Chapter 11: LOVE, HATE, PEOPLE, FRIENDS, MURDER

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"What?" the boy asked, rubbing his eyes and not believing he had fallen asleep. Misha didn't explain. For he saw no time for that. Instead he began to awaken Sakura. She wasn't like Naruto; so instead of pondering, she jumped to her feet and was ready anything.

The jounin still stood at the window. His eyes cast out over the village and concentrated on the darkening shadows of the woods. Still it grew nearer, still it grew darker, still no one did anything about it. He had no choice. It was either the village or him. Yet, no there was no time to waste. He would let the others know what to do, and... and then he would fight off Ishida.

Misha walked over to Kakashi. "They're just about ready. We'll be able to head out in about five minutes. Are you ready?" his eyes were soft and kind. He knew that this was Kakashi's home. It must be hard for him to lose it.

"No. I'm not going. You saw it too. The shadow in the woods. I must stop him before he reaches the village. He's after me, not you." Then the silver headed shinobi turned to Sakura and Naruto. "Follow Misha out of Konoha. Until Ishida is defeated, he'll keep hunting for you," then his gaze turned back to Konoha. Suddenly his fears had come true. When Sakura and Naruto ran over, Misha stood in front of them. Knowing what Kakashi wanted.

For the sight would have made the genins rush blindly into a battle with the Dark User. This would mean certain death. But Kakashi wasted no time, for he was protected. Quickly, as he jumped out of the window, he spoke to them, "Cover your airways!" The three of them wasted no time in doing what the jounin had suggested. But as he slid down the rocks, Naruto wished to be going with his teacher.

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Small pebbles bounced off the cliff. Kakashi pressed his body closer to he edge. Then the shinobi channeled his chakra just right, and soon he was speeding off down the Hokage's mountian. Yet his eyes grew watery. The dust cloud that shrouded the Hidden Leaf Village was now sweeping up the mountian on an updraft. Kakashi hoped that the three had listened to him and covered their mouths and noses.

There was panic in the village below him. People screamed, ran, and some even passed out dead. ANBU memebers were hurrying around the village, warning those still alive to cover their airways and even bringing masks.

Others were using jutsus to clear away the powder substance in the air. The night sky above Konoha began to clear. But Akira Ishida's 'medicine' had taken its toll. About fifteen people layed dead in the streets. Many mothers wept over ten dead children. Kakashi's anger grew into a burning rage inside of him.

There was no sign of Ishida. Dawn was approaching the day. Golden beams pierced through the tops of the trees, lighting the village. A dark cloud of red powder hovered in the air. Many miles above Konoha. It took only a few minutes for it to disipate.

Kakashi reached the bottom, but his feet only touched the ground for a second as he sent himself flying into the trees and closer to the main living part of the village. 'Ishida, you finally got to use your powder. I'm sorry that you did. So much death... it's all my fault.' Still no tears came from his saddened eyes. Yet one thought rang through his head as he continued on his way, 'Kishi, maybe, just maybe you could have lived.'

So the jounin raced on. Kakashi did not pay attention to all the shinobi aware of his presence. He just had to get to Akira Ishida, the Dark User. He had to get to him before any one else did.

The wind blew and the powder poured from the cylinder. They had just cleared away his first batch. Three more were at hand. If Kakashi had already left the village, then he would slaughter everyone that Kakashi ever knew. Now, that rage that had once taken over the young boy, was now commanding his heart.

Ishida didn't want this, still his head told him it was the only way. He had lost his soul many years ago. It still dwelled inside, somewhere, in a far off corner of his body. It showed itself only when he was with Kakashi. The young boy, that didn't dare to even kill a fly. The boy that loved life as it was, and loved his friend. But now that was the past.

"I'm sorry. Let this be quick. No matter how it comes out, I want you not to suffer." Then he remebered the control. His eyes filled with rage and sorrow. All life faded from them. A black shadow cast over them, then a small flicker of flame seemed to shimmer. A dark and treacherous smile came across his face.

"Come to me, come and die."

Only now did it occur to Naruto what his sensei planned to do. As the cloud of red rose above Konoha, did he finally make his choice. "We can't let him do this by himself. He's..." the boy couldn't put the words to it. Misha pulled his pack on his shoulders and looked at the blonde. His eyes too filled with worry and saddness. For only him could imagine the fate that awaited his new found friend.

Still, he wanted them not to give away hope and accept what Ishida had thrusted at him. "Don't worry, Kakashi can handle himself. I know my master. Some how, he'll find himself and stop this."

"What are you talking abou?" Sakura had heard, even though she had been concentrating on the map that Kakashi had left.

Misha sighed and began to explain, "Master Ishida-"

"Don't call him master," Naruto stated in a cold flat voice.

"Ishida was young when it happened. When he found the black chakra's power... Ma- Ishida told me you had stolen a notebook from him."

"Yes, but he took it back," Naruto said.

"No, that was fake. I guess your teacher can take credit for that. Anyway, in that book there were five words. Scrambled up into what looked like gibberish."

The blonde nearly jumped with excitement. He knew about the book, "Yes! They read out to be: LOVE, HATE, PEOPLE, FRIENDS, and the last was MURDER. but what do they mean?"

"That's how Ishida makes his chakra obey him. If it weren't for what those words meant, than the whole world would be taken apart by the full power of the dark chakra. Do you get what I mean?"

"No," both genins said at ounce.

Misha sighed. "Ishida hates; Ishida could care less about people; now about murder... I'm afraid he does that constantly. The last two, love and friends, well.. that's why he needs Kakashi by his side. Whether you like it or not, Ishida loves your sensei. They were both great friends. Now do you understand everything?"

"Most of it, but I'll figure it out." Sakura gave a sweet smile. Misha smiled at her. Then Naruto spoke, "I get it! Sort of." To this, Misha gave one of his happy laughs.

"Well then, we must go-"

"We can't! Kakashi-sensei still needs our help. Ishida will kill him with that... that black chakra!"

"You didn't let me finish," Misha pointed a finger at him. Then his packs fell off his back, "I was put in charge of your safety. Now you have to listen to me. No matter what! Well then, we must go... and help our friend."

Naruto and Sakura could hardly hold their excitement.

The silver haired jounin had reached the border of Konoha. He now stood on the roof of a house. His two eyes uncovered stared into the pits of evil. Yet all he saw was his old friend. A young boy.

The Dark User stood there. His powder ran out and was swept away with the wind. The village below his feet was in an uproar. People panicked and people died. But all his thoughts were upon the man in front of him.

This would be the last battle. The last clash between two friends, the last clash of their lives. Dueling it out till one is called away. Called to the other side. Leaving the other to grieve over their victory. Not one of them wanted to do it. Yet, they had to. Now it just wasn't a matter of survival. It was a matter of the heart.

The voices of the two friends seemed to echoe and sweep over all the noise. All the chaos swept into another dimension. Now all that was left was them. In a double voice, there could be heard the mind and soul of two friends, about to end it all.

"This is where it ends!"

Okay... have to go watch... something.

Anyway, hoped you like it. I hope you'll like the next two chapters. The next chapter will be on how Naruto, Misha, and Sakura finally make it to their sensei. Then after that, the final chapter. Also, the final battle between Kakashi and Ishida. How will it end? Will either of them live? Who will die? Believe me, you won't be able to guess the outcome...

Thank-you to all who have or will read this.

Read on...