Disclaimer: Although I wish I did, I do not own Naruto. –tears-

Refresher:

Sasuke evaded being bitten again and winced at the horse grabbed his shirt and pinched his skin. He resisted the urge to smack the horse hard enough to make him fall over and sighed, he smacked lightly, the horse gave a jerk and let go of him, for which he sighed and relaxed.

Kakashi smiled, "Alright my troops, let's mount-up!"

Sasuke gave Kakashi a blank look; mount up? He was puzzled, first off, he knew nothing about horses, secondly, what was mounting? Did it involve getting on the horse! His heart fluttered with fear. He turned and shrugged, giving off the air of a casual is that all you want? air. He sighed and looked at the contraption on the back of Honey Snapper. The gelding snapped at him, Sasuke raised his hand and batted at the horse's snout, the dun backed off him, his eye flicked back and an attentive ear flicked at him.

Sasuke grabbed the stirrup and glanced at Sakura, surprised that she was already on her horse, and moving the mare about with calm dignity. Sasuke looked at her, his eyes glanced at her legs, seeing how they were placed in the stirrups and how he should get on. Sakura caught his glance, holding his eyes with her impressive emerald ones, she called out,

"Need help?"

Sasuke glared at her. She froze, the mare moved under her, a hind leg kicking out in agitation. Sasuke's mouth opened; he snarled,

"No."

Sakura looked hurt, You deserve it. Asking and Uchiha if he needs help! He thought, feeling slightly arrogant, but of course, at that moment, Honey Snapper chose to bite him. He called out with a grunt and smacked the horse, who reeled back and screamed in anger at him. He glanced at the horse, feeling the reins slide out of his grasp as the steed reared up in the air. Sasuke's heart nearly stopped as the hooves danced above him. He watched the horse's eyes judge where he was, he was pinned to the ground with fear.

"Sasuke-kun!"

He felt the impact, it registered in his mind, he reeled sideways, his side bruised as he landed on the ground. He watched the hooves come down, life seemed to slow for him, time seemed to stop. He heard his heartbeat in his mind. He heard the voices calling if he was ok.

Suddenly, life seemed to speed up again, the voices become cleared. His eyes (he was shocked to note) had been closed, he kept them that way, listening to the voices as they spoke above him,

"Good save Naruto-kun -"

Naruto? What had he done? Sasuke struggled to open his eyes, but the lids were heavy and it was better to keep them shut,

"- good job catching that horse."

Sasuke relaxed, so it hadn't been Naruto who'd saved him. It had been someone else, but who? He listened more, Iruka's scared voice hovered above him,

"You hit him pretty hard, did you have to move that fast?"

Sasuke's eyes opened slowly, he looked around carefully, he was on the ground. His side was one huge bruise and a huge pain, he winced as it was touched with light hands,

"Maa, yes. He was about to be killed, -"

Sasuke was in shock, he had been about to die? He turned his head to look at Kakashi, he spotted Iruka hovering nervously over the jounin shoulder, Sakura was the first to notice that Sasuke was awake,

"Sasuke-kun!"

He huffed as she tackled him, he winced, and called out with a grunt, she let go of him quickly his head moved as a soft, gloved hand turned his face. He regarded the face of his teacher, the jounin looked slightly worried, and serious,

"Are you alright?"

Sasuke struggled to sit up, he winced as his side throbbed in pain,

"Wha—what happened?"

He asked, slightly confused, he felt like he'd bee run over by a train, no, two trains. What had Kakashi hit him with? He looked at the jounin as Kakashi explained,

"Sasuke-kun, don't hit your horse, it makes them angry."

Sasuke muttered a dark thank-you-for-telling-me-this-now. Kakashi grinned,

"But I didn't know you were so scared of horses."

Sasuke shot Kakashi a look, the jounin was clearly holding back laughter, and was failing to do so. Sasuke's hands went up and racked through his hair casually, although lifting his right arm hurt a lot. He winced again,

"Oh, Sasuke-kun! Why didn't you tell me! I would have helped you!"

Sasuke shot Sakura a dark look, the female genin flinched and looked away from him. She was hurt, and had been scared for Sasuke, he glanced as the blond-genin spoke up from the back,

"Next time Sasuke-kun, I'm not saving the horse."

He quickly glanced at Naruto, who held Honey Snapper with a gentle hand, the horse whinnied and glanced at Naruto, the boy smiled and rubbed the horse's face gently, the boy dodged a playful snap from Honey Snapper, and slapped the horse's neck affectionately.

The whole display made Sasuke sick at heart.

Kakashi sighed, why had Sasuke frozen like the? The memory would haunt him for days now; his mind went over the whole thing in detail that only Kakashi (or another higher-up ninja) could produce,

He'd been grooming the horse, Snare had tried to snap at him, Kakashi had easily dodged off to the side, he'd been smiling, toying with the horse's ears when he'd heard the distinct sound of a hand-on-flesh. Turning, he'd caught Sasuke hitting the horse, the dun had pinned it's ears, and launched up and out of Sasuke's grasp.

His heart had stopped, he watched Sasuke freeze, his eyes as large as saucers, Kakashi had launched with his incredible speed as the chunin had called out to Sasuke.

Kakashi's arms had been outstretched, he tackled the genin, his back getting hit with a glancing blow of the horse's hooves as he passed under them. He'd grunted, pain flaring in his back, but he rolled still, keeping silent about his own pain. In his arms, the genin had fainted.

All of Kakashi's attention was on Sasuke, he was dimly aware of Naruto grabbing the reins of the enraged gelding, after throwing the reins of Nightmare to Sakura, who managed to keep the stallion calm, and relaxing the horse.

He'd felt the light touch of Iruka on his shoulder when the chunin came over. He heard Iruka speak,

"Is he alright Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi glanced at the journeyman nin, his gaze was saddened, but he was also happy, perhaps Sasuke would learn now…? He shook his head, signaling that he didn't know. Iruka crouched behind his shoulder as Kakashi examined the boy.

Kakashi reached over the genin, his back flaring with pain, he could feel the cut, one more scar. He thought ruefully. He hadn't expected Sasuke to freeze, Naruto? Maybe, but not Sasuke. This was a shock, a real shock. He saw the bruise on the genin's side as the shirt came off the boy's body. Kakashi poked it slightly, pleased when Sasuke grunted with pain. He watched as Sakura, finished with tying up the horses she'd taken charge of came over, a single question in her eyes, he nodded his head slightly, silver hair falling into his eyes,

"He'll be fine. A bit bruised, but he'll be fine."

Kakashi looked at Naruto, who was busing praising the horse for relaxing, he nodded his head, catching the genin's attention,

"Good save Naruto-kun, good job catching that horse."

Naruto beamed at him, he nodded his head and looked at Iruka, who's eyes were intent on his former student's face, he poked Iruka's hand gently, wincing as the jounin's leg brushed his concealed wound. The chunin looked at him, his mouth opened,

"You hit him pretty hard, did you have to move that fast?"

Kakashi nodded his head wearily, the stunt had taken quite a bit out of him. He glanced at the raven-hair Uchiha, who was slowly coming to,

"Maa, yes. He was about to be killed, -"

He was cut off as Sakura's voice pierced his own,

"Sasuke-kun!"

But now that Sasuke was alright, Kakashi was furious with him, he glanced at the genin who was now sitting (although he appeared uncomfortable, which pleased Kakashi to no end), and spoke to him, his voice sharp,

"Why did you do that Sasuke-kun?"

He asked, Sasuke glanced at him, his face sour, Kakashi knew that Sasuke knew that he already knew what the answer was, but he wanted it from the boy. Kakashi would get it as well. He was a jounin and Sasuke was a genin, there was a difference and Kakashi could still beat the boy in combat. Currently that is. Sasuke glanced at the ground again, he heaved a sigh and started to talk,

"I don't know, I was sc-"

Iruka heard Sasuke's voice catch on the word, he knew it was hard enough that he'd been saved by both Kakashi and Naruto, but to say this word would cut his pride even more. He watched as the boy shook, still disapproving the fact that Kakashi had given them the rougher horses, especially with a boy who was scared of them, he listened as Sasuke tried to speak again,

"I was sc-"

Could this boy not get it out? Iruka sighed, his hand reached up and fingered the bridge of his nose where the old scar was. He sighed, it was one of his better features, his hand wandered down the jounin's back slowly, he felt Kakashi's tense body, he sighed and then was shocked to find that in one spot, Kakashi grunted with pain, it attracted the attention of the chunin and all of the genin's. Startled, Iruka spoke,

"Are you hurt Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi glanced at him, his eyes slightly dulled with pain; he shook his head, indicating that he was fine. But Iruka had known Kakashi long enough to know that the jounin was masking the pain and trying to brave it out. Well, Iruka wouldn't let him!

"Where are you hurt?"

His gaze flicked to Sasuke, who was shocked out of his other shock, the boy's face masked again, showing that all-too-common classic Uchiha 'bored' look. It pissed off Iruka, but he glanced at Kakashi again, the jounin pulled an arm back, his right arm; and winched at the motion, but still pointed to a spot on the vest. There was a spot of blood starting to form there.

"Alright. Let me see it."

Iruka used his gentlest voice, Kakashi glanced at him, he started to unbutton/unzip his vest, slipping it from his body with the help of Iruka, the man sighed and winced as the chunin lifted up the back of the jounin's black shirt to see the slice. Iruka sucked in a lungful of air,

"When did this happen?"

He asked, Kakashi glanced back at him,

"When I grabbed Sasuke-kun."

Iruka tittered and sighed, he asked Sakura to go and grab some bandages, which the genin did quickly, returning in a few moments with a worried Stablemaster in tow.

The man looked a bit like Iruka, but not much, the man sighed and planted his hands on his hips, his face puffed out in anger as he glanced first at the jounin, then at the raven-haired genin. Both ruefully glanced at the man.

"What did I tell you?"

"I didn't know one of my student's would freeze."

A flush formed on Sasuke's face as Kakashi spoke. The genin glanced away, ashamed that he'd frozen and had had to be saved by another, how was he to ever become any stronger? He heard the man sigh, his voice ragged with anger;

"What do you mean!"

Kakashi glanced at the man; his gaze was direct, meeting the man eye-for-eye.

"I mean; my student froze when his horse reared over him. I was merely saving him."

The Stablemaster's face was red with fury, although it was quickly changing back to a look of annoyment and sorrow. His voice gruff, the man looked at the jounin,

"Are you alright?"

"Maa, I'm fine, ouch! Iruka!"

Kakashi said, looking at the chunin; who was busy bandaging and doctoring the wound, sharply. Iruka glanced at him in a very off-handed way, Kakashi sighed and turned back to the Stablemaster,

"It's just a graze – Ouch! Stop that!"

Kakashi called out as Iruka tightened to bandage. The jounin glanced ruefully at the chuunin, who frowned and waggled his finger at the nin,

"If you'd stop moving it would be easier. But you keep moving!"

Iruka told him sharply, Kakashi sighed and glanced at the Stablemaster, who looked at the two of them, then sighed sharply,

"If it wasn't you or Iruka, Kakashi, I'd order you off the land."

He glanced at the students,

"But I do know you so, just don't kill any of them?"

Kakashi smiled and looked at the Stablemaster, he laughed suddenly and looked proudly at his students, who all looked at him,

"I couldn't kill them if I tried."

Kakashi said with a laugh, Iruka looked at him, the chunin's face registered shock and anger, he narrowed his eyes at Kakashi,

"What does that mean!"

"Awww…Iruka-sensei. Look what they have been through."

"Believe it! Kakashi-sensei has tried to kill us many times! Believe it!"

All of them turned and looked at the genin, they'd actually forgotten that he was there. Why was that? For once, the genin had been silent and hadn't spoken up. They all looked at Naruto, who was, to their greatest shock, astride Honey Snapper. Sasuke threw Naruto a death look. Naruto stuck out his tongue, and Sasuke struggled to his feet.

"What are you doing on my horse?"

Demanded the boy, his fists bunched at his side. Naruto looked at him,

"I'm riding! Believe it!"

Kakashi and Iruka shared a look. Iruka's hands rubbed along Kakashi's back slowly, relaxing the tensed jounin. Kakashi smiled slightly and looked at the chunin. He leaned backed and watched his student. Sakura tossed the nin a glance, he sighed softly. Then stood up, groaning as the wound stretched.

"Sasuke-kun! Naruto-kun! Stop it!"

He called out, but his voice had little affect on the two. Naruto, astride the dun, glared grimly at Sasuke, while Sasuke returned the glare with an icy-cold one of his own. Kakashi could almost see the bolts of fire and icy shooting at each other. He sighed and struggled to his feet. The jounin looked at the two of them, but when he took a step, the speed he'd used and the pain in his back made him fall over, he was tired. Iruka caught him. The chunin whispered in Kakashi's ear,

"It's alright love. I'll handle it."

The chunin set the older man down with a soft hug, then walked over to Naruto and Sasuke, his hands planted on his hips, he turned from one to each other,

"Alright, both of you. This training lesson is over!"

He called out, startling both of them, his voice carried over the two's thoughts. They were like small children! Not shinobi like he thought they were,

"Are you shinobi or not!"

He glared at both of them, both looked shamed, eaches face was different though, Naruto's face was flushed and Sasuke looked away, a blush on his own features.

"Now, go home. I'll take care of the horses. Leave. This session is over. Be back here tomorrow."

He said, glaring at the two of them. Sasuke nodded and limped off a few feet, before running and jumping away angrily. Naruto glanced at Iruka but the look on the jounin's face was something that stopped the rude boy from speaking. Naruto got off the horse and left without another word.

Iruka glanced at the jounin, who started at him with adoration in his single black eye. Iruka shivered happily and helped the jounin upright. He looked at Sakura,

"You can go home. I'll take care of Kakashi-sensei."

Sakura nodded, she left without another word. Iruka looked at Kakashi, then went to get the horses…

Pansk: Waka! Chapter 3! –throws party-

Kakashi: Ouch, my back still hurts…

Sasuke: Why did you have to save me?

Naruto: Haha! Sasuke-kun froze! Believe it!

Sasuke: Why you…-lunges-

Iruka: -intercepts- That's enough!

Sasuke: -grumbles-

Pansk: O.o Wow. Wait till chapter 4!