“I’m chatty. It’s part of my charm” from genki! || @rewrittn
Kakashi had departed from Konoha after being assigned a mission. It was simple on paper, a group of bandits had taken over an abandoned temple & it was his job to wipe them out. It hadn't warranted dispatching out a whole team & so the task fell upon Kakashi. It was just more orders to him, more blood to spill. It was supposed to be quick, clean & efficient --- unfortunately, that was hardly the case. He had only managed to split one throat before it became apparent that his intel was flawed. The men that had banded together weren't just mindless brutes; they were shinobi. Still, he had foolishly pushed forward. Perhaps it was pride; or a persistent disregard for his own survival.
Kakashi had shifted in & out of the shadows, a heavy silence following him. His steps were light and calculated. The only thing that gave away his presence was the soft sound of a sharp blade tearing through flesh. He managed to drag his kunai across the throats of four men before their bodies were discovered, alerting the bandits to the intruder. It hadn't been long before they found Kakashi, hands drenched in their friends' blood. There were more men than he had thought, more than he had been prepared to deal with. He may have summoned his ninken if there was even a moment to think, dancing in between attacks. He did all he could to deflect their blades, but their numbers were overwhelming ----
But something unanticipated took place. Another man entered the fray, tearing through flesh & providing Kakashi with a sliver of hope for their survival. Though he didn't know the man, they worked well together --- there was a certain understanding that they were on the same side. They left a trail of bodies in their wake, uncovering a network of hideouts like this scattered throughout the area. Initially, Kakashi had taken him to be missing-nin --- he wore the telltale sign of someone who had defected around his neck. Through interactions, he quickly learned that it was more of a sentimental statement & that Genki had only ever served Genki.
It left Kakashi weary. To serve no one was to have no accountability and no direction. Someone like Genki could be dangerous as they were commendable. Regardless, Kakashi would likely be dead if not for him. Up until now, Kakashi had been a brick wall. He hadn't been too keen on sharing the details of his mission nor how he fell short. Instead, he had opted to listen to the other chat, occasionally sharing a passing thought. They had set up camp, deciding to pursue the information they had uncovered. Kakashi had spent the earlier part of the evening caring for his wounds & listening to Genki fill the silence with whatever thought popped into his head.
" You do have a lot to say. " Though he tries to sound annoyed, he doesn't try that hard. It was oddly familiar, though he had known very few like him. They're sitting across from one another, on either side of a small fire they had started. Kakashi couldn't help but admire the other's willingness to be forthright. It wasn't a common quality in any shinobi, but not many were allowed to define their own secrets... it was disarming, in a way. He tries not to let his voice betray any intrigue the other sparks, keeping his tone flat. " It's not every day you meet a chatty shinobi. "
