Kakashi leapt through the thick forest trees at amazing speed considering that one slip would result in a high fall from the branches to the floor. His body, even as tired as it was from traveling at this pace for at lest three hours, still managed to press forward. His stubborn nature pushing himself to swiftly move through the dense leaves and branches with apparent ease, to the untrained eye.
"Do you even know where you're going?" Genma called up to his friend, as a gap formed between himself and Iruka to Kakashi. His breathing was heavy and labored from the pace he had to move just to keep up with the leader. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as he repeatedly had to whip them away when they stun his eyes.The sweet also had began to stain the back of his shirt and chest.
"West." He heard Kakashi short reply but could tell that he was in a similar boat. His breathing was heavy and Genma could sense how much charka he was using just to maintain this speed. But Kakashi had never been the one to give up or to attempt that he was indeed tired. Not when he had permanently burned the mission at hand in his head. Kakashi would always follow the rule of the shinobi, to complete the mission. But what worried him was the fact that this wasn't just an ordinary mission, this was Sakura we were talking about. His wife and mother of his child. His family. Genma was afraid of what he would do to have them returned safely, and at what cost. He had enough faith is his old friend to not do anything really stupid, but Koji was another matter.
"How you doing back there Iruka? Keeping up?" Genma called to the Chunnin that ran beside him, matching his pace perfectly. But he too was looking tired.
"Yea, but I didn't know you cared, Genma." Iruka smiled.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself, little man!" He laughed. Iruka shock his head with a sigh.
"Should we rest for a moment, rethink our plan of action?" Iruka replied.
"What plan?"Genma mumbled. The best thing they had to go on was get in and kill Koji, just how they were going to go about that was never mentioned.
"If you two what to rest it's alright, but I'm going on ahead." Kakashi replied. Genma silently wished that he would say that, just to give everyone a short rest, but there was no way that he was about to let Kakashi go on alone. No matter how tired he was, he was pressing forward.
"Nice try, but you're not getting rid of me that easily." He called forward. Kakashi blinked, then smiled softly to himself. ' Just like Genma ' He thought.
"And I can't let you two just run wild, can I?" Iruka called .Kakashi chuckled.
"No I don't suppose you can."
Sakura ignored the frequent knocks that came on the bathroom door.
"Please, Miss Sakura we need you to open the door." She heard one of the many nurses that Koji had called upon to monitor her labor, reply through the wood. When she had failed to come out of the bathroom they had began to think something was up. That was over three hours ago.
"Fuck off." Sakura grunted. Beads of sweat soaked her forehead and made her chest glisten in the light. She continued to proceed with her deep breathing as Tsunde had taught her. The contractions were coming closer together now so she had only about 5 minutes of rest in between.
"Miss Sakura we have to help you, you can't have this baby in a bathroom." Sakura's head rolled back to rest on the edge of the tub ion exhaustion.
"I'm not going to, I'm having this baby back home when Kakashi comes and kicks Koji's ass." She replied. Gasping in pain as another contraction hit her, her teeth clenched and her hand furiously clung to her pants in a fist. A small whimper escaped her mouth as she rested her head on her chest. 'Kakashi where are you? ' she thought.
Kakashi came to an abrupt stop on the tall tree branch, followed closely by Genma and Iruka who mimicked his action. Silence feel over the three except for the short labored breathing that escaped their lips as they desperately tried to slow their breaths, and the odd bird that sang its song waiting to be heard. The gentle breeze that came from the north finally arrived to bathe all the forest of Stone in a cool sea of air. The soothing feeling of the cold against warm calmed each Shinobi into the mellowness that could be felt on a normal day back in Konoha. On a day where there were no worries next to how to go about training in the hot summer weather.
Genma and Iruka kept silent, waiting for the next course of action to be taken that Kakashi would deliver .The breeze disrupting their hair but failing to make their eyes shift from the man that perched between them.
Kakashi could sense something, in the distance. Chakra, and lots of it, scattered randomly as to give the fact that this was no village he was sensing. The bodies weren't clustered as they would be in a normal village, but stationed directly in paresis places as if on guard. This was it, he had found them. He had found Koji. He had found Sakura. But getting in and out would be a problem Kakashi realized. Koji had recruted many different shinobi's from many countries. Forming himself a pretty little army, if he chose to view it like that. This could very easily become a huge threat to the neighboring countries. To Konoha.
"We walk from here." Kakashi whispered to the man that perched beside him. They nodded in understanding before Kakashi reached behind him and pulled a kunai from his pouch .He stood up and made his way towards the large tree truck and pierced the protective shell of the tree as he made his descent to the ground. This was the only way to travel now, as to not get caught by giving off any charka levels to the enemy.
When reaching the ground, Kakashi swiftly rolled to the side using the truck as a hiding place to disguise his body. He waited until both Iruka and Genma had too reached to floor before they began to move.
Genma's trained eyes searched the forest until he spotted two shinobi's resting on fallen tree logs. Turning back behind his respective hiding, he signals to Kakashi of the obstacle ahead. Kakashi nodded in understanding, and then shifted to signal to Iruka, the hid across from him, the plan of action he was to take.
Iruka withdrew his kunai's and rolled into the open from behind the tree, and with excellent aim, tossed the two weapons at each of the enemy shinobi. Not surprised to have each of them caught the attacks, but not giving them enough time to react. Iruka lunged forward and within a moment both men were on the ground. Then he swiftly regained cover behind a tree as to not be seen. Giving the all clear, Kakashi and Genma joined him up front.
They proceed to use this tactic to further advance into Stone boards. Successfully taking down any Shinobi that got in their way until Kakashi signaled to stop. Genma and Iruka did as he said without question, silently awaiting orders.
Kakashi reached behind him, carefully unsheathing his blade from where it was kept in one graceful motion. Genma gave him a questioning look that went completely unnoticed by the man whose concentration was focused elsewhere.But then unexpected, Kakashi rose up from where he hid behind the large, thick tree truck..to stand tall outside in the wide open. His eyes narrowed considerably as he looked upon the person that he had sensed moments before. . The man with the short white hair. The man who shared the gift of the sharigen as well. The man who had stole Sakura from him.But showed absolutly no fear.Only confidence.
"Koji." Kakashi hissed, resulting in a shocked expression from either jounin that were hiding behind him.
"It's about time you've showed up, Kakashi." Koji grinned. "I was beginning to think that you had grown smart and decided to stay away." Koji gripped then Katana that he held in his hand, as he looked upon the silver haired Jounin from where he stood a few feet away."I guess that it was to much of me to believe that you were capable of realizing when it is best not to come here."
"Where is Sakura.?" Kakashi snapped. Koji smiled.
"You're always right to the point aren't you?" Koji replied.
"Answer the question." Kakashi snapped without realization that the grip he had on the katana resulted in turning his knuckles white. He was in no mood to deal with this man right now, but he also knew very well that this matter wouldn't be solved unless a battle between them would take place.
"She is with me now ."Koji replied" Back where she belongs."
"I'll only tell you this once more, let Sakura go or I will kill you. I will not let this madness continue!" Kakashi cried, his voice loud and sharp.Holding no hesitation, no joking around.Kakashi meant what he had said.He was very willing to take Koji's life so that Sakura would be safe.
"I'LL KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO SAKURA AND RYO!" Koji screamed and, sword drawn, charged Kakashi, who was awaiting their contact.
The loud clash echoed through the forest as the two powerful blade collided with tremendous force. Each trying to somehow obtain the better strength on the other in a desperate battle of raw force. And as a result of this, the dirt beneath the two pairs of sandals were disturbed and ripped apart to for a hole in the ground surround the two engaged in this fight. The hands that each gripped the respective blade strained to continue this effort of pushing the enemy back, knuckles turning white and sweet forming but still neither of the two budged a bit. Each pair of eyes, one black and one red, glared daggers into the opposite ones as if this could somehow inflict damage.
"Is this all you got?" Koji asked through strained breathing and clenched teeth .Each of which were providing him with little strength but he used anyway.
Kakashi didn't respond, instead he transferred more of his charka to his feet and managed to push Koji back, his other hand pushing against the flat end of his Katana to provide steadiness.The muscles on his arms straining to continue this action, but failed to show any sign that he would give out.
Koji snarled, knowing that he was losing this battle of power and that he needed to regain his strategy. With one last strong push, he used the pressure to leap back out of the hole and to a safe distance, missing the swipe of Kakashi's sword in the process.Landing steady on his feet, his sword came into his fight stance, awaiting Kakashi's next move.
Kakashi held his sword before him as he moved from the hole as well to stand the same ground as Koji. They were alone now, no one else for miles. He had ordered that Genma and Iruka go on ahead while he fought Koji. Better to find Sakura while Koji was pre-occupied with other matters.
His footsteps were silent and careful. Never once taking his eyes of the enemy, as he proceed to move around, circling him, as a lion would do it's prey. Predicting the movements, predicting the actions he should take to become victorious. He exhaled in deep breathing to regain his concentration after a battle of raw power, even if it was he that won.
Koji followed Kakashi's movements and too began encircling the enemy. Suddenly lunging towards him, his sword moved to pierce Kakashi's flesh head on, but misses as the target swiftly moved to the side and knocked the blade away from any attempt to make contact. Koji swung his body around to place some power behind his attack. Kakashi's sword blocked but in the process his wrist was twisted by the strength of the attack and his only option was to leap back to a safe distance. Cracking his wrist made the ache feel better so he once again tried an attack. Vanishing into a puff of smoke, Kakashi used his incredible speed to move undetected around behind Koji .And re-materializing before him, swung the blade at Koji's body, giving only mere seconds for Koji to somehow dodge and roll to safety.
Mentally cursing Kakashi's speed and the level in which he was able to move. Knowing that he was never overly skilled in speed, why would he be? After all he always relied on the sharigen to win battles. But now, going up against another sharigen user, he wished that he had spent more time on movement instead of the eye. But that was no help to him now. He needed to find a weakness, a flaw to Kakashi's movements. Something which he could use against him. But what?
Kakashi's sword once again seemed to come out of no where, and Koji was barely able to block, and then dodge a foot attack by leaping in the air. Koji's foot struck Kakashi's forearm but failed to cause any such damage he had hoped it would. And just as Koji touched down on the ground he was impaled to the stomach with Kakashi's well aimed kick, sending his body flying back, rolling painfully in the dirt until he finally came to a stop face first on the ground. Grunting he quickly pushed himself to his feet, but felt the tip of cold steel against his neck. His eyes went wide in fear and his breathing became labored when his heart began to beat rapidly. Shifting his eyes until he saw the outline of Kakashi standing behind him, his sword touching the back of his neck.
'Damn it!' Koji cursed.' How can he be so fast! I never even saw him move!'
"Game over." Kakashi's calm voice irritated Koji immensely. But the last thing he expected Koji would react was to chuckle.
"Is it?" Kakashi was suddenly punched in the side of his head and as a result was knocked away from the definite kill he was about to complete. Landing on his side in the dirt, he winced as the pebbles dug into his skin on his arm and the pain shot threw his face. Looking up he saw a stranger standing beside Koji, as his enemy stood up again, that smug smile pastered on his face once more.Even if it had been under false terms, he had won that battle, managing to avoid death again.
"Nice job Hitaki." He replied as his hand ran through his tangled white hair.
"Thank you sir." He grinned watching as Kakashi pushed himself from the floor and picked up the stray Katana that had fallen from his grasp.
"Funny, I didn't know you had friends." Kakashi retorted as he glared at the new opponent.
"You didn't think that it would be that easy, didn't you?" Koji smirked.
Kakashi exhaled as he whipped the blood that dripped from the cut on his lip with the back of his hand. His face stung as he mentally slapped himself for allowing such a cheap attack to catch him off guard.The thought of finally having this whole mess over and done with must had made him get way ahead of himself.Kakashi had somewhat thought that Kaoji would do something like this to win at all costs.
"Actually, I kinda did."Kakashi replied.
Kakashi bent back to an extreme level to permit the Koji's blade to sweep clean over his chest, missing the contact that the enemy desired. Then without a moment to spare twist his body to push himself into a summersault to dodge the kick aimed for his head. He kept up this action repeatedly dodging the blade threatening to cut his flesh. Finally, when he felt his body becoming weak after this maneuver went on for a moment, he leap up into the tree branches above to take some sort of cover.
"Damnit." Kakashi cursed through labored breaths as they escaped his exasperated chest that rose up and down rapidly. He could very easily handle Koji alone, but two shinobi's of this skill was proving to be difficult. He knew that he couldn't keep up at this pace for much longer, this was not strategy Koji was using but full out attack. So there must be a flaw that Kakashi hasn't seen yet. He swiftly re-sheathed the Katana which proved to be must more difficult to weld and ended up just getting in the way most of the time. Besides he was much more skilled at Tai-jutus and copying then the katana.
Koji leapt up into the trees after Kakashi, not willing to give him any time to regroup and think up a plan. But once he landed on the same branch he was shocked to see four Kakashi's. Each exactly the same in appearance, but he knew that they were clones to hide the original.
'Clever, Kakashi' Koji smirked. Kakashi had leapt into the cover of the trees so that the sharigen couldn't pick up any jutus he was performing.' But not good enough.' Koji lunged forward towards the four Kakashi's that were each welding a kunai and in ready position. Aiming at each body, he successfully cut through each one, but as each clone burst into smoke Koji realized something. Shouldn't one be the original?
Hitake looked into to thick trees above, awaiting for Koji to flush Kakashi out. But suddenly he felt a strong hand grab his ankle, gasping in terror until the hand dragged him down deep into the ground of solid rock.
Koji leapt from the high branch until he landed effortlessly on the dirt ground. With the Katana drawn in front of him, his skilled eyes roamed the forest scenery, searching for Hitake, who he had left to stand guard while Koji had gone after Kakashi. But found no trace of his follower.
"He's dead." Koji spun around to see Kakashi standing beside the tree just next to him. Calmly, as if there was no longer any threat to his mission, that he had won. Koji snarled.
"And you killed him?" Koji hissed. Kakashi crossed him arms over his chest.
"That I did." Kakashi replied. He was lying. Hitake wasn't dead. Not quite. He had just been knocked out, and won't regain consciousness for a while. But Kakashi was sure that if Koji though he was that he would be angry. And anger leads to mistakes.
"You BASTARD!" Kakashi sighed inwardly of relief. His plan was working. He dodged the blade that swung for his head, and skillfully in the blink of and eye had thrusted his palm into Koji's nose, snapping the cartilage. Koji stumbled back as blood began to gush from his nose and drip down over his lips.
"Damn you! I hate you!" Koji screamed and charged, swinging the blade at Kakashi's chest, but yet again missed when Kakashi stepped back and to the side to once again strike Koji this time in the jaw. Koji grunted and fell to the side, his arms digging deep into the sharp rocks below.They embeded themselves into his flesh just as they had Kakashi.But unlike his enemy, Koji struggled to his feet, breathing through clenched theeth as the constant stinging that ran ran through his now blood soaked arm.But still refuseing to give in, Koji once more charged Kakashi, lunging into the air to bring the vlade down over Kakashis head.The man held up the kunai in his hands and deflected Koji over his shoulder.Koji quickly regained his footing and lunged head on, only to get an elbow to the back of the neck.Koji's mouth spit blood from his chapped lips as his eyes went momentirly blank.
Kakashi watched as the white haired man feel face first into the dirt at his feet. Seeing the blood from his broken nose flow freely down to melt into the stone below his face.His breathing was struggled and forced, as his mind returned and he gasped in air.Caughing at the dust that was inhaled too.
"You had a chance to surrender." Kakashi whispered, watching oji patheticly try to push himself up, only to have Kakashi's foot push him back into the dirt."You insulted my child which you haven't even meant.You kidnapped my wife in an attempt to make her your own. You killed my comrades, my friends..."
"Please..."Koji gasped through the huge gulps of air."Please don't kill me..."Kakashi frowned down at the man.
"You're begging me? I atleast thought you some dignaty."Kakashi retorted.
"FUCK YOU KAKASHI!" Koji screamed."You know nothing of me! I'm ten times the man you'll ever be! You who kill on behalf on another! Orders, that is all you're good for is to follow them!Do you even have a mind, a will of your own!"Koji screamed.Kakashi was quiet for a moment.
"I what I must for the good of my home."He replied."That includes stopping anyone which threatens it."
"BULLSHIT!"Koji snapped."You kill because you're a monster!Because you're a mindless machine programmed to follow any and every order which is given to you!No matter who it is that you'll distroy in the process, what brothers you may kill because in was following orders!"Kakashi was slightly taken aback as he noticed Koji's voice crack as hot tears poured down his face from his shut eyes.
"I don't need to explain myself to man that kills for fun."Kakashi's foot stomped harder to Kji's back, causing a small grunt to be heard.
"It is the only thing that quiets the voice of my dead brother."Koji hissed."The brother that was ripped from my life by YOUR hands!"Kakashi gaze wavered slightly at the statement.
"What are you talking about?"Kakashi asked, hearing Koji fake chuckle.
"Ryo..."Koji whispered."Do you remember him?"Kakashi was silent."You should.He's the one that should forever haunt your dreams above anyone else.Because my brother didn't deserve to die.Certainly not by a Fuck like you."Koji's head turned slightly to shot a glare up at Kakashi who watched him."He was a great person, never once did he wish do become involve in a shinobi life.But you didn't care did you? He was in you're way of completing the mission and you killed him."
Kakashi turned his gaze away, finding Koji's depressed eyes suddenly unbareable to look into.He had taken Koji's brother.Killed him, for the good of a mission which was just any other one.There were so many missions, so many people killed on his behalf that it stung his heart to not remember each one.
"So you ask why is it that I kill for fun, It's because that's the way you made me."Kakashi's gaze shot back into Koji's noticing that the had never left his direction."Everying I am is from that night which Ryo was taken from me.So look down at me now Hatake Kakashi...Look down into the eyes of the person you crafted and try to justify the actions you've taken for the good of Konoha, for the good of you're friends...For the good of Sakura.You can't can you?"Koji laughed."It's because you really are nothing but a tool."
"Shut up."Kakashi whispered."Don't think that I'll take pity on you.."
"Keep your pity, Hatake.For you are the one that needs it more then...I."Koji's words drifted off as his eyes shut into a deep sleep there on the stone ground below Kakashi, as his heart beat rapidely.He did feel sorry for this boy, that it was he who killed his blood, his brother.But whatever he did in his past, was for the best intentions of Leaf.And his mission now was to find Sakura and get her home.
So with that he took one last look at the body before him and disapeared to a puff of smoke.
See I told you It would be longer this time! Tee Hee!
P.S This message goes out to Tenshi213...Man Fuck you son! Mediore.? Lick my ass crack! Write some you're own shit before you review shit! Okay?Okay.
Well now that that's over, Thank to everyone who likes my story! Love ya all!