I doubt Kakashi will die...
If Kakashi die then Konoha no hope already...
because Konoha chunnins are all noobs!(except a few)
And I doubt they will last long VS some Akatsukis.
Plus no Kakashi to guide Naruto, Naruto will be just like a lost puppy.
(See what Ino, Chouji are doing when vs Kakuzu, See how Naruto, Sakura and Sai being electrocuted by Sasuke....)
Asuma died because...he himself isnt good enough(though he is a son of a hokage) Kakashi is different, his sharingan already let him become 50% God mode, and I cant imagine Kakashi dying...
Added on August 1, 2007, 10:13 pmMaybe Pain will lose to the "will of fire" (which is the "Art of Gangbang) of Konoha
the only hopeful chunnin will be Shikamaru, i think he can analyze better than Kakashi. And u r forgetting Neji, wic is already a jounin already. There are still certain hopes for them