Hello there!

This is a story I found the other day while clearing files out of my computer. It is from a few years ago when I used to write often, before I took a hiatus. I went back through and edited it to the best of my ability. I remember where I was going with the story, since I had only written the one chapter (that I am now splitting into 2), and thought it would be fun to continue. This story will come second to my current Fic entitled In the End. It will be updated monthly instead of weekly like the other one.

The first chapter is to set up to the story and the second will contain more detail as to how this knew shinobi system works. It was originally inspired by a binge watching marathon of X-men. I thought it would be cool if in the modern day Konoha, where chakra control was rare and unique; those who possessed it would have to attend a secret academy with those like them. Though instead of hiding from the government and the larger population they are training to join it yet kept secret from the public. Thus the populous is unaware of the existence of Shinobi and those with high level security clearance would be the only ones privy to it.

This Fic is rated T for language and violence at the moment though this will most likely change to M

I do not own Naruto.

Reviews both appreciated and welcome

Important: when I originally wrote this I was under the impression the age difference between Sakura and Kakashi was a little over 10 years. I know now it is not but for the sake of this story I am keeping it. If you can't handle my other fic has their correct age difference of 14 years.

Chapter 1

Preamble to Death

Kakashi Hatake was restless.

He had been on this mission for exactly three weeks and had tracked his target through 5 counties. Leading him to the spot in which he has sat for the last two days; starring at a huge facility out in the middle of a field in the middle of a valley in the Southeast province of The People's Republic of Iwa.

Kakashi's current target was the infamous Orochimaru, who once headed the research and development department for Fire Country's Elite forces. That was until Orochimaru betrayed them10 years ago, fleeing with the country's secrets and technology to sell.

Their current Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi-sama has been tracking Orochimaru for years, only ever following a small paper trail and empty past used safe houses. The man was a ghost, no one had actually seen him in 7 years and if it wasn't for the report that showed up on Sarutobi-sama's desk 3 weeks ago no one would have still.

The report stated a sighting of Orochimaru in the Democratic States of the Wave. Where he was seen with the country's leading scientist Mishi Yama. Before this sighting there were only whispers of his existence; deals done, information exchanged but he was never present. Some said he had died and the only thing left was the Organization called Oto he spent the last 15 years creating.

Now that he was in the open for the first time in 7 years; a lot of questions and concerns were being raised; Why now? What were his plans? Why Wave country? Sarutobi-sama was unsettled. Knowing he would not stay above ground for long, he sent his best tracker and all-around skilled Jonin of both the Elite forces and The Intelligent Agency to apprehend Orochimaru; Kakashi Hatake.

Kakashi had arrived in the Democratic States of the Wave only 27 hours after the initial sighting but he was already too late. Orochimaru had already fled with Mishi Yama, Wave country's intelligence, and an experiment that the Elite Forces (shinobi) of the Wave would not disclose to him.

At least the Wave country was not in league with Orochimaru as feared; just their top Scientist. Kakashi sarcastically reflected.

Mishi Yama was a 30 year old female civilian that led the research lab for the Wave elite forces or E.F. and intelligence agency or I.A.. This was rare for a civilian to do; as it usually was controlled by a shinobi; but Wave could not deny her skills and intelligence and thus allowed her the positon. She had held it for the past 3 years; during which time she made great strides in chakra application and research; though she herself did not possess chakra she was one of the best to understand it.

Though Wave country Shinobi would not tell Kakashi what Mishi had taken with her when she left with Orochimaru, they did inform him that she acted alone. That one week ago she presented the ideal to the council of joining with Orochimaru to further the Waves power and influence only to be shut down and investigated. Mishi fled later that week with Orochimaru, the investigation found she had been working with him for 2 years and that he had been hiding within Wave for the past year.

Kakashi could see how angry the E.F. were and knew the betrayal ran deeper than just Mishi Yama. The Wave was collecting up all the pieces and hoped to avoid any skirmishes over this with Fire country thus they would inform Kakashi and his Hokage of all relevant information and would be in contact. With that Kakashi followed on Orochimaru's trail with the few clues the Wave gave him.

Three weeks later he was up a tree holding a set of binoculars staring at an empty bio facility but for some reason his gut would not let him move on. Kakashi had come across a few empty facilities and safe houses over the last three weeks and had moved on after a few hour investigation but this one was different; the barrier seal was too intricate for him to break. The trail also had ended here; everything was pointing to Orochimaru being inside that building and yet after 2 days of recon Kakashi had nothing.

Kakashi shifted slightly in his perch adjusting the binoculars and checking his watch which read 14:00. He decided he would give it till sunset before he called in for official backup to watch the place so he could attempt to find the trail again. He knew calling to break the seal would be futile as only a fuinjutsu master could and Konoha only had one and they were needed to keep up the barriers to protect the city.

Then he saw it; a flash of pink. Kakashi was surprised to see a young girl with pink hair in the field before the building, seemingly appearing from nowhere. His wait was over and he knew it; his gut had never failed him. Kakashi took another look at her; she was probably around 12, maybe 11 since she was pretty short. She wore some variant of ninja gear with a Katana strapped to her side. She looked bored but alert; constantly scanning the area.

Kakashi did not strike; not yet. Not until he grasped the situation better. She looked like she was waiting and Kakashi hoped it was for Orochimaru. Then he heard it, the distinct sound of cars coming up from the 3 km long dirt road behind him.

He listened hard; it sounded like two SUVs and by the way the tires dug into the ground more, they must be carrying something heavy or most likely full of large men. Out of his peripheral he saw the girl perk up but stay in a defensive stance.

This must be what she was waiting for. I need to take stock of the situation to see how I should approach. If Orochimaru is present I must not let him escape. Kakashi thought.

Within 2 minutes the two black SUVs had rolled up to the facility. As the doors opened to the cars, 8 men filed out of the second car; all dressed in reinforced suits.

Shinobi Kakashi thought.

Out of the front car 6 men filed out dressed the same as the other car but one seemed to be larger and barking orders.

Their commander.

Then Kakashi saw her, Mishi Yama, she exited out of the passenger side of the first car and wandered up to the pinkette. Kakashi waited; the cars were empty now as 10 of the men walked over to the facility quickly making the release pattern for the barrier that Kakashi made sure to memorize.

Orochimaru is not in the cars, then is he in the building like I originally thought? I can't make a move until I am sure.

Kakashi waited; devising several plans depending on a few varying factors. The 10 men that approached the facility had been busy strategically placing explosive tags while 4 of the men remained at the cars ready for any outside threats. This settled it for Kakashi; Orochimaru was not present; not in the building nor the cars.

Fuck! He mentally berated himself. Two days wasted…. Think, think, think! I can't come back empty handed; not when I was that close. The closes anyone has been in years.

Kakashi sat there running through his plans. Ah! I got it. The answer was their the whole time: Mishi Yama. She will lead him back to Orochimaru.

Kakashi looked down and over the group from his high perch in the tree. He would start with the cars; frying their engines, making escaping with them impossible. The four by the cars would not be that difficult he reasoned, not with surprise on his side. Several well placed Chidori in combination with a sand pit jutsu should take care of it, and any who got away would be taken down with his kunai.

It was the 10 men by the building that would cause a bit more issue but it was not impossible. Kakashi would set the explosive tags off before the men had a chance to get away from the blast zone trapping them with his water wall and thus insuring the flames would not reach him.

It was the young pinkette that was the wild card; just by his observation she looked about Chunin level and probably relied solely on kenjutsu (swordsmanship). The explosion should throw her off giving him enough time to capture Mishi. Kakashi made 2 clones and then got to work.

Everything went off without a hitch. All 14 men were down within minutes leaving a very frightened looking Mishi and the little pinkette. The pinkette had stayed strong and when the first man hit the ground she had already entered a fighting stance in front of Mishi to block all attacks on her.

Kakashi was impressed; the girl barely blinked at the slaughter in front of her. By the time the water wall and explosions went off Kakashi saw the shift in the pinkette; she must have realized it was a lost cause; that the men would be defeated so she grabbed Mishi and made a break for it to the woods in the opposite direction of the dirt road.

The pinkette tugging Mishi –san along had made it to the tree line, a half a kilometer away, before Kakashi was able to pursue. The Commander was S-class and had given him more trouble but eventually met his fate. Kakashi was in pursuit catching up to them within minutes since the pinkette was stuck lugging around a frightened civilian.

The little girl stopped as Kakashi neared throwing Mishi-san behind her and drawing her long Katana. She was resolved to fight and Kakashi saw no harm in amusing her.

She was fast and agile. Kakashi was again impressed. The pinkette had Jonin level taijutsu and kenjutsu skills. Orochimaru had trained her well.

The fighting had been going on for about five minutes. He had stood back and let his clone test out her skills when he sensed a shift, the gir'ls movement had been swift before but now they were choppy.

Fuck! A genjutsu. She must have known it was a clone and went after me. When did I get so damn complacent?

Kakashi thought back on it, she had 2 minutes on him based on how the fight had developed. He quickly released and followed after the pinkette. He was glad she was slowed down by Mishi-san otherwise her speed would put her at an advantage.

The little pinkette is a lot more skilled then I thought. Sensei used to joke hubris would be my downfall, damn he was right. I have never underestimated anyone like this before. Her skill level is still manageable by mine so it is not that big of an issue. I just need to stop playing with my prey and just finish this.

Though if we met under different circumstance I would want to test some more boundaries of her skills. Her genjutsu, though simple, the execution makes it Jonin level as well. That leaves her ninjutsu yet untested but if I can glean anything off of this pinkette it is her tracking abilities are her weak spot based on how easy it is to follow her.

Kakashi had caught up to her and Mishi-san again and the fight resumed. This fight Kakashi made sure to not go as easy on her but he still did not use all of his advance knowledge and skill. Though the sharingan had been revealed making the girl falter for a moment.

Kakashi took advantage of the opening; when at the last moment she did four backflips away from him to the ever frightened Mishi-san all while avoiding multiple kunai. One of the kunai that was deflected by the pinkette's armored boots made its way into Mishi's thigh. The woman screamed.

"That's enough" Kakashi spoke sternly. "There is no way of getting out of this, just lay down your weapon hand yourself and Mishi-san over to me."

The girl looked troubled; he could see her going over her options, working out strategy but before he could see her reach an answer Mishi interrupted her thoughts.

"Sakura!" Mishi wailed in pain and frustration. The pinkette now dubbed Sakura turned to allow for Mishi to be in her peripheral all the while still looking at Kakashi. The woman continued to speak but in no language Kakashi knew; he still memorized what was said with his sharingan to show the coding department later.

As Mishi spoke in a hushed and forced soothing tone the Pinkette stiffened, several unnamed emotions filtered over her face with the last one being resignation. DuringMishi's speech Kakashi had made a clone and it was currently sneaking up behind the two women that were facing him. Kakashi new this was about to be over.

Right before the clone could make his stealth recovery of Mishi, Sakura with lightning speed jumped behind the kneeling Mishi, her katana drawn. With a slight nod from Mishi the young girl cut Mishi's head off. Blood sprayed and the head rolled to the ground. As the body began to drop the pinkette wasted no time continuing her escape.

Kakashi was stunned for a second. His clone had grabbed Mishi's body.

Kakashi motioned to his clone, "Stay with the body I will go get the girl." The clone only nodded.

Now the chase was on, the girl no longer weighed down by Mishi was moving at breakneck speed towards the mountains ahead. Kakashi was pissed; pissed at himself for letting things happen like this. The only kernel of hope was the girl's stealth abilities were less advanced then her other. Not to say that they still were pretty impressive.

Kakashi tracked her and finally caught her at the ascent up to the mountains, a terrain he did not want to enter in this chase.

The girl cursed loudly as she knew he had her. She was visibly tired and low on chakra. A quick but ultimately futile fight began and ended with her in chakra restraints.

"Fuck I was so close. If I had only gotten within the range I could have lost you. No one can track in there." she bellowed

Kakashi chuckled and gave a little eye crinkle, "That's not true young lady, even in there I could track you." He thought for a moment rubbing his masked chin. "Maybe with your tracking and stealth skills you couldn't; but I definitely could."

The girl looked pissed. "What do you mean "my tracking skills?" I am a fine tracker."

"If I had to give you a report card on this fight your Tai, Gen, and Kenjutsu were all A's." The girl smiled a little smugly.

Kakashi continued, "but your stealth and tracking skills a C possibly B-." now she was fuming.

Kakashi sighed, "Don't take it personally kid, we all can't be good at everything, plus you would have to have at minimum advance Jonin tracking skills to even think about losing me as a tail."

The girl clamed up thinking over what he said. Kakashi tried several more attempts to get her talking but she wouldn't budge. She wouldn't answer any question about who she was or what she was doing here and where Orochimaru was; nothing.

So uncharacteristically of Kakashi he continued to talk as he could tell it annoyed her. They were about 12 km to the Northwest of the blown up facility; 8 km from Mishi's body and 65 km from his car that was parked on the Iwa and Kusa boarder since he had to sneak across into the The People's Republic of Iwa.

Man this going to be a long trek back to the Land Rover with this hostile girl and a corpse. Kakashi thought.

As they neared Mishi's body and Kakashi's clone he could see the girl clam up. She had stopped moving completely, her face pale. Kakashi had to tug on the chakra rope tied tightly around her neck that led to his hand to get her to start walking again. Kakashi had tied the girl up by bounding her hands while restricting movement in the legs. It was the best knot for the situation but did slow them down.

"Scared at your own handy work there, Sakura?" Kakashi jested.

The girl went from pale to red and fuming within a second, breaking her long eye contact with the severed head.

"How do you know my name?" she said in the most threatening voice she could muster.

Kakashi sighed; he had finally gotten her talking he needed to take advantage of this. He pointed down at the head of Mishi.

"Mishi-san called you that before you loped off her head." Sakura was stunned for a moment at the way he simplistically stated it. Despite that Kakashi continued, he knew how to get her talking he had to guilt her.

"Never expected a little thing like you to turn on your comrade that was slowing you down to get away." He spoke with a bored and blunt tone.

Sakura spoke, her voice just above a whisper. "That wasn't… that wasn't.." She trailed off

"Ah I see." Kakashi responded "You wanted to stop her from talking too. I get it; two birds, one stone. You can get away and still keep your secrets."

This time her face became hard as if realizing what she was doing "Yes that's it. I couldn't have her slowing me down. She was a liability."

Kakashi realized he had pushed too far, she may talk now but he doubt he would get what he needed. He needed to come at this from a different angle.

"hmm.. that seems harsh for a little thing like you to say. By the look of it you two got along."

Sakura's eyes danced with a few different emotions. She finally settled on one. "No, not at all. You see she was the only one who knew where Orochimaru is and I couldn't have her talking. That's why you're here right; for Orochimaru? Well I killed the one person to know where he is so you might as well just kill me." She finished feigning smugness.

Kakashi hmmd for a moment before responding, trying to sound as detached and disinterested as possible. "Well that's quite unfortunate. Which begs the question; if Mishi was the only one to know where Orochimaru was; why were you running to the Western mountains?"

"Easy. To get away from you." She offered.

"Awe yes to escape me. So let's say you did; then what?"

"I'd wait. I know those mountains like the back of my hand; I could've lost you."

"hmmm that may be, but you see if you are waiting that means someone will have to need you enough to come pick you up."

She froze realizing her mistake. "Not necessarily…" She knew she was gripping at straws now.

Kakashi interjected. "You see I don't think you killed Mishi because you wanted to. She asked you to. Mishi wanted you to get away and it wasn't over any sentimentality that you are just a kid. It's because you're important enough to Orochimaru to warrant it."

Sakura was frozen again; trying to out reason him was futile but the look in her eyes said she would try. "Interesting theory but I hate to tell you that it's wrong. No one is coming to look for me; I am disposable like all of the people Orochimaru uses." She finished, a sad glint in her eyes.

"Disposable eh? Aren't we all in some way but you aren't; well at least not yet." Kakashi just needed to coax a little more out of her.

"Fine. Let's pretend you're right even though you're not. You think you're going to wait around for a week or two for Orochimaru to show up you have another thing coming. If anything he will send one of his disposable lackeys to investigate.

"He won't know anything and you will be back to square one. No one of any importance will come looking and when they keep not returning he will just send someone stronger till you are dead." She countered.

"That seems plausible if what you are saying is true. But I was thinking along the lines of going home and sleeping in my own bed and getting some delicious miso soup. So I might as well take you back and hand you off to someone more capable then me at… conversations." He finished with an eye crinkle. Sakura had never seen a smile look so empty and threatening.

"I told you I. DON'T. KNOW. ANYTHING." Her voice full of frustration.

"Maybe, maybe not." Was all Kakashi offered. "Now to take care of this body and get us back to Fire."

Sakura became quiet, her eyes drifting over to Mishi. Kakashi handed the rope connected to Sakura to his clone while he took out a scroll to seal Mishi's body in; Sarutobi-sama would want to examine it.

After sealing the body away he took out his satellite phone to report back to Fire. Usually a regular phone would suffice but in The People's Republic of Iwa all cell service was blocked.

The People's Republic of Iwa and The Democratic States of Earth were the 2 nations left from the originally earth country of olden times. Around 60 years ago communism vs. capitalism drove the large Earth country to split in half. The Easter Earth which bordered Ishi (Stone) and Ame (Rain) and by extension Suna became the Democratic States of Earth; a capitalistic parliament system. While the portion of earth that bordered Kusa (Grass) and Taki (Waterfall) became The People's Republic of Iwa, a communistic nation.

Kakashi dialed the Hokage tower channel 5 in order to get straight to the Hokage himself. Each large nation's Elite Forces (shinobi forces) tended to have their own satellite as well as phone towers. The lines were secured but since most shinobi were more than a little paranoid , all calls were spoken in code.

After speaking to Sarutobi-sama and informing him of the current situation Kakashi was ordered to return to Fire with the girl and corpse for further debriefing while an Anbu tracker team would be sent out to scour the area.

Now for the long trip home. Kakashi cracked open a special energy drink made by the research department. Bile already rising at the thought of the taste he fought past it to take a swig. A 7 hour run to the car plus a 30 hour drive back to Konoha; he was going to need all the energy he could get.

Five hours out of Konoha and Sakura had stayed quiet the whole ride; no attempt to escape, just resignation to her fate. Kakashi was glad for this; he was in no mood to deal with a noisy captive.

There was a loud bang and the car began to serve as the back left tire blew; being a shinobi Kakashi had defensive driving training and was able to handle the car with ease. He looked back at Sakura that was in the back row behind the passenger seat both bound and blindfolded. She hadn't even made a move since the tire blew.

Kakashi made a clone to watch her then went to the trunk to grab the spare tire. He had the car jacked and had removed the ruined tire, noting the well placed nail in it, one that after many miles of driving had finally worn the tire down. There was a poof as his clone was destroyed and the breaking of glass as the little pinkette tried to make her escape.

Kakashi had to admit that she had bided her time well and the escape was planned decently but alas it would fail. Letting out a sigh he quickly caught and neutralized her.

"Shit… well a girls gotta try; you know?" Sakura stated matter-of-factly.

Kakashi gave out a small laugh. " I guess she does; cutting it close with the nail. A few more hours and it wouldn't have worked."

"It's all about striking a balance between not being obvious and still managing. It was a bit close though." Her vibrant green eyes full of confidence were staring into his lone eye.

A small chuckle escaped him. He picked Sakura back up securing her in the car before placing the spare tire on the car. They were back on the road within 10 minutes.

"It is a little chilly in here." Sakura stated.

"Should have thought about that before you busted the window. Kotetsu is going to be pissed, this is the 3rd car I have damaged in the last 2 months."

"Ouch you could blame it on me." She coyly offered.

"You know for a 9 year old you are quite coy." He chuckled back at her.

"Hey old man I am about to be 11. What are you anyways like 40?" She shot back.

"Well there. I will have you know I will be celebrating my 22nd birthday this coming September."

"Well ain't that fucking peachy. What damage happened to your hair to make it white and your face to make you cover it? While we are at it." Sakura was letting the snarkines take over to cope with her fear, they were getting closer to Konoha and she was uneasy.

"Do you kiss your parents with that mouth? Your ten not 40, so stop talking like you are. And for your own personal knowledge I was born with Silver hair. My face; well I don't want to make you fall deeply in love with me." He cheekily responded.

There was no snarky comeback making Kakashi worried. He used the mirror to look back at her. She was slumped over more; her pink hair falling into her face.

"You okay there kiddo?"

"In two weeks…" She spoke softly all traces of the snarky confident girl from just moments ago was gone.

"What did you say?"

"In two weeks I am about to be 11 but I doubt I will make it." She continued speaking softly but clearly. "You will deliver me to Konoha and I will be tortured and when you have gotten all you can I will be disposed off. If I can resist the torture for more than two week then I will be 11.

"But is it really worth it at that point? To be beaten and bloodied just so I can be 11?" Her voice was hollow.

Kakashi was taken aback; how was he supposed to answer that. "You never know what the future may hold." He offered; knowing full well how pointless that statement was.

She let out a humorless laugh. "I think it is safe to say I have a pretty decent idea then most at this juncture in life, Ojisan"

"Hmm possibly." He supplied; ignoring her slight against him. Kakashi was the master of non-answer answers. The rest of the 5 hour drive was silent.

Sakura took that time to prepare for her impending fate. She was young but Orochimaru had readied her for an outcome like this; trained both her body and mind. She began to focus on the synapses firing in her hippocampus trying to damage what she could; to diminish any portion of her memory but she had no chakra.

The ropes had prevented her from having any; she would not be able to block anything off without chakra. The only way now was to inflict physical damage to that portion of the brain. She would have to wait till she was out of the car; to have an "accident". No matter what she could not let any information leak to the country of Fire.

TBC

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