Legal Stuff: I don't own the rights to Naruto or any of the characters in the series. (wish I did then I would actually make some money)

He was in a mood today. Kakashi had returned to Konaha as soon as he could but the mission followed him. Even though he had succeeded in the mission requirements he felt like he had failed miserably, because by his standards he had.

It was a simple VIP escort mission and it shouldn't have been able to go this wrong. He and Sato Reika, another Jonin only a few years younger than him had only to escort a lower level functionary to the capital of the Country of Sea. Right before the borders they had encountered resistance.

*****

"Hey Kakashi, pay attention when I'm talking to you" Sato nearly whined.

Kakashi's attention had been on his environment even though he had been affecting a disinterested stare into empty space. Kakashi turned to her, his exposed eye crinkling with the smile that formed under his mask.

"Sorry. What did you say Sato?"

"I asked if you had any idea why they would pay for so much protection on this trip. We're three days out and we haven't seen so much as a rabid field mouse."

Kakashi agreed with her, and that's what really made him feel jumpy. He'd been on plenty of missions where the clients weren't honest about the mission requirements. However, they usually down played the danger to get protection for cheap.

"Not sure. Perhaps our client just wants to feel more important than he really is," Kakashi whispered to Sato.

Sato laughed uproariously. Kakashi had to smile. He had worked with her several times before and was comfortable around her. Sato had an infectious personality that made people naturally want to follow her lead. This was one of the main reasons she had been promoted to Jonin even though her fighting skills were average.

At the sound of her laugh the client turned around in his seat on the palanquin and glared at the both of them. Kakashi knew that the man couldn't have heard his comment. So the fact that he was upset by a little good natured joking made him even more nervous.

"Something feels wrong Sato. Keep your eyes open."

Even though he knew it was probably a waste of his time and energy he lifted his headband from his left eye. If anything was wrong he should be able to see it with his Sharingan.

"You're just being paranoid."

"Well, I wouldn't want you to get lost on the road of life without me."

He smiled as he said it but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He scanned the trees on the side of the road and saw nothing. He covered his Sharingan eye once again and sighed. Even though he had seen nothing he still felt uneasy.

They continued on down the road for another hour. During the march Kakashi moved toward the front of the caravan and left Sato to bring up the rear. The dignitary and his bodyguards seemed to become even more skittish as time passed and it was really beginning to damage Kakashi's calm.

The border was in sight now and that left only another two hours until they got to the village where they had planned to stay the night.

Kakashi raised his headband to scan for trouble again. The instant his headband cleared his eye he saw the subtle movement in the tree line and then felt the chakra spike.

"Shit!" Kakashi screamed.

Kakashi leapt aside as two silver grey streaks cut through the air where he had been. He rushed to the palanquin drawing a kunai to protect the VIP. He had to push through the many attendants scrambling about in terror. He had to hope that Sato was heading the same way because he couldn't see her.

There were only two attackers, but they must have been very good to avoid being seen this long. They threw several more shurikens that Kakashi had to deflect.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Missle" Sato's voice echoed out from just around the corner of palanquin before Kakashi could get there. Her voice was quickly followed by a bolt of flame leaping out to cook one of the attackers' hiding place and most likely the attacker along with it. She came around to where Kakashi could see her, smiling the whole way. He realized that she must have only seen one of the attackers.

Kakashi was still moving toward her when the next volley came. Never would he curse his sharingan as much as he did at that moment. With it he could see each point of the three shurikens as they cut through the air with terrible speed. Despite the fact that he could see them he was powerless to stop their passage.

They struck Sato in her side. She never even saw them. She was still smiling when they ripped through her flak vest.

*****

Kakashi was shaken out of his memory when Tsunade cleared her throat.

"In spite of everything Kakashi you did well. From what you put in your report I think that no one in the village could have done better."

Kakashi said nothing, he just nodded.

"You fought off the attack and got the client safely to his destination. The death of Sato Reika is a tragedy but there was nothing more that could be done," Tsunade continued.

"Yes maam," He replied.

"I'm going to assign someone to investigate the incident further and if we find that client lied about the mission expectations we'll do all that we can to get some justice for Sato," Tsunade paused studying Kakashi. "Dismissed," she said closing the file in front of her.

Kakashi left the Hokage's office and walked out onto the open stairwell along the side of the building. He stopped there taking great effort just to keep breathing. He didn't work with Sato that often, but she was still a friend.

In the courtyard below Kakashi could see Sakura marching toward the stairs, apparently running some piece of information between the Hospital and the Hokage's office. Naruto was following closely talking animatedly. As they got to the foot of the stairs Kakashi could hear what they were saying.

"Come on Sakura!"

"No!!"

"Just one date, that's all I'm asking for."

"And all I'm asking for is a minute's peace Naruto!"

They got to the top where Kakashi was leaning against the railing before they noticed him.

"Oh, Hi Kakashi-sama," Sakura said.

"We're friends these days and there is no need to be formal," Kakashi said mustering a half smile underneath his mask
"I wish I could stop and talk longer but Tsunade will put me back into training if I don't get these files to her," Sakura said. Naruto Shuddered in response to her statement.

"I don't know how you survived Baa-chan's training."

"That's because I'm not weak like you, Naruto," Sakura chuckled as she walked through the door.

"I'll see you two later," Kakashi called to the two retreating teens.

Naruto turned and waved before hustling inside to try one last time to get a date.

Seeing the two of them was always nice, but today it made him feel worse. They made him think of third member of the old team 7. He had failed with Sasuke worse than he had failed with Sato. At least when he had failed to save Sato her pain had been over quickly. Sasuke had lost his soul to a lust for power and Kakashi had been just as powerless to stop it as he had been to turn aside the blades that had cut down Sato.

Kakashi also hated to see Naruto and Sakura stuck in the situation they were in. He wished for nothing more than to have all three of his former students back together and happy. At the very least he wished that Sakura would recognize the value of what was daily offered to her so that at least two of the people close to him could finally find some happiness.

Kakashi sighed and decided to go find a little peace for the rest of the day. He reached to his belt pouch and pulled out Icha Icha Tactics deciding to read as he made his way to somewhere quiet. However, he was finding it really hard to concentrate on what he was reading. His mind kept straying to a narrow stretch of road lined with viridian shadows harboring death or to a dark night spent trying to save a lost soul.

Kakashi closed his book and tucked it through his belt instead of putting it back into his pouch. The sun was beginning to set and he knew of at least one place where he could find some peace and quiet.