Chapter Eight: Running
Kakashi ran down the streets. While he was battling Itachi, the strange voice had spoken again, declaring that the gate would reopen in twenty-four hours. However, it would only be able to sustain itself for a short time, so this was one thing he must not be late for. At least he had enough time to find Itachi, Kakashi mused. If he left him here there's no telling what could happen. Considering this, he sped along still faster, the Sharingan searching carefully.
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Officer James Bradley was cruising on the road in his police car, feeling good about himself. After all, he had just single-handedly arrested a potential killer on his first night: not a bad way to start your career. As he lazily glanced out his window, congratulating himself, his state of euphoria was rudely interrupted by the sight of a white-haired man racing sown the street at an unbelievable speed. Sighting him, the man slowed his pace to match the car's, effortlessly keeping up with him.
"Yo. I'm sorry to bother you, but have you seen anybody strange pass by here? He would most likely be wearing a black and red cloak."
Gulping at the sight of the man's unearthly left eye, Bradley stuttered out a reply. "N-no, I haven't. You're the strangest person I've seen all day. That is, except for the guy I arrested earlier today. I've never seen anyone like him either."
Kakashi looked more closely at him, which only frightened the poor man even more. "That was you? I wondered why you looked vaguely familiar." It was then that Bradley recognized the silver hair and black mask. In his alarm he accidentally stomped on the brake pedal, tires squealing as the car was forced into a sudden stop. The nin also skidded to a halt, spinning around and tossing a kunai into the darkness before performing the seals for the Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu. He had detected a glimmer of Itachi's presence behind him. Kakashi raced toward the Uchiha's hiding place and released the jutsu, the fireball demolishing part of a store while traveling toward its target.
---
As his once-prisioner suddenly spun around, throwing a knife and spitting fire he conjured from thin air, Officer James Bradley stared like an awestruck child that had just been shown a magic trick. He carefully rolled up his window and drove off as fast as he could. This was by far the weirdest night of his life.
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Kunai and shuriken clanged against each other, throwing sparks everywhere. Since no civilians were around that time of night, Kakashi had no need to attempt to neutralize Itachi's Tsukoyomi technique, so his chances of winning had increased slightly.
Someone must have seen them fighting and called the cops. This time they wouldn't be of genin level like that other officer. Kakashi and Itachi parted in a wordless agreement to resume their battle at a later time and place. The two ninjas disappeared silently into the night, leaving the arriving policemen to puzzle over where they had gone.
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Kakashi walked leisurely to avoid attracting attention, which was already a difficult task. He passed an electronics store, not paying any attention to the TVs in the display window. A man inside stared at him. Self-consciously Kakashi gave him a small wave, continuing on his way. He hoped Itachi gave him time to recover a little - using the Sharingan was incredibly draining.
The man in the store scratched his head in disbelief and returned to his work. "People nowadays sure have weird fashions," he mumbled to himself. A few minutes later he had completely forgotten the incident.
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Shelby returned from work, shutting the door behind her and dropping into a chair with a heavy sigh. Noon appeared from the kitchen, stirring something in a bowl. "That ninja guy escaped a little while ago," she stated. "You know, the one with the white hair."
"What?!" Shelby exclaimed. Noon motioned toward a radio sitting on the counter. "The police just announced it."
Shelby thanked her friend with tear-filled eyes for her unexpected kindness. Noon shrugged it off. "You found him; you should watch out for him. That includes knowing exactly where he is," she added severely, shaking her wooden spoon at Shelby.
"The police arrested him. There really wasn't anything I could do! If he had knocked them all out he would only have gotten himself into even more trouble," she defended. Stirring the mixture again, Noon responded, "I know that."
---
Kakashi finally came into view of Shelby's apartment. He hated endangering her like this, but he had little choice.
---
Shelby was about to go to her room when she heard something. Crawling in through the livingroom window was none other than Kakashi.
"Yo."
"Kakashi! You're okay!" Shelby cried.
"Of course I am. A simple cell like that one can't hold me for long," he said nonchalantly, purposefully neglecting to tell her about the chakra seal that had given him some difficulty. "But that's not important. Shelby-san," Kakashi said, his voice serious, "I need you to tell me exactly where you first met me."
Suprised, Shelby asked him, "Why the sudden interest?"
Shutting the window and scanning for police lights, Kakashi told her, "The gate that brought me here will reopen in - " he checked the clock. " -about eighteen hours." Both Shelby and Noon were astonished by this news. Noon, of course, was the first to recover. What will you do about that Itachi person?"
Kakashi sighed. "I'm going to do my best to bring him with me."
Shelby gasped. Having witnessed some of Itachi's power herself, she had some idea of the magnitude of this task. "All I can say is, good luck, and I found you in the middle of Third Street. Here," she added, handing Kakashi a small map, "I marked the spot." Kakashi nodded his thanks. "Also, I'd appreciate it if before I go I could have my own clothes back. I find them easier to fight in." Shelby obliged.
Now dressed in his regular attire, Kakashi reopened the window to leave. Shelby burst out, "Wait! Why don't you stay for a little longer to catch up on your rest or something? You don't have to leave yet!"
Kakashi shook his head. "This place is too confined for a shinobi battle. If Itachi came here you would undoubtedly get in the way. It's not polite of me to repay you like that." Once more he began to leave, and again Shelby stalled him.
"You never told us your real name."
Kakashi grinned. "I am Hatake Kakashi, son of Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Leaves," he stated, a faint note of pride concealed in his voice. So saying, he leapt gracefully out the window to the ground two stories below and raced off into the night.
---
Although she didn't really understand it all, Shelby recognized the fact that she had just been entrusted with something incredibly precious. Gazing out the window at the spot where the nin had disappeared, she hoped that one day she could come to understand.