[02/03] closed

[not_thedragon]

Who: Sasuke and Obito
When: February 03
Where: Hokage's office
Notes: Debrief. And then some.

He'd been told, more than once, that information was equal parts frustration and frantic reaction. That didn't mean that Sasuke hadn't still be frustrated last night, looking at the meagre compilation of notes that he'd finally pulled together from his team's and his own conclusions.

And, at the same time, apprehensive, because what he'd been told was true: for all that there was barely enough to act on, there was just enough to make clear that action had to be taken. He'd stumbled into something far bigger than what he'd expected -- he still wasn't sure how he actually felt about it, other than that his neck was still empty of a neck to crush, that he'd looked for a price to pay back and found a trove of subterfuge after all.

Something bigger than what he'd thought, larger than himself, and ... easier, maybe. But if easy had been what Sasuke had wanted --

Easy had been what he'd wanted. But this ...

He straightened when the ANBU guard emerged from the door, acknowledging the short gesture that Obito was available with a nod.

"Uchiha Sasuke reporting," he announced as he entered, his own copy of the mission report -- a match for what had been turned in to Obito earlier in the day -- in hand.

Comments

[not_thedragon]

It took a second before it fully registered, Sasuke startled into staring: "You mean this is staying my investigation?"

He'd fully expected for his information to be given to a more experienced intel officer, and his own team to be merged under the same command at the least, if not outright dissolved. And for Obito to assign one of his best to work with him -- was this a statement of confidence?

[thebestuchiha]

"Yep. You're the one it started with. He has information and networks you need, but it's still you who has been directing and organizing everything. What reason would I have to disrupt something that's getting results?"

He shook his head once. "You know all the details, he doesn't, and is in no position to do so, therefore, it is the best course. Don't forget in the face of his experience, mm?"

[not_thedragon]

Sasuke had been the first to fall victim to one particular branch of what was going on, so keeping him on the same team made sense, but to have him lead the investigation -- when there was an experienced intel agent available to support him -- Sasuke blinked, several times.

"This is a serious situation," he said finally, lifting his head to look Obito in the eye again, frowning. "Do you really have that kind of faith in me?"

[thebestuchiha]

He met his eyes, completely at ease, and there was no joke in his face when he answered, perfectly serious. "Of course. I believe you can do anything you wish to, and this is well within your abilities if you chose to do it."

[not_thedragon]

There was no hesitation in that response: this was no spur-of-the-moment decision. Obito had thought it through, Sasuke realised, and come to a conclusion. That the conclusion was unexpected didn't make it any less final, which meant ...

He'd led missions before, but nothing this long-term, and nothing this critical. And certainly nothing this intelligence-focused.

Still, he straightened, looking for the same kind of confidence in his voice as Obito had. "Then I'll take command of this mission as you've requested, Hokage-sama. I won't fail you."

[thebestuchiha]

"I know." He was quiet a moment, then inclined his head slightly. "I'll send your new team member over as soon as I fill him in on the final details. Where would you like him to meet you?"

[not_thedragon]

That was a good question -- Sasuke had been running the previous team out of anywhere they happened to be able to meet in T&I headquarters, most often either the archives or temporary space. He hadn't had to put together a long-term command like this before, and for a second he floundered for a location.

"I'll sign out a temporary office with T&I," he said after a pause, slightly embarrassed at having to think about it. "I can send you the room number by scroll."

[thebestuchiha]

He nodded, then pulled papers over in front of him, putting the previous ones away. "Excellent. I'll be sure he gets there." He smiled at him. "Talk to you later."

[not_thedragon]

"I'll go prepare," he said after a moment, recognizing the dismissal but still -- a little stunned by a variety of things. It was nearly enough to make him forget the nature of the mission, that he was stumbling into a command mostly by accident, but even if it were accident, it still showed --

Confidence. He paused before turning to leave, awkward: "Thanks, sensei."

[thebestuchiha]

"Nothing to thank me for Sasuke. I never give anything that isn't earned in due course." He peered at him for a moment, and gave him a softer smile, seeing his hesitation.

"But you're welcome anyway."