Author's Note: Apparently this was the Chapter that Did Not Want to be Written. I had most of this chapter written out for a while, it just needed a few things here and there and to be smoothed out. Then I slammed into a wall of writer's block. Then school started back up for the Spawns so I was busy with making sure they were set for that. Then more writer's block. This chapter seriously did not want to be finished.
Chapter 21
Minato halted shortly before sunset. Sakumo was at his side instantly.
"The bridge isn't far now," Minato said, keeping his voice pitched low. He hadn't sensed any enemy shinobi in the area but it would be foolish to take chances. "We're less than an hour away now."
"You think we should wait until morning," Sakumo stated.
Minato nodded. "If the bridge is guarded, they'll have the advantage of already knowing the terrain and having defenses set up. The dark would hinder us more than them and we'd already be at a disadvantage. I think we should wait until morning. It also gives Kakashi a chance to recover. I don't like the idea of leaving him behind, even with a guard. It's too risky that they'd be found by a patrol."
Sakumo's dark eyes narrowed as he stared out into the forest, as if he could see their destination through sheer willpower alone and determine the best course of action. Waiting until morning ran the risk that word could get to the Hidden Stone shinobi that there were infiltrators from the Leaf on the way. The probability of that was small, but it was possible. He glanced at the other shinobi with them. Everyone was tired, himself included. Minato's team had faced battle on the way here. He had pushed his team hard in order to make it in time to back them up. Kakashi was still out cold, showing no signs of waking anytime soon. Rin looked ready to drop, she was already half-asleep on her feet.
"We'll wait until morning," he agreed, turning his gaze back to the blond. "We'll set up camp here. No fire. We'll keep watch in pairs."
"Sensei," Rin said hesitantly. "We lost our packs. Do we still have enough explosives to destroy the bridge?"
Minato rummaged through his pack, then handed her a scroll. She glanced at it and saw it was a sealing scroll. "There's some in there," he explained. "Though I don't know if it'll be enough. If we concentrate them in a single area, we may be able to damage the bridge enough to make it unusable for a while." They had split the ordinance among the team. He hadn't anticipated losing three-quarters of their supplies en route. He looked at Sakumo. "I don't suppose you have a supply of explosives on you? Does anyone on your team know a good jutsu for bringing a bridge down?"
Sakumo reached into his weapons pouch and pulled free his entire supply of explosive tags. He handed them over to Minato. The rest of his team did the same. "Check Kakashi's weapon's pouches," Sakumo suggested.
Jiro, who was in the process of settling Kakashi into his own bedroll, tossed the boy's pouches to Sakumo. Catching them easily, he rummaged through them, finally pulling a sealing scroll free. Checking the listed contents, he handed it to Minato.
"How did you know?" Minato asked.
"Kakashi likes to keep important items on his person rather than his pack," Sakumo explained. He shrugged. "It's something he's done since he was little and it's become habit now. I figured something critical to completing his mission would qualify."
"That's about half the explosives we had, plus the explosive tags," Minato did some mental calculations. "It should be just enough."
Sakumo went and knelt beside Jiro, who was checking over Kakashi again now that he was settled. His son showed no signs of waking.
"He's still out," Jiro said unnecessarily. "Though his chakra levels are a bit higher than before." He frowned. "Sakumo, even if he's conscious and able to travel by morning, he's not going to be able to use ninjutsu. Not without severe risk. Chakra exhaustion takes time to recover from; his chakra levels are going to be low for days. And there's something else that concerns me…"
"What is it?"
"Well, I'm not entirely certain how accurate this is but for what it's worth: one of my Uchiha colleagues once said something about the Sharingan using chakra when it's active. I checked Kakashi's eyes. The Sharingan hasn't deactivated. I don't know if he's even capable of doing so, not being an Uchiha himself."
Sakumo's brows drew together as he considered that. "You're saying that his chakra is being constantly drained? That the Sharingan is going to kill him?"
"No!" Jiro said hastily. "He's recovered somewhat so that's not the case. It appears that while the eye is closed it does not affect his chakra levels, much as a deactivated Sharingan in an Uchiha. I would recommend he keep it covered in order to make certain he doesn't inadvertently drain his chakra. At least until we can return to the village and speak with someone who's more well versed in the Sharingan's effects. I'm sorry, Sakumo, it's just not my area of expertise."
Sakumo placed a hand on Jiro's shoulder. "It's fine. Get some rest while you can. Isamu and I are taking first watch." His tone left no room for argument, though he saw Minato frown from across the camp. Sakumo had no intention of usurping the younger man's authority but he also had no desire to go into combat with an exhausted and chakra depleted team. Minato and his team had already seen combat that day. There was no reason for them not to rest and recover while they could. Sakumo's team was more than capable of keeping watch tonight.
Kakashi regained consciousness shortly before dawn. He untangled himself from the blanket he was wrapped in and sat up, looking around in confusion. He relaxed slightly as he caught sight of Rin, who was just beginning to stir. She appeared to be unharmed. He took in the rest of the small camp, his gaze settling on his father, who was in deep in conversation with Minato and a female shinobi he didn't know. He tried to organize his thoughts. The previous day's events were a confused jumble. He'd hoped it had somehow been nothing more than a bad dream. His father's presence proved otherwise. He swallowed hard against the grief that threatened to choke him.
A man he vaguely recognized as one of his father's teammates knelt beside him. "You're finally awake," he said. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
At the sound of the conversation, the others turned towards them.
"Kakashi, you're awake!" Minato said brightly, relief written across his face. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, sensei," Kakashi said. He ignored the soft snorts from around the camp. Physically, at least, he was mostly fine. A bit tired, but his low chakra could account for that. Even if he wasn't… well, he was a shinobi; so long as he could fight, he would.
"Jiro?" Sakumo addressed the man beside Kakashi. His expression betrayed his concern and Kakashi was grateful he remained where he was rather than coming over to him and fussing. He was not some little child who needed to be coddled. He ruthlessly ignored the tiny part of him that wished his father would do just that.
"His chakra's still low but otherwise he's okay." Jiro turned to face Kakashi. "As far as I'm aware, you are not going to be able to deactivate the Sharingan. It's going to drain your chakra so long as it's active. I have no idea how quickly it'll deplete your chakra." At Kakashi's frown, he continued. "You'll need to keep the eye closed – covered would be better – unless you absolutely need it. For the next several days at least you need to make certain not to use the Sharingan or ninjutsu. Your chakra levels are too low and you could easily end up depleting your reserves completely." He didn't need to remind Kakashi of what would happen should his chakra be completely drained. A shinobi whose chakra fell to zero would die.
Kakashi nodded to show he understood and absently reached for his headband. His fingers brushed his hair and he frowned slightly until he remembered that he'd lost it the previous day. In the chaos of the fight and their hurry to save Rin, he'd forgotten to pick it up once Obito had bandaged his eye. He lowered his hand and stared blankly at his fingers. He didn't want to think about Obito. It hurt too much. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut against the rising tide of emotion. Shinobi weren't supposed to show emotion.
He cursed himself as he startled when he felt someone tying something around his head. An inattentive shinobi was a dead shinobi. He opened his eyes to find his father crouched in front of him, his unruly bangs falling over his forehead, looking messier than usual. It took Kakashi almost a full minute to realize Sakumo had given him his own headband. He reached up with one hand, pretending he didn't notice the slight tremor that ran through it, and tugged it down so it covered his left eye. He raised his remaining eye to his father's face.
"Dad, I –" He wanted to say something, anything. He needed to explain how it was his fault Obito had died. But he couldn't find the words, couldn't bear the thought of seeing the disappointment on his father's face when he learned just how badly Kakashi had failed.
Sakumo's eyes were soft as he silently ruffled Kakashi's hair; a comfortingly fond and familiar gesture. He stood, going back to discuss strategy with Minato. Kakashi swallowed the lump in his throat and busied himself with packing up the borrowed bedroll while the others finished packing up their camp. He had expected his father to echo the accusations that were in his own head. He had been the squad leader, he had been in charge of the mission. Obito and Rin were his responsibility. And he had failed them both. His guilt threatened to choke him. He didn't deserve to be a jonin, should have never been placed in charge of the team. He let out a shuddering breath as they resumed their journey towards Kannabi Bridge, wrapped in his dark, self-accusatory thoughts.
"Kakashi," Sakumo had fallen into step beside him. He slowed his pace to allow the others to draw a bit ahead before continuing. "I need to know if you can finish the mission." Kakashi looked sharply at his father, stung. His father had never doubted him before and the thought that he did now cut deep. "You're placing everyone in danger if you cannot get your head on straight," Sakumo continued. "Losing a comrade is never easy but now is not the time to grieve or second-guess yourself."
Kakashi looked away, staring at the ground in front of him. "It was my fault," he said softly. "I was the captain. Obito pushed me out of the way and –" He swallowed hard. "- and I can't even bring his body home for a proper burial."
"I know it's hard. But for a shinobi with a kekkei genkai, there's too much risk to transport the body. If the team were captured or killed, the enemy would get their hands on it and would waste no time in studying and using it. It's better to destroy it than let the enemy use it against the Leaf later. His family will understand that."
Kakashi was quiet as they continued. He knew Obito would be horrified if an enemy managed to use his Sharingan against the Hidden Leaf. He pressed his hand against the covered eye Obito had given him. Several minutes later, he looked back up at his father. "I'm fine," he said resolutely. "I won't let Obito die in vain. That means making certain to finish the mission and keeping my promise to protect Rin."
Sakumo studied him out of the corner of his eye for a long moment as if weighing his resolve. Finally, he nodded once. "Very well."
"We're getting close," Michiko said, keeping her voice pitched low so as not to carry. "I can sense a bunch of chakra signatures just up ahead. The closest is a group of at least fifty. My bet is they're guarding the bridge. There are a few outliers, probably either patrols or sentries. There's another twenty or so spread out on what I'm guessing is the far side of the bridge based on how far away they are. They wouldn't be expecting an attack to come from that side." She drew a crude sketch in the dirt of the bridge with the approximate enemy locations.
"That's quite a few more shinobi than we expected," Minato admitted. "How did they get tipped off?"
"They may not have," Sakumo replied. "There are any number of reasons for the Hidden Stone to increase security on the bridge."
"Whatever the reason, it certainly makes our mission that much harder." He ran a hand absently through his hair. "The idea was to take out any guards quickly and quietly, then set the explosives. With so many shinobi, we'll never get close to the bridge without them noticing."
"Then I think we should make certain to be noticed," Sakumo said.
"Uh – what?"
"Can you get in behind this group –" Sakumo indicated the largest group of shinobi on their side of the bridge "- and cause some confusion. Then get out before these –" he pointed to the shinobi on the far side of the bridge "- catch you in between them?"
"Yes. But I need to be able to set markers in order to use my jutsu." He held up one of his custom kunai, showing Sakumo the jutsu formula written on the handle. "That's the hard part."
"So that's how you got back from the front lines so quickly yesterday," Sakumo mused.
"Yes. Kakashi has one of my kunai."
"I see. So anyone can set the markers, it doesn't have to be you?"
"That's right."
"Good. Pass a few over." Sakumo's lips curved upwards into a predatory grin. "I think the White Fang strolling into the middle of their camp should get their attention. I'll go straight in and set your markers. You hit them from behind. Just make certain you're out before the shinobi on the other side of the river make it across the bridge. I don't want you getting caught between them. Michiko, Isamu, and Jiro will take care of the outliers and then flank the main group. Once we engage the Stone shinobi Kakashi and Rin can take advantage of their distraction to get in and set the charges to blow the bridge."
"You're going to just walk into the middle of their camp?" Minato asked. "That's insane."
Sakumo shrugged. "Probably," he agreed. "Are you going to give me those kunai or what?"
"I –" Seeing no one on Sakumo's team seemed to have any objection to their captain walking into the thick of the enemy in an apparent suicide mission, Minato handed him several of his kunai without another word. He reminded himself that Sakumo was one of the strongest and most skilled shinobi to ever come out of the Hidden Leaf.
Sakumo hefted one of the three-bladed kunai, getting a feel for the weight and balance of it. Satisfied, he slipped them into his weapons pouch where they'd be within easy reach. He motioned for his team to begin moving into position. They split up and began moving in a wide circle around the Hidden Stone's encampment.
"Kakashi, Rin, wait until we've engaged the enemy before making your move towards the bridge," Minato said. "Use their distraction to your advantage. I don't want you two to engage them unless absolutely necessary. Understood?"
"Yes, sensei," Rin said and Kakashi nodded. Kakashi was a bit put out at being kept from the battle but he understood the reasoning. His chakra levels were still low, meaning he couldn't use ninjutsu without risking death. Rin was a capable shinobi but her strength lay in medical ninjutsu rather than combat techniques. It made sense for them to avoid combat if possible.
They moved silently until they were nearly at the tree line. Kannabi Bridge was just visible from their vantage point. Minato drew a kunai as Sakumo walked boldly out from the tree cover, his posture relaxed as if he was just out for a morning stroll. He waited, watching, as Sakumo casually tugged at the cuffs of his gloves as the nearest Stone shinobi noticed his presence.
In a blur of motion, Sakumo charged, drawing his tanto with his left hand as he flung the marked kunai behind the enemy shinobi with his right. The raucous laughter of the Hidden Stone shinobi who assumed he had missed his mark was cut off by Minato's blade silencing them.
"Minato-sensei is so fast," Rin whispered. One moment he had been crouched beside them, the next, he was in the thick of the fight.
"Well, he's not called the Yellow Flash for nothing," Kakashi replied softly. "Come on, we should be able to make our way to the bridge now." The Hidden Stone encampment was in a state of chaos.
"Right!"
Kakashi and Rin had nearly finished setting the charges when they were discovered near the abutment on the far side of the river. Kakashi shoved Rin behind him as they were surrounded by Hidden Stone shinobi. They couldn't run. The only option was to stand and fight. He drew a pair of kunai. He had no idea what was going on up on the bridge above them. He had to assume the rest of the Leaf shinobi were still engaged with the enemy. They couldn't count on backup.
"Well, well, what have we here? A couple of brats playing ninja?" a shinobi wearing a Hidden Stone headband mocked. His fellows snickered. "The Hidden Leaf must be pretty desperate to be sending little kids off to war."
Kakashi didn't respond to the taunts. His gaze swept over the area. There were an awful lot of them. Lightning crackled around his kunai as he focused his chakra through them as his father had taught him. It may not be as efficient as using an actual chakra blade but it would increase their cutting power. It also used less chakra than ninjutsu. He was willing to die in order to protect Rin but he wasn't going to sell his life cheaply. The more of them he could take out, the better.
"Oh, what's this?" the leader's eyes narrowed as he looked at Kakashi more closely. "Silver hair and lightning chakra, huh. I heard that the White Fang was rumored to be moving in this direction. With his reputation, I always figured he'd be more than a little brat. Ah well, reality never does live up to the hype." His expression turned ugly. "Kill them."
Several shinobi rushed straight at them, assuming they young Leaf shinobi would be easy prey. Kakashi raised his kunai and braced himself. Against so many opponents it would be unwise to throw his kunai. He felt Rin tense behind him.
A rush of wind and a familiar streak of white light and the shinobi who had been rushing them dropped to the ground.
"Dad!" Kakashi gasped as the rest of the Stone shinobi faltered in the face of this new enemy.
"Kakashi! Rin! Go! Finish the mission!" Sakumo shouted. His features twisted into a vicious snarl as he faced the group of Stone shinobi. He dropped into a fighting stance, tanto at the ready, lightning cracking around the blade like a living thing. Like hell he was going to let even one of them reach his son.
"What are you cowards waiting for? He's just one man! Kill him, then finish off those brats!"
Kakashi's eyes were wide as he watched his father engage the enemy shinobi as they gathered their courage and charged at him. He had watched his father train his entire life but he had never seen him in actual combat. White chakra streaked behind each of Sakumo's swings as he cut through the enemy ranks. His grey eyes were cold and his lips curled back in a soundless snarl as he felled the Stone shinobi that surrounded him with brutal efficiency. The air was thick with the killing intent that seemed to roll off of him in waves. This was not his gentle and soft-spoken father with his easy smile and encouraging words. This was the White Fang, a powerful ninja feared throughout the shinobi world. Kakashi swallowed hard and grabbed Rin's wrist as he forced his eyes away.
"Come on!" he shouted, tugging her along to finish setting the charges. Seeing his father fight was both awesome and terrifying. Rin snapped her mouth shut and nodded, allowing him to lead her back to where they were setting the explosives and exploding tags against the bridge's supports.
It took Sakumo no time to cut through the Hidden Stone's ranks to come toe to toe with their leader.
"Who – who are you?" he gasped. Over half of his men had been strewn across the area, taken down by a single man. He wasn't wearing a headband, but he was dressed as a jonin of the Hidden Leaf.
"I'm the White Fang," Sakumo growled and he finished the man off unceremoniously.
Those within earshot began backing away warily as the lifeless body slid from Sakumo's tanto to hit the ground with a dull thud. Several turned to flee. They didn't make it far as Minato suddenly appeared behind them, cutting his way through their remaining ranks.
"That's the last of them," he said, coming to stand beside Sakumo. "Michiko said she didn't sense anyone else in the area."
Sakumo nodded and turned to the bridge. It appeared that Kakashi and Rin had almost finished setting the explosives. A few minutes later the Hidden Leaf shinobi regrouped and watched as Kannabi Bridge was turned into a pile of rubble falling unceremoniously into the river it had spanned.
"Well," Minato finally said, "That's done."
"We'll travel with you back to the border," Sakumo said. "We'll resume our patrol while you head back to the Hidden Leaf."
"Right," Minato agreed. He gazed at the ruined bridge for another minute. It seemed anticlimactic somehow. "Let's go home."
