Chapter 24

It was a bit frustrating. Kakashi had decided since I am of no real use tracking them that I needed to stay behind. So I can back Sai up in case someone attacks while Sakura is looking after Hinata. I had told him I was ready to go but for some reason, he chose otherwise. For most of this mission, Kakashi has been acting strangely but until now, it hadn't affected his decisions. Why keep me back? I'm the only one literally made to fight that woman. Frowning I set up from having laid back on the rock to look at the others before looking up towards a particular tree.

Someone cloaked in a greyish blue was standing on a branch watching us. I could see the gleam of sunlight on circular rimmed glasses and feel his smirk as he stares down at me. Kabuto raises a hand and adjusts his glasses before disappearing from the tree. Recon, or was he trying to let me know he was here? "Take it easy, Hinata. You still need to recover." Sakura informs Hinata as she tries to get up again.

I haven't been forced to stay behind since I was still in the beginning stages of my training. Itachi and Kisame would tend to leave me at camp to complete their missions. Itachi had said it was because I needed to train. Kisame however blatantly informed me I was weak and would get killed. If I didn't let it bother me back then, I shouldn't let it bother me now. Raising my knees and placing my feet in front of me on the rock I withdraw my book and pen from my pouch and set the book on my thighs.

Opening it I found my eyes widening at actually seeing messages from Itachi.

-I miss you.-

-took down two marks today, are you well?-

-Hidan says he ran into you, Leader pulled rank to keep him from killing you.-

-Hidan and Kakuzu never reported back, are you alright?-

-Leader says the zombie team is dead. Did you do it?-

-Please, tell me you are safe.-

-Kira-

Tilting my head I turn the page and write his name a single time. What should I tell him? Tell him no I wasn't a part of killing Kakuzu and Hidan? Tell him that the Hokage is planning on killing Danzo and clearing his name? Tell him that I am on a mission tracking down Orochimaru's goons in order to find out the location of his latest hideout? Anything I tell him like that would only make him worry. So I decided to apologize and tell him I am on a mission with Naruto and the others. That so far it has been uneventful and that Naruto is annoying me with how loud he is.

I nearly smile when I tell him that being around the leaf ninja is surreal but it was nothing compared to him and Fishface. I finally told him how I miss both of them and to be careful before closing my book and slipping it back into my pouch. Sighing, my mood sobered with that last sentence. I found myself curling my fingers into fists against my thighs. In the end, I couldn't really tell him anything to help alleviate his worry.

"I can stand now, thank you." Hinata's voice meets my ears pulling me out of my thoughts. Looking over at her I see her up on her two feet with Sakura next to her. Sai walks over from his lookout perch with a smile. "We can go now, I'm fine." Hinata smiles at the two of them and I begin to wonder if they even care that I'm still here? Even earlier everyone had taken off when Naruto grabbed Hinata. I was left behind. No one jumped in to help when they would have with anyone else.

Shaking my head to free myself of those thoughts I get up and walk over to them. "If you are feeling up to it, we should go meet up with everyone else." I speak up and nearly cringe at how emotionless my voice was. Since I got to the village I've taken up the perfect role to gain everyone's trust. This persona has only faltered once. Until now. Sakura frowns as Sai looks in my direction. Hinata's smile wavers a moment before she nods.

"Yes, let's go." She speaks with determination and I nod.

"But, Hinata." Sakura begins making Hinata shake her head.

"I really am fine."

"Well, if you say so." Sakura gives in skeptically before looking at me and giving me a nod. With a look at Sai, he smiles in answer. Jumping into the trees I lead them away from where we had been. Making sure my movements remain slow enough for Hinata who still isn't at a hundred percent can keep up.

"Knowing Kakashi, he left us a trail to follow." I call back to the ones following me. "Keep your eyes open for clues."

"Right." They say in unison making my skin crawl. It's almost like I became the unofficial leader of this little troop. Shaking my head I push my energy around us, to feel more than just the four of us. Extending my energy further yet down the mountain I nearly smile feeling a group of the others in one area.

Without a word, I adjust my direction while keeping an eye on our surroundings. I can feel the others follow me without complaint and for some reason, it was really getting on my nerves. "How are you holding up, Hinata? Do we need to slow down?"

"I. I'm fine." She stutters making me look back at her. Other than slight fatigue she seems fine, however, I slow my pace more so she wasn't pushing herself quite so hard. By doing this Sakura smiles and Hinata's eyes widen, almost as if she herself was shocked that I had noticed. Looking back ahead of me I made a mental note to pay more attention to her so I wouldn't end up pushing her too far.

"Kira, what's the plan?" Sakura asks as she continues to keep close to Hinata when we draw closer to the other teams. Hmm. A smokescreen. Stopping on a branch just above the outer lying valley I take in the fog covering most of what is below us. Reaching out I point towards the yellow smoke.

"Sai, take Hinata down there so she can use her Byakugan for a better look from above. Sakura go with them. I'll follow on foot." I inform them then drop my hand back to my side.

"I'm on it." Sai says as I feel him pull out his scroll, drawing on it at a super-fast rate with his paintbrush before he holds his hand up in a sign. "Super beast scroll." He says just before there was a puff of smoke. Leaving behind something that would remind me of an overly large white and black hawk. I feel him jump onto it moments before Hinata and Sakura follow. I knew Sakura wouldn't question why I refuse to get on that thing. Smiling to myself I push forward as they take to the air. Finally able to move as fast as I can without being held back by teammates.

Coming to a stop my skin begins to crawl. As I look out over the lake for a chance to see where that power is coming from my eyes widen. A huge tsunami was heading right for the valley. As it draws closer the ground begins to shake. Moving my gaze back to where everyone is I bite my bottom lip. "There's no time." They need to get out of there. I need to get out of here. With a growl, I leap into the yellow smoke cursing myself for my soft weakness.

"Huh?" I could hear Kakashi question as they draw closer together. "Kakashi. Get out of here!" I yell at him just before grabbing his sleeve and pulling. "Why? What's wrong, Kira?" He questions confused as the others give breathy sounds of question of their own. "A tsunami, coming from the lake. hurry." I tell him.

"Right. You heard her." Kakashi says before leaping into the trees towards the mountain. The others follow him as I hang back to make sure everyone heard. Turning my attention towards the trees behind me I tilt my head. Somehow the water itself feels like a huge mass of energy. My brows furrow at this before I leap into the trees but I lingered just a moment too long. The tsunami began crashing into the trees breaking them off from their bases. "Oh, shit..." I mutter as the tree I'm in is uprooted.

"Oh, my aching head." I grumble as I set up, and look around. There were trees down but it seems the water has subsided. A dense fog has rolled in making it practically impossible to see much of anything. As I go to get up a sharp pain roars through me and one of my legs wouldn't budge. Reaching out in front of me I set my hand on some rough bark. "This tree is going to have to go." I mutter. I can feel my body healing but the damage the tree is continuously causing is severe.

With a growl, I push on the tree but it won't seem to budge. "I can't get, the leverage." I mutter to myself grunting from the exertion and pain. I could splinter the tree with a single punch but that would send debris everywhere and possibly cause worse damage to myself. The force of the impact alone this close to my leg wouldn't be good either. Rubbing my head I close my eyes and reach out with my energy. "If I got caught up in this, I wonder if anyone else did." The energy in this fog makes it difficult to discern where anyone else is. Though I could have sworn I felt movement. I should at least count myself lucky this thing isn't on my torso, that would be hell.

"Well, I could wait for help, that most likely will never actually come. Or I can figure out a way out of this mess." I mumble looking around for a log or something I could use to leverage this thing off me. Spotting a plank from what looked like a dock of some kind just a bit behind me I extend my body to try and reach it. Painfully trying to pull myself closer in order to bring it within reach. A twig snapping catches my attention making me frown. Setting back up I try to use the tree to block the view of me as I stare into the mist. Two lone figures move causing me to squint my eyes in order to try and discern their shapes. "Kakashi?" I ask aloud causing one of the figures to stop.

My heart begins to hammer in my chest as I watch the figures closely. What if it's the enemy? It's not like I can fight back. I'm a sitting duck. "Kira?" His gentle voice reaches me making me actually smile as a wave of relief washes over me.

"Kakashi, over here." I call out louder watching the two figures pinpoint the direction my voice was coming from. "Kinda got stuck." I try to giggle if only to keep talking to help them out. As they come closer their figures become more discernible. Kakashi jumps over the tree and lands next to me placing a hand on my back. His gentle gaze moves over my form to the tree itself.

"Yamato." He says before the other comes into clear view nearly causing me to shiver. His creepy face so not what I needed to see right now with my nerves on edge.

"Right." He answers raising his hands in a sign before the ground begins to move. Wood seems to wrap around the tree before gently easing off my leg bringing a wave of newfound pain. Causing me to whimper and bite my lip as a tear rolls down my cheek. This belated pain... It comes from the nerves having been pinched and cut off from the weight of the tree. I know this. It's still painful as hell though. Kakashi's hand slips under my knees as his arm slides around my back. "Wha?" I go to question before he lifts me off the ground, cradling me in his arms.

"It's not like you can walk right now." Kakashi speaks gently and I roll my eyes before puffing my cheeks out up at him, causing him to laugh lightly.

"I know. Doesn't mean I have to like it." I pout but lean my head against his chest and closing my eyes a moment. Unlike Itachi's musky pine scent, Kakashi's was more primal. As if he himself had no lingering human scent but that of an animal. It's difficult to put my finger on, but it did make me wonder if he had some latent kin gene running through his veins that helps him to be as powerful as he is.

What am I thinking? That's insane. I raise my head and sigh at my own thoughts. It's just wistful thinking. This man... is human. Maybe it's my shattered leg messing with my brain. "We should regroup with the others." Yamato says before I feel Kakashi nod.

"Right, let's go." He speaks quietly causing me to tilt my head. Curious as to what may be going through his mind right now. He leaps into the trees with me still in his arms as if I weigh nothing. Absentmindedly I find myself grabbing onto his vest and burying my face against him. It's one thing to be this high on my own two feet or clinging onto someone else's back. A completely different story to be trusting the one holding me not to randomly drop me. Putting me in a position I've never been in before. His chuckles begin to vibrate his chest and echo in my ears. "Still have that fear huh." This makes Yamato glance back at us curiously as I reach up and flick Kakashi's jaw. Looking up at him I puff out my cheeks.

"That's supposed to be a secret, remember." This only made Kakashi laugh more causing even his arms to vibrate around me. I roll my eyes and lay my head back against his chest. Jerk.

"I knew as much when we saw Sai, Sakura, and Hinata jump down from one of Sai's summonings." I bit my lip wanting to jab my finger into this man's ribs for even mentioning it. But, he is right and I can't dispute it. I couldn't bring myself to ride on that bird thing.

"I could move fast enough on the ground thank you very much." I tell him making him smile. Smiling in turn I close my eyes taking in his warmth from the chill of my still soaked clothes. "Just don't drop me alright." I mutter low enough only he can hear me, allowing him to hear the tone of how vulnerable I feel at the moment.