Kakashi had no idea how long had passed before he woke up.
He opened his eyes and stared blankly at the gray sky above.
Leaves rustled in the wind, and the stench of blood still hung in the air.
He blinked, desperately trying to remember what had just happened—then he suddenly sat up.
"Rin!" He looked around frantically, his gaze sweeping over the bodies sprawled on the ground, the bushes stained red with blood, the shattered kunai, and the ruined ninja tools.
Then he saw her. Rin lay not far from him, her body slightly turned to one side, that relieved smile still on her face.
There was a charred wound in her chest. The blood had already congealed, staining the front of her clothes red.
Kakashi stared at her stupidly for a long time. His mind was blank, his pupils unfocused, his lips trembling.
Then he struggled to his feet and crawled over on his hands and knees, kneeling beside Rin.
Drop after drop of liquid ran down his cheeks, falling onto Rin's pale face and her cold hand.
"Rin..." His voice was so hoarse it was nearly inaudible.
"Obito... I'm sorry... I couldn't protect her..."
He lowered his head, pressing his forehead against Rin's shoulder as his body shook violently.
His silent sobs were more heartbreaking than wails.
In the distance, footsteps sounded. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Several figures landed behind Kakashi. They were Leaf Village reinforcements.
"Kakashi, are you all right?"
Kakashi abruptly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot as he roared hoarsely, "Who killed them?!"
The ninja froze for a moment. His gaze swept over the Hidden Mist Village corpses covering the ground, then over Rin in Kakashi's arms. After a brief silence, he said quietly:
"By the time we arrived, there was no one left here.