Chapter 3: Ishida Appears
The team of shinobi moved through the trees with speed and grace. Kakashi was restraining himself from taking off and leaving the two genin to catch up. Leaves and branches swayed as the ninjas passed by.
The trees seemed to get more and more covered in moss as the threesome moved. Deeper into the woods the air seemed to get thicker as well. Sweat ran down Naruto's face. He looked over to see Sakura's hair matted down. It had been a full ten minutes since their feet had passed through the gate of Konoha. Naruto and Sakura were growing a bit weary. Normally they would be able to run for maybe several hours, but the heat and humidity slowed them greatly. Naruto complained about this out loud.
"Ahhh, I need a break Kakashi-sensei!" Kakashi mearly glanced over his shoulder and replied. "We're almost there. You can hold on till then." 'He's pushing us more than usual. What's so important that it provoked Kakashi-sensei to this point of coldness?' Sakura thought looking at her sensei, then to what was appearing in front of them.
At first it was hard to make out. This part of the woods was dimmer as well. But soon a rough box shape appeared between the branches of a large oak. Several holes had been punched out through the walls and floor. Small blocks of wood created a ladder to the box. Big enough for young kids. A treehouse!
Sakura pondered on this, but nearly ran into Kakashi when he suddenly stopped at the foot of the tree. She gathered the nerve to ask, "Kakashi-sensei, why did we come here?"
This time he did not turn around, but instead peered through one of the holes of the treehouse.
"C'mon Ishida, your not really afraid of spiders, are you?"
Ishida crossed his arms and stuck out his lip, "Of course not!" Kakashi smiled.
"Good, cause there's one on your back!" Immediately Ishida jumped into the air and began to swat his back. His feet did a little dance and his arms waved in the air to the beat.
"Get it off! Get it Off!" Meanwhile Kakashi was laying on his side cracking up. Ishida stopped jumping around and looked at him. Kakashi setteled down long enough to get a look at a pink tongue sticking out at him. "I was just pretendin!"
"Sure you were," Kakashi stood up and poked Ishida in the arm, "Tag!" Next thing Ishida knew, Kakashi's feet were out the window.
Kakashi's hand reached up to one of the wooden blocks in the tree. slowly he raised himself up and through the floor. "Come on Naruto, Sakura stay on your toes and be look out. Don't let your guard down for one second." Sakura nodded and jumped into the branches. Naruto hefted himself up so he was sitting next to Kakashi.
He looked around the torn up place. It was dark and in shambles. A small wall seperated the house into two. Vines and branches broke through the roof and walls. Spider webs provided decoration in every corner. In a corner underneath what seemed to be a window, was a worn and torn bamboo matress. On the other side of the wall was a clay pit. Ashes and a steel pot lay there. Obviously that had been the kitchen. Then in a corner of the house was a hole in the floor that had deliberately been cut out. Naruto snickered at the thought of having to use that as a toilet.
Kakashi's footsteps echoed in the steps he had taken when he was only a young boy. "Naruto, look for some notebooks. I doubt they'll be in good condition." Kakashi leaned around the wall and started shifting through several horribley made drawers. Naruto still sat in the opening, his eyes wandering the old place. He felt comfortable and happy. Yet something sad seemed to eminate from within this places memories.
That's when he noticed something sticking from under the matress. The floor boards creeked as he took several steps towards it. He lifted up the matress slowly. Underneath was disgusting and almost frightning. Dried blood cased the floor and matress. In the blood bugs swarmed around. Many he had not seen before. A large black spider crawled with its eight long legs. Stopping upon a small rectangle underneath the blood.
Naruto saw a spiral and some worn cover. A notebook! But he was reluctant to touch the spider. The dry blood whould be easly wiped away, but the spider. It was large and hairy. It's legs seemed to reach out to Naruto and call him. 'Come here so that I may bite you! Feel my legs tickle up your arm and shoulder until they reach your ear.' But it was still just a spider, wasn't it? Naruto swalled and closed his eyes. His hand lashed out and brushed against something small and fuzzy. Then...
"Ouch!" Naruto pulled back his hand. The spider was off but it had bitten him. Kakashi heard him and grew worried. His head quickly popped around the corner and he was by Naruto's side.
"What's the matter?" a panic in his eyes.
"Nothing, just a spider bite."
Kakashi noticed the black blur crawl away. Then his gaze turned towards the matress. 'That blood!' His head swirled and he felt blood fade from his face. Lucky he had the mask or else Naruto might have gotten worried. Kakashi couldn't help himself from falling to his knees though.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto grabbed the jounin's shoulder and held onto him. "Are you alright?" No answer, "Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto heart raced and his voice filled with fear.
Kakashi came to his senses, "I'm alright Naruto. There's no need to worry." But that wasn't enough for the blonde. Yet he didn't want to get him angry, incase he was still in the cold mood like earlier.
His fingers reached out to the notebook and stopped. He couldn't do it. "Naruto, get the book. Use a cloth, that blood is dangerous." Naruto didn't understand, but he did as he was told.
The dried blood stuck to the cloth easily and soon the notebook was cleared off. Naruto and Kakashi stood up. In the dim light, Naruto gentley flipped open the book's cover. Inside were faded pages little stains of blood here and there. The ink was still legiable. The handwriting was beautiful. Each stroke was a masterpiece. But the words were different then Naruto had seen before.
The read weird stuff like, "THEA" "EPLEOP" and one was written in read, "URDMER" Naruto flipped through all the other pages. Still words with no meaning. Something about the book fascinated Naruto though. His eyes widened as he flipped through the book. Each page holding a secret. Each page holding a part of the past. Naruto was in the middle of reading a mixed up word that was larger than the rest, when Kakashi snapped the book close.
"You'll have to time to look at it later. Right now, we need this. Ishida wrote this. I'm probably the only one who can figure out what he was trying to say. Tell Sakura we found what we want and will be leaving soon." Naruto walked over to the hole and leaned out.
Kakashi just stared at the closed book. He heard Naruto in the background. "Sakura-chan! We found th-"
'Naruto?' He spun around to see the spot where Naruto had been standing vacant. He went to the hole to see if he fell. No. The ground below was clear. "Naruto, Sakura." No answer. "Naruto! Sakura!" He kept his voice calm, not wanting to alarm them. If they were listening. 'Somethings wrong!' the thought repeated itself over and over in his head. When he hit the ground below he found himself alone.
Where had they gone. They wouldn't just leave him there. 'Wait, maybe... Oh no!' "Ishida! Where are you?" It was silent. Nothing stirred in the woods. It was as if the trees themselves were quivering in fear and afraid to move. Then a voice he never wanted to hear again came from deep in the woods.
"Ha, ha, ha! I laugh at you!" Ishida had Kakashi pinned to the ground with one foot. The silver headed boy would take none of this. Before Ishida knew what was going on, Kakashi had grabbed his foot and flipped him over.
The red hair went nicely with the autum leaves on the ground. "Think again! Now who has who?" Kakashi pressed his elbow in Ishida's chest. Ishida just laughed and replied, "Really, your english is terrible."
A calm laugh that could freeze any man with fear, eminated from all around him. Kakashi pulled out a kunai. He wasn't ready to face Ishida. Not yet. Crows fluttered from a spot in the trees. They circled above, cawing and mocking the silver haired jounin.
Then a figure came into view. Closer it came until a clear picture was formed. A man about the age of Kakashi, maybe younger, stood there. His hair as red as fire, and tied back. He wore a pair of baggy tan pants. Pockets scattered here and there. There was a black t-shirt with torn sleeves and a low collar. In several parts you could make out a netted shirt underneath the t-shirt. On his back rested a cylinder, its strap across his chest.
His hand pulled on the hair of two young genin. Naruto and Sakura were knocked out. Ishida's hand moved and he tossed them onto the ground. "Just as expected of you. Weak." Kakashi gripped tighter on his kunai, taking in Ishida's words adn grinding them away. "It's been a while, lil wolf," the red head broke out laughing at his joke. It had been his nickname for Kakashi.
Kakashi stood in a defensive stance at first, then he thought about Ishida and stood up straight. "Don't you remeber, I've always been better than you. To think after all these years without my help and your still breathing." Kakashi cocked his head to the side, a smile underneath his mask. Ishida grinded his teeth and a scowl crossed his face.
"Nice to see you too," his voice was calm again. Then Ishida's gaze went from Kakashi to the notebook in his hand. Kakashi saw this but didn't move. All he did was tighten his grip on the book. 'You're not getting this one,' Kakashi thought.
Ishida seemed to read his thoughts. "Ha, ha, you think I want that BOOK!" a smile came upon his face as he began to laugh. But Kakashi could tell when he was faking.
"Knock it off Ishida! This isn't a joke," his voice cold and threating. Then his thoughts turned to Naruto and Sakura. What he could tell, they were still breathing. Not a scratch was visible, but... he had to get them away from Ishida.
The two of them stood there staring at each other. The tension was growning. Murderous intent filled the air. Both of them wanted to kill the other, and then again they wanted to saw so much that couldn't come out. Ishida finally offered a trade.
"You can't reach your students in time for me not to strike one of them, and yet you can't just leave that book. Well, I ask you now, what do you need the most. These pitiful examples of shinobi, or that book?" his eyebrows raised. He needed that book. He needed before his plans were ruined. Ruined by the very person he was doing this all for.
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed, then went soft again. He didn't hesitate in his descision.
Ishida smiled as a cloud of dust rose from the fallen book at his feet. He picked it up and jumped back. When he did this, Kakashi ran to Naruto and Sakura. A weight seemed to lift off his shoulders as he saw them breathing. Naruto's eyes shot open. He sat up his breathing heavy. That's when he saw Ishida. But only a glance as he disappeared into the woods. A note book underneath his arm.
Xx--xxx--xX
"Stop it! I can't take your bickering any more! Just leave him alone. He'll tell in time." Naruto let out a snort of disagreement at Tsunde. She just rolled her eyes and got back to the paperwork on her desk. Naruto wasn't going. She let out a sigh and stared up at him. "Kakashi and Ishida, go way back... just wait."
Naruto had never seen her be so patient with him. He smiled behind a feeling of disappointment. Then he turned and went to the door, his hand gripping the knob. Quietly he said, "I'll wait." Then the door shut and silence shadowed the room.
xxx
The wind blew against his face. His unruly silver hair blowing into the wind. All that had happened had brought so many memories. Then actually seeing his face filled his heart with dispare. 'After all these years, now I can't even speak with him.' Thoughts and memories swirled through his head. Kakashi thought he was going to go mad if he didn't organize his thoughts.
But how could he fight an old friend? How could he confront Ishida? Now wasn't the time to think about. He and his team had work to do. Ishida hid something in those books. But the notebook was the key. Naruto! He had looked inside the book! Maybe, just maybe, he remebered something.
Quickly he stood and was off. His feet making a soft scraping sound on his balcony rail.
xxx
Sakura had a lot to ponder on. 'So many things we don't know about him. Still we've known him for over two and half years now. Why so many secrets?' The sun that shone upon her face, seemed to get cold. A shiver ran up her spine. Just the thought of how many secrets one person could hold to themself scared her. 'I hope I can share things.' "Where's Naruto?" she wondered aloud.
xxx
Naruto's sandals slapped the stairs of the hokage tower. He was saddened that he could not learn more on the matter of Akira Ishida and Hatake Kakashi. A sigh was released from his lungs. It wasn't everyday that a chapter of your teacher's past was revealed.
He stared up at the clouds. They slowly passed by, just floating. Not having to care about a thing in the world. Yet they were so important to life. They, after all, provided the rain that all living things need. "Less important than clouds. Hmph, who would have known." Naruto continued his descent. Just as he took another step, something grabbed him by the shoulder.
xxx
'What's the matter, am I sick?' Sakura put her hands on her stomach. It seemed to slosh and slish. It was making her dizzy. Then, her vision faded. The next thing she knew her body made contact with the soft dirt on the road.
xxx
He had begun to yell, but a hand clasped over his mouth. Naruto heard himself breathing heavy. 'First Ishida, now what?' Panic and fear ran through his vains. He couldn't concentrate. Soon he found him self quivering. What Ishida had done to silence him had been so quick and quiet, he was afraid Ishida had come to attack again. Only for good. But his nerves were calmed when a voice whispered to his ear.
"Naruto, it's me, settle down," Kakashi said and then released the boy. Naruto turned around and saw his sensei crouching on the rail. "I need your help. I think it's about time you learned the details to your mission."
Naruto brightened up. Kakashi put a finger to his lips. Or you would guess his lips from the postion on the mask. "Not here, let's go inside." He hopped down and walked the rest of stairs. Naruto followed close behind. The two went to the door of the library. Kakashi pushed it open and let Naruto in first. Cool air rushed out from the air conditioning. It was welcomed from the hot day.
The chair slid across the carpet and the genin took a seat. Kakashi sat across from him. Naruto leaned over and whispered, "Tell me now, what's our real mission?" A smile was hidden beneath the mask.
The wind blew autum leaves across the yard of the park. Kakashi had finally gotten Ishida to come out in public. No one knew the red headed boy, so they left him alone. The day was beautiful. Ishida sat down on a slide. He had never been on one, so it was a little scary for him. Kakahsi smiled and came up behind him.
"Man overboard!" Before he knew anything, Ishida was sliding down a red tunnel. The end wasn't clear, he just tried to grip the sides and failed. Then light. Shoomp! he came out the other end. His hands hit the ground as his feet went under. Histerical laughter came from high above.
At the top of the slide Kakashi couldn't control himself. Ishida just glared at him. Then a smile spread across from ear to ear. "Well, hurry up and throw me a life line!"
Out from his vest, Kakashi pulled some papers and put them on the table. "This is all you need to know. But before I brief you, there's something I need to know."
"What?" Naruto asked.
"What did you see in that book?" Kakashi stared at him with his visible eye.
That's when Naruto noticed the blank paper, and a ink bottle and brush. Smiling Naruto picked up the brusha dn began to write. Kakashi watched as five words were written on the paper. Well, they weren't really words. More like gibberish. But any way, he wrote: THEA, EPLEOP, URDMER, VOEL, NISRFIDE. "What do you think they mean."
Kakashi placed his hands under his chin. He studied the words very carefully. "Naruto, think of words that canbe spelled with these words." Naruto looked at them. He pointed to VOEL.
"I know this one. It spells 'LOVE.'" Kakashi looked and nodded. "I also know one."
He pointed to THEA. "'HATE'" So they went back in forth, discussing possible answers, and in the end agreeing on the following. EPLEOP: PEOPLE, NISRFIDE: FRIENDS, and the last URDMER:MURDER. It had taken them about two hours to finish all the words. Now Naruto was more curious than ever, what they were for? Kakashi sighed. He knew.
"Okay, here's our mission, in detail." Naruto's ears seemed to prick up. He listened intently. "About 15 years ago, Akira Ishida was 11. At that time he was living alone in a tree house amongst the trees. Only a handful knew he existed. One night he had murdered someone. Family of the victim found out and chased him clear across the country. Then he disappeared. Now there have been sightings of him throughout several villages. Hokage-sama is worried that he may attack the village. Erect his revenge for them chasing him away," his voice went to a whisper, "But I know that's not what he wants."
Naruto had listened intently to everything. He saw the saddness that had come to Kakashi's visible eye. He swallowed and then dared to ask, "So, you were part of that small handful? What happened exactly?"
A small smile curved under the mask. "In time, right now we have work to do."
That was the end of that talk.
Xx--xxx--xX
A wheezing came from within her lungs. Her breathing had ceased for a moment, but now it was heavy and slow. Tsunade had come to her side as soon as the news reached her. Now she sat there, doing all she could. Slowly the girl's chest rose, up and down. Up and down, up and down, Tsunade nodded her head to the rythm.
Sakura's face had gone pale as a white sheet. Now some color was returning to her cheeks. 'Sakura, so sudden. How?' It wasn't clear what had infected her yet, but it had never been seen before. At first they stooped about it, now they had a little idea. But the picture was still hazy. Tsunade gathered a little more chakra and waited for the next medical ninja to get there. It was going to be a long night.
X---xxx---X
What's the matter with Sakura? How is it connected to Ishida? Find out in the next chapter of The Day I wouldn't Forget You: "Times Change, So Do Friends"
Read on...