Blame It All on Me. Part 1

Chapter 13. No More Obstacles

"You see... That boy, Naruto, is a student of the Ninja Academy. As I understand it, Iruka was instructed to pay special attention to him, since the boy is, let's put it that way, problematic. But due to a number of circumstances..." Kakashi faltered and sighed heavily, "it was difficult for Iruka to get along with him. I'm not that well acquainted with Iruka... But it so happened that a couple of weeks ago – just about before I was sent on this mission — we crossed paths and talked about this and that... I do not know what happened today, but I see that Iruka seems to have gotten rid of his torment."

"I see. It's scary to think what could have happened at all if you hadn't come to his aid," Arina snuggled a little closer to Kakashi.

"He would have protected the boy even at the cost of his life," Kakashi muttered.

They were silent for a while.

"By the way, why didn't you put on your mask this time? Well, the other one?" Arina finally asked.

"In order to act for sure. And anyways... Am I at home or where, after all?" Kakashi turned his face blissfully to the oncoming air currents. Without any difficulty, he was already picking up the smells that indicated the proximity of the village.

Finally, the trees parted and a high wall surrounding Konoha appeared in front of them. Kakashi sighed reflexively – now everything was definitely over. No more enemy ninjas and other trouble. They made it, at last.

☙ ❦ ❧

They entered the main gate of Konoha on foot, side by side. Kakashi was telling Arina along the way that they would need to register her stay in the village at the check-post.

However, as soon as they set foot on Konoha's territory, and the girl stared with admiration at the Hokage Rock that opened up in the distance, they were surrounded by more than a dozen ninjas at once, including from the Anbu.

Even the two shinobi at guard left their post, intrigued by the unprecedented fuss. The few ordinary settlers, on the contrary, moved away as quickly as possible, sensing that something was up and not wanting to get caught in the heat of the moment.

Kakashi tensed instantly, and Arina clung to him timidly.

"What's the matter?" Kakashi asked with displeasure, unmistakably pointing out all the main figures. He addressed his question to Morino Ibiki, Konoha's Chief Investigator.

"Hatake, on behalf of Lord Third, we are isolating the girl – until all the circumstances are clarified," he replied. He stood calmly with his hands clasped behind his back, imperturbable, tall and striking involuntary awe.

"What?" Kakashi's eyes widened. "On what grounds?"

Instead of answering, Ibiki made a sign with his hand, and the next moment Kakashi and Arina were thrown in different directions. When Kakashi got his bearings again, he saw that the girl was already entrapped in a kind of a crystal sphere. She was kneeling in it, pressing her palms to the shell, her face filled with panic and incomprehension.

Kakashi wanted to rush to her, but he was blocked. He instantly snarled and took a fighting stance, throwing off his travel bag – he had dropped the blanket before that.

Arina, who was watching him anxiously, got even more alarmed: she remembered that look very well, and she knew what it could promise. Despite the fact that her mind was practically paralysed with fear, the last thing she wanted was for him to have a fight with his own. If, of course, they were his own.

Kakashi grabbed his right forearm with his left hand. Several more barely perceptible figures darted towards him from different directions.

"Stop!" Ibiki roared. Everyone froze, and Kakashi glared at him, but aborted the Raikiri after all. "Hatake, you do realize what will happen if you start a battle?"