Kakashi
Kakashi was at a cliff. One that he visited time and again since his father's death. The view was, rather nice. There were very few trees, and a massive river which he so longed to jump into. The only reason he didn't was because he didn't want to stain the crystal clear water with his body and blood, although, that would be a pretty sight.
"Oi, Kakashi! What're you doing?!" A voice called. He turned around, and was met with a familiar face. Spiky black hair, a square shaped face, and massive ugly goggles covering his eyes.
"I was just wondering what the significance of life is. We are, after all, bound to die, so why live, or enjoy living anyways?" Kakashi answered.
"That's a rather deep though, Kakashi. Don't you think you're too young for it?" A calm voice asked. He gazed into the questioning blue eyes.
"No." He replied.
"Ne, Kakashi, can't you brood later? We have to report to the king, and Minato-senpai has to see his girlfriend." A third voice said.
"I know Rin. His impatience is very obvious" He said.
Minato blushed, and Rin giggled. Why she found every little thing he said funny was beyond him. He stalked towards the group, and Obito ran ahead to scout their path.
"Kakashi." Minato tapped his shoulder. Kakashi raised his eyebrow.
"If you need to talk about, you know, that. Just know I'm always available." Kakashi nodded at him. He appreciated Minato-senpai's willingness to help and all, but quite frankly, he could never understand. It was a different kind of pain to think that everything was well and good and all of a sudden, your only family was gone, that too, not because of an enemy, but because he wanted to go.
Kakashi felt tears in the corner of his eyes, and shook them off, running ahead next to Obito.
"Kakashi, I thought about what you said."
"What did I say?"
"You know, the futility of life and shit."
"... and? "
"You might be right."
"I'm hardly ever wrong."
"Can you stop being cocky?"
"Do you have anything valuable to say?"
"Kami, yes! Of course! Why else would I deliberately start conversing with you?"
"Because you like me."
"Kaka- you know what, this isn't worth my time. I wanted to say, do you miss me?"
"Huh? Why would I miss you?"
"Don't lie Kakashi. You miss me, Rin, and your dad."
Kakashi halted.
"What are you talking about Obito? How can you assume I miss my dad if I haven't spoken of him a single time, and why would I miss you and Rin if you're here?"
Obito halted next to him.
"But we're not. We're dead, Kakashi, and you know it. We've been dead for ten years, and you still haven't gotten over the fact that we died because of you."
Panic flooded Kakashi's system. The light wind that was previously whistling stopped. He turned to look behind him, and Minato-senpai and Rin were just standing there, staring at him.
"You still haven't gotten over the fact that you stabbed me with your Chidori, right after I confessed to you. Now I'll never know what you felt - no, feel for me." Rin's eyes were wide as she spoke, and Kakashi was reminded of the expression she made when he -
Kakashi felt like throwing up.
"You haven't gotten over the fact that if we hadn't been arguing, I would have never had to be crushed by that rock. You hide your Sharingan not just from the world, but from yourself too. The reminder of my gift, my sacrifice is painful, isn't it?" Obito said.
"Because of your carelessness, these two have died. I so wish it was you, Kakashi. Had you been stronger and quicker, they would've been with us. Now I'm going to die too, and it's all because you're not going to be able to save me. Heck, Kushina and Naruto are going to die with me, and once again, you'll be all alone, as you deserve to be." Minato, Obito and Rin, along with the hill, started disappearing, and all of a sudden, Kakashi had nothing to stand on. He was falling into a pit, and around him, his father's voice echoed.
"You could never make me proud. You never have, and never will. That's why I killed myself. Kakashi, I hate you, your friend Obito hates you, Rin hates you, Minato hates you, and soon Kushina and Naruto will too."
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.
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Kakashi woke with a start. He felt cold sweat on his face, and realized it was his.
Where am I?
He tried to move, but couldn't. He wasn't bound by anything, he was just too tired.
He felt around. He was on a rough floor, like that of a road. He scanned his brain in an attempt to recollect his memories. Only one thing came to his mind.
Don't think about that. It'll only distract you.
"So, Kakashi. How did it feel?" A voice asked. Kakashi whipped his head around, trying to find the voice.
"You won't be able to find me so easily, and you're not in good physical condition anyways." Kakashi tried to get up, and fell down.
"It's no use. That dream drained most of your chakra, and you're tired."
"Who - are you?" Kakashi said, trying to get up, and failing miserably. At least one good thing happened. He finally identified where he was. A market.
The Senju National market. Why wasn't anybody there?
Images flashed in his head. Senjus. Death. Kushina. Naruto. Hakama. Market.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by the voice replying.
"It will be a waste of both of our times to tell you." Kakashi felt scared, and drew out a spare kunai he always kept. The voice lightly chuckled.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to attack you, primarily because it's of no use, and also because you'd lose easily, and I hate engaging in fights that don't challenge me."
"What - is your business with me?" Kakashi enunciated each syllable as best as his mind could let him.
"Oh, yes. Forgive me for straying, it's just that you remind me a lot of someone I knew. Nostalgia, am I right?" The voice chuckled again. Kakashi bared his teeth.
"Get to the point, and leave me alone once you're done."
"Feisty, are we? Well, I guess I'll tell you. You must leave Senju city."
"What?! Why?"
"I can't reveal that much, just that it will be foolish to remain, considering the danger that awaits you." His ominous tone really didn't help.
"What danger?"
"Certain."
"That's incredibly vague. Why should I believe you?"
"I can't answer that. Just know that if you don't trust me, the lives of yourself and those you hold dear to your heart'll be at stake."
"You're making it hard for me to believe you, you know."
"I won't reveal anything more. Just know that you have the chance to escape the fate that awaits you and your family. I don't want to live with the guilt of not telling you." Kakashi felt a heavy feeling in the pit of his chest.
"What do you mean?"
"I think it's time you return. Do as you wish, but I of course, hope you heed my words." Kakashi then felt the voice fade away, and all of a sudden, his head started spinning.
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.
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He was getting so dizzy he thought he would throw up.
"Kaka, are you okay?" A voice called. Strange, yet so familiar. Kakashi strained open his eyes. There stood a round face, with spiky blonde hair, and deep blue eyes.
"Who, are you?" He muttered.
"Oh no. I'm going to have to knock you out, now, ya know?"
"N-naruto?"
"Oh! Looks like I won't have to knock you out after all!" Naruto lent Kakashi his hand, and pulled him up. The dizzy feeling didn't leave him, and he chose to believe whatever happened was a strange dream.
"What happened to me, Naruto? And what's in your hand?" Kakashi rubbed his temple, trying to ease a sudden headache.
"Well, mom told you about the Senju culture to dress in simple attire when mourning, and you decided to get a dull looking outfit for you and me. I stayed at the palace, and when it had been too long, I decided to go look for you. Then I found you on the ground, surrounded by whispering people. Your brow was creased, you were sweaty, shaking your head, and muttering something like 'I'm worthy' or 'who are you'. I shooed the peeps away, and of course they listened, because the Senjus respect us Uzumakis a ton, and they even bowed down to me! Can ya believe it? Anyways, what's in my hand are the robes, and we should really get going, or else everybody else'll start worrying." The two of them then began walking (well, Kakashi dragged his feet).
Kakashi's thoughts were still plagued by the dream of them, and the strange entity that warned him of certain danger. That guy was powerful for sure, Kakashi could feel it. But, should he believe a complete stranger? Despite the sadness mixed in with the stoicism of the guy's voice, Kakashi really couldn't bring himself to think that he was being honest. A prank? Mind-fuckery? If it was the latter, it sure as hell resulted in a fruitful result.
"Hey, Kakashi?"
"Yeah?"
"What's on your mind?"
"I'm wondering if my zodiac has the same elemental nature as my Chakra."
"Hey! Don't lie to me! I know that's not true, you're way too tense!"
"I'm always tense."
"No you're not. I've known you my whole life, Kaka, we're like brothers, so, like you can tell when something's wrong with me, I can tell when something's wrong with you too!"
"We can't be brothers, I'm much older than you."
"Yeah, well Iruka's sister is two, so bite me!"
"... If I tell you, will you shut up? I'm having a bit of a headache, so I'll appreciate some peace and quiet."
"Okay."
"Well, would you trust a complete stranger?"
"With what?"
"With your life. Even if you haven't ever met them before."
"That's a bullshit question, and you know it."
"... I suppose so. That's what I was thinking about."
"Alright. I'll shut up now, kay?"
"You know what, I'd prefer you talk. The funeral's nearing, and I want to fix your conduct, okay?"
"Okay!"
They then fell into comfortable conversation, with Naruto telling Kakashi how he planned to behave, and Kakashi correcting him where he felt the need. There was a happy swell in his chest, which could only be brought by his engaging, humorous and innocent conversations with Naruto. How he loved his life.
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One thing he learnt and would store in his mind as a core lesson was that his judgement, and overall luck was shit.
Maim: Next upload at 250 views. Enjoy!
