Kakashi
Kakashi leaned back in his chair in the Hokage’s office, eyes narrowing thoughtfully as he sifted through the morning reports. The stack of mission logs, village updates, and training assessments spread out before him, but his focus wavered. His gaze shifted to the open window, where the first light of dawn crept into the room, casting long shadows across the floor. He let out a sigh, tapping his fingers absently against the desk.
Something wasn’t right.
The Sixth Hokage had noticed the growing silence surrounding a particular Uchiha lately—Sasuke. It had been weeks since Kakashi last saw him around the village. There were no mentions of him sparring in the training grounds or dropping by Ichiraku’s, not even a glimpse of him at the mission desk. Most concerning of all, Naruto, the ever-energetic shinobi who was training to be his successor, had fallen uncharacteristically silent about Sasuke.
Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship had always been an enigma to everyone around them—fiery, intense, and unwavering. Ever since Sasuke returned to Konoha after the war, Naruto’s bond with him had been like a beacon of hope, a testament to the strength of their connection. Naruto often spoke about Sasuke with a brightness in his eyes that no one could miss. He would talk about their shared training sessions, their clashes in ideals, and his relentless attempts to get Sasuke to open up more.
But lately, Naruto’s voice never brought up Sasuke’s name. It was almost as if Sasuke had vanished from Naruto’s world.
Kakashi frowned, mulling over the thought. He had dismissed it as Naruto being overwhelmed with his training for the Hokage role, the relentless schedules, and the responsibilities weighing him down. Yet, this silence gnawed at him. Naruto might be swamped, but he would never stop mentioning Sasuke unless something was seriously wrong.
There was more to this than just busy schedules.
Pushing his chair back, Kakashi rose to his feet. He wasn’t one to be overbearing, but as Hokage, and more importantly, as someone who had mentored both Naruto and Sasuke, it was his duty to intervene if something seemed amiss.
If Naruto wouldn’t talk, then he would go straight to the source.
With that thought in mind, Kakashi made his way through the early morning streets of Konoha, heading toward the Uchiha compound. As he neared the once-grand estate, a sense of foreboding settled in his chest. It was too quiet. The gates were slightly ajar, a few stray leaves rustling across the pathway. He pushed the gates open cautiously and stepped inside.
The compound felt like a ghost town.
Kakashi’s sharp eyes scanned the surroundings. Dust clung to the edges of the courtyard, weeds sprouting in corners where there should have been perfectly manicured grounds. The main house loomed in front of him, its dark wood exterior seeming more weathered than usual. Taking a steadying breath, he crossed the yard and pushed the door open, stepping inside.
The sight that greeted him sent a chill down his spine.
The Uchiha household had always been kept in pristine condition, a testament to Sasuke’s strict nature and respect for his heritage. But now… now it looked abandoned, as if Sasuke had left in a hurry and never returned.
Dishes were left on the table, a few kunai scattered on the floor as if they had been dropped carelessly. Several scrolls lay open, some crumpled and forgotten. Even more startling were the small signs of neglect—dust gathered on the furniture, a broken cup still lying in the corner, untouched. This wasn’t Sasuke’s way. He was meticulous to a fault, every action deliberate, every space he occupied orderly.
Kakashi moved through the house, his unease growing with every empty room he passed. He stopped at what appeared to be a small living room, noticing a faint stain on the floor, like the remnants of dried blood. His heart skipped a beat.
Had there been a fight?
He crouched down, touching the dark mark, and narrowed his eyes. It wasn’t recent, but it wasn’t old enough to be dismissed. Whatever happened, it hadn’t been long ago.
Kakashi straightened, glancing around the empty house. There was no trace of Sasuke’s recent presence, no indication of where he might have gone. He checked the small kitchen area, noting the untouched food supplies and the half-eaten meal left on the counter. It looked like Sasuke had left abruptly and hadn’t bothered to return since.
“Where are you, Sasuke?” Kakashi murmured, stepping back into the main hall. He couldn’t shake the ominous feeling crawling up his spine.
Something had driven Sasuke away from his own home—something serious.
If Sasuke was gone, why hadn’t Naruto been more worried? Or had he known all along?
Kakashi’s thoughts raced as he exited the compound, his brow furrowed in deep concern. There was no sign of a struggle, no forced entry—just a strange sense of abandonment. He couldn’t let this slide. Sasuke’s disappearance, coupled with Naruto’s sudden reticence, could not be a coincidence.
Returning swiftly to the Hokage’s office, Kakashi was about to summon two of his most trusted Anbu operatives to “Begin a discreet search for Uchiha Sasuke,”
when a rapid knock at the door caught his attention. One of his aides stepped in, looking breathless.
“Hokage-sama, Lady Tsunade has sent a message,” the aide said, holding out a scroll.
Kakashi’s heart skipped a beat as he took the scroll and read the contents. The neat, urgent script was unmistakably Tsunade’s.
“Sasuke has been found at the hospital. He’s in critical condition. Come immediately.”
He stared at the words, disbelief and concern warring in his chest. Sasuke… in critical condition? How? Why? He crumpled the scroll slightly, jaw tightening. All this time he had been worrying, and Sasuke had been in serious danger.
Without another thought, Kakashi darted out of the office, his mind racing. He barely acknowledged the curious glances of the guards and villagers as he made his way to the hospital, moving faster than he had in a long time.
When he arrived, Tsunade was waiting for him, her expression grim. “What happened?” he demanded, voice low and urgent.
“I’ll explain inside,” she murmured, leading him to a private ward.
As Kakashi followed, his heart pounded furiously. Whatever had happened to Sasuke, it was far more serious than he’d imagined.
And he would get to the bottom of it.
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Kakashi followed Tsunade down the sterile hallways of Konoha’s hospital, his steps heavy with concern. He barely noticed the bustling of the medics and patients around him as they made their way to a secluded part of the hospital, a place typically reserved for high-profile cases requiring utmost confidentiality.
“Lady Tsunade,” Kakashi started quietly, breaking the tense silence between them, “what happened to Sasuke?”
Tsunade glanced back at him, her expression stern yet shadowed with worry. “I’ll explain everything once we’re inside, but there’s more to this than what it seems. You need to see for yourself.”
Kakashi’s mind raced as they continued walking, a dozen scenarios flashing through his head. He had always known Sasuke was stubborn and would rarely ask for help. What could have pushed him into such a condition that even Tsunade felt compelled to intervene? His thoughts turned to Naruto, a flicker of frustration and confusion simmering beneath his calm façade. Why hadn’t Naruto been the one to alert him? What is happening between his two former students?
As if reading his thoughts, Tsunade spoke again, her voice lower this time. “Kakashi, there’s something else. The person who brought Sasuke in… wasn’t Naruto.”
Kakashi stiffened, turning his gaze sharply to her. “Then who—?”
They stopped in front of a sealed door, its white surface almost too pristine under the harsh hospital lights. Tsunade pushed it open gently, stepping inside. Kakashi followed, his eyes widening as he took in the scene.
The private room was dimly lit, a single bed occupying the center. Lying on it was Sasuke, pale and still, his eyes closed in a state of unconsciousness. An IV drip hung beside the bed, the steady beeping of a heart monitor the only sound in the quiet room. But it wasn’t Sasuke’s condition that caught Kakashi’s immediate attention.
Standing beside the bed, his posture tense and alert, was Neji Hyuga.
“Neji?” Kakashi’s voice was low, filled with both confusion and suspicion. Why would Neji be here? And why was Sasuke in such a critical state?
Tsunade sighed, gesturing for Kakashi to come closer. “He’s the one who brought Sasuke here,” she explained softly. “When we saw Sasuke’s condition, we had to admit him immediately. Severe dehydration, malnutrition, and extreme exhaustion. But there’s more to it.”
Kakashi’s eyes narrowed. He moved closer to the bed, staring down at Sasuke’s face. The Uchiha looked almost fragile, the hollows under his eyes stark against his pale skin. “What do you mean, ‘more to it’?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out,” Tsunade murmured.
Kakashi turned to Neji, who remained standing stiffly by the bed, his eyes focused on Sasuke’s unconscious form. “Neji,” Kakashi began, his tone edged with urgency, “what happened? Where did you find him? And… where is Naruto?”
At the mention of Naruto’s name, Neji’s expression tightened, a flash of something dark crossing his usually composed features. He looked up, meeting Kakashi’s gaze steadily.
“I found Sasuke at the Uchiha compound,” Neji said quietly. “He was unconscious in the living room, like this.” He gestured to Sasuke’s motionless body, his voice laced with a mix of anger and frustration. “There was no one else there. The house was in complete disarray. It looked like he had been alone for a while… suffering.”
Kakashi felt a surge of disbelief. Alone? Suffering? “But why? And why were you the one to find him, Neji?” His gaze was sharp, piercing, trying to understand what wasn’t being said.
Neji shifted slightly, his posture still composed, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—anger, frustration, and something almost protective. “Two weeks ago, at the training grounds,” Neji began, his voice steady but low. “I saw Naruto and Hinata… kissing.”
Kakashi’s eyes widened in shock. He knew the bond between Sasuke and Naruto. Everyone in the village knew they were together even though they have tried to hide it . That Naruto would betray Sasuke like that… it didn’t fit.
“And Sasuke saw it too,” Neji continued. “He confronted them right then and there. They were both… terrified. Naruto tried to run after him, tried to explain, but Sasuke stopped him and told Naruto to stay away. You should have seen his face , He looked at them like they’d ripped out his heart and didn’t even realize it.”
Kakashi felt a cold chill run down his spine. He knew Sasuke. He knew how deeply Sasuke felt things, even when he tried to hide it. The idea of Sasuke seeing the one person he had finally opened up to—trusted—betraying him in such a way was almost too much to bear.
After the confrontation, Sasuke just… shut down. He locked himself in the compound and stopped coming out.”
Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck, frustration and sorrow mixing in his gaze. “And you knew about all of this?” he asked quietly. “You watched it happen?”
“Yes.” Neji’s voice was firm. I thought… I thought Sasuke needed time. But then days passed, and he still didn’t show up anywhere. Not at the markets, not at the training grounds—nowhere. So, I went to check on him at the Uchiha compound.”
He closed his eyes briefly, as if the memory pained him. “I found him unconscious. He looked… lifeless. Like he hadn’t eaten or slept in days. He was dehydrated and feverish.” Neji swallowed hard, his gaze softening as he looked at Sasuke’s pale face, I brought him here, straight to the hospital.”
Kakashi’s chest tightened, a mix of guilt and anger roiling inside him. He should have noticed something was wrong. How had this happened right under his nose?
Kakashi noted the subtle tension in the Hyuga’s stance. After a long silence, Neji turned toward him, his gaze steady.
Hokage sama ,” Neji began, his voice low but resolute, “I have a request.”
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue.
“I want to stay here, by Sasuke’s side, until he wakes up. But I need you to inform the Hyuga clan that I’m on a special mission,” Neji said, his tone serious. “If they find out I’ve been missing for days without a reason, it’ll raise questions. And I don’t want any interference—especially from the clan elders.”
Kakashi considered his words, then nodded slowly. “I understand. I’ll send a message to the Hyuga right away. You’ve done more than enough by bringing Sasuke here, Neji. Staying by his side is admirable.”
I have one more request, neji says . Hokage sama please keep Sasuke's condition private , Naruto and Sakura should not know especially not Sakura,” he added pointedly. “She… still harbors feelings for Sasuke, despite everything. If she finds out he’s vulnerable, she might ...he stops
Kakashi nodded slowly, understanding the layers of complications involved. “I’ll make sure she stays out of this. But Neji…” He paused, his gaze serious. “Are you going to be alright with this? Staying by Sasuke’s side like this?”
Neji’s eyes softened as he glanced back at the unconscious Uchiha. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said quietly. “I’ll stay by his side until he wakes up. ”
Kakashi looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the raw sincerity in Neji’s gaze. This wasn’t just about duty or obligation. Neji genuinely cared—more than Kakashi had ever realized.
Kakashi nodded again, placing a reassuring hand on Neji’s shoulder. “Alright. I’ll send word to the Hyuga clan, let them know you’re here on a mission of your own.” His gaze turned back to Sasuke. “For now… let’s just focus on making sure he recovers.”
Neji bowed his head slightly. “Thank you, Hokage Sama .”
The silver-haired shinobi gave him a grim smile. “No, Neji. Thank you. Sasuke is lucky to have a friend like you.”