Wishes

Kakashi & Gai

A/N: Based on the splash image of chapter 51 and the dialogue at grave in chapter 139.

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Everyone in Konoha Village knew of Kakashi's habit of tardiness. Ever since his academy days, and though he was renowned as a naturally talented ninja, there was no force that could break this habit of his. Daily team 7 endured it whenever they were called for missions, and the Jounin meetings seemed longer due to his late arrivals. Everyone knew that he did it but could not figure out why. Where would such a famous Jounin go or be doing that was more important than his work as a shinobi? One fellow shinobi decided to find out.

The self-proclaimed proud green beast of Konoha, Gai-sensei, had his own habit, besides challenging himself with his own set of ridiculous rules, and that was the continued one-sided rivalry between him and Kakashi. Whenever or wherever the opportunity rose, he'd challenge his old rival to a sport, anything would do, and more often than not it remained a close match. One week he would win, the next Kakashi, back and forth in the same manner since he'd met the silver-haired Jounin years ago.

Back then Kakashi seemed cold, alone, and focused only on completing his missions flawlessly. Though he was several ranks below him, Gai pursued him as a rival and tried to cheer him up with more light-hearted shinobi challenges. It had been a time of war and most were in need of positive activities. After the battles had ended, Kakashi had disappeared for a few years working in Anbu on dangerous and secret missions. Gai went along in his own training, soon becoming a Jounin himself, but ever the faithful rival, waited for the day Kakashi returned to welcome him with their traditional challenges. He'd become close to Kakashi in that aspect, as much as a fellow Jounin could, but not enough to know the reason for this habit of lateness.

On this particular day, Gai named it a holiday for his students and cancelled any and all missions for his team. Of course, little Lee had objected, requesting that they do training exercises or something similar to it, and though Gai understood his enthusiasm, it was about time to stress the meaning of rest. Ten Ten had no complaints; then again she had less stamina than Lee. Of course, Lee could rival Naruto, the stamina freak, in relation to the amount of energy he possessed. However, things had been decided and the three students had gone home, leaving Gai with an afternoon to stalk his old rival and figure out his secrets. Perhaps he'd finally discover the reason why he could never clear that last hurdle and prove himself better than Kakashi overall. Sure he was unsurpassed in speed but was at a disadvantage next to Kakashi's Raikiri and the Sharingan eye. Many things about his rival puzzled him, so many questions unanswered. Perhaps today he would understand the mystery.

Gai had been sitting for nearly a half hour upon a rooftop overlooking the entrance to a shop Kakashi visited often, the Pink Bookshop. His well-known reading material was deplorable enough but at least he was regular at visiting it daily and could easily be found if one waited long enough, but the wait was lengthening and Gai was beginning to wonder if he was late everywhere he went. Just when that thought crossed his mind, Kakashi appeared exiting the shop. So he'd been in there the whole time? Gai hoped he hadn't been spotted. To his relief Kakashi's nose was, as usual, stuck in his Icha Icha Paradise book as he strolled down the street. Quietly, Gai followed after him as he wandered the streets, almost aimlessly. Was this the reason of his tardiness? Surely he'd read that book a thousand times over, what good was it too waste valuable time like that? Baffled, Gai nearly failed to notice that the Jounin had turned a corner, heading up a hill to a small shrine, one Gai hadn't visited since his academy days. Concealed behind a large tree, Gai watched as he scaled the old stone steps, halting at the base of an old temple, with a single bell hanging from the rafters. On the poles supporting the building were hundreds of sutras, written upon them the wishes of countless shinobi of the past. Kakashi returned the book to his pocket, grasped the striped cord and rang the old bell three times. Clapping his hands together, he bowed his head and stood there solemnly for many minutes. Gai watched in wonder, curious as to what the Jounin could be wishing for.

The scene was almost surreal, a lone shinobi whispering his own wish and mingling it among the thousands of prayers uttered long, long ago, hovering like ghosts in the air. The temple gave off a strange presence, as if those past shinobi stood there alongside him, listening to his words and recording them in the old, faded ink of the ancient sutras. Gai found himself so enwrapped by the thought of it, that he failed to realize that he'd been seen. Like the lightning fast Chidori, Kakashi appeared in a puff of smoke behind him, startling the eyebrows off his face.

"Well, well, didn't think you'd find me all the way out here, Gai."

"I...g-gah...well, Kakashi I was just, err..." Gai, stammered, trying to find some excuse for himself. "You must have forgotten our match was today so I had to come looking for you. Why else would you have been so late if you didn't forget? Tsk, terrible!"

"I didn't forget." Kakashi said coolly, fishing in his pocket for his book.

"Don't play with me! I was waiting there for three hours! What in the world are you doing here anyway at this old shrine, no one's been here in decades."

"That's not true," he muttered, glancing at the forest beyond, as if lost in thought. "It has at least one regular visitor."

Kakashi's mind was clearly unfocused, distant, as if he were looking through his friend and into something deep and lonely. Now Gai felt curious enough and even bold enough to try.

"I know it's not my place, and forgive me if I'm being rude, but is this the reason that you're so late for everything? You use your time making prayers at an old shrine? Why?"

The silver-haired Jounin didn't reply for a while, still lost in his own thoughts, wondering, mulling over if he should reveal something hidden inside. Gai wondered if he had the right to ask him something so personal, was he worth trusting. Of course, he would never reveal the secrets of a fellow shinobi, especially his old rival who he considered his closest friend. Still, the question remained: did Kakashi feel the same way? Perhaps this was the time he found out.

Sucking in a cold breath, Kakashi turned and kept his gaze upon the bronze bell hanging from the shrine. His voice was calm, but had a tinge of sadness that could not be mistaken.

"I am not late for things because of some fruitless endeavor. Actually for every meeting, mission or whatever assignment I'm called to, I am always early. My own fault lies in that…I'm not sure what to say when I arrive. When I was young I did and said many stupid things and in the end paid for them. I lost everything precious to me during the wars and that is why I come to this shrine and bring flowers to the grave of the fallen shinobi of our village. I've told you before why I visit that grave."

"Yes," Gai breathed, a wrinkle of concern folding in his brow. "You told me of your comrade Obito, that he died in the wars."

"It wasn't only for Obito, but I pray for others who were precious to me. My fellow teammate Rin, a talented medical ninja, and my sensei...All of them were lost. You must be wondering why I came to this old shrine instead of the well-kept one north of our village. The truth is…this shrine holds meaning for me. I used to come here in my youth to pray for my father. Obito would find me here whenever I was late for class and though he never knew my reasons then, would stand with me and together we would make wishes. I was cold to him then and didn't appreciate his friendship as I should have. So I come here often and wish for him to have peace and if it was good to him, to watch over me and my students as I teach them the priceless lesson he taught me."

"What did he tell you, Kakashi?"

"The words that have become my own…my life's course…my ninja way. When I lost my father I grew cold, emotionless, and my ninja way then was to uphold the rules of the shinobi even at the cost of my teammate's lives. I didn't care about my life or anyone else's. That is when Obito told me the truth of the world. He told me that of course, those who break the rules are called trash, but those who don't protect their companions are even worse than trash."

"Ah yes," Gai mused. "I remember you saying that often to your subordinates. It's a wise saying, and very true." Nearing him, he placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder, smiling. "You're friend's words are alive in you and in turn his spirit lives on. I'm sure he's smiling down on you now, as are all of those you've lost. I have many too who were taken by the wars and I strive everyday to better myself and I see their smiles in the eyes of my students. I see that yours have learned these words you treasure and live by them. That Naruto is a perfect example; even now he trains hard to be strong enough to save his friend. I'm curious, was that the wish you made just now, that Naruto would succeed and save Sasuke?"

Kakashi kept silent, his eyes shut, but a smile creased his mask as he answered, "No, not quite. Though I have prayed for his happiness, this time I made a different wish..."

Gai waited eagerly as a long pause ensued. So solemn was his friend's expression, so calm and serene. Such a touching story he'd shared and now he felt that Kakashi trusted him. Usually wishes were kept secret until they came true, anything otherwise and the wish was a loss, but his rival trusted that Gai would keep it secret and the thought of it thrilled him. The silver-haired Jounin turned to face him, and a large grin spread through the cloth concealing his face and he said,

"I wished for the speed of 'Yellow Flash' so I can beat you in a race around Konoha. Starting...NOW!!"

And away he went, taking off into the forest like a blur, leaving a very flabberghasted rival in the dust.

Dumbfounded, Gai called after him, "How dare you! That's cheating, you didn't even count! What nerve! I'll get you, Kakashi!" But before he took off after him, Gai jumped onto the steps of the shrine, rang the bell, clapped and wished for any ounce of hope he could have racing against such legendary speed. He smiled and thanked Kakashi's friends long gone for protecting him and giving him the friend he'd wished for at that very shrine long, long ago. With that, Gai ran to catch up, the cord of the old shrine swaying in the breeze of his wake.