Disappearance

Getting into the office, Einjeru noticed the looks on everyone's face. She gave a small bow, and Lord Third starts off saying "Sasuke Uchiha left the village." Einjeru went wide-eyed and said "Someone catch me. I'm getting dizzy." The blood flow in her head was abnormal due to the shock of the news. Kakashi caught her and said "This is no time for obnoxious behaviors. Stand up and carry yourself properly. You're a chunin now." Einjeru took some deep breaths and said "Why have we been summoned?"

Lord Third replied "You guys know Sasuke the best. You may be the only ones that can bring him back." Einjeru gulped and said "Are you sure?" Kakashi thinks "Her mental switch is temperamental. It may backfire." Naruto says "You have little faith in your teammates." Einjeru shakes her head saying "No, I have little faith in myself. If my switch flips, I may end up killing him. The last thing I need is the village shunning me for killing the Uchiha prince."

Naruto smiles and says "That may be the same for him if he killed the Hatake princess." Einjeru scowls at him saying "I may be the daughter of the Copy Ninja and granddaughter of the White Fang, but that does not mean that I can kill my comrades or handle being shunned by my home for something I had no control over." He hugs her saying "No worries, I'll be there." A flash of heat rushes to Einjeru's cheeks.

Kakashi then says "What about me and Sakura?" Einjeru exhales sharply knowing that Sakura's fan-girl tendencies could cause detriment and ultimately failure. She looks at Sakura who is the only one who is shedding tears. Part of Einjeru wanted to console Sakura, and the other part wanted to say "I told you so," and lecture her on shinobi conduct/call her stupid for her obsession. However, Einjeru remained quiet.

Kakashi was reading Einjeru's facial expressions like his make-out paradise book. Sakura looked at Einjeru and said "If you hurt him, I... I won't forgive you." Einjeru then said as emotionless as possible "I can't care less at this point. Sasuke's lucky that he hasn't branded as a rogue ninja yet. You need to grow up. Sasuke will have to be weakened in order for us to bring him back anyways." Kakashi looked at the two kunoichi, and Einjeru continued saying "Until you make chunin, watch your tongue."

Naruto remained quiet and continued to stare at them. Einjeru looks at Lord Third and says "Our mission is to retrieve Sasuke by any means necessary?" He nods and Einjeru faces Sakura again with disgust and says "I guess we have to leave as soon as we can. I left all my gear at home though." Kakashi says to her "Meet us at the main gate as soon as you're ready." She nods.

Einjeru gets to the apartment and grabs her kunai pouch, her chakra saber, her extra pouch, and her mask. She comes back to the gate and notices that Sakura wasn't there. She sighs and says "Where's Sakura?" Naruto then says "What's going on here? You hurt Sakura in the worst way. Aren't we supposed to be a team?" Einjeru sighed and said "I'm trying to detach my personal feelings from this mission and I was only telling Sakura the truth. To be honest, I'm torn between my duty to the village and my emotions." Luckily she had her mask on so no one could see the frown that was on her face.

Sakura came with a gleeful look on her face. Kakashi notices something off about her. Einjeru thinks to herself "Something's wrong here." Kakashi then said "Let's head out." Einjeru nods and follows Kakashi. He starts the venture off saying "Einjeru, I want you to summon Shiruba. I'll be summoning Pakkun." They flashed through the hand signs and slammed their hands on the ground calling out the summoning jutsu.

Shiruba and Pakkun appeared and noticed squad 7 short a person. Shiruba notices the tension on Einjeru's face even with the mask on. Einjeru then said "Sasuke left the village. Our mission is to find him and bring him back by any means necessary." Shiruba then says "Do you have anything with Sasuke's scent on it? I'm still learning in that respect." Sakura then brought out one of Sasuke's personal possessions.

Everyone wanted to ask how she obtained it. However Shiruba was taking a good whiff and trying to commit the smell to memory. Einjeru smiled and said "Do you have a good knowledge of the scent?" Shibura nods and Pakkun says "Shibura you're leading. I'm going to follow behind to make sure we're not being followed." Shibura nods and they take to the trees.

Kakashi was back with Pakkun and Einjeru was up with Shibura. Kakashi asked Pakkun why he let Shibura take the lead. Pakkun said "I wanted her to gain more experience. She's not like her brothers and sisters. I'm kind of like you when it comes to Einjeru. Even though I'm not her father, I look over her like she was one of my own. I also intend to show Shibura some tricks along the way."

Meanwhile in front, Einjeru was trying to understand why Sasuke left like he did. Shibura said "Is something wrong?" Einjeru sighed and said "Nothing more than confusion setting in. Aren't you following the scent?" Shibura nods and faces forward saying "I am more than just your summon you know. I am your companion and willing to listen." Einjeru smiled and said "Thanks Shibura."

In the center, Sakura is muttering curses under her breath and Naruto wanted to request that Sakura be left behind because of said behaviors. He says to her "You know Sakura, you should move past the petty insults and see that Einjeru couldn't care less about your obsessions and threats towards her. Do you really believe that she wants to hurt him intentionally?" Sakura looked at Einjeru's back and looked at Naruto.

Einjeru was listening with her wolf ears. She shed some bitter tears saying "Is that how little you think of me Sakura?" She started speeding ahead. Naruto then said "Told you." Kakashi made a clone to go slow her down. He sighed and said "Do you have to deal with this with Shibura?" Pakkun shook his head and said "When someone is loyal to their team yet they don't trust them, what do you expect?"

Naruto tries to catch up to Einjeru. Kakashi managed to beat him to it. Einjeru sniffled. Kakashi made the hand signs to tell them to slow up and take a break. Einjeru and Shibura were the first ones to reach the ground. Naruto and Sakura followed with Kakashi and Pakkun touching last. Einjeru went behind a tree and buried her head.

Kakashi came up next to her saying "You can't hide." Einjeru tries to inch away from him, but he grabs her shoulder and says "What's going on?" Einjeru shook her head. Kakashi says to her "Tell me. If not as your dad asking, but as your senior officer, I'm telling you to tell me." Einjeru sighs and says "Fine, it's Sakura." Kakashi crossed his arms and says "When you do see Sasuke, what do you intend to do?" Einjeru sighs and says "I don't know. If Sakura thinks so little of me then maybe I should let him hurt me just to prove a point to her. Maybe if he almost kills me she'll understand."

Naruto was hearing everything and thought "That's it. There's no way I'm letting this happen." He went over to Sakura and glared at her. She looks back at him and says "What's with you?" He riled his chakra, causing her to stand on end. Naruto said "You've done nothing but annoy and hurt Einjeru since the academy days. It's only gotten worse since we've become a squad. You're a brat and Einjeru doesn't deserve any of it. She's tried to ignore you and move past your behavior like she was told. You shouldn't even be a shinobi."

Back with Kakashi and Einjeru, Kakashi says "Don't talk like that! It sounds like you're giving up." Einjeru snaps at him saying "That's right! I am! I'm tired of trying to make Sakura see." Kakashi sighs and grabs Einjeru's wolf ear saying "Get this through your thick skull Einjeru; You can't just give up like that because of one of your teammates doubts." Einjeru shakes her head "We've been at it for months. More like years if you count the time at the academy. While her and all of the other girls at the academy were actively fawning over Sasuke, I was secretly fawning over Naruto and not showing it. I actively despised and detested Sasuke. When we were put together I put it to the side and my feelings for Naruto became stronger to the point where I can't restrain them any more."

Back with Naruto and Sakura, Sakura says "You were last in our class. How can you say anything like that to me?" Naruto laughed and said "You lack the knowledge of actual love. Not to mention, you are stupider than I am. After class in our academy days, I was always training, busting my butt to get by and graduate. No one but Einjeru noticed my strife and she was the only one in the academy to notice what I lacked. I now understand why she said what she did. It's time I returned the gesture." Sakura looks at him nervously and shivers at the thought of what he might do to her. He drags her over to where Kakashi and Einjeru are, and they both hear the last part of her statement.

Kakashi sensed them, but didn't let on. Einjeru then said "What's the point? Apparently Sasuke's into me and I can't stop him or show him who I'm in love with." Naruto peers his head through and smiles. Sakura overhearing this starts feeling bad. Naruto came out and said "Hi there!" Einjeru looked over in shock and looked down in embarrassment.

Naruto knelt down in front of her and gave the cheesiest grin he could. Einjeru looked at him and wiped her tears. Kakashi looks at him and says "You guys were eaves-dropping." Naruto said back "To be honest, I came at the point when she said that emotions about me were stronger. At first when she said 'I love you' to me at Ichiraku, I was confused, but now after letting it sink in and hearing what she said, I understand."

Einjeru looked at him and said "You're not weirded out, are you?" Naruto laughs and says "Are you kidding?! I started getting the picture somewhat after meeting pervy sage. I started looking at you differently as we grew." Einjeru blushed and giggled. Kakashi tried to give a menacing death glare, but inwardly was relieved. Sakura came out. Naruto extended his hand and lifted Einjeru up. Sakura came closer and Naruto glared at her. Einjeru felt the riled chakra and looked at him in excitement.

Kakashi looks at her and thinks "True to the Hatake inside." Einjeru looked around and saw Shibura having a mini lesson. Einjeru pulled her mask down and said "Is it me or is it warm all of a sudden?" Kakashi revealed his sharingan and said "It's a genjutsu." Einjeru and Sakura made the sign and released themselves. Einjeru looked at Naruto and thought "I'm going to work this boy to the bone in genjutsu, so he can at least be able to dispel it." She made the sign and tapped him on the shoulder releasing him.

Everyone looked around and noticed the ninja hounds gone. Einjeru forced chakra into her nose and sniffed around for any of Shibura or Pakkun's scents. Kakashi kept his sharingan eye open and Naruto made shadow clones ready to defend. Einjeru growled and said "This is impossible. I know they didn't disperse because their scent is all over the place. If they dispersed their scents would be in the spot they were in before the disappeared. Obviously someone doesn't want us to find Sasuke."

All of a sudden, four ninja appear and say "Hey, which way to the hidden leaf? These mutts were useless." Einjeru saw Shibura beaten and bloody. Pakkun was in just as bad shape. The ninja dropped them and Kakashi said that they needed to dispel the summoning or they won't survive. Einjeru knelt down next to Shibura and rubbed her head. Shibura wanted to speak, but Einjeru forbade it saying "Save your strength. We'll talk later after I kick someones behind." She sent Shibura back and asked Kakashi if it was safe to flip her switch. He nods and says "Don't kill them. They may have some valuable information if they're asking where the leaf is."

Einjeru flipped the switch and her demeanor changed. Naruto went into his mindscape and started talking to Kurama. Naruto started off saying "Hey Kurama! I need your opinion on something."

Kurama opens his eyes and says "You brat! You better have a good reason for waking me! I was in the middle of a good dream."

Naruto replied "I apologize, but I want you to use my eyes and see if these guys are troublesome in my current state."

Kurama looks at him and says "What about the girl? What is she doing?"

Naruto says "She's flipped her mental switch. Those guys beaten her summon quite badly. She has developed quite the grudge against them in less than thirty seconds."

Kurama laughs and says "If she's riled, then maybe your current state isn't a good thing to go into battle with. I'll check them out though and give you advice on which type of chakra to use."

Naruto nods and Kurama takes control of his senses. Naruto's eyes turned red and slit. Einjeru looks at him and thinks "Something's different about him. I don't know why, but it's exciting me." Kurama under Naruto's senses is scoping the opposition out and Kakashi senses that Naruto isn't Naruto. Back in the mindscape, Kurama looks at Naruto.

Kurama starts off saying "You may have to start off in version one and go from there. These guys are not to be messed around with especially the fat one. He has a tendency to eat chakra. The girl with the flute was the one who casted the genjutsu. Your sensei would be the best one to go against her. The guy with the spider arms is the one where speed and rapid senses will win. You know when you finish your mission, I will have figured out a suitable way to exact my revenge. The fourth guy is a mystery. It's like he has two people inside him. Be careful brat."

Naruto nods and comes out of his mindscape. The chakra for his version one state came out and he became bright. Einjeru, Kakashi and Sakura look in amazement. Naruto smiles and says "This was something I was going to show off during the matches, but oh well. According to a source; the girl with the flute is the genjutsu caster, the fat one next to her likes to eat chakra, the one with the spider arms is quick to react and the last one is like a mystery. We have to be careful." Kakashi says "The genjutsu caster is mine. Einjeru, you take care of spider arms. Naruto you take care of the chakra eater. Sakura; you're going to have to take care of the mystery guy. If anyone manages to defeat their opponent support the others."

Einjeru grinned saying "I hoped you would say that sensei." Naruto thought "Just as Kurama said. I hope Sakura doesn't space out or need help. She's the weakest on our squad as far physical strength and jutsu go." Sakura frowned thinking "Now we'll never get to Sasuke." Einjeru reading her thoughts said "I swear to god Sakura, get a grip! We're about to go into battle and all you can think about is Sasuke! If you don't watch it, you're going to end up dying. These guys mean business."

The spider armed guy appears behind Einjeru saying "You should pay attention more." He stabs her and a puff of smoke appears. Einjeru appears behind him with a pair of chakra suppression cuffs. She laughs hysterically and says "Your speed is not like mine." She hops off of him hoping to play around and torture him some.

Naruto faces the fat guy thinking "He's the complete opposite of Choji. What should I do?" He face palms and claps his hands together. "Wind style: Gale Palm!" He knocks the fat guy off his feet and Kurama says to Naruto to use a mini tailed beast bomb.

Kakashi is facing off against the genjutsu user. He thinks "The flute must be the source of it." He pulls out a kunai and looks at the flute saying "To have a weakness like that, it makes you susceptible to attacks." The girl says "Like you'll be able to touch me, you cycloptic clod." Kakashi ignored her and grabbed her flute.

Sakura stands in front of her opponent and sizes him up. The guy says "What's a pretty young thing like you doing being a ninja?" Sakura looks at him and remains quiet. She tries to go for a low blow. He catches her and says "No holds barred huh? I like you." She jumps back thinking "This guy. He's out of my league."

Einjeru meanwhile is laughing and saying to him "I've rendered your six extra arms useless and you're wearing chakra suppression cuffs. You're at my mercy." The guy laughed and said "Oh really?" He started changing and broke the chakra suppression cuffs. "Shit!" Einjeru thought as she flipped backwards.

Naruto managed to trap the guy in a crater after using the mini tailed beast bomb. He started to change and his hair became a nasty shade of orange. Naruto thinks to himself "I may have to go into version 2 chakra mode. I hope the others are fairing well." He backs off and his chakra changes even more."

Kakashi snaps the flute and comes behind the girl saying "It's over." The girl turned around and attempted to kick Kakashi where it hurts. Kakashi jumped back and she underwent a change. Kakashi was looking with his sharingan and thought "This is just like the curse seal that was put on Sasuke."

Sakura was doing her best to block her opponents attacks. Her opponent was relentless with his attacks. He managed to get behind her and grab her hair. She screamed out. Einjeru and Naruto looked over in that direction and got knocked into each other by their respective opponents.

They grunt in pain and Naruto says "How are you doing in your battle?" Einjeru replied "I took a nasty hit. You?" Naruto replied "Could be better. You heard Sakura scream out right?" Einjeru nods and says "That weakling. She needs help, but we're all pressed against a corner." Their opponents appeared in front of them and Einjeru spit blood out of her mouth saying "Let's kick their butts so we can help out our team." Einjeru revealed her ears, tail and claws thinking "It's time to get serious." Her eyes changed so she can see the slightest of movements. Naruto goes into version 2 state.

Kakashi looked at his opponent and says "I may have to tap into my other half and let my sharingan rest." He pulled his headband over his eye and revealed his ears. His one eye changed allowing him to see his opponents movements better. The girl looked at him and said "Nothing can save you."

Sakura tried pulling away from her captor to no avail. He said "Like I said, what's a pretty young thing like you doing being a ninja? You're not even in the same league as your teammates. Even the blonde kid is stronger than you." Sakura pulls a kunai out and the guy laughs saying "Kunai won't affect me." Sakura slices her hair and it spreads everywhere.

Einjeru sees the hair and says "She's finally bloomed huh?" She narrowly avoided her opponents attack and said "Come on my father can hit better than you." She sharpened her claws and sliced at him. She got one of his good arms and he hissed in pain. She grinned revealing her elongated canines.

Naruto was pounding his opponent into the ground. He saw Sakura's hair and assumed the worst. He continued beating the fat guy to a pulp. As soon as he knocked the guy unconscious, he pulled a pair of chakra suppression cuffs out and put them on him.

Kakashi moved as soon as he saw the first twitch. He got in her blind spot and pinned her. He saw Sakura's hair and thought "She's finally accepted what it means to be a shinobi. I wonder what Einjeru thinks." He then slapped the chakra suppression cuffs on his opponent and rendered her unconscious.

After Sakura cut her hair and got away from him. She stood up and grabbed a second kunai from her pouch. She started slashing at him without hesitancy. "I am not weak. I will not become a hindrance." She managed to get a slice on his face. All of a sudden a second set of arms and legs came out of him.

Einjeru was kicking, back-handing and laying haymakers on her opponent. He manages to weave a spider web, but Einjeru runs her lightning chakra through it and breaks it. She snaps his arms and ties all of them up. She starts to pant and says "Now's not the time to be exhausted."

Einjeru, Naruto and Kakashi made their way over to Sakura. They see that she's outnumbered. Einjeru jumps next to Sakura and says "So you finally grow up huh?" Sakura smiles to see that Einjeru is jumping in to help. Kakashi and Naruto deal with the second one. Sakura and Einjeru managed to synchronize their moves and knocked out one of them. Einjeru says "If I had to guess, those two are identical twins." They look to see Kakashi and Naruto beating the other one to a pulp.

After they knocked the other one out, the squad tied the two of them together and brought the rest of the enemy ninja and tied them up separately and bundled them together thinking "We can't afford for them to escape." Kakashi says "I'm going to summon one of the other ninja hounds and send a message to the village. We need to get after Sasuke. We wasted enough time dealing with these fools." Einjeru nods and says "I'm also able to summon the other hounds too right?"

Kakashi nods and says "We need an extra nose to lead us in the right direction." They summoned two more hounds. The new hound that Einjeru summons says "My name is Raito." The dog that Kakashi summoned says "Pakkun and Shiruba will recover, but they will be out of action for a while. I've taken Raito under my wing, but he's an excellent tracker. What do you need?" Kakashi explained that he needed to send a report to the village. The dog nods and speeds along to the village with the report.

Einjeru puts Sasuke's personal belonging up to Raito's nose and he started to track it right away. They followed making sure nothing else stopped them from their venture to bring back their comrade.

Back in the village, the ninja hound that Kakashi summoned ran straight to the hokage's office. Lord Third noticed the dog running in with the report. He read it and summoned a team of ANBU to retrieve the package that squad 7 left in the forest. The ANBU flashed to the location.

Meanwhile Squad 7 under the lead of Raito and Einjeru were close to the Valley of the End. Einjeru wipes her mouth and says "Are you sure we're heading the right way Raito?" He nods and says "His scent is getting stronger." Kakashi says "We're almost to the fire countries border. We have to go faster. Once he's over the border we can't pursue him anymore." They force chakra into their legs and go faster.

Sasuke is taking a breath and senses the others coming. "Damn it! They're coming. I thought those four would have taken care of them." He started to move again, just to be stopped by his teammates. Raito growls to emphasize the point that is being made.

Everyone looked at with a mix of concern and disappointment. Sasuke laughed maniacally. Einjeru pulled down her mask saying "There's no way I can contain my emotions. It's time that everyone saw my facial expressions." Naruto saw the pain on her face and Einjeru continued "All my pain, I've hidden. I can't anymore." Sakura looked at her and Einjeru said "I don't want to hear it. This is the last straw. I'll bring him back if it costs me my life. I just want you guys to look after my dad if that comes to fruition."

Naruto looks in shock and says "You're not in this alone." Sakura thinks "This is my fault." Kakashi looked at Einjeru and said "I won't let this happen." Einjeru closed her eyes and pulled out her chakra saber. Sasuke says "You won't be able to scratch me." The rest of squad 7 looked at him with distaste.

Sasuke turned on his sharingan and Kakashi lifted his headband saying "You guys get him from his blind spot. I'll face him head on." Einjeru nods, and Naruto says "Sasuke's gone too far." Sakura has a pleading look on her face and begs Sasuke to stop. Einjeru looked down and said "If we don't stop him here, he'll become a threat to the village, and all of the hidden villages will be after him." Sakura then relents saying "I can't."

Sasuke punches Einjeru in the stomach. Einjeru coughs up and Naruto charges in with a kunai. "Fuck this!" Einjeru thought. She stood up still coughing. Kakashi kept an eye on Naruto thinking "If Naruto dies, sensei will haunt me forever." Sakura stands there and thinks "Who is he?" Einjeru took in a deep breath and noticed Sasuke aiming for Sakura with a kunai.

Einjeru appeared in front of Sakura blocking his blow with the chakra saber. "Bring it Uchiha!" Sasuke smirked and jumped back. Einjeru roared out and charged in. She was slashing at him without a care. Kakashi grabbed Sakura and Naruto and moved them. Sasuke laughs, and Einjeru detaches her weights, and disappears in a blur of purple, black and silver.

Einjeru re-appears behind him slashing his shoulder saying "What was that about not being able to scratch you?" Sasuke glares at her and Naruto gets him in the arm. Einjeru collapses thinking "I'm low on chakra. My stomach still hurts from the blow I took from Sasuke." Sasuke comes towards her and she jumps back thinking "How did he get so fast." Naruto appears next to Einjeru saying "We're in trouble." Einjeru nods and says "Sakura has the most chakra and stamina than we do right now. However she's practically useless in her current state."

Sasuke comes at them and Kakashi appears in front of them kicking Sasuke. Einjeru pants and thinks "I may have to go full wolf in order to finish this." She changes and Naruto looks at her saying "Going for the wolf style?" Einjeru says "It's the last thing he'll expect. It's my last resort." She got into an offensive stance.

Kakashi meanwhile is in close range battle using his sharingan. Einjeru charged in and got Sasuke from behind using the wolf style. Kakashi smiles and thinks "If you're going to use it as a wolf I may as well use the human form of it." He does a partial change and punches Sasuke. Sasuke ended up confused because he never saw the moves.

Einjeru knocked him out using the shadow fang and collapsed reverting back to normal. Kakashi caught her and smiled thinking "Thank goodness." Einjeru muttered "Am I dead?" Kakashi said "Far from it." Naruto was holding Sasuke. Squad 7 returned to the village with Sasuke in tow. Sakura looked at Einjeru. Einjeru looked back with an exhausted look in her eyes. "I feared that I was going to kill him. I'm surprised that Sakura is looking at me with concern." Einjeru thought.

Upon getting back to the village, Squad 7 was escorted to the hospital for treatment. Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi got off with a few bumps and bruises. Sasuke and Einjeru were more severe with chakra exhaustion and broken limbs. Naruto was wondering how Einjeru got broken limbs. Kakashi explained about using the wolf style in wolf form and the disadvantages behind it. Sasuke ended up having a broken neck from the shadow fang.

Einjeru lied in the bed covered in bandages and casts. Naruto and Kakashi came in and Einjeru chuckled. "That's why I said that the wolf style is my last resort." She cringed in pain. Naruto came close to her and she smiled saying "I'm glad you're okay." Naruto gave a smile saying "When you're released, we're going to eat whatever you want." Einjeru let loose a tear. She wanted to hug him.

Kakashi came over and put his hand on Naruto's shoulder. Naruto looked up and Kakashi said "You should get home Naruto. I'll be by to check up on you later." Naruto nods and leaves the room. Kakashi rubs his hand across Einjeru's face. She looked at him and said "I'm fine dad." Kakashi knelt down next to her saying "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." Einjeru smiled saying "We're shinobi, we're not guaranteed a long life." Kakashi strokes her hair and says "But I'd prefer that you outlive me."

Einjeru cringed in pain again. She puts on a smile saying "I'll be out of here before you know it." Kakashi nods and says "Get some rest my Angel." She nods and tries to rest. Kakashi comes out of the room and notices Lord Third. Lord Third nods and says "She'll be fine. I have the ANBU guarding her room. She's too precious to leave unattended. Sasuke's room is under heavy guard as well." Kakashi nods and says "I have a young kunoichi who needs to be detached from him."

Lord Third nods and says "Ah yes, Sakura. I may have to pull her off of active duty. She's caused some detriment and put one of our own out of commission." Kakashi nods and says "I don't know what to do with her. She's always blaming Einjeru for her short-comings with Sasuke." Lord Third says "I've noticed. I need to get going." Kakashi nods.

At Sasuke's room, Sakura sits there looking at him, unsure of what to say. Sasuke grits his teeth and looks at Sakura. Kakashi came into the room with disdain written on his face. Sakura looks at him and Kakashi says "Lord Third is taking squad 7 off of active mission status until further notice. Sakura, you might be pulled. Sasuke you'll be closely monitored. Einjeru will be bed-ridden for a few weeks."

Back in Einjeru's room, Tenzo comes in without his mask and says "You're just as reckless as senpai too." Einjeru smiled and said "What's up? Did you get worried about me?" He laughed it off and said "In your dreams." Einjeru chuckled until a shot of pain surged through. Tenzo said "You're quite the tough one. I might ask him to take you under my wing when I'm not on missions." Einjeru said "Do you think Lord Third would allow it? I don't think you want to jeopardize your position." He waves it off saying "I have a perfect service record. If anything Lord Third and senpai would probably encourage it." Einjeru relaxed a little bit and closed her eyes.

Meanwhile on the outskirts of the village, Orochimaru was seething that the sound ninja four were defeated by mere brats. Kabuto appeared before him and said "Einjeru was one of those brats. Apparently she has more firepower than we thought." Orochimaru then said "I should've tried going after her first." Kabuto then said "Well being the daughter of the copy ninja who was praised for having natural talent as the genius son of the White Fang, she is going to have her aces."

In the hospital, Einjeru is shivering and cringing in pain. The nurse comes in, and notices Einjeru running a fever and writhing in pain. She called in the other nurses to restrain her. Einjeru grunts and tries to wriggle free. "No!" She screams out. The nurses were having a hard time restraining her.

Kakashi heard the scream from Sasuke's room. He says to Sakura "The curfew's still in effect for the genin. You need to get home." Sakura nods and leaves. Kakashi walks out the room and the ANBU lock it down. He flashed to Einjeru's room and noticed the nurses trying to restrain her. She whines and tries to thrash.

Kakashi puts his hand to her forehead and noticed she was burning up. He rubs her head to calm her down and distract while they get the medicine. They stuck the needle into her vein and she calmed down. Einjeru's writhing died down to a whimper as she fell asleep.

Kakashi came out the room and Tenzo came up to him saying "Senpai, I have a request to make." Kakashi looks at him. Tenzo continues saying "I wish to take Einjeru under my wing." Kakashi then says "Are you sure about this? She's quite the handful." Tenzo smirks and says "She's a female mini-you. Besides I have yet to see what she can really do." Kakashi smiles and says "When she's recuperated, she's yours."

Lord Third observes the conversation and smiles thinking "This will work out perfectly. I can just make it a mission for him." Tenzo appears before Lord Third saying "Einjeru is secure sir." Lord Third nods and says "I'm aware of your conversation with Kakashi and decided to make a mission for you out of it. In addition to your guarding duties, you shall be training her." Tenzo nods and says "I accept sir."

A couple weeks later, Einjeru was cleared for release with restrictions on her training (By restrictions they mean no training at all). Tenzo and Kakashi stood in the lobby waiting for her. She walked out on crutches. "My legs are still healing. It's a pain, but I can't do anything yet." Kakashi chuckled and said "Don't worry, you'll recover soon." Einjeru was still sore. They decided on barbecue.

Einjeru found that she couldn't sit properly and winced in pain. Kakashi adjusted her position and she frowned. Kakashi nudged her saying "It's okay to rely on others sometimes." The meat got to their table and Einjeru sat there patiently grilling the meat. As soon as it was perfect she ate it. Kakashi and Tenzo were surprised that she was eating a lot. Einjeru sighed and said "I didn't eat in the hospital. I refused to." Kakashi then said "You have lost weight." Einjeru sighed and said "I lost my appetite."

Einjeru got on her crutches and decided to walk around the village. She found herself near the Yamanaka flower shop and saw Ino. Einjeru looked around for some special flowers that she could leave at the memorial stone. Ino comes behind her saying "Mission went wrong?" Einjeru shrugged and said "Depends on how you look at it. Either way, I want some flowers so I can pay respect to my mother. She passed sometime after I was born." Ino nods and asks if she needed help carrying the flowers. Einjeru nods and they head to the memorial stone.

Kakashi was at the memorial stone. Einjeru and Ino come up and Ino places the flowers in Einjeru's arms. Einjeru hops over to the stone and sets the flowers down. She traces her fingers over her mothers name and moves over to Naruto's parents names. Kakashi noticed the fingers tracing over the names and reaches out to tap her arm before she retracted it all of a sudden.

She made an abrupt movement to catch her crutch which fell. Kakashi helped her to re-balance her weight. She got the crutch and decided to go see Naruto. She found him at Ichiraku and came in. Naruto turned and saw her. He ran from his seat and helped her into a chair. Teuchi says "In celebration of your recovery. Ramen's on the house." Einjeru smiled and said "Hit me up with the usual."

Einjeru slurps up the ramen and asks Naruto if he felt like going for a walk. They decided to go to the park that they hung out during their academy days. Naruto starts the conversation with "How long will it be before you can resume training again?" Einjeru smiles and says "Not for a couple more weeks." Naruto smiles and says "Well at least you're alive." Einjeru smiles and says "I don't think it would be worth it if you weren't here."

Naruto helps her up and they walk back to the apartment. Kakashi was awaiting them. Einjeru looks at him wondering if something is wrong. He faces them concerned. Einjeru gets nervous and Kakashi says "The squad is being split. Naruto as a protection measure, you'll remain under me." Naruto nods and Einjeru said "Technically I'm a chunin now, but I'm not on active status." Kakashi says "As a chunin you'll be able to lead your own squad if given the opportunity."

Einjeru nods and says "I can't do anything with both of my legs busted." Kakashi and Naruto look at her and laugh saying "Nothing's stopped you before. What's up?" Einjeru laughs and says "I've never had broken bones before." Kakashi looks sheepish and says "That's true." Naruto then says "Broken bones won't stop me!" Einjeru shakes her head in amusement.

Sasuke has been under close observation by Lord Third who was thinking "If he disappears from the village again, I'll have no choice but to brand him a rogue ninja. I just hope Itachi forgives me if that comes to pass." Tenzo appeared before Lord Third saying "Einjeru is stable and walking around sir." Lord Third says "Stay with her. We can't afford for anything to happen to her." Tenzo nods and disappears.

Einjeru was lying on her bed bored out of her mind, but her crutches were starting to hurt her and she was told to rest. She sighed and decided to rest her eyes. A few hours later she wakes up to a snake-like shadow in her window. She reaches for her crutches which weren't there. She fell out of her bed and big thud was heard. She was crawling across the floor. She grunts trying to turn on the light.

As soon as the light was on she saw a whole bunch of snakes. She made the sign and said release. Nothing happened and Einjeru was in a corner. Orochimaru appeared out of the snakes and was holding her crutches. Einjeru scowls and says "Don't you have anything else to do, you snake?" Orochimaru looks at her and says "I'm surprised you defeated one of my bodyguards." Einjeru growled and said "I'd do it again. Now why are you here in my room?" She managed to set off a silent alarm which summoned Tenzo to her.

Tenzo looked at Orochimaru from behind the mask and said to Einjeru "Are you okay?" Einjeru looked down and said "He has my crutches." Tenzo made her some new ones and got her on her feet. Einjeru hopped out of the room to see Kakashi was knocked out. She taps his face to see him unresponsive. She reaches for his mask and he grabs her hand saying "Don't even think about it."

Einjeru smiles and says "The next time I tap your face respond. Then I wouldn't have to go for your mask. All of a sudden there was an explosion. Kakashi shot up and said "What are you doing out of your room?" Einjeru glares at him and gestures toward the snake-like shadow." He flashes over to her room and says "What are you doing in my daughter's room you snake?" Orochimaru looks at Kakashi and says "Your daughter has some unique gifts."

Einjeru grips her crutches and thought "I hate having to have people defend me." The other ANBU appeared and said "You're surrounded Orochimaru." Orochimaru called out the multiple striking shadow snakes. Kakashi jumped and tackled Einjeru. She whined saying "You're crushing my legs." He got up and picked up Einjeru bridal style and got her out of there.

Kakashi brought her to Lord Thirds office. Einjeru frowned and said "My safety has been compromised." Kakashi then said "Orochimaru came into her room." Lord Third rose up and said "The village is in lockdown." Einjeru then said "Could you put me down dad? This is a little awkward." Kakashi smiled and said "Do you really want to be set on the floor?" Einjeru nods and Lord Third said "Take her to the hospital. Her casts need to be removed."

Einjeru looked at him and said "Are you sure sir?" Lord Third nods saying "You have a remarkable healing ability. Your legs should have healed by now." Kakashi flashed over to the hidden leaf hospital with a note from Lord Third. In the hospital, the nurses saw the note with the hokage seal on it and removed her casts. Einjeru stood on her feet and stretched out thinking "It will feel good to wear sandals again."

Kakashi handed her her sandals and said "Get to the hokage stone faces. If the village is being locked down, all civilians will be evacuated to the shelters behind the faces." Einjeru nods and Kakashi hands her her chunin vest. She put it on and ran to the stone faces and saw Iruka.

Iruka saw her and said "I thought you were on crutches and under a curfew." Einjeru replied "I have a special recuperative ability and my home is not safe to be at. I was sent over to help you sensei." Iruka nods and they go to start evacuating the villagers. Einjeru while doing her job noticed that Sasuke was out of it. She went over to him and tried to guide him. He ignored her and she wondered where the ANBU that were supposed to be guarding him were.

Either way, Einjeru was supposed to get all non-active shinobi and civilian persons to the stone faces. She grabbed Sasuke and got him over there. Iruka noticed that Einjeru was literally dragging Sasuke. Iruka appears next to them and says "What's going on?" Einjeru shrugged and said "I found Sasuke out of it and he wasn't responsive to anything. I didn't know what to do." Iruka looked at Sasuke.

Sasuke had a blank look in eyes. Einjeru had to think of the side-effects of the shadow fang. "Oh no! I gave him amnesia!" Iruka looked at her saying "How? You didn't hit him that hard when you were fighting." Einjeru said "I used the shadow fang on him. Sometimes it causes amnesia if hit in the right spot." Iruka then said "Wouldn't the medical ninja have diagnosed him with it if it was the case." Einjeru shook her head and said "It never sets in right away. It's been a couple weeks since the incident in question."

Iruka said "How is that connected to your injuries?" Einjeru shook her head saying "The shadow fang is a technique used in my wolf form. Using the wolf style in that form causes me to have some broken bones. It's my last resort in a fight." Iruka then says "How did you heal so quickly?" Einjeru shrugged and said "Must have to do with my mom's side. Either way enough about me. I need to get Sasuke to my dad. He's the only one that can fix this." Einjeru gets Sasuke on her back and hops to find Kakashi.

Kakashi was back at the apartment. Einjeru tried to sneak in without drawing too much attention. Kakashi sensed her and was seething. He came to the kitchen and said "You better have a damn good reason for coming here." Einjeru was panicked when she said "I gave Sasuke amnesia." Kakashi sighed and said "Now of all times." Einjeru then said "On a positive note, most of our noncombatants have been evacuated. I found Sasuke and he was totally out of it. Looking in his eyes, I noticed it."

Sasuke was looking at Kakashi funny and Einjeru sighed. Kakashi managed to get him back most of his memories of squad 7 and left the more recent stuff out. They kind of lied about what happened to his neck. Einjeru got Sasuke back to the stone faces relieved. Iruka nods and says "All of the noncombatants have been evacuated." Einjeru reveals her ears and changes her eyes.

Einjeru kept a vigil over the village. A tail swish here and a tail flick there. All of a sudden an explosion rang from the apartment. "Naruto! Dad! No!" She flashes over there. Naruto comes outside. He looks at Einjeru's legs and looks around him. "What's going on Einjeru?" She shook her head saying "Now's not the time. We need to get out of here." Naruto then says "What about Kakashi sensei?" Einjeru said "We'll get yelled at by him if we're caught here. We've got to move."

They got outside the apartment and ran to see if the other genin were okay. The Hyuugas were fine, Kiba was fine, Shino was fine, Sakura was fine, Rock Lee was fine, TenTen was fine, Shikamaru, Ino and Choji were fine. Fires started to break out all over the village. Naruto and Einjeru stood back to back thinking "Technically we're not noncombatants, but Lord Third doesn't want the young genin/chunin getting involved. However he'll want us to defend ourselves."

Einjeru made sure she avoided Kakashi as much as possible. Naruto was running to check around. He met back with Einjeru who said "All of the noncombatants have been removed from the village. All of the genin are probably besides us, Sasuke, Sakura, Lee, and TenTen are going to stay with their clans. Sasuke has went to the stone faces because of his injuries." Naruto looked at her. Rock Lee decided to join them. Einjeru made the decision to duck and cover in case something was going on.