Welcome back to my love child. I have decided to screw it and just right as much romance and angsty stuff as my heart desires. I sure do live up to my screen name, cause I have the worst writers block ever. I thank the boredom of this lock down for the slow progress I am making. I hope everyone is keeping safe and well. Enjoy this beautiful train wreck of a story.
beta read by the amazing katydid001 ❤️
The war had been raging on for months now. But it was only now that the Leaf felt the need to send this particular team out.
Minato sat perched atop a flat rock, his back turned away from his students. They were all waiting on their third and final teammate, as sighed heavily tapping his foot impatiently. This mission was stressful enough as it was. But the war made every mission life or death. Five minutes later Obito finally came tumbling into the clearing.
"Did I make it?" The young Uchiha lifted his head only to be met by Kakashi's cold glare.
"No, Obito, you dobe. You are late as always. When are you gonna grow up and become a real shinobi?"
"Well this frail old lady needed directions and I got something in my eye-"
"If you're gonna lie, make it a good one. True shinobi abide by the strict rules and regulations, those that don't adhere to them are regarded as nothing but scum."
"Enough, Kakashi-kun, I'm sure Obito-kun showed her the way." Their blond sensei spoke up.
"I helped her carry the bags too!" The goggled shinobi shifted into a sitting position, before removing his goggles and administering his eye drops.
"But Sensei, you are too nice! Everytime Obito's late it's another pathetic excuse!"
"Well for once, Obito-kun isn't the last to arrive." Minato chuckled at the shocked look on his students' faces.
"Sensei? Do you mean we have an extra teammate?" Rin chirped with excitement.
Kakashi stared at him wide eyed. "Please tell me it's someone good."
"Oh, the best." The Yellow Flash of the Leaf smiled gently before he stood.
A cry resounded as a hand came slicing through the air, slapping Kakashi around the back side of his head.
"Ma! Nee-chan what the?!" The male twin tried to dodge his sister's flying palms, but his efforts were in vain. A crack resounded through the clearing as she smacked him again. Their friends and Sensei watched on in shock as the little fireball lay into her brother, cursing him out in sign language.
Minato felt a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead. "She's more and more like Kushina everyday." He sighed.
'Don't you ever do that shit again!' The assaulting kunoichi's face was twisted in rage. 'Bet you didn't think I would catch on to you leaving without saying goodbye? What am I to you? Kami, Kakashi, what am I gonna do with you?' By the time she had finished her hand signs her expression was more disappointed than angry.
"Ah Nee-chan that's not fair…"
'We are at war Kakashi! What if you didn't come back, huh?' There was a beat of silence as the twins shared a look. He was all she had left. Kakashi knew this, but when he saw her peaceful sleeping face, he couldn't bring himself to wake her.
Before Kakashi could even open his mouth to say anything, she wrapped him in her arms. With a sigh and one last half-hearted thump on his head, she turned her attention back to her shell-shocked peers.
"Alright… now that that is cleared up, I would like to get something else out of the way." The blond ninja reached into his pouch and pulled out two identical kunai. He handed one to each twin. "Congratulations on becoming Jounin."
The twins had polar opposite reactions. Kakashi stared down at it and nodded, his expression as blank as ever. Katsumi on the other hand cradled the weapon as if it were fragile, her eyes studying every symbol etched into the handle.
"I got you both something too." Rin stepped forward presenting two beautifully packaged medical kits, one a dark-blue and the other a light-green. The twins' reactions were fascinating. One acted as if it was as normal as breathing and the other didn't seem to know what to do with herself. She opened the bag studying every compartment in awe.
"I know you get burns on your hand from your whip, so I put two tubs of salve in-" brunette kunoichi stopped mid-sentence as she felt strong arms embrace her. Katsumi thanked Rin in her own silent way, before pulling back and joining her twin once more.
Kakashi turned to Obito with a raised eyebrow. "You forgot didn't you." The aforementioned Uchiha did in fact look as if he had forgotten. Embarrassment blooming on his face.
"I didn't forget," he lied. "I just left them at home."
There was another smack as Kakashi was once again slapped, this time on his shoulder. 'You don't owe us anything, Obito.' Female twin signed before glaring at her brother. 'Ungrateful. That's what you are.' She signed accusingly, her gifts already packed away.
"Yeah, well you're too soft!"
Katsumi rolled her heterochromatic eyes and waved him off, turning her gaze back to the guilty looking Uchiha. Her eyes held no judgment, just understanding.
"Alright kids, settle down. We have a long journey ahead."
The four younger ninja were debriefed before they all took off towards their destination. They traveled through the day, keeping their heads low, the twins kept a close eye on the surrounding scents. The sun was out in full glory when the team regrouped to review their strategy.
Minato unfolded the map and ran a finger along one of the many lines sprawling across the paper. He articulated everything he expected of them and why their strategy was so important. "As such we will split up into two teams, you four will be a team with Kakashi-kun as captain." This fact was not taken well by a certain disgruntled Uchiha. "I, however, will be working alone."
Katsumi sat back on her heels tapping her chin with her fingers. Something about this mission had her gut turning uneasily, and she was lost as to why.
"Imouto, focus. This is no time to be daydreaming." There was a tone in that voice that made the female twin bristle. Was he asserting his dominance?! She shook her head and pinned her brother with an unimpressed scowl.
'Since when do I take orders from you?' Her hands slapped together angrily.
"I knew you weren't listening, Sensei said I'm in charge."
This caused Katsumi to roll her eyes. 'You think I'm stupid nii-san? Stop bossing me around! We haven't even finished the plan!' She rubbed at her temples and cast her eyes to the stone. It was obvious that something was deeply troubling the young preteen.
"Can I finish explaining the plan?" Minato was clearly unimpressed. "You four will be taking out Kannabi bridge, stopping the enemy's supply route in its tracks."
"Sensei, what will you do?" Rin asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
"I will attack the enemy head-on. This will create a diversion. Allowing your team enough time to complete your mission. Understood."
"Yes Sensei." All four heads bounced in unison, though only three spoke.
"Alright let's get moving." With well trained movements they all packed up and headed back down their path. Kakashi leading the pack, as Minato brought up the rear.
They walked deeper into the forest until the trees were bigger than any building Katsumi had ever seen. Fungus the size of small apartments clung to thick trunks. They were getting closer. Suddenly Kakashi bought a hand up. Stopping everyone in their tracks. The twins both took a deep breath in unison before Kakashi crouched low to the earth.
"Good work." Minato crouched beside his apprentice. "Be on your guard, I sense twenty ninja, though I feel as if they could be shadow clones."
"I agree, Sensei," Kakashi turned to look at his teacher with determined eyes. "I will take him out, you cover me."
Katsumi frantically shook her head while waving her arms around in a huge 'NO!' sign.
"Don't be so rash Kakashi-kun, I will take him out-" Minato was abruptly interrupted by his apprentice.
"You said it earlier, Sensei, I am the captain of this team? Besides, I want to try this new jutsu I've been working on." His hands flew through all new hand signs. "So stay back and let me take care of this." He grasped his forearm. "Chidori!"
Lightning set the young preteens palm ablaze, crackling and chirping like thousands of birds. He was off before the others could even blink. Minato watched his student with keen eyes. Weapons sliced through the air, bouncing off of the lightning wielder. His speed was incredible as he took out shadow clone after shadow clone. The rest of the team were left to fend for themselves. Katsumi kept a close eye on her teammates as they all moved cautiously through the trees, sticking close to one another.
An enemy shinobi burst through the ground, swiping a kunai at Obito. Only for the clone to dissipate seconds before it reached his throat. A familiar weapon appeared through the smoke, but it wasn't his sensei wielding it. Katsumi watched him with concern written all over her face.
"Be on your guard, Obito-kun!" His Sensei berated him as they continued to move.
"Uh yes, sir! Sorry!"
Kakashi was too far ahead for Katsumi to see him. So she didn't see the blow, but she smelled it. The coppery stench of blood hit her sensitive nose causing panic to bubble in her chest. Minato dropped a bleeding Kakashi on the ground. Rin rushed over to help him, her hands glowing green with chakra. Katsumi had to bite her tongue to keep her focus on the fight at hand; besides he was in very capable hands.
Minato tossed his backpack into the air. There was a cry of pain and the enemy nin was dead before the pack hit the ground. He made his way back to his frazzled students.
"Kakashi-kun is badly injured. We will back off and recuperate while his arm heals."
"I'm fine Sensei! I can handle this!" The injured boy spat through gritted teeth.
"No, you're not. You are hurt because you had to run in on your own like an idiot!" Obito clenched his fists in anger.
"I don't want to hear that from a loser like you! The elite Uchiha that spends all his time crying like a coward."
"I got dust in my eye, okay!"
"Well if you were a real ninja you would know that a shinobi never shows tears!"
"Enough! Both of you. Kakashi-kun I have told you before, rules are important, but you must learn to adapt when your comrades are in need." Minato berated his student.
Obito stabbed a triumphant finger in the injured boy's direction. "Huh! See Kakashi-teme?!"
"You aren't blameless either, Obito-kun, Katsumi-chan isn't always going to be there to save you. It's also impossible to get dust in your eyes if you are wearing goggles. It's all well and good to talk about self discipline, but a shinobi must also be strong of heart." The blond ninja rubbed at his temple, keeping a grip on these two was becoming increasingly more frustrating. "You are all missing the most important shinobi skill of all: team work."
The young shinobi all bowed their heads in shame.
The night sky was littered with glittering stars as they finally made camp. It was cold, so the team made sure to keep close to each other. Obito and Kakashi were paired for first-watch.
The young girl's laid their sleeping kits close together to share body heat and protection. Sleeping on the ground in enemy territory was hard enough, let alone without any sort of comfort. Mismatched eyes watched as Rin's heavy lids fluttered shut. The young wolf-nin smiled gently before letting sleep take her into its arms.
Kakashi on the other hand watched his sister slowly succumb to her exhaustion before he fixed his cold glare on Obito.
"I know what you're thinking and it's never gonna happen." The silver ninja scoffed.
"You know nothing, teme." The raven-haired boy spat, tearing his eyes off Katsumi's peaceful face. His onyx eyes filled to the brim with indignation. "Katsumi-chan is my friend."
"She pities you is all."
"Like you would know. Last I checked it was you getting smacked, not me."
This caused Kakashi to snort; crossing his arms in defiance. "The only reason she was angry is because she cares."
It was Obito's turn to scoff. "If you think you are the only one she cares about, you've got another thing coming."
They turned away from each other with quiet huffs, each one determinedly watching the opposite direction.
Minato watched his students carefully, before dismissing Kakashi from his post. Said silver-haired boy tried his best not to act petulant. As soon as his head hit the pillow he was out. Unconsciously the twins rolled to face each other, naturally fitting around each other. Minato watched on with a look of fondness. Obito, however, had something else on his mind. Time ticked on slowly.
"Sensei?" Obito finally broke the peaceful silence.
"Hm? Yes, Obito-kun?"
"I know teamwork is the most important thing of all… but when Kakashi keeps belittling me and mocking my lack of discipline. Well.. no.. what I mean is, I may have been born into the elite Uchiha clan… but I'm still just a failure."
"Well Kakashi's father was Hatake Sakumo. A genius respected for his power and skill, known as the White Fang of the Leaf. Even the legendary Sannin paled in comparison." Unbeknownst to the males on guard, Katsumi had roused from her light slumber at the mention of her father's name.
"Growing up beside such a genius, well it's no surprise Kakashi's standards for his teammates and others are unnaturally high."
"Come to think of it, The White Fang of the Leaf, you know I've heard of him before. He was that hero that died while protecting the village. But Kakashi-kun never mentions a word about that… and neither does Katsumi-chan." Obito ran his fingers through his messy locks. "Why are they so different?"
"Hm? Kakashi and Katsumi? Well.. I have to admit I have found myself wondering the same thing. But grief affects everyone differently."
The Uchiha cocked his head to the side in a motion for his sensei to continue.
Minato locked eyes with his student before returning his gaze back to the dark expanse of the night. "The White Fang, yes. A hero in the eyes of everyone, especially his children. A hero's death was the cover story."
"Cover story?" Obito repeated with furrowed brows.
"The Hokage tried his best to honour Sakumo in death, but his passing was a tragedy. Honestly I'm not sure if the twins would appreciate me sharing this." Minato turned to watch the sleeping twins, both appearing to be sound asleep. With a deep sigh he continued; "Sakumo-senpai..." It was obvious that the words were painful, each syllable of a fallen comrade's name stung like salt in a fresh wound. "Years ago he led a dangerous top secret mission behind enemy lines. It went south fast and he was left with two choices, either save the mission or his comrades. Of course the law of the village says you cannot abandon a mission, but to save the life of his comrades he put the mission on hold." The blond jounin swallowed thickly. "However, a great deal of damage was caused by Sakumo-senpai's decision. In the end both the Land of Fire and his comrades blamed him for it. This ordeal took a great toll on Sakumo, physically and mentally until-" he hesitated.
"He took his own life."
The young girl was trembling with pent up emotion, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Tears threatened to spill but she bit her tongue once again to keep her focus.
"You better get some sleep." He whispered to his dark haired student. "Please try to understand, Obito, even just a little. Kakashi means well." The younger shinobi struggled to hear his sensei's words but he nodded as he made his way down the rock they were perched atop of.
Obito made his way over to his sleeping comrades and pulled his sleeping kit up beside Rin, the way he always did. His eyes lingered on the sleeping twins, though his lids were so heavy that he failed to notice the out of sync trembling of the young kunoichi's shoulders.
As silence finally fell, Katsumi reached up to take her sleeping brother's hand, fighting to steady her breath through her pain. Even in deep slumber Kakashi reached up to wrap his arms around his sisters shoulders and rub her back in sloppy circles. His eyes were still fused shut, sleepy mumbles of comfort came from his tired lips.
"Sleep Katsumi-nee… you need… your strength." The young boy whispered in between a mammoth yawn.
Katsumi nodded and closed her eyes. Though try as hard as she might, her sleep was far from peaceful.
Join me next chapter for the chapter I have been putting off since being this story. Happy reading!