Boring was the one word that best describes the rehabilitation sessions. Since Sakura was one of my attending physicians, things tend to get a bit terrifying here and there. I still didn't have full use of my legs so I had to move around in the wheelchair. Kakashi-sensei was long gone to train Naruto on his chakra nature manipulation and I was left with paperwork that was piling on the hospital bed. Since I had regained my full upper body function, I had been working non-stop and bickered endlessly with the nurses along with Sakura when I stayed up too much to work when I should have been resting. I couldn't afford to sleep yet, Hitori's funeral wasn't done, Senpai was sending troops to catch a team of Akatsuki that had attacked the Fire Temple. That was dangerously close to my liking and all I got from Itachi was that Sanbi had been captured. Enraged, I slammed the table. We aren't making any headway but Itachi's position might be compromised if he sniffed around too much. Also, with the Akatsuki constantly occupying themselves with sucking in the Bijuu, I doubt that Itachi had a window to send messages. Hence, I looked out of the window for something to cool down my head this afternoon. I didn't notice how much time had flowed by.
‘You've been looking out there for five hours straight. Something in your mind? Here, take this and eat,’ Sakura said as she put a small bowl of pills and a cup of warm water on my desk before she sat down near the table next to the bed. She was writing reports on my progress so I ingested the medicine in the meantime.
‘I'm bored as hell, that's all. I just hate sitting around doing nothing. How is my progress, Sakura? Tell me that I could go out already,’ I pleaded after I drank the cup of water.
‘You're doing exceptionally great. We'll be starting your physiotherapy tomorrow. Tsunade-Shishou had approved of it just now. She is still the head physician on your case, you know. If she doesn’t give her approval for your release, what power do I have in refuting that? As if you moving around in a wheelchair wasn't proof of your bad condition,’ she explained. I laid down on my back and stretched my body while yawning.
‘This is seriously damaging my ninja skills. I need to start training,’ I pressed on with the complaint.
‘Stop complaining and listen to us, dumbass,’ she replied and I merely snorted at her comment.
‘Tyrant,’ I muttered under my breath and I could tell she was triggered by my snide remark. ‘No, nothing, Sakura-sama.’
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the window of my bedroom was cracked for no apparent reason and my eyes narrowed at it.
‘Did you do that?’ I questioned and a sliver of worries slowly creeping up my spine.
‘No,’ she mumbled looking at the said window. I got a bad feeling about this. It was just about the end of the day that the dreaded news came to me. One of my Foundation Anbu operatives appeared kneeling near my bed.
‘Director, Sakura-sensei. I'm sorry for informing you this way but Asuma-senpai was killed in action from his battle with the Akatsuki duo, Hidan and Kakuzu,’ he said. Anger now was rising to the top of my head. Sakura could just hold her mouth in despair, no doubt thinking of our dear trio, Ino-Shika-Cho. In a burst of rage, I wiped all of the things on the damn desk. I turned my body to the side and tried to stand up.
‘Hidan, Kakuzu, I will kill you all!’ I growled as I took a step forward and fell miserably to the hospital floor. In agony, I punched the hell out of the floor.
‘Why am I the one that has to be stuck here?! Fucking useless leg…’ I cried miserably.
I clawed my way to the doors crying over my good friend and company, my master's son, Sarutobi Asuma. My fingers had been bleeding during my struggle and Sakura that had seemingly recovered from her despair, had knocked me out of it.
*
Three days later, Sakura, Naruto, Hinata, and Sai had been waiting for me to wake up. That day was the memorial ceremony for two of the Konoha shinobi clans, the Hyuuga and the Sarutobi. Hinata had brought me the black Kimono to wear to which Naruto and Sai helped me wear it. When I was finished, I took a seat in a wheelchair and Sai pushed me towards the cemetery. In the hindsight, this moment of despair had brought something good, at least. Naruto had learned to see the signs as I saw him holding hands with Hinata when they were walking to the cemetery.
There, I was greeted by Hiashi-sama, Hanabi, Neji, and Kurenai-sensei who took over my wheelchair and brought us to their final resting place. Tears that we withheld for two whole days were let go and I wanted to give in to it. I placed the bouquet on their grave and silently prayed for them. After a while, only Kakashi-sensei and I were left standing there since he had promised to bring me back to the ward.
‘How's Naruto doing?’ I asked in a somber.
‘Well, he succeeded,’ Kakashi-sensei answered, and that finally brought a smile to my face.
‘I knew he could do it all along. He’s the son of the Yellow Flash, he is also a genius in his special way,’ I said, and silently, I renewed my promise to Hitori and I will defeat these Akatsuki guys.
‘Let’s get you back to the ward, I think I got somewhere to be. Those three are going out to hunt Asuma’s killer,’ Sensei said as he pushed my wheelchair back to my ward. I know that Asuma-sensei had taught them well enough to not attend their sensei's memorial as long as his killers were still out there.
‘Keep them safe, sensei,’ I breathed to which he chuckled at me.
‘I never let my comrade die on my watch, Hikari-kun. Not while I'm alive,’ he said. Remembering those nostalgic words of promise, I am confident that my three friends were in good hands.
Before I slept that night, I promised myself that I will get better faster, and then I will bring hell to Akatsuki.
*
The next morning, I was visited by Tsunade-senpai who was excited to see that I was doing the walking exercise today with Sakura. She had told me that Kakashi-sensei had gone out of the village to assist Shikamaru's team to continue their manhunt for the task force that was formed to hunt the Akatsuki in Fire country. Meanwhile, I was making good headway in my rehabilitation and the strength was slowly coming back to me.
‘You're showing a remarkable recovery rate, Hikari-kun. Not as fast as Naruto but still,’ Tsunade commented to announce her arrival and I perked up, grinning at her.
‘Morning, Senpai, Shizune-san. Although my blood may play a part in this, it is all of your hard work that made this possible,’ I beamed and followed through with my exercise. Senpai took a seat near the bed as she continued to observe me walking shakily while holding the bars.
‘How's Naruto doing?’ she wondered.
‘From what Kakashi-sensei had told me, he's starting to get the hang of it. Though he did say that it might be a while longer to perfect it,’ Sakura explained and I bit my lip to try to steady up my hip as I began the next set.
‘I see…’ senpai answered.
‘Shishou, the fact that Kakashi-sensei had gone ahead and joined team 10, surely means that team 7 would work well with team 10. Our team should be the reinforcements, is that right?’ Sakura probed and I was eager to go but I doubt that I would be useful for now.
‘You're sharp,’ Tsunade-senpai commented. ‘That's to be expected of you.’
‘But we don't know if Naruto-kun's new jutsu will be completed at all. We should send a different team,’ Shizune-san interjected.
‘Shizune-senpai, Naruto is a prodigy in his way. I am confident that he will complete the jutsu. He has to because I doubt that I can be at use until two weeks more,’ I said while gritting my teeth as my back suddenly cramps up due to the strain.
‘Sakura, go tell Yamato to complete Naruto's new jutsu in 24 hours! And that if they can't do that, we'll send a different team!’ Senpai ordered and Sakura immediately said yes. ‘Shizune, in case they don't make it. Check the schedule to form a team that would work well with the team 10!’
‘Understood,’ Shizune-senpai answered and my interest piqued.
‘Who is Yamato?’ I asked.
‘I had assigned an ANBU Black Ops member along with Sai to help lead Team Kakashi while you and your sensei were stuck here recuperating,’ Tsunade-senpai explained. ‘You knew him, didn't you? Tenzou?’
‘Oh, Tenzou-san?! He's a good ninja that man is! So, you tasked him for us? Good choice!’ I said and that was my undoing as I fell on all four. ‘Ahh, It hurts!!’
‘Well, that's enough for today. Let's get you up and rest. I got somewhere to be,’ Sakura said as she quickly picked me up from the floor.
‘I concur, Sakura-sama!’ I said as I was being carried and she just had to give me a knock on my head.
‘Knock it off, idiot!’ She yelled and I couldn't do anything but whined in pain. The two women just laughed at me as they went out of the room and as if on time, Hinata came in with the whole family to visit me.
‘Good Afternoon, Hikari-Nisan. Brought you Omurice,’ she greeted and my eyes immediately lit up at the sound of my favorite dishes in Konoha.
‘Oni-chan!!!!!’ Hanabi ran in and immediately helped me sit on my bed.
‘Hanabi-chan, I miss you! My, you've grown!’ I rubbed her head and smiled at her to which she blushed beet red. She had grown into a teenager and that had slipped through my notice.
‘How are you feeling?’ Hiashi-sama greeted me and bowed at him.
‘Great, Hiashi-sama. I have already begun with my physiotherapy. I hoped that I may train again as soon as possible,’ I beamed at him. Hiashi-sama turned away and scratched his chin.
‘Uhmm, you could call me Tou-sama since you had used it already,’ he said and my heart soared, ‘I took a liking for it.’
I immediately stood up and hugged the man in gratefulness. There was goodness in all of this after all.
‘Thank you, Tou-sama,’ I cried and then fell limply but he caught me in time and set me back on the bed. That day I felt truly happy that I spent my time with my loved ones. Two days later, I got a visit from the person that I least expected.
*
‘Hikari-kun?’ Kurenai-sensei greeted as she entered the ward after she knocked. I had been given crutches as a substitute for my trusty wheelchair, finally.
‘Ah, Kurenai-sensei, how have you been? Come in,’ I said as I rose from the bed to sit properly. I noticed that she was wearing a loose casual dress for the day and that she looked different from usual, I wondered why that is.
‘I've been well, considering…’ she said, solemnly. ‘Say, I'm going to the cemetery, wanna come with? Already asked Godaime-sama for you and she gave me the green light.’
‘Oh, sure! Wait up for me, okay?’ I said as I hastily fetch for my now trusty crutches and stood up before I went to the doors.
‘How's your progress?’ Kurenai-sensei asked as we made our way to the cemetery.
‘Well, to start with, Senpai said that I could get out of the hospital in a day or two and start training after I lose the crutches,’ I answered. We were greeted by people all of the way to the place. It seemed like the whole village was mourning our loss and it made a smile on my face.
‘Eh, good news then,’ she said indulgently. She was different now, no, not because of the death but she was softer and the fiery eyes she used to have had simmered down now. Not too much though. I knew not to mess with the genjutsu mistress of Konoha. Talking was a good way to heal one's pain as we did a lot of that all the way and even at their grave. That day, tears were not seen on our faces as we honored their sacrifice to the village.
‘Should you be walking around like this?’ someone said from behind us.
‘Tsunade-senpai gave me approval,’ I answered as I turned around and saw Shikamaru was standing behind us. I wondered how long we stood here.
‘Not you, idiot. Kurenai-sensei,’ he said. I turned to look at her and when I saw it, she was blushing lightly.
‘It's okay,’ she answered. I must have missed crucial information, wonder why. Geez, wondered, wondered, it seemed that everything was a guess these days. Well, yeah, but... Shikamaru walked forward to place a pack of cigarettes on top of Asuma-sensei's grave and kneeled in silence.
‘Your shougi partner isn't around anymore…’ Kurenai-sensei said. ‘You were his favorite student, you must get lonely, no?’
‘He taught me both very important things and complete rubbish. Shougi was only one of those things,’ Shikamaru explained. ‘Saying I'm not lonely would be lying but I belong to a generation needing to grow up now. So, I can't just lie down crying forever. I was always complaining and trying to avoid my responsibilities’
My eyes turned to Hitori's grave. He's right, grieving won't get me anywhere and it's best that I moved forward.
‘That child, I'll protect him when it's born,’ Shikamaru said and my eyes darted towards Kurenai-sensei. ‘Until then, I'll have to become a cool adult too!’
‘What? You're expecting? How come it’s only today that I found out about this??’ I said, surprised. ‘Ne, Kurenai-sensei, let me be his godfather?’
‘That’s not how it works and besides, we didn't know if it is a girl or a boy yet, idiot!’ Shikamaru said, annoyed. ‘Besides, if anyone can be his godfather, it should've been me.’
‘What's that? Wanna fight?!’ I yelled as I held up a fist at him.
‘What? Wanna try me on?!’ Shikamaru said and we were close to fighting when Kurenai-sensei blurted out laughing.
‘Thank you, both you. How about the both of you be his godfather instead?’ she said, smiling.
‘Aww, man!’ I groaned.
‘Troublesome dude,’ Shikamaru groaned too and Kurenai-sensei giggled at our behavior.
‘Well, I got somewhere to be now. Can you help me send Hikari back to his ward?’ she asked.
‘Sure thing,’ he answered.
‘No, no more hospital!’ I drew an X with my hands. ‘Instead, take to your house or something. Teach me how to play Shogi if it means to get out of the hospital?"
‘Ah, come, let's go to my house,’ Shikamaru said smiling and we made our way to his house. Well, the trip was uneventful, Shikamaru and Shikaku-sama were all talking cryptically and all they did was strategize, strategize and strategize. My time there wasn't long because Sakura chased me out of there with a vengeance. So, I ran away from that evil girl. A feat that failed miserably and that night I slept with a large bruise on my head courtesy of her fist.
*
Three days after that, I was discharged but instead of going home, I was at Foundation Anbu HQ distracting myself with work. I was working with my operatives to help me get my strength back by training me. In between the resting days, I still never went back to my house for a change of clothing or anything. I didn't think that I would be up for it back then. I was afraid that if I went, I would break down crying at moments' notice. I missed her so so much. On the other hand, My intelligence team was making headway nowadays, pieces of information were coming in like crazy. Thus, working would be all too logical. Until one day that is.
"Orochimaru has been killed by Uchiha Sasuke and has been gathering allies. – Hawk"
There was no mistaking it. He did it, he killed the snake. I should have been happy about it but instead, he didn't come back, instead, he was out gathering a team and I know what for. I quickly wrote a note for my senpai and called someone to send this to her.
"My team needs to know this, Uchiha Sasuke has killed Orochimaru and is gathering allies. His target most definitely is Uchiha Itachi. – DH"
I folded the paper and on cue, Torune entered my office.
‘You need me, Director?’ he asked.
‘Take this to senpai, will you? I need to do some more digging,’ I pushed forward the note as I continued reviewing the reports.
‘Yes, sir. Say, how long have you been here? Why don’t you take a rest at home? At times like this, you should rely on your subordinate,’ he asked and I quickly looked at him sharply. The guy winced at the sight of my eyes and hastily got out of the room. It took me a brief moment before I brought my hands to my face and wiped them. I wondered what's gotten into me. I felt bad that I might have scared him or something. A few hours afterward, Torune came back from the Hokage's office.
‘Director, Godaime-sama had assembled two teams to track down and find Uchiha Itachi. They had already left the village and Sai's with them,’ the man said and I was surprised but then again, it was a smart move to do to lure out Sasuke.
‘Very well,’ I said before I rubbed the back of my head. ‘Uhmm, I am sorry for what I did before, Torune. I don't know what's got into me.’
‘I understand. Go home, Boss. You know that we can hold the fort for you,’ he said and I nodded at him as thanks before I shunshinned out of the place. Perhaps, I should have gone home, but I haven’t done so. I didn't know where I should go, thus I decided to walk around to cool off. Did I mention that it was raining? Nope, I didn't think so but rain helps. It helps, yeah. Though the rain wasn't long my walk had led me close to my two most valued friends and I decided to interrupt them.
‘What's up senpai?’ I asked them and they jumped a bit. Both of them reeks of alcohol.
‘Oh? If it isn’t our favorite junior? Come on, join us! We're celebrating!’ Tsunade-senpai slurred.
‘You guys reek, how long have you been out here?’ I said while pinching my nose as I lean myself onto the wall next to the bench.
‘How are you feeling now, Hikari-kun?’ Jiraiya-senpai asked and then I remembered something important to ask from him.
‘I'm good though Tsunade-senpai didn't clear me for a mission yet,’ I explained. ‘Good thing that I bumped into you. Would I be able to use Sage Jutsu if my summon dies?’
‘Hmm…’ he was silent as he considered for a bit. ‘Well, you could still use it though, it won't be as fun as when we still got the contract in place. I mean, our fighting capacity would be significantly reduced. I’m sorry for your loss, Hikari.’
‘I knew it,’ I turned my head away bitterly biting my lips to withhold the sad feeling creeping up my heart.
‘You'll be fine. Or, I could talk to Fukusaku-sama for you?’ Jiraiya-senpai offered.
‘Oh no, it's okay,’ I shook my head. ‘I’ve never summoned her to help me fight anymore. Her two pupils needed her the most.’
‘Well, I guess I should get moving,’ he said as he stood up and I asked where. ‘Amegakure, I got an intel that the leader of the Akatsuki might be there.’
‘What? How did I miss this?’ I was surprised and that creepy feeling came back to me. ‘Bring me with you, senpai?’
‘No you are not well enough for such a mission and besides, I work alone. It's only a scouting mission anyway,’ Jiraiya said.
‘Come back alive,’ Tsunade-senpai suddenly said. Her face was of worry and I'll say, I am too. ‘If I lose you too, I…’
‘Are you gonna cry for me?! Haha, I'm honored! I don't suppose I'll get as many tears as Dan did though, hahahahaha!’ He shrugged it off and I frowned at the man. That's not how you should treat a lady and he was older enough to know better. Tsunade-senpai took the word out of my mouth.
‘Asshole…’
‘All right, how about we put your gambling skills to use? Put everything you've got on me dying. You always pick the losing bet and in return, I'll come back alive and well,’ he suggested.
‘Are you crazy, senpai? Don't even jinx that!’ I protested and he just rubbed my head.
‘I'm just kidding. Take good care of yourself and Naruto,’ he said and now I am really worried.
‘Send one of your toads if anything happens. I'll come and back you up immediately,’ Tsunade-senpai suggested.
‘I don't think so. You have to remain in the village,’ he countered.
‘Not me. I can go, here,’ I withdrew my own Jutsu-Shiki and gave it to him. ‘I'm not as good as Naruto at this but one lousy teleport should do the trick. You'll know what to do.’
Then Juzo suddenly appeared next to us holding a scroll and I took it from him.
‘This is the final message from my master,’ Juzo said sadly and it shocked me. Hastily, I opened the scroll.
"Hikari-san,
I am hereby trusting you with the responsibility as a trust holder to the Uchiha clan's secrets, lands, and wealth until the day my brother came back to Konoha. I had been diagnosed with the same disease that had plagued Gekko Hayate-san for years. With the help of my doctor, I had kept the disease from everybody noticing for a long time until today. I feared that my time had come, it didn’t help that I had always kept my Sharingan active for the most part ever since I left Konoha. Coupled with the side effects of overusing the Mangekyou, I would be blind in a few months. Sasuke will be immobilized for a while, so you need to come and get him. Uchiha old temple, you know where it is. Director Hikari, I am sorry that I didn’t have the chance to fulfill my job as your second in command properly but I hoped that what I had done until now would be paid off immensely for my sake in the afterlife. The final phase of Akatsuki planning had already been in motion. Hence, this is my will.
I, the second in command of Foundation Anbu, hereby naming my brother, Uchiha Sasuke as the heir of Uchiha Clan and my successor in Foundation Anbu. I will bring him back through Izanami and Yamanaka Inoichi-sama should be able to verify his change. Give my best to him and tell him to be the strong foundation that protects Konoha and its people from the shadows.
Sign
Uchiha Itachi."
There was a storage seal underneath the letter and I trust that this must be the clan's records. I swallowed the bile that was rising to my throat.
‘Thank you for your service, Juzo-san,’ I said and the cat poofed out of existence.
‘What's Izanami?’ Tsunade-senpai asked.
‘I’m surprised that you didn’t know about this. I did some digging at the Uchiha temple in the village and read about it once. Izanami is one of the sets of two Uchiha’s forbidden jutsu. It's a technique where the jutsu user sacrifices his Sharingan to decide his target's destiny,’ I explained. ‘It was used by the Uchiha when they were plagued with Izanagi over-usage that took the lives of too many of their kin for the sake of altering one’s destiny. Izanami was invented to bring back a comrade that strayed from the right path.’
‘That Itachi kid. He loved the village more than anything,’ Jiraiya commented in awe of the man's sacrifice.
‘Except for one thing, his brother,’ I said. ‘I couldn't follow you, after all, Jiraiya-senpai. I need to go now. Call off the search team. I could deduce that Sasuke had made contact with him by now.’
With that, I took off running towards the village doors at my speed. Hoping that I reached the place in time. It did take me a while but made it just in time. There was quite a lot of chakra signatures nearby, I noticed that my teammate was with Hinata's team and they were facing Obito. I bit my lips debating whether to go assist them or not. Then I got an idea and made the necessary set of seals.
‘Mokuton; Moku Bunshin no Jutsu!’ I said as I ran and wood started branching out of my body and formed into a copy of me with a reasonable amount of chakra.
‘You are going to assist in their escape. Do not engage too much. We are not healed enough for that,’ I said and with that, my clone went towards my friends. Steadily I burst my way towards the temple in question. I noticed the halfling's chakra signature and I summoned more chakra to assist my speed as I flickered to the temple. When the debris was cleared, I could see them. Itachi lies down on the ground while Sasuke stood still with his dull eyes looking in the distance upon the stone slab. Both of them were bloodied and heavily injured.
‘You, you're still alive!’ Kuro exclaimed.
‘Care to take me on, brother? Or do you want to run between your legs again and summon your minion to fight for you?’ I challenged him.
‘Ku Ku Ku Ku, it won't be long now,’ he said as he dissipates into the building. I blew a heavy breath and took out a scroll to seal Itachi's body in it. Afterward, I walked to my old friend to check up on him, he was still out of it. I took one of his arms and carried him out of the place. Outside, I found that Kisame was fighting with what seemed to be the team that Sasuke had been gathering.
‘Sasuke-kun!’ the redhead called, fangirling.
‘Oh, shit, Itachi's dead,’ Kisame bit his tongue.
‘What did you do to Sasuke-kun?!’ The girl demanded and one of them suddenly transformed into something hideous. This must be the Cursed Seal Transformation that I had read in Shikamaru’s report. The Sound Four was able to use this technique as well as Sasuke. I could see that he was absorbing nature's energy. My Rinne-Sharingan flared as I am thinking about killing them. All of them kneeled scared shitless.
‘Damn, this kid is not normal. What killer intent!’ Kisame shakily said.
‘I'll let you all go for now. I must bring back my friend to Konoha,’ I monotonously said and Kisame immediately disappeared.
‘Let's go, Karin. This one's too strong,’ the one who was wielding Zabuza's sword shakily said as he tried to pull his girl teammate up.
‘No, I want to be with Sasuke-kun!’ the girl yelled. Interestingly, Sasuke had found himself a loyal teammate. I didn’t think that he would choose this type of person to be in his purging team.
‘The girl may come. Leave,’ I ordered and the two disappeared from there. I looked into the girl's eyes and I stared at her stoically. Her body was shaking violently and she wet herself.
‘Any funny business. I will kill you,’ I threatened. Seemingly couldn't speak, she nodded as fast as she could. I jumped from my place towards her and summoned my robe. When it poofed into existence, I tossed it to her.
‘Wear that. You, err, you,’ I said and then look away. ‘You wet yourself.’
Her face went profusely red and then she went kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa on me.
‘Shut it, lady!’ I yelled. ‘Hurry up and change or I will leave you here.’
When the girl finished changing, I took off towards my other friends as fast as I possibly can. The girl was slowing me down. But, I still managed to reach them in time.
‘You've been busy, 'puppet Madara',’ I exclaimed to the man. He made no move.
‘Hikari-kun is that?’ Sakura immediately asked and then instantly made her way to me to heal Sasuke.
‘Don't do it just yet. He is stable but I couldn't risk destroying Itachi's last will,’ I said while my eyes were still plastered at Obito. Could I do it too? In theory, I could but it's too risky right now, Zetsu is still around and Akatsuki still has members. I just have to think this through. Speaking of the devil, the thing phased through the tree to reveal himself.
‘Well?’ Obito asked.
‘Plan failed because of the kid suddenly appearing at the temple,’ Kuro said.
‘Hmm, I thought I’ve killed you for sure, brat. I guess you are too stubborn to die, like me. We’ll meet soon, Kakashi, Hikari-kun. Let’s go Zetsu, our business is done here. Bye-bye,’ Obito said before he disappeared along with the plant.
‘Hikari! Hinata!’ Kakashi-sensei barked out orders but I already knew that he was gone. Both of their chakra signatures had disappeared completely.
‘No, they're gone,’ I said and my Rinne-Sharingan closed with it. All of us breathed a sigh of relief.
‘Hey, what're you doing to Sasuke-kun?!’ Sakura yelled at the redhead that was tagging along. She was letting Sasuke bite into her arm and I could see with the Byakugan that she was healing him.
‘Who the hell are you?’ the redhead barked at Sakura. Annoyed, I glared at them both with my Rinne-Sharingan flared yet again. It did the job as they immediately flinched away from each other.
‘Let's head home, I got no time to deal with brats who couldn't get over their childhood phase,’ I said and Kakashi-sensei limped forward but in time for Naruto to catch him.
‘Yeah, let's bring him back,’ Naruto smiled softly. All of us grabbed hold of Naruto before we're all transported back to Hokage Tower.