A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Krach, Anonymous 99, Idle-ing, and Square Mom Lover. You guys are so kind! Seriously, I appreciate your reviews so much! I truly don't deserve all of you.


A rare snow had fallen over Konoha. Glittering white blanketed the streets and rooftops, and icicles hung like glistening diamonds from the branches. A beautiful, serene picture; one that the citizens of Konoha didn't get to enjoy very often. One that Tsunade would be perfectly content viewing from the warm comfort of her office.

But no. Instead, she was outside in Senju Park, freezing her toes off.

And speaking of her soon-to-be-frostbitten digits, Tsunade leaned forward to inspect her feet and winced. Her toes were nearly as red as her nail polish. She could admit that wearing open-toed heels in the snow wasn't the best idea, but it wasn't her fault. She'd been dragged out here against her will.

"Hurry up, Tsunade-baachan!" Naruto hollered as he plowed through the snow ahead of her. Well, maybe plowed was a slight exaggeration. There was hardly an inch and a half of snow.

"This had better be worth it, Naruto," she grumbled, hobbling after him. The burning cold sensation was fading, and a numbness crept through her feet. If she tripped and broke an ankle, she was going to make him carry her. On the bright side, she was so numb she likely wouldn't feel any pain.

Hmm. Using extreme cold to numb pain. That was an interesting idea. One she could—

"Baachan!"

Tsunade lifted her gaze to an orange and black jacket looming in her face. She stumbled, but managed to catch herself before she slammed into Naruto. "What?"

Naruto squinted down at her. At eighteen, he was now a good six inches taller than her. His blond hair had grown out enough to flop over the right side of his forehead protector, which made her wonder if the new hair was Hinata's doing. At any rate, she had to admit, he was becoming quite a good-looking man. Who'd have thought the mouthy brat she'd met in the Tanzaku pub would have turned out so well?

Oblivious to her thoughts, Naruto wrinkled his nose. "Are you okay?"

Since he asked... "No, I'm not! I'm freezing and I can barely walk because my feet are so numb. Why did you bring me out here, anyway?" Desperate hope leaked into her voice, "If you wanted to talk, we could do that in my office." Her very warm and cozy office. Which was filled with stacks of paperwork. She shuddered, and, to make herself feel better, conjured up a therapeutic image of the papers being used as kindling in her fireplace at home.

Hmm... not a bad idea, actually. Watching those crisp white pages burn while she warmed her toes and sipped sake sounded like the perfect evening.

Naruto looked down at her feet, blond eyebrows furrowed. "Wow, your feet are really red. Why didn't you put on something warmer?"

Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose—which was also turning numb—and silently begged the shinobi gods for patience. "Because someone barged into my office, grabbed my arm, and dragged me outside. I didn't have a chance to grab anything warmer."

"Oh... right." Naruto flushed, and her annoyance faded away as it always did with Naruto. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small thermos. "Well, I was gonna save this for later, but I guess you can have it now."

Tsunade accepted the thermos cap, filled to the brim with steaming tea. Heat seeped into her fingers as she took a sip. She sighed as warmth filled her stomach. Bless this boy. He might be impulsive and frustrating, but he always managed to make up for it. She smiled. "Thank you." Almost as an afterthought, she added, "So, what are we doing? I have a lot of paperwork waiting for me."

Naruto grinned, his nose and whiskered cheeks pink from the cold. "Ah, don't tell me you're becoming a responsible adult in your old age, Tsunade-baachan."

Normally, she would have showed him just how far she could throw him in her 'old age', but the comment was a piercing reminder of her silent vow to Kakashi. When he returned, she would offer to release him from their promise. Her stomach gave a nauseous roll, but Tsunade pushed it away and scoffed, "I've always been responsible, gaki. I had to be, to clean up all of your messes."

Naruto's grin softened. "Hai. You've always looked out for me, Baachan, even when everyone else was against you. You believed in me." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I, uh, I've never told you this before... but to me, you've always been the closest thing I have to a mother."

Tsunade swallowed, suddenly unable to speak past the lump in her throat. Her eyes grew suspiciously damp. Oh, gods. She was going to cry, wasn't she?

Naruto glanced around the park, empty except for a few scattered trees. "I guess this is as good a place as any." He reached into his jacket again and pulled out a small black box. He opened it and extended it to Tsunade, so she could make out the glittering ring nestled in black velvet. "I'm going to ask Hinata to marry me, and I wanted you to know first." His blue eyes were anxious. "What do you think?"

What did she think? Tsunade studied the earnest face of the boy who'd become more dear to her than anyone—beside Kakashi—over the past five years. Now... that boy was growing up. And Naruto's confession made her realize that he, in so many ways, had become the son she'd never had. Pride overflowed from her heart, warming her from head to foot. Well, almost. Her toes were still numb. "It's beautiful, Naruto. Hinata couldn't ask for a better man. I'm proud of you."

Naruto beamed. Still holding the little black box in one hand, he closed the distance between them, and his warm arms wrapped around Tsunade. His voice was rough, "Thanks, Tsunade-baachan."

Damn. Now she really was going to cry. And not just because Naruto's body was shielding her from most of the biting cold blowing across the park. As comforting as the warmth was, she shook it off. She still hadn't told him that she cared for him like a son, and he deserved to hear it. Tsunade took a deep breath. "Naruto, I—"

"Naruto!" Sakura's shrill cry carried through the stillness of the empty park.

Naruto pulled away from Tsunade and hastily shoved the ring box back into his jacket. He waved enthusiastically. "Hai, Sakura-chan!"

Tsunade turned, taking in her pink-haired student sprinting across the sparkling white field, frosty breath coming in short, white spurts. She frowned. Was something wrong? Normally, Sakura didn't act with such urgency.

"It's—it's Sasuke!" Sakura called, her green eyes bright and cheeks flushed. "Sasuke has returned!"

Tsunade froze. Returned? But... Sasuke was on the same mission as Kakashi. Had they... did that mean they were both back? Sakura hadn't mentioned Kakashi, but that didn't mean—unless he hadn't returned because he...

"All right!" Naruto punched the air. "I knew today was gonna to be a good day! Where is he, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura halted in front of them, panting, but unable to hide her excitement. "He—he was summoned to Tsunade-sama's office by the elders." She glanced at Tsunade and blinked, as if noticing her for the first time. "Oh... maybe they didn't know you were out here, Tsunade-sama."

Unless they specifically wanted to speak to Sasuke without her present. It was at times like these that she achingly missed Shikaku Nara and his solid presence at her side. She really needed to appoint a new advisor and Jōnin Commander; one that would preferably be an ally in such matters. Tsunade clenched her teeth. "Let's go to my office." She took a step, but her numb feet didn't respond to the sudden movement, and she stumbled forward with a curse.

The next thing she knew, Naruto had swept her up in his arms. She yelped and grabbed the front of his jacket, intending to demand what he was doing, but Naruto just grinned down at her. "No worries, I've got you, Tsunade-baachan."

For reasons unknown to her, Tsunade let herself lean back and muttered, "Fine."

Naruto leaped through the air toward the center of Konoha, and added thoughtfully, "Man, you're even lighter than Hinata."

"Naruto-kun!" Sakura shrieked behind him. "You shouldn't say such things!"

Naruto winced. "Oh, right. Sorry."

Tsunade would have smacked him, but she was too distracted by what—or who—was waiting in her office. Why hadn't Kakashi sent her a message that he was returning? Why had Sakura only mentioned Sasuke? Her grip on Naruto's jacket tightened, but she managed to call to Sakura steadily, "Was anyone with Sasuke?"

Sakura frowned as they landed in the front of the hokage tower, and Naruto set Tsunade down gently. "I don't know. I—I haven't seen him yet. The gate chūnin didn't mention anyone else, though."

Tsunade swallowed painfully. But both Naruto and Sakura were watching her curiously, so she forced a smile and started for the tower. "What are you two standing around for? Your teammate is waiting."

Tsunade entered her office first—though it was more bursting in—with Naruto and Sakura close behind. She took in the scene in a glance. Shizune stood beside her desk, looking immensely relived at Tsunade's arrival. Koharu and Homura were in the middle of the office with Sasuke Uchiha, and both elders startled guiltily at her entrance.

Tsunade stalked to the group, and didn't bother giving the elders their personal space. Rather, she stood so close they were practically sharing the same air. "What is going on here? Sasuke-san, why have you returned?"

Koharu inched away, eyeing Tsunade's close proximity. "He was merely—"

"I returned because Kakashi-sensei told me to," Sasuke interrupted smoothly. His emotionless black eyes studied Tsunade. "I'm here to prove my loyalty to Konoha. Kakashi wished to finish his... assigned mission just like he started it: alone. Since I briefly met up with him, the elders wanted a status report of that mission."

Tsunade blinked as she processed what he was saying. "Are you saying you were never on a joint mission with Kakashi?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, probably questioning why the hokage didn't know what was going on with her own shinobi. "No. Kakashi requested to do the mission alone, as he didn't want me to take part in the assassinations. I hadn't seen him until a month ago, when he told me to return."

Assassinations?

The numbness was returning, and Tsunade could hardly breathe as hot anger built up in her chest. Sensing her killing intent, Koharu's and Homura's eyes widened and they backed away. Too late. Tsunade surged forward and caught the front of their robes, one in each hand, and hoisted them up to slam their backs into the wall. They both made strangled sounds, sandaled feet dangling several inches above the floor.

Through a veil of red, the small, rational part of her knew such violent actions could very well cause them to have heart failure or something, but at the moment, she didn't care. Besides, she reasoned, if needed, she could always stop and heal them, then pick up where she'd left off.

All she could see was Kakashi's dark, anguished eyes just before he left ten months ago. "I don't want to leave," he'd whispered desperately. "I don't want to do this."

But he had. He'd gone for her; she knew he had. Because he cared more about their stupid, stupid promise than his own wellbeing. What had he been forced to endure because of the two people in front of her?

Homura looked pale, as if he were about to faint. Koharu mostly seemed in shock, and she was struggling to breathe with Tsunade's fist at her throat. Tsunade eased back a little, but only because she wanted answers. "What," she murmured, voice dangerously calm, "was the mission you gave to Kakashi?"

Homura just gaped at her, as if she were speaking another language, but Koharu's glare was murderous. "Go to hell. You will regret th—" she choked as Tsunade shoved her higher.

"I will drop you. And at your age, I imagine a broken hip is quite painful." Tsunade leaned in closer, so that they were nearly nose-to-nose, and hissed through gritted teeth, "So, speak, you old bag."

Koharu sputtered, but finally she rasped, "I gave Hatake a list. A sort of bingo book, if you will, of everyone who had been associated with the Akatsuki. His mission was to... take care of every name on the list. He's removed twelve so far. Even you can agree that we can't risk another war. I was merely—"

Tsunade couldn't listen to another word. Though they didn't deserve it, she lowered the elders nearly to the floor and released them. But the drop was still unexpected enough that they collapsed in heap. She turned away, unable to look at them any longer.

Naruto, Sakura, and even Sasuke, were all gaping at her.

But all she could think about was Kakashi. Forced to commit assassination after assassination... she couldn't imagine what the past ten months had been like for him. No wonder he hadn't wanted her to know. The guilt he must being feeling... he was living in a dark hell.

Fire burned through her veins. No more.

Tsunade spun back to Koharu, and the woman's eyes widened in fear. Her voice sounded like frigid, even to her. "I want the remaining names on the list."

The hokage's duties be damned. She was going to find Kakashi and bring him back. It was her turn to save him.

.


.

Kakashi perched on a sun-warmed tile roof in Donguri, observing the bundled-up civilians of the small village make their way around the marketplace. The cold wind sliced through his clothes, but the chill didn't bother him. How could it, when he already felt colder than ice inside?

Kakashi tugged his mask higher, detachedly mulling over the problem he'd discovered two days ago. Six of the names were in this small forest village, and he had no doubt it wasn't a coincidence. Logically, he should track down one of the names and shadow him until he figured out the connection to the other five names. But so far, he hadn't even caught a glimpse of one of the names. Could they be in hiding?

And that wasn't even his biggest problem.

Kakashi lowered himself down the sloped side of the roof and peered over the ridge. Right on time, the door to a sweet shop a block away opened, and out strode a tall man with bushy white hair and a pronounced limp. He held the hand of young girl—also with white hair—who was probably four or five, and happily sucking on candy.

He'd had no idea Jiraiya had left Konoha. But the toad sage seemed comfortable enough in the streets of Donguri that Kakashi guessed he'd been here at least a few weeks. And he had no idea what to think about the girl. Watching them, one would assume it was his daughter... but surely not.

Instead of taking their usual route, Jiraiya led the girl in the direction of Kakashi's hiding place. He didn't look up and his movements were casual, but Kakashi got the message. Jiraiya knew he was being watched, and it would be in Kakashi's best interest to reveal himself.

Fine. He hadn't intended to stay hidden forever, anyway. Kakashi slid the rest of the way down the roof and landed lightly in the alley. He strolled out into the main street, just happening to step out right in front of Jiraiya. Aware of the kid, he lifted a hand. "Yo, Jiraiya-san. I didn't expect to find you here."

Jiraiya's eyes widened briefly. Clearly, he hadn't expected his stalker to be Kakashi. "Ah, Hatake. It's good to see you, but I could say the same." He cleared his throat. "What brings you to the humble town of Donguri?"

"I'm afraid it's just business." Kakashi smiled down at the girl, who gaped up at him through a white halo of hair. Her eyes were a vivid green that reminded him of Sakura. "And who is this?"

"Oh..." Jiraiya's feeble smile, though tinged with pride, didn't quite reach his eyes. "This is my, uh, daughter, Satomi." He shook her hand gently. "Remember your manners. Say hello to Kakashi-san.

Daughter? So, it was true. Kakashi shut his gaping mouth, though they couldn't see it through his mask. Did Tsunade know?

Satomi licked her tiny lips, stained blue from the candy, and obediently repeated, "Hai, Kaka-san."

"Ah... hai. It's nice to meet you, Satomi-chan." Kakashi lifted his gaze to Jiraiya's, certain the Sannin sensed his many questions and equally certain he didn't want to discuss it in front of his daughter. Besides, if Jiraiya invited him over, as was proper, perhaps the sage could give him insights on his targets—though the thought of his mission made his stomach churn. Jiraiya had formerly been Konoha's top spy, after all, and old habits die hard. He would know people, and similarly notice if anything was amiss.

Jiraiya grunted, likely sensing his thoughts. "Would you like to join us for dinner? I have feeling we have a lot to catch up on."

Kakashi bowed slightly. "I would be honored."

Dinner was a subdued affair. Jiraiya did most of the talking, and Satomi's grandmother, Nūju—who had apparently raised her after her mother died in childbirth—did little more than sip her soup and send Kakashi suspicious glances when she thought he wasn't looking. Satomi, on the other hand, watched Kakashi like a green-eyed hawk, as if trying to figure out how he ate without removing his mask.

Her stare was starting to unnerve him, so Kakashi focused on his soup and poked at the extra green onions in his broth that Satomi kept passing to him from her bowl. "Maa, thanks for the meal, Nūju-sama."

Nūju's creased lips seemed slightly less pinched. "You are welcome, Hatake-san. If I'd known Jiraiya-san's old friend would be visiting—" she cast Jiraiya a sharp look— "I would have made something better fitting a guest."

"Right. Well." Jiraiya pushed back from the table, and sensing his cue, Kakashi did the same. "Kakashi's visit was a bit unexpected, so we're going to go catch up for a bit." He looked down at Satomi. "Be good for Baachan, all right?"

Satomi scrunched her nose at Kakashi. "How come he doesn't take off his mask?"

Kakashi held a finger up to his lips. "Because I'm undercover. That means you can't tell anyone I was here."

Satomi continued staring at him unblinkingly. But he must have gained some trust after being an accomplice in taking her unwanted greens, because she finally nodded. "Okay. I won't tell."

"Good girl." Jiraiya tousled Satomi's feathery hair, then headed out of the dining room.

Kakashi couldn't help a grin as Jiraiya led him through the small house and out the back door into the alley. "So, you have a daughter, hmm?" He slid his hands into his pockets and slouched against the doorframe. "She's cute."

Jiraiya sighed and ran a hand down his face. "And a handful." He smiled ruefully. "But I wouldn't trade her for anything. I didn't even know about her until Nūju contacted me a couple of months ago. It was a bit of a shock. I wasn't sure if her claim was true, so I came to find out."

And hadn't left. That said more than any explanation Jiraiya could give. Kakashi nodded. "Congratulations. I suppose Tsunade knows?"

Jiraiya winced. "Ah, no. I haven't told her yet. She knew I was leaving for a while, but not why." He rubbed the back of his neck. "If she found out I had a four-year-old kid, she'd rip my other arm off for not finding her sooner. And... I wish I had."

"You're here now," Kakashi said quietly. "That counts for something."

Jiraiya sent him a long sideways glance. "Have you ever thought about having a kid of your own, Hatake?"

Kakashi tensed. Unbidden, the scent of blood filled his nostrils, reminding him of his mission. Reminding him what he was. Why think about the future when he couldn't even survive the present? "Maa, I try not to think anymore."

"Ah." In the falling dusk, Jiraiya looked almost sad. But he only straightened and glanced both ways down the shadowed alley. "So, what brought you here?"

Kakashi listed the six names located in Donguri. "Have you heard of them?"

"Hai." Jiraiya frowned. "Actually, they are the reason I'm here. Nūju didn't want the father who supposedly abandoned Satomi around, but she knew who I was. Apparently, those men have been causing trouble in the village. Nūju told me about Satomi so I would come, but she really wanted me to bring peace back to the village. She says those men, among a few others, are involved in some sort of cult."

A cult? Kakashi stifled a sigh. Great, just what he wanted to deal with. And since Jiraiya and his daughter were involved in the village, he would have to be even more cautious. "Have you learned anything?"

Jiraiya rubbed his chin. "I did a bit of investigating and I believe I know where their hideout is. But I think they caught onto me, so I backed off." He grimaced. "I'm not who I used to be, and I can't risk Satomi."

"I understand." Kakashi glanced at the sky. Clouds covered most of the stars and moon. Perfect. "Where can I find their hideout?"

"I'll write out directions." Jiraiya's heavy gaze made his neck prickle uncomfortably. "This is your mission to win your pardon, isn't it."

Kakashi shifted. "Hai."

"I won't ask what it is, but I've been on more undercover missions that you can count. No matter what you do, don't lose yourself. Find something to anchor yourself to, to remind yourself who you are and what you're living for." Jiraiya pressed a scrap of paper into Kakashi's hand, then clapped him on the shoulder. "Endure. One day, this will all be over. Make sure it's worth it."

The door shut behind Jiraiya, and Kakashi lifted the scrap into the barely-visible light. Directions to the hideout were scribbled across the smudged surface. He memorized them, then incinerated the paper.

Find an anchor. But when one was drowning, the anchor was pulled down with you. Better if he cut the line.

The streets of Donguri were dark and mostly unoccupied, and Kakashi slipped through unseen with ease. Jiraiya's directions led him to an old sake brewery on the outskirts of the village. He studied the warped, rotting wooden building. It was fairly small, but the main part of the brewery would be underground. No one seemed to be present, which left nothing but to go inside and find a way down.

Kakashi crept up the steps soundlessly. The sagging door was already open, half-hanging on a single hinge. He scanned the dusty, cobwebbed interior before entering. However, the doorway was free of webs. Someone had certainly been here. Whether or not it was a cult as Nūju claimed remained to be seen. The trapdoor to the brewery cellar was in the back. Kakashi studied the new, shiny lock before snapping it open with a kunai. Unless the members took to locking themselves in, no one was here. As a precaution, he oiled the hinges before opening the trapdoor—recently reinforced with new wood. But it was the symbol freshly painted on the trapdoor that gave his stomach a sickening lurch.

A red cloud, outlined in white. The symbol of the late Akatsuki.

Kakashi drew his ninjatō, more for the reassuring weight in his hand than anything else. He descended the rusted metal stairs, eyes searching for any movement. But when his booted feet touched the packed dirt floor, he was greeted with deathly silence. And the scent of smoke. He turned, straining his senses to follow the warm, smoky trail of a recently-extinguished candle. His fingers bumped hot wax, and he brushed the cooling droplets from his fingertips before relighting the candle. Though weak and flickering, the light was welcome relief from stifling blackness.

Kakashi picked up the candle and turned in a slow circle, taking in what used to an old brewery cellar. The giant vats and barrels were all gone, and Kakashi stepped closer to the wall, heart pounding. Someone had hung old, tattered robes on the wall. One had a sleeve missing, another with long slashes covering the back and front. All were high-collared and black with red clouds outlined in white.

What was this? Kakashi walked further along the wall, until he came to what looked like a shrine. Unlit candles surrounded it, and it was covered with object formerly used by the Akatsuki. Bloodied weapons, a few rings, a broken bar of black metal... and a preserved arm?

Sickened, Kakashi backed away. Did these people worship the Akatsuki? And if so, what exactly was their goal?

A picture on the wall close the shrine caught his eye. He held the candle closer, and numbness spread through his limbs. It was a bingo book listing of Jiraiya, listing all of the facts about the Sannin. Including the fact that he'd survived a direct attack from Pain of the Akatsuki.

Jiraiya had said that he suspected the cult was onto him.

Kakashi's gaze dropped to the candle in his hand. It had been extinguished just before he'd arrived. He cursed. Jiraiya—with one arm and his near-inability to mold chakra—was alone with Satomi and Nūju.

He only prayed he wouldn't be too late.

Kakashi crouched in the alley across the street from the house Jiraiya shared with Satomi and Nūju. The fifty or so men and women surrounding the home had made no attempt to conceal themselves. As he studied them, his dread grew. He'd expected them to be mostly—if not all—civilians with an unhealthy fascination for shinobi life. A few held swords and kunai awkwardly, as if unused to the weight. But the rest... stood easily, weapons near at hand but not yet in use. They were alert, and they were waiting. He had no doubt they were shinobi. Perhaps dissatisfied missing-nins?

Wait. A blue-haired shinobi near the front caught his eye, and Kakashi stared in disbelief. It was Azu, one of the former Root members who had traveled with him after Danzō's death. He had been one of the first to leave, but Kakashi had always respected him. His skill in kenjutsu had helped Kakashi greatly improve his own.

If there were Anbu-caliber shinobi in this group... this would be a lot harder than he'd thought. Kakashi faded back into the alley, out of sight. He didn't know what they were waiting for, and he wasn't about to stay to find out. He needed to get to Jiraiya and see if the Sannin had a plan. And if not, they would make one. He formed the signs for Rending Drill Fang and vanished into the earth.

Hopefully, considering the circumstances, Jiraiya wouldn't mind the damage he was about cause to their floor.

Kakashi emerged through splintered boards in the middle of the kitchen. A terrified scream nearly split his eardrums—and it was only his honed reflexes that saved him from the heavy metal pan Nūju swung at his head. He caught the edge of the pan and smiled up at Nūju. "It's only me."

Nūju gasped and stumbled back, promptly dropping the pan. It hit the floor with a muted thud. She clutched her heart with withered hands and stared at him, eyes stretched wide. "K-Kakashi-san? Have you seen Satomi? Please tell me!"

Kakashi grunted as he freed himself from the rest of the destroyed floorboards. He straightened and frowned at Nūju. "Satomi is missing?"

"Not missing. Taken." Jiraiya stood in the kitchen doorway. His face was haggard, but the relief in his gaze at the sight of Kakashi spoke volumes. "Several shinobi showed up and took her. I couldn't—there was nothing I could do to stop them. I didn't even know they were here until I heard Satomi's scream."

Not good. For Nūju's sake, Kakashi kept his voice calm. "What do they want with her?"

"They don't care about her." Anger burned in Jiraiya's dark eyes. "They want me. I assume they haven't heard about the damage Pain did to me, otherwise they wouldn't have gone to such extreme measures. They want me to surrender in exchange for Satomi. I assume they'll kill me then, to finish what Pain started. I've been stalling since they took her..." He exhaled heavily. "Once they find out I can barely mold chakra, it's over. They'll kill me, and Satomi and Nūju."

Kakashi glanced at the door and curled his fingers into a fist. He already knew what Jiraiya would say, but he had to ask. "I see. You want me to go after Satomi, then, while you stall them."

"Please, Kakashi." Jiraiya's jaw was set. "I don't care about what happens to me. Just find Satomi, and keep her safe."

Kakashi read everything in the white-haired sage's eyes that he couldn't—or wouldn't—say. How much did it hurt for Jiraiya to be forced to send someone else to save his child? A cold weight sank his stomach. Maybe he didn't know what it was like to have a kid of his own, but he would do whatever it took to make sure Jiraiya had a long life with his. "I'll bring her back. Which way did they go?"

Jiraiya closed his eyes briefly. "To the forest."

Kakashi nodded and left the house through the back as quickly as he'd come. He raced through the dark streets, and once he was far enough away, moved to leap along rooftops. He reached the outskirts of Donguri, and left the last building behind. Only two barren, cold fields lay between him and forest. He followed a fresh set of footprints toward the line of trees. The ninja who'd taken Satomi were skilled; they'd run in nearly perfect single file, leaving only one set of tracks. But not quite skilled enough. The difference in weight and stride had left miniscule differences; enough that Kakashi could distinguish at least five shinobi.

But if they separated at the tree line, as he suspected they would, he would have to summon his ninken to help track them. Speed was of the essence. If he didn't get back to Jiraiya in time...

A flash of blue, and Azu landed in front of him, sword drawn. "Kakashi Hatake." Azu's thin lips curved mockingly. "I heard former Akatsuki associates were being hunted down, but I never suspected you would fall back into such cold-blooded ways."

Damn. Kakashi unsheathed his ninjatō, but held it at his side. It would take time to defeat Azu. Time he didn't have. "Maa, I could say the same about you. Or were you deceiving me in the time we lived and trained together?"

Azu smirked. "It's painful when you realize you don't know someone as well as you thought you did, isn't it? I don't fault you for killing Danzō, though he was right about Konoha and everyone in it. You did what you had to do, just like I am doing what I have to do. It's not personal."

"You made it personal when you chose to go against everything Konoha stands for." Kakashi marked the slight movement of Azu's blade, and tensed. "I don't know what you intend by attempting to bring the Akatsuki back, but I'm afraid I can't let you. Too many of my friends have died for this peace."

"You call this peace?" Azu sneered. "Assassinating all those who may oppose you in the future? Konoha sent you to do this, didn't they? Yet they won't acknowledge their own sins." A gleam entered his brown eyes. "What did they promise you? A night with that hokage you've been lusting after? What was her name... Tsuna—?"

Kakashi moved forward faster than thought, but Azu's blade blocked his. Azu's grin widened, and Kakashi knew he'd fallen into his trap. But suddenly, he didn't care. Let Azu wound him, bleed him. It was a small price to pay. He was going to win, and if sacrificing his body brought that end faster, then so be it.

Their blades flashed faster and faster; clashing and springing apart, searching for an opening. Again and again, Kakashi felt the fiery sting of a razor edge slicing his flesh, of warm blood running down his limbs and soaking his clothes.

But it brought him closer to his goal.

The opportunity came, and Kakashi didn't hesitate. The sickening thunk as his ninjatō blade met resistance and followed through, slicing through flesh, muscle, and bone. Azu's head separated from his neck, and his body flopped into the bloodstained grass, formerly brown from the long winter months.

Kakashi raced into the forest. He didn't look back; if he did, he would lose the contents of his stomach. Azu had been his friend. He gasped through his mouth, but it didn't help. His mask was damp with Azu's blood and the stench of it flooded his senses, staining deep into his skin.

Once he was far enough from Azu's body, he stopped to summon his ninken. Through the haze in his mind, Kakashi directed them to follow the separate trails the ninja had left to throw him off. They took off at full speed, though Pakkun shot him a concerned glance before following Bull.

Kakashi continued on his own, his vision blurring the trail ahead of him. He shook it off. He'd summoned the pack out of precaution, but he knew he was on Satomi's trail. The slightly deeper indention of the shinobi's left foot showed extra weight, though slight. He was carrying Satomi with his left arm.

After a few minutes he sensed a presence ahead. No, more than one. Kakashi halted, then walked forward slowly into a wide clearing, bloody ninjatō still in hand. They were waiting for him, so he would give them what they wanted. Either way, he was leaving here with Satomi.

Briefly, the cold detachment of his thoughts bothered him, but he shoved it away.

Three shinobi stood in the center of the clearing, the one in the middle holding a sleeping—or unconscious—Satomi. His heart sank at the sight of them, but after his confrontation with Azu, he'd almost expected it. All three were former Root. Which meant he would need more than his ninjatō for this fight.

Kakashi dropped his weapon. Every muscle ached with exhaustion, and he fixed his gaze on Satomi for resolve. "You shouldn't have done this."

The air tingled, and Purple Electricity crackled to life in his palm.


A/N: Well... I lied. Looks this story is actually going to be 40 chapters, instead of 38 like I said before. So, you guys get two extra chapters. But I will admit, 40 is pretty satisfying number. XD Let's hope my estimation is accurate this time, lol.


Krach: Aww, thank you! It makes me so happy to know someone is looking forward to my updates so much. :') And I'm very glad my story is worth a reread. Thank you for all the compliments! Honestly, your review really made my day, so thank you so much! :D

Anonymous 99: Thank you so much! :D I hope I can give a satisfactory ending. Very true. And honestly, if there was anyone who didn't necessarily want a "regular life", I think it would be Kakashi. Like you said, he already has a lot of baggage and experiences from his past that sets him apart as 'different' than his peers. To answer your question, no, they haven't. To me, Tsunade seems like the type who wouldn't do that sort of thing unless she was able to commit to a relationship, which they both agreed not to do right now. But we'll see how long that lasts. XD Thank you so much for your lovely review! It was very encouraging. :)

As for recs, my favorite KakaTsu fic would have to be Underneath Things by Jest'lyn Tal. Sadly, there aren't many fics with this pairing out there. A few other authors with unfinished stories who have written/are writing this pairing are Idle-ing, TheHollowWorld, E3-Fantasyandreality, and U3fan. McDiggin'It has written a couple of one-shots. However, I haven't read all of those stories. Hope that helps!

Idle-ing: I'm glad you enjoyed the interaction between Kakashi and Sasuke! I agree, Kakashi is really the only one is capable of understanding Sasuke. Both in canon and in the non-canon things I've put in this story. I truly think Kakashi doesn't see what he's capable of, as far as a nurturing/fatherly figure. So yes, we will see. :) Thank you so much for your review!

Square Mom Lover: Aww, thank you! :) Yeah, I think if Tsunade really thought about it, she would see that her fears are most likely unfounded. But love makes you irrational, or so I've heard. ;) And "Nade just might get a surprise" haha, love it! I mean, you never know. XD