"You stop by the gate everyday, Itachi-san!" Kotetsu burst out finally after having to suffer through this routine for two years since they were stationed here. He wondered how long Itachi has done this.
"I do not stop by this gate everyday, Kotetsu-san. There are days when I myself have missions to attend to, that last for days, to weeks, to months. How could I possibly stop by this gate during those times?" Itachi asked with a faint smile, watching as Kotetsu deflated with no come back for his question, while Izumo laughed loudly at the dark haired man who looked little more than a blob of muck from the way his spirit just left him.

Izumo finally collected himself and looked to Itachi with a wide smile.

"Though you have never told us exactly who you are looking for, we may have a surprise for you today." Izumo didn't miss the way Itachi's attention perked at his words, though his facial expression would never show it.

"Earlier a strange girl showed up here and was picked up by Lord Third himself, though I did not recognize her, she wore a Konoha Hiate-ate." He remarked as he thought back to the strange blonde who showed up not only a hour ago.

"Thank you. I will take your information into regard as I go about my day. You two have a nice day." Itachi spoke blandly, but Izumo could feel the impatience and excitement now radiating off the man and it was coming in forceful waves. Izumo was not surprised to find Itachi had already shunshin away. He and Kotetsu shook their heads, and went back to discussing the previous chunin exams.

Itachi found himself standing outside the Hokages doors, he felt strange, his heart was beating a little faster than before, and ... Am I nervous? Why would I be nervous, even if it is Nikoru inside, it is only Nikoru... It has been nine years though. Would she even remember me?

He knocked on the doors, and only a few seconds afterwards did he hear the Third give him permission to enter.

He tried to open the doors casually, as he always has, but he found himself moving robotically. He took a deep breath and steadied himself as he walked into the room. The Third gave him a smile, but all Itachi could do was stare at the figure that stood before the Hokage desk. He would recognize that dark shade of blonde anywhere.

"I see you've been by the gates today, Itachi-kun." The Third said with a sly grin. At the name, the blonde gasped and turned around to look at Itachi.

He was not mistaken, Nikoru Kemono stood before him. She had grown, her amber eyes still stood out brillantly against her tan skin. Her freckles had darkened since they were young too.

Her hair had grown longer, and she no longer wore it in the favored ponytail. A konoichi wearing long hair freely, showed confidence in her skills. Her kimono was abandoned though, and now she wore fur pelts on her shoulders, and as her arms bands, and leg warmers, a pelt of light brown fur wrapped around her hips and acted as a skirt. She still stood barefoot, just as she did when they were children. A piece of armor was the only thing that covered her chest and stomach and around her back.

He looked to her forehead to find she still wore the fur headband, with the konoha hiate-ate

"Itachi..." She spoke finally, and her voice soothed his nerves. All he felt was acceptance from his childhood friend, as she looked up at him now, bewildered. He was a head taller than her now, whereas when they were younger, he was the shorter one.

"Nikoru. It has been a long time. How was your training?" He asked, the faintest of smiles on his facial features.

She smiled widely, showing off her large canines as she did when they were children.

"It went very well. I have now mastered my clans jutsu, though I have no one to compare to-I feel as if I can no longer progress in the arts. I will have beaten the Armadillo record."

"I am glad to hear that, Nikoru. Does that mean you are here to stay?"

"Now, now Itachi, calm yourself. I am here to stay." Nikoru said with a small smile, amusement dancing in her irises.
The Third watched the two exchange their hellos with a smile on his face. Ever since Nikoru's departure, Itachi had become some kind of recluse. He still put his heart in his missions and his shinobi work, but he had become detached from the village he had claimed his loyalty to.

When the Uchiha Coup came to light, The Third had his doubts on relying on Itachi. He had fully believed Itachi would put Danzo's plan into action, when he found out the man had given a direct order to Itachi without his knowledge.

However, Itachi came immediately to the Third to tell all that has transpired. Together, they came up with a solution-with Itachi's knowledge of the Uchiha's ego, and their complaints, the Third and the Uchiha came to a peaceful agreement of allowing the Uchiha more say in the governings within the village. Though it was hard to do with the other clans disapproval, they're learning to accept it, and work together for the better of the village.

Sarutobi hoped that Nikoru's return would help bring Itachi out of his shell more, along with the surprise he was about to spring on the two of them.

"Now, I am sure the both of you would love to catch up, but we have not finished our discussion, Nikoru-chan." Sarutobi spoke with a small smile. Itachi bowed his head, and moved to leave the room.

"That is fine Itachi-kun, you can stay-" The Third said, Itachi nodded and went to stand again at attention beside Nikoru, "-After your test before returning back to the village, it has been decided that you will be granted the title of jonin." Itachi didn't miss Nikoru's eyes widen slightly in surprise, honestly, he himself was surprised as well. Though, he had yet to see her skills.

"Also, I am granting you a genin team."
Both Itachi and Nikoru's eyes widened, she also had gasped in surprised.

"But Lord Hokage, I am a stranger here, I would not be trusted with the new generation." She argued. Sarutobi nodded, he knew this as well.

"Which is why you will be paired with one of Konoha's most trusted shinobi. What better way to ease you back into the village life than training new genin? What better way to earn the villages trust once more?"

Itachi and Nikoru looked to one another, but had no arguements to his question.

"Who will I be paired with?" She asked curiously.

"Well, I have yet to ask him if he would accept a genin team. I've been planning to for quite some time, you see, he's become detached to the village he has shown so much love for in the past. Itachi Uchiha, if you accept this mission, you will be paired with Nikoru Kemono in guiding a new genin team to raise in the shinobi ranks, and protect our village."

Itachi took a sharp intake of breath. Nikoru looked to him with excitement dancing across her features.

"This is a lot to take in Lord Hokage..." Itachi said, his eyes having widened.

"Itachi! Come on, this will be a chance for us to connect again! Also, what better way for you to reconnect with the village than teaching the little ones, eh? Come on Itachi!"

"Nikoru, I have to talk with my father about this."

"What, like when you talked to him about him signing you up for ANBU, or him making you take the Jonin exam, or him tricking you into thinking I had died so you would gain the sharingan?"

Itachi lost his breath for a moment, how does she know about all that?

"I still have my connections within the village, Itachi-kun." Nikoru winked.

"Shisui." Itachi said, pulling a dead-pan expression to the surprise of the Hokage, he had never seen Itachi pull so many expressions in a day.

"I suppose... This would be beneficial to the clan as well, getting a say in what will be happening with the new generation of genin. I accept your offer Lord Hokage... Who will be our genin team and when do we have to meet them?"

"Actually... Today." Sarutobi replied with a mischevious grin. Yes, he had really waited until the last minute to ask the Uchiha to govern a genin team. Though he had hoped Nikoru would have appeared a few days sooner, that was the originally plan at least when Jiraiya had returned with his report on the girl.

"T-Today? Who are our charges?!" Nikoru asked, her face turning red in embarassment as she wiped down her fur pelts in a flustered mess.

"I see being out in the world has not refined your manners, Nikoru." Itachi commented blandly, only to earn a smack on the arm from the blonde, he flinched... that actually hurt. He narrowed his eyes at her and she returned the gesture by sticking her tongue out at him.

"You have become much more childish from the girl I remember." He stated with a sour tone.

Nikoru merely rolled her eyes, "Trust me, Itachi. You're about to follow suit." She said, and Itachi took it as a threat as he stealthily smacked her arm as well.

"Now! I had to gain permission from the parents of your charges, seeing as I knew Nikoru would accept this position." The Third began as he chuckled at his two youngest elite ninja. They both nodded as they stood at attention once more.

"The first being a Sakura Haruno, she was ranked top konoichi in her class." The Third said as he pushed the file towards Itachi, who grabbed it to examine, and Nikoru looked over his shoulder to gaze as well.

"Ya'know, she could be trained for genjutsu or the medical arts, considering her chakra control." Nikoru commented offhandedly.

"Good eyes, young one. Sakura-chan indeed has small reserves but excellent chakra control."

"Also... if her control can be refined even further instead of using her for support we can make her an offense fighter." Nikoru commented again, looking to Itachi for his opinion.

"We will have to see her personality before we can further our opinion on her skills." He said.

"Alright, here is the next charge you will have." Sarutobi said as he slid the file to Nikoru. Her eyes lit up as she studied the file.

"We get Sasuke-chibi?! Itachi! We get to train your little brother! Wow... He sure has grown..." Nikoru commented as she studied his ID Photo.

The Third slid the next file to Itachi. whose eyes widened slightly at the name.

"Uzumaki Naruto." He stated softly, he could feel Nikoru's head snap in his direction and her eyes burn into the file he handed off to her. She studied Naruto's photo the most, seeing Minato in his features, Kushina in his smile, and the baby she left behind.

"Are you two still willing to accept this team?"

"I am, Lord Third." Nikoru stated, straightening her back to accept the formal mission.

"I am, as well." Itachi stated.

"In an hours time go to the academy to find your charges." Sarutobi instructed, dismissing them. The two moved to leave the room but Sarutobi cleared his throat to call their attention again.

Nikoru pivoted on one foot to look to him.

"Nikoru, it is good to see you back in the village once more." He smiled while taking his pipe up to his mouth.

"It is good to be back, Hokage-sama." She smiled widely and out of the corner of her eye she caught Itachi watching her. They both left the room and out the Hokage Tower.