The Epic Rescue of Naruto and Sakura by Kakashi and Sasuke (but mostly Kakashi

Morning came a lot slower than Kakashi wanted. He'd sent Sasuke off to his sleeping bag several hours earlier after a quick dinner, shooting down the boy's suggestion of switching watches half-way through the night. He didn't need to switch, couldn't. Not with his kids on the line. The sun's early light beaming through the canopy of trees, the man went to his student's side and prodded him with his foot

"Hey," He called; "Get up."

The boy turned in his sleep and Kakashi noted the flush sitting high on his cheeks. The jonin nearly cursed aloud. They-he-didn't have time for this! He considered signaling to Kurenai and Asuma right then, but a hand grabbed his ankle.

Looking down, he was met by the sight of fevered eyes. "Don't call them.." Sasuke mumbled.

"You're sick," the teacher remarked.

The boy scowled and pushed himself away from his sleeping bag. "It's just a stupid head cold," he declared.

Kakashi knew that it probably was, but it didn't help that nagging in the back of his mind that said it wasn't. Running a hand through his hair, the man considered his options. To send him away or not to send him away. If he was sick, Sasuke could end up being a hindrance (not that he hadn't been one before) and if not a hindrance, he could end up dead or in enemy hands along with Naruto and Sakura. Was Kakashi really willing to put all of his students lives on the line like that?

Weighing this against keeping him, Kakashi sighed. It wouldn't be fair. He couldn't send him back...not yet, anyway. Offering a hand to the twelve-year-old, he asked; "Do you have any medicine?"

Sasuke shook his head (and winced in the process). Luckily, Kakashi always kept a jar of pain relievers on him. Leaving the boy's side, he went and pulled out the bottle tossing it Sasuke's way.

"Take two," he instructed; "It'll take the edge off."

"Yes Kakashi-sensei," The dark-haired youth agreed.

As they cleaned up their spot, Kakashi watched Sasuke with a critical eye; he'd have to keep an eye on him for the rest of the day. If he appeared to be lagging in anyway that wasn't normal, the ninja would be sending him back to Kurenai and Asuma. He couldn't deal with having to keep a sick child out of harms way while rescuing two more from kidnappers. It was needlessly dangerous and even if the twelve-year-old would hate him for it, the man wasn't dumb enough to let a boy's feelings affect him.

Besides, he did that once already (it had ended so very badly).

Watching Sasuke zip up his backpack, the jonin was reminded of another boy. The two were so dissimilar that it seemed ridiculous to even try and compare them, but...something in the end (besides physical traits) struck him as the same. He hoped he'd be able to figure out what soon enough, that way he could nurture it and maybe rescue the last Uchiha of Konohagakure from ruin.

It's a bit short, but if you read further you'll see that I'm not in much of a writing mood :(

So if you guys don't mind me interrupting my usual broadcast...has anyone ever been cited for inattentive driving before (I doubt it, considering the majority of you are probably twelve...)? I'm about to be cited after a fender bender I had with a neighbor's car, anyone have an advice on the subject?

Anyway, to reviewers Prescripto13, Harvestangel99, The Goliath Beetle, Summer Leigh Wind, Sleepykittyqq, and Rosebunse for your reviews! They made my day :)

Thank you for reading everyone and please review!