VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure you guys have read Chapter 11: Kusanagi. This was a 'must not miss chapter' since a lot of things that happened there are actually important for the future. You'll also be confused in the next few chapters if you haven't read it.
(It's the one where Ahsoka gets her sword Kusanagi: Which made a short appearance last chapter) Just make sure sure you've read it! (Despite it's mostly goofy nature, that chapter is very important to the rest of the story...like REALLY important in many ways which will make sense in the future) - Everything in that chapter was written for a reason....
Rain fell down from the gray skies above the cemetery blocking most of Ahsoka's surrounding as she stood silently in front of the marble plate on the ground. Her face was turned to the skies, eyes shadowed by her hair that stuck to her face with the heavy rain.
'Nande,' The usual easy smile that played on her lips was gone, replaced by a hard line, 'Nande...' The heavy rain continued to pour as Kakashi strained his eyes to focus on Ahsoka's silhouette through the mist from where he stood a ways away from her.
Ahsoka continued to look up at the sky, unseeing, 'Why is it that every time things look like they are going to be okay, something goes wrong?'
Three weeks ago
Minato wore a serious expression as the rest of Team Minato ran behind him in their white cloaks adored with two red stripes billowing behind them. Minato's eyes darted from side to side as his feet hit the gravel soundlessly with each footstep.
"How many?" He didn't even have to glance back for Ahsoka to know he was speaking to her.
"About twenty Kumogakure chunin one mile South just ahead. Two more squads with seven jonin each are heading towards us from the North East and North West respectively, sensei." Ahsoka reported back. Her voice firm as she focused on the enemy ninja's chakra signatures.
Kakashi grimaced as Rin and Obito glanced at each other nervously. Minato's eyes narrowed, "They are trying to surround us using a sensor shinobi to follow our position, correct?"
Ahsoka gave a firm nod, "Yes, sir."
Minato closed his eyes in thought as he weighed the options. The rest of team watched him from behind, silently waiting for his response as they tried to stay composed. The cold air bit at their skins as the shinobi held their white cloaks tighter. Winter was fast approaching and the usual cold of the Kumogakure border was not helping Team Minato on their current mission.
Kumo and Konoha had met in the battle field multiple times. The more noticeable battles leaving disasters and heavy casualties for both sides. The Legendary Minato Namikaze being one of the shinobi that had fought there multiple times. However this was the first time the entirety of Team Minato was sent on a mission, a scouting mission, all the way to the hostile border.
The blonde's eyes snapped open as he turned his head towards his subordinates,"Listen up! Here is the plan..."
The two genin and two chunin ran South bound completely on edge. Ahsoka kept her senses activated, making sure to conceal their own chakra from the enemy as her team followed.
"How far ahead?" asked Kakashi.
"A quarter of a mile." Ahsoka responded as her eyes narrowed, "Get ready." Her teammates nodded seriously before Obito pouted.
"God damn it. I wanted to face the jonin..." The rest turned their heads to him with deadpanned looks.
Obito blinked, "What?! It would be much more interesting than facing a bunch of chunin." He scoffed.
"You're not even a chunin so you don't get to complain, baka." Kakashi sent Obito an arrogant glare, "Besides, you wouldn't last two minutes in a fight against Kumo jonin."
Obito gritted his teeth as he shouted at Kakashi, "Oh yeah?! And you would!?" His voice ringing through the forest.
"Well I have a better chance than you." Kakashi scoffed loudly as he turned his head away with an air of superiority. Obito clenched his fists as he opened his mouth to yell before a rustling in the trees and a sudden barage of kunai caused the team to yelp and jump back.
"Thank you for giving away our position you two!" Ahsoka growled at her two male teammates who's faces turned red in embarrassment. But their embarrassment quickly turned into fear as they stared ahead at the source of the barage. In the trees stood about twenty Kumogakure shinobi looking down at them. Their faces twisted into wicked grins.
"Well, well, will you look at that? It's just some brats!" One of the chunin spoke up. Giving the team a sick look. The four immediately jumped into formation standing back to back with Obito and Rin taking out their kunai and Kakashi and Ahsoka unsheathing their swords respectively.
The shinobi spoke again, leaning cockily against the tree, "Ohh these are some dangerous little brats." The rest snickered at his mocking tone causing Obito to growl. He was about to jump up to the trees and pounce on the man when Rin quickly grabbed his wrist.
The raven-haired boy's head snapped towards the brunette in surprise, "Don't do it." Rin whispered to Obito with pleading eyes. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concern. The slight tremble of her hand telling him she was afraid. The Uchiha gritted his teeth as he furrowed his brow in conflict before closing his eyes and sighing in defeat, taking his position in the formation once more.
The Kumogakure shinobi howled in laughter, "Aw look at them- so young and so willing to get killed." Another chunin mocked the team as they continued laughing, "I'm sure they wouldn't mind if we finished up quickly, right? We've got places to be." The enemy nin's wicked smile only grew as he slowly pulled out his kunai.
Team Minato stood their ground. Kakashi narrowed his eyes, "Actually, we would mind." He pulled out an explosive tag and threw it up in the trees.
The Kumo shinobi jumped away in surprise as the loud explosion rattled and broke some of the trees. The closest ones cried out as they held their burns from the explosion while the rest coughed from the smoke.
One of the shinobi swatted his hand around in the air while coughing before looking down at where the Konoha team had been, "W-Where did the brats go?" The chunin turned from side to side trying to find the team.
The thud of someone landing and a gurgle was all the shinobi heard before one of their own dropped down the the forest floor far below with a severed throat. Their heads snapped up in fear to the branch where their comrade had been, only to see Kakashi standing in a battle stance with his tanto stained red and his sharp, calculating eyes glaring cold daggers at them.
"A-After him!" One of the shinobi shouted after coming out of his shock. The rest of the squad quickly scrambled to get into action as they jumped off their branches and lunged towards the twelve-year old. Kakashi quickly dropped from the branch and down towards the ground with the shinobi close at his heels.
He somersaulted just before his feet touched to ground and stuck himself to a nearby tree trunk before jumping away.
"Katon: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Obito's voice rang from somewhere hidden between the trees as the flammable powder laid out on the floor on purpose during the explosion caught on fire, setting ablaze the Kumo shinobi running after Kakashi. Their screams echoed as the ones just above them scrambled to get back up the trees.
"I told you I didn't need your help." Kakashi spat out while he angrily patted down his slightly burned white cloak as he neared the three waiting for him crouched down in some bushes.
"Why are you complaining?! It worked!" Obito gestured to the fire a ways away from the team to prove his point. The screams still echoing in the background.
"I had it handled." The silver haired boy growled as he crouched down on the ground roughly.
"I was helping you!"
Rin grabbed both of the cloaks as she tugged them, "That's enough you two! We have to figure something out now. Hopefully together."
Ahsoka leaned forward, "Rin's right. They're distracted right now but it won't last more than a few seconds. It's best if we work together." Kakashi scoffed and turned his head away while Obito smirked triumphantly.
"Kakashi," His head turned to look at Ahsoka with curious eyes, surprised at suddenly being addressed, "Did you have a plan in mind before?" Her honey colored eyes focused on him.
Kakashi's brows knitted in determination, "As a matter a fact I did."
The Kumo shinobi up in the tree tops stared at the fire that had killed their comrades with vengeful gazes. One of them gritted their teeth as their heads snapped up to scan the trees, "Where are you little pricks! We're coming for you!" That was when they heard the rustling of some leaves, the swish of a white cloak, and saw hair the color of a fiery ember. The shinobi smirked, "Got ya."
His squad, now consisting of fifteen shinobi, sped off after the white-cloaked Konoha shinobi. Leaping from branch to branch, they didn't notice the two genin behind the trees.
One of the Kumo shinobi's eyes widened as he took one leap onto a branch and felt a tug on his foot that could only mean one thing. The ninja wire activated a series of kunai that sped towards the group, "WATCH OUT!" The fifteen jumped right on time to avoid becoming kunai pin cushions.
The shinobi began to cackle as they came out of their shock while flying backwards through the air, staring down at the kunais lodged in the tree.
"That's it?! I expected a little more from you brats!" One said. The group continued laughing as they neared their landing spots in other trees, explosion tags set on the shadows of their trunks.
Rin and Obito glanced at the cackling group through the corner of their eyes from their respective hidding places behind some tree trunks, "Ask and you shall receive." Obito whispered as the shinobi came in contact with the trees. Right on cue, Obito and Rin lifted their fingers in a ram sign and gave a loud shout.
"KAI!"
The series of explosions that followed rocked the trees as the Kumogakure ninja cried out in pain and fear. Bright orange light illuminated the area as Obito and Rin yelped and covered their ears, their cloaks and hair blowing from the force of the explosions. The smoke could be seen billowing far above the trees as birds squawked in terror.
The smoke started clearing from the floor below where the shinobi that first taunted and threatened them laid covered in black charred markings. The man groaned and coughed painfully as he started to lift up his head and lean on his trembling arms, straining his eyes to look through the smoke, 'W-What happened? Was it those brats?'
A sudden scream off to his left made the man snap his head towards the sound with wide, fearful eyes. Another terrified scream echoed as the sound of sharp metal cutting through skin followed. The Kumo chunin gave a terrified yelp as he painfully tried to scramble his scorched body away. Two figures suddenly broke through the smoke, their white cloaks trailing behind them.
The man gave a frightened scream as he continued to scramble away from the two. The girl's bright colored eyes focused on the man. Her brows furrowed, "P-Ple-Please! Have mer-cy! I didn't mean any of it! Ple-" She didn't hesitate as she lunged for the man and brought down her sword on his neck in one quick graceful strike.
Ahsoka stood next to the body as she lazily wiped the blood off Kusanagi, "What was that? You didn't finish," She gave the body one last stink eye before turning away. "Find anymore alive?" She asked Kakashi as he crouched down to examine another scorched body
"No. All dead."
Ahsoka sent him a pleased nod just as Rin and Obito came running through the withering smoke.
"Did we get all of them?" Obito asked as he and Rin came to a quick stop.
"Yup."
The Uchiha broke into a wide goofy grin before jumping up in the air in celebration, "Yaata! We did it! Minato sensei is going to be so proud!" Ahsoka and Rin held back a snicker before looking at each other and bursting into laugher.
"Obito you are such a twerp sometimes," Rin said in between giggles as Obito joined in the laughter with an embarrassed blush on his face.
Their laughter echoed as Kakashi watched from a distance. Their faces were bright with cheer and amusement. Ahsoka's eyes were closed as she continued to laugh joyfully. Her voice ringing pleasantly along with her teammates. Her laughter subsided subtly as she opened her eyes. A soft smile grew on Ahsoka's face as she gazed up at Obito, eyes full of fondness.
Kakashi couldn't help but stare at those two. He also couldn't help but think of those two. Two people Kakashi never thought would take up space in his thoughts...but they did, constantly.
'Obito -the loudmouth, annoying, untalented Hokage wanna be.' Kakashi scoffed quietly in his mind. His eyes turned to the still smiling girl, ' And Ahsoka -the sweet tooth, sass giving, kind hearted kunoichi.' Kakashi couldn't help his eyes softening the slightest bit.
'Every moment spent with her is like being in turbulent storm,' Her hair swayed as she laughed again at something Rin said, 'or maybe it was like feeling the calm breeze on a summer's day... She was--.'
Suddenly, Ahsoka stopped laughing for a second and turned to Kakashi who gasped slightly in surprise. Her curious gaze became soft as she sent Kakashi a subtle smile. Kakashi's tense muscles wouldn't let him do anything but nod in response. Her bright eyes looked on at Kakashi with amusement, 'She was--speicial.'
--Flashback--
Kakashi cringed slightly as he saw a very recognizable figure waving at him from the stone benches on the road, "YO! KAKASHI!" Guy waved his hand wildly as he held a dango stick with the other, "COME JOIN US."
Seated and standing around the bench were Kurenai, Asuma, Genma, Rin, and Obito eating from some dango sticks.
"Kakashi!" Rin waved him over excitedly as she straightened up in her seat at the bench next to Kurenai after Guy's outburst. Her face adorned by a bright hopeful smile and blush. Obito's head slumped onto his left hand as he aggressively took a bite out of his dango from his seat on the armrest.
Kakashi contained the urge to turn the other way as he continued walking down the road "Thanks for the invite but I'm not really hungry." Kakashi said with his hands stuffed in his pockets as he continued walking past the front of the bench.
"Nonsense!" Guy came up behind him and grabbed Kakashi's shoulders forcefully, "Come, Come!"
"Oi. Stop it! Oi!" Kakashi protested as Guy pushed him towards the group until he was forcefully standing in front of Rin and Obito. Kakashi crossed his arms with a grunt and a glare directed at Guy.
Rin gave a sweet, closed eyed smile, "So Kakashi, how's your day been?" The boy turned his attention back to the brunette who was still smiling.
"Fine I guess." Kakashi responded monotonously to which Obito scoffed.
"That doesn't really tell us anything."
Kakashi sent the boy a glare, "What if I don't want to tell you anything?"
Genma rolled his eyes at the two as he chewed on his needle, "Damn are these two like this all the time?" Asuma and Kurenai were also staring at the boys with raised brows as they chewed their dango. Earning annoyed glares from both Uchiha and Hatake.
Rin laughed nervously, "Ah haha...sometimes. Ahsoka and I are usually the buffer for these two." At the mention of Ahsoka's name Kakashi looked around, for the first time realizing the light auburn haired girl was absent from the group.
Kakashi turned back to Rin, "Where is Ahsoka anyways? Isn't she usually with you guys?"
Rin's eyes widened for a second at being addressed before stopping to think for a second, "Actually now that you mention it, I haven't seen her since yesterday."
"You mean after your mission to Kusagakure?" asked Kurenai.
"Yeah, I haven't seen her either. She stayed with the old man and Hiroshi-san in the Hokage's office after our mission report last time we saw her." Obito said with his mouth full as he casually ate some dango.
"Mhmm this is certainly strange," Guy but a hand to his chin in thought before he gasped dramatically "What if she is hurt?! What if she needs help?! What if-"
"What if she is perfectly fine and doesn't need you to fawn over her?" Asuma said, referencing the boy's obvious crush on the girl as the rest giggled.
Guy blushed furiously with wide eyes, "I-I don't fawn over her!"
Genma tried holding back a laugh unsuccessfully as he spoke, "Sure you don't. Make sure you say 'hey' to your tulip for me next time you see her." The group burst into fits of laughter.
"She is so different now. Remember her when she first came to the Academy? She's changed so much." Asuma said after their laughter subsided. Everyone nodded except Kakashi who shifted his head to look at Asuma, his interest piked.
"Changed?" Kakashi questioned.
"Yeah. She seems like a completely different person now." Kurenai said studying her empty dango stick.
Rin's cast her eyes down to the floor, "She seemed so...sad. I'm really glad she opened up but...sometimes I wonder what happened to her."
Kakashi's eyes widened slightly in surprise, "You mean she's never told you guys anything?"
Rin and Obito shook their heads as they said 'No', "All we know is that she was born here and that she moved away when she was little. Then she had to come back...but she never told us why." Obito said as he looked up at the leaves in the trees, "I guess she just likes to keep that to herself."
Kakashi's brows furrowed as his thoughts immediately turned to his trip to the Konoha Archives two years ago. He knew what the others didn't from the reports he had read - the reports about the mysterious murder of her parents right in front of her. No wonder the girl shut herself off.
Kakashi himself could relate to that...not wanting to talk to anyone, not wanting to feel anyone's pity, not wanting to let anyone in. He knew that feeling too well. But now he looks at the person Ahsoka is today and he couldn't help but wonder...'What changed?'
"Oi min'na!" A familiar female voice called out from down the road as she waved her gloved hand. Her light auburn hair moved behind her with every step as she jogged towards the group. A wide smile brightly lit her face as she approached with enthusiasm.
The world seemed to slow down for Kakashi as all heads turned to look at Ahsoka. Obito's eyes widened as he slowly broke out into a grin. 'The traumatized kunoichi that shows a joyful smile to the rest of the world,' Kakashi thought as he watched Ahsoka approach with a mask of indifference.
'Why? Why go through all the trouble of making bonds when you know they will only end in disappointment?' Kakashi couldn't help himself as he moved towards her, only to snap out of it and stop after being caught by surprise as Obito passed by him at a jog.
"Ahsoka!" Obito met Ahsoka halfway, coming at a full stop in front of her, "Where were you?!"
Ahsoka grinned, "Oh..I was just busy with a little something..." That's when she held up something no one had even realized she was holding.
"Huh?-What's that?" Obito asked as everyone came closer and stared down at the sheathed sword.
"It's a sword, baka." Genma rolled his eyes.
Ahsoka nodded proudly, "Yup. And it isn't just any old sword," The light hit the metal blade and gold linings as Ahsoka unsheathed it. The Aoyama symbol sat proudly on the blade as the group stared down in awe.
"Woah..." Kurenai's and Guy's eyes widened.
"Damn, that's a nice sword." Asuma said as he inspected the hilt.
"This is Kusanagi," Ahsoka spun the elegant sword in the her hand, earning another chorus of 'ohs and ahs' as Kakashi also watched on with interest from the back of the group. He remembered that name, having read about it briefly in the Archives as well.
Ahsoka held Kusanagi gently in front of her once more as she admired it, "It's been passed down the Aoyama clan since the Warring States period."
"It's beautiful!" Guy exclaimed dramatically to which Ahsoka only sweat dropped and shook her head in slight amusement.
"It is really nice...and deadly looking." Kurenai stared at the sharp edges of the sword with a bit of unease.
"I think it looks awesome." Genma leaned a bit forward and tilted his head to look at the sword better.
"You'll be able to defeat so many enemy nin with this now!" Obito exclaimed excitedly.
Ahsoka gave him a wide closed eyed smile, "That's the plan!"
"Is this what the Hokage and Hiroshi-san held you back for?" Rin piped up curiously. Ahsoka turned her attention to Rin before looking down at Kusanagi again.
"Yep."
Rin lit up, "Oh! How is Hiroshi-san?"
Ahsoka stopped for a second before smiling, "He is fine...But he had to leave early today. He is being shipped off to the front lines."
Everyone gasped slightly, "The front lines?"
"W-When is he coming back?" Rin's brows furrowed.
Ahsoka shrugged, "I don't know, but hopefully soon." She broke into a wide optimistic smile before she noticed Kakashi standing awkwardly in the back.
"Hey, hey!" She quickly sprinted to where he was, taking Kakashi by surprise, "What did you think of it?" Ahsoka held up Kusanagi for Kakashi to see as the silver haired boy tensed up.
"Huh? M-Me?" Kakashi stuttered as he dug his hands deeper into his pockets.
Ahsoka bounced slightly as she straightened up, "Yes you." She gave an eyeroll and smug turn of her lips.
"It is- Well...you know-" Kakashi sweat dropped nervously as he felt all eyes on him. Especially the amber ones which now held a bit of concern.
"Yeah?"
Kakashi glanced off to the side, "Honestly, I thought-" He turned his eyes back to Ahsoka and gasped ever so slightly as he saw her face fall slightly...just slightly.
Kakashi gained his composure as he looked straight ahead at the Aoyama, an indifferent look in his eyes, "You are strong and you are talented, I'll admit. You'll make a worthy opponent in the battle field one day," His eyes lost their indifferent look for a second, "So yeah, I think you'll wield this sword well."
The rest of the group stared at the two with mouths open and wide eyes as they all thought unanimously, 'Did Kakashi really just compliment someone?!'
Ahsoka continued staring at Kakashi, showing no emotion as she did so, before turning her head down with a closed eyed smirk and a simple hum.
She suddenly bounced on her feet and turned around before giving Kakashi a wink, "Not too shabby a critique from the prodigy!" Kakashi's eyes widened as he once again found himself taking a step forward to follow her. The idea of maybe hanging out with her seemed appealing to him...training maybe.
That is until he noticed her running up to Obito, "Hey can we go to the training grounds and try it out!" Obito held his fists in excitement with pleading eyes.
"Sure!" She blushed as she accepted Obito's request and set off to the training grounds with him. Kakashi was left standing there, staring as they waved good-bye to their friends, "Bye guys! See ya later!"
"Don't let the baka cut himself!"
"OI!"
Their chatter became background noise as Kakashi's black eyes dropped slightly, 'Don't get ahead of yourself. She only wanted your opinion.'
Rin stopped waving good-bye to Ahsoka and Obito as she turned around with a slight blush to Kakashi. Her eyes suddenly growing wide as she saw Kakashi staring at the backs of their two laughing teammates as they walked away. The dejected look quite clear in his eyes.
The silvered haired boy turned on his heel as he stuffed his hands in his pockets again, a shadow falling over his eyes. Guy who had looked slightly depressed as Ahsoka left turned to see his rival already walking away.
"Hm?" Guy raised an eyebrow before setting off after him.
Rin took a couple of unsure steps towards her crush, holding her fists close to her chest before stopping, "Kakashi..."
The young prodigy walked through the streets after leaving the bench far behind him. His eyes cast downwards to the gravel. The sudden of sound shinobi sandals hitting the ground followed close behind the boy.
"KAKASHI!"
Kakashi's head snapped up as he turned around to see the fast approaching greenly clad boy.
"Guy?" Guy's sandals came to a screeching halt as he stopped a mere two meters in front of Kakashi. The taijutsu focused boy huffed as he regained his breath, his eyes never leaving the silver haired Hatake.
"Kakashi..."
-End of Flashback-
Kakashi looked up at the cloudy sky as he spoke, maybe snow would start falling soon, "We should probably start heading South again. Minato sensei said he would meet us at the Land of Fire border." He couldn't wait to get home and under a warm blanket.
"Hai!" The four leapt into the tree branches and took off South. The cold wind bit their cheeks as it howled past their ears. Rin was at the back of the formation with Obito leading, Ahsoka following, and Kakashi just behind. Her big brown eyes looked over her team before they landed on a certain silver haired boy.
Her heart fluttered a little as her lips turned into a small smile with sparkling eyes, 'Kakashi...'
The boy sped up a little as he began to speak to Ahsoka who turned her head towards him. Ahsoka gave Kakashi a pleased nod as she answered and Kakashi's usual stoic expression faltered for just a second.
Rin's eyes grew wide as the spark vanished, her eyes focused solely on the two ahead of her as a conversation from long ago resurfaced in her mind.
"Well..I've heard that you, Ahsoka, were out with Kakashi a couple of days ago at the dango shop...alone." Kurenai's voice taunted Ahsoka.
The words rang in Rin's head as she continued to stare ahead.
"Pfft- Please, it wasn't anything like that. I was supposed to go with Obito since it was the day that they were selling half priced extra dango if you brought someone with you. The baka was late and I just so happened to bump into Kakashi...and I really wanted dango."
Ahsoka had assured Rin that that wasn't the case all those years ago, but as Rin watched the two...saw Kakashi give a look she had never seen before...she was starting to question that.
'I don't like this, I don't like this, I don't like this,' Rin's world suddenly seemed to turned dark as she continued leaping from branch to branch aimlessly. Her head dipped down as she looked down at the floor, 'Sure, I know I have no reason to feel this way. But I still don't like it! I just don't like it.'
Meters behind, following the Konoha team, was a fast approaching threat. They're chakra concealed as it leaped from branch to branch.
Her fists clenched slightly in frustration at the memory of Kakashi watching Obito and Ahsoka walk away, 'Us being on the same team was supposed to be my chance to get closer to him. But...I'm not the one he sees. I'm not the one he sees as an equal. I'm not the one he considers worthy of his time.'
White cloak billowed just a few meters in front now of it now.
'I don't like it! Look at me! Please look at me! Don't look at someone else!...please."
A sudden rush of wind behind Rin caused her to gasp as her head snapped back in surprise. The world seemed to slow as Rin turned her body around mid air. Her short brown hair moved in front of her face as her big brown eyes widened. She let out a terrified scream.
Obito, Kakashi, and Ahsoka snapped their heads to Rin's direction as a badly burnt Kumogakure nin brought his kunai down on Rin with fierce wild eyes. Three pairs of eyes widened in cold deadly fear at the scene.
"RIIIIIN!!"
A/N: Cliffhanger......Yes all of next chapter and the one after that are connected to this one. (even the beginning teaser scene).
This chapter took me freaking weeks to write ugh! I got so stuck. These chapters are the reason I had to slow my update schedule. I just didn't have an exact plan for the scenes, I just knew where I wanted to go with it for the next two chapters.
This chapter is only the catalyst of a couple of things that are going to happen so it isn't even the most important one... ;)
***Next update will be August 25th