0---o---0---o---0---o---0---o---0

Chapter 14: Another Medic Ninja

0---o---0---o---0---o---0---o---0

Sakura and Naruto walked down the hallway with Kakashi following close behind them. All three of them were considerably tired, having been dragged out of bed at six in the morning. Even Naruto, who was nearly always excited, was yawning repeatedly. They had all woken up to pounding on the door by messengers, who told them the hokage wanted to see them. Apart from saying a quick "hi" when they met up, no one had said anything as they walked to the hokage's office.

"Why are we here again?" Sakura said to break the silence, "The messenger wouldn't tell me."

"Mission," Kakashi replied tiredly, short and to the point.

"It better be a good one," Naruto said, "Maybe an S rank. That's why we're up so early."

He continued rambling on and got himself more and more excited.

"Or what if-"

"Shh," Sakura put an arm out in front of him and they stopped.

They stood in front of the double doors to the hokage's office and listened intently. The echo of two voices could barely be heard through the solid doors. One was obviously Tsunade's, but Sakura couldn't place the other one. Having been Tsunade's apprentice, she knew a lot of people who had business with the hokage, but this was someone she didn't recognize. Judging by the look on his face, Naruto didn't either. Kakashi knocked on the door.

"Whoever it is you'll get to meet them soon," he said, "and you probably don't want the door to open while you're standing there with your ear to it, so stand up."

He tugged on Naruto's jacket to get him to stand up. Sakura also stood up and tried to put on a positive attitude.

Presently, Shizune opened the door and smiled at the three of them.

"Kakashi, Lady Tsunade would like to speak to you first and then all of you will be debriefed on your mission."

"All right. This will just take a minute," he said to Sakura and Naruto who both wore disappointed looks.

When the door shut behind him, Sakura said:

"Is it just me, or do you feel like we're being treated like little kids and the adults are talking about something important?"

"Yeah, and it's kinda pissing me off," Naruto said as he crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall.

They both looked at each other and then quickly put their ears to the door and listened in on the conversation.

0---o---0---o---0---o---0---o---0

Kakashi walked into the nicely furnished office and Shizune shut the door behind him. The room seemed dark, even with the lights on, from lack of sunlight. Out the window, the sun was slowly coming up, as if, like the rest of them, it didn't want it to be a new day just yet.

"Good morning, Kashi-kun."

He tore his gaze from the window and his eyes settled on Rin. She was wearing ninja attire now, a black sleeveless shirt like Sakura's, and shorts with the white apron that many female medical ninja wore. A standard pair of sandals that most Shinobi wore was on her feet and shin guards to protect her legs when she was running. Along with a shuriken holster on her leg, she wore a belt with a pouch attached to it containing medical supplies, he guessed. Right next to the pouch, on the belt, were Obito's goggles.

"Hey. Did you cut your hair?" he asked noticing that it was shorter, like how she used to wear it.

"Yeah," she replied, "I like it short."

"You look good," he complimented her.

He joined her standing in front of the hokage's desk.

"Thanks," Rin replied and turned to the person occupying the desk, "Now then, why are we here Lady Tsunade?"

Tsunade swiveled around away from the window in her chair and folded her hands on the desk. She looked up at the two Shinobi in front of her.

"Kakashi, as of today, Rin will be a part of your team, not as a student of course, but until I think she is ready to carry out missions on her own again as a chunnin. Before either of you complain"- Kakashi and Rin both closed their mouths – "know that this will only be through the course of a few missions and obviously those won't be very dangerous ones."

Kakashi considered this plan to be not a good one, medics had to stay on the sidelines and help the injured when needed. If worst came to worst, he and Naruto alone would have trouble trying to protect both Rin and Sakura…

"I don't think-"

"Well, Kakashi if you don't want her on your team I suppose I can ask Gai…" Tsunade interrupted.

"No," both Rin and Kakashi said simultaneously.

Rin smiled and Kakashi scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been really embarrassed.

"I still think I could handle this on my own, but if the alternative is going with Gai then I guess I have no choice. I've been trying to avoid him," Rin said the last sentence rather quietly.

Kakashi sighed.

"Fine."

"It's settled then," Tsunade said, "Here is your mission, all of the information is on there. I would explain, but I am particularly busy today. Kakashi, you are dismissed. The four of you are to meet at the village gates in half an hour. Rin, I'd like to talk to you a while longer, please have a seat…"

Kakashi took the paper containing the details of the mission and with one last glance at Rin, left the room.

0---o---0---o---0---o---0---o---0

"So what is it that you wanted to tell me?" Tsunade began while looking through some paperwork.

Rin took a deep breath and started to tell her story. She looked at the hokage intently and said:

"What I am about to say should remain strictly confidential between you and me."

Tsunade had a feeling that the following conversation would be an important one and that Rin had said that to get her attention, so she put down the papers and focused on the young lady in front of her.

"Go on, I'm listening," the sannin said.

Rin contemplated what she was about to say and how she was going to say it.

"Have you ever heard of an organization known as the Akatsuki?"

0---o---0---o---0---o---0---o---0

It's a little short, but I realized that if I want this story to be over 20 chapters long I should probably slow down a little. Thanks for your reviews, they are greatly appreciated!

Random notes: I figured that Gai would be in the same class as Kakashi and Rin and that he would know Rin. And as we all know, Gai can be someone you want to stay away from, as he is extremely annoying.

Also I know nobody probably cares, but the "apron" that Rin wears is like Sakura's. You know that thing that she wears over her shorts. I didn't know what else to call it so ya, that's what it is.

-kakashifangrl1012