"What's wrong? Why won't you talk to me?"

"I can't stay here any longer. I have to leave the village."

"What are you saying!? You're not making any sense! What about your family and... Is that... blood? Why are you covered in blood!?"

"There's no time for me to explain, I have to go."

"Why do you have to go? Can't you just tell me what the hell's going on? I thought we could trust each other with our problems. Are your burdens not my own? ... Answer me, dammit! Do you... not care about me?"

"Just stop! Forgive me, but you have to just forget!

I bolted awake from my sleep, drenched in sweat and gasping for air. Those terrifying eyes had forced me awake and seemed to burn into my mind, that it was perhaps several minutes before I finally calmed down enough that I could breathe properly. When I turned to look at my clock, it read 3:27 AM. I didn't have to open the shop for another three and a half hours, but that dream had made sleep seem undesirable. Seeing that that was the case, I sighed heavily before getting out of bed and heading towards the bathroom.

Inside, I switched on the light -which blinded me briefly- before closing the door behind me. I peeled off my sticky nightshirt and turned to the shower, twisting the knobs. The old pipes moaned as water rushed through the shower head; I made a mental note to get that fixed. I didn't wait for the water to be fully heated before stepping in, the cool water somewhat soothing against my heated skin.

For a while, I just let the water run, trying to recall my dream. The details were fuzzy; all I truly remembered was that I was talking with someone. I couldn't see their face as it had been shrouded in darkness, but their voice seemed familiar - like a family member or friend's- yet I couldn't put a face or name to it. The only thing that remained perfectly clear was those eyes that had forced me awake. I had no memory of ever encountering someone with such cold eyes before; not from the academy, my short time as a ninja, or the regular customers in the shop.

I let out another heavy sigh and shook my head to clear it before reaching for the bottle of shampoo.

A half hour later, I was sitting atop the roof of my apartment/bookshop, wearing a form-fitting black tank top and standard issue shinobi pants, a jacket way to big for me draped over my shoulders for warmth. As I had yet to do laundry that week, I resorted to going through clothes left behind by my parents, the smell of cigarettes on the jacket from my dad and flowery-scented detergent on the pants and tank from my mom. I guess I could have easily swapped out the jacket for a blanket, but wearing both of my parents' clothes together made it seem like they were sitting right there next to me, watching the quiet village.

It was hard to believe that nearly four years had already passed since they died when Orochimaru and The Hidden Sound Village attacked The Leaf during the Chūnin Exams. Dad had died trying to save Lord Third, while Mom lost her life protecting the younger children. Sometimes I wished that I had gone with them, but dwelling on the past would not bring me any better closure, even if it had meant that I may have joined them in the afterlife. I had come to terms with their deaths long ago, taking over the bookshop and reminding myself that they continued to live on inside me.

I smiled to myself as I took a sip of my tea and gazed at the village. All was peaceful and quiet; it was still far too early for any shopkeepers to start getting ready for the day, so the only movement in the village was a flickering street lamp here and there and the occasional stray cat darting from alley to alley. Though I couldn't see any from my vantage point, I knew that a few shinobi were without a doubt out on early morning patrol.

I couldn't help but sigh at the thought of patrol. I missed going out on missions, darting from tree to tree with the wind whistling past my ears, practicing jutsus and doing what I could to help The Leaf. Subconsciously, I placed a hand over where the scar on my chest resided, cursing my fate. While I would have been more than happy to completely blame the rogue shinobi for ending my career as a kunoichi, I knew that I was partially at fault for having let my guard down.

"Nami; watch out!"

I shook my head, surprised at the thought. Where had that come from? I didn't remember anyone trying to warn me about that rogue ninja just before the Lightning-style jutsu hit me, so why was I hearing it now? On top of all that, what was that dream? It had felt too real to simply be a dream, so then what was it? A memory? A genjutsu?

As I continued to gaze over the village, I heard the very subtle, near-silent sound of someone landing on the roof behind me. Even after nearly ten years since my life as a ninja was cut short, I knew instantly who it was; which made me close my eyes and smile. "It's good to see you outside a hospital room. However, I'm not going to open early; not even for you, Kakashi."

The Copycat Ninja gave a light chuckle as he walked over so he was squatting beside me. "Well, it was worth a shot," he joked.

A let out a small laugh myself before stating "You must be feeling better if they let you out of the hospital." Turning to him with a warm smile I added: "I'm glad you're alright."

Kakashi simply nodded before we both turned back towards the village.

For as long as I could remember, Kakashi-senpai had been coming to my family's shop on a regular basis. When he was younger, he apparently read a lot of strategy books for leading and advanced ninjutsu, but somehow became obsessed with Master Jiraiya's romance series "Make-Out Paradise" somewhere in his late teens. Since our shop was the best in the village when it came to having the latest volumes, as well as limited edition copies, Kakashi was a common sight in the store.

Even though Kakashi was eight years my senior, we bonded during his visits. I guess you could say he was a bit of an older brother figure, but since he refused to let me call him nii-chan, the title of senpai was what I defaulted to. He was very motivating in my early years of the academy, sometimes helping me with my forms or telling me about the missions he'd been on. Whenever I felt sad or depressed, he would always find a way to cheer me up, usually with stories of Guy-sensei's silly contests he pushed onto Kakashi to try and prove who was better.

After my parents were killed, Kakashi was there for me, giving me a sense of stability as I transitioned into taking full charge of the shop. The silver-haired Jōnin was pretty well-known in the village for having a pretty neutral demeanor, often keeping to himself, but he somehow always seemed to open up, even if just a little, when he was with me. It made me happy knowing that he felt safe in confiding with me the heavy burdens and heartache he had experienced in his still young life.

"So," Kakashi spoke, breaking me out of my thoughts. "How's your physical therapy going?"

I let out a heavy sigh, setting down my mug and looking down at my now free left hand, palm facing towards me. I clenched and unclenched it several times, frustration beginning to build up before I left it in a fist and held it to my chest. "I've hit a wall, senpai. It's been nearly a year and I still can't mold chakra with it."

"Lady Tsunade did say that it would be a slow process, with no guarantee you'd be able to regain full use of your arm," he reminded me.

I didn't respond, memories of that day still fresh in my mind.

Six months before Naruto's return (Third Person POV)

A knock on the door brought Tsunade's eyes up from the pile of papers on her desk. "Yes?"

The door opened, revealing a familiar silver-haired Jōnin. "Pardon the intrusion, Lady Tsunade."

"Ah, Kakashi; please, come in," Tsunade invited.

The Copy Cat Ninja entered the room, closing the door behind him, before coming to stand in front of the Hokage's desk.

"So," Tsunade started, placing her elbows on the desk, resting her chin atop her folded hands. "What can I do for you? I didn't summon you for a mission."

"I apologize, Milday. I will get straight to the point." Kakashi cleared his throat before continuing. "I have a favor to ask."

"Oh?" This was certainly something Tsunade had not expected, especially from the ever stoic Kakashi Hatake.

"But first, there's someone I'd like you to meet." The silver-haired man turned to the door he had just entered. "Come on in."

There was a slight pause before a voice nervously replied. "E-Excuse my intrusion." The door opened once more, a young woman entering. She appeared to be just past her teens, perhaps no older than twenty-one. Her long, dark auburn hair was draped over her left shoulder, her bangs slightly concealing her dark, grey-blue eyes. She wore a high-neck, light-grey knit sweater, black pants, and black flats.

Tsunade noticed the odd angle at which the girl's left hand was resting in her pants pocket, her whole arm slacking as if it were limp.

"I'd like to introduce you to Nami Akasaki," Kakashi stated once the girl was standing beside him.

"It's an honor to meet you, Lady Hokage," Nami said, bowing her head shyly.

"Akasaki? You wouldn't happen to be related to Roka Akasaki, would you?" Tsunade inquired.

Surprise flashed in Nami's eyes briefly. "You knew my grandfather?"

The blonde-haired woman nodded. "He was a very gifted shinobi. A brilliant tactician. Many believed he would have been named Hokage had he not passed away suddenly. Unless I'm unaware of any other children Roka had, I can only assume that your Daki's daughter. I saw his name on the list of shinobi we lost during the Chūnin Exams. I'm very sorry for your loss."

Nami seemed to try her best to put on a brave face and bowed her head once more. "Thank you, ma'm."

"Now then," Tsunade continued, turning her gaze back to Kakashi. "What's this favor you need of me and how does Miss Akasaki's presence play a role?"

The Copycat Ninja looked to Nami, seeming to wait for her to do something.

The young woman met his eyes with a nervous expression in her grey-blue orbs. There was perhaps a minute of silence before she finally closed her eyes, letting out a shaky breath. With slight difficulty, she slid her right arm out of her sleeve, then reached out from underneath and pulled her sweater off, her left arm still in the pocket.

When Nami had completely removed the article of clothing, Tsunade felt her chest tighten and eyes grow wide.

From what wasn't covered by the black tank top underneath, Tsunade could only stare at the darkened skin that almost looked burned on the left side of Nami's upper chest. The scarred skin stretched out in Lichtenberg figure patterns over her shoulder and across her chest, coming just a few centimeters short of her heart.

"A little less than ten years ago, I was on an escort mission that took us just short of the Land of Lightning's southern-most border," Nami began, though she seemed hesitant. "We were ambushed by rogue shinobi, and while I was protecting the client, one of them got through my teammates' defenses... and struck me with a Lightning-style jutsu."

The young woman placed her right hand over her scarred chest, her eyes shut tight, the memory seeming to be almost too much to bear. However, she eventually reopened her eyes and continued. "The next thing I knew, I was waking up from a six-week coma in the Hidden Leaf Village Hospital. However, while the medics had been able to save my life, the rogue's jutsu had extensively damaged my body. It had almost completely cut off the chakra flow in my left arm and all but fried the nerves that allow me to control it." She took her right hand and pulled her left one out of the pocket, the damaged appendage limp in her grasp. She looked down at her arm with sad eyes. "I've been able to move my fingers to some extent over the years, but to this day, I'm still unable to wield chakra or make hand signs with it and no medic has been able to figure out how to fix it."

The fifth Hokage was silent, too stunned by Nami's story to say anything. A ninja who had her entire career ahead of her; living through such an ordeal, only to have to give all that up, Tsunade felt deeply sympathetic for the young Akasaki woman.

After perhaps another minute of silence, Kakashi broke it by clearing his throat, gaining Tsunade's attention. "Lady Tsunade, this is the favor I am asking of you; please look into Nami's case and -even if the chances are slim- find a way to fix her arm."

The Sannin gave a curious look at the Copycat Ninja as if trying to learn something. "Tell me; what is your relationship with Miss Akasaki?"

It was during one of these few times that Kakashi was glad he wore a mask, for -even if she hadn't meant it that way- the way the Hokage had asked the question made it seem as though Kakashi and Nami were perhaps an item. This, in turn, caused the Jōnin to blush underneath his mask, trying his best not to act bashful.

Seeing her friend quickly becoming uncomfortable, Nami responded instead. "Kakashi-senpai has been a regular at my family's bookshop for as long as I can remember." Tsunade brought her eyes back to the auburn-haired girl as she continued. "I guess you can say he's been like a sort of big brother to me. He helped me practice my jutsus when I was attending the academy, as well as support me when I lost my parents two years ago. When he had told me about the incredible medical knowledge you possess, I wanted to try and see if there was a way you could help me get back the use of my arm, even if only a little to live a more normal life."

Tsunade sighed as she leaned back in her chair, her hands still laced together. "Even if that's true, what makes you so confident that I'd be able to do anything? After all, this injury is nearly a decade old; there may be nothing I can do, not even a little."

"I like to think differently, ma'm," Nami replied, shaking her head.

"Oh?" Tsunade was curious now.

"I trust not only your skills as one of the legendary Sannin and a medical ninja with years of knowledge and experience under your belt, but also your judgment and determination as our Hokage," Nami stated. "I heard from Sakura Haruno the extensive research you dedicated yourself to when searching for a way to heal Rock Lee's injuries, and while his case and mine are very different, I am willing to put the same amount of faith in you that he and Guy-sensei did."

The blond-haired woman was silent for a bit, seeming to think over Nami's words carefully. Eventually, though, she sat up straight once more in her chair and smiled. "You're a smart one, just like your grandfather. Alright, I'll see what I can do."

Return to present (Nami's POV)

"Why do I get the feeling it's not just your lack of progress that's bothering you?" Kakashi stated, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I didn't respond right away, instead picking up my mug once more and looking down at the last bit of tea inside, watching the liquid swish and swirl from the movement of its container. I eventually let out another sigh before I replied: "I had a dream that's got me worried."

"A dream?" Kakashi repeated. "What's so strange about that?"

I shook my head, my thoughts a confusing mess. "I'm not sure. It's just, this dream, I've never had one so vivid and clear before. It felt so real, almost as if I'd experienced it myself."

"What you're saying sounds an awful lot like someone put you in a genjutsu." Concern was evident in his voice, something I rarely heard in his usually calm tone.

"That's what I had thought as well, but that wouldn't make any sense. I've always been keen on shifts in chakra, even though I'm not a strong sensory-type. I didn't once feel another person's chakra in the apartment, and I certainly would have felt a release if I had been put under a genjutsu. What's more, who would place one on me to begin with, and what would they stand to gain by doing so?" I set down my mug once more, no longer thirsty, and sighed once more. I seemed to be doing a lot of that today. "It's strange though because even though the evidence states that no one could have been in my apartment and placed the genjutsu, I feel as though this was more than just my mind creating fantasies."

Kakashi was silent for a bit, a hand on his chin as he seemed to be deep in thought. After a minute or so, he looked back at me, his expression once again blank. "While I can't say for sure if your dream was more than just that, I suggest you talk with someone who may be able to explain better, like Lady Tsunade."

I nodded in agreement, not satisfied with his answer, but at least happy to know he was there to support me.

We didn't speak for a while, just simply watching the stars vanish from the sky and light slowly creeping over the horizon, announcing the near arrival of dawn. I had a feeling that Kakashi was out early for something, but I wasn't quite sure as to why, since he wasn't well known for being on time for anything. Knowing that my time with him was limited, I decided to lighten up the mood.

"So; how's that ramen-loving dork of a ninja doing?"

"Naruto?" Kakashi chuckled. "He certainly continues to surprise us all. I don't think anyone would have thought he'd come this far as a ninja."

"I did," I stated, causing the Jōnin to look at me in surprise. "Even as a little kid, his potential was as clear as day to me and he'll only continue to grow."

Kakashi continued to gaze at me with a curious expression, which was clearly noticeable even with his mask and headband covering most of his face. "There's something I noticed about you and I've been meaning to ask for some time now; you seem to hold no fear or hatred towards Naruto, even way back when he was a little kid causing mischief around the village. Why is that?"

My eyes drifted back to watching the village as I thought over his question carefully. There were some things that I wished to tell him, but I had made a promise to keep them secret until the time was right. Instead, I smiled as I thought of a fond memory. "Did I ever tell you the story of how Naruto and I first met?"

I took his silence as a no, so I decided to share with him one of my most cherished memories.

"It all started the evening of my twelfth birthday..."