It’s strange for the seals to go off, and so Astra gathers Atreus to investigate. It only takes a few moments to get to the edge of their lands and what she finds is infuriating.
A man protecting a small child in his arms. And ANBU, chasing after him.
“OI!” Her sword is drawn and she’s in between them, her blade clanging against the ANBU’s. “This is Stellaris’ Territory! Shinobi aren’t allowed here!! By order of the daimyo himself! If you don’t leave, I will kill you and send your bodies back to your Hokage in a fucking matchbox!”
Seeing that Astra had the ANBU dealt with, he jumped down from the trees to land beside Sakumo. “Don’t worry. Astra’s got this handled.”
“Who the hell do you think you are chasing a child and his father like that? Going to murder his father right in front of him like Hyuga-sama did to me?” The ANBU split, stepping back. “This is your last and final warning—! Leave these lands!”
This wasn’t any Stellaris. This was Lord Stellaris. The one that had the power to do as she damn well pleased on her land. The one that the authorization to do so.
Whoever they were after had to be highly-ranking. Probably the father, she concluded. Her eyes never strayed from the ANBU and with each step they took, she matched.
Sakumo hadn’t thought, there was no time it. All he could do was run as fast and far as possible and hope that Lord Thirds Anbu didn’t catch up.
They did though. Perhaps because Sakumo wasn’t running just for himself, but for Kakashi as well. Hoping to find somewhere, anywhere that they could live without the shame of his failure hanging over his head.
When he had found himself in unknown territory, the White Fang was surprised to find someone stepping in to aid him. A fierce woman who seemed to spit fire towards the Anbu operatives, sword drawn ready to cut them down at a moment’s notice.
For a man so used to killing, all Sakumo could do was hold his son close. Protecting him from the fight that might happen in front of them, even as Kakashi squirmed against him in protest.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, burying his face into Kakashi’s hair. He hadn’t intended to make himself someone else’s problem. The only thought on his mind was running.