Disclaimer: I do not own rights to the characters.
All situations are unique and will not be following the original story line.
The sun rise came beaming through the tree branches above where I was laying, shining on my face.
I groaned and tried to roll over and shield my face from the annoying light.
AHHH THUD!
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"What the hell Kakashi!" Obito was rubbing his head where I had kicked him when I fell out of the tree.
I could hear Rin giggling across the field. "I thought ninjas didn't fall out of trees Kakashi, where is all of the chakra control that you always talk about". She was teasing me. She loved to pick on me when I was vulnerable. Then again, I kind of deserve it since I boast so much.
"Sorry Obito". I lifted myself up, brushing off my clothes. "Wait a minute…It's morning?!" How do I keep sleeping so long? Shinobi are supposed to always be alert, even when sleeping.
Obito still was rubbing his head where I am sure a large knot was forming. I almost actually felt bad about landing on him, but he probably will deserve it later anyway. Obito sat up and put on his signature pair of goggles. He was always so paranoid about his eyes, making sure to protect them at all costs.
"Oh, you're awake". Minato-Sensei appeared seemingly out of nowhere. "I just got done scouting the area, we seem to be safe for the time being, we need to get going if we want to make it to the village before nightfall".
"Why didn't you wake me up for guard duty Sensei? You should have gotten some rest before the mission". I sounded like I was scolding him. He found that to be quite funny because he let out a chuckle.
"Well I did get some sleep while Obito and Rin were still on guard…But I was actually alert enough to hear them return…unlike someone".
I sighed. I don't know what is wrong with me, this isn't like me at all. I am so obsessed with following the rules, the way of the shinobi, and being the perfect ninja. Maybe the exhaustion of it all is catching up to me. I couldn't even keep myself from falling out of a tree!
"Don't worry to much Kakashi". Minato said with a smile. "You all need as much rest as possible before we begin our mission, I will be fine".
He seemed more confident than he was yesterday. Maybe talking about it helped him a bit. I felt a little better knowing what the mission was and what was going to be expected of us. I can't honestly say that I wasn't more afraid of what may happen than I was when we left Konoha, but not knowing wouldn't have helped us at all.
I let out a large yawn and stretched, walking over to Rin.
"So, what is with you and Obito anyway". I asked casually as if this was a normal conversation to have with one of my best friends. We never really had one on one conversations; it was always while she was standing with Obito.
I looked up just as her face got bright pink. The purple strips of color on her cheeks that signified her as a medical ninja seemed brighter next to the color surrounding them, her beautiful brown shoulder length hair never seemed to lose its luster even in the heat of battle.
"W-W-What do you…mean?" She looked at the ground with a slight smirk on her face. I could tell she was hiding something immediately.
"Yeah alright, it's okay y'know…I don't care, I just want to make sure that he's treating you right is all". I started to walk away, shoving my hands into my pockets. If she liked Obito who was I to stop her? It's not like I expected her to have any feelings for me, especially because I wouldn't know what to do about someone as good as her liking me. I would screw it up anyway.
I'm better off being alone.
…
We began heading toward the village hidden in the rain, keeping ourselves directly behind Minato-Sensei. I stayed the furthest back in case of a rear ambush, Obito in front of me as back up, and Rin directly behind Minato-Sensei in case of injuries she would be the most protected. As a medical ninja that can preform immediate medical ninjutsu, you always keep them the safest.
It seemed as if we had been running for hours when we finally stopped to take a rest and review the mission plan. We were making better time than we thought, so it was time to make sure that we were all clear on the details.
I sat on the embankment next to a nearby river, taking a few deep breaths to calm my heart down, it felt like it was beating out of my chest and I was sweating like crazy. It had been awhile since we traveled so far so quickly, but this mission was time crunched. I leaned forward over the water staring at my reflection once again.
I don't look right. I couldn't put my finger on what it was, but it wasn't me. I looked worried? Or at least stressed. Who wouldn't be after hearing that this could be their last day alive?
That thought felt like a punch in the chest.
I'm not one to be afraid of death. I know the risks of being a shinobi, the danger that I face daily, the possibility that every day could be my last…but Minato-Sensei and the look on his face…
I can't think about that. I need to stay focused to stay alive, we all do.
I pulled my mask down for a moment and splashed my reflection, taking water in my hands to splash onto my face. I needed to cool down. Pulling the mask back up I returned to my team and leaned against the nearest tree.
"Alright." Minato started. "We are going to Amegakure, the village hidden in the rain. We will be infiltrating and scouting the area to find any information we can on a suspected plan to attack our northern war bases and there is speculation that they are planning a direct attack to our village as well".
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Both Obito and Rin looked unfazed. They were very focused on what Sensei was saying.
"There is a very big chance…that we will all be killed before we even begin our actual mission". Apparently saying this was still very unreal to him. He looked pained and wouldn't make eye contact with the two students suddenly staring directly at him.
Rin looked back down at the scroll laid out on the ground in front of her. She held her composure, but Obito had a glistening in his eyes that I know he couldn't control, and I already had an idea as to why. He took a deep breath and glanced at Rin. I knew at that moment that all my suspicions were correct.
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Minato took a moment and then continued. "We will be entering using the transformation technique taught to you at the academy…As refugees from a nearby small village. This is the only way that we even have a chance to get beyond the walls".
I finally understood why Sensei was so afraid and seemed hopeless. This was an actual impossible mission. There was no way that we would get beyond the wall and begin our mission. As he said before.
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We will be killed on sight.
"BUT SENSEI…!" Obito shouted making all of us jump. I had never heard him get so loud. He got up from the ground, staring down at the scroll. "This mission…We're walking directly to our deaths…If it was impossible why are we even doing it".
His fists were clenched at his sides. I had never seen him like this. It was almost admirable to see him become so serious, usually he was just a goof off that saw the lighter sides of every situation.
Minato-Sensei didn't even look at Obito. He had no emotion on his face and his eyes were shut, it seemed as if he was trying to figure out how to breathe.
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The silence lasted longer than I could handle. It was uncomfortable but I couldn't bring myself to speak. I knew this last night and had time to process my feelings, but Obito and Rin are being told just as we enter the mission with no time to come to terms with the obvious truth.
We are going to die today.
…
I looked at Rin who was still holding her stare downwards. She looked as if she was trying to process the information in a reasonable manner. It was disturbing to see her not smiling, she was always smiling, the light had left her eyes a few minutes ago. My heart was breaking looking at her.
"SAY SOMETHING SENSEI !" Obito broke the silence with tears streaking his face. I had never seen him cry. I always made fun of him for being afraid, but he had a real reason why this time.
"Stop it Obito…" Rin finally spoke in almost a whisper. "He's in pain…can't you see that…" She was so relaxed but seemed void of emotion. "…We as shinobi must complete the mission, we have been assigned…or die trying…".
Her words hit me like a punch to the stomach. The air left my lungs immediately. She was right, that is what we agree to from the moment we become training. We are built to kill, emotionless, complete the missions…we are meant to be war machines.
Minato-Sensei finally spoke. "You won't be going". His fists clenched his black pant legs as he was sitting there on the ground.
"I'm going alone".
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