Chapter 19

Whispers

The others left a full day ago, and already Iruka was wishing he'd gone with them. Sitting in the shack, watching Ibiki and Bear work on Kakashi in silence – wishing he could do more than repack his medical pack – for the twelfth time...it was slowly driving him insane. A quick look to his right showed him Chuutetsu wasn't doing much better. Shikamaru and Crow continued to stand vigil at Kakashi's bedside...

Iruka frowned. At least he hoped it was Kakashi's bedside. There was still a very real possibility that Wolf would win the battle that Ibiki and Bear had told them about. After all...no one could have predicted that the Wolf they'd been dealing with was only one of more than a half dozen Wolves within the recesses of the Copy Ninja's mind. Iruka had to chuckle. No wonder Kakashi was so...unique. Considering the things he could have done...based on the Wolf he'd met...perhaps reading Icha Icha in public wasn't such a bad thing after all.

Iruka reached up and scratched at his healing neck wound, lost in thought.

"If you keep that up Iruka, Chuutetsu will need to stitch you up again."

Iruka looked up into the scarred face of Raidou and he smiled. "Back from perimeter watch already?"

"Just stopping in for a bite to eat before relieving Lizard. How's it going in here?"

Iruka dug through one of the packs before pulling loose a couple of ration bars. Raidou's grimace didn't go unnoticed. "Don't complain...at least I managed to snag the fruit ones."

Raidou snorted as he tore back a wrapper and bit into the fruit and nut bar. "Yeah – thanks for that. So...any news?"

Iruka sighed and shook his head. "Nope. They've been like that for five hours now. They'll probably break for the night soon and try again in the morning."

Raidou was already halfway through the second bar when Ibiki's voice filled the silence. "Bring water!"

Iruka spun toward the bed to see Ibiki holding Bear in his arms. He was pulling the ANBU's mask off and moving to loosen the clothing around his neck. At that same moment Kakashi started pulling against the restraints. Iruka's first thought was that Wolf was back...and he'd done something to Bear! It must have been the same thought that crossed through Crow and Shikamaru's minds – as they were already moving into action. Crow held a senbon at the ready – while Shikamaru's shadows darted out to stop the man's movements.

A hoarse chuckle came from the man lying on the bed. "You know, Genma, if you wanted to get me in bed, you could have just asked."

Iruka blushed and watched Crow grip his senbon a bit tighter before lowering it to his side and sliding his mask off to reveal a face lined with a combination of hope and fear. "You stupid bastard...the day I need help to get anyone into bed is the day I give up the senbon."

Iruka watched the exchange and felt the first glimmer of hope he'd felt in a long time. Was it possible this really was Kakashi? The man certainly was as perverted as Iruka remembered. He turned toward where Chuutetsu was handing Ibiki a canteen. But if that was so – what happened to Bear?

As though reading his mind – Ibiki's gruff voice cleared the confusion. "Damn fool. I warned Bear not to invest so much chakra into that seal. He'll be out cold for at least a full day."

Iruka tried to process everything. "So...Wolf didn't hurt Bear?"

Ibiki sighed. "No, Iruka. Wolf is safely sealed up inside of Kakashi's mind for now."

Iruka narrowed his eyes and walked over to where Shikamaru was still holding the Copy Ninja in his jutsu. He looked down into the masked man's face.

Kakashi sighed. "So I really did see you Iruka-sensei. I thought it was just another trick from Wolf."

Iruka frowned. "Is it really you?"

Kakashi gave him one of his patented eye-smiles. "Yes Iruka...it's really me." His face clouded over for a moment and his gray eye held a haunted look. "Did the kids make it back okay?"

Iruka let a gentle smile replace his frown. "They made it back, Kakashi. You'll have to ask Ibiki for more information than that." Iruka scratched his head. "I left right after they returned."

Kakashi's eye closed and he let out a long breath. "I had hoped they'd make it back."

Iruka's voice took on the tone of the school teacher. "Kakashi – they made it back because you distracted all but a handful of the attackers."

Kakashi opened his eye again. "No, Iruka – Kurogane wasn't after the scroll – at least not entirely." He frowned. "My team was in danger because of me."

Iruka sighed. "Kakashi...they're Leaf shinobi...they're always going to be in danger. Stop thinking it's all about you!"

Genma chuckled. "Iruka – he wouldn't be Kakashi if he didn't make it all about him!"

Kakashi glared at Genma. "Very funny...but I think you're talking about yourself again."

Genma smiled and placed one hand on Shikamaru's shoulder. "You can let him loose now, kid."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes and looked from Genma to Kakashi and then to Iruka. Once Iruka nodded his head ever so slightly, Shikamaru released his shadows – although the look in his eyes made it clear he'd reinstate the jutsu at the first sign of trouble.

Iruka knelt next to Kakashi and worked on the bandages holding his wrist in place. "Let's get you loose so we can check you out." He concentrated on the work, trying to ignore the way Kakashi was staring at him.

A chuckle from the bound man made Iruka turn to look at him. "What's so funny?"

Kakashi smiled. "And here I thought Genma was the only one I had to look out for."

Iruka felt the heat rise in his face and scowled at the perverted jonin. "Keep that up, Kakashi Hatake, and I'll just leave you tied up!"

Kakashi winked at him. "If that's how you prefer it."

Iruka was sure his face was beet red by now – and he pointedly turned away from the man and tugged at the bindings. He whispered to himself as he worked at the knots. "This is the thanks I get for risking my life to find the bastard..."

"Iruka-sensei?"

Kakashi's sing-song voice caught his attention. He placed a stern look on his face before turning toward the partially freed man, expecting another perverted comment.

"What?"

Kakashi smiled innocently . "Thank you."

Iruka opened his mouth, ready to counter the expected remark – until he realized what the man said...and his retort died on his lips – undoubtedly leaving him looking like a fish out of water. After a moment of sputtering...Iruka smiled softly back. "You're welcome Kakashi-sensei."

-- --


Kakashi continued to breathe deeply while Iruka and Genma worked on releasing the makeshift restraints they'd used to pin him to the bed. He was still feeling the effects of being pulled out of the hell he'd been trapped in – and it scared him more than a bit that he hadn't recognized what was happening to him until Ibiki and Bear pointed it out to him. Now that he was back in the real world – he needed to catch up to what was going on around him.

He looked around the room they were in – but none of it looked familiar to him. He honestly had no clue where they were. He recognized the people surrounding him – which helped to settle his mind slightly – but when he tried to fathom what happened to him he felt momentarily dizzy. A hand on his shoulder helped push the feeling to the side.

"Kakashi, are you feeling okay?"

That voice brought back memories that were very much still clear in his mind – and brought a smile across his masked lips. He turned his head toward the speaker.

"Chuutetsu! I didn't expect to see you here." He paused and frowned slightly. "Are we still in Hyoukai Yobou?"

The older man smiled warmly at him. "No, Kakashi. We're far across the sea from my city."

Kakashi furrowed his brow in confusion and tried to push himself up to sitting. He found his body sluggish and more than a bit unresponsive. He felt Chuutetsu's arms slide behind his back and guide him up.

"You're going to feel a bit fuzzy until all the sedatives work their way out of your system, I'm afraid."

Kakashi scowled. "Sedatives? Why were those used?"

At his question, Kakashi felt Chuutetsu's arms tense and he saw wary looks cross the faces of everyone in sight. He could hear Wolf chuckling within the recesses of his mind, and without anyone saying a word, he knew why the sedatives were needed. He lowered his head slightly.

"Who did I hurt?"

No one answered, causing Kakashi to lift his head and take a closer look at those around him. Everyone had the distinct look that they'd been involved in a battle or two...but his eyes stopped when he reached Iruka. The chunin was avoiding Kakashi's gaze, and wore a bandage around one thigh – but it was the angry red line across the younger man's throat that caught and held his attention.

"Iruka-sensei?"

There was no answer from the chunin – but Wolf's laughter could be heard clearly. Kakashi pushed down the internal noise and reached one hand out to touch Iruka's arm. The younger man flinched at the touch – telling Kakashi better than words could have that, indeed, he had injured him.

"Iruka...what did I do?"

The Academy Teacher slowly lifted his head – his face wearing a smile that didn't quite reach his normally warm brown eyes. "It was nothing, Kakashi-sensei. Barely a scratch."

Kakashi moved his hand on Iruka's arm to get a better grip and then pulled the man down onto the edge of the bed. The look of total terror that slipped onto the chunin's face made Kakashi's heart freeze – but not as much as the damage that was quite evident now that he had a better view of it.

"Let him go, Kakashi." Genma's stern warning didn't make him feel any better – especially when he glanced up to see the narrowed eyes on his friend..

"Let me see what I actually did, Iruka – please." He whispered this while releasing the man's arm.

The look in Iruka's eyes showed him that fleeing was definitely on his mind – but to his credit, he rubbed at his recently freed arm and settled farther onto the edge of the bed. "It's okay, Genma. I don't mind."

Kakashi shifted his gaze to the long slash mark on the chunin's neck. There were still stitches holding some of the areas in place – although he saw the signs of chakra healing as well. The location of the incision was such that if the cut had gone one centimeter farther, the wound would likely have been fatal.

He stretched one hand out toward the tanned neck – his fingers reaching out to ghost along the scar. Iruka shivered under his touch and Kakashi felt sick at the thought that he'd actually injured a member of his village...on purpose.

'The bastard deserved it...still does...you could finish the job now if you just slip your hand a bit farther...'

Kakashi pulled his hand away as though Iruka's skin had burnt him – startling himself and all the others in the room. He quickly schooled his features into a neutral look as he tried unsuccessfully to slow his heart rate down.

"Kakashi-sensei...are...are you okay?" Iruka's concern made what was going through his mind all the harder to take.

"I'm fine, Iruka. I must be overtired." He lied. But it was a lie he was used to – having used the line time and time again to one person or another.

Chuutetsu's voice behind him allowed him to focus somewhere other than on Iruka's throat. "I don't doubt that Kakashi. You've been through more than a bit over the past few weeks."

Kakashi frowned and turned his head toward the medic as his last memories starting filling his mind. "Chuutetsu – how is it that you're even here? I know for a fact that you were still in Hyoukai Yobou when I was taken away."

The medic had a sad smile on his face. "I was worried about you, Kakashi...especially after what those animals did to the city...to the Hospital. When Iruka and Crow offered to let me come along I figured it would be a good idea."

Kakashi sighed. "I should have left sooner. Your city wouldn't have suffered if I'd just left earlier."

Now Chuutetsu got angry. "And just how the hell were you going to do that? As it was you could barely walk on that last day! You couldn't have kept what happened from happening, Kakashi...no matter how much you may have wanted to."

He knew the medic was right...but that didn't make it any easier to take. Still – he wasn't the type to dwell on his failures...at least not outwardly...there was plenty of time for him to dwell on those failures once they got back to Konoha...and the Memorial Stone.

"Don't worry about me, Chuutetsu – I don't pretend to think I can control such things."

The medic smiled warmly at him and patted Kakashi's shoulder. "That's good...because I would hate to think I came all this way to save a fool."

Iruka's chuckle caught Kakashi's attention. He raised an eyebrow. "Is something funny Iruka-sensei?"

The Academy teacher gave him a toothy grin. "Only that he thinks you aren't a fool."

Laughter could be heard throughout the small shack. Kakashi rolled his eye. "Very funny, Iruka-sensei. Did you get your sense of humor from Naruto?"

The laughter around him increased and almost drowned out the malicious voice in his mind...almost. But still, Wolf's words pushed to the surface.

'He's friends with that demon spawn...no wonder I don't like him. You should kill him...soon.'

Kakashi forced a smile into his eyes and a laugh from his throat, while his mind continued to be filled with Wolf's words.

-- --


Ibiki approached Kakashi after the others finally walked away. The Copy Ninja looked on edge – and without Bear to grant him access to the jonin's mind – he'd need to use other means to determine whether the seal had broken. He sat down next to Kakashi and waited. Eventually the silver-haired man sighed and spoke...as Ibiki knew he would.

"What do you need to know, Ibiki?"

Ibiki continued to stare forward while he responded. "You already know the answer to that, Hatake."

There was silence for a handful of minutes – but Ibiki was a patient man – when needed. Kakashi shifted next to him, and Ibiki used that cue to readjust his position until he could see the other man clearly.

Kakashi's voice held the edge of frustration in it. "The seal is holding..."

Ibiki raised an eyebrow. "But?"

Kakashi furrowed his brow. "But...it isn't complete. I can still hear Wolf in my mind."

Ibiki frowned. "That shouldn't be happening."

"Yeah – I know."

Ibiki ran a hand across his chin in contemplation. "How bad is it?"

Kakashi rubbed at the back of his neck – a true sign the young man was distressed. "It's sort of like having a running commentary on everything around me. So far it's mostly just background noise."

Ibiki frowned. "Mostly?"

"Wolf's made it quite clear he dislikes Iruka-sensei."

"Hmmm – how so, Kakashi?"

He watched the jonin shift his gaze to where Iruka was busy chatting with Shikamaru. "Wolf explicitly detailed the ways he wanted me to kill him."

Ibiki could have sworn he'd seen Kakashi tense as he stated that – but the man was back to his normal relaxed, bored state a moment later.

"I see. Is Wolf able to influence you at all?"

Kakashi tipped his head toward the side in contemplation. "Not so far – but I'd recommend not leaving me alone any time soon."

Ibiki hid his surprise. Kakashi was notoriously a loner – so for him to make such a statement, he must indeed be very worried.

"That can be arranged Hatake. Anything else?"

Kakashi's hands clenched into fists. "Find me someone to spar with...now."

Ibiki narrowed his gaze at the Copy Ninja. "Any preference?"

Ibiki watched him flinch slightly and heard a low growl in his throat. He frowned at him. "What was that for Kakashi?"

"Wolf suggested that any of the traitors would do nicely."

"Traitors?"

Kakashi closed his eyes and Ibiki saw the tension in the young man's brow. "Don't choose Iruka, Genma or Shikamaru."

Ibiki frowned. "I see. Let's go then."

Kakashi's eye opened – all tension gone from his body – and a grin caused his eye to crinkle. "You Ibiki?"

He stood up and glanced down at the Copy Ninja. "What's wrong Kakashi? Afraid you'll lose without your sharingan?"

Kakashi rose and headed toward the door, pausing to look back toward Ibiki. "Don't flatter yourself, old man. I could best you long before I had the eye, Ibiki...nothing has changed."

Ibiki chuckled...partly because of the man's bravado – partly because he was only one year older than Kakashi. "Let's see what you've got, kid."

The two headed out into the rain – both eager to work off their stress.

-- --


Chuutetsu saw Kakashi and Ibiki walk out into the rain and thought nothing of it until four hours later when the two returned – wet, exhausted, and...bleeding?!?

He ran to Kakashi's side, pushing Ibiki out of the way in the process. "What happened? Were you attacked?"

Kakashi's eye curled in what Chuutetsu had come to recognize as a smile since seeing him with the mask on. "I was hoping to be...but Ibiki is getting too old for it I guess."

Chuutetsu's eyes went wide and he spun on the scarred man. "You attacked Kakashi? Are you mad? We only just healed that arm of his!"

Ibiki grinned back at him. "Don't take it out on me. He asked me to, medic."

"And you obliged him? Are all of you shinobi insane?"

Kakashi chuckled. "That proper phrase, Chuutetsu, is 'bat-shit crazy' – but you were close."

Now even Ibiki was laughing, leaving Chuutetsu feeling completely bewildered. He grabbed onto the only thing he knew could refocus his mind. "Well, 'bat-shit crazy' or not...get your ass over to the bed and let me take care of your new cuts."

Kakashi looked like he was about to argue, so Chuutetsu leveled one of his best 'don't even think about it' glares at the masked man. It seemed to work – because Kakashi's smile lessened and he walked toward the bed without another word.

Ibiki cleared his throat, causing Chuutetsu to look toward him once more. "You really need to teach me that trick, medic. I've never seen that kid willingly agree to medical treatment in all the years I've known him."

"And how long would that be, Ibiki?"

The burly man scratched the back of his head. "Hmmm – that would have to be about twenty-four years. He was graduating the Academy when I started there."

"I thought you were older then him."

Ibiki grinned. "I am – by one year. I started the academy at age six...Kakashi graduated at age five. By the time I graduated he was already a chunin."

Chuutetsu's gaze moved back to where Kakashi was patiently waiting for him on the bed. "Five? Didn't he ever have a childhood?"

Ibiki shrugged. "We grew up in the heart of a war. No one from our generation had much of a childhood."

Chuutetsu frowned. "No one should have to sacrifice their childhood for a war."

Ibiki shoved his hands into his pockets. "Perhaps not – but it happens all the time. Count yourself fortunate that it wasn't so where you grew up."

With that, Ibiki walked away from him. Chuutetsu took a moment to push his feelings to the side and walked over to where Kakashi was waiting for his healing touch. He'd never understand this strange world he had stumbled into...but like Ibiki said...he could take solace in the fact it hadn't been like that where he grew up.

Of course – the peace of Hyoukai Yobou was already a thing of the past. Chuutetsu's mind filled with visions of the burning hospital – and his friends dead bodies strewn in the wreckage. Like it or not – he was now a part of the violent world of the shinobi. All he could do was hope to keep his new friends safe and himself alive. Something told him that might not be an easy task.

-- --


Akuma stopped short – nearly causing Kabuto to run into him in the driving rain. The white-haired boy pushed his glasses up his nose.

"What's wrong, Akuma?"

He frowned. "Something is not right. I sense the girl's chakra – but it's moving away from where I left her."

Kabuto snorted. "So the fool is trying to run..."

"No...she's not alone. I can feel more than just the medic with her." Akuma frowned and stretched his awareness back toward the shack. "Dammit!"

Kabuto narrowed his eyes at him. "What now?"

"Kakashi Hatake is at the shack."

"Heh- likely he plans to lie in wait for your return. Perhaps we should turn the tables on him and attack him instead."

Akuma turned toward the younger man. "No. He isn't alone either – I would rather reacquire my prize then deal with the Copy Ninja right now." He smiled. "After all – I know better than to disappoint your employer. And he seemed rather anxious to obtain what Youki is carrying."

He noticed Kabuto's hand tighten on the strap of the bag he was carrying. "That's true enough, Akuma – but I need to at least let Lord Orochimaru know of Kakashi's whereabouts."

That said, Kabuto pulled a kunai from his leg pouch, slit his thumb and proceeded to make a series of hand signs for a summoning. When the smoke cleared, a medium-sized brown hooded snake appeared. Akuma frowned. He never could understand Orochimaru's penchant toward snakes – but it was obvious he had passed that fascination on to his followers.

Kabuto looked into the creature's eyes. "Tell Lord Orochimaru that the target has moved – and that Akuma and I are tracking it. Also inform him that Kakashi Hatake is currently located..."

Kabuto paused and looked toward Akuma expectantly. He supplied a detailed location of the shack...feeling rather strange speaking to a snake.

He watched Kabuto regain the creature's gaze once more. "Are you clear on the message?"

The hooded head bobbed up and down. "Yessssss."

"Good – head out."

The creature lowered itself to its belly and quickly slithered off in the direction they'd come from. Akuma glanced toward Kabuto. "Do you think Orochimaru will make a move on the Copy Ninja?"

Kabuto rose back to standing and shrugged. "What Lord Orochimaru chooses to do with the information is up to him." He paused and gave a crooked smile. "But I know what he would have done to me if I hadn't informed him and he later learned Kakashi was here."

Akuma chuckled. He knew all too well what his cousin was capable of when he felt he wasn't informed. He had this one well trained if he realized the importance of sending word.

"Let's move, Kabuto. I'd rather catch up with them before they leave Lightning's borders."

Kabuto nodded – and the two headed away from where Kakashi was located.