Otsutsuki (Book 2 of the Aftermath Series)

Part 12: Push

"It's not your fault, there was nothing you could do." Fugaku had just come out to let me know the vote had went in Danzo's favor. I couldn't help but feel guilty, knowing that I would've won if Danzo hadn't brought doubts about my character and past into play. "It was very close." Fugaku said again and I could see that he was upset. I know he will support Itachi and act like a proud father when he hears the news but underneath that Fugaku knows that Itachi is too young. He can hide that to everyone else but people like Kakashi and I will always know the truth. We went through this and we saw our friends die before they even got to live. 

"I want you to know that as long as I am his Captain I will protect him with my life." I said as Kakashi walked over to join us at the end of the hall, having just overseen the council meeting adjourning and making sure that all council members were home safe. "I thank you, Koharu-san. I will see you tomorrow afternoon then?" He asked and I shook my head. "I have a mission actually. I will visit when I return." I said and he nodded. "Good luck then." We bowed to each other and I turned to my fiance. "Home?" 

Kakashi and I laid in bed together just looking each other in the eyes. "I love you." He said and I smiled. "I love you too." I suddenly rolled over so I was laying on top of him, holding his arms down. "Now what are you going to do?" I asked and he narrowed his mismatched eyes. "Are you challenging me, Otsutsuki, or is it Hisakawa?" He asked and I snickered. "You can call me whatever you want...Hatake." He suddenly flipped up over and soon we were having an all out wrestling match. I threw a pillow at him when he wasn't looking, he managed to dodge but he couldn't dodge the one I used to smack him with when he rolled away. He looked at me, feathers in his long gravity-defying hair. "We have two more hours before we have to meet with the team." He said and I laughed again.

Kakashi and I found ourselves at some training grounds near the village gate, so that we could leave when time. "No holding back. You know the rules." Guy said as he watched us. We had run into him and Asuma on our way here and asked them to officiate. Kakashi and I bowed to each other before taking position. We circled each other slowly, watching for the slightest signs of attack. I had my Other Eye wide open and his sharingan was blazing. We never took it easy on each other before and just because our relationship has changed doesn't mean we will now. 

"Go." With one final call from Asuma, Kakashi charged. I dodged his kick with ease, my eyes assessing his movements with ease. I managed to get a hit on his kidney's when he launched a kick at me but I appeared on the other side of him and nailed him in the back before he spun around and caught my jaw with his elbow. When we paused, he was rubbing his side and giving me a look as I rubbed my chin. "Did I hurt you Kashi?" I asked in an innocent voice and he rolled his eyes while our friends laughed at us. "Only my feelings, Asa, only my feelings." He teased and I snickered. 

We started doing jutsu after that. We had agreed not to exhaust our chakra too much before our mission but that only meant that we used our most lethal jutsu with calculated intent instead of doing several. "5 minutes." Guy called from the side lines as we both shot a jutsu at each other. "Water Style: Water Bullets!" Kakashi shouted and I quickly countered. "Earth Style: Mud Wall Jutsu!" A large mud wall rose to block his water jutsu and I quickly hopped up on top of it as he appeared below me form the ground, ready to perform a head hunter jutsu. "Gotta be quicker than that Kashi." I teased and he only laughed. "Do I?" He asked and I quickly rolled the side as he appeared beside me with a fist aimed towards my face. I managed to avoid the hit but wasn't able to dodge the water jutsu he shot at me. 

"Clever. Making me think that your clone was the one who came out of the ground when the clone was actually the one attacking me on the wall." I grunted as I regained my footing, having fallen off the wall. He snickered. "Did I hurt you Asa?" He asked in the same voice I used earlier and I narrowed my eyes. 'Time to end this'. I could see that Kakashi thought the same thing as he began to aim a fire ball jutsu at me. Instead of dodging I found myself clutching my head as the seal weakened again. I lifted my hand in front of me just before the jutsu made contact, I could feel the heat of it on my face. "Push." Was all I gasped out between gritted teeth. This has began to hurt more and more as the seal releases. 

Nothing could've prepared me for the destruction that happened next. Luckily the training grounds were empty except for Guy, Asuma, Kakashi, and I. From my palm a force suddenly repelled everything in front of me. Not only did it disperse the jutsu but it sent Kakashi flying. The very ground beneath us broke up like an earth quake as the force left my hand. I temporarily lost sight of Kakashi when my previous wall was crumbled into nothing but dust. I fell to my knees as I watched trees being ripped from the ground and landing a solid 20 meters away. Kakashi was not in sight. I looked at my hands in horror. 

"Kakashi?" Guy yelled as he ran over the second the dust settled. I didn't look away from my hands as he began to search for him among the rubble. Several ninja appeared at once, my squad included. "He's alright." I heard Tenzo call but I didn't look up. "Who did this?" I heard someone ask as several people were observing the sheer destruction around us. I felt a hand lay on my shoulder and looked up to see Fugaku staring down at me. "Koharu-san?" He asked and I just looked at him. "Maybe they were right to be afraid of me." Is all I said before standing to my feet. 

I felt a significant chakra drain, just like the other times the seal had weakened but this time it was different. I felt like I possessed more chakra than ever. I guess my chakra reserves are unlocking as well. I found Kakashi among the group of ninja looking at what was left of the training ground. He fought his way free of Guy's grip and quickly made his way over to me. He was a little bruised and very dusty but overall fine. I couldn't help but sigh in relief as he wrapped his arms around me. Kakashi is not one for any display of public affection but I knew that he was worried about me. I gripped him back just as tight. "Are you okay?" I asked as we pulled apart and he glanced around. "I'm fine. I managed to hide underground at the last second. I was exposed when the ground shattered but I was fine. Just dirty." He assured but I frowned as I looked around us. 

"I will never use that jutsu again." I vowed as I joined the line of ninja who were looking around in awe. Several heads turned in my direction. "You did this?" Someone asked and I looked over to see an Akimichi Choza standing beside me. I could see that he was holding hands with a child no older than Naruto. I nodded solemnly. "The seal is weakening." I said and he made a face. I knew that look. It was one of fear. "How?" Someone else in the crowd asked. I looked over to see it was Itachi, who was standing next to his father. "Push." Is all I said before taking Kakashi's hand and disappearing.