"Kakashi," said Tsunade, "as of right now, you have a new student, but keep her training separate from Naruto and Sakura's. She has a hard time socializing; she's kind of the loner type."

"I'll do my best, Milady." Kakashi responded.

Tsunade nodded to Shizune, who opened the door.

A girl of about seventeen stood there. She had long, killer raven-black hair hanging loose past her shoulders, obscuring half her face. She was pale and thin, though not lanky or stickly.

She wore a long-sleeved baggy black jacket and gloves like Kakashi's underneath it. And long black pants draped over a pair of buckled zori on her feet. Her fingernails and toenails were painted black.

She raised her head and the hair was brushed away. Kakashi caught his breath. She had Sharingan, no, Mangekyo Sharingan. They looked like a four-pointed shuriken. As soon as Kakashi saw them, they disappeared.

"You are assigned to this Jonin, Nirika," said Tsunade, "this is Kakashi."

Kakashi nodded in Nirika's direction. Nirika lowered her gaze to her feet.

"Alright, Nirika, you may go. Kakashi will meet you on the Lotus Bridge." Said the Fifth Hokage, nodding.

Nirika dipped her head at Tsunade, and then backed out into the hallway. She glanced at Kakashi one more time, and then quietly shut the door.

The second the door clicked, Kakashi whirled around to face Tsunade. "You failed to kindly mention the fact that she—"

"Yes, I know she's an Uchiha," Tsunade interrupted, "you are one of the village's most ELITE shinobi. That is why she is assigned to you. Her mother and adoptive sister are dead, so she lives with her adoptive father, Fuma Yonai. You were among the few lucky Jonin that received a genjutsu lesson from him"

"Actually, I was a Chunin." Kakashi stated.

Kakashi tentatively approached the bridge. Nirika was resting up against the railing. When he set a foot on the bridge, she jerked up from her posture. There was a terrified look in her eyes that she masked quickly. "Good morning, sensei." She said quietly.

Kakashi briefly explained how he liked to do his introductions. "Would you like to start?" he asked. "Could you?" she asked.

"Umm, okay. My name is Hatake Kakashi. My likes and dislikes are none of your business. Dreams? Hmm, never really thought about that. But anyway, I have LOTS of hobbies."

A faint smile came to her lips, but it was short-lived. "My name is Uchiha Nirika," she said in an almost inaudible voice, "things I like are dogs, plants, and the color black. Things I hate are bugs, and the color yellow. My only dream is to restore my clan; and there is someone I have sworn to kill."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "Those last two things you said were pretty much the same words spoken by the Uchiha boy I used to have on this squad a few years ago."

Nirika jerked her head up, "Where is he? Is he here? Still in the village?" she asked excitedly.

Kakashi sadly shook his head, "No. Sadly, he was tempted by Orochimaru's offer of power and has given in and left us.

Nirika looked down, "Oh," was all she said.

Kakashi smiled, "Let's just forget about that for right now. Have you graduated yet?"

Nirika looked up, "I graduated from the Hidden Cloud Village's academy several years ago. I talked to your Hokage and she said I could get a Leaf headband at the graduation ceremony tonight." she said.

"Okay," said Kakashi "is your dad going to take you out for dinner afterwards?"

Nirika quickly shook her head. Kakashi smiled, "well, I'm taking your new teammates, Naruto and Sakura, out for ramen afterwards. Would you like to come?"

She shrugged her shoulders. Kakashi stood up, "Okay, we'll come see you get your headband, the hit the ramen shop. Cool?"

Nirika was silent.