"And so, we've been summoned by the princess for a meeting." Said Kazuma to everyone in the mansion, with Darkness at his side looking more worried than anything else. "At Darkness's home."
"Um, under normal circumstances I would ask you all to reject the invitation, but saying no to the princess of the nation would be beyond disrespectful." Darkness explained, looking more miserable as time passed.
Kakashi, for his part, didn't seem overly bothered. In fact, he seemed completely at ease with the knowledge that his friends are going to see the princess where capital punishment was always a looming threat.
"Good luck with that."
"What are you saying, Kakashi? You're coming too!" Megumin told him, surprising him.
"I don't see why, I haven't exactly done anything of note since I've come here just yet." He eyed Darkness. "I would assume this meeting is due to what you guys did at the Crimson Demon Village, no?"
Aqua opened her mouth happily. "So you were listening when I told you all that!"
"Well, yes, but you are part of the party, even if only in name officially, and we wouldn't want to leave you behind..."
That was correct, Kakashi may not be an official addition to the party, but he tagged along more often than not.
"Indeed, it would be remiss of us to leave behind a comrade." Megumin gave him a stare as if daring him to deny her. In fact, everyone was basically staring at him to say otherwise, besides Kazuma who was largely indifferent.
Seeing no way out without pissing off the women of the house, Kakashi accepted his fate. "Fine, fine. But I would rather go incognito, maybe like a personal guard?"
At this, Kazuma finally spoke. "Why would you want to do that? You'll get treated better as a member of the party."
"That may be true, but I don't enjoy extra attention. Besides, back when I was a full time ninja, that was always my role. I served as protection to clients when they went to their important meetings. Assassination prevention and other such things." Kakashi sat up a bit straighter from his reclining position on the couch. "So, it'll be more familiar for me."
"Very well, but for now, we'll need to have outfits made for all of you." Darkness said with a semblance of authority. "Including you, Kakashi. You won't get away with that outfit in the presence of the princess." She gave him a pointed look, as if he was going to debate her on the topic.
In reality, Kakashi has done many smaller undercover jobs, some as himself or with a henge or change of outfit. While he would never claim to enjoy wearing those clothes, he was willing to do what was needed for a mission. Technically, this was no different.
"You won't get any argument from me, Darkness, but I want to ask you something."
"Ask away."
"You seem to be especially invested with this meeting. Is there any reason for that?"
"Oh, have I not told you? I am a noble from the Dustiness house, which is very close to the royal family."
Aqua jumped up for her seat, exclaiming, "Yes, that is why we call her by her beautiful and serious name, Lalatina."
Megumin nodded at this while covering her mouth a bit to hide her giggles. "Right, but she's more than just a noble. She's the princess and will one day take over it. That is why her father continually tries to marry her off as she is close to that unmarriageable age."
Darkness seemed furious at that, and any blush she might have had gave way to anger. "I'll kill you!" Rushing the small girl, Darkness made to grab Megumin, but the mage was too elusive and ran away.
As Megumin retreated to her room, she shouted, "It seems that I must retreat for now, let me know when the outfits are ready. I would like a black dress please, I'll look mature that way!"
Once Darkness calmed down for her anger, Kakashi continued on. "I'll leave the outfits to your discretion. I don't have any preferences."
"Okay, but I'm not sure we'll have time to have any dresses done. The summon was for tomorrow, so you and Kazuma can get rent something from the tailor in town. For Aqua and Megumin, I'll have to get something from my personal wardrobe."
The day had come, and all five party members found themselves in the Dustiness mansion. Kakashi already knew plenty of etiquette when meeting with royalty, but it likely wouldn't be needed since he was merely a guard for this event. If he spoke at all, there wouldn't be many words to be had.
"Again, I need you all on your best behavior before her Highness. Your actions reflect upon me as well, so please, behave." Everyone nodded, looking the part of adventurers meeting the princess.
Such a thing was an honor, so both Kazuma and Kakashi wore suits, but Kakashi also had a tie while Kazuma didn't have one. The girls had laughed at him when he did, so he threw it away. Kakashi himself was not wearing his headband, but his trademark mask stayed with him. His left eye remained closed. Megumin got her black dress that Darkness had worn once as a child, but she made sure not to say that so Megumin didn't get offended. Aqua and Darkness wore white dresses, but Aqua's had gold trims on the edges of the clothing. Darkness had her hair in a nice braid, which Aqua and Megumin kept staring at.
Of course, after that, Darkness confiscated everything that could be used to cause a fire on Megumin's person, and Aqua was told to keep the tricks to a minimum and to not over do it. Kakashi was largely free from any lecture besides some common rules and Kazuma received the same.
Breathing deeply and exhaling, Darkness opened the big double doors to the dining room.
The princess looked similar to her, with blonde hair and blue eyes, but younger, likely around twelve years of age. If one didn't know better, one would assume they were sisters. On each end of the princess were what were presumably her bodyguards, as what would be expected. The first had a white suit with a sword on her hip, who had a mean look in her eyes while the other was a blond in a marine colored dress but lacked a weapon. Likely a magic user of some kind.
"Princess Iris, my apologies for the wait. These are my adventuring comrades and personal guard." She motioned with her arm at them. "All of you, please introduce yourselves to Her Highness with the proper etiquette."
"Greetings Princess Iris, my name is Kazuma, Satou Kazuma." For his part, Kazuma tried to act really cool with that greeting but their company did not seem that impressed.
With a flare, Megumin stepped in front of Kazuma, proclaiming with a pose and a hand covering one of her eyes, "My name is Megumin! Arch wizard and wielder of-mmph?!" She was rudely interrupted by Darkness, who covered her mouth while smiling at the princess and her entourage.
"Pardon me, it seems my companion got a bit carried away... haha. Allow me to correct her for a moment."
Moving a bit away, there was some harsh whispering as Megumin and Darkness argued back and forth. Meanwhile, Aqua stepped forward.
Performing a picture perfect curtsy, Aqua began, "My name is Aqua. I'm an arch priest as well as entertainer. Behold, Nature's Beauty!"
Pulling her fan out of her dress, Aqua performed her most known trick as water spewed out of the fan like a fountain. The princess seemed enamored, and whispered to the lady with the white suit before said woman spoke in the princess's stead.
"Her Highness says that the trick is very entertaining and to please do more if you know any."
"Certainly!"
Kakashi hadn't gotten to introduce himself, but that was by intention. As the guard, he didn't need to say anything. In this meeting, the role of a guard was not important enough to learn about. Similarly, neither of Iris's bodyguards had introduced themselves. And so, Kakashi simply stood behind Kazuma and Aqua, silent as can be.
Eventually, Darkness and Aqua had rejoined them and Iris began to chastise Kazuma and believed him to be a liar when he told her of his adventures facing the Demon King general Sylvia and defeating some really popular hero. Was it Mitsuragi? Futsugi? Kakashi truly could not remember. How unlike him.
Megumin, who had been calmed from acting rashly in Kazuma's defense by petting Darkness's braid which was very soft, still seemed bothered by the entire thing. This prompted Darkness to stand and ask for the princess to apologize.
The woman with the sword seemed offended by this, but Darkness stood firm.
"If I may be so bold, Princess Iris, to insult my party mate after he has accomplished so much, not only is it rude, but it is also uncouth of someone like you."
To that end, Iris stood up and said, "I refuse. This man must explain properly how he beat Mitsurugi when he has the weakest class. If he doesn't, that would mean he is a liar and a weak, sorry excuse of a-?!" The princess was cut off as Darkness smacked her across the face.
Immediately, the woman with the sword drew the aforementioned weapon, immediately swinging it at the hand that Darkness used to harm the princess. It would have landed, had Kakashi not jumped in to intercept the woman's wrist.
"What the!?"
Kakashi and the woman stared into each other's eyes, daring the other to do anything more.
"Kakashi?!" Darkness yelled in shock, stunned by his speed.
"My apologies, as Lalatina's personal guardian, I can not allow harm to befall her. You understand, don't you?" He smiled with his eye at her, making her growl in frustration as she failed to beat his strength.
"To have some lowly guard such as yourself stand before the princess and I, you must be asking for your head to be cut off." The woman growled at him. Her attempt to intimidate him with the threat of execution rolled right passed him. Kakashi did not fear death, and he hasn't for a long time.
"Ah! Please don't fight! It's okay!" Surprisingly, the princess who had maintained an air of superiority and snootiness, waved her arms around frantically in an attempt to defuse the situation. "Claire, please lower your sword!"
With a huff, Claire did so. Kakashi promptly returned to his previous spot behind Darkness's chair.
"Forgive me, your highness. But as I said, it is wrong of you to say such things to a man who has assisted the kingdom in the defeat of a general from the Demon King's army."
Darkness continued to lecture Iris, and all seemed well once more besides Claire giving Kakashi the stink eye.
Barring the usual antics from Kazuma and co, everything more or less went smooth enough. Soon enough, it was time to go, and the other woman, who was likely a mage, started chanting what she called teleportation magic.
As the light engulfed them all, Kakashi saw Kazuma's hand be grabbed by the princess.
Oh boy.
"Kazuma was kidnapped by the princess?!"
"Calm down, Megumin. She likely wanted to talk about something with him, that's all."
"Easy for you to say, Darkness. The princess can't do anything to the heir of the Dustiness family without a good reason. Kazuma is a commoner like me, she could throw him in a dungeon and throw away the key and no one would bat an eyelash."
"That may be true, but the royal family is not so ruthless as to do such a thing."
"Hey, hey, does that mean we have to go to the capital and retrieve him? That sounds like a lot of work."
"What do you think, Kakashi?"
Kakashi rubbed his forehead in annoyance. Dealing with nobles was always a pain. Sometimes they were kind and didn't let their station affect their empathy, but others... well.
"While I doubt the princess would be so callous as to imprison him forever, it wouldn't hurt to go and see what happened. They would surely expect us to follow."
"Ha! I knew Kakashi would be on the side of the Crimson Demons!"
"Fine... let me commission a carriage from my father."
Once they had finally reached the capital and the castle, they were allowed in by the guards, who been told they would arrive soon.
"Wow, this place sure is expensive-looking." Megumin noted with awe.
"Yeah, hey Darkness, do you think we could stay here for a few days?"
Darkness turned to Aqua, incredulous. "What do you think this place is? A luxury hotel?!"
"I bet they could make tons of money if it was."
"That's not the point!"
"Ahem." Ah, it was the princess.
"Oh! Princess Iris, my humblest apologies for intruding in your castle like this!" Darkness bowed as the rest of the group did, well, Darkness forced her hand on Megumin's neck to make her do the same.
"It's fine, Lalatina. The Dustiness family is always welcome in the royal castle." Iris told her with a smile. "I'm sorry for taking big brother away from you all."
"Big brother? When did you two get so close?" Megumin questioned as her eyes glowed dangerously.
"Megumin! Don't be rude to the princess!"
"What are you talking about? You're the one who hit her." The mage scoffed in her direction before smirking. "Already getting ready for motherhood, Lady Lalatina?"
"You-!" Darkness looked ready to fight, but took a deep breathe and calmed down. It wouldn't do to blow up in anger in front of the princess. It would set a bad example, after all.
"Anyways, Princess Iris, we're here to retrieve our comrade. We have business we need him for in Axel, you see."
At that, Iris looked a bit sad. "Must you leave today?" Using her best puppy dog eyes, Iris stared right into Darkness's eyes.
"U-um, well... we do need him with us."
"How about you stay the night then? There will be a feast tonight and tomorrow night to commemorate the defeat of Sylvia the Chimera."
Before Darkness could reply, Aqua interjected. "Yes! We accept your offer, princess!"
Immediately, a wide smile appeared on Iris's face. "I'm glad, please, let me show you to your guest rooms. I'll retrieve Big Brother from his room after you've all settled in."
Once all the girls settled in their rooms, Kakashi was left alone with Iris. She showed him his room, but did not leave.
"Is something the matter, princess?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow while he was sat on the bed. It was quite comfortable.
"You aren't from around here, are you?"
Was that supposed to mean anything? Well, there wasn't any point in lying to her.
"No, I'm not."
"Silver hair is exceedingly rare in this country. And for someone with speed such as yours, it is clear you are an experienced adventurer of some sort. Yet, you don't seem too old for that to be the case. Couple that with your unique appearence, I can tell."
"That guard of yours was pretty fast, too. I'm nothing special, I simply matched her."
"That may be so, but Claire is of high nobility who was trained in the ways of the sword at a young age. You, however, are unknown. What is your family name?"
"Hatake."
"Hatake? I've never heard of such a family. Unless you are a noble in some other country, no commoner has a family name."
That could be true. Now that Kakashi thought about it, Megumin didn't have a last name. Which was odd, but not unheard of back in his world. Seems this world was quite traditional.
"Is that a problem?" Kakashi could escape if he wanted to, but he'd rather not make trouble for his teammates.
The princess finally let a smile grace her face. "Not at all. Don't look so serious! I just wanted to make sure." She turned and went to close the open door, "Please, enjoy your stay!"
And with that, Kakashi was alone to his thoughts.
"I really hope Kazuma isn't getting into trouble."
The first night of the celebration was underway. The tailors within the castle had fashioned everyone with new outfits for both nights. Kakashi just asked for a suit again, to which the girls complained he can't just wear the same thing twice, so he went for a compromise.
The suit would be a different color. It was worth it to see their reactions.
Megumin wore a blood red dress with a rose on it, to match her red eyes. Darkness wore a yellow dress to match her hair, and Aqua wore a blue dress to match her eyes and hair.
They all went to Kazuma's room and knocked, and he opened the door with a gasp. The boy was practically speechless.
"What's this? Is Kazuma lost for words once he laid eyes on us? It's okay, it's only natural."
Unfortunately for Aqua, Kazuma was staring pointedly past her at his other younger teammate. He looked at Aqua for a second, his gaze looking her up and down, before calmly looking away.
"You look alright, I guess."
Aqua's happy expression quickly dropped, infuriated.
"Um, how do I look, Kazuma?" Megumin asked shyly. There was a blush on her face, and she couldn't quite meet his eyes.
"You l-look... wow." The boy looked like an idiot, but Kakashi found it endearing.
For his part, Kazuma was wearing a cross between a butler outfit and a suit. Likely something tailor made just for him. He made it work, though.
"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."
Once Kazuma recovered and the blood on his nose was wiped off, they made their way to the party and started to mingle. The girls, predictably, received lots of attention for various parties. Darkness was approached by countless suitors, Aqua was approached by the other bachelors, and Megumin was approached by the mages who worked for the royal family.
Kakashi and Kazuma were unknowns, so they simply sat in a corner.
"So, Megumin, huh?"
The tips of Kazuma's ears turned bright red. "Yeah? What about her?"
"You seemed pretty enamored with her. What's up with that?"
"S-shut up! I don't want to talk about it."
Kakashi chuckled but agreed not to bring it up again. It wasn't long before Kazuma spoke up of his own accord.
"This sucks! Why do the girls get all the attention?! What about me?"
"Why do you want all the attention anyway?" It didn't make much sense to Kakashi. Sure, there was a sense of pride at having your hard work recognized, but the more that happened the higher the expectations would be set for you until it got to impossible standards.
"Isn't it obvious? So I can be showered in money and women!"
Kakashi gave Kazuma a deadpan look. "You don't strike me as the type to be able to handle multiple women at all, no offense."
"Hey! I totally could do that!" The boy's voice was not very confident.
"Even if you could, would you really only want the women who are around you for your accomplishments?"
"What do you mean?"
At times, Kakashi had to remind himself that Kazuma and his party were all practically children minus Darkness. He was so used to seeing children as genin and chunin that he forgets that this world is different in some ways. Kids here were very independent though, what with them living on their own like Kazuma's group did.
"Well, don't you feel better being around your friends?"
"I mean... I guess, but I don't see how-"
"Now picture that the girls you hung out with were faceless and nameless, but now there are five times as much of them. What would you pick? The strong few, or the nameless many?"
Kazuma remained silent for a time as he stared forward.
"... I hate that you always have a point."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Big brother! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"Seems like you'll be busy. Go on."
"Uh, right. Iris! Hey, how have you been..."
The night was a boring one for Kakashi. No one bothered him, which was a plus, but it still dragged on. Kakashi hated parties, much less noble ones. Too loud and noisy with rich people flaunting their wealth in some vain way of establishing some kind of dominance.
The next day was going smoothly until they were interrupted by a siren going off. They were all told that high level adventurers should be ready to go to the battlefield outside the capital walls to repel an attack from the Demon King's army.
Kakashi was honestly surprised. To attack the enemy's base of operations so brashly, the Demon King is either very foolish, or just has that many soldiers to throw at them that it wouldn't really matter.
At first, Kazuma was adamant in not going, but Darkness convinced him with some secret words. God knows what those were.
Kakashi put a hand on Kazuma's shoulder as he was stepping out with the group.
"Kazuma, are you sure you want to do this? If you get hurt out there, it may be a while before Aqua or the other healers can assist you. The frontlines in any war are never something to take lightly."
To say that he could die he felt was not needed to be said out loud.
"I appreciate the concern, but don't worry! I've got this. You're looking at the guy who has defeated Demon King generals! Small fry like the monsters out there won't be a problem."
It wasn't that Kakashi thought Kazuma was too reckless to such a high degree, he had a decent head on his shoulders, but it was the numbers. Sure, in a one on one fight, Kakashi might be able to beat every monster on there, but if they all jumped on him at the same time, that would be a different story. Wear and tear also played a factor, with enough fatigue even the strongest fighters have lost against lesser opponents. Kakashi remembers the story of the third Raikage who fought over one thousand shinobi and killed them all before falling. Individually, none of them could have held a candle to him, but all at once proved to be too much. That is what Kakashi feared. If you couldn't finish your opponents off quickly, the odds of you losing only increased as time passed.
Above all though, Kakashi didn't want these kids fighting for their home at such a young age. What he and his team had to do shouldn't ever need to happen again. He may have not had a good childhood, but Kazuma and the others still had that innocence to them, even Darkness did to a degree. They still thought this was a fight of glory, and they likely had never seen the horrors of actual war.
"Alright, but stay close to other people. Do NOT ever go out on your own, understand?"
Kazuma gave him a thumbs up. Yet, Kakashi could not shake this pit in his stomach.
It all went to hell quickly. After some shenanigans with Kazuma not being allowed to fight and Iris using her authority to allow him to, everyone fought hard. Kakashi was making short work of the monsters, but the sheer numbers were staggering. When he had time to peek at everyone around him, they were getting tired from the ceaseless onslaught. Some men fell due to fatigue and others from the amount of enemies dogpiling them. It was unfortunate, but if Kakashi left his position, he would just be allowing the monsters to pass through his area for free. He had to hope the healers could help them in time.
In all honesty, Kakashi was flabbergasted at the general that allowed the adventurers to fight. They had no actual combat plan. Granted, this attack was completely random and unplanned for, but to allow non-military to just run onto the battlefield with no rhyme or reason was insane. Yet, Kakashi couldn't do anything about it. It was just like when he was a child, and no one would take his command seriously due to his age. Now, he had no clout from his reputation to precede him. In Konoha, if he felt that leadership was lacking, he could voice his concern without issue since he had already been a proven ninja, but here? He was nobody. The general barely gave him any attention. And so, Kakashi bit his tongue and stayed silent.
A yell to his far right showed Kazuma going on a mad killing spree of some smaller monsters. Kakashi was impressed, the boy could be a tad cowardly in big fights, but it seemed that he really did try when it came down to it. That is, until he was roughly beaten down by a second group that he just hopped into with reckless abandon.
"Damn it!"
Kakashi made a shadow clone to hold his position, and Kakashi ran off towards Kazuma's location.
He opened his left eye, and went through some hand signs before yelling, "Lightning Blade!" Quickly, he ran through all of the current enemies with little issue before taking in the sight of Kazuma.
His body was mangled and bleeding all over. His eyes were closed and Kakashi's breath hitched in his throat. Kakashi checked for a pulse in his neck, and his heartbeat quickened when he didn't find one. Getting down on his knees, he put his ear to Kazuma's mouth to listen for any breathing.
There was none. Stumbling back a bit, Kakashi quickly recovered. This was war. Mourning would have to come later.
Kakashi was livid, and he would make sure these monsters rued the day they attacked this place. Even if it killed him again.
As he ran by other fights, they would stop and the participants would fall to their knees in fear.
"W-w-what is this feeling? I can't breathe!"
"I-is Kakashi doing this? My hands won't stop shaking!" Cried Megumin. When she looked at him, she jumped. "That eye..."
Kakashi wouldn't respond or even hear them in the first place. He simply took out a kunai and went to work. The destruction was immense, fireballs rained down on squadrons of monsters who yelled in fear. Lightning would fry anything caught in its path, and others would be buried by the dirt, never to be seen again. By the end of it all, Kakashi was nearly completely covered in blood.
Breathing heavily, he dropped his kunai and walked back to Kazuma's corpse as Aqua went to heal all the injured soldiers. Everyone gave the man a wide range of space, some in fear and others in awe.
"This is another failure."
The three girls ran up to him, and it pained Kakashi to even look at them. He had yet to cover his eye, but he couldn't bring himself to care. The body would forever be ingrained in his memory, whether he wanted it to be or not.
"I'm sorry, but he's dead." Kakashi said numbly with a lack of emotions. How many times would this keep happening to him? Every time, somebody dies. Who would be next? Megumin? Aqua? It was only a matter of time.
Megumin looked distraught to a degree, and kept urging Aqua forward. Kakashi shook his head sadly at the futility.
He held an arm out to stop her. "Stop. There's no breathing or pulse, he's gone already."
Aqua looked at him with confusion. "So? To think this NEET would die in such an embarrasing fashion!"
Kakashi stood rigid then. "Excuse me?"
"I mean, Kobloids are such weak enemies, and he was talking so big not that long ago." Aqua let out a small giggle at the boy's failure. Darkness just looked angry and frustrated.
Kakashi felt like he was going to short-circuit at any moment. What was going on? Did they not care that their comrade had just died in battle? Was this their coping mechanism? To crack jokes?
"Kazuma just died for you, and you make fun of him. What the hell is wrong with you?" Kakashi roared in anger. This was just like his father. A man who gave everything to the village but was ostracized because of his actions, until his eventual suicide. Even in death, the verbal assaults never stopped and continued with him. While Kazuma may have not fought for the most noble reasons, he still did it, and that alone was heavily commendable.
"It's not the first time he's died, so what's the big deal?"
Sensing the mood change, Darkness gently pulled Megumin away from the scene. For once, the girl did not protest.
"He may have died once to come to this place, but now there are no take-backs. He's dead for good this time. Don't you care?"
"Pfft. Of course not, it's happened so many times-eep!" Kakashi's sharingan spun quickly, and it reminded Aqua of that day she woke him up abruptly. The fear of that moment returned to her, and she found herself off the battlefield.
"W-w-where am I?!"
"I'm going to show you how he died. Because it seems to me that you don't really get it."
"C'mon Kakashi, you don't have to do that-"
But Kakashi did it. Kazuma would appear with the enemies on top of him, beating him to death over and over again. The yells of pain were as real as the ones he had heard.
Eventually, Kakashi released her and Aqua fell to the ground.
"Do you understand, now? War isn't a game. People will die, and you need to take it seriously."
Aqua wordlessly nodded, before crawling on all fours in the mud to Kazuma's corpse and lifted both hands above it.
"Ressurection."
"What?" Kakashi questioned, but Aqua did not answer.
After a time, the body was repaired and the boy's eyes opened.
"What the? Oi, Aqua, get off of me."
But Aqua shook her head as she buried her face into his shirt. "I'm sorry." The tears flowed freely then.
Kazuma seemed bothered by her genuine tears and he looked towards Kakashi, who closed his sharingan eye, for an explanation. He motioned for 'later'. So, Kazuma simply sat there as Aqua held onto him.
"Why would you do that, Kakashi?!" Darkness asked in anger. She herself had some blood on her, as she had killed some enemies with her sword. It had improved under Kakashi's tutelage, but she still had a ways to go.
"Children who don't understand the gravity of war either grow up or die." Kakashi responded. "I'd rather she grow up than die."
"Grr, to do what you did was going too far! You could have talked to her later!"
"I'm not her father, and it isn't my duty to talk to her nicely." He looked at her pointedly. "How many times have you all told her something and she went and did it anyway? No, words don't reach her. Actions do. Consequences do. To act as she did on the battlefield, even with her abilities, was disgraceful."
"You are taking things too seriously! Aqua is still young! She helped lots of people out there today!"
Kakashi stood up from his blood-soaked seat. "And?"
Darkness was taken aback. "What do you mean, and?"
"Do you want her to get a medal? Congratulations? A pat on the back?" Kakashi wasn't mad. He was cold and calculated. It was a shock for them, to see someone who is usually so lackadaisical about everything. "News flash, where I come from, you don't get points for doing your job. Best I got was a 'good job, now go out and do it again'."
"That's your country, not this one!"
"I don't think you understand the gravity of this, Darkness." Kakashi sat back down, and he motioned for her to do the same. She obliged him. "You are all too immature to be adventurers." There, he said it.
"Excuse me?" Darkness was reasonably offended, especially with her being the oldest of the four.
"I've heard all the stories in the time I've been here. People, adventurers like you, die every single day. You four are lucky Aqua possesses a skill to bring people back to life all willy nilly, but others don't have that luxury. What's more, what if Aqua happened to be killed out there? Who will revive her? From my understanding, she is the only one that is known to possess such a skill. If any of our enemies had a brain, they would have targeted the healers first."
"That's why I'm the protector! I am the shield for the team!"
Kakashi shook his head.
"No, you are but one shield. A shield that does not cover four people at once. Tell me, were you able to protect Kazuma today?"
Darkness shrunk back at that, at a loss for a retort.
Kakashi took a deep breath and let it out. "Look, I don't want to go heavy on you guys, you aren't actual soldiers, but I want you all to be responsible on the field. Do not rely on a single person to save the day. I only did so because there were more capable healers besides Aqua, if she was the only one, I would have helped the others more often."
He stood up to take his leave. "We can talk about this more with the others, but I'll leave you with this. Even with Aqua around, don't take Kazuma's life, or anyone's life, for granted. If you can avoid someone's death, then take it. Don't let Kazuma throw his life away for whatever reason, that should be the last thing on anyone's mind. Even if it seems like it doesn't bother him, ask yourself if you've ever even asked. The human mind is only meant to experience death once."
The door closed, and Darkness was left with her thoughts.
This chapter was much longer than the other ones, and I hope to maintain this length. By the way, my justification for Kakashi doing what he did to Aqua is because he did the same thing to Sakura when she was literally twelve. Still, you may have noticed Kakashi isn't written 1 to 1 as his canonical self, but that's just because I'm writing a version of Kakashi that maintains his canon personality and quirks, but with the realism of actual war. Naturally, they couldn't show such dark things in a shonen anime that's meant for young audiences, so I'm hoping to bring that dark part of their reality out. Even in Konosuba, people are said to be killed by the giant toads but the gang treats it like it's not a big deal to be eaten by those things when it actually is. Hope you like the more serious nature of this fic! As always, open to criticism.
