A/N: Well, it seems Kishimoto finally caught up to me;) I'll be using Minato Namikaze instead of Kayaku Uzumaki from now on, and I changed the name in all the previous chapters. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed and thanks to my beta, Havenward.
It was morning on the final day of the challenge, and Kakashi stared through slit eyes at the bruise on his arm, unable to remember at what point he had acquired it. There had been that time squeezing through the sideways crack that only he and Ippei were small enough to get through, or maybe when he slammed into that tree while trying to avoid a giant shuriken. Not that it mattered. It was just another in a long list of minor injuries he was incurring. He was still alive, not like Kai. Never like Kai. And if part of him knew his reflexes were growing ever slower, and that his tired, six-year old body had passed beyond the edge of exhaustion the day before, he wasn't going to acknowledge that part. Acknowledging it meant death and he could still cheat it for as long as Kai's precious soldier pills would support him.
They were in one of the higher caves. The rising sun could be seen peeking over the edge of the Valley of Shadows. Ippei was sleeping, and Kakashi was pretending to, but he couldn't bring himself to relax while the other two members of Ippei's team were standing guard. The one with the metal mask was Tetsu while the one covered in bandages was Karada. Karada's crow summons had found them easily the evening before, and Kakashi had spent an uneasy night under the hidden glares of Ippei's teammates. To Kakashi's surprise, Ippei hadn't revealed Kakashi's hidden skills. Ippei told them he was watching over Kakashi because the 'kid' found one of the medallions they needed, and also because Ippei thought it would be funny if Kakashi ended up in the final round. Strangely, Kakashi thought that truly was the real reason Ippei had teamed up with him a few days ago.
There was a change in the air of the cave, and Kakashi knew that Ippei was awake and subtly scanning the area. The Stone genin was very well trained, and although neither of them had had to use any special jutsu in front of each other, Kakashi thought their fight in the finals was going to be very interesting. He refused to entertain the thought that he wouldn't be at said finals.
"We're not dragging the stray with us today," said Tetsu, having sensed his teammate was awake. For all they were both teenagers, the other two genin deferred to their young teammate with an ease that spoke of habit. Tetsu sounded like he was giving an order, but it would be Ippei's decision.
Ippei stood up, and cast an apologetic glance in Kakashi's direction. Kakashi kept his face blank and eyes wide. He had suspected something like this since last night. "I know. If we want to be the only full team to make it through, we'll need to be on our own." The explanation was for Kakashi's benefit. "We all have both halves of our medallions so we only have to run the gauntlet."
Kakashi tried to look sad, imitating the face of one of his father's nin dogs. He hoped it worked. "Some friend you are." In truth, he didn't know what to make of the other boy. He was the enemy, but he'd also been good company and a good partner for the past few days. Ippei had gotten on his nerves, but not nearly so much as, say, Masuyo.
He had been trying not to think of his other teammate for the past few days. Something of his sensei's lessons must have sunk in since he was having a hard time thinking of Masuyo as an enemy. The method of Kai's death was incriminating, but not conclusively in favor of Masuyo being the perpetrator. And yet it was Masuyo's face Kakashi saw in his few dreams, smirking while his wires round tighter around both Kai and Kakashi.
"I'll be perf-fectly fine on my own," Kakashi spat out, annoyed by the look of sympathy on Ippei's face. Ippei had to know Kakashi was acting, so there was no need to treat Kakakshi like a kid.
"Fine," said Ippei. "We split at the bottom of the cliff. Last one there has to play rearguard!" He jumped over the edge, and it was his teammate's turns to be annoyed as they rushed after him. 'Rearguard' must be the worst spot in their plan to get out of the valley. Kakashi dove over the edge as well, using his chakra to catch the wall and race down it. He only belatedly remembered to slow down and let the others arrive first. Wall walking was a basic skill, but he shouldn't be more proficient than the others. He ignored Ippei's wink when he hit the ground with an awkward roll.
"See-" began Ippei.
"Kakashi!" They turned to see an exhausted and dirty Masuyo racing through the dirt. Kakashi froze then pushed any of the fear he was feeling deep inside. They were in the stone part of the valley. Masuyo stopped at the edge of the clearing and leant against an arch to catch his breath. "You huff brat. What huff have you been doing? huff Didn't occur to you to find your teammates?"
"I did find Kai," said Kakashi. "He was dead."
"We'll leave you guys to it," said Ippei. "See you later, Kakashi." The whole team disappeared, and Kakashi resisted the urge to back up against the cliff wall. He couldn't trust Masuyo.
"I know about Kai," said Masuyo, stopping several feet away from him. Kakashi kept his eyes open for the telltale glint of wires. "You think I did it, don't you?" Masuyo looked miserable. There were streak marks in the grime on his face where he'd wiped at it with his fingers. "I didn't. I heard it from another group who attacked me. I stayed far away from the forest after Kai mentioned it."
"So you were just a coward?" retorted Kakashi. He wanted Masuyo to be the killer. It would make things so much easier. He could take revenge here and now. His hand went into one of his pouches and fingered some of Minato sensei's special jutsu.
"I'm not a coward, you stupid brat!" Masuyo was sweating in the early rays of the sun. "Is it wrong that I wanted to make it through one exam with my teammates surviving? I don't even know why they did it. The first time they died for me ‒ as if it was no big deal." Tears were streaming down Masuyo's dirty cheeks. "The second time, Orochimaru was the proctor. Megane said I was bad luck right before she died. The third time, I stayed away and they still died. I'm not just bad luck, I'm cursed. My team always dies. And now Kai, and you."
"I'm not dying," said Kakashi. "Unless you're going to kill me?" he couldn't help making it a question. He'd never seen a ninja have a breakdown like Masuyo. It made his father's strange grieving two weeks before seem mild. Kakashi's own eyes felt strange as he wondered if Kai had died at the hands of a mad teammate.
"You really think I'd do that?"
Kakashi shrugged. His goal today was getting out of the valley. All other concerns were secondary, even ones that made his eyes sting. He was strong and had the power of a soldier pill coursing through his blood.
Emotions passed across Masuyo's face; there was a flare of anger, followed by despair and sadness. But Kakashi didn't see any guilt. "I don't have a medallion anymore," said Masuyo. He turned slowly to show he was telling the truth. "And neither do you." Kakashi wasn't going to correct him on that fact. "But I want you to get out of here alive and maybe break my curse. I'll do anything and follow your lead." Kakashi kept his face blank while he considered. He really shouldn't trust Masuyo, but he did trust his sensei and if Masuyo were insane or untrustworthy, Minato sensei would have warned his students of that fact. The Shinamoto clan were the only wire specialists in Konoha, but there were plenty in other villages.
Masuyo dropped to his knees and bowed low. He sat up on his heels and looked Kakashi straight in the eye. "I swear on my honor and the Shinamoto clan's honor that I did not kill Hamamoto Kai. Let me be your bodyguard for today. Please." He bowed low again.
Kakashi had lost his mask of indifference in favor of gaping in shock. He hadn't expected Masuyo to go that far. It was embarrassing. "Okay," he said, willing Masuyo to get up. "Just…" don't betray me "make sure you do as I say." They called this part of the exam the gauntlet for a reason. Every person was making their way for the exit today. Some would only be trying to leave. Others would still be desperately searching for their other medallion half. Then there were the ones who would be picking off those leaving out of maliciousness or fun or simply to even their own chances in the finals. The tunnels and giant crack leading out of the valley were probably riddled with traps and ambushes.
Masuyo did stand up. "You need to clean your face," suggested Kakashi. The tear tracks looked stupid up close. Masuyo pulled out an already dirty piece of cloth and did his best. "Thank you," he said. And despite the other genin's exhaustion and earlier mental breakdown, he looked happy. Kakashi was beginning to wonder if adults would ever make sense.
"I want to go out the main crack," said Kakashi. "It's early but that doesn't mean anything. Everyone either makes a run out of the valley now or right before sundown. We'll go at midday."
"What about the traps?"
"We'll be careful," said Kakashi distractedly. His mind was filled with all the possibilities. There were too many variables involved to allow planning ahead in anything more than general terms, but he might be able to pull of something interesting with the addition of Masuyo's skills.
"I think the tunnels would be safer. There's one or two that go straight through," argued Masuyo.
Kakashi shook his head. "I've seen what Stone can do in those tunnels. Slitting our own throats would be faster. They've had five days to prepare them."
"But-" said Masuyo, then cut himself off. "Okay. Sorry. You're in charge."
"Good. Let's go. I'll explain my plan on the way."
It was another hour and a half before they hit the stone wall that blocked the entrance to the valley. They were both on full alert since the archways and boulders made it impossible to get a full view of their area. Kakashi tensed when he felt someone watching them, but the attention disappeared. He hoped it was because neither of them appeared to have medallions.
No such luck. They were rounding the final boulder blocking the way to the giant crack that split the valley wall in half when two genin appeared. One was standing on the side of the boulder his long red hair hanging sideways. The other was on top of a nearby arch, crouched and ready to pounce.
"Got any medallions?" asked the red head.
"Does it look like we do?" retorted Kakashi, which left Masuyo in the unlikely role of peacekeeper.
"We just want to leave the valley," Masuyo said.
The red head's eyes went an electric blue, and Kakashi took in the Cloud hitaeate tied around the teenager's waist. This wasn't good. "We'd be happy to let you go," the genin said with a smile, "but I'm afraid the toll is a medallion which you don't have." The Cloud genin pointed at Masuyo and lightening leapt from his fingertips. Masuyo shuddered for a moment then turned into a rock. Kawarimi no jutsu. Kakashi was already moving, dashing under the surprised Cloud genin's body. Masuyo should be ahead of him if he had followed orders.
Lightening hit a small arch that Kakashi dove through, sending shards of rock flying. More troublesome was the rhythmic pounding Kakashi could hear behind him. The other genin had a gait that sounded and felt like one of Kakashi's father's larger nin dogs. There was no way Kakashi would be able to outrun him over open ground. Unfortunately, it was open ground from here to the crack.
There had been no rain these past few days so dust flew up in a trail behind him. Kakashi risked a look behind him and saw the other genin. No wonder he had sounded like a dog. His body was morphed into a grotesque cross between a man and a dog, complete with slavering teeth and claws. The red-head appeared close behind him, leaping off of a rock and into the dusty clearing. Kakashi reached into his pouch and pulled out one of his extra medallion pieces. He threw it at the dog-genin. "Fetch!" He sent his other extra piece sailing at the red-head, diving to the side as another bolt of lightening headed his way. He slowed at the entrance to the crack. If Masuyo had abandoned him then the only thing left for him to do was try the new jutsu his father had taught him. The trouble was that he doubted he had enough chakra to manage or hold it.
"We've paid your price. Let us go."
The dog-genin snarled. "These don't even match," said the red-head. "I think we'll string your body up here as a warning to anyone else who tries to leave this way. Pity your teammate abandoned you. I promised Yajyu he could rip someone limb to limb. You're too small to be worth the effort. Guaah!" A kunai had flown out and embedded itself into the red-head's chest. Blood spilled out as the kunai was jerked out, attached to an almost invisible line.
"Good thing I doubled back," said Masuyo. He was braced between the narrow walls of the crack about twenty feet above their heads. "We're good," he called to Kakashi. "Run." He dodged a lightening bolt, leaping higher. "Don't stop until you hit the exit," he called after. Kakashi was already moving, pouring all his energy into hitting a good speed. Yajyu was pounding only a few feet behind him. Half way through he spotted the simple mark on the wall he was looking for. He took a deep breath before diving forward. He twisted in the middle and rolled upon landing, coming up facing his pursuer. Masuyo said not to stop but Kakashi wasn't going to miss the execution of his plan.
Yajyu obviously didn't notice the sign and didn't stop to think why his prey had jumped so inexplicably. Kakashi was standing innocently in the centre of the crack. Yajyu put on a burst of speed.
Kakashi winced as the dog-genin hit the finely woven web of wires and caltrops. Kai's brother Kenji's presents were perfect for a suspended ambush. Their holes and non-burnished finish meant they blended in well while the sharp metal edges on the weapons embedded themselves into the skin and clothes of the victim. Kakashi had had Masuyo leave an opening to dive through if you knew it was there. Since Yajyu had hit at such a high speed, the caltrops ripped him open while the wires bit blood-red lines into his skin. Within seconds, Yajyu was hopelessly tangled and dripping blood while he howled out curses. Every time he struggled the wires cut deeper and the caltrops savaged his body.
An image of Kai, bound to the tree flashed through Kakashi's mind. He shook his head to clear it, feeling dizzy. The soldier pill must be wearing off.
A few seconds later, a loud boom echoed from the valley end of the crack. Kakashi watched for a moment in disbelief as the walls of the crack collapsed inwards before turning and running for the line of sunlight he could see in the distance.
He was expelled into the open air along with a cloud of dust and flying rock. He had no energy left to stop himself so he simply crashed into the ground and lay there, content to let the dust sift down around him.
"Nice entrance," said Ippei's voice from far above him. Kakashi felt like he was floating.
"Can he report?" asked Yami, the proctor of the exam.
It was a lot more effort than he thought it would be, but Kakashi managed to push himself up, first onto his hands and knees and then to his feet. He planted his feet wide in an effort to stop swaying. His body was shivering despite the midday heat.
"Hatake Kakashi of Konohagakure reporting suc-successful completion of the second test, sir."
"I see no medallion, genin."
He reached for one of the many pouches slung about his waist. As soon as it stopped touching his body the fixed genjutsu he'd placed on it disappeared showing a rather dusty medallion of the symbol for monkey. He was glad he didn't have to use any more chakra to maintain the illusion.
"You were to keep it visible."
"'It must be worn in a visible place on your body at all times,'" Kakashi quoted then coughed on a bit of dust. He wished he had his mask. "You never said it had to look like a medallion."
Yami must have been staring at him but since he wore a mask, it was impossible to tell. "It is sometimes required of a ninja to follow a different path to accomplish their goal," he said finally. "Very well. You pass. Sign here and go see the medic." A scroll with the names of the other winners was thrust in front of him. There were six names above him. He shakily signed his name, then detoured over to Ippei. "Tell me if Masuyo comes through," he ordered the other boy. He was too tired to respond to the pitying look Ippei gave him. He trudged over to the medic, who was busy healing a nasty gash across a girl's abdomen. There were about twice as many genin here as there were names of successful genin on the list. He couldn't see anyone else from Konoha.
Kakashi waited patiently for the medic's attention. He felt like it wasn't over. That it would never be over. It was something of a relief when his vision went blurry then faded out entirely while the rest of his body collapsed.
He woke up right after sundown judging by the twilight. The medic had put him under a tarp for shade so it was dark. He sat up and when that didn't bother him, stood up. His hands were still trembling and he felt a bit shakey, but it was nothing compared to how horrible he had felt before.
"Kakashi-chan!" Yoshino pulled him into a hug then held him at arm's length, anxiously inspecting every inch of his body for damage. "You're truly all right? The healer said we had to let you rest."
"I'm," he said. His voice was a croak. Yoshino immediately thrust her water gourd at him and he took a few swallows before trying again. "I'm fine. Who else?"
She grimaced. "Arata-kun's here. He lost an eye, and no medallion. Ume-san made it out right before the end. She's in the finals. I never even found my other half! I haven't seen Kai-kun or Masuyo-san but even though the deadline is past they can still make it out. Just not be in the finals. I can't believe you're in the finals too." She didn't seem to notice his annoyed glare.
"Kai is dead," he said flatly. "I don't know about Masuyo."
"What?"
Kakashi was going to refuse to explain, but Yami's calm voice rang out over the gathered genin. Out of the fifty or so genin who had gone in, a little over half had made it back out of the Valley of Shadows. "Those of you who are advancing to the finals, you may go through the gates once your name is called. The rest may follow after they are through. Participants, who are still alive and in the valley, will be located and returned shortly unless they are in need of healing. The full list of the dead and disqualified will be made available as soon as everyone is accounted for." He paused and waited for questions that never came. Everyone was tired. "Bara Goro, you may go through. Donbo Hakaze, you may go through. Kourizatou Ippei…"
He quickly reached Kakashi's name. Kakashi shook off Yoshino's hand from his shoulder and headed for the seal-covered gates. They swung open at his approach.
Minato sensei was slightly to the left of the gate, joking with a sour-faced Sand jounin, but he broke it off when he caught sight of Kakashi. Kakashi blinked and suddenly he was being held in strong arms. "You're safe," came the soft whisper in his ear, and then he was thrust up in the air as sensei spun around laughing and congratulating him. It sounded very fake to Kakashi's ears, but the second hug was real, as was the whispered, "I'm sorry". Something inside him relaxed and for the first time in his life, Kakashi hugged his sensei back.
Next chapter: The month before the finals. Kakashi trains and Minato spies, or maybe vice versa.
I finished writing my book and I'm in the middle of editing it, plus I have a masters dissertation to work on so the chances of my having free time to update until at least autumn are slim, and even then I'm overdue new chapters on a few other fics, so, expect a new chapter when you see it.