"Hokage-sama." Kakashi Hatake murmured respectfully, bowing slightly to the Hokage. "I have a issue."
"Again?" the Hokage asked the Jounin, refraining from rolling his eyes.
"Yes. It is about Amaya Irtahata."
"Oh?" the Hogake seemed to perk up, become more interested. "What about her?"
"She is troubled," Kakashi said, continuing on with what he knew the Hokage would ask. "She doesn't say it directly to me, but she wants to have a team."
"So what do you want me to do about it? Would this not be a better subject for Iruka?"
"I do not think so, Hokage-sama. I was thinking she could be assigned to my team. That is, if it's not too late."
"We have been over this before, Kakashi. You have failed twenty-six teams. Even if this team did manage to make it, how would she fit in? She's too old to be a Genin. What would she be, assistant squad leader?"
It sounded about right to Kakashi. "She's had training. I'd say she's about Tokubetsu Jounin level."
"Who trained her?" the Hokage asked. Surely it wouldn't have been the Hatake that trained her…
"I did." Kakashi was not one to mince words, and the Hokage almost choked on his pipe. Suddenly Kakashi stood ramrod straight and declared, "I, Kakashi Hatake, Jounin of the Hidden Leaf Village, recommend Amaya Irtahata, Tokubetsu Jounin of the Hidden Leaf Village, as assistant squad leader to Team Seven.
The Hokage mulled it over. Surely Kakashi was serious about this, he had even put the ever-present book away. But what was so puzzling was Kakashi's reaction to this all. He did not seem the type to care, especially about someone who was not his team or family. "On one condition," the Hokage declared.
"And what is that?" Kakashi had resumed his normal, slouched posture and his one visible eye had went back to its sleepy, lazy, half-closed expression.
"Why is it that you care so much about this girl?"
Internally, Kakashi was startled, but he did his best to contain it and not display it. Years of being in the ANBU had taught him that. He formulated a response, one that would hopefully satisfy the Hokage. "I don't really know. I suppose it's because I saved her life. I think it's about time that she repaid the favor."
"Is that so?" the Hokage murmured. He knew it was something a little more than that, but for now he would accept the Hatake's answer. "In that case… I suppose she can be assistant squad leader."
"Thank you." He gave the Hokage his semi-famous closed-eye smile, and then bowed once, and did several hand signs. With a poof!, he disappeared.
The Hokage chuckled. "Take good care of the one who steals your heart, Kakashi…" he murmured to himself. "I think you care for her more than you realize."
Of course, if the silvery-white-haired Jounin had been in the room, he would have denied it. And besides, he knew she didn't like him that way… right?
Back in the forest, Kakashi leaped from tree to tree, searching for Amaya. He had to find her quickly, because he would be extremely late to the assigning. Frowning, he searched for her familiar clothing amongst the leafy green vegetation.
"Amaya?" he called out.
"Kakashi?" she responded, standing up from the tree. He didn't see her yet.
"Where are you?" he asked.
"Right here." She popped up in front of him, grinning.
"Wha-what?" He stammered, taking a step back.
She was the exact same color of the surroundings. Not just her clothes, but her skin as well! "I learned a camouflage jutsu. Works pretty well, huh?"
"Amazing…" He breathed out, stunned. "How did you learn it?"
"I don't really know… one minute I was sitting on a tree branch and then I feel a sting on my leg. I looked, and there's a leaf mark. See?"
He looked at it carefully, studying it. "How long have you had this mark?" He demanded.
"Well, I had a mark there before, but it was just about a quarter of this size, and it wasn't shaped like a leaf at all." She shrank back a little, he was getting very agitated.
"Hmm…" he puzzled. "Can you control it?"
"Yeah." She replied, and in a instant she changed into him.
"You used a transformation jutsu." He accused.
"Did you see me use the hand signs?" she snapped, and indeed her hands were by her side.
"The Hokage must know about this at once. Come on." He grabbed her hand and 'poofed' away, into the Hokage's office.
The Hokage was signing some paperwork when the Jounin teleported into his office. Without looking up, he murmured, "What is it this time, Kakashi?"
"Lord Hokage." Amaya bowed.
"Lord Hokage, you must see this at once." Kakashi interrupted.
"And what is 'this'?" He sighed.
"Show him." Kakashi told her, and she nodded. In less than a second, she had changed drastically. Now she blended in with the office walls.
The Hokage's pipe dropped out of his mouth. He gaped at her for a moment before stammering, "H-how did you do that?" He didn't see her do any hand signs, nor did he sense any chakra being used.
"I don't know, Lord Hokage. I was sitting on a branch and then I felt a sting on my leg. Then this mark on my leg- I've always had it but it was just like a mole- it was in the shape of a leaf. And after that, I could transform into anyone and change my skin and clothing to blend in with the environment, without using chakra." She transformed into Kakashi, without using any techniques. "See?"
Suddenly a ninja burst into the office, screaming and startling them all. Her skin and clothing immediately changed to blend in with the background. "LORD HOKAGE! NARUTO IS PAINTING THE HOKAGE MONUMENTS!"
The Hokage duly noted this change before turning and addressing the other ninja. "Alright, catch him and take him to the Academy." The ninja bowed, then turned and ran out the door.
"I noticed that when you were startled, you suddenly transformed. I'm guessing that it's a kind of protection skill. I'll have some of my medical ninjas look into it, but since you aren't in any distress, you can continue your work." He told her. She nodded.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage." She bowed, and Kakashi echoed her. They both left the office, then Kakashi took her hand again and they teleported to the assigning room.
"What are we doing here?" Amaya asked, her skin back to normal.
"You'll see." Kakashi replied, giving her a closed-eye smile.