Author's note: Hey guys! This is chapter seven! This is where the fun begins!

Chapter Seven: Pressing on…

Kakashi stared blankly at the wall of the hotel room. He had no idea what they were doing to Naruto. He had gotten no call that his student had been injured or killed during the week, but Iruka also said that they probably wouldn't contact him until after the test was supposed to be given, making Kakashi very apprehensive about the whole thing.

"You look like a wreck, Kakashi-san…" Iruka muttered. Kakashi jumped and looked at the chuunin. Sighing deeply and leaned back on the bed and laid down, staring at the ceiling.

"Thanks Iruka…" he muttered softly.

Iruka laughed softly and lay on the bed beside him. "You're so weird, Kakashi."

"I'm not the one who voluntarily lay beside another guy on the bed," Kakashi muttered softly. Iruka growled and shoved him off the bed. Kakashi landed with a loud "oof" and turned to glare at the chuunin. "What was that for?" Kakashi snapped.

"You read too much, Kakashi," Iruka commented. "Besides, this is my bed, not yours."

Kakashi rolled his eyes and sighed deeply. "I'm just worried about him…"

"Well stop worrying and get yourself cleaned up, Kakashi, we're leaving soon," Mizuki snapped from the bathroom. Kakashi rolled his eyes again and stood up. Mizuki had been pretty sour the entire time they were here. He would glare at Kakashi as much as he could and Kakashi would glare back. Iruka had been forced to keep the peace, usually instructing Kakashi to go train Sasuke or something. Kakashi hadn't liked the way Iruka was acting like his mother. Did he always act like that? He didn't know. The man seemed to want to take care of Kakashi.

Minato and Obito were in a separate room than the three proctors. Kakashi had wanted to stay with them, but the council had told him to stay with Iruka, Mizuki, and Sasuke. They seemed to know that their Jinchuuriki would probably need the baby-sitter that was Iruka.

Kakashi shook his head as Sasuke walked into the room. "We…should probably leave…" the boy muttered. Kakashi nodded and Iruka sighed. Mizuki walked out of the bathroom and stared at the boy. Kakashi expected Sasuke to shy away from the glance, but Sasuke held it steady and Mizuki smiled, coming over to ruffle the boy's hair. It works, I guess… Two traitors… Kakashi thought grimly. He ran his hand through his hair.

"Yeah, let's get out of here," he muttered softly.

Iruka nodded. "Yeah. I'm sure you really want to see how Naruto faired in training. Why are you so cautious around Orochimaru?"

Kakashi shook his head. He didn't feel like explaining Orochimaru's involvement in most of Kakashi's problems. He already believed that the world he was from was another life that he would never return to. He sighed and followed Iruka out. Mizuki followed closely behind the Jinchuuriki and Sasuke scrambled to stand beside his sensei. Obito and Minato were already waiting in the hallway. Kakashi picked up his step to walk beside Minato while Sasuke slowed his to stay with Obito.

"You think he's okay?" Minato asked quietly. Kakashi didn't want to tell his teacher exactly what Orochimaru was like in the original realm. He didn't want to scare his teacher. That and he wanted to give Minato hope that he would see his son again and have a chance to get to know him.

"I'm sure he's fine, sensei…" Kakashi answered. He took a deep breath and looked around as they started walking. He wanted to get there as quickly as possible, but Naruto wasn't going anywhere. He patted his sensei on the shoulder and tried to give him a smile, though he knew Minato couldn't see it.

Minato seemed to feel it, though, because he returned the smile with his own large grin. Kakashi rubbed the man's shoulder and let his hand drop. Minato and Naruto would get along great once they got to know each other. They were both crazy, ramen-obsessed freaks that didn't know when to give up. It was enough to build a relationship on. Kakashi was sure of that. He nodded at Minato and followed Iruka and Mizuki silently, listening to Sasuke and Obito talking to one another.

It took about an hour to reach the Rock at the rate they were walking. Kakashi was nervous enough without the agonizingly slow pace. By the time they made it to the training field, his hand was twitching slightly. The entire field had been transformed into a large obstacle course. A half-mile course with different challenges and obstacles, but there was a jutsu and aiming test before he ran the course. Kakashi looked at it and nodded. Naruto was an idiot, but he figured he would be able to do it with little to no problem.

"Bring the contender!" A voice shouted from the observation platform. Kakashi looked around until he saw his student. He started at the sight. Naruto was pale, shaking on his feet, had dropped at least ten pounds and was limping. Kabuto lead him silently, walking about five feet behind Orochimaru, muttering something to Naruto. The boy looked to be in a lot of pain, his face twisted in a grimace of pain with every step. Kakashi stood up to go to him, but Iruka grabbed his arm and pulled him down.

"You can't see him before the test. Only his trainers can have contact with him."

"What in the world are the rules for this thing? Look at him!"

Iruka sighed. "It's okay. I'm sure he'll do fine."

"No, he won't! Look at him, Iruka! He can barely stand!"

Iruka patted his partner softly. "I'm sure he'll do fine… For his sake, he better do fine."

"What do you mean, Iruka?" Kakashi asked cautiously.

Iruka sighed and shook his head. "Those who don't pass the test are killed…"

"What?"

"If you don't pass the test, you are dismissed from the village and you are assassinated as you leave…" Iruka explained.

"Why?"

"To keep our secrets out of the hands of other villages. Shame, really… I've seen so many good men and women die because they didn't pass the test."

Kakashi shook his head and stared out at his limping student. Orochimaru had taken over at his side and Kabuto seemed to be talking at a man with a white cloak on. Kakashi cocked his head. Kabuto seemed jumpy and was looking back at Orochimaru every few seconds. The man he was talking to kept nodding slowly. The man patted Kabuto on the shoulder and stalked away before Orochimaru came over to the boy. Naruto was leaning against a tree now, already panting. Kakashi wanted nothing more than to sprint to his side, but he stayed where he was while Naruto was lead to the center of the field. The first test was basic jutsu, which he passed pretty well.

Kakashi held his breath during the accuracy segment, but Naruto kept his focus, keeping his bad foot off the ground and eyes on his target. Kakashi nodded. He turned to look at Orochimaru. The man didn't look happy at all. Was he expecting Naruto to fail? Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the man and shook his head. There wasn't really a point behind any of this, was there? Kakashi turned his gaze to the white-cloaked man. He was sitting there, keeping his eyes on the exam, but Kakashi could tell his mind was somewhere else. He shook his head and turned back to Naruto. The boy was limping over to the starting line. Kakashi held his breath again. The boy's face was twisted in pain. "You can do it…" he whispered softly.

"Begin!" a loud voice shouted. Naruto jump and propelled himself forward. Kakashi winced every time the boy's bad ankle slammed on the ground. Naruto did everything, sweating pouring down his face and his eyes streaming tears. Kakashi crossed his fingers.

"Go, Naruto…" he muttered. The boy stopped halfway down the final leg of track, he was panting hard, but wasn't leaning on his knees. Kakashi stood up almost in perfect time with Orochimaru. "Come on…" Kakashi hissed. Orochimaru wasn't looking at the boy, but at the time clock. It was ticking. "MOVE!" Kakashi screamed. Naruto jumped to look at Kakashi. The man nodded. Naruto nodded and started up again, clenching his teeth against the pain. Kakashi held his breath again as his student ran, stumbling with every step, until finally, he fell forward. "Naruto!" Kakashi screamed, but the boy didn't stop. He landed on his hands, lifted his injured leg and started running on three legs. Kakashi let loose a loud whoop. Iruka was laughing beside him and gently pulled him to sit down.

The boy crossed the finish line with less than a second left on the clock. Kakashi was the first on his feet, running towards Naruto without regards towards anyone else. He made it to his student in time to catch him as he dropped. Kakashi gently lowered him to the ground and knelt beside him, the boy's head in his lap. "Did I make it?" Naruto asked quietly.

Kakashi nodded. "Yeah… You did…" he whispered, rubbing his student fondly. Kakashi stood with Naruto in his arms as Orochimaru and the Tsuchikage came jogging over.

"That was astounding!" the Tsuchikage exclaimed.

Orochimaru turned a shocked face to the man. "What do you mean?"

"With his injuries, he still managed to complete the course in time! I've never seen such an amazing feat! Welcome to Ishi, Uzumaki Naruto!" Naruto gave the man a thumbs-up and dropped his hand in exhaustion. "Take him home, Kakashi."

"With pleasure…" Kakashi growled. Orochimaru turned.

"Kabuto! We're leaving!"

Kabuto jumped and stared at his master, eyes wide. The man with the white cloak was gone by that point. Kakashi watched the two leave and sighed deeply before turning to his student. Naruto had curled the best he could in his sensei's arms and was already fast asleep. Kakashi smiled softly as Minato, Obito and the rest of the group came to congratulate the sleeping boy. Kakashi looked at Minato and offered his son to him. Minato shook his head. "Let him sleep. I'll speak with him later." Kakashi nodded.

"Well… We have a long journey ahead of us… We should probably get going…" Iruka muttered.

"I agree," Mizuki said. Sasuke nodded. "Well, let's get going then…"

Kakashi followed slightly behind the group, watching them as he followed them. He looked back several times, feeling as if he were being followed, but every time he turned around, he didn't see anything. Until he finally caught the white cloaked man stalking him. "What do you want?" Kakashi asked cautiously. The man backed away.

"Kakashi…" he breathed. Kakashi jumped back.

"Who are you?" he asked. The voice… The way the man said his name. It sounded so familiar, but yet, so foreign. Kakashi cocked his head. The man backed away a few more steps. "Take off your hood," Kakashi instructed. The man whimpered and shook his head. "Do it!" Kakashi growled, reaching for a kunai. The man jumped when the silver point faced him. Kakashi narrowed his eyes. The hood went down then, and with it came the kunai. "Dad…?" Kakashi whispered, his voice cracking into a squeak with the word.

Sakumo nodded. Kakashi wanted to run to him. He had so many questions for him, but he was also holding Naruto, who he had managed to hold with one arm, but now he could not. He huggled Naruto closer to him, feeling the boy's labored breathing. Sakumo smiled at the blonde boy in his son's arms, nodding understandingly. "You're the father, aren't you?" He asked softly.

Kakashi jumped and looked at Naruto. It was an honest mistake for his dad to make. "No, Dad, I'm not…" he muttered. The understanding faded out of Sakumo's eyes.

"Stepfather, then?" Sakumo asked quietly.

Kakashi laughed slightly and shook his head. "Just the sensei, Dad… And he's just my student," Kakashi muttered.

"Oh… I have mistaken then, Kakashi…" Sakumo replied, shaking his head. "I'm sorry."

"No… It's quite alright." Kakashi smiled at his father and Sakumo smiled back. Kakashi was aware of how calmly he was taking this. He felt as if he hadn't lost him all those years, but he knew he had. It was strange how easily he was accepting that his father was standing there, accusing him of having a child, but it felt only natural. Kakashi only chuckled slightly at the turn of events.

A loud bell tower struck noon. "Kabuto!" Sakumo gasped suddenly. "I'm sorry, Kakashi!" Sakumo turned and started running. "Keep going! I'll meet you outside the village!" Sakumo shouted behind him.

"Where are you going?" Kakashi shouted after his father.

"I forgot! I have a life to save!


Kabuto stared at Orochimaru. He was on his knees in the living room of the suite. "Please…" he whispered. He had already been beaten to an extent. His shirt was off and his head raised slightly to reveal his neck. Orochimaru stood over him with a sword angled at the base of his neck where the shoulders met. Every muscle in Kabuto's body screamed for him to run, but he knew the punishment would only get worse if he did… And he didn't even know exactly what he had done wrong.

"Silence, Kabuto! For years, you and I have been partners. Some could even say we have been friends… But this week, it has become apparent where your loyalties lie… With Ishi."

"No!" Kabuto defended hotly. "That's not true and you know it, Orochimaru-sama! My loyalties lie with you! Please! You have to believe me!"

"SILENCE!" Orochimaru screamed and the sword plunged. Kabuto winced, but the sword never hit flesh. He opened his eyes and saw a white-haired man standing there, his hand impaled, but he had stopped the blade from killing Kabuto.

"Sakumo-sama…" Kabuto muttered. Sakumo nodded and jumped back, aiming a round kick at Orochimaru. The man snarled and grabbed the man's leg, swung him around and hurled him at the wall. Sakumo snarled and twisted like a cat in the air, coming to a halt after a skid of a few feet on all fours. He lifted his head and his arm with a snarl, snatching his sword from its sheath in one swift movement. He glared at Orochimaru, who glared equally back at him.

"You want to play, pup?" Orochimaru hissed.

"The Snake cannot hope to win against the Wolf!" Sakumo snarled back.

"One cannot forget, the Snake only needs a single bite, and he can bring down armies," Orochimaru spat back.

"Show me!" Sakumo challenged and lunged at the man, growling as he did so. Kabuto was out of the line of fire by that point, not wanting to get caught in between the fighting elders. Orochimaru easily side stepped Sakumo's frontal attack, but the White Fang wasn't fazed. He howled angrily and spun around in his assault, aiming his weapon at Orochimaru's midsection, the white glow coming off slicing the man's cloak. A trickle of blood started then. Kabuto's first reaction was to run to his master's side, but he didn't dare move. This was deadly, and in his state, he'd only get in the way.

Orochimaru stared at the wound, a dangerous hiss escaping his lips. Sakumo turned to face his opponent. Orochimaru bit into his thumb and the hand signs flew. Sakumo was quick on the draw as well and the room exploded in a mass of smoke. When it cleared, there they were, Snake vs. Wolf, with all their little minions beside them. Sakumo barked something, and the dogs nodded, obviously undeterred by their dead master's return. "Scatter!" Sakumo snapped and the dogs lunged at the withering mass of snakes. Sakumo followed, ignoring the beasts that fought at his feet. Kabuto couldn't understand why Sakumo was fighting so hard for him, but the movements between Orochimaru and the White Fang were blurs. Kabuto could only hope to keep up.

That is, until Oro gained the upper hand. A non-lethal snake wrapped itself around Sakumo's leg and delivered a bite, taking the man's focus away from the fight long enough for Orochimaru to deliver a sucker punch to the face. Kabuto nodded. He was healed enough to get involved. "Let's go!" he growled and lunged into the fray; not to fight, but to save. He grabbed Sakumo, who was gushing blood from his nose and fled towards the door. He heard the dogs running beside him and nodded. Once out, Sakumo nodded and jumped out of Kabuto's arms. He landed and took a few seconds to make sure all his dogs were okay. Kabuto didn't look back. He couldn't. If he did, he would stay, and he knew it.

He felt a presence beside him and turned to see Sakumo keeping pace with him. "You fought well…" Kabuto muttered.

"And Orochimaru fights dirty," Sakumo snapped back. "Thanks for the help, though. You really saved my neck back there."

"I'm sure you would have gotten out of there just fine without me," Kabuto answered softly. Sakumo nodded and turned to look behind them.

"Company!" he growled and picked up his pace. Kabuto did the same to keep up with his rescuer. Sakumo didn't make any more conversation after that, either too tired or too frightened to. Kabuto didn't blame him. Despite his strong face, he was terrified. Orochimaru could tear him apart, and they both knew it. He didn't look back when he heard the hissing get louder, or even when he felt hands lift him up. All he was aware of was the running. Sakumo was fleeing at his top speed. Kabuto clung on for dear life.

When they reached the gates, Sakumo didn't stop as they passed the group of Ishi-nin. He just continued running. Kabuto rolled out of his arms them, dropping into a crouch so Sakumo could clear him with a leap. Kabuto was quick to follow Sakumo, chasing after him as if his life depended on it. "Dad?" Kakashi shouted. "What's going on?"

"RUN!" was all the man said. Kabuto dared to look back then. They were being chased, but not just by Orochimaru, but by the Ishi group as well. Kakashi caught up panting.

"What's happening?" Kakashi demanded. "And why do you have him with you?"

"I'll explain later!" Sakumo snapped and Kakashi fell silent, falling into what looked like a familiar formation with the dogs. The dogs flanked the entire group, snarling and snapping while the rest of the Ishi nin ran after them, just as confused as Kakashi was. Sakumo didn't look back. His eyes were forward. Kabuto was having trouble keeping pace with the man and fell back to the center of the group. Minato placed a hand on the former Sound medic and Obito flanked him of the other side. Iruka was taking up the rear, with Mizuki only a foot or two ahead of him so he could lunge after anyone daring to attack his friend. Sasuke fell into place beside Kakashi while the ninken took up both sides, leaving Iruka exposed in the back. All except for one. A dog with glasses on his face ran beside Sakumo, tongue lolling out of his mouth happily, as if the return of his master was the best thing that could have happened.

Sakumo dropped his hand and placed it fondly on the dog's head. "Welcome back, Sakumo-kun…" the dog whispered.

Sakumo laughed softly. Kabuto was shocked how swiftly the man's mood changed. He looked back, but Orochimaru had given up the chase. He knew that the man had to keep a visage up and chasing his subordinate and his new allies out of the village with the intent to kill them would definitely NOT look good on the man's reputation he was trying to keep up. Kabuto nodded. He was glad his master at least knew how to keep an illusion up.

Kabuto turned his eye to Kakashi. The younger Hatake was staring at his elder, eyes wide with happiness and confusion. Kabuto shook his head. Kakashi looked as if he had so many questions to ask. Kabuto couldn't blame him. After years of thinking his father was dead, here he was taking charge like the great shinobi he must have been in life. The cloak he had on had caught the wind during their run and was flying behind him. Kabuto wondered if this is how Kakashi always saw his father in his mind. He guessed he would never know, but in the wind he heard a soft voice speak to the dog.

"Glad to be back, Akino…"

Author's note: YAY! I love Sakumo! He's so amazing! Alright, con this weekend, so expect delays for the next chapter! I'll try not to get too far behind! ^.^ I promise!

Editor's note: Sakumo is cool, but Kakashi's better. X3