Kiba sighed and shifted his weight to lean against the gate. What was taking them so long? It's not like they had time to kill. He sighed. A new member of the team promised to be interesting. I wonder what she's like? Maybe she will actually like to talk. Not that he wouldn't die for Shino and Hinata but sometimes a guy just wanted a good conversation.

"Here she comes," Hinata said. Together, the three friends watched the new girl approach them. She walked up to them, said something about waiting for sensei and then promptly shut up. Before any of the others could say anything, they saw Kurenai Sensei walking towards them.

"Well, then. Are we ready?" She asked when she was close enough. Kurenai let her eyes travel from one genin to another. The older three were all rearing to go and although Hataru was as well, she refused to look at the sensei. Kurenai smiled, knowing that couldn't be the case for long.

With grins, the older genin started off. Kurenai waited patiently to see Hataru start as well before bringing up the rear. They hadn't gone very far when Kiba turned to say something to Hataru.

"So, you were in ANBU? What kind of missions did you do? I doubt that you have been given real dangerous ones since you're just a kid but maybe something interesting," Kiba grinned.

Hataru positively glowered at him. "For the record, I was given quite interesting missions. And no, I can't tell you anything about them because they are classified. And I'm not a kid!" She then stormed off to take the lead.

Kurenai grinned and then frowned. Logically, it would be better for Hinata to take the lead with her byakugan. Followed by Shino, Kiba and Akamaru and then Hataru. She would stay in the rear. That way she could keep an eye on everyone and keep Hataru in her sights.

"Hataru, stop!" She called.

Hataru's ears pricked up at Kurenai's command. She grinned. If Kurenai wanted the responsibility of being her mother, then why not have some fun and see just how far she could go! So she blatantly ignored the Jounin's order. She heard the other shinobi gasp. They wouldn't dream of disobeying their sensei. But she was more than just my sensei. This could be fun!

No sooner had the thought popped into her head than she heard a rustle of fabric and she ran smack into something in front of her. With a startled cry, Hataru fell back onto her butt. She looked up to find Kurenai glaring down at her. Before Hataru could get up on her own, the sensei hefted her and held her at arms length.

"When I give an order, I expect to be obeyed without hesitation. I only give orders for the safety of this team but that is only as effective as the team mates themselves. So next time, you will listen! Do I make myself clear?" She glared, her red eyes focused upon her daughter's face.

Hataru glared right back but no matter how much she struggled, Haruka had made sure she could not fight herself free of this shinobi. Through gritted teeth, Hataru ground out an answer that Kurenai found acceptable. Kurenai set the girl down gently on her feet. She then turned her eyes upon the others.

"Hinata, you will take front, using you byakugan, Shino, you and your insects will be next followed by Kiba and Akamaru. Hataru, you will be next and I will bring up the rear. Are there any questions?" The round of no's from her team sounded a bit shaky, Kurenai thought. No doubt they were all thinking twice about getting on her bad side. Good. There was no time to waste.

Once the team had organized themselves into the proper places, they took to the trees. It made for faster travel time and no one would expect it of them. Once more, Kurenai found her eyes drawn to the young one in front of her. She had already thought to test the waters. Kurenai wondered what would be next. After all, according to the Hokage, this was only the beginning. And Kurenai was not going to take it lazing about.

Hataru was angry. It wasn't fair. No one had ever had the ability to just toss her around like that. So why would Haruka allow it now? What if Kurenai and Asuma turned on her? How could she hope to fight against them? Seems like this law is flawed, she thought. But, there was no way she was going to back down from Kurenai. That wasn't her style. She faced things head on! So let these shinobi bring it because she was ready.

So it was, that as Team Kurenai traveled ever closer to their quarry, each was lost in their own thought. Kurenai Sensei wondered how she could bring Hataru around to her way of thinking, Hataru was thinking the same about Kurenai and the other three just wanted to know what the heck was going on between their sensei and newest team mate.

Lady Tsunade stood, staring out the window in her office. It was a window that overlooked the village so she had a great view point. She was currently lost in thought though as she pondered the enigma that was Hataru. The girl was stubborn and Tsunade had no doubt that she would be troublesome for Kurenai. And she had yet to meet Asuma. That would be interesting. Asuma and Kurenai were both quite laid back but Asuma wasn't one to sit back and let his wife be battered at. If that was Hataru's plan, she might be singing a different tune the first time it happened in front of her father.

Tsunade grinned, knowing that neither Kurenai nor Asuma would have a problem bending the princess over their knees for a good spanking. Not if she really pushed them enough to deserve it. Oh, this was going to be interesting.

Tsunade looked up as Shizune opened the door. "Lady Tsunade! They have returned! Shall I send them in?"

"Yes, at once!" Now all she had to do was to discuss this delicate situation with everyone else who needed to be involved.

"Lady Hokage, we have returned from our mission," came a deep masculine voice.

Tsunade turned to see a jounin and his team standing before her. The jounin was a man with dark hair and sideburns that came down to meet for a neat short beard. He was quite good looking and always had a cigarette in his mouth, lit or otherwise. His eyes were an intelligent brown.

"Welcome home, Team Asuma," Tsunade said. This team was composed of Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji. They were all skilled in their clans Justus.

"Here is our report, Hokage. Do you have anything else?" Asuma asked.

"Yes. I'm afraid I have to send your team out again immediately. But before you go, I need a word with you Asuma; alone," Tsunade said, briskly.

Asuma raised his eyebrows with interest. What had happened? He briefly wondered if Yuuko was ok, but he would have been alerted immediately if anything had happened to his young son. The same of Kurenai. Nodding for his team to depart, Asuma awaited Tsunade.

Tsunade had to smile. Oh yes, Hataru would be interesting in the coming weeks. She could hardly wait!

As the sun was going down, Kurenai decided the team would make camp in a small clearing in the woods. To be safe, she also decided someone should keep the watch. Since she was the Jounin, she decided she would be the one to do so, despite objections by the rest of the team.

"Kurenai Sensei, we are all trained enough to keep watch in shifts. You shouldn't do the whole night," Kiba said, crossing his arms.

"It would stand to reason, that some sleep is better than no sleep," Shino added.

Hinata said nothing but blush shyly and looked down. Regardless of her silence, the three of them stood a united front. Kurenai sighed. The only one not badgering her was Hataru and that was a welcome relief. She had listened to her and Kiba bicker and argue the whole three days they had been together. It was tiring. And Hataru was doing it merely to try and upset her. She had tactfully turned a deaf ear. At least they weren't killing each other.

"Listen. I don't need as much sleep as you lot and I know what I'm looking for. So it would be pointless to let you keep watch. This man does not have a chakra signal you can pinpoint. He is way different than that," She said. The team muttered among themselves but had no choice but to comply. Kurenai breathed a sigh of relief when she heard a voice behind her.

"They may not know what to look for, but I do. I can easily take a watch. I can even do the whole night. What's a little lost sleep to ensure the protection of the team?" Hataru spoke up. She really didn't care that much about this team but she was afraid to sleep, in case that dream came back to her. She also wanted some time to herself.

Kurenai turned to her, arms crossed. She seemed to study Hataru for a moment before shaking her head.

"Out of the question. You, more than anyone else need to sleep. And I don't want you heading off into the forest by yourself."

Hataru couldn't believe her ears. Was she seriously being told no because Kurenai didn't want to trust her? Of course she was right. Hataru had planned on going for a good walk tonight but she wasn't going to admit that. Hataru had also noticed that Kurenai was always speaking to her differently. More than just the professional tone of a sensei addressing her student could be heard in her voice. It irked Hataru something awful.

"This is so unfair. I really just think that the Hokage is out to get me. She had to stick me with you, of all people. Someone who isn't even willing to trust or have faith in her students. Thanks a lot!" Hataru all but snarled her displeasure. Kurenai's eyes had gone hard. Gone was the softness that she reserved for her students and family. Here was a warrior ready for battle as she squared off against her 12 year old adversary.

In one quick move, she found herself in front of Hataru. The girl tried to back up but wasn't fast enough. Kurenai took her by the arm and dragged her into the forest. She dragged Hataru, despite the girl's struggling, deeply into the forest. They came upon another clearing that had some tree trunks in the earth. Kurenai sat on one, took her daughter and forced her to the seat opposite. She was angry of course. But more then that was the realization that Hataru mattered to her. She mattered to her every bit as much as her husband and son that waited at home. And because of this, Kurenai would not allow this errant child to spew whatever she wanted to herself or anyone else. She would nip it in the bud.

Hataru struggled not to cry as she was immobilized under Kurenai's gaze. She had crossed a line and she knew there would be consequences.

"We will talk this out, Hataru." Kurenai said softly.

Hataru found herself unwilling to look at her Sensei or even to lift her head. But, she was unable to shut her ears so she was forced to listen.

With a sigh, Kurenai addressed the top of Hataru's head. "I understand that you don't like this situation, Hataru. I, despite what you may think, also have to adjust to it. I can't do anything about these feelings for you…"

At this, the girl's head shot up and Kurenai saw fear flash across her face so fast before vanishing that she wondered if she had seen it at all. Kurenai frowned, wondering what she had said to cause the child such fear. She thought back over her words and suddenly froze. A sick feeling arose within her, and then one of such fury that the jonin struggled to breathe while keeping her emotions off her face. That anyone could think to abuse a child in such a manner!

Thinking quickly, Kurenai was suddenly kneeling on the ground in front of Hataru. She lifted the girls face back up so she could look her in the eye.

"When I say I have feelings for you Hataru, I am talking about the kind of feelings that a mother would only have for her children. The feelings that make me want to hold you because of every hardship you have had in your young life. Feelings that tell me that you have never been loved nor held when you cried. The same feelings that tell me I will love you, no matter what. If you scream and rage at me or choose to never speak to me, I will still love you. That is my right, as a mother." Kurenai stared at Hataru and saw the play of emotions but wasn't entirely sure she had convinced her.

Hataru frowned, when Kurenai released her. She found herself wanting to believe the sensei but her fear of rejection wouldn't let her. After all, the jonin had only met Hataru so there was no way she could have all those feelings already. Was there?

"Now listen! I'm going to make an honest effort here. I want us to be comfortable around one another. But I expect the same consideration from you as well," Kurenai said, watching her daughter. Hataru hesitated but then nodded in understanding.

Kurenai smiled and stood. With a slightly less enthusiastic look, Hataru got up to follow her back to camp.

Once back at camp, Kurenai noted with approval that the tents were set up and the others had dinner cooking. Hataru excused herself to go wash up in the creek that lay just a few trees away. Kurenai watched her go and then turned to help with the rest of preparations. Hinata was preparing spits for the rabbits that Shino and Kiba had managed to hunt. Kurenai noticed a lack of wood and kindling so she went to go gather some dry stuff into the woods.

Going near the creek, Kurenai heard splashing and glanced up to see Hataru giving her face a good scrub. She had also taken it upon herself to refill all the team canteens. Kurenai smiled and made her way back to the fire when she thought there was enough fuel for the night.

"The food is just about ready," Hinata said with a shy smile.

"The tents are all set up and good to go as well," Kiba said.

"Excellent," Kurenai said, as Hataru joined them.

Everyone gathered around the fire as Hinata handed out plates of rabbit skewers and rice. There was silence as the food was devoured with only the occasional sound of appreciation, from Kiba.

Hataru was deep in thought as she ate. So much had happened in the last few days. She went from doing political missions for the Hokage to finding out she had parents to being placed on a team of genin. And now to finally face one of those in the sect that had attempted the coup against her family.