The Third Hokage slowly evaluated the woman standing before him in his office, it seem like only yesterday that he had brought her to the village. She was only a child then, but now she stood before him a child no more. Her hair had grown much longer, a black cascade of silk down her back; even with it braided her hair still hung below her waist. She was also taller than him now, nearing 5'6 and her eyes, they were no longer full of fear and uncertainty, but emerald pools of confidence and pride. However, in their depths lurked something far more dangerous than her petite form seemed capable of. Oh, how looks could be so very deceiving.

"Rayne," He gestured for her to take the seat in front of him, she happily accepted. "How have you been my dear? Are you enjoying your work at the hospital? Hopefully they're not giving you anymore problems."

The woman addressed as Rayne giggled, "No Hokage-sama there haven't been any more problems, I believe we have all come to an understanding of sorts. Moving on though, I've been well…" She bit her lip, "The nightmares don't come as often now, I think being around the children has helped. '

"That's good to hear and please call me Hiruzen, you are my friend Rayne." Hiruzen gave her a gentle smile, "Like a daughter really…Now you must be wondering why I have called you here so early in the morning."

Rayne yawned, "It may have crossed my mind once or twice…."

"Well then let me put an end to the suspense, here." He carefully handed Rayne a small, awkward shaped parcel wrapped in red silk, "You will need this, I've held onto it since the incident."

Rayne tenderly took the package from the Hokage and then unwrapped it. Underneath the silk was her porcelain ANBU mask. "So you're sending me on a mission? I-I thought I was forbidden to leave the village without an escort! Didn't the Elders decide I was no longer…?"

"Due to the circumstances of the mission I am…how you would say telling them to kiss my ass and doing what needs to be done, because I believe you are the only one capable of doing this mission." He paused, "I need you to escort Team Kakashi though the northern forests and guard them until they reach the Checkpoint tower."

"You and I bought know that the northern forests is full of nothing but bandits and rogue ninja. To send a team of genin, no matter that Kakashi is with them is insane!" Rayne protested.

"Under normal circumstances you would be correct but their mission is of the up most importance and time is of the essence they must take that path. And besides I only care about one rogue ninja, and that my dear is where you come in." He hands her the mission scroll, "This is an S-Ranked mission, Rayne you are hear by ordered to infiltrate an organization known as the Akatsuki by any means necessary and gather as much Intel as you can. You have two weeks and then I am sending in a retrieval squad. Is that understood?"

A sinister smile appeared on Rayne's face, "So Itachi has been spotted then? I didn't know my birthday came early this year Hiruzen!"

"Do you accept the mission?

"Of course!" Her smile grew, "However I can't promise that there won't be any casualties on their side you know I don't always get along well with others."

The Hokage chuckled, "Do as you see fit, I'd hate for you not to make some new friends."

Rayne saluted, "Understood Hokage-sama"

The Third nodded, "Then you are dismissed, be safe and good luck!"

"Hai!" She disappeared.

"Yes finally a mission worthy of my skills!" Naruto shouted as he and his team walked towards the main gates of the Leaf village. "Just you wait Sasuke I'll show….huh? Hey Kakashi-sensei, what is that person doing?"

Kakashi followed Naruto's pointed finger to a young masked woman sitting on the ground, leaning against the main gate. "I think she's…sleeping…?"

Sasuke rushed forward, kneeling in front of the sleeping woman, "Hey…Rayne wake up," He poked her side making her shift a little, "Come on, onee-chan wake up, you shouldn't be sleeping here anyways."

Slowly the young woman removed her mask, opening her emerald eyes. "Good morning Sasuke!" Rayne stretched her arms out, pulling Sasuke into her arms. "How's my cute little brother? You haven't come to visit me recently!" She kissed his cheek, "I've missed you so much my little…"

"H-hey stop that! Come on people are watching!" Sasuke complained as he turned beet red.

Rayne released him, "So cute!" She looked over at the rest of his team, then without warning she launched herself at Kakashi, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Kashi-kun!"

Kakashi froze, shocked. "R-Rayne?" Quickly he regained his composer and hugged her back. "What are you doing out here, shouldn't you be working your shift at the hospital?" She responded by nuzzling her face in his neck. "Rayne come on let go."

"Fine..." She pouted as she relinquished her hold on him, "I see how it is you prefer those books to the real thing, how pathetic."

A blush crept across Kakashi's face, "Rayne…"

She waved him off, "I know I know I shouldn't tease people it's not nice, blah blah. Moving on now, if I was working at the hospital today would I really be wearing this?" She spun around to show off her outfit. She wore a dark blue kimono top that stopped halfway to her knees, underneath they could see a pair of black shorts and a mesh fishnet top, with a pair of heeled sandals and black thigh-highs. On her back was a lone sword with a red hilt, around her waist was a belt covered with pouches, and on her wrists were something that looked like silver bracers. "I have been assigned to guard you to the checkpoint."

"Wow cool! We get to go on a mission with Kakashi-sensei's girlfriend!" Naruto laughed happily.

"Idiot," Sasuke spat.

Kakashi sighed, "She's not my girlfriend Naruto, you dunce."

"Whaatt?!" Naruto frowned.

Rayne giggled, "Kakashi doesn't like younger women," She kissed Kakashi on the cheek, "Though that hasn't stopped you before, Kashi-kun."

"Kakashi.." Sasuke began but was interrupted.

"Wait!" Sakura spoke up, "How do you know Sasuke-kun?"

"It seems I forgot to introduce myself again!" Rayne giggled, embarrassed. "My name is Rayne, I am currently a medical ninja working in the hospital. Sasuke is my little brother in a way, so I would watch that attitude of your because I have to approve of any relationship he has." She stuck her tongue out. "Now then let's get going, time is money after all."

"Hold on, I'm not done yet Rayne-san!" Sakura intercepted Rayne, "Why would the Hokage send a medic to escort us through such a dangerous forest, it would make more sense to send another jonin."

"Clever isn't she, Kakashi?" Rayne replied, her tone losing all the joy it previously held as she put her mask back on.

"Best mind of all the rookies."

"Well, clever little Sakura, it is because I wasn't always a medic, I was trained to be a ninja first. Besides few ninja in that forest would ever dare to cross me, the Reaper of Konaha." She vanished.

"S-she's the Reaper" Sakura stuttered.

Kakashi nodded, "Yep, now let's head out before she too far ahead of us." He ushers his team out of the village.

"Itachi-san, why don't we just grab the Kyuubi brat right now? They'd never see it coming and those little kids aren't any match for us."

"That may be true, but that ANBU that left ahead of them is following Kakashi's team and they might be a bit of trouble. It would be best to rid ourselves of that nuisance first."

"With great pleasure, Itachi-san."

Suddenly Rayne, who has stayed a safe distance away from Team Kakashi, appeared in front of them. With deadly intent radiating off her, she signaled the team to stop before turning her full attention to the hidden newcomers before her. "Aren't you a bit old to be playing hide-and-seek in the woods?"

Two men stepped out from the forest shadows, they wore matching black cloaks with red clouds and straw hats that covered their faces.

Rayne took a step forward, releasing some of her chakra. "I didn't think Halloween was for another month, you Akatsuki member are sure dedicated to your holidays." She laughed to herself, "If you leave now I will overlook your presence…..temporarily."

The taller of the two ninja laughed harshly, "Bold threats coming from such small prey! Listen woman, we have no quarrel with you, just hand over the little fox and we'll let you live." They pulled a huge bandage covered sword from their back, "Unless you prefer death, so choose wisely."

Now it was Rayne's turn to laugh, "What a wonderful set of choices….oh my, what to choose," She pulled on a pair of black fingerless gloves and then popped her knuckles and neck. "I'm going to have to go with an 'over my dead body' you overconfident ass! Now," She assumed a fighting stance, "What should I put on your tombstone, Kisame Hoshigaki?"

"Oh, it look like I've been found out already." Kisame removed his hat, revealing his blue skin and shark-like features. "What a clever girl you are."

"Only one man..er..Shark-thing carries that massive blade. The Shameda, a truly fearsome blade wielded by a merciless man who is known as the 'tailed beast without a tail'. Even I then Reaper am in awe at your chakra." She gave a slight bow of respect, "Now are we gonna throw down or do I have to wait until I go through menopause?"

"You cocky bitch, I'll…!"

The other ninja held out his hand stopping Kisame, "Kisame deal with Kakashi-san, I will handle this one myself."

"Are you sure? It's very unlike you to want to fight, Itachi-san." Most of Team Kakashi froze at the mention if the other rogue ninja's name.

Itachi removed his hat as well, "Even I have to fight every once in a while or I'll get rusty, besides they happen to be an old friend. Rayne is that you behind that mask?" The killing intent from the ANBU increased dramatically, "I'll take that as a yes. It's been quite a while Rayne, how have you been?"

"Bastard!" Rayne hissed through clenched teeth, "Kakashi keep Sasuke…"

Sasuke charged a head of Rayne, blind by rage and brandishing a kunai. "I'll kill you!"

Before he could even take a second step past Rayne, she grabbed the back of shirt and flung him backwards into Kakashi's waiting arms, "Stay there you idiot! Kakashi don't you dare let go of him!" Rayne commanded."

Sasuke thrashed violently in his sensei's iron grip, "Let me go!"

Rayne turned to Sasuke, ripping off her mask, her eyes now a blazing crimson red. "Shut the hell up!" She shout furiously, immediately silencing Sasuke's protests. Her lethal gaze fixed on him, "I will not lose you too."

"Hn." Itachi cleared his throat, earning him Rayne's undivided attention. "You still have that fiery temper, so I take it you've been well?"

Rayne vanished in an instant then reappeared in front of Itachi, stabbing Sasuke's kunai in his upper thigh. "I've been wonderful, what about you Itachi-san?" She twisted the blade, "I must say you're looking a bit pale these days."

Itachi quickly throws Rayne, sending her flying into a tree and then pulls out the kunai without so much a flinch. "Now that was very rude Rayne, stabbing me out of nowhere like that without even properly saying hello. I'm hurt Rayne."

Rayne regains her footing, popping her shoulder back into place, "Oh I'll show you some hurt…" She muttered looking back over to Kakashi, "Get them the hell out of here Kakashi, now! I can deal with this trash," She takes a deep breath focusing on Itachi and Kisame. "Besides, I need a little bit of a workout. Now get moving!" Reluctantly, Team Kakashi darts off in the opposite direction. "Good, now where were we?"

"Should I go after them Itachi-san?" Kisame asked calmly as Rayne moved to block his way.

Itachi shook his head, "No that will not be necessary, she will do just fine." He returns his attention back to Rayne, "So will you come willingly or do I have to make you?"

"That cocky attitude of yours," Rayne punches the ground beneath their feet, releasing an enormous burst of chakra. The ground shatters underneath her fist, forming a huge crater and forcing Itachi and his partner to jump back. "Is really starting to piss me off Uchiha!"

"It'll take more than that monstrous strength of yours to defeat me," In an instant Itachi was behind her, "My little Rayne, when will you ever learn?" He hit a pressure point on the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious.