CHAPTER 3: FAILURE
Naruto Uzumaki.
That was his name.
That was Kakashi's Top Priority.
His only priority, at that moment. On that one day.
His assignment.
The objective of a mission that he couldn't possibly have failed, thinking and knowing that no other shinobi or kunoichi could get past his guard and harm his charge.
But he never once thought that the young blonde was a harm to himself.
Blearily, Kakashi rubbed absently at his eyes, yawning tiredly as he woke up from a short nap. Sitting upright, the porn that had covered his face from the sun fell into his lap, the pages blowing in the cool breeze of evening air, as one hand felt around for the ANBU mask lying idly beside him.
'That was relaxing, although somewhat unsettling.' He thought.
'I'm straighter that a ruler, so I don't understand why I dreamt about Iruka-sensei.' He cringed to himself, wanting a shower after thinking about his co-worker like that.
Grasping the cold porcelain of his mask, he hurriedly tied it on, suddenly realising the time, after glancing at the position of the moon.
"Oh shit, how long did I sleep for?!" He muttered, remembering that the sun was still a little overthe horizon before he drifted off.
Jumping off the roof, he checked the perimeter of the kid's place, using his sensory skills to check if there were any recent chakra signatures, blending in with the shadows he slunk into.
Being an ANBU captain meant that he needed to be a role model for his team mates, for at least the beginning of this career, be on time, and still catch them off guard wherever they went.
To be in ANBU ment to become unknown, become the blanket of darkness surrounding Konoha and be able to meld into its folds.
And as a strict rule, you must obey as an emotionless soldier.
Any and all contact with outsiders about one's position in ANBU was punishable by title strip, and if you were caught in a situation in where death was inevitable, cremating one's self was considered an imperative, if not a little bit grotesque, ruling to joining ANBU.
But when Kakashi searched, and failed to find his charge's chakra signature from outside of his apartment, as well as possessing the knowledge that the jinchuuriki was one of the most important assets to the village, he panicked.
And immediately disregarded his orders and rules, before slamming open the door, shouting Naruto's name desperately, only to be met by red.
Treading carefully, he slipped into the blondes living room, greeting the sight before him with wide, disbelieving eyes, gaping from behind his mask.
With the light of the moon that poured through a single window, bright enough to run with the sun, the blood-stained Uzumaki survivor lay limply across the couch, a kunai blade dug deep into the recess of his chest, as a pool of crimson red had exploded around his form and created a puddle on the hardwood floor.
His already dirtied white top was now a vibrant red in the light glinting maliciously, showing that the blood hadn't yet dried. Two now, cold hands were clutching at the kunai grip, seemingly frozen in such a state, yet clean of the liquid that tainted the sofa.
The features upon the child's face were splattered in contrast with the delicate pale tan skin, but peaceful, as if he had simply fallen asleep smiling, a track of tear stains wandering down his cheek, his head angled towards the window, the halo of his golden crown making him seem like an angel.
But Kakashi knew better.
Saving his grief, he shouted angrily at himself internally, after standing blankly in disbelief next to Naruto's dead body, trying not to think as he checked for a pulse, even though he knew there wouldn't be one.
'Why...WHYWHYWHY...I-it was...I-I was only gone for a f-few minutes.. FUCK! FUCK F-fuck.. Oh god...I did this..My fault, I could've prevented….'
He couldn't find the strength to fight off the guilt that began to eat viciously at his heart, the implications of what he had allowed to happen because he hadn't taken the job seriously slowly weighing him down like an elephant, a tear ripping down his skin like a blunt knife.
Gritting his teeth, he made the hand signals, disappearing in a poof of smoke before reappearing in front of the Hokage, hoping to the nearest god that mercy was a given, while trying to figure out how to deliver news like this to Naruto's surrogate grandfather.
'Naruto..Why couldn't you have said something?...' he mourned.