Author's Note: Hello wonderful readers, I'd like to apologise for how long it took me to upload this chapter! The last couple of weeks have been a tad hectic so my original plan for a chapter per week was a little unrealistic.

Anyway, thank you to everyone who has read the first two chapters, and a big thanks to reviews/favourites/follows you are all amazing and every notification email makes my day:

Akatsupure

Serenity10116

windwolf1988

Kongo Isamu

I really would love to hear people's thoughts on the characters, I've tried to keep them as close as possible to how they are in the series, but it would be really useful to find out other people's opinions, and I hope my OC is believable too!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any characters, story, ideas that are associated with it. What I do own is my OC Toshiko Akatora and any other OC's that may turn up. And the term "Tree Critter" is from the film Hoodwinked, it just fit quite nicely.

=^.^=

They sat at the coffee table in Toshiko's lounge, a piping hot bowl of instant ramen in front of each and the television playing in the background. "So? You owe me a story" Kakashi could barely hide the utter glee in his voice. "Or am I going to have to force it out of you? In fact the second option sounds far more interesting that I may not give you a choice…"

*He's not going to let me off, is he* she thought to herself. "Fine, you win. Like I said I was standing on a branch, when something brushed passed my feet making me jump, and my foot slipped on the damp leaves. Thankfully I managed to grab onto this really small branch, and that's when it happened. The ferocious beast that brushed past me scampered down the tree and started scratching and nibbling at my fingers, causing me to let go, and well, you know the rest."

"Scampered? That's not usually a term used when describing 'ferocious beasts' as you put it; sure you're not over exaggerating just a little...?"

She could tell he was smirking behind his mask; his voice was dripping with sarcasm. "No I'm not at all, the little bastard had it in for me; he did it on purpose!"

"I'm sure he did, and what species of 'beast' was it..?"

She chose this moment to take a sip of steaming ramen broth, murmuring into the bowl, "A chipmunk... I think..."

She waited for the fits of laughter that would undoubtedly ensue... but there was none. No laughing, no mocking, no words, nothing. Kakashi just sat there in stunned silence, his one visible eye wide in surprise.

"A... chipmunk?"

"Yeah..." she replied, waiting for the inevitable.

A twitch of the mask and a slight tremble in his upper body, and then he was off, it was too ridiculous he just couldn't help but laugh. He was in such hysterics that he fell to the floor on his side, a few tears escaped from his right eye. Toshiko sighed as she sat next to him; she started smiling in spite of herself, his laughter infectious. The smile evolved into a giggle as a hand pulled her to the floor into an affectionate hug.

"Silly Tora, afraid of a little tree critter. As adorably clumsy you are, do try to be more careful in the future."

"Does this mean you won't hold this over me?" Hoping he would spare her the torture of the whole village finding out.

"Oh, no I'm going to enjoy this one for a long, long time" he released her from his embrace and wiped the tears from his eye.

Lying on the floor, too comfortable to get up, they started talking about Kakashi's team of Genin. They were an odd bunch who had just recently passed his survival test, much to Toshiko's surprise. "Obviously I already know Naruto a little from Ichiraku's, but what are the other two like? And how on earth did they pass your test?"

He sat up with a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his head with one hand, "they're not too bad, they were the first team who actually understood the message. I'll admit, at first, I really didn't like them but they are starting to grow on me."

"And? What are the other two like, who are they again?"

"There's Sakura Haruno, a typical girl her age, too preoccupied with boys. Physically she lacks in skill but she does have a sharp mind. Then there's Sasuke Uchiha..."

"Uchiha? As in...?"

Her voice trailed away as she thought back to the boy with hair the colour of midnight and eyes that, despite matching his hair, burned with passion and vengeance.

Her friend's voice snapped her away from her thoughts "Yeah. He's turning out to be a bit of a genius, surprise, surprise. Oh and of course he and Naruto are constantly at each other's throats."

She grinned evilly; between them they probably drove Kakashi mental, "Sounds… entertaining."

He raised an eyebrow at her, she would find that amusing. "Nice to know my sanity means so much to you."

She playfully stuck her tongue out at the shinobi "Oh shush. It must be karma kicking you in the arse for all the times you're mean to me."

"I prefer the word 'torment', besides you make it too easy."

At this Toshiko decided to move the conversation on to something less likely to end in her being mocked. She was surprisingly tired and didn't have the energy for play fighting. "Have you been on any exciting missions with them yet?"

"Hmm, there was the one where we had to capture a cat... Naruto was covered in scratches by the end. Last week we had to paint the outside of a house... Naruto spilled paint on the roof, all over himself, not to mention the lady whose house it was..."

Kakashi waited for a reaction that he didn't receive. Toshiko had fallen asleep curled up on the floor next to him. She looked peaceful. He brushed her rebellious fringe across her face, his fingers resting gently on the side of her cheek for a brief moment before getting up and moving her to the comfort of the sofa. He laid a blanket over her to keep her warm, before settling down in front of the TV.

=^.^=

The sun had started its daily decent towards the horizon when Toshiko finally stirred. Kakashi glanced over at the petite kunoichi who had the blanket pulled up to her nose on the sofa, "how are you feeling now?"

"Oh you know, I'm alright."

Seeing through the upbeat tone in her voice he could sense that she was just being brave, but he was satisfied she'd be fine on her own. "How did I get on the sofa..?"

Kakashi's cheeks reddened a little beneath his ever present mask. "I moved you, thought you'd be more comfortable there. I'm going to head home now, but I'll help you upstairs to bed first. I'll come by tomorrow and see how you're doing, if you like."

*You can take me to bed anytime.* A cheeky smile played on her lips for a split second at that rather naughty thought, until it was forced away by another, *wait, what? Eww! No he's my best friend! I don't think of him like that... I don't... do I?*

The tall, silver haired ninja looked down at his friend. She looked shocked and confused, with a hint of heated embarrassment to add to the mix. "Something I said?" He asked, one wide eye staring at her.

Blushing, she quickly tried racking her brain for an excuse. "Eeerr, I-I just remembered, I forgot to file my mission report. The third's not going to be happy with me, and Iruka will probably spout some nonsense about responsibility etc. etc. I don't particularly like getting in trouble, it's such a bother."

"I'm sure they'll let you off, considering the circumstances. You get too worked up over things like that."

"And you act far too flippant about them, how many times have you been early this year 'Kashi?"

*Yes!* She thought. *I got away with it and managed to get one up on him at the same time.*

He rubbed the back of his head. She had a point, and he had no comeback. An awkward laugh escaped his lips "ok, ok you got me there. How about I come by after training and we'll visit the Hokage? I need to get the details for my team's next mission anyway."

"Mmm, ok deal. If you're late, lunch is on you."

With a resigned groan and a nod he stood up, offered a hand to Toshiko, and helped her to her room.

It looks like he'd be paying, again.