I am so so so sorry that I have neglected this like I have. All I can say is that my hard drive cracked losing all my stored data, and then life decided to throw some curve balls at me. I will try to keep a more regular update schedule during the summer. I would like to thank the few readers that I have, and I hope the long hiatus won't discourage you from reading. feedback is welcomed and appreciated but not necessary. Once again I don't own anything attributed to the anime or manga.

Chapter 4

Kimi entered the office and immediately took up the spot along the wall that was close the door but had the advantage of seeing all the other points of entry and exits. As she surveyed the room, she wondered why the hokage and her council sit with their backs toward the window, but that was cut short when Lady Tsunade acknowledged her with a slight nod Tsunade then stated, "It is good to see you made it the team that you will be assisting should be here shortly."

Kimi simply nodded before she went back to surveying the room while she waited knowing that she wouldn't learn the mission till the others got there. There were three other people in the room: Lady Tsunade's first apprentice and special Jonin Shizune; academy teacher and Chunin Iruka; and another council member whose name she did not know. A few minutes passed before three distinct sets of footsteps could be determined. She looked up at Lady Tsunade and said, "I believe the team is almost here." Shortly thereafter three very well known ninjas entered. The first one was Naruto Uzumaki who finally got rid of the ridiculous orange jumpsuit she last saw him wearing, the next was Sakura Haruno second apprentice of Lady Tsunade in medical ninjutsu, and the final person was Kakashi Hatake a well known Jonin. Kakashi was also the only one to glance her way before taking his place next to his team in the center of the room.

Tsunade soon started the mission briefing mentioning that it was escorting a gold convoy. All Kimi could think was, "Is this really what you consider a big mission Lady Tsunade or did someone twist your arm. In reality, I would rather stay on patrol duty than deal with whining clients who try to tell you how to do your job." She soon got her answer as she saw Shizune pale after Naruto's outburst about this mission. Actually the whole scene was pretty comical, especially when Sakura decided to try to get through to Naruto in the form of a headlock.

Soon quick approaching footsteps caught Kimi's attention, the only reasons for someone to approach the Hokage's office that quickly is an emergency or an attempt on Lady's Tsunade's life. The first option was more likely in this case. At that moment a woman entered, she made her way across the room grasping a sheet of paper in her hand. She mentioned that they received a level one emergency message from the Sand Village, and she had decrypted it as quickly as possible. With the mention of this message the atmosphere changed from light and comical to serious in the matter of seconds. Kimi carefully watched Lady Tsunade as she read the message, and the frown that crossed her features was all she needed to know just how serious this was.

After a few moments of silence, Tsunade said, "The Akatsuki attacked the Sand Village and targeted the Kazekage. Since our village has the most knowledge on the Akatsuki they have asked for our assistance, and so there has been a change Team Kakashi along with Kimi Asano will lend aid to the Sand Village." A few things transpired the first being Shizune's attempt to change Lady Tsunade's mind, but that was met with Tsunade saying, "There is no time to gather another team besides Kakashi already has experience fighting members of the Akatsuki, and they will have an extra member for this mission."

That brought attention back the second issue who exactly was Kimi. Especially when Naruto said, "Grandma we have no time to wait for another person to get here and besides we don't need another person." Kimi took this time to appraise the two younger team members; she noted that Naruto was serious but there was an undercurrent of anger toward her, and Sakura tried to cover the fact that she didn't like what was going on.

Kimi decided that it was time to diffuse the situation a little. "Naruto I am Kimi Asano, and I have been here the whole time so there is no need to wait or get me caught up," she saw that he was about to interrupt so she continued," Before you go on your long list of questions I am a Chunin, and no I will not be a permanent fixture to this team actually this may be the only mission we go on together."

Naruto still wasn't completely satisfied with the answer. "Why are you even coming with us; don't you have your own team to work with instead of stealing someone else's spot?" Before Kimi could respond he turned to Sakura and said, "How can you be so calm about this? We just went through a training session to prove we could still work together as a team, and she is just given this spot. How do we know we can trust her to have our backs?"

Lady Tsunade had enough and intervened before anyone including Kimi, who at the moment was staring blankly out the window, and yelled, "Naruto that is enough. Kimi is an exceptional Chunin and like you this is her first mission in a while."

Before Lady Tsunade could finish Kimi raised her hand to cut her off. She then turned to Naruto and said, "Boy, if you would have listened to my introduction, I said that I have no intention on staying with this team past this mission. I am merely a floater at the moment until Lady Tsunade and the elders decide what to do with me. As for the issue of trust, it is true that the only thing you have to go on is the fact that I too am a Leaf Shinobi, but that should be enough of a reason. With that, I say we stop this discussion so we can start this mission, which seems to mean more to you than just answering the call for help of an ally nation."

Lady Tsunade simply nodded and said, "All of you should gather your gear and meet at the village gates immediately for departure."

Kimi then followed Team Kakashi out of the building, where Naruto and Sakura left to gather their gear. Just as she was about to leave she heard Kakshi say, "I must apologize for Naruto. He doesn't think before he speaks or acts most of the time, unfortunately."

"What is there to forgive? There were valid points and truth in what he spoke. Besides in a life where lying and being deceitful is taught and essential to survival it is nice to see someone so honest," Kimi stated while staring at the back of the Jonin's head, who only nodded in acknowledgement.

She heard his book shut and saw him turning to face her. He then said, "I want you to know that while on this mission you are under my command."

Kimi wasn't going to listen to this so she interrupted him, "Let's cut the crap. I know you are saying that because you don't fully trust me, and I don't blame you. Actually I would question your qualification as a shinobi if I had your full trust right off the back. I will follow your orders, but I will not be treated like I am glass or be sat on the sideline for that has happened long enough. I am fully capable of being in the front lines actually you would probably want me there. I would try to offer help from the backlines if that is what you saw as the best option for success, but I have no long range weaponry skills or medical skills. Like I said there it is your decision because this is your team to begin with and I am just and extra shinobi trying to prove that she can go back on active duty."

"Kimi, you know recognize more than most ninja of this era of relative peace. I will take into what you told me about your skills into consideration, and I am glad to hear that you will abide by my commands," he said before poofing away.

Kimi actually had all her gear with her before she met with the Hokage that was one lesson she learned from her Genin years, but she took this time to visit her father. She walked the busy streets toward the interrogation department, a building that very few entered willingly. She was greeted by the guards before she entered, and then headed up to her father's office. She knocked on the door while saying, "Father it is me, Kimi."

Daisuke greeted his daughter while saying, "I thought you would have already been gone or at least at the meeting area."

"I would have, but I thought that you should know there was a change of plans," Kimi replied. Her father nodded indicating that she should continue, and so she did, "There was an emergency mission to the sand village that came up; so Lady Tsunade reassigned Team Kakashi, the team that I am helping, to this mission."

"Don't worry about telling your mother, I will take care of that. Just be careful and come back to us breathing and in one piece," he said as he brought Kimi into his arms and placed a kiss to her forehead. She would never admit it, but these were the rare moments she cherished. Kimi then left heading toward the village gate to wait for the rest of the team to depart.

----------------Meanwhile in the Hokage's office------------

"Lady Tsunade are your sure that you should be sending that team not only are you sending Naruto to a place where the Akatsuki are involved but you are also sending Kimi to the Sand Village? How can you be sure that she can handle the stress of going to one of the villages that was involved in the crisis that caused her team to fall apart," Shizune questioned.

Tsunade had had enough so she forcibly replied, "Are you questioning me again? Kimi is a lot stronger then all of you are giving her credit for. If she was going to snap she would have done it by now. She understands the true meaning of the life of a shinobi unlike so many others her age. Naruto has grown not only in strength but also in determination, and if anyone can save Gaara it is him."

Shizune looked at the ground before speaking up once again, "I understand and will not question your decision, but are you sure Kimi will be alright on that team? I mean you saw how Naruto grilled her."

"I did, but I also saw how she handled it. Shizune don't you understand she understands the pain both Naruto and Sakura feel about being betrayed by a teammate, but unlike them she do not see the drive to want to get that member back. She has come to terms with it as much as a young woman her age can. I think we were in the wrong for keeping her back for this long," Tsunade replied.

-------------------Back at the Gate----------------------

All members arrived at the gate at approximately the same time, and Kimi could clearly see that Naruto wanted to head out as soon as possible. She couldn't really blame him she wanted to start her first mission in two years, but she knew that Naruto's reason was not nearly as selfish as her own. That boy really was a mystery, he had greeted her like he had known her most of their life when in reality neither one knew much about the other. All she could do was assume that this was his way of accepting her as part of the team for this mission. She soon looked back at the gates and noticed that Lady Tsunade and Iruka were there to see them off.

She gave a simple nod to reassure the Hokage that she didn't make a wrong decision. Kimi turned back around to start the head off when Jiraiya poofed in front of them. All Kimi could think is that too many ninja like poofing places a little too much. She watched as Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged looks that communicated volumes between the two of them, but Kimi could only guess that he wasn't sure on the decision about letting this team handle the mission. She then watched as Jiraiya asked Kakashi if he could trust him with Naruto's safety which seemed odd to her. Why would Jiraiya have to ask that if Kakashi was the original squad's teacher? Isn't it the job of the teacher to protect their students? Finally Jiraiya turned to Naruto to give him a warning about not using some sort of power. All Kimi could think was that she was missing some critical information, and that she somehow drawn the short stick to have to be associated with this particular team.