A Ninja's Path (Kakashi X Reader)

Chapter Ten

The blonde grinned at Lady Tsunade, giving her a thumbs up. "You can count on me to protect Lady-what's-her-face. Believe it!"

Sakura slapped his back, an intense look in her eye.

"Thank you, Lady Hokage. We will see that Lady Akiko gets home safely." Kakashi bowed to Tsunade, ignoring his students' dispute.

You bowed with him. "I will try my best on this mission. I will not disappoint you."

Lady Tsunade leaned back in her chair. "Good. You are scheduled to leave in the morning. Wait by the gates, you should leave around 6. The trip should take about two days there and back."

Kakashi and I bowed to the Hokage again before exiting her office.

"Heck yeah! An actually important mission for once!" Naruto jumped up and down in excitement.

You chuckled. "Cool it, Blondie. Save your energy for the trip."

"You don't have to worry about me, sensei. I never run out of energy!" The boy gave you his signature grin and you smiled back at him.

"Say, (Y/N)-sensei, have you ever been to the Land of Tea?" Sakura asked as you all left the Academy.

"No, I haven't. Actually, I've never left my village until now." You responded honestly.

"What???" Naruto exclaimed. You nodded in confirmation.

"I was born and raised in the Hidden Night Village all my life."

"Well what is it like there?" Sakura asked curiously.

You felt dark memories resurfacing as you tried to come up with a vague response. "Um... dark?"

"Well duh, you're from the Land of Shadows!" The pinkette countered.

You rubbed the back of your neck. "Well... for one, it isn't always physically dark. We have night and day just like any other country."

You glanced at all your teammates, trying to judge how much information they could handle.

"Let's just say that, you don't ever want to grow up in the Land of Shadows. Count yourselves lucky you were born here."

Kakashi frowned at you. "What do you mean?"

You inhaled sharply, a headache shooting through your skull viciously. You clutched your head, bending down to brace from the pain.

"(Y/N)-sensei?" Sakura asked in concern. She put a hand on your shoulder but you brushed it off.

"I'm fine, it's just a light migraine."

Sasuke scoffed. "Yeah right. Last time I checked, you had a 'high pain tolerance'. It must be really bad."

You glared up at him before groaning in pain. Visions started flashing through your mind.

Aunt Fuyu kicking you in the stomach.

The Council staring you down with scary masks.

Your best friend dying in your arms.

"I'm so sorry..." He looked up at you with a sad smile, blood dripping down the side of his mouth.

You held your hands over a stab wound in his chest.

"No, I should be sorry." You responded, choking on tears.

He reached up and cupped your cheek with a bloody hand. "Forget about me, (Y/N). Get out of this place. Save our village from this horrible darkness. Free us." He gave a teary-eyed smile as his hand slid off your face, leaving a trail of blood.