Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Just my OCs.
Not long after the Sandaime's funeral, the village received a declaration of total surrender from Sunagakure after the bodies of their Kazekage and council members were found dead in a ravine in Kaze no Kuni.
After the funeral, the villagers worked in tandem with each other to help regain village normality. Everyone was busy as they all did their part, and Jai was no exception. The attack injured many; shinobi and civilians. The hospital hadn't been this busy and full since the day the Kyūbi attacked.
"Jai-san," Mitsuko called with a knock to her superior's office door before entering. "I need your-"
Her words ended when she saw that Jai had fallen asleep at her desk. The usually tidy office was currently far from it. Papers, empty cans of various flavored teas, and a few small boxes of food pills were just some of the many things that littered the desk's surface. Her three tall file cabinets were all open with various files either sticking out or had been haphazardly thrown onto an open drawer to be properly filed later, and the small couch in the seating area of her office had become a makeshift bed with articles of clothing messily tucked away in the corner.
After she attended the funeral, Jai returned home to change before going to the hospital. And now that Mitsuko thought about it, she realized that her superior hadn't left since then. She quietly walked over and gently shook Jai awake.
"Jai-san…" she whispered.
A slight moan came from the sleeping kunoichi before her eyes slowly blinked open. "Mitsuko…?" Jai realized what she had been doing and quickly sat upright in her chair while hastily rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Sorry, I did not mean to-"
"It's alright," her assistant reassured with a smile. "no need to apologize. If anyone deserves to rest, it should be you. I came to get your signature on these forms."
Mitsuko handed them over and patiently waited for Jai to look over them before she signed and handed them back. "Thank you."
Jai nodded and went back to her small stack of various forms and files. Mitsuko watched her for a few moments before speaking again. "Why don't you go home?"
"There is too much to be done."
"But you haven't had a proper meal," Mitsuko indicated to the cans and containers that littered the desk before pointing to the sofa. "or a decent night's sleep in days. You of all people should know how much sleep deficiency can affect one's daily performance."
"I am aware…" Jai sighed. She dropped her pen and buried her head into the palms of her hands. "… but I am not the only one here that is tired."
"Go home." Mitsuko insisted. "I promise that everything will still be standing when you return."
It wasn't that Jai didn't trust her assistant. Jai knew Mitsuko was more than capable of fulfilling her duties if needed; she proved it on multiple occasions. The most recent time being when she was recovering from Kabuto's assault. But Jai didn't want to leave her with more work to do.
"When was the last time you went home?" Jai asked.
"Yesterday," she said with smugness. "Can you say the same?"
"Forcing me to leave means that my workload will be added onto yours."
"I am aware," Mitsuko replied with confidence while ushering Jai up and out of her chair. Moving quickly, she pulled the white medical coat off Jai's shoulders. "Now, go and do something relaxing." The white coat was hung on the hook behind the desk. "Or take Takeru out to dinner. Or better yet, go out and find a man!" The assistant wrapped the ivory-colored scarf around Jai's shoulders while pushing her to the door of the office.
"I already have one," Jai muttered.
"I wasn't referring to Takeru."
"I also was not referring to Tak-"
Jai's rebuttal was interrupted by Omi's sudden and distressing presence in the doorway. "I'm sorry to intrude, Jai-san, but the Honjo twins have disappeared from their room again."
"They are probably playing another game of hide-and-seek. I would search around outside," Jai suggested while looking to her assistant; one brow raised in silent question to her assistant, making sure she was certain she wanted her to leave.
"We've got this!" Mitsuko ushered everyone out. "I've got your planner and calendar in my hands. Omi and I will look for the twins, and I don't want to see you back here for at least two days!"
"Very well," Jai conceded and started to leave.
"That's forty-eight hours, Jai-san!" Mitsuko called out to her retreating form.
Her stomach grumbled and growled while she walked. She stopped and decided that she wanted – needed – to eat an actual meal. With the way her stomach moaned, she needed to eat sooner rather than later.
She changed directions and decided that ramen would be the best thing. After about six more minutes of walking, she finally came upon the small shop. When she lifted one of the flaps, she wasn't sure what to make of the sight before her. An almost naked Naruto stood in the small stall in only his boxers, sandals, and hitai-ate while his shirt and jacket were messily laid on one of the stools. His pants were in his hands, being shaken and searched thoroughly for something. What that something was, Jai wasn't sure but had an idea as to what it could be.
"I think this is considered a sanitation violation…" she said to herself.
The Genin paused what he was doing and turned to see that it was Jai who had entered, and she had a mild stunned look on her pretty face. "Oh! Jai nee-chan! I haven't seen you since the preliminaries!" he greeted as if it were normal for him to be standing half-naked in public.
She almost corrected him but stopped herself since the last time they crossed paths, he was passed out from exhaustion.
"Welcome, Jai-san! Pay him no mind," Teuchi greeted. He was thankful that someone wasn't affected by Naruto's antics.
"Hello, Teuchi-san, Naruto." She returned their greetings after her mind finished processing what Naruto was doing. "My usual, please," she said while taking a seat.
"Hai! Coming right up!" the owner said after placing a cup of tea down before her.
She nodded in thanks and took a careful sip while continuing to watch her husband's Genin search.
"I know I have one more!" he groaned aloud. "I counted before I left home!"
Teuchi placed her bowl of ramen down in front of her with a smile. "I take it you've been busy?"
She tiredly nodded. "A lot were injured during the attack."
The delicious smell of the broth infiltrated her nasal cavity, making her realize just how hungry she was. She put her hands together and said a silent thank you before grabbing a pair of chopsticks.
"AHA!" Naruto cheered in triumph. "I found it!"
Teuchi incredulously sighed when he took the coupon from the Genin. "Go on and sit down then." Already knowing his favorites, the older man started making Naruto's ramen while the Genin started to redress himself.
"You should have a pocket or a pouch specifically meant for your coupons," Jai suggested after swallowing a bite of her noodles.
Naruto sat on the stool to her left after he finished dressing. "I don't have many pockets, and all my pouches are already full of kunai and shurikens. I'd have to get another pouch."
"Yes," she said in partial agreement, "but putting it under your hitai-ate only increases your chances of losing your coupons."
He thanked Teuchi when his ramen was placed in front of him and quickly started to eat. "I put it underneath my hitai-ate so I wouldn't drop it during morning training," he said with a mouth full of noodles.
"Your hitai-ate is crooked," Jai pointed out.
He touched it and realized that it was indeed crooked. "Thanks, Jai nee-chan," he said while readjusting it.
"Eat well and do your best," Teuchi said as he boiled more noodles. "You're going to do it again after this, right? Training?"
"Of course! I'm full of motivation!" Naruto declared with a big confident smile.
"Good! Here you go you two!"
Jai and Naruto paused when Teuchi leaned over the bar to add extra noodles into their bowls.
"Another serving for free! Ganbare!" he said to them.
Naruto's eyes lit up and Jai gave him a small smile.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you."
"You're a Jōnin like Kakashi-sensei, right Jai nee-chan?"
"When it comes to my rank: yes. Regarding my duties: no."
"So, what do you do then?"
"I am the hospital's Chief of Staff."
"You're a doctor?"
"Yes."
He looked at her with awe in his eyes. "That's so cool, Jai nee-chan. Maybe you can teach me one day!"
"If you are interested."
"I'm sure you're a better teacher than Kakashi-sensei, or even that pervert Ebisu," he muttered with annoyance. "Can you believe Kakashi-sensei left me with him to oversee my training for the Chūnin finals?!"
"I am sure Kakashi had his reasons," she said in defense of her husband. "And Ebisu-san is a Tokubetsu Jōnin who specializes in the training of Elite Jōnin."
Naruto gave her an incredulous. "That's what Kakashi-sensei! He can't be that special since he fell for my Harem Jutsu!"
"Harem… Jutsu…?"
The Genin gave her a prideful look. "It's a Jutsu that I created!"
"It must be a powerful Jutsu to cause someone like Ebisu to falter."
"It sure is! I guess…" he started to ponder. "… if it weren't for him then I wouldn't have met Ero-Sennin."
Jai paused in her eating. "Another pervert?"
While Naruto ate, he started to tell how he found himself a new, "cooler and stronger" teacher, a new patron approached the stall and lifted one of the flaps.
"Welcome!" Teuchi greeted the newcomer.
"Just like I heard…" came a deep but jovial voice. "I had to come and see it."
Jai and Naruto looked over their shoulders to the newcomer, but her eyes widened in surprise when she recognized who it was.
'He's back?'
"It seems that you really are just eating ramen," he teased.
"Oh?! Ero-sennin!" Naruto cried with a mouth full of ramen; some noodles hung out of his mouth.
"Ero-sennin…?" Jai muttered. She had never heard anyone call him that, which made her wonder if Naruto knew who the man really was.
The sound of her melodic voice made Jiraiya sharply look in her direction. His face contorted into a cheesy grin while allowing his mind to think inappropriate thoughts. A red tint appeared on his cheeks and his grin quickly turned devilish with saliva trickling out from the side of his parted lips.
It had been a while since he last saw her, but she was just as pretty as he remembered her to be; he especially liked how fitted her attire was. A dark-gray corset-like top covered her lithe and toned upper body; the black buckled shoulder straps now visible after having removed the wide scarf from around her shoulders before she started eating.
His eyes continued their downward trail of her figure. The fair skin of her lean legs was, unfortunately for him, hidden beneath the material of her long boots that ended over the top of her knees. The black shorts she wore was also form-fitting but he could tell that the material allowed flexibility.
The red flush on his face darkened when he watched her red, perfectly plump lips sip and slurp the broth and noodles. He quickly moved to shove Naruto aside to take the blonde's seat.
"Ack!" Naruto cried. "I'm still eating!"
Jiraiya merely ignored his outburst. "Hey, Jai!" he slyly greeted while leaning into her space; one arm was bent at the elbow and resting on the countertop, propping his head up.
"Hello, Jiraiya-sama," she awkwardly greeted back while leaning back to maintain a comfortable distance between herself and legendary shinobi.
"You're just as beautiful as I remember," he said while reaching for her hand.
"Oi! Don't bother Jai nee-chan with your pervy ways, Ero-sennin!"
The sage sharply turned to glare at Naruto. "I told you to stop calling me that!"
While they bickered, Jai listened with inattention and drank the last bit of broth. But words like pervert, peeping, hot springs, and mega-perv were hard to ignore. With that in mind, Jai made a point to stop by the onsen district. She thanked Teuchi once more and stood from the stool.
"Ah- w-wait, Jai!" Jiraiya turned back around when he saw that she was getting ready to leave.
"Yes?" she asked and stopped wrapping her scarf around her neck and shoulders.
"It's been a while since I've been back, how about you and I go to the hospital where you give me a physical exam," he said with a suggestive wink.
"Don't do it, Jai nee-chan! He's a pervert!"
With that last comment, Jiraiya turned back around and gave Naruto a firm strike to the back of his head. "Shut up!"
"Why does he call you 'Ero-sennin, Jiraiya-sama?"
The sage gave an awkward laugh. "Oh, y'know! Kids these days!"
"And he mentioned peeping at the hot springs?"
Jiraiya bellowed out an overly loud laugh to try and hide his discomfort. "Over-active imagination he's got, right?!" he said while heavily patting the top of Naruto's head. "So, how about that physical, eh Jai?"
"Unfortunately, my assistant has banned me from stepping foot on the hospital's premises for at least 48 hours. But if you are in urgent need of one, I am certain Nobuo-san or even Yumi-san would be able to aid you," she suggested while lifting one of the stall's flap.
"Wait, Jai!" he called out to her again in another attempt to keep her from leaving.
"Yes?"
"How about dinner? Maybe even a late-night dip in the hot springs?"
"I must decline," she said in her usual deadpan manner. "I have a child at home that has not seen me these last few days."
"So, no to dinner, but yes to the hot springs?" he asked with hope. "Wait…" his face fell in confusion. "You have a kid?! Since when?! With who?!"
He admitted that he had been gone from the village for a while, but he didn't think it was that long. And, the most important question of all, just who was the lucky bastard that knocked her up? His nosiness was desperate to know.
"He is technically my ward, but our relationship is on a more familial level."
A huge internal relief fell upon his person, causing him to let out a deep breath knowing that nothing had changed. "So, hot springs?"
"No, thank you, I prefer to bathe at home. The bathhouses are also gender-specific, Jiraiya-sama."
Naruto snickered to himself as he watched the sage get rejected.
"Then how about you model for my next book?"
"I am certain you could find someone that is much more suitable than me…"
"No! No one else will do!"
"She already rejected you, Ero-Sennin!"
"I told you to shut up, Naruto!"
"Jai nee-chan is too good for you anyway!"
They reengaged their bickering but the sound of Teuchi clearing his throat caught their attention.
"Jai left already…"
Jiraiya cried in sadness at the empty stool where Jai once sat at while Naruto laughed at the sage's expense. Even Teuchi couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
She was nearly home when a small finch landed on her shoulder. Her calm demeanor turned serious as she followed it when it flew off. Running as fast as she could, Jai was led to one of the main rivers that flowed through the village. Upon her approach made out the three figures that were already there. Kurenai and Asuma with their eyes closed and Kakashi stood between them, crouched and hunched over.
Before she reached them, Maito Gai made his presence known with his signature dynamic entry onto the rushing water's surface. One of his long legs kicked a tall man with blue-colored skin away from their comrades as he moved to charge.
"KONOHA GOURIKI SENPUU!"
Jai soon followed and stood before Kakashi. She could hear breaths come in heavy pants.
"I see you've also arrived, my lovely hana!"
"Jai…" Kakashi panted.
She looked over her shoulder at his weakened state. "We need to get Kakashi out of here." She moved to help him but suddenly halted all movement when a familiar haunting voice from her past said her name. Her mind repeated and swore that it wasn't him – that it couldn't be him. But when her head turned and her eyes saw him standing there, she could no longer deny it. There was no mistaking those bold crimson eyes.
"Taichou…" she said in a breathy whisper.
'He cannot be here. He would not dare come back after everything he did!'
Yet there he stood. Older with a more hardened look on his face compared to the last time she saw him.
"It's been a long time," was his monotone, casual greeting.
"Who the hell are they?" the man whom she assumed to be his partner asked. "She an ex-girlfriend of yours or something?"
The man that Gai had kicked bore a hitai-ate that indicated he once belonged to Kirigakure no Sato. His teeth were sharp and triangular, and his cheeks had three slits that looked like gills.
"The Leaf's Prideful Green Beast: Maito Gai!"
"What a sight. Shouldn't you be called a strange beast?" he taunted. "And the girl seems too frozen to even defend herself.
"Don't underestimate those two," Itachi warned.
Kakashi's remaining strength finally gave out, his body collapsed and started to sink into the river. Jai snapped out of her stunned state to see that Gai had immediately pulled Kakashi out of the water and placed him over his shoulder.
"You did this to Kakashi?"
Her purple eyes glared at the two intruders. "What did you do?"
"Just a little Genjutsu," Itachi said.
She clenched her jaw and pulled out her sais. "With those eyes, there is no such thing," she growled before charging directly at Itachi.
"Jai, wait!" Gai called out but she had already moved to attack.
"What's happening?!"
"What is she doing?!"
Asuma and Kurenai asked, their eyes were still shut out of precaution to not get caught in Itachi's Genjutsu.
"She's taken the offensive against Itachi," Gai informed while trying to keep up with her movements.
Itachi easily dodged Jai and tried to counter her attack with a punch. She managed to dodge by ducking down and sliding herself between his spread legs across the water's surface. Her body twisted and made to slice the back of his ankles, but only caught fabric when he jumped into the air. Jai quickly got back onto her feet and stored her sais back into their holsters, trading them for garrote wire.
The end of the wire wrapped around Itachi's ankle after she threw it. A hard and powerful tug from Jai's end brought Itachi straight back down towards her; one sai in hand as she readied to plunge it into his chest, but the sudden appearance of his comrade interrupted her chance.
The Missing-nin from Kirigakure intervened with a powerful swipe of his serrated blade, severing the wire. He swung the massive sword three times at her form, forcing her to jump and flip back. He followed his swings with a powerful kick to her chest. Because of the sword's size and weight, his attack was not as fast as it could have been. The bottom of his foot met the skin of her outer arms as she managed to block it in time, but the force still made her slide across the water's surface.
"She's pretty fast," Kisame commented. "Probably as fast as you."
Itachi landed back onto the river before replying to Kisame's statement. "As I said earlier, don't underestimate her." His red eyes fell back onto his former teammate. "Time seems to have only made you stronger, Jai. But…" his stare narrowed into an almost taunting look. "… are you strong enough to save your precious Kakashi from my Tsukuyomi?"
She forced herself to maintain her serious look. She couldn't allow Kakashi's wellbeing to distract her from what was currently happening. But her body reacted on its own; her grip tightened around the handle of her weapon.
"Well, there's a fun fact: the famous Copy-nin that's known throughout the shinobi world is domestically boring." Kisame gave a disparaging laugh. "But I will admit that he's got good taste."
Jai scowled and readied to attack Itachi once more, but Kisame anticipated it and swung his sword once more, pushing her away and back to the side of the river where her comrades stood. She was about to reengage but stopped when Gai spoke.
"We'll attack together, Jai."
"Don't look into Itachi's eyes, Gai, Jai! You'll be caught up in his Jutsu!" Asuma warned.
"I am well aware of how the Sharingan works," Jai said; her sais raised and ready.
"I too am already aware of it," Gai said. "in order to fight Kakashi, I devised ways to battle the Sharingan. Open your eyes, both of you!"
But Kurenai and Asuma remained wary to comply with Gai's command.
"When you battle with the Sharingan, it's not a problem if you don't look at those eyes! You work around it by gaining insight into his movements by looking constantly at his feet."
Kurenai slowly opened her eyes as Gai's words started to make sense. "Now that you mention it, you're probably right… but…"
"You're the only one who can do that – and Jai too," Asuma said.
Gai nodded in understanding and fully stood with Kakashi still limply hanging over his shoulder. "There's a knack to reading all of your opponents' movements only by their feet. But I can't teach it to you in this emergency. Just get used to it right now!"
"What should we do?" Asuma asked.
Gai shrugged Kakashi off his shoulders and passed him over to Kurenai. She steadied him and placed one of his arms over her shoulders. "Get Kakashi to the medics. Asuma, you and Jai will be my support. I've already arranged for reinforcements. For now, we will take them on here." Gai assumed his fighting stance and joined Jai in waiting on their opponents' next move.
Kisame smirked and raised his sword. "Ya got guts."
"Kisame, stop it," Itachi ordered.
The Kiri-nin looked questioningly at his partner.
"We did not come here to start a war. Regrettably, this is nothing more than nonsense. Let's leave."
Kisame grit his teeth and let out a frustrated huff. "Too bad. I was finally feeling motivated. It can't be helped."
With that being said, the two Missing-nins teleported away.
A few days later…
Another book was slammed closed in frustration before it was added to one of the many stacks of books that took up most of the table's surface. She felt as if she had been reading and researching for weeks when it actually was only a couple of days.
After checking out all relevant books from the library and raiding the medical archives, she still came up with nothing. Her head leaned into the palm of one of her hands while the other sifted through the scattered sheets of paper. It was a useless action at this point. She had sat there for hours reading and rereading her notes and the many research papers, so much that they would forever be ingrained into her memory.
The sound of her hands slamming onto the table mixed with the frustrated growl from her lips and the screeching of the chair sliding along the floor as she stood; desperate to leave the confines of her office.
She walked down the quiet hallway and ended up outside of Kakashi's room. The frustration that she was feeling turned into dejection when she entered. Throughout the day, she would make a point to check on him, despite knowing that he wasn't going to wake up. Sometimes she would come in to make sure nothing had changed, and other times would be to make sure that he was comfortable. It was all she could do. And that was the most frustrating part of it all: her uselessness.
It angered her – frustrated her to the point where tears would fall down her face.
'I failed you again'
Her fingers gently ran through his hair when she stood over him. The traitorous Uchiha and his damned Genjutsu was unbreakable, at least for her. She hoped Jiraiya and Naruto would be back soon. And she especially hoped they would return with Tsunade. Whatever Itachi did, it was beyond her healing abilities.
Internally, she was beyond the state of worry. She was scared and desperate. She tried every method and technique, exhausted every resource, and she was still right where she started. Her emotions were beginning to be too much for her to keep her composure when her thoughts started to turn dark.
What would her life be like without him?
She had asked herself that numerous times when he asked her to marry him, which led her to think about what life was like before him. Reminiscing was always a difficult task for her, one that she tried hard not to think about. But those thoughts cracked her composure and she couldn't stop her heavy flow of tears.
Her hands muffled her sob as she gave herself a moment of vulnerability and silently cried. After, she recollected herself. The thought of life without him was saddening but it gave her a sense of determination. With trembling hands, she wiped away her tears and forced herself to leave his room; suddenly remembering that Kakashi wasn't the only one person that needed her. She had her moment, but now it was time to go back to work because solving this could save not only Kakashi but anyone else who could become afflicted with the same Genjutsu.
After she slid the door to Kakashi's room closed, she stopped mid-step when a beautiful woman with long blonde hair, styled into pigtails walked towards her with Gai following.
"Jai! Jai!" Gai called out while running up to her.
Jai quickly bent her upper body into a deep bow when she recognized who the woman was. "Tsunade-sama." Relief had consumed her entire being. She kept that position longer than normal before standing back up.
"Jai, Tsunade-sama healed Sasuke!"
"How is he?"
"He's fine!" Gai assured. "The girl – Sakura – is there looking after him! We're on our way to heal Kakashi."
Jai turned her attention to Tsunade. "Thank you." She deeply bowed to Tsunade once more. "I apologize for not being able to do more."
"You're the one Sandaime appointed as Chief of Staff."
"Hai," Jai suddenly felt exposed and worried what Tsunade was going to say next and continued to stay bent. She was too embarrassed to look Tsunade in the eye.
"So young…"
Yes, she was young and she always knew it would be held against her regarding her duties. It was just as likely for Tsunade to think the same thing as everyone else. But she certainly tried to prove that she was worthy of the role and all the responsibilities that came with it because she didn't want to disappoint Hiruzen. Jai made it a point to follow the teachings, beliefs, and methods that Tsunade instilled before she left the village.
"… but I like what I've seen so far. I think he chose wisely."
Jai was taken aback by the legendary kunoichi's words so much that her jaw couldn't help but fall open when she raised herself back up. "T-to…" she cleared her throat when she started to stutter. "… I am honored to receive such praise from you, Tsunade-sama. But I feel undeserving of it. I could not help Sasuke or Kakashi, and I have done all that I can with Lee."
"You're being too hard on yourself, Jai!" Gai said.
"Gai is right. There is no mastering Iryō Ninjutsu. There are always going to be new techniques to develop and learn; new cures and remedies to create and counter."
The older woman's words were more than just a valid point that was made, they were words that would ingrain themselves into her being. "Thank you."
They all entered the room where she and Gai stood off to the side in silence, watching Tsunade. A thin veil of chakra formed in the palm of her hand before she placed it onto Kakashi's forehead. It stayed there for only a moment before she lifted it back up. Not long after, Kakashi started to stir. Soon after, his eyes started to flutter open.
Relief washed over Jai's entire being as Kakashi slowly moved to sit up in the bed. Jai stared at Tsunade in silent awe while she lectured Kakashi. She almost ran to his bedside but stopped herself. He had just woken up from being in a coma, the last thing she needed to do was bombard him with her presence while he was still trying to regain his composure.
"Gettin' beat by just a couple of thugs. Guess you were human after all…" Tsunade huffed with her hands on her hips.
Purple eyes continued to stare. Watching Tsunade made Jai realize that there was still so much she didn't know.
"… I thought you were a genius."
Kakashi sighed with a look of guilt that was mixed with exhaustion. "… Sorry…" he mumbled and gave Jai a brief stare.
"Forget him!" Gai impatiently yelled. "Please take a look at Lee, my pupil!" he begged.
"Alright, lead the way. Jai, I leave the rest of Kakashi's care to you."
"Hai," she bowed to Tsunade once more as the older woman followed Gai out of the room, neither of them giving her or Kakashi another thought. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama."
She waited a moment longer after the door slid closed before she walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. As she was about to speak, Kakashi spoke first.
"I'm sorry," he repeated. "for whatever I put you through-" he stopped to hiss in pain when her finger flicked his forehead. Then he felt her arms engulf him as she leaned into him. The guilt became greater when her body trembled and she started to sob for the second time that day.
His body was weak, and his limbs were heavy, but he still managed to wrap his arms around her small frame. The cherry blossom scent from her person brought comfort while her warmth helped ease the tense muscles throughout his body.
"I was so scared…" her forehead was pressed against his, their faces were so close with her hands cradling the sides of his face.
"I know…" he could relate because, not long ago, he was in her exact position after her encounter with Kabuto.
"I tried…" she sniffed. "… I tried everything…"
"I know…"
"… but nothing worked. Had it not been for Tsunade-sama…"
He stroked the sides of her face and calmly shushed her. When he saw her standing behind Tsunade, he saw the exhaustion behind her slightly red and puffy eyes. Knowing that he was the reason for her current state unsettled him. He continued to hold her as tightly as his muscles would let him where they stayed embraced; savoring each other's presence.
Next day…
He had just finished getting dressed after a shower before he sat on the edge of his bed, looking at Jai's serene sleeping face. The top sheet of his bedding contoured around her body and barely covered her chest, causing him to smile in content.
After he was discharged from the hospital, Jai stayed with him. During the hours of the night, they laid in his bed where their bodies were pressed against each other. Their hands touched, caressed, and stroked. They talked about everything: the future, their wants, the possibilities, and their fears. And after they made love, they stared into each other's eyes before finally letting sleep overtake them.
He caressed the side of her face then gently reached for the thin gold chain that laid bunched in the crook of her neck. The two contrasting gold bands clinked against each other when he moved them to rest in the palm of his hand.
…
"Here," he held Jai's hand up and placed a gold band into her palm. "hold onto it for me."
She looked at the ring, then at Kakashi with confusion. "And what do you expect me to do with it?"
He shrugged. "I dunno."
"I do not even wear mine... and now you expect me to be in charge of yours as well?"
"You're smart. I'm sure you'll think of something."
She gave him a mild look of annoyance before pocketing the band. "I am still confused as to why you even bothered to get them…"
He rubbed the top of her head. "It seemed like a good idea at the time. Unfortunately, I can't stay to help you figure out a solution. I've got a mission."
"But…"
Her words died off when she felt his clothed lips press against her forehead. He gave her head another rub before walking past her.
"I'll see you when I get back," he said with a wave over his shoulder.
…
The chain rarely came off her person since she put the rings on it. And the reason was that it was one of the few things, he had ever given her. Sentimentalism looked good on her.
He was about to lay back down beside her but couldn't – not with the small bird tapping on his window.
'A mission already, huh?'
Kakashi looked back at Jai and caressed her face before gently running his fingers through her hair. He stood and walked across his room to the desk and quickly wrote a note for her before grabbing his flak jacket and hitai-ate.
He had arrived in the nick of time and managed to deter Naruto and Sasuke from injuring Sakura with their most powerful Jutsus by hurling them both into the hospital's water tanks. The sounds of metal twisting and bending echoed across the rooftop when their Jutsus impacted the large structures.
The water tank Naruto hit had a large dent that lightly leaked when he moved his hand away whereas Sasuke had to pry his hand out of the twisted heap of metal; releasing a large and heavy stream of water.
'Jai is going to be mad when she finds out about this…'
He looked at both boys from his seated place atop one of the tanks as they recovered from his interruption and mentally sighed to himself.
'What happened to the teamwork?'
After he attempted to lecture and discipline Sasuke for using the Chidori against Naruto, the Uchiha gave his teacher a sneer before jumping off the hospital's roof in a huff.
"Were you the one that taught Naruto that technique?" Kakashi asked the figure that stood near the back of the tank. "I feel that Naruto is still too young to be able to control that level of a technique…"
Jiraiya snorted in derision and folded his arms across his chest at Kakashi's accusation.
"In the worst-case scenario, it could have killed Sasuke. Even if it was for his own protection against Akatsuki, teaching that jutsu to Naruto was still-"
"Look who's talking," Jiraiya interrupted. "that Chidori was pretty powerful too. I never thought that Naruto was the type to use that jutsu on his teammates. Perhaps there is something going on between those two?"
"Well…" Kakashi sighed again. "… it's complicated."
"Complicated?"
"Well… remember how you were with Orochimaru once upon a time?"
Kakashi's words caused Jiraiya's face to sour. "Kah…" the sage scoffed.
"Naruto and Sasuke are both friends and rivals. Their competition keeps them going. I'm guessing Naruto couldn't tolerate Sasuke's cheap provocations. He's wanted to be as strong as Sasuke since their Academy days. Naruto wants to be recognized – not by you or me – but by Sasuke.
At the same time, Sasuke senses the change in Naruto and is feeling inferior. He feels at risk of being left behind; Naruto has indeed become strong."
Even though the two men were talking about him, the blonde Genin was too frustrated to notice or care about their conversation.
"Is it revenge?" Jiraiya asked. "Is it Itachi making that boy so anxious?"
Kakashi nodded. "That's why Sasuke doesn't want to recognize Naruto's change. If he does, he may end up questioning himself. It's a difficult thing, isn't it? Rivalry?"
"Jealousy is not a good sign. Maybe I should talk to him..." Jiraiya suggested.
"Then I'll trust Naruto to you. Not only do I still have a mission, but also the problem with Chidori." Kakashi stood and jumped down from the top of the water tower and landed next to the sage. "Also, would you please stop following Jai around the village?"
The sage's face frowned. "What's it to you?"
Kakashi lightly shrugged and started to walk towards the crying Sakura. "I'm just a simple husband looking out for his wife."
It took Jiraiya a moment to thoroughly process Kakashi's words. In which, during that time Kakashi did his best to console the lone girl of his team; promising her that things would soon go back to the way they used to be before he left the hospital's roof in search of Sasuke.
"Oi! Kakashi!" Jiraiya yelled out to the Jōnin. "Explain yourself! What the hell did you mean?!" but his shouts were just a waste of breath since Kakashi was no longer around.
Lee's surgery was a success, but Shikamaru's mission was not. Even with aid from the Suna-nins, two of the four Genin returned to the village in critical conditions. While Tsunade tended to Akimichi Choji, she and Shizune were in the Intensive Care Ward with Hyūga Neji.
In the large chamber, Jai and Shizune sat across from each other, keeping their chakra control precise and even with one another. Three hours had gone by before progress was finally made. The ends of his long hair had been cut off to be used as a medium to heal his wound.
With Neji now stable out of critical condition, Jai and Shizune let the other medics take over. Not long after, they received word that Kakashi returned with Naruto in tow. While Shizune made to deliver the news on Neji's condition, Jai left to meet with Kakashi to tend to Naruto.
Despite the mission being a failure, no lives were lost, but everyone that was affected by Sasuke's defect changed. Kakashi specifically changed. Within a matter of days, his sense of normalcy was dealt with a heavy blow. His three Genin was no longer his, and so was his role as a Jōnin Leader.
Sasuke abandoned the village for Orochimaru, Sakura became Tsunade's apprentice, and as soon as Naruto was fully healed and ready, he would be leaving Konoha with Jiraiya for training. Team 7 was officially over.
He woke before the sun rose and left his apartment for the Memorial Stone. When he arrived, he stayed well after the sun came up. He had so many regrets and felt lost in life.
"Your body must be stiff from standing for so long." Jai had walked upon his right side with a bouquet of small purple flowers in hand.
"It pales in comparison with what I feel in my mind and heart."
He watched her kneel and gently place the flowers down at the base of the memorial. His head hung low and his eye showed sadness.
'No, it's regret.'
She didn't like that look on his beautiful face. She grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Spend the day with me." She would do anything to rid that look from his face.
"Aren't you busy?"
Jai looked through all the names on the stone. "With Tsunade-sama around, my workload has gotten lighter but she keeps me busy by teaching me new remedies and techniques. As for today, I am completely available and, if I am not mistaken, as are you."
"What would you like to do?" Kakashi asked his wife.
"Whatever you want to do."
Kakashi looked back at the stone. "I want to stay here… just a little longer."
"Okay," she pulled Kakashi down to sit on the ground.
A little longer turned into three more hours, but she didn't complain. They sat side-by-side before the stone where she silently sat and listened to Kakashi. He talked to Obito, about Obito, and she listened to him regardless if she heard his tales before or never.
"I wonder what you'd say to me now if you could… hmm? Obito?"
Lavish and regal. Two of the most common words used to describe the room. Despite being almost two centuries old, the room was still immaculate. The previous rulers would have been proud to know that the room was withstanding against the forces that came with time. And, why wouldn't it? No expense was spared when the foundation was laid for the whole compound; nothing was too luxurious or expensive.
The throne was placed on an elevated stage and he stood at the base of the stairs that led up to it. The room was grandiose and large, but now it felt small and suffocating. He knew those feelings would all be lifted as soon as his men returned and confirmed that everything was set and ready for their departure to the Land of Fire.
He reached into the inner pocket of his exorbitant robe to pull out a small photo. The edges showed clear signs of wear from being handled. This person had all the answers to his questions. His eyes looked intensely at the face in the photo. He'd looked at this photo countless times before, already memorized every detail, and more importantly, he memorized the eyes. One would think that a unique color like that wouldn't be hard to come across but how wrong they were. Years of searching for leads and clues went by before he finally caught a break. Six years and all it took was a photograph with a name and a location.
The image was the type that would be used for official purposes. The stare was simple with no emotion behind it. He flipped it over and reread the written words as he'd done before then flipped it back over. Anger and frustration always coursed through him when he looked at the picture.
The large door of the throne room opened as the leader approached. "Everything is set. We are ready."
"Then why are you still here?"
"Careful, Toshio…" he warned. A Noh-style mask covered his face, making him sound slightly muffled. "You will do well to remember that I know just how bloody your hands really are." With that said, he walked out of the throne room at a slow pace.
The older man glared. Now alone, he looked back down to the photo that was still in his hand. "Lee Jai…" the name came out of his mouth with heavy disdain. "… you've been a constant thorn in my side. But soon, that will come to an end," his hissed before crumbling the photo he'd been carrying for many months.
