Reader Reviews for Chapter 20/Recent Reviews
Prescripto13: Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! :)
Sora Tayuya: Thank you! I'm glad someone else enjoyed Kakashi-sensei's smexy-ness! XP Thank you again! Sakura really IS hard for me; I'm glad it came across okay! I know, right?? T.T It makes me sad too! Stupid Sasuke had to go and become even MORE angsty…
Kakashifangirlnumber1000: Thank you! :D
Sandtalon: Thanks! Hahaha, a crush? That'd be interesting, actually! XD My initial thoughts were that she IS in fact a woman and Kakashi-sensei IS in fact a very hot guy. XP It's more of the second one. Good call on your part! You know, when I read your review, I realized that the statement you made was a good point, and I really haven't addressed the sensei's worries yet… But don't worry! In this chapter I shall! I'm glad someone else understands! Don't worry! Knocking her out is an excellent way to do things, as far as I know! XD Hope you enjoy this chappie!
Kakashifan9: Thank you so much! I'm really happy you enjoyed their perspectives! I had fun writing for them! (Except Sakura; she's hard for me XP) I always thought that Sasuke would need something to beat on to keep his cool all the time. A training dummy seemed appropriate! I can understand your dislike for OCs. I have some of that too! However, sadly, some OCs were needed here… I'm glad you're enjoying it! Thanks again!
KakashiKrazed: Thanks! If you of all people liked it, I'm satisfied! XD Thank you; I'm really glad that his interpretations of the room were clear. Hahaha, I'm glad you liked that little bit about Kakashi's face! XP I had to add it in somewhere! As always, I greatly appreciate your input!
MemoriesOfNobody: Thank you very much! I'm honored by your comment! :) I hope you enjoy the rest of this story!!
"Gai, it's time," Asuma came up from behind his Jounin partner as a glint of sun just barely poked around the horizon, a freshly lit cigarette smoking leisurely from his mouth.
Gai stood up immediately from the tree branch he had been previously sleeping on and nodded seriously to Asuma, "Right," As he made to walk back to the huddle of trees that the ANBU members had met up at the previous night, he glanced at his fellow shinobi in mild concern.
"… Did you not sleep well, Asuma?" Gai briefly noted the light bags under his friend's eyes.
"Oh…" Asuma rubbed the back of his head ashamedly. He mumbled on nervously, "Yeah, 'fraid my mind was just racing last night… I kept on waking up," He laughed dryly, "Haven't been on a mission like this for a while."
Gai smirked empathetically and clapped the man on the back, "I know how you feel, my friend," His smirk fell into a serious frown, "It's been a long time since I've had a mission with stakes this high as well."
Asuma's expression hardened with Gai's, "There's definitely a lot to think about…" He said quietly.
Gai nodded, "Yeah…"
They came upon the tree cluster shortly, the other members of all the squads gathering up into their respective groups. Raven stepped into the center of the small crowd momentarily:
"We move out immediately," He announced firmly, addressing the obvious, "Until we pick up more of a scent, we will all stay with our given positions. Report anything and everything suspicious. Battles will be fought using the usual protocol."
Hiroto shot an anxious look over to his fellow Jounin, clearly oblivious to what the 'usual protocol' was for ANBU battles. Genma smirked around a senbon that he probably shouldn't have had in his mouth, but did anyway. It was quite apparent that the ex-Sound Ninja really was an outsider here. The Leaf Jounin gestured to Gai with a lift of his head, and the man nodded in response. He would explain to Hiroto later.
"Move out," Raven ended commandingly, causing everyone to simultaneously jump out in several different directions and start their trek north, to where there would hopefully be a silver-haired Jounin waiting for them.
"Um, Gai…" Hiroto started nervously as he, Gai, Raven, and Fang all headed in their given north position, going at a noticeably faster pace than the day before. Gai raised an eyebrow to the man at his right, "What exactly is the… Usual protocol for battles?" He asked, in an embarrassed and quiet voice.
Gai chuckled softly, "Thought you'd ask that… Though I don't have much experience with the ANBU myself, I do know what protocol they're talking about," He looked back ahead of himself, "If we were to encounter an enemy while trying to find our target, then we're either supposed to fight and get rid of them quickly and efficiently, or- if it's an unnecessary fight –try and evade them… Or something like that," He rubbed his head a little, "Personally, I think it's too much on the complicated side."
"So, what should I--" Hiroto began confusedly.
"Basically, the ANBU are all about efficiency and getting things done quickly and without mistakes. When they encounter an enemy, they make sure that nothing is left of them after the battle is over…" He glanced back over at Hiroto shortly, "That's all you really have to know."
The man nodded seriously, "I understand…"
"And with this mission especially," Gai's voice lowered a little in volume, "If we aren't careful and efficient here, it may easily result in a fatality; maybe even several."
"You don't… Mean Kakas--?"
"It could be any of us," Raven interrupted suddenly and harshly; there was a certain protectiveness in his voice, "Though Kakashi is the one most at risk in the situation, any of us may be killed if we don't act quickly or competently enough. A great part of it is mind over matter. You can't jump to conclusions…" His gaze was cold even though he had a mask on as he shortly glanced over his shoulder at Hiroto, "About anything."
Hiroto nodded slowly, "Yes, sir."
Gai laughed to himself without humor. Raven wasn't too happy about the Sound Ninja suggesting Kakashi's death. But then again, he couldn't blame the man. Anyone who knew Kakashi knew how strong he was, how unpredictable he could be, and even that he had been imprisoned and left hovering on the brink of life and death more times than one could count on their fingers and toes.
It seemed impossible for someone like him to actually die.
With a start, Gai realized that maybe that was the underlying why all of these people were sent out to get him: to keep him from losing his invincibility.
Besides, despite what he often said and probably thought, Kakashi had many people who would be absolutely distraught over his death. It was probably quite ironic, then, that he was a self-sacrificing type of person… Gai shook his head to try and clear his mind. He needed to stop thinking about the outcome of this mission and just focus on the mission itself.
Though, he had to admit, he was getting rather antsy… The mission hadn't even taken that long so far. He had been on missions before where they searched for someone for days on end and never found them. Granted, he didn't like to remember those ones, but this mission… Felt like one of those. One of those that he wanted to be completed and over with as soon as possible.
He wanted to be able to challenge Kakashi to another youthful duel again… Because they still had to settle the score. They couldn't do that if he was gone.
"… Hey, I have a question for you guys…" Genma started as he, Fox, Phoenix, and Owl all headed in their appointed eastbound direction.
"Shoot," Phoenix said casually from beside him.
"Does anyone else… Not trust this Hiroto Isamu character?" Genma's brow furrowed.
At this, Phoenix turned and Fox's head rose up, "How do you mean?" Fox asked.
Genma bit down a little harder on his senbon, "I'm not quite sure myself, which is the ironic part… It just seems like him being from the Sound Village is a little too convenient. I mean, think about the situation. One of our top Jounin who happens to have a Curse Mark is abducted by someone working for Orochimaru while on a mission to escort a 'runaway' from the Sound. I dunno… It seems strange to me."
"While I agree with your logic, Genma…" Fox started, "It's not our place to put suspicions on people we barely know. I realize that tensions are high right now. That coupled with the fact that this man joined an S-Rank mission with a group of people he's never seen before makes him prone to suspicion," He glanced back at Genma shortly, "We need to just keep our heads and focus on the task at hand."
"Well said," Phoenix chuckled, turning to face Genma again, "But really, he's got a good point. I understand that you think that Isamu guy is an odd duck; to be honest, I do too. But our top priority is Kakashi right now. If the new guy turns out to be a problem, then we get rid of him," He shrugged, "That's just the way things work around here."
"Right... Gotcha," Genma nodded, stifling a sigh. They were right, he needed to focus. The only problem was that when he was suspicious of something or someone, he wanted to figure out if he was correct or not right away… It put him at ease. Needless to say, he wasn't quite at ease at the moment.
It was easy for the ANBU to tell him how things went: 'don't worry about it. If he's a problem, we'll kill him.' Still, he wasn't used to the ANBU way of things. Not that he was totally opposed to change, but this was a special case for him. Kakashi was one of his fellow Jounin, and he had been captured, possibly been tortured, or worse. Having this Hiroto guy just pop out of nowhere and join them on a mission of this importance wasn't comforting to him in the slightest. He didn't like it…
"Compose yourself, Genma," Owl's quiet but thunder rumble of a voice sounded behind the man. Genma turned around in mild surprise. He didn't know he was giving himself away that badly, "This is unnecessary stress."
Genma opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it. A smile stretched across his face as he turned back around. Owl was one of the simplest people he'd ever met. And yet… He was thorough at the same time.
"Thanks; I'll try," He offered.
Phoenix smiled underneath his mask, "Owl's always had quite a way with words… Not to mention reading people like books, "He glanced over at Genma for a moment, "I'm not too worried about that odd duck Isamu. If there was something wrong, Owl would've told me a long time ago."
"Sensei! Help us!!"
Naruto jerked violently as two large snakes wound tightly around his body, slowly squeezing the life out of him. Despite all of his thrashing, the snakes didn't move an inch. Sasuke and Sakura were beside him, also being completely surrounded by the large brown snakes with blood red eyes.
"Naruto! Sakura! Sasuke!" Kakashi called out desperately, trying frantically to pull at the iron binds that held down his arms and legs. He pulled and struggled until he was sure that his wrists and ankles were bleeding, but the binds never gave. He started cursing madly when another snake appeared before him.
This one was by far the scariest of all of them all with its pasty white skin and sickly piercing yellow eyes that bored right into Kakashi's skull. It slithered up until it was mere inches away from the Jounin's face. He pulled back immediately, trying to strain his face away from the gaze of this hideous thing.
"Frustrating, isn't it Kakashi?" The snake hissed in a voice that sent shivers down the man's spine, "To not be able to help them when they need it."
Kakashi's face scrunched into a scowl, "What the hell are you doing?" He said fiercely, "I'm the one you want, right? Let the kids go!"
The snake chuckled darkly, "I'd love to, Kakashi… Sadly, I'm afraid I'm just a tad too late," A sickening smile appeared on the creature's face.
Kakashi's attention was immediately drawn to his students. He gasped and his eyes widened as he watched the three of them get buried under the mass of snakes, the air nearly forced out of all of them.
They were… Dying.
"No!!" He yelled urgently, straining once again to break free of the binds and save the students whom he'd come to love as a family. The white snake laughed manically as Kakashi fought in vain.
"Sensei…" Sakura weak voice floated across the area as she stared at him with a tear-streaked and lifeless face. The snakes had almost completely overtaken her, "Why…? Why couldn't you… Save us?"
"Sakura…" Kakashi muttered, at a complete loss for words. What she had said hit him like a thousand pound anvil, "I-I--"
"Kakashi… You're supposed to… Be strong," Sasuke said, glaring at Kakashi in hatred.
"Sasuke- I can't- please-!" Kakashi sputtered, almost completely breaking down. He pulled on the binds harder until he could feel warm sticky warm coursing down his hands and feet.
"Sensei… I thought… I thought you…" Naruto's eyes were by far the worst to stare into. The sheer hurt and look of betrayal in those usually vibrant blue eyes was enough to make Kakashi's heart snap in half, "… Cared about us."
Kakashi felt like all of the breath in his body had left him. He wanted so badly to tell Naruto that it was alright; tell him that he cared about them more than his own life. And he did, he did! 'Everyone, don't leave. Please! Hang on!' Thoughts ran wild in his head, and before he had time to even blink, his three students were…
Gone.
"NO!!!"
"?!" Kakashi woke up with a sharp gasp that made his already sore ribs hurt even more, causing him to go into a rough coughing fit that lasted for a good thirty seconds before it died.
He sat on his back on the cold floor of what could only be his cell, breathing heavy ragged breaths and reaching a shaky hand up to his head to wipe the sudden sweat off of his brow. After he had remembered how to breathe normally, Kakashi felt a throbbing pain erupt in his chest, causing him to groan loudly in a very undignified way and arch his back. This was like the pain he had felt when he woke up on the floor of his cell before, except intensified to an umpteenth degree.
When the horrible almost electrical pain died down to a numb rumble, Kakashi's thoughts rolled back to the awful nightmare he'd just woken up from. His eyes narrowed not with anger, but concern. He had thought about his students every day (had it been days?) he had been in this hellish place, but this… This dream was something else entirely.
He hoped they were alright… Kakashi thought back to when the group had encountered Kenshin in the clearing and instantly, his mind replayed the scenes where Sasuke and Naruto were both cut down like paper. Sakura's attempts to help, his own desperation… He closed his eyes momentarily, worry for them currently outweighing his own pain. Those were serious injuries.
He only hoped they had been able to be healed before it was too late…
Kakashi swallowed down an uncomfortable lump in his throat. He didn't like thinking about things like that, though he knew that he had to accept the possibility of them happening… "Lord knows I hope they made it out alive…"
He was jarred from his thoughts as another burst of pain came forth, causing him to- this time –jerk into a sideways fetal position. He tried to suppress the cries of pain he knew were coming, but it was getting rather hard to do so. What the hell had happened to make him like this?
He tried to think back to when he was last conscious after the pain had once again dulled down to a numb thick feeling. His memory was a little cloudy… He thought it might be the pain dulling his senses, but some other feeling told him that wasn't it.
"That's right… That woman…" He remembered to when that orange-haired woman treated his wounds and curiously flexed the fingers on his previously injured hand. Yup; still bandaged tight… His back must've still been good too.
Kakashi grunted as he sat up slowly, first hoisting himself up to his elbows then to his backside. He let go of a deep breath he wasn't aware that he'd been holding and glanced around the cell that was becoming very familiar. He never liked staying in cells much, because after a while they all blurred into one image… He wished that at least one time his captors would be more into interior designing.
The pain suddenly came again, this time spread out around his arms as well as his chest. Instead of crying out in pain, the Jounin simply cursed like a sailor; it seemed to be a slightly more dignified alternative. He wondered once again what the hell they had done to him to make him feel this odd electrical-like pain.
"Probably the same thing they did to me the other time… When I tried to use chakra…" He glanced down at his hands and remembered when he had gotten that horrible pain from just trying to focus chakra to his hands, "Now that I think about it, this pain is similar to those other ones… Only a lot more agonizing," He added sourly.
After a moment of debate with himself, the Copy Ninja decided that he would try and get up to his feet, even though he had a sinking feeling it would hurt like hell. With a low grunt, he transferred his weight to his feet and slowly ascended, holding his arms out to maintain a sense of balance. He let out another shaky breath after he had safely gotten up to his feet, appraising his surroundings one more time for good measure. Another jolt of pain racked his body, this time going to his legs as well as his arms and chest.
He staggered back with a loud grunt mixed with a few choice curses, only barely catching himself before he fell to his back again. He sighed, stretching out his legs as best as he could without completely losing his balance. This was getting to be ridiculous… But at least he could stand; and walk around, as far as he knew.
"You truly amaze me, Kakashi Hatake."
Kakashi froze as he heard the hiss-like voice that always sent a shudder down his spine. His eyes trailed up to the iron bars in front of him and locked with the almost gleaming yellow ones that looked deviously back at him. He narrowed his eyes as he saw an appalling emotion play across the snake's face. He was being stared at like he was a prized racehorse… It made him sick.
"Oh yeah?" He replied croakily, mildly surprised that his voice was so rough. Had he not used it in a while? He couldn't remember…
"Not only were you able to endure the first treatment and still be able to survive a fight with Masaru, you are actually able to stand after receiving the second," Orochimaru laughed gleefully, in a way that still made the hair on Kakashi's neck stand up, "Simply amazing! The others were unconscious after the tests for many hours, and it only took you two to wake back up," A smile made its way across the snake's face, his fangs glistening in the dim torchlight.
"Others? Two hours? Huh… So there were other people that went through this hell? And now I'm exceeding his standards; wonderful…"
Kakashi sneered, "Heh. I don't know if I should thank you or spit on you again."
An angry glint shortly shone in Orochimaru's eyes for a moment before they went back to their sickly calm state. His smile hadn't disappeared, "I see you're still being a resistant little boy…"
Damn straight.
"But, resisting or not, I've decided to be nice and teach my new star pupil something…" Kakashi definitely wanted to spit on him now, but didn't get much of a chance when he saw the iron gate being open and the Sannin stepping inside of his cell.
This… Made him uncomfortable. He took an instinctive step backwards, his shoulders tensing and fingers curling up into fists. Whatever the snake bastard wanted to 'teach' him, it wasn't going to be good…
Orochimaru chuckled at Kakashi's reaction shortly before locking eyes with him again, "Kakashi… What say I teach you," His eyes glinted with excitement, "How to use this new power you have?"
Kakashi looked shocked, and a bit confused. Power? What power? All he felt was pain. And Orochimaru wanted to teach him?? "What the hell do you mean?" He spat, refusing to show any signs of weakness to this man.
"My boy, I'm just trying to welcome you," He held out his arms as if wanting Kakashi to come in for a hug, "Into the Masashi Order."
"What?" Kakashi's throat ran dry. His mind flashed back to when Kenshin and Masaru introduced themselves, "The… Musashi Order?"
"Yes," The snake hissed with pleasure, looking at Kakashi like he was a priceless artifact, "And once I'm done teaching you…" He licked his lips, "You will lead them. You will be… Invincible."
Author's Note:
Hey everyone! So sorry for being horrible about updating! I was actually looking forward to posting this on Christmas Eve so that I would be in time for the holidays, but… *sigh* Things got in the way, and time flew by as it normally does… So! Again! I'm sorry about not giving this chapter to you sooner!
In other news, I think it's the longest one so far… ONE of the longest if not the longest. I'm pretty proud of that, but you know! XP
In other OTHER news! There is some action coming up, don't you folks fret! I'm really excited for the upcoming chapters, because fight scenes and just all-around hectic scenes are a little hard for me. But I shall try!! *determined*
I hope you all enjoy! Thank you so much for being so supportive of me! :]