Chapter 7:
When they entered the woods to meet up with the rest of the group, Neji and Sai both seemed excited about being on this mission. Excited in a good and bad way. They were nervous and thrilled at the same time. When they met up with the rest of the group, they both looked startled. Not because they were around people they couldn't remember very well, but because of the argument that ensued as soon as they found out that Neji and Sai were coming along on the mission.
"Are you insane?!"
"That's what I told him!"
"You can't be serious! Those two on a mission? And of all missions, this one?!"
"Who are you trying to fool?!"
Naruto cringed and Yamato took over to explain what was going to happen. He told Kiba, Ino and Shikamaru that he approved of them being on the mission and went over what they discussed before leaving. Now that everyone was on the same page, they stopped quarreling, but still looked troubled by this decision.
"Sai and Neji are Naruto's responsibility," Yamato told them. "They wanted to come along, but Naruto encouraged them and approved of them coming along."
"I didn't encourage them!"
"He argued to convince me to let them come along. So he bears some responsibility."
Shikamaru frowned. "I still don't think it's such a good idea."
"I agree," said Ino. "What if something happens? I mean, normally, I wouldn't worry about either of them because they're so strong and capable... But like this..."
"Which is why we'll all have to do our part to look after them as well." Yamato wasn't backing down. He had his own reasons for keeping them around for this mission. "Kiba, have you had any luck tracking Kakashi's scent?"
"Yeah," he answered. "Akamaru picked up his scent heading this way. And judging from these tracks, he had a bunch of people with him. They're all on foot and traveling on the ground."
"So they're not using the trees." Yamato looked up. "Could it be because they can't? Could there be traps above us in the branches? Or did they just not want to travel that way?"
"Or they want us to follow them," said Shikamaru.
"Their tracks lead away from where we are now and disappear," Kiba continued. "I think they started using the branches then. Their scent heads in this direction. Should we follow?"
Yamato nodded. "Stay on the ground for now." He looked back at Neji and Sai, knowing they would not be able to travel in the trees the way they used to. They could no longer remember how. "Let's head in that direction for a bit. I'll tell you when to stop and we'll make a plan from there."
They followed Kiba and Akamaru deeper into the woods for several miles.
Everyone was aware of the plan and their mission, but most of them were deeply troubled. Not by the level of difficulty, but by the fact that they would be facing Kakashi. No one was certain of the details pertaining to why he was doing this. No one was certain. Everyone had a theory, but they were only theories. What they needed were answers.
Naruto and Sakura were the most troubled by this. The questions wouldn't leave their minds. Why was he doing this? Was he under some sort of jutsu? Did he betray them? Had he gone rouge? Was he undercover? Did he have amnesia as Naruto theorized? Was he being blackmailed? Had he been threatened? Why? Why?
"Stop!" Kiba shouted and everyone halted.
"What's wrong?"
Kiba was watching Akamaru closely. His dog was on edge. He could sense something. Kiba was uneasy as well, but he didn't have all of Akamaru's keen senses so he had to rely on him for more information. Akamaru turned to his partner and whined.
Everyone stood by, waiting for answers.
Finally, Kiba turned to the rest of the group. "He's sensing something. I think we're close to wherever they're hiding."
"Then we could be by their hideout," said Sakura. "We need a plan of action. How are we going to work this?"
"If we stumble upon their hideout, we could take them by surprise. If they're there. They might not be and we might be heading into a trap. We don't know their numbers either." Yamato had to think of a plan that would keep Neji and Sai safe while also being able to carry out the mission given to them. "Alright, let's stop here and get a plan together."
Everyone gathered around.
Sai and Neji looked at each other with similar feelings. This was a bit exciting. Being on a ninja mission was pretty cool and they both wanted to contribute. They were also a little scared and unsure of what to do. Nevertheless, they huddled up with the rest of the ninja and listened in on the plan.
"As Tsunade pointed out," said Yamato, "Kakashi might be under some kind of Genjutsu. Which means the caster could be among those he's traveling with. However, he may not be. We're also unaware if any or all of those ninja are also under the same jutsu. We must be careful. This makes fighting them a lot harder."
"So how are we supposed to fight them?"
"I think the best way is to-"
Akamaru gave a sharp bark, gaining everyone's attention. He was looking above them, into the tree branches.
The group sprang apart and looked up. They were surrounded by the enemy.
"Well, well, looks like a bunch of Leaf ninja. How's about that?"
"A bunch of young ones, too. I thought they would have sent some tough adults out for a mission like this. The Leaf must be desperate."
"A bunch of snot-nosed little brats. How insulting."
Shikamaru looked into the branches, counting. "Six," he said. That was the exact number of ninja seen leaving the village after the attacks.
Without their hoods, their faces were much clearer. A couple of tan-skinned ninja, one with his hair in short, tight braids, a pale one in light clothing, a man in green and brown clothing and a man with dark brown hair and dark blue clothing.
Among them was a familiar face. A face covered with a mask.
Naruto and Sakura stared at the masked face of their sensei with pleading eyes. It couldn't be possible that he was with the enemy. He would never hurt them. He always said that he would protect them with his life.
Kakashi was looking at the rest of the group from the branch he was sitting on. "So, who wants what?" he asked in a snide tone. "You want the mutt?"
"Ah, don't give me the dog, man. Why don't you take on the girls? They should be easy enough for you to handle."
"Come on, don't give me the weaklings."
Another ninja spoke up from a different branch. "Let's not quarrel over such things. Let's just take them out."
"Good thinking."
"I'm for that."
"Just pick whichever ones you want. It'll be a free-for-all."
Shikamaru started to stretch his shadow silently into the trees to snare the ninja above. While they were busy chatting about the upcoming battle, he would stop them before anything happened. So far, none of them had noticed.
"Enough of this. I'm heading in!" A ninja jumped down before the shadow could latch onto his and landed on the ground. "Are we going to talk or are we going to fight?"
"Look at that fool," laughed one of the men in the tree. "Dive right in and see what happens."
"At least I'm doing something other than running my mouth." The ninja set his sights on Ino and drew a long blade from his belt. "This one looks easy."
"In a couple of ways, am I right?" another ninja laughed from above.
Kakashi joined him in a cruel chuckle. The other ninja laughed as well.
Naruto frowned, seeing Kakashi laugh so cruelly. This wasn't like him at all.
Suddenly the ninja's weapon stopped mid-swing. His whole body was frozen. "What the hell?"
"Ino, get back!" Shikamaru warned. He had his shadow keeping the man at bay but it wouldn't last for long. The rest of his shadow was heading for the others at that very moment. He needed to hold this one still and snare the others at the same time.
"I see..." said the ninja beside Kakashi. He looked at the trunk of the tree and saw the shadow stretching right for his. "Seems this kid has a few tricks up his sleeve. Not a problem."
With a flick of his wrist, he sent several shuriken from his sleeve towards Shikamaru while his back was turned.
"Shikamaru!"
Yamato quickly blocked with an arm of wood just in time. The weapons sank into the wood and Shikamaru was spared.
"A wood-style?" said one of the ninja. "Impressive."
"Not impressive enough," said Kakashi. "To save that brat, he's left himself wide open for another attack. What an utter fool."
Naruto couldn't believe it. It was impossible. It was all wrong.
This wasn't the man he once knew. This couldn't have been him.
Kakashi's normal sleepy eyes had been replaced by sharp ones full of malice. He did not look like the Kakashi they knew. He wasn't the same. Even his tone had changed. When he spoke to them, he did so in a mocking manner. He was a completely different person.
In fact, he was so different, Naruto was almost convinced that this couldn't have been the real Kakashi. It must have been an imposter, no matter how many times he was told it was the real person he once called sensei. It couldn't have been. His sensei might have teased them from time to time but he was never cruel in doing so. It was either to have a little fun or to teach them a lesson and not in a mean way. He wanted them to learn something and get better. What he was doing now wasn't the same.
Kakashi jumped from the tree and landed somewhere out of sight.
"My turn." Another ninja took aim at Shikamaru from a different angle and threw a kunai at his neck.
Yamato stretched out the wooden arm to catch it.
At the same time, something came out of the ground under his feet. A pair of hands reached out and grabbed Yamato's ankles and pulled him underground.
"Captain Yamato!" Sakura cried out.
"Ahh!" Shiakamaru yelped as the kunai sank into his shoulder. He managed to move just far enough so it wouldn't hit him in the neck but he wasn't able to avoid it completely.
"Nice!" One of the ninja from above jumped down and went straight for Shikamaru.
It was everything Shikamaru could do the maintain the jutsu on the man he had already caught. The pain in his shoulder had caused him to lose control of the shadows creeping up the trees but he managed to maintain his control over this one.
Kiba and Akamaru both moved in to protect him. "No way you're getting past us!"
"I beg to differ!" A second ninja had shown up behind Kiba and Akamaru. Akamaru quickly turned to protect Kiba's back and bit the man's arm. Instead of yelling in pain, the man smirked. "Simple-minded dogs are too easy."
The man raised a knife and stabbed Kiba's beloved partner, seemingly in the throat. Akamaru yelped, releasing his hold on the attacker.
"Akamaru!" Kiba spun around to check on his companion. At that same moment, the man he had been facing kicked him in the stomach and sent him backwards.
"What else you got?"
Sakura couldn't stay standing stunned forever. She had to do something to help. She started to move in, but she was already caught in a trap. The ground under her feet split open and Kakashi appeared behind her. He wrapped his arm around her neck and the other one across her chest.
Kakashi laughed cruelly and pressed his forearm into her neck, cutting off the air to her lungs. She tried to reach up to grab his arm, but the other one wrapped across her chest kept her arms from reaching.
"What a weak little girl you are," Kakashi hissed in her ear. "Pathetic."
Naruto's body wouldn't move. Seeing Kakashi like this was so unreal. None of it made any sense. It was like a bad dream. Though he saw Sakura was in danger, he couldn't bring himself to move. Everything in him was frozen.
Fight. Fight. Fight!
He had to fight. Gaining the feeling back in his legs, Naruto moved in to protect his friends. He grabbed Kakashi from behind and pulled a fistful of his hair.
"Ow!" Kakashi jerked his head back and forth and staggered about. It was hard to keep balance with someone on his back like this. Sakura was able to free one of her arms and punched Kakashi in the jaw. Naruto was able to yank Kakashi off her completely and they fell backwards, Kakashi landing on top of him.
The man in the tree saw Kakashi go down and decided to help. "Fire Style, Flame Shuriken!"
Kakashi rolled out of the way and left Naruto on the ground to burn. Naruto was engulfed in flame but instead of being charred, he vanished in a puff of smoke. It had been a clone.
"Where'd he go?" Kakashi looked around and saw Sakura standing in front of him. She wasn't attacking. Kakashi didn't understand why she hesitated, but she was an enemy so he had to strike if he had the chance. "Fire Style, Fireball Jutsu!"
Sakura threw up her hands to protect herself. She was able to avoid most of it but her right arm got badly burnt by the jutsu. She cried out in pain and fell to one knee, holding her seared flesh.
Rather than show any concern, Kakashi smirked and moved in to finish her off. He drew a kunai and ran forward. Sakura turned her attention away from her wound and saw Kakashi coming right for her. She was unable to move, just as Naruto had been. She just sat there and watched him come closer with every intention of killing her.
Just then, someone tackled him from the side and they both went tumbling into the brush. Kakashi rolled to his feet and stood up. Naruto pushed himself up and stood in front of him.
"You again," Kakashi said in an annoyed tone.
Naruto panted but said nothing.
Kakashi held his weapon in front of his chest. He expected a fight.
Naruto wouldn't give it to him. "Kakashi-sensei."
Kakashi blinked and looked at him with eyes Naruto wasn't used to.
His weapon didn't move and he didn't speak. They only stared at each other.
At the same time, the ninja battle was nearing a sudden end. "Fall back!" Yelled one of the men.
"We've done enough damage, it seems. Later!"
The ninja all started to flee, including the one freed from Shikamaru's jutsu. No one bothered to follow them.
Kakashi opened his mouth to speak, then noticed that his team was in retreat. He gave Naruto a warning look and followed them into the woods.
Naruto did not follow. He didn't know what to do.
He turned back to check on the group. "Is everyone ok?"
Shikamaru was being patched up by Ino and Sakura endured her painful burns until she was finished checking on Kiba and Akamaru. Yamato dug his way out of the earth to join the rest of the team.
"Is everyone alright?" he asked them. "Where are Neji and Sai?"
Naruto's heart started racing. He had completely forgotten about them the second Kakashi showed up. "Neji! Sai! Where are you?"
"Over here."
Naruto turned and saw them both unharmed, hiding behind a tree. They were shaken up by the fight they had just witnessed but neither of them begged to go home.
"Akamaru's going to be fine," said Sakura. "It's a shoulder wound. Not his neck. He's going to be ok."
Kiba breathed a sigh of relief and stroked his partner's fur. "You had me worried, boy. Thanks for having my back, though. You did great."
Sakura then turned her attention to her own injuries. She started to treat her burns with her medical jutsu. As soon as she started treatment, she winced and whimpered. She pushed on to treat her injury, tears rolling down her face. She was crying, but not just from the wound. It was from knowing who caused it.
Kakashi had intentionally burned her. The person who swore to protect her. Her own sensei had burned her.
Why? Why?
Naruto watched Sakura cry as she treated her wound. He clenched his fists and turned his head in the direction Kakashi had left. Then he turned back to look at his friends. For a while, none of them spoke.
The battle only lasted a couple of minutes, but it had left a lot of damage. Inside and out.
Now everyone was wondering what they should do. They were all wondering about Kakashi.
Why? Why?
Naruto grit his teeth and looked at the ground.
Why?
Far away, in the middle of nowhere, there was an underground building full of different rooms and passages. Parts of this labyrinth were so well furnished and maintained that it didn't look like it was underground at all, while other areas made it obvious. The training room was one of them. It looked like a large cave with a high ceiling. However, other rooms had wooden walls and floors, such as the kitchen and the bedrooms.
Kakashi passed all these rooms on his way to a specific location with the rest of the group. They were meeting a man named Seigi at the end of this long hallway.
When they arrived, they all knelt on the ground in deep bows before his throne.
"So you've returned," came Seigi's voice. "How was it?"
"They sent some young ones for this mission," said one of the ninja. "I counted eight in total. Nine if you want to count the ninja mutt they have with them. Only six took part in the actual fight. The other two ran off and hid. I'm not sure what role they play in this mission. They didn't seem to know what they were doing so they could be easy targets."
"Agreed."
Another ninja lifted his head slightly to look at Seigi. "Your prediction was correct as always, Master Seigi. Just as you thought, they sent ninja out to find us. We've already tested their skills and seen much of their jutsu. Do we have permission to pick them off now, Master Seigi?"
"Not just yet, Yari. But soon I will give the order. I want to see what else they have to offer. Once we know more about their skills, it'll be easy to take them down. Then the Leaf will send more our way. That is how we will defeat the Leaf. Once this group is gotten rid of, they'll send more to avenge them or to investigate what happened. Then we'll take that group out and the next one that follows. Soon, the Leaf will have a shortage of ninja and that's good news for us. We'll be able to defeat them with ease."
Another ninja smirked. "How brilliant, Master Seigi. Taking on an entire village with our few numbers is a massive task and a bit foolish. But taking them down in smaller groups will cripple the Leaf. You are so wise."
"Yes, I know." Seigi waved his hand in the air. "You are all dismissed for now. Prepare to leave for the next attack when I summon you."
"Yes, Master!" the group said at once and bowed their heads low once more before leaving the room.
The group went out into the hallway, chatting excitedly about the battle ahead and the one they just finished.
"This group will be easy to defeat. We're just sizing them up right now. Wait until they get a load of our true power."
"You sure talk big, Yari, but wait until the battle actually begins. You'll have to keep up with me."
"Look who's all high and mighty. Yo, did you guys hear what Hebi just said? He's nothing but a lot of talk."
"So are you, Yari."
"I know I'm better than you. You and Supaisu, Suzume and Kakashi. Get ready to eat my dust."
"I say we make a bet. Whoever takes down the most Leaf ninja wins."
"What about whoever takes them down faster? I think that's much better."
"I agree. Plus, the faster you take them down, the more ninja you'll be able to battle."
"If you can call it a battle. These guys are jokes."
"Then it will be easy. Maybe we'll get a challenge with the next group they send."
"I sure hope so."
Kakashi hung back from the rest of the group, his eyes on the floor. One of the ninja saw this and slowed his pace so he could speak with him.
"Doing ok, Kakashi?"
He glanced up. "Fine."
"Oh? Because you're looking kind of troubled."
"Prying into my personal life again, are we, Shizuka?"
He shrugged. "Like you have a life outside of our circle."
Kakashi glared at him.
"Touchy." Shizuka leaned closer. "Come on. I know you're upset about something. What is it?"
Kakashi sighed. "It's that boy. The one with blond hair. I saw him that night we left the village and again today with that group."
"So what?"
Kakashi lowered his voice. "He knew my name."
Shizuka frowned. "What?"
"He called me by it as we were leaving the village." Kakashi sighed. "I've never met him before so how could he have known my name?"
"Maybe someone slipped and called out to you as we were leaving the village. I bet it was Yari. Guy can't keep his mouth shut."
"Maybe. But the weird thing is how he called my name. He called me Kakashi-sensei."
Shizuka burst out laughing. "You? Really? Ha! Oh, that's rich. You, a sensei? You couldn't even teach a dog to bark."
Kakashi kicked him. "Calling me an idiot?"
"I ain't calling you sensei, that's for sure."
Kakashi lowered his head and looked away.
Shizuka observed his troubled expression and grew serious. "Maybe the kid mistook you for someone else."
"How many people look like me and have the same name? Coincidence has to end somewhere."
"Perhaps. I'm just trying to figure out why he would call you that." Shizuka lowered his voice. "Why didn't you tell the boss?"
"I don't want anyone to know."
"I'll respect that. This is just between us friends," Shizuka told him. "Try to put it out of your mind if you can."
"I'd like to know why he called me that."
"If you want my opinion, I think it's because one of us called out to you the other night and the kid heard us. We're supposed to keep our identities hidden for the most part, but someone was bound to slip. And that brat probably added the 'sensei' part because he's a kid. He probably calls all adults by that title."
"I guess that makes sense."
Shizuka smiled. "Better, Kakashi-crybaby?"
Kakashi kicked him in the shin.
"You know I was just teasing!"
Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle a little.
Shizuka limped after him. "So, what are you getting for lunch? I'm starved."
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