*Kakashi's POV*

Veena was falling and I half ran to catch her, but Guy caught her before I could get to her in time. "What happened to her?" I asked grabbing her from Guy.

"Veena was actually the one to revive Lady Tsunade. She said that she used the secret of the ryakugan to help Lady Tsunade. I'm not sure what the secret was. But she really needs to get home and rest." Guy said to me.

"It's fine, I'll take her home." I told him. Guy helped me get her onto my back and I walked out of the council meeting. "You always seem to push yourself way too much." I said to her.

I could have easily taken her home with quick ease, but I wanted to enjoy this moment. I could feel her steady heartbeat against my back, though it almost seemed weak. I didn't know whether or not I should have stayed with her, so when she woke up I'd be there.

I shook my head, taking those thoughts out. Veena and I are on a break. I would simply leave her on her bed and I would leave. It wasn't a very long walk but, I enjoyed it. She was unconscious and I wanted to wake her up.

I entered into her clan and everybody stared at me and started to whisper. I began walking to Veena's home which was in the very corner of the village. I got a better look and thought that if this whole clan still remained standing, she must have stretched out her rock dome far and wide, because there were so many homes still standing.

I reached her house and the elder of the clan came out, "What happened to the girl?" She asked me.

"Veena is okay." I told her.

"I've noticed that you haven't been with her anymore. Probably for the best. That girl is toxic. She will only ruin things for you. The blood of the Hishikawa runs through her veins. She is no good."

"She saved this whole clan, and you will still hate her because of the family she was born into?" I asked her. She couldn't respond, "I'm sorry, but I cannot speak to people like you. You," I paused, "are absolute scum." I smiled at her.

She looked shocked as I opened up Veena's door and slammed it shut behind me so that nobody would disturb us. I lay her down on her bed. I debated about staying for a while, until finally I gave in and I chose to stay with her. It was nighttime now. I would probably just stay with her, but I would sleep on the floor.

I looked around for a bit. I knew she kept extra blankets in a closet, so I got one of those and I pulled out a futon from under her bed, where it should have been. Instead I pulled out a box. I know it was wrong for me to open it, but I did anyway.

I found pictures, but not a lot. I found some of when Veena was a little girl with her parents. Her parents looked very familiar, but of course everybody from the village did. There was another one of her kissing her father's cheek. She was the cutest child ever. I found another one of her at a birthday, and she was posing with what seemed to be like a lion.

I found another picture of Hiashi, that Erika girl, Veena, and another boy who wasn't familiar to me. I also found a book inside the box. Which I assumed was Veena's diary. One peek couldn't hurt.

Dear Diary, Today, my parents died. I only chose to start writing in this because of that event. The pain of losing someone is unbearable, and I have never known it before. I hate it so much. I want to die too. I can't stop crying and there is an aching feeling in my heart. Many have told me that what my parents did was very honorable, but I'm scared. I'm scared and I'm alone. I won't have my home anymore, and I have nobody. I'm not like the Yamanakas or the Uchihas. I'm all alone.

I flipped the page quickly, and I flipped a few more pages until I found a picture in between pages like a bookmark. I looked at the date, and it was the day that Itachi Uchiha killed his whole clan.

Dear Diary, Today I did something big, something that I sort of regret doing but something that I am proud of doing. I kissed Itachi Uchiha. I kissed him and he didn't return my feelings. I have a feeling that Itachi was shocked. I was too scared to face him though so I ran away. I really regret that decision. One time I overheard someone saying that Itachi told them that he loved me, so I thought it was okay, but they were probably lying. Itachi is so perfect. Hey future Veena, if you're reading this, I hope we are married to Itachi! I know that there is nobody else for us, and I know that I would never love anybody but Itachi. I hope that the love I have for Itachi lives on forever, because nobody else can compare.

I flipped the page and there was only one sentence. Today, Daisuke died because of me. Was all it said and the rest of the page was ripped out, so even if there was anything else I sure couldn't read it. I got up from the floor and tucked the box back under the bed.

I kneeled next to Veena and gently touched her cheek, "Hey Veena, wake up." I shook her a little bit.

"Kakashi…" she mumbled.

*Veena's POV*

I finally came too as I felt somebody shaking me, "Kakashi, is that you?" I asked him. I saw a masked figure. "Aren't you happy, you don't have to be Hokage anymore." I told him.

He nodded, "Thanks to you for saving Lady Tsunade. I owe you a big one for that."

I smiled at him, "It's no big deal. I just feel kind of tired with that new jutsu thing that I learned. The first time I used the ryakugan, I couldn't stop throwing up." I laughed, "I felt so sick, but I'm glad this is going a little bit better." I looked at him, and he wasn't responding, "Kakashi what's wrong. You look like you've seen a ghost." I said to him.

"It's nothing. It's been a long night. I should be heading home now." He said standing up quickly. I noticed an extra blanket lying on the side of the floor.

"Hey, if you want, you can stay the night." I said getting up as he headed for the door. As soon as I got up I regretted it. I ran to the bathroom and violently started hurling. I felt hair being pulled out of my face, and my back being rubbed. My body wanted to vomit even more, but there was barely any food in my stomach to be thrown up.

After my stomach was pumped, that disgusting feeling finally went away, "I'm sorry you had to witness that." I told him, "That was disgusting." I said sitting against the toilet with my elbows on my knees and my face in my hands.

Kakashi got up, "No its fine." He told me. "Do you have anyone that could take care of you? You're clearly not in a good condition."

I shook my head, "I'll be fine. But if you wanted to spend the night, you could. I see you pulled out an extra blanket, so you obviously intended to stay. It's fine. You can take the floor." I told him.

"No, I don't think this is good for our break, me staying here with you." He said to me. "I want to be here. I want to be with you, but I know you need some time." He told me.

I thought for a brief moment but my mind was clouded. I wanted Kakashi to be there, but I also wanted to think about Itachi. "Hey Kakashi," I blushed, "Ever since we traveled to the land of iron, well even before that, we haven't been able to properly…you know."

Kakashi blushed, "Wh-what are you implying?" He asked me.

I shook my head and I blushed, "Never mind, you're right." I told him, "I said something weird just now. Forget about it!" I told him. "But even though I said that, I want you to stay here tonight. I feel better, but I would be happier if you were here with me." I smiled, "On the floor of course. I'll bring you a futon." I added on.

I went underneath the mattress and my hand accidentally hit an old box. I pulled it out, "This sure brings back a lot of memories." I smiled. I then pulled on the futon that was folded up beneath my bed. "Hey, I want to show you some things." I told him patting the spot beside my bed.

He hesitated at first but then he obliged sitting down. I opened up the box and grabbed the remaining pictures that I had from the past few years. I pulled one out, "This is me when I was born, and those are my parents at the hospital." He nodded. "This next one is of my Dad and I," I pulled out another picture of me with my arm around a lion, "This was my summons, the Lion I made a contract with." I smiled, "I was four. His name is Regulus." I got to the final picture, "And this one is when I became a genin. You know, Erika, but the boy is Daisuke. Oh and this was Hizashi sensei, Neji Hyuga's father. He was an amazing sensei, before he sacrificed himself, he talked to Erika and I, and he told us to always take care of Neji, he was an absolutely amazing sensei." I told him.

"I'm not familiar with that name. Who is Daisuke?" He asked me.

There was a lump in my throat, "Daisuke was an old teammate of mine. He died because of me." I told Kakashi, putting the pictures and diary back into the box. "Well, I think I've bored you enough for one night." I closed the book and put my things away. I grabbed a robe to sleep in.

I took off my full sleeve black high neck and then my black shorts, and then my net tights. I was left in nothing but my underwear and I could feel Kakashi's eyes on me. I was changing right in front of him but I didn't care because he'd literally seen everything before.

I pulled out a purple silk road and put it on not tying it at the front and I walked back to my bed. "Just set up the futon, and turn off the lights." I told him. He also took off his vest and shirt leaving him in the sleeveless top, and his mask. He turned off the lights and put the blanket over him.

I couldn't sleep no matter how hard I tried. This was the first time in about a month where I was asleep on my bed and Kakashi wasn't there next to me. "Kakashi…" I started.

"Mhm?" I heard him say.

"Is it okay, if I hold your hand…" I asked him my hand dangling off the bed.

I didn't hear a response from him for a while so I wondered if he had fallen asleep. Whatever, I thought to myself. Since when have I become so needy. I'm a shinobi too. I need to let this go.

I then felt the warmth of Kakashi's fingers intertwine with my own, "Just this once." My body turned to face towards where he was sleeping and he put our hands on his chest where I felt the steady beat of his heart, to which I fell asleep.

I woke up to an empty bed of course, and Kakashi wasn't on the futon either. I got up and brushed my teeth, and used a lot of mouth wash. I took a quick shower and put on clean clothes and hopped out. I saw Kakashi standing there, "I thought you left?" I asked him.

He shook his head, "I just went out to pick some stuff up for you." He told me.

"But why? I went grocery shopping just a few days ago, and I haven't been home, so it should be fine right?" I asked him.

"I'm going to make you a secret drink to combat the illness."

I raised my eyebrows, "A secret drink?" I asked him. "What kind of secret drink would this be?"

"It is a Hatake family secret." He told me.

"Well it smells amazing." I told him. "I'm going to make breakfast." I told him, "What do you want to eat?" I asked him,

He shook his head, "Don't worry. I'll be handling breakfast as well." He told me.

I laughed, "Kakashi Hatake, what has gotten into you? Is this break messing with your mind?" I asked him.

"It's just that when I was living here, you took so much care of me, so let me take care of you just this once." He said to me.

I nodded coming up to him and kissing him on the cheek, "I appreciate it very much." I said to him. I blushed all of a sudden when he gave me a look, "I'm sorry… I don't know why I did that! It was just in the moment, and I just miss you and I." I was so frazzled at this point that I didn't know what to say.

He put his hands on my shoulders, "It's okay. I just can't wait until you figure everything out. I know I'd only be a distraction in this journey for you though."

I shook my head, "There's one thing that I know for sure. I talked with the leader of the Hishikawa clan, who also happens to be my grandmother." Kakashi looked shocked for a moment but then he nodded, "She told me that there isn't only one individual that is meant for us. There's so many people that could be right for us, but it's about finding the individual that is perfect for you."

"Is that so?"

"So Kakashi, even though we aren't together right now…I want you to know that you're the only individual that I think is perfect for me." I smiled at him, squinting my eyes as usual. "I know it'll be a little while until we can be together again, but I just wanted to tell you. No matter what else I find out, it will always be you." I squeezed his hand.

I could tell that beneath his mask he was smiling, "I'm glad." He told me. "Now go sit down while I bring breakfast over." He told me. He opened up one of the bags and I smelt rice. "Now eat this rice while I get you some fresh fruit and the Hatake secret drink."

I smiled at him, "You know how you say you want to be a dad one day?" I asked him. "I think you are going to make a great dad one day. So tell me, do you want a girl or a boy for your first child?"

He pondered for a moment, "I think I would want a daughter. I want kids but at the same time, I don't want them to live in the cruel world that is of shinobi. I want them to be in a loving environment."

"That would be nice. I don't want kids. I think I would be a horrible mother." I told him, "I mean my mom was amazing, but I don't even remember her. I wouldn't know how to handle a child." I said to him.

"I'm sure you would be fine." He told me putting a plate of fruit, some rice, and a green colored drink in front of me. "By the way, Lady Tsunade wants to speak with you today."

I nodded my head while taking a bite of the food he got, and the fruit he cut. "Mm, this is delicious." He motioned to the drink that he made himself and I took a sip of that too. I immediately coughed it up, "Akh. This is horrible!" I said to him.

"Well, it's not like it's supposed to be good. I made this for you so that you could get better, not so that you could enjoy it." He told me.

I scoffed, "But this is so bitter I hate it so much…" I whined, "Couldn't you make it sweet like a milkshake or something?" I asked him.

He sighed, "It's a good thing that you don't want any children. You yourself behave like a child." He said to me getting up. "I have to go to work. Make sure you go to see the Hokage. I'll see you around."

"Wait, Kakashi. Are you going to come back?" I asked him.

He sighed, "I'm going to be staying at Yamato's just because I think it's better, plus I have some things to do, so I'll be pretty busy for the next few days. So yeah, maybe I'll see you around." He said grabbing the doorknob.

I nodded, "I'll see you around Kakashi." And he was gone. I looked at the glass and laughed. "He worries too much." Was all I said as I proceeded to scarf the drink down my throat. Once I finished the food he gave me, I put on a fresh pair of clothes. This time a net shirt, some black pants, and my jonin vest.

I walked to Lady Tsunade's office. "Lady Tsunade, I'm glad to see that you're doing well." I noticed a bunch of ramen bowls and sake on the table, "Uh, well a little more than well." I laughed a little.

"Come on Veena! Have a drink!" She urged pushing a cup towards me. Now normally I would have taken the drink because I badly needed it, but I reminded myself that this was the Hokage and I had to be more serious in front of her.

"Uh no, that's quite alright." I told her.

"Oh," She was clearly drunk. "That's quite unfortunate. Ohhhh wait, I know why you aren't drinking! Yup I can tell when stuff like this happens, you revived me after all. So how was it?" She asked me.

"Well, I guess it was painful; I mean it was my first time after all. But it was worth it Lady Tsunade. I'm glad that I could help you." I smiled at her.

She hiccupped, "Help me? I would have woken up in no time! You did it all for yourself. I am so proud of you! Congratulations!" She told me. "How are you feeling now?"

"Uh thank you! I feel pretty nauseated, but I guess that's pretty normal, for anybody's first time." I told her, "I mean, I'll be doing it more in the future, so I hope it will help."

"Of course it will help! Nausea is normal, after all, it's no easy task. You expand so much chakra. It's hard not to exhaust yourself. But I'm here to talk to you about what happened. I want you to explain everything to me in full detail." She said starting to sober up a little bit.

I explained to her everything in great detail, "So that's what's going on? Kakashi explained to me the same thing in more or less detail. But an emergency meeting has been called for this evening. Ninjas are being called back from their missions in order to prepare for the war, and tomorrow I will go to meet with the other Kage." I nodded my head.

"Veena. I would like you to come to the meeting tonight." Lady Tsunade invited me.

I looked a bit surprised, "Me? I'm not officially part of any clan, I'm not a leader or anything. Also I'm not an elite jonin, so I don't…"

Lady Tsunade scowled at me, "VEENA!" She yelled, "Have more faith in your abilities! I have faith in you, and I know that you will do an amazing job. You have trained with Shikaku, Inoichi, and Hizashi. Your abilities are amazing! You know so may jutsu, and I think that you would be very valuable to this team. So despite just becoming a jonin, you are a valuable asset and we need you!" She told me.

"Lady Tsunade," I began with a pain forming in my throat. It was the pain that formed when tears threatened. I bit down on my tongue, "Thank you for believing me." I bowed down. "I will accept any position that you give me with great pride. I will make sure that the Leaf survives. I promise."

"Good!" Lady Tsunade said, she fell onto her desk, "Now go get some rest and be ready for tonight. I need to sober up."

I quietly exited her office and went past a few people, I ran into Shikaku "Oh hello Shikaku." I smiled at the man who used to train me. "It's nice to see you after a very long time." I said to him.

Shikaku smiled and nodded, "If only we could have seen each other in better circumstances, instead of while preparing for war."

I nodded at him as I was leaving, "Then I guess I will be seeing you again tonight at the meeting."

Shikaku raised his eyebrows in surprise, "You're going to be there? That's a relief. Aside from Inoichi, Chouza, and my son, I need more people to rely on, and who better than one of my old students." I smiled when he said that, "Well, there's also Kakashi Hatake. I assume he will be playing a big part in the war, after all he is also a veteran good to fight."

I nodded, "I remember the Third Great Ninja War, I was only 5 or 6." I said to him.

Shikaku nodded, "I remember. Your parents went on a mission to talk with the other nations to convince them not to fight. They were killed in a coup. They were very diplomatic and brave. They were opposed to fighting and all they wanted was peace." he told me.

"I see…I don't remember much from the war, or anything at all, but I didn't know that was the reason they left. I was still in the academy. When I graduated and became a genin, I never fought on the front lines, but I remember delivering supplies amongst other things. It was horrible, the war. So many lives were lost." I said.

Shikaku nodded, "It is going to be such a drag." He said walking away.

I laughed walking outside, Shikaku hasn't changed at all. It makes me a little bit glad knowing that. Knowing that people can still be themselves despite what is going on. I saw Kakashi and Guy and I started walking in the other direction.

"Hey Veena!" Guy called out to me, "Come watch Kakashi and I in a sushi eating contest! It'll be great and I will win!" He told me.

I waved my hand, "No thank you! I actually have some work to get done!" I told them, "But I'll see the two of you tonight at the meeting!" I shouted.

Guy waved back, but Kakashi just had his hands in his pockets and acted as if he didn't even know who I was. I slumped my shoulders as I walked. I shouldn't have been upset over these little things. Kakashi has always been a very closed off person and not one to show emotions when other people are around, so I should have been okay with it, but it was bothering me a lot.

I passed through some of the lodgings and I saw the place my grandmother was staying. I knocked on the door to see how she was doing. I was welcomed with open arms, "Veena!" She smiled, "Please come in, I have some people that I would like you to meet." She told me.

I walked in to see a man who looked almost exactly like my father, a younger man who looked like nobody that I knew, and a pretty young woman who looked like my grandmother. "This man here," she pointed to the one who looked like my father, "Is your father's brother, your uncle, his name is Kitaro, the other young boy is his son Mitaro."

I bowed, "It is so nice to meet you both." Kitaro approached me, and brought me up.

"Please do not bow. We are your family, just," He pulled me into a hug, "Allow us to be here for you." I hugged him back, "Izaya's daughter, I am so happy that we are able to finally meet. We never even knew you existed, until today." He said to me.

I smiled, "I'm glad that I know you exist now too, because until today I had no idea who you were either."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." The one called Mitaro said. "I am your cousin Mitaro. I'm 19 years old." He said to me.

Mitaro seemed like a soft-spoken quiet person so I just stuck my hand out to him, and let him shake it. "And finally this is…" Kitaro started but he was knocked away.

"I am the middle sister; my name is Takara." She smiled full of energy, "The fact that big brother had a kid and he hid it from us makes me disappointed, but I guess it's fine. After all, he did cut us off. But just call me Aunt Kara!" She told me.

I agreed immediately, "Grandma, I just came here to tell you that I've been invited to the meeting tonight where all the heads of the clans and the high skilled jonin are going, I was wondering if you were going too?" I asked her.

She shook her head, "Oh no, I am much too old for that. I have lived through two wars, for once I would just like to watch from a distance. If I am asked to fight I will, but I retired long ago, and I'm afraid that if I do have a role in this, it will be from behind the curtains. Kitaro and Kara will be attending though." She smiled.

I smiled big at her, "I can't wait. Do you mind if I stay here and we can go to the meeting together later?" I asked them.

They obviously agreed and we talked for a while after that. "So Veena, do you have anybody special in your life?" They asked me.

I shook my head, "Not anybody in particular at the moment." I laughed nervously. They asked me questions about my life and what was going on and we actually got along very well. "Oh its almost time for us to go the meeting." I pointed out.

"Oh you're right." Kitaro said quietly. The atmosphere changed suddenly, "For the first time in over twenty years, its time for a reunion with those damn Ezahiya again." He slammed down his fist so hard, that the whole table split down evenly in the middle.