"I--Impossible!" Rieka's eyes widened. Jumping to their feet, the Akatsuki duo quickly shifted into position.
Sachihiro had one hand above him, fingers curling tight on the hilt his tanto, eyes sharp. Rieka, however, stepped forward, fingers inching towards her kunai pouch, eyes following the bright buzz of chakra, trailing behind the figure.
Rieka's eyes sharpened. "That's not a person."
"How can you tell?" The Uzumaki glanced beside him. "I can barely make out the dot it's so far away."
"Wait!" He sighed. "Let me guess? Another benefit of being an Akiyama?"
Ignoring his words, Rieka knelt down, eyes fluttering closed as she concentrated her chakra, hands forming signs.
"What is it?"
Rieka's eyes snapped up, lips parted in surprise.
"It's a toad."
"A what?"
"A toad, Sachihiro." Rieka stood. "More specifically a summoning."
"But I thought you said Jiraiya was the last?"
She nodded. "He is. Not only the last Toad Sage but summoner as well."
"So how is it here?"
"I don't know." Rieka snipped, eyes harsh. "But it's not welcome here."
"Rie-!"
The Akiyama was gone.
::
Kakashi heaved, fingers digging into his vest as he applied pressure to his wound, clotting the blood.
"Kakashi-sensei..." Chouji frowned, glancing at the Jonin. "We should get you to Tsunade-sama."
"No." He breathed, eye half-lidded. "We have to protect Konoha."
Chouji frowned, carefully watching the sensei as both turned their attention back to Pain, his figure casting a shadow above them. Chouza grinned shooting the silver-haired jonin a glance before shifting his attention to Chouji.
In an unspoken agreement the father and son charged, spinning round as Kakashi concentrated his little remaining chakra.
"Too slow." Pain mused, pushing apart the duo, eyes widening slightly as a clink was heard.
Chouji grinned. "Kakashi-sensei! Now!"
The silver-haired Jonin leapt forward, lightning at the ready and elbow reeled back, in a split second his fist collided with another body of Pain's, saving the originals.
He thrust his palms forward, eyes sharpening. "Shinra Tensei."
Kakashi's arms quickly flung to his face, back skidding across the ground. Chouza leapt in front of Chouji, protecting his son from the blast. After a few moments the smoke passed, revealing a trapped Kakashi struggling to break free and a star-struck Chouji sitting beside his father.
"D--Dad...?"
His eyes widened in horror.
"Wake up!"
Chouji gripped his father's arms, shaking him repeatedly.
"Dad! Dad! No.." Tears began to form. "No! Dad!"
"C--Chouji.."
The teen's head shot up. "K-Kakashi-sensei...?"
Gasping in horror, he finally took noticed to the jonin's bloodied figure, trapped a few feet away.
"R--Run...go to Tsunade-sama...tell her everything..." Kakashi coughed, blood spluttering everywhere. "H--Hurry..."
Wasting no time the chunin jumped up, wiping away his tears and turning to run, sparing the fallen Jonin one final glance.
"You're still alive?" Pain stepped forward, nail in hand. "No matter."
Kakashi looked up, staring the rinnegan wielder in the eyes, a smile appearing.
"You will lose, all of you."
Pain ceased, eyes narrowing.
"Naruto will d--defeat you..." He heaved, eyes threatening to close.
"And you will be dead." Pain finished.
"W--Wait!"
He stopped once more, eyes gliding back towards the Jonin.
"C--Can I have one request?"
Long forgetting Chouji, the Akatsuki Leader drawled. "Fine."
Kakashi smiled, and spoke.
::
"Who is your summoner?"
The Toad froze, eyes snapping to the kunai tip pointing to it's neck, threatening to slice it open.
"I--I.."
It was a woman, Rieka noted, an elderly one. She had heard stories as a young child from Jiraiya about his summonings, and about the two who helped him preform his Sage Mode.
An old female frog, and an old male frog.
Rieka's eyes sharpened. "Tell me."
The toad squeaked, eyes wide as it vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Clearly that wasn't the way to do it."
"Shut up, Sachihiro." Rieka growled, stuffing away her kunai.
She turned to face him. "I'm going to go search the area, it's summoner must be somewhere."
"What do I do?"
"Stay here." Rieka tightened her cloak, fiddling with the strap. "I won't be long."
"Stay safe."
Rieka nodded.
::
"That's it?" Pain asked, aiming the nail at Kakashi.
"That's it."
Pain nodded, the nail slipping from his finger tips.
"Shinra Tensei."
::
Rieka jumped, the bark crunching beneath her feet as she landed, quickly jumping once more.
'I wonder if Pain is done yet'
She came to a halt, hands lapsing into signs as her eyelids fluttered close.
'Naruto isn't here...I wonder when he'll notice'
Rieka found herself monitoring Kakashi's chakra, it was so faint, so quiet.
::
"I want you to give Rieka a message."
"What?"
"Tell her..."
::
Rieka's eyes widened in horror as she felt his life force began to flicker-
"Kaka..shi...?"
-and soon faded from existence.
"Tell her i'm sorry."
..
..
..
"KAKASHI!!!!!!"
"And that I love her."
::
(A.N: The canon scenes won't always match their manga/anime counterparts but I hope you guys can forgive me. I haven't watched/read Naruto in awhile - I try to do my research though - but sometimes I will alter some scenes.)