Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Gentle Lesson: The Restoration of the Hatake ❯ The Blackness of Today ( Chapter 2 )

The Blackness of Today

 

 

Kakashi knew with a certainty that he was darkness. He was the black surrounding his prey.

 

 

Four of them - Mist-nins - the last band of what had been feared as the great Otogakure. The last of Orochimaru's turncoats.

 

 

This mission - he knew it - was no doubt (in the Hokage's mind) the symbolic end of Orochimaru's reign of terror. To be sure, these were probably - at least, Kakashi thought - not the last Oto-nins out there. But he blamed his premonitions on his pessimism.

 

 

And this `symbolic end' - this final struggle of Orchimaru's ninjas - was a year after the actual treaty between Fire and Rice Field. This battle to end all battles would never be recognized or celebrated.

 

 

Consulting his gut, Kakashi knew that there was a traitorous part of him that felt relieved.

 

 

So he stood there - aware of nothing but the sweat scent of the three shinobi and their fellow kunoichi - and their fast-paced (nervous?) heartbeats.

 

 

They were fresh for the fight.

 

 

And I'm out of chakra - almost. Most certainly not enough to support the Mangekyou. Which means…..

 

 

A part of him was thankful - a part of him hated his final option.

 

 

His mind felt blank but there was ambivalence in the air that tore at him. He shoved it away.

 

 

There is no place for doubts on the field.

 

 

There is only him and the silence.

 

 

That's the way I like it.

 

 

But there was Lightning's Howl - the one part of him that listened to no cold-blooded reason.

 

 

Although he was proud of his accomplishment and felt certain satisfaction in his strength, the giant wolfhound represented that part of him that still - BREATHED.

 

 

That still felt. That still lived.

 

 

The traitor within him that dared him to feel that burden of guilt. It was memory - bittersweet and sad, knowing loss.

 

 

It irritated him.

 

 

But there was no option.

 

 

Completing the long familiar seals, Kakashi found the inner well of white chakra - the symbol of the Hatake clan.

 

 

The kunoichi died first.

 

 

Her bright red hair was a beacon in the foliage. She must have been young - her chakra had been poorly hidden.

 

 

Number One Ninja Know-How: how to conceal yourself properly.

 

 

The flare of his white chakra was beacon in and of itself - just like his hair - but his speed was as fast as the bolt of electricity he was name after. The Shunshin no Jutsu found her and brought him to her - his knife slit her throat open - the warm blood ran down his fingers and her voice was stilled.

 

 

Various shuriken and kunai flew at him from the shadow of the trees - not a danger to him - they merely marked his enemy's presence while bouncing off his chakra and the furry legs of Lightning's Howl.

 

 

The animal flicked the weapons away as if they were merely flies - and growling out a howl, unleashed a rain of chakra like needles upon the remaining shinobi.

Kakashi, looking now from the top of his wolfhound's head smirked 0 the three shinobi scattered everywhere - panicking in the face of their enemy's sudden summoning.

The silver-haired shinobi targeted the tallest one.

Formed the necessary seals.

RAIKIRI!!!!

Threw himself off the lowering head of giant partner, sliced a couple of trees in half.

The startled shinobi below, looking up saw dark grey sky, falling rain, trees - breaking trees - a white blur - the smell of light sweat - a red eye, a black eye and an out-thrust arm - then darkness.

 

 

Lightning's Howl funneled a blast of chakra towards one of the shinobi, while unceremoniously breaking the leg of the enemy's comrade.

Kakashi finished the fallen shinobi off easily - quickly slitting his throat, walking away without a twitch as blood ran down his arm.

Down, down his hand.

Dark and heavy - not cleansing like the pearlescent rain.

 

 

Lightning's Howl trapped the last shinobi and thus, the whole war - the countless battles, many maneuverings, strategies, spying missions - the loss, the scars, the pain and the tears - all, all - it all ended with the chidori.

No one would be the same - he was sure of it. Two wars had torn his life apart - had taken his friends away - had torn his family apart.

 

 

That night, looking up at the grey moon, from his vantage point in the tree boughs, Kakashi wondered what they lost this time around.

 

 

What had he lost?

 

 

He was so aware.

He had lost his heart.

 

 

But then…

 

 

Had he a heart to lose anyhow?

 

 

It was always darkness.

It was something deeply lodged in his heart - a gift he gave to others but something he could never fully embrace for himself.

It was a matter of honor.

 

 

I will not falter like father.