THANKS FOR REVIEWING! HERE'S A NEW CHAPPIE! ALREADY! YAY!
(You can so tell that I'm out of school! Ha!)
Kittycatcharm: (kakashidiot shakes her head) yeah… I know… I have a feeling I'm going to have to go back and reformat it… d--- it… and as for the next chapter – here it is!
Melissa Norvell: yeah… I'm on mediaminer… some people there don't visit fanfiction… so every now and then I go and update – not a lot tho – so the poor things are always behind time… dear dear… and yes, lots of reviews for this thing… (which is constantly amazing for me – but for a senior writer like you, no doubt, you're used to your email box being full 24/7) anyhoo… gotta get going – till next time! P.s. sucks about your wisdom teeth – I think one of mine is going to have to come out… (shivers) waaaa!
Sabireru: that's a cool word… "Fetch" – is that like effing awesome? (very curious) but I'm glad you enjoyed this! And as for hugging Kakashi, katana and all, yes… right with you… something soooo smexy about men with swords… (see: musketeer fetish, jedi fetish, samurai fetish)
Snowfall: oh dear… sounds like your computer takes a lot of abuse on my behalf! Haha! You make me laugh! I'm glad you're desperate – but I hope this helps satiate some of the desperation! Glad you enjoyed (I think… sweatdrops)!
Inquisitive: Sakura's thots on Yukio… hmmm… yes…. Well… yes… (wanders off mysteriously a la Hagi) at any rate, Lightning's Howl isn't coming out this time per se – but your desires will be fulfilled soon – my plot is opening up like a gentle flower… heeeee….. I've been reading to much Petshop of Horrors lately….
ForbiddenLove08: Genma and Raido are so cute – I had a lot of fun putting their relationship together in the 2 previous books – and now – sigh! It's all culminating… for the good or the bad – you will see!
Shadow Dragon Boss: Yay! You liked my fight scenes! I don't like to disappoint! But I'm glad it's enjoyable! Hope you also enjoy this upcoming fight scene!
Kokis: YAY! A NEW REVIEWER! I'm glad you're really enjoying everything – even the parts where I side-track! I'm afraid I like to have a huge cast for my immense fantastical imaginations!
Hana megami: Thank you so much for taking the time to email me your review! I'm impressed! V. V. impressed. Well… I'm glad you're enjoying it – and Kakashi's temporary humanity – but I hope that you'll see this bud blossom (what's with all these flower metaphors?) – and enjoy what happens to Gen-kun!
Jemiul: Yes… I actually had to build a battle plan drawing… which… yes… v. odd… but it works… and it helped me spatially 'see' what was happening… and then I had to list all of Kakashi's jutsus and decide which to showcase (v. hard) and then get the correct spelling… (grrr…) but I'm glad it's paying off!
Subakun-sensei: yes! Kakashi's going to hopefully wow you! Hopefully. But it's also going to be sad – as all good angst fics must! Enjoy!
Jennjennr: No problem. Life always gets crazy at times – it's cool that you're a-okay… And I'm glad the Obito-eye issue was cleared up – it's thoughtful reviewers who point out discrepancies or fogginess that help me write better. For that, I thank YOU. As for the darkness – yes –it's almost disturbing to be honest – and a very dark part of me had to push itself out to write it (because I'm a very giving, laid-back type of person who wouldn't really harm a fly…) But I'm glad you enjoy my 'jumpy' fight scenes – I find fight scenes very difficult to write – so I spend more time on them and then people like them… so it all works out I guess… And I'm glad you were moved by the Genma/Raido parts. I feel that everybody needs a place in the Naruto world and to just focus on Kakashi's pain would make him too much of a drama queen (which is acting like now) – and there would be an imbalance in the Naruto world… and as for their attitude toward Kakashi… yes… it's kind of sad, that… but twice as sad since it's only Genma who realizes things… poor man… the knowledge is eating at him… well, I'm glad you're okay with the lesser amount of scenery… some people mentioned that my scenery was lacking, so I kind of tried to pump that up a little bit more so that people would be more spatially oriented – but it's cool that you create it on your own (I do that all the time) – I agree that often the movement is slowed down unnecessarily by the creation of image (although the creation of mood is also important)… you're welcome for all your thanks – and I hope you enjoy this upcoming chapter!
Sanity through Madness: I like your name. V. nice. (mine's… idiotic…) yes! Do send me photos of conventions… I saw this one guy in class at school, who always wore a toque – and he was HOT. Genma hot! Genma in real life (same color of hair and EVERYTHING!) I SO wanted a picture of him (oh for a camera cell phone…) but I'm one of those wallflower girls… so yeah… anyway… send pics (you can tell I'm greedy!) and what happens to Genma… hmmm…. It's kind of up in the air, right?
Darkflameangel: yes! I got your PM and I will go check the amazing fanart I know you do!
ANNOUNCEMENT! GO TO DARKFLAMEANGEL's profile and check out her DEV ART RIGHT NOW!
(cough)
Anyway… if it isn't colored, may I have the permission of doing so? I do so love to color stuff (cel or airbrushing using Photoshop 6.0)… so send me another note! And as for SMEXY Yondaime. Agreed. Where is the dang Gaiden? It's all this filler crap. Okay. Hinata's cute – but only for so long…
SweetAssassin: Glad you're enjoying! And have a nice vacation! I know you'll review when you have the time – so that's okay! It's good to know that you're still enjoying the story – 'jumpy' action scenes and all! Where are you going, may I ask?
OtakuAnime131: Hmmm… did you read my previous two stories? White Fang, Lightning's Howl (Part 1) and Revelation of the Wolf (Part 2) – both of them prequels to Gentle Lesson (Part 3)… soo… ummm… yeah… sorry… this is a GenRai pairing fic – they're together… but not all is as it seems – and I can't say more or else I'll spoil a bunch of my sub-plots… which would suck. And as for Anko… in White Fang, Lightning's Howl, she hurts Kakashi's feelings by intimating that he didn't care about his team enough. Ouch. So… yeah… there are histories there… and Genma was the mediator.
Warning: Violence. Angst.
I do not own Naruto… or the character Kakashi…. Wahhh!
Chapter 20
Wet Crimson
Somewhere close by, a dog howled.
Kuro jerked to attention and looked around at the devastation, his eyes widened in shock. His team – what had been his team of twenty-five lay dead.
Coming from the river, came two struggling, hobbling figures – a young, dark-haired woman and a chestnut-haired man with a scar. The man's arm was useless – the sleeve of his uniform had been cut away to reveal a wicked cut which had stopped bleeding –
He could smell the blood, which now sluggishly ran down to drip off the limp fingers.
But there was fire in the man's eyes.
The medic obviously was suffering a bad sprain.
And the other – the fourth – had managed to crawl close despite his broken leg and badly burned arm.
Demons from Leaf.
What drove them so far?
The howls – there were multiple ones now – sounded even closer.
Pulling his katana out of the leader's body, Kuro turned just in time to receive a well-placed blow to the head from the dark tread of a black sandal.
Kuro spun away wildly, to turn at bay. His dark eyes widened fractionally at the sight of several canines jumping out of the bush madly barking, to him – it seemed like a pack of demons, wild eyes, slavering fangs –
What the hell was this?
Who –
And in the midst of it all – like the eye of calm in a storm – stood his newest attacker –
ANBU.
A grey-haired ANBU who looked more animal than man, his grey hair waving wildly, dark eyes hidden in the recesses of his mask.
Raido reached Genma.
"GENMA! Genma! Wake up!"
Genma struggled to open his eyes.
His fingers twitched.
"It's – going…"
His cough sounded too wet.
Raido's heart felt like it would burst. His only good arm frantically pulled the kunai out of his friend's body. Genma groaned.
"Easy there… I kinda want those arms – later…"
He gasped as Raido eased the kunai out of the palm of his hand.
"It's okay – not a lot of them went deep…"
"Here… let me…" Shizune whispered, as she came up with Iruka.
Iruka fell to the ground unceremoniously.
"Go… Shizune… he doesn't look too well to me…"
"I'm fine…" Genma coughed again. Blood specked his lips.
"You always say that, and you never are!" Raido huffed.
"It's more internal, yes…" Shizune frowned. "He needs to sit up… He's going to drown in his own blood…"
With Iruka's help, they dragged their friend to a tree and Shizune managed to stop the internal bleeding. She sat back with a sigh and then turned to Iruka.
"I've done what I can for him – it's your turn now…"
Iruka glanced at the Jounin who was staring away.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah… Your arm…"
"I can't move it…"
Shizune twisted around and began to work on her lover's arm.
Iruka gazing past her at Genma, smiled as the scarred Jounin placed his hand tenderly on Genma's hand.
"Who's the lover now," he joked.
"Awww, shut up…" Genma laughed weakly. "You're ruining the show…"
Shizune leaned back and gazed past Iruka in shock.
"Awww… help me turn around…" Iruka grumbled as he twisted around to look at what was entrancing his friends.
His mouth dropped open.
If you go –
Furious angels –
It's –
It's him –
What the hell…
Déjà vu – it's – it's –
And acting all cool, too, damn him…
Just like him to arrive late –
Everybody's thought seemed jumbled but none of them could tear their eyes away from the amazing battle in front them.
Kakashi's water bunshin was sliced in half, just as another appeared behind Kuro – to slice through an earth bunshin. Kicking the enemy's second bunshin in the gut, the team could see that he wasn't pulling any punches – using multiple style jutsus – tai and nin to destroy his new opponent.
"But he's running low," whispered Shizune.
Iruka nodded.
Genma's breath rasped heavily, Raido glanced at Shizune in concern.
"He needs to get better medical immediately… but…" Raido bit his chapped lip. "None of us are fit to go – let's hope that Kakashi-san will be able to finish this off quickly."
"And where's he going to pull chakra out of? His pocket?" Shizune asked, her voice shrill with worry. "Hatake-san is running low too –"
"I've an idea…" muttered Iruka.
Raido looked up, startled – then – he remembered.
Kakashi took a blow to the shoulder, twisting away, he could feel the cold of steel follow him through the right side of his vest. Reflexively, he fell back and skidded backwards several feet, panting as blood trickled down smearing his dirty-white vest.
I'm low – that blow – I definitely felt that one… Fuck. Not again.
Dammit all!
And that black-haired medic is here…
Kakashi considered the options – but already he knew – it was inevitable – it was fate –
It's Tsunade… interfering old hag… Tch.
A foot connected with Kakashi's jaw – the grey-haired nin flew backwards hitting several trees as he went –
Damn. I let my guard down – snap out of it Hatake – you can do it –
You can do anything –
Closing his eyes, Kakashi dug deep down – he felt it rushing over him – this time – it was something that he couldn't name –
Guilt? Sadness?
Something that hurt in his gut as he stood there hidden in the boughs of the trees – to look down on the small group of his ex-friends –
His Jounin friends – where they his friends? Did they want to be? And Genma –
Genma, who had joked around with him – had been there to cheer him up at the inn – he didn't look so good – already he's going into shock –
Kakashi made up his mind.
You better be grateful, buddy –
This is a rare thing –
Dropping out of the tree, Kakashi brought his hands together into the common meditative seal of all ninjas.
Kuro charged at the still ninja head on –
What the hell is the idiot doing dropping his guard like that?
The Copy Nin's mismatched eyes snapped open – almost black –
Behind the mask, he knew the markings were appearing – heat flowed from him – it was –
What kind of idiot would fall for this?
Kakashi's thoughts never finished – whipping his katana out at the last minute – he spread the fire of white chakra that suddenly burned within him –
He layered his chakra over the blade –
Father –
Without warning, Kuro bringing his sword downward – a high offensive slash meant to bisect the Leaf ANBU in half – only to find it blocked by a high guard –
The defensive went into offensive –
White chakra – what kind of chakra is this? – pouring over the blade gave the fighter an almost inhuman strength –
Suddenly, the world exploded in white – and Kuro found himself flying back through the air – forced backwards by a wave of heavy killing intent.
"What the hell?" Shizune whispered, her black eyes widened. "Where did that come from?"
Open mouthed, she watched the Copy Nin race forward – his grey hair now looking as pure as snow as chakra poured out from it – from the wild hair – from the body – from the steel blade of sword –
Kuro's eyes couldn't follow the flickering nin as Kakashi approached the Rock Nin from all sides in hopes of confusing his opponent. Just managing to block an attack from behind, Kuro gaped as Kakashi's blade cut through his own – to pierce through his chest – plowing through him – to pin him to a tree.
Without hesitation, Kakashi raised his hands and placed them on the man's torso.
"What's… happening?" gasped Genma. He could barely move his head.
"I don't know – he's laid hands on Kuro's chest –"
Kuro began to scream as intense chakra poured into his body – it wasn't the healing probing feel of a medic – rather, a burning flame –
The Rock Nin fell unconscious in a fiery pool of hell – there was pain, there was agony – there was a white light –
Somewhere, Shizune was vomiting. Iruka looked sick. Raido blinked furiously, turning away his mind from what he had just seen.
A man. Burning inside out from chakra.
"Somebody – stop him…" Genma huffed.
Raido shook his head.
"I don't have a death wish…"
"Don't let this wheel –"
"What?"
Furious angels…
Will bring you –
Genma gave up. Grasping the rough bark, he dragged himself to his – and promptly bent over coughing up huge pools of blood.
"Genma!" Iruka hissed as the Jounin swayed toward Kakashi. "Don't even – You can't – Nobody can –"
Shizune tried to get to her feet –
The Rock Nin fell suddenly silent – but Kakashi didn't stop –
Genma staggering over, wrapped his arms around his friend's waist.
"Yo…"
He suddenly felt very tired – he leaned his whole weight on his old friend.
"Kakashi… let it go… it's okay… it's okay… he's gone now."
Kakashi stopped – just stood there – his hands fell to his side lifelessly. Slowly his heavy panting subsided to much calmer breathing. Genma smiled rather painfully.
"Damn. You were late."
Kakashi didn't answer.
"I thought – maybe you wouldn't come –"
Kakashi stiffened – whether from guilt or affront, Genma couldn't tell.
He could never tell.
What makes you think, Tsunade-sama, that I can help him – when I can't even help myself? When I can't even see straight much less breath properly?
"But you came – I'm glad – perhaps – you haven't forgotten –"
If you go –
With that, Genma's hands went limp and the tall man reeled backwards, Kakashi swiftly turned and caught the honey-haired Jounin before he hit the ground.
"What would I forget?" Wolf Hound asked.
Genma's lips quirked up painfully.
"Your name," his eyes closed – and as he fell unconscious, he murmured so gently, the Copy Nin had to lean closer to hear –
"Kakashi – who are – who you are."
"He needs medical care," Shizune said, as she hobbled over. "Immediately… Tsunade said she was going to get some medics on the border for us – just in case – Station 7…"
Kakashi said nothing for a moment.
Then, turning to Shizune, tipped his mask. His dog's gathered around – their master lifted Genma up onto his shoulders securely.
With the barest nod, the grey-haired ANBU darted away into the trees – Shizune watched mystified as she felt the white chakra fade into the distance.
"Rafe's gone ahead of Kakashi to warn the medics… We're staying with you guys to guard you…" Pakkun nodded at Iruka. "I think we can just wait here… A team no doubt will be sent out to meet us –"
Raido shook his head, his face a kind of sheet white.
"No… we can start walking – I just need a – we can't hang around here anymore –"
"We'll need a splint then…" Shizune sighed.
"You can't agree –" Iruka protested from his slumped position. "I can't walk. He can't walk. You can barely walk – and your chakra is too low – are you crazy?"
"Namiashi-san…" Pakkun said gravely, his little pug face solemn. "I understand your worries – but trust Kakashi on this one – he'll get Genma there in time… even he sometimes has no regard for the clock, he understands emergencies – you should consider yourself. I'm no medic and I can tell you can't walk…"
The scarred Jounin gazed blankly at the dog.
"What can a killer like that – how can he – would he ever be able to understand – life? Genma's life is in THAT man's hands!"
"Well… yes… but Kakashi means well… let him be – he will do fine –"
"Just get it wrapped, Shizune, the sooner we start hobbling home, the sooner we'll bump into a medic team – the sooner we'll get home."
Shizune blinked.
Pakkun prayed that the medic would come to her senses – paranoia about team mates never boded well…
"Raido. You're NOT walking on that…" she sighed as she looked down at the Jounin's leg.
Pakkun shrugged.
"Men, Shizune-san. Think they can carry the world, eh?"
Nine hours later – of steady running and apparating, Kakashi had managed to find his way to the border. Every now and then, he had to stop to double check Genma's vitals.
They were frighteningly weak. A couple of times, he probed the wounds with his chakra – but he lacked Shizune or Sakura's fine healing skills.
Kakashi wasn't sure whether he was doing any good – just worsening the internal bleeding –
And the constant movement isn't doing him any favors…
Finally – the ninth hour came to an end and Kakashi sighted Station 7 – a small khaki building with several ninjas lounging in the trees. Sheltered by the trees, it hid among the bushes on the edge of the grassy meadows which lay throughout the countries of Fire and Rice Field.
The trio – it was Makoto, Ichiro and Neko – stood at alert. Neko disappeared inside, and several med nins came rushing out – Tsunade, hot on their heels.
The blonde Kage's face was scrunched up in worry as Kakashi made a final effort to apparate close to the cabin. He appeared and gently laid Genma down on the carrier which the med nins had brought out – only to collapse himself onto the wounded Jounin.
"Kakashi!" Tsunade barked. "Rafe said that –"
The Copy Nin didn't answer.
"Ishe dying?" asked Makoto rather shrilly.
Tsunade gave the young ANBU a look.
The young man stepped back, giving her room to look over the wounds.
Running experienced hands over Genma, Tsunade sat back.
"Okay. We've got internal trauma – I think the several of the intestines, the liver – probably the kidneys – are perforated. It's been prepped – by Shizune – but, further work has to be done. Her healing seems to have been stressed… he's begun to bleed into his lungs too – broken ribs… Get him some pain medication as well…"
"HAI!" chorused the men, who carefully hoisted the unconscious ninja and disappeared into the building.
"You four – " Tsunade nodded to her second team of medic nins. "You are going to go back and aid the rest of the team… Makoto, Ichiro, I want you to back them up. We'll keep Neko here for security. Got it?"
"HAI!" the men chorused.
"Rafe," Tsunade turned to the large brown dog which had crept up to his immobile master and was forlornly licking Kakashi's fingertips, which were showing through his gloves. "I need you to lead these guys back down the trail…"
The dog paused, clearly considering things. Then it slowly nodded.
"Very well, Hokage-sama. But you must promise to care for the cub. He's strained himself beyond all reason today – Mangekyou, Chidori… Shunshin… It's been a busy day – and the enemy managed to –"
"I'm a medic, Rafe," Tsunade cut in with a smile. "It's no problem. I'll care for him as well."
Rafe blinked.
"Right then. Let's go." He darted over the plain, the medics and two ANBU following on his heels.
Tsunade turned to look down on her errant shinobi.
Kashi-kun. Today – your father would be proud, wouldn't he?
But you probably don't think that…
Very slowly, she knelt down and running her hands over him tested his chakra system and his internal organs. It was hot – as if a furnace had been turned on and left running for too long – and it was just cooling – just –
Like a tide, receding into some cold hard door –
What –
Carefully, she lifted his mask off his face – and froze –
"Kaka-shi…"
Gently, she trailed her fingers over his left cheek, tracing the long scar which bisected his eyelid – down to three fading grey triangular marks which ran diagonally –
Kind of like Naruto –
Down his face.
Naruto.
Suddenly she was transported back to that day –
"Tsunade-sama…"
She could hear Kakashi's hesitant voice in her head –
He was unsure.
He's never sure of showing his inner self – his struggles – his feelings. He's a dark horse – a person who plays their cards close to their chest –
"Tsunade-sama… have you ever experienced a loss of self during summoning?"
Damn you, Sakumo – what is this?
Tsunade sighed.
"Tsunade-sama?" asked a medic nervously.
Tsunade smiled.
"Get a couple of men out here to lift him up – I'll attend personally to Genma myself – he's the one in worse condition. This one just needs a stab wound healed – he'll live – once his chakra stabilizes he'll be good to go."
The blonde Kage pulled the man's black cloth mask up from where it hung loosely around his neck. She picked up his porcelain Wolf Hound ANBU mask and turned away with it.
The medic bent over to examine the injury in Kakashi's right side.
"But that wound is –"
"It's already healing."
"EHH?"
"Eh indeed…"
She turned the mask over and over in her hand.
Come to me, Kakashi –
Will bring you –
Sakura looked up wearily from her desk as Izumo appeared at her consultation room door.
"What's up, Zu-zu?"
The man's eyes were serious – and for once, he didn't protest at her teasing.
"It's Tsunade –"
"She's injured?"
"Huh? That woman?" Izumo snorted, a little humor returning. "Not likely. She's too mean to die… No… it's Team Genma. They got back from their mission – really done in."
"Details," Sakura rapped out, standing up suddenly, shoving her papers away and heading out the door.
"Uhhh…. Shizune's got a sprained/cracked ankle. Low on chakra. Iruka's low on chakra and got a bad slash on the arm – to the bone – tourniquet on it, I think – yeah – he's out – stone cold – no blood – transfusions? Something like that, Tsunade-sama said…"
"Who else was in the team?" asked Sakura, her heart dropping into her stomach like a stone.
So many injuries! What kind of mission WAS this?
"Ummm… Raido-san… he's got multiple burns all over his torso – what's with that guy and fire? And they say he's a bomb expert…. Geez…. And he's got a compound fracture in his left leg… yeah… but Gen-gen's got it bad."
"Genma-san?"
The two Jounin left the Rehab center and walked next door to the hospital.
"Genma… where to start. Multiple kunai wounds. Various katana stab wounds… looks like he was tortured on the spot maybe? Ummm… umm… Let see… what else did she say? Broken ribs…"
Sakura found the stair and started to run up them, Izumo followed her, blinking furiously in thought…
"Yeah… a paralyzing jutsu which fucked up his chakra system. Loss of blood, of course – and… um… yeah… internal injuries… bleeding –"
"What was he doing? Trying to do the whole mission himself?"
"That would be like him – trying to save the day at his own expense – it's that generation…"
"No…" Sakura said in thought as she rushed down the hallway. "It isn't – it's for all time –"
She remembered Naruto going all out against Gaara – just to save her. Risking his life in an attempt to bring back Sasuke. Fighting Akatsuki just to get Gaara's body back –
It's something all Leaf do – it's what sets us apart from the rest –
It's what makes us strong.
Suddenly, as if a photograph, she remembered that one misty day – her first B-rank mission with Kakashi and her team. Against that Missing Nin Zabuza.
He had turned, tipping his head to look at them – his revealed eye crinkling shut in a smile.
I will never let my teammates die.
Kakashi. You're so wise… why can't you be here now?
"Ah! Sakura!" Tsunade looked up from a table bearing a medical tome. "Just the woman I need! Into the emergency room. Genma needs more work done on him – I'd feel safer if you were in charge, since Shizune is out for the count."
"Right on it!" nodded Sakura.
"Check on the others for me, and bring a report back, Izumo."
"Hai!"
"Kotetsu – I need to talk to Jiraiya – find him."
"Hai!"
The three left her and she sat there. Unsure.
Then, rising to her feet, she walked down the hallway, up one flight of stairs and then into the quieter section of the hospital – the recovery units. It was a bit calmer here. Shizune was having her foot bandaged. Raido had already found a bed and fallen asleep.
Only Iruka and Genma are left… and there's so much work to be done on them…
Tsunade sighed.
But they're alive – and that's all that matters…
She found the furthermost corridor – and the most remote rooms – where Yukio sat impatiently waiting to be discharged.
"I'm bored," he smiled. "Can't I go, Hokage-sama?"
Her brown eyes laughed – then looked solemnly down at the man seated at the small hospital room's window.
"I just need some answers – then I can let you go. Sakura's done a great job on you –"
"Yeah… she was talking to me – I didn't know Kashi-kun had had a team…"
"Hmmm…"
"I should pass along greetings to him, don't you think?" Yukio asked innocently as he cast Tsunade a sultry stare from under his long eyelashes.
Really, huffed Tsunade inwardly. This man… is wayyy too cocky for his own good – no wonder – still – no justification –
"You'll do nothing of the sort," the Hokage said icily. "I want no mention of this episode again. To anyone. You'll forget everything you see here – and I don't want to see you bothering Kakashi like that again. Well… it's not like you're a kid – you knew the risks, I take it, when you baited him – but perhaps this time, you bit off more than you could chew?"
Yukio looked startled – for a second, before his face fell into passive neutrality.
"I don't –"
"Don't give me bullshit," Tsunade glared. "I've been medic in Konoha from before you were in diapers – and I've healed wounds like that – only once – before I left the village –"
Yukio stiffened.
"It wasn't Kakashi – I swear it –"
"What… you're protecting him now?"
"Kakashi is –"
Yukio paused.
Tsunade waited.
"Complicated."
"Complicated?"
Yukio nodded.
"Complicated. It wasn't – it wasn't –"
"Yukio – it's lethal. I've been talking to some people and much earlier this morning a man died because of that jutsu."
"Is it a jutsu?" asked Yukio wryly.
Tsunade hesitated.
"No," Yukio said softly, answering himself. "No. It's an ability. But then… you can't understand. There are balances here – you don't know – you can't understand – you stand on the outside and condemn –"
"Don't be disrespectful, brat."
Yukio glared.
"Sorreee…" He didn't sound like it. "It's just that Kakashi and I – we've got something going… it works for us – just let it be… please. And don't blame him either – it was a tough day for him – he felt weak and the aftermath – well, he's got to prove himself strong again – that's all…"
Tsunade stood there, trying to read between the lines.
What –
How CAN I understand?
I don't even know why Kakashi was 'feeling weak' to begin with!
What the hell is going on here?
Oi oi… what to do…
The blonde woman sighed.
"'It works for us' you say, and yet, you are here."
"Here isn't so bad. Just boring. I want out."
"So you can – what – bait him again?"
"No. No baiting necessary this time."
"Ugh. Just leave. You two are so messed up… I'm going to have make some changes…"
Yukio smiled painfully.
"You don't understand. There are reasons – It hurts –"
"Love always hurts, doesn't it?" Tsunade asked softly, feeling like some sort of samurai stabbing wildly at an invisible opponent in the dark.
Something found its mark.
Yukio paused.
"Something like that…"
He turned away – without another word, he left.
Will bring you –
Sakura, emerging from the hospital late in the evening, found Sasuke and Naruto waiting for her outside with hot ramen ready to go. They looked at each other pensively.
"You guys finished your 'interrogations' so to speak?" she asked.
"Yeah. And you got through his medical files?"
"The most pertinent ones, yes. We've had a busy week at the hospital. This – well… guy…"
Sakura paused, uncertain what to say - it was classified information. An error on the part of some ANBU shinobi - she should never have seen him -
That man - with the dark eyes - black pools of deadness - like Kakashi's... a beautiful face for a killing monster - charming manners - and lips that always seem to be laughing - to be laughing AT you...
Has he ever met Kakashi?
She wondered.
But she understood.
She would never know. Mentally, she shrugged the thought off with a sigh.
"-and then… Team Ebisu… and now, Team Genma. One would think something's gone on and we don't know about it…"
"Damn it!" Naruto glared, clenching his fist – his blue eyes narrowed. "I HATE it when the old hag hides things up her sleeve!'
"Maybe you just need to learn to keep your mouth shut…" Sasuke smirked.
"SASUKE! YOU BASTARD!"
"GUYS!" barked Sakura, impatiently. Her green eyes flared with impatience. "I can't take this shit right now. Let's find a spot and talk like adults about this situation –"
"Situation? What –"
"You know – our SENSEI!"
"Oh yeah! I forgot!"
"Fool…" muttered Sasuke under his breath.
"What did you say?" asked Naruto.
"Nothing. Nothing."
"Where do we start?" asked Sakura.
They were sitting on the platform – newly rebuilt – the one that had been the first meeting spot for Team Seven. It had been where those introductions had been made –
How they had changed!
Okay, Sakura thought, Naruto still thinks about ramen and being the Hokage half of the time – but he's matured and gotten more in control and stronger – and Sasuke has learned to live with his clan's failure and move on to the more important business of living… and I'm not sitting here squealing over everything he says either…Sakura thought.
I guess… we've all grown up and become mature and independent.
And he has too.
Kakashi-sensei.
"Oh… me? My name is Hatake Kakashi. I'm the kind of person who doesn't feel like talking about his likes or dislikes! My dreams for the future are none of your business… but, anyway, I have lots of hobbies…"
Sakura smiled painfully at the memory.
It's been a hard road, Kakashi to find out the smallest thing about you – but this time – we won't let you slip through our fingers – this time –
"Ahhh! The nostalgia of this place!" Naruto laughed as he leaned back on the stairs. "It kind of reminds me why we did what we did – I mean – all that talking to people – it kind of helped build a better puzzle."
"A better puzzle?"
"What does THAT mean, idiot?" asked Sasuke. "We're trying to find a solution…"
"Eh… you didn't feel like that?" Naruto blinked. "The more you dug, the more you didn't understand? I sure did…"
Sakura nodded.
"Hmmm…. I see what you mean, yeah… The medical files made me wonder what actually happened on those missions – what REALLY happened…"
"What did you find then, Sakura?" asked Sasuke.
Sakura paused.
"In a nutshell?"
"Sure. Tell us the interesting parts," Naruto yawned.
"Idiot! ALL of THISis IMPORTANT!"
"So spit it out already!'
"Okay…" Sakura calmed down. "The Hatake seemed to die a lot in the war against Cloud. I think they had special jutsu or something – but the clan dwindled – young people were dying too much and having no children. And then Kakashi's great-grandfather died, then his grandfather and the eldest son of the family –"
"Huh?"
"Kakashi's uncle, idiot…"
"Oh."
"He died too – a blow to the family, probably. A whole lot of people died… then Kakashi's father's other brother died too – a farming accident…"
"Geez… what's with these people?"
"Life, Naruto, life – it does things to you," Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, Kakashi's mom died in childbirth - with Kakashi's little brother. It's on the family tombstone –"
"You found the family stone?"
"It's actually a crypt, really… and Hanako and her baby were there… A week ago you know, it was the anniversary of her death… the birthday of the brother Kakashi never had…"
There was a shocked silence at the thought…
"Makes sense…" muttered Sasuke to himself.
"Anyway, I don't think Sakumo was the same after that –"
"Saku-who?"
"Sakumo – Kakashi's father. He was suddenly the heir to the clan – when he had been basically ignored before, his wife dies in childbirth – there's all this pressure – yeah…"
"Then, he went off to war, leaving little Kakashi behind and Kakashi went to the Academy when he was 4 and that's when his med record really started."
"I see," Sasuke muttered. "Holy shit. Four years old and in the Academy? What were they – insane?"
"Well… he was precocious… No tutor could handle him…"
"What a bastard!" Naruto said admiringly.
"So, anyway, apparently his dad died – seppuku –"
"Eh?"
"Suicide, idiot."
"EHHHH? No WAY!"
"Yeah, I don't know the particulars but he did – and Kakashi found him –"
Sasuke winced.
I know how that feels – to come home – to find your home replaced by hell – made by our own hands –
The guilt –
"So anyway, Kakashi was Chuunin by then, he lived by himself and became a Jounin – on the day he became a Jounin, he got a Sharingan – from his friend who died on the mission. That is, Rin, the medic, performed the operation on Kakashi –"
Sakura's voice was tinged with awe and respect.
"The donor was Uchiha Obito, he died of – well, basically he was crushed by a rock – he remained alive long enough to donate his eye – and then, I guess, he died…."
"Brutal."
"Yeah… they were only twelve or thirteen…"
There was a silence.
"After that, there are the usual medical records for most nins – then a huge blank, for when he was in ANBU –"
"ANBU? Back then?"
"He was around fourteen, I guess when he went into ANBU – when his sensei died, I guess – you know –"
"Yeah – the Yondaime was his sensei – Yellow Flash," interjected Sasuke.
"So he was there for a huge chunk… and then, for some reason, it just starts up again sporadically… until we came along…"
"Hmmm… he's had a sad life," Naruto sighed. "But don't we all?"
"Sure… But… for him – he knows what he lost – he saw it taken from him slowly – bit by bit – as a young child. Me, I lost it all in one night. And you, Naruto, never knew what it means to feel that kind of loss – you just knew the pain of something missing. And Sakura, she is perhaps the luckiest one – to never know that pain."
"My parents are civilians – they live in a ninja village – I'm sure that day will come for me too."
"Eh… well…" Naruto shrugged. "Life is like that – "
"I said that –"
"No. You didn't…"
"Yes, I did."
"No. You –"
"GUYS!"
Sakura bashed their heads together.
"Naruto, you report next… We can't waste time if we want Kakashi back soon."
"Hai! Hai!"
Will bring you back to me.
Next Up: Things always get in the way - it's as if there is something stopping us from find the truth, Sakura wondered. It's as if, Fate doesn't want us to walk this road any further - to let him go alone into the dark. But we can't let it happen - nothing will stop me - us - not even Rock.
A Mission To Rock. Big things set in motion. Where is Kakashi?