Helpful note: Disclaimer & warnings are in the first chapter.
~o0o~
The large demon cat made her way through the foliage following an unknown road in the forest leading back to Konohagakure. She paused and tilts her big head upwards watching the morning sun getting higher. She sniffed the air and her nose scrunched a little smelling the different scents of village life getting stronger.
Maneki continues walking, "We're almost there."
"Hn…" Iruka answered weakly from behind the demon cat. The chuunin is riding the large cat's back and leaning heavily against her neck and big head.
"How are you feeling, pup?" Maneki asked the chuunin.
"Besides feeling nauseous and like my head is about to explode? I'm just peachy," grumbled Iruka. He buried his face deeper into the cat's soft fur to keep the sunlight away from his eyes.
Maneki rebuked, "I told you we should have gone slower. You're in no condition to be traveling so fast."
"Even so, we need to get to Konoha before they do. I have to speak to Lady Tsunade before Hatake does."
Maneki suddenly walks off the road into some tall brush to conceal herself and her chuunin. She lays down on all fours and tilts a bit to the side to let the chuunin slide easily off her.
"What's wrong?" Iruka asked.
"Nothing, I just think it will be best to take a little break," Maneki said. The chuunin is ready to object, but Maneki interrupts him, "We're not far, Ru. We'll make it back way before they do."
Iruka released a heavy tired breath before making himself comfortable and leaning his back against the large cat. Maneki curled her fluffy tail over Iruka like a blanket to keep him warm.
There's a small moment of silence between them...
"Ru -"
"Let it go, Maneki," Iruka intervened while massaging his temples.
"I can't do that, Ru," Maneki tells him.
"Why?"
"Because something is going on between you and Hatake and I want to know what."
"Nothing is going on between us," Iruka sounded offended Maneki would even think such a thing.
"Nooo, there is. I return back to the barn and what do I see? You sleeping on Hatake's lap and cuddling up to him like some love-sick pup."
Iruka turned his head sharply toward the demon cat and glares at her indignantly.
"Hey, don't give me that look, pup! I'm not the one acting crazy here."
Iruka huffed and looks away annoyingly.
"So tell me, what happened?" Maneki persisted.
"I can't tell you…" Iruka answered quietly.
"Oh, come on, Ru! You need to give me some kind of explanation."
"I can't…" Iruka repeated – his head is starting to throb.
"Something is obviously going on between you two," Maneki continues. "This is not the first time this has happened with Hatake either. But what surprised me the most is that he's still alive. I mean the bloody human kisses you and he's still alive?"
"I…" Iruka's head is throbbing more.
Maneki continues with her rant completely oblivious to the chuunin's pain. "I've lost count how many perverted people have died by your hands. Hatake isn't any different from those people and yet you haven't killed him? Why, Ru? What's so special about Hatake? He's just another human trying to take advantage of you."
Iruka clenched his head with his shaky hands. Visions of the Copy-nin assault his mind and his senses – Kakashi's warmth, his gentle care… his kiss. Iruka's head feels like liquid ice trying to fight away any thoughts of Kakashi, but his heart is bursting with indescribable heat remembering how good, safe, and… perfect if felt being within his arms.
"Could it be because of the sharingan?" Maneki questioned thoughtfully.
Iruka's visions of Kakashi are suddenly irrupted by Obito Uchiha's presences. A young Obito stood in front of the tall Copy-nin, both of them staring at Iruka. While Kakashi is looking at Iruka with his smiling eye, Obito is openly glaring at the chuunin looking betrayed and hurt. Iruka's heart constricts with pain and guilt as Obito's dark eyes stare into his. Kakashi then placed his gloved hands on Obito's shoulders and Iruka can faintly make out a smirk behind the man's mask. Obito continues to glare and silently mouths a question to Iruka, "Who?" Within a blink of an eye, Iruka's eyes widen with panic when he sees Kakashi holding a kunai to Obito's throat and Obito holding a kunai to Kakashi's heart. Iruka takes a step back and shakes his head in disbelief. They were making him choose. Iruka already knows who he should choose, but he can't. Something was terribly wrong with him because his Master's name wouldn't leave his lips.
Kakashi and Obito become angry and impatient with the chuunin and they both angrily mouth the question, "Who?!"
"I don't know!" Iruka yelled angrily and frustrated causing his ears and tail to pop out. His vision of Kakashi and Obito shred away to nothingness.
Maneki couldn't help but flinch at the sudden outburst and the intense jolt of power Iruka released, "Whoa…! Calm down, pup. You're in no condition to be getting upset right now." She finally watched Iruka with concern seeing his painful expression, but she continues on. She has too in order to help him. "Then what do you know?"
Iruka tries to steady his breathing along with his aching heart, "I don't know what I know... Everything is just so confusing right now. I can't explain this strange connection I have with Hatake and its troubling me. Maybe it is because of the sharingan, but… I don't know… I really don't know…" Iruka released a deep breath.
"Hmm…" Maneki ponders for a bit, "if I didn't know any better, I'd say you are behaving like Hatake is your -"
Iruka looks sharply at the demon cat with fury in his eyes and ears flat out in anger, "Don't you dare say it," he growled lowly.
"But it's not impossible, right?" Maneki said as she stands up on all fours and looks down at the troubled chuunin. "After all, there are loopholes to that binding red-thread of yours and Hatake does possess Obito-sama's sharingan. Can you imagine the possibilities?" Maneki grins at the chuunin.
Iruka scoffed, "Loopholes or not, I refuse to believe such ludicrous ideas." Iruka wills away his animal ears and tail before standing himself. He takes hold of Maneki's mane ready to swing himself onto her back again.
"Have you considered asking Solora-sama about this?"
Iruka goes rigid…
Maneki watched the chuunin from the corner of her eye. An empty darkness shadows Iruka's eyes and Maneki knows he's recalling some hurtful memories. She may have stepped into unwanted territory mentioning that name, but asking Solora-sama for help or advice is better than nothing.
Iruka swings himself onto the demon cat, "Do not mention her name in my presence again, Maneki," Iruka's voice quietly commanded, but it held so much cold anger. "Let's go home."
"Thank you, everyone, for your hard work," Tsunade said to her shinobi. She set aside their mission report to review later. "Now if you'll excuse us, I would like to speak to Kakashi alone."
"Dang, Kakashi, back home for thirty minutes and you're already in trouble before me?" Naruto joked.
"Then I would like to speak to you about that thing you're carrying around like a pet," Tsunade said to the blond jounin who is holding a little red fox inside his jacket.
"I'm not a thing or a pet!" Kurama growled at the Hokage, "I'm the mighty Kyubi no Kitsune, old hag."
Tsunade's eye twitched at the insult and looks ready to kill.
Naruto laughed meekly as he shoves Kurama deeper into his jacket, "We'll leave now seeing how busy you are." Naruto runs out of the office not bothering to wait for Sasuke.
"Naruto and I will explain the fox when you're ready, Godaime," Sasuke said, bowing his head and behaving more professionally before leaving.
Shizune closed the door after Sasuke before occupying herself in Tsunade's office.
Tsunade noticed the silver-head jounin subtly watching her assistant and probably wondering why she wasn't dismissed as well. "Shizune knows," Tsunade told the Copy-nin and finally acquires his full attention.
Kakashi suspected as much, but he didn't appreciate Tsunade's verification to his thoughts. It bothers him that Tsunade's assistant has known of Darkwater for who knows how long and he is just finding out his illusions of Darkwater were very much real. If Shizune knows, it bothers him to think she has probably entrusted such information to Gai as well. It bothers him that Naruto and Sasuke have also known of Darkwater for many years after they revealed to Kakashi their minor interactions with the masked man.
So why wasn't Kakashi told of Darkwater's existence? There is no doubt to Konohagakure that Kakashi Hatake is one of the Godaime's most valuable shinobi. And yet, such a secret was kept from him?
Tsunade then smirked at the jounin with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "How's the face? Anything broke?"
Shizune stifles a giggle.
Inner-Kakashi's eyebrow twitched with annoyance while his outer-self refused to acknowledge the aching pain of his right cheek where the demon cat had punched him hours ago. Of course, he rightfully deserved it for trying to damask her master, but it still hurt like hell. 'Damn that feline and her strength.'
Kakashi could have easily dodged Maneki's strike, but he was minding the masked man sleeping over him. After Maneki had punched him, she had scooped up her master in her arms and hissed at the jounin, "You won't be so lucky next time, Hatake!" before they both disappeared.
Kakashi had no doubts the demon cat would rat him out to his Hokage. And by the look Tsunade is giving him, she also agreed he deserved it. "So they're in the village?" Kakashi moved the conversation along.
"Yes, they're here," Tsunade answered. "Darkwater is going about his usual duties as a Leaf of this village and I could care less where that demon cat is."
"Is he doing better?"
"More or less…" Tsunade began to busy herself writing on a document as she continued to speak. "Just like any nin when over depleted, it will take time for Darkwater to return to normalcy and full strength."
"Why was I lied to by Sandaime?" Kakashi began his questioning. He figured Tsunade must already know of his past encounter with Darkwater many years go. "Why wasn't I told anything by Master Jiraiya or by you? Was I not trusted?"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes a bit at the jounin, hearing the slight bitterness in the man's voice, "This has nothing to do with trust, brat. We were also placed under strict orders not to reveal Darkwater's existence. That same order and responsibility would have fallen upon you if you had accepted the position of the next Hokage."
In the back of Kakashi's mind becoming the Rokudaime isn't sounding so bad anymore. More importantly, Kakashi is wondering who has the power to order the legendary Sannins and The Third to keep such a secret quiet. Maybe the Daimyo? Maneki refused to tell him who and he's certain Tsunade will do the same.
"Who else knows about Darkwater?" Kakashi asked.
"A few others," Tsunade kept her answer simple, but it's obvious she isn't going to reveal specific names.
"Is he a jinchuuriki?" Kakashi asked.
Tsunade paused and looks up at the jounin curiously for a few seconds before going back to her writing. "Maneki told me you saw his true form." 'And I'm surprised you're still breathing… ' she thought to herself. "No, he's not a jinchuuriki," and she continues to answer the jounin's next unspoken question, "Nor is he a demon or completely human either."
"Then what is he?" Kakashi questioned.
"I don't really know," Tsunade answered truthfully with a slight shrug.
"Didn't Sandaime or Master Jiraiya tell you what he is?"
Tsunade sets her pen down and inclines back against her chair. "No, they didn't, because they didn't know either. Nobody knows what he is. Not even Darkwater himself knows what he is or the origin of his kin."
"Then why keep such a -" the Godaime narrowed her eyes in warning and Kakashi chose the right word to address Darkwater, "- being at your side and in the village who you know nothing about? He can be a hazard to Konoha." Even though he said it, Kakashi's words felt bitter and wrong to him. Deep down Kakashi's knows he can trust Darkwater, but his instincts as a ninja wouldn't allow him to admit such trust yet.
"His secret persona may be questionable, but he is a good man with a kind heart. He is a dedicated Leaf. His family has always protected Konoha and its people since the creation of this village. Darkwater is following in his parents' footsteps to honor their memory," Tsunade said all this earnestly and looking proud as she spoke of Darkwater.
"I can assist you with him and help Darkwater on missions," Kakashi said nonchalantly with a bored eye, but he's dying of curiosity of what the masked man could possibly be and what he is capable of. More importantly, he wants to see Darkwater again.
Tsunade smiled sardonically, "I appreciate your help, Kakashi, but that is impossible. Darkwater trains and works alone for a reason. He is incapable of cooperating with another living soul besides with his partner."
Kakashi furrows his brow, "Partner…?" He doesn't know why, but Kakashi did not like hearing that Darkwater has a partner. Something feels tremendously wrong to Kakashi knowing there is someone out there that is exclusively close to Darkwater and probably even knows more about him than anyone else.
Tsunade becomes still after realizing her mistake too late. Even Shizune had paused in her doings and stared at her Hokage incredulously for a second before going back to her work.
Tsunade averts the jounin's gaze and goes back to reviewing some documents. Tsunade cleared her throat, "Yes, partner," she repeated lowly, "Darkwater does – I mean, did have a partner once. He died long ago…"
It isn't right, but Kakashi couldn't help the relief he felt. "I don't mind being partnered up with him."
"Again, thank you for your help, Kakashi, but that is still impossible," Tsunade said, still not looking at the jounin in the eye. "Unfortunately, Darkwater's old partner happens to be irreplaceable." She must end this conversation now. She can't reveal any more to Kakashi.
"Irreplaceable? There are very skilled shinobi and kunochi in your village, Hokage-sama, that can replace Darkwater's old partner," Kakashi argued impassively. Not that he's really going to let someone else take his opportunity to work alongside Darkwater. "What was so special about his old partner anyway?"
Tsunade didn't answer and refuses to answer any more of the jounin's curious questions. She stands from her chair and drops her pen on the desk. Tsunade released a heavy breath before looking at the silver-head man, "We are done, Kakashi."
"What? Why?" Kakashi is far from done. They have barely begun to scratch the surface. He wants more answers.
"Because whatever I tell you now will not make a difference later… once Darkwater gets his hands on you."
Kakashi looked at his Godaime skeptically, "Maneki said the same thing to me yesterday. Why?"
"You are not supposed to know of Darkwater, Kakashi. Once he is fully recovered he will find you and erase any memories of himself from you."
"And you're allowing this?!" No, Kakashi can't forget. He didn't want to. He needs to –
Knock, knock!
Kakashi's frantic thoughts were stopped by a knock on the office door.
"Yes?" Tsunade is grateful for the interruption.
"I'm here to pick up the documents, Hokage-sama."
Kakashi's heart skipped a beat before thumping wildly against his chest.
"Come in, Iruka," Tsunade said.
The door softly squeaks open and Iruka steps in, "Sorry to disturb-" Iruka freezes mid-step seeing the back of the silver-head jounin.
Tsunade and Shizune watch the two still men curiously before looking at each other confusedly. Tsunade raised a questioning eyebrow and Shizune shrugged before they went back to staring at the two men again. Kakashi is looking like his usually bored self, but Tsunade had felt his chakra jolt for a second when the chuunin had made his presence known. Iruka is the most perplexing though because while his chakra feels inimical toward the other man, he is trying to fight away a blush like his life depends on it.
'Interesting…' Tsunade thought. This is the first time she's seen Iruka react so consciously toward someone else that isn't his master. Dozens of possibilities began to float inside her head watching Iruka's reaction toward Kakashi. 'Could this be a good sign…?' she wondered to herself.
Iruka steels his emotions. He faced Tsunade and ignores the jounin's existence in the room, "Forgive my intrusion, Hokage-sama. I didn't know you were in a meeting." Iruka bowed his head, "I'll return at a later time."
"You are not intruding, Iruka," said Tsunade. "Kakashi and I are done with our little discussion."
Kakashi said nothing to that. It's as if the subject of Darkwater wasn't that important anymore to Kakashi the moment Iruka arrived. He remained motionless basking in Iruka's presence regardless of the chuunin's unfriendly chakra.
"These are done," Tsunade gestured toward a small pile of documents.
"There would've been more, but Hokage-sama kept taking one too many breaks," said Shizune, which earned her a glare from Tsunade.
Iruka shakes his head disappointedly at his Hokage as he walks up to her desk. It didn't go unnoticed how Iruka walked around the Copy-nin to keep a small distance from the older man. Iruka gathers the signed documents, "After my shift ends I'll return to help you finish a lot more, Hokage-sama. Shizune, make sure our dear Hokage-sama doesn't leave the building."
Shizune laughed, "Of course, Iruka-sensei."
Tsunade crossed her arms and pouts, "I hate you both," she grumbled.
Iruka chuckled knowing very well his Hokage didn't mean it. "Now, if you'll excuse me," Iruka bowed his head again and makes his way toward the door. Iruka keeps his eyes on the open door and avoiding any eye contact with the jounin, 'Must get out, must get out, must get out!' he keeps telling himself. 'Don't look at him. Whatever you do, don't look at him.' It feels like it's taking forever for Iruka to reach the door.
It would take but one more step to walk pass the jounin and Iruka will soon be out the door, just one step. The chuunin was about to take that one step, but Kakashi suddenly raised his arm blocking the chuunin's path. Iruka quickly withdraws against himself, clutching the documents to his chest. Iruka's cheeks tint looking at that gloved hand before his eyes. A hand that has taken many lives, but had petted him gently and easily lulled him to sleep hours ago.
"Iruka-sensei…"
Iruka's cheeks flamed hearing Kakashi say his name with his deep rich tone. Images and feelings of Kakashi's care, his kiss, and touch return in full force burning into his being like a wildfire. Iruka holds back a shiver and sharply looks away from the jounin to hide his agitation. He squeezed his hands into tight fist feeling his fingernails dig into his skin. The pain helps him relax for the moment. "Yes, Hatake?"
Kakashi doesn't look at the chuunin next to him knowing Iruka wouldn't want to look at him either. "…I'm sorry… for what happened before. I never meant any harm to you, Iruka-sensei."
Iruka squeezed his fist even tighter, "I know… I'm sorry I injured you as well, Hatake."
Kakashi frowned underneath his mask. The chuunin continued to address him respectfully, but Kakashi can hear the slight bitterness in Iruka's voice. Not to mention Iruka's chakra kept spiking. The chuunin still isn't ready to talk to him or might never be. Kakashi mentally sighed in defeat. He lowered his arm to let Iruka pass.
"Excuse me…" Iruka said and hurries out the room.
Kakashi's posture slumps even further at the sound of the door clicking shut. He slips his hands into his pockets and keeps his eye on the floor. "If there isn't anything further to discuss, I'll take my leave now, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade watched her jounin with concern. The jounin may look and sound indifferent, but his chakra is feeling listless. "Kakashi…"
"How much… longer?" the exhausted jounin said to his partner as he continues to run alongside him.
"Not long. Keep running. We'll make it," said the second jounin.
"I… can't… I'm burning out more chakra… than I want to…" but he keeps running even with the added weight he's carrying. He holds on tightly to the injured ANBU on his back and pushed the limits of his strength and chakra to go faster. He has a debt to repay to this ANBU after he had saved his life. They need to reach Konoha before it becomes too late for the ANBU.
"Incoming!" the second jounin yelled and they both dodge out of the way at the last second before they were struck by dozens of shuriken.
It took the first jounin everything he had from losing his balance and dropping the injured ANBU. He goes down on one knee, gasping for air. His strength is weakening and he hardly has any chakra left.
"Get up!" the second jounin yelled to his partner. "Run! You can make it!" He takes off in the opposite direction.
"Where are you going?!" the first jounin yelled after his partner.
"I'll hold them off. Get to Konoha and inform Hokage-sama what is happening." The second jounin goes after their enemy and disappears into the thick foliage.
He did not want to abandon his friend. He did not want his friend to fight or die alone, but his duty to his village comes first above all. With his remaining strength, he stands up on shaky legs and holds the ANBU securely to his back. He concentrates the last of his chakra to his feet and brakes into a run and never looks back.
"…be patient," Tsunade said to the Copy-nin. "I know you have many questions for Iruka, but he's not ready to give you his answers. Give him time, Kakashi. When Iruka is ready he will find you. I'm sure of it."
Kakashi nods in understanding. Of course, he wants answers to Iruka's relationship with Obito, but he wants more than that from Iruka. He needs to know why the chuunin hates him. He wants Iruka to accept him as a friend.
"I'll be going then…" Kakashi said.
The second Kakashi was about to poof away Tsunade's door is slammed open.
"Hokage-sama, we need your help!" Ibiki bellowed. "There's been an incident."
Tsunade, Shizune, and Kakashi quickly follow Ibiki as he leads them through the hospital's corridors.
"Twenty minutes ago one of our jounin collapsed outside the village gates. Akishino wasn't severely injured, but he was nearing death from chakra depletion," Ibiki told everyone.
"How is he now?" Tsunade questioned.
"Akishino has been stabilized, but will remain under intensive care for the time being," answered Ibiki.
"What happened to him? Were you able to get any answers from him?" Kakashi asked the T&I specialist.
Ibiki shook his head, "He was already in a state of coma before help could reach him. But we did get answers from the injured ANBU Akishino had helped." Ibiki stops outside a door to face his Hokage, "There's a group of ninjas dwelling in the outskirts of the forest. How many? The ANBU couldn't say. But according to what the ANBU said I'm not sure if these ninjas should be categorized as friends or enemies."
"What do you mean?" Shizune asked.
Ibiki keeps his eyes on his Hokage, "The ones who attacked; three of them were Leaf-nins, two were from Sand, and one from Rain. Inexplicably those six ninja are sharing the same chakra. The ANBU said those ninjas expressions were completely blank and devoid of emotions. They didn't seem to be aware of their own actions either. Their movements and attacks were all in sync with each other. It's almost as if -"
"Someone is controlling them…" Kakashi interrupted with his conclusion.
Ibiki nods at Kakashi in agreement.
"Do we know what they want? What they're after?" Tsunade questioned.
"No," Ibiki said. "But whoever is in control they are using one powerful jutsu. I've already sent out a group to scan the forest. They were given orders not to come in direct contact with the enemy, but only to observe."
"Good," Tsunade said. "We might need someone from the Hyuuga clan or Kakashi and Sasuke's sharingan to look deeper into this controlling jutsu." Tsunade looks to Kakashi, "I want you to get Sasuke and Naruto. Team up with them and head for the forest. Find out anything you can."
"Understood," said Kakashi.
"Wait," Ibiki quickly cuts in before the Copy-nin could leave. "There is something else you all must know."
"What is it?" Tsunade questioned.
Ibiki looks to Shizune as he takes a slow side step to further block the white door behind him. "The ANBU Akishino saved, he's in critical condition. The medic-nins managed to stop the bleeding and close the deeper wounds. His right hand was completely severed. He has multiple fractures, including damages to his spinal cord leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. We don't know how much longer he's going to last in his condition…" Ibiki looks away from everyone looking downcast now, "It's Gai…" he revealed the ANBU's name softly.
Kakashi and Tsunade's expressions went wide open with horrid shock. Shizune held back her breath as her trembling body pushed past everyone and rushed inside the white room. Kakashi and Tsunade quickly follow after Shizune with Ibiki stepping in after them.
Shizune's eyes go wide dripping with tears. Her hands cover her mouth as she shakes her head slowly with disbelief seeing her damaged love one lying motionless on the hospital bed.
Mostly all of Gai's body is covered in gauzes. What can be seen of his skin is bruised, seared, and cut. His right hand is gone as Ibiki had said. He's surrounded by tubes and connected to a life-support. Four exhausted medic-nins surround Gai around the bed concentrating their healing chakra into the Green Beast. The only thing that indicates Gai is still alive is the sad beeping of his heart monitor.
Tsunade forces her eyes away from Gai and looks to her distraught friend. She reaches out for her, "Shiz -"
"Gai!" Shizune screamed and finally reacts to this painful reality.
With her abnormal strength, Tsunade grasps onto Shizune and holds her back within her tight embrace. Shizune wept and cried uncontrollably as she pushed and pulled against Tsunade wanting comfort and needing to be next to her love one.
"Someone get me a relaxant for Shizune now!" Tsunade ordered. A nurse hurries out the room to fetch the drug. Tsunade cups Shizune's face, forcing Shizune to look at her. "Gather yourself together, Shizune!" Tsunade commands. "Gai needs your help more than ever."
The nurse comes rushing back into the room and injects Shizune with the relaxant. Shizune inhales deeply feeling the drug working its magic. Her body begins to relax and her tremors lessen.
"I can't help Gai without you, Shizune," Tsunade told her. "You are the best medic for the job right now."
Shizune nods as she wipes away her tears, "Thank you, Lady Tsunade," she sniffled.
"Eiko, summon for Sakura. We'll be needing her help," Tsunade told a nurse.
"Right away, Hokage-sama," Eiko rushed out of the room to fetch the pink-haired kunochi.
"Kakashi," Tsunade turns to the silver-head jounin, who is bearing a cold glint to his single eye after seeing the condition of his longtime friend. She can see the infamous Sharingan no Kakashi awakening within him. She can see Kakashi ready to unleash the deadly Hound if needed. Kakashi looks ready to inflict pain on the people who've done this to Gai. If anyone will get to the bottom of this it will be the Copy-nin, along with Konoha's jinchuuriki, and the last of the Uchiha. "Get your team together and capture this new foe."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Kakashi said lowly.
"Ibiki," she turns to the taller man, "Where is Iruka?"
Kakashi's heart thumped loudly hearing that name and awakening from his darkness.
"He's still in the Mission Room," said Ibiki.
"I don't care what you do or say, but I want him underneath the Hokage Tower until this is over with," Tsunade ordered. "Iruka must not know of Gai's condition."
"It's already been taken care of," Ibiki told her. "He should soon be heading down the tower."
Kakashi watched Tsunade and Ibiki confusedly.
Shizune grabs Tsunade's arm desperately, "But he can help. If Iruka-sensei knows, then -"
Tsunade holds her friend's hand in hers, "No, Shizune. Iruka cannot know. The risk is too high."
"B-but…" Shizune begins to cry again. "We need him. Gai needs him!"
Kakashi continues to look back n' forth between everyone still utterly confused.
"I'm sorry, Shizune," Tsunade hugs her friend, "but we can't involve Iruka. I'm sorry."
Ibiki placed his hand on Shizune's shoulder and apologizes too.
Kakashi wants to know what the hell they're all talking about and what does Iruka have to do with all this, "Uhm…"
Konoha's sirens suddenly go off followed by a thunderous explosion. Two ANBU appear inside the white room.
"Hokage-sama, the enemy is attacking!"
"They're outside the gate!"
Iruka does his best to keep the children from the Academy calm and positive inside the Hokage Monument regardless of the loud rumbles, explosions, and earthshaking that is going on outside. Iruka looks around the large hidden room inside the mountain. Families were huddling close to each other for comfort. Some children and women wept quietly out of fright. Every ninja and civilian with arms clutched a weapon in their hands.
Everyone held their breaths when the wood door was banged open. Two jounin and a chuunin came rushing in with several more children and civilians. Two medic-nins came along with the group to assist anyone that might be injured. When the two jounin and chuunin left, many crowded around the medic-nins asking questions as to what is going on.
Iruka looked down when he feels a tug on his pant. Iruka smiles, "What is it, Toriko-chan?"
"What's going on, Iruka-sensei? Why is this happening?" Toriko asked and many children turn to Iruka as well waiting for an answer.
Iruka is surrounded by many little frighten expressions. His heart aches for these children, 'How many of you will lose someone dear to you today…? How many of you will continue this battle one day…?' But all Iruka can do for them is teach and prepare them for what is to come in the near future. Iruka looks down at Toriko with a comforting smile while petting her curly black hair, "Don't worry, Toriko-chan. I promise to protect you…" He looks up at everyone, "All of you. I'll protect everyone, I promise." Some children sniffled while others held back their tears, but they all gathered around Iruka and hugged him.
Not long did the battle outside drew quiet. Everyone hoped the Hokage and her Leaf-nins have everything under control. Everyone hoped it was over.
Iruka steps away from the children when they grew calm when the battle had gone silent. He's thirsty and walks over to the water cooler provided for everyone.
"…Last time I heard, Sakura Haruno was being escorted to the intensive care unit."
Iruka looks over at the two medic-nins talking amongst themselves, 'Sakura-chan?!' He quickly steps over to the two women, "What happened to Sakura? Is she ok? Was she injured?" he's going into a panic.
"No, Iruka-sensei. Please calm down. Haruno-san is ok," the first nurse assured the chuunin.
"She was rushed to the hospital to assist Hokage-sama and Shizune," the second nurse told Iruka.
Iruka released a breath of relief, "Thank goodness."
"I do hope with Haruno-san's help they will be able to save him," the second nurse continued to say.
"I pray that he survives, but he was critically damaged…" said the first nurse gravely.
The second nurse wipes a tear away, "This village will not be the same without him."
Iruka frowned worriedly, "Who do you speak of? Who has been critically injured?"
The second nurse looks at the chuunin as another tear rolls down her cheek, "Gai Maito…"
Iruka's heart stops.
The nurses gasped and step back when they see the water in Iruka's cup bubble and turn black before the chuunin lost all feeling and dropped the paper cup. Dark water splatters over the cold floor continuing to gurgle and hiss as it burns and melts right through the stone floor.
Thank you for reading! (^_^)/