**Authors Note: 

So there are about 10+ filler episodes in the series before we begin the Hokage summit arc. So I think I'm going to do one and a half to two filler-ish chapters so this one and the next one before we start the new arc. 

The new arc will begin/take off in the last 5-10 chapters in this book (CH 90-95 or to 100) and then bridge into the fourth installment. This means we are super close to Scroll 4! :) 

**Edit: Voting closed as of 2016**

This also means voting is nearly closed. So here is some info for you! Kakashi in the lead, Shikamaru in close second, and Gaara in third!

Now then please vote, comment and enjoy! 

**

Rin

**Unconscious**

The memories burned. That's the only way I could explain. It felt like I was being prodded with a hot iron as each one seared into my brain. It started young, very young. From the time I was kidnapped by the Akatsuki to when I first unleashed on Zabuza and Haku. To each time I came face-to-face with another host. I could see Hidan when we fought the two-tails, I could see Madara when he sent me to kill my comrades for the three tails and I could even feel the pulse of Orochimaru's henchmen when I tore out his heart.

"This was all you" I spoke out. I had my knees pressed to my chest and forehead resting on my knees. My head was throbbing.

"It was us" He replied and all I wanted was for Itachi to return, but I doubted I would see him anytime soon.

"No" I replied defiantly. I felt him brush my back but I didn't lookup. It didn't make a difference. You could really only make out his outline, his form hidden in the shadows but you could sense him as he moved.

"You could never hold control for long, my will was always stronger" I said firmly and he chuckled.

"True" He replied gently.

"You're as stubborn as they come." He mused.

"What deal do you have with Madara?" I demanded and he was silent. I felt him touch the back of my head and flinched as he interrupted the memory with another.

"You should know" He replied and I focused on it as Madara came to light. His words were quiet, soft but slowly escalated to a regular tone. My voice, as expected wasn't my own when I replied.

"For your body" I realized.

"Yes" He confirmed.

"If Madara could keep you under control, and keep me dormant I promised him that he could host my full power" He explained.

"I wouldn't have let you" I argued and he chuckled again.

"Well, neither Madara nor I expected you to be capable of drawing on my power. There was only so long after the three-tails incident that I could continue hiding" He replied.

"So what? Now you'll settle on this life?" I asked and he was silent a moment as she mulled it over.

"No, Madara still has my body. One way or another I will be reunited with it" I scoffed.

"Hn, don't bet on it, you even admitted that my will is greater than yours" I reminded.

"Yes, and you do have the Copy-Ninja and Itachi to aid against me. Perhaps Pein was correct in it being a mistake to make myself known"

"What does Kakashi have to do with any of..." I paused as I watched the memory, of him walking into my katana. Of Pein finishing him off, it made my stomach twist.

"K-Kakashi" I managed to stammer.

"He died" I recalled, but I had seen him, hadn't I? He was there in the crowd. He was alive.

"I need to see him" I said quickly as the panic began to build inside me.

"Rin" The ten-tails spoke and I reached out managing to grab him. I heard him growl as I dug my nails into him.

"I need to wake up!"

**End**

It was still dark when I opened my eyes, the panic kept building as I tried to sit up but pain shot up my side. I reached for my eyes and felt cloth covering them but hands caught my wrist before I could tear it off.

"Easy Rin easy" I fought against their grip, but my muscles ached.

"K-Kakashi, I need to see Kakashi" I demanded.

"He's waiting outside but I need you to calm down first" She said firmly. I took a deep breath, easing back into the pillow and allowing the hands to guide me.

"Sakura?" I questioned.

"Yes, I figured you trusted few medics other than Jazmine or I" She replied and it did put me at ease.

"Why can't I see?" I asked and felt her hands touching the cloth around my eyes.

"I've bandaged your eyes, at least for a few days since they're sensitive right now. It'd be best if they weren't exposed to light" She explained and I nodded slowly.

"Where is Kakashi?" I asked.

"He's waiting outside. Since the village was destroyed we've had to set up medical tents. There's not a lot of room in them" She replied.

"How are you feeling?" She asked.

"I'll be fine, just, can you bring Kakashi in?" I felt like I was repeating myself to much but Sakura merely laughed as her hand grazed my knee.

"He's worried about you too so fine" She replied.

"I'll be right back"

Kakashi

When I had been assigned to team seven part of the reason was to obtain information on Rin. A mission not from the Hokage but from the village elders. They had-just as they do now-little trust in her. The more I got to know her, the more I began to understand why. She had the abilities to re-create the Uchiha as they once were; powerful and revered. A force to be reckoned with, a force they were afraid of.

"Kakashi-Sensei" I looked up as Sakura stepped out of the tent.

"You can see her now" I got up quickly, following Sakura as we stepped into the medical tent.

"She's recovering quickly, as you know Rin's healing is unusually fast. I've bandaged the wounds in her torso, but she'll still be tender for a few days." She explained.

"And her eyes?" I asked as we stopped at a section near the end of the tent, each section was separated by thin curtains.

"I suggest keeping them bandaged, at least for a few days. They're strained from over-use of the sharingan, exposing them to light could result in permanent damage." She explained as she pulled aside the curtain allowing me to see her.

"Rin" I breathed. She sat up slightly, grimacing as she did. I stepped forward quickly to help her. I propped up the pillows and took her arms guiding her to a sitting posistion. She smiled slightly.

"Thank you" She said softly.

"I was hoping to see you but..."

"Those bandages better stay on Rin" Sakura warned and she chuckled as she touched the bandages covering her eyes.

"You got it Doc" She replied and Sakura smiled as she looked at the two of us.

"I'll be back to check on your eyes in a few hours, for now you two can have some privacy"

"Sakura wait" She called and Sakura paused.

"Shikamaru, is he okay?" She asked.

"Yes, he only suffered a broken leg in the attack. I'll send him your way if I run into him"

"Thank you" She replied and Sakura went off letting the curtain fall closed behind her.

"So, how are you feeling?" I asked and she shrugged, wincing as she did.

"Sore, tired but I can't wait to get on my feet again. Sakura said Lady Tsunade is in a coma. The elders will be looking for a replacement even a temporary one and Danzo..."

"Will still have to stick to your terms Rin, you've got them where you want them. Lady TsUnade will wake up, right now we just have to wait and hope for the best." I replied

"Since when are you so optimistic?" She teased and I smiled as I touched her hand. I noticed her tense but she didn't pull away.

"Since I died and by some miraculous act that you and Naruto pulled off I've been given a second chance" I replied and she smiled slightly.

"It was mostly Naruto; I was ready to kill Pein but you know him. He had to get his word in."

"He's come so far but somewhere in there he's still the same kid that wanted to make the world a better place" I mused and Rin nodded.

"All this has me reminiscing of the old days of Team 7" I mentioned.

"That happens with age" She teased and I shoved her arm earning a small laugh in return.

"I was assigned to keep an eye on you" I reminded and she nodded.

"I know, I caught you on your first day remember? Had you following a clone for most of the day" I chuckled at the memory.

"I knew you'd be great Rin, even back then." I replied.

"Or maybe you were just easy to trick"

"Still can't take a compliment I see" I replied.

"Can't be good at everything." She said with a shrug as silence fell between us.

"Kakashi, during the battle against Pein I-I learned something" She started, seeming unsure of her words.

"What's that?" I asked and she paused again.

"Um s-something about myself" She seemed hesitant as she spoke. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze to which she replied by keeping a hold of it.

"You know you can tell me anything Rin" I assured her and she released a slow breath.

"Okay, it's just it's a lot to deal with and I haven't had much time to process it myself and it has to do with Itachi and my clan and, and, an-"

"It'll be okay" I interrupted.

"Whatever it is I'm here for you," I said gently and she nodded slightly.

"It's just.." She was cut off when the curtain was thrown open. I looked up at a disheveled Shikamaru, his eyes filling with relief as soon as he saw Rin.

"You're alive" He breathed. She sucked in a sharp breath when he pulled her into a tight hug.

"Injured, still injured here!" Rin managed and he quickly let her go.

"Sorry, sorry I just wanted to see you." He admitted and Rin smiled.

"Hey I'm fine. Sakura says I'll be good as new within the week. Just my eyes that need a break" She told him. He released a heavy sigh then took her face into his hands. I glanced away when he pecked her lips.

"I'll never get used to be being so reckless" I muttered.

"I was doing my job" She objected.

"You went after him alone, Katsuyu said Kakashi-Sensei died. You should have retreated."

"And let him destroy what little we had left? I saved a lot of people Shikamaru, a lot of lives. I lost Kakashi, I could have gone back into a slump like with Itachi but I kept fighting. Aren't you proud of that?" She argued. I felt suddenly awkward as I took a small step farther from the bed.

"Why are you trying to start a fight? This isn't like you Shikamaru" She added and he sighed.

"I called your name" He replied and RIn tilted her head slightly. He sighed as he stared at the ground.

"When you and Naruto came back, in the crowd I called your name but you blew right past me straight to Kakashi-Sensei."

"I could barely see Shikamaru and everyone was calling my name, Kakashi whistled. I recognized the sound, a sound mind you that I thought I would never hear again!" Her voice was beginning to rise as she sat forward in her bed.

"I knew you were safe, I knew you were with the cipher division and I knew I would see you again because you had no reason to be caught in that battle" She continued as she managed to get to her feet and face him.

"I watched Kakashi die!" She shouted. Shikamaru was silent and Rin released a slow breath as she tried to calm herself. I remained silent as Rin leaned against the foot of her cot and grabbed at her torso.

"Just..."

Shikamaru

"Rin Uchiha what did I say about rest?" Rin titled her head up as Sakura stepped through the curtain.

"Sorry Sakura" She muttered, managing a small smile.

"I will sedate you if I have to" Sakura warned as she guided Rin back into her cot. Sakura glanced at me then at Kakashi.

"I need to check Rin's bandages, and I need room to work so..."

"I was just leaving" I said quickly. Rin tilted her head towards me and I sighed as I leaned over the cot and kissed her forehead.

"We'll talk later" I said softly and she nodded slightly. I side-glanced at Kakashi as I walked out. I had been in the crowd with Choji and Ino when they had returned. I had shouted Rin's name and thought I got her attention but she just looked through me. Her attention elsewhere, she ran straight past me shoving through the crowd to jump into none other than Kakashi's arms.

"Hey Shikamaru!" I glanced at Choji as he ran towards me.

"Pa's going to be okay, Jazmine says he'll make a full recovery" I smiled, relieved. Choji and his father had aided Rin and Kakashi against Pein.

"Did you find Rin?" He asked and I nodded.

"Started an argument and she can't even see right now, barely can stand so you know now I'm twice the jerk I should have never been" I replied.

"An argument?" Choji asked.

"Kakashi-Sensei was already there"

"Well, he did carry her in so of course, he knew which tent she was in" He pointed out.

"I just wanted her to be happy to see me, you know?"

"You said so yourself she can't see right now" I shoved his arm and he chuckled.

"You're looking to much into this Shikamaru. She watched Kakashi-Sensei die, hell even I was ecstatic when he came back." He explained.

"But how they are together, everything they just fit and..." I paused for a moment then sighed.

"I'm just worried we'll never fit that way" I admitted and Choji nodded.

"Look you're not going to get rid of Kakashi-Sensei, he's been an important part of Rin's life long before their relationship and he will continue to be long after. I mean, I hate to say it Shikamaru but if you can't deal with that then maybe you're the one that needs to let go" Choji replied and I sighed.

"I know, just seeing them together makes me feel so irrational. I couldn't even tell her how proud I was I just got annoyed that he was already there."

"Well you care about her, but maybe you need to loosen the reigns a little." He pointed out and I nodded slightly.

"I know, it's just every time I look at her I'm flooded with all these memories of our childhood. I just want to protect her."

"Rin can take care of herself" Choji reminded.

"Can she? I mean you saw how she was when she came back"

"She fought her brothers Shikamaru, that would have been hard enough on her in more ways than one." He replied.

"And look at her now? Does this look like she can take care of herself?" I asked and Choji sighed.

"She's an ANBU it's part of the job Shikamaru. She's going to go on missions she won't be able to talk about. She could just up and go without so much as a word if she's called to the field." He reminded.

"So you're just saying that I'll have get used to it?" I asked and he nodded.

"Yeah, just try to believe in her every now and then I mean you used to be best friends. Just because your dating doesn't change that. She's powerful, she knows how to handle herself. You of all people should know that" He reminded. 

"Kakashi-Sensei is always there when she's in real trouble, hell even Gaara has been and he's not even from the same village. How am I supposed to compete with that when even she's stronger than me? How am I supposed to save her?" I demanded and Choji shrugged. 

"You ever think that she doesn't need you to save her that she just needs you to be around" He replied and I sighed.

"Look I know you're right, I've told myself the same things it's just..." I paused.

"Just what?" He asked.

"I know Kakashi-Sensei loves Rin, or in the least likes her romantically but I don't know if Rin feels the same way. It's been on my mind since we started dating." I confessed. I felt Choji put his hand on my shoulder.

"She's with you" He pointed out and I sighed.

"I know, but I dated Temari while I was still hung up Rin" I reminded.

"Well, why don't you just ask her?" He replied and I stared at him. He chuckled slightly and hit my back.

"Didn't think it was that simple?" He asked and I nodded.

"Overthinking it" I muttered as he chuckled again. I released a slow breath as I looked back towards the tent. I knew now wasn't a good time to bring something like this up. Even though I knew it was a smart idea, to just ask but I was hoping the time would never be right to bring it up. I mean what if she said yes? What then? Was I supposed to just let her go?