Kakashi laid Chiisai down on the interrogation table. Beside him, Inoichi stood, studying Chiisai.

It had been five minutes since he had left the restaurant. Two minutes since he had walked into the interrogation office and demanded to see Inoichi. One minute since he had explained to him the situation.

And still, Chiisai wouldn't wake up.

"Lady Hokage informed me a little yesterday," Inoichi said. "So she really has dream abilities?"

Kakashi nodded. "Can you wake her up?"

"Depends," he replied. "I've never worked with abilities like hers. And from what you explained, if she's in some sort of dream world, I might not be able to contact her. And her chakra is another matter."

Kakashi did his best to maintain his composure. She had been out longer than last time, and his anxiety was only increasing. "Can you get me inside of her mind?"

Inoichi hesitated, but then nodded, meeting his gaze. "Yes, but such a thing is rarely done. The danger-"

Kakashi dragged a chair beside the table. It screeched against the cement floor. "I don't care about the danger," he said. "I need her awake."

Inoichi's voice was hard. "If my hand leaves either one of your all's heads before the time runs out, you may be lost in each other's body. If you become trapped somehow before time runs out, you'll be lost as well. Are you willing to risk it?"

Kakashi nodded without hesitation. There was no time for a debate. "How much time do we have?"

"Three minutes. After that, I'll transfer you back, if I can get to you." He paused, and then added, "Should we inform Lady Tsunade?"

"After this." Kakashi sat down in the chair and leaned his head back. There was no need to worry the Hokage yet.

Inoichi sighed and said, "You may feel some discomfort."

Kakashi closed his eye as Inoichi made several hand signs. Then he placed his hand on Kakashi's forehead.

There was a moment of weightlessness.

And then he found himself crashing into solid ground. It was a field of purple irises, and it expanded beyond his eyesight. He turned, and in the distance, saw Chiisai sitting by herself, surrounded by flowers, with a kunai pointed to her chest. Beside her was an empty space, and the flowers crushed, as if someone had been sitting there.

He stepped forward, reaching his hand out, when she plunged the weapon into herself.

"Chiisai!" He said.

She turned, her eyes wide. Blood gushed from the wound, a bright contrast to her clothes. She staggered to her feet, immediately healing the hole in her side. "What...what are you doing here?" She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the pain evident on her face.

He jogged up to her. Her chakra was nowhere to be seen. He studied her face, and her reddened nose, and the tears that had yet to dry. "You passed out, and I was worried." He glanced around the area and asked, "What happened?"

She frowned and extended her hand. "How do I know you're you?"

Kakashi stopped, and realized it would make sense for her to think that. "You think I'm your chakra trying to kill you?"

"Possibly." She crossed her arms and asked, "What were we doing before I passed out?"

"Trying to convince Asuma and Kurenai that we weren't dating," he said. "We were at Yakiniku Q. We split the short rib and beef tips, with a side of eggplant and braised potatoes."

She held up her finger, paused, and then said, "That was oddly specific. Alright then, how many push-ups did you do with your left hand earlier?"

"One hundred and five. And I ordered green tea at the coffee shop. You're at the part of your book where the protagonist meets his love interest, and he's supposed to assassinate her."

"Alright," she nodded. "I actually didn't know how many push-ups you did, but that sounds legit."

I didn't expect to see you here, a voice said. It came from all directions, and Kakashi was quick to pull his headband up. He stepped in front of Chiisai, a kunai manifesting in his hand.

Around him, the field of irises withered and turned to ash around them. It cluttered the air, making it difficult to breathe.

This had been a poor idea from the start. He had let his worry for Chiisai outweigh all logic, and now, he had practically walked into the enemy's doorstep.

Did you think she was in trouble? You know, she has a bad reputation when it comes to those who possess the Sharingan eyes.

Kakashi saw the network of chakra appear out of nowhere as Chiisai's seal rose from her mind. The door was cracked even more than the last time he had seen it.

The man who stepped forward had the same hair as Chiisai. His dark eyes were hard, his posture erect, and he smiled as he said, I told you you weren't welcome here, boy.

It was the spitting image of Kuroi, and he walked forward like a living memory.

Chiisai had been right by her hypothesis, and a wave of anger swept over him at the sight of Kuroi.

Shurikens and kunais appeared and whirled through the air towards Kakashi and Chiisai. Kakashi deflected each one with his own. Chiisai extended her hand, and the rest dissolved.

Don't pretend. Kuroi inclined his head towards Kakashi. I know she showed you how this world works, how your Sharingan can see through my illusions. Did you think I was trapped behind the seal then?

He laughed and took another step forward. Did you know that every time my daughter slipped into the dream world, I was able to follow? She was smart to not fall back asleep, but I'm afraid it's too late.

"What did you do?" Chiisai said, her voice hard.

I convinced several ninja that the Leaf has a new weapon, a particular librarian with seemingly little ninja prowess. They're practically here.

Kakashi's eyes widened, and he and Chiisai exchanged glances. This wasn't good. He needed to get out-

Cords of chakra shot out of Kuroi's hands, and Kakashi was quick to form his lightning blade. He slashed through each cord of chakra, but it didn't relent, and Kakashi was left on defense.

Chiisai appeared behind Kuroi and made several handsigns. He flickered out of her reach as she blasted fire from her mouth.

She extended her hand, and a portal appeared again. Kakashi lunged toward it, but suddenly, metal bars rose from the ground, blocking the exit.

It's too late for that, Kuroi said.

Kuroi summoned a shadow clone, and Kakashi grit his teeth as one lashed out with more cords of chakra. It wasn't something he could obliterate with his Sharingan, and he leaped out of their range, dodging each one.

The cords crashed into the ground, and as the reared back, memories burst forth, as if yanked from the depths of Chiisai's mind.

A younger Chiisai yelled, "Stop this!"

Images appeared like ghosts of the past. Her father gripped her by the hair, forcing her back. "You've figured out how to break my genjutsu," he said. "You've been practicing."

Kakashi dodged another wave of sizzling chakra as he saw the young Chiisai on the receiving end of a hard slap. Kuroi's large hands curled around her throat, and she wriggled against him like a worm on a hook. Her strangled noises reverberated in the hollowness of Chiisai's mind, and anger boiled inside Kakashi, rising to the surface.

"You did that to your own daughter," Kakashi growled. "How could you do such a thing?"

Kuroi replied, She was a useful tool for a time. And like any tool after much use, she became blunt and ineffective. I only sharpened her edges, making her efficient again.

Kakashi glanced at Chiisai, who currently battled the other Kuroi. She was keeping up with him, using her massive chakra to her advantage, and using Kakashi as a buffer between her and her seal.

But she was seeing the memories too, and she was beginning to falter being faced with her past.

Then Kakashi thought of Haku, and Zabuza, and looked at the ghost of Chiisai's father. He realized that even Zabuza, the demon of the mist, had more compassion than the thing that stood in front of him.

Kuroi smiled and lunged at Kakashi. You don't agree, do you?

"I think you're a monster, and we're going to take you down," Kakashi said, his voice low.

Let's see you try.

He activated his chidori once more and met Kuroi head on. 30 more seconds, that's all he had left. He needed to warn Chiisai.

The sound of a thousand birds rippled throughout her mind. Kuroi lashed out with his chakra cords, and at the last second, Kakashi dove straight to him, slicing through the cords and landing a definite blow to the man.

Kuroi's body twitched, and he struggled for breath.

You think you've won? I'm dead- I don't have a heart.

The man shrunk in stature, and suddenly, Kakashi saw familiar purple face markings, and wide brown eyes trimmed in pain. Her small hand curled around Kakashi's wrist, and blood trickled out of her mouth.

"Ka...kashi," Rin whispered.

Kakashi froze, taking in the sight of her. Rin, his comrade, his teammate, dying by his own hand. It was happening all over again.

"Kakashi!" Chiisai yelled.

But her voice was lost in the sound of his chidori. Kakashi's hand shook, and tears welled in his eyes. He grabbed onto Rin's frame and yanked his arm out. His hand was covered in her blood, and his vision blurred.

"No," he breathed.

And then Rin latched on to him, smiled, and shoved him into Chiisai's seal.

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Chiisai's eyes widened as she flickered towards Kakashi. It was too late, and Kakashi was gone. The door was solid, the path blocked.

She pressed her head to the seal and slammed her fist against the door. "Kakashi!" She yelled. "Give him back!"

You want him back? Break the seal.

Wisps of chakra floated around her like ink in water, and her father's voice echoed around her. What better way to hurt you, then to hurt him? He'll be the first one subjected to what I have in store for the village.

Her knuckles were white as she slammed her fist into the seal. It didn't give, and she said, "What are you going to do to him?"

He'll relive his worst-nightmares and memories, over and over. Have you noticed he doesn't scream? Not even when getting stabbed by your Uchiha friend. It's rather disappointing.

"Please," she said, shaking her head, "don't do this!"

I told you what I wanted, Small Crow. Release me, and you get the White Fang's son back. Maybe when I get bored with him, I'll kill him, and let his body rot as you let mine rot. Or perhaps his chakra will give out first. His Sharingan can only repel me so much.

She sank to the ground, and pressed her forehead into the seal. Tears streamed down her eyes.

If her seal broke, then her father would do this to all of the village. No one would be spared, not even Kakashi.

"How do I know you'll release him?" she asked. "How can I trust you?"

You can't.

Her nails dug into the palm of her hands. Her skin tore, and blood seeped from the wound. Chakra hovered around her, and the faint buzzing of the seal was the only thing heard. She blinked up at it, at the crumbled door, the outline of the seal. She committed each black mark, each curve, to memory.

Then she grit her teeth and slammed her bloodied hand onto the door, pouring her chakra into it.

"Give him back," she whispered and prayed. Her voice grew louder as she poured out her chakra, and she slammed her hand harder into the chained door, yelling, "Release!"

A crack resounded, and the ground shook. Chiisai staggered back as the chains on the door crumbled and fell, link by link. Light burst through the door, ripping each plank to wood chips as a dark laugh emanated from behind it.

The door burst apart, and Chiisai shielded her eyes as light shone through the opening. She blinked, and saw a shadow of a slumped body thrown her way. She recognized the outline of Kakashi's spiky hair, and she opened her arms, catching him, and they crashed to the ground.

Tears fell as she bent over him. His eyes were closed, and blood pooled around his closed Sharingan eye. His breathing was too labored, and Itachi's words echoed back to her. Chiisai pressed her hand to Kakashi's chest and did something she hadn't done since working under the Third.

She gave him what she could of her chakra. He was too weak, his chakra too spent, and he wouldn't last much longer. He was still seeing his nightmares too.

So she took that too, the sights, the sounds, the sorrow and loneliness- she absorbed all of it, and her chest clenched tightly in her chest. A sob escaped her, but she held firm, until every drop of his nightmares and memories vanished from his mind.

Tears fell and dropped onto his mask, and finally, he stirred.

"Chiisai?" His voice was ragged, and she found herself latching on to him, holding her against him. Her fingers dug into the buckles of his vest as her breathing became heavy.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I'm so, so sorry."

And with the last of her chakra, she dropped him back into his mind. The last thing she saw of Kakashi was his hand reaching for hers, his eyes brimmed with pain.

Kuroi stepped forward. Around him was a colorful aura of crimson chakra, and Chiisai didn't bother looking up at him. Kakashi was safe for now, and that was all that mattered.

She grunted as his nails dug into her scalp. He forced her head back, and smiled at the tears trailing down her cheeks. He bent low to her ear.

Was the entire village really worth one man's life?

Chiisai grit her teeth as she stared up at him. She didn't respond.

Kuroi only smiled. That's your problem. You care too much for others.

Cords shot out, latching onto  her, curling up and around each limb like vines. Chiisai cried out from the sizzling heat, and she pulled back when Kuroi summoned a kunai.

This one was made of pure chakra, and it glowed.

Kuroi looked down at the weapon in his hand and shrugged. I tried this on that "Farm Boy" of yours, but it only seems to work on you. Let me help you see the new reality I've created.

He plunged it deep into her gut, below her ribs. The air was pushed out of her from the impact, and pain blinded her vision as her body collapsed.

The cords were the only thing holding her up as he said, Time to wake up.