The blood-smell was stronger inside the Hokage’s office. Beneath Kakashi’s feet, the carpet had a freshly scrubbed look to it; a faint aroma of stringent lemon hung in the air. Despite that, it was the Hokage’s own scent that pulled his attention more, entrenched into the office so deeply that it was like a watermark pressed into every surface. Something like a banked forest fire, the fine fletchings of an antique quill, and old wolf. Danger and delicacy.

Alpha.

Kakashi didn’t bare his throat.

“I trust that you Agent Tousaki found you safely last night,” the Hokage said finally, careful and quiet, as if Arakaki hadn’t had a masked ANBU watching Kakashi’s apartment all night.

“I’m sure the report is on your desk,” Kakashi said.

“I’m afraid a guard is an unfortunate necessity for the moment,” the Hokage said. “Until Agent Tousaki has completed--”

“His name is Ryouma,” Kakashi snapped.

The Sandaime paused. “Perhaps you should just say what you have come to say, Kakashi.”

For once, the words were easy to find.

“He was alive. All this time, he’s been alive. You knew exactly where he was and what was being done to him, and you said nothing.” He wrenched out of his enforced stillness, striding to the Hokage’s desk and slamming his palms down on the wooden top. Piles of paperwork shivered. A framed picture fell over. “Tsume quit. Why wasn’t there a mission? We’ve broken into other villages before. He was held hostage and sold.”

The Hokage righted the picture. Kakashi resisted the urge to throw it across the room.

“I cannot start a war over one life,” the Hokage said.

“What about ten? A hundred? How many of us do they have to torture and kill before you’ll defend your village?” The words came out snarling. “Lightning took Tsume and Ryouma in February. They ripped Ryouma’s fingernails out, tore the skin off his chest. Tsume’s dog lost an eye. Tsume’s chakra is still damaged.”

“Missing ninja—”

“Are still the responsibility of the country that spawned them,” Kakashi broke in, furious. “We capture ours, and pay dividends on the people they kill. Shiranui Genma and Namiashi Raidou were taken by missing Mist-nin in March; they both nearly died. The genin team they were trying to save did die. Kinjo Tsuyako died the same week.” Broken and breathless under Kakashi’s own hands, because torture had fractured her loyalty. “Sakamoto Ginta barely survived, and I know you know that because you gave him a medal. Uchiha Shuji lost both legs in April. Akimichi Hitai vanished in June. Iman Suko and Kawa Umin burned to death.”

There were others — there were always others — but he didn’t know their names.

“We don’t capture all of our Missing-nin,” the Hokage said softly.

“Like Orochimaru?” Kakashi said, unrelenting.