he addressed the masked man behind him.

"Sempai," the masked man answer, "lie, should I say, Nanadaime?"

Kakashi stood up in one fluid motion and turned to the younger man. "Not yet, my kohai, not yet." He padded towards the man, until their shoulder touched each other, with their head facing opposite direction, "are you ready to take guard behind me?" he whispered.

Tenzo inhaled deeply and exhaled softly, "as always, my sempai."

Kakashi smiled as he tapped the younger man's shoulder. "Arigatou."

O o o o o o o o o o o O

Author's Note

As I have mentioned in my other works, I only have limited time these few months, and so, unlike my previous works, the gap between my updates would be significant larger. However, the reason that I post them up, knowing that I won't have much time to write, is that, at least I know I got to write them, as hopefully, there are people who are waiting to read them, as I have few other plots before, but since I was not pushing myself to write them, my ideas were loss. That would be a great shame. Therefore, please bear with me, as I will update as soon as I can.

And of course, looking forward to hear any comments!

Yanvi