Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto; Masashi Kishimoto does!
Warning: This may have some mild shounen-ai elements. Definitely nothing explicit. This is rated T after all.
The Crying Kamui
Chapter 2
"Wither away?" Kakashi echoed in disbelief. "I am absolutely fine."
Tsunade shook her head. "No, Kakashi. You need this."
"Like hell I need it!" Kakashi hissed with a dark glare at his Hokage. "It's the last damn thing I need!"
"HATAKE KAKASHI!" Tsunade roared as she slammed her fists on her desk. Kakashi didn't even flinch. "Don't you dare take that tone with me! I deserve your respect and you'll give it to me!"
Kakashi clenched his fists before closing his eye and taking a deep breath. There was no point in losing his cool. Too many people – Tsunade and Ibiki included – already thought that his grip on his sanity was hanging by the thread. He didn't need to give them any more reason to justify locking him up without the use of his arms in a white room with white walls and no windows.
He released the breath he had been holding and calmly opened his eye.
"Forgive me, Hokage-sama," he said with a low bow. Tsunade scoffed but settled down on her seat. "But you still cannot expect me to just quietly take this assignment!"
"Konan is dead."
There was shocked silence.
Tsunade closed her eyes in quiet respect for the fallen Amegakure leader. She could remember the very young face of the Rain orphan the first time she had set eyes on her. Orochimaru had suggested that she be killed along with her two fellow orphans but Jiraiya – bless his noble heart – disagreed and began training them instead.
"Konan told me that Amegakure will pursue Yahiko and Nagato's dreams with me. Regardless of the past, the Village Hidden in the Rain is now an ally of Konoha."
And Konan had indeed kept her promise.
She had been fiercely protective of Naruto. Whenever the Kyuubi's vessel had needed back-up in the past three years, it was always either the Suna nin or the Ame nin who would reach him first. Konan would also personally see him from time to time to see how he was doing. She stayed true to her word and was constantly behind Naruto, encouraging him to take risks but at the same time cautioning him about the dangers surrounding him.
Just three days ago, she was killed. And Tsunade could only think of one man who would be powerful enough to take down the "God's Angel".
The countdown to doom begins.
"Amegakure is now grieving the loss of their leader," Tsunade said quietly. "I told them that our arrangements could be postponed and that they should remain in their village. But they were adamant that they did not want to show any weakness, therefore they decided to continue. They are holding a memorial service in her name as we speak. I wanted to go there to pay my respects but they told me to remain here in case Konoha is the next target.
"They are amazing people, Kakashi... The most powerful of them have fought alongside Naruto in the last three years and Naruto has always praised the ones he encountered. Nagato and Konan may have been vicious and merciless to their enemies outside their own village but they taught them to be intensely loyal to each other. It would really benefit Konohagakure if they saw that we are just like them."
Kakashi knew. He knew. Konan was dead and she was the main reason that Amegakure stood by Konoha's side. Now that she's gone, they may stray and as Tsunade had stressed, that was something Konoha could not afford.
But still...
Tsunade sighed deeply. "I had a feeling you would react this way so..." Tsunade trailed off then called, "In here!"
Tenzou... Yamato appeared in front of Tsunade beside Kakashi. He nodded to his senpai before bowing to Tsunade.
"Yamato here will go with you," Tsunade announced. Then grinning, she added, "And just so you'd have a bit of fun along the way, Rock Lee will also be accompanying you."
Kakashi would have blanched if he didn't already have such pale skin. Lee was a nice kid but he was just too much like Gai at times...
Actually, at all times.
The Amegakure nin would either be amused or annoyed by the newly promoted Tokubetsu Jounin.
"Sakura will be the one to greet you upon your return," Tsunade continued. "She will also assist you in showing them around and teaching them about our ways and beliefs. It will give her excellent practice with diplomacy – not that she's not already good at it."
At least Kakashi wasn't going to be doing this alone after all. He might be present but he could probably just leave all the talking and interacting to Yamato, Lee and Sakura.
"I know what you're thinking, Kakashi, and I'd appreciate it if that thought disappears forever. You are doing this."
Kakashi couldn't see why he had to. He eventually got over his hatred of Iwa, didn't he? Sure, he could still feel pain whenever he saw their insignia but his wounds on that matter were now merely scars.
His wounds from three years ago weren't even closed yet.
But she was his Hokage and her word was law. It was a part of the oath he had taken when he was sworn into the life of a Konoha shinobi.
Kakashi finally bowed and said, "I will obey."
Tsunade nodded with a mixture of relief and satisfaction. "Good. You depart early this afternoon." Before you can think it over and back out.
That should give them enough time to reach the border of Fire Country by midnight.
"Dismissed."
Kakashi quickly teleported outside of the Hokage Tower. He couldn't stand staying any longer in that office; not when he was being forced to do the very last thing he wanted to. Yamato appeared slightly behind him at a respectful distance. He probably knew what thoughts and emotions were passing through Kakashi at that moment.
"Just name a rendezvous point, senpai, and I shall take care of informing Lee."
"The gate then," Kakashi replied lifelessly. "In exactly three hours from now."
Yamato then disappeared while Kakashi slowly headed towards the Memorial Stone. He was always prepared to leave for missions – although this was one mission he definitely would rather avoid – so he knew he could spare the time to visit the Memorial to say good-bye to his loved ones for a while.
Thankfully, as usual, the Memorial Stone was empty. Before the... Before, he would be satisfied with going to the Memorial Stone just once a day whenever he was in Konoha. But now, he would go at least twice a day. Naruto's constant absence from Konoha, as well as Sakura's packed schedule placed heavy restraints on how often he could see the two members of the former Team 7. They had all truly grown apart. Kakashi didn't even want to think about the remaining former member.
"Ah! It's the Jounin who made Iruka-sensei disappear!"
Kakashi winced and visibly stiffened then sagged at the words. An overwhelming pain lanced him straight at the heart at the words. He hesitantly and almost fearfully looked up at the source of the cruel yet truthful exclamation.
A brown-eyed Genin was pointing at him. Kakashi recognized him as one of Iruka's Naruto-wannabe students. Looking at those brown eyes, it was only then that Kakashi realized that, despite the words, there was no condemnation in the boy's countenance. In fact, he looked just a tad surprised and curious. Reflecting on the boy's tone earlier, it was actually more matter-of-fact than scornful.
"Hatake Kakashi-sama, right?" the boy questioned as he finally lowered his arm and approached the older nin. "Are you here to visit Iruka-sensei?"
Kakashi just wordlessly nodded. He didn't know whether he should stay or he should go. He was already used to Iruka's students giving him hateful or looks of hurt. They all loved their sensei and Iruka's death had greatly affected them. If he was right, the boy currently standing next to him, Naoki, was almost as close to Iruka as Naruto and Konohamaru were. Yet like Naruto, he stood beside the Jounin quite easily as he, too, faced the memorial stone. Kakashi would honestly just rather go. But if this student wanted to yell at him, curse at him or spit at him, then he felt that they very had much the right to do so – thus he stayed. Hell, Kakashi always yelled and cursed at himself...
...He was his greatest tormentor.
"You look horrible," Naoki told him bluntly when he looked up at the Jounin. Kakashi gave him a surprised look. Out of all the possible comments that were flying around in his head, that was the last thing Kakashi expected.
"I mean, look at your hair for instance! The hair on the right side is shorter than the left side! Get a haircut and make it even! Also, you're obviously not even attempting to brush your limp hair back. You can't even see the Konoha symbol at all! Can you even see?"
"How I look is none of your business, kid," Kakashi retorted as he turned his gaze back to the Stone.
"Sheesh! What would Iruka-sensei say if he saw you?"
Kakashi stiffened once more. He barely stopped himself from grabbing the obnoxious Genin's throat to stop the brat from speaking about things that he shouldn't speak about in Kakashi's presence.
"I really can't hate someone pathetic like you after all."
Kakashi's body jerked at that and he looked down at the sulking Genin. The young shinobi had his arms folded behind his head as he stared at the Stone before giving Kakashi a sideways glance.
"I wanted to hate you, you know," Naoki told him earnestly as he turned to his left to completely face Kakashi. "Badly. But Naruto-nii told me that Iruka-sensei asked you to make him disappear along with the enemy who attacked Konoha since there was no other choice."
Kakashi stared at him for a moment before looking down Iruka's name etched on the Stone.
"Then you should hate me for doing what he told me to," he said, his voice almost breaking. He looked sideways at Naoki and was stunned to find the boy giving him a lopsided grin.
"Well, no one can resist Iruka-sensei's 'sensei' voice."
"Will you sacrifice Konoha for one man? DO IT, Hatake Kakashi! NOW before it kills me anyway!"
That same strict voice – that 'sensei' voice – was also the voice that would scold him for handing in messy reports or handing in reports late; most of the time, it was both. But always, he would laughingly shake off the Chuunin Academy sensei's scolding.
A small sad smile touched Kakashi's lips.
"No... I could always resist Iruka's 'sensei' voice... Except when it mattered."
Naoki just shook his head at Kakashi.
"Seriously, Jounin-san-who-made-Iruka-sensei-disappear, Iruka-sensei wouldn't hate someone who did what he told him to. So why should you?"
Naoki then shrugged and began walking away. But he took one last backward glance at Kakashi before disappearing.
"Oh, and take care of yourself, would 'ya? You'll worry the ones who are still alive, like Naruto-nii."
The Genin then leaped away and disappeared from sight. It shouldn't have made it him feel a bit lighter but that conversation with the smart-mouthed Genin definitely did.
"Hmph. Brat."
"I shall Strive to do my Absolutely very Youthful Best in this Noble and Hip Endeavour that has been Entrusted to me, a Budding Tokubetsu Jounin in the Springtime of his Youthful and Splendid Life as an Honourable and Awe-inspiring Shinobi!"
Maybe he should start addressing Lee as "mini-Gai" although he certainly wasn't small anymore. Just a couple more inches and he would be the same height as his admired mentor.
Well, Kakashi supposed it would be all right... as long as mini-Gai didn't suddenly start throwing pointless challenges at him. He'll leave that burden to Neji.
Kakashi turned to the last member of their group of three and gave him a look that asked, "Why him again?"
Yamato chuckled nervously. "Tsunade-sama thought that he would be able to provide, erm, life in this mission. He's to be a... an ice-breaker so to speak-" –in case of any awkward moments that might arise due to Kakashi's profound hate for Ame nin.
The three Konoha nin chosen to fetch the team of Amegakure diplomats stood right in front of the gates of their hidden village. All three carried just a light pack for their relatively short journey. The two Chuunin currently entrusted with gatekeeper duties, Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo, watched them with interest. They were probably just curious about the combination of Kakashi and Yamato, who were two of the most powerful Jounin Konoha has the pride of producing, and Lee, who was an extremely skilled and promising Tokubetsu Jounin.
Or they probably couldn't ignore the sheer volume that Lee used with his youthfully exuberant proclamations.
"Well, we have to leave now," Kakashi announced as he looked up at the sun, gauging the approximate time. Yamato and Lee immediately stood to attention. "We have a long way to go and we have to be at the border of Hi no Kuni by midnight. We should arrive at Amegakure no Sato by tomorrow; afternoon at the latest."
Kakashi then inclined his head and the three launched off.
The Land of Rain was located at the western border of the Land of Fire. Since the Land of Rain shared its borders with three of the Five Great Shinobi Lands, it was often caught in the middle of the many Great Shinobi Wars of the past. Therefore, most of its citizens are either refugees of war or descendants of such refugees. It was a Land where tears fell as freely as rain.
Kakashi just hoped that his tears wouldn't be added to theirs.
Gai's training for Lee has definitely superb as the Tokubetsu Jounin was able to keep with his two Jounin teammates with such ease despite the two running at almost their top speed. Thus, they were able to reach the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain at the expected time – midnight.
Although they were already at the official border, their surroundings made it seem as though they were still in the Land of Fire. However, when Yamato ordered a wood clone to climb to the treetops and take a look around, the clone confirmed that there was a very dense patch cloud just a couple of kilometres away with rain falling heavily.
"It is probably best to camp out here instead of in the rain," Yamato said as his clone returned.
Kakashi nodded in agreement. "That would be-"
The wielder of the Sharigan did not finish his sentence as he leaped away from where he had been standing. Whistling sounds filled the night sky as a vast number of kunai pierced through the air. Kakashi saw with some horror that each kunai had an exploding tag attached to it.
His body took over as he dodged kunai after kunai after kunai, which seemed to come from every direction except from below. The forest was being systematically destroyed as the exploding tags detonated around him. He tried to locate Yamato and Lee but all he could immediately see was the blaze of fire as the trees around him burned.
Kakashi slid his hitai-ate upwards, revealing his Sharingan. Unfortunately, the smoke from the fire was clouding his sight.
"Suiton: Suihachi!"
Kakashi grinned wryly as Yamato finally used his fire-extinguishing and smoke-dispersing jutsu. Now he had to find Lee-
"Konoha Daisenpu!"
It seemed Lee beat him to reaching the enemy. When Kakashi finally broke through the smoke, he saw that the Tokubetsu Jounin was greatly outnumbered. Lee battled twenty nin – they could only be shinobi with the way they moved – who possessed no hitai-ate that would give away their village or affiliation. It was no wonder the kunai seemed to come from all directions!
Yamato then appeared beside Kakashi. With a brief nod to acknowledge Kakashi, he then sprang forward to help Lee by engaging half of the twenty. Kakashi was about to lend them aid when something caught his attention from the corner of his eye.
A shinobi hidden in the few remaining trees had a small pipe. A dart flew from the pipe towards Lee.
Kakashi was already running before his mind finished its decision-making. He held his right fist up and easily blocked the dart with his steel hand-guard.
"Suiro no Jutsu!"
Kakashi knew that jutsu: the Water Prison Technique. He had been a victim of that jutsu too many times to count, including in his battle with Zabuza. Kakashi glanced behind him to look at Lee and his eyes widened at the sight.
Unlike the Water Prison Technique he had been in before, wherein the victim was caged within a ball of water, this one had a slight yet deadly alteration.
The water was trying to enter Lee's nose, mouth and ears. The Tokubetsu Jounin struggled to cover all the possible entry points on his face but was obviously failing. Kakashi had to do something-
Damn it! He cursed as he felt eight pinpricks on various points of his body, including the back of his neck. He staggered then completely lost balance, falling on his knees on the ground. How could he stupidly forget about the darts?
His muscles began to spasm, his vision blurred, his mouth became dry, his stomach clenched and his heart began beating painfully and irregularly.
Damn it! He cursed once more as he recognized the symptoms. He fiercely hoped – for the sake of his teammates – that his body would be able to resist the last symptom...
...Hallucinations.
"Kakashi-senpai! Lee!" Yamato called out, his voice filled with worry. Unfortunately, his hands were full now that Lee was ensnared by one of the unknown shinobi as he battled nineteen nin.
The dart thrower approached Kakashi with an obnoxious smirk on his face.
"Well, well, well," the man said with a leer. "What do we have here? Truthfully, I'm incredibly surprised and impressed that you aren't babbling out of your mind yet. I just gave you eight times the dose needed to bring down a cell of highly trained ANBU."
Kakashi tried to glare at the man but his vision could barely make out shapes. Speaking would be futile as his throat had constricted and his mouth was too dry.
"And look at that eye!" the man exclaimed gleefully. "Is that an infamous Sharingan? Oh-ho! What a treasure! Now stay still while I pluck it out of that pathetic face-"
One minute, the man was reaching for his left eye and then in the next, Kakashi heard an ear-splitting shriek as a dark cloaked figure descended in front of him, engulfing his whole view. More shrieks, yells and screams rang out around them as the sound of heavy rain seemed to fall around them.
Kakashi vaguely recognized the sound of Lee coughing violently; he assumed that the younger shinobi had been released from his water prison.
"Kakashi-senpai!" Yamato called, seemingly from far away as the sound seemed somewhat muted to Kakashi. Great, his hearing was starting to go as well.
"Are all the Konoha Jounin-sama safe?" a familiar voice inquired.
"Yeah, yeah," a young female voice replied impatiently. "My Raining Bullet Technique finished all those dickless bastards off."
"Please tell me you kept at least one alive," a new and annoyed male voice said. "We need to know who the hell sent them."
"Stop arguing, children," the first male voice chided lightly. "Make sure Todou doesn't need help with the youngest Jounin-sama."
"Yeah, yeah!" the female muttered, her voice fading a bit as Kakashi heard her walk off.
That first male voice was so painfully familiar... He knew with his whole being that he has heard that voice before – and that the owner of the voice was important. But whose voice was it?
He felt more than saw someone crouch down in front of him.
"He's been poisoned," the voice announced as Kakashi's body continued its convulsions.
"Do you have the antidote for it?" the second male voice asked lightly without much concern. He obviously expected his comrade to have the antidote.
"I do," the familiar voice replied. "Surprisingly enough, they only used one plant poison – the typical Deadly Nightshade. It's either they weren't seriously trying to kill them – rather, they were trying to capture them alive – or this was all they had on them." There was a pause. "Actually, they may have been trying to kill him. I see eight darts, which are enough to kill a whole ANBU squad without trouble. I am truly stunned that this Jounin-sama isn't dead yet."
"He must have some resistance to poison and toxic substances," the second male voice commented. "Hold on, wouldn't i.v. administration be better?"
"No syringe..."
Kakashi suddenly felt someone tip his chin up before his mask was unceremoniously pulled down. Before he could protest or fight off the stranger with the familiar voice, a pair of warm lips closed over his own before liquid was passed through them. Kakashi's nose was pinched and, weakened as he was, he could not resist his swallowing reflex.
Damn it! What if they're the enemy?
Even if he could gather the idea that this was an antidote to the poison from the conversation going on around him – and that they were rescued by these strangers – Kakashi was still at a very vulnerable state. He couldn't just trust anyone especially when he didn't know where Lee and Yamato were. It seemed that a man named Todou was healing Lee but what about Yamato?
Kakashi tried to push the man away but his body was still severely convulsing even as the antidote spread through him slowly.
"Senpai, don't fight him," Yamato's voice suddenly spoke out in a croak.
Kakashi wanted to as why. Why should he even believe that it was actually Yamato speaking?
His eyes began gaining a bit of clarity and his headache and convulsions started easing. His heartbeat also became more and more regular in its rhythm. He was so thirsty and when he tried to speak, he found that he could barely make a sound.
Then he looked up at the one in front of him.
His jaw dropped at the face before him.
Are the hallucinations beginning despite the antidote?
"Your companion had the exact same reaction," the owner of the voice that was so very familiar said with a dazzling smile. "While it's all amusing, you should sleep now, Jounin-sama."
Now Kakashi knew why his voice was so familiar...
"Thank you, Kakashi..."
It was his voice... And right here, right now... Here in front of him...
...was his face...
A hand landed on Kakashi's head from behind. There was a transfer of chakra and his eyelids instantly began to flutter close. Kakashi cried out a protest – or tried to. He fought to stay awake; to keep his eyes open... To make sure that the person in front of him was real...
"Ir...rk-a..."
But he lost his battle.
Iruka...
...Have you finally come to kill me?
A/N: BUWAHAHAHA! Sadistic Ceil comes out again! CLIFFY! =D Oh my gawsh! What will happen in the next chapter? Stay tuned! LOL! =P
Ah... I love manga and anime... My therapy for nursing open wounds of rejection! Yes, I was rejected! For a job! I didn't even get an interview... *sigh* But life moves on and I went through two other interviews and was successful at both so yay me! So you guys know what that means!
Ceil Scheherazade = job = less time for writing fanfic = longer waiting period for updates...
*dodges various flying daggers, kunai, shuriken, knives, forks and numerous other kitchen utensils, notably sharp*
So we'll see how I go... For those who have read my other fanfic, Reynard, you would recognize Naoki! Ah, gotta love that particular OC of mine. He's like Naruto, but not as loud. He's also like Konohamaru, but not as petulant.
Again, thank you for the new readers who have added this story to their alerts or favourites list! I am truly grateful! *bows*
Imperial Dragon – Thank you for being the first reviewer for the previous chapter! Thus, this chapter is dedicated to you! =) Yes, Kakashi is quite an angst-y individual, ne? Will he kill himself slowly with the next chapter? Dun-Dun-Dun! Please review and tell me what you think!
The-Lady-Smaell – Hi Milady! =) Yes, I do know about the little speech bubble icon but I want to share my replies to reviewers with other reviewers... Actually, I don't even know if they read my replies for other but... *shrugs* I probably would use that clever little button if I get more than ten reviews per chapter... Woah! Wouldn't that be like a dream? Haha! But thanks for pointing it out for my sake anyway! =) I hope you don't die a second time with the angst in this chapter and I'm really over the moon that you're quite hooked with this story! Ah, you truly know how to make yours truly blush with happiness! =D Oh, and feel free to ramble at any time! Your rambling is quite flattering! =P I can't wait to hear what you think about the end of this chapter! =D
eve – Haha, thanks! I hope this chapter is "better"! =P
KakashiKrazed – Now you're reading this story of mine too? *gasp* And you put it in your favourites list? *GASP* OMG! *faints* LOL! =P Thank you SO very much for that! I am extremely flattered beyond belief. I really truly hope that you liked this chapter! I enjoy reading your very detailed reviews and they just make my day! Well, I don't know what your suspicions about a certain Chuunin are but I think you have a very good idea of what's happened to him after this chapter. Yes, I'm quite cruel to Kakashi in this fanfic. In fact, I think I might be making him a bit too angst-y... I did quite a bit of research with this fic (with my other Naruto fanfics as well actually) so I'm glad that the connections and the details were quite clear and noticeable. Again, I look forward to hearing what you think about this chapter! Thanks for reviewing!
Prescripto13 – Yes, the grudge... I made Kakashi a bitter man! I'm so evil! *wails* Haha, well I'm glad you thought the previous chapter was well-written; I hope this chapter was. It took me a while to fill in the middle of it since I actually wrote the beginning of the chapter then the end and came up with about 2000 words... I usually aim for at least 3500 words per chapter so I had to carefully think about what to write that would be relevant later on for the story. So it did take some time. I hope it was worth the wait! =)
magostar117 – Thank you! *blushes* I'm still evil to Kakashi in this chapter but I'm glad you understand! =D Well, what do you think is going to happen next after this chapter? Hehe... Thanks for the review again and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Behan – Aww, shucks! You're making me blush! I hope this chapter was okay for you since it was a bit more angst. Yes, we all want to give poor Kakashi a hug, don't we? As for Iruka... Hmm, what do you think is happening? *winks*
Again, thank you very much for reading!
Ceil Scheherazade