Chapter 3: Fateful Showdown

Thirteen Years Ago:

Every year, at the beginning of the Lunar New Year, the Third Hokage and Danzo held a contest between the main branch of the ANBU and the ROOT division. They would bring out their strongest members to fight, demonstrating the power of each division. For the last three years, Kakashi had been chosen as the ROOT participant, and always came out victorious, gaining great respect, and fear from the main ANBU branch. This year was no different. Kakashi was chosen to participate, while the main branch struggled to find a candidate willing to go up against him.

"If no one is willing to fight, can we just cancel this bothersome event?" Kakashi grumbled.

"Well Hiruzen, what do you say? Does the main branch really lack a suitable rival for my Kakashi?" Danzo smirked. To his surprise the Third Hokage smirked back at him.

"I wouldn't be so cocky right now Danzo. I think you will be surprised at the level of my kids. You see, they are a little lazy and take some motivation to get them going, but I am confident that they will not disappoint you." The Third Hokage retorted.

Just as he finished speaking, a petite, female ninja stepped out into the ring. "You see? My kids will never…Wait! I can't believe she decided to participate!"

Danzo was confused at the sudden chilled expression the Hokage wore. As per custom of the ANBU, ninjas wore shinobi masks to conceal their identities; therefore it made it hard for him to distinguish who was behind the mask. "Why do you have that expression? Who is this she you are talking about? She looks so small and weak."

"She is one of our new recruits, and I suggest you don't take her lightly. We will all be in grave danger if this fight gets out of hand." The Third whispered back. Danzo could see that the members of the main ANBU branch had all gone silent and subtly shifted away from the ring.

"Listen, it's admirable that you stepped up for your comrade's, but I'm not in the business of picking on little girls. Let's make this easier. How about I throw the match. Giving up the title of "reigning champ" would give me no greater joy." Kakashi lazily mused. The small kunoichi didn't say anything. For some reason this annoyed Kakashi. "Fine, don't say I didn't warn you."

"Tell me, besides being willing to give up your title, did you willingly give up on life?" The kunoichi asked.

"Pardon? Who says I have given up on life? I am clearly standing here aren't I?" Kakashi scoffed.

"You're body may be here but the real you is long, long gone." She said. "The thing standing before me is nothing but a shell of flesh and remorse. So I ask you again, did you willingly give up on life, just as you are willing to give up this contest?"

For the first time in three years Kakashi felt something that wasn't guilt. It was pure, uncontained rage. Who the hell does this girl think she is? How dare she make assumptions about me! Pulling a shuriken from his pouch he aimed for the small kunoichi, but she easily avoided it. "Get off your high freakin' horse. You don't know anything about me!" He yelled as he pulled a kunai from his pouch and charged.

"Struck a nerve, have I?" she said as she pulled out a short sword to block. "The more you try to deny and suppress your pain, the more you lose yourself."

"Looks like I will have to shut that mouth for you!" Kakashi yelled. "LIGHTNING STYLE: Lightning hound!" A giant hound made of lightning burst forth and charged straight for the kunoichi.

"WIND STYLE: Gale force blast!" Yelled the kunoichi. A giant funnel of wind engulfed the lightning hound leaving nothing behind as it dissipated.

So she's a wind style user huh? I will have to use fire techniques then. "FIRE STYLE: Fireball jutsu!" A humongous fireball began to barrel down on his opponent. Let's see you try to dodge this, thought Kakashi.

The small ninja weaved more hand signs and yelled, "WATER STYLE: Water Wall!" A wall of water burst from the ground and extinguished the oncoming fireball fired by Kakashi.

The thrill of an exciting battle had helped ease some of Kakashi's anger. It had been a long time since he faced such a skilled opponent, and found that he was actually enjoying it a little. Pushing aside his anger at her earlier accusations he managed to calm himself down enough to analyze his opponent. So she has water and wind elements. Now that I know her elements this will make it easier, but I should be careful just in case she has a third element, he thought to himself. "I'll admit you're pretty good. I'm even considering ignoring your inaccurate accusations from earlier, but unfortunately the victor will be me."

Upon hearing this the small ninja laughed at him, making him once again lose his composure. "I'm sorry, but in your present condition you are no match for me. Try again when you have found the will to live!" she said.

The last vestiges of Kakashi's self-control were ripped from him by that one statement from the kunoichi. Anger, hatred, sadness, remorse, and guilt came flooding to the surface in waves. Kakashi was thankful that he was wearing a mask so no one could see that he was crying beneath it. He had to end this fight before the girl could mess with his head anymore. With one final angry yell he shouted, "LIGHTNING STYLE: Lightning blade!" A wave of startled gasps erupted from the crowd. "What is Kakashi thinking? He will kill her with that jutsu!" "That poor girl is a gonner."

Danzo sat shocked in his chair. Kakashi had never shown any sign of emotions in all the time he worked with him. That is why he made such an excellent member of ROOT. Yet here, in this fight, all those emotions came flooding forth from Kakashi. There was something about the kunoichi that was drawing out Kakashi's emotions, and hell, if he was going to let her destroy his star recruit. As he began to motion for a hidden subordinate to assassinate her from the side, the Third Hokage stopped him. "Do not interfere. Let them finish this battle on their own. If your assassin tries to kill her, not just him, but you, me, and the rest of the people in this room will die at her hands."

"You've been keeping quite the nasty secret haven't you, Hiruzen?" Danzo said. "If she is as dangerous as you say, then she needs to be eliminated."

"The only thing that needs to be eliminated here is your ill will, and underhanded schemes. She does not pose a threat to the village, nor will I ever have her eliminated." The Third responded. Danzo signaled for his man to stand down, and turned his attention back to the fight at hand.

Kakashi was charging straight for the girl, with the lightning blade surrounding his right hand. He was going for the kill. Who cares that this was just for fun? This girl had reminded him of things that he had worked so hard to forget. She couldn't be allowed to live. Just as he was about to make contact the girl completely disappeared. A sudden sense of familiarity made Kakashi remember the Flying Thunder God technique that his sensei was legendary for using. There was no doubt about it. This girl had just used the Fourth's jutsu.

Stunned and completely unable to move, Kakashi was unable to defend himself from her final blow. "SECRET ART: Storm Surge!" A swirling funnel of chakra hit Kakashi so hard that he was knocked off his feet. While he slowly faded from consciousness he was just able to make out her form hovering over him, and heard her softly whisper, "Oh silly, why did you force yourself to use a jutsu that you fear?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This chapters musical inspiration: Emeli Sande- Read all about it