Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Maybe in an alternate universe but not this one.

Kairi P.O.V.

It was evening by the time we stopped for the night, my limbs were sore from holding on to Hidan so tightly but despite that fact it took a good few minutes to uncurl my fingers that were latched in a death grip on to his cloak. Then another couple minutes to untwine my body that I had unintentionally plastered against his bigger and firmer frame. With a sigh, I slipped off from Hidan's back to the ground and rolled on to my knees and hunched over needing to feel the soil beneath my tired hands. I never thought I would be so glad to touch dirt.

"Is Kai-chan alright?" I lifted my head to Tobi who had moved to my side and tilted his head in a curious manner at me. He must think I'm about to hurl my guts out. I'm probably didn't make a pretty sight, I was covered in a cold sweat, trembling and more than likely looked as pale as a vampire.

"I-I-I'm f-fine To-tobi, just a little uh woozy…it-it'll pass in a minute." Trying to stand and failing miserably I cautiously crawled over to the nearest tree. Wrapping my arms around it's rough trunk to steady myself I inhaled oxygen as if I had just run a ten mile marathon non-stop. Sliding to the forest floor I looked up to see the starry night sky and watched as my vision swam in and out of focus.

I closed my eyes as I felt a lukewarm hand touch the freezing skin of my forehead and felt a bit of disappointment as it withdrew as soon as it was there.

"She doesn't have a fever but I think we've upset her equilibrium significantly." I cracked my eyes open to see who exactly was speaking, it was a male's voice but my vision was much too blurry to determine anything besides outlines and darkened colors, giving up the effort altogether and I gave myself over to just listening to the conversation instead.

"What could have caused this distress, exactly?" Another male voice this time, though it had a more demanding edge to it.

"Stress, not enough nutrients, too much excitement for her body to handle…it could be anything really." The other voice replied.

"Is she fit for travel?" The second asked.

"At the moment…no. Perhaps if we treat her she'll have gained some of her strength back by tomorrow morning."

There was a long pause then, "What do you require?"

"A few Purple passion flowers would be good but my stock of it is empty right now. I could've brewed up a tea for her and she would have improved by sunrise. "

"Then what are our other options?" The words sounded like they were forced, as if nearing anger. It was getting harder to process everything in my muddled mind now.

"The only other thing I can think of as of right now would be is if we had the herb valerian, though the resulting medicine is rather unpleasant and over all a foul experience for the drinker and anyone who happens to be standing near. Or we could continue as we are and hope her condition doesn't worsen."

"And you zetsu? What do you suppose we should do?" The second voice sounded exasperated.

A third voice replied, "We know of another and it's much less grandiose than the other two. We simply need Rhodiola Rosea, L-Theanine, Vinpocetine and Chocamine."

There was another long pause in which a few other voices replied with statements that ranged between "What?" to "Da fuck!" I flinched in my half awake state as the raised voices lashed across my already aching head.

The third voice exhale noisily in annoyance before barking out, "We need Golden Root, green tea leaves, the Periwinkle Plant and a cocoa plant you bakas!"

"Why four different herbs?" A female voice inquired.

With a sigh the voice explained, "The Golden root will improve her mood, ease any depression, improve physical and mental performance, reduce fatigue and minimize high-altitude sickness. The green tea leaves will create a feeling of relaxation and recuperate cognition. The Periwinkle plant will develop her memory and increase mental clarity and focus. The cocoa plant has beneficial antioxidants, increases energy, suppresses appetite, encourages fat burning, improves concentration, strengthens alertness and improves physical performance."

"Sounds like we should feed her those plants more often, un."

I could hear a few people shift around, "Where exactly are we going to get these plants?" the female voice asked, konan's voice I recognized. "I doubt you happen to have one let alone all four of them with you."

"True. We only packed the essentials and left the rest back at base."

"How were we supposed to know the girl was so delicate?"

"Whatever…why the fuck do we need to find these weeds? Why should we even care? I say let her stay like that, she's nothin' but trouble and has nothin' special to give us!" I wondered briefly why they had to have their discussion here as my brain started to get fuzzier.

"Hidan…" Konan ground out.

"You know full well why we need her… and healthy."

There were a few minutes of hushed fierce arguing then the previous flow of conversation started up again. "You were saying…"

There was a small pause and then he continued, "The Golden root is found in the harsh stressful climate of arctic regions." When there was no response the same voice yet oddly different, responded, "A mountain. Usually the higher up the colder it gets which makes it the better for us. The root has long green stems and many slender leaves with many bright yellow flowers on the top of it. It shouldn't be too hard to find."

"Deidara go up the mountain and find this root… and take Tobi with you for assistance."

"Ano, can't we just go to a village to get this medicine for Kai-chan?" 'Yeah, why can't they go away?'

"Don't be a baka Tobi! We're too near the those bastard leaf-nins,un. Though as much as I'd like to blow them up we're trying to lay low remember!"

"Lay low?"

"Lie low, lay low same difference Konan!"

"Enough Deidara, get moving. I want her ready for travel by tomorrow."

"Fine,un. You follow me!"

"Hai senpai!" Tobi sang happily. The crunch of leaves were the only indication that they left.

"The periwinkle plant will be a bit more difficult to find since the flowers of the herb are what we need and they don't grow in the winter. But since winter is coming to an end there should be a few early bloomers. They have slender trailing stems that frequently take root where they touch the ground, enabling the plant to spread widely. The leaves are simple broad ovals. The flowers are broad, with five usually violet and occasionally white petals joined together at the base to form a tube."

"I will search for them, Kakuzu and Itachi can help me." Again the crunching of leaves was the indication that they left the area.

"This only leaves the green tea and cocoa plant."

"You can leave the cocoa plant to us. We won't find it out in the wilderness so we have no choice but sneak in to a village and purchase it there. The green tea I will leave to you." And with that his footsteps too faded away.

"The tea we have despite what Konan thought. Itachi has a small box of the stuff that he buys from one of his favorite café's." Kisame supplied.

"I never took the Uchiha for a Café frequenting kind of man."

"Heh, surprised me too when we walked into one for the first time. But what can you do? The man enjoys his tea's I guess…" Kisame answered.

I must be dreaming…I mean after all the drama today who wouldn't be? But still even though I'm feeling kinda loopy this little development feels all too real. Maybe they really are going to feed me some plant mixture in hopes I would get better… Oh that is so wrong on so many levels! What happened to modern medicine? No, no I had to be dreaming this up, besides why would they care if I was sick or not? Yeah that's it, it's all a dream and when I wake up it'll all be normal…ish. With those last thoughts in my jumbled mind I let the last traces of my awareness fade in to inky blackness.

The next time I woke up I became aware of someone tilting my head up and holding a slightly organic smelling thing in front of me. I tried opening my bleary eyes but I felt too tired to give the task any real effort.

My half awake stupor was confusing to say the least. A part of me wanted to wake up and demand what the heck was going on and the other part just wanted to go back to sleep. I felt something firm yet soft and cool pry my shut lips apart and push some weird tasting paste type goop into my open mouth. I didn't have enough energy to yell at whoever was forcing the gunk down my throat to stop. I gagged as of more the thick textured goo was heaped in to my mouth before I could even register to swallow the first mouthful. Whoever was feeding me this stuff either had no fine motor skills or they were really impatient.

Furrowing my shut eyes I closed my mouth and turned my head to the side as the universal sign of no more. Whoever it was didn't like that and I felt them tightly grasp my face and forcibly turn it back to its previous position. Though if I had been feeling more like myself I probably would have put up more of a fight and that type of manhandling would of hurt more too, but I was so tired…

Giving in, I focused the rest of my feeble energy on to swallowing the mystery mixture without choking so I could go back to the dark oblivion I craved. A few mouthfuls later I managed to gulp down whatever the person fed me and felt as they gently placed my head back on to the soft patch of soil I was laying on and leave me be. Grateful for the newfound peace and silence I quickly took advantage of it and slipped back in to a dreamless sleep.

Mina P.O.V.

*Crash* I landed hard on my back as I fell out of the tree. I finally got the part of switching places with a log or any other material the happened to be lying around for the substitution jutsu down (also known as the body flicker technique). But my on the spot landing and hiding had yet to be mastered. I had been trying to land and hide in a nearby tree but yet again my body was off balance due to the high speed and confusion caused by the jutsu. Sighing, I looked up in to the cool blue sky and wondered if I would ever be as good a ninja as anyone else around here.

Getting back up I decided to go back to the village. Walking down the sunny streets I mulled over many of the new things I've learned so far. As I thought more about it I realized compared to many of the ninja here my training was going nowhere fast. I frowned; maybe I'm not trying hard enough? But then I was up at the crack of dawn training til dusk so it must not be me…ahhh, maybe I need a new sensei. That other guy hardly showed up and when he did he just threw some scroll at me tell me to learn what was in it and leave. I think it's because he felt I was an outsider and didn't want to teach me any techniques from this village. But still I didn't want to be stuck with a teacher like that; you know one who doesn't want to teach but has no choice. I thought back to the day I overheard that particular conversation…

Flashback

Suck in breath, reach and drag, breathe, repeat. Those words echoed in my head for the next twenty minutes. For some reason I was under the impression that air vents were bigger than this! Apparently I was wrong. Squeezing my way through the tight grey metal ducts I stubbornly inched my way towards the Hokage's office. Pausing to wipe the sweat off my forehead I rested it against the cool metal in front of me. Sighing, I continued on.

Finally after ten minutes of pushing myself through these god forsaken vents I reached the small opening that allowed me to peer in to Lady Tsunade's office. My view was only over Tsunade's desk and a bit of the area around it. Tsunade was leaning back in her chair with a pile of unfinished paperwork scattered all over it. Rolling my eyes, I suppressed my chakra like I learned(I hadn't been able to master hiding it yet but I could make it seem like I hardly had any by suppressing it.) I began to open the small grate to make my entrance when the door opened.

"Hokage-sama may I speak with you for a moment?" Tsunade responded by snapping her eyes open and throwing her pen like a kunai at the person. I heard a dull thunk, so I guessed the person was alive since the sound would have been louder if it was a body dropping.

Tsunade blinked in surprise, "Oh, it's you. What do you want?"

The person was hidden in the door way so I couldn't see them but they were silent for a few moments, "I need to speak with you about one of my pupils."

Tsunade sat back in her chair and motioned for whoever to come in. The person I saw step inside was none other than my own sensei!

"Which pupil are you having problems with Kyou?"

Kyou Himura, a newly promoted Jonin who was qualified for missions with his own team but not qualified enough to teach a genin team on his own yet. He was tall with spiky brown hair and brown eyes and pretty much average looking…

"It's the girl Mina, Hokage- sama. I don't think I'm suited to teach her."

"Oh?" I saw Tsunade raise an eyebrow, oh indeed.

"I just feel uncomfortable teaching a pupil that wasn't raised in the village and has not proven their loyalty either."

"I see. But has Mina given you any reason that she would perhaps become a missing-nin and betray our village in the time you've taught her?" I shook my head in a negative; of course I would never betray the village!

Kyou-sensei stepped right up to the desk and planted his hands with a loud bang on top of the desk. "Fine, I refuse to teach an outsider any more. I formally request that I be allowed to resume my regular ninja duties with my team and if I must I will submit a name for another trainer to teach the girl."

My mouth dropped open in complete shock. Who did this douche bag think he was? If anyone was to blame for the distrust and my slow progress it was my flakey sensei!

I saw Tsunade's eyes narrow, feeling gleeful I sat back ready to watch some fireworks when she said, "Alright, you can rejoin your team. I'll find another instructor for girl soon but until then continue to teach her until I do. Agreed?"

Sensei pursed his lips thinking it over before making a stiff nod and quickly walking back out of her office. Feeling my eyes tear up at the betrayal I didn't notice the loud creaking sound until it was too late. The vent loosened and crashed through plaster of the ceiling and I fell hard on to the carpeted floor. I suddenly saw two tapping heeled sandals before they morphed into one.

Sprawled on the floor I blinked up at Tsunades ticked off face and braced myself for some serious butt kicking. Only it was my butt that was gonna get kicked.

I sighed, I really needed to lose some weight before it killed me…

End Flashback

I'm pretty sure I had a permanent bump on the back of my head, I learned that day that destroying the Hokage's ceiling was a big no no.

Rounding a corner I smacked in to a tall green wall. I rubbed my sore bottom and looked up to see a man with spiky white hair reading a book…wait a second.

"You're Kakashi!" I jumped to my feet to point at him.

Kakashi's visible eye lazily wandered over me, "Sorry about that, I didn't see you there." He said completely ignoring my outburst.

Rolling my eyes I grumbled, "Its fine I guess…"

I stood in front of him awkwardly for a few moments and watched as he leant against the fence reading his book. I didn't know what to do with myself, on one hand I wanted to ask him a whole bunch of questions and on the other hand I just wanted to keep staring at him cuz I felt shy.

"Are you planning to stay there all day or am I in your way?" I jumped in surprise when he spoke, Kakashi's eye never left the page he was reading and I didn't know if he expected answer from me.

Shrugging I said, "I was thinking of getting some lunch but…"

His dark eyes fastened back on to my face, "But?..." he prompted.

"But I should really get back to my training, especially if Kyou-sensei decides to come back and see my progress."

Now he was looking at me fully, "You're a ninja?"

I crossed my arms defensively, "Yeah, I am." I frowned.

Kakashi did another once over and said, "Ah, now I know you. You're the one Kyou keeps complaining about and attempts to shove off on to some other poor jonin."

I felt my eye twitch, "So that's what he's been doing all day, huh?"

"More like every day… for the past three weeks." He said casually.

Feeling even more upset I yelled, "Yeah, well if it's gonna be like that then I'm done with training today!"

I started to stomp away towards my apartment when Kakashi's voice called out, "If you don't mind me asking, what exactly were you learning earlier? "

I grumbled unhappily under my breath for a few seconds before answering, "The substitution jutsu."

"And I take it not all went well." He shut his book and stowed it away before shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I could help you if want?" He offered casually.

My jaw dropped. The Kakashi was offering to help me with my jutsu! I paused in my mental celebration, "Wait, what's the catch…" I eyed him warily.

"No catch…well, there is something you can help me with but it's nothing to worry about." He shrugged.

I watched him for a few moments but it was probably useless since that mask covered up his expression. I nodded slowly, "Okay, you help me with my training and I'll help you with whatever. Deal?"

"Sure thing." He spun on his heel and started walking back towards the training grounds and I had to jog to catch up with him.

"Sooo, what exactly are we going to be doing?" Kakashi didn't answer, he just kept on walking.

Thank you Nijyuubi13, betleretleionlygotkettles and courtesycounts for your reviews!

I'm so so sorry that I haven't updated! Shame on me! But my computer caught a virus and it took FOREVER to fix. Then I got a case of writers block but I trying my hardest to unblock it!

So here's the chapter I managed to squeeze out and I know it's pretty short but I'll try to make the next one longer. And finally thank you to anyone who's been patient with me and eagerly awaited this very late update! ^-^

So please review, your opinions and comments inspire me so much!