Pakkun hurried through the snow. Kakashi was in a vulnerable position and should be reunited with his team as soon as possible. He started by following Kakashi's scent back to a valley. He then hunted around to figure out how he got there. Pakkun shuddered as he looked up the mountain. I'm not cold. I'm not cold.

He started working out where the start of the path was when he heard a voice echoing off of the mountain's face. "Kakashi-sensei!"

"That's Naruto," Pakkun muttered. He sniffed the air. He couldn't smell Naruto upwind so he headed the other way.

Several minutes later, Pakkun could smell Naruto and Sakura. They saw him long before he saw them. They ran to meet the pug, their cloaks flying behind them.

"Pakkun!" Naruto shouted in greeting.

"Where's Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked in a rush.

"He's this way, follow me," Pakkun ordered and began running back toward the earthen lodge. They'd save time by cutting the corners but it'd still take too long for his taste.

As they ran Naruto asked, "is he alright?"

"He is for now. He's in pretty rough shape though. There's a couple taking care of him in their home. I assume they're the ones who found him."

"Well at least he's safe," Sakura said.

Dango urged his dogs on through the snow. The bright stars glistened in the clear night air. The frigid breeze bit at his cheeks as he drove into the wind. Emina ran alongside of the dogs, her long stride making her faster than her husband. Emina signaled for a stop and Dango called to his dogs.

"He still out?" Emina asked, nodding at the basket of the sled.

Dango undid one of the ties holding down the basket blanket and flipped back the corner. "Yep." He re-tied the strap.

Emina drank some water out of a canteen and handed it to Dango. "Let's get going," Emina said. "It's a long way to Guren's place and I definitely want to be paid and gone before he wakes up."

The couple took off again, leaving little white puffs of water vapor behind them.

"Something doesn't smell right," Pakkun said as they approached the earthen lodge.

They all came to a stop several paces from the door and listened. There was no sound, none at all. Naruto ran up to the door and started pounding on it. "Kakashi-sensei?!"

Pakkun started sniffing the tracks in the ground and followed them to where a sled had been loaded. His eyes followed the sled skid tracks into the distance. His frown deepened.

"I don't like this," Sakura said approaching the door. She touched Naruto's shoulder and eased him out of the way. She quickly spun on her left foot and kicked the door in with her right. The door flew inside and landed in the extinguished fire.

Naruto and Sakura rushed in but the interior only confirmed what they already knew. Nobody was there. Kakashi's flak jacket and headband were discarded on the floor next to the unmade bed. Sakura wordlessly handed Naruto the headband and she picked up the vest. Naruto stared at it, frowning. His thumb traced the leaf symbol etched into the metal plate. He tucked it into his pack and looked at his remaining teammate. She had donned the flak jacket and was adjusting her cloak so it would fall over it.

"Take it off," Naruto said. His voice was hollow.

Sakura's brows furrowed and she opened her mouth but then stopped. They were both already upset. There was no point in arguing with each other. She calmed herself down and said, trying to keep her voice steady, "it's the easiest way to carry it. It won't fit in my pack."

Naruto stared at the floor of the lodge and nodded. Then he turned around and strode out. Sakura followed him. They joined Pakkun where he was taking in scents in the front of the house.

Pakkun flatly said, "they loaded him into their dog sled and went in that direction maybe three hours ago. There are only two sets of boot tracks and no sign of a struggle."

Naruto took off running. Pakkun and Sakura hurried to try and keep up.

Dango signaled for a stop this time. "Everything okay?" Emina asked.

"Yes, I just don't want to you wear yourself out," Dango said, he reached out and touched the scarf that covered her face. "Do you want to drive?"

"Maybe a little," she admitted smiling. She situated herself on the sled and checked on the Copy Ninja. His left eye was open.

Emina turned away, detached the shovel strapped to the side of the sled, and swung it at Dango's head. He blocked it with his arm just in time. "Emina?! What in the-" She swung the shovel at him again. This time he grabbed it and tore it away from her. He threw it away with his left hand while nursing his right arm. He looked at the sled and saw the flap open. Rage engulfed him and he pushed Emina into the snow as she charged him. He ran over to the sled and without looking in, punched where he figured Kakashi's head probably was.

Kakashi's vision went black and he saw lights flashing behind his eyelids. Dango had to use his left hand so the punch wasn't very hard but it broke Kakashi's concentration. The weak genjutsu released and Emina stood up, enraged.

"You piece of filth," she shouted, marching toward the basket and its occupant. "Wait until I get my hands on you!"

Dango stepped aside and said, "just don't damage the eye."

Emina wailed on him, her fists flying, until she had worked out her anger. She made sure to hit his broken leg as well which drew an involuntary gasp from the jonin.

"Dirty trick!" Emina screamed out as she punched. "Think you're so smart do you? Thought you had us figured out huh? Did you think we left you your weapons pouch by accident? Or summon your stupid dog?" Emina continued to punch him. "Did you think we didn't know who you were? What you're worth? You've saved our princess twice you idiot, everyone in our country knows who you are."

"Well I like to stay humble," Kakashi mumbled.

"What was that? Never mind, shut up." Emina yelled and punched him in the head again.

Kakashi's vision started to blur. He blinked to try to clear it but found that it was impossible to lift the lid again. Then he was drifting, his mind was floating aimlessly between consciousness and unconsciousness. Suddenly a voice rang out in his head, clear as a bell, "Kakashi-sensei!"

His right eye snapped open but all he could see was the basket blanket above him.