Thank you to everyone who has been reading and to everyone that has written a review! I hope to hear more from ya'll and I hope you enjoy this new chapter. Sorry if it feels rushed at some point, my comp crashed and didn't save everything that I had done but thank you again for your reads and reviews!
The rays of the sun flickered across the village as the four companions walked down a street. The firey sun casting shadows against the dirt path as villagers began to clean up their shops and prepare for the day ahead of them. All was quiet as the shop keepers did their usual duties and kids were just woken up by their mothers to get ready for school. All was peaceful, that is, until Tinktink playfully nipped at Akamaru's head. The little pup barked loudly as he chased Tinktink to the gate opening where Shino, Hinata and Kurenai were waiting for Kiba to finally show up.
Meng Ka laughed at the two as Tinktink flew circles around Akamaru, who in turn, continued to bark and chase all in good fun. "So are you excited?" Meng Ka asked, hugging her bag closer to herself as she looked over at Kiba.
Kiba looked down at her and shrugged, "It really isn't much. We are just tracking down some people at the boarder who have been acting suspicious for the past few days. Akamaru will sniff them out in no time; we'll be back by lunch." Kiba smiled down at her.
Meng Ka rolled her eyes, "Just don't do anything without thinking about it first." She smiled knowingly up at Kiba who laughed nervously.
"Well, it's about time you showed up Kiba." Kurenai said as she put her hands on her hips.
Kiba froze and looked at a loss for words as he stared at his sensi, "Sorry, it was my fault, Kurenai." Meng Ka cut in as she smiled up at the woman.
Kurenai chuckled, "Kakashi already rubbing off on you huh? How have you been, Meng Ka?"
"I've been great; Kakashi hasn't left to go on any missions outside of the village for a few weeks now." Meng Ka smiled widely as she thought about all the time she's been able to spend with Kakashi. She was loving it, though she could tell that he was getting a bit restless not being able to go out on any challenging missions.
Kurenai smiled just as Shino cleared his throat. "Are you going to introduce us, Kiba?"
Kiba stared at Shino, not understanding what he was talking about but then the light bulb finally went off in his head, "Oh yeah! This is Meng Ka. Meng Ka, this is Shino and Hinata."
"Hi!" Meng Ka said as she waved at the two, Tinktink landing on her shoulder and chirped a bit, "This is Tinktink."
"Hello, it's nice to meet you, Meng Ka. But now we should be going." Shino said as he looked up at his Sensi.
"Wait! I brought ya'll a gift. Kind of as a have fun on your first mission outside of the village type of thing." Meng Ka rummaged through her bag and pulled out three small boxes, giving them to Hinata, Shino and Kurenai. "They're food pills. Just encase something unexpected happens. I made it specifically for your jutsu types, so it won't really help to share. Plus you shouldn't need all of them on this trip. They should last you a while, really."
"Thank you, Meng Ka" Hinata said in a small voice as she put her box away and then looked at Kiba, "Oh! What about Kiba's gift?"
"Hm? I already gave him and Akamaru there's. I felt bad for just making a gift for him so I made gifts for the whole team." She smiled at Hinata who nodded her head and looked away. Meng Ka then suddenly looked to her left just as an Anbu Black Ops member appeared beside her.
"Meng Ka, the Hokage wants you to spend the day with him. I'm to make sure you get there right away." He said through his mask.
Meng Ka sighed, "Can't I just play hooky, Tanzo?" She asked with a pout as she looked up at him.
Tanzo suddenly tensed, "Meng Ka! Be more careful when you say our names in front of people." He sighed as well and shook his head.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I forgot about that." Meng Ka smiled cheekily up at him and then turned to the others, "Well, I'll see you when you get back. Have fun." She waved just as Tanzo took a hold of her other hand and then they were gone.
"No! No more!" Naruto yelled as he glared over at the Hokage. Meng Ka giggled in her seat next to the Hokage. She liked Naruto, he was a pretty loud guy but his heart was in the right place.
The Hokage then went on a rant about how missions were decided for what level ninja but Naruto still fought him on his decision and pouted. Meng Ka zoned them out as she looked out the windows, daydreaming about owning her own shop one day. That's what she wanted to do with her life, she knew that the Hokage had other plans but she wasn't going to let that stop her. She hated to fight and even more so hated to take a life, it wasn't who she was. She'd rather save a life than destroy one, regardless of their intentions.
"Alright, but Meng Ka will have to go with you." The Hokage said bring Meng Ka from her daydream as she suddenly looked up at him.
"What?" Meng Ka, Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura asked at the same time. The Hokage only inhaled the smoke from his pip as he looked at the team in front of him.
"Meng Ka is not coming." Kakashi said as he looked at the Hokage.
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at kakashi, "Why is that?"
"She's too young to be put in a situation like that." Kakashi said as he stood his ground, for once his calm demeanor suddenly having a crack in it.
"Meng Ka is a Jounin just like you Kakashi. She is more than capable of going on any mission, even on her own." Hiruzen said, irritation showing in his voice now as Kakashi shook his head.
"What?! Meng Ka is a Jounin?!" Naruto yelled pointing at her.
"How is that even possible?" Sakura asked as she looked at Meng Ka curiously.
Meng Ka on the other hand slouched down, wishing that she wasn't here right now. She really hated it when people found out her rank among the ninjas. She didn't care about her rank, she just wanted to open her shop and she was paid for going on missions so it was a way for her to save up. But she still tried to keep from doing any that would put her at risk of fighting. However, the Hokage always had other ideas.
"She shouldn't have gotten that rank in the fire place. She is too young for such responsibility." Kakashi spoke as he was still in a glaring match with the Hokage.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, "Meng Ka graduated top of her class without even going to the academy within one year because of your teachings. She also has mastered every elemental jutsu and it took almost two years before she surpassed the head nurse. Not only that but she has been sent on missions by herself before and has come back perfectly fine. This is just a simple protection against thugs and gangs mission. I just simply wish to let her have more experience since she is the most inexperienced jounin in ninja history. I also thought you would have agreed since she will be accompanying you as well. But if you don't want her to I can always send her on the 's' ranked mission, she is one of the better choices for it."
Kakashi tensed when he heard the last part of what the Hokage was saying and he shook his head, "No, she can come." He sighed and looked back at Meng Ka whose face was completely red by this point from embarrassment.
"Alright, you can come in now!" Called Hiruzen as he looked at the door behind the team.
An elderly man step through with a bottle in one hand. He drank a bit and insulted Naruto for his height before taking a swig from his bottle. He was clearly a bit tipsy but he was an adult so they really couldn't do much. Plus he wasn't that bad, it was just how he was really. "I'm Tazuna, veteran bridge builder. You'll be risking life and limb in guarding me to the max until I return to my home land and finish my bridge."
Meng Ka sighed as she sat on top of Kakashi's shoulders, "Couldn't you have said I was sick or something?" She asked as she pouted while resting her head on Kakashi's head.
"You were right there; you could have pitched in at any moment." Kakashi said as he put his hands in his pocket and walked down the street.
"Why does Hiruzen always have me do stuff like this anyways? I don't wunna be Hokage, it's too boring." Meng Ka mumbled.
Kakashi chuckled, "He's just trying to make sure you get educated. With talent like yours it's best that you know all your options."
Meng Ka sighed as they stopped at the gate, everyone already there. Naruto smiled and walked out a head of them, "Alright! Let's go! This is my first time outside of the village."
Everyone gave Naruto a look and then they were off, Meng Ka still on Kakashi's head but she had gotten down after a few hours and Tinktink landed on her shoulder just as they had passed by a random water puddle. Meng Ka tilted her head to the side as she looked at it but kept walking in the middle of the group as Naruto and Sakura kept arguing with one another.
Meng Ka yawned just as she heard someone running up behind them, she looked back just in time to see Kakashi wrapped in chains and then cut through him as he suddenly turned into a tree branch and it fell to the ground in pieces. Raising her eyebrow she looked up at the other two as they ran for Naruto now but Sasuke interfered, saving him. Even though they didn't like one another, they did seem to naturally fight together, even if Naruto was stuck in his place out of fear.
Suddenly the two split up, one going for Tazuna and the other going for Meng Ka. Narrowing her eyes at the guy she watched as Sakura and Sasuke took their positions in front of the man just before Kakashi close-lined the guy. Looking back at the other guy coming at her with his claws, Meng Ka fought the urge to roll her eyes. These guys were most likely the same rank as these three, it would have been better to have just let them fight them off and get their first battle out of the way. But Meng Ka wasn't going to argue as she dodged the guy's attack and then hit a series of pressure points on his body, making his arms fall limply by his side and then building up chakra in her hand she hit him right in the chest, throwing her chakra into him. He didn't move for a few seconds but then spat up some blood and fell back, unconscious.
Kakashi picked the guy up with the other still in his other arm, "Good job, Meng Ka." He said proudly as he looked at her and then told others they did a good job a well, expect for Naruto. "Sorry, I would have helped you sooner if I'd known you were incapable of moving." He told him as he walked over to a tree and tied them up.
"Don't move around so much, Naruto." Meng Ka called out to him as she noticed him getting irritated. "The claws have poison on them, so you don't want it to spread in your system. We'll need to get it out soon by opening the wound again." She smiled apologetic to the kid as she made her way to Kakashi. Naruto would be fine; the poison mustn't be that strong if it wasn't affecting him yet.
"Chunin from the village hidden in the mist?" Meng Ka asked as she tilted her head to the side and looked at the two.
"These guys are known to continuing to fight no matter what the sacrifice." Kakashi said as he looked at the two as well, answering Meng Ka's question.
The one awake looked up at him, "How did you detect our movements?"
"You left a puddle in the middle of the road. Not too hard to figure out when it hasn't rained all day." Meng Ka said as she put her hands on her hips and gave him a face that said, 'are you really asking that?'
Tazuna looked at Kakashi, "Knowing that, why did you leave it to the kids to fight?" he was still pretty pissed about having his life on the line just then.
"If I felt like it, I could kill these guys instantly. But I had to know, who the true target was." Kakashi said as he looked at Tazuna through the corner of his eye. Meng Ka nodded, having figured that out when Kakashi hadn't shown up halfway through the fight.
"Hm? What do you mean?" Tazuna asked, trying to play innocent as he avoided eye contact with Kakashi.
Kakashi turned to fully look at the guy, forcing eye contact, "In other words, what I mean is I had to know if it was you, or one of us, who was being targeted. We haven't heard anything about being targeted by ninjas. The content of the request was supposed to just be protection against gangs and thieves but this is a 'B' ranked mission or higher. If our enemies were supposed to be Ninjas, the mission would have been estimated without question would have been higher. Well, there must be a good reason for this but being lied to won't help us."
"This mission is too soon for us. Let's give up." Sakura said with a shrug as she looked rather relieved at the thought of going back home. "Naruto needs a doctor anyways."
Naruto looked angry when Sakura said that and suddenly pulled out his dagger to stab himself, reopening the wound as he glared at everyone. Meng Ka looked at him shocked, not understand why he would stab himself, all he needed to do was cut into the wound lightly and that would have been enough.
"It's all well and good to get the poison out but anymore of that and you'll bleed to death." Kakashi said as he looked at Naruto with a bit of shock and worry.
Right after he said that, Naruto started to freak out and wave his hand around. Meng Ka chuckled and walked up to Naruto, "Give me your hand." She reached out and took it but was shocked to see that the wound was already starting to heal. Looking at Kakashi, he just shrugged his shoulders and Meng Ka looked back up at Naruto, "You'll be just fine."
After wrapping his hand up, they all headed out again. Only this time the three inexperienced ninjas were on edge now that they knew that it was possible they would get into another fight with ninjas. They made it to the fiver without any thing happening and Meng Ka hopped in the boat, sitting at the front as she looked out through the fog, excited to almost be there. Once they were off, it turned out they had some more walking to do before they got to his village and home.
As they walked through the dirt road, Tinktink took off in the air to go hunting. Meng Ka looked up at her as she went by but kept walking in the middle with Kakashi behind her. He didn't want her to be on the outskirts of the group if they were attacked again. Kakashi may be a calm person but his fatherly side always came out when it came to her.
Suddenly Naruto started to try and show off and almost killed a white rabbit. Sakura gave him an ear full while Meng Ka shook her head. This kid was going to get them killed if he didn't start to act like a real ninja. Suddenly, there was a whooshing sound came from behind them. "Get down!" Kakashi yelled as he pulled Meng Ka close to him and fell to the ground, covering her with his body. Once the sword landed in a tree, a shirtless guy landed on the handle. Kakashi got up, pulling Meng Ka with him and putting her behind him.
Suddenly Naruto ran forward and tried to attack the guy but Kakashi stopped him, "This guy is a whole different level of ninja than the last ones."
"I assume you are the Sharingan user, Kakashi. Sorry but, I'll have you hand over the old man." The guy said up in the tree as he looked at them over his shoulder.
The group then got into formation in front of Tazuna while Meng Ka stood in front of them and behind Kakashi, who had pulled his hand band up, revealing his sharingan. Suddenly the air around them began to get misty as Zabuza jumped and landed on the water. He then suddenly disappeared into the mist.
Everyone was tense as they waited for him to reappear since they had no way of detecting where he was. Grinding her teeth together, Meng Ka looked around, not liking the situation at all. Zabuza soon showed himself, or rather his water clone but Kakashi was one step ahead of him that is until he landed in the water and got himself stuck in a water prison. Meng Ka killed a few water clones, giving Naruto and Sasuke their opening that they needed to help free Kakashi. Once he was, Kakashi used his sharingan to defeat Zabuza. However, an Anbu Black Ops member came and took him.
Meng Ka didn't like the situation and neither did Kakashi who was now resting in bed for a few days at the old man's place. Kakashi still had the three training, knowing it was important that they get as much in before they faced anymore ninjas but to their shock, when they were on the bridge Zabuza showed himself again, healed from his wounds as well.
Kakashi ordered Meng Ka and Sakura to stay with the old man and as they watched the battle, Meng ka bit on her lip drawing blood as she did her best to not interfere when Kakashi was in trouble. She knew he was a great ninja but it still didn't stop her from wanting to protect him when he was getting hurt. Plus the other ninja that had shown up with Zabuza was a great ninja as well, using an ice jutsu that she had never seen before. But in the end, they made it and the old guy was able to restore his bridge.
Yawning, Meng Ka rest her head on top of Kakashi's as he walked through the front gate. Tinktink flying around them as they made it slowly into the village, the three kids looking tired as they parted ways. Meng Ka got off of Kakashi's shoulders as he went to go give his report to the Hokage.
"I'll see you back home." He said as he ruffled her unruly hair and gave her a smile. He then handed her some money, "Go get yourself something to eat; I'll be a while in there because of all that had happened."
Meng Ka nodded her head, taking the money. "Ok, try not to be lectured too much." She smiled back at him and he chuckled as he walked away.
"Meng Ka!" Someone yelled behind her and she heard a pup barking.
Turning around she smiled and waved as she saw Kiba running up to her with Akamaru in his jacket. "Hi Kiba, Akamaru. How was your mission?"
Kiba stopped in front of her just as Akamaru jumped in her arms and licked her face, making Meng Ka laugh. "Are you alright? I heard that the Hokage had sent you off on a mission that was at a Jounin level." Kiba asked as he looked her over for any injuries.
"Yeah, I'm fine and he thought the mission would have been easy enough since the guy hadn't told the whole truth. Kakashi made sure we all came back safely." She petted Akamaru on the head just as her stomach growled a bit, making her blush.
Kiba laughed and flinched a little when Tinktink landed on his shoulder, still not used to her fire being perfectly harmless unless she wanted to hurt someone. "Come on, you can come eat dinner at my house. I'm sure my mother won't mind." He smiled and put his arm around her shoulder as they walked down the street to his home.
Meng Ka shyly came into the house as Kiba showed her in, showing her around the house before going into the kitchen, "Hey mom, I have a friend who is eating with us tonight. She just got back from a mission and is really hungry." Kiba said as he smiled up at his mom, Tinktink still on his shoulder.
Tsume turned around and was taken aback by seeing the phoenix on her son's shoulder but then looked behind him as a shy Meng Ka looked up at her while holding Akamaru who barked his agreement with Kiba. Tsume then slammed her spoon down and glared at Kiba, "You think you can just walk in here and demand that I make dinner for an extra person without any notice first! Well then, I would say that you have to make dinner now but I'd like to eat tonight and I don't feel like setting off any fires."
Kiba looked terrified as he nodded his head to his mother. Even Akamaru was hiding his head in Meng Ka's arms, who was now bluhing. She opened her mouth to say something but Tsume held her hand up and smiled "It's alright, dear. You can stay; I'd love to have you be our guest. You're Kakashi's little girl right?"
Meng Ka nodded her head, "Yes, Ma'am, I'm Meng Ka. I don't wunna be a bother to you."
"Not at all, it's my annoying son who is bothering." Tsume looked at at his son and narrowed her eyes at him. "Go on and wash up, dinner will be ready as soon as your sister gets in.
Kiba smiled and showed Meng Ka to the sink, letting her wash her hand and then sitting down next to her as his mother finished setting the table. Suddenly the door opened and in walked a tall girl with a straight ponytail and the same red tattoos that Kiba and his mother hand. She looked down at the three of them and smiled. "Hello Meng Ka. I didn't know you had gotten back already. How is Kakashi?" Hana said as she smiled at the girl and sat next to her mother.
"Hi, Hana. He's fine, a bit beat up but nothing that rest won't help." Meng Ka smiled up at Hana, having already met her once before.
"You two know each other?" Kiba asked as he handed Meng Ka a bowl of rice.
"Yes, I trained her for a few weeks in animal medicine. She took on to things very quickly and the Hokage only wanted her to get a basic training so she didn't stay for very long." Hana said as she looked down at her old trainee.
"That was about a year ago, I'm surprised you still remember since I wasn't around for long." Meng Ka said as she passed the tray of meat over to her.
"Oh, so you were that kid, huh." Tsume said as she ate some food. "Hana would brag about you all the time. The little genius, who had natural talent for animals. She was sad to see you go."
Hana smiled, "Yes, but I am glad that Akamaru has someone as talented as you on his team."
Meng Ka looked up at her shocked and Kiba looked at his sister confused, "Meng Ka isn't on my team. She never went to the academy."
"Hm?" Hana looked confused now but then realization hit her, "Oh, that's right. I keep forgetting that you're a Jounin."
Suddenly Kiba spit out what was in his mouth, "W-what?!" He asked as he looked over at Meng Ka.
Meng Ka blushed a deep red as this topic seemed to be coming up a lot lately. Sighing she nodded her head. Kiba looked at her a bit shocked still but then smiled, "That's awesome. Now I really want to see you kick those kids ass." He smiled and winked at her, making Meng Ka giggle.
After dinner, Meng Ka thanked them and Tsume wouldn't let her leave until she took some left overs to Kakashi. Kiba walked by her side as they made it over to her cabin, which was on the other side of the village. Once there, Kiba smiled down at Meng Ka. "You should stop by and watch us train sometime. I'm sure Shino and Hinata would be happy to see you. They really enjoyed the food pills."
Meng Ka smiled back up at him, "Of course, that'll be fun to watch."
"Meng Ka, there you are. I was wondering where you went. Oh, hello Kiba." Kakashi said as he walked up to the two of them, "Come on, it's almost bed time for you Meng Ka."
Meng Ka rolled her eyes but nodded her head, "I'll see you tomorrow, Kiba. Night Akamaru."
"Night Meng Ka." Kiba called as he and Akamaru headed back home and Meng Ka went to bed.