(A/N): By the way: Currently, Kakashi is 35 and the gang is 13.

--For you math people out there...yes, he married young and had a little'un at 22. :-)

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Little Imp

Chapter 2: Cliff Edge of Peril & Mystery

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The remaining team members glanced at each other then sped to the river, upon reaching it, swiftly working on an unspoken pact and finished in nearly 5 minutes then taking off after their sensei.

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"Oh. Dear. Kami!" ((God)) The fretful medic-nin went into sheer hysterics once getting over her initial surprise and 'eep!' of when the Jounin had jumped through an open, ceiling window, landing right in front of her.

Oh, she just had to have been drinking tea just then, didn't she? Kakashi kept a lazy expression as the medic-nin sheepishly handed him a hand towel to dry off the current face and flopping hair sopping with what smelled skeptically like ginger tea.

"What happened?" The woman instantly asked, face clearly wrinkled in distress and worry, as she called for a stretcher and a few helpers.

"I don't know, my team and I found her like this. Will she be all right?" The last part added hesitantly.

The medic-nin furrowed her brows more after performing a quick chakra scan as the helpers gently took the girl from Kakashi, placing her on the stretcher.

"Take her to Ward 2, " the medic-nin instructed to the aides.

Turning to Kakashi, the ninja pushed up her sleeves and tightened her hair tie.

"I honestly don't know," she softly replied with closed eyes, then turned to briskly walk out the room's doors toward the assigned ward.

"NNNNNNAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH—"

'WUMP!'

Alas, a twitching Naruto lied on the floor, eyes swirling about as Sasuke and Sakura gracefully landed beside him.

"Hn. You were taking too long," the dark-haired teen stated as a dubious foot-imprint on the stunned boy's back became apparent.

"SAASUKE!—Eeeeh? Kakashi-sensei, why do you smell like ginger! Ack!" Naruto bleated, hands flying to protect his nose from the sharp smell. Sakura giggled into her hand as a flung towel smacked Naruto dead in the face.

Seeing his student's inquiring faces searching the ward, Kakashi spoke up "She's been taken in by a medic-nin. No worries." His eye curved into its smile. With the three seemingly satisfied by the statement, he carried on. "Maa. Done with your mission already? Good, I have a new one for you guys." Only Naruto seemed to jump with enthusiasm, flames dancing around in his eyes, as the other two sighed with similar thoughts of 'what now…cleaning pools…raking leaves…'

"What is it! What is it! Rescuing a princess! Fighting Enemy-nins!" He eagerly asked.

Kakashi closed his eye and crossed his arms sagely as if to create a dramatic pause, then curved his eye up.

"Sponge-bathing the elderly."

A heavy anime fall echoed throughout the halls followed by two aggravated sighs.

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Kakashi sped along the rooftops of Konoha, making haste towards the Hokage's office. He had been recently summoned to a rushed meeting, the urgency was clear. Nevertheless, it was a free heaven-sent ticket out of the…mission…He mentally shuddered; the "mission" had turned…disturbing, yet somewhat entertaining at the same time. Thank Kami the elderly believed in bathing suits, ehh…most of them. To see his little students squirm in awkwardness was nothing short of amusing. Even the proud Uchiha squirmed under the circumstances and was dangerously close to passing out quite a few times. Naruto, faired worse, actually fainting quite a few times. He was proud that Sakura had gritted out the entire thing, ah, or was that the other Sakura? Luckily, the usual rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke seemed to have disappeared that, er, mission, he would really have to talk with Hokage-sama about these missions as of late. Kakashi silently chuckled to himself; all three had takenno care to hide their obvious, enraged scowls at the Jounin who sat in the back of the bathhouse beside the open window where the steam wasn't that strong, taking up his usual fix of Icha Icha Paradise. ((Makeout Paradise)).

Upon reaching his destination, his visible eye slightly widened. Every Jounin and Chuunin had been summoned to the main office; the Hokage sat patiently, puffing on his pipe. Every ninja turned upon Kakashi's entrance; some glared, others sighed. The Copy Nin was equally famous as the Chronically-Late-Pain-In-The-Ass-Nin. The elderly man cleared his throat and spoke, "Everyone is here I believe? Good. I'll go straight to the matters then." The crowd immediately silenced, beckoning him to continue.

"Listen closely. First, the Chuunin exams will have to be delayed, most likely suspended for this year." At this murmured speculations picked up, then soon quieted down, urging the Hokage to continue.

"Rumors of Orochimaru gathering forces are true, it is uncertain whether he is an immediate threat though spies have reported his subordinates meeting with the Kazekage of the Sand village as well as the Tsuchikage of the Rock Village." Murmurs grew louder, similar thoughts rippling in the air. Nobody wanted a repeat of the last hideously, bloody war between Konoha and the Hidden Rock Village, the Sand Nin were also renowned for their superb discipline and skill. "Also." Focus sharpened on the Sandaime. "There is detected movement toward the Cloud Village." The room darkened, another Great Ninja War became chillingly possible. The Rock village still harbored bitter resentment from past relations, the Cloud as well in their humiliating defeat when deciding to break the peace treaty. Orochimaru was using these to his advantage.

"Second, be alert, there are reports that at least one or more undercover spies reside in Konoha as we speak. Any strange ninja found or wanting entrance must be brought in for questioning."

Kakashi thought back to the brutalized kunoichi still recovering in the hospital. '…Could she be one? Her blank hitae-ate is pretty suspicious…'

"Expect to be called upon for missions outside Konoha. All those except Jounin-sensei in charge of the genin, dismissed." With quick bows, the room swiftly cleared as the Jounins stepped forward.

Sarutobi continued, "I should hope I do not need to tell you to start training the genin much more vigorously. Although the exam will not be taking place, they should be trained to Chuunin level. Especially the rookies." At the latter, he pointedly looked at the three Jounins: Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma.

"Hai." The Jounins answered in unison, and departed the room.

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The sensei was taking his time. A very, very, long, sweet, smell-the-roses-along-the-way time. He must have met 8 black cats along the way. Perhaps he got lost on the road leading to the road that led to the other road that met with the actualroad of life. Maybe his hair was in realitya wig and the man was truly Superman, helping little, old ladies to cross the street all over the world, his mask coming into place once realizing the ol' glasses trick wasn't fooling anyone. Or his students were just becoming more paranoid by the minute. Indeed, when said Jounin arrived with his usual smiling eye and cheery greeting, there were no outbursts of opposition. Nay, the three genin simply stood there, in front of the Elderly Care home, as they had been for the past five hours, 10 minutes, and 45 seconds. Previously, those passing by had squinted at the group strangely before recognizing team 7 and tutting; that sensei had a tendency to drive people off the deep end. Let us say, after sponge bathing the elderly whilst a Jounin-sensei runs off early during the mission, their state of mind was not helped.

It was thus so that Kakashi opened his eye to see if his students were actually his, when noticing the crazed, fervor look in their eyes, their heads slowly rising to meet his.

'Hmm…did I push them too hard this time?…'

"Maa. Another mission well done it seems." His eye curving up, hoping to get some reaction.

Naruto cracked. "HOW WOULD YOU KNOW! YOU WEREN'T EVEN THERE!" He heaved with a red face, pointing a sharp finger as if to condemn the man.

Ah, well, they weren't completely insane, yet. However, he was not looking forward to training, noticing a slight, feral glint in their eyes.

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"…Protect this with your life…"

"…Never look back…"

"…You're lucky your looks are what they are…"

"…It only takes one, one, dear child, for them to…"

"…Maybe someday, you'll remember…"

"…Run, run my darling, run…"

"…They hate me less here…"

"...What is your deepest wish, hope, dream…"

"… a devil, I saw it, eyes as crimson as the blood moon…"

"…Oi, imp, you're too clever for your own good…"

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"Her body is unresponsive to it, she won't calm down!"

"She must be stabilized, tie down her arms and legs if you must!"

"I…I can't!"

The medic-nin called for backup as the situation worsened. The strange child did this every night. She had not awoken for a week. Instead, she had violent outbursts, yelling jumbled things that made no sense; this was a particularly bad outburst. Tears spilled down her cheeks, hair bedraggled, she swiped her hands around in an animalistic nature.

"We have no choice, tranquilize her," the nin affirmed, mouse brown locks equally disheveled as the thrashing girl. The needle was quickly inserted in her arm; the girl's body froze, and then slumped down limply. The medics sighed in relief and placed fresh bandages on the wounds, most of the weapons had been poisoned; it had been messy work to cleanse the girl's bloodstream. Finished, the nins tucked in the child and left the room, casting worried looks over their shoulders.

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It was the same man. The same man who was always out of reach. The man and the woman. Especially the woman.

"Run, run my darling, run."

The voice was always there, so sweet and well-known. But it always sounded sad…run? Run from what? But always her feet would run nevertheless, away from the shadow, and always she would run into those people. And then it was as if she looking out a red colored window. Other times, it would be that man. She loved his floppy hair, his kind, scolding voice. But then, that revolting being would come. The one with the eerie eyes, his unnerving voice. She would run far away from him and then fall into nothingness. Her family would come though, with their smiling faces, but soonthey too would fade away.

"Maybe someday, you'll remember…for now, forget…"

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She looked….

…looked….

…like…

The man sighed, and studied the figure once more. It was late in the night; he had come in to check on the mystifying nin and had staggered back from the resting, young girl. Freshly cleaned and rid of the bloodstains and weapons, her face was much more exposed. Soft, silver-haired bangs lightly rested on her closed eyes, quiet breathing sounds could be heard. But, her face was contorted in pain, fists clenching the blankets tightly. Without thinking, he immediately placed his hand on her forehead and gently made circles with his thumbwhile caressing her hair. The girl slowly calmed down and relaxed, no longer tense.

'…Just like…when she had nightmares…'

He tensed and drew back his hand, the girl's brows faintly creasing at the loss of comfort.

'…Just…who are you?…'

His attention fell on her possessions laid out neatly besidethe sleeping personon the bed table. The nin's traditional like clothing was cleaned and folded with the blank hitae-ate atop, glimmering secretively, seeming to taunt those puzzling over its mysteries. It was the next object that caused his breath to catch in his throat. A thread-like, almost see through chain holding a silver, tear shaped locket.

"…Wow, never knew you to be the romantic type…"

"…I take great offense to that…"

It was prying; Kakashi knew it. Nosing into someone else's business where he had no right. But. He had to know. His hand unusually shaking, he opened the locket with a quiet 'click' and gazed upon the picture.

A small, silver-haired girl, looking about 10 in the photo, with eyes the dark, rich hue of wine, sat with a wide grin dominating her face. Holding the girl in her lap, a middle-aged woman with long, silver-white hair and peculiar red-orange eyes serenely smiled back, eyes twinkling. A young man stood beside the two, arms crossed, stormy gray eyes framed by brown hairwere softened at that moment, a tiny smile twitched at the corners of his lips. The soaring mountains rose behind the trio protectively while a dragonfly flew by overhead, seeming to have been caught in the snapshot.

He closed the locket and placed it back next to the hitae-ate, thinking reprovingly to himself.

'…Baka. Baka, baka, bakaHow long has it been?…Huh. A long time…'

Kakashi chastised himself once more. The locket was different anyway, much smaller with a shorter chain; the patterns etched on the jewelry were slightly different as well.

"…Kakashi, they're…gone…don't live like this anymore. They wouldn't want you to. Stop this. …C'mon, lets go back to Konoha…"

He took his leave, silently jumping up and out the window. Just catching a light, feather like whisper, floating upwards, "…Ecchi-chan…"

He mistook itas the wind.

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The pearly eye in the sky chanced a peek out from the night clouds, and fleetingly glanced down at a metal object. For one moment, a similar shape flashed across the surface.

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She was not a morning person. Never was. She didn't hear the medic-nin's shrieks of shock and relief, but simply burrowed her head under her pillow more. 'Gah…bright light…mmm…sleep…'

Thus, she snoozed for about two seconds in the soft recess of under the pillow before the wonderfully, fluffy, soft covering was taken away by some diabolical, fiendish pillow-snatcher. She cracked her right eye open toview the face of this wicked person, only to meet the blinding sunlight. "….Mmphf…go away…" she croaked, waving her hand in a general direction while pulling the blanket over her head.

"Come now young lady, we were worried about you!" an unknown voice exclaimed, the blankets were pulled off as said girl popped her head up and scowled, squinting her eyes against the harshness of the sun. Her sight gradually adjusted though, and stared around her surroundings wide-eyed. She was in a large room filled with beds that contained a few patients including herself. It was then that she was nearly choked to death by a spoon. "You've been out for a week! We need to get some solid food into you!" More spoonfuls of porridge followed this statement, and another and another until her cheeks resembled that of a chipmunk's.

"You're going to choke your own patient if you continue that." A lighthearted voice rang out.

With a loud gulp, the girl swallowed the food and blinked awhile, regaining her bearings.

'…Ran out of village being chased by those weird people, ran away from some guy, fell out of a tree, ending up at a hospital…okay………'

As she continued to think, her shoulders slumpedwhile a sorrowful expressionpulled on her face as she stared down at the blankets.

"Ano…Are you okay…?"

The girl snapped out of her thoughts and looked towards theinquiring person. Blue eyes suddenly appeared centimeters from her own and stared back puzzlingly.

'…Are those…whiskers?...'

Before she could ponderher last thought, blue was replaced with pink and green. "Naruto! Don't stare rudely at people like that!"

The poor boy rose from the floor, nursing his new head bump.

"Ah, gomen ne ((sorry)), he's always being a baka." The kunoichi bashfully stated.

'…Eh? Pink hair?…Meh, I've seen stranger…'

"I'm Sakura, that's Sasuke-kun." She stated the last part a bit quieter with a light blush and smile. The girl looked over to see the big fuss.

"EEEH! YOU'RE THAT BLUE GUY!" The young teen hollered, jumping to her feet so that she stood atop the bed, clad in a hospital gown while fiercely pointing a finger somewhat held back by hand IV's and tubes.

The medic-nin stoppedher efforts injabbing a spoonful of porridge, mask or no mask, into Kakashi's mouth after the choking comment as both looked up at the comical scene. Sasuke merely blinked, eyes slightly wider then usual, but soon returned to his usual, nonchalant poise with his back against the wall, arms crossed. The silence was shortly interrupted by a loud guffaw. "HAAA! HAHA! Oi! Sasuke! Blue Guy! Hahaha!"

"Better then being a dobe."

The gleefully leering boy instantly shifted gears into that of a full-out 'die-you' glare. The dark-haired Uchiha mirrored Naruto's stare, it would be unsurprising if one or both suddenly combusted into flames with the searing intensity between the two.

"Whaaat did you say! Teeemee!"

"Hn. You heard me dobe."

With a wild battle-roar, the orange suited boy sprinted towards his enemy, fist clenched and drawn back ready to strike. He swung, but missed by a hair and continued to swing repeatedly while pumping his legs madly. Yet, he seemed to continually miss while staying rooted in the same spot no matter the speed of his run.

"Naruto. Save your energy for training." Kakashi calmly stated, his finger holding on to the back of the boy's collar while hisfree hand held up a shady, orange-jacketed book. A shock of silver hair curtly obstructed the reader's view. The recently awoken girl hadabruptly popped her head in front of the pages so that the words were upside down to her. Kakashi lifted the book higher though, as she examined the cover.

"…Icha Icha Violence? Haven't read that one before…Is it good? I love reading books!" The girl sitting on the floor smiled up at the sensei, her eyes curved upwards, while she waited expectantly for an answer.

"…Hmm…maa, in my opinion, they are quite enjoyable to read and the detailed descriptions are superb." He concluded, his eye curving into its smile, matching those of the girl's. Meanwhile, his three students along with the medic-nin gave distrustful looks at the Jounin with narrowed, twitching eyes.

"OUT!" The nin suddenly shouted, pushing the team towards the exit. "I appreciate your concern for the young lady, but my patient still has some tough recovery left!"

"Ah, we'll be off then, just passed by to see how she was doing." With that, the group walked off to the training grounds, though their curiosities were only magnified more instead of being contented.

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Once making sure the invaders had left, the nin continued, "Now, make yourself comfortable. Is there anything you need dear?" The patient thought a bit then replied cheerily, "Yes, is there a copy of Icha Icha Violence I could read in my spare time?"

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