"I'm right here, Iruka-sensei. Just hold on for a moment, we're getting you help."

"I don't- Who are you?"

"It's Kakashi, Iruka-sensei."

Iruka was a mess, a bloody, pulpy mess. His entire face was covered in blood, though Kakashi couldn't decide if it came from the misshaped nose or the eye-sockets, blaringly empty. His mouth was twisted with what Kakashi decided was pain, and he was surprised that Iruka wasn't dead yet. His legs were twisted in impossible angles and his hands were pawing uselessly at Kakashi's vest, fingers snapped in every direction.

"Kaka-" He broke off, whimpering, and tried to push himself away from Kakashi. Kakashi grabbed him then let go when Iruka gave a low, gutteral cry, unsure where to place his hands without hurting the teacher more. "Who are you?" Iruka asked again, eyelids drooping into the empty eyesockets.

"It's me, Kakashi," he said, just as he had said the time before, and the time before that, and the time before, for what had felt like all eternity. "It's Kakashi."

"Kakashi-san..." There was a gurling sound in Iruka's breath and a bloody bubble popped in his mouth, staining his teeth and lips red. Iruka opened his eyelids, holes staring up at Kakashi, and he smiled, a bloody mess of red against red. "It doesn't hurt," he said, almost amazed, words slurred and gargled by the wheezing. One corner of his mouth quirked up higher than the rest and the broken hands fell away from Kakashi's vest.

Kakashi set the broken body on the ground carefully, feeling entirely useless.

Back to team seven
Back to Chuunin and Jounin
Back to the main page