A/N: Thank you for all still following along. Sorry for the delay have had a little bit on behind the scenes. Thank you for the reviews and hope you're all still enjoying the story x

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This story is purely a work of fanfiction.

Nina- is my original character (I do own her)


Chapter 99


She'd managed a few hours of sleep, resulting from the combination of exhaustion and necessity. Regardless of the reason, Nina felt fresher and reasonably prepared for the task, well, tasks ahead; even accounting for the company she would be keeping. She had disregarded the investigation in her rush to leave his apartment however, she was she sure Kakashi had something to share otherwise he wouldn't have mentioned it. Or maybe it'd been bait to lure her to stay?

Nina flexed her fingers on her right hand as she tugged the black glove up to her bicep, stopping just short of her shoulder. Her movement was a tad stiff but she knew she would have an opportunity to work on her lack of strength tonight, given that were on watch duty. Meaning the chances of them actually engaging in action was slim to none. Clasping the metal plate to her right forearm, Nina tried to remember roughly how long it'd been since she'd geared up as an Anbu operative. It'd certainly been a fair while and then she couldn't recall if she'd been in a team or solo.

She dug into her cupboard pulling out the second forearm protector and attached it to her left forearm over her long fingerless glove. Although there were obvious unresolved points of contention between them, Nina was looking forward to being able to carry out their assigned mission. Previously, and hopefully it would be the case tonight, they had no need to entertain idle chit chat.

Crouching down to the bottom of the cupboard, Nina reached around a few pairs of shoes in search of the familiar feel of the wooden mask. She knew it was in here somewhere as she'd come across it getting ready to go out to Shushu-ya. It didn't take long and her fingers hit the hardened surface of the item she'd been searching for, pulling it out to inspect any possible damage. Well, damage other than the scuffs, grazes and missing paint sustained whilst on missions. She was sure if she had Kakashi's sense of smell, that she could even detect the lingering hints of blood that had been smeared and splattered across its surface over the years.

Then her mind traversed another random thought. Were they like Anbu? Once in you never really left Anbu, despite the formal command of retirement given by the Hokage. Were her and he going to be locked in this stupid limbo as a result of bending the rules? With the tops of her fingers exposed, Nina's nails scraped along the inside of her mask and her teeth sunk into her lips. The rules had been put in place for very good reason and they ought to have known better. Hell, they did know better but… she rested her mask on her thighs.

Nina jumped at the sound of knocking on her door. Her head snapping to the direction of her bedroom doorway. Maybe someone in Ibiki's team had a breakthrough? She quickly stood and made her way to the door, fastening her mask to her side.


A relatively decent rest had given rise to a return in his sense of logic. There wasn't any emotional attachment that came into play when he'd made his next decision. It may have only been watch duty but people's lives were at stake, as they usually were, when it came to Anbu missions. Using a clone wasn't acceptable practice even if they were to be looking over notes concerning the investigation. Their mission was also at night, so reviewing documents as important as these was not best done by moonlight or by relying on the dimly lit street lighting. The information he'd discovered could impact the investigation heavily therefore it couldn't wait, and thus left this as his best option.

Scooping up the documents Kakashi's faithful pug padded up to his ankles and groaned.

"Why would you help her after what she said?"

Kakashi ruffled the top of Pakkun's head. "You know as well as I do, she was telling the truth."

"Hmpf. Still for her to say her name when she doesn't understand-"

Kakashi stopped dead in his tracks and pulled the pup up too. "No, Pakkun. You're wrong." His companion flicked his head up abruptly. "Nina understands."

Pakkun plopped his head down on his front paws and sighed. He wasn't entirely convinced but his master's words left little to doubt or question. Nina was different. Pakkun had told Kakashi that himself. But whatever this nonsense was between them was tiresome and dangerous. And that was enough for Pakkun to bristle. Emotions made people careless. It's why shinobi were trained to harden that part of themselves. Kakashi had been a stellar role model, until that mission. It did appear that his master was more himself; which was a relief. They were both impeccable shinobi and one way or another they needed to clear the muddy waters of their relationship before it cost one or both of them their lives. Or worse, someone else's.

His boss gave him another head rub and all Pakkun could do was let out a snuffled sigh.


Nina readied herself at the door, locked her hand around the door handle and pulled it open.


"Kakashi! Up for a match?"

He was really starting to question the higher powers. It would seem whenever he just wanted to get from one point to another without intervention someone out there had other plans. The other day it had been Genma and today none other than Guy had crossed his path.

"I would but you see…"

"Oh right. Don't let me stand in the way of enjoying the company of such a beautiful lady."

Kakashi stopped, even at the shoulders to Guy. "This isn't that."

"Oh? I could have sworn you were heading in the direction of Nina's."

Their conversation was quiet but with traces of humour and sarcasm. Typical considering who it was.

"I am however, it's not a social visit. I need to talk about…" That's right Guy wasn't in Anbu.

Sensing that Kakashi's mouth had run away from him, Guy saved him the trouble of explaining. "Well, another time then."

"Uh, yeah."

He'd managed to lift one foot to continue on his way and Guy added to their conversation.

"You don't have to be alone forever." Kakashi said nothing and didn't move. "Ayame wasn't the one for you but Nina-"

"I best be off."

He needed to remain focussed on the investigation and the mission tonight. This was not a discussion he could afford to entertain at the present.

Guy was used to either being ignored or, as it had just happened, brushed off. He called Kakashi his rival but, he considered him a friend first and foremost. Since Ayame and he were now dating, he was aware that his friend was without a significant other and the rest of their group had. Genma and Shizune, Asuma and Kurenai and now he with Ayame. But Kakashi had no one and neither did Nina.

He'd jumped eagerly at the opportunity during his birthday celebrations to hopefully ignite something that seemed obvious to everyone else except for the pair in question. Not being one to give up easily, or at all, again he jumped at the chance to encourage the cogs to start turning for the pair on the mission. But despite all that, they still failed. Failure was not something Guy accepted but this was Kakashi and Nina. Their stubbornness was unquestionable and their loyalty to the shinobi life, and the rules that governed their world, was unmatched.

Kakashi was regressing. Others wouldn't notice it but Guy did. Kakashi was withdrawing. The behaviour Guy had witnessed over the many years of their comradeship. He angled his head back and watched as Kakashi blended in with the crowd barring his untamed silver hair.

"Guy-sensei, I am ready for my training!"


"Thanks Nina. I think I understand it a bit better now."

"You're welcome, Naruto."

She looked at the teen's face pulling and crumpling. "What is it you want to ask?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking was all, you know."

Nina was intrigued and gave a smiley scoff. Kushina had used that phrase (you know). "What about?"

"I never really noticed before but you must have spent a lot of time with Kaka-sensei to know him like you do."

"Yeah."

"And old-man Hokage was your dad?"

"Yes."

She observed the blonde hair kid look around the room, until his eyes fell to her mask strapped to her side.

"Well, I guess I should be going now. Thanks for the help."

Nina gave the kid a smile as she walked over to open the door for him.

"You make a good team, you know."

"Huh?"

"You and Kaka-sensei. You make a good team."

She knew that Naruto was known to blurt what he was thinking unfiltered. Kakashi had relayed some of the times in the jonin lounge. She really didn't know what to say to Naruto and before she could come up with someone, the man who belonged to the name was making his way up the steps.

"See you later, Nina!"

"Uh, bye Naruto."

Swapping out seamlessly, Kakashi now stood in front of her where Naruto had been not a few seconds before. He had the rolled up cardboard in his left hand. Again lost for words, Nina stepped back motioning with her hand for him to enter.


"What'd he want?"

"Clarification."

In their typical fashion, they laid the map out, held down by using some of the books from the piles around the coffee table that didn't have a place on the shelves. Nina picked up the pile of the papers and started flicking through where Kakashi had scribbled down some notes. His handwriting wasn't exactly neat, but after all these years Nina was used to it and found no issue in being able to read it. She glanced at the map several times and back to the notes.

Nina was kneeling at the table and he had sat with his back against her lounge, one knee pulled up and the other tucked slightly under the coffee table. It wouldn't be long and she would …

"Thirty minutes! How did I…?"

And there it was. Nina was flustered, her forehead furrowing, her glances between the notes and the map rushed.

"Nina…"

"How did I mess up the calculations so badly?"

He may as well not have been there but, he stayed and let her self damning unravel. However, Nina calmed. Pulling back onto her bottom, her legs bent to one side. He watched her eyes clothes and her lips barely moved, but he could hear the faint counting she was doing as she inhaled and exhaled.

"Thank you. I knew I was missing something but, thirty minutes?" Nina stilled herself again with one breath. "There's no time for regrets."

"It's as far as I got."

"It's fine, well, more than fine."

Nina's eyes flicked up to his face and she flashed him an appreciative smile. "This is more than enough. It changes so much. Ruling these areas out completely."

He looked down and followed her fingers on the map as she checked the paperwork. He took a chance to inspect her face again. She too had managed some sleep and seemed more in control. His ears picked up the ticking of the clock and he looked up. Shit. They were all but out of time.

"Nina, it's…"

She was muttering and crossing out venues on the map. He tried again. "Nina we have to…"

"Just a minute. We need to report this to Ibiki. With the recalculations, it has narrowed down the suspects considerably."

Kakashi noticed a place marked on the outer regions of Konoha. It was… "Nina, I think we can rule this place out."

Nina paused and looked at where Kakashi was pointing, but his finger was blocking her view. She grabbed his hand and lifted it. She felt the tension but ignored it for the sake of the task at hand. It was that little inn they had stopped at on their mission. "We can't rule it out."

Nina still had hold of his hand and it was a bit distracting. "And why not? I ate there and didn't have any issues."

"It's not enough. They may not have recognised you. Wind is also not your primary affinity so you may not have been affected."

She had a point. "Okay." He glanced at the clock again. "Nina we have to go." And he started packing up however, was unable to grapple the map from Nina.

Nina leapt up and returned with a red pen. Made three large circles. Looked at the paperwork. Fossicking between the files and then stood with her hands on her hips. "Now we can go."

She took it upon herself to shuffle the books off the corners and curl up the map, and at the last minute she bopped Kakashi on the head as he was standing.

"Hmpf."

Kakashi watched as Nina's wily smirk disappeared behind the cover of her mask. Mission. He did away with his hitai-ate and he too donned his Anbu mask, following Nina out of her front door and along the roof tops.