Author's Notes: Thanks a lot for all the reviews on the past chapter! I hope this one gets even more attention and I will gladly answer any and all questions at the end of the chapter, so if you have any, post them in a review!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO!
Chapter 2:
The silver-haired chuunin awoke to the smell of antiseptics and the warm sunlight bathing the room. His eyelids fluttered before he slowly opened his eyes with a groan to capture the familiar sight of the white tiles of the room's ceiling.
"You're finally awake," he heard his sensei's relieved voice from his left. He turned his head in time to see the hand heading to ruffle his hair, but he did not have the energy to even attempt ducking out of the way.
"What happened?" he asked, his words slurring in his sluggish state. The crystal blue eyes, previously tinted with relief became colored with worry and concern once more.
"That's what I'd like to know," Minato paused, but his hand kept on brushing the soft silver tufts, "You don't remember?" Kakashi slowly shook his head.
"It's all kind of fuzzy," he admitted. Kakashi paused, unmasked face turning thoughtful, "But I do remember talking to someone,"
"Someone?" Minato questioned, "Not from the village?" Kakashi shook his head.
"I don't think so," the silver-haired boy said, "I didn't recognize his voice at the time,"
"It's highly unlikely that someone from outside the village was so close… Especially since everyone is on high alert what with the war still waging on," The silence stretched on after that, each of the Konoha-nin lost in his thoughts.
"Right before I lost consciousness," Minato jumped at the sudden voice but listened intently, "I saw the person's eyes, but they weren't normal, they were really weird, like whirlpools," Kakashi reported. His teacher tried to think of what his student might have seen, again losing himself in thought.
"Ahem!"
Both teacher and student looked up in time to see the mother of all death glares plastered on the head nurse's face.
"Visiting hours are over, Namikaze-san," she said, her merry tone contradicting her still sour face, "If you would be so kind as to let my patient rest, now, that would be great,"
"Ah, sorry Yoshiro-san, I was just going out," Minato rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly before throwing a hasty 'See ya!' towards the tired chuunin then tripping over his feet as he attempted a quick escape from the Glare of Doom. The head nurse kept glaring after the Yellow Flash long after he was out of sight before her expression took a hundred and eighty degree turn as she peeked at her silver-haired patient.
"How are you feeling, Kakashi-kun?" she asked cheerfully before starting with a series of check-ups on the ninja.
-oOo-
Minato took one last glance towards his student's window when he exited the hospital before going off to find his sensei. He was sure he heard of this whole 'whirlpool eye' thing, and he was positive that if anyone knew anything about it, it would be the Toad Sage. He sighed as he picked up his pace. If he knew his sensei, like he knew his sensei, there would be only one place he'd be in on a hot day. How right he was. He frowned as he watched the older man take notes on a small notebook before watching through the peephole again.
"Sensei," he called, he did not have time for any distractions. If what Kakashi had said was true, then the village may be prone to an attack by an unknown shinobi.
"Not now, Mina-kun, can't you see I'm researching?" Jiraiya replied, eye not once leaving the hole.
"Sensei," he ignored the shushing noises the Sannin emitted and decided to go right to the point, "Kakashi's awake, and I do not like what he just told me," Just as expected, he now had his teacher's attention.
"Well, what did he say, Minato?" the white-haired man asked as he stood up to face his pupil.
"He said he saw someone with whirlpool eyes, ring a bell?" the blond asked seriously.
"Well…" Jiraiya looked thoughtful, "No, that's impossible," he said after a while with a wave of his hand.
"What's impossible?" Minato had his eyes narrowed as he questioned.
"Remember I told you I had a student who had the Rinnegan back in the Second Shinobi War," Minato nodded, prodding his sensei to continue, "His name's Nagato and I thought it might have been him,"
"Why would he be this close to the village?"
"I did say it was impossible that it might have been Nagato, didn't I?"Jiraiya said, "I was notified that he along with the two others I trained, Yahiko and Konan, were killed during that war," he continued, his face contorting into a pained grimace. During the time he spent training the trio, he had gotten quite a bit attached to them, and learning of their deaths brought sorrow into his heart.
"Anyway, if this person is as close as you say he is, then I better go investigate it, or at least tell Sensei," Jiraiya said as he made his way to the Hokage Tower.
"Sensei, wait!" Minato called after his sensei, "I just remembered something important," Jiraiya cocked his head to one side, silently questioning the younger man, "The nurse that was tending to Kakashi said that she saw an odd mark on the back of his neck, I checked it out… and it seemed like some sort of seal… but I couldn't decipher it no matter how hard I tried. So I was wondering if you could-"
"Don't worry Mina-kun, I'm on it," Jiraiya said, changing his path, "You inform Sarutobi-sensei while I check up on that brat," The Yellow Flash nodded before living up to his name and appearing in a flash of yellow in front of the Hokage's door. He knocked and waited until he was called inside.
"Ah, Minato, how is Kakashi? Did he wake up yet?" The kind Sarutobi asked from his place behind the desk.
"Yes, Hokage-sama, he's okay now," the blond smiled, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said as he gestured the great amount of paper on the Hokage's desk.
"Not at all," Hiruzen dismissed with a flick of his wrist, "So what is it that you wanted to tell me?"
"Actually, Hokage-sama, there may be something dangerous close to Konoha," Minato said, his smile turning into a frown.
Half an hour later, the Hokage sent out a team of ANBU, and Minato was free to go. He allowed a small smile to cross his features. He hoped that this was a sign that things would work out. However, his positive thoughts skidded to a halt when he saw his sensei perched in front of his apartment door looking like he was close to snapping and killing everything in sight.
"Minato, about that seal on your brat's neck," Jiraiya started, voice uncharacteristically deadly, "We might have a teeny weenie problem,"
Author's Notes: I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! It took a lot of time because I wasn't very pleased with it. I'm still not, actually, but I figured an update is better than nothing ^_^
An answer to reviews on Chapter 1:
LadyInulzayoi: I hope you love this chapter as well and I will try to update sooner after finals!
kakashifan7: Yes, he is a bit OOC because of his age, at least that's what I thought he'd be like as a six-year-old right after his father's funeral. I'm glad you like it so far, and I really hope you continue reading it and giving me advice! (I hope he's not that OOC in this chapter)
Seth7: *blushes* Thanks a lot!
KaiaRenkin: Your wish just came true, please tell me if it's good so far ;)