Drace:: here's the remake! it's longer! stronger! and crosses fingers better than before! I think my beta died on me, so it hasn't be beta-ed...i'll have to go find another one! but I tried my best. Don't expect the next part soon! i was making my brian a squish messy place from wringing this out of my muses. They are quite dead as of now. let me know if you guys think this one is better or worse then the other one kay? suggestions are good!

Fox Trail

It should have just been another mission in a long list of them. Ibiki handed the mission to Mouse-sensei, and Caine was content to read over his shoulder. Sounded like a routine track-trick-trap job. Easy enough for the two 'RAT' ANBU agents.

It wasn't until they met with the other three members of the team they would be working with that the mission went, unpleasant.

Naruto, or as his ANBU name denoted, Caine, was in a comfortable crouch just at the base of a tree waiting with Mouse-sensei. Mouse-sensei was doing some light stretches for the upcoming hunt just a few meters before him. The two were talking softly about possible plans to capture the target documents without having to get involved with the shinobi protection the civilian had hired to guard himself and said files.

"Hey Mouse, Caine, looks like I'm with you two again huh?" came a gruff male voice from downwind, position seven o'clock. Naruto nodded fairly pleased that they were going to have Hyuuga Shiro, or Owl, as their long-ranger. The guy was good, and Mouse-sensei and Naruto had both worked with him on numerous other missions.

Owl leaned against a tree right of Naruto. He then started to talk to Mouse-sensei about the last mission that the three of them had been on. Naruto listened to his elder RAT discuss some of the ways they could of handled it better in reflection on what had happened. Naruto popped in his own comments and reflections and was pleased when Owl told him that his idea, while not normal to think of, probably would have been a good one. Mouse-sensei chuckled and agreed.

It was as the three of them had just gotten into a good debate over what was more useful, wires or exploding tags when the last two members showed up.

Dove, a medic-nin that often worked with RAT agents, and... and Wolf. The Copy-nin Hatake Kakashi. Naruto's former jonin-sensei.

Naruto couldn't describe the feeling that twittered in his stomach as he stood up and faced the two newcomers. A twisting nervousness that made no real sense as he stood there under their gaze. His gaze.

Dimly, Naruto heard Mouse-sensei give a brief rundown of what the plan was going to be for the mission. Yet, Naruto couldn't, for the life of him concentrate on his words. He was looking at Kakashi and trying to figure out what to say to him. In the end, it wasn't he who spoke first.

"Oi, Mouse, is the gaki over there necessary? He looks like he'll just slow us down. I would have thought this would only be a four man team, not a five man team." the drawl was sharp and biting. Naruto felt... abandoned.

Necessary? Did Kakashi not think he could do a simple mission? He had done missions like this one before. He'd done something very much like this solo about four months ago when RAT agents were spread thin. It was then that the temper Naruto had long learned to control flared.

Necessary! Who the hell did he think he was!? Naruto could do this mission alone thank-you-very-friggin-much! Don't need some shit load of jutsu to do it either! Why not tell Kakashi to go do some other mission if he is OH! So important! Mouse-sensei could track too! Hell! Hound-sensei had taught him, him! Naruto! How to track down an objective better than most dog summons! Or Hunter-nin!

Naruto couldn't reign in his temper quick enough to stop the snappish words that hiss off his tongue in wake of his anger and Kakashi's words.

"I'm sure the great Copy-nin is right, we should just let him leave and go do it all himself. Wouldn't want to waste the famous Hatake's time. After all we meager ones who have the same rank as he are by far less impressive! Why! We should just face the fact that the Copy-nin can handle ALL!! the damn missions to be done! Hell! The man IS a legend." the waspish words flew out and stung without thought.

Naruto wanted to flinch. Dammit. Look at what he had done now! He just acted exactly like the child Kakashi had claimed him to be! Mouse-sensei was going to be disappointed that he couldn't even keep his head in face of a few words said by one man.

Owl looked back and forth between Naruto and Kakashi, as though he was trying to figure out where the hell that came from. Naruto felt his face burning in shame, Owl had also just witnessed that childish display! Dove too! God dammit! How dare Kakashi pop up and ruin the place he had found among these people! He just lost their respect because of his damn temper at Kakashi's usual 'last class' view of him. Dammit!

"...It would seem that you and Caine do not get well on Wolf. Have you had missions together before where something incurred?" Mouse-sensei asked mildly. Naruto had to resist hanging his head in shame. There was no good reason for that display.

"No, I've never met the brat before, if this is how he acts I'll count myself lucky." Kakashi responded coldly.

"Then you don't know what he is capable of Wolf. Keep that in mind. For all your words of looking underneath, you seem to preach what you don't do yourself. Caine is a most capable RAT and CAT agent. You would do well to give respect to receive it." Mouse-sensei responded with a tight clipped tone.

"Mouse-sensei, the fault is mine. Temper has always been my slight. It will not happen again. I will simply keep any hang ups for the face and not the mask." Naruto intoned. He would not let Kakashi make him into that old clown dead last. He was a good RAT and CAT agent! And dammit! He would be a professional while he wore his mask!

Mouse-sensei nodded, to him then motioned for all of them to begin to hunt down their target. Kakashi was the tracker, so he went to lead. Naruto worked harder at wrapping his 'face' under his 'mask'. Uzumaki Naruto had no place using the mouth of Caine, RAT and CAT ANBU.

"...is all well Caine?" Mouse-sensei asked softly as the two of them held the rear position. Dove and Owl not far ahead, and kakashi farther ahead of them. Naruto gave a slight nod.

"Yeah... it's just. It's just a 'face' hang up Mouse-sensei, sorry if I disappointed you with that stupid fit. It wont ever happen again." Mouse-sensei was quiet for a long time before he answered.

"...sometimes... sometimes we need to bite back at those who bite first. If only to remind them, that we too have teeth. I was not disappointed. You are more than capable of doing this mission solo, if it weren't for the fact we are dealing with highly sensitive documents, and deep into an un-allied area I would expect Ibiki would have given it to you for a solo mission. It's rare for a RAT agent to also double as a CAT agent. You have come a long way. If Wolf cannot view you as the man you are, then he needs to have his ass handed to him." Naruto had a feeling his RAT-sensei was smiling at him with that last bit.

Naruto gave a nod to his sensei, and felt the tight knot that had grown in his chest ease. He didn't need to prove to anyone he was a good agent. He knew he was, and his mission records showed he was. Hell, anyone who had worked with him said he was good! Kakashi was just a blind genius. Naruto felt a sour twist of his lips. Seemed that Genius equaled arrogance and personal stupidity.

With a shake of his head, Naruto looked ahead again, and narrowed his eyes slightly on the figure leading them. He'd just treat Kakashi like he would any other ANBU he worked with. Just a mask. Just a mask name. No person beneath. That was the way RATs looked and worked with each other. Uzumaki Naruto wasn't here Kakashi, just Caine. And Caine doesn't give a shit who you are! Believe it!

With a feral grin on his lips, Naruto nodded once more to Mouse-sensei before moving his pace to catch up with Owl to see if he wanted to range some.