Chapter 12 as promised!
Taita: Thank you very much for pointing it out. Guess I didn't really thought of it when I was writing... too eager to get Kakshi n Iruka together. But yep, I realized the problem now... I won't edit that chapter but I'll take note for my future writings.
Thank you to Taita, hatakeumino, americanXminority for reviewing!
Chapter 12
I betrayed Iruka. Kakashi lay curled up on his side on the cold hard bed. Images of the previous night played repeatedly in his head. The soft touch, the pleasure, and then the bile sense of betrayal and disgust when he realized it had been Kabuto all along.
I'm sorry Iruka, I'm so very sorry. Kakashi tasted the coppery taste of blood as he bit his lip in anguish. He had turned Iruka away, he had betrayed Iruka. And all I've accomplished is to hand Orochimaru the very thing he wants. The Sharingan. I knew it was a curse.
Kakashi groaned in despair. Dammit. Orochimaru wants the Sharingan, that much Kakashi knew. The only reason why Kakashi was still alive and why the transfer had not taken place was that there were certain preparations that had to be made before the operation could take place.
If Orochimaru acquired the Sharingan, he would become much stronger than he is now. And more people will die under his hands... Kakashi wieghed his options carefully. Reinforcements from Konoha would be coming any moment now, but he couldn't depend on that. They may not get here in time or they may not be able to defeat Orochimaru. There is no other choice. Kakashi clenched his fist. I won't let you get the Sharingan. I will kill myself before you get to it!
Since he had no weapons of any sort, Kakashi decided the best way to commit suicide would be to bite his own tongue and bleed to death.
What a morbid way to die. Also, I'll have to do it at a time when no one will discover. It would be worthless if they fixed me up before I manage to die. The best time would be after the third meal of the day. After which they usually just leave me alone for about 6 hours. Good.
There was still about 2 hours before the dinner arrived. Kakashi closed his eyes against the darkness and prepared himself to meet death. Instead, his mind was swamped with thoughts of Iruka.
They had been chasing the trail for 3 days now. Konoha had received the message sent by Kakashi and a team of ANBU had been assembled immediately to go after him. The orders were to find Orochimaru and defeat him. Were it not possible, they were to acquire intelligence regarding Orochimaru's activities and report back to Konoha.
A cat masked ANBU slowed down his pace. The leader of the team, Shinji made the signal to stop and waited for the team to be assembled. Iruka spoke from beneath the cat mask. "It's not this direction."
"The place Kakashi wrote of in that note is in this direction."
"No! I sensed him quite a while ago. A very strong pull coming from North West."
The leader pondered over this new knowledge. Godaime had mentioned of this shinobi's 'special powers' of tracking Kakashi. He just didn't know whether to believe it.
"You have to trust me." Iruka pleaded.
The leader chewed his lip thoughtfully from underneath the clay mask. "I'm sorry, I can't. More than just emotions are at stake here, if you understand."
"But..."
"We have to move on. We're wasting precious time here."
He's right. The longer we take to reach Kakashi, the greater the danger Kakashi will be in. I cannot convince them without proof. Hell... I don't even know how I do it. Iruka clenched his fist in frustration as the team of ANBU continued their pursuit.
---
After 2 more days of tracking, the team of ANBU finally reached Orochimaru's lair; an innocent looking hut hidden by a forest of Sakura trees. The message from Kakashi had stated plainly that Orochimaru was hidding within the hut and that Kakashi would stay hidden and observe the place until reinforcements came.
But Kakashi is not here! Iruka sensed it almost at once. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do until there was proof.
While one of the ANBU stood outside to keep guard, the rest of the team slipped into the hut catiously. They spotted the trap door as Kakashi had and ventured silently down the stone steps.
Apart from the usual hidden traps, there wasn't much danger to speak of. Nevertheless, the ANBU team proceeded cautiously down the stone corridor. The entire underground hideout was quiet, almost too quiet. A thought nagged at Shinji, leader of the team. Something is amiss. Where is Kakashi? But more importantly, where is Orochimaru? The place was too empty. Although scrolls and weapons littered the rooms, there was not a soul in this place. It looked like it had been abandoned.
There was something else that bothered Shinji. He pondered over the familiar smell.
Shit! Gunpowder! This place is littered with gunpowder!
"Everyone out of here! Quickly!" he shouted.
The team needed no further instructions. They ran out of the tunnel, up the stairs and out of the hut. Just in time as the wooden hut burst into fiery flames as an explosion rocked the entire underground hideout.
"Kakashi isn't here." Iruka spoke up.
Shinji gave Iruka a hard stare from beneath his mask.
"I know now. He must have been captured."
His words only confirmed what Iruka knew in his heart but had denied for so long. Kakashi was in trouble.
"Do you trust me now?" Iruka asked, even as he knew the answer.
"There is no other way." Shinji replied as he motioned for Iruka to lead the way.
Hang in there Kakashi. We're coming.
The door to his cell opened. A plate of food was placed on the floor. Kabuto stood at the doorway with his arms crossed. "Eat and enjoy your last meal."
Kakashi didn't respond. He remained curled up on the bed, his back stubbornly facing Kabuto.
"Dammit! Will you stop being so obstinate? Tomorrow you're going to die, why do you keep thinking of that chuunin?"
At the mentioning of Iruka, Kakashi stirred. "How do you know of Iruka?"
Kabuto gave a soft laugh. "Why should I tell you. I have my sources."
"If you harm even one hair on Iruka, I will make sure you regret it."
"Tsk tsk... methinks you should save the worrying for yourself, senpai. After all, you are going to die."
"I mean it."
"Fine! Tomorrow, I will show you no mercy." Kabuto said it like a promise as he slammed the door behind him.
Kakashi listened as the sounds of the footsteps faded away. Now was the time to put his plan into action. He propped himself up on the bed and leaned against the wall. Now, he will die for Konoha.
To thwart Orochimaru's plans, to save Konoha from the evils of the world. Kakashi will kill himself!
Seconds passed. Minutes stretched out. Sweat beaded on Kakashi's cool forehead.
I... I can't do it. I can't do it even to save Konoha.
Tears of anguish and desperation filled his eyes as he acknowledged his failing. I can't do it. If I die, I'll never see Iruka again. Never see his smile, never hear his laughter, never to hold him in my arms.
"I am such a selfish bastard." Kakashi whispered to himself as muffled sobs tore out from his throat.
---
A sudden wave of sorrow hit Iruka square in the chest, almost knocking the breath out of him. Kakashi!
Iruka felt Kakashi's torment as acutely as if it was his own. Suddenly, Iruka was filled with a certainty he had never known before. It was as if Kakashi was lost in a fog, except now he had a string that connected him to Kakashi. I will find you soon. Just stay there and stay alive. Iruka sent that comforting thought along the thread of connection, hoping that Kakashi would feel it.
---
What was that? For a moment, Kakashi felt Iruka's presence as if Iruka was just beside him. Kakashi shook his head as if to clear off the confusion. He had to stop hallucinating and start thinking clearly like a tensai shinobi for once. Since he had decided that he would not commit suicide, the only other option now would be to escape from this place, before Orochimaru could get to him.
There wasn't much of a plan he could come up with. Kakashi decided that he would just have to break free from his captors and defeat whoever was in his way out. He had to do it, if only to see Iruka again.
It took half a day for the ANBU to reach the location where Kakashi was thought to be captured.
"Are you sure he's inside?" Shinji asked.
"I'm absolutely positive." Iruka replied, his heart slamming hard into his chest with excitement and fear.
"Alright. Then we'll get into position and carry out the task as planned. Remember, things have changed now. The priority is not to defeat Orochimaru but to get Kakashi-san safely back to Konoha. Got it?"
The other ANBUs nodded.
"Okay, let's go!"
---
"Orochimaru-sama, it is time."
"Perfect. I trust that all the preparations had been seen to?"
"Of course."
"With the Sharingan implanted, I will be much more powerful than before! Then, even Tsunade and Jiraiya cannot stop me."
"I am sure that will be the case."
"You do not seem pleased." Orochimaru glared down at his subordinate. "Is it possible that the thought of killing someone you know, your senpai for example will be of distaste to you?"
"Do not worry yourself, Orochimaru-sama, I know what I'm doing."
"I certainly hope so. Let's proceed with the operation now."
---
The time had come. Kakashi knew he had only one chance at this. If he screwed up, he will die. Actually, he will die anyway because the jutsu he was about to perform will almost certainly guarantee his death.
He will perform a genjutsu on himself to block out all sensation. Not only will that enable him to perform beyond his limits without feeling any pain but will also allow him to tap chakra deep within the recesses of his body that had not been sealed by the drug they had fed him with. Because this jutsu put enormous pressure on the body, the price to pay is inevitably death.
He had to do it right. He had enough chakra for only one try.
---
The door to Kakashi's cell opened and two armed guards grabbed Kakashi by each arm and hauled him down the corridor.
Now! Kakashi gathered chakra in his palms and hit the two guards with it. Stunned, they howled with pain and turned to attack him with their swords. Kakashi deftly defeated them with a few well placed blows.
Now run before the other guards are alerted!
Kakashi took off as fast as his legs could carry, but the alarm had already been raised. Guards ran out from adjoining corridors and rooms. Kakashi dispatched them as swiftly as he could, concentrating instead on finding the exit. He ignored the bright spots that had begun appearing in front of his eyes. Thankfully, the jutsu blocked out all feelings of pain, thus sparing him from the excruciating headache he knew he was experiencing at the moment.
Where is the damn bloody exit?
His vision was turning black with all the bright spots and his reserve of chakra was also diminishing rapidly. He had to find the exit soon or he would die here.
Kakashi stopped in his tracks. In front of him stood Kabuto, a sad smile on his face. Behind Kabuto, Orochimaru spoke up, "You can stop now. We will soon put you out of your misery."
No! Kakashi stood up straight and squared his shoulders. I will not surrender without a fight. "Go eat shit." Kakashi snarled. With resolve and determination in his eyes, Kakashi charged at Kabuto...
Note: When the ANBU team entered the abandoned underground hideout, they triggered a mechanism that lit up the gunpowder somewhere. That's why the place only blew up when they entered and not long before when Orochimaru left. It was a trap set up by Kabuto.
End of chapter! Okay, I'm really not very good at writing fighting scenes, so pardon me. Review please! Thank you!