Return to Sender 2/2

Ages remain the same

The third Hokage was about to leave his office when Hatake Kakashi appeared in front of him. Any words the old man would have said died on his lips. In the jounin's arms was the young man who Sarutobi had begun to think of as a second son: Umino Iruka.

"Kakashi, what…."

The jounin interrupted him. "Stone had him! I don't know what the bastards did to him, but I want permission to take Iruka to the hospital and then go kick their sorry…"

"Enough! Take Iruka to the hospital! We'll talk there. Go!"

The diagnosis wasn't bad, all in all. Severe Chakra depletion, broken ribs, both wrists broken, slashes to his back and chest, and minor burns. The nurse also said that something else was wrong, but they need not discuss that here. Kakashi knew, and was even more eager to kill those responsible.

"Hokage-sama, Iruka will be scarred for life! You know what they did to him! They have to be stopped, before they get bolder and start plans for another war! Let me go annihilate them now, and I'll be back before sunrise!"

"Kakash, I know you're upset, but that isn't the answer. Then we're only going to give them a reason to start a war."

"We have a reason already! Stone knows that Konoha is stronger right now. If we eradicate them quickly and show a no tolerance policy, they'll be too scared to try anything else for awhile!"

They argued like that for several minutes, until the Sandaime finally agreed, warning him that he must inform the Kage of Stone why they had done this. Kakashi was gone before his leader was done.

Six Days Later

Iruka had woken up in comfort, safetly, and a hell of a lot less pain then he'd last had. More importantly, Kakashi was sitting next to the amasingly soft hospital bed he was in. His elation was undaunted even bu Icha Icha Volume Two currently being avidly read by the Jounin. Kakashi worshipped the series; Iruka thought it was badly written trash.

Kakashi filled Iruka in on what had happened. Iruka told Kaakshi what little he didn't know; well, actually he wept it into the jounin's shoulder, but Kakashi wasn't about to tell anyone that. The jounin told him, quietly and firmly that those responsible were al dead, and that he would always be there. The Hokage, eavesdropping just outside, could only wipe mysteriously damp eyes and be thankful that a certain chuunin had been come back safely, returned to sender.

A/N: I know the title's a little weird, but my friend made it up and I couldn't deny him the 'honor' of naming my chapter. So that's the story behind that. And I'm so sorry about the lack of updates, but I promise that more are coming soon, since my summer camp has finally ended.