The standing water outside the hospital entrance hadn't dried up. Every step plunged into yellow, muddy slop. The shrill alarm overhead kept buzzing, making my ears go numb. With my hands in my pockets, I kicked a broken brick into a trash can with a clang. Who would've thought I couldn't even get a decent night's sleep?
The streetlight flickered twice, and Kakashi darted out of an alley with his white hair soaking wet. A few strands of dead grass clung to his green vest, and dark circles hung beneath his dead-fish eyes. He couldn't stop in time. His boots skidded across the stone paving, leaving black streaks, and he nearly crashed into me.
"Sen, where are you dragging your feet off to? The sensory team said six monsters smashed through the barrier." Kakashi panted, his forehead protector askew. He wiped the rain off his face haphazardly, mud packed between his fingers. "The boss lady wants you on the front line, and you're taking a stroll?"
I let out a huge yawn, pulled out a toothpick, and stuck it between my teeth. "What's the damn rush, Kakashi-sensei? So the barrier broke. That crappy thing can't even keep stray cats out most days." I rolled my eyes, not wanting to look at his jittery face. "Overtime costs extra."
Kakashi's mouth twitched with anger, and he grabbed the back of my collar. "Extra, my ass! The ANBU sent word. It's the leader of the Akatsuki." He coughed twice, his throat rattling as if old phlegm were stuck in it. "Lord Jiraiya risked his life to bring back this intelligence. It's the Rinnegan!"
"So what if it's the Rinnegan? Having six black eyeballs gets you out of paying?" I slapped his paw away and flicked the creases out of my coat in disgust.