Chapter 1: Departure

It was a sunny day in Konoha. "Well, I'm off to the Hokage's place, she has another S-ranked mission for me to do." sighed Kakashi as he rolled his eyes. "Be careful and stop complaining." said Anko as she kissed him lightly on the cheek. When the door shut, Anko was rummaging through the fridge for some breakfast. She grabbed the orange juice but then got a sick feeing in her stomach and set it back down. "Man I don't feel so good, it must have been those two month old dumplings I ate last night. But…even if I have a stomach of steel, I would never, ever in a bazillion years get, sick from DUNPLINGS, even if they are two months old." She thought. Then the sick feeling in her stomach intensified and she stumbled to the bathroom with her hand over her mouth. A couple minuets later, she opened the door and walked out. "Ahh…well what ever was in me is out. It's only 11 am, so I guess I will go back to bed. As she walked down the hall, a sensation took over her body. "This is the biggest craving I have ever had for dumplings….and chocolate? I must be really sick 'cause I hate chocolate." Thought Anko and she went and changed her clothes, and a couple seconds later, she emerged from her bedroom. She threw on her trench coat and with one foot out the door had a second thought, "You know, I really should bring those files to Lady Tsunade….Nah I don't think she will mind if I bring then to her later." And she shut the door.

Meanwhile in Lady Tsunade's office Kakashi strolled in late (as usual). "Kakashi! You are late!! AGAIN!!!" screamed Lady Tsunade. "I'm sorry, Lady Tsunade, but I wandered from the path of life." He lied. "Sorry is right, and also you have used that 'path of life' crap on me twice already this week, what's with you?" She asked. " U-um Lady Tsunade the mission?" reminded Shizune. "Right, listen to me Kakashi, I'm sending you on a reconnaissance mission with Yamato and two other jounin. This mission is a lengthy one and may take up to ten months minimum. You will be in and out of many different villages in this time period. You will have time and money to rest, get medical treatment, restock your supplies and recive the lastest information from numerous shinobi, that are waiting for your arrival. So pack everything necessary, stick to the schedual, and remember this is an S-ranked mission so this I guarantee will be dan….KAKASHI HATAKE, ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?!!!" screamed Tsunade. "Oh sorry I was thinking about Anko, she's been acting a bit…..different lately." He confessed. "How so? It's the curse mark isn't?" she asked adding pressure to each question. "No, no it's just, her eating habits have changed considerably (she eats like 24.7 even more than I have recalled), She's gaining weight like crazy (not that it matters), she is beginning to have mood swings all the time (one second she is all happy and the next she is all angry and yelling at me for nothing! It's really annoying!) And she started puking every morning since…one, two, three…yes, three weeks ago (it's what has been waking me up for the past two weeks, care to notice the bags under my eyes? Yup didn't think so…)." explained Kakashi. "Oh I see." Smiled Lady Tsunade. "I was wondering Lady Tsunade, if it isn't any trouble for you, could you keep and eye on her for me? It would mean a lot to me." Asked Kakashi nicely as a little halo appeard above his head (Lol yeah right!) "Huh, putting someone else first instead of his deliberate lack of concern towards the outcome of the mission, he really is loosing it." mumbled Tsunade. "Or he really cares about Anko." Suggested Shizune. "Very well I guess I will look after her for you, but in return you must complete the mission correctly. Oh and a word of advice, try not to die. I think you will want to be here when you have completed this mission." smiled Tsunade. "Why?" asked Kakashi. "Ah…Never mind, good luck is all I meant. Oh, and don't worry Anko will be fine." Reassured Lady Tsunade with a fake smile. Kakashi smiled back at her, actually having believed her, and he exitied the room. When the door shut, Lady Tsunade's so-called smile vanished and she smirked, "Kakashi and Anko? Not in a million years!"