A/N: This is set at the end of the Time Skip. Shortly before Naruto and Jiriaya returned from training. Kakashi's Last mission before the Anime picks up again.
Chapter 1 : Out of Character.
"Kakashi Hatake" Tsunade sat as she always did, with her head resting on her hand looking fed up. "I have a new mission for you. It's a possible recovery mission." The Hokage nodded to a mission sleeve on the desk, Kakashi stepped forward and took it.
"As you can see, one of our teams has failed to return from a B rank mission. Our last communication led us to believe that everything was on schedule." With a heavy sigh the hokage sat back in her chair. Her eyes rose to the ceiling in thought and then rested back on Kakashi.
The Jonin frowned and closed the sleeve; he tossed it back onto the desk and scratched the back of his head. "Something is obviously missing, Hinata-kun couldn't have messed this up. She's a good Chunin, and her Genin show promise too. Have you informed Hisashi?"
"He's only just dragged Neji out of my office." She replied looking unusually sad, "He tore his forehead protector off and said it's his branches responsibility to protect the main branch, the seal was proof" Tsunade swivelled her chair stood up and approached the window. "I told him he couldn't go. I'm worried about this, both Hinata and Hanabi missing, both the heiresses to the Hyuga clan, lost in my term."
The older woman looked at her feet, her hands tensed fiercely. She didn't notice Kakashi move until his hand was on her shoulder. "Tsunade, it's not your fault. You can't be resp-"
"It has to be you, Kakashi-san." She interrupted, as always she showed the utmost confidence in his abilities. Something about this trust unnerved Kakashi. "Failure is not an option. Dismissed." She finished.
"I'll return them to Konoha, Hokage-sama." Kakashi announce. Before she could turn to nod at him, he had left, and was on his way across the rooftops. Alone in her office Tsunade sat thinking to herself. 'Failure is not an option', as if you'd need reminding.
At the entrance to Konoha there seemed to be some kind of disturbance, normally it wouldn't stop Kakashi, but he was sure he could see Neji down there. When he hit the next roof he tossed himself off to the right, feet pressed against the chimney Kakashi gasped. Gai's old pupil had taken a fighting stance. Kakashi frowned and shunshined to the gate.
Neji pivoted and launched into his melee, suddenly he lost his balance and started to topple backwards. Without his byakugan he couldn't see who had stopped him, with a nimble twist and a handspring Neji came to rest still battle ready.
"Neji!" Kakashi barked. He was crouching with one leg out to the side, exactly where Neji had been a moment ago. "What are you doing?" the two gate guards ran to Kakashi's side, Izumo and Kotetsu the Hokage's assistants. Before the Hyuga Jonin could speak Izumo piped up.
"Hokage-sama has forbid him from leaving the village. If he leaves, he'll be considered defected, and ANBU will be notified."
Kotetsu shook his head and finished for her friend, "The Bingo Book"
Kakashi was stunned. That wasn't at all necessary for Neji, but Tsunade-sama was determined to keep him here. Had she omitted something? Why was this recovery so dangerous that she wouldn't risk anyone else on it? This could be a problem.
"Hinata and Hanabi are still out there" Neji said, looking straight at his fellow Jonin, "I have to go help them." He took a step forward, but stopped as Kakashi stood up. The older of the two was slightly taller, more of an imposing presence.
"We know, and it's being taken care of." The two Chunin friends nodded to Kakashi and stepped back towards the gate. "I know you feel guilty for what you did to Hinata, but you're disobeying your Hokage."
Neji stiffened and glared at Kakashi. Fueled by guilt Neji was being irrational and hostile, a Jonin should know better.
"To not go would be neglecting my duties to the main branch!" he fumed his Byakugan forming as he spoke. "I'm going to help them. You can't stand in my way."
The one eye brow that was concealed rose on Kakashi's forehead. Tilting his head slightly to the side he noted Neji's stance, Byakugan and frown. It was just like the Chunin exams.
"You'd fight me? Just to get out of here?" Kakashi asked with a sigh, without waiting for a reply he added, "Have some respect."
Astonished, Kakashi watched as Neji laughed. He sneered at the silver headed ninja and replied, "Respect, Kakashi you're no longer my senior. You rank no higher than me, Remember?"
This annoyed the copy ninja; he took his hands out of his pockets and glared at Neji. How insolent could this kid be? He thought.
Kakashi formed seals so fast that Neji didn't have time to react, he was hit with the Paralysis Jutsu and found he couldn't move his body at all. Kakashi felt a strange sensation in the back of his neck, haven't used that since I was thirteen, he thought. Tsunade's assistants were at his side again, giving him questioning looks.
"I meant for the Gondaime Hokage." Kakashi remarked. "Can't imagine that feels good. But it's nothing compared to what will happen, when ANBU find you, which they will. Neji Hyuga. If you decide against better judgement that I'm not capable enough to bring back Team 14 and you leave Konoha, at least have the decency to leave your forehead protector behind. You won't need it then."
With that Kakashi was gone, the two Izumo and Kotetsu left wondering how to dispel the ANBU jutsu.