Disclaimer: I have not come into possession of Naruto since chapter 1, sorry. Though… that may be a good thing… who knows how I would corrupt it…

First of all, thanks for the reviews. Normally I would agree with Aurora Maryte that Kakashi would have fared better against Kabuto, but for reasons stated in this chapter Kakashi wasn't at top form during that battle. Also, about my misspelling of Konoha… ehh… nuts. Thanks for bringing it to my attention though Achalon. I don't know how often I'll be able to get around to updating this, but I'll work on it.

---Chapter 2: Return in Glory and Failure---

Kakashi stood over the smooth, polished stone bearing the names of the great fallen heroes of Konoha, watching as the light rain played along the grooves of the names etched there. He had just gotten out of the hospital this morning from his chakra exhaustion, and had found it strangely fitting that it hadn't stopped raining since that moment 3 days ago.

It seemed strange, the way nature seemed to mourn with the world with the loss of heroes. When the 3rd Hokage died, the skies had rained in mourning. When the 4th was buried the tears of Konoha mingled with the falling droplets, and the sun had vanished behind the slate gray clouds for a week. It had now been 3 days since the sun had last cast it's rays on Konoha, and 3 days since Konoha had been blessed with the blond hair and blue eyes of the number-one loud-mouthed ninja. But Naruto couldn't be dead. He just couldn't.

Kakashi sighed as he pulled his hand from his pocket, flexing the tendons carefully. The day he had taken Team 7 under his care Naruto had once said that he would get his name on this rain-slicked stone. Kakashi could only cling to the hope that Naruto's wish wouldn't be granted anytime soon.

Kakashi turned and quickly slammed his fist into the nearby training post the blond haired boy had once been tied to. 'I shouldn't have rushed in like that… Naruto must have been rubbing off on me… If only I had done something more… looked underneath the underneath… I should have seen what Kabuto was doing! …But I didn't… and now one of the only students I have ever had is now in the hands of a deranged power-hungry madman and another is still restrained to a hospital bed, yet to wake up.' Kakashi slammed his hand back into the post, leaving a noticeable mark.

'If only I had thought more about it before I rushed after them… maybe if I had gotten some support before I had left… I knew that I was still in need of a rest to recharge my chakra I had used up on the mission I had just returned from, and the sprint to The Valley of the End didn't help much either… I know I could have stopped Kabuto if only…' Kakashi allowed his thoughts to fade out as he realized the futility of his argument now that the deed was done before allowing his facial expression to return to his normal relaxed, neutral expression.

He glanced back up to the darkened sky, remembering that he was supposed to meet the Hokage an hour ago. Kakashi allowed his hand to slip into his pocket, returning with a small orange book. Kakashi flipped idly though the pages paying no attention to their content as he turned and began to walk to the Hokage tower.

--

Kabuto laid back down on his small bedroll, rewrapping the bandages he had placed across his chest as he watched the shadows from his single small lamp dance and flicker about the walls of his meager room.

It had taken more chakra that he normally allowed himself to use in battle in order to keep himself from showing his fatigue against the famed copy-nin, but Kabuto had long since learned the importance of not showing ones weakness and fatigue, and the demoralizing effects it had on ones opponents .

It was normally a rather simple thing to perform and maintain against most shinobi, but the key there was most shinobi. Kabuto had noted that Kakashi hadn't been at full strength when they had faced each other, but he had still provided a good fight.

As his arms lowered from his fresh wrappings Kabuto allowed himself to muse to himself about his performance in the admittedly stacked battle, quickly determining that he would have to train some more so that he wouldn't be evenly matched the next time they faced each other.

Kabuto quickly pushed himself from his bedroll, curious on how Orochimaru's newest plaything was faring in the dungeon as his hand pressed against the smooth, cool wood of his door before sliding it from his path.

Orochimaru had "checked up" on Naruto earlier this morning, and knowing his master he would want his newest toy at full health the next time he needed him. Kabuto walked slowly briskly through the darkened halls of the building, working his way downwards through the maze like passages.

As his body stopped before the reinforced door of the newly occupied cell he recalled the anger apparent on Orochimaru's face when he had descended to the blond boy's prison. As the door slowly squeaked open on its rusty hinges and the copper sent of blood rushed out to assault his senses, it occurred to him that this probably wasn't going to be pretty.

--

Tsunade stared at the small scroll she had been reading repeatedly since she had found it two days ago, hidden in a now silent apartment room, before finally tearing her gaze away to gaze out the window overlooking the quiet streets of Konoha. She could see the people she lead huddled under any outcropping available to avoid the falling rain as they waited for their chance to scamper towards the next bit of cover, bags of last minute supplies clutched tightly to their shivering bodies on their slow, miserable trek to their heated homes. If only those fools could understand what they had recently lost.

By the time the ANBU team had returned with the unconscious bodies of Kakashi and Sasuke, the village still had yet to discover of the traitorous act that had been attempted by their village hero, or of the selfless response put up by the so-called demon filth. Tsunade was wise enough to know that if word got out of either Sasuke or Naruto's circumstances the effects on Konoha could be disastrous. The betrayal of their prized Uchiha would be seen as a sign of weakness, and the military situation between Leaf and Stone was bad enough as it stood now, and if word of Naruto got out… Tsunade didn't know if she would be able to control herself at the sight of Konoha rejoicing at the loss of the one she could see as a little brother.

Tsunade slowly stood from her piles of paperwork and walked to the rain covered glass, awaiting the presence of one silver haired jounin, wishing she could see just one more glace of her blue eyed brother.

--

Orochimaru stared out into the forests surrounding Hidden Sound. 'They saved Sasuke…' He thought to himself as his snake like eyes narrowed. Even though it had been days since the rescue, he knew he would be a while before he would allow himself to accept it and move on, because if there was one thing Orochimaru didn't like that was people stealing his tools, especially ones as precious as the Uchiha.

Orochimaru clenched his fist in anger and annoyance. 'It is but a small obstacle, the Uchiha will still end up as mine in the end. But for now… I might as well make use of the present Kabuto gave me…' Orochimaru slowly turned and left the room to visit his newest prisoner. 'I do hope Naruto is awake… it makes things so much more enjoyable…' Orochimaru thought as he passed through the open doorway, a sickening smile gracing his features. 'To think the blood of a demon could be so sweet…'

--

Gah… I originally thought I knew where this was going to go, but I ended up entirely rewriting chapter 2 anyway… I really have no idea where this is going to end up, but I'm beginning to doubt that it's going to me as simple as I originally planned.

So… again suggestions and comments are greatly welcomed and will be considered in the writing of this story, so please leave a review if you can.

Thanks for reading.

Version 1.71:

-Added needed breaks in my paragraphs.

-Added a bit of extra stuff for ease of reading.

-Changed section dividers, see Chapter 1 for details.

-Minor additions.

-Went up by .01 from my previous version. Woo!