"So this is the Akatsuki's lair," Jiraiya said thoughtfully looking at the small entrance crack in the mountain

I'm sorry that this chapter is so late! I had my Key Stage 3 exams and was so busy!

Anyway, here's the new chapter! Enjoy!

"So this is the Akatsuki's lair," Jiraiya said thoughtfully looking at the small entrance crack in the mountain. The nin dogs beside him were quivering with both excitement and the fact that their beloved master was so close.

"That's where my Eternal Rival is!" Gai shouted. Kurenai had to hit him hard on the head to shut him up.

"We need a plan," Asuma said and Genma nodded. The ANBU squads beside them simply stood, looking lifeless and waiting for their commands.

There was a sudden rustle in the bush beside the jounins, the sannin and the ANBU. Everyone stared at the bush suspiciously as the sannin went closer to investigate.

Jiraiya dragged out three sheepish looking Genins out of the bush.

"Hi!" Naruto grinned while his teammates sighed.

"What are you three doing here?" Asuma asked gruffly. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura glared at Shikamaru, Chouji and Ino's sensei.

"It's our sensei in there," Naruto pointed out.

"We want to help sensei out," Sakura said determinately.

"We're going," Sasuke scowled. "Deal with it."

"They're not going to listen to reason," Pakkun sighed. "Might as well let them go in there and risk their scrawny necks."

Jiraiya was absolutely furious with his student's student's students.

"You..followed…us!" Jiraiya was finding it hard to speak. "You three are so dumb, you should all be walking on all fours!"

Kakashi's dogs growled at the sannin who backtracked immediately.

"Not that there's anything wrong with that." Jiraiya added. "Right, here's the plan."

Everyone moved closer to listen and the nin dogs perked up their ears to listen.

"I'll go with the dogs to find the brat - I mean Kakashi," Jiraiya said. "The rest of you will keep the Akatsuki busy and you three brats will stay right here."

"But-!"

"Naruto!" Jiraiya said sternly. "The Akatsuki wants you and you going straight to their lair would be stupid. Not to mention that Kakashi's attempts to save you would be worthless."

Naruto sighed with frustration.

"At least let us stay by the entrance of the lair," he pleaded. "Once you get Kakashi sensei out, you can leave sensei to us and you can go and join in the fight."

Jiraiya saw the logic in the plan.

"Alright." Jiraiya nodded. He watched as Naruto grinned excitedly and punched the air.

"Okay, now that everything is sorted out, when do we move? Kurenai asked seriously. Jiraiya looked up at the moon overhead.

"Now!" Jiraiya said and the rescue operation began.

--

Kakashi wished that the Akatsuki would just kill him. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were all safe in Konoha and there was no reason for him to carry on living. Kakashi was in intense pain all the time and even Deidara had given up trying to get out information from him. He was alone, in a dark cell.

Kakashi wondered about whether he was cursed. His mother had died when he was one, His father had died when he was five, his best friend died when he was ten and his lover had died when he was fourteen. Kakashi's life seemed to just be a long road of misery. And of course, his sensei died when he was fifteen. Kakashi groaned as he remembered the terrible day the Kyuubi had attacked.

--FLASHBACK--

The nine tailed demon fox was the most horrifying thing Kakashi had ever seen. It was massive and Kakashi could see the evil and malice in it's eyes as it killed countless of people.

Kakashi barely thought about the roaring monster. He was too busy searching for his sensei before it was too late. He had to stop his sensei before his sensei left him.

"Kakashi!" a teenager in green spandex called out. Gai, Asuma, Kurenai, Anko and a few others Kakashi recognized were standing in front of a burning house. There was also a pink haired woman who trying to get into the house, but was being restrained.

"My baby daughter is in there!" the woman screamed. Sure enough, Kakashi could hear the cries of a baby coming from the house.

"We can't go inside!" Kurenai said desperately. "We won't be able to see a thing."

Suddenly there was another scream. Kakashi's eye widened as he saw the huge lightning bolt heading for the burning house. All the jounins gasped and backed away, while the pink haired mother kept trying to get back into the house.

"Oh God." Gai whispered hoarsely.

Kakashi sighed and uncovered his Sharingan eye. He quickly formed the Chidori in his hand and recklessly headed towards the lightning. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Kakashi managed to slash through the lightning bolt.

"He's showing off his raikiri." Anko scowled. She had never liked Kakashi, who always seemed to be surrounded with so many friends. Of course, Anko never counted the amount of loved ones Kakashi had actually lost.

Kakashi went straight into the burning house and used his Sharingan to see through the smoke. He quickly located the crying baby and smiled. For the baby looked so cute with her pink hair and rosy cheeks. She could only have been about the same age as Naruto.

Kakashi picked her up and to his surprise, she thrilled happily and stopped crying. He got out of the house and handed the baby to her mother. Kakashi resumed his mission to find his sensei quickly.

Minato Namikaze was beside the old training grounds. He was cooing gently to the baby boy he was carrying. Minato smiled at the approaching Kakashi.

"Hi Kashi!" he greeted his student.

"Sensei!" Kakashi panted. "You can't perform the sealing jutsu! You can't!"

"I have to Kashi," Minato said. "I am the Hokage and it's my duty."

"But you can't die!" Kakashi yelled angrily. "You're not allowed to die!"

Minato ruffled his student's hair fondly.

"Everyone's allowed to die Kashi." Minato laughed. "Look's like it's my turn now."

"Sensei-"

"Promise me that you'll protect Naruto, Kashi." Minato said seriously. "When he graduates, I would like you to be his sensei and he'll be your student. That way, he'll have the best of the best teaching him won't he?"

Kakashi could despairingly see that he wasn't going to change his sensei's mind. He looked at Naruto, whose eyes were wide with curiosity if the big orange cat nearby.

"I promise sensei." Kakashi said quietly. "I promise."

"You and Naruto are godbrothers you know," Minato said softly. "It was Jiraiya sensei who named the both of you."

Kakashi could feel Obito's eye tearing up at the sight of Minato tickling his giggling son under the chin. Minato kissed Naruto's forehead and whispered "my son."

He then smiled, lifted up Kakashi's forehead protector and kissed him gently on the forehead as well

"My son." Minato murmured.

Kakashi hugged his sensei tightly and he could feel his sensei hugging him back as well.

"You've been like a father to me sensei," Kakashi choked out. "I love you so much."

"I love you too Kashi," Minato said sadly and for a while, the sensei, the student and the student's future student were locked in a loving embrace. The peaceful moment was shattered as the Kyuubi roared in anger again.

Minato ruffled Kakashi's hair again and smiled at him one last time before leaving with Naruto in his arms.

Kakashi sadly watched as his sensei boldly performed the sealing jutsu . He watched as his sensei hesitated before making the final hand sign. Kakashi was the first one to reach the Fourth Hokage's body.

--

The sound of fierce battle faded as Jiraiya followed the nin dogs into the dungeons. The dogs were all silent as they lead Jiraiya into a dark cell.

Jiraiya gasped as he saw Kakashi. The jounin was hanging off the wall with his hands shackled above him. There were various bruises on his body, burn marks and even bleeding marks where someone had carved out a pattern on Kakashi's arms and legs.

Kakashi was breathing shallowly and he had his eyes closed.

"What on Earth have they done to you?" Jiraiya muttered as he went to Kakashi and shook Kakashi's shoulders. The nin dogs were aleady beside Kakashi. Half of them were growling in anger at the Akatsuki and the other half was whimpering at their master's state.

When Jiraiya got no response from Kakashi, the Toad Sage easily slashed at the chains holding Kakashi and lowered the masked man to the ground. Jiraiya slapped Kakashi's face a few times before the Sharingan Warrior finally opened his eyes blearily.

"Jiraiya sama?" he asked groggily, not sure whether or not Jiraiya was really there. Kakashi became convinced however, that he wasn't seeing things as his dogs started to lick at his face relievedly

Jiraiya broke into a huge grin as he watched Kakashi weakly try to bat his dogs away fondly.

He had thought that he was too late to save his student's student and was currently feeling very, very relieved.

Well, it looks like Kakashi is free from the Aktsuki now…or is he? Please, please review and tell me what you thought about it!

RnR!!