On an early-spring night, it wasn't as cold as in the depths of winter. Late at night, Uzumaki Kuming gazed through the window at the bright moon in the sky, then fell peacefully asleep.
The next day, just as the first rays of dawn peeked over the horizon, a rapid knocking sounded from the courtyard.
"Coming!"
Kakashi was sparring with Uchiha Itachi in the courtyard. When he heard the knocking, he immediately backed away from Itachi and called out as he ran toward the entrance.
"Coming, coming!"
"Who is it?"
Kakashi was puzzled. They were staying in the Land of Flowers, and they didn't have any relatives or friends nearby. He was already on guard as he opened the door, still holding the short sword he'd been sparring with.
The moment he opened the door, someone lurched toward him. A heavy stench of blood rushed into Kakashi's nostrils. He was about to dodge when he realized he recognized the person collapsing in front of him: it was the Konoha Ninja they'd had dinner with the day before.
"Senior Koizumi?" Kakashi cried, quickly catching the young man. A cold, wet sensation spread across his hand.
"Blood?!" Kakashi pulled back his hand and saw it was covered in blood. He raised his head slightly and spotted a trail of blood stretching from the distance all the way to the courtyard gate.
"Kakashi."
"Quick, notify Lord Kuming. Kotaro and the others are in danger—"
Koizumi's voice was faint as he slumped in Kakashi's arms, one hand gripping Kakashi's arm tightly. Kakashi still managed to hear him. He was about to carry Koizumi into the courtyard so Rin could treat him, when the hand clinging to his arm suddenly fell limp.
"Senior Koizumi?!"
"Senior Koizumi!"
"Rin, hurry!"
Kakashi shouted anxiously into the courtyard. Rin,