Usually Arakaki was the hard-edged enforcer of rules, and Hiruzen was the one to soften the blow. The one to counsel leniency when there were mitigating circumstances. The one who made it possible for Arakaki to mete out harsh judgment, because he knew there was a backstop.

Not this time.

There was good reason, of course. Several very good reasons, which Hiruzen had just articulated.

“I don’t think a single punishment will fit both men,” Arakaki said. He leaned forward in his chair, stretching knotted back muscles, scowling at the stack of folders he’d brought in. “Ginta’s shown an insubordinate streak for years. It’s no surprise, and I’m sure we can come up with an appropriate response. But Kakashi’s...” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “...Fragile. In all the time he’s served under me, I’ve never known him to take a lover. And we know he has some serious issues about losing teammates. For his first lover in... Ever? Has he ever had a lover who wasn’t a one-night-stand before? To disappear within months of that relationship commencing—disappear, presumed killed—I’m honestly afraid he’ll never recover psychologically.”

A weariness settled over Hiruzen’s features. Weariness and regret. He looked suddenly much older, haunted and worn, and his voice, when it came was slow and rough, as if each word he spoke pained him. "I often think I failed Minato-kun by allowing Kakashi into ANBU so soon after his death,” he said, “but we needed Kakashi’s talent." He set his pen aside, balancing it on the edge of his inkstone, and steepled his fingers, touching them lightly to his mouth. His eyes met Arakaki’s. "I have to trust Kakashi is strong enough to survive this, in the same way he has survived everything else."

Arakaki nodded, gaze straying to the framed portrait of Konoha’s vibrant fourth Hokage. Minato, if he had an opinion on the matter, kept it to himself, looking out from the black-bordered photograph with fierce blue eyes.

“Assuming he recovers from his injuries, I don’t think we can put him back on active service without some kind of assurance from the Psych department that he’s not about to break,” Arakaki said. The words sounded cold to his own ears, but it was the truth. Any breaking jounin was dangerous. The number of ANBU missions that involved chasing Konoha’s own was already unacceptably high. If Hatake Kakashi became one of the hunted, there was no telling how much damage he could do, not only because he was a strong ninja, but because it would send a message to the rest of the troops.

It would be bad for morale.

Hiruzen’s mouth twisted into a wry grimace. “The Psych department does not have the best track record at catching problems before they occur, but I agree. At least it cannot hurt.”