Disclaimer: Naruto is property of Masashi Kishimoto, not me. However, Kosu and Hiro are mine. Warning, possible themes of a dark, violent or suggestive nature and use of mature language as the story progresses… They're ninja after all.
Chapter 7
Lesson No 1 – revised
The storm ended in the early hours of the following morning, dark greys were replaced with the dark pinks of the rising sun. The air still felt thick and damp, but the static charge had gone. Looking out of the entrance of the cavern she inhaled deeply, the rich aroma of damp wood and earth overwhelmed her. The birds had returned to the sky making Kosu smile weakly.
She woke Kakashi first, placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing softly. Dark eyes snapped open and immediately found her face. Had Kosuke slept at all?
"We should be moving." She said quietly, her voice throaty having not been used in so long. Kakashi cleared his throat, nodding. Kosuke left the white haired boy to wake his peers, the four of them shaking the mud and moss from their clothes.
"It gets everywhere." Rin frowned, running her hands through her short brown hair. The bright eyed girl glanced around the cavern. "Where's Kosuke?"
"Huh?"
"He's waiting for us outside." Kakashi replied. "We should go." He added, choosing to ignore Genma's murmur of,
"He's probably left us."
"Morning Kosuke." Rin smiled pleasantly at the small boy. Kosu turned to face her four peers as they emerged from the hollow, inclining her head and a weak smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She's a lot like you Hiro. The comparison was made before Kosu could help it and warning bells shot off in the back of her mind.
"Ergh." Obito groaned as he stepped forward into the small clearing in front of the hollow. His hand ran over his stomach and he could feel the vibrations of it growling beneath his palm. "Has anyone got any food, I'm starving."
"Sorry Obi-"
"You're not." Kosu said, voicing what would normally be an inward thought. Obito looked at her a little startled. "You're not starving." She repeated, her eyes left Obito's in favour of turning to the surrounding forest. "You're hungry."
There's a difference.
The four stared at Kosu's back, frozen to the spot as his tone left no doubt that he was speaking from experience. Even Genma found his tongue seemed to sit heavily in his mouth.
"Kosuke." Rin murmured softly. Her brown eyes drawn to Kosu's fists, clenched so hard they were shaking.
Kosu found her shoulders tensing at the girl's soft tone. She doesn't care. She snapped at herself.
"The Village is this way." Was all Kosu said, ignoring Rin completely as she started towards the forest.
X
"This could get very messy Hiruzen." Danzo frowned at Hiruzen's back. "Four missing children, two of them clan born and one an Uchiha."
The Third Hokage exhaled heavily, pipe in his hand as he stood by the window of his office. From his vantage point he could see the four-man search team departing the village. Naturally, Sakumo had insisted he be a part of the squad, and with the keen nose of his canine summons Yuki, Hiruzen found it hard to oppose him.
"The boy should have been vetted more thoroughly." Danzo continued.
"What would you suggest?" Hiruzen asked lowly. He turned to look back over his shoulder, glancing at his old friend. "That every refugee gets handed over to T&I?"
Danzo's silence gave Hiruzen the answer he suspected. Yes…
"I met the boy." Hiruzen continued, only his eyes showed the evidence of his internal conflict. Was he wrong about Kosuke and Hiro?
Before Danzo and Hiruzen could discuss the matter further there was a knock at the office door.
"Mito-sama," Hiruzen greeted, turning fully as the elderly woman entered the room. The sentiment was echoed by Danzo.
"Hokage-sama, Danzo-san." Mito greeted in return.
"It's a rare pleasure to have you visit my office." Hiruzen said politely.
He would always hold Mito Uzumaki in high regard. Not only was she a fierce kunoichi in her own right and the widow of the First Hokage. She had been a close friend and confidant ever since Hiruzen had taken the role of Hokage.
"It's hard to ignore talk of abducted children." Mito replied. Hiruzen frowned, the rumour mill of the Village did more harm than an armed invasion sometimes.
"I have my doubts that that is the case." Hiruzen admitted.
Danzo glared at the Hokage. Is he that desperate to see the good in people that he'd invent it?
"As do I." Mito agreed.
"Mito-sama, I doubt the rumour mill has revealed all of the details." Danzo raised an eyebrow challengingly.
"The refugee, Kosuke. That's the child you suspect has managed to kidnap four other children." Mito levelled Danzo with a steely gaze. "We've met on several occasions and he's shown an aptitude for fūinjutsu." She continued, leaving both men to blink at her in surprise. "He's my student and I want to ensure that on his return from a simple hunting trip he isn't thrown to your wolves."
Her gaze finally left Danzo and returned to Hiruzen. Mito's keen eyes didn't miss the small upward tug at the corners of the Hokage's mouth. He hid the smile quickly by taking a deep inhale from his pipe.
"I've just dispatched the search team. You're welcome to wait here. Would you like some tea?" Hiruzen asked. Mito's smiled and inclined her head to answer yes.
"Danzo?" Hiruzen asked.
"I'm afraid I have other matters to attend to, Hokage-sama, Mito-sama." Danzo replied and left the room, his clenched fists hidden by his long sleeves.
Left in the office, Hiruzen poured Mito's tea into a simple, yet elegant cup.
"Thank you," She accepted the steaming beverage.
"Thank you." Hiruzen said. Mito waited for him to elaborate. "I was beginning to doubt my own judgement of the boy." Hiruzen frowned into his tea. "I make decisions every day that affect the lives of everyone in Konoha. I fear the day I make a mistake. That Kosuke and his brother may be a mistake."
Mito's wrinkled hand, warmed by the tea cup, wrapped around Hiruzen's. The affect was instant, her touch was grounding and reassuring, like a mother taking her child's hand before crossing a road.
"That fear means that you're the right person for this job." She assured him. "As for Kosuke, whilst he is rather uncouth, he's not a mistake."
Hiruzen exhaled, a weight seemed to leave him as he did so. He squeezed Mito's hand in thanks and allowed her to return to cupping her tea. A moment of comfortable silence passed between the two old friends.
"I have to admit," Hiruzen began, "I am surprised that you've taken on another pupil."
Mito's lips quirked upwards. So am I.
"It wasn't planned." Mito admitted. "I thought, being as old as I am and having seen as many generations as I have, that I had passed on my will of fire." Mito smiled fondly. "It burns so brightly in Kushina after all."
"Indeed it does." Hiruzen smiled.
"But I can't ignore this child, Hiruzen." Mito admitted. "And I won't die peacefully until I've passed my will of fire to him." Mito paused and looked out over the forest. Kosu was out there, hunting and being hunted. "Kosuke deserves it more than most."
X
Kosu took the point position and it didn't escape her attention that Kakashi subtly rounded the others into an escort formation. He organised it so that Kosu, Rin and Kakashi formed a triangle with Obito and Genma in the centre. Even going as far as to ensure that Obito stood on Genma's left, his weaker side since his left arm had been injured. Definitely not an idiot.
The five children trekked through the forest. Kosu had asked them twice to be more quiet on their feet before realising that the loud crunching beneath their sandal was their version of quiet. The extra noise put Kosu on edge, she knew that there were predators in the area. She'd seen the evidence of wolf kills.
Realising they were a lost cause, Kosu focussed her efforts on listening for any abnormal sounds. She missed Hiro. He was her ears whenever they travelled.
Her hearing paled in comparison to his, which was why she missed the two wolves circling around them. She didn't notice them until the large black and white canine leapt from the surrounding plants straight at her, teeth bared and growl rumbling from deep within it.
Rin screamed.
Obito gasped.
Genma swore.
Kakashi's hand went to his thigh, where his kunai pouch should have been, if only he had worn it. His eyes widened as a second wolf emerged from the bushes, stalking towards the masked boy.
A switch seemed to flick in Kosu's head and her eyes narrowed. Her hand pulled two kunai from her pouch, palming one to her left hand. She threw the kunai in her right hand, handle-first, with pin-point accuracy to Kakashi. At the same time, she thrusted her left hand out and met the mouth of the wolf lunging at her.
The cold metal drove up through the bottom of the wolfs jaw passing all the way through until the tip of the kunai was visible behind the black nose the dog. Its growl turned to yelps and whimpers of pain. It's bright blue eyes met Kosu's and the beast's fear was obvious. Pulling a third kunai from the pouch she wasted no time in stabbing the beast through the eye.
The heavy weight of the wolf fell to the floor. Kosu pulled the kunai from the dead beast and turned, her brow furrowing at the site before her.
Kakashi had been knocked to the floor, a gash on his forearm. The wolf she had expected him to kill was lunging at Rin, who was crying.
"Rin!" Obito bellowed, stumbling over his own feet in an attempt to get to her.
Genma reacted instinctively and since he was without a weapon he used what he had around him. With his uninjured arm he took a handful of wet earth and threw it at the wolf lunging for Rin. The mud hit the beast in the eyes causing it to falter. The brown haired boy gasped as two kunai flew past his head and sunk into the eyes of the wolf. The furry beast dropped dead.
"Rin!" Obito was at the shaking girl's side, hugging her tightly.
Kosu straightened from her slight crouch and met Genma's gaze when he turned to look at her, having tracked the trajectory of the kunai back to her. Her eyes drifted down to his muddy palm and she raised an eyebrow.
Genma swallowed thickly as she walked towards him, tensing as she passed him by and spoke.
"There's no such thing as a cheat shot, Genma."
The words echoed in his head and he vividly remembered Kosuke uttering the same words to him after their first spar all those weeks ago. He hadn't understood back then but he did now.
They either hit or they don't. Genma finished as Kosu passed him by. He'd been such a child! He turned and watched as Kosu crouched by the wolf and pulled the kunai from its head. He'd thought Kosu acted differently because he was an outsider, an outsider who didn't knoew any betster. But that wasn't the case at all, Kosu knew better than anyone. I've been such an idiot.
Kosu frowned as she saw the kunai she'd thrown to Kakashi embedded into the muscly shoulder of the wolf. That wasn't a killing strike. With narrowed eyes she looked over to the masked boy, fists clenched and troubled eyes revealed the inner argument he was experiencing.
Her narrowed eyes widened. He hesitated. Of course he had. Kakashi had to have had an opportunity to kill the wolf, but when it came to actually taking a life he'd faltered. His hand clasped the oozing gash on his arm. Hesitation had cost him.
X
Sakumo's heart was in his mouth.
Yuki, his large white almost wolf-like ninken had picked up Kakashi's scent easily enough. They had been in luck. The heavy rain had wiped all scent from the ground but the wind had carried the smallest traces of it in their direction. Yuki was far too familiar with Kakashi's scent to ignore it.
Their party of four had been quick to begin their pursuit. They were almost there when a scream had chilled their very cores. A scream of pure fear from a young girl – Rin.
Yuki was first into the clearing and immediately under attack. A single kunai was thrown at the giant white dog.
"Yuki." Kakashi was startled from his inner argument as an all too familiar dog appeared.
Kosu had simply reacted and immediately went for what she believed to be another wolf. Yuki snarled and retaliated in kind towards Kosu.
"Wait!" Kakashi found his voice, fumbling slightly to his feet and darting between the two.
Kosu's eyes widened as Kakashi forced himself between her and the white wolf, forcing herself to stop. What the hell was he doing? She frustrated grabbed the two tails of his scarf and pulled the boy behind. The white wolf snapped its teeth at her actions and crouched ready to jump.
"Yuki." Sakumo entered the clearing. Yuki held back on her attack, teeth still bared at Kosu. Kosu snarled back in return, kunai firmly gripped in her palms.
"Dad." Kakashi exhaled in relief, darting from behind Kosu. Sakumo welcomed his son, dropping to one knee and wrapping his large arms around him. His large hand cupped the back of Kakashi, fingers threading through soft hair.
"Kakashi." The white fang breathed.
Kosu swallowed thickly, she recognised the white haired man from her first day in Konoha – Sakumo they'd called him. Her heart rate rose further as three more ninja joined them. Two broke off and immediately went to Obito, Genma and Rin checking to see if there were any injuries that needed attending.
One remained, dark eyes fixed on Kosu.
"Drop the weapons boy." He ordered.
Kosu hesitated. Don't trust him.
Konohagakure shinobi were supposed to be 'her allies now' - at least according to Daiki-sensei. Yet this man's tone set her on edge. She glanced between the wolf and the brown haired man. The emblem on his sleeve didn't escape her notice, a four-point star with a fan in the centre. Uchiha.
"It's okay Kosuke," Kakashi said. "Yuki is my dad's summons." He explained as he pointed to the wolf.
Kosu frowned, but lowered her hands to her sides. It's not the wolf I'm worried about. She slowly placed the kunai back in her pouch, not taking her eyes off of the Uchiha.
"Thank you. Now hand me your weapons pouch." Fugaku said. The demand had Kosu's shoulders tensing.
"Why?" She challenged. Sakumo stood, glancing wearily between Fugaku and Kosuke.
"You are to be taken into custody," Fugaku said. "Where you will be questioned regarding the alleged kidnapping of four Konohagakure citizens."
Kosu's eyes widened, immediately regretting putting her kunai away. Idiot. She cursed herself.
"What!" The question echoed from the mouths of Kosuke peers but it was Obito's voice that was the loudest.
"Fugaku-sama, Kosuke saved us." Obito said, peering around the ninja trying to assess his head. Fugaku glanced at Obito before sweeping his gaze over the two dead wolves, the array of injuries the children had amassed before returning his gaze to Kosu.
"He showed us shelter as well." Genma defended. "We'd probably be dead if it wasn't for him." Something quite warm swelled in Kosu's chest at Genma's words, warm and uncomfortable.
"What were you even doing out of the village?" Sakumo asked, brow furrowed.
"We'd seen Kosuke leaving the village before and followed him." Rin explained having calmed down. "He hasn't done anything wrong, please don't arrest him."
"And why do you leave the village?" Fugaku asked. The report had claimed a hunting trip of all things. The excuse had seemed unlikely given the academic level of the boy. But now that Fugaku had had the chance to observe Kosuke he was inclined to believe it.
"To hunt." Kosu explained. Was the concept that foreign to these village-dwellers?
"Fugaku-san," Sakumo addressed his comrade. "I'm not a member of the police force, but I see no reason for Kosuke to be taken into custody." Fugaku seemed to analyse Kosu for the longest time.
"I agree." He said eventually and the tension that had been building released. "Let's return to Konoha."
Kosu exhaled, her heart rate finally settling down.
She turned to look at the two dead wolves. Such a waste to just leave them. There was no way she could carry both of them, but even taking only one was better than leaving both.
"Kosuke?" Rin asked when she noticed Kosu hadn't moved.
"I'll catch up with you." Kosu said, stepping away from the group and towards the wolf.
"We may not be taking you into custody, but you still need to come with us." Fugaku frowned.
"What is it you need to do Kosuke?" Sakumo asked. Kosu looked turned to him, relieved to see he was genuinely asking and not merely pandering to her.
"It's a waste to just leave them here." She motioned with her hand to the dead animals. There was a mixture of brows furrowing and eyes widening.
"There will be other creatures who will appreciate this find, especially after such a storm." He reasoned. Kosu frowned. Of course she knew that, that was exactly why she should take them.
She looked back to the wolves. She and Hiro did have enough food. It was odd to admit it, since she couldn't recall the last time she and Hiro didn't have to fight to eat. But the pair of them were, dare she say it, comfortable. They didn't need the wolf meet.
She deliberated for a moment but Kosu came around to Sakumo's suggestion. She would leave the meat there, help some other scavenging creature get by in the world.
Kakashi glanced between his father and Kosuke, brow furrowing slightly. For the first time in his life he felt behind, like there was some secret that the pair knew and he didn't. An understanding that passed between the two and bypassed Kakashi entirely.
He stared at Kosu's back as she walked passed him. It didn't happen often, but there were moments just like this one, where it was hard to recognise Kosu as the lowest rank ninja of the class.
Kakashi swallowed thickly and glanced down to the cut on his arm, fist clenching in frustration.
Sakumo scratched the back of his neck. Inoichi was going to love hearing about this one. The Yamanaka had developed quite the interest in 'the deerstalker' and his interactions throughout the village. Sakumo suspected it was because Inoichi was curious by the thought processes and psyche of the young boy. This latest development was going to entertain the blonde man for a while.
X
There was a group waiting for them when they arrived at the main gates. Word had obviously been sent ahead that they were returning.
A couple sets of parents welcomed Genma and Rin with cries of joyful relief. An elderly woman, adorned in Uchiha styled clothes had a similar reaction for Obito.
Once their initial exclamations of joy had passed the parents glanced over all of the children. They were all roughed up and ragged with a collection of injuries between them – all except Kosu. It didn't escape their notice that the smallest child looked like he'd merely been out for a stroll.
"Kosu!"
Kosu's brow furrowed and she turned. There's wasn't supposed to be anyone waiting for her. Hiro was the only one who cared and she had told him to wait at the orphanage for her. Yet there he was approaching her with a wide grin on his face with Hiriko a few paces behind him.
She met Hiro and opened her arms to let the happy boy hug her. Her hand cupped the back of his head.
"I told them there was no reason to worry." Hiro grinned as he pulled away from her. "You would everyone safe and you always come back."
An expression passed over Kosu's face that her classmates didn't think she was capable of. Kosuke was always frowns and seriousness, yet as she looked down at the blonde boy there was only gentleness and love. Kosuke had mentioned he had a brother, but even then it was hard to picture the boy interacting closely with anyone.
"Of course I come back." Kosu murmured.
Her eyes rose to Hiriko and narrowed. The busty woman wasn't greeting her with her usual wide smile. Instead she was staring at Kosu with poorly concealed fear. Warning bells rang distantly in the back of Kosu's mind. Whatever it was that had Hiriko looking at her in such a way she knew she wasn't going to like it. Kosu pulled Hiro a little closer and noted the discomfort increase in Hiriko.
"Can we go home?" Hiro asked. Kosu forced her attention away from Hiriko and turned to Fugaku, an eyebrow raising.
The Uchiha clan leader had been joined by a couple of other officers. They had been discussing matters since the group had passed under the arch of the gate.
Fugaku's lips pulled into a tight line but he nodded. Kosu inclined her head towards the man.
"Let's go little brother." Kosu took Hiro's hand in her own.
"Kosuke!" Rin's call stopped her. She turned around and immediately went like stone as Rin wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug. As quickly as she had engulfed Kosu, she let go. "Thank you," She uttered, a light dusting of pink decorating her cheeks. And like that she scarpered away, back to her parents.
Kosu's eyes were wide, blinking in surprise. What the hell?
Obito's jaw slackened, eyes wide.
She probably would have stayed rooted to the spot if it wasn't for Hiro pulling lightly on her hand. She swallowed thickly and forced her legs to move.
"I'm happy you've found some friends." Hiro chirped from her side. Kosu's brow furrowed and she glanced back over her shoulder.
Friends?
Kosu frowned. Unlikely.
X
Sakumo watched Kakashi wearily. The food in front of the young boy had barely been touched and Kakashi's gaze had barely moved from looking at the bandage on his arm.
The wound had been superficial, but there was obviously something about it that was affecting Kakashi.
"Kakashi?" Sakumo asked, concern lacing his soft tone.
Kakashi sighed and troubled eyes rose to meet his father's gaze.
"Do you ever hesitate?" He asked.
Sakumo didn't have to ask for clarification. His insides chilled. He knew exactly what Kakashi was asking. Did he hesitate to kill?
"No, not anymore." He replied honestly. Kakashi's brow furrowed and his gaze dropped back to his wounded arm. "Kakashi." Sakumo's warm hand found his son's shoulder. "I'd be more concerned if you didn't hesitate. No one your age should be used to taking lives."
His father's words helped him somewhat. But there was something that still pulled at his mind.
"Kosuke didn't hesitate."
To OneWhoReadsTooMuch: Thank you for your review and that is exactly what I was aiming for with Genma's character! Children are brats! I feel like that would be worse when faced with something they dodn't understand. In this case Genma didn't understand a lot of Kosu's reasoning and actions. Which is fair enough considering Genmas has had so little life experience. He still has a very idealised view of ninja. The impression I got from the anime was that a lot of the academy kids envision ninja as honourable samurai rather than actual shinobi. Anyway, I hope that this chapter has been a good one for you, there was lots of character development, particularly Genma. So happy that you like the Mito-Kosu scenes, there some of my favourites to write. And I agree I think it's important for Kosu to have someone she doesn't need to be anything around, someone she can just be herself to. I hope you liked this chapter!
To December 25th: So much trouble haha, that's what you get when 2 clan kids go missing! As for Kosu knowing too much for her age… I've purposely been ambiguous with how old Kosu and Hiro actually are. The two have been malnourished (so are underdeveloped for their ages) and come from a life where birthdays and keeping track of their age isn't all that important. I also try to balance the skills/knowledge that Kosu has with those that she would realistically have picked up and honed in order to survive. Either she has and uses those skills or they would have died. That being said was there anything in particular that screamed unbelievable?
To curlystruggle: Damn straight haha. Thank you for the review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter
To LostPrincessHolly: yay! Thank you! I'm glad you like the whole 'Kosu is a secret spy come to steal the children' saga haha. It's been amusing to write if I'm honest haha. Silly paranoid ninja. And there was a lot more Kosu-canon character in this chapter, as confusing as those interactions are for poor Kosu haha. Thank you for you review, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
To SnowCatt: Thank you for the review! And whilst the accusation was there Fugaku is a good police officer haha. Although, I feel these events have firmly placed Kosu on Fugaku's radar.
To lizyeh2000: Reunion complete! Thank you for the review Xx
To Meiaideas: yay! So glad you like Kosu! And she is, rather heart-breakingly so since she's been forced to grow up waaaay too fast. It's good to hear that someone else enjoys Kosu's inner monologue as much as I do haha. And such a relief to hear that I'm balancing the skill level of all of the children somewhat accurately haha. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
To Kumikocr: Thank you! Hope you liked this chapter!
To Guest from 22/1/17: Yay! Thank you! Hope you enjoyed this chapter
To Sketchbananafairy: Thank you! Damn right he is! He may have been convinced this was all a misunderstanding, but Kosu is firmly planted on his radar now. As for Kosu's gender reveal, realistically yes Hiro will find out… But I don't want to spoil too much more! Hope you enjoyed this chapter
To MusicOfMadness: Awww! I aim for weekly updates if that makes you feel any better! Some Kosuke butt kicking in this chapter and absolutely owning a bad situation haha. And it is frustrating how the others talk to Kosu, but I feel she acts much more like an adult in those situations and doesn't rise to it. Anyway, I feel like after their little excursion they children will certainly be looking at Kosu differently! Hope you enjoyed this chapter
To wyteeth: Have no fear! Kosu may not realise it but she does have some people amassing in her corner! And I agree the children are little shits… but I feel like being as ignorant as they are that's actually fairly common. Konoha children have a habit of being that way :/ I agree with you on the whole 'friends' concept. In Konohagakure there seems to be a culture of friendship that is almost enforced upon shinobi, driven mainly through the whole "will of fire concept" so it's going to be interesting to see that clash with Kosu who is very solitary. She only really knows a life of independence so it's going to be an odd integration for her haha. I have a rough idea of the main events I want to take place in this fic but my plot is fairly flexible. I try to keep it this way so I can stay more true to the character's characterisation, so hopefully anything that does happen will flow naturally. Anywho, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for your lovely comments!
To Kitca: Here you go my friend! I feel like Fugaku worked with the evidence he had at the time and prepared for the worse. That being said I doubt he's finished with Kosu just yet. And Kosu did not take any accusations sitting down! She's a feisty little thing when she wants haha. As so animal summons/companion I was leaning away from doing that as I have a fūinjutsu style in mind for Kosu's character. Plue of the two ninja animals she's encountered so far she's attacked both of them! Haha I hope you enjoyed this update!
To Guest 22/1/17: This is definitely a Kakashi-OC romance. And I feel like their little excursion out of the village has taught the children a lot about Kosu and also themselves. Mito's training sessions will continue to get more significant both from a fūinjutsu development point and from a personal development point of view. Thank you for your comments!
To Moonacre BunBun: HI! *waves excitedly back* Thank you so much! Hiro and Kosu have led a horribly tough life and I can totally imagine her, huddled with her brother and watching the animals gather materials for nests/holes/damns and realising 'there's something to this insulation malarky' haha. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
To UmbreonGurl: Thank you so much! Hope you enjoyed the chapter
To ZippyZappy: Awww, technology was not on your side! Thank you for persevering and reviewing though! I feel like the end of this chapter in particular had poor Kosu confused as hell haha. And I agree with you about Sakumo, he's actually one of my favourite characters so I almost definitely be featuring him in later chapters haha. As for your thoughts about Kosu's reaction to Sakumo's death I won't give too much away. Only this… when I read your comments I smirked ;) Thank you again for your comments and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
To Zilcho: Thank you so much. And I'm glad you enjoyed the change of perspective in the fic. I feel like it adds depth to the story and the characters involved. And I totally agree with you about how weird it is to see Kakashi so intergrated and friendly with the others. It was exactly how I felt when I watched the filler episodes of when that generation as children at the academy and you see Kakashi playing with the others, chatting happily to Rin & Obito and even supporting Gai in his endevours. It makes it all the more tragic that he does a complete 180 and rejects everyone… I think I'm going to find that so emotional to write :( Anyway! Thank you for your review and I hope you continue with the Art of Survival.