Inside of the mess hall, all the Jonin who had been assigned as counselors were getting dinner prepared, setting up tables and bringing in chairs. Kakashi and Yamato walked in, Kakashi paying no mind to what was going on as he continued to read his book, and Yamato observing everything and taking in their surroundings.
Yamato had seen some of these people before, but he couldn't place names to all of the faces he recognized. That's when a relatively large man with a bowl cut hairstyle and incredibly bushy eyebrows ran up to Kakashi.
"KAKASHIII!" roared the man, barreling straight into Kakashi. Kakashi continued to keep reading, and dodged at the last second, throwing this man over his body. The man crashed into the wall behind them.
"Guy, you're an idiot." Kakashi sneered under his breath.
"I heard that," groaned Guy.
Yamato stared at the two with bewildered eyes, looking back and forth. "What the hell?" He finally let out.
"Don't worry about him." Kakashi brushed it off like it was nothing.
"O-okay..," stammered Yamato.
That was when another man approached them.
"Kakashi," loomed the deep voice, "what is going on here?"
The man had long, silky black hair which was pulled back in a loose pony tail. He had prominent stress lines on both sides of his face, starting at the inner corners of his eyes and extending out in a diagonal down to about halfway down his cheeks. He wore a black long sleeved V neck shirt under his Jonin vest, along with royal blue body armor pants. His fingernails were painted black, and his eyes were dark as well, darker than Yamatos. Looking into his eyes was like looking into an abyss of emotions that most people attempt to stay away from. He had a poker face that was almost terrifying; it was as if he had no feelings whatsoever. Yamato gulped.
The man looked at the newcomer. "There's no need to be afraid of me." He reached out his hand, looking Yamato dead in the eyes. "I'm Itachi."
Itachi? Itachi Uchiha? The guy who graduated from the Academy and begun a career with ANBU, becoming the captain at thirteen? What's he doing here? Yamato immediately grasped his hand and shook it. "Yamato." Being brought up in the sector of ANBU that was loyal to Danzo, he didn't get the chance to be around those who were loyal to the Hokage that often.
Itachi nodded, then let go and turned back to Kakashi. Guy had gotten up and was brushing himself off, muttering to himself about Kakashi being an ass.
"Well, if there's no trouble here, I'll be on my way." Itachi began to turn back, but then Kakashi looked up from his book.
"Oh, by the way," Kakashi's smooth voice rang out. Itachi stopped and looked back slightly.
"Congratulations on your promotion. I heard you are now taking over your father's position as the captain of the task force." Kakashi smiled at his old comrade sincerely, reminiscing about the days he had been Itachi's superior. Those days didn't last long.
Itachi stood for a moment, and then closed his eyes and leaned his face downwards, as if out of humbleness. "Thank you."
With that, he started walking towards the tables and continued to help everyone set up. Kakashi looked around for familiar faces, recognizing almost everyone there, and even waved at a few who had their eyes on him. Yamato and Guy began to introduce themselves to each other. Guy then placed his arm around Kakashi's shoulders and guided him towards the tables. "So, after all this time, you're finally going to help us out with the kids, huh?"
Yamato could feel Kakashi rolling his eyes.
"Yeah," Kakashi replied. "I needed to get out of ANBU."
That's when Kakashi stopped dead in his tracks, visions of incidents from the past flashing through his mind. He could still see the blood on his hands...
DINNER TIME
"Yamato!" Kakashi yelled from inside their cabin. "Hurry up, we're going to be late."
Yamato flew out of the shower, barely keeping his towel up as his slid on his boxers and struggled to get his jeans back on due to the rush. "Throw my shirt over here!" he said from the bathroom.
Ugh, this guy is going to be the death of me. Kakashi rolled up the shirt Yamato requested and threw it at the bathroom door like a ball.
Yamato flung the door open and grabbed the shirt, throwing it on and then quickly scruffing up his hair with the towel in an attempt to dry it quicker.
"Thank you, Senpai."
"Shut up." Sneered Kakashi. "I'm going to leave your ass behind," Kakashi stated as he started walking out the cabin door.
"I'm right behind you!" detested Yamato, slipping on his shoes and running out to catch up with Kakashi.
In the distance, they could see the four kids they were assigned to walking along the path, Sakura ridiculously close to Sasuke, Sasuke leaning away from her, Naruto trying desperately to get Sakura's attention, and Sai following behind the group.
"Huh. That kid doesn't really seem to belong, does he," noticed Kakashi.
Yamato nodded, recognizing him from ANBU. Sai was one of the kids who grew up under Danzo's faction, he knew that much. He wondered himself how he ended up with the Academy students.
"Perhaps it's because he didn't grow up in the main part of town, so he's having a hard time associating," Yamato commented.
"I see."
They had arrived in the mess hall. All the tables had been set up in rows, with the food tables placed around the perimeter of the room. To the left of the entrance were plates, cups, and plastic silverware, along with napkins and the sort. Next to that, towards the front of the room, was a salad bar. In the front was appetizers and the main meals, and to the right were drinks and desserts, with the dining tables set directly in the middle. There were already people lining up to eat, and people who had gotten their food already sitting down.
Kakashi scanned the room, looking for a place for the six of them to sit. He decided he'd let the rest of them get their food first, so that he could save seats for them. He wasn't all that hungry, anyways.
"You kids go on ahead. Yamato, if you would like, go ahead and get food, too. I'll find us seating."
"Alright!" exclaimed Naruto, immediately rushing off to start getting food.
The other three begun to follow, Sakura trying to convince Sasuke to consider their time at dinner a date. While Sakura continued to annoy Sasuke, Sai looked back at Kakashi and asked,
"Would you like me to bring you anything?"
"No, thank you. I'm not all that hungry right now."
"Alright." Sai took off after the rest of the group.
Kakashi looked at Yamato. "Aren't you going to go?"
"No. I'm not really hungry either."
Kakashi gave Yamato the most disgusted look he had ever seen.
"What?!" Yamato let out, irritated that Kakashi seemed to have such a problem with him.
"No, nothing." Kakashi started walking towards the tables to find seating.
Yamato balled his hands into fists in frustration. God, how is he so popular when he's such an ass?
DURING DINNER
"Can I have your attention please?" A deep voice rang out over the clamoring of all the people in the hall. A gradual silence overcame the crowd, and everyone's heads turned towards the speaker.
"Welcome to Konoha Summer Camp." Itachi spoke as if his voice was a fine wine. His chin was lifted, his shoulders squares, and arms held in authoritative fashion behind his back. A cheer went up from the crowd, as the campers begun to get excited.
Kakashi immediately felt Sasuke's attitude change at the sight of his brother. He looked proud, even somewhat happy.
"Isn't that your brother?" Sakura confirmed with Sasuke.
"Yes, it is." Sasuke spoke in admiration.
Itachi waited for the cheering to die down.
"Here at the camp, we have a few rules." He spoke again, this time a bit more serious. "There will be no fighting amongst each other. When doing camp activities, you will always obey your counselors. During free time, you are not allowed off the camp site without an instructor." He waited for a moment to let his words sink in.
"That being said," he continued, "tonight, we want you to relax and have fun. So please, enjoy your meals, and remember that this camp experience is to prepare you for the Chunin Exams. That being said, you will all have an early start in the morning." He paused. "Lastly, don't forget that nine o'clock is when we will be hosting the bonfire. You may sleep outside within the marked areas around the bonfire, or you may sleep in your cabins." Itachi then walked back to his seat, where all the higher ups, including Tsunade, were eating.
An excited murmur came from the kids. Of course they all wanted to sleep outside. Even if it was training, they were camping, after all.
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Sai all finished their meals fairly quickly, and now Kakashi and Yamato were both beginning to get hungry. They both packed food on their plates to take back to the cabin, and led the kids out back towards their cabins.
"Are you going to be staying out tonight or coming back in?" Yamato asked the kids.
The four of them looked at each other, and all nodded in agreement. Then Sakura answered, "we'll be outside."
Sweet, Kakashi thought, I don't have to go out there then.
"Alright," Kakashi said, "then make sure you have your sleeping bags and that you are in your pajamas. I won't be coming out tonight."
"Why not?!" shouted Naruto. Kakashi winced.
"Because I'm not interested." With that, Kakashi headed off to the cabin he would have to share with Yamato.
SOMETIME DURING THE NIGHT
No... Rin... Kakashi tossed and turned in his sleep, having thrashed his blanket and pillow off the bed. I'll help you... Don't die on me... Kakashi could clearly see the images behind the closed lids of his eyes. Obito... why... I can still fix this... more images flashed through his mind. I can still save us...
Kakashi felt something touch him. He woke with a start, flying to the edge of the bed opposite of where the touch came from, his heart pounding, the blood pulsing through his ears, making it almost impossible to hear combined with the sound of his chest heaving up and down in a panic.
"Senpai?" He heard a distorted voice and saw the shadow standing over him. He continued to pant, raising his arms up to protect himself.
"Senpai!" Yamato said forcefully, trying to get Kakashi's attention.
"Huh...?" Kakashi looked around, still panting, but gradually realizing he was safe. He put his arms down.
"Are you okay?" Yamato inquired, staring at Kakashi with furrowed eyebrows, concern painted all over his face.
"...I thought I told you not to call me that..." it finally registered to Kakashi. He sat up straight and picked up his pillow and blanket from the floor. "Why did you wake me?"
"You were obviously having a nightmare." Yamato scowled. "Are you alright?" He asked again.
Kakashi looked away, staying silent for a moment. Finally, quietly he said,
"Don't worry about it." He looked down at his hands, still seeing the blood that was on them. Yamato observed as he watched Kakashi try to subtly wiped off his hands with the blanket, even though there was clearly nothing on them.
Yamato didn't understand. "Fine then," he snorted. "I was just worried." Yamato walked out of the room and back into the common area of the cabin. He plopped down on the couch, crossed his legs and placed his arms behind his head, staring in annoyance at the ceiling fan that slowly turned above him.
Why does he deject me? What did I ever do to him? Yamato wondered, beginning to lose respect for the man he had aspired to become like. That's when he heard the scream.
Yamato flew off the couch and ran back into Kakashi's room to see what had happened. Kakashi was huddled in the corner of the room, now desperately and violently trying to scrub his hands off of what appeared to be nothing. "It won't come off," Kakashi stammered, half through tears, "it won't come off!" Yamato walked over to Kakashi and tried to understand what was going on. Even though he saw nothing, Kakashi obviously did.
Kakashi had rubbed and scratched at his own hands so forcefully that they had actually started bleeding. Yamato kneeled down in front of him, placing his hands on his shoulders, noticing how frightened Kakashi actually was. Immediately, Yamato's attitude towards him softened, and he pulled him up him and led him to the living room.
Yamato turned all the lights on, and placed a blanket around Kakashi. He was still muttering about something not coming off, and he didn't understand, but he figured he would ask later. He went into the kitchen and started boiling water for tea. As soon as it was ready, he opened up a bag of chamomile tea, placed it in the water, and stirred it with a spoon, walking over to Kakashi again and placing it in his hands.
"Drink this. It will calm you down." Yamato ordered. Kakashi didn't hesitate. He shakily pressed the cup to his lips and started sipping.
Yamato noticed that Kakashi's pupils were dilated. That can't be good... Yamato slowly started to realize Kakashi was showing signs of traumatic stress. But from what? He didn't know, and didn't feel like it was his place to ask. Perhaps this is why he left ANBU? Yamato mused theories around in his head, but then pushed them to the back of his mind.
Yamato looked over once again at Kakashi. It seemed as if some color had returned back to his face. His pupils were beginning to return to normal. Yamato sat in the chair opposite of Kakashi, leaning on the arm and resting his cheek in the palm of his hand, waiting for Kakashi to snap fully out of it.