Work Text:
Hound has been instructed by his commander to infiltrate the underground rumored organization, ROOT. The hokage knows Hound is loyal, determined and able to withstand anything that's thrown at him. He also takes orders quite well with few questions asked. Hound receives orders in ROOT in round about ways.s
Commands and orders are sent in code, different carriers every time. It's not enough to prove Shimura Danzo's involvement or get enough information about he organization to give the Hokage any information worth the risk of his infiltration. He follows these orders, regardless of personal consequence because that's how ROOT works. The underlying idea that he's protecting the village, striking before things go wrong and performing his duty, Hound always follows orders when the mask is on.
These orders shouldn't be any different. But here between gloved fingers, Hound holds an image of genin Umino Iruka, hair tied back and shinobi headband displayed proudly across his forehead. He's unmistakably familiar. The mission is simple. He's expected to put together a file of the current level of ability the target has, specifically in fuuinjutsu, and report back the findings. No contact, no kill, just intel. Somehow, it still feels like he's got a Kunai in his hand with Umino Iruka's name on it. Hound had collected intel on people before. It's a toss up if he ever saw them again after that. Regardless of the panic this sends his brain for whatever reason, Hound still spends the next week observing Umino Iruka from afar.
He knows what information that's been provided and reviews it a few times before building a strategic plan of observation. Umino Iruka: 14 years old, genin, fire, water and potential yin release* close connection with Third Hokage Suspected mid to high level skill fuuinjutsu user above average intelligence there was already a rough outline of his target's weekly schedule, as thought someone had done some ground work already.
Hound pockets the picture and sets out.
Umino Iruka is an enigma.
Hound spends a week following him around. He's learned a lot so far, more than he knows about most people in the village.
Iruka is a troublemaker, that's the most commonly spread information about him. He's notorious amongst ANBU for managing to land pranks on them or evade being caught post prank. Most jounin know better than to piss the kid off and steer clear. The kid is quick to anger which gives him pause because Hound remembers a time where that same kid had brushed off his demeanor and reached out a hand to him. Patient and friendly and most importantly genuine.
He supposes a lot of things happen when your entire family is brutally slaughtered right before you're eyes. Maybe Iruka is owed a little anger.
That's not all there is though. Kakashi learns a lot more about him. Underneath all that anger, Iruka is still kind.
He runs missions or helps with shifts at the mission desk between running around causing problems for the ANBU community. There's other stuff too though, stuff no one ever seems to talk about. Iruka takes the long way home. He always stops at local stalls and seems to know almost everyone, even civilians. He always stops to pet strays and even keeps treats in his pockets for them. He frequents Ichiraku's Ramen despite the fact he doesn't seem to have much in terms of income. He had only seen him eat a pathetic amount of times the entire week, two of those being Ichiraku's.
He sends clones to the library and archives frequently, but never seems to have to sign in. That's an indicator he's gotten added to a list by the Hokage himself with access to information above his official clearance. If he's not doing any of the above, he's nose deep in a textbook or covered in ink from taking notes. That's noteworthy, but Hound decides not to document it.
Hound does remember Umino Iruka having an interest in fuuinjutsu. It may have been six years, but it's hard to forget things like that. The memory holds true. Iruka's apartment is sealed and warded incredibly well. He's got shelves up shelves of what looks like personal notes and journals. Coded and organized in way that probably only makes sense to the author. It's as impressive as it is alarming. Whatever Iruka was capable of, Hound found some of the symbols and theories unrecognizable in comparison to what would be expected of a genin, hell- even a standard ANBU would probably have less of a grasp on these concepts he's messing with.
He takes his tea with a bit of honey. He never dog-ears book pages and tends to enjoy spending time in sunlight. He's got a terrible green thumb, but that doesn't stop him from trying.
He tries to picture what Umino Iruka would like behind a mask like his own. He thinks about the torture he’s endured for the sake of saying he can. He imagines Iruka’s face twisted in pain and eyes watery from the hours of torture, mental and physical it takes to get on the roster. He thinks about the starvation trials and how you never really get to turn the training off.
Would Iruka still be kind then? Would Iruka still stop at every stall and consider the feelings of others when all he’s be able to see layered over everything are the children he’s killed? Families he’s destroyed for the sake of saying mission complete? What would those things do to someone like Iruka?
What had they done to him, after all?
For some reason, Hound almost feels sick.
He watches Iruka enter his apartment from the back window, hidden and holding his breath as he studies him closely.
Iruka takes a deep breath upon entering his apartment and Hound watches the way his body slides back against the front door, sitting relaxed and wiping the exhaustion from his tired eyes. He watches as Iruka cradles his own face in his hands and rests his head on his knees and a look of sadness washing over him. He looks tired, exhausted. Lonely.
Umino Iruka spends hours upon hours surrounded by other intentionally and yet here he is all alone.
There's something about that that makes his stomach twist.
Hound leaves in such a hurry, he misses the way Iruka’s head snaps up to stare out the window and through the trees knowingly.
Hound isn't supposed to get bias about any target, shared history or not.
Hound also isn't supposed to disobey orders.
Hound reports accuracy in previous file, but documents the high level of ability in fuuinjutsu is not supported by technique or deeper understanding, but general knowledge and risk assessment. He doesn't receive any more missions regarding Umino Iruka. They don't ask again.