So new chapter! Thank you of course for your show of interest in this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Kakashi POV

"Ahh, if it isn't Kakashi!" The deep boasting tone of Maito Gai washed over the sea of civilian voices. I stopped with a sigh as turned to face him in a bored manner. "My longtime rival," He continued and I closed my eyes in annoyance.

"Gai, if you are looking to challenge me then I will have to ask you to wait. I'm afraid I'm headed somewhere at the moment." I stated rather dryly, I hadn't had the chance to see Minori in the past few weeks due to the team.

"And where might that be?" He replied loudly, calling me out for a bluff, or trying to. Smiling slightly underneath my mask, I held my hands up in surrender.

"To visit Minori," There was no reason for me to lie, most new I spent a good amount of either time there or at the memorial stone, and though Gai's face was impassive at the mention of our friend, I watched as his eyes fell towards the ground.

"Hows she doing? I… haven't been to see her in a while." Gai watched me steadily, as his voice gave away his feelings. Sadness it seemed, while regret was clear in his eyes, possibly for failing to visit his friend. "Well it doesn't matter, I'll go with you… see for myself." He said suddenly, smiling brightly…I swear it's been the first time I didn't or more accurately couldn't say no to Gai. Instead I found myself nodding, agreeing, perhaps just perhaps she was able to hear us, and maybe getting a visit from someone besides me in the past couple of months would help... True our friends would stop by once in while, leaving fresh flowers, or to see if there had been any change... But they had all seemed to given up hope.

The two of us made our way to the hospital, neither speaking as we went. Soon we arrived and made our way to her room, Gai made his way next to her bed, smiling ever so slightly though it was sad. "You still look so youthful! Despite the fragile shape you're in! Your youth still shines bright!" Gai said rather loudly giving her thumbs up before his face fell once more, the small yet strained smile completely washing away.

I settled myself into a chair on the other side of her bed, as Gai pulled another up on the opposite side. I was silent as he took her hand in his own and begin to speak to her, much like I do. Despite losing hope, we all knew that there could be a chance of her hearing us, but whether Gai was speaking out of faith that she could hear us, and was coming back, or out of sympathy for me was unknown.

"I have to go… meet my team."Gai said after an hour or so, standing he gave a small smile at Minori "You need to come back Minori... Your youthfulness is needed." his tone was soft as tears shimmered in the eyes of the gentle hearted man. "Take care Kakashi." Gai added as he turned and walked out the door, giving one last glance to Minori, then an almost sympathetic one to me. I ignored it for the most part and watched him leave before turning my attention once more to Minori.

"That was interesting hm?" I asked softly pulling my chair closer to the bed, as close as I could really. "Gai is right, you are needed. I know the others don't really visit, but we do miss you... I miss you."

I sat there for an hour longer speaking to her, telling her whatever came to mind. I told her of visiting the memorial stone, how I've been keeping Sensei and Kushina updated on her.

"Well Minori, I will be back tonight, the team has a mission today…just simple gardening. Heh, Naruto despises it, he's wanting an higher level mission, maybe soon I can get them one." I said absentmindedly before standing and smiling slightly. "I'll visit again... be back soon." With thoughts words I left, heading to meet my team nearly an hour late.

"Hey Kakashi-Sensei!" Naruto yelled rather loudly in my direction. Giving an annoyed sigh I looked up from my book and over at the boy who was supposed to be pulling weeds. "Why are we doing such lame missions?" He complained, once he realized he had my attention.

"Because Naruto, you're doing the missions that are on your level." I stated simply, turning my attention back to my book, ignoring the string of rants coming from the blond.

"Sensei, we're done." Sakura's voice pulled my attention from my book, looking up at the dirt covered genin I smiled, as I stood putting my book away.

"Good, let's report, then we'll be done for today!" I responded smiling before leading the team to town.

"Kasa... Kash... Kaka." Incoherent mumbles drifted from the still form in the bed, the voice low and barely audible, what could be hear was scratchy

Please wake up... Are going to wake up?

I have a team now...

I'll visit again... be back soon.

'I can't get my eyes open! Where am I?' Tomoko...' Tired eyes fought to open, unused muscles struggling to do such a simple action. Minori was lost and panicked, she could hear their voices but none of it made sense. Most the time she didn't even know what the voices were saying, and when she did it was the voices of her friends, voices that made her wonder why faith or death or kami would toy with her in such a way.

"It's a trap watch out!"

The voice of her current anbu team mate -Tomoko-, mixed with the voices of Kakashi, and Gai, and others she couldn't place.

"Aeko behind you!"

She struggled to open her eyes, she didn't know why they were closed but Tomoko needed her! Why was she closing her eyes when Tomoko was fighting to protect her, warning her of danger.

cling!

"Tomoko!"

"oko!" A scratchy shout, barley making sense rang through the room, as a pair of purple eyes shot open before closing once more due to the harsh light. A loud beeping came from beside the owner of the eyes, getting faster and faster, the woman could feel her heart racing as she once more tried to get her eyes open.

Sound of running feet came from a distance, her struggles increased until she finally forced her eyes to open once more... white... everywhere. "Wh-? Tom- oko- " The woman's eyes appeared panicked, and she tried to move her hand or even her head but found herself unable to, her body wouldn't comply almost as if her muscles hadn't moved in years. Try as she may, she couldn't force them, it was almost as if she had forgotten how to move. What's more troubling... she couldn't figure out where she was, but she knew someone was coming.

The sound of feet drew closer, she struggled in panic to move to be ready, she had to, her and Tomoko were in trouble.

Tomoko.. She had to find her, Tomoko is in trouble… Tomoko.

She finally managed to force herself into a sitting position just as the door flew open. "Wait!" A voice shouted as she miraculously managed to stand. It was only short lived, near the exact moment her feet hit the ground the rest of her body followed. Minori gave a small scratchy shriek as she crashed to the floor, body shaking and her arms bleeding where needles had been ripped from the skin.

She was vaguely aware of someone approaching her, and with a slow sluggish movement she turned her head to the figure, seeing only the clothes of a medic. A sharp stab found its way to her arm as she tried to make since of what was going on. With one more last struggle she found herself falling back into the darkness. Into a darkness she didn't want to face.

"Notify the Hokage." The medic who was currently lifting Minori from the ground, being careful not to harm her in anyway, before returning her to the bed spoke. The other medic nodded before turning and disappearing out the door, tossing the needle he had used to sedate the woman in the trash. Neither of the medics seemed to worried about the incident, after all it wasn't the first time a ninja had woken in a panicked.

"Sorry about that, I hope you'll be a bit calmer when you wake again, though considering how you looked when you came in... Well you looked as if you had been through hell, so your reaction made since." The medic sighed while bandaging her arms before running chakra over her, looking for any more problems "Let's just be glad you didn't harm yourself, getting up after being out that long, could have been dangerous… your body isn't ready for the strain." He said as he finished up, before sighing and heading out the door, promising to come back in a bit to check on her.

I feel like I rushed through this chapter, but let me know what you think, hope you enjoyed.