I do not own Naruto.
So yeah, the news is that the Naruto fillers are going to stop around March! YAY! Around my b-day! I can hardly wait!
I hope they have the Kakashi GAIDEN!
Some news:
My personal website is up and running. So is MYSPACE - which you can access - just type in 'kakashidiot'. That's for people who want to get to know me personally... umm... lessee... yeah... That's a great place to start blogging about fics that you want written, that I'm thinking of writing - or even deep thoughts and themes that are involved in GL. And GL spoilers for those who ask.
In fact, if you go to my profile, you can get several places to chat with me, if you wish... so yeah... check out my profile and enjoy!
ALSO, I'm expanding my fandoms: Bleach, Ergo Proxy, Black Lagoon, Blood+, Ouran High School Host Club
If you like any of the above, check them out and constructively criticisize! I'm open to all comments!
ElleyFaery: Hey! A new reviewer! Awesome. Yes. I don't know why Kakashi has the more loveable summons - I think it's because he spends his spare time with them? I don't know - I just see him as summoning them more often than the others. Maybe he has a better relationship with them? At any rate, Lightning's Howl began with... "What if Kakashi had a Kyuubi" and then just got better... I think... I'm glad you enjoyed my summoning OC... I think he's mentioned in this chappie! TTYL!
JenniferPlague: Well... I'm glad you're enjoying my story. As angsty as it is though, I have to say that, there will be a happy ending - eventually. B/C under all my pessimism is a whole bunch of optomism! lol! Hopefully this story will cheer you up! I find that issues with real life are often not easily solved after clearing your head with some good, relaxing fanfics... or doujinshi...
sakura-bell: Merry Christmas back to you! Thanks for reviewing! I've been missing you! I'm glad to see you're alive and kicking! Lol! Yes... I had some people wonder if Sakura was a bit too OOC when I had her give Yukio a good scolding several chapters back... but... we'll see... I sense an upcoming fight... lol!
Jennjennr: Plots thicken. Is all I can say. Hahaha! Sakura I think plays a huge role in Kakashi's life. And Yukio. And that's what so terrible. It's like... ying/yang... or even like having a good and a bad angel on your shoulders... (like Kronk from Emperor's New Groove, except less hilarious). Izumo and Kotetsu heart. As do Genma and Raido. Genma's still not aware of the Hana situation... heh heh heh... As for who the man is... read on!
rogue solus: hope you enjoy this chappie!
Zenna: hot chocolate goodness. agreed. especially since it's snowing up here... hahaha! just one more chapter and then it'll be fine. That's all I can say! Hope this consolation helps. Just get over this chappie - and some sort of resolution sets in. I promise. Although... I think I said that last time... geez...
Luga-B-Chan: just the fact that you reviewed is awesome! thanks for letting me know that you like story! I hope I continue to be exciting!
Kokis: yes... Yukio is a bastard... yep yep. i hate him too. I cringe when I set my pen to the paper. Sort of. I'm a sick bastard-ess, aren't I? heh heh heh. Well, as for Zuzu and Tetsu, things will happen as they happen. I can't tell you much more. I hope you enjoy my bleach fics! I'm still trying to get a handle on the characters, so any constructive criticism is more than welcome - altho, most of my stuff so far has been rather... crack-ed... hasn't it? ah well... we'll just have to wait until the bleach-angst-mood hits me... so far, only Blood+ is really feeling angsty to me... sigh... all these anime spawning plot bunnies...
kakashiluveriam: thanks for reviewing! I hope you don't get into trouble for reading this stuff during school! I'm actually really bad for sketching during lectures. i'm sure my profs think i'm either cracked or v. v. v. irresponsible! --
Shadow Dragon Boss: hmmm... cliffies have been abounding lately. my bad. I just end up running out of time and since that last long chapter fiasco, i'm trying to keep things in workable segments... so here goes... hope you enjoy! great hearing from you!
sakura hatake kakashi'sgrl: thanks for the encouragement! hope this helps satiate any kakashi-cravings!
Subakun-sensei: vulnerable!kakashi is one of my favorites! i think he's great when he's portrayed that way - because it throws you for a loop, right? it's very hard to create - because you have to make a huge setting where it's believable... but when it's done right, it really works... (which is why I really think hard before writing my chapters...) but even then, not everything I want covered is written - and sometimes the way it comes out blows chunks. ah well. the joys and heartaches of writing!
Jemiul: hmmm... hope this chapter is believable... when it comes to the PERSON... but... i did try to foreshadow bits of it before... hmmm... (goes back to previous chapters and shakes head) i dunno... (shrugs) oh well... what's done is done... hope you enjoy! thanks for the steady encouragement you've given me. i appreciate it so much!
sabireru: for you, white chakra comes out to play. for you. read on. and i hope you enjoy! ttyl! p.s. just finished writing a Gen/Rai one-shot for christmas... check it out if you dare to take a poke at a more adult themed fic...
Darkflameangel: must agree that kishimoto is v. brave for killing off such an important secondary character - and here's to hoping kurenai is going to provide konohamaru with little red-eyed cousins! and raido IS smexy in a cape... Byakuya IS hot! in my newest (experimental) bleach fic, BeLittle!, he's chibi... awww! i totally would like to see him in chibi... we need a bleach chibi filler! You can get ergo proxy for free at animeeden-.-com (take out the hyphens). direct download. seriously. SWEET! And as for Ouran - AMAZING! (just started ficcing for that too)... and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POINTING SAIUNKOKU MONOGATARI in my direction!!!! IT'S THE BEST! as cliched as this is... I totally fell for the emperor... but - I could see him pairing with SO many people... what are your fav pairings for that show... i might write a one-shot for you, if you request it... (any excuse for writing is good...)
IluvJesus123: essays done, exams coming up - but here I am! hope this gives you the necessary kakashi-fix! keep your socks on!
LotisFlower: hmmm... gotta hate those relatives... heh heh heh...
kakasakuluver: hmmm... lessee... next chapter, Sakura is going to bring him home. and then for the rest of the fic, it'll be about their sweet romance tenderly building up the climax of a marriage. there. I spoiled my fic for you! so just hang on. it's still going to be a bumpy ride... but this is literally the pre-climax...
SweetAssassin: wellllll... heh heh heh... she's in the chapter and she gets some POV... but it's the NEXT chapter that I got prepared for her grande entrance as healer etc etc etc. read the comment just above for full SPOILER details.
sokerfreak922: wow! you're rereading stuff... well... no. kakashi doesn't WANT to be tortured by anybody (as this chapter will show) - but in a way he is masochist in the fact that he KNOWS that ANBU life is destroying him - and yet, he still takes the most psychologically damaging missions - not only as a way to deny that part of him which is loving and vulnerable, but also as a type of self-punishment... so that... in a way, he thinks, ultimately, he DESERVES bad treatment... Genma's comment that it is usual for him is a subtle reminder that Kakashi's missions are ALWAYS walking the thin line of risk. Hope that answers your question!
-----
WARNING: SEVERE ANGST. NON-CON!!! SERIOUSLY! NON-CON. M/M. YUKIO/KAKA. If you don't know what that is, go to wikipedia - it's the source of ALL knowledge! VIOLENCE! SWEARING! GRAPHIC VIOLENCE!
yeah... there's a reason this is in the 'M' section...
OH YEAH... and be warned: flashbacks! flashbacks within flashbacks - and schizo thoughts! hopefully my formatting will make more sense for everybody around!
READ AND REVIEW!!!!
Gentle Lesson
Chapter 29
Voices from the Past
"--------- had power and money sense ------------ both know his wisdom ----------- needed ------ why is it that you, who has all the power ------- do you get it all?"Why do you get it all?
Kakashi, huh. The famed Hatake - Copy Ninja no Kakashi. My beautiful -
Beautiful, broken -
Toy.
Toy. You're mine you know.A hard - brusing - kiss and a rough tongue licking his dry split lips.
Such gentleness.
The impact was a thousand boulders crashing down.
Those memories froze him like ice - the unbreakable glaciers of Snow Country...
Snow Country who never had spring until -
That memory jerked him into a semblance of awareness.
Naruto. Sasuke.
Sakura.
You're our proud sensei!
"Who would've thought?" The angel's pale lips turned upward in a mask of gleeful suprise. "Kashi-kun."
And behind that mask... lay unfathomable darkness...
Gentle though it was, the grey-haired noble's voice grated across Kakashi's nerves - tension uncoiled from the ANBU's belly.
Kakashi watched - fascinated - the quivering tip of his katana, shaking in his weakening grip.
Fucked. I'm so fucked. Why am I here? Here - where -
He was glad for the white, impersonal mask - for the navy blue one underneath.
It was a conforting thought that although physical control had been broken - appearances were still kept.
Even then... they KNOW.
Yuki, shifting behind him, muttered, "Dammit, Kakashi."
They were...
Genma somewhere to his right, sighed - soundlessly - and yet, HE heard it.
He could hear it all.
Those voices in his head.
It's THAT boy. You know about his father -
I heard about that -
That incident -
He's a genius, but who knows...
Not an Uchiha - it's going to backfire
Too young -
"Why me?" groaned Genma, breaking the tense stillness. "Always on a freaky mission..."
Kakashi grimaced.
I gotta ask that too...
"You lookin' pretty good, these days, Kashi-kun," chuckled the giant, baring shark-like teeth.
The Copy Nin shuddered.
Teeth biting hard down into that sensitive crook of his neck -
Tanned skin gripping - bruising - pale skin as his tormentor reached yet another climax
Teeth nibbling his ear -
this automatic -
unwanted - subconscious betrayal of his body in response -
The blood on his lip, where teeth had scraped hard against his unresisting mouth
There was blood now.
Here, on his tongue, tasting of copper - toil - pain - war -
As Seko took a step closer, Kakashi shifted back, flinching at teh sound of his name spilling out loveingly from that demon's lips.
Run.
No.
RUN!
I want to run.
Find a dark room and a quiet corner. An alleyway - somewhere - somewhere private - to spew his guts in.
"He's quite terrified, Seko-san," chirped the noble setting his silver lined teacup down. "You did a great job, I see... Followed every order - except for the last one. What happened - you got soft? Hn."
"The last order?" Kakashi whispered, lowering his already shaky guard.
Yuki shifted closer, and sneered, "Ah! The idiot who got between me and Hatake-san! I hope you enjoyed your hospitalization... nice scar, Seko-san."
The scar, in question, running down the tall man's browned face - down his left temple, over his eye and cheek - twitched.
Naruto whistled.
"Ugly got that from Kaka-sensei? Ha!"
"Fo-cus!" gritted out Sasuke.
Kisame laughed, lifted his sword and sprang backward.
Sasuke raised his katana into middle guard, body tense for attack. Naruto cricked his neck and scratched his head. The Uchiha rolled his eyes.
"Idiot. Listen."
"Whatcha calling me, bastard?"
Sasuke jerked his head toward the three nins.
Genma. Kakashi. ANBU Bear.
He did not rise to Naruto's bait - the kitsune's taunt fell unheeded into the silence.
Naruto's blue eyes widened at his teammate's tightly drawn face.
"Explain it!" he yelled, fists clenching.
"Keep your voice down," hissed Sasuke.
He paused a moment before continuing, watching ANBU Bear step forward, flanking Kakashi, one hand laid on the katana's hilt at his back.
"Remember Ibiki's scroll -"
Naruto's expressive face looked horrified.
"No - way -"
"Yes."
"That -"
"Maybe."
"That was one of the people?"
"Maybe..."
"I thought he'd been imprisoned by Sound!"
"Yes, well -" Sasuke sighed. "Orochimaru called many people to himself. That man - the tanned brute - would be the type to follow him..."
"I see..."
"Well, no, you don't. You weren't there - even I was left in the dark about alot of things - his plans were laid in careful secrecy, thanks to Kabuto... you guys rescued me before Orochimaru ever got detailed..."
"Oh..."
"Hmmmm... but still... that voice... I heard it before -"
"That evil scar dude?"
"No. The rich aristocrat..."
Sakura, beside Tenzou and Sai, frowned - her eyebrows knitting over serious green eyes.
This is bad. Very bad. Kaka-sensei - don't -
Even from her position - several feet away - Sakura couldn't help but notice the irregular chakra flare.
His heartbeat is racing and he's sweating - and got the chills, no doubt. No. He isn't crazy -
He's terrified.
Now, more than ever, she wanted to run over and clasp that pale, muslced, skinny body - hug it - and never let go.
Now, more than ever, I can't. Even that ANBU's presence - everything is probably grating on his nerves...
What to do, Sakura. You're supposed to be their healer. But this - what can I do? Seriously?
In the face of -
THAT!
"Seko-san, you're scaring the poor boy - it's hardly fair!"
Seko-san.
The tall brute - tanned, built, massive, strong, brutal, sneering - smirking...
Seko-san. It was you, right?
You were there - you were th eone -
You are to blame for this erratic mass of confusion.
And that ANBU - that ANBU I acted so childishly in front of - saved him.
SAVED HIM...
While I did nothing.
Knew nothing.
No wonder...
He's in no condition to fight right now.
"The last order?" repeated Kakashi softly.
"You don't understand, do you? All that hard work I did for Katashi. To impress him. My father! Who betrayed me, giving away what I had cultivated and worked at so hard to someone who only visited a couple times! Anybody could see Sakumo had no experience! But no! And then you came along! An heari, to make things worse! Oh! A disaster! You know even less than your coward of a father knew about the estate..."
A pause.
"You shouldn't have been born."
Kakashi jerked his head up.
"Seko-san," Minoru smiled. "Was to rectify that mistake."
Seko-san grinned.
"You were with Orochimaru?" rasped Kakashi, disbelievingly. "You'd betray -"
"There's no betrayal if there's no trust."
"We've been a part of Fire Country since forever," faltered Kakashi.
"Leaf? Fire?" A gray eyebrow rose. "We've sent our sons and aughters for their wars - for what? What did we gain? Nothing but loss - in every way possible. You should know, Kakashi. Look at Sakumo. At your mother. Your little brother. Your sensei. Your comrades. Your eye..."
Kakashi stiffened.
Genma drew in a sharp breath.
"Where was the support for you when he left? When he committed seppuku?"
The Copy Nin's fist tightened around the katan's hilt.
"You were alone, uneducated in running the estates - the family property in town I hear is let to ruin! If I hadn't faked my death and tampered with Konoha's records, Kami knows what would have happened to the country estate!"
There was a moment of silence as everyone tried to picture the idea of a Hatake estate somewhere out there -
"It's worth alot now, you know. You are an heir to a wealth you can't imagine - that you never worked for -"
"He's rich?" hissed Naruto.
"Shut up."
"Kaka-sensei..." Sakura blinked.
Kabuto smirked, his glasses reflections shielding his eyes.
"You never knew, did you? Nobody asked..."
"Back then - money wasn't important..." Kakashi's voice sounded old and weary. "And now - even less so."
"You say that because you're in the position -"
"No." Kakashi shook his head. "I'm happy to say that the small account father left me with in Konoha was all I began on. I have learned to stand on my own two feet." Kakashi's laugh seemed wildly hysterical to Sakura's perceptive ear. "And you went to all that rouble to secure something I never really knew I had..."
The man -
Sakura already knew -
Minoru.
Kakashi's uncle, sighed.
"Well, now," he raised his eyes defiantly. "I'm petty. Sad, perhaps - but I thought that Orochimaru's war was a good front for some like me, who had more... personal... issues to deal with... still..."
He moved forward, walking fearlessly up to the grey-haired nin.
"You're here - and perhaps in need of another... lesson..."
The last word was barely heard.
As a pale hand rose to reach forward, a finger resting under teh Copy Nin's chin, Kakashi tensed.
Clearly uncertain.
Everybody froze, waiting for a reaction.
"Sensei," Sakura whispered. "Kill that demon. Look past that angel face... he's no family... we're here... and will never leave..."
"Fuck... this is bad..." Sasuke hesitated.
"What's sensei dwaddling about?" Naruto's mouth, widening to shout at his idiot teacher, found itself full with Sasuke's glove.
"Idiot," Sasuke grunted. "How would you feel - to find family - and yet, an enemy all rolled in one? To be alone, to be found and then - to kill?"
Naruto slumped as understanding finally set in.
"I see... There's no way he could raise his sword - but - still... Sasuke... That dude is - bad - and... We're Kaka-sensei's family now - and we could -"
Kakashi swayed back.
"We could have -"
Could have what?
Could have what, Kakashi?
Run to him as you did into your mother's arms?
Like at the farm - when that cold hard beak bit your finger... you wanted him to kiss your boo-boos and hug you to make everything better?
To be there at THAT funeral?
That funeral -
Mother's photograph blurry in the rain.
THAT funeral -
Alone at his father's grave, his sensei crying - his own face, stoney and hard - trying to push away that dreadfully lonely feeling. That hate. Anger. Dissappointment. Shame.
It was a boulder of stones - on his forehead, pressing down.
I cannot cry for that jerk.
Why did you have to leave me, papa?
Wasn't I worth living more?
The headache building up - all those unshed tears -
That funeral -
A funeral of all the fallen - the countless photographs glinting in the obscenely cheerful sunshine -
Why isn't it raining -
I can't cry for you. I'm sorry, Obito.
Those funerals -
Sensei.
Rin.
All of them.
Those dead faces - now blank. It was so hard to remember that warmth -
With them on your back, you are weak, Kakashi -
No. They are the ones who I live for -
Live for? Live for?
Then -
"Standing on a rock six meters tall, how would you -"
The wooden door opened - creaking ominously before him. He stood there in the doorway, using that small moment of suprise and confusion to gain his bearings.
A tiny class - the first one. The youngest group of the bunch, I bet.
And the teacher - a suddenly worried, young kunoichi -w hose face was innocent of the battlefield.
Iruka -
It didn't bear thinking on -
One of the more sensitive kids began to cry as his chakra turned dark. The teacher was stepping back.
Someone -
He refused to put faces to these past memories -
Past memories hurt. They were a weakness...
Gen - Someone had said it was good to have an amazing entrance complete with witty statemnt.
"What do you want?" The girl gasped.
She's so young.
Immaterial. Kill her.
The orders were in his eyes only.
"Class is over, kdis."
He wanted to say that - but - once again -
Immaterial.
He was action personified after all - Death in a trim body -
Her dark eyes widened at the tattoo on his shoulder.
Too late, girl-child...
His dark glove, a blur as he drew out his short knife and flickered to stand behind her exposed back.
One of the boys, stood in shock as his sensei's blood splattered over his papers.
He too was dead before he could scream.
They're only pups -
Shut up.
Not even soldiers -
Immaterial.
No honor in this -
It's an order.
The school house had only taken an hour. Somebody found him there - sitting in one of the desks, motionless - frozen -
But thank Kami, dry-eyed.
"Damn... Kakashi..."
That name - was that even his? How could he own that name...
Hatake Kakashi. Copy Nin no Kakashi. Sharingan Copy Nin with over a 1,000 techniques copied.
"Truly, this is the best for our small family. If Kakashi is free to build himself and the Hatake a better name, it would fulfill my wishes and give me joy and fulfillment in the afterworld. Knowing he will do well is better than seeing all our hopes wither.
"However. Given time, this year, with practice, you and I can change this. To reap the full potential given to both of us. Inside us."
"Everybody has a special talent. It has been merely awhile since the Hatake have ever shown their true strength. I hope that when the time comes, you will be able to use all of your potential."
"…the people in this village… what they must've been saying… that you're a great Jounin… that's… how I feel… please accept it………. I'm already…. Going to die….. but… I can become your eye…. And from now on I will see the future…"
Father... Obito... Your voices condemn me...
"Kakashi. You. You in there! Dammit! Speak to me! Are you wounded?"
Strong hands shook him - slapped him awake - and he was there - in the blood spattered room - the warm corpse of a ten-year-old girl with a grey dress beside him -
Her hair was reddish - any lighter and -
Sakura. Rin.
Somehow Yukio managed to cut off the bloody prcelain mask before Kakashi spewed up what little he'd eaten before the attack on Rock. His dark blue eyes darkened with lust -
"You're so hot, bloody like that..." He whispered, his breath hot against Kakashi's neck.
Kakashi turned away with a glare and a sharp... 'no'.
But he was weak - and Yukio took him there anyway - hard and fast on the teacher's blood-slicked desk.
Don't I deserve it?
The rattle of Yukio's blade unsheathing jerked Kakashi to awareness -
I deserved that, eh, Yukio? What goes round comes round and this - this -
This is just one more school room to survive - nothing else matters, really - it's orders - to destroy the four ring leadrs - I'm in a good enough position to -
You'd do this to family?
Shut up. There is no family - no friends - no lovers -
Kakashi's chakra swirled around angrily, suddenly releasing outwards, as his grip on the katana tightened. Minoru managed to block most off with Seko's aid - but he was winded despite his apparent calm.
That killer in the Copy Nin could smell the slight panic - the increased heart rate -
"So you have forgotten your lesson," frowned Minoru. "Seko-san. Perhaps he needs to be reminded?"
Kakashi's hesitation cost him a brutal kick to the ribs. As he swayed to his feet, coughing up blood, Kakashi felt his vision narrow in rememberance -
Those hands which had crushed hopes, dreams - sanity -
"Idiot," Yukio's pack obscured the panting Copy nin's vision, as he faced down Seko. "You're mine to kill. Sorry. But I have this thing about finishing off unfinished jobs... you understand, Seko-san?"
"There's no way you're going to be able to distract Kakashi-kun from his goal, while we're around!" Genma added, raising his hands in a seal.
"First thing I heard sensible from you!" smirked Yukio.
Genma glared. "Well - great minds think alike..."
"Kakashi - get him!"
Yukio's pat on the arm nearly lost him his life. Although the ANBU Bear managed to doge the Copy Nin's flying fist - the chakra burns across his shoulder were painful enough...
"Don't touch me," Kakashi snapped, stalking off. "And it's ANBU WOLF!"
"Sheesh..." grumbled ANBU Bear.
"He's not -"
"Awww... I guessed as much..." Yukio shrugged. "But that, I did have to double check on..."
"You like to live dangerously?" asked Genma as he watched Kakashi move onward.
"Love is dangerous, ne?"
Genma thought of Raido and Hana.
"Yeah..."
"Still... Kakashi is Kakashi. This way, he can do what he must -"
"That's not Kakashi! That's a monster!"
"Mmmmm... Isn't it monstrous to kill your last remaining relative?"
"You know that's -"
"It's that to him..."
Yukio made no move to follow his partner, who was disappearing into the mountains after Minoru.
"You think I don't understand what his actions mean? I've been his partner for so long... I remember those days he woke up after those - rages... it's the only way he can cope -"
"Bear-san..."
"Hmmm... which means this jerk's got to be dealt with fast. I need to be there to wake him..."
Genma glanced to his left - at his stunned pink-haired medic.
"Don't even think..." Yukio growled.
"Sakura!" Genma jerked his head. "Back up Kakashi!"
"What the HELL are you thinking, asshole?" Yukio darted one direction to avoid some weird summoned axe that had appeared in Seko-san's hands.
Genma jumped into the air, released several senbons down at his enemy and landed behind Yukio.
"She's in love with him," he said simply. "Perhaps - she's the only one to reach out to him."
"Dammit!"
"Jealous, huh? Why am I not suprised? It's nice to know I'm right..."
"Shut up, bastard!"
"Stop talking, and fight," snarled Seko, his scar twitching in irritation.
Yukio and Genma turned from their growling nose-to-nose stance.
"You're worthless!" sneered Yukio, flashing in behind teh large giant to stab him deeply in his lower back into the gut.
"Coward! A person who needs to torture to feel powerful... what kind of shinobi is that?" yelled Genma.
"We're going to make you pay!"
Genma pulled out his needles complete with poison.
"Ha! For that fuckable beauty? Well - he's the type to make everyone crazy, heh... That I understand..."
"Don't talk about him like that!" yelled Yukio, managing to cut their nimble enemy along the ribs.
"Yukio..." Genma sighed. "Keep calm..."
"I AM calm, bastard! Wanna see me ANGRY?"
"Uhhh..."
Genma flashed toward the ex-Sound nin, as Yukio flew backward - after providing nice cover with a wind jutsu - followed by a fast-acting binding spell. Seko-san's chakra failed to repel all the needles. One sank into his neck. The tanned giant fell forward paralyzed as the poison spread unstoppable through his veins.
"Any last words?" Yukio taunted, comfortablly crouching by the snarling man's head.
Genma's eyebrows furrowed as Seko's lips turned up in a smile.
"Yeah..." he leered. "What I did... no regrets - no - none... only wish... I - I - could... fuck that white ass all over..."
Yukio rose and, filling his foot with chakra, crushed the man's skull with a satisfying SPLAT.
Sakura didn't get far before, she had to jump sideways suddenly, as Minoru hurtled backward from a particularly hard blow from Kakashi. The black streak whizzing past her - a blur of blood and death - so hard to track - could only be her sensei. On a rampage.
Tsunade. This what you wanted me to be here for. This -
She followed carefully - the tangle of swords, clashing, ringing all over the small outcropping where the Kage's office had once stood -
Getting involved could mean death if I'm not careful. Wait for an opening, Sakura...
Looking beyond teh two fighting men, she watched as a carefully placed wind jutsu from Naruto blasted kisame backward into the path of the ever watchful, red eyes of Sasuke. The Sharingan, activitating, held Kisame under, while Naruto stabbed the Akatsuki through the heart.
"Wayyyyy too easy..." Naruto's loud voice could be heard in complaint. "Say, Sasuke - is it just me or has Kisame gotten weaker?"
"Just you," Sasuke said shortly, already focussing on the all-important battle. "But watch Sensei... he's not too shabby either..."
Everyone was watching Kakashi - as he stalked forward toward his prey.
It's not often we get to see a fight like this, Sakura shook her head. Much less... Kakashi... it's been a while seeing such a focus of skills... To know who we got all our skills and knowledge from. I've been lucky, really... , Sakura shook her head.
Like a wild animal, Genma thought.
Minoru was still standing, oddly enough - robes and kimono torn, bleeding - panting, coughing up blood -
Kakashi himself seemed a little worn too - his porcelain mask was missing - And his navy mask had two cuts - blood was running down his face unheeded.
"He's still hesitant..." Sasuke sighed.
"BAKA-SENSE!" screamed Naruto, hands around his mouth. "Kick the bastard's ass already! You're not looking cool letting yourself get beat up like taht!"
"Idiot - like he's going to care about -"
"SENSEI!!!" Sakura' voice echoed down from her vantage point of a roof close by. "KAKASHI!!! You can do it! I believe in you!"
"Ehhh..." Yukio winced. "He's got a cheering section... how lame..."
"It'll work. You'll see," Genma shrugged. "Probably lame - but -"
"You have people here for you, huh..." gasped Minoru. "You never gave anything to them. Unsociable. Proud. I watched you. How could I trust you, eh? It's your fault! You had everything when you least deserved it! Money. Connection. Sharingan. Jounin-ranking. Power. Looks - you look like Hanako, don't you? Even your coward father had everything. He had Hanako... Everything... and I - I had nothign!"
"Kaka-sensei has a girly face?" Naruto blinked.
"You missed the point, baka..." Sai chuckled. "As clueless as usual... even after this conversation..."
"Sai - you bastard! Idiot is not an appropriate nickname - hey - where were you?"
"Busy... doing our jobs. Killing off Kabuto... you know -"
"Ah... we already did our part..."
"Well... you always did the easy missions, didn't you? That way you look good all the time..."
Naruto turned an enraged bright red.
"Oi. Sai-kun," Tenzou shook his head. "Too far..."
Tenzou ended up freezing the two boys with his trademark glare.
"Talking only delays the inevitable," Kakashi told his uncle, his voice cold.
Sakura shivered.
"Your future is death. I've seen it..."
"We'll see about that!" Minoru smiled.
Raising his sword, the man's white chakra flared erratically along the long dark blade. "Black CLAW!"
"Lightning's HOWL!"
Kakashi's deep voice, echoed around the valley - rang with power - vibrant - as Lightning's Howl chakra blew outwards, blasting past the spectators. As the dust cleared, Sakura gasped. There stood the two men, swords raised, flaring with chakra -
This is the power of the Hatake -
Why they were always sent to war -
What they spent again and again for love of the Fire of Leaf...
This is -
Sakura could see the form of the gentle - yet powerful - wolf, whipping around her sensei.
HER sensei.
"GO! GO! KAKASHI!"
She didn't care if he couldn't hear -
Sakura.
Kakashi grinned.
Even now - she
She says -
His black eyes narrowed as they met - Minoru's eyes.
"Let's go!"
Everybody watched with fascination as the two men raced towards each other -
The erratic flares of Black Claw.
The steady flame of Lightning's Howl.
"This is it," murmured Tenzou behind Genma.
"Hmmm..."
It's odd, Sakura smiled. It reminds me of Lightning's Howl - yes... I can feel him -
In Kakashi's white chakra, blue eyes flared.
They were close.
Do it. End it. Do it. End it.
Come home.
Sakura chanted over and over in her head - as the lean black figure of Kakashi met the blue and violet silks of Minoru. Everybody watched, breathless, mouths hanging as white blade met white blade -
And as if set - inevitable - slow - but sure - Kakashi's blade continued it's downward swing - breaking his opponent's sword - cutting through shoulder - breast, ribs, lungs, heart, more ribs, flesh and then - out -
"Sorry..." Kakashi gasped. "We both - have nothing - we have no heart -"
Sakura disappeared after the fleeing Copy Nin.
"Same as usual -" Yukio sheathed his katana.
Genma grabbed his wrist.
"You need to lead the ANBU team -"
"Fuck off."
"Ibiki. You and Yukio can lean everything up here. Sasuke, Naruto - we're following Sakura to help secure Kakashi."
"Speaking of abandoning leadership - I'm going - and don't try to stop me -"
Genma glared at Yukio, who in turn jerked away -
"I need to be there for him -"
"Like hell," Sasuke frowned, glaring at the ANBU mask. "Sakura will be fine. She's brought him back before -"
"No." Yukio said harshly. "It's gotta be me!"
He darted off.
"What's his problem?" Naruto blinked. "He's acting like a wife..."
"Uhhh... clueless..."
"Tenzou - Take care of the ANBU unit..." Genma turned away.
"HAI!" The ex-ANBU nodded.
"Let's go. Naruto. sasuke. It's time to get Kakashi home!"
NEXT UP:
Sakura catches up with Kakashi - her healing hands draw the little, lost, white-haired boy in to her warmth. But can Kakashi even accept himself - much less her?
How does Yukio feel?
-----
Boring Info About Me
Hairdo of the week: Two little buns on my head :P
Evil thing right now I have to do: Diet
What I most need: Money
What I hate about Christmas: Shopping in busy malls (i'm afraid of crowds of people)
What I love about Christmas: Giving gifts (when I have money...), the morning of Christmas when my family opens the gifts - one by one and then we have pancakes and stuff.
Christmas tradition: Sinter Klaas (we're dutch...)
Favorite plush toy: RACCOONS! I have collected around 24-ish of them! And they all have names... --'