Work Text:
The seas were angry, maybe even angrier than the sky that cracked with thunder and flashed with lightning. Kakashi grit his teeth, planted his feet and hauled the ropes in. All around him people shouted and barrels rolled across the deck. The whole ship creaked and the sickening sound of cracking wood reached his ears.
As he tied the rope taught he caught a flash of orange and a glimpse of purple. He turned and watched in slow motion and his friends were nearly flung overboard by a wave. He felt himself slide back towards the crew quarters, his shoes finding no traction on the water logged deck.
He slid to a stop and turned to see the bow splinter, torn apart by the waves. Over the thunder he heard their captain shouting, voice cutting through the chaos.
“The hull is compromised, we’re going down! Abandon ship!” Hiruzen’s words sent a chill down Kakashi’s spine. He felt the hair stand up in his neck. Then there was a flash of light. Suddenly there was the distinct sound of splintering wood.
“Kakashi!” There are unison shouts and then the world collapses.
“Are you okay?” Kakashi could barely Obito’s shout over his own ringing ears. Was he okay? He quickly assessed the situation.
“I’m alive!” He called. “I can’t move!” At once both of his friends were in front of him, trying to pull him from the rubble.
“What happened?” Rin asked.
“Lighting, look,” Obito nodded behind Kakashi and Rin gasped, and Kakashi finally smelled the smoke. He tried once more to push himself up but pain shot through his leg. He turned and found it pinned under a thick structural beam. Rin and Obito desperately tried to unbury it but Kakashi knew it was no use.
“It’s not going to work,” Kakashi told them. “The ship’s about to sink, you two need to get on rafts.”
“We won’t do that! We’re not leaving you!
“Can’t we just pull him out?”
“No! We’ll tear his leg off trying!” Rin cried.
“Rin,” Kakashi said, “go find Minato, he’s probably getting people onto rafts. He can help.”
“Right! Of course! I’ll be back!” The girl took off into the now crowded deck.
“Obito,” Kakashi said. “The ship’s about to split open and then burn down. It’s no use. Leave me.”
“Hell no. I know sensei will make sure she gets on a raft safely, but I won’t be tricked so easily. If you’re staying behind, I’m staying behind.”
“If you stay we both die, that’s pointless! I’m dying anyway. It’s either drowning or burning here or I die of this leg in a few days.”
“That’s not true!”
“Three days at best, with an open wound and a rough sea? Yes it is, Obito! But where would you rather die? Here with me? Or when you’re old and ugly, with Rin at your side?”
“You idiot-“ Obito choked, his lip wobbling.
“Go,” Kakashi told the other boy, fighting to keep his voice steady.
“Fine,” Obito snarled, turning and stomping away. Good. The fire caused by the lightning was small due to the sea-soaked wood and pounding rain, but Kakashi could feel it getting closer.
Then there was the water. The deck was flooded now, and each time a wave crashed over the rail Kakashi was forced to hold his breath.
His father would be proud, he hoped. He was dying at sea, protecting his friends. His father would have wanted to save people.
Water streams down Kakashi’s face. It’s just the rain. His leg screams in pain and he feels weight shifting as the boat tips forward, sinking towards their watery grave.
“You really thought I would leave my student to die?” Kakashi blinks and there looms his teacher, his usual spikes plastered to his forehead and a frown on his lips. Kakashi just coughed up salt water and smoke in response and tried to push himself upright again.
“None of that,” came Rin’s voice at his side. She caught his shoulder and shuffled closer until her knees were keeping his head above water. He felt Obito’s glare even though he couldn’t see it.
“Obito, help pull Kakashi out on three!”
Their sensei counted down and suddenly Kakashi was sliding free. The pain as his broken leg was yanked free was almost welcome. Blood clouded the water surrounding them and Kakashi grit his teeth in pain.
Suddenly Obito was under one arm, Rin on the other, pulling him to his feet and racing (as best they could given the limp and calf deep water), towards the last raft. The captain and a few others waited a few yards from the ship. The three kids halted, unsure of how to proceed.
“Obito, Rin, swim for it, I’ve got Kakashi,” Minato decided for them. The pair nodded, letting go the moment Minato had a firm grip on the white haired boy, then dove into the calming sea.
“Sensei are you sure you can swim with me?”
“Yes, but who said anything about swimming?” Minato scooped Kakashi up, backed up a few paces and leapt onto the small boat. Kakashi felt his fingers dig into the man’s shoulder at the movement and quickly let go. His teacher just gave a soft hum.
“It’s going to be okay Kakashi,” Minato whispered into his hair.
“Get some rest,” Rin added gently.
“Don’t die, stupid.”