The lessons with Kakashi go amazingly, and within a week of the first one, he has a forest much larger than mine. His wolf has grown greatly and the two get on like the best of friends. It probably helps that his wolf is a friend for life. The two will never be seperated, and yet they do have differences of opinion. Aiden, Kakashi's wolf is a normal sized wolf when released, and has dark fur that is mottled with browns and greys. In essence his fur is camouflaged and will be perfect for stealth hunts.
Selena naturally is enamored with Aiden, and I have to listen to her waxing on about how sleek his fur is, and how sharp his teeth and claws are. I am getting close to shaving her if I have to hear one more compliment for the male wolf. Though now Kakashi has been attracting my attention far more than he did before being scratched.
Thankfully I haven't needed to deal with the growing attraction yet as he has been pushing his team further and further. Haku has even been put on a temporary team so he can participate in the chunin exams as well. Thankfully I am already a jounin and do not need to go through that hell whole again. I took my exams in wave and it was not pleasant in the least. Sadly it was too hard for my teammates. They made it through to the end, but quit being shinobi afterwards. I believe wholeheartidly that the kids will do just fine, and make it all the way to the end. Though Iruka has stepped foreward and expressed his dilike of the rookie nine being admitted into the exams. Though Sasuke will most likely shine as an amazing shinobi just like his big brother.
I swing by the Uchiha compound, and walk confidently up the the head house. Fugaku mets me at the door with a warm smile. "Wren it has been far too long. I miss the days when you would come over almost daily with Naruto. How is he anyway? I heard he has also been submitted for the chunin exams," he says all this while excorting me to his informal greeting room. The one that over looks the training yard and gardens. I sit comfortably on the cushion across from him.
"Well to be honest I have been on missions almost non stop since I made jounin rank. The hokage likes sending me for information gathering. Naruto has been training with his jounin sensei since graduation, and as you may recall he could easily be chunin already. He has become really close with his teammates, and they work amazingly together. I have no doubt in my mind they will come out of these exams as chunin," I tell him fondly while a maid brings out the tea set. Fugaku pours tea for me first then himself, and I sip the delicious brew. "I was wondering about sasuke though. Has he exceled further since I last saw him?" I ask him. I watch as a few young children run around the training area sparring.
"Yes he is now able to go toe to toe with his brother and cousin," Fugaku says proudly.
"Do you think they will seek to move against each other, or work together?" I ask him.
"That is hard to say. Sasuke's teammates are rather odd. The pink haired kuoichi is next to useless, but the boy is decent enough. They may try to pull him away from others, not that he would listen to them. He despises his teammates," he tell me. I nod my head along with his words.
"Yes he had that same attitude towards Naruto at first, but then I think Naruto just kind of grew on him," I tell him. He all out laughs at that.
"That is just the way things tend to be around Naruto. Is he still pretending to be a idiot?" he asks. Fugaku was one of the few that could see Naruto'd brilliance behind his idiotic disguise.
"Well of course, he has been working on his reputation as a knucklehead for most of his life," I tell him.
"Well he is very good at it," he agrees with a fond smirk. We sit in companionable silence, sipping tea, and watching the kids playing.
"How is Itachi and Shisui doing? It has been a long time since I saw them as well," I ask him.
"They are the same as you remember, just older. Itachi is still stoic and literal, while Shisui can rival Naruto for hyper activity," he say with fondness. I glance at him from the corner of my eye. He use to be severe and stern with his family, but he seems to have really eased up and relaxed.
"Have things gotten better for you since Danzo was arrested and Root cleared out?" I ask him.
"Oh yes. It turns out that he had been working with Orochimaru to get rid of the Uchiha clan. He had several stolen eyes surgically added to his body," he tells me.
"I am glad to see that things are going so much better for you now. You know I will always come to your family's aide right?" I remind him and he gives me a fond smile and inclines his head. "Oh, I have to meet with the head of the Hyuga clan, any pointers for him to take me seriously?" I ask him.
"Fight him first, and he will acknowledge you and listen to you," he says.
"Right, is that your answer for everything?" I ask him with a chuckle.
"Yes, my wife was the stronger of the two choices I had," he says easily.
"Well, I should get going. I shall do my best to come vist again soon. Thank you for speaking with me," I tell him standing up so I can bow in farewell.
"You are welcome here any time," he assures me, and pulls me in for a tight hug.
"Have a good night, and please tell your sons and nephew that I stopped by and miss them," I tell him as I return his hug.
After I leave, I head over to the Hyuga compound. I get there just as Hinata is returning from training. She has already grown so much since our return from wave country, but her father still remains a wall she can not climb. She looks genuinely surprised to see me, but then remembers what I am here for. The guards at the gate let me in with no issue since Hinata vouches for me. She leads me to the formal waiting room, and goes to get changed and collect her father. Though the imposing man hears that I am there, and comes to find me before she comes back.
"So my useless daughter brought you here? What is it that you want?" he asks sitting himself down across from me.
"Your daughter is not useless. She needs your help with the family jutsu," I tell him.
"She is not capable of using that jutsu," he scoffs at me.
"Shall we have a friendly spar? if I win you will listen to me and your daughter for just a few minutes. And I do mean really listen," I suggest. He thinks it over before nodding.
He stands and leads me to a clear area in the center of their traditional japanese house. He waits patietnly for me to prepare myself, and when I tell him I am ready he gets a cocky grin on his face. The fight is short, and ends with his nose bleeding and unable to stand. Hinata, a young girl that looks a lot like her, and Neji are watching with wide eyes. I pat my hands together to remove some dust from them, before offering my hand to the head of the Hyuga family. He accepts it and the cloth I offer for his bleeding nose. We go back to the waiting room with Hinata and the three of us sit.
"Now what did you want to talk about?" he asks.
"Hinata has trouble with your families jutsu because it is earth style based. Unlike the rest of your family, she has a water alligned chakra, and that is why she has a hard to conforming to the positions. If you could adapt it to suite water more, then she should have no problem performing the jutsu," I tell him.
"Is this true Hinata?" he asks. Turning his pale gaze upon her. She swallows thickly before raising her chin and meetinghis gaze head on.
"Yes father, I have a hard time feeling the earth chakra needed for the jutsu," she says in a firm voice. I see his surprise at her behavior, before giving her a small fond smile.
"Then we shall have to work hard to fins the style that is more suited to your chakra allignment," he says easily. He turns his gaze to me. "It is too bad I do not have any sons closer to your age, I would have loved to have you as a daughter in law," he says easily.
"Believe me you would not be the first to say as much to me. Fugaku wished for me to marry either Itachi or Shisui," I tell him. He nods his head in thought.
"Both are very good choices. But you declined the offer, Is there someone you are hoping to marry ne day?" he asks curiously.
"There is, but I need to know he will not hurt me again," I tell him with a fond smile while I think about Kakashi.
"Well then I hope he does the smart thing and never hurt you again," he says, before indicating for a servant to escort me out. Once I leave the Hyuga compound, I decide to head home. Sometimes I really hate not having any missions. On my way I see Sasuke talking to some sand ninja. I help it I run over and pick him up into a tight hug. He groans in embarrasement at the situation but knows better than to try and push me away.
"Oh my cute little Sasuke I was just at your house, and was so sad that I was not able to see you there. How have you been?" I ask, placing him back on his feet.
"I have been doing very good. Though I am not that fond of my team mates," he admits easily to me. A pink haired girl a short way off starts being dramatic.
"So are all of leaf's shinobi as depressingly weak as you lot?" a cat looking boy asks in an annoying tone of voice. I turn to face him, and give him my brightest smile, before letting go my tight control on my chakra. The blonde haired sand genin, the cat boy sand genin, and a red head with a gourd that was hiding in a tree all drop to the ground gagging and retching at the strentgh of my killing intent. I pull it all back in and hide it like I normally do. They slowly get to their feet wiping their mouths, and looking at me with new respect in their eyes.
"You should be more careful of who you mouth off to. You never know when you might die because of a smart ass comment," I tell them. Also gourd boy," I say, before any of them can blink I am standing in front of him, and I flick him in the forehead. It is no where near as strong as it could have been, but when my finger makes contact with his skin, I silence the sand demon in his mind. "You should be able to get some sleep from now on," I whisper so only he can hear. Then I am back next to Sasuke and the pink haired girl who had actually passed out when I released my killing intent.
"Now remember the only fighting allowed while you are here is during the second and third part of the exams. If anyone is caught starting a fight before that they will be dealt with swiftly," I tell them. Sasuke picks up his team mate with much show and we carry her to the hospital.
"Oh my goodness what happened to her?" the nurse at the front desk asks in shock.
"I released my killing intent on some sand genin who mouthed off at me, and she passed out," I tell her. She looks at me sharply and then recognizes me.
"Well no wonder the poor think fainted," she says with a small huff. Once the girl is taken care of I walk Sasuke back home.
"You know I could have handled them easily right?" he asks.
"Yes, but he made the mistake of insulting me," I pointed out.
"Yeah that was pretty dumb of them huh?" he says waggling his eyebrows at me.
"Well, you don't always think with your head either you little scamp," I ruffle his hair despite his protests.
"Is Naruto also going to be in the chunin exams?" he asks.
"Of course he is. I was hoping during the first part you two might help each other if need be," I suggest.
"Of course, he is my absolute best friend ever! I miss hanging out with him," he sighs sadly.
"Perhaps after the chunin exams you two can spend more time together. Just remember that he is faster then you," I point out.
"Yeah I recall," he shrugs. The two of them have always had a rivalry, but never let it get to them. They knew how to let it go sometimes and just have fun.
"Hey, perhaps after the second part you can come over? maybe spend the night, and hang out. Or maybe he could even come over to your place and get to see Itachi and Shisui as well. Will they be home for the exams?" I ask him.
"I hope so. I want my brother and cousin to see me kick butt!" he says happily jumping in the air a little.
"I am sure niether would miss it," I assure him as we stop infront of the Uchiha compound.
"Good night, he says happily while launching himself into my arms for a tight hug. I return it in favor, and watch as he hurries home.
I finally head home as well, and am just in time to sit down with Naruto, Dippy, and Haku for dinner. Haku has been progressing much faster in the hospital than the Hokage could have forseen, and he is very glad he agreed to let him live here. After the blood adoption, Haku's dark haired lightened, and like Naruto now has a dormant gene. I have been teaching him healing spells, since he now has a magical core as well as chakra coils. The hospital staff are really glad to have him as well, and he has been shadowing their best doctor and learning on the go the control he needs to be a medical ninja.
"You were almost late misstress," Dippy scolds me.
"I know Dippy, I was running a few errands," I tell her as I sit down.
"Will you be there to watch us during the exams?" Naruto asks in a small voice.
"Naruto, Not even a direct order from the Hokage will keep me from being there," I assure him. He immediately brightens up, and digs into the delicious meal that Dippy has provided. Afterwards, I sit on my balcony with an icha icha book. I balance on the banister with leg hanging over the side, and one armon my raised knee. This is how Kakashi finds me. He lands silently in front of me on the banister, and just watched me for a few seconds.
"Would it be possible for us to talk?" he asks. I can feel want he wants to talk about, and I can even smell his lust drifting between us. I meet his gaze, and head inside. I indicate for him to wait while I close the balcony doors and put up my strongest silencing charms around my room.
"Now what is it you wanted to talk about?" I ask him.
"The Hokage suspects that the sound and sand have joined together and will attempt to destroy the leaf during the chunin exams," he says.
"So that was why he wanted important documents from both of those leaders. Sound was really hard to get to, but in the end it is virtually impossible to keep me away from the information I seek," I tell him with a coy smile.
"I also wanted to know what exactly this was between us?" he asks.
"You tell me Kakashi. I don't want to be hurt by you walking away again," I tell him.
"I won't walk away this time, he says stepping into my personel space, and placing a gentle hand on the side of my face.
"What do you want this to be?" I ask him.
"I want you to be mine and no one elses," he whispers. I can see the depth of feeling in his eye, and hear the sincerity in his voice.
"Prove it," I whisper back