Kakashi sped through the branches, tracking the path of the chunin squad. His orders: to bring the team and, more specifically, their scroll, back to Konoha. With the Academy suspended for summer break, this squad consisted of four Ninja Academy sensei: Han'you, Fumei, Shiryou, and Iruka.
With any luck, this would be a simple retrieval. That is, of course, assuming no one else had gotten to that squad first. It was entirely possible that they had already been intercepted, in which case, his objective would be to reclaim the scroll from the enemy.
Finally, the jounin paused to examine his surroundings. There had been a battle here. Not that one had to be a ninja to see that; the uprooted trees, smoldering foliage, and generous blood smears were a telltale sign.
Really, he should have known better than to hope luck he'd have any manner of luck.
Kakashi stalked the figure ahead, wary of confronting yet another foreign nin. He'd already dispatched one assailant, but Kakashi wanted to avoid unnecessary conflicts until he located the Konoha team.
At least a portion of the squad seemed to be alive, if there were still other ninja pursuing them. With several villages reportedly after this scroll it was only a matter of time before Kakashi encountered more. He was joining their hunt, while trying to keep out of sight of the other hunters.
As he drew closer, he recognized the form as Konoha chunin, Umino Iruka. The sensei was gravely injured, moving listlessly while dragging his awkwardly twisted left leg along. The other three Konoha shinobi were not in sight.
The jounin approached cautiously, allowing his presence to be known.
Iruka tensed, gripping a kunai and turning around.
Kakashi surveyed the area carefully, ascertaining that they were indeed alone. "Where are the others? Your team?"
Iruka's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Gritting his teeth, he took a shaky step backwards.
"It's all right, Iruka-sensei." Kakashi approached, eye crinkling in his signature smile as he tried to reassure the edgy shinobi. "Lady Tsunade sent me to rescue you."
This sentiment was greeted with a series of flung kunai. As the jounin dodged and deflected the projectiles, he saw Umino attempting to flee, running on what was clearly a broken leg.
Kakashi pursued, quickly caught up, and leaped to tackle the man down. The shorter the chase, the less his comrade would injure himself further in his attempt to escape.
It was only in mid leap that Kakashi realized the trick. This Iruka was an illusion.
The clone grinned mischievously as it activated an explosive tag on its body. Kakashi's hands formed seals, and he teleported away just as the explosion hit. He coughed at the smoke and dust that had been kicked up, and noted that he'd accumulated a few minor burns.
Kakashi would have to keep in mind that Iruka's traps may include kamikaze doppelgangers.
Iruka swam under the surface of the ice-cold river water, thankful to be moving with the current rather than against it. While he had to use chakra to retain his body heat and avoid freezing to death, it was better than trying to walk on a broken leg.
The chunin suddenly became aware of his clone's dissipation. He almost gasped at the realization it afforded, stopping himself before he inhaled the water.
Konoha had sent Kakashi to rescue them. But his clone, following clear instructions, had possibly blown him up. Too bad he hadn't told his double not to follow through with the plan if the other ninja happened to be an ally. Really, you'd think it could reason that out on its own.
What would Lady Tsunade say, he wondered morosely, if he'd managed to kill Sharingan Kakashi?
No, the man had to be all right. His clone's memories held a brief glimpse of hand seals. The sensei broke the water's surface to take a deep breath, and then dove again, thinking through his next move. Iruka wondered if he should backtrack or continue on, hoping Kakashi catches up. By now, he knew the scroll he carried could not possibly be only a C-class, not with how many high level ninja they'd had to evade. It probably was not even intended for Stone, but the chunin continued in that direction nonetheless. He was much closer to the Stone village and had a better chance of making it there. Hopefully, he'd find sanctuary when he arrived.
However, if Kakashi was behind him and possibly injured, he had to go back. Iruka broke through the surface of the water again, this time climbing shakily onto the river bank. Swimming against the current would require more strength and chakra than he could afford.
He stole into the surrounding woods. The cold air against his wet skin caused him to shiver uncontrollably, which only made it harder to walk. After a few more trembling steps, his broken leg finally buckled beneath him. In an act of mutiny, his body refused to pull itself upright again. In fact, it was getting difficult to move at all.
The chunin's breathing slowed drastically, and he was vaguely aware that he ought to be more worried about this than he actually felt. At least his body had stopped its incessant shivering…
"Oh, I get it," Iruka thought to himself detachedly, recognizing the signs in his sluggish mind, "Hypothermia."