A/N: Hello everyone, I'm back again. This is a new story I have actually been working on for a few months. My fiancee and I have been finessing it so it was ready to be presented to you. It is a throw back to my start-a Naruto story. It is actually a rewrite of one I wrote long long ago, but lost most of, but I think I like this draft better than the original. Now, we are only human, so please forgive the grammar and such if we missed any.
Now, onto the details: This story is a bit AU for several reasons.
A) Kakashi's age has been been adjusted to accommodate him having two younger sisters. One is Team 7's age, the other four years younger. This also means Naruto's backstory has been slightly adjusted to this canon. Sakumo, Obito, and Rin's deaths have also been adjusted.
B) This takes place DURING the first movie, Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow. It is the first one I ever saw, and I started writing this right after I first saw it (originally).
C) I messed with Team 7's ages as well. In this story, I aged them up to about sixteen. Now, they all graduated the same time originally, but lets just say that in this story's timeline, that they got to have some "down time" between Land of Waves and the Chunnin exams. Sasuke still got the curse mark and all that, just a little older. In this timeline, "Shippuden" will be taking place when they're about 20ish (roughly).
D) 2 out of four members of team 7 will be ooc a lot throughout the fic. I am giving you forewarning right now. I made Sasuke a bit more like what he was when he was younger Pre-Massacre, though not as obvious and in his own little emo way (I say this with endearment guys). Kakashi will also have a moment (or two) where he looses that composure we all love so much. But, I view him as a guy who not only cares deeply for his team, but for his family. And those moments involve his sister.
E) The OC, Hatake Tora, may come across as Mary Sue, but I promise I tried my damnedest to keep her from becoming so. Kinda hard when it makes since that once Kakashi was able to master several jutsus instantly, he would start teaching his siblings all he knew and could do. I do try and make sure she does have strong points and weak points with jutsus, but I also bring into something I notice NONE of the characters do-except maybe Naruto, and that is improvisation.
F) And this is more of a note; I gave Kakashi two sisters because I felt I needed to give the Hatake Family balance. Kakashi is like Sakumo in mind and body-silver haired, calm and collected. Tora is like their (unnamed currently) mother-red-haired, short-tempered, and speaks her mind. Hana (the youngest) is a mix of their traits. She is calm, but she is short tempered. She has silver hair, but is slightly tanner like their mother was while Tora and Kakashi lay claim to Sakumo's fair skin. And she is not afraid to speak her mind, but unlike Tora, she has a filter and is not overly blunt, while she isn't like Kakashi who choose to just let the filter catch everything.
With all that being said, I now must introduce you a little more to Tora:
Tora is ten years Kakashi's junior. She did graduate from the academy, but chose instead to become a civilian than to be a shinobi. She worked for various small horse farms before starting her own at age 12 after landing her first contract for a film with her first horse Santos. She at this point has ten horses which are used at any time, but after the Crush, she has only been using Santos as he was the only horse employed at the time of the Princess Gale movies. She lives on her farm with Hana, who helps her with bookwork while studying at the academy.
And now... Our story begins...
Chapter 1
Kakashi looked at his team after they tied up stunt men and the actress's manager. "Our mission is to guard Yukie Fujikaze or the actress best known as Princess Fuun. I mean you know, just escort her."
The assistant director, Ren, sighed. "And I'm telling you, our leading lady is a bit of a brat!
Sakura saw a picture of a beautiful landscape. "Wow! Look at those cliffs!"
An extra grinned. "That's the rainbow glacier in the land of snow. That's where we're going to shoot for the movie."
Sasuke huffed. "The Land of Snow is so far and you'll even go there just to shoot a movie?"
Ren sighed. "Sandayuu recommended it, he even told us that the rainbow glaciers turns seven different colors during spring time!"
Kakashi sighed heavily as Sakura got wide eyes. "No, that's just an old legend, the truth is there's no spring in the Land of Snow."
"Woah! You mean … not ever?" the pink haired girl said.
The dark haired boy frowned… more. "If it's so, you mean... It's winter all year long?"
"Exactly!"
The Director, Ivan, looked at the silver haired male. "Kakashi, I've heard it's not your first time in the land of snow, is it?"
"That was a long time ago—"
"Where is my horse, Ivan?!" a female voice roared, followed by a girl with blood red hair and eyes as black as ink burst into the tent that they were holding the meeting in, her hands slamming on the desk as she glared at Ivan.
"Hello to you, too, Tora," Ivan sighed, taking off his glasses and wiping them off.
"I will only say it one more time Ivan. Where. Is. Santos?" she snarled, nails digging grooves into the table.
"I am so sorry, Hatake-san, but Yukie… um… well you see…" Ren jumped as soon as the glare was turned on him.
"What did that bitch do to my horse?"
"She uh… used him to run away…"
"She did what?!" the red haired girl screamed, standing and pulling her hair. "She can barely handle a sword much less a half ton animal! She's lucky it isn't Trigger or Penny!"
"We tried to stop her honest! But she jumped the fence with him and—"
"She what?!" She seemed to just get angrier.
"Tora, calm down."
Sasuke and Sakura looked at Kakashi, who had been staring at the red haired teen with an unreadable expression. Tora turned to him, and if it were possible, the room would have burst into flames.
"Kakashi. Fancy seeing you here. But I think you will find my level of stress is perfectly justifiable considering I have invested a lot of time, money, and most of all love into that horse. In the hands of a novice rider without proper guidance, even the best horses can end up back at square one and I can't afford that right now," she snapped, her shoulder purposely hitting his arm before she stopped at the door. "If I find one thing wrong with my horse when I find him, Sandayuu, I will take it out of your fucking client's face." She continued through the door, Kakashi's eye watching her.
"Sorry about that," Ren bowed, rubbing his head. "That's Hatake Tora, our stunt horse handler. She is very protective of her animals…"
"So we can tell—Wait…" Sasuke frowned, looking at Ren.
"Did you say Hatake Tora?" Sakura asked.
"Yea, that's her name—"
"Sasuke, can you go track Tora to make sure she doesn't hurt Yukie would you?" Kakashi said, his tone a cross between his lazy drawl and one of annoyance.
"Yea… sure Sensei," he grumbled, then got up and head out, following a wisp of red hair as it disappeared out of the building.
Tora was about a hundred yards ahead of him, following the tracks of the horses from earlier and heading out the gate to track her horse. Once she got to where Yukie had ridden off she knelt checking the ground before a nicker sounded, and her head snapped up.
"Santos?" she stood and Sasuke jumped to a roof to watch as she walked up and met her horse as he trotted back. "There you are, you old thing. I was worried about you!" the white horse nuzzled his trainer's chest. "Don't you ever do that again! I don't care if she is sitting there digging her heels into your ribs. You. Just. Stand." The animal's head bobbed up and down, then he lifted his head as Tora circled him, a hand running along his side.
The horse lifted every hoof she asked for, but he did whine softly as she reached for his right hind hoof. She paused, and laid on the ground and started running her fingers over his leg, soon discovering a swelling, all around a laceration on his hock.
"Damnit!" she stood, and then spotted spiky black hair on a nearby roof. "Hey, I see you there. Get down here."
Sasuke blinked. How the hell did a civilian see me?! he obeyed, and jumped down, watching her. "I was sent to make sure you didn't attack our client. How did you spot me?"
"You don't need to know," Tora snapped, and carefully led the horse to the set. "Take it easy, Santos." The horse followed her, favoring the leg as he walked.
"Isa! I need you to check out Santos's right hock. I think he might be lame…" Tora called to the on-set vet, who rushed over, as she loved Santos as much as Tora did because he was such a sweetheart to work with.
"Oh goodness! This is not gonna heal by the time we need him to do the first shoot on the ship…" she frowned, and Tora punched a wall, cracking it slightly to Sasuke's surprise.
"Damnit times ten…" She turned, and marched to the director's area where Kakashi and Sakura still sat discussing the mission. "First off, Kakashi, if you're gonna have one of your students stalk someone, teach them how to blend in with their surroundings and keep their spiky head down. Second, Ivan. Santos has a bad scratch and swelling on his hock. It's not gonna heal before we have to shoot on the ship. He has to stay home. I'll bring Penny or Hidalgo…"
"Penny is a mare and Hidalgo is a paint! We need a solid colored stallion!" Ivan snapped. "What about Talker or Lucifer? We could use a bit of makeup to cover up Talker's spots—"
"Yea no. A, Talker is only three years old, and just started training and is currently only suitable for background shots. And there is no way I am letting you cover up my handsome boy's spots."
"Lucifer then, can't argue with a black beauty," the older man said, and Tora stared at him.
"Lucifer is only four! And he just finished training for riding! He doesn't have anything else on his trick list—"
"You can train him on the journey—"
"You want me to train, on the spot, a hot headed black horse who could easily hurt someone when he has not been properly de-spooked to things. No. I'm bringing Hidalgo."
"No, you're bringing Lucifer."
"What about Jazz? He's a good sound horse and he would fit with the environment—"
"No, I want Lucifer."
"I said no—"
"I'll pay you triple," Ivan said leaning back and crossing his arms.
Tora froze, her hands fisting on the table as she gritted her teeth, then stood and crossed her arms. "I want half up front."
"Why?"
"So I can get some good hay for the trip, and contact my lawyer and draw up a contract that states you are knowingly hiring an inexperienced animal for a movie," her black eyes stared Ivan down. "I ain't having that come around to bite me in the ass. I'll bring it in the morning to be signed and I will have my lawyer keep 1 copy and the other will be in a safe that will be in my room on the ship."
"Very well," Ivan nodded, and Tora stood and walked back out, heading for where her horse was.
Kakashi stared after her, clearly frowning from the way his eye was creased. Sasuke studied his sensei for a moment, then stared after the girl.
Sakura was listening as Ren spoke to Ivan in a softer voice. "Sir, if Hatake-San thinks Lucifer is not ready for this, do you really think this is a good idea?"
"Ren, I like challenging that girl," the director said, lighting a cigarette. "Besides, you got to admit, she is more fun when she's mad than Yukie is. She takes the teasing and pushing as a challenge, and aims to exceed it. I believe she can do this."
"Since it seems Tora will be on the ship, would it be alright with you if we escorted her home before going to search for Yukie, Sandayuu?" Kakashi asked, looking at the manager.
"Of course, you should get to know her anyway," Ren said. "She may seem grouchy right now, but like I said earlier. She is protective of her horses and since Santos is hurt, she is gonna be a bit grouchy with us until she can give Yukie a piece of her mind. Otherwise she is actually quite a nice girl… if a bit of a workaholic."
Kakashi nodded, and herded the other two outside. Sakura spoke up. "Sensei… is Tora-chan a part of your clan?"
"Hmm?" he looked down at her as he walked to where Tora was petting Santos as Isa stitched up his wound.
"Is Tora-Chan a part of your clan? Since her family name is the same as yours."
"You… You could say that…" he said, rubbing the back of his head.
Tora meanwhile was pressing her forehead against Santos's. "I know baby boy. But you're gonna stay home, and be babied and get all the good stuff and your leg will hopefully be good as new by the time I get home." The horse nickered happily, nibbling at her cheek in his way of a kiss. "I love you too. And wish me luck… I have to bring Luce." The horse brought his head up in shock staring at her with a questioning look. "Hey! He wasn't my first choice. I suggested Penny, Hidalgo and Jazz. But you know Ivan." The horse seemed to sigh and roll his eyes before resting his chin on her shoulder. "Almost done Isa?" Tora asked, smiling as the horse started to lean on her.
"Almost… Done!" she smiled, standing and wiping the stitches with an antiseptic to keep them clean. "It's not bad, just a little on the feverish side because he was running around trying to find Mom."
"Oh good," Tora smiled, petting the horses head. "That means he will be able to train while I am gone."
"In a few weeks, yes," Isa said. "You can ride him home, but at a walk or a slow trot. That way you can get him home and in his stall. When you bring Luce in, I want to give him a once over."
"Sounds good… I still can't believe Ivan wants a barely trained 4 year old…"
"Nobody said he was sane."
"So true…" Tora smiled, and then put her foot in the stirrup and mounted the horse, who tossed his head in happiness at having a proper rider. He may be bomb proof and patient, but even a saint has their moments. "See you in the morning, Isa." Tora tapped Santos's sides, and he started walking…
Until Kakashi caught his reins. "Tora, my team and I will escort you home."
Tora's eyes narrowed, her anger flaring. "Don't you have an actress to find so I can sue her for injuring my horse? And aren't you missing a kid to babysit?"
"Hey! We're the same age as you!" Sakura snapped, hands on her hips.
"And do you have your own business, about thirty large animals who depend on you to know what you're doing, a younger sister who depends on you for support and being able to provide for her because your older brother doesn't care about either of you, just his stupid career, as well as have to deal with an insane director and a bratty actress who needs to go back to manner school on a daily basis?" Tora sighed, reaching forward to slap Kakashi's hands away from the reins. "As for you, Kakashi, I've been doing just fine without you around, so no, I don't need you to "escort" me to my own property."
"Maybe I would like to speak with you and let my team get to know you."
"No. You want to try and tell a young woman who has been taking care of herself for eight years how to live her life," Tora said, backing Santos up away from him.
"I'm not giving you an option."
Tora growled. "Have I told you I hate you lately?" and with that she double tapped the horse's sides and he set off at a trot as Kakashi started after her, his students following.
Thanks for Reading. Please comment down below constructive criticisms.