A Ninja's Path (Kakashi X Reader)

Chapter Twenty Two

"When I was four years old, my aunt murdered my parents." You started your explanation.

Kakashi sat across from you, watching intently.

You cleared your throat, continuing. "She raised me in their stead. Aunt Fuyu was... a hateful woman. She was never kind to me." You raised your shirt to reveal the scars on your stomach.

Kakashi gave you a sad look, nodding for you to go on.

"When I was ten, I met a boy named Haru after my aunt ran me out of the house. We quickly became friends. After that day, we were inseparable. Except... we had to keep our friendship a secret." You crossed your legs. "You see, relationships aren't exactly a normal way of life in my country. People are more reserved and antisocial."

You hesitated on the next part. "Especially because of our rite of passage to becoming a Jonin." You swallowed the lump in your throat. "To become a Jonin, you must let go of all wants and desires. It's the only way to pledge your loyalty."

Kakashi frowned. "What's that supposed to mean? Let go of wants and desires?"

You stared at the floor, avoiding eye contact with him. "In my country, love is a weakness. It's seen as a setback for a ninja to complete his task. You can't be completely loyal to the village if you worry about your loved ones' safety." The next part was the hardest thing to say. "So you must... eliminate them."

Kakashi gave you a strange look. You met his gaze, guilt weighing down your chest.

"We have to kill everyone we love to become a true ninja."

His eyes widened in surprise, he seemed almost horrified. You were close to breaking down.

He spoke slowly, try to grasp the concept you were bringing to him. "So what you're trying to say is that... the only way to become a full ninja and acceptable part of society is to... kill everyone you love?"

You nodded, afraid to speak.

"So that also applies to you?" He looked at you with his big grey eye. So similar to Haru's.

You looked away in shame.

"(Y/N)..." Kakashi started. "What did you do?"

Before you knew it, you were finding yourself in a flashback.

"What have I done!!!" You screamed in agony, staring down at your bloody, shaky hands.

"Haru!!!" You sobbed, collapsing on the ground.

It had all happened so fast. One second, Haru was leading you away from the village promising that you could both run away together.

A few days prior, you had both been selected as Jonin candidates. At age fourteen, you two would have been the youngest Jonin in the village.

But Aunt Fuyu had discovered your friendship with Haru and pressured you to kill him. You refused, you would rather die an outcast than kill the boy that gave your life meaning.

And honestly, you had been starting to crush on him a little, he was the only person to ever open up to you, to sympathize with your pain. He saw you for who you were, not just some puppet for Aunt Fuyu's use.

You had both packed a bag and snuck off into the forest. You had been planning to leave the Village Hidden in the Night behind, to start a new life with Haru somewhere else.

But what you didn't expect was for him to stab you in the back- literally.

All you remembered was him stopping you in a secluded thicket, then the piercing pain of a blade embedded in your shoulder.