AN: Thanks so much for the review so far! It is good to hear some positives as this is my first fan fiction. I am trying to stay true to the characters and how I think they would behave. Also, this is my first fight scene, which I found quite challenging to write, so hope it goes well!

And yes, I have made it longer

Chapter 13

It was on the third day they found the hideout- with the help of Kakashi's ninken of course. It was in a beach cave on the coast and, a secluded area where there were no nearby villages. No witnesses and hard to find. Kakashi noted from his hiding place that there were clear signs of smuggling going on. There were boats and baskets of what could only be stolen goods around. As they were all missing nin Kakashi had no doubt whatever they had had been taken by force. The hokage's report said that civilians had all also gone missing in connection with this group. Yet Kakashi couldn't see any captives- they were already too late.

Anger shook Kakashi. All ninja had killed, but killing and raping innocents for sake of killing... it was disgusting. He would ensure not one of the rogue ninja survived.

Kakashi was good at containing his emotions, always calm, always cool; well, on the outside anyway. His thoughts were another thing entirely. Izumo and Kotetsu would not have realised that anything was wrong with him. Gai on the other hand, could sense something in his chakra. He placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder, as if to say "Don't worry, we'll get them."

Gai's touch brought Kakashi's away from the task at hand and to their journey that day. After the awkward exchange yesterday, Kakashi had avoided Gai again, but it seemed Gai was also not wanted to speak to him. The innocent comment of the chunin before their game of chess seemed to pull Gai back into quiet mood, so unlike the green beast.

Gai's mood seemed to be changing from day to day- at least Kakashi was consistently closed and broody. But Kakashi couldn't shake the feeling there was a reason for Gai's behaviour yesterday... I mean, seeing your friend/crush jerking off was one thing, but what was it he had said: "you looked like you were having some interesting dreams"...

Oh no. He couldn't possibly have known.

Could he?

Kakashi lived alone, and he had been told a mission he had called out the names of his dead comrades during a particularly haunting nightmare. What is he had done the same for a different type of dream...? He had been thinking about Gai last night after all.

Shit.

He could have mumbled something, and the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. There was only one way to know for certain though- asking Gai. And that he definitely would not do.

So with no resolution possible, he forced his mind back to their current predicament. He shrugged Gai's hand off, so he could think properly. It was meant as the kind, comforting gesture of a friend and comrade, but Kakashi still found any touch from Gai distracting at the moment.

"Pakkun should be back soon," he whispered to his team on the cliffs they were laying on. It offered them a good view while staying hidden.

The other nodded and waited, watching. Within moments Kakashi sense the ninken and crawled back down towards the woods. Pakkun stopped in front of Kakashi and allowed his master to scratch behind his ears on a job well done. "So what you got?" Kakashi asked.

"There's about a dozen of them. Mostly chunin level, a few genin, and two that seem like jonin standard to me."

"Right, that shouldn't be a problem then; me and Gai can handle them two. Although a is more than I was expecting. It could be tricky to fend off the numbers and Izumo and Kotetsu can't handle that many."

"Yeah I think you'll be needing our help," Pakkun nodded, referring to the fighting ninken. "We can cause a distraction to the chunin. Take out the genin first thing."

"Ah they won't know what hit 'em, trust me."

"Good. Erm, Kakashi?"

"Hmm?"

"You are OK, right?"

He should have known. The ninken knew him better than anyone, even Gai. They were attuned to his feelings and could read him like Icha Icha.

"It's nothing Pakkun. I just have things to sort out back home and need to end this mission quickly."

"Right..."

"OK let's call the others then. Within a few minutes, the other three shinobi had arrived, along with the other seven dogs. Although Pakkun was not a battle-type ninken, Kakashi knew the dog's pride would be stung if he sent his friend away. So instead Kakashi asked them to perform their eight-dog offensive battle formation.

He explained his strategy to the others. He would sneak up on the genin and take them out, then he and Gai would focus on the jonin. Izumo and Kotetsu were to take out as many as they could, with the help of the ninken. They all agreed and sneaked down to their targets.

Most of them were inside their hide-out, which was good in terms of taking out a few before the rest caught on. But it was the genin Kakashi need to find first. His sharingan scanned the area but only found one of them outside. One was better than none. Kakashi leapt down gracefully from the top of the cave, throwing his chakra infused kunai straight to the poor unsuspecting genin, who had been absorbed in his task of knotting some ropes.

Kakashi rarely missed his target. The kunai hit straight in the middle of his forehead, scarily symmetrical. The genin didn't even realise what had happened, and now he was dead, fallen back in his seat.

"Intruder!" came a few shouts from the chunin outside. They instantly grabbed weapons, ready to take Kakashi on: after all he was just one man, even if he was terrifying as fuck to the unorganised ninja below.

Kakashi had landed in front of the cave and would allow himself to be a distraction for now. Shuriken rained out from Kakashi on all sides, catching a few unprepared chunin. Two of them were hit and retreated back as their comrades poured out from inside.

Kakashi was not stupid enough to hand around, using lightning blade, he ran through the circle of ninja, slicing down anyone who allowed him.

"Who the fuck is this?" a woman spat, pointing at the silver haired streak. She had long brown hair that had been tied back with a chord, and an eye patch. Kakashi sensed that she was indeed much stronger than the others.

"I'll fucking kill him," a sticky bearded man yelled. The other jonin. Before he could even move towards Kakashi, Gai was on top of him, a kick to the back of his head. "Fuuuuck! There's more of the little shits!"

"Don't just stand there you idiots- fight them!" the woman screamed.

The ninken and the rest of his team were now in the middle of the battle. Kakashi couldn't help but laugh at how pissed off the two jonin were that they hadn't even seen the ambush coming. The ninken soon sniffed out the other genin and literally ripped him to pieces in a cry of agony and wash of blood. The remaining chunin backed away from the bloody thirsty dogs.

A sword flew past Kakashi's head, signalling that the women was after him. She created some water clones, who all charged at him, so Kakashi countered with his own, and reminded of his fight with Zabuza. He wondered if the woman came from the same land. She certainly seemed as powerful, and Kakashi knew he would have to leave the others to the remaining chunin, and concentrate on her.

As clone countered clone, the woman shrieked in irritation. Kakashi deduced that she was trying to lure him to the sea, where her water style would work best. In frustration at not getting her own way, she threw kunai at him and his clones. Kakashi managed to roll out the way, but his clones hadn't been so lucky. They dissolved away but her ones had survived the onslaught. Two of them grabbed him held him in place, allowing the original to kick him straight in the guy. He leaned forward in pain. She was strong.

But not on guard. Her triumph over Kakashi meant she didn't even see Pakkun coming. The little pug bit down on her ankle and she screamed. She kicked the assaulted leg as hard as she could and Pakkun went flying. Kakashi made a mental note to buy whatever he wanted for a week when they returned to Konoha.

The distraction was all he need to escape. Her clones were shaken off and received punches infused with lightning straight to the head on either side of him. Then he lunged for the woman herself. She was too quick, and back flipped out of harm's way.

The numbers of the chunin were dwindling, but Kakashi vaguely saw it was not without cost. Gai was panting heavily, though still cheering himself on with great enthusiasm. Izumo clearly had a broken arm and Kotetsu had been cut in a few places; hopefully nothing too deep.

Kakashi now had the women on the run and she jumped on the cave above them. She was shooting water bullets. His lightning-style may not be much help here, but unfortunately for her, Kakashi could fall back on earth-style.

"Earth-style; mud wall!"

It sheltered him from the bullets and would be sure to give her a fright, as she would know well her jutsu was weak against his earth. When Kakashi released his jutsu however, she was nowhere to be seen.

Shit.

Kakashi looked back over the battle field. She wasn't down there either. Did she run away? He knew better than to go chasing after her through the woods when she had clearly suppressed her chakra. She could be luring him into a trap.

He decided to help the others instead and jumped back down in front of the cave. Kakashi used his lightning blade and was running into the fray when he felt a rush of the water bullets knock him off his feet. Within moments he was trapped in a water prison. SO she had hidden in the cave then. He should have realised it was the best place to retreat to and launch an attack...

Kakashi held his breath, not sure how long he could last. She picked up the sword she had used earlier and sat on him holding the blade to his neck.

"You know, I wish you had lasted a bit longer, I'm enjoying you... but I will enjoy hearing your final gasp more." She smiled. That was when Kakashi vaguely felt one of Gai's gates open, and saw the woman thrown off him, her eyes wide with shock and fury.

"Kakashi!"

Gai was there, pulling him up gently. It was a strange thing, Gai in the middle of battle mode, opening the deadly gates and still somehow being gentle and sensitive towards him. Kakashi knew better not to let their emotions take hold of them though.

"Gai, thanks. I'm fine, go help the others and end this thing."

"Gai was looking at him intensely, overwhelmed at the thought that he had only just reached Kakashi in time. Kakashi had seen this before. But now was not the time. They had a job to finish.

Gai nodded and ran back into the fray before opening another gate. Kakashi hoped he didn't put his body through too much. Gai had not defeated the other jonin yet, he had merely knocked him off his feet to come to Kakashi's aid.

The woman was back, seething. Kakashi only gave her a cool smile and ran at her. He could see she was losing her cool and low on chakra due to her barrage of water attacks. She went into a defensive stance, expecting Kakashi to use the lightning blade again. Always expect the unexpected. Kakashi did some hand seals, quicker than she could read.

The earth and sand crumbled beneath her and she fell below. She was stuck in the ground right up to her neck and couldn't move. She bared her teeth and growled. Before she could say anything more, Kakashi used his chidori, and pushed through her face, blood and bone straying everywhere.

It was over.

He helped Gai finish off the other jonin, and then Gai's gates allowed him to quickly dispose of the rest.

Kakashi found Pakkun whimpering behind a rock. He picked up the brave pug nuzzled him and touched his soft paws.

"You did great," he said. "Thank you for helping me back there."

"No problem," the dog growled. "But you owe me big time. I want all my favourite foods when we get back."

"Done. You earned it." The copy ninja smiled.

They had taken damage and were a little worse for wear, but they had completed their mission. And they had all survived. The death of a team mate is what Kakashi feared most.

"Well team," Kakashi said.

"Let's patch ourselves up and head home. I think we have earned a rest in an inn, if we can find one before the night is out."

The other three whopped and the dogs vanished in a puff of smoke. Izumo and Kotetsu patted each other on the back. Gai smiled at Kakashi, relieved. Again, now that Kakashi knew about Gai's feelings, he could see there was more in that smile than there seemed at a first glance. Gai wasn't just happy they had won. He was watching Kakashi with a deep emotion, as the anxiety cleared and he knew Kakashi was safe again. Safe with him.

When Gai was around, no serious harm would ever come to him.