Quiet Summer

The Forest of Chakra

     "W-what happened?!" Sakura exclaimed as Kakashi fell forward into my arms.

     "Shizuka sensei," Naruto began worriedly as he stared at a passed out Kakashi, "is Kakashi going to be okay?"

     "Don't worry guys," I began trying to calm down the team as I adjusted Kakashi onto my back, "Kakashi just overworked himself with the Sharingan. He's going to be just fine." Still, after my reinsurance, I saw a little bit of doubt in the team's eyes. Even Sasuke seemed concerned about Kakashi.

     After Zabuza had trapped Kakashi and me in the water spheres Naruto and Sasuke showed tremendous teamwork skills and managed to free us both. Kakashi was then able to use his Sharingan against Zabuza matching his movements perfectly. Kakashi was able to overpower Zabuza just as a Tracker ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist came and finished him off.

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     We arrived at Tazuna's house late last night and went straight to bed. All of Team Seven stayed in the same room with the guys on one side of the room and Sakura and I in the other. Of course, since Kakashi was still passed out I had to get him situated in his futon.

     This morning I was the first one to wake up so I went downstairs to the kitchen and helped Tazuna's daughter Tsunami make breakfast for everyone. When breakfast was done Team Seven excluding Kakashi was still just waking up so only Tsunami, her son Inari and I ate breakfast. There wasn't much conversation and Inari didn't seem very happy that my team was here... Ones we were done Inari went out just as Team Seven and Tazuna came down to eat. I took that chance to go back upstairs and look after Kakashi which by the gloomy look on the team's face when they arrived down to eat I'm assuming he's still not up yet.

Sitting with my legs tucked under me I sat next to Kakashi's sleeping body and took a moment to just reflect on the current events. 'Was I really that useless yesterday? Wasn't I part of the ANBU? Then why couldn't I have done more? It's my fault that Kakashi is like this now...'

Looking down towards my best friend in such a vulnerable state upset me very much. Here I was with nothing more than a scratch on myself while Kakashi took such a tole and passed out! I couldn't help but feel responsible for this. 'If it wasn't for Naruto and Sasuke we wouldn't have been able to get out of there! I did nothing!'

Squeezing my eyes shut I tried to stop the tears from falling. I couldn't help but feel my heart clench as if someone was trying to pull it out of my body. I felt so much guilt... Clenching my hands into a fist I tried to relax my breathing but with no prevail I decide to just let the tears fall. 'How am I suppose to protect all 12 genins if I couldn't even protect myself?'

     As my silent tears dripped on to my closed fist a hand encircled mine bringing a familiar warmth onto me. Slowly I unclenched my right hand which molded into the awaiting palm. I opened up my teary brimmed eyes I met Kakashi's comforting ones. For a quick second, it felt almost as the coldness in my heart from all the guilt was melted away.

     "H-hey," my brittle voice broke out quietly. Hesitantly I brought the back of my left hand up to his forehead to check for any fever. "How are you feeling?"

     "Much better," Kakashi admitted as he tried pushing himself up, "I overdid it with the Sharingan again didn't I?"

     "Eh just a little," I joked trying to lighten up the mood.

     "Well I hope I didn't worry anyone too much," Kakashi whispered looking into my eyes.

     Ones again I felt a stinging sensation in the back of my eyes. Not being able to keep my composure I pulled Kakashi into a hug to which he responded almost immediately too.