Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

The Italics are either a memory or writing from the file.


"Kakashi!"

The cry rattled around Kakashi's head as he fell to his knees, it was becoming hard to move. It was becoming hard to think. His vision blurred as the weakness spread from his knees up to his shoulders. He felt his hand grasp at the air slowly in an involuntary plead for help. Someone caught his elbow before he could fall face first to the ground. Through his blurred vision he picked out the gold halo of hair and he weakly tried to respond.

"Sensei." He rasped so it was barely audible to his own ears.

Minato slung Kakashi's arm over his shoulder and let his body support his student's weight.

"Come on not far now just keep your feet moving." His sensei's words did little to comfort him or spur him on, but regardless his feet shuffled on. He felt his head loll as his vision blurred further, and a feeling of sickness washed over him as he felt the steady trickle of liquid that worked from his eye down his neck. He didn't know how long it was before his body failed him again, nothing his body did felt connected to him anymore.

"No no! Come on Kakashi stay awake."

For the first time Kakashi felt a flutter of panic in his chest the anxiety and rising panic in his sensei's voice was enough to let fear grip him. Distantly he could hear Rin crying and her desperate apologies and pleading. He felt his feet sweep from under him and suddenly his mind registered he was looking up at the sky. "Your being carried" his mind connected distantly. Everything slowed and his mind went blissfully blank for a while, the silence was almost comforting and Kakashi felt himself becoming increasingly wrapped up in it. Just as Kakashi began to think that he was becoming completely engulfed voices broke through into the silence.

He felt his position shift until he was sat upright with someone supporting his weight from behind. He sighed in irritation as he felt someone tug at the bandages on his head. He heard a dull thud as the bandages were dropped to the ground; the voices were getting louder and clearer. Kakashi's body jolted violently as he felt cold fingertips brush at his left eyelid. Arms clamped down on his biceps immobilising him in his panic. Being held still only increased the panic and Kakashi felt the fear rise up through him and his breathing become erratic.

"Calm down, we can't help you if you struggle." The words sounded slow and foreign and Kakashi's body struggled against the hands as he processed them.

"Stop it. Relax, trust me." Was whispered into his ear and he felt the will to struggle slowly dissipate, he knew that voice and he knew the owner of it always had his best interests at heart. He tried to will his body to do as Minato had asked. He worked on steadying his breathing and keeping still.

"Good boy."

The instinctual panic rose into Kakashi's throat again as he felt the finger tips brush against his eyelid again. He did his best to hold his head still as the fingertips began to pry open the eyelid. Hot pain flashed through Kakashi as the eye opened and he felt fresh blood trickle down his cheek as the wound re-opened. The light was far too bright and it made the eye sting painfully, Kakashi tried to close it on impulse but the finger tips persisted. His fingers bit into the makeshift hospital cot as Kakashi tried to detract from the pain.

"We will need to stitch the wound." A male voice stated in a confirming manner.

"Can you not use chakra? Or at least some anaesthetic?"

"No, we always try to avoid using chakra with head wounds it's simply too dangerous to inject foreign chakra into the head, the body doesn't react well to it. I'm afraid anaesthetic or anaesthesia is out of the question he's too weakened it'll be safer if he's awake."

The conversation began to mean little to Kakashi the pain was too distracting, Obito's eye itched and his throat burned.

"Try not to hurt him." He recognised the stern warning tone but the words didn't register. He felt hands moving his face, positioning it slowly.

"Ok Kakashi just try and stay very still for us."

Again the words meant little but the sudden pain meant far too much. Kakashi attempted to twist his head as he felt the first stitch penetrating his skin, the hands on his biceps tightened slightly and the hands on his face clamp down on his retreat.

"I know it hurts just try and stay still, that's it." The medic in front of him soothes twisting Kakashi's head back to the position he wants. Kakashi bites his lip as the medic continues, he wants desperately to comply but the pain stabs at him causing his whole face to ache. Just as he feels the pain becoming bearable it spikes into a new white hot pain. A strangle noise catches in his throat as his fingers grip into cot. The medic pauses.

"What happened?" Minato demands pulling Kakashi back toward his chest and away from the medic.

"I'm sorry the eyelid is more sensitive than the skin of his cheek or brow bone, that and the eye area is exceptionally sensitive right now. It's the Sharingan it's trying to preserve itself. I'm afraid there is nothing we can do for the pain."

Kakashi feels his sensei growl in response as he allows the medic to move back toward Kakashi. As cool fingers grip at Kakashi's face he tries to protest.

"Stop." Even though it feels like he is screaming it in his mind it passes as barely a whisper across his lips. The medic continues. To the left of him the assistant medic grabs his hand and begins to mutter comforting words.

"That's it well done, we're almost finished."

It felt like it would never end and small sounds of pain spill from Kakashi's lips as the medic works silently .He begins to shake as he becomes overly aware of everything around him. He can hear other patient's groans of pain that seem to echo around the tent. He can smell the blood and rain that clings to his clothing and the air. He can hear Rin sobbing somewhere nearby and feel the medics breath dusting across his face. He feels his sensei's grip on his arms tighten fractionally whenever he lets a sigh of pain slip out. The coppery taste of blood slowly fills his mouth as his bites his lip. And then just like that it was over.

"Done. Well done you're a brave boy."

Her words didn't comfort him, or make him feel brave or accomplished. It made him feel slightly sick. He wasn't brave or strong. He'd failed his teammates and now all he wanted to do was cry. The world started to darken around the edges and he felt his body slump against his sensei's chest as he finally let his body give into the exhaustion.

The memory leaves an uneasy feeling in Kakashi's chest as he blinks to try and remove the images. Pakkun lifts his fury head to regard his master's odd behaviour more closely.

"Hey pup, are you ok?" He questions gruffly.

Kakashi shakes his head slightly before breathing in deeply and turning to look at Pakkun.

"Yeah fine, why do you ask?"

"Because you've been staring at that same page for the past twenty minutes."

Kakashi smiled and shifted his gaze to his hands.

"Nothing gets by you does it?" He asks softly before placing his hand on the pugs head to scratch behind his ears. Pakkun lets out a soft grunt of contentment.

"So are you going to tell me what's wrong?" He mumbles.

Kakashi raises an eyebrow in response.

"I'm your summon Kakashi there's a bond which connects us, I know when you're in need and I know when your upset. And don't think that just because you're scratching my ears I'll suddenly forget."

Kakashi withdraws his hand sharply before inching the bridge of his nose.

"Maybe you're not as all knowing as you think you are."

"You only pinch your nose like that when you're upset or stressed."

Kakashi lets out a defeated sigh and drops his head to rest on the back of the sofa.

"Just bad memories." He says eventually. A frown develops on the pugs face and he totters slowly across the sofa to curl up on Kakashi's lap.

"Don't beat yourself up over the past. It's been and gone no point dwelling on it."

Underneath the mask Kakashi bites his lip and studies the ceiling intently.

"I know."

Silence prevails for a few moments.

"Say you know what would cheer you up? Making me some food. Hop to it pup."

Kakashi allows a small smile to develop. Maybe Pakkun was right best to leave his ghosts where they belonged, in the past.


Sakura welcomed the cool shade of the tree, and she stretched in a cattish manner as she lay under it. She closed her eyes and let herself drift in the warm breeze.

"Not particularly a clever idea to fall asleep in the open like this Sakura."

A grin worked at Sakura's lips.

"Maybe I should have found a nice rooftop like you would eh sensei?"

She opened one eye to see Kakashi sat on one of the lower branches on the tree. She closed her eye and resumed her dozing, simply happy to be in his presence.

"Tiring day?" he guessed, dropping silently to the ground next to her feet.

"Like you wouldn't believe. A double shift at the hospital and an early morning training session with you and the boys this morning would be enough to exhaust anyone."

"I didn't know you were working at the hospital today. You should have said I would have tweaked the session a bit."

Sakura opened her eyes and sat up slowly resting her weight on her hands behind her.

"I don't need you going easy of me sensei. I'm not the weak little girl I used to be." She said with a restrained amount of annoyance. Kakashi chuckled at her response.

"I know. I wasn't suggesting you're weak. I just want you to remember that rest and recovery is just as important as training hard. I though you would know that you being a medic an all."

How was it that this man always managed to turn the conversation around so she felt about six inches tall? Sakura blushed slightly with embarrassment; she hasn't meant to get so defensive.

"Yeah well you should take your own advice sensei. You're always trying to discharge yourself from the hospital early." Sakura pointed out whilst viciously pulling a daisy from the ground before ripping the petals off. Kakashi regarded the flower with sympathy.

"That's different. I don't mind being in slight discomfort as long as I'm out of hospital. My students on the other hand I would rather see fully fit and healthy no matter what."

His blatant belittling of his own health irked Sakura.

"Have you ever stopped to think that it matters to me that I don't like seeing you hurt unnecessarily?"

As soon as she said it she clamped her mouth shut, but it was too late as she realised with horror that Kakashi heard what she said loud and clear.

"I mean us. I mean me Naruto and Sasuke don't like when your hurt." She tried to amend herself in a small voice.

"I know." Kakashi answered with intensity that Sakura couldn't place. The air felt electric it was like that day in the training field where she could almost feel something surround them.

"So where are Naruto and Sasuke, I thought they would be pestering you to join them for dinner?"

Relief and disappointment rushed through Sakura at the same time making her emotions feel conflicted. On one hand the intensity she felt excited her, it made her feel as though she were getting closer to cracking the enigma that is Kakashi Hatake. But on the other hand it also scared her, and so she was relieved at the change in topic.

have him back our relationship with him is strained. He's done so much that it's hard especially for Naruto. I know this is terrible but sometimes it feels like he died."

Sakura's eyes didn't move from the petaless daisy as she spoke.

"I understand. But the main thing you and Naruto have to remember is that he is alive. And as long as he's alive the relationship can be fixed. You may have regrets and things left unsaid but they can all be sorted because he is still here."

Sakura didn't miss the sadness in what Kakashi said and she felt partly responsible. Since he opened up to her in the restaurant yesterday there had been a weight about him, as though he were carrying something heavy on his shoulders.

"Talk to Naruto. Boys aren't as switched on as girls, he and Sasuke will try and fix it how they always used to by fighting that's not what's needed here."

Sakura nodded slowly; often any advice from this man was useful.

"Thing is I don't know what to say to him because I don't even really know how I feel. I just wish it was like it was before at least when they hated at each other they were consistent."

"So sort out how you feel first. How do you feel?" The question was asked slowly, almost cautiously. Sakura swallowed hard as she thought about the question. How did she feel? She tried not to think too much about Sasuke other than to acknowledge he was home, alive and she was happy about that. But he had done so much and caused so much heartache it was hard to think about him without resentment.

"Obviously I'm glad his alive and that he's home."

That was easy to admit so she said it first.

"But?" Kakashi prompted.

"But he put us through so much, and I know he's apologised but it's just hard to get past that. Plus I think a part of him still she's me as the weak girl who used to swoon after him."

"I don't think anyone can call you weak now, you're"

Sakura cut him off.

"Not physically no. But emotionally I think a part of him still thinks I'm that girl I was. And it hurts because I'm not some pathetic girl who peruses boys over training. And if I like someone then its real, not just infatuation." Sakura finished in a fluster fearful she would reveal more of her feelings for Kakashi than would be wise. To stop herself from blurting out anymore she draws her knees up and lets her for arms rest on her knees, her hands dangling in front of her.

A jolt like electric shoots up her arm as she feels Kakashi's fingers close around hers. He was comforting her like she had yesterday. Sakura relished in the warm feeling of his hand. He was mimicking her actions right down to the length of time he took before squeezing her hand. But then he did something different. It was so gentle Sakura hardly believed it was real at first. He was circling his thumb lightly on her palm. Both Kakashi and Sakura kept their gazes on the others face both fearful that if they looked down at their adjoined hands they would be acknowledging that what they were doing was wrong. Was it normal for teachers to touch her the way he was? Probably not Sakura thought. Sakura didn't want to break the connection but she could see the sun had gotten lower in the sky since she had arrived, and she knew her mother had wanted a family meal that night.

"I have to go now. Thanks for the advice sensei."

His hand dropped from hers as she stood and she offered him a parting smile as she walked away. Kakashi watched her go the small smile slipping from his lips as thought about her dilemma. He had noticed the strain in their teams dynamic since Sasuke's return. It was the usual strain they were all comfortable with, where Naruto and Sasuke would bicker and squabble as Sakura chastised them and Kakashi would look on exasperated. No, the strain now was less noticeable for outsiders to see but more oppressive for the team. It was an unspoken weight that none dared speak about. As Sakura had said it were as though someone had died.

It caused memories to stir up for Kakashi, unpleasant ones of his own teams strain after Obito's death. He found himself doing this more often, daydreaming about the past memories would come to him with such startling clarity he found it easier to let them run their cause rather than trying to suppress them.

The first thing he noticed when he woke was the pain. There was little other feeling than that for a few moments. Then suddenly his senses were bombarded with sounds and smells and that almost overwhelmed him. From the cool sterile smell and the constant thrum and beeping of machines Kakashi decided sluggishly he must be in hospital. He could feel another presence in the room. It wasn't a comforting feeling, it wasn't the feeling you got when someone who cared for you watched over you. It was a cold creep of fear that you got when someone who shouldn't be there was watching you. Before he could fret over the feeling further he slipped back into sleep.

When he woke again things seemed a little more coherent, a little more bearable. The feeling of danger had subsided but unfortunately the pain hadn't. Kakashi tired to swallow and found it painfully hard. He knew it was time to open his eyes. It took a while for him to build the courage and effort needed. He tried just the right eye first. His eye. After a few attempts his slid eye slowly slid open. A cold rush of fear took over Kakashi when he realised that even with his eye open it was dark. His breathing escalate as he lifts a weak arm to his face. Just before he can press at his face a hand snags his wrist causing Kakashi to jump in response.

"Relax, it's just me."

Some relief came over him as he heard his sensei's voice.

"Don't worry you're not blind, they bandaged both your eyes so they could adjust together."

Kakashi dropped his hand silently as he gathered up his thoughts.

"Obito."

He knew what he meant to say but it seemed that was all his mind was willing to let him say.

"I'm sorry Kakashi. He's gone."

The words filled him up. Somewhere he understood his sensei was speaking again. All he felt and understood now was that he was tired, and so he let the darkness surround him again.

The memories made his eye itch and his mouth dry up, but they didn't stop.

"Kakashi?"

Kakashi opened his right eye to see Rin lingering in the door way. She offered a tired smile which he tried to return but felt it fell flat.

"Hey."

Rin took that as permission to come in and she daintily and quietly made her way to the chair by Kakashi's bed. They sat in silence neither able to find the words the other needed to hear.

"Tsunade says your eye is healing well."

Kakashi could only nod in response as his mind bit back "Don't you mean Obito's eye." He found it exceptionally difficult to talk to Rin. What could he say? He desperately wanted to say how sorry he was, how he didn't deserve her kindness after he'd tried to abandon her. But he couldn't muster the words, not after he had failed her. Rin took the silence hard it ate at her how much guilt he carried and how the guilt had restricted his ability to talk to her. She balled her fists.

"Stop it."

Kakashi looked up at her with mild shock.

"Stop blaming yourself. I don't blame, sensei doesn't and neither did Obito. So don't you blame yourself."

She then grabbed his hand and squeezed it in a comforting manor.

"I'll try." He agreed.

Kakashi looked at the hand that had held Sakura's. It was funny how that sign of comfort often worked on him.


Sakura rubbed her eyes tiredly. The previous day was still catching up on Sakura physically and emotionally. She could bear the physical ache that came from training but the emotional turmoil that had stirred up lately was tiring her. Firstly the situation with Naruto and Sasuke was frustrating her and now the situation with Kakashi was causing added stress. She could swear her hand was still tingling as she opened his file once more. Resuming where she left off she read the evidence of Kakashi's story about the Uchiha's mistrust. After the court case details there was a picture documenting the state of the healing Sharingan. It showed the healing skin was raw, angry and painful. Sadness and guilt brimmed in the mismatched eyes. Sakura chewed her lip as she read the medical evaluation.

"Although the eye is healing well and the transplant was successful the patient is frequently showing signs of chakra depletion and exhaustion. The Sharingan is taking up so much of his chakra that we suggest it be removed; otherwise we fear the patient may be overcome by the exhaustion."

They contemplated removing it? Kakashi got around fine when the Sharingan was covered up why would then think of taking it away? And then it dawned on Sakura, had they known to cover it up? Clearly someone had figured it out as Kakashi still had his Sharingan and he wore it covered. She wondered who'd figured it out.


Kakashi's knuckles turned white as he gripped at his knees nervously. Obito's eye ached and he pushed down the urge to rub at it. From the corner of his right eye he could see them. Down the end of the corridor he could see the black shapes of the Uchiha family. The family of the teammate he just lost. The family that was accusing him of murder. He kept his head down and tried to avoid moving, so as to not attract their attention more than he already had. A large hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"You alright my boy you look like a cat on a hot tin roof."

Jiraiya beamed down at him. He had come to support him and his sensei through the trial, sort of a character witness. Although he was glad to have him there it did little to make him feel better. Jiriya offered another smile before moving to talk to his former student. The grand wooden doors in front of them creaked open and a small ancient looking man tottered out.

"We are ready for you now."

Kakashi heart leapt into his throat and his body froze as the Uchiha filed past him, all of them shooting them their own form of a death glare, until only Minato and Jiriya were left.

"Come on it'll be ok we promise."

The court room seemed awfully full as Kakashi quietly took his seat. The elders sat at the front of the room regarding all of the people in front of them with mild boredom. The chairman cleared his throat.

"Kakashi Hatake you have been accused by the Uchiha family of murdering Obito Uchiha in order to gain the Sharingan. How do you plead?"

Kakashi swallowed hard before responding.

"Not guilty."

He wished he sounded more assertive.

"Uchiha make your case."

Kakashi didn't know whether the bored tone was a good thing or not. He knew it probably meant that the elders had already made up their minds. But it worried him that he didn't know in whose favour their predetermined decision lay. It was Obito's father the head of the clan who stepped forward to speak. Kakashi felt himself shrink back into his chair. Obito's father had never liked Kakashi.

"We believe this boy murdered Obito for his own personal gain, and that he used the teams medics obvious infatuation for him to get her perform the transplant. His sensei and our esteemed Hokage was not present to witness the event and therefore is misguidedly supporting the boys story."

Obito's father practically spat the word esteemed, and Kakashi felt his sensei bristle beside him.

"Furthermore we believe it is dangerous that anyone outside the Uchiha clan knows the secrets of the Sharingan. Also from what we've heard the eye has practically killed the boy, it would be best for all involved if the eye was removed."

The elder nodded slowly before casting his eye over to Kakashi, Jiraya and Minato.

"Defence your turn."

"As the fourth Hokage and Kakashi's sensei I can vouch for this boy whole heartedly. Although it is true that Kakashi and Obito fought often neither would have it in them to kill the other. They were best friends. And I believe to say that Obito's supposed murderer would come out of a fight unscathed is an insult to his memory. The accusation of murder is based on nothing more than assumptions. Yes it is true that I was not present to witness what exactly happened to Obito but neither were the Uchiha clan."

The elders hummed at this.

"Well what about the fact that the Sharingan is an Uchiha secret? Or that it is slowly killing him? If you're not going to consider what happened to my son you may as well consider what happens to that brat."

Obito's father stabs an angry finger in the air toward Kakashi, and Kakashi tries to keep his eyes trained on the elders. He can feel his sensei stand next to him defensively but realises it's Jiraya who addresses the elders.

"Although it's true that the Sharingan drains Kakashi somewhat, it is most certainly not killing him. Well not anymore. Keep it covered and everyone's happy hence the fetching slanted headband."

At this point Jiraiya gestures toward Kakashi as if to prove how well the headband idea is working.

"And when it comes to the Sharingan being a well kept secret I have to ask what you're worried about. Kakashi is a trustworthy shinobi of Konoha, and besides you both live in Konoha you can always keep an eye on him."

The last part made Kakashi shudder involuntarily. The elders began to nod and talk between themselves briefly.

"And you boy, what do you have to say about all this?"

Kakashi felt every eye in the room shift to watch him, a brief touch on his elbow from Minato signalled that he needed to speak.

"I'm sorry for any distress I have caused. I did not kill Obito."

Kakashi stopped and tried to steady himself.

"He was my friend and I miss him."

He couldn't think of anything else that to say, it was how he felt. The elders began to deliberate again, their muffled voices spilling through the uncomfortable silence.

"Lord Hokage, Jiraiya, can you vouch for this boy do you believe that he is innocent?"

"Absolutely. No doubt in my mind." Minato answered fiercely.

"I agree, I also believe he is innocent." Jiraiya concurred.

"Very well. It is our decision that due to a distinct lack of evidence we find the boy not guilty. The eye will not be removed unless the boy wishes it so."

A hammer sounded signalling that the case was closed. For the first time since Kakashi had returned to Konoha he felt like he could breathe again.

Kakashi sighed as he watched Sasuke and Naruto spar. At least this Uchiha bears no grudge toward him for his borrowed eye.