Fill in the Blanks (19.5)

Kakashi was a cool and composed dude. He knew influence was a major factor in Team 7. With Akina somehow moderating the fights between Naruto and Sasuke, he was fine. 

Hell, he didn't even feel like a sensei.

He thought Team 7 would fail like the others and he was almost right- except he forgot to consider a little factor namely the Senju Uchiha.

And then his normal world gets turned upside down.

He gets to know that she can see the future and has someone living inside her head- with a sadistic attitude.

Nope, not creepy at all.

He didn't know what the Sandaime was thinking. He himself wasn't emotionally stable. How would he take care of four genin?

Too scared he never even thought about teaching them any jutsu until he was pressurized into it. Even then he thought he'd teach them just a few simple ones to make them somewhat prepared.

Then Akina dropped the bomb about an incoming war during a C turned A ranked mission ever so subtly. Akina knew how to motivate others, manipulate them slowly not enough for others to notice.

After all he'd seen how Sasuke and Naruto had improved their rivalry, slowly talking to them with the voice of reason. They trusted her.

She winked. "I can see the future after all. You guys might want to strengthen your bonds before you're dead."

She used their weaknesses to their play and unknowingly to hers as well.

Naruto - an orphan who craves love and affection- "I want to become the Hokage!"

Sasuke - an orphan whose family got taken away from him - "I'll kill Itachi and avenge my clan."

Needless to say they didn't want to lose anyone. That very fear is what Akina used to keep them on their feet- cherishing bonds and keeping their team together. That was sneaky, yet effective.

The fights had reduced and they still had a rivalry but, it was healthier than before.

Sakura had grown up too. Kakashi had seen the way the pinkette's eyes would follow hers. She admired her.

Hell, Kakashi didn't notice the change within himself until Asuma mentioned it.

"Kakashi, you've been training your team harder than before huh? Good to know you won't ditch them and are showing human emotions." Asuma laughed and that's when Kakashi realized all these little things.

Akina used the fear of another shinobi war to make him tick. 

Kakashi didn't even want to know what was going on that psychic little head of hers.

He felt like he was in his old genin team all over again. He really had to give Minato the props especially since he now knew how his sensei would've felt.

Sasuke was a little brooding version of him. Naruto was definitely Obito and Sakura was Rin, admiring her crush, Sasuke far from a distance keeping quiet.

Akina was a different case altogether.

She was mature and childish but she barely showed her childish side. She was responsible yet so careless- showing up late for missions and unashamedly reading Icha Icha in public. Kakashi blamed himself for that one.

Deep inside he had a thought - How could the Sandaime trust her with the world's fate? He disagreed with his principles and he knew the others did too.

"What's the case with Akina chan Kakashi senpai?" Tenzou asked.

"She's holding it together."

"I must say the Sandaime is a great man- but I can't help but think he's made a wrong decision." Inoichi said.

Shikaku hummed as he played a shogi match against Chouza who was horribly failing.

"It will not end well. Especially with that girl in her head. Time and knowledge is a tricky thing. Play it to your advantages, you win." He moved a shogi piece. Chouza moved another.

"One step wrong and the whole battle will be lost." He smiled in victory as Chouza sighed expecting another loss.

Chouza shook his head. "Chouji told me about her. The will of fire will go out if she won't rely on anyone."

"But Hokage sama won't let us intervene." Tenzou said.

Kakashi sighed. "And neither will Akina. She wants to keep us safe on her own accord no matter the price."

Inoichi frowned. "This is going to damage her psychologically."

He knew Akina would have tough decisions to make for someone at her age. He had an intuition- a feeling that something was going to go wrong and that their team would be at the center of it all.

If only he would've acted sooner. If only he could've somehow prevented it. But what would he tell a psychic something she already didn't know?

He felt guilt and his bad feeling grew worse and worse especially after the Sandaime's death and Akina's breakdown.

What he didn't know that Akina after the Sandaime's death would throw herself into a pit of darkness- only Sasuke and Naruto being her light. No one could reach her and for a glimpse Kakashi saw his younger self in ROOT blaming himself for everyone's death.

Who knew Akina would ****** ******* ******* ****** ** ******* ***** *******, ****** and ******?

And that was just the beginning of the atrocious acts she was going to commit. She did it all with a smile making people believe that she did it just for fun.

Sasuke and Naruto saw her through her broken mask. They tried saving her yet she only sent them a small smile waving their hands away, denying their help and running away.

"I'll protect you all." She said her eyes burning with fierce passion and determination.

"I'll protect you all." She now said her eyes filled with despair and accepted truth, her eyes glistening with determination yet a much more profound sadness. She brought it upon herself and she accepted it. Self sacrifice is worth it if you protect your loved ones. But she forgot to consider how selfish, how cruel she really was in hiding the truth which only caused her teammates anger and pain. Later on Kakashi blamed the Sandaime. For the Uchihas fate and his student. 

"Let us help you." - Itachi Uchiha

"Its my burden Itachi, not yours. You have done enough." - Her answer.

"Who will protect you if you protect us?" Sasuke asked, glaring into her eyes. He screamed 'I hate you' at her yet she only smiled. His eyes spoke differently.

"I love you all."

"Akina chan, come back to Konoha. Obaa chan will forgive you." Pleaded Naruto.

"I don't deserve forgiveness for all the sins I've done. Naruto, I've killed innocent people for fun. Do you hate me now?"

Naruto took a step back and she regained her cold look. "I thought so."

Kakashi stepped forward. "Which side are you truly on? Who will protect you?"

She remained silent. 

Kakashi noticed it each time he battled her. Her flame- her will of fire- her determination fading away slowly. She was being corrupted by Ita*** yet she never realized. And neither did anyone else.

After all, Kakashi tried. 

Yet in the end, he felt like a failure all over again. 

Present Day (one week before Chunin Exams)

"What is it, Hokage sama?" Inoichi asked as he came in.

The Sandaime nodded at him. "Akina has informed me about everything going to happen soon. I'll take care of it. You on the other hand.." 

"What?"

"You have to remove the memories of everything you saw that day from everyone's mind. It will be safer and the percentile of success will increase drastically."

"But she will face the burden alone! She's too young Hokag-"

"Enough!" 

"Do as I say, Inoichi. She will manage it." The Hokage stood up and looked outside.

With a stiff bow Inoichi excused himself. He'd never been one to question the Hokage's orders but now he was doing it all for a 12 year old. He'd remove it alright but from everyone except Kakashi and Tenzou.

He imagined Ino with this burden and his chest tightened. 

Did Kana and Daichi know about her power?

And remove the memories he did. The Ino-Shika-Cho members knew nothing about Akina's power anymore. They entrusted it to Kakashi and Tenzou.

Everything remained as it is until the Chunin Exams. 

Akina smiled sadly as she sat on the roof with Sasuke next to her. The plan was set, but will it work?

How was this for fluff?

Next up: The Chunin Exams. The arc is ending! :D