Love Triangle: Kakashi vs. Genma

46 | I Definitely Don't Have A Handle On It

Kakashi couldn't believe what he had heard. Tsunade sent genin, genin, after Sasuke. She could have recalled him from his own mission! It's not like it was anything that important... well, not as important as this. Hell, she could've sent anyone else after them! Anyone!

If Naruto and Sasuke were ready to kill each other before... but now it's not like Kakashi was there to stop them.

He followed Pakkun through the trees, his mind racing with everything that had been happening. He shouldn't have left Sasuke alone. He should've realized how serious this was... well, he's been on mission after mission lately. He's barely been able to see his girlfriend, his other friends, let alone his students. He knew it was serious, but how was he supposed to intervene when he's always gone?

Please, just let me make it in time.

He pushed himself faster, kicking off of the trees hard enough to crack the branches. The sky was growing darker with a stream of chakra above his head. He was definitely running out of time, but this much chakra, he had to be close...

Am I too late?

He dropped down and seen Naruto lying on the ground, unconscious. Kakashi kept his head down as he walked closer to the blonde haired boy. He kneeled down next to him, letting the rain mask the few tears that escaped his eyes. He reached over to pick up Sasuke's headband and laid it over Naruto's chest before picking the boy up.

I'm too late. Forgive me.

~~~

[Y/N] wasn't sure how long it was going to take for Kakashi to heal from losing Sasuke. For him, it would be the third Uchiha he was unable to save.

When he came back into the village, she was waiting for him. He was soaked to the bone, tired, and pissed off. The medical ninja took Naruto from him and took him to the hospital. He found her eyes, shook his head, and turned to walk away. She knew where he would go. The memorial stone. He would go there and just stand and stare at it. The same names every time.

It was three days before Kakashi came to her, seeking out her comfort. It was in the middle of the night. He came in through the window (nearly getting himself killed by doing so, with her throwing the closest thing she had to her at his head). When she realized it was him, she calmed down and waited for him to get his other leg in the window.

He was still sad and angry with himself. He stood there silently staring at the floor before clearing his throat. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I just don't want to be alone tonight."

She gave him small, sympathetic smile before patting the empty place in the bed next to her. He slipped his shoes off and laid his headband on her nightstand before crawling into the bed. "I know I should've come to you sooner, I'm sorry I haven't—"

"Shh. You're okay. You needed your time and I'm perfectly okay with you taking it, Kakashi."

He pulled her into him, resting his head on hers. How he ever found someone who understood him so well...