Kakashi Hatake had never received a call of this nature, yet the situation warranted immediate attention due to potential lingering enemies.
An entire house, reduced to rubble. Two bodies, lying lifeless amidst the wreckage. The Takagi family, refugees from the Village Hidden in the Mist, had been brutally slaughtered.
Shuji Takagi, a nobleman turned fugitive, had escaped the clutches of rogue ninja to find sanctuary in Konoha. For six years, they had called this place home. Now, their house lay in ruins, a testament to the merciless nature of their killers.
Assassins. The word echoed in Kakashi's mind like a curse.
As Kakashi and Itachi arrived at the scene, they were met with an unsettling silence. The house lay in shambles, but there were no signs of fire or smoke, only water. And the lifeless bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Takagi.
Kakashi knelt beside them, his eyes scanning their wounds. "No burn marks," he muttered. "Just water."
Itachi's gaze swept the area, his eyes narrowed in concentration. "The water makes sense, considering their background," he said. "They were from the Village Hidden in the Mist."
Kakashi stood up, his expression thoughtful. "True, but there's so much of it. And they were killed with simple weapons... no signs of a struggle."
"It's as if they were caught off guard," Itachi suggested.
Kakashi nodded, his face etched with empathy. "Maybe. But they were no shinobi... they wouldn't have stood a chance."
His gaze fell upon the bodies again. Mrs. Takagi's torso was pierced by multiple kunai, while Mr. Takagi had been impaled by a sword. The water seemed to be rising from the ground. But there was no visible source, no explanation for its sudden appearance.
"Whoever did this didn't even retrieve their weapons," Kakashi observed. "It's almost as if they were interrupted... or didn't care."
A small, trembling voice cut through the silence. "Are you here to hurt me?"
Kakashi and Itachi turned to face the speaker, their eyes widening in surprise.
A young girl stood before them, her long dark brown hair plastered to her pale skin, her dark blue eyes vacant and unseeing. Her light blue dress clung to her slender frame, soaked through and heavy with water. Yet, despite her fragile appearance, an aura of quiet power surrounded her. She matched the description of Shanan Takagi, the missing daughter.
"Are you here to hurt me?" she asked again, her voice unwavering.
Itachi's hand instinctively went to his blade's hilt, his eyes narrowing. Something about her demeanor didn't sit right with him. She showed no fear, no hesitation.
Kakashi, however, sensed a need for caution. "Stand down, Itachi," he whispered, his eyes locked on the girl.
He knelt down, keeping a safe distance, and removed his kitsune mask, revealing his eyes. Itachi followed suit, though his hesitation was palpable.
Kakashi's mouth and nose remained hidden behind his signature mask, a habit he never broke.
"No, we're not here to hurt you," Kakashi said softly. "We're here to help. Are you Shanan?" Kakashi studied her face, searching for any sign of recognition, any hint of memory. But her eyes remained blank, her expression a mask of confusion and fear.
The girl's stare lingered, her eyes seeming to pass through Kakashi. But when he spoke her name, a flicker of recognition ignited within them. She focused on Kakashi, her voice barely above a whisper. "Shanan?"
Her eyes dropped to the ground, where the water had risen to her knees and the ANBU's mid-calves. The two shinobi exchanged a startled glance, belatedly realizing their surroundings.
"How di-" Itachi began, but his words were cut short as Shanan vanished into the water. Kakashi lunged forward, his hand reaching out as if to grab her, but she was gone. All that remained of her appearance was a faint ripple in the lake.
Itachi's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back, his gaze fixed on the spot where Shanan had disappeared.
Kakashi and Itachi exchanged a stunned glance, their faces mirroring each other's disbelief.
"She turned completely into water!" Kakashi exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder.
Itachi's mind reeled, struggling to comprehend the impossible. "Could she have done this?" he asked, scanning their surroundings as if searching for answers.
Kakashi remained kneeling, his eyes lingering on the spot where Shanan had been standing. "I don't know..."
An oppressive silence fell over the scene. The only sound was the gentle lapping of water against the ground.
Then, without warning, Shanan reappeared behind Kakashi, her eyes still fixed on him, her voice laced with uncertainty. "I am Shanan... I think."
Kakashi spun around, his eyes locking onto hers. She clutched her head, her expression a mix of pain and confusion.
"Did you do this?" Kakashi asked, his voice calm despite the turmoil within.
Shanan's response was barely audible. "I-I don't know," she said.
Kakashi's heart raced as he struggled to understand the implications. This was uncharted territory, even for a seasoned ANBU like himself.
Kakashi glanced at Itachi, who seemed reluctant to ask further questions. They both turned their attention back to Shanan, whose pain and confusion was apparent.
"Do you know who killed your parents?" Kakashi asked gently, his voice low and soothing.
Shanan's response was laced with anguish. "My... what?" She winced, still clutching her head.
Kakashi moved closer, his movements cautious to avoid frightening her again. "Do you remember anything at all?"
Shanan hesitated, her eyes fixed on the ground. She wanted to trust Kakashi, but the other boy's fear and hostility made her wary. Yet, she felt drawn to Kakashi, and the water's receding level seemed to echo her growing sense of safety.
She reached out, touching Kakashi's mask, and he flinched slightly. She dropped her arm, but his gentle expression comforted her.
"I remember... darkness," Shanan whispered, her eyes welling up with tears. "I remember crying. And then... I just remember you. Who are you?" The question tumbled out of her lips like a plea, born from the void of her memories.
Kakashi's gaze held hers, filled with compassion. He sensed the fear lurking beneath her words, the uncertainty.
Without breaking eye contact, he slowly lifted his hand to his mask. The movement was deliberate, a calculated gesture to reassure her. He pulled down the mask, revealing his face.
His eyes, shone with quiet warmth, their vulnerability a testament to his genuine concern. His voice followed, gentle and soothing. "I'm Kakashi Hatake."
But before he could say more, Shanan's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed forward. Kakashi's reflexes were swift as he caught her and scooped her up in his arms.
Itachi's alarm gave way to confusion, but he was no longer on high alert. As they walked to the hospital, he was relieved to let Kakashi carry Shanan, unsure of what to make of the strange events unfolding around them.