Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

The moon was high in the sky by the time I collapsed to my knees from exhaustion. The world was spinning and the only thing I can recollect was Kakashi lifting me gently and carrying me back to the apartment. This could only mean that practice was over for the night. Finally, I fell asleep as he carried me, the feeling of the gentle steps swaying and lulling me out of consciousness.

By the time I woke up, the sun had replaced the moon in the sky. After a quick look around, and some stretches, it was clear that I was home alone, again. Eight minutes later… Boredom abounded, and the clock struck noon as I walked out and onto the street. I was getting better indeed.

As the Hokage's Tower came into view I realized where I was going. My feet and mind had led me here, to Haku's prison. I stepped inside and was greeted by the Hokage himself, asking me how I was doing. I answered that all was as well as could be expected after having my first late night practice, and he laughed lightly at that. It was quite satisfying, seeing him smile.

"So, what has brought you here?"

"Haku," I answered, holding up a lunchbox. "I brought lunch with me, so you don't have to worry about it."

"Is half of that for Haku?"

I nodded, and he smiled before leading me into a room hidden in a corner. Haku was chained there, still in the cage. My heart wrenched, but I thanked the Hokage and made my way towards him. The door shut behind me as I was kneeling in front of the snarling boy. He was angry at me for not allowing him to die, it was clear there in his eyes.

"What do you want from me now?" he demanded, glaring down at me.

"To share lunch?" I offered, showing him the food I'd packed in my eight minutes of being in the apartment.

"I won't eat it, you shouldn't even have come here."

I was rather sad to hear that, but I looked up at him. "Haku, why are you being like this? I saved your life."

"No," was his rather narcissistic response, "You ruined my death."

There was no point in arguing with that, it was true after all. He had wanted to die, and I had stopped him rather forcefully. Still, it made me mad, that he was so bent about being alive. He couldn't even imagine life without Zabuza. So therefore it wasn't worth living?

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" I snapped, looking up at him with a look that was far from friendly. He looked at me, confused and caught off-guard. His eyes showed that this wasn't what he was expecting. "I'm sorry for thinking that you may find something else to live for besides being a tool!" I stood and made eye contact with him once again, before turning. Once I reached to door, I looked back at him. "Enjoy lunch," I muttered, before walking through the door. I shut it and leaned against it, sighing. Understanding why he was acting that way wasn't the hard part, it was figuring out how to get past it that would prove to be difficult.

"Caruh?" I looked up at the sound of a voice I recognized, the Hokage's. He was sitting behind his desk, and looking at me oddly. "Is everything alright?"

"No," I answered, "no, everything is not all right. Haku is hostile, and he hates me, and I don't know what to do about it. I li-" I had to stop myself. Who in their right mind admits to lying? Not me, not right now.

This doesn't matter in the long run, he finishes the confession. "You lied to me about Kakashi and where you came from? Is that what you mean?" My ears and cheeks get warm as I blush from embarrassment at being found out. Nodding, he smiles at me. "I know. I know, and it's okay." He didn't have to say any more than that, I understood. Gracing me with another smile, he pointed towards the door. "Kakashi and his team are in the Eastern training field, they're waiting to meet you."

I knew a dismissal when I heard one and he was kind about it, so I left with a calm good-bye and made my way towards the grounds. Walking up, it became obvious they were just sitting down to lunch, and I was reminded that I hadn't gotten any as I had left it all on the floor in front of Haku.

After a moment, Kakashi waved his wrist, making a motion for me to join them. I knew these three, but I didn't know what I was walking into. Besides, they had already started eating lunch, and were now staring as I walked up.

"Uhhhh, hi?" If there ever was an uncomfortable silence it was now.

"Obviously you have a moral objection to staying in the apartment."

"Well the only thing in your apartment is dirty books, and I'm not about to read those."

Okay maybe now was that uncomfortable silence, but at least I got him to stop talking.

"Besides, I almost made it ten minutes this time." My mistake, suddenly he was talking again.

"That's an improvement."

"You again?" Sakura asked, looking between me and Kakashi.

Naruto didn't even bother with the formalities; he went straight to the source. "Who are you?"

Sasuke just glanced at me then went back to lunch.

"Name's Caruh," I answered, looking at Kakashi. I would let him finish the explanation.

"She's my niece, in a way," he answered

"I'm adopted, well kind of adopted."

"What's that mean?" Naruto asked, confused.

"It means we aren't really related."

"Exactly," was Kakashi's calm response.

"So why is she here?" Sakura looked at me again.

"That's a good question," Kakashi responded, looking at me. "Why are you here?"

"Lunch?"

"You know, there was food in the apartment, right next to the dirty books."

"... I don't know where those books have been."

"I wouldn't want to eat it either."

"Naruto!" the pink-haired one admonished. I laughed.

Sitting down, I joined them for lunch, where there was much chatter about nothing. Sakura went on and on about boys. Sasuke looked annoyed, as always, and sat in silence. Naruto just talked, about Sakura, his dream of becoming the Hokage, and pretty much everything else he could think of. Including how well his training was going. Kakashi listened while the two of them talked over each other, and let them go on.

"Speaking of training," Kakashi mentioned as Naruto finished his sentence, "it's time we got back to it."

"Let's go!" Naruto shouted in great eagerness. To which Kakashi glanced at him, probably smiling, and they got right to work. I sat and watched, feeling a little left out, but enjoying myself nonetheless.

After a few moments, Naruto ran over to me, and grabbed me by the wrist. He dragged me over to where they were practicing, laughing the whole way. "Come on Caruh! Practice with us!"

I looked at Kakashi, to make sure this was okay with him, and after a nod in my direction, I passed it along to Naruto. He smiled at the affirmative I gave him, and he decided that he and I would train. I agreed with that, and even though I knew I didn't stand a chance we went at it anyways. I lost, of course, in the end, but I learned many valuable things from that one fight. For one, I learned to avoid Naruto's shadow clones. I knew of them of course, but not how to deal with them. I would figure that out later, but for now avoiding them was best. Also I learned that an easy way to deal with his kunai were to not have to. The boy was much better than anyone gave him credit for, even if he was a bit hopeless in the maturity department.

Right after that, Kakashi decided to work on jutsu's, probably mostly for my benefit, but it was something. I slowly learned about the different signs again, and how to put them together to create an attack that could really help me in battle.

By the end of practice, I was pooped, but not enough to give up on doing something afterward. When Kakashi invited me to wander the marketplace with him I agreed, and helped him go shopping so there would be food not next to the dirty books.

I wonder if this meant he thought I would stay in the apartment for longer than ten minutes. Probably not. I'm sure that he knew me better by that point. He could not possibly think some extra food would solve my moral dilemma, if that's what it truly was. By the time we were done, I was ready to go to bed. Chakra was still new to me, and it took concentration and effort to control, two things I couldn't afford to waste at a time like this.

Back at his apartment, I help him to unpack all of his groceries, constantly asking where things go. I can stay here for quite a while with company, which I hadn't been allowed before.

As we were settling into sleep, Kakashi looked at me from across the room, where I decided I would sleep. "You're never going to last more than ten minutes in this house are you?" he asked, knowing the answer.

"Not without at least a bit of company, which your books and TV don't offer," I answer, meeting his gaze over the floor.

"In that case," he announced, "you're joining the team. Not officially, but just to come along, and do what you can. During missions, you are there to learn, not to fight, so you are going to be protected until you can prove yourself capable of standing on your own. You are always to come to our practices."

I was across the room before he even finished. With a big hug, I beamed at him. "Thank you Kakashi! Thank you!"

He hugged me back, though rather unsure, and answers with, "You're welcome, I guess." I could tell he was confused by my reaction, he probably thought I would be too lazy to actually join and just wanted to practice. Oh well, I was going to prove myself in his eyes, if only in his.

With that thought, I crawled back into my bed, my heart warmed and comforted, and fell into an easy sleep, even knowing my Sensei's eyes were on me.

Well, here it is. Like I promised. Not even late this time! Hopefully I can get the next chapter up soon too, so you can keep enjoying the story and I'll be able to get more written. Hope you enjoy it! 3