Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. All rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
Chapter 4
"Damn you, Kakashi," Genma bellowed as he swept down beside him. Kakashi felt Pakkun sink his teeth into his hand. "Let go you fool!" Genma said as he struggled to get Kakashi to release the knife.
Kakashi looked at his friend with disbelief. He couldn't figure out how he found him so fast. Looking down at his hand, Pakkun had his jaws locked and hindering him from moving. Kakashi growled his frustration. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" he fumed.
"Not a chance, Hatake," Genma snarled, "There is no way I'm letting you do this." If not for you, for Sakura and Obito's sake. Are you mad? Don't you remember what you went through as a child? How can you be so selfish?"
Kakashi tried to move his hand so he could cut across his abdomen, but it wouldn't budge. The only thing he could do is move the blade deeper. Genma quickly realized what his friend was trying to do and slugged him in the face. Kakashi gasped in pain and released the knife. He roared his frustration as Genma quickly subdued him. Looking over at Pakkun, he couldn't believe his trusted ninken turned on him and disobeyed his orders.
The small pug pitifully looked at his master knowing that he was furious with what he did. Kakashi was not in his right mind and he would thank him later once he could think clearly. Pakkun couldn't believe that Kakashi wanted to the same thing his father did. He remembered what Kakashi went through after he found his father. Didn't he remember the pain he went through? Why would he do this to his own son?
Genma looked down at his friend and realized that he was bleeding profusely. Kakashi was going in and out of consciousness due to the loss of blood. Genma yelled to Pakkun to get to the hospital to tell Tsunade about what happened as he brought him back to the village. The small dog nodded and took off. Genma packed the wound as best as he could, and picked up his unconscious friend. "You better hang in there after all I've gone through to stop you from doing the most stupidest thing you have ever done in your life," he yelled at the unconscious man.
Tsunade was sitting in the conference room at the hospital. She had just finished her monthly meeting with the staff and was enjoying the quiet for a moment. As she drank her tea, she wished she had some sake right now. The meeting was long and tedious. Too bad Shizune had hid her last bottle. With a heavy sigh, she started packing up her paperwork. When she looked down, she saw Pakkun appear in front of her. He quickly told her what happened and that Genma would be coming to the hospital soon with Kakashi. Tsunade looked down at the pug in disbelief. Pakkun gave her the letter that Kakashi had given him to deliver to her. She opened the letter and read it quickly. Tsunade swore as she read it. She thanked the pug and then screamed for Shizune to get the team ready for Kakashi's arrival.
Genma appeared with Kakashi slung on his back. The medics swarmed over them and took Kakashi into the trauma room. Genma just watched as they disappeared into the room. He sank down to his knees and ran his fingers through his hair. The events of the past 30 minutes finally hit him. Why didn't Kakashi come to him before he did this? He would have helped his friend no matter what. Were things so desperate that he had to sink to this? Genma's thoughts went to Sakura. He didn't want to be the one to tell her what Kakashi did. She was so happy lately. All he could do is shake his head in disbelief.
Shizune came up behind him and put her arms around him. It had to be hard to see someone so close to you do something so destructive. Genma looked up at her and weakly smiled. He looked like a mess. His clothes were soaked with Kakashi's blood. As Shizune faced him, he grabbed her and held her tight. "Why, Shizune, why?" he breathed.
She held him as he voiced his frustrations about what had transpired and the exasperation he felt that Kakashi didn't feel comfortable enough to come to him for help. As she listened, she realized how helpless they really were when things like this happened. Her thoughts turned to Sakura and Obito. What would have happened if Genma wasn't there to stop him? She shuddered at the thought. Shizune kissed Genma to comfort him. They had been a couple for a few years now. He was always there for her when she had tough days at the hospital. Now it was her turn to be there for him.
Tsunade finally came out of the room after she stabilized Kakashi. He had nicked his liver so it had made it difficult to stop the bleeding. She didn't even want to think about the trouble he would have caused if Pakkun and Genma hadn't been there in time. Part of her was angry that Kakashi could have even thought of doing this to Sakura and Obito. Tsunade shook her head in disbelief as she made her way from the room. She knew Kakashi was depressed but never in her wildest dreams did she expect him to do this. Part of her was furious that he would even consider hurting Sakura and Obito by his actions. Of all people, he should know the pain of losing someone close to suicide. Another part of her truly felt regretful for the pain he must be feeling. She knew he wasn't thinking straight, and the pain and frustration was clouding his judgment. Tsunade pulled out the note that he sent with Pakkun. The note explained the pain he felt and how he was a burden to Sakura and Obito. He couldn't take being, in his words, "Less of a man." He asked her to take care of them both and make sure they knew that he loved them dearly. Kakahsi also begged her to tell Sakura it was an ambush to save her the hurt of not being able to help him, and to save them from the same fate he endured as a child.
As she looked down the hall, she saw Shizune comforting Genma. Surely, he was haunted by the struggle he went through to save his best friend. It took a lot to do that sort of thing. Hopefully the encounter wouldn't scar the relationship.
Genma looked up to see the Hokage wearily walking down the hall towards them. She looked exhausted. He quickly stood to greet her, anxious to hear about Kakashi's status. Genma desperately needed to hear that Kakashi would survive and that his actions weren't in vain. "So…how is he?"
"Stable. He's sedated right now. I didn't wasn't to take a chance of him stressing his wounds or doing something else stupid." She told the couple about her concern about telling Sakura about what happened.
Genma slammed his fist into the bench he was sitting on. "What the hell was he thinking? Doesn't he know that killing himself will hurt all of us? How did I miss the signs? I never thought he would do something like this. Damn it! I'm supposed to be one of his best friends. I feel like I failed him somehow."
Shizune put her arms around him to comfort him. Genma was really having a hard time with what happened. It was hard for her to believe that Kakashi would go to such extremes. As a medic, she knew that everyone had their breaking points and Kakashi must have reached his. She knew that the silver-hair jounin always had a hard time for asking for help, but figured due to his past, that he would never think of suicide. Right now, she was concerned about Genma. He was having a difficult time with tonight's events. Having the blood of his friend all over his clothes was not helping. She was just glad that Kakashi didn't succeed. She shuddered as she thought of Genma's mental state if Kakashi had followed through with his plan.
Tsunade could see that Genma was distressed over what happened. She thanked him for his quick thinking and told him that he saved Kakashi's life. Turning to Shizune, she instructed her assistant to get Genma home and to take care of him. Wearily, Genma turned and asked the Hokage to take care of his best friend. Tsunade assured him that she would.
As the couple left, Tsunade summoned Hinata to her office. When the dark haired heiress arrived, the Hokage told her of the situation and asked for her discretion. She asked her to find Sakura and watch the baby so Tsunade could talk with her. Sasuke and Naruto burst into the office to tell Tsunade that Kakashi was missing and that Sakura was concerned. Rubbing her temples, Tsunade sighed. She told the men to accompany Hinata and escort Sakura back to her. The two men just looked at each other confused by her request and followed Hinata out the door. Tsunade started preparing herself for the difficult task of telling Sakura about what had happened tonight.
The group quickly found Sakura and Hinata graciously volunteered to watch the baby. As Team 7 left their home, she asked Sasuke and Naruto if they knew what was going on. Both of them told her that they didn't and sped off to the Hokage's office.
Tsunade was waiting for them when they knocked on the door. She bellowed for them to come in. Greeting Sakura, she asked her to sit down. Turning to the two men, she told them to wait outside her office. Confused, they shuffled out the door, pulling it shut.
Sakura looked up at Tsunade anxious to hear why she was summoned to her office so late at night. Tsunade moved to the front of desk to be closer to Sakura. Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself so she could tell Sakura the bad news. "Sakura, I know you are wondering why I called you here. The boys were here earlier and told me that Kakashi hadn't come home yet." Sakura nodded her head nervously. "Sakura, Kakashi is here at the hospital."
Sakura gasped, "Is he okay? What happened?"
"What I need to tell you is difficult for me to say, so I ask that you hold off until I'm done before you ask any questions, okay?"
Sakura nodded apprehensively. Tsunade sat next to her and held her hand. A feeling of dread washed over Sakura. She knew something awful happened. Tsunade had never reacted like this before.
"Sakura, tonight Kakashi tried to take his life. If Pakkun and Genma hadn't arrived when they did, he would have succeeded."
Sakura looked up at Tsunade with a look of shock on her face. Tears started to roll silently down her face. "Are…are you sure, shishou?"
"I wish I was wrong Sakura. I'm in shock myself. Pakkun brought me this letter from Kakashi himself. Pakkun disobeyed his order and found Genma to help stop him." Tsunade handed the letter to Sakura.
With shaking hands, Sakura opened the letter and instantly recognized Kakashi's handwriting. As she read, she could feel his pain. How had she missed his despair? She felt crushed by his words and felling of hopelessness. Sakura closed her eyes as she refolded the letter and handed it back to Tsunade. Suddenly, she started sobbing into her hands. Tsunade put her arm around her to comfort her.
Hearing Sakura's anguished cry, Sasuke and Naruto broke into the room. They looked into Tsunade eyes questioning what was going on. She shook her head silencing them before they could ask.
Drawing closer, Sasuke knelt down next to her and gently put his hand on her knee. Naruto stood beside him not knowing what to do. "Sakura," Sasuke said softly, "Sakura, what's wrong? What can we do to help?"
Sakura looked into her childhood friend's eyes and with a loud wail, grabbed Sasuke tight. He held her as she wept. Sasuke looked up at Naruto. Both of them felt helpless and confused. They patiently waited until Sakura could tell them what was wrong.
The Hokage moved to the other side of the desk with Kakashi's letter in hand, watching her apprentice cry her heart out. She wished that she could take the pain away so Sakura couldn't feel it.
Soon, Sakura calmed and composed herself. She looked at Tsunade and asked if she could see Kakashi. Tsunade nodded to her and summoned one of the medics to come to escort her to his room. Before Sakura left, Tsunade quietly asked her if she wanted her to inform Sasuke and Naruto what had happened. Sakura nodded dejectedly and thanked her master for all she had done to help her family. As Sakura slipped outside the door, Tsunade asked the two men to sit down so she could give them the bad news.
Sakura soundlessly made her way to Kakashi's bedside. She stared down at his now serene face. Tsunade had put him under a slumber jutsu so he wouldn't aggravate his wound. Her hand stroked his spiky locks. His hair was surprisingly soft. She loved to touch it. Sakura gently kissed his forehead then sat next to him on the bed. Taking his hand in hers, she squeezed it tight to let him know that she was there and that he wasn't alone. Part of her was angry that he had done this to their family, but she realized that Kakashi was in immense pain. Still holding his hand, she brushed her cheek against the back of it. She wondered if they would ever be the way they were before the accident. It seemed so long ago. She curled up next to him for comfort and drifted to sleep.
Sasuke and Naruto could not believe their ears. Both of them were dumbfounded by what Tsunade was telling them. Naruto looked over at Sasuke and noticed that his hands were balled up in fists.
Sasuke was doing his best to control himself. Sakura was like a sister to them and they would do anything to ensure that she wouldn't be hurt. What was Kakashi thinking? Why did he want his son to suffer like he did? Taking a few deep breaths, Sasuke calmed himself. Being angry right now wouldn't help anyone. When he finally calmed himself, he turned to Tsunade and asked her what they could do to help. Tsunade told them that all they could do is support Sakura and Kakashi. The hard part was up to them.
