By the time Aiden returned, I'd finished all the sushi. He raised an eyebrow but didn't complain, instead sitting and accepting the bill from a passing waiter. "What was that about?" he asked.

"Mission," I replied briefly.

"The one completed or have you been assigned another?

"New one," I informed him, sipping at my tea. "We're going after a member of the Akatsuki. Itachi Uchiha."

Aiden raised his eyebrows in an expression of surprise. "I've heard that name before. Why are you guys going after him now?"

"Because my old teammate is making his move,"I answered. At his confused expression, I elaborated. "Remember the pale kid with the sullen expression? Black hair? All spiky?"

Aiden just kinda shook his head while shrugging. "I didn't see much of your team. I know your old sensei, and then there's the blonde haired kid I was neighbors with for a bit, but..."

"Eh, doesn't really matter," I waved him off. "Sakura is my other old teammate. Pink hair, trained Aisa's team while I was gone on this last mission." Recognition lit in his eyes. Aisa, no doubt, complained about Sakura to his older brother.

"Sasuke is the dark haired one. He left the village without permission to train with the rogue nin Orochimaru. Now he's killed Orochimaru and is hunting down his older brother, Itachi Uchiha, who killed his clan a couple years ago before joining the Akatsuki."

Aiden blinked. Then, "Your team sounds a little fucked up," he admitted. "And so does this village. Why hasn't Konoha caught this Itachi yet?"

"He joined the Akatsuki," I reminded with a shrug. "I guess we couldn't risk antagonizing them."

"But now you can?" Aiden asked, placing the correct amount of money on the table.

"Two birds, one mission," I reminded. "We can get Sasuke and Itachi. Not to mention the Akatsuki is on the move, now; we don't have to worry about drawing a response."

Aiden shrugged. "That makes sense, I guess."

"Yeah," I agreed slowly, something about my explanation nagging at me. Reviewing the conversation, I dismissed the feeling; there was nothing that drew my attention. "I should go back to my apartment," I said, standing. "It's a big mission: I'll need rest."

"Alright." Aiden nodded, falling in step with me as we exited the restaurant.

I quirked an eyebrow when he turned left with me instead of right toward his apartment. "Your apartment is in the other direction," I reminded him just in case he'd forgotten. I didn't think he was that stupid, but you never knew.

"I know," he replied. "I was just walking you home."

I stopped walking, staring at him in confusion. "But why?"

"Uh," he hesitated, as though searching for a reason.

"It can't be to protect me," I thought out loud. "If anything, I would protect you. Yeah, you can fight, but I'm a ninja and much more capable than you. And we just spent several hours together, so it can't just be for my presence. I don't understand."

There was irritation in Aiden's eyes, and I mentally reviewed the conversation, trying to discover what had happened to irk him. I could find nothing but truth, and so shrugged it off. "I don't know," he responded, sounding annoyed. "I just thought you would appreciate it, oh mighty ninja."

I shook my head, mystified, ignoring his childish barb. At least I knew what had irritated him, now. "But it's unneeded and inconvenient for you."

Something in Aiden softened slightly at the words. "Sometimes people will do things for others despite the inconvenience," Aiden told me. "Maybe it doesn't make sense to you, but that's when you should just accept whatever action someone is doing and maybe even thank them for it."

"But-"

"I'm going to walk you home because I want to," Aiden told me. "It's unneeded, inconvenient, but you're not going to mention that. You're going to thank me when we reach your apartment."

"This is idiotic," I replied, but turned and began walking without another word.

By the time Aiden caught up and fell into step with me once more, he almost had control over the small smile that had sprung to his face.

Almost.

***...*.*.

"Alright, listen up you three. I have to go on another mission-"

"Another mission?" Aisa whined.

"Save your complaints," I snapped, annoyed at the whine characterizing his voice. "A lot is going on that is clearly way above your heads, so stop complaining and just accept it."

"It's not going to be Sakura again, is it?" Aisa continued, relentless, he and Kento turning green at the thought.

"Hey, I liked Sakura sensei," Michiko protested.

"Fortunately, and unfortunately." I gave Michiko a pointed look, "Sakura will be on the mission as well. I've decided to give you three individual instructors that will focus on your individual strengths and abilities."

Protests erupted immediately.

"Enough." I said. "Are you... questioning my judgement?" I added an intimidating glare for enhanced effect.

They answered me with silence. I almost smiled at how well conditioned I had them.

"Good." I replied. "Now then, I've set up a special training session for you all today."

And they were all squeals and excitement again.

"We're taking a trip down to the weapons store. Have any of you wielded a particular weapon before? Likes, dislikes?"

Michiko was the only one who responded. "Only a kunai knife, sensei."

"Kunai don't count. I'm talking about an actual weapon, a deadly extension of your body. So, I'm assuming that none of you have before."

They shook their heads simultaneously.

"Any particular interests, then?" I asked.

"I think a sword would be cool!" Kento mused. "I could be all like, whoosh, whoosh! Slash slash slash!" He made sound effects while pretending to wield a sword-badly. I raised an unimpressed eyebrow before dismissing his childishness.

"I want twin blades like sensei," Michiko muttered. I appraised her for a moment before shaking my head.

"You are far too dominant with your right hand right now to even dream of dual wielding blades. See if anything else stands out to you when we go to the shop."

Michiko nodded, but there was an odd, determined look in her eyes. I shrugged it off before glancing toward Aisa from the corner of my eyes.

He said nothing.

"Let me know if any of you feel a specific affinity towards a weapon, so we can start the mandatory training as soon as possible," I ordered, ignoring Aisa's silence.

We arrived at the local weapons store, where I got my scrap metal for training from. "In," I snapped, opening the door. The excited genin trailed behind one another, and I followed. "And don't break anything."

***...*.*.

Kento ordered a sword as he wished, while Michiko and Aisa both failed to discover a weapon. Michiko, though, had a gleam in her eyes that told me she had a plan. I was certain she would never be skilled enough with her left hand to dual wield blades like mine. Aisa, on the other had, had seemed completely disinterested in the weapons-something that honestly surprised me. Weren't all genin-especially stupid little boys-supposed to be enraptured by any type of weapon?

Training and our sole D rank mission was over for the day, and now my team sat on the grounds of training area 6. I stood over them, arms crossed. "Listen carefully. I've put a lot of thought into who will be your instructors in the duration of my mission. No, I'm not sure how long it will take," I snapped, seeing the question written all over their faces. "But listen to your instructor and don't complain. I promise that it will get back to me if you do and that you'll wish my mission had lasted longer. Understand?"

The three genin looked up at me with earnest eyes, nodding profusely.

"Alright. Don't forget these names. It will be your job to find your instructor and introduce yourself. Don't embarrass me. They'll be expecting you tomorrow morning, at 0800. And then your training times will be decided as it fits their individual schedules. If you three happen to have time off at the same time, I expect you to complete some D rank missions. Got it?"

They all nodded.

"Michiko, you will be working with Hyuuga Nimori . He is an expert in chakra control and fighting techniques that utilize chakra."

She smiled and nodded, and I could practically see whatever plan she was working on evolve to fit in this new variable.

"Aisa, I've arranged for you to meet with another sensei. His name is Gai, Gai sensei. He is primarily a tai jutsu user-one of the, if not the, best in the village. He'll see all your weakness and train them out of you."

Aisa paled but still managed a small grin, nodding.

"Kento." I turned to him. "You will meet with Nara Shikamaru. He will be able to give you the guidance you are so clearly in need of right now." I spoke sarcastically but watched his face closely.

He looked unhappy, but hid it well. Probably because I didn't sic him with someone who specialized in ninjutsu, but he could deal with my decision. My intentions were that Shikamaru, being as smart as he was, would lead Kento in a right direction. With consideration to his circumstances, of course.

Not to benefit Kento, but to benefit the team. I would not hesitate to exclude Kento if I felt he could put Michiko, and more importantly, Aisa, in harms way. However, a team of 2, excluding myself, would have a negative significant effect on the outcome of any mission as opposed to that of a three person team.

Kento needed to get his shit together. And maybe Shikamaru could help him where I couldn't.

"Any questions?"

None.

"Then you're dismissed. I suggest you do what you need to do to find your instructors by 8AM tomorrow morning," I finished my lecture.

"Good luck on your mission sensei!"

"Yeah, yeah. Off you go," I waved my hand in the air.

Kento went off on his own, as he had been doing for a while now, practically sprinting away as soon as I'd dismissed the team. Aisa was lingering behind, and Michiko seemed to be waiting for Aisa.

"What do you want?"

"Well..." Aisa looked down.

"Spit it out, kid," I snapped impatiently, already running through a list of everything I needed to do in preparation of this mission.

"Will you be at the apartment tonight? Er, well, before your mission?"

He was so much like Aiden.

And by that, I meant he was a complete idiot. Of course.

"Probably not," I told him. "We may leave tonight and I have things to get done before I leave for the mission tomorrow."

Aisa's shoulders sagged just the slightest bit in disappointment, but I chose to ignore it. Someone had to talk to their temporary instructors about what they would focus their training on while I was gone.

"Now get going, you two," I said. "I've got things to do."

With reluctance, they walked away.

And of course he was here. I refused to even turn around and acknowledge him.

"You know, you're not a terrible sensei," Kakashi commented behind me.

"Of course I'm not," I snapped. "I'm not bad at anything I set my mind to. What do you want, Kakashi?" It was obvious I still hadn't forgiven him.

He ignored the impatience laced in my voice. "The mission, we have to meet be in the hokage's office by 0500 tomorrow. We're leaving in the morning."

"Noted," I replied coldly, walking away.

He followed. "Cashile," he began, falling in step with me. "I was genuinely concerned for you-"

"Save it, Kakashi," I cut him off. "I don't want to hear it from you."

"Then can you get over it already," he finally snapped.

"You're stubborn," I replied.

"And you're not?" He scoffed. We walked in silence for several moments. "My plan tomorrow is to pair everyone with a couple of ninken so we can cover more ground but still communicate.

"Sounds good," I shrugged, responses still short and clipped. "Naruto."

Kakashi immediately picked up on what I meant. "Naruto will also be paired with Yamato and Hinata. They should be able to protect him from any possible threats."

I nodded shortly. "That works."

Again silence fell between us. Then, after hesitating several times, Kakashi began, "Speaking of possible threats-"

"No." I glared at him for several moments before turning away and continuing to walk in the opposite direction.

"Cashile, it's a realistic possibility that I, as the team leader, should be able to take precautions against," Kakashi argued, his one visible eye more worried than angry.

"You don't have to worry," I placated him. "The Riding Phoenix won't attack. Especially so soon after..."

"After what?" Kakashi pushed. "What happened?"

I rolled my eyes. "I was 'captured'-"

"Captured!" Kakashi exclaimed, worry clear in his voice. "When? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Kakashi," I replied, exasperated. "I had a plan. I got out fine."

"Not unscathed," Kakashi realized, pointing to my arm which had only just had the cast removed. I rubbed at the still slightly tender scar. Leave it to Kakashi to notice everything.

"No, not unscathed," I admitted. "But does any mission end without a wound?"

Kakashi watched me closely for several moments before glancing way. I took that as permission to continue.

"Look, they aren't going to attack again so soon. They're preparing for something. Something big."

"Big?" Kakashi asked, eye sharp as he looked back to me. I thought back to the encounter, thought back to the words that woman had spoken. She'd revealed far more than she realized-or worse, she knew exactly what she'd revealed, but was so confident she didn't even care.

Nothing can stop a fire once it burns too hot... and the flame will burn the leaf to the ground.

I stopped walking, turning to look at Kakashi in full.

"I think the Rising Phoenix is going to attack Konoha."

_-_-_.*£|+\€.\

Hi guys!

HOLY CRAP IM SORRRRRYYYY WE WERE SO BUSY WE MADE YOOU WAIT SO LONG THANK YOU FAITHFUL READERS FOR WAITING MOSTLY PATIENTLY BUT WE ARE BACK

I have officially graduated high school!

Which means summer break for me, but I'm also very busy :( I was invited to referee Presidents Cup for soccer which is really exciting but also takes up a lot of time :/ And I was also invited to ECNL weekend to referee so there's that too

and I still have soccer (Districts are starting now) and we might make it to State finals again if we dont mess it up so that'll take up a lot of time

and I have to get ready for college to so THERE'S THAT TOO

Also some good news! I got assigned a Women's Premier League game to ref! So I'll be an AR on what's techinically a Professional game! (womens premier soccer league is the second highest level of womens soccer in the united states).

so yeah. I think that's all the updates I have for yall!

thanks for your patience and support! Please comment long and beautifl comments to continue support and inspire us!

Comment!

gaara119

HEY HELLO HI SORRY FOR THE WAIT AH.

College has been kicking my ass ya'll.

Forget college. The army has been kicking my ass ya'll.

I tore my hip labral & now I need surgery. *insert sob face*

But I got through finals! Too bad SUMMER DOESN'T EXIST. I have classes & Army stuff to worry about. *insert 2nd sob face*

But even though Jackie said it all, thanks so much for your patience and support guys, especially through our incredibly busy times.

Pray surgery goes well!

And pls comment! :)

We love yo comments.

-S

Comment, Vote, and Fan!

Ja ne!

Insomniac_Lullabies