The training grounds were quiet and looking like a scene from some far off dream with the weight of morning fog upon them. It would be a while before students began to arrive and in the calm, Umino Iruka sat looking out over the village. Team 7 were out on a mission with Kakashi, so his urge to drop in on Naruto's breakfast would have to be put off for another day. A rueful smile spread over his lips as he shook his head and rose from his seat. A new group of students was coming in and even though he still worried about the young ninja he had other things that were important now.

Heading back along the path, two streaks of gray captured his attention. A pair of dogs bounded across the grounds. Large dogs. The bigger of the two easily over two hundred pounds from the sight of him. Their silver coats, spotted with black, shone with care in the morning light as muscle played in a dance of lean sinew beneath their fur. He would have taken longer to appreciate them if he had not suddenly noticed the third figure running before them.

A child ran, dressed in a chunin's uniform. Tiny and fleet-footed, she still stumbled her fingers just catching her as she scrambled to her feet again. He couldn't see her face as the young girl looked over her shoulder at the encroaching dogs but he did notice how her pace didn't slow. As the visual truth struck him, she fell, rolling until the dogs converged upon her. From his distance he couldn't tell if they were hurting her but what he could see were paws raking at her clothes and two large muzzles trying to weed beneath her curled up limbs.

Snapping out of his shocked daze he moved with a sudden shift of motion, slamming the largest dog broadside into the other before scooping the small girl into his arms. A quick preliminary check for any wounds took just enough time for the dogs to regain their composure. Growls that rolled like thunder reverberated around him as they parted to circle. Heads lowered and long, vicious, teeth bared they focused solely upon him. The little girl's eyes were as wide as saucers as she looked up at him apparently in too much shock to speak. He couldn't even grace her with a reassuring smile as he shifted her up onto his back with one arm. His fingers slipping slowly into the pouch on his thigh only to have the smallest of the two canines focus upon his motions and advance.

In the next moment several things happened that seemed to cause time to stand still. His kunai had flown and was knocked away with a ping of metal. The lunging dog curtailed its leap at the last second practically rolling in the air before falling to its feet. The young girl had cried out for him to stop and a careening whistle cut through the air. A step back taken in shock, Iruka looked to the weapon that was pinned to the ground through the finger hole by another kunai. The skill it would take to do that meant that the new player in this game was far from a novice.

Both dogs obeyed the high-toned order, setting their snarls and gaze wholly upon Iruka; another Kunai taken to hang ready from his fingertips. Confusion tore across his features when the young girl tried to climb down from his secure grasp. He held fast as he watched the woman step before him. Worn on her brow was the mark of the Hidden Rain Village and on her face was an emotionless mask that forced him to draw in a breath. Eyes like summer thunderheads narrowed beneath thick lashes, full lips drew out into a thin line as her gaze moved to the young girl. It was as if he bore no threat to her at all. He felt the child shrink slightly behind him and his grip become more secure upon the blade he still held.

Looking finally to him the woman let a sigh fall from her lips, her voice low and calm, "Could you put her down, please, we are running late."

"Are those dogs yours?"

"No. They're hers." Nodding to the young girl, she raked the long fall of silken hair back from her face; its shifting strands revealing streaks of silver hidden within. The level look that she graced him with slipping away to focus again on the young charge he also glanced at, "Now if you are done playing Kimi, you are going to be late for our meeting with the Lady Hokage."

A tiny voice concurred with what was being said and after asking to be let down momentarily clung to him as he warily complied. His normally soft eyes watching as she stepped around and moved to join the other woman's side. Remaining stoic she felt him keeping an eye on her before finally turning to speak to him more directly. "I am sorry; Kimi tends to get carried away when playing with her companions."

Iruka nodded, curious as to what her purpose was here and that curiosity grew even more when she shifted to kneel before the young girl. In her hand was the rain village's protector. The little girl blushed as she took it back and quickly tied it around her forehead.

"You're here to see Lady Tsunade? You're from the Hidden Rain Village, correct?"

"Both are correct."

"Can I ask what your business is?"

"For the most part that is between my self and the Hokage, however..." rising to step closer to him, she finally smiled. The effect completely changing her features. No longer cold but now warm and friendly she offered her hand in greeting. "I am Kana. I've been invited here as an instructor since you are short handed after the attack your village suffered."

His brows knit, "You're instructing Genin?"

"No, I actually specialize in instructing black ops, so I will be sorting out a team from the most promising for more in-depth training."

Looking to the little girl his confusion was again clear upon his features, "And what of your young companion?" His smile was warm and welcoming as he offered his hand once it left Kana's. "I'm sorry but you just look so young to be wearing that on your forehead."

Kimi just smiled as her guardian watched them greet one another, speaking up to introduce the young girl more, "She's nine and she's already passed the Chunin exam in our village."

"I completely blew past my mom! She was ten!"

"I-I see..." looking from one to the other, he suddenly understood, "Very impressive. I'm amazed they let you both leave."

A smirk etched its way over her lips as she turned to head for the village below, "I didn't give them a choice; I swore to my sister that I would always watch over her."

He repeated the word sister before a small smile formed across his own lips. Kana, the dogs and Kimi moved away in a practiced formation of four before she hung back and turned to him again, calling out across the short distance, "Do you like ramen?"

He nodded, his smile not fading.

"I spotted a ramen shop when we came into the village, why don't you meet us there. It would be good for Kimi to get to know others."

"I'll be by after my class lets out."

A small nod in response and she turned once more heading to their meeting still feeling his watchful gaze until they could no longer be seen.