The next morning, Takani walked up to the front of the Academy. The door was locked, so she sat out front, waiting. The early morning birds were chirping. She closed her eyes and smiled, listening to the beautiful song.

"Hey, who're you?"

Takani looked up. A girl stood there. She was wearing a pink shirt and blue pants and her brown hair was in two buns. She smiled down at Takani.

"Who's there?" a boy's voice asked.

"I don't know. Didn't you hear me ask? She hasn't answered yet. Why don't you use the Byakugan for something useful, for once?"

The boy sighed. "I can't see her name, Tenten. Please, do not joke. We're on a mission."

"What kind of mission is going around town, trying to find a tutor for a pre-genin?"

"Any mission, no matter how small, must be taken and fulfilled with the utmost precision!" a second boy's voice rang out. He was wearing a green jumpsuit and orange legwarmers. The first boy had pale eyes and a serious expression.

"So, kid, what's your name?"

Takani didn't answer. She stared at Tenten for a moment before smiling. Then, she crouched down on the ground and wrote out her name.

Tenten smiled. The three Genin talked for a moment before turning to her.

"So, you are the one we have been assigned to escort?" the one in the green jumpsuit said. He had unnaturally large eyes.

"It's not an escort, Lee. We're walking a child around town, apparently because she is underage and cannot speak. Takani, how old are you?" the one with the pale eyes asked.

Takani held out five fingers. Tenten raised her eyebrows, but didn't say anything.

"Way underage, huh? Are you good?"

Takani shrugged.

"Well, if we are to help her, we must first introduce ourselves. I am Rock Lee, he is Neji, and she is Tenten," Rock Lee said.

"Let's get this over with, already. I haven't trained for this long just to play babysitter. Come on, kid."

Takani stood up and followed the three Genin into town. Rock Lee led the group, strutting through as though this mission was as serious as a real battle. Tenten followed closely, chatting with the people they passed, and Neji, surprisingly, walked alongside Takani in silence.

As they walked, Takani examined Neji's face. His pale eyes revealed that he was a Hyuga. From studying Hinata Hyuga in the Academy, Takani had also learned that all Hyugas had the power of the Byakugan.

"What?" Neji asked, seeing Takani staring.

Takani shook her head. He slightly raised his eyebrows, and the corners of his mouth almost reached a smile, but he caught himself and his face was serious again.

"Do you have any special techniques?" Neji asked. Tenten turned around in surprise.

"Making small talk with a little kid? That's so unlike you, Neji."

Neji didn't answer. He waited for Takani to talk, or at least respond.

She nodded. He looked at her questioningly. What kind of special technique could a five year old have?

She just smiled and put a finger on her lips. Neji rolled his eyes and kept walking. Children were so frustrating.

Lee had stopped at a small shop and was talking to the owner. He was a large man wearing an apron.

"Lee, what are you doing now? How could he help us?"

"Gai-sensei says that even the most insignificant person could hold useful information."

The man shook his head, and Lee sighed. The first person had been asked for help and already there was none. But Lee's spirit couldn't be crushed.

"There are always more to ask," he said.

Neji didn't say anything for the rest of the day. Person after person, even a few Chunin and Jonin, and there was no success. At the end of the day, even Lee was tired. Tenten had been bored from the first moment on, but Neji had been thinking the whole time, still wondering what special jutsu a five-year-old could have.

"I hope you find someone to teach you," Lee said as his team left. Then he cracked Takani a big smile and patted her on the head. Tenten rolled her eyes and ran off.

Neji came up to Takani and looked at her for a moment. "I'm still confused as to what special technique you have," he said. Takani looked down and kicked the ground, unsure. Should she tell him or not?

She shook her head and Neji nodded. Then he turned and left. As he got farther away, he heard a voice. "Think Sasuke!"

He whirled around, but no one was there. He shook his head and ran to catch up with Tenten and Lee.