Warning: hypothermia, blood, CPR, minor swearing, attempted suicide
Please enjoy!
After Tsunade scooped the rest of the blood and vomit out of Kakashi's mouth, she held her hand in front of Kakashi's mouth and nose, as her other hand went to the pulse point on his neck, but didn't feel any breathing or a pulse. 'Oh shit!'
"He's going into cardiac arrest," Tsunade stated at a rapid pace.
Jiraiya quickly noticed what was happening and added, "Tsunade, I'll start chest compressions-"
"No, don't! His ribs are still not fully mend together! You'll just end up breaking them again!" Tsunade yelled at Jiraiya in earnest.
"Better to have a few broken ribs, over being dead!" Jiraiya countered furiously, as he turned Kakashi on his back.
"Yeah, so they can shatter into pieces, and punctured his lungs and heart. Drowning him in his own blood!" Tsunade yelled in equal fury with a death glare at Jiraiya.
"Then what do you want us to do!" Minato joined in the yelling match, in desperation, knowing the clock was ticking to save Kakashi.
Tsunade's eyes shifted around from place to place, as she trying to come up with a solution, then gasped and started, "Jiraiya, after I give Kakashi two breaths I want you to send an electric charge to Kakashi's heart-"
"What! Earlier you said Kakashi's heart is in a weakened state, and now you want me to electrocute him!" Jiraiya snapped at Tsunade, in anger and surprised.
"You won't be electrocuting him it will be more like a defibrillator, sending an electric current to the heart, to help restart it," Tsunade quickly corrected, but still can see the hesitation in Jiraiya's expression. "You asked for a plan B! This is it! This is plan B, C, all the way to fucking Z! Now stop wasting time, and do what I say!" Tsunade yelled furiously at Jiraiya again, as she cleaned Kakashi's mouth with the corner of the blanket.
Jiraiya growled out before replying, "all right."
After Tsunade and Jiraiya finish two sets of three, Kakashi still remained unresponsive and wasn't showing any sign of life. After every breath, every shock to the heart, the group was losing hope. Minato could feel his fists trembling uncontrollably at his sides as he lowered his head to hide his expression from the others in the room. While Kushina's grimaced deepen with every sound electricity connecting to Kakashi's chest as she held Obito and Rin with their faces toward her. Obito's terrified tearful eyes peered over his shoulder to where Tsunade and Jiraiya were leaning over his teammate trying to bring him back to life. While Rin clung to Kushina's green dress with all her might, as she sobbed into the material covering Kushina's stomach.
For a split second, Tsunade felt Kakashi's heart give a faint pulse, but it was still too weak for the makeshift defibrillator to fully bring him back. As a last resort, Tsunade uses her medical ninjutsu to kick-start Kakashi's brain, cardiac, and nervous system. Resulted in Kakashi letting out a blood-curdling scream, as white-hot agony travels through his veins, before feeling the healing chakra seep into his withering body.
Kakashi remained on the agonizing borderline of consciousness, he tried to take deep breaths, but the pain kept his breathing shallow. He thought about going back to where he was just a moment ago until he heard a familiar voice call out, "Kakashi!"
"Kakashi, wake up! Please, wake up!" Minato cried out again, as his adrenaline spiked, at the sound of his youngest student's screaming in pure agony. Which still sent shivers down his spine making his heart race, and ready for action, but there are no enemies to fight right now making him feel completely useless.
Minato was about to let out another plea for the last Hatake to wake up, but instead silently inhaled when he saw Kakashi's eyelids shutter. Before a sliver of Kakashi's dark grey eyes stared up at his Sensei, with glassy uneven pupils. Minato was sure he was ready to weep for joy when he saw Kakashi's eyes crack open.
Ignoring the moisture gathering in the corner of his eyes, Minato leaned over Kakashi's face as he gently held the sides of the little Hatake's head. The Yellow Flash would have been embarrassed by the shaky breaths coming from him if he wasn't so relieved that Kakashi was breathing, and looking at him, as if wondering why his Sensei was upside down.
"Good, just like that, eyes on me," Minato spoke with a bright relieved smile, but his breath was still shaky as he used his thumbs to wipe the tears leaking from the corner of the boy's confused unfocused eyes.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes as if trying to focus on the person that was only inches from his face, while he only answered with shallow pants from his rattling lungs. Minato remembers that Tsunade mentioned that Kakashi's concussion could possibly include brain damage and memory loss. Which scared the living hell out of Minato, that one of his beloved students might not even remember him.
"Kakashi, do you know who I am?" Minato questioned growing more concerned by the confusion in Kakashi's eyes.
"Min...a...to...- sen...sei," Kakashi unevenly stuttered out, with a voice barely above a whisper as he continued letting out shaky breaths.
"That's right, good job, Kakashi. Just stay awake," Minato praised moving one of his hands to brush Kakashi's bangs out of his face.
"Obi... Rin... sa?" Kakashi asked in the same volume as before, getting frustrated with his inability to clearly finish sentences, due to the pain in his throat.
Minato quickly figured out what Kakashi was trying to say and softy answered while leaning back a little, "yes, Obito and Rin are safe, and they're here too."
Obito quickly pulled away from Kushina's grasp and went to his Sensei's side so Kakashi can see him. "Yeah, you gave us quite a scare Kakashi," the young Uchiha answered with a large goofy smile of relief while rubbing his eyes with his royal blue jacket sleeve.
"Still... crying..." Kakashi asked in a silent raspy voice between long shallow breaths with half-lidded eyes.
"Oh, shut up, Bakashi!" The emotional Uchiha shouted with his fists at his sides, as he stomped on the ground with childlike anger.
Kakashi chuckles dryly as he tries to sit up, but stiffens at the movement as his half-lidded eyes creased in distress, his silver brows pinched together letting out a small but slow, "ow."
"Don't push yourself, ya know!" Kushina softly scolded ignoring the haze in her own eyes, as she gently pressed the edge of a glass of warm water to Kakashi's purplish red lips.
After sipping some water from the glass that Kushina offered, Kakashi opens this mouth to speak but hesitated as if it took a second to process the words in his head. Then Kakashi answered in a soft slow voice, "it's okay, I'm fine." Before remembering how the four attackers were able to subdue Kushina. "Are you okay, Kushina?" Kakashi quietly asked with a sense of urgency, as Kushina gave the glass to Minato to put on the coffee table.
Standing on the other side of the couch in-between Jiraiya and Rin, Kushina softly smiled at the concerned boy while she answered, "yes I'm fine. Don't worry about me, just focus on healing, Kashi, and don't ever scare me like that again, ya know!" The Uzumaki scolded pointing her finger at the injured Hatake, but it sounded more like an aggressive plea.
Kakashi appeared confused at the redhead's worry, then send a quick glance to Jiraiya as he answered with, "I can't make any promises." Jiraiya let out an amused huff, as Kakashi's tried eyes shifted to the young medic standing next to Kushina with tears still streaming down her purple marked cheeks. Not used to seeing Rin cry Kakashi asked, "Rin... you're crying, what's wrong? Or are you just trying to be like Obito over here?" Kakashi joked trying to diffuse the heavy tension in the room. Kakashi expected Obito to tell him to shut up again, but he was only answered with a heavy emotional silence.
"Your heart stopped... Kakashi, your heart stopped beating...and you weren't breathing... For twenty-seven seconds. You were dead, for twenty-seven seconds..." Rin explained in-between soft sobs, as she used the outside of her hand to wipe her tears.
Kakashi's half-opened eyes slightly widened for a moment before closing, then slowly opening as he drawled out, "oh... It's okay. It's working now," giving his female teammate a tired and slightly pained smile.
"Okay, no more of is lovey-dovey shit," Tsunade interrupted, after coming back from washing her hands and mouth out. Which made Kakashi give the Senju heiress a clueless look, while Rin flushes as red as a raspberry. Then added, "everyone back up, so I can heal the brat without being crowded," as Tsunade made a shooing motion of her hands making everyone flock away from the couch.
Tsunade carefully removed Kakashi's bloody bandages on his torso, so she can check Kakashi's stitched up injuries. But discovered that some of Kakashi's bruised flesh tore apart from his stitches. Tsunade let out an annoyed sigh, as droplets of blood continued to seep out of the reopened wound. Using her medical ninjutsu, Tsunade made quick work of stopping the bleeding while removing the no longer useful stitches. But curiously noticed that Kakashi's healing rate has decreased to what would be considered normal for a child his age.
"Strange, you're not healing as fast as you were before, I wonder why?" Tsunade commented as if talking to herself. While looking at her medical supplies on the far end of the coffee table, before grabbing a medium-sized jar filled with a glossy white cream that almost had a green shine to it in the light.
Kakashi remains silent almost as if he wasn't paying attention, but his body stiffened at the sannin's comment making him look uneasy. The last Hatake suspiciously watched the Senju, as she removed a jar's lid and scooped up some of the medicine with three fingers. But when Tsunade was about to rub it into the reopened gash, Kakashi press himself further into the couch trying to get away from the approaching hand holding the medicine.
"If I wanted to kill you why would I be wasting my medical supplies on you?" Tsunade remarked in irritation, that Kakashi thinks that she's trying to hurt him. Even after she brought him back, and spend so much of her chakra trying to heal him, but her hand remained still. Tsunade didn't want the silver-haired chunnin to fight her, especially since the boy was already in critical condition.
"The best way to kill your target is to gain their trust first," Kakashi replied with a hoarse voice. Still a little reluctant to trust Tsunade. It wasn't like the Slug Queen has done anything to hurt him, but he doesn't trust doctors, not anymore anyway, and he especially doesn't trust any medicine he's not familiar with.
Tsunade let out a sigh and put the cream back in the jar before grabbing a kunai out her weapon pouch while sitting on the coffee table across from Kakashi. Minato, Kushina, and the other two students tensed upon seeing the weapon so close to Kakashi. The Yellow Flash and Red-Hot-Habanero glanced at Jiraiya, who had his arms folded across his chest watching Tsunade in a relaxed manner. Before looking at the two young adults giving them a silent nod, letting them know to trust the female sannin.
Kakashi's trained eyes founded the kunai's every move, even though it made his head throb even more. His eyes narrowed as his vision blurred while watching Tsunade roll up her left sleeve to the middle of her forearm. But didn't expect the medical ninja to use the kunai to cut the top of her forearm, drawing blood.
Tsunade watched Kakashi's shocked expressions when she cut her own left arm. 'I've never been good at comforting distrustful patients. If Dan was back from his mission then maybe he could talk Kakashi into trusting me, but we don't have the time to wait for him. So, if I can't persuade Kakashi to trust me, then I'll show him that he can.' Tsunade then gathered some of the medicine on her right index finger, before massaging it into the cut. Then grab a small bandage, and while wrapping it around the treated cut, she softly informed Kakashi, "this medicine is infused with healing chakra, to help speed up the healing process."
"Why?" Kakashi questioned, as he continues staring at the small bandage wrapped around Tsunade's arm.
"Would you have trusted me if I haven't otherwise? Kakashi, I want to help you heal, but I cannot have you fighting me, it'll only hurt you more, and I think you've been through enough." Tsunade answered with a sympathetic smile, as she rolled down her left shirt sleeve.
Kakashi studied Tsunade's honey brown eyes, trying to read what she was thinking. Then looked at the gashes and electrical burn that spread across his damaged gray skin, before closing his eyes and relaxing back into the couch, muttering, "okay."
Tsunade's lips softly curled, then scooped up a generous amount of the healing cream on her three fingers. While hovering her hand over the reopened gash that ran across the lower part of Kakashi's rib cage, Tsunade warned, "this might sting a bit."
Kakashi only nodded, not thinking too much of Tsunade's warning. Until the medical ninja smeared the white cream across Kakashi's reopened wounds. The glossy white cream turned a garishly pink as it mixed with the little Hatake's blood. Minato's fists clenched tightly, as he watched Kakashi's body jerked and sink further into the couch letting out a pained hiss through the sound of grinding teeth.
Tsunade carefully massaged the salve into the rigid edges of the torn greenish-purple skin. She was impressed that the boy didn't scream, like most of the other seasoned shinobi she's treated with this cream, and most of those shinobi were full-grown adults. Tsunade watched as Kakashi's scrunched face started to relax as the healing chakra in the cream started to take effect, as a green shine could be seen through the garish cream. Then the Senju heiress carefully rubbed some more of the salve on the electrical burns that Jiraiya made when they were trying to restart Kakashi's heart.
"Better?" Tsunade asked, to make sure Kakashi wasn't still in pain.
"Yeah," Kakashi raspy voice answered with a breath of relief, his eyes still closed as he was starting to drift off back to sleep.
"Good, now I'm going to put some more of this healing cream on the cuts on your back. I'll have Jiraiya hold you up in a sitting position, after that we'll bandage you up." Tsunade added, telling Kakashi step by step instructions of what she's doing.
Kakashi only acknowledges Tsunade's words with a tired grunt, and Tsunade can't help but wonder if Kakashi finally trusts her, or if he's just too tired to care. Jiraiya calmly made his way to the arm of the couch and slowly lifted Kakashi into a sitting position. Even with Jiraiya moving Kakashi slowly and loosely cradling the sides of the boy's fragile ribcage, Kakashi still let out a soft cry of pain as silent tears leaked from his tightly closed eyes before silencing himself by gritting his teeth again.
Jiraiya watched Kakashi sluggishly open his eyes peering up at the Toad Sage, who tried his best not to frown at how one of the Kakashi's pupils was the size of a tiny speck. While the other pupil was large enough to almost cover the dark grey eye's iris. Jiraiya gave the boy his usual one-sided smile, as Kakashi continue to sluggishly blink away his tears as he stared up at Jiraiya. The Toad Sage didn't know what's worse, Kakashi's confused unfocused eyes or how he can feel Kakashi's ribs shift in his hands.
"Jiji?" Kakashi spoke quietly, to where Jiraiya almost didn't hear him.
Jiraiya didn't like the confusion present in the Hatake's voice as the boy continues to stare at him. "I'm here pup," Jiraiya answered softly, assuming that Kakashi's vision is too blurry to make out people's faces. Silently relieved that Kakashi didn't mistake him for Sakumo, because Jiraiya doesn't think he could handle that without breaking down.
"My head hurts," Kakashi drawled out slowly leaning his head back trying to focus on the Toad Sage.
"I'm sure it does," Jiraiya chuckled dryly, before adding, "but don't worry, Tsunade will get you all fixed up."
Kakashi continues to study the man holding him for a minute, then added, "you're wearing your mission gear. Are you going on another mission?"
Jiraiya and Tsunade give a quick glance to each other, silently guessing that Kakashi's concussion does include some brain damage. When Jiraiya was about to answer the injured Hatake, Kakashi frowned as he spoke in a small fragile voice, "please don't go."
Jiraiya froze, he had no idea what to say or do after those three words, as his heart sunk to the bottom of the stomach, and felt a lump in his throat. 'Oh shit, has Kakashi been thinking that I was going to abandoned him all this time?' Jiraiya wondered grimly. Then after clearing his throat Jiraiya softly answered, "it's going to be okay, I'm not going anywhere."
Tsunade and Jiraiya didn't expect Kakashi to give his uncle a relieved smile while softly stating, "good," before slipping back into unconsciousness.
"Tsunade?" Jiraiya couldn't help the panic in his voice, as his teammate immediately started checking Kakashi vitals.
"He's fine, just asleep. He probably used all his energy up just trying to talk and stay awake. Let's let him sleep for a little while," Tsunade's informed, inwardly trying to calm her heart rate. Then quickly added, "okay let's get this medicine on him, so we can bandage him up, and let him rest." Jiraiya only nodded, as he was lost in thought.
After Tsunade re-bandage Kakashi's torso, Jiraiya helped her wrap the little Hatake in more blankets before propping him up on some pillows. Tsunade had Rin check Kakashi's temperature, while she focused on healing the Hatake's concussion. As the late hours of the night started turning too early morning, Minato sent two toads to Rin's and Obito's families with a small scroll explaining that there was an emergency, but everyone is safe and that the students are staying with him tonight.
Soon after, Kakashi regained consciousness but was still groggy. Rin helped Kakashi drink some warm water in small slow sips, so he wouldn't accidentally choke while Obito leaned against the other side of the couch and watched. While Tsunade took stock of her medical supplies and started jotting down notes of Kakashi's treatment plan and what supplies Kushina and Minato will need.
Tsunade glanced at Kakashi, who was watching his two genin teammates talk with half-lidded eyes. His purplish-red lips slightly curled on one side, as he relaxed into his cocoon of blankets. The Senju heiress was relieved that they were able to finish off the rest of the fluids in Kakashi's IV while Kakashi fell asleep. When she and Jiraiya finished bandaging Kakashi up, Tsunade removed the IV and was relieved that Kakashi's hands and feet didn't show any signs of gangrene.
At first, the Senju medic didn't know if not having the IV was a bad thing, because Kakashi's temperature was still a little under the nineties. But now, she realizes that they were lucky that Kakashi did not notice the IV. The boy has already shown signs of paranoia and trauma when Tsunade showed him the jar of cream, or mention what kind of medication he will be taking during his recovery.
After finishing Kakashi's treatment plan and taking stocks of her supplies, Tsunade took her time standing up and stretching out your spine, while inwardly commenting about how much of a pain this situation is. Then went over to the couch and started checking Kakashi's vitals again. She was glad that Kakashi hasn't thrown up anymore, and was keeping down water, while Kakashi's dark grey eyes stared up at Tsunade waiting for her diagnosis. Tsunade's honey-brown eyes met with the little Hatake's and smiled as she spoke, "well your temperature is now at eighty-nine degrees Fahrenheit, and you've been able to keep down the water. So, I think we should now try to give you something other than water to drink."
"I can make some tea, ya know," Kushina piped up from where she sat at the kitchen table with Minato and Jiraiya.
"We should get some kind of energizer," Tsunade answered in half-thought, as she held her chin with her thumb and forefinger.
"Like coffee?" Jiraiya asked trying to clarify what his teammate was thinking.
"No, when someone has hypothermia, you're supposed to avoid caffeine. Minato do you have any hot chocolate mix?" The Senju medic asked the Namikaze, who's been silent the whole conversation so far.
"Let me see..." Minato muttered as he searched through his kitchen cabinets. "Yep, there's a can right here," Minato added holding up a can for Tsunade to see.
"Great, can you make Kakashi a mug please," Tsunade spoke calmly which made it seem more like an order and instead of a question.
Kushina snatches the can from Minato, telling him to sit down and rest as she started heating up the water. After stirring in the hot chocolate mix into the mug of hot water, Kushina then made her way over to Tsunade and Kakashi. While holding out the mug she spoke cheerfully, "here you go, it's still a bit hot, ya know."
"Thank you Kushina," Tsunade replied checking the drink's temperature, before offering it to Kakashi. The tired nine-year-old wrinkles his nose at the mug offer to him but took the mug anyway. "What? Are you one of those people that have to have whipped cream with their hot chocolate?"
"I don't like sweets," Kakashi simply stated while staring at the hot chocolate in the mug that was cradled in his shaky red hands.
"Well, too bad, your body needs the sugar to burn, so you have to drink it." Tsunade informed slightly amused, by Kakashi's pouting face.
"Okay," Kakashi slowly pouted again, before taking a sip of the drink.
While Kushina made two more mugs of hot chocolate for Obito and Rin, who graciously accept the drinks. The two genin students then sat on the coffee table and continued their previous chat with Kakashi, but quickly include Tsunade into the conversation as well. Minato smiled at his three precious students; he was still a little shaken from when Kakashi's heart stopped. But now after everything that's happened within the last twenty-four hours, the Namikaze was now starting to feel how exhausted he really was physically, and emotionally. Kushina placed a hand on his back gazing on him with violet eyes that showed her worry for him. Jiraiya was also watching Minato with the same expression. But before either of them could say anything Minato nodded at them stating that he was fine just tired.
Minato jolted awake, not even aware that he had fallen asleep. He slowly lifted his head from his folded arms that laid on the kitchen table, as he felt the blanket covering his back slip off his shoulders and settle on the seat of the chair. The Namikaze took in his surroundings, and the first thing his tired eyes focused on was Kushina's red hair. That spread over the Uzumaki's shoulder and back, as her head laid in her folded arms, similar to how Minato was sleeping, but on the adjacent side of the table. Then rub the rest of the sleep from his tired blue eyes, as he quietly stood up and made his way to the living room, but not before draping the blanket over his girlfriend's shoulders.
At the living room entrance, Minato focused on his youngest student, who was asleep as Tsunade watched over him from her seat on the coffee table. The Senju acknowledged his presence with a slide glanced, before turning her attention to the injured Hatake. Minato watched the glowing green chakra from the medical ninja's hand cover Kakashi's bandage forehead while the other was placed over the blankets covering Kakashi's heart. When passing armchair recliner Minato notices his two genin students were also passed out, leaning on each other like they were a couple of hours earlier. Minato smiled at them, as he adjusted the blanket that was covering them, before turning his attention back to Kakashi and Tsunade.
Upon reaching the couch, Minato frowned at the sight of Kakashi's eyebrows scrunched together and panting unevenly. While still looking at his student Minato didn't want to ask but did so anyway. "How is he?"
"We have now entered the stage of the unknown," Tsunade replied with an even tone while keeping her attention on the sleeping chunnin.
"Unknown? What do you mean by that?" Minato quickly questioned, as he watched Tsunade's medical ninjutsu illuminate Kakashi's forehead and chest from where her hands are placed.
"Kakashi's temperature is around ninety-one," Tsunade answered before pausing.
"So, Kakashi's not in a hypothermic state anymore?" Minato spoke with a hint of relief. But seeing that uncertainty and Tsunade's expression made him nervously ask, "I thought that was a good thing?"
"It is, but does have a downside," Tsunade replied shortly, not fulling knowing how Minato was going to react to the issue.
Minato was starting to inwardly panic, but quickly calmed down, before insisting, "and what is the downside?"
"The hypothermia was the only thing keeping Kakashi's brain from swelling," Tsunade solemnly informed the Namikaze. Before further explaining, "and now that his core temperature is rising, his brain is starting to swell putting pressure on the fracture on his skull."
"Can you stop it?" Minato asked in urgency, unsure of what to do.
"I swear, you in Jiraiya are like broken records," Tsunade scolded, giving the Jonin-sensei an irritated glare, before adding with a sigh, "I'm doing the best I can, with what I got."
"Speaking of Jiraiya-sensei, where is he?" Minato questioned, as he gazed around the room but saw no sign of the Toad Sage.
"He's checking on our 'guest' to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid," Tsunade answered with a slight tinge of disgust.
"Like he hasn't already," Minato added with a hint of malice, he been so worried about Kakashi's survival that he temporarily forgot about Kado.
"Good point," Tsunade huffed in amusement, as her gaze remained on the unconscious Hatake. Before continuing in a more serious tone, "but the real reasons to make sure he doesn't do anything to kill himself before we turn him into the Hokage and torture and interrogation unit." Then while still treating Kakashi, Tsunade's gaze met with the Namikaze's as she quietly spoke, "Jiraiya told me about your little 'snap' moment, that's why Jiraiya didn't wake you up. How are you feeling?"
"Better," Minato answer truthfully, understanding why his Sensei didn't take him with to meet Kado. While thinking back to his fight with Kado in the forest, the Yellow Flash heard a soft grunt like a whimper. Minato quickly turns his attention towards his youngest student, who's closed eyes and silver eyebrows were scrunched together, as his pale lips flattened tightly together in a pained grimace. Minato's gaze shifted to Tsunade as he warily asked, "Tsunade is Kakashi going to be okay?"
Tsunade refused to look at Minato's bright blue eyes as she answered, "as long as we keep him from falling into a coma, I think he'll make it."
"You think?" Minato asked, unable to keep his worried tone hidden.
"That healing ability that Kakashi has," Tsunade paused letting out a frustrated sigh. Then added warily, "before it was repairing his organs, now it's just going all over the place."
"Is that not a good thing?" Minato asked knowing it was a stupid question, but he didn't want to make any assumptions until he had all the facts.
"In this case, no. It would be the same as me using my medical ninjutsu to heal all his injuries in one session. It's too much strain on his body, it's tearing apart his muscle tissue and nerve endings, then immediately tries to heal them back together again. Causing more pain and strain on the body than necessary. I can't stop it from spreading throughout his whole body, but the least I can do is stop it from straining his brain and his cardiac system even more. I've noticed that when Kakashi's awake his healing rate goes back to normal for a child his age, but when he's asleep it's speed drastically increase-"
"Why not wake Kakashi up then?" Minato interrupts the Senju medic's explanation, frustrated that there is nothing he could do to help.
"Minato, if you wake up Kakashi now he would be in a tremendous amount of pain. It wouldn't even increase his survival rate if he was awake or asleep, and I don't want to put Kakashi through that kind of pain," Tsunade explained in a sympathetic tone, as she looked at Minato with tired eyes.
"Are you feeling okay Lady Tsunade? If you need more chakra, I can transfer some of my chakra to you?" Minato asked, in concern at how exhausted the Slug Queen looked.
"I'm fine," Tsunade stated, but could still see the doubt on Minato's face. "Really Minato, I'm fine. It's just... the brat is young and in critical condition... He reminds me of someone I wanted to save, but... didn't have the opportunity to," Tsunade explained trying to reassure the Namikaze.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Minato spoke in a soft solemn voice, knowing that exactly who Tsunade was talking about, 'Nawaki'.
Minato never met the Tsunade's younger energetic brother in person, but Jiraiya had told him some stories of Nawaki when he was a genin. One of those stories was how the Senju boy died, Jiraiya's only told Minato what happened after the little Namikaze found his Sensei leaning against a tree in their team's training grounds, and drunk to the point where plastered would be a light term for it, on the anniversary of Nawaki's death. That was also the day Minato first met Sakumo Hatake, who came to check up on Jiraiya. Then Minato watched as the White Fang picked his Sensei up and carried him over his shoulder, like Jiraiya weight nothing more than a small bag of kibble, and escorted the blonde home before body flickering away still carrying the Toad Sage on his shoulder.
Minato's memory was soon interrupted by Tsunade's reply, "it's fine, it was a long time ago. More importantly, right now I need you to make sure nothing interrupts me from healing Kakashi. I can't stop the jutsu until Kakashi wakes up on his own accord."
"Yes ma'am, do you need me to transfer some of my chakra to you? Or is there anything else I can do to help?" Minato asked still concerned for the Senju medic and wanted to help Kakashi in any way he can.
"No, you're going to need everything you got. Remember we don't know the abilities of these people, and four of them were able to take down Kushina." Tsunade replied still looking at Kakashi, before glancing up at the young sensei while added, "if I need more chakra I can activate the Byakugou seal."
"All right," Minato answered, trusting Tsunade's judgment.
The conversation come to an abrupt end when Jiraiya returned from the toad's stomach in a cloud of smoke. Minato and Tsunade could tell that Jiraiya's visit with Kado did not end well. Due to the irritated anger rolling off of him in heavy waves.
"Is the bastard still alive?" Tsunade asked, concerned that they might have just lost the only person they've caught red-handed.
"Yep, but the dumbass was trying to bite his tongue off, so I use his headband as a makeshift gag," Jiraiya answered irritability with a scowl on his face, as he washes the blood off his hands in the kitchen sink. Then added with a sigh, "he won't be able to move or do anything until I hand him over to Sensei."
"Good," Tsunade replied with a firm nod while she continued to heal the injured Hatake.
While Jiraiya came back and check his little honorary nephew's condition, but was saddened to see that Kakashi looked like he was in more pain than before he left. He was tempted to ask Tsunade about Kakashi's condition but quickly decided against it recalling how Tsunade threatened to kick him out of the house if he insisted on distracting her concentration. Jiraiya knew that Tsunade wasn't trying to be mean, she was just probably getting sick of everyone asking her the same questions over and over again. Especially since she's in a stress situation, and she does not have a clear answer on Kakashi's survival, herself.
Before Minato could do or say anything, Jiraiya stood in front of his blonde student. As the Toad Sage continued to study the young adult in front of him, Jiraiya asked with a lopsided grin, "well you're looking better, how are you feeling?"
"A lot better, then before," Minato answer truthfully, as he gave his Sensei a tired smile.
Jiraiya studies Minato again, trying to detect any lie in Minato's bright blue eyes. Before answering with a firm nod, "good. We're going to need that head and heart of yours to be in the right place when I leave to go report to the Hokage.
"Yes Sensei," Minato replied with a serious tone and a straight back. Then with the small smile, Minato added, "oh, and Jiraiya-sensei, thank you for stopping me back there in the forest. I don't think I would be able to look at Kakashi in the eyes if I had killed him, and thank you for listening to my rambling earlier."
Jiraiya expression softened for a moment, before giving Minato his normal large goofy smile. Then roughly ruffling Minato's blonde hair as he boisterously replied, "any time for my little student, and future Hokage!"
"Sensei, we don't even know if I'll ever be the Hokage," Minato corrected while fixing his hair.
"Well, then they better have a damn good reason why not to!" Jiraiya replied with pride secretly knowing that his student is being considered for one of the Hokage candidates.
At that moment, Kushina wakes up with a jolt in her chair, then clutches her stomach before grimacing in pain. Minato races over to his girlfriend and asks in concern, "Kushina what's wrong?"
While taking deep breaths, Kushina shakily answered, "something's coming. I can't sense it, but the furball can, and he isn't too happy about who's coming."
Before Minato could ask Kushina to elaborate on her reply, the four adults heard creaking of the porch floorboards behind the door. Obito and Rin woke up at the sound of a heavy mass moving behind the front door, as Jiraiya stood between the door and Tsunade, who was still focusing on healing the unconscious Hatake. While Kushina stood in front of the two ten-year-old genin with a kunai tight in her grip, as Minato silently crept up to the door with a tri-tipped kunai ready to strike if needed.
When Minato slowly turns the doorknob, he didn't expect the door to fly open as a large wolf pounced on the Yellow Flash pinning him to the floor before he had any time to react. The group froze in place as the enormous cream-colored wolf that had a tuff of blonde fur on the top of its muzzle that was curled up showing large sharp fangs. There was also blond fur on the tips of the wolf's ears that stood straight up. While the thick patch of blonde fur between its upper shoulders remained standing up, as it stood on top of the Namikaze. The wolf growled menacingly as Minato hissed sharply as the wolf's paws, which were around the size of Minato's entire hand, pressed down on the inside of the Yellow Flash's elbows and the top of his knees. Minato's struggle to get up was short-lived when the growling wolf slowly shifted more of it's weight to its hind legs. Minato loudly grimaced, as the pressure increase on his kneecaps to the point where he feels that they were on the point of dislocating.
Auel stop! That's Minato!" Jiraiya yelled, just as the wolf's open jaw pressed against the sides of the stunned Namikaze's throat ready to sink its razor-sharp teeth into the vulnerable tan flesh.
The wolf paused for a moment then lift it's head as it's chocolate brown eyes studied Minato's face. "Minato? You're Minato Namikaze?" A soothing but confused female voice came from the wolf.
"Yes, I'm Kakashi's Sensei. I don't mean to be rude, but could you please get off me, before you dislocate something?" Minato asked in a pained voice, as he cracked one blue eye open peering at the wolf on top of him. The wolf paused, making Minato worry that the large animal wasn't going to get off him, but was instantly relieved when the heavy wolf steps off of his joints, but still stood over him with a large paw keeping just enough pressure on his sternum to keep him pinned to the floor.
The cream and blonde colored wolf raised her head, as her gaze traveled around the room before settling on Jiraiya. "Jiraiya? Why are you here? The scent of Kakashi's blood is so strong here I thought... I thought this is the place where he was being hurt," Auel explained before desperately adding, "Jiraiya, what happened? Why couldn't Kakashi summon me? Does my puppy still live?"
"Kakashi's alive, but he's in really bad shape, Auel. The healing ability he has is doing more harm than good... which you neglected to tell me about!" Jiraiya informed, but raising his voice at the last part as the wolf's ears flattened slightly and looked ashamed.
The wolf quickly trotted to the couch, to where Kakashi scent was the strongest and was devastated upon seeing the silver-haired boy's condition. The human-sized wolf was now standing next to Tsunade, who's green glowing hands hovered above Kakashi's head and chest. Auel whined as her blonde tipped ears flattened to the top of her head, she gently rubbed her muzzle against the side of Kakashi's bruised face. "Oh no... can you hear me Kashi-pup? Oh, my poor little puppy... I'm so sorry, I wasn't there to protect you..." Auel whispered with soft whines, as she tenderly nuzzles face into Kakashi's damp dirty silver hair.
The others in the room frowned at the sight, as Jiraiya asked with a hint of desperation, "is there any way you can help, or turn it off, somehow?"
"Jiraiya, this was something Kakashi was born with. You can't just turn it off, it's in his blood. My mother has a seal that can slow it though," Auel replied with distress in her chocolate brown eyes.
"Then have Faiashi come here! I don't care if she's a giant wolf, like you! Kakashi needs help, and he needs help now!" Jiraiya yelled, knowing this is not the time for clan traditions, but a time to take action, and for Kakashi's sake the quicker the better.
Auel let out a short-frustrated growl the blonde hair between her shoulders slightly raised again, before answering, "that's not it Jiraiya! My mother cannot enter the village!"
"It's because the villagers would think she's a demon, isn't it? Your mother, Lady Faiashi, is a chakra beast isn't she, and you're a dire wolf, a half chakra beast?" Kushina softly spoke out from where she and the two genin students crouched on the floor next to Minato, who sitting up as Rin checked the bruises on his arms and legs.
"We are not demons!" The wolf bark out menacing through curled lips and large white fangs, her tail raised high ears pointed up, as the cream and blonde fur on her back and neck raised.
Auel's growling intensified as she glared at the two kids and the young couple. But before she could say anything else the wolf felt a small hand threaded into the soft fur of her left front leg just below her elbow. Auel's gaze immediately shifted downwards to the last Hatake who stare up at her with dark grey eyes that always showed more emotion than the rest of his face. The emotions those eyes showed was a pain, confusion, and anger.
"What are you doing!" Kakashi's hoarse voice attempted to yell but instead made him go into a coughing fit. "You are not a demon. You are Auel. You are part of my pack, my family. You are not evil, and they cannot make you feel that way without your consent." Kakashi continued between coughs, trying to stay awake.
However, the silver-haired chunnin was still exhausted and can barely move. It took all his strength just to talk and move his right arm, let alone keep his shaky grip on the creamy-white fur of Auel's left front leg. As Kakashi's coughs started getting worse, Tsunade recovered from her shock of the boy's sudden awakening. She carefully helps Kakashi sit up and stacked a couple more pillows behind him to lean on, then wrapping another blanket around his trembling shoulders.
Soon after Kakashi's coughing fit started, it turned to gagging, then to dry-heaving. Then as quickly as he could, Kakashi clamped his hand over his mouth when he felt a burning liquid violently shot up his throat before filling his mouth. Kakashi's upper body curled as he heaved, his eyes watered from the force, but kept his mouth shut refusing to make more of mess on his Sensei's couch. When Kakashi started dry heaving, Kushina quickly ran out of the room then came back with a small garbage can with a new bag inside, and quickly placed in Kakashi's lap. As soon as the garbage can was in his lap, Kakashi immediately buries his head inside as another wave of the sickening warm fluid shot up his throat again.
Tsunade peered into the garbage can that Kakashi's face was still buried in, and notice the crimson-red substance in the plastic bag. "Not again," Tsunade sighed in a worried tone, as she gently rubs Kakashi's back as the nine-year-old boy trembled as he vomited more blood.
"Lady Tsunade why is this happening?" Kushina asked as she held Kakashi's bangs out of his face as he pants with ragged breaths.
"I don't know," the Senju replied truthfully as she sadly watched the last Hatake hacking before throwing up one more time, with tears dripping from his lashes too.
"You gave him blood didn't you," the wolf stated has she sent down next to Tsunade, but her sharp chocolate brown eyes remained on Kakashi.
"Yes. Kakashi needed a blood transfusion, due to the internal bleeding." Tsunade answered while using her medical ninjutsu searching Kakashi's internal organs trying to find the injury where the blood is coming from.
"What type did you use?" Auel asked as her gaze shifted to the blond medic ninja sitting on the coffee table to her right.
"I used the blood type O negative," Tsunade replied wondering what the wolf was getting at.
The cream and blonde tipped wolf let out an annoyed huff while adding, "well that explains it."
"What are you talking about? Kakashi's blood type is O positive, and blood type O negative is compatible with O positive," Tsunade replied knowing she is correct unless Kakashi's medical file was filled with false information.
"That is true in most cases, but in Kakashi's case, no. It's not," Auel answered simply.
"What do you mean?" Jiraiya questioned since this was new information to him as well.
"Kakashi's body is viewing the blood you put in him as a foreign invader." The wolf vaguely answered. But after being met with confused stares she added, "so his body is trying to push the foreign blood out. How many pints did you give him?"
"Just one," Tsunade answered still not fully understanding what the wolf was trying to say, but she could understand the gist of it.
"That's good, Kakashi will be fine." Auel sighed in relief as her posture slightly relaxed.
"Are you sure?" Kushina softly asked, looking at the wolf with worried violet eyes.
"Of course, Kashi-pup is only vomiting because his body is trying to get rid of the incompatible blood. But, if you have given Kakashi three pints of blood, it would only result in him throwing up three pints of blood, without giving Kakashi's body the time to generate enough blood to replace it." The wolf elaborated, as her sympathetic gaze remained on the worried Uzumaki.
"What do you mean if he doesn't generate enough?" Obito asked, hiding his nervousness as his eyes shifted from Kakashi to Auel.
Auel raises one of her doggy eyebrows at the young Uchiha's question. Even though she thought the question's answer was common sense she answered with a patient tone, "it would be the same as you if you are suffering from severe blood loss, he would die."
"So, wait, if Kakashi needs more blood what would you do?" Kushina asked in earnest, as her mind goes over scenarios that will require Kakashi needed a blood transfusion. With the idea of what could happen in Kakashi's shinobi career, she added, "if there's every situation with heavy bleeding involved there must be something you can give the help Kakashi, ya know!"
"Of course, there are ways to deal with this predicament. One of them being that you can store some of Kakashi's own blood, for those occasions, or you find someone with the exact same blood type he does, it does not have to be from the same family it just have to be the same type. Also, you could give him a blood replenishing pill, that's what Sakumo often did."
"Understood, I'll make sure to put that on his file," Tsunade commented keeping that information in mind, but was inwardly glad that no one changed Kakashi's medical records.
"At least that answers one question, but what about the other?" Jiraiya points out, as he stood on the other side of the couch, watching Kakashi cough and spit into the garbage can again. The Toad Sage hated how Kakashi looked paler than he already was, as his whole body trembled while panting with heavy uneven breaths. In frustration of the situation, Jiraiya's dark eyes focus on Auel, as he spoke in a harsh but concerned tone, "Kakashi's healing ability. We can't keep Kakashi awake twenty-four-seven, to prevent this ability from hurting his body anymore! Hell, the kid looks like he's about to pass out, and he's only been awake, for like what? Three minutes!"
Auel's ears flattened slightly, but before she could answer Kakashi let out a whine before silently adding, "so loud..."
"Sorry about that Pup," Jiraiya softly replied, put a hand on Kakashi's shaky bandaged back. Then looked at the wolf desperately as he questions almost pleading tone, "Auel, please there must be something you can do to help?"
Auel's expression turned pained, which only got worse as she looked down at Sakumo's injured pup. Then with a soft sorrowful voice, Auel answered, "my mother has a seal that can painlessly slow down the healing process to what you all consider normal. However, she cannot come here within the time that is needed, but I know a seal that will bring Kakashi's advance healing ability to a halt."
"Why didn't you just say so! That's what we need as long as Kakashi still heals and normal rate," Jiraiya's exclaimed with his arms dramatically stretched out wide, confused as to why Auel only mentioned this seal now.
Auel snorted in annoyance, before informing the white-haired sannin, "Jiraiya, the process of the seal is painful, and there's a chance that it could damage Kakashi's body to the point where he won't be able to access to any of his bloodline abilities when he's older."
"Wait, are you saying Kakashi has some kind of kekkei genkai?" Minato asked curiously as to why not why this information is not public.
"No. It's more like a clan ability, like the Nara clan and the Yamanaka clan," Auel replied with an honest tone.
"What are the other abilities?" Tsunade questioned, wondering what more was the Hatake hiding from the village.
"That's not important right now," was all Auel stated.
"I'm Kakashi's doctor I need to know!" Tsunade countered not wanting to accidentally inflict and more harm on the little Hatake.
"The Hatake clan's healing ability is the only one that could get in your way," Auel firmly replied, sending a warning glance down at Tsunade from the corner of her eyes.
After Kakashi was done throwing up, his dark gray eyes that were now red and puffy stared up at Auel's chocolate brown eyes. "Auel... please..." The nine-year-old tiredly grunted out between ragged breaths.
Auel looked conflicted, as she softly asked "are you sure Pup? You know what the consequences might be." Kakashi silently nods, as Tsunade helped the injured Hatake lean back on the stack of pillows. While watching closely Auel softly added, "alright, Pup, what hurts the most?"
"Everything," Kakashi answered in a long exhale, as he looked up at the only mother like figure he ever known with droopy eyes. Kakashi wished that he was just being dramatic, but it was true his body pulsed with pain just as much if not more than his throbbing head.
"Okay... okay..." Auel solemnly whispered, carefully pressed her muzzle along the left side of Kakashi's pale but bruised face, who's pale lips softly curled up as he leaned into the wolf's touch. Then Auel slowly moved away to get ready to start the sealing process but stopped when she notices something was missing. "Kashi-pup? Where is your pendant?"
The group heard a gulp come from Kakashi's bandaged throat, and with a sheepish reply of, "I don't know... I think it broke off..."
"Well now it makes sense why we couldn't find you," Auel sighed softly with a sliver of frustration present in her normally soothing voice. Then quietly added, "of all times to lose your clan pendant."
"I'm sorry," Kakashi weakly whispered. While he looked down ashamed of causing so much trouble, and for making everyone worry about someone like him.
"It's not your fault," the wolf firmly replied, leaving no room for Kakashi to debate. Then glanced at the Slug Queen, who still sat on the coffee table before asking, "Tsunade, right? You're a Senju, correct? Or at least part of the Senju clan, because you certainly do have the scent of a Senju."
"Yes, why do you ask?" Tsunade asked, wondering what the creamy-blonde wolf was getting at.
"Do you have Hashirama's necklace on you, right now?" Auel asked hopefully looking down at the blonde Senju but did not see the necklace around the woman's neck.
"No. I gave it to Dan KatÅ, and he's still away on his mission," Tsunade answered truthfully, knowing that there was no point of lying to the human-sized wolf.
"You gave it away! What were you thinking!" Auel scolded furiously, making the three students flinch and the adults tense from the volume.
"I don't see why my grandfather's necklace is important right now," Tsunade countered.
"You foolish human! The chakra crystal on that necklace is the same as the one that is encased in steel on Kakashi's pendant!" Auel growled quietly, as she felt her blond and cream-colored fur on her spine rising dangerously, her lip curling. The angry wolf moved her head to where she was almost nose-to-nose with a tensed Tsunade, as Auel informed in a dark, calm tone, "I need that Crystal in order to stabilize the seal for Kakashi."
"So, we need to find that necklace?" Jiraiya questioned for clarification slightly nervous by Auel's anger but did not show it, not wanting to make the others to mistrust the wolf.
Minato turned to Jiraiya and Kushina and started making a strategy on what would be the quickest way to finding the silver wolf pendant. Tsunade soon got up and joined the other three adults' conversation, as Obito and Rin took her place of sitting with a half-conscious Kakashi. The four adults were so invested in their conversation that they didn't notice Auel get to her feet, and as her claws clicked against hardwood floor she calmly walked over to the front door. Kakashi, Obito, and Rin silently watched the wolf easy turned the doorknob with her mouth. After opening the door enough for her upper body to slip through, the wolf letting out a long series of howls.
The howls brought the adults conversation to halt, as they shifted their attention to the wolf. Who closed the door behind her with her tail as she made her way back towards the three students, as she calmly spoke, "there, the others will find a necklace and bring it here."
Before being enveloped in a cloud of smoke, as the wolf used the transformation jutsu. When the smoke dissipated the group saw a woman had wavy light brown hair that barely reached her shoulders as she wore black leggings and a long sleeve shirt with a gray Anbu vest over it. Her skin color was as pale and spotless as porcelain except for the beauty mark located under the corner of her right eye that was both chocolate brown just like Auel's wolf form.
Minato, Jiraiya, and Tsunade stared in shock at the human form that the wolf has taken, but before any of them could say anything Auel's voice rang out through the woman's natural rose-colored lips as she spoke, "right now I need paint the seal. Miss Uzumaki if you would be so kind as to get me a hand towel, and a kunai, please?"
"Uh... oh yes, of course, I'll be right back, ya know!" Kushina finally managed to stutter out still wondering why the other three adults looked shocked, as she quickly left to go collect the objects the wolf in human form asked for.
"That form..." Jiraiya paused in shock of what form Auel uses the transformation jutsu to turn into...
"Akari," Minato fills in. Immediately recognizing the woman from the family photo, he found in Sakumo's study when he was searching the Hatake compound.
Auel looked down at herself solemnly, before softly explaining, "yes, it is. I know you don't like it, Jiraiya, but I need to use a human form to perform the seal."
"But, why hers..." Jiraiya slowly asked in a low somber voice, as his dark eyes remained on Auel's chocolate brown ones. Focusing on the only difference between the jutsu and the real version.
Auel gave Jiraiya a sympathetic smile and she answered, "Akari was my friend too, Jiraiya, and I'm honoring her memory, by saving her son."
"Okay, I got stuff you wanted... Why you guys are standing around? Come on we got to help Kakashi, and we can't do that staring at each other, ya know!" Kushina spoke out as she entered the quiet room, while quickly diffuse the tension building in the room.
Auel uses the kunai to cut the palm on right her hand, before tilting her hand down letting the blood drift down her middle and index fingers. Once a steady stream of blood reached her fingertips, Auel started painting the characters for the seal on Kakashi's bandaged torso. While the nine-year-old boy silently stared the Auel's transformation jutsu's form with an expression that the Yellow Flash couldn't quite place. Minato leaned on the other side of the couch watching Auel paint the seal formula, that he's never seen before, in her blood. While Kakashi gave his Sensei and anxious look before his tired dark grey eyes focused on the bloody characters on his now stained bandages. After ten or so minutes, Auel finished writing to seal's formula that wrapped around the Hatake's torso, arms, and legs all she needs now to complete the seal was Kakashi's clan pendant.
"What kind of seal is that? I've never seen one like it, before?" Minato asked in curiosity as he studied the formula on Kakashi's bandages, but couldn't make out too much of it.
"It's a rare type of sealing jutsu, called a blood seal. The Hatake clan was known for it, but Jiraiya can also use these seals as well. I'm surprised Jiraiya never told or taught you about them," Auel replied, as she continued her work.
"I didn't teach him blood seals because they're dangerous, and people use them without knowing the dangers of using certain seals like them," Jiraiya sternly answered in defense.
"The blood protection seals are more dangerous than the others. Almost every blood seal is a B-rank level jutsu or higher," Kakashi added tiredly after clearing his throat.
"Wow, that's cool! Kakashi, do you know how to make blood seals too?" Obito asked the tired nine-year-old chunnin, who was still leaning against the mountain of pillows, without being wrapped tightly in several blankets.
"Yes, I received some training when I was little," Kakashi answered with a hint of pride in his voice. But when seeing Jiraiya's worried glance Kakashi added, "and I do know the consequences for making the slightest mistake."
However, before Minato can ask any more questions about how the seal works, or what the consequences are, they heard frantic scratching at the front door. Kushina quickly opens the door, while holding a kunai in her other hand, only the see Sage trembling in the doorway panting heavily as Kakashi's clan pendant hanging off her sharp bottom canine teeth. Kushina steps aside letting the exhausted husky inside, who has water dripping from her pelt due to the storm outside. Sage stumbled inside the living room on shaky weak legs, before collapsing onto the hardwood floor breathing heavily too exhausted to stand anymore.
"I got here as fast as I could... I'm not too late, am I?" Sage asks desperately as her head rested on the floor, exhausted from running around the woods.
"You're right on time, good job Sage! I'm proud of you," Auel answered soothingly as she rushes over to the husky's side. After quickly make sure Sage wasn't injured, Auel retrieved the necklace from the white husky's mouth. Auel calmly stroked the shivering dogs drenched back, as Kushina kneeled next to the frozen dog's other side while Auel asked, "where did you find it?"
"I found it in a shallow creek that had broken ice on the west side of the forest," the husky answered. Which explains why the fur of her legs, underside, and face frozen are together in small clumps.
"I understand. Now rest, you deserve it. The others will keep guard," Auel ordered, as she gently pressed Sage back down to the floor when the exhaust husky made a failed attempt of getting up.
"Okay," Sage sighed in defeat. "Is Kakashi okay?" The panting husky looked at Minato with worried icy blue eyes, as Obito and Rin quickly made their way to the husky.
"Yes, he will survive," Auel answered for the Jonin-sensei instead.
"Good... I'm glad..." was all Sage could say, before succumbing to exhaustion.
"Is sage going to be okay?" Minato asked, as Auel who is using the brush to paint remaining blood characters for the seal on the other side of Kakashi's steel wolf pendant.
"Yes, Sage will be just fine. She's just exhausted from doing her search and recover mission at such a high speed. Now help me with finishing the seal," Auel replied over her shoulder as she clipped the necklace around Kakashi's bandaged neck laying the steel wolf head in the middle of Kakashi's upper chest where all the characters for the blood seal met.
"What do you need help with?" Minato asked as he handed his girlfriend a blanket for the unconscious husky. Before quickly making his way back to the couch to help his student.
"What do you need help with?" Minato asked as he handed his girlfriend a blanket for the unconscious husky. Before quickly making his way back to the couch to help his youngest student.
"When I activate the seal Kakashi's going to be in a lot of pain. What I want is for you, Jiraiya, and Tsunade to help keep the Pup still, so he doesn't accidentally hurt himself." Auel answered as she grabs the towel that Kushina gave her, and folded it. Then put it up to Kakashi's mouth ordering him to clamp down on it. The silver-haired boy immediately followed the order, knowing what was coming.
Minato and Jiraiya leaned over the couch while carefully holding Kakashi down, as Auel and Tsunade did the same on the other side of the couch. Kakashi's right hand grabbed hold of the green blanket, while his left hand grabbed onto Minato's right hand. The young Jonin-sensei could feel that Kakashi's small cold hand was slightly trembling. In response, Minato gently tightens his grip on the child's hand hoping that it will help comfort his youngest student. After making sure everyone was in position, Auel counted to three, before pressing her right middle and index finger on Kakashi's pendant causing it to glow brightly as the sealing formula that was written around Kakashi's body slowly move inside the necklace. All the while Kakashi face scrunched up as an agonizing scream was muffled, by the towel in his mouth, as his body struggled to get away from the hand activating the seal. When the seal was completed the silver wolf pendant had a red shine to it as the small turquoise gem in the silver wolf's eye turn red. After Kakashi stop struggling the group carefully let him go. Besides Minato, who's right hand, which was still in Kakashi's death grip, as Kakashi was panting heavily, was on the verge of passing out. When Kakashi eventually let go of his Sensei's hand, Minato was sure that Kakashi accidentally broke a bone or two, but kept silent about it knowing he can have Rin look at his damaged right hand later.
"Seal complete. Let's just hope it doesn't prevent Kakashi from using his clan abilities later on," Auel commented with a heavy sigh. Before disabling the transformation jutsu reverting back to a human-sized wolf, as she watches Kakashi's sensei carefully remove the towel from the Hatake's mouth. While trying to comfort the boy by telling him that everything's going to be okay.
"What now?" Obito asked after a few minutes of silence as he watched Kakashi finally calm his breathing while he helped with drying off the drenched husky.
"Well I better get going," Jiraiya spoke out with a neutral expression.
"Where are you going?" Auel question after making sure the seal was properly completed.
"I have to go report to the Hokage about all this, and show him our little... guest..." Jiraiya answered with dark serious eyes, like the tone in his voice.
"Guest?" Kakashi questioned suspiciously, between ragged breaths with eyes half-opened open.
"Don't worry about it, Pup! I'll take care of everything from here, you just rest and get better," Jiraiya answered with a large goofy smile, as he stood next to the couch, avoiding Kakashi's question.
"But you promised you wouldn't go," Kakashi whispered sadly in an almost broken tone to where Jiraiya almost missed it.
"I know Kakashi, I know, but the Hokage has to know about this," Jiraiya pressed when seeing how upset Kakashi was about him leaving.
"Kakashi, I want you to rest, and heal, and by the time you wake up, I will be back. Deal?" Jiraiya promised as he kneeled next to his honorary nephew. Before carefully ruffling the boy's dirty silver hair, but due to Kakashi's inability to move much the little Hatake resorted to the next best thing, pouting.
"Deal. But if you're late, you owe me a new jutsu," Kakashi replied with a small sly smile.
"You're never gonna cut me a break, are the kid?" Jiraiya sighed dramatically but agreed. Then turned to the wolf, who is now laying next to Kushina and the sleeping husky, as Obito and Rin sat on the other side of the dog. "Auel, are you and Sage staying or going?" Jiraiya questioned knowing he probably sounded a bit rude, then he intended.
"Always so rude," the wolf muttered with a soft huff, making Kushina and the two genin students chuckle. "We'll stay until you get back or when you're in the area. Then we'll leave with the others, and report back to my mother. Tomorrow night I'll let Kakashi's pack come keep watch. They were all still panicking when I left, so I'm certain that all eight of them are still freaking out," Auel calmly answered, from where she laid.
"Why didn't you just let them come to begin with?" Rin asked, curiously as she carefully stroke the damp fur on the top of Sage's head.
"Because it would take chakra from Kakashi. The rest of us can use the reverse summoning jutsu to come here, which uses our own chakra. However, without Kakashi's necklace, and with his chakra suppressed, we were unable to track him due to the rain and high winds," the wolf added as she scooted closer to the unconscious husky. Then looked back at the Toad Sage and sternly added, "hurry up! Go to your pack leader, I mean Hokage, and tell him what's going on, and find out who else is doing this. Also, if your Hokage doesn't punish those who did this then we will."
"I'll let him know... I'll be back as soon as I can," was all Jiraiya said before running off into the stormy night.
'Good luck Jiraiya-sensei,' Minato inwardly wished, has he watches Jiraiya vanish into the night.
A/N: Hi everyone! I'm so sorry it's been so long, but I just been so busy with classes and now that finals are done, I was able to get this chapter finished. But then I couldn't find a good stopping point, so I kept writing until now. Hopefully, you all like the chapter! So here you all go, a nice long chapter, I hope it makes up for being gone for a month. I'm sorry for any grammar errors, and I hope you all enjoyed the extremely long chapter. Also, I don't know Nawaki's age compared to Minato's age, or how old Nawaki was when he died. I'm just assuming he was older than Minato. If you liked this chapter, please leave a vote and leave a comment on what you thought about it. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter, I hope you're all looking forward to the next update. Thanks again!
P.S. my other two stories Mask Shinobi and I'm Only Human will also be receiving a chapter update soon as well. So, look forward to that, and please let me know what you think about those stories as well, I love hearing all of your guys opinions and feedback.