"On your knees, Copy Ninja!" The rogue ninja sneered as Kakashi collapsed to his knees not by choice but by pure exhaustion. His chakra had nearly reached its limit, the outcome of the battle was not looking too promising for the Jounin. His teammates, Naruto and Sakura were close behind. They were at their limits as well. The nin was a formidable opponent and had caught the three by surprise with brute strength and skin like stone that couldn't easily break.
Earlier, before they were attacked, Kakashi and Tenzō split the team into two groups after sensing an enemy presence ahead. Tenzō and Sai would take the document scrolls intended to be delivered to Konoha, and head down another path. While Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura would handle the enemy. Kakashi only hoped that his comrades got away safely. They were still a full day's journey from home.
Naruto whipped out a kunai and flung it at the man in defiance. Kakashi smiled behind his mask and felt a small sense of pride for his stubborn Naruto. The kid in orange charged. "He never changes."
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted before Kakashi could intervene. The blonde hero rushed ahead forward, followed by at least twenty clones. As they launched in the air they formed in teams of two and began molding chakra to form…
"Rasengan!" All the Narutos shouted at once as they formed the attack, completely surrounding the enemy. He looked up as the swarm of orange closed in on him, but he simply smiled, taking Kakashi completely by surprise.
"Naruto! Wait!" Too late.
Impact, a loud explosion and a cloud of dust formed blinding both Sakura and Kakashi to the scene before them. They both shielded their eyes from the dust and blinding light "There's no way he could have avoided that. You got him, Naruto. " Kakashi strained to see through the dust and after a few seconds he half expected the gloating teen to come running at them, smile in tow.
But he never did. Kakashi felt a chill run down his spine and he shivered. Everything suddenly because eerily quiet.
"Shit!" After a few seconds of silence, Kakashi grew uneasy and stood, kunai in hand. He warily set his body into offensive mode, readying himself for a surprise attack. His movements were slow, his body weak. "Sakura get behind me."
"Yes sir!" Sakura quickly got into position. Her eyes flicked around with worry. "Naruto, where are you?"
Kakashi swallowed. Still hearing nothing, his heart began to race. "Damn this dust, where are you, kid?"
Kakashi's eyes focused on a figure as the dust started to thin out, tall and standing where the attack had just occurred. He sighed and was about to relax when he caught a slightly smaller figure next to him. "What?" As the dust settled, Kakashi and Sakura looked at the two forms and gasped.
"Naruto!" Sakura screamed, breaking formation. She ran in front of her sensei but he caught her by the arm and gripped her tightly, holding her back. Kakashi mentally had to hold himself back as well, in fear of the enemy reacting and killing Naruto with one swift move. The man had his chance, Naruto was completely at his mercy. Kakashi lifted his hands as if to surrender.
"Stop! Don't hurt him, you can have me instead just let him go." Kakashi didn't even hesitate. He took a step forward.
Sakura looked up at her sensei. "Kakashi-sensei, don't-"
"Hush, Sakura don't worry." Kakashi trained his eyes on Naruto.
"It's as if the Rasengan didn't affect him at all.." The man had Naruto by his throat, gripping it tightly, the boy's feet not even touching the ground. He was choking him. The man let out a deep laugh and the squeeze of his hand on the boy's throat tightened, causing Kakashi to flinch and hold his breath.
"He knew which of them was the real one, but how?" Kakashi remained there, with his hands free of any weapon and fully visible to the enemy as a form of surrender as he tried to think of any possible way to turn the tide of this battle. "Naruto should have been able to shake out of that hold. What.."
Naruto was struggling from the man's grip, clawing at his hands, his body shaking. It was then Kakashi knew something was off.
Naruto's movements were weak, his body convulsed as if he was in excruciating pain. A slight glow escaped the surface of his skin and covered his entire body.
"Oh no.. He's draining Naruto's chakra!" He noticed too late. The boy suddenly grew lax, his sharp blue eyes rolled to the back of his head and he stopped struggling, his arms falling to his sides. Blood dripped from his nose.
Kakashi stepped forward in front of Sakura, he struggled to keep his tone calm while his mind raced. "Sakura stay, I'll handle this." The Jounin didn't wait for an answer from her. Timing was crucial.
He rushed forward and flung three kunai at the man while leaping in the air. It was enough to distract him and he dropped an unconscious Naruto, the boy collapsing to a heap on the ground, not moving. Kakashi took advantage of the distraction and jumped in front of Naruto while the man backed off to avoid being tagged by the knives. The Jounin stood in front of the boy, blocking the man's line of sight while he threw several more knives at him.
Kakashi quickly turned and checked over Naruto while still keeping himself aware of the enemy's position.
Naruto's chakra was barely noticeable but he was breathing and had a strong pulse. "Still alive, thank God. Too close, Kakashi." He mentally sighed in relief and turned on the enemy, molding his chidori.
"I'm your opponent!" He announced as he launched in the air, thrusting his jutsu at the enemy, pushing him back farther from the defenseless boy.
The man quickly dodged the attack, laughing at Kakashi while weaving his hands. Suddenly a blast of fire, Kakashi maneuvered away from it easily but left himself wide open. Taking advantage of the opening, the man threw two kunai at him and they pierced him directly through the stomach and chest, Kakashi realized too late that there were paper bombs attached. "Ugh!"
Boom!
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Poof!
A cloud of white and black smoke engulfed the man and he was taken by surprise. "What the... A shadow clone..? Damn!" He quickly realized what was happening but he couldn't turn fast enough. Kakashi slammed his chidori right through the man's stomach and sent him flying backwards in an explosion of lightning.
"Got you!" The man crashed not far away into a cliff of rocks, the impact causing a small avalanche, large boulders slamming down and crashing where the man had fallen. Kakashi landed ungracefully back on the ground, collapsing to his knees again as he tried to catch his breath. "Too much.." He sucked in deep lungfuls of air to prevent himself from passing out.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura rushed to her sensei and knelt down next to him. She held him steady, and began worrying over him.
"Sakura, go help Naruto." Kakashi breathed. He was trying to control his racing heart. He squeezed his eyes shut. "It's done."
"Right!" Sakura hesitated and ran to Naruto, tending to his wounds. "Kaka-sensei, Naruto is okay!" She shouted as the blonde boy began to regain consciousness, sitting up under his own power. He seemed dazed and confused, but otherwise in good spirits.
After personally making sure he was okay, Sakura promptly smacked him upside his head and proceeded to lecture him about how irresponsible and reckless he was. Naruto flailed his arms around apologetically. Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle despite his condition. "Typical Naruto and Sakura. They haven't changed a bit."
"Kakashi-sensei! Are you alright?" Naruto shouted to him, smiling and rubbing the back of his head. Probably in an attempt to get Sakura off his back, and it seemed to have worked. Kakashi smiled but remembered they couldn't see it.
He gave Naruto a thumbs up and chuckled "Yeah, Naruto I'm okay." Kakashi stood and fixed his forehead protector. "Cripes! Naruto try and be more careful next time, okay? You nearly got yourself-" He suddenly tensed up and stopped speaking, immediately signaling the two others that something was not right. They both stood, Naruto heavy on his feet but ready.
Kakashi was too slow.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura shouted, pointing. "Behind you!"
Naruto gasped in shock and for a split second Kakashi saw his eyes change, but he wasn't paying much attention to that.
"Hidden Jutsu: Finger Execution Blades!" A form came rushing at Kakashi from where he was thought to have been crushed by rocks, at a speed even the Jounin couldn't keep up with. He gasped. "If that jutsu hits me, I'm dead."
Blades spat from the man's fingers and blasted at a deafening speed. Kakashi would have normally been able to dodge but exhaustion suddenly took its toll. He wasn't going to get away in enough time. "Is this it? Have I failed?"
At the very last possible second, a flash of orange invaded Kakashi's line of sight. For some unknown reason, that annoyed him slightly. Impact. He closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable explosion of pain. It never came.
Sakura's scream was the scariest sound Kakashi had ever heard in his life. "Naruto!"
He opened his eyes to a sight that would be etched into his mind until the end of time. There he was, his Naruto. He had shielded Kakashi from the attack, saving his life. In turn he had taken the entirety of the impact. Three blades pierced his body and his vital spots.
"Naruto!" Kakashi's mind screamed, his heart in his throat. Blood was beginning to escape Naruto's wounds as he stood there, seemingly in shock.
"Naruto!" Kakashi found his voice finally, yet he didn't even notice himself speaking. "Naruto, why..?!"
The Jounin's pained voice caught the attention of the boy and Naruto turned his head slightly, gazing at Kakashi from the corner of his eye. "Kakashi-sensei.. don't you think, you're getting a bit.. slow for this..type of stuff?" Naruto smiled but then choked up blood and his entire body wracked beneath the enemy's hold.
The man doubled back almost in shock and pulled his finger blades from Naruto's body, retreating just as fast as he had attacked. Naruto jolted from the sudden movement and screamed out in pain as Kakashi scrambled to catch the boy before he collapsed onto the ground. "No, no, no, no.."
"Shit! I wasn't supposed to kill the demon boy! They'll have my head for this!" The man backtracked to a higher field position away from Kakashi and the boy, his anger seethed at the sheer stupidity of what had just transpired. "You arrogant boy!" He shouted to Naruto. "Why would you risk your life for a weak fool like him!?"
Kakashi cradled Naruto in his arms while the blood began to soak his jacket. Suddenly it all made sense. Why the enemy didn't go after Tenzō and Sai when they were the ones with the scrolls. Why the man didn't immediately strike down Naruto when he had him in his grasp. "He was after Naruto. This has nothing to do with our mission. This man is after the nine-tail fox."
"Naruto!" Sakura was beside Kakashi and Naruto before the Jounin even noticed. He held Naruto close to his chest, as Sakura began emergency medical first aid. "Sakura, put pressure on the most severe wound." It hurt him to keep his voice as calm as it was but Sakura quickly obeyed, applying pressure to the wound closest to Naruto's chest. He slightly sat Naruto up against his own chest and wrapped his arm around the blonde's waist, applying pressure to another wound near his stomach. His hand was quickly soaked in the boy's blood.
Kakashi only noticed Naruto was still slightly conscious when he heard a soft moan escape his throat. His big blue eyes were fading as he turned and looked at his sensei.
Kakashi looked at the boy, his heart in his stomach. "Stay with us, Naruto. I won't allow you to die. Stay with me." He spoke softly, gently brushing a strand of hair from the boy's face with his free hand.
"Kakashi.. sens.." Naruto tried to form the words from his mouth but instead winced in pain and proceeded to cough up blood. His eyes rolled upwards and his hands stopped shaking.
Kakashi felt like he was gonna be sick. He shook the boy lightly. Sakura pushed her chakra beyond her limits into Naruto in an effort to save him. Tears were streaming down her face. "Naruto don't you dare die on me, or else I'll kill you!" She shouted.
"Naruto stay with me." Kakashi felt anger boiling in his throat but he swallowed it down. "You're not allowed to die, stay with me." His voice cracked, he could feel his entire body shaking but he didn't know why. This feeling was completely unfamiliar to him. Naruto's eyes slightly regained focus and he looked at Kakashi. He tried to speak again.
"Shh, Naruto don't speak." Kakashi closed his eyes and took deep breaths, trying to control his shaking hands. He opened his eyes praying for this to be nothing but a nightmare but instead caught the dull eyes of his Naruto. They were staring back at him.
"Kakashi-sensei I need to.. I need to tell you.." Naruto tensed in pain and Kakashi winced as he coughed up even more blood. Naruto weakly lifted his hand and wiped it across his sensei's cheek, only then did Kakashi realize that he was actually crying. "You're like a father to me.. Ever since I lost.. Pervy Sage… I don't..."
The words struck Kakashi as if a thousand kunai had just pierced his heart. He clenched his fist as a flashback of Obito laying there, crushed beneath the boulder crossed his mind. He choked back a sob and bit his lip. Sakura pushed harder, causing Naruto to wince, she was shaking her head. "I-I'm sorry...I couldn't let you.. get hurt." Naruto's eyes stared blankly at his sensei. "I love you.." He smiled weakly.
Kakashi squeezed his eyes shut and his entire body tensed. He was mentally slapped in the face by Naruto's words and his head spun. He fought against the sudden wave of nausea to speak. "My Naruto, I love you too. Stay with me, please." He slightly brushed the blonde, matted hair away from the boy's face again and smiled. "You're going to be okay. I promise."
Naruto had lost consciousness before he could finish his words and Kakashi looked at Sakura, pleadingly. Sakura looked back at her sensei with sad eyes. "Sensei, it's not good. Two of his vital spots were hit, he's lost a lot of blood already. I'm doing my best to heal him but we need to stop the bleeding. He's not healing as fast as he usually does, Sensei. Why?" Sakura sobbed.
"His chakra was blocked. The nine-tails can't heal Naruto as efficiently because when the man got ahold of Naruto, he used a Jutsu to block all of his chakra, even the beast's." Kakashi's fist clenched with rage again. "Naruto.. please hang on."
Kakashi gently lifts Naruto off his newly bloodied chest and places him softly on the ground before him. "Sakura, control the bleeding and get him wrapped up as best you can. We have to get him to safety and figure out how we are going to help him." He angrily flips out a kunai from his back pocket and glares toward the enemy who so gravely injured his Naruto. Kakashi grips the blade tightly and Sakura notices an anger in his eyes that she had never seen before.
"Yes sir!" She replies, taking out her medical kit and immediately beginning to work on Naruto as best she can.
"You'll pay for this.." Sakura heard her sensei snarl before he leapt up into the air, tossing his kunai at the man.
A fierce battle raged on, Kakashi finding new strength in his anger and adrenaline. He caught the enemy off guard with his Sharingan and finally managed to get the upper hand. After the loss of one of his arms, the man was useless.
The Jounin took no mercy on the fallen ninja and stood before him, ready to strike the finishing blow. He glared, an anger so fierce that Kakashi was even scaring himself. "What are your intentions here today?" He growled, not recognizing his own voice. "Why are you after Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Y-you can't make me tell you anything!" The ninja swallowed and looked at the man standing above him, his eyes showing no fear in the face of certain death. "I'd rather die!"
Kakashi laughed, surprised at the forcefulness and sharpness of it. He reached down and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, lifting him to where he was practically in his face. The man felt the heat of Kakashi's breath in his eyes and winced. "You're going to die, anyway." He breathed menacingly. His whole body shook with rage that he himself was barely managing to control.
The man blinked, defeated. He held his hand up and smiled. "Even if I tell you, it's not going to make much of a difference. The plan is already set in motion. You are nothing but a pawn and the boy is a key playing piece." He shrugged, baring his teeth in a wicked smile. "You defeated me, so the least I can do is tell you how the world is going to end." He narrowed his eyes.
Kakashi remained silent, grinding his teeth. He wanted so badly to rip the man's throat out but he needed some information first. "My boss is after the demon scum and it's body. He wants his power. His goal is to release the spirit seal and use the boy with a Demon Control Jutsu."
Kakashi's eyes widened in shock. He threw the man down to the ground forcefully, causing him to fall on his face. "A Demon Control Jutsu?" He had never heard of such a crazy thing. The tailed beasts could not possibly be controlled. "There's no such jutsu that can do that."
"Yes, there is now. It's not perfected yet but is said to control the human containing the tailed beast and all its power." The man spat blood on the ground and laughed slightly while using his arm to sit up. "I guess it's a shame I killed that kid. He would have made a great weapon to control. But I guess the demon inside of him will suffice." He sat up slowly and then turned to look Kakashi dead in the eyes. "Oh, but don't worry. My boss and his men won't stop until they have every last demon in their possession, including the demon inside that corpse of your pretty little blonde…"
The man didn't get to finish his sentence before Kakashi's eyes flashed with red anger and he drove a blade straight through the man's throat. He gurgled and twitched as blood poured through his mouth and soon his body lay still, He was dead. Kakashi could have gotten more information off the man but his temper proved unstable.
Suddenly, Kakashi's legs turned to rubber, the anger and adrenaline leaving his body all at once. He collapsed to his knees next to the dead man, finding it difficult to breathe. He panicked and tried to calm himself, only then realizing that he was crying again. His body shook with sobs as he buried his face in his hands. "Naruto.. my Naruto.."
Kakashi couldn't have been sitting there for more than a minute before he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up expecting Sakura but instead he met eyes with a solemn and sympathetic Tenzō standing over him.
Tenzō got down on his knees in front of Kakashi, comforting him the best he could. "Senpai, Senpai, it's going to be okay. We're here." He had never seen Kakashi in such a poor state. He thought the Jounin incapable of crying, or showing emotion at all, especially on the field. But he understood. He knew the bond between Kakashi and Naruto even if Kakashi didn't fully know it yet himself.
"Kakashi-Senpai, save your emotions for later. We have to plan accordingly how we are going to get Naruto back to the village safely. He is not well enough to travel even if we carry him the way." Tenzō studied Kakashi carefully. "His injuries are too severe. Even if we were to find a way, it's over a day's journey and I don't think Naruto will-"
"Why did you come back?" Kakashi suddenly asked, his voice low and heavy. He wiped his face and stood before Tenzō answered. "Why didn't you go like I instructed?" His eyes flared and Tenzō winced. "You could have jeopardized the entire mission had the enemy found you out."
"I- The seal and it's power over Naruto that I monitor, compressed itself suddenly. I knew something bad had happened and Naruto was in serious trouble. I feared for your lives." Tenzō also stood. "We doubled back but.. we got here too late." Tenzō glanced over to Sakura and Sai, both kneeling next to Naruto.
Kakashi followed his gaze and his eyes rested on his fallen comrade. "Right," He said distractedly. He looked back over to Tenzō. "I'm sorry, thank you for coming back." His tone had completely gone soft again. He closed his eyes and felt Tenzō's hands grab his shoulders roughly before realizing that he was about to collapse. Kakashi let himself be supported. "Thanks."
Tenzō nodded. "Kakashi-Senpai.."
"I know. Let's go. We need to make shelter." As Kakashi spoke, little droplets of water began to fall from the sky and onto his head. Clouds rolled over and a clap of thunder was heard in the distance.
Kakashi sighed and pulled away from Tenzō. They were both next to Naruto, seconds following a bright flash of lightening not too far off. Sakura nor Sai reacted to their sudden appearance or the rolling thunder that followed. Sakura looked ready to collapse and was leaning on Sai for support.
Naruto's jacket and shirt had been removed, exposing his tightly wrapped and bandaged chest, the white gauze already turning a horrible crimson red before their eyes. His head was resting in Sakura's lap as she quietly stroked his cheek. Kakashi, in his weary state, still couldn't help but smile as he imagined a disgusted Naruto telling off Sakura for being so touchy.
Kakashi knelt down next to Naruto and felt for his pulse. It was there, but barely. His breathing was rough and uneven, and his body despite being in the weakened condition it was in, was still fighting back with a temperature. He was pale, and shaking.
The worn Jounin gently lifted Naruto up from the ground and cuddled him into his chest. He suddenly seemed so small and light. Kakashi's mind flashed back to remember the kid Naruto he always had to carry home after his long nights training with Sasuke.
Kakashi fought away the kind memories and the tears. "Tenzō, there's a clearing up ahead in the forest, we'll make camp there. Regroup."
Tenzō nodded and went ahead of everyone else to get things ready. The rest of the group followed behind and arrived just as Tenzō was finishing up. Kakashi made sure to be gentle with Naruto as they made their way inside of the wooden shelter.
"Sakura, with me. I need you close to Naruto in case something happens." Sai had prepared a cot for Naruto and Kakashi placed him down onto it before quickly sitting next to him.
Sakura nodded and promptly sat on the other side of Naruto, making sure she was close. Her face was tear-stained and matted with dirt. Her hands were shaking slightly but she said not a word. She wiped her face and weaved her fingers around Naruto's hands. He didn't react.
"I'll take first watch." Tenzō said before leaving the room. Sai simply stood there, staring at Naruto. Lightning flashed outside and thunder followed closely behind. The wind was starting to pick up.
Sai was the first to speak after a few minutes. "Is Naruto going to die?"
Kakashi flinched at his words and nearly expected Sakura to jump from her seating position and give Sai a good beat down, but she remained still and continued to watch Naruto breathe, not saying a word or even acknowledging Sai or anything around her.
"No, Sai." Kakashi heard himself speak. "We're going to do everything we can to keep that from happening." His own voice was strained.
Sai blinked at Kakashi. "Good," He simply said before turning and leaving the room. Kakashi wondered about Sai's emotions.
Naruto suddenly stirred, sputtering blood from his mouth, coughing and moaning. Sakura jumped and looked at her sensei for direction, but Kakashi was already behind Naruto. He lifted the boy up and sat behind him, sitting against the wall while supporting him so he didn't choke on his own blood. He easily lifted Naruto up and placed him in his lap, a seemingly easier position for the weakened boy to breathe on his own. He laid Naruto's head on his chest and sat there as the boy went limp in his arms, causing Kakashi's heart to skip a beat. He was still struggling to breathe but no longer shaking in pain. "Why did you do it, Naruto? Why..."
"He's getting worse." Kakashi breathed, his voice falling him. "He's usually healed somewhat by now." He looked down at the frail little boy he held in his arms. "He's not healing at all…"
Kakashi looked up to notice fresh tears falling from Sakura's eyes. He couldn't help but feel her pain. He wanted so badly to crawl into a corner and ignore the world around him but he couldn't He had to remain strong. "Please Sakura, get some rest. I'll wake you if anything changes." He promised.
"Kakashi-sensei I couldn't possibly…"
"Sakura, that's an order."
It took a little convincing but Sakura must have been more tired than she thought because she was out before her head hit the pillow. "She's beyond exhausted." He gazed out the window and noticed the rain, it was pouring outside. "We all are."
Kakashi looked down to his pale little Naruto sleeping in his arms and fought back a wave of emotion. "I'm going to do whatever it takes. I'm not going to let you die. Naruto, I'm not letting you die. I love you too, and so do many others. Just keep fighting please. Don't you dare give up. We need you.." Kakashi brought the blonde boy closer to his chest and kissed him lightly on his forehead. He leaned back against the wall, exhaustion overcoming him. He succumbed to the darkness that greeted him so eagerly...
"I need you..."