Shanan kept trying to think about how to help Kakashi. She had promised to save him. But even she wasn't sure what she'd meant by that. She just knew that he was her friend and she had promised.

She realized that Kakashi didn't consciously mean to let her see his past and he had put barriers in place. But his subconscious wish to be acknowledged and understood was greater than his fear of being found out. So she easily broke through his barriers as if they weren't even there.

She could also tell that part of him wanted to feel ashamed at letting her see, but he was too relieved to do so. He didn't feel so alone anymore. He did try to convince her to find a new goal the more they talked about it, but she couldn't abandon the idea, she'd always wanted to help people thanks to him.

So this was her goal.

Save Kakashi from his darkness. But how?

It had been just a couple of days since his Kurushimi. And each day they would meet up and stare into each other's eyes, the same as she had done with Naruto, while she tried to focus on her goal.

At least for a little while. She would always say something silly and break their concentration. So they took a lot of breaks while he would try and give her ideas for other goals.

Today, however, Shanan had considered canceling because she had woken up with a massive headache. But she decided to push through, because she was so determined. Even after Kakashi tried to talk her into going home.

"I promise, I'm ok," she assured him. "We need to unlock something new. Both you and Shikamaru have told me that Tsunade's already annoyed with how long we're taking."

"One extra day'll be fine," he tried to convince her.

Shanan sighed heavily. "Ugh... fine. Half a day then."

Kakashi relented. "Well, let's get started then," he said as he walked to his usual spot.

Before they could start, though, Shikamaru yelled for Shanan at the edge of the training field just out of sight.

"Oh… I'll be right back," she said before running over to Shikamaru.

He put his hands on her waist and pulled her close making sure that nobody could see them, "We're still on for tonight, right?" They'd already been together for two months and Shanan had been a lot better about making time for him.

"Yeah, I'm actually going home soon. My head hurts pretty bad. So I might not drink or do much."

"That's ok," he said as he moved her hair and gently kissed her forehead. "We can just lay in bed together."

She smiled up at him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh, and you won't try to touch me?" she asked teasingly.

"I didn't say that," he said as he leaned down and kissed her. They still hadn't said that they loved each other, even though it was glaringly obvious that they were head over heels, but Shanan had been very close to saying it lately as she was almost past the point of feeling bad about moving on from Sasuke.

They stood there kissing for a few minutes before she pulled her lips away and smiled up at him. "Well, maybe I'll feel better by the time you come over."

"Maybe… I better get back," he said as he kissed her again before letting her go. "Don't push yourself."

"I won't," she assured him as he backed away, still watching her until she turned back to Kakashi.

Kakashi stood there reading quietly as he waited for her to return.

"Ready now?" he asked as he put his book back into his pocket.

Shanan nodded and then stood about five feet from him and closed her eyes as she readied her Sharingan.

Kakashi put his hands in his pockets as he looked over at her and waited. It seemed to be taking her a bit longer than usual, probably due to her headache, but he didn't mind.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked at Kakashi. "Ok, go," she said.

Kakashi looked into her eyes and everything went black immediately.

Kakashi opened his eyes and blinked slowly as he sat up. He wasn't sure why, but he was surrounded by trees.

He stood up slowly to look around and grabbed his head as he winced in pain. Realization, already, quickly flooding in.

He recognized the training field about ten feet outside of the tree line as he slowly walked towards the opening.

He was very shaken, but he already knew what had happened. He could feel the knot from flying backwards twenty feet from where he had been standing. He walked a few feet and saw someone lying about thirty feet from the treeline.

"Shanan!"

He ran over to her and fell to his knees beside her and grabbed her hand.

"Shanan!" he said again as he put his ear to her chest.

He could hear her heart beating and could tell that she was still breathing.

He put his hand on her face and caressed her cheek.

"Shanan..." he said a bit more softly.

She opened her eyes suddenly and blinked slowly as she turned her head towards him.

"Kakashi?" she asked as she tried to sit up.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

She looked around and was very visibly shaken as she put her hand on his face. He seemed to know something she didn't.

"Why are we outside? Where are the tw-"

"No…" He closed his eyes as a new realization set in. "You don't remember, do you?" he asked as tears formed in his eyes.

"Remember what?" she asked as she started to tear up. "Why are we out here?"

Kakashi helped her up and pulled her close as he cried for her, for both of them. "You really don't remember anything?" he asked again through tears.

"What do you mean?" She was really starting to worry, but was sure she hadn't forgotten anything.

Kakashi looked around as he hugged her. He knew they couldn't talk out here for long before someone else showed up. "Come on. We should get home," he said to her gently as he put his arm around her and wiped his cheeks. "I'll explain everything when we get there."

Shanan was really confused, but held onto him the whole way. Hoping a valid explanation would be given.

They finally reached a cute house on the outskirts of the village. Cute, but a bit shabby and rundown looking.

Shanan looked at Kakashi with deep concern in her eyes.

"What's going on here?" she asked him as tears ran down her face.

"I know," he whispered as he grabbed her hand and fought back tears. "Let's just go in. I'll tell you everything."

Shanan was more frightened than she had ever remembered feeling, but she went in anyway.

Several hours had passed when they finally emerged from the house.

Shanan was pretty sad and shaken still, but Kakashi held her hand as they made their way to speak with Tsunade.

They reached the outside of her office as Shizune was walking out.

"We need to speak with Lady Tsunade," he told her. "It's important."

Shizune disappeared into the office and came right back out to invite them in.

Instead of standing in front of Tsunade, Kakashi led them to a pair of couches that faced each other, meant for longer meetings.

"Alright then," Tsunade said as she rolled her eyes and stood up.

Shanan and Kakashi sat on one of the couches, still holding hands.

Tsunade sat across from them and crossed her legs and her eyes immediately fell to their hands before looking back up at Kakashi with her eyebrow raised.

"Do you finally have something to report? A new technique?"

"Yes... And no..."

"And what does that mean?" she asked impatiently.

"Yes, a new technique. No, you won't find it useful," he told her.

She motioned for him to keep going.

Kakashi let go of Shanan's hand and moved closer to the edge of the couch and took a deep breath.

"A few... hours ago, Shanan and I were attempting to try out a new technique and... and we were locked into a very long and detailed genjutsu using a technique that we've since named Kaitei."

Tsunade was suddenly very interested as she sat forward.

"Kaitei? How long?"

Kakashi thought for a moment and swallowed hard as his throat suddenly felt very dry.

"Twenty-five years," he finally told her.

"Twenty-five years?!" she asked incredulously. "Well... what happened?"

Kakashi smiled and looked over at Shanan as she scooted up next to him and locked arms with him before lacing her fingers with his.

He looked into her eyes for a few seconds before looking back at Tsunade.

"We…" He paused as he really considered his words. "We grew up together."

Author's Note:

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think so far! I would really appreciate it. :D