The Way Of The Shinobi

Chapter Thirty-Six: Rescue

(Kakashi's POV)

   As soon as I awoke on the smoky battlefield I knew thing's went terribly wrong. Through the cover of the smoke I could hear Yui talking; taunting almost. I forced my body to move even though my muscles were screaming in pain. I had to get there in time. Using what little bit of chakra I had left I quickly activated my Sharingan. With my vision amplified I was able to see that Yui was standing in front of Yumiko, like a lion stalking and taunting it's prey. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I knew I barely had enough chakra to sustain the Sharingan, but if I used chidori ...I could take her down.

   Using Chidori when I'm worn out could cause some serious damage, but I knew It was a risk I had to take if I wanted to take Yui down, and save Yumiko. I looked down at my right and smirked as I quickly completed the hand signs of the Ox, Rabbit and Monkey. Suddenly lightning began to collect in the palm of my right hand. I used my left hand to hold my wrist still as I could feel the skin of my palm begin to burn. Once I had collected as much lightning as I possibly could I knew it was time.

   "LIGHTNING BLADE!" I screamed as I sprinted as fast as I could towards Yui. Before she could react I felt not only my Chidori, but my entire hand tear through her back and out through her chest. Yui gasped as she coughed up a large amount of blood. The lightning quickly dissipated in my hand as I grabbed ahold of Yui's shoulder's so I could catch her body. I looked over at Yumiko who was propped up against the base of a tree, with a peaceful look on her face.

   "Yumiko?" I muttered as I stumbled over to her, completely out of chakra and at my limit. Her once supple porcelain skin was now clammy and cold. I reached up and gently caressed her cheek, finally realizing that I was too late. She was gone, and there was nothing I could do to save her. My eyes widened as I felt tears begin to fall down my cheeks. Losing a comrade was something I was unfortunately very familiar with, but for some reason this one hurt, way more than I thought it would. I took a deep breath and carefully closed Yumiko's eyes, hopeful that she found the peace she had deserved.

   I grabbed Yumiko and picked her up, holding her still lifeless body close to mine as I forced myself to continue moving forward. I needed to get Yumiko's body back to her father, so she could have the burial that she earned. The smoke from the explosion was finally starting to settle as the fires that were caused by the explosion were finally starting to go out. I made it through the forest line and as far away from the estate as I could as I heard the sound of footsteps coming towards me. I reached down and grabbed my kunai, even though I knew with the amount of chakra I had left, I'd be dead meat if an enemy showed up.

   I could feel my heart begin to race as the footsteps got closer and closer to me. I laid yumiko carefully down onto the ground, so I had my hands free so I could attempt to protect myself. I had to make it back alive, for Yumiko's sake. The bushes in front of me began to rustle as my anxiety only increased with each passing moment. The familiar face of Itachi came out from the bushes as I sighed in relief.

   "Kakashi..." Itachi mumbled as he looked past me, and over to Yumiko's lifeless corpse. His maroon Sharingan eyes glanced back at me as I averted my gaze down to the ground.

   "Itachi, did you find something?" The sweet voice that belonged to none other than Mayumi appeared behind Itachi. Our eyes connected as I could see it physically hurt her to see me this way. Mayumi's eyes drifted down to Yumiko's body as her eyes widened in shock. Itachi reached back and placed his hand on Mayumi's waist as he whispered softly.

   "I'll take Lady Yumiko's body...You get Kakashi." He instructed calmly, his eyes never leaving Mayumi's. She nodded and walked towards me, stopping only a few inches in front of me.

   "A-Are you okay?" I mumbled, noticing her skin was covered in bruises and cuts. She reached down and slowly took the kunai out of my grasp. Her touch sent what felt like electricity through my veins. Our gaze met again, this time our face's were only a few inches apart. It took what little energy I had left to stop myself from kissing her in that moment. I missed her, and I knew no matter how many times I tried to push her away that I couldn't turn off my feelings like a light switch in a bedroom.

   "I'm alright. I got what we came for. Let's get out of here now." Mayumi stated, doing her best to hide her concern. She gently grabbed my arm and draped it over her shoulder as she grabbed a hold of my waist with her other arm. I sighed a breath of relief as I slowly closed my eyes and drifted off into a deep unconsciousness.