It had been a long week since Naruto had returned home.

They had just gotten back to Konoha from a mission and Kakashi was in the hospital from using his Mangekyou Sharingan on Deidara, one of the members of the Akatsuki.

Both Team Kakashi and Team Guy had been dispatched to retrieve Lord Gaara from the Akatsuki and it was a hard fought battle.

The entrance to the cave that Gaara was being held in was blocked by barrier seals and even Sakura couldn't punch through the giant rock that covered the mouth of the cave.

Team Guy had to go off in different directions to remove the barrier seals at the same time and ended up having to fight clones of themselves, which was exhausting, until Shanan suggested they meet up and fight each other's clones instead. Which was still difficult, but also proved to be much less tiresome since their moves weren't constantly being matched. And Shanan was quite proud of herself for taking down Guy Sensei's clone and was really proud of Lee for making short work of her clone, despite her clone's efforts to turn Lee into a husk, but he dodged her easily with his incredible speed. Guy was probably the only one that could've taken on Neji's clone and won and Neji beat Lee's, but not as easily as he would've thought. He even patted Lee on the back afterwards for how strong he'd clearly gotten.

However, by the time Sakura was able to break into the cave where Gaara was, he was already dead.

Deidara left with his body and Naruto and Kakashi chased after him while Sakura and Lady Chiyo, one of the elders of The Sand, fought against Sasori, Deidara's partner.

Once the clones had been defeated, Shanan had Neji lead them to where Naruto and Kakashi were so that she could join them in fighting Deidara. But as soon as they arrived, Deidara blew himself up with his clay and almost caught Team Guy in his explosion before Kakashi sent the explosion to another dimension with his Mangekyo Sharingan. Completely exhausting himself.

Naruto had begged Shanan and Sakura to do all that they could for Gaara, since the two had bonded during their fight after the Chunin exams and had both suffered similar pasts being Jinchiriki of tailed beasts. But even with both of their advanced medical ninjutsu, they couldn't help him. Lady Chiyo, riddled with guilt for not doing more sooner, stepped up and put all of her life force into him and revived him.

It was a really touching moment and Gaara had been really shocked to see how many people were sad that he'd even been taken away from them in the first place. But he had clearly redeemed himself in the eyes of his villagers and everyone from Konoha as well.

On their way home, Guy Sensei had to carry Kakashi on his back the entire way and he ran straight to the hospital. He was hardly gentle about it.

And that's where he and Shanan had been since, because she refused to go home without him. It wasn't as though they hadn't spent way too long sharing a small bed anyway, so it wasn't a problem for him to let her lay with him at night.

"I actually miss our small bed," he told her fondly.

"I do too," she said as she smiled. "It's kinda strange that that's Naruto's room now. I hope he's ok being home by himself."

"Oh, right. He'll be off on a mission soon anyway. I forgot to tell you about it."

"Oh. Was there a meeting in the hour that I was gone earlier?"

"Yes, actually. I knew you'd be disappointed you'd missed it. But we wanted to send someone to a secret meeting to find out where Orochimaru might be hiding."

"So you're sending Naruto?"

"We're sending Team Kakashi, but I won't be there. I found a suitable replacement for now," he told her.

"Who?"

"Tenzo. I trust him more than most and he can help suppress Naruto's nine tails chakra."

"Who's Tenzo?" she asked, confused.

"Oh, uh... Well, he was your ANBU partner. I entrusted him to train you when I recommended you before I left. He's been gone, so I had forgotten that you haven't been able to unlock your memories with him. You're good friends," he told her.

Shanan thought for a minute. "I never once wondered who my partner had been. I just always placed you there, even though I now realize it couldn't have been you," she said as she laughed. "Tenzo... I'm excited to meet him."

"Good, he taught you a lot. And I think he'll do well with Naruto and Sakura. He's very skilled."

"If you trust him, then I trust him," she said as she yawned. "When are they leaving?"

"Tomorrow, I think." He thought quietly for a moment. "If they find Orochimaru, then they'll likely find Sasuke. So just be ready for that. Just in case," he said softly.

"I will. I'm so ready to meet him," she said hopefully. "Do you think he'll come and stay with us?"

Kakashi frowned at her as he searched for the right words. "Shanan, Sasuke might not be able to just go home. He-"

"He shouldn't be punished. He left when he was young, because he was cursed. He can't be blamed for that," she said shakily.

"I know, but..."

"I'm gonna talk to Lady Tsunade. He can't be punished. He won't be. This is his home and he should be here with me and Naruto and you now too," she told him. "I really want him to come and stay with us." She was starting to tear up now. She didn't know much about him, and she couldn't remember him at all. She couldn't picture him with her and Naruto as kids, she couldn't hear his name being said by anyone in conversations she recalled. He was a blank spot in her mind, but she knew he was important to her. When she looked at his picture she could feel the hole that he had left.

Kakashi sighed as he touched her cheek. "Always taking care of everyone," he said softly as he kissed her forehead and pulled her closer to him. "We should go to sleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow before they even leave."

Even if Sasuke didn't end up being punished for returning home, Kakashi didn't think he would agree to come and stay with them. Or if there would even be a them once Shanan performed Omoidasu on him. He felt like they'd been together long enough that he shouldn't worry, but part of him did, because it really was such a unique situation and Shanan had never meant to give up so much to be with him. The Kaitei had been a complete accident, and so there was always the worry in the back of his mind that she would come to that conclusion and decide not to be with him anymore.

And, truly, the thought of losing her made him feel sick and like all of the darkness that was now so distant, would come back in full force.

He never wanted to be unsaved.