:Even in the Darkest Moments:

Summary: She would protect him no matter what it took. No matter what she had to sacrifice. Even if it meant leaving those she loved in search of answers. Her clan was made for this, her heart, not so much.

Prologue

-Fifteen Years Ago-

The wind blew softly through the trees as two figures looked down at the body on the ground, the dead ninja's hidden rain headband reflecting in the sun. The mission was complete, however neither felt as though they had accomplished anything. The man on her left turned quickly as she finished writing on the scroll. Even though his lizard mask hid his face she could read those emotions anywhere.

"All that wasted effort," He sighed looking to the sky. "How did this guy even make the interrogation list? He was the least informative body we've come across."

The female, whose red hair was tied back neatly into a high ponytail, rolled her eyes under her fox mask. Likely the Hokage would be disappointed, however it was not their fault the shinobi was unwilling to part with information. "Well there's nothing we can do about it now." She attached the scroll to a messenger hawk.

The war had been dragging on between the shinobi villages and the lands. The hidden stone village had been putting up quite the fight and had become nothing of a nuisance to the leaf village The goal was to gather as much information as possible and because of the location of the village hidden in the rain, it made the shinobi that lived there important targets. As ANBU black ops members, she couldn't remember a time she wasn't on a mission, and if felt as though the war would never end.

"Let's head back to the leaf, if we hurry, we may even make it back before nightfall."

The fox nodded to the lizard as they quickly entered the trees. Neither of the two shinobi had exhausted much of their chakra hunting down the rain ninja. The sun slowly began to disappear and the half moon rose in its place. The wind suddenly became chilled stopping the female in her tracks.

"What is it?" her partner questioned, curious as to why she suddenly stopped.

"Don't you feel that?" She urged as the goose bumps rose up her skin. "There is something ominous in the air. Something sinister…"

He knew his partner well enough to know that nothing phased the kunoichi. She had been through so much in her lifetime even at the young age of fourteen. So, he knew to take her words seriously.

"Let's move then."

They were only blurs as they ran through the trees at a speed unrecognizable to the average human eye.

She was never happy to approach the Hokage with a lack of information, especially in this case. In war, the ones that win are the ones that were prepared and she felt as though she was failing. She appeared in his office as stealthily as what was required of an ANBU member, almost startling the Hokage sitting at the desk.

"I received your messenger hawk Arisa. Although it is a problem that we were unable to get any information, I am not overly surprised. The rain shinobi are never forthcoming with information" Minato Namikaze sighed, running a hand through his straw colored hair, blue eyes locked onto the ANBU member in front of him. The shinobi known as Arisa couldn't help but see the uncertainty in the fourth hokage's eyes. "But it cannot be helped at this time."

"Hopefully we will be able to get information soon Sir. We have heard rumors about a masked man stirring up trouble in the land of fire, however no concrete evidence as to who it is or what they want." Her voice was soft as the hokage let out a laugh.

"Well we will deal with the threats as they come, but you know you don't have to call me Sir." He always felt awkward with the formalities.

"Sorry Minato, its been drilled into me forever, so I guess it's just become a habit," She laughed nervously, although agreed with him. Their relationship was definitely different than that of the third Hokage.

"It's not a problem at all Ari. Just makes me feel a lot older than I am. I suppose if this debrief is over I best be heading home," Minato smiled and Ari nodded. "Besides, your sister would kill me if I kept her waiting any longer."

She smirked at the anxious tone in the hokage's voice. Her sister was well known for her temper, something that had only gotten worse during her pregnancy. "Well you best get home then. Tell Kushina I say hello! And to not be too hard on you!"

"Will do Ari, head home for the night and relax. I am sure you will be called for a mission in no time."

Her amethyst eyes showed her exhaustion. At fourteen she was a young ANBU member and a skilled shinobi, but the missions did take a lot out of her. The hokage knew she needed the rest when she could find it.

The ominous feeling, she had felt in the air remained as the moon lit up the sky in the leaf village. She walked slowly through the streets of Konoha. Her grey ANBU uniform lit up under the light, as the mask of the fox remained on her face She quickly approached her apartment and changed her attire into something more appropriate. ANBU members were to be as secret as possible so she did not like to wander in it throughout the village. Wrapping herself into a lavender colored kimono that stopped above her ankles and finishing it with a white obi, she headed back out to the dango shop, or what had become to be known as 'their' meeting spot. She noticed his chakra first as a toothy smile appeared on her face and her eyes lit up. "You're back!"

As she turned to look at him, she couldn't help but smirk. He always had this lazy look on his face, even when almost the entirety of it was covered under a mask. "Never thought you'd be so enthusiastic about it Ari."

She rolled her eyes in the most dramatic fashion she could muster. "And why wouldn't I be so excited to have my best friend back for a visit? It seems more and more often we are both out on missions. It's becoming harder and harder to do this together lately."

It was true, regardless weather the ninja was ANBU or simply a jounin, the missions were becoming longer and longer. The two shinobi, although both young had seen more death and destruction than even older ninja. Arisa had heard how Kakashi had lost both of his team mates and knew the nickname 'friend killer' still made its way through the rumor mill, especially in the ANBU. Arisa, however had her own darkness, and knew that if people actually got to know the silver haired jounin they would see the love he had for his teammates.

Upon entering the graveyard, they separated to their perspective areas. Kakashi made his way to the graves of his fallen comrades, while Arisa walked to hers. Both shinobi were the only surviving members of their teams. Each time they returned from a mission, regardless how long the mission was, the two always made a point of heading to the graveyard. It started out as a coincidence that they were both at the graveyard at the same time, but Arisa took the jump and asked Kakashi if he wanted to start doing it together, something about sharing the sadness made it a little easier.

Arisa let a single tear fall as she placed her hands on the two graves in front of her.

'Ryuichi and Sakima. I still cannot believe I am here without you.'

"Kakashi?"

He turned his head to the red headed kunoichi. She was a slender little thing, practically swimming in her kimono, and seemed to be the least bit threatening. He knew that to be false however. He had graduated the year before her from the academy, so they rarely had interaction at that time. The two shinobi competed together in the chunin and jounin exams, and although they had never gone up against each other, he knew the skills she had and immediately respected her talents. He smirked under his mask. The two shinobi teams almost never met up with each other, however she stood out anytime he saw her. She was a beacon of light in what was a never ending ninja war.

"How is my sister?" She asked quietly standing from the graves she was at and walking towards him. She had pleaded with her brother in law to help save her silver haired friend. She could see the darkness that was eating at Kakashi, and knowing that Minato was his sensei, hoped he would be able to help him, before he went the way of his father. Minato had agreed -having also noticed the self destruction- and gave Kakashi the most important mission he could think of, guarding his pregnant wife.

"She's been doing well. I do however feel bad for Minato-sensei, her temper has certainly increased." Kakashi slowly rose from Obito Uchiha's grave. Ari stood almost a whole head shorter than Kakashi as she placed her body close to his. She could feel the sadness radiating from Kakashi as he placed an arm over her shoulder.

"I wish I could've met them. I heard some amazing things about both Obito and Rin."

He didn't answer her. She knew how hard it was to even bring up his fallen comrades.

"Ari," He looked down into her purple eyes. He wasn't sure what the feeling was that made him want to be close to her. "I-I need to head back."

"Oh!" She spoke sharply stepping back from his warm embrace. "I guess you're right. Well, take care of them for me okay Hatake?"

"Of course, Uzumaki."

She barely had the time to blink before Kakashi vanished. She looked down one more time at Obito's grave, a small tear forming in her eye. "You have no idea how much he misses you."

The wind blew through the grave, and she couldn't shake that dark feeling coming from the cold air. Crossing her arms over her chest she looked up into the sky at the full moon. 'One day at a time.'

-Seven months later-

"What do you mean we're stuck here?" Ari growled clenching her fists as she ran towards Hokage tower followed by Kurenai, a fellow shinobi. Arisa's hospital clothing clashed against the night sky.

"We are all sealed in the barrier, the Hokage isn't letting any of us out," Kurenai stated watching her friend with wide eyes. She couldn't ever remember seeing Arisa like this, as far as she knew the kunoichi was always calm and collected. Having spent yesterday in the hospital, she was surprised that Arisa had the gumption to push on. "I don't even think you'll be able to change his mind."

A crash against the barrier caused the ground to shake, and the shriek from the forest was frightening. Arisa almost lost her footing. "It can't be…."

Reaching the tower, they were met with their fellow shinobi all the same ages as them and younger. She noticed the silver hair standing amongst the chunin and jounin but nothing stopped her racing towards the third. The third Hokage stood in front of them signaling that no one was to leave. "You have to let me out!"

The young girls voice was menacing, however the elder Hokage remained unfazed. Her red hair was disheveled, as she had been woken by a menacing roar. "We must protect the village Arisa, as shinobi that comes first and foremost. There are already ninja teams out there supporting the fourth in his attempt to take down the nine-tails."

Looking around she noticed the lack of Jounin ninjas inside the barrier, even her sensei must've been helping Minato.

"You don't understand Hokage, I am the only one who can help them!" She was begging him to understand. This was her purpose, this was her clans problem to deal with.

Kakashi watched from the background as Arisa attempted to bargain with the hokage to let her out. If only she knew that he had made the same demands but had gotten nowhere. He was supposed to be there, that was the duty assigned to him. Minato had given him the night off, and that guilt was eating at the jounin.

"If you leave and you all die, who then will protect the village?!" Arisa stepped back at the tone in the Hokage's voice. "The fourth had put this place to protect everyone." Yet another crash rang against the barrier and the young shinobi watched as a yellow blur attacked the tailed beast.

"Please I need to get to them!" She made a run for it, catching only a glimpse of the lizard mask, and before she could say anything else the world went black.

She shot up in bed, cold sweat dripping from her brow. Immediately she began to think about what had happened and as soon as she realized her breath caught in her throat. It all had to be a bad dream, there was absolutely no way the nine tails was released. Ever since becoming pregnant every precaution was taken to stop that from happening. Kushina and Minato were both fine with her new niece or nephew right? None of that fighting with Kurama could be real. Her mind was running a mile a minute, so how she didn't sense him sooner was not surprising.

"You need to come with me Arisa."

The ultimate sadness in his voice was the only confirmation she needed. His onyx eye was usually so unreadable, but it hid nothing of the events that occurred. Slowly she stood realizing she was in one of the rooms of the Hokage tower. She was trying to remember what had happened before she blacked out and who had been brazen enough to even do it. Her steps were slow as she followed her friend to the office of the Hokage. How long had she been out for?

"Kakashi what-."

He remained focused on the door to the office his hand planted firmly on the wood, as he pushed it open, interrupting her chance to ask the question burning at her lips. There stood Hiruzen Sarutobi holding a bundle tightly in his arms. Crying quickly rang out around the room and Arisa's heart broke. She could feel the emptiness in the cries. Slowly walking towards the hokage she couldn't hold back the tears in her eyes. ANBU members were taught to hide their emotions and she had admitted from the beginning that was something she was not good at. 'Emotions run high in us Uzumaki's.'

"Does this mean Minato and Kushina are…" She couldn't bring herself to say the words. She reached towards the baby and as soon as her soft hand touched his cheek the crying stopped and Kakashi watched fascinated. He was the splitting image of his father. That straw colored hair and those blue eyes took her breath away. She took the child from the arms of the hokage, and the baby seemed to watch her with the same excitement in his eyes. She could feel the chakra inside the boy, not the entirety of the nine tails but definitely the yang part of the chakra. She shook the tears from her eyes and peaked under the blanket, seeing the sealing jutsu that her clan had developed years ago. 'I am sorry little one, this burden was supposed to be mine to bear.'

"They both sacrificed their lives protecting the leaf village," Hiruzen could not even begin to understand the emotions going through the young girls' mind. "We are all deeply saddened. Word is there was an ambush and that a kidnapping took place. We are trying to gather information but-"

"Enough." Her words were fire. She couldn't hold back her anger. If they had just listened to her none of this would've happened and maybe her sister and the fourth hokage would be alive. Her glare cut through the Hokage and she turned to Kakashi. "Why weren't you there with them?"

Her accusation was unfair, she knew the moment she said it. She just needed someone to help her understand. Still she spat it like venom towards the masked shinobi. She knew that he would never have abandoned his post without permission, but the whole situation was so surreal.

"I am sorry Ari."

Defeated Kakashi sighed holding back his own emotions. Did she not understand that it was his sensei, his mentor that had sacrificed himself to save the village? He was surrounded by darkness, causing every one around him to die. Three days ago, the world took not only his sensei, but one of his best friends.

"Well what is my nephew's name?" Arisa asked rocking the bundle in her arms.

"Naruto."

-Three years later-

"Are you trying to kill yourself Hatake?" Arisa whispered harshly; her hands aglow with chakra as she tended to the ANBUs wounds. This was definitely the worst she had seem him return. Blood and wounds covered his pale body as he stumbled into her apartment at two o'clock in the morning, While she had made the choice to leave the ANBU black ops to care for her nephew, Kakashi had dove in full force.

She knew he had been recruited by Danzo's root faction, a group Hiruzen had warned her about. If the ANBU was a dark place, root took that to a whole other level. Arisa felt as though Danzo prayed on those that had seen hardships unlike any other, and used them to do his dirty work. Yet no matter how much she tried to change Kakashi's mind he wouldn't listen. She had even approached the third Hokage with her concerns, but she felt brushed off. One of these days she was worried he wouldn't come back at all.

Taking out a roll of bandages she began to wrap the visible wounds. "Okay Kakashi shirt off, we need to make sure the rest of you is intact." She held back her blush as he removed his shirt, showing his scarred but chiseled chest. Her chakra began to run into his body searching for any internal injuries. "Well they didn't hit anything vital, you're lucky. Next time be more careful."

"Almost sounds like you would miss me." He laughed which quickly turned to a groan.

Arisa had quickly twisted the chakra causing Kakashi to wince in pain. "You're an idiot if you think I wouldn't miss you, I don't just let any shinobi through my window at this time in the morning. Honestly, as much as I would love to hit you, Naruto is asleep next door."

"You're nephew does sleep through anything though," Kakashi smirked thinking back to their last meetup, which resulted in a smack to the head.

"Keep that up, and next time you can go to the hospital."

"But your bed is so much warmer Ari."

-Five years later-

"Can you believe it?"

Arisa couldn't help but laugh as her hot-blooded nephew strolled down the streets of Konoha, head held high as they made their way to Ichiraku Ramen Hut. Over the years she had watched as the villagers stood back in fear from Naruto or bullied him. Not one understanding the important role he played in saving the village, and that he was still the son of the fourth hokage. They weren't supposed to talk of Naruto's parent's and Arisa knew that was the way of protecting him.

"I am going to graduate the academy as fast as I can, then I will be the next hokage!" She knew that he was the splitting image of her brother in law, but his personality was certainly his mothers. She smiled softly as those memories came back. "Hey Auntie, what kind of ramen are you going to get?"

"Pork, obviously." She stated hiding the drool making its way to the corner of her mouth. "Now that you're enrolled at the academy Naruto maybe we should think about easing up on the pranks? I am pretty sure the Hokage is going to have a heart attack one of these days." They each sat on a stool as Teuchi – the shop owner- welcomed his best customers.

"I think secretly the Hokage enjoys my art," Naruto laughed waiting for the steaming bowl of noodles to be placed in front of him. "This way they notice me! The hokage will never be able to forget the name Naruto Uzumaki!"

The ramen was some of the best Arisa had ever had, even travelling to the other nations. Ironic that her nephew happened to be named after a hero, who was named after ramen.

Leaving the hut, Arisa couldn't help but smile at her nephew. He never seemed phased by anything. He was the most persistent kid she had ever met, and his heart was pure gold. He seemed untainted by the attitudes of those around him and she wished she had his confidence. It's not like anyone would even know he was the jinchuriki host to Kurama.

"Naruto?" The yellow haired boy turned to her. His blue eyes wide and his green goggles reflecting the sunlight. "Just remember that you're amazing okay?"

"Well of course Riri! Only amazing Shinobi can be hokage."

They walked slowly back to their apartment. Arisa wore a purple kimono that went down to her ankles and was tied back with an obi covered in white lilies. Her red hair had grown over the years making its way to her mid back as it flew freely in the breeze. Her amethyst eyes always watching over her nephew. He was a handful, and some days she wondered if she was even up to the task, but he filled the void that Kushina and Minato had left. He was someone she could come home to, and she knew he loved her. He was her responsibility, after all, his parents died for the village.

"Hey Auntie Riri, what's that?" as they entered the apartment Naruto pointed towards the messenger hawk that was sitting calmly on the table. "Oh, I bet it's a mission from the Hokage."

Ari rolled her eyes at his excitement as she shooed him towards the dining room and took the scroll from the hawks' leg. Her brow furrowed before she destroyed the scroll and joined Naruto in the dining room.

"Well what was it? A super secret mission?" Naruto beamed and Arisa sighed. "I am sure it's going to be an amazing. I can't wait to become a shinobi!"

"It's certainly going to be something Naruto."

She wasn't sure she could agree with the word amazing. The note itself was secretive, which usually meant something bigger than her normal D rank mission she had been taking. She took the odd mission here and there to keep her skills fresh, but it felt wrong to leave Naruto for extended periods. She always had her old ANBU members watch over him, and knew the Hokage had a soft spot for him as well. She had taught him to be as a self sufficient as she could, but he was still young. 'An eight year old should not be left alone.'

Nightfall seemed to take forever, but as soon as she could hear his light snoring, she quietly left the apartment -sneaking a note under his pillow- and headed east through Konoha. She arrived at the apartment building that was close to Hokage tower, covering her chakra as she climbed through the window.

"Well isn't this a little inappropriate Ari?" She blushed, almost catching her leg on the windowsill and meeting the floor, as his mouth twisted with amusement. "I am always here for a booty call but…"

She didn't let him finish the sentence as she pulled down his mask with record speed, covering his lips with hers. He had been on a mission for the last few weeks and she didn't want their time to go to waste. She deepened the kiss falling into his arms. "Pervert."

Her lips were fire against his. He pulled up his mask as they broke the kiss -simply out of habit- and he rolled his one charcoal eye at her. "I am not the one who practically pushed me over with that kiss?" Her bell like giggle filled the room as they made their way to the couch. She had to say personally she preferred him in the leaf village attire instead of the ANBU uniform. She was glad the third hokage was finally able to convince him to leave. She curled into his warm body and sighed with content. Their schedules lately had been putting a damper on their very secret relationship. Kakashi was busy completing S rank missions as though they were going out of style, which meant long hours and days, sometimes weeks away from the village. Then when he returned she was either busy at the hospital, or busy with Naruto.

"Not that I am complaining, but why the midnight rendezvous? I have at least the next three days off." He felt her body tense and her eyes became focused on the string of his green vest. "It can't be that bad Ari."

"I am going on a reconnaissance mission tomorrow. Apparently, they've been able to find a trail that could possibly lead to Orochimaru. They need my… expertise."

Kakashi knew there was history there, but Arisa had never once been able to tell him what exactly that history was. Her right arm had a scar encircling the entire bicep. He knew that it looked as though it was removed and sewn back on, but that was years ago. He watched as she subconsciously rubbed her arm and placed a kiss on her hair through his mask. "How long?"

"Until its finished," she whispered. She did not want to leave Naruto, especially in the village that was so toxic to him, not for the extended length of this mission. Yet, she also knew that as a ninja she had to take the mission, it was part of the ninja code. "I just want Naruto to be safe and happy."

Kakashi knew she loved that child as though he was her own. He knew that there was no one better than her for Naruto. "He knows you love him, and that you have duties to the leaf."

She nodded getting even closer to Kakashi as he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. "Will you watch out for him? I have no idea when I'll be back. I know that Iruka has a soft spot for him, but it can't hurt to have Kakashi of the Sharingan also keeping a look out."

He nodded smiling under his mask. She rarely brought up that horrendous nickname of his. "When do you leave Ari?"

She slowly pushed herself up off of the shinobi and her legs dangled over the edge of the couch. "I am to go to Hokage tower in one hour for the debriefing then I'll be off."

"Guess we need to make the most of our time then." He quickly grabbed the kunoichi, made his way to the bedroom and she rolled her eyes, the smirk on her face not going unnoticed.

"You think he's with the Akatsuki?" Arisa shook her head in confusion. 'Why on earth would Orochimaru join a rouge ninja group?'

"We don't have a lot of intelligence on the group, but a source has confirmed that Orochimaru is likely among the Akatsuki. You are to gather as much intelligence as you can on what they are after. Arisa you will be leading the team as you have the most information on Orochimaru." Hiruzen Sarutobi had aged. The lines around his eyes were tired and Arisa couldn't help but notice how his chakra was changing. "These shinobi carry a reputation of being formidable foes, so you are not to engage them in battle."

"Yes Hokage." Arisa stated turning towards her fellow team members. "You heard the Hokage, let's move out."

The ninjas slowly vanished before the Hokage's eyes and Arisa tightened the leaf headband around her left ankle. She wore a shorter purple kimono and a mesh top. She had multiple scrolls on her waist as well as her first aid kit. She looked one last time at the Hokage before forming the single hand sign to vanish from his office.

'Wait for me Naruto.'