Haruto's eyes sprung open to see the sun hanging high outside the window, bathing the white room in a radiant golden light. Still caught up in the previous battle, his head whipped around to assess his surroundings.
"Easy, twitchy. You'll sprain a muscle," a voice called out humorously.
"S-senpai?!" Haruto calmed down somewhat at the sight of his teammate and instructor resting in bed.
"Ah, Haruto, good to see that you are finally awake." A smiling Hokage strolled cheerfully into the hospital ward.
The young blonde looked around suspiciously.
"It's alright. This entire area has been cordoned off. Your secret is safe for now, though it was fortunate that Tenzou was present to cover for you when you fainted." Sarutobi assessed the young prodigy. Truth be told, he had been distraught when news that Gamma Team's mission had gone awry had reached him. Sure, Haruto had always meant a lot to him, but the elderly ninja had not considered just how much until the thought of losing the vivacious boy hit him.
The Hokage had immediately ordered Tenzou's team to the border and had privately confided in the ANBU commander to do everything in his power to retrieve the Special ANBU. Since then, the Konoha leader had spent a restless week hoping, praying and waiting. As far as he was concerned, Haruto's safe return was a blessing from the heavens.
"How are you?"
"Tired, sore, and generally feeling pretty crappy. How long was I out?"
"You haven't so much as twitched in over 24 hours," Yuugao replied.
Haruto looked at the kunoichi and then at Sarutobi and Tenzou. "I'm guessing that Yuugao-san already told you everything."
"Indeed, everything except for what you did. From what we gathered from Yuugao and the other survivor, you performed rather well considering the circumstances."
Yuugao snorted in a most unladylike manner. "With all due respect, Captain, saying that Haruto performed 'rather well' is like saying that one of the Sannin would perform 'rather well' against an academy student. He saved my life twice."
The kunoichi's uncharacteristic sarcasm definitely turned a couple of heads. Both the Hokage and the ANBU captain were impressed and chuckled lightly. Haruto, meanwhile, was surprised enough by the compliment to blush. This act greatly amused the so-called adults, much to the chagrin of one blond ninja.
Eager to take the spotlight off of him, Haruto posed a serious question. "Has Rain taken any action yet?"
The light mood immediately evaporated.
"Officially no, but unofficially, yes. I can say with some certainty that Rain won't be entering into an alliance with us anytime soon. Three days ago, all our diplomats and emissaries in Rain territory were expelled and told to seek me out for an explanation. I have yet to draft an appropriate response to the Fire Lord's inquiry."
Haruto winced. The political fallout of this incident was definitely not looking pretty. And from the look he was projecting, the old man wanted his help or at least information that could be useful. A hand touched his shoulder, jolting the young ninja from his thoughts.
"Haruto, for now, I don't want you to think about it. Consider that an order from the Hokage."
Part of Haruto wanted to protest. He just took part in possibly one of the most bungled covert operations in the history of Konoha and he wanted to know how that could've happened. However, the stern and yet benevolent look from old man Sarutobi calmed the impatient ninja's angry thoughts.
"When you are well rested, come to my office and you can tell me all about your undoubtedly remarkable experience."
Haruto nodded. As the Hokage left the room, the ANBU captain stepped forward and removed his porcelain mask.
"I know I don't say this often," Tenzou began, "but I'm very proud of you, Haruto. Yuugao told me everything and I can only thank you for bringing my subordinate and your new vice captain back alive." Smiling, the ANBU reattached his mask and walked out.
"Vice captain, huh? Congratulations are in order then." Haruto grinned widely and made a show of saluting formally. Yuugao's lips twitched briefly in amusement, before her face adopted a solemn look.
"What's wrong? It's what you want, isn't it?" It was well known that Yuugao had been eyeing the Vice Captaincy of Alpha Team ever since it had become vacant.
"Of course it is, but I don't deserve it. You do."
"Ahm, I, eh, well…" For once, Haruto failed to produce a witty comment. The kunoichi laughed, but her bemused laughter promptly turned into a coughing fit. The blond started to fuss, but Yuugao waved him off.
"The old man is nice, alright, but I don't think he's nice enough to give a twelve-year-old even partial command of an elite ANBU team."
Possibly, it was because ever since he had read those psychological reviews, Sarutobi had become convinced of the negative effects that conflicts and strife had on human development. As such, the Sandaime Hokage had become a latter day advocate of child protectionism in Konoha, placing general age restrictions on various ninja duties.
"Besides, even if the Hokage did choose to promote me, the village council would have stonewalled the decision."
The Office of the Hokage might maintain de jure command in Konoha, but in times of peace, it was the clan dominated village council that exerted de facto control. Quite unlike Haruto's current position, ANBU captaincy and vice captaincy were official designations and subject to the preview and oversight of the council's powerful Arms and Defense Committee. Incidentally, the Arms and Defense Committee was chaired and dominated by the Uchiha clan. The blond winced, recalling that the survivors of the clan still gave him the evil eye whenever they saw him on the street.
"They might not," Yuugao offered to which Haruto snorted in response. The kunoichi sniffed in disdain at her student's crude behavior.
"You know I'm right. Those people would never offer a position of leadership to a—" Haruto cut himself off mid-speech. Damn, spoke too much.
"—a demon, a monster. That's what you were going to say, wasn't it?" Yuugao sighed as the young demon container turned away. "So you knew all along. And the Hokage kept reminding Tenzou and me not to tell you anything."
"Eh, he says I'm a genius, and then expects me not to figure out that I house the Kyuubi." When Haruto put it that way, Yuugao had to admit that the Professor was being foolish and naïve.
"The Sandaime Hokage is a good man. I think he was hoping more than anything else, Haruto," Yuugao stated in the Hokage's defense. Like Tenzou, she had been privy to the private interactions between her student and their leader, and had seen the deep respect and love they held for one another.
"I know, I know. That's why I haven't said anything. I didn't want to destroy his hope, though I think he knows that I know. He just doesn't want to admit it yet," Haruto admitted in a soft voice.
Yuugao blinked. That was deep; so deep, in fact, that it actually took her mind a few seconds to process the statement. When she did, the kunoichi smiled.
"What's it like? Holding the Kyuubi, that is?" Haruto eyes took on a far away look.
"There are advantages, of course. But the creature is a monster. There's no other way to describe it." The young ninja shook his head abruptly. "Listen, I'm feeling much better now so I'd better check out. Something tells me that I better go see the old man as soon as possible."
Clearly, Haruto had no intention of talking about his tenant at this point. Yuugao was intuitive enough not to push him. As the young blond started to move away, she sat up and reached for his arm.
"Haruto, wait!"
"Yes?"
"I want to thank you for saving my life. Twice, in fact." The whiskered ninja was prepared to deflect further praise when his instructor wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down. To his consternation, she proceeded to lay a juicy, wet kiss on both cheeks. Haruto flushed in embarrassment.
"You look so cute when you're embarrassed," Yuugao giggled as the youngster's red blush deepened. Then, the humorous moment passed and the twenty-something year old female realized that she was wrapped around a twelve-year-old boy. Feeling abashed, she dropped her arms.
"What you did was unfair, Senpai," Haruto pouted very adorably. "I'll be more prepared next time."
Next time. Yuugao could not help but smile as she fought down the temptation to ruffle her student's tangled blond locks.
"Audacious, aren't you? You'd better go if you still want to see the Hokage. Be sure to drop by sometime. It'll be pretty lonely here by myself."
"Don't worry, I'll come by as often as I can," Haruto promised as he adopted his standard Genji disguise and reattached his ANBU mask.
"I'll be sure to pass on the news that you are well to your friends as well." Yuugao smiled kindly in response. It really was a shame that she and Haruto never developed with each other the kind of rapport that they each had with Tenzou. But maybe that could change for the better after she got out of the hospital.