Edited 23/3/16: minor changes. Finally dealt with the genin / jonin thing.

-/-

"Kakashi."

Kakashi did not flinch. He had not done anything wrong. He wasn't planning to do anything wrong. He had not endangered Shikako in any way whatsoever. He was going out of his way to not endanger Shikako. The Jonin Commander had no reason to be angry with him...

"Shikako has been having nightmares - worse than usual. Has something happened?"

Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "Weelll~ no? Can't think of anything. Nope, everything's perfectly fine."

Shikaku frowned at him. For some reason the slight crease between his eyebrows was almost as terrifying as Ibiki's scowl. Possibly because Kakashi knew just how vicious Shikaku could be when motivated. Ibiki was a professional. He didn't get motivated. He just... got on with it.

"Shikamaru has noticed something is wrong too, although Shikako is doing a very good job of hiding exactly what."

Kakashi resisted the urge to get his book out. He really should have had it out already, but he'd been too busy thinking about Itachi's reactions to Ibiki's questions. He hadn't answered anything yet, but the way he hadn't answered was telling. It had been enough for Ibiki to decide to support him in his get-rid-of-Danzo plan. Kakashi really wished he could have at least mustered up something stronger than vague disappointment at the confirmation. As it was he was rather surprisingly unsurprised, he hadn't been fully aware he had that low an opinion of Konoha's leadership...

"Kakashi."

"Mah, Shikaku-san, everything's fine."

The father, and he was definitely a father right then and not the Jonin Commander, sighed. "Kakashi, if you have found out something about what has been bothering Shikako..."

Kakashi winced and tried to suppress the movement in the same instant. It came out as a minuscule twitch instead. He cursed himself for the slip. Of course Shikaku would notice that. The man was nothing less than observant.

Shikaku sighed. "Troublesome. I expect to be filled in soon, Kakashi." His eyes flickered to the left before he jumped away and Kakashi turned to where Sasuke was heading towards them. The younger of the two Uchiha was looking particularly scowly today. Kakashi was very glad to see him.

"Sensei."

"And what has got my cute little student wandering around with a storm cloud on his face?"

"We are not small, we are not cute, we are not little and we have not been your students for years. Stop calling us that. Sensei. Please."

Kakashi counted it as a win that the boy did actually address him by his title, even if it was an afterthought. He did make a mental note that Sasuke still called him Sensei and thus his arguments were as useless as ever.

"And Shikamaru is stalking me."

"Really..."

"Make him stop."

Kakashi smirked, as if he could stop a determined Nara from doing whatever the hell they wanted - especially with one of his own on his back. "Asked Shikako? She's got better at wrangling her twin lately."

"She shrugged at me. And then asked Ino if she wanted to go shopping." He looked irritated at his teammate's frankly devious tactics. Kakashi approved. It was similar to his own tactic of running into Gai - heaven forbid someone actually try to interrupt one of his friend's challenges.

"I've taught you escape and evasion tactics. Do you need a refresher course?"

"He keeps finding me! Whenever I'm off duty!"

Kakashi chuckled. "Ah well, I can't help you then. Now, people to see, missions to do. See you around~"

It had been almost 18 hours since he'd checked up on Shikako-chan. It was time to wander over in her direction. Let's see... Would she have finished shopping with Ino by now? It was getting late... He hoped she hadn't gone home yet. Shikaku had only just left.

-/-

Shikako hadn't made it home. He felt almost pathetically grateful for that. Shikaku hadn't given up trying to corner him again until an issue with one of the border patrols had called him away. Kakashi had taken advantage of the reprieve to disappear but he wasn't under any illusions that he'd be able to keep it up for long. His own student was an excellent example of what a suitably motivated Nara could achieve, and nothing quite motivated Shikaku like something troubling one of his children.

Kakashi spread his senses out to double check that none of the Nara clan (or anyone else suspicious) was near and then dropped down next to her. She cast a glance at him before focusing back on the path, letting her feet drag slightly as she headed home. She looked... tired? Distracted? He felt rather pleased that she didn't quite feel the need to hold up a facade in front of him anymore.

"So... Deep thoughts?"

She glanced at him with a quirk of her lips. "My family are concerned."

"You've been having nightmares." It was both an invitation and a mild reprimand. He wasn't sure if she caught the question part or not.

"I... Yeah." She hesitated before walking again. "They have been a bit worse lately. Of course they would notice." She sighed, "I wish they hadn't. It... They worry enough."

Kakashi hummed non-committedly. He hadn't forgotten that in addition to Danzo there was still the issue of whatever was threatening his student. And from what he had deduced, the threat involved her family to some extent. There really wasn't much else she could have been threatened with at that age. Also while Danzo was a factor, it could be argued that village security, and as a result clan security, wasn't as tight as it could be. Someone could have snuck in.

She didn't speak again as Kakashi walked her back to the entrance of the Nara compound. He didn't expect her to talk, but reinforcing the idea he was there, that he was on her side... He hoped it helped. The sooner she accepted that she wasn't alone in this anymore the better.