Chapter 4

(SAKURA DOES NOT KNOW KAKASHI'S STORY)

Kakashi woke up covered in sweat and panting. His hands were trembling as he stared at them. He looked up at the ceiling. He got up quickly, stumbling in the dark. He made his way to the bathroom. He turned the lights on and rushed to the sink. Turning the faucet on with warm water rushing out, he put his hands under scrubbing roughly. Tears brimmed his eyes. "It won't wash off!" He cried out repeatedly. Kakashi stared at his hands under the water the blood dripping but never truly washing away in his eyes. Kakashi dropped to his knees, he pressed his forehead to the cabinet door and let the tears cascade down his cheeks. He took a deep breath and composed himself. He slowly got up. He trudge to his room. He groaned and looked at the time at his alarm clock, 4:25 am it read. He sat on the bed and dropped his head in his palms. He was tired but he couldn't bring himself to go to sleep. He didn't want to dream of them again, his comrades, his friends. The two plagued his mind constantly. He missed them so much. He couldn't believe he was so stupid and how he broke his promise. Kakashi slowly got up from his bed and dragged himself to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face. He put on his usual outfit and headband, running a hand through his messy hair. Once he was done he grabbed his bag and filled it with some ninja tools, food, toothbrush, extra clothes, his icha icha books, and his bedroll and a few other necessities. He grabbed some snack bars from his cabinet stuffing them into his bag. He headed outside closing the door behind him. He jumped down from his balcony and stuffed his hands into his pockets. He walked slowly to the a small field of flowers and picked some. He continued walking looking up at the clear sky with small clouds passing by. He sighed. He walked towards his destination, the graveyard. He wanted to go to see his comrades, his friends, Rin and Obito. He made his way easily. When he arrived, his first destination was Rin's gave. He found it easily since he has been here so many times before. He stood before her grave. He placed a few flowers down in front of it just stared at it. He thought of the past, what could have been. He always thought that if he was just faster to stop it, she would be okay. He froze, he felt like time had stopped in front of him, that it wasn't real. He couldn't have failed so badly. It was unforgivable. He didn't get why he couldn't stop himself. He could picture it clearly, his chidori, it was threw her. He pierced her heart. He was going for an enemy and she jumped in front of him. He couldn't stop it. It happened so quick. He was supposed to protect her. He promised he would and he failed. He wished it was him who had died. Kakashi stood up and walked over to Obito's gave, the memorial stone. He pressed his hand against the stone, feeling the cold stone through his glove. He placed the rest of the flowers down in front of it. He apologized to Obito. He remembered how he was saved by him, Obito's half crushed body under the rock instead of his. Obito saved him when he fell after getting hit by a rock on the left side of his head since he has just lost his left eye before then. Obito ran back for him and threw him to safety when the rocks started falling around them and a huge boulder fell on him. Obito had given Kakashi his Sharingan as a gift before Kakashi and Rin had to escape before they were crushed. Kakashi looked up at the sky and decided it was probably time to meet up with his team for the mission. He left the cemetery and made his way to the villages gates.

Of all people I had to go on this mission. I don't want to pretend to be her fiance. It's not my style. These type of missions are not for me. The clouds are nice though, good weather. I wonder what's going to happen next in Icha Icha. Things were getting pretty intense with the handmaid and the others. I wonder what's going to happen with her and the prince, if they will see each other again after this. Hmm I wonder if I packed enough masks. I wonder how long we'll be gone. Ugh I hope this won't be a slow mission.

Kakashi's two teammates were already waiting for him. Sakura stood facing away from Sasuke with her arms crossed while Sasuke leaned against a tree with his eyes closed and arms crossed. Sakura noticed Kakashi and gave a small wave which he returned with a two finger salute. Sasuke and Kakashi just nodded at each other. The trio exited Konoha and made their way to the Village Hidden in the Waterfall. Kakashi had noticed Sakura's bruises were gone and wondered what made her change her mind about the bruises. It was going to be a two day trip. Kakashi led Sasuke and Sakura out of the village in silence. They walked at medium pace, not really in a rush. Sasuke kept glancing at Sakura, watching her gaze at the ground. Sasuke looked forward at Kakashi who was just reading his Icha Icha book. Sasuke kept walking. "Hey Sakura," Kakashi called back as Sakura made her way to him. "You should pick a fake name for when we get there. Mine will be Katashi Nakamura." Kakashi stated. Sakura brought a finger to her chin thinking for a moment.

"What about Rin?! She asked excitedly at the name. Kakashi stopped walking.

"What?" Kakashi's mouth dropped open slightly, thinking he misheard Sakura.

"I said 'What about Rin?'" Sakura repeated enunciating each word as she rolled her eyes as she looked at Kakashi who was a couple steps behind her. Sasuke was next to Sakura at this point. Kakashi sighed and put a smile on his face behind his mask making his eye crease and rubbed the nape of his neck.

"Can you pick a different one?" Kakashi asked.

"But I like Rin. What's wrong with it?" Sakura asked backed putting her hands on her hips as she pouted while Sasuke crossed his arms.

"Well it's just, it's so common, why not pick something unique?" Kakashi lied knowing it wasn't very common at all. Sakura was about to protest but Sasuke beat her to it.

"I never heard of it and if it is common, you'll blend in more. Let her use it." Sasuke argued. Kakashi sighed once again knowing that Sasuke was right.

"Fine, lets go." Kakashi stated, his voice lower than before. He walked ahead of Sasuke and Sakura in silence for a while. As they continued their journey, they jumped from tree to tree making great time to their destination. Kakashi spotted a small clearing up ahead and thought to himself that they could stop there for the night. They had gotten very far and they would make it to the village by tomorrow night. The trio had gotten to the clearing and before Sakura and Sasuke continued jumping Kakashi told them to stop so they could rest in the clearing for the night. Sakura sat against a tree while Sasuke went off on his own to gather some wood. Kakashi leaned against his own tree with his arms behind his head. The two sat in silence. Birds were still chirping. The sky was getting dark enough that you could start seeing the stars in the sky.

Sakura's POV

I looked at the sky, admiring the stars as I listened to the river that was close by. I closed my eyes and sighed quietly to myself. I could hear Kakashi turning the pages of his Icha Icha book and rustling of leaves as a nice breeze blew by. I heard footsteps approaching and my eyes snapped open looking in the direction the sound was coming from. Sasuke was back. He dropped the wood in the center of all of us. He lit the fire. He walked over to a tree that wasn't to far from me. He sat down one leg in front of the other with his arm draped over it. I reached into my pack and pulled out a lunchbox. I got up and walked closer to the burning fire. I sat down and started eating my food. Kakashi did the same thing since he sat down on my right and Sasuke now on my left. I noticed Sasuke's food beside him. It was contained in the box I had personally made for him. I smiled as he lifted his food into his lap and started eating. Kakashi had already finished his food and I was almost done with mine. I looked to the sky and saw the moon shining brightly as the fire flickered casting shadows against the tree. I went to my bag and pulled out my sleeping bag. I unrolled it on the floor and Sasuke moved to do the same against a farther tree. Kakashi sat by the fire poking at it. I laid in my sleeping and put my head down. As I closed my eyes, I heard Sasuke speaking, "Shouldn't you put out the fire now Captain?" He scorned. Kakashi's laugh filled the air as it got darker around us. I saw Kakashi walked to the tree next to me and got his sleeping gear out as he was about to lay down. I let my mind drift as I fell into a light slumber.

Sakura bolted up from her sleep breathing heavily as she looked around frantically. Her chest was rising and falling quickly as she wiped the sweat from her brow. "It was just a dream, it's still dark." She whispered quietly to herself. She got up quietly and careened over to the nearby river. Sakura sat down on the grass in front of the river, staring at her reflection. She pulled her knees close to her chest and rested her head on her arms as she hugged her legs.

I couldn't save them. I was useless. I can't believe I let that happened. God! I would've gotten caught if it wasn't for Kakashi. Why? Why couldn't he just come a little earlier and helped save the others too or at least come later and let me die too. I'm such a failure. Ugh and here I am complaining. Im freaking terrible. How could I- "Sakura?" Sakura whipped her head around standing up as she did.

"Kakashi?" She breathed. Sakura's hand was trembling in front of her as it fisted against her chest. She quickly hid it away behind her back.

"Sakura, you can't just go off on your during a mission. You have to at least let me know." Kakashi stated authoritatively as he crossed his arms over his chest. Sakura glanced down at the ground.

"Sorry, Captain." She apologized as she gazed into his eye. Kakashi just stared for a moment before coughing and looking away.

"Well-" He turned his back to her, "Let's just get back to camp." Kakashi started walking leaving Sakura to catch up. They walked back camp silently. Sasuke was still laying down with his eyes closed. Kakashi and Sakura both went back to their sleeping bags. Sakura closed her eyes and Kakashi stared up at the sky. Kakashi listened to Sakura's breathing as it got lighter. Sasuke sat up leaning against the tree.

"Where did you two go off too?" Sasuke asked.

"Were you up this whole time?" Kakashi retorted. Sasuke stared off into the distance, his arm hanging over his lifted leg.

"Yes." Sasuke answered honestly. Kakashi stared at him as if he had three heads.

"She went to the river and I went after her when I noticed she wasn't here because as captain it's my job to know where my teammates are." Kakashi finally answered. Sasuke hmfed not wanting to bother talking anymore. Kakashi and Sasuke both kept watch letting the other sleep for at least two hours before switching up again till morning came.