Even with two dogs, two lookalikes, and two grievously injured people, it was easy to get lost in the chaos. Silent in the midst of screaming, Kakashi and his clones melted away like breath, flanked by panting, blood-stained shadows. An alleyway. A rooftop. The factory dwindled behind them, lost in its own smoke.

He guided them through shadows, sticking to the last lingering shreds of darkness. Two soldier-pills dissolved under his tongue, laving bright new energy through a system definitely starting to think about cashing its cheques; enough to strengthen the clones, hearten the dogs, push himself a little faster. They ran.

One factory. Two. Over warehouses and empty nightclubs, through the heart of the industrial section. He couldn't follow a nose streaming blood, but he could damn well follow the mental map stacked inside his sharingan. He knew this city. Well enough to find its--

Abattoirs.

Kakashi smiled grimly and led them straight through the grey, iron-clad buildings, losing their trail in a real bloodbath. Lingering animal terror probably wouldn't mask the stench of chemicals and smoke coming off them in waves--not to a real scent-expert--but it might buy them some time. Shouma and Hoshika cut away for a moment, released by a one-eyed look as Kakashi yanked his hitai-ate down; they returned with hunks of meat clenched firmly in their teeth, muted pleasure gleaming in brown eyes.

And they ran.

Alleyways, rooftops, empty side streets. Down to the poorest neighbourhoods. High above them, almost out of sight, a hawk's shadow circled. Kakashi drew to a halt before they hit slums, picked the first house with solid walls and copper piping--with neighbours only on one side and bare land on the other--and broke in through the window, leaving clones and dogs and teammates behind.

He was back in three minutes, rope-marks fading on blood-streaked hands.

"Inside."

The clones paid no attention to the bound, terrified family lying in the hallway, but Hoshika spared a moment to gently sniff the little girl's hair. Kakashi gestured her away, eye fixed solely on Ginta and Tsuyako as the clones eased their still bodies down onto a rumpled, still-warm double bed. He stepped forward and pressed his fingers against one neck, then the other.

Two pulses.

"Water. Medkits." His voice was a croak, but a steady one. He tossed two scrolls to the nearest clone, letting it waste chakra on the summoning. The other headed for the kitchen sink. "Towels."

Ginta stirred, groaning. His eyelashes flickered.

Kakashi sat down hard on the bed next to him, bent over shaking knees, and remembered how to breathe.