A/N: Before you read, I think you should know that Kaede's name in Japanese means "maple". Hence the maple leaf thing. Kind of cheesy, I know, but I liked the idea. :P

Enjoy!

Kakashi looked her way, just in time to catch her as she almost collapsed.

"Kaede!"

He supported her by taking one arm and putting it over his shoulder, preventing her from falling. He saw her eyes, half-open and somehow clouded.

"Kaede, hang in there," he said. "Are you ok?"

She moaned, rubbing her temples with her free hand before she fully opened her eyes. When she looked directly at him, he noticed that her whole facial expression was different. Harder, and somewhat angry-looking. Suddenly her blue-green eyes seemed so cold.

She pulled her arm back with force, much to Kakashi's surprise. She looked at the maple leaf that was still in her hand. She gritted her teeth.

"The true Kaede…" she repeated again. Her voice sounded so different this time.

That voice! Kakashi was reminded of the night she found out that Naruto was her brother. I thought it was just anger, but… Could it be…?

"Who do you think you are?" she suddenly yelled at him. "Do you honestly believe you're helping me by making a stupid pun? Do you even know what it's like not to know who you really are? Do you think it's a joke?"

"You…" whispered Kakashi. "Are you…"

Kaede's eyes widened for less than a second and she swore softly before she turned her head. Kakashi followed her look and noticed Sakura approaching.

But if Kaede is…

"Kaede," he called calmly.

When she turned back towards him, her eyes were back to normal. So was her facial expression, soft as ever. Not a trace of anger to be spotted.

"Hm?" she hummed.

What does this mean? She looks like herself again. There was only one way Kakashi could explain this, but he didn't want to believe it. Considering her childhood, it could be possible, but…

Kakashi stared at her, puzzling. When he slowly reached out to her, he saw Sakura coming their way, carrying another basket of soldier pills. He withdrew his hand and waved to her.

"Yo," he said. "Bringing another basket to Naruto, I see?"

"Yeah," said Sakura with a smirk. "Naruto says they really help him out a lot, so I'm glad there's at least something I can do for him."

"What are they?" asked Kaede, looking at the mud-coloured pills.

Kakashi looked at her. She's really gone back to normal.

"Soldier pills," answered Sakura. "I made them myself."

"You make them every day?" asked Kaede. "For Naruto?"

"Well, not every day, but… yes, pretty often," said Sakura.

"Wow," said Kaede, "you must really care about him, then."

Sakura blushed. "N-not really" she said. "I just want to help him out!"

She likes him, thought Kaede with a smile. "Ah, my bad, my bad," she said. "So he's training right now? Mind if I join you?"

"Umm… not at all," said Sakura. "Are you coming too, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Sorry, maybe next time," said Kakashi. "I have some things to do right now. See ya."

Sakura and Kaede nodded and walked away. Kakashi stared after them before he left.

I need to watch her more closely, he thought. But first I need to report this to Tsunade-sama. I'm sorry, Kaede.

"What were you and Kakashi-sensei doing?" asked Sakura.

"He was teaching me some self-defense," answered Kaede. "We were done for today, anyway, so…"

"I see," said Sakura. "You and Kakashi-sensei are getting along pretty well, right?"

"Well, we are childhood friends," said Kaede.

"He seems to like you very much," said Sakura with a smirk. "I can feel that."

"N-no way," said Kaede quickly. "Do you have any idea how much we differ in age?"

"That shouldn't matter," said Sakura. She chuckled. "I think you two would make a great match."

"Hey, I'm not saying anything about you and Naruto either, now am I?" teased Kaede with a smirk.

"Because Naruto and I aren't like that," said Sakura.

"Right," said Kaede, a wide smirk still marking her face.

"Really, you're wrong," laughed Sakura. "There it is."

Naruto had seen them coming. All his Shadow Clones stopped for a moment, too, but then they focussed on the training again as the original Naruto approached the girls.

"Sakura-chan. And… Kaede-neechan?"

"'Nee-chan?'" asked Sakura.

"I just wanted to see what you're training for," said Kaede. "Kakashi told me you're working on an ultimate technique."

Naruto smirked. "Yeah, that's right," he said.

"How's it going now, Naruto?" asked Sakura.

Naruto's smirk disappeared. "Not so good," he said disappointedly.

Yamato joined the group. "Looks like Naruto's becoming popular with the ladies," he said with a smirk. Naruto laughed.

"He'd wish," said Sakura, giving Naruto a soft stomp in the arm.

"And who's this pretty lady?" asked Yamato.

Kaede blushed and forced a chuckle. "I'm Kaede," she said.

"I'm Yamato," said Yamato friendly. "Nice to meet you."

"Naruto, how come you two know each other?" whispered Sakura while Kaede was talking with Yamato. "You called her by her real name."

"She's a friend of Kakashi-sensei's," answered Naruto. "And… she knew my parents."

"Your… parents?" asked Sakura. She looked at Kaede. She can't be much older than twenty, she thought. She must have been so young when she knew Naruto's parents. How come she still remembers?

"She's willing to tell me all kinds of stuff about my parents," said Naruto. He looked at the Fourth Hokage's face in the mountain. Sakura looked at Naruto.

Naruto smirked and looked at Kaede. "Kaede-neechan," he said. "We couldn't meet the other day. You still owe me some details on my parents."

"Sure," said Kaede. "You can ask me any time."

Naruto nodded. "Thanks," he said cheerfully.

Sakura didn't really understand what it was between the two of them, but she could feel some kind of bond between them already.

"So," said Kaede. "Mind showing me what that amazing technique is Kakashi is bragging about?"

"Not at all," said Naruto. "I was just gonna perform it anyway! Ok, stand back."

Sakura and Kaede took some distance as Naruto summoned another two Shadow Clones.

Yamato went back to his place, prepared for what could happen.

"What's that technique Yamato-san is using?" Kaede asked Sakura.

Sakura thought about the time the Kyuubi's chakra took over Naruto and attacked her. It took long before the wound he had given her was finally recovered.

"That's a long story," she said.

"Alright," called Naruto out to the crowd of Shadow Clones, "let's try again!"

"Yeah!" replied the Shadow Clones simultaneously.

A few of them could make a beginning Rasen Shuuriken. But they couldn't get any further than the shape.

"Oh! What… what is that…?" asked Kaede suddenly, startled.

Sakura was about to ask what, but she had already sensed it. When she saw red chakra flowing from one of the Clones, she yelled: "Yamato-taichou! Over there!"

Two tails appeared already and the Clone was destroying the Clones that were around him. He was losing control.

Yamato activated his Mokuton Jutsu, but the Shadow Clone was going on a rampage, moving swiftly from one place to another, dodging the technique.

"Damn it, he's fast!" cursed Yamato.

The original Naruto turned towards Sakura and Kaede and yelled: "Get away from there, quick!"

Instinctively, Sakura grabbed Kaede's arm and dragged her away.

"Shit!" She could hear Naruto swear behind her. "Yamato-taichou!"

"I'm trying my best, Naruto!"

"He's going after them!"

Oh no! Sakura tried to stay calm. The most important thing right now was to get herself and Kaede safe. But Kaede couldn't keep up.

"Kaede-san, please hang on!" she said. "Try and run as fast as you—"

When she looked behind them, she noticed that Yamato had caught the rampaging Clone. The Shadow Clone disappeared. The red chakra floated away and vanished.

Sakura sighed in relief. It was always painful to see Naruto like this, even if it was a Shadow Clone.

Kaede dropped down on her knees. She looked shocked.

Naruto ran towards them. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah…" said Sakura. "Kaede-san…"

Kaede looked at Naruto, her eyes wide with fear. "What… are you?"

I guess she didn't know yet that Naruto's a Jinchuuriki. Sakura sighed softly.

An awkward silence was between them until Yamato joined them.

"Naruto," he said. "I'm starting to worry about that Kyuubi cloak. It's coming out more and more often and lately the tails are formed faster."

"'Kyuubi'?" Kaede took a few careful passes backward. "You're… you're the Kyuubi?"

"The Kyuubi is sealed inside his body," explained Sakura.

"I'm a Jinchuuriki," said Naruto, looking firmly at Kaede.

"But… why…? How…?" she asked.

"Kaede-san," said Yamato, "it's better for you to go back to the village now."

"I'm sorry you had to see that," said Naruto.

Sakura stood up. "Let's go back, Kaede-san," she said.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan," said Naruto.

"I'm fine," said Sakura, forcing a careful smile. "Don't worry."

She walked Kaede, who was still in a kind of shock, back to Konoha.

"I'll bring you home," she said. "Where do you live?"

"It's ok, Sakura-chan," said Kaede. "There's someone I need to talk to first."

"… I see." Tsunade leaned with her elbows on her desk, pressing her forehead against the backs of her hands.

"It's not certain yet, Tsunade-sama," said Kakashi. "I mean, she was acting strange twice. We shouldn't jump to conclusions too quickly."

"Kakashi." Tsunade looked up. "If you'd thought that it was nothing, you wouldn't be here right now. I know you want to protect her, but you know as well as I do… what this could mean."

"I do," replied Kakashi reluctantly.

"I want you to watch her closely," said Tsunade. "This could be dangerous for the village."

"Do you… believe that it could have anything to do with the murders?" asked Kakashi.

Tsunade watched him for a few seconds before she stood up and looked out the window.

"It's very well likely that this is why she's being followed," said Tsunade quietly.

"The follower possibly being the murderer," finished Kakashi.

"I want you to note this in your report," instructed Tsunade. "I want you to write it down, and think of the possibilities."

"Yes, ma'am." Kakashi nodded.

"Dismissed."

A/N: Sorry to those of you who'd hoped that Kaede would soon be revealed to Naruto as his sister. At the time, I thought the story needed a bit more plot before he finds out. Lol. Poor Naruto. Forgive me. m(_ _)m