Every character written here is just part of my imagination to create this story. I DON'T OWN MASASHI KISHIMOTO'S NARUTO CHARACTERS! This is a complete FANFICTION. Thank you and enjoy!

Chapter1

The Mission

Aya walked past the Hokage's building and walked directly to Kakashi's apartment. She stared at it for a moment thinking what Kakashi could have been doing since it had been days when he left with Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji. So were Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato. Returning to the present, she then started to head back to the Hokage's office to where she was convened. As she walked more rapidly, she thought it always gives her an uneasy feeling when Kakashi was not around. She kept on walking, still with those thoughts in her head. As soon as she reached the office, she knocked onto the door, turned the door knob open without waiting for a reply, and went in.

"You called, Hokage-sama?" Aya said as she walked in, absentmindedly.

"Aya," the sixth Hokage, Tsunade, said, "I'm going to send you to your new mission."

Aya was silent for a moment.

"What kind of mission is it, Hokage-sama?"

Tsunade looked at the paper she was holding in her hand, and then looked back to her.

"An A-rank mission." she said, and then, paused for a while. "There had been rumors that Akatsuki is in the town of Silver." she continued.

"The town of Silver, huh? That's pretty much far from here." Aya said as she drifted off her mind. "Should I expect a teammate right now, Hokage-sama?"

"Yes, you do have one. Two of them actually."

Two? Wouldn't one jounin be enough for this mission? Well, it would have been two if Kakashi's here right now, she thought to herself. "Who is it then, Hokage-sama?"

"Well let's see." Tsunade said, while reading a piece of paper into her hand. "Your teammates will be Wataru and Akane. They are newly passed chuunins from the last chuunin exam. You need to go easy on them." She said the last sentence in attempt of putting some humor on it.

Hearing Tsunade's statement, she returned to the present. An A-rank mission? Akatsuki? But wouldn't it be wise to send jounins rather than chuunins? Aya started to object.

"I'll try my best." she said, smiling at her. "But Hokage-sama, it's an A-rank mission."

"I know. However, we're down to the last jounin and all that's left are the newly passed chuunins."

Tsunade looked at Aya, reading her. Knowing that Aya wasn't convinced by her answer, she started to explain further.

"So, when can I meet them?" Aya asked, cutting Tsunade off.

"Tsunade-sama already summoned them. They should be here any minute." Shizune said.

A knock on the door stopped their conversation. They all turned around to see who it was.

"Come in." Tsunade said.

"Sorry we're late Tsunade-sama." a cute young girl who wore a green ¾ sleeves and a high knee boots said as she came in through the office, smiling shyly. She was about thirteen or fourteen years old. Her hair was short and the color was dark red with a clip attached to her bangs, and a long ponytail tide neatly at her back. While her eyes were golden brown which suits her circular face perfectly.

"Aahhhh!" she exclaimed, hands tightly bound at her chest. "You're Sumire Aya. My name is Akane. It's a pleasure to meet you." she said, tilting her head down a bit.

Shocked, she smiled at her sweetly. "It's pleasure to meet you too, Akane." Aya said.

"Hey, Wataru, come on here." Akane said, shouting outside the door. A tall boy walked inside the office, surrounded with self-confidence. Aya was surprised to see him. He looked very familiar to her; it's as if she'd seen him already. "This is Wataru, my friend and teammate."

Aya looked at him for a moment, observing him. He had a red-orange spiky hair, almost the same as Naruto's; his eyes were emerald green, and a fresh band aid on the right cheek. It was pretty obvious he recently got into a fight. He wore a black turtle neck shirt with Konoha's green vest and his forehead protector was placed at his forehead. No wonder he looked familiar, Aya knew him since he was about six years old. But, was his name Wataru? Also, probably he didn't remembered Aya since he didn't show any signs of identification.

"It's nice to meet you, Wataru." Aya said, reaching out her hand to him, pretending not to know him.

"Tsunade-sama, when will we leave for this mission?" Wataru said, ignoring Aya's hand while looking outside the window, his hands tucked in his pockets.

What a rude child, Aya thought, her hand still reaching out for him to take, but place it back to her side afterwards. He has changed. He used to be very kind and courteous. This kind of reminds me of someone, she added, smiling at the memories.

"Uhum." Shizune said in a loud voice.

Tsunade groaned.

Everyone turned to face Tsunade when she spoke, "Well then. Now that you're all here, I'm going to tell your mission." Tsunade said. After a short silence, she started again, "There had been rumors that Akatsuki is in the town of Silver." She then looked at Wataru and Akane. "Aya will be your taicho (captain) for this mission and you will be called Team Aya. You will listen to her every commands and plans. Understood?"

"Hai, Hokage-sama!" answered Akane, shoving Wataru to do the same.

"Team Aya, your mission is to find out if the rumors are true and report to me the current situation. And if possible, try to avoid any contact with them. Trying to fight them now without too much force will only bring to many casualties."

She said the word force as if she was disgusted by it. She then looked at Aya, waiting for her approval.

Aya nodded.

"Well then, it's better to start your mission right away." she said, looking to the three of them."

Aya and Akane nodded in unison, while Wataru continued to look at the outside window.

"You are now dismissed." Tsunade twitched, glaring at Wataru.

Wataru didn't seem to notice the Hokage's glare because he was still looking outside the window. What was out there that he kept on watching? Or maybe he's just not interested?

The three of them begin to walk out of the Hokage's office when Tsunade called Aya.

"That boy, Wataru," she started when Wataru and Akane were out of sight. "He's that boy, right?"

Aya looked straight at Tsunade's fierce look, and after a few seconds, she nodded. That boy, she said. That boy who…

"Senju Akito. Your…" Aya broke off, her head tilted down.

There was silence.

"Well then, Hokage-sama. I'll report to you as soon as we'll find anything."

"I know this is a suicidal mission; sending two under experienced chuunin in an A-rank mission."

Aya was quiet, not knowing what to say. If Kakashi would've been here he would say that it was going to be okay. That he would take care of them. But it was just her there.

"Hokage-sama, I will hold accountable for whatever this mission's outcome."

"I trust you."

She nodded for the last time then walked out at Tsunade's office, closing the door behind her.

"Are you sure about this, Hokage-sama?" Shizune asked Tsunade as soon as Aya was outside the office.

"I trust her." was all Tsunade could say.

"If only Kakashi-san were here."

"But he's not here." Tsunade said, her fierce look never leaving the window in front of her. "I know she could handle it."

From afar, she could see Akane waiting for her. She walked quietly and asked, "Akane?"

Akane jumped as she heared Aya's voice, oblivious, putting both her hands on her chest.

"That scared me!" She looked at Aya in awe.

Aya wasn't expecting that sudden response from Akane so she tap her shoulder's and said she didn't mean to scare her. Maybe she got used hiding her presence when she's not with Kakashi, even though they were in their hometown. Oh well, she can't help it! Hobbies are hobbies, she thought. They're just difficult to change.

"Well then, we'll meet at the main entrance after an hour, okay?" Aya said to her and started to leave. Akane held her arm that abruptly stopped her.

"Aya-taicho!" Akane said, as she tightly held her arm, voice trembling.

Aya stared at her, surprised again. Why does she always get surprised around Akane?

"I-I'm sorry about Wataru. He is not usually like that. He usually is kind and very cheerful. I hope you'd forgive him."

"I'm not angry at him Akane. Actually, I find him very amusing. He reminds me of someone I used to know." Aya said, trying to hold back a smile. "We have to go now and prepare for our mission."

She was silent, but after a while, she smiled.

"Hai, Aya-taicho!" Akane answered, gleefully, while letting go of her hand.

Akane turned to her right and went directly to her house to get ready for the said mission while waving her hand goodbye to Aya expecting to see Wataru with them later on. Aya waved back at her in her direction. Usually kind, huh? She said to herself. Wataru was kind, back in the days when everything was agreeable and understandable; back in the days when she was not yet hated by him.

Aya went to the other direction to do the same. She met Iruka half way, and gave each other a bow. She walked passed him when Iruka suddenly stopped her.

"Excuse me, Aya-sensei."

Aya glance at him, saying nothing at all.

"Ah, I'm sorry for stopping you so suddenly."

"Oh, no, I don't mind. What is it that you want to tell me, Iruka-sensei?"

"Well, it's about…" he paused, as if trying to decide to continue or not.

Aya waited. And waited. And waited.

"If you don't have anything to say, I'd rather take my leave now. I've got a mission to attend to." she said, trying so hard not to sound impolite. If he wanted to talk about something, it could be some other time. Right now, her mind is very hectic, thinking of a way how to let this mission succeed without any fail. Or casualties.

"It's about Wataru and Akane."

At that, she fully turned her attention to Iruka.

"What about them?" sounding clueless to what he was referring to.

He was silent again.

"Iruka-sensei?"

"I heard from Wataru on his way to his apartment that he and Akane were assigned to their very first mission."

Silence again. What is this eerie silence? Will he please stop it? Aya thought to herself.

"Please, bring them home safe." he said finally, smiling. His reluctant face was now gone and was replace by a face that of a parent telling a guardian to pat his child when he wasn't there.

Seeing Iruka's smiling face made Aya unsure how to respond. All she could say was "Okay". Then Iruka left her to where she stood. She was about to call Iruka and ask him what he really wanted to say but changed her mind. If it was important, then Iruka would've already told her instead of being reluctant in the first place.

Then she abruptly paused. What if it really was important? But what can she do in such a short time? In less than an hour, she needs to leave Konoha for a more significant assignment. She decided to put that on hold. It could wait, can't it?

On her way to the gate, she walked passed Kakashi's apartment and sighed. Oh how she missed him so. She then felt a blush on her face and shook the thought out of her head. Focus, focus, she said to herself. You're on an important mission, damn it!

After an hour, they met at the entrance gate, all set for the mission.

She was looking straight out the entrance gate of Konoha. Staring. Staring. Staring…

"Aya-taicho!" she heard Akane say.

"Let's move out." Aya said as she glanced to the two chuunins who were with her.