SALVATION

Chapter 14

Never before had Kakashi crossed the distance between Kiri and Konoha faster than now. There had been no break, no slowing down, only full out running with everything he had. 

If he had taken a moment to think, he would have realised that with Kamui he'd reach Konoha faster but for the first time he was blind to rationality. Panic was the only thing left in his mind. It overshadowed any thought that might have crossed his mind and made him deaf to the shouts of his friends. 

There was no proof that Konoha was actually under attack other than a feeling. A feeling that pressed his lungs together, that constricted his throat and made him feel like choking. A feeling that he had had during the entire mission but that he had talked up to bad nerves. 

Sasuke had summoned Aoda hours after leaving Kiri, when they had realised that they wouldn't be able to keep up with the frantic Hatake. Now, Itachi, Naruto and Sasuke sat at the head of the large snake trying their best not to loose sight of Kakashi.

"He's going to kill himself if he keeps this up.", muttered Naruto worried. 

"He'll stop before that.", said Sasuke with false confidence as he hugged the blonde comforting. 

Itachi glanced at the two sadly. There was no way Kakashi would stop, not if he thought Anko was in danger. 

"Are you sure?"

Naruto looked up at Sasuke with terrified eyes. The thought of loosing his sensei caused a deep fear inside of him. He knew that there would be a time that Kakashi had to leave their world but he had always pushed the thought as far away as possible. It was childish but, maybe, if he didn't think about it, it wouldn't come true. 

"Kakashi is not stupid, usuratonkachi.", Sasuke replied and even smiled slightly at the blonde. 

'No, but he's in love, otouto.', thought Itachi sorrowful and focused again on the silver haired shinobi in front of them.

They reached Konoha twelve hours after they had left Kiri. 

It was the middle of the night when Kakashi stumbled towards Konohas gates but the aftermath of the attack was still visible. One half of the gate was raised to the ground the other was barely standing and behind them, Kakashi saw only ruins of houses and debris of what had once been the hokage tower. 

Exhausted he fell on his knees, his legs unable to carry him any longer. Not willing to give in until he had seen his girlfriend save and sound surrounded by Mikoto and Sakura, the time traveller started crawl through the gates. 

"Anko!", he yelled her name hoarsely as he continued to crawl, rubble and broken roof tiles cutting into his knees and palms. 

However, Kakashi was numb to the pain the fear of the unknown overshadowing everything.  

Itachi, Sasuke and Naruto arrived at Konoha only minutes after Kakashi and the destruction took their breath away. The two young shinobis hastily jumped down from Aoda and ran aimlessly around, shouting for their family.

"Dad! Sakura!"

"Kaa-chan! Sakura!" 

Keeping a calm head as possible, Itachi followed the bloody hand prints of his elder brother. The man shouldn't be alone, especially because he'd likely blackout any moment and Naruto and Sasuke weren't a great help right now. Itachi couldn't blame them, seeing Konoha destroyed was a shock even to him. 

"Nii-san!", he called out for his brother in hope that the familiar name would pull him out of whatever trance he was in. 

He finally caught up to Kakashi in front of the Hatake Clan House, or at least of what was left of it.