Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Just my PCs.


How did she get here? More importantly, why would she return here? Seven meters ahead stood an all too familiar wooden house, except the last time she saw it, it wasn't as dilapidated and rundown.

Some of the roof's shingles had fallen to the ground or became loose and out of place. Some windows were smashed while others were just cloudy from dirt buildup. Even the main structure of the house faded in color and suffered from cracks and chips.

The foliage and shrubbery around the property had overgrown with vines enshrouding one side of the house, and patches of grass had covered the small path of stepping-stones that lead to the house. To Jai, it looked like the single-story house was slowly being devoured by the plants; which she was grateful for.

It wasn't the house itself that she hated. It was the memories she had from living in it. Empty, lonely, shame: the three things she always felt whenever she thought about it. And then it would turn into anger, confusion, and hatred.

She didn't want to be here anymore, so she turned around to leave. But she didn't even take two steps before having to stop. He was right behind her; just as tall and intimidating as she remembered him. The sunlight behind him cast a shadow over his face as she looked up at him. His eyes weren't visible, but there was no mistake.

Long brown hair that stopped at his upper back fell over his shoulder as he looked down at her with eyes that she knew were narrowed in disappointment. If it wasn't that, then it was a look of hate or loathing when it wasn't the usual expressionless stare. But this time, there was a sneer on his face. What had she done to deserve a look like that?

"You failed again, didn't you?"

Her usual stoic demeanor always broke when it came to him. Even after all this time, she still feared him. He was the monster in every dream; the virus that will always infect her; the one that knew everything but never told her anything.

She clenched her eyes shut and willed him away. "You are not here… you can't be here…" she muttered in a voice that sounded like it did when she was a child. Her eyes snapped open and were upset that he still stood before her but was now towering over her, just like he did when she was a child.

"No, I-" her voice quaked.
"Are you crying?" he interrupted her with a thunderous tone. "Shinobi do not cry! Crying is a sign of weakness and I do not raise weaklings!" His large hand gripped the collar of her oversized shirt and lifted her off the ground. "Didn't I tell you that emotions only hinder you?! He makes you weak!" his other hand had wrapped around her tiny throat.

She coughed as she struggled to breathe. "No, he's-"

His hand tightened, cutting off her words before he punched her in the stomach. Spit flew out of her mouth, her body screaming for air but only received more pain when her back slid across the dirt and gravel on the ground. "I won't tolerate excuses."

This had to be a dream.

'No, a nightmare.'

Whatever it was, she wanted out.

'Or maybe I died, and this is hell'

Her tears fell down her temples while she stayed sprawled on the ground; staring up blankly at the gloomy sky. As much as she didn't want to admit it, he was right. Kakashi was her greatest weakness.

"You know I'm right. I can tell by the look on your pitiful face." He was walking towards her the same way a predator approached their prey. "I gave you everything you needed," his voice sounded like a roar to her childish ears. She swore she could feel the ground tremble with his every step. "but you just spat in my face!" He kicked her, making her slide and lightly bounce across the rough ground. "And now look at you. Still weak, still a failure, and still a nobody."

She was on her side now and she closed her eyes, trying to make him go away again.

"Get up, you little nobody."

She tried to think positive thoughts, but it was so hard to block him out. "Go away… go away…"

"I raised you. I'll always be with you. You'll never be rid of me. Every time your mind wanders and wonders what could have been, it will always lead back to me."

"Stop it!" she struggled to get back on her feet and turned to him with a look of hatred. "I beat you! I killed you!"

"And look where it led you. But you can redeem yourself…"

She followed his stare and turned to look over her shoulder. Her breath caught in her throat and her face fell. A weakened Kakashi was kneeling before her. His youthful face was battered and bruised. Looking down at him, she realized that she was the one who did it. One of her hands held him up by the collar of his shirt while the other had a sai raised and pointed at his head.

His hitai-ate was missing, exposing the beautiful crimson glint of his Sharingan. "Go ahead…" his breathing was labored due to his fractured ribs. "… it's okay…"

"No…" her head shook side-to-side. "… this isn't real…"

"Do it, Jai," the man behind her commanded. "Kill him and redeem yourself."

"I deserve this…" Kakashi weakly said to her.

"Do it, Jai!"
"I'm sorry…"

'I can't…'

"Now!"
"I shouldn't have abandoned you."

"Kill him!"
"Just kill me."

'I won't!'

They just continued repeating themselves. One commanded while the other encouraged. She wanted to release him, but her body wouldn't obey.

"Stop!" she begged.

"There's only one way to end this," her guardian said. "Kill him!"
"Just kill me."

And she did. Her mind didn't even register that it happened. It was silent now except for the sound of her shaking pants of breath. Her eyes moved everywhere. Her childhood home was still there, but her guardian was not. Her one hand still held the fabric of Kakashi's shirt but the other was covered in blood. The force she used made her hand go into his skull with a majority of the sai's blade protruding from the back of his head.

Pants turned into panicked breaths, and her tears strongly flowed down her face when she realized what she had done. Kakashi's stare was lifeless and looked directly at her. She cried harder and screamed in despair. And she kept screaming.

Purple eyes shot open and a frail body sharply rose and thrashed while screaming a piercing scream. Wires and tubes tugged against fair skin that was harshly ripped off. The steady beeping turned into one long drawn out sound.

The sound of the door slamming open fell on deaf ears as three medics ran in.

"Lee-san, control yourself!"

But she couldn't. Her mind was stuck in a sense of danger and let her survival instincts take her. She thrashed more when they approached; punching one while kicking another.

"Restrain her! I need backup in here!"

Three more medics entered the room.

"Jai!"

"Get out, Kakashi!" Mitsuko ordered. "You can't be here!"

"Tell me what's going on!" Kakashi demanded when a medic blocked his way from entering the ER room.

"Remove him!" Mitsuko commanded while trying to keep Jai from tearing her wound even more.

Two medics each grabbed her arms and legs, forcing her back down onto the bed, before buckling the restraints.

"NO! NO!" Jai screamed and struggled. The leather of the belt started to strain and stretch as she attempted to break free.

"Hurry up with the sedative!"

Mitsuko filled the syringe with the last of the liquid and lightly pushed the plunge to rid it of air before sticking it into Jai's neck. She watched her superior's body tense then slowly relax as the sedative took over.

Jai's breathing slowly evened and her blurred vision started to fade into black. The numbness was quick to follow. And before she fell back into darkness, Kakashi's blurred image looking down at her with worry was the last thing she saw. "Kakashi… I…"


Jai was out of the ER and now resting in a hospital bed. After the blood bag was attached, the pale coloring of her skin slowly returned to normal.

While they were treating her, Jai had woken up in a mindless terror. Her struggling had only made her wound worse, and all he could do was watch through the glass window. But she was stable now and the only thing they could do was wait for her to wake up.

From his seated position next to the bed, Kakashi watched Takeru straighten the blanket and tucking her in; anything to make her more comfortable.

"Do you think she'll wake up soon, Kakashi?"

The Jōnin looked from Jai's peaceful form to Takeru's worried face. "I can't say, Takeru."

"I hope she wakes up soon."

"Me too."

He couldn't stop thinking about the should haves and could haves. He should have been there. He could have done it differently. He could think about it and re-think about it, but it wouldn't make a difference. He had to get out of there; he needed a break from reality.

It was getting late and he knew Takeru hadn't eaten dinner. "How about we get something to eat?" Kakashi suggested.

The boy contemplated the idea but decided not to. "I don't want to leave her."

"It'll just be an hour at most. Mitsuko has even permitted us to stay the night. Besides, your ba-chan would kill me if she found out that I just let you go hungry."

The idea of food was very tantalizing to Takeru. They had been waiting for her to wake up for nearly three hours now. "Alright, but we're coming right back afterward. Okay?"

"Yeah."

When he walked across the threshold of the hospital's main entrance, the fresh air instantly eased his troubled mind. He pulled out his novel and the two started walking the village's streets.

"Where are we going?" Takeru asked.

"What do you want to eat?"

Takeru shrugged. "Ice cream?"

"No way. Just because Jai is-"
"It happens more often than you think."

Kakashi stared at Takeru and sighed. "I'm not surprised in the slightest… but no to that suggestion."

Takeru groaned and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"An attitude isn't going to help solve our dilemma."

"Neither is your reading."

Kakashi looked up from his novel to see what part of the village they had wandered into. "Ichiraku is nearby and they're usually fast."

"Fine with me."

They walked a little more before reaching the small stall. Four of the six stools were already occupied, leaving only the two stools in the corner available. The two quickly sat down and didn't wait long before Ayame took their orders. While they sat in silence, Takeru peered at Kakashi from the corner of his eye. His so-called uncle sat on the stool, hunched over the countertop with his nose still buried in the book. An idea suddenly came to mind.

'Maybe I'll get to see his face'

The Minami had known the Jōnin his whole life and had yet to see even a glimpse of his cheek.

'What are you hiding under there?'

He tensed when Kakashi's right eye stared into his. For a moment, he thought that he had spoken his thoughts out loud. "What?" he asked in a defensive tone.

"You were staring at me. If anything, I should be asking you that." He closed his book and put it away. "You look like you've got something to say, and I'm sure Jai has told you that it's impolite to stare. So, go ahead and say what's on your mind."

Before Takeru could ask, Ayame placed their ramen before them. "Thanks for waiting," she said. "Enjoy!"

Kakashi thanked her allowed and gave her a smile through his mask. "It smells good."

Takeru took this opportunity to try to see Kakashi's face

'It's not like he can eat with it on'

His green eyes watched Kakashi as his right hand reached for a pair of chopsticks. After he separated them, his left hand lifted to the bridge of his nose; his index and thumb lightly pinched the dark-colored fabric and started to pull it down.

Takeru's eyes widened with every movement, and his heartbeat was drumming in his chest.

'This is it!'

The cloth mask was just about to fall below the tip of Kakashi's nose.

"Oi! Kakashi!" came a deep voice from behind them.

Takeru turned around to see a tall man with dark thick eyebrows and a bowl-cut hairstyle. Everything he wore was green, aside from the orange legwarmers and the red belt that harbored the village's metal insignia. Suddenly remembering what he was trying to do, he quickly turned back to Kakashi and was shocked.

'He's already finished eating?!'

Kakashi hummed in satisfaction, having just resituated his mask back over his face. "Did you need something, Gai?"

Takeru swore he only looked away for a second. He looked at his bowl of ramen and saw the steam still emanating off it.

'How did he eat it so fast without burning himself?!'

"I'm challenging you!" Gai exclaimed while slapping Kakashi's back.

"Now?"

"Hai! It's a full moon tonight!"

"But it's already getting late…"

"Exactly! The training field will be illuminated by the moon's brilliance as we exchange blows! It'll be such a beautiful way to show off our youth!"

Takeru didn't know this Gai fellow, but after only being in his presence for less than two minutes, he was already feeling overwhelmed. He turned back to his ramen and started to eat. Their conversation didn't interest him and his opportunity to see Kakashi's face had passed.

"I can't accept, Gai."

Gai's stoic face fell in disappointment. "Why not?!"

Takeru felt a weight lightly fall on the top of his head and looked to see that Kakashi had placed his hand there.

"I'm busy right now. Maybe some other time," he suggested.

"How is eating ramen considered you being busy?" Gai whined. "Instead of a spar, how about another eating contest? We can do all you can eat yakiniku!"

"I'm only taking a break. I've got to report back after this. Next time, Gai." Kakashi promised.

Gai sighed in defeat. "I will hold you to that, Kakashi!" he exited the small stall and started to talk out loud about what he would do instead of on a night like tonight.

"Here's weird," Takeru commented after drinking the last of his broth. "and loud."

"That's just how he is." Kakashi pulled out his wallet and placed a few bills down on the counter before exiting with Takeru following behind.

"Wait, Kakashi." The two of them were about to walk in opposite directions. "The hospital is the other way."

"I know, but I want to stop by the market."

"Why?"

"To get some fruit for Jai. She'll be hungry, but most likely won't be able to eat anything heavy for a couple of days."

Takeru wasn't expecting him to say that. For the longest time, he didn't know about them being married, and after he found out, he wasn't all too thrilled that it was to Kakashi of all people. He always thought the man to be annoying and a bit of a mooch.

"You can head back if you want. I won't be long."

But the more he observed the more he would notice the little things Kakashi would do for them. He would sometimes be the one to walk him home from school if Jai couldn't. And on days where she had an emergency or worked late, Kakashi would be the one to stop by and check on him; sometimes even make dinner for him.

Takeru changed his direction and quickly caught up to Kakashi. "I'll go with you."

Kakashi was a little taken aback but welcomed it.


Next morning

Bright, white, and blurry was all she could see when she first opened her eyes. There was an ache in the back of her head that throbbed as she started to become more aware. Her limbs felt stiff and heavy and if she tried to move her body a sharp pain shot through her.

Her breathing hitched then steadied as the pain passed. She blinked a few times, clearing her vision and making it easier to see. Her body ached, but she was overall comfortable. The white color she had been staring at was that of a ceiling and the smells were all too familiar.

'Hospital'

When she remembered what had happened that caused her to be here, she forced herself up.

'How long have I-'

"Good morning."

The familiar voice was welcomed and calmed her.

"Good morning, Mitsuko," Jai said back. Her throat was dry, and her voice was raspy. Her head fell into her bandaged hands. "How long?"

Her assistant gave her a reassuring smile as she checked her over. "Just a day."

She looked around the room and saw a small cot next to her bed with a soundly sleeping Takeru tucked in it.

"Oh, yeah." Mitsuko chuckled. "He and Kakashi were here all night. Not sure when Kakashi stepped out though but I'm sure he'll be back."

"How bad am I?"

"You were stabbed in the abdomen and suffered from blood loss. Two more stab wounds in each hand, and some contusions to the head and body… other than that you're not too bad, Jai. I'll be back to check on you when I finish my rounds. Until then, just rest."

Jai nodded. "Thank you."

Once her assistant was gone, Jai slowly moved and readied her legs to stand. Right as she was about to stand from the bed Kakashi's accusing voice stopped her.

"I know you're not doing what I think you're doing, right my ningyō?"

"I have to go to the bathroom," she lied.

"Well, then it's a good thing I showed up just in time." His arms were open as he bent to carry her bridal style to the conjoined bathroom.

"I can stand on my own."

"I'd rather you wouldn't – especially since I'm more than capable and willing. Unless you don't have to go to the bathroom and are just using that as an excuse to move around in your delicate condition."

She frowned at him for calling her out. "Like you are one to talk…" she muttered.

"Now, now, this isn't about me."

She was about to retort but stopped when Takeru's sleepy moans interrupted them. Her ward rolled before sitting up in the cot. He was rubbing his eyes awake before realizing that Jai was awake.

"Ba-chan!" he bolted from his cot to envelop her with his small arms. "Thank goodness!"

The collision disturbed her wound, but she breathed through it. "Not so tight, Takeru."

"I'm sorry," he pulled away and rubbed his eyes once more to clear his tears. "I was so scared."

She cradled his face. "I know. I am sorry for putting you through that."

"Oh!" the boy grabbed the plastic bag off the small table next to her bed and pulled out a peach. "Kakashi said you'd probably be hungry whenever you woke up."

A small smile graced her face. "I am actually."

"We should probably wash those before eating them," Kakashi suggested.

"Oh, right." Takeru put the peach back into the bag. "Be right back," he said as he grabbed the bag and made to find the nearest sink.

It was just the two of them now. And the air took a serious turn.

"The one who did this… Kabuto… was he captured?"

Judging by the look on his face, she already knew the answer before he said it. "No, but everyone is searching."

"What about Sasuke? Is he-"
"He's fine, Jai. His room is near yours, and – like you – he's been anxious to leave the moment he woke up." His fingers lightly traced the side of her face. "I'm sorry."

She leaned into his palm. "You are not to blame. Neither of us knew what he was capable of." Her arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him closer so she could embrace him; her head only reaching his abdomen. "I am okay, Kakashi."


It had been a few days since she was released from the hospital, and there was so much she had to catch up on. But she welcomed the work. Anything to help distract her from having to think about her dream.

"Jai-san!" Mitsuko yelled in alarm when she had barged into her office.

"What is it?"

"It's Lee! He disappeared from his room!"

Her purple eyes narrowed in annoyance, hurriedly walking out her office to search for the missing Genin with Mitsuko not too far behind. "He should not be able to walk properly, let alone disappear in his condition."

She sent Mitsuko to the upper floor while she searched the floor they were currently on. Running down a hall lined with windows, she finally spotted him in the hospital's courtyard. Two young girls and a nurse were kneeling over his form that was facedown to the ground. She sighed in frustration before teleporting.

"Lee!" Jai yelled out. She kneeled over him to make sure he didn't worsen his injuries. "Get a stretcher!" she commanded the nurse.

"Hai!"

From what she could see, nothing seemed to have suffered. As gently as she could, Jai turned him over to be on his back. The nurse quickly returned with two other medics and a stretcher. Jai then instructed the nurse in helping her get Lee onto it. "I want a full physical assessment the minute you get him situated."

"Hai."

The three staff members hurried off. She was about to resume her duties but halted when someone called out her name.

"Jai-san!"

She turned around and realized that one of the girls watching over Lee was none other than one of Kakashi's own Genin. "Sakura," she acknowledged.

"Oh!" the other girl next to Sakura had a look of realization. "You're the one that Gai-sensei was fawning over."

"I am sorry, but I do not know your name."

"I'm Yamanaka Ino."

"You are Inoichi-san's daughter…"

"You know my father?"

Jai nodded. "We have worked together a few times. He is a great shinobi."

"Will Lee-san be alright?" Sakura asked.

"By the looks of it, he has overexerted himself. I will know more later." Her words didn't seem to ease their worry. "I promise you that we are doing everything we can for him."

Sakura bowed in thanks. "If it's not too much trouble," she held out a single flower. "can you make sure he gets this?"

A white daffodil was held out towards Jai to take. Her eyes softened before she took it. "Thank you for staying by his side."

With that, Jai walked away and left the two girls alone.

"How do you know her, Sakura?" Ino asked when Jai had walked back into the hospital.

Sakura had to take a minute to think about it. The first time they met was when they were being assigned the mission to guard Tazuna. "Kakashi-sensei knows her. He introduced us when we were being assigned a mission."

"She's really pretty. I hope I grow up to be just as or even more pretty," Ino sighed. "Since there's nothing more we can do, how about we get something to eat?"

Sakura nodded and made a mental note to ask Kakashi-sensei about her.


Later that day, Lee woke up to find himself back in his hospital room. The window was open; the cool breeze making the curtain billow. He turned his head to the right and saw a single flower sitting in a slender vase.

"Who…?"

"That is from Sakura." Jai's voice surprised him because he didn't notice her presence at all. She stood at the foot of his bed, reading over his chart. "It is a daffodil. It symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings."

"You're… Gai-sensei's-"
"My name is Jai. I run the hospital."

"What happened?" he asked while slowly trying to sit up.

"We found you out of bed trying to train – which your nurse heavily advised not to do," she scolded.

"I have to train! I can't give up!"

Jai sighed once more. "I understand your frustration, Lee. But if you want to get better, you need to let your body heal properly. Trying to train in your weakened state will only put more stress on your body, which will just prolong your healing time. No more training."

'What is it with shinobis completely disregarding a medical professional's recommendation? Maybe it is a male thing…'

She was frustrated because she was tired of repeating herself.

"But I-"
"If you continue to ignore my orders then I will see to it that you are restrained to your bed and confined to your room.," she threatened with a deadly glare in her eyes.

Lee gulped in fear and complied with a shaky stutter. "Y-Yes, ma'am!"

Her face returned to its neutral expression. "Good."


She was making her final rounds around the hospital when the whole building shook.

'What now?!'

This day was filled with nothing but aggravation. Running to the nearest window, Jai looked from the third floor and saw an unconscious Naruto laid out on the ground; a giant footprint by his body. Whatever brought him here had already disappeared, leaving a large cloud of smoke behind.

'A summon?'

For the second time that day, Jai teleported herself to the ground floor. She hurried over to the blonde and checked for any injuries.

'No wounds…'

Her hand was placed over his chest before moving down to his stomach then back up to his head.

'Just low chakra'

"Jai-san, is he alright?"

She gently picked him up and carried him into the building. "Yes, just tired. Prepare a bed for him. I would like to keep him under observation."

"Hai." One of the nurses walked off."

"Do you want me to take him, Jai-san?" another medic asked.

She shook her head. "I got him." She followed the nurse into a standard room and placed the Genin on the prepped bed. After removing his hitai-ate and jacket, she realized how dirty he was. "He is covered in dirt… he will need a bath…" the smell from his jacket was on the pungent side. "… and his clothes laundered."

"Should we get started on that?"

"Just his clothes for now. Let him rest." She brushed off some excess dirt off his forehead and lingered a little longer.


Day of Chūnin Finals

Her alarm went off two hours before her usual time. The reason for that was to make sure Takeru was well enough for her to leave.

She sat on the edge of his bed, waiting for the thermometer to go off. Ten seconds later, a light beeping sounded off. Plucking the device out of his lips, she read it.

'98.6 degrees'

"I feel a lot better today."

"You should. Your fever is gone, but I still do not want you going back to the Academy just yet." She didn't miss the joy in his eyes and the smirk on his face. "Continue to rest. I will see you when I am done for the day."

"Can't I go with you to watch the finals?"

"No."

"Pleeeeease?" he begged.

"No," she repeated.

"They say the fresh air does the body good, and I'm not contagious anymore. And, if I start to regress, you'll be nearby!"

He had valid points, but she was not going to let him know that. "Very well, but no wandering around."

"Haaaiii!" he cheered and quickly got out of bed to get ready.


When the feathers started to fall and cloud her vision, Jai immediately knew what it was. Forming the proper seal, she channeled her chakra.

"Kai!"

Explosions were going off from every direction, and she had to get to Takeru. She hoped that, with their training sessions, he would be able to notice a Genjutsu and dispel it.

"Konoha is under attack! Our jobs as medics are to stay behind the front lines and save as many lives as possible! Look out for each other and proceed with caution!" she said to her team while pulling on black gloves. "GO!"

They all dispersed, and she did the same. For the most part, the civilians in the stands had all fallen into the Genjutsu and were ignored by the enemy shinobi. She rounded a corner and came upon an Otoga-nin about to deal a final blow to a fellow shinobi.

Her sais drawn, she stealthy came up behind him and pierced his heart; an instant kill. "Are you alright?" She swiftly withdrew he blade from the body and shook once to rid it of any excess blood.

"H-Hai… thank you. The Hokage?"

She indicated to the barrier where the Hokage was contained with Orochimaru. "There is nothing we can do."

While they conversed, another Otoga-nin tried to attack, but she managed to counter by having one hand holding the sais while the other grabbed their arm and twisted it behind their back. With his chest exposed and pushed out, she wasted no time in plunging both blades into his heart. She pulled the blades out, releasing more blood from the dead body.

"I saw! It's a Kekkai Ninjutsu!" her comrade said as he re-engaged in another battle.

As she was fighting, she was frantically searching for any sign of Takeru.

'This is where I left him!'

"Takeru!" she called out.

Four more Otoga-nins came and they soon clashed.

"There's so many of them!" her comrade cried over his shoulder to her.

"That does not matter!" she managed to slice one deeply across the throat. "We will keep fighting until either they die, or we die!"

One shinobi managed to get a slice along her arm with a kunai but was stunned to see it heal. She used that distraction to stab him in the heart as well. Her sais and gloved hands were drenched in blood.

A familiar cry caught her attention. She looked around and saw two more Otoga-nins about six meters away and became enraged. One was gripping the front of Takeru's shirt while the other searched for any other individuals that were somehow still conscious.

"Shut up!" he yelled at Takeru and raised his fist. "Little runt has talent to be able to dispel the Genjutsu."

She moved so quickly, that her nearby enemies didn't realize she had stored her sais and formed seals. The wall next to them suddenly shot out into pointed structures and killed the four before her in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, she moved towards Takeru. The shinobi that was searching around was suddenly kicked into the concrete wall of the stadium where she soon followed it by throwing one sai straight into his heart. The force and the way she molded her chakra left only the handle sticking out.

As for the shinobi that manhandled Takeru, Jai had him by the throat; slowly squeezing and cutting off his air supply with a single hand. His eyes bulged out of their sockets and his hands desperately tried to pry her hand off his throat. But it only made her apply more pressure. The last thing he would see would be her menacing glare.

Her teeth bared, she growled into his face. "Don't. Touch. My. Kid." She focused more chakra into her hand and squeezed even more; taking pride in being able to feel his hyoid bone crack before it broke.

When his hands limply fell to his sides, Jai carelessly threw his body to the side. Her other hand kept Takeru's head pressed firmly against her lower back the entire time.

"Are you hurt?" she looked around to make sure no one else was around.

Takeru's arms immediately wrapped around her waist when he recognized her voice. "No," he cried.

Her eyes closed in relief. She bit into her thumb and placed her hand flat against the floor. A large puff of smoke appeared then dissipated to reveal a white wolf that was the size of a horse. "Inuki," Jai greeted before turning and bending down to Takeru's level. "I have to leave you…"

"What- no!" Takeru begged. "Don't go!"
"It is just for a little while," she promised. "Inuki will take you to Hokage-iwa."

"But what about you?! I don't want to go without you!"

She picked him up and placed him atop the wolf's back. "You will be safe there," she almost raised her hand to stroke his cheek but quickly remembered that it was covered in blood. "Inuki will protect you. Now, go!"

"Ba-chan!" he reached out to her but was suddenly pulled away when her summon departed, leaving her with no more distractions.


A katana was swung down onto her left arm, but her assailant was surprised that the blade broke upon impact. But he didn't have the time to comprehend why it happened. Jai's fist had struck the Suna-nin in the face. The force of her strike broke his jaw and sent him flying to the lower level of the stadium. Unbeknownst to him, her entire body was covered in a layer of armor made of earth.

"Nice one, my beautiful hana!" Gai praised. "Just what I expected from the woman of my dreams!"

She continued to look for any injured people and had eventually come across Kakashi and Gai. Another Suna-nin lunged towards her. She flipped backward to dodge his attack and stuck herself to the wall of the stadium. With the chakra built up at her feet, she propelled herself off and kneed her opponent in the solar plexus while landing a punch to his face. She brought her hands together and struck them down to his chest.

Catching herself on the railing, she watched the body fall to the lower level where she sent his comrade. Bodies were sprawled everywhere, but a cloaked figure standing below her caught her attention. He wore an ANBU mask and stood next to the Jōnin sensei from Sunagakure.

'… I know that person…'

She jumped down into the arena and landed next to Shiranui Genma. "You again," she seethed at the hooded man.

"You look to have healed quite nicely. Such a shame that I was interrupted before." His taunting voice was a little muffled behind the mask but there was no mistaking it.

"You two know each, Jai?" Genma asked.

"We are acquainted," she said.

Kakashi and Gai soon joined them, but they all looked at the tower when the Kekkai Jutsu fell. The intruders were suddenly fleeing with an ANBU cell chasing after them.

"Kakashi! They're starting to move out! Do we go after them?!" Gai asked as he watched the ANBU get taken down by a Ninjutsu that resembled a spider's web. He readied to go after them.

"No! Wait, Gai!" Kakashi commanded.

"That's right," came Kabuto's voice. "if you move out now, with little information of the surroundings up there, you'll be caught in the enemy's trap."

Gai turned to glare at Kabuto. "I'm already 100 percent aware of that. Whether there is a trap or not, I cannot let the enemy just getaway – that is the way of Konoha's shinobi."

"And are you just here to observe the end result… Kabuto?" Kakashi called out.

The hooded figure removed his mask to reveal Orochimaru's spy. There was no point hiding when you've already been found out. "So, you did know after all."

"Oi, what are we going to do?" the Jōnin from Sunagakure turned to Kabuto.

"It's about time that we made a retreat."

Jai growled and took a step forward. "I will not let you escape twice!"

Kakashi did the same and moved to stand next to Jai. "Are you going to run away from me again?"

"For now," Kabuto said, his smirk never wavering. "if we show our cards, they're most likely going to be copied. Then again, it doesn't seem like you've completely mastered that eye like the Uchiha clan." He was smug and confident when he looked to Jai. "We'll play again next time, Jai." He made sure to emphasize her name now that he knew it.

Jai threw her sais at them, but she was one second too late. The two disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving her sais deeply embedded into the stadium's wall.


Jai didn't realize how much Hiruzen's death would affect her. And she realized that she took his presence for granted. She owed her life to him.

They didn't know what to do with her at first. After the tragic loss of Minato and Kushina, the village elders pushed her to the side to focus on more important matters.

The village suffered severe damage and lives were lost when the Kyūbi attacked. A girl with no background could wait.

It took some time, but since things were getting settled and the village was regaining normalcy, it wasn't long until she was once again a priority.

It took three days of deliberation and consultation before a decision was made. And during all this time, they kept her in the village's psychiatric hospital under constant ANBU supervision. And now, she was standing outside the Hokage's office.

One of the ANBU-nins opened the door while the other guided her inside the circular room. A single chair was placed before the large desk that the Hokage sat behind.

Her usual expressionless face became tense and nervous when she saw him. The last time she saw him was when she was being interrogated and things did not go well.

"Please sit," he politely said to her before looking to the ANBU members. "You may leave us."

They bowed before disappearing.

She did as she was told and stiffly sat in the chair.

"Tea?" he asked while pouring himself a cup.

Now she was confused because he was being hospitable. Was this all a ruse so she would lower her guard? She wanted to decline but didn't want to come across as being rude. What if she said or did something that he didn't like? He could easily put her to death.

She decided to accept the offering with a single nod. He gave her a warm smile and handed her the cup.

"Careful, it's still hot. I hope you like green tea."

She did since it was one of the few beverages she could drink, but she didn't drink it. She was too anxious to do anything.

He cleared his throat. "Now, about why you're here…" After he took a sip of his tea, he placed his cup down and locked his fingers together. "I see your potential and think you would serve the village well. However, there are those who would disagree or want you placed elsewhere. My question to you is: What do you want, Jai?"

Her eyes were wide in surprise. She didn't know what to say because she didn't know he would ask her that. It took her a while to respond. "I want to be somebody."

Now it was his turn to be stunned, and he couldn't help the look of pity on his face. "Okay," he said with a smile. "We can start there."

That was the day she became somebody.

"I don't think I heard you two correctly."

A nineteen-year-old Kakashi and an eighteen-year-old Jai stood before his seated position behind his desk.

"Marry us," they repeated.

At first, Hiruzen laughed – thinking it was a joke. But it soon died when their faces remained serious and neither joined him.

"Wait…" he eyed them. "… you're serious?"

They nodded.

His brows furrowed in confusion. "Since when have you two been a couple?!" he yelled. He reached for his cup of tea and took a sip to calm his nerves.

"For a year now," Kakashi said.

He spat out his tea and coughed. "A year?! How did I not know?! Jai!" he turned his stare to her. "Why didn't you say anything?!"

"You never asked, Hokage-sama…"

"It doesn't matter now," Kakashi led the conversation back to the main topic. "We'd like to be married, Hokage-sama."

Takeru lightly knocked before entering her bedroom. He found her sitting on the built-in bench that lined the wall with the large bay windows. Her knees were drawn to her chest and her back leaned against the large plush cushions.

"I'm ready, ba-chan."

And then he noticed her attire.

"But you're not…"

She was still in her pajamas – a plain camisole and pink shorts. Her eyes blinked a few times as if she had just come out of a trance.

"Sorry, I lost track of time."

She stood from the cushioned bench and made her way to the closet where her funeral attire was neatly hung. She didn't want to go but knew that she would regret it for the rest of her life if she didn't. After grabbing the hanger, she entered the conjoined bathroom to change and freshen up.

Her braided hair ended between her shoulder blades, and she contemplated putting on some makeup. But that thought quickly left. Taking one final glance in the mirror, she exited the bathroom. She made sure to grab her essential items but then stopped and walked over to her vanity.

A dark navy-blue velvet box laid in the upper left corner of the table's surface; a gift from Kakashi. It was an uncommon gesture that left her lost for words. She opened it to reveal a pair of platinum drop earrings. Round topaz gemstones were attached to long, thin cylindrical bars that had an intricate and detailed floral design carved into it.

She had never worn them because she felt they were too delicate for her day-to-day life, but she felt the sudden urge to put them on now.

They were surprisingly light, and the blue-hued gem complimented her eyes. "I am ready now," she called out to Takeru, who was waiting in the hallway.