A Ninja's Path (Kakashi X Reader)

Chapter Forty Five

As one, they all turned to face you, watching as you took your spot in front of them.

"Commander (Y/N), returning after completing her mission." You bowed deeply to the Council members.

All of them analyzed you and you wondered if they could see the thoughts inside your mind. You wondered if the mark of a traitor burned above your head.

"It's good to have you back, Commander. Although, I must say that I am surprised you have returned so early." The member in a hawk mask voiced.

Each member of the Council bore the mask of a different animal, each one some sort of predator.

"I was notified of my completion as an intern sooner than I expected. Courtesy of the Lady Hokage. I hope this is to your satisfaction, Hawk." Each member of the Council was addressed by their animal mask, seeing as no one knew their true identities.

"I do find it a relief to have you back in our ranks, commander. Our Nightmares have missed their fearless leader." Hawk replied, his voice a deep guttural tone.

"But, we must raise the question, how did you complete your internship so quickly? If the Lady Hokage was able to find you to be such a suitable teacher, then perhaps we were mistaken to try and persuade you away from that path for so long." Fox said. She leaned forward in her seat, watching you carefully.

It was true, it had taken you about six months for your intern application to be accepted. The Council had repeatedly turned you down, stating that you were better suited as a Nightmare. You still didn't know why they had finally given into your demands.

You shrugged. "I'm sure you had your reasons. But as you can see, I have the potential to become a skilled instructor for the youth in this village." Flashes of Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto's faces went through your mind and you had to take a deep breath to wipe them away. There was no room for emotion in the Land of Shadows, especially here, in front of the Council.

Fox leaned back in her chair, watching you closely. "Indeed."

You felt your heart beating fast and wild as the female Council member stared you down, like she was searching your soul for answers.

A moment later, she relaxed and leaned forward. "Very well. We are glad to have you back, Commander. Please return to your home, we will send someone to retrieve you in the morning."

She waved you off and you bowed to the Council again, eager to leave them behind.

Before you could walk to the door, Fox spoke again. "Sleep well, (Y/N)." You could almost hear a smile in her voice, her lips pulled back in a sneer.

You didn't show any emotions, simply nodding your head before exiting the room. As soon as the doors closed behind you, you loosed a breath you didn't know you were holding.

The guards on either side of the door didn't stop you as you stormed down the hallway, down the flights of stairs and out onto the street. You quickly made your way through the village, not paying attention to anyone.

It was safer that way, to not get involved with others unneccessarily. Small talk was never held, friends were a liability. In the Night Village, it was every man for himself.

You slowed your pace as you neared a large building with dark windows and a set of double doors- the archives. The place your mother had told you the secrets of your Hikarigan hid. You would have to visit it soon.

But not today. Today, you would go home and rest, just like the Council had ordered. You were sure that Nightmares were watching your every move, analyzing your behavior. After all, you had been outside of the village for an extended period of time. It would take awhile before the Council would trust you completely again.

You had to be prepared, at any moment, they would test your allegiance. Test if you were still loyal to them. The only reason they had let you out of the village in the first place was because you were their most trusted commander. But even so, they would surely be suspicious of you. So it would be in your best interest to act as normal as possible, at least for the next few weeks. Then, you would search the archives for answers.

As you walked down the streets of the Night Village, you noticed that not much had changed since you had last been here. The streets were almost barren, every window sealed shut despite the decent weather outside. The underlying fear lingering in every person, eyes darting to every shadow.

The atmosphere was so different from Konoha, where the people were friendly and relaxed. The people of the Leaf Village knew no fear, only respect and gratitude for the ninja who protected them.

Here in the Land of Shadows, the ninja were more for keeping people in line than offering them protection. In the Night Village, it was in your best interest to stay away from the shinobi, for they only meant trouble. Hence why the few people outside chose to walk on the opposite side of the street from you.

Your mind began to wander as you drew closer to your apartment, lingering on memories of your childhood. After your reunion with your mother, the memories of your life before Aunt Fuyu had flooded back, revealing a happy, joyful time. Why those memories had been sealed away or even how was beyond you. Although, you suspected it had to do with Aunt Fuyu and the Council.

It was strange, remembering things that you couldn't recall a few weeks ago. Maybe it was because your memories had recently been renewed, but your life before your parents' deaths seemed rather lucid for them being from nearly two decades ago. You remembered every detail of that house, every moment you spent with your parents. Perhaps it was a parting gift from your mother before the fraction of her spirit dwelling your subconscious finally left. Old memories returning, bright and clear like they happened yesterday- a final gift from a mother who could not be around to make new memories with her grown up daughter.

You promised yourself that as soon as you settled back into a routine, until you finally felt enough at ease to not constantly watch your back, that you would reflect upon all that had happened to you.

After your final departure from Konoha, everything that had happened to you while you were there became an overwhelming whirlwind that threatened to consume you. So you had shut it out, locked it away for the time being. But very slowly, you would let those feelings out, let them shape who you would become in the future.

The time you spent with Team 7. The happiness you had with Kakashi. All the friends you had made. And the secrets you had uncovered. All of those memories would slowly but surely be analyzed and used to hone you into a different person. Hopefully, someone who would continue to fight for the freedom of her people.

Speaking of fighting, you would have to set up a meeting with the rebellion members soon. You promised you would do so once you returned, but you dreaded it. You didn't want to see the looks of despair spread across their faces once you delivered the bad news. That help would not be coming. That your small rebellion was alone.

So you would hold that meeting off awhile, not just because you needed time to prepare how you would break the news, but also to appear as loyal to the Council as possible. If their valued commander who finally returned from a mission outside the village began to disappear in the middle of the night, they would surely arrest you.

So you continued down the street, head held high and shoulders back as you confidently sauntered to your apartment. A swaggering commander who had no interest in anyone or anything. Who didn't care if people gawked at her as she strode by.

And even as you entered your apartment building and traveled the flights up to your rooms, even as you entered them and locked the door behind you, you didn't dare let that facade fade. You had no doubt the Council was keeping tabs on you even now. They wouldn't be letting you out of sight for a good few weeks at least.

And so the cold commander took a brief shower, made a small bowl of rice and went to bed, disregarding the evening sun.

You were exhausted, after a week of keeping one eye open while you slept, you had no problem sinking into the depths of unconsciousness.

Tomorrow you would appear in front of the Council. Tomorrow, you would begin the journey of figuring out your new mess of life.