The mission went south fast. Lord Fukitachi had information of sorts from every village, a true worm in the underground world. Someone tipped him off about an attempt to assassinate him, and he was allegedly in the market for a newly hired bodyguard. Kakashi had made it to the audition, where he would display his skills, when every candidate was captured as a precaution. He went willingly and was placed in a solitary cell and tortured daily for three weeks.
The mission was still on: kill Lord Fukitachi and return to the Village Hidden in the Leaf. His identity was not compromised, of course, he'd abandoned his gear and mask and taken on a new identity. Kakashi didn't look like himself, he looked like a poor farmer from a small village not far from the Lord's residence. Kakashi's hair was brown from a non-permanent dye that would last three weeks and disappear, returning to the original color. His eyes were blue and matching, and even his nose was different, and he had a jagged scar near his chin.
No one knew who he was except that he came from the Village Hidden in the Sand. His torturer returned after a short lunch break because torturing something that was already broken was strenuous. He wasn't Kakashi, he was Hound, and he had been that way for the past two and a half weeks. Hound remained still as his hair was grabbed from behind, strands being ruthlessly pulled from his scalp.
"Tell me who you are."
"Tenuka Seuchi of the Sand."
"Yer shittin' me." His hair was released, and the man circled him, eying his every move. Hound was bored; he wanted to kill. He had to be strategic, because believe it or not, he found out some valuable information whilst being tortured. "Yer from that damn Hisao clan. Ya see, my boss knows what yer up to. We just want ta know where and when you'll attack." Hound said nothing, gazing absentmindedly. Isamu Hisao had been at the bottom of his bingo book for a while. Funny, how the name had come up several times now.
The man spat at his feet, "I think you need a nice bath." He clasped his hands together, signing quickly before a water prison jutsu formed around Hound's head. It was mediocre and only lasted up to 100 seconds each time. The Hound didn't react, and that disturbed his torturer each time. It was fairly amusing to watch him squirm, but it was also why his torturer was convinced he was a professional.
The mission had been compromised because of a turf war between Hisao and Fukitachi. Apparently, the Leaf village and Hisao shared the same views about removing Fukitachi from the scene. Their reasoning, however, was different. Hisao wanted Fukitachi out of the way so he could presumably take over his role as the lead embezzler of funds from the Villages. Hound blinked when the water dropped over his body again for the seventy-second time as the jutsu broke. The interrogation had gone on long enough, and he had learned just about as much as the man in front of him knew.
Truth be told he had already planned for a situation like this when he staked out the area and found the holding grounds. Hound had been equipped with a senbon from day one and finally used it when the other came closer. He had stabbed it through his torturer's eye with his bare foot and watched with boredom as the other groaned in pain before he finally died. Hound dislocated one of his shoulders so that his bound hands were in front of him rather than behind him like before. He grabbed a kunai from the dead man's pocket and cut the rope. Hound popped his shoulder back with a small grunt before he took the keys wrapped around the other's belt and kindly let himself out.
He walked slowly out of the holding cell and found himself in familiar surroundings. Hound walked into the woods where he'd hidden his equipment. He walked with a limp because his right foot had been broken in two places, and he'd been stabbed several times in the left thigh. Torture was torture, Hound just had a higher tolerance. The ANBU made his way to the hidden gear slowly, stumbling occasionally, but otherwise walking normally.
Hound rested at the bottom of a tree stump when he arrived at a certain canopy of trees. He changed clothes, finding comfort in the fact that they were clean, and he had shoes. Hound ate several pills and administered some first aid to his wounds. The ANBU remained still until nightfall, when he stood up and went to complete his mission. He was ready for a change in scenery.
…
Fukitachi did not make things easy for him, he was about as paranoid as an ANBU. Security had been tripled, and there was not a moment when he was alone. Hound watched carefully and waited for days before Fukitachi was finally alone after a guard went for a rare bathroom break. He did it quickly, forcing Fukitachi to inhale the poison through a cloth whilst he was asleep. Fukictachi didn't even have time to scream before an induced heart attack claimed him.
Fukitachi, however, had enough time to press an alert button as twenty ninjas came in seconds later. Hound fought them off, barely. The bodies lay littered across the room, the blood seeping into the carpet, making it sticky. Limp arms fell by his side as his pack, covered in blood themselves, circled him protectively. Hound roughly assessed the situation; he couldn't move his arms, but he had enough chakra to fuel his pack for another hour at least.
"We need to move," he said simply, and then they broke out of a window, shattering the glass. No doubt alerting the rest of the house if they hadn't already. The pack moved swiftly at a pace most ninjas couldn't keep up with while healthy, let alone injured. Hound kept up his pace with his pack, not falling behind. Pakkun noticed how worse for wear his master truly was. He stayed behind when the rest disappeared, and Hound didn't say a word.
Hound remained unfeeling as he landed on his feet each time he jumped from tree to tree. The two had been in the same situation countless times, traveling together in a life-or-death situation where normal people would have given up already. Pakkun worried constantly over whether he would have to find a new master, but he could smell a change. Hound was driven by something, and he wasn't going to stop until he reached his goal. The small pug was what little chakra he had personally at that point to stay with the ANBU.
The primal need to live had taken over as he surged forward at a pace even Pakkun was having trouble keeping up with. The pug saw a change in his master's eyes before he disappeared, knowing somehow his master would make it. Hound crossed the border, not even bothering with stealth anymore. He would kill anything that blocked his way. The ANBU made his way back to the Village, body so hurt he couldn't even feel it. The Hound stumbled several times, even falling after stepping on a weak branch. The ANBU landed with finesse and expertise; however, it sent bolts of pain through his entire leg. He broke his left ankle but continued anyway. The pace was immensely slower and frankly not good enough for him, but with two damaged legs, who could do better?
Hound was not deterred by something like a broken ankle or leg and sped up once again, he was running on pure adrenaline. The ANBU passed through the gates like a flash and went straight to the Missions office he knew Iruka would be. The killer shoved off anyone who tried to help, especially Gai, who had unfortunately been there as well. Being a Taijutsu master was the only thing that had stopped him from having his neck twisted. Hound one-upped the ninja with a swift chop from one of the injured arms.
Iruka stood up in shock at the scene he'd just witnessed. The Third Hokage tensed in his chair as he continued to smoke his pipe when Hound neared. Iruka gulped as the ANBU approached, he had just taken out one of the most skilled jounin when he looked like he could barely walk. Hound stopped in front of the brunette, leaning closer than was comfortable, inspecting him. He turned to the Hokage, "Mission Complete." His body locked suddenly and collapsed on itself, taking his consciousness with it.
Asuma, Genma, and Raido witnessed the entire scene, and for a moment were too stunned to move as they saw Iruka leap hurriedly over the desk to the ANBU's aid. Genma smirked at the brunette and picked up the limp body from the floor before Iruka could touch him. Iruka opened his mouth to tell him off, but Genma held his hand up and silenced him.
"Sorry about that, Angel. I want to say it happens, but it doesn't. He'll be at the hospital, but you don't know his name, so I would wait until he finds you again." Genma felt the other shift in his arms and frowned. Taking on a more serious tone than usual, "I have a feeling that won't be too long." Gai woke to see his friend being carried out and recovered faster than Iruka had ever seen. They all followed Genma out, and Iruka clutched his hands into fists at his sides.
The Hokage chuckled as someone started to clean the blood from the floor. Iruka's brow twitched and looked at the old man questioningly. The Third took a drag from his pipe, exhaling slowly, "It's been years since I've seen that boy with such drive." The old man looked at him with wisdom, and he knew instantly the Hokage knew something he didn't. Recently, it seemed like they all did. Iruka was beyond irritated for the rest of the night. Had Genma been flirting with him during such a crucial moment? It had been almost a month since he had last seen the ANBU, and when he finally appeared again, he was half dead! He had the urge to ask the Hokage, but he highly doubted the old man would give up the identity of the village's secret weapon to him. That meant he had to wait until the ANBU came to him again. Iruka was usually a patient man unless it was something personal. Iruka clenched his fists as he sat down to work, noticing the knowing smirks he was given by each jounin every time they handed in a report.
"He'll be okay," said Kurenai. "He's a strong man, now that he has something to live for." She smiled at him as he checked her Mission Report. Iruka nodded as he handed her another mission scroll, "Good Luck," he said absentmindedly. Kurenai chuckled, "I feel better already. After all, I was blessed by the Angel." Iruka's eyes shot up at her, "What?"
"Sorry, Iruka-sensei, pardon my manners, I couldn't help it." The Hokage grinned and Iruka was starting to slowly get pissed off, were they seriously mocking him?
"Calm down, Iruka. They are not making fun of you, leave it at that." The brunette opened his mouth, but the Third simply shook his head to quiet him. Kurenai smiled softly, and his anger diminished, knowing she hadn't meant to offend him. Iruka sat back in his seat, arms crossed, "Why do they call me Angel, Hokage-sama?" He received no reply.
…
Kakashi awoke in the Hospital, tense and alert that he couldn't move his body. He relaxed only slightly when he noticed Genma, Asuma, Raido, and Gai. Asuma shushed him before he could attempt to use his vocal cords. Hospitals were the only time you could see him without a cigarette in his mouth.
"We already know what you are going to ask. You don't remember anything, do you?" Kakashi shook his head, the only thing he remembered was the need to survive. Asuma nodded and let Genma retell the story, seeing as he was the one who found the whole thing to be entertaining.
"Well, you walked into the Mission's Office half dead, knocked Gai out cold, and then collapsed in front of your angel and the Hokage. Nobody knows how you were able to move or even get there. The nurse says it will be at least two weeks before you'll be released. You're just lucky Lady Tsunade happens to be visiting at this time; otherwise, it would've been longer," Genma said with a smirk on his face. Kakashi sighed, he hated hospitals. Normally, he could talk his way out or escape, but honestly, he couldn't even move his body.
Gai had tears flowing down his face, "What a passionate display of love and youth! I will never forget this for my entire life, my friend! I am touched and honored to be bested by such passion! My tears overflow just thinking about the way you looked at the Angel!" Kakashi ignored his theatrics, "Is he...injured?"
It was Raido's turn to speak, "If you are asking whether or not you attacked him as well, then the answer is no." Kakashi relaxed, so the only one he hurt was Gai. Gai was still spewing nonsense about passion, youth, and love, so he didn't seem to have been impacted. "I think the only thing Iruka-sensei was upset about was that now every ANBU Jounin calls him the Angel. He didn't know they watched him while you were gone."
"Who?"
"It was mostly Cat, Tortoise, Centipede, Shadow, and Raven who all took care of him. They told of their observations to everyone at headquarters. Watching Iruka has become a sort of pastime for everyone. I don't think there's any ANBU who hasn't watched him at least just to see who he is. Centipede and Raven caught two enemy nin within the first week, and Shadow caught one last weekend." Kakashi frowned underneath the sheet that politely covered half of his face. Iruka had been targeted after all. He should do everyone a favor a kill the traitor before he kills anyone else.
"It was not Mizuki. Someone else wants to kill Iruka for whatever reason," Genma stated practically reading his mind. The Jounin took on a more serious tone, even Gai.
"I've seen it myself! Someone terrible is targeting Angel!" Gai raised a fist, he had been one of Iruka's primary protectors, codename Tortoise. Kakashi absorbed the information with a calm mind. It was possible that the two missing ninjas from before were not hired by Mizuki. Unbeknownst to him, Iruka had become somewhat of a symbol amongst the ANBU while he had been gone. No one could kill innocent people without being broken. Iruka had the ability to seemingly rebuild and mend broken pieces.
"I saw him dutifully glue a shattered vase back together for hours! It was truly astonishing! He truly fell from heaven!" Gai's tears flowed down his face as he gave Kakashi a toothy grin and a thumbs up. There was no doubt in his mind that someone else had been the cause of the broken vase. They were testing him, and so far, Iruka was quickly becoming their idol. Kakashi truthfully didn't know how he felt about it.
"Iruka is a diamond amongst us. He's pure." The room fell into silence. Everyone was attaching themselves to seemingly the only source of light they had. Tsunade burst into the room with four training nurses following her like ducklings, while they could witness her brilliance in action. She eyed him from across the room while dramatically flipping one of her pigtails. Tsunade snatched the board with his file on it from one of the nurses before tossing it back.
"Brat, why is it that every time I see you, you have a death wish?" Kakashi would have shrugged if he could move. She glared at him before she took a chug of the sake she'd hidden, God knows where. No one dared to say anything about her drinking while on the job. Tsunade walked over to him, her heels clacking sharply against the tile. She closed her eyes; she still couldn't stand the sight of blood. Kakashi knew that she was probably only there because of a debt to Lord Hokage.
Tsunade put her hands on his chest, brows furrowing. "Brat, what did you do to yourself?" The question was irrelevant, she asked it every time she healed him. Tsunade knew exactly what was wrong with him. Several shattered ribs, torn tendons, four fractures between the two arms, a broken ankle, bruised kneecap, ripped tendons in the thigh, another broken leg, and a few minor lacerations, well, not a few, there were at least eight. Tsunade took her mind away from the blood by thinking of Kakashi as a bet of sorts. If she helped the brat out like always, he would help her when she needed it. Her hands began to shake, and she quickly stepped away from him, shaking like a leaf. Tsunade quickly washed her hands even though there was nothing on them.
"Get to work! Don't you know who he is?" She barked out orders but didn't turn around again until Kakashi groaned at the feeling of his ribs being put back together with chakra. Tsunade pushed the girl out of the way and closed her eyes again. "Idiot! If you do it right, it shouldn't hurt!" It was true that the chakra had a numbing effect on the body, making it the most efficient way to heal someone.
Truth be told it hadn't hurt; he just made the sound because he would much rather have Tsunade with her eyes closed than a newbie work on his chest. Kakashi had been in this situation far too many times, and each time had been unpleasant when newbies worked on him. Sometimes they didn't concentrate enough and left a part out, it happened once. He hated hospitals, but he felt himself being lulled into sleep, and this time he went willingly. Iruka was on his mind as he drifted into a heavy slumber.