After the battle many are badly injured, so despite the risk of staying and practically begging people to find them, they set up a quick camp to take care of the most critical before they move.

Sakumo is sitting on the ground cross-legged with a knocked out Kakashi in his lap, his left arm resting rather uselessly on the compacted dirt beside him. Kakashi has chakra exhaustion but he's not the worst off so Tsunade and the other competent healers are scattered elsewhere throughout the camp to help other people.

Jiraya is stretched out on his side opposite Sakumo with his mane of hair sweeping up dirt every time he turns, head propped up on a palm and right leg badly mangled, only held together by a splint. The first two Hokages are walking around just off to the side, discussing something in quiet voices.

Most travellers are spread out on the ground to recover their energy, either bragging about the skills they showed off during the fight or jokingly debating how best to murder the moon next, with tired but satisfied expressions.

They lost people and summons, but no one is sure how many. Let's see who survives the night first, is all Tsunade said about it when Jiraya had asked before.

"I was on a solo mission," Sakumo is telling Jiraya. "I finished early and caught Kakashi's scent on the way back. I could say I found him out here. Bring him back with me..."

Sakumo side-eyes a samurai that moves past. Jiraya gave him the short version of the explanation, basically just summarised into; 'time travel because otherwise death'. Sakumo is pissed off at all three Sanin for hiding his son but does believe Jiraya because Kakashi blitzed through that fight - damn near gouged an eye out of the statue when it threw Sakumo into a tree.

Kakashi is so powerful now, has so many jutsu at hand that he couldn't have learned in such a short time even with the implanted Sharingan helping. He moves differently, has a different speech pattern and he fights together with the group, like they'd been practicing and sparring as teammates.

They don't order him around - in fact no one takes orders, which shouldn't work. That's not how organisations work. Someone should be in control, guiding them, keeping them in line. Jiraya had said it was the mission that keeps these people focused, completely set on finishing and willing to die for it.

Kakashi has that same determination in his eyes and it's worrying.

Sakumo understands that Kakashi willingly chose this group for himself, because Sakumo is a naturally clear-headed person, he isn't so blinded by anger and worry that he'd miss what's right in front of him. But he still hates this. He wants his son, wants Kakashi safe and happy and with him.

"You can't take Kakashi back to Konoha," Jiyara points out, dragging Sakumo's attention back. "He's better out here - needed out here. I could get him into the village again but he'd be strangled doing some bullshit D-rank gardening, stuffed into a team of genin."

"I'd take him on my missions," Sakumo argues, cradling Kakashi tighter against his chest. "He'd speed right through promotions."

Jiraya sighs with genuine regret. "Kakashi is so much better than that."

Sakumo grits his teeth. "I just want my son."

"He's older than you are, he can take care of himself." The Sanin lays a comforting hand on Sakumo's knee, which is the only part Jiraya can reach without moving and exacerbating his injuries. "I really am sorry but you've already missed his childhood, that's just how things are now. You can still be his father though; support him, stay in contact, meet up when things calm down. He's missed you too."

Jiraya actually has no idea what Kakashi feels towards Sakumo but the boy always seems inwardly eager to hear news of his dad so it must be at least affectionate.

Jiraya is also very aware that Kakashi is a part of this group and they do not tolerate losing resources, especially after getting thinned out during this battle. The travellers would get Kakashi back but Sakumo would go down swinging and it'll end in a pyrrhic victory.

Sakumo does think about it seriously, does let the words sink in because if Kakashi had shown even a bit of hesitation then Sakumo would already be halfway back to Konoha by now. Unfortunately, Kakashi was nothing but focused and absolutely deadly on the battlefield and Sakumo is so fucking proud but he hates that he missed his son grow into this.

"Yeah. Okay. I know." Sakumo tilts his head to rub his cheek against Kakashi's hair and looks around. "Are these people trustworthy?"

Jiraya laughs and broken ribs turn it into a wheeze. The large man flops down onto the ground completely. "No. God no, I wouldn't trust these people with a pet rock. Tsunade will stay with the injured though; she'll heal him up and Kakashi can take care of himself from there."

A Shimo arrives at the tree line and whistles sharply to catch everyone's attention. "We've killed two scouting groups already! We need to move, it's too risky to stay here."

There's slow shuffling in the camp as people start to pack up.

Sakumo straightens up. "I'll help move everyone."

"You need to get back," Jiraya huffs, struggling into a sitting up position. "You spent a while tracking Kakashi, right? They'll ask why you've taken so much time, since Konoha must have noticed something big happened here. Don't make yourself more suspicious."

An absolute mountain of a man passes by, dressed in a long, hooded coat. The hood is down but a huge metal helmet obscures the rest of his features. Makeshift handles out of ninja wire and leather have been wrapped around two stretchers with heavily injured travellers, the man casually carrying them like shopping bags.

"Hey!" Jiraya waves at the traveller. "You got room for one more?"

The mountain changes direction and thuds over to them. He puts down one stretcher and holds out a huge hand silently. Sakumo takes a moment to reluctantly squeeze Kakashi a bit harder, get a lungful of the boy's scent, and then pass him over.

The traveller lifts Kakashi by the back of the boy's shirt, swings him around and dumps Kakashi in the lowered coat hood like it's a hammock. The mountain lifts the stretcher up again and continues on his way.

Sakumo stands up and murmurs a quiet goodbye, watching as his son is carried away along with the loose, stumbling crowd of travellers. Sakumo will take more missions outside and make sure to keep in contact. It's fine. Kakashi will be fine.

"Bye, daddy!" a Kusa calls out, waving.

Sakumo waves back. "Be safe! Take care of your little brother."

"Don't encourage them," Jiraya complains and pulls himself to his feet using Sakumo's good arm. "They even look the same age you right now! And they're actually old enough to be your parents."

"I quite like them," Sakumo admits.

The travellers pack up quickly, the injured carried out on stretchers or given a shoulder to lean on as they move. They're not done yet, still some loose ends to tie up later, but for now they make the trek back to Uzu.

Everything else comes after.

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A/N: That's all unfortunately.

If anyone wants to take this up (either the story or the idea, whatever, etc) then I'd love for you to continue it.

I do have some ideas to start you off so please just ask if you want to. Also contact me anyway just so I can grab a link to your work and point people your way.

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Harashima peers around the mountain of a man to get a peek at Kakashi and then leans over to Tobirama. "Hey, why do you think he has only one Sharingan?"

Tobirama frowns. "He's a Hatake, he probably ate the rest of the Uchiha."