The museum shook with the force of Kakashi's explosions, dust raining from the ceiling as alarms tarted going off.
Kakashi had his Sharingan open and Cosmo's glass prison was his first target. He formed a hand sign, chakra crackling around his right hand in the form of lightning.
"Lightning Blade!"
In a blur of speed, he struck Cosmo's cage. The reinforced glass shattered like ice, shards flying everywhere.
The moment it broke, alarms blared louder, red lights flashing across the room. Energy blasters popped from the walls, firing beams of searing light at Kakashi. He phased through them with Kamui, his body flickering in and out of the dimension like a ghost.
Howard the Duck was losing it as he flapped in his cage. "Buddy, any second now, Mr. Shiny Cape's goons are gonna show up and turn me into dinner! So unless that mask comes with a turbo mode, DO SOMETHING!"
Kakashi ignored him for now. Guards would be here soon, and he still had Howard's cage to deal with. The room was a death trap as runes glowed, magical barriers pulsed, and new defenses activated.
Bullets made of a strange, shimmering metal Kakashi had never seen shot from hidden panels. Energy guns fired in rapid bursts. He didn't bother destroying them.
A stage 1 Susanoo erupted around him, a skeletal blue giant with glowing eyes. It shielded Kakashi and Cosmo, who cowered behind him, her ears flat with fear. The Susanoo's massive hand smashed Howard's cage, glass exploding outward.
Howard shrieked, flapping his wings like a maniac. "I'm sorry for everything, masked man! You're the most lovely, handsome, gorgeous savior I've ever seen! Please don't leave me to be duck soup! I'll write poems about you! I'll name my future ducklings after you! Just get me outta here!"
Kakashi's eye twitched. 'This duck is going to be the death of me.' The Susanoo scooped Howard up, the duck still babbling. "Oh, big blue ghost man, you're my hero! I take back every bad thing I said about your mask! It's stylish! It's mysterious! It's—"
"Quiet," Kakashi muttered, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
He formed another hand sign. "Katsu."
This time, explosions detonated inside the museum. Walls shook, display cases toppled, and more alarms wailed. This was his final gift to the collector. He wanted the collector to feel pain of losing a lot more than taking a duck and a dog away from him.
A magical net tried to ensnare them, but the Susanoo's chakra burned it away. A curse rune exploded, sending a wave of dark energy that the Susanoo absorbed like it was nothing.
Howard, still clutched in the Susanoo's hand, was a mess. "I'm too young to die! I haven't even found a lady duck who appreciates my charm! Save me, you beautiful masked angel! I'll be your wingman! I'll—"
Kakashi cut him off. "You're louder than the explosions."
With a swirl of Kamui, Kakashi vanished, taking Cosmo and Howard with him. He reappeared in the Kamui dimension.
First, he dropped off the real Carina, still unconscious, back in a quiet corner of the museum. She'd wake up confused but unharmed.
Then, with another swirl, he teleported to the Asgardian ship, materializing with Cosmo and Howard in tow.
The crew jumped, weapons raised, but relaxed when they saw Kakashi. Sif's eyes widened at the sight of the dog and the duck. Natasha raised an eyebrow.
Cosmo looked around, her tail wagging slowly. Her psychic voice brushed Kakashi's mind, soft and hesitant. 'Thank you.'
There was relief in her tone, but also fear. She didn't know if this was freedom or just another cage.
Howard groaned, sprawled on the floor. "Ughhhh… I could've done without that disorienting travel method. I think my organs swapped places. Pretty sure my liver's in my beak."
Cosmo shook herself off, her astronaut suit creaking. The air on the ship was clean. She took a deep breath, 'This… this is freedom.'
She looked at Kakashi, her voice curious. 'You… are human, yes?'
Kakashi nodded. "Yeah. From Earth."
Cosmo's head lowered, her voice sad. 'Earth… the planet that sent me into space. They used me… left me.'
Kakashi's eyes softened, "I'm sorry. For them. For all of us. Humans have a bad habit of not realizing what they already have… until it's gone."
Cosmo's tail lowered, then wagged slowly as she sat beside him. 'You are different.'
Kakashi smiled faintly under his mask. "Let's just say… I've spent most of my life cleaning up my mistakes."
Howard, still on the floor, groaned again. "Yeah, yeah, touching moment and all but anyone got a drink? I feel like I just got blendered by teleportation."
Kakashi chuckled softly. "You're welcome, by the way."
Howard sat up, smoothing his feathers. "Oh, you're welcome too, my lovely savior who's probably ugly behind the mask! Thanks for saving me and my canine therapist here! Next time, though, maybe try not to give me a heart attack?!"
Cosmo's psychic voice sounded again, curious. 'Who are you, man with mask?'
Kakashi's half-smile returned. "Name's Kakashi Hatake."
Cosmo's eyes brightened, and her psychic voice carried a smile. 'For the first time in a long time… I feel peace. Thank you, Kakashi.'
Kakashi noticed the lingering fear in her eyes. She was free, but the scars of her past ran deep. He knew just the way to ease her worries. Forming a hand sign, he slammed his palm to the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A burst of smoke filled the bridge. When it cleared, a pack of ninja hounds stood there, led by Pakkun, a small pug with a metal bone in his mouth. The other dogs barked excitedly, sniffing the air. Pakkun raised an eyebrow at Cosmo and Howard.
Kakashi grinned. 'Naruto's gonna be mad if I don't bring him in on this.' He formed another hand sign, summoning his kitsune familiar.
Another puff of smoke, and Naruto appeared, one of his nine tails draped over his forehead like a salute. His grin was wide, his eyes sparkling with energy. "Reporting for duty! Which enemies do I crush?"
------Author Notes---------
Do check out my new novel.
Naruto: The Eraserhead of Suna.
Thankyou Blank602, HE and Lord_Clamiral
for supporting me!
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