The Girl Who Is Death's Journeyman (Kakashi x OC)

Chapter 9: Cigarettes

I suppose I earned a break for a little while after the last few weeks, so 'take a break' is exactly what I did. Kakashi has been helping Yamato teach Naruto how to infuse elemental chakra into his rasengan. He's making a lot of progress from what I've heard, and that's very impressive especially since not even The Fourth could do it. But then again, Naruto has shown he very well can surpass his father. It seems I've been a bit behind on everyone else's lives, cause apparently Kurenai is pregnant. I wanted to tell Asuma congrats, but I missed him before he took his team on a mission. I'm not quite sure what they're doing though.

"Hey, Kashi?" Kakashi was sitting next to me in our living room while he was trying to get some rest and I was reading.

"Yes?" His head perked up a bit when he replied.

"What mission is Team 10 on right now?" He looked at me in slight surprise. "What?"

"Nothing, I'm just a bit surprised you didn't hear, it was kind of a big deal."

"Why? What are they doing," I asked with slight hesitation and concerne.

"They went after two Akatsuki members." My eyes grew wider at this. They sent a bunch of still fresh Jonin after, not one but two, Akatsuki members?! Then a thought struck me. I turned to Kakashi in worry.

"Which ones did they go after?"

"Uh, I believe Kakazu and Hidan." My heart dropped. 'Oh crap.'

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"You sent them after Hidan?!" I was in Tsunade's office going off at her. "Kakazu, whatever, but Hidan?!"

"I know they are perfectly capable of handling themselves. They have proved themselves time and time again, so it's only fair they get a higher rank mission," she responded calmly. I stared at her in shock.

 "HIDAN IS FREAKING IMMORTAL!!! If you cut off his head, he'll just pick it up, AND PUT IT BACK ON!!!"

Tsunade's face changed, as if she had forgotten that one detail about the silver haired man-whore. An Anbu member burst through the doors.

"Team 10 is back!"

Something was wrong, very wrong. That much was clear.

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Asuma was dead. Though I didn't know him well, I knew he had left behind a child and it's mother. But worse, to me, he left Shikamaru.

I was on my way to the Nara's home. What I was going to find? I had no idea.

I knocked on the door and waited a minute. Shikaku opened it. He looked tired and sad, but when he saw me, it seemed a bit of hope shone in his eyes.

"Hey," I said softly, with a small bow of my head. He stepped aside, he didn't have to ask why I was there, he knew.

I opened the door to a dark room scattered with a shogi board and furniture. Lying in the middle of the floor, was exactly who I came to see. He didn't acknowledge my presence but I knew he knew I was there. I slowly walked up to him. I stood at his head, and looked down at him, my hands still in my pockets. He looked awful, to say the least. His eyes were dry and bloodshot, and there were dark circles around them. He was very pale, and there were used cigarettes scattered all around his head. His eyes slowly drifted to mine. I thought for a moment. I didn't really know what to do. Comfort was never really my strong suit. But I had to do something. He was my student, and more so, he was my friend. And he was hurting a way I knew only too well.

"Get up," I said in a soft but stern voice.

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We were sitting on the edge of a dock, protruding out above the still water, that glowed with the setting sun.

"Believe me when I tell you, I know how you feel," I began softly while looking out at the fiery water. "You feel empty. You feel nothing really. But for whatever reason, that nothingness hurts like the fires of Hell. You can't for the life of you stop thinking, 'what could I have done?' 'what could've changed?' Well, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but there is nothing you can do now." I paused for a moment. "That is, nothing but...avenge him." This seemed to catch his attention.

"That's right. It is my belief that if someone takes something from you, you only have two options; accept it and move on, or avenge it and settle your mind. It's up to you Shika. Whatever you do I will support you, but it is entirely up to you." I stood and began to walk away, but turned around to say one more thing. "By the way, Hidan wants blood, so give him blood. Just not your own," I finished with a knowing smirk. I could tell this gave him an idea.

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What I said must've worked, cause the next day, Team 10 was set out to avenge their sensei. There are many who believe that vengeance is not the way, but this? This wasn't vengeance, this was justice. They are truly talented kids- well I suppose they weren't really kids anymore, huh? No, not anymore they weren't. Now, they were exactly what I knew they could become;  true shinobi.

Sorry for the kinda short chapter, but it said what it needed to. Well thanks, and as always, you know what to do. See ya' around.