A SEA OF TROUBLES

Disclaimer: I didn't invent Naruto and this is unbeta'd so apols for any errors.

Chapter 1 - To Say We End the Heartache

Ta ta ta ta ta. A bird tapping at a window. Kakashi closed his eyes and pulled his shuriken printed bedsheets over his head. The tapping continued. Insistently. The silver haired shinobi rolled over and glanced outside with half-lidded eye. It was a direct summons from the Hokage no less. Ah well. He hadn't been sleeping anyway.

The Third looked up from his desk, eyes peering from behind his paperwork as the ANBU materialised before him. Such an elegant teleportation. It was so easy to appreciate how this shinobi had been a student of the Fourth. The Third laid down his pipe and smiled at the ninja standing before him.

"Ah, Kakashi," the Hokage greeted him.

Kakashi bristled slightly. He was ANBU. He was wearing his standard issue uniform, grey and black armour, metal arm guards and porcelain dog mask concealing his face. But it was impossible to disguise his distinctive hair. The Hokage always called him 'Kakashi' rather than use his codename.

"Good afternoon Hokage sama," he responded politely.

The Third smiled and gestured for the ANBU to sit. Kakashi shook his head briefly, almost indiscernibly, and remained standing.

Sarutobi took an interest in all Leaf shinobi, but had some favourites and those he had a special concern for. Younger shinobi, those who had had particularly tough childhoods, those who had lost their parents. And those who were the disciples of his disciples. It pleased him enormously to observe how they were developing and was always incredibly proud that his values and the values of those before him had passed down from generation to generation: Jiraiya, Minato, Kakashi – they all carried the Will of Fire in their souls.

Although the ANBU was not aware of it, the Third had made a point of following his career very closely. Sarutobi felt deeply for Kakashi. He had always felt terribly guilty that he had not been able to prevent Sakumo's suicide. He was enormously impressed that the White Fang's son had gone through a huge amount of personal trauma at such a young age but had remained dedicated to his role and was clearly going to become a shinobi of great prowess, probably the best of his generation. The silver-haired young man hadn't really noticed it yet, but the Hokage knew very well that the ninja standing before him, just barely into his twenties, was already developing a fearsome reputation both in the village as well as the wider shinobi world. He had a feeling that this young man would probably become more famous than his father.

"How are you Kakashi?" the Third asked in a gentle tone.

"I am fine, thank you, Hokage sama," he replied impassively.

Professional. Kakashi was always professional.

Kakashi wasn't fine. He was about as far from fine as it was possible to be. He had heard the news about Rin just days ago. She had been killed, returning from a mission which she had completed successfully. But she had run into some enemy ninja on her return and, despite her putting up a tremendous fight, she had not only been defeated, she had been tortured, eventually dying from her wounds. She had apparently suffered horribly. It made Kakashi feel sick just thinking about it.

And then there was one.

Team Minato, a team of extraordinary talent and proficiency, reduced to a single shinobi. Kakashi.

The Hokage continued, "I have a mission for you. I am sorry to have to give this to you so soon, but we are very stretched at the moment."

Kakashi nodded. The Third's tone of voice became more sombre.

"I am afraid that we have a Leaf ninja turn rogue. A chuunin team were sent out to complete a mission and only three shinobi from the four man cell returned. They had barely made it back alive. Their mission report gave me cause for deep concern. The other chuunin, the cell leader, has defected to Iwagakure. He was entrusted with important information concerning Konoha and now represents a significant security risk."

Iwagakure? The village that had fought against Konoha more than any other.

Sarutobi handed Kakashi the file. The ANBU opened it and studied the contents of the report intently.

"So this is an assassination mission?"

"I'm afraid so." The Hokage couldn't suppress a sigh. "I am sorry to say that I had high hopes for this shinobi, but he has let the village down. Maybe this mission was just too much for him, it was his first as a cell leader. He is young and inexperienced, but I always considered him loyal."

"His name?"

"Umino Iruka."

Kakashi shrugged. The name didn't mean anything to him. But he noticed an almost imperceptible wavering in the Hokage's voice as he spoke the chuunin's name. He looked up to observe the village leader.

The Third was a compassionate man. It was impossible to describe how desperately disappointed he was that this had happened. He had worked so hard to comfort the teenager after the death of his parents. So many youngsters had suffered after the Nine Tails' attack but no one had needed support more than this sensitive young man. The Hokage had had plans for this chuunin's future but he needed him to have completed a number of missions as a leader before he could offer him the job he felt he would be best suited for.

Such a shame. The Hokage shook his head wistfully and beckoned for Kakashi to depart. The ANBU bowed respectfully and promptly vanished.

The Third sat back in his chair and re-lit his pipe, puffing gently as the clouds of bluish smoke billowing around him. He sat back in his chair and stroked his goatee beard with a heavy heart as he looked out across the village.

Such a shame.

Early the following morning, Kakashi prepared for the mission. Standard issue ANBU gear, plus light travelling clothes in case a civilian disguise should be needed. This task wasn't going to be difficult, the rogue was a chuunin and a young one at that. Well, eighteen wasn't that young, most of Kakashi's contemporaries had made chuunin rank well before their teens, a necessity of fighting in a great war. This Leaf ninja was clearly inexperienced and had probably exercised poor judgement, most likely under duress, a decision that would cost him his life. The rules were simple: if you defect, you should expect to die.

Kakashi didn't enjoy assassination missions. If he had to kill in the heat of battle or during a one-on-one combat, he could justify to himself that at least it was in the defence of himself or his comrades. Cold-blooded assassination was far more difficult to reconcile. But he was professional. Always professional.

Before he left Konoha, he made his way to the memorial stone. He knew that this visit was going to be particularly difficult. Harder than ever. It was a cool morning, overcast and grey, with a light mist gently rising from the dewy grass of the commemorative garden, swirling around the stone itself. Kakashi's dark mood matched the atmosphere, it was almost as though the climate was commiserating with him.

When Kakashi reached the memorial he saw it for the first time. Rin's name, freshly carved. He bowed deeply to offer his respects, then leaned forward and softly traced his fingertips over the shape of the carving, following the simple, angular katakana which spelled out her name, signified her legacy. The edges of the characters were still sharp from the stonemason's chisel and Kakashi nicked his finger as it brushed over the characters. So new that the words cut into the obsidian stone had not been tempered and smoothed by the wind and rain.

His fingertips then moved across the memorial to another name, this one all too familiar.

Uchiha Obito.

Every day he had spent in Konoha since his friend's death he had made a point of visiting the stone to pay tribute to Obito's courage but – more importantly - to apologise to him. Every day he spoke the same words to a ghost, words he had should have told his comrade when he had had the chance. He'd been such an idiot to have argued with his best friend and shamed his own father.

So much regret. So much pain.

And finally he turned his thoughts to the last name he had been seeking that was spelled out on that stone - his sensei, Minato.

Minato had been like a second father to him. He had been an inspiration. He was the one person in the world who had truly understood his eccentric genius student. Kakashi missed Minato so much it hurt. He had always had a huge amount of admiration for his teacher because he felt that the Fourth was a rarity in the shinobi world – one who had truly known joy and what it was to be happy. More than anything, he missed his former sensei's smile. He always tried to smile beneath his mask as he paid tribute to his teacher, hoping amongst hope that he might find true happiness one day.

As he studied the names on the stone, his eye caught sight of another two – names that had previously not meant anything to him: those of Umino Kaigara and Umino Jima. Their names were carved close to the Fourth's, close enough for Kakashi to surmise that they too had probably been killed by the demon fox. That rogue chuunin had been through a rough time, losing both parents that evening.

But what Leaf shinobi hadn't lost someone they loved?

Kakashi cast his mind back to the events of that dreadful night. He, Rin, Kurenai, Asuma and Gai had been obliged to shelter from the monster as it unleashed its deadly chakra on an unwitting and unprepared village. None of the teenage shinobi had wanted to comply with the order, they were all ready and willing to fight. But Kurenai's father had insisted that they remain protected. He had been right in his judgement. Too many shinobi died that night. The village needed their generation of experienced ninja to stay safe and ensure the survival of Konoha itself.

It was like the sky was on fire. Not a gentle glow of a warm and awe-inspiring sunset, but hideous shades of crimson and scarlet, raging with hatred and fury, as the massive tails of the demon swirled and whipped across the village, decimating everything they came into contact with. It was as though the whole of Konoha was ablaze, and nothing could escape the power of the mighty chakra that was composed entirely of venom and wrath.

And the noise was unbearable. So loud and formidable and utterly relentless. Anyone who was there at the time remembers most the screams amidst the howling and roaring of the beast as it unleashed its violent vengeance upon the village.

The silence. That was the worst. When Minato had finally managed to seal the creature away, at the expense of his own life, the whole of Konoha fell quiet. A hushed stillness overwhelmed the village as the community tried to take in the enormity of the events that evening. People were too shocked even to cry.

Kakashi's thoughts returned to the Umino couple. Maybe it wasn't so surprising that their kid had turned rogue. It must have been difficult for anyone to lose a relative that night, let alone both parents. Shinobi life was tough and it was violent. Many, many ninja had suffered serious emotional problems from the pain and suffering they had witnessed during their lifetimes.

Kakashi was ready to leave for his mission and walked through the village clad in his ANBU gear towards the gates of Konoha. The village was bustling and busy. He passed a group of pre-genin on their way to the Academy. Two little girls, one pink-haired, one blonde, skipping together hand in hand, carrying bunches of flowers for their teachers. The boys were fighting and bickering. One blond kid, dressed in orange, was leaping about with all the energy of a firecracker, trying to get a rise out of anyone who would pay him any attention at all. Everyone shunned him. Following them was a dark haired boy, who wore the Uchiha crest on the back of his shirt. He had a serious expression and was doing his level best to ignore all the other children in his class. Bringing up the rear were a chubby boy and a slouching slacker kid, neither of whom looked as though their hearts were really in it. As Kakashi walked past them, all the children turned to stare at him, eyes wide and mouths dropping open as they witnessed the sight of a real Konoha ANBU passing by. Kakashi raised an eyebrow and grinned underneath his masks. He had already completed several missions by the time he was their age.

As Kakashi progressed along the main street he noticed out of the corner of his eye that he was being pursued, with no degree of subtlety, by someone very green indeed.

"Ah, my rival! I wanted to see you before you left!"

Kakashi exhaled slowly and walked on. He was supposed to be anonymous.

The Green Beast caught up with his friend. Kakashi ignored him.

Good old dependable Gai. The most enthusiastic ninja in the village, optimist extraordinaire and all round good guy. Kakashi liked Gai very much but couldn't help himself – his friend was just so easy to wind up.

"My rivaaaaaal!"

The ANBU walked on. He only bothered to turn around casually when Gai caught up with him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Ah. Did you say something?"

Gai looked frustrated. "Oh, so cool. Always so cool. How do you do it?"

Kakashi grinned underneath his mask but adopted a stern tone of voice.

"I am ANBU, Gai. You are supposed to refer to me using my codename."

"Ah yes, my friend. But everyone in the village knows it's you. You're becoming quite the celebrity."

Kakashi rolled his eyes but Gai didn't see his disdain, hidden as it was behind the porcelain mask. He remained cool. "Did you want something Gai? I am just about to leave for a mission to Iwagakure."

Kakashi could feel his rival radiating enthusiasm and zeal right at him. "I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed sparring with you last week. I am determined to win next time though. Are you interested in partaking of another challenge soon?"

"I don't think so, Gai."

"But I was just learning how to take you on when we battled with your sharingan activated. I've worked it all out. I'm convinced my superior taijutsu can beat you next time!"

Kakashi sighed. He was unlikely to be able to talk his way out of a rematch. If nothing else, Gai was persistent. He sighed, trying not to convey any sense of enthusiasm at all. "Maybe when I get back? I have a long journey."

"A-ha! See if you can beat my record. It's a three day journey but I have completed it in two days, 17 hours and 16 minutes. Do you think you can possibly beat me?"

"You can be sure I'll give it a go," replied Kakashi, having no intention of doing such a thing.

"Well," the Green Beast slapped Kakashi on the back, "I wish you well, my friend. Be safe. And I await our next challenge with eager anticipation."

His target was apparently located in a village outside Iwagakure, which was three days' run away. He might as well view the journey as a training exercise, a good opportunity to push himself and test his stamina. Kakashi passed through the gates of Konoha then leapt into the forest canopy. As he flew through the treetops he had plenty of time to contemplate the events of the previous few days.

Rin.

How could she have died? How could she have left him? They had become very close over the years and he had really loved her. Not as a lover or a girlfriend, but as a sister, a best friend and confidant. They had grown up together, child soldiers in a hideous and vicious war. They had lost their team mate, their friend, who had willingly given up his life for them.

He'd heard her that time. Just after Obito had died and Kakashi had told her that their fallen comrade had been in love with her. He was so direct when he was younger - too direct – and shockingly unaware of how to talk about feelings or emotions. She'd taken the opportunity to try to express her love for Kakashi but they didn't get to discuss it before the team had had to complete the mission. He already knew how she felt about him, had known for a long time. But he didn't acknowledge her. He couldn't. She didn't raise the subject again.

But their friendship flourished. After they lost Minato to the Nine Tails, Rin became the person Kakashi trusted most, the only person he would allow himself to be close to. Of course, they were both good friends with all the jounin of their generation and trusted them absolutely as comrades, but Rin was the only person to whom Kakashi could express his innermost thoughts and deepest feelings. And she accepted that.

He truly cared for Rin, but he could never love her as she had wanted him to love her. He had tried. Tried to be attracted to her. Tried to imagine himself marrying her and maybe even having kids with her. He trusted her, he loved her company, she was the closest person to him. And yet… And yet there was something inside him that couldn't let him love her that way.

And now she was gone. Why hadn't he been allowed to join her on that mission? They were a great team. He would have protected her. How could such a talented kunoichi have fallen prey to what appeared to be – by all accounts – a vicious bunch of bandits?

Kakashi was flying as he leapt across the treetops through the forest. His muscles were aching and yet he pushed himself harder; he was building up a significant sweat and feeling that at least he was getting a good workout. He would make it to the village where the rogue was hiding out almost a day early.

Shame he hadn't taken up Gai's challenge – he'd have smashed the Green Beast's record.

He pushed himself harder. To go faster. Faster. That would extinguish some of the pain that was buried inside his heart, pain that desperate to break out and tear his soul apart. Pain that he needed to keep concealed within him.

As he passed through into the Land of Earth and on to Iwagakure the landscape began to change. It almost helped that the terrain was becoming more challenging –treacherous mountain paths, deadly precipices, slippery waterfalls – these all made the journey more interesting and demanding. Yeah, he'd beat Gai's record with ease.

Kakashi arrived at the village where the rogue was supposed to be hiding out much earlier, as expected. He needed to locate the chuunin and dispatch him. But it wasn't going to be that easy. If Umino Iruka had really defected it was likely that he was now under the protection of the local shinobi, just ready to spill Konoha's secrets to them, if he hadn't done so already.

Before entering the village Kakashi had removed his porcelain dog mask and put some civilian clothes over his skin-tight ANBU uniform, just a loose fitting hooded shirt and a scarf round his neck, which concealed his face. No one would mess with an ANBU on his journey, but he needed to look as inconspicuous as possible while checking out the locale.

It was a small village, not much more than a suburb of Iwagakure but nevertheless was of a similar construction to all Earth towns – tall buildings hewn from the naturally hilly environment. This village was not as grand as Iwa itself but it clearly had distinct zones populated by different classes of people. The affluent areas were located towards the top of the mountains, the homes of the aristocracy with their conical roofs reaching for the sky, their dwellings linked to their neighbours by a criss-cross of bridges that kept the genteel citizens away from the riff-raff below.

The lower class areas were to be found at ground level. A completely different society of scumbags and sleazeballs populated that particular district.

Kakashi headed to the lower class neighbourhood. Iwagakure shinobi were a rough bunch, very dedicated and always military minded. Fight first, ask questions later was their philosophy. Ground level was very different to Konoha. It was darker for one thing, the dominance of the upper class dwellings blocking out much of the light to the denizens below. The town itself was sleazy. It didn't have the bustling atmosphere of Konoha and the civilian residents seemed subdued, almost withdrawn. Kakashi strolled along the main street, taking in the layout of the village as well as trying to identify the most likely place to locate his target. It wasn't too difficult to establish where the local ninja would be found. Kakashi entered the bar that he felt looked like it harboured the most undesirable bunch of characters.

The bar stank of stale beer and cigarettes. It was dimly lit and the floor felt sticky underneath Kakashi's sandals; it squelched as he walked into the main drinking area. It clearly hadn't been cleaned in ages and Kakashi hoped that whatever liquid had spilled had been of an alcoholic nature rather than, well, he really didn't want to contemplate what else it might be. The place was shabby, the furniture worn and frayed. It looked like the local gangs met up there to drink and fight.

Kakashi walked to the dingy room and surveyed his surroundings quickly. He ordered a soft drink and then sat at the bar on a stool, hunched over his juice, with his back to the other punters. The rear wall of the bar itself was mirrored, with various bottles of grog mounted in front of it, which allowed Kakashi to study the assembled denizens by observing at their reflections. It was an effective way to gauge who was in that bar, and how much of a threat they might pose, without raising suspicion.

There was a group of young men sitting in the corner, obviously shinobi. They were a bit of a rowdy bunch, and it appeared as though they had been there all afternoon, slowly getting sozzled. Kakashi observed them for a few moments. They were potentially the most dangerous people in there and the ANBU needed to make an assessment of how he might take them on and escape if they took an irrational dislike to a stranger and things got rough. And then he noticed. Sitting among them was a young man looking distinctly out of place. Almost nervous. He was clearly pretending to join in with their banter, but although he was smiling with his mouth, his eyes looked solemn, almost sad. Kakashi observed the man for a while. He looked uncomfortable and was constantly looking around him, anxious and troubled.

He turned his head and, as he did so, what sunlight had managed to filter through the filthy window of the bar shone a ray of light across his face. Kakashi recognised it immediately. That nose. With a horizontal scar running right across the young man's face. There was no doubt about it. That was his target.

A few moments later, the young man got up and took his leave of the people he'd been sitting with, waving to them as he walked out of the bar into the alleyway. Kakashi decided to pursue. After he'd left the building he discarded his civvies to reveal his slimline ANBU outfit. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his dog mask and put it on. He drew a kunai knife and silently stalked the chuunin as he walked down a quiet alley.

The target eventually sensed that he was being followed so slowed his pace and started to turn around, but the ANBU was already upon him, kunai at his throat.

"You are Umino Iruka?"

The chuunin nodded, his eyes flashing with defiance as he stared directly into the face of his assassin. He immediately recognised his assailant as Konoha ANBU. He knew what was to come.

Kakashi spoke in a soft, firm voice. There was no menace and not a trace of malice but he was very clear about his intentions. He remained as impassive and professional as possible. "You have defected from Konoha and have been designated a rogue ninja. You are a traitor. I have orders to kill you."