This story is set in Naruto Shippuden - Naruto and others will hopefully be appearing later in the story! :3
Obito... Sensei... Father... Rin.
Kakashi Hatake stood at the memorial stone. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him.
He knew all was well, that he had new comrades now, and he was happy, wasn't he? But scars had been left on his heart, ones that he couldn't forget...
Kakashi only hoped that his students, still young and innocent, wouldn't find out what he had done.
"You need to investigate an old Akatsuki hideout. That is your misson!"
Tsunade's words echoed across the room.
Kakashi's brow furrowed "Are you sure a three-man squad of me and two chunin will be enough?" he said calmly, careful not to spark the Hokage's fierce temper.
"It is the Akatsuki, after all. I understand that if we were to bring more ninja to investigate the hideout, we might be discovered, but I'm still not sure."
The Fifth thought deeply for a moment.
"I'm confident that your abilities will be enough. And anyway, we're fairly sure that it isn't being used any more." She pointed out.
"Kakashi, are you listening?"
Kakashi was staring at the floor, looking tense. He quickly looked up, surprised.
"I- I'm sorry Lady Tsunade. Understood. We'll leave immediately."
He moved rapidly towards the door, going to address the two ninja he was going to be working with.
"Shizune, is it just me or does he seem anxious right now?" Tsunade asked.
Shizune raised one eyebrow.
"I suppose you're right, I wonder what's got him like that..."
In a dark cavern, a flickering silhouette with fearsome eyes was informing the 'Akatsuki' of plans and giving orders.
"If you come across any shinobi who can give you intel on any jinchuuriki, you must obtain that information. The task of capturing the next tailed beast is also at hand. Meeting adjourned."
Pein's image flickered and disappeared.
The rest of the Akatsuki nodded, disappearing too.
It was midday, and the sun was shining. The trees swayed in the gentle breeze.
The three-man squad ran through the trees, leaving the village behind them. Kakashi plotted their route in his head, hoping it would only take a few hours to get to the hideout...
The entrance to the was dark and looming. It was a gigantic cave.
The three ninja looked up at the bare stone.
"Be on your guard, there could be traps anywhere." Kakashi ordered.
They entered cautiously and daylight soon turned into the dim glow of torches that had already been placed, lighting up the path.
Searching in the shadows, they kept their eyes open for anything they could find.
Quite far in, they came across strange room-like area that had four curves of metal sticking out of the rock.
It... almost looks like when I was caught in the Tsukuyomi, Kakashi thought. Two to bind the hands, two to bind the feet. Who knows what could have happened here.
He violently shook his head. He hoped no one had or would have to experience that pain.
"Captain! Are you alright, sir?" his lively shinobi colleague asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm fine." Kakashi replied firmly.
The team carried on for a while, soon finding a gigantic cavern at the end of a rocky passageway. Kakashi looked around for traps, taking his time. One of his teammates, seeming to have gotten bored, made a suggestion:
"Since we've pretty much confirmed that there's no one here, why don't we split up to find any information we can?" The ninja asked.
"I guess that would be more efficient," Kakashi murmured, distracted, "But as I said, be wary of traps."
Each of the ninja set out to a different tunnel of the cave, exploring deeper and deeper into the darkness...
Suddenly, Kakashi heard a calm, even voice out of the shadows behind him.
"To think I'd find you here, Kakashi of the Sharingan."