PART FOUR – Face of Evil
Chapter One
Hatake Kakashi was jumping from tree branch to tree branch, his now familiar white shadow of two weeks followed. Hotaru had been quiet most of the morning. Kakashi was debating if that was a good or bad thing. The vixen never seemed to shut up unless another person was close. He was on his second mission since he recovered from the battle with Village Hidden in the Rocks shinobi. The first, Hotaru had traveled with him up to the point where battle was assured and then hidden herself without being asked. Only to reappear once the shinobi he had been battling was secured.
She had been quick to point out it wasn't an act of cowardice, that she knew he could handle a few rogue ninjas and had wanted to make sure he could so with only his own back to watch.
"Cat got your tongue, Hotaru?" Kakashi asked breaking the silence.
"Just thinking to myself, only intelligent conversation I can find anywhere." The barb was said without her usually sassiness.
"What is it?"
"I don't like this mission you are on."
That caused him to pause and glance down at the fox. Kakashi had long ago stopped thinking as missions in anything more then just a job, defending, protecting, and killing they were all the same to him. This particular assignment fell in the last category, an assassination.
"The person I'm going to kill is not a nice person, Hotaru. He's done a lot of evil things."
"Evil in whose eyes?" She asked.
"In the eyes of Konoha and the city official that gave us the mission, this Yashiro Goro is the head of a band of hoods that have ruled the town by fear and killing. We can't turn our back on that; we're protectors … the strongest village of Land of Fire, it's our duty and privilege to do our best."
"I'm not one of your kits … genins. Don't patronize me like that. The man in the picture has kind eyes; I do not think he is the killer he's being painted as."
"It just means he'll smile sweetly as he slits your throat." Kakashi replied as he started the trek once more.
"Just promise me, Kakashi-kun, that you'll look deeper before you play God."
Kakashi didn't answer, because he couldn't make that promise. He had a mission to do and it wasn't to look into the politics of the town. It was to kill a man, this Yashiro Goro, make it look like a natural death and get out. The law keepers would take over after that while his crime organization was reeling from the loss of its boss.
That evening they made camp outside the city that was slightly smaller then Konoha. Kakashi sat cross legged on his bedroll. From his backpack he pulled out their cold dinner. Granola mixed with diced apples and peanuts, a loaf of hard bread and small jar of honey, Hotaru insisted he bring the last item. Cutting the loaf in half, he spread honey on both sides, and offered one to the fox.
"Itadakimasu," she said taking it with her mouth. Placing it on the ground she licked all the honey off before eating the bread beneath it. Afterwards he put some granola in his hand and she delicately ate it, when she was done all that were left were a few peanuts in his palm.
"I don't like peanuts," she told him as he tossed the nuts away.
Later Kakashi stretched out on his blanket, the vixen took her now normal spot lying down on his chest. He still insisted she sleep on the floor when they were at the apartment but didn't press the matter when they were traveling.
"No traps tonight?" Hotaru asked, referring to his ritual of setting up a few wire traps in case he had visitors when he slept.
"I trust your ears to hear them long before they get close enough."
"True enough," she replied settling down.
Kakashi did the same, his arm draped protectively across the back of the small white bundle curled up on top of him. "It's not the same as being part of a shinobi team but I'm glad for the company," he thought to himself. "As Naruto has said many times it sucks to be alone."
Chapter 2
Kakashi moved unseen through the streets, moving from rooftop to rooftop. According to his mission notes Goro would be at a ceremony this morning in 'honor' of all he did for the city. It was one of the few times he allowed himself to be out in the public eye; it was the perfect setup for an assassination.
The throngs below him signaled he had arrived. From his hidden vantage point he took in the scene below. There was a stage; around it was large festive crowd. At first glance he could only pick out a couple of security guards, his Sharingan didn't pick up any hidden ones.
His target sat on the stage, at his side was a slightly built woman, probably his wife. And at his feet were a couple of small children, most likely his grandchildren according to the profile included in the mission papers. Kakashi didn't like the idea of killing him in front of the children but there wasn't another alternative. He took out a small dart gun, not his usual weapon of choice but it was the best tool for this kind of work. The small dart he loaded was made of poisonous crystal that would melt the moment it contacted the warm flesh. Leaving behind its venomous contents but being untraceable. Death would come to the mark moments later; any tests done on the body would point to a heart attack.
Kakashi raised the dart gun, keeping a watchful eye on the children and others so no one would walk into the barb. Just then the mark startled as a small white buddle jumped on his lap.
"Damn it," Kakashi cursed.
He could only repeat his curses as Hotaru's arrival caused squeals of joy from the children and a hearty laugh from Yashiro Goro. The small white fox placed herself up on his chest blocking his neck from any attack. Her pink eyes found Kakashi's and he raised his index finger gesturing her to come.
Hotaru licked the face of Goro and then jumped off the stage. She was chased by the two children for a couple of feet before their Grandmother called them back. A moment later the vixen appeared at his feet.
Kakashi stared at her for a full minute trying to pick his words carefully, below him he could hear the ceremony starting. He still had time to finish his mission.
"That man is not evil, he has never killed a man nor been responisible for the deaths of others. He has no blood on his hands, I can tell by his aura. You and your village has been deceived Kakashi-kun."
The shinobi sighed and rubbed his chin in thought. Hotaru proved she could hear better then any human, there was no doubt she probably had insight to match. It was true Konoha had not heard of any trouble in this city until this mission. If this was as long-term problem as their client had said, why hadn't they heard of it before now?
Going over the mission notes in his mind again he recalled that the client was the chief of police. Glancing down at the crowd, it was easy to spot the few law enforcement officers scattered through out the crowd. The police chief was sitting on the stage on the opposite side from Yashiro Goro. He was looking out at the crowd instead of the speaker, presumably looking for Kakashi and waiting for him to fulfill his objective.
Kakashi pointed him out to Hotaru. "He's the one that gave us the mission, what vibes do you pick up from him?"
The vixen was silent for a moment and then her ears flattened against her head and she let out a small growl. "His aura is the color of blood, death follows where his feet tread."
"Well, he is a police officer, probably part of his job." Kakashi said as he put away the dart gun.
"No … if you want to kill a man, that one would not be missed."
"Well, my furry friend, you have just made this mission a failure. Hope you're happy."
"Would you prefer to have the blood of innocents on your hands?" Hotaru was still watching the scene below. "Are you going to just walk away?"
"My mission was to kill Yashiro Goro. My failure in killing him brings this mission to an end. I'll discuss what you have told me with the Fifth and see if any further actions are needed. I'm not a vigilante."
"You're going tell her, a talking fox told you not to kill him?" Hotaru looked up at him. "You leave and the gentle one will die, the other will find another means."
The crowd below them let out a loud cheer, Kakashi watched as Goro waved to the throng and made his way off the stage. The police chief watched, barely keeping his look of rage in check.
Hotaru was right, not killing him only extended his life for a day or so he was still marked for death. "Alright, I'll go speak to the man with kind eyes and see if I can gather more information before heading back."
"Thank you, Kakashi-kun."
Chapter Three
Kakashi looked down on a small formal garden. Yashiro Goro and his wife were having tea, only a couple of guards lazily looked on. Seems having the assassination planned during the ceremony had very little to do with security and all to do with a public execution. Hatake Kakashi hated being used.
Appearing in front of the couple, he made no move to defend himself as the startled guards reached for their weapons. Goro raised his hand, stopping the sentries from approaching.
"I can tell by your headband you are a Hidden Leaf Village shinobi, what brings you to my humble adobe?"
"I was on a mission to assassinate you." Kakashi answered truthfully.
This got a soft gasp from his wife and the guards once again had to be told to stand down as they grabbed for their weapons.
"Was?"
"My fox friend says you're not evil." Kakashi said gesturing to Hotaru that appeared at his feet.
"Ah, the white fox from earlier … now my grandchildren are begging to have one as a pet. She for sale?"
"As tempting as that offer might be …" He paused a moment when Hotaru nipped his ankle. "No, she's not for sale. Before I return to my village can you tell me why the police chief wants you dead?"
"Ah so it is Kataoka Shiro, I had my suspicions. I'm afraid I got too brazen for my own good. When my employees started to complain about brutality in the police force I decided to look into it. I hadn't found anything concrete yet, but I must have gotten close to something." Goro gestured for him to have a seat. "I've been rude; could I get you some tea?"
"No thank you, though friend here would love some." Kakashi said taking a seat and gesturing toward Hotaru.
His host raised an eyebrow but didn't stop his wife from pouring some tea in a cup and Kakashi set it on the ground, after adding a drizzle of honey. The small fox bowed and delicately darted her tongue out to sip the hot tea.
"How delightful," Goro said with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Goro-sama, I couldn't return home without warning you of the malevolence aimed your way. However, I can't just take upon the role of bodyguard without approval from Konoha." Kakashi said.
"I'm willing to double the amount that crook paid you."
"I'm sorry …"
"How long would it take you to get this approval?" Goro pressed.
Kakashi sighed. "It took me a close to two days to reach here, so close to a week time round trip and I can't guarantee it would be me returning if your request is granted. If the whole police force is behind their chief this may be more then a single jounin can handle."
The man across from him suddenly looked older, defeated. "I understand." His wife let out a soft sob.
Hotaru looked up from her tea and in a whisper only Kakashi could hear said, "I'll bring notice back to your Hokage and return with her reply in a day's time."
"Alright," Kakashi replied. "Do you have some parchment and ink I can have, Goro-sama. I'll send my fox back to the village with a message for the Hokage. And while we wait on a reply I can stay as your guest, hopefully my presence will be enough to keep the wolf at bay. Though, once he knows I am here he'll know he's been betrayed there is no telling how he'll react."
The older man bowed resting his hands on his hands. "Thank you … thank you!"
The next hour both Kakashi and Yashiro Goro composed separate letters to the Hokage. Kakashi explained the events that had transpired leaving out the talking fox part. Goro's letter outlined the particulars of what had been transpiring as well as his financial offer of payment once the mission was complete. Afterwards Kakashi sealed both with a tag only another shinobi of Konoha could break.
Kakashi traveled with Hotaru to the edge of the city. There he tied the scroll with a ribbon around her neck. "If I don't hear from you in seventy-two hours I'm going to abandon this place. As I said before I'm a shinobi not a vigilante."
"Understood … be careful Kakashi-kun."
Bending down to rub her behind the ears he said, "Travel swiftly, my friend."
With a nod she disappeared from under his hand, his eyes couldn't follow her path. Moving back into town, while staying hidden, Kakashi went over the plan for the next couple of days. Goro's extended family might make easy targets; he would have to get everyone under the same roof. However, it seemed like he cared greatly for all his employees and as the owner of a large textile mill he had many, too many for one shinobi to keep safe, even with his Sharingan.
"Perhaps it would be easier to kill the one instead of protect the many, "Kakashi thought to himself grimly. "It's only three days maximum; surely we'll be fine for seventy-two hours."
Chapter Four
The following morning Kakashi watched from his perch on a tree in the garden as his host greeted another one of his relatives. At his request Goro had sent out invites to his family that lived in town. There were his children, a son and daughter with their spouses, four grandchildren, various cousins and a few in-laws. Goro had outlived any siblings and parents.
Kakashi memorized faces as they were ushered within the estates gate. Once in awhile Goro would speak in a hushed voice to one of the males who would then glance up at Kakashi and then usually shake their heads. They were not happy with the predicament they found themselves in but seemed loyal to their family bonds.
Before noon Goro reported all of his relatives had been accounted for and predictably ask about his employees.
"I'm sorry Goro-sama, I can't protect everyone and I'm not even a hundred percent sure I can keep your family safe. But until I receive word from the village otherwise I'll do my best, mission or no mission."
"I can't just shut down the mills, my employees need their salaries. I rebuilt when one of them was burnt to the ground, it was probably Shiro though he said there was no sign of arson. I always knew …"
"Did you call in more guards?"
Goro nodded. "Yes I have twenty men stationed around the wall that surrounds the estate. But they are just hired men; we don't have a hidden village here as you know. So shinobi are few and far between, though … I was told Shiro was one, once."
Kakashi nodded. "Good to know."
"What now?"
"Now we wait, entertain your guests. I'm going to keep myself hidden unless needed."
Yashiro Goro nodded. "Please don't hesitate to ask myself or my staff if you need anything, and thank you again, Kakashi-sama."
Kakashi spent the afternoon concealed in the curve of a comfortable branch of a large tree in the courtyard, flipping through the pages of his book while watching all that went on below him. The children were in one corner of the yard playing with a dog, the men were sitting together playing Go while drinking sake, and the women had disappeared into the house.
Toward the evening a commotion could be heard from the front gate. Kakashi joined the men as the entry was forced open. Four frazzled guards tried desperately to keep three others at bay. Kakashi wasn't surprised to see one of them was the police chief, Kataoka Shiro; the other two were uniformed police officers.
Goro dismissed the guards. "Good evening, officers. Can I help you?"
Kakashi made sure he could be seen but without looking confrontational.
"People noticed the guards around your gate, we were concerned and thought we would stop by and make sure everything was okay … your guards tried to stop us." Kataoka Shiro's words were directed at Goro but his eyes were on Kakashi.
"My apologies, my family is here for a celebration. I hired the extra guards to keep curious onlookers at bay. I'm afraid they misunderstood my directions when they tried to prohibit your entry, hired help these days what can you do?" Goro replied with a pleasant voice.
Kakashi's gaze moved off of Shiro and onto the other two police officers. Were they behind their police chief and his misdeeds or law-abiding? At least one of them blushed at the invasion and bowed to apologize. Shiro made no such apology but nodded curtly. The third's face was unreadable.
"I'd offer you three some sake and a game but the hour has grown late and I'm sure dinner is on the table waiting for us. If there is nothing else I'd like to retire for the evening." Goro bowed.
Shiro glared at Kakashi but returned the bow. "We were just concerned, I'm sorry for the interruption. Have a good evening Goro-sama, gentlemen."
Kakashi shadowed the threesome, unseen, until they reached the street, from the shadows he saw the police chief dismiss the other two. Afterwards Shiro stared at the now closed gate for with a look of malice before stalking off in the opposite direction. Kakashi debated following him but then decided against it, in fear that he wasn't working alone and his absence would leave the family vulnerable.
He returned to the estate after checking on the guards. That night he rested outside the bedrooms, various traps set up to warn him if anyone approached. Hotaru had promised to return by now; he had to wonder if she overestimated her speed or if her delay was for another reason.
"It's useless to wonder about what ifs," he thought to himself. "Like it or not the wheels have been set in motion now all I can do is wait."
Chapter Five
Kakashi awoke suddenly, something was wrong. The night didn't reveal any danger immediately but the shinobi quickly slipped into the shadows and tried to pinpoint what had set off his internal alarms. None of his traps had been triggered, a quick peek into the sleeping quarters confirmed everyone was accounted for. He moved his attention to the gates when the courtyard suddenly exploded in smoke.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" He sent the two shadow clones that appeared to guard the family as he tried to figure out what his best action was. The smoke from the bombs lingered in the courtyard causing a haze that made it difficult to see. Beyond the gates he could hear the sound of battle followed by the screams of the dying.
"Damn it," Kakashi muttered as he pulled out a kunai and leapt onto the roof of the sleeping quarters, Shiro hadn't wasted any time. He probably assumed Kakashi had sent for back up and wanted to finish off Goro before they arrived.
The smoke that drifted up burnt his uncovered eye, he was glad for the mask that protected his mouth and sensitive nose from whatever chemicals were mixed into the ash. From the vapors he saw a dozen figures slowly approaching the house. One let out a yell as he triggered a trap Kakashi had planted earlier; the near invisible wire grabbed the other around the ankle and raised him high into a tree. It was a snare meant to delay but not kill; Kakashi hadn't wanted to risk any deadly traps with the children so close. A quick flick of an enemy kunai released the trapped one.
The attackers became visible; all of them wore masks to shield their identities. Kakashi released the kunai he held, it land at the feet of the front most intruder. He made himself visible and looked down at the others from his rooftop perch.
"That is the only warning you'll get, back away now. I'm not on a particular mission to keep this family safe but if you approach I'll consider my own life in danger and react appropriately." He sensed the attack and quickly moved out of the way catching his assailant from behind; he pressed another kunai up against the throat of the other.
"Please don't kill me … he told me I could get out of prison if I helped him," his captive begged.
"Prison would have been safer," Kakashi said as he flipped the weapon his hand and sliced the blade across the leg of opponent, cutting the muscle. He let him slide of the roof and readied himself for another attack.
He didn't have to wait long; three more appeared, charging in at once. Grabbing the wrist of one and the kicking leg of another he flipped them away, while planting a foot in the chest of the third. The kick was backed by his chakra and sent his attacker flying off the roof. The two others landed and quickly reassumed their attack.
Beneath him he could hear sounds of a fight; someone had gotten to his clones. Moving with speed the others couldn't follow he slammed a fist into the face of one, the blood and sound of cracking bones indicated he had broken his nose. He followed through by grabbing the attackers arm and throwing him over his shoulder and off the roof. He glared at the third attacker who took a step back and leapt off. "Screw this."
Kakashi focused his chakra downward and blasted a hole through the roof. He landed behind one of his clones who was holding his own against two invaders. Goro and his family were huddled in middle of the room; his second shadow clone had been defeated already.
"Kakashi-sama!" Goro cried.
"I'll protect your family, Goro-sama." Kakashi said pulling out a handful of shurikens and throwing them at the two battling his clone. They dodged the attack easily but it left an opening to for his shadow clone that thrust a kunai into the chest of one of the attackers. The attacker disappeared, it had been a replica. Kakashi cursed and focused on the other but it suddenly vanished as well.
The shinobi dismissed his other clone and looked over at the family huddled together. "Is everyone okay?"
He got a mummer of replies that they were all okay, just scared. "Kakashi-sama, is it over?"
"I don't think so, they are probably just regrouping." Kakashi held his alarm in check when he smelled the first signs of smoke. "Goro-sama, gather your family up and head to the front of the house. Once I have the attention of our attackers you'll have to lead them to safety."
"Why … why can't we stay here?"
"They've set your home on fire; we don't have a lot of time." Kakashi formed a seal. "Henge no Jutsu!" The transforming jutsu turned the shinobi into the exact duplicate of Yashiro Goro. "I'll give them what they want; while their eyes are on me … you must get your family to somewhere safe. I'm sorry this is all I can do for you, it's time for you to be strong."
"We believe in you Goro!" One of his family members said. It was quickly echoed by the others.
"We've always believed in you, no matter what happens."
Kakashi nodded and then stepped outside, raising his hands in a sign of surrender. Imitating the slow gait of the one he was impersonating he walked out to the yard. "I give up, please don't hurt my family … do with me as you please but let my family go."
"Foolish, old man," one of the masked men said. The voice behind the disguise was Kataoka Shiro's. "If you had just kept your nose out of my business none of this would be necessary. What's wrong with making people pay a small 'tax' for protection? And as you can see criminals can be rehabilitated into the handiest assistants."
Kakashi glanced around; there were nine left standing including Shiro. The odds weren't in his favor, so far most had been street thugs, though the clones from earlier signed that there was at least one skilled in Ninjutsu.
Suddenly Shiro made an unfamiliar sign and Kakashi felt something wrap around his legs. Glancing down he was startled to see a vine had appeared from the ground and wrapped around his legs. The thorns materialized and buried into his flesh.
"I'm guessing you're a missing-nin from Kusagakure, Village Hidden among Grass," Kakashi said still using the voice of Goro.
"Close old man, but not quite right, there is nothing missing about me. I'm here because I was ordered to." Shiro kept his hands clasped together, in the sign of usagi, his chakra controlling the vine.
"Why … for what purpose?" Kakashi gasped as the thorns continued to tear at his flesh through his pants, creeping higher as they did.
"You sure ask a lot of questions for a dead man," Shiro said with nastiness in his gaze.
Kakashi shuddered as the thorns continued to rip at him; it was getting harder to keep the illusion in place.
"Now I have a question, where is the shinobi?"
"We never received approval of the duty to protect me; he took my family with him and left." Behind them the house was ablaze, alarms could be heard going off in the city.
"As much as I'd love to draw this out old man, sounds like we'll have company soon. The police chief will be needed." The other let out a cold laugh. "Now to wrap this up."
Just then a small white blur slammed into Shiro and he left out a cry breaking the seal. His left hand trickled blood from the bite left behind by Hotaru.
Kakashi dropped the illusion as he used a kunai to slice away the vines at his legs.
"You're late," he told her, revealing his Sharingan and moving into a defensive stance.
Chapter Six
"Damn it, where is old man Yashiro!"
"You don't really expect me to answer that?" Kakashi said. He glanced down at the growling fox at his feet. "So what was the Hokage's answer?"
"She said we can kick his ass," the reply came from behind Shiro.
Inuzuka Kiba stood with a hand resting on top of Akamaru. At his left was the shy Hinata and to his right was the last team member, Aburame Shino.
"Sorry we're late Kakashi-sensei," Hinata said activating her Byakugan.
"Not a problem let's finish this," Kakashi charged toward Shiro. The other three attacked as well. The grass Shinobi formed a sign and placed his hand on the ground, suddenly the blades of grass under their feet became like blades of steel. Their thick sole shoes protected them slightly but Hotaru and Akamaru who had no such protection let out cries as their paws were cut.
Kakashi scooped Hotaru up and jumped up to a nearby tree. Kiba used his Juujin Bunshin to transform Akamaru into a look-a-like of himself. Then the two of them attacked with their Gatsuuga and tore up both their opponents and the ground, destroying the deadly blades.
The tree Kakashi was perched in began to shake and he quickly leapt off as it burst, sending shards of bark and wood out like daggers. They did little damage to his back and torso protected by the light armor beneath his vest but sliced into his arms and his already bleeding legs, he stumbled as he landed.
He formed a seal. "Doton! Doroku Gaeshi!" A wall of dirt rose up shielding him.
"You're hurt," Hotaru said as he sat her down.
"Really, I didn't notice," Kakashi replied as he quickly bandaged one of the worse cuts on his leg.
"The only one you should concern yourself with is the grass shinobi; the kits can handle the others." The vixen's ears twitched. "He approaches from the west, he's lost in bloodlust for you."
Kakashi did a quick substitution jutsu and leaving a replicate hid in a nearby tree. "At least with him focused on me, everyone else will be safe."
"Do you really want to be the focus of my attention?" Shiro hissed in his ear.
Kakashi had no time to defend himself as kunai plunged into his side. Luckily the armor beneath blocked most of the blade and it only nicked him. Kakashi grabbed the hand attached to the weapon flipping his attacker over his head. He wasn't surprised to see the clone disappear when it struck a tree; his Sharingan had already told him it wasn't the true Shiro.
Pulling out a handful of kunai, Kakashi looked around for the real grass shinobi. A branch moved he tossed one of his weapons.
"You're attacking the wind now," Shiro taunted.
Kakashi released a second kunai toward the place where the voice had come from.
"And now you're attacking nothing, is this all a shinobi of Konoha is capable of?"
"You have no idea what I am capable of!"
"He's using the trees to pin-point your location." Hotaru said appearing at his side. "He can read the flora as easily as I can pick up his scent."
Kakashi glanced down at the fox and noticed her white coat had a small crimson stain across the muzzle. He took out a scroll and unraveling it took his thumb and wiped some of the blood from Hotaru and rubbed it across the scroll. He made a sign while holding the scroll and then slammed it on the ground at his feet. "Ninpou Kuchiyose Doton Tsuiga no Jutsu"
"I don't know what you are trying to do but you'll fail."
"Wait for it," Kakashi said as the ground rumbled a few meters away.
A yell of pain and surprise signaled that his Tracking Fang Technique had been successful. He found Shiro immobilized by his Ninken; all eight of the dogs had their teeth clamped into his arms and legs.
"How in the hell?" Shiro glowered.
"My fox had traces of your blood on her muzzle; it was all I needed for my Ninken to find you. You may control the grass and trees but not the ground they grow in."
Kakashi approached the trapped ninja. "You said earlier, you were here under orders, who gave you those orders?"
Shiro chuckled. "Like I'd tell you … go to hell!" A thorn shot out of his mouth, the distance was too short for Kakashi to react in time. However, Hotaru was quicker and let out a yelp as she jumped into the barb and crashed to the ground.
Kakashi slammed his fist into the face of the other, not satisfied with the blood that splattered across his glove; he pummeled him until he fell unconscious. "Hold him," he commanded his dogs.
Hotaru was still on the ground where she had fallen, breathing heavily. Kakashi knelt down and pulled out the thorn. It was barely bleeding but he doubted the barb was meant to do the damage.
"It's poison, Kakashi-kun." Hotaru confirmed his fears.
He pulled out a bottle and taking off the cork poured some into the fox's mouth. "It's a general antidote, as long as he didn't get to fancy with the poison it should work."
He sensed Kiba, Shino and Hinata before they appeared behind him. "Kiba and Akamaru keep an eye on that bastard. If he blinks feel free to tear off an arm or leg. Hinata please your Byakugan and look at my fox, see if the anti-venom I gave is countering the poison."
Hinata did as he asked and studied Hotaru using her Byakugan for a moment. He could tell by her crestfallen face the news wasn't good. "Damn it," he rubbed a hand across her white fur.
"Let me try," Shino said kneeling down beside Kakashi. A dozen insects appeared out of the cuff of his jacket and crawled onto Hotaru burying themselves into her white fur. "My father saved my life once with these insects they can remove and neutralize the poison but I'm afraid her small body …"
"Thank you for trying," Kakashi said as he watched Hotaru laboring to breath. He wanted to ask if she was in pain but doubted she would reply with an audience. Pulling a kunai out he wondered if he should end it before her organs shut down.
"Sensei! Shino's insects are working the poison is leaving her system … but the damage may be irreversible." Hinata said solemnly.
Kakashi nodded and after Shino's insects had returned, he gathered Hotaru up in his arms. He gestured toward the still unconscious Shiro. "Take him to Yashiro Goro, after we figure out the integrity of the police department we'll hand him over to the right authorities."
"Where are you going, Kakashi-sensei?" Hinata asked.
"I'll catch up," Kakashi said as he leapt up into a nearby tree and disappeared from their sight.
Chapter Seven
"Put me down, Kakashi-kun."
Kakashi looked skeptical. "You're still shaking; I can hold you awhile longer. Even you need time to recover from the poison." He cuddled her on the outskirts of town, giving them the privacy they needed to talk.
"Time is not a luxury I have at the moment. I'm afraid our time to part has arrived."
"Part … what do you mean?"
"As much as I enjoyed your company, it is time to return to Amaya."
"I'd almost forgotten about your bond to the fox-summoner's daughter. Can't you stay awhile longer …" Kakashi stopped from continuing.
"I've already waited longer then I should. Any further delay and I'll lose her forever, and I refuse to do that." Fire sparkled in the pink eyes.
"Lose her … what do you mean?" He let out a yell as Hotaru bit his hand, causing him to drop her.
The small fox stumbled but ran deeper into the forest. "I'm sorry, Kakashi-kun." Her voice whispered back to him.
"Damn it!" Kakashi was bloody and worn out from his battle with Shiro. For one brief moment he considered letting Hotaru go but she was still hurt and he owed her too much to leave her alone. Using the blood from the bite on his hand he summoned Pakkun.
The small pug looked up at him as he sniffed the air. "She went this way," he said racing off.
Kakashi followed willing his battered body to keep up with the running dog. The race was shorter then he expected when Pakkun came to a stop outside a decrepit shack. "She's in there," he announced and then disappeared.
The door was halfway hanging off its hinges and creaked loudly when he opened. Hotaru glanced up at him and sighed but seemed focus on something on the floor. The sunlight coming in from the broken windows and slats illuminated a large drawing in blood; the fox was completely the final circle with her bloody paw.
Kakashi stared at the seal in astonishment; he recognized it right away as seal that impedes the release of chakra. It was often used to control dangerous shinobi. "Hotaru, what the hell are you doing?"
The fox looked up at him panting heavily, he made a move to step toward her but she growled ordering him to stay out of the seal.
She sat down in middle of the circle her sides heaving. "Perhaps, it's better this way … she's not as strong as me it will take her time to recover. Protect her, Kakashi-kun."
"Protect who?"
"You'll understand in a moment … we're sorry … we never …" Hotaru let out a scream and at the same moment triggered the seal. Kakashi backed away reaching for his headband to reveal his Sharingan.
"Please … don't …"
He let his hand fall as the small shack exploded in light. He recognized it wasn't just light but unleashed chakra of in-human strength. The power was kept in check because of the seal drawn earlier. After the glow faded he couldn't hide the shock of what he saw.
Lying in the circle was the unmoving naked body of a young woman, Amaya.
