Chapter 3

Everyone stopped to ponder the claim Shikamaru had just said. They all thought a variation of the same thing. If Kakashi was behind the attack, why did he get killed, and why did he protect Guy. Each person thought over it while collecting evidence from the camp site. When they thought they had collected enough, they made their way back towards the village, with Jiraiya carrying Guy on his back. No one spoke the entire way, as the mystery swam through each of their minds. Gaara, being an outsider to the village dynamic, didn't understand the complete impact the thought of Kakashi being a traitor would be in the village. He didn't think about that, he focused more on who these mysterious ninja could be. Markings never seen by any of them before, and jutsu never seen by Guy before. Gaara hoped that the Leaf would be competent enough to figure this out because he was not leaving until it was.

Shikamaru was deep in thought over this whole ordeal. If Kakashi was a traitor, than who could he possibly trust. Kakashi was the exact example of a Leaf Shinobi. He was also one of the strongest shinobi in the village, which seeing the track record, doesn't surprise him that he turned out to be a traitor. Shikamaru thought through every instance he had seen Kakashi and analyzed it from the perspective of him maybe being a traitor. He did end up getting Naruto on his team, he trained Sasuke personally, who later become a rogue ninja. He is always late, which could be considered suspicious behavior. Thinking it over, Shikamaru couldn't help but see a way were Kakashi being a traitor makes sense. None of that mattered though seeing as Kakashi is dead now, Shikamaru thought.

The Leaf Village was normal as always when they made their return to it. Shizune and Sakura carried Guy to the hospital, with Neji and Lee in tow. Jiraiya went off to talk to the other Jounin to see if any of them could put anything to this Kakashi being a traitor thing. Sai went off to investigate the Anbu as he apparently was one. Hinata went with Gaara to check up on Naruto's status. Shikamaru made his way towards Lady Tsunade's office. He needed to give an overview of their mission, and deliver the items they collected to the appropriate squad to inspect them.

Arriving to her office, Shikamaru stood there while he waited for Lady Tsunade to show signs of wanting him to talk. She looked tired and frustrated, obviously something happened while they were gone. She looked up at him and he could see bags under her eyes, and her hair was messy and out of place. Her eyes were slightly red from lack of sleep, and her mind seemed to be in another place as she tried to concentrate.

"Make it quick Shikamaru.. I haven't slept that attack happened a week ago."

"Yes Lady Tsunade. Well we found a camp site of the ambushing ninja. We also found a note which gave us a lead to a possible traitor."

Tsunade's eyes widened in shock at his words of a traitor, and raised her hand to receive the note. Shikamaru stood there in front of her, as she read the letter. He watched her as she read it and the look of horror steadily increased on her face. The look on her face when she reached the bottom, Shikamaru had never seen before. She looked angered, shocked, betrayed, hurt, unbelieving, and worried. She looked up at Shikamaru.

"Kakashi?"

Shikamaru only nodded at her question. As hard as it was to believe, the possibility of Kakashi being a traitor was in the realms of reality. Tsunade looked down at the paper in dismay as she reread it. It was not possible, she thought. How could Kakashi be a traitor. He was a huge part of this village and for him to be a traitor would crush a part of her. She was falling into dispare when a thought occurred to her.

"This can't be! If he was the traitor, than he wouldn't of been killed!"

"That was what stumped me as well. I've gone over it quite extensively and I've come to the conclusion that either someone is using his name, or..." Shikamaru paused. "...He was betrayed by his partners."

Tsunade slammed on her desk, smashing it to splinters. The pure destructive force of their fifth Hokage was astonishing. She left in a rush, motioning for Shikamaru to follow. He followed as they went deeper into the building, towards the labs. She busted into a room, literally smashing the door off it's hinges, and walked up to a woman who looked terrified.

"Analyze this letter with other works written by Kakashi Hatake! Immediately!" She ordered while handing the letter to the frightened woman.

The woman and her assistance went to work comparing the letter to many different written examples of Kakashi's writing. Tsunade and Shikamaru stood there watching while they worked. Shikamaru dared not to leave, seeing the mood Tsunade was in. He wondered what was going through Lady Tsunade's mind at the moment. How betrayed she must feel, or how much in denial she was. He was extremelly tired from his mission and he was fighting to stay awake, when the woman Tsunade told to analyze the paper announced she was done.

"This note was most definitely written by Kakashi himself.." The woman said hesitantly, knowing this was going to cause anger in Tsunade.

"Isn't there any way this could have been copied or something!" Tsunade screamed in despiration.

"Unless they have a Sharingan, I doubt it. Lady Tsunade, you and I both know there are only three people left with those kind of eyes. With Kakashi gone, now only two. Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha. Do you really believe one of them did it?"

"...No.. it's not possible. Jiraiya was watching Orochimaru too closely to not notice his main pupil working with unknown ninja. Also, Itachi has been spotted in another land not too long ago so he is out of the question... I guess it must be true.. Kakashi.. The Copy Ninja... Is a traitor to the Leaf Village." She was visibly shaking now as she said these words, the lack of sleep obviously affecting her as tears ran down her face.

"Lady Tsunade? Are you alright?" Shikamaru asked, concerned for their Hokage's well being.

Tsunade turned and looked at Shikamaru and nodded. It looked as if she would be heading back towards her office, when someone came rushing into the room.

"Lady Tsunade!" It was Sakura, and she had a worried look on her face.

"What is it Sakura?" Tsunade asked almost automatically, as if she was on auto pilot.

"It's Kakashi me lady... He's Gone!"