A Ninja's Path (Kakashi X Reader)

Chapter Sixty Seven

Aki was silently laughing into Ruka's arm in violent spasms, Asuma and Kurenai were shooting looks of sympathy at the Grass shinobi, and Guy who was standing in the far corner was about to summon a bag of popcorn to watch the show.

Kakashi gave you a look that said, go easy on him.

You shot one back, I will do no such thing.

You stood up and stepped into the spotlight, Kakashi respectfully backing up and giving you plenty of space.

"You..." Everyone in the tent leaned in to hear your response. It took all your control to suppress the smirk growing on your face. "You've been here since the beginning of this week, I take it?" You asked the Grass shinobi.

"Yes. You've been here since... yesterday, right?" He countered.

You nodded. "Indeed. I've been in this camp since yesterday. Well, consciously, anyways." You slid a finger down the scar on your cheek and you felt dozens of eyes glance at it.

You smiled. "You see, I've been in a hospital bed for longer than that."

The Grass shinobi made no physical expression. He stared at you blankly.

"Sorry, am I boring you?" You asked sarcastically.

The Grass shinobi shook his head. "Apologies, I just don't see how this has anything to do with your lack of authority."

Kakashi coughed loudly and you glanced back to find him staring at the ground intensely. As if he were trying very hard not to make eye contact with you.

You turned back to the Grass shinobi and smiled. "My authority? You don't seem to know who I am." You rounded the table, stalking toward the Grass shinobi like he was your prey. You made sure to make eye contact with as many people as you traveled. Each person's expressions changed into surprise when they saw your violet irises.

The Grass shinobi watched you warily. You locked eyes with him and he gulped. But he did not back down.

He smiled weakly. "Sorry, but I fail to see your importance."

You walked right up until your chests touched and turned your gaze upward. The shinobi flinched at the intensity behind your eyes. You chuckled. "You really are stupid if you haven't recognized me already."

The Grass shinobi frowned in confusion.

You took a step back. "I have only been in this camp for two days because I come from the Night Village."

The shinobi's expression contorted in realization.

You grinned at the horror in his face. "Yes, now you get it. My name is (Y/F/N) and I am the leader of the goddamn rebellion you're here to help."

The room was silent enough that you could hear a pin drop.

You bent over in a dramatic bow. "I thank you all kindly for your presence here in my country."

You strolled back toward your place by Kakashi.

The Grass shinobi sighed in relief and the fear left his face.

He doesn't take you seriously anymore.

What if that meant he didn't respect you? What if he thought you were a joke, a sham, a weak little girl? Weak. You weren't weak. Fuyu tried to convince you that you were, by torturing you. You never won. You'll never win. You'll fail... that's why you need to make sure he respects you. If they think you're weak, they'll take you down. Put a knife in your back like Haru did to you-

"(Y/N)!"

You blinked and snapped back to reality. The Grass shinobi was clawing at your arm as you held onto his collar tightly. His feet weren't even touching the ground.

"(Y/N), put him down..." Kakashi asked calmly. He placed a hand on your shoulder.

You pushed his hand off. "Don't touch me!"

The silver haired man held his hands up and backed up. "Alright... just put him down, okay?"

All eyes were on you as you realized what you had done. You met the Grass shinobi's eyes and all you saw was fear. That should have horrified you, to know that once again, people feared you. Like all those times the people of your own village and Konoha avoided you on the streets. Like the time Sasuke saw your eyes and backed away in fear. That horror- that loneliness... is what you should have been feeling in that moment. But instead, you felt satisfaction.

Why? Why did the terror in this man's eyes please you?

You set the Grass shinobi down but tugged him down so you could whisper in his ear. "You'd be wise to never disrespect me again." Then you pushed him off and stalked back to your spot on the opposite side of the table. Everyone watched as you walked, some filled with fear, others with a morbid fascination. You didn't really care.

The stares should have made you feel uncomfortable. Lonely. Rejected. But instead, you felt pleased that they knew you were a force to be reckoned with.

Now they'll never look down on you again.

"Let's continue the meeting, shall we?" Asuma stood up with a ridiculously cheery tone. "Kakashi and I will continue to oversee scouting missions and collect more information on this, 'secret weapon'."

You stumbled a step as you got lost in a daze. Kurenai took your hand, gesturing for you to take her seat.

"Take a breath, (Y/N)." She said kindly. But you saw the strain in her crimson eyes.

"Actually, I'll take her from here."

You both turned to find Kakashi.

Kurenai nodded and watched as you both walked towards the exit. You didn't meet anyone's eyes- not Aki's or Guy's or your students' who stood waiting outside.

"What happened?" Naruto asked. He jumped up and down in excitement. "Ooh! I heard you threatening someone, (Y/N)-sensei! Did you beat him up?"

Sakura placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder and shushed him as she saw the dazed expression on your face. "Maybe she'll tell us another time..."

You didn't hear much else as you lost focus on your surroundings and found yourself falling inward.

You didn't know what was going on, or what was wrong with you. Were you crazy? Like Fuyu? Or maybe being trapped in her genjutsu had her violent tendencies rubbing off on you. Whatever it was, it was bad.

But then you felt a hand slip into your own and you knew that you didn't have to deal with it alone.

If you've learned anything in life, it's that you're always alone.