Kakashi left the training field frustrated and annoyed... Scratch that he was pissed. In all his years as a ninja he had never been placed on a mission with absolutely no information given. Yes, while in ANBU he might have been given little information, a name of a target, but not the reason for the death to be ordered. That was fine, it was something, it was a string to hang on to. What had Sakura told him about this mission that they were leaving on? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Only the day that they would be leaving. He tried to get her to give out any information, but she just said that he would receive a scroll upon their departure. Hell, he didn't even know where they were going. He grit his teeth as he jumped from roof to roof to his apartment.
He threw open the door of his apartment and slammed it shut with a huff. Perhaps a shower would help calm him? So he undressed the letting his cloths fall as he walked to his bathroom. The pelting water did help relieve his tired muscles but did nothing about his foul mood. He stood there under the falling water staring at the white tiles of his shower. He felt as if he was being treated like a genin, not trusted. Told to just blindly follow. That was not something that he was known to do. Not for a long time that is. Seriously, he had proven his worth to his village... well, it seemed he did not with her... He sighed as a shiver ran up his back causing goose bumps to raise on his skin. The water was beginning to chill, he had spent too much time spacing out.
He quickly got himself dressed, then gathered the clothes on the floor tossing them into the hamper. He stood in the middle of his living room and looked around. He was restless but he didn't know what to do. There really was no need to clean his apartment, he was good on groceries, he just got back from training, and for some reason Icha Icha just didn't sound appealing. Frowning he threw himself on the couch and turned on the TV. There was nothing on that was interesting, but he kept flickering through the channels to see if there was something he missed. By the time he cycled through all of his options four times, he gave up and just left on a documentary about elephants on.
He laid on the couch and just stared at the TV, just staring but not watching. His mind kept going back to the fact that his partner was withholding information. All the fucking information. Not just about the mission either. About everything that was happening. He glared at the elephant who was rolling in the mud on the screen. At least some one was having a good time.. Fucking elephant. His agitation at the large mammal was broke when the sharp knock at his door made him jump. Before he had the chance to even respond his door opened and in stalked Genma.
"Hey Hatake," The man walked over and flopped down on the arm chair next to the couch.
"Why, yes Genma come in and make yourself right at home." Kakashi said flatly, raising his brow as he looked over at the senbon user.
"Pft, I knew you were home and that you would probably ignore the knocking." He smirked as he pushed the ever present senbon from one side of his mouth to the other.
"Probably right." he sighed as he let his head fall back onto the arm rest and closed his eyes.
"Elephants huh?"
"Yup."
There was a few moments of silence, Kakashi just laid on the couch with his eyes closed and Genma pretended to be interested in the development of an elephant calf. Kakashi finally let out a long sigh and looked over at Genma.
"What do you need?"
"What? I can't visit a friend?"
"Hmmm."
"Okay... Gai found out that you are back. He's a little hurt that he hasn't seen you yet, so he wants to get everyone together and head out to bar." Kakashi cringed at the mention of his rival. It wasn't that he didn't want to see Gai, it was just that since the war ended he didn't know how to act around the man. For well over twenty years he was use to seeing him jumping around and running as if he had all the energy in the world. To see the man confided to a wheel chair... it seemed unatural.. and he didn't want to look at him with pitty. "Don't try to get out of this Hatake. He was seriously hurt. I mean the man cried rivers. Literal rivers when he found out."
"Fine what bar?" Kakashi sighed as he sat up.
"Aa... The Falling Leaf. It's on the other side of the village." Genma stood up and stretched smiling down at his friend. "I'll come over and pick you up around eight thirty." Kakashi nodded and watched as Genma walked to the door and waved before leaving.
"KAKASHI! My dear rival has come back to the village! The leaves of our beautiful village drooped with sorrow to have one of it's brightest and strongest leafs gone for such a long time!" Gai yelled as Kakashi entered the bar, pushing his wheelchair over in a vigorous manner. Kakashi smiled and raised his hand to greet the man. While he use to enjoy pretending to not hear him, just to rile him, he now felt that it was a little inappropriate.
"Yo."
"Ah, still soo cool Ka-Ka-shi! Come follow me. We will drink with our comrades and celebrate your return in a youthful manner." He grinned at him and then lifted his hand and giving Genma and him a strong thumbs up. Kakashi just shook his head and followed after Gai. Nothing could hold the man down, now even a wheel chair. They moved through the busy bar to the back of where several tables had been pushed together. It seemed that Gai had gathered most of their comrades. Kakashi waved his hand as he took a seat at the table. Kurenai, Anko, Iruka, Shizune, and Tenzo turned and smiled their welcome.
It was nice to be sitting there in the bar not thinking. Just drinking and listen to his comrades talking to each other. It was a break he wasn't aware that he needed.
"So what have you been up to since you got back Kakashi?" Kurenai asked as she sipped a brightly colored drink.
"Nothing much, been training getting back into the groove of things." He shrugged as he filled up his sake dish again.
"Ah, he has also been hanging around the cyclops. I see you two at the training fields." Anko barked out as she pushed her chair back so it was balancing on the two back legs. Her arms up with her hands behind her head. He let out a sigh, he didn't really want to talk about Sakura right now.
"Come on Anko, you know she doesn't like to be called that." Tenzo sighed. Kakashi glanced over to see a frown pulling at Genma's mouth as he swirled his drink around.
"Aa, well training usually does take a partner." He shrugged. Tenzo furrowed his brows as he looked over.
"Wait. You two are partners?" The wood user asked as he raised a brow.
"Classified."
"Ha! That means you are! Ohh you'll have some fun with that one Hatake! You know what her nickname is right?" Anko yelled down the table.
"Anko enough." Everyone at the table turned to see a stern looking Gai glaring at the snake user. "She is doing the best that she can." His tone was low as he held Anko's gaze. Kakashi eyed the two with muted surprise. It had been a long time since he had seen Gai come off as angry.
"Lighten up wheels. It's not like I was not going to say anything that hasn't been said. Plus, ol one eye deserves to know when he is getting into. Hell it would have been nice to know before. Right Genma? Woods?" She huffed as she slammed down her chair on all four legs. Kakashi let his gaze retract from Anko and Gai over to Tenzo and Genma who were currently scowling at the woman. Her gaze followed Kakashi's and she sighed as she looked at the two men. "Come on, I am not being a bitch. You two know I am behind her. I will always help... but shit being partnered with the suicide queen, well tha..."
"Anko I said that is enough." Gai slammed his hand down.
"Suicide queen?" Kakashi asked as he looked at his comrades who just looked at him with pity. "Why are you calling her that?" He ran his hands through his hair and let his eye stay on Anko. She looked over at him then let her eyes flicker to Gai who was sitting with a deep scowl and his arms crossed over his chest.
"Nothing forg..."
"Because completing what she is doing is more important then her life. She will most likely die out in the field. It's just a drawn out death. She will also die before anything will happen to her partner, or kill herself trying to save them. She holds no regard for her life any more." Genma took a long draw of his drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Kakashi could only sit there and frown at the men. The table grew quite as they all avoided looking at each other, especially at Kakashi.
"What the fuck does that mean?" Kakashi finally growled out. Slowly each person looked at him with a guarded blank face.
"It means that you are not in any regular partnership. No, and you will hear this when you leave on your first mission, or scouting. You are meant to make sure that she is ok, but your life comes before hers. You are not to risk anything for the girl. That if she dies then you seal her or destroy her body. That is why you are there, not to help her, no, to hide whatever secrets she is carrying." Anko took a hearty swig out of her bottle and looked at the faces around her. She put her bottle down with a loud thunk. "What? It's all the truth. That's why we couldn't cut it." She shrugs. "No one wants to sit back and watch her die." She said in a low voice. Kakashi let his eyes wander the table. Everyone was looking away. Then he met Tenzo's gaze who also had a frown on his face.
"The cherry blossom of the Leaf is made of steel. What she does is to protect the village. All of us would give our life for Konoha. I trust that she knows what she needs to do. Every breath that fills her passionate bossum is used trying to rid a threat to us. She is not throwing her life away." Gai said solemnly.
"So you know what it is that she is looking for?" Kurenai looked at Gai with a brow raised.
"I am afraid I do not. Though it must be important."
"Ahh speaking of Cyclops. Over here Sakura!" Anko stood from her seat and waved her arms. Kakashi looked over to see the pink haired woman stalking over the table flanked by Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin.
"Hey, sorry to crash your get together." Sakura said with a tight smile. Kakashi just looked at the girl. He couldn't even force a fake smile on his face. The previous conversation was deeply disturbing and his stomach was in knots from it. No he couldn't smile if what they said was true.
"Aa sweet blossom, no need for apologies, you are always welcome to share our table." Gai flashed his teeth in a large smile.
"Thanks Gai." Sakura's smile soften a bit as she looked at the man. "Anyways, Anko, Yamato, I was wondering if you would be ok if I drew another sample?" She fidgeted a bit with the bottom of her shirt as she looked between the two.
"I thought we were good for at least another week." Tenzo said as he rubbed his forehead.
"Yeah, well things came up. Time sensitive stuff so I need another sample a little sooner then I thought." She sighed.
"We have had more then the one drink limit pre draw, Pinky." Anko said as she took another long draw of sake.
"I can make due. But you two will just really need to drink water...or orange juice and eat." She frowned as she took in all the bottled on the table.
"Alright let's get on with it." Tenzo sighed as he pulled up his sleeve. Sakura gave a curt nod and began to pull out her needles and viles. Kakashi just sat and watched her. She glanced over at him and gave a nod and he returned it back. She seemed off, there was no light banter between her and any one, her brow was drawn and her mouth remained pulled into a slight frown. She seemed agitated, and maybe annoyed. She gathered what she needed from the two and placed the vile into her hip pouch. She murmured a thanks to Anko and Tenzo then walked over to him.
"Don't drink too much, we have training in the morning and it will be no holds bar." She said as she narrowed her eyes him.
"Sure thing," He hoped that the confusion that he was feeling didn't come out with his words, but he was pretty sure some of it leaked out. "Is there something wrong?"
"No.. Nothings is wrong. I just don't want a half assed spar." She huffed. He stiffened at her words. What was up her ass?
"Okay, no problem Sakura-chan." He smiled a fake smile his voice smooth and sweet.
"Sensei." She sneered with a small nod and then turned to leave flanked by Sasuke's old team. He watched her leave, frown pulling at his mouth.
"Looks like you are going to have a good time one that mission,"Anko laughed out. The rest of the table rolled their eyes at the woman who was clearing the rest of her sake bottle.
Kakashi woke up at five thirty the next morning. His head was killing him and his tongue felt like cotton in his mouth. He may have had a bit more to drink then he should have. Actually he had a lot more to drink, just to spite her. He groaned as he pulled himself to a sitting position. Spite... How stupid. She wasn't the one that was going to feel like hell the rest of the day. He sighed as he slowly stood and stumbled towards his bathroom.
The shower brought him back to feeling moderately human, but he still had the general sick feeling and the stiffness of his joints. Training today was going to blow. He walked to the training field slowly sipping on the coffee that he picked up on his way. When he got to the field he was surprised to see that Sakura was not meditating like she had done before, but she was throwing Kunai at a tree. He cleared his throat while walking up, she threw her blade then looked over at him. He was a bit taken back at the look on her face. She looked angry and frustrated. She narrowed her eyes as he walked up.
"You ready to go?" She almost growled out. Before he could respond she was coming at him, and was using chakra. He dropped his styrofoam cup and dodged her fist. Then she kept hurling herself at him, missing and hitting the ground making it crack under her. She stood up and was quickly making hand signs when mud hyena's came out of the ground. Kakashi quickly made the signs and his lightening hounds were going after the hyenas. He looked up to see her throwing a scroll out and out popped... unicorns... fucking ink unicorns were stampeding towards him. Quickly he reached into his hip pouch and pulled out his kunias and threw them at the ink creators, a satisfying popping noise filled the air as he landed a blow. She kept on pushing everything that she had at him, and for the most part he would dodge or reflect whatever she was dealing.
It was like she had gone berserk. There was no game plan in her attacks, no she was just attacking as fast and as strong as she could. She kept up the speed and the ferocity for three hours. Kakashi would not admit it but he was getting tired, and he had barely landed any hits on her. Suddenly Sakura let out a long growl and slammed her fist into the ground with such force that it made the trees that were within a few hundred feet sway or fall. Kakashi stilled and watched her wearily.
She crouched panting staring down at her fist, slowly she looked up at him, still glaring.
"I think that we are done for today." She said as she pulled her hand from the crater.
"What is wrong?" Kakashi asked with a sigh. Sakura just glared at him again.
"Nothing." She curtly said as she walked over to where her pack was and pulled out her pill container and water.
"Don't bullshit me Sakura. You were coming at me like a rabid dog just now, and yesterday you were just as agitated." Sakura didn't look at him just kept on drinking her water bottle. Frustrated he grabbed the bottle from her hand causing some to splash on her face.
"What the fuck Hatake?" She glowered at him as she wiped the water off of her face.
"What the fuck Haruno?" He bit back.
"There is nothing fucking wrong! Damn, I am just getting everything set for the damn mission." She violently shoved her pill container back in to her bag and roughly pulled her water bottle from his hands.
"If you told me where the hell we are going and what we are going to do then, I could help you." He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head slowly.
"There is nothing that you can help with. This is all on me." She sighed as she put her pack onto her shoulder. "We are going to Snow. So make sure that you have warm clothes and get some closed toe shoes." She said pointing to his shoes, "Anyways I got to get back to run some tests. See you here again tomorrow at seven." She quickly made the hand seals and teleported away. Kakashi just stood and snorted at the space she left vacant.
It was well know that Saukura used to be temperamental. She didn't have a good hold onto her anger responses, hell half of the people that she healed was because of the damage that she inflicted. That was something that Kakashi could handle, but the mood swings that she was having now... well he felt like he was getting emotional whiplash from them. It would almost be comforting to see her actually yell at some one and throw a punch that would throw them half way across a training field.
The rest of the day he spent getting ready for snow. He had little when it came to warmer clothes and he owned nothing but his shinobi sandals. He didn't enjoy shopping but at least it gave him something to do and take his mind off of a foul mood Sakura.
Too quickly he was done and once again had nothing to do. Yes he could see if Genma wanted to go to the bar, but he had learned his lesson this morning. Sparring with Sakura while hung over is not something that he wanted to repeat anytime soon. So he found himself on the roof of his apartment reading Icha Icha Violence until the sun disappeared. When it was far too dark to make out the words he just lazed and watched the stars make their appearance in the night sky. That was one thing that he missed about being out on a mission. The sky when he wasn't in a large village. There were always so many more stars when he was deep in the woods. He let out a drawn sigh and continued to try and make out the constellations.
He was pulled out of his astrological musings by the sound of sharp breaths. He sat up and looked over the edge of the roof to see Sakura walking quickly to the stair case of his apartment complex. She had a fist to her chest and her shoulders were heaving in sync with the breaths that she was trying to force into her lungs. She quickly made it up the stairs and right as he was going to jump down from the roof he heard the knocking of a door that was not his. No it was Genma's door she was standing at. In between the pounding he could hear her wheezing and murmuring. After she hit the door for the third time, there was a squeal as it opened.
"Ge...Gen.. Genma," her voice sounded panicked as her breath came in harsher.
"Shit Sakura." He heard the quick footsteps then the door closing. Once again the Copy Nin found himself glaring at the space under the roof that was Genma's apartment. He stood there for a few moments before making his way into his apartment. He laid down in bed but sleep would not come. He was pissed off again. He was pissed off that she wouldn't tell him anything. Not about the mission, but about what was going on with her. He was pissed off that she had a stick shoved up her ass today, he was pissed off at her ANBU nick name, and he was pissed off that she was going to see Genma for comfort. Actually he was really pissed off at that. Not that he had any right to be. Yes he wanted to be with her, but he had not said anything about that to her. But to sit there while she was in his apartment seeking out comfort...
He quickly stood from his bed and made his way to his front door. He stopped himself half way between his and Genma's apartment. What the hell was he going to do? Did he have any right to see what was going on? He chewed on his cheek while he looked at the door. No he didn't. She was not his, so could see who ever she wanted. But the panicked breathing is really what concerned him. Perhaps he could just see if she was alright. Yes, that was a good idea. He walked over and knocked on Genma's door,
"Kakashi," Gemna said flatly. The man looked exhausted.
"I saw Sakura walking over. Is she ok?" Kakashi asked as he shoved his hands into his pockets. Genma took a long breath and sighed it out.
"Yeah she is fine. Sleeping, I think right now." He ran his hands through his hair and yawned.
"You think?"
"Yeah, well she is kinda in the closet." He shrugged."I got her to calm down a bit but she seems to feel the safest there." Kakashi nodded. "Is that all?"
"Yeah, yeah. Have a good night." Kakashi smiled at the man and then turned to walk back to his apartment. When he was about a step away from the door he hear a loud laugh from below, he turned and looked over the railing to the street below to see Sasuke walking with two of his former Taka members: Jugo and Suigetsu. Kakashi raised a brow as he watched the three men walk. Sasuke and Jugo were walking quietly while the shark boy was talking animatedly about something. He tapped hin finger on the railing and let out a small hum. He wanted to talk with Sasuke before he left, why not now? He quickly made the hand signs and body flickered in front of the trio.
"Yo." He said with a wave. The three men jumped a bit but quickly regained their composure.
"Kakashi." Sasuke said with a nod. "Is there something that I can do for you?" He raised a brow.
"Ah, yes there is actually. I would like to discuss something with you. Would you like to come up for some tea?" He asked with a hallow smile. He watched as the two other men looked at the Uchiha with raised brows. His dark eyes darted to his companions then back to Kakashi. "Of course your friends are more then welcome to join. I have a feeling that they know about what I wish to discuss." Suigetsu and Jugo just shrugged and Sasuke gave a curt head nod. Kakashi smiled to them then waved a hand to indicate to follow him.
Once they where in the apartment Kakashi quickly set up a kettle for tea and prepared the leaves. "Do any of you want something to eat?" He asked over his shoulder. They all shook their heads. He took another glance at the men. Their faces reminded him of children who had been caught doing something that they should not have been doing. He just smirked and shook his head.
"I am sure that you didn't invite us in for a late night snack. What is it you wish to speak about?" Sasuke asked as he took a seat at the breakfast bar. Kakashi nodded as he placed a cup in front of Sasuke.
"What is going on with Sakura?" He noted that all three tensed at the question. Also it seemed that Jugo was scowling at him.
"Kakashi I already..."
"I know about her memory, I know that the scans are clear, and that they have no idea what is happening. You do though, don't you?" Kakashi leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms in front of him. Sasuke furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes.
"She told you?"
"Not exactly."
"What do you mean by not exactly?" Jugo spoke up, his usual soft lit hard. Kakashi glared back at him, why was he so concerned?"
"I looked at her medical files." Kakashi shrugged pulling the kettle from the burner as it began to whistle and began to pour water into the cups.
"What do you mean you looked at her files? Those are not accessible to the general public." Sasukes eyes hardened as he watched Kakashi serve the tea.
"Come on, what is really not accessible to a ninja?" He watched as all three of them frowned at him. "She's my partner and I need to know what I will be dealing with. No one has said a word to me about what is going on. Do you really thing that I would just back down? What if something happened on a mission and I don't know what to do?" Kakashi began to sip his tea.
"You really have no right to dig in her medical files." Jugo snorted at him. Kakashi raised a brow at the man, who was now breathing deeply.
"What is it to you anyways? Why do you care?" Kakashi asked Jugo, which only seemed to tick the man off even more. Sasuke stood and placed his hand on Jugo's shoulder.
"Perhaps we should take a breath and calm down outside?" Sasuke said in a stern voice while guiding Jugo to the door. "I'll be back in a minute." Sasuke said as he looked back at Kakashi. They quickly left the apartment and now he was stuck sitting with Suigetsu, who had just thrown himself in the chair that Sasuke had vacated.
"Nice man, let's just go piss off Jugo. Not the smartest idea around." Suigestu smirked and took a long draw of tea.
"Why would he get pissed off about Sakura?" He asked while he scratched his chin. The man in front of him just snorted and shook his head.
"Well she has been helping him since we came to this village. She has developed medication for him to help him with his outbursts... Then when she came back... There is just and understanding. It's hard to explain. She calms him down." He said as he ran his hand through his hair. "Anyways, now a days there isn't much that makes him loose it, but one of those things is Pinky. He can be a bit protective, ya know." Kakashi pursed his lips. No he didn't know and that was driving him nuts. He sighed and drank his tea. They sat for a while in awkward silence sipping their tea until Sasuke opened the door. There was no one that followed and Suigestu raised a brow.
"He went home." Sasuke mumbled as he took a seat next to his other friend. "So you went into her medical file? Pretty shady, especially from the likes of you." Sasuke glared at him and crossed his arms over his chest. Kakashi was about to open his mouth when Sasuke raised his hands. "It was her decision not to let too many people know. It was her choice to tell you. You took that away. You who hides behind a mask and never told us anything about himself. Why do you have to right to do that?"
"I want to help. She was not going to let me. She needs the help too. You told me that. When it comes to something like this, well no I will not apologize about what I did." Kakashi bit at the man. Maybe he didn't have a right, but he had to do something. "Anyways there were times that she had me chained to the hospital. This is really not so different." He shrugged. They and glared at each other for a few moments before Sasuke shook his head and leaned back in his chair.
"Why do you think I would know anything."
"Stop with the bullshit already. I read the files it indicated that a care giver thought that there was something wrong because her dual personality was no longer present. You are looking into that right? I saw the notebook you were working on, and out of Tsunade and Genma, you are the one that would remember her inner. Do you have any ideas?" Kakashi cocked his head and narrowed his eyes at the young man who was glaring at him. Sasuke pursed his lips then took a deep breath.
"Yeah I am looking into it. I don't know where I am going. It seems that there is something off with the chakra in her brain, but I can't tell. You know how the sharingan works, it's not like the Hyuga's. I can't see the path ways." Sasuke sighed
"Why doesn't a Hyuga look at her?" At that Suigetsu snorted a laugh. "What?"
"Oh, you don't know." Suigetsu gave a toothy grin at Kakasi. He just looked at the boy with a raised brow waiting for him to continue. "Well you see the leader of the clan, you know the one that looks like he was born sucking on a lemon, well he forbids any member to have contact with her. He is pissed that she has their blood limit, and the fact that she attacked little Hinata-chan and her sister." The young mans grin slowly became a frown as he talked. Kakashi looked from him to Sasuke who was sitting there with a blank face.
"Attacked Hinata? Why would she do that?" Kakashi asked as Sasuke's emotionless eyes met him. It seemed he had reverted back to what he use to be like for this conversation.
"She was confused. In the genjutsu she was under it made her question friends and enemies. I know anyone that she had thought of as close had tried to harm her in the illusion. I know that she still has issues with it now. Though she can control her reaction better. It took months for her to realize that she was home." Sasuke said with out any inflection in his voice. Kakashi frowned at the returning coldness, but as long as he was giving him information he was not going to comment. He slowly nodded at his former student before his brows began to knit together.
"But she said at the bar a few weeks ago that she as training with Hinata." Kakashi asked as he ran his fingers over his chin and watched as Sasuke quirked a brow at him.
"She lies. She didn't want to fight. We both knew it. Haishi would never allow that, and Sakura would never let Hinata risk getting caught. She has tried but Sakura refuses." Sasuke shook his head slightly and slid down into his chair. Kakashi looked over at the other young man who was now drawing with his fingers with the tea leaves in his cup.
"I thought she had the sharingan." Kakshi stated as he took a draw of his tea. This statement caused Sasuke to sigh and close his eyes.
"Yes, but she also have the Byakugan." Sasuke stopped and regarded Kakashi's surprised face. Yeah he knew there was something off about her eye, though he thought that the white flecks in it were from damage, not a blood limit. A long time ago there were a few Uchiha and Hyuga's that reproduced and the off spring would either have one limit or the sharingan in one eye and a byakugan in the other, but never did they over lap each other. Kakashi frowned as he scratched the side of his head.
"How is that possible?" Sasuke took a deep breath.
"That is one of the things that she is attempting to figure out." Sasuke looked up at his old teacher and drew in his bottom lip while his brow knitted. Kakasi knew he was contemplating on what he was going to say next so he just stood and patiently waited. Finally Sasuke shook his head. "Kakashi, that is only the tip of the ice burg. There is a good reason she is working so hard, and if she does fail... That would be disastrous."
