"So, what happened to you? You just disappeared off the face of the world" Asuma chuckled as he lit a smoke with Kurenai on his side, silently grimacing at the man's bad habit.

Kakashi watched the two for a moment before smiling "I got lost on the path of life".

Their faces shifted to express their dumbfounded emotions.

Before anything else could be said, Gai busted into their peaceful bubble with a large grin adorning his features "My rival-"

"No"

"-I challenge...you...what?" Gai's own dumbfounded expression took over.

Kakashi stared at the three who shared similar expressions before shaking his in amusement and walking away.

Team 8 and 10 had come to find team 7 and dragged them all to catch up. Of course, Naruto suggested Ramen.

He was quickly outvoted and the group now littered the infamous barbeque restaurant of Konoha, Yakiniku Q.

Kakashi made his way to the bar and ordered a cup of sake as he glanced to his charges.

Naruto and Sasuke seemed hesitant in socializing with them but Sakura seemed to fit in quite well. The others didn't bother calling the boys out on their behaviour as they all knew how hard it is for team 7 to get along with people.

Though, that didn't stop the group from dragging the young Jounin's into any and every conversational topic they could. It was working well enough for them to be satisfied and for team 7 to take a step out of their comfort zone.

"They've really grown" The voice of his self proclaimed rival stated from behind the copycat nin.

Kakashi simply hummed in agreement as he kept his eyes on them.

Eyes.

That was something they'd all been wondering. Just what happened to Kakashi's Sharingan?

He'd come back as casual as ever without the familiar headband covering his left eye. Did he still have the Sharingan? Did he learn how to disable it?

Gai could hardly contain himself as he struggled to form the question.

"Kakashi-"

A loud sudden bang caught everyone's attention as the door slammed open. The restaurant became quiet as shinobi raised from their seats alarmed.

Kakashi eyed the intruder that came crashing in with a look of confusion on his features. He knew this man and had not seen him in years. For him to show up now was strange. Glancing at his students, they had looks of realization.

"NA-RU-TOOO!" The intruder suddenly bellowed, shaking the restaurant and its occupants.

Naruto stood quickly with his team as they sheepishly smiled at the man.

"Captain Yamato" Sakura chuckled nervously "W-Where have you been?" She tried recovering from their situation but alas, Yamato simply set his glare onto her.

'He's Captain Yamato, huh? Oh Tenzo...' Kakashi thought to himself in amusement.

"Where have I been?" Yamato questions as he walks further into the restaurant, not yet noticing Kakashi "I've been worried sick scouting the earth to find you brats! You left me...with Sai no less! It was only after the guards finally allowed me to get through to the Kazekage tower that the Kazekage himself told me about you leaving!"

Kakashi leaned against the bar, enjoying the show, as his students took a scolding. It wasn't everyday someone did his job for him. He was going to enjoy it.

"Eh...hehe well, after meeting up with Gaara and Kakashi-sensei - we kinda forgot about everything else" Naruto sheepishly grinned while rubbing the back of his head.

Yamato seemed to sober up immediately as he began glancing around the restaurant "Kakashi?" He muttered as his eyes locked with the Jounin in question.

Kakashi simply smiled and raised his cup of sake to Yamato in greeting.

Yamato stared at the man as he thought about the past for a moment. He was glad the Jounin came back but his anger for his students still remained.

Yamato turned back to the three with a creepy look on his face "That's no excuse to leave behind your commanding officer" he muttered.

Naruto reeled back at the look, instantly freaked out and put off by it. Sakura simply smiled and shook her head at the turn of events while Sasuke had to hold his tongue form revealing who their commanding officer would always be. To say the Uchiha wasn't too fond on the Captain would be a slight understatement.

The restaurant slowly went back to the way it was before with everyone conversing with each other, leaving the estranged team to themselves for the time being.

Kakashi casually made his way over to the four and eyed Yamato as he seemed to stand tall over his students.

'Come to think of it. Tsunade didn't bother mentioning team 7's arrangement earlier' He thought.

"It seems team 7 still needs some discipline training. Leaving a commander behind?" Kakashi teased the young Jounin who stiffened.

Yamato had heard about the man's intense training regime's. It was unlike anything Konoha shinobi had undergone and he wasn't sure he was okay with that.

"Hai, Sensei" The trio chorused with a small respectful bow, trying to lessen the blow they'd surely be receiving later on.

Yamato made a noise of complaint causing Kakashi to turn to him with a daring look in his eyes.

Yamato swallowed roughly before nervously chuckling "I don't think there's any need for that, Senpai"

Kakashi eyed him for a moment. Of course, he didn't want to continue disciplining them but they'd all made a promise before even becoming a team to be the best they could be. That included the harsh realities of all aspects going along with it.

They understood this and respected it. It was one of the first things they learned from him: Discipline was necessary.

Perhaps he was hard them. Kakashi hummed to himself as he watched Naruto hide behind Sasuke while Sakura acted as though she didn't know the blonde.

"No, there's need for it. Meet at training ground forty-four at 3 am. Don't want to burn the day away!" Kakashi chuckled as he suddenly disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Sakura stepped forward with her fist raised "What day are you living in!?"

"Let it go, Ra. You know how he gets when he's set his mind to something" Naruto smirked as he glanced around at their friends still enjoying themselves. It was good to be back.

"Hn. We should go" Sasuke spoke up for the first time that evening.

"Oh, he talks?" Naruto teased as he grinned at the glaring Uchiha.

"I agree, we should rest as much as-"

"Hello"

"WHERE DID YOU COME FROM!?" Naruto and Sakura yelled at the sudden appearance of the root ninja. His sickly sweet smile etched onto his face as usual.

He stood behind Sasuke with his hand paused mid-wave. The Uchiha sighed heavily as he fought the urge to kill Sai.

____

"Man, I haven't been awake at this hour in a while" Yamato sighed as he walked to the entrance gate of the forest of death otherwise known as training ground forty-four.

"Ohayōgozaimasu, Captain Yamato" Came the chirpy voice of a certain Pinkette.

Yamato turned to face her with a deadpanned look as she smiled sweetly.

'How can she be so happy at this hour!?' He thought to himself.

"Ohayōgozaimasu Ke, To" She directed to the boys though Yamato couldn't see or detect their presence anywhere near and gave the girl a strange glance.

"Yo" Naruto's voice cut through the air.

Yamato swiftly turned toward the sound and found the blonde and the Uchiha standing tall but casually behind him.

'Where did they come from? I didn't even sense them!' Yamato frantically thinks to himself.

"Yo" Another voice cut through the darkness.

The small group turned their heads to see Kakashi strolling down the path.

"Everyone here?" He questioned as he looked around with narrowed eyes. Be was in discipline mode, any little thing could be used against them in order to teach a lesson. Yamato did not like the look in those steely eyes of his.

"Still waiting on Sai, Sensei" Sakura spoke up as she looked her sensei in the eyes.

Sasuke shook his head thinking about the level of pain the new boy would be going through for being late.

Kakashi hummed to himself for a moment.

"Hello" Sai's voice cut through the air as, hopefully, the last team member joined them.

"You're late" Kakashi's smooth tone spoke over the group like a blanket enveloping them under his authority.

Sai only nodded.

The original of team 7 glanced at their sensei to see what he would do but when he simply waved the boy's tardiness off, they became confused.

"Sensei?" Naruto questioned with actually asking anything.

Kakashi sighed "He's not under my jurisdiction." Was all he said before he took off into the forest.

The rest quickly followed with confusion still etched into their minds.

Kakashi glanced back at them as he jumped through the trees and eyed the new boy.

"Are you ever going to tell me what happened to your eye?" Lady Tsunade questioned with a bored stare.

Kakashi chuckled "Not just yet"

Tsunade sighed and looked out the window before speaking again "I suppose you've been somewhat curious as what team 7 has become"

Kakashi followed her gaze out the window to overlook the village "A little"

Tsunade suddenly turned to face him again with a stern look in her eyes "I couldn't wait forever, Kakashi. You were lost to the world" She explains.

Kakashi waves his hand in dismissal "don't worry about that. I understand and would have done the same" He paused "There is one matter I am curious about though".

This seemed to perk Tsunade's interest as she eyed him.

Kakashi took this as a sign to continue "Sai. He's Root".

Tsunade sighed "I know but do you really want him spending the rest of his life as Danzo's pawn?"

Kakashi shook his head "Not at all, though I suspect he has a hidden agenda. That's not what I'm referring to."

A look of confusion flashed across the Hokage's features.

"What I mean is, will he be under my leadership?" Kakashi's smile turned dangerous.

Tsunade stiffened as she thought about what that meant "No. He's not used to that kind of training, Kakashi. The others grew up with it but he's too matured to go through it and not come out mentally damaged"

Kakashi nodded "I see."

Tsunade sighed before standing "For now, he'll be placed under Yamato's leadership. The other three will be placed back into your jurisdiction"

"Thank you, Lady Hokage" Kakashi smiled.

Kakashi saw a clearing up ahead and decided to jump down. The rest followed soundlessly as shinobi should, at least he could have faith in them for being competent.

"Let's begin" Was all he said as he turned to them with a sinister glint in his eyes.

The group gulped.

___

"Alright, let's get started." Kakashi smiled as everyone but Yamato and Sai lay on the ground with cuts and sweat covering their bodies.

Yamato stared horrified at what he'd just witnessed whilst Sai eyed Kakashi with fear.

Sakura panted and coughed, unable to fully gain her breathing. Sasuke grunted as he struggled to stand and Naruto used his hands to hold himself up as he smirked at Kakashi.

The older Jounin sighed at the blonde always challenging him but couldn't help but return the smirk as he was proud of him. All of them. They have become strong and even his discipline couldn't break them anymore. It seemed there was no need for that kind of training anymore.

The Jounin waited patiently for them to catch their breath and stand before continuing.

"Naruto, that Rasengan needs some work. You still can't create one using one hand" The Jounin immediately shot the blonde down before he even had a chance.

Naruto clicked his tongue and looked down in embarrassment.

"Which is why I'm going to help you create your own version" Kakashi smirked.

Naruto's head snapped up in surprise before he grinned "Hai!"

Creating a clone that led the blonde away from the group, the real Kakashi turned to Yamato "The nine tails might become difficult to control at times, mind watching him?"

Yamato flinched back in surprise at being included suddenly before nodding with determination.

Of course, Kakashi knew the blonde needed no help in controlling the nine tails. He'd already created a bond with the beast.

Next, he turned to Sakura "You're going to take a different approach and learn another element" Kakashi smiled.

Sakura gasped in excitement "Fire!" She yelled.

"Hmm? Very well then" Kakashi said as he created another clone to help her. The two left the area, leaving Sai and Sasuke.

Before Kakashi could say anything to Sasuke, Sai spoke up "Sasuke-kun. You are all Jounin, correct? Why is it you're still listening to your old sensei?"

Kakashi paused as he was suddenly curious, himself. Technically, they didn't have to listen to him anymore.

"He knows us best" Was all the Uchiha had to say before glancing at his sensei expectantly.

Kakashi gave him a closed eye smile before becoming serious "You're with me."

Sai watched as the two jumped into the air and out of sight.

The teenage boy was left by himself and he wasn't sure what to do now.

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you" Kakashi's voice cut through the darkness again.

Sai turned to see the man leaning against a tree trunk.

"I'm just a clone but it should be enough to help you train" The Jounin smiled as he walked forward.

Sai stared at him as he began to whip out a large roll of paper and paint. Where he got it from, no one will ever know. 'This man. he's different from you...Danzo-sama'.

Kakashi turned to Sai with a look in his eyes that drew the boy in. A look that showed his determination. A look that showed the Jounin believed in him.

'Different...I like it' Sai felt his lips quirk up in the smallest way without his order. It was a real smile.