Helpful note: Disclaimer & warnings are in the first chapter.
~o0o~
"Eki-chaaan!" Naruto cried out with joy as he kneels before the cat and hugs her.
"Maneki, I didn't know you possess the ability to take human form," Sasuke said.
The cat demon purrs and giggles as Naruto rubbed his head against her big one. She is a head taller than Naruto on his knees. Maneki looks up at the Uchiha and winks, "There are a lot of things about me, Sas-chan, that you don't know." She then pulled away from Naruto and just as quickly transforms back to her human form. "Naruto, hurry!" she stands up taking the blond with her, "I need your help. Darkwater is very sick." She grabs Naruto's hand and dashes back to Sagara's farm, Sasuke following close behind.
"What's wrong with Darkwater?" Naruto asked.
"Is he injured?" Sasuke questioned.
Maneki shook her head, "No, nothing like that. I'm not allowed to give you guys' specific details. I can only tell you that his body his very weak and he's not in his right state of mind. I've been keeping him at bay so far, but he could snap at any moment. Thank Kami he hasn't attacked the old man and his granddaughter."
"If Darkwater is that bad what can I possibly do?" Naruto questioned.
Maneki stops outside of the barn. She turns to Naruto with a fond smile and placed her hand upon a whiskered cheek. "Kit, I know the situation may seem strange, but I need you to trust me, ok?" the blond jounin nodded. "Believe when I say that Darkwater trusts you. He will not hurt you. "
"What about me? Shall I stay outside?" Sasuke questioned, even though he doesn't want to leave Naruto alone with the masked ninja and his demon cat.
Maneki shook her head, "Its ok, Sasuke you can come in too. You are not a threat because Darkwater acknowledges you as Naruto's mate. For that reason alone Darkwater will not harm you." She looks back to the Nine-tails vessel, "I'm going to need Kyu-chan's chakra to placate Darkwater's powers."
Maneki hides any quilt from her expression. She is lying to the blond jounin under Darkwater's orders. She knows very well Naruto's presence alone will be enough to tame her master's madness. Using the Nine-tails is just a cover-up so not to raise any suspicions from Naruto or anyone else. 'If you only knew who my master really is, Naruto…' Maneki thought to herself.
"Kit, I will show you a jutsu that will release Kyu-chan from his confinement and manifest him to real flesh and blood," the cat demon tells the blond.
Naruto looks startled, "W-what…?"
"No fucking way!" Sasuke growled, "If the Nine-tails is separated from Naruto's body Naruto will die."
Maneki shakes her head, "No, he will not. The jutsu will release Kyu-chan, but half of his chakra will still solely be attached to Naruto."
"Why should we trust you?" Sasuke steps forward between Naruto and the cat demon and glares at her. "I will forever be grateful for the help you and Darkwater have provided for us in the past, but I do not trust anyone with Naruto's life. Others have tried to separate the Nine-tails from Naruto to kill him and gain the Nine-tails powers. How do I know you're not doing the same thing?"
Maneki glares back and hisses with anger at the Uchiha. Her anger caused her cat ears and tail to pop out. Her ears lay flat out in anger and her tail swishes back and forth.
Sasuke pulls out his sword and holds it against the cat demon's throat.
"Sasuke, don't!" Naruto tries to pull back his spouse.
The Uchiha is unmovable. He refuses to be intimidated by some demon.
"I would never hurt, Naruto!" Maneki hisses with conviction. "I love Naruto like a little brother. Even if I did want to hurt Naruto, the thought alone would have Darkwater after my life."
Sasuke stares at the cat demon's yellow-green eyes for a moment. Her eyes are narrowed with anger, but Sasuke can see how much his distrust has hurt and offended the cat demon. He lowers his sword and Naruto relaxes, "You may not want to hurt Naruto, but what about Kyubi? If the Nine-tails is released from within Naruto, won't this give him the chance to escape?"
Maneki relaxed as well. Her ears perk above her head and her tail goes lax. She smiles at the Uchiha with a shake of her head, "No, Kyu-chan will not escape. Not that he could anyway. Naruto and the Nine-tails are bound to each other. Even if he did have the chance to escape he wouldn't think it because he cares deeply for his Kit."
"How can you be so sure?" Naruto questioned with concern.
Maneki smiles fondly as she looks into those blue eyes, "Well, when Kyu-chan is released, why don't you ask him yourself. I think it's about time you and Kyu-chan have a serious heart to heart conversation."
"Kyubi and I? I-I don't know if-" Naruto doesn't look so sure.
"Kit, when was the last time you spoke with Kyu-chan?" Maneki asked the blond.
"The last time I spoke to Kyubi was when he helped me defeat the Akatsuki and Madara. And I helped him appease his anger," Naruto said. "Since then I haven't seen or spoken to Kyubi. It always feels like he's hibernating or something like that. I've only felt him once in a while when I truly need the help of his chakra."
"I see…" Maneki furrows her brow in deep thought for a moment before she looks back at Naruto. "Either way, I insist you and Kyu-chan speak with each other. It's important you do so. There are some… things… you should know. And only Kyu-chan should be the one to explain them to you. But right now…" Maneki faced the large barn doors, "it's Darkwater that needs our help."
"Um… Jounin, aren't you going to follow your friends?" Kagome asked the stun and silent man.
Kakashi remained where he stands even way after the demon cat had left with his teammates. Old man Sagara had also followed after the cat woman leaving a trail of drool behind him.
'It's her…' Kakashi's mind is going into overdrive. 'I thought she was-'
Kagome inches away from the silent jounin. Her grandfather always commented how dangerous and crazy ninja can be. And she can tell this silver-head ninja is going through an episode. "Um… I should go now…" The child quickly turns tail and makes a run back to her home leaving the jounin in the middle of the road.
Not that Kakashi would notice his abandonment, 'She's real? That cat is real?' Kakashi's memories are quickly returning to him even without the help of the sharingan. He can vividly remember that cat now. More importantly, Kakashi remembers him, "He was real," his heart gave a loud thump at the memory.
Years ago…
Kakashi groans in pain when he tried to move. Every bone and muscle in his body aches. His whole body feels like a ton of lead. He can't even wiggle a finger.
'This is what I get for overusing the sharingan,' he berated himself.
Kakashi and his team of ANBU were sent to the Land of Demons for an assassination mission. Kakashi did not expect for their enemies to discover them so soon amongst their arrival. The three ANBU were ambushed by six powerful enemies that remarkably possessed both human and demon chakra. It took a great deal of time to defeat them, but one of their enemies had managed to escape, with orders from his leader to sound the alarm. Kakashi and his team needed to get out of Demon Country as soon as possible.
At first, Kakashi and his team tried to outrun their enemies, but the enemy kept appearing out of nowhere attacking the Leaf ANBU. Every battle they had with one or two enemies was slowing them down and draining their chakra. Any slower with their escape and they will soon be facing a whole legion. With Kakashi's quick thinking he ordered his two teammates to escape without him, but to leave a shadow clone of themselves behind. Kakashi would do what he can to detract their enemies from his comrades giving them a chance to survive.
Kakashi wasn't surprised when his two teammates willingly and selfishly left him behind without objection or hesitation. At that moment Kakashi pitied and detested the human race for their selfishness, but he will continue to honor Obito's words and never abandon a comrade. It's just, moments like these, Kakashi found it much more appealing to be and die as a heartless killer than live the rest of his life as a human whom no one cared for.
'A downright fool I am…' Kakashi thought bitterly. 'What's the point, Obito, when the rest of the world doesn't care?' Kakashi can feel the sharingan watering, 'Maa… I guess it's true what they say; no good deed goes unpunished.'
And Kakashi had been severely punished for his good deed. The enemy had caught up to him and dispersed of the two shadow clones leaving him alone to face twelve enemy-nins alone. With the help of the sharingan, Kakashi was able to take half of them down. But overusing the sharingan and his chakra had quickly drained his speed and strength. The six remaining enemies used Kakashi's growing disadvantage to their favor. Kakashi was stricken with many combined jutsus and weaponry. With his low chakra, wounds, and blood loss it had left him impair and vulnerable.
Kakashi had seen the final blow coming that would end his life for good. The closer the blade came the more Kakashi thought how wonderful it would be to see his former team and his parents once again. How his death will finally give him the peace he desires. With one final deep inhale Kakashi lost consciousness and never felt the piercing blade.
'Is this how death feels like?' Kakashi questioned himself.
Kakashi took in slow breaths. His chest stung, but it was tolerable. His brow then furrowed in confusion, 'Does one still feel pain when dead?' Kakashi opens his heavy lid and sees darkness. He tries to look around as best he can, considering he can't move his head. His vision is still a bit hazy, but he can tell he's in a dark room.
"Cawww!"
Kakashi looks up to the roof and sees a black crow perched on a wood beam and staring back down at him.
"Caw-caw!" it crows again and flaps its wings.
Kakashi closed his eye and smiles sardonically. "Maa… I guess I didn't make it into Heaven. I see… I went to that other place." Now he understands the darkness, his pain, and loneliness. An assassin is not worthy to enter into Heaven. Instead, he is meant to suffer for all eternity in the Underworld.
"Caw!"
Kakashi looks back at the crow, "Did you bring my soul to this place?"
"Caw! Caw!" the crow ruffles its feathers.
Kakashi chuckled lowly, "Right…" He feels a tightness in his chest and a lump in his throat. His eyes begin to water. "Idiot! Don't cry!" he sniffled, "What's the point of crying now?!"
"You're awake?" the dark room suddenly fills with light.
Kakashi blinks several times to adjust to the light. And blinks once more in confusion when he is finally able to see where he is, "A shed?"
"Caw!" the crow flies toward the source of the light and is gone.
Kakashi's eye tries to follow the bird, but he can't. He can only guess the bird just flew out an open door because he can smell and feel the morning winter air. "What's going on? Why am I still alive?" Kakashi's mind goes back into ninja mode. "Whatever it is that you want you will not get it easily from me," he tried to sound intimidating even though he's paralyzed. Kakashi attempts to look at the other person inside the shed with him.
The small room echoed with a feminine giggle, "You can relax, Hatake. I am not here to hurt you. On the contrary, Sandaime has sent my master to help you."
"You're what?" Kakashi tried to turn his head to no avail. "Are you a-?"
Before Kakashi can finish his question something jumps onto his chest. Kakashi blinks as he stares into a pair of yellow/lime green cat eyes. She is a pretty little thing, long gray hair with black stripes and white markings. She has a black collar with a silver bell around her neck.
"A cat…" Kakashi said. "You're a Cat Summon?" he questioned the nin-cat.
The cat rolls her eyes at the ANBU, "In a way. How are you feeling today?"
"Today? How long have I been here?"
"You've been unconscious for the past three days. My master healed up all your wounds, but the rest is up to you."
"So… I'm not dead?"
The cat shakes her head, "Far from it I'd say. I'm assuming your pain and immobility is due to Obito-sama's sharingan?"
"Yes. When I – Wait! You know about this eye?" Kakashi watched as the cat looks away from him with a distant expression.
"I know about your…" the cat's ears droop as she looks toward the door, "…I know about Obito-sama's eye."
Kakashi opened his mouth to question further, but his light is suddenly obscured by a tall shadow. His mind races with alarm, but his body refuses to move.
The cat looks back at a single blue-gray eye, "Calm yourself, Hatake. My master will not harm you."
Kakashi, yet again, tried to look and fails miserably. He so desperately wants to see, because for some reason Kakashi can't sense any chakra from his savior. Either Kakashi is too weak to sense another's chakra or this person is beyond skillful. "What is your name?" he questioned the stranger.
Silence is his only answer.
"My master speaks to no one, but Sandaime," the cat tells the silver-head ANBU. The cat then looks to her master for a few seconds before looking back at the young ANBU. "My master says he will continue to guard over you until you've regained your strength. By then I'm sure your comrades will arrive to aid you further."
"What happened to my team? What about the enemy?" Kakashi asked.
The cat raised her left back leg to scratch behind her ear, "Your team is dead," she said in a flat tone. She then looks back at the young ANBU, "They were outmatched by the enemy. But do not worry about them. My master has dealt with the enemy and any tracks that could lead to us. We are camping near the borders of Demon Country as we speak."
'What kind of ninja is this person?' Kakashi thought. The cat is making her master look superior and piquing Kakashi's curiosity. Kakashi tried to look at his savior from the corner of his eye. He can hardly make him out due to all the light filtering from the door. Kakashi looks back at the nin-cat. She's smirking at his failed attempts. "Can you tell me your names?"
"Tsk, tsk, Hatake," the nin-cat chides playfully, "You know an ANBU cannot reveal their identity."
"No, I didn't mean-"
The nin-cat giggled, "I know what you meant, but I cannot disclose any information to you. Sandaime's orders, you understand."
Kakashi scoffed, "Seems unfair to me seeing how you know who I am and you've removed both my mask."
"Yes, well…" she smiles down at the young ANBU with a leer to her eyes. "My master did need to check your whole body to heal any injuries."
Kakashi cursed himself for blushing.
The nin-cat giggled before she looks to her master and then back at the young man again. "I've been ordered to hunt for food. My master will remain outside the shed keeping watch. You should get some more sleep before lunch time." The nin-cat jumps down from the young ANBU and makes her way toward the door.
Kakashi wonders what the nin-cat could possibly go hunting for. A bird? Mice? 'There's no way I'm going to eat mice for lunch,' Kakashi cringes at the thought. Kakashi watched as the cat's shadow grows larger and hazy before it completely disappears.
All that remains is his savior's silhouette against the wall. Kakashi feels the other's eyes on him. If he could, Kakashi would be squirming by now. The door begins to creak and the light is slowly fading away. "Ah…! Wait!" There is a pause. "Um… Thank you… for your help. Kami knows I would've been dead if it weren't for you."
There is a longer pause. Then the door is pushed fully open again letting all the light back inside the shed. Kakashi hears footsteps approaching him and watched the other's shadow grow smaller and smaller. This time Kakashi can see his savior as he looked up at him. Kakashi's eye widens a bit as he looks at the masked ANBU. That's if this person is even ANBU.
'A kid…?' His savior isn't even a man, but a child. Either that or this man is a midget. His little savior wore a dark gray hooded cloak and a pure black mask unlike the regular ANBU attire. That is all Kakashi can see of him.
Kakashi knows there are very skillful and dangerous children in the world who are up to ANBU level. Kakashi had been one of them, but this is the first time he's seen someone even younger than himself being part of ANBU. Not to mention the fact this kid is under orders by Sandaime himself.
Kakashi felt like squirming again as the younger ANBU kept staring down at him. Kakashi looked off to the side, "So… um…"
When the younger ANBU moved, Kakashi can't help but flinch. The younger ANBU slips his right arm out from under his cloak. He leans down a bit and his hand reaches out for Kakashi.
Kakashi closed his eye tight, not sure what the kid is about to do to him. Kakashi berated himself for feeling slightly scared and nervous because of this kid. But when Kakashi feels a gentle touch upon the closed lid of the sharingan, both his eyes shoot open and holds back his breath. To his utter surprise, Kakashi doesn't feel any pain after reopening the sharingan. Instead, Kakashi sees the younger ANBU using his own chakra to soothe and tame the sharingan. Kakashi is shocked such a deed could be done to Obito's eye when he hardly has control over the sharingan himself.
"How are you doing this…?" Kakashi questioned the younger ANBU but receives no answer. Kakashi feels the sharingan growing heavy and depleted. He no longer feels the sharingan trying to drain the remainder of his chakra. Kakashi closed his left lid recovering the sharingan. He is starting to feel drowsy and his mind is becoming hazy. He doesn't feel any aches and pain, but his body is feeling like warm goo. Kakashi hums pleasurably and smiles like a drunk. "Maa… that feels good…" he slurs before Kakashi closed his right eye and his head goes limp.
The younger ANBU pulls up his black mask once the silver-head ninja is dead asleep. He leans further down upon Kakashi and placed a gentle kiss upon the closed sharingan. "Obito…" the younger boy whispered. He then straightens and pulls down his mask back in place. He swiftly turns around and walks out of the shed.
Kakashi stares at the nin-cat and she stares back at him with a cocky smile. Kakashi looks past her to see the elk roasting over the fire. He looks back at the cat, who is ten times smaller than the elk. "You… caught that?"
The cat's mouth spreads open into a grin, "I did."
Kakashi looks back at the elk. The forest animal has large puncture marks on its neck. It looks more like a bear had killed the elk than this little fluffy cat. Kakashi looks at the cat skeptically, 'Could there be more to this cat than meets the eye?' The cat's grin spreads wider as if it just read the young ANBU's mind. "Okaaay then…" But the nin-cat's capability of hunting large game isn't the most perplexing thing though.
Kakashi looks back to the fire pit where the masked kid is watching over the roasting elk.
When Kakashi woke up he found himself leaning against a tall tree trunk under the shade of its leafy branches. Not only was he sitting upright on his own, but Kakashi was able to move all of his limbs above his waist. His body no longer hurt and his sharingan remained dormant under the eye patch provided for him. This should've been ridiculously impossible, but it was happening. Usually, it took Kakashi a week or longer (depending on how much he overuses the sharingan) to regain his full strength back. But this kid's chakra had restored a majority of Kakashi's own chakra points and tamed the sharingan. That's even if the kid had used chakra because the black-blue power Kakashi had seen and felt earlier didn't look or feel like chakra at all.
'How could he do this…?' he questioned himself. Kakashi knows he is looking at a very powerful and skilled ninja. Maybe even more so than the genius prodigy Kakashi has always been claimed to be. 'Who is this kid?'
"May I ask how old he is?" Kakashi questioned the cat.
"You may," the cat answered sarcastically.
Kakashi glared at her. He is not amused.
The cat laughed, "If you must know, he is three years younger than you."
Kakashi looks back at the kid with surprise, "That means he's only 14yrs old."
"That's right."
"Is he-"
"I suggest you keep your curiosity to yourself, Hatake," the cat interrupts.
Kakashi looks at the cat, "Why?"
"Because he won't like it," she answered.
Kakashi looks up and holds back a flinch when he sees the masked kid looking at him. Even though Kakashi cannot see the kid's eyes or expression, he has a sinking feeling the kid is not happy.
Kakashi exhales deeply and looks up at the tree to avoid eye contact with the younger ANBU. He is having a hard time understanding himself at this moment. Kakashi is an elite ANBU, an unemotional assassin, and a damn good dangerous one at that. So why is this kid easily making him squirm with just one look?
Kakashi is inside a large hollow trunk with the nin-cat keeping a vigilant watch of their surroundings.
They had left the shed and their campgrounds an hour ago because the masked kid had sensed enemy-nins lurking nearby. Kakashi's curiosity of the nin-cat was finally answered when she had morphed into a larger cat. She had become big enough to carry Kakashi on her back. She was no bigger than the Inuzuka dogs but was strong enough to move with great speed and agility even with Kakashi's added weight. After a long distance away, the nin-cat hid Kakashi's partly immobile body inside a hollow tree trunk and transformed back to her smaller version.
Time was going by and there was no sign of the masked kid.
"Shouldn't you-"
"Sssh!" the cat hushed him.
Kakashi lowers his voice to a whisper, "Shouldn't you find your master? What if he's hurt?"
The cat scoffed, "Not likely. If he needs my help he will summon me."
Another hour had gone by and still nothing.
Kakashi stirs from his nap when the nin-cat rose off his lap. "What's up?" he whispered as he rubs his right eye.
The cat's ears flattened out as she sniffs the air, "Something is wrong." She looks back at the young ANBU, "I have to go. Stay here. Don't make a sound. Not a single movement. I'll be back before you know it."
Kakashi nods and watches the cat leave, but the nin-cat never returned and neither did the masked kid. The sun was starting to set and the forest is growing colder because of the snow. Kakashi huddles close to himself trying to retain some body heat.
Another hour went by.
Kakashi is shivering. There is no more light out. The cold blowing wind made the quiet forest sound creepy. He's alone… truly alone. Kakashi hugs his trembling-self and rubs up and down his upper arms. 'What a way to die…' he thinks. First his teammates had abandoned him without hesitation and now he is left all alone again by that masked kid and his nin-cat. Kakashi inwardly chuckled to himself, 'Fuck, this sucks.' And Kakashi had actually believed the masked kid could've truly helped him. 'I knew it was too good to be true…' The masked kid had either abandoned him too or had already been killed.
Kakashi wished he had the use of his legs and had the full power of his chakra to get himself out of this dangerous situation, but he doesn't. Whatever the masked kid had done to heal him before the nin-cat told Kakashi her master will not do it again. "Brat!" he insults the masked kid out loud before realizing his mistake.
Snap!
Kakashi holds back a gasp hearing the loud echo of a twig snapping. His heart begins to race hearing the squishing noises of footsteps on the snow coming closer to his hiding place. He hears the soft humming sound of a sword being withdrawn from its sheath. Everything goes silent and Kakashi holds his breath.
Seconds feels like an eternity before the enemy cries out and forcefully pierces the hollow trunk with their sword purposely aiming for Kakashi's life. The sword manages to graze the side of Kakashi's head before he can get out of the way. Kakashi winces at the stinging pain from his new bleeding wound coming from his head. But thanks to the sword his eye patch was cut off and the sharingan came open. Kakashi sees everything. He can see his enemy's chakra as clear as day.
Kakashi quickly takes out several shurikens and swiftly flings them out through the cracks of the trunk. The shuriken hit their mark when the enemy cried out in pain and falls back pulling along their sword with them. Kakashi takes out a kunai and holds it between his lips before he drags his body out of the hollow trunk.
"So that's how you want to play ANBU-scum," the unknown enemy growled. "Let's see you dodge an exploding tag!"
In one second something pierced the trunk and in the next Kakashi sees the trunk light up before everything explodes around him. Seared, injured, and barely conscious – Kakashi's limp body flies across the air.
The enemy jumps after the silver-head ANBU ready to slice him in half, "See you in hell!"
Kakashi sees the enemy inches away and he can do nothing to protect himself, 'Someone… help…'
Suddenly Kakashi's vision is blocked from his enemy and he sees a surge of black-blue power as dark as night and bright as day surrounding him. His mismatched eyes widen when he sees the masked kid surrounded by such power. Kakashi's heart thumps loudly when the younger ANBU pulled him into a tight, warm, and protective embrace. The masked kid's powers engulf him like an ocean wave without the feel of drowning. Kakashi looks over the masked kid's shoulder to see the enemy still coming at them ready to kill them both. Out of nowhere, the large nin-cat appears hissing and roaring. She digs her claws into the enemy's torso and her large fangs pierce the man's head. The nin-cat slams the enemy on the ground while she continues to tear him apart.
The masked kid lands quietly on the ground and gently leans Kakashi back against his bent leg. Kakashi sees the kid's gloved hand trembling as he delicately runs his fingers over his new injuries. Kakashi bets the kid's expression is one of remorse and guilt underneath that black mask.
Kakashi chuckled lowly, "I was the bait… wasn't I?" He feels the kid's body going tense with guilt. Kakashi can't blame him. He probably would've done the same thing to draw the enemy out. But Kakashi didn't want his young savior feeling ashamed of his decision, "Listen, kid, I-"
The masked kid's right hand suddenly glows and undulates with his black-blue power before laying his palm over Kakashi's chest. Kakashi gasped loudly and arches his back when a strange jolt of power shocks his whole body like a stroke of lightning. It didn't hurt, but the sensation was indescribable.
Kakashi flutters his eye open while keeping the sharingan close. Kakashi raised his hands to look at them and sees no burns or injuries. The masked kid had healed him yet again. The kid's healing abilities were incredible and frightening at the same time. Kakashi chuckles to himself when his lower half still refused to move, 'It would've been too good to be true.'
Kakashi is starting to feel guilty himself after doubting the masked kid. He looks up at his young savior and smiles, "I'm glad you never left me. Thank you."
The masked kid once again runs his fingers gently over the closed sharingan before looking into Kakashi's single eye. "I would never let anything happen to you…"
Kakashi's eye widens with surprise hearing the masked kid speak for the first time. The kid's voice sounded so warm, innocent, and kind enough to make Kakashi's heart thunder inside his chest.
The large nin-cat's expression turns stupefied with her mouth gaping causing her to drop the enemy's head. She's utterly shocked her master has spoken to someone else besides Sandaime.
The masked kid placed his glowing hand over Kakashi's eyes blocking the ANBU's sight.
"Hey, what are y-"
"Sleep, Kakashi," the masked kid spoke again. "You will be in good hands when you wake up again."
"No, wait!" Kakashi protested. He didn't want to part from the kid just yet. Kakashi has a gut feeling this kid could be very important him. And not because of the prowess the kid can provide on the battlefield, but to his very life. Kakashi wants… needs to know who this kid is. His hand moves up to pull the masked kid's hand away, but another jolt of the kid's powers gently shocks his system and Kakashi goes limp.
Kakashi jolts awake with distress.
"Hold him down!" someone ordered.
Kakashi sees two medic-nins holding him down while a Doctor addresses his wounds. "What's going on?"
"Welcome back, Kakashi," someone else spoke.
Kakashi looks across the hospital room to see Sandaime sitting in a chair, "Hokage?"
"The one and only," Sandaime rises off his seat, "Now that he's awake, I must speak with Kakashi alone."
"But Hokage, he's-" the Doctor began to object.
"He'll be fine," Sarutobi interrupts. "Kakashi's life isn't threatened anymore. A quick chat with his Hokage won't kill him."
"Of course, Hokage," the Doctor and his assistance bow to The Third before they walk out of the white room.
"How are you feeling?" Sarutobi stands at the end of the bed.
Kakashi sits up against his pillows, "Like I've been hit by my own raikiri."
Sarutobi chuckled at that before his expression grows serious. "What do you remember before you passed out?"
Kakashi tells him everything. From the moment they arrived in Demon Country, to the ambush, his teammates willingly leaving him behind under his order, up to fighting for his life before he lost conscious. "What happened to me, Hokage? How did I get here?"
Sarutobi taps his pipe on the back of his hand, "When I found out your mission was a trap, I sent another team of ANBU after you. They arrived too late to save your team, but they managed to make it in time before you were killed. You were gravely injured. The ANBU's kept you fairly alive before they got you to Konoha. For the past week, you've been unconscious, but you've been healing up nicely. Now I want you to get plenty of rest, Kakashi. Once I get an 'ok' from the Doctor you'll be returning to active duty." Sarutobi began to walk away.
"Hokage?"
Sarutobi stops and looks back at his shinobi, "Yes?"
"What… What happened to the masked kid?" Kakashi questioned.
Sarutobi raised a curious eyebrow, "Masked kid? What do you mean?"
Kakashi sees the confusion in his Hokage's expression. "Um… Never mind, Hokage…" Kakashi lies back down against his bed and pulls the sheets up to his head. "I'm feeling tired again..."
Sarutobi smiled, "Rest well, Kakashi. I'll be checking up on you again tomorrow."
Kakashi remains under the white sheets even after he hears Sandaime close the door. 'What's going on? What happened?' Kakashi thinks to himself. 'Was that masked kid and his cat some near-death delusion of mine?' Kakashi's mind was so confused.
Even after Kakashi had left the hospital and returned to active duty, his sharingan did not show him anything about the masked kid or his nin-cat. As days came and went his own mind could vaguely remember the masked kid anymore. Kakashi couldn't tell whether the kid had been real or an illusion. Within time Kakashi gradually stopped thinking about his little savior until he had completely forgotten all about him.
Present time…
Maneki steps out of the barn and closed the large door behind her.
"Mind explaining to me what's going on?"
Maneki looks to her right to see the Copy-nin leaning against the barn and looking very crossed, "I take it you remember now?"
Kakashi glares at her.
Maneki giggles completely unfazed by the jounin's anger, "Come on, Hatake. Let's take a walk."
Thank you for reading! (^_^)/