Disclaimer: I don't own Sakura either. Well, to be honest, one of my dogs is named Sakura. I named her –before- the show ever aired, though. And she barks less than that Haruno girl.

A/N: Thanks for the rather positive response to this story! I think that by now I can safely establish that pairings will be Kaka/Naru and Yama/Saku, since no one really complained about them, and I am finding myself liking them. But for now, team-bonding and plot advancement are in order, I believe. And no, before anyone asks, the Yama/Sai interaction is NOT romantic. It is exactly what it looks like.

To Marri Uchiha: You actually liked the little Ibiki/Anko implication? Damn, it even makes me shudder. As for Sasuke, don't worry, he will have a role to play. Just not yet.

To Fading Serenity: Yup, Naruto's growth, mostly on a psychological level, will be one of the main focuses of this story.

To Kei Taiho and thesilentzoo: Be reassured, both this one and Wand Cores will be updated quite often. It's not like I'm going to spend less time on Wand Cores just because I am starting a new story. And I know that well-written Kakashi-centric stories, and even more so Kaka/Naru ones, are rare, so I hesitated a lot before I ultimately decided to go for it. Oh well, lets try to fill that gap, ne?

Chapter 3

Hatake Kakashi knows that a matter of significant gravity is going to now be discussed the exact moment the Hokage sends Shizune away. She never sends Shizune away, unless something is terribly wrong. Feeling slightly concerned, he convinces himself to take his uncovered eye off the "romantic novel" and meet Tsunade's gaze. The tension he detects there is so great that he decides it is perhaps best to put the book away entirely; this does not seem to be a laughing matter.

"Hatake Kakashi. Have a seat." the blonde woman suggests authoritatively, her face troubled and serious, and her eyes wander off pensively towards the window. The jounin takes a few hesitant steps forward and then, as commanded, sits onto the chair facing the Hokage's office. For a moment she neither faces him, nor speaks to him; she seems to be lost in thought.

"There has been a large-scale attack on Rain. Hired mercenaries. The Rain shinobi believe Akatsuki to be behind the attack, and fear a direct attack from the group now that the mercenaries have been pushed back." the Hokage finally states, taking a seat, herself, behind the large, mahogany desk.

"The Akatsuki…? Madara Uchiha, Zetsu of the Hidden Grass, and Sasuke's group are the only surviving members we know of. Could there be anything in Rain important enough for any of them to assail the village personally?" Kakashi questions in an inappropriately nonchalant fashion. However, he already knows that the Hokage would not exhibit such a grave predisposition if she'd judged this to be a false alarm. No, Tsunade is not one to worry without solid reason, the silver-haired man notes to himself.

"There seems to be a young girl residing there who has, apparently, developed the ability to prophesise… I have no certainty about the accuracy of this information, but truth is that, according to the archives, there have been cases of genuine prophets amongst the Midorikawa clan. A long time ago, perhaps, but it is still quite possible…" she informs him, scratching her chin introspectively.

Damn. What a damn headache this is going to be, Kakashi swiftly deduces, and he sighs in advance. He knows that the Rain are their allies now, and he is well-aware that Tsunade will be required by intervillage etiquette, but also by her own sense of morality, to send help. Of course, if the Rain intelligence is correct about the Akatsuki threat, sending anyone completely unable to handle them would result in a bloodbath. Kakashi cringes at the thought. On the other hand, sending Konoha's strongest shinobi might also result in a bloodbath, with the only difference being that it will be the village itself that will be left completely defenceless and at the mercy of a possible attack.

Well, at least now he knows why the Hokage's looking so terribly grim, which is some degree of progress, he observes bitterly but not without amusememnt.

Meh, that was bad humour during the wrong moment, he subsequently scolds himself.

"Madara Uchiha with a prophet in his hands is a risk I cannot take, Kakashi." the Godaime continues, deliberating as she lets her gaze travel around the room. Well, perhaps it is time for him to speak as well.

"Whatever their short-termed goal might be, their long-term one is still the acquisition of the Bijuu. If you send out important forces and leave Naruto behind, and then it turns out to be a trap in order to weaken the village's defences and get to the boy…" the jounin observes, and although he does not finish his sentence, he is certain he does not need to. She is an exceptionally sharp woman, he knows, and she will have thought of that possibility, too.

They don't say much for a few seconds, and he finds her looking oddly agitated. Kakashi, however, appears to be as calm and composed as ever, even though dark and ominous possibilities are unfolding inside his mind; very worrisome ones.

"Send me." he says after a few minutes of meticulous consideration; and although it might sound like a silly, self-sacrificial request, it is made with the full knowledge of its implications. He simply cannot think of any better alternative.

"You alone, Hatake, or your team?" she asks, and she drills her imposing stare into his mostly hidden face. The copy-nin considers her question for a moment. He had meant himself alone, of course, but since the Hokage requests him to, he carefully weighs the pros and cons of his entire team being sent.

If it is indeed a trap meant to leave the village vulnerable in order for the Akatsuki to be able to grab the Jinchuuriki, then it would be a good plan; securing Naruto away from the village during a possible invasion.

And yet, without team Kakashi, would Konoha be able to defend itself against such a terrible threat? Hiashi, Gai, Inoichi, Shikaku… The village has many excellent shinobi, he tells himself, respectable and strong and worthy… Nevertheless, and without meaning to insult his fellow warriors, he knows they'd stand no chance against the cursed Akatsuki without Naruto's inspirational power, without Sakura's healing prowess and his own experience, his own intrepidity. He winces at the vision of absolute destruction that flashes before him, and decides against allowing that to happen.

If, on the other hand, the Akatsuki do come for the prophet… Would team Kakashi alone be able to handle them, to both push them back and ensure that Naruto does not fall into their hands? And Sasuke… is Naruto-kun … are any of them ready to face him, to kill him if they must? It's too early for the showdown, he concludes not without desperation. They need time.

"Send me alone. Naruto needs time." he ultimately persists, and there isn't anything carefree about his expression anymore. The small portion of his face that is visible shows nothing but the most profound concern. No one could possibly be eager to go fight Madara on his own and subsequently die in a painful manner, but if he must… Kakashi is not one to fear death; he's simply seen too much of it to fear it anymore.

"I don't think I can do that. We already lost Jiraiya that way, you know. As strong as you are, it is most probable that you will lose. And your sacrifice… I doubt the little time it will provide us with will be worth it." she replies, and although she tries to appear sorry to be rejecting his proposal, she seems rather ferocious about it. Ah, realises Kakashi, she has already made her mind then. She did not actually mean to give him any choice on the matter.

"I have estimated that it is more likely that someone from the Akatsuki will ultimately show up in Rain, instead of this being some kind of large-scale distraction. And I believe that your team is the only one that would stand a chance against them. Naruto Uzumaki will have to face them sooner or later anyway, so perhaps the time has come. I believe in him." the blonde adds, and although her voice does waver a little, she seems rather resolute about it. And yet, despite the fact that he knows there is no changing Tsunade's mind once it has been made, Kakashi cannot help himself.

"They are not ready, Tsunade-sama! They are still children! They need more time!" he declares with surprising force, and then grits his teeth; deep inside however, he is laughing at himself and his pitiful outburst, because he knows that these kind of emotionally-ridden theatrics are completely in vain. This moment, this showdown, would eventually come, and there would be no avoiding it. And yet, if they only had a little more time…

"I know Kakashi, believe me. But Madara is growing more powerful by the minute, and if he does get hold of a prophet, there will be no hope for Konoha anymore. Our chances are slim, but they are probably the best we'll ever have." she mutters resignedly, and her eyes seem a little humid. The jounin realises that this is very unpleasant for her as well, for she is a caring person, and loves both Sakura, her pupil, and Naruto, her 'adopted little brother', very dearly. And probably the rest of them, too; she loves entirely too many people, he concludes grimly.

She does have a point though. Naruto… As exceptional as his growth is, he could never close the gap between himself and Madara in time, especially if that insane Uchiha acquires a fair amount of knowledge concerning the future, Kakashi Hatake observes bitterly. He is no longer sure what to do, and so he remains silent, defeated.

Obito-kun… I might be joining you in a few days. Pray, my old friend, that I join you alone, and that the rest of them make it, won't you?

The discussion is pretty much over with, it seems. Only a few things left to clarify.

"When are we to leave?" the copy-nin questions dispassionately, and he pulls the obligatory porn back out from his jacket. There is no changing circumstance, or challenging rational orders; his eye hardens as he goes into mission mode, his lips thinning as he pushes himself to deal with the reality of things, instead of hoping they were different.

"0700 in three days, Hatake. Oh… and… don't you dare leave by yourself in the meanwhile, or do something equally moronic. I'll just let your team know you left in order to give them some more time, and you can be certain they'll rush right behind you." she observes coolly, trying to keep the tone of her voice as matter-of-factly as possible. Kakashi is well aware of that fact. He knows that his team would never let him leave by himself; they are a bunch of courageous fools, with perhaps the exception of Sai (who is nonetheless blending in more and more by the day), and they would certainly put themselves in great, unnecessary, stupid risks in order to go and fetch him.

Damn idiots, they leave me no choice.

And so the silver-haired man nods, trying his best to look as accepting of the Hokage's decision as he possibly can. He needs not plague her with more guilt than she is already experiencing, he tells himself gently; he can see that she is already worrying to death and drowning in uncertainty. No, there is indeed no need to pain her more. Much like him, Tsunade has already experienced a very cruel number of personal losses; he feels for her, at times.

As he walks to the door, she calls for him again. "Kakashi!" she words gravely and commandingly, and she stands up abruptly, her rather imposing breasts wobbling ominously. When he turns around to meet her eyes, he finds her appearing equally tormented and resolved. It is a little heartbreaking, how she has to send away her loved ones towards danger and possible death, but he knows this is pretty much her job description; and it is why he would never make a good Hokage.

"I need you to remember that, no matter what, our jinchuuriki must not fall into their hands. Protect him with your life, please." she mutters, and suddenly her voice is hoarse with emotion, and she looks less like the Godaime and more like a woman, or perhaps even a mother. Nonetheless, the jounin discovers himself strangely insulted at her suggestion. He has always been one to readily give his life for this village; does she not know that? He needs not be told to protect his teammates no matter what.

Those who abandon their teammates are worse than scum. This lesson has been learned.

Never again will I be worse than scum.

Immediately she senses the hardness in his gaze and the slightly hostile clenching of his jaw, and even though he looks as cool and laid-back as always, Tsunade can tell she has aggravated him. She inwardly bites her lip a little; indeed her request came out a little wrong, didn't it?

"I know the kind of man you are, Kakashi. And even if I didn't, your… actions… during Pain's invasion, or during the whole Hiruko and Puppet curses ordeal… they would have left me with no doubt. What I'm trying to say is… Stay alive for as long as possible, and take no senseless risks. Because Naruto needs you to protect him, do you understand?" she states almost tenderly. Her syntax is a bit off, but Kakashi thinks he knows what she is trying to imply.

Don't go dying for some random Rain citizen. Heroics are great and all, but it's your team you need to protect now; you can't protect everyone.

Or at least that's his rough translation of her words. Once again, he nods knowingly, his face softening again. Inside his mind though, he is smiling bitterly, because the happy faces of his old teammates appear before him, and then the sunny grin of his teacher, and the weary, affectionate visage of his father.

You can't protect everyone.

Believe me Tsunade-hime, he whispers mentally, this is also a lesson well-learned.

Whistling cheerily and plunging back into his Icha Icha issue, he leaves.

A few times a week and for a few hours, Hatake has suggested that Sai should train his stamina and his strength along with Tenzou Yamato. A sensible suggestion really, since these two traits are perhaps what one could call his "weaknesses", and even though Yamato is superior to him in both domains, he is also in dire need of some training there.

Sai watches on somewhat indifferently as the brown-haired jounin uses his Earth Release and creates a mountain, and then a mountain path, and subsequently a large number of obstacles on said path; he does admit nonetheless that it must be pretty handy to be able to create your own training grounds with such ease. They spend the next few hours running and hopping up and down, and the more their bodies warm up, the more obstacles the older shinobi adds. All in all, it's a fairly normal, quiet and pleasant training session, Sai notes to himself factually.

And yet, the young ROOT member is paying very little attention to the actual training, avoiding the Earth Release-created barriers in a purely mechanical way. Fast reflexes and muscle memory working for him, he lets his mind wander off to all the confusing things he has been noticing around him, and all the strange feelings he's been encountering.

The one concept that weighs the most inside his mind however, is that of friendship; that supernatural bond that Naruto and Sakura seem to give so much importance to. It is to that strange power that he attributes his irrational desire to interfere when Naruto is suffering, to act out when Hatake Kakashi is in danger. And it is an odd driving force that he does not quite comprehend; something beyond orders and duty, something frightening and inexplicable.

Thus, during Sai's and Yamato's small break between intervals of intensive training, the young man decides to ask about it. He has never been shy about questions, after all.

"Yamato-taichou, how can you tell when someone is your friend?" he questions, seemingly out of the blue, the tone of his voice rather flat, but also gentle. The older shinobi glares at him somewhat incredulously, and then sighs, putting his lunch to the side.

"Well… Your friends are the people who would help you even when they're not obliged to by orders or ethics or social rules. And also, you'd do the same for them." Yamato explains, but Sai thinks that he does not sound too sure about himself; perhaps it is a concept that can not be explained easily with words. The pale boy and places his chin onto his palm pensively, analysing the somewhat quaint reply.

"Then Naruto is my friend, right? I helped him once. And he helped me, too. Neither of us were obliged, I think." Sai observes, and he turns around, placing his questioning gaze onto the older man. Yamato scratches the back of his head. Nervously. It is a difficult matter to discuss, and aiding sociopaths with their existential issues was never part of his job description. Nonetheless, he does like the boy, and he tries to do his best.

"Yes, I guess he is. And I am certain he thinks of you as his friend, as well." he tells the boy for lack of a more eloquent reply, and smiles at him. Sai smiles back, but his grimace feels like a simple exhibition of memetic ability. Yamato experiences a slight pang of discomfort.

"So, since you just helped me with my questions, even though you weren't obliged, if in turn I help you with something, we will be friends." Sai deduces rationally, and points an index towards the sky happily. It is not quite as difficult to understand as he thought it would be, he observes inwardly, feeling cheerful at the thought of mastering this important concept.

"It's not really that simple… But... Well, I guess…" the jounin begins hesitantly, avoiding the younger shinobi's gaze. At some point though, he does take a peek at the boy's face. The ROOT shinobi looks a little confused, and perhaps even a little disappointed, causing Yamato to feel terribly guilty. He does not finish his sentence. No use confusing the boy any further.

They get back to training.

This time, it is the jounin that is barely paying attention to the physical routine. His mind flies off to his own past, his isolation, his difficulties, his insecurities. In a sense, there is much in common between them, it occurs to him. Lonely orphans, putting their entire being into their existence as shinobi, always a little wary of society. He can understand the boy a little; perhaps even identify with him.

Tenzou Yamato. A nameless person, named only for the sake of convenience. A human experiment.

A boy without family. Without friends. The only thing he has is a purpose; to be a powerful shinobi.

A person with no identity. The cheap immitation of Hashirama.

A number.

A clone.

Yes, Yamato can understand Sai and his existential confusion better than anyone else in their team possibly could.

"Sai. Can you help me tie this leg protector?" he asks the young man softly. Sai approaches him, his face an unreadable sculpture, and without a word, he kneels to help him.

"Thank you." The jounin mutters, and he smiles at the boy.

"You could have done it yourself. But you wanted to give me the chance to help you. You wanted me to help you, so that we could be friends." The pale shinobi states matter-of-factly as he stands back up, and his eyes, dark and intense and even a little frightening, examine the older man's face carefully.

"Yes." Yamato admits almost immediately, and although his expression is somewhat awkward, he tries hard to curve his lips upwards.

"Thank you." Sai tells him.

"For what?"

"I am not sure" the ROOT member replies quite flatly, and he stares off at the distance, looking rather troubled. When he eventually turns his head towards the older man, he is smiling again. And his smile, despite the fact that it is still a little eerie, is rather heart-warming.

When Sakura walks into the library, Yamato is one of the last people she expects to find there. And yet there he is, sitting quietly behind a large table with a concentrated expression on his face, studying a rather large tome. She finds it endearing how he is so drawn by his reading that he does not even lift his head when she approaches him; in fact, he only notices her when she greets him.

"Oh, hey." The jounin greets her back, and she comes even closer, really curious to discover what it is that he is so drawn into. The rather complex study on developmental psychology and paedopsychology lying open before the chestnut-haired man comes as a real surprise to her. Why would he possibly be interested in that subject, she wonders, interest piqued.

"Thinking about getting yourself a genin team?" she finally questions, and there is a sweet, caring smile on her face that catches Yamato quite unprepared. Not an illogical deduction seeing the subject of his studying, the man thinks. She is a very smart girl. ...Woman. ...Young woman?

"Not exactly… I guess that hanging around with Sai so much has caused me to seek answers in books more often that I should." he replies a little awkwardly, and even though he finds his attempt at humour rather weak, her smile widens.

"Well, I think that's a great thing. I always thought that our shinobi need more brain and less brute strength. Of course, the best is to have them both, like Tsunade-sama, but if I had to choose…" the pink-haired kunoichi tells him cheerfully, and she walks off towards a nearby shelf. Brain and brute strength, huh… he thinks to himself. She has an impressive amount of both, and yet she did not offer herself as an example. She severly underestimates her own achievements.

Sakura has spent most of her life being overshadowed by her male teammates, Yamato knows; and although she has now grown into a great kunoichi, she also seems to have become an exceptionally modest and supportive person. Nothing like the irritating little girl he vaguely remembers from before they were even properly acquainted.

She takes a book on "Medical Chakra Molding" out of some shelf and, nodding her greeting towards the jounin, she runs back out of the library. Towards the hospital, he knows; she is working really hard there. That is perhaps the reason why she has matured into a kind, helpful but also hardened kunoichi, instead of the selfish person he seems to remember her being. All this fighting pain, illness and death does not really allow the luxury of coquetry and self-absorbtion.

His team is made of admirable individuals, Yamato comments inwardly and smiles.

Kakashi Hatake stands before the memorial stone, and its smooth, reflective surface is throwing the sun into his eye so cruelly that he squints. He knows that his team will be waiting for him at the training grounds, but today he has still a lot to tell his friend, and they will simply have to wait a little while longer.

"Obito-kun… I am not really sure what to do, you know. Should I already tell them of the mission? Or should I wait until the very last moment? It's not very nice, keeping this from them, and yet... If I tell them now, I'm afraid their reaction might not be for the best; Naruto-kun, for once, will train himself to death during these three days, and will end up exhausted and unprepared." the masked jounin murmurs, placing the palm of his hand against the cold marble. He does not want to see Naruto's name on here, ever.

"I'm also afraid that Sakura-chan will barely be able to sleep. The possibility of seeing Sasuke again, of facing him as an enemy… She is strong, but when it comes to him… Yamato-kun will probably be worrying as well; he sees the kids as his responsibility, in part. Only Sai will be able to handle the news calmly, and that's only because he is as detached from reality as I used to be, so many years ago. I'm not even sure that's a good thing." he adds quietly.

The vision of a young boy, beaming and full of energy, smiles at him supportively. Kakashi still sees him, as clear as day.

Always.

"You know what? I can't tell them yet. Let them have fun until the mission, neh?" he finally concludes, smiling at his lost friend, his comrade. His smile is bittersweet, but no one can see it anyway, because no one is there, and because it is well hidden behind dark, smooth fabric. And suddenly he feels his eye tingling, as if tears are coming up; only it isn't his own eye, but Obito's Sharingan.

"I am not sure whether than means you agree or disagree, but since I might soon be joining you, you'll tell me then." he states factually, and shrugs. The ghostly boy stares at him, and he stares back, savouring the connection.

He walks off.

"You're late!" they yell at him when he eventually gets there. It has become some kind of little ritual; the routine that makes them a team.

"I'm sorry. I met a ghost on my way, and we talked about really dangerous missions." Kakashi mumbles, wearing his usual comical grimace, and then he squints his eye smilingly, looking a little embarassed. And so they snicker knowingly at his stupid excuse, rolling their eyes at his usual slacking. Only Naruto seems to sense that there is something off about the silver-haired jounin's behaviour today.

He does not ask, though.

He simply stares for a while longer, before they ultimately split into two separate teams and start sparring.