Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Little Spark: Intro to Fire Hound ❯ 'Til the Bittersweet End ( Chapter 8 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: rollaroach 
Orphan Kaliana sees a ray of hope in her dark life: the loss of her parents offers her a chance to be a ninja.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Comedy / Martial Arts / Mystery / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 06.14.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 285 | Status: Completed
Orphan Kaliana sees a ray of hope in her dark life: the loss of her parents offers her a chance to be a ninja.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Comedy / Martial Arts / Mystery / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 06.14.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 285 | Status: Completed
Spark: Intro to Fire Hound
Act II: Tragic Destinies
Chapter 4: Til’ the Bittersweet End
2 months later…
Kaliana sat in her room twirling a kunai knife on her finger. She’d never let her mother lay eyes on it since her Uncle Kakashi gave it to her. Her throwing skills were improving, but her aim still needed work.
“Kaliana! Come down here and help me.” Akita called, the usual sadness in her voice.
Kaliana hide the knife in her pocket and ran to her broken-hearted mother. Kamachi had been killed two months ago and his widowed wife still heavily grieved. Kaliana, too, missed her father and it pained her to see her mother in such sorrow.
“Yes, mommy?” Kaliana asked, standing up straight and ready for her mother’s orders.
“Kaliana, mix this for me. I’m going out to gather eggs.” She handed her daughter a large bowl and a wooden spoon.
“Okay.” Kaliana agreed, her own melancholy tone matching Akita’s.
She twirled the spoon several times before placing it in the bowl. Akita noticed this action & slammed the counter top with a firm, open hand.
“Don’t do that!” She screamed, causing Kaliana to jump. “I know what my brother has been teaching you! Do you think I’m stupid?”
“No…” Kaliana whimpered.
“Do you think I’m not aware of what you do in your room all day? DO YOU THINK THAT I BELIEVE THOSE HOLES IN YOUR WALLS ARE MADE BY TERMITES?”
“N…no…”
“What have I told you about ninjas?”
“They’re no good…” Kaliana repeated what her mother had been telling her everyday since Kamachi died.
“Am I talking to myself when I say that? Am I talking to the walls?”
“I’m sowwy!” Kaliana, whimpered, not wanting to upset her mother anymore then she already was.
Akita stopped her badgering and pulled Kaliana close to her face. “No more ninja training.” She said sternly. “I’m not kidding. Do you understand?”
“Yes mommy.” Kaliana said obediently.
“Promise?”
“I pwomise.”
Akita stood up straight, wiped the tears of frustration from her face and walked out the door with the egg basket in her hand.
As Kaliana watched her leave, she picked up the spoon she had placed behind her back…uncrossing her fingers.
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Akita walked over to each nest box and pulled the eggs out. The hens were cackling up a storm each time she put her hand in one of the boxes. She rolled her eyes.
“Oh, shut up, you dumb birds.” She moaned.
In one of the boxes, a viper slept, coiled around an egg. It didn’t much appreciate being poked and prodded by a hand that searched for the eggs. Puffing itself up, it struck at the hand, biting it swiftly. Akita screamed as she withdrew her hand, cradling it against her chest. She went to walk forward, but the old barn floor gave way to her weight, as her foot plummeted through the rotten boards. Her face was now level with the nest box. As she slowly looked inside, the viper struck again, burying its venomous fangs deep in her neck.
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Several minutes had gone by and Akita had not returned from collecting eggs. Kaliana looked out the window. She didn’t see her mother. She opened the door and called.
“Mommy! Are you done yet?”
No response came to little Kaliana’s waiting ears. She walked out the door towards the chicken coop.
“Mommy?” She called a second time. Again, no response.
Kaliana rounded the corner of the coop and stopped. Her eyes widened and she ceased breathing. Her mother lay across the floor, her leg jammed in the floorboards, broken eggs all around her.
“M-m-mommy?” She whispered, almost afraid to speak.
Akita didn’t answer. She wasn’t even breathing. Kaliana moved forward, but stopped when she heard a hiss. There, in one of the nest boxes, lay a viper curled around an egg. The snake puffed up its body and opened its mouth, revealing two, long, blood tipped fangs. It slithered from the nest box onto Akita’s body. Kaliana backed up slowly; realizing her mother was dead. Eyes full of tears, she turned and ran from the barn. She couldn’t live at that place any longer, as in her child’s mind, it held nothing but tragedy. She dashed up the driveway and down the road, never once looking back.
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M eanwhile, at Kamachi’s main barn in the Inuzuka Village…
Katavi hadn’t eaten since Kamachi was found dead in the forest. Tsume had brought the horse to Kamachi’s main barn in the Inuzuka village, where he had kept most of his other horses, and housed the distraught stallion in a large stall normally given to mares with foals. The stallion had reverted back to his wild ways, and refused all manners of nourishment. His once proud muscles were sunken in; his skin hung loosely off his weak body. His hooves were cracked and his mane and tail were matted. His eyes were always wide with panic. He’d kicked at his stall door and whinny all through the night. The stable hands tried to calm the horse by sedating him, putting a mare in estrus in his stall and even, as a last resort, gelding him; but nothing worked. Now, the broken hearted horse was beginning to take his toll on everyone at the barn.
Tsume was called in one day after the horse struck down a groom and pinned him in the stall. Euthanasia was in everyone’s opinion, but she refused to let that happen.
“Have you tried turning him out?” She asked the grooms, upset by Katavi’s neglected state.
“We can’t get near him to put a halter on! I’m telling you, this horse needs to be put down.” The groom argued. “He’s miserable, can’t you see that?”
Tsume ignored the grooms’ ramblings. She knew exactly what the horse wanted. She approached the stall and unlatched it.
“Hey…what’re you doing?” The groom asked worriedly. “Don’t open that! Are you crazy! He’ll kill you!”
As soon as Katavi heard the door unlatch, he burst through it, sending Tsume flying backwards into the groom. The horse dashed out of the barn and up the road. He galloped hard through his weak state all the way to the cemetery. He leapt over the gates and finally stopped at Kamachi’s grave. Katavi reared on his hind legs, his frail body easily lifted. He pawed at the grave and lay down, leaning against the tombstone.
By the time the grooms and Tsume arrived at the scene, Katavi was dead, finally allowing his hungry weakened state to overtake him. Tsume lowered her head, her eyes closed, as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
“It’s over now. Katavi is finally happy.”
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The next day
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Kakashi and Obito charged at each other with great speed. As Kakashi moved to the side to dodge a kunai knife, Obito slid to the side matching Kakashi’s movement. When Kakashi leapt into the air to kick, Obito again paralleled him. And no matter what Jutsu Kakashi decided to throw at him, Obito fired back with the same jutsu. Kakashi was beginning to become agitated at his teammates’ copycat moves. By the end of the training session, Kakashi always found himself to be a bloody mess; Obito bearly had a scratch on him.
Minato watched with precaution, as the boys would often break into a nasty brawl that needed to be attended to. Rin watched from her place on the grass, eagerly awaiting her turn to battle someone. She looked up at her sensei.
“They’re getting serious again.” She warned, noticing the tension between the battling boys.
“Don’t worry, Rin. I know when it’ll be time to step in and break it up…”
Obito peered at the weary Kakashi through his goggles. “What’s the matter, Kakashi? Getting tired?” He snickered.
“Yeah, I’m getting’ tired…of you copying every move I make!” Kakashi growled between breaths. “Why don’t you try something original for a change?”
“Jealousy doesn’t become you. Besides, you’d only understand if YOU had the Sharingan! But, that’ll never happen, will it?”
He suddenly lunged at Kakashi. The masked Jounin didn’t expect such a random attack, and therefore, was unable to dodge it. Obito’s closed fist made contact with Kakashi’s face. Kakashi was down and out.
“Alright Obito.” Minato called. “That’s enough. You’ve been victorious once again.” His voice sounded bored; he knew Obito always won, and probably always would win.
He turned to Rin and nudged her with his foot. She knew it what it meant. She pulled herself to her feet and ran to Kakashi’s side. She lifted his head into her lap.
“You okay?” She asked gently.
Kakashi kept his eyes averted. He was always embarrassed when he lost to Obito.
“I’m fine…” He mumbled as he turned his head in an attempt to hide his burning cheeks.
Minato turned when he noticed one of the Chunin form the Academy approaching. The man wore all black clothes and black sunglasses. He stopped near Minato and whispered something to him. The team watched as Yondaime’s expression turned sorrowful. They began to feel uneasy.
“I wonder what that’s about?” Rin thought out loud.
Obito stayed silent, his eyes narrowing. Kakashi couldn’t help but feel a sick sensation in the pit of his stomach. He slowly, wearily got to his feet. Yondaime turned to his students, a definite pain in his blue eyes.
“Class dismissed.” He said in a cracking voice. “Kakashi…come with me.”
Kakashi hesitated, but after a moment, he followed his Sensei away from the others, who were compelled to watch and listen to what tragedy had befallen their teammate.
Once he felt he were far enough away from the others, Minato lowered his head and whispered something to Kakashi. Rin and Obito watched as Kakashi fell to his knees, his face in his hands.
“Is he crying?” Obito asked, squinting his eyes.
They could hear Kakashi distinctly screaming, “NO! NO, please! Don’t say that! Anything but that…”
Rin cupped her hands over her mouth. “Oh, my gosh! Poor Kakashi! I wonder what’s wrong!”
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Minato tried very hard to console his student, who was shaking at his feet in tears. His sister was dead; her body full of viper toxins. The thought of never ever seeing her again tore his heart out, as he loved Akita more then anything.
“Kakashi…” Minato put his hand on his students’ back. “They want to talk to you…about Kaliana. They were thinking about putting her in a Group Home for a while…”
“What?!” Kakashi rushed to his feet and dashed away. “I can’t let them do that! I promised I wouldn’t!” He left behind a trail of dust as he vanished down the road.
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Rin and Obito approached their sensei slowly.
“Sensei…” Rin whispered softly. “W…what happened?”
Minato revealed the news to them as well. Rin couldn’t help but shed some tears for her teammate. Even Obito was forced to turn away his face, least one of his own tears escape. Minato looked towards where Kakashi had run off, and followed, leaving his other students behind to grieve for their friend.
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Kakashi bursts through the doors of the Child Welfare Center. He scanned the building, hoping to catch a glimpse of his niece. He noticed, in a room on the other side of the office, Kaliana’s feet swinging from a chair. He ran towards her. A man who worked their tried to stop him, but Kakashi roughly shoved him out of the way. He nearly tripped over the threshold as he threw himself into the room. Kaliana picked up her head, eyes wide.
“Unc-o Kakashi!” She leapt off the chair and into his arms.
“Kaliana…” He hugged her tightly, tears pouring from his face. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that…”
“It’s okay, Unc-o Kakashi”, She said sounding very mature for such a young child as she cupped his face in her hands. “Mommy’s with daddy & they’re happy now, cuz they’re together.” Kaliana whispered gently.
Kakashi tightened his grip around her, not wanting to let her go. But the voice of the caseworker broke them up.
“Are you the child’s legal guardian?” She asked in a snide tone.
“Check her birth certificate!” Kakashi snapped. “I’m her Godfather. I take responsibility for her should anything happen to her parents.”
The caseworker eyed Kakashi through her glasses. She was not impressed.
“Mr. Hatake, I’m obligated to inform you that raising a child, especially a man with a profession like yours, will be very difficult. How will you manage to take care of her while you’re on missions? Where will she be schooled? Do you have any experience on raising a child? All of these matters must be addressed before we can hand just her over to you. I know you mean well, young man, but we must think about what’s best for the child. Please try and understand.”
“You understand this, lady! I promised her mother I’d take care of her. I won’t let you put her in an orphanage. She needs me. As for my missions, I can assure you…I…I’ll figure something out.”
“Well, you can assure me all you want. I can’t let you take her without the proper conditions.”
“Excuse me.” A voice came from behind.
They turned to see Tsume Inuzuka, her arms crossed tightly.
“I’m the child’s aunt. I’m not a full-time ninja, and I can take in my niece when Kakashi is out on missions. I have a daughter and son of my own, so I am more then qualified to watch her when Kakashi is in disposed. Is there a problem with that?”
The caseworker peered down over her hooked nose and scoffed.
“Come into my office, both of you. You will need to sign some paperwork first.”
Tsume and the caseworker disappeared inside her office. Kakashi turned to Kaliana, his hands on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry. We’re going to work everything out, okay?”
“Okay.” She said softly as she watched her uncles disappear behind the office doors.
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After a few moments, Minato walked into the room where Kaliana waited. Though he’d never met her before, he could tell immediately that she was Kakashi’s niece. He walked over and took a seat near her, smiling gently.
“Hello.” He greeted.
“Hi.” She said shyly.
“Do you know who I am?” He asked gently.
Kaliana looked close at his face. “Of couse I do. You’re da new Hokage.”
“That’s right.” He said with a smile. “I was also good friends with your father.”
“Weally?”
“Yup. I’m your uncle’s Sensei too.”
“I knew dat alweady.”
Minato laughed a little. “How old are you, Kaliana?”
“I’m 4.” She held out her fingers, thumb pressed against her palm.
“Four years old…you’re a big girl now, huh?”
“Not weally…” Kaliana trailed. “Four’s not that big of a number.”
Minato laughed again, this time at the way she talked. It was undeniably adorable.
“You’re very smart. Maybe someday you’ll be a Hokage.”
“My mommy wouldn’t like dat…” She stopped to wipe a tear from her eye. “I miss her…but she’s wit daddy now…”
Minato couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pain in his heart.
“You’re a very brave little girl Kaliana.”
Kaliana smiled at the kind man. “You have a nice face.”
The 2 exchanged appreciative smiles. The office door opened and the caseworker, Tsume and Kakashi walked out. Kakashi seemed surprised to see his Sensei.
“So, what’s the word?” Minato asked.
Kakashi and Tsume looked at each other and nodded.
“Joint custody.” Kakashi answered. “At least until I turn 18…at which time, she’ll be 6 years-old and ready to be administered into the Ninja Academy.” He turned to Kaliana. “That means that when I’m on a mission, you’ll live with your Aunt Tsume and cousins Kiba and Hana; but when I’m not on missions, you’ll stay with me. Is that okay?”
“An den I gets to be a ninja?” She asked excitedly.
Kakashi smiled and scooped his niece up in his arms. “Yes, you get to be a ninja!” A tiny pang of guilt swept over him, but he quickly ignored it. Akita had to know it was inevitable. He kissed Kaliana’s cheek. “You’re going with your Aunt Tsume now, okay? I have a mission tomorrow.”
“Where’re you goin'?” Kaliana asked curiously.
Kakashi looked up at his Sensei, then back down at Kaliana.
“The Rock Country.”
Kaliana was handed over to Tsume. She smiled warmly at her. She always smelled like milk bones.
“Hi, Auntie Tsume.” She said with forced sincerity.
“Don’t worry, Kali. He’ll be back before you know it.” Tsume answered, knowing how much Kaliana looked up to the young, white-haired Jounin.
As they turned to leave, Kaliana cupped her hands over her mouth and called back to him.
“Unc-o Kakashi!”
Kakashi and Minato turned to the sound of her tiny voice.
“Be carefo!” She waved her arms. “Don’t lose an eye or somefing!”
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That same evening, on the train headed towards the Rock Country, Kakashi pulled a recent photo of his niece out of his pocket. He stared at it for a long time. Rin thought her teammates’ affection for his niece was endearing, but Obito felt otherwise.
“Why did you bring that?” Obito inquired coldly about the photo. “It will only distract you.”
“You may see it as a distraction…I see it as motivation. I will come back from this mission alive, for her.” Kakashi answered, not tearing his eyes from the photo.
Obito sneered and got up, standing tall over Kakashi. He stared into his teammates’ face through his goggles, his eyes narrow.
“Mark my words, Kakashi. You’ve bitten off more then you can chew with this. That niece of yours will now and forever be a distraction on you and every mission you ever go on. What about the people you pawn her off on, huh? Ever think of them? I’m sure you sister-in-law has more important things to worry about with her own kids then worry about YOUR niece. She’ll always be a distraction to everyone around you! You’ve even got Minato Sensei worried about her! How are we supposed to focus on this mission when everyone is worrying about that…GIRL?” He finished with a sneer.
Kakashi snapped his head up, offended and fuming with hatred. “Take…that…back…” He growled as he slowly got to his feet, his fists clenched.
“Hey, come on, guys!” Rin interrupted. “If anything is a distraction on this mission, it’s because of you two fighting each other all the time; NOT Kaliana! Give it a rest already, would ya?”
The boys ignored her completely.
“TAKE IT BACK, OBITO!” Kakashi shoved his teammate firmly in the shoulder with the palm of his hand, causing Obito to stumble backwards and fall hard against the wall of the speeding train.
Obito pulled himself up immediately and charged back, but was stopped short when Minato appeared before him.
“What’s going on in here?” Yondaime asked in a stern tone.
Obito leaned over slightly to get a good view of Kakashi’s face from the opposite side of their Sensei.
“I’ll never take it back.” He hissed. “Because it’s true…and you know it.”
“Obito!” Yondaime snapped. “I think you’d better go out and get some air.” He motioned with his head towards the door, which lead to a small, outdoor space secured by iron bars.
Yondaime then turned to Kakashi.
“Its over. Sit down now.”
Kakashi reluctantly returned to his seat, Yondaime pulling up a seat next to him. Even Rin scooted closer in hopes that her company may comfort him. It did tremendously.
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Obito turned with a grunt and left the car of the train. He leaned against the railing, looking up at the night sky. He sighed and closed his eyes, trying to suppress the ill feeling that ached in the pit of his stomach.
I have a really, really bad feeling about this mission…but no matter what, I’ll never take back the truth. I’d rather give him my left eye then take back what I said about that cursed niece of his…
Act II: Tragic Destinies
Chapter 4: Til’ the Bittersweet End
2 months later…
Kaliana sat in her room twirling a kunai knife on her finger. She’d never let her mother lay eyes on it since her Uncle Kakashi gave it to her. Her throwing skills were improving, but her aim still needed work.
“Kaliana! Come down here and help me.” Akita called, the usual sadness in her voice.
Kaliana hide the knife in her pocket and ran to her broken-hearted mother. Kamachi had been killed two months ago and his widowed wife still heavily grieved. Kaliana, too, missed her father and it pained her to see her mother in such sorrow.
“Yes, mommy?” Kaliana asked, standing up straight and ready for her mother’s orders.
“Kaliana, mix this for me. I’m going out to gather eggs.” She handed her daughter a large bowl and a wooden spoon.
“Okay.” Kaliana agreed, her own melancholy tone matching Akita’s.
She twirled the spoon several times before placing it in the bowl. Akita noticed this action & slammed the counter top with a firm, open hand.
“Don’t do that!” She screamed, causing Kaliana to jump. “I know what my brother has been teaching you! Do you think I’m stupid?”
“No…” Kaliana whimpered.
“Do you think I’m not aware of what you do in your room all day? DO YOU THINK THAT I BELIEVE THOSE HOLES IN YOUR WALLS ARE MADE BY TERMITES?”
“N…no…”
“What have I told you about ninjas?”
“They’re no good…” Kaliana repeated what her mother had been telling her everyday since Kamachi died.
“Am I talking to myself when I say that? Am I talking to the walls?”
“I’m sowwy!” Kaliana, whimpered, not wanting to upset her mother anymore then she already was.
Akita stopped her badgering and pulled Kaliana close to her face. “No more ninja training.” She said sternly. “I’m not kidding. Do you understand?”
“Yes mommy.” Kaliana said obediently.
“Promise?”
“I pwomise.”
Akita stood up straight, wiped the tears of frustration from her face and walked out the door with the egg basket in her hand.
As Kaliana watched her leave, she picked up the spoon she had placed behind her back…uncrossing her fingers.
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Akita walked over to each nest box and pulled the eggs out. The hens were cackling up a storm each time she put her hand in one of the boxes. She rolled her eyes.
“Oh, shut up, you dumb birds.” She moaned.
In one of the boxes, a viper slept, coiled around an egg. It didn’t much appreciate being poked and prodded by a hand that searched for the eggs. Puffing itself up, it struck at the hand, biting it swiftly. Akita screamed as she withdrew her hand, cradling it against her chest. She went to walk forward, but the old barn floor gave way to her weight, as her foot plummeted through the rotten boards. Her face was now level with the nest box. As she slowly looked inside, the viper struck again, burying its venomous fangs deep in her neck.
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Several minutes had gone by and Akita had not returned from collecting eggs. Kaliana looked out the window. She didn’t see her mother. She opened the door and called.
“Mommy! Are you done yet?”
No response came to little Kaliana’s waiting ears. She walked out the door towards the chicken coop.
“Mommy?” She called a second time. Again, no response.
Kaliana rounded the corner of the coop and stopped. Her eyes widened and she ceased breathing. Her mother lay across the floor, her leg jammed in the floorboards, broken eggs all around her.
“M-m-mommy?” She whispered, almost afraid to speak.
Akita didn’t answer. She wasn’t even breathing. Kaliana moved forward, but stopped when she heard a hiss. There, in one of the nest boxes, lay a viper curled around an egg. The snake puffed up its body and opened its mouth, revealing two, long, blood tipped fangs. It slithered from the nest box onto Akita’s body. Kaliana backed up slowly; realizing her mother was dead. Eyes full of tears, she turned and ran from the barn. She couldn’t live at that place any longer, as in her child’s mind, it held nothing but tragedy. She dashed up the driveway and down the road, never once looking back.
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M eanwhile, at Kamachi’s main barn in the Inuzuka Village…
Katavi hadn’t eaten since Kamachi was found dead in the forest. Tsume had brought the horse to Kamachi’s main barn in the Inuzuka village, where he had kept most of his other horses, and housed the distraught stallion in a large stall normally given to mares with foals. The stallion had reverted back to his wild ways, and refused all manners of nourishment. His once proud muscles were sunken in; his skin hung loosely off his weak body. His hooves were cracked and his mane and tail were matted. His eyes were always wide with panic. He’d kicked at his stall door and whinny all through the night. The stable hands tried to calm the horse by sedating him, putting a mare in estrus in his stall and even, as a last resort, gelding him; but nothing worked. Now, the broken hearted horse was beginning to take his toll on everyone at the barn.
Tsume was called in one day after the horse struck down a groom and pinned him in the stall. Euthanasia was in everyone’s opinion, but she refused to let that happen.
“Have you tried turning him out?” She asked the grooms, upset by Katavi’s neglected state.
“We can’t get near him to put a halter on! I’m telling you, this horse needs to be put down.” The groom argued. “He’s miserable, can’t you see that?”
Tsume ignored the grooms’ ramblings. She knew exactly what the horse wanted. She approached the stall and unlatched it.
“Hey…what’re you doing?” The groom asked worriedly. “Don’t open that! Are you crazy! He’ll kill you!”
As soon as Katavi heard the door unlatch, he burst through it, sending Tsume flying backwards into the groom. The horse dashed out of the barn and up the road. He galloped hard through his weak state all the way to the cemetery. He leapt over the gates and finally stopped at Kamachi’s grave. Katavi reared on his hind legs, his frail body easily lifted. He pawed at the grave and lay down, leaning against the tombstone.
By the time the grooms and Tsume arrived at the scene, Katavi was dead, finally allowing his hungry weakened state to overtake him. Tsume lowered her head, her eyes closed, as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
“It’s over now. Katavi is finally happy.”
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The next day
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Kakashi and Obito charged at each other with great speed. As Kakashi moved to the side to dodge a kunai knife, Obito slid to the side matching Kakashi’s movement. When Kakashi leapt into the air to kick, Obito again paralleled him. And no matter what Jutsu Kakashi decided to throw at him, Obito fired back with the same jutsu. Kakashi was beginning to become agitated at his teammates’ copycat moves. By the end of the training session, Kakashi always found himself to be a bloody mess; Obito bearly had a scratch on him.
Minato watched with precaution, as the boys would often break into a nasty brawl that needed to be attended to. Rin watched from her place on the grass, eagerly awaiting her turn to battle someone. She looked up at her sensei.
“They’re getting serious again.” She warned, noticing the tension between the battling boys.
“Don’t worry, Rin. I know when it’ll be time to step in and break it up…”
Obito peered at the weary Kakashi through his goggles. “What’s the matter, Kakashi? Getting tired?” He snickered.
“Yeah, I’m getting’ tired…of you copying every move I make!” Kakashi growled between breaths. “Why don’t you try something original for a change?”
“Jealousy doesn’t become you. Besides, you’d only understand if YOU had the Sharingan! But, that’ll never happen, will it?”
He suddenly lunged at Kakashi. The masked Jounin didn’t expect such a random attack, and therefore, was unable to dodge it. Obito’s closed fist made contact with Kakashi’s face. Kakashi was down and out.
“Alright Obito.” Minato called. “That’s enough. You’ve been victorious once again.” His voice sounded bored; he knew Obito always won, and probably always would win.
He turned to Rin and nudged her with his foot. She knew it what it meant. She pulled herself to her feet and ran to Kakashi’s side. She lifted his head into her lap.
“You okay?” She asked gently.
Kakashi kept his eyes averted. He was always embarrassed when he lost to Obito.
“I’m fine…” He mumbled as he turned his head in an attempt to hide his burning cheeks.
Minato turned when he noticed one of the Chunin form the Academy approaching. The man wore all black clothes and black sunglasses. He stopped near Minato and whispered something to him. The team watched as Yondaime’s expression turned sorrowful. They began to feel uneasy.
“I wonder what that’s about?” Rin thought out loud.
Obito stayed silent, his eyes narrowing. Kakashi couldn’t help but feel a sick sensation in the pit of his stomach. He slowly, wearily got to his feet. Yondaime turned to his students, a definite pain in his blue eyes.
“Class dismissed.” He said in a cracking voice. “Kakashi…come with me.”
Kakashi hesitated, but after a moment, he followed his Sensei away from the others, who were compelled to watch and listen to what tragedy had befallen their teammate.
Once he felt he were far enough away from the others, Minato lowered his head and whispered something to Kakashi. Rin and Obito watched as Kakashi fell to his knees, his face in his hands.
“Is he crying?” Obito asked, squinting his eyes.
They could hear Kakashi distinctly screaming, “NO! NO, please! Don’t say that! Anything but that…”
Rin cupped her hands over her mouth. “Oh, my gosh! Poor Kakashi! I wonder what’s wrong!”
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Minato tried very hard to console his student, who was shaking at his feet in tears. His sister was dead; her body full of viper toxins. The thought of never ever seeing her again tore his heart out, as he loved Akita more then anything.
“Kakashi…” Minato put his hand on his students’ back. “They want to talk to you…about Kaliana. They were thinking about putting her in a Group Home for a while…”
“What?!” Kakashi rushed to his feet and dashed away. “I can’t let them do that! I promised I wouldn’t!” He left behind a trail of dust as he vanished down the road.
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Rin and Obito approached their sensei slowly.
“Sensei…” Rin whispered softly. “W…what happened?”
Minato revealed the news to them as well. Rin couldn’t help but shed some tears for her teammate. Even Obito was forced to turn away his face, least one of his own tears escape. Minato looked towards where Kakashi had run off, and followed, leaving his other students behind to grieve for their friend.
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Kakashi bursts through the doors of the Child Welfare Center. He scanned the building, hoping to catch a glimpse of his niece. He noticed, in a room on the other side of the office, Kaliana’s feet swinging from a chair. He ran towards her. A man who worked their tried to stop him, but Kakashi roughly shoved him out of the way. He nearly tripped over the threshold as he threw himself into the room. Kaliana picked up her head, eyes wide.
“Unc-o Kakashi!” She leapt off the chair and into his arms.
“Kaliana…” He hugged her tightly, tears pouring from his face. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that…”
“It’s okay, Unc-o Kakashi”, She said sounding very mature for such a young child as she cupped his face in her hands. “Mommy’s with daddy & they’re happy now, cuz they’re together.” Kaliana whispered gently.
Kakashi tightened his grip around her, not wanting to let her go. But the voice of the caseworker broke them up.
“Are you the child’s legal guardian?” She asked in a snide tone.
“Check her birth certificate!” Kakashi snapped. “I’m her Godfather. I take responsibility for her should anything happen to her parents.”
The caseworker eyed Kakashi through her glasses. She was not impressed.
“Mr. Hatake, I’m obligated to inform you that raising a child, especially a man with a profession like yours, will be very difficult. How will you manage to take care of her while you’re on missions? Where will she be schooled? Do you have any experience on raising a child? All of these matters must be addressed before we can hand just her over to you. I know you mean well, young man, but we must think about what’s best for the child. Please try and understand.”
“You understand this, lady! I promised her mother I’d take care of her. I won’t let you put her in an orphanage. She needs me. As for my missions, I can assure you…I…I’ll figure something out.”
“Well, you can assure me all you want. I can’t let you take her without the proper conditions.”
“Excuse me.” A voice came from behind.
They turned to see Tsume Inuzuka, her arms crossed tightly.
“I’m the child’s aunt. I’m not a full-time ninja, and I can take in my niece when Kakashi is out on missions. I have a daughter and son of my own, so I am more then qualified to watch her when Kakashi is in disposed. Is there a problem with that?”
The caseworker peered down over her hooked nose and scoffed.
“Come into my office, both of you. You will need to sign some paperwork first.”
Tsume and the caseworker disappeared inside her office. Kakashi turned to Kaliana, his hands on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry. We’re going to work everything out, okay?”
“Okay.” She said softly as she watched her uncles disappear behind the office doors.
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After a few moments, Minato walked into the room where Kaliana waited. Though he’d never met her before, he could tell immediately that she was Kakashi’s niece. He walked over and took a seat near her, smiling gently.
“Hello.” He greeted.
“Hi.” She said shyly.
“Do you know who I am?” He asked gently.
Kaliana looked close at his face. “Of couse I do. You’re da new Hokage.”
“That’s right.” He said with a smile. “I was also good friends with your father.”
“Weally?”
“Yup. I’m your uncle’s Sensei too.”
“I knew dat alweady.”
Minato laughed a little. “How old are you, Kaliana?”
“I’m 4.” She held out her fingers, thumb pressed against her palm.
“Four years old…you’re a big girl now, huh?”
“Not weally…” Kaliana trailed. “Four’s not that big of a number.”
Minato laughed again, this time at the way she talked. It was undeniably adorable.
“You’re very smart. Maybe someday you’ll be a Hokage.”
“My mommy wouldn’t like dat…” She stopped to wipe a tear from her eye. “I miss her…but she’s wit daddy now…”
Minato couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pain in his heart.
“You’re a very brave little girl Kaliana.”
Kaliana smiled at the kind man. “You have a nice face.”
The 2 exchanged appreciative smiles. The office door opened and the caseworker, Tsume and Kakashi walked out. Kakashi seemed surprised to see his Sensei.
“So, what’s the word?” Minato asked.
Kakashi and Tsume looked at each other and nodded.
“Joint custody.” Kakashi answered. “At least until I turn 18…at which time, she’ll be 6 years-old and ready to be administered into the Ninja Academy.” He turned to Kaliana. “That means that when I’m on a mission, you’ll live with your Aunt Tsume and cousins Kiba and Hana; but when I’m not on missions, you’ll stay with me. Is that okay?”
“An den I gets to be a ninja?” She asked excitedly.
Kakashi smiled and scooped his niece up in his arms. “Yes, you get to be a ninja!” A tiny pang of guilt swept over him, but he quickly ignored it. Akita had to know it was inevitable. He kissed Kaliana’s cheek. “You’re going with your Aunt Tsume now, okay? I have a mission tomorrow.”
“Where’re you goin'?” Kaliana asked curiously.
Kakashi looked up at his Sensei, then back down at Kaliana.
“The Rock Country.”
Kaliana was handed over to Tsume. She smiled warmly at her. She always smelled like milk bones.
“Hi, Auntie Tsume.” She said with forced sincerity.
“Don’t worry, Kali. He’ll be back before you know it.” Tsume answered, knowing how much Kaliana looked up to the young, white-haired Jounin.
As they turned to leave, Kaliana cupped her hands over her mouth and called back to him.
“Unc-o Kakashi!”
Kakashi and Minato turned to the sound of her tiny voice.
“Be carefo!” She waved her arms. “Don’t lose an eye or somefing!”
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That same evening, on the train headed towards the Rock Country, Kakashi pulled a recent photo of his niece out of his pocket. He stared at it for a long time. Rin thought her teammates’ affection for his niece was endearing, but Obito felt otherwise.
“Why did you bring that?” Obito inquired coldly about the photo. “It will only distract you.”
“You may see it as a distraction…I see it as motivation. I will come back from this mission alive, for her.” Kakashi answered, not tearing his eyes from the photo.
Obito sneered and got up, standing tall over Kakashi. He stared into his teammates’ face through his goggles, his eyes narrow.
“Mark my words, Kakashi. You’ve bitten off more then you can chew with this. That niece of yours will now and forever be a distraction on you and every mission you ever go on. What about the people you pawn her off on, huh? Ever think of them? I’m sure you sister-in-law has more important things to worry about with her own kids then worry about YOUR niece. She’ll always be a distraction to everyone around you! You’ve even got Minato Sensei worried about her! How are we supposed to focus on this mission when everyone is worrying about that…GIRL?” He finished with a sneer.
Kakashi snapped his head up, offended and fuming with hatred. “Take…that…back…” He growled as he slowly got to his feet, his fists clenched.
“Hey, come on, guys!” Rin interrupted. “If anything is a distraction on this mission, it’s because of you two fighting each other all the time; NOT Kaliana! Give it a rest already, would ya?”
The boys ignored her completely.
“TAKE IT BACK, OBITO!” Kakashi shoved his teammate firmly in the shoulder with the palm of his hand, causing Obito to stumble backwards and fall hard against the wall of the speeding train.
Obito pulled himself up immediately and charged back, but was stopped short when Minato appeared before him.
“What’s going on in here?” Yondaime asked in a stern tone.
Obito leaned over slightly to get a good view of Kakashi’s face from the opposite side of their Sensei.
“I’ll never take it back.” He hissed. “Because it’s true…and you know it.”
“Obito!” Yondaime snapped. “I think you’d better go out and get some air.” He motioned with his head towards the door, which lead to a small, outdoor space secured by iron bars.
Yondaime then turned to Kakashi.
“Its over. Sit down now.”
Kakashi reluctantly returned to his seat, Yondaime pulling up a seat next to him. Even Rin scooted closer in hopes that her company may comfort him. It did tremendously.
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Obito turned with a grunt and left the car of the train. He leaned against the railing, looking up at the night sky. He sighed and closed his eyes, trying to suppress the ill feeling that ached in the pit of his stomach.
I have a really, really bad feeling about this mission…but no matter what, I’ll never take back the truth. I’d rather give him my left eye then take back what I said about that cursed niece of his…