Chapter Text
Kakashi walks the lonely path up to the shrine. Even spreading out all his senses reveals no other person besides himself.
You have to come to the shrine alone
He eventually reaches a stone torii, flanked by two long-eroded statues.
He pays them respect anyway.
Beyond the torii stands a stone building, covered in vines and other plants.
The door is open.
You may only enter when the door is open.
If it is closed, come again later.
Kakashi steels himself. If he chickens out, he may never be able to get a mission that lets him make this detour again.
He enters, closing the door behind him.
When you enter, close the door.
The noise from outside is muffled now, even he would have a hard time making out what someone just in front of the door was saying.
So this rule is to prevent eavesdroppers.
Kakashi approves. If someone were to hear his request, he would be in a lot of trouble.
After all, it is too close to treason.
The shrine consists of one room, no niches or corners to hide in. The surface of the walls are structured to absorb sound.
Someone takes confidentiality seriously.
Kakashi registers this all with a single glance. He has to force himself not to look closer.
Proceed to the middle of the shrine.
Do not stray.
Do not look around.
There is a rope hanging from the rafters in the middle of the room and Kakshi beelines towards it.
He gives it three sharp pulls, making a bell ring somewhere above him.
He goes into seiza and waits.
Ring the bell three times.
Go on your knees and wait for the bell to ring by itself.
If it does not ring, try again later.
Kakashi feels the presence even before the bell rings once by itself.
The fact that none of his other senses pick up on anyone except himself is what convinces him that this is real. There are limits to even ANBU stealth and this goes beyond that.
He takes a breath to steel himself.
State your request clearly.
Do not lie.
The thing is, he is not sure he can.
What he wants is for his students to be safe. But with the work they have chosen, that is impossible.
But he wishes for them to be safe in the village at least.
Ah...
He straightens.
"For context. I am a shonobi of Konohagure. The village... is not perfect. Attitudes are slow to change. There are elders who-" you cannot work against because they are too strong and it would be Treason "- are used to getting their way. Used to getting respect, loyalty, ..." Bloodlines, he does not say. But his hand does wander towards Obito's eye.
"But it is still home. For me, as well as for my comrades and my students."
He takesk another deep breath to center himself.
"One of my students was given a heavy burden at birth, another lost everything at a young age. And the third has recently slipped from the claws of death. I... fear for them. And while I know it is impossible to keep them from harm when they are out there, my wish is for them to not have to fear enemies from their home."
There.
His request was for the safety of his students.
However whatever entity that heard his prayer decides to interpret it is not up to him.
Even if it decides to permanently deal with one of the problems.
traitortraitortraitor
There is a slight shake in his legs when he stands up but he is experienced in smoothing it over.
Bow and return to the entrance.
When you leave, leave the door open.
He pays his respect and opens the door, leaving it slightly open once he is through and then begins walking down the path he came from.
Proceed down the path.
Do not look back.
His heart is hammering in his chest but it is not loud enough to drown out the sound of the door clattering shut behind him.
If IT has decided to hear you out, the door will clatter shut.
Do not look back.
Ah.
He slows his steps to a crawl, listening for the sound of anything moving in his direction.
He hears nothing.
Then, suddenly from right behind him:
"Ne, nii-san!"
You will not hear footsteps but a voice will speak to you.
Do not look back.
Do not lie.
If you are lucky, your troubles will be of the past soon.
Seems like the interrogation has just begun.