Chapter 5

Hatake Kakashi was late.

But when wasn't he late?

He sat in a tree holding his precious book in his hands but he wasn't focused on it. He was focused on the three girls that were gonna be in his team. His mind drifted off to first Ino. She came from a well built family. Her father was from the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and Inoichi was one of the strongest ninjas of this village and he was also on the council.

He knew that Ino used to fawn over the Uchiha prodigy until she'd met Noriko. Noriko knocked some sense into her literally and after that she'd forgotten all about him and spent more of her time hanging out with more decent people and taking her studying seriously.

Next he thought about Hinata. The weak shy heiress of the Hyuga clan grew up to be a beautiful confident young girl. The only people who really had faith in Hinata was her uncle and her mother. Kakashi knew that Hiashi had faith and compassion in his heart for his daughter but his pride refused to let him show it. Hence why the Hyuga grew unable to speak up for herself and it stunted her growth, until like Ino, met Noriko who broke her out of her shy shell.

Noriko was a bubbly loud brat with a smile and heart of gold. He always had a soft spot for her especially since she was his precious teachers daughter. She always had a way with words and people loved her extremely loud personality. Even the cold hyuga leader had a soft spot for her even though he refused to show it.

He had to admit, he worried day and night for the three of them when Itachi left with them. But it seemed as though Itachi took good care of them even though he knew that it wasn't possible that Itachi took care of three young girls by himself and he must have had help. The girls weren't willing to share so no one asked.

Kakashi sighed softly to himself, it seemed out of character for him but no one else was around. He shut his book firmly and tucked it gently into his pouch and tapped it once or twice. It was just getting to the good part but he was already two and a half hours late, but that he cared. He probably should have but he didn't.

He'd already seen both Asuma, Kurenai and Ebisu walk out with their students. Asuma took a drag of his cigarette and glanced at the tree where Kakashi was before he walked away with a firm shake of his head. Kakashi wasn't trying to be discreet so it wasn't surprising that Asuma felt his presence or his distinct chakra rather.

Kakashi was going to jump down from the tree but another thought stopped him. What kind of test should he give the girls? He tried to think of something else interesting but he didn't want to break the traditional bell test but he didn't really feel like it. He decided he'd hang out with the girls today, probably after they kicked his ass for being late. With a lazy shrug, Kakashi thought that would be okay too.

He jumped down from tree and lazily shoved his hands into his pocket and he walked carelessly into the academy. He poked his head cheerfully into their classroom and chirped out a 'Hi' before three sets of angry eyes landed on him. He slipped into the room and laughed joyfully.

"Sorry. I was helping a old lady across the streets with her 14 hundred thousand cats and grocery bags combined." Kakashi just slipped out one of his traditional lies with a small shrug. He couldn't but laugh and scratch the back of his head sheepishly when Noriko yelled at him for being a liar.

He led the girls outside making small talk.

"I don't really feel like making you do the test today, so we can hang out and get to know each other more. Maybe that'll help me make the test more interesting." Kakashi explained as he led them to one of the most popular dango shops around.

"Hm okay. It's almost evening time because of you anyway." Ina said, rolling her eyes. Kakashi chuckled as they took a seat and ordered.

"Mkay. Tell me your names, dislikes, likes, and dreams for the future." Kakashi commanded and the girls leaned on their hands and stared at him expectantly before he just sighed. "My name is Hatake Kakashi. I have likes but you don't need to know them and same with my dislikes. And my dream is to have a dream." Kakashi did have a dream but he didn't like to talk about it. He eye smiled at them and they all sighed while giving each other identical exasperated glances.

"My name is Noriko Yakushi. I like ramen, cooking, training, pranking people. I dislike vegetables, sound, and arrogant people. And my dream is to be hokage." Noriko was the first to speak up. Kakashi rose an invisible eyebrow. He wondered if by Sound she mean't the Hidden Village of the Sound. He was curious of course but he didn't question it.

"Interesting Nori. Pig, you're next." Kakashi was an asshole and he loved it. Ina growled at him but she spoke next

"My name is Ina Yakushi and I like drawing, training and dancing. I dislike spicy foods, Sound, and liars and traitors. My dream is to serve and protect the strongest person in this village with my life and also become the strongest in my clan.." Ina glanced at Noriko with a meaningful look but the girl didn't notice at she looked at the dango distastefully before picking up some and taking a tiny bite.

"My name is Hina Yakushi, I like reading, knitting, and sweets. I dislike pork, raddish, Sound, and liars and traitors. My dream is the same as Ina's. I also dream to prove a point to my cousin." She spoke the last part in a low voice as so that the people passing by couldn't hear. Kakashi was silent for awhile before he nodded his head.

"Good dreams. All of you." He stared at his share of dango before requesting that it be packaged for a to go plate. He chuckled as he watched the girls visibly deflate as they wanted to see his face. Everyone did. Even the hokage couldn't remember the last time he saw Kakashi's face. Sometimes he was sure he was a child the last time he saw it.

Kakashi never had a reason for not showing his face but after covering it so long it felt weird to show it to anyone so he never did and it never came up. No one had the heart to ask, they just waited patiently.

After talking for some hours, the girls and Kakashi parted ways. He waved cheerfully and told them to meet up at 9 but they promised they'd be three hours late. It was no point in coming early anyway.

Kakashi carried his dango box down the streets that were starting to get quiet as shops began closing. He briefly stopped by Anko's house and left the box at her door before making his way to his house but he didn't go inside. He climbed up the side and sat down pulling out his book and opening it up to it's marked page. He tried to get into it but for some reason, he really couldn't.

I don't really have an explanation as to why I've taken so long to update. Kill me if you wish. I'm sorry. -bows-

Ririchiyo-Chan