Video Call § Private to Sasuke

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi's expression is resigned. Tired. He hasn't been getting much rest, as he's been working on creating a stronghold for Konoha with quite a lot Doton jutsu. He looks a little run down. Worn. And there's dirt smudging his vest, lightly streaked against his mask

Comments

[ura_no_ura]

[ And if he did... Kakashi would understand. Or he would try to, at least. Because Konoha's failed Sasuke too much. Kakashi's failed Sasuke too much. And that Sasuke isn't on the war path with Akatsuki is already more than they could ask for. That he isn't trying to wipe them out the way they did his family --

(Sasuke's on the warpath somewhere in the world they left behind.)

It's enough.

More than enough.

Sasuke's had enough and he's been through too much and Kakashi almost regrets asking, because it's such a selfish request. This desire to keep on living when everyone and everything Sasuke's ever loved is gone. Killed by the very village that Kakashi is now asking Sasuke to protect.

It's almost laughable, and Kakashi knows this, just as he knows that Sasuke wouldn't want to take on this fight.

Kakashi studies him through the screen quietly. Remembering, for a moment, the face of a twelve year old genin that he failed to ever teach anything.

He's never been very good at saying goodbyes.

So he says this instead -- ]

Well...

[ Pauses ]

Take care, Sasuke.

[ Not Sasuke-kun at the end. Just Sasuke. ]

[a_for_tiori]

[The honorific dropped off at the end doesn't feel wrong to Sasuke at all. Not even slightly. It's about time, in fact, that Kakashi started recognizing that Sasuke isn't his student any more. And about time that Kakashi acknowledged that he doesn't owe Konoha anything, and that he isn't interested in involving himself with them any further.

And Sasuke's really glad to hear Kakashi saying good-bye, because he is quite finished with this pointless conversation.

He doesn't reply. He just blinks, slowly, and hits the "call end" button.]