"Her team failed."

"But she surpassed them all. She should be given a second chance."

"We have never had a five man team with genin before. They were set up for the balance of the teams. It would also create an unbalance in that there are usually two boys and one girl to a team. How are you going to justify this?"

"I am not the only one that agrees that it is unfair to punish her again for the incompetence of her teammates. She is a rather bright girl that should be given a chance to prove herself. If it doesn't work then we could always send her back to the academy."

The two male ninjas continued to debate like this until the Hokage stepped in. He happened to overhear a majority of the conversation and decided that it was time to intervene. "She is a wise young girl that should be given an opportunity to let her abilities thrive."

The opposing man gaped at him before saying, "Hokage-sama. While she is a smart girl, this is not fair to the other teams. What about the Chunin exams? What about her future teammates? Everything would be messed up! She cannot be allowed to pass."

Before the other man could reply, Sarutobi held up his hand to silence him. "Put her on Kakashi's team. I will discuss it with him myself and make the arrangements. I will not let this girl's abilities go to waste. Is that understood?" The two nodded as Sarutobi made this command. They had no choice but to listen to his words. "Kakashi will be able to handle a four-man cell just fine. He will also most likely agree to it. As for the Chunin exams, that will be handled when the time comes. No need to worry about something as insignificant as that right now." He turned to return back to his office. Looking over his shoulder, the third Hokage said, "That girl has talent and abilities that could possibly surpass most ninja, even at such a young age. The longer we hold her back the worse off she is. This has to be done." With that he entered his office and the two ninjas were left stunned in his wake.

"You will be put onto Kakashi Hatake's team. Your teammate's names are Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke," said Iruka. He and a young girl of twelve years old were walking towards an old bridge where they were supposed to meet with her new team. The girl nodded. She wore a tank top that cut down right above her cleavage and a pair of tight black pants that most ninja seemed to where. Her long brunette hair was pulled back into a pony tail that still managed to reach halfway down her back. The ninja headband was on her forehead, as is the customary way to wear it. Her brown eyes gazed ahead over the water as they arrived at the bridge.


"Are you sure that this is okay?" she asked. She rested against the railings and looked down into the water. Fish were swimming around the rocks in the river. They were oblivious to the outside world as they only focused on what was going on in theirs. Nothing mattered until something tried to intervene in their path. That was when all went to hell in a hen box.

Iruka smiled encouragingly before replying. "Yes. I know it seems a bit unorthodox, but everything will be fine. Don't worry." He smiled again as Kakashi showed up. "And here is your new sensei." The girl turned around to look Kakashi over. He was wearing his usual outfit. Mask, protective vest, headband covering his eye, and his Icha Icha Paradise graphic novel.

"You must be Kairi," Kakashi said as he put his book away and his hands into his pockets. Kairi nodded slowly and glanced at Iruka.

"Don't worry. He won't bite," Iruka encouraged. Glancing at the sky, he said, "I need to be heading back to the academy now. You two behave." He bowed and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Kakashi smiled even though one could barely tell with his mask covering half of his face. "I have heard about you, Kairi."

"Have you?" Kairi questioned. She wondered what kind of stories of her floated about in Konoha.

Kakashi nodded. "Tell me more about yourself." He stood next to her and also leaned up against the railing.

"I'm a genin of Konohagakure. My birthday is September 15. I live with my mother. I like to cook, draw, and oh- Just to let you know, I'm your daughter," Kairi said without ever glancing his way.

Kakashi looked taken back and said carefully, "That can't be possible." He quickly recounted in his head all the times he has been with a woman, even for a one night stand.

"Yes it can." Kairi finally looked at Kakashi with a look of amusement in her eyes.

"You're the daughter of an Inuzuka. You cannot possibly be my daughter."

She stared at him a moment longer before laughing. "That's correct. No. I'm not your daughter. That was a lie." She laughed for a moment longer before regaining her composure.

Kakashi too was amused but also quite perplexed. "Why did you even make such a statement? We both know that is absurd."

Looking seriously at him, she responded, "Exactly. I wanted to see who my sensei was going to be. While I am grateful for the opportunity to be on a squadron after all this time, I am not going to spend it under the wing of an incompetent jonin. I would rather spend my time relearning techniques in the academy than to get myself killed listening to someone who cannot see past my pathetic lies."

Kakashi took the moment of silence to ponder her words. "I have never seen a genin question the ability of their sensei."

"You have much to see, Kakashi-sensei." Kairi smiled and looked back down at the fish. "Think of it this way. You see those fish down in that river? Most of them spend a life just going up and down this river without ever knowing what is in the outside world. They spend all of their time finding food and doing fish things in their fish river in their fish world. What if a fish decided one day to jump from that river into a pond? That fish would be leaving its old world behind, but it would be opening itself up to a world of new beginnings." She looked up at Kakashi and continued, "We have choices in life to make. Either stick with the same old rules and the same old routine or take a step out of that comfort zone and try something new. Sometimes it can be the greatest achievement we will ever make or an unbelievable failure that could possibly even kill us. We never know until we try, right?"

'This really is a bright child.' Kakashi asked, "You understand my rules, yes?"

Kairi nodded. "One hundred percent. Accomplishing the mission is the first objective. Our teammates are the most important. I would give my life if it meant saving theirs."

"Then welcome to my squad seven, team Kakashi. We will have our first mission tomorrow morning. Meet in the Hokage's office at seven am." Kairi nodded again. Kakashi held out his hand and they shook. This was definitely a girl that he wanted to keep on his team. She could prove to be very valuable in the future.

"I will do my best," she said.

They parted ways, neither knowing what it was that they had specifically agreed to.