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Legacy
kakashi(underscore)lvr(at)yahoo(dot)com
Fanfiction(dot)net doesn't allow underlines/underscores for some awful reason.

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Chapter 3

Sakura smiled as she saw Kie enter the hospital, and immediately walked up to the jounin from Rain.

"Hashiba-san, coming to visit our hospital?" Sakura asked with a smile as she stood near the young woman.

Kie nodded. "I wanted to see if I could get a tour," she said. "So, do you work here, Sakura?"

"Yes," Sakura stated as she stepped toward the jounin. Placing her hand on Kie's arm, with a light nudge, she helped her through the main foyer of the hospital and walked down one of the hallways. "Tsuande-sama is training me to become a medic-nin and thought that if I put some time here at the hospital, I can hone my skills."

"I see," she said. "Then you must have shown some great control over your Chakra to have the Hokage reccomend that you work here."

"Kakashi-sensei, has always stated that I have the best control of the team," she said. "I can give you the tour if you would like."

Kie nodded. "Yes, I would," she said. "Though I am also here to see if I can get some salve or ointment."

"Ointment?"

"I forgot to pack some before I left Rain," she offered. "I need it to take care of the scar that I have."

Sakura smiled. "Well, why dont we take care of that right now?"

The young pink haired girl slowly escorted the woman down a long hallway, and then turned into a quiet room. She then led Kie over to an examination table, and then walked over to one of the many cupbards that lined a nearby wall.

"For scarring, this should do it," Sakura said as she pulled down a small jar, and walked over to where Kie was standing. "But, what scar is this for?"

Kie smiled. "Its not something that I show anyone, but..."

She placed the staff she was using against the table, and slowly lifted the hitai-ate she wore, revealing her scarred right eye. Sakura gasped a little seeing the angry looking mark that marred what was, to her, a seemingly flawless face.

"Dont worry, Sakura, I was only a baby when I received it," Kie smiled. "I dont even think I remember if it hurt or not."

Sakura nodded as she pulled a chair before and had Kie sit in it. "Who would do such a thing to a baby?" Sakura asked as she slowly opened the small jar.

Kie shrugged. "Those who have no concept of the value of life," she said.

"That is why you keep it covered?"

"Not the entire reason," she said. "But part of it."

Sakura nodded as she used some of the salve and lightly rubbed it into the scarred flesh before her, careful not to let it fall into the woman's eyes.

"If this ointment works, I can have some more made and see that a supply is given to you," Sakura stated as she moved away and closed the jar. "The scar wont totally go away, but Im sure that you know that."

"Its not so much for it to go away," Kie said as she slowly stood. "Just to make sure it doesn't cause me aggravation. From time to time, it does cause me some pain."

"I can have Tsunade-san..."

"It's alright," Kie said. "I've lived with it for 25 years."

Sakura nodded. "Then, let me show you around," she said. "When will you start working here?"

"As soon as the Chuunin Exams start, I'll be here to acquaint myself with the going ons here."

"I hope we can work together, Hashiba-san," Sakura said as she put away the ointment and walked back over to her, and took Kie by her arm. "And I hope that you will enjoy your time here."

"If everyone is as helpful as you are, Sakura-chan, I know I will."

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Sakura laughed to herself as she and Kie walked into the room they had started in, so that Sakura could collect her personal effects, having finished her duties for the day. She had spent the rest of the afternoon with Kie, showing her around the hospital, giving directions to where things and rooms were, and who was in charge of each section.

They were sharing stories of their times as gennins on their missions, and Sakura even related how as a 'personal' mission for her team, was to trick their recluse of a teacher into seeing what he looked like under the damned mask he wore. The whole event ended in Team 7 being utterly defeated by a second mask he wore under the first.

"So the only people in all of Konoha who has seen the face of the famous Kakashi Hatake, are the two who run Ichiraku Ramen," Sakura stated.

"Actually, there are few more than that."

Sakura looked up to the doorway and Kie noted the slight groan she emitted as she came to stand near her.

"Genma..." Sakura groaned. "You know that you shouldn't be walking around so soon after your surgery."

"It was a minor surgery, Sakura-chan," he said as he slowly entered the room, eyeing the young woman who was standing next to the young jounin. "And who do we have here?"

Sakura rolled her eyes but obliged him. "Genma, this is Kie Hashiba of the Village of Rain," Sakura started. "Kie, this is Genma Shiranui."

Kie slowly turned in the direction of the door, and smiled as he approached them.

"A pleasure to meet you, Genma," Kie stated.

"No, no," Genma stated. "The pleasure is all mines."

Kie heard Sakura mumble "oh brother", under her breath but only smiled to herself. "Shiranui was it?" she asked. "You oversee the third part of the Chuunin Exams, dont you?"

"Yes, but due to a recent injury, I've been taken off the roster," Genma said, the senbon he was famous for having, bobbed as he spoke. "But I have to say, I dont regret it one bit." Clearing his throat he added. "So you are the jounin that the Hokage asked for from Rain?"

Kie nodded. "I will be offering my service to Konoha for a while," she said.

"Interesting," he stated.

Kie smiled as she slowly removed the gloves she wore, stepping toward him. "May I?"

Genma's gaze met Sakura's and she only nodded. He stood still for a moment before answering her. She smiled to herself as she let her hands, rest lightly at the base of his neck. Sakura watched, as she had seen with Naruto, as Kie let her fingers feel his face, and her expression change as she became familiar with Genma's features. And as she did with Naruto, she breathed in deeply before letting her hands fall, and with a laugh, she placed her gloves back on.

"Be careful, Shiranui-san," she offered. "The longer you use a senbon, you will damage your gums and teeth in the long run. Other than that, you appear to be in good health, but I can tell that you spend quite some time enjoying a drink or two."

Sakura smiled seeing the expression the older man wore. She then tugged on Kie's tunic, signaling that she was wanted to tell the young woman something. Kie leaned down as the young kunouichi whispered into her ear. Kie smiled as she stood straight again, then clearing her throat, she grabbed for her staff.

"Thank you Sakura, for showing me around today," Kie stated. Turning to Genma, she slowly stepped up to him, feeling for his arm and hooking her own around his. "So, where do you often go to get a drink around here?"

Sakura rolled her eyes again, seeing the sudden spark in his eyes. "There's a place near the Jounin Complex," he offered. "The regulars are there frequently since its so close to the apartments."

"Since I've had a long day, and long journey, Im looking forward to a drink," she said. "Would you mind joining me?"

"I'd be delighted," Genma stated. Turning to the young pink haired girl, he offered his smile. "If you see Takai-sensei, let him know he knows where he can find me."

Sakura slowly nodded. "Genma, if you do anything that I wouldn't do, I'll be sure to see that you remain in this hospital for the duration of your healing period."

Kie stifled a laugh. "Dont worry, Sakura-chan," she offered. "I'll keep him in line."

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Kakashi breathed in deeply as he entered the small tavern that served as the socializing center for all the Shinobi within Konoha. Today, however, the tavern was busier than usual, since the jounins from the other villages, visiting with their teams were here as well. He placed his hands in his pocket after waving to the tavern owner, heading toward the small booth that was normally used by him and his close jounin friends. He knew that Asuma, Gai and Genma would be along shortly.

As he seated himself, a barmaid came along, placing a full bottle of sake on the table and laid out four cups. "As usual," she said with a smile.

With a nod, he poured himself a cup of the sake, pulling down his mask quickly to take a drink before hiding his face behind it again. The booth afforded him some of the privacy from the rest of the tavern, which was one of the reasons why they made it as their common meeting place.

He stared out of the nearby window, as he poured himself another cup of the sake and just let it rest in front of him. The streets were somewhat bare, just some passserby's as they made their way home. He then turned his head to stare at the cup before him, before looking up again. He studied the people who were in the small tavern, making note of how many different villages were represented by the jounins who were there.

A group of jounins at a far table toward the other side of the tavern had caught his attention however, he had noticed them prior to entering the establishment. There was something about them that bothered him a bit, but he couldn't place a his finger on it. There were only three of them, sporting the head protectors from Grass. They were drinking and talking amongst themselves, and eyeing up a couple of young girls who sat at a table near them.

He quickly pulled his mask down again to down the sake, and just as he pulled it back up, Asuma appeared at the table beside him.

"Seems that its quite busy today," Asuma noted as he took a seat across from the copy ninja and poured hismelf a cup of the sake, and then lighting the cigratte he was holding between his lips. "I've never seen this place so busy."

Kakashi nodded as he leaned back in the booth seat he was in. "Over 90 teams participating this year," Kakashi said. "A good number considering how much we've had to rebuild in the last few years."

Asuma nodded as he took a drag from his cigarette. "Gai and his team are on an emergency mission, so he wont be joining us tonite," he said. "He will be back in a couple of days." He then turned in his seat to look through the rest of the tavern. "Very busy indeed."

"Once the examinations starts and the few teams that are eliminated leave, it wont be as busy," Kakashi stated as he proceeded to pour himself another cup of the sake. "Where's Genma?"

"He was a the hospital the last time I saw him today, don't know if the doctors will let him out this soon," Asuma said as he took his last smoke from the cigarrted he held and then leaned back against the seat he was in. "So, I've heard that you are doing some kind of mentor training with a new jounin."

Kakashi nodded. "A woman from Rain," he stated. "The Hokage thinks that she may be helpful as a medic-nin for Konoha."

"A transfer?"

Kakashi nodded as he pulled his mask down and drank the sake. "Her training starts as soon as the examinations start," he said pulling his mask up again.

Asuma slowly nodded as he pulled out another cigarrette and lit it. "So is it true?" he asked. "That she is completely blind."

"Yup," Kakashi answered. "If she isn't, she's pulling off one of the most convincing acts I've seen in a long time." Kakashi then fell silent for a moment, which Asuma noted.

"You look like you dont seem convinced," he said.

Kakashi turned to the window before answering. "Remember the first exercises we did, when we first started training as genin, about Chakra control?"

Asuma nodded. "The basic skill that we all had to learn."

"I can't sense her," Kakashi stated simply.

"What do you mean?"

Kakashi met his gaze. "I mean exactly that," he said. "You usually can sense someone's presence by the use of their chakra. And able to 'hide' your presence by controlling how much Chakra you give off, however, you can only do that for a short period of time. With her..."

"You mean, she's constantly hiding her presence from others?"

Kakashi shrugged.

"That would mean she would be totally drained if its constantly controlled," Asuma stated.

"And she acts as if its nothing," Kakashi said. "Genma is coming."

Asuma turned in his seat to see the senbon twirling jounin enter the small tavern, waving his hand toward the barmaid.

"Well, we know that your senses aren't totally..."

Before Asuma could finish, he watched as a dark haired woman enter after him, and he took her by the arm to help her through the crowded tavern.

"That's her?"

Kakashi didn't have to answer. Genma smiled in their direction and slowly escorted the young woman through the crowd and made his way over to their booth.

"Busy tonite," he said with a smile as he looked at his two friends. "Kie, I want you to meet Asuma Sarutobi and Kakashi Hatake. This is Kie Hashiba."

Kie smiled. "I've had the pleasure of meeting Hatake-san," Kie said. "Though, Sarutobi-san, its a pleasure to meet you."

Genma helped her into the seat near Kakashi, as he took a seat next to Asuma, then poured himself a cup of sake, and then filled the remaining cup. He placed the cup in front of her. "Sake is right in front of you, about 7 inches from the edge of the table."

"Thank you," Kie said as she reached for the cup and took it into her gloved hands. "So is it true that the Sake here is one to be envious of?"

"It does the job," Genma offered with a smile. "Try it."

Kie smiled as she placed the cup to her lips and took a sip from the liquid. Breathing in deeply, she then downed the rest and placed the cup down before her. "Nice," she said.

Genma smiled to himself as he poured her another cup.

"Hashiba-san," Asuma started.

"No, please call me Kie," she said. "Seeing as I'll be working in Konoha for a while, formalities are not needed."

"Im sure you've been asked as to why you are here," Asuma stated. "And we've heard some stories, but it helps to get it straight from the horse's mouth."

Kie nodded. "Yes, Im sure it is strange to have a shinobi from another village be asked to defect to another, isn't it?"

"About as strange as anything we've seen here," Asuma said.

"Im not entirely sure what the reason behind your Hokage's request for choosing me, to come to Konoha," Kie started. "Since Im not the strongest shinobi from Rain, nor am I the best medic-nin. Because of my handicap, I was always near the bottom of the class, but worked hard to do what I needed."

"So you think that there is another reason as to why you were asked to come here?" Genma asked.

"Why summon a girl who did almost next to worst?" Kie asked. She then shook her head. "I think it has to do with the reason why I was adopted by the Amekage when I was a baby."

Kakashi turned to her. 'So she knew that she was adopted.' he thought to himself. "What were the circumstances?"

Kie turned her head to him, but nodded. "From what I've been told, I was rescued by a traveling shinboi, on his return from a mission," she started. She then slowly reached up to the hitai-ate she wore and slowly untied it. "The shinobi happened upon a caravan that had been attacked by a band of mercenary ninja, hired for whatever reason, they killed everyone except for me. For some reason, the ninja spared me, to do something very horrible."

As she let the hitai-ate fall from her face, she slowly brushed her loose hair away from the disfigurement that marred her complexion. The scar, dark against her skin, looked angry, as she opened the eye that hid under it. She heard Genma breathe in deeply, but knew that it would be disturbing to some if they had seen it.

"The ninja who held me, tried to do what he could to remove my eye," she said. "The shinobi who rescued me, was able to fend off the ninja, and save me before anything more serious could be done.

"But the damage to just a baby was enough to threaten my life, so the shinobi had to seek out a nearby village to hopefully save my life," she continued. "Rain was the closest village, so he took me there, and that's when the Amekage promised that he would look after me. When he could not find any information as to who lead the caravan, or where I had come from, or even the mercenary ninja that attacked, he adopted me, to raise as his own.

"I've lived with the knowledge that whomever attacked us, had their reasons, and I may never fully know them," she said. "Though, I could never thank the shinobi who did rescue me, since he did not return to Rain since that incident. My life was spared, I was saved, so to honor those who sacrificed to save me, I vowed that I would become a shinobi, to overcome the handicap that was given to me. I dont consider it a curse, but a gift."

"Tragic," Asuma stated as he lit another cigarette. "The shinobi that did rescue you, do you know who it was?"

Kie tilted her head a moment, but then shook her head. "All I know was that he was from Konoha," she said as she tied the hitai-ate back on. "My father never told me who he was, and when I asked, he would never tell me."

"Konoha?" Asuma asked. "A shinobi who found a lost baby would have been big news here. But we've never heard anything about it."

Kie slowly nodded, but smiled to herself. "Well, I dont dwell on it as much as I used to," she said. "I was given a second chance, and if I can never thank the man who did save me, then fate has decided that we never cross paths again."

"Learning that world can be cruel so young," Genma said. "And the best way to drown it out is to keep on drinking."

Kie laughed to herself as she heard Asuma let out a groan. She then took a sip from the cup in front of her. Leaning back, she listened to them carefully, seeing that they all shared a friendship that was to be admired.

Kakashi, was quiet for most of the evening, as he listened as Genma related the events of his last mission, where he ended up wounded enough to bring the wrath of the Konoha hospital director to threaten temporary suspension should he take another B-Class mission.

He watched as Kie listened intently, nodding her head as she took in what Genma and Asuma were telling. Still, he could not sense her, even sitting this close to her. He felt that he needed to touch her, just to convince himself that she was there. How Genma and Asuma hadn't noticed, he would discuss with them later. He however, still felt that there was something not being totally said by her, or the Hokage, and she didn't entirely tell the truth about why she was here. Though the answer she did give, was reason enough for everyone else to know.

His gaze darted from Genma and Asuma, then over the to the table where he had first seen the Grass Jounins. They were still there, drinking, but every once in a while he would see either one or two them, look in their direction. However, a loud outburst from a nearby table, caused one of the barmaids to block his vision of their table for a moment, but it was in that moment, the three had disappeared.

For now, he would let it go. He would make it the first thing tomorrow to find out who they exactly were and what teams they were with. He felt uncomfortable about not knowing why their attention had turned to their table.

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TBC

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Author's Note:
So a little more is revealed. Put the elements together, and now something new to add to the mystery? Sorry a little short (is it?)
Comments welcomed and thanks to all those who are reviewing and keeping this story on alert.

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