Chapter 2 - The Journey Within
Not getting much sleep, Kakashi slowly lifted his tender muscles from their slumber. He quickly stretched to eliviate the tension and meandered over to open his curtain. The sunlight pierced through the window and forced him to defend his only open eye.
Thank goodness the sun can only burn through one eye now...
Without putting much thought into it, Kakashi got dressed in a casual outfit and glanced at the photo he had on the night stand of his old team. It felt as if after last night, Obito was with him in spirit. Kakashi chuckled, thinking that he could almost hear Obito's obnoxious cheering over the morning birds.
Entering the streets, Kakashi noticed that the sun was not where it usually was around breakfast. It seemed to be a bit further along in the sky than he recalled last time he woke up. It was a strange feeling at first, having lost some of the time he had slowly grown accustomed to enjoying. Then again, Kakashi generally spent time in the morning working on perfecting his own jutsu rather than relaxing. Maybe that's why-
"You're late?!"
A voice knocked Kakashi out of his day dream and he had to focus a bit before noticing Rin's confused yet playful face.
"A-ah... well you see... I had to help a cat.." Kakashi murmured while holding his hand out in obvious desperation.
Rin chuckled. "I've heard that line before. But not from the youngest Jounin ever! Looks like he really is still with us.."
They both seemed to get lost in that train of thought of a brief moment, but Rin quickly snapped out of it and grabbed Kakashi's hand to pull him forward.
"Let's get some lunch and sit on top of the Hokages today!" she gleefully announced. Kakashi was simply along for the ride at this point, so he offered no objections. He couldn't help but feel at home with her, as if the reality of the war that they were still enthralled in had finally released it's grasp. His eyes wandered around the peaceful air of the village. How could such a peace exist with such terrifying horrors being done elsewhere.
A small boy passed them as they glided through the streets. Kakashi could tell his eyes were more observant than even his own at that age. Before they fully passed, the boy looked at him. This has to be the young Uchiha boy.. Kakashi thought. They passed by each other without another thought.
Rin turned and noticed Kakashi's distracted demeanor.
"Come on, Kakashi. You have to at least try to have fun here!"
Kakashi shook his head and nodded. Now was not any time to be lost in thought, or so he tried to convince himself.
After grabbing a few fruits and milk, they made their way to the top of the village. There they sat and overlooked the entirety of the village. Time stood still for Kakashi, and it felt it would always be this peaceful. He slowly looked over to Rin who apparently felt the same.
"I wonder what we would have to do to make it like this forever.." Rin mused she glanced into the sky.
"We'd have to end the cycle of hatred, of course."
An all too familiar voice floated behind the two, causing them to jump a bit. Minato strolled casually to the edge of the cliff.
"At least that's what Jiraya believes." He added. Kakashi and Rin looked puzzled.
End the cycle of hatred? What could that possibly mean... Kakashi leaned back, a bit baffled by the large scope of the idea. Rin looked down, seemingly off put.
Minato turned back to the two. "Listen, guys. Jiraya doesn't want to become the next hokage. The war is almost over now, but it's going to fall on me to protect the village from now on. So we may not go out as a team much anymore. But realize that I'm counting on both of you to carry on the will of fire."
Inspired, Kakashi stood and punched the air. "I won't let anything happen to Rin or the village. You can count on me." Rin gave a very comforting smile, and sighed with happiness. Minato gave a gallant chuckle and a salute.
"I never had doubt, Kakashi." with that he disappeared as quickly as he came. The two turned to each other, blissfully happy about the news.
End the cycle of hatred.. and days like this will be forever.
Before Kakashi could ponder on this thought for too long, Rin pulled Kakashi in close. He delicate whisper was like rose pedals dancing in the summer sun.
"I don't think you need to be alone tonight, Kakashi. Not anymore. I'll keep you company." Kakashi turned to her and her blushing smile made his heart skip a beat. She smiled before adding, "You basically confessed when you said you wouldn't let anything happen to me! It's time that I show you how much that means to me."
"B-but aren't we a bit you-" Kakashi finally stammered.
"I'm just going to keep you company, you goof. Cook meals and spend time with you. You're my team mate after all. Let me grab my things and tell my family. I'll be there before dark." She giggled to herself. Kakashi noted that she looked proud.
"Alright. Don't be late." Kakashi joked. He hugged her and they left that serene area. It had felt like another world, one that they would never be able to get to again unless they figured out that riddle Minato left them with..
End the cycle of hatred.
Later that evening, Kakashi had just finished doing some quick clean up. He had not lived with anyone since his father. He was accostumed to doing things his own way whenever he got to them, but this arrangement was something he had no troubles fostering.
After the sun went down, Kakashi grew anxious. He noted Rin's absence and how she said she'd be here before dark.
Her parents may have objected.. she did just get back from a war. We're only kids after all. I don't want her to get the wrong idea, though. I had better go check on her.
Kakashi hastily threw on his shoes and ran in the direction of Rin's house. Something was off about the village tonight. It was oddly quiet, almost as if everyone was gone. Kakashi noticed this pattern and grew very discomforted.
Is this a nightmare?
Arriving at Rin's house, he felt the aura of darkness at it's peak.
"Rin? Mr. and Mrs. Nohara?" Kakashi called into the deafeningly silent house. His slight echo was the only response. He quickly rushed into the home to find that no one was there. Even more grippingly horrible was the windows seems caved in.
After searching the entire house, he came upon the a bedroom. In the bed were both of Rin's parents completely under the effect of a strong genjutsu. Without a moment to spare, Kakashi broke the spell and both parents woke in a heavy daze.
"Where is Rin? What happened to Rin?" Mr. Nohara grumbled.
"I-I thought I'd ask you." Kakashi admitted, nearing the peak of his anxiety. His world began to spin. Obito's laughter turned into angry scrowling.
You were supposed to protect her. Obito's voice ran clearly in his mind.
Mrs. Nohara clutched onto Kakashi, dispelling anything else. "Kakashi. She's gone. Someone took her. Please... I.." She burst into tears.
Kakashi knew that time was not something he could spare. He looked at the parents one last time before bursting out through the caved in window. He quickly lifted his head band and activated his Sharingan for the first time since the war. The streets were all but abandoned and no movement was detectable to the very edge of Konoha. Someone had clearly planned this out and they were escaping. Kakashi got ready to start running when a voice stopped him.
"I saw who it was."
Kakashi quickly scoped the voice with his eye and identified him as the Uchiha boy from the marketplace.
"Who?" Was all Kakashi managed to get out before the boy stepped forward, pointing to the East border of Konoha.
"The ninjas had four slashes on their bands and they rushed East after a great fog covered this part of the village. Clearly there's only one answer. The Village Hidden in Mist." As he finished, he turned to the East with a sullen face.
Kakashi pounded the ground in frustration and looked up at the boy.
"You know what I have to do. What is your name?"
"Itachi Uchiha."
"Thank you. I'll never forget this." Kakashi dashed off into the night, leaving behind Itachi's emotionless gaze.
Breaking through the edge of the village, Kakashi dashed into the night. The only things he could hear were Rin's cries and Obito's angry screams. They haunted him like nothing had before.
What did I die for, Kakashi? For you to let Rin get kidnapped?
Why did I trust you, Kakashi? You're letting them take me.
His anger at himself hit a boiling point and a used a kunai to release his panic and anger on a tree. After slamming the trunk, he tried to pull it out to no avail. He left his stuck kunai and continued on towards his hopeless goal.
After nearly a day of traveling, Kakashi camp upon an encampment just on the ocean. There he saw a small group of Mist ninja muttering to themselves. His used his Sharingan to scan until his eyes found her... Rin. Collapsed in sheer exhaustion on the beach.
Rage flowed through every pour in his body. He threw four kunai down at the men gaurding Rin. Before they got halfway his Raikiri was charged and screeching through the air. Bloodlust took over as he rushed onto the warm sand and towards the men.
As he got there he realized that all the men took the kunai to the throat, as if each one tried to get hit. Some of them still were grimicing as they gagged on the last bits of blood and muscle. Kakashi released his Chidori and covered his eye. These men wanted to die.
He rushed over to Rin, worried that she may be injured. He started to try to give Rin some chakra, but his clumbsiness with medical ninjutsu made itself very obvious. She started to come to and smiled very sadly at Kakashi.
"It's too late." She managed to whimper through a smile.
Kakashi quickly checked around but nothing on her body seemed to be injured.
"N-no, Rin. I saved you. They can't hurt you anymore." He tried to say, almost more to himself than to her.
Rin began to heal herself and gave a longing look to Kakashi.
"They sealed the three-tailed turtle in me, Kakashi. They placed a curse on my-"
Kakashi grabbed her hand and helped her up. He once again revealed his Sharingan.
"We have to get you back, RIn. I-I don't know how yet but we will find a way to save you." Kakashi stammered. He clearly saw a wave of Mist ninja moving in rapidly. He grabbed Rin's hand and dashed off into the forest towards Konoha.
After about an hour of dead sprinting, Kakashi noticed that they were finally too close to out run. He began to formulate a battle plan when Rin finally shouted to him.
"Kakashi kill me! They're using me...! I might end up attacking the leaf!"
A very large twang in his heart caused him to almost fall over from pain. He could hear nothing other than Obito's last words.
"I promised Obito that I'd protect you." He finally managed to utter. The pain of the war was nothing compared to this. His team mate was asking him to kill her. His world began to spin. His father's choice, Obito's choice, and now his own. He was almost sick with the circumstances.
"There's no way I can do that! There has to be another way..." Kakashi nearly cried. He glanced back at Rin who was very visably disappointed. Then after a few moments it was as if she had a moment of clarity - of inner peace. In a few short moments she had decided something on her own.
Kakashi had no time to process this information as the Mist ninja finally caught them. One leaped in front of Kakashi and swung a sword.
"CHIDORI!"
The chirp of 1000 birds burst the discomforting silence of the forest and pierced the chest of the assailant. Blood gushed as Kakashi thrust the ninja onto a nearby tree and turned to face the Mist pursuers.
They sent the ANBU after us? This only confirms what Rin said.. there have to be close to 30 ninja here. The only way to do this is taking them out quickly with Chidori..
Time seemed to slow down for Kakashi. He began to enter his combat mindset, the same one that allowed him to become a jounin at such a young age. He rapidly formulated the quickest route he could take to begin cutting his assailants down while protecting Rin.
...THERE!
His body only barely kept up with his mind as he charged wildly at the nearest Mist ninja. He hand pierced through his neck and the head rolled. He then flipped backwards, cutting the torso of the man trying to flank him. His eyes then caught a The chirps only seemed to get more angry with each kill, as if to feed on the battle lust.
Lunging with his full power, Kakashi charged at the next Mist ninja. He felt the pure energy around his hand and was, for the first time in a long time, proud of what he could accomplish. There was no doubt in his mind that he could figure out how to save Rin and the village.
Then, as Kakashi hit his peak velocity, she jumped in front of the Mist ninja.
Thousands of birds echoed through the forest. The trees swayed back and fourth, pulsating with the energy being expelled on the ground below. The steady rainfall of a mid afternoon splashed the leaves and trickled down to the earth. It was in the moment, Kakashi felt the blood of his closest living friend begin to drip down his arms.
His eyes filled with tears and his body began to lose all sensation. Rin looked into his eyes for the last time.
"...Kakashi..." she muttered through the blood.
Rin's once vibrant eyes began to dull. Her lively expression turned to a bitter stupor as she coughed blood onto Kakashi's shirt. He could only close his eyes in a vain attempt to get back to the top of Konoha's cliff. Back to that transcendant afternoon. Back when the chain of hatred had not caught up to him.
He removed his hand from her chest and lost all feeling his his body. Chidori released and his arm let her lifeless body fall onto the wet earth. Her smile was the only thing he could think of in that moment.
The Mist ninja closed in, greatly disappointed.
"Shit, he got us."
"After we worked so much to get it!"
The world drifted away. The rain seemed to melt everything but the pain of seeing Rin lay motionless in front of him.
"Rin..."
He whimpered as he fell to his knees. The typhoon of emotion began to overtake his body and his mind. The storm of losing his best friend to the war and now breaking a promise not only a short time later was too much. His anguish began to culminate in his eye. He felt a chakra more powerful than any he had dealt with before force it's way into his left eye.
For a moment it felt as if Obito himself was channeling his pure disdain through his eye. The power overwhelmed him and finally he began to lose his vision.
Maybe they'll kill me, too. He thought to himself, falling forward.
The chain of hatred was too much for me to overcome...
Kakashi slipped into darkness, leaving behind Rin.
A/N - It's been around 5 years since I updated this! But I think if I even get one or two reviews or people interested I'll continue. Writing has always been something I've loved and I would like to continue! That and I had such a different world view back in 2011. I mean.. Naruto is -finished- now whereas back then it was just hitting it's peak!
Let me know your thoughts please. I'd love to continue.
Thanks for reading!
Dezz