"I still have nothing," Jiraiya grumbled as he dropped three more folders across the corner of floor he sat at.

Stretched across from him was a sea of discarded documents. The desk to his left, where Tsunade poured over, was in a similar disarray of papers and yellow folders. A steadily growing mountain of empty searches and false hope. Kakashi sat cross legged against the front of the wooden desk, leaning his back against visible panel as he finished scanning his current document.

"Nothing here either," Tsunade reluctantly confirmed as she dropped into the chair, one arm coming up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "What the hell is happening? We should have found something by now."

"Well, it proves that there's something going on like Kakashi assumed. Or that someone's behind it."

"Proof or not, it doesn't give us any leads on who's responsible or why we can't find anything on the woman." Tsunade looked at the front of her desk where she knew Kakashi was sitting out of sight from her. She directed her next question to the silent man still combing through the papers. "Are you sure that this Nori woman is actually from here?"

"I'm certain of it," Kakashi responded levelly before he thought better on it and added. "Or as certain as I can be. She's tried to avoid confrontation with us from the start when she realized we were from Konoha. And has been adamant about not returning here, which is why I drugged her to sneak her in…"

"Still an idiotic move," Tsunade grumbled under her breath but both men heard her.

"I won't argue that," Kakashi admitted, finally bringing the folder he was reviewing into his lap. "Is it possible that whoever knew about her shredded the files?"

"Why would someone go through the trouble to erase evidence of her existence? Why not put her in the Bingo Books and have shinobi hunt her down? It would improve the chances of resolving their loose end."

Jiraiya stood to his feet and stretched his arms over his head, trying to ease the tension in his muscles from sitting on the hard floor for so long. "It's possible that someone was working with her from the inside, right? Maybe they had an agreement that she would leave and hide her identity; in exchange they'd erase her ties here."

"But why?"

"What if it wasn't that she found out about something but maybe she was the cause of it. Or even had a hand in it that needed covering up?"

Tsunade's scowl deepened at the prospect of what Jiraiya presented. If that was the case, then it was worse than what Kakashi had made it sound. The woman was not some innocent by-stander who witnessed something but was directly involved. At the prospect of that being an option, she was not so eager to allow the woman a chance of freedom, even for the sake of Kakashi's mission.

"Kakashi…. Does that sound like a possible reasoning to you?" Tsunade directed, curious to hear from the shinobi who had been oddly quiet the last hour.

The white-haired man stood to his feet and set a handful of folders onto her desk before stuffing his hands into his pockets. Pensive and dejected, he pulled his words carefully, trying to answer with the little information he knew.

"Akane made it sound that there was someone responsible for the deception. That they made a point to cover up loose ends of those who would know of the event, even if it was her that told them… Wait-Kyo," he said suddenly, as his head popped with to meet her gaze. "Can we find anything on a genin or chunin named Kyo?"

"I mean, sure, but that's a common name," Jiraiya explained, not feeling all that encouraged. "Do you have a surname?"

"Eh… Unfortunately, not."

"Year he graduated?"

"…No."

"That'll take even longer to look for if we don't have anything more to narrow the search down to," Tsunade sighed.

"He was killed by ANBU. Akane said he was framed for stealing a scroll and he was a member from another team that she went to the academy with."

"We could look through death certificates in the past few years to see if we find anything, but if the people responsible for the coverup were hiding loose ends, they may have destroyed his records too."

"I agree, but I don't have any other leads to find her information."

"We shouldn't have to hunt down her information in the first place! Damn the person who's behind this. It's been hours and all we've done is make a mess of my office."

"There's nothing else, Kakashi?" Jiraiya implored with his hands coming to settle on is hips. "No other information we can try to find?"

Kakashi pondered hard about his inquiry. The details were sparse and out of order. Only by conjecture and piecing sections together allowed him to have a fragile grasp of the woman who was bound in his apartment.

"The only other thing I have is that ability of hers which was able to control Sai and Naruto. Itachi mentioned an event that happened in the Chunin exams that he wanted her to show him. A jutsu or something. She never elaborated on what it was."

"Wait," Tsunade perked up as her brows creased together. "Chunin exams?"

Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged glances as she stood to her feet.

"What are you thinking?" Kakashi questioned, feeling a spring of hope that there was a lead after all.

Tsunade did not offer a response as she shook her head and muttered to herself, "How could I be so stupid."

Jiraiya looked to Kakashi and a familiar grin pulled. "We didn't think to try the academy. Maybe, if we're lucky, there's something on her in their records. It's likely that if her file is missing, there may be evidence in another's."

Tsunade grabbed her coat and led the way to the doors of her office, not willing to stand around and make further presumptions. She needed a drink, or five. But seeing as she was in the middle of getting Kakashi's mission started, she knew it would be days before she had the sweet alcoholic nectar she craved to ease her stress. For now, she just needed to get out of her stuffy office.

"That's the only option we have left, but we'll have to search quickly…" After a look back at the room, she added, "And not make an apparent mess."

-8-8-8-8-8-8—8-8-8-8-8-8-


"Is that…. A shuriken blanket?" Akane questioned from where she remained bound at the desk.

The clone of Kakashi had taken to standing against the door frame outside the room while reading a book. His back was to her, and she could only see his left side that lingered in the opening. Akane thought it odd that he chose to stand on the right side of the door. Initially, she figured it was a way to keep an eye on her from outside but that happened to be the side that was covered with his forehead protector. If he wanted to look at her, he needed to turn his head further so his dark eye could see inside the room.

Hearing her teasing question, his head tilted up, as if he was considering what she was getting at before he answered plainly.

"It is."

"That's actually… cute," she commented, amusement dripping from her words. "Where'd you get it? I might want one… Hey, do you think they'd let me have it in my prison cell?"

Kakashi only answered her ridiculous question with his own. "Still convinced that's where you're going to end up?"

"Well. As much as I'd like to believe you about not turning me in, I can't help but notice that your real self has been gone for over two hours now." Akane let the sentence linger, a display that she was staying observant despite her chatty behavior. "Makes me wonder what's being discussed. They can't still be talking about the mission."

"The Hokage is thorough in her evaluations."

"Thorough or not, it's still not convincing…." When Kakashi didn't answer, she pressed on. "If you're so concerned with what I know, why not just ask me about it? I know how clones work. Whatever information you get, you pass along to your real self."

"While that's true, it's obvious that the topic is sensitive." He turned a page, still not looking at her. "It's only right that the real me is here to show his respect on the matter."

"Respect?"

"To you and the subject."

"If he wanted to show respect, tying me to the desk was the wrong way to go about it."

"That was a precaution."

"Yeah? If that's the case, I haven't tried anything. Why not just untie me while we wait?"

"Again, you disrespect my intelligence," came his off-handed comment.

"Trust isn't a one-way transaction. If you want me to take your word that I won't be turned in after revealing what I know, then why keep me bound? To me, it shows that once I reveal the past events, you could just go back on your word and turn me in anyway."

"And if I take your word and untie you, then you could just escape and not reveal anything."

"That's my point. Not a one-way transaction."

"Alright. Ladies first, then we'll see."

"… Now who's disrespecting the other's intelligence?"

"You don't want to lead by example?" Another page turned. "Then it seems we're at an impasse."

Akane narrowed her eyes as her lips pursed together in a small pout. The clone was unmoving and indifferent, like talking to a wall. A very obnoxious, and aloof wall. It was clear that all she was doing was wasting her breath.

Glancing around the room, she looked for anything else to keep her occupied. There was a brief moment she contemplated breaking the leg of the desk to free herself. Though doing so would leave her to fight Kakashi with her wrists bound together and no access to her chakra.

Not ideal.

Then again, what were her other options? Continue to wait to see if the real Kakashi kept his word or not? Wait to see if a squad of ANBU showed up to the apartment to haul her away to the underground prisons where she would be interrogated and likely never see the light of day? Once word reached those that knew about her awareness of the Uchiha Massacre, she was sure that an assassination attempt would follow hours, if not days after her arrest.

Would they poison her? Send in someone to slit her throat while she slept? Employ a guard to slip her something or frame her for escaping? Maybe even frame her death by her own hands?

She was certain that whoever was at the head of the corruption would want to handle it quickly. Possibly poetically, even.

A theatrical death. Murder or feigned suicide, there were options to be had.

Would they make it gory, display gristle and sinew beneath arterial splatter like an abstract painting? Or would her death be fulfilled with humiliation, choking on blood or frothing at the mouth from caustic poison? A fitting punishment for years of evading, which would leave her last moments filled with anguish and self-pity.

Akane could feel a worried scowl marring her features and she was grateful that Kakashi's focus was on his book. Shaking the poignant thoughts from her head, she refocused on the room, hoping that tracing the small details of the bed, or woodgrain of the bookshelf would keep her mind from wandering. Anything that happened to her from outside that room laid in Kakashi's decision.

Would he keep his word and let her go? Or would he deceive her and turn her in? Was it already too late, and they were coming as she sat there, stewing in her dwindling hope?

Did it even matter? She didn't actually plan to reveal the events to him. Right? So, by that logic, she was damning herself to be arrested if she refused to tell him.

On the other hand, she could tell him and gain her freedom—if he was telling the truth. Anything that happened to him was his responsibility, not hers. The past few days was filled with nothing but her caution on the matter, and blatant demands to just drop it. But the man was persistent and if he wanted to know, despite her warnings, then he could find out. And if he died… well, she may not be far behind him.

Stop thinking about it, she grounded out internally and refocused for the 8th or 9th time on the room.

It took a little while before she found something worth anchoring her attention to the external fixtures.

A display of objects at the top of the bed were placed uniformly along the wooden ledge that stretched beneath the windowsill. Beside an older, modest clock and thriving snake plant, were two simply framed photos. The first showed a short haired brunette with two purple markings across her cheeks who stuck her tongue out, and beside her was another dark haired genin with ginger lensed goggles. A hand rested across his messy crown of hair which she traced with her eyes to the owner, which she recognized as the Yondaime Hokage.

She never met him, having arrived after his untimely death. But learning about him from the academy, and, of course, his likeliness on the mountainside was enough for her to recognize the famed Yellow-Flash.

Continuing, across the photo and to the Yondaime's other hand, she recognized a younger replica of the man that guarded the current prison-ahem-room. Two dark eyes stared unamused at the camera as if it was a task he loathed doing or something had put him in a foul mood. Akane couldn't help but examine the stark differences. Not only did the younger genin have both matching eyes and lack of scar, but he was disgruntled and focused, showing his annoyance clearly rather than behind a calculating, unreadable gaze. She had a hard time drawing a parallel to the company of the casual and indifferent man she had spent the last few days with. What was similar though was the mask.

Even in the photo next to it, where he took the place of his team captain, the mask was present, as was the clear emotion of pride forever captured through film.

Despite promising that she would refrain from asking about his mask, to avoid giving the man any pleasure in keeping his own secrets, she decided it was better than the drawn-out silence. Plus, she could artfully phrase it, so the amusement was shared by her, more than him…

"So… are you ugly or something?"

Kakashi's head perked up, faster than she knew he meant. He lowered his book and turned to face her, filling the doorway with his toned figure. The look he fixed her with was the epitome of perplexed with a hint of annoyance.

Akane schooled her features to innocent curiosity.

"What did you say?"

"I was asking if you're ugly…"

"…Why?"

"I'm just curious."

"No. Why would you ask that?"

"Oh," Akane shrugged and broke eye contact, trying to keep a teasing smile from forming. She could feel the corner of her lips aching to pull upward. "I just noticed that you've worn a mask for years... Apparently, since you were a kid."

Realizing what she was referring to, no doubt the photos he had on display, Kakashi fixed her with a withering glare.

"That's a ridiculous assumption."

"What's ridiculous about it? I felt it was a reasonable question. Kids get bullied, so maybe you were self-conscious and wanted to hide—"

"No." He shifted around to the doorframe once again, his back towards her.

"No?"

"No, I don't wear it because I'm ugly."

When it became apparent that the man had no intention of expanding on his comment, Akane sighed once more and continued, "Ease up a little… I just thought it was an explanation for the mask."

The only sound that filled the air was the wind outside the window, catching on the trim and stone.

Akane sat there, arms bound in an involuntary hug around the desk leg.

Still waiting.

And waiting.

"I hope someone's managed to point out that you're insufficient when it comes to carrying a conversation," she chimed pleasantly, even as she picked up the near empty teacup and swirled the cold liquid around the bottom.

From the corner of her eye, she saw him lift his head and thought she heard an exasperated sound escape his throat.

"… Why did you wear your mask?"

Although she was aware he was deflecting the attention away from himself and back to her, she refrained from mentioning it. At that point, she was just wanting some kind of conversation to keep her mind from drifting to her poor situation and bleak future.

"Obviously, to hide my identity."

"But as long as you avoided Fire Country or teams on missions, you wouldn't have to worry about anyone recognizing you."

"My contacts extend beyond this village. It isn't only Fire Country that would love to see me dead."

That seemed to hook his attention. Closing the book, his figure filled the door once again, where he crossed his arms and leaned a shoulder against the frame. His gaze was hard to read as he stared at her, somewhere between analyzing and something she couldn't pick out. Perhaps he was evaluating her little admittance rather than her.

"So, your identity is known by others," he stated, as if clarifying and solidifying the knowledge further. "Yet, you aren't in the Bingo Books."

"Again, I have no answer for that."

"Didn't you ever find it odd that you weren't listed?"

"Sure. But I wasn't going to write a petition to get listed, now, was I? Perhaps, the reason why was just an administrative error." She shrugged. "Either way, I took advantage of it."

"An administrative error that all villages made?"

She knew what he was getting at. Akane had a reason to leave Konoha, but still there was a chance for them to list her. And while she claimed she never committed a crime against the village, she never made that promise about others. Much the opposite. It went unsaid that she acted against other villages that would have listed her for such crimes. An 'administrative error' across all the wronged villages was highly- impossibly so- unlikely.

"The mask became a part of my image only weeks after I left Konoha. I wasn't taking any chances."

"Then how did these other enemies you acquired discover your identity?"

"Some knew me before the mask. Others were told by a mutual acquaintance."

"Acquaintance is a nice word for foe."

"Foe is a term that's unmoving. While at times they are just that, other times I can still benefit from the relationship."

"Benefit how?"

Akane shrugged, a secretive smile curling. "It varies."

He must have realized she wasn't going to give much more information on that subject, so he changed it.

"How old were you when you left?"

"16." Akane allowed her smile to shift to a coy smirk. "Are you going to run the math to estimate the events that happened around that time?"

It was hard to tell, but his expression shifted ever so slightly to what she assumed was a frown. "If you knew I'd do that, then why tell me?"

"Because you don't know my current age," Akane stated confidently. "Anything you come up with would only be speculation on your end. And if there's one thing I've learned over the last few days, it's that you don't like speculation when you could have the hard facts instead."

"And you won't tell me your age…?"

"It's rude to ask a lady her age, Hatake-san."

Kakashi fixed her with another withering glare. Obviously, he didn't find her teasing as humorous as she did. "As insufficient as I may be with conversation, you aren't any better when all you do is talk in circles."

"I'm willing to talk to you. You just have to ask the right questions. If I told you all my secrets, then how would I keep your attention?"

The shinobi mulled over her words while his gaze grew distant. It was not clear if he was replaying the tidbits she revealed thus far or if he was weighing the benefits of dragging on the conversation. Initially, she assumed that the white-haired man was knitting together questions that would get the desired answers, but she threw that away when something in his gaze shifted and he refocused on her.

Stepping into the room, for the first time since the real shinobi left, Kakashi's clone stopped only a few feet away, his imposing figure towering over her seated form. His hands were stuffed into his pockets now and the heaviness of his attention was unyielding to the kunoichi.

Akane could feel the crowding of her personal space the closer he got toward the center of the room. Fortunately, he stopped at the precipice of her barriered comfort; right on the boundary where she risked the involuntary shift that would reveal her unease. Any display of distress she had would only confirm his advantage over her. In a way, she suspected that was what he was testing by suddenly standing above her, a clear display of the power imbalance as she stared up to her captor.

But the kunoichi recovered her instinctual urge to shift away, choosing to meet his gaze head on.

"Had I known," he began cooly, his tone flowing a little more smoothly than it had before, "that you were vying for my attention, I would have offered another activity."

Akane was taken aback by the lingering implications, and with an indignant huff, she countered, "I never said I was vying for anything. Let alone your attention."

"You wanted to keep me interested, though. You openly admitted to it."

Akane wanted to retort with something witty and sharp that would dampen his ego's sudden appearance. But her mind was on the defensive and any callous riposte she had in her arsenal was not within reach. She could feel heat rising to her cheeks and she cursed inwardly as the tables quickly turned against her.

"The lady blushes?" Kakashi teased on relentlessly.

While her mind and mouth weren't working together, she always had her steel glare to fall back on. In an effort to recover her pride, Akane rolled her eyes.

"You know that's not what I was getting at when I brought up your attention," she shot back a little impatiently. But unlike hers, Kakashi's wit was at the tip of his tongue and wielded expertly.

"Considering that I have very little to go on for what we could qualify as experience together, I'd say that's an incorrect assumption. I know your name and that you're a talented kunoichi. Anything aside from that are only theories."

When Akane stayed silent, it was Kakashi that decided to continue to fill it.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd allow me to get to know you. But when I'm constantly shut down, it makes for poor conversation, and frankly, I have other things to pass the time with then entertain your need for attention."

Akane could feel her indignation ignite, both because he was right and because she hated he was so keen to point it out. Whether there was some truth in that or not, the unsavory insult in his response had her temper flare in retaliation. Even as he crouched in front of her, only an arm's reach away, she no longer felt the invisible barrier of her personal space being encroached on. All she wanted was the chakra strings removed so she could lash out properly at the man before her.

Entertain her need for attention?

Did he think she was some needy woman who yearned for his interest out of some vanity filled desire? He obviously found her question on his looks offensive. So modest or not, he still considered himself attractive. And it was true, he was. She wouldn't deny that—at least to herself. But that didn't mean she was some sexually deprived woman mewling for his attention. She had other things to worry about.

Like her life.

"I don't trust you, Hatake Kakashi," Akane stated as indifferently as her wounded pride would allow, slighted by a few degrees past freezing. "And your attention is worth little more than a temporary distraction from my circumstances."

Kakashi blinked at the sharp rejection to his implications. While aware of the actions and allegations he made to push against her incessant teasing, he had not expected her to find it that offensive. It was obvious he insulted her and, despite feeling like he was correct in his assumptions, he still offered to back track to recover the deteriorating civility.

"My mistake then. I didn't take into account that it stemmed from your worries over your situation… But, as I mentioned, if you just explain whatever it is you know, then you'll be released-"

"Then call ANBU now. Because you're not getting any information."

Kakashi was taken aback by her affronted promise. Because he realized, it wasn't a meager threat. It was just that, a promise. Sighing heavily, a hand came to scratch the back of his neck.

"I've offended you. I'm sorry, that wasn't my intentions," he apologized sheepishly. When she didn't respond, he took that as a sign that she hadn't fully slammed the metaphoric door on his face. "I can make more tea and we can have a real conversation if you're willing…"

Akane refused to respond as she turned her gaze elsewhere.

Kakashi didn't press further and took the cup by her knees. Standing to his full height, he gave one last glance to her before he stepped out to the kitchen, hoping he was able to salvage what he had undone during his watch.

_-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8—8-


Lady Tsunade felt a twitch forming at the corner of her eye as a humorless smiled formed. Her fingers clenched the file in hand, crumpling the cardstock of the folder into permanent creases along the edges.

"Those slimy bastards," she growled out. "Thought they were clever in erasing all evidence… but they missed a spot…"

Kakashi and Jiraiya perked up and looked to the blonde who was equal measures seething and victorious in her findings.

"No way- did you find it?" Jiraiya rushed to her side and looked over her arm to what was a similar value to gold in that moment. His eyes widening and the elongated silence as he read only made Kakashi eager to see what was discovered.

"It looks like they forgot to review Team Documents for any information on her. They managed to get her individual file, but overlooked probation years," Tsunade explained as Jiraiya took the folder from her hand, though not before the Hokage took the team photo and handed it to Kakashi. "Is that her?"

Taking the offered picture, his dark eye landed on the girl standing on the right of her team. Long sable locks pulled to a high ponytail with curtain bangs framing her face, pulled together with bright steel eyes and crooked smirk.

"That's Akane," he confirmed, not taking his eyes from the photo as he examined the others that made up her team.

Tsunade muttered another curse, though it was underlined by a bubble of triumph of finding the needle in a haystack. But Kakashi was too lost in thought as he evaluated the group, recognizing the arm crossed, brunet team captain, Hiroto, as a comrade who died two years prior from a terminal illness.

They never worked together, and it was only by mutual friends that Kakashi even met him in the first place. But to know that someone with information he craved was once within reach was disheartening.

The other two shinobi in the photo were not recognizable to Kakashi. The blond with his forehead protector placed as a bandana had an arrogant smile, reminded him briefly of Naruto's determination, while the other brunet haired boy in the middle smiled faintly. It was odd that Akane wasn't placed in the middle of the group, as that was usually the format of team photos, but knowing her, she probably rejected that to no end until the photographer finally gave in.

Deciding to tuck that question away for a later discussion with the kunoichi, he tuned back to listen to the Sannins as they reviewed the missions and details of the team.

Before he could listen in or provide input, he felt a sharp, all-too-familiar, flick against his consciousness. Something was happening. He could all but feel his clone react to something despite the distance between them.

Touching back against that thin mental link with his clone, Kakashi could feel the chakra strain and pull of energy he used to fight an opponent.

Oh, no. This was not happening…

"We have to go!" Kakashi interrupted, earning confusion from both Sannins. He could already predict the scolding he was about to receive from the Hokage. "It seems Akane's free and is now fighting my clone."

The barely contained fury in Lady Tsunade's gaze all but confirmed he was in for a lashing on the way to his apartment. He just hoped that was the worse he would receive.

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-


The first hint the clone had that something was wrong was when the bamboo floorboard he stood on sunk just a millimeter more from a new weight. It was so miniscule that even if he had time to react, it would not have changed anything.

Before he had the opportunity to turn around, a leg swept at his ankles from behind, effectively kicking the ground from under him. Kakashi's vision involuntarily shifted from the boiling kettle then toward the dim light on the ceiling before he crashed roughly on his back. A grunt escaped from deep in his chest and he felt the stunned pain as the wind was thrown from him.

Reliably, second nature took over as he felt the woman's hand go for his kunai pouch before his own lashed out and grabbed for the wrist. Lifting his head up, he met the determined glare of the kunoichi who reeled back her free arm before sending it at his face. He had just enough notice to lean away as the breeze of air brushed his cheek, more gently than the fist would have been had it collided as intended.

Spinning his weight, Kakashi attempted to reverse the roles, but she pushed herself as far away as she could while his hand still enveloped her wrist. However, even that was short lived as her knee connected with his exposed gut, making him release her.

Once separated, both gathered their feet under them and were not surprised of the natural distance that formed between the two opponents.

Kakashi's gaze took in the kunoichi's stance, as he wondered how she managed to get free and sneak up on him. Since he left the room, there was never a sound made that would make him think there was damage being inflicted to the desk. When his gaze drifted to her wrists, however, he was met with realization of how she gotten herself free, followed by an inkling of relief.

She had managed to cut the binding that connected her wrists around the leg of the desk, but had not gotten the bracelet pieces off, still effectively rendering her chakra moot. One of her heeled sandals was missing the leather lace that tightened the material, proving she had found a source to cut the string.

"Just let me leave, Hatake. I'm not worth the trouble you'll find yourself in."

"I'm afraid it's too late for that… Anything you do from here on will only make it worse for the both of us."

Akane's scowl deepened. "What do you mean, it's too late?"

"I mean you already freed yourself. If you create a scene here in Konoha than others will come, and it'll be out of my hands."

"…. I'm not buying that. Just because I'm not tied to a desk hasn't changed the situation. Why did you say it's too late?"

Kakashi remained silent as his lone eye watched her intently, not revealing anything behind his battle-hardened mask. Akane swallowed, hoping she was being paranoid and reading into his implications more than was necessary.

"Why did you say it's too late, Hatake?" she questioned again, resigning herself to the inevitable that she was, indeed, not being paranoid.

But any confirmation she hoped to get from the man was ignored as he stared back unmoving, which only reinforced her fear as she crouched a little lower into her stance.

The sudden shrill of the kettle reaching temperature shrieked and pierced the thick air between them. As if a whistle for the start of a match, both opponents launched at each other, punches sailing to meet air or deflected away into nothingness.

A kick landed across Akane's side, pushing her body into the fridge. Grimacing, she managed to bring an arm up to block a strike to the side of her head followed by her sending a kick in return. Kakashi shifted his weight back, managing to evade the attack followed by another as she grabbed the screeching kettled and hurled it at him.

Ducking under the metal container, he wasn't as lucky to dodge the spray of scorching water that burst from its impact against the wall. The pain was intense but short lived as it dampened the fabric of his left sleeve. Unfortunately, it wasn't the only object that the woman decided was appropriate to toss at him.

A toaster, a pan, and—Oh, shit, she found the cutlery—barreled at him from across the kitchen. He managed to catch the toaster and the pan but used the latter to block the three knives that she sent with expert precision at him.

"Alright—stop-Stop throwing stuff!" he demanded between averting the blades.

Kakashi knew she was cross with him. That was obvious. But it was odd that she was acting out of pure frustrations rather than with the usual strategy. Had Akane been thinking clearly, she would have used one of the knives to cut her chakra suppressants or even kept one as a weapon. Instead, she sneered at him from across the small dining table that separated the two of them.

"They know, don't they?" While her glare burned hot with wrath, he could see the dangerous mixture of fear and betrayal swirling beneath. She brought a hand up to her wound in her side, still not healed completely and likely agitated from the strain. Otherwise, she remained unbothered as she continued her accusations persistently in his direction. "You told them about me!"

Kakashi could feel himself sweating now, realizing that his slip revealed just that. She was clever; he should have realized he needed to choose his words more effectively.

"I didn't tell them anything," he refracted calmly, though he was feeling anything but. "I've been here the whole time with you—"

She lunged at him, sending a combination of kicks and punches at his core. Kakashi worked quick to recover as she met him on his side of the kitchen, only trying to defend himself from her assault. But she was relentless. Even as she allowed her emotions to take over, her speed never wavered. If anything, it was the opposite and Kakashi wondered if she was even faster than the night they fought near the river.

A fist glanced off his jaw, but the other connected with his lower rib before he recovered enough to block the next combo. If she managed to land a hit to his jaw just right, it would likely leave him unconscious.

Realizing that, Kakashi waited for her defense to drop between attacks until he found his opening to lash out.

Grabbing her wrist, he pushed her strike away and hooked his leg behind her ankle, forcing her balance to faulter. Crowding her space, he felt her equilibrium further tilt to the side until she was malleable to his direction, ending with her back against the dining table and his body pinning in in place.

"Get off me—get off," she growled, tugging her arms and bucking her hips to destabilize him. But it was futile. In a last effort to show her frustrations, she kicked her legs out in a tantrum, hitting nothing but the side of the chair.

"Just take it easy," he tried to calm the fuming woman.

"No! You lied to me! You couldn't even have the decency to be honest that you were turning me in, so you lied to give me false hope!"

"No, Akane, that's not what happened—"

"Get off!"

"Akane, please calm down and listen."

The woman continued to struggle beneath him, forcing him to readjust his grip on her wrists as she growled out curses.

"It's not what you think," he struggled "Please, just calm down."

Akane continued her struggles, twisting her body and trying desperately to free herself from the man above her. Internally, she begged for the legs of the table to collapse, knowing it was her best chance at getting out.

But as the inches she gained dwindled to nothing, she realized that it wasn't looking good. Kakashi had a firm grip with all the advantage over her, while the table holding them up remained steadfast, unyielding to the weight.

Sensing that all she was doing was wasting her strength, a thick blanket of despair covered her, leaving her cold. She was going to die. They were coming for her now and she wouldn't even see the light of day.

And she only had herself to blame. She should have fought harder. She never should have held back when fighting Kakashi all those nights ago-she should have struggled against him the night in the forest rather than trust the food that was offered. And because she foolishly dropped her guard, that bitter pill of trust slid down her throat all too easily only to sprout and bloom in the caustic betrayal.

All of this because of past events that she wished she could forget about.

Before she could fire any harsh remarks to the man above her, she was suddenly reminded that he was simply a clone as he poofed into a cloud, momentarily obstructing her view of the apartment.

Blinking, Akane sat up as the vapor dissipated, wondering if this was her chance to make a run for it and why the clone disappeared so suddenly. Yet in that very moment, before she could make sense of what just happened, the front door opened as Kakashi hurried in with two strangers in tow.

Akane jumped to her feet and took a few short steps back until her sandals kicked something on the ground. The three shinobi closed the front door, each one fixing her with hesitancy, and readiness to act in a moment's notice. Kakashi never slowed as he continued to the kitchen, the intensity he fixed her with weighed more than that of the clone seconds prior. It vaguely registered that he was saying something to her, but all she could hear was the pounding of blood in her ears and her body teetered on fight or flight response.

Again, Akane swallowed before lunging for the chef's knife at her feet. When she straightened, Kakashi's imposing figure crowded her and twisted the knife from her hand, but not before she managed to catch his forearm with the edge. He didn't even flinch from the sting. Unarmed, Akane was about to launch an attack at him when he did something unexpected.

He raised his hands and took a few steps back.

The motion caught her off guard and for a moment, all she could do was stand there awkwardly.

"Hey, it's alright. No one's here to arrest you…Actually," Kakashi explained, voice taking on a lighter timber as he smiled tightly beneath his mask, "I want to introduce you to some close friends of mine."

He made a motion to the strangers in the room while the other hand softly fell to his side. "This is Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade, the Hokage. Both are legendary Sannin of the Hidden Leaf."

"Oi," Jiraiya bolstered as he stepped further in the room. "It's so nice to meet such a lovely lady! Kakashi didn't mention how beautiful you were—Ow."

Akane's attention switched to the Lady Hokage who punched Jiraiya over the head. "This isn't the time for your games."

"Eh, I was just being polite."

The blonde woman turned her honey gaze to Akane, her lips set in a firm line and the hand, not holding a folder, came to rest on her hip. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Nori Akane."

The missing-nin held in a scoff. She doubted the Hokage felt pleasure in meeting her in the middle of the night in some subordinate's apartment.

Whether Lady Tsunade noticed her skepticism, she didn't show it as she continued in a polite, yet authoritative manner.

"Why don't you have a seat so we can talk."

"Nah, I'd rather stand, thanks," Akane replied brusquely.

Kakashi sighed. "Akane, please." When she glanced to him, he added, "Let's keep this civil."

"Civil?" she parroted tensely. Turning back to the Hokage and Jiraiya, she squared her shoulders, ignoring the ache that pulsed at her side. "I've had enough deceit. If you're going to arrest me, don't waste my time pretending you won't."

"I can't make a promise, false or otherwise, if I don't know the situation," Tsunade countered, her arms coming to cross her chest. "We can do this here or we can take you in. I'd prefer the former seeing as we're all here, however I'm not opposed to the latter…"

Not finding the situation ideal, Akane had to admit that the Hokage was better alternative than a squad of ANBU. Although, that wasn't to say she had a better chance at fighting her way out. She couldn't even overpower Kakashi's clone in that state, let alone two Sannins and the real shinobi. Her night was bleak no matter which way she looked at it.

There was a miniscule level of reassurance, however, that they hadn't made a move to apprehend her. It allowed her the freedom for her to decide on the matter. Not that she was eager to do that. In fact, she was truly at a loss on what to do moving forward.

"Lady Tsunade," Kakashi inquired, shattering the silence and surprising everyone in the room. "Can I have a moment to speak with Akane?"

"I'm not entirely sure that's wise."

"Perhaps," Jiraiya interjected, still filling the role of mediator it seemed, "it wouldn't hurt for him to explain the situation. Especially since we're overwhelming her so suddenly."

Tsunade didn't seem to find the offer worth entertaining as she evaluated Akane with blatant suspicion. "I'm sure she's capable of adapting to the situation without coddling. What do you say, Nori-san?"

Akane narrowed her eyes at the implication, ignoring the heaviness coming from Kakashi on her right. "Yeah, I'm fine." Silence swelled once more. "What can I do for you, Lady Tsunade?"

"Well, for starters you could take a seat."

Akane rolled her eyes, not missing how the Hokage's brow twitched at her insolence. Realizing she was acting childish, though not truly caring, the kunoichi conceded and walked to the couch. Dropping to the cushions, she crossed her arms, matching the dominating blonde woman who watched every move with a readiness of a large feline prepared to pounce on its prey. It did little to deter Akane.

With the chakra strings still hugging her wrists, she was rendered vulnerable to whatever happened. Her hand-to-hand combat could only get her so far.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Kakashi bring over the two wooden chairs from the dining table for the Sannins who took it graciously. He then stepped closer to Akane, coming to a stop at the arm of the couch. His hands found the safety of his pockets and his shoulders slouched ever so slightly. The ease he stood with did offer Akane an unspoken reassurance that for the foreseeable future, all that would occur was conversation.

Be careful what you wish for, she pondered bitterly, now wishing she had just been left alone in the room filled with silence.

"Kakashi has filled us in briefly about your encounter and what your backstory is regarding Konoha. Of course, you didn't divulge much information. So, we took to researching your citizenship files for answers." Tsunade held up a modest folder to show they found what they were looking for. "Now, we can read through this, or you could just answer our questions as we have them."

Akane shrugged. "Whatever makes you happy."

Tsunade frowned and Akane got the feeling that she was acting as a belligerent teenager. But she couldn't bring herself to care.

"Right. Why don't you fill us in on why you're a missing-nin?"

"I left the village on my own accord."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't want to be here anymore."

"… Alright, smartass. You asked that I don't waste your time, please extend that curtesy in kind."

Akane felt her lips purse. "I'm sure Kakashi has explained that there were events that took place that a corrupted individual or group orchestrated. Well, once I found out and realized that nothing was going to be done, I left."

"What were the events?"

"With all due respect, Hokage, that's my burden and mine alone."

"Yours?" Tsunade scoffed with narrowed eyes. "You abandoned the village rather than coming clean about what you found out. Not only that, but I'm Hokage and it's my responsibility to be aware of any corruption within these walls."

"Who was I supposed to come clean to? Please enlighten me."

"The Hokage of that time would be a start."

"And if Sarutobi was already aware? Then what?"

Tsunade blinked, her frustrations disappearing for a fraction of a second before returning tenfold. "Hiruzen? You told him?"

"No." Akane could feel the prickling along her skin from the gazes of the others in the room, the heaviest attention coming from her left. "I became aware of the situation when I overheard him. After I confronted Sarutobi, I found out he felt he already took care of the situation. But it seemed that the corrupted party only got a slap on the wrist and has been actively trying to silence anyone else aware of their secret since."

"If Hiruzen felt that he did what was necessary, then he probably did."

"Don't protect the old man," Akane snapped, earning a warning glare from the much more skilled Sannin across from her. "He didn't have the stomach to do what was needed and as a result, innocent people died."

"Then help me understand," Tsunade continued, pulling all her experience as a politician to the forefront, each skill being exercised rather than allowing her temper free reigned. "Tell me what happened."

"There's a problem with that. I've already told Kakashi, but I hope you're willing to listen and understand my situation." When no one interjected, Akane continued. "The event that took place… There was a coverup involved. Some of the facts aren't clear, so I don't have a full picture of what happened. What I do know is enough to put a target on me. Sarutobi all but hinted that if I didn't pretend it never happened, then I would be in danger. As for the answers about who's responsible and why the event happened, I have no idea, so, I can't tell you those. Giving you half the information would put a target on you and keep the advantage in the corrupt party's court."

"I'm touched by your concern, but I am Hokage. It's my obligation whether it puts me at risk or not. Not only that, but I also have more resources than you to find the truth."

"A valid argument," Akane conceded. "But there's something else. One of the people that know, or acted in the event, is in a position that if it came to light, would be in danger."

"If they participated in it, then why would I care about that?"

"Because…" Akane paused, trying to choose her words carefully. "The person took the blame. They're a martyr and they aren't responsible for the crime that people say they are."

"And you know this how?"

"Like I said, I overheard them."

It was then that Jiraiya spoke up. "So, to clarify, you never had a hand in the events or criminal activity or corruption?"

"I mean, I left the village voluntarily. Fought off Leaf Teams in self-defense. But aside from that, no."

"Well," a broad smile formed as he looked to his companion. "That's some good news, I'd say. At least, in the scheme of things, it is. The corruption part isn't good. That's something we'll have to look into."

"Thank you for the valuable input, Jiraiya," Tsunade deadpanned before returning to Akane. "Why are you not in the Bingo Books?"

Akane tried to refrain from rolling her eyes again, but it happened before she was even aware. "I don't know why."

"Why was your existence hidden?"

"Hidden? I don't know what you mean by that."

"Why are there no files on you anywhere in Konoha?"

"What are you talking about? Isn't that it right there? Are you messing with me?"

"This?" Tsunade picked up the file and held it between them before bringing it closer to open it. "This is on your team, actually. It's the only piece of document we found on you."

Honey eyes landed on her, and Akane felt hollowly exposed as the words settled over her. Her existence was hidden…. "Sarutobi would have had something on me."

"As Hokage, he should have. Every shinobi in the ranks, past and present, have folders on them with completed missions, rank, and skills…. But not you."

Akane felt like her throat was drying out as if she consumed sand. She worked to swallow, but even that took an absurd amount of effort. A sharp pain was stabbing into her chest, hurt and perfidy its source.

Had Sarutobi been so angry with her that he practically disowned her? Not that he was a father figure, but he was a mentor. Maybe it was her betrayal that hurt him and this was just his response in coping. Either way, the hot ache of loneliness and abandonment seemed to crush her innards, making her feel nauseous.

She didn't have much of a family. Her childhood team abandoned her in fear that she would lose control. She was treated as an outcast among Academy friends and now, she was faced with the reality that Sarutobi had erased any proof of her existence. As if she died that night and wasn't actually alone in enemy territory learning to survive.

Was that why she never made it to the pages of the Bingo Books? She was already marked for dead?

As she spiraled mentally down into despair, she hadn't noticed that the Hokage and Sannin were reading old mission reports she completed with her team. The words were muted to nothing more than background noise as she wondered what she would have done differently had she known she'd been erased. What about her old teammates? They knew she existed. Did they have nothing to say on her disappearance or did Sarutobi tell them to forget her?

A hand came to rest on her shoulder, causing her to startle from her thoughts. Blinking, Akane refocused on the room around her and dragged her eyes to the source of the hand. Kakashi stared down at her, concern creasing his brow.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.

"Of course," Akane forced a pleasant smiled and waved her hand in the air. "Just got lost in thought is all."

He didn't buy her display but was gracious enough to drop the subject, his hand lingering just a moment longer before returning to his pocket.

"You weren't aware of your records going missing?" Tsunade redirected after seeing the mild interaction.

"No," Akane forced out a breath, with a hint of bitterness still lingering. "But maybe that's why I wasn't put into the books. Maybe they assumed I wouldn't make it long as a missing-nin and just got a head start on the obituary."

Tsunade considered her words, weighing for truth or deflection. Whether she came to a conclusion wasn't clear as Akane decided to continue the conversation.

"Why are you here?"

No one answered right away, leaving the air to tingle with that returning tension that had slowly begun to dissipate through their talk. When Tsunade thought that the hostility barrier that separate them was lowering, it erected itself back into place, just as solid as it had been before.

"To gauge your worth," she stated flatly.

Akane's brows knitted together, not caring for the response or its implications.

"We have a proposition for you," Jiraiya added, sensing that Tsunade's baiting wasn't going to ease the discomfort he was stewing in. Curse the woman for being so stubborn and boorish at times. "Something that could benefit both parties."

"A proposition usually means a deal, and a deal requires trust… something I'm rather short on."

"You're also short on manners," Tsunade deadpanned. "Yet we're still entertaining the idea for some reason."

Akane didn't seem bothered by the way she got under the Hokage's skin, but she had the sense to not look pleased about it on the outside. Kakashi couldn't be certain she wasn't gleaming inwardly on her effect, however.

"Before you get too far into it, if you want information on the past, you're out of luck. No deal will be made."

"Even if it meant your freedom?"

"Ah well… as Hokage, you do have that authority," Akane replied slyly, not noticing Kakashi's dry glare. "I'll be honest, there's a few ways I can look at this. If I don't tell you, then I'd be protecting your lives by not putting you in the crosshairs of the corrupted party. But I would also be arrested and killed for my silence shortly after. Now don't get the wrong idea from that, I wouldn't be dying for your sake. It'd be for selfish reasons, really. If I can't enact justice on the individual, then I'm not going to let someone else who had no connection take that glory."

"You're right, that is entirely selfish, especially if they're still taking innocent lives," Tsunade grounded out, her signature temper surfacing. She crossed her arms, almost to restrain herself as her temple ticked.

"I never claimed to be a saint. "Akane was just urging a reaction from the woman now.

Kakashi frowned, knowing that if things continued down this track, it would become irreversible.

But still, Akane continued. "On the other hand, I could tell you everything I do know, gain my freedom, and let you guys flounder trying to find the person before they find you. And when they inevitably do sneak in to take your lives, I'll be able to continue as was intended and find out who's behind it. Hell, maybe I could use the situation as bait and lure them out that way. Although, there is the obstacle of my identity being revealed and them realizing that I'm alive as well. That would put a damper on my plans, and I'd be busy staying alive…."

"Sounds like a lose-lose then," Jiraiya intervened, seeing Tsunade's fist clenching at the missing-nin's not so subtle threat. Setting a hand on his companion's shoulder, hoping to keep her grounded, he added, "But maybe we can find common ground with that after we discuss a more pressing issue."

When Tsunade did speak, her eyes were closed and it was directed to the men in the room. "I'm not entirely sure that's the smart move here. We should probably come up with a different cover story."

"Probably, a wise choice," Akane muttered, not sure what they were talking about, but not really caring either way.

"Lady Tsunade," Kakashi took a step forward. "Can I have the room to speak to Akane for a moment? I think we would all benefit if she understood the delicate situation."

"I don't think she'd understand it if you spelt if out and gave it to her in color."

"Now who's being rude," Akane glared.

Tsunade was about to retort but Jiraiya, being the ever-reliant olive branch, interrupted. "Take five minutes then, Kakashi. We'll be out here."

Both women opened their mouth to spew out something unpleasant but was stopped when Kakashi grabbed Akane's upper arm and pulled her to her feet.

"What are you—let go of me," Akane demanded as he hauled her along behind him.

Kakashi ignored her comment and instead led her to the bedroom, his stride and pace almost too fast for the wary kunoichi as she tried to gather her feet under her. By the time they got to the bedroom, Kakashi swung Akane into the center and closed the bedroom door behind them.

"You could've just said to follow you instead of dragging me in here like a belligerent child. What do you want?"

"For starters, you can drop the tough, detached act. You're not fooling anyone."

"You sure? Seemed like your Hokage was buying it."

"Akane-just stop for once!"

The kunoichi flinched back at Kakashi's outburst, not expecting that his patience had dwindled so much.

"Alright, fine," she conceded, letting her hands fall to her side as a string of awkward seconds passed between them. There was a tightness in his stance, even as he ran a hand through his thick hair. "What's going on?"

Letting his hand fall, Kakashi fixed her with the first truly unveiled expression she had seen from him. His eye was half-lidded, a shadow forming beneath. His hair was missing the shine she had noticed the night they fought, and his cheek and clothes were smudged with grime from their travel. He looked exhausted and she realized that he likely had not gotten a good night's sleep in a while.

And all she was doing was tormenting him further.

Internally, she wanted to shake her head, because why should she care? He's the one that kidnapped her and hid her in his apartment. Creep. She should be finding all the enjoyment in his misery because what else did he expect? She bet he was regretting not drugging the tea now.

But the other part, some itty-bitty, tiny part of her, felt pity for him. The stress that filled the room was not emanating from just her alone.

Across from her Kakashi seemed at a loss for words. He hesitated which she thought was odd after it was him that offered to talk to her in private, twice now. The way he shifted his weight and avoided eye contact was creating a contagious spread of reluctance in her as she waited for him to just say something.

Finally, when she thought she couldn't take it any longer, he met her gaze and motioned to the bed.

"Take a seat and I'll explain."

Biting back the natural snide remark that formed, Akane took a seat at the foot of his mattress.

"Lady Tsunade has a proposition for you, but it isn't what you think," he began cryptically. Realizing that he needed to give more substance to the discussion, he decided to backtrack for her. "When I was called to the office, it wasn't just for the mission report. I was offered a new mission which I agreed to take."

"Right," Akane acknowledged. "So, what does that have to do with me?"

"I'll get to that in a moment. First, the mission is of the variety that lasts a significant amount of time."

Still not sure where it was going, she humored him. "So, like months or years…"

"Try years to a lifetime."

When she didn't have anything to say, Kakashi stepped in front of her and leaned against the ledge of the desk. He folded his arms over his chest, followed by crossing one ankle over the other. His gaze dropped to the sandal lace on the floor that she used to break the first layer of chakra string, but he never made a comment on it as he looked back to her.

"The mission is to go undercover and gather information from the enemy. There's word of a dangerous shinobi who's making some big moves that could create a multinational war. There's also speculation that the tailed beasts are involved with the plan, but that isn't entirely clear. I don't need to tell you what sort of implications that could have on the world if another Shinobi War took place."

Akane chewed on the words as they sunk in, taking in the things he said as well as left hidden. She suspected that some of the details were being omitted because it was classified. Which was understandable judging by the tidbits he had revealed. Still, she wasn't sure why it mattered to her.

"So, are you telling me this to explain how the Hokage learned that I was being incarcerated in your apartment, or is there something else that concerns me?"

"As I said, the assignment is covert which means I require a cover."

"So, you need resources and an alias from another country?"

"Not quite. More like a reason that would find me in a situation that would attract the attention I desire."

"Ok, I know I'm not one to talk about being secretive, but all you're doing is confusing me. At the risk of giving your Hokage validity about 'spelling it out', I need more information…"

At that, Kakashi chuckled, though it held little humor. "She said that because she's just upset. You're not dense."

Akane wasn't sure how she felt about his reassurance to her that he thought she was clever.

"I can't give you the full details until you agree to the terms which Lady Tsunade will give. What I can tell you is that I committed a crime by bringing you here, which happens to be an ideal cover for my new role."

"And what role is that? Are you going to be a missing-nin or something?" she joked with a raised brow.

"That's correct."

"…. Wait…. What?"

"I'll become a missing-nin, which'll give me an opportunity to attract the enemy shinobi's attention."

"But you said 'years to a lifetime'... Is that your way of subtly hinting to a suicide mission?"

Kakashi forced a smile, his eye crinkling in the corner as he tilted his head. "See? I knew I didn't need to elaborate. You're clever enough to fill in the blanks."

Akane frowned, her previous entertainment from teasing the Leaf-nin ebbing away the more the conversation continued.

"She's sending you on a suicide mission," she solidified with a coldness weighing in her tone. "After everything you've done for the village, she's sending you out to die."

"It's not that simple."

"The hell it is! Do you think this is the only option available? She has the entire village and it's shinobi ranks at her disposal and she's going to rely on you alone to handle this mysterious enemy? One person to deal with one person? Why not send teams out to deal with this?"

"It's not just one person. It's a full organization, at the least."

"That's my point."

"I'm not taking them on by myself. I'll be trying to join them."

"Well, now that's just absurd."

"How so?"

"You're not a missing-nin!" she snapped, jumping to her feet as she tossed her hands into the air as she paced in front of him. "You're Kakashi of the Sharingan, renowned for your devotion to the Hidden Leaf! You have team that cares about you, and you obviously care about them. You have a place and family and friends here…" Stopping, she fixed him with a firm stare. "You're not a missing-nin."

The dark gaze he fixed her with was undistinguishable as he listened to her from his unmoving position. No one said anything as the facts from both arguments lingered between them, hanging and waiting for someone to grab for it to justify their reasonings further. But both Kakashi and Akane stood unmoving, neither sure where to go from there.

A knock at the door startled Akane and both sent a gaze to the wooden barrier.

"Are you about done?" Jiraiya urged from the other side; his voice still clear despite the wall he spoke through.

"Finishing up," Kakashi answered, pulling his gaze away to land on Akane. Seeing that her gaze had dropped, he pushed from the desk and closed the distance between them.

She sensed he was coming but didn't make a move to acknowledge him until he reached a couple feet from her. Dragging her attention back to him, she was slightly surprised that she allowed him so close to her, or that he even wanted to be so close in the first place.

"The proposal regards your freedom, but not in the way you may expect." He allowed his sentence to linger before he continued. "We can't go back and change anything in our past. We're both here now and we need to look forward. I would be honored if you'd agree to the terms the Hokage has…"

Not having the ability to form a response, she felt her muscles sag in defeat. "Fine. I'll hear what she's got to say."

Together both of them exited the room and entered the living area where Jiraiya and Tsunade sat waiting. The Hokage still looked displeased, but the edge of hostility was nearly diminished, replaced by interest.

"Are you ready to hear what I have to say or are you planning to continue your insolence?"

Jiraiya sent an impatient glare her direction, but Akane answered before anyone could mediate.

"No, you have my attention."

While Jiraiya looked both surprised and pleased, Tsunade remained unmoved, almost as if she was testing Akane.

"Very well. I'll get right to the point. Kakashi has agreed to take a mission that requires him to leave the village for an extended time. In order for the targets to believe he's betrayed his village, we wanted to use his crime of sneaking you in as an explanation for his change of status…"

"Yes. Have him live the life of a missing-nin for the sake of the village," Akane filled in bitterly, closing her eyes to hide the unruly glare she felt burning. This all sounded hauntingly familiar to her, but she refused to voice that spiteful thought.

"Indeed. He was given the opportunity to turn it down, but insisted on taking it."

Well, Kakashi didn't mention that. Then again, she wasn't entirely surprised. "And the part where I come into this? Obviously, there's more to it if you're looking for me to contribute. If it's just the proof that he committed a crime, you wouldn't need my cooperation."

"My proposition is that in exchange for not arresting you, you help Kakashi in his mission."

Akane blinked, not sure if she was hearing that correctly.

"You'll help Kakashi from when he leaves the village until the threat has been fully eliminated."

"So, you'll let me actually leave and have him tag along until we get this shinobi's attention?"

"Not quite. You'll both be responsible for the outcome. You're already a missing-nin so think of this as me hiring you for the mission. You both will have to gain the enemies attention, join them, and give information on their movements when you can. Up until they no longer exist. If at any point Kakashi goes down, you take his place, and vice versa."

"If… If I agree to that, then… my identity would be revealed."

"That's correct. You would officially be put into the Bingo Books and hunted. But you should be used to being hunted by now."

"Just because that's true doesn't mean it doesn't cause me inconvenience."

"You were never getting out of here with your alias still intact," Tsunade stated indifferently.

Akane frowned at that. "So, if I say yes, then you won't pester me about the past events then? That's no longer a factor to this deal?"

"As much as I would like to disagree…." Tsunade shared a secretive glance with Jiraiya before she huffed. "This is more important than the past. But that doesn't mean I can't do my own digging to find answers."

"No. I wouldn't expect you not to try."

"So, what will it be then?"

"… After being subjected to a compelling argument, I have to say it doesn't sound so bad. Not ideal, but still a feasible assignment."

Tsunade smirked wryly. "Don't speak too soon. You haven't heard all the details."

"Well, don't keep me on edge."

"I'm not telling you until I know we have your loyalty on the matter."

"Fine. I'll do it. But I expect my scroll and weapons returned. And I want a mask."

"Why? I already said your identity will be revealed."

"Because I like my mask," Akane scowled like it was a silly question.

Tsunade sighed. "Whatever. But you just telling me you'll do it isn't enough."

As if on cue, Jiraiya pulled out a scroll and opened it to reveal instructions. The parchment looked weary and aged with the edges torn from repeated use and the color was splotchy from over exposure to moisture.

While Akane and Kakashi eyed the scroll with concern, Jiraiya opted to explain what it was.

"I'd taken this scroll a long time ago from Kirigakure," the Sannin described soberly. "It was used by the earlier Kages of the Mist when assigning their personal guard during coronations. I'm sure you're aware of the reason behind Kirigakure's tainted history?"

"Not really."

"In the past, the lower caste of citizens, that were students training to become shinobi, were forced into a test. Similar to Chunin exams, however it was a battle to the death. If you survived, you earned the title of Shinobi. Children slaughtered other children for the right to serve their nation. As you can see, the practice did not have the best light on the village principles and was eventually banned."

Kakashi dropped his head before chiming in. "But not before they found that the practice had backfired. A member of their village ended up slaughtering all his competition before he even was a student. That entire generation of students was wiped out and it hurt their predicted numbers for the ranks."

Jiraiya nodded. "Of course, no one would be stupid enough to claim the Mist were honorable models. Anyway, another practice they used were sealing highly skilled shinobi to protect the Kage. Because there was a lot of strife and lack of camaraderie, the Kage could not rely on devotion from those closest, so it was predictably demanded. Hard to trust shinobi who were cut-throat and self-serving. But eventually, word got out and the sealing method was outlawed."

"Hold on…," Akane's gaze darted from the scroll to the Sannins. "You're bringing this up as a fun history lesson, right?"

"Kakashi is a valued member of the village and a friend we hold dear," Tsunade explained calmly. "We're not going to send him out with a suspicious missing-kunoichi who we have no information on. Especially, when she's insistent on hiding secrets. In order for us to start building trust, we need a safety net."

"A safety net that's been outlawed by a cruel Shinobi Village… That doesn't put you in a good light or make me feel eager to agree to it."

"I have to agree with Akane," Kakashi added, a scowl firmly etched. "This seems unnecessary."

"I'm sorry, Kakashi, but this is the only way I feel comfortable with it."

"I would hope that you would trust my judgement that we would make this work." His dark eyed landed on Akane's surprised widened grey before he addressed the Hokage again. "Leashing her isn't going to help anyone."

"It'll keep her from betraying you. I'd say that's significant."

"If you make me take that seal," Akane urged, "then you aren't any better than the Mist. And what would people think if it became known that the Hokage of the Leaf was using illegal seals on their people?"

"Well, you aren't necessarily my people," Tsunade retorted coldly. "You renounced your citizenship when you left, remember?"

"And yet, you're 'hiring' me to help the village all the same."

"Will you two stop?" Jiraiya chided, growing impatient with the bickering women. "I swear if my hair wasn't white already, you'd be making it grey the longer I had to sit here and listen to it." After a sigh, and shaking his head, he continued. "It wouldn't be Tsunade who applied the seal. I'd do it."

"Look, if I say I'd do it, then that's what it means. I'm not taking some seal that keeps me tied down."

"You'd still have access to all your chakra. You just won't be able to betray Kakashi."

"That would mean we both would be sealed then…"

"That's correct."

Instantly, all eyes zeroed on Kakashi who still looked absolutely opposed to the situation. Whether it was for his sake or hers, it wasn't clear. Perhaps, both. Akane felt a little comfort in knowing that it wasn't just her battle against the seal.

Sighing, Kakashi shook his head. "I don't feel comfortable with it. Not only that, but seals are visible and if someone notices, then the questions that would follow could breed suspicion and ruin our cover."

"We'd put it somewhere that's clothed," Tsunade urged.

"You say that, but as a medic, you know how likely it is for someone to see it."

"Then we'll put precautions in place. A way for you to disable it."

"If you do that, then just know I'll have it disabled by the time we left the gates."

Akane was openly gawking at Kakashi now, who's attention was on the Hokage with unyielding emphasis. The slight pang of betrayal and frustration was evident in Tsunade's tense stare, but Akane was too busy distinguishing the rise of gratefulness and… what was that tingling in her chest?

No one had stood up for her so profoundly before. He didn't know her, yet he was willing to stand by what he thought was right.

He's just looking out for himself. If it was only you that needed the seal, he wouldn't be standing up to the Hokage this much..

She held onto that thought, knowing that it would ground her to reality instead of her imagination lulling her to false security.

"Where is this coming from, Kakashi? You're not a stranger to seals. Is it the legality of it, because you weren't concerned with that when you brought her here."

"That's part of it." He replied, not bothered by her jab. "But there's too much risk, and I actually believe that we can accomplish this mission. I trust Akane to hold up her deal."

"You don't know her."

"And she doesn't know us. But we're out of time and this is the best option we have."

"The best option is you! We don't need her! She's given us the cover you need and that's good enough for me!"

"…."

Akane sat quietly, not willing to draw more attention to herself. She was trying to keep from cringing as the tension grew more and more around her, both sides imposing and crushing. Her fate was teetering between unfavorable scenarios to terrible circumstances. There was a fear that if she tried to add her input, all negotiations would be stripped from the table. It didn't help that even Jiraiya was staying out of the current debate between Hokage and subordinate.

Finally, when the tension felt it was about to shatter, Kakashi spoke up, still controlled despite the stiffness in his spine.

"If that's the case, I hope you assign few ANBU to guard her. I'd hate to have to incapacitate an entire unit when I retrieve her."

"You wouldn't dare."

"If I'm making the sacrifice to the village, I can't be distracted by feeling guilty of causing Akane's possible death."

"We'll keep high security on her at all times so no one tries anything."

"She's certain that won't be enough."

"And she could be saying that to make you feel responsible and let her go."

"You can't even trust the people to guard her if you don't know who's pulling the strings."

"Then, I'll handpick people after I vetted them."

Akane jumped to her feet, fists clenched by her sides.

"Alright, everyone, shut up-" She took a deep breath and released her hands as she turned to the Hokage. "Look, I get it. I'm not easy to deal with, nor am I willing to open up to you. But trust isn't easy for me to give and it's not right for you to extend it when it's not returned. I understand that. Kakashi," she tried to keep herself from looking at him, afraid his attention would make her lose her nerve for what she wanted to say. "… he's only trying to do what's right and while I don't know him that well, I can tell he isn't trying to create a wedge between your friendship."

When the Hokage remained silent, Akane stepped forward. "I have always cared for Konohagakure and my determination to handle the corruption from a distance has been a lifechanging choice that I would make again. Do not misunderstand my deserting Konoha as a sign of abandonment, but rather a way to ensure my safety until I gain answers." Akane bent forward into a respectable bow. "Please take my word that I will serve the Hidden Leaf in this mission until the threat is eliminated. Kakashi will be my teammate and as long as he does nothing to betray me, I will treat him in kind. If you cannot take my word, take my past actions as a character reference."

No one acknowledged her speech, and Akane started to feel her cheeks flush from embarrassment. Spending a few years under Sarutobi's mentorship had shown her how to associate with political leaders and she hoped that the new approach would sway the Hokage's decision away from the seal.

Thankfully, Tsunade spoke up, breaking the awkwardness that was suffocating her.

"I can't believe I'm saying it, Nori, but you make a valid point. This mission requires sacrifice from everyone involved and I thought the burden of sending Kakashi was mine. But in comparison, it pales." For the first time since her arrival, Lady Tsunade stood to address Akane who straightened from her bow. "I will extend my trust to you, though it has a limit. Kakashi will take the scroll with the seal and if he feels it's necessary, he's free to activated. Deal?"

"Deal."

"And you are expected to do everything you deem necessary with the intent to gain information for Konoha to prevent future war. Up to and including your death if it comes to it."

"Understood."

"And you will guard and protect Kakashi with your life."

"Lady Hokage, my life is my responsibility—"

"Kakashi-shut up."

"…"

"Well, Akane?"

A humorless smirk curled. "I doubt his skills would fail before my own, but yes. In the impossible event that he needs protecting, I'll do that."

"That's not at all convincing."

"I can only do so much. You're asking a lot from me," Akane shrugged.

"And here I thought I was actually getting somewhere with you."

"On the bright side, I won't be your problem for much longer."

"You're right. I suppose I should give you the information. The sooner I do that, the sooner I won't have to deal with you."

"That's the spirit."

Yeah, it was a longer chapter with a lot of interaction between characters. Not much excitement, I admit, but it was still fun to spiral down the rabbit hole in how I imagine the conversation would go between snarky Akane and our three favorite mentors.

On a side note, Akane's actions stem from that of a captured animal. I wanted her to teeter on that fight or flight and wear that masque of indifference because that has been her greatest defense mechanism. The more we go into the story, the more that will make sense as to why.

I hope you enjoyed the journey so far and would appreciate feedback if you have any.

Until next time! Thanks for stopping by and checking it out!