Chapter Twelve

-Flashback, 3 years ago-

During a mission, a ninja is always on the defense, prepared for an attack, with senses unconsciously attuned to anything and everything that could cause bodily harm. The one time when they are on their lowest degree of defense is when they are returning home from a successful mission. For then they are not mere mortals, capable of bleeding and hurting. They are heroes, almost gods, finally invincible, undefeatable, the masters of their craft. Even if something or someone tried to harm them, they'd rise from the bloodied mess unscathed and victorious.

It is this time, when they are feeling immortal, that they are most mortal. For, with the sensation of security comes an inflation of ego. And with an increase of self-importance comes something most ninjas know to stay away from:pride . Humility and modesty are vital, especially on a mission. They must always be aware of their limitations, aware of their mortality. Otherwise, they fly too close to the sun and face a fall, a fall so far and dangerous it means their lives.

Completely oblivious to these facts, Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi were returning home from a very successful mission. Not only had they completed the mission a few days earlier than expected, they had survived a vicious attack relatively unscathed against a large amount of enemy ninjas. They had finished so early that they were heading home at a relaxed pace, taking the time to enjoy the scenic view of their country.

Naruto leaned back, hands interlaced behind his head, staring up at the sky that was the same immense blue as his own eyes. "Man, we sure finished that mission fast! That's just proof that we really are ninja geniuses, huh, Sasuke?"

With a slight frown, Sasuke turned his black gaze towards Naruto. "Tooting our own horn, are we? If I recall correction, you defeated the least amount of enemy ninjas. What was it, eight to my ten and Kakashi's twelve?"

At this obvious challenge to his prowess, Naruto bristled. "Yeah, well, the eight that I took on not only came at me all at once, but they were more advanced, probably jōnin level, while you faced ten chunin level ninjas. The eight I faced were more like fighting sixteen chunin level ninjas."

In a matter of seconds, Naruto and Sasuke were, as usual, bickering loudly, trying to find a just way to measure the ninjas they had faced, while at the same time making sure to weigh the skills in their favor.

Finally, Kakashi noticed that they were beginning to slow their pace as Naruto and Sasuke argued. Folding the corner of the deliciously detailed page that he was reading, making sure that he would be able to return to it without difficulty, Kakashi turned to look at the arguing boys. "Shall we stop and rest here so that you two may continue this…discussion without having to worry about reaching home on time?"

Incredulously, Naruto turned towards his former sensei, eyes narrowing as he spoke. "Wait a minute…who are you and what have you done with Kakashi-sensei? There is no way in hell that Kakashi would ever be on time for anything, especially if there is a mission report waiting for him to complete."

With a smirk, Sasuke nodded. "Naruto's right. If there's one thing Kakashi hates, it's writing up a mission report. He usually avoids it for as long as possible, even goes as low as to bribe his teammates to write it for him."

At their words, Kakashi's infamous eye squint formed as he smiled, albeit uncomfortably. Forcing a cough, Kakashi mumbled something incomprehensible behind his mask and turned, opening his Icha Icha Paradise book back to the page he had been reading as he began walking once more. "While it may be true that I have been slightly tardy on various occasions and clever enough to realize that mission reports can be written by teammates who went on the same mission that I went on, it is also true that someone is waiting for us back home. And since I promised to bring you guys back home safely, it is on my head to ensure that you reach Konoha on time and unharmed. Otherwise, I'll have to face the wrath of a dangerously emotional pink haired fireball."

Chuckling, Sasuke turned to Naruto, one eyebrow raised as a playful look glinted in his eye. "I hear that Sakura's not the only one waiting for you, Naruto. You promised Hinata you'd eat a bowl of ramen with her once you returned, didn't you?"

A rosy tint dusted Naruto's cheeks as he purposefully avoided Sasuke's gaze. "Yeah…she seemed really happy about it, too. That's a good thing, right?"

Sasuke shrugged, his teasing eyes turning thoughtful, and his lips moved slightly to form a gentle smile. "I guess. It's nice to have someone waiting for you, isn't it?"

Before Naruto could tease him about who exactly they were talking about now, Kakashi tensed in front of them. Almost instantly, the two younger ninjas froze in their steps, senses on high alert. Kakashi's relaxed, fluid movements did not stop and grow rigid for nothing, especially with his very keen intuition.

Not feeling anything dangerous in the surrounding area, Naruto was about to ask Kakashi what was wrong, when suddenly, he noticed it. The scent of blood, strong and pungent, something he could never get used to, no matter how many times he encountered it. He turned to Sasuke, who grimly nodded in confirmation that he could smell it, too.

With slight hesitation and a lot of caution, they headed towards the source of the smell, as smoothly and stealthily as they could. When they were a few meters away from the cause, which could be discerned by the quiet groans and rustling in the bush, a chakra signature flared across their senses and for the first time, Naruto and Sasuke saw Kakashi falter in his movements. In confusion, they watched as the blood drained from his face, watched his visible eye widen in shock and fear. For the first time in their lives, they saw their former teacher, the legendary Hakate Kakashi, shake in fear.

Naruto was the first to speak. In a hushed whisper, he asked, "What's wrong?"

A shiver of dismay ran down Kakashi's spine before he could answer. In a raspy voice, he said, "I don't know…but be on your guard…something's not right here."

Naruto and Sasuke both nodded, a similar look of confusion and dread on their faces. But these emotions were tucked away, hidden beneath their steeled spines. Emotions would be of no use here, especially since this was a time and place where something was not right.

The chakra signature that had flared had suddenly disappeared, which was strange since it had been a powerful one, one of a very strong ninja. And so the three moved to the injured one, moved towards the source of the scent of blood.

In a matter of moments, they finally came upon the source. It was a civilian, drenched in his own blood. From what they could tell from his lying form, he was of a tall build, with brown, messy hair, similar to that of Kakashi. But it seemed that this civilian had recently been healed, for, although covered in blood, the blood was already beginning to dry. Whatever wounds he had were no more, and the large, jagged scar that made it's way down his left eye towards his chin, although fresh, did not seem to be causing him any pain.

Sudddenly sensing them, the civilian opened his eyes. All three took a quick intake of breath, an audible gasp forming amoung them. For he had two very different colored eyes, one gold and the other blue, and it was as if one was not originally his. He frowned, looking up at the three shinobi. And what he said next made Kakashi's heart skip a beat: "Where is the kunoichi? She healed me and replaced my eye…"

At this, the three looked at each other, unable to hide the shock from the civilian's statement. For, in the entire history of their clan, only one person had been able to successfully replace a ninja's eye. Only one person had had the medic-nin skill and talent to perform such a feat. And as Naruto and Sasuke stared at their former sensei, the very person upon who said medic-nin had performed such a task upon, they saw confusion and dread flicker acoss his face.

And when insticts kicked in and forced them to turn to the person that had snuck up on them, an amazing feat on it's own, Kakashi's heart stopped beating entirely as he faced a ghost from his past. He lifted his headband slowly, painfully slowly, so that he could look upon the person with both eyes.

Before he could whisper her name in quiet pain, she spoke, a smile on her face. "It's been a long time, Kakashi-kun."


Wow. I know this is a horrible time and place to stop, especially since I haven't updated in a really, really long time. And I am honestly, to the bottom of my heart, sorry. Because I won't be able to update again in at least a month. But at least I updated? :S

Kakashi's story is going to be at least another chapter long. And I will be sure to make the next chapter much, much longer. It's gonna be detailed and action packed! Count on it!

I do not own Naruto.