Standard "I don't own anything Naruto, only my original characters" disclaimer.
Kakashi lead the way, moving at a fast speed, the faster they meet up with Lord Jiraiya the faster they could get to Harumi. Kakashi pushed back the swell of pain that accompanied the thought of her. Using the long practiced techniques, Kakashi pushed all emotion into a box, to deal with after the mission. This was a mission he couldn't fail. But even all the practice in the world couldn't stop the stone in Kakashi stomach, he killed everyone important to him, how was this going to be any different? The group ran for two days to get to the rendezvous point, stopping only for short rests to eat and drink.
Once they arrived at the border of the of Land of Rain, Kakashi summoned his ninken pack.
"Yo," Pakkun said, once the smoke cleared.
"Scout the area, we are going to set up camp here and I don't want to be caught off guard by unexpected visitors," Kakashi ordered.
"Sure, thing Kakashi," Pakkun said as they group scattered.
"Why did you summon your pack?" Tenzō asked.
"We are going to rest for a bit, which means you all need to rest and not be scouting," Kakashi answered.
Tenzō nodded before glancing around, then with a flicker of movement, he said quietly, "Wood Release: Four Pillar House." Four large pillars shot up from the ground, then the walls appeared and finally a roof. Tenzō nodded, "We can rest inside."
Kakashi forced himself to smile, "This is why I like taking missions with you Tenzō, you always make sure we are safe and dry." Kakashi caught the small bit of pink on Tenzō's ears and gave a silent laugh.
The group moved inside, each person throwing their packs and cloaks into a different spot of the room. Kakashi and Tenzō were closest to the door, while the Uchiha cousins were on the opposite side where they could use their Sharingan to the best advantage.
Having done this often, Itachi started a small fire in the center of the room, while Yugao pulled out some food and started to prepare it. This would probably be the last time for a while the team would have a hot meal, so it would need to be good enough to last.
Shishui pulled out five rabbits his killed during their last stop, pulled out some sticks and created a spit to roast them. Yugao started to boil some water, some for rice and some for a soup. Kakashi and Tenzō walked the perimeter and placed seals every few feet to render the structure invisible to people. However, Kakashi did leave a small trail for Jiraiyaya to find if he came upon them while they were eating or resting. Kakashi wasn't worried about his pack, they were used to this and would be able to find them just fine.
"Taichou?" Tenzō asked as they met back at the front door to the building.
"Yes Tenzō?"
"How do you think the kids will take the news?"
Kakashi sighed, "I hope Lord Hokage doesn't tell them everything, for instance how Harumi's life is hanging on whether or not we can get to Ame in time or not. Or that we don't even have a time frame."
"What if he does?"
Kakashi gave a shrug, "Then we will have to deal with that. But I am sure with Lord Hokage having children of his own, he knows what he can and can't say to children."
Tenzō nodded, "Of course taichou. Are you ready for this?"
Kakashi nodded as he opened the door, "As ready as I can be."
The smell of roasting meat hit Kakashi's nose first, then was the subtle scent of miso soup. Itachi and Shishui were currently leaning against the wall they claimed, Shishui was cleaning a couple kunai, while Itachi was reading something from a scroll.
"It says that the Village Hidden in the Rain is run by a god. That he defeated Hanzo in a bloody battle. It also says that he is a just leader but isn't seen often. His spokesperson is someone called Lady Angel."
"Who calls themselves Lady Angel?" Yugao asked.
"I guess that we will see when we get there," Itachi said.
"Yugao, is food almost done? I'm starving!" Shishui complained setting his kunai down and held onto his stomach.
Yugao rolled her eyes, "Once Kakashi and Tenzō get here, we can eat."
"Then we can eat," Kakashi said, "I don't want Shishui to starve while we stand here listening to him complain."
Tenzō, Yugao and Itachi laughed as Shishui sputtered indignantly. The group sat down, and the food was divided into their bowls. Kakashi leaned over and opened the door a crack and Pakkun walked in.
"Nobody around, boss." He said as he sat down next to Kakashi.
"Thank you, Pakkun. You can go if you want."
"Later boss," and a puff of smoke later, Pakkun dismissed himself.
"Do we have a plan?" Yugao asked.
Kakashi swallowed a mouthful of rice before answering, "I don't have one, at least not until we talk to Lord Jiraiya. I doubt we have to work hard to sneak in, after all we were given an invitation to come."
"Technically," Itachi cut in, his voice cracking only slightly, showing his age, "only you were given an invitation, the rest of us are just tagging along."
Kakashi scoffed, "The masked man knows enough about Konoha to know they wouldn't send me alone, not when all of you were with me when Harumi was kidnapped."
"True," Shishui agreed, before spearing a slice of rabbit and putting it into his mouth.
"When is Lord Jiraiya supposed to arrive?" Yugao asked.
"Any time now," Kakashi answered. "After you are finished eating, get some rest, I will take first watch. When Lord Jiraiya arrives, everyone will need to be awake and ready to move out."
"Yes, taichou," the group said.
Lapsing into a companionable silence, broken only by the soft sounds of chopsticks scraping against bowls and chewing. After cleaning up, the group pulled out their sleeping rolls, then one by one, three members of Team Ro fell asleep, trusting Kakashi to keep watch and Tenzō's building to keep them safe. The soft whisper of bare feet against the wood floor was the only warning Kakashi had that someone was moving towards him, a quick in-drawn sniff, revealed it was Itachi.
"Taichou, she will be okay," Itachi said as he sat down next to his captain.
Kakashi focused on the flickering fire in front of him, "You can't know that, Itachi."
"Harumi is a strong kunoichi. She may be injured, but she will come through this. She also has lots of people around her who will help her to be okay."
"What do I tell those people wh... "Kakashi broke off the word, swallowed around the lump in his throat, "If she doesn't come back?"
Itachi turned his head to stare at the older man's face, in the flickering firelight, Kakashi's face was sharp lines and shadows. It was also very pale, and it looked like his skin was drawn tight over his skull. "What do you think she would want you to tell them?"
"That she was an honorable kunoichi, that she died to protect the village?" Kakashi replied, but even to his ears it was a question.
"What would you want someone to tell Naruto?"
"That I died to protect him," Kakashi said quickly.
"Then that is what you should tell Harumi's family. They are a family of shinobi, they understand the risks. Besides, Nara-sama was in the office during our mission brief, he will have a better idea of what to say, and he probably is getting the children prepared for the worst."
"What will your parents tell Sasuke if you don't make it back?"
Itachi frowned, just a slight downward movement at the corner of his lips, "I would hope they tell him that I died as an honorable shinobi. I am concerned that they would try to force Sasuke to become the next Uchiha prodigy."
Kakashi put his hand on Itachi's shoulder, so much pressure for a kid, "Don't worry about that, Naruto and Masahiro wouldn't let that happen. Or if they fail, then they will be dogging Sasuke's steps the whole time, not letting him forget them."
"If we fail in this, taichou, what is going to happen to the Uchiha clan?"
"Hopefully there is enough evidence for Lord Hokage to act and he will take care of the rebellion. If you and Shishui are gone, then the rebellion might fail, it is difficult to take care of the entire village with the two best Uchiha gone."
"True," Itachi nodded.
"Keep you mind on the mission, Itachi. When we get back, I will do what I can to help you. No matter the cost. Konoha and the Uchiha deserve some peace."
"Kami willing," Itachi replied.
"Get some sleep Itachi, I can't sleep right now, but if I need to, I will wake one of you up."
"Just remember, you are the one who has to fight, we are supposed to just be there as backup and to be able to bring Harumi home and carry your injured carcass back."
"I won't forget, now get some rest," Kakashi ordered. Leaning back, he listened to the sounds of Itachi laying down on his bedroll.
The even breathing of his teammates is normally very soothing to Kakashi, it means they are safe, and everything is okay. Today it just means that they are no closer to getting Harumi back. Itachi was correct, though, Kakashi needs to rest in order to be in the best shape to get Harumi back. Kakashi smothered a grin as he imagined Harumi's lecture to him about going into a fight at less than his best.
"You are asking to get injured, Kakashi!" she would say, "Do you want me to have to patch you up? You hate being in the hospital and I swear Kakashi, if you come back with so much as a scratch I will confine you to a hospital room, even if I have to tie you to the damn bed!"
Harumi worried about him, in a way that hadn't happened in a very long time, not since Kushina and sensei. And that was hard to do since he hadn't been in a good place to receive that type of worry. But he was getting there, then they died. Kakashi shook those thoughts off, putting them back into their box and making sure it was tightly closed. He couldn't afford to be distracted.
Reaching into his pack for his book, Kakashi's hand brushed against something soft. With a frown, Kakashi pulled the soft thing out and saw that it was a purple square wrapped around something. Reflexively Kakashi brought the package up to his nose and sniffed, the scent of Harumi flooded his senses. Cautiously, Kakashi untied the knot holding the square closed and a note fluttered to the floor. Picking it up, Kakashi read the neat script.
"Kakashi, if you are reading this, then you found my gift. I hope you found it while on your mission and not while repacking your bag for the hundredth time. I had Naruto and Masahiro write you some letters, which you will find inside the book. Don't tell Itachi, but Sasuke hid some letters in Itachi's stuff too, if he doesn't find it before you get back, make sure you drop a hint. Anyway, the book is one by the same author that wrote the pirate merchant books, it is his newest series. I have been reading it secretly, but only so we can talk about it whenever you get back. Stay safe, try not to get injured beyond what I can heal. I have faith that you will keep your team safe, so I'm not worried about that, just make sure you put as much thought into your safety as you do for theirs. Talk to you soon, Harumi."
Kakashi blinked rapidly as the words began to swim in front of his eyes. He looked up at the ceiling, taking shallow breaths, trying to calm his racing heart. The sudden warmth on his mask had him gently placing the note into the book and rubbing his mask. The area right under Obito's eye was suspiciously wet. Kakashi felt a small smile form on his lips against his will, Obito was always quick to cry and it seems his eye was not different.
This time, Kakashi wasn't going to be late! This time, Kakashi wasn't going to see one of his precious people burn because of him. He would do whatever it took to ensure Harumi would go home. He wouldn't let her take the fall because of him. His darkness was not going to bring Harumi down! Not when he finally found a way out. Kakashi picked up the book and read the note again, holding the square of purple cloth up to his nose as he read. Kakashi could hear Harumi's voice as he read the words she wrote, worry and care in every stroke. Kakashi gently put the note and the cloth into his bag, to keep them safe and picked up the book. Inside the front cover were two envelopes both with his name on it. Opening the first envelope and pulling out the front piece of paper, Kakashi grinned at the sloppily written words, Naruto's handwriting.
"Hi Kaka-nee! Harumi-nii said that I should write you a note to tell you how much I will miss you while you are gone and that I am looking forward to when you come back. When you come home, we should get some ramen to celebrate. Or maybe we should go training. We could do both. I hope you are warm and dry, and you have good food. I have been told by Hideaki that rations don't taste good. Also, being wet is the worst. I am supposed to say that you are to stay safe. Harumi-nii is trying to give me ideas on what to write, but I don't really know what I'm supposed to say. So, I guess I will just tell you to be safe and come home soon. Naruto."
Kakashi's finger brushed over the painstakingly neat signature, Kakashi had worked with Naruto for weeks to get his signature to the point where he could read it. Kakashi gave a breathless laugh at the small stick figures drawn in the corner of the paper, it looked like it was supposed to be Kakashi and Naruto eating ramen, if the wiggly lines and bowls were any indication.
Kakashi tucked the note back into the envelope and started to read the book. It didn't take long for Kakashi to get lost in this new world, one filled with a girl struggling to find her parents, who left her so many years ago. Normally this type of book wouldn't interest Kakashi, but Harumi recommended it and the last series was interesting, so he would give it a shot. Who was he kidding, Kakashi would probably read this book over and over, just because Harumi gave it to him.
Hours pass, Kakashi adds some fuel to the fire to keep it going. His teammates drift in and out of sleep. Kakashi eventually put the book down and begins to meditate, he needs to be at his best. He can't afford to mess up, not this time.
AN: Tada! We have Kakashi and feelings! Harumi just keeps invading his life, and now he is making the connection between his mother figure and his.. Harumi.
Well we have one more chapter before I am going to take a break and write the two endings. I'm sorry these are so long in getting out, I'm finding it difficult to want to write at the moment, but I will take the next month and hopefully have most of it written. One would think that with all this staying home, one would find inspiration, but no it doesn't :(
Please let me know what you think of the story so far. Comments and theories are always welcome.