12
Age: 13

Kakashi observed as Rin and Obito were finally captured by Minato-sensei. They were in the middle of bell training exercise and this was the moment he had been waiting for. After being forced to not push himself for a month he had trained endlessly to make up for lost time.

This time he would surpass her, the right way.

Those two would only be a distraction in his mission of obtaining the bells. He saw as his sensei lecture his comrades.

'This was his opportunity!'

He threw a knife which Minato swiftly dodged. That's when he struck. Student and sensei engaged in combat.

"Sensei! Today is the day when I win!" He said between breaths. A new desire to triumph had been planted in him. On one hand he wielded his new sword one that in another life had belong to his trash, nothing for good, father…

The fighting continued and he saw his sensei go into the air. Minato looked down and was surprised to see about a dozen bomb notes on the floor.

'A trick he must have copied from the Noa girl..' Minato figured.
"There!" Kakashi said and released the explosions. He was getting close. So close he even managed to touch the bells when he engaged in combat with Minato once again. "Not bad. But not enough to beat me." His sensei grinned.

"I'm not through yet." The 13 year old snapped. He disappeared with a shadow clone. Meanwhile he was sitting above a tree branch practicing his newest jutsu. His own jutsu, the chidori.
"Kakashi, you lose." He suddenly heard from behind. He froze and his jutsu stopped.

"I'd already consider you for the Jounin class… If I hadn't set that teleportation mark on your back, there's no telling how this fight would've turned out…But you're not ready…" His sensei explained to him calmly. Kakashi grasped the leaves of the tree in his hands anger flowing through him.
"I was so close…" He growled out in fury. He felt the frustration easily fill him, like it usually did.

It was useless.

He couldn't beat his own sensei and he couldn't beat Ryou…

He didn't want to think about You after the conversation the night they had spent up all night talking. Even if he had found a new respect for the girl, she was still getting stronger by the minute and he was still stuck. The worst part was that she was growing on him-
His honor was still unredeemed. He still felt his chest swell in envy whenever he would see her walking in the streets with her Jounin squad. But what he hated even more was hearing what the villagers would gossip.

"That's the Noa girl." They would whisper. "She's the youngest person to ever become a Jounin." A man said to a woman. "Wow she must be really talented." Some would say in admiration.

"Rumor is that they have began calling her 'The Bloodhound.'" Another man whispered. "What a horrible nickname." A woman shrugged making a face. "They say her senses are so developed that she can find anyone or anything." The man continued in admiration. "Yeah, anyone but her sister's corpse!" the woman finished.

He ripped off the leaves and crushed them in his palm, his hand trembling. Minato analyzed the boy carefully. "So close, huh…" was the only thing he could utter... 'At least sensei is acknowledging me…' He thought in an attempt to appease his raging mind. At least the urge to abandon the village had ceased.

Kakashi's life was remained stuck in the same place. He felt he hadn't made much progress in his training due to the former injury he had suffered. In his abdomen right in the middle a deep scar had formed as a grim reminder of the events that had transpired that fateful day. He was confident in his own strength against any of his peers, or even that of others more experienced than him.

He was convinced that next time he wouldn't lose…

A couple of weeks later Kakashi tried again and he succeeded. He was under the impression that Minato wasn't even trying anymore, and only looked at him with sad eyes.

He had finally been appointed Jounin and was actually leading his own team mission in Kusagakure, or the Hidden Grass Village. The mission was simple. Infiltrate the territory and destroy the Kannabi bridge so supplies wouldn't get through to the enemy. Minato-sensei would be causing a diversion in the battle frontier. This war was really starting to take a toll on the village.

It had been a while since they had parted ways with Minato-sensei They had been scouting most of the day passing several tall bamboo trees. They were presently walking over a small lake in the guidance of Kakashi. Meanwhile in a close where about. Konoha's young Bloodhound hid some sacred mission scrolls in her backpack. She was sneaking behind the enemy boundary and had even bothered in putting a trap on the bag so whoever dared open it would get a rather nasty surprise. She was currently running for her life, flickering in and out of the vision of her two attackers. It was a two-man mission and her other teammate had stalled creating a diversion for her to escape with the information. "No matter what don't come back! I'll return to Konoha safe! I promise." He had grinned at her. Without a second thought she had ran for her life. Part of her wondered if he was even alive...
She was getting tired of running when she finally reached a small clearing near a lake and collapsed to her knees panting. She was sure that the enemy was miles away as she caught a quick breather. When suddenly she sensed a movement. She only had chance to quickly duck before her eyes met with a pair of onyx dark ones. What were the fucking odds… Kakashi looked down at the girl crawling around in the dirt.

It had been some time ago, but she really didn't want to see the silver haired ninja. Their previous interaction had been- weird...

Over time her face hadn't changed much just had grown from round to more oval. Her bottom lashes were still as prominent as ever and so was the beauty mark on her cheek bone. At the sight of the him she felt her heart jump to her treat She had to keep her cool."Move!" she said walking past him.

'That's all she's got to say to me…?' Kakashi thought confused. he thought they had moved on past their own differences.

He still observed the girl as she rushed to Obito and Rin. "Ryou! You're all covered in bruises!" Rin said alarmed. Both of her eyebrows turned up in concern.
"There's no time! We need to get out of here! They're coming!" she said in a rushed matter. Her eyes darting over her shoulder.
"Who?" Obito questioned.
"I'll explain in the way." She said her breathing heavy.
"Nobody is going anywhere unless I say so." Kakashi snapped.

Suddenly Ryou froze in her spot. It was too late. "

They're here…" She said falling to her knees again.

Suddenly from the air came about 20 wooden logs, in a quick reflex Obito performed a fire ball jutsu and quickly set them all in flames collapsing.

"Where are they?" Obito said looking around for the enemy.

"Be careful. They have the ability to camouflage and turn invisible." Ryou warned them while she still crouched on the surface of the lakey water. She was absolutely exhausted after lacking sleep for 3 days and running around without stopping it was a miracle she was still standing. Suddenly an enemy appeared. Kakashi and Obito stepped forward ready to attack.

"AHH!" a girlish shrill caught the attention of the three ninja. They all snapped their heads to see one of the ninja carry Rin. And in a poof the enemy had disappeared.

Shit!" Obito shouted a blood curling scream and immediately began sprinting after them.

'Fuck a hostage situation... this could not be good'

"Obito! Don't go after them!" Kakashi shouted back.
"What? Do you realize what you just said?!" Obito snapped back his eyes had turned into dangerous, angry slits.
"We'll continue the mission without Rin…" Kakashi said in a quiet tone.
"And Rin? What about Rin?" Obito glared at him.

"Rin comes later. The enemy wants to find out what we're up to, and are using her as a bait to draw Ryou to them." Kakashi explained.
"They won't kill her right away anyway… Not until she gives them information or the Bloodhound appears." He narrowed his eyes at Ryou who had just taken a soldier pill and was beginning to bandage her wounds.

'What a mess I walked into…' she thought bitterly.

Like always, every single time she was with him something bad was doomed to happen.

"Right now saving Rin is priority over the mission!" Obito shouted.
"A shinnobi must sacrifice a comrade in order to finish the mission. That is the rule. If we fail this mission the war will be prolonged and many more lives will be sacrificed." Kakashi recited by heart.
"That's just an assumption you're willing to sacrifice a comrade who's been through life and death with you?!" Obito was absolutely ballistic.
"Rin has saved us plenty of times and now you turn your back?" He continued.

Kakashi was quiet for a moment before replying. Ryou watched attentively her eyes wide as they darted back and forth between the arguing teammates

. She knew of Obito's puppy crush on Rin, but something about his reaction made her think it was more than a simple infatuation. She briefly wondered if she would do the same for Shisui, or if he would do the same for her...

"That was Rin's duty." The gray haired ninja uttered and Obito's fist made an impact on his face, knocking him to the ground.

"I don't like you at all!" he shouted. Kakashi stood up and began dusting himself off irked.

'Welcome to the club,' the other ninja would've said if the situation wasn't so grim.
"I don't care. I'm the captain. You will obey me." He sneered growing more and more overwhelmed as time passed.

Ryou began approaching the scene cautiously.

"Then why won't you try to save Rin." Obito practically begged him.
"This is why our code of conduct forbids any emotional feelings. You should know that." He looked at Ryou's eyes which were wide and starring at him as in disbelief.

She felt foolish after thinking that he had changed. That he had become more human. But regardless of the situation, he was right. He felt his heart freeze and skip a beat. "Emotions are useless." He uttered bitterly. Obito held that same look of disbelief in his eyes. Noa remained silent. She wasn't sure how to weight in, in the argument.

Kakashi looked away not wanting to meet her eyes.

"So you seriously believe that…" Obito said.

Kakashi looked away again and thought of his father. He was lead by emotions and look where it got him... Maybe he should've left the village.

"Yeah… I do…" he said quietly looking away.
"There are limits to what a ninja can do on his own..." She finally spoke breathing the awkward silence and the tension between the arguing teammates.

She began and gave a step towards Obito. "Ryou, I'm weak. I can't save Rin. You're strong. Please come with me." He said reaching for her hand. Begging her. Ryou placed a hand on his shoulder and looked into his eyes as deeply as she could.

"Obito... Do you think Rin would like to be rescued?" she said in the most calming tone she could muster with a serious expression.
Obito was already in ruins, he now felt his stomach drop. His mouth felt dry.
"We all have to finish our mission. What happened to Rin is a tragedy. I shouldn't have stumbled upon-"

He briskly shoved her off away from him. He pushed her so hard with so much anger that she collapsed to the ground in front of Kakashi's feet. Obito knew that she was aware of his feelings for her. He didn't understand why she was being like this.

"You're taking his side? This is technically all your fault!" he roared pointing a finger at her. His words were like knives stabbing into her. Despite this, she maintained her glare focused on him.

The leader of the team leant down and helped the girl to her feet. She didn't dare meet his eyes. It was an unfortunate situation, but he was wrong.

"I'm not taking anyone's sides. Think logically! Is Rin's life really worth more than everyone's lives. Than our lives?" Her burst of courage was short-lived before she was also knocked back on her face. She stumbled back holding on to her jaw tightly.

"She would go back for you! In a heartbeat!" he protested.

"I wouldn't need her to come back for me," she wiped the blood that was leaking out of the edge of her bottom lip. "I will be accompanying Kakashi," she said standing tall next to him. He attempted to keep his breathing still, to rationalize the situation. The Uchiha only felt his rage bubbling inside of him.

"Forget it." He hissed "I'm going to rescue Rin, even if it's by myself and I die trying." Obito said in a determinant tone. "You don't understand anything! Not about what happens if you break the rules." Kakashi warned him. Obito suddenly stopped walking. "I believe the White Fang was a true hero! Sure in the world of ninja those who break the rules and regulations are regarded as scum… But… those who abandon their comrades… are worse than scum. I'm goanna be trash anyway, so I choose to break the rules. And if that doesn't make me a true ninja. I'll crush what being a "ninja" is…"

"Obito!" You called to him, regardless worried about her actually came to a halt. "And you- I have no words for you. I can't label you as trash or scum, such a degrading word doesn't exist... Traitor!" He snapped turning to glare at her one last time. What You and Kakashi saw chilled them to the bone. His eyes were crimson red, the color of fresh blood. He had developed the Sharingan.

Ryou stood frozen in her spot. It took her a moment to compose herself. She turned to face Hatake who was looking at her with a baffled expression. "I'm fine," she asked with a masked hard face. Lips and eyes showing only darkness. No emotion.

"Let's go." He said quietly and bounced off. Both ninja began scouting the perimeter approaching the destination to the Kanabi bridge. It had been sometime since they had left Obito and Kakashi hadn't said anything he was still dead quiet and Ryou maintained her hard eyes focused on the front. Time was their principal element and she had to make it count.

"Traitor!" Obito's harsh words echoed through her head.

"It's suicide." she suddenly stated halting in her tracks. "He knows he's not making it back alive, yet he still went for her..."

He saw her eyes, they looked lost.

"You did the right thing," he acknowledged. "Did we?" She looked at him, her brows twisted in concern.

He didn't want to think about it, but he remembered that night they spent together.

The day she had convinced him to return to the village... That same day they had both lost track of time. Both choose to stay sitting in that tree and simply converse. They had talked all night through One could almost considered it a heart-warming moment. It was probably the first real human interaction that Kakashi had ever had.
He almost found himself smiling at the Jounin next to him.

Both saw the sunset together that way as they leaned back on the thick branch. They had walked about books, missions, team mates, training, food... Basically anything you would discuss with a friend. Was that what their chaotic relationship was evolving into? A friendship?

For once he relaxed his body and leaned back, awkwardly enough he noticed that his hand brushed hers. "Sorry," he mumbled embarrassed looking away.
It's not like she could see his pink face, thank heavens for his mask.
She didn't say anything, simply kept her eyes fixed on the sun rise before them.

"I better go," she said some times after that.

She knew it had been a harmless night. Nothing particularly strange had happened. But something in her churning gut made her uneasy about telling Shisui, her new boyfriend.

He had a hard time keeping his eyes on her as she flickered from tree, to tree. One way or the other both had decided it was probably for the best to return. Each had their own powerful reasons.

Ryou rushed through the branches as quickly as she could. She had pressed the hand she had touched Obito with to her nose, but the smell was too faint. She wasn't going to be able to track him. She suddenly came to a halt. Bending over her knees in desperation.

"I-I can't find him," she said with both of her eyes wide. He stood next to her bending to eye level. His brain working out an idea, ticking. Suddenly he thought of something. "Here!" He said pulling the "medical kit" that Rin had gifted to him earlier in the day. "Genius!" She exclaimed gripping on to his forearm giving him a light squeeze. A confident smile made way to her face.

"Alright then, there's no time to waste!"

Meanwhile Obito stood outside of the hideout. "Here I go!" He said adjusting his goggles.
"Go where?" Just as he turned he saw the enemy stone ninja hiding behind him ready to attack. Obito didn't move in time. There was so much blood…

Kakashi had come from what seemed like out of the sky and had struck the ninja down with his blade. "K-Kakashi… How come you're…?!" Obito was in shock. "Well, I can't leave this up to a crybaby ninja like you, can I?" he retorted in a smart ass tone. Suddenly Ryou landed next to Obito from the top of the trees.
"He was so excited to get here. You should've seen him." She flashed Obito a weak smile. Kakashi turned and glared at her in annoyance, he shook his head quickly and turned to face the enemy.

"How?" Obito said, more to himself. "There's no time for that," Kakashi interrupted as he twirled a kana knife on his finger.
"He's disappeared again. And his smell is gone. We need to track him by the slightest sound and movement." Kakashi said snapping the Chunin and the Jounin out of they're conversation.
"W-Where is he?" Obito said eyeing the terrain. Suddenly Ryou heard him, she began turning to face the nin behind her and pulled out the blade she raised it to strike up, while the villain was below.
"Ryou! Move!" She suddenly felt her body being shoved out of the way.
"My eye…!" She heard a sharp grunt and saw Kakashi fall to the floor. She felt a knot tie on her throat.

"Kakashi!" Obito exclaimed.

Ryou reached to him and raised his head. He held onto his eyes in pain painful groans "Kakashi are you alright?" Obito said turning to face his teammate. Kakashi sat up and held his hand to his eye, blood seeping through his hand. "our enemy… He's good…" was all he said.

And all of this for Rin. Of course. Although Ryou had abandoned her own teammate in enemy territory. She has no idea where he was and well technically she had had his consent to leave. But Rin. The thought of her bright smile came to her face. She was probably the kindest person in the village. If anyone deserved to be saved it was her.

Ryou sat back in a meditating position both of her eyes closed.

"He's still here." She concluded. "He's smart. He threw away the kunai knife stained with the smell of my blood." Kakashi noted. Blocking them out of her mind. The kunaichi sat focusing most of her chakra on her senses. This villain was smart, and was able to camouflage his smell along with his appearance. The only way to get him would be by either feeling him or hearing him, both her two worse senses. Obito suddenly saw Ryou's head flinch in a certain direction. Her eyes snapped open, and without hesitation he trust his kunai forward. He could see the enemy. Well atleast his chakra.
"Die!" he shouted. "Wh-What is… that eye…?" The villain asked fear in his trembling voice. Both of his eyes were wide as he slowly died.
"This time… I'll protect my comrades!" Obito announced, clenching his fist in determination.

This wasn't the same Obito from before. Something inside of him had broken. Something gave You the idea that he no longer needed protection. Not with those eyes anyways...

Suddenly Kakashi collapsed again holding onto his aching eye. "Looks like I lost my eye…" he said. They took a moment to patch it up with the medical kit Rin had given him before heading to save the girl.

"Are you sure she's around here?" Obito asked Ryou. Kakashi had never seen him to serious about anything in his life. "My nose doesn't lie, she inside of that cave-" she wasn't even finished speaking when the Uchicha leapt from the trees and sprinted inside. Ryou and Kakashi exchanged a look before following him in.

Once again, Ryou asked herself that question: Would Shisui go back for her?
She really had no idea what the answer was. Or if she would go back for him...

Soon the three young ninja appeared inside of the cave where Rin was being held captive.

"Patetic…" The tormenting villain growled out.

Ryou stepped forward, "I'm here. Now what do you want?" She snapped.

"You know what I want girl." The Rock ninja hissed. With haste she suddenly threw her backpack with the scrolls up in the air, the ninja stretched out his hand to reach for it , it took him a moment to realize that the three of them attacked from below. In only moments they took him out. Kakashi snapped Rin out of the Genjutsu and they were ready to head out.

"I see…" the Rock ninja suddenly stood up. "You three made a good team, but you're still just kids." He chuckled barely being able to move. "Right now you're in enemy hands."

"Earth style: Rock Breaker!" he casted the jutsu, and soon the cave began collapsing.

"This is bad!" Ryou shouted already making a way for the exit. "Run for the exit!" Kakashi shouted as he began sprinting.

On the way out an unfaithful rock hit Ryou in the back of the head making her collapse. "Ryou!" Rin shouted looking back her mouth ajar, eyes fearful. Nonetheless, her body kept moving. Feeling only a numbing pain in the back of her neck she was seeing doubles. She closed her eyes for a second. If she was to welcome death, it would be like an old friend. Peacefuly. Maybe if she hadn't gone without sleep for the past three days, just maybe she would've been more careful. More alert. She would've survived.

Feeling a hissing pain her body was suddenly hoisted up. Her mind couldn't process why he had come back for her. Why Kakashi Hatake, out of all people was crouching at her side in the middle of a deathly rock slide. Looking at his single eye, behind him she saw the massive stones that were hovering above them. What an idiot.

Now they would both certainly die-

Neither of them saw the collision coming. From the side Obito violently shover them out of the way with the last strength he had in his body. "Nooo!" A shrill shriek echoed the open field. Ryou and Kakashi both dodged the massive rock. He looked at her as she regained her consciousness, 'That was close...' He thought relieved.

Dust rose blinded mist of grey and dull hues as the final and largest rock had collapsed. The rock slide was over.

"Kakashi!" Rin shouted worried for her life from somewhere in the field. The female Jounin was barely regaining her vision and consciousness. Why was Obito nowhere to be found?
The familiar stench of iron... blood, suddenly greeted her nostrils. No...
she sprinted to the source and before the mist cleared up she began removing and tossing rocks away digging into the massive geological formation.

The fog had suddenly cleared.

Ryou removed two last rocks in a hurry before part of his body was revealed. There he lay. Half alive, half not.

Half of his body crushed under the mammoth rock...