'KAKASHI HATAKE!' What…what do you want?

.

'Kakashi, be mindful and considerate', he said. Father…

.

'How can you stand yourself when you treat your friends like that? What the hell is wrong with you Kakashi?!', Obito yelled at me. He's so annoying, but was he right? Would we have a better team dynamic if I listened? No- shinobi must follow the rules, or else we'd all end up like him.

.

'I want someone to train with too', I smiled. Did I smile? Was that the last time I did? I don't think so… he didn't die for a few more months. I never realized that I can't remember the little things like that. Not that I don't care.

.

'That's my boy.'

. no.

Ring-ring! Ring-ring! Ring-ring!

Kakashi opens his eyes slowly coming out of his sleepy daze. His alarm vibrates the floor and his ear with its loud sounds. Dreams like this have plagued him for years. At first, it was just his dad he dreamt about. Kakashi cannot figure out why over time he has started to dream about his comrades as well though. "I haven't had a dream like that in a while." As his senses start to awaken, he can feel the small sweat that broke out on his forehead. After wiping his eyes, he rises to start the long day ahead of him in his empty apartment. The sun hasn't even risen yet, as is normal for the boy's schedule. He keeps a strict training regime. Every morning he rises, performs morning stretching and work out routines, before meeting with his team for their schedule of the day.

Kakashi Hatake is a 12 years old chunin of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. He has been an orphan for about seven years now, hence why he lives completely alone. However, this does not inhibit him from being a prodigy among his generation. After all, he is the son of a shinobi once considered to be a genius, before being ostracized. Since before Sakumo died, Kakashi has been very independent and self-confident. He is often arrogant and condescending.

Even though his fathers death put darkness into his heart, he does not allow himself to deter his confidence and work ethic.

Over in the East District, on the edge of the wood, the sun begins to shine through the windows of a family home. All but one remained asleep. Outside, a red-headed, young teenager, Kunoichi sits high on an old oak branch. She has longed but used this spot for many things. To be alone, to reflect. Today, it was to watch the beautiful pastel sunrise, and the horizon as golden as her eyes, that will shine on the Village she loves and protects. This girl is Mitsuha Yuotame.

Before long, the sun has risen, and it is time for the day to begin. From the house, Mitsuha can smell her mother's cooking has already begun. She jumps from the tall branch, landing gracefully into the grass, then runs inside. Harui Youtame, is cooking a wonderful big breakfast for the family, and the youngest child, Haruna, is happily assisting.

Today is special and rare, the Yuotame family is all together for the first time in nearly a year. The Third Great Shinobi War is raveging all the nations, putting each family member in specific roles to serve the Hidden Leaf, and the Land of Fire. One by one, the family members come out to the dining area, embracing each other's company.

Yoichi Yuotame, the head of the family, serves the Village as a Tokubetsu Jonin. He is often kept out of the battlefield whenever possible, and works with the Village elite to strategize for attacks and missions. The unique Kekkei Genkai that runs through his blood line, the Haregan, allows Yoichi to be both an important asset, and a target of other nations. He often works with the Uchiha Clan to strategize how non-dojutsu using shinobi can counter genjutsu attacks.

Yoichi's wife, Harui, the matriarch of the family, is in the medical corp. Harui has a unique and extensive knowledge of herbs used by surrounding lands. She stays in the village, working late nights to create medicines and counter agents to enemy poison. She has a unique amount of knowledge concerning what herbs are used by other nations for such things. She rarely uses her ninjutsu skills.

Now being from a nearly distinct line, you'd expect the Yuotame children to be kept out of the battlefield. However, war waits for no one, and the children of the Leaf Village are just as expected to serve their village. Koichi, the eldest, is a chunin of the Hidden Leaf Village. He is 17 years old, and serves in the front lines of the war. Out of all the children, so far he has seen the most casualties and costs of the war thus far. As a Haregan user, he is often targeted by enemies but proves to be the strongest of his siblings. His sheer strength and willpower alone prove him to be a formidable opponent. His chakra reserves allow him to show his skill in genjutsu, ninjutsu, and taijutsu. Koichi has matured very quickly into an experienced leader, not unlike his father. He so far fits the mold to be the next head of the Yuotame clan. He is also the lone sibling to inherit all of Yoichi's skills so far.

Haruna, the youngest, is a student at the Ninja Academy. When the 10 year old is not studying, or patrolling with other students, Haruna tends to the family estate. Being the youngest, and being kept out of combat, she is often alone. However, not unlike their mother, she has a gift for medical ninjutsu that was quickly picked up on by her instructor. When she isn't at school, she is home tending to the house and assisting her mother in using the family property to grow vast amounts of different medical herbs for the village ranks. Recently, there has been conflicting opinions among village leaders whether the next class of the Academy should take their exam early and join the ranks of the village as genin due to dwindling numbers and casualties. Haruna is the only Yuotame sibling that has not awoken the Haregan.

The twins, Mokoto and Mitsuha, now 12 years old, have both graduated from the Academy and have become chunin along with all of their class. Mokoto is on a reconnaissance team and has proved to be very smart and tactical. The point of this team is to serve on missions, and be trained to return alive with any enemy detail they learn. His teammates are Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi. After they both graduated from the Academy, they were placed on different teams. Mokoto hasn't lost his cocky attitude, but has gained more compassion and empathy as he's matured.

While the rivalry grew with Mitsuha's confidence, the twins have a healthier relationship than they did when they were little. It's still by no means perfect, and they often bud heads. Overtime, Mokoto has grown jealous of his sister's abilities and reputation as a prodigy in her own right.

Mitsuha is no longer the timid girl she once was. Over the years, Mitsuha grew confidence and ambition which seemed to drive her through her accomplishments. She was one of the first in her class to make genin, then chunin before Mokoto. Being the one of the first female Haregan wielders, Mitsuha had great expectations placed on her shoulders. She was often thought to lack the skills her older siblings did. Through hard work, and staying true to herself, she was able to defy odds and prove herself worthy of her power. When the war started, she rose even higher above expectations and has been able to prove herself a great resource to the village.

After Harui and Haruna bring out the feast they whipped up for the family, the two join the entire family for one of their last family meals.

"Thank you for the food!", everyone thanks in unison.

The three oldest begin to eat like they have never eaten before. While Yoichi can't help but laugh at the children, Harui looks disgusted.

"Where did your manners go?!", Harui says, hitting all their heads with the serving utensil. Haruna and Yoichi begin to laugh harder. Koichi nearly chokes on his food from this.

"We've been eating nothing but food pills, Mother", Mokoto shutters. "So many food pills and rice."

"Sometimes we don't even have time for rice", Koichi says, passing his bowl for more. "And nothing compares to your cooking Mom."

"Well, Haruna has been picking up her own cooking skills quite nicely", Harui smiles. "Something you three might get to experience if you were ever home during leisure time."

"It's not our fault", Mitsuha speaks up while eating like a madman. "We are expected to constantly be learning the intel the Village gathers throughout the missions."

"On top of constantly training, conditioning, and preparing for the next assignment", Mokoto adds. The twins almost simultaneously put the next big bite of the meal in their mouths. This makes Haruna giggle.

"You know Mitsuha", the student captures her sister's attention. "I think all those missions have made you very unladylike."

Mitsuha swallows and gets a little fiery in her seat. "Well I'm sorry I'm not in kunoichi etiquette classes anymore, like you. But I feel like I should be allowed to let loose while in my home." The family can't help but smile and be amused by how refreshing Mitsuha's snarkiness seems again. To the parents, it makes them grateful that their children don't seem to have their personalities taken away by combat.

"Speaking of which", Yoichi starts. "Haruna. How are your classes going?"

Haruna is perked up by Yoichi's interest. "I think it is going very well, Father! The sensei was very pleased by all the medicinal herbs I got to bring in from mom's garden."

"That's my girl", Yoichi encourages. "Mitsuha", Yoichi, grasps his eldest daughter's attention once again. "I understand you used some of your leisure time with your friend Kurenai. What did you two do?"

"We were training together, Dad!"

"Ugh- what?!", Mokoto chokes on his food. "Asuma and I wanted to train with Kurenai yesterday. She is our teammate after all."

"Mokoto, I've barely gotten to see her, you two will live." Mitsuha swallows.

As the children continued back and forth, the rest of the family continued in their own meals and conversations. The family laughs and simply enjoys each other's company. After the meal solemnly comes to an end, Mitsuha takes time to help their mother clean up. Yoichi heads back to the Village Headquarters. The boys begin preparing for their prospective missions. Haruna heads to the Academy.

Mitsuha and her mom take their time in the kitchen. The two rarely get to spend time together anymore so something as simple as cleaning up is a blessing to Harui. The two gab back and forth for a bit about many things. However this made Harui have a reality check, knowing this moment could be gone as soon as the next mission comes.

"You should start to spend more time with your younger sister", Harui begins while cleaning a dish off. "I know you two must really miss each other."

"I will try when I get time, Mother", Mitsuha kindly replies. "It's hard with our hectic mission schedule. The War has been taking up all of our time, and Haruna is still in the Academy, so she's always home."

"There will be more time as this comes to an end. Maybe she can start to teach you some of the recipes I've started to teach her", Harui continues. "After all, you will need to know how to cook when you start a family."

The subject makes Mitsuha pause. "Mom, I'm twelve", the girl chortles. "Besides, I love what I do. I enjoy protecting our comrades."

"I know you do, Mitsuha." Harui passes by her, continuing to clean up. "It's never too early to start learning skills though that will aid you later in life. After all, I wasn't taught these skills by my mother." Her tone is tired, but also melancholic. Mitsuha is even more shocked by this somber subject than the family comment.

Harui rarely even makes a comment about her family. The children don't know much about their mothers side. They don't know the family name, any memories of their mother's childhood, or even what they looked like. Every so often, Harui will get caught in a moment like this where she makes a vague comment about her family. One time, she had told Koichi that he often makes facial expressions that make him look like her sister. That was the first time that they heard Harui even had a sister.

Sometimes, the kids have even thought that it might be easier on her that they don't really take after their mothers side. Mokoto is nearly a carbon copy of Yoichi. Mitsuha doesn't hear it much, but she is often compared to her paternal grandmother, but with a richer red hair color, and the eye shape of their cousin. Koichi is often said to be the best of both parents, and has the lightest shade of red between the three oldest, as well as sharing the same dark blue eyes as Harui. Haruna looks the most like Harui, fair skinned, except her hair isn't the same bright orange. It's more burnt, as if it was a mixture of both parents.

Mitsuha often likes to look at their mother. She has some of the most distinguished features out of anyone in the village it seems. It almost makes her look like she's not meant to belong. However, this is often shrugged off because of her natural beauty. Mitsuha finishes clearing out the last of the dishes, and clears her throat before speaking.

"I don't think I'll ever have to worry about being a mom", Mitsuha chuckles.

"Hmmm…", Harui inquired, studying her daughter's face. "You mean to tell me you don't have any crush on a boy… or a girl? You're around the age where that type of stuff starts to naturally develop."

While many other children would be embarrassed by the inquiry, Mitsuha is confused and laughs at the notion. "Mother, I don't have time for stuff like that. Besides, I don't really understand the 'crush' thing. I think I'm beginning to learn what's important in life."

"Oh?", Harui puts down the dish. "What's important in life?"

Innocently, like the child she still is, she answers without a second thought. "Providing safety, and stability, for us and our Village."

Harui sighs in defeat. "Sometimes I forget how much like your brothers you really are. You know I met your father when we were 17. That's just 5 years away for the two of you, and right now for Koichi." Before Harui has a chance to continue, Mitsuha does her best to exit the conversation.

"Okay Mom! I don't want to hear the gross details about you and Dad!" Mitsuha runs off, making her mother laugh.

Mitsuha gets ready for her day quickly. Her general outfit is something that has become quite standard to her since the start of the war. Before the war, you could see Mitsuha in a loose, sleeveless teal outfit tied at the waist with stockings, black shorts, and sandals. You could see her coming from a mile away. Now, her standard outfit for missions consists of a red and white compression long sleeve shirt, with a chainmail shirt you can see in the v-neck of the top layer. She also wears green bike shorts underneath a short navy blue apron skirt, with chainmail leggings. Mitsuha wears a utility pouch on her thigh, and wraps her lower calf and ankle, from a sustained injury in the beginning of the war. Finally, she puts her bangs up in a hair tie, using her Leaf headband to cover her exposed forehead. Some parts of her outfit carry sentimental value to her. On her back, is the Yuotame clan emblem. On her wrist, she wraps the long chord Rin Nohara made for her when they entered the Academy.

Quickly, Mitsuha runs outside to join Mokoto. Mokoto and Mitsuha start stretching outside.

The two stretch with their usual small talk. They talked about the war, the damage, and Mitsuha's team's lack of jonin commandship.

"I overheard some of the jonin leaders talking the other day", Mokoto starts carefully. "There's been more casualties by the hour. Constant turn around, and strategy change. I wouldn't be surprised if you weren't going to be handed over to a tracking specialist."

Mitsuha bends backward, holding the first position of a back-walk-over. "We were. Tsume Inuzuka. She even taught us about summoning animals before she got placed elsewhere."

"Yeah, but you haven't made a contract", Mokoto grunts following his sister. Flexibility is not his strong suit. "I guess I'm just wanting you to be careful. Adapting to leadership and new mission tactics can be difficult."

Mitsuha follows her legs through the exercise. "I know, brother. The same goes for us all though." She shoots him a look that says stop talking about the topic. Talking about death wasn't something she wanted to talk about on such a good and rare family morning

The two finish silently. This morning felt weird to the twins. Mokoto isn't usually so worried about his sister's team, but it may be because of how Mokoto is being affected by the war. Maturing much faster than he should, like his sister and the rest of their comrades. He left the morning as it was, a great one.

Mitsuha leaves in the opposite direction as her brother. Down the road, at the entrance to the Hyuga family compound, a girl stands and waits. This girl is Hitomi Hyuga, a daughter of the main branch family, and the younger sister to Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga. Hitomi is a slender girl with a fair complexion. As a Hyūga, her most distinguishing trait is the Byakugan, giving her featureless white eyes. She has dark blue hair pulled back into two spiral braids on both sides of her head.

"Hitomi!", Mitsuha calls from down the road. Hitomi jogs to meet her half way, so the two may continue on together.

"Good morning, Mitsuha. You are a bit tardy, which is unlike you." Hitomi is a bit soft spoken, but is a nice balance when it comes to their team. The two continue walking out of the east district.

"I'm sorry, Hitomi", Mitsuha stretches. "I was warming up with Mokoto and we got caught in a conversation."

"Mokoto?", Hitomi blushes. The girl has had a crush on Mitsuha's twin for a while.

"Ahaha!", Mitsuha chuckles out loud. "It amazes me that out of everything in the world, my brother is what can make you from being calm and collected, to completely intangible."

"Oh quit picking on me", Hitomi reverted to herself.

"Oh my goodness, speaking of crushes-", Mitsuha starts before Hitomi jumps.

"You didn't tell him, did you?!", Hitomi squeals, beet red in the face.

"What? Of course not", Mitsuha reassures. "That's not my place." Hitomi deflates with relief.

"No my mother brought up crushes this morning", Mitsuha gags overdramatically. "As if."

The two girls had attended the Academy together. Their friendship didn't seem to blossom until they were placed on the same genin team together. Initially, Hitomi wanted to be placed on a team with Mokoto, and Mitsuha wanted to be on a team with Rin.

The two walk up to the door of their third teammate. Hitomi knocks on the wood, and moments later, a black haired woman opens and greets the girls.

"Good morning ladies", Mrs. Hoki greets. The girls bow in unison.

"Good morning Mrs. Hoki", Mitsuha politely says.

"We are here for Yukine", Hitomi added.

"Oh he is just finishing up. Yukine will be ready momentarily. So what's on the agenda today?"

"Well", Mitsuha starts. "We will be training with another team today. We still haven't been given a new jonin team leader."

"The village is becoming short on numbers unfortunately", Mrs. Hoki comments. "Who's team will you be training with today?"

"Minato-sensei and his team", Hitomi says cheerfully.

"Oh", Mrs. Hoki says disdainfully. Suddenly, a similar looking girl pops her head out of the doorway.

"Mitsuha! Hitomi!" This is Yukine's sister, Yue Hoki.

"Hi Yue!", the girls smile.

The girls make some small talk while waiting for Yukine. Yue looked up to Mitsuha and Hitomi as much as she did her brother. Yue is a recent Academy graduate, and unlike her brother, does not practice medical ninjutsu. The Hoki family practices a special type of jutsu that is not easily replicated, and Yue could use it well.

"I'm going to be going on my first mission next week!"

"Yue will bring honor to our family, just like Yukine", Mrs. Hoki proudly smiles. Soon Yukine runs out of the door, barely put together and tries to hurry his teammates away to get their day started. "Good morning guys, let's go please. I am sorry but we do not want to be late."

"Yukine!", Mrs. Hoki says to her son. "Be sure to stay away from that boy or your father will have a row!"

The three students cringe at the call, knowing full well who she means. The Hoki clan were among some others in the Leaf Village that the White Fang of the Leaf should be vilified in death as he was in life, as well as the prodigal son he left behind. While Yukine isn't as verbal about it, he does share the same sentiments that he was raised under. The three set out to meet Minato Namikaze and his team in the training fields.

When the war started, the three were placed on this specialty rescue team. The purpose of their team was to invade enemy territory undetected to rescue other Leaf shinobi. Besides the individualistic abilities of each team member, the shinobi that make up this team have gained the reputation of being able to handle themselves in the field should they be attacked. Hitomi Hyuga is a Byakugan user, Yukine Hoki, a gifted medical ninjutsu user, and Mitsuha Yuotame as a Haregan user. Over the course of the war thus far though, as the Leaf's numbers dwindled, the team's command leader has often been changed based on where the jonin were needed. While it's also happened to other teams, it seems to happen most to them. And right now, they are awaiting a new jonin leader.

When the leaderless team walks onto the grass field, the three can immediately see an adult with blinding yellow hair. It is Team Minato, led by jonin, Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash of the Leaf Village. Mitsuha could recognise the husband of her dear cousin Kushina from a mile away. Today, Team 9 was ordered to train with Team Minato in preparation for their prospective missions the following week. Since Team 9 is leaderless, Lord Third had ordered the accomplished team to train under the leadership of one of the Leaf's accomplished shinobi. The kids start running when the other team comes into view.

"Rin, my one!" Mitsuha takes off running for her best friend.

Yukine groans outworldly, already feeling taxed by his teammates' overwhelming attitude. "Geez, not this crap again."

Rin turns around, excited to see her friend. The war has often kept their whole class apart, and while Rin was lucky enough to be on a team with one of her best friends, she misses everyone else dearly. It's because of this Rin choses to have a bit of fun, and gives her all to the inside joke, having not seen her dear friend in weeks. "Mitsuha! My ONLY!"

The two run into each other's arms laughing joyously.

"Oh Rin! Rin! Where have you been?!", Mitsuha yells overdramatically. "Each time we depart it becomes longer and longer between each meeting. My heart can no longer bear it… Oh what to do?!"

"Mitsuha, my heart can barely bear it either!", Rin plays. "Each time we leave each other breaks my heart, but every time we reunite my heart grows 3 times its size with love for you. No, 5 or 10! No... 100 times its size! LET'S JUST LIVE TOGETHER AND NEVER PART AGAIN!"

"YES RIN!", Mitsuha jumps around until she brings both of them down. The two still can't help but laugh and bask in the moment of them reuniting. Their joy seems to radiate into the air. Minato can't help but laugh at the sight himself. It makes him smile to see that the kids haven't lost too much innocence yet. Obito himself smiles, and Hitomi chuckles. Hitomi turns to Obito.

"Betcha wished that were you with Rin, right?", Hitomi jokes in the spirit of things. Obito immediately blushes deep red and becomes embarrassed.

"Hitomi!", Obito shrieks. "I- I don't- shut up." Hitomi laughs even harder. With the two girls laying in the grass, the two most serious people from their prospective teams go in, and tower over them in annoyance.

"Are you two done?" Yukine brushes his hand through his black hair, giving them a look a parent gives their child when disapproving of their actions. Kakashi Hatake stands on the other side, towering over his own teammate. "This isn't the time for fun and games."

"Oh it's only good fun", Minato says cheerfully, walking up behind Kakashi and Yukine. "You two lighten up a bit."

Kakashi groans, looking up at the teacher he admires so much. "Sensei, you know as well as I do that if they do not take this seriously, how would they take a mission seriously. Shinobi do not have time for fun and games in War." The girls get themselves up, taking Kakashi's words seriously but not disdainfully.

"I mean, they're acting as carelessly as Obito", Kakashi adds.

Obito immediately turns on the offensive. "Hey! You are talking to the future Hokage. Start treating me with some respect!"

Everyone can see the annoyance in Kakashi's masked expression.

"I would if you did anything worth my respect. Instead of being late and making up lame excuses, how about owning up to your mistakes like a real shinobi!"

"That's enough", Minato says. "Now the purpose of today is to assess all 6 of you. Team 9, I will be focusing on you a bit more and reporting my observations to the command, and to who will be your next jonin leader." The kids all nod in agreement. "You will be doing one-on-one scrimmages. I will decide who will be against who. So to start us off, I want Mitsuha to go against Kakashi."

Somehow even though everyone expected this, it was still exciting to hear. Of the two teams, both were probably the most advanced in their groups of three. Kakashi is very perceptive and intuitive, quickly realizing situations for what they were. After his father's death, Kakashi became more stern, aloof and cold toward others, following all the rules to the letter, chastising any who disobeyed them and, as rumor has it, being willing to abandon his comrades to finish missions.

Mitsuha is much different than her counterpart. After Kakashi casted aside all of his friends, including her, the pain from losing her friend caused her to feel such strong emotions. This is what caused her Haregan to awaken. The pain was comparable to losing a friend to death. That day she made a promise to herself, and her father, that she wouldn't become consumed by the darkness grief can command a person. Mitsuha decided that she would uphold her ninja way to always be there for those that needed her. This nindo had led to Mitsuha obtaining an even stronger work ethic than before. Her hard work inspired her indomitable spirit and attitude. She became more confident, and enthusiastic. She is often compared to her friend, Might Guy, by their comrade for having a similar eccentric attitude. The Yuotame family often compares her to their cousin Kushina. The Village elite regularly recognize both children for their outstanding intellect. Kakashi has always been ahead of her, but nevertheless she is accomplished in her own right.

As Minato and the rest of the students move away from the center of the field, Mitsuha does a few more stretches around her knee and ankle from where a previous wound healed. Kakashi studies her, as this was something out of the ordinary.

"What are you doing?", he asks. "You're taking up time."

Mitsuha looks up at him. "I don't want to make my injury worse. Facing you, that could definitely happen." Mitsuha stands up and takes a deep breath. Kakashi's expression has grown more serious, as if he was silently preparing more than usual.

"Alright, I expect you both to give it your all, or else you'll never improve. However, I still expect you to treat each other like the comrades you are", Minato calls to all the students. "Begin!"

Immediately, Kakashi ducks below Mitsuha's line of sight with his kunai in hand. He moves to strike Mitsuha but she bends backward just as fast as Kakashi. He misses, and so starts their monitored battle. The two start out in kunai-to-kunai taijutsu combat.

The speed of the two is astonishing for their age. While Kakashi is faster then Mitsuha, she isnt a snail herself and puts in a lot of effort to keep up with her counterpart. However, she knows doing this can put her at an extreme disadvantage because she's overexerting so much physical energy to keep up. At some points, the other teens could swear they seem invisible. Minato, being faster than any other shinobi in the village, can keep up well. With every blow, the opponent counters. Both have taken the offensive approach, both aiming to overpower one another. Though Mitsuha isn't as fast as Kakashi, what allows her to maneuver so easily is the way she moves and fights. Mitsuha moves like fire dances. Free flowing and somewhat unpredictable.

Suddenly, Kakashi strikes Mitsuha's defense. She immediately goes into an offensive strategy though. Taijutsu. Her fire-like, unpredictable maneuvers allow Mitsuha to jump over Kakashi's strike and allow her to pull out the Yuotame original taijutsu technique, "Striking Lion's Fang". Mitsuha uses this technique to strike Kakashi's kunai out of his hand. Kakashi immediately backflips to put distance between the two of them. Mitsuha takes this to drop her own kunai and for the hand signs for the Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu. Kakashi forms hand signs faster than her though in anticipation for an attack like this and had already performed Earth Style: Mud Wall. The wall intercepts the water jutsu. Mitsuha charges straight for the attack, trying something new she had learned from her brother, hoping this will catch her opponent off guard. She pushes all of her chakra to her fist and punches the wall.

"HA!", she grunts as she shatters the earth wall. While all of the other kids are shocked at the display of strength, and Minato intrigued by the chakra control, it does not seem to phase Kakashi. He takes back the offensive strategy and goes head-to-head once again in taijutsu combat. After a short amount of time, Mitsuha begins to weaken due to the amount of chakra she had just expelled. Still she does not falter, but Kakashi continues to gain the advantage.

Realizing these two would go on forever, or until someone got hurt, he decides the winner already. He calls off the match.

"Alright that's enough", Minato walks out into the open. The two hop back on call. Mitsuha falls backwards on the ground, and even Kakashi has to take a breath. All of the younger shinobi in the viewing party can't help but be in awe of witnessing two similarly skilled shinobi lash it out as they've had. Both Obito and Yukine can't help but feel irritated about how much they're lacking behind their prospective teammates.

"At ease you two", Minato says, cooling down the heat from the match, and helping Mitsuha up off the ground. "Kakashi, you keep your will strong and determined. However, like we've talked about before, cockiness can be the fall of any great man."

Minato turns to Mitsuha. He can't help but think of how similar she is to his wife, Kushina. "Mitsuha, you need to turn down the burner on your flame. You'll burn out if you don't conserve your chakra. You'll be the one to fight again and show the correction."

Mitsuha starts laughing in agreement. "I'm sorry Minato-sensei. I got caught up in the fun." This is partially an excuse though.

Kakashi groans at her joy, and his annoyance shows in his expression. "You know you're supposed to take this seriously", the boy starts. "Were you even trying? You didn't even bother to use any genjutsu."

The others could barely believe that Mitsuha wasn't being serious during that. Mitsuha chuckles and smiles ambitiously. "I was thinking quickly in response to your speed. You're almost as fast as a bolt of lightning. I didn't see you using genjutsu either. Were you truly giving it your all?"

Kakashi becomes irritated once again. Not because she was annoying him, which she was, but because Mitsuha was just as correct as him. Kakashi felt challenged in that match that he normally doesn't get elsewhere. And Minato knows this.

"That's enough you two", Minato says, breaking the tension. "Neither of you were giving it your best. And that's because neither of you were willing to kill one another."

None of the kids spoke as their sensei's words echoed in the windy field.

"You all are expected to take this as seriously as you would on a mission. Make the peace sign and we will move on."

Mitsuha holds out her fingers first with her normal kind smile. Kakashi follows his sensei's instructions and completes the symbol. The two quickly let go.

"Obito!", Minato calls. Obito's back straightens and gulps. "It's your turn. Take Kakashi's place."

Kakashi walks back over to the other students while Obito hops into the middle of the field. Obito and Mitsuha face each other. The surrounding audience doesn't seem as captivated, knowing this match wouldn't be nearly as entertaining as the last. Still, Obito constantly looks for improvement, and facing Mitsuha was better than him sparring with Kakashi in his opinion. Obito and Mitsuha had spent time training with Rin and some of the others. About a year ago, Obito started to focus on awakening his sharingan. However, that has yet to happen, despite his efforts.

The young red head stands very confidently in the middle of the field, much more confident than against Kakashi, at least to Minato. She doesn't even bother to stretch her injury. Mitsuha twirls her kunai on her finger as Obito steps into the open.

"You better prepare", Obito boasts, grinning widely. "I'm not going to go easy on you either."

"I'm glad you're confident Obito", Mitsuha giggles. "Remember what Minato-sensei said though, if you're not prepared to kill me, then you won't win."

"Alright, start!", Minato yells.

Obito smirks. "This should both catch her off guard, and impress Rin." He starts to make his hand signs for the signature Uchiha fire jutsu.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Obito blows a large puff of fire uncontrollably. Mitsuha grins, running and jumping through the fireball, splitting it with her hands. This is something that catches Obito off guard and the two immediately engage in a taijutsu hand-to-hand combat.

Some yards behind Obito, Rin stands with the others. Rin is smiling at her friends, hoping they both do well no matter the outcome. Mitsuha does have the upper hand, but Obito is holding his own. If he had the sharingan, Obito would be able to predict her elusive moves. Rin turns her attention to the others, or more importantly, Kakashi. He is standing in a typical fashion, arms crossed and such. She often wonders what goes through his head. What his thoughts are. But something peculiar stands out to Rin.

Normally, Kakashi wouldn't bother to look at this match. But he is. He looks a little less bothered than usual. In a way, he even looks a little calm. Rin deduces that Kakashi isn't just watching Obito in this match though. His eyes seem to follow Mitsuha and her strategy.

"I wish he would watch us like that, however I know Mitsuha is much more near his level then us. Maybe he is watching Obito and how he will react to Mitsuha's strength."

Everyone can see how Mitsuha could end the match if she wanted to. She's controlling her movements around Obito's abilities, and not the match.

"She's going easy on him, allowing him to give it his all. If she gave it her all, she could hurt Obito. She has self control, and wants Obito to learn from this."

Mitsuha kicks it up a notch and starts backing Obito in a corner with her kunai attacks.

Eventually the rest of the kids get paired up based on the winners of the previous match. First was Kakashi and Mitsuha, next was Mitsuha and Obito, followed by Obito and Hitomi, then Hitomi and Rin, next Rin and Yukine until it was finally back to Kakashi to match Yukine.

The two don't say a word to one another before their match begins. It's filled with awkward silence. Yukine hesitates because of his mother's words to him earlier about not being near Kakashi. Kakashi though is fully aware of what the Hoki family thinks of him. Like other people in the village who hate him because of the association between Kakashi and his father.

"Begin!", Minato calls.

Kakashi, wanting this to be over quickly, puts his palm to the ground.

"Earth Style: Mud Wave!", Kakashi performs.

Yukine, not strong with earth style jutsu manages to pull one out of his sleeve before the effects of the disorienting wave.

"Earth style: Heel Lock!", Yukine acts, allowing his feet to be locked stable to resist the ripple. Suddenly Kakashi uses his wicked speed and performs a shadow clone jutsu. Kakashi and his shadow clone maneuver the waves gracefully, centering in on Yukine. The shadow clone flips over Yukine and holds him from his backside. All this while Kakashi uses his speed to catch Yukine from the front, placing his kunai against Yukine's throat, winning the match.

"That couldn't have lasted more than a minute", Obito exclaims. "Maybe less!"

"Kakashi's so fast!", Rin follows.

Mitsuha stays silent, having kept her eyes on Kakashi the entire match. She takes a deep breath, not exclaiming or critiquing the match. "Kakashi didn't give Yukine room to even try and improve from his match with Rin. Kakashi wanted the match over and done with, as if it was a waste of his time. Yukine didn't stand a chance."

"End of match!", Minato calls.

Kakashi's shadow clone poofs. Yukine frustratingly pushes Kakashi off of him as soon as the pressure of the kunai left his throat.

"That wasn't fair Kakashi!", Yukine shouts. "You didn't fight fair!"

Kakashi turns back toward Yukine, with the same disinterested annoyed look on his face. "Life isn't fair. Any match you go into on the field won't be fair Yukine. You need to get better. Since you're on a team with more strength and brains then you, take a page out of their book and learn."

Yukine growls but can't retort. He knows he is not a skilled fighter like Kakashi, but he'll never admit it. Even though Yukine is exceptionally more skilled at medical ninjutsu then Kakashi, it won't make up for his speed and skill. Yukine looks back at the girls on his team, desperately hoping they'd back him up, but they don't. Ultimately Kakashi is correct, enemies won't play fair, and fight to kill.

"Okay guys, thats enough", Minato starts. "Make the peace sign, and we will move on."

Kakashi hold his fingers out as told by his sensei. Yukine, still angry, hesitates. Instead of finishing the sign of comradery, he swats Kakashi's hand away and storms off.

"No! I'm done", Yukine spits walking off the scene.

"Yukine!", Hitomi tries to keep Yukine. Mitsuha puts a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"We need to let him cool off", Mitsuha assures her friend. "He will be okay, and apologize later."

Minato sighs. "He has good team work, but when it comes to Kakashi, Yukine seems like a completely different person. I suppose it can't be helped to a fault though. Yukine's father will give him hell when he figures out he didn't come close to Kakashi in the match, just like every other time before."

Minato too knows of the Hokis' disdain for the White Fang, and Kakashi. So much so that Yukine's father wants his heir to be better than Kakashi. Instead of putting Yukine's confidence in his advanced medical ninjutsu skills, he scolds his son over all the things he doesn't excel at.

Minato looks up to see a circling hawk in the classic message for the jonin to all meet with the Hokage and Council.

"Right now?", Minato thinks to himself. "I thought this would wait."

Minato walks into the group of remaining students. "Change of plans guys. I want you guys to continue your day conditioning and preparing for your next missions. Mitsuha and Hitomi, go grab Yukine and deliver the order."

"Where are you going sensei?", Obito asks.

"I have to go meet with Lord Hokage", Minato says, putting his fingers to his chin, leaving a smoke cloud in the place of his body.

Minato goes straight to the room where the jonin will be conferring. When he walks in trailing other jonin, most of them are there and sitting in their seats. Minato goes to the front as he knows he will be called upon to speak. The jonin assemble before Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Council, one by one. Shikaku Nara, the young newly appointed Jonin Commander with a devilish intellect, takes a seat in the front. Minato is seated beside him.

"Good", Lord Third says, nodding at Minato. "We can start now."

The jonin assembly goes silent.

"We've assembled you all for an important assessment", Lord Third starts. "As you know, we are reaching a point in the war where the tides can turn in any direction. As things stand now, we are losing the war. We have lost many comrades and great citizens of the Leaf to this war. But as you know we have a chance to turn the tides in our favor."

Yoichi Yuotame sits up straight as he is part of the strategy team responsible for formulating the plan that Lord Third is about to say. "Many important missions will be commencing during these next two weeks. If we pull them off, the war will quickly deescalate, and we may be able to go into peace talks with the other lands. However, we do not have enough leaders to lead our teams."

"Many great shinobi were lost amongst the vast casualties", Homura continues. "We are running out of mission leaders as we are spreading them too thin. We don't even have enough to lead our next generation teams of genin and chunin."

"We are in the unique position of having two young chunin, both clever and hard working. It is this council's will that either Kakashi Hatake or Mitsuha Yuotame will become a jonin, and join you all in leading the war efforts." The words echo out of Lord Third's mouth capturing Yoichi's attention. Even Minato finds it hard to believe that his students are already being considered for a jonin promotion.

The group erupts with chatter between one another. Jonin are generally highly experienced and highly skilled shinobi who serve as military captains. They are generally able to use at least two types of elemental chakra. It is not unusual for jonin to go on missions alone. They are often sent on A-rank missions, and if experienced enough, S-rank missions as well, which are considered to be the greatest difficulty.

"We've lost too many jonin in this war, and we need to recognize genius as it appears", Lord Third states to the jonin.

"They're just kids", Chouza Akimichi says. "Don't let both of them lose their innocence more than what damage has already been done to their generation. Neither of them are truly ready. I think Yoichi won't want his eldest daughter to be put in such a daunting role at her age."

"We are losing leaders by the day", another says. "If the council thinks they are capable, then who are we to disagree? We need more like these two, and putting them in a rank may inspire more of the next generation to earn their places as jonin too. Like that kid, Might Guy. That kid has the best work ethic out of this class of chunin."

"Kakashi Hatake is the only one of the two that should be promoted", Danzo says, having kept quiet. "Both children are exceptional in skill and intellect there can be no argument, but lest we forget that Mitsuha Yuotame is one of the last Haregan users left, and the only female user, in her bloodline. Kakashi has the stern attitude needed to be a jonin. Making decisions in the best interest of the village and being able to lead are exactly what is needed to fulfill this role. These are traits Mitsuha simply does not have yet."

"Kakashi isn't ready either", Yoichi unexpectedly starts up.

The group seems surprised and rightfully so. Even the council is caught off guard when Yoichi speaks up.

"I am sorry for speaking out of turn, but Kakashi has a lack of compassion and empathy. We aren't raising killers. Hell, the only one that's been raising him, besides himself, has been his sensei Minato", Yoichi starts. "I agree with Chouza. However, I do recognize that we need to do whatever we need to to win this war. I cannot speak in here as a father though. Are you, the council firmly determined on taking from the chunin class?"

The council all looks at each other in a silent understanding. Though they didn't want to reap from the younger generation, they have no choice.

"Yes", Lord Third's voice echos.

Yoichi sighs. "Then I withdraw my vote of confidence as a jonin in this matter. You cannot ask this of me as Mitsuha's father."

"Understood, you have no vote in this matter", Danzo finishes with minimal chatter amongst the group. The council foresaw this, with absolute understanding. Even Hiruzen thought to himself that he would not want to make that decision for his children.

"Minato Namikaze", Lord Third starts. "You have had ample time to access both Kakashi and Mitsuha. What are your thoughts?"

Minato takes a moment to gather his thoughts, and of everything that has just been said.

"Both children have much more growing to do. While Kakashi is the smartest out of the shinobi his age, Mitsuha rivals it. They both lack in skills the other makes up for. However, I have more time with Kakashi. With his nature, I am confident in his skills as a shinobi, and I am just as confident in what he will become."

Yoichi sighs.

Minato continues. "He still has much to learn, putting more responsibility on him may exceed his growth as a person. While I say all of this though, Mitsuha will become an excellent jonin soon enough. She excels in her empathy and communication, maybe both of them should be considered if we are truly aching for jonin."

"You make a fine point", Lord Third says. "If we are all in agreement on Kakashi Hatake, what about Miss Youtame?"

"I'm still not convinced", Koharu starts. "I agree with Danzo. She is the only female within the Haregan users, and while a great asset Yoichi's children are, they must also be protected at all costs so they may continue their line."

"Well hold on now", Homura starts unexpectedly. "If we are so divided on this, why not test the girl."

"What are you suggesting?", Danzo inquires.

"The special team this girl is on is currently leaderless", Homura starts again. "Let the girl lead their team on their next mission, just like we plan for Kakashi. It will allow us to better understand her skill, and help us make the decision on how she will serve the rest of the war."

"Wait", Yoichi thinks. "But that'll mean that my daughter will be leading the supply camp mission. Crucial, deadly, in the heart of our enemy. This should not be the test to determine her future! How dare they?!"

Yoichi starts to hyperventilate at the thought of his daughter leading an extract and destroy mission, with every possibility of death and failure. He wants to voice his opposition, knowing on the chance his daughter should fail, she would be dead and ostracized for her failure. But if she were to succeed, there would be no limit to her potential. Yoichi dares to defy the council's orders, but suddenly remembers his place in having no decision in the matter. He slunks back down silently, beating himself up over the decision he put his daughter in.

"Well", Hiruzen starts. "Sounds like the decisions have been made. Let us depend on the new generation, and put our faith in them as we do with each other."

A couple days later, the day started like most others during the war. Koichi is on a mission, Haruna having already gone to the Academy, while Mitsuha and Mokoto prepare for their days as well. Rin had asked them both to meet up in a courtyard near the Academy. Mokoto leaves to meet up with his teammates, as they were asked to be there as well. Mitsuha takes the time to walk by herself.

She reflects on the scrimmaging from the other day. "While I was putting effort against Kakashi, I did hold back by not using skills associated with my Haregan. However, he held back too. Minato sensei even said so. But why would he?"

She gets so lost in thought, that before she knows it, Mitsuha makes it to the courtyard. No one else is there, except Obito with his back turned to her. She slyly takes this opportunity to mess with him. She walks behind him and scares him.

"Ahh!", he squeals in surprise. He quickly hides something behind his back before she could see it. "Mitsuha?! What are you doing here?" Obito looks red in the face.

Mitsuha giggles. "Whatcha got behind your back, Obito?" She darts her head behind his back and sees a bouquet of flowers. Obito mumbles hysterically trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Why are you here Mitsuha?!"

"Rin asked me to come here", Mitsuha says. She had caught on by now how Obito felt about Rin but she had never seen him express it. Mitsuha feels like she was about to be an unwanted third wheel.

"What?!", Obito exclaims. Mitsuha realizes now that Obito had thought Rin wanted to meet him alone but everyone was about to converge on their location.

"Obito", she starts. "Rin told many of us to meet her here. I bet they're not far behind me."

Obito looks panicked and disappointed at the same time. Frozen when he hears laughter from down the way, he doesn't move. Mitsuha kindly takes the flowers out of his hand and puts them under the nearby bench.

"Give these to Rin after this meeting, when you can get her alone again", she reassures him.

"Wait… do you know?", Obito asks defeatedly. What he is really asking Mitsuha is if she knows about his feelings for Rin.

"I don't know anything, I didn't see anything", Mitsuha states hoping it would bring back some of his confidence.

Obito wants to confess to Mitsuha about how in love he is with his best friend, and he wanted to know how she felt. Obito figured that if anyone would know, it'd be Mitsuha. But he couldn't because his heart begins to hurt at the possibility that Mitsuha would tell him how much she loves Kakashi, as he suspects. Mitsuha does know that Rin cares for Obito in a way that's greater than her understanding.

Before anything could come out, more of their comrades begin to join them until finally, Rin shows up last. She stands near the tree focusing everyone's attention on herself.

"I'm so glad you've all come!" Rin smiled ear to ear. Her radiance and joy shined as bright as the sun. "As you may have heard, Kakashi is going to be promoted to a jonin!"

The subtle talk started from the whole group. This shocked Mitsuha though, so much that she is speechless. Obito stands on the opposite side of the crowd, as shocked as Mitsuha seems. It is the first time hearing it, for either teen. Obito feels embarrassed. Mitsuha is completely stunned and doesn't know how to react.

"I should be happy for him. I am happy for him. But- why do I feel so bleak?", Mitsuha thinks to herself. She puts her head down taking a split second to hide her apparent emotions. But in that split second, her brother saw her shock and deduces that she was disappointed in herself. The group decides to go to the shopping district dumpling stand, all talking about various things. Everyone kind of splinters off in their own talking groups but Mitsuha sticks to the back of the group.

"So?", Rin sings catching up to Mistuha as the group heads to the dumpling stand. "What are you going to get Kakashi?"

"Hmmm?", Mitsuha breaks thought blankly. "I was just thinking about my mother's medicines from our herb garden, maybe."

Rin makes a weird face. Mitsuha looks at her confused.

"What?", she asks innocently.

"For as much as you support him, giving him medicine as a celebratory gift seems very dull", Rin says trying to understand where Mitsuha's head is right now, because it's certainly not with the lot of them.

"Well if you have any suggestions I'm all for it. Kakashi is very practical though, and by the book. I would think he would actually use the medicine in the field right?"

"Well get more creative!", Rin encourages. "Gifts like these are supposed to be personal, and from the heart." Rin started to blush just at the thought of giving Kakashi what she had prepared. "I'm giving him a first aid kit, and sew a protective amulet inside for good luck. So he will always be safe."

Obito overhears from behind, as his heart breaks just a little bit more. Suddenly he remembered he forgot the flowers, and cannot turn back now without cause for suspicion from the rest of the group. They all make it to the dumpling shop. Each of the kids are in their groups, more or less with their teams, except Mitsuha's team. Mitsuha kind of sits to the side quietly until Guy moves next to her.

"You're quiet", he inquires.

Mitsuha gives him a simple smile. "I am sorry. I am happy for Kakashi but I guess I'm disappointed."

"Disappointed that you weren't promoted? Or disappointed that Kakashi beat you to it?"

Mitsuha is caught off guard by the seriousness in Guy's voice. "I'm disappointed in myself, I guess. Aren't you?"

"HA!", Guy exclaims. "Every time Kakashi surpasses me I jump that much further ahead in motivation. After all, he is my rival! He and I will forever be jumping ahead of one another but I will always make sure to be a step in front of him." He chomps down on a dumpling.

"I wonder, would I have been made a jonin if I were more stern? Like today going easy against Obito, was that a mistake?" Mitsuha ponders.

"The day you do become a jonin, it'll be because you are you", Guy assures her. "Kakashi is a great shinobi, but so are you. You need to find your own way toward your goal, as you've always done."

Mitsuha chuckles at how insightful her friend is. "Thanks Guy."

Suddenly, Yukine, who had been listening to the conversation the entire time, speaks.

"God when will you finally stop talking about the damn guy?" The whole shop goes quiet. While the former classmates all know Yukine's family's views on the Hatake family, they never saw him verbally express pure disdain for the boy. Mitsuha speaks up.

"Yukine, lighten up", Mitsuha says concerningly. "I know you're not the biggest fan of Kakashi, but it's not like you to be spiteful. Just let it be water under the bridge." Yukine is jealous at the way Guy talks about Kakashi, and how he feels Mitsuha is deflecting his feelings. He quickly becomes bitter and quick tongued.

"You're one to talk Mitsuha. Every time you talk about him, I lose a little respect for you. It's unfortunate because for someone with eyes such as yours, you really are blind to the truth." Yukine stands and gets in her space.

"What is that supposed to mean?", Asuma asks.

"She's always been chasing Kakashi in his footsteps", Yukine starts coldly. "We all know it."

Yukine turns his attention back to Mitsuha directly. "You became a genin when Kakashi became a genin. Then you both chased down chunin as fast as you could. You lost to Guy in the chunin exams semi-finals, though. So Kakashi became a chunin before you. You chased that down during the next exams though, of course. Now that he's becoming a jonin, I'm willing to bet you will chase after that as well."

"It's not a race, Yukine", Hitomi starts trying to calm her teammate down.

Yukine ignores his other teammates' words. "Mitsuha, come on, it's obvious that you want to surpass Kakashi. So quit acting like you care about him already when you're using him as a means to an end."

Mitsuha slams her dumpling stick down on the table, piercing the wood. She stands and turns toward her teammate, looking visibly pissed off. The tension rises and puts everyone on edge.

"Yukine, this conversation doesn't need to go any further", Mitsuha states in an intimidating tone. Her hair starts to flare in a similar fashion to her cousins. He doesn't stand down though, and instead gets inches away from her face.

"Why do you always defend him?", Yukine asks with a snarl, and a bit of hurt in his voice. His expression turns mean and boastful, as Mitsuha's seems unbreakable. "Why do you go to bat for the boy who is probably going to betray the Village one day? Just like his father."

Mitsuha is enraged at this point. Her fist immediately clenches at the sound of his words. Just when she could feel herself losing the grip on her emotions, Mitsuha feels a firm hand holding her wrist back. Rin could immediately see where this could have escalated to and interjects before anything could occur. She places herself in between the two.

"This isn't the way two comrades should behave. Must you two forget we are in a war?'', Rin asks. Rin's worrying look is unwavering for anyone to see due to her gentle nature. That same nature takes over Rin's demeanor, as she puts a smile on her face, with a love tone in her voice.

"We all have missions coming up, and the last thing this village needs is two of their chunin to be at odds."

Mitsuha spent a moment looking at Rin with all her pent up anger. Mitsuha turns away from the whole group, disappearing instantaneously without a word, knowing she needs to cool off. Rin turns back toward Yukine, who looks just as pissed as Mitsuha did, but now focuses on Rin. Yukine gets in her face. "You had no right to interject Rin!"

Obito immediately pulls Rin back from Yukine's verbal fire, and takes his stance in front of him.

"Don't talk to Rin like that!", Obito demands. Yukine scoffs at the Uchiha child. The rest of the kids are still on edge.

"You know we aren't supposed to talk about the White Fang, Yukine", Asuma comments backing Obito up.

"You need to leave it alone, and focus on keeping your teamwork." Guy tries to intervene and calm the situation down like Rin, but only escalates things.

"Shove off, Guy!", Yukine yells, pushing him away. "You're just as bad and probably part of the influence!"

Like nearly the whole village, they don't talk about Sakumo's suicide. It's taboo to most of them, having ostracized one of the greatest shinobi. Yoichi Yuotame will occasionally mention the fond memories he has for his old friend, but very rarely. Mitsuha doesn't mention him for Kakashi and Yoichi's sake.

Yukine scoffs as his teammate continues to walk away, taking it as a sign of weakness.

"You're being pathetic!", Yukine yells boastingly. "She would be much more respectable if she didn't show so much meaningless attachment. At least I can agree with Kakashi on that."

"Hey!", Mokoto snaps, standing up and slamming his fist down. "Don't you dare talk about my sister that way", he growls in a low tone. Some of the boys go to calm Mokoto down, but Yukine smirks, getting the reaction he wanted.

"Why? He's the son of a literal traitor!", Yukine barks. As mean as he is coming off, Yukine is unfortunately the product of his environment. Some of the other genin know this, while others are still too naive to understand. Yukine's parents are very patriotic toward the Leaf, and look at Sakumo's mission failure very personally. They passed on this toxic ideology to their own son. This toxicity, in combination with Yukine's sour arguments with Kakashi only amplifies his disdain for the boy genius.

"Why does she care so much about a boy that doesn't care in the slightest for her?!", Yukine points out to everyone's dismay. Everyone of the kids there knew that Mitsuha would stick up for every one of them, even Yukine. It's part of her ninja way. "Doesn't she see that she has us and doesn't need Kakashi's stupid approval?!"

Hitomi pulls Mokoto back, and he stands down. "Shut up Yukine. You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Enlighten me then", Yukine nags at the Yuotame boy.

"You seem to have forgotten what Kakashi was like before his father died", Anko states with her signature attitude.

Yukine scowled at Anko. "I didn't have to. Kakashi always felt like he was above us since we started at the Academy."

"That's nothing new", Obito laughs. "The guy's a genius, as much as I hate to admit it." Rin looks at him. She knows he's laughing it up because she's there, but feels that he really does respect Kakashi. Obito really feels similar to Yukine, however Yukine takes it to another level because of his parents' influence. "However, the two are friends to Mitsuha. And if you ask her she will never say they're not."

"Just like all of us do", Rin declares proudly.

"You all are deplorable", Yukine remarks. "Kakashi Hatake has always been a self centered jerk!"

"No he hasn't", Mokoto blurts. "He really wasn't like this before his father…". Mokoto couldn't get the words out he wanted. He knew they weren't supposed to bring it up, and Mokoto didn't want to bring up painful history.

"Look", Mokoto starts. "I'm not a fan of Kakashi either. But judging a kid based on his fathers actions? Maybe that's why you two don't get along. Besides, you need to be focusing on the most important thing right now. The war." Mokoto's mature tone and words bring sadness to the entire group, even Yukine. Each one of the kids there has had to grow up early to contribute in this war. Each one of them has lost their innocence, and will continue to do so.

Yukine doesn't let go though. He turns toward Obito. "You agree with me don't you, Obito?"

"Wouldn't you want someone like Mitsuha to care about you unconditionally?", Obito asks Yukine. "Well she does, and you know that. That's why you get so defensive, because you don't like it when she gives it to someone you cannot stand. Maybe we should all be a little more like her. Because she treats us all, with care and compassion. I think that's what truly makes her ahead of the game."

Yukine couldn't retort, because Obito was right. Obito looked through him and saw more truth than he had spoken. The truth was, Yukine couldn't stand the thought of Mitsuha thinking of Kakashi so highly, because he wanted her to think of him higher than anyone else. Yukine loves Mitsuha.

Unknown to everyone is that Kakashi is on the roof above, having listened to every word.


Just a short time later, Minato walks from the Academy, having just received his Team's next operation. On his way home to Kushina, Minato sees a familiar young kunoichi with hair as rich as his love's. Mitsuha Yuotame had left her friends after the altercation a short time ago, and had been trying desperately to calm down. Mitsuha had a worried look on her face, it wasn't as lively as Mitsuha was known to look. This didn't surprise Minato though. Afterall, they're in a war, and it didn't stop for the children of the Leaf, no matter how smart or innocent they may be.

Just as Minato was about to turn away in a separate direction, he saw the silvery hair shine of his own student. What surprises Minato is that Kakashi was looking directly at Mitsuha, from yards away in a tree.

"Huh?", Minato exclaims. When Minato contemplates whether to grab Kakashi's attention, Kakashi speedily hopes to the rooftop beside the tree as Mitsuha walks on.

"Kakashi's following Mitsuha?"

Minato turns in the opposite direction, grinning. He had seen Kakashi follow Rin, and even Obito home before, but not Mitsuha. It didn't surprise Minato though. While he knew his pupil didn't make it a priority to make attachments, he knew Kakashi respected Mitsuha and her ability above others. Minato thinks of the two as friends with one another, one of Kakashi's only friends.

Kakashi makes it a priority that Mitsuha not pick up on this. It was after her altercation with Yukine that he felt compelled to make sure she made it home safe, even though he knew he didn't need to. And this messed with his head. Kakashi tries to avoid situations like this purposefully.

Once Mitsuha makes it past the compound entrance, Kakashi turns around and starts to make the trek back to his place.

Much to Kakashi's surprise, a familiar figure walks down the path in his direction. Obito, carrying flowers in one hand and scratching his head with the other. The two lock eyes with one another, both flustered to see each other so suddenly.

"What are you doing, Obito?", Kakashi asks, analyzing the flowers in Obito's hand.

Obito lets out a nervous chuckle. "I am making a stop at Mitsuha's. She helped me out today and I wanted to say thank you. You know she lives down this path."

Kakashi stood speechless not knowing what to say. Obito begins to understand that he had in fact, came down this path but did not know the purpose.

"I would expect those to be for Rin. Not Mitsuha", Kakashi states warily with an attitude.

Obito immediately becomes defensive. He in no way wants Kakashi running to Rin that he brought flowers to Mitsuha. But at the same time, Obito wondered why it would be bad to give flowers to someone, just as a friend. He did want to do something nice for Mitsuha. She treats Obito with respect and he genuinely considers her a friend.

"I just wanted to do something nice. Not like you would know anything about that", Obito remarks.

This lit an unexpected fuse in Kakashi. He immediately gets as defensive, if not more, then Obito had just been. "Are you kidding me? I just followed-!" He stopped himself from admitting what he had done. He didn't recognize himself at that moment. He only acknowledged that he was about to give Obito the impression that he held her as an attachment. This was something he could not allow himself to do, nor did he believe any other shinobi should burden themselves with.

Kakashi sighs. "When will you learn Obito?", Kakashi asks with contempt. "Having 'friends' will only hold you back and bring you nothing valuable to being a shinobi."

Obito whips around. "When will you learn that you're a jerk Kakashi! I don't pretend you aren't, and I don't know if you and I will ever see eye-to-eye on anything, but if you truly think pushing away the few people who care about you will make you stronger and smarter, then you're the dumbest person I know! I pity the day when you finally figure it out, because by then it'll be too late."

Obito whips back around and continues to head toward the Yuotame residence, leaving Kakashi speechless and bitter.

"I don't need anyone", Kakashi thinks in his bitterness. He turns around and runs off.

At the Yuotame estate, Mitsuha lays on her bed, exhausted and disheveled. She had barely said a word to her mother and sister, while Mokoto and Yoichi were still out.

Obito nervously knocks on the door. Harui opens it and looks down at Obito, but focuses on the flowers he's holding. Her inner mother was freaking out, knowing he couldn't be here for Mokoto, and yet confused knowing that Mitsuha was much too high strung to have a "boyfriend". Still she kept her cool and addressed Obito.

"Hello Obito", she says warmly. "This is a surprise. What are you doing here so late shouldn't you be home?"

Obito chuckles nervously. "I was hoping to talk to Mitsuha."

Harui steps outside the door.

"Can you tell me what happened first?", she inquires. "Mitsuha isn't usually so silent."

"No… I don't think I can", Obito says uncomfortably. "Yukine- well- we aren't allowed to talk about Kakashi's dad."

Harui made her own deductions from Obito's short statement. Harui knew of Yukine's family resentment toward the White Fang and his son. Something she nearly allowed herself to do shamefully years ago. Before Harui can say another word, Mitsuha opens the door behind her mom.

"Mom? OBITO?!" Mitsuha sees the flowers in Obito's hand and her mom veins to make a smile.

"Obito came for you my dear, and look at the lovely flowers he brought you!" Harui squeals joyfully.

"Oh my goodness Mom", Mitsuha blushes, closing the door behind her mother, having pushed her inside out of embarrassment. "What is this Obito? Are you here to scold me?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you just want to go for a walk."

This surprises Mitsuha. Obito and Mitsuha had met through Rin before they had even entered the Academy. The two had hung out together often over the years, whether it be with Rin or other classmates of theirs. The friends had even trained together but never had Obito asked to be alone with Mitsuha. It spikes her curiosity greatly.

"Sure", she says with a breath of relief.

The two begin walking until they get through the village, where society was moving as per usual.

"So why did you want to have a walk with me?", Mitsuha inquires.

"I wanted to talk to you about today", Obito starts. Because for the first time, I saw you angry."

Mitsuha can't help but chortle. "Are you kidding? How long have you known me for Obito?"

"You are very eccentric, to say the least", Obito says carefully, reflecting on the many times Mitsuha knocked him over the head for something stupid. To Obito, Mitsuha is many things. Eccentric, headstrong, but at the same time, Mitsuha is caring and confident. "You're tactical and sharp. But I've never seen you genuinely and purely angry, until today."

"Something Yukine said caught me off guard", Mitsuha begrudgingly struggles to admit. "He's not one to be spiteful."

"What did Yukine mean, when he called Kakashi's father a traitor? That's what made you so mad isn't it? Who was Kakashi's father?"

"We are forbidden from talking about that Obito. Why are you asking all of this? You don't even like Kakashi", Mitsuha pressures her friend.

"Because I don't understand!", Obito explodes. "I need to understand why you and Rin think so highly of someone that doesn't care about us. I'm starting to believe that he doesn't care about anything other than being better than everyone. He never thanked Rin for the multiple times she's saved his life on missions with her medical ninjutsu. He's always criticizing me, and is constantly condescending about how a shinobi should behave. And you… Mitsuha, he's attacked you for just trying to help him, or have you forgotten? He's never going to see any of us as equals."

Mitsuha turns around. Obito, expecting another intense reaction, prepares for any backlash. Mitsuha walks closer to him, calm and somewhat reserved, as if she's been preparing her words for years. Much to Obito's surprise, she wraps her arms around Obito, embracing him and calming him down as well. She speaks softly.

"I know what you think. I know you may never change your mind about Kakashi. But please don't think he doesn't care about people. I wish I could tell you what happened back then. However, I don't understand it myself." Mitsuha displays complete vulnerability to Obito now, a rare occurrence.

"What makes you think he cares about anyone other than himself?"

"Because he's a shinobi. At the end of the day, he chose to be one like the rest of us. To protect the village, its people, and everything we hold dear." She believes in these words.

"I don't think we will see eye to eye on this, but thank you for telling me", Obito says with a tiny bit more understanding than before.

Mitsuha pulls herself back together, becoming more back to normal now to Obito. "Protect our comrades on your mission Obito. When we get back, we can do some more training. After all, if you want to become Hokage you'll need all the help you can get to awaken those sharingan of yours!"

Obito smiles his signature grin. The one that seemed to make others smile.

"You can be on that Mitsuha!", Obito says.

The two friends part ways, but this would be the last time they interact.


That next morning started bright and very early. Teams are going to get their next missions and Team 9 hopefully gets another jonin leader with it. Rin makes her way to the Yuotame compound.

Rin finds Mitsuha training on the Yuotame family property, alone. Mitsuha is throwing shuriken and kunai at a practice target. Rins walks up the path, interrupting Mitsuha's throw.

"Rin?", Mitsuha pants. "What are you doing here?" She throws another shuriken at the mangled target. Rin sits somewhere behind Mitsuha to avoid being in the line of fire.

"You were pretty mad, back at the dumpling shop", Rin inquires. "I don't think I've ever seen you like that."

"Well, there's a first for everything", Mitsuha throws. "If you're here to lecture me don't worry I already got one."

"I'm not here to lecture you", Rin states. "However I do think you need to calm the tension with Yukine before your mission."

Mitsuha breathes in before her next throw. "Yukine isn't acting like a Leaf shinobi. He needs to get over his personal feelings."

"I think Yukine is jealous of how differently you treat him and Kakashi." Rin looks curiously at Mitsuha, as if she's trying to see through her soul.

"I don't treat them that differently", Mitsuha defends. "I've tried to ignore Yukine's family's ideals before but he took it way too far. If Kakashi had heard what he said, I don't think anyone could've stopped him from engaging him."

"Yukine only wants your acknowledgement", Rin buds. "He wants you to think of him as highly as you do Kakashi."

"Maybe if he treated us that way, I would", Mitsuha retorts with an attitude. "Besides, it's not that I think highly of Kakashi. I just don't like how misunderstood he is."

Rin chuckles. "Mitsuha, for a kunoichi as smart as you are, are you really that oblivious?"

Mitsuha stops her drill and gives Rin a confused look. She hasn't no idea what her best friend is insinuating.

"Yukine likes you." Rin observes Mitsuha tripping over her footing, having been distracted by the notion.

"That's ridiculous!" Mitsuha chokes. "I would notice. We spend all of our time together. I'm not blind."

"You are completely blind to it! And if I could guess", Rin clenches from her seat. "I'd say it's because you like Kakashi." Mitsuha misses her target. Rin can hear the hilt in her breath.

"I don't like anyone like that", Mitsuha states adamantly. She turns toward Rin. "I don't know why you bring this up when you have feelings for Kakashi yourself. I don't get it."

Rin blushes and stops. She begins to get lost in thought over her two teammates. However, Rin has thought about this topic before. While Rin has been spending time trying to work out her own feelings, she's been very perceptive to her friends' interactions. To Rin, Mitsuha is a very wise girl for their age. She also knows that Mitsuha puts everything above herself, including feelings. At times, Rin can swear she knows Mitsuha better than she knows herself. What she knows is that Mitsuha truly does think very highly of Kakashi, despite what she might think of herself. Rin may be the most mature out of anyone in her class, and her gut tells her that her best friend does feel something for Kakashi.

Finally, Rin can see the differences in her own relationship with Kakashi. The unconventional bond the two share may seem like one sided delusion to most. But their bond seems very similar to that of Rin's own bond with Obito. Mitsuha constantly looks out for her comrades, but defends Kakashi to her fullest extent. What few people may know is that rarely, Kakashi would practice things he sees that Mitsuha excels at. Rin see's that one of the few people Kakashi considers an equal, is Mitsuha, even if he doesn't admit it.

Mitsuha can see she struck a nerve with Rin, unintentionally. She takes a step toward her friend and brings Rin's attention back to her.

"Rin, we are at war. And we are the soldiers. Tell him how you feel, before it's too late and regret it."

It's true, Rin does have feelings for Kakashi Hatake. She has for a while now. If only it were that simple though. As strong as her feelings are for Kakashi, Rin is wise enough to know that her feelings for Obito are just as strong. This confusion constantly tugs at her heartstrings, and she's always done so well not to let anyone notice. She admires Kakashi for his strength and intellect, believing that he is one of the most brilliant people she's ever met. However, she is captivated by Obito's selflessness and confidence, seeing him as the most selfless and kind person alive.

Rin becomes bashful, but speaks more truth than she had in quite some time about the subject.

"I don't even know what exactly my feelings are." Rins thoughts turn to Obito. "Even though I have feelings for Kakashi, I don't know if we could ever be together. Not like that. Sometimes you can care about someone so much, and even love them, but they can still be the wrong person for you. I think I'm okay with that."

Rin turns back around, wearing her warm smile but hiding back tears. While she is glowing, Mitsuha seems concerned at the words she said.

"Why are you saying that Rin? You will never know if you don't tell him." Mitsuha liked the thought of Kakashi falling in love with Rin. To Mitsuha, Rin could be the embodiment of light itself. Mitsuha wants Kakashi to experience the love and devotion that everyone deserves in their lives. Love like her own parents share.

"Kakashi has been living in darkness and despair for so long. He deserves a light like Rin in his life. I mean who wouldn't fall in love with her? And who would be so blind not to see the best, and greatness, in him?"

Rin sighs, putting the confusing thoughts in her head to bed once again. "It's just a feeling."

Mitsuha sighs in response, not believing any of her advice got through. "Tell him Rin. Besides, there's a clear reason you like him."

Rin whips her head back around at Mitsuha. "Huh? Why is that?"

Mitsuha becomes overdramatic once again. She whips her arm around Rin in an over-the-top hug. "It's because you say he reminds you of me! And you love me soooooo much."

Rin can't help but smile at one of her own lights in life. "You're right I do!" Rin reciprocates the hug.

The two don't spend much time together. Their teams have to meet with Minato for mission debriefing. Before long Rin made her way alone. Rin reflects on her discussion with Mitsuha. Most importantly though, she thinks of Obito.

"I sense there's something in the air. That feels like a cloud of tragedy's storming above us. It feels like the worst is just around the bend. Does he notice my feelings for him? Or does he see how much he means to me?"

Then, she thinks of Kakashi.

"What will become of my dear friend? Where will his actions lead us?

Although I'd like to stand by him, I don't know if I can. And will we ever end up together? No, I know we can't. Wish as I might've, I don't think I am the one."

Rin carries on, silently. Mitsuha leaves as well, heading in a different direction. She gets to the grounds with just Kakashi being there before anyone else.

"Hello Kakashi", Rin chimes running toward her teammate. Seeing him fills her with happiness even though he looks annoyed as usual.

"You're the only dependable one Rin", Kakashi starts. "You're the only one on time! Obito is late as usual and I refuse to go and get him today. Even Minato sensei is late along with ALL of Team 9!"

"Well Mitsuha is on her way and she's usually never late", Rin says. Kakashi didn't react.

Mitsuha's earlier words echoed in her head. Rin found herself in her own confusion once again. If there was going to be any time to tell Kakashi her feelings, it was now. But her confusing feelings about Obito confused her. Besides, her thoughts are interrupted by another joining them.

Yukine is the first member of Team 9 to show up, expectedly. Kakashi's energy made an extreme shift when he saw Yukine though.

Yukine told himself he'd go in with an open mind, and apologize to Kakashi. If not for Kakashi, then for Mitsuha. He walked up to the two, and was greeted warmly by Rin, but Kakashi looked at him with cold eyes. It prompts Yukine to speak.

"Look Kakashi", Yukine starts awkwardly. "I owe you an- Well, I haven't been in the right. I don't know why I get the way I do. I haven't acted the best towards you and I guess I wanted to-".

"I don't care about Yukine", Kakashi spites interrupting him. "The real issue here is your delusion. Have you ever considered that you're just jealous? Jealous that Mitsuha and I worked to get to where we are? Whereas you have been the one chasing after her? Face reality and take my advice. If you keep holding her as an attachment, you will never rise to your potential. It's honestly pathetic how you're allowing yourself to feel and therefore hold yourself back. What's more, is that you do this knowing that she doesn't even care what you think."

Yukine's rage explodes with Kakashi's words. Yukine lunges at Kakashi. The two grapple on the ground, tossing and turning over each other. Soon Kakashi overpowers him, sending punch after punch to Yukine's head.

Mitsuha arrives on the scene, followed by Hitomi. They cannot believe their eyes. Mitsuha intervenes in between Kakashi and Yukine. She takes both by the shirt in each hand, and uses all of her strength to propel them away from each other. Hitomi runs to Yukine, and Rin to Kakashi.

She throws them to the opposite sides, away from one another. She gives a quick study. Blood is gushing from Yukine's nose and is all over his body. Kakashi's glove is ripped from the repeated blows and his knuckles are bleeding as well. Mitsuha turns to the latter who was being merciless toward her teammate.

"What the hell is your problem Kakashi?!" Mitsuha unexpectedly explodes angrily. This comes as a shock to everyone. To her comrades, Mitsuha usually carried herself maturely. Sure, everyone knew she had a fiery personality, but everyone could tell this was something else. This is the girl that had always treated the boy like a friend no matter how he acted.

"You make jonin and risk it all by acting like a child?", she points out. "This isn't how you treat a comrade from the Leaf Village. You know better!"

"On the contrary", Kakashi begins coldly. "He lunged at me first. I was defending myself!"

Mitsuha scoffs, stepping toward him. "You can't expect me to believe that was all an act. You hit Yukine with such hatred!"

"Yeah you jerk!", Yukine yells, spitting out blood.

Mitsuha's head whipped around quicker than her hair could catch up.

"Shut up Yukine!", Mitsuha points out. "You are at fault too! Did you lunge at Kakashi first? You could've walked away! He's just as much your comrade as his is ours and you are expected to treat him as such!"

Yukine sits looking spitefully at the girl he admires, and doesn't recognize this version of her.

"Shinobi Rule #12: ", Kakashi continues. "A shinobi must never reveal their true feelings. This is why emotions are the downfall of shinobi."

"Why do you always put everything before the people who care about you? Your friends?!" While Mitsuha can be brutally honest, Rin had always thought that she was the most honest with Kakashi out of respect. This scene confirms those suspicions. However, Mitsuha's honesty seems to be cries for help.

Kakashi's fuse on the matter ignites. "I have no friends! They are meaningless! The mission comes first or we fail as shinobi! If we fail the missions, we lose the war and destroy the Leaf Village! This is why they made me a jonin and not you! You have no sense of duty! The next time your priorities affect your judgment in a mission, the failure will be on you."

Kakashi leaves in an instant before Mitsuha has a chance to retort.


The morning comes where both teams will depart for their vital missions. Yukine Hoki woke up somewhat calm. Having prepared his supplies the night before he gets prepared silently before getting ready to head out to the rendezvous point for his team. He walks out of his room, past his fathers office.

"Yukine!", his father calls. "Get in here."

Reluctantly, Yukine follows suit. When he enters the room, Yue is already sitting before their father. He joins her and their father begins his lecture.

"You both have important missions. Yue", Mr. Hoki starts gaining his youngest daughter's attention.

"This is your first mission. Showing your team leader, and the other genin, the power of the Hoki family is vital. This mission will kickstart your long career as a shinobi."

"Yes father", Yue nods. Yukine grabs her hand, a little nervous that she is taking missions so young. But then again, so did Mitsuha.

"You're going to do great", Yukine smiles at his baby sister. Yue smiles before both of their attentions are caught by their father again.

"Yukine", he starts in a more harsh and serious tone. "Don't forget about your failure against Kakashi Hatake. You need to succeed in this mission. Your reputation depends on it. After all, you don't want the son of a traitor to always over shadow you, or our family."

"I won't fail us father", Yukine assures his father

Soon after, Yukine and Yue leave for their prospective teams. Yukine meets his team near the center of the village. Immediately though, Mitsuha is noticeably silent and has a monotone face.

On the way to the village gates, Mitsuha walks in between her teammates. Silent, and not giving either so much as a glance. Hitomi feels the tension lingering from the incident the day prior.

"Mitsuha, look- I'm-", Yukine struggles to finish.

"Don't say you're sorry if you're not", Mitsuha croaks. "You should be concentrating on the mission. Please do so quietly."

Yukine doesn't dare challenge her. He had more on his mind then he should regardless. That morning, his sister Yue had left for her first mission as well. Before they left, they had been reminded by their father of the importance of succeeding in their missions and representing their clan well. The three chunin walk to the gates and find Minato waiting for them. This confuses the teens, as they were preparing to meet their new jonin leader.

"Minato-sensei?", Hitomi says. "You're our new jonin leader?"

"No", the Yellow Flash says kindly. "But I am here to give you your mission directive."

The three are puzzled. "Well if you are not our team leader, then who is?", Yukine asks.

"Mitsuha will be leading your mission." Mimatos words echo in the teens' silence and shock.

"But...", Mitsuha stammers confusingly. "I'm just a chunin."

"The casualties of this war are too great. In our mission, I will be separating from my team while Kakashi leads them." Minato rolls out the map. "Leaf shinobi are being held as prisoners of war here at this supply route for the Village Hidden by Rocks."

"This camp is the largest supply camp that routes to all Hidden Rock bases, before Kannabi Bridge", Hitomi remarks. Sudden realization comes to the trio as they begin to understand this is more than a rescue mission.

"So while Kakashi's team goes to Kannabi Bridge, we will simultaneously give the greatest blow to the enemy of the entire war so far", Mitsuha concludes the seriousness of the mission.

"Precisely", Minato states. "Your specialized skills, and small numbers will allow you to have a formidable advantage. The Village will be sending reinforcements to help you get our men back to the Leaf. Our intel states that the enemy has left these shinobi alive due to their knowledge. Once we get our men back, they should have even more knowledge about our enemy that will help us bring this war to an end."

The three basked in the words of Minato, understanding if they fail, they could be part of what brings their home and land to ruin. They know they cannot fail.

"Mitsuha", Minato says directly to the young leader. "As a mission leader, do you understand what must happen?"

Without a blink, Mitsuha nods. "Yes, sir. I do."

"Your mission directive: bring our comrades home and take out as much supplies as you can", Minato says, handing a bag to Mitsuha. She opens the bag and sees nothing but paper bombs. Hundreds of paper bombs.

"Now", Minato declares. "Go!"

Minato heads in the direction of his own team, and the trio leaves through the gates and starts heading for their destination. The trio silently maneuver through the forests for hours. Silent. Many thoughts go through each of their heads separately.

"What if our targets are killed before we arrive. . . ?

"What if I can't perform to what's expected of me. . . ?"

"What will happen if we fail. . . ?"

"Mitsuha", Hitomi, finally starts. "Can we stop please?"

"Yeah", Yukine adds. "We need to stop and discuss this."

The three stop after climbing the highest tree, to avoid any possible enemies below.

"You're scaring us", Hitomi says. "You've never been so silent. Whatever is going through your mind, you need to snap out of it and focus."

"You're finally in the position you've been working toward. And this is an important mission to aid Minato-sensei's team. We need to be our best. And we all need to put trust in one another." Yukine's words feel warm. And he is right.

"I'm sorry", Mitsuha breathes. "We need to have our teamwork at our best today. We are technically an incomplete team. So, let all remember, that no one can break our teamwork."

The two smile at their new captain, acknowledging that they need to perform better and at their best. All of their confidence rises, and the three continue until they reach the edge of the enemy settlement. With the intel they had received, this particular day was the only day they could pull it off. More enemy shinobi are delivering supplies then at the camp, giving Team 9 the advantage.

The three get to the edge of the camp. After Hitomi reaches the highest secluded vantage point, she uses her byakugan to survey the area. Below, Yukine and Mitsuha go over the mission objectives once again.

"Because we are one man less, we need to be prepared to move quickly out of the camp. Conserve your strength and be prepared with your medical ninjutsu as soon as we are in the clear", Mitsuha directs Yukine.

"Depending on the state that the shinobi are in, we might be able to utilize their own strengths so long as they aren't in critical condition." Yukine counts all of his medical supplies preparing hundreds of contingency plans in his head. He really is a gifted medical shinobi.

Mitsuha shakes her head. "We need to be prepared for the worst conditions."

Hitomi jumps down from the vantage point.

"I got a rough estimate of how many Stone Village shinobi occupy the camp. Between 100-150. It's a pivotal settlement, it seems to be constantly moving."

Even though compared to other settlements the shinobi numbers may seem small, the settlement itself is particularly challenging to infiltrate. This settlement is the last settlement nearest to Kannabi Bridge.

Kannabi Bridge is a large bridge, spanning a river somewhere near the Village Hidden in the Grass. This bridge is a vital pathway to the Hidden Stone's line of supply. All the supplies that come from the bridge circulate through this camp first before shinobi can pass parcels onto smaller camps and the front lines. It also allows the direct connection to the Hidden Stone Village, where prisoners of war are sent for torturous interrogation.

"Were you able to find the prisoner tent?", Mitsuha asks, her heart racing.

"Yes", Hitomi starts. "But it's on the complete opposite end from our position. In the northeast corner. It seems that it's extremely close to the cornucopia of supplies stacked from the entrance leading to the bridge."

This means that the trio must travel through the entire settlement undetected just to get to the tent.

"What about the state of the three Leaf shinobi?", Yukine asks, preparing his medical kit. "What can you tell me about their conditions?"

Hitomi studies the photos from the dossier. She points to the first photo.

"Suzuki. She was tied up and unconscious. The one next to her, Kentaro. His eyes were open but he looked catatonic. It was too far for me to see his chakra, so I wasn't able to see if he was under a genjutsu." Hitomi looks at the last photo in the file. "This last man, Isao, wasn't there and I couldn't see him anywhere else."

"Isao is from the cypher unit. He was taken when the Stone Village shinobi ambushed a Leaf camp." Mitsuha states. "If I had to guess, he's being interrogated as we speak. He has the most intel about our Village."

"Mitsuha", Yukine starts. "The quickest way to get in and out is to wait until early morning."

"My thoughts exactly", Mitsuha says. "We need to wait till Isao gets back into the tent.

Hitomi and Mitsuha look at each other. With the added objective to destroy any supplies the settlement may have, without being detected, make the mission that much more challenging for the trio.

Hours pass and the three wait at the highest vantage point. Mitsuha and Yukine surround Hitomi's blind spots as she uses her byakugan to provide continuous visuals. It couldn't have been earlier than 3 in the morning. Hitomi let's put a small gasp. Isao enters her field of vision, and Stone Shinobi drags the injured man back to the prisoner tent.

"Isao is being carried back to the tent", Hitomi tells her teammates. "I've seen too many injuries to vital chakra points to know that his injuries are quite serious. Yukine, you will have to focus all your efforts on him."

Yukine nods and Mitsuha goes over the last minute strategy plans in her head. "Yukine must be the first to get out of there and be ready for Isao."

Mitsuha activates her Haregan. The three nod silently, indicating to each other it was time to start the recovery operation.

"Now", Mitsuha says. "Scatter!" The three jump to their perspective start points with paper bombs in hand. Each team member moves through the camp silently and quickly through this maze that was a supplies camp. Each of them placing paper bombs as quick as they place the next one. Silent as mice, and fast as cheetahs. Miraculously, the tree reached the tent. Hitomi and Mitsuha enter while Yukine moves to wait on the other side. Mitsuha and Yukine get Suzuki out of her restraints first. Mitsuha cuts a slit to the tent facing their backs, and the two get Suzuki out.

"Try to get Suzuki conscious Yukine", Mitsuha directs her friend. "We will need all the muscle we can to get everyone out." Their eyes directed at Isao. When using her Haregan, Mitsuha can see minimal chakra flow, signifying he is dying from interrogation injuries.

Yukine is strong enough to get Suzuki out to their rendezvous point. He has to force her to swallow a stabilization pill to get her own chakra under control and hopefully conscious.

Hitomi releases the genjutsu placed on Kentaro. Kentaro quickly comes out of the trance. "Huh?"

"Be quiet!", Hitomi whispers. Mitsuha and Hitomi continue to work on the binds on Kentaro's wrists.

"You two are from the Leaf?", he whispers, as if with relief and fear simultaneously.

"Yes", Mitsuha reassures. "What are the states of the other Leaf shinobi?"

"Suzuki was wounded when we were ambushed", Kentaro struggles. Kentaro's wrists are freed. "What's the plan?"

"Out of the three of you, you're in the best physical condition", Mitsuha starts. "Our teammate Yukine is working on getting Suzuki back on her feet. Isao is in critical condition by the looks of it. We have managed to get paper bombs scattered throughout enough of the settlement camp to cause irreversable damage."

"Wait", Kentaro puts the pieces together in his head. "You mean…?"

"That's right", Hitomi states. "By the time we leave, this entire place will be in flames. But we can't do that without your help getting Isao to the meet point with Yukine, then back to the village."

"Okay", Kentaro agrees. "Then get these binds off us so we can go."

Suddenly, the team is caught by the enemy entering the tent.

"Hey!" The Stone Village ninja throw kunai after kunai, attack after attack.

"Hitomi!", Mitsuha defends her teammate who is still trying to use the kunai to break Isao's chains. The kunai is so caught in the pressure of the chain against the pole, that it's nearly impossible to move. Given the correct amount of force though, would allow the chain to snap.

"You must catch up with Yukine!", Mitsuha yells, getting between Hitomi, Isao, and the Stone ninja.

Hitomi stops. "You can't do the rest of the mission on your own!"

"I will not allow any of you to die! If you do not get to Yukine, he cannot start healing Iso!" Mitsuha already throws defensive maneuvers against his kunai attacks with her fire-like moves.

"I am the mission leader", Mitsuha asserts dominantly. "This is a direct order!"

Suddenly, Hintomi is being seized by two shinobi that were caught out of Mitsuha's sight, coming from the slit made earlier to get Suzuki out of the tent. Hitomi instantly has to go on the offensive and use the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. Hitomi uses her clan's technique and uses the sixty-four strikes broken into six smaller sets. Users perform each set of strikes within the same length of time, but because each set has more strikes than the one before it, the set's strikes become increasingly faster. The last set, during which thirty-two strikes are performed, is especially difficult, demanding great resolve and a strong step forward to pull off. As targets are struck, they are increasingly knocked backwards, with the combined force of the final sets being great enough to push them through tree trunks. The six sets of strikes are performed by Hitomi between the two opponents.

Two consecutive strikes to the first enemy, two more consecutive strikes to the second. Four consecutive strikes back to the first opponent, sending another eight to the second opponent. She sends the remaining strikes until she totals 63 strikes, brutally killing her opponents. She uses the final and most powerful strike to finally break the chain on Isao.

"Hya!", she yells breaking the chain and sending a powerful wave of chakra that blows the tent apart.

"Kentaro! Hitomi!", Misuha yells facing the oncoming enemies closing on their location. Kentaro and Hitomi get Isao into their arms and get away when Mitsuha gets the enemy shinobi to chase her out of their location.

Realizing there are a few more paper bombs in her pocket, as well as more shinobi coming out of the woodwork, she continues the chase with her as the prey. She uses her elusive moves to get through the nooks and cranies of the camp, until she has all but one paper bomb left. She continues to move until she gets to the center of the camp, near the cornucopia of supplies. At this time, she managed to get all of the enemy shinobi to converge on her location.

Mitsuha feels herself backed into a corner. Discreetly, she places the last of their paper bombs. By this time, Hitomi and Kentaro make it back with Isao to the others. The diversion works but focuses all the enemy's attention on Mitsuha.

"Those eyes…", one starts. He then smiles, "The rumors are true, you're the Haregan Princess of the Leaf." All of the other shinobi smile and grin realizing the feat at hand for their village.

"Let me through", the Commander starts pushing through his subordinates. When he comes to the front, his eyes immediately fixate on the opaqueness of Mitsuha's. He gives a sinister chuckle while walking up to her, mere inches from her face.

"Your eyes will be a great asset to Lord Tsuchikage", the Commander states, holding a kunai up to her eye line. "Do you have any last words?"

Mitsuha coughs up some blood from her mouth. "Just one." Mitsuha holds her fingers up to her chin.

"HA!"

In an instant, the paper bombs placed around the camp start to detonate. In a chain reaction, bodies start flying, tents are demolished, and fireballs of supplies flying in all directions.

"That's our chance!", Hitomi yells. "We have to go now!"

"But- Mitsuha-", Yukine starts.

"Stop. Remember the mission!" Hitomi and Kentaro carry Isao, followed by Now conscious Suzuki. Finally, Yukine follows begrudgingly, not wanting to let the girl he loves be left for dead. He was about to let his personal feelings get in the way. Every fiber in Yukine's being was telling him to go back for her. He knew if he did that, Mitsuha may never forgive him. Worst of all to him, he had realized that Kakashi was right, and nothing made him more upset.

The group uses the debris as coverage to escape. Behind them, great lengths and explosions of fire cause an explosion similar to a miniature atomic bomb. Yukine and Hitomi give one final glance behind them. As the fire rushes at the group, by a miracle, they can see hands part the fire like maniable sand. Finally, Mitsuha escapes the explosions by a hair with burns on her arm and leg.

Like the many heroes to come out of the Third Great Shinobi War, Team 9 earns their recognition as well. This mission would let the three be known by the following: Yukine "the Healer", Hitomi "the Master of the Eight Trigrams", and Mitsuha "the Raging Inferno of the Leaf". The War has caused shinobi to earn such titles. However, not every shinobi keeps such honors. Some of them will live up to and show the world why they've earned such labels, and others betray, showing how unworthy they were in the first place.

...

It's early morning. Team Minato, led by Kakashi, is already up and trekking their way toward Kannabi Bridge when they feel the remnants of the camp exploding.

"Woah!" Obito exclaims. "Was that an earthquake?"

"What was that?!", Rin asks.

Kakashi stops and takes a moment to assess the direction. "They did it."


The trio along with the rescued shinobi got admitted late the next night after returning to the village. They are kept for observation and examination. Yukine is being kept in a separate room with Kentaro. Isao is still in surgery from the extent of his injuries. If Yukine hadn't been healing him, the doctors don't know if he would've lasted the journey back.

The next day, when Team 9 is to be discharged, Lord Hokage and the Council pay the trio a visit. When they do, Hitomi is watching Mitsuha play shogi with Yukine.

"Hello!", Hiruzen announces.

"Professor!", Hitomi and Mitsuha speak in unison. Yukine stands and bows, while the girls are a bit too sore when trying.

"There's no need for that", Hiruzen says, while a silent Minato stands in the doorway. Hitomi instantly feels his chakra being off, while Mitsuha recognizes the look of a man hiding his feelings. Homura and Koharu walk past Minato though, interrupting the observation.

Lord Third continues, "We have just received intel that the Hidden Stone has retreated their numbers, having to abandon their established supply network. This was a massive hit to their forces. Between the destruction of the camp, and the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, we are certain that the tides of the War have turned in our favor."

At the beginning of this War, the three had never imagined that they would be hearing these words, let alone being an active force in the War. Who knew their class of shinobi would have been so formidable. They all snap back into reality, having been so focused on their healing, remembering their friends had returned from Kannabi Bridge. Well, not all of them.

"Minato sensei!", Mitsuha starts wide-eyed. "They succeeded at Kannabi Bridge?! I didn't expect any less, but that's great news! Kakashi's first mission as a jonin! Oh goodness- how did Rin do? And- and Obito! Oh my goodness I have so much to ask them!" Mitsuha rambles passionately, but blindly. As she rambles, her two teammates are the ones noticing the somberness and gloom amongst the adults. Hitomi puts her hand, shaking, in the back of her tunnel-visioned friend. Hitomi's trembling snaps Mitsuha out of her ramble, realizing the dead silent tension.

"No… who…", Mitsuha wonders. She regains her sensibility and maturity.

"What happened?", Mitsuha asks seriously, breaking the tension.

Lord Third closes his eyes. "As you know, death is the price of every war. While we need to mourn, time is the only thing that will heal. You three must remember that. You must not allow tragedy to deter you and your duties as shinobi."

"Who died?", Hitomi chokes, feeling her throat close in anxiety.

"Obito… Obito Uchiha."

The words echo through all of the kids' ears. Obito's death is the first death of their generation and they did not know how to process it. Finally, once they did begin to regain their senses, each of them thought of something different from one another. Hitomi begins to weep in sadness over their dead friend, thinking only of all the good deeds she had seen Obito do for others around the village. All Mitsuha could think about is Rin and Kakashi.

Mitsuha flings her painful body out of the bed, and limps as fast as she can toward the door.

"Mitsuha!", Yukine exclaims. "What are you-?"

Yukine's plea is interrupted by the sheer pain in Mitsuha's voice when she speaks to Minato. "Where are Kakashi and Rin?!"

Minato, knowing the pain she must be feeling, and knowing this is something they all must process, doesn't object.

"They're down the hall with minimal injury", Minato states. He gets out of Mitsuha's way.

The Konoha council sits with the rest of the accomplished team, as Minato walks out as well. Yukine begins to look angry and venomous.

"Kakashi", he thinks to himself in a barbed-tongue tone. "This is Kakashi's fault."

Mitsuha doesn't care about the pain she's in. She's so tunnel visioned getting to her friends, that she can barely feel it anymore. The whole way, Mitsuha is hoping that there's been some mistake. She's hoping that when she gets down there, Obito will be alive, well, and ready to greet her with his signature attitude. When she gets to the room at the end of the hall, she does not hesitate to fling the door open. In the room is Rin sitting on an observation bed, staring out the window. When she turns around, her eyes look dead.

"Mi-tsu-ha", Rin trembles as tears swell her eyes. That's all it took for reality to set in Mitsuha, like a rock in her stomach. Mitsuha runs over to Rin and brings her in an embrace as she erupts into tears and sobs, feeling the empty whole in her heart that Obito has now left. After a moment, Mitsuha looks up and realizes Kakashi is by the door with Minato. She cannot see his eye, but does notice the bandage around this eye. Before Mitsuha can muster the courage to say anything to him, Kakashi walks out the door past Minato, leaving only emptiness.

The day ends with Mitsuha staying with Rin, and the news of Obito's death reaching the rest of the kids from their class. Kakashi is nowhere to be found by Minato. Hitomi and Yukine are released from the hospital. That night, the unthinkable happens for the Hoki family, when they receive the news that Yue's genin team was ambushed by Leaf enemies without warning, killing everyone onsight.

Later that week, Obito's funeral is held. Early that morning, Mitsuha is summoned to the Konoha Council. There they congratulate her on her leadership and success in this vital mission. She cannot feel happy though and takes the promotion blankly, without emotion.

At the funeral, Mitsuha stands between her brother and Rin for the service. No matter how these children felt about each other, the one constant factor between them all was Obito Uchiha. And in the end, that included Kakashi, whom Mitsuha has not spoken to since before Kannabi Bridge. Not because she hasn't wanted to, but rather not knowing what to say in this time of despair. Yukine is absent, not having been seen since he found out about his sister's death.

Eventually the funeral ends. Hitomi and Mitsuha walk away from the funeral together. Koichi had returned from the funeral hours earlier, while Mokoto was still with some of the others, being with each other during the children's first casualty from this war. That group was at the dumpling stand together, celebrating Obito's life. Everyone else was there except for the girls, Rin, Yukine, and Kakashi. Hitomi and Mitsuha walk into the bounds of the private district their families reside in.

"Yukine's family wants to keep Yue's funeral private", Hitomi remarks sadly. "I really want to be there to support him."

Mitsuha thinks about Yukine. "We are a team, we are supposed to stick together through thick and thin. We will be there to support him even when we can't be by his side. I just hope he realizes that."

The two part, and Mitsuha walks into the family home. Koichi had returned from the funeral hours earlier, and Mokoto was still with some of the others, being with each other during the children's first casualty from this war.

"Father wants to see you", Koichi remarks. Mitsuha moves past him slowly.

Mitsuha goes to Yoichi's office door. She hears Yoichi talking and discussing mission details. She can hear the familiar voices of Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Shikaku Nara. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Choza is a jonin team leader. The other two old teammates assist in the specialty assets of the Village. As she inches closer, she can tell the elite shinobi know she's approached because they've stopped talking about sensitive data. Mitsuha hesitates knocking.

"You can come in, Mitsuha", Yoichi says. Mitsuha reluctantly slides the door open and sees many additional shinobi sitting around the table other than the four familiar men. Then of course, the rest of the men and women are all jonin and chunin so they were familiar as well. The group seems to have just finished up the briefing.

"You summoned me, Father. Did I miss anything important?", Mitsuha asks, confused. Much of the group had started to leave but Shikaku and Choza.

"No", Shikaku starts. "This next mission isn't for a specialty ninja like you." He continues scribbling strategy down on paper. "Besides, Lord Hokage is planning the next missions as we speak, so hold your horses."

Eventually they all depart. Shikaku pats her shoulder upon exit. They all pile out one by one until all that's left is Mitsuha and Yoichi.

"That was a very lovely service they had for Obito", Yoichi remarks to his daughter. "I want you to know you can come talk to me. While you still have duties to perform, this is your generation's first loss, and it will not be easy to heal from."

Mitsuha stays silent, looking down avoiding eye contact with her father. She feels angry and sad over the loss of Obito, and fury over the enemies that killed him.

"On a lighter note though, congratulations are in order", Yoichi remarks. "Your hard work and excellent leadership have shown to the village elite that you have the skills to be a powerful jonin. Hard work pays off and I am very proud to be your father. Your potential is limitless and I cannot wait to see all the great things you'll do for the Hidden Leaf Village, our family, and for yourself."

Mitsuha sighs. "I don't think I would have been given this honor, if it wasn't for the mass casualties we've experienced so far." Yoichi can see the conflict over this promotion in his daughter's eyes. In her heart, Mitsuha can't feel proud. The loss of Obito has just given her a glimpse of all the pain they will experience. She doesn't know how it can get any worse than losing Obito from their lives.

"Becoming one of the youngest jonin in the history of the Leaf Village is no small feat", Yoichi tries to reassure his daughter.

"Kakashi", Mitsuha abruptly says. "Kakashi is the youngest. And all of this is not without cost."

There was no joy in her voice. Yoichi can see the innocence lost in his daughter. The war, the loss of life, was beginning to age her from a child to a veteran. His heart aches from thinking the war will take some part of each of his children, and the possibility of death still looms in the air.

Yoichi knows he cannot absolve his children of their pain, but knows all he can do is be there for them when they need to the most. It is a parents job to protect their children, and Yoichi will do so at any cost.

For now, he accepts this as something he will have to watch and guide his children through carefully with Harui. He reaches beside him and picks up one of the mission dossier scrolls the group had just strategized.

"I need you to take this scroll to Minato", Yoichi starts. "Only if you're feeling up for it."

Mitsuha nods, "Yes father." She takes the scroll and walks away. Before she can exit the door frame, Yoichi leaves her with his last words for the night.

"I love you Mitsuha. Your mother and I will help you kids through this turmoil."

Mitsuha leaves it at that, and closes the door behind her. As Mitsuha heads for the door to the house, she can hear Harui calling behind her from the kitchen.

"Mitsuha, wait", her mother says. "Let me walk you out."

Mitsuha and her mother were not the most similar, but Mitsuha adores her mother like the rest of her siblings. Harui carries two baskets with her in hand that look carefully wrapped and prepared. They begin their trek to the district entrance.

"You don't have to say anything", Harui says, using her sensory skills to know Mitsuha is on the edge of it all. "But I know what your father told you. We will help you and Mokoto get through this terrible tragedy."

Mitsuha speaks up, but avoids eye contact with Harui as well. "We were trained for this. Loss. How can they expect us to handle our responsibilities when their hearts are broken."

"Because you must", Harui puts bluntly. "You're a shinobi, and you must persevere for the good of your village. However you still need more coping skills, which is what we are here for. Mokoto wouldn't talk to me much", Harui remarks. "But I don't want either of you to feel like you cannot come talk to me."

Mitsuha goes back being silent, not understanding what her mother means. That is, until the most unexpected thing happens between the mother and daughter pair.

"When I was your age, I myself was sent on a vital mission." Mitsuha becomes instantly captivated. Harui doesn't talk about her days before meeting Yoichi. The Yuotame children don't know much other than the following. They were told growing up that their mother had no family. They don't know what happened to Harui's side. All the stories they were told have been since their parents met.

"I had to make a choice, and that choice changed my life. I lost all of my comrades, and never saw my family again. There's nothing more emptying than losing what one loves."

Harui started to cry a bit, but tried her best to hide it. She stops the two of them and looks down at her daughter.

"I'm telling you this, because you and Mokoto still have your family", Harui chokes. "But Rin, and Kakashi, they've lost something much more. Kakashi Hatake- has known nothing but suffering. Imagine if Hitomi had been killed in your mission. The unthinkable has happened and your friends need you. You have so much light and love in you, that you need to share with them."

Harui bends over to hug her daughter. "I know you, and you will be the loving girl you are as always. Love them, and comfort them."

Mitsuha takes her mom's words silently, and continues on her own to Rin's house.

"I… I will try mom. But I don't know if I can do it", Mitsuha thinks to herself sadly.

She makes it about half way to Rin's house when she hears a familiar voice, in the park she's passing by.

"Mitsuha. What are you doing here?" Out of the corner of Mitsuha's eye is Rin, still in her funeral clothes.

"I was on my way to see you actually." Mitsuha holds up the basket. "I brought this for you from my mom. I also wanted to see how you were."

Rim looks down at the ground. Mitsuha knows Rin isn't okay, because she herself isn't. Knowing Rins previous conflicting feelings, Mitsuha can't begin to understand the amount of pain her friend must be in right now.

Mitsuha joins Rin and they sit on the bench. They stare at the sunset for a bit, silently. Not talking, but just so Rin wouldn't be alone in her grief. Rin turns her head, discreetly trying to wipe her tears. "You never told me what Lord Hokage summoned you for."

"Oh, that", Mitsuha said melancholically. "I- uh- got promoted to jonin."

The news echoed to both of them. It didn't seem to matter to Mitsuha anymore. In fact, it wasn't worth getting excited over, in the wake of loss. Rin grabs her friend's hand.

"Congratulations…you've worked so hard."

And for a split second, Mitsuha felt okay. So did Rin. In this split second the two become distracted from their world crumbling around them and have a moment of happiness. Mitsuha smiles at her friend in a small moment of joy. That moment's illusion shatters the instant she smiles. When she grins, Rin can't help but look at her friend and can't help but see Obito.

This surprises Rin and makes her begin to cry again, but she tries to hide it. Rin rises onto her feet. "I better get Mitsuha back, or my mom will start to worry."

"Will you take this to Kakashi?" Mitsuha held out the second basket. "I have to take something to Minato-sensei, from my father."

Rin looks at the bag. It was nearly overflowing with food that Harui had made for the two children. Rin wanted to fulfill her best friend's request. Rin wanted to go straight to Kakashi, and never leave his side. She wants to grieve Obito's death with him, and comfort each other. However, she couldn't bring herself to move. She can only remember the look in his eye at the funeral. Nearly lifeless.

"I- I can't", Rin cries. "I can barely look at him right now."

Mitsuha doesn't press the subject. Rin herself looks like she's going to fall apart, and doesn't want to be in front of her friend. Mitsuha just gives Rin a hug, realizing her words can't bring any comfort.

"I'm sorry", Rin cries before turning away from her friend. The two part ways, and Rin runs home faster than Mitsuha had ever seen her sprint.

"Oh Obito…", Rin's mind cries as her heart aches. She quickly disappears out of Mitsuha's sight.

Mitsuha beats herself up, thinking what she did was wrong. At her young age though, she doesn't realize that there wasn't anything she could've done, that wouldn't have made Rin have the same reaction. After a moment, she looks down at the other basket, realizing she must take it to Kakashi herself.

After the trek, Mitsuha carries her bag up the stairs of the apartment building. She makes it quick and leaves the basket by the door. Not wanting to disturb Kakashi, she leaves as quickly as she can without getting noticed. Part of her wanted to knock, making sure her friend was okay after losing their comrade. Her mind quickly remembered Kakashi's words before their teams left for their prospective missions. She would be lying if she said they didn't sting. Nevertheless, Kakashi's words did not waver her feelings toward him. Kakashi is her friend and Mitsuha is determined to always be there for her friends.

Kakashi was indeed home. He had wandered home after the funeral. Every single moment of the mission replayed over and over in his head. Kakashi doesn't even remember how he came home. He hadn't even changed out of his bereavement attire. Kakashi checks out and stares at the ceiling for hours, replaying every detail of Obito's death.

Kakashi slowly comes out of his grieving daze when he feels someone approach his door. He silently goes to it and opens it quickly, and is on guard. Much to his surprise, no one is there. When he looks down though he sees the bag. He opens it and sees pre packed meals.

"I can't remember the last time someone cooked a meal for me."

He rummages around the basket and finds a stitched name on a bag. "Yuotame".

Kakashi instantly knows who dropped off the bag, then left. He doesn't know why, but he feels compelled to try to find Mitsuha and thank her.

He hops out his window and goes in the direction of the Yuotame residence. Before long, he does see Mitsuha walking but she changes up her pace and goes in the opposite direction.

He can't bring himself to catch up with her though. He doesn't feel like he can thank her. Still, Kakashi decides to see Mitsuha home safely.

Kakashi keeps his distance from Mitsuha as she makes her way across the village. Kakashi stays back from her for a while dodging every place she might've been able to pick up on him. When Kakashi stops in an alley, he debates how long he should continue.

"Why do I do this?", he thinks to himself frustratingly.

Suddenly, Kakashi whips around in the alley he's found himself in at the noise of a cat knocking over a garbage can. When he turns back around, he can't find Mitsuha. He sighs and kneels against the wall after stepping out of the alley.

"Kakashi?", a familiar voice says from beside him, tapping his shoulder. Kakashi instinctually grabs it intensely, being so on edge.

"Mitsuha!", Kakashi exclaims. As quickly as he had grabbed her, he let go, hoping he didn't accidentally hurt her.

Mitsuha couldn't see Kakashi blush under his mask, but she could tell he was embarrassed. He didn't want her to know he had been following her, and Mitsuha doesn't know why he was compelled to. Kakashi becomes off putting again when he closes to break the awkward silence.

"What are you doing?", he asks Mitsuha.

"I knew someone was following me, but I honestly thought it was my mother", Mitsuha says, gripping her wrist where Kakashi had grabbed her.

"I am sorry-", Kakashi stammers. He tried to get more words out but he honestly didn't know what to say. He's exhausted, mad, angry, confused. Mitsuha doesn't want to press it either, but doesn't know what to do.

Mitsuha couldn't think of anything she could do. Then, recalling one of the times she got flustered in front of others, she remembers what Obito did.

"Would you like to go on a walk with me?", she asks innocently. Kakashi doesn't say anything but just nods. The two begin walking down throughout the village, until they find a quiet secluded path, and continue down that path. It was just the two of them but the silence spoke volumes.

Finally, the silence breaks.

"My mom and dad made one for you, and for Rin. I saw her earlier", Mitsuha says softly. Kakashi's chest aches at the thought of Rin. It is an instant reminder how she could've died too, if it had not been for Minato returning when he did. He hadn't seen Rin since Obito's memorial, where they didn't speak to each other.

"She's as okay as she could be", Mitsuha tries to assure Kakashi to no avail.

"Rin…", Kakashi chokes. "I've let her down. I couldn't save Obito. If it hadn't been for sensei- Rin would have died too."

Mitsuha, stunned by Kakashi's vulnerability, stops them in their walk.

"Kakashi", she treads carefully. "I know it may not seem this way but no one thinks Obito's death was your fault."

"Don't talk like you were there", Kakashi spits. "You weren't there. You manage to lead your team like I should have. They should have made you jonin and not me. I don't deserve it for what I did to Obito. You know as well as I what was expected of us as mission leaders, so don't you dare disagree."

"Well, friends will butt heads and not see eye-to-eye on matters. I mean look at us", Mitsuha sombers.

"'Friends'? I haven't treated you like a friend", he grunts. "What made you think we are friends?" He grasps his head where his eye is bandaged. He feels immense pain at the same time as his feelings run rampant. Mitsuha scoffs and finally speaks words she's wanted to say for some time, without tip-toeing around his coldness.

"You are my friend though. Before your fathers death and after. I don't need affirmations with those I consider my friends. Every time we trained, strategized, or with one another. Do you think that it all amounted to nothing?"

Kakashi stopped, clenching all of his anger in his fists. The veins are popping out, and the pain in his new eye becomes even more excruciating. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask for your pity over that!"

"Kakashi, I don't take pity on you!", she snaps. "Out of everything our friendship has made me feel, never pity. Angry, confused, heartbroken, but also happy, thankful, and even elated. Kakashi, you've always been my friend, even when you feel like you didn't need one."

Mitsuha turns him around to face her. "You need to let your guilt go! Guilt about your father, and now Obito! If you let it fester, you'll always be in the shadows, never in the light. And you deserve light in your life Kakashi!"

"Shut up!", Kakashi yells abruptly, picturing Obito with no control. Without thinking, Kakashi grips Mitsuha by her shoulders, tightly and harshly. "Damn it, you sound like him!"

She is visibly confused and scared. Kakashi has never laid a finger on her apart from practice, and the day he came back to school after his fathers death. Upon further deduction, she can feel everything in his grip. The scared look in his eye as he looks at her with all his pent up emotions bursting. She can feel his palms tremble as his fingers grip tighter, bound to bruise her.

"Why?! Why do you treat me like this? I've done absolutely nothing to deserve it!" Tears start to flow from Kakashi's eye and soak his mask. His adolescent emotions start to pour and he begins to sob uncontrollably. Mitsuha struggles to keep her emotions in check, and from becoming visible. She doesn't know what to say, but she knows she has to say something.

"Kakashi- I don't hate you."

"You have every right to hate me Mitsuha! I want you to hate me", Kakashi starts to breathe heavily. "So hit me, attack me, do something to prevent me from crawling out of my skin!"

This outburst doesn't sit right in Mitsuha's gut.

"Kakashi what is this really about?", she presses. Kakashi becomes angrier when she asks this question. She could feel it in his grasp.

"Why are you trying to aggravate me?" Her tone is less kind and more harsh. More concerned and angry. Little did she know that he was pressing her too and agitating her.

"What?", Kakashi sneers, grips tighter. "Do I need to attack you to finally break your act?!"

Mitsuha calls Kakashi on that bluff. She knew in her heart that Kakashi wouldn't actually attack a comrade from the same village unwarranted.

"You could do that", she starts getting in his face. "Or you can tell me why you're trying to get me to hit you?"

Kakashi starts to breathe harder, becoming more frustrated and closer to the brink of losing it.

"Kakashi", Mitsuha nearly cries. "Why do you want to hurt yourself? Damn it, tell me!"

Finally, Kakashi becomes undone.

"Because I killed Obito!", Kakashi's voice breaks. He loses all grip on his body and falls down from his overwhelming feelings. He cries hard and falls into the dirt. Mitsuha is shocked, having never seen Kakashi in such a state. Kakashi keels over gripping the dirt. She can feel her own heart breaking seeing him cry.

"I was supposed to lead them, and protect them. Why- why did they make me a jonin if I couldn't even do that?! Obito died saving me", Kakashi cries. His emotions channel right into the Sharingan Obito gave Kakashi on his deathbed.

Legends say that no other feels love and grief so much as an Uhicha. That's what typically leads to the awakening of the Sharingan. Kakashi's pain is feeding into his chakra. What's happening to Kakashi is that his chakra is unknowingly feeding his own emotions toward the Sharingan, causing him even greater pain and amplifying his grief. He starts to punch the ground. Drops of blood begin to drop from his eye and soak through his bandage.

"I should've died. ME! Why wasn't I killed, when I've done nothing worth keeping my life over."

Mitsuha drops down on her knees and lifts the broken boy out of the dirt. She tries to lift him up, but he continues to destroy the earth beneath him, like she wasn't even there.

"It's not your fault!", she grits through her teeth trying to keep her composure for him. Suddenly, Yoichi's words from so long ago start to echo in Mitsuha's head in a clear picture memory.

"'He can't hold in his pain forever. He will break. When he does, you guys must be there for him.' This is that moment."

Finally, Kakashi's strength starts to deplete. He is so drained of energy, Kakshi couldn't lift his head off the ground. Not knowing what else to do, she embraces Kakashi and begins to tear up. Never has she seen someone so broken. Not knowing what else to do, Mitsuha brings Kakashi close to her, wrapping him in a heartfelt embrace.

"Damn this war!", Mitsuha chokes.

When Mitsuha lifts Kakashi off the ground, Kakashi doesn't know how to handle it. Something about it made him remember Sakumo carrying him to bed when he was little. Kakashi hadn't felt a hug since then. With his little remaining strength, Kakashi moves his arms around Mitsuha, accepting the act. This small gesture of acceptance breaks Mitsuha. The toll she's taken from the war, worry for friends and family, make Mitsuha feel like a seasoned warrior. Simultaneously, she is still only a child that doesn't know how to process it all properly, as well as Kakashi. And it's far from over. She knows here that she wasn't meant to be a jonin either, and she still has much more maturing to do. She could barely handle it. This moment teaches her it is time to learn how to accept others' support rather than providing it all herself.

More importantly, this moment shows her something that she had feared was untrue. Beneath all the confidence, and unconditional compassion, she had always stayed true to herself, and her blind faith in Kakashi. This small gesture from him, accepting her support, said that he does accept her as a comrade and friend.

Kakashi eventually finds some strength to relinquish his embrace on Mitsuha. He manages to straighten his back and look at her clearly. Kakashi has rarely seen her cry, and it felt like a kunai in his chest all over again.

"You can't give up, Kakashi", Mitsuha horses. "Obito wouldn't want this for you. He gave a piece of him to live on through you. His spirit is meant to live on through you and Rin. He's meant to live through us all as long as we ensure to carry on his own Will of Fire, and his nindo."

Kakashi turns his gaze away once again. He can't bear to look in her eyes.

"I couldn't even keep the promise that I made to him on his deathbed. I promised him I would always protect Rin, and he loved her through the end. When we got ambushed, Sensei had to rescue us. I couldn't protect her." Mitsuha wipes away her tears and grabs Kakashi's head in between her hands, making him focus entirely on her and her words. This forces him to look into her eyes.

"That's why you're going to do everything you can to keep your promise to Obito. Now promise me the same", Mitsuha urges Kakashi.

"What?", he asks, confused.

Mitsuha's gaze looks as serious as a general talking to his troops before battle. "You know how much Rin means to me. And you know, as well as I, how much Obito loved her. So, make that promise to me, like you did to Obito. I will hold you to it if that is what it takes to help you. Use it as your motivation to become stronger, become smarter, and never forget the bond between the three of you. The one that lasts a lifetime."

Kakashi gets frustrated again. "What makes you put your faith in me, Mitsuha?"

"You are the son of Sakumo, the White Fang of the Leaf, a hero and savior of his comrades. You are Kakashi Hatake, the youngest jonin in the history of the Leaf. But above all else, what's most important to me is that you're my friend, and I know you won't fail."

Mitsuha grips Kakashi's hand tightly, hoping her words are finally getting through to him. Kakashi is overwhelmed but can slowly start to feel lighter. The years of pent up sadness he finally started to expel, and shared his burdens with the friend in front of him.

"You must always remember all that matters to you and carry it in your heart", Mitsuha continues to talk without thinking. "You aren't alone. I will help you keep this promise. Your friends are here for you. Let us help you carry your burdens."

"Okay…", Kakashi says. This is one of the first times he's admitted he needs help. The two leave the emotive conversation there. Kakashi's hand grips onto Mitsuha, feeling weak and vulnerable. The two don't stay like this for long, because Kakashi starts to feel clear again as the pain subsides from his new Sharingan eye.

"I need to go find Rin."

Mitsuha feels relieved when Kakashi says this. She takes a deep breath and nods in agreement. The two remaining teammates of Team Minato need each other to lean on. That bond is something that Mitsuha thinks she simply can't provide Kakashi, and she is okay with that.

Kakashi gets up, and runs out of sight quickly. Mitsuha cannot believe what just happened. Years of pent up emotions and unsaid words finally released.

Kakashi quickly makes his way to Rin's neighborhood. He doesn't hesitate to walk up to Rin's residence and knocks on the door.

When it opens, Kakashi is the last person she thought would be there. Her heart rate immediately accelerates. She can also study how worn and beat up he looks.

"Kakashi, what happened?" She studies his fists that went bloody from hitting the earth.

"I- I went for a walk", he says. Rin sits him on the steps of her home and starts to apply her medical ninjutsu to his calloused, bloody hands.

"It looks like you got into a fight."

Kakashi spills everything and tells her all about what happened with Mitsuha. How confused he felt and the promises he wants to keep. Rin takes it all in.

"You made that promise? To both of them?", she tears. Kakashi nods in sadness.

"Then you promise me this", Rin starts. "We will live for Obito", Rin pleads with all of her heart. He could finally see why the two girls were friends. They both have pure hearts and compliment each other so well.

"I promise", Kakashi states. The two walk away together, spending the rest of the time in each other's company.

Mitsuha eventually finds her way home, late into the night. When she gets to the gates of her property, she sees Mokoto waiting on the steps of their front door.

"Are you okay?", Mokoto asks hoarsely. Mitsuha studies her brother as he studies her. Mokoto looks exhausted. She shakes her head no.

"Have you been in yet?", she asks him, sitting beside him on the step. Mokoto shakes his head no.

"Losing Obito made me realize that I've been a jerk", Mokoto says. "I'm sorry I've spent so long being jealous and not supportive. It's something I promise to put effort into from now on. I think you're going to be a great jonin, and help us out of this war." Mitsuha quickly embraces Mokoto, and starts to sob into her brother's chest.

"I don't know if I can do it, Mokoto. This war is destroying people. I don't want us to be consumed by it!"

"Mitsuha", Mokoto brings his sister out from him. "If there is anyone who I believe in, it's you."

"Why?", she cries. "Why does it have to be like this?"

"Despite all the obstacles that even I put you through, the way you got here isn't because of anything other than the fact that you stayed true to yourself. You are not going to go through this alone. The only way any of us are going to get through this war is if we know that we can depend on each other, our friends, and our family."

Mitsuha breathes, "You're right." And he is. Mitsuha knows from now on she can't be as independent as she once was if she and everyone else will make it through the rest of the war. She learns from Mokoto that she will have to rely on others as she wants others to rely on her.

"Of course I'm right", Mokoto states, trying to lighten the mood. "I am technically the older twin after all."

She lets out a slight chuckle but it doesn't last long. The twins spend the rest of their time silently reflecting their actions until they head inside for the remainder of the night.


Over a week passes before the funeral of Yue Hoki arrives.

Yue Hoki will go down in history as one of the youngest shinobi casualties of the Third Great Shinobi War. She was just 9 years old, and had been a genin for only 7 weeks before she was killed.

The funeral is private. Out of the few outsiders, Mitsuha and Hitomi were asked to come by Yukine's mother to support him. The others were some village elite but mainly clansmen. The whole time, Yukine won't talk or even look at his teammates.

Yukine wouldn't leave Yue's grave the entire time after the burial for hours, and his team stayed with him the whole time. He just knelt on his knees all that time just staring.

Mitsuha and Hitomi kneel down behind Yukine. From behind, Mitsuha hugs him as tightly as Hitomi from the side. If this was another life, Yukine would have felt his heart skip a beat as the girl he had admired for so long held him. He doesn't feel anything though. Affirming any feelings he once had for Mitsuha are gone. His emotions have become completely stunted, and out of his reach. All, except his pain.

This undoes all his anger. He doesn't want to be comforted when Yue should've never died in the first place. He springs to his feet crying and runs away from his team, and the grave site.

Hitomi and Mitsuha chase after him, but lose him in the crowd of the shopping district.

Yukine runs and runs until he is out of the crowd and into the forests on the complete opposite side of the village. As he sprints, he screams at the top of his lungs.

"They shouldn't have let her go! She was too young, and I wasn't there to protect her. I'm her big brother… why wasn't I there to protect her?!"

Yukine trips over a root. The fall knocks the wind out of him.

"It should've been me!", he cries in all his pain and rage.

Yukine cries his soul out. The heavens erupt in thunder and pour just the same as he. He continues to lie there for hours, letting the rain drown his tears.

"Hello boy", a signature, sinister voice says.

Yukine jolts his torso up, panicked. There are two people. The first one he notices immediately is his former classmate, Anko Mitarashi. Next to her is a conspicuous looking person that Yukine didn't recognize. The man has very pale skin. He smiled for a moment, shining his fang-like teeth. He also has pronounced cheekbones and straight waist-length black hair with some covering and framing his face or to his shoulders. His eyes, though, captivate Yukine. His golden eyes with slitted pupils, purple markings around his eyes.

"He looks like a snake", Yukine thinks to himself.

"What are you doing out here Yukine?", Anko asks.

"You know this boy Anko?", the man asks.

"This is Yukine Hoki sensei. We were in the same class at the Academy", Anko states.

"And what is a member of the Hoki family doing laying out in the rain and mud", the man asks, kneeling to him.

Yukine tries to wipe away his tears, mumbling, unable to get words out. "What does it matter to you two? Who is this Anko?"

The man slinks down and kneels. He feels all the pain Yukine is radiating and takes it in like a lion hunting their prey.

"He would be perfect…", the man thinks.

"My name is Orochimaru", the man introduces himself. "I trained under the Third Hokage. Unfortunately, I know who you are."

Yukine looks up. "Did- did my father send you?"

"No", Orochimaru hisses. "We found you simply by chance. I was very disheartened to hear about your dear sister. Such a shame to lose such a young life."

Yukine clenches his pants in fury. "She never should've been sent on a mission."

"What if I were to tell you that we can bring her back?"

Yukine lashes out uncontrollably. What on earth could this guy be playing at? "What do you mean? It's not possible. Stop taunting me!"

Anko kneels down. "Yukine, Orochimaru sensei is one of the three legendary sannin. He is one of the strongest shinobi alive."

Yukine lifts his head up. "It can't be possible!"

Yukine feels a pale hand lift his head up under his chin, making him look into the snake's eyes. Orochimaru hisses through his sharp grin. "If you join us, you will also see the beauty in jutsu and discover new jutsu alongside me and Anko. We will find a way to bring back the dead."

Yukine wipes his eyes, falling for every sweet promise coming out of the Sanin's mouth. The hope and admiration swell from Yukine's grief.

"If I do what you ask, you'll find a way to bring my sister back?"

Orochimaru takes Yukine's hand and lifts him up.

"You will have the entirety of my jutsu at your fingertips."


A/N: Hello all! I'm so excited to be back writing chapters for you all! I finally know what direction I want the story to go in with my original characters and the characters we love. So now that I'm back in the swing of things I want to reiterate some things. The point of "Mitsuha Gaiden" is to provide background about establishing relationships, events, and mysteries regarding the main story. Also... this story will be sort of a slow burn with some characters. I am trying to stay as close to the cannon as possible. Its rated M for graphic scenes, language, and MAYBE eventual smut ;)