Chapter Text
Chapter 1: A memory revisited
Do the other Jounin also have to deal with Missions randomly going to hell or is that just my luck?
Sometimes Kakashi really wished all the clients get a mandatory briefing on the Mission ranks before they can commission one. A typical B-rank does not include fighting 3 S-rank Missing-nin on their way home.
Five days ago their Team was sent to retrieve an important scroll for a rich man in the Fire country. Their client is friends of the daimyo, so what would usually have been a C-rank got turned into a B-rank and given to Kakashi, Yamato, Sakura and Naruto. The scroll supposedly contains information about an illegitimate child that resulted from an affair between their client and a servant. The servant had been sent away before a pregnancy could have been confirmed and now, a few years after the deed, someone has contacted the man. In exchange for land and money, they would not tell anyone about the child. If their client did not comply, they would leak the birth certificate to the daimyo and the public, and thus shifting the heir-title from the son of the man to the illegitimate son since he was a few months older.
So their mission was to get the scroll and everything that might link the child to the Client. Easy enough, in theory.
What their clients failed to mention, was that their blackmailers anticipated the arrival of Shinobi and hired a few Missing nin themselves to get the scroll back.
Honestly? Retrieving the scroll was the easiest part. They took one day to memorize the guard rotations und check out the location. Then Kakashi went in, he was the most experienced at stealth. Everything went smoothly, so they started their way back to Konoha immediately.
In hindsight, a mission running smoothly should have made them suspicious.
They were jumping through the trees, Tenzou at the front and Kakashi in the back. In front of them was a small clearing they had passed when they had started this mission, it would be a good place to take a short break. Tenzou jumped down from the last branch without looking back, confident the others would follow him.
Right when his foot touched the ground, a big and intricate seal with swirling Patterns jumped to life. It started glowing, the now visible ink started to come to life and started wrapping around his legs, making their way upward. Naruto and Sakura were too far ahead to stop on the branches, but when they landed on the ground next to Tenzou no other seals flared to life. They Immediately took defensive stances, putting their backs to Tenzou to observe the trees.
Kakashi came to a stop on one of the trees and crouched down, trying to sense any Chakra signatures.
“Yamato-taichou, is everything okay?!” Naruto looked around wildly, trying to spot any enemies while also trying to see if he could help Tenzou.
“I'm fine, but the seal seems to be suppressing my Chakra. I can´t get out of this.” Kakashi took a moment to observe his kohai, by now the inky tendrils had spread from his legs to sneak around his torso, already starting to wind around his shoulders.
As a former Root ANBU, Tenzou knew how to mask his emotions, but Kakashi has known him for long enough to see the rising panic in his friend's eyes. Ever since his days at the foundation and all the experiments that gifted him with the Mokuton, Tenzou has had problems with being held down.
“Sakura, you have more experience with seals, try to help him. Tenzou, keep still and let Sakura take care of the seal, concentrate on spotting any enemies.“
“Hai Sensei” Sakura nodded determinedly, spinning around and crouching down at Tenzou’s feet in a smooth motion, already studying the imprints left from the seal. Tenzou nodded shortly at her before taking a calming breath and started looking around to watch the surrounding woods.
For a few moments everything was quiet. The only sounds were Sakura's shifting clothes and movement from trying to figure out how to release the seal. Naruto swallowed hard and gripped his Kunai tighter, all this waiting was starting to grate on his nerves. He was a Ninja of action, lying in wait was not one of his strong suits.
“Naruto, on your left!” yelled Tenzou, seeing the light glinting off a few Shuriken that were flying straight at the orange ninja. Naruto reacted quickly, deflecting them and then jumping in the direction of the shuriken, quietly relieved that the enemy has started to show their face.
He was met with a man in slightly tattered clothes, the slashed Hatai-ate around his neck doing nothing to hide the thick scars around his throat. The missing-nin grinned sharply, revealing crooked teeth. He jumped away from Naruto, already starting hand seals for a jutsu. Naruto was not about to let him finish the seals, already coming at him with his own hand signs.
Kakashi stood tall on the tree, trying to spot the other enemies lying in wait. He must have backup somewhere, hiring only one Ninja to protect the scroll seems like a waste. Are the other ones waiting for a signal or an opening? Maybe they have another trap --
“SENSEI, ON YOUR LEFT!” Sakura's scream came too late, another Missing-Nin came from high above with a tanto already in a swinging motion. Kakashi only had time to turn his head around before the Tanto sliced into his shoulder down into his flesh. Sakuras eyes widended as blood was spraying, the enemy already starting to cackle “That was the copy Nin? Guess you can´t copy m-”
POOF
“What?!” The body in front of him, his supposed victim, disappeared into a cloud of smoke. He didn't even get a chance to look around for his target, the last thing he was aware of was the sound of shrieking birds, the smell of ozone and then... nothing.
Kakashi appeared from behind the slain enemy, pulling his hand out of the body in front of him with a squelching noise, what was left of the missing-nin falling lifelessly to the ground like a puppet with cut strings.
Sakura was watching captivated, for a moment she had thought her Sensei was truly gone. Idiot, don’t underestimate him. As if Kakashi-Sensei would be beaten by some No Name." She scolded herself mentally.
“Sakura, how is the seal looking?” She startled, so caught up in the attack that she lost focus on Yamato for a second. Quickly, she turned back to the seal, explaining to her sensei what she found. “I have never seen a seal like this, it is definitely not a standard seal. My guess is that a Master must have done this. It seems like a combination of Chakra suppression and immobilization. II will need a few minutes, but I should be able to release it.”
Kakashi nodded and took a moment to scrutinize his Kohai. The seal-tendrils have fully wrapped around Tenzou’s arms now, one was in the process of wrapping around his neck. The tense set of his shoulders gave away his anxiety at being restrained, but as usual his face did not betray any emotion he did not want to be seen. Knowing that his student was unstoppable when she put her mind to something, he shifted his focus to his other student.
In the distance, he could hear fighting noise from Naruto's direction.
Good, as long as I can hear him, he is fine. Only a quiet Naruto is reason to worry.
He could not detect any other Chakra signatures, but if his guess was correct there should be at least one other enemy around here. If that ninja has made the seal, it would be no stretch to assume that they could also suppress their Chakra.
No problem, I have other means to find an enemy.
He lifted his left hand to his mask, hooking one finger around the edge of it and lifted it just slightly away from his nose.
Inhaling deeply through his nose, he started to filter through the different smells. Pine needles, decaying wood and soil, in the distance wildflowers from a small clearing a few miles back, rain-soaked earth, fresh water that must be from the river nearby, the distinct smell of leather, ...
There you are.
Smirking slightly, Kakashi let go of his mask in favor of forming hand seals. Immediately, he sank under the earth and traveled to the location of the last missing-nin.
He resurfaced directly behind the enemy Ninja he has sniffed out, grabbing her ankles and trying to pull her under the earth. The enemy kunoichi was quick to react, touching a seal on her bare forearm und trading places with a log a short distance away.
Kakashi rose completely from the earth, mustering his opponent. She appeared to be in her late 20s, her deep red hair tied up in a high ponytail. She was short, her top leaving her arms bare to display a multitude of intricate seals. The most unusual trait were her eyes; such a light grey they almost appeared blinded.
“You can still leave; nothing has happened yet.” he attempted to end this mission without any unnecessary fighting. He already knew she was not going to win, even if she took him out the rest of his team would be more than enough to stop her.
The kunoichi narrowed her eyes at him and scoffed “What? You want to be merciful now when your hand is still dripping with my brother’s blood? No, this will end with either your death or mine.” She grit her teeth, eyes squeezing shut for a moment before opening with a fierce expression. “But I promise you, if this will be my last day in this world, I will make every moment count!”
With that she activated other seals on her arms and from the ground inky tendrils, similar to the ones Tenzou was trapped in, sprung to life. They tried to wrap around his legs, but he jumped to avoid them. While in the air, he threw a few shuriken at her, immediately following up with hand seals to multiply them. She jumped back and took out a kunai to deflect them. Kakashi used this opportunity to get closer to her, slashing at her with the Kunai in his hand.
They clashed, trading blows back and forth for a few moments, but it was starting to become clear that he was pushing her back. Suddenly, they were back in the clearing.
He spared a moment to check up on his Team, Naruto, sporting a few cuts and bruises but wearing a victorious smile, seems to have finished his fight and was on his way back to Sakura and Tenzou. The tendrils have receded, only covering his legs now, so whatever Sakura was doing seems to be working.
His focus was pulled back to his own fight when the kunoichi sprung back, her chest heaving with breaths. The hand holding the Kunai was shaking slightly, she was not used to close combat fighting.
Kakashi wanted to end this, already forming the hand signs for his famed technique. The moment lightning sprang to his hand, her eyes narrowed. She tried to look brave, but he could see the way her pupils dilated, her face losing a touch of color.
“I swear, I will make you remember this moment for a long, long time. I may die now, but I will keep on living in your dreams.” Despite her trembling lips and heaving breaths, the words came out clearly.
He jumped toward her, dismissing her words as a last effort to stop him.
As he pulled his arm back, her left hand reached up toward her right upper arm. He stretched his arm to the front, aiming true at her heart as a Seal began to glow brightly, blinding him for a small moment but not enough to stop his momentum.
When his sight cleared, instead of bright grey eyes he was met with familiar warm brown eyes, looking at him tearfully. His own eye widened, taking in the rest of the changed features. Where before there was a grown woman, was now a familiar youthful face staring back at him, purple markings on her cheeks covered in tear trails.
Ka.....ka.....shii...
Desperately, Kakashi tried to move his arm, cut the chakra flow off, do anything to stop his momentum or change his course. But no matter what, he could not stop in time. His aim was true und struck her directly in the chest. He could feel skin splitting under his hand, bone shattering, cutting his exposed fingers. Distantly, he felt his fingers grazing something that could be her heart, before breaking through bone again, piercing another layer of skin before he could feel cold air nipping at his dripping fingers.
Something landed on his face, sliding down his exposed skin and soaking the fabric of his mask. For a tiny moment he thought it was rain, but then the pungent smell of copper began to overwhelm his nose. Before he knew it, the taste of copper joined the smell, tainting his senses and nearly overwhelming him.
Ka...ka....shi
Against his arm he could feel her heart beating desperately, trying to stay alive.
Once, twice he felt it beating, even a third time. Somehow, he knew the fourth time would be the last time this heart would ever beat again, before inevitably giving up and letting one of the most gentle souls in this world succumb to her wounds... victim to the curse his mere presence seems to afflict on people close to him.
Kaka...shi...
He did not look down at his arm, could not look down, captivated by the brown eyes staring into his soul. In her eyes he saw desperation, fear but also iron determination to protect her village, even if that meant her own death. Even if he had not felt the moment he hit her, he would have seen it in her eyes. They showed the exact moment she was pierced and he watched, just watched as desperation and determination changed to agony and fear, mouth opening in a silent scream.
Her mouth moved, somehow managing to form words around the blood filling it, running down her chin.
Kaka...shi
His arm started trembling, from exertion or shock he did not know. He didn’t know anything at this moment except the way more tears spilled down her cheeks, eyes darkening in slight betrayal before losing their shine, turning a warm amber into a dull dead brown. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to... Please no!
Distantly knew he should move. They were surrounded by enemies, the bijuu could break free now that its host was dead, but he could not bring himself to care. His best and only friend was dead, hanging from his still outstretched hand.
Dead, killed by his own hand. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and started sinking to his knees, pulling her body down with him. He tried to pull his arm out of her body, but it kept getting snagged by splintered bone. With a final pull, his hand left her body with a wet noise that was sure to follow him into his dreams for many years to come.
Gently, he laid her down on the ground without ever losing eye contact. In the back of his mind he wondered when the Kiri-nins would finally make their move. Now that their plan failed, they would surely kill him in revenge. He... could do something about that. Try to fight back, even if there were too many to win, he could at least make sure to take some down with him.
But...why should I? Is there anything left for me? Minato-Sensei and Kushina-nee are starting their own family, they would have an easier life without the last Hatake weighing them down. At least this way.... I won’t end up like father
His eyes never left her face, her dull eyes burning into her soul. The only sounds he could hear were echoes of her last words, her choking on her own blood. The dripping of her blood.
Kakashi!
When would the Kiri-nins finally free his soul from the suffering?
Finally, with a strength he did not know he possessed; he looked down at the limp hand curled in his lap. It was covered in cooling blood; bits of tissue stuck under his nails and small bone fragments stuck in the folds of his glove. Small droplets of blood ran down his fingers, mesmerized his eyes followed their path.
Why..... Why am I still alive? Why am I always the one getting left behind?
“Sensei!”
Suddenly a hand fell down on his shoulder, startling him badly enough that his body reacted automatically. Both of his hands gripped the arm belonging to the hand on his shoulder, pulling him forward strongly enough to throw his attacker on the ground. Acting quickly, he pulled a kunai from his hip pouch, one hand holding the body beneath him down, the other poised to slit his throat. Before his kunai connected with the soft flesh of the others throat strong arms wound around his torso and pulled him back.
“Kakashi-senpai, Stop!! Snap out of it!” Finally, his hearing came back and with it came his memories. The arms around him held him tightly against the broad chest of someone behind him. Tenzou... he would recognize the unique smell of fresh water and shaved wood anywhere.
Sight clearing, he focused on Sakura laying on her back in front of him, wide green eyes staring fearfully at him. She must have been the one to touch him, Tenzou knows better than to touch him in the middle of a flashback.
In an instant, Naruto appeared at Sakura's side. “Sakura-chan, are you okay?! Hey Kakashi-Sensei, what the hell?! Why did you do that?”
Kakashi could only blink, words forming in his mind, but no sound left his lips. “Naruto, be quiet!” Tenzou barked before training concerned eyes on him “Are you back, Senpai? Can I let you go now?” Numbly, still processing what just happened, he nodded and Tenzou let him go, helping him sit on the ground.
In front of him he watched as Naruto turned to Sakura and checked up on her, but she ignored him in favor of looking at him with searching eyes.
A little bit behind her he could see the body of the kunoichi, a fist sized hole where her heart used to be. Dull grey eyes stared lifelessly at the sky; mouth hanging open a little bit. Didn’t she have brown eyes a moment ago? He kept staring at her until his sight was blocked by Tenzou crouching in front of him, dark eyes burning cautiously into his own.
“Senpai, do you know who I am?” Oh his kohai was just too good for him, knowing exactly how to gauge his mental state after an episode like that.
Kakashi did what he always did after these episodes, he pulled all his frayed edges together and put on his usual facade.
“Maa Maa Tenzou, how could I forget my cute little kohai and students? "Judging by Tenzous unimpressed stare, he knew exactly what Kakashi was doing and was debating on whether or not to call him out on it.
“Why did you attack Sakura like that, Sensei?!” Luckily, Naruto was not yet an expert at reading Kakashi's masks and was always gladly providing distractions. “Maa, she just startled me a bit. You should know by now not to approach a Ninja from behind after a fight” Sakura's uncertainty melted into sheepishness, but before she had a chance to retort he kept talking.
“If everybody is unharmed, we should continue our way back now. If we make it before dinner Tenzou will treat us all to Ramen.” Even though just the thought of eating was turning his stomach, he knew this should do the trick and keep anyone from asking more questions.
“REALLY?! Thanks Yamato-taichou, you are the best dattebayo!” Annnd the distraction was complete; he only got a small glimpse of Naruto’s sparkling eyes before he rushed in Konoha's direction. Sakura heaved an exasperated sigh before raising her fist and rushing after him “WAIT UP, IDIOT! We need to stay together as a Team!”
Tenzou’s unimpressed eyes bored into him before he closed his eyes in defeat and stood as well, chasing after the kids “Hang on, I did not agree to that! No more than one bowl, do you hear me Naruto? NARUTO?!”
Kakashi heaved a big sigh and risked a last glance at the body of the kunoichi. There was absolutely no resemblance to Rin, but for some reason all he could see was his friends mangled body.
He stood and turned away, preparing to jump after the rest of his Team when his gaze fell upon his hand. It was still covered in blood and tissue, but the blood has started to dry and was starting to flake off. The urge to wash his hand raised its ugly head, but if he stopped to give in to the whisper, the others would come back. Drawing even more attention to himself was the last thing he wanted right now.
Despite the persisting copper taste in his mouth he jumped after his team, trying to ignore the echoing feeling of his hand breaking through tissue and bone.
The tingling feeling in his hand never left for the entire way back.