The second time Hatake Kakashi saw the legendary time sage, he was twelve years old.

Kakashi was locking up his apartment, preparing to head to training ground three to meet up with his team. He would be early, but that gave him plenty of time to do some warm ups to prepare for the days training. Besides, it's not as if his team wouldn't be waiting for the ever late Obito, anyways. Maybe he could get Minato-sensei to show him the Rasengan one more time.

There was a barely audible pop behind him and he flinched, a kunai out before he was even fully turned around.

His grey eyes fell on a figure that was staggering forward. She dropped to her knees and caught herself with the hand that wasn't currently clutching her side. Her dirty white robe was steadfastly turning a dark red from the blood seeping out of her side. Kakashi faintly realized he was looking upon the time sage.

Kakashi looked around, wondering if there was some sort of danger or enemy around that he had yet to notice. As far as he could tell, they were alone on the path. A sharp curse fell from the woman's lips and Kakashi felt himself moving forward to the wounded sage, as if his body moved on its own.

When he reach out a hand to steady the woman, she shouted furiously, "Don't fucking touch me!"

He jerked back, as if he was burned by her sharp words and the woman raised her lilac rippled eyes to meet his.

Her face bore a snarl but softened at the sight of him. A pained sigh fell from her lips.

"Gomen nasai, Kakashi-kun."

K-kun? A blush burned under the confines of his mask. That was way too familiar! The young man wondered about that briefly before narrowing his eyes at the woman kneeling at his feet. She was younger than the last time he had seen her. In the cemetery, she had looked to be mid to late twenties. Now she barely looked as old as he was.

Kakashi knew the rules but he wanted to ask her how she had been wounded. He wanted to know what future or past gave her such a grievous wound. What type of battle had she been fighting for her to end up in such a poor state? And why the hell did she end up in front of his apartment?

Instead, he said in a flat voice, "should I retrieve a med-nin for you?"

She let out a gruff laugh before crumpling to the ground. Kakashi felt panicked for a moment before she turned over, laying on her back to look up at the brightening sky. Her eerie eyes met his and she smiled. Kakashi wanted to grimace at the blood filled mouth but he resisted, only cocking his head to the side at her grin.

"I'll be fine, Kakashi-kun." She waved a nonchalant hand weakly. "I heal quickly but I'm just going to continue laying here for a bit, if you don't mind?"

He looked around. It was a little past five in the morning so there wasn't anyone out on the streets just yet and he technically didn't have to be at training until six. He'd have to wait to warm-up but he'd still have plenty of time before Obito arrived to do so. Meeting the young woman's eyes again, he shrugged before dropping down to sit beside her.

Her eyes followed his movement and she protested, "Ano...you don't have to sit with me or anything. I swear I won't bleed out in front of your house!"

Kakashi wondered just how much this woman knew about him. She obviously knew that he lived here, despite not seeing him come out of the apartment. His curiosity burned hotter but he held his tongue on all the questions gushing forth in his mind.

He couldn't help but ask the one that he wanted to know the most, "So, what's your name anyways?" The young man wasn't really sure how to address the time traveler. She was revered in most hidden villages but he had only ever heard her be called the Legendary Time Sage.

Her head lolled toward him, no longer smiling. She stared at him for a long time and while Kakashi began to feel uncomfortable, he refused to look away. She was very pretty, Kakashi grudgingly admitted to himself. Her face was a soft heart shape with a petite nose and full lips. Her eyes were, of course, a pale rippled lilac color and extremely unique but not unattractive.

"Kakashi-kun, I don't have a name anymore."

His brow furrowed in thought, mumbling out loud, "how can you not have a name anymore?"

She shrugged and clicked her tongue a little at the sharp pain the movement started. "I just don't. Besides, names have power, dattebayo!"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at that phrase. He'd only heard Minato-sensei's girlfriend, Kushina, say something like that. Curious.

"You're different than the last time we met." Kakashi stated bluntly. The woman that had came to him before was somber and serious, pain had seemed to fill every aspect of her. This one seemed much too joyful and it bothered him for some reason. Maybe it was because she reminded him a bit of Obito with that type of carefree attitude.

He half-expected some sort of a piss poor excuse to what he had said. Like she had found a small kitten and the sight had lifted her spirits or some such nonsense.

The time sage seemed pensive for a moment, her tanned skin seemed pale and Kakashi wondered if she had lost too much blood.

He was beginning to think that she'd never reply to his statement when she spoke, laughter in her tone,

"When was the last time for you, I wonder? I can't recall when we last met, as we've met hundreds upon thousands of times. When I'm older, when you're older, when I'm younger and you're older and vice versa. Or like now when we are both young. Time becomes a funny thing once you go hopping around in it. I can't remember our first meeting anymore. There's been too many, by this point."

Kakashi was speechless. Just how involved with his life was this troublesome woman?

She looked over and grinned mischievously. "Ah, gomen nasai, Kakashi-kun. I see I've overwhelmed you." A melancholy look came over her face as she sighed, "I've got to go now. I'd stay longer but, ano... time is calling me back. You'd better hurry, if you want to keep your spotless record of attendance to your training."

She let out a snort of laugh that was followed by a faint pop.

It was too silent after she was gone and Kakashi got to his feet and began to walk toward the training grounds. He paused and turned back to the spot where she had laid, a pool of blood being the only proof that she had been there at all.


So, I have a question. Does everyone know of the existence of the Rinnegan before Pein or Madara? I tried looking it up but couldn't come up with an answer. Thanks for reading!