Third Person POV
The last Iwa shinobi who had attacked Team Minato was sitting on the root of a tree near the collapsed cave. The man was resting to catch his breath, in case reinforcements for those kids showed up.
But his moment of peace ended when a loud explosion rang out and rocks went flying from the spot where he had buried Kakashi, Obito, and Rin alive.
– How stubborn... You're still alive?
The platinum-haired boy was the only one the Rock shinobi noticed there. And the first thing that caught his attention were the tears streaming from his closed left eye, the one previously covered by bandages.
– But you're just a kid, after all – The ninja said carelessly – Why is a ninja crying? Come here, crybaby! Let's finish this – He called out to Hatake, taunting him.
However, the shinobi grew a bit concerned seeing the boy's eyes: the right one onyx-colored and the left one red, like the other boy the platinum-haired one had been fighting alongside earlier.
That kid seems different from before..., the Rock ninja pondered more seriously.
And it wasn't just Kakashi's eyes that were different, but his expression and posture too in that moment. Though saddened by the situation he believed he had caused for Obito, he was also angry.
Angry at himself and at the enemy before him.
– Kakashi, take care of Rin... – Obito asked, his voice even weaker than before, a clear sign of his exhaustion from all the blood loss and his body nearing its limit.
– Yeah... – Hatake promised firmly and brought his hand to his tantō, gripping it in front of him.
And the next instant he leaped from where he stood, towards the Iwa shinobi. Hatake aimed the sword straight at the man's head, forcing the opponent to cross his arms and shatter Kakashi's tantō blade with the blades on his own forearms.
The White Light Chakra Sabre broke into several pieces, leaving only a small remnant attached to its hilt. The gazes of the two combatants met, highlighting the tension between them.
He had barely touched the ground when Kakashi already formed the hand seals for his jutsu. The Rock ninja prepared to run and charged towards the boy just as he had done. The sound of the Iwa shinobi's blades cutting through the air was overpowered by the screech of dozens of birds that dominated the surroundings in the same instant.
And just as that fight started suddenly, so it ended.
Chidori and the Sharingan were a unique combination that made the jutsu Hatake had developed viable for the user. Kakashi understood that when he pulled his hand from the adversary's chest, letting his body drop lifelessly to the ground.
Hatake stored what remained of his tantō in its sheath and returned to his companions, breathing heavily. Even before that he was tired, and now with the Sharingan consuming his chakra uncontrollably due to his inexperience with it, his condition was only worsening.
– Kakashi... Take Rin – Obito asked him, the girl holding his hand tightly – Get Rin away from here. Enemy reinforcements... They're coming.
– Obito... – Rin called him softly, and the Uchiha freed his hand from hers, as if asking her to go with Hatake instead of staying there with him.
– It's fine... Go – The Uchiha said quietly.
– Rin... – Kakashi called her, extending his hand to pull her away.
Hatake, just like Nohara, didn't want to leave Obito behind – not even to spend his last moments of life with the boy. But as the Uchiha had said, enemy reinforcements were likely coming, especially with all the attention the cave collapse must have caused.
Before Rin could go to her teammate, Hatake caught the scent of many people nearby and understood the enemy reinforcements had already arrived.
– Earth Style: Quake! – Kakashi heard the Iwa ninjas say in unison.
– Rin, quick, take my hand! – He called out to the girl again, seeing the ground behind him starting to crack.
The ledge where Kakashi was standing began to give way the moment Nohara grabbed his hand and he pulled her up with him.
– Obito! – She called out to the Uchiha one last time, watching rocks fall on him from the new collapse caused by the enemy's jutsu.
Kakashi held Nohara by her waist and jumped away with her from the collapse the Rock ninjas had caused. The nearest safe place for both was on one of the tree branches in that forest.
Both Rin and Kakashi were breathing raggedly. Physical and mental exhaustion dominated them both. As did the sadness.
However, when Nohara looked around and noticed the presence of numerous Rock ninjas surrounding her and the platinum-haired boy, she even stopped breathing. There's so many..., the girl thought in despair.
Damn it..., Kakashi complained to himself, aware of the enemies observing him and Rin. He knew he had pushed past his limits, but he couldn't stand still, not after getting a second chance to live in exchange for his friend and teammate's life.
He raised his hands, forming the same seals he had used just before. Obito... This is the jutsu you helped me perfect!
Rin was surprised to see that jutsu again, the one Kakashi had used the previous day, and now he showed more control over it than before.
– You still have the will to fight even in this state? – One of the Iwa shinobi asked cynically – That's why you managed to get so deep into enemy territory, you're determined.
With his free hand, Hatake gripped the kunai Minato had given him as a gift for his promotion to jounin – it was the only weapon he had left.
– Rin, I'll hold them off – He warned his teammate – When an opening appears, run!
– But... – He interrupted her quickly.
– I promised Obito I would protect you – Hatake reminded her seriously – I'll protect you with my life!
– Kakashi...
– Rin, Obito liked you – The platinum-haired boy said, feeling the same discomfort he had felt leaving his friend behind moments ago – Even I could see he loved you. You were everything to him. That's why he gave his life to protect you – Nohara felt a lump form in her throat.
– So, Kakashi, you must know my feelings for you!
– I... I tried to abandon you. I'm trash – He gripped the kunai hilt more tightly – And I don't deserve feelings like that, from anyone.
The Iwa shinobis left their positions and all advanced together towards where Kakashi and Nohara were.
– Rin, go! – Hatake urged the girl, already imagining the worst for himself against all those enemies.
The boy stood up, but as he did so to move, Kakashi felt his body grow heavy and his vision darken. He had pushed past his physical limit and his chakra had been practically drained by the Sharingan.
And he felt himself falling.
The remnants of Team 7 were at the enemy's mercy.
Or so Nohara thought when she noticed Hatake collapsing before her, until she saw two people appear between them, one particularly familiar to the girl.
Everything happened very fast, with one of the people who emerged there going to Nohara and carrying her away. The second, the girl could see even as she was being taken away, had done the same with Hatake, pulling him away from the advancing enemies.
Kakashi felt someone catch him before he actually fell and carry him from where he was; the subtle scent, even faint amid the blood, of jasmine warmed his chest. That perfume and the warmth of someone's touch were the last things he noticed before his consciousness faded.
Amaya Uzumaki POV
Renji and I stopped on a higher branch where we had rescued Kakashi and Rin. We made it in time this time..., I thought, though an unpleasant tightness gripped my chest over the absence of one person from that particular team.
I sensed the chakras of the Iwa enemies who had ambushed my friends approaching again from where we had been and simply gave a signal to the other Anbu I had brought.
Four other men who had been operating with me on the battlefields emerged from the spots where they had stayed out of the enemies' sight, launching the same jutsu together.
– Wind Style: Breakthrough! – The male voices pronounced in unison.
A combined curtain of wind was formed, making that jutsu even stronger than it already was alone, hurling the Iwa shinobis away from the members of Minato's Team 7.
That didn't kill or even seriously injure them, but it would buy me a few moments to enter the fight.
Everything had been planned in minutes when Katsuyu and my clone noticed Kakashi and Rin surrounded by enemies.
With my clones spread out, I brought five Anbu to my real body to help me against the adversaries, while also rescuing my friends.
And having my teleportation mark present on Hatake's tantō hilt allowed Renji and me to reach them before the Rock shinobis.
I looked for a moment at Kakashi against my body. The scar over his left eye was the first thing that caught my attention, along with the clear signs of combat from his other injuries.
I clenched my jaw and had to hold back the anger that was starting to consume me intensely.
– Rin... – I called Nohara in a graver tone – Take care of Kakashi.
I could notice some apprehension from her at my tone, but she soon understood it wasn't directed at her. The brunette came quickly to me and I laid Hatake down, letting his head rest on her lap.
– Renji-san... – I called him as soon as I stood up and directed my gaze from behind the mask to him.
– Leave it to me, captain – He replied promptly, staying close to Rin and Kakashi.
I gave a weak nod in thanks and turned my attention to my organization comrades who were fighting the Iwa shinobis. I grabbed a few kunai with my teleportation seal, as well as gripped my wakizashi.
The instant I threw the first kunai amidst the Rock ninjas, teleporting to it mid-air. It was all so fast that without the Sharingan it wouldn't have been noticed, each fading of the chakra flow of the enemies my wakizashi blade made contact with.
The scene unfolding there could be categorized as a massacre.
Whether acting alone or alongside the Anbu under my command, the enemies were eliminated one after another with practically no chance to counterattack.
The last living Iwa shinobi fell to the ground and I descended before him. The man tried to drag himself backwards but found himself against a tree trunk. He was trapped and I still felt the anger boiling inside me with intensity.
– P-Please, d-don't kill me! – The ninja screamed desperately as I approached with my wakizashi in hand – I-I surrender! I b-beg you, spare me!
I stopped before him, noting the other Anbu wouldn't interfere with whatever I did to the enemy. I raised my wakizashi, preparing to strike the shinobi before me. But in my eyes, time seemed to slow down at that moment.
From the blade of my wakizashi dripped the blood of that man's comrades, lives that perished by my hands. The enemies. That shinobi was one of them. One of those who had taken the life of a friend important to me.
However, just as I saw the blood on the blade, I saw my reflection in it. Specifically the necklace I wore. The most important thing I had to try to fight the hatred that plagued me.
I gripped the wakizashi hilt more firmly and quickly lowered my arm with it, stopping its blade inches from the neck of the man before me. He looked at me scared, yet confused by my action.
– Remind yourself and your comrades what Konoha has to face them – I warned him coldly.
He remained still for a few moments, before nodding repeatedly and running off from there. I sighed heavily, though I didn't even remember holding my breath before.
And only then, with my mind regaining its calm, did I notice the presence of an extremely powerful chakra in the environment. Its owner placed his hand on my shoulder soon after, but I couldn't bring myself to look at the blonde.
– I was too late... – I confessed to him quietly – Obito... – And again I felt the tightness in my chest and the bad sensation rising to my throat.
– I know – Minato said quickly and with the same regret in his tone – You did what you could and even more, Amaya – I gripped the hilt of my wakizashi tighter – And you still acted as few can before an enemy.
– He was truly afraid. Assassins don't fear death – I commented slowly – Just like me, he's following orders – I turned my gaze towards Minato – We are all soldiers battling in other people's war.
The blonde forced a weak smile, agreeing with what I had said. I sheathed my wakizashi and followed my father to Rin and Kakashi so we could regroup and consider how to proceed from there with our missions.