Disclaimer: l don't own Naruto

~o~

The elemental nations was known to produce a prodigy in nearly each generation. Konoha had seen the likes of the sannin, the fourth Hokage, Hatake Kakashi and Itachi Uchiha come and go with varying degrees of excellence and results.

That was why, when the head librarian saw an eight year old Himika, she made no move to stop her as she walked in. Still, she allowed herself to watch what the child was doing with a sense of curiosity. It had been a while since someone so young had stepped in in search of something.

Himika carefully let her eyes wander, golden irises skimming over scrolls and books till she found what she needed. She picked out the scroll and found a seat, too engrossed to notice the stare of the librarian.

Said librarian decided she would leave the child to do what she wished, though she could not help but notice the section the child had chosen the scroll from.

Himika looked at the scroll in her possession and rolled it open, her mind eager to learn and absorb all the information it had to offer.

"Hyōton is a change in chakra nature most common in the Yuki clan. The foundation upon which ice release is based upon involves the elements suiton and fūton. Ice release users are often able to convert water sources into ice for their use. That being said, some have gone as far as to be able to create their own ice,"

Himika looked on blankly as she tried to analyse what she had so far. This ability was a change in nature, a kekkei genkai of sorts. It was prominent in the Yuki clan and if she had been paying enough attention in class, then that particular clan was native to Kiri in water country. That was particularly far off in the coast in the Kaizoku sea.

So why did Naruto have it? Did he have some sort of roots from water country? Was that why he was treated unfairly? She was not really sure on this one. His parentage was a secret. He had been raised in Konoha, in the very same building as her for over half his life.

Then there was the fact that Naruto had two chakra natures. She was certain the boy himself did not know these facts. He was naive and he practically made her do all the heavy lifting. It was at this point that she realised that he had not asked her to do any of these things.

He had not asked her to delve into deep research on his behalf. She was the one trying to quell her own curiosity. She was the one who wanted to know. Naruto had called her a nerd and perhaps he was right.

The blonde worked by feel, she came to understand, as best she could. He wanted to experience things first hand to get them. She felt it was a fool's way of thinking, one she realised she was trying to correct without noticing.

Himika read up a bit more on Hyōton and it's capabilities, weaknesses and the like. By the time she was done, she felt satisfied. She figured that while she was there she might as well learn about Sasuke's own kekkei genkai.

"The sharingan is the ocular jutsu belongings to those of the Uchiha clan, native to Konoha. The visual prowess of the sharingan allows those that possess it to read their opponents movements, copy their abilities and perform very effective genjutsu," she finished with a sigh. Clearly all this stuff was useful for was giving her a massive headache.

~o~

The sandaime Hokage sat in his office with a contemplative frown on his face. He had just received word from his scouts about the situation on Kiri. The civil war was over and with it, the end of the mist as they knew it.

He knew it would come to an end, but not this quickly. He had predicted that the war would last at least two years but in this short period of time, a spanner had been put into the works. Something had changed.

The aged Hokage was unsure who exactly it was that had won the war, the rebels or the regime of the fourth Mizukage. He hoped against hope it was the former and that was why he had called the man in front of him.

He raised his eyes up and looked at Kakashi. "You can take off the mask, you won't need it for this job," he said and the anbu captain nodded as he did so.

"Gather up whatever information you can. It doesn't matter how long you take just as long as you get this job done. I'm afraid that this isn't something we can ignore," Hiruzen knew that perhaps had he assisted the rebels, he would know what their fate was.

"What rank is this?" Kakashi asked with a bored look on his face.

"S-rank, the face of the elemental nations may be changing and I would rather we be prepared if anything goes awry. Do your duty," the elder man said, his voice grave and serious.

"I take it I'm to leave immediately," the copyninja said as Hiruzen nodded. Kakashi turned to make his way out but stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"And my other job?" he asked. Hiruzen seemed to have overlooked this little fact. "I'm sure you have someone in mind who can take your place," the Hokage said and his jounin nodded.

~o~

"The fourth Hokage was pretty cool don't ya think," Naruto said as he looked at Himika. They were in her room at the orphanage. Naruto had snuck in and Himika simply allowed it. It was normal at this point. To her, it was not even scandalous anymore.

"He is the village hero," it was stated in a matter of fact way and the blonde was happy she agreed.

"I wanna be just like him," Naruto seemed to have stars in his eyes as he spoke about the yondaime.

"Why?"

It was a simple question, albeit an annoying one to reply to for him. Did she not know how awesome his idol was. How the man had single handedly saved them all. Ok, he was being a fanboy but he was right.

"The fourth saved everyone. The people loved him and respected him. l want to be seen the same way. To have everyone look up to me. Maybe then everyone one will understand me, understand each other," he was bearing his heart out to her, so she listened without reply.

"What you want isn't an easy task to accomplish," she reasoned and the blonde stood up as he grinned at her. He offered that same megawatt smile like usual before continuing.

"Yeah, I know that but...to be Hokage, that's my dream. I don't care how long it takes or what I have to go through," he declared.

Himika saw his determination and felt his chakra flare with passion, a showing of how strongly he believed in himself even if no one else did. At that very moment, she frowned. Not at him but at his goals. He didn't notice as he was busy nodding sagely at himself.

The reason being that if he managed to succeed, she would be out of a job she didn't even have yet. If people understood each other then there would be no conflict and no missions. She was thinking about both sides of the coin here. Even though she had backed her reasoning well, she knew why the frown had popped up in the first place. It was because at that moment in time, she had no doubts that he would make good on his word.

"I wish you what you deserve,"

~o~

Kakashi was not a big fan of alcohol. Sure he drank here and there but that was only on his worst days. He managed to navigate his way around the place quite well. He let his eyes zone in on his target before casually approaching.

As if nothing was wrong, the masked man took his seat and ordered a shot. The bartender was sure to know who he was. Everyone did- the weirdo that ate with a mask. Finally the female beside him noticed his presence.

"Kakashi?" Uzuki Yugao turned to face her superior with surprise written on her expression. She was not used to seeing him in establishments like this one.

"Is it that odd?" he asked. She looked sheepish as she smiled and nodded.

"As odd as you being on time," she answered and he let out a barely audible 'oh'.

The bartender finally came back with his order just as Yugao asked her next question.

"What's the occasion?"

Kakashi looked at the liquor inside his glass as he replied. "I'd like to enjoy the comforts of home before I leave," he took a sip when she wasn't looking though by now she had learned not to even bother with it.

"Long term mission," she guessed and Kakashi nodded.

"In Water Country," he added with another sip. Yugao twirled the glass in her hand delicately. "Why tell me?" she inquired starting to wonder why Kakashi was here in the first place.

The man took out an envelope and slid it to her silently. She looked at it but did not open it, deciding the contents within were important enough to be kept secret.

"This was a mission given to me by the Hokage a while back. I was hoping you could take over in my absence," he casually dropped it on her.

"I can't really refuse, can l?" she sounded amused by the whole thing.

"Nope,"

She watched as he carefully stood and took his first step but her next words stopped him.

"Captain, why do l feel as though...you aren't coming back?" she posed the question evenly though he could see the alcohol was starting to get to her. She was drunk so that meant she was comfortable.

"Because even I'm not sure if I'll make it back," he spoke honestly as he walked out leaving Yugao to stare at her empty glass.