A/N. I took more liberties with some facts and had to fiddle around with the ages of some characters.

Enjoy!

The sky was still dark and sun had yet to rise when the three shinobi approached the village gates. It was only when they leapt down from the roof, landing soundlessly on the ground that they realised that their team captain was already there. With his arms crossed over his chest, and it was clearly a male given his lean built the nin was leaning casually against the not-yet-opened gates.

With a plain white mask on, the others probably had no clue about the identity of their captain but Genma already had a sneaking suspicion. He almost smirked when the man stepped out of the shadows and the moonlight fell onto shockingly blond hair. Bingo.

To be perfectly honest, Genma already had an idea about who their team captain might be when the Sandaime summoned him and his would-be teammates, Uchiha Shisui and Yamato to his office yesterday morning. While he had not yet worked with either shinobi, he has of course heard about the proficiency of Uchiha Shisui and his body flicker technique which was renowned even within the Uchiha clan of prodigies. Genma has also heard bits and pieces about the other, Yamato. Nothing concrete though, only that he was the only survivor of one of Orochimaru's failed experiments a few years ago.

"At ease," the Hokage murmured.

Genma instinctually relaxed his shoulders. He didn't realise that he had tensed up in anticipation.

"I have a mission for the three of you and while I know that none of you have worked together before, I have the utmost faith that you will succeed," Sarutobi impressed on them.

Genma almost swallowed nervously at how serious the Hokage sounded. It must be a very important mission.

With his fingers intertwined and elbows resting comfortably on the table before him, the Hokage fixed the three of them with a gaze that made them unconsciously straighten. It was a beat before he spoke again.

"The mission is to retrieve the missing-nin Orochimaru." The Sandaime swallowed almost hesitantly before he continued, "and if retrieval is not possible, then you have my permission to kill."

Genma's eyes widened in surprise and his senbon was dangerously close to fall out of his lax mouth. Of all things, he had not expected this. He knew how much the Saidaime loved his former student. It was not a secret that he was partial to Orochimaru and more accepting than his 'oversights' than the other two Sannins. To think that the Sandaime would willingly order for arrest and possibly execution of his former favourite student was …

His jaw snapped shut when it hit him.

Kurama. It must have been his call.

While maybe he should be more concerned about the amount of influence the foreign nin has on Kakashi and now the Sandaime, Genma was pleased that Kurama has spurred on this call to deal with Orochimaru. It was sick how the Sannin conducted so many dubious and cruel experiments on children without consent and in secret … and how the Hokage turned a blind eye to it all. Those children were kidnapped off the streets or lured away with promises of food and shelter. He remembered being utterly helpless and enraged at the lack of action and retribution the Hokage handed down. Because those were innocent children. It could have happened to one of Genma's nephews or nieces.

And now, he was relieved. Relieved for the chance to finally put an end to the bastard.

The Hokage handed them a mission scroll each, detailing the time of departure and attached was information about Orochimaru's known skills and jutsus. Genma pocketed his without looking at the contents just yet, and noted that both his teammates did the same.

Now, there was only one question left to ask and it was Yamato who voiced it.

"Who is leading the team?"

At that, a ghost of a smile graced the Hokage's face and some of the sadness ebbed away.

"You will find out tomorrow."

Namikaze Kurama regarded his team and nodded his greeting.

"I'm Kurama, I will be your taichou," his voice was muffled slightly behind his mask.

He noted how Uchiha Shisui seemed excited, his fingers drummed imperceptibly against his leg. Was it the adrenaline or the idea of hunting a Sannin? Kurama supposed he would find out sooner or later. After all, he had every intention of bonding with the three during their travels. It would be too boring and tense otherwise.

Flicking his eyes over to Genma, Kurama almost sighed when the other smirked knowingly. Kurama wagered that the jounin had no trouble figuring out it was him even before he spoke, despite the mask. Noting how tired Genma looked, Kurama bit back the cheeky remark about the other's dark circles.

Lastly, he turned to Yamato. After much debate, the Hokage convinced him that having Yamato on the team would be a good outcome.

"Perhaps it will be good for him. Playing a role in Orochimaru's capture will give him some closure," the Hokage had said.

Yamato was stoic and too blank for Kurama to get a feel of his true thoughts and emotions. He wasn't sure if being part of the team to retrieve or kill Orochimaru would help the younger nin overcome the psychological trauma of seeing other infants die, unable to handle the Shodaime's DNA. Kurama vowed to keep a close eye on him, he'd really rather not scar the kid any further.

"Before we head off, are there any burning questions?" Kurama waited for a moment and when there was no response, he nodded. Inwardly, he pondered, no questions about my identity nor about my mask? What an interesting lot.

"Let's go." Spinning on his heel, Kurama sprung from the ground and over the gate. He did not wait for the others and sped into the forest, confident that they can keep up.

Kakashi has no idea how Kurama managed to do it, but he would never have thought he'd be standing across Uchiha Itachi with the both of them decked out in full training gear. When he woke up this morning and ran a hand through his bed hair, Kakashi pinched himself. Nope, not a dream. It was really the day he would be sparring with the Uchiha Itachi, prodigy of the Uchiha clan.

When Kurama implied that he wanted Kakashi and the Uchiha heir to spar, Kakashi thought he was yanking his leg. Because there was no way that was going to happen. As if the prim and proper Uchiha clan, one of the clans that founded Konoha would allow their precious heir train with him. As if they will let their clan secrets be taught to an outsider.

But now, standing across a ten-year old Uchiha Itachi who had a sheathed katana attached to his side and Kakashi wondered how in the world had Kurama achieved the impossible. For one, Kakashi only got a stink eye when he arrived at the Uchiha gates to schedule the first training session with the heir. He was let in quite easily, and while he made his way cautiously towards the main house braced for an ambush, Kakashi arrived unharmed. Tentatively knocking on the shoji door, Kakashi made a conscious effort not to offend the person that would slide open the door.

"Ah, Hatake-san, please come in."

Lost in his thoughts and still skeptical of how he encountered no problems on his way in, Kakashi blinked and took in the serene smile the Uchiha matriarch gave him. Dressed impeccably in a simple blue kimono, Uchiha Mikoto waited for Kakashi to go in.

Slipping off his sandals, Kakashi bowed slightly, "thank you Uchiha-san."

"Please, Mikoto is fine."

Kakashi stepped inside the spacious house and noted how there was only two chakra signals: one was Mikoto, the other was undeveloped - Uchiha Sasuke, her second son. Which meant that Itachi wasn't home.

"Call me Kakashi then," he murmured. "I was hoping to talk to your son but I assume he's on a mission?"

If Mikoto was offended by how straight to the point Kakashi was being, she made no mention of it. Perhaps she sensed how Kakashi was not here for a social visit, she refrained from offering him tea.

"Yes, Itachi-kun left this morning. Perhaps I can pass on a message for you?"

Kakashi wondered if the matriarch knew about the training sessions he and Itachi were to have. Based on how she didn't even seem surprised when he knocked, Kakashi was willing to bet she knew.

"Please tell him to come find me if he is up for a spar."

There, that gives the Uchiha prodigy the option to pull out, or the time to rest after his mission if he needs to. Although if the rumours about Uchiha Itachi being a workaholic were true, Kakashi had no doubt that he would receive a visit from him very soon.

Inclining his head, Kakashi bid the matriarch farewell and disappeared with a turn.

It was four days later when Kakashi opened his window and swung out that he felt it. A very deliberate spike in chakra coming from the closest training ground. It had to be Uchiha Itachi. Kakashi made his way there, patting his weapons pouch to make sure he's got a few kunais, senbons and shurikens with him. How did Itachi even know where to find him? Kakashi almost groaned when it hit him, because it must have been Kurama who told him where to find Kakashi. Making a mental note to take it up with the older nin when he got back from his mission, Kakashi spotted the Uchiha from afar.

Landing silently a few metres from the other, Kakashi was surprised at how … young Uchiha Itachi looked. The silver-haired nin noted how Itachi barely reached his shoulder. He took in the pale face, long ebony hair and training gear. For a moment, neither spoke (while Kakashi was making his own observations about the other, he had no doubt the Uchiha genius was doing the same) until Itachi bowed slightly in greeting.

"Good morning Hatake-san. I'm Uchiha Itachi, Kurama-san approached me a week ago about training with you."

Kakashi's eyebrows rose when the kid- no, Itachi was definitely not a kid introduced himself. And -as if Kakashi didn't already know who the Uchiha heir was.

And then, Kakashi blinked. Kurama had personally approached Uchiha Itachi about this?

It made sense after a moment, of course Kurama would go to Itachi instead of the clan. It was likely that the Hokage himself broached the idea with the clan heads. Kakashi tried not to dwell on how familiar the younger nin addressed Kurama, even though they only met last week. No, Kakashi was definitely not sulking.

Appearances aside, Kakashi found himself surprised yet not so surprised about how mature and calm Itachi was. Most kids his age were still at the academy, probably skipping class and hanging out with their friends. But with the pressure Uchiha Fugaku undoubtedly placed on his heir from an early age, Kakashi was not taken aback at how advanced Uchiha Itachi was for his age.

Glad that the other didn't seem like the type to make small talk, Kakashi squared his shoulders.

"Shall we get started then?"

As he bent his knees slightly and sent chakra down to the soles of his feet, Kakashi found himself oddly excited for their fight.

Perhaps the both of them inwardly decided not to use their sharingans this first time because their spar lasted for four hours and was limited to taijutsu, ninjutsu and some genjutsu on Itachi's part. While Itachi had greater reserves, Kakashi boasted greater experience. It was a tough fight that only came to an end when the sun rose high in sky at noon and they had started to draw the attention of some passerbys.

Knowing that their association would garner the attention of shinobi sooner or later, Kakashi would rather it be later and called off the spar.

"Alright, I think that's enough for the day," he straightened up and at his announcement, Itachi paused midway through a hand seal. Nodding in understanding, Itachi approached the older nin and bowed.

"Thank you for your time, Hatake-san. Will you be willing to spar again in the future?" Itachi asked.

Kakashi doesn't believe he would ever get over how proper and formal the Uchiha spoke. Perhaps with time he would wear him down.

"I'm leaving tonight for a mission. When I return, I'll let you know."

Itachi nodded and gave him a small smile. Kakashi blinked, well what you do know, the kid can smile.

Genma had a forearm against a tree, he was hunched over and panting. He was too tired to sit down, and he knew that if he did, getting back up will be torture. They had been travelling for over half a day and Kurama only gave them a couple of short breaks. Giving the masked Kurama the stink-eye, Genma thought, what a slave driver. Even ANBU hadn't tired him out this much. Grumbling under breath about how Kurama was barely even winded, standing up straight with his face turned towards the road ahead of them while the rest of them struggled to catch their breath. Yamato was taking a sip out of his canteen and didn't look too exhausted. The Uchiha was crouched over the stream, cupping some water to splash over his face before straightening up.

"Tired already Genma?" Kurama's muffled voice teased.

Genma took the canteen Yamato offered and gulped down some water. Spinning on his heels, he approached the stream with every intention of ignoring the playful jab and refilling the canteen. God knows when they would find clean water again.

Kurama's amused chuckle behind him almost tempted him to turn around and fling the canteen at the other's head but with Kurama's heightened reflexes, Genma doubted that it would be a successful shot anyway.

He wondered why the other man was being so friendly with him because while he has been to Kurama's place and spoken with the man a couple times, their conversations were never this playf-

Oh. From the corners of his eyes, Genma noticed how their other two teammates seem to relax minutely as the atmosphere lightened. His eyes flicked back to the blond nin who curled his lips knowingly.

Being on a team with an unknown nin must have been difficult for Yamato and Shisui, who were both relatively young and inexperienced. While Genma cannot boast to having a wealth of experience, he was part of the Yondaime's personal guard and accompanied the Yondaime on his negotiations to the other Hidden Villages. He has worked with shinobi from villages whereas it was highly likely Yamato and Shisui have not and they were uncertain about Kurama.

Yamato was in ANBU so he was familiar with having teammates with masks on. Shisui on the other hand, was unsure of what to make of Kurama who has not revealed anything about himself.

It was a good thing Kurama decided the atmosphere needed lightening. Who knew how long this mission was going to take - could be up to a few months. It would be challenging to work with a team that was unfamiliar with each other and therefore, had no trust in one another.

Genma wondered how Kurama would tackle this. If they were going to capture one of the Sannin, they need a team that gelled together and knew each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Thank God he wasn't taichou, what a headache Kurama was going to have.