Chapter 65

Long Time No See: Kakashi's Warning

Frontal lobe. Mimi shifted her hand, covered by a green hue, over her skull. Parietal lobe. Occipital lobe. Temporal lobe. Cerebellum. Brain stem.

Sighing, the medic-nin lowered her hand and picked up her pencil, scribbling out a past reminder to fine tune her Diagnostic Jutsu. Great, she drawled sarcastically, I can sense the individual areas of the brain. But diagnosing damage I already know is there doesn't help me.

Might as well tell someone they have a broken leg when the bone is sticking out of their flesh. It'd be about as useful.

If Amari and Kakashi were knocked out by a physical force jarring their brains I'd be able to heal it, no sweat. She pursed her lips in a frustrated frown. But this isn't physical trauma. Itachi's genjutsu is like an invisible scalpel. He went in, cut them down and left without a trace.

Mimi's blue eyes drifted over the mess of notes and medical books spread over her desk. What was her next move then? How did she heal a non-physical trauma to the brain? Were there cells that needed to be revitalized? Did Itachi "sever" important wiring? How did she repair the wiring then?

Always more questions and fewer answers. No matter how Mimi sliced it, the complexity of the brain and psychological trauma outmatched her current skill set.

Just feeding regular Medical Ninjutsu into the lobes won't do anything. If it did, they'd already be healed.

Mimi twirled the pencil between her fingers and ran her free hand through her wild mane. It'd be so much better if Medical Ninjutsu worked like miracles. Just apply it to any wound then boom! Problem solved. No refinement required.

The brain can usually recover on its own from small amounts of damage, and with the skull protecting it humans aren't knocked unconscious by the tiniest of bumps or shakes of our head.

A blow that knocks someone out has to cause a level of damage that the brain cannot regenerate from quickly. Which is an oversimplified explanation of what Itachi's genjutsu did.

She squeezed her eyes shut against a mounting headache and exhaled a sigh. And even if I could pinpoint the exact areas of damage, my level of Medical Ninjutsu won't cut it.

"Leaving me back at square one," she growled under her breath. "I've been running this maze for the last month and I still haven't made a breakthrough."

"You're being too hard on yourself, Mimi," Aoko soothed from her lap. "Lady Tsunade did not become an expert medic in a day or a month. It takes time to learn the complexities of Medical Ninjutsu."

"I know, I know," she sighed. "It's just…frustrating that I can't get over this damn hurdle." Mimi rested her face into her open palm. "I really hate that Uchiha bastard."

"Really? I thought you were his number one fangirl," her ninken retorted cheekily.

"Ha. Ha. You're hilarious, Aoko," Mimi replied dryly, a smirk pulling at her lips. She ruffled her faithful friend's fur gently. "It would have been nice to heal one of them before the Goofball got back. It'd be like a welcome home gift."

"True, but that's your pride talking, Mimi. Stop holding yourself accountable for their current states. You have limits right now, many of which you have broken through in this last month. Be proud of how far you've come. Most Genin lack both the knowledge and the ability you have."

Her words gave the Inuzuka pause. She wanted to argue, to say it wasn't enough to be proud of breaking a few limits when Amari, Kakashi and Lee weren't even able to leave the hospital, but…

Aoko was right. Most kids her age were barely beginning to scratch the surface of Medical Ninjutsu; some were only starting to find interest in it, while others lacked the chakra control altogether to perform it.

…And she was grumbling about the complexities of psychological trauma, like she alone was responsible for the health of Amari and Kakashi. Like there weren't other doctors and medics who wanted to help them, but couldn't. Like she was the only one who cared.

It was childish. Selfish, really. Somehow she found a way to make this about her inabilities. Her lack of skill. Healing them became her cross to bear…when it wasn't.

Being so laser focused on her studies made it harder to see the bigger picture, blinding her to the world and the people around her, each effected in some way by the recent events. She owed Aoko for bringing her back down to earth.

"…Thank you, Aoko."

"My pleasure, Mimi." Her ninken stood on all four paws and stretched out her back, releasing a small yawn as she did. "Let's go out and get some fresh air. We've been cooped for the last day."

"Right." She picked up her pitch black ninken and set her down on the floor. "I suppose we could go for a run to stretch our legs," she decided as she stood up and stretched out her back. A pleasant series of pops rolled up the middle of her spine. Mimi groaned.

Definitely been sitting at this desk too long.

Unzipping and shrugging off her blue sweater, Mimi tied the article of clothing around her waist while heading out her room for the front door. Aoko padded along next to her until the front door opened, and then she was gone, sprinting into the yard to dash in every direction.

The Inuzuka sat down outside the front door, where she began to slip her sandals on. For a good minute Mimi watched Aoko dash at a full sprint, smiling affectionately at her ninken, savoring the look of pure glee on her furry features.

Yeah. Some fresh air would do them good. Any longer in her room and she might forget what the sky looked like.

"Mimi!" Mimi's eyes immediately darted to the source of the voice: Tenten. Her kunoichi teammate was running over with a bright light in her brown eyes and a giddy bounce in her step.

Mimi titled her head to the side, confused, although her affectionate smile found new fuel. Excited Tenten was too adorable.

"Tenten? What are you doing here?"

Tenten halted in front of Mimi, bending forward to brace on her knees. Sweat beaded on her forehead and her breaths were a bit uneven, but those symptoms were all related to the non-stop sprint she embarked on.

Before Tenten could answer her inquiry, Aoko jumped up onto her back and climbed up to rest on her head.

"Aoko!" Tenten whined playfully.

"What?" she rumbled back teasingly.

Mimi chuckled at her companion and stood up, picking Aoko up. "Leave her be this time, Aoko. We haven't run like she has. Not yet, at least."

Aoko wasted no time climbing up onto Mimi's head instead, letting out a triumphant bark from her new position.

Mimi and Tenten shared a smile. "Is everything okay, Tenten? I don't mind the company, but something clearly brought you out here."

"So you haven't heard the news?" She took a breath then stood up straight. A teasing smirk took over her smile. "I should have known since you've been nose deep in those books of yours. I'm surprised you still know there's an outside world."

The Inuzuka grinned. "I assure you they aren't nearly as exciting as you."

"Uh-huh, sure," her teammate teased.

"It's true. They don't fuss over me or anything."

"She is far more remarkable than those stale books."

"Exactly, Aoko."

Her teammate rolled her eyes. "Anyways, guess whose back!" she said breathlessly.

"Uh...the Goofball and Master Jiraiya?" Mimi guessed.

"Yep, and guess who they have with them!"

Mimi's eyebrows rose in surprise. "He brought Lady Tsunade back?" Tenten nodded enthusiastically. "…He did it."

When she first met Naruto before the first Exam, when he tried to act tough by telling her he wouldn't go easy on her because she was a girl, Mimi took him for a fool. All talk and no substance.

The more she saw of him, though, the more her opinion began to change. Watching Kiba lose to him in the prelims was just the beginning; Neji's defeat at his hands and then his victory over Gaara made her understand why Amari looked so fondly at him.

While she still considered him a goofy kid, Naruto had earned her trust and respect time and again through his actions on the battlefield and his interactions with others. Sure he was a goofball and a loudmouth, but he was a goofball and a loudmouth who stuck by his word and his friends.

It's no wonder Amari admires him. Hell, I'm beginning to admire the little Goofball myself.

Thank you, Naruto, for proving to me once again that in this dark world there are bright lights waiting to be found.

A grin formed on Mimi's face. "That Goofball, he's just full of surprises."

"I told you he would be fine," Aoko barked.

"I still have to go tell Neji and Guy-sensei. Do you want to come with me?" Tenten asked.

Although spending time with Tenten was always a delight, Mimi wanted to head straight for the hospital to see Lady Tsunade work.

But I also don't want to force Tenten to search high and low for Guy-sensei. He's bound to want to hear this news, and bound to be doing something incredibly ridiculous like walking through the village on his hands again.

"Do you know where Neji and Guy-sensei are?" she asked.

"I know Neji is training at our usual grounds, but I have no idea where Guy-sensei could be," Tenten answered.

"Hmm. How about we split up? You go to Neji and I'll find Guy-sensei. We'd be able to clear twice as much ground and meet up at the hospital."

Her teammate nodded. "Good plan. I'll see you at the hospital then?"

"Count on it." Tenten smiled and nodded one last time before departing. Mimi looked up in the direction of her companion. "Ready to go, Aoko?" she asked.

"Ready! Try not to let your bouncing excitement show when we're in the presence of Lady Tsunade. You don't want to be a raving fan girl; that would just be embarrassing for us both," Aoko jested.

Mimi grinned and rolled her eyes. "I'll do my best to keep my raving fan girlism down to a dull roar just because you asked."

"Thank you."

With no more to say, Mimi left to inform her sensei of the news that would get his hot-blooded youth boiling in unbridled joy.

Meanwhile

"Thank you for coming with me today, Sasuke," Sakura thanked as she replaced the wilted flowers in Kakashi's room.

"I was on my way here anyways," Sasuke replied cooly from the sterile white wall he chose to lean against.

Well, in truth, he meant to train. But after running into Sakura and learning she was going to visit the hospital he decided to take a detour.

Sasuke stopped outright avoiding Sakura after his conversations with Shikamaru; he actually asked her to be his sparring partner, which surprised her nearly as much as it surprised Sasuke himself. It hadn't been planned. The offer just…came out during a conversation—a subconscious idea his mouth turned into reality without permission.

Training gave them an opportunity to stick together, to rely on each other as they worked through their personal dilemmas of weakness, guilt and grief. Teamwork, right?

Sakura didn't wield the Sharingan, and she hadn't reached Amari's skill yet, but she definitely surpassed the old Sakura—the annoying fan girl who could have never landed a blow on him. He learned that lesson the hard way when he chose not to take her seriously, leading to her fist meeting his face. Hard.

Sent me flying a few feet with that punch, he recalled, the tiniest of upward twitch tugging at the corner of his lip. I should have known better after watching her train with Amari's clone and Amari herself. My arrogance got the better of me.

A mistake he quickly corrected.

Sparring with Sakura did help with both their training and the feelings left behind by the Akatsuki incident. Sasuke hadn't entirely forgiven himself, he wasn't sure he could. Maybe when Amari was healed.

Maybe.

But Shikamaru was right. Sasuke wasn't the only one feeling it. This guilt and pain wasn't his and his alone to bear. Sakura felt it, too—a point she tried to make the day of the incident. He hadn't been of the mind to listen then, too consumed by his own feelings to care how anyone else felt.

Having each other to rely on made the struggle of waiting for Naruto to return with Tsunade easier to bear. Their spars and the conversations they shared afterwards helped them bond as teammates and friends.

I guess I have to thank Shikamaru for getting through to me.

The struggle within his heart subsided significantly after their talk. No longer were the threads of his sanity being pulled apart in every direction; it lingered beneath the calm surface, he could feel it, but it wasn't physically debilitating or making him irrational enough to threaten the life of his clan-sister.

"The only way you could ever understand how I feel is if I struck Amari down right now."

Sasuke shut his eyes and shook his head internally. I still can't believe I said something like that to Shikamaru. He could blame the heat of the moment or the internal struggle ravaging his heart and mind at the time—easy excuses to rely on. How easy it was to make excuses for mistakes, and yet so impossible to forgive yourself when you recognized wrongdoing.

Sasuke shoved the excuses aside. He wouldn't be a coward. He owned his words—his threat.

"If you ever threaten 'Risu's life again or turn your back on her bond, I will make you regret it. You get me?"

He couldn't blame Shikamaru for making that foreboding promise.

A light smirk returned to Sasuke's lips. Heh, never thought I'd see Shikamaru look so dangerous. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised; he did threaten Amari's bullies back in the Academy. Seeing the conviction in his eyes makes me understand why they stopped.

"Hey, what are you smirking about?" Sakura questioned curiously.

The Uchiha snorted slightly and opened his eyes. "Nothing important."

There hadn't been an argument or stink eye since that day between them, but he could feel the Nara was watching him carefully, even when he didn't seem to be paying attention.

Shikamaru didn't trust him. Not anymore. Had their positions been flipped, he wouldn't have trusted Shikamaru either.

Time would tell if he would ever regain his trust again.

"Liar," Sakura retorted. "Come on, what's so funny?

Answering, 'Shikamaru promising to make me regret threatening Amari's life or turning my back on her,' wouldn't go well for obvious reasons. Sasuke harbored no intention of repeating their conversation, let alone his rage filled threat to their teammate's well-being. Not only did he not want to lose the trust of his team, he also didn't want Kurenai to ever catch wind of it.

I'd rather not end up horribly mutilated in some genjutsu until I'm left comatose beyond repair.

Sasuke chose a better path. He looked up to meet the emerald eyes of his teammate, his smirk still in place. "I was just remembering the bell test and you wailing in terror at seeing my head sticking out of the ground…" He paused to watch Sakura's shoulders begin to slump in depression. "And then how you punched me in the face and sent me flying," he continued. "It's hard to believe you're that same shrieking fangirl sometimes."

Her shoulders stopped their slump, confidence renewed and a tint of pink on her cheeks.

Hmph, he smiled internally, that worked like a charm.

"Admit it, that punch hurt more than your pride."

"Heh, I'll admit nothing of that sort."

True or not, his pride was still very much intact, and very unwilling to admit again how good her punch got him.

"Besides, I said 'sometimes.' Put me in a room with you and Ino and it's practically the Academy all over again," Sasuke retorted honestly but good-naturedly.

And it was true. Just today he went through the pleasant experience of being stuck between them at the flower shop. It didn't take more than thirty seconds for the blonde to start trying to flirt with him or for the possessive nails in Sakura to come out.

Then Ino started batting eyelashes at me and hugging my arm to pull me over to explain some type of flower. He honestly tuned her out the moment she started talking. Took Sakura all of five seconds to butt in and for them to devolve into bickering.

It hadn't been all bad. Their bickering allowed him to slip away and pick out the daffodils she wanted for Kakashi and the amaryllis flowers she wanted for Amari.

By bringing the flowers to Sakura and asking if they were the kind she wanted he effectively led their escape from the flower shop. A successful mission all-around, if he said so himself.

I wonder if they'll ever stop fighting over me, he pondered while Sakura's blush intensified. I mean it can't go on forever, right? Even Amari managed to escape her fangirls and she had it worse than I did.

Surely fate wouldn't put him as the rope of their tug-of-war battle forever.

"Old habits die hard, I guess," she muttered as she grabbed her left bicep from behind her back. Her gaze shifted to her toes. "I've been trying to set things right. Ino…she used to be my best friend."

The tone of Sakura's voice sobered the mood instantly. "I caused a lot of the tension between us…probably all of it, but I really do miss our friendship."

"Are things really that bad between you two?"

She shook her head. "Not as bad as they were. Ever since our preliminary fight in the Chūnin Exams, and then training together, we've started to move forward a little." Sakura sighed. "But like you said, we can slip into those Academy days very easily."

"If you two really were friends, you'll figure it out," he assured. His smile returned as he crossed his arms and looked to the door. "If Naruto and I can live together without fighting and killing each other, I doubt you and Ino will have much to worry about."

Sakura giggled. "I almost forgot you two were sharing an apartment. I'm impressed you two haven't brawled through the walls."

Honestly, he was too, yet they actually did well together. There were arguments sure, but that was their usual comradery rather than heated battles. They respected each other's space and privacy when either was needed.

Deep in their hearts though, in a place they would never admit to having or speak about, they were happy to no longer be alone.

Perhaps that was what Sakura felt when it came to Ino. The Uchiha couldn't claim to know their history, but he saw in her eyes the pain left behind by their fractured friendship.

Maybe there was a time when she knew loneliness just as Amari, Naruto and I have.

"Yeah, it's been quiet since he left," Sasuke said thoughtfully.

"I hope he's okay. A month has gone by since he left with Master Jiraiya."

Sasuke hummed in agreement. The door sliding open cut him off before he could offer a reassurance of any kind. A blonde-haired woman with brown eyes, dressed in a grass-green haori, a grey sleeveless kimono-styled blouse and dark blue her pants strutted in. Another visitor? Since when?

I've never seen her around here before. The boy glanced to his unconscious sensei. Is she some secret admirer of his?

"May I come in?" the woman asked, a kind smile on her face.

"Um, sure…but who are you?" Sakura asked.

The woman didn't answer. She was followed by another woman with black hair carrying a pig. Then a blur of orange bolted into the room. "Sasuke, Sakura!"

Both Team Seven members perked up at the sound of that voice.

"Naruto?" Sakura questioned in surprised.

Their teammate grinned and nodded as he stopped in front of them. "Yep! Long time no see, huh?"

"Yeah," the pair agreed in unison with smiles.

"It was almost peaceful," Sasuke jested.

"Oh, ha ha, very funny, Sasuke," Naruto drawled, smirking and rolling his eyes as he did. "Anyways, this is Granny Tsunade! She's going to make everything better and heal Kakashi-sensei, Amari and Bushy Brows!"

The pair raised their eyebrows then returned their attention to the blonde woman.

So she's a part of the Legendary Sannin, the master of healing arts. She appeared younger than he expected.

Jiraiya entered the room last and leaned against the wall near the door, features neutral. Tsunade moved to the side of Kakashi's bed, examining him with experienced and scrutinizing eyes.

Sakura bowed to Tsunade. "Oh please, if you can save our Sensei and friends…"

Tsunade gave them a genuine smile. "Well, I'll see what I can do."

Naruto rested his hands behind his head, relaxing fully as the woman turned back to their unconscious sensei, placing a green glowing hand on his forehead.

"Hey, Naruto," Sasuke spoke up. His teammate glanced over to him. "Good work."

Naruto smiled and nodded. "Thanks."

"There's something I have to do. Neither of you are going to like it, but it's what has to be done."

Amari moved to stand, but using the remaining strength he had left, Kakashi snatched hold of her arm. "Don't be stupid," he chastised. "You know you're no match…for them. And with the genjutsu…he placed on you…who knows what he could do to you."

She nodded in solemn agreement. "You're right. But this is the only way I can ensure you guys survive this. You can't fight anymore, and the risk of the Mangekyō Sharingan means Asuma-sensei and Mom have to keep their eyes closed."

Another weak smile crossed Amari's face. "I'm the only one who can break free of his special genjutsu, or fight with my eye closed." Minimal effort was all she needed to break free of his grasp. "I'm sorry, but if I leave now, you all die. I can't do that."

Pain squeezed Kakashi's heart. His student was abandoning her life to fight a battle she knew was hopeless. A battle she knew would end in her death.

Amari was leaving, and there was nothing he could do. Nothing except helplessly watch it unfold as he had done too many times before.

She wrapped him up in a hug. "Thank you for teaching me and your support over the years. I'll make them fight for every inch. I promise."

No physical blade could hurt as much as that goodbye did.

Please…don't do this. Kakashi's plea wouldn't stop her. He knew that.

She shared another smile with them. Warmer. Meant to soothe. "Don't look so worried you two. I'll be okay. After all, you guys are the ones who trained me. And I've got back up from my cousin today."

He hoped beyond all hope it would be enough.

"I hope you're ready, because I'm going to go all-out, Itachi!"

The battle between his student and Itachi raged on. Step by step the elder Uchiha whittled Amari's defenses and plans down. This wasn't a fight. It was a game. A diversion. And Itachi maintained control of it at every moment.

Inevitably, he had Amari right where he wanted her.

"The genjutsu I placed on you, it was created by your cousin in order to protect you. But I changed its purpose." Itachi lifted up his finger and pointed at her. "The jutsu I casted on you wasn't to protect you, it was to torture you."

"Amari, get out of here now!" Kakashi ordered in panic. She didn't budge in the slightest. "Amari!"

"I…can't move."

Shisui Uchiha. The name triggered the genjutsu instantaneously, and with its activation came screams and sobs of agony Kakashi never wanted to hear again. Screams and sobs that tore his heart apart with a rusted and jagged knife.

He was helpless. Helpless to protect her. Helpless to save her. What a cruel running gag the fates placed upon him.

The black chakra spurred him to act, as it did Kurenai and Asuma. He was in no shape for battle, but he couldn't let Itachi's malicious actions twist Amari into a child of darkness.

"I will kill you for what you've done!"

She was getting farther and farther away, slipping through their fingers in seconds. He tried his best to run, to cut off her charge at Itachi, but his body could barely function. Kakashi considered it a miracle he made it into the barrier of the fūinjutsu.

"You bastard! I'll make you suffer! I'll break every bone in your body! And then I'll continue to break you over and over and over again until you are begging for my mercy!" the darkness within his student screamed at Itachi. "But you'll find no mercy! None! Because you don't deserve it! You- you," her voice wavered, more tears spilling over, "how could you kill him?! How could you?!"

"Amari…" Kurenai murmured.

"You stole my family from me!" she wept. "Why am I still alive? Huh?! Why didn't you kill me too?! Did you just want me to suffer?!"

Itachi said nothing. Kakashi wanted to speak, to support her, but he didn't even know where to begin. What could he even say when he struggled for so long with those same questions?

"Answer me, you bastard! Stop standing there in silence! Say something!"

"This has gone far enough."

Those five words and the owner of them changed everything. Shisui Uchiha, or the chakra manifestation of him, swooped in to save his precious cousin when she needed him most.

Kakashi was grateful. Drowning in guilt, but still wholly grateful.

"Beware of the Foundation."

He should have known. He should have seen through that man's lies all those years ago, yet he didn't. The shock of the Massacre left him blind to the truth, and as he looked at Itachi and Aimi—his former comrades—he began to piece together the reality hidden behind a fantastic illusion.

Shisui's departure left the battle to continue. Second by second, though, the Leaf shinobis were losing ground. Kurenai's injury, Asuma's drained chakra due to Samehada, Amari's Mangekyō Sharingan; where were their reinforcements? How much longer would it take?

Hana Inuzuka's arrival settled his nerves, only for horror to strike his heart.

Blinding red light exploded at the epicenter of Itachi and Amari, spanning several meters in width and length in the shape of a dome, stretching almost to the top of the nearby tree canopies in height.

Shockwaves rattled his bones and shot his heart into his throat. Torrents of hot wind burned his flesh as the gusts ripped past the gathered shinobi. Choppy waves swelled on the once calm river as an implosion of water shot high into the sky, only for the displaced hot water to rain down upon all the bewildered and speechless shinobi.

Fog obscured where the two shinobi once stood.

"'Tachi!" Aimi cried out in fear.

"Little one!" Kurenai did the same in almost unison.

No…

Guy's, Mimi's and Atsuko's arrival did not ease his thundering heart.

Amari's body floated lifelessly in the water. Blood streaked down both of her cheeks. Then Itachi placed his blade to her throat.

"On the contrary, you will either let us leave peacefully, or I will kill her right in front of all of you."

"Amari!" Kurenai cried out for her daughter.

There was no fight left in Amari's body. No spirit. No fire.

"Spare me your bravado," he cut off Mimi's fury. "I'm through playing games and entertaining foolish impulses. Try to attack us and I will kill her. Or do you think you'll be faster than my blade?"

He was met with silence.

"As I thought. Kisame. Aimi."

Kakashi bolted upright with a struggled gasp, and immediately regretted it. Aches across his entire body left him wincing. Searing white light blinded his vision.

His last memories were so vivid. Agonizingly vivid.

Amari…

Kakashi squeezed his eyes shut to try to focus. Body check. His fingers and toes flexed at his command; he rolled his ankles and wrists, feeling the muscles in his calves and forearms react accordingly; the act of breathing was no longer hampered by the feeling of punctured lungs—all good signs.

Right. Soreness and lightheadedness aside, he was good to go.

Soon as the thick fog hindering his mind cleared he'd get on the move and find whatever trail was left behind by the Akatsuki.

"Hey, calm down. You're safe," a feminine voice soothed.

A gentle hand rested on his shoulder. Kakashi opened his eyes and blinked repeatedly to clear the Hidden Mist Jutsu obscuring his vision. Sterile white walls surrounded him—the hospital then. The general forms of human beings filled the room, but nothing distinct enough for him to identify yet.

I'm safe, but Amari isn't, was how he wanted to reply. All he managed was a struggled, intelligible sound. Then a grimace.

I feel so stiff. How long have I been in this bed for?

Too long. Exacts mattered, though. How far ahead were Itachi, Kisame and Aimi? How much ground did he have to make up? A day? Two?

I have to pick up their trail. I won't let her die too.

"Kakashi-sensei, you're okay!"

Naruto. Drawn to the voice, he recognized the distinct silhouettes of three of his students—the fourth was missing.

Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are safe. That's some good news at least.

He blinked. Swallowed saliva down his desert dry throat. Gah, it felt horrible.

Finally his vision began to return, allowing him to take in the familiar legendary beauty known throughout the whole shinobi world.

"Lady…Tsunade?" he croaked.

Hovering close by was a black-haired woman—Shizune, he believed. Near the exit stood Master Jiraiya, arms crossed over his chest as he watched the entire scene.

"In the flesh," she replied with a friendly—and charming—smile.

No one could accuse Master Jiraiya of poor taste in women.

The friendly smile was felled by a disappointed frown.

"Taken down by a few punks, Kakashi? It's just—"

He probably should have listened to being scolded. That was probably the respectful thing to do given her status. However, her words flew in one ear and out the other.

Amari didn't have time to spare. But…if Lady Tsunade was here then he'd been in this hospital for more than a day or two. At minimum he guessed at least a week. Maximum? Well, years definitely hadn't passed. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura looked exactly as he remembered them.

Months then?

Has she already been found? Or is she still captured?

He refused to acknowledge the possibility of her death.

Amari was alive.

"—you're one of our elite."

So were Itachi and Aimi once. They've grown tremendously since our days in the Anbu.

He couldn't dwell on it or let Lady Tsunade continue. Couldn't they see how desperate he was for answers?

"…That's a really nice speech and all, but…" Kakashi turned his head to look at his three students, hope and fear equally mixed in his open eye. "Guys, how long have I been out? What happened to Amari?"

Sullen features overcame them; guilt and failure were prominent, cracking his glass heart audibly in his ears. No…please, don't tell me she's…

"You've been out for a month, Kakashi-sensei." His eye bulged. "And Amari…she was badly wounded. She used the last of her strength to save me and Sasuke," Naruto answered solemnly.

More cracks cut through his ears.

Amari…you sacrificed yourself again to protect your comrades.

It sounded like her…

"Itachi used the same genjutsu on her that he used on you," Sasuke continued.

The glass heart shattered, destroyed by too much guilt to bear. Amari…I'm so sorry.

How much pain did Itachi put her through before he decided it was enough? How long had she endured before breaking from the continuous torment?

"She was put into the same state as you. She's in the next room."

Hope overwhelmed Kakashi. "So she's still alive?" They all nodded. He released a sigh that wasn't full of relief but wasn't entirely full of sorrow. "Well…that counts for something then. At least you're all safe."

Hurricane force winds and storm surge battered and submerged his barely stitched together heart with guilt, but his urgency to leave this bed dissipated.

Amari was alive. Safe within the walls of Konoha. Injured by a terrible genjutsu, but at least she was no longer in the hands of the Akatsuki. No longer out of reach or in danger of death.

"We're all really glad you're okay Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said.

Kakashi managed a tired closed eyed smile at the trio. "Sorry for worrying you all."

The bright and inviting daffodils settled next to his bed caught his attention as he opened his eyes. Fresh flowers? Sakura must have been visiting often.

"You picked lovely flowers, Sakura."

She smiled and blushed faintly at the compliment. "Thank you, Sensei."

"Kakashi."

Jiraiya's voice drew Kakashi's attention immediately—a voice easily associated with an imminent invasion, or a fated battle between a paragon of good and the incarnation of evil.

"I know you've just woken up, but there's something you need to know regarding Amaririsu."

Tsunade moved to stand next to her fellow Sannin; their features were sharp as blades of lightning.

Kakashi sighed. "You mean the Mangekyō Sharingan, right?"

"So you know."

A small, tired nod was his answer. "Amari broke me out of Itachi's Tsukuyomi after two days of torture. Had I gone through the third, I doubt I could have managed staying conscious as long as I did." He turned a curious look their way. "How did you find out?"

"Itachi told me himself when he tried to kidnap Naruto."

Kakashi hummed in acknowledgment but said nothing.

They must have followed through with using Amari to find Naruto, he pieced together. And somewhere during that she sacrificed herself again to rescue Naruto and Sasuke. After rescuing Amari, Naruto and Master Jiraiya probably set out to find Tsunade, likely to take up the mantle as the Fifth Hokage and to heal us.

Kakashi grimaced internally. And I dismissed her like that? Smooth, Kakashi, real smooth.

The events of the last month were falling into place—all except one.

"I get the feeling you didn't bring this up just to tell me that Amari unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan. What's on your mind?" Kakashi prodded for more information.

Jiraiya flicked his eye over to him, likely to gauge the honesty in his words to whatever his next question was. "The power she unlocked, did it appear like an exploding red star?"

Suspicion dripped in his voice. It left Kakashi with an uneasy feeling in his gut.

Regardless, he nodded. "Yes."

Jiraiya's lips remained in a flat frown, eyes returning to the window across from him—a silent sign of disapproval.

Silence befitting a meeting of old friends who parted on bad terms deafened the room. Naruto noticeably shifted on his feet, uncomfortable by the sudden change of mood.

He can't be thinking about sealing her eyes like the Hyūga Clan, could he?

True the power Amari unlocked was dangerous to enemies and allies equally, but to lock away her eyes right out the gate? Did Jiraiya doubt Amari's loyalty that much? Why?

"What are you planning to do?" he asked cautiously.

"We're going to wake Amaririsu up and prepare for the possibility she might attack," Jiraiya answered honestly.

"What?!" Naruto shrieked in surprise.

"Amari isn't Itachi or Aimi, Master Jiraiya," Kakashi assured firmly.

"Maybe not, but caution is appropriate given the circumstance. That power could easily destroy this entire hospital in a blink of an eye," the Toad Sage pointed out. "We don't know if Itachi tweaked the genjutsu on her mind. For all we know, he could have turned her."

Arguments formed at the tip of Kakashi's tongue…yet none found a voice. What Jiraiya said of her power and of Itachi's genjutsu were too valid to ignore; he felt that devastating raw power firsthand, and Itachi's prowess with genjutsu far surpassed theirs.

But in my heart I can't allow myself to believe that Amari is now our enemy.

"Whoa, hold on!" Naruto took a forceful step forward, indignation tensing every muscle in his body. "Treating Amari like a threat wasn't part of the deal, Pervy Sage! She risked everything to save me and Sasuke, you saw it yourself! And now you think she might be an enemy because of that Itachi Uchiha guy?!"

"Cool it down, kid. This is a hospital. Show respect for the other patients," Jiraiya scolded. "Don't forget, Naruto, Itachi Uchiha is a master of genjutsu. Look at what he did to Kakashi and Amaririsu; they've been in a coma-like state for a full month, requiring a level of Medical Ninjutsu only Tsunade could apply."

Jiraiya's brow deepened. "In all my years as a shinobi, I've witnessed only a handful of jutsus of such enormous power like the power Amaririsu now wields. We must be careful. Itachi could have planted a suggestion to bring you to the Akatsuki or to destroy the Leaf."

"Amari would never do that," Naruto argued.

"You're right. Amaririsu wouldn't. But we're not talking about Amaririsu in control of herself," Jiraiya countered. "We're talking about Itachi Uchiha controlling her. This is just as much for her safety as it is for the Leaf,"

Naruto opened his mouth to argue but Kakashi cut him off. "Naruto, relax. Amari will be fine."

Something about the genjutsu on her mind didn't add up anymore. The way Shisui acted towards Itachi and Aimi, his warnings and the path he left her…

No. It didn't add up. Not at all. There was more hidden beneath the surface. Purposefully hidden from all of them, even the eyes of veterans like Jiraiya and Shikaku.

Patience, Kakashi reminded himself. Acting rashly or alone were the mistakes he'd be cautioned against. Later he'd speak to Shikaku, Jiraiya and Tsunade about Shisui's warnings, when they were in a more secure location and his senses weren't clouded.

For now, he had a line to draw in this argument. "I understand your caution and I won't argue against it, Master Jiraiya" Kakashi said.

"Not that you're in much of a position to argue," Jiraiya replied cheekily.

"I wasn't finished." The statement earned him a confused expression. "I understand your caution and won't argue against it, but I will not permit you to needlessly seal away her eyes. If Itachi tweaked the genjutsu then I will find a way to fix it."

Kakashi eye smiled at the Sannin. "Trust me, the repercussions of Kurenai learning you placed a fūinjutsu on her daughter's eyes will be more substantial than anything Amari could do."

"Was that an order, Kakashi?" Jiraiya asked, the smile on his lips and lightness to his voice betrayed by the serious aura around him.

Kakashi wasted no time meeting his gaze with a sharpened eye. "Yeah, it was."

Jiraiya frowned, doing away with his lighthearted façade.

This was one subject they were going to be at ends on.

"Listen, I get that you have your reasons for being cautious with Amari." Namely the blond-haired boy occupying this room and her Uchiha heritage. "I understand what this power can do, and it concerns me what might happen if it ever fell into the wrong hands. But treating Amari like a ticking time bomb won't do anything good. She's going to be extremely fragile when she wakes up."

"Fragile?" Tsunade asked.

Kakashi nodded and met her brown eyes. "We can't forget how the Mangekyō Sharingan is awakened: the severing of a bond. Amari regained memories of her cousin, was able to spend time with him and hold him in her arms again, but at the end of the day she has suffered the severing of that very precious bond."

He cast his look around the room. "For all of you it has been a month since the Akatsuki infiltrated, and since Lord Third died in battle. For us, it hasn't even been more than a week. The wounds we received physically, emotionally and mentally, they're still fresh."

None of them saw the pure elation she felt with Shisui, or how the severing of that bond truly affected her. They didn't hear her heartrending sobs. They didn't have to watch her say goodbye to him.

Kakashi couldn't do anything about it from here, but if he could at least stop Jiraiya from interrogating her intensely, he would consider it a victory.

It's the only thing I can do right now. Later, when no one is watching me, I'll try to check in on her.

He turned his eye back Jiraiya. "Amari is a docile deer normally, but she's not an idiot. She'll sniff out your suspicion in a heartbeat, possibly will even understand it. However, if you poke and prod her in this state you will learn that a Mangekyō Sharingan ability is the least of your worries. You won't see her attack coming."

"And what kind of attack will it be?"

A darkly amused chuckle escaped Kakashi at the question. "You'll know it if you see it." The silver-haired Jōnin dipped his head towards the door. "If you have any more questions then I'll be here, but I'd prefer you to at least wake Amari up first." He smiled at Tsunade. "And I'm sure our new Hokage has much more to do after healing us."

"True," Tsunade agreed and started towards the door. "Come on, Jiraiya. The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can heal the others in this hospital."

Tsunade, Jiraiya and Shizune departed. Kakashi turned to his students with an eye smile. "He's going to learn the hard way." The trio giggled and chuckled respectively. "Go on and tell Amari I said to take it easy."

"We will, Kakashi-sensei. Make sure you do the same," Sakura told him.

"I will," he promised. For a little while anyways.

"Once you get out of here I'll have to show you the super-cool new jutsu I learned, Kakashi-sensei. It'll blow you away I bet," Naruto boasted.

"Heh, with a bloody nose probably," Sasuke wisecracked as he pushed off the wall and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"No way! It's not anything like the Sexy Jutsu!" Naruto argued, following Sasuke out the door with Sakura.

"It's probably even more perverted," Sakura stated.

"What?! Not you too! Come on! Can't you take my side this time?"

"You were with a man you call Pervy Sage for an entire month. What am I to expect?" she retorted as they left the room.

…I think I should be offended that they each believed I would fall for that jutsu. He smiled softly and chuckled to himself. It's nice to see things haven't changed one bit.

"Interesting students you have there, Kakashi."

Huh? That voice. Kakashi turned his head to the window, where a man now leaned on the windowsill in full Anbu gear. The cat stylized mask sparked realization and rose his eyebrows in shock.

"I haven't seen you in a while. What are you doing here, Tenzō?"

Review Response to ChillinInKonoha: No, Shisui wasn't in the Police Force. And Lady Tsunade definitely has her work cut out for her when she gets back.

More on Natsumi later.

We'll have to wait and see what kind of power Amari can unlock and if she has the potential to match Madara Uchiha at all. Interesting theories nonetheless, in regards to both Natsumi's and Amari's heritage.

Her right eye will have the normal appearance, the Sharingan and then the Mangekyo. Her left eye will have the normal lavender appearance when deactivated, the vein bulging and intense look of an activated Byakugan and then, when she uses the Mangekyo, the eye will show its new hybrid state by turning fuchsia with her Mangekyo design within it. It'll also glow in the dark like Sharingan at that point, while also retaining the original abilities of the Byakugan.

Sorry about the missing update last week. Life sort of got out of hand last week, but things have finally calmed down. Should be back on my usual schedule.

Thanks for the review!