Chapter 10

Hopes and Fears

Asuma signaled for his team to stop just about a mile outside the main gate of Konoha. Something large was lying in the middle of the road, and at this distance he couldn't quite figure out what it was. There was a very faint amount of chakra coming from that direction – but what was generating it was anyones guess.

He motioned for Raidou and Kotetsu to flank the objects on the left side, while he and Shikamaru approached from the right. The closer they got to it, the more obvious it was that there were two distinct objects lying on the dirt road – each unmistakably human based on the bare feet sticking out from the end of the black material covering the rest of their bodies. Those feet, and the legs that were showing above them, were riddled with open sores and bruises – one set fresher than the other. The covered body closest to him was moving slightly and moaning in obvious pain, while the farther one remained unnaturally still.

Asuma pulled out one of his trench knives and approached the moving body with caution – stretching out his awareness to see if these unfortunate beings were booby-trapped in any way. After all, it wouldn't have been the first time Konoha's enemies used an injured body to trigger a trap. Only once he was certain that was not the case this time, did he kneel next to that first body and pull back the black material from their head.

His eyes went wide at the sight of dark honey-brown hair – matted by blood, both fresh and, in places, dark with age. That hair lay haphazardly across a face that was bruised and cut, and seemed somehow wrong without its trademark senbon perched between his lips.

"What the hell...Genma!?!"

Asuma looked toward the other unmoving form and wondered which of Genma's teammates it was – and more importantly, where the third member of the team was. Asuma signaled for Shikamaru to check the other while he tried to wake Genma. He gently gripped the jonin's shoulder and shook.

"Come on, you lazy bastard...rise and shine."

Once it was clear Genma wasn't going to respond to anything less than the drugs from a medic-ninja, Asuma decided to check over the man's body for any life-threatening injuries that couldn't wait. He peeled back the black cloak and hissed through his teeth when he saw the number of injuries covering Genma's frame. He spied what looked like writing next to many of those wounds. He couldn't see more than two fingers-width of unmarked skin anywhere he looked. What the hell had he been put through?

"Ummm – Asuma-sensei?"

Shikamaru's voice sounded unsure – something that was definitely not the norm. Asuma looked up to see an expression on the boy's face that made it clear there was something off about the second body. Asuma swallowed back his worry for Shikamaru and moved to the boy's side.

"What's got you so spooked, Shikamaru? I know you've seen injuries before. So is it Izumo...or Iwashi?"

Shikamaru frowned. "Although it's liable to be troublesome...it's neither one, Sensei."

Asuma raised his eyebrows and looked down toward where Shikamaru was pulling back the black material – this time enough so Asuma noticed two things...the first was a red cloud on what was obviously the outside of a reversed cloak...and the second was enough to make Asuma's heart jump...it was a shock of silver hair that could only belong to one ninja...but that was impossible...wasn't it?

Asuma bent over the still body to get a closer look at the unmasked face. There, within the swollen mess that was the man's left eye, Asuma saw the long scar that bisected the skin from above the narrow silver eyebrow down to midway through his left cheek. He carefully pried the swollen lids apart until he revealed the blood-red iris of the sharingan – although it didn't look to be focusing on much of anything at the moment. Still, there was no denying that this was Kakashi Hatake.

Asuma placed two fingers against the pulse point on Kakashi's neck and released a breath he'd been unaware he'd been holding when he felt a weak beat under his touch. He looked up at the others and made his decision. He slipped the cloak back around his one-time friend and lifted him easily into his arms before standing.

"Raidou – pick up Genma. We need to get these two to the hospital...and the Hokage...before it's too late."

He watched the jonin scoop Genma into his arms, and then the group ran at top speed the rest of the way to Konoha. Part of him wanted nothing more than to believe Kakashi's return meant this nightmare was over...but he'd survived too many battles to think anything could be resolved so easily. He glanced down at the brutally beaten man in his arms and hoped that, perhaps just this once, he might be wrong.

-- --

Awareness returned to Kakashi very slowly...and with it came the knowledge that he was no longer chained to the wall, naked. In fact, he was lying on a rather firm bed under clean sheets. He felt a covering of bandages and the feel of something which could only be a hospital gown. He cautiously sniffed at the air and was greeted by the far too familiar antiseptic odor that he'd learned to equate to Konoha's hospital ward. He groaned at that thought.

"It's about time you woke up, Brat."

The voice sounded far too loud to his ears, but her words caused him to crack his right eye open just enough to confirm it belonged to none other than Lady Tsunade. Her mouth was set in a firm line, but the depths of her golden eyes held the spark of worry for him. Kakashi licked his swollen lips and tried to sit up, but was unable to due to restraints surrounding his wrists and ankles. Well, that answered his unasked question on whether or not he'd be treated as friend or foe. He glared toward the Hokage.

"Now don't be like that Kakashi. You know very well there are others in the village who wouldn't understand if we just let you run about Konoha after what you'd done."

Kakashi was about to argue with her when another voice joined the conversation. "Hokage...please don't blame him for it. It was Itachi who was behind it all."

Kakashi blinked and turned toward the tired voice that was defending him. A small smile crossed his lips. "Genma..."

The honey-haired jonin limped over to his bedside and gave him a slanted grin – the familiar senbon back in place between his teeth. "Looks like you owe me another one, Kashi."

Kakashi closed his eye and sighed before opening it again and addressing the Hokage. "If I promise to be a good boy, can I at least sit up?"

The blond-haired woman frowned at his comment. "Kakashi – it isn't that simple."

Genma moved a bit closer and moved to loosen Kakashi's wrist bindings. "Lady Tsunade – if I'm the one to loosen them, no one can blame you for it, right? Besides – you're going to need him to sit up to take the medicine you have Shizune and Sakura making."

Kakashi frowned even as he felt his wrist released. "Sakura saw me like this?"

Tsunade's low chuckle caught his attention. "Come now Kakashi – you can't possibly be worried about her seeing you without your mask anymore – can you?"

He knew the comment was her attempt to lighten the mood, but too much had happened for it to work this time around. "Hokage – that isn't what I meant."

"Sakura has become my apprentice, Kakashi. She's going to have to get used to seeing injuries this bad – and possibly much worse."

"Has so much changed since I left?" He tried to sit up on his own and broke into a coughing fit from the exertion.

Genma placed a hand behind his back and helped him into a sitting position...the change in elevation making his head spin more than a bit, and causing another groan to leave his mouth.

"Easy there, Kakashi – try not to undo what little I've managed to fix so far." The concern in Tsunade's voice made him think that perhaps things weren't entirely irreparable for him after all.

He sighed. "Sorry – who would have thought breathing could be so dangerous."

Genma chuckled. "Yeah – well considering what you've been through I think it's pretty impressive that you're even alive. Always knew you'd be hard to kill, Kashi – but really – did you have to show off even through that?"

Kakashi turned to look at the jonin. The man was still covered in the dark writings from Orochimaru's techniques, but the gaping wounds had been more or less healed. "You're one to talk, Genma. I still can't believe you made it out of there."

Genma slid his hand through his hair and turned away to stare toward the Hokage. "Yeah – well as much as I hate to admit it, the only reason I did make it out of there was because the Akatsuki came to rescue you – and Itachi was willing to listen to reason."

Kakashi looked down at his hands toward where the ring was still on his finger. "I was wondering if that part was just a hallucination. Guess not."

Tsunade sat on the edge of his bed and placed one hand over his – blocking his view of the ring.

"Kakashi – I can't even begin to imagine what you've been through up to this point – and I know the way Konoha has treated you in the past wasn't as it should have been – but I need you to know something."

She placed two fingers under his chin and tipped his head back until his eyes were locked with hers. "If you are willing to give us a second chance...we'll do everything in our power to keep you safe from the Akatsuki."

He tensed at her words...although whether it was from his fear of crossing the Akatsuki, or of placing his trust back in the hands of the leaders of Konoha, even he couldn't tell. So instead, he chose to switch the attention back to someone else.

"So Genma – are you planning to start a new fad with all the script on your body?"

"Heh – hell no, Kakashi. As soon as Shizune finishes transcribing the notes so they can heal your sorry ass, then I have a date with a hot shower and a good bar of soap."

Kakashi smiled – only grimacing slightly from the still swollen skin on his face. "Don't let Jiraiya hear you say that – he's liable to make you the hero in his next book."

Genma blushed while Tsunade laughed out loud. She surprised Kakashi with her next move as she pulled him into her arms in a gentle hug and whispered into his hair. "I've missed you, Brat."

After he realized she wasn't letting go any time soon, he closed his eyes and relaxed into her grip...letting himself feel safe – at least for that small moment. He'd worry about what his next steps would be tomorrow.