He looked at the bodies as disgust enveloped him. Why hadn't he done anything? Could he have done anything? Was this really the only way? What could he do now?

"Sensei!"

He opened his eye as he looked to see who had yelled. Looking down he noticed two of his students staring at him, almost concerned. Wait what was happening again? RIGHT!

"Sorry about that, kind of zoned out there." He said while giving his signature eye smile to his students who all couldn't believe it. The two in front of him stumbled as the final one just looked away, clearly not caring about what was happening.

Looking at them he decided to change the subject. "So what did you need again, Sakura?" He asked his only female student. She gave a glare to him before speaking. "I didn't ask you anything, Naruto did." She said as she pointed to his blond student who was pouting next to his teammate. "Oh, sorry Naruto. What did you want to know?"

The blond's demeanor immediately seemed to brighten as he looked at his teacher. "Well sensei I wanted to know when we could go on a better mission than these. After all, as the next Hokage I need to do more missions that will show off just how great I am!" the boy said with much enthusiasm as he talked about his dream for the eighth time today. His two teammates rolled their eyes at hearing him talk about his dream once again. Kakashi on the other hand was in thought once more. This question had popped up before, though he just acted like he didn't hear what was asked, however now he guessed he couldn't keep the subject away any longer.

Looking back to his students he noticed that they all seemed to have been waiting for his answer, including his final student. 'Even Sasuke? Well, I guess I couldn't hold it off forever.'

Looking at the three he sighed as he shook his head. "Alright, we can see about it tomorrow." Naruto immediately cheered at hearing his sensei's approval while Sakura was less enthusiastic compared to her over-active teammate though she was still very excited. Sasuke, though while he didn't show it as much as his two teammates, was also excited as they all began to walk out of the training grounds.

As they walked out, Kakashi watched his students as they began to walk together, waiting for one moment. "So Sakura, maybe we could go on a date to celebrate?" Naruto said, his face red with enthusiasm.

Sakura scowled at the blond as she gave a disgusted look. "As if! In your wildest dreams!" Naruto deflated at that as Sakura walked up to Sasuke, suddenly acting the same way Naruto had to her. "Oh Sasuke, maybe we could go out to celebrate. Maybe even on a date?" Sasuke scowled at the girl as he gave his answer. "As if."

Sakura looked saddened as they all watched him walk away towards his home. Naruto tried to come close to Sakura but she began to walk home before he could talk to her. His demeanor became somber as he looked to the ground and began to leave for his home.

There it was. He watched them walk on their own. No point in bothering them now anyway. He waited until they were out of sight before he snuck into the shadows.

Thinking for a moment he realized he still had some time and so he began to follow Sakura, seeing as she was the closest to her home anyway. She didn't notice as she just continued her walk.

After a few minutes she arrived at her front door and unlocked it with her spare key. "I'm home!" She said, no answer came through though as she noticed a paper on the kitchen counter. After a quick read she sighed and went to her room.

'Seems they're still on that mission.' Kakashi thought as he watched her enter her room with a slam to her door. 'Hm, not happy huh?'

He stood as he went in the direction of Sasuke's house. Knowing him he'd only be there for a short time anyway.

After a few minutes he reached the Uchiha Compound, silent and dead as it had been for the past 8 years. The chill of death still loomed over it as it had the day it became silent. Even now his left eye still stung from being in this place.

He saw his student sitting in his bed. He was staring at a small fox plush, itself in poor condition. What could he be thinking, Kakashi asked himself as the boy put it away and walked out of his home, likely to go train more. Knowing his third student wouldn't be home quite yet, Kakashi entered the home as he looked down at the boy's bed. Taking the plush from behind the pillows he felt the fabric.

"You're on your last days, huh?" He asked the plush as if it would answer. "Just stay a little longer, I promise he'll be back." he stared down at it for a second before putting it back where it belonged.

Leaving the home he made his way to his final students home. It seemed Naruto had just got there as his lights only just turned on the moment Kakashi made it there.

Naruto was sitting at his table as some water boiled on his kettle. Kakashi watched him as the boy just sat in silence. He expected this, after all that's what Naruto did once he got home after a long day. He watched the boy as he sat still and waited to eat.

"I need to get him to eat more." He said to himself as he looked at his watch. He was late, as always. He gave one last look to the boy before disappearing in a cloud of leaves, said boy being none the wiser.

XXX

He appeared behind a tree, his favorite book in hand. Looking up he saw a cloaked figure leaning against a railing, looking to the faces carved into the mountain ahead of them.

"You're late." They said simply. Kakashi shrugged, though he knew they couldn't see it. "I was checking on them."

The figure didn't move as they watched a utility pole, though as to why Kakashi didn't know. "Are they ok?" They asked after a moment of silence.

Kakashi stood next to them as he looked at what interested the man so much, finding nothing of interest. "Yes, though they want to go on higher ranked missions now."

"What do they say about it?" the man asked.

"They've been requesting a mission to wave as of recently. Most likely to see if their weapons work. And maybe even to eliminate Sakura." Kakashi gripped the railing as he thought of those leaders of his, clearly uncaring of their own shinobi.

"Get rid of the weak link?" They asked. Kakashi nodded as he looked at the faces. "I want to free them, this may be my best shot, but I won't take the mission without your approval. I know how much they matter to you.

The man was silent for a long time. Kakashi expected what his answer was going to be, though he didn't want to hear it. "Take them. Free those two if the moment arrives. Keep them safe." Kakashi nodded as he looked back to the tree. "I'll keep them both safe, you have my word."

"You didn't hear me correctly." The man said as he looked at Kakashi. I meant all of them." Kakashi was surprised by this as he watched the man disappear in a flash of crows, though even if it was hidden, his smile gave him more respect for the man. "Thank you."