Kakashi Hatake's Prodigy from the Land of Iron
Sprinting down a dark tunnel with his arms protruding behind him in the classic shinobi style, hearing only the click-clack of his sandals as they turned up dirt and bits of gravel, seeing only the outline of the tunnel and feeling far more fear than he had since a hauntingly similar circumstance.
His Leaf headband covered his left eye to conserve his Sharingan. He had taken on a few cuts and bruises here and there. He grunted, tripping himself due to the combination of pain and fatigue. Launching himself forward, he sensed his chin coming close to smashing on the ground.
Seconds before, however, he accessed that reserve of power he seldom used: the First Gate of Opening. He felt the surge of chakra rushing through all his pathways, giving new life to each of his limbs.
He thrust his right palm towards the ground, pushing his body vertically, easily avoiding a collision. Then, he used his right arm to push the ground away from him, resulting in a front flip. He landed on his feet, rushing towards his goal with new energy.
Kakashi thought of nothing else other than reaching Kisho. He doubled his pace.
Several weeks earlier.
Kakashi awoke from a dreamless sleep. His headband had shifted to where both his eyes were exposed and both opened simultaneously. He felt the slow drain of chakra being diverted to his left eye, before he covered it once more.
Been a while… Obito, he mused.
It had been about a month since Naruto had left with Jiraiya. Kakashi, while he welcomed the solace of solitude for a time, began to feel the gaping hole that Team 7 had left. He had been on missions since they left, but ultimately they were nothing too terribly dangerous or notable.
He groggily got out of bed, dressed and prepared for a relaxing day of reading and meditating.
He walked outside, then locked the door.
Another day, he thought, hmph.
He heard the strenuous grunting of a voice he knew all too well.
"Kakashi! My eternal rival! You're up late!" the green spandex-clad chap exclaimed, despite the sunrise being 10 minutes away.
Might Guy instinctively grinned widely as he saw the familiar white hair and cool demeanor of his best friend.
Guy was hanging upside down on one of the outside rafters, clearing doing hanging sit ups as he waited to retrieve Kakashi.
"OHHHH! Woah!" Guy kicked both his feet out, allowing his body to flip onto the ground with his back facing Kakashi. He landed with a thunk as his ninja sandals hit wood floor outside Kakshi's apartment. Then, customary of the Blue Beast, he looked turned around, flashing a thumbs up. He grinned the same way, only upright. Kakashi outwardly remained aloof and slightly taken aback by the first person being the most optimistic and silly ninja he had ever encountered. Despite this, he was truly glad to see him.
"Oh, hey Guy! Yeah, but today's my day off, see-"
"What!" Kakakshi drew back a second time at the increasing intensity of Guy's vigor.
"Oh, I'm sorry Kakakshi! See, Lady Tsunade didn't tell me it was your day off. She just wanted me to come get you as soon as you woke up!"
Guy's face betrayed an idea his mind had sprung up. This look made Kakashi worry.
"I know!" Guy turned around once more facing away from Kakashi with his back slanted and his arms stuck out behind him, "I'll carry you on my back both as punishment for my ignorance and so you don't have to walk! Two birds, one kunai! I know you've worked hard this week, and you deserve rest."
Kakashi most certainly did not want to do this.
"Listen Guy, I know you feel you let me down, but please, that's not-"
"Kakashi," Guy suddenly took a slightly more serious disposition, "please, I know it might seem silly, but I want to help my friend. So please, get on my back." Guy's eyes began to water.
Kakashi sighed, He's too emotional for a ninja, but I can't help but feel touched.
"Ok… fine. I'll let you carry me, but only this once," Kakashi conceded.
He climbed on unceremoniously, having never done anything like it before.
"Alright Kakashi! I can feel the energy surging through every part of my body! Prepare to feel the power of YOUTH!"
And with that, Guy raced off like a green, grinning pack mule, only far faster than any domesticated beast.
...
"Let me guess Shizune, no word of the Akatsuki's movements." Tsunade eyes were downcast and her forehead wrinkled, showing clear signs of irritance that came seconds before the violent tempest.
"Well, no milady," Shizune gently closed the door behind her, " We have no intel on their specific movements, even from Jiraiya's spy network; however, some rumours indicate they are moving away from Kohoha."
"No!" Tsunade's unlady like fist slammed softly (compared to what she was capable of) on the Hokage's desk, "We can't base our actions based on rumours Shizune!"
Shizune, though she was a formidable opponent in a pinch, shuddered as she felt the tremor reverberate all the way to her feet on the other side of the room.
Please not today, Shizune pleaded mentally with whatever fickle sense of self control the Fifth Hokage had in her mind to keep her calm.
To her relief, Kakashi and Guy came in just before she erupted.
"Lady Tsunade. I have brought Kakashi."
The unorthodox sight of one of the most fearsome Jounin carrying another fearsome Jounin piggyback style was enough to throw off even the Hokage.
"Guy," she felt as if she were addressing Naruto and Lee instead of Kakashi and Guy, " Why is Kakashi on your back?"
"My apologies-" Kakashi started.
"You are two of the most experienced Jounin in the Hidden Leaf Village!" Tsunade finally erupted. She berated them about appearances and maintaining a strong, dependable and professional disposition that represents the entire village; Guy fell to the floor in acceptance of the lecture while Kakashi bowed his head apologetically.
After she finished, Shizune reminded her of the reason she had called Kakashi and Guy there.
"Right," Tsunade regained her more centered composure, "We have received a request from Mifune, the general of the Land of Iron, to bring in a young boy into our village. He was unclear about the reasoning, explaining that the matter was private; however, he promised to go into more detail once an escort team reached the Land of Iron."
"Hmm," Kakashi mused, "That's an odd request. Can we trust that this isn't a trap?"
"I believe so. The Land of Iron has been neutral territory for several generations. The scroll they sent is likely the truth. Also," Tsunade lowered her eyes once more, "Mifune has included one interesting detail that peaked my interest even more."
Silence filled the room.
"The child he is asking us to take in possesses a Kekkei Genkai," Tsunade looked straight at Kakashi.
"What!" Kakashi was shocked, "I can't believe they would let someone like that go."
"Lady Tsunade! Are you sure we should send an escort team all the way to their front door? I'm not afraid of any conflict, in fact I'd welcome a match with a samurai to hone my taijutsu," he flashed a grin at Kakashi, "In fact, I've been working on a counter technique to Kenjutsu. I've been searching for someone here to practice with, but everyone's been so busy."
"Guy…" Kakashi's tone indicated guy was getting carried away.
"Oh, sorry." Guy laughed, placing hands on hips, "But shouldn't we play it safe and designate a point in between our two nations to meet up?" his laughter flipped to grave suspicion.
"You're forgetting one thing Guy," Kakashi explained, " Samurai are not like Shinobi. Sure we both utilize chakra as weapons and have codes of honor, but they are far more strict than us."
"Yes," Tsunade put her elbows on the desk, with her fingers interlocked, "This is why I feel we can trust them. So, the three of you will travel to the Land of Iron, retrieve this boy and return to the Leaf. Any questions?"
"Three?" Guy furrowed his brow in confusion. Having been daydreaming about his new technique, he failed to notice the third person enter the Hokage's office.
"Hey Kakashi. It's been a while," a masked Anbu greeted the masked Jounin.
"Hey Tenzo." Kakashi was not as oblivious as Guy, "It's been a while."
"That it has." Tenzo took off his mask, revealing dark, kind eyes and a smile to match, "Might Guy, right? Have we met?"
"No, I'm certain we haven't, but it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Guy gave another of his famous grins to the new comrade.
Kakashi gave an internal sigh of disappointment at Guy not realizing his weakness in remembering names.
"Now then, I have a letter for the three of you to deliver personally to the General of the Land of Iron. I would send a carrier hawk, but this mission is too sensitive to trust being intercepted. This is why I have chosen you three," Tsunade swiveled her chair to look out the window, "Be careful, and expect to meet some level of resistance, though hopefully we planned this well enough. If you make a good enough pace, you should reach the Land of Iron within four days. I have a route drawn out on this scroll." Shizune presented the message and the map to Kakashi.
"Just one question," Kakashi said in his unperturbed disposition, "Do you have any idea what the child thinks about leaving his homeland."
All in the room were confounded at this question: Kakashi, a former Anbu, asked about something so secondary and irrelevant to the mission.
Guy, however, quickly realized what had taken place; his friend's heart, once blackened by the deeds of his past as well as the Anbu, had softened because of Team 7, even following the tragedy of Sasuke's desertion.
"We have no idea, Kakashi." sensing that Kakashi's concern that the child might be isolated in the village as Naruto was, "We have limited intel, but rest assured we will do everything we can to make the Hidden Leaf a home for this child."
"I see." Kakashi looked at Tenzo knowingly.
"Well then, you have your mission." Tsunade decidedly swiveled back around, facing the trio," Be off, first thing tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Lady Hokage," Kakashi and his team bowed.