A man hopped over the fence and made his way toward Kakashi as Kakashi placed the small towel back over his face. The man had a large mane of white hair and a massive red coat. He seemed to know Kakashi as he relaxed into a friendly gait and a wolfish grin.

"Is that you Kakashi?" the man asked. Kakashi waved his hand half heartedly to acknowledge the older man. The man smirked crouching down at the edge of the bath. "I could have sworn I heard a girl in here, I thought I could do some research, sounded like it would have been good." The older man grinned at Kakashi as he shrugged.

"How have you been lord Jiraiya?" Kakashi asked with a yawn.

"I've been good. And yourself?"

"Good" Kakashi nodded, his hand sunk under the water, it was reaching three minutes Dante would need air soon, she was by his legs gripping them for dear life as her breath started to run out her grip on his leg got tighter, she may have been trying to get Kakashi to send them away but you can't just send away a legendary Sannin, can you?

"You know these baths are closed at this time, I never saw you to be one to break the rules." He grinned. Kakashi had both hands under the water pulling Dante to the surface.

"One can be tempted now and then." he said nonchalantly, She breached the surface gasping for air, her hair over her face. Her hands pulled her hair back to find that Jiraiya had leant quite close to her, his smile wider than a Cheshire cats and he had a face of giddy glee.

"Oh I can see the temptation." He looked her over as Dante grinned at him and slowly hid behind Kakashi. She had gone all silly and shy, Kakashi smiled at her under his flannel. He wrapped his arm around her pulling her close to comfort her and let her know there was no need to be afraid.

"Dante this is Lord Jiraiya, he's one of the three legendary sannin. Jiraiya this is Dante." Dante held out her hand to shake Jiraiya's, and he took it placing a kiss on the back of her hand.

"It's good to meet you. Heh heh heh. I knew I heard something. Kakashi you sly dog." The old man nudged Kakashi, but Kakashi shrugged it off.

"Dante this man wrote the Icha Icha series." Kakashi said.

"Oh my god, really? I love the book, well I haven't finished the first one yet, but Kakashi let me read it and it's awesome, you're awesome." She hadn't realised she had stood up in her excitement showing her breasts to the old man until he fell over blood dripping from his nose and Kakashi pulled her back down so her chest was below the water, shaking his head. The man jumped to his feet having regained his composure quickly.

"I'm glad you like it I don't have many female fans." He rubbed his nose with his forefinger.

"Well I hope you don't find me rude but I'm a little tired and I'd like to go home." She smiled up at the old man, he seemed harmless enough, she couldn't understand why he was hanging around the bath, and then realisation hit her, he stood outside to see if he could see anyone. "Did he see?" she hissed at Kakashi and Jiraiya laughed.

"No sadly I missed out. And I'm not stopping you, you can leave." He grinned.

"Sir, if you wouldn't mind turning around then." He made no attempt to move and Dante looked at Kakashi, "well, what do I do?" Kakashi shook his head standing, he had nothing to worry about, Jiraiya couldn't see him through the water, he walked to the side near his clothes and shook off most of the water, of course Jiraiya's eyes were still on Dante so he didn't have to cover himself up, he picked a towel up drying himself before getting dressed. Whilst Dante waited she played with the water and Jiraiya watched her, she was creating a small whirlpool with her chakra from her hands.

"Hey, that's pretty neat. You've got good chakra control." She smiled at his compliment.

"Thanks, name an animal."

"A toad" she nodded and he watched as she pulled her hand out of the water but the water stuck to her hand as if she wore an invisible glove, he saw her tongue lick her lip in concentration as the water in her palm took the form of a small toad hopping about from hand to hand. "That is ... beyond good that is amazing, excellent chakra control. Who was your sensei?"

"I ... I didn't have one. I'm self taught." She mumbled. The toad fell out of form in her palms and Kakashi called her over, he shielded her with the towel as she climbed out, Jiraiya watched her he could see her building her chakra as close to her skin as possible and with a small eruption the water fell of her body leaving her body and hair bone dry.

"What's your name again kid?"

"Dante."

"No. You're real name." Dante looked at him, her look was harsh. She didn't know who this man was, how would he know that Dante wasn't her real name. Kakashi looked at her slightly worried too.

"I have no use for it, no one alive knows it except for my father and we aren't exactly on good terms. However my surname is Okami, it's my father's name. My family's name was Jigen, I didn't like them and so I don't use it." She tugged on her clothes. This man had just fallen down a few pegs in her book. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason, just you seem very efficient with chakra, so obviously you're a high ranking ninja. But I haven't seen you before anywhere, not even the name rings a bell." He had his hand to his chin in deep thought.

"It wouldn't, my clan only had ties to the Hyuga clan through my father, and the Uchiha through my grandfather, I myself only knew Minato Namikaze in passing and the eldest Uchiha boy: Itachi. I had met Sasuke too, he used to be a sweet kid. And Kakashi." She watched as the man known as Jiraiya walked up to her, Kakashi had thrown the towel to the side he stood watching Dante, her face hadn't turned hostile but she wasn't her usual friendly face either. This was the most she talked about her past, although Kakashi never asked her so maybe that's why she never said.

"The fourth Hokage? He was my student." Jiraiya smiled as he closed the gap between them, she looked up at him but was not intimidated by the fact he was almost two feet taller. "You seem pretty angry; a minute ago you were all smiles." He pushed her buttons.

"I don't like my past, I'd rather not think about it much less talk about it. Besides I have only just got some of my memory back so I don't know it all myself. If you wish to test my skills then please ask, do not push my buttons." Dante gripped Kakashis hand and he returned her squeeze.

"Well it's a bit late now, but maybe we will have a spar sometime soon. I didn't mean to offend you."

"I have taken no offence; it has been a pleasure... Lord Jiraiya." Kakashi could feel her push her chakra out to him, she was getting a feel for him.

"Come on Dante you can cut the link, he won't hurt you." He sighed, he should have known from when she let him shake her hand that she would have linked herself to him just in case. She lowered her head ashamed that she didn't trust someone whom Kakashi seemed well acquainted with.

"I'm sorry Kakashi, I didn't know who he was." Jiraiya looked at the two confused, he had no idea what they were talking about, but he was sure he would have plenty of time to talk to this 'Dante' in the near future. Especially seeing as Kakashi was Naruto's sensei and Dante seemed to be the girlfriend of Kakashi.

"Well I'll let you kids get on, I have women to please and research to do. I'll most likely see you around." Jiraiya waved over his shoulder as he left, Dante's body relaxed and she sighed.

"I'm sorry Kakashi."

"There's nothing to be sorry about." He turned away from her and hopped back over the fence, waiting on the other side for her when she hadn't moved he called to her. "Coming?" she was by his side and holding his hand. He could feel the shame rolling off her. "You're okay." He leaned over to her smiling but her lips didn't change. "I knew your name wasn't Dante, your father said when he was here, he didn't say what your name actually was, but, I figured it was something to do with your past so I didn't bring it up." She threw her arms around him tears falling silently down her cheeks. "I figured you would tell me when you were ready."

"You're too good for me." she nuzzled into him.

"No I'm not, we all deserve chances." He stroked her the back of her head as she looked up to him. There was something in his eye she had never seen before, it was sorrow. Although he didn't know her real name, she hadn't given him a false name to hide who she was, he knew about her, she had told him a lot about herself as her memories resurfaced. She had no idea about him, she had told him she watched him when he was young but that didn't mean she knew him, she had no idea that he lost his best friend because he wouldn't help his team. He had lost everyone who was important to him and having Dante here and now in his arms was another chance for him, to do it right. "Let's get home, I'm still a little damp, I don't want to catch a cold." He gave a little sneeze as he said this making Dante laugh and nod. She took his hand and led him home. She was smiling again and he loved it, she seemed to shine brighter when she did. Tomorrow they would find out if the kids passed the second exam.

Dante was feeling pretty glum without Naruto around, she was enjoying having Kakashi to herself for sure, but she found herself looking at Ichirakus whenever she passed hoping to see the blonde haired, orange jumpsuit wearing bundle of fun. Pretty glum without Sakura too if she was honest, even Sasuke although he had changed a bit from when he was 5 or 6, she remembered playing with him when Itachi said that he didn't have the time and poke his forehead. She would kiss Sasuke on the mark on his forehead and take his hand. Itachi would then play after five minutes of sulking. Dante enjoyed the time she spent with the Uchiha brothers, it got her away from the seriousness and the s-ranked missions her grandfather forced on her. It seemed to her Itachi too had too much responsibility thrust upon his shoulders for such a young and talented boy.

She felt a lot of fear for Sasuke, she had overheard a conversation between Kakashi and the Hokage that Sasuke was attacked by a man during the exam known as Orochimaru, a former ninja of Konoha and one of the three legendary sannin. She had also heard he was Anko's sensei, or she guessed seeing as Anko had the strongest reaction against him by far, she let her mind wander, maybe that was why Anko seemed so hard faced most of the time, the one person she trusted most left her with nothing but blame that she could only put on herself. Dante hadn't let on to Kakashi that she overheard but she had an inkling he knew that she heard anyway. The man left a curse mark on Sasuke's neck and from what she could make out he could have died or could be dead now and they won't know until tomorrow, Dante was sure she could still feel his chakra though so she wasn't too worried.

Although she didn't fully understand why they hadn't stopped the exam, Orochimaru had said if they did he would attack the village, but when it ended wouldn't he just attack anyway. She would protect Kakashi and the kids with all her might if it came to that, she wasn't a stranger to war or the killing that came with it. But it still had her wondering what the Hokage was thinking.

Her eyes were caught by a bird in the sky, she placed her knuckle in her mouth a small whistle left her lips "piiiiiiii, piiiiiii." This brought Kakashi out of his thoughts to look at the bird too, it answered her call and she smiled.

"What's that?" he asked not recognising the bird.

"It's a lovebird." She said sheepishly, "The whistle is how I used to signal to my squad I was in position or I needed them; the birds would mimic it and pass it along." She smiled up at Kakashi. "So if you ever need me just whistle okay?" he brought his finger to his mouth as she did but ended up with just a whoosh of air leaving his lips, she giggled at him.

"No like this." She licked her knuckle and put her knuckle into his mouth folding his tongue over below it. "Now blow." He did so a whistle pushing past her knuckle, he was surprised he did it and seemed quite happy with it. "You need to wet the knuckle first seeing as your mask is in the way. Try again." He placed his knuckle back in the position she had hers and the whistle erupted very loud. She laughed shushing him. "People are in bed." She giggled. The bird crowed back to Kakashis whistle and he seemed mighty pleased with himself.

"You whistle like that if you need me." he whispered, she smiled at him he was so sweet. "But what if they just make that noise? And you didn't whistle it." her smile fell a little.

"That's not their normal tweet so they won't. Lovebirds mate for life, they only use that one if they have lost their mate or if their mate has passed. It's very rarely used. They don't leave each other, so when one dies the other gives up living and dies of a broken heart. The other lovebirds mimic it as if mourning for the pair." Her smile had dissolved into a frown as they continued walking he could see his apartment now.

"That's oddly romantic." He said with a strange tone to his voice. She looked at him and smiled.

"If we ever need each other, we'll whistle just like that." She laughed, as she held his hand again, they walked into the apartment and not saying a word to one another. They sat in Kakashi's living room reading their own books on his sofa, her head on his lap as one of his hands subconsciously stroked her forehead, her book touched his knuckles and he couldn't help but chuckle as she had fallen asleep reading, he took the book out of her hand putting her book mark in place and placed it gently on the table beside his. He debated on leaving her there or carrying her to bed. He thought if he left her when she awoke she would storm in to him waking him up too.

He picked her up gently and her head lolled against his chest a small mumble leaving her lips, she had already gotten into her pyjamas when they first got home, so he rested her gently in bed before climbing in beside her and pulling her close, she sighed and he could feel her smile against his neck, this only made him hold her tighter as he rolled over to face her so his forehead touched hers. He placed a small kiss on her lips whispering against them.

"Good night, Pup."