In search of the Elden Ring

The rain poured relentlessly as the Copy Ninja finally approached the area his ninken had described. He had done his best to remain discreet, masking his presence to ensure you were truly alone and this wasn’t a trap.

The area seemed devoid of any other presence besides yours, and he braced himself mentally for what lay ahead. Kakashi had already spent countless hours bedridden, reflecting on what he needed to do and how to approach the situation.

Your predicament left him with few options, and he could only hope he could pull you out of this twisted scheme before it claimed one of your lives. Fear lingered in his heart, but he would not back down from what awaited him.

No matter what happened, he would not abandon you. The regret of not cherishing the time he had with you when he could still haunted him. He regretted not stopping you before you left on that fateful mission. But he couldn’t turn back time; nothing could change the past. All he had now was this desperate attempt to bring back the woman he had always loved—the woman who had loved him too, but whom he had pushed away.

Perhaps one only realizes the value of something when it teeters on the brink, fragile and nearly out of reach. Perhaps fate had dealt Kakashi this cruel hand to teach him that he couldn’t keep running—not from you, not from the cries of his own heart.

The rain reminded him of that first day you had trained together, but the context was starkly different now.

As he edged closer, he finally spotted a silhouette perched on a distant rock. Dressed in black, you sat facing away from him. The aura radiating from you was familiar, yet he felt as though you were shrouded in an even deeper darkness. Knowing you were so close, yet so far, tore at him. He had to stay calm and focused if he was to bring you back.

Kakashi moved carefully, stopping a few steps away. He sighed—a sound you caught instantly, though you had already sensed his presence some time ago.

Your head tilted slightly in his direction, still hidden behind the mask he so desperately wanted to remove. “Where is Naruto?” you demanded, your voice distorted and unrecognizable. “I’m your opponent,” he replied, his tone a mix of unwavering resolve and sadness.

Standing up, you leapt down from the rock and stopped a few meters away from him. After a few moments of stillness, you spoke again. “It’s the Jinchūriki I’m waiting for. Not you.” “You’ll have to go through me first,” he said.

A soft, chilling laugh escaped your mask—a sound so devoid of warmth that it sent shivers through the Copy Ninja. It was nothing like the laughter he once knew. There was only hatred and anger, a far cry from the person you used to be. “Eager to die, are you?”

He didn’t respond, taking his stance instead. His gaze held a mix of emotions, but his posture remained steady. “Let me grant you the death you came for,” you murmured, your words barely audible.

Kakashi focused, preparing for your first move. You lunged at him, starting with hand-to-hand combat. He blocked your strikes with relative ease. Even under the influence of whatever controlled you, your techniques were the same. You even seemed to follow the same patterns from your training sessions, allowing him to predict your moves without relying on his Sharingan just yet.

“I know you can do better than this,” he said at last, as if this were a friendly sparring match. As if nothing had changed. As if he still held onto the faint hope that his words or actions might bring you back.

You stopped abruptly, stepping back to channel chakra into various parts of your body, increasing your speed and the power of your attacks. Reaching under your cloak, you drew a blade—a weapon Kakashi would have recognized anywhere.

Your wakizashi.

The last time he had seen you wield it was during your time together in the ANBU Black Ops. The last time it hung at your side was before you left for that mission, the one you didn’t return from for years. Whoever was behind this had planned more than just brainwashing you—they had conditioned and prepared you, even keeping your personal belongings to use them against you and those you cared for. First the kunai with its charm, and now this. Kakashi felt as though he were being struck with silent, calculated blows, each one more painful than the last. Yet he forced himself to remain composed, showing no weakness.

“The last time you used that… it feels like a lifetime ago,” he said softly.

“Fight me,” you growled, “and stop talking as if we know each other, Copy Ninja.” Chakra surged into your blade, making it glow faintly. “If only you could remember me, this would all be so much easier.” “You’re not speaking to that person, Hatake. You’re wasting your breath.”

Kakashi hesitated, weighing his words as though searching for the key to free you. “I know this isn’t truly you. Somewhere in there, you’re still you…” His voice carried a sadness that failed to reach you in your current state. “I’m coming to get you, [Y/N]. Hold on.”

For a fleeting moment, something shifted in your aura. It was as if his words had reached the part of you buried deep inside, breaking through whatever held you captive. A glimmer of hope flashed across his face.

But the change was brief. Your energy turned dark once more, and a sinister laugh echoed from your mask. It would take more than words to pull you from this abyss. “If you think you can save me, you’re a fool. There’s nothing left to save. Nothing left to fight for. Accept it.”

This time, you attacked with blinding speed. Kakashi barely managed to block your strike with a kunai before you vanished again, pressing your relentless assault. When you finally paused, standing some distance away, Kakashi lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan. If your speed increased any further, he wouldn’t be able to keep up without it.

He launched his counterattack, mirroring your movements for an instant. A growl escaped your mask as frustration began to seep into your strikes. The fight was dragging on longer than you wanted, and his refusal to use his full power irritated you. If he was stalling, it could only mean trouble for you.

Kakashi, on the other hand, was trying to buy time, though the thought of resorting to more drastic measures weighed heavily on him. He couldn’t bear the idea of crossing the point of no return—not with you. “Enough playing around, Hatake,” you said sharply, your tone slicing through the air as he furrowed his brow. He braced himself, knowing you were about to unleash a stronger technique. He barely had time to blink before you were behind him, your blade striking in a swift arc. He stumbled back just in time, his green vest slashed open down the front. Thankfully, the blade hadn’t touched his skin. Taking a deep breath, he realized this would demand more of him than he’d anticipated—perhaps even techniques he had vowed not to use against you until now. He might not have a choice for much longer.

Shrugging off the tattered vest, he let it fall to the ground and readied himself for combat again, kunai in hand. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said firmly. “But if it’s the only way to bring you back to your senses…”

As you prepared for another strike, a sudden burst of force hurled you backward, and you struggled to steady yourself. His speed and strength had surged; he was no longer holding back. Rising to your feet, you scanned the area, searching for him. Before you could act, you found yourself pinned to the ground. The grey-haired ninja loomed over you, his expression a mix of emotions you couldn’t decipher.

His forearm pressed against your torso, while one of his legs trapped yours in place. The close proximity caused a flicker of hesitation in your eyes, one he noticed immediately. He wouldn’t waste the opportunity. “I know you’re still in there,” he said, his voice low but urgent. “Fight it. You can do this.”

Anger surging again, you drove your knee into him, reversing the position. He grunted as you now sat over him, glaring down. “You just won’t shut up, will you? Looks like I’ll have to help you with that,” you spat.

His face remained steady—neither perturbed nor frightened. Your blade had fallen to the side earlier, and now you drew a kunai from your vest, pressing it against his throat. A glimmer of recognition flashed in his eyes as he glanced briefly at the small charm dangling from your wrist. He seized the moment to speak again. “Whatever it takes, I’ll bring back the person you’ve always been. I won’t lose you again.”

For a fleeting moment, the dark, raging aura around you faltered, revealing someone fragile, someone lost. Your hand trembled, and Kakashi’s eyes lit with hope. You were there. You could hear him. The shell around you was beginning to crack, and he just needed to keep breaking it apart to free you.

With a sudden shove, you toppled sideways, giving him the chance to rise. “Fate brought us back together. I believe it’s for a reason. This isn’t where it ends,” he said resolutely.

Clutching your weapon tightly, you launched forward simultaneously, kunai clashing in a fierce meeting of wills. Your faces were mere inches apart, the screech of metal grinding against metal cutting through the rain, which had started to slow to a gentle drizzle.

Breaking the stalemate, you retreated, summoning two clones. Kakashi exhaled, closing his eyes for a brief moment. His left hand moved to grip his right arm, and you saw chakra gathering in his palm. The energy quickly formed into crackling blue lightning. He opened his eyes and glanced at you. It was clear—he needed to eliminate your clones.

In a flash, your clones vanished, leaving three separate attacks converging on him—one from the front, one from behind, and one from above. His Raikiri swept out in a precise arc, dispelling the illusions and grazing your mask.

You stepped back, but not quickly enough to stop the mask from shattering completely and falling to the ground. Kakashi’s gaze locked onto your face for the first time, his attack carefully restrained to avoid causing true harm. Blood trickled from your nose, and you instinctively touched it, staring at the crimson staining your fingers. Your eyes betrayed a mix of fear and pain, though your expression remained locked in anger.

“Now that the mask is gone…” Kakashi began. “Shut up!” you snapped. “Come back to me,” he whispered, more a plea than a command.

Your hand flew to your head, gripping it tightly as you winced. He could feel the war waging within you, your presence flickering between the person he knew and the dark force clouding you.

It was happening.

Your grip on the kunai trembled, and slowly, you began to lift it. Kakashi froze as he saw the blade’s tip shift away from him—and toward you. Without hesitation, he acted, knocking the kunai aside and catching you as your body collapsed. His hand cupped your cheek, turning your face toward him. Your eyes fluttered open after a moment, and you saw him clearly. He looked exhausted, his worry etched across every line of his face.

To you, the battle had felt like mere minutes, but to Kakashi, it had been hours—a fight that seemed endless. Now, the fatigue in your limbs was undeniable.

He noticed the change in your eyes immediately. The anger, the hatred, the storm that had consumed you—they were gone. What remained was the gentleness he remembered, alongside sadness and confusion.

“You’re back,” he murmured, disbelief lacing his voice.

After a pause, you reached out, wrapping your arms around his neck and holding him as if your life depended on it. One hand tangled in his grey hair, the other clutching his back. Despite your exhaustion, the need to feel his presence was overwhelming.

Kakashi, startled, slowly returned the embrace, his hands resting around you. His hardened features softened completely, the simple act of holding you melting away every burden.

“I’m so sorry, Kakashi,” you whispered, tears slipping down your face.

The rawness of your voice struck him deeply. Each word carried the weight of your regret, not just for the fight but for so much more.

“I’m sorry for everything. For leaving. For hiding my departure. I should have stayed in Konoha—with you, with Naruto.”

His body stiffened slightly. You remembered?

He pulled back just enough to study your face, his hand gently resting against your cheek. His heart raced, beating in sync with the tumult in his mind. “You… You remember everything? You remember me?”

Placing your hands on his face, you leaned forward, pressing your forehead to his. He froze, overwhelmed by the intimacy and the truth of your words. “I remember you. I remember Naruto. I remember everything, Kakashi.”

His gaze searched yours, his mind reeling. Relief, joy, and disbelief collided, leaving him momentarily speechless. His mask hid the faint smile spreading across his face, but his eyes glimmered with unspoken emotions. For now, he chose silence, savoring this fragile moment.

When you finally spoke, your voice was steady, though soft. “Please, Kakashi… take me home.”

His eyes opened, meeting yours once more. Gently, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear. “We should stop by Tsunade’s to—” “No, Kakashi,” you interrupted. “Please. Just take me home. I want to stay with you. Please.”

The raw vulnerability in your plea left him no choice. Despite his exhaustion and injuries, he nodded, his voice tender. “Then let’s go home.”

________________________________________

The return journey had been equally filled with a pleasant silence, as you both simply enjoyed each other's company. Not a single word had been spoken until you crossed the threshold of your apartment. Returning to this place, which had always been your home, felt strange: as though you had never left, and yet, as though you hadn’t set foot here for centuries.

The silver-haired ninja had not stopped watching you since you had left together. He couldn’t shake the thought that he should never have let you leave without saying anything. Perhaps, he thought, he should never have let you leave at all. He had missed you terribly, and both his heart and his reason screamed at him now, begging him to never let you stray away from him again. He didn’t know whether he should thank fate for bringing you back to him or curse it for taking you away in the first place. But deep down, he understood: had everything remained as it was, he might never have truly broken his own barriers, and he might have lost you in a different way altogether.

The calm persisted as you both treated your wounds, showered, and changed into fresh clothes before lying side by side on the bed. Each of you was lost in your own thoughts, yet both savoring the other’s presence. The quiet peace you felt within yourself was something so unfamiliar, it left you unsettled. It was as though you hadn’t felt this way in so long, you had almost forgotten what it was like.

There was so much you both wanted to say, so many words waiting to be spoken, that the silence reflected the overwhelming difficulty of knowing where to even begin. This wasn’t something that could be reduced to a few words or simple phrases.

You wanted to tell him how much you had missed him, how much he meant to you, how vital he was in your life, and how you could never thank him enough for helping you climb out of that nightmare. You wanted him to know that even when your memory had failed you, you never stopped carrying him in your heart. He was here now, right next to you, and you could hardly believe it.

You were the first to break the silence, getting up and walking over to your desk. Kakashi sat up and watched you, his heart once again pounding as though it might burst from his chest. His eyes carried an unmistakable mix of tenderness, joy, and anticipation.

Slowly, you opened one of the drawers and pulled out a wrapped gift. Your expression was soft, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of your lips. Holding the package in your hands for a few moments, you stared at it and closed your eyes. You had set it aside long before your departure, intending to give it to him upon your return, but things hadn’t gone as planned.

“I think this is for you… though it’s a little late,” you said, opening your eyes again.

Walking back to him, you sat beside him and held the gift out.

His gaze shifted between you and the package, silent, before he delicately took it from your hands.

Just from the shape and weight, the Copy Ninja already knew exactly what it was. He began unwrapping the paper slowly, revealing, bit by bit, a pristine copy of an Icha Icha volume that had been damaged during your last training session before you left.

Though he had joked about it at the time—more as a playful jab than a genuine request to replace it—Kakashi had kept the damaged volume. It had become one of his most cherished possessions, a memento of you, of your clumsy charm, and of the many times you teased him about his choice of reading material. He had reread it often, kept it close, as if it tethered him to you, as though it made you feel less far away.

As he finished unwrapping the gift, Kakashi finally spoke.

“You know… that ruined copy ? It became my favorite. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

You looked at him, surprised, as he placed the book on the edge of your desk and turned his gaze to meet yours. There was something different in his eyes now. Something had shifted.

The restraint, the fear, and the hesitation you had sensed before your departure were gone.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to realize… to understand how badly I messed up before you left,” he said softly.

You didn’t move, your eyes locked on his with the same intensity. Slowly, he lowered the mask covering his face and leaned closer to you. His face was mere inches from yours, and you could feel his breath against your skin.

“Let me make it right,” he whispered.

Seeing that you didn’t pull away, he closed the gap, pressing his lips gently to yours. At first, you were startled, unable to react immediately. But then you closed your eyes, leaning into the kiss, your hands finding their way to his cheeks.

His hands rested lightly on your waist as he shifted slightly back on the bed, drawing you carefully onto his lap. Now seated astride him, your arms wrapped instinctively around his neck. The kiss was tender yet filled with all the unspoken emotions that had lingered between you for so long. Beneath it, you could feel the faint trace of restraint, still holding back.

When the kiss broke, you studied his face, taking in every detail you had only seen on rare occasions. Your heart raced, butterflies filling your stomach, but none of it mattered. Nothing mattered, except that he was here, holding you, just as you had imagined and hoped for.

“Am I dreaming, Kakashi?” you murmured, your voice almost a whisper.

Your heart was pounding, and you questioned whether this moment, these feelings, were truly real.

“If this is a dream,” he said softly, his voice laced with warmth, “then I never want to wake up. I want to stay here—with you.”

The tenderness in his words startled you, and with that one sentence, you could feel just how deeply he cared for you.

“Kakashi…”

“I… I love you, [Y/N],” he said, his voice unsteady. “I should have told you before you left. I should have shown you—”

You silenced him with another kiss, tears welling in your eyes as he returned it, holding you closer, as though afraid to let you go.

Your fingers slipped into his hair, and slowly, something began to shift between you. The hesitation dissolved, replaced by a longing that had been hidden for far too long. Every touch, every movement, was a declaration of how much you needed each other, of the fear of being apart again.

Finally, Kakashi eased you back onto the bed, positioning himself above you as he kissed you once more.

“I won’t lose you again,” he whispered.

On those words, you kissed him with more fervor than before, your hands resting on his chest, still covered by a t-shirt. He let out a soft groan as your fingers began tracing along him, and one of his hands slid under your shirt. Hesitating just briefly to see if you’d stop him, he continued when you leaned further into him. The sensation of his fingers brushing your skin sent shivers through you.

Everything was new, yet everything felt natural, as though this was exactly how it was meant to happen, as though nothing could ever stand in the way of what was destined for you both. Every word, every touch, and every sound exchanged between you felt effortless, an innate harmony that no outside force could disrupt—a moment long overdue.

Kakashi’s hands wandered further now, each sound that escaped your lips pushing him closer to the edge. When your fingers gripped the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head, he realized this was it—the moment he had waited for, the final confirmation he needed to lower his last remaining walls.

It was his turn to gently undress you, taking his time to explore every inch of your skin, as though you were a treasure he yearned to fully understand. His fingers traced each scar, every contour, while his lips left tender kisses along your body. His gaze constantly returned to your face, eager to savor your expressions and meet your eyes.

“Kakashi...” He kissed you again, his hand trailing lower until a gasp—half surprise, half pleasure—escaped your lips mid-kiss. “If you want me to stop, just say the word—” “No... No, Kakashi, I want to be close to you.”

His eyes locked on yours for a few still moments, his movements never faltering. You closed your eyes briefly, your head tilting back in response to the sensations overwhelming you. His free hand cupped your cheek gently, stroking it with his thumb. Your own hands found their way around his neck, clinging to him as your emotions and these new sensations left you utterly breathless.

The hours that followed were filled with passion, and Kakashi had to admit one thing: while Icha Icha might have been an entertaining read, it was incomparable to what the two of you had just shared. The world around you had faded entirely as you showed each other just how deeply you cared, how much you meant to one another. There were no more hesitations, no unspoken words, and no lingering doubts about your feelings or future together.

Your head rested against his chest near his shoulder, his face partially buried in your hair as he breathed in your scent, his eyes closed. Your hand lay lightly on his neck, your thumb gently brushing over his skin.

He let out a soft hum of contentment before opening his eyes and tightening his arms around your waist. “Still convinced this is a dream?”

A quiet laugh slipped from you as you snuggled closer to him. “It may not be a dream, but it still feels like one.” “Then I guess you’ll be feeling that way often from now on.”

At his words, a blush warmed your cheeks. “I mean—Hmm, the fact that—” “I know.”

A brief silence passed before Kakashi shifted slightly to hover over you, his hand threading through your hair as his gaze bore into yours. He pressed a soft kiss to your forehead. “I won’t repeat the same mistakes. I promise, from now on... things will be different.” “Kakashi, please stop blaming yourself. Everything’s okay now.”

For a moment, he remained quiet, his expression contemplative as you cupped his face, pulling him into a tender kiss. “I love you, Kakashi.”

A rare, genuine smile graced his lips as he wrapped you tightly in his arms, kissing the side of your neck. “Maybe... maybe things were meant to happen this way, after all.”

This time, you didn’t wake up in your room, nor in that familiar space.

The place you found yourself in bore an uncanny resemblance to Old Lady Yubaba’s house. Had he teleported you? Moved you? Nothing made sense anymore.

As you examined the walls around you, you noticed they appeared to be made of simple wooden planks, carved with spirals. They were covered in them, and you spotted holes here and there in the floor. It was undoubtedly one of the rooms from the old woman’s house, except it felt distorted—almost nightmarish.

Had he brought you back here? Was this some kind of sick game meant to torment you?

Or had he imprisoned you within your own mind?

Stumbling slightly, you got to your feet and began moving toward what looked like the next room in the house. But the farther you walked, the larger the room seemed to grow, and the further away the end became. You were trapped. Was this an illusion?

How were you going to get out of here?

Faint murmurs and whispers began to echo around you, some inaudible, others partially clear. They overlapped, creating an indescribable cacophony of distorted, troubled voices—at times aggressive, at times sorrowful.

Amidst the fragments, you thought you recognized familiar voices: Naruto’s and Kakashi’s. A softer, feminine voice like Kurenai’s, and one resembling Iruka’s, occasionally interwove with the eerie sounds.

“You promised.” “It’s your fault he pushed you away.” “You’re weak.” “He’s hurt because of you.” “You never protected him.” “He’s always pitied you.” “You’re weak.” “Because of you, they’ll die.”

Closing your eyes for a moment, you tried to block out the torrent of voices and steady yourself. You had to find a way out of this place. But how?

A shadowy figure began to form at the far end of the room, and you instinctively took a step back, fearing it might be the man who had plunged you into this endless nightmare. The silhouette, partially shrouded in mist, advanced slowly toward you.

Without realizing it, a freezing hand grabbed your shoulder, pulling you backward. Startled and nearly losing your balance, you turned sharply to see a vague, mist-like shape resembling Naruto. But he only had one eye, and his smile—a single thin line—stretched unnaturally wide across his face, reaching his ears.

“How could you do this to me, huh, [Y/N]?”

A chill ran down your spine. Anxiety clawed at your chest as the other figure, which had been meters away just moments ago, suddenly loomed dangerously close to your face. You realized it was Kakashi’s silhouette—or at least something trying to look like him.

“You’ve always been a burden, a pathetic excuse for a ninja.”

Hot tears of anger and sorrow welled up in your eyes as you swung at the haunting figure. It vanished in an instant, just like Naruto’s shape had.

“Do you really think I ever loved you? That I could have loved you?”

The tears began streaming down your cheeks as you clenched your fists, ready to strike again if that formless apparition reappeared.

“You always disappointed him, you know. You never did enough for him.”

Growling in frustration, your vision blurred as the tears continued to fall.

“You’ll never be anything more than a failed family to Naruto. I’ve always pitied you. I’ve always despised you. And you never even noticed.”

“That’s enough!” you finally screamed, collapsing to your knees as you pressed your hands tightly over your ears, desperate to drown out the voices. “Why me? Why?”

After what felt like an eternity of sobbing, the chaos seemed to subside. Slowly lowering your trembling hands to the ground, you exhaled shakily. Why was this happening to you? Had you been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Should you have refused the mission that now condemned you to such relentless torment? Was everything truly lost?

No. You wouldn’t let yourself fall. There had to be a way—something, anything.

As you searched yourself, your fingers brushed against something familiar. Finally, you found something that might help.

A kunai.

Carefully pulling it from your pants pocket, you placed the kunai on the ground before you. Closing your eyes, you began to think, cycling through a flurry of possibilities and hypotheses.

That was when an idea struck you. That’s when there will be nothing left in your heart.

You repeated this phrase to yourself, over and over, as if it held the key to your imprisonment—your escape from this illusion. Nothing left in your heart.

Finally, gripping the kunai, you examined its blade closely before clenching it tightly in your hand. This had to be it. The key.

In your heart.

Trembling and hesitant, you turned the kunai toward your chest. Just as you were about to act, a different voice echoed through the space—a voice soft and light, entirely unlike the others.

“I know this isn’t really you. You’re in there somewhere…”

Your eyes darted frantically from side to side, searching for the source of Kakashi’s voice. It carried none of the venom or distortion from before.

“No matter what it takes, I’ll help you find the person you’ve always been. I won’t lose you again.”

Was your subconscious playing tricks on you? Or was Kakashi truly somewhere nearby?

Taking deep, steadying breaths, you closed your eyes once more, whispering words of encouragement to yourself. “This isn’t real. This isn’t real.”

Pulling the blade slightly away, you gave yourself a few moments to think back to the last days you’d spent in Konoha. Naruto, Kakashi…

With a surge of courage, you made your move, aiming the kunai directly at your chest. But something invisible resisted you. A strange force pushed back against your actions, making the attempt almost impossibly difficult.

Then, finally, it felt as though you had succeeded.

Opening your eyes, you braced yourself—but the sensation was odd, subtle, unlike anything you’d expected. What was more startling was how the world around you began to crumble at an alarming speed.

The walls fell away one by one, disintegrating into nothing. The floor was overtaken by spreading patches of white, until it became completely blank. Even the kunai in your hand began to dissolve, as though it had been made of nothing more than dust.

Now, all that surrounded you was an expansive white void, empty save for a single door at its far end.

You glanced frantically around, trying to assess whether this might be another trap. Finding no immediate danger, you pushed yourself to your feet.

Slowly, you made your way toward the door.

This time, it didn’t retreat as you approached.

Gripping the handle and taking a deep breath, you turned it and opened the door. -/-

“I’m so proud of you, Naruto! I knew you’d do it!” Your hands ruffled the young boy’s hair as he grinned ear to ear, proudly displaying his forehead protector.

“Will you take me to Ichiraku now?!” “Haven’t you already gone there with Iruka-Sensei?” “But you know I love ramen! Please!” Laughing, you gave him a soft, affectionate look. “We’ll go, don’t worry. But don’t you have to meet your team and your Sensei today? Am I wrong? So, off you go! We’ll go tonight!”

-/-

“You’ve damaged another one of my Icha Icha books. It’s almost as if you’re doing it on purpose, hmm?” You laughed, glancing at him before your gaze shifted to the battered cover of his beloved series. “I’ll replace it, don’t worry.” “Hmm, and what if I told you I’d like to keep it just as it is?” Raising an eyebrow in curiosity, you tilted your head slightly. “But it’s damaged.” “It is. But… it’s a memory of our sparring session today.” With those words, the Copy Ninja began to leave the training field, leaving you alone with your thoughts.

-/-

“I’m going to become Hokage!” “You’re so unpredictable, I don’t doubt it for a second.” “You don’t think I can do it?” “Of course, I do. It’s everything about who you are that makes me believe you will.” Naruto paused, looking at you as a soft smile spread across your face. “From then on, you’ll be the one taking me to Ichiraku, Naruto. Oh, being treated to ramen by the Hokage—what a treat!”

-/-

“Kakashi… I—I think we need to talk.” “Hmm?” Hesitant, you lowered your gaze, clenching your fists tightly. The Copy Ninja noticed your unease—something was troubling you deeply, and he’d never seen you like this before. A mix of fear, anxiety, and something else he couldn’t quite place lingered in your expression.

You remained silent, struggling to find the right words. “Is everything okay?” he asked calmly, stepping in front of you. Lowering himself slightly to meet your eye level, he tilted his head and placed a gentle hand on your head. “Did I do something to upset or hurt you?” “No! No, that’s not it!” “Hmm, then what is it?” “What… what are we?” He stared at you for a moment, his expression unreadable—either he truly didn’t understand the question, or he pretended not to. “What do you mean?” “Are we just friends, or… is there something…?” “Of course we’re friends. We always have been, haven’t we? Why this sudden question? Should I be worried?” “No, it’s… Forget I said anything, okay?” Walking past him, you couldn’t bring yourself to meet his eyes. He stood still for a moment before quietly following after you.

-/-

“You know… Kakashi doesn’t show it, but he cares about you a lot.” “Kurenai… He—uh. We’re just friends, that’s all.” The kunoichi paused briefly before placing a hand on your wrist. “The way he looks at you… the way you look at him… Whatever the two of you are, even if he pushes you away, it’s more than friendship.” Blushing slightly, you took a sip of your drink, hoping to mask your embarrassment. “I don’t want to ruin what we have. I don’t want him to… push me away again.” “You’ll see. He cares about you more than he lets on.”

-/-

“How long have you and Kakashi-Sensei known each other?” “Oh, a while, I’d say.” Naruto frowned slightly, studying your expression as though trying to decode it. “Where did you meet, then, huh?” You smiled at the memory. Things hadn’t started on the best terms back then, but your relationship had grown considerably. “When I was in the ANBU.” “Are you friends?” “Uh… yes, yes.” Naruto tilted his head. “You don’t sound so sure.” “You know, some things are more complicated than just being friends, Naruto. You’ll understand one day.”

-/-

“Promise me you’ll stop putting yourself in danger like that, Naruto!” “I won’t stand by and do nothing! I’m tired of Sasuke always being the one who succeeds!” “I understand, but please, be careful. I don’t want to hear from Kakashi that something’s happened to you, okay?” Naruto hesitated for a moment before turning back to you. “I don’t want to lose you, Naruto. Do you understand? I know how much becoming Hokage means to you, how much you want to prove yourself. And I already believe in you. But please… be careful.” Suddenly, he pulled you into a hug, cutting off anything else you might have said.

You smiled softly as you wrapped your arms around him in return. “Maybe I worry too much about you. After all, you’re a ninja now, Naruto.”

-/-

“You didn’t go to the infirmary?” Throwing a quick glance at the Copy Ninja, you continued writing your mission report. “You should get that wound looked at, [Y/N]. It’s not safe to leave it untreated.” “I performed some quick first aid. It’ll be fine.” Frowning slightly, his gaze lingered on your shoulder. “Let me take a look.”

Before you could protest or refuse, Kakashi was already beside you, inspecting the injury. Straightening up, you set your pen down. As you instinctively moved to cover the wound with your hand, he caught your wrist, gently pulling it away.

Crouching slightly, he examined your shoulder more closely. The initial treatment had helped, but the wound still looked rough. He carefully began applying additional medical care as you gritted your teeth against the sting.

“Kakashi… I told you it’s fine.” “Your expression says otherwise.” “Why are you so worried?” He didn’t answer immediately, his gaze briefly meeting yours before returning to your injury. “Hmm. Focus on your mission report.” -/-

Fragments of memories flooded back at an overwhelming pace, as though you had just opened the door to your mind. Everything came rushing in at once, like a tidal wave, and the emotions tied to those memories were just as intense. Tears—both of joy and sorrow—streamed down your face as more and more came back to you.

You were [Y/N], a ninja of Konoha, a former ANBU. You were like an older sibling to Naruto. You were a friend to Kakashi—and perhaps something more. So, this was it. This was what the silver-haired ninja had spoken of.

You were friends but not quite friends. You were colleagues but not just colleagues. You were something much more, though you had both pushed it aside, avoiding the inevitable. Was fate somehow tied to this? Maybe everything would be different now.

That was your last thought before it felt like your eyes opened again. This time, it wasn’t a dream.

Gasping, still reeling from everything you had just seen and experienced, you were on your knees, your hands pressed firmly against the ground. Your gaze was filled with indescribable emotions.

You began coughing violently, blood spilling from your lips. Trembling, you caught sight of a shattered mask lying a short distance away. You weren’t alone. You didn’t know where you were either, but the sun was setting, and your body felt utterly drained.

Finally lifting your head, you saw him.

Kakashi.

The battle between Sakura, Chiyo, and Sasori had finally come to an end. A grueling fight that left both women utterly exhausted.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Kakashi were in hot pursuit of Deidara. The blond watched his sensei closely as the latter prepared to activate the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Is that what you were talking about earlier?" Naruto finally asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes. It’s a new Sharingan," the copy ninja replied, noting the change in Naruto’s expression.

"What?" Kakashi asked after a few seconds.

"Even if you fail, Kakashi-sensei, it doesn’t matter… I’ll finish him off myself," Naruto said with determination.

Kakashi chuckled softly beneath his mask. "Perhaps… if I let you."

The pace of their chase quickened slightly as Kakashi unleashed the Mangekyō Sharingan on Deidara. The Akatsuki member soon lost an arm to the technique, much to Naruto’s astonishment as he tried to comprehend the nature of this strange power.

It was with Naruto’s spiraling Rasengan that Deidara was forced to dismount from his clay bird. The young Uzumaki immediately leapt onto the clay creature’s head, prying it open only to find his lifeless friend Gaara inside.

At that moment, Naruto began to let the chakra of the Nine-Tails surface. Simultaneously, another presence made itself known.

Kakashi frowned, and Deidara, hidden behind a tree, scanned the area to locate this new presence. It wasn’t familiar, and after losing his arm, the Akatsuki member feared reinforcements had arrived to aid his pursuers.

But he didn’t have time to dwell on the thought—Naruto had launched himself at Deidara’s clay clone, pummeling it until its form was reduced to a white mass.

Kakashi’s gaze remained on Naruto, though he also sought out the source of the new presence. It felt oddly familiar yet overwhelmingly dark. As Naruto began to take on the form of the Nine-Tailed Fox, with a second tail emerging, Kakashi dashed toward him, attempting to apply the sealing tag Jiraiya had entrusted to him.

Before he could act, however, he was hurled away, barely landing on his feet with the seal still in hand.

Standing beside the young ninja was a figure cloaked in a long black robe, their face obscured by a white mask adorned with a crimson handprint, as if pressed onto the surface.

Kakashi thought he recognized those eyes. But the overwhelming anger and hatred within them made it impossible to be certain.

Before Kakashi could observe further, Naruto charged at the figure, creating a massive cloud of dust in the process. When it cleared, the figure had vanished, now crouched on a higher branch.

Enraged, Naruto had completely lost control. His sensei needed to act quickly to place the seal before it was too late. Kakashi groaned, straightening up and fixing his gaze on the intruder.

"Who are you?" he demanded, receiving no response.

Instead, the figure reappeared in front of Naruto, creating two identical clones and launching an attack. The Nine-Tails’ host struck back with brute force, the impact reverberating for meters. But through a substitution technique, the figure repositioned themselves behind Kakashi, who managed to land a blow just in time to avoid being attacked.

Naruto had already turned toward them, and Kakashi dodged his strike, finally applying the seal without interruption. The blond lost his balance but was caught by his sensei, who quickly moved away with him.

"Are you calm now, Naruto?" Kakashi asked worriedly. "There’s still someone else here. We have to stay alert."

Scanning for their new opponent, Kakashi noticed Sakura and the elderly Chiyo joining them.

Elsewhere, Deidara found himself trapped by Team Guy. With no real means of escape, he resorted to drastic measures. Team 7 and Chiyo turned to observe as Neji shouted for everyone to move back. Deidara was inflating, ready to explode. Naruto used his clones to retrieve Gaara’s body and bring it to safety before disaster struck.

But Kakashi, using the last of his energy and his Sharingan, managed to prevent the explosion. Before collapsing to the ground, he was steadied by Naruto, who helped him sit up.

In the crater left by the near-explosion, the masked figure reappeared. Team Guy positioned themselves defensively in front of the others as two new clones of the enemy materialized.

"Kakashi-sensei, who is that?" Sakura asked, her worried gaze fixed on the figure.

"It’s not an ally, that’s for sure," he replied curtly.

Naruto stood, letting his clones lay Gaara’s body down before disappearing. He stepped toward Team Guy, but his sensei intervened.

"Naruto, stay back," Kakashi ordered.

"We’ll handle this intruder, my dear Naruto!" Guy declared, giving a thumbs-up.

"There’s something strange about this opponent, Master Guy," Neji observed.

The central figure drew a kunai, assuming an attack stance. Kakashi’s eyes locked onto the weapon, his muscles tensing, breath hitching. No, it couldn’t be.

The kunai in the enemy’s hand had a thin red cord attached to its end, with two small beads dangling from it.

But Kakashi refused to believe it.

"Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked, but the ninja didn’t move or respond.

He was lost in thought, torn between the memory of a charm he had once given and the fact that it now dangled from an enemy’s weapon. Torn between wishing it was a coincidence and the dawning realization that it might truly be them.

But no, it was impossible. Someone had to be playing with them.

Not you. Not against Naruto. Not against me. Not with an aura so dark, so filled with anger and hate.

Sakura crouched beside Kakashi, her gaze filled with concern. "Sensei?" she asked again.

Guy glanced quickly at his eternal rival, noticing his hesitation. Turning back to the figure before them, his expression grew more serious.

"Take Kakashi and get back. We’ll—"

Before he could finish, Naruto charged at the intruder, startling his comrades. Gritting his teeth, he swung at the figure, but each strike missed its mark.

Lee rushed in to assist, and Neji prepared to follow, but the clones intercepted them, leaving Naruto to face the original alone.

The battle didn’t feel like a true fight—Naruto was drained, and the intruder seemed to parry every attack with ease, as though testing his opponent.

Soon, the Nine-Tails’ host found himself in a precarious position—a kunai pressed to his throat, one arm pinning him firmly against the figure. Naruto growled, while Lee and Neji finally dispatched the clones.

"Let him go!" Lee demanded, scowling.

Guy, watching from afar, prepared to intervene but waited to see the enemy’s next move. To his surprise, they didn’t strike, instead tilting their masked face slightly toward their captive.

"I’ll come for you in ten moons, Nine-Tails’. Come to me, alone."

The whispered words froze Naruto in place. That voice.

Chaos erupted in his mind and around him. The flood of conflicting emotions could have enraged him to the point of needing another seal, but the sadness and confusion in his heart were so overwhelming that they showed plainly in his eyes.

Before he could react, the figure vanished.

________________________________________

“Naruto… You can’t face this alone.” Kakashi’s voice was calm, but his gaze reflected a deep sorrow as he looked at his student. All these recent events had taken a heavy toll on the young ninja, torn between disappointment and confusion. He sat near his Sensei’s bed, staring down at the floor.

“Kakashi Sensei, why?” Tsunade, who had been there with them from the start, glanced at the silver-haired ninja. Truthfully, neither of them had an answer to offer. Kakashi had spent countless hours trying to make sense of what had happened, but nothing added up. Deep down, he was convinced that you weren’t yourself. Thinking back, your presence felt like yours—but tainted by something so dark it seemed to have erased the person you once were.

The Hokage and he had discussed your disappearance at length, analyzing the Akatsuki’s motives and the peculiarities of your actions. The connection was undeniable. Naruto was in danger, and it was no coincidence that you were the one chosen. The only question now was: what would your next move be, and how could they stop it? It was clear the organization wanted the tailed beasts and their hosts, and Naruto couldn’t afford to walk into their trap.

“We’re just as confused as you are, Naruto. But you have to tell us what she said to you. We can’t risk your life. We’ve already come too close to losing Gaara,” Tsunade urged. “If you open up to us, we might be able to save her,” she added.

“She’s allied herself with the enemy. There’s nothing left to save,” Kakashi interjected, his voice subdued.

He lowered his gaze and sighed before glancing over at Tsunade, who nodded in silent agreement. She took over the conversation. “We believe she’s been… poisoned and manipulated. She’s not acting of her own free will. And they likely chose her because of how close the two of you are.”

“She would never do anything to put your safety at risk, Naruto—believe me. I know her… in a way very different from yours, perhaps, but I know. This isn’t her. And the only way to try and save her is to find her.”

Kakashi’s final words were heavy with emotion, enough to spark a flicker of hope in the younger ninja. Naruto hesitated for a moment, then looked up at his Sensei with renewed determination. “I want to go with you.” “No. You have to trust me. I promise I’ll bring her back.” “Kakashi Sensei, I can’t just stay here and do nothing!” “And yet, this time, that’s exactly what we’re asking you to do. For your safety—and for hers. We don’t know exactly what they’ve done to her or how they plan to use her against you. So you have to accept that the best thing you can do is stay in the village.”

Naruto frowned, his frustration evident as he turned away with a growl, then stood up abruptly. “I know how to defend myself, Kakashi Sensei,” he said, pausing briefly before sighing and continuing, “Who is [Y/N] to you that you’re so desperate to save her yourself?”

Tsunade’s expression shifted, sensing the need to leave the two men to speak privately. Without a word, she slipped out of the room, softly closing the door behind her.

“Naruto…” Kakashi began. “Don’t dodge the question this time. I thought you were friends… but I saw the way you held her hand before. The way you stayed by her side as she slept. And now, you insist on saving her yourself.” “It’s… complicated,” Kakashi admitted. “I don’t care if it’s complicated. Who is she to you? And who are you to her?”

Kakashi lowered his gaze again, searching for the right words. “She means a lot to me. More than a friend, Naruto.”

Naruto’s fiery expression softened as he looked at his Sensei. “And I know… it was something similar for her when it came to me. But…”

Naruto waited for him to finish, but Kakashi didn’t. Instead, he straightened up, offering a small smile. “I promise I’ll bring her back safe and sound. I promise everything will go back to the way it was, Naruto.”

Silence settled over the room until Naruto finally broke it, his voice carrying the weight of uncertainty and faint hope. “She told me… she would come find me in ten moons.”

________________________________________

“You know, I don’t know what I’d do without you and Naruto.” Your laughter rang in his ears like a delicate melody as he watched you. The flames from the fire danced, casting flickering shadows across your face. For brief moments, the light illuminated your eyes, allowing him to catch glimpses of the emotions swirling within.

“Hmm, you’d just find another way, with other people,” he replied.

You laughed again at his words, catching him off guard. He didn’t quite understand what you found so amusing.

“That’s exactly my point. It wouldn’t have been the same, Kakashi.”

He didn’t respond, his gaze lingering on you before shifting back to the fire.

“If something were to happen to either of you—to you or to him… I don’t know what I’d be capable of doing, but…”

“We never truly know what we’re capable of until it happens. But why are you thinking about that all of a sudden?”

“Oh, honestly, I don’t know.”

“Maybe we should steer this conversation toward something a little more cheerful, don’t you think?”

________________________________________

A few days later, Kakashi found himself at your apartment, with Tsunade’s approval, to retrieve a piece of clothing or something carrying your scent. Only two moons remained before you were set to confront Naruto, and if he could find you before you found him, he would gain precious time and ensure his student’s safety.

Returning to your home wasn’t easy for him. During your absence, he had occasionally stopped by to tidy up, making sure everything was clean in case you came back unexpectedly. But being here under these circumstances filled him with melancholy.

He summoned Pakkun, searching with him for a garment that would help track you down. After several long minutes of rummaging, the copy ninja finally found something in your wardrobe—a spare uniform from your days in the ANBU. He placed it near his loyal ninken.

“This one will do, Kakashi,” Pakkun confirmed.

That was all he needed. Without hesitation, Kakashi summoned the rest of his ninja hounds, laying the uniform in the center of them.

“I need you to find her as quickly as possible,” he instructed.

The ninken took in the scent and dispersed swiftly, leaving Kakashi alone in your apartment. He sighed and glanced around.

The life that had once filled these rooms—your presence, your energy—he missed it all. More than anything, he missed the moments you had shared together. Right now, there was nothing he cherished more than the thought of finding you, saving you, and trying to start over.

Trying to make a fresh start.

That meal with Asuma and the brief exchange about you had somewhat shaken the Copy Ninja. His friend had struck a nerve where he sincerely hoped no one would ever go, as he already blamed himself enough. He had replayed that scene over and over in his mind since your departure. Far too many times, in fact. Each day that had passed since that mission brought him back to that night—whether it was through a fleeting thought or long hours staring blankly into the distance. He had hoped everything might be different upon your return, that he would finally be able to say what he should have told you long ago. But his chance had slipped away, stolen by his fear—fear that all of this might put you in danger, fear of allowing himself even a sliver of happiness when he wasn’t sure he deserved it.

Closing his eyes, he let himself drift and replayed that painful memory once more.

“I heard someone talking about the next mission assigned by the Hokage earlier today. Apparently, [Y/N] was selected for it.”

Genma was sitting at the same table as Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai. They had simply gone out for a drink that evening, talking about their respective teams and the various progress their students had made.

The silver-haired ninja turned his gaze toward him, curious.

“I don’t know the details, but it’s said not to be a short mission,” Genma added, an idle senbon needle between his lips as he glanced briefly at Kakashi.

“She’s leaving for several months. At least,” Kurenai added, taking a sip of her drink. “She wasn’t thrilled about it, mainly because of Naruto… But she didn’t have a choice this time.”

He remembered feeling a faint pang of sadness at Kurenai’s comment. She knew, and he didn’t? Such a long mission? Thoughts swirled chaotically in his mind, though he had yet to voice them.

“What kind of mission is it?” Asuma finally asked, noticing a subtle distress in his friend’s carefully guarded expression.

Genma took a few seconds to think before responding.

“I’m not entirely sure, but it’s about delivering information to various countries and villages.”

A slight wave of relief passed through Kakashi. At least it wasn’t necessarily a dangerous mission. Still, your silence on the matter and the mission’s duration didn’t sit well with him.

“You’re not going to see her for her last night here, Kakashi?”

Her last night? You were leaving tomorrow? The ninja froze. You hadn’t told him anything?

“The mission starts tomorrow?” he asked, his voice laced with sadness as the muscles in his face began to tighten.

Seeing his reaction, Genma leaned back slightly in his seat, surprised that Kakashi appeared to be in the dark.

“Kakashi… She didn’t tell you?”

He stood silent for a moment before suddenly rising to his feet.

“Apparently not.”

With that short but emotionally laden sentence, the Copy Ninja left the bar, heading straight for your apartment, hoping to find you there. A storm of questions filled his mind. Why hadn’t you told him about this? Why decide to leave without even spending a little time with him? Of course, you must have been shaken at the thought of leaving for so long and leaving Naruto behind, but why so much distance with him?

Now perched on one of the rooftops that allowed him to see your bedroom window, he sighed when he saw you packing your bag. After a short moment, he moved to your window, as he often did. But this time, he neither waited for you to open it nor for your permission to come in.

He positioned himself just behind you, silently.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

His voice was heavy with a mix of anger, confusion, and sadness. You continued packing, not turning to look at him.

“What difference would it have made?”

He sighed, looking away for a few seconds.

“More than you think.”

“Oh, really? What do you know about what I think or don’t think?”

The question caught him off guard. What was suddenly wrong with you? Why were you pushing him away like this? He placed a hand gently on your shoulder, hoping you would turn to face him. But you didn’t move.

“I don’t understand. Talk to me, [Y/N], please.”

Your body began to tremble under his hand, and his expression softened, revealing only sadness.

“I’m leaving for months, maybe longer. I don’t know when I’ll come back, Kakashi. And I’m terrified of leaving Naruto alone. But Naruto… Naruto, I know he’s like my little brother, and no matter what, he always will be. As for you and me, Kakashi…”

He remained silent, waiting anxiously for your next words. Deep down, he already knew what you were going to say. He had noticed the changes in your behavior for a while now. You looked at him more often. You blushed more frequently. You were more tactile. He knew this was inevitable, and even though his own heart screamed the same things as yours… he couldn’t. He was terrified of losing you if he let you get too close. You had never really questioned what you were to each other until now. It had never truly bothered you before, but tonight, he could sense your unease and worry. It was as if all your doubts and unanswered questions were suddenly surfacing. Everything that once felt certain and unquestionable was now becoming a source of concern. This mission was challenging many things, and its length seemed to be shaking the very foundation of your world.

“I don’t even know what we are anymore. I feel like I’ve gotten too attached to you. I know you don’t… see me the way I see you, and… Maybe… Maybe we should have stuck to casual, professional conversations. Maybe we never should have seen each other outside of missions. Maybe this was all too much.”

He wished you didn’t see things that way. Because he didn’t. But you were leaving in just a few hours, and how could he possibly confess everything that was in his heart? A few hours wouldn’t be enough to explain everything, to overcome the demons that built a wall between his mind and his heart.

He wrapped his arms around you then, resting his head gently on yours and taking the time to breathe calmly. Even though you were turned away, he could tell you were calming down slightly.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered softly, as if afraid to break something fragile. “Sorry that you think all of this… is too much.”

Sobbing, you tried to form a coherent sentence.

“Why, Kakashi?”

He paused, his hands coming to rest on yours as his embrace tightened.

“I promise we’ll talk about this when you get back from your mission. There’s so much I need to tell you, but now isn’t the right time.”

“I’m leaving for months, Kakashi! Maybe even longer!”

Finally, he turned you around so your face was in his view, cupping your cheeks with both hands and wiping your tears away. Gently pressing his forehead against yours, he ran one hand through your hair while the other rested behind your waist, pulling you close to him.

“I know. And I’m going to miss you. More than you can imagine.”

He remembered that night vividly. He had stayed with you, holding you in his arms until you fell asleep in your bed. That was when he had gone home. That was when he had let a few tears fall. Had he made the right choice?

Today, Kakashi finally had the answer to Asuma’s question.

No. If you looked at him again the way you always had, he wouldn’t push you away this time. He wouldn’t let you go again. Fate had given him his answer. And if it had brought you back to him, it was so that he would never let you go like he did that night.

________________________________________ You had barely had time to spend a little while with Naruto before he had to leave Konoha for an urgent mission. Neither he nor Kakashi had given you any details, but the young ninja seemed extremely worried and in a rush. You had vaguely heard something about Suna, the Village Hidden in the Sand, and someone in danger. Tsunade had refused to tell you more and appeared particularly concerned herself.

After such emotionally charged days, the one now coming to an end felt far too calm, and you weren’t sure how to occupy yourself. You were worried for them as well, but you did your best to think of other things, simply hoping they would return as soon as possible.

That’s when you decided to keep writing and drawing in the notebook the Hokage had left on your bedside table. Night had already begun to fall, and a strange feeling kept you from closing your eyes.

The silence slowly settled in, broken only by the soft sounds of your pencil moving across the pages.

Until a strange noise made you turn your head toward your bedroom door. Furrowing your brow, you placed the notebook, still open, on your bed and set the pencil on top. Just as you started to stand up to check, you froze as the door swung open with a sudden force.

The hallway was unlit, and only the dim light of the night outlined the tall silhouette standing before you. It was a man, and he appeared to be dressed like Kakashi—except that his face didn’t seem to be covered. However, the lack of light in the room made it impossible to make out his features or exact appearance.

Your breathing quickened, as if something deep inside you dreaded this person’s presence.

He approached you slowly, and you stepped back at the same pace, retreating deeper into your room until you could go no further—your back pressed firmly against the wall.

“I’ve been sent to deliver the signal,” he began, his voice carrying no hint of reassurance.

Leaning closer to your ear, he suddenly pulled a kunai from his pocket and stabbed it into the wall just beside your face. You tried to strike him, but he deflected your attempt and pinned you harder against the wall, his forearm pressing against your throat, forcing a groan from you.

“Oh, don’t get ahead of yourself—you’ll lose hope soon enough.”

He intensified the pressure on your neck, and you struggled to push him away, your brows furrowed in determination.

“The final fragment of hope lies where you must abandon all that you hold dear.”

At those words, your head began to spin, your heart pounded faster, and your breathing turned ragged. It felt as though everything around you was spinning out of control, as though you were completely losing your balance. The man before you snapped his fingers a few times in front of your eyes, and then everything went black.

________________________________________

“Lady Hokage! There’s been an incident at the hospital!” Tsunade abruptly looked up, her brows furrowing as she fixed her gaze on the ninja who had just burst into her office. “We found the guards unconscious this morning, and she’s gone. [Y/N], the one you had placed under surveillance.”

That was all Tsunade needed to hear. She slammed her hands against her desk, grimacing as her thoughts raced. “Could it be…? No, it can’t be related to Gaara or the Akatsuki…”

She muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. The ninja standing before her remained silent, awaiting further instructions. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she clenched her teeth. “I’ll send a team to search for her immediately. In the meantime, try to gather more information.”

“About that…”

The ninja stepped closer to Tsunade’s desk, holding a sketchbook carefully in his hands. He opened it to a double page and placed it delicately before her.

Tsunade leaned in to examine the sketches you had left behind. She had glanced at the earlier pages before, but these were completely different. Her gaze froze, and she gently rested her fingertips on the pages, as if trying to decipher their meaning.

It was always the same silhouette: someone tall, wearing a long cloak, with a face scribbled over in heavy black pencil. A faint white hole where the face should be broke the otherwise oppressive darkness of the figure. Surrounding these sketches, she noticed spirals—each more warped than the last—and kunai scattered throughout. The composition itself was utterly chaotic, and her concerns about you only deepened.

“We need to find her immediately.”

The ninja nodded silently, leaving the room at once and leaving Tsunade alone with the sketchbook.

In that moment, she felt helpless. Who was this? Was it the person you had mentioned during your fight with Genma? Were they the cause of your loss of control that day? Or perhaps, even beyond that, the source of your headaches and your sudden disappearance?

The timing of Gaara’s kidnapping couldn’t be a coincidence, and one thought consumed her mind: Was it the Akatsuki, and what had they done to you?

Regardless of the truth, she knew one thing for certain: Naruto was in danger, too.

________________________________________

You woke up alone, in a room dimly lit by a single candle on the floor. You vaguely remembered a ninja visiting you last night, but you couldn’t recall what he had said or what had happened after he stepped through the door. A pounding sensation filled your head, as if someone were beating a drum inside your skull. Sitting cross-legged, you placed a hand on your temple. What were you doing here, exactly?

As you glanced around the room, taking in more details, you noticed a silhouette slowly emerging into the candle’s light. You froze in place, unable to move a muscle.

“Well, you’re awake. Now we can talk like old times, just the two of us.”

That voice. That cursed voice. The chills it sent through you were far worse than in your nightmares. This time, there was no escape. No one to wake you from the nightmare to come.

Your gaze immediately locked onto his mask as it emerged into the light. That spiral—that cursed spiral.

Once close enough, he crouched in front of you, studying you for a moment. “I see that all of our work has been successful.”

You couldn’t speak. You couldn’t move.

“The mind is a fascinating thing, isn’t it? The way it can be adjusted, shaped.”

You tried to look away, but his hand grabbed your chin, forcing you to face him. “No, no. That’s no way to thank me now, is it?”

Grinding your teeth, you shut your eyes tightly. “Don’t worry. You won’t have to force anything. In fact, you won’t do anything consciously.”

Your eyes shot open, and you glared at the black hole that appeared where his face should be. Anger, fear, and hatred swirled in your expression, and he laughed at the sight. “You’ll soon put all those emotions to good use. Be patient. We’ve got a bit of time to kill before you take action.”

You began to tremble. What was he planning to do to you? What was he talking about?

“At first, you weren’t even a target, you know. A twist of fate, perhaps?”

He finally sat down, looking toward another part of the room. “I’m the one who found you—not Yubaba.”

He spoke slowly, as though he were weighing his words or reminiscing. “A ninja, unconscious and wounded—what value was there in that, hmm?” He paused briefly. “Your head injury and your proximity to the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki saved your life that night.”

Why was he telling you this now? Why now?

“To be honest, you’re nothing more than a test. I don’t know if you’ll be able to see this through. The remedies you’ve been given in the meantime… might cause problems. You’ll need to have one last cup of tea with me today, if you please.”

Deep inside, your anger boiled. The more he spoke, the stronger your desire grew to silence him by force.

“I’ll also give you a second mission, in case you fail the first.”

He turned toward you, as if waiting for some kind of acknowledgment, but you didn’t move. “If you fail to bring me the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki on your first attempt… I want you to target someone else. Someone who could become an obstacle. And I think you’ll enjoy what comes next.”

He looked at his gloved hands, eventually clenching one into a violent fist. “You seem close to the Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake, am I wrong?”

At the mention of Kakashi’s name, your entire body tensed, and fear flashed in your eyes. He noticed immediately, laughing at how little it took to bend you to his will. “I see that simply mentioning his name puts you in such a state, hmm? This is going to be interesting.”

He grabbed your wrist, holding your hand out in front of you. “I want you to eliminate him. Use these little hands of yours to destroy him.”

Your gaze turned ice-cold. Kill Kakashi? Your choices were to hand Naruto over to him or kill Kakashi?

Was this it, then? Was this the destiny that awaited you? Betray or kill the two people who had mattered most to you? This black void, this suffering—was it all leading to this?

Your eyes started to well up as you stared at the hand he held as if it disgusted you. This wasn’t what you wanted. This wasn’t what you wished for. But you no longer had control. Or perhaps, there was still the faintest shred of it left.

“N-No.”

The single word escaped your lips, requiring a monumental effort.

“Oh?” He seemed surprised, though you could only tell by the tone of his voice. “You managed to speak?”

You stared at him, unblinking, summoning all your strength to resist him in whatever way you could.

“You think you have a choice, don’t you? I thought you’d realized by now that you don’t. From the moment you fell off that cliff, you lost all power over your existence. Do you really believe you lost your memory only because of your fall?”

He laughed again. “You’re only useful to me now because you might serve my plans. Nothing else. You’re no one. You’re nothing.”

His voice had grown far more serious, almost irritated. “You’ll soon see that hope is gone. You should give up. Fighting won’t change anything. Either you complete one of your missions… or it’s the end for you. The result will be the same, whether you fail or try to escape.”

No, no. It couldn’t end like this.

“Shall we move on to the main event?”

You noticed his right hand inching closer to your face, just like in your nightmares. He pressed it near your mouth, while his other hand reached for a small flask hidden in one of his pockets.

“One last cup of tea before you take the stage. In memory of all those little evenings we spent talking together. Ah, but I forgot—you don’t remember those either, do you?”

Your eyes reflected nothing but terror now.

“It was a fascinating experience, working with your subconscious, shaping this new personality of yours. A long process, but perhaps a valuable asset. Or, at the very least, an excellent distraction to divert attention from Konoha.”

With those final words, he forced your mouth open and poured the flask’s contents inside. The taste was identical to Yubaba’s, except the herbs seemed to have been steeped longer, making the concoction unbearably strong.

“Soon, there will be nothing left in your heart.”

Your vision blurred, and before you could question anything, his hand withdrew from your face. He snapped his fingers in front of your eyes, and everything turned dark once more.

"Yo, [Y/N]."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, you turned around with a smile, placing your book on the bed where you were sitting.

"Kakashi? You always come in through the window, but you do know doors exist, right?"

He was crouched on the edge of the window frame in the room you were in. The words left your mouth without you feeling like you’d even spoken them, and it felt as though you were living this moment while also not living it at the same time. Something strange, yet not necessarily unpleasant.

"Hmm."

As you continued watching him, the ninja tilted his head slightly to one side.

"I heard you left the ANBU."

"Ah, that."

"Is it because of Naruto?"

A brief silence fell as your gaze landed on a photo sitting on the window ledge. It showed you, along with a blond boy who resembled the description Kakashi had given you during your conversations. Your eyes softened, tinged with a hint of sadness and worry.

"I want to try my best to look after him, you know. It’s... complicated." You sighed before continuing. "I’m not sure staying in the special forces is the right thing. He needs someone to be there for him, especially right now... You know, with the exam coming up."

The silver-haired ninja followed your gaze, letting his own linger on the photo of you and Naruto. Right next to it was another photo, this time of you standing beside Kakashi. His eyes hovered over the picture of the two of you for a few seconds before resting on you again.

"It wasn’t just Naruto who convinced me to make this decision."

Curious, he watched as you looked back at him. This time, the expression in your gaze was different.

"Hmm, who else?"

Smiling softly, you stood up and approached him.

"You can come inside if you want. That window doesn’t look very comfortable."

He smiled before stepping in and lowering himself slightly so that your faces were at the same level.

"Nice attempt to dodge, but I haven’t forgotten my question."

Sitting back down on your bed and patting the spot next to you for him to join, you crossed your legs and stared at him.

He closed the window and moved to sit at the edge of the bed.

"If you want your answer, Hatake, you’re going to have to come and get it."

His cheeks tinged with a light pink as he shuffled closer to you, sitting cross-legged as well. He cleared his throat, looking away toward other parts of the room.

"Hmm... So?"

"Don’t you know a certain grey-haired Sensei? I heard he’s pretty strict, too."

His cheeks turned from pink to a deeper red as he tilted his head to the side.

"What?"

The visible part of his face made it clear that he didn’t quite know what to say—that he was still processing what you’d just said, and it left him slightly flustered.

"You know, Naruto and you... You’re the people who mean the most to me. And what I’ve seen over the years in the special forces... I think it took me a long time to realize this, but if I’m going to risk my life, I’d rather do it closer to you two. With the ANBU, I was always so far away... And if something were to happen, I want to make the most of the time I have with you."

The Copy Ninja was left speechless, unable to say anything more. Laughing softly, you leaned toward him, gently pressing your finger to his cheek. He didn’t react, continuing to look at you.

"Oh, Kakashi?"

He finally moved after a few seconds, blinking once before catching the hand you’d poked him with, holding it gently in his own.

"I’d rather you not think about the worst, [Y/N]," he said more seriously, his cheeks fading from bright red to a soft pink.

"You’re too serious. Why can’t you just try to—"

"I don’t like it when you talk as if you’re not going to come back from a mission, you know that."

He turned his head to the side before reaching into one of his pockets with his other hand. Pulling out a closed fist, he gently opened your palm and placed something in it. Holding your hand between both of his, he locked eyes with you again.

"It’s for your kunai... It’s to protect you when you’re on missions. Promise me you’ll always come back safe and sound, okay?"

You remained silent, unable to find any words. Though you couldn’t see yourself, this time it was you who had turned as red as a tomato. Lowering your gaze slightly to your joined hands, you noticed a finely braided red cord with two small grey beads. His thumb softly traced circles on the back of your hand as he held it, and his other hand gently tilted your head back up.

"Always, hmm?"

Another voice broke the sweet dream you had been immersed in—a voice much more energetic and, above all, angry.

"When did she come back?! Why didn’t anyone tell me?!"

It seemed to grow clearer and closer.

"Kakashi-Sensei?!"

Finally opening your eyes, you found yourself face-to-face with Kakashi’s silver hair. You must have fallen asleep, and he had probably laid you down before dozing off himself. He was sitting on the chair right next to you, his head resting on one arm and his other hand still holding yours. You felt him start to stir as well when a blond-haired boy appeared at the foot of your bed.

The Copy Ninja sat up but didn’t seem to notice your hands, something Naruto did not miss.

"And what’s that?!" he questioned, pointing directly at your intertwined hands, eyes wide—a mixture of surprise and slight irritation.

"Naruto, that’s enough!" yelled a feminine voice before a sharp thud echoed, likely an attempt to calm him down.

"Sakura! What’s your problem?!" the boy grumbled, clutching the top of his head.

After exchanging a quick glance, you and Kakashi pulled your hands apart, and you sat up in bed. Kakashi, for his part, stood up and scratched the back of his head, his expression showing slight embarrassment.

"Hmm, Naruto, Sakura, what a surprise…"

"We’ve been waiting for over two hours, but it seems you’ve gotten ‘lost’ again," the pink-haired girl said with an expression difficult to decipher.

"When did you come back?!" Naruto shouted, this time pointing a finger directly at you, one hand still clutching his skull.

"Uh, I—"

"Naruto, can I speak to you for a moment?" the Copy Ninja interrupted, regaining his composure.

"[Y/N]? Why didn’t you come see me?!" Naruto growled again, but his Sensei grabbed his arm and tried to pull him out of the room.

"Sakura, come too. I need to talk to both of you."

Sakura gave you a questioning look before following her Sensei and her friend, leaving the room silent once the door closed.

Sighing, you dropped your head into your hands, rubbing your eyes. You couldn’t hear the conversation clearly from the hallway, but fragments of it reached your ears. Of course, you could only make out one voice.

"This is a joke, right?!" "You’ve been hiding it from me this whole time? Why do you get to see her and not me?!" "Why, Kakashi-Sensei?!"

The voices began to quiet down, and soon you couldn’t hear anything at all. Starting to get up to see what was happening, you were stopped when the door opened again. Sakura, who stood behind Naruto, looked a little sad as she gazed at the blond boy now standing before you. Staring at the floor, he looked desperate and said nothing.

Casting a quick glance at the silver-haired ninja, who gave you a subtle nod, you slowly approached Naruto. He didn’t move an inch, murmuring something you could only make out once you were closer.

"Why, huh? Did you forget everything, then?"

Choosing not to answer his question for the moment, you simply wrapped your arms around him and held him tightly, as if your life depended on it. You hadn’t even thought about it; it just felt perfectly natural. After everything Kakashi had told you about him and your connection, you hoped this action might comfort him, even just a little.

Naruto’s eyes widened when he felt you so close, and tears began streaming down his cheeks as he shakily brought his arms up to hold you in return. His head came to rest on one of your shoulders as he let himself cry for a while.

"I don’t remember everything, Naruto, only fragments. But I promise I’ll do everything I can to remember you… and I won’t leave again."

Still sobbing, his voice trembling, the blond boy raised his head slightly.

"Another promise, huh?"

You remained silent for a few seconds, thinking about how you could answer. Yes, another promise. But this time, you would do everything you could to keep it.

"I plan to remember this one."

He stayed quiet for a moment before pulling back slightly and wiping the tears from his cheeks.

"If Lady Tsunade agrees… I can already fulfill one of my promises."

He looked up, intrigued.

"Someone whispered to me that I should take you to a certain Ichiraku. Does that ring a bell?"

At those words, his eyes lit up, and you thought you saw a spark of hope within them. A smile spread across his face, followed by soft laughter.

________________________________________

Getting Tsunade’s approval for this outing hadn’t been an easy feat. In truth, she hadn’t expected things to move so quickly, and even though the Copy Ninja hadn’t gone into details about why he had stayed by your side that night, she figured that these surprise reunions were bound to happen. Her only concern was the idea of Naruto spending time alone with you after what she had witnessed, and the only condition that made her agree was that Kakashi would watch over you both from afar.

The day had passed rather quickly, and you could finally put faces and places to the elements the silver-haired ninja had described to you. Beyond that, you were starting to recognize certain locations from your dreams more clearly. The pieces were slowly beginning to come together, and while you didn’t have all the information you needed, you were now certain that your place was here.

Naruto had gradually relaxed throughout the day, his expression growing more cheerful as he relished the time spent with you. As for you, you savored every moment as though it were the first time. After enjoying a bowl of ramen with him, you both returned to the hospital. Following a few last exchanges, the young ninja went home. He had insisted on sleeping in the second bed in your room to stay near you, but the Hokage had firmly rejected this request.

After taking a well-deserved shower and settling onto your bed, you smiled as you thought back on everything you had learned, seen, and experienced since your return. Aside from the fight with Genma, you were still happy to discover that the dark void which had haunted you for so many months was merely a book whose pages you hadn’t yet turned—and that the story they contained was more beautiful than you had imagined. The only pages that seemed to stain the entire book were soaked with the voice, mask, and silhouette of the man who appeared in your nightmares.

Sighing, you pushed the thought aside and lay down, finally surrendering to the sleep that gently began to cradle you.

________________________________________

"So, Naruto knows about it?" The question finally came as Kakashi was savoring the sushi laid out on the table.

"Hmm, he barged in this morning. Naruto being Naruto…" Asuma let out a small laugh and smiled.

"I see." He grabbed the drink in front of him and took a sip. "And you? How are you handling all this?"

The silver-haired ninja suddenly stopped eating, setting his empty plate on the large pile that had accumulated to his right.

"I’m handling it," was all he replied, reaching for another plate.

"Kakashi." He paused briefly, noticing that the Copy Ninja was staring at the sushi instead of him. "No one’s fooled. You two were pretty close before—"

"Things have changed since then, Asuma. She doesn’t remember any of that."

"But you seem pretty determined to help her, am I wrong? After spending the night at her bedside."

Kakashi froze, now looking directly at Asuma without saying a word.

"I really hope you can manage. But after what happened during the test… Be careful."

He resumed eating his sushi, his gaze shifting again to the large pile of food in front of him. Asuma, on his end, took another sip of his drink.

"Anyway, since her return, you seem… different. In a good way, of course."

"Hmm."

Sighing, he set his drink back on the table.

"Deep down, she hasn’t changed. Even if it takes time, I want her to recover her memories. I don’t want to lose her again."

At these words, his friend remained silent, watching him eat as if he had just admitted something mundane.

"Even if she doesn’t see me the same way as before… I want to do everything I can to help her."

Asuma smirked.

"And what if she saw you the same way as before? Would you push her away this time?"

A faint pink flush crept onto the Copy Ninja’s cheeks, and he placed yet another empty plate on the pile.

"How’s Kurenai doing?" he asked, clearly looking for an escape route from the conversation.

Caught off guard, the dark-haired ninja turned red himself, stammering as he fumbled to answer his friend.

________________________________________

Lying still, you tried to look around and make out your surroundings as best you could. Everything was blurry, and once again, you noticed the silhouette of that masked man. He seemed to be sitting, holding a kunai in his hands, twirling it idly.

"Well, I think we’ve finished the bulk of the work. With the little gift I just gave you… we should be able to move on to the next part."

His voice was as dark as ever, though you were starting to grow accustomed to it, even if it still sent chills down your spine.

"Now… the signal."

Your body still refused to move, no words would come out of your mouth, and your eyes remained wide open, fixed on him.

"Everything we’ve prepared up until now will take effect starting from this exact moment."

He stopped playing with the weapon in his hand, stabbing it into the ground. Straightening up, the man leaned closer to bring his face— or rather, his mask— nearer to yours. All you could see was a massive spiral. It felt as though your head had begun to spin, and the black hole on the side of the mask was pulling you in.

"The last ………. where ……. abandon everything ……. "

Parts of the sentence seemed to disappear. Or had his voice simply turned into a whisper on certain words? He paused briefly, his laughter resurfacing, but this time, the sound reaching your ears seemed tortured, distorted.

"It is then …… left ..... "

The last words, too, failed to reach your ears. Or perhaps you just couldn’t make them out. The feeling of unease grew stronger as his mask seemed to shift, consuming your entire field of vision until everything went completely black.

This brief exchange with that strange ninja had left a mark on you. The curiosity that had stirred within you when he handed you the box had turned into a wave of questions, and you had eventually placed it on your bedside table without opening it. Rising gently and walking over to the window, you gazed at the moon illuminating the village buildings.

It was a soothing sight, offering you a brief sense of calm. Why bring you this box, yet refuse to give you his name? Tsunade had already informed you about your memory loss—without going into too much detail, she had mentioned a mission where things hadn’t gone as planned, leaving a life behind you, shrouded in shadows.

Your name? [Y/N], according to what she had told you, according to the ANBU who had come to retrieve you. That name felt more real to you, unlike "Fubuki," the one given to you by the old woman. You were slowly getting used to it, but it still lacked the story that went with it.

All these people who came to see you—who were they to you? Who were you to them? And that ANBU, why had he refused to share his name? You felt a strange sadness for all these people who seemed to know you, whose existence you had forgotten. That sadness weighed even heavier when it came to him. His gaze, his soft voice laced with sorrow... and something else you couldn’t quite put your finger on, something that had kept your thoughts returning to him ever since he had left the room.

What could this box possibly contain? Perhaps it would be better to open it when your mind was clearer.

________________________________________

The rain hadn’t stopped pounding, accompanied by flashes of lightning that illuminated the vast forest you were struggling to cross. The chill of the night and the downpour did nothing to help your progress, and the amount of chakra you had left was depleting at an exponential rate. The ANBU agent accompanying you seemed just as exhausted—but he appeared to be holding up better. He turned to you, his masked face watching you for a few seconds.

“We’re going to stop and recover.” There it was again—that voice. But this time, stronger, laced with the strain of physical fatigue.

A few meters ahead, he signaled for you to stop, holding out a hand before pointing toward a hollow space in the mountainside nearby. Without overthinking it, you followed him.

The space was small but sheltered from the storm. You removed your mask instinctively as he seemed to do the same. He then used one of his techniques to summon what was needed to start a fire. And it was once the fire was lit that you could make out the face of the man with you.

A wave of emotions surged through you, and you couldn’t tear your eyes away. It was him. The ANBU you had seen earlier. Were you dreaming about him, or was this something else? You’d been seeing him more and more often in your dreams, even if his appearances were sometimes fleeting.

“Are you okay?” the dark-haired man asked, sensing your gaze lingering on him.

Unable to form any kind of response, he seemed to interpret it in his own way. Sitting beside you, he wrapped an arm around you, pulling you closer to him. Instinctively, your head rested on his shoulder, and you didn’t even realize that you hadn’t tried to push him away.

“You can sleep now, [Y/N]. I’ll keep an eye open.” Lifting your head and meeting his gaze directly, for a moment, you could’ve sworn you were lost in it. Until another voice disrupted the calming moment.

“How long were you planning to keep this from me?!” yelled a distant voice, its tone carrying a clear hint of anger.

Frowning, but seeing that the ANBU in front of you didn’t budge, you prepared to look around when a sudden movement on your bed jolted you harshly from your sleep—and from a dream that hadn’t bothered you in the slightest.

Hands slammed forcefully onto the edge of your bed as you tried to make out the figure standing there while shaking off sleep.

“Since when did you get back, huh, [Y/N]? This better be a bad joke!” shouted that same voice again, now accompanied by a face.

A blond young man stood there, eyebrows furrowed, glaring at you insistently.

“Sorry, but I think—I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” you stammered, though your response only seemed to anger him further.

“You’re kidding me, right?!” he growled, only to be stopped as a hand rested on his shoulder, forcing him to step back.

“Naruto. Maybe you should have listened to Lord Hokage before rushing over here.”

“Kakashi-sensei, what’s all this about?!”

At the mention of Kakashi’s name, you felt a slight unease. The nightmare you had upon your arrival still lingered at the back of your mind, and hearing that name spoken aloud didn’t leave you indifferent.

The man who seemed to be the one just mentioned sighed and grabbed the blond, trying to guide him out of the room. However, Naruto pushed his teacher away and charged back in without hesitation.

“Why didn’t you come to see me when you got back?!” he finally blurted out, the pain visible in his eyes.

Something about this exchange broke your heart, but once again, everything was too hazy for you to pinpoint the source of this feeling.

“Naruto, is that your name?”

At those words, the ninja tensed. His gaze seemed to empty of all emotion, and he said nothing more.

“I’m sorry, but…”

You struggled to form a coherent sentence—not only to avoid hurting him but also because you yourself didn’t know how to break the news. In the end, this had to be even harder for them than it was for you.

“Would you mind sitting next to me? So we can talk.”

Kakashi watched the scene from afar, deciding not to intervene any further. The best solution was certainly for the truth to come from you, and not from Tsunade or himself.

Lowering his gaze, Naruto thought for a few seconds before finally sitting on the chair beside you.

“I don’t know how to tell you this. It’s difficult. But… Lady Tsunade explained to me that an accident during my last mission caused me to lose my memory.”

A brief silence settled, and Naruto’s gaze fixed on you.

“So you don’t remember me?” he finally asked.

Lowering your eyes as well, you felt tears well up. Why? You had no idea. Was it just the fact that he looked so sad and you felt completely helpless, unable to say anything more than, “No, I don’t remember you at all”? Without fighting them, you let the tears slide down your cheeks and reached for one of Naruto’s hands, leaving him surprised.

“If you’re willing, I’d like you to help me remember.”

At those words, Naruto offered a faint, lopsided smile. Maybe you weren’t completely lost, just hidden behind a fog.

Kakashi hadn’t left the room but stayed in the background. He had taken the time to analyze your interaction, but more than anything, he had noticed the small box on the bedside table. He simply wondered when Tenzo had left it for you and if you’d already taken the time to open it. Deep down, he was happy that his friend had finally taken the step.

From what he could see, you were there. Something, however, was preventing you from seeing, from remembering. And that something seemed to be consuming you as well. But Kakashi chose not to dwell on it, letting his student enjoy these painful yet hopeful reunions by your side.

________________________________________

You hadn’t had the chance to explore Konoha—so far, you had only gone out on rare occasions. Tsunade had granted permission for Naruto to accompany you around the village to help trigger your memories. Of course, the Copy Ninja was instructed to keep an eye on your outings from afar. Even though you still couldn’t piece everything together, you greatly appreciated the company of the energetic young ninja. He seemed torn between wanting to share everything with you and reminding himself that things weren’t as they once were.

The blond had spared no effort in choosing places to visit—the training grounds, the village heights, and, of course, his favorite restaurant, Ichiraku. The day had been long but productive: some places vaguely seemed familiar, though everything remained a blur. Once night fell, Naruto had brought you back on the Hokage’s orders before heading home. He had hesitated for a while about whether to take you to your apartment, but she had told him it was still too soon.

After taking a well-deserved shower, you returned to your bed and finally took the remedy Tsunade had concocted for you. Fragments of memories were starting to come back, still hazy, but you could now be sure that what was once a void was now just a book whose pages had yet to be read. The treatment you had been taking for weeks had drastically reduced your headaches, and you felt much more energetic.

The box was still there. Hesitant, you picked it up delicately and examined it as you sat on the bed. It was simple in shape but finely engraved with illustrations of flowers and foliage. You finally decided to open it.

The first thing you saw was a key. Simple, without any keychain, but large enough to belong to a room, a house, or maybe an apartment? You set it down beside you and then picked up a small black figurine—a maneki-neko. You knew these little figurines were meant to bring luck, protection, or even good fortune. But what connection did the key and this figurine have to you?

Placing it next to the key, you picked up the stack of photos in your hands, setting the now-empty box on the bed.

The first was a photo of you—you wore the same uniform as the ANBU who had visited you, holding a mask in one hand. The next photo was slightly blurred in places, as if taken quickly. It showed you smiling, an arm draped over Naruto’s shoulders as he stuffed himself with noodles. You kept looking through the photos, tears once again streaming down your cheeks without you paying any attention to them. It was the last photo that sped up their flow.

You were wearing a green jacket and a blue uniform, a forehead protector tied around your arm. You held an ANBU mask in your hand and looked at the man standing next to you with a smile. He, in turn, wore the same uniform you had on in the first photo. He was smiling as he looked at you.

With trembling hands, you pulled the photos close to your chest. If only you could remember—if only. Naruto, your friends, and especially this ANBU whom you knew nothing about, with whom everything felt so strange despite having only crossed paths twice.

You hadn’t even noticed someone had entered the room, so deep were you in the photos and the emotions they stirred. A slight shift on the bed was the first sign, and an arm slipped around you. In that state, you accepted the embrace without hesitation—strangely familiar—and instinctively leaned closer to the person who had sat beside you.

Tenzo closed his eyes for a brief moment, savoring the moment by your side. Though he felt helpless about your condition, he still wanted to remain near you, whether from afar or, like tonight, close by. He had missed your presence—missed moments like this even more. He rested his chin atop your head, recalling everything he had longed for during those years without you.

You closed your eyes, feeling safe, and the tears finally stopped flowing. Among the fragments that had resurfaced, you focused on one, short and fleeting. So brief you concentrated hard, trying to make out the few words that echoed within it.

After a few minutes, you reopened your eyes suddenly, though you didn’t move.

“Tenzo?” you murmured so faintly that the ANBU thought he had imagined it.

He opened his eyes and sat up, looking at you with wide eyes.

“That’s your name, isn’t it? Tenzo?”

The brunet remained speechless for a moment. Feeling his heart pounding and his eyes stinging, he began to tremble slightly. Before he could respond, you had turned your head toward him, studying every detail of his face. He could have answered, but he was absorbed by your gaze, the tenderness it held. Your eyes radiated incredible softness and the expectation of his response—it was almost as though you were pleading with him to say yes.

“I—[Y/N], do you remember me?” he finally asked.

Pulling the photos away from your chest so he could see them too, you turned your gaze back to the one of you together.

“Fragments. I see you sometimes in my dreams. I don’t know if they’re memories or just my imagination.” You gently ran a hand over the photo, as though reassuring yourself it was real. “I’m so sorry. I feel like we were close and… like with Naruto, I… I’m so sorry for putting you all through this.”

Tenzo didn’t respond immediately, letting his eyes linger on the picture of you both.

“It’s not your fault, [Y/N]. I’m… I’m just happy you’re back in Konoha…”

Setting the photos beside you, you turned toward him, placing your hands on the lower part of his forehead protector.

“I want to remember you, and something deep inside me tells me that I need to, Tenzo. Please, help me.”

His cheeks took on a faint pink hue, and it took him a few moments to gather his thoughts. Everything was swirling in his mind, and all he could hear was the pounding of his heart, so loud it felt like his head might explode.

"Did you administer the treatment I entrusted to you?" The voice asking this question was deep, serious. It vaguely reminded you of the one from your first dream. You couldn’t pinpoint its exact origin, but the man speaking couldn’t have been far from you. The sounds and movements surrounding you were faint, almost imperceptible, and trying to make sense of them required immense effort.

Your head felt like it was about to explode, the pain excruciating, the dizziness relentless. You were lying down, your vision spinning wildly, with the sensation that everything around you was in constant motion.

Another voice then broke the silence: "As you instructed." That voice... Yubaba? "Good. Now, I’d like you to leave me alone with her." "She is-" "Leave."

The faint sound of retreating footsteps followed, leaving behind an oppressive silence. You realized the man had drawn closer. Despite your distorted vision, his towering silhouette was now unmistakable.

You tried to speak, to scream, but no sound came from your lips. Only your unsteady, labored breathing broke the silence. The man snapped his fingers several times. You couldn’t discern their exact position; the sense of instability all around you remained overwhelming.

"Good. I see the treatment is working." His voice sent shivers down your spine. A dark aura seemed to envelop him, and you felt vulnerable, utterly defenseless. "I believe we can begin."

With those words, and a soft, chilling laugh, he pressed his hand against your face, and everything went black.

________________________________________

Tsunade came to see you early that morning. You had been on your new treatment for over two weeks, and your headaches had nearly vanished. Iruka and Kurenai had stopped by to visit you. Although their stays were brief, their presence had brought you comfort. Kakashi, on the other hand, visited regularly to talk about Naruto. However, whenever you tried to bring up your shared past, he remained vague, quickly steering the conversation toward more general topics—either about you or himself.

You couldn’t hide the joy that filled you each time he showed up, sat by your side, and spent hours talking with you. Thanks to them, you had been able to piece together some fragments of your past, even though the memories themselves remained elusive. Occasionally, snippets would come back to you—sometimes clear, sometimes not. The photos they had brought helped you put a face to Naruto’s name: a blond ninja who sometimes appeared in your dreams. You now knew that his two close friends were Sakura and Sasuke.

“As you seem to have recovered physically and your headaches have subsided, we’ll have you take a test tonight,” Tsunade announced. Curious, you turned to her. “A test?” “Yes, a physical test. I’d like you to face someone. To see if your skills have vanished along with your memories.”

In truth, the Hokage intended to use this test to probe whether there was more to your memory loss. She sincerely believed your field abilities hadn’t diminished but wanted to confirm her suspicions.

“And who will I be facing?” you asked. “It will be Genma.” “Oh. Are you sure that… this is the right time?”

________________________________________

The test you were about to take seemed to be held in a closed room—an intimate and, most importantly, discreet setting. Tsunade didn’t want the news of this event to spread beyond the small, select group that had been invited. You had been led to the ground floor of the room, where you could make out ninjas observing from above. You spotted Kurenai, accompanied by someone who appeared to be Asuma. Kakashi was there too, standing next to Gai. Tsunade had sent Iruka to keep Naruto occupied, ensuring that he wouldn’t come looking for his teacher or for her.

A strange sensation stirred within you, accompanied by a strong sense of apprehension. You had no idea what you were capable of or what your opponent could do.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a friendly match. We only want to assess where you’re at. If anything goes wrong, we’ll stop immediately.” Reassured by her words, you nodded as the Hokage joined the other ninjas observing from above. Closing your eyes for a moment, you tried to calm yourself, focusing on steadying your breath. It was just a friendly sparring match, after all. If things didn’t go well, they could stop it right away—couldn’t they? It had to be that simple.

“Hey, [Y/N]. Ready?” Opening your eyes, you saw Genma already standing across from you.

He looked particularly composed, unbothered by the fight that was about to begin. You couldn’t help but wonder if he truly intended to fight with that senbon between his teeth.

Genma had been briefed about your return and your memory loss. Though the two of you had never been particularly close, you knew each other well enough from past missions and battles you’d fought together. He was familiar with your fighting style without being emotionally invested—a balance that Tsunade had likely deemed perfect.

You nodded, and that’s when the match began.

Taking a deep breath, you lunged at the ninja instinctively, without overthinking. He deflected your initial strikes with little effort, sensing both the automatic nature of your movements and a subtle undercurrent of hesitation. You fought the way you used to, but something was different. Genma noticed it immediately. It wasn’t alarming given your current situation, but it was a detail he filed away in the back of his mind.

As the exchanges continued, still mechanical in nature, Kakashi closely observed the scene, analyzing every move. He, too, noted the slight differences in your techniques compared to the past. However, what concerned him more was the hesitation. To him, it didn’t seem like the hesitation of someone afraid to miss a strike. Instead, it felt like the hesitation of someone afraid to hit harder than necessary—something you didn’t even appear to realize yourself.

The fight continued for a while longer, and Genma decided to raise the stakes to push you further. He sent you flying a short distance away, catching you off guard with the sudden change in his approach. The kunai in your uniform pocket slipped out during your fall, landing a few steps ahead of you.

“You’ll have to choose, or I’ll choose for you.”

A faint, shrill sound accompanied the sudden appearance of a voice in your head.

“Would you know how to make good use of a second chance if I gave it to you?”

You began to get up, one hand clutching your head, hoping the sharp pain and the noise would fade. Your other hand instinctively grabbed the kunai. Kakashi noticed the movement, one that might have seemed trivial at first glance. Meanwhile, the Hokage frowned, her expression tense. This was the moment she had been waiting for, and she was prepared to intervene, as were the other ninjas who had been briefed before your arrival.

Genma was surprised to see that you were now faster, more aggressive, and far less hesitant. He found it harder to predict your moves, though so far, the kunai hadn’t touched him. As the intensity of your strikes increased, he noticed a shift in your gaze. It was no longer the same as when the fight began. It was something entirely different.

For your part, you attacked without fully understanding how you were doing it. Your actions felt automatic, the hesitation gone, as if driven by the rhythmic noise in your head and the short phrases or single words spoken by that voice—the one that filled you with terror.

Before long, you had brought Genma to the ground—or had he let it happen? Either way, the kunai at his throat was not part of the deal. He grit his teeth, feeling the cold metal of the blade pressed dangerously close to his skin. Your gaze radiated anger, hatred, and pain—a storm of emotions that was anything but reassuring. The brunette struggled to hold your wrists back, trying to keep the weapon from piercing him.

Relief washed over him when he caught sight of Tsunade, Gai, and Asuma. The Hokage stood directly in front of you as the other two quickly grabbed your arms and pulled them away from Genma.

Freed from your grip, Genma scrambled to his feet, rubbing his neck where the blade had grazed him. The cut was shallow, not serious—but the look in your eyes was far more dangerous.

Suddenly, you dropped the kunai, yanking one arm free from Gai’s hold to clutch your head. The pain was still searing, though the voice in your head began to grow quieter. Your eyes closed tightly, and Tsunade motioned for Asuma to let go of you.

“There’s no point in trying to fight it.”

Both hands pressed against your head, you seemed to be trying to block out the noise. Tsunade crouched in front of you, gently placing her hands over yours.

“Bring me the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki.”

“Please… I want it to stop. I want him to stop.” Your voice was barely above a whisper, but it was enough to draw a look of surprise from the Hokage. She wasted no time initiating a healing jutsu to ease the pain and calm the storm within you.

________________________________________

After the incident, Tsunade escorted you back to your room. She had instructed the other ninjas to return home, signaling that they would likely regroup later to discuss the situation. The only words you managed to say to her before she left were:

“I’m sorry about Genma. I—I’m truly sorry.”

She looked at you for a moment but said nothing, leaving you alone with your thoughts. You lay down in the darkness, unable to stop replaying what had just happened.

Meanwhile, the copy ninja was struggling to process what he had witnessed. Tsunade had warned him, but he hadn’t expected to see something like that so soon. He was deeply worried, though the Hokage had instructed him to observe without interfering. Questions raced through his mind, but above all, he wondered what state you must be in now.

What had driven you to attack Genma without holding back? What was causing these sudden headaches? What was happening to you? And who was the man whose voice haunted you relentlessly?

Tsunade closed the door to your room with a sigh, leaning against the wall. Kakashi was there, staring at the floor. In truth, he had followed the two of you ever since the test ended.

“That wasn’t really her fighting Genma. At least, not during the second part of the match.”

Kakashi’s words carried a heavy weight. It couldn’t have been you—it couldn’t have been your own will. Not you, not from what he knew of you, memory loss or not.

“That’s what I feared,” Tsunade replied. “She whispered, begging for ‘him’ to stop before I eased her pain.”

The silver-haired ninja turned his gaze toward the Hokage, his concern now plainly visible on his face.

“I don’t know what kind of enemy is behind this scheme, but we need to keep Naruto out of it for now.”

“He’ll find out eventually, Lady Hokage. We’re only delaying the inevitable.”

“I have a bad feeling about this. And Naruto… he’s unpredictable.”

“I think he’s capable of hearing the hard truth. It’ll be far worse if we keep it from him.”

As she began to walk down the long hospital corridor, Tsunade cast a final glance at the copy ninja.

“We’ll keep it a secret for now. I assume you’re planning to stay with her tonight?”

The remark took Kakashi by surprise, and his eyes widened.

“I’m only going to check on her, Lady Hokage.”

Once Tsunade had turned away, she let out a soft chuckle and murmured under her breath, “Be careful, Kakashi. Don’t get too close to the flames.”

________________________________________

The door creaked open softly, but you didn’t bother to turn around. You stayed lying on the bed, lost in a fog of confusion and reflection. Silence lingered until you felt the mattress shift slightly beneath you.

“Are you okay?”

Kakashi’s voice reached you, gentle but filled with concern. He was there, likely seated on the edge of the bed.

“No,” you replied flatly.

“Hmm. You know... Genma is fine, and what happened—it wasn’t your fault.”

“By my hand, but not my fault. Is that it?”

A brief silence followed your sharp retort.

“I didn’t want things to turn out this way. I—I didn’t want this,” you murmured, your voice cracking under the weight of your emotions.

“I know. That’s why I’m telling you—it wasn’t your fault.”

A few tears slipped down your cheeks. Kakashi, who had been sitting with his back to you, noticed your subtle, uneven movements. The moonlight spilling into the room illuminated your figure just enough for him to see that you were crying.

Instinctively, the silver-haired ninja placed a hand on your shoulder. His thumb began to trace slow, soothing circles, a small gesture to offer you comfort.

The touch stirred something indescribable within you, but you were in no state to resist or question it. Suddenly, you sat up, leaving Kakashi momentarily stunned, and before you could stop yourself, you wrapped your arms around his torso.

What was happening to you? Why were you acting like this around him?

Kakashi, caught off guard by the unexpected embrace from behind, didn’t move at first. He was torn—part of him wanted to push you away for your own good, while another part, the part his heart screamed at him to listen to, wanted nothing more than to hold you close.

When a few seconds passed with no reaction from him, you began to withdraw your arms from his chest.

“I—I’m sorry… I didn’t mean—”

You were cut off abruptly as Kakashi turned and pulled you into his arms, enveloping you completely. You couldn’t see his face, but his eyes were fixed on your trembling form, glistening with unshed tears.

His thoughts raced, swirling in chaos. Seeing you like this, so broken by what you were going through, left him feeling utterly powerless. He couldn’t stand it. He had faced countless hardships with you before—on missions, in moments connected to Naruto—but seeing you crushed by something so incomprehensible, unable to help you, was unbearable.

He rested his chin gently atop your head and closed his eyes. One of his hands moved to your hair, stroking it softly, trying to soothe you and bring you some semblance of peace.

It had been so long since he last held you in his arms that he could hardly believe it was real. So long, in fact, that he’d almost forgotten you didn’t even remember him anymore. So long that his emotions, long suppressed, now refused to be ordered into anything resembling calm.

Gradually calming down, you let yourself sink into the comforting warmth of Kakashi's embrace and closed your eyes, your hands clutching tightly at his green uniform. When he felt the tension leave your body and managed to steady his own racing heartbeat, the silver-haired ninja opened his eyes gently.

“Let me tell you about one of our missions,” he murmured softly in the stillness of the room. “It was before I started leading Team 7, the one I told you about. You were still in the Anbu back then.”

Keeping your eyes closed, you listened intently to his voice. You had been waiting for this moment since the first time he came to see you. Fearing he might stop if he thought you were awake, you remained perfectly still, feigning sleep.

“Your team joined us as reinforcements on an S-rank mission. Thanks to your intervention, the mission was a success... But that mission stands out in my memory for another reason.”

Kakashi shifted slightly, sitting up straighter while still holding you close. A faint chuckle escaped from beneath his mask.

“Even with your mask on, I could sense how worried you were when you saw our injuries. You fought, but… you weren’t really focused on the battle. I caught you staring at me for a long moment before you even engaged the enemy. The last time I saw you fight like that was during another mission, when I was injured.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“You barely dodged several dangerous attacks during that fight. All because you were too preoccupied, worrying about me and thinking only of patching me up. The second the battle ended, you ran straight to me and started tending to my wounds. I kept telling you I was fine, but you were so stubborn that I eventually gave in.”

Closing his eyes for a moment, he let out a soft sigh.

“And when you took off your mask, I saw the look in your eyes. It scared me. I was terrified that you could have been hurt because you were so distracted by my condition. But what frightened me even more… was seeing how much you cared about me. You cared so deeply that you forgot your own survival, just because I was injured.”

You recalled how he had avoided giving a direct answer about the nature of your relationship, and now, you were starting to understand why. Faint glimpses of that event began to surface in your mind. They were blurry and fragmented, but undeniably there. And now, you were beginning to realize that perhaps he wasn’t just a friend.

“What happened earlier, with Genma… I know you would never have done that. That wasn’t you. And… I’m going to help you find your way back to who you’ve always been. I don’t know who’s hurting you like this, but… I’m here now, and I’m not letting you go again. Whatever it is, we’ll face it together.”

"[Y/N]?"

From atop the roof, Tenzo watched your figure as you moved through the street below. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming, a mirage brought on by his own longing. He was so focused on the distant image of you that he no longer heard the voices of his colleagues around him.

A hand on his shoulder snapped him out of his daze.

"She’s not reacting. Are you sure it’s her, Captain? Is this really the one the ninja at the gate described?"

The ANBU operative nodded silently, torn between the shock of seeing you again and the confusion consuming him.

“We’ll go down in pairs—two of us will block her from the front, two from the rear,” he instructed, his voice as steady as he could muster given the circumstances.

With that, he descended from his perch alongside a teammate, while two others moved into position behind you to cut off any escape route.

Tenzo took another brief moment to steady his breath and regain his composure, though the sight of your face after all this time made that nearly impossible. He had prepared himself for the worst: to find you injured, lifeless, or worse—to never find you at all and continue chasing the ghost of the woman he had grown to care for so deeply.

“I don’t know what you want from me, but I don’t have anything,” you said nervously, lifting your hands slightly in a gesture of surrender.

Your words jolted him back to the harsh reality of the moment. Did you truly not recognize him? Surely, you would know the mask he wore, the insignia of the ANBU you had once worked alongside for years. You had shared so many moments together. Was this some kind of cruel joke?

Yet there you stood, with no sign of recognition in your expression. Meanwhile, he hadn’t forgotten a single detail of your face—your [Y/EC] eyes he had so often lost himself in, your [Y/HC] hair that he had touched only on rare occasions, the softness of which lingered in his memory. But one thing was missing now: the smile that had been etched into his mind since the day you left.

“Don’t you recognize me, [Y/N]?” he finally asked, though his voice cracked under the weight of his emotions.

You tilted your head slightly, confusion evident on your face as you took a small step back. His heart sank as the realization hit him harder than he expected. Still, he moved closer cautiously, clinging to a desperate hope that perhaps, just perhaps, you’d remember him. Deep down, he longed for you to close the distance between you and embrace him as you once had.

But a darker truth gnawed at his heart: something was wrong. Something had changed. You no longer radiated the warmth he had known, and it left him adrift.

“You must be mistaken… I’m not [Y/N],” you replied, shaking your head.

“We’ve been searching for you for months,” he countered directly, his tone unyielding.

“I… Why? I’m just here to care for the elderly woman I live with. I don’t know who you are or what you want, but I don’t know you.”

A teammate approached him, speaking in hushed tones.

“Captain, are you absolutely certain it’s her? She doesn’t seem to recognize us. Is there another way to get through to her?”

If Tenzo hadn’t been wearing a mask, his face would have betrayed the storm of emotions raging within him: heartbreak, confusion, and pain. The mask, in that moment, was a shield he desperately needed. He knew he wouldn’t remove it—not now. But if you wouldn’t remember him, there was someone else he knew you couldn’t forget: Naruto Uzumaki.

“Did you decide to desert? And Naruto? Why are you hiding here?” he pressed, his voice sharper now.

Your headache flared, intensifying as emotions you couldn’t explain swirled within you. His voice—it was so familiar, yet so distant. It struck a chord deep within you, something indescribable and ungraspable. The haze that separated you from whatever truth lay buried in your heart grew thicker by the second.

“I-I don’t understand… What are you talking about?”

Your vision began to blur, darkening at the edges, and each breath came harder than the last. A chilling sensation crept over your chest as the figures before you faded further into a haze.

Tenzo saw your knees buckle and your body falter. He rushed forward just in time to catch you before you collapsed completely. For a moment too long, he stood frozen, gazing at your unconscious face, torn between heartbreak and relief.

“Captain, we can’t linger here,” one of his teammates reminded him firmly.

Snapping back to reality, Tenzo nodded and stood.

“Let’s take her home. We’ll resume the other mission later,” he ordered.

None of the team questioned him. Together, they moved swiftly, carrying you away into the night. ________________________________________

"Do you want me to take over, [Y/N]? You look exhausted."

Startled, you turned abruptly. The darkness of the night made it difficult to discern your surroundings, but the cold seeped into your bones, and your exhaustion was almost overwhelming. Before you could respond, a figure moved to sit beside you. A brief silence hung in the air as you struggled to make out the details of the face near yours. But no matter how hard you tried, everything remained blurry, foggy, unchanging.

"You worry too much about him. Don’t. He’s with Kakashi."

Kakashi? Who was Kakashi? Who was this person even talking about?

Though the topic of conversation was entirely alien to you, the voice sparked a faint recognition. You had heard it just hours earlier, while wandering the streets of Kumo—or at least, you thought you had been in Kumo. Had that even been real? And why were you here now?

"I should have been more vigilant earlier. I didn’t want you putting yourself in danger to help me," the figure said softly.

Frowning, you rubbed your eyes, hoping it would help clear your vision. But it was futile. Everything remained shrouded in that same frustrating haze. You tried to speak, but your voice seemed trapped in your throat, blocked by some unseen force. Your gaze returned to his face. Though the features remained indistinct, you noticed his short, brown hair and a headband with a rather unusual design.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, a gentle, reassuring laugh escaping his lips. "From the way you’re staring, you’d think we hadn’t seen each other in years."

Suddenly, the surroundings around you began to fade. Now, there was only him, sitting next to you, still shrouded in a maddening blur.

"Or… is it that you simply don’t remember me anymore?" he asked, his tone suddenly colder, sharper.

The warmth of his presence dissipated, leaving a suffocating darkness in its wake.

"So, [Y/N]? Have you already forgotten me? I always knew you’d leave me behind eventually, but so soon..."

A chilling laugh echoed from him, devoid of the softness it once carried. It sent a shiver down your spine.

"I knew you weren’t trustworthy. Weak, too."

Eyes wide, you instinctively recoiled. His form began to distort, shifting and twisting as though it were no longer entirely human. Still blurred, his silhouette now resembled a flickering mirage.

"Show me what a former ANBU is really capable of, will you? Make yourself useful."

His face morphed into something grotesque, resembling a spiraling vortex. The pitch-black void around you was suddenly pierced by flashes of vibrant color, swirling and distorting into shapes.

"Bring me the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki" he commanded.

With those words, the scene around you grew sharper, clearer. You could finally make out the figure: a tall man wearing a mask tinged in orange. Only one eyehole broke its surface, and from within it, a vivid red eye stared back at you, its intensity chilling you to the core.

Before you could react, his hand shot out, pressing firmly against your face. The pressure mounted as you finally managed to scream.

You woke abruptly, gasping for air, your chest heaving as your wide eyes darted frantically around the room.

To your right, Tsunade jolted, startled by the violence of your awakening. Quickly regaining her composure, she sat in the chair beside your bed and placed a hand gently on your arm.

The speed and force with which you yanked your arm away left her momentarily speechless. She let out a slow sigh.

"You’re back in Konoha, [Y/N]. You’re safe now," she assured you.

During the long days you’d spent in a deep sleep, the Hokage had performed numerous medical examinations. She had identified the head trauma you had sustained and had been waiting for you to wake up to determine the extent of the damage. She had also noticed something else—something unusual during her tests.

Your gaze, lost and confused, met hers.

"What am I doing here? Who are you?" you asked hurriedly.

"What do you remember?" Tsunade responded calmly, her tone steady despite the doubts forming in her mind about your possible memory loss.

Hesitantly, you recounted what little you could recall: Kumo, the strange days spent with Yubaba, and the fragments of events you didn’t fully understand. Tsunade listened intently.

Her attention drifted to a small vial resting on the table beside your bed. You hadn’t even noticed it until she picked it up, holding it out for you to see.

"This woman you mentioned—Yubaba. She gave you tea to help, didn’t she?"

"For my headaches," you replied simply.

"Mm. We’ll start you on a new treatment. Whatever she was giving you doesn’t seem to be effective anymore."

"Where is Yubaba?" you demanded abruptly, your voice sharp and cold.

"She passed away a few days ago in Kumo. She had lived a long life," Tsunade explained as she slipped the vial into her pocket and stood.

"I’ll check on you later. If anything comes back to you, I’ve left a notebook and pen on the table beside you. Write it all down."

With that, she exited the room.

Your eyes wandered to the notebook she had mentioned, sitting quietly by your bed. Why did she want you to write? Yubaba had passed away days ago?

How long had you been asleep here? ________________________________________

The Hokage had taken the time to summon Kakashi, Kurenai, Iruka, Asuma, Gai, and Genma to brief them on the situation. The meeting was meant to be short: she needed to inform them about your condition and, more importantly, urge them to stay vigilant, especially regarding Naruto, and to keep an eye on you.

"The ANBU team brought [Y/N] back to Konoha. I conducted numerous medical tests while she was unconscious, and I’ve concluded that she suffered severe head trauma—I fear she’s completely lost her memory," she began, eliciting surprised reactions from the assembled ninjas.

"You mean she doesn’t remember anything?" Kurenai asked, her concern evident.

"I’m afraid that everything before her accident is a total blank. And that’s not the only issue troubling me," the Hokage added gravely.

At her words, the group exchanged uneasy glances. Tsunade retrieved a small vial from her pocket and held it up for everyone to see.

"She was poisoned over several months. This concoction not only caused her persistent headaches but also weakened her physically. She couldn’t even attempt to use her chakra to relieve her pain... or for anything else, for that matter."

Kakashi sighed, breaking the silence that followed.

"Hmm. The real question is: who did this, and why?"

"Exactly," Tsunade confirmed. "I don’t believe the elderly woman she was living with would have randomly decided to poison her like this... and it seems highly unlikely that her sudden death in Kumo is a coincidence, either. [Y/N] returns to Konoha, and then the woman dies abruptly. Do you see where I’m going with this?"

"Do we have specific enemies in the Land of Lightning?" Iruka inquired.

"It could be a diversion," Asuma suggested, exchanging a glance with Kakashi.

Nodding, the Copy Ninja turned to the Hokage.

"We’ll need to be particularly vigilant, on all fronts—including with her."

"Exactly. As for Naruto and your students, they are not to be informed just yet. I’d prefer to wait before letting this news spread. Additionally, I’d like you all to evaluate her in the field once she’s recovered. Her chakra has changed significantly as well."

As the ninjas began to leave the room, Tsunade rose and gestured for Kakashi to remain behind. Once they were alone, she approached him.

"Tenzo is currently on a mission, but you can inform him when he returns. In the meantime, I’ll do everything I can to improve the situation."

Kakashi nodded, exhaling softly.

"He hasn’t reached out to me in a long time. I understand now why he’s isolated himself."

"She likely didn’t recognize him when he went to retrieve her. I think knowing the truth would help ease his pain, even if just a little."

________________________________________

A few weeks later, as Kakashi stood atop one of Konoha’s rooftops, enjoying the gift Naruto had given him, a certain ANBU operative appeared nearby.

"Hmm, I was starting to think you weren’t going to show up anymore, Tenzo," Kakashi remarked without looking up from his book.

"Missions have been piling up, Senpai," the ANBU replied simply, removing his mask before sitting down beside the Copy Ninja.

"There’s something you need to know."

A brief silence settled between them as Tenzo stared into the distance, his expression more somber than when he arrived.

"She lost her memory after a head trauma."

At those words, Tenzo turned to his friend, his eyes wide with shock. His gaze was filled with unspoken questions as Kakashi calmly closed his book and tucked it into his pocket.

"The Hokage is working to help her recover her memories, but she was poisoned for months—likely to keep her disoriented and compliant."

"Who would do something like that?"

"That’s the question we still don’t have an answer to. But for now, there’s little we can do about it. I know it’s hard, Tenzo, but... maybe you should go see her. Without the mask this time."

Kakashi knew he was treading on sensitive ground. Even though Tenzo would do his best to hide his emotions, the Copy Ninja wasn’t fooled. He’d long since noticed, through subtle yet telling reactions—both from Tenzo and from you before your mission—that something had been developing between you two, whether or not either of you realized it.

"Senpai… I don’t know. I don’t think she needs me anymore."

Kakashi stood up, letting out a soft sigh of disapproval.

"That’s where you’re wrong, Tenzo. If anyone can help her, it’s you. But it’s a decision only you can make."

Tenzo remained seated, his gaze fixed on the horizon as the Copy Ninja prepared to descend from the rooftop.

"I’m afraid she’ll never remember me," Tenzo murmured quietly.

________________________________________

After weeks of working with and caring for you, Tsunade had at least managed to make you less hostile and more smiley. As for your memories, that was another matter entirely. You hadn’t spoken to her about what you had seen during your sleep, after you lost consciousness in the Land of Lightning. Something told you that it wasn’t the right time to talk about it, and it might be better to piece everything together on your own before sharing those fragments of memory.

Still in the same small room as when you first arrived, the Hokage had done her best to provide you with things to occupy your time and help you reacquaint yourself with Konoha. You had spoken a few times with an Iruka, who had mentioned a certain Naruto—a name you had already heard before your arrival—and described him as particularly energetic. You had also had a few visits from a woman who was especially kind and gentle, someone with whom you felt strangely at ease. Her name was Kurenai, and her calm presence was greatly appreciated given the long, tiring days you had.

Aside from them, you hadn’t received any other visitors—at least, not until this evening.

The sun had slowly set over the village, and despite the growing fatigue, you couldn’t help but glance at the photos your visitors had brought. Some showed Naruto and his friends, while others featured people whose names you hadn’t fully retained.

The feeling of having seen them before, yet being certain you had never crossed paths with them, gnawed at you. The more you looked at the photos, the more you wondered if this was the key to unlocking the huge black hole that had haunted you for months.

A few knocks on the door pulled you from your thoughts, and you lifted your head toward it. "Uh? Yes?"

The door slowly creaked open, letting in the light from the hallway and revealing a silhouette. The figure approached your bed, and you recognized the uniform of the ninjas who had come to retrieve you from Kumo. However, his demeanor didn’t suggest anything ominous—on the contrary, he gave off a pleasant, reassuring aura. Another strange feeling surfaced, but you decided not to dwell on it for now. Instead, you focused on understanding who this man was and what he was doing here.

His eyes were downcast, and he looked tired and, above all, worried. After studying him for a moment, the color of his hair and the headband he wore strangely reminded you of the dream—or rather, nightmare—you had experienced upon arriving here. But as for his face, you couldn’t say for certain whether it was the same.

"May I?" he asked in a calm, hesitant voice, pointing to the chair beside your bed.

You hadn’t even noticed that he was holding a small box in his left hand, but you nodded nonetheless, curious. He finally sat down, as if your approval had lifted a weight from his shoulders. He seemed particularly stressed as he scratched the back of his head with his right hand.

"Are you one of the ninjas who came to get me from Kumo?" you finally asked, as he stopped scratching his head abruptly and met your gaze.

"I—Uh, yes. I’m sorry about that." After a short pause, he continued. "I just wanted to bring you something."

Your face softened as time passed, and deep down, the ANBU felt relieved to see you again. The road ahead would be long, but maybe Kakashi was right. Maybe, with time and effort, you would eventually remember him—and whatever it was you might have shared together. He gently extended the wooden box toward you, and you took it delicately, brushing your hand lightly against his in the process. Surprised, he pulled his hand back a little too quickly and looked away.

"What is this?" you asked after studying the box for a moment without opening it.

"Things that might help you, hopefully."

His voice was filled with both hope and reluctance: his intentions were sincere, but he didn’t seem completely sure of his actions.

"Can I know your name?"

The question caught him off guard, although he knew it was bound to come sooner or later. The first decision he had to make was whether or not to visit you, and now another one was upon him. Should he give you his name now? Or would it be better to wait until you remembered a little more before revealing anything?

Was he ready for a casual reaction?

No.

He wasn’t ready for that.

He stood up and made his way to the door, his hand hovering over it. His face turned toward you, showing the same sadness he had concealed during your reunion.

“He’s surprising, and he’s progressing astonishingly fast.” Before you stood what seemed to be a training ground, from where you could observe a figure dressed in orange at a distance. You couldn’t clearly make out the person in question, nor the two others standing alongside them. One seemed to be wearing a pinkish outfit, and the other a blue-and-white one.

Your vision wasn’t perfectly clear, but at least you could distinguish the colors and hear sounds. They appeared to be sparring, likely at the request of the man beside you, who held a book in his right hand.

“We’ll be heading out on a mission soon, [Y/N]. It shouldn’t take long—it’s just a C-rank mission.” His voice was so gentle, so calm, so reassuring. He was much taller than you, but his face was obscured by a mask, and what you could see most clearly was his silver-grey hair. Finally, he glanced up from his book and turned his gaze toward you.

“You’re awfully quiet today. Are you worried about him?” he asked at last, stepping a little closer and closing his book. “I promise he’ll come back safe and sound.”

Who was he talking about? Turning your attention back to the training ground, you noticed that the three ninja had vanished. A breeze began to rise, and the once-blue sky had turned grey. Where had they gone?

A cold hand suddenly rested on your shoulder, and with a start, you turned to face the silver-haired man. His hand was covered in blood, his forehead protector slightly askew, and his uniform had shifted from light green to a deep crimson across most of his chest.

“Where were you? Where were you when they attacked us?” This voice no longer sounded like the one you’d heard earlier, and now you could see other figures lying motionless on the ground behind him. Frozen in place, you briefly recognized the orange outfit you had seen before, just as the man before you spoke again.

“You promised to protect him. You promised me you’d come back.” Closing your eyes and clutching your head in your hands, you tried to scream, but no sound escaped your lips. It was as if something had rendered you mute, as if something was preventing you from doing anything but witnessing the scene unfold before you.

After a few seconds, you decided to open your eyes again. They were all gone. There was nothing left but a vast field, dimly illuminated by the moonlight. Panting, you turned slightly, searching for a sign of anyone—or anything.

Until a much deeper voice echoed around you. “There’s no hope left, and those you care for will die because of you.” A masked man dressed in a long black cloak appeared before you. Only one eye was visible, but it was enough to send shivers down your spine.

“Consider the choice I’m about to offer you as a gift.” Silence fell, broken only by a soft chuckle escaping from under his mask.

“Will you take care of the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki yourself? Or shall I do it for you?”

From this dark silhouette emerged a hand holding a kunai. As you took a hesitant step back, the man suddenly grabbed your face, forcing it toward the weapon, which he positioned just before your eyes.

“You’re going to have to choose—or I’ll choose for you.”

With a gasp, you opened your eyes abruptly and sat up in bed, struggling to calm your breathing. Holding your head in your hands, you didn’t even notice at first that you weren’t alone in the room. In truth, you didn’t even know where you were.

“You’re finally awake.”

Slowly turning your gaze toward the person who had just spoken, you let out a soft sigh.

“Where am I?” you asked, trying to shake off the vivid images lingering in your mind.

You’d been unconscious for several days, giving Tsunade enough time to examine your condition more closely. She hadn’t overlooked the blow to your head or the particularly high likelihood of memory loss that could result. Other findings in her analysis had also concerned her, but for now, it was time to assess how much of your memory had been affected.

“You’re in Konoha. You fainted when we found you.” She approached the chair to the right of your bed and sat down.

“You probably have a lot of questions, but first, I’d like you to tell me everything you remember. From the beginning. Then I’ll take the time to explain everything.”

Questions swirled in your mind, and you hesitated for a long moment before deciding to trust her and recount the events of the past few months in detail.

“I see. And everything before your time with that old woman is a blank to you?” she asked after hearing your story.

Nodding, you stared at your hands for a moment. “It feels like it’s the only thing I’ve ever known, and yet like my whole life has vanished.”

She made a sound of agreement, leaning back in her chair. “I imagine this won’t be easy for you. Neither relearning everything nor trusting us. But if you choose to trust us, we’ll help you regain your memory.” She paused briefly, observing your expression. “If you agree, I’ll ask a few… people from your past to help you with this. And I’ll leave you a notebook and pen in case anything comes back to you.”

Glancing at her, then at the notebook on the nightstand, you nodded. “And what about the treatment Yubaba was giving me?”

At this, you noticed her face tighten, as if masking some irritation. “I’ll provide you with a different treatment from now on. It will be more effective and help you see through this fog more clearly.”

“Hmm. And how is she?”

Tsunade rose, not meeting your eyes this time, and began walking toward the door. “She passed away a few days ago. There was nothing more we could do for her.”

And with those parting words, she left you alone in the room.

________________________________________

After a lengthy discussion with you, the Hokage had summoned former colleagues, primarily the sensei of Naruto’s friends, to inform them of the situation and stress the importance of keeping the information under wraps for the time being. She also took the opportunity to share her concerns regarding the results of your medical exams, suggesting that the issue might not be limited to simple memory loss. For this initial meeting, she had not summoned Kakashi. He was scheduled to meet her in a few hours, after she finished reviewing the latest mission requests.

The Copy Ninja arrived as requested, having spent most of his day with Naruto and Sakura. Between a few chapters of the newest volume of Icha Icha, he had thoroughly enjoyed his time reconnecting with his two students. He slipped away the moment Naruto mentioned the idea of him treating them to ramen and headed straight to the Hokage’s office.

“Lady Hokage?” he asked simply.

“Oh, Kakashi.” Tsunade lifted her head from her papers, setting her pen on the desk. “Everything went well with Naruto and Sakura?”

“They’ve improved tremendously. I have to admit—they’ve become quite strong.”

She offered a faint smile and stood, moving around her desk to lean against it as she faced him.

“I wanted to tell you something, Kakashi, before you hear it from someone else.”

The sensei regarded the Hokage without a word, waiting for her to continue.

“I sent a special ops team to search for [Y/N] a few months ago.”

The silver-haired ninja’s expression began to tighten, his mask doing little to conceal the tension in his face. His fists clenched in his pockets as dread crept in. He braced himself for the worst. Having already lost so many people he cared about, he found it hard to hope for a better outcome. But if something had happened to you… it would be one loss too many.

“She’s safe and sound. I’ve been taking care of her at the hospital…”

Tsunade noticed the visible relaxation in his features, and even the single eye visible through his mask seemed brighter. Though Kakashi didn’t express his emotions openly, she could tell he was both relieved and surprised. He likely hadn’t expected to hear such news.

“That’s… That’s excellent news.”

“But there are two issues. I wanted to speak with you directly about them before you decide to visit her.”

“Hmm?”

Kakashi’s thoughts raced. Relief washed over him at the confirmation of your safety and return to Konoha. Now, the only thing he wanted was for this conversation to end so he could see you. After living with only the memory of you for so long, every moment that delayed your reunion now felt like an unbearable torture.

“She suffered a severe head injury. She’s lost her memory.”

Kakashi’s gaze froze. He struggled to process the information.

“The second issue,” Tsunade continued, “is that she was essentially poisoned for several months. I was able to identify and neutralize the toxin during my tests, but… this was no ordinary concoction. It was designed not only to sustain her memory loss but also to cause severe headaches—and likely fainting spells. We need to remain vigilant. We don’t know the true intent behind this, or who orchestrated it. That’s why I urge caution, Kakashi.”

At these words, the Copy Ninja lowered his gaze to the floor. He needed a moment to process the flood of good and bad news. Your return filled him with joy, but your condition and the uncertainties surrounding it weighed heavily on him. Who had done this to you? Why? What were they planning?

“I know this is a lot to take in at once,” Tsunade said gently. “I’ll do my best to help her regain her memories. And… Naruto must not know about this for now.”

Kakashi remained silent for a few seconds before standing straight.

“When will you inform him that she’s back in Konoha?”

“If we can keep this under wraps until she regains some of her memories, that would be ideal. Naruto is too unpredictable, and I’m worried about how he might react to all of this.”

The silver-haired ninja nodded.

“Thank you, Lady Hokage.”

With those final words, he left the room, leaving Tsunade alone.

________________________________________

You were standing near a young boy with blond hair. He sat on a swing, looking despondent, his goggles pushed down to the lower part of his forehead. Incessant murmurs drifted toward the two of you, and the boy could no longer hide his sorrow.

“Don’t listen to what they’re saying,” you said, crouching down in front of him and attempting to give him the most reassuring smile you could muster. Seeing him like this seemed to tear you apart from the inside, and your eyes betrayed the depth of your emotions.

“Don’t forget what’s in here.” You pointed to the spot over his heart as you spoke, and he straightened slightly, meeting your gaze.

What was peculiar about this dream was that it was clearly you—your younger self—but at the same time, it wasn’t entirely you. You were observing the scene from afar. The young boy didn’t seem familiar, and yet, there was an undeniable closeness between you. As you continued watching your younger self trying to comfort the boy, silence settled over the moment.

“Wake up,” growled a voice, breaking through the quiet, as a hand suddenly pressed against your face.

Opening your eyes and sitting up in bed, you rubbed your face for a moment before letting out a sigh. Glancing around the room, you noticed it was bathed in an orange hue. The sun was setting, and it seemed you’d dozed off after Tsunade’s departure. Casting a brief glance at the window, you jumped in surprise upon seeing a man crouched there.

The Hokage must have left the window open when she left, but you certainly hadn’t expected anyone to perch there.

Frowning slightly, you took a moment to study the man before you. He had gray hair, a forehead protector covering one eye, and a mask obscuring most of his face. A book rested in his hand, but his gaze was fixed on you, silent and unwavering.

Despite your bewildered expression, he didn’t move an inch.

“What are you doing there? You know there’s a door to get in, right?”

At that, Kakashi gave you a slightly surprised look before letting out a soft chuckle, followed by a sigh. Deciding to enter the room properly, he closed the window behind him.

“Still as sharp-tongued as ever, I see,” he murmured, prompting you to raise an eyebrow in confusion.

Seeing your expression, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“You’ve been sleeping for quite a while.”

Leaning back slightly, you frowned deeply.

“Were you watching me sleep?!”

“I was reading, too,” he replied casually.

You froze, your expression a mix of fear and disbelief. It reminded him of the old days—those countless times he’d shown up unannounced on your training field or terrace to invite you along or to test out new techniques with him. Starting over from the beginning was going to be hard, and it hurt him deeply. Perhaps the hardest part was hiding his true emotions from you: the gnawing desire to hold you close, the way he yearned for your face, your smile, your scent, your [Y/HC] hair, and even your sharp sense of humor.

“You’re kind of scaring me,” you muttered.

“No—No. It’s just that I wanted to—Hmm, how do I put this?”

“You’re not helping your case here.”

“Uh… The Hokage must have explained what’s happening to you, right?”

“Ah.” You exhaled deeply and visibly relaxed. “You’re one of the people supposed to help me get my memory back, aren’t you?”

He hesitated for a moment, tucking his book into his pocket.

“You could say that.”

There was something familiar about him—he reminded you of the figure you’d seen in the dream when you first arrived.

“And you are?”

Though Kakashi remained outwardly stoic, your question had struck a chord. Pretending as though you didn’t know each other—acting as if everything you’d shared had never existed—was agonizing.

“Hmm, I’m Kakashi. We… worked together for a few years,” he said, a faint smile forming under his mask as you closed your eyes for a moment.

“Oh. I see.” You paused briefly, while the copy ninja silently waited. “I’m sorry. Everything before waking up at that old woman’s place is completely gone from my memory.”

Kakashi moved toward the chair beside your bed, sitting down with his hands clasped, elbows resting on his knees.

“Would you mind telling me what you do remember?” he asked, his tone calm and steady. “After that, I’ll answer whatever you’d like to know, if you’re okay with it.”

There was a kindness and gentleness to him, albeit with a strange demeanor. Yet, he didn’t exude any sense of danger, and his presence didn’t bother you. Nodding, you began recounting the past few months you had spent with the old woman.

Despite the length of your story, Kakashi showed no signs of boredom. He listened intently, committing to memory the details that stood out as peculiar—not to question you, but to analyze the “who” and “why” behind your condition. Certain inconsistencies nagged at him, prompting a mental note to discuss them with Tsunade later. On your end, you were entirely unaware that anything was amiss, much less that the more troubling parts of your tale warranted skepticism.

Hearing your voice brought Kakashi immense solace. After years haunted by your absence and silence, he cherished this moment, even if it wasn’t unfolding the way he had hoped.

“You haven’t had even a fragment of your past return? Not even a vague memory?” he asked after you finished, his voice tinged with faint hope.

You hesitated, recalling the strange dream you’d had—a dream with a figure who vaguely resembled him. But did you want to share it? Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea, especially considering the direction that dream had taken.

“No… unfortunately not,” you sighed, meeting his gaze. “You mentioned earlier that we worked together. Did we know each other for a long time?”

Kakashi scratched the back of his head. Was he nervous? You found it hard to tell. He was calm overall, but certain gestures hinted at underlying emotions. It was difficult for you to pinpoint exactly what, as you’d only been speaking for a short time.

“Quite a while, yes,” he said simply.

You blinked, expecting a more elaborate answer. After a few seconds, you spoke again.

“Just ‘quite a while’?”

“Hmm?”

“Uh… Were we friends, then? Or just coworkers?”

“Oh.”

Kakashi paused, placing a hand on his chin in thought. You had asked the question so directly that he wasn’t sure how to answer truthfully. The truth was, your relationship had always defied easy definition. It danced on the line between friendship and something more, a connection that could shift with a single gesture or moment. One day, you were distant; the next, inseparable. How could he explain that to you, let alone summarize it when he himself had never managed to define it?

“I think I’ll give you that answer later,” he finally said.

What did he mean by that? Was he unable to say whether you were friends? Or was it something else entirely? The thought made your cheeks flush furiously, a reaction Kakashi didn’t miss. His visible eye widened in mild panic, and he waved his hands in front of him.

“Wait—that’s not what I meant! It’s just… It’s not something I can explain with a single word.”

“So, not just coworkers.”

“Not just coworkers, no,” he confirmed.

A brief silence followed before Kakashi cleared his throat and shifted the conversation.

“There’s someone else I need to tell you about. He won’t be as delicate when he sees you again.”

Intrigued, you focused all your attention on him.

“Let me tell you about Naruto.”

And so, you spent hours talking about the young ninja who was Kakashi’s student, and who, according to him, was like a younger brother to you. Discussing Naruto came more easily to Kakashi than addressing your own relationship. He hoped that you might remember a little about the boy before they broached the thornier subject of your shared past—a topic that was both painful and rich with memories Kakashi silently prayed you would recover someday.

________________________________________

Kakashi returned home late that evening. Seeing you again had lifted part of the burden he had carried since your absence—a deep, relentless pain that had built up over the years, piling onto so many others. But this time, the outcome was different. You were alive, and that simple fact was enough to unsettle him. Yet the thought that you had forgotten everything, that you didn’t remember him or your shared history, left him feeling lost. How could he possibly start over from scratch?

Sitting on his bed, he let out a long sigh. Should he wait a little longer before telling you everything? Perhaps it was better to remain silent, to give you time to find your footing—or maybe never tell you at all. Part of him wondered if you might actually be safer without the memories of him, of what you had shared, and of what you had seen in him.

His mind swirled with endless possibilities, weighed down by uncertainty. His heart, however, whispered insistently that he had to reclaim what you once had, the bond you had built together. The emotions he tried so hard to contain threatened to spill over, urging him to hope, to dream of rebuilding what fate seemed determined to erase.

Running a hand through his silver hair, Kakashi finally lay down, staring at the ceiling with eyes clouded by fatigue and doubt.

“Maybe it’s better to wait a little longer…” he murmured to himself.

He closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing, to quiet the storm of his thoughts.

“If only you could remember everything about your past… and about us.”

_______________________________

Long before Naruto left with Jiraiya, the Third Hokage had entrusted you with a mission. A mission for which you would, of course, not be alone, but whose duration was impossible to predict. While it wasn’t expected to be particularly dangerous, it still worried the young ninja, who pleaded with you to refuse it and stay in Konoha.

You and Naruto had known each other for a few years by then, and a sibling-like bond had grown between you. Though neither of you showed it openly, you cared for each other as if you were part of the same family. The young blond found comfort in having someone he could look up to as a big sister.

On the day of your departure, Naruto couldn’t help but ask you to promise him something: that, upon your return, the two of you would go together to Ichiraku. He insisted you promise to come back as quickly as possible—and, of course, without a scratch. It was a promise you made without hesitation, one you sincerely hoped to keep.

Tenzo, for his part, came to speak to you the night before you left. Over the years in the Special Forces, you had developed a close bond with him. Despite his unwavering seriousness, the ANBU operative was someone you deeply valued. You’d grown to understand him over time, and his subtle sense of humor hadn’t escaped you. In fact, it was one of the things you appreciated most about him, offering a striking contrast to his somber past. To you, he was more than just a teammate in the Special Forces. He had always been kind and considerate toward you, and you’d always made an effort to show him he was valued.

But over time, what you felt for him had grown into something beyond friendship—a feeling you never thought you could confess. His role in the ANBU and the demanding nature of his missions left no room for personal entanglements. You feared losing what the two of you had built, so you chose to keep your feelings to yourself.

"It seems you're leaving—this time, for quite a while," he said.

He had perched himself on the edge of your terrace, still wearing his mask. The moonlight faintly illuminated his silhouette, and you watched him as though he were a mirage. Slowly approaching, you reached out to touch his mask, but he caught your wrist before you could.

As you carefully revealed his face, you noticed the faint trace of worry in his expression, even in the dim light around you.

"I’ll be here when you return," he said softly. "But please, be careful."

And with those parting words, he vanished into the night as suddenly as he had appeared.

________________________________________

Crossing the Land of Wind had proven far more arduous than expected. Whether due to the weather, unfortunate encounters, or other unforeseen obstacles, it took several weeks to reach the country’s edge. The team leader was the only one privy to the mission’s details; your role was to ensure his safe passage and protect him at all costs. Once the messenger had been located, the journey resumed toward the Land of Earth. It was an exceptionally long mission, one that the Third Hokage had emphasized as being of critical importance, urging success no matter the cost. What exactly these messages contained? None of you had the faintest idea.

The journey across the various lands and the delivery of those messages eventually stretched into several months. While you hadn’t faced any overwhelming challenges, there were minor injuries and delays—nothing insurmountable. Yet, the longing to return home grew stronger with each passing day. Every team member began feeling the ache of separation from their loved ones, some even missing their children. As for you, you missed Naruto’s antics and the humor of your friends. Thoughts of Tenzo on the night before your departure resurfaced often, lingering in your mind no matter how much you tried to push them aside.

It was during the final leg of the journey that thoughts of the ANBU operative became most vivid.

In the Land of Lightning, things took a turn for the worse. While traversing a vast expanse of rocky mountains at night, your group encountered ninjas whose origins and intentions remained unknown. Everything happened far too quickly for you to grasp what was unfolding. A skirmish broke out, and the team leader made the call to prioritize delivering the message, splitting the group into two.

This left you with just one other ninja to hold off the enemy and buy time for your two teammates to escape.

The opponents didn’t seem especially skilled, but fighting them in the dark posed a significant challenge. Fatigue soon began to take its toll on you both, a factor that likely contributed to the event that would alter the course of your journey.

Amid the chaos, you noticed a cluster of shurikens hurtling toward your teammate. Instinctively, you intercepted them with your kunai, preventing him from being injured during his fight with one of the assailants. What you failed to notice, however, was the unstable ground beneath your feet.

Perhaps it was a mix of exhaustion, the uneven terrain, and a strike from one of the enemies that led to your fall. Before you could fully comprehend what was happening, the ground beneath you gave way, and you plummeted from the rocky ledge where you stood.

Desperately, you tried to grab onto something—anything—but your attempts were in vain. Your head struck a jagged rock, and everything went black.

________________________________________

After spending more than a year and a half on the mission and successfully completing it, the team leader and the member who had accompanied them set out to search for the two ninjas they had left behind in the Land of Lightning.

It didn’t take them long to find their first comrade, who had been taken in by the Hidden Cloud Village, where they were treated and waiting for the team’s return. As for you, however, the story was different.

They found no trace of you—only your headband, which did little to encourage their search given its poor condition. They spent several weeks in Kumo, hoping to uncover information or even the faintest clue about your status or whereabouts, but their efforts turned up nothing.

Eventually, they returned to Konoha, disheartened, but determined to deliver their report to the Hokage and hand over your headband. Yet, much had changed since their departure. ________________________________________

"The mission is complete, Lady Hokage. All the messages have been delivered."

Tsunade carefully observed the ninjas standing before her.

"However, we couldn’t find [Y/N]. Only her headband was recovered. We don’t know if she’s dead or missing."

After uttering these words, the ninja lowered their head and placed the headband on the Hokage’s desk. Tsunade furrowed her brow slightly before picking up the object and examining it closely.

"Tell me everything about this mission," she said, her gaze still fixed on the damaged headband.

________________________________________

"We’ll probably run out of firewood tonight. I’ll go fetch some."

The elderly woman standing beside you gave a faint smile and nodded. She was preparing one of her famous soups, a recipe you now knew by heart. Its aroma always brought you comfort, especially in the winter.

Dressing warmly to head outside, you opened the door and carefully closed it behind you, letting out a sigh. The cold was so biting that you hurried to gather the wood and return inside. It was a ritual you had carried out every winter for the past two years, and to you, it felt as though you had never known anything else. In truth, you weren’t even sure if you had known anything else.

Everything was hazy—you remembered nothing beyond these moments spent in the little house nestled deep in the forest. How had you ended up there? Where had you come from? Why did it seem as though you couldn’t recall anything from before this home?

Poor Yubaba didn’t seem to know any more than you did. She would simply tell you that you asked too many questions whenever you embarked on this inner quest about your past. She’d say that everything would come back to you one day, but for now, your mind and body needed rest.

And you didn’t understand those words either. Why would you need rest? Was it tied to the headaches you frequently experienced?

Taking a deep breath, you firmly grasped the bundle of wood before stepping back inside the house. You placed it in front of the large fireplace that illuminated the modest living room where the old woman spent most of her time.

"This should be enough for tonight. But I’ll have to chop more for tomorrow," you said.

She turned to you gently, lifting the large pot and carrying it over to the table.

"Take off that heavy coat, Fubuki, and come warm yourself up and eat. It’ll do you good. Don’t forget your tea—it’ll help with your pain."

Nodding, you finally shed your warm layers, returning to your usual attire, and sat down at the table. Fubuki. It sounded strange, almost like it wasn’t real. Like everything around you.

And yet, how could you truly question the only things you knew when the rest of your existence was nothing but a massive void?

"Thank you for the meal, Yubaba," you said softly.

________________________________________

While Tsunade was busy sorting through a mountain of paperwork, a ninja suddenly appeared behind her. Wearing a mask, the ANBU operative made no sound as he moved, disappearing and reappearing almost instantly in front of the Hokage’s desk.

“You were quick, Tenzo,” she remarked, finally lifting her eyes from the documents.

Removing his mask, he fixed his gaze on her.

“You summoned me, Lady Hokage.”

“I did. I have an additional mission for you—and for your current team.”

Her expression grew serious as she clasped her hands together, resting her chin on them.

“A team recently returned from a long mission. However, one of its members disappeared several months ago.”

Tenzo struggled to maintain a neutral expression, but deep inside, something began to churn. He prayed it wasn’t you, though his instincts pointed only to that possibility.

“She was last seen in combat in the Land of Lightning.”

His face tightened, and it became increasingly difficult for him to stay composed.

“I’d like you to conduct a search alongside your current assignments. I’m entrusting this mission to you specifically because I know you’ve worked with [Y/N] before. You know her well, I imagine, and you’ll be better equipped to recognize her or uncover any information about her whereabouts.”

The ANBU operative took a moment to absorb her words, his gaze steady but his mind racing. So it was you who had gone missing—or worse? But he refused to let those darker thoughts overwhelm him.

“Lady Hokage, are you certain she’s not...?” he asked, his voice faintly trembling.

“Her forehead protector was recovered, but she wasn’t. The fact that her body hasn’t been found yet makes me think she might not be far. Someone will eventually lead us to a clue.”

With those final words, Tenzo replaced his mask, offering a few last remarks to the Hokage before vanishing from the room, leaving her alone.

As the door clicked shut, Tsunade let out a sigh and closed her eyes for a brief moment.

“Forgive me, Tenzo. I can only hope you’ll find her.”

________________________________________

Tenzo had withdrawn to a quiet corner, pulling off his mask as he slid down against the wall until he was seated. Placing one hand over his face, he took deep, steadying breaths, clearly trying to calm himself.

How long had it been since you left on your mission? Was there still a chance of finding you? How long had you been alone? Or injured? Or held captive? Or perhaps... something else entirely?

No, the idea that you could betray the village and simply vanish was unthinkable. Not with Naruto, not with everything tying you to Konoha.

His thoughts swirled chaotically, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t push them aside. Fear crept in, whispering the possibility of finding a version of you so far removed from the one he knew—or worse, what little might remain of you.

He needed to get a grip. To hold onto hope.

________________________________________

“So, how did the training go? Did it pay off?” Tsunade asked, seated at her desk.

“Do you really think we’d be back if it hadn’t?” Jiraiya retorted, his hands on his hips.

“Well, we’ll see about that,” she replied with a smirk, just as Naruto chimed in to ask for more details.

Outside, Kakashi stood by the window, seated with a book in hand, listening to the conversation inside. Naruto was back, and while Kakashi felt genuine joy at seeing his student again, a deep unease lingered, especially at the thought that a certain topic might come up.

Several months earlier, Tsunade had informed him that your team had returned from a mission. Initially, the prospect of seeing a mutual friend he shared with Tenzo brought a glimmer of happiness to his face. But it quickly faded when the Hokage revealed that only your forehead protector had made it back to Konoha—and it was in a condition that spoke of grim possibilities.

At that moment, Kakashi couldn’t even fathom the pain Tenzo must have felt upon hearing the news—news he had surely received long before Kakashi did. He knew how close the two of you were, how much Tenzo cared about you. Tsunade had also informed him that she had assigned Tenzo the task of searching for any information about you. While it was somewhat reassuring to know that his ANBU comrade might be the first to find you, Kakashi couldn’t shake his worry. Tenzo was an exceptional agent, but you mattered enough to him that Kakashi feared the search could take a toll on his judgment. Tsunade was aware of this risk but was betting on Tenzo’s deep connection with you to succeed.

“Well, Naruto, you’ve grown a lot,” Kakashi remarked when the blond leaned through the window to look for him.

“And you haven’t changed one bit!”

Naruto vaulted through the window and reached into his jacket, pulling out a copy of the very book that seemed to animate his teacher’s every moment.

“I brought you a gift, Kakashi Sensei!”

Kakashi trembled with astonishment and joy as he took the book from Naruto, all under the watchful eyes of Sakura, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.

“By the way, do you know where I can find [Y/N]? It’s been so long! I brought her a gift too!”

Kakashi’s gaze froze on the book in his hands as he weighed the best response to Naruto’s question.

Sensing that the conversation could take an unpleasant turn, Tsunade intervened.

“She’s on a mission. She’ll be back soon, Naruto. In the meantime, I believe you have plans with Kakashi.”

The copy ninja let out a quiet sigh, closing his eyes briefly.

“I’ll be waiting for you at Training Ground 3. See you there,” he said before disappearing, gripping the book tightly as if it were a lifeline.

Naruto turned back to Tsunade, re-entering the office with a puzzled expression.

“Do you know exactly when she’ll be back? She promised me ramen at Ichiraku!”

“Maybe we should start heading to the training ground, Naruto,” Sakura suggested with a soft smile, trying to steer him away from pressing further. “You’ll see her when she gets back.”

“Fine, fine. Anyway, Kakashi Sensei is probably already devouring his book. Did you see his face?!” ________________________________________

After the young ninjas left the room, Jiraiya stepped closer to Tsunade.

“Was she killed on the mission?” he asked bluntly, wasting no time on pleasantries.

“We don’t know yet. But I’m not sure it would do Naruto any good to know about the situation right now, especially when he’s just returned. Let’s give him time to settle in.”

“I don’t think he’ll appreciate being kept in the dark,” Jiraiya countered. “I only saw her briefly before leaving with Naruto, but it’s clear how much she means to him.”

“He’s not the only one,” Tsunade replied, her tone firm. “But I don’t think he’s ready to hear the truth just yet.”

Jiraiya sighed, lowering his gaze. For a moment, his eyes drifted to the view outside before returning to the Hokage.

“The ANBU will find her—or at least figure out what happened to her,” Tsunade said with conviction.

Jiraiya let out a faint sound of surprise before a small smile crossed his face.

“I see. You haven’t given up. Who knows about this?”

“Besides the ANBU team? Only Kakashi. It’s better this way.”

A brief silence hung between them before Tsunade spoke again, her voice softer this time.

“I just hope they find her.” ________________________________________

Months had passed, and Yubaba’s health had continued to deteriorate. The herbal treatments she made herself no longer seemed to be enough, and no matter what, she refused to see a doctor or go to a village to seek treatment. Despite your attempts to convince her to go to Kumo, she stubbornly insisted that it was pointless and that it would pass on its own. The day she could no longer even get out of bed, you decided, despite her protests, to take her to the Kumo hospital in one last hope of helping her.

________________________________________

After hours of walking, you finally arrived at the Hidden Cloud Village. Thanks to some passersby, you managed to bring the old woman to a safe place where she could be taken care of. The doctors informed you it would take some time, and that it would be best to return in a few hours while they worked on her treatment.

With time to spare, you wandered through the village, exploring the unfamiliar surroundings as though you’d never seen anything like it before. It was a refreshing change to be in a place bustling with life, far removed from the face of Yubaba or the forest you knew so well. However, the constant chatter of passersby gave you a headache, and every so often, a sharp pain would throb through your temples, making you grit your teeth.

After a few hours of aimless wandering, you made your way back toward the hospital. Night was beginning to fall, and the streets were becoming quieter and emptier. The small alley you walked through was particularly silent, reminiscent of the tranquility of Yubaba’s little home.

But the peace was fleeting.

“[Y/N]?”

The name echoed faintly in your mind, triggering something you couldn’t quite grasp. Yet, you kept walking, furrowing your brows slightly but refusing to stop.

Your path was abruptly blocked when two figures dropped from the rooftops in front of you.

Ninja uniforms, no doubt, each face obscured by a mask. Identical attire. You froze, your mouth opening slightly in protest, only to glance behind you in search of an escape. Two more figures landed, cutting off your retreat.

“I don’t know what you want from me, but I have nothing,” you said nervously, raising your hands slightly in a gesture of surrender.

The two figures in front of you exchanged a glance before one of them turned back toward you.

“Don’t you recognize me, [Y/N]?” one of them asked.

Fear began to bubble up, making it impossible for you to focus on identifying the speaker. You only realized which one had spoken when they slowly took a step toward you.

“You must have me confused with someone else… I’m not [Y/N],” you replied, your voice trembling.

“We’ve been looking for you for months,” they said.

“Why? I’m just here to care for the woman I live with. I don’t know who you are, but I don’t know you,” you insisted, your voice shaking more.

The ninja who had stayed still moved toward his comrade, whispering something before placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Did you decide to desert us? And what about Naruto? Why are you hiding here?”

The throbbing in your head intensified, the onslaught of emotions overwhelming you. It didn’t make sense, none of it. And yet, his voice felt so achingly familiar, distant yet close. That inexplicable feeling gnawed at you, a hazy fog blocking any clarity, rendering your thoughts jumbled and chaotic.

“I-I don’t understand… What are you…”

Your vision blurred as darkness crept in at the edges. Breathing became harder, and a piercing cold seeped into your chest. The figures in front of you became indistinct, their voices melding into an unintelligible hum.

One of the ANBU stepped closer, cautiously, as you staggered backward, trying to put distance between you.

Long before Naruto left with Jiraiya, the Third Hokage entrusted you with a mission. A mission that, of course, you wouldn’t undertake alone, but whose duration was impossible to predict. A mission that wasn’t supposed to be particularly dangerous either, but it still worried the young ninja, who had asked you to decline it and stay in Konoha.

You and Naruto had known each other for a few years now, and a sort of sibling-like relationship had formed between you. You didn’t necessarily show it, but you cared for each other as if you were almost family. The young blonde deeply appreciated having someone by his side he could consider an older sister: because yes, you were much closer in age to his famous sensei Kakashi than to him.

On the day of your departure, Naruto couldn’t help but ask you to promise that you’d go to Ichiraku together upon your return. That you’d promise to come back as soon as possible and, of course, without a scratch. A promise you made without hesitation and one you hoped to keep.

Kakashi, on his end, with whom you had built a connection during your time in the Special Forces, also came to say a few words before you left. Your relationship with the Copy Ninja was quite peculiar. You were close yet distant, making it complex between the two of you and in the eyes of others. You had never really put words to what it meant, and it hadn’t seemed to bother either of you.

At least, until things began to change for you. You were afraid of not returning, not just for Naruto’s sake but also for Kakashi’s. Yet, the fear was drastically different for each, which led you to question how your relationship with him had evolved. The feelings you experienced at the thought of leaving without knowing when you’d return and see him again weren’t the same as those you had for your other friends—Kurenai, Iruka, or Asuma. Something had shifted within you, and you hadn’t had time to reflect on it before being assigned this new mission.

"Be careful, [Y/N]. You wouldn’t want to miss the promise you made to Naruto. And don’t forget, you also owe me a replacement for that Icha Icha volume you ruined during our last training session," the grey-haired ninja said, with a smile you could easily discern beneath his mask. You left with your team, giving them one last look and a wave. Kakashi didn’t take his eyes off you until you were out of sight. ________________________________________

Crossing the Land of Wind had proven to be more arduous than expected. Whether due to the weather, unfortunate encounters, or other unforeseen events, it took you several weeks to reach its far edge. The team leader was the only one privy to the mission's details, and your task was to ensure their safe passage and protection. After finding the messenger, you set out again, this time for the Land of Earth. It was a particularly lengthy mission, but it seemed to be of critical importance to the Third Hokage, who had strongly emphasized its success at any cost. As for the contents of these messages? None of you had the slightest clue.

The journey through the various lands and the delivery of these messages ultimately took several months. You hadn’t faced any overwhelming challenges—just minor injuries, small delays, but nothing insurmountable. Nevertheless, the desire to return home grew stronger with each passing day. Every team member began to feel the absence of their loved ones, some even missing their children. As for you, you missed Naruto’s antics, the humor of your friends, and… the Copy Ninja, but for reasons that had become much harder to define.

It was during the final leg of your journey that these new feelings surfaced most clearly.

In the Land of Lightning, things took a turn for the worse. While crossing the vast expanse of rocks and mountains at night, you encountered a group of ninjas whose origins and true intentions you couldn’t discern. Everything happened far too quickly for you to fully grasp what was going on. A confrontation broke out, and the team leader made the decision to prioritize delivering the message, splitting the group in two.

This left you with just one teammate to try to hold off the enemies and buy time for the other two to escape.

The opponents didn’t seem particularly strong, but fighting at night clearly put you at a disadvantage. Fatigue began to take its toll, likely contributing to the event that would change everything for you.

As you saw several shurikens speeding toward your teammate, you decided to deflect them with your kunai to prevent him from being injured while fighting one of the attackers. What you failed to notice, however, was the unstable ground beneath your feet. Perhaps it was a combination of exhaustion, an unstable surface, and a strike from one of the enemies that caused you to begin a long fall from the rock where you had been standing. Without fully understanding what was happening, you desperately tried to grab hold of something—but it was futile. Your head struck a rock, and everything suddenly went black.

________________________________________

After spending more than a year and a half on the mission and successfully completing it, the team leader and the member who had accompanied them set out to search for the two ninjas they had left behind in the Land of Lightning.

It didn’t take them long to find their first comrade, who had been taken in by the Hidden Cloud Village, where they were treated and waiting for the team’s return. As for you, however, the story was different.

They found no trace of you—only your headband, which did little to encourage their search given its poor condition. They spent several weeks in Kumo, hoping to uncover information or even the faintest clue about your status or whereabouts, but their efforts turned up nothing.

Eventually, they returned to Konoha, disheartened, but determined to deliver their report to the Hokage and hand over your headband. Yet, much had changed since their departure. ________________________________________

"The mission is complete, Lady Hokage. All the messages have been delivered."

Tsunade carefully observed the ninjas standing before her.

"However, we couldn’t find [Y/N]. Only her headband was recovered. We don’t know if she’s dead or missing."

After uttering these words, the ninja lowered their head and placed the headband on the Hokage’s desk. Tsunade furrowed her brow slightly before picking up the object and examining it closely.

"Tell me everything about this mission," she said, her gaze still fixed on the damaged headband.

________________________________________

"We’ll probably run out of firewood tonight. I’ll go fetch some."

The elderly woman standing beside you gave a faint smile and nodded. She was preparing one of her famous soups, a recipe you now knew by heart. Its aroma always brought you comfort, especially in the winter.

Dressing warmly to head outside, you opened the door and carefully closed it behind you, letting out a sigh. The cold was so biting that you hurried to gather the wood and return inside. It was a ritual you had carried out every winter for the past two years, and to you, it felt as though you had never known anything else. In truth, you weren’t even sure if you had known anything else.

Everything was hazy—you remembered nothing beyond these moments spent in the little house nestled deep in the forest. How had you ended up there? Where had you come from? Why did it seem as though you couldn’t recall anything from before this home?

Poor Yubaba didn’t seem to know any more than you did. She would simply tell you that you asked too many questions whenever you embarked on this inner quest about your past. She’d say that everything would come back to you one day, but for now, your mind and body needed rest.

And you didn’t understand those words either. Why would you need rest? Was it tied to the headaches you frequently experienced?

Taking a deep breath, you firmly grasped the bundle of wood before stepping back inside the house. You placed it in front of the large fireplace that illuminated the modest living room where the old woman spent most of her time.

"This should be enough for tonight. But I’ll have to chop more for tomorrow," you said.

She turned to you gently, lifting the large pot and carrying it over to the table.

"Take off that heavy coat, Fubuki, and come warm yourself up and eat. It’ll do you good. Don’t forget your tea—it’ll help with your pain."

Nodding, you finally shed your warm layers, returning to your usual attire, and sat down at the table. Fubuki. It sounded strange, almost like it wasn’t real. Like everything around you.

And yet, how could you truly question the only things you knew when the rest of your existence was nothing but a massive void?

"Thank you for the meal, Yubaba," you said softly.

________________________________________

"So, how did the training go? Did it pay off?" Tsunade asked, seated at her desk.

"You really think we’d have come back if we hadn’t made any progress?" Jiraiya retorted, hands on his hips.

"We’ll see about that," she shot back, before Naruto jumped in with questions.

Kakashi was outside, seated near the window. Book in hand, he was quietly listening to the conversation inside. Naruto was back, and while the Copy Ninja was glad to see his student again, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease at the possibility of a certain topic coming up.

Tsunade had informed him months earlier that your team had returned from its mission. While Kakashi hadn’t shown it openly, he had been eager to see you again. The unpleasant news of your absence had shaken him more than he let on. Something deep inside him had stung sharply when the Hokage mentioned your damaged headband, accompanied by a lack of any additional clues—no body, no clear information about your fate.

He had stayed silent, though his face betrayed more than he intended. The Hokage hadn’t known what else to say and had simply expressed hope: the absence of a body might mean you were still alive, somewhere. And that one day, you might find your way back to Konoha.

Kakashi hadn’t responded. Instead, he abruptly changed the subject, redirecting the conversation to Naruto’s return and what lay ahead. The abruptness of his shift had startled Tsunade, but she didn’t push him further. She could tell he had emotionally shut himself off, erecting a barrier around him that might take time to dismantle. While she had tried to offer hope for your return, even she was unsure if there was anything left to hope for after so much time had passed.

"Well, Naruto, you’ve certainly grown," the silver-haired ninja remarked as Naruto leaned through the window, looking for him.

"And you haven’t changed a bit!" Naruto shot back.

With that, Naruto vaulted through the window. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a copy of the book that always seemed to brighten his sensei’s day.

"I’ve got a present for you, Kakashi-sensei!"

Shaking with surprise and joy, Kakashi accepted the book from his student under the watchful eyes of Sakura, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.

"By the way, do you know where I can find [Y/N]? It’s been so long! I’ve got a gift for her too!"

Kakashi’s gaze froze on the book in his hands. He took a moment to compose himself, considering how to respond.

Sensing that the conversation might take an unpleasant turn, Tsunade stepped in.

"She’s on a mission. She’ll be back soon, Naruto. For now, I believe you have plans with Kakashi."

Kakashi let out a soft sigh, closing his eyes briefly.

"I’ll be waiting for you at Training Ground 3. See you later," he said before disappearing.

Naruto turned to the Hokage, stepping back into the room with a questioning look.

"Do you know exactly when she’ll be back? She promised me ramen at Ichiraku!"

"Maybe we should head to the training ground, don’t you think, Naruto? You’ll see her when she gets back," Sakura chimed in with a soft smile, trying to steer him away from further questions.

"Fine, I guess. Anyway, Kakashi-sensei is probably already devouring his book—did you see his face?!"

________________________________________

After the young ninjas left the room, Jiraiya stepped closer to Tsunade. "Was she killed on the mission?" he asked bluntly.

"We don’t know yet. But I’m not sure it would be good for Naruto to know about the situation right now, especially since he’s just come back. Let him settle in first."

"I’m not so sure he’ll appreciate you keeping this from him. I only saw her briefly before leaving with Naruto, but he cares about her deeply."

"He’s not the only one. But I don’t think he’s ready to hear the truth just yet."

Jiraiya sighed and lowered his gaze. Glancing outside for a brief moment, he turned his attention back to the Hokage.

"The Anbu will eventually find her—or figure out what happened to her," Tsunade said firmly.

The ninja let out a small sound of surprise before smiling. "I see. You haven’t given up. Who knows about this?"

"No one, aside from the Anbu team assigned to the search. It’s better that way."

"And Kakashi?"

A brief silence hung in the air before she replied. "Kakashi doesn’t know either."

________________________________________

Months had passed, and Yubaba’s health had continued to deteriorate. The herbal treatments she made herself no longer seemed to be enough, and no matter what, she refused to see a doctor or go to a village to seek treatment. Despite your attempts to convince her to go to Kumo, she stubbornly insisted that it was pointless and that it would pass on its own. The day she could no longer even get out of bed, you decided, despite her protests, to take her to the Kumo hospital in one last hope of helping her.

________________________________________

The mission wasn’t supposed to end this way: in a confrontation, let alone a massacre. There weren’t supposed to be more than two of them, nor were they supposed to know you were there. Had you been set up? Was the information relayed to the Hokage nothing more than bait, meant to lure in prey far more valuable than you?

Eyes wide, a glimmer of horror still etched into your gaze, you tried to run as best as you could. The weight on your back and the haunting images of the endless minutes that had just unfolded made each step heavier. You had to get out, to reach the village as quickly as possible. But your thoughts collided, chaotic and fragmented.

The mission was a failure. Two ninjas had been slaughtered by members of the Akatsuki, and the only other person still alive besides you was teetering on the edge of life and death. Their weak, ragged breaths brushed against your neck, a chilling reminder that every step, every second lost, could seal their fate. If you failed, you’d lose yet another friend.

The seconds stretched into an endless agony. Even though your pursuers seemed to have fallen back long ago, their presence still haunted your mind. You could still hear their voices and dreaded the moment they might reappear to finish you off.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. You weren’t supposed to be the one to walk away unscathed. You weren’t supposed to still be alive.

Your thoughts spiraled between the guilt of having survived and the responsibility of getting your teammate to safety in time for treatment. The weight of failure was crushing. You didn’t even notice that, after hours of running, you had reached the gates of Konoha.

Two guards rushed to take the body off your back and carry it to the hospital. You stood frozen, your gaze lost in the void. No words, no gestures could pull you back. The cold night air was all you could feel, until, in a raw, hoarse whisper, you muttered :

— The mission... failed. ________________________________________________

Kakashi had learned of your return a few hours after your teammate had been rushed to the hospital. The night guards, unable to contain the news, had let it spread. Though the loss of his colleagues saddened him deeply, his thoughts kept returning to you. Was it serious? What state had this mission left you in?

That morning, he decided to entrust Naruto’s training to Yamato and took the time to come see you. You had known each other for years. He hadn’t forgotten all the times you had extended a hand, to him or others, when it was needed. He knew how missions like this could break someone. And he refused to let you go through it alone.

Perhaps his concern wasn’t the only reason that drove him to act so quickly. Perhaps there was something else, a deep-seated fear he buried within himself. The fear of losing you.

When he arrived at your apartment, he found the place deserted. Everything seemed frozen, as if nothing had moved since you left for your mission. Kakashi then searched the places he thought you might be: the training grounds, the heights overlooking the village. But you were nowhere to be found.

Resigned, he returned to Yamato and Naruto, pretending to read his book while trying to think of a way to coax you out of your isolation. ______________________________________________

Since that fateful night, you had disappeared from everyone’s sight. You threw yourself into missions, only returning to the village to leave again as soon as possible. You avoided your friends, dodged their gazes. Nights had become your worst enemy: every time you closed your eyes, their faces came back to haunt you.

Silence had become your refuge—a cruel reminder of their absence, but also of your survival. Why you and not them? That question obsessed you.

Even Tsunade had tried to help, to no avail. You didn’t want to hear it. To you, it was all your fault. Every moment spent in the village was just a reminder of your failure, an unbearable pain.

One day, out of options, you went to Tsunade. — No missions? you asked in a whisper. — Nothing for now, she replied gently. You should take the time to rest. Your gaze fell to the floor, heavy with despair. — Are you sure? — You can’t keep running away. Missions won’t bring you peace.

She was right, but you couldn’t admit it. _________________________________________________

It was a cold and silent night. You were at the training grounds, the only place where you could vent your frustrations without running into anyone. The moon faintly illuminated your movements, a strange contrast to the violence of your strikes. You didn’t notice the silhouette hidden in the shadows of the trees.

— Fubuki is down, we need to retreat! I’ll grab her, and we’ll...

The memories hit you with brutal force. You saw Fubuki again, lying in a pool of blood, and Misu falling under the merciless blows of the Akatsuki.

Paralyzed, you collapsed to your knees. Uncontrollable sobs shook your body. Why them? Why not you?

A hand gently rested on your shoulder. — You can’t blame yourself for what happened. They never told me why I'm breathing The voice was familiar, soft, almost unreal. — There was nothing you could have done. Kakashi.

You slowly raised your eyes. He was there, real and tangible, crouching in front of you. He gently took your hands in his, stroking their surface, still stained with painful memories. — Let me help you, he murmured. Now where is the light ?

As tears continued to stream down your face, Kakashi slowly wrapped his arms around you, as if to gather the scattered pieces of your broken soul. You hadn’t felt this safe, this comforted, since returning from that mission. The warmth and solace he offered felt almost unreal. How had you let yourself isolate, pull away, and leave him in uncertainty for so long? The feeling of being an outcast just keeps growing

You hesitated. But his arms, his words, his presence... they were everything you needed. You let yourself go, broken, into his embrace. For the first time in weeks, the night no longer felt so cold.

The chill of the night, which just moments ago seemed amplified by your despair, suddenly dissipated. Calmness slowly returned, and your body, tense for weeks, finally found a measure of peace in his embrace. Bit by bit, you slipped into a sleep you hadn’t thought possible. There must be light, there must be light

Kakashi noticed when your trembling stopped, when your breathing became steady. You had fallen asleep, the weight of your anxieties lifting slightly, if only for this night. He stayed there for a few moments, his arms still around you, ensuring you remained in this fragile state of calm. Then, with great care, he straightened, careful not to disturb your sleep, and gently carried you. Every step toward your apartment was deliberate, his hold on you firm, as if he feared you might collapse at any moment.

Your face, usually marked by pain and exhaustion, seemed peaceful in this temporary tranquility. Kakashi couldn’t help but notice how striking the contrast was to the state he had found you in.

__________________________________________

As your eyes slowly opened, you felt a blanket being gently pulled over you. The room was dim and soothing, and your gaze landed on a familiar silhouette kneeling by your bedside. Kakashi was there, silent, his face slightly lowered, but his features betrayed deep worry. A faint energy coursed through your exhausted body, and you reached out with a trembling hand to gently grasp his wrist.

Surprised, he looked up at you but didn’t pull away.

Take me home, where the truth unfolds

— Stay, please... you murmured, your voice barely audible.

There was a moment of silence where Kakashi seemed to hesitate. He wanted to help you, to stay by your side, but a part of him seemed reluctant, held back by unspoken thoughts.

— I need you... you added, sincerity resonating in every word.

His gaze softened, both intense and gentle. After a brief moment, he stood, and for a fleeting second, you thought he was going to leave. But to your surprise, he simply removed his jacket and forehead protector before gently lifting the blanket. Without a word, he slipped beside you, his movements filled with infinite care.

His arms enveloped you gently, and instinctively, you nestled against him, seeking the warmth and comfort he offered so freely. Kakashi rested his chin softly on your head, tightening his embrace as if to assure you that you were safe, that nothing could reach you here. One of his hands moved to your hair, caressing it slowly, a gesture both soothing and protective.

— I’m here, [Y/N], he murmured in a low, emotional voice.

As your tears dried and your breathing settled into a steady rhythm, exhaustion overtook you again. Nestled against him, you found a moment of peace, far from the memories and guilt that haunted you. Kakashi, feeling your body relax in his arms, closed his eyes as well. He cherished this moment, knowing he could watch over you, knowing you were finally safe.

And steals away the night