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Chapter Text

Prologue: The End of the World

The sky had burned red for weeks.

Not the soft red of a sunset or the flash of a fire jutsu but a deep, suffocating crimson that never faded and turned to ash. The kind of red that meant the world was ending. They didn’t know it yet, but something was waiting for them on the other side of this war. Not salvation, maybe. But something worth surviving for.

Kaguya had won. And the Otsutsuki Gods were waiting to feast on what little remained, ready to strip the earth of its chakra like cattle led to slaughter.

The Infinite Tsukuyomi had long since spread across the nations. Its roots dug deep into the earth, weaving illusions into reality, draining people of their souls until nothing remained. All the villages were silent now. Clans were gone. All the elemental natures were crushed under the weight of false dreams. Everyone was either dead, or worse: turned into White Zetsu, hollow puppets trapped in sleep they’d never wake from.

The war if you could still call it that had stretched on for well over a year. But it hadn’t felt like a war for a long time. It was survival, plain and simple. A slow, dragging collapse. For a while, there had been a flicker of hope that maybe Team 7 together again in all its glory could change things.

That hope died the day Kakashi fell.

He didn’t hesitate not even for a breath. One moment they were under attack, surrounded, and the next, Kakashi was already moving, placing himself in front of them without a word, without fear, guided only by his killer instinct and that quiet resolve that had always made him their protector. It was pure reflex, a final act of love and sacrifice, and in that instant, he saved them for the last time.

He fell hard. A burst of chakra. A spray of blood. And then nothing. Naruto screamed, Sakura cried. Sasuke didn't do either, he just stared, too frozen to move, too shattered to breathe.

Sasuke remembered the sickening crunch of bone, the snap of air leaving his lungs, the stillness that followed. He remembered how Kakashi’s eye met theirs even in his final moment. Calm. Steady. Resigned. You still have a chance, it said. Don’t waste it. I believe in all of you.

They buried him in what was left of the battlefield. There wasn’t much. Just ash, earth and the scarf Naruto found buried in Kakashi’s old pack. Sakura had knelt by his side, dirt and blood on her hands, whispering fragments of old memories. Trying to hold it together but falling apart. They had lost their sensei, their leader, and their protector. They had to keep fighting for Kakashi.

He had been their shield and now it was down to three.

They moved from place to place, bleeding, breaking down more everyday, but never letting go and always fighting. Covered in bruises and scars, living in what was left of a dying world. And in that devastation, they found something they’d never had before: each other. Not only as teammates but a true family.

Sakura became their anchor. She made them eat. Forced them to sleep. She kept Naruto from pushing too hard and pulled Sasuke out of the self-deprecating silence that crept in whenever he thought too long. She healed them when they got hurt, snapped at them when they acted like idiots, laughed when they made her smile, and cried when things got too heavy. She loved them with everything she had and with her whole heart.

She noticed things too. The way Sasuke’s gaze lingered too long on Naruto. The way Naruto always reached for Sasuke with the need to touch and grab him as if he were afraid to lose him again. She knew they were both holding back for fear of hurting her.

It did hurt for awhile, but she let Sasuke go, moved on, and realized that she loved him more as a brother, loved them both as brothers and in return, they never let her fall behind. She was their equal, and their sister, a strong irreplaceable kunoichi woven into every fabric of their lives. It was the three of them against the world.

Sakura smiled through the pain, the way she always did. She teased Naruto when his hair stuck up worse than usual, nudged him with her shoulder when he got too quiet, and made sure Sasuke ate something because he never did unless she put the food in his hands and gave him that look. She caught the way Sasuke would glance at Naruto when he thought no one was watching, but she never said a word. Just smiled softly and turned her head. She called Kakashi their “stubborn old ghost watching over them,” muttering it under her breath when they sat near the campfire and the silence grew too heavy.

Sometimes, when the world gave them a rare moment of quiet, they moved like they always had. One afternoon in the Land of Iron, the air had started to bite at their skin, too cold to camp in the open. They spent the day building a shelter, just the three of them. No chakra, only their hands. At first it was out of necessity, a way to conserve energy, but as the hours passed, it became something more.

They fell into an old rhythm, instinctive and familiar. They watched each other’s backs the way they used to when they were younger, during missions that didn’t matter to anyone but them. There was no need to speak. They understood each other in motion, in glances and quiet trust.

For those few hours, they laughed like old friends. Not forced, but real, tear inducing and aching laughter. Naruto kept missing the nails and hitting his hand, swearing so loudly it echoed across the valley. Sasuke didn’t just smirk. He laughed, too. Sharp and sudden, like he had surprised himself. In that single afternoon, he laughed more than he had in his entire life.

They all became each other’s cheering section. Team 7 trying to build something that might last. Not just shelter from the cold, but a small reminder that even in a world falling apart, they could still create something with their hands. Something that held.

For that one day, they weren’t survivors clawing their way through the end of the world. They were just three people, tired from a hard day’s work, and for once that was enough.

For a little while, that was enough to keep going, to keep fighting.  

Until it wasn’t.

Sakura fell next.

She died reaching for Sasuke, her body broken, her face bruised and barely recognizable. Her eyes were still the same, though. Beautiful emerald eyes amidst a field of cherry blossom hair. He remembered thinking they didn’t look afraid, just tired as if she’d finally laid down her burden and could stop worrying about her stupid boys.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, blood dripping from her lips. “I was supposed to protect you both.”

Then she screamed with rage, one last surge of chakra exploding from her, obliterating the White Zetsu closing in. Her body went limp in his arms and Sasuke and Naruto could only hold her and cry. They buried her with her favorite letter that Ino had sent to her right before the war.

She had been their heart and now it was down to two.

Months dragged on and they knew they couldn’t fight anymore. They were exhausted, running constantly, starving and slowly dying. All hope was gone.

Sasuke knelt in the heart of a crater, soaked in blood and mud. Rain poured down against his skin. Naruto lay limp in his lap, eyes half-lidded, his breath coming in shallow bursts. A deep wound split across his side, and the blood wouldn’t stop. Kurama had nothing left, no chakra, no strength to heal him anymore.

Sasuke tried. God, he tried. His hands pressed over the wound, slick with red, trembling with exhaustion and frustration. But it was useless. The blood kept coming.

And still, Naruto smiled.

With his last strength and his voice barely there he whispered, “It’s almost ready.” His fingers moved weakly, carving the last of the seals into the dirt, each stroke glowing faintly.

“You’re dying,” Sasuke said, his voice rough with grief. “This isn’t going to work. We’re out of time.” His hands dropped. “Maybe we’ll be happy in the next life.”

“It will work,” Naruto breathed harshly. “Back before it all broke. Before Kakashi-sensei. Before Sakura-chan. Before this stupid war. I can get us there… I have to… Dattebayo. I can do it.”

Sasuke clenched his jaw, fury and deep sorrow burning behind his red eyes. “You’re bleeding too fast. Damn it, dobe.”

Naruto gave a soft, hoarse laugh. “I can’t stop now. You’ll mess up the hand signs. You’re a genius, yeah, but your seal’s suck. And me? I’m the idiot who never gives up.”

Still rivals to the end. And something much more.

The portal sparked to life, golden chakra weaving through the air, howling like wind, like time ripping open. The sky split again. Lightning streaked above them.

Naruto leaned forward and pressed his forehead to Sasuke’s.

“You were the one thing I got right.” And Sasuke finally believed him.

His hand lifted, brushing Sasuke’s cheek with the gentlest touch. And then he kissed him. Slow. Painful. Full of every word they’d never said.

“I’ll be with you,” he whispered. “Even if you can’t see me. This time... live... love. Save them. Save us. Save yourself.”

Then with the last of his strength he pushed Sasuke into the portal.

Sasuke didn’t resist.

The light swallowed him whole.

For a moment, there was only heat. The roar of chakra in his ears. His lungs burned as wind and heat tore through him. The seal on his chest lit up, Naruto’s chakra flooding through him in one last, burning gift.

Then came a memory, their last moment of peace at the Hidden Eddy village.

They’d found it by accident. A place untouched by the war holding so much history and warmth for Naruto. For one night, they’d found peace in each others’ arms with their bodies tangled in perfect symmetry.  The air had smelled of dust and sea. Naruto’s fingers traced lazy patterns along Sasuke’s spine. Neither of them spoke as they got lost in each others’ bodies. Sasuke had turned to face him, their foreheads touching, their breaths mingling.

Sasuke’s voice, barely a whisper; “stay with me forever.”

Naruto’s reply, “always.”

The karma seal pulsed—buzzing, alive.

And then… time broke apart. Space folded and twisted.

Sasuke tumbled through it all, weightless, untethered and pulled through a stream of memory and possibility. Past and future blurred together. Moments that had happened, and others that never would. His body ached strangely not from battle, but something deeper. Something was shifting, it was as if the seal wasn't just dragging him through time but reshaping him from the inside out.

Naruto’s face flickered around him in fragments, laughing, crying, shouting across the valley, whispering into his mouth. Sakura’s voice rang out high and bright, like a child laughing in a field of cherry blossoms and Kakashi’s lone eye glinted from behind his mask, steady and warm,

Then he was standing in his home in the Uchiha compound. His mother stood in the doorway smiling warmly at him, and his father’s voice said, proud and low: That’s my boy.

Next came another memory. One that was forever lodged deep in his soul. He knelt beside Itachi’s lifeless body, a hand reaching out to flick his forehead. Grief and regret spilling out “forgive me Sasuke, this is the last time”

More came faster each time and they flooded through him. Sasuke couldn’t keep up.

He saw different versions of himself, dozens of them. Hundreds. One who had never left the village. One who had destroyed it. One who lived a quiet life in the mountains, one holding a child in his arms, eyes soft with something like peace.

And then, everything shattered.

The light gave way.

And then complete darkness closed around him and time ended. In the silence that followed, a single heartbeat kept going.

But something had changed. Not the world. Him.
There was a flicker in his chest. It wasn’t pain or fear, it was something he didn’t recognize. A tug beneath the skin. Like his body wasn’t settling back into itself the way it should. Like it wasn’t his, not exactly.

Chapter Text

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky

Sasuke gasped awake as his breath sliced through his lungs like shards of broken glass.

The rain was falling but it wasn’t like the scorched crimson rain he was used to. It was something quieter. It was almost cruel in its softness. It was like the world had forgotten what they’d lost. The droplets soaked through the thin fabric clinging to his body. He felt a cold chill run down his body and wondered if he would ever feel warm again.

He was lying on his back, pressed to wet stone. His limbs were heavy and numb, and his fingers curled into the muddy earth without meaning to. For a long moment, he couldn’t move, and his eyes stared upward at a sky filled with low, endless clouds. It looked and felt like it might rain forever.

There was chakra in the air, it was faint and slipping away but it had a residue of violence.  He remembered the way Naruto’s chakra used to hum beside him, wild and golden. Now, the only chakra in the air was cold, faded, almost dead.

Something felt wrong. No, everything was wrong. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

His heart pounded. His gaze jerked from rooftop to doorway, his eyes scanning the broken windows and blood-soaked stones. The walls were familiar, too familiar. Cracked and stained and the Uchiha symbol was here. This was the Uchiha compound.

And then the smell hit him hard.

Thick. Metallic. Death. The copper stench of it burned his stomach.

He pushed himself up, his arms were shaking beneath the weight of his own body and his knees barely held. The mud slipped beneath his palms, maybe mud, maybe blood. He didn’t want to know.

A flash of movement in a puddle caught his eye. Just a shimmer. Light off glass.

He turned and caught his reflection in a jagged shard.

He froze. A face stared back at him. It was familiar, but there was something very wrong.

He saw the same haunted eyes. Wide, onyx, and rimmed red with tears and cold. The same shape of the jaw, but everything else was off. Hair too long. Cheekbones too soft. Lips fuller. Shoulders narrow. His fingers lifted slowly, shaking as they touched his new face. This body was smaller and softer. It wasn’t his, but somehow it still was.

He was a woman.

Every brush of this skin felt wrong. Like he was wearing someone else's body, as if time had reached inside and rewritten him from the bones out. His breath caught in his lungs, shallow and rising too fast. His heart was thumping, hard and unsteady with each beat louder than the last.

Is this what happened when he was pushed in the portal?  His mind was trying desperately to make sense of it.

No. no, no, no…This isn’t right.

His mind was spinning. He tried to grasp what had happened, to trace his thoughts back through time, the portal, through the blood, fire and loss, but everything was confused and disjointed.

Why am I like this?

He didn’t understand.  He remembered Naruto’s hands on his face, his voice shaking as he made him promise to live. His kiss, desperate and real. It was the last one they would ever have. And then the light had swallowed everything.

He thought that he had died. He was sure of it. He thought he felt his chakra disappear the moment he was pushed through the portal, felt everything folding and twisting around him.  He had hoped that maybe they would meet again on the other side, in whatever came after.

But this wasn’t death. This wasn’t peace. This was something else.

“I don’t understand,” he whispered to the mud, his voice hoarse and breaking.

“Why am I here?”

Why did he have to die, and I’m here all alone?

His throat tightened. A sound clawed up from deep inside him, a sound that wasn’t a cry, not yet, but it teetered at the edge. His vision blurred, and he couldn’t tell if it was the rain or tears, or both. Everything was wet, cold and wrong.

Naruto should have been here.

He would have known what to do. He always did. He would have laughed through the pain, grinned at him with that stupid hopeful light in his brilliant blue eyes, and his big grin. Even when the world was ending around them, he had that smile and he had always hated that smile, because it had made him believe.

He had been their light and now it was down to one.

He stumbled back, his foot slipping on the slick stone. His legs gave out and he dropped into the mud, rain and blood. His hands hit the ground hard. A heavy breath escaped his lips, a half gasp, half sob.

It wasn’t a scream. Not yet, but it was getting close.

The rain began to fall harder. He hadn’t even realized he was crying until the two blurred together, rain and tears and the grief she couldn’t name. The sky seemed to mourn with him.

He turned his head and there were bodies everywhere. They were sprawled across the stones and slumped against walls, some still gripping weapons as if they’d tried to fight, others with their hands reaching for something they would never touch, and among them were children, elders, mothers, fathers, cousins.  

They were faces he once knew, now frozen in the last terrible moments of their lives. Faces he once loved. Gone again because once wasn’t enough he thought to himself bitterly.

He had come too late. The massacre had already happened. He hadn’t saved anyone. Always too broken and he now he wasn’t even himself.

Naruto wasn’t here, everyone was dead, and he was alone in a foreign body.

A sharp pressure built in his chest, and he couldn’t hold it in any longer. He screamed out desperately…

Why is this happening to me?
Why can’t anything ever go right.

And then he saw him…

Just ahead, a a small boy curled in the mud like he was trying to disappear.

He was barefoot. His clothes were soaked and streaked with blood. His tiny body shivered, even while lifeless. He looked so fragile and still. His lips parted with a breath so quiet, it almost broke.

His breath caught. It was him as a boy.

Seven years old. Caught in a moment of horror so traumatizing it had carved itself into his soul. Curled like something hunted. His face was deathly white, and his fists clenched at his chest. His expression twisted with fear and something deeper. He was in the Tsukuyomi and still trapped in nightmares.

He was staring at himself as a boy and didn’t know what to do. He was too small. Too helpless. And he couldn’t stop what was coming. He hadn’t stopped it. Not for little Sasuke.

His hand reached out instinctively, fingers hovering over his shoulder. But he stopped. He couldn’t bear it. Not the burden of what he would carry. What he would lose.

Her voice cracked. “Gods… what have I done?”

It wasn’t a question. It was everything. The grief. The horror. The bone-deep ache of being too late.

His throat and chest trembled.

This wasn’t a blessing. It wasn’t a mercy. It felt like eternal punishment.

The boy whimpered. A soft, broken sound. One of his hands reached out, grasping for someone who wasn’t there before he fell silent, and just like that, something inside Sasuke snapped. It wasn’t just grief or guilt it was the final break of everything he had been.

He surged forward…no, not Sasuke… not anymore.

----------------------------------------

Her name would be Akari, meaning light.

She would be Naruto’s light from now on. This was the silent vow she made herself.

Akari wrapped her arms around the boy she had once been, cradling him like he was the last thing she would ever have. He didn’t wake but clung to her anyway. His small hands fisted into the torn front of her shirt. His face pressed to her chest like he knew her. Like he’d been waiting.

A sob broke from her lips.

Then another. And another…

She pressed her face into his hair, her whole-body trembling. Her fingers curled tight around his back. She cried, not just for him, but for herself. For all of it. For Naruto. For Kakashi. For Sakura. For her parents. For Itachi. For everyone she hadn’t saved.

Little Sasuke shivered in her arms, breath shallow and uneven but he didn’t let go and neither did she. This Sasuke, this version of him was hers now.

Not just to protect but to love and save. She would be the shield, heart and light he never had and this time, and she would not fail.

Chapter Text

Someone to Hold Him

In the silence of the Uchiha compound, Akari stood motionless, her arms wrapped tightly around Sasuke. Night hung heavy in the air, the rain was soft but unrelenting. A few lanterns lit the path, casting a pale silver glow under the moonlight.

All around her lay the evidence of tragedy, her fallen clan members and the heavy scent of copper. In a daze, still cradling Sasuke, she wandered into her childhood home. She needed to see them; she needed to say goodbye to her parents and see them one last time. Choking back her tears, and staying steady for her and Sasuke, she bowed her head. She looked down at her mother’s hand, curled like it was reaching for something.

I should’ve been here, she thought bitterly. I should’ve saved you.

In a shaky whisper, she said her last goodbye to her mother and father, promising to remember them and take care of Sasuke and Itachi. She would make this right; and vowed to save them anyway she could.  It was a brief, pained farewell but there was no time for more. She needed to get Sasuke to the hospital. He needed her help.

Little Sasuke was still unconscious, his skin pale and clammy against hers. He no longer clung to her. His body had gone limp and was heavier now in her arms. She remembered this. He’d stayed like that for days, silent and unresponsive, locked in a nightmare no one could pull him from.

Her chest tightened. He looked so small and broken like this.

And then, before she could stop it, the thought came harsh and bitter:

Where was this care when I was a child?

Did no one see me shaking? Did no one think to carry me, to hold me like this, to shield me from what they knew was coming?

She cradled him tighter.

Why didn’t anyone help me?

He looked so fragile, so far from the feisty, happy boy she remembered he once was. It felt strange, almost disjointed, to be outside the nightmare looking in. All she had ever known of herself was the nightmare. She didn’t know anything else.

Itachi was gone. Not a hint of chakra left behind. But she’d known that already. She’d find him when she was ready.

Holding Sasuke securely, she forced herself to stay focused. I must get help. Sasuke needs a doctor now and I can’t waste anymore time.

Konoha General was on the other side of the village, and every minute counted. With one last, longing look at her dead parents, she whispered, “I’ll be back to give you a proper burial,” and silently left.

She ran through the Uchiha district, her footsteps the only sound in a place that once held so much life. She was alone, but part of her kept listening for Naruto. For his voice calling after her. For something stupid and hopeful. But there was nothing. Just silence.

Because the clan was gone. And so was he.

As she neared outskirts of the compound, distant shouts and flickers of movement warned her that others were finally approaching the scene. Konoha’s ANBU Black Ops would have been alerted by now, and their shadows flashed across rooftops and streets, converging on the Uchiha compound behind her. If anyone saw her running from this, from all the blood and death, they'd think she was the one responsible. She had to be smart and not get caught or have a damn good cover story. Stopping wasn’t an option.

And of course, just her luck, as she rounded a corner at full speed and two masked ANBU operatives appeared directly in front of her. They landed silently a few yards ahead, blocking her way. Both wore their signature animal masks and gear of the Hokage’s elite squad. One raised a hand to stop her while the other reached for a weapon instinctively in a stance ready to attack. The moonlight glinted off a short sword at one of their backs. “Stop right there!” The taller ANBU commanded sharply, “identify yourself!”

Her heart hammered in her chest, and she skidded to a stop, clutching Sasuke protectively. She tightened her grip around his small body, taking a half-step back as she stared at the masked figures blocking the path.  Old instinct surged through her, intense and sudden. For a moment, she felt the urge to fight. To rip through them and keep running. Her chakra crackled, ready to strike.

Part of him still hated this village.

That hatred hadn’t vanished. It lived deep in her bones, curled tight in the corners of her mind, the parts of Sasuke that still existed in her. After everything Konoha had done to the Uchiha. After everything they had allowed to happen. The silence, the lies, the complicity.

But this wasn’t about revenge anymore. That path had only hollowed her out. It hadn’t saved anyone. It hadn’t brought justice.

It only cost her everything.

She closed her eyes briefly, breathing in deep to steady herself. Not now. Not like this.

Focus.

Be the light. Be what Naruto saw in me. I am Akari now.

She would make things right, but not through violence. Not this time. Sasuke was in her arms, warm and breathing. He was what mattered. His healing. His future.

That was her goal now.

In a steady voice she replied; “I'm Uchiha Akari.” It was the name she had decided on as her cover, Akari meant light and she was going to be the Naruto’s light now.

She would claim to be a relative and would build on it as needed. She remembered her mother talking about Uchiha’s who left in the past or were kicked out. “Mikoto Uchiha was my aunt, I just arrived in the village tonight to seek refuge with my mother’s family. I…. and...” Her voice broke; her trauma and the weight of responsibility was weighing heavily on her. She took another steadying breath, forcing the words out. “I found everyone... dead. I found my uncle and aunt...” Her throat tightened, but she pressed on, “…and their son. He’s alive, but unconscious. Please, I need to get him to the hospital.”

The ANBU shared quick glances.

In the tense silence, she could hear her own pulse thudding in her ears. One of them, whose mask resembled a cat, stepped forward harshly. “Place the Uchiha boy down and step away,” he ordered. His tone was neutral but firm. He was clearly suspicious. An unknown woman at the scene of a massacred clan was an immediate red flag. For all they knew, she could be involved in the attack or be a threat to be taken down.

She shook her head vehemently, instinctively tightening her hold on Sasuke. “No! I won’t leave him,” she shouted, eyes wide with a protective instinct of a mother protecting her cub. The very thought of letting go of Sasuke terrified her; he was hers to protect. The cat-masked ANBU tensed at her refusal. The second agent who wore a hawk-like mask lifted his hand in a silent signal, ready to strike if she tried to flee or fight. The atmosphere was tense with the potential for violence.

Before anyone could make another move, a new voice broke through the stand-off:

“Easy. Let’s all stay calm.”

Akari’s head snapped up just as a figure dropped from the rooftop, landing with quiet precision between her and the ANBU. He moved with quiet authority, like someone who had seen this kind of scene before and already knew how to defuse it. His gear matched theirs, the same flak jacket and reinforced guards, but his mask was shaped like a dog. It was familiar.

Relief swelled in her chest.

Kakashi Hatake had arrived.

Kakashi raised one gloved hand in a calming gesture. “Cat, Hawk… stand-by,” he said quietly to his team, addressing them by their code names. The two ANBU hesitated, then slowly eased out of their attack stances, though they didn’t fully lower their guard.

Kakashi turned toward the young woman holding Sasuke. Her eyes met his, wide and unguarded. In the dim light, his figure was unmistakable, tall, lean and cloaked in the familiar shape of a shinobi she once trusted with her life. In the moonlight, his silhouette was the same as it had been all those years ago, tall, composed, a little distant but never cold.

She hadn’t seen him like this in so long. Not since the days of Team 7. Not since he used to stand in front of them like a quiet shield against the world.

His presence pulled a memory from deep inside her and she remembered a night deep in the war

Kakashi. The quiet voice who never gave too much praise but always noticed when Sasuke tried. The man who made Sasuke feel seen, even in his worst moments.

Everything was crumbling and they had just lost another village. Sasuke had snapped during the debrief, was cold and bitter, and rage spilled out piercing and electric like a Chidori with nowhere to go. Sasuke had called the village a graveyard. Called himself a traitor and said that he should have let it all burn when he had the chance.

Kakashi didn’t flinch or scold. Just looked at him and said, “Sasuke, you’re still here. That means you haven’t given up on us. And I haven’t given up on you.”

It hadn’t been forgiveness. It was something steadier and more meaningful.  It was the kind of faith that didn’t ask for anything in return.

Even after everything he had done… Kakashi had believed in him…

He wore the same ANBU gear, but his dog mask was gone, tucked away for now. Maybe to ease the tension or maybe just out of kindness. She didn’t know.

“Who are you?” Kakashi asked her, his voice calm but carrying a note of concern. His gaze flicked to the child in her arms and softened slightly. Sasuke’s face was partly hidden against her shoulder, his eyes closed, oblivious to the confrontation.

Kakashi recognized the boy immediately.  He knew Sasuke was the youngest child of the Uchiha clan head and seeing him lifeless and being carried by a stranger was concerning. Something about the way the young woman held Sasuke close in a protection motion made him pause.

She swallowed hard and answered, “My name is Akari,” she said, steadying her voice. “Mikoto Uchiha was my aunt. My mother… she was cast out years ago, before I was born. I didn’t know anything about the Uchiha clan until after she died. I found letters and pictures of her family. I came to Konoha to find them and to see if there was a place for me.” Her throat tightened. “I got here tonight… late. I found them all slaughtered.” She glanced down at Sasuke.  “I couldn’t leave him. I couldn’t.” Her lips quivered, genuine anguish breaking through. “I searched for others but there was no one else.” She closed her eyes for a second, unable to say more. The grief on her face was unmistakable.

Kakashi studied her intently. In the young woman’s eyes, glossy with tears and the reflection of moonlight, he saw pure sorrow and fierce protectiveness. It struck him deeply. He had seen that look before. Itachi Uchiha, normally composed beyond his years, had shown a similar protective look in his eyes whenever Sasuke’s wellbeing came up during casual conversations. Kakashi remembered glimpses of Itachi’s subtle pride when speaking of his little brother and the gentle way he had once ruffled Sasuke’s hair out the academy.

This woman looked and reminded him of Itachi, in fact, her face was almost an exact replica of Mikoto. Watching her shield Sasuke with such fierce determination, Kakashi recognized that unwavering loyalty for what it was. It was pure Uchiha devotion. That kind of emotion was hard to fake.

The other ANBU, Cat, broke the silence sharply: “Itachi Uchiha is missing. And you expect us to believe you stumbled on this by chance?” His suspicion was obvious. He clearly was not convinced by her story yet, and protocol demanded caution. “For all we know, you could be working with the attacker or be an attacker yourself,” Cat continued, gripping a kunai at his side.

Sasuke groaned faintly at the raised voice, and she instinctively rocked him, one hand glowing softly as she used a basic healing technique to soothe him.

Kakashi glanced at Cat and gave a slight shake of his head. “She’s identified herself as a relative and she’s carrying a wounded child,” he said evenly. “Let’s not jump to conclusions.” Then he stepped a little closer to the woman and spoke gently, “you said your name is Akari and you’re Mikoto’s niece? I don’t recall any mention of a visiting niece in the mission reports.” He was probing for consistency, but his tone remained oddly gentle and kind.

She shifted Sasuke’s weight in her arms, and he stirred, breathing a little erratically, which made her pulse speed up in worry. “I was looking for refuge, I don’t know your protocols. I just wanted to find family,” she explained quietly. “Please, he’s my baby cousin,” she added, voice almost breaking. “I don’t know what happened here. I just know he needs help right now.

“If you want to question me or even arrest me, fine,” she added, raising her chin in resolve. “Just let me get him to the hospital first. I implore you.”

She looked directly into Kakashi’s eye as she spoke, and he could see tears glistening but not falling. Her resolve in that moment was evident. she was worried and grief-stricken, yet she refused to put Sasuke down or step away as ordered. Every fiber of her being was focused on protecting the child in her arms.

Kakashi felt an unexpected surge of empathy and conviction. There was something about Akari, her story, her eyes, her unwavering hold on Sasuke and it struck something deep in him.

Kakashi Hatake had learned long ago to trust his instincts and his instincts said she was not a threat. Just another victim.

He raised a hand, stopping the others. “Alright,” he said, voice firm. “We’ll escort you to the hospital.”

Cat and Hawk hesitated. But Kakashi was their captain. His word held weight.

“Continue sweeping the compound,” Kakashi ordered. “I’ll take responsibility.”

The ANBU obeyed. One by one, they vanished.

Kakashi turned to Akari. His eye crinkled slightly. The closest thing to a smile. “We should hurry.” He slipped off his flak jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She was still shivering.

“Thank you,” she whispered, adjusting the jacket around them both.

They moved quickly, Kakashi leading them across rooftops and shadowed alleys. Sasuke stayed limp in her arms, his small body too still. Akari murmured to him the whole way, voice low and steady, like a promise she refused to break.

“I’ve got you, Sasuke. Hang on. Just hang on.” She said it repeatedly, like a prayer meant for the both of them.

Her resolve carried her forward and when Kakashi glanced at her again he noted that she moved like someone who had everything to lose. She really might be who she says she is, he thought. And if she’s lying... it’s a noble lie.

Under the pale pre-dawn light, Kakashi caught another glimpse of her face. She was beautiful in a way that didn’t quite feel real. All fine lines and pale skin, her features were delicate enough to seem carved from porcelain. But it wasn’t just her face that held his attention.

There was strength in the way she moved, in the way she held the boy in her arms like he was something sacred. Her grief was visible, but it didn’t break her. It made her more striking. She looked like something fragile, yet unyielding. A contradiction he couldn’t quite name. He found it difficult to look away.

The hospital finally came into view. The streets were starting to stir. Civilians whispered and stared as they passed, their eyes wide at the sight: Kakashi in ANBU gear, a blood-stained woman carrying the youngest Uchiha.

“Official business,” Kakashi barked, waving off a curious bystander. They backed away without a word.

As they reached the hospital doors, blinding white light spilled out. It smelled like antiseptic and cleaners. Akari slowed and tightened her hold on Sasuke.

He didn’t stir. Her throat clenched.

He’s safe now, she told herself. He’s not alone.

Kakashi reached for the door and Akari stepped through with him, into the light.

Chapter Text

The hospital room was too white, too sterile, too clean for the kind of pain that still clung to her like that horrid rain. At least she was dry now.

Akari sat at Sasuke’s bedside, her hand never once leaving his. He hadn’t stirred since they arrived. He lay silent beneath thin, white sheets, his cheeks hollow, his face slack with exhaustion. A child in every way except for the grief carved too deep into the small lines of his body.

She brushed her fingers through his hair, gentle, careful. “You’re safe now,” she whispered. She didn’t know if she believed them, but she kept repeating them like a mantra. She knew he should be safe now, physically at least, because he had been last time. But still, a tiny tinge of worry crept in. Maybe it would be different. Maybe she had already changed something. At this point, she had no idea.

Kakashi stood near the window. Silent.

He hadn’t left.

He hadn’t said much since they arrived. He answered the nurse’s questions when prompted, filled out the paperwork without hesitation, and then stepped back into the quiet like a shadow returning to its place. But she felt him there all the same. His presence was steady, watchful but never intrusive. He was watching her, not with suspicion, but with something softer, quieter, like someone who had known pain and grief deeply and carried it in silence. Akari could feel it in him, the way he carried grief not as a wound, but as something deeply etched into his bones.

She remembered Obito, and how Kakashi had lost him not once, but twice and how that kind of grief didn’t just leave behind a scar but carved itself into the way a person moved through life. She had heard about Rin too, the way her death had hollowed something out of him that never quite came back. Maybe that was why she had always felt it, that quiet thread between Kakashi and Sasuke, something unspoken but deeply familiar, like they both carried the same kind of pain. It lived in their silences; in the way they held themselves apart and, in the way, neither of them ever really let go. They were more alike than either of them had probably admitted, maybe even more than they fully understood.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Too small and too simple, but it was all she had.

His head turned slightly. That one visible eye softened. He didn’t speak, just gave a nod. The kind that meant you didn’t have to say more.

Time passed in heavy stretches that might have been hours, though she couldn’t be sure.

A nurse came in at some point and offered to take Sasuke for scans. Akari didn’t raise her voice. She just looked at her and said, “I’m not leaving him.”

And she didn’t.

She stayed while they checked his vitals, wiped him down, and cleaned the small wound on his cheek. Every touch made his fingers twitch, and it broke her heart because she knew what he was seeing in his broken mindscape. He would flinch from anyone, she was certain of that, but never from her, and she couldn’t help wondering if, somewhere in the space between nightmare and waking, some part of him knew who she was.

At some point, she realized she was humming. The melody rose instinctively, soft and familiar, like a memory brushing against the edge of sleep. It was a lullaby Mikoto used to sing to Itachi and Sasuke when they were small, back when the world still felt whole. She hadn’t known she still remembered it, hadn’t even realized it was still buried somewhere inside her, waiting.

Kakashi pulled a second chair up beside her and sat down. Still without a word.

Somehow, it was better that way.

As the night wore on, the lights dimmed. Outside the window, Konoha moved like nothing had happened. Like the streets weren’t missing a clan. People walked. Shops closed and people went home to their safe beds. Voices rose in casual conversation. The village kept breathing even as it went to sleep.

It made something bitter rise in her throat again. That old familiar anger stirred up again beneath the surface. How easy it was for the world to forget. How quickly Konoha moved on, as if the Uchiha had never been here at all.

Akari closed her eyes and leaned against the edge of the bed, her fingers still wrapped around Sasuke’s. He was so small and fragile. His body barely filled a third of the mattress, yet somehow, he filled the whole room. His chakra was quiet and curled in on itself like a wounded animal. Still trapped inside the never-ending nightmare of blood and death. Still far beyond her reach.

She didn’t cry. She had no tears left.
There was a strange stillness settling inside her. Not the emptiness of numbness but something else. Like the moment before a wound splits open. Like she already knew what was coming and had gone quiet just to survive it.

Her hand stayed wrapped around Sasuke’s. His fingers were cold but not lifeless. Small and fragile, the kind of fragile no one should have to carry.

“I should’ve gotten here sooner,” she whispered. “I should’ve stopped it.”

But she hadn’t.

And now they were here, in a room scrubbed sterile and white, with crisp white sheets and beeping monitors. Machines chirped with indifference, as if he were just another patient, just another boy, as if the village outside still made sense. Nothing made sense to her.

Beside her, Kakashi shifted slightly. His arms crossed. His presence quiet and watchful. The silence between them wasn’t awkward. It was the kind that settled between people who had survived too much and spoken too little.

“You were there,” she said.

He nodded once.

“I didn’t see you.”

“I wasn’t supposed to be seen.”

A pause.

“You saw me though.”

His eye met hers. And for a long moment, he didn’t say anything.

“Yes,” he said at last. “Back near the main Uchiha residence. You were crouched in the mud, crying and clutching him.”

Her breath caught, but she didn’t look away.

“You watched and didn’t help.”

“I wanted to,” Kakashi said. “But we were ordered to sweep and contain first. Secure the compound. Confirm the dead. We were told to identify survivors only after the perimeter was safe.”

The words were spoken without embellishment and the cold facts were laid bare.

“It was clinical,” he added after a beat. “Efficient. That’s what we were ordered to do.”

Akari closed her eyes, remembering the blood, the silence, and how heavy the weight of him had felt in her arms.

“I thought you were a civilian at first or one of the ones missed,” Kakashi continued. “You didn’t look up. You weren’t moving. You were just holding him like nothing else mattered.”

Her voice came out rough. “You still didn’t help.”

He looked away. “When you ran from the compound later, I wanted to reach out, but you were already past us. My team moved to intercept, and by the time I reacted, you were gone.” The words hit something deep in her. She remembered that moment now, the flicker of movement, figures shifting in the smoke. She hadn’t realized it was him. Not then.

“Then why did you step in when the others confronted me?” she asked. “Why help then?”

Kakashi’s gaze didn’t waver. “Because by then, protocol allowed it. And because you didn’t look like a civilian anymore. You looked like someone ready to fight. I had to decide whether you were a threat.”

“And?”

“You were protecting him,” he said. “That’s all I saw.”

She didn’t respond right away. The truth sat with her, cold and brutal.

“They’ll isolate him,” she said quietly. “Erase what happened. Turn the grief into something clean and controllable. That’s what they do.”

Kakashi looked at Sasuke. The boy didn’t stir.

“Not if someone stays,” he said. “Not if someone sees him.”

Akari’s grip tightened around Sasuke’s hand. The weight of it grounded her, real and warm and breakable.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said.

-----------------------------

Later that night, after the nurses made their final rounds, Kakashi pulled the curtain shut. The room fell quiet.

Akari curled up beside Sasuke, careful not to jostle the IV. Her body ached from holding herself together too long.

She listened to his breathing. Steady but shallow.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” she whispered. “But I’m going to try. I’m going to try so hard.”

For Naruto.
For Sakura.
For Kakashi.
For everyone she couldn’t save.

And for this boy, the one whose face she had worn. Whose pain had once been hers. The one who still had a chance.

Sleep came slow. But it finally came. She drifted, curled around the only piece of her broken life that remained.

------------------------------

Morning came too fast. Light shifted across the room from moonlight blue into pale gold. It crept across the floor slowly and cautiously, like even the sun wasn’t sure if it should be here. Or at least that is how it felt.

Akari stirred before the world woke, her neck aching from the angle and her back sore from the narrow bed, but she didn’t move.

Her arm was still around Sasuke.
His breathing hadn’t changed.
It was still shallow and quiet but still alive.

That was enough.

She blinked against the light and that’s when she saw it.

A mug. Still warm. Set carefully on the table beside the bed.

She sat up a little, the blanket slipping from her shoulders as her eyes caught on a small bundle near the edge of the table, folded neatly. He brought her civilian clothes that were soft and clean, likely borrowed from a nurse’s locker or brought in during the night, something dry and untouched by blood or ash.

It took her a moment to realize he must have thought of that too.

Kakashi stood by the window again. She hadn’t heard him return. He must’ve left and come back before dawn. His hands were in his pockets, and his gaze was on the street below. He looked like he hadn’t slept much either.

“Coffee?” she asked, her voice rough from sleep.

“I didn’t know how you take it,” he said, without turning. “So, I guessed.”

She reached for the mug. Warmth seeped into her fingers. She took a sip. It was strong, a little bitter, but just the way she liked it.

“You guessed right.”

A beat passed.

“I didn’t do anything,” Kakashi said after a while.

She glanced up.

“Last night. I just sat here. I didn’t know what to say.”

“You didn’t have to,” she said quietly.

Another pause. This one was softer and easier.

“The way you look at him,” Kakashi murmured, “that isn’t just concern.”

Akari didn’t answer right away. She took another sip, the warmth felt so nice.

“He’s all I have left.”

Kakashi turned. His expression unreadable. But his voice was quieter than it had been the night before.

“You knew him?”

“I know him now.”

Silence settled between them again. It wasn’t empty or tense. It was just present.

Kakashi nodded once. He didn’t press.

 “Whatever your story is,” he said, “you haven’t lied. At least not where it mattered.”

Akari looked down at Sasuke’s face. So still. So impossibly young.

“Do you trust me?”

“I’m watching,” Kakashi said. “And I’m still here.”

It wasn’t a yes or a no, but somehow it felt more honest.

Kakashi didn’t say anything else, and neither did she.

The coffee had started to cool between her hands. She sipped anyway, grounding herself in the quiet clink of the cup, the hum of the hospital machines and the soft in-and-out of Sasuke’s breathing. Morning had arrived, but it hadn’t changed anything.

Akari’s shoulders dropped a little as the silence dragged on.

“You should get some food,” Kakashi said finally, and it surprised her how gently he said it. “Real food.”

She nodded but didn’t move.

“I’ll stay,” he added. “While you go.”

That made her look at him again. Really look. The mask. The posture. The way he stood like he was ready to vanish if she blinked. God, how he reminded her of Sasuke. But then his eye had settled on Sasuke. Watching him the same way she did like he was something fragile.

“Alright,” she said softly.

She took one last sip of coffee, then carefully unwrapped her fingers from Sasuke’s. He didn’t stir. She slid from the bed, her limbs stiff with exhaustion and old pain.

Kakashi took her seat without needing to be asked.

“I won’t be long,” she told him.

“I’ll be here,” he said, and for once it didn’t sound like a formality. It sounded like a promise.

After changing into the clothes Kakashi had left and washing up in the small hospital bathroom, Akari did what she could to look a little more presentable. Then she made her way toward the cafeteria. The walk felt longer than it should have, not because of the distance but because everything around her kept moving as if nothing had happened. It was as if the world hadn’t shifted. People passed her in the halls without pause, doctors, patients, shinobi each wrapped in their own rhythm, their own tasks, their own quiet momentum. Life continued. Steps echoed off the walls, doors opened and closed in steady intervals, and the air was filled with the constant murmur of distant voices beneath the pale hum of fluorescent lights.

Akari moved through it like a ghost.

By the time she made it downstairs, her stomach was growling. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate. It was before the end of the world. She grabbed what she could stomach two rice balls, a carton of juice, and another coffee for Kakashi and then turned to head back.

Someone stopped her in the hallway.

He was a young Shinobi; it was someone she didn’t know. His flak vest bore the crest of the Intelligence Division.

“You’re the girl who came in with the Uchiha kid,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

Akari’s spine straightened without her meaning to. “Yes.”

“The Hokage wants to speak with you today.”

Her fingers tightened around the tray. “Did he say why?”

The shinobi replied, “You have the Uchiha boy and you’re a Uchiha witness.”

She didn’t answer back.

“Someone will come get you when the Hokage is ready” he added, already starting to walk away.

Akari watched him go. Her pulse quickened, but she made no move to stop it. Of course they would want to talk. Of course she’d be under scrutiny. She wasn’t afraid of lying she’d prepared for this. She’d been living prepared since the second she woke in this timeline.

But fear wasn’t the thing twisting in her gut.

It was fury. Cold and clean.

Because she knew exactly how these things went. She’d seen the way the Danzo and the elders on the council worked. She knew how the village protected its power. And she knew what they were going to try to do with Sasuke. They would weaponize him and silence his voice, just like before.

But this time, she was in control, she had strength and powers they didn’t know about, and they wouldn’t take him from her.

Not again.

She inhaled slow. Steadying herself.

When she stepped back into the hospital room, Kakashi looked up, immediately taking her in. She set the tray down between them, offered him his coffee without a word, and then sat beside Sasuke once more.

He hadn’t moved.

But her resolve had.

“The Hokage wants to speak with me today,” she said.

Kakashi took a slow sip. “Of course he does, you’re an unknown Uchiha and a key witness.”

“They’ll try to pin something on me. On him.”

“I know.”

“I won’t let them.”

Kakashi nodded once. “Then I guess you’ll need someone who’s already watching.”

She blinked at that and really look at him and this time and she saw it. Not suspicion or pity. It was a something more, but she couldn’t quite define it. Kakashi was a shinobi who had been through the same darkness and chose to stay.

“Thank you, Hatake Kakashi, for watching Sasuke with me,” Akari said, her voice soft but sincere.

She reached for Sasuke’s hand again, her fingers curling around his with a gentler touch this time, quiet with resolve. He didn’t shift, but his breathing remained steady, soft and real, a quiet reminder that he was still here with her. No matter what they tried to do outside this room, no matter the politics or the lies waiting behind closed doors, they wouldn’t take him from her. She wouldn’t let them. And for the first time since the nightmare began, she felt ready to face what came next, because she knew Kakashi was the kind of person who would stay.

Nest Chapter: Interrogation and Intentions

-Akari meets with the Hokage and council.

Chapter Text

Interrogation and Intentions

The morning had settled into a hushed rhythm. The kind that followed long nights and left too many things unsaid. The coffee was cold in her hands now, untouched for the last hour. Sasuke hadn't moved. His breathing remained shallow and steady, and she had memorized the exact pattern of it like it might vanish if she stopped paying attention.

Akari leaned in and pressed her lips to his temple. She rested there for a moment, letting the quiet fill her, letting herself gather what little strength she had left.

There was a soft knock at the door. A young nurse with kind eyes stepped in quietly.

"I have to leave for a little while," Akari said before the girl could speak. Her voice was calm and even, but she hated every syllable. She didn't want to leave him. "Can you stay with him?"

The nurse nodded. "Of course. I'll make sure he's not alone."

Akari looked back at Sasuke one last time. His fingers were cold in hers, but she didn't let go right away. She whispered promises she wasn't sure she could keep, words meant for both of them.

Only when Kakashi stepped forward did she finally rise.

He had waited just inside the door, silent as always, his presence steady like the ticking of a clock. He didn't speak. He only opened the door for her and followed her into the corridor.

The walk to the administrative tower felt longer than it should have. Not because of distance, but because with each step, the protective bubble around Sasuke's hospital room grew thinner. Out here, the village moved with its usual rhythm. Shinobi passed them with barely a glance and civilians went about their morning routines. The world continued spinning as if an entire clan hadn't been erased from existence mere hours ago.

The normalcy of it made something cold and bitter rise in her throat.

Kakashi seemed to sense her tension. As they approached the council hall, he paused and reached into the pouch at his hip, pulling out something small into his palm. It was an old, worn charm, the kind children once tied to their academy packs for luck. The fabric was faded and the stitching barely held together.

He held it out.

"I don't believe in much anymore," he said quietly, "but I kept this through the wars."

Akari looked at it, then at him. There was something vulnerable in the gesture, like he was offering her a piece of himself he rarely shared.

"I want him to live," Kakashi said. "That means I want you to win whatever this is."

She took the charm, her fingers closing around the worn fabric. It was warm from his hand.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He met her eyes. "I know you're lying about how you got here," he said softly, not accusing but acknowledging. "But I'll wait until you're ready."

The words settled between them like a promise. She nodded, tucking the charm into her pocket where she could feel its weight against her hip.

Then she squared her shoulders and stepped toward the door.

Before the formal interrogation began, the Hokage pulled Kakashi aside in the hallway outside the council chamber.

"I need you to watch over them," the Hokage said quietly, his weathered hands clasped behind his back. "The woman and the boy."

Kakashi had studied the old man's face carefully.

"Official assignment?"

"Official oversight," he confirmed.

"The council is... concerned about her sudden appearance. Her story raises questions."

"What kind of questions?"

The Hokage was quiet for a long moment. "The timing is suspect. Itachi vanishes the same night she appears. She claims to have found the boy, but..." He trailed off, then met Kakashi's gaze directly. "Some believe she might have been involved. Or at least knows more than she's saying."

Kakashi felt something cold settle in his stomach. "And you want me to determine which it is."

"I want you to protect the boy," the Hokage said firmly. "Whatever the truth about her, Sasuke is innocent. He's all that's left of the Uchiha. He'll need guidance. Protection."

"From her?"

"From everyone who might try to use him." The Hokage's voice carried the weight of years. "The boy will wake eventually. When he does, he'll be the only witness to what really happened that night. There will be... pressure... to extract that information quickly."

Kakashi understood. Danzo would push hard for immediate interrogation, probably with Inoichi Yamanaka conducting a deep read. The boy would be traumatized, vulnerable, ripe for manipulation.

"I accept the assignment," Kakashi said.

The Hokage nodded. "Good. Watch her closely, Kakashi. But don't let your suspicion blind you to the possibility that she might genuinely care for the boy. Sometimes, the most unexpected protectors are the most effective ones."

Now, sitting in the council chamber watching Akari deflect their increasingly aggressive questions, Kakashi found himself weighing every word, every gesture. She was lying about something, that much was obvious. But was she lying about caring for Sasuke? About wanting to protect him?

The way she held herself when they questioned her story versus when they talked about the boy... there was a difference. When they doubted her identity, she was calm and prepared but when they implied she might be a threat to Sasuke, real anger flashed in her eyes.

Interesting, he thought.

The council chamber was colder than she remembered. Or maybe it had always been like this, stone walls and sterile air, the faint trace of incense barely covering the scent of ink and old age. Power had a smell here, and it wasn't pure or clean.

The table was long and lacquered, polished to a shine that reflected the room's low burning lanterns. At its center sat Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, his shoulders bowed with age, but his eyes were still steady behind his robes. He didn't look surprised to see her.

He only looked tired.

Weary in the way of a man who had already survived too many losses and knew another storm was brewing.

Akari's gaze swept the room, cataloging faces like a battlefield assessment. To the Hokage's right, Danzo Shimura leaned forward slightly, both hands resting on his cane. His right arm was fully bandaged, thick cloth wrapped up to the shoulder. The bandage wasn't old. The wrap was clean, taut, too fresh.

He's already started, she thought, her stomach twisting. Already taken something.

His one visible eye watched her from beneath the shadows of his hair, shrewd and calculating. She felt that familiar surge of hatred, the old Sasuke's rage burning beneath her ribs, but she kept her face carefully neutral.

On the Hokage's other side sat the village elders. Koharu Utatane, her thin mouth pursed like she was already unimpressed, and Homura Mitokado, hands folded over his notes with the bland expression of a man used to deciding other people's fates from a distance.

Further down, Shikaku Nara rested his chin in one hand, his elbow on the table. His posture was lazy, but his eyes were sharp beneath heavy lids. He was watching her closely, and she remembered his reputation for seeing patterns others missed.

Next to him, Inoichi Yamanaka sat with practiced stillness, hands folded neatly in his lap. His expression was unreadable, but she could feel the weight of his attention like a physical thing. A surface read from him would be more than invasive; it would be catastrophic.

Then came Hiashi Hyuga, posture rigid and arms crossed. His face carried that particular Hyuga arrogance, the kind that came from generations of power held too long and challenged too little.

A few additional clan heads lingered in the background. Voices that mattered less but eyes that still watched. The absence at the far end of the table felt particularly heavy where an Uchiha representative should have sat. Where someone should have spoken for the dead.

Akari stepped forward, chin high, and let her eyes meet each of theirs in turn. She felt Kakashi move beside her, not a step behind but level. Silent support without words.

The silence stretched until The Hokage finally spoke.

"Akari, thank you for coming. I trust the boy is recovering?"

She gave a slight nod, though her expression darkened. "He's stable, but..." she paused, letting concern color her voice. "He's trapped in some kind of genjutsu. The medics say it's like nothing they've seen before. He won't wake."

A ripple of tension moved through the room. Several council members exchanged glances.

"A powerful genjutsu," Shikaku murmured, leaning forward with new interest. "That suggests considerable skill."

"Who is with him now?" Shikaku asked, his tone casual but probing.

"I asked one of the nurses to stay with him until I return. Someone I trust. He's not alone."

Danzo's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Let us begin. We still have not established who she is. Or why she arrived at such a convenient time."

Akari turned toward him, slow and deliberate. She let herself meet his gaze fully, unflinching. In another life, she might have torn his throat out for what he had done, what he would do. But not here. Not now. She was playing a longer and smarter game.

"I'm Mikoto Uchiha's niece," she said, her voice steady. "My mother was her sister, cast out before I was born. I only learned the truth after her death. I found letters and pictures and I came to look for my family." She paused, letting grief color her tone. "I arrived the night it happened."

Shikaku leaned forward slightly. "You're saying the timing was coincidence?"

"Yes."

"How convenient," Danzo said, his tone sharp with skepticism. “The same night the clan is massacred, a previously unknown relative appears.”

"You expect us to believe that?" Koharu added, her thin voice cutting.

Akari's jaw tightened, but she kept her voice level. "I don't expect anything. Only to be heard."

"Where exactly did you enter the village?" Shikaku pressed. "The gate logs show no record of your arrival."

"I didn't come through the main gate," she admitted. "I was... afraid. An outcast's daughter, seeking refuge from a clan that might reject me. I came over the outer walls."

Danzo leaned forward. "How did you know where to find the compound?"

"My mother's letters. She drew maps. Described the layout." Akari's voice remained steady, but she could feel the web of suspicion tightening. "I followed them."

"And you found the boy," Inoichi said, his tone neutral but probing. "Alive, when everyone else was dead."

"I found him in the main courtyard. Unconscious." She looked directly at the Hokage. "Trapped in whatever genjutsu is holding him now."

"A genjutsu that suggests the perpetrator was extraordinarily skilled," Shikaku noted. "Few shinobi could manage such a technique."

Danzo's visible eye fixed on her with predatory intensity. "Tell us, when you found the boy, was there any sign of his brother? Any indication of where Itachi might have gone?"

The question hung in the air like a trap. Akari felt every eye in the room watching her reaction.

"I saw no one else alive," she said carefully.

"Only death. Only Sasuke."

"But Itachi's body wasn't among the dead," Danzo pressed. "He's vanished. And you appear. Rather suspicious timing, wouldn't you say?"

"Are you suggesting I was working with him?" The words came out harsher than she intended, a flash of genuine anger. "That I helped murder my own family?"

"We're suggesting," Koharu said coldly, "that your story raises questions. Questions that can only be fully answered when the boy wakes."

When Sasuke wakes, Akari thought with a chill. When he can tell them what he saw. What Itachi told him.

"The boy is the key," Danzo said, almost to himself. "He's the only witness. The only one who can confirm what really happened that night."

Hiashi's pale eyes flickered toward her. "You had never met the boy before that night?"

"No. But he’s my cousin. The only family either of us has left. That makes him my responsibility."

Kakashi's voice came from beside her, calm and certain. "He has no one else. She's the only family he has."

The words settled into the silence like stones dropping into still water.

Inoichi tilted his head slightly, studying her with professional interest. "We could confirm her story. A surface read would settle most questions."

Akari didn't flinch, though her spine straightened imperceptibly. "I'm willing. But only if you intend to treat me fairly, not use it as an excuse to dig deeper."

The Hokage raised a weathered hand. "That won't be necessary. Not unless circumstances change."

Danzo's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but he said nothing. She could feel his frustration, his desire to probe deeper, to control the narrative.

Good. Let him be frustrated.

Her eyes drifted back to the bandages wrapped around his arm. Fresh. Hiding something that should have been cremated with its owner.

"I have a request," she said, voice calm but carrying an edge of steel.

Several pairs of eyes focused on her with new attention.

"The Uchiha honor their dead," she continued. "We burn our bodies. And our eyes. We do not leave them behind."

A ripple of tension moved through the room. Shikaku's expression sharpened.

"You want to perform the rites?" he asked.

"I want Sasuke to have a chance to say goodbye. I want them honored and not stripped of their dignity."

The words hung in the air like an accusation. She watched Danzo's face carefully, saw the slight tightening around his visible eye.

"The bodies have already been moved," he said, too quickly.

"To where?"

Silence.

Akari didn't shout. She didn't need to. Her voice remained even, but something cold crept into it. "Then I want a pyre prepared. Whatever you have, return it. Let the boy say goodbye properly. Let him grieve."

The Hokage glanced at Danzo and then back at her. The old man looked genuinely troubled. "I'll allow it."

Danzo shifted but said nothing. His silence spoke volumes.

They still don't know, she thought. They don't know what I've seen. What I suspect. What he's already done.

She nodded once. "Thank you."

Shikaku frowned thoughtfully. "If the Uchiha are to be honored, this will need to be public."

"They deserve that much," she said firmly. "All of them."

Danzo's silence deepened, became something almost hostile. She could feel his eyes on her, measuring, calculating.

Planning..

Let him plan, she thought. He has no idea who he's really dealing with.

The meeting continued for another hour, covering logistics and security concerns, but Akari barely heard the details. Her mind was already working through possibilities, cataloging allies and threats. Shikaku had a brilliant mind and was pragmatic. If she could earn his respect, he could be valuable. Inoichi seemed fair, though dangerous in his own way. The Hokage was old and tired, possibly sympathetic.

And Danzo... Danzo was already planning how to contain or control her.

He had no idea what he was up against.

When it was over, Akari didn't return to the hospital right away. She stopped just outside the council hall and leaned back against the cool stone of the corridor. The world had gone too still, that specific, jarring quiet that came after pretending to be composed for too long.

She closed her eyes and breathed slowly through her nose.

They'll try to twist the story, she thought. But I'll write it back.

Her hand found the charm in her pocket, its worn fabric soft beneath her fingers. Kakashi's faith, tangible and warm.

This time, Naruto, she thought, you don't have to yell to be heard. I'll do it for both of us.

She could almost imagine what he would have said in that council room. Probably would have stood up, called Danzo a parasite, and said something outrageous about saving Sasuke with the power of friendship. And somehow, impossibly, he would have gotten away with it.

He wasn't here. But she could still feel him behind her ribs, burning gold and laughing, believing in impossible things.

God, she missed him.

Her eyes opened. The corridor was empty except for Kakashi, who had been waiting patiently against the opposite wall.

"Ready?" he asked.

She pushed off from the stone. "Time to go back."

The hospital halls were quieter than before. Morning had deepened into afternoon, and the air felt thick with the kind of waiting that lived between disasters. Akari's steps were measured, but something inside her still thrummed with tension from the council meeting.

When she pushed open the door to Sasuke's room, something in her chest uncoiled.

He was still there. Still breathing. Exactly where she had left him.

The nurse from earlier was seated beside his bed, checking vitals with practiced care. She glanced up and smiled gently when Akari entered.

"Vitals are steady," she reported. "No change since this morning. He made a small noise earlier, maybe a dream, but he settled right back."

Relief hit harder than she expected. Akari moved closer, her eyes never leaving Sasuke's sleeping face. She touched his hair with the lightest brush of her fingers, smoothing it back from his forehead.

"Thank you," she said softly, and meant it from the depths of her chest. "What's your name?"

The question seemed to surprise the nurse, but her smile widened. "Kairi. I've been on day shift all week. I'll be around if you need anything."

"Kairi," Akari repeated carefully. "Thank you for being kind to him."

There was something real in the way Kairi looked at her then. Something warmer than sympathy. Maybe recognition. Maybe something close to trust.

"He seems like a sweet kid," Kairi murmured, gathering her things.

After the nurse left, Akari settled into her chair beside the bed. The silence that followed wasn't heavy this time. It felt softer, earned.

A moment later, the curtain rustled and Kakashi stepped through.

"He's still the same," she said without looking up.

"I spoke with the Hokage before the interrogation began," Kakashi said, stopping a few feet away. "It's official. I've been assigned to you."

That made her look up. "Assigned to me?"

"They're calling it oversight," he said with a slight shrug. "But it means I'm your keeper while you're in the village. No guards. No escort. Just me."

She absorbed that. It wasn't freedom, not really, but it was the closest thing she was going to get.

"They didn't question that?" she asked.

"They trust me," he said, his visible eye unreadable. "And frankly, no one else volunteered."

She gave a soft snort at that, and for a second, something almost like amusement flickered behind Kakashi's mask.

He moved to the other side of the bed and pulled up the second chair.

"I also told them you'll need somewhere to stay," he continued. "You're not going to a shelter or temporary housing. You and Sasuke will stay with me."

The offer settled in her chest with relief that nearly startled her. She blinked once, then looked back at Sasuke.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Kakashi was quiet for a moment, studying Sasuke's troubled face.

"Do you think they'll really follow through?" she asked. "The pyre. The rites."

Kakashi leaned back in his chair. "I'll make sure of it."

Her hand curled around Sasuke's again. His skin was warm, alive. The steady rhythm of his breathing reminded her of all the things they still had.

She looked at Kakashi then, really looked, and said softly, "They're going to try to take him. Twist the story. Make him into what they need him to be."

"They'll try," Kakashi agreed. "But you're the only family he has left. And now you're not alone."

His voice held something steady beneath the words. Not pity. Not empty reassurance.

Just truth.

She nodded, her hand tightening slightly around Sasuke's.

Outside the window, sunlight had begun to shift again, growing long and golden across the floor. The day was moving on, the world still spinning, even as hers stood painfully still.

But Sasuke was safe. She had seen to that.

And she wasn't fighting this alone anymore.

The charm in her pocket seemed to pulse with warmth, a reminder of unexpected faith offered freely. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new battles to fight in conference rooms and corridors of power.

But tonight, she would sit beside this sleeping boy and plan how to save them all.

This time, she thought, I won't let them break what matters.

This time, she would be enough.

Next Chapter: Ashes to Ashes

Sasuke wakes to a world forever changed, and as the village demands answers from a traumatized child, Akari must watch the boy she's sworn to protect become a witness to his own tragedy.

Chapter Text

Dawn came too soon and not soon enough.

Akari had barely slept, her body cramped in the uncomfortable hospital chair, one hand never leaving Sasuke's. He hadn't moved since she'd found him three days ago. Still lost somewhere deep in his head where Itachi's genjutsu held him trapped.

She knew that kind of prison.

The morning light came through the window, weak and gray, and with it came the weight of waiting. The funeral couldn't happen until Sasuke woke up. The whole village was holding its breath, waiting for the only witness to tell them what really happened that night.

Her fingers tightened around the cloth bundle in her lap. She'd gone back to the compound the night before, slipping through empty streets like a ghost. The ANBU hadn't stopped her. Kakashi had made sure of that.

The houses stood empty, doors hanging open, windows dark. The cleanup crews had been thorough. Too thorough. They'd taken the bodies, scrubbed away the blood, but left behind the lives. The small things that made a house a home.

She unwrapped the bundle carefully. Each item hit her like a punch to the gut.

A child’s wooden shuriken painted red and blue. She'd found it under a bed, probably kicked there during a game. Some little boys treasure.

Mikoto's favorite hairpin, the one with the silver flowers. It had been sitting on her dresser, right where she always left it.

Fugaku's reading glasses, folded neat beside a half-finished report. Even at the end, he'd been working for the clan.

Each piece was a life cut short. A story with no ending.

She showed Kakashi each item, trying to keep her voice steady. "A child's shuriken. I found it under a bed." She moved to the next. "A woman's hairpin. It was on a dresser, probably someone's favorite..." She caught herself, realizing she was about to say it was Mikoto's favorite.

Kakashi's eye sharpened. "You seem to know a lot about these items for someone who never met the family."

Her throat went dry. "I just... when you find something in someone's bedroom, you can tell it meant something, right? The way it was placed..."

"The hairpin," he said quietly. "You said it was probably someone's favorite. Most people would just see a hairpin."

She set it down carefully, hands not quite steady. "Lucky guess?"

He watched her for a long moment, filing the moment away. "Maybe."

When she finished, he reached into his pack and pulled out a small, worn book. "Poetry. I found it in one of the houses. Someone had been writing in the margins."

Inside, in neat handwriting, someone had written:

The cherry blossoms fall
But their beauty lives on
In memory's spring

Her throat went tight. "They were artists. All of them. Warriors and poets and dreamers."

"They'll be honored," Kakashi said. "Once he wakes up."

A sound from the bed made them both look over. Sasuke's fingers moved against the sheets, his head turning on the pillow. He was still out but stirring.

"He's been doing that more," Akari said, dropping the bundle and grabbing his hand.

But right as she said it, Sasuke's fingers squeezed hers. His breathing changed, got shallower. His eyelids started fluttering.

"Sasuke?" she whispered.

His eyes opened slow, dark and confused, blinking at the light. For a second, he just stared up at nothing. Then he looked at her, and she watched panic flood his face.

"Who are you?" he gasped, jerking his hand away from hers. "Where am I? Where's my family?"

The fear in his voice broke her heart. She'd forgotten, he'd never seen her before. To him, she was just a stranger holding his hand.

"Hey, it's okay," she said softly, backing up to give him space. "You're safe. You're in the hospital."

"I don't know you," he said, scrambling to sit up, looking around wildly. "Where's Tou-san? Where's Kaa-san? Where's Nii-san?"

Before she could answer, the door burst open. The Hokage walked in, followed by two ANBU and what looked like half the council. They'd been waiting for this moment.

"Sasuke," the Hokage said gently, but his presence filled the room. "I'm glad you're awake. I know this is confusing, but we need to ask you some questions."

Sasuke looked between all the adults, terror written across his small face. "I want my parents. Where are my parents?"  

Akari stepped forward instinctively. "He just woke up. He's scared and confused. Maybe give him a minute to…"

"You have no authority here," Koharu cut her off coldly. " This is official village business."

" I'm his cousin as you well know, so yes, I do have authority” Akari shot back firmly.

Sasuke's head whipped toward her. "Cousin? You’re not my cousin. I don't know you."

The words stung, even though she'd expected them.

"Your mother had a sister," she said gently. "My mother. She was cast out before you were born. I came looking for family and..." Her voice caught. "I found you."

"That's not true," Sasuke said, shaking his head. "Kaa-san would've told me about a sister. You're lying."

"Sasuke," the Hokage interrupted. "I need you to tell us what happened. Do you remember the night your family died?"

The question hit the boy like a slap. His face went white.

"Died?" he whispered. "They're not... they can't be..."

"I'm sorry," the Hokage said, and he did sound genuinely sorry. "They're gone. All of them. You're the only survivor.”

Sasuke's world collapsed in that moment. She could see it happening, the exact second when hope turned to devastation. The sound that came out of him wasn't quite a scream, wasn't quite a sob. It was pure grief.

"No," he choked out. "No, no, no, they were just... we were just..."

Akari didn't hesitate. Stranger or not, the kid was falling apart. She moved toward the bed, but one of the ANBU stepped in her way.

"Ma'am, please step back."

"He needs comfort, not an interrogation," she snapped.

"He needs to answer questions," Koharu said coldly. "Sasuke, what do you remember about your brother? About Itachi?"

At the mention of his brother, Sasuke went very still. Something shifted in his expression, like he was seeing something the rest of them couldn't.

"Nii-san," he whispered. "He... he said..." His voice trailed off, confusion clouding his features.

"What did he say?" The Hokage leaned forward.

Sasuke's breathing got fast and shallow. His hands started shaking. "I can't... it's all mixed up. There was blood and screaming and he kept saying things that didn't make sense..."

"You're pushing him too hard," Akari said, stepping around the ANBU. "He's seven years old and traumatized. He just came out of a genjutsu, this can wait."

"No, it can't," Danzo's voice came from the doorway. He walked in like he owned the place, cane tapping against the floor. "The boy is the only witness. We need to know what Itachi told him."

Sasuke took one look at Danzo and pressed himself back against the headboard. Something about the man clearly terrified him.

"I want these people to leave," Sasuke said, voice small and scared. "I want my family. I want to go home."

"Your home is gone," Danzo said bluntly. "Your family is dead. This woman claims to be your relative, but we have no proof. You need to tell us what your brother did."

"Stop," Akari said, moving between Danzo and the bed. "You're scaring him."

Kakashi watched from his corner as she positioned herself like a shield. She moves like a shinobi he thought. Trained. Experienced. But she's supposed to be a civilian who grew up outside the village.

"He should be scared," Danzo replied. "Itachi is a murderer and massacred his entire clan."

Sasuke made a wounded sound, curling in on himself.

"That's enough," Kakashi spoke up from his corner. "The boy's been through hell. Give him time to process."

"We don't have time," Koharu snapped. "Itachi could be anywhere by now. The boy might know where he went."

"I don't know anything!" Sasuke suddenly shouted, tears streaming down his face. "I don't remember! I don't want to remember!"

He looked around the room at all these strangers demanding answers he didn't have, and his gaze landed on Akari. She was the only one who'd tried to protect him, even if he didn't know her.

"Make them stop," he whispered to her. "Please."

Something in her chest cracked open. This little boy, looking at her like she might save him from all this.

"Everyone out," she said firmly. "Now."

"You don't have the authority…" Danzo started.

"I'm his family," she cut him off. "I'm the only family he has left. And I'm telling you to get the hell out of this room."

The Hokage held up a hand. "Perhaps we should give the boy some time to adjust. The questioning clearly isn't productive when he can't remember."

"We can't delay" Danzo pressed.

"We can and we will," The Hokage said with finality. "The boy needs time to process. I will continue when he's ready. Everyone out."

One by one, they filed out. Danzo was the last to leave, his cold stare lingering on both of them like a threat.

In the hallway, Danzo paused and caught the eye of one of the ANBU with a subtle gesture. "I want eyes on her," he said quietly. "All times. Report directly to me." The masked figure nodded once and melted into the shadows.

When the door closed, Sasuke started crying. Not the loud sobbing from before, but quiet, broken tears that somehow hurt worse.

Someone knocked on the door a few minutes later. Kairi, the nurse, poked her head in, looking worried.

"Everything okay in here? I heard shouting from down the hall." She came over to check Sasuke's monitors, frowning at what she saw. "Geez, look at these numbers. What happened?"

"They were being cruel and heartless," Akari said, still pissed off.

"Who was?"

"The council. Trying to interrogate him like he's some kind of criminal instead of a traumatized kid."

Kairi's expression darkened. "Are you kidding me? His heart rate is through the roof. That's the last thing he needs." She sat on the edge of the bed. "Hey, little guy. You doing, okay?"

"No, not really," Sasuke said honestly.

"Yeah, I bet. Those old men can be pretty scary even when you're not dealing with..." She gestured vaguely. "Well, everything you're dealing with."

She messed with his blankets for a second, then looked back at Akari. "You know what? I'm gonna grab some tea from the break room. And there's definitely cookies hiding in there somewhere."

"You don't have to do that," Akari said.

 "I don't like sweet things anyway," Sasuke said quietly.

Kairi looked surprised. "Really? What kind of kid doesn't like cookies?"

"Me, I guess. They make my teeth hurt and I don’t like the taste."

"Huh. Well, how about some rice crackers then? I think I saw some of those plain ones in there."

"That sounds better," Sasuke said, almost smiling.

"Besides, I want too anyway. What they did was wrong. Little guy been through hell, and they're worried about their stupid questions." Kairi stood up, hands on her hips. "You did good, standing up for him. He needed someone to fight for him."

After she left, Sasuke looked up at Akari.

"I like her," he said.

"Yeah. Me too."

"I don't understand," he whispered. "Where did everyone go? Why don't I remember?"

Akari sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to crowd him. "Sometimes our minds protect us from things that are too hard to handle."

"Are you really my cousin?"

She looked at his small, scared face and made a choice. "Yes. I know you don't remember me, but I'm family. And I'm not going anywhere."

"Everyone else did," he said quietly.

"I'm not everyone else."

He studied her face like he was trying to decide if he could trust her. Finally, he asked, "What's your name?"

"Akari."

"Akari," he repeated, testing it out. "Will you... will you stay with me? I don't want to be alone."

"Every step," she promised. "I'll be right beside you."

Something in his posture relaxed a little. Not trust, not yet, but maybe the beginning of it.

The rest of the day passed quietly. Sasuke slept on and off, exhausted from the emotional trauma and the failed interrogation. The doctors wanted to keep him one more day for observation anyway as his body was still recovering from three days in the Tsukuyomi.

Akari stayed by his side. Slowly, carefully, they started to get to know each other. She told him stories about his parents when they were young, things her mother had written in old letters. He told her about his favorite hiding spots in the compound, about how Itachi used to train with him.

"Nii-san was really strong," he said quietly. "The strongest in the whole clan."

"Tell me about him," she said gently.

"He made me dango once when Kaa-san was sick. It was terrible." For the first time, Sasuke smiled. "But he tried really hard. And he always had time to play with me, even when Tou-san said he was too busy."

 As she leaned forward to smooth his hair back from his forehead, Sasuke went very still, staring up at her.

"You look like her," he whispered suddenly. "Like who?" "Kaa-san. Around the eyes. The way you..." He struggled for the words. "That's why I wanted you to stay, isn't it? You feel like her."

Akari's throat went tight. "Do I?"

He nodded, reaching up to touch her face with one small finger, tracing the shape of her eye. "She used to look at me like that when I was scared. Like you really see me."

"I do see you," she said softly. "All of you."

He studied her face for another moment, then settled back against his pillow. "I'm glad you came. Even if everything else is terrible, I'm glad you're here."

Around evening, she pulled something from her bag. "I found this in your room when I was looking for things to bring to the funeral."

She unwrapped a small bundle, revealing a worn little dinosaur plushie.

Sasuke's face lit up. "Rex!" He grabbed the toy and hugged it tight. "I thought he was lost forever."

"He looks well-loved," Akari said softly. "Like he's been taking good care of you for a long time."

"Kaa-san said he'd protect me while I sleep," Sasuke whispered, pressing Rex against his chest.

"She used to tuck him in right next to me and say he was the bravest dinosaur in the whole world."

"She sounds like she was a wonderful mother," Akari said gently, and something in her voice made Sasuke look up sharply.

"You... you really did know her, didn't you?" Sasuke looked up at her with something like trust starting to bloom in his dark eyes.

"Through my mother's letters," Akari said softly. "I found them after she died. She wrote so much about Mikoto, how kind she was, how much she loved her sons. She wrote about you and Itachi all the time. About how smart you were, how much you loved training with your aniki." Sasuke's eyes widened a little. "Reading those letters, I felt like I already knew you. Like I knew your whole family, even though we'd never met."

That night, Kakashi appeared in the doorway as they were settling down to sleep.

"Thought I'd check in," he said quietly. "Make sure you're both okay after... everything."

Sasuke was already curled up with Rex, but he looked up. "Are you staying?"

"Just outside," Kakashi said. "Making sure no one else bothers you tonight."

Akari felt something tight in her chest ease. "Thank you."

He gave a small nod and melted back into the shadows, but she could sense him there. Watching. Protecting.

That night, Sasuke slept better. Rex was tucked under his arm and Akari lightly slept in the chair beside him. He still had nightmares, but when he woke up scared, she was there. And slowly, the memories that had been locked away started to surface.

The Next Morning

"I remember," Sasuke said quietly when he woke up.

Akari was instantly alert. "Remember what?"

"That night. What aniki said. What he did." His voice was small but steady. "Should I... should I tell them?"

She studied his face. He looked older somehow, like the memories had aged him overnight.

"Do you want to tell them?"

He was quiet for a long moment. "I think I have to. They won't stop asking until I do."

"You only have to tell what you're ready to tell," she said firmly. "And I'll be right there with you."

When the Hokage arrived an hour later, he came alone. No council members, no ANBU. Just him and his kind, tired eyes.

"I heard you remembered something," he said gently, pulling up a chair.

Sasuke nodded. He looked at Akari, and she squeezed his hand.

"Nii-san killed them," Sasuke said, his voice barely a whisper. "He killed everyone. Tou-san, Kaa-san, everyone."

The Hokage's expression grew heavy. "Did he say why?"

"He said... he said he wanted to test his abilities. That the clan was weak and he was strong." Sasuke's grip on Rex tightened. "But his eyes... they looked so sad. Like he didn't want to be saying it."

"Did he say where he was going?"

"Did he say where he was going?" Sasuke shook his head. "He just said he was leaving. That I was too weak, that I didn't have enough hate." His voice got smaller. "He said if I wanted to kill him someday, I'd have to get stronger. That I'd have to... to hurt someone I care about. To get power like his."

His grip on Rex tightened. "But I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to hate anyone. I just want my family back."

The Hokage's expression grew troubled. "Did he say anything else? About why he did it?"

"He said I was foolish. That I didn't understand anything." Sasuke's voice cracked. "He told me to run and cling to life. But I don't know why I should if everyone's gone."

The Hokage nodded slowly. "Thank you for telling me, Sasuke. I know that was hard."

"Are you going to make me say it again? To all those other people?"

"No," the Hokage said firmly. "I'll handle the council. You've been through enough."

After he left, Sasuke looked up at Akari. "Was that okay? What I told him?"

"You were very brave," she said. "Your family would be so proud."

"Now what happens?"

"Now we say goodbye to them properly. Are you ready?"

Sasuke clutched Rex to his chest and nodded. "I'm ready."

The Funeral

The walk to the ceremonial grounds felt like walking through a dream. Or maybe a nightmare. Sasuke's hand was small and warm in hers, but she could feel him shaking. Rex was tucked under his other arm, and he kept looking around at all the people like he'd never seen so many in one place.

Which, she realized, he probably hadn't. Not like this. Not all staring at him.

"Too many people," he whispered, pressing closer to her side.

"I know," she said softly. "But they're here to honor your family. That's a good thing."

Kakashi walked on Sasuke's other side, not saying much but was there. Solid and real. Every so often, someone would try to get close, maybe offer condolences or just get a better look, and Kakashi would somehow be in the way without making it obvious.

The training grounds had been transformed. This was where Team 7 used to practice, where Naruto drove everyone crazy with his loud training and they all failed spectacularly at the bell test. Now there was a massive pyre. Logs stacked higher than her head, arranged in the traditional pattern she remembered from when she was small. Someone had done their research.

But it felt wrong somehow. Too neat. Too organized. Like they'd followed a manual instead of their hearts.

"It's big," Sasuke said, stopping when he saw it.

"Your family was important," Akari said. "This is how the village shows respect."

Except it wasn't really respect, was it? It was politics. She could see it in how people positioned themselves, in the way conversations died when she and Sasuke walked past. Everyone wanted to be seen honoring the dead, but nobody wanted to get too close to the survivors.

Half these people spent years treating the Uchiha like outcasts, she thought bitterly. Whispering about curses and suspicion, pushing them further and further away. And now they're here playing grieving villagers, mourning the family they helped isolate.

They'd set up chairs near the front, but Akari ignored them. Instead, she led Sasuke right up to the pyre itself. Close enough to touch.

"Can you feel them?" she asked quietly.

Sasuke looked confused. "Feel who?"

"Your family. They're here. Not gone. Just... different."

It was stupid, maybe, but when she put her hand on one of the logs, she could swear she felt something. Warmth that wasn't from the sun.

"I don't feel anything," Sasuke said, but he put his small hand on the wood anyway.

Behind them, the crowd was growing. She could hear whispers, people asking who she was, what her connection had been. Some of the voices weren't friendly.

"That's her. The one who found him."

"Convenient timing, don't you think?"

"Where was she when they needed help?"

A chunin she didn't recognize whispered to his partner, "Convenient how she shows up right after everyone dies."

An elderly civilian woman dabbed at her eyes. "Poor little thing," she murmured, watching Sasuke. "Lost everything.

Akari's jaw went tight, but she didn't turn around."

"Ignore them," Kakashi said quietly. "They don't matter."

But they did matter. These people would vote, would decide policy, would shape how Sasuke was treated going forward. Every whisper was a judgment.

"Should we start?" the Hokage called out, his voice gentle but carrying across the grounds

The Hokage stood near a small platform, his ceremonial robes making him look older. Around him, the council members had arranged themselves like pieces on a board. Danzo near the back, watching everything with those cold eyes. The clan heads scattered throughout, marking their territories.

Akari looked down at Sasuke. "Ready?"

He shook his head but squeezed her hand tighter.

"Me neither," she admitted. "But we're gonna do it anyway. Because we're Uchihas, and we're strong."

She led him to the platform. Her legs felt shaky. All these people, all these eyes, and she was supposed to speak for the dead. For her family. For people she'd failed to save.

The crowd went quiet as she stepped up.

In the crowd, a young mother pulled her own child closer as Akari began to speak. Genma Shiranui shifted uncomfortably, senbon rolling between his teeth. A graying shinobi who'd respected the Uchiha's bowed his head deeply, ignoring the whispers around him.

"The Uchiha believed that fire purifies," she began, and her voice cracked. She cleared her throat, tried again. "That it carries our spirits home."

She'd never done this before. Had only watched from the edges when she was small. But the words came anyway, pulled from somewhere deep.

"They were warriors," she continued. "But they were also teachers, artists, protectors. They loved their children, honored their elders, and died defending what they believed in."

From his position beside the platform, Kakashi found himself studying her profile as she spoke. She knows too much, he realized. The way she arranges the items, the specific phrases she's using. That's not knowledge from letters. That's lived experience.

Someone in the crowd shifted. A few coughs. She could feel their discomfort. Death made people squirmy.

"Fugaku Uchiha led with wisdom. Mikoto Uchiha raised her sons with love. And all the others..." Her voice wavered. "All the others lived lives that mattered. Lives that won't be forgotten."

She reached into her bundle, pulling out the small treasures. Mikoto's hairpin caught the light.

"These were theirs," she said. "Pieces of who they were. And now we give them back."

One by one, she placed the items on the pyre. The wooden shuriken, the reading glasses, the knitting needles. Each one felt like saying goodbye again.

Sasuke stepped forward, Rex clutched in his hands.

"This is mine," he said, barely audible. "But... but I think Kaa-san would want him to go with her. So she won't be lonely."

The crowd was completely silent now.

Sasuke walked to the pyre and carefully placed Rex among the logs. The little dinosaur looked smaller somehow, lost among all that wood.

Akari had to bite her lip to keep from crying.

The Hokage stepped forward with a torch and handed it to Akari. The flame danced in the afternoon light.

"May their spirits find peace," she said, and touched fire to the base.

The flames caught quickly, spreading up and out with a hunger that made everyone step back. The heat hit her face in waves, and smoke started to rise, thick and dark against the sky.

She watched it burn and thought about all the times she'd dreamed of this moment. All the nights she'd imagined having the chance to say goodbye properly. It should have felt like closure.

Instead, it just felt empty.

"They're free now," Sasuke said quietly, slipping his hand back into hers.

"Yeah," she managed. "They are."

But as the flames climbed higher, she caught sight of Danzo across the crowd. He was watching her, not the fire. His expression was calculating. Like he was already planning his next move.

As she watched, Danzo caught the eye of a chunin in the crowd, someone Akari would never suspect was Root. A slight nod passed between them.

She squeezed Sasuke's hand tighter.

The fire burned for hours. People came and went, paying respects or just satisfying curiosity. Most of the clan heads made their appearances offering a few words of sympathy, political covering of bases.

Shikaku Nara approached around sunset, when the flames had died to glowing embers.

"You did well," he said simply. "They would've been proud."

It was the first thing anyone had said that felt genuine.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"The boy too," Shikaku added, glancing at Sasuke, who had fallen asleep against her shoulder. "Takes courage to give up something you love."

After he left, it was just the three of them and the dying fire. The crowd had gone home. Tomorrow the village would go back to normal.

"We should go," Kakashi said gently. "He needs real rest."

Akari nodded but didn't move. Couldn't quite make herself leave. This felt too much like abandoning them again.

"They know you loved them," Kakashi said quietly.

"Do they?"

"Look around. Half the village showed up today because of you. Because you demanded they be honored. That's not nothing."

She looked at the smoking remains, at Sasuke's peaceful face, at Kakashi's steady presence.

Maybe he was right. Maybe it wasn't nothing.

But as they walked away, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. That Danzo's calculating stare meant trouble coming. That the real fight hadn't even started yet.

Still, Sasuke was safe in her arms, Kakashi was walking beside her, and for tonight, that would have to be enough.

Preview Chapter 7: A Place to Heal

Moving into Kakashi's apartment should be the fresh start they need, but living together brings new problems. Sasuke has nightmares, Kakashi's terrible at domestic stuff, and Akari's keeping way too many secrets.

When her own nightmares finally crack her open, the truth spills out, time travel, a war that killed everyone, and Naruto's desperate plan to save them all. Now Kakashi must decide if he believes her impossible story or just trusts that she'll do anything to protect the people she loves.

Some conversations only happen at 3 AM, and some truths need the safety of family to come out.

Chapter Text

The afternoon sun felt different leaving the ceremony grounds. Softer. Like the world was trying to give them a break after all that grief.

Sasuke walked between them. His small hand wrapped around Akari's. The other arm hung empty where Rex used to be. Every few steps, he'd glance up at her. Those dark eyes checking she wasn't going anywhere.

Akari kept watching him. Cataloging each reaction. The way he flinched when a dog barked somewhere. How his grip tightened whenever other shinobi passed. This village had always been his home. Now it probably felt like enemy territory.

"It's not much," Kakashi said. They climbed stairs to his apartment building. Keys jingled against his fingers. "I don't usually have company."

"We're not company." Akari squeezed Sasuke's hand. "We're family now. Remember?"

Something flickered across Kakashi's face. Surprise, maybe. Something deeper he wasn't ready to name. His visible eye crinkled before he nodded and fumbled with the lock.

The door swung open.

Akari's breath caught.

The apartment was exactly the same. Same sparse furniture. Same overflowing bookshelf with Icha Icha sticking out. Even the way afternoon light slanted through the window. Time had stood still here. Nothing had changed.

Her eyes found the single photograph on the kitchen counter. Team Minato. All four of them young and smiling.

"You okay?" Kakashi asked. She'd frozen in the doorway.

She blinked. Forced a smile. "It's exactly how I imagined."

Sasuke let go of her hand. Took cautious steps inside. His bare feet silent on wooden floor. Without Rex against his chest, he seemed smaller. More vulnerable. Like he'd lost his shield.

"I brought some things." Kakashi's voice carried awkwardness. He gestured to bags near the door. "Clothes for both of you. Toiletries." He shifted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Some of Sasuke's books and toys. I thought... you might want something that belonged to your family."

Akari's throat tightened. The familiar Uchiha crest embroidered on folded clothing. Mikoto's things. Carefully selected. Kakashi had taken the time to think about what they might need.

She couldn't remember the last time anyone had done that.

"Thank you," she whispered. Fingers traced the fabric. "That was really thoughtful."

Sasuke wandered to the window. Stood on tiptoes to peer down at the street. His reflection looked small but curious against the glass.

A group of academy students ran past below. Laughing loudly.

He rolled his eyes.

"They're so loud," he muttered. But there was something almost sad in his tone.

"Is this where we're going to live now?" Breath fogged the window as he spoke.

"For now, while Kakashi will have us." Akari moved beside him. Gentle hand on his shoulder. "Is that okay with you?"

He nodded. Tilted his head up with those impossibly serious eyes. "Can you sleep in the same room as me?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Yes." His voice got smaller. "I miss Rex. I can't sleep without him. It feels too scary being alone."

Before Akari could respond, Kakashi cleared his throat. He knelt to Sasuke's level. Pulled something wrapped from one of the bags. His movements careful, like handling something precious.

"I thought you might want this," he said. Akari had to bite back a smile. Kakashi being nice to a kid was clearly uncharted territory.

Sasuke unwrapped it carefully. A small dinosaur plushie appeared. Not Rex. Something new. Soft green fabric with button eyes and tiny felt claws.

"He's not Rex," Kakashi said quickly. Words tumbling over each other. "Nothing could replace Rex. But I thought maybe you could use a friend."

Sasuke's eyes went wide. First real smile since the massacre. He hugged the dinosaur to his chest like it was made of safety.

"He's perfect. I love him," Sasuke whispered. Voice thick with emotion. He looked up at Kakashi with something that might become trust. "Can I call him Hiro? It sounds big and strong. Like you."

Something in Kakashi's expression went soft. Like armor cracking to let light through. "Hiro it is."

The next few hours passed strangely. Like playing house when none of them knew the rules. Kakashi moved his coffee table to make space for futons. Looking completely lost every time Sasuke asked questions about toothbrush placement or house rules.

At one point, Akari caught him staring at his refrigerator. Like it was designed by enemy intelligence.

"What's wrong?" she asked. Leaned against the kitchen doorframe.

"I just realized I don't actually know how to feed a child," he said slowly, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I know kids need food, but what kind? When? How much? Do they eat the same things as adults or is there some secret child food I'm supposed to know about?"

The confession was so earnest. So genuinely bewildered. Akari had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

"Kakashi, you've managed to keep yourself alive this long. I think you can figure out how to feed one small boy."

"Have I though?" He opened the refrigerator with theatrical dread. Moldy takeout containers and questionable milk stared back. "Because this suggests otherwise."

She stared at the pathetic contents. Remembered Naruto's apartment from the other timeline. How he'd survived on instant ramen and expired food. Never learning to take care of himself because no one taught him how.

"Okay, we definitely need groceries tomorrow. But for tonight..." She started rummaging through cabinets. Pushed aside dusty spice containers and unopened packages. "Let's see what we can work with."

Rice. Some basic seasonings that looked like they'd been there since the Third War. A jar of pickled vegetables. Probably still good. Nothing fancy, but real food.

Her hands moved without thinking. Rolling rice with practiced pressure. Adding salt the way it was supposed to be done. The motions felt familiar. Muscle memory from watching Mikoto in their family kitchen during quiet Sunday mornings.

Now she was the one preparing food with love. For the child she'd once been.

Sasuke perched at the small table. Hiro balanced on his lap. Watching her every movement with fascination.

When she accidentally dropped a grain of rice, he smirked.

"Kaa-san never dropped the rice," he said. No malice. Just the faintest hint of teasing.

"Well, I'm still learning," Akari replied. Matched his tone. "Maybe you can teach me the proper technique sensei."

He straightened importantly. "You have to be more careful with your fingers. Like this." He demonstrated with tiny, precise movements. She couldn't help but smile at his sudden seriousness.

"Kaa-san used to make them like that," he said quietly afterward. Small finger traced patterns on the table. "With the little bit of salt on the outside. And she'd make faces in them sometimes. With the seaweed pieces." Voice got softer. More distant. "When I was really little. She said the rice balls were happy to see me."

Akari's vision blurred. But she kept working. Throat tight with unshed tears. "Would you like me to make a face in yours?"

Sasuke's face brightened. First real excitement all day. He nodded eagerly and bounced slightly in his chair.

She used small pieces of seaweed. Simple eyes and a crooked smile. Nothing artistic but made with care. When she set it in front of him, joy lit up his entire face.

"He looks happy," Sasuke said, and picked up the rice ball like it was made of glass.

"He is happy." Akari settled across from him. "He gets to have dinner with his favorite person."

Sasuke took a careful bite. Then another. First real meal since waking from the Tsukuyomi. Color started returning to his pale cheeks. The tight lines around his eyes began to ease.

Kakashi watched from the counter. Arms crossed but expression gentle. When Sasuke finished eating and his eyelids started to droop, Kakashi straightened.

"Bath time," Akari said gently. Reading the signs. "Then bed."

"Will you stay while I sleep?" Sasuke asked. Gripped Hiro tighter against his chest.

"I'll be right there. All night."

Getting Sasuke ready for bed was more complex than expected. Kakashi disappeared into his bathroom. Emerged looking embarrassed. Carrying bath toys.

"Previous tenant," he mumbled. Ears red beneath his mask.

The warm water helped. Dissolved some tension Sasuke carried in his shoulders. He sat quietly while she filled the tub. Then tentatively picked up a rubber duck. Looked at her uncertainly. Like asking permission to be a child.

"It's okay," she said. Settled on the bathroom floor beside the tub. "You can play."

He made a hesitant quacking sound. Then another. Growing bolder. Soon he was making the duck swim in careful circles while she worked shampoo through his dark hair.

For a few precious minutes, he was just a little boy in a bathtub. Making animal noises and splashing quietly. The sound made something warm grow in her chest.

Every small task felt enormous. Like building something entirely new from broken pieces.

She remembered that first night in her old life. Perfect, painful clarity. How they'd sent a traumatized child back to the empty compound alone. How that Sasuke had stood in the bathroom, shaking and hollow-eyed. Staring at a reflection that barely seemed real.

No one had helped with bedtime. No one made sure there was food or someone to chase nightmares away.

Not this time.

This time, someone stayed.

Once he was dressed in his pajamas, soft cotton covered in tiny ninja tools that made him smile, they settled him on the futon. He looked up with quiet expectation.

"Can you tell me a story, Akari?" He clutched Hiro against his chest.

Akari opened her mouth. Paused dramatically. "Actually, you know what? Kakashi tells much better stories than I do."

Kakashi's visible eye went wide. Pure panic. "I... what? No, I don't think..."

Sasuke perked up right away. A tiny smirk curled at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were wide and eager.“You don’t know

how to tell stories?” he asked, all innocent curiosity with just the faintest spark of mischief.

“Oh yes,” Akari said, her voice light. She gave Kakashi an encouraging smile and ignored the look of pure betrayal he sent her way.

“Kakashi loves telling bedtime stories. Don’t you?”

“I really don’t…”

“What kind of story do you want to hear, Sasuke?” Akari asked sweetly, cutting off any further protests.

“A ninja story,” Sasuke said right away. He looked up at Kakashi with the biggest, most expectant eyes he could manage. “With cool fights. And maybe a happy ending?” Then, as if he hadn’t already won, he added with a cheeky little grin, “And don’t make it boring, okay?”

Kakashi shot Akari a look. Clearly communicated 'I will get you back for this.' But when he looked down at Sasuke's expectant face and that challenging little smirk something shifted.

"Right," he said. Settled cross-legged beside the futon with visible reluctance. "A ninja story. Once upon a time, there was a young ninja who had to complete a very important mission."

"What was his name?" Sasuke asked. Settled deeper into blankets but was clearly prepared to critique the entire story.

Kakashi looked desperately at Akari. She just raised her eyebrows encouragingly. "His name was... uh... Pakkun."

Akari had to cover her mouth. He'd just named his protagonist after one of his ninken.

"Pakkun needed to get a stolen scroll back from some bad guys," Kakashi continued. Obviously making it up as he went. "So first he had to... uh... figure out where all the guards were..."

"Kakashi," Akari interrupted gently. "Maybe skip the mission briefing part."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and mumbled, “It’s a bedtime story, not a mission report.”

"Right." Kakashi looked lost for a moment. Tried again with more confidence. "So Pakkun climbed through a window. Real quiet like. But when he found the scroll, there was this huge cat sitting right on top of it."

Sasuke giggled. "A cat?"

"The biggest, scariest cat you've ever seen," Kakashi said with complete seriousness. "With whiskers like this," he spread his hands wide to demonstrate, "and a meow so loud it could wake up everyone in the whole village."

"Hmff," Sasuke made a skeptical sound. But his eyes were bright with amusement. "Cats aren't that scary."

"This one was special," Kakashi insisted. Getting into it now.

He kept going. Each detail more ridiculous than the last. Pakkun tried to sneak past the cat. But the cat kept chasing him around the room in circles. Both of them knocking over furniture. Creating absolute chaos everywhere they went. Kakashi even did sound effects. Little mewing noises and dramatic crash sounds. Had Sasuke laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath.

By the end, Pakkun and the cat had become unlikely best friends and decided to share the scroll as an afternoon snack. Sasuke's eyelids were heavy with approaching sleep.

"That was really good," he mumbled. Voice slurred with exhaustion. Then, with a tiny smirk that was pure Sasuke, added, "Better than I thought it would be."

"Such high praise," Kakashi said dryly.

Sasuke's eyes were already closing. But he managed one more soft "hmff" of amusement before sleep claimed him. "Can you tell me another one tomorrow?"

"Sure," Kakashi said. The promise sounded easier this time.

Sasuke fell asleep within minutes. Breathing evening out into steady rhythm. They moved him carefully to his futon. He settled without waking. One arm wrapped around Hiro and the other hand reached out toward where Akari would be sleeping.

Even unconscious he was making sure she wouldn't disappear.

"You're horrible," Kakashi whispered as they stepped away.

"You were perfect," she whispered back. She meant every word.

Akari sat beside his futon afterward. Just watching the rise and fall of his chest. In sleep, all tension finally left his face. He looked like the child he was supposed to be. Instead of the survivor circumstances had forced him to become.

His breathing was soft. Even. Punctuated by tiny snores that made her heart ache.

"He feels safe with you," Kakashi observed quietly. He had settled against the kitchen counter. Exhaustion finally showing now that Sasuke couldn't see. Reached up and pulled down his mask and ran a tired hand over his uncovered face.

"I won't let anything happen to him."

"I know." His voice held quiet certainty. "That's why I trust you."

Seeing Kakashi without his mask still felt surreal. Like glimpsing something forbidden. She could almost hear Naruto's voice from before: "Come on, Kakashi-sensei! Just once! We promise we won't tell anyone!" And Sakura with elaborate theories about what might be hidden underneath. While Sasuke pretended complete indifference but always listened anyway.

Now she was seeing exactly what they'd all been so curious about.

He looked young beneath that mask. Twenty-one was closer to her apparent age than expected. Back then, as his student, she'd never thought of him as anything but their sensei. Their protector. Someone untouchable and infinitely skilled despite questionable reading habits.

But now, without that old dynamic between them, she found herself noticing things. Things that had nothing to do with respect or gratitude.

He was attractive. More than she'd let herself acknowledge before. Hands were elegant despite calluses. Long fingers that moved with practiced precision. She liked the way his eye crinkled when he was thinking. How his silver hair fell across his face in ways that made her want to brush it back.

Something about how he moved. All fluid grace from years of training. But with underlying gentleness that spoke to his nature.

"You should get some sleep," she said. Voice slightly rougher than intended. "It's been a long few days."

"So should you."

But neither moved. The apartment had settled into comfortable quiet. Only Sasuke's soft breathing and distant sounds of the village settling into evening.

"Thank you," Akari said. Words carrying more weight than simple gratitude. "For this. For letting us stay here. For Hiro. For everything you've done."

"Sasuke reminds me of someone," Kakashi said quietly. His gaze drifted to the sleeping child.

Her heart skipped. "Who?"

"Me, I guess. As a child." Words came out carefully measured. "Someone who needed looking after but was too proud to ask. I keep thinking about how no one was there when my father died. How I had to figure everything out myself. Pretend I was fine when I was falling apart inside." His jaw tightened slightly. "I don't want that for him. Or for you."

The words settled between them. Heavy with shared understanding and pain neither knew how to name.

Something fluttered in her chest. Warm and unexpected. But it quickly transformed into something else as she really looked at him. His vulnerability laid bare like this. His quiet strength. The way he genuinely wanted to protect them both.

It was impossibly attractive.

The sharp line of his jaw. The way his shirt stretched across broad shoulders. Those elegant hands that had been so unexpectedly gentle with Sasuke.

Her body responded before her brain could stop it and heat bloomed low in her belly. A throbbing want that made her press her thighs together reflexively. She wondered what his hands would feel like on her skin. How he'd taste. Whether he'd be as careful and thorough with her as he was with everything else.

These feelings belonged to Akari. Not to the student he'd once taught. The realization felt both liberating and scary as hell.

Was she developing a genuine attraction for Kakashi in this female body? She wasn't sure what to make of this development. So, she shut it down before it could show on her face.

"Get some sleep, Akari," he said softly, noticing she'd was lost in thought. "I'll be here if you need anything."

Knowing someone who actually cared was watching over them made something tight in her chest finally loosen. Not because she needed protection. She could handle herself fine. But because it felt incredible to know someone believed in her completely.

Someone who would stand beside her when the real fights began.

She settled on her futon. Close enough to Sasuke that she could reach out and touch him if nightmares came.

Sleep came easier than expected. Wrapped in quiet safety of walls and doors and someone trustworthy watching over them.

But nightmares found her anyway.

Started beautifully. Almost gentle. A memory that felt more real than the present.

They were back in the ruined shrine at Hidden Eddy village. Naruto beside him. Bodies pressed close in the narrow space they'd claimed as shelter. His skin warm against Sasuke's in flickering candlelight. Every point of contact electric.

"Stay with me forever," Sasuke whispered against the curve of his neck. He tasted salt and hope.

"Always," Naruto murmured back. Fingers moving in lazy patterns along Sasuke's spine. Blue eyes soft and serious. Like making a promise he meant to keep no matter what.

His lips found Sasuke's. Gentle and desperate and achingly real. Sasuke could taste his smile. Feel his heartbeat against his chest. Strong and steady and so beautifully alive.

So alive.

Then the memory brutally twisted.

Suddenly he was running through burning ruins. Smoke choking his lungs until each breath felt like swallowing glass. Screaming echoed from every direction. Voices he recognized calling for help that would never come. Buildings collapsed in thunderous heaps. The battlefield littered with bodies that would never move again.

Kakashi lay where he'd fallen protecting them. Blood pooling beneath his broken form. Eyes growing dim. But they found Sasuke's anyway. Holding steady even as life slipped away.

"You still have a chance," he whispered. Voice barely audible over destruction. "Don't waste it. I believe in all of you."

"Kakashi," Sasuke breathed. Dropped to his knees beside him. Hands hovering uselessly over wounds too severe to heal. "Don't leave us. We need you. I need you."

But he was already gone. That calm steady gaze going empty and distant. Sasuke was left calling his name into merciless silence.

Then Naruto was there. But wrong. Older than he should be. Scarred by battles that had cost everything. Looking at him with blue eyes full of disappointment.

"Why did you let me push you through?" Sasuke cried. Reached desperately for him. "I should have stayed with you. We should have died together."

"Someone had to live," he said. But he was already beginning to fade. "But you're not strong enough, Sasuke. You never were. You're going to fail them all again."

She woke up gasping.

Her heart was doing something violent against her ribs. Her mouth tasted like smoke and ruin even though there wasn't any. Her hands felt sticky with blood that wasn't there.

Where was she? The room looked unfamiliar for a second. Too dark. Too quiet. Then she remembered.

Kakashi's apartment. Sasuke sleeping next to her. Safe.

Except her body hadn't gotten the message. Every muscle was tight. Shaking. The dream was still there. Clinging to her skin like smoke and ash.

"Hey."

Hands on her shoulders. Real ones. Warm.

"You're safe. Just a nightmare."

It was Kakashi's voice. But he sounded different. Worried, maybe. She blinked hard. Tried to focus on his face in the dim light.

"I couldn't…" The words got stuck. Her throat hurt. Like she'd been screaming. "They all died. You died."

The grief hit her then. Not gentle. Not gradual. Like a rasengan to the stomach. All the tears she'd been saving up. Stored away for later when Sasuke couldn't see. When the council wasn't watching. When the whole damn village wasn't judging her every move.

It all came out at once.

"I watched them die," she said. Her voice broke completely. "Naruto, Sakura, you. Everyone. And I couldn't do anything."

It was like a damn burst and she just staring crying. Ugly crying. The kind that made your face red and your nose run. The kind that hurt.

"Akari." Kakashi's hands tightened on her shoulders. "Look at me."

But she couldn't. Everything was too bright. Too much. Her chest felt like someone was crushing it.

Then he was pulling her forward. Wrapping his arms around her like she might disappear if he didn't hold tight enough. One hand in her hair. The other moving in slow circles on her back.

"Okay," he said against her temple. "It's okay. Let it out."

So she did.

She cried for Naruto's stupid grin right before he pushed her through that portal. For Sakura dying with her hand stretched out like she was still trying to help someone. For Kakashi throwing himself in front of them without thinking twice because that's what he always did.

She cried for her parents lying cold on their bedroom floor. For Sasuke trusting her when he should probably run. For the way Kakashi smelled like safety when she hadn't felt safe in years.

He didn't try to make her stop. Didn't tell her it would be okay or that everything happened for a reason. Just held her while she fell apart. Breathed steady against her hair.

When the crying finally stopped, when she could think past the ache in her chest, she pulled back to look at him. His eye was dark. Focused entirely on her face.

"Sorry," she whispered. Her voice sounded wrecked. "I don't usually lose it like that."

"Don't." His hands were still on her shoulders. Thumbs moving in small circles. "You've been holding too much."

She wiped her face with the back of her hand. Noticed how close they were sitting. How she could feel his heartbeat under her palm where it had landed on his chest.

Something changed in his expression. Like putting pieces together.

"In your dream," he said slowly. "You were calling my name. Talking about people like you knew them."

Shit. She'd said too much.

"You died," she said anyway. Too tired to lie anymore. "On a battlefield. You told me I still had a chance. That you believed in us. I kept saying your name but you were already..."

She stopped.

His hands stayed on her shoulders. But something shifted. She could practically see his brain switching modes. She could feel him distancing himself. Analyzing.

"Explain," he said. Just like that. Cold and clinical.

Maybe it was the nightmare still hanging around her like mist. Maybe it was how tired she was of carrying secrets. Maybe she just couldn't pretend anymore.

"I was Sasuke." The words came out flat. "I’m from the future."

Kakashi went completely still.

"Time travel," he said. Not a question. More like he was testing how the words sounded.

He let go of her shoulders. Leaned back. Creating space between them.

"I know how it sounds." She hugged her arms around herself. Suddenly cold. "Completely insane. But it's true."

"Time travel isn't real."

"Neither are giant fox demons or people who can walk through walls." Her voice had an edge now. "But here we are."

He was quiet. Thinking. She could see him cataloging details. Looking for inconsistencies.

"Your fighting stance," he said slowly. "The way you hold yourself. How you look at me sometimes."

"Like I'm seeing a ghost." She finished for him. "Because I am."

"Elaborate."

"Team 7. Naruto, Sakura, me." The names hurt to say. "We were the last ones left. Fighting a war we couldn't win."

Something flickered in his eye. "Naruto Uzumaki."

Yes, Minato’s son. You trained us. All three of us." She watched his face. "You loved him like your own kid."

"I've never trained the boy."

"Not yet." Her patience was wearing thin. "But you will. And if you keep wasting time doubting me, you'll lose the chance to save any of them."

"Continue."

"He died getting me here. Used everything he had left to send me back." Her throat tightened. "Died so I could fix this."

Kakashi was studying her like she was a puzzle. "What war?"

"Fourth Shinobi World War. Akatsuki hunting tailed beasts. Madara coming back from the dead. The whole world trapped in an Infinite Tsukuyomi while something ancient sucked out everyone's chakra."

"Madara died at the Valley of the End."

"I know what the reports say." "But he found ways around death that nobody saw coming."

"Continue."

The word came out like an order. She almost told him to go to hell. But then she looked at his face. Really looked. Underneath all that control, he was desperate to understand.

"Obito's alive."

Kakashi stopped breathing.

"Say that again."

"Obito Uchiha. Alive. Right now."

"No." Flat. Final. "I was there. Saw the rocks fall. Felt his chakra disappear."

"He was dying. Half his body crushed." Her voice got softer. "But Madara found him. Kept him alive with White Zetsu matter."

His eye had gone cold. "How do you know this?"

"Because I lived it!" The words exploded out of her. "Because I watched everyone I loved die"

She could see him retreating behind his ANBU mask. Processing this like intelligence instead of the personal catastrophe it was.

"Madara fed him lies about you. About Rin. About what happened." She pushed forward. "Convinced him the world was broken beyond repair."

"What lies." His jaw was tight now.

"He saw you kill her. Watched her throw herself on your Chidori to save the village. But all he saw was his best friend killing the girl he loved."

Something cracked in his expression.

"That broke him. He blamed you. Blamed everything. By the time we fought him, he was calling himself Tobi. Leading the Akatsuki."

Kakashi was quiet for too long.

"The Nine-Tails attack," he finally said.

"Obito. The night Naruto was born."

His hands were shaking now, just slightly. "All these years..."

"Yes."

"He's been alive. Hating me."

"Yes."

Kakashi stood up fast. Moved to the window. His back was rigid.

"How do you know this?" Barely audible.

"Because we fought him. Until we got through to him at the end." Her voice softened. "He remembered who you really were. He died trying to save the world."

Silence.

"And Danzo?"

"Ordered the massacre. Blackmailed Itachi."

"Evidence."

"His right arm. Next time you see him, look at the bandages." She watched his reflection. "Sharingan. Multiple ones. Stolen from the dead."

That got a reaction. His shoulders tensed.

"And Shisui's eye. Took it during an attack. Shisui killed himself rather than let Danzo have both."

"Itachi..."

"Is joining Akatsuki right now. Thinks he's protecting Sasuke by making him hate him." Her voice dropped. "But he's also spying for the Hokage. The old man knows what Danzo did. He's letting Itachi carry it alone."

More silence. Kakashi stood there like a statue.

"If what you're saying is true..."

"You don't believe me."

He turned around. There were cracks in his composure now. His eye too bright.

"I want to." He said carefully. "But you're asking me to believe everything I know is wrong."

"I'm asking you to trust me." Her voice had an edge. "While we're talking, Obito's getting further away. Itachi's sinking deeper. Do you care more about being right than saving them?"

Pause.

"I can show you."

He went still. "How."

"Genjutsu. I can share my memories. You could see it yourself."

"That's dangerous. It could cause brain damage."

"So is letting everyone die because you're too careful." Her eyes flashed. "I know what I am doing, and I won’t hurt you, but I don't have time to convince you gently Kakashi. Every second you spend analyzing is another second closer to losing them."

He stared at her. She could see the war in his eye. Hope fighting caution.

"Show me," he said quietly.

She moved closer. He tensed but didn't pull away.

"Trust me," she said. Raised her hands to his face.

His jaw clenched. But he nodded.

"Do it."

Their eyes met. Akari let her chakra flow.

Everything dissolved.

Suddenly he was in a ruined shrine. Candlelight flickering against ancient stone walls. But he wasn't himself anymore. He was younger. Different. Pressed close against someone warm and familiar. Naruto's blue eyes, soft with love.

"Stay with me forever," his voice whispered. Except it wasn't his voice. It was Sasuke's.

"Always," Naruto murmured back. Fingers moving along his spine.

Then time shattered backward.

Team 7's first photo. Kakashi's hands resting on two grumpy heads. Naruto and Sasuke both scowling at being forced to pose. Sakura beaming between them. Through Sasuke's memory, Kakashi felt the mix of annoyance and belonging. How even that simple touch on his head had meant everything.

The bell test. Naruto tied to the post. Stomach growling. Sasuke making the choice to feed him despite orders. Then Sakura joining in despite potential punishment. "Those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum," Kakashi heard himself say. Felt the exact moment something opened up in all their hearts. The moment they stopped being strangers and became a real team.

Training sessions in the morning mist. Sweat and determination coating everything. Kakashi's patient voice explaining techniques. Watching Sasuke absorb every word like memorizing sacred texts. "You're getting stronger," he'd said after one intense session. Through Sasuke's memory he felt how much those simple words had meant.

Teaching the Chidori on a mountain top during sunset. Standing close enough to adjust hand positions. To guide chakra flow. "This jutsu's dangerous. I'm only teaching you this because I trust you to use it appropriately." Lightning crackling in small hands. And more than that, the overwhelming warmth of being trusted with something precious.

Late nights around campfires during missions. All four of them collapsed and exhausted. Sakura patching cuts and bruises carefully. Naruto telling ridiculous stories that made no sense. Kakashi making dry comments that somehow got them all laughing until their sides hurt. And Sasuke, pretending to sleep but really just listening. Feeling safe and loved and genuinely home for the first time.

Then darkness crept in.

The scene shifted violently. A seven-year-old Sasuke coming home from academy. Finding his entire family slaughtered. Itachi standing over their parents' bodies with blood coating his hands. That terrible, empty expression. The years of consuming hatred that followed. Eating him alive from the inside.

The curse mark burning through skin like acid. Orochimaru's experiments that left him feeling inhuman. Leaving everything that mattered for power that ultimately cost everything worth having.

Sasuke tied to a tree after his fight with Naruto on the hospital rooftop. Ready to abandon everything for the promise of power. Kakashi appearing like a ghost in the branches across from him. Settling down with infinite patience.

"Sasuke... Forget about something like revenge," Kakashi had said gently.

"Don't talk to me as if you know!" Sasuke had snapped. Voice cracking with rage and agony. "Don't talk to me like you understand anything! If you'd like, shall I kill the person most important to you? Then you'll realize just how far off you are!"

Kakashi's response came quiet and devastating: "Well, I wouldn't mind if you'd do that. Unfortunately, I don't even have one person like that. Everyone's already been killed."

The words cut deep. Sliced through Sasuke's anger to something raw underneath. Through Sasuke's memory, Kakashi felt the exact moment when his own brutal honesty had cracked something open in the boy. Not enough to stop him from leaving. But enough to plant doubt. Enough to show Sasuke he wasn't alone in his pain.

But Sasuke had left anyway. Kakashi experienced the crushing weight of that failure. Years of wondering what he could have done differently.

Then came the war. Everything got so much worse.

A ruined landscape under a blood-red sky that never cleared. Bodies littered the ground as far as the eye could see. Friends, enemies, civilians. All reduced to the same terrible stillness. The Fourth Shinobi World War in all its horrific glory.

Akari's voice whispered through the shared memories: "This is what happened. This is what we failed to stop."

Sakura falling during their final desperate battle. Her hand reaching out even as light faded from green eyes. "I was supposed to protect you both," she whispered with her last breath. Kakashi felt Sasuke's world completely shatter.

Running through burning ruins. Desperate and screaming names into smoke. Sasuke's panic felt like drowning. The crushing grief as he searched frantically for his remaining team.

"Kakashi!" The voice tearing from his throat was young and completely broken. "Where are you? Don't leave me alone!"

Finding himself lying broken in the dirt. Blood pooling beneath his shattered form. Experiencing it from both perspectives. The moment of choice. Under attack and surrounded. Without a single second of hesitation, Kakashi was already moving. Placing himself between danger and his students. Pure instinct. A final act of love.

He fell hard. A burst of enemy chakra. A spray of his own blood.

Kakashi felt himself dying through his own eyes. But his gaze found Sasuke's one last time. Calm and steady even as everything ended. His eyes seemed to say: "You still have a chance. Don't waste it. I believe in all of you."

Naruto screaming his name. Sakura's sobs echoing across the battlefield. Sasuke just staring. Too frozen to move. Too shattered to even breathe properly.

The memory shifted to their final moments. Naruto, broken and dying, pushing Sasuke toward a portal of golden light with the last of his strength.

"Someone had to live. Save them. Save us. Save yourself."

The kiss that tasted like goodbye and promises and love too big for words. The light swallowing everything.

But even that wasn't the end.

Akari's voice continued through the shared memories: "Behind it all was something so much worse."

Madara Uchiha, ancient and terrible. Eyes like endless nightmares. But even he was just a puppet. Black Zetsu, the real puppet master. Manipulating him for centuries toward a single goal. And behind that was Kaguya Otsutsuki. The mother of all chakra. Wanting every bit of it back.

The entire world trapped in the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Suspended in white cocoons while their life force slowly drained. Kakashi felt Sasuke's horror as people he'd grown up with became empty shells. Then not even that. Whole villages disappearing overnight. Friends becoming strangers becoming nothing.

In those final months, so few left alive. Too broken to mount real resistance. Too late to change anything that mattered.

And Obito. Sweet, brave Obito with his dreams of becoming Hokage. Twisted by grief into something unrecognizable. His face behind that orange mask. Eyes full of rage and broken dreams.

"You let her die! You abandoned everything we believed in!"

But the memory didn't end there. Obito's final moments. How he remembered who he really was beneath all the pain. How he sacrificed himself to save everyone. The boy who'd dreamed of being Hokage died a hero. Just like he'd always meant to.

Akari's voice whispered through the fading memories: "He's still reachable. Right now, today, he's still that boy who wanted to protect everyone. We can save him."

Then came Itachi. Kakashi experienced it all through Sasuke's eyes. Forced to choose between family and village with no good options. Those final moments when Sasuke finally killed him. Itachi walking toward his little brother with infinite gentleness. Touching his forehead just like when they were children.

"Forgive me, Sasuke. This is the last time."

Sasuke never knew the truth until too late. Thought he'd finally gotten revenge. That he was free. But then Obito found him. Told him everything. How Itachi had been forced to do it. How the village had ordered it. How he'd been protecting Sasuke all along. Used that devastating truth like a weapon. Twisted Sasuke's grief into pure, consuming rage.

Akari's voice broke through the final memories: "He's alive right now. He just left to join Akatsuki. Thinks he's beyond saving. But we can find him. Save him. Bring him home where he belongs."

And through all of it, that constant thread of loss. Of being too late. Too weak. Too broken to save anyone who truly mattered.

Akari's voice whispered as the memories finally faded: "But this time, we can change everything. This time, we don't have to lose everyone we love."

When the genjutsu shattered, Kakashi found himself on his hands and knees on his apartment floor. Shaking like his body was catching up to the pain. His mind reeled with everything he'd just experienced. Memories that felt more real than his own.

The nausea hit hard. He scrambled to his feet on unsteady legs. Barely made it to the bathroom before his stomach rebelled. He knelt on cold tile. Retching. Shaking. Spent.

Obito was alive and broken. Itachi was suffering alone. A war that consumed everything. His own death, seen through the eyes of students who loved him.

He could still feel it all. The crushing grief. The desperate love. The absolute terror of watching everyone you care about die in front of you.

But underneath all that devastating pain was something else. Something that made his chest feel lighter.

Hope.

The genuine chance that this time, they could save everyone.

"Kakashi?" Akari's voice, anxious from the doorway. "Are you okay?"

He looked up at her through disheveled hair. For a moment he couldn't speak around the strain in his throat. She was watching him with such desperate hope. Like she was terrified she'd broken him completely but still praying he'd understand what she'd risked to show him.

And he did understand.

God help him, he understood everything now.

"That was really you," he said. Voice hoarse. "All of it. Every memory."

She nodded, eyes heavy with regret, but her voice didn’t waver. "Every memory. Every moment. I know it's a lot to process. I needed you to see..."

"I need time," he said. Cut her off as he stood on unsteady legs. He ran both hands through his hair. Left it sticking up at odd angles. "This is... I can't... I need to think."

Her face fell. Hope crumbling into resignation. But she nodded anyway. "I understand."

"Do you?" He turned to look at her directly. There was something raw in his expression. "Because you just showed me that I'm going to die. That everyone I care about is going to die. That there's some ancient enemy I don't even know exists. And that Obito..." His voice broke slightly. "That Obito is alive and being manipulated into destroying everything we once believed in. But also that we can save him. That we can change all of it."

"That's exactly why I'm here," she said quietly. Wrapped her arms around herself. "To change it. To save all of you."

"By carrying this knowledge alone? By shouldering responsibility for an entire timeline's worth of trauma?" He shook his head. "That's not sustainable, Akari. That's not even human."

"That's why I told you,” She said. Voice barely above a whisper. "I couldn't carry it alone anymore. I was going to try, but..."

"Now I know too," he said quietly. Understanding dawning. "And I have absolutely no idea how to process any of this..."

He headed toward the door, his movements all wrong and panic surged in her chest before she could stop it.

"Where are you going?"

"I need air. Need to process this away from you both." He paused. Glanced back at sleeping Sasuke with tenderness. "If I fall apart... he doesn't need to see that. Stay with him. I'll be back."

"Kakashi..."

"I believe you," he said without turning around. Hand already on the door handle. "That's the worst part and the most hopeful part. I believe every single word. That Obito is alive. That he can be saved. That this nightmare can be prevented. And now I have to figure out what that means for all of us."

After he left, the apartment felt too quiet. Too empty.

Sasuke slept on undisturbed. Hiro clutched tight against his chest like a lifeline. He looked so peaceful. Completely unaware of the conversation that had just torn apart everything they thought they knew about reality.

Akari curled up on her futon. Close enough to Sasuke that she could hear each breath. Outside, dawn was beginning to break across the village. Painting the apartment in soft golden light that promised another day.

She'd told him everything. Shown him everything. Laid her soul bare and trusted him with impossible knowledge.

Now she had to wait and see if it would be enough. If Kakashi could accept the reality of their situation. Or if she'd just destroyed the one alliance she absolutely couldn't afford to lose.

When Akari decided to trust someone, she trusted completely. Without reservation. She’d never been good at half measures.

She just hoped it wouldn't cost her everything that mattered.

Please, she thought. Watching the light grow stronger across the floor. Please come back. Please don't let this be too much. I can't do this alone.

But the apartment stayed quiet.

All she could do was wait for him to decide whether saving the world was worth believing in the impossible.

Chapter 8 Teaser: "Whispers in the Dark"

When Kakashi returns from his soul-searching walk, he brings more than just groceries and ice cream. He brings a decision that will change everything. But believing in impossible stories is one thing, acting on them is another. As Akari and Kakashi finally become true partners, sharing secrets and strategies in hushed conversations while Sasuke sleeps, they realize the real fight is just beginning. Some truths are too dangerous to speak aloud, some enemies are already watching from the shadows, and some families are forged in fire. Tonight, in the quiet safety of their small apartment, they'll plan how to save the world. But tomorrow, the world starts fighting back.

Chapter Text

The air was cold, but Kakashi walked anyway.

Obito is alive.

That thought wouldn't quit, kept coming back like a bad habit. His best friend. His teammate. The kid who'd given him everything, including his eye. Out there somewhere, breathing, hating him.

For eight years, I've been talking to a grave.

But it was worse than that. Obito wasn't just alive. He was broken, twisted up by grief and lies from something old and demented that was no longer human. Madara had found him in those rocks, kept him alive, fed him poison about what happened to Rin.

The memories Akari shared were still there, too real. Obito's voice cracking when he screamed. "You let her die! You abandoned everything!"

Kakashi stopped and leaned against a wall, eyes closed.

The village had created something else too. They'd taken a traumatized seven-year-old and left him alone with no support, no guidance, nobody to tell him that revenge was poison he'd drink himself. Perfect setup for Sasuke to fall and chase power at any cost.

What kind of village does that to a kid?

His hand closed into a fist before he realized it.

The same village that failed Naruto, let a jinchuriki grow up alone and hated. The same village that blackmailed Itachi into slaughtering his own family and then let him carry that burden alone.

The same village that looked away while Danzo played games in the shadows. Danzo, that smug, shadow-crawling vulture had known what he was doing. Had watched Sasuke unravel and seen opportunity. Had whispered in elders’ ears while claiming to serve the Hokage, all while laying traps for children too broken to fight back.

Kakashi’s jaw locked, rage spiking like a flash of lightning, there and gone, but enough to shake him. He let out a slow breath. Forced his fingers to uncurl. Getting angry wouldn’t help. But letting it go would mean nothing changed.

Same system I've served without question.

For a long time, he'd thought that was what made him strong, that he'd survived what others didn't. But the truth was, Konoha hadn't protected him either. Not after his father's disgrace and suicide. His father's disgrace, which should never have been a disgrace at all. Sakumo had chosen to save his comrades over the mission, and the village had branded him a failure for it. But wasn't that exactly what a shinobi should do? Wasn't that what made someone truly strong?

Not after losing Obito. Not when he was a thirteen-year-old jonin with blood on his hands and nobody left to teach him how to carry it.

They'd made him a killer and called it duty.

Left him hollow and called it strength.

Maybe he'd just been too numb to notice the damage until now. He wasn't the exception to the village's failures. He was proof of them.

He'd always told himself he was protecting the village, but what if the village was the problem? What if following orders without asking questions made him part of it?

She didn't choose to sacrifice everything. She had nothing left.

It hit him suddenly. Akari hadn't chosen this, hadn't made some heroic sacrifice. They'd been at the end with everyone already gone. Naruto pushing her through that portal with his last breath. Last desperate move, not a noble choice. Just survival.

But she was here now, fighting anyway. Despite the trauma, despite carrying impossible knowledge alone, she was choosing to be what Naruto believed she could be.

The way she looks at me.

That's what got to him. Not the time travel, not Danzo's crimes, not even Obito being alive. It was how her eyes would find his and hold on like she was seeing someone who mattered. Someone she'd lost.

But there were other moments too. Times when her gaze would linger just a beat too long, when something would flicker across her expression that had nothing to do with grief or memory. It settled low in his stomach, quiet, unexpected, and hard to ignore.

Like she was seeing him not as a ghost from her past, but as a man in her present.

She's not Sasuke.

And that was what undid him.

She carried his memories, but it was a different kind of grief in her eyes. Not the grief of a boy who was learning to hate, or even the man who nearly let it consume him—but someone who had come through all of it and still chose to love what remained.

The thought came again, heavy with guilt. Because she had been him, right? In another timeline. The memories proved it. But the woman sleeping in his apartment, the one who held a traumatized boy and made rice balls with shaking hands and cried in his arms like the world was ending? She was someone else now.

"My eternal rival!"

Jesus. Kakashi nearly jumped out of his skin. Guy was jogging toward him, somehow looking energetic at five in the morning. Perfect hair, perfect teeth. Probably been up since three doing pushups.

"You're up early."

"The flames of youth burn brightest at dawn!" Guy announced, then stopped and studied him. "But you look like a man wrestling with the fires of destiny."

If only you knew.

"Just thinking."

"Dangerous habit." Guy grinned. "Come! I know the cure. Dango!"

Before Kakashi could protest, Guy was steering him toward the only shop open this early. The old woman behind the counter didn't even blink, just started making their usual order like grown shinobi wanting sweets before sunrise was perfectly normal.

"So," Guy said once they were sitting with tea between them. "What's eating at you?"

Kakashi almost choked. "What makes you think..."

"Please." Guy waved a hand dismissively. "I've known you forever. You get this look when you're trying to save the world by yourself. Very dramatic, but also very stupid."

How much can I say?

"What do you do when you know something terrible is going to happen, but you can't prove it?"

Guy's expression went serious. Still enthusiastic, but focused in that way that reminded Kakashi why Guy was dangerous despite his quirks.

"You fight to prevent it," he said without hesitation. "Even if others think you're crazy. Sometimes trusting your instincts is more important than protocol."

Trust instincts over protocol. The words struck home.

"And if..." Kakashi hesitated, then pushed forward. "What if caring about someone feels wrong?"

Guy leaned back and studied Kakashi's face with those dark eyes that saw more than most people gave him credit for.

"The heart knows what it knows," Guy said simply. "If your feelings come from wanting to protect someone, how can that be wrong? Love isn't about what's convenient. It's about recognizing something precious and fighting for it."

The words settled deep into Kakashi's chest like puzzle pieces finally clicking into place.

"Whatever you're carrying," Guy continued, "you don't have to carry it alone. And whoever captured the great Copy Ninja's heart?" His grin returned, softer this time. "They're lucky to have someone willing to wrestle with destiny for them."

Something eased in Kakashi's shoulders that he hadn't even realized was tense. "Thanks."

"That's what eternal rivals are for!" Guy said, his grin returning to full brightness. "Now eat before it gets cold. Nothing sadder than cold dango."

They finished their early breakfast in comfortable silence, Guy's presence somehow managing to be both energizing and calming. When they parted ways, Guy clapped his shoulder.

"Trust yourself, Kakashi. Your instincts never steer you wrong when it comes to protecting people."

Protecting people. Not the village, not orders. People.

Kakashi found himself at the memorial stone without consciously deciding to go there. The names carved into the rock were barely visible in the dim light, but he knew them by heart anyway.

His fingers traced Obito's name, and for the first time in eight years, the gesture felt like a lie.

"I failed you once," he said quietly. "All of you. But not this time."

The words felt different now. Not an apology to the dead, but a promise to the living.

Eight years of guilt. Eight years of coming here to confess his failures to a boy who wasn't even dead. Who was out there somewhere, broken and hating him for crimes he thought Kakashi had committed.

How many times did I tell you I was sorry? How many times did I promise to be better?

He pressed his palm flat against the stone, feeling the cool granite beneath his skin. All those years, he'd carried Obito's death like a weight around his neck. Let it hollow him out at thirteen and define everything that came after. Made it the central fact of his existence.

But Obito was alive. Twisted by lies and manipulation, but alive. Which meant all that guilt, all that grief... it had been for nothing. And worse, while Kakashi had been mourning a ghost, the real Obito had been suffering. Alone. Believing his best friend had betrayed everything they stood for.

"You let her die! You abandoned everything we believed in!"

The memory from Akari's genjutsu sank back into him. Obito's voice, cracked with pain and fury. Not the boy who'd given him his eye and his ninja way, but something broken and desperate.

That's my fault too. If I'd been faster, stronger, if I'd found another way to save Rin...

But that was the old thinking. The kind that had kept him frozen since he was thirteen years old. The kind that ignored the impossible choices, the no-win situations, the fact that sometimes people died despite your best efforts, and it didn't make you a failure. It made you human.

Maybe it was time to stop carrying guilt for things beyond his control. Maybe it was time to forgive the thirteen-year-old boy who'd done his best in an impossible situation. Maybe it was time to forgive himself.

The genjutsu had shown him something else too. His own death, seen through Sasuke’s desperate eyes. The way the boy had screamed his name. How Naruto had cried. How the girl, Sakura, had thrown herself forward, trying to reach him even after it was too late. He didn’t even know her yet. But the way she screamed. It felt like losing family. The grief had broken all three of them. He’d mattered to them more than he’d ever known. Not as the failed Copy Ninja, but as someone they loved.

They loved me. Even when I was failing them, even at the end, they loved me.

The weight of it caught him off guard. All those years of thinking he was just their sensei, their teacher, someone they had to tolerate. But he'd seen it in Sasuke's memories, felt it like it was his own experience. The desperate way the boy had called for him, how Naruto had cried, the grief that had broken them both when he fell. He'd mattered to them more than he'd ever known.

And in those final moments, throwing himself between danger and his students, it hadn't felt like failure. It had felt like the most natural thing in the world. Pure love, translated into action.

The Obito I knew would want me to save him. That truth hit harder than expected, but it was true. The Obito he remembered, who'd given him his eye and changed his heart, would be horrified by what he'd become. Would beg Kakashi to stop him before he hurt anyone else.

Before it's too late.

He could almost imagine what they'd say. Rin would tell him to trust his heart. Minato would remind him that protecting people was always the right choice. And Obito...

The real Obito would want me to bring him home.

The sun was starting to rise by the time he made it to the convenience store. The teenage clerk looked barely awake but perked up when Kakashi started loading his arms with groceries. Real food this time: vegetables that hadn't seen better days, rice that wasn't three years old, ingredients for actual meals.

He paused in front of the rice selection, suddenly overwhelmed. What kind did kids eat? Was there a difference? He grabbed three different types just to be safe.

Milk. Definitely milk. Kids needed milk, right? And bread that wasn't moldy. Eggs. Vegetables that actually had color. As his arms filled, he realized he'd been living like a ghost for years. Existing on convenience store meals and whatever didn't require actual preparation.

When did I stop taking care of myself?

The clerk started scanning items with growing amusement. "Big dinner planned?"

"Something like that," Kakashi said. Then, because the kid looked friendly enough to ask: "You have any idea what seven-year-olds like to eat?"

"Seven?" The clerk grinned. "My little brother's eight. Rice balls, definitely. Sweet stuff, but not too sweet. And..." he leaned conspiratorially over the counter, "get the juice boxes. Trust me. Makes them feel special."

Kakashi found himself almost smiling. "Juice boxes. Got it."

He moved to the frozen section, studying the ice cream options like they held state secrets. Kids liked ice cream, right? What kind of kid didn't like sweet things? He grabbed vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Covered all the bases.

Standing there with bags of groceries and juice boxes, Kakashi felt something shift in his chest. Not just groceries. Provisions. For his family.

Time to go home.

The thought surprised him with how natural it felt. Not back to his apartment. Home. To the woman who trusted him with impossible truths and the child they were both determined to protect.

To his family. It had been a long time since that word felt right enough to say.

Whatever came next, whatever schemes Danzo spun or secrets surfaced, at least this time he wouldn't face it alone. At least this time he'd chosen right from the start.

Walking back through the awakening village with groceries in his arms and purpose in his heart, Kakashi almost smiled behind his mask. He wasn't going back to silence or mission reports or the echo of an apartment too quiet.

He was returning to something alive.

Let's save the world, he thought. Starting with the only family I've got left.

Chapter 9 Teaser: "Coming Home"

When Kakashi returns from his soul-searching walk, he brings more than groceries and ice cream. He brings a decision that changes everything. Over morning coffee and rice balls, Akari and Kakashi finally become the partners they need to be. But domestic bliss doesn't last long when Danzo comes knocking, and his interest in Sasuke makes it clear that staying hidden isn't an option anymore. Some families are forged in quiet moments. Others are tested by the wolves at the door.

Chapter Text

The apartment was quiet when Kakashi got back. Not empty quiet though. The kind where people were sleeping safe. His place usually felt like a tomb. This was different.

He set groceries down. Tried not to make noise.

"You came back."

Akari's voice. Soft. She was on the couch looking like she hadn't slept. Hair messed up on one side. Pillow creases on her cheek. But her eyes were wide awake. Watching him like she couldn't believe he was real.

"Did you think I wouldn't?"

"I..." She stopped. Looked him in the eyes. "I thought I might have pushed to far and it was too much. Too crazy."

Kakashi studied her face in the dim light. The vulnerability there, carefully guarded but still visible. Fear she was fighting to hide behind Uchiha composure. This woman who'd traveled through time was terrified he'd abandon her, but she'd cut her own tongue out before begging him to stay.

She's carried this alone since she got here.

"I believe you," he said. Settled beside her on the couch. "And I'm going to help."

Something cracked in her expression. Relief maybe. Hope. She pressed her hand to her mouth like she was trying not to cry again.

"I need to apologize," Kakashi said. "For last night. Being cold when you trusted me."

"No, I should apologize. For dumping all of that on you at once."

"We both did what we had to." He met her eyes. "But I'm sorry I made you feel like you might lose your only ally."

"Thank you."

"Thank me after we save everyone. Right now, I think we need coffee."

She almost smiled. "I can make it. You bought actual groceries."

"I did." Gestured toward the bags. "Including ice cream. Something tells me Sasuke's going to have opinions about breakfast."

That got a real smile. Small but genuine. "He's still sleeping. First full night since..." Trailed off.

"The genjutsu?"

"Everything." She stood. Moved toward the kitchen. "He feels safe here. With you."

With us.

Kakashi followed her. Watched her start the coffee. Her movements careful. Precise. Like she was grounding herself in routine. He found himself noticing things. The way she held her shoulders. How she moved. The quiet strength.

"Kakashi?" She was looking at him. Head tilted. "You okay?"

"Just thinking."

"About?"

He considered how much honesty this could handle. "About how I spent years thinking I understood my place. Now everything's different."

She was quiet. Poured coffee into mugs. When she handed him his, their fingers brushed. Neither pulled away.

"I'm not him," she said. Something important in her voice. "When Naruto pushed me through that portal... the seal didn't just drag me through time. It reshaped me. I felt my body changing. Everything shifting. I carry Sasuke's memories. His pain. His love for the people we're trying to save. But I became someone new."

I know." Looking at her now, he couldn't imagine confusing the two. "You're Akari. The woman who's going to help me save my best friend."

Her eyebrow arched. "I thought you were helping me save everyone."

Despite everything, a small smile tugged at Kakashi's lips. "Guess we'll help each other."

They stood there as the sun rose. Drinking coffee. Looking at each other like they were figuring something new out.

"So," Akari said. "Ready to plan saving the world?"

"Let me finish my coffee first. I have a feeling it's going to be a long day."

Sound from the other room made them turn. Shuffling feet. Small yawn. Then Sasuke appeared looking adorably rumpled. Hair sticking up everywhere. Clutching Hiro like a lifeline.

"Morning," he mumbled. Rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning, Sasuke," Akari said. Immediately moving toward him. "How'd you sleep?"

"Okay." He looked around. Taking in groceries. Coffee. How Kakashi was standing there like he belonged. His expression guarded. But there was something that might have been relief. "You didn't leave."

Took Kakashi a moment to realize Sasuke was talking to him.

"No. I'm not going anywhere."

Sasuke nodded like this was important. Then his eyes fell on the grocery bags, but instead of excitement, something complicated crossed his face. He looked away quickly.

"Are you hungry?" Akari asked gently, noticing his expression.

"I guess," he mumbled, but there was no enthusiasm in it. He looked down at Hiro, shoulders slumping. "But I don't really deserve..."

"Hey." Akari was crouching immediately. "What don't you deserve?"

Sasuke's grip on Hiro tightened. "Good things. They're all gone and I'm still here and I don't know why I get to eat when they don't get anything."

His chest ached low and sudden. Survivor's guilt on a seven-year-old.

"How about," Akari said gently, "we make breakfast together. Something your parents would want you to eat. Taking care of ourselves is how we honor people we've lost."

Sasuke considered this seriously. "You think they'd want me to eat breakfast?"

"I think they'd want you healthy and strong. Even when it's hard."

"Okay." Quietly. "What should we make?"

Kakashi looked at his grocery haul, suddenly realizing he had ingredients but no real plan. "I, uh... I bought eggs. And bread that's not moldy?"

Despite everything, Sasuke's mouth twitched slightly. "You don't know how to cook, do you?"

"I can make toast without burning the apartment down," Kakashi said with mock dignity. "Usually."

"I can help," Sasuke offered quietly. "Kaa-san taught me some things. Before..." He trailed off.

"I'd like that," Kakashi said simply.

They fell into an awkward but endearing rhythm. Sasuke showing Kakashi how to crack eggs properly while Akari worked on making tea. Kakashi managed to only burn one piece of toast, which Sasuke declared "not too bad for a beginner" with the faintest hint of his old sass.

"Kakashi," Sasuke said seriously as they sat down to eat. "Are you going to help Akari keep me safe?"

So direct. So trusting, even after everything. It caught Kakashi off guard in a way he didn’t show.

"Yes. I am."

"Good." Decisive nod. "She's really good at keeping people safe. But everyone needs help sometimes." Then, quieter: "And maybe she needs someone to keep her safe too."

"Everyone does," Kakashi agreed. Glanced at Akari over Sasuke's head. She was looking at them both with something that might have been love.

They ate quietly, Sasuke picking at his scrambled eggs but making an effort. The simple meal felt important somehow. Like they were building something together, one small piece at a time.

When Sasuke finished and wandered off to play with Hiro, Akari and Kakashi were alone again.

"So," Akari said quietly. Could hear Sasuke making half-hearted dinosaur noises. "Ready for that world-saving conversation?"

Kakashi looked serious. "What's our first move?"

Instead of answering, Akari cleared breakfast dishes. Then pulled out a map from one of the bags. Spread it on the table.

"Our biggest problems are time and information." She pointed to routes. Locations. "We know what's coming. Don't know exactly when. Can't prevent everything without raising suspicions."

Kakashi leaned over the map. "What are our priorities?"

"Itachi first." No hesitation. "He just left to join Akatsuki. Still thinks he's protecting Sasuke by making himself the villain. If we can reach him before he gets too deep..."

"Danzo needs to be exposed," Kakashi said quietly. "What he did. What he's planning. The village needs to see."

Akari's jaw tightened. "He needs to die." Something cold in her voice. Reminded him whose memories she carried.

Kakashi was quiet. Analytical mind working. "Assassination would be satisfying. But it wouldn't solve the problems. ROOT would just find another leader. The system that let him operate would still be there."

Akari studied his face. "So what do you suggest?"

We destroy everything he's built. Expose him publicly. Dismantle ROOT completely. Force the village to confront what they've allowed." He paused. "That way, when he falls, he takes the whole corrupt system with him. And he has to watch it burn. Not die as a hero. Just rot in the wreckage of what he tried to build.

"And it would make the village safer for Itachi to return to," Akari said slowly. Understanding dawning. "Even if we find him. Even if we convince him. What's he coming back to if Danzo's still in power?"

"Exactly. We need to make it safe for him to come home."

Something shifted in Akari's expression. "You're right. I was thinking with my heart instead of my head."

"What about Naruto?" Kakashi asked. Something changed in his voice. Softer. More personal.

Akari's expression grew tender. "He's seven. Alone. The village treats him like a monster instead of Minato-sensei's son."

"I've been keeping an eye on him already," Kakashi said quietly. Something raw in his voice. "Not just standard protocol. I volunteered for those assignments. Because of my respect for Minato-sensei. Because I owed him that much." His visible eye darkened. "His apartment is... not good. He's not eating enough. Living like no one cares if he lives or dies."

"You care," Akari said softly.

"I should have done more. Should have..." Stopped. Jaw tightening. "I was afraid. Afraid of getting close. Of failing another person. So, I watched from distance and told myself it was enough."

"And Sasuke needs friends. Real friends. Not just us." Akari glanced toward the living room. "In the original timeline, he and Naruto were rivals. But underneath that, they understood each other. They're..." Paused. Looking for words. "They're soulmates. Two halves of the same whole."

"You want them to meet."

"I want them to have what they were supposed to have from the beginning. Each other." Her voice softened. "And eventually Sakura too. She loved us both fiercely enough to stand between us when we tried to destroy each other. Team 7 wasn't just the boys."

She leaned forward. Voice dropping. "There's something else. Something I haven't told you yet."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"The reincarnations. Indra and Ashura. Hogoromo's sons. Their chakra gets passed down through generations. Usually into Uchiha and Senju lines."

"Reincarnations," Kakashi repeated slowly.

"Madara and Hashirama were the previous ones. Naruto and I..." Gestured vaguely. "Well, Naruto and Sasuke, in the original timeline. It's why we were so connected. Why we could never let go of each other."

"That's..." Kakashi rubbed his forehead. Slightly exasperated expression. "Any other cosmic revelations? Because I'm starting to feel like I need a handbook for saving the world."

Akari smiled at his dry tone and added with cheeky grin. "You definitely need a handbook. Then seriously added, “I had the Rinnegan before. At the end. But here..." Touched the skin around her eyes. "I seem to only have the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan now. Not sure why the Rinnegan hasn't manifested."

"Maybe the time travel changed things."

"Maybe. Honestly, probably better this way. The Rinnegan draws too much attention."

Like someone had summoned the words, there was a knock at the door.

Both froze. Still mid-morning. Too early for casual visitors.

"Expecting anyone?" Kakashi asked quietly.

"No." Akari was already moving, slow and silent. Her hand slid toward the knife at her thigh, but it was her chakra that flared first brief and piercing like a blade being unsheathed. A warning.

Kakashi felt it in the air before he saw her move. His eye flicked to her, catching the way her muscles coiled, the way her stance shifted to shield the hallway behind her. Her body knew before her mind did: this was danger.

The knock came again. Patient. Deliberate.

A voice followed, measured and too polite.

"Hatake-san," a voice called through the door. "I hope I'm not disturbing you. I was hoping to have a word about young Sasuke's welfare."

Danzo.

Kakashi’s stomach dropped. He didn’t need to look at Akari to know her reaction, but he did anyway. She had gone still. Not frozen, not afraid. Poised. Her jaw was tight. Eyes hard. She looked at him, just for a second. And Kakashi met her gaze without hesitation. A silent vow passed between them:

We don’t let him take Sasuke.

“We handle this together,” Akari said before he could speak.

“Together,” Kakashi agreed.

He opened the door. Danzo stood in the hallway. Leaning on his cane. Right arm wrapped in familiar bandages. His visible eye calculating as it took in both of them.

"Shimura-san," Kakashi said politely. "This is unexpected."

"I hope you'll forgive the early hour," Danzo said smoothly. "But I wanted to check on the boy personally. Ensure he's adjusting well to his new circumstances."

His gaze moved to Akari. Something cold flickered.

"Ah, it's you. The mysterious cousin," he said. Something almost predatory in his tone. "How fortunate that you arrived just in time to care for the child. Though I do wonder about your qualifications for such a responsibility."

"My qualifications are being his family," Akari said. Carefully neutral but with steel underneath. "Something this village seems to have forgotten the importance of."

Danzo's smile was thin. "May I come in? I'd like to speak with the boy."

"I'm afraid he's not feeling well this morning," Akari said smoothly. "Perhaps another time would be better."

"I insist," Danzo said. Steel beneath politeness. "The village has a responsibility to ensure the welfare of our remaining Uchiha."

Kakashi felt the situation balancing on a knife's edge. Refuse and they'd raise suspicions. Allow it and they'd be letting a predator near the child they'd sworn to protect.

"Of course," Kakashi said finally. "But briefly. He's still recovering from his trauma."

Danzo's smile was thin and cold. "Naturally."

As he stepped into the apartment, Kakashi caught Akari's eye. They had to be careful.

Because the real fight had just begun.

Sasuke was curled up on the couch with Hiro when they entered the living room. But he wasn't playing anymore. Just watching Danzo with those too-serious eyes. Something about his posture reminded Kakashi of a small animal trying to disappear.

"Hello, Sasuke," Danzo said. Voice taking on false warmth that made Kakashi's skin crawl. "How are you settling in?"

"Fine," Sasuke said quietly. Pressed closer to Hiro.

"Good, good." Danzo moved closer. Sasuke shrank back. "You know, the village cares very much about your wellbeing. We want to make sure you have everything you need."

"He has everything he needs," Akari said. Moved to stand beside the couch. Not quite between Danzo and Sasuke. But close.

"I'm sure he does." Danzo's tone suggested otherwise. "Tell me, child, are you happy here?"

Sasuke looked up at Akari. Then at Kakashi. Then back at Danzo. "Yes."

"And your cousin takes good care of you?"

"She's the best," Sasuke said. Fierceness in his small voice that made Kakashi proud.

"Wonderful." Danzo's smile didn't reach his eyes. "You know, Sasuke, if you ever need anything. Anything at all. You can always come to me. The village will always protect you."

Something about how he said 'protect' made Sasuke press closer to Akari.

"Thank you," Sasuke said politely. But Kakashi could see the fear.

"Well," Danzo said. Straightening up. "I should let you get back to your morning. But I do hope we'll see more of each other soon, Sasuke. Perhaps you'd like to visit the training grounds sometime? See how the other young shinobi are developing?"

"Maybe," Sasuke said. Didn't sound enthusiastic.

"Excellent." Danzo turned back to Akari and Kakashi. "Thank you for your hospitality. I'm sure we'll be speaking again soon."

Something that sounded almost like a threat.

Kakashi walked him to the door. Maintained politeness while every instinct screamed to slam it shut. Never let this man near their family again.

"Take care of the boy," Danzo said quietly as he stepped into the hallway. "It would be... unfortunate if anything were to happen to the last Uchiha."

"Nothing will happen to him," Kakashi said. Steel in his own voice now.

"See that it doesn't," Danzo said. Then he was gone.

Kakashi closed the door. Leaned against it. Felt like he'd just survived a battle.

"Is he gone?" Sasuke's voice was small from the living room.

"He's gone," Akari said gently.

When Kakashi returned, he found Akari on the couch with Sasuke practically in her lap. Both looking shaken.

"He was scary," Sasuke said quietly. "Like the bad man in my nightmares."

Akari's jaw tightened. "He won't hurt you. I promise."

"We both promise," Kakashi said. Settled on Sasuke's other side. "But Sasuke, if anyone ever makes you feel scared or uncomfortable, you tell us immediately. Okay?"

"Okay." Then looked up at both of them. "Are we in trouble?"

"No," Akari said firmly. "We're not in trouble. But we do need to be more careful."

Sasuke nodded seriously. Like this made perfect sense.

"You know what?" Kakashi said, looking at both of them. "I think we all need some ice cream. Right now, actually."

"Really?" Sasuke perked up slightly. "Even though it's morning?"

"Sometimes ice cream is medicinal," Kakashi said seriously. "And I think we've had enough medicine-worthy events for one morning."

Sasuke almost smiled. "Okay. But just a little. I don't want to get sick."

Kakashi brought out the vanilla ice cream, scooping small portions into bowls. Sasuke took his carefully, like it was something precious. But as he brought the spoon to his mouth, Kakashi noticed him hesitate.

"Everything okay?" Akari asked gently.

Sasuke took a small bite, and his face scrunched up slightly. But he swallowed it anyway, nodding.

"It's good," he said quietly, but took another hesitant spoonful.

Kakashi frowned, watching the boy's expression. "Sasuke, do you actually like ice cream?"

The question seemed to startle him. He looked up with wide eyes, spoon halfway to his mouth.

"I..." He set the spoon down, shoulders hunching slightly. "I don't want to be ungrateful. You bought it specially for me."

"That's not what I asked," Kakashi said gently. "Do you like it?"

Sasuke's grip tightened on his spoon. "I don't... I don't really like sweet things. They make my teeth hurt and taste too..." He trailed off, looking miserable. "But I didn't want to say anything. I didn't want you to think I was being difficult."

Akari's heart broke a little, but something deeper stirred too. Recognition. Of course he didn't like sweets. She knew that feeling, that exact reaction to overly sweet things. It was like looking at a mirror of her own preferences.

"Sasuke, you never have to pretend to like something just to make us happy," she said gently.

"But what if you decide I'm too much trouble?" The words came out in a rush, small and scared. "What if you change your minds about wanting me here?"

"Never," Kakashi said firmly. "Never. Do you hear me? You could hate every single thing I buy, complain about everything, and we'd still want you here. You're family."

"Really?"

"Really," Akari confirmed, pulling him closer. "We want to know what you actually like. Not what you think we want to hear."

Sasuke was quiet for a moment, processing this. "I really don't like sweet things," he admitted. "They taste yucky to me. Kaa-san used to say I was the only kid in the whole clan who didn't want dango when the grown-ups had it."

"What do you like?" Kakashi asked, genuinely curious now.

A tiny smile tugged at Sasuke's lips. "Tomatoes! I love love love tomatoes. The really big red ones that are all juicy and taste like... like sunshine and summer! And rice balls with just salt. And..." He looked up at them hopefully. "Maybe some of those little pickled things too?"

"Tomatoes," Kakashi repeated, a smile creeping into his voice. "Of course you do."

"Is that weird?"

"Not weird at all," Akari said warmly. "Just very... you."

Kakashi glanced over and noticed Akari had also barely touched her ice cream. "What about you, Akari? Please tell me you're not also forcing yourself to eat this."

Akari looked sheepish. "I... well..." She set her spoon down. "I also don't really like sweet things. But you seemed so excited about getting ice cream, and I didn't want to hurt your feelings after you went to all that trouble..."

Kakashi stared at them both for a moment, then let out a laugh. "So let me get this straight. I enthusiastically bought ice cream for two people who both hate sweet things. I'm clearly winning at this guardian thing."

Both Sasuke and Akari looked guilty.

"Hey, no," Kakashi said quickly, seeing their expressions. "This is good. This is what I want. Honesty. From now on, we're doing grocery lists. And apparently I need to start thinking about a tomato garden instead of stocking the freezer with ice cream."

Sasuke's eyes went wide. "A tomato garden? Really really? For real?"

"Really," Kakashi confirmed. "Though I should probably warn you, I've never grown anything in my life. We might end up with very sad tomatoes."

"I could help lots and lots!" Sasuke said, practically bouncing now. "Kaa-san taught me about dirt and seeds and watering! I remember some stuff!"

Akari watched the exchange with soft eyes, something warm blooming in her chest at seeing Sasuke excited about something.

"Next time we go shopping," Kakashi promised, "we're getting tomatoes. Lots of them."

Sasuke's whole face lit up. "Really? The super big red ones that are all round and perfect and taste like the best thing ever?"

"Especially those ones."

For the first time since Danzo's visit, Sasuke looked genuinely happy. "Can I... can I not eat the rest? I don't wanna waste it 'cause that's bad, but..."

"You don't have to eat anything you don't want to eat," Kakashi said. "Ever. Promise me you'll tell us what you actually like and don't like from now on?"

"I promise," Sasuke said, relief evident in his voice. Then, with a hint of his old spark: "But you were right about the medicine thing. Even if it tasted yucky, you guys caring about what I like made my tummy feel all warm and good."

Akari exchanged a look with Kakashi over Sasuke's head. This kid was going to wrap them both around his little finger, and they were completely okay with that.

"So," Akari said quietly once Sasuke had settled back with Hiro, looking more relaxed than he had all morning. "I think it's safe to say we're running out of time."

"Agreed," Kakashi said. "He's not going to wait much longer before making his move."

Fresh bandages," Akari said grimly. Glanced toward where Danzo had been standing. "He's already started collecting what he wants from the massacre." Her jaw tightened. "Had to have moved fast too. Got what he needed before we could burn the bodies properly. Plus he has Shisui's

"We need to move faster than we planned."

"Then we don't wait either." Akari moved back to the map. "We accelerate everything. Find allies. Build our case. Expose his crimes before he can silence us."

"The alternative is letting him win," Akari said simply. "And that's not happening."

Kakashi looked at her. At the determination in her eyes. The steel in her spine. This woman who'd traveled through time to save everyone she loved. Who'd rather die than let another child suffer.

"Then let's save the world," he said.

Akari smiled. For the first time since he'd met her, it reached her eyes.

"Let's save the world."

Chapter 10 Teaser: "Small Steps Forward"

With Danzo breathing down their necks, Akari and Kakashi know they need allies fast. But first, Sasuke needs what every traumatized kid deserves - a friend. When Kakashi suggests a trip to the park, none of them expect to run into a lonely blond boy with whisker marks and the biggest heart in the village. Sometimes the most important meetings happen by accident. Sometimes they're carefully orchestrated. And sometimes, they're exactly what three broken people need to start healing.

Chapter Text

The morning after Danzo's visit felt different. Heavier.

Like someone sucked all the good air out and left them with something thick and wrong.

Sasuke woke up quiet. Nothing new there, but this was different quiet. Wary quiet. He clutched Hiro against his chest during breakfast, kept looking at the door like any second now someone might come knocking who he really didn't want to see.

"He's not coming back today," Akari said. She'd been watching him tense up every few minutes.

"How do you know?"

She looked at Kakashi. He nodded. "Because we won't let him," she said.

"Look, I can't promise he'll never try again," Kakashi said. "But I can promise he won't get past us to you."

"Either of us," Akari said firmly.

Sasuke thought about this. Really thought. Then nodded. "Okay. But I still don't like him."

"Smart boy," Akari muttered.

They'd been up early. Whispering plans while Sasuke slept. How to gather intelligence. How they'd move against Danzo's network but stay careful about it. Finally having a real partner to plan with felt... good. Really good.

After breakfast, Sasuke went to his spot by the window. The place he'd claimed as his. Sat in that meditation pose Itachi taught him, eyes closed, trying to find some center like he'd been trained to do since he could barely walk.

But peace didn't come. The memories did instead.

"You're not strong enough, little brother."

Blood everywhere. Bodies on the floor. Itachi's cold eyes looking down at him.

"You lack hatred."

Sasuke's breathing got faster. His hands made fists. This pose was supposed to calm him down but all it did was bring back that night. The disappointment in his father's eyes. How Itachi looked at him like he was nothing. Weak. Not even worth killing.

Why wasn't I good enough? Why couldn't I save them?

"I can't..." He couldn't get the words out. Eyes flew open. "I can't do it. I can't..."

Panic hit him hard. His chest got too tight. The room got too small. Everything spinning and he couldn't breathe right and why wasn't he stronger why couldn't he protect anyone why was he always not enough...

"Sasuke." Akari's voice, calm and steady. She was next to him in a flash, not touching but close enough he could feel her there. "You're safe. You're here with us."

But he couldn't stop shaking. Couldn't stop seeing blood and disappointment and his brother's empty stare.

"I should be stronger," he choked out. "I should've been able to help them. But I'm weak. Just like he said. I'm weak and useless and..."

"No." Kakashi's voice, firm but gentle. "You're seven years old. You're supposed to be learning and growing, not saving adults."

"But Itachi was strong when he was my age. Father said so. Itachi could do everything right and I can't do anything right and now they're all gone because I wasn't good enough..."

The words just poured out between gasps. All that self doubt and feeling like he wasn't enough, mixed up with fresh grief and trauma.

Kakashi got down to his level. "Sasuke, can you look at me?"

Took effort, but Sasuke managed it.

You want to know what I think?" Kakashi asked quietly. "I think you're being pretty strong. Crying when you need to. Eating even when you don't want to. Letting us help."

"That's not strong," Sasuke whispered, voice small. "That's just... not dying."

"Sometimes not dying is really hard," Akari said. "You're doing it though. Every day you get up and... and you keep going. That's not nothing, Sasuke."

But Sasuke was still shaking. Still stuck in his own head. The panic wouldn't let go.

"I miss him," Sasuke said suddenly, the words ripped out of him. "I miss Itachi. Even though he hates me. Even though he thinks I'm weak. I don't understand why he killed everyone but I still..." His voice cracked. "Is that bad?"

"No, that's not bad," Kakashi said. "You can still love someone even when they hurt you."

Kakashi watched him. This little boy trying so hard to be strong. Carrying stuff, no kid should ever have to carry. Something cracked inside Kakashi.

"Hey," he said. "Can I try something?"

Sasuke looked up at him, eyes wide and scared.

"I'm going to give you a hug, okay? Sometimes it helps."

Sasuke just stared. Like he didn't know what to do with that.

Then he nodded. Barely.

Kakashi moved slow. Careful. Wrapped his arms around his little shaking body and pulled him close. Sasuke went stiff for just a second. Then something broke. He clung onto Kakashi's vest until his knuckles went white and just cried, hard messy tears.

"I miss them, “Sasuke gasped, voice raw. "I miss them so much, and I don’t know how to stop."

You’re not supposed to stop,” Kakashi said, voice barely above a whisper. Just slow circles on his back, steady and grounding. “Missing them means you loved them. That’s not something you fix. You just… carry it around with you.

"But it hurts."

"I know it hurts. But you're not carrying it alone anymore. We're here."

Sasuke cried until he was all cried out. Just exhausted himself against Kakashi's steady presence. When he finally pulled back, his eyes were red but clearer somehow.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"Anytime," Kakashi said. Meant it completely.

Akari watched the whole thing and felt something tight in her chest just... loosen. Like a knot she'd been carrying finally coming undone. This was what she'd needed as a scared kid. What every scared kid needed. Someone to hold them when the world got too big. Watching Sasuke get that comfort... it was healing something in her too. And seeing Kakashi like this, so gentle and patient, doing something she'd never expected him capable of... it was doing things to her heart she wasn't ready to think about yet. Trust was building for everyone. Slow but sure.

"Actually," Kakashi said, thoughtful, "there's someone I want you to meet. Some friends of mine who understand about loss and healing. Would you like that?"

"Who?" Sasuke asked, still leaning against Kakashi.

"Some friends of mine. They're excellent judges of character." His visible eye crinkled. "And I think you'll recognize one of them from a certain bedtime story."

Sasuke's eyes went wide. For the first time all day, he looked actually curious instead of just scared.

"Pakkun?" he asked.

"Among others."

Twenty minutes later they were standing in the small summoning area behind Kakashi's building. Sasuke watched as Kakashi bit his thumb and did hand signs.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

Smoke everywhere. When it cleared, eight dogs of different sizes sat there. At the front, a small pug wearing a blue vest looked up at Kakashi with smart dark eyes.

"Yo, boss," Pakkun said in his gravelly voice. "What's the occasion?"

Sasuke's mouth fell open. "You can talk!"

"Course I can talk, kid. What do I look like, a regular dog?" Pakkun's tone was gruff, but his tail wagged.

"Sasuke," Kakashi said gently, "meet my pack. This is Pakkun, who you already know from our story. Bull, Urushi, Shiba, Bisuke, Akino, Uhei, and Guruko."

Each dog did their own thing. Some barked, others wagged, Bull gave a dignified nod.

"Pack," Kakashi continued, "this is Sasuke. He's staying with us now."

Pakkun studied Sasuke with those knowing eyes. "The Uchiha kid. Heard about what happened. Rough deal."

Sasuke's shoulders tensed, but Pakkun kept going before he could retreat.

"Thing is, kid, loss is something we all get. Every member of this pack has lost someone important. But we stick together now. That's what pack means."

The simple acceptance in his voice seemed to catch Sasuke off guard.

"Would you like to pet them?" Akari asked gently. "If they're okay with it."

"We're working dogs," Shiba said seriously. "But we make exceptions for cubs who need comfort."

That broke something open in Sasuke's expression. Without a word, he knelt down and carefully reached toward Pakkun. The small dog moved closer, let Sasuke run gentle fingers through his fur.

"He's soft," Sasuke whispered, wonder creeping into his voice.

"Don't let it fool you," Pakkun said dryly. "I'm tough as nails. But I also give excellent therapy. Licensed and everything."

That got a small giggle out of Sasuke. "Dogs can't be licensed therapists."

"Says who? I've got excellent bedside manner, and I never judge anyone for crying."

Akino, a bigger golden dog, moved to Sasuke's other side and gently leaned against him. The steady warmth and breathing seemed to ease some of the tension Sasuke had been carrying since yesterday.

"They like you," Guruko observed. "We're good judges of character."

"Hey, Pakkun," Sasuke said suddenly, curiosity beating out shyness. "Did you really fight that huge cat? The one in the story?"

Pakkun's ears perked up with pride. "Tora? That demon feline? Kid, I've caught that escape artist more times than I can count. Last week alone, three times."

"He's lying," Kakashi said mildly. "It was four times."

"Was not!" Pakkun protested. "Tuesday doesn't count because she technically caught herself when she got stuck in that trash can."

Sasuke actually smiled at that. A real smile.

"We were thinking of taking them for a walk," Kakashi said. "Want to come along? The park isn't far."

Sasuke nodded eagerly. "Can I walk with Pakkun?"

"Course, kid. But I should warn you, I've got opinions about everything, and I'm not shy about sharing them."

"I like opinions," Sasuke said solemnly. "As long as they're smart ones."

"Oh, mine are brilliant. Just ask anyone."

They made their way through the village streets. Sasuke walked between Pakkun and Akino, one hand resting on each dog's head. The physical contact seemed to ground him in a way nothing else had managed.

"So," Pakkun said conversationally, "heard you're pretty smart. Got any questions about how things work around here?"

"Are there really bad people in the village?" Sasuke asked quietly. "People who might hurt kids?"

Pakkun's expression got serious. "Some. But there are more good people than bad ones. And the good ones? They don't let the bad ones get away with things. Not when they know about it."

"How do you tell the difference?"

"Good people protect cubs. Bad people use them." Pakkun's voice was matter of fact. "Bad people make you feel scared and small. Good people make you feel safe and heard."

Sasuke absorbed this wisdom with typical seriousness. "What about Kakashi and Akari?"

"What do you think?"

Sasuke was quiet for a moment. "They make me feel safe. And they listen when I talk."

"There's your answer then."

When they reached the park, it was as busy as expected for a Saturday afternoon. Kids running around, parents chatting on benches. Normal village life that felt almost foreign after everything they'd been through.

The ninken immediately spread out. Protective formation, but not obvious about it. Pakkun stayed close to Sasuke, while the others positioned themselves where they could watch.

"Protective much?" Akari murmured to Kakashi.

"They know he's important," Kakashi replied quietly. "Dogs understand pack loyalty better than most people."

They found a shaded area near the swings where the dogs could relax while still keeping watch. Sasuke settled cross legged next to Pakkun, absently petting the pug's ears while observing the other children.

"They're loud," he observed, watching academy students play tag.

"Most cubs are," Bull said in his deep voice. "It's how they express joy."

"I don't think I was ever that loud."

"Different cubs express joy differently," Akino said gently. "Some are loud, some are quiet. Both are good."

That's when Akari spotted him.

A flash of bright yellow hair near the far edge of the park. Sitting alone under a tree, throwing stones at nothing. Even from a distance, she could see the slump in his small shoulders.

Her heart just squeezed tight.

"I'll be right back," she said, standing up before she could think better of it.

"Where are you going?" Sasuke asked, looking suddenly worried.

"There's someone I want you to meet. Another kid who looks like he could use some friends."

Pakkun's ears perked up. "The Uzumaki kit? Yeah, we've been keeping an eye on him when we're out on patrol. Pack instinct."

"I figured you would," Kakashi said quietly. "What do you think?"

"Lonely. But tough. Kid's got spirit, I'll give him that," Shiba said matter of factly. "Pack instinct says he needs friends."

Akari approached the lonely figure under the tree. She felt eyes on her back. Not just Kakashi and Sasuke, but something else. Something that made her skin crawl.

She filed the feeling away for later. Focused on the boy in front of her.

He looked up when her shadow fell across him. Blue eyes wide and cautious. Three whisker marks on each cheek that made him look even younger somehow.

"Hi," she said gently.

"Hi," he said back. Wary but not unfriendly.

"I'm Akari. Mind if I sit?"

He shrugged. She took that as permission. Up close, she could see how thin he was. How his clothes didn't quite fit right. The tiny apartment she remembered from Sasuke's memories. Barely furnished, always empty of food and too cold in winter. It was no place for a kid to live.

"What's your name?" she asked, even though she already knew.

"Naruto," he said. Then quickly, "Naruto Uzumaki."

Like he was used to people forgetting.

"That's a strong name," she said simply.

His face lit up. "You really think so? Most people just think it's weird 'cause of the ramen thing!"

"Most people don't look past the surface."

They sat quiet for a bit. Naruto went back to throwing stones, but she could feel him sneaking glances at her.

"Are you new?" he asked eventually.

"Sort of. I'm staying with a friend while I figure some things out."

"Is that your friend over there?" He pointed at Kakashi and the dogs. "The one with the silver hair looks familiar. And are his dogs?"

"Kakashi," she confirmed. "And yes, those are his ninken. And the boy with him is my cousin, Sasuke."

Something shifted in Naruto's expression. Recognition, maybe. "Sasuke Uchiha? From the academy?"

"You know him?"

"We all know each other from class," Naruto said quietly. "What happened to his family... that's really sad."

There was genuine sympathy in his voice. No curiosity or gossip. Just a seven year old recognizing another kid's pain.

"It is sad," she agreed. "He's having a hard time. He was pretty isolated even before this happened. The Uchiha clan kept to themselves a lot."

Naruto nodded like this made perfect sense. "Yeah, I know about being alone. Sometimes my brain gets too loud, and I can't make it stop, y'know?"

The simple honesty of it nearly broke her heart.

"Want to come meet him?" she asked. "Maybe you could help him remember how to just be a kid. And I bet you'd love the dogs."

Naruto's eyes went wide. "Me? I'm not good at helping with serious stuff. I usually just make everything louder and more of a mess."

"Sometimes loud and messy is exactly what someone needs."

He thought about this seriously, then nodded. "Okay. But if he doesn't like me, it's totally your fault."

"Deal."

They walked back together. Akari noticed Pakkun's ears perk up as they approached.

"Incoming," the pug announced quietly. "One lonely kit, approaching from the east."

"Pakkun," Kakashi said warningly.

"What? I'm just giving a status report."

Sasuke looked up curiously as they got close. Akari saw the exact moment he noticed Naruto's whisker marks. His head tilted slightly, the way it always did when he was trying to figure out a puzzle.

"Sasuke," Akari said, "this is Naruto from your class. Naruto, my cousin Sasuke. And these are Kakashi's ninken."

For a moment, nobody said anything. The two boys just looked at each other. Classmates who'd never really talked before, while the dogs watched with interest.

"Hi, Sasuke," Naruto said finally, his attention split between the boy he knew from academy but had never actually talked to and the amazing array of dogs.

"Hello," Sasuke replied formally.

"Whoa," Naruto breathed, eyes going wide as he took in the pack. "Are these real ninja dogs? They're so cool!"

"Course we're real," Pakkun said dryly. "What did you expect, stuffed animals?"

Naruto nearly fell over backward. "You can talk!"

"Kid's quick," Bull observed with amusement.

"That's amazing!" Naruto's excitement was infectious. "I've never met talking dogs before!"

"First time for everything," Akino said gently, moving closer to sniff Naruto. "You smell lonely."

"Dogs can smell loneliness?" Naruto asked, fascinated rather than embarrassed.

"We can smell lots of things," Shiba said. "Loneliness. Fear. Sadness. But also joy and kindness."

"What do I smell like?" Sasuke asked quietly.

Pakkun thought seriously. "Grief. But also, curiosity. And underneath all that, hope."

Sasuke seemed to find this acceptable.

"Can I pet them?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"If they're comfortable with it," Akari said.

"We like enthusiastic cubs," Guruko said. "As long as they're gentle."

Naruto knelt down and carefully extended his hand to Pakkun, who sniffed it thoroughly before allowing pets.

"He's so soft!" Naruto said with delight. "And warm!"

"Don't let it go to his head," Kakashi said, but he was smiling.

As Naruto got introduced to each dog, Sasuke gradually relaxed. The ninken seemed to make the social interaction easier somehow. Less pressure.

"So, what happened to your family?" Naruto asked with typical seven year old directness, settling cross legged next to Sasuke while Akino positioned herself between them.

Sasuke went very still.

"Naruto," Kakashi said quietly.

"What? I’m just asking. Everyone talks about it, but I bet no one ever asks him for real. That’s kinda weird, y'know?

There was logic in that, even if the delivery needed work.

"They died," Sasuke said simply. "All of them."

"That really sucks," Naruto said with complete sincerity. "I'm sorry that happened."

"It's not your fault."

"I know. But I'm still sorry anyway."

Sasuke studied Naruto's face like he was looking for lies or mockery. Finding none, his shoulders dropped slightly.

"Do you live with your parents?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto's expression flickered. "Nah, don't have any. Never did. It's just me."

Now it was Sasuke's turn to look surprised. "Just you? Who takes care of you?"

"I take care of me," Naruto said with a shrug that tried to be casual. "I'm pretty good at it."

"That's hard work for a cub," Pakkun observed. "Cubs need packs."

"Yeah, well, I don't really have one of those," Naruto said, but without self pity.

"You do now," Sasuke said quietly. "If you want. Akari says family doesn't have to be blood. It's just people who choose to stay."

The simple offer hung in the air. Naruto's eyes went wide, a flush of hope spreading across his whiskered cheeks.

"Really?"

"Really," Sasuke confirmed, his own cheeks a little pink at being so direct about feelings.

From her position keeping watch, Akari’s throat swelled with quiet emotion. These two were going to be the death of her. Without thinking, she reached over and grabbed Kakashi's hand, needing something to anchor her to this moment.

Kakashi's fingers tightened around hers automatically before they both realized what they'd done. They froze, looking down at their joined hands, then back at each other.

"Sorry, I..." Akari started.

"No, it's..." Kakashi began.

They both let go at the same time, looking anywhere but at each other.

"Want to see something cool?" Naruto asked suddenly, obviously overwhelmed by the family offer and needing to redirect.

Before anyone could answer, he was gathering small stones from the ground. Started juggling them. Not well, and not for long, but with such enthusiasm that it was impossible not to watch.

Of course, within seconds he dropped them all.

"Ta da!" he announced anyway, arms spread wide.

Sasuke blinked. "You dropped them all."

"But did you see how high I got them before I dropped them? That's what counts!"

"Is it?"

"Yeah! It's not about being perfect. It's about trying new stuff and seeing what happens."

"Interesting philosophy," Pakkun commented. "Flawed execution though."

"Hey!" Naruto protested, but he was grinning.

This seemed completely foreign to Sasuke. He stared at Naruto like he was speaking another language.

"Here," Naruto said, gathering the stones again. "You try."

"I don't know how to juggle."

"Neither do I, really. That's what makes it fun."

Sasuke looked uncertainly at Akari. She nodded encouragingly.

With obvious reluctance, Sasuke took the stones. His first attempt was careful. Controlled. He managed to keep two in the air for maybe three seconds before they fell.

"See?" Naruto said excitedly. "You're already way better than me!"

"I dropped them too."

"Yeah, but yours went higher! And you kept them going longer! That's so cool!"

Sasuke looked skeptical. "It's not cool. I messed up."

"You tried something new and did good for a first time. That's definitely cool."

The genuine enthusiasm in Naruto's voice seemed to confuse Sasuke more than anything else. Like he wasn't used to being praised for imperfection.

"Wait," Naruto said, studying Sasuke's technique more carefully. "Do that throw again. The way you moved your wrist."

Sasuke repeated the motion, this time managing to keep three stones going for almost five seconds.

"Whoa! How'd you do that?" Naruto leaned forward, eyes bright with curiosity rather than jealousy.

"I just... focused on the timing," Sasuke said, a small flush of pride creeping into his voice. "Like Itachi taught me with shuriken practice."

"Shuriken practice?" Naruto's eyes went wide. "You already know how to throw shuriken? That's so awesome! I can barely hit a tree!"

"It's not that great," Sasuke said quickly, a faint pink tinge creeping up his cheeks. "I'm still not perfect, not like Itachi."

"Are you kidding? I bet you're amazing!" Naruto scrambled to gather more stones. "Okay, my turn to try your way. Show me that wrist thing again."

Sasuke demonstrated the movement, and Naruto tried to copy it. Failed completely. But instead of getting frustrated, he just laughed.

"Okay, that's way harder than it looks. But I'm gonna figure it out!" He shot a determined look at Sasuke. "Just wait. By the end of today, I'm gonna juggle way better than you!"

"No way," Sasuke said, but there was no meanness in it. Just the hint of a challenge.

"Wanna bet?" Naruto grinned. "Loser has to... I dunno. Say the other one is awesome?"

Sasuke thought about this seriously. "But what if we're both bad at it?"

"Then we're both awesome for trying!"

"I'm gonna win," Naruto announced cheerfully.

"No, I'm gonna win," Sasuke said, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.

Pakkun watched the exchange with interest. "Competition can be good for cubs. As long as it stays friendly."

"So, this is competition?" Sasuke asked, like he was still deciding if he liked it.

"The good kind," Naruto said firmly. "Where we both get better. Not the mean kind where someone feels bad."

"I’m still gonna win," Sasuke said, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile that reached his eyes.

As the boys continued their juggling attempts, each encouraging the other despite their friendly rivalry, Akari became aware of movement at the edge of her vision. A figure approaching slowly. Her body tensed before her mind caught up.

It was Shikamaru, though much smaller than she remembered. His observant eyes and the slouched posture of someone already tired of the world. Even as a child, he carried himself like nothing could be worth too much effort.

"Troublesome," he said, lowering himself onto the grass nearby. "All that noise for something that doesn’t work."

Sasuke and Naruto paused their stone throwing to look at him.

"It does work," Naruto protested. "Sort of. Sometimes."

"It works when you’re having fun," Sasuke added, surprising himself with the defense.

The new boy studied them with keen eyes that didn’t quite match his lazy posture.

"Shikamaru," Sasuke said with a polite nod.

"Sasuke. Naruto," Shikamaru replied, glancing at their scattered stones. "So… what exactly are you two doing?"

"I’m not that loud," Naruto said.

"Yes, you are," Sasuke and Shikamaru said together, earning a laugh from Naruto.

Turns out failing can actually be kinda fun," Sasuke said with a small, surprised grin. "Guess that’s… new for me."

Shikamaru tilted his head, studying him with interest. "Huh. Most people hate failing."

"Most people are probably right to hate it," Sasuke replied. "But Naruto makes it look... different."

"That's my special talent," Naruto said proudly. "Making things look different."

As the three boys continued talking, Akari noticed Kakashi had gone very still. His attention was fixed on something beyond the playground. She followed his gaze.

A figure in civilian clothes stood near the park entrance, trying to look casual while obviously watching their group. When he realized he'd been spotted, he melted back into the crowd with practiced ease.

"Surveillance," Kakashi murmured quietly.

"Danzo's?" she asked.

"Most likely."

Pakkun's ears flattened slightly. "Confirmed. Been tracking that scent since we got here. He's been watching the Uzumaki kit too. Regularly."

That sent ice through Akari's veins. Danzo wasn't just interested in Sasuke. He was keeping tabs on Naruto too.

"We should head back soon," Kakashi said quietly.

"But not immediately," Akari replied. "Can't let them think we've noticed."

Like their conversation summoned him, another figure approached. This one older, walking with the measured pace of someone who belonged here.

"Shikamaru," the man called. "Your mother's looking for you."

The boy looked up with a put upon expression. "Troublesome. I just got comfortable."

Shikaku Nara. Akari had met him during her interrogation, and he'd been at the funeral pyre too. Head of the Nara clan, brilliant strategist, and someone who could be a powerful ally if approached correctly.

"Dad, meet Sasuke and Naruto," Shikamaru said without getting up. "They're doing this thing where failing is supposed to be fun."

Shikaku's eyebrows rose slightly as he took in the scene. Two boys with stones scattered around them, looking happy despite their obvious lack of juggling success. Kakashi nearby with his ninken pack, alert but relaxed. And the young woman he'd questioned about the Uchiha massacre.

"Kakashi," Shikaku nodded to the Copy Ninja with professional courtesy.

"Shikaku," Kakashi replied.

"Productive failure?" Shikaku asked, looking at the boys.

"It's when you try something, mess it up, but have fun doing it," Naruto explained earnestly. "Turns out it's a real thing people do."

"Apparently," Shikaku agreed, amusement creeping into his voice. His eyes found Akari's. "Ms. Uchiha. Good to see you again."

"Likewise," she said, standing and offering a slight bow.

"I trust you're settling in well after our previous conversation?"

"As well as can be expected, thank you."

He studied her for a moment longer. "Perhaps we'll have a chance to speak more formally sometime. I find myself curious about your... ongoing perspectives on village matters."

The words were carefully chosen. Not quite an invitation, but not a dismissal either.

"I'd welcome the opportunity," she replied equally carefully.

"Dad," Shikamaru complained from the ground. "You're being all political and making things weird."

"Politics is part of life, son. Might as well get used to it."

"Troublesome."

But Shikaku's attention had shifted to the boys' juggling attempts. "So, what have you learned from this productive failure?"

"That making mistakes isn't as scary when someone else is making them too," Sasuke explained. "And that laughing is more fun than being perfect."

Shikaku's expression got thoughtful. "Wise observations. Both of them."

He glanced back at Akari with what might have been approval. "Yes, I think we should definitely talk soon."

After the Naras left, the afternoon wound down naturally. Naruto was invited to dinner, which he accepted with the kind of enthusiasm that suggested he never got such invitations.

They walked back to the apartment. The ninken formed a loose protective formation around them. Kakashi fell into step beside Akari. Their hands bumped as they walked, and this time neither pulled away immediately.

"Interesting afternoon," he said quietly.

"Very. Shikaku's interest could be useful."

"And Danzo's surveillance is escalating."

"We expected that." Her jaw tightened. "But watching Naruto too? That changes things."

"Everything's connected," Kakashi agreed. "Which means we need to be more careful than planned."

Sasuke and Naruto walked ahead of them, still chattering about their juggling attempts while Pakkun provided commentary. For the moment, they looked like what they were supposed to be. Just two kids who'd found friendship.

But Akari could feel the weight of watching eyes, even now. Danzo's network was vast and patient. They'd have to be smarter.

Fortunately, they were starting to build their own network. And some of the most important pieces were seven years old and throwing stones.

That evening their small apartment felt fuller somehow. Not just because of Naruto's energy bouncing off the walls, but because of Pakkun, who'd insisted on staying "to keep an eye on the cubs."

"Just for tonight," he'd told Kakashi. "Cubs sleep better with pack around after stressful days."

Now the small pug was settled between Sasuke and Naruto on the floor, offering commentary on everything from Akari's cooking ("Better than Kakashi's sad attempts") to Naruto's table manners ("Enthusiastic but lacking technique").

"You know," Naruto said around a mouthful of rice ball, "I've never had dinner with talking dogs before."

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Pakkun said automatically. "Cubs need to learn proper etiquette."

"Yes, sir," Naruto said, swallowing quickly.

Sasuke hid a smile behind his own rice ball. "He's very serious about manners."

"Someone has to be," Pakkun replied. "Left to your own devices, cubs would eat with their hands and sleep in piles."

"What's wrong with sleeping in piles?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Nothing, if you're actual puppies. But you're human cubs. Different rules."

Watching the easy interaction, Akari felt such a deep, steady warmth. This was what family should feel like. Loud, a little messy, and full of moments you never saw coming.

When it got late, Naruto looked toward the door but didn't move.

"You can stay if you want," Sasuke said suddenly. "It's the weekend… we could have a sleepover. If that’s okay with Akari and Kakashi" He looked with a hopeful smile.

"Really?" Naruto's entire face lit up.

Kakashi looked at Akari, who nodded. "If you want to, Naruto. We can figure out the sleeping arrangements."

"Can we sleep with the dogs?" Sasuke asked hopefully.

"I don't see why not," Kakashi said. "If Pakkun doesn't mind."

"Course I don't mind," Pakkun said gruffly. "Got cubs to look after now. That's pack business."

Later, after both boys were asleep curled up between Hiro and the dogs on carefully arranged futons, Akari and Kakashi sat at the kitchen table. The evening's planning session felt more urgent now.

"Danzo's moving faster than we expected," Kakashi said quietly. "Having us watched this openly means he's either confident or desperate."

"Both, probably." Akari traced patterns on the table with her finger. "But Shikaku's interest could be exactly what we need."

"Think he suspects something?"

"I think he's smart enough to recognize that something's not adding up about the massacre, and political enough to want allies before the truth comes out."

Kakashi nodded. "And the surveillance on Naruto?"

That made her jaw clench. "Means Danzo's already planning his next moves. Naruto's the Nine Tails jinchuriki. A perfect weapon if properly controlled."

"Over my dead body."

The quiet vehemence in his voice made her look up. His visible eye was hard with determination.

"Not just yours," she said softly. "We're in this together now."

"Together," he agreed.

"So, we reach out to Shikaku," Akari said decisively. "Tomorrow. Make the first move before Danzo can isolate us further."

"Agreed. The Nara clan's support could change everything."

Outside, the village settled into evening quiet. But somewhere in the shadows, watchers were taking notes. Planning. Waiting for the right moment to strike.

It didn't matter. Let them watch. Let them plan.

Akari wasn't fighting alone. She had a partner who believed in the impossible. Two seven year olds who were learning to be kids again. And a pack of ninken who'd decided that protecting cubs was worth any risk.

Danzo had no idea what he was up against.

"So," she said, leaning back in her chair. "Think we can actually pull this off?"

"With a pack of dogs and two seven year olds?" Kakashi's eye crinkled with something that might have been amusement. "Sounds about right for us."

Tomorrow would bring new challenges. More surveillance. Careful maneuvering around an increasingly suspicious Danzo. But tonight, they had this. A family that was growing stronger with each small step forward.

And sometimes, small steps were exactly what it took to outmaneuver an enemy who was expecting giant leaps.

A soft knock at the door broke the comfortable silence. Kakashi and Akari exchanged glances. It was nearly midnight.

Kakashi opened the door to find a young ANBU operative, mask gleaming in the hallway light.

"Hatake-san," the ANBU said quietly. "The Hokage requests your presence tomorrow morning. Nine sharp. He wishes to discuss... recent developments regarding the Uchiha situation."

The ANBU melted back into the shadows before either could respond, leaving only the faint scent of ozone and the weight of tomorrow's implications.

Kakashi closed the door slowly and met Akari's eyes.

"Looks like our timeline just got shorter," she said grimly.

"Then we better hope Shikaku's feeling cooperative," Kakashi replied.

Chapter 11 Teaser: "Building Bridges"

The apartment's louder now, filled with laughter and the kind of chaos that feels like home. But when the Hokage asks uncomfortable questions and a certain shadow-wielding strategist shows up for tea, it becomes clear that some bridges are built with shared meals and dangerous truths. And sometimes the most important negotiations happen while two boys teach dogs how to play tag in the background.

Chapter Text

Sunday morning came too early.

"Both of you are missing the point," came a distinctly canine voice, dry with amusement. "The goal isn't to argue about technique. It's to actually find what you're tracking."

Akari smiled into her coffee cup. The dogs had been there since Saturday when Kakashi summoned them, and they'd just... stayed. Part of the pact, settling into their new role as guardians. Yesterday at the park felt like a lifetime ago, but when Kakashi got that urgent summons last night to report to the Hokage's office in the morning, having Pakkun already here was a blessing.

Officially, Kakashi was responsible for supervising the boys and couldn't leave them alone with just Akari. The village would expect proper shinobi oversight. The dogs provided that cover.

Unofficially, they were the most capable guardians he and Akari could ask for.

And judging by the enthusiastic chaos coming from the next room, they were also surprisingly good with children.

"Found it!" Naruto's triumphant shout was followed by the sound of something crashing to the floor. "Oops. Sorry, Akari!"

"What did you find?" she called back, already moving to assess the damage.

"Kakashi's secret stash of Icha Icha books!"

A moment of profound silence.

"Those aren't mine," Kakashi said from the kitchen doorway, appearing with impressive speed. "They came with the apartment."

"Uh-huh." Akari raised an eyebrow. "And I suppose you've never read 'Icha Icha Paradise?'"

"Not recently."

"What about 'Icha Icha Violence?'"

"That one might have some useful... combat techniques."

Pakkun's snort of laughter was distinctly audible from the living room. "Boss, your cover stories need work."

"Can we focus on the training exercise?" Kakashi said, his ears reddened above his mask.

"Right!" Naruto bounced back into view, clutching a book. "So, I was supposed to find where you hid this, and I did! It was stuffed behind the couch cushions, but then I found tons of other books and some papers and this thing that looks like it might explode but probably doesn't 'cause you wouldn't put explody things with your weird books, right?"

"Give me that." Kakashi quickly grabbed the paperback and what was definitely a deactivated explosive tag. "Good job tracking it down though. You're getting better at the smelling thing."

"What about me?" Sasuke appeared with a small scroll, looking pleased with himself. "I found mine too."

Kakashi blinked. "Where was it?"

"Under the kitchen table. You stuck it there and tried to hide the smell with cooking oil, but paper smells different than wood. It was easy."

"Impressive deduction." Kakashi looked genuinely pleased. "Both of you are getting better at this."

"That's because they have a good teacher," Akari said, settling on the couch. "And because they're naturally observant."

"Naruto's naturally loud," Sasuke corrected. "But he notices things."

"And Sasuke's naturally grumpy," Naruto added cheerfully. "But he thinks about stuff."

"I'm not grumpy."

"You're a little grumpy. But it's okay. I'm loud enough for both of us."

Pakkun padded over to Akari, his expression amused. "They balance each other out. It's actually quite effective from a tactical standpoint."

"They get to be themselves together," Akari said softly, watching the boys. There was something bittersweet in her voice. "Their truest selves. No masks, no expectations. Just... who they really are."

She knew this dynamic intimately, had lived it from the other side. The way Naruto's boundless energy could pull someone out of the darkest places. The way quiet strength could anchor someone who felt like they were drowning in loneliness. In the original timeline, it had taken them years to find this balance. This time, they were building it from the ground up.

"Like a team."

"Like a pack." Pakkun's tone grew more serious. "Which is good, because they're going to need those instincts."

The weight behind his words wasn't lost on any of the adults in the room. Even with their careful planning, the boys were still vulnerable. Still at the center of forces they were too young to understand.

"Speaking of which," Kakashi said, checking the time. "I need to head out soon."

"The Hokage summons?" Akari asked quietly.

"Yes. No idea what it's about." His voice was carefully neutral, but she could see the tension in his shoulders. "Could be routine. Could be something we need to worry about."

"Will you be okay here?" he continued.

"We'll be more than fine." Akari stood, and something in her posture shifted. The gentle guardian melted away, replaced by something harder. More dangerous. "Actually, I think it's time the boys learned some more advanced protective techniques."

"Advanced techniques?" Naruto perked up immediately. "Like what?"

"Like chakra sensing and emotional control," Akari said, settling back down with them. When she moved, it was with the fluid grace of someone who'd spent years perfecting the art of violence. "How to feel when someone's watching you. How to recognize different types of chakra signatures."

"Can you teach us that?" Sasuke asked, his dark eyes bright with interest.

"Better than most people could." Her voice carried the quiet confidence of someone who'd mastered skills others could only dream of. "I learned from some very... experienced sources."

Kakashi paused in gathering his gear, watching as Akari took control of the situation with effortless command. There was something compelling about the way she drew attention without raising her voice. The graceful certainty in her movements. The way both boys immediately focused on her with complete trust, and the way that same quiet confidence made his pulse skip unexpectedly.

"Akari."

"They need to know how to protect themselves," she said firmly, steel beneath her gentle tone. “Chakra sensing could save his life someday."

"I know. Just..." He hesitated. "Nothing too advanced while I'm gone."

"Define 'too advanced.'"

"Nothing that involves combat applications. Or anything that might damage their chakra pathways if done incorrectly."

Akari's smile was edged like a blade. "I'm not going to hurt them, Kakashi. But I am going to make sure they can survive in a world that wants to use them."

"I know. Just... be careful. Both with them and with yourself."

"Careful is what got us into this mess in the first place." Her dark eyes held his steadily, and she found herself noticing the way concern softened the sharp lines around his visible eye. "Sometimes you have to take risks to create real change."

But before they could begin the serious training, Naruto had convinced them all to play an elaborate version of tag that involved the ninja dogs and apparently required extensive rule negotiation.

"So, you run around and try to touch people?" Sasuke asked, genuinely puzzled by the concept. "And then they have to run?"

"Yeah! But there are rules!" Naruto's excitement was infectious, though there was something almost desperate about it. Like he'd been waiting his whole life to explain this to someone who would actually listen. "You can't tag the same person twice in a row, and if you get to base, you're safe!"

"What's base?"

"We pick something. Like that couch!" Naruto pointed, then looked uncertain. "I mean, if that's okay? I've watched other kids play, but..."

His voice trailed off, and Akari's heart twisted. Of course. Naruto had observed countless games from the outside, never invited to join. Just like Sasuke had watched Itachi and Shisui drill with kunai and practice formations, never seeing anything that resembled actual play.

"That sounds perfect," she said gently. "Show us how it works."

What followed was the most beautiful chaos she'd ever witnessed. Two seven-year-old boys who had never truly played before, figuring out joy together.

Naruto would start to run, then stop and shout explanations. "No, you have to count to ten first! And you can't peek!"

Sasuke treated it like a tactical exercise initially, analyzing the rules with intense concentration. "So, the objective is evasion while the person who is 'it' attempts to make contact?"

"It's not training, Sasuke!" Naruto laughed, really laughed, a big happy sound that was so pure it brought tears to Akari's eyes. "It's supposed to be fun!"

"Fun," Sasuke repeated the word like he was tasting something foreign. Then, slowly, a smile crept across his face. Not the polite expressions he'd been offering adults, but something real and delighted and entirely childlike.

The ninja dogs got pulled into the chaos, confused but game. Pakkun found himself designated as a "mobile base" while Bisuke was apparently the referee. The smaller dogs just ran in circles, having decided that the point was maximum chaos and volume.

Akari watched from the doorway as both boys discovered what it meant to play. Really play. To run and shout and argue about rules and collapse in giggles when someone tripped over a dog. To experience the pure, uncomplicated joy of being children with other children who wanted them there.

This was what they'd both been denied. Sasuke by clan discipline and rigid expectations. Naruto by village prejudice and isolation. Both learning for the first time that childhood was supposed to include laughter.

Eventually, the chaos settled into breathless giggles and contented exhaustion. Both boys flopped dramatically on the living room floor, grinning and arguing about who had won the final round. But when Akari stood and moved to the center of the room, the playful energy shifted naturally. Something about her posture commanded attention without demanding it.

"Alright," she said gently, and both boys immediately gave her their full attention. Even Pakkun settled into a more alert posture, recognizing the shift in her demeanor. "Now that you've warmed up, let's work on something that builds from what you just did."

"More playing?" Naruto asked hopefully.

"More learning," Akari replied with a smile. "But the fun kind. Close your eyes, both of you. And tell me what you can sense."

"With our eyes closed?" Naruto asked, but he complied immediately. Something about Akari's tone brooked no argument.

"Especially with your eyes closed. You have other senses. I'm going to teach you how to use them properly."

For several minutes, she guided them through awareness exercises that went far beyond anything taught at the Academy. Her instruction was precise, methodical, and utterly confident. This wasn't someone teaching theory. This was someone passing on hard-won survival skills.

"Good," she said finally. "Now we're going to add chakra to the mix."

"Chakra sensing?" Sasuke's voice was carefully controlled, but she could hear his interest.

"The most important skill you'll ever learn for staying alive," Akari said, grim certainty in every word. "Every person has a unique chakra signature. Learn to recognize them, and you'll never be surprised by an ambush."

"How do we do that?" Naruto asked.

"First, you need to understand your own chakra better." Akari moved to sit directly in front of them, and when she settled her own chakra, both boys' eyes snapped open in shock.

Her chakra signature was unlike anything they'd ever felt. Vast. Ancient. Heavy with power that seemed to echo with pain and loss and absolute determination. For just a moment, it felt like staring into the heart of a storm.

"Whoa," Naruto breathed. "That's... that's incredible."

Sasuke was staring at her with wide eyes. "How do you have so much chakra? It feels like... like..."

"Like I've lived a very long and very difficult life," Akari said simply, reining in her power to more manageable levels. "Which is why I can teach you things that others can't."

What followed was an intensive lesson in chakra control and sensing that went far beyond anything seven-year-olds should be able to handle. But Akari pushed them gently, constantly, always seeming to know exactly how far each boy could be stretched without breaking.

She taught them how to extend their senses beyond their physical bodies. How to feel the ebb and flow of chakra around them. How different emotions affected chakra signatures. How to recognize the difference between friend and foe based on nothing more than the quality of their spiritual energy.

"Sasuke's chakra feels... electric," Naruto said during one exercise, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Not bad electric. Like... before a lightning storm?"

"You’re picking this up quickly," Akari said, and there was a note in her voice that hinted she knew that chakra all too well. "Most Uchiha carry fire as their primary nature, but Sasuke’s different. His chakra holds lightning as well as fire. That’s what you’re sensing, Naruto. The current running through it."

"Like you and Kakashi?" Sasuke asked, his dark eyes brightening with interest.

"Exactly like us." There was warmth in Akari's voice. "Lightning affinity is less common, but very powerful. What else do you notice about his chakra?"

"It's really... focused? Like all gathered up tight instead of flowing everywhere."

"Well done Naruto. Sasuke, what do you sense from Naruto?"

"Warm," Sasuke said immediately. "Really warm. And... big? Like there's more there than what I can actually feel."

Akari's breath caught. Well done Sasuke. Even at seven, Sasuke could sense Kurama's presence. That level of chakra sensitivity was remarkable. And if he could sense the fox's chakra now...

She made a mental note. Soon, she'd need to reach out to Kurama directly. Explain what she was trying to do, why it mattered. The Nine-Tails would be crucial in eventually gaining the other tailed beasts' support. But first, she needed to make sure he understood she wasn't his enemy.

"What about me?" Naruto asked eagerly. "What's my nature?"

"Wind," Akari said with a smile. "Wind release. It's perfect for you, dynamic, unpredictable, and incredibly versatile when you learn to use it properly."

"Wind is cool!" Naruto bounced slightly. "Can I learn to make wind jutsu?"

"Someday. When you're older and have better chakra control." She looked between both boys. "You're both natural sensors. That's going to be incredibly useful."

Sasuke straightened, his voice quiet but certain. "I can already do a fireball."

Naruto’s eyes went wide. "What? Then I need to learn something too!" He turned to Akari with the same desperate urgency he always carried when he felt left behind. "Teach me something."

Her expression softened. "Alright. Then I’ll show you both something new. Not fire or wind yet, but something just as important."

For a moment she let herself take them in. Naruto was all boundless eagerness, Sasuke all quiet determination. They mirrored each other more than they knew. Then Sasuke’s voice broke the moment.

"What about yours?" he asked suddenly, his dark eyes focusing on Akari with unusual intensity. "It feels... like mine somehow. But older. Way older."

Akari went completely still. Of course he would sense the similarity. The shared soul, the Uchiha blood, the echo of what he would become. But how could she explain that?

"That's probably just the family connection," she said carefully. "Uchiha chakra signatures often feel familiar to each other."

Sasuke nodded, accepting the explanation, but something in his expression suggested the sensation went deeper than simple clan recognition. Something that resonated in ways he was too young to comprehend.

They spent the next hour practicing techniques that most shinobi didn't learn until chunin rank. But under Akari's expert guidance, both boys began to develop the kind of awareness that could keep them alive.

But there was something else. Something that made her pause occasionally, as if listening to something the others couldn't hear. A tension in her shoulders that hadn't been there when the lesson started.

"This is way cooler than Academy training," Naruto declared when they finally took a break.

"This is the training that makes the difference when Academy hasn’t prepared you," Akari replied. But her attention seemed split now, part of her awareness focused on something beyond their immediate surroundings.

Pakkun noticed it too. "Something wrong?"

"Maybe." Akari's voice was careful. "There's... something else out there. Something watching."

Her senses extended further, tracking the familiar chakra signatures of their neighborhood. Mrs. Okano hanging laundry two floors down. The Academy student practicing shuriken throws in the courtyard. And there, carefully concealed but not well enough...

"Professional surveillance," she said quietly, her voice taking on a harder edge. "Root operatives, if I had to guess."

"Danzo's people?" Pakkun asked, though his tone suggested he already knew.

“Most likely. They’re skilled, but not skilled enough.” Akari’s expression hardened. “He’s watching the boys, measuring them. Looking for weaknesses, deciding how and when he might strike. Danzo is patient. He never lets go once he sets his sights on something.”

She turned back to Sasuke and Naruto, both watching her with wide eyes. "Close your eyes. Tell me if you feel anything that doesn’t belong."

They obeyed, hesitant at first. Naruto frowned. "There’s something… strange? Like a prickling in my skin."

Sasuke’s eyes opened, dark and certain. "It’s not normal. Too steady. Not like a neighbor."

Akari’s expression softened. "Exactly. You both sensed it. And you did really well." She let the praise sink in before adding, "But I want you to know, you’re safe here. Even if they’re watching, they can’t get close. Not while Kakashi and I are here."

Sasuke’s voice dropped to a whisper. "Can you teach us to hide better? So, they can’t find us?"

For a moment her throat tightened. They were children, and already they knew what it felt like to draw attention they never asked for. Pride and grief tangled in her chest until she forced herself to steady her voice.

"Yes," she said. "That’s exactly what we’re going to work on next."

Meanwhile, across the village, Kakashi was dealing with his own problems. The walk to the Hokage Tower gave him time to think about what he'd tell Hiruzen, but not enough time to figure out why he'd been summoned so urgently.

The summons had been brief. Just "report tomorrow morning" with no explanation. That could mean anything from routine paperwork to complete disaster. Given what Akari had just detected about surveillance, he was betting on disaster.

The Hokage's office felt more imposing than usual as Kakashi settled into the chair across from Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating maps and documents scattered across every available surface. The weight of leading a hidden village made tangible in paperwork.

"Kakashi," the Third Hokage said warmly, setting aside the report he'd been reading. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Of course, Hokage-sama." Kakashi settled into his chair, genuinely uncertain what this was about. The summons had been brief. Just "report tomorrow morning" with no context. "Though I admit I'm not sure why I'm here."

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, studying Kakashi with those knowing eyes that had seen decades of village politics. "I've been receiving some... interesting reports about your current living situation."

"My living situation?" Kakashi blinked, genuinely surprised. That wasn't what he'd expected, though reports about his household weren't entirely shocking given recent events. Reports meant surveillance, and he felt his hackles rise instinctively. "What kind of reports?"

His mind immediately went to the most likely source. Danzo. The man had shown interest in Sasuke, and now suddenly there were "reports" about their household?

"Nothing concerning," Hiruzen said quickly, waving a dismissive hand, though Kakashi noted he hadn't actually answered the question. "Just the usual bureaucratic curiosity when established shinobi suddenly become guardians. How are you finding the experience?"

Kakashi considered his words carefully, wondering exactly what these "reports" contained and who might be providing them. "Rewarding. Challenging. More complicated than I expected, but in good ways."

"And young Sasuke? How is he adjusting to his new living arrangements?"

"Better than anyone hoped. He's eating regularly, sleeping through most nights, showing interest in training again." Kakashi's voice grew warmer. "Having Akari there has made all the difference. She understands his needs in ways I couldn't."

"Ah yes, the mysterious cousin." Hiruzen's tone was mild, but his gaze grew pointed. "I must admit, her appearance was quite timely. Almost convenient."

"She was searching for her family," Kakashi replied evenly. "Had no idea what she'd find when she arrived. Sometimes timing is just... tragic coincidence."

"Indeed. And her... qualifications for raising a traumatized child?"

"Natural aptitude combined with genuine care. She's patient with Sasuke's moods, insightful about his needs, and protective without being overbearing." Kakashi paused. "More importantly, Sasuke trusts her. That's not something that can be taught or faked."

Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Trust is indeed precious. Though I must say, her arrival was quite... fortuitous. Showing up the very night of the tragedy."

"And what about young Naruto? I understand he stayed overnight at your residence yesterday."

Something clicked into place for Kakashi. The urgent summons, the careful questions about "living arrangements," the detailed interest in a single sleepover. This wasn't about routine oversight at all.

This was about Naruto.

"He and Sasuke have become friends," Kakashi said carefully, finally understanding what the meeting was actually about. "It's been beneficial for both of them."

"Beneficial how?"

"Naruto provides the social interaction Sasuke needs to recover. Sasuke provides the stability and acceptance Naruto's never had." Kakashi leaned forward slightly, but there was wariness in his voice now. "They balance each other, Hokage-sama. Naruto draws Sasuke out of his shell, while Sasuke helps ground Naruto's energy."

"And there have been no... complications with this arrangement?"

Kakashi understood the subtext, but something about the question rubbed him wrong. "Complications? They're seven-year-old children, Hokage-sama. They played at the park and fell asleep watching each other's backs. If that's complicated, then maybe we need to examine why."

"Are there any behavioral concerns? Any signs that the current arrangement might be causing problems?"

"None whatsoever. If anything, both boys are more stable than they've ever been." Kakashi's voice grew firm, with an edge creeping in. "Naruto's more focused, more motivated to excel. Sasuke's more willing to engage with others. He's not seeking revenge, more interested in protecting people."

"Protecting people?"

"Anyone who needs it. His friends. Civilians. Other children." Kakashi met the Hokage's eyes directly, and there was something almost prescient in his gaze. "They're learning to live for something positive rather than against something negative. Isn't that what we want from the next generation? Children who protect rather than destroy? Who build rather than burn?"

The specific phrasing seemed to catch Hiruzen's attention, though he couldn't quite place why.

He paused, and his next words carried an unexpected challenge.

"Or are we more comfortable with traumatized, isolated children?"

Hiruzen's eyes grew attentive. Something about Kakashi's phrasing felt... oddly specific. As if he was speaking from knowledge rather than hope.

The Hokage was quiet for a long moment, considering. "It is indeed what we want. Though I must ask. How often do you anticipate Naruto staying at your residence?"

"As often as he needs to," Kakashi said honestly, and there was an edge to his voice now. But then something shifted in his expression. A realization hitting him. "Wait. You're monitoring children's sleepovers now? Since when do we do surveillance on seven-year-olds having normal friendships? He gave a short, humorless laugh. "Then again, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. You’ve always kept Naruto under a watchful eye."

The question hung in the air with more challenge than respect.

"It was one night, Hokage-sama. One night where a lonely boy got to experience what friendship feels like." Kakashi’s voice grew more passionate, his tone edging toward confrontation. "I’ve watched Naruto too, all these years. Not just through reports, but with my own eyes. I’ve seen him walk home to an empty apartment. I’ve seen him go to bed hungry. I’ve seen him wake up to silence. I followed your orders to keep him safe from the shadows, but it was never enough. Surveillance isn’t the same as raising a child. And every time I watched, I knew how unsafe that distance really was."

He paused, and when he continued, his words carried pointed criticism.

"He wakes up alone every morning and pretends it doesn't matter. Minato-sensei wouldn't have wanted that for his son. And frankly, I'm starting to wonder why we thought it was acceptable in the first place."

The mention of Minato's name hung in the air, but so did the challenge to village policy.

Hiruzen's expression grew more guarded. "The boy's situation has always been... complicated."

"Complicated how?" Kakashi pressed, and his voice had an edge to it now. "He's seven years old. His parents died protecting this village. What's so complicated about making sure he's taken care of?"

"You know the special circumstances around Naruto's birth."

"He's Minato's son. He got a burden he never asked for, protecting people who treat him like garbage." Kakashi's eye went hard. "And I know kids can grow up hungry and lonely and desperate for attention and not become loyal shinobi. They get angry. Bitter. Start looking for someone to blame or someone who'll finally notice them."

"What are you getting at, Kakashi?"

"Maybe we need to rethink how we handle 'special circumstances.' I failed Minato-sensei in a lot of ways. Couldn't save him or Kushina. But this? This I can do. I can give their son an actual family instead of the loneliness we stuck him with."

"You think your household can handle that?"

"I think Naruto deserves to know what having a family feels like. Both boys are stronger together than they'd ever be apart."

He paused. Something about mentioning that bond made Hiruzen's expression shift.

"Though I bet the village has concerns about the last Uchiha and the Nine-Tails host being best friends. The Sharingan can control tailed beasts, after all. Probably makes their friendship... politically complicated."

"It does." Hiruzen's voice carried new weight. "Which is why we need to make sure their bond serves the village, not threatens it."

"Minato-sensei trusted me to protect the village. I'm asking you to trust me to protect his son. The way we should have been protecting him all along."

Hiruzen's eyes grew pointed at the implied criticism. "There were reasons for the arrangements we made."

"Were there? Or did we just convince ourselves it was necessary because it was easier?" Kakashi's voice got harder. "From where I'm sitting, we screwed up. Failed a kid who deserved better. And we're only trying to fix it now because someone finally made it impossible to ignore."

A long, uncomfortable silence. Hiruzen studying Kakashi with new attention.

“You’ve begun to speak very strongly about village policy, Kakashi.”

"I have strong opinions about doing right by the kids I'm supposed to protect. “Especially when one is the son of parents who died to save this place, and the other is the survivor of a family it chose not to protect.”

Kakashi’s words lingered in the room, the accusation too clear to brush aside. Hiruzen’s face stayed calm, but there was a flicker in his eyes that was harder to read. "Tell me about Miss Uchiha," he said at last. "What do you make of her character?"

"She's smart. Protective. Puts the boys first, always." Kakashi paused. "More capable than you'd expect."

"Capable how?"

Shit. Why had he said that? Kakashi caught himself, but it was too late to take it back. "Just... protective instincts. Good with kids. You know."

But Hiruzen's eyes had sharpened. "What kind of capabilities, Kakashi?"

"Nothing major. Just..." Kakashi scrambled for something safe. "She's naturally protective. Has good instincts about keeping them safe."

"That's not what you said." The Hokage's voice grew quiet. "You said capable. What kind of skills does this civilian cousin possess?"

The trap was closing. Kakashi could feel it. "Look, she just... she cares about them. That's all."

"I think a formal assessment of her capabilities would be prudent." Hiruzen's tone made it clear this wasn't a request. "Someone who's more capable than you'd expect shouldn't remain unaffiliated with village operations."

"Assessment." Kakashi's tone went flat. "You mean control. This isn't about her background at all, is it? You're sizing her up like a weapon. Wondering if she inherited any Uchiha abilities along with the name."

"What exactly have you observed that makes you think she's so capable?"

"I don't know specifics. She just carries herself like someone who's been trained. Could be clan background from before the massacre."

"Maybe you should pay closer attention."

The threat was obvious. Kakashi didn't flinch. "You want me to investigate the woman who's been nothing but good to these boys? Fine. But I need to know why. What exactly has she done that makes you think she's dangerous?"

"My concern is for the village's security. Two of our most precious assets..."

"Are seven-year-old boys who deserve to have childhoods."

"Kakashi." The Hokage's voice carried gentle rebuke. "I understand your protectiveness. But we cannot afford to be naive about the strategic importance of these children."

"Nor can we afford to be so cynical that we lose sight of their humanity." Kakashi leaned forward slightly. "Hokage-sama, with respect, I've spent years watching what this village does to its children. I was one of them. The isolation forced on Naruto, the pressure that crushed the Uchiha clan, the way Itachi was pushed beyond what any thirteen-year-old should bear... it creates exactly the kind of resentment we should be trying to prevent."

"You blame the village leadership for this."

"I blame leadership that talks about guidance and loyalty while really thinking about control and usefulness." The words slipped out before he could stop them. "Leadership that let a whole clan get wiped out and did nothing to stop it. Hell, we pushed the Uchiha to the edge of the village first, monitored them constantly, made them feel like enemies. Created the exact fear and anger that made everything worse."

The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.

"Careful, Kakashi."

"Sorry, Hokage-sama. But watching Sasuke have nightmares and blame himself when the village's main interest is his bloodline abilities... it's hard to stay philosophical."

Hiruzen was quiet for a while. Then, unexpectedly, he sighed.

"You're not wrong to be concerned about what happened to the Uchiha. The situation was... tragic. Perhaps if we had recognized the warning signs earlier, intervened before Itachi's mental state deteriorated so completely..."

Kakashi bit back his response. Warning signs? Mental state? He'd seen the truth in that genjutsu. He knew exactly what had really happened that night. And here the Hokage sat, calmly discussing "intervention" like Danzo hadn't orchestrated the whole damn thing. The casual way he could just... lie about it made Kakashi's stomach turn.

"We can't change what Itachi did. But we can choose how we treat Sasuke now."

The words felt bitter in Kakashi's mouth, playing along with the lie. But arguing the point now wouldn't help anyone, especially not Sasuke. Besides, he and Akari had their own plans for making things right. Let the Hokage think he was being cooperative for now.

Hiruzen was quiet for a moment, seeming to weigh something. Then he stood, moving to the window that overlooked the village. "I will trust your judgment regarding the current arrangements, Kakashi. But I want regular reports. And I want to speak with Miss Uchiha again soon."

"You want to interview her again?"

"Yes. Now I want a more comprehensive discussion about her plans for the boys' futures. And a formal assessment of her capabilities."

"How soon?"

"This week."

Kakashi's stomach dropped. "And if the assessment doesn't go how you expect?" "Then we'll figure out how best to put her skills to use for the village." Hiruzen's tone was matter-of-fact, like he was discussing mission rotations instead of someone's future. "One way or another."

The casual way he said it made it worse somehow. Kakashi managed a stiff nod.

"I understand, Hokage-sama. I'll also need to request extended leave."

"Leave?"

"To help settle my new family. I've never taken personal leave before, and I believe the current circumstances warrant it." Kakashi paused. "Consider it continued oversight. Someone needs to monitor how Miss Uchiha integrates with the boys, watch for any concerning behaviors, make sure the arrangements serve the village's needs."

It wasn't entirely a lie. He would be monitoring the situation. Just not in the way the Hokage expected.

The Hokage studied him for a long moment. "How extended?"

"As long as necessary to ensure their wellbeing and... proper integration into the village."

Another pause. "Granted. But I want regular reports."

"Of course."

"You're dismissed."

Kakashi was halfway to the door when the Hokage spoke again.

"Kakashi?"

"Yes, sir?"

"For what it’s worth, the boys do seem happier. More at ease. Whatever Miss Uchiha is doing, it appears to be working."

"It is working, sir."

He paused at the door.

"Maybe we should ask ourselves why that surprises us."

He left before the Hokage could respond. The silence he left behind felt heavier than any report, and his words lingered in the air like a challenge that could not be taken back.

Chapter 12 Teaser: “Dangerous Alliances”

When Kakashi returns with news that changes everything, dangerous alliances form over kitchen tables while the boys learn skills that could keep them alive. Some feelings develop when you’re not looking, and some shadows watch from a distance. But the most important conversation may be the one that’s been years overdue.

Chapter Text

As Kakashi left the Hokage Tower, the custody document in his pocket felt heavier than expected. Yes, it represented hope and security for Naruto. But it also represented something else entirely.

A system that saw children as assets to be managed rather than people to be protected.

A village that could let a hero's son live in poverty and isolation because it was politically convenient.

A village that had allowed one of its founding clans to be massacred while doing nothing to prevent it.

A leadership that spoke of guidance and loyalty while thinking in terms of control and usefulness.

For the first time, Kakashi wasn’t only questioning the orders, but the leaders behind them. The more he thought about it, the more Akari’s words about corruption and hidden agendas rang true.

Time to start thinking for himself instead of blindly following orders.

Walking home gave him time to process what had just happened. How everything had shifted in one conversation. He'd actually challenged the Hokage. Called out village policy to the man's face.

And it felt good.

When he reached his building, he could hear laughter from three floors up. Real laughter. The kind that came from kids who felt safe enough to be loud.

Kids who now had a family.

Kids who deserved better than what the village had been giving them.

He took the stairs two at a time, suddenly eager to get home. To tell Akari about the custody approval and the upcoming Hokage interview. To see the boys' faces when they found out Naruto could stay as long as he wanted. To see that quiet, crooked half-smile Akari only showed when she was deeply pleased. Rare and unguarded, it made something in him loosen in a way he couldn't quite explain.

When had she become home to him? When had thinking about her face become something that could get him through a rough day?

He didn't have answers. But as he reached for his door, he realized he didn't need them. Some things just were.

By the time Kakashi returned, both boys had developed the beginnings of real situational awareness. They could sense his approach before he reached the door. Could distinguish his chakra signature from that of their observer across the street. Could tell that he was bringing good news.

But something had Akari distracted. She looked up when he entered, alert but... listening to something else.

"How did it go?" she asked, though her attention seemed split.

"Better than expected, in some ways. Concerning in others." Kakashi settled at the kitchen table, pulling off his mask. "Boys, why don't you practice that advanced sensing exercise? See if you can identify emotions in chakra signatures."

"Can we really do that?" Naruto bounced over, immediately interested.

"With practice," Pakkun said from where he was supervising their earlier training. "And I promise to think interesting thoughts to make it easier."

Once the boys had moved to the living room, settling into meditation poses, Kakashi turned back to Akari.

"The Hokage knew about Naruto's sleepover. About how close the boys are getting."

"And?"

"He's concerned about your background and training. Wants to interview you this week."

Unease flickered across her face. "What kind of interview?"

"The kind with pointed questions about your loyalties, your capabilities, and your plans for the boys' futures." He frowned. "He made it clear that if he doesn't like what he hears, 'alternative arrangements' will be discussed."

"I see…" A calculating look crossed her features. "Then I suppose it's time to show them exactly what they're dealing with."

"We'll show them," Kakashi corrected firmly. "Both of us. You're not facing this alone anymore."

Her expression softened at that, something grateful flickering in her eyes before she nodded.

“There’s something else,” he said, shifting a little in his seat. “I might’ve let slip in the meeting that you were more capable than they realized. I didn’t give details, but…” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I know we need to be careful not to draw too much attention to your abilities.”

Akari studied his face for a moment, seeing the genuine concern there. Instead of anger, her expression grew gentle.

"It's fine, Kakashi. You were protecting the boys. That matters more than perfect operational security." She squeezed his hand briefly. "Besides, they were going to notice eventually. Better they hear it from someone who cares about us."

Relief flickered across his features. "You're not upset?"

"I'm grateful you stood up for us." Her smile was warm. "We're partners now. That means we handle mistakes together."

"But there's also good news." His whole demeanor brightened. "The custody arrangement is approved. Naruto can stay with us."

Akari's eyes widened, and for a moment she just stared at him. Then something bright and fierce and hopeful blazed across her face.

"Really?" she whispered.

"Yes," he confirmed. “No more being left on his own. No more empty apartment. He’s family now. Officially.”

She pressed a hand to her mouth, and he could see tears threatening. Happy ones.

"Naruto!" she called out, her voice slightly thick with emotion. "Sasuke! Come here!"

Both boys abandoned their sensing exercise, racing over with concerned faces.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked, immediately alert.

"Nothing's wrong," Kakashi said, unable to keep the satisfaction out of his voice. "Everything's right. Naruto, how would you like to stay here here with us? As part of our family?"

Naruto went very still. "With you guys? Like... forever?"

"Forever," Akari confirmed, kneeling down to his level. "If you want to."

For a moment, Naruto just stood there, processing. Then his face crumpled, and he launched himself at Akari, arms wrapping tight around her.

“Yes! Yes, I want to stay!” he cried, muffling the words against her shoulder before letting out a whoop loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

Akari reached out, pulling both Sasuke and Kakashi into the embrace. "Come here, all of you," she murmured, and they found themselves in a tangle of arms. Sasuke fierce and protective, Kakashi slightly overwhelmed but holding on tight, Naruto clinging like he'd never let go.

"We should celebrate! Ramen! Buckets of it!"

“Ramen isn’t dinner,” Sasuke muttered, though the corner of his mouth twitched.

Akari raised a brow. “Rice, vegetables, grilled fish. Something balanced.”

Naruto groaned dramatically, throwing himself across the couch. “That’s not a celebration, that’s homework.”

Kakashi, still leaning against the kitchen counter, spoke in his mildest voice. “Rice with sesame salt.”

Naruto popped his head up instantly. “That’s… acceptable.”

The news that Naruto could stay had set off the argument, and after much debate they finally compromised on rice balls, pickled vegetables, grilled fish, and tea.

It turned into organized chaos. Pakkun trotted into the kitchen and parked himself like a long-suffering uncle forced to oversee delinquent children. Sasuke rolled his rice into perfect spheres, smug as he placed them neatly on the tray. Naruto’s collapsed into gluey lumps that stuck to his fingers.

“You’re cheating,” Naruto accused.

Sasuke sniffed. “It’s called technique.”

Akari reached for Naruto’s hands, demonstrating how to press the grains gently. “Like this. Firm, but not too much.” She offered one she’d rolled herself. Naruto scowled at the difference, then immediately ate it.

“Teaching technique just means he’ll make more to eat,” Pakkun observed dryly.

“Jonin, ANBU, war hero… and now reduced to supervising snack time. The indignities I endure for this family.”

Naruto tossed him a scrap, which Pakkun ate with dignified disdain before stealing another when no one was looking. The boys broke into giggles, Naruto nearly choking on tea while Sasuke smirked and muttered about “idiots and dogs.”

By the time the grilled fish hit the table, the apartment smelled like sesame and smoke. Naruto dug in with both hands, speaking around mouthfuls about how this was the best day of his life. Sasuke made a comment about table manners that earned him a rice ball to the forehead.

Kakashi leaned back in his chair, quietly watching them bicker. His mask was off, his expression softer than he realized. A family dinner. Laughter loud enough to shake the walls. It felt like something he’d never thought he’d see again. Something worth protecting.

When the plates were cleared, the boys argued over whose turn it was to do dishes.

Naruto tried to argue that guests never had to wash up, only for Sasuke to reply, “You’re not a guest anymore. You’re family. Families do chores.”

Akari broke it up before it turned into another scuffle, her voice patient but firm.

The boys sulked side by side at the sink, clumsily scrubbing bowls while water splashed everywhere.

Kakashi ended up drying, towel in hand. For once he didn’t mind the splashing or the streaks of water across the counter or the clumsy way the bowls were stacked. Family wasn’t about being tidy. It was about showing up, mess and all.

For a moment he thought of Obito, of how loud and careless he had been, and how Minato-sensei had never minded the chaos as long as they came back alive. He thought of Rin’s smile in the hospital when they tracked mud across her floor.

Maybe this was what it had meant all along. Not neatness, not perfection, but surviving together and laughing despite it.

The weight of that realization settled over him as the apartment grew quiet around them.

"You're starting to see it," Akari said softly.

"I'm starting to see a lot of things." He leaned forward, something almost dangerous in his visible eye. "The realization that I've been complicit in a system that failed them both. That continues to fail them."

"It bothers you."

"It should bother everyone." His voice hardened. "I spent years following orders without question. Watching Naruto live in poverty because it was 'politically complicated' to help him. Accepting that some children just have to suffer for the greater good."

"And now…?"

"Now I'm wondering what other lies I've been telling myself." He met her eyes directly. "Your knowledge about corruption. About people in power making decisions that benefit themselves rather than the village. I'm finally ready to accept that you've been right all along."

The words didn’t feel like comfort, but confirmation. This was what she had been waiting for. Not agreement for its own sake, but the moment he saw the truth with his own eyes.

"What changed your mind?"

"Seeing them tonight. Watching Naruto's face when he realized he could stay permanently. Seeing how much they both needed this safety we've built." His expression hardened into something resolute. "I can't go back to pretending the system works when I know it doesn't."

"So what do we do about it?"

"We protect them. All of them. From anyone who would use them or hurt them, regardless of rank or authority." His expression hardened into something almost rebellious. "And we start paying attention to who else might need protecting."

"Even if it means going against village leadership?"

"Especially if it means going against village leadership." He stood, moving to look toward the living room where they could hear the boys' quiet voices as they settled down with Pakkun. "These children are more important than politics. More important than convenience. More important than protecting the reputations of people who've failed in their duty to protect them."

Akari studied his profile, seeing the change in him. The shift from blind loyalty to conscious choice. From following orders to making decisions based on his own moral compass. There was something compelling about watching him step into his own power, that quiet strength finally given direction and purpose.

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure." His voice was steady, final. "I've spent too many years following orders. Time to start thinking for myself."

Akari exhaled slowly. "Complicity and lies created this mess in the first place. I won't let them destroy everything again." Her voice was low but fierce. "I'll play whatever role I have to. "But with you, with the boys... no lies ever."

Kakashi held her gaze, quiet understanding in the way his shoulders eased. "Then we'll build this on truth, no matter how dangerous it gets."

A crash from the living room interrupted the moment, followed by Naruto's delighted laughter.

"Come on, Pakkun! You're supposed to chase us!" Naruto called out, bouncing on his toes.

"I am a dignified ninken with decades of service," came Pakkun's long-suffering reply. "I do not 'chase' seven-year-olds around furniture."

“But it’s advanced stealth training!” Sasuke’s voice carried more light than Akari had ever heard from him, more than she remembered ever having herself. “Bisuke, show him the secret way out!”

"You can't use substitution jutsu in stealth training!" Naruto protested. "That's totally cheating!"

"I didn't use substitution," Sasuke replied, sounding genuinely offended. "I used proper silent movement."

"Uh-huh. Because I definitely didn't see you disappear behind the couch there."

"Maybe you need to work on your observation skills."

"Maybe you need to admit you're showing off for the dogs."

Sasuke's indignant sputter made Akari hide a smile. These were the voices she remembered. The personalities that had been buried under trauma and loneliness, finally starting to surface again.

What followed was organized chaos. The boys had evolved beyond simple games into what Naruto was calling "Advanced Stealth Mission Training." They'd created increasingly complex scenarios involving silent movement, chakra suppression, and tactical positioning, with the ninja dogs serving as both instructors and obstacles.

"Remember," Naruto whispered loudly from his hiding spot, "you have to reach the extraction point without Pakkun detecting your chakra signature!"

"That's not fair," Sasuke protested from under the kitchen table. "Pakkun has way better sensing abilities than us."

"That's why it's advanced training!" Naruto grinned. "Real missions aren't fair like that!"

Sasuke's eyes lit up with understanding. "So, we're actually practicing infiltration techniques."

"Exactly! Akari said the best training doesn't feel like training."

Pakkun had appointed himself "mission coordinator" and was taking his role seriously. "Target One has good positioning but his breathing is too loud. Target Two needs to work on chakra suppression. I can sense him from here."

The smaller dogs had become mobile obstacles that the boys had to avoid while navigating through the apartment. Bisuke was apparently the "final boss" who would intercept anyone who tried to reach the designated "safe house" behind the couch.

"This is considerably more sophisticated than this morning sensing practice," Pakkun observed as Sasuke successfully used basic stealth techniques to avoid detection. "They're actually learning practical skills."

"And they're having fun while learning," Akari added, watching both boys discover that training could be enjoyable and meaningful.

"Come on!" Naruto called from behind the couch. "We need more people for the final mission!"

"What final mission?" Kakashi asked, moving closer.

“It’s the escape mission!” Sasuke said with great seriousness. “We have to rescue the secret scroll from Bisuke without him catching us. But we need a whole team!”

Akari found herself pulled into the game, assigned to be the "stealth expert" while Kakashi became the "distraction specialist." What followed were several minutes of genuine laughter as four humans and several ninja dogs crawled around the living room, whispering tactical advice and trying not to giggle when Bisuke dramatically "spotted" them.

"This is ridiculous," Kakashi muttered as he army-crawled behind the kitchen table, but he was smiling behind his mask. "I'm a jonin. I shouldn't be crawling around my own apartment."

"You're having fun though," Sasuke pointed out, grinning as he tackled Kakashi's leg to "rescue" him from Bisuke's guard duty.

"Maybe a little," Kakashi admitted, as Naruto joined the tackle pile with a delighted shriek, both boys overwhelming him with their combined enthusiasm.

For a moment, Kakashi just lay there under the pile of giggling children, completely overwhelmed by how normal this felt. How right.

"Mission success!" Naruto cheered as they finally managed to retrieve the scroll from Bisuke's "guard post" by the window, all of them breathless and grinning. "We make a good team!"

"We do," Akari agreed, catching Kakashi's eye over the boys' heads. Something warm and unspoken connected them in that moment. Not just attraction, but recognition of what they were building together.

A real family.

But as they all settled down, something was nagging at her. During the game, she'd noticed a different kind of watching than the surveillance they'd grown accustomed to. This chakra felt more controlled and focused.

"Boys," she said softly, not wanting to alarm them but needing them alert. "That was excellent training, but let's practice real sensing now. Eyes closed. Tell me what you feel around the building."

Both boys immediately complied, their faces scrunching in concentration.

"There's someone watching," Sasuke said after a moment, his voice careful. "From outside. Close, but trying to hide."

"How does their chakra feel?" Akari asked, already knowing the answer but wanting them to learn to trust their instincts.

Sasuke was quiet for a long moment, his young face troubled. "Wrong," he said finally. "Empty, like there's something missing."

Naruto nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it feels weird. Like looking at a person-shaped hole."

"That's not quite right," Kakashi said gently. "Root operatives don't feel empty. They feel controlled. Suppressed. Like someone took all their natural emotions and locked them away."

Sasuke's eyes opened wide, looking between them. "Like the people who work for that old man who came here?"

"Yes," Akari said quietly. "Very good sensing, both of you. That kind could save your lives someday. What else can you tell me about them?"

Sasuke closed his eyes again, concentrating harder. “They feel cold,” he whispered. “Like that man’s chakra… but smaller. Like tiny bits of him.”

Akari's blood went cold. "Danzo's personal squad," she breathed, and saw recognition cross Sasuke's face.

"He made you upset," Sasuke said softly.

"Yes, he did." Her voice carried a weight that made both boys pay closer attention. "And you were right to feel uncomfortable. He's not someone who can be trusted, especially around children."

"Is he the one watching us?" Naruto asked, his earlier playfulness completely gone.

“Yes,” Akari said firmly. She knelt down to their level, her eyes steady. “If you ever see that man again, or anyone who makes you feel that same wrongness, you come find me or Kakashi immediately. Don’t talk to them, don’t go anywhere with them, don’t believe anything they say about helping or protecting you.”

"Why?" Sasuke asked, though his voice suggested he already suspected the answer wouldn't be good.

"Because some people…" She paused, choosing her words carefully. "They see children like you as useful. Not as people who need protecting. And they're very good at making their plans sound reasonable."

"Like tools to be shaped," Kakashi added grimly, his voice carrying hard-earned understanding. "Rather than children to be loved and guided."

The weight of that settled over both boys. Naruto edged closer to Sasuke, while Sasuke’s expression grew more guarded.

Yet when they spoke, their voices joined in unison, steady and certain. “We won’t. We’ll stay together and find you if anything feels wrong.”

“Good.” Akari stood, her expression softening slightly. “Now, who wants to learn how to mask their chakra signature so people like that can’t track you as easily?”

Pakkun gave a resigned sigh and padded off with the boys to drill the basics, muttering something about “puppy-sitting brats.”

“Hey! We’re not brats!” Naruto protested, already trailing after him.

It left Kakashi and Akari off to the side, watching as the boys practiced in a rare moment of quiet.

The escalation in surveillance meant they needed to move faster. But now they knew they were being watched and more importantly, the boys could sense it too. That changed everything.

Akari’s gaze softened. “Look at them,” she said quietly to Kakashi.

He followed her gaze to where Sasuke was patiently explaining to Naruto the difference between proper substitution technique and just moving really fast. Where Naruto was listening with focused attention he'd never shown in any Academy class. Where both boys were unconsciously mirroring each other's movements, already developing the kind of wordless communication that made legendary partnerships.

"They're extraordinary," Kakashi agreed, and when she turned to look at him, something in his voice made her breath catch.

He was watching her, not the boys. His visible eye held an expression she'd never seen before. Something warm and wondering and achingly tender.

"Akari," he said softly, and her name sounded different in his voice. Like a prayer.

The apartment seemed to fade around them. The boys' chatter became distant. There was only Kakashi looking at her like she was something precious he'd never expected to find, and the sudden, overwhelming recognition that somewhere between planning missions, raising children and challenging authority, they had developed real feelings for each other.

"Oh," she whispered, warmth spreading across her cheeks as the realization hit her fully.

Kakashi's thumb brushed across her knuckles, and the simple touch sent electricity up her arm. "Yeah," he said softly, understanding exactly what her "oh" meant. "Me too."

She'd felt attracted to Kakashi before, but this was different. This wasn't just physical attraction. This was real feeling, emotional connection that made her heart race in ways she'd never experienced in this body. The intensity of it was disorienting, genuine affection tangled with unfamiliar physical responses.

But underneath the warmth was something else. Guilt. Piercing and unexpected.

Naruto. Her Naruto, who had loved her so completely. Who had died saving her with words of love on his lips. Who had told her to live, to love, to save them all.

How could she be feeling this way about someone else? How could her body respond like this when the love of her life was gone?

"I didn't…" she started, then stopped, not sure how to voice the confusion and guilt swirling through her. "I mean, I wasn't…"

"Neither was I," he admitted, something almost amazed in his voice.

"He told me to love again," she whispered, so quietly only he could hear. "Naruto. Before he died, he told me to live and love and save them. But knowing that and feeling this…" She gestured helplessly between them. "It's different. It feels like betrayal even when I know it isn't."

Understanding dawned in his eye. "Akari."

"I don't know if I'm allowed to feel this way," she continued, her voice growing smaller.

He cupped her face with his free hand, thumb brushing along her cheekbone. The mask was still in place, but his eye held such warmth that her breath caught. “Is this okay?” he asked quietly.

Akari couldn’t find her voice, but she didn’t move away. That was answer enough. Kakashi bent toward her slowly, giving her every chance to turn aside, and pressed his lips to hers through the fabric of his mask.

When he drew back, his eye was shadowed with something heavier than surprise.

"I've been wanting to do that," he whispered.

The kiss was brief and uncertain. Warmth stirred in her chest, but guilt surged stronger, cutting it short. She pulled back, hand covering her mouth, her confusion written plainly across her face.

"I… I can't…" The words tumbled out, panicked and confused. "This is wrong. I shouldn't… my Naruto…"

Kakashi didn’t press, though he stayed close, his expression gentle and patient.

"He died for me," she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself. "He died to save me, and here I am kissing someone else like he never mattered. Like what we had was nothing."

"That's not what this is."

"Isn't it?" Her voice cracked. "How can I just... move on? How can I feel things for you when he's..." She couldn't finish the sentence.

The guilt was overwhelming, mixing with the unfamiliar physical responses in this body, the confusion of being attracted to someone while feeling like she was betraying the person she’d loved most. It felt strange to want someone with hands that weren’t the ones she remembered, in a body that sometimes felt borrowed rather than her own.

"I need time," she said finally, not meeting his eyes. "I need to figure out what this means. What I'm allowed to feel."

"Of course," Kakashi said quietly. "Whatever you need."

But his voice carried caution now, understanding yet guarded. The tenderness was still there, but carefully contained.

The sound of approaching footsteps in the hallway broke the tense silence, followed by a soft, diplomatic knock at the door.

"That'll be our ally," Kakashi said, stepping back and putting emotional distance between them along with the physical space.

"You arranged a meeting without telling me?"

"After our conversation about needing allies. I figured you'd want to be involved from the beginning." His voice was neutral now, professional. "Besides, this was your idea. You should be the one leading it."

She had sensed the even, familiar chakra before Kakashi even opened the door. When it swung wide, Shikaku Nara stepped inside, dark hair tied back neatly, keen eyes already taking in the room. He had the look of a man who noticed everything and forgot nothing.

"Shikaku," Kakashi said, stepping aside. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"When the Copy Ninja sends coded messages about 'village security concerns,' I pay attention." Shikaku's gaze moved to Akari with recognition. "And Akari-san. Though I suspect this meeting will be rather more significant than our previous conversations."

He exhaled softly, already reading the tension in the room. "Times like these call for difficult decisions."

Akari gestured toward the kitchen table where they'd cleared space. "The boys are fine with Pakkun. We can talk freely here."

"Understood," Shikaku said, already moving toward the kitchen table. "Though I suppose taking necessary action when systems fail is better than doing nothing."

They settled around the table. With practiced precision Akari placed seals along the walls and floor, her fingers drawing lines too quick for most eyes to follow. The chakra flared briefly before vanishing.

"Silence seals," she said.

Shikaku's brows lifted slightly. "That's high-level fuinjutsu. Where did you learn techniques like that?"

Akari only gave him a thin smile. "From someone who believed knowledge exists to protect the innocent, not to control them."

His gaze lingered, weighing the answer, before dropping to the table where evidence was already laid out: sketches, coded notes, timelines.

"Impressive preparation," Shikaku murmured.

"We've been thorough," Akari replied. She positioned herself so she could see both men. "When someone orchestrates the massacre of your family, you stop at nothing until the whole truth comes to light."

The bluntness pulled Shikaku's full attention.

"The official report named Itachi Uchiha," he said carefully.

"The official report is a lie."

A beat of silence stretched between them.

Shikaku leaned back in his chair. "That's a serious accusation."

"It's a serious situation." Akari leaned forward, and something in her presence seemed to fill the room. Experience that came from lived trauma. "Danzo Shimura orchestrated the entire massacre by manipulating a thirteen-year-old child. He convinced Itachi, still a child, I might add - that his clan was planning a coup, that civil war was inevitable. Then he gave him an impossible choice: your family or your brother."

She reached into her pouch and withdrew a small scroll. “Root agents were in the shadows that night. They cleared patrols, made sure no one interfered, and erased evidence before ANBU arrived. Danzo forced Itachi’s hand by presenting it as the only way to prevent civil war and save Sasuke’s life.”

Shikaku's attention focused intently on the document. "If this is true... it explains inconsistencies that never sat right in the reports."

"But Itachi wasn't Danzo's only victim," Akari continued, her voice hardening. "This is part of a much larger pattern. Danzo has been taking children. Clan children. Civilian children. Three months ago, a girl from the Yamanaka branch family vanished. Kimi. Six years old. Inoichi has been searching quietly, hasn't he?"

Shikaku went very still. "How do you know that?"

"Because I've been investigating these disappearances," Akari said carefully. "Kimi disappeared before the massacre, but I've been tracking similar cases. I managed to access some old police records before they were sealed. The pattern was already there."

She continued, "With the Uchiha police force gone, there's been a marked increase since the massacre. The police were the ones who tracked missing civilian children, who checked when kids failed to appear at the Academy. Without them, disappearances have tripled."

"Kimi..." Shikaku's voice was quieter than before.

"She might be alive. If we move quickly." Akari's expression was sharp and determined. "Danzo's been building his private army for years. If you check the missing children reports, you'll likely find a pattern of disappearances that no one connected."

"How many children are we talking about?" he asked quietly.

“Dozens, potentially,” Akari answered. “It isn’t just conditioning. Danzo has been working with Orochimaru. They’ve been using children for his experiments. Not all survive.”

Shikaku's hand stilled completely.

"And there's more. He's been harvesting Sharingan. His entire right arm is covered in Uchiha eyes. He stole Shisui's eye before forcing him to commit suicide."

The silence pressed in around them like a physical weight.

"What makes this even worse," Akari continued, her voice growing fierce, "is that both Danzo and the Hokage made Itachi a spy within Akatsuki after the massacre. The Hokage knew about the massacre, knew Itachi had been coerced, but instead of exposing the truth, he buried it for political stability. Then he sent a thirteen-year-old into the most dangerous criminal organization in the world."

Shikaku’s eyes narrowed, the easy slouch gone from his posture. “The Hokage was complicit.”

“Not in the actual massacre,” Akari clarified. “But in covering it up afterward. In using Itachi’s guilt and loyalty to turn him into a double agent. He has been carrying the weight of his family’s blood while spying for the very system that destroyed them.”

Kakashi gave a small nod, silent agreement in place of words.

"Danzo stripped him of every option. Left him isolated, conditioned into believing sacrifice was loyalty." Her voice grew fierce. “Of course, he ended up where someone could manipulate him.”

Shikaku rubbed his jaw, the weight of it settling in his expression. He glanced down at the scroll again, tapping one finger against the edge as though testing the truth of it.

"If all this can be proven," Shikaku said at last, "even his allies won't be able to defend him."

"We can prove it." Akari leaned forward, voice firm with conviction. "And I offer something more. Once we start this process and bring Danzo to justice, I'll let Inoichi read my mind. Every memory. Every piece of intelligence I have. Nothing hidden."

Shikaku's gaze narrowed. "You're that confident."

"I am. Because what I can share will change everything." She met his eyes directly. "I have intelligence about threats this village hasn't even recognized yet. Information that could save thousands of lives. But first, we need leadership with the integrity to act on it. Leadership that actually protects people instead of playing politics with their lives."

His calculating eyes lingered on her, searching for weakness. Then he leaned back slightly, exhaling through his nose.

“You realize this doesn’t stop with Danzo. This would restructure everything. The Hokage has let him operate unchecked for years. And it isn’t just him. The council has propped him up, looked the other way when it was convenient. If this is true, the entire power structure is corrupt.”

Akari didn’t flinch. “Then we take down the entire power structure,” she said, her voice low but unwavering. “Not just Danzo. Not just the Hokage. All of it. We break the system that allowed this to happen and start fresh.”

Shikaku studied her for a long moment, then turned his gaze to Kakashi. “Do you agree with this?”

Kakashi didn’t hesitate. “I do. I sat across from the Hokage this morning and listened to him talk about these boys like chess pieces on a board. Assets to be managed, not children to be protected.” His voice grew harder. “If that’s the kind of leadership we’re expected to follow, then the system has already failed. She’s right. It needs to be broken and rebuilt.”

Shikaku’s expression stayed carefully neutral, but something shifted in his posture. He tapped a shogi piece against the table, an old habit when his mind was working through possibilities. “That’s quite an assumption,” he said, though his tone lacked its usual bite. “But… not entirely wrong.”

He let the silence stretch a moment, weighing his words.
“If you’re serious about this, then you’d better be ready for the cost. Toppling men like Danzo isn’t a game of shogi. It’ll take time, blood, and more patience than most have in them.”

Kakashi inclined his head, voice quiet but steady. “She already knows the cost. We both do.”

Akari’s eyes softened as she looked at Shikaku. “It’s not just an assumption. It’s an observation based on your reputation and your actions. You’re a strategist who thinks ten steps ahead, but you’re also a father. You understand what it means to protect children.” Her voice lowered, gentler now. “We’ll need someone like that when the current system collapses.”

Shikaku’s gaze flicked to Kakashi again. “And if we’re wrong about any of this?”

Kakashi met his eyes without wavering. “Then we’ll have wasted time investigating an elder who was actually serving the village’s interests. But if we’re right…” He let the thought hang, the implications heavier than any words could carry.

She reached for another scroll. "We've identified one active facility. A warehouse in the merchant district. Children are being held there now. If we coordinate properly, we can rescue them while simultaneously gathering evidence that will make Danzo's guilt undeniable."

"When?" Shikaku asked.

"Next week. We'll need time to gather intelligence on guard rotations, structural weak points. And we'll need allies. Inoichi and Choza should be brought in once we have concrete evidence to show them."

Shikaku studied her face carefully. "And after the children are rescued? What then?"

“Then we build a case strong enough to bring down not just Danzo but expose the system that enabled him.” Her voice carried absolute conviction. “That’s what justice is supposed to mean, protecting the innocent, punishing the guilty, no matter their rank.”

"That would require careful coordination," Shikaku said slowly. "Someone in my position would need to provide legal protection for witnesses, ensure testimony reaches the right people…"

“Exactly.” Akari’s expression was determined. “We rescue the children, gather evidence, and present everything at once. No opportunity for cover-ups or political maneuvering.”

Her gaze flicked toward the living room, where the boys were. “But while we’re building the case, we can’t lose sight of what this also mean for Sasuke. Danzo won’t hesitate to strike closer to home if he thinks it protects his secrets.”

Shikaku’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What makes you think Sasuke is at risk?”

“Because normally Danzo wouldn’t move against Sasuke while Itachi is alive and loyal. But I represent a threat to his operations.” Her voice grew colder. “He likely sees Sasuke as compromised now, potentially turned against the village by me. That changes his calculus completely.”

"The surveillance outside confirms it," Kakashi added. "This isn't routine observation anymore. It's threat assessment."

Shikaku was quiet for a long moment, his strategic mind working through possibilities. "If I agree to help, and we discover evidence supporting your accusations... how do we proceed?"

"We build the case methodically. Start with the warehouse raid to rescue the children. That gives us physical evidence and witnesses. Then we present everything to the council at once, with your backing and Inoichi's verification of my testimony."

"My backing," Shikaku repeated thoughtfully.

"The village will need stable leadership during the transition. Someone who understands both strategy and justice." She paused. "Someone the clans trust and who has the vision to implement real reform."

"Challenging," Shikaku murmured, but there was something almost satisfied in his tone. "But necessary."

"Are you in?" Kakashi asked directly.

Shikaku studied them both for another moment, then nodded slowly. "We'll need to move carefully. Coordinate with Inoichi and Choza once we have solid evidence. But yes." His expression hardened with resolve. "No one should be able to traffic children with impunity, regardless of rank."

"Thank you," Akari said, and for the first time since he'd entered, she looked genuinely relieved.

"Don't thank me yet," Shikaku replied, standing and adjusting his vest. "Ask me again after we've actually succeeded." He paused at the door. "One question, though. How exactly do you know all of this? The level of detail, the intelligence about Root operations… where does it come from?"

Akari's smile was enigmatic. "Let's just say I have very good sources. After Inoichi reads my mind, you'll understand everything."

Shikaku's gaze lingered on her for another moment, then he nodded curtly. "I'll be in touch about the warehouse intelligence. Take care of those boys, Hatake."

Akari slumped against the kitchen counter with visible relief, removing the privacy seals.

“Better than expected,” she said. “We’ve secured Shikaku’s support. That gives us the footing we need to move forward.”

“Good,” came Pakkun’s voice as he padded into the kitchen. “You’ll need allies for what’s coming. These boys are going to reshape the world. But first, the world’s going to try very hard to break them.”

Akari nodded grimly. “Then we make sure it doesn’t succeed.”

They returned to the living room to find both boys sprawled on the floor in an impromptu nap, exhausted from their training games.

Kakashi’s voice softened. “What about the children at the warehouse? How many Root agents will be guarding the facility?”

"Based on what I know of their operations? At least a dozen, possibly more. They'll be well-trained and won't hesitate to eliminate evidence if they think they're compromised." Her expression grew calculating. "Including the children."

"Then we'll need to be perfect," Kakashi said grimly. "No room for mistakes."

"No room for mistakes," she agreed. "But with Shikaku's political backing and proper intelligence, we can do this. We can save them."

Outside, afternoon sun slanted through their windows. Peaceful. Normal. The kind of moment that made all the planning and risk feel worthwhile.

But as the light began to fade toward evening, Akari found herself growing increasingly restless. That sense of being watched was intensifying. More focused. Familiar in a way that made her heart race. This was different from the Root surveillance. This felt personal.

"Kakashi," she said quietly. "He's here."

He went alert immediately. "Who?"

"Itachi." She stood slowly, every sense extended. "I've been sensing him for hours, waiting for him to come closer. He's finally close enough to approach."

Pakkun lifted his head from where he'd been dozing. "I can sense it too now. Uchiha chakra signature. But not Sasuke."

"Where?" Kakashi asked, already moving toward the weapons he kept hidden.

She moved to the window, using the glass as a mirror to scan surrounding buildings. There. A figure on a rooftop barely visible in the growing shadows.

"Southeast. Three buildings over." Her voice was even, controlled. "He's watching Sasuke sleep. And I think he senses something familiar in me… but it doesn’t make sense to him yet.”

She turned from the window, something both determined and heartbroken in her expression. "I need to go to him."

"I'm coming with you."

"You can't. If both of us approach, he'll see it as a threat and run. I have to do this alone. This is between siblings now."

Kakashi's hand caught her wrist as she reached for the window. Not restraining. Connecting.

"Promise me you'll be careful. Promise me you'll come back."

Something vulnerable flickered across her features. 'I promise.' Before she could stop herself, she leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to his masked cheek. The moment their skin made contact through the fabric, guilt crashed through her again. But underneath it was something warmer, something that felt right despite everything. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, then steadied herself. "Take care of them while I’m gone."

"I'll figure it out," he said softly.

Then she was through the window and gone, moving across rooftops with fluid grace toward a conversation her heart had been carrying for far too long.”

"Where did she go?" Naruto asked sleepily, stirring as he sensed the shift in atmosphere.

"To have a conversation with someone who's hurting and alone", Kakashi said, settling back down but keeping his attention split between the boys and the window where she'd vanished. "Sometimes the most important conversations happen in the dark."

Akari moved through darkness with purpose, chakra carefully suppressed as she navigated the maze of rooftops. This wasn't a battle she was walking toward.

It was a reunion.

The rooftop where Itachi waited offered perfect vantage points and multiple escape routes. He sensed her approach long before she reached him, his chakra shifting from watchful stillness to alert tension.

"You shouldn't have come," he said without turning. His voice was exactly as she remembered. Quiet. Controlled. Carrying the weight of someone forced to grow up too fast.

"Neither should you," Akari replied, settling at a careful distance. Close enough to talk, far enough that he wouldn't feel cornered. "Yet here we both are, right where we belong."

For a long moment, neither spoke. Brother and sister, separated by a lifetime of pain and lies across different timelines, finally in the same space again.

And as she looked at his profile in the moonlight, seeing the exhaustion etched into every line of his too-young face, Akari whispered the words that had been building in her chest all evening.

"Hello, Itachi."

Chapter 13 Teaser: "Brothers in Shadow

The shadows finally bring Akari face to face with Itachi, where truth, guilt, and love blur into something far more complicated than either of them expected. But while siblings confront the weight of the past, bonds are also being forged at home.  Bonds made stronger when Sasuke wakes from a nightmare about his brother and finds comfort not in fear, but in family.

Chapter Text

"Hello, Itachi."

He went still. Not the startled freeze of someone caught off guard, but the controlled stillness of a predator assessing threats. When he turned, the movement was deliberate and calculated.

Everything about him screamed exhaustion. The rigid set of his shoulders, how carefully he held himself. Too young for such bone-deep weariness, but he wore it like armor anyway. This wasn't how thirteen should look. Hell, thirteen-year-olds weren't supposed to commit genocide either.

"I know you're there." His tone stayed flat, steady as stone. His face gave nothing away. "Your chakra... it's familiar."

Akari stepped from the shadows, moonlight catching her features. "It should be. Sasuke and I still share it."

His sharingan activated with detached precision, those tomoe spinning as he analyzed her for threats, deception, any explanation that would fit his carefully ordered worldview. When red light illuminated her face fully, his perfect composure cracked. Just slightly and only for a moment.

Her eyes. Not the dark brown they should be, but distinctive Uchiha black. And her face... something about the delicate features reminded him of their mother. Of Sasuke. Family, written in bone structure and blood.

"Interesting." His voice carried no warmth. His tone was clinical, precise and detached. "You appear to possess Uchiha features. Yet I eliminated all clan members save one." His head slanted slightly, analyzing. "How do you have Uchiha eyes?"

“I have your eyes. Long story. But then, your life hasn’t exactly followed the rules lately.”

The chakra signature was undeniably Sasuke's, but wrong. Older. Female. Strong, too strong. Should've been impossible, and Itachi Uchiha didn't deal well with impossibilities he hadn't created himself.

"Explain." Not a request. A command from someone used to being obeyed.

"I am Sasuke Uchiha. From another timeline where I lived long enough to watch everything you sacrificed for turn to ash." Determination edged her words. "I died trying to save the person I loved most, and when I woke up, I was here. In this body, in this time, with all my memories intact."

His expression didn't change, but she caught the minute tightening around his eyes. Those calculating wheels spinning behind the sharingan. "Memories can be extracted. Implanted. If you think to manipulate me with stolen experiences..."

"My memories weren’t stolen," she said quietly. "They were lived. I remember your hand on my head; the forehead poke you thought was nothing but meant everything to me. I remember the night you told me I was too weak. Those are mine. Those were real."

The sharingan spun faster. For just a moment, something flickered across his features. Not recognition exactly. Something more dangerous. Hope, quickly buried beneath layers of control.

"Impossible," he said flatly.

"A month ago, you slaughtered your entire family to save your brother's life. Tell me what part of your existence hasn't been impossible lately."

She watched him process this, saw the exact moment he decided that impossible was merely another variable to be calculated and controlled.

"Who are you?"

"I told you already. I am Sasuke." Changed, but still me.”

Silence stretched between them. Then his eyes flared with power.

"If this is truth," he said, voice taking on that soft, dangerous quality that had terrified ANBU veterans, "then you will not object to verification."

Her fingers slipped through a quick set of seals, laying a thin veil of chakra over the rooftop. No eyes and no ears, only the two of them. And then the genjutsu slammed into her mind like a battering ram. She let it happen. Let him think he was taking what he wanted by force. Should've remembered this was Itachi, who never asked permission, who always took what he believed he was entitled to know.

"You know," she said conversationally, even as his consciousness rifled through her memories, "you could've just asked. But that wouldn't be very you, would it? Always assuming you have the right to take whatever you want from people's minds."

She felt his surprise that she was still conscious, still speaking while he was deep in her memories. He'd expected her helpless, overwhelmed by his power. Instead, she was letting him see exactly what she chose to show him. He had no idea.

Two small boys by a lake, patient hands guiding smaller ones. Training where praise mattered more than precision. Nights when a hand ruffled his hair and a finger tapped against his forehead. “Maybe next time.” Through Sasuke’s eyes, Itachi felt the warmth of it, the sting and sweetness of love disguised as distance, a gesture that had become everything.

She felt his shock as the memories proved genuine, felt the moment he accepted what his analytical mind told him was real. But then his consciousness pushed deeper, past what she'd intended to share. And she let him. Let him see the consequences of his choices.

“I wanted to spare you the details, but you had to take instead of ask, didn’t you?” her voice echoed in the mental space he had created. “Don’t mistake cooperation for weakness, big brother. You have no idea what I’m capable of now.”

He saw it first in the hotel hallway: thirteen years old, back slammed against cold plaster, his brother’s grip crushing his throat. The crack of ribs, the scream of lungs. The terror didn’t fade. It expanded in Tsukuyomi, massacre on repeat until fear rewrote his bones. Horror, not strength.

Then came the hideout at sixteen, every strike in that suffocating dark. Watching himself stagger, sickened by illness, falling at twenty-one. Itachi saw his own death as Sasuke had lived it. Not a release, not justice. Despair. And in the silence that followed, the masked man’s voice delivered the truth of the massacre too late, when love had already rotted into poison.

The forest after death only twisted the knife further. Bodies leaping through branches, Sasuke’s voice cutting clean through the years: “I was supposed to die too.” And then, sharper still: “You made me this way.”

Their last time, fighting side by side, enemies turned allies for a heartbeat. Itachi’s genjutsu stripped illusions bare, and in that moment, he admitted what he had never dared: “I failed.” Sasuke, cold and resolute, answered with a vow to destroy the village. Yet even then, especially then, his body leaned close, forehead pressed to his brother’s, and his lips gave the only truth he could leave behind: “No matter what you decide to do from now on… I will love you forever.”

"Enough," she said, and this time there was resolve in her mental voice. The genjutsu shattered like glass, expelled by a will far stronger than he'd anticipated.

Itachi stumbled backward, face pale but posture still controlled. His sharingan flickered out, leaving him looking impossibly young.

“The memories appear genuine,” he said at last, clinical, trying to bury what he had just seen.

“Genuine?” Her voice cracked with anger. “You used me as the tool to kill you, Itachi. That was your plan. Your way of making suicide look like sacrifice. How the hell is that fair?”

His eyes flickered, the faintest break in control. “If I were to choose such an end, it would be to free you. To make sure you were strong enough to survive. That would be the only way.”

She stepped forward, heat rising in her voice. “Don’t pretend you only decided this afterward. You have been setting the stage. Every time you told him he was too weak, every time you broke him down instead of lifting him up, you were orchestrating the outcome.

“You wanted me strong enough to avenge you and hardened enough to kill my best friend. But I wouldn’t kill Naruto. And that refusal is the only reason I’m still myself. You’ve been lying, manipulating, covering things up from the start.”

For a heartbeat there was silence. His voice came low, brittle.

“If that had been my plan, it would have been because only then could Sasuke have the power to stand as the one who avenged our clan. If I had chosen that path, my death and my eyes would have been intended as my last gift.”

Her face hardened. “A gift? You call your death a gift. You call your eyes a gift. What you would be giving him is the weight of your suicide. You’d chain him to the day you decided you deserved to die.”

He hesitated; the practiced calm thinned. “If that is the conclusion you draw, then yes, it is troubling,” he said, voice low and precise. “And if I had reached for such a path, it would have been to prevent far greater bloodshed.”

“Troubling?” She studied his carefully neutral expression. “Is that what you call watching your choices destroy everything you tried to protect?”

“If I had made that choice, it would only have been because it seemed the only logical option available,” he said, tone edged with ice. “Civil war would have resulted in significantly more casualties.”

“And yet in that other timeline, your ‘logical choice’ produced exactly what you feared,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “I wanted to destroy the village, Itachi. Everything you say you sacrificed our family to stop.”

His face changed; it was not doubt so much as calculation. “Variables differ. Unknown factors could change any outcome.”

She moved closer, unafraid. “The unknown factor was that you never trusted anyone enough to try another way. You made decisions for everyone without asking if they wanted to be ‘saved’ like that.”

“If I had chosen that path, it would have been because I thought it necessary.” There was the faintest crack in his certainty.

"You used Tsukuyomi on me. Twice. Once when I was seven, again when I was thirteen." Pain edged her words, and now her voice carried deep personal hurt instead of detached observation. "You forced me to watch our parents die over and over until it broke my mind completely. I was in a coma twice. You're lucky I lived."

His face went carefully blank. "It was required to generate sufficient hatred. To ensure your strength."

"To ensure my strength?" Pain and anger crept into her tone now. "You broke me. You left me alone with trauma no child should carry and convinced me that love was weakness."

"Emotional attachment creates vulnerability," he said, but the words sounded rehearsed and hollow.

"And you had the audacity to believe the village would care for me. The same people who ordered the massacre would somehow nurture the last Uchiha." She leaned forward. "Tell me, how logical was that assumption?"

For the first time, uncertainty flickered across his features. "The Hokage gave assurances..."

“The Hokage who made you a spy and sent you to Akatsuki as their scapegoat. The one who let you shoulder the blame for adult decisions.” Her tone grew stern. “How well did those assurances work out?”

“I…” He stopped, jaw locking as if to hold everything in place. “The situation was managed,” he said at last. “Contingencies were in place. The risk was acceptable.”

“Was it?” She tilted her head, studying him. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like a child was manipulated into making an impossible choice and then abandoned to live with the consequences.”

“I am not a child,” he snapped, the first edge of real heat breaking through.

“You are barely an adult.” She softened, though her eyes didn’t let him slip away. “You should’ve been worried about academy tests and training goals. Instead, they turned you into a weapon.”

“I chose my path,” he said, clipped, almost mechanical. “It was the only viable course.”

“Did you? Or did they make every other path impossible and call it choice?”

His chin lifted in defiance, but his body betrayed him: hands tightening until the knuckles whitened, then locking behind his back to stop the tremor. Shoulders rigid, as though posture alone could serve as armor.

“The approach was sound,” he said, every syllable deliberate, rehearsed. “Parameters set. Objectives clear. His survival probability increased under the selected plan.”

“Mission success?” Akari’s voice cut sharper. “You’re talking about torturing your seven-year-old brother like he was a strategic objective.”

The corner of his eye twitched; his breath caught on the inhale. “The conditioning ensured motivation. The cost was… anticipated.” His jaw worked soundlessly for a moment before clamping shut, like words had finally turned against him.

"Listen to yourself. You sound like one of Danzo's reports instead of someone talking about their family."

"The trauma responses were... regrettable but necessary tactical components," he continued, his detached practiced calm faltering, cracks showing through. "The subject's survival probability increased by seventy-three percent under the selected parameters."

“The subject?” Her eyes flared, and she stepped closer, heat rising in her voice. “That ‘subject’ was your baby brother.” She struck her palm against her chest, hard enough to sting. “That ‘subject’ was me.”

"I..." For a moment, the mask fell completely, and she could see the scared, exhausted child underneath. "I don't know how to talk about it any other way. I don't know how to think about it any other way."

Her voice gentled. "All he ever wanted was your approval. Even when he hated you, he was chasing your shadow. You don’t know how deep that cut went, because he never believed he measured up to you."

“And what did your great decision amount to? Everything still went to shit. The brother you swore to protect drowned in hatred because of you.” She leaned in, words cutting. “I drowned. Because of you.”

The mask slipped further. She could see him fighting to maintain control, to stay the unfeeling weapon they'd created.

“The parameters were imprecise. I misjudged… there were things I never saw coming, outside any calculation I made...” He cut off, the rest swallowed. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms as if pain could steady him.

“Parameters were imprecise?” Her voice grew harder. “Like the fact that torturing me with Tsukuyomi might have consequences. Like the fact that leaving a traumatized child alone in a village that barely tolerated him might not end in healing?”

"I..." He stopped, jaw clenching more tightly as he fought for control. "The conditioning was supposed to guarantee strength. It had to.”

“Listen to yourself.” Her words came low and searing, every step bringing her closer until he had to meet her eyes. “You’re still talking like one of them. Like Sasuke was an experiment. Not your little brother.”

“You think I forgot? That I didn’t know who he was to me? Every choice I made, every drop of blood. It was all for Sasuke.”

"By breaking him? By making him relive our family's death until his mind shattered.  By convincing him that love was weakness. That's not protection, Itachi. That's torture." “And you know what hurt most? He only wanted to make you proud. He thought if he was strong enough, maybe you’d come back, maybe he’d finally be worthy of you. And you let him believe he was never enough.”

"It was..." He struggled, the careful mask of control slipping further. "It was the only way to make him strong enough to survive what was coming."

"Was it? Or was it the only way you could think of because you were thirteen years old and had been conditioned to think like a weapon instead of a brother?"

"If I reached that point, there would be no other way," he said, but it sounded like he was still trying to convince himself.

"There might've been. If you'd trusted someone else enough to look for one. If you hadn't been so convinced that you had to carry everything alone."

“I cannot afford to doubt my choices. Everything I am is built on their necessity.” His words stumbled, a breath cutting short as if he’d run out of air. For the first time, he felt smaller in her presence. Not because she loomed, but because she stood unbroken where he expected only wreckage.

There it was. The heart of it. Not just that he'd made impossible choices, but that admitting they might've been wrong would unmake him entirely.

"What if being wrong doesn't make you weak?" she asked quietly. "What if it just makes you human?"

"If I’m human then I… then what I did was…" He broke off, shaking his head hard. "No. I can’t be human. I can’t. Because if I am, then it was monstrous. Then I destroyed our family for nothing."

"You were too young for that burden," she said softly. "And every adult who should have protected you failed. They turned you into the weapon that carried it instead."

"Stop." His hands were shaking now, and he couldn't hide it anymore. "Stop trying to make excuses for what I did. I knew what I was choosing. I knew the cost."

“Did you? Or did they hand you the cost, and you believed them because you were grieving and desperate, already drowning in Shisui’s loss. I know what it did to you, losing him. But I also know they twisted that grief into a leash.”

“No one twisted me.” The denial snapped out. “I analyzed the situation. I calculated probabilities. I chose the path with the highest likelihood of Sasuke’s survival.” The sentence rang hollow; a hitch in his breath betrayed him.

“Logic doesn’t erase the truth,” Akari said quietly, her tone cutting sharper than anger. “You were a grieving child. And instead of help, they gave you numbers and probabilities and called it necessity.”

“I…” his voice caught. “I assessed the variables. Chose… the only path left. The optimal path.” He said it like he was convincing himself as much as her.

She shook her head. “Itachi, listen to yourself. You’re repeating doctrine again. Not like a brother, not even like a son. Like a weapon too well-trained to remember it was ever human.”

“The outcome justified the means,” he insisted, voice rising. “I ran the numbers. This was the only path that promised Sasuke would live.” His fingers curled into the hem of his sleeve, and for a moment the posture made him look suddenly fragile.

He drew a breath as if to keep speaking, but nothing came. The mask faltered. He went still, head dipping slightly, eyes fixed on the floor as though the weight of it finally pressed down.

“I don’t know how to be anything else,” he forced out at last, shoulders locking tight. “If I’m not the one who makes the hard calls and carries it, then…” His jaw clenched, breath snagging; his hands went white on the cuff of his sleeve, knuckles raking the fabric. He forced his shoulders back as if posture could be a shield, his voice frayed at the edges. “Then I should die for my crimes.”

“No.” You don’t get to take the easy way out. You don’t get to die and call it justice.”

He stared at her, startled by the refusal.

“You get to live,” she said, softer but relentless. “You get to make things right. You get to love. You get to find out who you are without carrying genocide on your shoulders.” Her eyes brightened with impossible stubbornness. “I know you’re sick. I know there’s something eating at you from the inside. We’ll find a way. We’ll do it together. We all get a chance to be happy now. Itachi, I made so many mistakes too, you are not alone in that. This is a real chance for us to do right this time and to be a real family”

"I can't be weak. If I break, if I need help, then I'm not the older brother anymore. I'm not the one who protects everyone. I'm not the one who makes the hard choices." His voice trembled. "I'm just... another broken thing that needs fixing. Another burden. Another failure."

“You are not a failure,” she said. “You’re still the older brother who loves his family. You can still protect him, still teach him things only you can. That part of you doesn’t vanish. But you also deserve care and protection.” She stepped closer. “You don’t have to carry the weight of the world alone anymore.”

“Everything I am… it all depends on being strong enough to handle everything myself. If I can’t do that…”

“You’re just Itachi,” she said softly. “And that’s enough. You’ll always be the brother Sasuke looks up to. But strength isn’t only what you carry alone. With love you’re stronger, not weaker. That’s the lesson you never let yourself believe. And the lesson I almost learned too late.”

The sob that broke from his throat was raw, desperate. Years of grief and terror and impossible guilt poured out at once. He tried to keep his posture, tried to hold control, but the dam had already cracked.

“I need…” The words came out broken, like they were being torn from his throat. “I can’t do this alone anymore. But if I admit that, if I’m not strong enough to handle everything myself, then what kind of brother am I?”

“The kind who still deserves help.” She moved closer but didn’t touch him yet. “The kind who never should’ve carried this alone.”

“Everything I did was to protect him,” he choked out, tears cutting uneven tracks down his cheeks. “Every terrible thing. And if it was all wrong, if I hurt him for nothing…”

“Then we fix it,” she said. “Together. And you learn you don’t have to be perfect to be loved.”

He stared at her through his tears, and for the first time since the massacre, Itachi Uchiha looked his age.

“You’re thirteen, Itachi.” Her voice was soft but carried an edge that made him flinch. “Thirteen. They shoved you into ANBU at eleven. They stole our childhoods. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take back what’s left.”

She sat beside him, close enough that he could feel her warmth, far enough that he wouldn’t feel trapped.

“You’re still young,” she added, quieter. “One who deserves love. One who deserves to stop carrying by yourself.”

“After everything I’ve done…”

“After everything they did to you,” she cut in, firm. “After everything you were forced to become because no one protected you.”

The words broke him. A ragged sound tore loose, messy and unrestrained, and suddenly he was crying. Not the controlled tears of someone clinging to dignity, but the ugly, broken sobs of someone far too young who had carried genocide on his back. Akari didn’t hesitate. She pulled him against her, steady as he buried his face in her shoulder, his fingers twisting the fabric of her sleeve like he needed the anchor. His shoulders shook, breath stuttering as though his lungs couldn’t hold air. The night pressed close around them, roof tiles cold beneath her knees, his tears soaking through her clothes. For once it wasn’t numbers or doctrine. Just the raw weight of grief finally spilling free

“I have nightmares all the time,” he whispered between sobs. “Every night, I see their faces. Mother, Father… even the children. I killed children. How can anyone forgive that?”

“No one should’ve forced you into that choice,” she said fiercely, holding him tighter. “You were ordered to do the unthinkable by men who made you carry their sins.” You tried to save Sasuke the only way you knew how. And that love, that intent, is still real. It doesn’t erase what happened, but it means you are not the monster they made you believe.”

“But I hurt Sasuke. I broke him.”

“Yes,” she said quietly. “You hurt him. You left scars.” Her eyes stayed steady on his. “But scars mean healing. He’s still here. I’m still here. And now you’re here. We get to decide what comes of the pieces.”

“How do you know?”

"Because I've seen it happening. In just these few weeks with Kakashi and me, he's already starting to heal. He laughs now. Itachi, he plays. Plays the way we never had the chance to. And he trusts." She cupped his face gently, thumbs brushing away tears. "He still loves you, even after everything. Your bond is too strong."

Itachi stared at her, hope and disbelief warring in his dark eyes. "He still loves me?"

"He dreams of you," she said softly. "Not with hate but with longing. He misses you. He wonders if the brother he remembers was real." Her voice steadied. "Love doesn’t vanish because of mistakes, Itachi. It can be buried under pain, but it doesn’t die."

"In the other timeline," she continued, "even after years of hatred, even after I learned the truth too late to save you... I still loved you. Even when I wanted to hate you, part of me never stopped being that little boy who worshiped his big brother."

“I don’t know how to be that person anymore,” Itachi whispered. His breath hitched. “I don’t know how to feel anymore. I don’t know how to exist outside of duty.”

“Then we’ll figure it out together,” she answered, her voice steady but not unkind. “Because being a brother doesn’t mean being perfect. Sometimes it’s as simple as letting him know he’s enough. All his life, he chased your shadow, trying to be worthy of you. Even when he hated you, all he wanted was to make you proud.”

“What if I can’t come back from this? What if I can’t…”

"Then we'll build something new from the pieces. Something better." Her tone carried absolute conviction. "You're not too far gone, Itachi. You're just lost. And lost things can be found." I was lost once too, but someone saved me, someone I loved. I was found too.

Itachi stared at her for a long moment, searching her face for any sign of deception or manipulation. But there was only truth there, and love, and the fierce determination that had carried her across timelines to save the people she cared about.

"In the other timeline," he said quietly, "at the end… tell me, in your voice, what my last words were to you again."

The request caught her off guard. For a moment she was back there. Not in the genjutsu, but standing in the aftermath of war, hearing him as he faded.

“You told me you would always love me,” she said, her voice low and raw. “That nothing either of us did could change that. You’d used everything you had left to show me the truth, and in those last breaths… it was the first time I believed I had my brother back.

His breath caught, and fresh tears spilled down his cheeks.

“I carry your last words always. Even now, in this new body, with all these memories of pain… I still love you. I always will.” She met his eyes. “I’m offering you the same thing now. A place beside me. A chance to be my brother again.” No matter what you’ve done, no matter what you think you’ve become, you’re still my brother. Nothing changes that.”

“Even though I hurt you. Even though I broke everything we had?”

“You didn’t stop being my brother the night you made that choice,” she said quietly. “I remember how you taught me how to throw kunai, told me stories when I couldn’t sleep, and always put me first. You never disappeared. You’re still there.”

She reached out to touch his hand. “You’re still the brother who sacrificed everything for me, even when it destroyed you.”

"I don't deserve your forgiveness."

"Forgiveness isn't about deserving. It's about choosing love over hate, healing over revenge." She squeezed his fingers. "I'm choosing to forgive you, Itachi. Not because what you did was okay, but because holding onto that anger hurts all of us." And believe me, I know this first-hand.

Silence stretched between them. Then Itachi spoke, his voice barely audible.

"I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too. Every day you were gone."

He looked toward the village, toward the apartment where Sasuke slept safely. "Can I… would it be possible to see him? Not to approach, not yet. Just… to know he’s really okay?"

"Yes," she said without hesitation.

"And afterward? What happens to me?"

Akari stood, offering her hand. "Afterward, if it is okay with you, you can stay with Shikaku. He is our ally, and he can keep you sheltered until it is safe. When Danzo falls and the system that used us is torn down, we would like you to be a witness. Then you can come home for real. Not as a fugitive, not as a weapon but as a brother. As part of a family."

At the word witness, his face tightened, shoulders drawing in as if bracing for judgment, for the eyes of a world that would never forgive.

Akari reached for his hand again, her voice gentler now. "That is why we are doing this together," she said softly. "Not alone. You will not be left to face it by yourself this time."

For a moment he was rigid, caught between fear and disbelief. Then his fingers closed around hers with surprising strength, steady and sure, as though holding on to her was the only way forward.

He released a shaky breath. "Home," he echoed quietly, like the word was strange on his tongue.

"Home," she confirmed. "Not the compound, not the past. Something new. But it’s family, and it’s yours if you want it."

"I want it," he whispered. "I want to come home."

Silence stretched between them, fragile but full. Then, with a flicker of boyish vulnerability, Itachi asked, "If you’re my big sister now… what do I call you? What’s your name now?"

Her smile softened. "Akari."

He tried it, almost reverent. "Akari."

They moved toward each other instinctively, and when they embraced, it was with the desperate relief of family finding each other after too long. He held on like she might vanish, and she felt something in her chest warm where grief had been frozen for years.

She pulled back just enough to lift two fingers and press them gently against his forehead. "I promise," she whispered, the gesture both familiar and new, "I’m going to take very good care of my little brother from now on."

The smirk that crossed her face as they parted was pure Sasuke, mischievous and unyielding, and it startled a laugh out of Itachi. A real laugh, fragile but alive.

"Okay, big sis," he said softly, and the words carried both acceptance and trembling hope.

----

While Akari held her broken brother on a moonlit rooftop, offering forgiveness and a path home, across the village another Uchiha brother was trapped in his own battle with the past. The night claimed Sasuke for itself, steeped in blood and shadow, where love and terror clung together like two sides of the same blade.

The first sound that reached Kakashi from the living room was a whimper. Soft and lost in the dark. Then came the thrashing, the sound of small limbs tangling in bedsheets. By the time the screaming started, footsteps were already running down the hallway.

"Kakashi! Kakashi!" Naruto's voice cracked high with panic, words tumbling over each other so fast they nearly tripped as he burst into Kakashi's bedroom, still in his pajamas, eyes wide with fear. "Something's wrong with Sasuke! He won't wake up and he's screaming, and I don't know what to do!"

Kakashi was already moving before Naruto finished speaking, his protective instincts kicking in immediately. The desperate edge in Naruto's voice, the way the boy was practically vibrating with anxiety. This wasn't just a normal nightmare. He followed Naruto back down the hallway toward the sound of terrified cries. A knot twisting tight in his chest at what he heard.

"No! Please, no more!" Sasuke cried out, his young voice breaking with terror. "Itachi, please! I'll be good! I promise I'll be good!"

They burst into the bedroom to find Sasuke caught in the grip of a nightmare so vivid he seemed to be fighting for his life. His small body twisted against the sheets, one arm thrown up as if trying to ward off an attack, tears cutting uneven tracks down his cheeks even in sleep. The moonlight streaming through the windows made him look even smaller, more vulnerable.

"Sasuke! Wake up!" Naruto was saying, his voice shaking with panic as he hovered near the bed, afraid to touch but desperate to help. "Kakashi, something's wrong! He won't wake up!"

"I've got him." Kakashi's voice was calm and steady. He moved to the bed, kneeling beside it and catching Sasuke's flailing hands gently but firmly. "Sasuke. Hey. You're safe. You're home."

But Sasuke was too deep in the nightmare to hear him. "Please don't hurt them anymore," he sobbed, still caught in whatever horror his mind had conjured. "I'll do anything. I'll be strong like you wanted. Just please..."

The broken pleading in that young voice made something fierce and protective surge in Kakashi's chest. This was his kid now. His to protect, his to comfort, his to keep safe from the nightmares that still haunted him.

“Sasuke.” Kakashi’s voice cut through the panic, steady and commanding. “Listen to me. You’re not there anymore. You’re here. With me. With Naruto.”

Sasuke's eyes snapped open, wild and unfocused, still seeing whatever horror his dreams had conjured. For a moment he didn't recognize where he was, his gaze darting around the room like he expected to find corpses on the floor.

"The blood," he gasped, his breathing coming in sudden, panicked bursts. "There was so much blood, and his eyes, his eyes were so red, and they were looking at me and..."

"Breathe," Kakashi said, pulling the trembling boy against his chest without hesitation. The gesture felt natural now, like something he'd been doing for years instead of weeks. "Just breathe. You're safe. You're here with me and Naruto."

But Sasuke couldn't calm down. His whole body was shaking, and he kept looking toward the shadows in the corners of the room like he expected monsters to emerge. "He was there. Itachi was there and everyone was dead, and he was covered in blood and he looked at me and said..."

"It was just a dream," Kakashi murmured, one hand smoothing Sasuke's sweat-dampened hair with infinite patience. "Just echoes of something that's already over. The real Itachi isn't here. You're safe now."

Naruto had climbed onto the bed without asking, pressing close to both of them. His own fear was obvious, but his protective instincts toward Sasuke overrode everything else. "You're okay," he said hoarsely, his own voice thick with unshed tears. "We're here. We're not going anywhere."

"But what if he comes back?" Sasuke whispered, his fingers fisting in Kakashi's shirt like a lifeline. "What if he decides he made a mistake leaving me alive? What if he..."

“Then we’ll protect you,” Naruto blurted, hugging Sasuke tight from the other side. “We’re brothers, right? Brothers stick together. Nobody’s gonna hurt you while we’re here.”

"That's right," Kakashi agreed steadily, and the conviction in his voice was absolute. "You're never going to be alone again, Sasuke. No matter what happens, you have people who love you now."

"Really?" Sasuke sounded so small, so desperately hopeful. Like a child who'd been disappointed too many times but still couldn't help wishing.

"Really." Kakashi pressed a kiss to the top of Sasuke's head, surprised by how natural the gesture felt. The protective love that had grown in his chest over these past weeks was undeniable now. This wasn't just duty or responsibility. This was family. "Do you think you can try to sleep again?"

Sasuke shook his head violently. "I don't want to see him again. Every time I close my eyes, he's there. And he's angry at me for still being alive."

Naruto sat up straighter, his face scrunched with determination. "Then we'll stay up together with you. Right, Kakashi? We can all stay up together!"

Kakashi smiled behind his mask. The boy's instinctive protectiveness toward Sasuke, his willingness to sacrifice his own sleep. It reminded him of himself at that age, desperate to help but not always knowing how. "Actually, I have a better idea."

The ninken barely needed a signal. From their usual spots, eight dogs of various sizes were already moving in, circling the bed with quiet whines and heavy warmth, practiced in the art of comfort.

"The pack's here!" Naruto said with relief, his earlier fear melting away as familiar warmth surrounded them. "Hey guys!"

"Hey, pack," Sasuke said more quietly, some of the tension leaving his shoulders as the dogs settled around them. These weren't strangers. They'd become a familiar part of his safe space over the past weeks.

"Nightmares again?" Pakkun observed, immediately settling against Sasuke's side. His warmth was comforting, solid and real in a way that chased away the lingering shadows. "Rough one this time?"

Sasuke nodded, still clinging to Kakashi but reaching out to pet Pakkun's soft fur. "Really bad one. About... about my brother."

"Nightmares are just your brain trying to sort through scary stuff," Shiba said matter-of-factly, curling up by Sasuke's feet. "Like when you have too many thoughts bouncing around and they get all tangled up. We're good for that kind of thing."

"How?" Sasuke asked, his breathing finally starting to even out.

"Well," said Bisuke, settling between Naruto and Sasuke with a contented sigh, "they feed on fear and loneliness. But we’re here. Warm, solid, and many. That’s more than enough to keep them away."

Akino padded over to rest her chin on Sasuke's leg. "Plus, we never all sleep at once. Someone's always keeping watch, ready to wake you up gently if the bad dreams try to come back."

"Promise?" Sasuke's voice was getting drowsy again, but it was a different kind of tired now. Safer.

"I promise," Urushi confirmed, sprawling across the foot of the bed. "Pack looks after pack. That's how it works."

"Are we a pack?" Naruto asked, already half-buried under a pile of dogs.

“’Course you are, and you know it,” Pakkun said gruffly, though there was warmth in his voice. “Boss says you’re family, so you’re part of the pack. Simple as that.”

Kakashi felt something warm and complicated settle in his chest as he watched the boys relax under the comfort of his ninken. This wasn’t how he’d imagined his life going. From lone wolf ANBU to a man with two broken children, a girl who refused to let the world break her, and a pack of dogs who’d claimed them all as family. But hell, if he could bring himself to regret it.

"Can we have a snack?" Sasuke asked suddenly. "I don't really want to go back to sleep yet."

"It's three in the morning," Kakashi pointed out mildly, but there was no reproach in his voice. He understood the reluctance to close his eyes again.

"Sometimes I get snacks when I can't sleep," Naruto said quietly, and there was something vulnerable in his admission. "When I have money for them. Makes the apartment feel less... empty."

The casual reference to his old life, to nights spent alone and hungry, pulled at something deep in him, stirring a protective anger at a world that had failed this child. But his voice remained gentle when he spoke. "Well, bad dreams definitely call for something warm. What sounds good?"

"We have milk," Sasuke offered. "Akari said warm milk helps with nightmares."

"And we could make tea," Naruto added. "I know how. I'm good at it."

"Then let's do that," Kakashi said, making the decision easily. Sleep could wait. Right now, his kids needed comfort and normalcy. "A midnight snack sounds perfect."

So, they made their way to the kitchen in a parade of boys and dogs, Sasuke still wrapped in his blanket and staying close to Kakashi's side. The dogs padded along quietly, creating a protective barrier around their small family. It should've been chaotic, but instead it felt right.

Kakashi found himself moving with practiced efficiency, warming milk in a small pot while Naruto prepared tea with the serious concentration of someone who'd learned to fend for himself too young. The kitchen felt safe and cozy with all the lights on, chasing away the lingering fear from Sasuke's nightmare.

They settled on warm milk for Sasuke, tea for the others, and some plain biscuits that wouldn't be too heavy for their stomachs. Nothing fancy, but the simple domesticity of it all felt precious.

“This is nice,” Sasuke murmured, petting Pakkun’s fur. “My mom… she used to come when I had nightmares. She’d hold me until I fell asleep again.” His hand stilled in Pakkun’s fur, the rhythm breaking. “And now… she’s gone.”

Kakashi’s chest tightened, anger and grief folding into something steadier. “Your mother would be proud of you,” he said quietly. “And you still have people who will stay when the nightmares come. Anytime you need it, we’ll be here.”

Naruto straightened in his chair, nodding hard. “He’s right. We’ll be here. Every time.”

"Can I ask you something Kakashi?" Sasuke said eventually.

"Of course."

"When you have nightmares, what do you do?"

Kakashi considered the question seriously. It deserved an honest answer. "I remind myself that the past is past. That I'm safe now, and the people I care about are safe. And sometimes I get up and check on the people I love, just to make sure they're really okay."

"Like you checked on us?"

"Like I checked on you."

Sasuke nodded thoughtfully. "In my dream, Itachi said he was disappointed in me. That I was supposed to hate him, and I was failing at it." He took a sip of warm milk. "But I don't want to hate him. Even after everything, I just... miss him."

The simple honesty of it made Kakashi's heart ache.

"That's okay," Kakashi said gently. "Missing someone doesn't mean you agree with what they did. It just means you love them."

"Even if they did terrible things?"

"Love isn't something you turn on and off like a light switch. It's more complicated than that." Kakashi reached over to ruffle Sasuke's hair. "The fact that you can still love someone who hurt you doesn't make you weak. It makes you brave."

"You mean it?"

"I do. It takes courage to keep your heart open after it's been broken."

Naruto had been quiet during this exchange, but now he spoke up. "I think... I think maybe loving someone even when they hurt you is what makes families real. Like, anybody can love someone when everything's easy. But still loving them when it's hard? That's special."

The wisdom in those words, coming from a seven-year-old who'd known more abandonment than love, made Kakashi's throat tight with emotion. "That's very wise, Naruto."

They finished their warm drinks slowly, accompanied by quiet conversation and the gentle warmth of dogs pressed against their legs. The terror that had gripped Sasuke was gradually replaced by drowsy contentment, the kind that came from being surrounded by people who cared about you.

When Sasuke started yawning again, they made their way back to the bedroom in the same protective formation. The dogs surrounding them, Kakashi's hand on Sasuke's shoulder, and Naruto pressed close to his friend's other side.

"Can we play a game?" Naruto asked as they settled back onto the bed. "Something quiet?"

"What kind of game?" Kakashi asked, pulling blankets up over both boys.

"Twenty questions!" Naruto said immediately. "But with nice things. Like, I'm thinking of something that makes me happy, and you have to guess what it is."

It was a simple game, but it worked perfectly for their purposes. They took turns thinking of happy things while the others guessed, the questions and answers growing softer and more relaxed with each round. Sasuke's answers started with small things: Akari's cooking, Pakkun's soft fur, the way the morning sun came through his bedroom window. But gradually they grew more meaningful.

"I'm thinking of something that makes me feel safe," he said during his last turn.

"Is it bigger than a breadbox?" Naruto asked sleepily.

"Kind of. It's not really a thing though."

"Is it a person?" Kakashi guessed.

“More than one person,” Sasuke whispered. “All of us together like this… it makes me feel like nothing bad can happen.”

The simple statement hit Kakashi hard. The trust and love contained in those few words, the way this broken boy had found safety in their makeshift family. He had to clear his throat before he could respond.

"I'm glad," he said quietly. "That's exactly how it should feel."

Naruto was already asleep, curled against Sasuke's side with one hand tangled in Shiba's fur. The other dogs had arranged themselves on and around the bed like living guardians, warm and watchful. The whole scene looked like something out of a painting. Peaceful and perfect and precious.

"Better?" Kakashi asked softly.

"Yeah," Sasuke whispered, his eyes already drifting closed. "Thanks, Kakashi. For everything. For... for being my dad." The word knocked the breath from Kakashi’s chest. His arms tightened instinctively around him, a small gasp catching in his throat before thought could follow.

The last words were barely audible, but they stopped Kakashi cold. Dad. Not older brother, not guardian. - dad. The title he'd never thought he'd earn, never thought he'd want, spoken with such simple trust and love.

"Anytime, kid," he managed, his voice rough with emotion. "Sweet dreams."

And this time, when Sasuke slept, his dreams were full of warmth and safety instead of blood and betrayal. Around him, his family kept watch.  Dogs who had become permanent fixtures, Naruto steady at his side, Akari who felt like a mother, and Kakashi, who wasn’t just Kakashi anymore but something closer to a father.

In the kitchen, the empty mugs sat forgotten on the counter, testament to a moment of healing in the small hours of the morning. Outside, the village slept on, unaware that in one small apartment, a broken family was learning how to be whole again. And far above the rooftops, another pair of eyes lingered in silence, weighing what he had seen, what he could no longer ignore

Chapter 14 Teaser - Coming Home

Itachi braced himself for what he always knew. His brother trapped in the same nightmares he carried, lost in blood and silence that never let go. Instead, he found Sasuke asleep, curled in a safety he’d never imagined possible. But peace can’t hold forever. With dawn comes choices, and the path forward leads to Shikaku… and the first sparks of Akari’s revolution.