"Sensei?"

His thoughts were interrupted. "Yes, Naruto?"

"You have to get better, and we have to help…but where do we begin?"

Kakashi stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned down by Naruto. "We rest."

"Why do we need to rest? I'm not tired." He crossed his arms and stared at his Sensei.

"You may not be, but I am. Whenever that…monster comes out, it wears me out."

"Oh. Okay."

The night was long. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura slept where Kakashi did. He was able to sleep on a bed, while they slept on the floor. Kakashi opened his eyes and looked around. 'It's clear…' He thought. 'Everyone's asleep. Good.' He quietly grabbed his weapons and opened the door. He slightly turned and stared at his three sleeping students. 'Hm. They worry too much.' He smiled, but it was hidden under his mask. 'But maybe it's good that they worry…' He headed out the door.

Kakashi walked for a while until he reached an open field. He set his stuff down, and retrieved a shuriken out of his back weapon pouch. He threw it at a tree, but missed it by a few inches. He sighed and went on getting it back. He was right by it, but something startled him. A kunai flew right past his head. A little bit of blood dripped down his face. It took him a moment to realize he was hit.

"Uh! What!" He looked around in every direction. More kunai's and shuriken's flew past him. One of the shuriken's hit his shoulder, and a kunai went into his leg. He backed away, and turned to run, but more went into his back. He heard rustling in trees and turned around. "I…I have you now!" You tugged the kunai out of his leg and threw it at the rustling that was in the tree. He heard a scream, and a man fell out. He jerked out the shuriken in his shoulder and threw it on the ground.

He sat in the grass. "Why did that man want to kill me? I suppose I needed to train, I guess that was my training for a while." His vision was blurring, and he started getting dizzy. "Damn…I've lost too much blood." He heard movement behind him and he turned around. "Who's there!"

A figure ran up to him.

"Sakura…?"

"You guys, I found him! Hurry up and get over here!" She sat down and leaned him down upon her lap. "Quiet, Sensei…"

Naruto and Sasuke ran up to them. Naruto was shocked to see his Sensei in such awful condition.

Kakashi groaned and mumbled something.

"Huh?" Naruto and Sakura leaned in closer.

"Upon the ground…under the tree…a man…"

They looked at where he said. "There is a man over there." Sasuke answered. "But he looks dead."

Kakashi closed his eyes and relaxed. Sakura looked down at him. Blood covered her. "Sensei? Sensei! Wake up!"

It was no use; he had passed out from loss of blood.

Kakashi woke up sweating. He sat up and put his head in his hands. He heard footsteps coming toward him and he looked up.

"…You guys…" His three students stood over him. Sakura pushed him back on the pillow. She put a cold wet rag up to his head.

"…You said you needed rest, so why did you go out and get yourself hurt like that?"

He thought for a moment about what happened. "Training, but I almost ended up killing myself." He chuckled, but immediately stopped. He swore. His body started becoming sore from all of the cuts and bruises.

"Look. It's time to change your bandages." Sakura pushed Naruto and Sasuke out of the room.

"Hey! Why do we have to leave!" Naruto glared at her.

"Because, one, you don't know how to change bandages, and two, I need to speak with Kakashi-Sensei alone." She shut the door behind them.

Sakura got the first-aid kit out and walked over to Kakashi. "I need you to sit up, ok? I know it'll be painful, but try to stand it. This is the only way for your wounds to heal."

He nodded.

She gently helped him up. He winced and cried out in pain. She hurried up and got out a small bottle containing some strange liquid. As she uncorked it, Kakashi looked at it.

"What is that?" He asked in a weak voice.

"Opium. Listen, if you don't want to feel any more pain, then take this. Believe me, it'll help." She handed the uncorked bottle to him.

He gulped it down and made a disgusted look.

She smiled. "It's nasty, yes, but it is worth it." She took the bottle from his hands and grabbed some bandages. Tenderly, she un-wrapped the bloody bandages on his arms and legs. Sakura leaned on the edge of the bed and moved his back to her chest. She finished dressing Kakashi's chest and stomach. "There. All done." She noticed his breathing had slowed and he hadn't talked. She leaned down by his face. His eyes were closed.

"He's…sleeping…the opium must've taken effect sooner than I thought." She laid him back down on the bed and covered him up. 'We'll talk tomorrow, if he's up to it.' She thought, and left the room. Walking into the other room, she noticed Naruto and Sasuke sitting on the floor.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Can Sasuke and I go see him now?"

Sakura shook her head. "No, not now. He's sleeping. Don't disturb him."

Naruto growled. "…you got to talk to him…"

"No, I didn't. He fell asleep before I could get anything out of him." She sighed and sat by Sasuke. "You guys want to train?"

Naruto jumped up. "Yeah! Alright!"

Sasuke nodded and got up. All three of them headed out the door.