Chapter 6
While Kakashi had seen Gato before, he was always taken aback by the humble appearance of such a powerful man. He was very short, almost the height of a ten year old, with messy gray hair. The black business suit and sunglasses he wore didn’t add an air of intimidation so much as they looked like a child playing dress up. The cain Gato held despite not looking elderly only added to his somewhat goofy appearance.
To think this guy is the number one mafioso in the world. Kakashi thought every time he saw him. Someone looking like a dwarf in a black suit.
“Evening Kakashi,” he said, brimming with confidence. “You’re looking as good as ever.”
“Are you sure you need our assistance if you were able to stay in the Hidden Leaf safely?” Kakashi said.
The leader of the Gato Company sat on an elegant couch in the lobby as his two mistresses caressed him on each side of his body. Gato looked pretty smug as the gorgeous women pressed their youthful flesh against the man old enough to be their father. The inn was the most expensive one in the village and Gato had apparently paid the entire hotel to be rented out for a huge party with the women. He also had two sword wielding bodyguards at his side but they were shooed away by Gato as soon as Kakashi entered.
Kakashi didn’t understand how Gato could keep himself safe with so many holes in his security. Not to mention Kakashi didn’t catch wind that the richest man in the world was staying in Konoha. He was probably overlooking a possible means that the crime magnate had of protecting himself covertly but the jonin couldn’t think of any right now. How someone could just throw away money like that was above Kakashi’s understanding.
“High praise coming from the Copy Ninja himself,” he said. Gato pointed his cane at the jonin and chuckled a little bit. “I’m glad a ninja with your quality is guarding me. You shinobi can certainly perform some great magic tricks…”
His cocky grin widened.
“But then again…” Gato said with a laugh. “Who needs any of that when you can just buy it?”
He tapped his cane against the linoleum of the floor.
“You would be surprised what advantages you suddenly have and what disadvantages you no longer have with enough money,” he said. “I’ve found out the hard way that a single individual’s scale matters nothing in the grand scheme of things. One ninja, no matter how strong, cannot overcome a thousand.”
Gato then raised his cane to Kakashi, his shoulders becoming more relaxed.
“You know, Copy Ninja,” he said, using the name as a nickname given to a child. “I used to admire the power of shinobi such as yourself. I craved such an ability to intimidate others. What a great ferocity I would have had if I’d been able to wield superpowers.”
“Well…” Kakashi said. “Being a shinobi is hard work. More than just cool techniques and bragging about the battles you won. There is a certain…dedication one must have to helping their village.”
That was when Gato started laughing. No one else in the room seemed to find it funny. It was awkward enough that the girls next to him started grimacing.
“Yes, yes,” he said. “But then…I realized every ninja, no matter how great, can and will die. Ninja can be defeated by exploiting their individual weaknesses, either psychologically or the disadvantages of their techniques. So being a ninja granted me no invulnerability. Money, on the other hand, is not so easily bested.”
His eyes narrowed as Gato seemed to be lost in his own world of recollection. Kakashi watched, disturbed at how his face swelled with pleasure as illicit memories danced in his mind. He knew enough about people Gato was probably swimming in the victories of his enemies’ defeat.
“Because money is the great unifier,” he said. “When you fight the rich you are not fighting the rich per say…you are fighting all the allies that man has bought. Cross a man rich enough…and you will lose more than your life. You will lose everything.”
Kakashi felt a bead of sweat swell up from the base of his hairline. Gato continued laughing, as though sensing the jonin’s fear despite his outward stoicism. The crime lord finally seemed to stop laughing, bending forward to calm down.
“That is why I can stay in this little dirt shack you call an inn without fearing for my life,” Gato finally replied. “Because if anyone makes an attempt on my life…my associates…my friends in high places would track down my assailant and not only kill them…but their family, their friends…even destroy their residence and sell it as property. I’m sure you can imagine the fury a man such as myself could bring down even in death.”
The jonin straightened, trying to hold back his anger at Gato’s vaguely hidden threat.
“And why do you say this?” Kakashi asked. “Are you trying to threaten the Hidden Leaf Village? My village? Because if you do…I don’t think you’ll like to find out how unafraid of death my comrades are.”
“This is a warning I like to give to all those I employ,” Gato said. “You see I’ve had…certain experiences making me untrusting of ninja. And things get messy when that happens. I like a clean, simple job done. When I issue an assignment to a mercenary–”
“Shinobi,” Kakashi corrected. “Shinobi. We are honorary ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village. We serve our village and no one else.”
Gato snorted in laughter.
“Of course,” Gato said. “So different. But anyway…if for any reason you or any of your squadmates betrays me or…allows me to die…you can expect the consequences to be grave. For one…you would lose the business of the Gato Company that supplies more than ten percent of your economy…”
“How did you-?!” Kakashi snapped, both surprised and afraid Gato had such information.
“Don’t ask how I know such things,” he said. “You wouldn’t like the answer. But if something happens to me and I end up betrayed…just know the entire land of Konoha would be in danger. My allies would be very vengeful that such a strong trading partner would be gone. And they would just love to make an example out of upstarts who think they could do the same to them.”
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He then leaned back into the couch with renewed enthusiasm.
“Now…” Gato said. “Where is your squad? I was under the impression Konoha usually had groups of four or five ninja.”
“It’s still morning,” Kakashi said. “They may still-”
“Kakashi-sensei!” a familiar voice came from behind.
The jonin cringed on instinct upon hearing Naruto’s energetic voice so early in the morning. He turned to see that his four newly promoted ninja were walking through the door, none looking particularly enthused except Naruto. While Sakura and Hinata hung back with fearful expressions, Naruto ran up to Gato.
Kakashi flinched in fear as the blond teenager raced towards the crime boss, reaching out a hand toward him. Gato looked confused at first, clearly unsure of how to take this. It was very obvious the mafia boss was unused to this kind of friendliness.
“Nice to meet you Gato-san!” Naruto said. “My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I’m gonna become Hokage of this village one day! Believe it!”
Gato stared stunned as Kakashi hung his head in embarrassment. His mistresses looked displeased at this before they both stood up and walked away. This seemed to anger Gato, his expression souring as a result.
“I’m so glad you’ve decided to turn over a new leaf and join the Hidden Leaf Village!” he said. “Now that I know you’re a good guy who’s hired us…you wanna be friends?”
The crime lord glared as Kakashi held his face in his hand, not wishing to see Gato’s reaction. However, he was forced to peek to find the crime magnate’s expression as hard as stone and laced with irritation. He looked like he was wondering if the disrespect was enough to kill someone over. The jonin was secretly dreading letting Naruto pick the mission.
Naruto is so blissfully naive he doesn’t know how to treat business partners. Kakashi thought. Or active criminals. And he’s so desperate for attention and human connection he’s willing to ask a crime boss to be his friend. What a bad combination for handling serious business.
“All I can say for sure, Uzumaki brat,” Gato said. “Is that you’re good at driving off women. Now go away before I decide to hire somebody else. Or else I might just have you killed for ticking me off.”
The newly promoted ninja’s expression went from upbeat to confused. He then started frowning and leering. Naruto began pointing a finger at Gato.
“Hey wait!” he shouted. “I thought you were a good guy! You can’t threaten to kill people so easily if you help the Hidden Leaf!”
“Good guy?” Gato said. “It seems you don’t understand what this whole shinobi business is about if you keep using words like that. Good guys don’t make a lot of money in my experience! In fact…I like to hire you Leaf ninja because you seem unbothered by those pesky good guy qualities. I don’t like to hire good guys.”
“Listen!” he said. “I thought you were a nice guy and that you weren’t as bad as they say you are because you were helping the Leaf Village! But I might have been wrong in my assessment! So-!”
Kakashi slapped Naruto in the left side of his mouth, the teenage ninja shouting in pain. Gato’s expression eased as he saw the boy immediately reprimanded. As the younger ninja backed away, Kakashi remembered these were the risks of promoting inexperienced ninja so quickly.
We hide the darker acts of the shinobi and more squeamish parts of ninja life from history textbooks. He thought. Until they graduate to chunin they don’t learn about that stuff. However, as chunin, when they usually go on missions that are not that dangerous or insidious as A-rank assignments like C or B-rank campaigns. But young ninja are desensitized to violence and moral confusion throughout their early career as ninja to the point their conscience is eventually killed off. By jonin level they’ve abandoned their morality for the sake of their village’s survival and prosperity.
He glared at Naruto, taking comfort in the ninja reeling from the smack.
But these ninja didn’t experience that desensitizing state. Kakashi thought. They jumped headfirst with no battle experience or mental preparation for harsh reality. I know Sasuke wouldn’t care, Sakura would be too interested in having a comfortable life to resist and Hinata’s fear would override her conscience. Naruto was the only one I was afraid of not being on board with such violent acts but I thought I could calm him down enough with delusion that he could become Hokage one day. I need to lay down the law right now.
“Enough,” he said. “I let you go on an A-ranked mission for your first real assignment. Now you have to go and bother one of our favorite customers.”
“But, Kakashi-sensei, I–!” Naruto complained.
Thankfully, the young man was pushed out of the way by the ninja who walked toward their employer. Once Naruto was out of Gato’s sight, Sasuke held out a hand to shake. Cautious at first, Gato reached out a hand in acceptance.
“My name is Sasuke Uchiha,” he said. “I will be assisting my team in attempts to assassinate the bridge maker Tazuna and those guarding him. I hope my clan’s reputation in battle precedes us.”
“Why it certainly does,” Gato said.
“Hey!” Naruto yelled. “Why are you getting friendly with him?!”
“I hear there aren’t many of you left,” he said. “For such an accomplished race of proud warriors to be wiped out…such a shame. And I’m glad the remaining ones seem to have not lost their manners unlike some.”
Kakashi nodded his head.
Good. He thought. The boy’s earning Gato’s trust. It’s an important part in gaining the commendation of our highest paying customers. If Gato finds the shinobi of the Leaf agreeable he’ll be more inclined to pay for our services as opposed to other villages.
“Well,” Sasuke said. “I plan on doing my best in the job assigned to us. I want my clan’s honor to live on as a powerful force unrivaled in ninjutsu.”
“I’d say that’s pretty big shoes to fill,” Gato said. “But in my experience a Sharingan user can usually excel in the right opportunities. You know…I wouldn’t mind making the last of the Uchiha one of my permanent soldiers or bodyguards. Name your price.”
Sasuke smiled, shaking his head with a wave of his hand.
“Thank-you,” he said. “But that won’t be necessary. If you feel my skills are adequate then all you must do is issue a mission to the Hidden Leaf. But I must stay with my village.”
“Fair enough,” Gato said. “I can respect a man who has loyalty to his next of kin.”
“Yes,” Sasuke said. “However, if you do want to do a favor for me…I would like to restore my clan to the best of my ability. If there is any way you can provide such means I’d be more likely to help.”
“Hmm,” Gato said with a nod. “Good, good. Anything else I can do to get the last of the Uchiha on my side?”
It was at this point Sasuke’s placid expression seemed to break, his gaze becoming overly frigid. It reminded Kakashi of ice, a substance so solid yet so fragile that just a little too much pressure could cause it’s entire collapse. Gato’s offer had triggered something within Sasuke, something the boy had not yet come to terms with. And Kakashi knew exactly what it was.
“Yes,” he said, Sasuke’s body clenching from stress. “Information on the whereabouts of Itachi Uchiha…one of the few remaining of my clan. I will accept knowledge of where I may find him more than all your treasures.”
Gato laughed again.
“Ah,” he said. “I see you have a grudge against this man. I can respect that. Yes…Itachi of the Uchiha clan. I have heard of him and even some of my employees have come across him from time to time. I may be able to assist you in tracking down this particular ninja. He’s what you shinobi call a missing-nin, a renegade ninja, am I correct?”
I was right to be cautious about promoting Sasuke to full jonin rank. He thought. I was right about being cautious to promote all of them. Shinobi that don’t go through enough hardship don’t have the emotional wherewithal to control themselves and sacrifice their ambition for the village. Naruto I can understand being immature but Sasuke I expected better from.
“Certainly,” Kakashi said, cutting off Sasuke before he became too emotional. “Itachi has been known as an S-rank criminal for quite a while now. Information regarding his arrest would be beneficial to us.”
“Hmm,” Gato said with a laugh. “To have the loyalty of the Uchiha when they’ve become so rare…seems my mercenaries of Konoha are more interesting than I thought.”