A/N: The guest who reviewed I completely agree with you and it skipped my mind to mention that I've placed Sasuke, Sakura and Naru all at 15 at this point as I'm going to roughly keep the story timeline the same, so Naru will be leaving for training and when she comes back she will be 18 going on 19! Sorry for the confusion!

….

Naru's path was dimly lit by oil torches on the narrow walls and she could barely make out a few feet in front of her. She walked forward warily, questioning how she came to be in such a place; hadn't she been battling with Sasuke? She shuddered, the hairs on her arms sticking up and she began to feel if she was being watched but pressed forward; she needed to get out of here and fast. Footsteps were heard behind her and she spun around, one arm in front of her while the other reached for her bag of weapons. Naru's heart race picked up as she realised the bag wasn't there and she began to feel extremely vulnerable without it. A cold laugh travelled down the corridor and she squinted her eye's to see who it belonged to and she froze. Cold, red, sharingan eye's stared back at her calmly in the darkness. Panic rose up in Naru and she spun on her heel, running in the opposite direction. Did she fail and end up being captured? Tear's stung in her eyes as she turned down corridor after corridor, getting herself lost further in the maze before she ran into something hard and bounced backwards. Naru looked up from the ground, her lips trembling as his eyes stared down at her, an amused smirk plastered on his pale face. She wanted to scream but it was if a lump had formed in her throat and all she could do was use her feet to push herself along the hard ground away from him. Naru whimpered as he crouched down to her level, his handing reaching out to grab onto her ankle and drag her back towards him.

…..

Kakashi sat on the windowsill of Naru's hospital room, his nose stuck in his make-out-tactics book. He had visited her daily since he had recovered her beaten form from her battle with Sasuke, hoping that he would be there when she woke up so he could ask her what had been really happening between his two students'. He quickly flicked his eyes over to her as he noticed a small movement and put his book down to see if she was stirring. Kakashi had dark bags under his eyes, his usually calm demeanour irritable from lack of sleep. He had found himself going over every moment he had with Sasuke and Naru together, every interaction he had witnessed between them and it had been hitting him hard. Kakashi had been riddled with guilt, realising how selfishly he had acted towards Naru. He hadn't meant to avoid her, push her aside and distance himself. Naru had just reminded him too much of the Fourth Hokage Minato that he couldn't bear to be around her to much without old memories resurfacing. Sadly that meant instead of protecting his sensei's daughter he had unknowingly put her in harm's way. He had focused most of his attention on bettering Sasuke's ability, believing that Naru's self-drive would force her training forward and in return he created too much of a power difference; the only defence Naru really had was the nine tail fox and that was a cost in itself. Kakashi sighed and sat down in the chair next to the bed, focusing on her with worried eyes as she began tossing and turning, tear's begging to slip from her face. Kakashi fought internally with himself, he wanted to reach forward and reassure her she was safe but Tsunade would murder him if he woke her before she was ready.

…..

Naru bolted upright, sweat dripping off her face and cheeks stained with tears. She looked around the room wildly and blew out a sigh of relief as she realised where she was. Her dream flooded into her mind and she bent forward and grasped at her heart as it clenched painfully. It felt so real that Naru could feel her skin burn in the places that dream Sasuke had put his hands on her and she felt like ripping at the skin as if the area was unclean. She felt a hand rest on her back and slapped it away quickly, fear running wild in her eyes as she took in her surroundings. Kakashi's uncovered eye stared down at her worryingly, his white hair dishevelled and flatter then it's usually spikey self.

"Naru, breath…You're okay" she gave him a weak smile and took in her surroundings once more, this time focusing on where she was exactly. She looked down at her arms to find them bandaged and she could feel more bandages around her torso and face.

"Sasuke?" her voice was barely a whisper but Kakashi had heard it and looked away quickly. Naru frowned, she had failed him, and she had failed Sakura. "I'll bring him back next time Kakashi Sensei"

"Naru…" she looked up at him and felt his disappointment flood over her. She wondered how it was possible she had lost, she had tried so hard and fought with everything and it was still not enough.

"I'm sorry Kakashi Sensei! I'll get stronger, I'll train every day and learn as many new jitsu's as I can!" Kakashi shook his head and placed his hand on hers. She looked down at their hands, her brows furrowed. Why was he angry with her?

"Why didn't you tell me Naru?" she cocked her head to the side. She wasn't quite sure what he was referring to but it was making her stomach churn.

"Tell you what Sensei?" he locked his eye onto hers and she gulped. He can't know, there's no way…

"About Sasuke Naru, why did you never tell me what he was doing" Naru shrugged and looked out the window. She contemplated which way to go with this. She could either tell him everything or put her usual smile on her face and pretend she didn't know what he was talking about.

"I don't understand Sensei, I was just as surprised as you when I learnt he had left" she watched as Kakashi leant backwards, his eye still hard and focused on her. If Naru was honest with herself she wanted to tell him everything but she was afraid. She knew no one would take her seriously, after all she was just the girl with the beast in her and Sasuke was the Uchiha golden boy.

"Don't bullshit me Naru, I saw everything" panic began to rise in her and she looked around quickly, searching for a way out. She wasn't ready to talk about this, if she was to stay strong and keep her bond with Sasuke she couldn't acknowledge it like that.

"I don't know what you saw Sensei, maybe your mind was playing tricks on you" she flinched as he grabbed her arm lightly in an attempt to get her to focus on him "I have to save him Kakashi Sensei"

"You don't have to do anything for him after what he did Naru!" Kakashi yelled out exasperated. Naru searched his eyes, hoping to see some understanding in them. How could she explain that she had been tearing herself in two to keep her bond strong with Sasuke yet completely despise him for all the times he had lay a finger on her. How could she explain that she was determined to save someone who didn't want to be saved in the first place?

"That boy I fought…that wasn't our Sasuke, it was Orochimaru's Sasuke. Ever since he gave him that mark he hasn't been our Saskue…" Kakashi let go of her arm and leaned back in the chair he was in, nodding at her to continue "I can't believe that the Sasuke I know could ever do that to me Sensei and that's why I have to find him and save him. If I can just convince him that our bond of is stronger than his will for revenge I can bring him back!"

"Naru…you can't use his mark as an excuse to make what he has done okay…" Naru smiled at Kakashi, it was forced but she didn't want to hear what he had to say. All she had to hold onto was the idea that Sasuke wasn't responsible for his actions because if she acknowledged he was she would fall apart.

"I just need to get stronger Sensei! You watch I'll bring our Sasuke back! I'll knock some sense into him this time!"

…

Kakashi stared at Naru before nodding in defeat, it was obvious she wasn't going to give him any of the information he wanted. She was too busy trying to convince herself it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Naru shifted uncomfortably under his scrutinizing gaze, still giving him an unconvincing smile. He stood up and leant out the window, wondering if he should continue to press the subject or not.

"Who is it your trying to fool Naru…Yourself or me?" the room feel silent, the question hanging in the air unanswered. Kakashi wasn't expecting a response, he was just wanting to get her to see what was in front of her.

"I can't…I'm not ready…" the cold air brushed across his face and through his hair as he waited for her to finish her sentence "You never cared before Kakashi Sensei, why start now" his gripped tightened on the windowsill, shock running through his body at her words. He knew he had been distant but could she really think he didn't care about her?

"Naru…how could you say something like that, of course I care" his voice was on the verge of breaking, his usual calm tone wavering with disbelief. Naru opened her mouth then quickly closed it again, her lips pursed as she thought over her reply.

"Naru! Your awake!" a loud booming voice came from the far corner of the room, both participants looked to the new comer. Naru with relief and excitement and Kakashi with disappointment.

"Pervy-sage! Your back!" Naru's voice was filled with her usual cheery manor and Kakashi couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of the toad sage's greeting.

"How are ya feeling kid, you're looking pretty beat up" Jiraiya stepped into the room, making his way over to the bed and leaning over Naru; inspecting her injuries "I thought I taught you better kid"

"You taught me nothing Pervy-sage! You we're too busy doing your 'research'" Kakashi hid an amused smile under his mask. He felt relieved that she had bounced back so quickly. Maybe Naru wasn't as affected by what happened as he previously thought.

"Hey, hey, hey! What have I told you about calling me that you brat!" he turned to Kakashi, his hands on his back "Where were you Kakashi?" he averted his gaze, he didn't need to be reminded he had failed in protecting his student's

"Don't you blame him Pervy-sage!" Naru scolded the white haired man, her eye's narrowed at him "Where have you been"

"I've been searching for information on the Akatsuki" Kakashi stepped forward. His eyes wide and alarmed. Jiraiya had filled him in on a bit about the organisation so to have him back at the leaf village meant he had found something.

"What did you find?" Jiraiya waved his hand at Kakashi dismissively.

"This and that, it's actually why I'm here" Jiraiya leant over again so he was eye level with Naru and Kakashi began to worry, Naru didn't need to know more then she had to; was he really going to tell her? "How would you like to come with me and train as my apprentice Naru?"

"What!" Naru leapt out of bed in excitement, her feet padding on the ground as she bounced back and forth. "For how long?"

"Three years" Kakashi's eye flicked between the two. A part of him wanted to object but he knew that Naru would be safe with the toad sage.

"But…what about Sasuke?" Naru looked over to Kakashi and he shrugged. He didn't even know where to start with finding Sasuke and after everything he didn't even want Naru to be anywhere near him.

"Sasuke arrived late so Orochimaru won't be able to use his body for another 3 years" Jiraiya placed his hands on Naru's shoulders and Kakashi noted how she flinched again. He saddened at the notion of her being scared of physical contact "The Akatsuki are making preparations Naru and I need to have you prepared in three years' time when they start making their move. You need to be able to defend yourself against them"

"Alright! I'll start packing right away Pervy-sage!" Kakashi shook his head again, this time amused with the 15 year old girl. Her enthusiasm was definably infections.

"Yo Naru" his pupil turned to him and she bit her lip "Leave tomorrow alright, you just woke up there's no need to rush, right Jiraiya?" The toad sage nodded in agreement and Naru's body relaxed as if she had expected him to carry on their previous conversation. Kakashi held up his hand and gave her a two fingered wave to say goodbye, disappearing with a puff of smoke.