Whole Again
By Ria Cola and ShinobiWolf
Ria Cola: You have some weird favorite characters…
ShinobiWolf: Not as weird as Shino rapping.
Chapter Two: We Interrupt This Meeting…
Time is supposed to heal the heart, but Kakashi found its effects rather lacking. More than twelve years had passed and that same dream dwelt in his mind.
He was filled with questions. Where had Tenchiko been, all these years? Did they have a son, or a daughter? Twins? Had they followed in their father's footsteps and become a ninja, or were they gifted in the medical field as their mother had been? Were his lover and his child warm, clothed, and fed? Kakashi wanted answers, but they would not just come to him as he idly sat by. He vowed to find them and have them as his family, as it should have been from the beginning. At times he wondered what his child thought of him, but with Tenchiko as the mother he was not worried. Tomorrow, on his day off from both his duties as a jounin and as Cell 7's teacher, he would visit nearby towns and ask if anyone has heard of a damsel named Tenchiko and a child. He, or she perhaps, would be the same age as his own students by now…
Still sitting on that same tree branch, Kakashi leaned forward and replaced his book back in a pocket on his vest. To distract himself from wallowing in self-pity, he resumed watching his students as they began to slow down. The sky was just beginning to turn a warm shade of orange; they would need to go home and have dinner soon.
For a moment after he first passed them to become his students, he had his doubts. The life of a ninja was all business, and no emotions or petty feelings could get in the way, especially when your orders are to take a life. His students had already experienced so much… Zabuza and Haku, Sasuke's rogue brother gracing them with his unpleasant appearance, Orochimaru… And worst of all, they had almost lost Sasuke to that vile snake. Kakashi hoped that his students would be saved from any more such horrors until they were much older. Sasuke had experienced things that no boy, or man for that matter should ever see. Naruto, alone as he was, had not the chance to become bonded to his family before they were taken from him, slain in front of his eyes…
Numberless times his students had proved to him what they could do. Even Sakura… Kakashi heard of her valiant determination in the Forest of Death, how she had fought tooth and nail (quite literally) to protect her fallen comrades. She was an honorable ninja, but was not suited for the emotional challenge of being at a higher rank. Sakura reminded him of Tenchiko. She would not have the heart to kill a living, breathing target…
Kakashi stepped from the tree branch and landed in front of Naruto, startling him for the usual effect.
"Dammit! I really hate it when you do that!"
"That's enough for a while. Same time, same place, three days." And with that he was gone.
"Have I ever mentioned how much he creeps me out?" Naruto complained.
"Quite often." Sasuke remarked, hands in pockets as he slinked quietly away.
"Hey, Naruto… Have you noticed how detached Kakashi-sensei's been lately?"
"Hm? Notice what?"
Sakura gave him a light knock on the head, leaving him to wonder what on earth he did wrong. …But… She really could sense something different about their teacher…
xxxxx
After Kakashi had left his students to themselves, he walked to the Hokage's office. Tsunade herself, elders, and other teachers were doing as his students often did when they met. Waiting.
"Really now Kakashi, you should start acting your age and be on time for once." Kurenai scolded him.
"Can you even imagine me being on time?"
Kurenai thought hard about that…
"Alright everyone, let's get down to business." Tsunade massaged her forehead, immediately regretting how much sake she had to drink with her breakfast. "We all know that the country of Light lies just past our borders. Normally I wouldn't be concerned with it, after all, it is a neutral country. But I've received word that its main village of Kouseki Hikari has been burned to the ground, and I'm hoping that catastrophe won't be spreading to our own country of Fire."
The jounins present in the room were listening very intently as Tsunade continued.
"I will be sending a few of you to investigate the cause of the blaze, and hopefully keep the same from happening here. And, despite the Country of Light's neutrality, it is our duty as a border country to shelter any possible survivors. I am hoping that this was only an accident…"
"Do they have any enemies?" Kurenai suggested.
"None that are on our records. As a neutral country, it never took any sides. Kouseki Hikari was full of ninjas, but their missions never went beyond their own borders."
"Well, that narrows down the suspects. Of course, there weren't any to begin with…" Kakashi stated.
SLAM
Everyone jumped when the doors to Tsunade's office slammed open. Two girls around Naruto's age weakly stepped in. One was helping the other walk, but neither was in the best of shape. They were both covered from head to toe in burns, bruises, and cuts; the weaker girl, clinging to her friend's shoulder as if her life depended on it, had a large gash in her stomach and was bleeding from somewhere on her head, making her white-silver hair streaked with crimson. They were covered in dirt and were adorned with ninja forehead protectors. Ones with the symbol of Kouseki Hikari on the metal plate…
Kurenai and Gai ran to support the young strangers. They reeked of smoke.
"H-help us…" The more aware, dark-haired girl managed to speak softly. Even whispering took most of the strength that she had left. "Kiji… she's bled too much…" The dark-haired girl finally collapsed as well.
Kurenai picked up one of the girls, and Gai the other. "I'm afraid we'll have to continue this meeting later Miss Tsunade, these girls need immediate medical attention."
It didn't take Tsunade's medical expertise to tell her that. She immediately waved them off, then followed after, beckoning Kakashi and Asuma to come as well. Those wounds were caused by ninja weapons; there has been some serious foul play here…
Well there you are, next chapter will revel who These girls really are.