A New Path Traveled

by KakashiKrazed

What might have been different if Itachi had followed through with his promise to take Kakashi away after he released him from his Tsukuyomi? This is my twisted version of what might have been.

20. The Best Laid Plans

Chapter 20

The Best Laid Plans...

Kabuto still couldn't believe he had to track down Kakashi Hatake...again. Or that his Master saw it necessary to have the emotionally stunted Uchiha accompany him in the task. That in itself showed Kabuto just how displeased Lord Orochimaru was with them both, and it made him all the more determined to win his Master's favor back, once and for all.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Sasuke's voice ran along Kabuto's nerves like a hot knife, and he didn't bother hiding his disdain when he responded. "Where do you think I'm going? It's not like Kakashi Hatake is going to just show up at our doorstep, is it?"

Sasuke's glare made it apparent he didn't appreciate being spoken too like that, but at the moment, Kabuto couldn't care less what the boy thought. Instead he continued to walk to where he'd already had the foresight to set up what he needed to locate the Copy Ninja. Let Sasuke think what he wanted. For the moment he would ignore the Uchiha brat and put all of his concentration on regaining what was rightfully his. All that mattered in the end was that he would be the one to deliver Kakashi Hatake back into Lord Orochimaru's hands. And he would reclaim his place at his Master's right hand.

Kabuto felt Sasuke's anger wafting off of him, but he also noticed that it didn't keep the fool from following in his wake. Kabuto stepped into one of the smaller labs that Lord Orochimaru allowed him to keep, and he moved over to where his computer waited for him. A few simple keystrokes were all it took for him to bring up a schematic of the area surrounding the lair. A quick glance at the screen confirmed that what he was looking for wasn't there. Another series of keystrokes, and the view was pulled out until the screen was filled with a larger area than before.

Kabuto leaned in closer to scan the display and a smirk graced his lips at the small blinking dot of light at the far edge of the depicted area. He quickly entered the appropriate commands until the screen was filled with all the details he needed about just where the target was located. As he waited for the printouts that would allow him to head straight to Kakashi Hatake's current location, he couldn't help but notice how Sasuke was looking at the display with narrowed eyes.

"When did you manage to slip a tracking beacon on him without having him, or the Akatsuki, find it?"

Kabuto raised his eyebrow at the astute question. He hardly expected the self-absorbed Uchiha to even start to understand what he'd done. "Most searches for such technology tend to be concentrated on things that are above the skin. I simply made sure mine was a bit deeper."

"Meaning?"

Kabuto sighed as he picked up the printouts. "For someone who is supposedly a prodigy of the Uchiha clan, you aren't terribly bright, are you."

He watched Sasuke's eyes flash from dark onyx to the blood-red of the sharingan and knew he'd hit his mark. Kabuto chuckled darkly and handed the boy the top sheet of the printouts. "As you can surely see, the sub-dermal transmitter is nestled snuggly against Kakashi's third rib on his left side."

"What makes you so sure the Akatsuki won't find it? The radio signal alone would be enough for some of them to pick up."

Kabuto's eyebrow rose at the realization that perhaps Sasuke wasn't quite as clueless as he'd hoped the Uchiha was. Still, it irked him to think that the brat thought he wouldn't have taken that into account. He frowned and narrowed his eyes before he responded to what he felt was a barely veiled insult.

"If I was stupid enough to use a regular broadcast frequency, then yes, the Akatsuki members would undoubtedly notice it. Fortunately for us I am not stupid...and have created a series of specific low-frequency transmissions that occur at seemingly random times throughout the day. Only someone knowing precisely what to look for, and when, will ever notice the transmissions, and even then, they would be hard-pressed to locate the actual transmitter."

Sasuke made a derisive noise. "How hard would it be if it's where you stated earlier? Even the lamest medical ninja can discern bone from electronics."

At this, Kabuto couldn't help but smile at his own brilliance. "Who said anything about the transmitter being electronic?"

Leaving the young man behind, Kabuto turned and walked out of the room. He'd need to gather a few key pieces of equipment if he was to track the Copy-ninja down, and he honestly didn't care if Sasuke Uchiha had a working knowledge of his own methods. He did pause just outside the door, however, and spoke loud enough for the brat to hear him.

"We'll meet up at the south entrance in an hour. Make sure you're ready, or I'll be leaving without you."

Although Sasuke never replied verbally, the wave of killing intent being emitted off the boy brought a smile to Kabuto's lips. Perhaps he'd enjoy this assignment after all.

-xx-

Genma still couldn't believe things had gotten this screwed up. How the hell had his 'master plan' of kidnapping Kakashi – for his friend's own good, of course – turned into such an enormous ball of shit? Granted, he hadn't had much time to come up with the plan, but with people like Ibiki and Kakashi involved, it should have worked a hell of a lot better than it had!

Genma sighed and turned toward where the remaining members of his hand-picked crew were watching Danzo with undisguised hatred. He knew that they blamed the man for the death of Isougai and wanted nothing more than to kill him in retaliation, but they would wait to carry out that desire as long as Genma told them to. It still irked him to have to depend on the bandaged elder to find where his friend had been taken, and he couldn't help but wonder if Danzo had lied to him in a desperate bid to save his own life. He wouldn't put it past the sneaky bastard, but he had to hold out hope that the older man truly could lead him to wherever the others had been taken.

Sliding a fresh senbon in between his teeth, Genma crossed over to stand in front of the elder. After seeing how fluidly the man could move without his cane, and knowing that cane was more of a weapon than anything else, he'd made sure it was nowhere near Danzo. Which, of course, was surely part of the reason the old geezer met him with an icy glare and a biting comment.

"How nice of you to grace us with your presence, Shiranui. Are you sure you're ready to go now?"

The sarcasm was so thick in the bastard's voice that Genma nearly bit through his senbon in an attempt to keep from reacting to his words. He pointedly ignored the man, choosing to speak with his teammates instead.

"Kensei, you'll take tail. I have a sneaking suspicion that this wasn't the only group of ROOT that was deployed, and I want the best keeping an eye out for them."

Without a word, Kensei pulled her red hair into a knot at her neck and slid her mask back into place. With that simple movement she slipped back into the role of the ANBU Ferret, and Genma knew it was all that kept her from dispatching Danzo where he stood. He sighed internally and shifted his attention to her counterpart. Yotaka had already placed his Hawk mask in place, and was waiting patiently for his instructions. Next to him, Danzo's eyes nearly danced at their strict professionalism, and it was enough to make Genma sick at the prospect that the man was likely already making plans to replace those ROOT operatives he had lost today, and his twisted vision was calculating whether Ferret and Hawk could be molded into his own soldiers. Of course, considering that these two ANBU were trained by none other than Kakashi Hatake, he doubted that man would ever manage to get them to join ROOT.

"Hawk, take point. We'll move east until Danzo tells me otherwise. Stay sharp."

A single nod, and Hawk moved to lead the way, his muscles rippling with obvious tension, and his katana drawn and ready for whatever they may be heading into. Genma glanced over to where Danzo was watching him through narrowed eyes, and he had to fight down the urge to slap the look off the elder's face. Instead, he placed his senbon back into his pouch and then deliberately placed his own ANBU mask into place. He turned to stare down at the slightly shorter man through the eye-slits of his Jackal mask and was pleased to see the man looking a bit less sure of himself.

"Move out!" His command was followed immediately...even by Danzo, who was kept in position at his side.

-xx-

Kakashi stared out across a dark expanse of rock. He knew he'd seen this place before, but the question was...when? As he grappled with that thought, the scene around him shifted under his feet, nearly sending him to his knees, before transforming into a far rockier area. Even as his stomach clenched at the memories that he'd thought he'd conquered years earlier, the sound of Obito's last request reached his ears.

"Kakashi, keep Rin safe..."

When he looked down at his feet in shame, his line of sight focused in on the blood-stained smile of his fallen teammate. Kakashi shook his head, and tried to dislodge the vision from his sight. A moment later and the scene morphed again...this time into an area of flowing sand, where the sun beat down mercilessly, and his heart sank deeper into despair when he recognized exactly where he was. It was confirmed when he turned his head to the right and saw the makeshift shelter he could still remember building in a vain attempt to keep Rin from expiring faster than she already was.

Before he could do more than acknowledge this fact, he found himself kneeling at her side and cringing at the disfiguring slashes across her face. It was impossible to tell where her tattoos ended and the injuries began...even with Obito's eyes. Her words floated up to him through her bloodstained lips and caused his heart to sink farther still.

"Kakashi, look after Sensei..."

Before the frothing bubbles from her final breath stilled, again he found the scenery shifting. He had no problem recognizing this latest vision, particularly when the silhouette of the Nine-tailed Fox filled the horizon. Kakashi tried desperately to reach that horizon in time, but just as it had played out the first time, he was too late to keep Minato-sensei from sacrificing himself for the good of the Village. But, just like before, he'd made it to the Fourth Hokage's side just in time to listen to the man's last words.

"Kakashi, watch over Naruto..."

Once more, Kakashi's heart sank, and once more the scene shifted around him. When he focused on his surroundings again, he was standing with the Third Hokage and staring at the expired milk carton on Naruto's apartment table. The Old Man's voice sounded strangely wistful now that he thought back on it.

"You will need to teach them well, Kakashi..."

But then Kakashi had found himself staring down at the Third's dead body after Orochimaru's attack on Konoha. And in that moment, Kakashi felt the weight of every promise he'd broken. He had failed Obito – Rin was dead. He had failed Rin – Minato-sensei was dead. He had failed Minato-sensei – he could no longer watch over his son. And he had failed the Third Hokage – Sasuke was in Orochimaru's hands, and he had abandoned Naruto and Sakura – he was a horrible teacher.

The Third's body melted into a swirling pool of muddy colors, and Kakashi felt his body fall into it and begin to sink under the dark fluid. He did not struggle as he was pulled under, figuring it was the least he deserved for his many failures. But before he could be claimed by Death, he heard a low murmuring at the very edge of his awareness. Kakashi tried to ignore it, but it continued and he simply couldn't help but be curious about just what it was. He struggled against the pull of the fluid, and soon found the world around him fading from view as the edges of awareness returned to him.

Kakashi woke fully to the sound of soft voices and, for the briefest moment, his mind tried to tell him he was safe back in Konoha. Of course, his genius mind didn't let that fantasy remain intact for long, especially when he recognized that one of the voices belonged to Itachi's usual Akatsuki partner, Kisame. The ex-Mist ninja was obviously disagreeing with whoever the second voice belonged to, and if the sudden increase in his volume was anything to go by, Kisame definitely wasn't happy with whatever was said to him.

Kakashi opened his right eye to see that Kisame was actually debating with Pein. On a good day, that was suicidal, and on a bad day...well...it wasn't a good thing on any day. He let out a deep groan of pain and both parties stopped speaking. The strange look on their faces made Kakashi wonder about just what had the two men so worked up. And for a moment he feared they'd done something to Iruka and Ibiki, but a quick glance around the cave showed his companions were still leaning against the rock wall, each awake and watching the argument with guarded gazes. Kakashi thanked Kami for that and concentrated on the Akatsuki.

"I thought the idea was to let me rest, Leader?"

Pein shot one last glare at Kisame before crossing to where Kakashi was struggling to sit up. The young red-head slid an arm behind Kakashi's back and guided him until he was leaning against the stone wall. The leader of most feared organization in the Five Great Countries then sat beside him on the blanket-clad ground with a small sigh. It was so out of character for the man that Kakashi truly had no idea how to react beyond staring at him.

"Kakashi, our intention was not to wake you. But now that you are awake, I require you to explain something to me."

A kernel of fear laced its way through Kakashi. Does he suspect that Itachi has helped us? Has Pein figured out my loyalties have changed? Kakashi calmed his racing heart. "If I can, Leader, I will."

Pein turned his black and white gaze toward him and Kakashi knew that he was being judged at that very moment. But the words that passed the younger man's lips were hardly what Kakashi had expected to hear.

"How is it possible that you are in worse shape after resting?"

After a moment of confusion, Kakashi scrambled to find just the right words to keep his plan in place. "That would be because the chunin replaced the seal he had removed earlier."

Kisame stormed over to where the two Konoha shinobi were watching quietly from their spot on the floor and pulled Iruka up by his throat. The much smaller man let out a pained gasp as he was slammed hard against the wall before Kisame directed his comments to Pein. "I told you that these scum had something to do with it!"

Pein's eyes narrowed dangerously and Kakashi was quick to try and defuse the situation. "You misunderstood my words, Kisame. The chunin only did what I told him to do."

A look of utter confusion crossed the ex-Mist shinobi's face and he dragged Iruka closer to where Kakashi and Pein were sitting. "Why the hell would you do that? Are you insane?!"

Kakashi grinned at the towering man and chuckled lightly. "Well, this isn't the first time I've been accused of that. But I figured that we would have a better shot of not being found again if the ANBU tracking seal was blocked."

Kisame's mouth gaped open in obvious disbelief, while Pein reentered the conversation. "Then you deduced that the removal of that seal corresponded to the arrival of the ANBU?"

"Once I had the time to think about it, it was the only logical conclusion."

"But that doesn't explain why this one was willing to do it!" Kisame shook Iruka's body back and forth to emphasize his point, the chains dangling from the chunin's ankles scraping across the floor.

Kakashi pushed down his desire to rescue Iruka and focused on remaining calm. He raised his eyebrows just enough to portray how stupid he felt Kisame was, and spoke in as condescending a tone as he could manage without causing too severe a backlash from Pein.

"If you had ever bothered to read up on any of the scrolls we've been stockpiling over the past year, you would know exactly why I had selected Iruka to replace the seal."

Kisame frowned and dropped Iruka to the ground so he could perch his fists on his hips. "I've read a lot of those scrolls! What ones are you talking about?"

Kakashi rolled his eyes and shook his head. "How about the one titled Psychological Profiles of the Key Shinobi of the Five Great Countries?"

Kisame dropped his arms to his side. "I sort of didn't bother with that one."

Pein's voice held the edge of anger, which in turn caused Kisame to flinch slightly. "I had specifically instructed all of you to study that scroll. Why did you fail to do so?"

Kisame lowered his head in what Kakashi had learned to recognize as his warped version of shame. His words came out as a harsh whisper. "Because...I...I wasn't listed in it."

Kakashi laughed out loud at that, followed shortly by a groan of pain as his damaged body reminded him that he still had a ways to go before he was in top form. Still, he couldn't believe just how idiotic the shark-toothed man could be.

Pein stood up and moved to where Iruka was still sprawled on the floor. He stared down at the sensei. "I did read the scroll, Kakashi. Iruka Umino was not listed in it."

Kakashi had to resist the urge to smile as the Leader of the Akatsuki reacted exactly as he'd calculated he would. "True enough, Pein. But I'm sure that you will remember that Ibiki Morino was listed."

Pein turned toward Kakashi with a look of concentration on his face. "Ibiki Morino. Ah, yes. I recall the entry now. The jonin head of Konoha's Torture and Interrogation Unit. Most noticeably it was stated that the man was impervious to most common interrogation methods, whether a threat was made directly to him, or any companions. Even threats against family members have been known to fail."

Kakashi leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes, confident that the younger man would follow the logic he'd laid out without fail. He wasn't proven wrong as Pein continued speaking.

"A threat made to Ibiki Morino would be a waste of time, even if that threat was to end the chunin's life. But this chunin, who cares for others more than himself as an integral part of his career, would never allow you to harm his fellow Konoha shinobi if it was within his power to prevent it."

Kakashi opened his eye to see Kisame scratching at the back of his head. "I still don't get it."

Kakashi sighed dramatically. "I told Iruka-sensei that I'd kill Ibiki if he didn't do precisely as I directed."

Pein walked back over to face Kakashi. "Your ability to analyze those around you continues to impress me, Kakashi Hatake. But your actions will require us to wait here longer than I'd intended."

Kakashi shrugged. "It seemed like the lesser of two evils."

Pein turned and walked toward the entrance. Once he reached the opening, he paused and turned back toward Kakashi. "Rest, Kakashi. Your actions will ensure our enemy will not arrive as quickly as they might have otherwise. But we will need to move soon."

Kakashi sighed. "I figured as much. How long can you give me?"

Pein tipped his head toward his shoulder. "I will dispatch Itachi and Kisame to scout ahead and determine which lair would be best for relocation. That will give you one day at the least."

Kakashi bowed his head slightly at the young man's words. "I'll do my best to heal as fast as I can, Leader."

Pein left without another word. Meanwhile Kisame glared at Kakashi. "Is something on your mind, Kisame?"

"I swear that sometimes you're worse than the Uchiha. Did you have to let the Leader know I didn't read that damned scroll?"

Kakashi grinned. "I guess you just bring out the best in me."

Kisame growled and stormed out to catch up with Pein. Once Kakashi was sure that they weren't coming back, he sagged against the wall. He glanced over to where Iruka was still lying on the floor, rubbing a hand across his throat.

"You okay, Sensei?"

Iruka's dark eyes flashed in anger even as his face flushed its telltale shade of red. "Why the hell is it that when I'm not being referred to as 'the chunin,' I'm being described as someone who will cave in anytime someone else's life is threatened?"

Kakashi held his hands up in mock surrender. "Hold on there, Iruka. I only said what I did to explain away the resealing. You know that I don't think that way about you."

Iruka narrowed his eyes. "Do I, Kakashi? I seem to recall being the target of your rude comments more often than not."

Kakashi frowned and scratched at his ear. "That's strange, Iruka-sensei. I don't seem to remember that at all."

Ibiki's gruff voice interrupted them. "You have a fool's luck, Kakashi Hatake."

Both he and Iruka shifted their gazes toward the chained jonin. "And just what would make you say that?"

"If either of those idiots had bothered to examine the newest seal, they would have known Iruka had nothing to do with it."

Kakashi chuckled. "Yeah, well...lucky for us all they seemed too preoccupied with my poor health to notice anything else."

An awkward silence followed Kakashi's remark. Eventually Iruka broke it. "So, Kakashi...how long before we can get out of here?"

Ibiki chuckled and answered before Kakashi even had a chance to. "We need to give the kid a chance to recover a bit more, Sensei."

Kakashi frowned. "We also need to wait for Itachi to get far enough away. And just to be clear, I'm not a kid, Old Man."

Iruka started chuckling, and it became obvious he was trying hard not to laugh outright. Kakashi glared at him. "What's so funny, Iruka?"

The chunin had to struggle to get the words out of his mouth. "You...you sound just like Naruto!"

"I do not!"

Ibiki grunted. "Yup. Just like him."

Kakashi tried to argue the point but realized his companions were right. He hung his head in defeat even as his mind wandered to the blond knucklehead who was such an integral part of Konoha.

-xx-

"Hey, Pervy-sage! Come on, we need to go faster! Stop staring at that lady's chest already!"

Jiraiya cringed as the blond terror screamed at him across the expanse of the local market. The object of his current research also heard the brat, unfortunately, and a moment later Jiraiya felt the sting of her fingers as she slapped his face.

"I'm not that kind of lady, Old Man!"

Jiraiya let out a long sigh and realized his hope of spending a few days at this location to do some more research was gone. Especially after the father of his current muse stormed out of the stall with a small club in his hand. Jiraiya swiftly formed the needed hand-sign and disappeared a moment before the angered father would have managed to reach him.

He reappeared directly behind the loud-mouthed genin and gripped him by the back of his collar. He had managed to drag the boy halfway out of the small village before Naruto even recognized he was being moved at all. Jiraiya mentally added the need to improve the boy's awareness to the ever-growing list of lessons he'd have to teach the kid.

After several minutes of being dragged backward, the boy finally managed to twist free and, once he did, he tried to kick Jiraiya in the shin. The move was easily dodged and a firm hand on top of the blonde's head was all it took to keep the kid from trying anything more. He glared down at the boy, who reminded him far too much of Minato and, not for the first time, Jiraiya felt the weight of his years on his shoulders.

"Naruto, how many times do I have to tell you to stop interrupting me when I'm working?"

Naruto crossed his arms in front of him and glared back at him. "Maybe if you actually were working I'd remember that, Pervy-sage."

Jiraiya frowned and let his fingers clench into Naruto's yellow mop of hair before releasing the boy and turning around. "That's not my name, Brat. Now tell me where you think we need to get to so fast that I couldn't do my research on the way, hmm?"

Naruto ran to his side and grinned up at Jiraiya, one hand rubbing his head where his hair had been gripped. "You promised to teach me another lesson during lunch. And it's already almost one o'clock!"

Jiraiya groaned. Why the heck did he have to be saddled with the hyperactive ones? Granted, Minato wasn't quite as bad as this brat, but still...that kid was always trying to squeeze in as much training as he could between sunrise and sunset. Jiraiya's gaze softened a bit when he looked back down at the son of his student. He was about to cave in to the boy's request when he spied a flash of white from the corner of his eye. He knew that the only reason he'd seen that was because whoever was there wanted him to see it.

"Stay close to me, Kid."

Naruto must have felt the change in his demeanor, because, for once, he followed him without question. Jiraiya moved swiftly toward a cluster of trees and waited for the ANBU to approach them. They didn't have to wait for long.

The ANBU appeared in front of him and held out a small scroll. Jiraiya noted it held Tsunade's personal seal and his heart raced at what could have possibly happened to require her to send ANBU out to find him. He took the scroll and expected the ANBU to disappear again, but the man in the dragon mask remained. Jiraiya frowned at the implications and swallowed back his fear as he slid one chakra-infused finger under the seal. It gave way easily, and he slowly unrolled the scroll to reveal Tsunade's distinctive writing. With each character read, Jiraiya felt his anger grow.

"What's it say, Pervy-sage? Who's it from?" Naruto's natural curiosity brought him back to what mattered.

He shifted his gaze over to the ANBU and let loose a large sigh before turning back to the boy. "We need to change our plans, Naruto."

"But you were gonna train me today! That's not fair!"

Jiraiya rolled his eyes at how single-minded the boy could be. "Naruto, these are orders straight from the Hokage. Do you think I'd skip training you for anything less?"

Naruto frowned at him. "You mean like the time you ditched me for a dip in the co-ed bath? Or the time you forgot to give me a key to our room when you ran off to do your 'research' at the last town? Or how about..."

Jiraiya firmly placed a hand over Naruto's mouth while he felt his own cheeks heat up in embarrassment over the kid's words. "That's enough, Naruto. Let's not dwell on the past, okay?"

The ANBU in front of him was probably smirking at the exchange, but his white and red mask showed nothing. Still, Jiraiya knew that this exchange would make its way into Konoha's gossip network the moment they managed to make it home again.

Jiraiya released his student. "Right! Now let's get going!"

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what the heck Granny Tsunade said that means I get gypped out of training...again. Does it have to do with Kakashi-sensei? And don't make up a story either...just tell me what the hell is going on!"

Jiraiya blinked back his surprise at Naruto's reaction. Sometimes, when he least expected it, the kid could be incredibly astute. He squatted down in front of Naruto and placed one hand on the boy's shoulder. "You sure you want to know?"

He watched Naruto's gaze shift from him to the ANBU who was still standing just behind him, and then back again. "I can take it. It's about Kakashi-sensei, right? He's dead...isn't he?"

Jiraiya placed a sad smile on his face at how Naruto's mind went to such a prospect. "No, Naruto, but he isn't safe right now either."

"So, Granny Tsunade wants us to help bring him home?" There was a spark of hope in the kid's eyes that brought a smile to his lips.

"Not exactly. She wants us back in the Village so we can figure out what to do next."

"But I thought she sent us away so we wouldn't draw the Akatsuki bastards to Konoha. What's changed?"

Damn...maybe this kid had picked up more from Kakashi than he'd thought. After all, he hadn't exactly told Naruto the real reason they were traveling around again. He stood up and placed his hand on his hip. "I'd rather not talk about that here, Naruto. Let's get moving and I'll fill you in along the way."

Naruto looked like he was thinking about arguing, but instead the boy turned his attention to the ANBU. "Okay, then why the heck is this guy waiting around? We already know how to get home."

Jiraiya had to admit he was wondering the same thing. He turned toward the ANBU and waited. The ANBU Dragon tipped his head slightly toward his left shoulder. "No, you don't."

A knot formed in Jiraiya's stomach at those three simple words. Meanwhile, Naruto was busy arguing the fact with the ANBU. Of course the kid wouldn't understand what Dragon's cryptic words had actually meant...he'd never been involved in a relocation before. Jiraiya sighed and interrupted Naruto's rambling words.

"Naruto, just shut up and follow our guide. It'll make more sense once we're there."

"But..."

Jiraiya smacked Naruto on the back of his head. "What part of 'shut up' didn't you get? If you want to train more, we need to get back to Konoha. And the only way we can do that is for us to follow Dragon. Got it?"

Naruto's lips formed a frustrated pout and his arms crossed stubbornly in front of him. "You're making no sense, Pervy-sage."

Jiraiya felt his anger rising, but before he exploded at the kid, Dragon appeared behind Naruto and pressed at the juncture of the kid's neck and shoulder. The pout on Naruto's mouth slipped away as he lost consciousness and fell into the ANBU's grip. Dragon lifted the boy into his arms and stood back up to meet Jiraiya's narrowed eyes.

"That wasn't necessary."

Dragon shrugged. "Perhaps not. But it will make our journey infinitely easier."

With that, the ANBU turned and headed off in the opposite direction that Jiraiya would have expected for returning home. He furrowed his brow and quickly caught up with the man. "Tsunade didn't go into specifics in her note. How bad is it?"

Dragon continued to look forward, but Jiraiya couldn't miss the fact the man's shoulders tensed at the question. For a moment he thought the ANBU wouldn't answer, but a moment later the man's quiet words caused Jiraiya's blood to run cold.

"Kakashi was returned to Konoha after being severely tortured by Orochimaru. He and Iruka-sensei were then taken from within Konoha's walls before judgment could be passed. ROOT has been officially disbanded after proof of treason surfaced concerning that organization and Lord Danzo. The elder broke out of ANBU detainment and is listed as a missing-nin. It is believed that ANBU Ferret, Wolverine, Hawk, Jackal and Puma have made chase. The Village has been evacuated and relocated, and the only bright side of any of this has been that the Akatsuki's focus seems to be on finding the Copy-ninja instead of attacking Konoha."

Jiraiya let loose a large sigh. On one hand he was glad to hear Dragon referring to Kakashi as something other than the enemy – which hopefully meant the kid was back on Konoha's side again. But on the other hand, having Danzo involved was never a good thing. And, of course, as long as Orochimaru was in the mix, there was always the chance that snake-bastard would make things even harder.

Jiraiya shook his head and chuckled. "I don't think that even I could have come up with that twisted of a plot."

Dragon grunted in reply and the two of them increased their speed without either one needing to suggest it.

-xx-

Ibiki watched with interest as Iruka Umino unlocked the chains circling their ankles. The chunin's hands were steady while completing the task, and he found himself impressed that such a normally emotional man could be so calm in the midst of their current situation. He was starting to understand just why the Third Hokage had seen fit to devote so much of his time to the former prankster.

Ibiki shifted his gaze over to where Kakashi was leaning against the wall. He had known Kakashi for nearly all of his life, and because of this he could read the man better than even the current Hokage could. At the moment what he saw concerned him. It was obvious to him that Kakashi was trying to hide just how much he still hurt, and once Ibiki felt the last shackle removed, he stood up and crossed over to the Copy-ninja's side. He waited there for over a minute before deciding he needed to speak.

"You are in no shape for this."

Kakashi frowned and met his eyes. "That doesn't matter anymore, Ibiki."

It was Ibiki's turn to frown. "How do you figure that?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Time's run out. We need to be gone within the next five minutes if we expect to have even a seven percent chance of being undetected right away."

Ibiki growled. "Sometimes I hate that analytical mind of yours, Kid."

Kakashi grinned at him. "Yeah, me too."

Iruka crossed over to where they were speaking. The chunin had the three sets of shackles thrown over one shoulder, his untied hair falling across his back, and a hand perched on one hip. "I'm ready when you two are."

Iruka had such an intense look on his face that Ibiki almost laughed. Instead, he rolled his shoulders, trying to loosen up a bit before what he knew would be a grueling trip. A twinge in his right shoulder reminded him that he still was a long way from fully healed, but as Kakashi had already pointed out, it didn't really matter anymore. The three of them had already decided this escape attempt was the only logical choice, and now they needed to put the plan into action.

He turned his back to Kakashi and squatted down low enough for the man to climb on. Meanwhile, Iruka was already stretching in an attempt to be ready for the long run ahead of them. It was agreed that once they found their way out, they'd concentrate only on putting as much distance as they could between themselves and the hideout. They'd figure out where exactly they were down the road, and readjust their path as needed at that point.

He felt Kakashi's grip tighten around his neck when he took that first step beyond the door. He knew that it was likely the only sign the younger jonin would ever give to show just how uncertain he was of this plan.

Ibiki was about to turn toward the right, figuring the way all of the Akatsuki had come from when checking up on them had to be the way out, when Iruka's hand on his elbow stopped him. Ibiki turned a hard glare in the chunin's direction. This wasn't the time or place for the sensei to be having second doubts.

"Ibiki, I think we need to go the other way."

The man's whispered words caused him to redirect his attention to where Iruka was now pointing. On the cave wall directly opposite the opening they had just come from, just a hand's distance from the ground, was a mark that no one in Konoha's ANBU would ever mistake for anything other than a directional marker pointing the way to fresh air. For half a second, he wondered at just where such a marking could have come from, when he heard one name whispered in his ear by the jonin on his back.

"Itachi."

Ibiki nodded once to show that he'd heard the name, and then he turned in the direction that the mark indicated. He pushed down his mind's attempt to point out how ridiculous it was to pin the lives of himself and his companions on the hope that the Uchiha truly was trying to help them, and he picked up speed as they wound their way through the dark and damp tunnels. After what felt like far too long in his opinion, the trio came to a narrow opening that, indeed, led to the outside. Unfortunately for him, that opening didn't exactly look to be of a size that would allow him, or even Iruka for that matter, to squeeze through.

"Great! Now we need to turn back!" Ibiki's angry whisper was met by a quiet chuckle at his elbow.

"I guess Itachi listened to Sasuke more than I thought." Iruka smiled up at him before walking over to where the opening taunted them.

Kakashi's tired voice explained what the chunin meant, even as Iruka made a series of hand-signs and placed his palms against the rock wall surrounding the opening. "I can't say I heard the tale directly from Sasuke, but Team Seven was forever telling stories of the many jutsu their favorite Academy Sensei would use to keep them in line. My favorite was when he used an earth-based jutsu to turn the entire Academy Training Yard into ankle deep mud to keep the brats from escaping before they'd cleaned up from weapons practice."

Iruka was using a nearly undetectable amount of chakra to cause the opening to widen more than enough for even Ibiki to pass through. The chunin turned his head back toward them with a cheeky grin on his face. "They're not 'brats,' Kakashi. And I'll have you know that particular class never tried to cut out of clean up duty early again."

Once the opening was finished, the three wasted no time passing through it and out into the lush forest surrounding them. Taking a moment to verify that they weren't being followed yet, Ibiki gave Iruka the all-clear signal, and the two of them sped off into the shelter of the trees' branches. They continued on into the day and pushed themselves to the very limit of what any sane shinobi would consider safe before finally stopping for a break. Kakashi's labored breathing was matched by Iruka's gasps for air, but Ibiki had to admit, so far, their plan seemed to be working. Perhaps Kakashi's prediction of only a seven percent chance of success had been wrong after all.

Of course, the moment that thought slid through his brain, he should have known he'd been tempting fate. A slight rustle of the branches surrounding them was all the warning they had received before a group of gray-clad shinobi surrounded them. Ibiki instinctively went to grab for one of his kunai when he remembered that the Akatsuki scum had removed every last one of his weapons from his person.

Iruka moved a step closer to him and passed him one of the shackles. It wasn't the best weapon in the world, but at the moment, it at least gave them a fighting chance against the dozen or so shinobi who were all sporting the distinctive single music note symbol of the Sound Village. He let Kakashi slide off his back, and then lay claim to his own set of cuff and chains just as the enemy made their first move.

The sound of metal kunai meeting the steel of the chains filled the air, and soon he found himself so wrapped up in the intricacies of the battle that he hardly noticed the two newest additions to the enemy forces. That is, until he found himself and his two charges cornered and standing face to face with Kabuto and Sasuke.

Kabuto smirked at them. "It's time for you to come back with us, Kakashi. Lord Orochimaru is anxious to finish what he had started."

Ibiki could feel the anger and fear rolling off Kakashi's body, and he knew that, whatever else happened here, he couldn't allow these bastards to bring the Copy-ninja back to that snake-bastard. Ibiki positioned himself so that Kakashi was between him and Iruka, and he glared at the two turncoats.

"That ain't happening, Kabuto. Get out of the way before you get hurt."

Kabuto's face stretched into a feral grin. "And how do you expect to keep us from the man, Ibiki? The three of you are no match for us. You are weaponless and injured. Your Academy Sensei is just this side of chakra-depletion. And the famed Copy-ninja is barely managing to stay standing. Surrender now before you embarrass yourselves further by tripping over your own feet."

Ibiki growled low in his throat and shifted the chains in his hand to allow him the maximum damage at the farthest distance. "We'd rather die fighting."

This time it was Sasuke who answered. The dark-eyed boy drew his sword out of its sheath and sent a band of blue-white electricity along its blade while speaking. "So be it."

The air was filled with a sound that was a mockery of the thousand birds Kakashi would draw from the original form of this jutsu, and in a flash of light, Ibiki braced himself for the attack. He prayed to Kami that he'd somehow manage to find a way out of this mess, but as the blue-tinged blade raced toward him, he feared this might just be his final battle.