Here's the next chapter in Kakashi's POV! Enjoy!
Kakashi jumped to the ground, and kneeled down, as he let go of Sasuke's legs. Shame that they were already here. Sasuke carefully got off of his back, to stand by himself. Kakashi stood up straight, and looked down at Sasuke, smiling at him, underneath his mask. He turned to look at Naruto and Sakura, as they landed next to Sasuke, before he glanced around. They had been running since dawn, and had finally reached Suna.
"Finally! We can finish the mission, and get Sasuke back home to save him!", Naruto said, excitedly.
"I'm sure the Kazekage will want us to stay a little while. He hasn't seen you in awhile, after all", Kakashi remarked.
"Don't you mean 'we'?", Naruto asked, as he scratched his eyebrow, thoughtfully.
Kakashi smiled at the blond, with his eye, while he mentally rolled his eyes. "We should get going", he said. Kakashi took out his favorite Icha Icha novel, and cracked it open. The chaos of Sasuke's eyes had robbed him of time with his beautiful book.
"Says the one who's perpetually late", Sasuke snorted.
Kakashi quirked a smile, as he glanced at the blind boy out of the corner of his eye. Sasuke was standing there awkwardly, holding onto the straps of his backpack for dear life. It was obvious that he didn't like to feel helpless, like he currently was.
"Well, let's get going, then! Gaara's waiting!", Naruto exclaimed, as he jumped up and down, excitedly. Naruto grabbed Sasuke's hand, and dragged him along with him, as he ran off. Kakashi sighed, as he walked leisurely behind them, Sakura walking alongside him.
When Kakashi and Sakura reached the Kazekage's office, Naruto and Sasuke were standing around, waiting. Sakura joined them, while Kakashi stood off to the side, reading his book. It was just getting to one of his favorite parts, when the door to Gaara's office opened. Kakashi lifted his visible eye, just as Temari stepped out of the office, closing the door behind her. She looked distressed, before she looked up, and smiled instantly upon seeing them.
"Naruto!", Temari said, as she smiled brightly.
"Hey! - Uh… Who are you again?", Naruto asked, as he squinted his eyes at her, smiling nervously.
Temari and Sakura both sweat dropped. "Naruto! Why can't you ever remember her name!? It isn't that hard", Sakura said.
"Dobe", Sasuke muttered, as he turned to the side, crossing his arms.
"Hey!", Naruto yelled at his teammates.
Temari giggled, as she waved her hand at him, dismissing the matter. "Don't worry about it. I'm just happy to see you!", she said.
"Huh? Why are you happy to see me?", Naruto asked, as he furrowed his eyebrows.
Temari grabbed his arm, and pulled him towards Gaara's office. "Gaara was afraid something happened to your team. His sand has been snapping at everyone all morning", Temari told him. Temari opened the door to Gaara's office, and pushed Naruto in, before turning to the others, smiling. "It's good to see the rest of you, as well, though", she said, lightly.
"I'm sure", Kakashi mused, as he snapped his book closed, and pocketed it.
Temari smirked at him, and shrugged, before leaving them. Kakashi walked forward, and gently grabbed Sasuke's hand, leading him inside Gaara's office. Inside the large room, Naruto was avidly telling Gaara all about their mission. Gaara sat calmly at his desk, while he listened, his eyes trained on Naruto, seeming to absorb every small little detail about the blond, while his lips quirked the tiniest bit. Kakashi smiled. Who knew that the psycho jinchuuriki all those years ago would grow up to be the man before him.
"So, now, we have to get back to Konoha as soon as we can!", Naruto said, finishing his tale.
Kakashi saw Gaara's fraction of a smile instantly disappear. Kakashi smirked beneath his mask. It was all too obvious that Gaara wanted them to stay. "Couldn't you stay an extra day? I'm sure Sasuke wouldn't mind… Would you?", Gaara asked, looking at Sasuke pointedly.
All eyes turned to Sasuke, as his eyes were pointing at the wall behind Gaara. He shrugged, and muttered, "Hn"
"Well, that's settled then! We'll stay for tonight", Kakashi said, cheerfully, jumping into the conversation. Kakashi looked at Gaara, who looked up at him. Understanding flashed between the two, before Kakashi smiled at him, with his visible eye.
Gaara stood up from his desk, and crossed his arms, as he looked at Naruto, who was about to protest, but Sakura put her hand on his shoulder. "One extra night isn't going to hurt Sasuke anymore than he already is. Besides, if Sasuke doesn't mind, then why should we?", Sakura reasoned with him.
Naruto pouted, and grumbled, before nodding with a smile. "Alright! Time to deliver the scroll!", he said, excitedly.
Kakashi cleared his throat loudly, as he took the scroll out of his weapons pouch. It was his turn to be under everyone's inspection, as he said, "Actually, I need to ask Gaara-Sama something. If you wouldn't mind leaving us alone?"
Naruto and Sakura exchanged curious glances, before both of them shrugged. Naruto grabbed Sasuke's free hand, seeing as Kakashi was still holding his left hand, intentionally, although if asked he would severely deny it. "Come on, Sasuke! We can find a place with ramen, or that one thing you always eat! How about it!?", Naruto asked, excitedly.
"I'd rather be on my own for awhile", Sasuke said, coldly, "Where are we going to stay?"
"Temari prepared guest rooms for you, here. My assistant can you show you to them", Gaara informed them.
"Wonderful! I can take a bath!", Sakura said, happily, as she cupped her hands together, stars shining in her eyes.
"Aww! But I'm hungry!", Naruto whined, as he clutched his stomach.
"If you wait outside, I can take you somewhere where there's ramen", Gaara offered, quietly.
"Really!? Awesome!", Naruto exclaimed. He threw his fist up in the air in victory.
Naruto took one last look at Sasuke, smiling softly at him, before he turned and went outside the office. Kakashi reluctantly let go of Sasuke's hand, after giving it a little squeeze, as Sakura took his other hand. "Come on, Sasuke. Let's go find Gaara-Sama's assistant", she said. Sasuke turned his head a little towards Kakashi, before he left with Sakura.
Kakashi watched them leave, over his shoulder. Once they had shut the door behind them, Kakashi turned his head back to look at Gaara, who was studying him, curiously. "What do you want?", he asked, shortly.
"I just thought I would deliver you your scroll", Kakashi said, smiling at him, innocently, with his eye.
He walked forward, and held the scroll out to Gaara. Gaara stared at him for a minute, before shifting his eyes to the scroll, as he took it. Gaara unsealed the scroll, and unrolled it, as he read it, looking thoughtful. After a second, he shifted his eyes back to Kakashi.
"Anything else?", he asked.
Kakashi smirked beneath his mask, as he nodded. "Actually, I was wondering if you could tell me if the scroll is of great importance. I mean, you did asked us expressly to deliver it to you, instead of sending it by bird. We were also attacked on the way here, as you know, or did Naruto tell you that part?", Kakashi asked, pausing as Gaara nodded, "Well then, it must be something worth protecting then"
Gaara glared at Kakashi, and Kakashi held the glare with a lazy eye, and a raised eyebrow. The two of them stared at each other for a few minutes, before Gaara glared harder, the murderous intent clear, mixing with embarrassment. He took the scroll by one side, and held it out, letting it fall open, so Kakashi could see it. Kakashi chuckled, as he looked at the contents of the scroll. He knew it.
"I would like it, if you would not to speak of this to anyone", Gaara said, quietly, as he rolled the scroll back up.
"Especially not Naruto, I'm guessing", Kakashi mused, with a smile.
Gaara's became wide for barely a second, before he glared at Kakashi, calmly. Kakashi stood there, before shrugging, aware that Gaara wasn't going to openly tell him. He turned, walking towards the door. "Your secret is safe with me, Gaara-Sama, do not worry", Kakashi said, seriously.
Kakashi went to open the door, when he heard something probably only Gaara's siblings had ever heard, if they had. "Thank you", Gaara whispered. Kakashi put his hand on the doorknob, as he glanced back at the Kazekage. He smiled at Gaara, and bowed his head in respect, before he opened the door, and left his office.
Kakashi had his book out in a flash, open and ready to read, as he stopped at Gaara's assistant's desk. The assistant looked up, and smiled at him politely. "Can I help you?", he asked.
"Yes, you led my teammates to their rooms. Could you do me the honor?", Kakashi asked.
The assistant nodded, and immediately led Kakashi to his room. Kakashi admired the room, especially the bed. After a few nights on the ground could make anyone crave for a bed. Kakashi turned to Gaara's assistant, who was waiting at the door, patiently. "Thank you", Kakashi told him.
"Your welcome. Before I go, your friends are one both sides of you, if you need them", the assistant told him, before bowing a goodbye and leaving Kakashi alone.
Kakashi glanced around the room, before he went over to the door and shut it. He looked over at the bed, and smiled. He walked over, and laid down on it, sinking into the soft mattress, sighing in pleasure. Kakashi raised his book over his head, and read it as he relaxed.
It was a few hours, before Kakashi looked over at the door, as it burst open. Naruto burst in the room, while Sakura stood in the doorway, smiling at her friend. "Come on, Sensei! We're goin' out!", Naruto said, loudly.
"To?", Kakashi asked, raising his visible eyebrow.
"Gaara got caught up in business, and couldn't make it for ramen, but he promised that he would take us for a night out in Suna! Cool, eh? Come on!", Naruto explained, animatedly.
Kakashi closed his book, and put it away, as he got off the bed. He glanced at Naruto and Sakura, noticing that Sasuke and Gaara were missing from the group. "Where are the others?", he asked.
"Your room is on the way to Sasuke's", Sakura told him, from where she leaned against the doorway, "Gaara wanted to freshen up, so he's going to meet us at the restaurant we're going to"
"Well, do we know how to get to this restaurant?", Kakashi asked.
Kakashi looked over Sakura's shoulder, as Temari and Kankuro stepped in the doorway, both missing their weapons. "No. But we do", Temari said, smirking at him.
Kakashi smirked back at her, beneath his mask. "This is starting to sound like a party", he mused.
"Party!", Naruto yelled, excitedly, throwing his hands up in the air.
"Well, we should go before people start complaining about Uzumaki's yelling", Kankuro said.
"Too late", Sasuke complained, from outside Kakashi's room. Temari and Kankuro looked to the right, surprised, as Sakura, Naruto and Kakashi turned to look at the door. "I could use some help", Sasuke growled. Temari disappeared from Kakashi's point of view, before reappearing, with Sasuke by her side.
"Sorry we disturbed you, Sasuke", Naruto said, shyly, scratching his whisker marks.
Sasuke shrugged, as he crossed his arms, ignoring Naruto. Naruto deflated with a pout, before Kankuro walked over to Naruto, smirking. "Whoa! Naruto Uzumaki pouting before a party? When's the world ending?", Kankuro asked.
Naruto pouted at Kankuro, before perking back up. "Don't know, but we can party as if we did!", he said.
Kakashi chuckled, along with the others at Naruto's attitude, before Temari took the role as leader. "Well, if everyone's ready, we should go. Gaara will be pissed if he has to wait long. Follow me", Temari ordered, as she walked off, leaving Sasuke's side. Sakura followed after Temari, then Kankuro and Naruto, both talked excitedly about all the fun they were going to have. Kakashi followed after Naruto, before stopping at the door, to look at Sasuke, who was scowling.
"Anything wrong?", Kakashi asked him.
Sasuke glared a little a little to the left of Kakashi, scowling further. "I don't know why we have to go out with everyone. It's stupid", Sasuke complained.
"Hm, it may be stupid to you, but they're our friends. Don't you think we should indulge in some stupidity every once in while, for our friends?… Besides, it wouldn't kill you to socialize", Kakashi lectured.
"It might", Sasuke grumbled.
Kakashi chuckled, and took Sasuke's hand, as he led him after the others. They quickly caught up with the others and continued on to the restaurant, with Temari in the lead. When they reached the restaurant, they went inside, and were seated in their own separate room, courtesy of having the Kazekage in their party.
Kakashi led Sasuke to a seat at the end of an extended table, and sat next to him, while he observed their group. Gaara, who had already been sitting at the head of the table, was watching everyone calmly, as well, his back strangely void of his large gourd. Temari quickly sat next to him, and pulled her elder brother roughly to sit next to her, when he was about to go sit on the other side of Gaara. Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. It seemed Gaara's siblings were scheming themselves. Naruto foiled their plan though, when he sat down next to Sasuke, with a large grin, leaving Sakura to sit next to Gaara.
A waiter came in with two pitchers of what Kakashi was pretty sure was sake. She set down on the table, as Gaara spoke. "Sake for those who want it", he said, quietly.
"Nice way to relax", Kakashi commented, with a smile.
"If sake's to relax with, then why is the old hag always yelling?", Naruto asked.
"That's because you annoy her, dobe", Sasuke snorted.
"Want some sake, Teme?", Naruto asked, as he and the others began pouring themselves glasses of the liquor.
"Thanks, but no. I'm not an alcoholic who's going to get drunk off his ass for no good reason", Sasuke said.
"Hey, we do have a reason to get drunk", Temari said, superiorly.
"Like?", Sasuke growled at her.
"Hm", Temari hummed, as she tapped her chin with a finger.
"We're here to party!", Naruto yelled, excitedly, as he raised his glass high in the air, and bounced in his seat.
"To celebrate friends and family", Sakura said, smiling sweetly, raising her own glass.
"Oh, I know. To celebrate battles ended and battles to come. Give us strength", Temari said, while raising her glass.
Kakashi took the closest pitcher, and poured two glasses, while Kankuro raised his glass, "To celebrate home"
Kakashi and the others looked at Gaara, as he stared down into his glass, before raising his glass. "To celebrate life", he said.
Kakashi smiled at Gaara, before smiling at Sasuke, as he held the glass under the raven's nose. Sasuke wrinkled his nose cutely, and turned his head away from the glass. "I don't drink", Sasuke hissed.
"Please… For me?", Kakashi asked, trying to stop himself from begging. Seeing Sasuke drunk would probably be worth a lifetime.
Sasuke scowled, as he took the glass, growling. Kakashi chuckled at the raven, before raising his glass, along with the others. "To celebrate love", Kakashi said.
Everyone looked at Sasuke, as he sighed and raised his own glass, saying, "To celebrate the future"
For the next chapter I'm thinking about doing it in Kakashi's POV again, just to have fun with the drunk people… Don't know. Anyways, hope you enjoyed it. Aishiteru!