She wasn't sure what she'd find in the archives. Anko wasn't even sure what she was looking for to begin with. Curiosity, maybe, got the best of her as she tried to look for anything that had to do with her past with her old traitorous sensei.
However, what she found, was something entirely different.
She pulled out an old, what looks likes, reel. It dates back to the ending of the 3rd Shinobi War and another one titled Oct. 10. Her face blanched as she knew what the second was about.
Taking in a deep breath, she plays both reels, watching the history and memory of the village unfold. Her memories came flooding back as she thought of the countless Shinobi lost, child and adult alike. After a sigh, she was about to turn the first reel off to switch over when she sees Kakashi, head wrapped in gauze. Must've been after he got the Sharingan from Obito, she muses to herself. Anko notices how tired and defeated he looks. Despite having "won" the war, when there's such a high body count, no one truly wins.
Obito became a memory right then and there.
This makes her think of Rin. How she died was horrific, but it was more traumatizing to know how this deeply affected Kakashi. Anko recalled seeing just how dead and glazed over his eyes appeared.
Rin, like Obito, was just a memory.
She switched out the reels and watched the aftermath of the Kyuubi attack on October 10th. More memories came flooding in. She remembered not being able to help since they were the next generation and had to keep the Will of Fire alive, as said by the late Sandaime Hokage. She smiled weakly at the memory and sighs. Her gaze went back to the reel playing and sees the memorial service for the Shinobi who died, and also the Yondaime Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and his wife Kushina Uzumaki.
More people to add to the body count.
The video seemed to move and it rested on some of the ninja at the service. It zoomed in on Kakashi, his gaze even deader than before.
How long has the Jonin been alone like this? Had to have been since even after his father died. But... to know that people you love just keep becoming memories?
Memories are fleeting. Over time, they begin to blur. And who knows how many memories Kakashi has.
Turning the projector off, Anko made a mad dash to one place in the village. The one place where she figured she'd find him. After scouring for the silver haired jonin, she finally found him at the Memorial Stone.
Based on how his feet sat on the grass below him, it definitely seems like he'd been there all day, without moving. And without his genin team, he definitely has no where else to be at the moment.
She released a sigh and walked over to him, standing right next to him and studied the names.
They stand there in comfortable silence. She decided to show some sort of comfort and slowly placed her hand on his back, and rubbed gentle circles. A faint smile formed on her lips.
"You're not alone, ya know." She finally broke the silence. "I know it hurts, living with all of this, but please... Don't hold this in all by yourself. I know exactly how that feels and it's not healthy."
Kakashi's exposed eye glanced over to her and studied the snake kunoichi. He stayed silent, but took her words to heart. The jonin released a breath and glanced up towards the pinkish-purple paint stroked sky. "It's not easy. I can't just let go."
"I wasn't telling you to let go, Hatake," she replied. "Just... let someone in to help take some of the burden away. Let someone help you make new memories."
He smiled faintly at that, his gaze went back to the names carved onto the onyx stone.
Maybe... just maybe, he could allow someone in. "New memories, huh?" He thought for a beat. "That sounds interesting."
Anko smiled up at him. "Of course it's interesting. It's my idea, after all."
The two shinobi chuckled softly and went quiet. The comfortable silence between them picked back up. However, if someone were to look closer, they would notice that the two had their pinkies interlocked.
A new memory was added and Kakashi hoped this one doesn't end in tragedy.
