Part two
"Sensei! We're so tired, let's call it a night!" Naruto whined. Sakura and Sasuke said nothing but their faces did light up a little. Kakashi sighed.
"You lazy brats . . ." He murmured. He stomach groan quiet silently in spite of himself. The pale purple on the horizon was slowly being stained with inky blue and stars began to blossom from behind the mist-thin layer of cloud. Some stray Sakura petals rustled on the ground. Kakashi shook his head. "All right, let's go back." He told them, an unseen smile behind his mask. The four of the ascended the grassy slope to the town. Kakashi, faster than the rest of them, reach the glassy black stone that showed the names of people who had died serving the village. Gazing back to see if the Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto were far behind, Kakashi walked up to the monolith and ran his fingers along the Kanji shapes craved into it. His fingers always went to the same place. He knew it well by now.
Tounasa Konpaku and Inju Chitsume were right next to one another. Kakashi fit the tip of his index finger into the groove and stared at the inscription.
"Who's that, Sensei?" Sakura's bright voice came from his side. Kakashi quickly removed his touch.
"Someone who died." He shrugged. He turned away from her and walked off some ways. When they arrived back at the village center Sasuke split up with them to go up to his home. When Sakura went through her door and yelled "I'm home!" to her parents, Kakashi was beginning to feel the beginnings of loneliness. All this thought of his friends had put him in such a mood. He cursed himself silently and thought glumly of the evening ahead. The idea of having Naruto eat with hm tonight crossed his mind. He liked Naruto, but he did get quite annoying at times. Was it worth it not to be alone?
"What are you having for dinner, Naruto?" He asked before he could stop himself. He cursed himself again.
"Hmm?" Naruto looked up. "Probably cup Ramen, like I do every morning noon and night . . ." Naruto half laughed half sighed.
"That's no good. Why don't you let me make you something?" It was too late to turn back now.
"Really?" Naruto asked skeptically. "It's unlike you to be so nice."
"Well, I feel generous tonight." Kakashi admitted, continuing down the street without waiting for Naruto. Naruto smiled and scurried to catch up with Kakashi. They wandered down the dark street, warm glows coming from the windows of family's homes. The only one that was dark was Kakashi's. He pushed open the door and flicked on the lights. It was a moderately small home with worn sofa, a table with two chairs and kitchen crammed into the corner. A small bookshelf was against the wall with other books that Kakashi liked to read. A picture in a frame was turned face down on the top. The only door from this entrance led into Kakashi's bedroom.
"Sit where ever you want." Kakashi waved his hand as he warmed some rice up in a pot. Naruto wandered over to bookshelf.
"Where's the rest of your family?" Naruto asked.
"What family?" Kakashi asked. Naruto caught his gaze and looked at the shelf.
"Sensei reads a lot." Naruto said eyeing the titles.
"Don't ruin them Naruto . . ." Kakashi warned as Naruto pulled a thick book off the shelf and flicking through the pages. He looked back at Naruto. He shoved the book back on the shelf and stood up. His eyes fell on the picture frame. His fingers strayed towards it and touched the black wood. "Don't look at it." Kakashi said stiffly, not looking back. He didn't feel like explaining who the woman in the picture was. Naruto made a small noise of surprise and dropped his hand to the side. A moment later Kakashi set two bowls of rice, some pickled vegetables and a small helping of soba noodles down on the table.
"Wow, I didn't know you could cook, Sensei." Naruto gaped.
"Just a little." He explained. "There's an extra pair of chopsticks in the cabinet." Kakashi pointed. While Naruto had his back turned Kakashi ate his serving quickly, so that Naruto could not see his face. Naruto sat down in the other chair and picked at the rice.
"What's that picture of?" He asked with a smile. "Is it for adults only?" He asked with relish.
"I forgot." Kakashi lied, picking up the empty dishes and dropping them in the sink.
"How can you forget?" Naruto asked. Kakashi sighed.
"The picture is of me. It looks ugly so I don't want to show it." He said, sitting back down.
"Then why do you keep it?" Naruto questioned.
"Because it's magic." Kakashi pulled something off of the top of his head. This wasn't working.
"Sensei is lying . . ." Naruto poked his chopsticks in Kakashi's direction.
"Yup." Kakashi said, leaning back in his chair.
"Let me see." Naruto begged, putting his hands together.
"Why is it so important?" Kakashi raised and eyebrow.
"Because Kakashi-Sensei is hiding something." Naruto said as if this was great fun.
"Look at it if you have to but it's nothing special." Kakashi sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose. Naruto hurried over and picked up the photo. Kakashi didn't need to look. It was him and Chitsume. She was smiling, a band-aid on her cheek and her arms around Kakashi's neck. It used to make him smile, but now it felt eerie. Like a shadow from the past that would refuse to leave. Her grin was so pure and innocent and it hurt him deeply to think she was destroyed in such a horrific way. She was so beautiful, such a beautiful soul, torn to shreds.
"Wow, what a pretty lady! You're lucky, Sensei!" Naruto looked at Chitsume.
"Am I?" Kakashi looked at the wood on the table.
"Is this your girlfriend?" He asked, oblivious to Kakashi's voice.
"She was my Fiancé." Kakashi said, feeling the imminent question creeping up.
"Oh, she left you." Naruto said a little sympathetically.
"No, she's dead." Kakashi sighed. Naruto looked surprised and sorrowful. Kakashi looked up at him. He stared back into Kakashi's uncovered eye with a look of concern.
"How did that happen?" Naruto asked, sounding a bit stunned. Kakashi sighed.
"Four years ago my two comrades and I were on an assassination mission and a ninja attacked us. He killed my best friend right there and made off with her. I've never seen her since." Kakashi said.
"She could still be alive!" Naruto slammed his fists on the table. Kakashi was surprised how upset he was.
"Naruto . . . The chances of that are very slim. The only reason he took her back was to . . ." He couldn't bring himself to say it.
"She's alive!" Naruto cried.
"Even if she was I wouldn't know where to look. I'm an enemy of the Nation of Iron, if I show my face there, I'll be killed on sight." Kakashi sighed, feeling perturbed.
"Did you love her?" Naruto asked softly.
"What?" Kakashi looked up at him.
"Did you love her!?" He yelled. Kakashi was a bit taken aback at Naruto shouting.
"Of . . . of course I did." Kakashi muttered, feeling his eyes water. He bit his tongue to make himself stop. Maybe crying alone was all right, but he would never let anyone see him do it.
"Liar." Naruto said with harshness. Kakashi stood suddenly and grabbed the front of Naruto's shirt.
"What did you say!?" Kakashi hissed. He wouldn't stand for anybody saying something like this.
"If you really loved her than you would have rescued her!" Naruto yelled into his face.
"Naruto, she's dead! Her name is on that stone we see every day! She died for her village and I'm not going to risk my life chasing after a ghost!" Kakashi yelled, feeling horrible and sick. Both of them sat in a stunned silence. "Naruto, I'm sorry. . ." He let go of Naruto's shirt and scratched his head. "It's just a painful subject, you understand, right?" But Naruto said nothing. A sudden, glazed look came over his face. "What's wrong?" Kakashi asked.
"Kakashi-Sensei, I saw her." He said with a stony voice.
"Hm?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"Today, I saw her. She talked to me." Naruto said, growing excited.
"Naruto, don't lie . . ." Kakashi was beginning to feel annoyed again.
"I did! She looked different, her hair was much longer, but I'm sure it was her! She said her name was. . . Um... Chie.... No... Katsume . . ."
"Chitsume?" Kakashi asked suddenly.
"Yeah, that was it! Chitsume. She was sitting right on the bench. I asked her what she was doing here and why she looked so sad. She said she was waiting for something then mumbled something about a phantom." Naruto said.
"Show me where she was!" Kakashi yelled desperately. Maybe Chitsume was still there. Naruto and him raced outside and Naruto led him down the back way to the fields. About halfway there they stopped near the Torii gate bridge and Naruto showed him the bench.
"She was sitting right here." Naruto panted. "Dressed in white." Kakashi bit his lip.
"She left no clues to where she was going?" Kakashi searched the area. Naruto stepped back.
"Is that a clue?" He yelled, pointing up. A girl resonating a strange glow was making her way up the hill. He near white hair hung some where near her thighs and looked like shining threads of light in the gloom. She wore a white kimono with a translucent Obi, radiating with rainbow shimmer. She stumbled, zombie-like, towards the Hyuga house. Kakashi watched her for a moment, and then suddenly used all his speed to fly towards the hill. By the time she was in sight, she'd already stepped through the gate to the Hyuga house. Naruto was close behind him.
"Chitsume!" Kakashi yelped. She stopped for a second, the back of her head only visible. Kakashi ran beside her. She seemed not to see him and went walking on. Her face was the same, she was the same height. "Chitsume, is that you?" He asked. She stopped fully and turned to look at him. Something behind her eyes was screaming to notice him, but something was wrong. Her eyes darted across his face, as if trying to remember. "Chitsume, it's me! Kakashi!" He put a hand on her shoulder. She dropped her head and her lips mouthed his name.
"I must . . . complete the task . . ." She whispered. "The Phantom lives tonight." Chitsume went on to the building.
"What's she doing, Sensei?" Naruto asked, gasping for air.
"Why doesn't she remember me?" Kakashi asked himself more than Naruto. It bothered him. This was Chitsume, there was something wrong with her, but he was sure of it. Chitsume pulled something from her Obi and put it to her lips. It was a flute. She played a strange song, which seemed to echo throughout the village. Suddenly Hinata, a kind, very shy girl that learned Ninja arts with Naruto appeared at her window. Her white eyes were open and scanned the grounds; she was still dressed in her nightclothes. Her eyes fell upon Naruto and Kakashi.
"Naruto-Kun?" She said softly so they could not hear it. Then, she saw Chitsume. Chitsume played her flute again, this time louder and Hinata fell into a sort of trance. She wobbled forward, teetering dangerously. Then she plummeted down from her window. Both Kakashi and Naruto cried out but Chitsume caught her easily.
"Soon, my work will be done . . . Five maidens, unsullied by men . . . you are the fifth." Chitsume said in a monotone voice. Hinata was still in the stupor and she lay serenely against Chitsume as she supported her.
"What are you doing?" Naruto yelled. "I thought you were supposed to be a good guy!" Chitsume didn't hear. She walked right past Kakashi felt as if there were a lump in his throat; he couldn't swallow. Naruto pulled a shuriken from his pocket and got ready to launch it at Chitsume, but Kakashi caught his wrist.
"Don't hurt her." Kakashi forced out. He ran up to Chitsume and put both his hands bracingly on her shoulders. She stopped and stared, blankly looking past him. "Don't you know it's me? Wake up!" Kakashi yelled. Chitsume blinked a couple of times. Then, she promptly fell to her knees and let Hinata fall out of her arms. She grabbed her head and moaned. Kakashi kneeled in front of her, keeping his grip on her shoulders.
"It hurts . . ." She whined, grabbing her head. It was Chitsume's old voice, but it sounded miserable and tortured.
"Chitsume!" Kakashi shook her gently. She looked at Kakashi, wincing.
"Kakashi . . ." She breathed, sounding urgent, relieved and scared at the same time. She looked as if she would rather do nothing more than leap into his arms, but she was restraining herself. "Stop me, before it's too late. I'm lost in the darkness . . ." Kakashi plucked her from the ground in one swift motion and cradled her between his arms.
"Chitsume." Kakashi nearly whimpered, holding onto Chitsume. "Don't leave me again."
"Kakashi you . . . have to help . . . she might . . . die . . ." Chitsume went back to her monotone voice and blank stare. Kakashi looked at her his brow creasing when suddenly she pulled out a kunai from her Kimono and made a swift move at Kakashi's throat, but he jumped back quickly. She snatched up Hinata who'd come back to life.
"Naruto-Kun! Help me, please!" She cried struggling to get free. Naruto began to rush forward but Kakashi stopped him.
"The real Chitsume's still in there. You can't hurt her, Naruto." Kakashi warned, out of breath.
"But, Hinata!" He shouted.
"Naruto-Kun, please!" Hinata cried. "Don't let her! I beg you!" Her eyes leaked tears on the sides as she outstretched her arm to Naruto.
"We'll save you Hinata, don't worry!" Kakashi shouted. "Come on Naruto, let's follow them." Kakashi and Naruto tracked several paces behind them the entire time. They followed them even past dawn. Hinata sat quietly, looking uncomfortable and scared, but not saying a thing. They were well out of the village by then. Kakashi knew where she was taking them. The Nation if Iron, with it's smoky gray skies and smell of burning metal. It was full of factories and industry, thus earning it the name Iron. When they reached the Nation it was burning hot afternoon. Chitsume moved with an unrelenting speed that even left Kakashi exhausted after following her. The sun blazed down, making the back of Kakashi's neck sweat uncomfortable and his back grow hotter and hotter even through the thick vest. Naruto looked ready to drop at any moment.
Kakashi wiped his brow and then shaded his eyes. Chitsume was about ten feet ahead and walking steadily on. Then, all at once she disappeared. It was as if she fell right into the ground, making no noise whatsoever. Kakashi halted for a moment and observed the scene.
"Sensei what happened!?" Naruto cried looking left and right.
"Be quiet for a second, Naruto." Kakashi said. Naruto hushed while Kakashi reached for his headband. Naruto made a guttural noise when he saw what Kakashi was doing. Kakashi was going to use Sharingan. But not for a battle, h was going to look for a hidden entrance. He uncovered his left eye, his flesh tingling from being exposed to the fresh air. He lifted his lid and Sharingan was shown to the world. He scanned the placed Chitsume had fallen and sure enough there was hole in the ground, with an illusion to make it appear solid. It was only big enough to let a person with quite a small frame through and Kakashi wasn't sure he'd fit.
"Naruto, go down the hole." Kakashi pointed to indicate where it was. Naruto looked stupidly at the ground for a moment then inched toward it. Kakashi pushed him in gently as he got closer to the mouth of the hole. Listening to Naruto scream as he fell down wasn't very reassuring but Kakashi jumped in after him. His legs fit perfectly but he got caught at the shoulders. He shifted and turned but he was stuck fast. "Naruto, can you see my legs?" Kakashi yelled down.
"Yeah . . ." Naruto groaned, sounding muffled below him.
"Pull on them, I'm stuck." Kakashi instructed. He could have been imagining things but he thought he heard Naruto cackle softly. He felt Naruto's arms ring around his skinny legs and tug hard. Kakashi winced, feeling the strain on his shoulders and arms. With a mighty pull, Naruto freed Kakashi with a shower of small stones and sand. Kakashi landed on top of Naruto, unscathed save some sore shoulders. He laughed a bit at the sight of Naruto underneath him.
"Thanks Naruto."
"Get off, Sensei, you're heavy . . ." Naruto tried to throw him off. Kakashi would've laughed harder, but the situation was too grim. The thing Chitsume had said about the five maidens . . . He wasn't sure Hinata was entirely safe. The room below he hole was dark and dry, a vast contrast to the scorching heat above. A pool of light dipped in from above, making a dim and murky light in the pit. A long passageway stretched on, filled with blackness. Kakashi had an ominous feeling as he gazed down it. What exactly was going on here?
"Listen Naruto." Kakashi brushed off the dust on his front. "This could be a dangerous mission and this time Sasuke and Sakura aren't here to help us. You'd better stay close." Naruto looked at him and nodded. Kakashi went down the pathway, silent, his Sharingan uncovered incase they came across more hidden rooms. A shot of pain ad sick nostalgia shot into his stomach as he remember when Chitsume had been with him, how she tenderly touched his left eye when it had been in pain, and how the ache seemed to clear up when she did.
'Come back, Chitsume.' He thought 'I'm tired of living without you.' He words forever echoed in his mind. 'We've known each other forever.' It was pretty much true. For all of Kakashi's twenty six years, it seemed like she was always there. Since he was born she'd been his friend, she was there for the good times and the bad. His memory faded back to the days when he was just a child.
She was crying. Her fists blocked in front of her eyes. She was sitting at the little park in town, wailing. Sitting on the swing in the blue dusk.
"Chitsume-Chan! Don't cry!" He'd said, standing in front of her. She just cried harder.
"She's gone! Gone!" She screamed, falling off the swing to her knees. "Mommy left me all alone. She lied to me. She told me she'd always be there, but she's gone!"
"Maybe it wasn't her fault." Kakashi put softly, feeling sensitive.
"I don't want her to go!" She screamed, charging at Kakashi and hugging him around his chest. She sobbed into his chest for a while, the sun dying behind the horizon.
"Don't cry Chitsume-Chan. I'll never leave you like that." He had searched his young mind for something comforting to say.
"Pinky promise!?" She yelled, tears hanging on her eyelashes, jabbing a pinky at him. He put his own finger around hers.
"Pinky promise." He said.
"I get to pinch you really hard if you lied!" She punched his chest softly, her voice shaking.
He had broken his word. He did lie. He let that bastard in black take her from him. He swore that nothing would separate them, and because of one moment's hesitation, it was shattered. 'I'll make it up to you, Chitsume.' His thoughts hissed. She had always been there for him. Kakashi remembered the morning where he'd opened the door to find his father's body. Just the body. Someone had taken the head, chopped it off. His father's mortal enemy from the sound village, no doubt. Kakashi couldn't get the image out of his head. The snow, crystallized with blood, like shining rubies that made his stomach churn. He was fourteen years old when Hatake Inejiro was killed, Kakashi's only remaining relative. His mother and sister had left home when he was just seven. She'd left because of Inejiro's obsessive personality, urging his son unremittingly to become the best Ninja, forcing him to become a Genin at age five, then a Chuunin the very next year. They'd never come back and Kakashi never heard from either of them again. To see his father killed was like murder to his soul. He was all alone, not a friend in the world. He lived alone in this empty house where only shadows of the past dared whisper. He stayed in his room, clutching the only photo of his family, where they were still happy. His mother hand in hand with his father, her beautiful, long gray hair swaying in the wind while his older sister Manami holding him in her lap, smile broadly. He stayed in the room, with the lights turned off, under the futon, just grasping the photo and the last remaining bit of his sanity. He thought he'd have died. He didn't want to eat anything, or even move. He would have just wasted away if it hadn't been for Chitsume.
She come after a while, against he father's wishes. She snuck out in the middle of the night to see Kakashi and she was not happy with what she found.
"How long has it been since you've moved?" She asked imperatively. No answer. "Are you eating? Are you even taking care of yourself?" Her voice rose with each word.
"I don't want to." He said shortly, staring at the ceiling, frowning fiercely under the mask.
"Oh, so your going to sit here and just let yourself die?" She continued sternly.
"I like dying." Kakashi put, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Don't say that! Don't die! People need you, Kakashi! You're one of the best ninjas Konoha's ever seen! The world needs you for that alone!" She put directly.
"So that's all I am?" He grumbled, tears leaking from his eyes.
"No. You mean so much to me. And . . . you promised . . .," she was crying now. Without warning she jumped onto the bed and dove under the covers with him, clutching him tightly and at the same time tugging him away from the bed. "Get up! I'll make sure you don't die!" She yelled. With a huge pull they both tumbled out of the bed, crashing into a pile of tangled arms and legs. They both stared at one another for several moments after the crash. It was that moment alone that inspired Kakashi to continue. She saved him, when he failed to save her. He pushed on, feeling emotional. He would save Chitsume, even if it cost him his life.
When they reached the end of the tunnel a strange and disturbing sight met their eyes. Five stone tables were arranged in a row. On four of the five tables there were dead girls. Their throats, chests and stomachs had been slashed and a basin below the table had collected the blood. Hinata was on the last table bound by rough ropes and struggling to get free. She was whimpering and crying at the terrible sight next to her. Her fate was obvious.
"Naruto-Kun, save me! This place is so scary . . ." She squealed, fighting against her bonds.
"Chitsume!" Kakashi yelled, spying her at the top of stone stairs. She was sitting docile, her hands in her kimono. Behind the stairs was a huge stone door with carvings of demons on it. Kakashi dashed up the steps and went to Chitsume. She was in her trance. Kakashi picked her up and started back down the stairs. Suddenly the door boomed open. Kakashi looked back, holding Chitsume close. The man in black stood in the dark doorway, the same black robes shading his mouth. It was tattered and frayed and a sword was clenched in his hand. He smiled, showing pointed teeth.
"Never thought I'd see you again . . ." he hissed venomously. "You can have her, I've no more use for her. Her soul is gone though. Pity . . ." He held up a little glass vial with a shining orb in it. "She never got to be rescued." He was about to throwing the vial down but Kakashi zipped up and grabbed his wrist.
"What's that in the bottle?" He demanded harshly.
"Her soul . . ." He smiled, teeth clicking. He let it fall from his fingers but once again Kakashi was too quick. He flipped under and caught it, jumping back. As a result there was an opening in which the man in black through a needle at Kakashi and it stuck into his leg. He tried to ignore the pain and hopped back. The man in black disappeared in a puff of smoke and materialized near Hinata. She whimpered pitifully and fought to get free. The man put the long, silvery knife up to her throat and smiled again.
"With the blood of five maidens, unsullied by men, I can learn the one of the most powerful Jutsus ever known. With this I could destroy any village and claim it as my own." Kakashi clenched his teeth. The man looked to Hinata. "Dear girl, know that you with great reason, though I would probably kill you anyway." He added shortly. With a flash of the knife he made a horizontal cut across her belly. She gave a high-pitched shriek and went into a small state of shock. Naruto roared in rage and charged forth. The man in black, annoyed, caught Naruto by the fist and flipped him over.
"Hinata . . ." He gasped from the stone floor. Kakashi clenched his fist. He couldn't let Hinata die but if he let down Chitsume, she might get in trouble too. He shoved the vial with her soul into the pouch on his hip and flipped over to Hinata. It was pretty bad, the laceration was very deep. He grabbed his Kunai and managed to free her from one of the ropes before the man in black charged up to him. Kakashi fought with his hands for a while, but his martial arts had never been the strongest so he decided to switch to something better. He forced Chakura to his left shin and kicked the man across the stone room, causing him to collide with the stony wall. Kakashi quickly slashed the second rope and picked up that shaking Hinata.
"Naruto!" Kakashi summoned. Naruto rose shakily, rubbing his head.
"Take care of her." He passed Hinata onto him. When Kakashi turned back to face his opponent he was surprised to find him missing. He turned back and discovered him to be holding Chitsume around the shoulders, a knife aimed at her throat. He clenched his fist dangerously.
"Let her go. . ." Kakashi growled.
"Give me back my virgin . . ." The man smiled cruelly, pressing the cold metal up to Chitsume's neck. Kakashi looked at Hinata, she sat, shivering in Naruto's arms, blood leaking down her sides. He couldn't let someone like her just be thrown into the jaws of death, even for Chitsume. It would remain in his mind for all time, not to mention he would gain the hatred of the Hyuga clan. He considered Kage Buushin no Jutsu, but it would be too obvious to the man. The deranged man pressed the knife into her pale flesh even harder, a scarlet trail escaping from the cold metal. Kakashi's heart leapt. Not Chitsume, he waited too long for her. He walked slowly over to Naruto, looking grimly down at him.
"Sensei . . . You can't possibly want to . . . Sensei, you can't hurt Hinata!" Naruto yelled.
"Naruto . . ." He whispered, reaching for Hinata's tiny frame.
"No! I won't let you!" Naruto screamed, standing up and running down the hall.
"DAMN IT!" Yelled the man, jumping to his feet and chasing after Naruto. Kakashi appeared in front of Naruto, tripped him and caught Hinata in the blink of an eye.
"Sensei, no! How can you?" Naruto screamed from the ground. Tears were streaming from Hinata's eyes. Kakashi said nothing. He gave Naruto a steely look then turned towards the cloaked man. He stepped up to the man.
"Give me Chitsume." He said flatly. He pushed Hinata close to him. The man snatched her roughly, making her stagger. Kakashi made a grab for Chitsume, but the man in black whipped his knife across her throat.
"No!" Kakashi yelped, catching Chitsume as she fell forward. Hinata suddenly disappeared with a puff of smoke, leaving a log in the man's hands.
"What?" He gasped, looking madly around for Hinata. She was behind Naruto, looking pale. Naruto gasped, and scooped her off running into the darkness. Before the other man could react, Kakashi launched a Kunai at him. It stuck into his calf, immobilizing his left leg. Kakashi carefully lifted Chitsume up, keeping the wound as closed as possible while holding her. He pulled one hand loose and threw a Shuriken at the man's face. It stuck into his cheekbone and he screamed. Kakashi hurried out through the hall and met up with Naruto in the area below the invisible hole.
"Naruto, hurry. Take them both up and hide them well. Be very careful with Chitsume, she's in a critical condition." He pulled out the vial with her soul in it. "And guard this with your life." He pushed it into Naruto's hands. Naruto nodded, taking Hinata and Chitsume and disappearing in a puff of smoke. Kakashi watched the move around above him and got a bad shock as a needle sharp pain hit him in the back. He turned to see the man in black, panting and bleeding. Kakashi's hand went to the pain at his back and extracted his own Kunai he used to stop the man before. He ran up to the man and slashed at him, hitting his chest, which sprayed some blood on his clothes. The man seized Kakashi's wrist and made a slash across Kakashi's own chest. Kakashi aimed a kick at his thigh, slowly pushing him to the ground. The man made another stab with Kakashi's wrist, not allowing him to drop the bloodstained dagger. He stuck it in Kakashi, it making a shallow gash right below his collarbone. Luckily, his thick vest padded him some, making the cut not as serious as it appeared. Kakashi, deciding to end this before things got too serious, started his Raikiri Jutsu. The man pulled the dagger down, crushing Kakashi's hand in his while making a vertical cut all the way down to Kakashi's hip. He ignored the pain and the blood splashing onto the ground and jammed his free hand into the man's face. He was struck by the electrified Chakura, his body flailing everywhere, splats of blood flying off him as Kakashi's fingers dug into his flesh, creating smoking burn marks. When Kakashi was sure that he was dead, he finally let the Chakura ebb and the body fall from his hand. The man's hand relaxed and the Kunai clattered to the ground. Kakashi, shaking with weakness, stumbled to the pit. He'd drained all his Chakura using Raikiri and Sharingan, not to mention he was cut everywhere and bleeding uncontrollably. He used the last of his strength to get out of the pit and staggered around in the radiant sunset light.
"Naruto . . ." He moaned, trying to stay on his feet. "Where are you . . .?" He gasped. It was all he could do to keep on his feet. His head was feeling light from the loss of blood and drained Chakura.
"Sensei!" Naruto padded out, silhouetted by the blazing light. He caught Kakashi by the shoulders he fell forward. "You're hurt too!" He noticed the open wound trailing down Kakashi's side.
"Help me get to Chitsume . . .," He breathed, not letting himself fade away. Naruto led him over the brush, where Chitsume lays, her neck glistening with red liquid. Hinata was sitting up, looking sick, but alert. Kakashi fell to his knees beside Chitsume, his hands going to her throat. He wiped some blood carefully away with his sleeve and examined it, feeling drowsy. It wasn't a deep cut, the man had acted to quickly to make it fatal, but she wasn't out of the woods yet.
"Give me the bottle." Kakashi held out his hand as Naruto fished it out of his pocket. Kakashi pulled the cork out with some difficulty and moved the mouth of the glass to Chitsume's lips. He used his other hand to part them and the tiny glowing light that was her soul drifted slowly into her open mouth. Her eyes snapped open after it had disappeared into her and her body moved in convulsions. Kakashi held her down to stop her from injuring herself.. She gasped unevenly, her toes and fingers moving weirdly. Then she relaxed and her eyelids dropped again, her chest rising and falling subtly.
Kakashi lost his remaining strength and fell beside her, looking at her weakly. She opened her eyes, looking like she was about to be sick.
"Uhh... My throat hurts." She put her hand over it. "Where am I?" She sat up slowly, and then spotted Kakashi. "Kakashi!" She yelled, dropping back to the floor. He picked up his left arm and waved at her. "KAKASHI!" She wailed, throwing her arms around him and wrenching him up. He groaned in pain as she gripped him tightly and wept into his chest.
"Owwww." He moaned, feeling happy and pained at the same time.
"Kakashi, I thought I'd never see you again! I thought you'd forgotten about me!" She wailed, hitting him softly with her fist.
"Not so violent, Chitsume . . ." He put his hand over hers, trying to makes her stop hitting him.
"Hey, you're bleeding!" She suddenly noticed. She looked at her hands. "And I am too!"
"Yes . . . We're in bad trouble . . ." He said. He looked over at Naruto. "You need to go back to Konoha and get help . . . I'm in no state to travel back. Take Hinata, if she thinks she can make it." Kakashi directed.
"But, Sensei!" Naruto stopped when he saw Kakashi's look. He looked over at little Hinata. "Will you be able to get there?" She blushed at being spoken to by him and gave an unmistakable nod, then rose to join him.
"Naruto, please, get there as fast as you can, there's not much time left . . ." Kakashi gasped. Naruto nodded critically and sped off into the night, Hinata doing the best she could to keep up.
Kakashi closed his eyes, the pain leaving his mind numb and unfocused. He could feel Chitsume's warmth beside him and took some comfort in the fact they were both alive.
"Gyuuu . . ." Chitsume squealed softly into the dark around her. Kakashi was losing consciousness, he could feel it. He dreamily extended his gloves hand, searching for Chistume. She caught it in hers and laid it back down.
"Are you all right?" She asked softly. Kakashi tried to say something but all he managed was a low moan. "Come on, you can't give up now . . . after we went through all of that." Kakashi opened his eyes weakly, making out the blurred form of Chitsume staring at him through the darkness. This pain was unbearable. He bit fiercely into his bottom lip involuntarily.
"It's all right Kakashi. Let me bandage you up . . ." She said, trying to sound like everything was all right. Kakashi was desperately trying to think of something to keep his mind focused. He just needed something to concentrate on . . . just concentrate. . . his head was feeling so light.
'I'm dying . . .' he thought with a mild note of panic. He furrowed his brow. 'So this is what dying is like . . .' The pain was slowly fading to a dull emotion. The world seemed to be getting more and more distant. Kakashi slowly slipped into the darkness, his mind letting go. He went back to the time, long, long a