Tobi had wondered what Kakashi had truly meant by his remark on whether he knew him or not. They had surely met at the Kage conference in which Tobi introduced himself as Madara. Did Kakashi not buy it? Did he feel the familiarity of his presence? Could it be that Kakashi knew his true identity? Or was the white wolf of Konoha simply shrugging off his presence to appear cool? 

Either way, Tobi had no time to revel on the past now as Sasuke squirmed in his arms and Kakashi suddenly attacked from behind.

"So fast!" Tobi internally panicked. 

Doing the only thing that could come to mind to save the arm Kakashi was about to cut off with a kunai, Tobi released Sasuke and jumped back. 

Kakashi caught the young male last minute before he fell into the water and propped him up against his shoulder. Not bothering to give the Uchiha a once-over, Kakashi glared at Tobi with his Kunai ready at his side.

"You know, I don't think you are Madara." Kakashi remarked, pushing the right buttons on Tobi's control as the man scowled behind his orange mask. He wouldn't say anything yet, lest it gave him away.

"Hm...Madara or not though, what do you want with Sasuke? Could it be because of his bloodline?" Kakashi monologued while watching for any twitches the enemy could give away therefore revealing information. 

"You won't be able to keep him forever, Hatake. The boy is being consumed by hatred and power that only I can give him." Tobi finally responded. 

Kakashi tilted his head slightly, feigning confusion "Oh? you might have misread the situation, Uchiha-san. Sasuke left his hatred a long time ago"

Tobi twitched at the Uchiha name. Now he knew Kakashi knew he wasn't Madara. He also knew the younger Uchiha didn't possess the amount of hatred against Konoha as he had hoped but it could be built up with his help. 

"Nevertheless, he killed Danzo. His ultimate dream was now accomplished and he had no qualms of following me straight to him. What do you think he will want to do now? He's an avenger. He'll turn to me eventually." Tobi revealed. 

Kakashi tensed, he had known there was a battle but thought it was between Sasuke and Tobi, not Danzo. The older Jounin glanced down at the young Uchiha to find his half-lidded eyes already on him with fear. Fear of what, Kakashi wasn't sure.

Sasuke knew the fear that filled him up inside. The fear of disappointing his Sensei, the fear of knowing he went on without him and his team. In his mind, he had abandoned his team for revenge. He went against everything Kakashi had taught them. He could only imagine what would occur now. But one thing he knew for sure was that he would not go with Tobi.

Sasuke grunted as he pushed himself off of Kakashi, the man allowing him to do so. 

"I...won't ever...turn to you!" Sasuke snapped as his Sharingan flared to life once again. Tobi hardly reacted to the threat coming from a teenager full of adrenaline with little power left. He did, however, feel the impact of Kakashi's fist as he suddenly appeared to his right and attacked him before Tobi could activate his Kamui. 

Tobi was flung into the side of what was left of the Samurai Bridge. 

Sasuke struggled to concentrate as he lost chakra to his eyes and instead watched as his Sensei took the matter into his own hands. His work was done, for now, he would leave it to Kakashi to get them out of this mess.

"See, Madara would have been able to dodge that" Kakashi provoked in a cool, calm, manner.

Tobi pushed himself off the beam of the bridge, agitated and ready for a fight.

Kakashi could see it and once again tilted his head in a friendly manner with a smile that could kill "Too bad we don't have time to find out right now."

With that, Kakashi teleported himself and Sasuke away using Kamui.

Tobi stood for a moment in silence as the wind passed by. The man was stronger now than Tobi had originally thought he'd be. He had been humiliated so quickly but at least Danzo was now out of the way.

At the end of the day, Tobi still accomplished what he had set out to do. War was coming and he was sure he'd meet Kakashi on the battlefield. For now, he had to prepare.

___

Kakashi set Sasuke down in his dimensional world. It was cold, large blocks of stone as far as the eye could see, but somehow it felt safe to Sasuke. He wondered how his Sensei could use the power of the Sharingan so freely now. It was a question he would need answered soon.

The young Uchiha grunted as he made contact with the floor while Kakashi moved away and gave him some space.

Sasuke watched him, it didn't take a genius to know his Sensei was angry.

"Sensei-"

"I failed you, we all did." Kakashi muttered, interrupting the Uchiha.

Sasuke furrowed his brows, unsure of what he meant.

"We were meant to be there, fighting alongside you but instead you had to do it alone. I knew the opportunity was coming and didn't prepare. I'm sorry you felt you had to do it by yourself, Sasuke" Kakashi continued.

Sasuke could see the side of his Sensei's features and had never seen the man so distraught before. As if he'd been pierced by a kunai, Sasuke felt a sharp pain of guilt rush through him.

"I...made the decision myself. I could have waited for you." Sasuke muttered, unsure of what to say. He felt as if he was being choked by the guilt. He should have waited but his anger and need for revenge overwhelmed his sense of reason.

"You shouldn't have had to..." Kakashi mumbled as he looked down "In any case" he continued, looking over at the Uchiha "Let's get back to the Leaf. You need medical attention"

Before Sasuke could say anything, Kakashi teleported them both out of the dimension, near the gates of Konoha.

Kakashi sighed as touched his forehead, he felt the strain of using Kamui but also the feeling of failure. It was true Danzo was no more but there would be repercussions to come from it.

He hoped his team was strong enough to pull through.

"Let's go" Kakashi ordered.

___

Sakura giggled with Ino as the two sat behind a bar with sake in front of them. They weren't old enough to drink yet but that didn't stop the unknowing bartender from serving them.

"Oi! Naruto!" Ino yelled across the bar with a wave before it dropped as she noticed Tsunade walking up next to him.

Ino turned to Sakura with a guilty face as the two tried to sober up as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the redness of their cheeks gave away their state.

Tsunade motioned the two over with a stern glare.

Sakura and Ino quickly rushed over, standing straight before Sakura hiccuped, once again giving away their state.

Naruto stood behind the Hokage with a smug grin, he had finally caught the princess who could do no wrong red-handed and with the Hokage of all people. He would enjoy this.

Tsunade glared at them before her features quickly changed into a smirk "Why didn't you tell me we were drinking tonight?" Tsunade grabbed a bottle from a random table and laughed as she led the two nervous teenagers away to an empty table.

Meanwhile, Naruto stood gobsmacked at the sudden change. He grumbled as he followed after them. Even underage drinking couldn't get the pink-haired woman into trouble.

Naruto quickly joined them and declined the cup of sake Tsunade offered him. She was quick to down the drink herself. Was no one responsible except for Naruto? How had the world come to this?

The blonde shook his head as he sighed and thought back to the speech he had made to Tsunade regarding their team's mission. She hadn't said much since then. Naruto figured she was trying to process that one of her best teams had an agenda hidden from the Hokage. Naruto wasn't sure how he'd felt about that either if he were in her position.

"Neh, I've got to go. It's getting late, I'll see you guys later!" Ino said as she departed with a happy grin.

Sakura quickly waved her off as Tsunade focused on her drink. Naruto saw his opportunity to bring Sakura into the loop.

As soon as Ino left, Naruto turned to a sobering Sakura as she continued to decline Tsunade's offer for drinks.

"Ra, things haven't been the same since we left the village. So much has changed..." Naruto started easy which made Sakura suspicious almost immediately.

"That's true. Some things are still the same, To." She tried to smile but had a feeling he was going somewhere with this.

"Well...Now that Itachi has been returned to the Leaf, you saw how he didn't want our help." Naruto continued.

Sakura glanced at Tsunade who was listening to their conversation with great interest.

It made the pinkette squirm "Eh...Naruto-"

"He told me about your team's mission" Tsunade interrupted.

Naruto held his breath as he watched his teammate's face pale and waited for a reaction.

"I'm not sure I know what you're speaking of" Sakura denied.

Tsunade tilted her head with a deadpanned expression "There's no use hiding it from me. Why don't you two follow me, there are too many ears here" Tsunade muttered as she stood and walked out.

Naruto stood to follow but Sakura quickly grabbed his wrist "What have you done Naruto?" She snapped.

Naruto stayed calm "She needed to know. If we want Itachi-"

"She didn't need to know everything!" Sakura snapped again before barging past him to follow the Hokage.

Naruto stood for a moment in thought, perhaps she didn't need to know everything but the blonde felt that he could trust her.

He quickly followed and soon after the three came to a halt in a secluded training ground.

Tsunade turned to them "I've had some time to process what team 7 has been hiding-"

"Ahem" The clearing of a voice interrupted them as the three turned to the edge of the woods.

Kakashi and Sasuke suddenly stepped out, the Uchiha looking ad though he'd been through hell.

"Kakashi. Good, you're back" Tsunade greeted with a nod.

Kakashi nodded in response before coming closer with a limping Sasuke.

"Good to see you up and about, Lady Hokage" Kakashi smiled. Tsunade nodded with a small smile before noticing Sasuke's disheveled state.

"Looks like you found some trouble on your way back" Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the Uchiha.

Kakashi tilted his head and smiled "Nothing we couldn't handle"

Tsunade paused, wondering who they fought to have put Sasuke in such a state but let it be for now.

"Sensei-"

"Naruto told her" Sakura interrupted Naruto with a serious expression.

Sasuke tensed up, almost expecting another fight, whereas Kakashi turned back to Tsunade and stared at her.

She returned his stare. It seemed as though the two were having a conversation with their eyes whilst the rest of team 7 anxiously waited for what was to come.

"I see." Kakashi muttered.

"As I was saying before you arrived, I've had some time to process what team 7 has been hiding from Konoha. From me" Tsunade pointedly glanced at each of them "I admire your goal for peace but to plan an assassination against an elder of Konoha and breaking the trust between Hokage and Shinobi by stealing Itachi's file, I cannot condone"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes "You should know yourself the way Konoha operates"

Tsunade sighed "I do but there are rules that must be followed, Kakashi"

Kakashi started to sense a bad feeling.

"By the way..." Tsunade narrowed her eyes at Kakashi "where is Danzo?"

Naruto and Sakura looked to their sensei and teammate in confusion, they were wondering the same thing.

Sasuke stayed silent as he kept his eyes expressionless.

Kakashi never broke eye contact with Tsunade "Dead."

Tsunade's eyes widened "You killed him?"

"Yes."

As Kakashi answered, Sasuke's eyes glanced to his teammates who stared at him in shock. He could barely see the betrayal they were trying to hide and it ate him up inside.

"In that case. Kakashi Hatake, you are relieved of the duty of temporary Hokage. Team 7 are to be restrained effective immediately until further notice" Tsunade rose her voice with a hard expression.

"Granny-" Naruto stepped forward.

"I'm sorry, Naruto" Tsunade softened her expression as she looked at the blonde.

A moment later, the team and Hokage were surrounded by Anbu black ops. Too many to count and too many to defeat.

Kakashi calmly glanced at them as they littered the ground and trees.

"Surrender peacefully...please" Tsunade muttered as she stared at Kakashi. She knew that whatever he chose, the others would follow.

Kakashi glanced at his students, each with frightened expressions, and wondered what he'd do now.

"Kakashi!" Another voice joined the group as Gai appeared next to Tsunade with a nervous expression.

"It's over, Kakashi" He muttered.

Kakashi stared at him with betrayal before sighing. He never thought it'd come to this. Sasuke was never meant to fight Danzo on his own. They were never meant to cross the Hokage. But in the end, plans never go to plan.

"Sensei" Naruto muttered.

Kakashi looked over to see determination on his features, the will to fight instead of giving up. He glanced to Sakura and Sasuke as well and sure enough, they had the same expression.

'It's decided then...'