-1 Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in this story.

Hello all. I know it been a while, approximately a month I think, but I'm finally back with a new chapter. As always, never wanted to keep you waiting so long, but last month was truly a busy one, as I predicted it would be. Hopefully everyone was able to read my end chapter comment a the end of chapter 9, but if not, it doesn't matter now. The wait is over. I hope you all enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 10: Resolvere

It had been two days since Kakashi had nearly died, and as anyone would expect, he was still in the hospital. Tsunade insisted upon it, though he felt he was just fine, even if his body was still a bit weak. He really hated hospitals, and not even his books could make him feel better right now. Boredom was starting to set in. Kakashi sat in his hospital bed, looking longingly out the window. He wasn't sure how much longer he could endure being trapped in this suffocating cell, this tiny prison. Well, okay. He had to admit, he was being a bit over dramatic, but he couldn't help it. Two days stuck in that hospital bed was long enough. He was starting to feel claustrophobic. Being stuck on bed rest really wasn't helping his nerves which were still on edge since the incident with Kabuto. Most of his waking minutes were spent worrying about what had happened. What bothered him most was what Kabuto said to him. Orochimaru plans were truly disgusting and he couldn't fathom the thought of Orochimaru getting his hands on Sasuke. He knew that Orochimaru wouldn't be giving up so easily. He would definitely try at another attempt sooner or later, which really put Kakashi on edge. In a desperate attempt to change the direction of his troubling thoughts, he decided that his mind would find more relief if he thought of a ways to escape the hospital instead. Thinking up escape plans was a better choice compared to his dreary thoughts any day.

"You should be asleep, Hatake." Kakashi turned to see the Hokage standing in the doorway of his hospital room. He hadn't even noticed her. He wondered how long she'd been standing there. "You're not going to heal any faster staring out the window."

"Yes, you're right. Tsunade-Sama." He bowed his to the blond woman. "Also, I wanted to thank you again for your help. If it weren't for you… and Yamat-…"

"Don't worry about that." Tsunade cut him off. She was tired of hearing him repeat his gratitude. "It was imprudent of me to allow such an incident to begin with." Tsunade's voice held some remorse. "Actually… there's something I've been contemplating."

Tsunade had entered the room completely and shut the door behind her. 'She closed the door.' Kakashi thought inwardly That meant this would be a serious conversation. Kakashi hated serious conversations and he knew she was about to say something that would probably bring his mood down even further. He waited patiently for her to continue anyway.

"I've been thinking that my decision to leave Sasuke in your care was a mistake."

"What do you mean 'a mistake?' I'm perfectly capable of taking care of my students." Tsunade saw the reaction coming a mile away. Kakashi undoubtedly was a bit upset by Tsunade's words. She knew he would take it the wrong way.

"Listen Kakashi. I have complete faith in your skills as a shinobi, but the situation is still too dangerous. You almost died a couple days ago."

"It's not the first time I've almost died. It won't be the last either. That's never stopped me before."

"I barely got you out of there the last time. Next time, you may not be so fortunate!"

"I don't care." Kakashi said turning his head back towards the window. Tsunade stared at him for some time before dropping her head and sighing irritably. Somehow, she had expected this. She knew how stubborn he could be sometimes.

"Shinobi don't quit missions because of the possibility of failure or death, neither do comrades their friends, nor Senseis their students. I won't run away Tsunade-Sama."

"Are you openly disobeying my orders?" Disregarding the Hokage's command was a big no-no obviously. What she said supposedly went. 'The Hokage knows best.' was like one of those unspoken shinobi rules, but anyone who knew Kakashi also knew that there were specific scenarios when rules didn't apply to him. After only a moment, a slight smile could be seen underneath his mask and Tsunade already had an idea what was coming.

"Those who disobey the rules are considered scum,… but tho-…"

"Yes, yes, I know, Kakashi." Not in a mood to hear him say it, Tsunade cut him off suddenly, seeming both irritated and exasperated by the counter argument. "Why must you be so melodramatic." She continued as she began to rub furiously at her temples. She gave another annoyed sigh before smirking a bit at the side of her lips. Kakashi wasn't sure why, but it had to be a good thing with Tsunade, right?

"I figured you'd be as stubborn Kakashi. I guess there's just no convincing you then, right?" Kakashi didn't have to say a word for her to understand his answer. "Fine, If it's what you want, Kakashi. I can't refrain a good shinobi from taking his responsibilities seriously." She turned to leave the man alone as he watched her back recede. "Things will have to change, though." He wasn't sure what she meant, but for that moment, he was just glad that he had won the dispute.

"Kakashi." Tsunade's voice called out right as she was exiting through the door, catching Kakashi's full attention again.

"You're an experienced Shinobi. You know as well as I do one of the biggest rules of the battlefield. Letting your personal feelings control you so fervently can lead to weakness."

Tsunade was right, emotions often meant weakness, but Kakashi knew from experience, that they could also lead to strength. On that note, Kakashi wasn't going to debate with himself or Tsunade what would lead where. He bowed his head and thanked her, knowing that she was only looking out for him. Tsunade got the feeling that he wasn't taking her advice to heart, not the way she wanted anyway. She only shook her head, as she left through the door.

Kakashi turned back to the window as Tsunade's words ran their course through his mind. "Personal attachments and feeling can often cloud one's mind and lead to failure, but I have to admit that these personal feelings often come through whenever my students or teammates are involved. It makes me determined to fight harder, and to protect my friends better. Would I really be able to protect them as well if not for personal attachments."

More questions mounted in the jounin's head. He had to finally acquit his conflicting thoughts in favor of worrying about what he felt was more troubling issues. His house had been blown up for one.

"Where the hell am I suppose to live."

He though for a few seconds but decided that that too, was too tiresome to think about. For now, it was back to thinking of escape plans.

It had been a few hours since the his talk with Tsunade, and Kakashi remained incredibly bored for some time. There was at least visiting hours, which had been the highlight of his time there. Naruto was being as loud as ever, screaming at the top of his lungs. Kakashi actually missed it whenever he was in the hospital. Of course, the high volume did not last for long, as Sakura quickly became annoyed. Kakashi already predicted what came next, and on cue, Naruto was knocked in the head by the konoichi. He heard Sakura mumble something about keeping his voice down in a hospital, but his attention was grabbed by a younger student who started tugging at Kakashi mask for attention, which was still kind of strange. The normal Sasuke hated attention.

" Heh, I haven't forgotten you Sasuke." He said fondly to the toddler.

"Gaagaaga!" Sasuke babbled energetically as he kept pulling on the man's mask.

"No. That's not a toy." Kakashi said gently as he pulled away. Sasuke fussed a bit, reaching out for the soft cloth, but Kakashi's hand started to block his own. With no success of getting to the mask again, his attention turned next to the shiny metal plate attached to Kakashi's headband, eyeing the indentation of the leaf symbol, until he realized his own reflection on the shiny surface. Finding curiosity in it, he tried the same methods as with the mask, gurgling and cooing happily as he pulled and yanked at it.

"You're pretty energetic today, eh Sasuke." Team seven had been babysitting since he was in the hospital. He wondered and kind of dreaded the idea that maybe Naruto had already rubbed off on him. One hyperactive student was enough. He pulled the toddler back down into his lap, evidently having the headband slip from his head.

"Goooo." The toddler responded, sounding almost amazed by the object in his hands and then his face seemed to become very serious and rigid as he studied it almost critically. Feeling the silkiness of the cloth material, and then again the smoothness of the silvery metal, he looked up at Kakashi as if asking what the strange thing was.

"Headband." Kakashi said softly while Sasuke continued looking up at him. "Head-band" slower this time. " Can you say that word?" Sasuke was still babbling non-words, but Kakashi had noticed Sasuke a bit more talkative lately, although Naruto and Sakura asserted that he was pretty quiet most of the time he wasn't visiting Kakashi. Kakashi hoped he could get a real word out of him and had repeated words over and over again, hopefully sparking some sort of understanding or connection.

For a moment Kakashi became hopeful as Sasuke opened his mouth wider, as if ready to speak. It turned out to be the beginning of a small yawn. It was long past noon and Sasuke seemed tired and ready for a nap. Letting his weight go, he tiredly laid his body completely against Kakashi's. It only took a few more moments of yawning before Sasuke drifted off to what seemed like a peaceful sleep, Kakashi's stolen headband still between his tiny fingers. A soft smile formed on Kakashi face as a warm feeling flooded his chest. It was a strange joy that overcame him. One that he couldn't remember feeling before, but it was a good feeling anyway. As he looked across to his other two students, who were still in some dispute about 'quiet' and 'hospitals', (Kakashi couldn't remember what it was about anymore), and back at the one curled in his lap, he completely forgot about his problems. For right now, he was happy counting his blessings. He was thankful that he was safe, and that Sasuke was safe. He was thankful that he was there at all, to continue to protect his students when the time came, and the time would come again, he was sure of it. No matter what would happen in the future, Kakashi felt that things would be alright, and even if they wouldn't, he would still be there to give his life if necessary for his team. He'd thought back to his conversation with Tsunade. He'd knew he had made the right choice.

"Orochimaru-Sama." three voices simultaneously sounded through the darkness of the cavern lit only by the slight glimmer of a few flames. It was too dark to see any of their features, not that Orochimaru cared to see their faces anyway. As for Orochimaru, all they could see of him was the snake-like yellow irises of his eyes quite honestly glowing. Damn was it creepy. As if their nerves weren't shot enough, being in the presence of the snake sannin. All three of them was sure they were trembling slightly at the knees.

"You three kept me waiting." The snake hissed sending a shiver of fear through the three's spines.

"F-Forgive us Orochimaru-S-Sama. It won't happen again." A female's voice apologized shakily. Another of the three shook his head nervously in agreement, and the third remained quiet and absolutely still.

"You three have been useless to me in the past. I've decided I have no need for such worthless waste of skin." The tree broke out in a cold, nervous sweat. Oh God. What was he saying. They swallowed back the fear. Whenever Orochimaru found someone unworthy or useless, he would dismiss them… permanently…In the worse way possible.

"Don't worry." Orochimaru smiled sickly, sensing their fear increase. "I considered simply to dispose of you three, but I had another interesting idea that I'm sure you would find much more pleasurable." The beating of their hearts increased slightly. Anything was better than being disposed of. "I can offer what I'm sure the three of you desire the most." The three gasp. They knew exactly what they wanted most, but could Orochimaru be serious.

"…but" Orochimaru continued, "not before you achieve something for me first in return." The three remained quiet, nervousness growing.

"Yakushi Kabuto was sent on an important mission for me, but it seems he failed miserably. I want you to locate him and bring him back here for the punishment he deserves. But that's only your first and least important objective. Certainly not worth the reward. Your main objective is completing what Kabuto couldn't. I want you to retrieve Uchiha Sasuke." Uchiha Sasuke? They questioned inwardly.

"And if we do..." Another voice of the three, this time masculine but obviously young, was heard, "You…you'll let us."

"That's right. Bring me back the Uchiha in exchange for you freedom." Freedom. It really was what they wanted the most. For so long, they'd wanted nothing but to escape from the wretched prison. Though the thought that it was a cruel empty promise from Orochimaru, only meant to get them to achieve his goals, crossed their minds, they couldn't pass down the opportunity. Any possibility of freedom had to at least be attempted. Of course, it's not like they had a choice. The three of them nodded warily, accepting the mission.

"Good. Your destination is Konoha."

Two figures walked silently along the old deserted trail, passing tree upon tree, not quite aware of the time anymore. It was getting late as the sun began to sink slowly, turning the sky a deep crimson, nearly as bold a red that adorned their black swaying attires. The two had been walking for hours now, but neither showed the slightest sign of being weary, although one, the tallest whose skin was strangely blue, appeared more restless by the second. He was itching for conversation, or anything at all to stimulate his senses. His silent partner offered no relief from the boredom, whose eyes for whatever reason had been transfixed on the sky for the last several minutes.

"Hey, Itachi. What the hell you looking at?" The taller ask annoyed after finally working up the nerve to speak to the younger male. He got no response in return, though the other male did decide to look back to the trail.

"You've been even more quiet than usual lately, not to mention completely inattentive." Again, the male didn't answer.

"Itachi." This time he stopped, and appeared to be in deep thought for a couple of seconds. His partner thought that he had finally succeeded and maybe some interesting conversation would follow.

"This is where we part ways."

"What!" Damn. The conversation was ending before it began.

"Have you forgotten so quickly. Pein has sent us to separate destinations. Your mission is in Kumogakure. We can no longer travel in the same direction."

"Yeah, yeah! I remember." Kisame responded gruffly. "I just thought things would be a little more interesting before we had to split." before he could get the words out, Itachi had already began moving in the direction of his mission. Kisame hated the rare occasions when he traveled without a partner. Too quiet for his liking and far too boring. He guessed he would just have to put up with it and turned, heading towards the land of lightning.

Itachi was glad to be rid of his partner who wasn't great at entertaining himself. It gave him more concentration, and for once he could think and hopefully clear his head of the annoying cloudiness that had come over it recently. For whatever reasons, he had not been able to concentrate and was becoming unfocused. He'd felt this way before, but only when something wasn't right. It was like a sixth sense telling him that somewhere, things just weren't the way he would have preferred it to be. For now, he had to focus his thoughts and get on with his mission to a place he hated more than most. He would have preferred to be in Kisame's position right now and heading toward Kumo.

"My destination… is Konoha." He stated as if reminding himself cautiously. He couldn't think of Konoha without thinking of a certain person he'd left behind all those years ago. And suddenly, the fuzziness returned to he head, but he pushed it away as before.

-End

Amaterasu333

Whew, Been awhile, huh. Sorry for the long wait. I was finally able to get out another chapter. I hope you enjoyed. With Itachi and three other mysterious figures (Identities may be obvious for a lot of you :p) approaching, things are sure to get a little sticky. I made just a bit of a change with Sasuke. Usually I mention that he is just gurgling or babbling, but I wanted to represent that in actual text sometime. Hopefully you guys don't mind. I'll definitely try to update the next chapter a lot sooner since I should be a bit freer this month. We'll see. :p Thanks for reading and thanks to all my reviewers in advance.

Note:

Resolvere

Latin

Etymology:

Literal meaning: To loosen, To disperse, To release, To pay.

To make a resolution. To resolve:(To make a decision, To settle an argument, To dispel doubts.)