Kakashi sat under a tree near the outskirts of town reading a book. It had been nearly a week since Black Opps took Miki in for questioning. He had Gai had went to Lady Tsunade the day they took her to request to see her, but she had denied them both. She told them that absolutely no one was allowed to see her until further notice. She explained to them that it was a security precaution, that Miki was to be kept heavily guarded in solitude until it was determined that she was no longer in danger. Kakashi understood that part, Black Opps wouldn't want her disappearing because of her valuable abilities and the information she knew from years of assisting them with interrogations. He just wished they would at least allow her to see him or Gai. She needed to be reminded that despite the truth of her origins, there are people here that care about her...that need her. But, what he didn't understand is why he and Gai were denied their request to go after the two that tried to kidnap her. Something wasn't right.

He was actually relieved that day when Gai told him Black Opps had taken her. He remembered waking up and her being gone. He feared that she had left with Nami, in pursuit of answers...or worse...revenge. He didn't think it was likely Miki was the type of person that would become consumed with thoughts of vengeance. But, then again, finding out your supposed father took part in destroying your home and wiping it from history...it could push her to become that kind of person. Kakashi knew Miki well enough to know that solitude was not good for her. She needed him and Gai, for her to be alone with her thoughts...that could be bad for her.

He sighed as he closed his book and frowned beneath his mask. He missed her, even though he knew she was safe.

A tree cracked at the trunk and fell over about 20 yards from him. Gai emerged as the dust cleared. Being unable to see his sister, Gai did what he does best to deal...he completely submerged himself in hardcore training.

"Hey." Kakashi looked up at him.

Gai paced in front of him. "It's been a week and still nothing!"

"We have to be patient and let them do their job." Kakashi replied coolly.

Gai's vein began to buldge. "Aren't you worried about her in the least bit?! This whole situation is fishy. We could have caught those two by now! Then there would be no need for all this!"

"Yes. I am worried." Kakashi stood. "But, I'm sure Lady Tsunade has her reasons. We have to trust in her."

Gai still didn't know about the memory Nami had shown Miki and Kakashi wasn't going to tell him. He didn't feel it was his place to tell him. Miki needed to be the one to talk to him about it.

Gai punched a hole in another tree. "I don't know how you can stay so cool at a time like this!"

"I challenge you to a match." Kakashi said.

Gai raised a bushy eyebrow at him. "What?"

Kakashi knew that would get his attention and distract him, besides it would be a good way to let off some steam...for both of them. Kakashi may have been acting calm on the surface, but inside his blood was boiling.

"You heard me." Kakashi put his book away. "Let's move further out away from the village. If you win...I'll go with you to talk to Lady Tsunade again. And if I win...You'll go with me to talk to Lady Tsunade again."

Gai scratched his head, confused. "So either way we're going to talk to her?"

"Yes. But how the talk will go depends on who wins." Kakashi closed his eye, smiling happily.

"Ok." Gai pumped a fist in the air. "I'm not holding back, just warning you!"

"I was hoping for that." Kakashi replied with cool confidence.

"Let's go!" Gai began sprinting with Kakashi following him.

Miki sat in her cell, meditating. She had lost count of how many days she'd been locked in here. She was questioned the day she arrived here, which didn't go well. She told Kenchi she knew everything and that she wanted answers. But, instead of giving her answers, she was locked in here for her own "protection."

They're probably trying to decided on whether to execute me or not. She thought to herself. After what she saw they were capable of, she couldn't put the possibility pass them. Kenchi came to speak to her after they had locked her away. He had told her that he was going to do everything in his power to get her out soon and he swore that he knew nothing about her past.

I guess they just kept me alive to use me for my abilities and now that I know the truth...they're afraid of me. And when the Leaf doesn't understand something or fears something they just destroy it. Miki thought to herself with a sigh. She began to wonder how different life would have been if she had grown up with people like herself.

Miki sighed, telling herself that turning to negative and despairing thoughts was not a productive use of her time or energy. She focused on positive memories, her mind drifted back to her childhood...before she was burned badly and the man she thought was her father was still alive. She was sitting on his shoulders as he walked through the village, Gai was as hyperactive as ever. He ran circles around them, they were heading home. The warm scene filled Miki with joy as echoes of their laughter lingered in the room around her.

"Gai..."She sighed to herself. She still loved him as a brother even though she knew the truth. Nothing would ever change how much she loved him. He had always been there for her. After their father died, he always remained strong for her even when she cried during the night. She remembered he would sit up with her and tell her funny stories to cheer her up. He never once showed weakness, not around her anyway.

The wall behind her exploded, pushing her flat to the floor.

"What the?" She strained as she pushed herself up.

Her cell door opened in front of her and a guard ran in.

"Come on." He grabbed Miki's arm and help her up the rest of the way.

Nami emerged from the rumble of the blast.

"Nami?" Miki was still dazed.

"Let's go." Nami gestured at the blasted hole.

"I took care of the guards." The guard said as he pulled Miki towards the blasted hole with him.

"Good job, Rowan." Nami nodded at him.

"Rowan?" Miki looked at the guard, puzzled. His disguise dissolved with a poof to reveal the red headed man she saw with Nami that night.

"At your service." He grinned. "Come on. I'm sure they've called for back up."

Miki planted her feet in the ground. "I can't leave with you."

"Now isn't the time for this, Miki." Nami hissed.

"No. I'm not leaving with you. I won't be a traitor to the Leaf." Miki said sternly.

"Look, they betrayed you. They're not your friends. We are your friends." Nami stepped in close to Miki. "They put you away to let you rot here. We're here to save you."

"No..." Miki backed away. "That's not true."

"Damn it, Miki!" Nami clenched her hands into fists. "You'll thank me for this later."

Rowan moved with a speed that Miki never saw coming as he punched her in the stomach. Miki spit drops of blood on the cell floor before passing out as Rowan caught her.

"You didn't have to hit her that hard." Nami scolded him.

Rowan slung Miki over his shoulder. "I wanted to make sure she was out."

Kakashi blocked Gai's kick inches away from his face. They were in the middle of a crater that they had created. He matched every move Gai made. He had to admit to himself that Gai had gotten much stronger since the last time they sparred, but a smile crept beneath his mask. He was still a lot faster than Gai.

"You two don't have anything else better to do?" Kenchi called from outside of the crater.

"What the hell do you want?" Gai shouted.

Kakashi felt the same sentiment towards the man, but remained silent as he and Gai separated from each other.

"Lady Tsunade wants to see the two of you...immediately." Kenchi crossed his arms over his chest. "So I suggest you two stop playing with each other and get out of that hole now."

Gai shifted his eyes over to Kakashi as they both shared the same thoughts of how they'd like to pound on Kenchi.

They arrived in the Hokage's office in record time, they were both eager to hear what she had to say. It had to be about Miki, why else would she call them both?

She sat behind the desk and stared at the two of them a few moments, noting to herself they looked like they just came back from a battle.

She finally said, "Miki is missing."

"What?!" Gai clenched his fists. "I thought that was the whole reason she's been on lock down. You wouldn't even let me see her!"

"Gai." Kakashi grabbed his shoulder. "Let her finish."

"The male is apparently exceptional at disguising jutsu, no one suspected him. He is also incredibly fast and strong. The female's abilities still remain to be unknown. There were signs of struggle in her cell, we don't think she left with them willingly." Lady Tsunade sat back in her chair. "We have to bring Miki back to the Leaf. Her skills are extremely valuable to us; not only her mind jutsu, but her skills as a medic ninja as well as her knowledge." She paused and looked over at Kakashi. "Kakashi, I want you to lead a team to recover her. You, Gai, and Kenchi will work together on this."

"We have to work with him!?" Gai pointed at Kenchi, who was standing beside Lady Tsunade.

"Yes. He is a well trained medic ninja as well as part of Black Opps. He's work with your sister over the past few years. Trust me, you want him on your team." She narrowed her eyes at Gai. "You do want your sister back, right?"

Gai relaxed his posture. "Yes."

"Good." She smiled. "Any questions?"

"Yeah," Gai perked up. "Why does Kakashi get to lead?"

Lady Tsunade sighed. "Because he is the best a tracking...and he's cool headed. I trust him to make the right judgment calls. The two of you are dismissed, I want to speak with Kakashi privately."

Gai left the room reluctantly with Kenchi.

"This is the part I hate." Lady Tsunade leaned forward and sighed after they were gone. "I didn't want to say this in front of Gai and Kenchi."

Kakashi stepped in closer. "What do you mean?"

"If it does turn out she left with them of her own free will and she refuses to come back with you...your orders are to..."Lady Tsunade sighed. "Kill her."

Kakashi swallowed hard. "I'm sure it won't come to that."

"I hope for Gai's sake and her own that it doesn't come to that." Lady Tsunade smiled at him.

I won't let it come to that, Kakashi thought to himself as he exited her office to join his teammates. If Lady Tsunade had any idea of how close he was to Miki, she wouldn't have given him th order.