An Orchestrated Coup [Exemplary]

[Kakashi Hatake]

Politics. One of the few things in which Kakashi had little interest. He could tell from how Minato had reacted to the assignment that the Hokage harbored a similar opinion. It went without saying that his child companion likewise could not care any less. Ultimately, though, it mattered very little what they thought of the assignment. Either way, it was a mission and it would be completely like any other.

At Tsunade’s urging, the group departed the Morikage residence at once and headed northward toward their destination. Neither Kakashi nor Minato had any idea where the building could lie, though luckily the dark-haired boy had taken it upon himself to lead the way. He seemed somewhat more familiar with the village layout, having likely spent more time in the village than the two elder ninja had. The lad carried himself with youthful confidence, grinning at the passing townsfolk as the jonin followed in his wake. 

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Minato said suddenly, turning his head toward Kakashi. “This is Kito, my newest student.”

The sharingan-wielder looked up from the mission scroll he was studying, nodding at politely at the genin. “Hello. My name is Kakashi.”

Kito slowed his pace, now keeping pace between the two taller ninja. “Nice to meet you,” he replied, returning the nod. Then, without missing a beat: “why’re you wearing a mask?”

“That’s just something he does,” Minato responded jovially. “I gave up asking years ago. I think he wants everyone to think he’s mysterious.” Kakashi stared blankly at the comment, eliciting a chuckle from his former sensei.

Kito gave each of the men a brief glance before shrugging. “Whatever. Anyway, we should be coming up on the council building any minute now. Or, at least I think so. I never knew what this building was for, it’s not really labeled or anything. Maybe that’s the point?”

Kakashi nodded in response, re-reading their mission description once more. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something about the assignment seemed off. Why would the Morikage send a trio of well-trained ninja to what essentially amounted to moderating? Surely the task of arbitrating could be handed to any run-of-the-mill subordinate. Sending a former Kage and an elite Anbu captain to supervise a meeting would seem strange to anyone. Perhaps there was more to this assignment than Tsunade had let on.

“I hope the don’t have any questions for us,” Minato said, sighing. “I know next to nothing about the bureaucracy around here. Things seem to run differently here than Konoha did.”

“Hopefully this doesn’t take too long,” Kito replied, “I don’t really want to spend all day listening to grouchy old men complain in a stuffy office.” 

Kakashi rolled up their mission scroll presently, sliding it into his pants’ pocket. He could find nothing that made the mission anything other than mundane, a C-Rank mission at most. Other than the fact that the Morikage herself had shouldered them with the task, it was completely unremarkable. The silver-haired shinobi couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with this mission. 

“What’s the matter, Kakashi? Anxious?” The former Kage inquired, chuckling. Though he displayed an air of levity, the copy ninja noted a knowing look of concern in Minato’s blue eyes, followed by a small nod and a glance at Kito.

The scarecrow nodded in return, turning his sights back on the now-looming domed council building. As expected, Minato had his own misgivings about the assignment, though for Kito’s sake he had kept it to himself. “Yeah, I guess you could say that,” came his veiled replied. “I’m not much of a...public speaker.”

“Well, just let me do the talking then,” the Kage asserted, squaring his shoulders. “As a former Hokage, I do have some experience with these things.”

“We’re here.” Kito announced, stopping at the large, plain-looking door.

Kakashi turned to Minato, tugging the door open. “After you, sensei.”