Light glinted off the glass vials inches from Kakashi's hand. "You made all of these?"

Sakura squinted one eye at the microscope and muttered, "It's not perfected. And it's all hypothetical."

The jonin shook his head. "Chiisai may have planted the thought in your mind, but the situation is indeed real."

Her finger rotated the lower knob on the machine as she surveyed his blood sample. "I just don't see how it's possible," she replied. "Our technology isn't that advanced." But she had read the scientific journals, she had heard of future experimental methods…And she saw it right before her eyes.

Kakashi ran a hand through his hair and said, "Orochimaru and Kabuto working together-"

"That's impossible!" Sakura pulled away from the microscope and looked Kakashi in the eye. "If Danzo was the one to poison you, that would make he and Orochimaru allies." Danzo was a cold and, admittedly, creepy old man. But to make himself close to Orochimaru? And would he know Sasuke's location? No, she couldn't hope on that. It couldn't be true.

Kakashi saw the familiar expression on Sakura's face and wondered if he himself looked the same way for the past few weeks. He placed his hand on the table, the cold welcoming against his fingers. It was almost as cold as Chiisai's skin the last time-

The jonin shook his head and gestured to blood sample. "What did you see?"

"It's…" She shook her head. "I don't want to say it, but it's rather amazing. There are microscopic seals imprinted on these plant enzymes. The poison must be dormant in your body until the proper hand seals are performed."

Lady Tsunade had trained her well, no doubt. But her stiff body language showed something else. "...And?"

Sakura glanced away. "I've studied similar symptoms before, along with the same organic signatures."

His fingers curling into fists were the only sign of emotion. "Chiisai's seizures."

"Yes," she nodded, "except much more potent. From the dreams I've had, I've narrowed it down to two possibilities." Her voice softened as she finished, "But…They don't have a cure." She gestured to the vials. "These serums may be able to treat the symptoms for a short while…but they won't be able to save you." Her green eyes settled on Kakashi. "I've had dreams of another plant though..."

His patience was wearing thin. "I need any information you have, Sakura."

The kunoichi tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and sighed. "I've never heard of it. It's dark colored, lives close to the ground, and looks like it would thrive in the mountain areas. I saw Kabuto grinding the leaves up. He was making a serum to help Orochimaru's hands."

His hand clenched the necklace around his neck, his thumb rubbing over the Baku depiction. Chiisai was still on their side, thank goodness. "The mission I went on a few weeks ago...We went to one of Orochimaru's abandoned hideouts. We brought back samples left behind that match your description." Chiisai had showed him the dream she saw that started the mission, the man whose village thrived because of its natural healing plants. It seemed too long ago to think about.

Chiisai must have known what would happen once she returned to the village. What all had she been up to? Had she taken precautions to ensure her own safety? It was clear she hadn't been broken yet because he was still alive. But how long could she hold on?

"We need to hurry," Kakashi said.

"Hai."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIi

My, my…Look how much you've grown. You managed to get through most of the traps Fu's laid in his own mind. But can you actually break the cursed tongue seal?

Chiisai, eyes glowing in rage, poured her chakra into Fu. He released a scream and convulsed in pain. The chains digging into his wrists glowed as it absorbed the expanding chakra. Chiisai managed to break through the shell of another trap, but another one sprung up in place. A curse tore from her lips and she jumped back as the barricade snapped down. There was little time, but even with her chakra she could only work so fast. Fire emanating from her clenched fists, Chiisai reared her arm and lunged for the wall. Smoke filled her nostrils as it disintegrated before her.

At least you've found a way to expend your undying rage. Congratulations.

"Shut. Up." Chiisai snarled at the voice. The sound of her father was her undying companion in the dream world. And whether it were real or not, she didn't care. All she knew was that she hated it, hated and needed its sanity.

Her eyes flickered with electricity as she yelled, "I will break that damned seal, along with its damned maker!"

Ah yes, that is your current goal, isn't it? Destroying Danzo like he destroyed your life? He's even made you forget about your Farm Boy, hasn't he?

Chiisai forced herself through another trap in Fu's mind and replied, "I'm destroying Danzo in order to free Kakashi!" She had to destroy Danzo. She had to break his mind like he broke hers. Chiisai would make him suffer just as she-

Riiiight. I'm sure Kakashi would be so proud to see you now. You're doing so fine on your own.

"He would!" Chiisiai roared back. Electricity shot out around her as she repeated, "I'm doing this to protect him!"

She felt the memories coming up on her then, and Fu was completely forgotten. Though she tried to resist, there was little to be done. What would it be this time? She was tired of remembering and not remembering, tired of the terrors lingering in her mind. She had had to many seals placed on her memories and one too many brainwash attempts from Danzo. And if she couldn't control her mind, then the dream world suffered...

Chiisai was now facedown, the dead grass coarse against her skin. Kakashi's navy pants creasing as he crouched down beside her. "Don't let your pride stop people from helping you when you need it," He had said. "It's insulting to the ones who care about you."

The sting of a kunai gliding along her thigh, the sound of cloth ripping and the heat of Hitoshi's breath in her ear. "I wouldn't want to ruin such soft skin more than I have to."

Kakashi caressing her scratched and bruised face. The frigid cold stealing her breath away. The jonin sighing, his head tilting down as he whispered, "I've been in love with you for quite some time I'm afraid…"

Danzo's hard expression, lavender walls...

Chiisai's nails dug into her skin, her body shaking as tears streamed down her face. "He...would not be proud...He would not…"

She didn't notice the tears already staining her shirt or the shaking of her hands. All she knew was that she loved Kakashi and she had made a terrible mistake. Where was Kakashi? She needed him. No, he needed her. But how could she protect him?

Her knees dug into the ground, her sobs reverberating off the invisible walls of the dream world. Her chakra was already reaching beyond Fu's mind as it attempted to release the overwhelming energy inside. No, she needed to take control, she needed to stop this before the villagers-

Chiisai didn't even notice Fu's kunai as it launched straight into her heart.

END

One day I'll finish this story.

Thanks Nevvy, dark side's cookies 8D, harukanakamura, and RavenJayneAlucard for the motivation! Especially Nevvy. The follows, faves, and reviews have really helped!