The next day I woke to find my father already gone. I sighed. He was back his ninja thing again and I would have to fend for myself, not that I minded. I liked being treated like the big girl I am. I opened the pantry and found a closet full of instant ramen cups. I giggled with delight and pulled the note off that my father left for me.

Knowing the time you usually wake up, Kakashi will be at the house approximately 30 seconds. I hope you are dressed though I'm pretty sure you aren't. Have fun, Birdie. -Father

"Pff. Yeah right." I waited for 30 seconds then I heard a knock at the door. I looked at the clock then at the note then to the door. "Oh this was so set up!" I slapped the note down and opened the door to see Kakashi standing there.

"Ah, come in. I was just informed you'd be coming." I blushed because I was still in my pajamas.

"Clearly."

I walked up my stairs and quickly threw my ninja outfit on and did the normal morning routine. I walked back down to see Kakashi still standing where I left him.

"Uh, I did say you could come in you know. Relax. I haven't eaten breakfast yet. Do you want some?" I asked.

"I already ate."

"Oh. Well okay then." I sat on my counter and slurped my noodles down quickly while starring questioningly at Kakashi. He had his forehead protector across his forehead. His silver hair standing on end, it looked like he just woke up also. His mask always caught my attention when I saw him. What was he hiding? I bet his teeth look funky or his lips are ugly! Haha. No wonder he hides his face then.

"What are you staring at?" He asked.

"Oh uh. Nothing!" I smirked and hopped down.

"Are you quite ready?" He asked. Not waiting for an answer he started leaving and I locked up behind him.

"So where are we going?" I smiled.

"First, to the Hokage. You say you're a Chunin, but you don't even have your sword or forehead protector. Where are you from?"

"Oh a small, small village outside the capital. I am a Chunin. Believe me. They just never gave us that stuff where we were because people didn't respect ninjas there. I took the exams secretly in another village near by."

"Ah."

"Wow! What's that?" I pointed to the faces sculpted on the mountainside.

"That's the Hokage Monument. They were our previous and present leaders." He said bored and kinda slouched. Oh yeah, he was tired just like me.

"Ah. That's cool! So whose the leader right now?" I bet it's that old man. i thought to myself.

"The Third Hokage." Kakashi pointed to the older man on the mountainside. Oh yeah! Inside cheering at my awesome guessing skills.

"And that's who we are going to see?"

"Hai."

It was silent until we reached the Hokage's Tower and Kakashi let himself in. I followed behind like a little sheep.

"Ah, Kakashi! What a pleasant surprise! What can I do for you?" The Hokage looked up from his mountains of paperwork and smiled warmly at us. Such a nice old man. Well, he's not even that old really maybe in his late 50's. I'm seven though, everyone looks old to me.

"This is Hayashi, Taka. Her father and herself just came back to the village and she claims she a Chunin, but she wears no forehead protector or has her issued sword."

"Haha, observant little one. Kakashi, I know of her situation and I'm glad you brought her. She gets everything she needs today. I have her records here" He motioned to a huge stack of papers and saw Kakashi go wide eyed.

"Told you I'm good." I stuck out my tongue and smirked.

"She is quite accomplished like you. Now, Taka, come see." The old man gestured for me to come over. I found my footing again and walked to him. He placed a forehead protector in my hands.

"This symbolizes you are a ninja of the Leaf. Anyone who sees you will recognize you are a ninja that inherits the Will of Fire. They will also realize you are ready at a moments notice to lay your life on the line for your village."

"Hai."

I put in on my forehead. It felt great.

"Here is your sword. I don't need a great speech for this. It's a weapon showing you've accomplished a great feet." He hand me the small kantana in its sling.

"Hai."

I stepped back next to Kakashi and bowed.

"That is all." He dismissed us and we left.

"So what's next?" I asked.

"I'll take you to the training grounds." Kakashi said with a hint of slyness in his voce and I rolled my eyes.

~~~~~1 month later~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been here a month now and the only other kid I'm good friends with Kakashi. It is really quite boring. He's so serious. And now that his father left for missions he's been training harder and harder.

There was another girl. Her name was Kurenai and she was awesome, but she's stuck in school all day. Sucks for her. Oh, and there was Asuma he was nice too but I think Kurenai has a thing for him. But I really don't blame her. He is kind of cute. Oh, and he's the son of the Hokage which i figured because Asuma looked oddly familiar.

My father also left for a week long mission, so Kakashi and I have been attached to each other or rather I've been attached to Kakashi. He doesn't seem to mind. Only when I get really hyper and ask him tons of questions he gets annoyed with me. I'm a seven year-old girl. I tend to talk a lot. Geez, I mean what seven year-old-girl do you know that doesn't want to talk about dolls or ballet? Yeah, I thought so.

I sat by myself twirling grass in my fingers while watching Kakashi train. He was good. I'll admit it. He's better than me by far. I mean being a Chunin at seven years old was crazy enough on it's own, but Kakashi was six when he became one.

He constantly talks about his dad. He's really attached like me. He praises his dad so much sometimes I think he'll pass out from excitement. Kakashi was really cool when you got to know him. But when he's a butthead, it can get ugly and I'm not talking about him.

"Scarecrow!" I yelled and waved my hand. He walked over panting.

"What?"

"You're working to hard. Take a break. Here want some water?" I offered him something to drink, but he politely declined.

"I have to work harder, this is nothing."

"You have 200 pounds of weight on each leg and 150 on each arm. You need to chill out. Your limbs will be ripped off of your body."

"I'm fine, Birdie."

"Half and hour more then you are done, Scarecrow. If you work to hard you'll hurt yourself."

"Half an hour more." He nodded and went back to dodging and throwing shuriken and kunai and the trees and fake enemy attacks. He gracefully avoided all the attacks and moved around like it was natural. I bet he could do this with his eyes closed.

Finally half and hour later I made Kakashi quit. I retrieved his weights and told him if I caught him wearing these while he wasn't training he'd face my wrath. He obeyed quickly.

We arrived at his house and both collapsed on the couch together.

"Ugh, I'm exhausted." I whined and rubbed my neck.

"What do you mean? All you did was watch. I should be exhausted."

"Puh-lease. Taking care of you is work. It's like training only ten fold." I poked Kakashi in the chest and stuck my tongue out. He rolled his eyes and we both slowly fell asleep on the couch. He was on one side and I was on the other our feet touching each other.

"Kakashi? Taka?" A voice called out and we both sat up quickly, but sleepy.

"Father!" Kakashi said with a smile.

Sakumo looked at Kakashi and smiled grimly. "Not tonight Kakashi. I suggest you take Taka home."

Kakashi looked at this father with question in his eyes.

"Uh, it's okay. I can walk myself home Sakumo-san." I bowed and smiled.

"Kakashi, go with Taka. I need to be alone tonight."

Kakashi still had question in his eyes, but I pulled him out of the house before he asked anything.

"Scarecrow. Come on, do what your father says. We'll just find out what's wrong tomorrow."

He nodded solemnly. I let him sleep in my fathers' bed and I went to my room.

What was wrong with Sakumo-san? I hope nothing major happened. Maybe he's just really tired from his mission. He was gone a long time after all.