Amongst the throng of villagers contently milling about their day, Nishira hid, hood up to try and not draw attention, hopefully avoiding the man from the forest. Who throws a paper bomb at a student? She frowned. Ducking into a local booth of newspapers and magazines, strung up trinkets chittering noisily, Nishira picked a magazine up with an illustration of a trendy young woman slanting her sunglasses towards the viewer with a friendly smile. Nishira looked back at the selection and snapped up a candy bar. Tossing a few coins into the meaty hand of the smiling vendor. She took her goodies and plopped on a secluded bench nearby, green foliage draping over the stone edges meant to keep it contained provided the privacy she desired. She raised the glossy magazine and scanned the fluff news about the lantern festival coming up, a Konohagakure favorite apparently.

Her eyes searched the pages for anything else of interest when a gentle cough interrupted her reading. She lowered the paper with disbelief. Up close was the face of her new sensei, whatever part of it was visible. His single eye was closed in a friendly greeting, his half-gloved hand raised in a greeting. Up close, Nishira's realized that he was younger than she assumed, the small part of exposed skin was unmarred by wrinkles and with the chance to see the shape of his face up close, although covered, she realized he had a strong chin and wondered if he was clean shaven behind it. Distracted by the idea that facial hair would be itchy under such a covering, her next thought was of wonder of what the mask was physically hiding, maybe a disfiguring scar from battle? Was he even old enough to fight in the last shinobi war? She wasn't but her father had been. The man's next words pulled her from her distracted thoughts.
"Found you. So, while we sit here for nice break, how about we…"
The magazine fluttered as Kakashi found himself sitting alone again. He picked up the forgotten and unopened chocolate bar and pocketed it.

Nishira managed to elude the man, ducking behind a large stack of oversized books at the back of the library. Rarely used and awkwardly large, they didn't fit on the bookcases, so were either housed on the top of the fixtures, reaching towards the ceiling, or on the floor until a less cumbersome home could be found which wouldn't be for a while.

The room smelled of oiled wood and something earthy and smokey lingering beneath, whispering of its age as a sturdy specimen of tree that was honoured for its purpose there. She didn't notice it much anymore. The sun filtered through the windows as it lowered in the sky, giving it a warm orange filter that highlighted all the dust motes that danced along the spotlight. She finished the book in her hand and placed it back in her pack, ready to call it a day. Waving at the librarians, Nishira began the walk home, an easy task since the end of the day had come, and surely the homicidal maniac from earlier would have given up. The only stop along the way was the convenience store for some dinner before taking the steps two at a time to her place on the top floor.

As she reached the door, Nishira paused, hand outreached, as her eyes landed on the space between the door frame and door that didn't exist when the door was closed. Although no light permeated the open seam, Nishira cautiously pushed it, her salvaged ninjato sliding out of the sheath as quietly as possible. As she delicately stepped inside, avoiding the one squeaky board the landlord had yet to fix, she quietly shut the door behind her, leaving her in complete darkness, save for the small point of light from the streetlight that haloed above her living room window outside.
"Your door was unlocked."
The intruder flipped the switch and Nishira was momentarily blinded by the spilling warmth. She blinked a few times behind a raised hand to see the annoyance that had followed her all day.
"You should get that fixed, all I did was jiggle the handle a few times and it unlocked. How was the library?"
Her lips pursed in displeasure, she hadn't known about the door.
"This is my home, get out."
"We need to talk, you didn't give me much of a choice on when."

Kakashi watched his new student as she dropped her half-destroyed bag to the ground, spilling its few contents onto the worn wooden floor. Her oversized jacket was discarded haphazardly onto the couch arm as she stepped into the room, not deigning to acknowledge his presence. Kakashi turned his gaze to the rest of the place, hands still firmly in his pockets, as Nishira rummaged noisily through the fridge for some condiments, the bottle clinking together. A quick scan of the room revealed that the owner of this unit owned a single bowl, plate, one set of chopsticks, a few pieces of clothing, there was nothing exuberant or excessive here. A clearly stuffed backpack that was tucked neatly by the front door, evidently untouched by the coating of dust that had settled on it, explained enough. Kakashi's attention was then caught by some stitching on a pair of pants draped on a chair at the crooked kitchen table nearby. It showed the craftsmanship of an amateur seamstress, effective but not pretty. The sheets on the single bed were mismatched, but well folded, and tucked around the corners snugly. A tiny desk in the corner held scrolls stacked precariously but neatly. Only a corner of the wooden surface was visible, with some childish scratching that spelled out 'Mimi was here' but the edges of the carving were well worn, it looked like one of the desks he'd used in his time at the academy. This was no home, it felt more like a prison. She came out with a bottle of soy sauce and chili sauce.
"So you came to talk, fine, talk."
She gestured one full hand impatiently towards the couch and kitchen table in one sweep. Kakashi's one visible eye narrowed.
"First, I think introductions are in order."
"You know my name, you said it after you tried blowing me up. What else do you want to know?" She deposited the items with little grace onto the table, betraying her irritation as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. His eyes instinctively flicked to her voluptuous chest and then back to her face.
"I am Hatake Kakashi."
"Okay, you've introduced yourself. You can leave now." She gestured to the door. Kakashi grit his teeth, his patience wearing thin.
"No," he pointed to the kitchen chair where her dinner sat still in the white plastic bag. "I'm not quite done yet. I have allowed you to dictate our meeting today, so now you're going to sit and let me explain how this is going to go."

He leaned against the wall, waiting for her compliance. A mystery to even her, Nishira obediently sat on the edge of the wooden chair at his commanding tone, her lips pressed thinly, all retorts vanished scrubbed clean from her brain.
"I don't want to be your sensei any more than you want me to. This is a direct order from Lord Hokage himself." She opened her mouth to retort but Kakashi held up a hand, and she surprised herself by closing her mouth. "You are on your last chance, Nishira, if I decide to cease your training, your contract as a genin for Konoha will be promptly terminated."
Her eyes widened, almost taking up half of her face, the colour beginning to drain from her face. All the resistance and attitude melted off the student in a terrifyingly smooth motion. The face before Nishira stood with an apathetic frown, dead serious in his threat. Kakashi observed this reaction, puzzled at its intensity.
"No, you can't do that!" She leapt from her seat, as it clattered noisily on the floor behind it. All pretense of willful defiance vanished at the weight of his words, Nishira felt as though the floor had given way under her. The threat of termination contained more than the piece of paper she'd signed under duress. It didn't take much to think of how the ANBU would deal with what they would consider a rogue asset. Nishira surged forward with her hands clutching his forearm.
"You-you can't!" She repeated the words dumbly, waiting for the man to give in to her pathetic pleas, however, he remained steadfast.
"I read your file; you've had more chances than most. Being a shinobi for the leaf village is an honour and a privilege where people have given up everything to be where you are. You are taking up a spot that could go to someone more deserving, so why should I give you another chance? Lord Hokage agrees that you are quickly becoming a liability."
Nishira looked up at him, pleading. The words came from her, spewing like a broken faucet. "No, please, please don't. I promise I'll do whatever!"
Her grip tightened on his forearm, her fingers digging in even through the fabric of his sleeve, the words repeated like a stuck record. The girl suddenly looked so small to him, eyes frantically searching his as he resisted pulling his arm from her frighted grip. They stayed there as though still griping his removed arm as she waited breathlessly for his answer. The words had been harsh, but not untrue based on what Lord Hokage had expressed.
"I'm sure we can come to some sort of an arrangement." He shrugged, ready to simply forgive if his student committed to the training. "But we start tonight."
The panic in her eyes settled but instead of relief he expected to see, Kakashi watched as a hardness dulled those orbs. Curiously, her eyes lowered submissively to the floor, her mouth moved into a neutral look that appeared to be rehearsed.
"I understand."
The words were whispered, resigned to the meaning of such words. Kakashi moved to sit on the lumpy sofa, expelling a scent faintly of old cheese. He was intent on discussing the plan for the foreseeable future until the girl tugged at the hem of her short shirt, pulling it over her head in a deft motion, black hair cascaded like a waterfall down her back as she exposed a black bra, his eyes drawn to it from the odd clinking her necklaces made falling back in place, he spotted a bird skull and a thin column of jade attached on the end of thin chains. Her expanse of tanned skin was pocked by a jumble of old scars. Kakashi's gaze was drawn to a branding on her left hip covered by a square of black ink, Kakashi wondered if the visible raised edges were of an initial or a gang marking. He dumbly stared at her, bewildered and dumbstruck, standing before him as tempting as a full feast. In the scrutiny of his one eye, her arms wrapping around her chest, in a stroke of insecurity.
"Is this okay?" she asked with a breathlessness, the faintest tremor betrayed the sting of fear beneath it. When he didn't respond she began undoing the button on her pants, grounding Kakashi back to himself.
"What are you doing?"
Her hands paused on the button.
"I'm sorry?"
"Why- why are you undressing? Put your shirt back on!"
She grabbed at her discarded shirt, clutching it over her chest, as her face blushed a deep rosy color of embarrassment.
"If this doesn't please you, I can find something else, I'll do anything, please don't terminate me. Please."
He froze at the implications of her repeated pleas, that panic back in her eyes.
"No! I mean- Put your clothes back on." He turned his back to her allowing her some modesty and to hide the blush that was creeping up above the mask.
"Kakashi sensei, I'm sorry! I-" after a beat. "You can turn around now."

When he did, he noticed the crimson color of her cheeks, her rich eyes avoiding his. Her arms wrapped around herself like a safety blanket. He waited for an explanation but when he didn't immediately get one, he turned towards the door, the awkwardness of his next question burning at his throat.
"Has anyone in the village asked for that kind of arrangement before? Your previous sensei's, teachers, students? Answer honestly, it's important."
"No, no. Never. Not since-"
He waited for her to finish the sentence, but Nishira seemed unwilling or unable. He wordlessly stalked past her to the door, neither looking up. Kakashi paused at the door.
"Meet me on training ground two tomorrow. Let's say ten."
"Yes, that's fine. Good night, Kakashi sensei."
He paused at his name spoken from her lips, the fear stinging him. He never wanted a student to fear him this way or fear anyone in his position. His next words were spoken incredibly stiff, rigid like sharp glass.
"Good night."
As he left, she went to the door behind him, pressing her forehead to the cool surface, her hand lightly on the door handle. Kakashi stood in the street below her building, wondering dazedly where the hell this girl had come from.

Nishira waited in the field for her newest teacher. The crispness of the morning early summer air hadn't quite shed the wet memory of spring, and the training ground was a flat clear area with little shelter from the elements. She shivered in her jacket, pulling it in a little closer. After it became apparent from the arms on her watch that Kakashi was running late, Nishira sat on the edge of the training ground, sheltered by a large boulder smoothed over time likely from children. From her bag she drew a new book, her pocket several coins lighter after having the pay the dour librarian for the book that was destroyed from yesterday's encounter. She shivered again, her breath coming in a barely visible mist before evaporating into the chilly air. Nishira huddled in a little tighter, cursing at her watch showing that it was half past the appointed hour.

Deep in the woods surrounding her, the faintest rustling caught her attention, but at the sight of a woodland friend, a full-sized doe, she settled back into her reading. They were a ways from the Nara land boundaries where she usually spotted them but it wasn't unusual in her travels to come across the magnificent creatures. They were docile creatures and Nishira found if she didn't bother them, then they wouldn't bother her. Nishira went back to her book, not necessarily conscious of the arrival of a few more from the newcomer's herd, including one magnificent stag that observed the surroundings including her, keeping his post as guardian and protector as the others grazed.

One larger doe wandered over towards her, towering over where she sat, but as Nishira waited to see what she would do, the doe simply looked around as though protecting her, from the elements or danger, Nishira did not know. The doe's scanning gave Nishira a chance to admire her beautiful features. She looked up to see it's beautiful angular face looking around, saw the beautiful spotted coat, white flecks on a brilliant burnt red coat. As the creature's gaze came back to the human at her feet, Nishira gave it a polite nod of her head. This seemed to satisfy the deer as she lowered herself down next to Nishira, wrapping in close enough to shield her from the barren wind. Nishira let out a deep breath from her chest she'd held while huddling to keep warm, but as the warmth permeated her toes in her boots, she began to relax into the story of her book.

As the minutes ticked by, and the cold nipping at her became long forgotten as the sun warmed the air the higher it rose, the deer that remaining steadfast. Nishira fell into the pages before her until she lost sense of the world around her. She didn't notice when Kakashi entered the clearing. Not until the deer head turned, acutely aware of the intruder, did that pull her out of her reverie.
"Kakashi sensei." She closed her book and put it in her bag. The deer rose with her, allowing Nishira to stroke the fine pelt. "Thank you, my Lady." The animal turned to acknowledge Nishira's gratitude before trotting off into the densely wooded areas with the rest of its herd. The hands on her watch indicated quarter past eleven.
"You're late." He gave a guilty chuckle and half heartedly waved at her. Nishira saw his other hand remained in that pocket of his.
"Friend of yours?" Kakashi pointed off where the deer had stalked off.
"I guess. There seems to be a lot of deer around the village. They seem fairly docile here."
Kakashi definitely did not know of any such docile deer. Back in his early academy days, he grimaced at the memory of the biting panic of being chased halfway through the village, alongside Gai, as a stag with the biggest crown of antlers he'd ever seen primed to impale them both. It had been Gai's doing for picking a fight with the gigantic beast, at least five times their size, to prove some stupid bet he made. Kakashi glanced at the open bag at her feet.
"Theories of Chakra Manipulation? Cell biology? Anatomy and physiology? What is all that?"
He watched her face pucker in embarrassment.
"I like to read."
"For fun?" His one visible eyebrow cocked inquisitively.
"Oh, no way! Those help me learn all this stuff. But I'm warning you, you better not blow these up! That last one was expensive and Kurida was furious when I explained about the paper bomb!"
"The librarian?" he was fighting a bubbling laugh.
"Yes, and don't you dare laugh. She knows where to hit where it hurts. I never want to be on her bad side. I'll send her your way next time."
Kakashi eyed the book stickers.
"Is that how you were able to do that jutsu yesterday? By reading?"
He watched a small blush creep near the collar of her leather jacket.
"I guess? I feel like it's a trial-and-error process. Boring really, I read about the theories behind how some old people think it works and then I try it over and over again until I get the hang of it. That one yesterday took me almost a year to get it, and even then, it's exhausting to do."
"And the vanishing act?"
"Really? No, not that one." She looked up, brows slightly furrowed. "I guess that's something I've always been able to do. It always helps me get out of trouble."
"Or avoid unwanted teachers?"
Nishira has the wherewithal to at least look a little ashamed immediately undone by a tiny mischievous grin. Nishira observed his dawdling pace, and slumped posture, her studies had, of course, mentioned the infamous copy ninja but this man before her, closer to her own age than her classmates had been, he just looked like he needed a long nap. It was kind of charming and unexpected. His humble demeanor, when not taunting his student, was disarming, she felt herself relax a little more in his presence.
"Alright, so what's the deal, sensei? What's the plan?"
"I'm glad you seem enthusiastic enough to participate today. For the next foreseeable future, we are only training."
"Oh come on! Really?"
"Well, because someone," his eye looked her up and down. "Decided they didn't need to do any training for the past four months. Yesterday, you barely used any jutsu, and none at its fullest potential. Your tai jutsu is weak, and your weapon skills need serious work. That same somebody also doesn't play well with others, but we will take it in steps. I have a specific exercise that I want you to do today, and probably the rest of the week, depending on how well you grasp the skill."
"What is it?"
"Tree climbing."
She made a face and he laughed.
"Trust me, it'll be harder than you think."
"And when do we get to missions?"
"One day at a time, Nishira."
She was still not entirely convinced, but, she admitted to herself, what other choice was there. Nishira figured it wouldn't hurt to give today a good try, who knows, maybe she'd have a little fun.