Hey, I'm Yuushi-chan! This is my first fanfiction, if you have any suggestions, don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way, shape, or form.

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A Long Time Waiting

Chapter 1: Introduction

A 24 year old Kakashi stood in front of the memorial like he did every morning. He had left his apartment at 4am to stare quietly at Obito's name engraved in the stone. By now, it was 10am and the sun was shining bright. He had already pondered all of his regrets, the mistakes he made in the past, especially the one that made him the way he was today. He had always felt that he learned too late the bond he shared with Obito.

"Ah, Obito... I wish I realized sooner." Kakashi sighed, closing his eye and paying his last respects for the morning. He turned to walk away from the memorial and saw Kotetsu walking toward him.

"Kakashi!" Kotetsu yelled as he moved closer.

"Kotestu?"

"The hokage requests your presence. I'm not sure what it's about…"

"I can guess. See you later." And with that, Kakashi left the memorial site and walked at his own pace toward Hokage Tower.

He knocked on the door before entering; making sure the hokage wasn't busy.

"You may enter." He heard the hokage's gruff voice. Stepping over the threshold the hokage uttered, "Ah, Kakashi. I've been expecting you."

"Yes, sir. May I inquire as to why you request my presence?" Kakashi asked.

"You may. I received your request yesterday afternoon, and I must say I'm a bit confused. Why is it that you wish to leave ANBU? I though you were teaching a couple of new recruits."

"Well, Sir, I have nothing left to teach them. They were both jounin when they entered the ranks. Tenzou and Yugao are both excellent shinobi. If I may, there's something I've been noticing lately…" Kakashi trailed off.

"And what is that?" The hokage inquired.

"It seems to me that over the past year, the children who have graduated from the Academy are not suited for the field. Even if their teachers deem them qualified, more and more of them have either come back dead or have botched their mission." Kakashi explained.

"Hmm… I see what you're saying Kakashi, but what do you plan to do about this?"

"The real reason I have requested to leave ANBU is to teach the graduating shinobi. Let me be the judge of their skills." Kakashi stood taller as he said this knowing that there was a good chance the hokage would deny his request to become an elite jounin sensei.

With a warm smile the hokage said, "I believe teaching suits you, Kakashi. Very well, you shall finish your duty in ANBU for the next three months. When the next class graduates, you will be assigned a three man team to teach."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama."

"You may leave."

Kakashi did not leave. He watched to hokage. His body was hunched and his eyes were distant.

"Was there something else, Kakashi?" He asked staring at him.

"Are you all right, Sir? You seem troubled." Kakashi stated.

"Yes, well, I received a bit of bad news this morning, and lately I've been thinking of my family."

"I see. Is Yuushi coming back anytime soon?"

"No, my daughter will not be returning. The news I received this morning, notified me that she was killed on her mission in Iwagakure." As he said this, his frown became deeper and his eyes welled up with tears. "I haven't informed Asuma yet. I hate being the bearer of bad news. If you see him, Kakashi, please send him to me."

"I will do so if I run into him, Hokage-sama." Kakashi's voice trailed off at the end and he turned to leave the office.

Kakashi pondered this news as he walked toward his apartment to get ready for his next ANBU mission. His head was down, watching his feet, when he heard a voice.

"Kakashi, what's up? You seem more detached than usual." Asuma said, patting him on the back.

"Asuma. I was just with the hokage. He wants to see you." Kakashi said, trying not to look and sound so foreboding.

"All right…I'll head there now. Hey, look after yourself on your mission today!" Asuma said as he walked toward to hokage tower.

Yeah. I'll keep my head in the game. Man, this is looking to be an interesting day. Kakashi thought as he reached for the door to his apartment.

Meeting his team at the front gate, Kakashi explained, in detail, their mission to his subordinates. When Tenzou and Yugao were caught up they set out to the border of Fire Country and Grass Country.

"Kakashi-senpai." Tenzou addressed him.

"What is it, Tenzou?" Kakashi knew he was asking permission to inquire about the mission.

"In our orders, are we allowed to pursue the missing nin into Grass Country, or are we to stay within Fire Country's border?" Tenzou asked.

"I was wondering the same thing." Yugao stated.

"According to our orders, we are to pursue the enemy and bring him back by any means necessary. Does that answer your question?"

"Hai, senpai." Yugao and Tenzou answered.

They moved quickly through the forest. It took at least a day and a half to reach the border. As they ran Kakashi analyzed the area carefully, looking for any signs of the missing nin. He only hoped they wouldn't have to move into Grass territory.

I hoped I wouldn't have to visit your grave again, Obito. There's nothing I want more than to never feel that pain again.

Kakashi's eye closed and he gave an audible sigh. He tried to keep the images from resurfacing. The pain he felt in his heart from losing his closest friend. He could still remember the night in great detail. It plagued his dreams nearly every night.

"Is everything all right, senpai?" Tenzou asked, concerned for his squad leader.

"Yes, everything is fine. There are still no signs of the missing nin in these parts. Keep your eyes open. I don't want any mishaps on this mission." Kakashi had put up a wall again, regretting that he had let his emotions through. He was being careless again.

"That's not what I was asking about. I know you would not willingly go back to Grass Country, senpai." Tenzou explained.

"And why is that?" Kakashi asked, anger beginning to creep into his voice.

"Obito." Yugao stated simply. "You were in Grass Country when he was killed. We know this is hard for you, senpai. We're only trying to help."

"Ah. I understand your concern, but I'll be fine." Kakashi answered dryly.

The closer they came to the half way point, the faster night fell. The birds started to settle in for the night and the bats began to show themselves. The sky had turned a deep purple and pink color as the sun disappeared below the horizon.

"We'll set up camp here for tonight. We've travelled pretty far for only half a day." Kakashi ordered.

"Hai, senpai." Tenzou replied. Using his mokuton no jutsu, Tenzou created a small cabin for them to stay in for the night.

They got settled, removing their shoes and rolling out their sleeping mats. Yugao had set up a fire in the middle of the room as the wind picked up in the forest. Kakashi sat near the fire looking over the mission criteria. He noticed that the orders did state that they were allowed to enter Grass Country to capture the enemy.

I really hope it doesn't come to that. Kakashi thought.

"Tenzou! Yugao! I'd like to go over the mission criteria with you so you both fully understand what it is we are to do." Kakashi ordered.

Yugao and Tenzou sat around the fire waiting for Kakashi's detailed explanation of the mission. They still hadn't heard who the missing nin was, and what his strengths were yet.

"The man we are to capture has been missing from Fire Country for three years. His name is Jin Horikino. He's an earth chakra user, as well as a genjutsu user. If it comes to a fight, which it most surely will, I need you both to be on your guard. Don't get caught in a genjutsu. Know the signs, and keep moving. If he doesn't have a clear shot, you won't get caught in an illusion."

"Hai, senpai. We know how not to get caught in a genjutsu. We'll be on our guard, though, regardless." Yugao said, sounding insulted.

"What rank was this man before he left the village?" Tenzou asked trying to avoid a conflict.

"He was a chunin, but don't let that affect your judgment. He has had three years to develop more jutsu. Do not underestimate him." Kakashi told them. "Now, get some sleep. We all need to be well rested for tomorrow."

"Hai!"

"Hai, senpai!"

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The air was hot and the wind was harsh. There was barely any feeling in her left hand after the explosion; it was the only part of her body exposed to the elements. She was laying facedown, hardly able to breathe as the rocks crushed her back further into the hard ground. Luckily no large rocks had hit her head, but she was fading fast. The poison was hot in her veins, not to mention the blood loss from where she received the bite. Everything was dark, the sounds were hushed, and she was beginning to feel cold. She was slipping in and out, and she could just barely make out voices.

"No, there are no survivors. I've searched the entire area." Came a man's nervous and tired voice.

"Are you sure there are no more shinobi in the area? I was told there were shinobi from neighboring countries that came to your aid. Leaf Village ninja were sent to these parts. Have you seen any?" Another man, but a deeper, more commanding voice. He sounded disgusted, and a bit frightened.

"I only saw a couple of Leaf Village ninja, but they were both dead. You can continue to search, but I don't think you'll find who you're looking for. We're still bagging bodies; you may want to check the morgue." The first man said. By the strain in his voice, she could tell he was holding back tears.

She could hear footsteps close to where she was laying. She wanted to call out and let him know she was right there, but her voice was caught. She couldn't even muster a whisper.

"The woman you're looking for…" the first man again. "What did she look like? I remember seeing three leaf shinobi in this area about an hour ago."

"Uh…She's 18 years old and about average height with dark brown hair that touches her shoulders. She has brown eyes and a round face. She wears black pants and a tight red long sleeve shirt." The man with the deep voice described.

He's describing me! I recognize that voice! Who is he? Who's looking for me? Please, please find me. Get me out of here! She thought angrily.

"Yeah, now that you described her, I do remember a young girl that looked like that. She was with two men. One was very tall with short black hair and the other was shorter and heavier. He had light brown hair. All three of them looked pretty beaten up. Especially the girl. She was bleeding from her right side and from the left side of her chest. They were asking how far the Heaven and Earth Bridge was from here. I'm pretty sure they headed that way." The first man explained.

No, no, no! I'm still here. Below you! Please, stay here. I'm right here. She thought desperately.

"All right, thank you. That helps a lot." The man with the deep voice said. His footsteps began to move away from where she was.

Her eyes grew hot and wet with tears. If that man was heading toward the bridge, he'd never find her. She knew she was going to die here. She was losing feeling in her arms now, and she couldn't feel anything past her knees. Her breath became slow and shallow. Her eyes closed, and she silently prayed that the man would come back as she began to lose consciousness.

The pressure on her back was slowly removed. Her body felt heavy, like she was still being weighed down. As someone bent closer to her, she felt his hot breath on the back of her neck. His warm fingers pressed against her neck, feeling for a pulse.

"She still has a pulse! It's very faint, but it's there." It was the man with the deep voice. She felt her body being pulled from the rocks and into his lap. There was something so familiar about his voice. She wanted to open her eyes to see who he was. "Somebody find Tsunade! She doesn't have much longer." She felt his hand on her face. It was so warm. "Yuushi, I finally found you."

She knew his voice now. She knew why it was so familiar. She began to lift her eye lids. Her breathing was still shallow, and her body was still heavy. She could see through her half open lids. He had a familiar face.

With a weak and raspy voice she spoke his name, "J-Jiraiya?"