It was dark; the kind that cages you in and sinks into your skin. It reminded of her of when she had been sucked under by the dream monster, its oily tendrils wrapping up her legs and torso. There was no light, no hope, no way out. Cold and heaviness settled around her wrists and ankles, forcing her to her knees by its weight. The sound of chains clinking echoed in the darkness.

Was this her eternal punishment?

She had died. Protecting Kakashi had been her only thought, and she had sacrificed herself- the only hope left for the village. It was instinct that had caused her to act, but it had worked out in the end. If her theory was correct, everyone in Konoha should have awoken. And Kakashi would be safe.

One thing had come from having such an ability, and that was being able to step into someone else's shoes. Chiisai knew her powers flowed through her chakra network, but that wasn't where it originated. Her abilities were a part of her- a part that was anchored into her mind. And though her abilities could be taken away to a certain extent, it would altogether be useless without her being alive. At least, that was her hypothesis.

Her father was a ninja. Of course the first thing he would think of would be chakra he could just take. But her ability wasn't a jutsu, and that was his mistake. It was barely considered a kekkei genkai, and Orochimaru had verified that long ago. No, she and her abilities were one, and neither could exist without the other.

Light suddenly surrounded her, torches now ablaze with fire that made her squeeze her eyes shut. Chiisai blinked several times as her eyes adjusted. She was in a dungeon surrounded by concrete walls.

"It's good to see you alive, Chiisai."

Her black eyes narrowed, her anger resurfacing. Craning her neck to the sound of his voice, Chiisai responded forcefully, "Did anyone escape?" She had to hope, had to think someone was saved.

"You weren't dead for long."

That last thing she remembered was Kakashi's expression as she had pushed him aside from Kuroi's attack. Shock, fear, and pain had been etched in his eye. How he managed to convey such emotions with one eye open astounded her, but she knew he had already experienced loss like this before with Obito.

The chains clinked as she tried to stand. "So this is your plan- keeping me locked here forever?"

He didn't answer. He didn't look at her, but rather ahead of him. "It appears your chakra and mind have to both exist for it to work."

So he supported her hypothesis. Truthfully, it scared her how calm he seemed now in contrast to when she first realized who he was. Where had the madman gone in such a short time?

His gaze finally flickered to hers as he flexed his hand. "I weaved such a pleasant dream for your boyfriend not too long ago." A glowing orb appeared, stinging her eyes as it slowly grew brighter. It cast shadows over the cement floor and walls. She blinked multiple times, her eyebrows furrowing as she sought him out. "He doesn't pose a threat anymore, why not forget about him?"

"Oh, he and the Hokage have big plans for me," Kuroi chuckled. "That Sharingan of his will be my undoing if I'm not careful."

"How would you-"

He was behind her, patting her head as if she were an ignorant child. "I have my ways." Kuroi paused as she yanked away from his touch. He turned away. "Anyway, I think I'll have a chat with the Hokage. I'll just leave this for your entertainment."

Chiisai cringed as the orb flickered again, showing Kakashi walking into the crumbling palace. Her body stilled as she saw herself behind him. Cursing the clone, Chiisai watched as it approached Kakashi. She stared in shock long after the sound of Kakashi's chidori faded away.

There had to be a way to warn him she was alive. Her chakra was substantially depleted. Kuroi had only given her enough to remain conscious. But she didn't know where she was or whose mind she was in. But Kakashi had to be still stuck in her body. And where was she? Her father loved dramatics, and he had mentioned the Hokage and Kakashi. He wouldn't use Shizune. And if Kuroi still wanted to see his daughter suffer, then there was only one body he would use against her.

She let out a harsh gasp and grinded her teeth as the shackles burned against her. The chains responded if she tried to use her power. So she just had to fight through the pain.

She closed her eyes, picturing the object Kakashi would recognize. The image appeared behind her eyelids, and as she focused on Kakashi as pain seared up her arms and legs. She screamed, curling her body in while trying to send her message. Blood dribbled down her chin as she bit down on her lower lip. Her eyes flew open when the pain stole her breath away. The chains sizzled against her skin, the smell of burning flesh stinging her nose. It took all of her energy to hold on, to just give Kakashi some type of sign. With a gurgling cry, Chiisai fully activated her ability as she gasped for air. Her body was on fire, the sensation blinding her as she fell forward into the darkness. Hoping, praying, Chiisai concentrated on the object, willing it to remain in existence before she went unconscious.

But she never did. To her horror, she realized the chains were regulating her chakra so that she would stay awake and alive. She screamed and arched her back as the chains sizzled and popped against her melting flesh. The image faltered and she desperately grabbed a hold of it, but the pain was unbearable. Kakashi couldn't leave her body without her chakra. With sweat running down her face, Chiisai inserted one more thing into the object as fire licked her limbs. She couldn't hold on any longer to the image, and she was afraid the object wouldn't make sense. But no more could be done.

She sent it to Kakashi as she screamed and writhed in the darkness, but no one heard her cries.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Kakashi watched her body hit the ground. He walked out of the palace, not looking back at the body. Rin flickered in his mind, of her eyes wide as she whispered his name for the last time.

He shook his head, flinging away such thoughts and focusing on the present. He lifted his headband up and opened his eye. He activated his Sharingan, and the broken palace faded like smoke. Suddenly he was in grassy plain, and he furrowed his brow as a giant tree rose up. Hadn't his Sharingan broken the dream? Kakashi stepped closer the to tree, and his eyes widened. What he first thought was fruit was actually white orbs. He glanced at the closest one and saw Might Duy grinning. This must be Guy's dream.

He looked at each one closest to him, and each orb reflected a different scene. This tree somehow held everyone's dreams. Was this what this dimension really looked like? Or was this created by Kuroi?

Suddenly there was a thunk that echoed throughout the area. His head shot up, his eye searching for what had caused such a noise.

There was no sound now, but an awful odor permeated the place now. Kakashi, though still attentive, peered down at what lay before him. It was a heart-shaped book, and the cover was coated in awful smelling cheese.

An awful cheesy romance novel.

Kuroi acted with intent. If he were trying to make Kakashi think of Chiisai, why not show the original book?

What if this wasn't his doing? What if what Chiisai's clone had said was true? Could she somehow be alive?

Delicately, Kakashi picked the book up and opened it. He sifted through the pages, only finding one with any writing on it.

'He knows. I'm burning in a scarecrow. Here's my-'

The book began to melt in his hand, oozing through his fingers as the pages burned black in his hands. One single flame sprung up, hitting him square in the chest. The book fell as he staggered back, feeling the familiar energy that radiated within him from Hiashi's dream.

This was Chiisai's chakra!

And she was in trouble. Scarecrow was easy enough to understand. But that would mean Kuroi took her there, meaning he currently had control of Kakashi's body.

Which laid beside Chiisai's body.

Kakashi focused on his destination and using her chakra, jumped back into his body.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Chiisai was on the ground, her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe. No amount of energy she had could break these chains. She was cursed to stay awake, constantly aware of the pain coursing through her body, of the smell of her burned flesh rotting the air. Moving only caused the chains to scratch against her wounds. Tears and blood mingled on her face and hair, her lip swollen from her teeth biting down on it. From all the harm she caused herself when she was a teen, nothing compared to this. Her stomach scars were just paper cuts in comparison.

Footsteps echoed down the hall. Light stained her eyelids red, but she was in too much pain to open them. She could care less about her father. Her plan to alert Kakashi had failed. The chains wouldn't let her be able to focus on anything as long as it fed her this torture.

"Chiisai!"

She didn't open her eyes. Her father was toying with her just like he had done to Kakashi. She screamed as Kakashi moved her, the chains chaffing against her wounds.

He took a sharp intake. "I can see the bone."

Well, this clone was certainly a good one- his voice was perfect, his touch both firm and gentle. Chiisai scoffed, whispering, "You real?"

He cradled the back of her head now. "I'm here, Chiisai."

She stared up at Kakashi. His expression spoke of pain.

She shouldn't believe him- his presence was too good to be true. But had her message really been successful?

He activated his Sharingan, and the scenery around them disappeared. They were now in a grassy field, and swirls of chakra replaced the chains binding her. A tree with orbs stood before them, and her eyes flickered with recognition. This was Kakashi, and Chiisai choked out a cry of relief.

"He's barely keeping you alive." His words were hard and factual, but underneath the surface lay a boiling rage.

She was silent for a moment, her brows furrowed. "He can't do anything without me," she whispered, searching his eye. A silence stood between them as she stared pleadingly at him. Kakashi watched her with a downcast expression as he replied, "You're asking me to kill you."

Nodding, Chiisai cringed and said, "He found out about your plan, so he's in reality right now. He won't know what's happening."

"You're asking the impossible," he responded raggedly. "You know there's another way."

"It can end right now," she said.

"Kuroi will just give your body your chakra to revive you."

"Then wake up and destroy my body."

He gave a bitter laugh. "You've thought this through, haven't you?"

Smiling, she cringed and muttered, "Death doesn't sound bad right now."

He brushed her hair back. His voice held firm as he replied, "We're stopping your father together. I protect my comrades, remember?" He smiled reassuringly. "I won't abandon you, so don't abandon me."

She wasn't sure what emotions washed over him in that moment. She said, "Then…what's the plan, genius?"

"Just bare with me."

Lightning appeared in his hand as he came down on the bands of chakra. Within seconds, Chiisai was screaming as it heated like coals. Kakashi immediately stopped, his eye glinted with anguish. Her skin melted around the chakra as if it were made of wax.

She screamed through clenched teeth and arched her back. Kakashi's eyes was closed, his eyebrow furrowed. With a pained expression, he asked, "Is it possible for you to lend me your chakra?"

She nodded, so Kakashi went on. "I think they need to be broken by your chakra, from the outside. My lightning cutter had no effect."

"It wouldn't hurt to try," She gave a faint laugh. "…But it would."

Kakashi nodded, though he hated knowing the torture she'd go through. "You can do it."

She groaned and muttered, "If I live through this, you're buying me a ton of books, Farm boy."

He smiled. "To your heart's content."

"Good." She sighed, meeting his eye as he touched her hand. "Let's get this over with."