Chapter 9: Time Flies When You're- A Team?!

I sigh as I sit in the traditional tea house, knees tucked under my frame as I sit across from the dark haired man before me. "Why did you call me here?" I question him before taking a sip of my jasmine tea.

"I have a favor to ask of you," he tells me simply, eyes locking with my own steadily. He pauses, his hands settled in his lap and his own legs tucked under him as is called for in a place like this. Well, not called for, but tradition really. I raise a brow for him to answer as I finish my third cup of jasmine tea. I never get tired of this shit. "Watch over him," he finishes.

I blink a few times, honestly surprised by such a request. Especially by the man before me. "You want me to watch over him? Why?"

"I know Kakashi will be there, but he has three to keep an eye on protect; he cannot play favorites. You however, as I know, will be there for a different reason. You only have one- two if you agree to do this for me- to look over. And while you cannot play favorites either, I know that you are better at not doing so than he," the man answers before taking a sip of tea.

I sigh. "He'll know if something's up if he sees me paying even the slightest bit of more attention to him than the others," I tell him. "He's not stupid".

"He doesn't even remember you," the man answers. "You've been away training for so long, that they both forgot about you. While you have only been gone for five years up until now, it's all for naught. It's been five years? Damn. I hadn't noticed. Why? Because for whatever reason, I stopped aging at eighteen, the very age the man before me is. "I asked him. I asked him of what he remembers of the massacre. He merely told me he remembers fearing for his life, and then an angel saved him. That's what he told me after you left".

I sigh, "He doesn't remember me at all? Neither of them?" I get a shake of the head, "Damn. That hurts".

"That's what happens when you leave after something as big as that occurs," he tells me.

"Speaking of which, how are you? I'm sure you're not fully healed from the loss," I gently question.

The man sighs, closing his dark orbs for a moment or two, before they open with resolve, "Although people die every day, and it's natural for life to end...I still feel the pain. Having your family stolen from you in a single night is something very different from losing them over time whether it be through battle or old age".

I sigh myself, "You know I and the others are your family now, right? I know we don't replace anyone, but we're here for you. I'll watch over him along with my mission. For you, of course".

"Thank you Cross," he stands and I follow suit.

I smile as we walk out of the tea house, paying as we go, and stop as we stand on the street, "Itachi," I tell him, "You're family. I'll do anything for you; you know that". I step forward and pull him into a hug, lightly tip toeing due to the fact that the five years that I was gone he shot up like some sort of bean stalk. Then again, he's normal, he gets to age; he's now eighteen. His arms wrap around my waist and out of the way of my wings, holding me tight. I take this as silent thanks- even though he did so verbally. "I have to get going though. I promised Hokage-sama I was going to surprise the others and appear on the windowceil during the team assignment meeting". This I say as I pull the cloak that's been hanging over my arm, onto my person and make sure that my wings are fully concealed. My claws have been sheathed this whole time, a habit I've made of doing ever since the Uchiha Massacre.

I hear a chuckle behind me as I turn and jump to the roof tops. I sigh. I wish I could just fly over the roof tops, but that'd give me away if I go by my luck. It takes me about ten minutes to get there, and that's not until I'm a good bit away from the Hokage's office and yet I can still see everyone fine. Gathered around the old man's crystal ball are the ones that I only really am close to. None of them have really changed. Kakashi still holds himself in a lazy way but to the trained eye is of course alert. He wears the standard shinobi outfit for our home, as well as his mask. Asuma is still smoking his cancer sticks by the looks of things. He's gotten a bit tanner, and he grew out his beard, and his hair is shorter. But other than that he hasn't changed much. I see Kurenai is finally gonna be an instructor which is good for her. Her hair is a bit longer, and her body has completely filled out which makes her a gorgeous person, but other than that she hasn't changed. I don't see Guy, for whatever reason, though. Iruka I bet is still a teacher at the Academy. With the skills of a very skilled Anbu- which I am- I sneak my way to the tower, and then sneak my way to the window when I'm absolutely sure their eyes are on the orb.

"Kakashi, you have team seven. Try to actually pass them," I hear Sarutobi sigh to the silver haired man.

"I make no promises," Kakashi states, "If they figure it out on their own, then I will pass them. If they don't, then that's their own faults".

"Yes, well, just keep in mind that they are not you," he sighs out. "Now, with team assignments finished, I need to speak to you, Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai. The rest of you are free to meet with your teams". He pauses for the others to leave, "Your three teams have the most potential, I think, to go on with their Shinobi careers. Asuma, you have the second generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho team, so please do your best to make sure that they understand that they are at their strongest when working as one. Them specifically. Kurenai, this is your first time being an instructor. I'm sure you'll do fine, however I will remind you that each student is different. Hinata is a gentle soul, who will need to come out of her shell if she is to survive. Kiba needs to work mainly on his fiery temper and impulsiveness; something he inherited from his mother, Tsume. Shino needs to learn how to trust his team mates, coming from a clan that is naturally wary of everyone despite the facade they put up. Kakashi, you have perhaps the hardest team to test and hopefully teach. Sakura is one of the many girls of this generation that seems to only care for boys. Try to pull her away from that path, lest she become a liability and will drag your team down. Sasuke-"

And this is where I take my cue. Swiftly I make my way to crouching in the windows, the hood of my cloak shadowing my face perfectly, and leaving just my lips visible. The sleeves cover my hands just as well, and hangs low as I crouch. "Has become a brat in is urge to get revenge on the man who stole his family from him, despite his older brother's protesting. While at the top of his class, he has the Uchiha arrogance that got many killed in the past, and yet he as yes to achieve his Sharingan. Just think what will happen when he gets it. He will believe himself to be God, challenge the wrong person, and get himself killed. Even worse, he'll get his team killed. Naruto is another brat, but a brat with no family and no one to truly teach him right and wrong- though that doesn't make him any better than Sasuke. He believes himself to be strong, unstoppable, despite his position as dead last in class ranking. He only passed due to a field qualification into becoming Genin which is rare in and of itself; a fluke. His lack of knowledge and arrogance will get the lot of you killed, as you are only one man, and it only takes two strong enemies to take down a fresh team of one Jonin and three weak Genin".

"You speak as though you've done extensive research on them, Stranger-san," Kakashi states, eye narrowed and body stiff. They're not even his underlings yet and still he comes to their defense. Well, most likely Naruto's. After all, Naruto is who he is.

Asuma, like Kakashi, is also stiff and ready for a fight. But most likely only because I came out of no where and started talking, cutting off Sarutobi meaning that I've been here for a while now. "You're quite the sneaky person Stranger-san. Is there something you need from us?"

Kurenai is the most actively ready one out of the three of them, face stone cold- a look I rarely saw in the past- and hands together in a single sign, them having already formed the other needed ones. All she needs to do is focus chakra and I know I'll be in a genjutsu. "You interrupted the wrong conversation with the wrong people, miss," she tells me, her voice deadly.

All is silent for a moment before I can't help but chuckle, and jump down from my perch before walking passed a silent Hokage. "None of you really wanna attack me. I can take two of you down with little trouble. The third of you would be some trouble, but I think I'd hold my own pretty well".

Kurenai sneers at me, "Is that a challenge?"

A fang pops over my lower lip as I smirk, "Only if you'll take that as one, Kurenai. It's been a while since we last sparred. You were a Chunin back then". I see from under the edge of my hood that her eyes are wide with surprise. "Funny, everyone here changed somehow and yet here I am, unchanged".

"Oh? You know us from the past?" Asuma questions smoothly, "How long ago might that have been?"

"Long enough," I tell him evasively, a chuckle coming from my lips. There's a chuckle from behind me, and I turn my back to my 'enemies' to see an amused Sarutobi. "I told you I've become quite the actress".

"That you have. Why don't you show your face before they decide that you are an actual threat and attack you? I don't want my office a mess," the old man suggests good naturedly.

I make a grand sweeping bow with my hand before turning and taking my cloak off with a flourish. The sight of widened eyes and nothing but surprise never gets old. Itachi figured out who I was as soon as I talked, but I could still see the surprise that I haven't aged even five years. "It's good to see you lot," I tell them casually. "And it's been a good long while. Five years if I've been told correctly".

It's Kakashi who speaks first, his single eye wide and I can tell that behind his mask his jaw is dropped. Something that doesn't happen often if at all. I've honestly surprised him. My life is complete, "...Cross". He seems frozen in place, "It's really you?"

"In the flesh," I smile to him a fangless smile. "Come now, don't tell me you couldn't figure it out before now. I haven't aged a single day you should recognize my voice".

Suddenly I feel a female body crash into my taller one, causing me to stumble a bit, "You didn't write or anything! You didn't say 'goodbye' to anyone but Itachi and Kakashi, and the only explanation you gave them was 'training'! And that was after the accident! I was so worried!"

I blink, wrapping first my arms and then my wings around her smaller five foot frame as compared to my five foot seven and a half frame, "I'm sorry Kurenai. It was necessary. I needed to get stronger and the only way I saw that happening is if I left for a little while. You understand, don't you?"

Red eyes meet gold and she glares at me. No tears. Huh. Good girl. "I understand, but that doesn't mean you can just up and leave!" She lets me go after words and clears her throat, "I'm happy you're back; welcome home". It's now that she offers me one of her smiles that tend to make even women blush a little bit.

I grin, not a single drop of heat entering my face, "I'm home," I tell her. I feel an arm slung around my shoulder and I look up to see Asuma being the one to give me this, "Welcome home girlie! Are you gonna be joining with Itachi and the Tsu brothers in the Anbu again?"

I playfully wrap my arms around his torso, returning the casual and slightly awkward hug, "Nope," I tell him, "I'm staying out of Anbu this time. Been there, done that, don't feel like going back to be honest".

Sarutobi speaks up again from this point on, "Technically, she is still an Anbu member," damn it, I was hoping this would officially take me out, "But this is only known by yourselves, her, and myself. To the public and anyone that asks, she is a former Anbu and now a Jonin like the three of you".

Asuma releases me, opting for standing next to Kurenai again as he raises a brow and questions, "Then what's she going to be doing as an under cover Anbu? Why does she need be known as a Jonin for whatever she's doing?"

"She will be helping Kakashi keep an eye on Naruto. Unknown to you three until now, she has a strong positive effect on Naruto when the Nine Tails is is influencing him- as I've seen during past attacks on him. There is something in her chakra that the fox likes, and therefore calms down if Naruto comes in contact with a burst of Cross' chakra. What it is, I'm unsure. But, seeing as Naruto will be in more and more life-or-death situations, and Kakashi can only do so much to protect Naruto- no matter how skilled of a shinobi he is- while in a fight. If Cross is there and things go wrong, and the fox decides to try and take control of his container, then she can step in and stop the process".

The lot of them stare at my beaming face blankly before I easily make my way to my long time silver haired friend. Both arms and wings wrap around him as I hug him tight, looking up at his face, "In other words, I'm gonna co-instruct if they pass. So...Try to pass them both for my sake and theirs as well".

Kakashi stares at me long and hard before he eye smiles at me, "I'll try. No promises". Ahh, there it is, the hug back I was looking for. I'm not gonna lie, I like the feeling of my body being pressed to his own. It feels nice. And that's not just because I haven't had physical human contact in five years.

Sarutobi clears his throat, and I release the silver haired man and turn to face him. Or...I try to. He's still hugging me nice and tight. It's a moment or two until he does let me go. "That is all, you four. Go meet your teams and get to know them. Test them not today, but soon so that we may either send some back to the academy, or continue with their career".

"Sir!" We nod, and decide to leave through the window. Kakashi and I are the last ones to exit, with him going first and myself second.

It feels good to fly above the roof tops and see the sights of the village again. I missed it! I grin as I fly at Kakashi's side, heading for the academy and obviously late. Poor kiddies. Not. They're gonna have to get used to that. Even five years ago he had a thing for being late- a tribute to Obito basically. I now wait here on the roof, waiting for Kakashi to bring the brats to the roof. But when I see a poof, all I see is Kakashi himself. "Where are the brats?"

Kakashi leans next to me as I have myself perched on the railing, his arms crossed over his chest casually. "It doesn't look like they're going to pass. Naruto set up a trap for me, a simple one as compared to the one you told me about five years ago. I let myself get hit by it. Naruto loudly exclaimed that it was a direct hit, Sakura pretended to not be impressed and instead be against the cheering, and Sasuke ignored the two and doesn't believe that I am a Jonin".

I scowl, "It seems my five years away has made Naruto regress; you must have been on a lot of missions". I get a nod. "A shame. If I had stayed...That doesn't matter now, it's in the past and I cannot change it".

It takes little time for the trio to make their way to the roof and show me how much each of them has changed. Starting with ladies first...It doesn't look like mentally Sakura has changed at all. And with Hokage-sama's explanation of how she is now, I can see why. She wears a red and white battle dress, black shorts under that and simple shinobi sandals. Her new hitai-ate is what replaces the red ribbon I had seen years ago. Still, she should grow up to be a pretty kunoichi. She'd be strong one too if she actually tried. Sasuke has gone from the happy Uchiha boy to someone who broods a lot- I can see this just by looking at his 'I hate everything' look on his face. Poor Itachi. I wonder how he copes. He wears something similar to what he used to wear, save now his shirt is short sleeved and he's taller. That's basically it though. Same hair style, same pale skin, same color of the shirt and pants, same Uchiha fan on the back. He wears his hitai-ate around its namesake. Naruto does as well. His clothing has changed a good amount itself, which he seems to like despite the fact that it screams 'I'm right here! Please kill me!' However, if I've heard right from Sarutobi through his letters to me, his stealth skills are to die for being able to get away from Anbu in that thing. That's no feat. His hair is still as yellow and spiky, and his blue eyes still as bright as the ocean. I've seen pictures of his father, and even without Kakashi telling me I'd guess that he was Minato's boy. He's practically the spitting image of him, blue eyes and all. The only difference is the whisker marks, and those are thanks to the Fox.

They sit down on the two steps before Kakashi and I, Sakura between the two boys and happy as can be about sitting next to Sasuke. Her eyes focus on Kakashi and I, but stay glued to me. "Who is she? I thought we only get one sensei?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," I see what you did there, Kakashi. They obviously don't though. "How about we first get to know one another? Tell me about yourselves?"

"Huh?" The pink haired girl questions, "How are we gonna do that?"

"You know...Your name, your likes...Your dislikes, dreams for the future...Your hobbies would be nice too," Kakashi states lazily.

"How about you go first so we can see how it's done?" Sakura suggests. Why doesn't she just ask him to introduce himself first? Idiot.

"I'm Kakashi Hatake. I have no desire to tell you my likes and dislikes… My dreams for the future… Hmm… As for my hobbies… I have lots of hobbies…". I grin. Sometimes, I love you Kakashi. You smart ass. "Your turn. Pinky, why don't you go first?"

She glares at him before deciding to comply, "My name is Sakura Haruno. I like, well, who I like...," her eyes trail to the black haired one of the group, giggling lightly. "My hobbies...," another fit of giggles, "And...My dreams for the future," and here she squeals, giving me the ability to see sound. Shit that's high pitched. When asked for her dislikes, her answer is loud and clear, "Naruto!" Yea, I'm gonna have a bit of a problem with her.

"Alright. You next. Tall, dark and brooding," Kakashi motions with his words.

Sasuke is silent for a moment, also not happy with the way he was addressed. However when he does talk, his dark eyes lock onto my bright ones, and don't leave. What? Is he talking directly to me? "My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I like nothing, and I hate everything. My hobby is training. My dreams are both going to become a reality. I'm going to restore the Uchiha clan and kill a certain someone". Yup. You're cool, Sasuke. Brooding is sexy. That'll get you laid by strong kunoichis every where. Damn that was mean. But I mean come on kiddo! Especially saying 'restore' your clan as you're talking to a woman as good looking as I know myself to be, is not cool. That's just weird. Besides! You're only like what, twelve? Thirteen? Yea no. Leave the sex to your brother. Speaking of him. I wonder- Ho ho nooooo! Not going there!

By the time I'm done my little rant to myself about absolute nonsense, Naruto is practically done his intro, "-Going to be Hokage! That way everyone will just have to notice me and treat me like I'm someone. Someone special and not just some idiot off the street!" Well, at least you're the same in terms of dreams. Mentally...? It seems you got knocked on the head one too many times.

"Okay," Sakura states, "Now who are you?" This is of course a question towards myself.

I tilt my head and I offer her a fang filled smile, "Me? Hmmm. Well, my name is Cross and before you ask, no I don't have a last name. I'll be more helpful than Kakashi was so...My Likes? Flying, training, playing the piano, sparring, jasmine tea...Uhh...I'll leave it at that. My dislikes are those who think they're strong when they're not- especially those who think they're strong but haven't even had a taste of the world. I hate bland foods with a passion, and I despise those who threaten my loved ones or just those who I place under my protection. That's you guys now, just so you know. Let's see...Hobbies...Going for a morning fly, training, playing the piano, sparring on occasion and plain relaxing...That's about it. My dreams for the future? First to make sure my friends find happy lives one way or another. And then to find a happy life for myself- having a good boyfriend if not a husband would be nice too".

There's silence and then, "Now what?" From Naruto.

"Now," Kakashi states simply, "I tell you this. Meet us tomorrow at training ground seven at five. There we will test you to see if you're ready to become Genin".

"WHAT?!" Naruto demands loudly. And now I can see sound again. That was just loud, not high pitched luckily.

Sakura glares at us unhappily, "Yea! What was that test we took yesterday then?"

"Was all the training we did still for nothing?" Sasuke demands lowly.

I sigh and hop my way off the railing, tired of crouching. I easily land on two feet and lean against the railing much like Kakashi is. "We'll just call that test the preliminaries. Listen. I won't give you numbers you won't understand. Let's just say that normally, when everything is over and these tests are either past or failed, at most only three or four teams- that's nine to twelve kids your age- actually make it into becoming real Genin. Passing this test that's goin' to happen means that you're ready to face the world and see what we grownups see, and survive". I pause, "So. Five A.M. sharp. No later no sooner. I'll know how was late and who wasn't". I look to Kakashi, "I believe it's time for dinner; I'm out of here". A silent challenge to race him home, assuming I'm to still live with him. That said, I turn and step onto the railing with both feet. Balance is something I have no problem with so, I turn and wave to the kiddies and then let myself fall before spreading my wings and taking off fully. I love being flashy.

SASUKE'S POV

Itachi always kept on not believing me when I said that the angel who saved me wasn't real. That it was simply a patrolling Anbu woman that saved me. That I may have my memory a little jumbled from dreams of that time, and reality. But he's wrong. I will never forget that day that the angel came down and saved me. She risked her life for me; she knew my name. She got hurt for me. She got me away. When I woke up, I wanted to find her and thank her. But Itachi wouldn't let me leave, said I still needed rest and that he was still working on cleaning up the compound with some other Anbu.

But now I know that I'm right. He had been telling me that I was wrong for so long that I began to believe him. But here I am, sitting in front of her. She looks exactly the same as she did when she saved me. The only difference is the light scar going along the right side of her neck diagonally. Back then, he had her pinned down and was going to kill her and then me. But at the last moment, she kicked through him as all her attacks did, using that as a split second distraction to remove his hand from her throat and slide down and through his legs even as he continued to give the blow. The kunai cut her neck still, but no where that was deadly. And then she let down a smoke bomb, picked me up and we literally flew away. I passed out not long after we started flying, too overwhelmed by everything. When I woke up, she was gone.

She's here. The woman that was with Kakashi is her, I'm sure of it. I saw that scar on the right side of her neck. I wonder if she got amnesia at some point? If she did, then only I can restore it, if not help to restore it. She is my angel. The woman destined to be mine and help me restore my clan. She has to be! Why else would she have appeared after so long? And how many other women dress in leather, have wings and fangs and a tail? She looks more like a demon than an angel, but that's not how her heart- the heart that will one day be mine- is. That's why she's an angel.

CROSS POV

I sigh as I sit on the couch of the apartment I haven't seen in five long years. Kakashi stands there at the stove, preparing us a meal in celebration to my return. We've already met up with Guy, who was ecstatic to learn that I'm back after so long. Apparently at some point when both Guy and I are off duty, I owe him a drink seeing as I'm eighteen. If I aged normally, I'd actually be twenty one. But...eh. I don't mind getting a drink.

"Are you sure you didn't want me to cook?" I question Kakashi as he works. I haven't made someone else a meal in so long, that I actually want to make food for them.

Kakashi walks from the stove, the food only has to fully cook now. "I'm sure," he eye smiles at me. Being home means that he's without his flack jacket and his hitai-ate, also showing me his closed and scarred eye. Without his flack jacket, I can't help but admire his build more than I did before. While lithe and strong, it is not bulky nor streamline. A practically perfect balance between the two. And to help show this off is the tight black long sleeved shirt he dare wear right now. He sits down next to me and faces me, simply staring for a moment or two before questioning, "What did you do for those five years? What was 'training'?"