Chapter 6
Consciousness returned slowly, lazily. The familiar scent of the hospital calmed him, preventing him from trying to jolt awake in panic. Not that he thought he would have succeeded anyway. The pain in his body was dulled, but still persistently present.
The first thing he noticed was that the wound on his severed tongue had been closed. It dawned on him that he could move his body again—he could feel his fingers, his arms, his legs. Though sore and far too heavy to lift.
He could not hear, he could not see, he could not speak.
He realized that his chakra reserves had increased—he figured the medical-nin had performed a chakra transfusion on him. That was how he knew he was not alone in the room. Tenzou and the Fifth, he concluded.
Someone gently stroked his hand, likely trying to reassure him—Tsunade. Kakashi attempted to move his stiff fingers, still recovering from fractures. During ANBU missions, he often communicated using hand signs. Now, he clumsily signed, hoping that Tenzou would understand him.
"The Village, Team—safe?"
Hokage cast a questioning glance at Tenzou. The tall ninja stepped closer to the other side of the bed, offering a soft smile. Kakashi-senpai never changes.
"He’s asking about the kids and the Village."
First, he gave Kakashi’s hand a reassuring squeeze, then traced the word "Yes" on its back with his finger. Kakashi exhaled in relief—it hurt his lungs. His mind was still sluggish, clouded by painkillers and medicine. Perhaps even the lingering effects of ninjutsu. After all, he had no idea how long he had been unconscious, how much time had passed since his rescue. He was exhausted beyond belief. There was still one more thing he needed to know before sleep took him again. He signed:
"Ibiki, Inoichi—I betrayed?"
Tenzou responded instantly and firmly: "No." Then he relayed the question to Hokage.
Tsunade looked at Kakashi with admiration. Even in total unconsciousness, he had realized that the Interrogation Unit had accessed his memory. The skill and intelligence of this shinobi never ceased to amaze her. Ibiki had confirmed that Hatake had sealed away all the information he possessed within his own mind.
Kakashi visibly relaxed. Tenzou took his hand and carefully shaped his fingers into signs:
"Inoichi, Hokage will come later, sleep."
He repeated the message twice. Kakashi responded:
"You and Gai too."
Tenzou raised an eyebrow but nodded in confirmation—he would bring Gai.
When the monitors showed that Kakashi’s heart rate had steadied and his breathing had evened out, Tsunade signaled to Tenzou that they should leave.
The ANBU commander turned to her, his large, sorrowful eyes filled with concern.
"Hokage-sama, I’m afraid for him."
"I am too, Tenzou," she replied in a trembling voice—for the first time, calling him by the name only Kakashi ever used.