A/N: The most unlikely people can bring out the best, or the worst, in you. Enough disclaimers. I don't own any characters. :D
They hopped from mossy branch to mossy branch, barely disturbing the forest's peace. Minato was up front, followed by Kakashi, Rin and Obito. They had to follow this formation to protect the medic, because medics shouldn't be hurt while on a mission. If the medic gets injured or killed, who would assist if other injuries during the mission will occur?
Obito was at the end of the formation, his sharingan active. Sharingan isn't really as effective as Byakugan when it comes to scouting and detecting, and that's why Kakashi is there. He's fast. He's nimble. He almost never misses a thing. So if danger might arise, they could assume a defensive stance in a moment's notice.
"As you very well know, we have to comb a 17-kilometer radius around Konoha because we received intel that there are rogue Sound shinobis lurking around. They are reported to be planning to sneak into the village and we couldn't let that happen. Who knows what they might do? So right, if we see them, we are to report back to the village but if they engage in battle, then we do too. The mission order stated that there are only two of them, but be careful. I do not, I repeat, do NOT want anyone to get hurt. That means no attacking without thinking, understand?" said Minato without looking back at them.
"Yes." replied Kakashi, not taking his eyes off Minato's back.
"Yes, sir." said Rin, holding her bag containing medical supplies tightly.
"Hmm, okay!" said Obito, looking from left to right.
The forest was wilder as they proceeded. The thick canopy of leaves blocked out the mid-morning sun. It was getting chilly.
Half an hour passed, and Minato told them to stop.
"Okay, right now we are directly 17-kilometers east of Konoha." Minato looked at the three. "What, you guys are tired already?" He laughed. Not the kind that says "ha!-that's-all-you-got?", but the kind that says "Come on, just a little more, I know you can."
Kakashi panted silently beside Minato. He used Minato arm for support and straightened up, and let go quickly. Rin was still standing up, wiping the sweat off her face. Obito was beside her, his head turned upward, and his face set into a serious expression. Kakashi tightened his hitai-ate more because it was slipping way beneath his forehead during their tree-jumping. Minato was surveying them very cheerfully, his hands behind his back and his face set in his trademark smirk.
"Hmm, so now we patrol around the village from this distance, I think… or would you like to sit for a while?" said Minato, putting his hands behind his head now.
"No, sensei." replied Obito, his expression not softening. Rin patted the back of Obito's right hand and smiled. Obito smiled in turn, but he was looking around the place. What could be wrong?
"I'm not tired yet, sensei." said Kakashi, looking at Minato full in the face. "Damn!" Kakashi thought. "He's all sweaty and I can smell him and he's so amazing and his arms look so strong oh I wanna hold on to them…"
"Well okay then. Let's- !!!" Minato stopped so abruptly that Kakashi had to suppress a look of disappointment. Minato drew out a kunai and looked around tensely, his eyebrows scrunched together.
There was no need for words. Kakashi took a step and positioned himself next to Minato. The next second, Rin and Obito was near them too, looking cautiously around and trying to sense what bothered their sensei.
Boom!
"Sensei! Three o'clock!" shouted Obito.
An explosive tag attached to a kunai detonated to the right of Minato, directly in front of Kakashi. Minato reached for Kakashi, pushing him back. Thanks to Obito, they had a fraction of a second to evade. Smoke was everywhere, the smell of decaying leaves and grass filled their lungs. A second later, the smoke cleared. Minato's wind jutsu blew it away.
"Urgh..." Minato grunted beside Kakashi. His arm has some kunai shrapnel embedded in it. The bleeding was minimal, but Minato was hurt nevertheless.
Minato pushed Kakashi back…He didn't want Kakashi to get hurt, so he shielded him…took the shrapnel for him
But no sooner had the smoke cleared when two figures came crashing from up the trees. They wore Sound-ninja forehead protectors. They were brandishing katanas, running towards Team Minato.
Panic filled Kakashi's head but he didn't let it show. Everything was going so fast, but to him it seemed to happen in slow motion. He saw Obito performing hand seals, then releasing his fireball jutsu. He saw the enemies get out of the fire's way. He saw Rin healing Minato's arm. He saw his sensei's face cringing in pain for like a millisecond. Kakashi wanted to attack, yet he wanted to defend also. He wanted to assist Obito, yet he can't take his eyes off Minato.
Before he knew it, the enemies were closing in, katanas glinting ominously. They passed Obito without giving him a glance as he sent another fireball at them. Then it became clear.
They were going to wipe the leader first, before taking on the others.
Kakashi ran instinctively to Minato, wishing that he would not be too late. What he would do, he does not know. Anything, any jutsu, anything to protect Minato. He ran as fast as he could, his heart pounding faster in his chest. Nothing mattered more than his sensei. No, nothing… He could not just stand here and do nothing. He didn't hear Obito shouting, telling him that this is a great time for chidori. He didn't hear Rin scream as Minato told her to distance. He didn't hear Rin protest. He didn't hear Minato's shout of rage at the attackers.
He saw Minato's mouth move, and Rin was pushed away.
Kakashi had to make a choice.
It was really not a hard decision. Anything to keep Minato-sensei safe.
Kakashi jumped in front of Minato as the Sound ninjas put their katanas forward, about to stab Minato. Kakashi felt the blades pierce his skin. He felt its coldness touch his flesh. He felt pain, but he pushed the feeling aside. He must save…them.
Kakashi drew all his chakra with all his remaining strength on his palm. He shot the Sound ninjas one last look of pure contempt. The rogue ninjas looked shocked for a moment, then the chirps of a thousand birds rang throughout the dark forest. Kakashi thrust his hand forward, and upon hitting the Sound bastards, he looked behind him.
Minato was safe. He was not reached by the deadly blades. Kakashi took it for him.
He saw Obito pushing the bodies of the Sound ninjas away and to make sure they were dead, released another fireball jutsu at them. All the while, Obito was screaming something, Kakashi only heard words like "Why?!" and "my friend!". He saw Rin pull out the blades from his body. He felt Minato's hands, oh the hands he loves to hold , lowering him onto the ground, as Rin started applying medical jutsu. Rin's eyes were swimming with tears, but she didn't stop working.
"Even if there is pain now, everything will be alright."
They said that when you are dying, your whole life flashes before your eyes. But Kakashi only saw Minato's anguished face. He wanted to touch his sensei's face but his arms failed him.
"Sorry Kakashi… I was too slow.", said Minato as a tear made its way down his cheek.
"It's okay sensei…" was all Kakashi could manage. He attempted a smile behind his mask.
Once again, he felt loved.
And then, he blacked out.
He hoped that…sensei will make it alright.
A/N: It is too early for deaths. I so love this chapter. Thanks to those who review the chapters regularly! :D And to those who don't, thanks for reading! Oh don't think that I am demanding for reviews, no! I just enjoy reading them. :)
