The next morning, I was expected to get into my new office fairly early in the morning, to adjust and whatnot. I actually didn't mind for the most part, since I was virtually the only one in there anyway. Tsunade had explained some things to me, but I had to figure a lot out on my own. Mind numbing amounts of paperwork had really piled up when Tsunade was there. I got it all done in twenty minutes or so, using up a minimal amount of chakra in the process. Another one of the many branches of my job was to assign and brief on missions. As you can imagine, this was a simple power flaunting ritual, there was nearly no reason why I had to be there personally. Mission after mission, I got few complaints, if Naruto had been on the waiting list for one I'm sure I would have hit some issues. This actually wasn't all that bad, I could get used to it I guess. By noon I had nothing to do, so I went onto the roof. There were just a few tree branches along the edges and a flight of stairs up there. I leaned over the rail, gazing at the village, in a new light really. I could see the main street from there, all of the people busily working through their everyday lives. I found a few stray ninjas around, probably heading home from a job. I could even spot the academy from up there, the students hurrying in their work to get out of school early. The trees rustled in the wind as it also blew through my hair. It was peaceful, quite serene up there away from everything.

"Mariah, it's a surprise to find you up here"

"Itachi, did you need something?"

"No, I just came to check on you, see how you're doing"

"I really do think I can do this"

"You should get back to your office, the next round of missions is ready to give out"

How did he even know my schedule? I sure didn't, but I guess he was right. I barely got into the door when Naruto came careening through the door, nearly breaking it off its hinges.

"Mariah Mariah Mariah!"

"Yes Naruto, what did you need?"

"I'm ready for a mission!"

Finally his teammates managed to make their way into the office as well, with much less enthusiasm.

"Sorry Hokage-sama, I turned around for two seconds and he was gone…"

"Kakashi I told you not to call me that, and it's fine. I guess I could find something for you"

I glanced at a few of the missions not in line to be handed out to another team, there wasn't much of anything good. Being a normal ninja just a few days ago really gave me the experience necessary to tell you that Naruto would have just kept bugging me if I gave him any of those. Suddenly another ninja came through my door, seemingly in a hurry.

"Hokage-sama, there is an urgent message for you!"

"I told you not to…oh give it here"

"We haven't decoded it yet"

"I can read any village's writing"

I unrolled the message scroll, glancing at it, then it caught my attention. This was no ordinary urgent message.

"Alright Naruto, I have a perfect mission for you"

"Really!? Is it something important?"

"Very important actually and something I wouldn't pick anyone else to complete. Gaara's been captured by the Akatsuki, I need you to travel to the Sand village and gather intel before meeting up with a backup squad to recover him. If possible, I need you all to get to him within three days, four at the latest"

"Gaara's been what!?"

"Kakashi can you do it?"

"Of course, leave it up to me"

"Then I trust you to head out right away. I will send in Gai's team after you soon. For now, just get moving"

"Understood"

Kakashi's team immediately scattered as well as the ninja who had given me the message. I knew something was going to happen sooner or later.

"It looks like they are finally becoming active again. It's been a few years"

"You better watch yourself, even if they do go out of order, you'll still be on the list"

"I know, the Akatsuki have always been an issue. We'll have to reiterate their identification and such to the guards. I realize how easy it will be for them to get into the village and at this rate, none of us will be safe from harm for a while"

"Speaking of, don't you have a meeting with the Raikage soon?"

"If by soon you mean tomorrow, then yes. This isn't the first time we've met"

"Haven't you met almost all of the reigning kages?"

"All except the ones that were instated within the last 7 years. The Raikage and I have, a longer relationship than most. Sure he's insane, but he is a good leader, and one of our allies. Not to mention that his brother is also a jinchuuriki"

"Eight tails if I remember correctly"

"Yes and very powerful in controlling it fully. He amazes me in his strong will and synergy with his bijuu"

"One of these days I'm sure you'll be able to do the same"

A few hours later, all of my work for today was over and done with by five or six in the evening. Itachi had already been at the house for an hour or so when I got there, he was still doing missions while he helped me. He was going to drop them soon, but was easing into it.

"Itachi, would you mind being my escort for tomorrow's trip to the Cloud?"

"Of course not, but why do you need an escort?"

"It's the village's policy that I cannot go anywhere on my own unless I have at least one qualified ninja attending with me"

"You really took that manual seriously"

"No I actually was told it very directly by one of the chancellors on the way out of the building. They still don't trust me, so they keep 'informing' me about every little thing I may or may not be doing wrong"

"You can act without their consent, so don't worry too much about it"

"You're right, I'll just get a good night's sleep and deal with them later"

Oh no...school is starting again _. On the bright side, I might actually cover some ground on this one. When I get motivated, which may be soon considering all I'll have to look forward to when I get home is lots of work, I can write quite a bit. Hope to add more very soon! P.S new chapter was somewhat hopeless...what is wrong with Zetsu and why does Tobi insist on talking about some subject that we probably know enough about...