Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Warning: boyxboy

A/N: Thank you for reading and please enjoy! Comments will really help me so please leave one when you have the time!

-=oOo=-

"Kakashi."

Tsunade's voice was echoing in Kakashi's head. She had muttered this word before, behind her desk in the Hokage's office. Kakashi had paid her a brief visit that time, to request for an indefinite leave of absence from his missions. He didn't say what he was using his time for and since Tsunade didn't ask or seemed to know his answer, Kakashi kept quiet.

The Fourth Shinobi War had just ended and Konohagakure was in a state of recovery. All Shinobi were mobilized to reconstruct the village. Some were helping in rebuilding the houses and some sent to missions to regain their funding. Konohagakure had always suffered from numerous attacks in the past and the village was known for its resilience to withstand total destruction. This time was no different; they would need every able hand to rebuild Konohagakure from the ashes.

"Do not do this." Tsunade's voice was resolute. In Kakashi's ears, it was more of a plea than an order.

He knew that Tsunade was opposed to his idea. More than worrying about losing a capable shinobi at this critical time, the Godaime was worried that his personal mission would endanger all the progress they made. Not to mention the impression it would make to the other Kage's. If they knew of what Kakashi was about to do, another Shinobi War might be upon them.

"You can't stop me." Kakashi's reply sounded equally resolute.

He did not intend for it to sound so challenging but hopefully the Hokage was wise enough to know the meaning of his words. With or without her permission, Kakashi would still go through with it. Even logic could not stop him. He was known for making sound judgements, in both battle and in life. It was unlike him to do such a crazy thing.

In the shinobi world, those who betray the rules are trash…

He was breaking more than a dozen Shinobi codes. He was being selfish - thinking only of what would lighten the burden in his chest, what would clear his conscience, even for a little bit. His soul was boiling in rage, and anger has replaced the calm in his heart.

But those who betray their comrades are worse than trash.

How can they expect him to do nothing while Sasuke was being held in a dark cell, thousands of feet beneath the frosty mountains, cold and all alone? After seeing Sasuke fighting alongside the Shinobi Alliance and defeating their enemies to the point of sacrificing his life, he should be deemed a hero just as much as Naruto and the others had been. Sasuke might have made a mistake along the way and Kakashi understood that he needed to be punished for his crimes but to treat him this way was unforgivable. He was to remain in that cell until the five Kage's figure out what to do with him.

Naruto and Sakura had been stubbornly protesting at the five Kage's decision. The ending of the war signified breaking the cycle of hate and revenge and treating Sasuke this way is going against that. However, Naruto and Sakura eventually accepted their decision after talking with Sasuke. Sasuke had thanked them for their efforts, reassuring them that this was needed to be done for the peace of all. Sasuke had promised that he would accept whatever judgement was made because he trusts the Kage's with his life. During the war, Sasuke had a change of heart and it showed when he gladly, wholeheartedly, accepted their decision.

At that time, Kakashi had put his trust in Sasuke too. He thought Sasuke was longing for forgiveness from himself and this was his way to atone for his sins. Kakashi had admired at how fine a shinobi Sasuke has become and he had respected his decision to straighten his past mistakes.

What angered Kakashi was the fact that Sasuke has been under the mountains of Shimogakure for a month now and still a decision has yet to be made. Everyone was focused on restoration of their countries that they have forgotten about Sasuke. Tsunade was explaining how the meeting to decide Sasuke's punishment has been pushed back to the next month when she noticed a murderous glint in Kakashi's uncovered eye. That was when Kakashi made his request.

The jounin inhaled the icy air through his mask. Atop an aged pine tree, he scanned the unending plains of snow of the Land of Frost. Behind the thick layer of ice crystals in the air, he could see the snow mountain past Shimokagure. He adjusted the band of cloth to cover his Sharingan eye. He had temporarily removed the metal plate from his forehead protector. He was here not as a shinobi of the Leaf. He was here on a different mission -

To save Sasuke from his icy prison.