I don't own Naruto. I only wrote the fan fiction! If some of the characters seem a little OC-ish then I'm sorry - I haven't been keeping up with the episodes so don't bug me, and I might have changed a couple things - that is another thing NOT to bug me about! There may also be other characters in this story that ARE OC so don't start telling me that I added characters...please! (Italic - thoughts or dreams, "..." is speech, and ~~ is flashback)

Training Starts Today - A New Mission

"I seriously didn't..." Kakashi said with a chuckle.

Sasuke slithered his way out from under Kakashi's arm and got out of bed. He walked over to a window on the other side of the room.

"What're you doing?"

"I heard something..."

"I didn't hear anything..."

"Something sounded like it was calling out to me...a voice..."

"A voice huh?"

Sasuke nodded and continued to look out the window. "Yeah...it was really weird..."

"That DOES sound weird..." Kakashi started as he got out of bed and walked over to the gennin. "Maybe you should hold my hand if you're scared." He said with a sly smile.

Sasuke smiled. "Heh I'm not scared..."

The man took Sasuke's hands. "Are you?"

"No..."

"You're shaking." He whispered in the gennin's ear.

Sasuke looks down at his trembling hand; also noticing its size compared to the jounin's. "Oh...I am...huh..."

The man crouched slightly. "C'mon."

"What do want me to do?"

Kakashi gently tugged the boy's hand so that he's walk forward, and he picked him up in his arms.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Just go with it..."

"B-but I can walk just fine!"

"Like I said just go with it..." Kakashi said as he walked down the hall to the living room and put Sasuke down. He walked into the kitchen and started to make something for breakfast.

"What are you doing sensei?"

"Making breakfast, but just relax and stay there."

Sasuke sighed. "Okay."

"There should be a scroll on the coffee table. Why don't you read that for a bit?"

"Why?"

"It has to do with what we're doing today."

"Alright then." Sasuke said as he opened the scroll on the coffee table.

After a couple minutes Kakashi walked into the living room and leaned over the back of the couch and kissed the gennin's forehead. "Breakfast is ready."

Sasuke smiled and rolled up the scroll and put it back where he had gotten it from. "Okay." He said before standing up and followed the man to the kitchen.

Kakashi had Sasuke sit down before walking back over to the counter. He picked up two plates and walked back to the table. "Here...you'll need all the energy you can get today." He said as he placed a plate in front of the gennin.

"All of this?"

The jounin nodded. "Yup. Eat up."

"Alright then..." Sasuke sighed.

The two ate in silence; Kakashi didn't want to bring up the "voice" that Sasuke was hearing when they first woke up.

Sasuke finished and put his plate in the sink. He looked over at the man when he heard him clear his throat.

"Com'ere."

Sasuke walked over. "Yes?"

The man gestured for the boy to get closer.

He went closer; only to be stopped by warm lips gently melting into his, but was a quick kiss.

Kakashi was the first to pull away. He stood and put an arm around the gennin's shoulders. "Let's go. We have a lot to do today."

Sasuke nodded.

They walked toward the training ground; only to be stopped by Iruka. "Kakashi!" The man called as he stopped in front of the two ninja.

"What is it Iruka?"

"The Hokage needs to see you two right away!"

"What's happened?"

"He'll explain everything just follow me."

"I wonder what he wants us for...I hope it's not too bad..." Kakashi thought as he and Sasuke followed Iruka to the Hokage's mansion.

Iruka brought the two into the Hokage's office; seeing Anbu at every window and entrance. "Here they are...just as you requested Lord Hokage."

"Thank you Iruka." The Hokage started. "Now as for why you're here before you ask, Kakashi...I have called you and your student Sasuke here because you two have an important mission that will be assigned to you."

"Just us two?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes...the other two ninja on Team 7 aren't ready for this sort of mission yet."

"Then what makes you think that we are?" Sasuke questioned.

"You and Kakashi are the best ninja fit for this task that I know of at this point, Sasuke, you should never doubt your abilities and will to complete any important task set to you."

"I know not to do that, but Lord Hokage, I don't feel that if I'm going to do this...I don't think I can do it without my other team members, and if that's not good enough for you then you can count me out; no matter the circumstances and punishments I receive." Sasuke stated with full confidence; shocking everyone in the room with his statement.

"The Hokage has given you an important task, and you jus wanna throw away that opportunity?!" Iruka asked.

"That's enough Iruka."

"But Lord Hokage I-"

"I said that's enough. If that is what he says then so be it. He has proven himself to be a loyal and trustworthy ninja."

Iruka's eyes widened. "He said the same thing about Kakashi when we were in this same situation..." He thought.

The Hokage turned to one of the Anbu and nodded.

The Anbu walked past the two ninja standing in front of the desk and left the room.

"What was that all about? Where'd he go anyways?" Sasuke asked himself.

Kakashi looked down at Sasuke; starring into nothing...almost like he's still paying attention. The jounin nudged him and leaned towards him. "Are you alright?" He asked; whispering.

Sasuke just nodded.

Kakashi sighed.

The Anbu came back, and just as the door opened Sasuke felt a chill run up his spine...as if...someone was watching him. The Anbu ninja walked in with Sakura and Naruto; just as Sasuke supposedly requested. He stood back in his position and nodded when the Hokage nodded to him.

The Hokage cleared his throat. "Now that Team 7 has assembled, due to a certain statement, there is an important mission you four must take on together."

"An important mission? What kind of important mission?" Naruto asked.

"Just let him explain things Naruto." Sasuke said calmly.

"Okay."

"This mission will take, if you do the job right, at least three weeks."

"Three weeks?!"

Sakura nudged Naruto.

"Yes...you four WILL NOT be the same as when you left here."

"If I may ask...?" Sasuke started.

"Go ahead."

"How will we not be the same as when we left?"

"Good question Mr. Uchiha." He said with a smile. "You will endure life-changing experiences that will alter you in many ways; some may be in a good way, others not so much."

"That's not really answering my question Lord Hokage...WHAT will change us?"

"That is for you to find out...not for me to tell and/or judge."

"I understand."

"Good. Now do you accept this task set to you or are you going to give it to another team willing to do this?"

"We accept this important mission Lord Hokage." The four said in unison.

"Excellent. Now get going; if you want to get this done in time you must leave ASAP."

"Yes sir."

The three left the Hokage's mansion and went to get ready for their journey.

Naruto

Naruto went home to see Seri asleep on his couch...and remembered what Kakashi told him. "Seri needs to stay with someone until Sasuke is fully recovered..." He remembered. The gennin also remembered the young Uchiha's face when she had asked to stay at his house. "Naruto, could I stay at your house?" She asked; her eyes full of light.

The boy laughed to himself. He walked over to the couch and sat down and shook her slightly. "Seri? Seri wake up."

The girl's eyes tightened and slowly open. "Huh? Oh it's you Naruto. What's up?"

"Get your stuff..."

"But..."

"I'm going away for a while on an important mission, and I don't want you to stay here alone."

"Then...where will I stay?"

"You can stay at a good friend of mine's house."

"What's this friend's name?"

"Her name is Hinata Hyuga. She's super nice."

"Okay."

"I'm gonna go get my things together. You should too."

"Kay."

Naruto walked into his room and got his things together for the mission.

Seri got her stuff together as well and the two met at the front door.

Naruto sighed. "Are ya ready?"

"Yup. Are you?"

Naruto nodded. "Yup. I'm a little nervous, but I'm ready for this"

"Hey."

Naruto looked down at her.

The girl gestured for his to crouch down.

He crouched. "What is it?"

Seri placed a small kiss on the boy's cheek.

A blush rushed across the gennin's cheeks. "W-what was that for?"

She hugged him. "Make sure you all come back safely, and good luck...Naruto-kun." She whispered. "Promise me."

"I promise Seri. I'll bring everyone back safely...including your brother."

Seri smiled. "Thanks Naruto."

"No problem."

The two walked to Hinata's house.

Naruto knocked on the door.

Hinata opened the door. "Yes? Whose out-" She started to say before seeing Naruto at the door. "N-Naruto? What are you doing here?"

"I need a favor Hinata."

"What is it?"

"I need you to watch over Sasuke's little sister for me while I'm out on an important mission...I'm gonna out there for a while."

"How long?"

"The Hokage said three weeks, but I'm not so sure he's right..."

"Alright then." She said before turning to Seri. "What's your name?"

"My name's Seri."

"Okay then Seri, just come on inside and we'll let Naruto go meet his team mates."

"Okay. Thanks Hinata." Seri said as she walked in the front door; stopping to turn around. "See ya 'round Naruto...good luck on your mission."

"Thanks."

Naruto then left for the meeting point.

Sakura

Sakura got to her house and was immediately greeted by her parents. "Hey Sakura. What're you up to?"

"Hey Mom and Dad. I'm going to get ready for an important mission."

"Oh that's great. It's good to see your performing your duties as a ninja of our village." Sakura's father said.

"How long will you be away?" He mother questioned.

"Well the Hokage said at least three weeks, but I have this odd feeling it'll take much longer than that."

"Oh my...that's a long time Sakura. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yeah. I can't let my team mates down, and they're all going to do this too. Plus - a certain crush of mine wanted me and my other team mate Naruto to do this with him and my sensei, and if this mission means so much to him that we all do this than I'll do it." Sakura said before running to her room to get some things for her mission.

Meanwhile, her parents were discussing Sakura's mission amongst themselves.

"I don't think she should do this just because her other team mates want her to and that her crush wants her to do this." Her father said.

"Agreed." Her mother said.

Sakura came back into the living room and was about to leave; only to be stopped by her parents. "Sakura dear?"

Sakura turned. "Yeah Mom?"

"Can you sit down with us for a minute?"

"I really should get going. I need to meet my team so we can get going."

"That's what we wanna talk to you about." Her father said.

"I really don't have time for this! I NEED to go!"

There was a knocking at the door.

"I'll get it." Sakura said; hoping that it's Sasuke. She opened the door and there was Naruto.

"Hey Naruto."

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes and no."

"Huh?"

"I am ready, but my parents say I'm not going..."

"Do you want me to explain the situation to them?"

"Yes please..."

"Okay then."

Sakura let Naruto in and lead him to the living room. "Naruto please explain to my parents that you and everyone else on the team need me on this mission."

"Sure." Naruto started. "Team 7 has been assigned to go on a very important mission. This mission was given to us by the Hokage himself, and he's counting on us to it done. We need Sakura because she's a member of Team 7, and she's very crucial to our team's success in this mission." Naruto explained.

Sakura's parents looked at each other with worry. They looked back at Naruto and Sakura. "*Sigh*...alright then...now that we both sort of understand why this mission is so important to you two...I guess, Sakura, you can go with Naruto and your other team mates."

Sakura had the biggest smile. "Really?!"

They both nodded.

Sakura hugged Naruto. "Thanks SO much Naruto!" She said before letting go. She walked over to her parents and hugged them as well. "Thanks you guys."

"Just come home safely Sakura."

"Can do."

Sasuke

Although Sasuke basically lives with Kakashi now; the gennin walked to the Uchiha complex; many memories flooding into his mind. He walked into his house and down the hall to his room. He saw that nothing had been moved since that day of training and he had stayed at his sensei's house for the night. He sighed and grabbed some stuff from his room and left for the kitchen. He walked over to the counter and set his bag down. He opened a couple cabinets to grab some ingredients to make a couple days worth of food (even though they're probably going to stop at a couple inns and they'll have food, but that's not really the point anyways) and put it in his bag. The whole house was completely silent; giving Sasuke chills just standing in it.

"This place has become so...eerie to me now...the only feelings I have in here are creped out and just the slightest scared. All I get in this house now is chills...I can't even remember a time when I DIDN'T get chills...or nightmares when I was in this house..." Sasuke thought as he walked out of the house. He locked the door and left for the meeting point.

Kakashi

Kakashi got to his front door and went inside. He noticed that the scroll he'd read the night before was still on the coffee table. He picked it up and carried it with him to his room to get some things for the mission. He saw that Sasuke had left Obito's goggles on his dresser. He smiled and put the goggles in his bag. "He looked so much like Obito when he wore these." He thought before getting everything else that he needed.

~Flashback~

He was watching...waiting for the right moment to strike...that moment when his sensei's guard was down. In the blink of an eye Kakashi was gone; raging electricity scattering every which way. He ran at his sensei after he thought his guard was down; only to very quickly find out that his sensei's guard was never down. He was defeated by his sensei...not knowing the meaning of teamwork...

~End of Flashback~

He had put everything he needed into his bag, but the one thing he chose to put in the bag, he took out and carried it instead. "I might as well just give these back to him and tell him to keep them with him. After all, I gave these to him because I've moved on...Obito...Uchiha..." He thought; in slight memory of his old friend. He left his room and got a couple of foods from the kitchen. After putting them in his bag he left his house, locked the door, and headed for the meeting spot.

The Meeting Spot

Everyone met at the meeting spot - the village gate.

"Is everyone ready to leave?" Kakashi asked.

The three gennin nodded.

"Alright then let's get moving shall we?"

They walked out of the village and started their journey.

"Kakashi-sensei?"

"Yes Sakura?"

"Where are we going exactly?"

"You figure it out when we get there."

"Okay."

The team got down to the harbor and boarded a ship.

"So where's the ship taking us Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked.

"Like I told Sakura you'll figure it out when we get there...you two are too excited. You need to calm down and relax...this boat ride might take a while."

"Well then what kind of mission is this?"

"It's a mission to become a better ninja; you three will go through different types of training in order to complete this mission, and it is very important that you follow every rule."

"Is that why Old Man Hokage told us this was important?" Naruto asked.

"Yes."

"So all he wanted us to do was train?" Sakura asked.

"Basically."

"That's also why he said we weren't going to be the same when we get back to the village." Sasuke added.

"That's right."

Sasuke looked forward; silent and unmoved as he'd usually display.

"Why is Sasuke always so quiet?" Sakura asked in a whisper.

"Losing your entire family changes you." Kakashi answered in a whisper.

"Ya know I can hear every word you're saying, and I really don't appreciate you talking about me like that." Sasuke said; still staring out at the water.

Kakashi walked over and sat down next to him. "Sakura's just worried about you ya know Sasuke."

"I realize that, but talking about me like I'm not even here kinda hurts...no matter what you're talking about."

"I see..." Kakashi said before looking over at Sakura and Naruto.

The other two gennin where sitting on the other end of the boat watching the harbor slowly disappear on the horizon; talking about something.

Kakashi sighed and put an arm around Sasuke. "Sorry..."

"For what you didn't start it."

"No but I finished it..."

Sasuke leaned back into Kakashi's chest. "It's okay."