Bright Eyes: The Unsung Ninja: A Naruto Story

by GeneralWildfire

A kunoichi's exploits have gone unsung in the world of ninja...until now! Sara Uchiha is a young ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village, trying to find her place in the world while keeping an eye on her mischievious friend, Naruto Uzamaki.

16. Bright Eyes: The Unsung Ninja: Part 16

DISCLAIMER: Some of the text and characters are from Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto, which I do not own. Only the characters & text that were not in the original manga/anime series are mine.

Recap: After a fight between our Bright Eyed kunoichi and her knuckle headed friend, Naruto left the village to train with Jiraiya for three years. Meanwhile, Sasuke is with Orochimaru and Sakura is training with Tsunade. Sara is trying to figure out how to up her training so she can stay within the same league as her teammates.

Lord Yuudai

Sara moaned in protest as she felt someone shaking her shoulder. A familiar voice said, "Bright Eyes! Bright Eyes get up!" She sat bolt upright colliding with someone's nose.

"Damn it!" Kakashi said holding his nose, "I didn't think you'd sit up like that!"

Sara glared at him, "You shouldn't have done that to begin with!" She glanced around the room, looking for the tell-tale signs that Kakashi had used a transformation jutsu. "How did you do that?"

Kakashi smiled and said, "I'm pretty good at mimicking without using a transformation jutsu."

"It's a cool talent…so long as you don't do something like that!" Sara said, fondly punching his shoulder.

He laughed and said, "Get out of bed already! I have to start training you so you don't fall behind your teammates."

Sara sighed, "I haven't fond anyone who's in the same category as the Tsunade or Jiraiya to train me."

"I'll have you know," Kakashi said a glint in his eye. "That I come pretty close to being in that category!"

Sara smiled, "But what about when you're not here to train me?"

"You can train those mongrels of yours until I think of something," Kakashi muttered.

"They're not mongrels!" Sara said, instantly defending her dogs.

Kakashi changed the subject, "And you'll also have missions." Sara watched as concern flickered in his gaze.

Sara reassured him, "If I'm not paired with you on my missions, I'll be sure to be careful!"

Kakashi smiled and pulled her into a one-armed embrace, "I know you will be, but I can't help worrying about you."

"I worry about you too," Sara said, cuddling against him.

"Get out of bed," Kakashi said, smiling as he got up and walked towards her bedroom door. He called over his shoulder, "Breakfast will be ready soon, so I suggest you hurry before I eat it all!"

"No you wouldn't," Sara called back to him, as she got out of bed. "You don't want to be chubby!"

Kakashi stopped and turned around, "You know for a fact that I'm not!"

"I know," Sara said, trying to contain her laughter. "I just like seeing your reaction when I bring it up!"

Kakashi shook his head half in disbelief, half in annoyance as he made his way downstairs.

As Sara showered and dressed she thought, making sure she was blocking Kakashi, with Naruto gone, things seem really different around here…I hope Master Kakashi doesn't think he needs to be…for lack of a better term…one of the kids!

Sara bolted down the stairs, once she was dressed, and hugged a startled Kakashi.

"What's this for?" Kakashi asked, sounding suspicious.

"Can't I just hug you?" Sara questioned.

Kakashi smiled at her and hugged her back. He asked, as he reluctantly pulled away, "Care to help me by setting the table?"

"Sure!" Sara replied happily quickly setting out the silverware and plates. Kakashi glanced over his shoulder and smiled at her, as he easily placed two eggs and some bacon on each plate.

Just as they both sat down they heard a tapping on the kitchen window. Kakashi glanced at the window and muttered darkly, "That woman can't leave me in peace for one minute."

Sara listened to the series of taps the bird was making and said slowly, "I think…it's a mission for me…"

Kakashi listened more intently. Sara watched as his face went from annoyance to anger. He stood up leaving his breakfast untouched and walked towards the door. Sara rose to follow him but he said, "No, eat your breakfast. You can meet me there after I've had a talk with our Hokage."

Sara sat down again, feeling annoyed with Kakashi, aren't missions what he trained me for? I'm a NINJA! I'm not some helpless kid! She shoved her breakfast aside, no longer feeling hungry, and began to walk towards the Hokage's Mansion. I might as well make him THINK that I ate breakfast!

When Sara arrived at the Hokage's Mansion, she found Shikamaru waiting outside Tsunade's office.

Shikamaru turned towards her and said, "We'll be on this mission together." He added in a whisper, "Just you and me."

"Not if Kakashi has anything to say about it," Sara muttered darkly, leaning against a wall.

Shikamaru nodded towards the Hokage's office, "Yeah, I noticed. He looked pissed when he arrived."

Meanwhile, in Tsunade's office, Kakashi shouted, "She's barely a chûnin! At least send a more experienced ninja with them!"

"Fine," Tsunade said smiling. "I'll send Iruka."

"What?" Kakashi shouted again, "I meant a jônin, not a chûnin who teaches at the Academy!"

"Kakashi!" Tsunade raised her voice, "You forget who you're talking to! I can't afford to send any jônin with them, our village is low on ninja, so I have no one to spare! Shikamaru and Sara are perfectly capable of doing this B-ranked mission…but I know that's not what you're worried about…" Kakashi looked away from her, frustrated. Tsunade continued, knowing that her words were finally getting through to him, "You have to remember YOU TRAINED HER for this, and it shows in her skills. You taught her well." Kakashi acknowledged her praise with a nod, but he refused to look at her. "Kakashi, let her do this, she's not a helpless baby."

"Right," Kakashi said, having calmed down. He added silently, you're right, she's not a baby…she's MY baby…but…I have to let her do this mission…I just wish I could go with. He walked out of the Hokage's office and sighed as he saw Sara and Shikamaru waiting. I wish she would have listened to me and eaten her breakfast…I guess I shouldn't be surprised… Kakashi walked over to her and wrapped her in a one-armed hug. He whispered softly, "Be safe."

Sara was startled, does this mean I go on the mission? He DIDN'T convince Tsunade? I'm not sure whether to be worried or thrilled! "Master Kakashi!" She called, "I'll do my best."

Kakashi smiled at her and said silently to her as he walked down the stairs, I know you will be…but I'll worry anyway.

I know… Sara answered silently, gazing after him.

Shikamaru looked from Kakashi to Sara and thought; I swear those two can communicate in their minds!

Sara watched Kakashi until she couldn't see his hair, and turned to face Shikamaru, "I guess we should see what our mission is."

"Yeah," Shikamaru nodded, but neither of them moved.

Tsunade said impatiently, "Will you two get in here!"

Shikamaru and Sara jumped, but quickly walked into Tsunade's office unwilling to evoke her wrath.

Tsunade was seated behind her desk, and said as soon as the doors closed behind them, "You two are being assigned a B-rank mission."

Shikamaru was shocked, "Already? I mean…this is our first-!"

"No, you have both already performed an A-rank," Tsunade said interrupting him. "The Sasuke Retrieval mission was classified as an A-rank, and even though you failed, I was pleased with how you led the group, Shikamaru." Tsunade turned her gaze to Sara, "However, now that Sasuke and Naruto are no longer here to hold you back, Sara, I want to test your leadership skills."

Sara felt the need to defend her teammates, "Naruto never-!"

Tsunade interrupted her, "You're right, Naruto never did stop you from using your leadership skills, but Sasuke did and you know it! You felt no need to challenge his place in your squad, but now YOU have to take the responsibility…I'm putting you in charge of this mission."

"But…" Sara tried to think of a decent argument, "Wouldn't it be better for Shikamaru to lead? He already has the experience!"

Shikamaru placed his hand on her shoulder and said, "I think you'll do a hell of a lot better than I would. I consider you a better leader then I could ever be."

"You can come up with excuses, Sara, once I've told you your mission," Tsunade stated, beginning to feel annoyed. "Your mission is to escort the Lord of the Land of Tigers to Hana…"

"That doesn't sound too dangerous," Shikamaru commented. "It doesn't sound like it should be ranked as a B-rank mission."

"You didn't allow me to finish… This mission entitles you two to escort the Lord of the Land of Tigers to a village in his own country…one that is right on the border with the Land of Sound…" Tsunade stated, looking at them to see their reactions.

Sara said, "So…we have to be on guard against Sound ninja and even Orochimaru himself."

"Exactly," Tsunade said smiling. "And I know for a fact that you, Sara, have been on an escort mission once before, so now you see why I think you're the better person to lead this time around."

"Yeah," Sara said.

Tsunade added, "Not to mention that you're, technically, the senior ninja."

"Only by a few days," Sara muttered.

Tsunade continued, ignoring Sara's muttering, "You'll meet your client at the gates right away, so you're dismissed."

Shikamaru and Sara nodded as they headed towards the door. Tsunade said as Shikamaru walked through first, "Sara, hang on for one minute."

Sara stopped and turned to face Tsunade, "Yes, Lady Tsunade?"

"About what Kakashi did…"

"I know…" Sara said trying to smile, "I know he's protective of me."

Tsunade looked at her and said, "Don't let him hold you back either."

"He wouldn't do that!" Sara shouted, angry at Tsunade.

Tsunade smiled, "Not intentionally. You know him better then I do though, so trust your instincts."

Sara said as she walked towards the doors, "If I ever feel that he's stopping me from going down the path I need to go down, then I'll…I'll try to make him understand that I'm a shinobi just like he is." She shoved the door open and walked out of Tsunade's office.

Shikamaru stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs that led to the Hokage's office. He said as he spotted Sara, "So…what's the game plan?"

Sara smiled at Shikamaru, leave it to him to know how to distract me from my problems… Tsunade's words struck truth…Master Kakashi wouldn't purposely hold me back, but his love for me sometimes blinds him.

"Well…" Sara said trying to think, "I think I should have a good idea of what weapons you're carrying, and I'll decide on a formation for this mission once we have met our client…"

When they arrived at the gates, Shikamaru collided with Sara's back, "Hey! Why'd you stop?" He soon saw the reason.

The Lord of the Land of Tigers was a tall, thin man with long white hair and a long white beard. He held out his hand to Sara and said smiling, "My name is Yuudai. You must be very skilled ninja to be so young."

Sara didn't know why, but she liked the Lord and said, "My name is Sara Uchiha, and this is Shikamaru Nara."

Yuudai chuckled, "No wonder you both are so skilled at such a young age, coming from such well known ninja families."

Both Shikamaru and Sara blushed; neither of them were used to being called skilled.

"So," Yuudai said, looking from Sara to Shikamaru, "Which one of you is in charge?"

Shikamaru nodded at Sara, and Sara said, "I am."

"Ah, the Uchiha," Yuudai nodded still smiling.

Shikamaru asked Sara, "So where are we going to be to protect him more efficiently?"

Sara went through several scenarios in her mind, after several seconds she said, "Shikamaru, you'll be on Lord Yuudai's right. This should give you a good attack or defensive position if we are attacked. I'll be on Lord Yuudai's left. This way I can rush in to face the enemy right away while you stand back and use your Shadow Possession to stop the enemy in their tracks."

"Sounds good," Shikamaru nodded and walked over to Yuudai's right.

Sara moved to Yuudai's left and said, "Okay, let's go!"

As they left the village, Kakashi had been watching from a rooftop, just within hearing distance of the small group, he was smiling under his mask, if she keeps this up, she'll be a jônin in no time! He turned when he heard someone land behind him.

Enaki said as he removed his mask, "Stop worrying about her. She'll do fine."

"I know," Kakashi said gazing at Sara's receding figure. "She's already proven that Sasuke's position in the squad was only because she allowed it."

Enaki asked, "What do you mean?"

"She allowed him to lead the squad when I wasn't around, and that's only because…" Kakashi couldn't think of the right words to finish his sentence with.

"Because she really didn't want to lead," Enaki stated.

"Yeah," Kakashi nodded in agreement. "Maybe now she'll get her chance…"

Meanwhile, Sara tried to ignore the unique emotion that was surging through her, she thought, I don't know what I did to bring on this unique mix of pride and sadness, but I wish he'd at least block! This is driving me crazy! She tried to focus on the mission, okay it takes…I don't know how long it takes to get to the Land of Tigers, much less Hana!

She asked, "Lord Yuudai, how long does it take to get to the Hana?"

"I was wondering the same thing," Shikamaru said.

Lord Yuudai looked thoughtful, "For young ninja like yourself, it would take half a day, but for an old codger, like me, it takes at least one if not one and a half days."

Sara nodded thoughtfully drawing up a map in her mind, "So we'll be at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Tigers by sundown."

Lord Yuudai nodded, "Yes, and I hope no Sound ninja attack."

Shikamaru asked, "Why would Sound ninja be after you?"

"It's because I use Leaf Village ninja more than Sound ninja, and it's only because I've always used Leaf shinobi…and I think another young man in my village, who is hoping to replace me, has hired them to assassinate me when I arrive in Hana."

"So," Sara said thoughtfully, "You'll also need an escort home."

"Yes, and I'm willing to pay you more since I forgot to mention that detail when I requested your assistance," Lord Yuudai added smiling, "My old age is beginning to show!"

Sara and Shikamaru smiled with him, but not in a mocking way. He reminded them both of the Third Hokage in a roundabout way.

Later that day, as the sun began to set, Sara announced, "Let's set up camp here. It's pretty sheltered and we'll have a good view of the area just in case someone does decide to attack us."

Shikamaru added, "Don't worry, Lord Yuudai about helping us set up camp. We can handle it."

Lord Yuudai sat down gratefully and watched as the two young ninja quickly set up the camp. Shikamaru had easily found some firewood and Sara ignited it using her Fireball Jutsu. They both sat down only when they were sure that the camp was completely set up.

Lord Yuudai commented, "I knew I couldn't have requested to better ninja!"

Sara and Shikamaru exchanged a quick glance before Shikamaru questioned, "You REQUESTED us?"

"Yes," Lord Yuudai said nodding. "I thought you two were the best out of the other genin at the Chûnin exam, and I was right since you're both chûnin."

"Whoa! Hang on! You mean to say that you were there at the Chûnin Exams and you watched us in the Third Exam?" Sara said.

"Precisely!"

Shikamaru decided to change the subject, "Who's taking first watch?"

"I will," Sara said. Shikamaru nodded.

After a quick meal, Lord Yuudai and Shikamaru were asleep in. Lord Yuudai was in his tent, while Shikamaru slept in a sleeping bag.

Sara gazed up at the stars, her other senses alert for any signs of danger. She lowered her gaze from the heavens and gazed around the clearing, making sure that all was well.

Shadows & Flames

Shikamaru glanced up when he felt someone shake his shoulder, he heard Sara whisper, "It's your turn to keep watch." He nodded groggily as Sara moved towards her own sleeping bag. He sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes before he dragged himself out of his sleeping bag.

Shikamaru quickly scanned the perimeter of the camp, if there was anyone out there they'd attack when we changed guards…it looks like we're safe…for now. He sat down, trying to keep his mind focused on guarding the camp, but his gaze drifted towards Sara and he sighed, man, I'm one lucky guy. I've got the prettiest girl in the village as my girlfriend… He amended his thoughts, I think I'm attracted to her so much not only because she's pretty but because of her personality. She doesn't have the tendencies of the other girls in the village like Ino and Sakura…granted she has some. His thoughts drifted towards the day he had asked her to be his girlfriend and he sighed. He glanced at Sara again and thought, blushing slightly, she's really beautiful when she's asleep. He continued to blush as he gazed at her, and no his mind was not in the gutter!

Sara stretched as she woke up, the dawn having awakened her. She glanced at Shikamaru who was also stretching; she blushed as she noticed how handsome he looked in the lighting. She quickly focused her mind on something else.

Shikamaru walked over to her and asked, "Should we wake Lord Yuudai now, or wait until we have some breakfast cooking?"

Before Sara could answer, Lord Yuudai walked out of his tent and said, "I'm awake, so don't worry about it, I'm usually an early riser anyway."

Once they had all eaten and had packed up, they were on their way. As soon as they crossed the border into the Land of Tigers, Sara heard a twig snap, and she quickly signaled to Shikamaru. They all stopped as Sara strained her ears to catch the slightest sound. Another twig snapped, as three Sound ninja blocked their path. Sara and Shikamaru tensed, ready to fight.

The only female in the group said, "Thank you for escorting Lord Yuudai safely to his homeland, we'll take it from here."

"I don't think so," Sara said as she withdrew a kunai knife. "We have our orders, and we'll follow them."

One of the male Sound ninja stepped forward and said, "Oh, but we have a message from your Hokage-."

Sara interrupted him before he could continue, "How stupid do we look? We know for a fact that our Hokage would never leave a message with shinobi who are not our allies!"

The female practically snarled, "You little—what the? I can't move!"

"Shadow Possession Jutsu a success," Shikamaru said grinning.

"My turn," Sara said as she rushed forward easily knocking out the startled Sound ninja.

A few minutes later, they were all continuing on their way to Hana, having left the Sound ninja tied to a tree.

Shikamaru voiced his worry, "Don't you think they'll wonder why they haven't returned?"

"They'll know soon enough anyway," Sara murmured as she they neared Hana. "When we arrive with Lord Yuudai they'll know that we're decently skilled. Those Sound ninja couldn't have been higher than chûnin. So next time they'll send jônin at us…if they mean business that is."

Shikamaru sighed, "I bet they do…what a drag!"

Sara looked questioningly at Lord Yuudai, "How many more days are you going to need us to protect you?"

"Several, I can't give you an exact figure though," Lord Yuudai said. "I'm just glad you two are such good ninja."

Sara and Shikamaru nodded as they continued to head towards Hana. Within the hour, they had entered the city's walls, and Lord Yuudai had been greeted by the people. After all of the fuss was made, Lord Yuudai led them into his own resting quarters and said, "I will need you two to stand guard for the night."

"Hang on," Sara said, "We can't both stay up all night long, otherwise we won't be able to protect you to the best of our abilities."

Lord Yuudai nodded, "I understand, but I do not feel safe here. You probably didn't notice but…"

"There were Sound ninja in the crowd, yeah we noticed," Shikamaru stated bluntly.

Sara tried to reassure Lord Yuudai, "Look we can make clones to fill the job of another person if that makes you feel safer."

Lord Yuudai smiled at her and nodded gratefully, "Thank you. I really shouldn't have asked so much of you two."

"Don't worry about," Shikamaru said. "We're getting used to being in situations like this." He muttered under his breath, "No matter how much of a drag it is!"

Sara and Shikamaru each took several shifts throughout the night, each making Shadow clones. Neither of them found any sign of any Sound ninja. The entire night was peaceful.

The next morning as Shikamaru awoke to Sara shaking him, Lord Yuudai greeted them and said, "Thank you for standing guard last night. I slept more peacefully knowing you two were out there. And you two are in luck, I can go back to my own village after noon today."

Sara and Shikamaru smiled with him, both of them were anxious to get home.

Lord Yuudai added, "If you two would be in the background when I have to make a speech to the village today, it would be greatly appreciated."

Sara and Shikamaru nodded, as Lord Yuudai went back into his sleeping quarters. Sara and Shikamaru exchanged a look. Shikamaru finally said, "You feel uneasy about the speech he has to give to Hana today as well?"

"Yeah," Sara said looking thoughtful. "Shikamaru…you trust me, right?" He nodded. "I have an idea…"

As Lord Yuudai stood on a platform facing all of the villagers of Hana, Shikamaru and Sara stood dutifully at his sides, scanning the crowd for any signs of a threat to their client.

Shikamaru gazed down at the crowd and he glanced at Sara on Lord Yuudai's right, I sure hope this plan works…it's risky…

As Lord Yuudai began to speak, a kunai shot out of the crowd and struck Sara straight in the throat. Shikamaru shouted, "Sara!" He turned towards the crowd and looked at every individual in the crowd but he saw no Sound ninja, how the hell am I supposed to see the enemy? Shikamaru glanced at Lord Yuudai and dragged him down as several shuriken flew at him. He glanced up as he heard the classic sound of shuriken being intercepted. Good, we now know where they are… Shikamaru stood up and found a hooded figure fighting with a Sound ninja. Now for the rest of the plan… Shadow Possession Jutsu! Shikamaru grinned as the Sound ninja turned to glare at him.

The hooded figure whipped off the hooded cloak and smiled up at Shikamaru, "Awesome job, Shikamaru!" Sara said happily. She turned her attention to the Sound ninja, "You're going to regret targeting Lord Yuudai."

"Am I?" The Sound ninja questioned as three others appeared, surrounding him.

Shikamaru motioned for Lord Yuudai to stay down, while he released his Shadow Possession Jutsu, I have to find a way to help her out…but how? I've just given away my technique!

Sara glanced at Shikamaru and then at the Sound ninja again… they now know Shikamaru's technique…I have no other choice. She stared at Shikamaru and said, "Shikamaru, stay with Lord Yuudai!"

Shikamaru was startled, "But-!"

"That's an order!" Sara snapped her pupils now like that of a cat's. She turned to face the Sound ninja, I hated being so tough on him, but I think I can handle these guys…I think…

She scanned the contraptions that each of the Sound ninja were wearing, none of those look like the one Dosu wore…but I'd better keep on my toes.

As if they read her thoughts, each of the four Sound ninja raised their arms with the contraptions on them and sent out a blast of sound. Sara leapt up into the air and sighed in relief when she felt no pain in her ears, so…they can only aim the sound in one direction. All the more fun for me!

As she sailed towards the ground she made a hand sign, Shadow Clone Jutsu! Three clones landed on the ground beside her, she glanced at the first Sound ninja and charged, as the three clones went towards the other three. The first Sound ninja aimed his contraption at her and fired; Sara easily leapt into the air and smiled as one of her clones, shoved one of the other Sound ninja into the blast. That Sound ninja fell unconscious to the ground.

The other two Sound ninja were already unconscious on the ground having hit each other with their own blasts.

Sara released the jutsu and her clones disappeared as she faced the last Sound ninja, "Give up. You lost."

A voice behind Shikamaru and Lord Yuudai said, "Did I?"

Shikamaru was beyond startled. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as he turned around to see the Sound ninja moving his arm to stab Lord Yuudai.

Sara teleported and knocked the kunai out of the Sound ninja's hand as she kicked him in the side, sending him flying. She teleported again and kicked him into the air. She shouted as a mini Phoenix and a water phoenix rose up towards the Sound ninja, "Barrage of the Two Phoenixes!" The Sound ninja screamed in pain as the water phoenix hit him followed by Phoenix.

Shikamaru ignored the cries of pain from the Sound ninja, his mind elsewhere, how can I even try to be her boyfriend if I'm weaker than her…? I'll be lucky if I reach the jônin rank! I know I'll never reach Anbu. He glanced at Sara as she turned around, she can make it to that rank though…

Sara smiled as she approached Lord Yuudai and Shikamaru, "Sorry about that 'that's an order' thing Shikamaru. But it was easier that way."

"Yeah, I know," Shikamaru replied.

Lord Yuudai smiled at them both, "I knew you two would do well!"

As Sara and Shikamaru neared the gates leading into the Hidden Leaf Village, having already escorted Lord Yuudai home, Shikamaru said, "Sara…look." Sara looked at him, wondering what was wrong. "I'd understand if you didn't want to go out with me…I mean, let's face it. I'll probably never be a jônin, so-!"
Sara kissed Shikamaru on the cheek before she continued towards home, I think that got my point across.

Shikamaru stood stupefied for at least a good five minutes, having a stupid, happy look on his face.

Sara opened the door to her home and looked around. She sighed in exasperation as she saw a note lying on the table, it read:

Dear Sara,

I'm sorry if I'm not home when you get back from your mission. The slave driver decided that I needed a mission. I hope it went well, try to keep yourself busy while I'm away. Try training those dogs of yours. I'll try to be back as quickly as I can.

Love,

Kakashi

Sara sighed, I guess I'll have to teach those dogs something…granted, they're smart enough as it is!

Training Session I

Sara stretched as she felt two furry bodies lying next to her and smiled, it's a good thing that Master Kakashi isn't home. He probably wouldn't be happy knowing that I summoned Alpine and Streak into the house for no reason. She sat up and gently nudged both of her Great Danes. Streak moaned and kicked her gently with his hind legs, while Alpine raised his head quickly and looked at her, ready to follow any command that she might give. She scratched both dogs behind their ears, having some difficulty getting to Streak's.

As Sara moved to get out of bed, Alpine jumped to the floor and wagged his tail, while Streak finally sat up and looked around groggily.

"Who's ready for some breakfast?" Sara asked as she walked downstairs and outside. She smiled when she heard two sets of thundering paws. She opened up the doors that led to the kennel and led them back into their kennel to eat while she checked how her other dogs were doing.

She smiled as she watched Quick Silver pacing her kennel and nudging the kennel door. It was obvious that she wanted to stretch her legs. Sara reached through the gap between the door and the kennel wall and stroked the Greyhound's head, "Soon pretty girl. Soon." Quick Silver whined as Sara moved on to Happy's kennel. Happy was eating and only glanced up at her as he wagged his tail. She couldn't help laughing at the Bull Terrier. As she walked past Lucky's kennel, Lucky was pacing eager to be out since he knew they were going to do something today. What? He wasn't sure, but he knew it meant he could leave the kennel. Sara passed Wrinkles kennel and laughed as she saw the Shar Pai sound asleep still, lying on his back. As she continued to walk, she spotted Two-Tone sitting patiently in front of his kennel door, waiting. Sara patted his head as she walked past. She paused at Duchess and Smokey's kennel smiling at the pair. Duchess was still asleep with Smokey standing guard over her.

She walked to the panel that controlled the doors on her dogs' side of the kennel and pressed the button, opening all of her dogs' kennel doors. Lucky and Quick Silver bolted out of their kennels, followed closely by Streak. Alpine led the other dogs, more slowly, after the trio.

Alpine stopped as he stood at Sara's side, allowing the other dogs to pass. Alpine leaned against her and sighed, and Sara patted him on the head. Even though I always summon Alpine and Streak together, Alpine seems more like the leader of the bunch…

Alpine stayed by her side as they walked after the other dogs. When they reached the outside she laughed as Quick Silver and Streak raced around the house. She was startled when Lucky came out of nowhere and tackled her to the ground, wagging his tail happily.

"Get off you lump!" Sara said fondly as she shoved the Irish wolfhound off of her. She whistled and all of the other dogs approached her, tails wagging. "All right, today you're going to find me." All of them nodded. "Ready…start!" She teleported to a tree and was content to wait.

Alpine looked around, confused, he sniffed the ground where his mistress had been, but her scent was only focused in that spot, he just couldn't pick up the scent. Alpine barked at Smokey, who trotted forward, his tail in the air. Alpine snorted. He didn't like the Beagle's smug attitude at the moment.

As Smokey sniffed the ground, Streak brushed comfortingly against Alpine's shoulder. Alpine licked his muzzle gratefully. He didn't understand why their mistress had given them such an assignment.

Alpine focused on Smokey as he began to go around in circles, desperately trying to get the scent, but finding none. He sat down and lowered his head apologetically.

Alpine sighed and lifted his head and sniffed the breeze. His eyes widened as he picked up his mistress' familiar scent. He barked at Streak, who lifted his own nose to the air and began to wag his tail, having caught the scent as well. Several of the other dogs lifted their noses, but they smelled nothing.

Alpine woofed at them to follow as he and Streak led the way towards their mistress.

Sara sat in her tree listening for the sounds of her dogs; she was surprised when she heard a bark below her. She glanced down and smiled at her dogs as they all wagged their tails at her. That's the first part down for their training! She thought happily.

Senpai

Sara moaned as an annoying tapping sound echoed throughout her room the next morning. She sat up and glared at the window where a Sparrow was tapping away.

"I'm up!" She shouted exasperated. "What do you want?" Sara barely heard the tweeted message through the window. "Right I'll be there in a few minutes." The Sparrow tweeted one last time and took off. I could fall asleep for a little longer…I don't think I should though, Lady Tsunade might kill me…

Sara dressed and inhaled her breakfast of burned toast quickly, she thought as she tried to get the taste of burned toast out of her mouth, that's it! Master Kakashi can not leave me home alone again without explaining how the toaster works! She bolted to the Hokage's Mansion, knowing full well she was late.

As she slid in through the door to the Hokage's office, she shouted, "Safe!"

A familiar voice laughed and said, "Well, I see your timing hasn't improved since your Academy days. If anything, it's gotten worse."

Sara looked up at Iruka and thought, dang it! Why did it have to be Iruka? Great! Now I'll be treated like a kid the whole time!

Tsunade said, gazing between at the two, "Your mission is to take this," she gestured to a very detailed statue of a dragon, "back to the Land of Dragons. There you will take it to the museum. This is a C-rank mission, so all you'll have to worry about it bandits. Iruka is in charge of the mission." She shot a meaningful look at Sara.

Iruka smiled at her and said, "This should be fun. And just think, you'll get to show me how much you've improved!"

Sara forced herself to smile, and he's already started!

As they neared the gate leading out of the village, Iruka carrying the statue, he said as they approached the Anbu on duty, "Remember Anbus are here to protect us, they're nothing to worry about."

Sara wasn't sure whether she should be pissed or startled so she didn't have any visible reaction to Iruka's words.

The Anbu on duty perked up as Sara and Iruka got closer and he called out, "Sara! Off on another mission?"

"Yeah!" Sara said, easily recognizing Enaki's voice, "It shouldn't take too long, it's a C-rank." She smiled as Iruka gave her a stupefied look.

Enaki said to her silently, I heard his comment to you so I thought that I'd help you out.

Thanks, Sara answered, as she waved to him as she and Iruka continued walking.

"I didn't realize you knew any Anbus," Iruka said, sounding embarrassed.

Sara couldn't keep the sarcasm from her voice as she said, "Where did you think I got these from? The sky?"

She was shocked when Iruka smiled, "No, I assumed Kakashi had given them to you when you were younger."

"What? I didn't even know he took care of me until a couple of months ago!" Sara said.

"I know," Iruka said. "I wasn't sure."

Sara sighed; this mission is going to prove interesting.

As they walked, Sara heard a rustling in the bushes and stopped holding out her hand, "Stop for a minute, Iruka!"

Iruka stared at her dumbfounded, does she really think we're on the same level that she doesn't have to call me sensei? At least senpai would do as well!

Sara looked around warily, and stared angrily as a brown rabbit hopped placidly out of the bushes, stupid rabbit! She glanced at Iruka, okay, I know I should have called him Iruka-senpai, but really…I don't think he deserves that sign of respect. We're both chûnin at about the same level of jutsu!

She waited for a lecture to come her way, but Iruka merely, checked their surroundings before he continued to lead the way towards the Land of Dragons.

Sara asked after several minutes of walking, "Where exactly is the Land of Dragons?"

"It's the country between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind," Iruka stated, "it has no need for a hidden village though, since it's in between such large shinobi nations."

Sara nodded thoughtfully, "So, I'm assuming that means that they always go with the hidden village they think is the strongest?"

"No. They try to keep the missions from either hidden village equal so they don't get caught in any fighting," Iruka said.

"Makes sense," Sara muttered. She looked around again, feeling uneasy, I know that rabbit could have been just that, but I can't help feeling that something's amiss…

Iruka watched Sara intently as she looked around, seeking something, I'm glad she's on alert…I don't think that rabbit was a coincidence either… He studied the ground in front of them and grabbed Sara by her shoulder, to stop her from going any further.

"What?" She asked, exasperated.

Iruka said, pointing with his free hand, "Study the ground and tell me what you see."

"Oh!" Sara said seeing where the ground had been dug up, most likely concealing a pit. She tossed a kunai onto the spot and watched as the ground fell away. They both peered over the edge, and Sara flinched at the spikes that were down in the hole. "Thanks, Iruka," Sara said sincerely.

"Just remember that an enemy will attack from any direction…even the ground," Iruka said.

Sara nodded, feeling annoyed with him again, it would have been fine if he had allowed the subject to drop!

Iruka sensed the change in Sara's mood and sighed, she's harder to understand then Naruto!

Before the sun was setting they had arrived in the Land of Dragons. Iruka sighed with relief, "This was an easy mission, wasn't it?"

"It's not over yet," Sara murmured as she glanced nervously around the street, making sure that no one was a bandit.

Iruka laughed, "I think you take Kakashi too seriously!"

Sara shot him a nasty glare before she continued eyeing each person on the street.

Iruka sighed, maybe I shouldn't have insulted Kakashi, but I thought that she might get a kick out of it…I guess not! He sighed again, this IS a hard mission!

He stopped walking as Sara stopped staring straight ahead; Iruka followed her gaze and stared open mouthed at the sight before them.

Standing in front of their destination, the museum, stood at least ten bandits, all of them armed and ready to fight for what they sought, the dragon statue.

One of the bandits in the front, a woman wearing all red shouted to them, "Hand over the dragon statue and we'll allow you to live."

Before Iruka could say anything, Sara practically snarled, "Over our dead bodies!"

Iruka quickly clamped a hand over the hot-tempered, young chûnin's mouth. "We agree to your terms, ignore my young companion!"

"Wise choice," the red dressed woman said as she began to walk forward. Iruka stepped forward as well, shooting a warning glance at Sara, willing her to keep her mouth shut.

Sara nodded ever so slightly, to show that she understood, he better have a plan or else we're screwed!

Iruka and the woman in red stopped only a foot or two apart. He handed the woman the dragon statue and she smiled smugly as she said, "Thank you…" she whipped out a dagger and plunged it into Iruka's chest before he or Sara could react. "Fool!" The woman said triumphantly. Her expression changed quickly as Sara leapt into the air and slammed her leg against the woman's shoulder.

The woman staggered backwards clutching her shoulder with her one free hand. She taunted, "Is that the best you've got? Or was your sensei the brawn?"

"Why don't you ask him?" Sara said, smiling.

The woman smirked, "He's dead remember?"

"Really?" Iruka asked as he appeared behind the woman in red, snatching the statue out of her hands.

"How-?" The woman asked staring at where a log was now lying. She began to slowly step back, glancing behind her and then at the two ninjas. When she realized that neither Iruka nor Sara were going to come after her she shouted, "Retreat!" All of the bandits fled after their leader.

Iruka was smiling and he glanced at Sara and said, "So, was that enough action for you?"

"I could have done with a little more," Sara commented. "That was awesome, Iruka-senpai! I didn't realize you had such a decent plan of attack!"

"Yeah well…" He looked at her sternly, "What do you mean, decent?"

Sara suddenly grabbed the statue from him, "Let's get this into the museum!"

"Get your butt back here!" Iruka shouted angrily as he jogged after the younger chûnin.

As she neared the village panting, Sara glanced back at the angry Iruka who was still chasing her; you think he would have given up already…at least that means I don't have to do the report!

Iruka grumbled as he finally caught up to her as they entered the village, "You're lucky I'm to tired to give you a lecture!"

"I know Iruka-senpai!" Sara said cheerfully, "See ya!"

Iruka sighed as he watched her dash off, where she finds that energy I'll never know…hey! Wait a minute! Did she call me Iruka-senpai? Heh! It looks like I finally got some respect from her after all!

Training Session II

Sara bolted through the door to the house and sighed, her relief at being home didn't last long though.

Kakashi stood up from where he had been sitting on the couch and he snapped, "You couldn't tell me that you were on a mission? Do you know how worried I was until Lady Hokage told me that you were on a mission with Iruka?"

"Technically I couldn't tell you," Sara joked. She quickly regretted her statement.

"It would have been nice if you had left a note or…or something to tell me where you were!" Kakashi shouted.

Sara felt her own temper rearing up inside her, "I shouldn't have to tell you every time I go on a mission! You should just assume that I'm on a mission!"

"And what if something had actually happened to you?" Kakashi was livid, "If enemy shinobi had somehow come here and kidnapped you, and I had assumed that you were on a mission, what do you think would have happened?" Sara looked away angrily. He continued, "You need to think! You can't just leave here without leaving me some sort of clue as to your whereabouts or what you are doing! Heck, the last time you left without telling me anything, you were nearly killed by Sasuke!"

Sara flinched, but she glared at her guardian, "Well maybe I shouldn't do any missions just so the mighty jônin would be happy!"

"Don't be ridiculous," Kakashi snapped.

"Then shut up about leaving you a note!" Sara shouted, her anger matching his, "YOU trained me to be a shinobi! What do you expect me to do? Sit here and not do anything without your permission?"

"Yes!" Kakashi said, his anger blocking any logical thoughts.

Sara felt hurt, "I don't know why you bothered training me then!" She bolted up the stairs and into her room, slamming the door loudly behind her, before she flopped onto her bed, angry tears flowing from her eyes.

Kakashi was bewildered, as his anger fell away. He looked up the stairs and decided, I'll let her be for a little bit before I even try talking to her…I shouldn't have yelled at her but, damn! She needs to let me know where she's at…she knows that I worry about her…

Sara refused to look at Kakashi as he walked into her room and sat on the edge of her bed, she kept her eyes closed, trying to feint sleep.

Kakashi said quietly, "I'm sorry for yelling, but you really should leave me some sort of sign that you're going to be on a mission…"

"Why?"Sara demanded, turning her tear stained face on him.

Kakashi looked at her sadly, feeling terrible for making her cry. He pulled her against his side and murmured, "I worry, you know that. I love you so much that when I don't know where you are I get panic stricken…"

"You didn't have to yell at me," Sara grumbled as she cuddled against him.

Kakashi smiled, happy to be forgiven, "I'm sorry, I let my temper get the better of me."

Sara murmured as she continued to cuddle, "I don't want to do anything like that again…"

"We probably will butt heads every now and then," Kakashi said, smiling at her, "We just have to remember that we both have different opinions and hot tempers."

"Yeah," Sara muttered, pulling away from him.

"And since I was preaching about giving some warning," Kakashi said, smiling, "I have a mission starting tomorrow; however, I did come up with some training to keep you occupied when I am home…" Sara looked at him eagerly. "I will be teaching you all of the jutsu I've copied over the years, but you have to remember that it will take you longer to learn them then it took me to copy them.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Sara grumbled. "Fear the ninja who has practice one kick ten-thousand times rather than the one who has practiced ten-thousand kicks once."

Kakashi grinned mischievously as he pulled his mask off, "Unless that ninja is me!" He kissed her forehead and said, "Get some sleep, I can imagine you're tired since you probably ran all night to get back so early from the Land of Dragons."

"I had some motivation," Sara said groggily, beginning to feel her exhaustion. "I angered Iruka-senpai."

Kakashi laughed softly and kissed her forehead again, "I see…"

"Don't worry," Sara whispered as she began to drift off, managing to sense Kakashi's emotions, "I'll always call you Master Kakashi…"

Kakashi smiled again and kissed her forehead one last time as he whispered, "I'm glad… Sleep well, young one… I love you."

Sara awoke the next morning, as sunshine blazed into her room from the window; she sat up and looked around, wondering why Kakashi hadn't tried to wake her. She glanced at her night stand and found a note; she picked it up and read:

Dear Sara,

I didn't wake you since you got back so late last night, and because you didn't get any rest the previous day. I am sorry for shouting at you last night, just know that I love you, no matter how angry I may get. Stay safe.

Love,

Kakashi

Sara sighed and muttered, "It looks like it's another dog training day!" She quickly changed and ate a quick bowl of cereal, glaring at the toaster, which had burned her toast again.

As she stepped out of the house and walked into the kennel she smiled as her dogs greeted her with raucous barking. Streak, Lucky, and Quick Silver were all leaping at their kennel doors wanting out, and she obliged by pressing the button that only opened her dogs kennels.

Just like the previous training session, Alpine, Lucky, and Quick Silver, almost knocking Sara over in their haste to get outside.

Sara sighed in relief as they sailed past, but her luck didn't hold. Two-Tone decided at the last minute to run…right when he was next to Sara. She released a startled yell as she fell, Two-Tone having knocked her legs right out from under her.

As she sat up, she glared after the liver spotted Dalmatian. Two-Tone, stopped at the top of the stairs and wagged his tail apologetically at her as before he dashed after the other three. Sara watched as all of the other dogs walked past her, except for Alpine, who stood loyally at her side. "Thanks," Sara said as she ruffled the Great Dane's head. Alpine panted happily, even after she had stopped petting him, to stand. They both glanced towards the top of the stairs when an impatient bark reached their ears.

Streak stood at the top of the stairs, wagging his tail at them, he gave another impatient bark and made one quick circle, before he barked again.

"All right, impatient one!" Sara said, "We're coming!"

Streak went into a play bow and wagged his tail as she and Alpine proceeded up the stairs. She laughed as Streak bounced around her as they reached the top. Alpine seemed to sigh as Streak collided with him, nearly knocking the sturdy, Great Dane over. Streak seemed to be oblivious.

Sara whistled, attracting all of her ninja dogs' attentions. She said, "Today, we'll be doing a slightly different training session. Your task is to find me."

Alpine cocked his head to the side, confused. It sounded to him like the same type of task as the previous.

Sara continued, "You will start on my signal only after you hear my whistle."

Alpine was still confused as Sara disappeared. He glanced at the other dogs, and saw his own confusion reflected in their eyes. All of their ears pricked as they heard their mistress' distinct whistle from far away.

Alpine exchanged a quick look with Streak, before they both set off, noses in the air, the other dogs following eagerly. Once they were near the village, Alpine and Streak both stopped, confused. Their mistress' scent had suddenly split into many scents!

Streak whined softly, utterly confused and feeling lost. Alpine pressed his nose against his sibling's shoulder and sniffed the air. He tried to focus on his mistress' scent. After a few minutes he woofed in delight as the stronger scent of his mistress drowned out the other fainter ones. Streak wagged his tail happily at him and sniffed the air, and barked in delight as he caught the same scent as Alpine. They both led the way eagerly into the village.

Sara stood on top of a rooftop and glanced around, I sure hope this isn't too much for them to handle, I think they should be able to handle it though. She smiled as she watched Alpine and Streak leading the other dogs toward her. I hope that this training will prove useful in the future…

Sheatan's Fans

Sara glared at her alarm and threw it across the room the next morning. She sat up and stretched, wiping the sleep from her eyes. A sound from the window attracted her attention.

"What do you want now?" Sara grumbled as she got out of bed and walked towards the window where a small sparrow was sitting. The sparrow ruffled its feathers and tweeted irritability at her. "All right! I'll go!" She waited until after the bird flew off before muttering, "Annoying little pest!"

She quickly showered, dressed, and ate breakfast, avoiding the toaster completely, before she wrote a note for Kakashi telling him that she had a mission. Sara shot out the door, eager for her new mission; I sure hope this one is more fun than the last!

Sara ran up the stairs of the Hokage's Mansion and entered Tsunade's office. Tsunade said, turning in her chair to face her, "Good you're here." She pulled out a letter, "You've been requested to escort and protect the niece and nephew of the Land of Fire to where he's currently at in the Land of Fire, and believe it or not you were requested by him."

"Really?" Sara questioned.

"Yes," Tsunade stated. "But not in the way you think. I'll read the letter." She cleared her throat, "My niece and nephew are set on having Sheatan escort them to where I am currently staying in Masaru. Make sure you have made it clear to Sheatan that if anything happens to those two it will be the last mistake she will ever make!"

Sara was speechless as Tsunade looked at her intently, waiting for her response. She finally found her voice, and tried to sound light hearted, "I'd like to see him get past Master Kakashi."

"You don't have to accept this mission," Tsunade said, gazing steadily at her.

"I want to," Sara said, "because if I don't, everybody will continue to think that I'm a monster, just like Phoenix."

Phoenix said indignantly, "I am not a monster! I'm a firebird!"

"Same difference," Sara replied, trying to stay focused on Tsunade.

"If that's what you want," Tsunade said, staring at the papers in front of her. "Just so you know, it will only be you and those kids on the mission. No one else."

"I know, Lady Tsunade," Sara said. "When do I meet these kids?"

"At the front gate in an hour," she smiled as she added, "I believe Enaki is on gate duty then."

Sara smiled at the thought of seeing her uncle before she left the village. As she turned to leave, Tsunade said, "Sara, before you go to get ready, I suggest you see Yusuke first, he'd enjoy seeing…or hearing you!"

"Sure…" Sara said uneasily, suddenly worried about her blind uncle. She dashed down the stairs and out of the mansion.

Tsunade called after her, "Yusuke's by the stone faces! Oh she probably didn't hear me!"

Sara looked around and smiled as she recognized Yusuke's figure from a distance, his lanky, Hatake build was easy to recognize. She called out, "Hey, Yusuke!"

Yusuke turned around and asked, "Did my ears deceive me or did I hear my niece's voice?"

Sara jogged up to him and said, "Who else would it be?"

"You never know," Yusuke said smiling, "I'm just glad you came to see me." He turned his attention to several kids in front of him, "Why don't you all take five laps around the Hokage's Mansion?" All of the kids whined as they reluctantly obeyed him.

Sara watched the kids run and asked, "Are you teaching?"

"Yeah," Yusuke said nodding, "This is the class I have daily, all of them have disabilities, but Lady Hokage wants to see if any of them could be ninja, and I have to say that most of them can be. I also have the regular Academy students once a week."

"Wow!" Sara said smiling, "You must really like this job, you seem more relaxed."

Yusuke laughed, "I do enjoy it, and being a Special Jônin is way easier than being an Anbu… You should have seen the look on Enaki's face when I told him I'd retired! Boy was he pissed…yet I know that old dog was happy for me as well…" He gave her a look, "Don't you have a mission to get ready for?"

"Yeah," Sara said as she gave Yusuke a hug, "I'll make sure I visit you more often."

Yusuke's tone softened, "I'd like that."

Sara pulled away from him and began to walk back home to get ready for her mission.

An hour later found Sara waiting patiently at the front gates, chatting with Enaki.

Enaki asked, "So, this is your fourth mission as a chûnin?"

"Yeah," Sara said. She added joking, "Though it could be my last!"

"Don't joke about such things," Enaki scolded. "You know that any day could be the end for a ninja."

"Sorry, I'm just nervous. If something goes wrong, it really could be the end of me," she said voicing her worries.

"You're a good ninja," Enaki commented, "you'll do fine."

"What? No, 'you're a great ninja'?" Sara said sarcastically.

Enaki laughed, "No. You're not at that point yet. You still have a lot to learn."

"Yusuke's right," Sara muttered, making sure Enaki could hear her, "you are a grouchy old dog."

"You'd better believe it," Enaki said smiling. "And I applaud you for adding the grouchy part, Kakashi would be proud."

"So he thinks you're a grouchy old dog as well?"

"Yes, he does."

They both looked up as two kids ran up to them, their mother looking harried.

Sara recognized the two children as the ones who had been in the town when she, Jiraiya, and Naruto had been looking for Tsunade. She also recognized them from the doorway she had guarded during the Chûnin Exam.

The boy said, "Wow! You're really here!"

Sara and Enaki exchanged a look of disbelief.

"Yeah," the girl added, "We didn't think our uncle would actually be able to get you, since you're such a great ninja!"

Enaki burst into laughter, and Sara glared at him, before she quickly elbowed him in his side.

"Hey!" Enaki said sternly, still laughing, "I just can't get over, 'great ninja'!"

Sara rolled her eyes at him, before she looked at the two kids and their mother, "What are your names?"

The mother said, "I'm Aimi, and these are my children," she touched the boy's head, "this is Akira…" she touched the girl's head, "and his sister, Akane. You'll be escorting them to where their uncle is staying in Masaru."

"Yeah," both Akira and Akane said at the same time, "We really wanted to meet you…umm…"

Enaki laughed, "I told you her name already!"

"Sara," Sara supplied for them.

"Yep!" They both nodded enthusiastically.

Sara asked, "I was never told what rank this mission is…"

"It's a B-rank," Aimi answered, "some rogues may try to take them and use them to get money from their uncle."

"They'll be safe with me," Sara said. She turned to Akira and Akane, "So, are you two ready to go?"

"Yes!" They both shouted happily.

"All right," Sara said, thinking, this is going to be one LONG day! "First we need to establish some easy rules!" Akira and Akane looked up at her eagerly. "First, you are to do as I say, especially if I say to be quiet or hide, because an enemy shinobi may be nearby. Second, I need you to understand that I'm a ninja, my first priority is the mission, which means protecting you two, not necessarily talking to you two, ok?" They nodded. "And I'll let you know if there are any other rules!"

"Right!" Akira and Akane said in unison.

"Okay then, let's move out!" Sara said, gesturing towards the gate.

Enaki grabbed her shoulder and said, "Not without saying goodbye first!"

"Bye!" Sara said, slightly irritated.

Enaki gestured towards Aimi, Akira, and Akane as they embraced one another. Aimi whispered, "Be safe and do as Sara tells you, understood?"

"Yeah," they both answered.

Sara smiled and glanced at Enaki, who moved his mask slightly, and winked at her. He said silently, "I want you to be safe too."

"I'll try," Sara answered, as she led the way out of the village, flanked on either side by Akira and Akane.

Aimi asked Enaki, "Will they be safe with her?"

"I can't think of a better ninja for the job," Enaki reassured her.

As they were walking, Akira suddenly asked, "What's it like to be a ninja?"

"Well," Sara said, trying to think of a good answer, "it's what I wanted to do, and I enjoy every minute of it! But it is hard, with the training, the missions, rarely any free time, particularly now, since we're still recovering from that attack on our village by Orochimaru…"

"It sounds like it's tough," Akane said sympathetically, "especially if you have to leave your family…"

"It's not too bad really," Sara said, "the whole village becomes your family!"

"Was that Anbu family?" Akira asked.

"Yeah, my uncle," Sara said smiling.

Akane asked thoughtfully, "You're parents must worry about you."

"I only have my guardian, Master Kakashi," Sara said smiling, "and he worries enough about me."

"What happened to your parents?" Akira asked.

"They died," Sara stated, "I never got a chance to know them."

Akira and Akane looked at her horrified, "You never knew your parents?"

"No, they both died on the night I was born…" Sara added thoughtfully, "Master Kakashi found me that same day and took care of me for awhile, but then the Third Hokage told him to step back…it wasn't until a few months ago that I learned that he was my guardian."

"Wow!" They both said, their eyes round with wonder.

"Yeah…wow," Sara said wistfully, thinking of how her life had gone until she had become apart of Squad Seven. She looked around warily as she heard a rustling sound. Glancing at Akira and Akane, she motioned for them to stay quiet. She stared intently into the nearby woods and watched as a figure approached, not trying to hide their presence.

Sara whispered to the twins, "Go and hide in those bushes and don't move unless I say to, understood?" They both scurried into the bushes and stayed there.

She turned her attention back to the figure as she leapt into a tree to have a better vantage point.

Just when the figure was close enough, Sara launched herself out of the tree and onto the person. The person beneath her let out a startled grunt, but they quickly began trying to dislodge her.

This is definitely a ninja! Sara thought as she leapt off of the ninja's back as he tried to slam her into a tree. When the ninja realized that she wasn't on his back, he whipped around, kunai in hand.

Sara turned around also, a kunai in her own hand. When she saw the ninja's face…or part of it, she laughed.

Kakashi sighed, as he placed his kunai back into his pouch, he asked, "What are you doing?"

Sara motioned for Akira and Akane to come out of their hiding spots, "Guarding these two."

"Aren't those two the niece and nephew to the Lord of the Land of Fire?" Kakashi asked.

"Yeah, they requested me," Sara muttered.

"Ah, I see," Kakashi said. He noticed that Akira and Akane still looked scared, so he added, "You couldn't have picked a better guard…did you have to jump onto my back!"

"Sorry Master Kakashi," Sara said sheepishly, "I really thought that you were an enemy!"

Akira and Akane grew wide eyed, "YOU'RE her guardian!"

"I see you've been talking," Kakashi said smiling. He began to walk away and he called over his shoulder, "I'll see you at home!"

Sara called out to him in a teasing tone, "I left a note this time!" Kakashi's laughter drifted towards her as he continued towards the village. She turned to Akira and Akane, "Well, let's get going! I'd like to get you two to your uncle by sunset!" Akira and Akane laughed as they eagerly followed her.

Meanwhile, Kakashi was watching from behind a nearby tree, his eyes glinting maliciously.

Lucky…

Sara led the way to Masaru, making sure that her pace wasn't too much for Akira and Akane. She kept glancing back over her shoulder feeling uneasy, something didn't feel right when I touched Master Kakashi…then again, I did attack him thinking he was an enemy shinobi…something's just not right though…

As the sun began to set, as they neared the village of Masaru, Sara noticed that Akira and Akane were tiring. She stopped to let the pair catch up, when she saw something that made her blood run cold.

A fast approaching shape was heading straight for Akira and Akane. Thinking quickly, Sara sliced her thumb and pulled out a scroll and swiped her blood across it dashing forward. She slammed the scroll into the ground and shouted, "Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!" Akira and Akane looked terrified as all of Sara's dogs ripped their way out of the ground around them, bristling, ready to attack at any time.

Sara snapped, "Now's not the time for showing off!" All of the dogs pricked their ears, ready for her orders. "Alpine, Streak, Two-Tone, and Quick Silver, come with me, Lucky, Happy, Smokey, and Wrinkles, protect Akira and Akane and make sure they get to that town!" She pointed at the rooftops of Masaru. "Go!" Sara shouted as she charged the shinobi. Please don't let there be more enemy shinobi!

She stopped as she gazed at the enemy shinobi, shocked for a brief second. Her eyes narrowed into the Devil's Eyes, I now KNOW that there is more than one shinobi…this is the same Kakashi imposter that I met before! He probably warned his buddies that there's only one person guarding Akira and Akane…well…I bet they didn't expect my dogs! She rushed forward, kunai in hand, Alpine, Streak, Two-Tone, and Quick Silver racing beside her, their fur bristling along their backs, and their teeth bared.

Lucky led the way as he dashed ahead of the others, alert for any sign of danger. His mistress' orders had been clear, get the two young humans to the town with no harm coming to them. He glanced briefly at Wrinkles, Happy, and Smokey, knowing that out of them all, he was the most ferocious, and the one who would attack first. Lucky woofed quietly and changed positions with Happy, allowing the Bull Terrier to take the lead as he fell back, running behind the scared young humans.

Smokey released a warning bark, as an enemy burst out of the trees in front

Lucky growled deep in his throat as he shot forward and lunged at the enemy's throat.

Sara easily saw the fake Kakashi reach for a kunai knife, and threw her own at his hand, making him pull it away from his pouch. Streak and Quick Silver shot forward. Quick Silver grabbed the shinobi's hand while Streak leaped into the air and locked his jaws on the shinobi's left shoulder. Alpine rushed forward and pinned the shinobi to the ground, his paws on the shinobi's chest. Sara and Two-Tone walked forward menacingly.

Lucky's teeth met their mark and he leapt away from the enemy as they fell to the ground, dead. He whipped around as two other enemies appeared ahead of him, heading after the two young humans. He sprinted forward, his long legs easily covering the ground between them. One of the enemies, a female, made some strange sounds that he did not recognize. The other, a male, stopped and faced him, pulling out a weapon. Lucky leapt to the side as the male enemy threw the weapon, but he felt it graze his left side. He ignored the pain and continued his dash towards the male.

The male began to desperately throw weapons at him and Lucky felt several of them hit their marks, but he finally managed to leap into the air at the enemy's throat, his teeth meeting their mark.

He landed heavily on his paws, the pain of his wounds beginning to overwhelm him, but a startled cry from one of the young humans, sent strength to his paws as he shot forward.

Sara and Two-Tone stopped in their tracks, as they heard Akane cry out. She glanced at Alpine, Streak, and Quick Silver and said, "Stay!" She and Two-Tone whipped around and dashed towards the twins. She was surprised when she saw Lucky, running full out to get to the female ninja who was standing on a tree branch, holding Akane in the air, out of reach of Wrinkles, Happy, and Smokey.

They picked up their pace as they tried to get to the female ninja, but Lucky easily beat them to it. He ran right at the tree, and shot up it, his jaws locking into the female ninja's right leg. The female ninja let out a startled cry as she released Akane, who plunged towards the ground.

Sara put on an extra burst of speed and caught Akane as she slid to a stop, while Two-Tone dashed to help Lucky, who was lying beneath the female ninja, struggling valiantly to his feet, his teeth still locked on the ninja's leg.

The female ninja sat up and screamed, "You stupid dog!" She pulled out a kunai and stabbed Lucky in his right eye.

Lucky released a heart wrenching yelp, and struggled to get away from the ninja, as she continued to stab him in other places. Two-Tone, released a menacing growl and leapt at her followed by Wrinkles, Happy, and Smokey.

Sara shouted, getting control over her dogs, "Enough!"

The dogs stepped away from the female ninja reluctantly, as she stood up, Lucky lay on his side, whining in pain. She glanced nervously at Sara and said, "I'll leave now."

Sara smiled maliciously and said, "I don't think so…" She threw several kunai with strings attached to them. The female ninja stared horrified as she found herself tied to the tree. Sara said as she made hand signs, "You injured my dog…Fire Style! Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

She released the strings as flames leapt on them, the female ninja shrieked in pain. Sara ignored her as she stroked Lucky's bloodied fur. Tears pricked her eyes as she whispered, "You're a good dog." She scooped the injured wolfhound into her arms, ignoring how heavy he was.

As she approached Akira and Akane, she said, "My dogs will escort you the rest of the way to Masaru, I'll meet you there."

"N-no!" Akira stuttered, "We want to stay here and find out how…" He gestured to the wolfhound in her arms.

"Okay," Sara said as she gently set the wolfhound down, "keep an eye on him for me while I deal with him." She gestured to the fake Kakashi who was still in disguise.

She glared down at the enemy and snapped, "Release your jutsu and tell me exactly why you're after Akira and Akane!"

The shinobi released his jutsu and said, "We're…I'm a rogue, and that lord would pay a good price to get those two back."

Sara squatted down and whispered barely audible, "It's shinobi like you that make me sick!"

He asked, "Are you going to let me go?"

"No," Sara stated coldly. "I'll be taking you to town and then I'll call in the Anbu Black Ops to deal with you…I'm assuming you're a former Leaf shinobi?"

She didn't need an answer as fear flashed in the shinobi's eyes at the mention of the Black Ops. "Release!" Sara said to Alpine, Streak, and Quick Silver. All of the dogs stepped away, and she said to the shinobi as he stood up hesitantly, "Don't bother trying to run or teleport out of here, my dogs will track you to the ends of the earth after what your comrades did to one of my dogs…"

Several days later, after Akira and Akane had explained to their uncle everything that had happened, and Lucky's wounds had healed. Sara waved goodbye as she and Lucky headed back to the Leaf Village.

As they walked, Sara stroked the loyal wolfhound's head, brushing the headband that now covered his right eye, hiding it. She laughed as Lucky licked her hand, and he brushed against her leg.

When they finally approached the village, Sara was amazed to see Yusuke, Enaki, Tiégra, and Kakashi standing at the gate waiting anxiously for her.

Kakashi dashed forward, and wrapped Sara in a hug, and he whispered, "When I got back, I saw your note…but then Enaki told me that several of the Anbu Black Ops had been called out to where you were supposed to be…and I…"

"You got worried," Sara supplied for him as he put her down.

"Yeah," Kakashi admitted, "but obviously you're perfectly fine!"

Enaki said, "I told you it was probably nothing."

"No," Yusuke stated, "I told BOTH of you that!"

Tiégra said, "We were all worried about you."

"You didn't have to be," Sara said as she stroked Lucky's head, absentmindedly.

Kakashi noticed how Lucky was wearing his headband and asked, "Are you trying to make a fashion statement again?"

Sara looked down at the wolfhound and said, "No…he…he was injured on this mission."

Kakashi squatted down and removed the headband from Lucky's head, and he sighed. He replaced the headband back over the dog's right eye, and said, "Sometimes these things happen."

"Yeah, I know," Sara said quietly.

"We're all just glad you made it back…all of you," Yusuke said, gesturing at where he thought Lucky was standing.

They all embraced Sara before each of them headed home. Kakashi keeping a careful eye on Sara as she walked her wolfhound still at her side.

The Jônin Exams

Sara has been a chûnin for two months now… Kakashi thought as he closed his ward's door, deciding to allow her to sleep in for once. He had been training her off and on, whenever they both happened to have free time, and he was impressed with her progress, not only in her training sessions with him, but also with how in demand she was for missions. She rarely seemed to get a break anymore, and he had noticed that most of them were B-rank assignments with senior chûnin, or Shikamaru.

Kakashi sat on the couch and stared thoughtfully out the window. He had a Jônin council meeting today, and he was beginning to wonder if he should recommend Sara to be made a jônin by appointment, she's already proven that she can handle herself on B-ranks, which is all that is really required to make jônin… He glanced up the stairs and smiled, she'd enjoy being made a jônin, and I know that she's ready for it. Kakashi stood up and jotted down a quick note for Sara when she woke up, before he headed out of the house.

Kakashi entered the meeting room, and wasn't surprised to find that several other jônin were there, including Kurenai, Shikaku, and Asuma. They all nodded at him as he sat next to Shikaku. They all waited as more and more jônin filed in followed by several senior members of the Anbu Black Ops, and finally by Shizune and Tsunade.

The Hokage, Shizune, and the Anbu Black Ops were only there just in case the jônin could not come to an agreement, then they would be consulted to help persuade anybody, one way or the other.

Shikaku stood up, since he was the current head of the Jônin Council, and began the meeting. Some old business was discussed, including how the repairs on the village had gone, and whether or not the missions should be decreased, now that the village had shown its strength, this last one was easily voted "yes".

Shikaku said, "Now, our only item of new business, the Jônin Exams start in one week we are now taking recommendations for both the Jônin Exam and appointments for being made jônin. All of the candidates nominated for either one will be discussed….Are they any recommendations?"

Kakashi waited his turn as several jônin stood up and gave their recommendations, some of the recommendations being accepted as they were presented, others being changed to entering the Jônin Exams, and others being changed to "made jônin by appointment".

He stood up as another jônin sat down and said, "I, Kakashi Hatake, recommend, Sara Uchiha Hatake, to be made a jônin by appointment."

Genma stood up suddenly and asked, "Is it her skill that dictates this request, or the fact that you've taught her and have raised her?"

Before Kakashi could respond, Kurenai said, "He sent her into the Chûnin Exam, when he easily could have held her back. I think that speaks for him." Genma nodded, understandingly.

A different jônin stood up and said, "She shouldn't even be allowed to advance, with that monster in her!"

Shikaku gave Kakashi a warning glance before he said, "Are you saying that my son is dating a monster?" The jônin quickly sat down.

Kakashi shot a grateful glance to Shikaku, he handled that nicely…I would have been more likely to tear the guy apart!

Another jônin stood up and asked, "How many B-ranks has she been on?"

"If I may," Tsunade said as she stood up, "she's been on eighty-two B-rank, some of which were borderline A-rank."

"What are the rest of her statistics?" Asuma asked, genuinely curious?"

"Let's see," Tsunade said, "she's been on a total of one hundred and thirty-two missions, including ten D-rank, forty C-rank, and eighty-two B-rank."

Kakashi sighed as he heard the murmurings resounding all throughout the meeting room, all of them praising Sara.

One jônin stood up and asked the question Kakashi had been dreading, "How old is she?"

Kakashi stood up, feeling everything that had been accomplished in the meeting slipping away as he said, "Thirteen."

Automatically, everyone began talking loudly. Shikaku finally managed to gain control after a few minutes of shouting. He said, once things had quieted down, "Now, let's discuss this civilly. We'll have some of the Anbus and Lady Hokage talk to try and sway you one way or another, and after that we'll vote on whether or not Sara Uchiha Hatake should be made a jônin by appointment, through the Jônin Exams, or not at all."

Kakashi's nerves were on end as he sat, waiting for the first person to speak. He was amazed when Hanashi stood up.

"I've met Sara Uchiha Hatake, and I know for a fact that she does not have to prove her skills to anyone to be made a jônin, her missions speak for her," he said before he sat down.

Lady Tsunade stood up next, "I believe she has the physical ability for it, what I'm wondering is whether or not she can handle it emotionally, since she's only just hit her teenage years…"

And so the discussion went until every Anbu present had put in their two cents worth.

Afterwards, Kakashi walked home, feeling frustrated at the jônin. I was the same age as Sara when I became a jônin, and by appointment! Why can't they see that she's ready! She can handle it; otherwise I wouldn't have recommended her for it!

It was noon, when he finally arrived back home, and he managed to smile as Sara looked at him from the kitchen table, having been playing a game of Solitaire.

She asked, seeing the expression in his eye, "What's wrong?"

He didn't feel like explaining, so he said, "Nothing, it was just a rough meeting."

"Oh, okay," Sara said, focusing on her game of Solitaire. They both looked at the window as they heard an insistent tapping.

Kakashi walked over to the window and allowed the hawk to fly in. It perched in front of Sara and held out its leg. Sara quickly undid the letter that was tied to its leg, and the hawk flew back out the window, while Sara read the letter. Kakashi watched her expression, and was surprised when she tackled him with a hug.

"Thanks, Master Kakashi!" Sara said excitedly, "I didn't think you'd recommend me for the Jônin Exams."

"I didn't, I recommended you for being made a jônin by appointment, but that got outvoted," Kakashi said, still surprised by her excitement.

"Who cares?" Sara said happily, "I could be a jônin soon!"

Kakashi sighed, "Just remember how hard the Chûnin Exams were…"

"Way to put a damper on my parade!" Sara said sarcastically, "Come on, Master Kakashi, if you thought I could be made a jônin without going through the exam, then this should be…difficult…but not as bad as the Chûnin Exam!"

"I hope so," Kakashi whispered as he embraced her.

Sara looked up at him, "What are you so worried about?"

"Besides the obvious," Kakashi muttered, smiling at her. Sara rolled her eyes. "I'm always going to worry, you know that!"

"Right," Sara muttered, "if only you wouldn't worry, SO much!"

Kakashi continued to smile, "The only thing I can do besides worry, is train you within this week's time period before the exam…"

One week later, found Sara getting ready to leave for the Jônin Exam, with an anxious Kakashi making sure that she didn't forget anything.

"Shuriken?" He questioned for the thousandth time.

Sara snapped, "Yes!"

"I'm sorry," Kakashi said, hearing the annoyance in her voice. "I'm just…"

She finished his sentence, "Worried…I know, but please! I'M the one taking the exam, not you! So, if I forget something…it's my own fault, not yours!"

Kakashi sighed, "I'm sorry…I just don't want to lose you anytime soon…"

"I know," Sara said as she hugged him, "I know you're worried, but…you need to back off for once."

"Right," Kakashi muttered. He added, "I probably won't be around for when you receive your jônin status…"

"Why?" Sara questioned, "Do you have such little faith in me?"

"No. I have a mission that starts today, and it's in a pretty far away land…so I probably won't be here for when you pass," Kakashi said, smiling.

Sara smiled back at him, "I'm glad to hear the 'when' part of it!"

He chuckled, "Don't let it go to your head!"

"I won't," she said, as she led the way out of the house. Kakashi followed her and locked the door as he closed it.

"I'll see you…sometime!" Kakashi said, unsure of when he'd actually be back.

"Right," Sara said, hugging him quickly, before she dashed off.

Kakashi watched her go, and smiled, as he pulled out his old Anbu uniform…

Kenshin & Ryo

Sara checked her paper to make sure she was at the right building and sighed, they couldn't pick a different location to hold the Jônin Exams in? I mean, why hold the Chûnin and Jônin Exams in the same place? She pushed open the door and stared around the room, feeling nervous for the first time.

The room was filled with older chûnin; all of them ranging in age from early twenties to late thirties…most of them were in their late thirties. As she entered they all turned to look at her.

One of them said, "The Chûnin Exams aren't for another six months, kid!" Some of the other chûnin, snickered, apart from two guys who were leaning against the far wall, closest to the door.

Sara wasn't in the mood for the chûnin's attitude, "I already passed the Chûnin Exam, moron! Why do you think I'm wearing a vest?"

She watched as the two nearest the door smiled, but neither looked at her. Before the chûnin could respond, the door opened, revealing Ibiki. He glanced around at them all and said, "Follow me."

The two nearest the door didn't move as Ibiki headed into the room. The other chûnin followed, while Sara trailed at the back. When she passed through the door, the two chûnin flanked her on either side. She glanced at them again, taking in that one looked like he was excited, while the other looked like he wanted to puke.

Ibiki stopped suddenly, and turned around, "For the next five minutes you'll have a preparatory period to decide whether or not you're actually up to taking these exams!" He disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

The other chûnin, apart from the two behind Sara, moved away from her. Sara sighed, sometimes some things just never change! She listened as the two chûnin behind her began talking.

The one with short, untidy brown hair said, "Come on! Pull yourself together! Our teacher wouldn't recommend us for this thing if he didn't think we could handle it!"

"Oh yes he would!" The other, one answered. His hair was long, black, and tided into a pony tail, he also had several giant shuriken tied to his back.

Sara thought, something about those two seems familiar…they remind me of two people…but I can't think of who! Her thoughts drifted to the upcoming exam as the two chûnin behind her bickered. I can do this. Master Kakashi thinks I would have been fine being made a jônin by appointment…so…even though he's worried, he thinks I'll be able to pass this exam…I know I can! I haven't been doing all of those B-ranks and training like mad for nothing!

Everyone in the room, turned to the front again as Ibiki appeared. Sara thought, that was the fastest five minutes ever!

Ibiki said, as he stood in front of the chûnin, "All right, form a line and draw a number, and then find your seat."

Somehow Sara got shoved into the line first. She quickly drew her number (one) and went to find her seat. "You have got to be kidding me?" Sara said in bewilderment. Her seat was the closet to several chairs along the wall, and in the front. How's that for bad luck? She thought angrily. Her eyes narrowed in thought, something almost tells me that this was rigged! She glanced at Ibiki, and she would have sworn that he smirked at her. Oh well! I'm in the front! Who cares?

As all of the chûnin, found there seats, Sara was surprised to see that the brown haired chûnin, who had been standing behind her, was sitting next to her…with a few empty seats in between. She watched as he glanced back at his comrade, worry showing in his eyes, before he focused his attention to the front. Sara quickly did the same.

Ibiki stood in front of the desk in the front of the room, and said, "This first exam is almost exactly like the first exam of the Chûnin Exam, however, this time, I'm bringing in the best of the best to watch you."

Everyone in the room stared in horror, as at least twenty Anbu Black Ops filed into the room. Sara wanted to bang her head against the desk, all of the Anbus were familiar to her, but no where near as familiar as one Anbu stood right next to her desk. The Anbu beside him was also familiar, and Sara shot him a nasty look.

Ibiki continued, "You will have one hour to try and fill out the tests in front of you, anybody caught cheating will immediately be eliminated." He glanced at the clock, "All right, begin!"

Sara flipped over her test and stared, dumbfounded at the questions. She grinned; I can't answer a single question… Her gaze drifted around the room subtlety, and she stared, stupefied, at the paper taped to the front of Ibiki's desk. They have got to be kidding me! Are those really the answers to the test? Her gaze drifted around the room again, and she found several other identical papers taped around the room, including one on the ceiling. Sara glanced from the two Anbus beside her desk, and Ibiki, if I do any cheating they'll notice right away… I guess I'll have to be creative…

Meanwhile, Enaki was beginning to doze off; it's obvious Sara isn't going to do anything…if anything, she'll try to pass this test without answering a single question… He was soon sound asleep.

Kakashi watched every chûnin in the room carefully, especially Sara. He sighed as he recalled how he had begged Ibiki to allow him to be here, pretending to be an Anbu, just so he could see how Sara did on the first exam before he departed for his mission.

Sara's eyes darted briefly to Enaki's clipboard, as it slid slightly. Her eyes narrowed, this is chance one! She pretended to be thinking, as she closed her eyes, until it looked like she had them closed and gazed at Enaki's clipboard, the answers clear as day to her Devil's Eyes. She gave a look of eureka when she finally had the first answer memorized and jotted it down quickly.

Now for the next question… Sara pressed her hands to her forehead, closing her eyes so they looked closed, and began to memorize the second answer.

Kakashi glanced warily at Sara; she's up to something… He was about to ask Enaki if he thought anything was up, when he noticed that Enaki's breathing was that of someone who was asleep. Kakashi glared through his mask at Enaki, and shoved the older Anbu.

Enaki was jolted awake as he nearly fell to the floor; he glared at Kakashi, as he readjusted his seat, and moved his clipboard up.

Damn! Sara thought, jotting down as much of the second answer as possible. Leave it to the stupid jônin to mess up things for me! She began to tap her pencil in thought, there are three more papers taped in this room, one of which I can't look at since it's on Ibiki's desk…the another is on the back wall…with another being on the left wall…I can't look at either of those either, since it will be obvious…that leaves the one on the ceiling… What can I do that won't give me away?

Her gaze drifted towards the brown haired chûnin, as he tapped his pencil. Her eyes widened as she realized, he was speaking in code. She concentrated on the taps:

Hey…kid…do you… Oh hell! I never was good at this! Sara thought angrily, trying to understand the chûnin. Let's try again…she focused on the taps, Kid…do you…know…any of these answers? I'm utterly hopeless at…these things…and so's my comrade. Anyway…you could…help…us?

Sara shifted her gaze discreetly to meet the brown haired chûnin's gaze. She gave the slightest of nods thinking, I'm an idiot! I'm going to be risking my butt to help two complete strangers! She moved her right hand to her left shoulder, and rolled it, trying to get the stiffness out of it. A fiendish grin crossed her features; I have a full proof plan!

All of the Anbu, and Ibiki, turned their attention to her, as she rolled her neck, obviously trying to get rid of the stiffness in her neck. Even some of the other chûnin gazed at her suspiciously, wondering what she was doing.

Ibiki was utterly perplexed, it was obvious that she was trying to get rid of the stiffness in her neck, but half of him argued that she was probably cheating. He relaxed as she stopped, and gazed in frustration at her test. He nodded in satisfaction.

Enaki was gazing around the room, making sure none of the other chûnin had taken the momentary lapse in attention, to cheat in an obvious way. He turned to Kakashi, to ask him a question, when he noticed a pink tail, waving in the air, on top of Kakashi's head.

Enaki said, in a hushed tone, "Hold still for a minute…" Kakashi watched him apprehensively as Enaki grabbed the tail, and pulled up a silver colored mouse.

Kakashi sighed, "At least it wasn't a rat."

"I bet it's a chûnin," Enaki murmured.

Just then, the mouse managed to get its head close to his hand, and it sunk its teeth into his finger. Enaki let out a cry of pain, as he dropped the rodent.

Sara twisted her transformed body, so she would land on all four feet. She quickly made towards the black haired chûnin, feet don't fail me now! She leapt into his lap, making him jump, but she managed to leap onto the table, and dropped a small, very folded, piece of paper on the table, before she skidded to a halt, just avoiding a well aimed kunai. I'm never taking the size of kunai for granted again! From a mouse's point of view, they're huge! She careened towards the brown haired chûnin, feeling the thuds in the floor as kunai landed close to her tail. Almost there! Almost there! Almost there! She leapt at the brown haired chûnin's moving leg, as he moved to get out of the way. Sara clawed her way up and onto the table, depositing a second, very folded, piece of paper. I'm never doing anything like this again! Sara thought as she dived for her chair.

Ibiki aimed a kunai at the mouse and threw it, easily hitting the mark. The mouse lay still…dead.

Enaki picked up the mouse, and carried it to a nearby trash can depositing it in the can. No one noticed as a puff of smoke came from there, leaving a note that said, Nice try, suckers!

Sara grinned as she wrote down the answers she had memorized from Kakashi's clipboard. She allowed her gaze to drift to the brown haired chûnin, who had just unfolded the small piece of paper, and was jotting down the answers. When he finished, he set his pencil down, and inconspicuously picked up the small piece of paper, he ran his hands over his face, and Sara realized that he had swallowed the minute paper, destroying any evidence of her involvement in helping him cheat.

Sara finished the nine questions, and gazed at the tenth utterly confused. It read:

Just wait…

She gazed around the room, and saw the same confused expression on the brown haired chûnin's face.

As the minutes passed, more and more chûnin finished the first nine questions and gazed around the room in confusion. Wondering what their tenth questions meant.

Finally, a chûnin stood up, trembling, as he hopped onto the table and said, sounding mortified, slapping his butt, "Take a bite out of this!"

Ibiki, all of the Anbu's present, and several chûnin laughed. An Anbu stood up at the back of the room, and gestured for the chûnin to follow him, still shaking with laughter.

Soon, more bizarre tasks followed, each chûnin having to do something different before an Anbu stood up, and gestured for them to follow.

As a chûnin, finished acting like a monkey, only Sara and the two chûnin she had helped remained. Sara turned as the black haired one, stood up and reluctantly flipped Ibiki off.

Ibiki couldn't stop laughing as the black haired chûnin left the room. The brown haired chûnin stood up and said, sounding thoroughly embarrassed, "Cockadoodledoo!"

Sara hid her snicker as the brown haired chûnin walked out of the room, glancing back at her as the door closed behind him.

She glanced at the "Anbu" (Kakashi) that was left, and then at Ibiki. Finally, Kakashi stood up and motioned for her to follow him. Sara followed him into a different room where he sat down, and grabbed her answer sheet, pulling out a pen. He glanced from his clipboard, to her paper, but he only wrote the grade she got, before handing the paper back to her. She smirked with satisfaction, her paper was a hundred percent correct.

Kakashi said, "Good job. We'll wait a few moments before we join the others."

"Is this your mission?" Sara asked curiously.

"No," Kakashi stated. "I merely wanted to see how you did in the first exam." He stood up, "Now we can head back."

Sara followed him back into the room, where the other chûnin were already seated. She gazed around, suddenly feeling scared. At least one third of the chûnin that had been there at the start of the exam were gone. She sat down in her original seat, and looked to the front.

Ibiki said, "Now, why don't you all tell us what you got on those tests? We would like to know."

Several of the chûnin, all of them wearing smug smiles, announced, "We got A's!"

Two of the Anbu Black Ops stood up and motioned for those that had spoken to follow them.

A few other chûnin muttered, "We got F's…"

Two more Anbus stood up, and those chûnin followed them out.

One brave chûnin said, "I got a C+!"

An Anbu stood up and the chûnin that had spoken followed him out of the room.

Enaki asked Sara quietly, "So what did you get?"

"None of your business!" Sara snapped, not liking the way people kept leaving the room. She listened as several other Anbus and Ibiki, tried to get more people to say their grades.

Shi' begged, "Come on! Please?"

Sara watched as the brown and black haired chûnin flipped off Ibiki, who had just asked them the question again. She gestured at the pair and said, "Do you really want me to do that?"

"Please?" Enaki tried again.

Sara flipped him and Shi' off.

After a few more minutes of the Anbus and Ibiki asking, sometimes begging, to hear more grades, Ibiki finally said, "All right. You may turn in your papers to any of the Anbus, or myself."

Several of the chûnin stood up and eagerly handed it to Anbu they apparently knew. The Anbus they handed their papers to each said loudly, "You fail."

All of the remaining twenty-seven chûnin made sure to hand their papers to Anbus they didn't know. Sara glanced around at all of the Anbu Black Ops, and said, once the other chûnin had turned in their tests, she said, "How am I supposed to hand in my paper when I know everyone in this room?"

Ibiki laughed, "That's a good point! You should just hand it in to me, since I am the proctor."

Sara cautiously handed her paper to him and sighed in relief, when he didn't say "you failed".

She walked confidently out of the room, and was surprised to see the brown haired and black haired chûnin waiting outside the door.

The brown haired chûnin sighed in relief, "Phew! You had us worried for a minute there!"

"Um…okay..?" Sara said, slightly confused.

The brown haired chûnin laughed, "Sorry, we really should introduce ourselves, since you helped us out. I'm Kenshin Nara."

"And I'm Ryo Morino," The black haired chûnin, Ryo added.

"Whoa, whoa whoa! Time out!" She gestured at Kenshin, "You're related to Shikamaru Nara?"

Kenshin smiled, "Yeah, that's my lazy cousin!"

She gestured at Ryo, "And you're related to…Ibiki?"

"Unfortunately…I'm his nephew," Ryo muttered darkly.

"Wow!" Sara said smiling. Her brow furrowed, "But…why are you two even talking to me? I mean…I'm not exactly…"

Kenshin interrupted her, "We really don't know why we decided to talk to you, maybe fate just wants us to…either way, you DID help us out… So…we just figured we might as well get to know you… What is your name anyway?"

Before Sara could reply, Kakashi walked out of the room, and pulled Sara into a hug, he no longer had his old Anbu mask on. He said, as he released her from his embrace, "I have to go on a mission now, so you'd better stay safe." Kakashi added, smiling, "And I hope you do well on this exam." He walked quickly towards the exit.

Kenshin and Ryo stared at her in open mouthed awe.

"What?" Sara asked, wondering why they were looking at her like that.

Ryo said in awe, "YOU'RE related to THE Kakashi Hatake?"

"Sort of," Sara muttered, "I guess he's a cousin, but he's also my guardian." They continued to stare at her in awe, but they had finally closed their mouths. She said, "My full name is Sara Uchiha Hatake."

Recognition flashed in Kenshin's eyes, "So you're the one my cousin, Shikamaru, won't shut up about." Sara blushed. "Don't sweat it! I can see why he likes you."

Suddenly, Anko appeared next to them and said, "Would you three get moving already! We've been waiting five minutes for you three to get outside!"

Kenshin, Ryo, and Sara quickly followed Anko outside where the other chûnin were waiting.

New Ties

Anko said, "All right! Once again we're sending you into the forest of death, but this time, we added a twist to things…" She made sure that she had their undivided attention, "You will be required to take a scroll," she held up a scroll with the Leaf Village symbol on it, "from a random jônin squad that will be in the forest. There will only be three teams, which means there will only be three scrolls available." Anko laughed, "Now, the most important rule is to not look at the scroll!" She laughed again, "A lot of you will fail this exam! Now, I'll divide you up into teams of three…"

She walked around, randomly selecting people to be on different squads, by sheer chance; Anko placed Kenshin, Ryo, and Sara on the same squad.

Once she had placed everyone onto a team, Anko said, "All right, you'll have three days to get a scroll, right now, go pick a gate to start from! Just remember that once you have a scroll, to head towards the tower in the center of the Forest of Death. You are not allowed to start until you hear the horn blow."

Ryo asked, as they all proceeded towards starting gate thirteen, "So…who's going to be the squad leader?"

Sara was startled when Kenshin pointed at her, "What? Me? Are you crazy? You two are older and more experienced than I am!"

"That's where you're wrong," Kenshin stated. "Who was it that helped us pass the first exam, and cleverly avoided getting caught?"

Sara muttered something incoherently, but Kenshin and Ryo did hear a few swear words.

They waited patiently at gate thirteen, and within a few minutes, the horn sounded, and they raced into the forest, Sara leading the way.

After dashing several yards, she slowed down, and Kenshin and Ryo stood beside her, glancing around.

Kenshin asked, "Where do you think the jônin squads will be at?"

"Anywhere's my guess," Sara muttered.

"So, how are you supposed to find them?" Ryo asked.

"Like this…Devil's Eyes!" Sara shouted, startling Kenshin and Ryo. Her pupils narrowed to slits as she looked at the surrounding area. She finally spotted a group of jônin. "There's a group about two miles to the East."

Kenshin and Ryo nodded, and followed Sara as she led the way towards the unsuspecting jônin.

Meanwhile, Asuma and Guy were looking at Kakashi. Asuma asked, "How come you didn't mention earlier that you were to be apart of our squad for this?"

"Slipped my mind," Kakashi answered.

Asuma and Guy didn't look satisfied with the answer. Asuma thought, something's not right here…but I can't place my finger on it…

Ryo asked Sara, "How do you know that there's a jônin team over there?"

"Well, my Kekkai Genkai, the Devil's Eyes, allows me to see things close up," Sara stated.

"Wait," Kenshin said, "then how-?"

"Be thankful there were no trees in the way," Sara said, grinning sheepishly.

Kenshin and Ryo both rolled their eyes at her in exasperation. They all slowed, as they neared the group of jônin. When they could clearly see the group, they all exchanged looks of disbelief. Before them was Asuma, Guy, and Kakashi.

Sara was a little offended, he couldn't tell me that he was going to be apart of the Second Exam too?

Kenshin asked her silently, what should we do?

Give me a minute to think… Sara answered. Okay…I think I have a plan, but it's going to require accuracy and precision. Now…

Asuma, Guy, and Kakashi, looked around warily. Kakashi had caught the faint scent of approaching chûnin awhile ago.

Asuma asked, quietly, "So…do you recognize any of the scents?"

"One…" Kakashi murmured. "Sara."

Without warning, a giant shuriken flew out of nowhere. Asuma, Guy, and Kakashi, either ducked or leapt out of the shuriken's path.

Asuma, who had dived for the ground, began to stand up, but he quickly hit the ground again as the shuriken made another pass. "What the-?"

Guy leapt out of the shuriken's path for a second time, "How is it able to go back?"

Kakashi wasted no time in grabbing the fine wire that was attached to the shuriken. As soon as his hand was on the wire, he quickly jumped backwards, as massive flames came down the wire. He grunted, "Definitely, Sara… But she also gave away her position!"

All of them threw several shuriken at the tree where the flames had emanated from. They all stared intently at the spot, waiting for some sign that they had hit their target.

Asuma turned around, and shouted as he hit the dirt, again, "Look out!"

Another giant shuriken sailed past, embedding itself in the trunk of a tree.

"How are they avoiding our detection?" Guy wondered aloud.

"Not so loud!" Kakashi snapped, "We need to thi-!" He broke off as he dodged a third giant shuriken.

As Asuma rose to his feet, he leapt aside, as a fourth giant shuriken flew at him. Guy dodged out of the way also, but he was surprised when he felt a kunai tip pressed against his throat.

Kakashi and Asuma turned to face Guy, who was being held captive by Ryo. Ryo pressed the tip, a little harder, against Guy's throat, "Here's the deal…you hand over the scroll that you have, and your teammate goes free."

"You're outnumbered," Kakashi stated.

Ryo pressed the tip of the blade a smidge harder against Guy's throat, "But I'm closer to your comrade."

"I wouldn't be sure," a voice said behind Ryo.

Ryo glanced into the bushes behind him and sighed, "Interesting…a Shadow Clone…but I still think that I'm a hair quicker than some old men."

Asuma glared at him, "I have a Shadow Clone behind you, and you're the one who's been throwing the giant shuriken, since I can see some still one still on your back. I think we're in a better position to negotiate."

Guy shouted suddenly, "Lookout!"

Kakashi and Asuma barely managed to dodge to the side, as a fifth giant shuriken sailed past.

Ryo dragged Guy out of the way, and allowed the shuriken to sail through Asuma's clone. He said, smirking, "You were saying?"

Kakashi got to his feet and looked around the clearing, trying to catch a Sara's scent. He easily detected it on the wind. "She's behind him…"

Asuma nodded, "I wonder what they're up to."

Ryo asked, "So….are you going to hand over the scroll? Or would you prefer to see you're teammate killed?"

Asuma glanced uneasily at Kakashi, and he was surprised to see that Kakashi was calm, has he completely lost it? I know Guy get's on his nerves, but he would never allow someone to kill him!

Kakashi said, "I'll call your bluff."

"What?" Ryo gasped.

"You don't have it in you to kill a fellow Leaf shinobi," he stated. Kakashi whipped around, kunai in hand as a rustling sound alerted him to someone's charge. His kunai blade sank into Kenshin's hand. Kenshin gritted his teeth in pain, and wrenched his right hand away from Kakashi's kunai.

Asuma was startled, what was he thinking? That type of wound is exactly what we were told NOT to give! Nothing life threatening…if that wound get's infected, that kid's done for…!

Kakashi threw his kunai at a nearby tree branch, barely missing Sara as she leapt out of the tree. She aimed a punch at his face. Kakashi ducked underneath her punch, and slammed his right leg into her stomach, sending her flying.

Ryo leapt away from Guy, and caught Sara, skidding into a tree. He glanced worriedly at Kenshin. As Sara lay, motionless in his arms, Kenshin nodded, and the pair disappeared. Asuma, Kakashi, and Guy stared triumphantly after them.

When they were a good distance away from the three jônin, Sara murmured, "You can put me down now."

Ryo gently set her on her feet, and she glanced anxiously at Kenshin, "How's your hand?"

"It's fine," he reached into his pouch, "especially since I got this!" He held up a scroll with the Leaf Village symbol on it.

"Great!" Ryo said happily, "We can now take our time heading back!"

Sara shook her head back and forth, "No. It won't take them long to realize that they lost their scroll…and we're leaving a trail…"

Kenshin and Ryo followed her gaze, and Kenshin moaned. Behind them was a trail of blood that led right up to where Kenshin was standing.

"We need to clean the wound and then stop the bleeding," Sara muttered as she uncapped her canteen and poured water over Kenshin's wound. She tore off a piece of her shirt and wrapped it tightly around the wound.

Kenshin wondered aloud, "Are we going to be able to rest?"

Sara glanced behind them, and shook her head back and forth, "No. I'm pretty sure they've realized that their scroll is missing. She stood up and leapt into a tree, Ryo and Kenshin followed her, as they tried to stay ahead of the jônin.

On the second night, after Kenshin had stumbled and fallen many times and reopened his wound, they were still trying to get to the tower, which they could finally see.

Ryo asked, glancing anxiously at Kenshin, "Can we stop?"

"I still got one sprint left," Kenshin said.

Sara nodded and took off at a sprint, the other two following. She slowed when they approached a small clearing. Kenshin collapsed gratefully onto the ground and was instantly asleep.

Ryo shot another anxious glance at his comrade, as he slept under the cover of a fallen tree. He commented, "He looks really pale."

"I think he has an infection in that hand," Sara stated, "and he probably has a fever."

"I figured as much," Ryo muttered. He laughed, "Sometimes Kenshin doesn't know when to quit."

Sara nodded, looking at the clearing. It reminded her of a different clearing in the forest, one where Squad Seven had rested, still a team, to recover from Orochimaru's attack…back during the Chûnin Exam.

Ryo yawned loudly, and looked embarrassed by his exhaustion; Sara offered, seeing a chance to be alone with her thoughts, "I'll take first watch." He shot a grateful glance her way before he rolled out a sleeping bag and fell asleep.

She climbed a tree using her chakra, and stood on a branch, just high enough so she could see the surrounding forest, yet still keep an eye on her teammates below.

…Teammates… Sara thought, smiling, when did I start calling those two teammates? They're older than me, and…and their not Naruto or Sasuke, yet…I can't help feeling like their comrades…of course, now they are…but what about after this exam? We they still consider me a comrade, or just a young jônin? She sighed, I don't know them that well, but I think they're my friends…I think! Her eyes narrowed as she saw three shapes approaching from several meters away. One's hair glistened silver as the moonlight struck it. Whether they consider me a friend or not, I have to get them out of here! Kenshin's in no shape to fight!

Ryo jumped as she landed lightly on the ground, and he asked, "Something wrong?"

"Yeah, they're not far away from here, so I'm going to distract them," Sara murmured quietly. "You're going to have to trust me on this…"

Ryo said, "I'm with you all the way." The light of battle burned in his eyes, for once.

"No. You're not fighting," he looked crestfallen. Sara continued, "I'm going to distract the three of them, and you're going to get Kenshin out of here."

Ryo's eyes hardened, "Kenshin and I were taught to never abandon our friends."

Sara was surprised, but she laughed, "I was taught to protect my teammates with my life, and besides," she purposely glanced at Kenshin, "Kenshin's in no condition to fight, and you no he would try."

"You win," Ryo sighed after a few minutes of silence. He added, "But only because I'm a lazy ass, if it had been Kenshin in my position, you wouldn't have won."

"I'll keep that in mind," Sara muttered. "Now listen up! When you see my Ho Chidori, it's flame colored," she added when Ryo looked stupefied. "You are to head towards the tower, when you get to the doors you can stop and wait for me. No sooner, no later."

"Sure," Ryo said nodding.

Sara smiled, trying to reassure him, "Then I'm off!"

She heard Kenshin stir, as she walked away, and she heard him ask Ryo a muted question, and Ryo whispered something in response. Sara heard Kenshin say, as the wind blew his words to her, "Our new friend had better come back alive!"

Sara smiled at that comment and stopped in the bushes, only a few feet away from where Asuma, Guy, and Kakashi were standing. She glanced into the dark forest, hoping that Ryo was ready to move. Her pupils narrowed as she activated her Devil's Eyes, and she charged forward, her Chidori sparking, and chirping as she ran.

Kakashi dodged to the side of the attack, while Asuma rushed in trying to nick her with his blades. Sara ducked under his arm, and managed to keep her feet, as his weight slammed into her. Her eyes widened in horror, as Guy ran in the direction she had come from. She quickly knocked his legs out from under him, and stood, breathing heavily, in front of them, kunai at the ready.

"Her team's somewhere over there," Guy said, stating the obvious.

Sara slowly pulled out a scroll, and smiled fiendishly, in the dark. Asuma, Kakashi, and Guy glared at her.

Asuma said, "That's pretty bold of you to show us that scroll considering it's the one you took from us."

She placed the scroll back in her pouch and said, "If you want it back, you're going to have to take it from me!"

Guy moved faster than she had anticipated, so she had no time to dodge the kick that sent her flying backwards. She got up quickly from her position on the ground, and dashed forward, so they wouldn't be able to come any further into the forest where her team was.

"Bold tonight, aren't we?" Kakashi questioned, as she lunged, kunai in hand. Sara threw her first kunai at him, and he dodged it easily. Thinking quickly, she drew another kunai, and tried to slash at his face. Kakashi pulled back at the last second. Before he could think of another plan of attack, Sara charged him with a Chidori. He dodged to the left, and collided with Asuma. They both fell to the ground.

Sara smiled at them, before she darted into the forest, the opposite direction from where her team would be heading.

"We got her on the run!" Guy shouted happily, as he gave chase, followed by Asuma and Kakashi.

She glanced back at them, and released Phoenix, her pace becoming faster, as she used chakra to propel herself forward.

Meanwhile, Ryo stood waiting, a few feet from the tower for Sara. Dawn was still a few hours away, yet he could clearly see a light in the sky, one that flickered like flames. He jumped as Sara walked out of the trees near him.

"Don't do that!" He exclaimed.

Sara laughed, "Next time, I'll remember that you don't like being snuck up on."

"So," Ryo questioned, "did you lose them?"

She pointed at the sky, "They're following my Shadow Clone and Phoenix."

Kenshin, who had come to again, asked, "What happens when that bird gets too far away from your body?"

"He'll disappear, as will the clone," Sara stated.

"All the more reason to head in," Kenshin said, standing up on unsteady legs. Ryo was automatically at his side, and he allowed Kenshin to shift his weight towards him, Ryo stumbled as he took a step forward.

Sara was exhausted, and was beginning to feel the affects of not having any sleep, but she put her arm around Kenshin's back, and Ryo gratefully moved away. Her head only came up to Kenshin's chest, but she managed to keep herself from stumbling as they all walked towards the tower.

Ryo asked suddenly, "Exactly how old are you?"

"Thirteen," Sara replied.

Kenshin sighed, as Ryo shot him a smug glance, "Yeah, yeah, I know you five bucks."

"You betted on how old I was?" Sara asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Ryo said, still smiling, "I said you were at least thirteen, and he said you were eighteen."

Sara asked, "So how old are you two?"

"Nineteen," they both answered in perfect unison.

Ryo shoved open the doors to the tower, and they all walked inside. Sara glanced outside, as Phoenix returned to her body, the first true rays of dawn were flittering through the trees leaves.

Phoenix said, "They stopped chasing your clone a few minutes after you had released me."

Sara focused on the nearby undergrowth, and saw the three jônin approaching, at a walk, all of them looking tired, but satisfied. Her gaze drifted to Kakashi, who looked anything but satisfied. If anything, he looked furious.

She wondered, is he that upset that I outsmarted him?

Hide and Seek?

They all staggered into the tower, and walked into a room off to the side. Kenshin, Ryo, and Sara gazed at the wall where a scroll was hanging. There had been words written on it at some point in time, but now it was too moth eaten to read anything that it may have said.

Kenshin suggested, "Maybe it says to open the scroll, like in the Chûnin Exam."

"Let's not," Sara said, gazing at the scroll. "We were told not to open it, so we won't."

As if on cue, Anko appeared in front of them and said, smiling, "Well done, you three pass!" Sara, Kenshin, and Ryo all sighed in relief. Anko continued, "Since there are no other teams here yet, you three get a chance to rest until time is officially up."

They all sank gratefully to the ground. Kenshin was soon dozing while Ryo gazed at the door Anko had left through. Sara wondered aloud, "What do you think our next exam is?"

Ryo suggested, "A tournament again?"

"Too simple," Kenshin muttered as he woke up. "None of these exams have been exactly like the Chûnin Exam. They probably have something worse in mind."

They all sat in silence, all of them dozing off and on. As the time finally neared its end, the last two teams walked in looking haggard and worn. Anko appeared and said, "All right! It's time for you lot to follow me!"

All of the remaining nine chûnin followed Anko into the arena where the preliminaries for the Chûnin Exam had been held. Sara gazed at the other two teams of chûnin, and recognized the loud mouth that had insulted her earlier.

Tsunade stood in front of them, along with Kakashi, Asuma, Guy, Ibiki, Shizune, and Anko soon joined them.

Tsunade said, "Stand in the team formations you were placed in." They all did as she said. "Good. Now, how do you all feel about playing a game of hide and seek?" All of the chûnin stared at one another in confusion. "This will not be an ordinary hide and seek, considering that the special jônin and jônin here will be the ones seeking. If you are caught by any of them, you fail."

The loud mouthed chûnin asked, "And how are we supposed to hide in here?"

"You'll be in a genjutsu of my making," Tsunade answered, "and if any of you try to break it, you'll fail. This exam is testing your basic skills of being able to hide efficiently, even under the most bizarre of circumstances. When I say, 'begin' that is when the game shall start. It will last one hour, those who remain will be made jônin." She quickly made some hand signs, and they were all surrounded by a forest suddenly. They all heard her voice as she continued, "You have ten minutes to hide before the special jônin and join begin looking for you."

Sara, Kenshin, and Ryo all exchanged nervous glances. None of them were in any condition to hide for an hour, not without straining themselves.

"We'll separate for now," Kenshin said, moving away, Ryo following him.

Sara stared after them for a few seconds before she gazed around at the terrain. This is not going to be easy… She watched as a nearby tree suddenly disappeared, I see what she meant by bizarre circumstances, with the changing terrain hiding will be nearly impossible without jutsu of some sort…I'd better stay on my toes.

Sara sliced her thumb and summoned Alpine and Streak; she explained to them that they were to whimper softly if they smell Kakashi or any unfamiliar scents. Then she motioned for each one of them to stand right next to her, their bodies pressed against her legs. Her hands moved quickly as she transformed all of them into rocks.

Within a few minutes Tsunade's voice rang throughout the terrain, "Begin!"

Sara was tensed, granted no one could tell if a rock was tense or not, with the way the terrain changes, I've got to keep a close eye on it. The minute it looks like it's going to change to my disadvantage I'll have to send Alpine and Streak back to the kennel. A soft whimper interrupted her thoughts, Ibiki and Anko approached, both looking around carefully for any unsuspecting chûnin.

Anko sighed loudly, "I'll bet that Kakashi and Asuma have already gotten them all. At the rate we're going we'll never find one!"

"Slower is usually better," Ibiki countered. As if on cue, the whole terrain began to change, and Sara quickly altered the shape of the rocks she and her dogs looked like.

Ibiki glanced at the three of them, but he sighed, "I was hoping those rocks were some of them, but I guess they're not." The pair continued on their way.

A few minutes later, the terrain changed again. This time it was a desolate, snowy, hill, with no rocks. Sara quickly released the jutsu on her and the dogs, and sent them back to the kennel. Alpine and Streak disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Sara looked around desperately for something she could change into, nothing stood out. There were no trees, no rocks, no shrubbery, no nothing. What am I going to do? They'll see me in no time, since I'm at the top of a hill!

Phoenix suggested, "The snow's deep enough, why don't you bury yourself in it?"

Good idea, Sara conceded as she made a Shadow Clone. She quickly dug out a patch of snow with the aide of the clone. Then she settled down on the cold ground and allowed the clone to bury her. Now, all I have to do is wait…

It didn't take long for some jônin to spot the clone. That was quick! It sounds like Guy…he might just be alone too. Her clone took off, as it was supposed to, and she heard Guy thunder after it.

Sara tried to keep track of the time in her head, but she failed miserably, it was either a few seconds or minutes when the terrain changed back to the forest again. She sat up and glanced around. There was a tree next to her and she quickly leapt up into it and crouched low on a branch, her ears straining for any sound. Her pupils narrowed as she activated her Devil's Eyes.

Her body was so tense that she jumped when a voice said quietly behind her, "Hey there!"

"Don't do that!" Sara snapped quietly, as she glared at Kenshin and Ryo.

Ryo stated, ignoring her blazing eyes, "We're the only three left."

Her eyes widened in shock, "Are you positive?"

Kenshin nodded, "It didn't take long for them to get caught. They couldn't keep up with the changing terrain. A lot of it was bad luck."

"Luck is apart of skill too," Sara muttered, quoting Kakashi.

"Yeah, well, we'll be out of luck soon if we don't think of a way to stay hidden for the rest of the exam!" Ryo exclaimed, keeping his voice low.

Sara looked thoughtful for a few seconds, before her eyes gleamed with mischief, "Lady Tsunade only said that we couldn't break the genjutsu, right?"

"That's what Lady Hokage said," Ryo answered.

"Then I'm going to use a genjutsu on top of a genjutsu!" Sara said excited. Her hands moved swiftly as she made the necessary hand signs. She smiled, "Now, the genjutsu I've done should change when Tsunade's changes, concealing us!"

"Good thinking!" Kenshin and Ryo said in unison.

"Let's get out of this tree though," she said, "I don't want to end up getting caught because we fall out of a tree."

They easily descended to the ground, the genjutsu holding, and they sat casually on the ground, and began to wait out the rest of the hour.

Several times Ibiki and Anko passed, followed by Guy, and sometimes even Shizune. They all began to get nervous when after what they assumed had been twenty minutes; they had seen no sign of Kakashi and Asuma.

Kenshin said, keeping his voice low, "They must be searching thoroughly for anyone, hoping the terrain will change and give us away."

"No," Sara stated, her gaze focused on two shapes on a snowy hilltop that had just appeared, "they're just waiting for Kakashi's Sharingan to spot us."

Ryo, Kenshin, and Sara all waited tensely as Kakashi and Asuma got closer and closer, but even when they were within a few inches of the trio, Kakashi's Sharingan skimmed right over them.

This made Sara uneasy, why didn't his Sharingan see through my genjutsu? Is he sick or something?

Tsunade's voice suddenly rang out, "The exam is now officially over!"

Sara released the genjutsu as Tsunade's disappeared. Asuma stared incredulously at the trio as did Kakashi.

Asuma exclaimed, "You three were there the whole time?"

"Yeah," Sara said, glancing at Kakashi, who was lowering his headband.

Kakashi said casually, "I'm not sure how I missed them…I think Tsunade's genjutsu was throwing my Sharingan off."

Asuma and Sara both exchanged skeptical looks. They all turned to Tsunade as she said, "Congratulations, Kenshin Nara, Ryo Morino, and Sara Uchiha! You have all made jônin! There will be a ceremony tomorrow to honor this fact. Your teachers will all be present." Sara watched as Tsunade's gaze drifted suspiciously to rest on Kakashi. "For now," she said, turning her gaze back on the three of them, "get some rest, you've all earned it!"

Kakashi touched Sara's shoulder, and he guided her gently out. He said when they were outside, "You did well. I'm very proud of you."

Sara didn't like the way his touch felt, it doesn't FEEL like Master Kakashi…this reminds me of the mission where…! She glanced nervously at Kakashi, to make sure that he hadn't noticed anything. He turned his gaze on her and asked concerned, "Is something wrong?"

"No," Sara said feeling stupid, maybe I'm just overreacting…

"Maybe," Phoenix said. "I can't sense anything different about him."

Sara was surprised when they stopped. Kakashi looked slightly embarrassed as he pulled out a small box, "Here, it's a congratulations gift, for making jônin."

"Thanks," Sara said smiling at him. She opened the box and was surprised to see a silver plate with the Leaf Village symbol on it, a small chain was connected to it, making it a necklace. "Cool!" Sara said, saying the first word that popped into her head.

Kakashi smiled, "I'm glad you like it!" He glanced back at the tower, "Let's head home." He gently grabbed her arm and teleported to the house. Sara still wasn't sure why Kakashi's touch didn't feel right, but Phoenix was still at ease, so she ignored the feeling again.

Jônin

As the sun set outside, and the pair had enjoyed a meal of miso ramen, Sara said, "I think I'm going to go to bed."

"That's fine," Kakashi said, nodding.

She hugged him and she felt him tense, this is NOT Master Kakashi!

"I agree with you now!" Phoenix nearly screeched. "You need to get out of here! The malicious intent is coming off him in waves! I can sense it now!"

Sara pulled out of the hug and headed upstairs, quietly locking the door. She made a Shadow Clone and had it change into her pajamas, and turn out the light before she opened her window to sneak out. She flinched as the window groaned in protest. Her body tensed as she heard the kitchen chair clatter across the floor, and heard the fake Kakashi climb the stairs, two at a time. She listened as the handle jiggled and the fake Kakashi said, "Open this door now!"

Sara opened the window all the way, and leapt outside as the imposter began slamming into the door. She sprinted around the house, and felt her legs protesting. Phoenix, I need you to lend me some chakra! Within a millisecond Phoenix's chakra surged through her and she used it to speed up her progress. Footsteps pounded behind her and she knew the imposter was pursuing her.

Sara shot towards the Anbu Area, still sprinting after several long minutes, having left the imposter far behind. She leapt over the gate and landed on the other side, panting. She opened the door and bolted up the stairs, and pounded on Hanashi's bedroom door.

Hanashi opened the door groggily and asked, "What's up with you?"

She panted, "There's a fake Kakashi in the village, and I…"

Hanashi didn't let her finish, "Get in here!" He walked out into the hallway, and into his office, and she heard him tell a message to a messenger toad. He was soon back in the room. He glanced at her, "I won't let this guy hurt you."

Meanwhile, Kakashi entered the village, having just returned from his mission. He was looking forward to going home and hearing how the exam had gone for Sara. He was startled when the two Anbus at the gate blocked his path, "You're coming with us to see Ibiki."

"What? Why?" Kakashi asked.

"As if you don't know," one of the Anbu's sneered as they grabbed his left arm.

"What the hell?" Kakashi was really beginning to feel annoyed as the two radioed in that they had caught the imposter. Imposter? Oh no! Sara!

Hanashi stood tensely as someone opened the door, Kakashi walked in and held his hands up defensively, "Relax, it's me, Kakashi. They just caught the imposter now. Are you all right, Sara?"

Hanashi pulled out a kunai and said, "Don't take another step forward." He then asked, "Who are Sara's two uncles?"

Kakashi looked dumbfounded, before he made a hand sign, allowing the transformation jutsu he'd been using to vanish. Kabuto said, "Clever, thinking of a question an imposter wouldn't be able to answer, now why don't you step aside and let me kill her?"

Hanashi laughed, "In your dreams, kid."

Kabuto rushed forward, and Hanashi was unprepared for his speed, Kabuto sent him flying out the window. Sara flinched when she heard him hit the ground with a dull thud.

Kabuto turned to face her, "Now where did all of that bravery you showed in the Jônin Exams go?"

Sara decided to keep him talking, even though she was scared stiff, "Why are you trying to kill me?"

"It's Orochimaru's orders. He didn't like what Sasuke reported to him, you know, about how you refused to give up chasing him, even when you were mortally wounded?" Kabuto said, smiling. "He just wanted you out of the picture."

Sara racked her brain for something else to keep him talking, but she came up with nothing.

Kabuto smiled, "Are you done trying to prolong your existence?" He took a step forward, but stopped when a kunai appeared at his throat.

"Take one more step towards her and I'll rip you apart," Kakashi practically snarled as he stood behind Kabuto.

Kabuto laughed, "You have to know where I'm at if you're going to kill me." He disappeared from sight.

Kakashi lifted up his headband, exposing his Sharingan, searching for Kabuto.

Sara thought, unaware that her adrenaline rush had activated her Devil's Eyes, this is one of those moments where I wish I had Master Kakashi's Sharingan. Then I'd at least be able to copy this camouflage jutsu of Kabuto's! Her eyes rested on Kabuto, just as Kakashi spotted him. He lunged forward, and Kabuto released his jutsu, and leapt out of the window. Kakashi gazed down at his retreating form. He stared at the two guards at the gate, damn! He killed them long before I got here, the clever bastard! He turned his attention to Sara, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Sara said, nodding. She froze when her chin touched a scaly hide.

Kakashi saw her eyes widen, and walked forward, he saw a small brown snake, wrapped around Sara's neck. It hissed at him, exposing its fangs. He cautiously grabbed it behind the head, since it was a very poisonous little, brown snake. Kakashi tossed it into the air, and quickly made the hand signs for the Fireball Jutsu. Sara helped him clean up the ashes.

Kakashi asked her, as they both moved towards the window, "So…I heard you passed the exam."

"Yeah," Sara muttered.

Kakashi called down to Hanashi, "Hey! Are you all right?"

"I've been better!" Hanashi hollered.

Kakashi focused on Sara, "You've also faced someone before who pretended to be me so…why didn't you act like a ninja?"

"I guess…I guess it's because it happened here, in the village…a place I really wouldn't consider someone pretending to be you, just so they could kill me," Sara murmured, feeling somewhat stupid. Master Kakashi's right…I am pathetic!

Kakashi embraced her, "I hope you learned from this experience…and what have I always told you?"

Sara laughed, "Always be aware of your surroundings."

"And the people in it," Kakashi finished. He asked, looking worried, "How did Kabuto disguise the snake?"

"Like a Leaf Village dog tag," Sara answered.

He nodded thoughtfully, "Well, you did learn from this, and I think we'd better help Hanashi to the hospital. I think he might have broken his arm."

After they had helped Hanashi to the hospital, Kakashi was leading the way home, when Sara said, "I promise I will never respond to a situation like that again!"

Kakashi smiled, "I know you won't, but right now, you need to change and then go to bed. I want you to be wide awake for your ceremony tomorrow."

Sara smiled back at him, and did as she was told. As soon as her head touched her pillow, she was sound asleep.

Kakashi watched her for a few minutes, as she slept, making sure that she wasn't having any nightmares, his thoughts drifted to the events of the night, Orochimaru didn't want her around…I wonder why? What threat does my genin…well, I guess she's a jônin now…but what threat does she pose to them? She's still learning, as she demonstrated tonight… I'd better get a message to Tsunade telling her that we'll be late tomorrow. I want Sara to get some rest…

The next morning, Sara opened her eyes and stretched, wondering why Kakashi hadn't been in to wake her up. She glanced at the window and leapt out of bed, crap! I'm late for the ceremony! She showered and dashed down the stairs, and skidded to a halt at the bottom. Kakashi was sitting calmly in the kitchen, reading Make Out Violence.

Sara said, "Now's not the time to be reading your perverted books! I need to be at the ceremony!"

"I know," Kakashi said, standing up and placing his book into his pouch. "We can leave now."

"We should have been there three hours ago," she muttered.

Kakashi smiled, "I contacted Lady Hokage last night and explained what had happened. She postponed the ceremony to noon, so you're not late."

"Oh!" Sara said, blushing.

Kakashi led the way to a building Sara was unfamiliar with, he walked inside, and she followed. He murmured as they walked down a hallway, "This is where the Jônin Council meets. It will be several years before you are required to be apart of it." He pushed open a door, and Sara stared in awe at the circular chambers that was filled with Anbu and Jônin. Kakashi pointed, "You will stand right there, in the center of the floor. I'll be up there with Tsunade, you will step up there when she calls your name, okay?"

"Okay," Sara replied, feeling a tad nervous. Kakashi left her side and moved to stand next to another jônin that stood beside her.

Sara sighed in relief when she spotted Kenshin and Ryo standing where Kakashi had pointed; she gladly stood beside Ryo, and waited patiently.

Kenshin looked much better, some color having returned to his face, but it was obvious that he still had a slight fever. He winked at her, when she stood next to Ryo.

Ryo acknowledged her presence by nodding his head, ever so slightly. Otherwise, none of them moved.

Tsunade said, instantly quieting all of the small talk that had been going on, "We are here today to acknowledge that three new jônin have entered your ranks. So, please join me in welcoming Kenshin Nara, Ryo Morino, and Sara Uchiha, as jônin of the Hidden Leaf Village!"

Sara felt like ducking her head, as all of the jônin and Anbus present cheered. Kenshin and Ryo also looked embarrassed.

Tsunade continued, "Now, as is the tradition, they're teachers shall escort them out and treat them to a meal!"

Kenshin and Ryo's teacher shot Tsunade a dirty look, while Kakashi looked indifferent, as they walked forward. Kakashi gently guided her out of the room and into the streets of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Sara asked, genuinely curious, "Is it really traditional for the teacher's to take their students out to eat?"

"No," Kakashi said, smiling. "It used to be that the entire squad had to give their teammate a gift, but why disobey Lady Hokage?" He glanced around at all of the restaurants and made a beeline towards Tiégra's. Sara looked at him curiously and he said, "I have a feeling she'll want to congratulate you."

As soon as they entered, Tiégra embraced her in a hug and said, "Oh! I'm so proud of you!"

Enaki appeared from the back room, breathing a little heavier than usual, Sara assumed that he had changed quickly out of his Anbu uniform. When Tiégra released her, Enaki pulled her into a hug and murmured, "We're BOTH proud of you!"

"So am I," a familiar voice said. Sara turned her head, since Enaki was still hugging her, and she smiled when she saw Yusuke.

Enaki released her from his hug, and Sara walked up to Yusuke, who ruffled her hair. Yusuke said quietly, "I figured you didn't want any more hugs!"

Sara laughed and gazed around at her family. Those words suddenly struck her, this IS my family! I finally have one…well…I guess I always had one and I just never realized it!

Kakashi said, seeming to read her thoughts, "I thought this would be better celebrated as a family event!"

"Thanks," she said feeling ecstatic.

They all sat down at the table, Tiégra walked into the kitchen, and came back out with two extra large pizzas, before she finally sat down.

Enaki asked, once Tiégra was seated beside him, "How does it feel to be a jônin?"

"I haven't noticed any difference yet," Sara stated, truthfully.

He smiled, "You will, don't worry."

Yusuke commented, "I remember when I first became a jônin. The missions were harder than I expected."

"Everything was harder than you expected," Enaki muttered. Yusuke shot him a nasty look, managing to glare at the right person.

Sara rolled her eyes at her uncles' antics. She glanced at Kakashi, who seemed to be enjoying himself, and she smiled. I'm never going to forget this night!

After the celebration, as they were walking home in the early morning, Kakashi handed her a small box, "Here, this is for you…I guess you could call it a graduation present."

Sara opened the box, and stared at a Leaf Village dog tag. She stared at him.

Kakashi looked embarrassed, "I know it's ironic that Kabuto gave you a snake disguised as a dog tag, but look at the back of it."

She flipped the dog tag so the Leaf Village symbol was facing away from her and she read the back aloud, "No matter how mad I may sometimes get…I'll always love you." A smile spread across her features, while Kakashi blushed.

He pulled out his own dog tag, "I guess you could say I'm carrying on a family tradition. My father gave me this when I became a genin. There's no inscription on mine, but…" He was surprised when she hugged him, "I guess that means you like it?"

"Yes…why wouldn't I?" She questioned.

"No reason!" Kakashi said quickly. Her pleading eyes soon made him give in, "I thought you would think that it was…stupid."

"Stupid jônin," she muttered fondly.

Kakashi rolled his eyes in response.

A Female Kakashi?

Sara felt her shoulder being shaken and she moaned in protest, it felt like she had only just fallen asleep.

Kakashi said quietly, "I know you don't want to get up, but I thought you should know that Lady Hokage has requested that we meet her in her office in…" She knew he glanced at her clock, "…five minutes."

She sat bolt upright, barely missing Kakashi, and she snapped, "Why didn't you wake me up sooner?"

"I thought you needed the rest," he replied.

Kakashi left the room to give her some privacy as she changed. Sara shot out of her bedroom, and Kakashi grabbed her jacket collar. He asked, "Where are you going?"

"To the Hokage's Mansion," Sara replied, beginning to feel worried about her guardian's sanity. "You said Lady Tsunade wanted to see us."

"Yes, I know. I figured you would want to teleport there," he said smiling.

She scowled at him, "It would have been nice if you had mentioned that little detail a minute ago."

He continued to smile, "I'd thought I'd teach you how to teleport long distances…to make your life easier."

"That would be helpful," Sara conceded.

"It's simple," Kakashi said, automatically switching to teaching mode, "all you have to do is focus on where you want to go, make the appropriate hand sign, and…" He disappeared. Sara jumped when he said from the kitchen, "You end up where you wanted to be at…Try teleporting down here."

"Sure," she said, before she began focusing on the kitchen, a thought suddenly hit her, he never said how much chakra to use…oh well! Here it goes! She made the appropriate hand sign, and she was amazed to find herself in the kitchen standing next to Kakashi.

Kakashi was beaming, "Well done! It usually takes people a couple of times before they get it!"

She couldn't help feeling proud. "Are you going to the Mansion or not?"

He chuckled as he disappeared. Sara rolled her eyes, but she quickly pictured Lady Tsunade's office, and made the hand sign. She was surprised to see that Kakashi wasn't there yet.

Tsuande said, "I see Kakashi forgot to teach you the etiquette of using the Teleportation Jutsu."

Sara blushed, realizing her mistake as a knock sounded on the office door.

"Enter," Tsunade said.

Kakashi walked in and took in Sara and her red cheeks, "Sorry," he said sounding embarrassed, "I guess I should have taught you the etiquette of the jutsu."

"It's perfectly fine," Tsunade said, smiling at them both. "No harm, no foul. I just don't want it to happen again…not unless it's an emergency."

"Yes, Lady Tsunade," Sara said.

Kakashi said, "Before you tell us why you wanted us here, can I explain one more thing about the jutsu to Sara?" Tsunade nodded, and Kakashi turned to Sara, "You are not to use this jutsu for extremely long distances, nothing more than a mile will work. It would take far too much chakra."

Tsunade said, exasperated, "I can't believe you forgot to tell her that as well…"

"Some things tend to slip my mind," Kakashi said, thoroughly embarrassed now.

"Anyway," Tsunade said. "I have a mission for you two. It's an escort mission…" She pulled out two pictures, "This young Queen of the Land of Shadows, and her sister need protecting, and I thought you'd two be perfect for the job!"

Sara glanced at the pictures that Tsunade was holding up, and she couldn't keep her mouth from dropping open in shock, the sister looks just like me…well…if I didn't have a scar on my left eye and if my hair was that long…and if I wore dresses. Her gaze drifted to the picture of the Queen, and her mouth would have hit the floor if it could have. The Queen had silver hair, and looked like Naruto's Sexy Jutsu, but more like if Kakashi had performed it. This is so wrong!

Kakashi said, seeing the Queen's picture more so than the other, "Why exactly were we picked?"

Tsunade smiled, "I need you two to pretend to be exactly like them…or I should say, I need, you, Kakashi to pretend to be exactly like the Queen, while Sara merely learns how the sister acts."

He swallowed nervously, "Lady Hokage…I can't do a transformation like that. Such a transformation would require too much chakra. I would only be able to keep it up for an hour or so."

"I've already considered that, Kakashi, but amazingly, Naruto gave me the solution!" Tsunade announced.

Sara looked around for the hyperactive ninja, but she sighed when she saw no sign of him, I'm not sure if I'm relieved or not…

Tsunade asked, "Have you ever seen him perform his Sexy Jutsu?"

"No," Kakashi stated, looking startled. Tsunade's triumphant expression fell.

"I have," Sara said, receiving a glare from Kakashi.

Tsunade said, "Well, perform it for Kakashi, and Kakashi, make sure your Sharingan copies it."

Kakashi shot Sara a look that was somewhere between anger and horror, as he lifted his headband up, exposing his Sharingan.

Sara thought, I hope I get this right… As she made the usual hand signs for the Transformation Jutsu, but she used a lot less chakra. She knew the jutsu worked when she heard Kakashi hit the floor. She muttered, angrily, "Perverted Jônin!"

"That's not why he passed out," Tsunade stated. "I don't think he really wanted to picture you looking like that."

Sara thought about what Tsunade had said, "You're right, that makes more sense."

"Let's just hope he managed to copy the jutsu before his mind had a meltdown," Tsunade pointed out.

Kakashi came to a few minutes later. He looked at Sara and snapped, "If I ever hear that you used that jutsu you'll be grounded until you're eighteen!"

Sara tried to hide her laughter, Lady Tsunade was right!

Tsunade asked, as Kakashi got to his feet, "Did you copy it?"

"Yes," Kakashi replied reluctantly.

"Good," Tsunade smiled, "Now, Sara you need to leave the room, while I brief Kakashi on how he's supposed to act. Once that's done, the mission will start. In the meantime, Shizune will find you some dresses to wear."

Sara's stared blankly at Tsunade as Shizune entered the office and dragged her out.

Kakashi sighed, as the door closed, "She's not going to like this mission one bit."

"I wouldn't be too worried about her," Tsunade stated as she pulled out a cassette tape.

Sara waited patiently outside the office door. She was now, reluctantly, wearing a red dress that was easy enough to move in, and it wouldn't restrict any movement if fighting occurred, and she even had shorts on if fighting did occur, she was also wearing extensions so her hair would look longer. All of these she could tolerate, what she couldn't stand was the makeup she had on.

Shizune had insisted on putting makeup on her, particularly to cover her scar. At first, Sara had thought that was all the makeup that was needed…little had she known.

When I get back from this mission… She allowed her mind to go into various pranks she could pull on Shizune. Her attention was diverted as the office door opened.

A silver haired woman, in a blue gown, walked out, a scar over her left eye was the only indication that showed it was indeed Kakashi. He shot her a look that said she was to keep her opinion to herself. Shizune appeared, trying not to laugh as she said, "We need to cover that scar." Kakashi rolled his eyes. Shizune added, "And a contact lens to hide your Sharingan."

As Kakashi walked past, Sara found that she didn't find it the least bit funny. If anything, it revolted her. Especially when her mind conjured up the image of how the Sexy Jutsu usually looked when first used.

Tsunade asked, noticing that Sara looked a little green, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Sara said, managing to get the horrifying image out of her head. "Never better!"

Tsunade saw right through her, "At night he'll release the jutsu, being the guardian you're used to."

"I just hope I don't lose any meals on this mission," Sara muttered.

Shizune walked back, Kakashi trailing behind. Tsunade addressed them both, "The young Queen is Aimi, while her sister is Asami. Now, Kakashi, you'll be addressed as Arisu, and as far as the two sisters need to be concerned, you're Sara's mother, you already know how you are supposed to act." Kakashi nodded. "Sara," she said turning to face her, "You'll be addressed as…" Tsunade looked thoughtful, "Mariko."

Sara nodded, she glanced at Kakashi, who seemed to be beaming. Why does…he… It was hard thinking of Kakashi as a she, even if he was using a jutsu. Look so proud… Her mind thought of the meaning of the name, Mariko…Mariko…why can't I think of what it means?

Phoenix supplied, "It means 'true village child'."

That explains everything! She glanced at Tsunade, feeling somewhat grateful, she gave me an appropriate name. Kakashi's mission name struck her, and Master Kakashi's name is good for him since Arisu means "noble sort".

Tsunade said, "All right, now that you have the necessary tools for this mission, let me explain it… You are dressed the way you are because someone has already tried to assassinate the sisters, and Aimi is afraid that someone will try it again at the Meeting of the Nobles in the Land of Shadows. So, you're mission is to not only protect them but to go to this meeting as their doubles, understood?"

Sara glanced at Kakashi, and saw anger burning in his eyes, he didn't like the part where we put ourselves in danger…correction! He didn't like the part where I'M put in danger…stupid jônin! She nodded, as Kakashi gave a stiff nod, before he led the way out. Sara still found it hard to be looking at a woman instead of Kakashi.

Once they were outside, Sara walked beside Kakashi and asked, "Are you worried about this mission?" Kakashi nodded. "It's only a B-rank though, right?" Kakashi shook his head back and forth. "An A-rank then?" He nodded. She was beginning to feel annoyed, so she snapped, "Look, I know you don't like this mission, but I don't like it either, so…" She felt the words "grow up" were inappropriate, considering who she was talking to. She couldn't find the word she wanted to use though.

Kakashi sighed, and said in an annoyingly high, peppy, female voice, that almost grated against the eardrums, "I'm not annoyed because of this part, granted I could do without it, but I really hate this voice!" He raised his voice at the end, so that Sara almost lost the hearing ability in her right ear.

"Aren't you just mimicking her?" She questioned. Kakashi nodded, still looking pissed. "So…why don't you just talk normally.

He sighed again before speaking, "I have to keep this up, otherwise…" His gaze drifted pointedly to where Guy was enjoying himself with his team.

"Right," Sara said understandingly, "I almost wish I had a different appearance."

Kakashi's anger melted away, "You look fine, S—Mariko."

"Thanks…" Sara really didn't want to say the last part, but she did, "Mom."

They both shuddered, Kakashi suggested, still talking in the high female voice, "I think we should practice."

By the time they reached the gate, they no longer shuddered; they were also used to the names they had to use on the mission. As they neared the two girls waiting at the gate, Kakashi muttered, "How women ever put up with heels amazes me!"

Sara didn't comment, since her own heels were giving her trouble too, since she had never worn any before.

The Queen, Aimi turned to face them, her blue gown swirling around her legs, her eyes lit up at the sight of them and she shouted, excitedly, "Oh, wow! Your Hokage wasn't kidding when she said she could find our doubles to be our escorts!" She clapped her hands excitedly as she turned to her sister, "Don't you think they look exactly like us, Asami?"

Asami turned, her red dress barely moving, "They do look like us…I just hope they aren't exactly like us!"

Sara smiled, "I like Asami already!"

"Lucky you!" Kakashi said silently, "Mine's worse than I was led to believe!" He composed himself, and said in the Queen's exact voice, "I'm Arisu, and this is my daughter, Mariko. We'll be escorting you back to the Land of Shadows, there; we'll pretend to be you, until the danger has passed."

Aimi clapped her hands again, "This will be sooo much fun!"

Sara placed her hands over her ears, trying to block the grating sound of the queen's high voice.

Kakashi, reluctantly, added, feeling very stupid, "I know dear!"

How Master Kakashi puts up with missions like this is beyond me, Sara thought, trying to block the sound of the Queen, and an acting Kakashi's, squeals of delight.

They all left the village, Aimi leading the way followed by Asami, then Kakashi, and finally Sara.

Aimi refused to keep quiet for any amount of time, forcing Kakashi to talk to her constantly, in the same, annoying, high girl voice.

Asami rolled her eyes at Sara, and Sara tried not to laugh. She glanced at Kakashi, if we managed to get through with this mission without going insane, Master Kakashi had better get a good sum of money! He's putting up with a lot!

As they made camp, a day's journey from the Land of Shadows, Sara noticed that Kakashi was beginning to look exhausted. The jutsu must finally be taking its toll on him…

Aimi, who seemingly couldn't control her ever moving mouth, said, "So, Arisu, who's the lucky guy?"

Kakashi was completely taken off guard, since his mind had been elsewhere, he recovered by saying, in the high girl voice, "I'm sorry…dear…what did you say?"

"Who's the lucky guy?" Aimi giggled and glanced at Sara. Kakashi's mind wasn't up to par, and he stared at her dumbfounded. Aimi said, "You know…Mariko's father?"

"Oh! Right, sorry!" Kakashi said quickly, "Her father died before she was born…"

They continued their conversation, while Asami whispered to Sara, "Neither of them are very smart are they?"

Sara felt her anger build, but she ignored it, we're on a mission, and Master Kakashi is supposed to act like that! "Yeah, they are…"

"How do you live with a mother like that, I can barely put up with my older sister!" Asami exclaimed.

"My mother," Sara stated, "has her moments…" If I ever call Master Kakashi, mother, mom, or…whatever other terms that are used to describe a mom after this mission, I think I'll puke!

Asami nodded thoughtfully, "Aimi has her moments too…believe it or not…she's a great queen. The people adore her, and she actually makes good decisions that benefit the people…"

I hope Master Kakashi can learn that from Aimi…maybe I'll tell him later tonight. She gazed thoughtfully at Asami; Asami really cares about Aimi…

Both of them turned towards Aimi and Kakashi, when Aimi said, "Why don't we have a little fun," she pulled out some pink nail polish. Sara saw a small shudder pass through Kakashi's body.

Asami said, "Don't you dare put any of that pink stuff on me!"

"Me neither!" Sara said in relief.

Kakashi shot her an angry look, as he said to a crestfallen Aimi, "I'll join you dear!"

Later that night, as Aimi and Asami slept in their tent. Kakashi and Sara, further away, were talking quietly in theirs.

Kakashi snapped, once he had released the jutsu, "You traitor!"

"Sorry, but you have to remember, I don't like much of the usual girl stuff!" Sara reminded him.

He muttered as he shoved the dress Tsunade had given him to use with the jutsu, into a bag, "I'm a guy, and I have to put up with this!" He showed her his one hand, which still showed the nail polish Aimi had put on them.

"I do have nail polish remover," she murmured.

"I can't use it now; we still have at least one more day to put up with them…how are you holding out?" He asked suddenly.

"Fine," Sara answered truthfully. "Asami isn't so bad…and she told me her sister usually makes the best decisions for the people…"

"Thanks, that'll help…" Kakashi yawned. "That jutsu took a lot out of me…so I'm going to try and get some sleep…" He lay down on the sleeping mat he had, and was instantly asleep.

Sara gazed at her guardian, who was putting himself through his own nightmare, just to complete a mission. She smiled as she settled down onto her own mat; I picked the right person to be my role model…

The next morning, Sara was the first one up. She quickly changed into a navy blue dress, and walked out of the tent, since Kakashi was still asleep. She glanced around the clearing, and noticed that both Aimi and Asami were already up.

Aimi glanced her way and smiled, along with Asami. Aimi asked, "So, is Arisu up yet?"

"No, actually, she's not. She had a rough day yesterday…she used a lot of chakra to make sure that no one was following us," Sara said, thinking quickly.

"Oh wow! She did all of that for us?" Aimi said, surprised. "She must be a really dedicated ninja!"

Sara muttered under her breath, "You have no idea!"

Asami asked, "Could you wake your mom? We promised that we'd be back before noon today."

Aimi scolded her sister, "Asami! Let her rest! We have plenty of time!"

"No, it's fine really," Sara said, trying to keep the sisters happy. "I'll go wake my mom now!" She slipped into the tent, and gently shook Kakashi's shoulder.

Kakashi opened his eyes groggily, and muttered, "It's not time yet…"

"Master Kakashi, we need to get moving, remember the sisters have to be back in the Land of Shadows by noon!" Sara reminded him, gently shoving his shoulder.

"Okay…okay…I'm up," Kakashi sat up, and stretched slightly, trying not to aggravate his back. He asked her, politely, sounding slightly more awake, "Can you snag whatever dress our Hokage gave me to wear with that stupid jutsu?"

Sara snickered under her breath, as she grabbed a dress. Her snickering immediately stopped.

Kakashi asked, "Is it that bad?" Sara held up a pink dress. He muttered, "When I see Lady Hokage again, she's going to get a piece of my mind!"

Sara left the tent, not wanting to see the Sexy Jutsu put to use. She said to Aimi and Asami, "She said she'll be out in a minute." Sara was startled to see that Asami was also wearing a navy blue dress, while Aimi was wearing a pink one.

Aimi smiled, "Thank you for waking your mother, Mariko."

Before anything else could be said, Kakashi walked out of the tent, the jutsu was flawless, he had even made sure to put on some makeup to cover his scar.

Sara asked silently, "How did you manage to put on the make-up?

"Don't ask," Kakashi answered.

Aimi said, "I wish I looked that good every morning!"

Kakashi said, "Let's get going, dear. We do need to get you back by noon." He added silently, "Then our real mission begins…" Sara nodded her head ever so slightly, as they began to walk in the same order as the day before.

As they got closer and closer to the Land of Shadows, Queen Aimi began to look nervous, her breathing became jagged, and she began to sweat up a storm. Once they had entered the Land of Shadows, however, she was composed, seemingly happy at being home.

Sara wondered, "What was that about?"

"She's probably afraid that we won't be able to protect her or her sister, but she won't show her subjects how worried she really is…" Kakashi answered silently.

Aimi stopped suddenly and turned to face the two shinobi, "This is where Asami and I will wait for you." She pointed to a large building, "That is where the meeting will take place, you, of course, will pretend to be us…" She didn't finish.

Sara said silently, "Where we'll either thwart her assassin, or…"

"Don't finish!" Kakashi begged, not wanting to picture the other outcome, particularly for Sara. "We'll do our best." He assured Aimi.

"Thank you, Arisu. Mariko." Aimi said.

They both nodded as they headed towards the meeting place. Kakashi said, "Now, here's the plan, we are not to act out of character, until the attack happens. Understand?"

"Yeah," Sara said reluctantly. "What if it's easy to see who it is though?"

"You are not to move!" Kakashi snapped. Sara nodded, but her eyes showed that she did not like his plan. He reassured her silently, "It will be fine." Sara didn't respond.

They entered the meeting place, and Sara managed to look indifferent as she passed multiple paintings, sculptures, pottery, and other priceless items that decorated the circular room. Even the table looked expensive; a balcony overlooked the table, where people could watch the meeting. She copied Kakashi as he stood by his seat, Sara stood on his right. Slowly, other people in the room began to stand near they're seats. When all of chairs had someone next to them, Kakashi, gracefully sat down. Once he was seated, Sara and the others sat.

Kakashi asked, his mimicking skills easily copying the Queen's voice flawlessly, as he had been doing the past two days, "What is the first order of business?"

Sara's eyes scanned the room, resting on each person at the table. None of them look to be assassins…but when do assassins ever look like themselves? Her eyes drifted to a waiter, who was off to the side holding a pot of tea. He looked quickly at the assembled people, and his gaze rested on Kakashi. His gaze turned to one of hate. Sara watched as he pulled out a kunai knife.

She glanced at Kakashi who seemed oblivious to the danger. I know that he's noticed…but is he just going to sit there? Kakashi quickly shot her a warning glance. Damn! He must have sensed my anxiety!

The waiter walked to the table and offered the others some tea, slowly walking down the left side of the table. As the waiter neared Kakashi, Sara felt her pupils narrow as her Devil's Eyes activated. Master Kakashi never said that I couldn't act once the assassin was ready to make his move… Her eyes darted to one of the meeting members that was seated, as he pulled out several smoke bombs.

Sara leapt out of her chair, and tackled the member out of his chair. Kakashi was also standing as he grabbed the waiter's hand, and wrenched it around, forcing the blade to fall out of his hand. The member Sara had tackled, had used a substitution. Damn it! A substitution!

She turned to Kakashi who was shooting her a nasty look as he thought silently, "What did I tell you? Now we have no idea where the assassins are!"

Sara didn't have time to feel ashamed as she dodged several shuriken. She retaliated by throwing some of her own. She heard a gasp of pain, and one of the assassins tumbled out of the balcony. She glanced at his headband, a Rain Village Ninja… She turned as she heard Kakashi gasp, the other assassin stood behind him, a kunai in his hand. Blood was beginning to flow from where the ninja had stabbed Kakashi's back. Before she could move or register anything that was in front of her. Kakashi appeared behind the assassin, and held a kunai to his throat.

He said, still talking like Aimi, since he had not released the jutsu, "Who hired you?"

The assassin pointed to a member that was trying to flee the room. Sara was instantly beside him, ecstatic that her teleportation had been successful.

Kakashi glared at the assassin as he moved his kunai knife away from the assassin's throat, the assassin quickly teleported out of the room.

A member said, looking at Sara, "It is customary here for any traitors to the royal family to be executed." He gestured to two men who were just coming down the stairs from the balcony. "Dispose of him." The two men gagged the member who had wanted to assassinate Aimi and Asami, and dragged him out of the meeting place.

The same member who had explained the customs of the Land of Shadows said, "I'm happy that our Queen and Princess are safe."

Sara and Kakashi nodded. Kakashi said, "We'll be escorting them here now."

The member nodded, "Good. Most of us noticed that you were not Aimi. She is more talkative." He smiled warmly.

Sara and Kakashi walked out of the meeting place, and headed back to where Aimi and Asami were waiting.

Kakashi said, "Everything's fine. We apprehended the traitor, and the assassins have been dealt with. We'll escort you back now."

"Thank you so much, Arisu!" Aimi said, smiling.

"Sure, de-!" Kakashi was suddenly rigid, before the jutsu vanished, ripping the pink dress, as Kakashi collapsed, fully clothed in his regular attire.

Aimi screamed when she saw that Arisu was really a guy. Sara darted forward and gently shook Kakashi's shoulder, "Master Kakashi! Master Kakashi!"

He stirred and opened his one eye, "I'm fine. I had to use my Sharingan, and that used up what little strength I had." Sara managed to get him to his feet. He glanced down at the shreds of the dress, "I really hope Lady Hokage didn't want that dress back."

Sara laughed, "Look at the bright side, there shouldn't be any more missions like this!" He chuckled softly. She asked, "Is this going to be like Land of Waves?"

"No…I just need a good day's rest," he replied.

Aimi shouted, "Excuse me! But could someone explain what's going on?"

"On the way to the meeting place," Sara said as she began to walk.

"No! Now!" Aimi shouted.

Sara paused and turned around. Kakashi said silently, "This wouldn't have happened if you had listened to me!"

"Admit it though, my idea worked just as well, if not better…it's not my fault if you weren't exactly up to par," Sara said. She addressed Aimi, "We're the shinobi that were requested to protect you on this mission. It's Master Kakashi's bad luck that one of the…um…many jutsu in his arsenal happens to resemble you…and it's also bad luck that he's a good mimicker."

Asami asked, "So…are you a boy?"

"No," Sara said wiping away the makeup that covered her scar, "just more beat up."

Aimi seemed to recover from the shock of finding that someone she had talked to and socialized with was really a guy, "You two may go rest in the palace there," she pointed north. "It's only a few minutes walk from here… Asami and I shall talk to you more, later." She turned on her heel and walked away, Asami following her quickly.

Fifteen minutes later, Kakashi was sound asleep (having fallen asleep a few seconds after Sara had started walking). Sara was panting on the bed muttering darkly, "I don't care what you say," she glared at Kakashi's sleeping form, "you weigh a ton!"

He opened his eyes and said, "I do not weigh that much!"

"Okay," she said, rolling her eyes, "next time you can drag your own carcass back here!"

Kakashi laughed, "Anybody weighs a lot when they're passed out."

"I know," Sara said smiling. "I was teasing you!"

Kakashi continued to smile, "I know." He tried to hide the fact that he yawned.

"Get some rest," she said, "you earned it." Kakashi closed his eyes and was asleep instantly.

She glanced at her guardian, I know my idea wasn't exactly the greatest, but I couldn't just sit there! There were so many holes in Master Kakashi's plan! So many things could have gone wrong!

Sara jumped when Kakashi spoke suddenly, "You need rest as well. It will probably be awhile before Queen Aimi can talk to us."

She nodded, knowing that he couldn't see the nod, since his eyes were closed. Kakashi sighed when she snuggled against his side; he opened his right eye, "Sleep well."

She nodded again, and Kakashi closed his eye, his breathing slowed, showing that he was asleep.

Sara thought that she'd only feign sleep so she wouldn't disturb Kakashi, but as soon as her eyes closed, she was asleep.

Kakashi opened his eyes when he heard a knock on the door. He glanced at Sara, who was still lying against his right side, sound asleep. A more insistent knock sounded against the door, and he slowly sat up, I'm not completely up to par yet… His gaze drifted to a clock, I haven't been asleep that long…no wonder I still feel kind of cruddy. Kakashi stood up, and walked stiffly to the door. When he opened it, he was slightly surprised to see Queen Aimi and Princess Asami.

"You're Highness'," Kakashi said, stepping aside and allowing them entrance.

He smiled when he saw Sara sitting up, looking groggily around. Her gaze rested on Aimi and Asami. She asked silently, "What are they doing here?"

"I'm assuming to talk to us," Kakashi answered.

She stood up quickly, he felt a surge of frustration, I'd be fine too if she had just stuck with my plan! He was a little stunned at his frustration level, and he inhaled deeply, pushing the frustration down.

Aimi said, "It's good to see that you're both doing well, and I apologize for my earlier behavior. It just…startled me to learn that you," she gestured at Kakashi, "were not a woman."

Asami added, "Not to mention seeing the scars you both have."

"Yes," Aimi said, nodding. "We did not realize that the life of a ninja was so hard."

Kakashi said, "We choose our paths. And believe it or not, we, for the most part, enjoy being ninja."

"I don't understand," Aimi said, glancing at Asami.

Sara said, "Being a shinobi is like being apart of a family. You're fellow shinobi become your siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc."

"Well said," Kakashi said, smiling at her.

Aimi still looked confused, but Asami's expression brightened, "Oh! I get it!"

"I'm glad you do," Aimi said, smiling fondly at her sister. She added, turning to face them, "You are welcome to stay for as long as you like."

"Thank you," Kakashi said, "we will only be here till tomorrow though. I'll be back to my full strength by then."

"Thank you for protecting us, let any of our servants know if you need anything," Aimi said, as she closed the door.

Kakashi said to Sara, "I don't know about you, but I need more rest." He flopped onto the bed, and closed his eyes.

Sara sat next to him on the bed, he listened to her steady breathing, and soon he was asleep. She glanced down at Kakashi, when he snored slightly, he really was exhausted…maybe I should have gone with his plan…but…all those flaws in it!

Another snore escaped from Kakashi's sleeping form and she sighed, feeling her own exhaustion sweep over her. She lay down next to him, and a small smile spread across her face when he moved to place his arm over her protectively. Within seconds, she was asleep.

The next day, after saying their goodbyes to Aimi and Asami, and after they had crossed the border of the Land of Shadows, Kakashi asked, "Why did you attack the one assassin when I had told you to wait?" Sara heard an edge to his voice.

"I thought that there were too many flaws in your plan," she replied.

Kakashi's voice was firm as he said, "Next time you will listen to me. I'm the senior ninja, and I have a hell of a lot more experience than you have!"

"So I bet you'd listen to Asuma if he gave you an order since he's older than you!" She couldn't keep the anger and frustration from her voice.

He looked flustered as his own frustration swept over him, "That's not the point!"

"Why should I listen to you? You preach one thing, but you do the exact opposite!" Sara snapped.

Kakashi was beginning to let his old personality take over, "You are to listen to whoever is in charge, and in this case it was me! A squad cannot function properly if the members disobey the leader!"

"You didn't complain when we disobeyed you in Land of Waves and saved your ass!" Sara's temper now had a complete hold on her.

"That was a different situation!" Kakashi shouted.

Sara shouted back, "The only thing that's different is that it's only you and me!"

Kakashi stopped walking and faced her, "Now you listen to me. If you ever disobey my orders like you did back there, you will be grounded till your twenty!"

"I'll just disobey you anyway," she snapped, "and end up like Obito!" Her eyes widened when she saw Kakashi wince.

He let his temper get the better of him, "Perhaps I shouldn't have disobeyed the Head of the Uchiha at the time…then I wouldn't have ended up with you!"

Sara flinched and she quickly looked away as tears pricked her eyes. She followed Kakashi as he continued walking, his back rigid, showing that he was still furious. She tried to reassure herself, he didn't mean it…! He didn't mean it! He didn't mean it! You know he didn't mean it!

Kakashi was counting backwards slowly from ten, ten…nine…eight…seven…six…five… He turned slightly as he heard a sniffle come from Sara. Four…three… Another sniffle made him turn again, two…! Oh no! What have I done? Kakashi whipped around and wrapped her in his arms, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean what I said! You're the best thing that's ever happened to me!"

"I know," she whispered, trying to get rid of her tears, "and I'm sorry about saying that I'd end up like Obito."

"I know," Kakashi murmured. He kissed her forehead, "We let our tempers get the better of us." He felt Sara nod. He added, "I was serious about the other parts though." Kakashi took her silence as an agreement. Little did he know, as he led the way towards the village, that her silence was not what it appeared to be, nor did he realize that this was only the first of many arguments to come.

Sara did not realize that last fact either. She was more focused on hiding the emotion that had reared its ugly head. A new, raw emotion that was only a hatchling, in a sense. She had never felt this emotion before, and it would be awhile before she finally had a name for it…

Chakra & Taijutsu

A week later, Sara was recovering from a cold. She had sat out in the rain after a practically heated argument with Kakashi. Both of them had apologized, but the new emotion she was experiencing was truly beginning to make itself known. She sighed as she gazed out the kitchen window washing dishes while Kakashi dried them. She had been on two missions since her first mission as a jônin, the other two had been simple A-rank missions, but they had managed to argue on both of the missions.

Sara wasn't paying attention to what she was doing, her thoughts on the new emotion, it's not a…rebellious emotion…but I really don't know what it is! Kakashi waved his hand in front of her face, startling her. "What?"

"You've been washing the same spot on that dish for awhile now," he answered.

"Sorry," she quickly rinsed it off. "Here."

Kakashi dried the dish and placed it in the cupboard, as she drained the water out of the sink.

She asked, "So…you're going on a mission by yourself?"

"Yes," he replied, "I think you and I need a small break from each other." He smiled, and she couldn't help smiling in response, especially since his mask was off.

But her smile slipped away, we need a break since we're getting close to the point of tearing out the other's throat…

She realized, too late, that she hadn't thought to block her mind, Kakashi looked hurt, but he said, "Just remember that I do love you…no matter how…"

"Angry you may get," Sara finished, remembering the inscription on her Leaf Village dog tag that she wore all the time now.

"Exactly," he smiled suddenly, "Plus, I also insisted that you train with other jônin, that way you really do get a break from me!"

She asked cautiously, "Who's training me?"

"Today you'll train with Asuma and tomorrow," he suddenly seemed very fascinated with the kitchen sink.

"You have me training with Guy?" She moaned.

Kakashi said, "You'll learn a lot about Taijutsu from him…more than I could ever teach you…" His tone was suddenly sad.

"I still want you to train me!" Sara said, suddenly wishing that she had never thought about their recent arguing.

"I know," he said smiling. "I just feel guilty knowing that I can't prepare you for everything."

"That's a stupid thing to be feeling guilty about," Sara muttered.

Kakashi looked like he wanted to make a sharp reply, but instead, he kissed her cheek, before he pulled up his mask, "I need to get going."

Sara followed him to the door and said, "I love you."

"I love you too," he replied, his tone becoming gentler. Kakashi added, "And don't worry about training with Guy, I'm pretty sure I'll be back to make sure that he doesn't overdo things!"

Sara forced a smile onto her features, this time she made sure she blocked her thoughts, I don't need you there! I just really don't want to train with Guy! The emotion was there again, and she tried to give it a name, but none came to mind. I really have to figure out what this emotion is before I really say something that will hurt Master Kakashi…worse then saying that I'll end up like Obito…

She was surprised when a knock sounded from the door, what did Master Kakashi do? Forget his key?

Before she got to the door Asuma shouted, "Open the door already!"

Sara darted forward and opened the door. Asuma walked in and muttered, "I thought Kakashi would have told you that I would be here now…" He glanced out the door, "But considering that he just left it-."

"Probably slipped his mind," Sara finished for him. She asked eagerly, "What are you teaching me today?"

Asuma laughed, "You may be a jônin, but you have yet to lose some of your genin qualities!"

She blushed knowing that her enthusiasm was what he had laughed at. "Seriously though, what are you teaching me?"

"I'll be teaching you how to transfer your chakra into weapons…you won't be able to master it in one day, but it will come in handy once you've gotten the hang of it," Asuma stated.

"Cool!" Sara said feeling excited. "So…how do you transfer chakra into weapons?"

Asuma chuckled, "And here I thought you already would have the gist of doing it." Sara looked at him, utterly confused. "I heard about how you kept Kabuto from moving while Naruto hit him with the Rasengan…" The memory played in Sara's mind. "What you did there is sort of like what I'm going to teach you."

"Yeah, but, that was a fluke," Sara stated.

"Fluke or not, it will help you with this training," Asuma said as he pulled out some blades.

"What the heck are those?" Sara asked.

Asuma smiled, "Chakra blades. And before you even ask, no, they are not easier to transfer chakra to."

Sara gave him a skeptical look; sure they're not easier to transfer chakra to!

"Okay, so they are," Asuma muttered, "but I learned how to transfer chakra through kunai first."

"I could believe that," Sara said, as she pulled out two kunai knives.

"I'd start with only one blade if I were you," Asuma said. Sara reluctantly put away the second kunai. He continued, "Now, you pretty much get this one demonstration, and then you're on your own."

Sara activated her Devil's Eyes and watched as Asuma easily sent chakra into and onto the blades. She couldn't help a "wow" escaping from her lips.

Asuma chuckled as he put the chakra blades away and pulled out another cigarette, "The easy part is getting the chakra into the blade, the hard part is getting it to the outside of the blade." He gestured to a tree, "I'll be watching your progress from there…and if I think it's needed, I'll shout out some advice to you." With that being said he moseyed over to the tree and sat down.

Sara sighed, I hate it when people stare…I guess I'll have to ignore him. She focused on her chakra, this is just like learning how to do the Chidori…sort of! She felt the chakra and pushed it into the blade, but when she tried to get it onto the blade, like Asuma had done, the chakra refused to go onto the blade. Gritting her teeth, she tried to force her chakra onto the blade. She stopped after several hours, panting. All right…so trying to force my chakra onto the blade isn't working…maybe I'm going about this the wrong way…

Taking a deep breath, she pushed her chakra into the kunai blade, but she didn't stop when her chakra was fully in the blade. Pushing more in the chakra slowly began to seep out of the blade, putting a coating of chakra on it. She smiled as she stopped, knowing that she had depleted her chakra. But she now had the basics of what she was doing.

Asuma smiled as he walked towards her, "That was great. Not many people figure out what you just did on the first day." He added, "How about a treat you to a meal…granted, this won't be an every training session type of deal."

Sara smiled, as Asuma took her to the Ichiraku Ramen stand. As ate their ramen, Asuma said, "I noticed that you were using more chakra then necessary when you finally got the gist of how chakra transferring works."

"Really?" Sara asked.

"Yeah. In battle, the main focus is to not use too much chakra, so next time use the bare minimum when you're doing charka transferring."

"All right!" She said smiling as she finished her meal.

As she walked home, Sara was still smiling, training today was challenging and fun, I didn't have an argument with Master Kakashi…things couldn't have gone better today!

The next morning, she nearly screamed from fright, as her alarm clock sounded in her ear. But that wasn't the reason she nearly screamed. The reason? Guy was the one holding the alarm clock.

"Don't you have any manners?" Sara grumbled, making sure that her heart was still beating.

"Training begins bright and early with me!" Guy said cheerfully. "I have a lot to teach you and the day won't wait!"

Sara rolled her eyes as she shoved him out of her room and locked the door. She thought about going back to sleep, but she decided against it, figuring Guy would break the door down. Changing quickly, she stepped out of her room into the hallway.

Guy said, once she had made it down the stairs, and was beginning to grab a bowl for cereal, "We don't have time to eat! Come on! The morning is still young!"

"So am I," Sara muttered.

"That's the spirit!" Guy said as he led the way out of the house.

Sara finished what she had been going to say in her head, but you I'm not so sure about. She followed slowly after Guy.

Guy said, once they were both outside, "Now, for warm ups, we need to do one-hundred laps around the village…"

"Easy enough," Sara stated, sounding bored.

Guy smiled, "Ah…but you didn't let me finish! One hundred laps around the village at full speed!" He took off like a shot. As he was running he called over his shoulder, "I hope you can keep up with me!"

Sara rolled her eyes as she took off at a sprint, she eventually caught up to Guy, on the fifth lap, since every one of his strides was two of hers. A thought suddenly struck her, Master Kakashi is faster than Guy…so! She pictured Kakashi, and how fast he could run, and she easily passed Guy, sometimes I love my unique abilities!

When she stopped, she was hoping that Guy would be feeling less enthusiastic about training. But her hopes were soon dashed as Guy happily stopped beside her, "Ah the power of youth is strong in you! Now, the real training begins!" Sara wasn't sure if she should be excited or terrified, as she followed Guy to his team's training ground. "First lesson for today…you need to learn how to fight multiple opponents using only Taijutsu, my team will help you to learn."

Terrified… Sara concluded, I should have been terrified…too late now though. She watched as Neji, Lee, and Tenten stepped out of the surrounding trees.

Lee smiled when he saw her, "Sara! It is great to see you again, and it is an honor to be fighting against you for a second time."

"Thanks, Lee," Sara said.

Tenten scrutinized her, and then she addressed Lee, "This is the kid that beat you? She looks pathetic!"

Sara gritted her teeth in fury, already ready for the fight to start.

Neji said, "Believe it or not, Tenten, she could easily pummel you to a pulp." His eyes flashed to her briefly, "And I must admit, after seeing her performance in the Chûnin Exams, serving on the same squad, and hearing about her actions in the Jônin Exams, I'm anxious to see how well see handles herself."

I'm not sure if I should be flattered or insulted… Sara thought, completely irritated with Guy's team already.

"Now, remember," Guy said smiling, "Sara you are only allowed to use Taijutsu, while my team can use whatever means they want!"

"What?" Sara shouted. "Are you insane? They'll rip me to shreds!"

"Now, now, where's that power of youth I saw earlier?" Guy questioned.

"Gone to hell, apparently," she grumbled as she faced Lee, Neji, and Tenten.

"All right, ready?" Guy asked, when no one said otherwise he shouted, "Begin!"

Lee charged in straight away, and Sara dodged to the side. Neji moved in close to her side, his Byakugan up, and he tried to hit her side. Sara dodged to the left, and grabbed his arm, throwing him into Lee, who had been trying to stand. She flinched as a shuriken grazed across her right cheek.

Tenten stuck her tongue out at her, "You should have realized one of us had to be a long distance fighter."

Sara smiled, as adrenaline pulsed through her, "Thanks for the memo, now I know you're the one to take out first!" She was shocked when she went flying, and crashed into a tree.

"Pay attention!" Guy shouted. He added to Lee, who had been the one to send Sara flying, "Good hit, Lee."

Sara shook her head to clear it and stood up quickly, this is going to be one heck of a training session…but I'm actually enjoying myself…or maybe that's the endorphins working…!

Neji rushed forward, and Sara dodged to the right, she was shocked to see Lee already there, so she moved slightly to the left. Her heart nearly skipped a beat as she heard the distinct sound of kunai blades flying through the air. Sara dropped to the ground to avoid the kunai, and she easily knocked Lee and Neji off of their feet. With the path clear, she quickly moved out into the middle of the training ground, where she stood in her fighting stance, panting for a few seconds.

Once she had caught her breath, her mind began to work, I can't keep this pace up…so…I need to get rid of one of them… Her eyes darted to where Tenten stood, watching her, she's the one that needs to go first, her weapons are proving to be a nuisance…!

She dodged to the right as Neji tried to hit her, he smirked, "You're within range…"

Even though I have no need for my chakra, this will still hurt if I get hit! Sara thought panicking, as Neji shouted, "Eight Trigrams: Sixty-four Palms!" He moved forward, and Sara moved slightly to the right, "Two…what the-?"

Sara sighed, that was WAY too close. She turned as she heard the sound of kunai knives, her hands darted out and caught the two blades, and she threw them back at her target, if I could use my ninjutsu, this would be the perfect time for a fire style…but since I can't…

Tenten, pulled out another kunai and blocked the two, she was about to grin, when she saw that Sara was only inches away from her. Tenten raised her arms up to protect her, but she wasn't prepared for the kick that collided with her side, she feinted one attack and did another? Neji and Lee weren't kidding!

She's down…for now… Sara thought as she spun around to face Lee.

Lee shouted, "Leaf Hurricane!"

Sara raised her arms quickly, and gritted her teeth, as the force of Lee's kick threatened to overpower her. Lee maneuvered quickly, and made to punch her in the face, she ducked, and swung her body upward to kick him in his right side, Lee barely managed to dodge.

Sara was caught in the air, as Neji shouted, "Eight Trigrams: Sixty-four Palms! Two Palms! Four Palms! Eight Palms! Sixteen Palms! Thirty-two Palms! Sixty-four Palms!" She went flying and landed with a resounding thud on the ground, winded.

Fighting with only Taijutsu sucks! Sara thought as she rolled to avoid Lee's punches. Moving like lightning she swung her legs up into the air and hit Lee squarely in the stomach, sending him flying. He landed, sprawled on the ground, several feet away. He didn't try to get up.

Sara had no time to check if Lee was okay, as Neji charged her, again. As she dodged to the left, to avoid his punch, she heard a recovered Tenten shout, "Rising Twin Dragons!"

Flinching as a shuriken grazed her other cheek, Sara tried to dodge the multitude of weapons that were thrown continuously at her. Several of them were finding there marks. Thinking quickly, Sara ran towards Tenten, who was still throwing all of the weapons in the two scrolls that were swirling around her.

Tenten's eyes widened with panic as she began to throw her weapons faster, but her accuracy became worse, which is what Sara had been counting on. She leapt nimbly between the gap the swirling scrolls made, and she leapt into the air, ignoring the two shuriken, that had imbedded themselves in her right arm. Tenten tried to block Sara's punch, but failed, as Sara sent her flying into the air.

Sara landed on her feet, and gritted her teeth as she pulled out the two shuriken. She glanced at Tenten and sighed, good…she's down for the count. Her gaze drifted to Lee, who was completely out of it, Lee's down too. That only leaves Neji…

As if thinking his name had summoned him, Neji, moved cautiously forward, gauging how she would react and how he would have to counter. The pair began to circle each other, both waiting for an opening so they could attack.

Neji lunged forward, as he saw her wince in pain, and her hand reflexively moved to hold her wounded arm. His eyes widened as he saw her smirk.

She swung herself into the air, and kicked Neji twice with a spinning kick. He slid back, but he wasn't ready to give in yet. He dashed forward, and he was surprised to see her pulling back her right hand, ready to strike.

He thought, it's useless to use normal Taijutsu against my Gentle Fist… They both hit their marks. Neji gasped, shocked, that she had not been intending to have their attacks collide. Instead, she had punched him in the face, which sent him flying.

Sara staggered slightly, another of her chakra points having been hit. She straightened, and gazed at Neji, waiting for him to rise. Neji tried to rise but he grunted and thought, feeling slightly irked, I've used too much chakra!

Guy said, smiling, his teeth nearly blinding her, "That was great! You are full of the power of youth! To beat me team using only Taijutsu takes great skill!" He pulled out five bento boxes, "And now you can all enjoy a well deserved lunch."

Guy moved off to help Tenten onto her feet, while Sara helped both Lee and Neji. Soon, the four of them were enjoying their meal.

Tenten said, as they were eating, "You're really good! To beat us the way you did takes a lot of skill."

"I am a jônin," Sara muttered bad temperedly, remembering Tenten's earlier statements.

Tenten shrugged off Sara's hostility, while Lee said, "You've improved since the last time we fought…but I promise that when we face each other again, I will be stronger!" His eyes blazed passionately.

Neji rolled his eyes, "Honestly, Lee. She's in a whole different league then us." He looked at Sara directly, "I'm positive that when Naruto returns you'll most likely be stronger then he is."

"I still have a lot to learn," Sara muttered, staring at her lunch, and thinking of how difficult it had been to face the three of them using only Taijutsu.

"I think it will make the difference though," Neji said, "you're learning from more than one teacher, while Naruto is only learning from Lord Jiraiya."

"That can make all the difference," Sara stated. "He's learning from a sanin."

Guy said, as he joined them, "He may be learning from a sanin…but how much of the training is he going to retain?"

Sara admitted, "When it comes to the training Jiraiya gives Naruto, he retains it well."

"It's like Neji said, you're getting training from more then one teacher thanks to Kakashi," Guy said, nodding his head, as if that settled the argument. "Now, hurry up and finish, you still have more training to do!"

Sara moaned, her injuries from her fight with Tenten, Neji, and Lee were beginning to sting.

Once they had all finished their lunches, Guy said to his team, "You three need to work on your own, perfecting your techniques. Next time I don't want to see you guys beaten so easily!"

"Yes sir," they all replied before they dashed off.

Sara was dumbfounded, easily? He thinks I beat them easily?

Guy jolted her out of her thoughts, "Now follow me!" He took off running.

"For crying out loud!" Sara shouted as she dashed after him, "Do you have to run everywhere?"

When Guy finally stopped running, Sara tried to catch her breath as she gazed around the clearing, where an oversized training dummy was propped against a tree.

He easily lifted it up and allowed it to drop to the ground, Sara was surprised at the sound it made.

Guy said, "This dummy has several weights in it. The equivalent is to that of two sumo wrestlers…" Sara didn't like where she thought he was going with this. "For the rest of today, you are to kick this dummy continuously into the air until I tell you to stop."

Sara nodded obediently, it could be worse…he could have asked me to do five-hundred laps around the village on my hands…

She walked towards the dummy, and nimbly moved to the ground, kicking the dummy into the air, she teleported underneath it and began to kick it, her legs cried out in protest as the weight of the dummy easily overwhelmed her. She moved from underneath the dummy as it hit the ground where it left a crater.

This is insane! Sara thought as she stood gasping for breath, no one could keep such weight in the air with only kicks!

Guy shouted to her from where he was standing, "I don't recall telling you to stop!" She stared at him, giving him an incredulous look. "I suggest you continue unless you want to be here all week!"

She sighed as she went back to kicking the dummy into the air, as she kept repeating the motions, it became gradually easier.

Meanwhile, Kakashi had returned from his mission, and was heading towards where Sara was training. He spotted Guy first, and he walked slowly over.

He asked without looking towards Sara, "How is she doing?"

"Well, for someone who has only had speed training," Guy said, watching Sara kick the dummy into the air again.

Kakashi turned his gaze to Sara, and held back a cry of rage. He had never seen Sara look so beat up after any training before. He snapped, "What the hell have you been doing to her?"

"Training her the way I trained my students…with a little bit of improvising," Guy stated calmly, ignoring Kakashi's rage.

Kakashi practically snarled, "I told you to train her in Taijutsu, not beat her to a pulp!"

"She's not that beaten up, Kakashi," Guy said, turning to face him. "She's tougher then you think."

Kakashi watched as Sara kicked the dummy into the air, with multiple kicks, before she flipped around and landed on her feet as the dummy crashed to the ground. He heard her shout angrily, "Damnit!"

He turned back to Guy, "Has she improved any?"

"Quite a bit…more then I expected…I'm just waiting for her natural instincts to kick in," Guy stated.

Kakashi nodded thoughtfully, he's waiting for her to learn that flipping around in the air, needs to be accompanied by a kick so that the enemy won't be above you when you land…he's trying to get it to become a natural instinct… He watched as Sara flipped around in the air again and landed on her feet.

Guy asked, "Would you watch her for a bit? When she finally has it down to a natural reflex she can stop, I need to check on a few things." He flashed Kakashi a smile, and disappeared.

Kakashi shook his head back and forth, I could have said no, and he wouldn't have known! He turned his attention back to Sara.

An hour later, she still hadn't managed to flip around while kicking the dummy.

Kakashi called to her, startling her, "You can stop now, if you want!" He was sick of watching her push herself beyond her limit just to kick the dummy into the air.

She stared at him, and then went right back to doing what she had been doing. He was shocked when she said to him silently, "At the moment…you're not my teacher…Guy is." Kakashi knew she was right, but it hurt slightly to hear her say that.

Guy said, as he stood next to Kakashi, startling him, "That was well spoken on her part. You've taught her well, Kakashi."

Kakashi nodded, and turned his gaze back to Sara.

Sara staggered slightly as she landed again, what more am I supposed to do? I thought I had this training down when I rolled in the air so I would land on my feet! She kicked the dummy into the air, and began to continuously kick it higher, all the while thinking, all right…the dummy is an enemy… She rolled in the air and landed on her feet, but she suddenly felt vulnerable. Her eyes flashed with triumph as the dummy hit the ground, if the dummy were an actual enemy I wouldn't want it to be above me because that would give them an advantage! She sent the dummy sailing into the air as she continuously kicked it up, at the last second she rolled in the air and brought her left leg down on the dummy, sending it to the ground. She flipped in the air and landed on her feet.

After she had repeated this several times, Guy shouted, "You're done for the night! You definitely have the power of youth flowing through you!"

Sara was so exhausted and happy, that she didn't even roll her eyes at Guy's last statement.

Guy disappeared in a puff of smoke while Kakashi teleported to her side. He asked, as he took in her injured right arm and the two cuts on her cheeks, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, just a little tired," she admitted.

He smiled, "You'll get plenty of rest once we get home." He added, "And you'll be sore come morning."

"Don't I know it!" Sara said smiling.

Unlikely Allies

After several more training sessions with Guy, and many sore mornings, along with several more training sessions with Asuma, and being treated to just as many meals, Sara was being tossed out of bed by Kakashi.

"What was that for?" Sara asked groggily, as she stretched, wincing as her sore muscles made themselves known.

Kakashi answered, "You weren't waking up…Lady Hokage wants to see us in her office in an hour."

"Right," Sara said, grabbing some clothes and heading towards the bathroom for a quick shower.

After she had showered she inhaled the toast that was on the kitchen table for her, and she and Kakashi headed towards the Hokage's Mansion.

When they arrived, they saw Asuma waiting on the stairs for them. Asuma said as they approached, "Sara, Lady Hokage wants to see you in her office first, then Kakashi and myself."

"Separately?" Kakashi questioned, "Why on Earth would she want to do that?"

"Do you want to question her?" Asuma asked raising an eyebrow.

Kakashi sighed, defeated, "Not particularly."

Sara stepped into the mansion and walked towards Tsunade's office. She knocked politely on the door. "Enter," Tsunade said from inside.

She walked in, and closed the door behind her, she made sure that she was blocking Kakashi, before she asked, "You wanted to see me alone, Lady Tsunade?"

"Yes," Tsunade said smiling, "I need to tell you, so you know what to do when the time comes." She looked through some of the papers on her desk, before she pulled out one, "This is your mission, you are to help deliver a document to the Sand Village, after which, you are to help the Sand shinobi there with whatever they ask."

"That's kind of vague," Sara muttered.

Tsunade smiled, "I know what the mission is, but it was requested that you'd not be told until the Sand shinobi spoke with you."

"Do I get any hints as to who this shinobi is?" She questioned.

"No," Tsunade answered. "Now send in Kakashi and Asuma, there mission is slightly different then yours."

Sara walked backed out of the mansion, and said to Asuma and Kakashi, gesturing towards Tsunade's office, "Lady Tsunade wants to see you two."

Kakashi eyed her suspiciously, wondering what Tsunade had told her. He followed Asuma into Tsunade's office, and stood waiting patiently for her to address them.

Tsunade stopped rustling through the papers on her desk, holding one, and said, "Right, Kakashi. Asuma. Your mission is to escort Sara to the Sand Village. From there you are to follow whatever orders the Sand ninja there gives you."

Kakashi asked, incredulously, "So…you're putting Sara in charge of us?"

Tsunade snorted, "Hardly, she's not ready for that…yet."

Kakashi glared, he had heard the way she had said yet, and he didn't like it. Tsunade ignored him as she continued, "Asuma is in charge of the mission, however," she shot Asuma a hard stare, "You are to do as the Sand ninja asks."

Asuma nodded, "Yes, Lady Hokage."

"Good! Now go," Tsunade turned her back on them as they left her office. She smiled to herself, I have a feeling Sara is going to like this mission…but Kakashi on the other hand…I hope this mission doesn't cause them to argue again.

Sara glanced up as Asuma and Kakashi stepped onto the stairs. Asuma said, "We're heading out now." He tossed her an envelope, "Hang on to that."

She nodded and looked at Kakashi, he smiled at her, but she could tell it was strained. He didn't like what Tsunade told him about the mission.

She followed Asuma and Kakashi out of the village, Asuma said to her, as he leapt up into a tree, "It will take us three days to get to the Sand Village, so try to take it easy."

"Right," Sara said, as she leapt up into a tree next to Kakashi. Asuma leapt forward, and soon they were racing through the trees.

Kakashi asked, as he easily kept pace with her, "What did Lady Hokage tell you?"

I'm not going to tell him… "She just said to do as the Sand ninja, waiting for us, said." Kakashi nodded, satisfied, he sped up to chat with Asuma.

She hung back feeling guilty that she had lied to her guardian, it's not that he shouldn't know about the mission, or that I don't want him to know…it's just…I don't want to fight now…

Understandable, Phoenix said. You two have been arguing quite a bit.

Don't remind me! She moaned inwardly, thinking of all the arguments that had occurred.

Kakashi glanced back at Sara before he asked Asuma, "Do you think she lied to me just now?"

"What?" Asuma asked, his thoughts having been on a certain kunoichi.

"Do you think Sara lied to me just now?" Kakashi repeated, glancing back at Sara.

Asuma countered Kakashi's question with his own, "Do you think you're just looking for a reason to yell at her again?"

Kakashi was startled, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"The way you two keep arguing, I'm amazed that you two are on such good terms," Asuma answered.

"I don't like yelling at her but…she needs to understand certain things and she's not listening!" He said frustrated.

"Is it her that's not listening, or you?" Asuma asked quietly.

Kakashi glared at him, "Of course I listen to her argument against what I say, but she just—!"

Asuma interrupted, "Look, all I know is that she listens when I teach her and give her small pieces of advice. Otherwise I let her make her own mistakes." He glanced at Kakashi, and saw that his friend was deep in thought; I sure hope he was listening to what I just said.

Kakashi had heard Asuma, and his thoughts were on what he had said, do I just force my own views on her without letting her find her own…? I'm pretty sure that I let her make her own mistakes… He glanced, once again, at Sara. I wish we weren't butting heads so much…

Three days later, just as the sun was beginning to rise, they entered the Sand Village. Asuma, Kakashi, and Sara walked up to Gaara, who was the only one in the village streets.

Asuma said, "We're looking for someone-."

Gaara interrupted him, "I'm the shinobi that's supposed to meet with the Leaf shinobi." He pointedly looked at Sara.

Sara understood his look and stepped forward, but Kakashi grabbed her arm and practically hissed, "What are you doing? Let Asuma do the talking!"

The same emotion reared up in her, bringing with it the usual rage, she wrenched her arm away from him, and walked up to Gaara, handing him the envelope. Gaara accepted it and said, addressing Asuma, "You two are to head back to your village. Your mission is complete."

Anger flashed in Kakashi's eyes, "I don't think so!" Asuma flashed his friend a cautionary glance, but to no avail. "We're not leaving her with you. You tried to kill at least three of my students before!"

Sara suddenly remembered something, and she spoke up, "But he helped us on the Sasuke Retrieval Mission."

Kakashi stared at her, taken off guard, why is she so calm? Gaara tried to kill Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. A thought suddenly struck him, Tsunade warned her about the details of the mission, but…why would she lie to me?

Asuma looked at Kakashi and said, "Kakashi has a point, though, we can't necessarily trust you. I think we should come along."

Gaara said, his voice calm, "Our mission needs to attract as little attention as possible…two demon hosts is bad enough without adding two well known shinobi to the mix."

Asuma nodded, and glanced at Kakashi, as Kakashi said, having calmed down, "How long will this mission take?"

"It will only take a couple of days before she'll be heading back," Gaara answered.

"If she's not…" Kakashi let the veiled threat hang in the air.

Asuma turned around and said, "Let's go, Kakashi."

Kakashi stared at Sara, who nodded her head in reassurance, but he saw something in her gaze that made him think of when she had first been a genin, she doesn't trust me fully…

Once they were outside of the Sand Village borders, Asuma snapped, "What were you thinking? You threatened a ninja that we are currently allies with!"

Kakashi said, "I just wanted it to be clear that she should come back alive."

"And what about what Lady Hokage ordered? You challenged that kid completely, and you would have disobeyed Lady Hokage's orders!" Asuma said angrily.

Kakashi said quietly, "I just want to protect her…"

Asuma wasn't in the mood to spare Kakashi's feelings, "It's exactly that reason why you two are fighting!"

"No it's not," Kakashi muttered.

Asuma sighed irritably; he knew Kakashi wasn't going to listen to him.

Back in the Sand Village, Gaara, said to Sara, "First, we'll drop off this envelope before we head out on our mission."

Sara asked, as she walked beside him, "What is our mission?"

"I'll tell you once we're outside of the village," he answered.

She nodded as she gazed around the village, it's a place, I miss the green of the Leaf Village though… Her gaze landed on all the incredulous faces she passed. Sara couldn't help asking aloud, "What are they staring at?"

"It's uncommon for anyone to walk beside me," Gaara answered, "Temari and Kankuro are the only ones who do." His gaze seemed hurt.

"Is it because of the Shukaku?" Sara questioned.

Gaara nodded, "I've gotten better at controlling him but…" His gaze drifted over the people on the streets, who quickly disappeared into buildings.

Sara glared after them, her pupils narrowed in anger, her Devil's Eyes having activated, how can they still be afraid? It's obvious he's changed!

Gaara stopped suddenly and said, "You'll have to wait here while I drop this off." He disappeared in a swirl of sand.

Sara blinked, and sighed, almost happy to have a private moment. She wasn't looking forward to the end of the mission when she'd have to face Kakashi. He'll yell again…the emotion threatened to rear its ugly head at the thought, all because I didn't tell him exactly what was going on…

She glanced at some sand as it began to swirl, and Gaara appeared. "Let's head out," he said. Sara nodded and walked beside him again.

Once they were well away from the village, Gaara said, "Our mission is to help a village within the boundaries of the Land of Wind. This village is being terrorized by bandits, and it is our mission to scare off the bandits, and to possibly capture a few."

"So…basically, we're here just to use the demons inside of us?" Sara questioned. Gaara nodded. "I see…" she muttered.

Gaara said, "I would have preferred Naruto Uzamaki for this mission, but I was informed that he was away, so I figured, since you two are friends, that you'd be willing to help."

"Your assumption was correct," Sara said smiling, not bothering to tell Gaara about her and Naruto's fight.

They walked in silence for awhile, the desert wind playing with the sand around them. Gaara finally broke the silence, "Why is it that you and Naruto Uzamaki are friends?" Sara gazed at him, utterly confused. "What I mean is…it seems odd that you are more like me, yet you're friends with such a…" Gaara was trying to find the right words to use.

"Considering he's a loud mouth, and I'm not?" Sara supplied.

"Yeah," Gaara said, "From what I can tell about you, you are more like me then him."

Sara nodded thoughtfully, she could see several similarities between her and Gaara, like how they understood that the other wanted silence, or when they wanted to talk, and they had both experienced the pain of a village's scorn for them.

"I think we're friends, because of our differences…" She added as an afterthought, "We're alike in some ways, like we both enjoy pulling pranks, annoying our teachers, and we seem to have a small problem with rules."

Gaara laughed softly, but he then asked, "What are some differences between you two?"

Her gaze became thoughtful, "I tend to think before I leap, while Naruto just rushes in… I also learn from my mistakes once I make them, Naruto has to fail at the same thing, the same way, several more times before he finally learns anything. I'm also more of a strategist, while Naruto relies on his brawn, and I've had to deal with name calling and scorn in the village, while Naruto only had to deal with half of that…"

"I see…we all have gone through the same pain…" Gaara said quietly.

"Yeah," Sara said nodding, "and we've all managed to crawl out of the darkness that threatened to swamp us."

"Some sooner than others," Gaara muttered.

Sara met his gaze, "But we all made it. We refused to let our demons consume us in the end."

Gaara smiled, "You seem to see the light side of everything."

"Not always," she admitted.

Gaara nodded, "Does anybody…we'll rest here for the night," he pointed to the lights down below them, since they were on a large sand dune, "that's the village we'll be protecting tomorrow, we have to watch tonight as to where the bandits usually come from."

Sara nodded and stood next to Gaara, watching the village below them. It was hard watching the bandits run into the village from the North, and seeing how much pain and suffering they caused, while the two shinobi stood there watching, but Sara took satisfaction in knowing that by tomorrow at sunset, the bandits would get a nasty surprise.

The next day, the pair was planning on how to best scare the bandits. Gaara explained why the Sand Village had wanted two demon hosts to do the job, "The village figured that with our demon's ferocity, they wouldn't have to lose any lives unnecessarily."

They basically said if Gaara didn't come back it'd be no big deal, Sara's rage threatened to engulf her, but she kept it in check. She commented, "Your siblings must not have liked that."

"No, they didn't," Gaara admitted, a faint smile crossing his features. He added as he gazed down at the village, "I cannot risk using Shukaku though, I still have only a little control over him…I heard that Naruto Uzamaki had more control over his own demon…" He glanced at her uncertainly.

"I'm sure I can convince Phoenix not to do anything stupid," Sara said. She glanced down the other side of the sand dune, away from the village. "I'll talk to him now. She teleported to the bottom of the hill, and released the fire bird.

Phoenix stretched his wings out, but he stayed on the ground, he had been paying attention to their conversation. He gazed at her with his flaming irises "What is it that you want me to do?"

Gaara appeared beside her in a swirl of sand, and Phoenix glared at him, before returning his attention to Sara. He asked irritably, "Well?"

"I need you to swoop over the village and scare the bandits," Sara said, calmly.

"But I am unable to burn anyone or anything…" Phoenix debated for a second before he said, "No. I don't think I'll help you."

"What?" Sara shouted outraged, and an argument began to ensue between the fire bird and his host.

Gaara watched them in undisguised amazement, she easily keeps Phoenix in check…!

Sara and Phoenix were still at a stand still, neither willing to give the other what they wanted without conditions. She glanced at the sun, which was now setting. "Fine," she snapped, "I'll be fine without you."

Phoenix watched her and Gaara walk over the sand dune and down into the village. He said softly to her, "I guess I could help…but since I can't set anything on fire…why don't I just shroud you two in flames? I wouldn't hurt either of you of course, but at least I can use my flames."

Sara paused, debating the sudden generosity that Phoenix was displaying, "I think that will work…wait for my signal…"

The bandits came from the North again, the sun was barely below the horizon. They all stared in shock at the two shinobi standing on the last hilltop before the village. All of them began to laugh, seeing only two puny kids that stood against all twenty of the bandits.

Sara asked Gaara quietly as the bandits charged them, "Do you trust me?"

"Yes," Gaara answered, glancing at her.

"Now!" Sara shouted silently to Phoenix.

The bandits slowed as they watched the fire bird rise apparently out of the sand, and fly towards the two kids.

Phoenix hovered above both of them before releasing a screech and sending a jet of flame down towards them.

Gaara's eyes widened in terror, and he expected to feel pain as the flames struck him, but no pain came. He glanced at Sara who was performing some hand signs, and he felt a genjutsu surround them, and knew that she was adding to the effect of the flames.

The bandits almost sighed in relief when the massive fire bird had released its spout of flames, but it quickly turned to terror when they saw the two kids standing amongst the flames, they're eyes glowing white, and fangs showing at them as they smiled. The boy moved his hand, and the sand around them took five of their comrades, and dragged them towards the flames. The others were on ready to flee, but then the girl quickly performed hand signs, the ground around them began to open up, flames showing through them, and then two flaming hounds leapt out of the fissures, and their burning gazes were locked on the bandits.

This was just too much for the bandits to handle, and they turned and fled, the two fiery hounds on their heels for a few yards, before they slowed and howled an unearthly howl.

The flames around Gaara and Sara, flickered to a halt, and the two fiery hounds disappeared. Gaara released the bandits from the sand, and then the two shinobi began to tie them up.

Phoenix rose into the sky, and asked silently, "Should I deliver a message to the Sand Village, saying you caught several of the bandits?"

"No…and when did you become so helpful?" Sara questioned.

Phoenix returned to her body and answered, "I was not being helpful! I merely wanted to stay out longer!"

"Sure," Sara thought sarcastically, making Phoenix screech angrily in response.

Gaara turned to her as he finished tying up the last bandit, "Thank you for your help, I'm glad that Naruto wasn't in the village. I would have never met you."

Sara laughed, "No sweat, I hope to be on missions like this more often!"

"Away from that one jônin?" Gaara questioned, but his tone indicated that she didn't have to answer.

"Yeah," she admitted. "More missions away from him..."

Gaara said, "If you ever need a friend to talk to, you know where I'm at."

"Yeah," Sara said, allowing her mind to wander. She smiled when she caught a thought of Gaara's and she said as she began to walk away, "Good luck with becoming Kazekage!"

Gaara's startled expression followed her but then he said, silently, "Good luck with your own goals…"

Genjutsu and Beyond

It took Sara three days to finally arrive back in the Leaf Village, and she smiled when she saw Kakashi and Asuma waiting for her. Kakashi dashed forward and wrapped her in his arms, and he whispered, "I'm sorry for my behavior back in the Sand Village. I trust in your abilities as a ninja but…"

Sara interrupted him, "You're my guardian and you worry, I know." She said the emotion stirring, but not rising. She couldn't blame her guardian for worrying about her, it was in his nature.

Asuma sighed, "I don't see why you thought she wouldn't come back." He walked off, lighting his cigarette as he went.

Kakashi released her from his embrace and asked, "What do you want for dinner tonight?"

"How about pizza?" Sara asked, saying the first thing that came into her mind.

Kakashi smiled, "Why don't we go to Tiégra's then? But after we spend a little time at home." He grabbed her shoulder and teleported; they ended up in the kitchen.

Sara sighed, feeling happy to be home, and she leaned against Kakashi. He smiled down at her and said, "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," she admitted. She had indeed missed him, but not the over protectiveness that he had been exhibiting lately.

She said, pulling away from him, "I think I'm going to go to my room and rest."

Kakashi nodded, but he followed her up the stairs, and into her room. She settled down on her bed, and Kakashi pulled up her covers, to where she liked them. It startled her when he handed her Kashi, her little spotted dog stuff animal.

Kakashi smiled wistfully as he said, "I remember when I gave that to you… Asuma got a kick of how you called it Kashi, and then you looked at me and called me Kashi as well."

"Was that my first word?" Sara asked, feeling awake, she wanted to hear about her past.

"Yes," Kakashi said still smiling, "It blew my mind, especially when you associated me with the word, and not just the stuff animal… Sorry!" He said suddenly, "You probably want to sleep instead of hearing me talk about the past." He kissed her forehead and whispered, "Sleep well, my young one."

She asked, sleepily, "Do you treasure those memories, Master Kakashi?"

"Yes," he said, looking startled at her question. "Why wouldn't I? Those are most of the best memories I have!"

Sara smiled to herself as he closed her door; it was nice to know that Kakashi treasured the memories he had of her, as much as she treasured the ones that she was making everyday.

It seemed like she had only just closed her eyes, when she heard Kakashi ask, "Do you still want to go to Tiégra's?"

"Yeah," she moaned as she sat up groggily. Kakashi was sitting next to her, on the edge of her bed.

He chuckled, "Are you sure?"

"Positive," she said, more brightly, sounding awake.

"All right then," Kakashi said as he stood up. Sara quickly hopped out of bed, and stood beside him. He suddenly said, "Tomorrow I have a simple mission, I'll be gone before you wake up tomorrow and I'll be home by the time you're asleep."

Sara frowned, he sounded sure of both facts that it almost made her want to snap at him. But then she saw how sad he looked, and instead she said trying to reassure him that she wasn't upset with him going on a mission and leaving her home alone, "I'll be fine! And maybe I'll surprise you!"

Kakashi smiled at her, "You won't have a dull day though, since I've asked Kurenai to help you with your genjutsu." Sara almost made a sharp retort but Kakashi amended his statement, "Correction! She'll help you to improve upon your genjutsu skills."

Sara smiled at him, and she said, "You must have been reading my mind there!"

"No," Kakashi said, smiling slightly, "I'm beginning to learn what triggers a fight between us."

She lowered her head, I feel bad now…I haven't even been paying attention to what aggravates Master Kakashi…and here he's been making sure he keeps track of what pisses me off…

Kakashi noticed her dejected look and said, "I'm not trying to upstage you, and I know you're as sick of us arguing as I am. It's just that I'm the adult here, and I sort of, have to notice those types of things." She sighed, and Kakashi gently pulled her against his left side, and he rubbed her left shoulder. "Don't worry about it so much. Let's just enjoy tonight."

Kakashi and Sara walked into Tiégra's unnoticed by Tiégra herself, and sat down at one of the tables. Tiégra walked up to their table looking rushed and said, "Welcome, how may I take your order?"

Kakashi winked at Sara and said, "Yes, I'll think we'll have a pepperoni pizza, with half having spinach and the other having green peppers."

"Got it," Tiégra said, without looking at either of them, "Would that be all?"

"We'll also have two Mountain Dews," Sara said.

Tiégra still hadn't noticed who they were, "Okay, I'll have your drinks out in a minute, and your pizza will be out shortly." She turned to walk away, and then turned back to their table and she smiled, "It's good to see you two again, sorry, but this place is just so busy tonight!" With that being said, she headed towards the kitchen.

Kakashi and Sara both glanced around the restaurant and both their eyes widened. He said, "She wasn't kidding, I've never seen this place so busy."

"Enaki's not here, either," Sara commented.

He nodded, "Probably being kept busy by Hanashi."

They ate their pizza, and headed home after paying their bill, and headed home, spending the rest of the evening in a companionable silence, as they read their own books on the couch, until they both decided to hit the hay.

Kakashi was up early the next morning, it was only two, and he moaned. He really wished that he didn't have to wake up so early, but his mission required that he did. After a quick shower, and a meager breakfast of a slice of toast, Kakashi walked upstairs to Sara's room.

He placed a kiss on her forehead and whispered, "I'll see you later tonight."

Later that day, Sara awoke to the sound of her alarm. She glared at it, and threw it across the room where it hit the wall with a crash, and landed on the floor with a satisfying, thud. She sat up in bed, and looked around, at first, wondering where Kakashi was. Realization struck her, he's out on a mission…he was right about not being awake when he left…I'll make sure I'm awake when he gets home!

She got out of bed, and took a quick shower. When she began to descend the stairs to the kitchen, the steps seemed to go on forever. Without pausing she made a hand sign and thought, release! I guess training has begun! With more caution now, she descended the stairs into the kitchen. Warily she glanced around, looking for Kurenai, but she saw no one. Her pupils narrowed as she activated her Devil's Eyes and thought once again, release! Kurenai appeared in the chair as the genjutsu faded.

She smiled at her and said, "You'll have to learn to be more quick on the uptake. I've had my two jutsu going since you woke up."

Sara nodded, feeling embarrassed that she hadn't noticed the genjutsu sooner, but she refused to let that bother her.

Training in genjutsu was harder than any training she had endured so far, and when she finally got back home after training with Kurenai, she was exhausted. Her tired eyes glanced at the kitchen clock. It's only six! She thought incredulously. How am I ever going to be able to stay up till Master Kakashi gets home?

Absent mindedly, she sat on the couch and picked up the first book her hand touched. She gazed at the orange cover of Make Out Paradise.

I really shouldn't read this, she thought, but it would be interesting to know what's so good about the book that keeps Master Kakashi reading them. She opened the book and began to read. Much to her disbelief, the plot of the story great, giving twists and turns in the story that kept her reading more. She skipped the scenes that got too in depth into the physical part of the character's love lives

Several hours later, she was almost to the end of Make Out Paradise, but her eyes were so tired that she was having problems reading the words.

I really want to know how this book ends…but I'm so tired…wait! What's this say… "They kissed passionately" moving on! Let's see… "Their bodies melded together" Yuck! Skip, skip, skip… Okay, I finally reached a safe part… Her eyes closed and she was asleep, the book still in her hand.

Kakashi wearily opened the door, it was midnight as he walked in, completely exhausted, "easy" she says. "Simple," she says. Next time she can take the easy, simple mission! He glanced at the couch, and a smile crossed his exhausted features, he walked over to where Sara slept, she tried to wait up for me…! He chuckled softly, as he scooped Sara off the couch. Something thudded to the floor, startling him. Carefully, he picked up an orange book off the floor and sighed, I guess I'm not the best influence… I'll have to talk to her about this tomorrow, but for now…I'll let her sleep… Kakashi carried her up the stairs, and tucked her into bed. He dragged himself to his own bed, and collapsed onto it, not caring about the blankets, or that he was still in his usual attire.

Later that morning, around eleven, Kakashi awoke to the smell of something burning. He sat bolt upright, and he mentally went through everything he had done before he had gone to sleep. He didn't remember turning anything on that could burn, so he dashed down the stairs. Smoke met him halfway down them.

Sara silently swore as she tried to save the eggs…or what used to be eggs. Kakashi came down the stairs and helped her to extinguish the flames, and he then opened several windows.

He asked her, "What are you doing?"

"Trying to make you breakfast," Sara grumbled glaring at the stove. The toaster suddenly spit out two charred pieces of toast, and she then glared at them.

Kakashi tried not to laugh, but he didn't succeed. Sara looked at him, shamefaced, and he said, "It was a nice thought, but I think I should cook up our breakfast, don't you?"

She nodded, and Kakashi easily made them a breakfast that lacked any charred parts.

Sara asked, as she did the dishes, "What are we going to do today?"

"I'm going to train you," Kakashi said, as if she should have known that.

"What are we doing exactly?" She asked.

Kakashi smiled, "We'll just be doing some simple exercises in the basement, using some of the equipment down there."

"We have a basement?" Sara questioned. Kakashi pointed to the door next to her, and she admitted, "I always thought that was a closet…"

"No wonder I've been finding your jackets on the steps," Kakashi said, smiling.

"Will we always be training in the basement?" She asked him.

"No," he answered, "sometimes I'll teach you the jutsu that I've copied over the years, and other times we'll spar."

Sara nodded thoughtfully, as she handed Kakashi the last dish, and then she drained the sink. Kakashi dried the dish, putting it away in the cupboard, before he unzipped his vest, and pulled off his shirt.

"What are you doing?" Sara asked shocked, covering her eyes.

Kakashi rolled his eyes at her, even though she couldn't see it as he finished pulling off his shirt and mask, "I'm only taking off my shirt, so that when I'm training with you in the basement, I won't die of heat."

Sara uncovered her eyes, and visibly sulked when she saw that Kakashi was in better shape then she could remember. She grumbled, "I can't call you chubby anymore."

Kakashi smiled, "That's correct." He admitted, "I could still be in better shape than I am though." He led the way down the stairs, and Sara could already see many different pieces of equipment used for exercising, some she had used herself in the Academy, while others, utterly perplexed her.

Kakashi said over his shoulder, as he began using one of the pieces of equipment, "Start with one your familiar with, but try to watch what I do on one's you're not familiar with." He added as an afterthought, "And change the weight when I'm done, I'm used to working with more weight than you are."

Sara tried once to do the set weight on one of the pieces of equipment, and she quickly changed the setting. Kakashi chuckled softly when he saw her do this, but he pretended not to notice when she glanced at him. For the rest of that afternoon, and into the evening they trained in a companionable silence.

Kakashi finished the last rep, on the piece of equipment and he glanced at Sara, she mouthed, "Two more," and finished within a few seconds. He motioned for her to go up the stairs first, and she did, on unsteady legs. Kakashi watched her every step, making sure that she wouldn't fall backwards.

When he had closed the basement door, he said smiling, "That was very good. I'm glad to see that you challenged yourself to lift a bit more than you were used to."

Sara nodded, as she filled a glass with water, and took a gulp. Kakashi grabbed his own glass and filled it with water, taking a swig of it, before he said, seriously, "I don't mean to put a damper on today, but I'd like to know why you were reading my Make Out Paradise book."

"I…I wanted to know why you kept reading it, and Make Out Violence," she admitted.

Kakashi tried to sound stern, "Those books are not appropriate for your age."

"I skipped the adult parts of it," Sara said.

"I know…" Kakashi said, unable to keep the sternness in his voice. He asked, "What did you think of it?"

"I still need to finish it!" Sara remembered suddenly. Kakashi laughed as he handed it to her. She finished it in no time and said, "The plot is great! I couldn't believe the ending either!"

He smiled, but then he said, "You can talk to me about the books here in the house," he handed her Make Out Violence. "But I'd prefer that you not say anything about this to anybody else…I don't want Tsunade to think I'm a bad influence."

"Don't worry!" She said cheerfully. "I won't!"

Realization

Several weeks later, Kakashi and Sara were at their wits end. It was a constant roller coaster ride for their emotions. One minute they're ready to rip the other's throat out, and the next there perfectly fine, enjoying the other's company. Things were always tense on missions together, and when they were training. Neither one really knew what could trigger the other's fury.

It was early morning, and Kakashi was trying to forget about the argument he and Sara had the night before. He knew that she was still mad at him, they had both fallen asleep angry with the other, but he knew her anger was bound to last until the next day…at the least.

Sitting up, Kakashi dragged himself out of bed. His frantic mind would not allow him to sleep. He felt bad for the things he had said to her, and he wished that he had never said them. The look of pain upon his young ward's face, made him shiver, even as the warm water from the shower cascaded onto him.

Sara awoke to the sound of the shower going, and she sat up, she tried to muster the anger from the night before, but it wouldn't come. The shock on Kakashi's face when the painful words had slipped past his mouth, made her feel bad for getting him so furious.

She got up and walked towards the bathroom door, and waited, next to it, for Kakashi to exit. As the time stretched onward, she was beginning to wonder if Kakashi was trying to drown himself in the shower, when the water finally turned off. She sighed in relief.

Within a few minutes, Kakashi was dressed, and he reluctantly left the bathroom, afraid of seeing his ward's hurt eyes. He was startled to see her waiting outside the bathroom, a mirror image of how, he supposed, he must look.

Sara said quietly, "I'm sorry for what I said last night, Master Kakashi."

"I'm also sorry," Kakashi whispered. "I didn't mean what I said."

"I know," she whispered back.

Kakashi asked the question they both had no answer to, "Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?"

Sara shook her head back and forth; the emotion that always reared up in her still didn't have a name.

Kakashi knew exactly what his emotion was, it had run through his veins many times, particularly when young rookie Anbus had challenged his authority. It was simple: he didn't like being challenged, but he knew that he should keep that emotion in check when he was trying to discuss something civilly with Sara, but he just didn't like the tone she took with him, the way her eyes would flash at him, as if to say that he was in every way wrong on whatever topic they were discussing.

They both heard a tapping on a window and walked into the bathroom hesitantly. The sparrow tapped more insistently, and Kakashi said, "I guess Lady Tsunade wants to see me."

"Do you want me to come with?" Sara questioned. "For moral support?"

He chuckled, "No, I'm sure the slave driver doesn't have anything too difficult planned."

After a quick breakfast, Kakashi teleported to the Hokage's Mansion, and climbed the stairs to Tsunade's office. He knocked politely on the door, and entered when he heard Tsunade's voice.

"You wanted to see me, milady?" Kakashi asked as he closed the door behind him.

Tsunade nodded, and gestured to a TV that was sitting on a rolling cart. "I need your opinion on something, Kakashi, but first…you have to watch this tape."

Kakashi looked at Tsunade, hoping for more explanation, when he received none, he turned to the TV, and watched as the video recordings from the Jônin Exams began to play. His eyes widened as he watched Sara take the lead in the Second Exam, and even during the Third. Watching her on the tape, and comparing her skills from what he had seen recently, he realized that she had improved by leaps and bounds.

The tape finally stopped, and Kakashi continued to stare at the screen, he suddenly felt like Sara had been completely justified in their argument the night before.

Tsunade said, "What I wanted to ask you, Kakashi, was this. Do you think she should lead those same two on the recordings on a S-rank mission?"

He stayed silent for a few seconds before he said, "Truthfully, Lady Tsunade…I think a S-rank is a tad too hard. It would be a gamble to send them on a S-rank."

"Do you think the gamble would be in my favor?" She questioned quietly.

He was quiet for a few seconds before he answered, "Yes. The gamble would be in your favor."

"Thank you, Kakashi," Lady Tsunade said, "and I appreciate your honesty. Tell Sara, when you get home, that I want to see her."

"The mission starts right away?" Kakashi asked, shocked.

"Yes," Tsunade answered. "I've already informed Kenshin Nara and Ryo Morino to be here in one hour."

Kakashi nodded as he teleported out of the office. Tsunade stared at the spot he had been in, they must have had another battle of wills recently…I'm not sure how much more those two can take…but maybe some separation will help them.

Sara was trying to figure out how she had managed to burn her toast again when she had left it on the same setting Kakashi's had been, when Kakashi teleported into the kitchen.

He laughed when he saw the burnt piece of toast and asked, "How did you manage to burn that?"

"I'm still trying to figure that out," Sara muttered.

Kakashi said, "What if I made you a quick breakfast before you have to go see Lady Tsunade in an hour for a mission?"

"Sure," Sara said happily. She glared at her toast and threw it in the trash and muttered, "I really need to learn how to cook."

"I could teach you if you wanted," Kakashi said, smiling.

"I know you could, but I'd rather learn from trial and error," she said smiling.

Kakashi laughed, "As long as you don't burn the house down!"

"Never!" Sara said a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"What are you thinking?" Kakashi asked, smiling.

"Just this," she said as she turned into a rat, thinking that Kakashi would find it funny.

He didn't. Kakashi snapped, "Knock that off now!"

She automatically released the jutsu, and looked at him, curious. Sara asked cautiously, "Why are you so afraid of rats?"

Kakashi knew it was pointless to tell her he wasn't, since he was sweating up a storm, so he answered, "When you get in trouble…or if your squad gets in trouble, one of the favorite punishments of Hokages is Sewer Duty."

"Sewer duty?"

"Yes. And let's just say, I had an unpleasant experience with rats." He shuddered as he remembered being covered in the little creatures, and one of them biting him in a private spot.

Sara followed his flow of memories and shuddered, "Okay, I can see why they bother you."

"Good," he said, as he placed a couple pancakes on her plate and handed them to her.

She smiled and said, "Thanks, Master Kakashi."

After breakfast, Sara teleported to the Hokage's Mansion, and walked up the stairs to Tsunade's office. She was surprised to see Kenshin and Ryo waiting outside her office door.

She wanted to approach them but she wasn't sure if their friendship was still in existence, I really shouldn't expect it to be…considering I'm younger then they are…

Kenshin turned his head, and smiled when he saw her, elbowing Ryo, as he said, "Well look who it is!"

"Well, long time no see," Ryo said, smiling.

"Yeah, I know," Sara said, smiling back at the pair. All her doubts forgotten.

Kenshin asked, "Any idea why Lady Hokage wants us here?"

"No," she answered.

Lady Tsunade suddenly called from her office, "Come in here you three!"

They all exchanged nervous glances before walking into her office, "Well, you three now have a S-rank mission. It's an assassination…"

A week later found the trio walking into the village, they were all exhausted, but they had succeeded in their mission. It had been a rough week, but they had managed.

Sara's eyes sparkled as she began to remember the teamwork that they had all demonstrated, like a well oiled machine…

They were waiting in the upper balcony, all of them disguised as everyday citizens come to watch a meeting going on. None of them had their headbands on, since Tsunade had ordered that it not be known that the Leaf Village shinobi had been the ones hired for the assassination. As all of the members left the lower level apart from the one below, Sara motioned with her hand for the other two to attack.

All three of them leapt onto the lower level, but so did three other ninja. There headbands showing that they were from the Rain Village.

Sara said silently to Ryo and Kenshin as she made quick hand signs for the Shadow Clone Jutsu, "I'll hold them off, you deal with the assassination."

Kenshin rushed in and managed to hit the floor member with a quick kunai to the throat, and he turned to help Sara.

Ryo threw his massive shuriken and Sara dodged to the side. The one ninja tried to come at Ryo, but Sara tripped him up, and Kenshin easily knocked the ninja unconscious and placed a kunai at his throat, and he said, "Now, you allow us to leave here, without trying to track us, and we'll let your comrade live…"

She smirked at the memory, it had been a clean mission, and even though they had all lost their lunches afterward (they had never been on an assassination mission before). They were all stronger because of it.

As they walked through the village to the Hokage's Mansion, she kept hearing the mutterings of villagers.

"Hey, isn't that one of Kakashi's students?"

"Yeah, they made jônin already!"

"Wow! Kakashi must be a great teacher!"

"She's been on a lot of missions with, Kakashi."

"She's his ward, that's why!"

"Man, Kakashi sure taught her well!"

"What's her name though?"

"Who cares, all you have to know is that she's usually with Kakashi!"

That emotion suddenly reared it's ugly head, growling all the while, but Sara now had a name for that emotion, but she would try to contain it's fury as best she could…