Welcome to my newest story: Regrets and Goodbyes. It's a rather solemn of Uchiha Kaede as grows from a chunin in the 3rd Great Ninja War to one of Konoha's most elite ninja. Follow Kaede as she struggles with her love for her comrade, his inability to return her feelings, and the surprising ways he shows up in her life. OC X Obito/Tobi

It was early afternoon. My mother was watching over my younger brother and his friend as they played. I smiled as I stood in the doorway watching over them.

My brother looked up at me and smiled.

"Kaede-nee! Will you play with me and Shisui?"

"Sorry, Itachi. I can't today. I'm going on an important mission."

"You're going to protect the village, right Kaede!"

"That's right, Shisui. I'm a strong Kunoichi. I'll protect the village with everything I've got. But while I'm gone, I need you two to look after the clan for me. Oka-san in pregnant, and I need you to look after her while Tou-san and I are out on missions. Promise me you'll look after her, won't you Itachi?"

"I promise, Nee-chan. Just come home safe, ok?"

I smiled at my four-year-old brother and his friend. "I promise."

"Itachi, don't bug your sister. She has to go now."

"Sorry Oka-san."

"Now run along and play with Shisui."

I hugged my brother and his friend. "Look after each other while I'm gone." Like every time before I left on a dangerous mission, I shed a silent tear, knowing this could be the last time I saw my dear little brother.

"Come home safe dear," my mother said as I hugged her.

"I'll do my best. Don't push yourself too hard, Oka-san. It's not good for the baby."

"Listen to you lecturing me like this is my first pregnancy."

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Be safe!"

I ran to the village gate, my long dark hair flowing behind me as I hurried. Like always, I'd spend too much time saying goodbye.

When I got the the gate, the team I'd be working with was waiting for me.

"Sorry I'm late," I said.

"Even Obito was here before you, Kaede," Kakashi said.

Obito and I made faces at the silver haired chunin.

"I was saying goodbye to my family. This is a dangerous mission. I don't know if I'm coming back. I refuse to die without giving my family a proper goodbye."

"Sorry if Obito and I don't have the same concerns."

I saw Obito flinch at Kakashi's cold remark, and I looked at the ground. Both of them were orphans, without families.

"Come on now," Minato-sensei said. "Be nice, Kakashi. Kaede was kind enough to volunteer to fill in for Rin while she's injured. Please make her feel welcomed on our team. She's an excellent medic. Now let's move out!"

"Hai Minato-sensei!" we all exclaimed.

This was an infiltrate and rescue mission, very dangerous for three chunin to take on, even when lead by a jonin. The daughter of the Land of Fire Daimyo had been kidnapped by shinobi from the Land of Earth. Our mission was to get her back.

"It will take us a few days to reach the place where they are keeping the Daimyo's daughter captive. Once we get there, here's the plan. Kaede, you will use your genjutsu to knock out the guards. Kakashi, Obito and I will take out any one else we come across. Once we find the girl, I will transport us back to Konoha with my space-time ninjutsu."

We all listened carefully to Minato-sensei's plan. It was extremely important that we pay attention; no doing so could mean certain death for not only one's self, but for the rest of the team as well.

That's all I have for you for this first chapter. I've started a new thing that another author, Yuri Tora, uses. It's a point system for reviews. Review for 3 points. Guess the answer to the question for 5. This weeks question is:

"What do you think will happen on the mission?"

It's generic, but a good starter question, I think. I already know what's going to happen, but I'd like to hear your thoughts and I might use them for missions down the road.

I'll post the next chapter next week on Wednesday

-To'M'L