A Ninja's Path (Kakashi X Reader)

Chapter Five

The next few moments were a whirlwind of strikes, parries and counterstrikes. Metal clanged and grunts of effort sounded.

You delivered a punch to Kakashi's stomach, him kicking you in the shin. He narrowly escaped a dagger in the arm, jumping back a few feet to catch his breath.

You were out of breath too, but knew to never let your guard down. You ran back at Kakashi, sounding a battle cry.

You continued to fight, a punch to the face, a slice to a leg.

Ten minutes later, you were both bruised and bleeding, recovering on opposite ends of the clearing.

"Go (Y/N)-sensei!" Sakura yelled. She may be a basket case, but at least she was supportive.

Naruto didn't seem to know what to think, watching both of you with wide blue eyes. He had probably never seen Kakashi fight someone who was at his level. At least not without the help of any jutsu.

You and Kakashi locked eyes (ahem, he locked an eye) and knew that neither of you was going to give up. You had to confess, you were completely exhausted, but you would never give up. The Land of Shadows did not raise failures.

Literally, anyone who was a failure was no longer raised. They were... eliminated.

"I'm calling a truce, there's no point in continuing this fight. We'll both just end up collapsing. Then our students wouldn't be able to train for at least a few days."

Naruto shook his head. "By all means, carry on! I wouldn't mind a break." He gave his signature grin.

You ignored your blonde pupil, nodding in agreement with Kakashi.

You sheathed you dagger back on your hip, leaning on a tree trunk for support. "I agree. We're done. For now."

The male raised a brow (the only brow you could frickin see). "You're saying that we'll continue this fight later?"

"No, I'm saying we'll finish this fight later."

Naruto made an ooh sound and Sakura shook her head. Sasuke smirked, a look of amusement on his face.

Kakashi looked at you for a moment, his eye lingering before he looked away. "Alright, we'll continue this later." He sheathed his knife too, walking back toward his pupils near the equipment.

"Alright, we're going to have to end the day now. (Y/N)-sensei and I are exhausted and Sasuke probably needs to get a check up."

"Don't worry about that, sensei! I can take Sasuke to the hospital." Sakura reassured Kakashi.

The man sighed and nodded for her to leave with Sasuke.

As the pair left, you locked eyes with the boy, somehow finding a hidden darkness within them. That boy would be trouble, you had a gut instinct. But pain also lingered their, a wound that had been festering, not healing.

That would have to be addressed.

"Erm, what bout me senseis?" Naruto asked both Kakashi and I. You both exchanged a look before the male waved a hand.

"You can go on too, Naruto. I guess you really are getting a break. And be sure to check up on Sasuke now and then. Remember, he's still your teammate."

Naruto had already started stalking off, waving back at you both. "Yeah, yeah I know. See ya later senseis."

You suddenly found yourself alone with Kakashi.

"So what now?" You asked. Kakashi shrugged.

"I guess you can head back to your apartment now. Bandage up and we'll meet up later."

You stared at him blankly before he caught his mistake. "As a team. We'll meet up as a team later."

You chuckled and walked back toward the path, a limp in your step. Before disappearing into the trees, you looked back at Kakashi.

"And what about you? What will you do now?"

The silver-haired man seemed almost sad. "I have something to take care of first."

You frowned, but decided not to question him. You didn't want to come off as nosy.

"Alright then." You said quietly.

Kakashi seemed to smile at you gratefully before running into the forest, leaving not a trace behind.

You turned back toward the path and walked down it, reflecting on the fight you had just participated in. You and Kakashi were on the same level. Good.

Even if the Land of Shadows was like hell on earth, they made damn good shinobi.

You felt another headache form as memories resurfaced, but this time you let them. You were alone in the woods, no one would disturb you.

As the memories flooded back, you remembered things that made your eyes tear up. You knelt on the ground and curled into a ball, letting the sobs finally escape your lips for the first time in years.

The last time you had cried had been, too long ago to even remember.

As your cries echoed through the forest, you calmed down, a quiet tranquility replacing your grief.

It felt good to cry it was good to cry. There was no harm in feeling if no one knew that you had been.

This pain you kept hidden was your secret. A secret no one could ever find out about.

Or else you would become a monster in everyone's eyes.