Breaking Faith | Hatake Kakashi

Chapter 129 ~ Into That Good Night

It was midday, the sun rays were at their deadliest, searing down on the masked man, who could only shield his eyes as he looked up. Not a single cloud, just pure blue sky and a bright, bright sun. Kakashi sighed, dropping his hand to look back down at his comrades. Captain of the Fourth Division, that's who he was and that's who he stood before, but his group looked beaten and tired before the battle had even begun.

Another war. Kakashi was going to fight in another damn war! How many more would there be? Five? Six? Or would the shinobi world end after the fourth?

War was not a nice thing, and the last thing Kakashi wanted was to live through another — worse, for Naruto and Sakura to fight in one. They didn't need their innocence tainted just yet. Children like Konohamaru would have to grow up in times of war, just like Kakashi and Rieka had to.

'Rieka...' He sighed at the thought. Where was she?

Was she on the battlefield just like he was, or was she watching from the sidelines—like she always seemed to do now. Rieka never fought, she never spoke or interacted with anyone. Unlike when her allegiance was with Konoha, Rieka was a fence sitter, watching the wheel turn while she did nothing to stop it.

'Will she be on the battlefield?' He already knew the answer to that.

Because this was it. The war to save the world. Rieka would sit back no longer, and neither would Kakashi.

Their final battle was approaching.

"Kakashi-san!" It was a shinobi, standing before him. "News for HQ, they say it's time to head out."

And so they did, following behind their gallant leader.

The Fourth Great Shinobi World War had officially begun.

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Sachihiro stared down at his attire; a shiny, black leather vest, zipped up to the turtle neck collar, the lack of sleeves showing off his toned, scarred arms. Standard black shinobi pants, sandals, and fingerless gloves. His rich, long brown hair was tied up into a man-bun of sorts, and his twin tanto were strapped tightly against his back.

He thought he looked pretty damn intimidating, but looking over to Obito's purple cloak-thing and white mask, he begun to question his choice.

'Damn, I should have worn purple...we could have matched'

Obito was adjusting the straps of his gunbai, completely oblivious as to what the Uzumaki was thinking, and turned to him.

"Where is Rieka?" He asked, and Sachihiro shrugged.

The brunette told the men that she wished to be alone, feeling overwhelmed after her conversation with Yagura. Obito turned only to find her standing before the both of them, smirking.

"Looking nice boys." She commented on their choice of clothing, getting different reactions.

Sachihiro beamed like a kid on christmas, while Obito rolled his eyes — "they're just clothes." He argued.

Neither cared.

"Where are you two off to?" Rieka questioned, "we aren't supposed to leave until later."

Obito begun fiddling with the straps of his mask. "I'm going to go revive the fallen Jinchuuriki. They will help me in acquiring the final two."

"He's-" He stuck his thumb in Sachihiro's direction, "-just tagging along."

Eyes on him, Sachihiro grinned. "Wanna come Rieka?" He asked. "Beats sitting around here."

She gently shook her head. "I'll stay. Someones gotta look after Sasuke, and it certainly won't be Zetsu."

The Uchiha and Uzumaki could only agree, soon bidding the brunette farewell — Sachihiro with an energetic wave and Obito with nothing but a blank stare — before taking off, leaving her alone.

Rieka looked around at the empty base — both Kabuto and his coffins long gone — and collapsed.

She proceeded to sleep the rest of the day away.

::

"People...are dying."

Bee stared at his fellow jinchuuriki, frowning grimly. "What do we do?"

Naruto looked down, "I don't know." He told him, "I promised Neji i'd stay put but..."

His face contorted into pain, pain for the comrades he could sense dying for him. Naruto scrunched up his eyes, fists curling tight into balls as he cried out in frustration — "Argh!"

"Naruto." It was a rare occasion that the eight-tail jinchuuriki was not rapping, rather speaking in a hushed, sadden tone. "We can either stay here and continue training, like they want us to. Or we can break out and help them, like I want to."

Naruto looked up to Bee as he continued. "Question it, what do you want to do?"

"I...I want to save everyone."

Bee smirked, "then that's what we'll do."

"But I promised Neji I wouldn't leave the island!" Naruto argued. "I can't lea-"

"Naruto." Bee grinned, holding his fist out. "Let's go!"

Naruto looked down to Bee's extended fist and grinned, connecting it with his own.

"Yeah, dattebayo!"

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