Notes: Honestly, I'm not too sure where I'm going with this. I just wanted to make a fic with Kakashi in Kirigakure and this just kind of... happened. I'm open to all criticism, as long as you give me a reason. I would rather some details, but even abstract explanations are helpful! I know it's not very long. This is kind of a test to see if I should continue this, since I think it might be weird, and since I have ADHD I think it kind of... goes all over the place...
Anyways! Hope you enjoy, have a good day/night! Apologies for my long-winded babbling.
Warnings: nothing crazy in this chapter, just some mentions of ghosts and collective Shinobi paranoia, but there will be plenty of violence and gore in the future. I mean, this is a Kirigakure fic. It would be a shame if there weren't.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
A particularly cool, moist air inherent to the islands of Water Country hangs in the air, denser than last week's mists combined. Lifeless gray buildings fade into the background with edges so faint, they seem like nothing more than illusions, giving even the most familiar of places an ethereal quality. At sunrise, the infamous paranoia of Kirigakure begins to feed on this annual phenomenon, evident in their radically spiking chakra, in the sound of kunai digging deep into flesh. Always, there is a twisted sense of cameraderie on this day, a forced unity born of mirages and uncertainty.
Many of extreme superstition make their homes here, nearly all of whom participate in a village-wide cleansing ritual. Bundles of burning incense are laid out in excessive amounts to repel spirits and bad luck, sometimes tripping those walking and waving feathery sticks in the barren streets. There are even a few tall candles spread out here and there on the ground, circles of people bent over them with their hands together in prayer, their offerings collected in chalk stars drawn on the rocky pathway. Kakashi eavesdrops as he walks by, hearing surprisingly few ask for the power to ward off the hazardous fog. Most simply implore the fog to leave, convinced the many citizens of this place who perished unjustly to be its source.
They continue their endeavours willfully, even as wise old men and wiser shinobi tell them of ghosts that walk among them, of demons that cannot be cleansed. Kakashi forgoes this needless melodrama and instead revels in their creativity, stopping longer than he should to listen to their fantastical, vibrant stories. There is a unique, entrancing quality to them, augmented as they are by the mist-shrouded candle light. He spends far too much time wandering in this otherworldly place, much like the aimless spirits that they wish to send to the Pure Land. A few priests begin to notice as such, making sagely remarks about unfinished business and restless souls. When he starts to hear a strange nickname being passed around him in hushed whispers, he reluctantly decides that his stalling needs to end, and politely excuses himself.
Squinting at the enshrouded sun, he notes its position, realizing that the graduation ceremony is only about ten minutes away. To risk getting held up in this mist-laden dream any longer could sentence him to another year at the Academy; a small prison with bigoted children, tedious reviewing, and adults too exhausted for intelligent conversation. His second worst nightmare.
To his luck, he runs into a few ritual circles stationed in the village's darkest corners, their elaborate assortment of knick-knacks congesting even his longest shortcut. He should probably stop wasting time and take to the rooftops, but the ninja up there are far more dangerous than a few civilian priests and priestesses, and bored enough to incite brawls at the slightest glance. Traveling through that minefield is risky at best. Then again, Kiri ninja love to harass academy students, and there are far more obstructions than usual. Perhaps they disguised themselves, in which case... he might have better luck with the minefield.
Impatient footsteps echo off of the concrete behind him, mercifully stirring him from his circling contemplation. However, upon turning his head to greet them, his mouth dries. A classmate of his, one known for his acute bitterness, steps into the muted glow of a lantern from one of the alleyway doors. His misted, round face is the personification of a raincloud, and his shoulders are hunched forward, barely holding up a tattered gray coat that trails on the gravel behind him. Seeing that murderous expression, Kakashi feels his neat solution stretch even farther out of reach. This is the first legitimate excuse he has had for being late in months, and for once, it is not welcome.
He could walk across the wall, assuming this raincloud leaves him alone. In that position, if the priests really are bored, sadistic Shinobi in disguise, they will have full access to his vitals. His options are limited. The only way to get out of this in a timely manner is...
"Hey there. Could you please shift over, just for a moment? I know you're busy and all, so I'll give you a couple minutes."
He gives them a friendly smile, leaning sideways against the cement wall. This should work, right? Teachers always tell him that communication is important. Then again, using force has worked just fine so far. Do they not also say, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'?
The seconds tick by, making it harder to keep his mind from floating away. Communication seems a lacklustre strategy, at best. All priests and priestesses remain in position without so much as acknowledging his presence, their three part chant endless and startlingly accurate. Would bored Shinobi really waste time on learning its entirety? Other than him, that is.
His mind is growing restless. He finds himself unsettlingly open to firing a jutsu at them- or rather, testing a technique he invented just two days ago, which is still only theoretical. Blowing himself up is not an option. He cannot give those hypocritical teachers a reason to hold him back, not after he spent so much time convincing them to let him graduate.
"I could probably check the other routes again," he sighs forlornly, shifting his offended gaze to the other academy student. "but isn't it just rude to ignore me like that?"
He waits, but receives no answer, just a silent glare and a foot scuffing the sodden ground. The movement reminds Kakashi of a horse, or perhaps... a donkey.
He stifles the urge to giggle, recalculates the position of the sun, and reminds himself of the pressing task at hand. Hell is but four minutes of stalling away, so he must be careful. Unfortunately, the raincloud runs out of patience before he can act, turning towards him with an intent gaze.
"...let's kill them."
Of course the grumpiest kid in school is a psychopath, what else would he be? Kirigakure brings out the best in people, after all.
"If you break their concentration, you could open the gates of Limbo." Kakashi states seriously, crossing his arms. He isn't much better.
There goes any chance of being on time, lost to his chronic urge to mock everyone. He really needs to control himself.
The raincloud turns, staring at the circle with a frown.
"Oh."
...
A wide grin slowly spreads under Kakashi's mask, filled with glee.
"Yes, this is very serious business. We could get possessed, or eaten alive."
He can't help but wonder...
"It'll be fine if we pass over the circle on the wall, but apologize first, or the spirits might get angry."
...how far can he go?
"And if you feel any wind, say excuse me. That means you bumped into a spirit, and they're all sticklers for etiquette."
Definitely... not that far, right?
Does he get away with it? Even the author doesn't know!
I'm not even sure if pairings will happen! (I am open to feedback though.)