152 Baa-chan - 7
At eight years old, Sato was the average student at the Academy. It was the only time in his life when he had been truly and innocently devoted to his studies to become a shinobi.
He sat near the back of the classroom close to Chouji. His nose was buried in a scroll Iruka had handed out and given them a short time to look over. A few rows ahead of him Naruto chattered loudly with Sakura, making it slightly difficult for him to concentrate.
Sato had been working increasingly hard at school since his mother had to be admitted to the hospital for the third time that year. More and more treatments were necessary to keep her retreating health in check.
At the front of the classroom, a jounin who he did not recognize poked his head in the door and pulled Iruka aside to speak with him. A few other students looked up and then lost interest in the newcomer when he stepped outside of the classroom again.
"Sato, please come down for a moment," Iruka called to him, and the silver haired boy rose from his seat and reported to Iruka obediently, "There is a man here who would like to speak with you."
"Sure thing, Iruka-sensei." Sato stepped out into the hallway, sliding the door closed behind him.
The jounin's face was riddled with burn marks and his right eye was unusually discolored, Sato could tell from his first glance at the ninja. His expression was solemn and for a moment he wondered why he had been pulled aside at all.
He assumed it was retribution for one of his more recent pranks with Naruto's caboodle.
"Hatake Sato, yes?" The man confirmed and the boy nodded, "Would you…like to go outside for some fresh air?"
Sato raised his eyebrows at the offer, "Yeah, I'd like that. Uh…am I in trouble, sir?"
"Hm? No, kid, you're not in trouble."
That was Sato's first indication that something was not right. He followed the man out to the courtyard and they waited for a different class to go inside the building after recess before beginning their discussion.
"Sit down, Sato." The jounin ordered and the silver haired boy plopped down on a bench behind him compliantly.
"Is everything alright? You're a jounin; does this have something to do with my uncle? Is he okay?" Sato felt his stomach lurch with anxiety.
"Kakashi is fine…but," The jounin paused, averting his eyes from the boy, "Semi is not. Your mother passed away about an hour ago, Sato."
At first came denial, "What? You're crazy, man. I just talked to my mom this morning before going to school! She was feeling great!"
"I really am sorry, kid," The jounin looked at him again, sadness visible in his expression, "I came here to bring you to the Hokage, actually. He wants to talk to you about your options."
"My…m-my options?"
"You haven't even graduated, kid, you'll need some counseling so you can-"
Sato had sprung up from the bench and ran from the schoolyard, not wanting to hear another word. After he had mentioned the Hokage being involved he knew the man had been telling the truth but it didn't register in his mind.
His mother was his pillar and his morality. She was sick every day of her life and she never once complained. She couldn't be dead. Not yet. She wasn't allowed to die until he had said goodbye, not until he was ready.
'You're fine! You're fine! I know you're still here! You wouldn't leave me without letting me see you first!' His thoughts had totally rejected the idea of death and were replaced with delusions of farewells and comfort, 'I'll see you again!'
Sato's sandals hit the ground with heavy steps as he burst into the hospital, knowing its layout well since he had become a frequent visitor. The nurses he raced by wondered what a child was doing on his own during school hours.
'Just let me say goodbye!'
His face was wet and he couldn't see clearly through the tears. They dripped down his cheeks like fire as he felt like reality was gaining on him. He had to run faster to escape it. He was nearly there!
Her room was on the second floor; first door on the right. Sato rushed into the room with a bang, putting a dent in the wall after he had flung the door so forcefully.
Sato skidded to a halt.
The room had been emptied.
Reality caught up at last, 'Just let me say…goodbye…'
Then came the hysterics.
He became disoriented from crying and the lack of oxygen in his lungs. He had never run through the village so fast in his entire life, he had never had a reason to.
"Mom!"
Sato bumped into the panel of the doorway as he stumbled back into the hall, scraping his shoulder painfully.
He was screaming at the top of his lungs, his face burning from the salt. He didn't care that there were other sick patients in the wing he was disturbing, the only one who mattered was gone now and he refused to let her be forgotten so easily.
"Mom!"
He trembled in a large circle, howling, sobbing, fumbling along the wall until an ANBU guard seized him roughly and attempted to quiet him as patients poked their heads out of their respective rooms along the hall.
The ANBU, a woman, kneeled for him and let the silver haired student curl into her while he cried, knowing his pain could only be cured with understanding.
Sato peaked over the kunoichi's shoulder and saw a blurry Sandaime alongside Kakashi approaching him from down the hallway.
'…goodbye.'
*
Sato gulped down his milk. His throat felt dry as he recalled the day his mother died. It was probably because he had screamed himself hoarse.
"You know…you didn't look very sad when mom died that day." The boy commented guardedly.
"I was, Sato. Believe me, sadness tends to follow me and my loved ones around…"
But he didn't believe him, not really. Even if Kakashi had in fact been sad that day, he still hadn't shown it and that was why Sato began to understand why his mother had always been so tense around his uncle.
Kakashi sighed while pulling his mask down below his chin, taking a leisurely sip of milk.
Sato watched his face curiously for a moment, 'Hm…he has stubble. Looks like he had enough energy to at least shave this morning…'
It had reminded him of the first time he had seen his uncle's face. It had been the day of the funeral.
