To say Kakashi was surprised when he lost connection with his mosquito only an hour later was an understatement. He had to admit he hadn't been paying attention as much as he should have. Makeout Paradise did that to a person. However, he hadn't lost control of his chakra flow or let the mosquito fly dangerously close to the two. Kakashi leaned forward and uncovered his Sharingan eye to see why he had lost connection, wondering if the jutsu had a time limit. It took a minute or two to find a chakra source that small, but he found it in the back corner of the floor. It wasn't hard to tell that the bug died; it was surprising to see that a miniature senbon about the size of a needle was the cause of death.
Kakashi frowned as he recovered his eyes and put his book away. The fact that Kato sensed a chakra presence that small was a near-impossible feat on its own. He didn't have any doubts; Kato already knew he was watching. He had been silently challenged. Kakashi sat back and crossed his arms as he assessed the situation. Kato had purposely killed his mosquito as a challenge, which was simply not acceptable. He didn't particularly care that the bug had died; it was more along the lines that the gift had been killed as a challenge that bothered him.
Kakashi wiped the sweat off his brow as he stood up and made his way to the first level. He was careful as he used his Earth Jutsu and landed quietly on the floor. Kakashi took a second to relish in the cool air before he picked the lock on the door. He lightly tapped on the door before opening it, interrupting Iruka's lecture on the politics between the two nations. Iruka looked at him inquisitively as he watched Kakashi take a seat in the back corner of the room.
"Don't mind me, I was just tired of being run over by maids while waiting in the hall. I'll be quiet, ne~?" Iruka rolled his eyes before he cleared his throat and quickly resumed what he was talking about. Kato didn't say a word as the lecture droned on for another hour and a half. Iruka smiled awkwardly as he observed the two jounin who barely even moved. It was almost as if he had been talking to himself the entire time.
"Shall we take a break and let the information sink in for a bit?" Iruka relaxed when Kato smiled softly. Kato had been looking so serious that he had started to worry. He put his hand on his student's shoulder, "Are you alright? You haven't said a word almost this entire time! If you're feeling sick, we can pick up again tomorrow. I highly doubt the other teacher has gotten this far with Konohamaru-kun." Kato smiled broadly and shook his head. Iruka was too cute, worrying about him.
"I'm fine, I just have a lot on my mind right now." Iruka nodded before he removed his hand. Kakashi stood up from his place in the corner and stretched lightly. He smiled sheepishly at Iruka, "Pardon me, Iruka-sensei, but I forgot to pack some essentials." He turned to Kato, "Do you mind if you resume your lesson after lunch? I need Iruka to be my guide around the village." Kato pursed his lips together, making them a thin line. The boy shrugged lightly, "Would it not be more convenient if I had a guard lead you?"
Kakashi shook his head and put his hands in his pockets, "See, the thing here is that my mission is to protect Iruka-sensei, at any cost. I can't have you rudely obstructing my mission any more than you already have, so I must insist that I borrow Iruka-sensei." Kato clicked his tongue, shocked at probably being treated like that for the first time. While Kakashi never raised his voice from the usual monotone drawl, the message was clear. Iruka stood there with his mouth open, wondering where the hell that came from so suddenly.
Iruka nervously stood in front of the mist jounin to stop the possible fight before it happened. He gulped, "I apologize for my, uh, partner's lack of tact about certain things. We don't mean to offend you, it's just that we should be together by any means, for village security and all that." Iruka chuckled softly, a nervous habit. "So, um, we'll be back around one?" Kato's face was unreadable as he nodded, and frankly, that unnerved Iruka more than it probably should have. Iruka didn't even have time to think about anything else before he was being pulled away. He bit his lips to remain quiet until they were quite a distance away before he turned to Kakashi.
"What was that all about? He's the son of the emperor! Are you trying to get us killed?" Kakashi silently pointed upwards at the ceiling to the hidden ninja; his chakra was concealed perfectly, but his scent was so strong it almost hurt his nose. Iruka's eyes widened in realization before he carried on so as not to give away that they knew they were being watched. "That was disrespectful, and you know it! What do you even need?" Kakashi waited until the other nin crept away before he spoke, "One, the brat challenged me first, just so you know. Two, I need underwear~"
Iruka sighed in exasperation, "When did he challenge you?"
"He killed my bug." Iruka almost face-palmed at the absurdity of the statement.
"You acted like that over a bug?" Kakashi sulked at the exasperation in Iruka's voice. It did sound like a stupid reason to get mad. He thought about defending himself, but any excuse he came up with would just make him sound like a brat. Kakashi scratched his head in confusion. How was he the one in the wrong when it was Kato who interfered?
Iruka shook his head, "Kato-kun has a high ranking in this village. I know to you he may seem like a kid, but he's been trained to become the next Mist Emperor since birth. I apologize if he's offended you; he simply doesn't know better." Kakashi put his hands in his pockets as they exited the building. At his age, Kakashi had slain many enemies in battle, and he guaranteed Kato was the same.
"He's not a kid anymore, he knows exactly what he did." Iruka raised a questioning brow, but Kakashi said no more, lost in his thoughts. There had been sharp killing intent with the accuracy that it took to take down a singular bug mid-flight from several feet away. It wasn't safe to be in the midst of the enemy village, who they fought most. Kato could do anything he truly wanted, and they couldn't do shit. Kakashi contemplated abandoning the mission and escaping with Iruka during the night, but that would start a war. The last thing the Leaf village needed was a war with Orochimaru on the loose. The traitor would be back eventually; it was only a matter of when.
Kakashi turned when he felt a small tug on his sleeve as Iruka led them into a small convenience store. Iruka quickly grabbed a bag of generic boxer briefs off the shelf and then went straight for the snacks. Kakashi whistled lightly, "I always figured you were the tighty whities type." Iruka glared at Kakashi before he shoved the pack into the other's hands while he grabbed numerous snacks off the shelf. Iruka grabbed a water bottle and then proceeded to the checkout.
Iruka smiled brightly at the young clerk who had taken several steps back in fear, obviously not a ninja. "Would you please check these out for us?" He frowned as the young man shook his head very adamantly. "Why not? We currently have an armistice with your village!" Iruka hadn't yelled, more like firmly stated but it still looked like the man was about to shit his pants. He softened his gaze, "Would you please check us out, we're not here to hurt you."
The clerk held his hands up defensively, "F-free, K-kato-sama's o-order!" Iruka nodded slowly, "Thank you, then, would you be so kind as to bag them?" Iruka smiled brightly at the hesitant nod and incredible speed his snacks were bagged. He took the two bags worth of snacks and new underwear, "Thank you very much." He handed one to Kakashi, and they quickly made their way out of the small store.
"I don't think I've ever seen someone so scared for their life," Iruka commented. Kakashi shrugged and transferred the bag, so his dominant hand was free, "I'm used to it." Iruka cleared his throat awkwardly, "Well, uh, I got you a water bottle so that you can at least drink water. I know you think they'll try to kill you, but they won't poison their entire water system to kill you. Most of the snacks are for you, but those strawberry mochi are mine." Kakashi chuckled lightly, he was so going to eat those first.
Kakashi was rummaging through the bag of snacks when they first saw Kato again. Kato crossed his arms before he purposely blocked Kakashi's path. Kakashi ignored his antics and brushed past him, not even looking up from his snacks. Kato bit his lower lip as he turned and shoved Kakashi back. That did make Kakashi look up. Iruka gulped as he noticed Kakashi's change in posture almost immediately.
"I challenge you, Copy Ninja, to a duel!" Iruka sighed because, of course, his student would be rash enough to challenge a ninja ranked in the top ten of the bingo books. He was certainly similar to a rambunctious blond he knew back at home. Kakashi smiled, "I'm not sure it's permitted, I respectfully decline."
"Cut the bullshit and fight me!"
"I'm afraid that's not possible amidst a village of enemy nin, I'm utterly outnumbered. ~" Kato smirked, "No one else but me will touch you, and if they do, I'll kill them myself." Iruka shook his head solemnly, "Kato, please think rationally. If you get hurt, we'll be killed instantly, and it will start a war." Iruka stepped in front of Kakashi, hoping to keep the peace. He wasn't sure what had triggered this sudden outburst from the redhead.
"What makes you think I'm the one who's going to lose Iruka-sensei? I'm a jounin now, don't look down on me, Iruka-sensei!" Kakashi raised a hand to silence Kato's tantrum, "I need full assurance that both Iruka and I will walk away with our lives and that there will be no war under any circumstances."
Kato scoffed and tossed a scroll Kakashi's way, "A letter, from my father." Kakashi tore off the seal to read the chicken scratch before he rolled it up and placed it in his pocket. In case he did lose, he needed it, at least for Iruka. He had no doubts about what would happen to the brunette if he should somehow die. Iruka looked nervous as he grabbed Kakashi's sleeve, "Are you really going through with this?" Kakashi shrugged, "I told you, there are certain things you're not seeing about Kato. He's not a student anymore, he's a higher rank than you. As far as I'm concerned, this is the reason I was put on the mission."
"Your mission is to protect me!"
"I will, with my life if I have to." Kakashi smiled softly, "I promise." He handed the snack bag to Iruka. "Lead the way." Kato nodded, glancing at Iruka briefly before he turned and motioned them to follow. He led them to an open clearing surrounded by onlookers. The challenge was public knowledge, a battle between the Leaf and the Mist. Iruka shuffled behind him, more on guard and alert due to the sheer number of ninjas. Kakashi silently scoped out the number of possible enemies, twenty-nine and counting. He had taken out more previously, and he didn't doubt Iruka's abilities; he silently prepared himself to die if they needed to escape.
Kakashi was immune to torture, he was trained to give them just enough bullshit information to stay alive. Iruka, well, it was obvious he had never really been in that type of situation other than possible simulations that were required. Plus, he had a feeling that if they were captured, Iruka's experience in the Mist ninja would be drastically different. Kakashi put his hands in his pockets as both he and Kato walked into the ring, Iruka on the sidelines with the bags. He prayed that Iruka had gotten his message.
There was a judge, much like the ones at the chunin exams, who stood between them. Kakashi observed each and every one of the spectators, attempting to decipher their skill set. Kato stood in front of him, silently fuming as Kakashi made no note of him. The judge looked at each of them, "Are you ready?" Kato nodded and got into stance, Kakashi shrugged.
"Begin!" The fight didn't start with a clash of kunai. Kato jumped back and drew his weapons of choice, senbons. Kakashi continued to observe until his singular eye fell upon Kato. Two calculative type killers usually made for a long battle, but Kato had a grudge. Kato went on the offensive first as he aimed for his vitals. Kakashi dodged the smaller needles hidden beneath the others in the nick of time. Sure, they were small, but that didn't change the fact that they could pierce with the right amount of force. Kato clicked his tongue as he withdrew a chain of kunai connected with a wire.
Kakashi waited because that was the type of person he was. He was famous for it back in the village. Kato was indeed a weapons master and a formidable one at that, but there was more, and he could feel it. Kakashi put his hands together as he made four shadow clones, only to watch as they were struck down moments later. This was going to take a while.
The battle of weapons continued until dusk, when Kakashi first saw a glimpse of Kato's power. Like him, Kato had been waiting for the opportune moment when the mist thickened. Kakashi wasn't surprised when he felt the first kunai slice through the skin on his left arm. The situation worsened as his right calf was cut, and he could no longer find Kato's shadow. He had disappeared into the mist while he silently manipulated the shadows of his weapons to disappear as well.
Instinct could only go so far as he was assaulted with numerous weapons. He managed to block most, but it was impossible to dodge them all. Kakashi bit back a groan as a shuriken pierced the back of his thigh. He had let his guard down enough to be captured in a genjutsu. Kakashi felt the dimensions change as he spiraled into a world where he was chained to a post. There were only seconds before red-hot flames flickered to life, easily growing as they climbed the post like a vine. Kakashi howled in pain as his body was burned from head to toe. The charred skin on his feet turned black when they began to crumble and turn to dust.
"Release!" As soon as his senses returned to the mist, Kato made his move. He barely had enough time to stop the kunai aimed for his heart while the others punctured his skin. Another set of kunai connected with the wire wrapped around his body, one administering the killing blow to the neck. A sharp cry was all that the spectators heard before the mist thinned enough that the two became visible. Kato dropped to his knees as lightning shocked the air around him. His hands were burnt nearly to a crisp, like the genjutsu where he had held the metal wire used to manipulate the weapons.
Kakashi scratched the back of his head, unharmed. He hadn't meant for his lightning clone to almost kill the son of the emperor. Well, he supposed it was fair since Kato had technically killed him first. Kakashi had merged with the mist as soon as he first noticed Kato's hands move, copying him instantly. He looked towards the crowd where Iruka was being held to the ground against his will, not in any immediate danger, as there were no weapons drawn. Kakashi waved as he noticed the look of shock on Iruka's face.
Iruka was stunned as the scene registered in his brain. He had seen Kakashi stabbed in the neck, but Kato was the one panting on the ground. He had been pinned to the ground as soon as he rushed forward to try and intervene in the match to save Kakashi. Kato cursed as he slowly forced his body to stand. As soon as he had felt the hair on his arms tingle, he instantly abandoned any weapons he had been holding. He wasn't fast enough not to get struck by the wave of electricity. Kato cursed as his body felt like it would collapse at any second.
Kakashi frowned as the other ambled his way to the weapons pouch, which he threw away. If Kato continued pushing his body to the limit, his heart could go into cardiac arrest. He watched silently as a hand grabbed Kato's ankle and dragged him into the earth. Kakashi's clone disappeared, and he sighed as Kato struggled to get out, even though his entire body was trapped underground. He turned sharply and sauntered over to where Iruka was being held down.
"If you would be so kind as to get off of my partner now, that would be much appreciated," Kakashi said evenly. The two mist nin quickly scrambled away while Kakashi held out his hand to help Iruka up. Iruka graciously took his hand and stumbled to his feet. He absentmindedly wiped the dirt off his uniform. Iruka shouldn't have bothered being worried about the legendary ninja.
"Why did they attack you?" Iruka's face did the thing where it turned red as a tomato while he purposely avoided Kakashi's singular eye.
"I, uh, never mind that, what happened with you?" Kakashi shrugged, "I think you already know what happened." He turned to the closest mist nin, "Why don't you guys dig the young lord out before he hurts himself further?" They grumbled something nonsensical, insults probably, but did as they were told. Kakashi put his arm around the brunette's shoulders and ushered him away from the other spectators so that they could return to Kato's estate. The walk was quiet as they made their way back beneath the darkening sky.
"Are you alright, Iruka-sensei? Did they hurt you?" Iruka scoffed but didn't reply. Kakashi scratched his head in confusion. Where had he messed up this time? After being with Iruka for an extended amount of time, he had been almost positive his people skills had increased. So, when exactly did he fuck up enough to make Iruka mad? Kakashi followed close behind as Iruka stormed into their room.
"Why are you mad at me? Did you want him to win?"
"Of course not!" Iruka all but threw the grocery bags on the ground before he sat exasperatedly on the bed. He rubbed at his temples as he tried to clear his mind. The sight of Kakashi dying had brought forth all sorts of emotions that he had very adamantly been denying. Fuck, an internal freak-out over just exactly what those feelings might be only made them seem more real. Kakashi remained quiet as he tried to figure out what was wrong.
"Look, it was just a shock for me to see you die. That's all it is." Iruka felt like Kakashi could easily see through his lie, but well, that's what he was going to keep telling himself. The shock of seeing a friend die always brought forth strong feelings. Yeah, not those kinds of feelings his inner voice said sarcastically.
"You should rest; you look pale."
"No, not yet." Iruka threw the crinkled seal he'd hidden in his pocket at Kakashi. "Did you think I would just leave you behind in case things had been worse? What was that even for? A paper bomb, did you want me to commit suicide?"
"You're being hysterical. It was protection, and yes, if something does happen, I expect you to leave me behind no matter the circumstances."
"Now you're being hysterical, what sense does it make to leave you behind?" Kakashi shook his head as he bent down to pick up the seal. He checked to make sure the seal was intact before he handed it to Iruka.
"Look, just run and use this seal to summon them when needed. They'll protect you if something bad happens."
"Who are they?"
"My, uh, friends, yeah friends. You should rest; you look tired."
"It's your turn for the bed; I'll take the futon."
Kakashi smirked, "We could always share." He purposefully didn't dodge the pillow thrown his way. He laughed, though if he were honest, he was slightly disappointed. Sure, he had said it jokingly, but he had been serious. Iruka rummaged through the snack bag, finding the package he was looking for empty.
"My strawberry mochi!"