22

154Chapter 22

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Naruto or any of it's characters. Kishimoto Masashi does. I do not make any type of profit from writing this fanfiction. This is strictly for my and my readers' pleasure. The Japanese language used in this fanfiction is translated by Google.

CLAIMER: I OWN Yami Uchiha. Do NOT steal.

RATED: R and is subject to change.

WARNING: This is going to be an YAOI/MALE+MALE story.

BETA READER: None; so there will be errors that I miss.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The scenarios involved in this fanfiction are fictional. The main character may also strike readers as a Mary/Gary Sue. If this fact bothers you, turn back now. Construction criticism is welcomed. No flames.

A/N: I also have this story posted on my Mibba account titled Kumo no Su De.

"Speaking"

'Thinking'

Hand Signing

~oOo~STORY START~oOo~

When Yami arrived at Kakashi's apartment and felt the lack of a chakra signature inside, he closed his eyes to focus on spreading out his sensory field. He felt the familiar crackling of the silver haired man's chakra already near training ground seven and knew where to find him. Yami shunshin to the Memorial Stone and saw Kakashi standing in front of it, his hands tucked into his pockets. Yami waited until Kakashi noticed his presence an hour later.

"Yami…ohayo (good morning)." Kakashi greeted, his eye curving into a smile.

Ohayo. Yami signed back the greeting.

Clearing his throat, Kakashi spoke.

"Do you have a moment?"

Yami's brow rose. Why did he get the feeling he was about to have a sense of déjà vu? He nodded, unsure of what the jonin was about to say.

"Something Zabuza said during the mission has been bothering me." Kakashi voiced he thoughts.

Yami's shoulders slumped. There it is. That déjà vu feeling. It appeared that Kakashi would not be thrown off like Sakura had been, so his dark gaze locked onto the Memorial Stone. Yami noticed that his name was no longer on the stone, but the names of his teammates were. Kakashi watched Yami's eyes dull with grief.

"Nevermi—"

We were attacked by Orochimaru, because he wanted my eyes. Yami signed, cutting Kakashi's words off.

Kakashi's jaw went slack, eyes wide.

My team was in pursuit of a rumor that Orochimaru was in the area near the border of Hi no Kuni. We were assigned the S-rank mission in order to validate the rumor and to find out what he was up to. It was a trap he had set and I lead my team right into it. Yami closed his eyes, fighting back the wave of guilt that threatened to swallow him up. Tsunade-sama happened to be traveling in the area with her apprentice and came across the fight just as Orochimaru was about to tear my eyes out of my head. She managed to heal me and left me with an old couple she trusted, keeping my survival a secret to allow Orochimaru to think that he lost his chance at getting my doujutsu.

Yami took in a deep, shuddering breath. Raising his left hand to cover half of his face, Yami opened his eyes. Wavering charcoal met heated charcoal.

"Your teammates' deaths are not on you. Orochimaru is an S-rank threat with a 'flee on sight' order. He is one of the Sannin for a reason. Stop blaming yourself, Yami." Kakashi spoke, his voice thick with emotion.

I will, when you stop blaming yourself for Rin and Obito's death. Yami signed, getting control over his guilt and pushing it back into the depths in which it rose. It's only a matter of time until Orochimaru knows I survived, if he does not know already. My money is that he already knows and is planning something.

Kakashi crossed the short distance between them and took hold of Yami's upper arms.

"He won't get your eyes, Yami." Kakashi spoke fiercely.

'It's not my eyes I'm worried about.' Yami thought, but swore that the Hebi-bastard would not be getting anywhere near his young cousin.

~oOo~

"Ohayo, my cute little genin!" Kakashi greeted, smiling at the three mulling about on the bridge.

"YOU'RE LATE!" Naruto and Sakura shouted, pointing accusingly at Yami and Kakashi.

Yami held up his hands, palms up while smiling at the three glaring genin.

"Sorry, we were on our way here when we got side tracked by the new Icha Icha film." Kakashi lied thoroughly.

Naruto went to retort, but paused. The three knew how obsessed their silver haired sensei was with Icha Icha, but was Yami? They looked at their ravenette sensei who did not give anything away. Three sighs sounded simultaneously.

"Okay, so we wanted you three here, because we have decided to nominate Team Seven for the up-coming Chunin Exam which is three days from now." Kakashi said. "Know that Yami and I are proud of the progress you three have made and we believe that you are ready."

Taking three forms from the inside of his hanten, Yami held them out to the three genin.

"Make sure to fill those out and report to the Academy at ten o'clock in room 301 if you choose to partake in the Exams." Kakashi told them.

"Sensei?" Sakura questioned the two jonin.

Kakashi smiled down at the pinkette.

"We would not have nominated the team, if we did not believe that every one of you were ready." Kakashi said to her, calming her doubt. "Now that that is out of the way, ja ne (bye)."

Kakashi shunshin away with Yami. The two landed out of sight in order to watch the three genin.

"Oi! Did they wake us up and make us wait only to tell us that?!" Naruto asked loudly.

Sasuke fumed, but looked over the form.

"I'm going to be in the Chunin Exams. I have to prove to myself that I can do this." Sasuke spoke out loud, getting Sakura and Naruto's attention.

Naruto grinned, before plopping down and taking a pen out of his hip pouch.

"Alright then I'll join too. Besides, I can't have you having all the fun, Teme." Naruto voiced, filling in his information.

Sakura watched as Naruto handed his pen to Sasuke when he was finished. She wanted to join too, because of her crush, but she wasn't sure if she, herself, was ready for the challenge. She had heard about how hard the Chunin Exams were and the risks of taking it. Lost in her thoughts, Sakura missed Sasuke holding out the pen for her.

"Sakura." Sasuke called to her, getting her attention.

"Huh?" Sakura asked dumbly, not really taking in the fact that Sasuke was talking to her.

"I don't want you to decide to take the Exams just because I am doing it. Give it some serious thought okay? The Dobe and I know your capabilities and we think you will do fine, but the decision lies with you and you alone." Sasuke told her seriously.

Sakura's face went the brightest shade of red Yami had ever seen on a person. He clamped his hands on Kakashi's shoulders, his chest pressing up against the other's back as he leaned in for a closer look.

She's finally doing something for herself and not because Sasuke is doing it. Yami signed to Kakashi, not taking his eyes off of the pinkette who was now filling out her information.

Kakashi was too busy fighting back his own flush and the unexpected rush of feelings for Yami, thus missing what the ravenette had signed.