Chapter 46
Sasuke collapsed on to his hands, gasping and heaving. Kakashi, the bloody monster, was whistling cheerfully.
"Okay, sealing is neatened back up," Kakashi said, stretching out. "Feeling a bit better, Sasuke?"
Sasuke grimaced. "I didn't pass out this time at least..."
But he felt like he was about to vomit and pass out all at the same time.
"I can't believe you found more seals to add on to that first one." Izumi blinked.
"Well I've not been allowed to do anything too strenuous, so I've been doing a lot of reading, and when I realised Sasuke's temper was getting worse? I studied a lot." Kakashi grinned sharply. "People should know better than to let me study things. Orochimaru really underestimated my sheer determination."
Kakashi actually looked annoyed by that. It made Sasuke groan.
"I'm also absolutely bored out of my mind since I can't leave this village." Kakashi twitched. "I haven't been stuck in here since I was three! Three! But no, I'm pregnant, I can't leave because I might get kidnapped again even though I got kidnapped in Konoha."
"What is going on?" Sasuke whispered to Izumi.
"I think he's about to have a meltdown..." Izumi shivered.
"And someone just got to close to my barriers," Kakashi hissed, grabbing a shoe, which why? Why was he grabbing a shoe of all things- "GET OUT OF MY GARDEN!"
He flung it out the window, and from the squawk Sasuke heard, it actually managed to hit someone. Izumi and Sasuke looked out, but there was no one there.
"How come nobody was blown up?" Izumi asked.
"The barriers don't blow up children." Kakashi shrugged. "Even ninja ones. About the most normal barrier my ancestors actually created." His eyes gleamed. "But they won't escape that easily."
Izumi bit her thumb. "Alright, let's have some fun."
.::.
"That crazy bastard hit me with a freaking shoe!" Tayuya clutched her head where a nasty bruise formed. "What the hell?"
"I told you that's Kakashi Hatake." Kidomaru frowned. "We can't beat him."
"The Omega's fucking pregnant. I can beat him blindfolded!" Tayuya sneered.
"Tell that to the bruise you have on your head because of his shoe-" Kidomaru paused. "Do I hear barking?"
"You also got my panthers." A voice said from above. Kidomaru looked up, and froze. Izumi Uchiha was perched on the branch above them, and none of them had heard her coming. She smiled sweetly at them, even as her eyes gleamed. "I suggest you run, because we're on a hunt for Orochimaru's pawns."
She was the one who gave Lord Orochimaru that horrible bruise on his face. The others must have came to the same realisation, because as one they turned and ran. The lone female Uchiha laughter ringing in their ears.
.::.
Sasuke sighed. He had watched the group run from his seat on the rooftop of the Hatake estate, Kakashi munching on a strawberry cake slice beside him. Izumi chased them, swinging her sword like a maniac, earning screeches and yells, while her panthers and Kakashi's hounds nipped their heels.
"Why is she playing with them?" Sasuke groaned.
"She's probably bored." Kakashi hummed. "She's been sent on a lot of missions to hunt down any of Orochimaru's spies that come through here."
"She's such a dork," Sasuke complained, but gingerly touched his curse mark. "So you added two more seals to this?"
"Yep. That should keep the curse mark at bay, even when you have a bad day," Kakashi said cheerily. "Or week. I don't know if it'll last a month if you're feeling extremely terrible, so please do try get help when you're having a rough time that you can't handle."
"I'll try."
Kakashi snorted. "That sounded so enthusiastic." Kakashi stood up. "Anyway, I'm going to go have a little chat with Lady Tsunade now."
Sasuke squirmed. "Wait." Kakashi stopped at the edge of the rooftop. "It was my curse mark that was getting out of control. Don't blame Naruto and Sakura for my issues."
Kakashi was silent. It made him want to fidget, because Kakashi wasn't usually silent. Not like this at any rate.
"Naruto let his own emotions out of control," Kakashi finally said. "He attacked you with the Rasengan, just as you attacked him with Chidori. And Sakura tried to run in between you both, throwing all caution to the wind. You could have all gotten each other killed."
Sasuke winced.
"Obviously your teamwork is getting worse, and it didn't help that I had been kidnapped and left you all to deal with Itachi on your own. I could have been there are least for emotional support, if nothing else, but I wasn't." Kakashi breathed out. "So we've got to fix that, which means you can't go on missions outside Konoha."
"Outside of Konoha?" Sasuke blinked.
"I might have been a bit hasty when I said I would remove you from missions entirely," Kakashi admitted, turning back to him. "We're in a bad situation here in Konoha, and you do need to pick up missions, but for you three? Not outside Konoha, you will only gives us a bad reputation if none of you can work together."
Sasuke twitched. Bad reputation? Damn, admittedly that kinda hurt his pride, but he swallowed back an automatic protest. There was no point. Kakashi was right, not about him being there for Itachi, it was good he hadn't been near that situation with the baby, who knows what Itachi would have done. No, but their team being an embarrassment. They needed to fix that.
.::.
"I see." Tsunade frowned.
"Yeah, so they could have killed each other..." Kakashi rubbed the back of his head. "Would have been really tragic."
Lady Tsunade snorted. "You say that so dryly. Alright though, I'll have them stay in the village doing missions until they sort themselves out. Then they can go outside Konoha, but you will not be going with them."
Kakashi sweat dropped.
"Not even to try protect them," Tsunade said, through gritted teeth.
"Yes, ma'am."
They paused when Izumi jumped in through the window, her hair tangled by cobwebs? Kakashi blinked at the sight, while Izumi shivered. Oh, ah, yes, her fear of spiders. That would be problematic.
"One of those little shits was a freaking spider!" Izumi choked out, scrunching her face. "He activated his curse mark and got half of us with a bloody cobweb and the four fuckers escaped! Your hounds can't find them, so they've spread out and tried to catch their scents again."
Kakashi helped peel the cobweb out of her hair. She shuddered.
"Yes, Kakashi was telling me about these intruders," Tsunade said. "They have Orochimaru's cursed seals?"
"Yeah, and this is so bloody gross!" Izumi complained, shivering when Kakashi pulled another web from her hair. "I'm going to wring his neck. Kid or not I'm going to throttle him!"
"Did you at least chase them out of Konoha?" Tsunade asked.
Izumi nodded. "Yeah, their asses are out. My panthers and Kakashi's hounds are patrolling the borders as we speak."
"Good job. I believe you know what I'll ask you to do next then."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade. I'll hunt them down and take care of our little spies." Izumi smiled.
"One thing," Kakashi said. "They came to my house, not unlike the usual spies."
"I guess they were looking for either you or Sasuke?" Izumi frowned.
"I'm betting on Sasuke, which is why Biscuit is tailing him. I'm going to go meet up and stick close," Kakashi said.
"Just be careful," Tsunade said. "Your chakra is wavering dangerously. You won't be able to do much."
"Agreed, which is why I have had Pakkun place a summoning jutsu on me," Kakashi said. "If Sasuke and I are in danger all I have to do is give the signal to Pakkun with a cut on the summoning jutsu on my arm and I'll be teleported away, but I'll make sure I've got a hold of Sasuke before that happens."
"As clever as ever." Tsunade smiled. "Good. Then be off with you two!"
"Yes!"
They both left out the window, earning a protest, but they ignored it.
"Stay safe." Izumi nodded to him and flickered away.
Kakashi smiled. "You too, Izumi." Of course he said it to the air, but he ignored that fact and headed right for Sasuke's scent.
.::.
Obito has felt the complete and utter fury from Kakashi and couldn't help but be unnerved by it. It was an unusual reaction from Kakashi, but he understood the reaction when he sneaked a peak at Kakashi through Kamui. His students had all nearly killed themselves fighting each other. It made Obito want to laugh bitterly. Yes, once again the world was full of hate, even between two children who were one day supposed to be mated like he and Kakashi were.
The worst part about it was that he and Kakashi never had tried to kill each other. They would never had attacked each other so carelessly, risking the life of the other. It was disgusting. Of course Minato's son was so weak and useless, just like how his father had been himself.
He had never saved Obito, which was fine enough, he had given up his life to save Kakashi and Rin after all. But the fact that afterwards the 'worlds best' couldn't even keep Rin or Kakashi safe boiled his blood. It looked like Naruto would be just as useless in that case.
Obito needed to keep Kakashi and their baby safe from this world and its failures. Obito needed to be ready for them all to dream.
.::.
"Sasuke!"
Sasuke paused and glanced back over his shoulder. Sakura was rushing his way, but she slowed to a stop once she reached his side.
"Mind if we walk together?" Sakura asked.
Sasuke frowned. He kind of wanted to be alone to think, but maybe leaving himself to his own thoughts wasn't the best idea? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that he felt exhausted.
"Alright."
They walked in silence for a time. The moon's glow and street lamps lighting their ways. Sakura's scent smelled a little anxious, but hopeful as well.
"So, you're feeling better, Sasuke?" Sakura asked softly.
"Kakashi sensei managed to add more seals," Sasuke said, grimacing. "I can't believe I lost control like that."
"Well it's fixed for now." Sakura smiled. "So we'll just have to keep it that way."
"Easier said than done, but I'll try."
"I guess we got off lucky," Sakura mused, and laughed sheepishly. "Kakashi sensei was furious, wasn't he? He scared me half to death!"
"Yeah, I can see why though." Sasuke scowled. "If we had all gotten each other killed right in front of him, or even before that and he was the one to find us..."
Sakura shivered. "Him and the baby..."
"Yeah." Sasuke shifted awkwardly.
"I really didn't think things through," Sakura admitted.
"And I let the curse mark control me."
"And Naruto was a stubborn idiot."
"And we're a bunch of morons all put together," Sasuke grunted.
Sakura smiled warmly. "Guess we just have to fix that then." She flexed her arm. "Cha! We'll train ourselves back up and win back Kakashi sensei's respect!"
Sasuke snorted. "When did you get so energetic?"
"Kakashi sensei's anger kind of put some things into perspective," Sakura said, crossing her arms as they slowed to a stop. "And I feel stupid running in like that now. I should have just grabbed you two with my water whips. I could have stopped you instead of running in there like an idiot. I acted like Naruto and didn't think of the consequences, when I need to be better! I've had both Kakashi sensei and Izumu teaching me. We should be heading for Chunin levels, yet we're all acting like kids. And one day I'm going to be an Alpha who impresses you, Sasuke." Sakura grinned. "Like Naruto says, believe it!"
Sasuke groaned.
Sakura laughed, blushing. "That might have been a bit too much, huh?"
"Maybe just a bit." But it had made him smile. "Thank you, Sakura."
She paused. "Sasuke?"
"For cheering me up. I wouldn't have blamed you for backing off."
Sakura smiled softly. "Well we're a team now. I went out with Naruto for ramen, and now I'm, here with you, for much better company too."
"Aw, look, how adorable. The Uchiha has a date."
They both froze and tensed when four ninjas swooped down and landed before them. Sasuke gritted his teeth. It was the ones Izumi had chased off earlier. Why hadn't she dealt with them? Was she alright? No, these guys couldn't have beaten her. No way in hell. Itachi was more likely to surrender himself to Konoha and renounce his murderous ways.
Izumi must have gotten bored. By the Sage, Izumi messed up.
"Who are you?" Sasuke frowned.
"From the ugly get up their wearing I bet it's Orochimaru's henchmen," Sakura spat.
"We're the Sound Four. I am Sakon of the West Gate." The pale skin guy stared him down, with a smug smirk on his face. There was an odd shape on the back of his neck, but Sasuke couldn't quite tell what it was.
"Kidomaru of the East Gate," six armed guy said.
Sakura looked disgusted by them.
"Jirobo of the South Gate," the tall guy said.
"Tayuya of the North Gate-"
"Alright, we get it, you guard a lot of gates!" Sakura groaned. "Gates of what we don't know, but sure. What do you want?"
"Urgh, use your manners, girl," Sakon sneered. "Show some respect. We're Orochimaru's Sound Four."
"And we're here for the Uchiha boy," Tayuya said.
Sasuke called chidori to his hand. He'd use it to protect Sakura, like he was supposed to. Sakura called two water whips to each of her hands.
"Like hell I'll let you take Sasuke!" Sakura snapped. "Cha!"
.::.
Biscuit was howling. He had been howling for two minutes now, on and off. Kakashi kept racing across rooftops, but he cursed and leapt down when he saw Sakura's still form on the ground, Biscuit and Pakkun beside her.
"Get up, girlie." Pakkun pawed her. "Seriously, c'mon, rise and shine!"
"Pakkun! What happened?" Kakashi wobbled when he tried to kneel down, and instead had to sit on his butt beside her to check her injures.
She was pretty roughed up, but nothing too serious apart from the blow to the back of her head. There was a nasty bump there now.
"Those kids from earlier attacked your pups and took Sasuke with them," Pakkun said. "I sent Akino to tail Sasuke and those Sound jerks with Urushi. Shiba went to find Izumi, but she's a pretty fair distance out trying to track down those jerks."
"I'm sorry I couldn't help." Biscuit limped over, licking his paw. "I tried to but they had those curse marks Sasuke pup was marked with and they took all of us down."
"You did good, Biscuit." Kakashi carefully petted him, trying to avoid his injures. "Go home and rest, okay?"
Biscuit whined, but obeyed.
"Okay, I'll lick her face." Pakkun gave a long drool covered lick to Sakura's face, and Kakashi winced.
Sakura woke up with a screech.
Pakkun chuckled. "Works every time."
"Sasuke!" Sakura gasped, searching around. "No, Kakashi sensei we have to get him back!" She leapt to her feet, but he grabbed her wrist.
"Then lets go to the Hokage and report this. She can help us form a team." He tried to stand up, but flushed when he couldn't, there was too much weight. He almost groaned. Kakashi Hatake, the Copy-Cat Ninja, feared by many, couldn't stand back up because of a baby bump. He laughed nervously. "Uh... Hahaha, help?"
Sakura paused, glanced over him, a brief flicker of confusion in her eyes, before she smiled in realisation. "Ah, sorry, Kakashi sensei." She helped pull him up to his feet, while he sighed.
"Never tell the boys about this," Kakashi ordered.
"It's our little secret." Sakura winked, but then her face fell. "I... Sasuke... I couldn't help him... They attacked us and we couldn't beat them and I'm still not strong enough-"
"Sakura, you did the best you could." Kakashi frowned. "These are the people Orochimaru had as back up against Lord Third. Both of you on your own wouldn't have managed to beat them, especially not after such an emotionally draining day." Kakashi shook his head. "But never mind that now. We have to go! If we're lucky, we can catch up to them quickly once we form a team."
"Right!"