Afraid of the Dark (KakaSaku)

Twisted, Together

Kakashi walked down the dimly lit hall toward the holding cell where Nagato was being kept. Today was the day of his trial, and Kakashi would be called to testify, presenting eight years' worth of painstakingly gathered evidence. He hadn't seen Nagato since he'd been taken unconscious, and part of him dreaded it. Kakashi knew he needed to keep his temper in check—but he also had things to say to the man who had caused so much suffering.

When he entered the cell, Nagato was slouched against the wall, his eyes gleaming with the same twisted amusement Kakashi remembered all too well. "Well, well, if it isn't Hatake. Come to pay your respects to an old friend?" Nagato's voice was laced with bitter sarcasm.

Kakashi didn't rise to the bait, instead sitting down, the iron bars separating them. But Nagato continued, his grin widening. "I'll give you credit—you really got me. I never thought you'd send your little whore to do the job. That was a nice touch."

In a flash, Kakashi was on his feet, yanking Nagato against the bars by his shirt, his face inches away. "You're lucky you're in there," Kakashi growled, his voice cold with rage. "If you ever so much as breathe her name again, I'll make sure you regret it."

Nagato's breath hitched, but his bravado remained. "You think this is over because you caught me? You're just a player in a game that's bigger than you, Hatake. I was born into this world of power. You? You've only danced in its shadows for eight years."

Kakashi shoved him back, watching with grim satisfaction as Nagato's head collided with the bars. He let him fall to the floor, a broken heap. "Your empire's finished. All your bases are gone. Your little network? It's dust."

Nagato wiped blood from his lip, grinning through the pain. "And yet, it wasn't you who took me down, was it? It was sweet little Sakura. Eight years, Hatake, and in less than a month, she undid it all. What does that say about you?"

The taunt hung in the air, igniting the last of Kakashi's restraint. Calmly, he stood, locking the door behind him. He pulled a set of keys from his pocket, eyes locked on Nagato's, the predator closing in on his prey.

"Hey—hey! Someone!" Nagato shouted, but there was no response. Kakashi unlocked the cell door and stepped inside, his movements deliberate, lethal.

Before Nagato could scramble away, Kakashi had him by the shirt, dragging him up. Without a word, he drove his fist into Nagato's already broken nose, the crunch of bone and cartilage filling the air. Nagato screamed as blood poured from his face, splattering the floor. "Keep her name out of your mouth," Kakashi whispered, his breath hot against Nagato's ear. "This is for putting your hands on her."

With swift precision, Kakashi twisted Nagato's wrist behind his back and snapped it. Nagato let out a guttural scream, collapsing to his knees as Kakashi held him in place, reveling in the pain he'd inflicted.

"Help! Somebody—" Nagato's voice was weak, desperate.

Kakashi released his wrist, watching him writhe. "No one's coming," he said calmly. "Do you really think they don't know I'm in here?"

The color drained from Nagato's face as the realization dawned on him. Kakashi leaned in again, his voice low and dangerous. "This is for putting your mouth on her."

With brutal force, Kakashi drove his knee into Nagato's face, shattering his front teeth. Nagato gasped, choking on his own blood as it spilled from his mouth. Kakashi stepped back, wiping his bloodied hands on his pants, his voice calm, collected. "Remember, Nagato—next time you say her name, you'll be begging for death."

Without another glance, Kakashi turned and left the cell, locking the door behind him. He felt a strange sense of release, the anger that had consumed him for so long finally beginning to fade. As he passed the guards on his way out, they gave him respectful nods, silently acknowledging what had transpired.