A tiny interlude

Kakashi and the three little pig… I mean, genins. I just happen to like this thrilling combination.

Code Names

Hatake Kakashi has arrived as always. Late and cooking another half-baked excuse in his head. He has found all of his protégés assembled, coping with the habitual waiting on their respective different levels. Sasuke has been meditating, resorting to a convenient procedure in order to enhance his chakra-control and ignore the "annoying teammates". Sakura has been peering at the river's surface, as if thinking to herself, but… in reality, serene water has proved to be a nice mirror to fawn over her love object's reflection. Because staring directly at someone's face is just too rude… And last but not least (in a way) he notices the blond subordinate, hanging head over heels from the wooden arc of the bridge, with his finger lost in the right nostril.

"Yo!" Kakashi greets them, landing in front of the "emerald-digger". "Naruto, there shouldn't be any ramen left in your nose, unless you have been practicing a new…"

"Kakashi-sensei, when we parted yesterday, we said "Later", not "please, be late for three damn hours!" Sakura screams, displaying their collective feelings and her own additional disappointment: now she has to release herself from her pink dreamy "genjutsu".

"Aaaaah, really?" their leader feigns ignorance without a trace of remorse on his passive face. Suddenly he announces in an almost serious tone "We have a special mission today!"

"A special one? Is it A-ranked?" Naruto jumps down, joining the others, he's obviously blazing with the fire of HOPE and YOUTH.

"Hn…" Uchiha shows the "generous" sign of being an actual living boy and not a monument.

"Well, we are to watch after Wagamama*–sama, Daimyo's nephew", Kakashi bursts his team's bubbles with a cheerful wink.

"Babysitting a brat?" Uzumaki groans and folds his arms.

"Secretly!" Kakashi says and adds after a theatrical pause: "And while following our official target we will be also spying on the Sadaijin*".

"Does it mean that you'll be doing the investigation and we're going as a mere cover?" Sasuke throws in his ever-accurate assumption.

"Bingo, genius!" the Jounin happily wallows in genins' despair. "That is precisely why all of the members need code names. I have decided already on them, by the way. Sakura, you will be called "Green-eyed monster", Naruto… hm… " Blue-eyed demon", it suits you, Sasuke…perhaps, "Red-eyed warlock" would do. Perfect to intimidate our enemies, don't you agree?" he finishes and shivers, surrounded by an eerie atmosphere.

"Then… should we address you as "Silver Cyclops"?" the prodigy is the first to counterattack.

"No, how about "Half-faced sadist"?" his dedicated follower grimly suggests.

"Or, even better… "Porn retard"!" the blond loudly delivers the final blow.

"Fine, know-it-alls!" Kakashi sighs, showing his palms in defeat. "You win, let's forget about imagination and stick to our moderate routine. Now, be sure to meet your humble captain at the northern gates in an hour, Tomato, Cherry, and Noodles".

"No problem, Cold tea! Shake Mr. Clock's hand, when you see It", the trio chimes in chorus, swiftly dispersing in different directions.

"All that effort! And the only thing they learnt so far is how to unite against the boss, having mastered the teamwork sarcasm technique…"

* means "fretful"

* Minister of the Left