I burst through the doors of my childhood home. It was evening now, and the smell of a freshly cooked dinner filled the air.

"Y/n," my mom smiled as I charged through the house. "Honey, are you ok?" she called out in a concerned voice as she watched me.

My dad and Shikamaru were already sitting at the table.

I used my shadow to grab my father, and I slammed him against the wall.

"Y/n!!!" Shikamaru screamed as he jumped to his feet.

"Stay back, Shikamaru," I growled as I got in my father's face.

"Tell me it's not true," I snarled as I looked into his eyes.

The person who had protected me from everything. The person who had always supported me and loved me... The person I trusted more than anyone in the world.

"Dad please," I squeaked out. "Tell me it's not true. Tell me you didn't know about Itachi!!"

He was trying to speak, but my shadow grip was preventing him. I released him and watched him fall the floor. I stood tall as I waited for him to catch his breath.

"Y/n," he said softly as he got back to his feet. "We should talk about this alone."

My mom and Shikamaru were on high alert as they watched us, but I could tell the confusion was setting in around them.

"I trusted you," I cried out in a soft voice. "How could you do this? How could you let this happen and say nothing!?"

"It's more complicated than that. Itachi knew that too. He agreed to this."

"We were children!" I screamed at him. "You stole everything from him!!"

I looked into his sad and regretful eyes.

"You stole everything from me," I muttered out before turning to leave.

"Y/n! Please! Don't go!" he called out after me.

I stopped at the door and turned my head back slightly, "Don't come looking for me. I'll be back soon enough."

"Y/n!" my family shouted out after me as I disappeared into the ever-darkening night.

Itachi, you have some explaining to do too.

•••••
**Kakashi's POV**

"So, she found out?" Tsunade mumbled as she sat there full of concern, her hands crossed in front of her.

"I-it's true then?" I asked with wide eyes.

She sighed, "The village has a long history of handling things poorly. It's one of the reasons I became Hokage. I wanted to change it."

"You knew all this time and didn't tell her? She deserved to know... She shouldn't have found out this way," I stared both of them down.

"Yes, well, it's too late for that," Tsunade huffed out.

"She's going to find him," Jiraiya spoke up, and my heart shattered with those words.

I didn't want her to join him. I didn't want her to go back to him. I wanted her here with me. I wanted to keep her safe and warm and loved...

I couldn't deny it, I was falling in love with her. And to know she was out there hurting, it was more than I could bare.

"What do we do?" Jiraiya asked again.

Tsunade sighed, "We have so much to worry about right now. Let's send Team Kakashi on their next mission, and then we'll decide."

"I'm going after her," I stated coldly. "The team has Yamato."

"Maybe—" Jiraiya started to speak and I quickly cut him off.

"I'm going. That's that."

"Fine," Tsunade reluctantly agreed. "But not until Team Kakashi is off and on their way."

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Kakashi? Are you sure you can handle what you might find?" Jiraiya asked.

I nodded silently.

The truth, I wasn't sure I could handle it. But I needed her to know. I needed her to know how I felt and that she wasn't alone.

"Good, go get Y/n, and then I'm sending you two on a mission."

"Really? A mission?" Jiraiya laughed.

She shrugged, "What can I say? I'm hopeful."

At least that makes one of us.

••••
**Y/N POV**

I summoned Saga to help me track Itachi's sent. I had done it so frequently, it wasn't even that difficult anymore. Especially since it was pretty clear the masked man wanted me to find him.

My heart pounded through my chest as I ended up outside a small cavern.

"Thanks girl," I pet the top of the white wolf's head gently. Saga howled softly before disappearing.

I really wasn't sure what I was going to find when I entered through the door. I obviously wasn't prepared to fight the Akatsuki.

Would they attack me? Would they recognize me?

"Mm, what a delicious surprise this is," a man with grey slicked back hair smiled as I walked in. I definitely had some major issues if I was willing to walk into their hideout without a second thought.

"Where's Itachi?" I looked at him and the stitched man sitting next to him.

I had seen them both before, but had no idea who they were.

"A beautiful girl like you, you could do better than him," he smirked as he stood up.

I used my shadow to smash him against the wall in the same fashion as I did my father just earlier. He had gotten too close and tried to touch my face, and I wasn't having it.

"Don't fucking come near me," I snarled. "Where's Itachi?"

The stitched man laughed, "I like you. Hidan pisses me off too."

"Enough," a deep voice called out. I glanced over and saw man with orange hair and strange eyes and piercings approaching us. He was joined by a woman with purple hair.

"Careful, Y/n," Hidan hissed. "You're quite outnumbered."

"I heard you would be coming," the orange-haired man called out. "But Itachi isn't here. And he won't be for some time."

"I'm happy to keep you company while you wait," Hidan snarled.

I slammed him into the wall again with my shadow, annoyed by his antics, and then I let him drop to the ground.

"Where is he?" I looked into the ringed-eyes of the man in front of me.

Did the orange hair guy work with the masked man? Where was the guy with the mask? Who the fuck were all of these people?

And most importantly, where was Itachi? Did he know I was coming?

He slowly approached me, and whispered so only I could hear, "I won't kill you now, but if you come here again, I'll have to."

My eyes widened in horror as he leaned back away from me. His eyes... they looked... lifeless.

I was trying to figure out what game he was playing. But as the other members abandoned their attack stance, I realized he was the one in charge.

"I'm sure Itachi will be finding you soon," he turned to walk away. "Kakuzu, escort Y/n out."

The stitched man stood up and grabbed my arm, "Sorry sweetheart, times up."

I walked out into the icy night, beyond confused by my previous experience. My feet carried me thoughtlessly through the forest and away from the hideout where I had hoped to find Itachi.

Well, what am I going to do now?

I sighed as I leaned up against a tree and slid down to sit. I had no interest in returning to the village, but I had no where else to go.

I heard the soft pitter-patter of steps approaching, and I looked over to see a small friend.

"Hi Pakkun," I smiled as I reached my hand out, petting him softly.

"Kakashi will be here soon," he huffed.

"Mm, goodie," I teased as he laid down by my side, enjoying my touch.

"Were you planning on staying in the forest all night?" he asked.

I smiled, "Pakkun, are you worried about me?"

"The forest isn't a place for lonesome travelers."

I laughed, "You're just like Kakashi."

"Well, he is my ninken," I looked up to see Kakashi approaching.

"So, how are you doing?" he asked as he sat down.

I couldn't help but to laugh, "Is that a serious question?" He looked at me blankly, letting me know just how serious he was.

"Well, not great, but I'm better now that you're here."

"I'm flattered, but that doesn't answer the question."

I sighed, "I attacked my dad. I barged into the Akatsuki hideout. Itachi was already gone, probably avoiding me. And I feel like my life's a lie... So overall, it's pretty much a normal day."

Now it was his turn to laugh lightly, "You found the Akatsuki? You entered their hideout?... Well damn, I'm so glad you're not dramatic."

I don't even think he registered the part about my dad... I'm sure he's only focused on the Akatsuki, but I don't blame him.

"Yea, thank god," I laughed. "I'm positive it's only because they wanted me to find them. I don't know what game they're playing, but I'm sure they're gone by now."

"So, what's next?"

"Kakashi, I don't trust the leaf village."

"I understand Y/n, but you know Tsunade. You know Jiraiya. You know me," he reached over his hand softly. "You have people you can trust."

I looked at him with tear-filled eyes, "M-my dad knew. My dad knew, and he let it happen."

"Y/n," he whispered softly as he pulled me into his arms, letting me cry into him. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

"What am I supposed to do now?" I whispered.

"I don't know..." he mumbled softly. "But what I do know is that you can still protect so many. It's not too late for everyone. You still have Shikamaru and Naruto and Sakura, even Sasuke. We can save them from the same pain."

I pulled my head back to look at him, "Do you really mean that?"

He nodded, "I'm not going anywhere, Y/n. It can be me and you against the world if it needs to be."

"Thank you, Kakashi," I sighed as I nestled back into him. "So, back to your question, what's next?"

"Well, you ready for a mission?"

"You serious?" I laughed a bit.

"Mm, only if you are."

I sighed, "Fine. It's not like I have anywhere else to go or anything else to do."

"That's the spirit," he smiled as he stood, and I let him help me to my feet. We walked slowly through the night to a nearby village where we would stay just for tonight.

"Since you didn't find him, are you going to look for Itachi?" he asked.

"I don't think so. He'll find me when he's ready... I'm not even sure what I would say. He should've told me. I could've helped him. My dad should've told me. Someone should've fucking told me."

"Someone should've told me too," he mumbled out.

For a moment I almost forgot that Itachi was not only his friend but his comrade. Kakashi was one of the greatest leaf shinobi, he definitely could've helped as well.

"I'm sorry Kakashi. I've been so selfish. I haven't thought at all about how this is affecting you."

"It's ok, Y/n. I didn't know him like you did, but still... I should've seen the signs."

I grabbed his hand as we walked. He had already said he was staying by my side, but I needed him to know I was staying by his too.