We walked to the front gate, the three genin whispering behind me. I should have known that they would get curious about me, who wouldn't be wondering about me? I'm sure they think I'm insane, I really need to stop outright treating them like subordinates. Though today they will be helping me, in the guise of their own training.

As we made it to the gate, two familiar chakra flares alerted me to who was on duty. Usually, for what I was having the children do, I would have used the backwoods still in the village's close barrier. Something was bothering me though and I felt the need to see one of the few people who were not overly critically of me. While my encounter with Kotetsu was still fresh in mind, this encounter was more calculated than for personal needs.

"Hello!" I heard Izumo yell towards us, probably more for the sight of people coming than realising who was coming.

As we came closer, I hear a small surprised sound come when he realized just who was coming. "Yo, Kai-chan! Are you are a mission!? I knew I'd be seeing you out and about after you got back on your feet." I heard Kotetsu yell out.

I scratched the back of my head, Kotetsu was always so loud. "Maa, maa... not yet, still village bound. Just taking Kaka-nii's team out for a little training exercise." The kids were far enough back that I doubted they heard my slip of calling Kakashi by my pet name.

"That's what Hokage-sama has you doing?" Kotetsu laughed. "That orange one is a handful... Though since he became a genin, we've been stuck here more and more. Though the Honorable-Grandson is starting to become a pest as well."

The three genin finally caught up, looking at me like I've gone another head. Guess I was being more lively now than they have seen the last few days. "Well, I'm sure you'll get something fun soon enough, Ko-kun." I looked around the silly Chunin to his partner, "I'm sure you enjoy the quiet, right Zu-kun? Keeping this one quiet is a chore in itself, neh."

Izumo, like everyone else, did not seem to know how to approach speaking to me. He nodded though, taking a queue from his partner. "He hasn't changed from before you left. Still addicted to that syrup."

I shook my head in false shame. "And that is why you're still a chunin, Ko-kun."

Kotetsu pouted, though our exchange was interrupted by three loud three clearings. "Well.. Anyways, I have this pass from Hakage-sama." I pulled a paper with the Hokage seal from my kunai pouch and handed it to Izumo, who examined the paper.

"Well, this is in order. You have a five kilometer radius from the from gate, still inside the outer barrier." Izumo stated, reading the orders.

"Hai." I nodded, "We should only be out from about two to three hours. I'll send a message if that changes."

We started to the gate, "Have fun Kai-chan!" Kotetsu called out as we left the village.

The moment I felt the slight tinge from the inner barrier, it was as if a weight was release and I was able to finally breathe. I smiled, looking at the three. They seem perplexed, probably from that display with the gate guards.

Kotetsu and Izumo were classmates from the academy. We did not have many classes, but we graduated around the same time. Funnily enough, we did not really interact until Kotetsu was placed with me and Hana in our final Chunin exam. He was older, yes, but we made a good team. We worked together as chunin, Izumo as well. It was not until close to the end that I realized that I could possibly having feelings for Kotetsu, which I shamefully used for my own selfish means. I had thought some kind of relationship would fill the parts that had shattered of me. I knew I had hurt him when I left; but he probably does not know why I left, my drive to severe all my ties here. I did not want him to learn, it was one of the few things not truly tainted by him.

I did a few hand-signs after biting my thumb to draw blood. How much blood must we waster? Even outside of batles and missions, some much is wasted, so many die. I press my hand to the ground, seals forming from my blood in a circle from my hand. My blood for your services, my services for your blood. Four hounds apperaed, the giant mastiff, Haru; a black and white speckled beagle named Momo, my first official summon that I trained; and twin black labs, Toki my worrier and toji my hopeful one. They were my youngest pups, I had only had them for around a year when I last summoned them.

The pups looked at me, Haru standing stoically as the other three tackled me to the ground. "Kai! Kai! Where have you been?" Momo questioned, the other two barking. I never got around to teaching the twins much human speech, though I was sure Haru worked with them, it just was not in a dog's nature to speak in another creature's tongue without training from their handler.

I pushed them off of me, crouching to pet hold them down. "Calm down!" I commanded, my authority as their 'master' settling them. "We'll talk later." There was a whine from the twins, who struggled against my chokehold on them.

I stood, looking at the three genin, the dogs being rounded up by Haru. "Today we'll be gathering some herbs for the medical corps." I pulled three pieces of paper from my pocket, unfolding them slowly. "All these herbs can be found quickly, though the dogs can only sniff them out when close." I looked at my three pups, they had gotten so big and matured in my absence. "Momo, Toki, Toji, I want you to meet Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. Pick whichever you want to work with." I smiled, raising my hand for them to move out.

Momo sniffed over to Naruto, who stiffened as she jumped up to his knee. "You smell like chicken!" She was such a weird little thing, the smallest of my ninken, though the elder of my personal trained and like a leader to Toki and Toji.

"She wants you to pet her brat." I said to Naruto, who looked at me with a slight glare. "Introduce yourself, she won't bite unless your hostile or I give the command." I looked at the other two as Naruto started to pet Momo behind the ear. Toki was nosing Sasuke's hand, trying to get him to pet him with a small whine in her throat. Toji was on Sakura's shoulders, licking the frightened girls face.

Laughing I called them all to attention. "Now that you lot has become acquainted, here is your individaul assignments." I walked to each, handing them a slip of paper each. "Each list is localized to a particular section of our allotted radius. Go further out and you will be tied to a stump till I deem you learned your lesson. ANBU has more important things to do than track brats a few feet from the barrier. The dogs will know where you can't go, follow them." I looked at Sasuke and Sakura, "Toji! Toki!" The dogs looked up as their names were called. "I know it's been a while, but try and talk to the kiddos, kay. Now, Sakura and Sasuke, Toki and Toji aren't very adept to speaking to humans. They can understand you, just be open to understanding." I looked at Naruto and Momo, who was sitting at Naruto's left side. "Naruto, Momo is fully articulate. Listen to her, she's small but strong. Momo, don't go chasing squirrels or birds."

The three genin nodded, Naruto asking, "What about you Senpai? And who's the big dog."

Haur grumped, looking at the boy. "My name is Haru, pup. Listen to your captain and don't question."

"Now, now Haru, be nice. I'll be doing another assignment with Haru. Now, it shouldn't take long for you to get the items; when you have them, come back here." I said, pulled some wire and kunai out. I tied the wire to the kunai and threw it over a tree limb and caught it before stabbing it into the ground. I tied a blue ribbon around the wire about chest high. "We'll meet back here. The first one to return, take the ribbon so I know who made it back. And don't try and lie, the dogs will let me know the truth. Now scatter."

The teams left, leaving me with Haru. "Now what are we doing pup?" Haru growled out, though more from his normal tone than anger.

"I have some errands to run. You can either stay here or follow." I smiled.

"Are you going to get yourself in more trouble?"

"No, just getting some food for the kids and pups."

His head lifted up, "I'll stay here and watch the ribbon. Pick up some treats for the pups, they may not seem so but they are pretty sore that you left them so long." Haru laid down in a sunny spot by my kunai marker.

"You just want some of those Inuzuka treats." I laughed. Haru growled low and laided his head on his front paws. "Fine, I get some."

I made my way back to the front gate, Izumo and Kotetsu looking at a merchant's pass as I silently came up. The merchant was leaving as I entered. "Back so soon? Do we need to send a party to find the kids?" Kotetsu joked, though it hit a chord.

I smiled, shaking my head from the unwelcome feeling in my chest. "No, they're looking for herbs. I'm going to make a picnic basket for them."

Kotetsu laughed, slapping Izumo on the back. "You hear that Zuzu? Kai-chan, Ms. Rough-and-tumble herself is being motherly and getting kiddos lunch."

I glared at my once former teammate, crossing my arms. "I guess I won't pick up something for you two. Sorry Zu, Kotetsu just lost you a store bento box."

Kotetsu pouted, "Don't punish us, Kai! I'm sorry... Just nice to see that scratchy face of yours."

"First you question my femininity, and now you're insulting my face? Really, who taught you your manners?"

Izumo stood up, putting his hand over Kotetsu's mouth. "Kai-chan, I'm sorry for his mouth. Food would be nice, though I wouldn't blame you for forgetting this numb-skull."

I smiled, "Hai, I'll grab something for you." I walked off, waving off the grunts from the mouth-covered chunin.

I walked to the civilian sector, looking for an address I had hastily written this morning. My pulse raced slightly as I neared the townhouse. Knocking on the door, I gulped before it opened, revealing a blonde woman with triangular peak on her forehead. "How may I help you?" She asked, smiling in the wide open door.

"Ma'am, hello. My name is Hatake Kai, I'm currently overseeing the training of your daughter..."

I was cut off with a squeal and found myself being pulled into the house. The air had the aroma of flower blossoms, making the sitting room in which I was unceremonially dumped into. There was the sound of cups being gathered and footsteps from the upstairs. The house was a standard civilian townhouse, the sitting room and kitchen on the first floor, while the second held anywhere from two to four bedrooms. I looked at the small circular window that let light in, wondering if I could escape when the woman re-entered, a fuchsia haired man with petaled styled hair.

"Hello Hatake-san." The woman greeted me, setting a tea service on the coffee table. "What do with owe this honor?"

I smiled, "Haruno-san and Haruno-san, this is too much. I'm just here to ask what foods Sakura likes... It's just Kai." My voice was low, uncertain in this unfamiliar family room, I've never had this.

Sakura's mother shook her head, pouring some tea. "Mebuki, Kai-chan." She set the tea in front of me. She poured tea for herself and her husband, both of the sitting on the other side of the cooffee table from me. "Nothing is too much for those teaching our daughter. We've tried having your brother over for dinner, but the he never seems to be found."

I laughed, "Kakashi is a reserved man. Don't take offense."

Her husband set his tea down. "I was surprised when Hokage-sama asked for our permission for you to work with Sakura while Hatake-san is in the hospital, though I did not see any reason against it. He is well, I hope, Hatake-san."

"Yes, he got out yesterday. He should be back with the team by Monday." I bit my bottom lip before continuing. "Thank you for your permission." I bowed my head.

"No, need to be so formal!" Sakura's father boomed, "You are the White Flower of Konoha, it is an honor to have you work with our daughter. Particularly with your absence from active duty." There was a undertone to his voice, making me wonder what he knew. Doing damage control probably should be my next thing on my To-Do List.

I smiled, hiding behind my teacup for a moment. I set it down, replying, "Thank you for your confidence. Like I said earlier, I was wondering what foods Sakura likes. I planning to do a picnic when the team is done with their training exercise, and I realized I did not know what Sakura would eat."

Mebuki smiled, "That's a nice thing to do." She stood up, "I actually just made some dumplings, they're Sakura's favorites. There's more than enough for you and the rest of her team."

"You don't have to, Haruno-san."

"No, no. I want to. Sakura is so closed off about the team since they came back. Though she came home yesterday from an errand with some light." Mebuki smiled, "She said she talked to you. She may not seem to be, but our flower is a bit shy about things."

Probably more abrasive about your loud-mouths I thought slightly bitterly. Why were parents so different. "She's a good kid, she has a lot of potential."

A clock chimed in the background and I stood, "Sorry to run, but I should probably get back before they realize I left." I started to leave the room with their acknowledgement, I turned at the entry way. "I have one final request. It may seem weird, but if Sakura asks about anything personal pertaining to me, who my brother is or my family name. It's nothing officially being ordered... I just like not having to worry about what they think of me."

I knew I let some vulnerability slip, but it seemed to work with parents. Wonder what it would be like if father and mother had lived. "Of course, I understand." Former genin, like the rest of their neighbors. Military trained into their core even if they try and deny its presence.

I bowed before leaving the townhouse, thanking the couple.

Lot longer than I thought... Almost twice the normal length of others :D

Anyways, let me know what you think! I'm watching Agent Carter, love Dominic Cooper... STAN LEE!

Lots of Love and Admiration,
H. Kai & Co.