Kakashi was currently lying down on a bed staring at the ceiling where as Akio was sitting next to him on a chair.
"Do you want to talk?" Akio asked him. Ever since they came inside, Kakashi hadn't said a word but Akio couldn't just ignore it. In order to get past this Kakashi needed to talk about it so Akio decided that it was time to push.
"I didn't remember it that much" Kakashi said quietly after slight hesitation "I know she died by stone ninja but I…. forgot she was assaulted. How can I forget?"
"Your brain probably repressed it" Akio explained "It is common when children, and even grown men but mostly children, experience a traumatic event, their brain hides it away since the person cannot make sense of it, or it is too painful to think about. You were only five, it is natural. What do you remember before you saw that?"
"I…. it's blurry now that you mention it" Kakashi told him slowly as he closed his eyes trying to remember, "The only thing I could remember before the pools showed me the memory were her last moments…. Her last words."
"I could tell she loved you very much, Kakashi" Akio comforted him "And she is probably with your father now, watching over you"
"I don't think so" Kakashi replied after a while "They used to fight a lot at the end, ever since I entered the academy actually. Mom was against the entire thing and it sort of drifted them apart. Father used to sleep in the guest room every now and then, whenever the fighting got really bad."
"It's not your fault" Akio said resolutely "It's a mistake that is often seen when a ninja marries a civilian. That is why they both need to compromise to the entire children becoming shinobi issue. Usually the child enters the academy at the normal age of six or seven, thus, both parties are satisfied. Your parents made you, a four year old, decide instead of solving the matter between themselves."
"My parents did not pawn of their problems on me" Kakashi shouted in rage as he sat up, he won't let his parents be mocked.
"That is not what I meant" Akio said calmly still in the same position "I mean they made a mistake because they are human. Their mistake, not yours. Do not blame yourself for how things were between your parents."
Kakashi simply turned away, "He used to stare at her pictures for hours after she died" Kakashi told him softly. "Whenever he saw me he got upset, I got my mother's face. I started to wear the mask because I didn't want to…"
"Remind him" Akio finished for him.
Kakashi nodded, "I was just tired of seeing his eyes, his sadness. He was supposed to be strong and unbeatable."
"It's hard for a child to see their parents vulnerable" Akio stated. When Kakashi didn't say anything Aki continued "How do you see yourself accepting what happened to your parents?"
After a couple of minutes of silence Kakashi answered "I know now that it's not my fault my parents fought, I just need to know what happened to Dai and Mahiru, if they are still alive."
"I can make them suffer, beg for death" The White Wolf's voice sounded in his subconscious "Let me rip them to shreds and make them cry out in pain. The only thing they deserve is pure horror, and only I can deliver that. Avenge your dear mother, let those who killed her suffer truly for their crimes."
"Kakashi!" Akio was suddenly in front of him looking at him in worry
"It's.. nothing" Kakashi shrugged Akio's concern away
"What happened?" Akio asked not letting the matter slide
"Nothing" Kakashi insisted "I want to sleep"
Akio sighed and stood up "I already said this but I have a feeling you didn't hear me. I can probably check on whether Dai and Mahiru are still alive, but even if they are, what are you going to do? Revenge?"
"Revenge is only a fuel for hatred, I know I know" Kakashi muttered "Jiraya already drilled that lesson in my head and Sasuke is a reminder of how that is true. I just want to talk to them."
"Sure you do, then kill them." The White Wolf noted
Akio sighed and headed for the door to give Kakashi some privacy. Just before he left he turned back towards Kakashi, "I'm always here if you need to talk."
"I know" Kakashi nodded "Thank you"
Akio just nodded in reply and left the room. Kakashi sighed and lay back down feeling drained. He listened to the leaves rustling in the wind and soon sleep overtook him.
Jiraya decided that Naruto needed to let out some steam and so had him working on taijutsu. As he and Naruto exchanged blows , Naruto slowly calmed down and was no longer venting or yelling every now and then.
Naruto stopped suddenly and Jiraya was about to make fun of his lack of stamina when he noticed that Naruto was staring behind him. Jiraya turned to find Akio sitting down at the cottage's porch in one of the wooden chairs.
Jiraya halted the training and they joined Akio and helped themselves to some water that Moriko left out for them.
"How is he?" Jiraya asked the question on both their minds
"He's better than before" Akio told him "At least now he no longer blames himself for his parents fighting constantly. He wants to know what happened to the two men. I already sent a message to one of my people to check on their status."
"He's not considering revenge, is he?" Jiraya asked. Naruto hoped not because he knew revenge only brought more pain after dealing with Sasuke.
"He told me he just wants to talk to them" Akio replied "Not that I believe him"
"He'll come around" Jiraya assured his friend
"Kakashi told me you drilled the idea of revenge not being the answer in his head already," Akio admitted
"Well actually my lesson was about hatred and revenge is only a part of it but I'm glad he listens to me in any case" Jiraya laughed. Akio smiled at his friend's remark as Naruto excused himself to go to the bathroom leaving the old men to themselves.
Naruto took his time in the bathroom and as he started making his way outside he passed by Kakashi and Akio's room. He paused in uncertainty then decided to enter the room. Akio said that Kakashi was sleeping so Naruto didn't bother knocking and came in quietly.
He found Kakashi sensei sleeping on the bed farthest to the left and made a line for the chair next to it. He sat down and stared at his sleeping sensei as if seeing him for the first time. He always thought his sensei was unbeatable, like nothing could ever break him. However, after this entire mix up, Naruto realized that Kakashi sensei had his own demons but had tucked them away to guide himself, Sakura and Sasuke. Well he tried with Sasuke, not that it helped in the end since Sasuke was a stubborn ass.
Naruto did wonder what his sensei was like as a kid and what kind of past he had, but he thought that Kakashi would never answer him, or maybe he would just give him a vague answer, so he didn't bother. Yet now, no matter what he asked him, Kakashi answered truthfully. It was weird, but it made him feel happy.
Kakashi sensei always told him to drop the sensei and now he knew why, Kakashi no longer sees him as a student but as a comrade and that must be the reason why he told him these things. It was a very nice feeling.
Naruto focused once more on his sensei and noticed that he seemed a bit disturbed in his sleep and kept twisting around every now and then.
Jiraya told him that it was the same for him during the first few days at the pools but he always calmed down when Jiraya ruffled his hair or held his hand. Naruto decided to be there for his sensei in the same way and squeezed his hand for support.
Instead of reassuring his sensei, however, Kakashi sat up straight at the company and rubbed his eyes sleepily.
"Sorry, sensei" Naruto grinned at him sheepishly.
Kakashi simply waved off his concern, "It's not good to sleep too much anyway," he reassured him "That will just mess up my sense of time"
"Sensei…. I'm sorry for what happened," Naruto told him with heavy emotions
"Thank you" Kakashi nodded appreciatively at the words
"You won't go seeking revenge, right?" Naruto asked in worry
Kakashi laughed out loud, "Of course not, Naruto. I've seen people wither away from revenge and I'm not just talking about Sasuke."
Naruto smiled uncertainly, the laugh that escaped his sensei chilled him for some reason.
Thank you for the reviews and the added favorites! I know this was a bit short but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. I know some of you wish I update faster but I'm currently writing two stories at the same time so I apologize for any delay. Thanks again for all the advise and nice comments! Till next time =D