An Arrowed Heart and The Lost Priestess

Chapter 26

Kakashi, the Broken

AN: HOLY MOLY PEOPLE! So I re-read the last chapter of this story. How could I be so mean and leave this there for so long. Very very bad me! I am slowly trying to update these stories of mine!

Thanks to all the people sticking around and hoping for more!

As always Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Naruto or Inuyasha! All of that goes to Masashi Kishimoto-sensei and Rumiko Takahashi-sensei!

ENJOY! And PLEASE REVIEW! =^-^=

"Yo," greeted a familiar white haired man.

"Kakashi! Kakashi! OI! Kakashi-sensei!" a loud voice yelled through the fog of Kakashi's brain. He roused himself out of his stupor and searched for the annoying voice. He was leaning against a log by a campfire. There were people milling around behind him and all over the rest of the camp. Directly in front of him was the cause of the annoyance, a tall man with bright blond yellow hair. He was so familiar.

"Sensei?" Kakashi slurred.

"No, Kakashi-senesi it is Naruto," he sighed as he tried to lift his unsteady teacher off the ground. Kakashi sighed and tried to stand as well.

"That's right," Kakashi muttered as he was dragged to the medical tent. He was confused now. He was just drunk right. "Naruto, I will just sleep it off," He muttered again.

"Sorry Sensei but you can't sleep. Head injuries don't work that way. Took 4 years for the enemy to get the drop on you. Crazy!" Naruto exclaimed and set him on a cot.

"Head injury?" Kakashi thought to himself and brought his hand to his head. It was wet but didn't hurt at all. He pulled his hand back to his face and found it covered in blood. The world started moving in slow motion.

"What… What happened?" Kakashi slurred again this time swaying as well. Naruto caught him before he fell off the cot.

"We were ambushed and a clone got a lucky shot on you. I was concerned but you kept moving and killed it. The camp was in chaos for a minute and I lost you. When I found you again, you were leaning on that log passed out and bleeding. You gave me a heart attack. I thought you were dead for a second," Naruto babbled on. Kakashi hardly understood but nodded any way. He felt so disconnected and out of it.

"Hey Shizune! Can you look at Kakashi?" Naruto called out. She walked over to Kakashi and started inspecting his head.

"Well, doesn't look too bad," Shizune stated and brought a glowing green hand to Kakashi's head. Kakashi felt like his ears popped and everything came back into focus very fast.

"Whoa, that was a ride," he commented and took in his surroundings with a better focus. The Medical tent wasn't full but there were a few people in there. The memories from the previous night came back. The reason he was hit was simple. He was distracted, by a bird with iridescent feathers watching him.

"There, I have released some of the pressure on your brain. You should be good to go. I would take it slow for a little bit while everything heals. Well as slow as you can in War I supposed," Shizune sighed and walked over to another shinobi brought in.

"Naruto, did you see any weird after the attack?" Kakashi asked.

"No, just people getting stuff back together. We are relocating very soon," Naruto shrugged and walked out of the tent.

"I have been watching over that boy since my hime left. He knows I am here. This time I was not looking for him though," an older voice chuckled behind him. Kakashi spun around and came face to face with just the bird he had been thinking of.

"You!" He growled and jumped at the stupid bird. The bird sat unfazed as the shinobi caught hold of her. Kakashi paused. The bird waited quietly.

"Why were you looking for me, Bird? And how have you been here all this time and I have not seen you," Kakashi grumbled as her let it go.

"My name is Saieko, Thank you. I am seen when I want to be seen and nothing more. Today, I am here to offer you a chance to help Sakura-hime," Saieko offered.

"What do you mean help Sakura? Help bring her back?" Kakashi pushed.

Saieko shook her head sadly. "Sakura-hime will never be able to come back to this place. At least the way she remembered it. She was placed in sleep and will not awaken for quite some time. Naruto will be old and grey everything she knew will be gone."

"How did Mizuru let that happen!?" Kakashi growled trying not to attract attention to them.

"It was Sakura. She jumped in front of danger to help a friend. It is almost impossible for her to stand aside. You taught her well," Saieko hummed.

"Yeah, I wish I would have taught her not to be reckless as well. I will never see her again, how can I help her?" Kakashi asked defeated. He had lost so many people. What kind of shinobi was he?

"I never said You would never see her again. I said the world she knew will be gone. There is a way for you to go where she is. A way to continue being a teammate and teacher for her, but are you willing to sacrifice what you have here in world?" Saieko pushed trying to gauge the shinobi. Kakashi looked toward the entrance of the tent. Where Naruto had gone.

"I always let her slip through the cracks. Sasuke was more important. Naruto was more important. How could I do that to her again," Kakashi said quietly.

Saieko smiled, "Good that is what I needed to hear. Now space-time and interdimensional travel are a bit tricky. I could get you there for a short time no problem but you need to get there in a more permanent fashion," Saieko pondered for a little bit on the subject.

"How are you able to travel to these placed?" Kakashi asked a little curious by this creature.

"I am a deity with connections to large amounts of power across the dimensions. I have been linked to this place by Sakura and the summoning rituals of this world. That may be the answer. If we time this right, we could use the solstice to get you there and then a summoning to get you to Sakura," Saieko nodded happy with their plan.

"The solstice passed a few days ago," Kakashi grumbled. He supposed there was a war going on, having him around is a good idea.

"Give me your gloves," Saieko motioned. Kakashi raised an eyebrow and removed his gloves. Saieko snatched them from his hand and inspected them.

"Yes, yes perfect," She smiled and then bit Kakashi's hand.

"Ouch! What the hell? You could warn a person," Kakashi shook his hand in pain for a second. Saieko waited for him to finish his whining and nodded as his hand. Kakashi sighed and moved it back to her. Saieko moved the glove under Kakashi's bleeding hand. A few drops landed on the fabric and she nodded happy with her work.

"Now you are connected with these gloves and," Saieko paused and took a talon over her other foot causing a bit of blood to pool. It was strange. It was red like blood but there was a holo shine to it, like there was more to this then blood. She placed her foot over Kakashi's wound, let the blood fall, and seep into it. As her blood may contact with Kakashi's wound it sizzled. Saieko's eyes sparkled. "Me," She finished.

"What exactly did that do?" Kakashi mumbled and examined his hand. The small cut in his hand still was hot but closed. There was a faint line where the wound was that shined, just like Saieko's feathers.

"I have connected you to me. A simple process will aid in the travel for you. Now I need to go back, and prepare for this jump. You just stay alive in this crazy war and I will be back for you next solstice," Saieko nodded and hovered above the cot before disappearing in a flash of light. Kakashi looked around but no one seemed to notice the bird's flashy exit.

"Kakashi, the hokage is looking for you," A shinobi called from the entrance of the tent bringing him back to the present. There was a war to win. He had to finish this so he could go to Sakura. And he was determined to.

6 Months later

Kakashi panted as his hands flew through signs. They weren't familiar to him but they didn't have to be when Sharingan was concerned. He was facing an opponent he didn't personally now but the shinobi with him from Kirigakure were very familiar. He was one of the Seven ninja swordsman of the Mist. This sick Jutsu that Orochimaru had perfected, was bring back the dead to be used as puppets. Many great and evil Shinboi had come forth in the last few months.

Water jutsu and mimicked jutsu clashed together. Kakashi pushed forward knowing that he was half way there. He would not stop until he was dead.

5 months later

Kakashi fell to his knees. This was it, there was nothing he could do. Guy knelt next to him just as defeated, looking much older. Watching Lee fall destroyed him. They both were exhausted. Who was he kidding they were all exhausted. So many of them had fallen, and were brought back and forced to turn on each other. They had begun setting fire to the bodies of fallen friends so they would stay at rest.

"This is it old friend," Guy sighed. Kakashi nodded and watched the enemy move forward in front of them. Kakashi felt something move on his leg. He looked down in reflex and noticed a white slug.

"Tsunade-sama says thank you and good bye," the small slug smiled and began to glow. Chakra rushed into Kakashi's system healing small wounds and pushing him to his feet. It gave him the push he needed things became clear again and he saw many small slugs on all the shinobi around him. The chakra flow stopped and kakashi looked down.

"This was the last thing she could do," the slug said sadly and disappeared in smoke along with the rest of the slugs in the area. Kakashi understood what needed to be done.

"FOR TSUNADE!" He yelled and rushed forward followed by an army of newly refreshed shinobi.

Summer solstice

Kakashi stared at the Village he had loved and protected all his life. They made it. The Will of Fire pushed every one of the shinobi in this village to more than they could be. They had lost a lot of good people. The Memorial statue, for all the people lost in the War, was full. It was a beautiful reminder of what had been lost. The village continued reconstruction, everything was settling back into a new normal. Tsunade's last command made Naruto Hokage. It may have surprised some but not anyone close to him. During the war Naruto became an amazing leader. People flocked to his never-ending energy. With the help of Sasuke he defeated Madara, ending the 5 years of war the world shook for. The world was slowly moving on, and it was time for him too as well.

The last few days he made sure to speak with everyone important to him. He said laughed, congratulated, and mourned with the most amazing people this world had to offer. The sun inched closer and closer to midday. Better find that bird and get moving.

He was always looking for that stupid bird but she never showed herself to him again. This Deity or whatever she was unnerved him.

"She better keep up her end of this weird plan," Kakashi thought to himself as he walked out of the front gates. He turned a looked at his Village for the last time as he will remember it. Hokage mountain was adorned with Naruto's face now. This Village will be safe under him. Kakashi was sure of that.

"Where you heading Kakashi?" A voice called from the guard post.

"A bit of training," Kakashi smiled. An arm grabbed him around the shoulders and startled him.

"Trying to leave without saying goodbye?" Naruto said quietly. Kakashi stared at him for a moment.

"Saieko told you?"

"Yep, she was around the whole war. She helped me keep tabs on teammates in the chaos. There were a few instances that no one could have stopped, but I was able to keep you and a few others alive thanks to her," Naruto smiled and waved at the other citizens as they milled around.

"So what are you going to do? Sun high Is coming and I need to go," Kakashi asked simply.

Naruto Sighed, "Nothing, I couldn't help Sakura or stop her. I can't leave now. I have a Village to protect. While you have done so much for this Village already. She needs a little bit of home I think. Team 7 has always fought for each other. Just do me a favor and tell her she is missed," Naruto smiled sadly and walked back into the village.

Kakashi smiled and turned away from the village and towards a new adventure.

"Saieko? Shouldn't you be with Kakashi?" Naruto sighed as he closed the door to his office. The bird shrugged and landed on Naruto's shoulder.

"The last piece of this puzzle is actually you. Would you like to say goodbye to Sakura-hime?" Saieko spoke quietly. Naruto contained all of his excitement for once and nodded simply.

"Goodbye would be good enough for me."

"I need you to get give these to her and then Kakashi can make his journey," Saieko handed Naruto Kakashi's gloves.

"I will do whatever I can to help," Naruto replied placing the gloves in his pocket.

"This next bit will be exhausting. Once you return it may be some time before you can use your more powerful Jutsus," Saieko warned as she prepared. Naruto nodded and stood firm.

"Alright here we go," Saieko lifted into the air and hovered in front of Naruto. Her wings were shining so brightly and began to overtake Naruto's vision until all there was was the bright white light. Naruto felt himself be pulled down and the chakra evaporate from his body. It all stop as fast as it started. Naruto opened his eye and found himself on a hill outside of a village.

"Remember Sakura-hime needs Kakashi's gloves for this to work," Saieko reminded him. "You will have only a short amount of time here. She is in the hut at the bottom of the hill. She should have felt us."

Naruto started walking toward the hut and smiled when a pink haired girl burst out of it. He really couldn't stop himself. He flashed forward before he even knew what he was doing. He had Sakura in his arms and sighed. He could move on now, he could be the leader Konoha needed.

Kakashi paced around the clearing. He knew this clearing pretty well. This is where it all started, the only thing missing was that damned tree. The Sun was almost at its peak, time was running out. Kakashi wasn't even sure if the bird was even going to help him. This was some sick joke she was playing on him, it had to be.

"Well, in a couple more minutes I will know for sure," Kakashi sighed to himself. He stared at the sky that was showing through the break in the tree. The sun was inching its way to the middle of the break. Kakashi covered his eye with is arm and sighed. He was prepared, he was ready, he was getting ants, and he was about to give up when something landed on his shoulder.

"I apologize for my tardiness," Saieko bowed. "Even with power over time things can't be helped. I wanted to be able to prepare you for the journey but it seems sun high is upon us."

In front of the pair a tree shimmered to being in the sun. Kakashi remembered it all too well. The large trunk, tangled roots and spot right in the center where the bark was worn away. Saieko flew forward and bowed to the tree.

"I am here to keep a promise tree. I am here to see my hime the aid she will need in the coming journey. I ask that you cut my connection to Edo and take this man in my place?" Saieko hovered in front of the tree with her head still bowed.

"Oh ho ho ho, is it time already?" The branches of the tree shook as a loud ancient voice echoed in the clearing.

"Yes, it is time," Saieko sighed looking up at the tree. The tree creaked as it shuddered in the wind.

"You know then that cutting your connection from Edo will prevent me from ever coming here again? There is no return?" the voice spoke again.

"Yes, I knew, have known and will remember all my days." Saieko spoke in a confident tone. Kakashi looked up and noticed the leaves at the top of the tree begin to disappear.

"We don't have much time," Kakashi urged. This weird conversation was not getting him any closer to Sakura. Well, that he knew of anyway.

"Time, that is all this old tree has," the voice chuckled as its roots began to move toward him. Saieko turned to kakashi.

"Do not resist or move this is how you get to sakura-hime," Saieko said as a root struck her. Kakashi watched wide eyed as the root pulled some red string out of the bird. One end was sticking out of Saieko's chest while the other seemed to run along the root and into the ground. The root pulled quickly and the thread snapped. Saieko squeaked but stayed still. The root took the string and moved toward Kakashi. He fought the urge to back away with all of his willpower. Roots came from the ground and wrapped around his legs planting him in place as the root with the string moved forward.

"This will hurt," the ancient voice piped up again. Another root shot forward and buried itself into Kakashi's chest. Kakashi looked down in shock. There was no blood or wound but the root was definitely inside him. The root moved around and pulled a red string from his chest much like Saieko's. "The threads of fate. To truly leave this place you must sever it," the voice spoke as the root tugged snapping Kakashi's thread. Kakashi gasped as the pain rocketed through him. It was like he had lost all sense of who he was for just a moment. The root that had the other end of Saieko's string connected with the jagged torn end of Kakashi's and it all came flooding back. It was in that moment that the sun shifted out of the sky and the world went dark around him.

Saieko landed on the ground exhausted. She felt the difference right away. As soon as her connection had been severed. Sakura-hime was no longer in her reach. Edo was no longer in her reach. She looked to the sky and sighed.

"Now to watch over young Naruto. I will protect him to my dying day for Sakura-hime." Saieko nodded and took to the sky. Her time with her hime was up, this was the end of her connection to that story.

Kakashi felt himself being thrown in all different directions. He couldn't grab hold of anything. There was no light or sound. Just Kakashi in this endless sea of darkness. He had no idea how long he had been in the darkness when suddenly everything came crashing back together. His feet touched the ground and he felt the electricity around him. He blinked a few times against harsh contrast of the void and bright colors of trees he saw now. Everything came into focus when he saw a pink dot take over his vision.

"Sakura!" he thought as he rushed to her. He knelt down as she looked up at him. Kaskashi had no idea what to say. What to do? So he said the first thing that came to mind.

"Yo."

AN: OH! OH! Ladies and gentleman that is a rap! Whoo that was fun to right and nice to get back into. I hope you all enjoyed this ride. If you didn't get the hint Saieko has been removed from the store and the connection to the Land of Fire. We will not be going back there. The rest of the story will take place in Inuyasha's world, Edo.

Please review and let me know what you think!

TTFN TA TA FOR NOW!

Tigress-of-the-Grove