#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-
#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-

Legacy
kakashilvr(at)yahoo(dot)com

#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-
#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-

Chapter 2

Kakashi looked over the neatly written piece of paper he held in his hand as Tsunade rested her chin on her hands as she leaned on her desk.

"I just need you to get her acquainted here," Tsunade stated seeing that she wasn't going to get a reply from him.

"What is her purpose here in Konoha?" was all he asked.

Tsunade breathed in deeply as she blinked her eyes. "She is a medic-nin from Rain, and I am working with their Amekage to strengthen ties between Konoha and Rain. They've devloped some new techniques to cure ailments and injuries that I would like to explore."

"Hashiba?"

Tsunade slowly nodded. "She is the adopted daughter of the Amekage."

"Adopted?"

"The Amekage's wife could bare no children, so they adopted a baby girl," Tsunade stated. "She was left for dead when she was just a baby, because of her apparent handicap, they felt that they would be able to give the love that she needed to grow up."

"But why send their daughter? Why not their other more experienced Medic-nins?"

"I requested for her," Tsunade stated. "And its for a reason that I can't say at this moment. Kakashi, you're the only one I can trust to do this, because I don't want anyone to treat her any differently than the other shinobi in this village. She is our guest, but she will be working with the shinobi here."

Kakashi could only nod, knowing that she was keeping information secret from him and apparently everyone else in the village.

"She's been given an apartment in the Jounin Complex, and I've had Kawamura-san get her settled in," Tsunade said. "Please make her feel welcomed here. She will be working at the Hospital for most of her stay, but I will have her join your team on any small C Class missions so she knows how things work here. I want her to work closely with Sakura, since Kie has been known to have great chakra control. They could learn from each other."

Kakashi nodded as he folded the paper he held and slipped it into his pocket.

"Hokage-san, if there is anything that you are keeping from me, that will jeopardize my team or any mission, concerning Hashiba-san, I will hold you responsible for the outcome," he said, seriousness hinting at his voice.

Tsunade slowly nodded. "I'll take full responsibility," she said.

With a nod, Kakashi bowed slightly and then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Do you think she even knows?" she heard Shizune state from her side.

Tsunade shrugged, as she pulled the old report out from under the book that had covered it. She looked it over again, as her eyes traveled down the neatly written paper, her gaze lingering on the name of the person who wrote it.

Sakumo Hatake.

She then shook her head. "I dont know," she said. "And I dont want to bring any more attention to her until we can confirm that what was written here, is true."

"How do we propose on doing that?"

"Having her work at the hospital, I can keep a close watch," Tsunade said as she pushed herself away from her desk and then slowly stood. "If this is the only report that Sakumo Hatake wrote, then we are safe to assume that no one else knows, and that's good on our part."

"But what if.."

"Then we will have to do everything in our power to prevent her from leaving Konoha."

#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-
#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-

Kie slowly pushed on the wooden door, as it opened, its hinges creaking lightly. She smiled as she used her staff to determine the width of the door before stepping inside.

"I took the liberty of dressing the apartment for you."

Kie slowly nodded as the little old woman brought came in after her, setting down the two brown packs beside the open door.

"Tsunade-san said that you'd be traveling light, and Im sure that carrying curtains and linens would have been probably not on your list," she said with a smile.

The woman then approached Kie, taking her by her elbow and leading her to a chair next to the small kitchen. Turning her to the table before her, the woman placed a piece of paper in front of her and brought her hands to it.

"This is a map of the village," she said with a smile. "I've purposely labled the important areas; bath house, market, the four restaurants near here, and of course the Ninja Academy, Arena, Hospital, and where the Hokage stays."

Kie nodded to herself as she let her gloved fingers roam over the paper before her. She was amazed at how detailed the small map was, where certain areas were raised so she could feel the details as well.

"My nephew was blind, so when he came to visit, we made sure that we were able to let him get around easily," the woman stated. "Your bedroom is down the hall 10 feet and to your right. Right across is your personal bath, but I have to warn you that if you dont take an early enough bath, the hot water will be used up, and you will have to go to the Bath House. You're in the connected kitchen, and your living room is just 4 feet in front of you.

"Kitchen, there is a stove 3 feet to your right, the refrigerator just behind you," she added. "Cupbbards with glasses are just above the sink, to the left of the refrigerator, and dishes are just above the stove. Utensils are in these drawers just below the small sink here."

Kie nodded, glad that the woman was taking as much care into pointing out the small things needed to be used in this small apartment. Apparently, she must have loved her nephew dearly to take this much effort to make her feel at home here.

"I'll bring up some towels so that you will have a fresh set to use tonite," the woman added. "I was only able to fill the pantry with a few food items, to last you a week, so I suggest that you hit the market when you have time."

"Kawamura-san, you've done so much already," Kie stated. "I thank you for helping me getting settled in."

"Its my pleasure, miss," the woman said, happiness hinting at her voice. "If there is anything you need, please dont feel afraid to contact me. You're new to Konoha, so there will be a period of adjustment. Just helping you get the minor things out of the way, so you can worry about the major ones."

"You've done more than most would have under the same predicament," Kie stated. "Most times, I've been left to fend for myself."

"Im sure your missions as a jounin were rough, but seeing as you are here, you must have faired well," the woman stated. "Also, Tsunade-san, wanted to let you know that the Genin Team from Cloud will meet you at the training ground after 2 pm today. I've labeled the map so that you will know how to get there."

"I thank you again."

"Well, I'll leave you to get settled, its nearly 11 am and I have 4 mouths to feed for lunch," the woman said as she rounded the kitchen table and headed toward the door. "I suggest that you take a little nap before your meeting later today. I'll bring up some food for you before you leave."

"Thank you," Kie said.

The woman smiled in her direction before turning to leave the small apartment, grabbing the door by its handle and about to close it, when she ran into the tall silver haired Jounin, who lived only a level down from this floor.

"Ah, Hatake-san!" the woman exclaimed. "Im so sorry about the hot water this morning!"

Kie slowly stood, reaching for her staff as she slowly approached the open door.

"It's quite alright, Mari," she heard him reply. "I woke early enough to hit the bath house before it became crowded."

"Just so you know the pipes have been fixed, so you shouldn't have that problem tomorrow morning," the woman stated. "Let me know if you need anything else; I'll have some lunch prepared for you. You know where to grab it if you have the time."

"Ah, thank you, Mari," he said.

Kie came to stand in the frame of her door, as she heard the woman trudge off slowly. "She seems to care about those she looks after," she commented.

"Mari has a big heart," she heard him reply. "I guess you would need one if you have had 10 children."

"Ten?" Kie asked, a little astonished. "My, no wonder she can make someone feel at home."

"I guess its also a good thing that I was able to catch you here," Kakashi stated as he placed his hands in his pockets. "Tsunade-san asked me to play tour guide with you, until you get yourself acquainted with our village."

Kie smiled as she slowly nodded. "So, you are the jounin assigned to me?" she asked a little amused. "I am honored."

"Consider it a favor," he said. He was silent for a moment. "Hashiba-san.."

"Please, call me Kie," she said.

"The Hokage didn't fill me in totally on why you are here in Konoha," he said. "Is there something that I should know about you?

Kie could only shake her head a bit as she shrugged. "All I know is that my father, received a message from your Hokage that I come with our Genin Teams to the Chuunin Examinations being held here," she said. "I was filled in on the rest when I arrived, which was the agreed service that I would do here for the next year."

"Year?"

She nodded. "That's all I know," she said.

Kakashi slowly nodded to himself. "You meet with the Cloud team later today?"

She nodded.

"I will join you at that time," he said. "As Mari stated, you should get some rest."

Kie smiled but nodded. "I am considering that," she said.

"I'll be by again just before 2," he said.

With that she felt his presence before her, disappear. With a deep breath, she stepped back into her apartment, closing the door behind her. She breathed in deeply as she felt her way back to the kitchen and rested her staff up against the table.

Removing her gloves, she placed them neatly down on the kitchen table and made her way down the hallway, and found the small room that served as the apartment's bedroom. Removing the hitai-ate that covered her left side of her face, she dropped it to the floor as she made her way to the bed that was situated to the side. The hard wood floor under her sandled feet, creaked as she felt along the walls, then came upon the small bed. She sighed to herself as she slowly lay on the covers, breathing in deeply as she closed her eyes.

Her left hand instinctively went to her normally covered eye, as her fingers slowly traced along the scar that was there. It was thick under her sensitive fingers, as it crossed diagonally over her eye, starting from just over her nose, and ending at the side of her face, near her ear. Over the years, the scar tissue had faded, but the mark was still there. The reason why she wore the hitai-ate over, so that no one would look at the ugly scar. She humored herself knowing that for a blind woman, something that trivial shouldn't bother her. However, as a child growing up, she would never forget the humiliating comments that were tossed at her because of it.

She turned over onto her back, finally feeling the effects of the long travel from Rain take over her. Closing her eyes, she drifted into a light sleep.

#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-
#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-

Kakashi had arrived as stated, unusual for him, but he knew that this was an important matter. Kie was already ready by the time he reached her door, waiting just outside of her door, her staff in hand as she leaned against the wall across from her door.

Before nearing her, he realized that he could not sense her at all. Even at least some Chakra, like he couldn't sense her that morning on the bridge. Somehow, she was controlling her chakra so that she could not be sensed by others, but why? He was hardly ever startled by anyone, and it somewhat unnerved him that she was able to appear beside in on the bridge, and he had not known she was there.

"Hatake-san?" her voice seemed to echo down the hall he walked down.

"I see that you are ready," he said as he approached her. Even standing this close to her, he could not sense her.

She nodded. "I want to be there early," she said.

The slowly walked down the hallway and made their way out of the small apartment complex into the afternoon sun.

"How good is your sense of direction?" Kakashi asked.

"Pretty good," she said with a smile, turning in the direction of his voice. "But, as with many new places..."

She held her staff in front of her, and slowly pulled it apart, seperating it into two pieces and then tied them together, as she placed it into a holder on her back. She then pulled out a small circular object from the pack she wore on her hip and placed it to her lips. She then blew into it, where it emitted a high pitch whistle. Blowing on it two more times, they were then greeted with the screech of a falcon flying overhead, as it swooped down, as Kie held her arm out. The falcon landed gracefully, on her outstretched arm, before climbing up the rest of her arm to rest on her shoulder.

"This is Taka," she said as she placed the small object back in her hip pouch and pulled out what looked to be a piece of meat. "He serves as my eyes when we travel to unknown areas." She quickly fed him the piece of meat.

"Strange to use a falcon," Kakashi noted.

"Yes, it would seem so," she said with a smile. "I found Taka when he was thrown out of his mother's nest. I nursed him back to health, and he's been with me ever since. My father helped me to train him to serve as my eyes. He's truly a remarkable animal."

Kakashi slowly nodded, more to himself as she turned toward him. He had wondered how she was able to achieve any rank without some sort of external help. He was mildly impressed, however, relying totally on an animal for your senses, was also a weakness.

"The training ground is 1/2 mile due North," he said. "You are familiar with the direction you must take?"

Kie nodded, sensing the challenge was implied in his statement. "Rooftops or roads?" she asked.

"Your choice."

She smiled and with a slight bow, she then leapt toward the nearest rooftop as she sent her falcon toward the air. Landing softly on the nearby building, she sensed Kakashi land near her, then with a signal from her falcon, she followed his cries across the rooftops of Konoha as they headed toward the Konoha training grounds.

Kakashi was impressed so far; the bond between her and her bird was strong, he could tell. However, he knew that to strengthen her sense, and if Tsunade was adamant on him overseeing her acclimation to Konoha, he would have to train her to not rely on the bird for her sight.

#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-
#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-

Kakashi stood silently with the Jounin from Cloud as they watched as Kie worked with the young genin boy from the jounin's team.

"Do you think he will have a chance?" Taro, the jounin asked.

Kakashi shrugged. "He can fail with those who are sighted," Kakashi stated simply. "Even the strongest of men can fail sometimes."

"How was she able to pass the Chuunin examinations?"

"Good teamwork," Kakashi answered. "She didn't even ask for a special consideration during the written test."

"You mean she still participated in that?"

Kakashi nodded. "Answered only one question," Kakashi said as he remembered what Tsunade had told him. "And of course, didn't falter on Ibiki's question."

Taro nodded as they watched her kneel down and then turn the boy in her arms, so that his back was facing her. She placed her hands on his arms, and smiled. Then it seemed as if doing this, she was able to read his movements as he went through a series of attacks, aimed at an invisible attacker. She then pulled him back into a stance, and slowly proceeded to position him correctly, making him understand that his stance was a little off, which was the reason why he was not aiming his kunai's correctly.

This went on for a couple of hours, and before long the boy was smiling when he was able to throw ten kunais at a target, 9 of which hit the bulls eye. Kie was congratulating him on his success, and that she promised that the following day they would work on his hand to hand genjutsu techniques.

Kakashi watched as she lead the boy over to where they were standing, and Taro congratulated him on his performance. With a round of thanks a goodbyes, Kie grabbed for the staff on her back, putting it together before she turned to Kakashi.

"He has a lot of talent, but he was just unsure of himself," she said with a smile. "His biggest fear is his genjutsu, so we will have to spend time on getting him confident on what he already knows."

"If anything, Kie, you could do well as a teacher," Kakashi remarked. "You have a sense of patience that is one to be admired."

"That's what my father said," she said with a smile. "If you dont mind, Hatake-san, I wish to head back toward the village on my own."

"Then I will meet you here tomorrow?"

She nodded. "Same time."

"Good day."

She breathed in deeply when she felt his presence disappear. Calling for her falcon, as it came to rest on her shoulder, she started her way back to the village, slowly walking along the paved path that lead to the training grounds.

She knew why Tsunade had summoned for her, since her father didn't keep anything a secret from her when she was growing up. About why it was Sakumo Hatake who had rescued her, when she was just a baby, and brought her to the sanctuary of the Village of Rain. Why it was the great White Fang, who urged her father to keep her safe. Why she chose to become a shinobi, even though the odds were against her being a successful one. She found a way to do, so she could come to Konoha, to thank the man who have given her a new life. She wasn't the stronges shinobi from her village, but it allowed her to achieve things that were out of reach for many.

When she heard of Sakumo's death, it only gave her the strength she needed to chase a dream what was often difficult to those of her handicap. But she found ways to change her detractor's opinion of her. And to finally meet his son...

There was so much that she wanted to say, but knew that unless Tsunade made known her reasons for summoning her, she was not about to reveal those reasons as well.

Adjusting the hitai-ate she wore, she silently made her way toward the village, taking the path that would lead her to the Konoha hospital.

#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-
#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-

TBC

#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-
#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-

Author's Note:
Sorry for the OC-centric in this chapter. I wanted to set-up the basis of the character so that you start to understand what is happening. Everything will fall into place, and of course, Kakashi will get his deserved time in the limelight.

Ryu-Hitori-Lenore-Evans : Thanks for the review. Glad you are liking it, just from the first chapter. Hopefully, everything falls into place as its being written. I actually wrote out 5 versions of this story so far, so Im hoping that I pick out the best elements from each to write this one.

chairomori: The contents of the report will be revealed slowly through each chapter. As you can see in this one, you now know the author of the report. Kakashi's curiosity with her will help reveal what was written as the story goes on.

allyluv : yes, Im also a Kakashi fanatic. Mainly because he's played by my all time favorite japanese voice actor, but he's just plain cool, and what can I say, I like mysterious guys.

#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-
#- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #- #-