Normally, by this point, I'd have brutally maimed kakashi in several sordid, crowd pleasing ways.

But he's still...attenting...to Halibel-sama's Fraccionne, and I'm not getting in the way of their Nookie.

Let's just say there's a reason Nnoitra's wearing that eyepatch...and it's not entirely because of his hollow hole.

Halibel: Too right, that's for my eyes only.

To summarize: I won nothing, there, happy now?

“I refuse!” Tsunade stated, her tone making it clear to all those that knew her that she was absolutely NOT willing to back down on the matter, and that any attempt to force the issue would be dealt with, painfully.

Those she was addressing, namely Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura of the Konoha Council of Elders, simply sighed at the bull-headedness of their teammate’s student and current Godaime, as they had likely been expecting her to be difficult.

“Tsunade,” Homura beseeched, the bearded man trying to make his sensei’s Great-Niece see reason, though he knew he was in for a long fight, as the Senju clan were just as renowned for their stubbornness as they were their physical prowess “you have to understand that Naruto, while an exemplary young man, is nonetheless a Jinchuuriki.” He nodded as the godaime calmed slightly at his acknowledging the boy’s worth “Normally, we would never have allowed him to set foot outside the village, and he’d have been under constant surveillance even within our walls.” He nodded again, as if to emphasize his point “By asking that you only keep him from taking part in missions that might lead to confrontations with Akatsuki, and that you assign two accomplished Jounin to his cell at all times, we feel we’ve offered you quite an agreeable compromise.”

“I’m all in favor of the four man cell idea.” Tsunade stated, nodding her head to show that she HAD been listening to the old man and that she did see the benefit of his wisdom “But I cannot impose any more restrictions on Naruto. So long as he remains in one place all of Konoha would be in danger, as Akatsuki will come for him sooner or later.” She crossed her legs with a nod as the old farts took that in “And then it’ll be like Sunagakure all over again,” the old buzzards suppressed a flinch at that point “at least while he’s moving around he’s harder to locate, which is why we must keep Naruto in the field as long as possible.” She looked them in the eye “That boy has the ability to become a true asset to Konoha someday.”

“And that’s your argument, Tsunade?” Homura asked, looking the Godaime over with a calculating frown on his weathered face “That he ‘someday’ may prove of use? Is that really the kind of position a Hokage should be taking?”

“Look!” Tsunade snapped, slamming her feet on the floor and slapping a hand onto the small table that was all that stood between her and the old councilors, a fact that they were fully aware of “I’m trying to compromise here as well old man!”

“You speak of ‘compromising’,” Homura cut in mid-rant “But simply ‘compromising’ will not be enough to protect the citizens of Konoha should the Akatsuki get their hands on the Kyuubi.” He looked the blonde in the eye at her silence “Tell me, Hokage-sama, what guarantees can you give that such a tragedy will NOT come to pass?!”

Tsunade was silent a moment, her natural pride stemmed by the weight of the Hokage mantle, reminded, once again, of just how heavy a burden she’d taken up. It had been one of her reasons for refusing the mantle in the first place, as she, who had let her loved ones slip through her fingers, wanted nothing to do with the extra burden of weighing the lives of countless villagers with her every decision.

But for a certain loud-mouthed group of brats, she would have never have considered setting foot near her birthplace again, let alone accept a position of authority. And one of those brats, who even today managed to bring out both the best and worst in her, had been paramount to making her decision, as he embodied all the values that her loved ones shared, and more. “Naruto will not fall,” she intoned, her voice low, but laced with the same certainty that the sun would continue to rise in the east “I have faith in him.”

“And if you are mistaken?” Koharu asked after a moments silence, surprised by the solemn, reserved tone of the normally outspoken Hokage. It was almost as if the councilor was speaking with the Shodai Hokage again “What then?”

“I know we said we should ask around to see who can help…” Naruto muttered, walking along with her arms crossed, one hand on her chin as she went over the short list of people that would be willing to help out. “But who’d be a good choice?”

“Long time no see…Naruto.” A low voice called out, the redhead turning to find a figure in a heavy raincoat with a high-collar cloak underneath concealing his features leaning against a tree she’d just passed.

“Do I…” she began, only to blink as her advanced hearing picked up the telltale sounds of insects rustling emanating from the teen’s form, her eyes widening as she gaped at him in surprise “Shino?!”

“You remember me…” the Aburame noted, his usual monotone sounding oddly pleased at the achievement as he stepped out from under the shadow of the tree “It’s good to see you haven’t forgotten your old comrades.

“Your kinda hard to forget there pal.” The redhead pointed out snidely, walking up to him with a slight smirk on her whiskered face “Still, you’re not doing yourself any favors, hiding your face like that.”

“It’s the standard garb of the Aburame clan.” Shino pointed out flatly, though he clearly didn’t take offence to the redhead’s criticism, as it was the standard of everyone outside the clan to think so “We believe in not standing out.”

“And you do it a little too well!” a loud voice called out, Naruto looking up in alarm, only to yelp as a large form descended from on high, landing on all fours to reveal a giant, wolf-like hound with an equally wolfish teen riding bareback on it “You’re pretty early there Shino! Trying to sneak a quick peck from your girl before we head ou-YOU?!”

“Kiba?” Naruto stammered, the stunned redhead recalling the last time she and the Inuzuka Kiba had met with LESS than fond memories, gaping at how cool the Inuzuka looked in his new leather duds.

“S-stay back!” the Inuzuka ordered, covering his groin with one hand and waving a the other to ward her off “I not interested in…huh?” he trailed off as the wind shifted, carrying the redhead’s scent towards him “Ramen and…fox?” he blinked “No way…Naruto?!”

“It took you over two years to figure it out?” Naruto deadpanned, looking down at the gaping Inuzuka in disbelief, honestly considering crotch stomping him a few times until the OTHER ball popped “Shino knew it was me from the get go.”

“My Kikaichu aren’t like Kiba’s nose.” The stoic Aburame pointed out, Kiba glaring at his teammate, recognizing from the slight change in tone that Shino was laughing his arse off on the inside “your chakra signature hasn’t changed, even if your scent has.”

“Speaking of which what gives?” Kiba growled, looking the redhead over with confusion, sniffing carefully “I mean I’ve heard puberty changes people but last I checked we were all guys last time we went down to the old swimming hole after class.”

“I’d forgotten about the old swimming hole.” Naruto admitted, smiling at the time he, Kiba and Chouji, back when they were starting at the academy, had tried to see who could make the biggest cannonball, Chouji won obviously, almost drowning Shikamaru, who’d been reclining on the sidelines, since taking part would’ve been too troublesome “And to answer your question it’s because of the seal on this thing.” She held up her tekko “Plus side, my chakra control’s finally somewhere near ‘tolerable’,” she made air quotes while mimicking Iruka’s lecture voice “Downside…well you get the picture.”

“Harsh…” Kiba muttered, his desire to get even with the redhead for the thrashing he’d gotten two years ago vanishing as he winced in sympathy. At least he still HAD his package after all...even if he HAD required an icepack stapped to it for a week.

“But enough about me.” Naruto muttered, the redhead looking over the Inuzuka’s shoulder at the massive hound that was panting idly behind him in the day heat “Don’t tell me that big guy over there’s…?”

“Akamaru? Well who else would it be?” Kiba asked, looking over at his partner with a proud smirk as the ninja hound walked over to be scratched behind the ear eagerly “He’s not changed that much has he?”

“Not changed?” Naruto repeated, the redhead gaping at the Inuzuka with an incredulous look on her face as she pointed at the massive canine “Are you blind?! He used to look like he was humping your head!”

“No he didn’t!” Kiba snapped, the outraged Inuzuka's face turning magenta at the very idea that someone would assume such a thing “Shino!" he bakred, rounding on his stoic teammate for support "Back me up here would’ya!”

“Naruto has a point.” The Aburame stated, earning an incredulous look from Kiba for the betrayal “Most members of your clan would never have carried their companion in such a manner…your sister actually made a similar comment once.”

“That she has.” A familiar, soft voice chuckled, Naruto looking up from pointing at Akamaru to find a effeminate face smiling down on him from the branches of a tree “It’s been a while, Naruto-kun.”

“Traitors the lot of you.” Kiba growled, though it was with a good-natured tone as he slugged the Aburame in the shoulder, shooting Saicho a wry snort as the effeminate origami master dropped down with the grace of a cat to shake Naruto’s hand, before looking around inquisitively “By the way,” the Inuzuka asked “have you seen Hina-”

“NARUTO-KUN!!” an ecstatic voice called out, splitting the heavens as a dark haired blur barreled Kiba over and body-tackling the startled Naruto, sending them crashing to the floor in a tangle of limbs and dust.

“…ta…?” Kiba finished lamely, having crashed headfirst into the pavement, Saicho covering his mouth in bemusement, Akamaru standing over his fallen master in concern as Shino’s body shook with the strain of restraining his laughter, several-thousand miniature sniggers escaping from him nonetheless.

“H-Hinata-chan?!” Naruto stammered, the redheaded hanyou looking down in alarm at the ebony haired beauty that was cuddling her to death, the air knocked out of her from the chakra enhanced tackle-glomp “I-is that you?!”

“You’re back!” Hinata cheered, hugging her beloved close, pressing their breasts together in a way that caused Kiba’s nose to bleed whilst Shino merely took candid shots with a hidden camera “You’re really back! And you’ve grown!”

“I’ve grown?” Naruto stammered, pushing the Hyuuga heiress back to get a better look at her “You’re one to talk! You’re, you’re-!”

Beautiful was the word Naruto would have used if he’d been daring enough, but despite years of being a smart-mouthed brat and training under three (Iruka counted) perverts, he couldn’t find the nerve to voice his opinion of how much the girl who loved him had blossomed.

Her hair, a slightly darker shade of the blue-black he remembered from two years ago, now ran down her back like a silken waterfall. She still wore a coat over her frame, but it was open, revealing her chain-mail vest and black T-shirt, which the redhead noted was straining to contain the large ‘she’s bigger than me!’ mounds of her breasts.

From the waist down she wore the traditional Shinobi pants, but had added to the with a type of mini-skirt that covered her just up to her knees, and was open at one side for increased mobility, revealing her kunai holster and, to his surprise, several Senbon packets.

“Like what you see?” Hinata asked, smiling as her beloved turned an adorable shade of red that, not so long ago, she’d have worn herself “Should I take that as a yes?” Before Naruto could stammer a reply she seized his lips with her own, hugging the startled redhead tight as she put over two years of pent up longing into the kiss, the result of which caused Kiba to keel over backwards, a perverted grin on his face, and Shino to somehow pass out while standing upright, the lenses of his sunglasses cracking as Saicho and Akamaru calmly averted their eyes, though the former had a slight flush and the canine was sporting a knowing grin.

After what felt like an eternity, Hinata released her beloved’s lips with a loud, audible pop, allowing the dazed redhead to breath as she smiled down at him. “You’ve been practicing.” she noted with approval.

“No!” Naruto yelped, the stunned redhead looking both startled and guilty at the same time, before averting her eyes from her girlfriend's knowing stare “Well, I mean there was this one time…and this other…I mean it was just an act but…”

“If you are referring to the kiss with Fuun-hime, I’m well aware of it.” Hinata chuckled, earning a look of shock from Naruto and causing Kiba to sit up straight with a look of alarm as Saicho’s blush deepened “It was one of the best scenes in her new movie…though I think she enjoyed it a little TOO much to be considered professional.”

“Well she hadn’t got in on for a while and Ero-sennin told her to just let go and-WHY THE HELL AM I TELLING YOU THIS?!” Naruto stammered, looking up at the giggling Hyuuga with wide eyes “And why aren’t you angry?! Sasuke’s fangirls used to pummel me just for looking!”

“I’m happy to say I have never, EVER, considered myself a fangirl.” Hinata stated primly, though there was a small smile on her face as she continued to straddle the redhead. Which was technically true, as she’d always known, even if he never returned her affections, that Uzumaki Naruto was the only man she could ever love.

It wasn’t the same as Sakura and Ino’s blind devotion, though Ino and Chouji seemed to be seeing a lot of each other of late outside of missions, as she was quite content to simply watch Naruto grow without having to step in and introduce herself. No, Naruto was her guiding light, whereas many kunoichi strived to be like Tsunade-sama or other female role models, Hinata, who hardly believed herself worthy of such a legend’s image, was content to model herself after the daring, unwavering outcast that never let anything get to him, who laughed off the words of hate and disdain and set about proving them wrong.

And it had worked, she had grown more confident, enough so that Neji had to actually pull out the stops whenever they sparred, that whenever she and Hanabi sparred more often than not her sibling was the one picking herself off the floor. Even her father, who had always been distant and reserved, now spoke to her as he once had, when her mother was alive, and while it was still with the authority of her clan head, he nonetheless allowed himself the smallest of smiles whenever they talked.

It was like water on a stone, Naruto’s ‘never say never attitude’, which even now continued to wear away at people’s perceptions of him, had actually managed to help the Hyuuga heiress get her life under control, and reclaim the family she’d thought all but lost.

“But enough about that.” Hinata stated, placing a finger to her beloved’s lips to stall the redhead’s sputtering attempts at contradiction “Is there a reason you’re just walking around?”

Several minutes, gropes, kisses and scratched ears later saw a flushed, embarrassed Naruto walking down the street, rubbing her cheek as she tried to remove Hinata’s lipstick and Akamaru’s drool, the two having left parting gifts before the team had left for their next assignment.

“Yo! Naruto!” a voice called out, the redhead looking up just in time to see Recca jogging towards her, the enjutsu-shi and current head of the Hanabishi clan waving his arm over his head “Any luck your end?”

“Naw, Team Kurenai are already out on a mission.” The redhead muttered, deciding it’d be best that the enjutsu-shi never learned of the encounter with Hinata. As it were the redhead was in dire need of a cold shower, which she suspected Hinata had known all to well as she’d walked off, a teasing look in her once timid eyes.

“Damn…” Recca sighed, scratching his head as he fell in line next to his adopted sibling, his features grim “The same for me, though Tokiya said he’d look into getting assigned to the mission.”

“Least then we’d have someone we trusted with us.” Naruto muttered, not liking the idea of being assigned a jounin that would hold them back or order something retarded like ‘Kill the Uchiha on sight’ and honestly expect them to just go along with it because of his rank.

“Yeah…better the prick you know than the ones you don’t.” Recca muttered, still rankled by how Mikagami would technically be their superior, being a jounin and all “but we still need at least two more people…so I suppose the only other people we can ask are…”

“You don’t listen very well do you?” Shikamaru muttered, looking over the siblings in annoyance as they stood outside the office of the chunin exam planning committee. “I already told you, it might be a major pain in the ass, but I’m on the staff for the chunin exam.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as they slumped “I mean I know we go way back, and believe me, I DO wanna help out, but I’m not in a position to just do as I please.” He shrugged offhandedly “Plus it’s the Godaime’s orders, and I get enough nagging from my mother as it is without pissing HER off.”

“Big-booby ne-chan’s sure got everyone running ragged.” Naruto muttered with trepidation, looking the Nara scion over warily, as if expecting him to suddenly start quoting Gai “I mean, if she can even get YOU to work…”

“Aho…” Shikamaru muttered, though it was with a bemused snort as he shook his head, as he had no shame at all in being a slacker…after all this SLACKER was the only chunin on the Sasuke retrieval team two years ago “But either way, there’s nothing I can do, sorry.”

“Then how’s about I lend a hand?” a friendly voice called out, the group looking round as a large brunette in red and gray armor rounded the corner, a bento held in one large hand and a packet of potato chips in the other “Hey Shikamaru,” the large teen greeted “Your mom asked me to bring your bento over since she knew you’d forget it.”

“Chouji…” Shikamaru muttered, even as the Hanabishi brothers beamed at the Akimichi, patting him on the shoulders as he sidled up to them “Don’t you already have an assignment with Ino and Asuma-sensei?”

“Well, yeah I suppose.” Chouji admitted, nodding his head as he smiled down at Naruto, his big friendly smile reminding the redhead of a bear for some reason “But we can’t just leave Naruto hanging right? I’ll talk to Asuma-sensei, see what he says.”

“Mataku…” Shikamaru muttered, looking over at his best friend as Naruto and Recca actually hugged the Akimichi, singing his praises “I’m telling you, asking Asuma-sensei’s no good, Tsunade-sama’s still his superior and…you’re not listening are you?”

“Man Chouji…” Naruto muttered, chuckling to herself even as she watched the Akimichi munch away at his beloved BBQ flavor chips without a care in the world “I always figured you were a big guy, but I didn’t think I’d live to see you get as big as Domon…” she snickered “Been putting on the pounds since I-WHAT THE-!?”

“GET DOWN!” Shikamaru yelled, tackling the redhead even as Recca and Chouji blurred into action, Chouji expanding his entire left arm to five times it’s normal size as Recca summoned Saiha, the blade of flame flaring to life as they bore down on their opponents, giant, black and white monsters that looked like oil paintings come to life. One of them, the one that had been rushing up from behind the redhead, was met head on by Chouji’s fist, the Akimichi’s blow reducing it to so much black ink while Recca, who had used the large teen’s shoulder as a stepping stone, slashed the aerial threat to ribbons, the ink catching fire and burning away before it even touched the ground.

“Look there…” Shikamaru muttered, getting into a crouch and glaring down the street the attack had come from, where a pale, almost unhealthily so, teen in black clothes was perched atop a rooftop, Naruto’s enhanced vision enabling her to catch the teen’s Konoha Hitai-Ate “I dunno who he is…” the chunin muttered, his shadow lengthening before him as he put his clan’s jutsu to work “But someone like that you capture first…and then leave to the torture and interrogation corps!”

“You won’t hear any refusal from me!” Naruto snarled, the enraged hanyou racing toward the bushwhacking bastard, a hand going to the katana tied to her back “But I can’t promise I’ll leave him able to talk!”

Tsunade, unaware of the ruckus being kicked up not one block away from her tower, had been silent for the past few minutes, running through the list of worst case scenarios that could happen if Akatsuki got their hands on Naruto, and believe me, there were a LOT of them, and not one of them was pleasant. “If Konohagakure and Hi no Kuni are endangered because of my decisions.” The godaime spoke, her tone laced with ironclad resolve and determination “Then I shall use my own life to protect them, as the Godaime Hokage.”

Silence reigned in the meeting room, the councilors, the Hokage, and a smiling Shizune mulling over Tsunade’s words, the look of resolve on the legendary medic’s face reminding the councilors not only of her relatives, the Shodai and Nidaime Hokages, but also of their teammate, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had inherited the will of his predecessors.

‘And clearly has seen fit to pass it on to at least ONE of his disciples.’ Homura noted approvingly, before sighing in resignation and nodding his head “Very well, a compromise it is.” He agreed, looking up at Tsunade “To honor your faith in Naruto, we shall allow him to remain on active duty.” His eyes hardened slightly “However, WE are to select the additional Shinobi, that are to compose his four man cell.”

“Five.” Tsunade corrected, earning a cocked eyebrow from the councilors “Team Kakashi was, originally, a five man cell,” she let them stew on that for a second “However, as no members of the cell were versed in medical jutsu, I saw fit to assign one to the team prior to the meeting.”

“A wise precaution.” Koharu noted with grudging approval, as she didn’t like the idea of Tsunade making decisions behind her back “And having another shinobi on hand to guard him will make all the difference.” She looked up with a nod to the door “Danzo, enter!”

Tsunade startled slightly at the name, only to scowl as the bandaged man hobbled into the room on his cane, his face as emotionless as ever. “Greetings, Tsunade-Hime.” The old war hawk greeted, though from the inflection of his tone he may as well have been reading off a script “It’s certainly been a while.”

‘Not long enough…’ Tsunade grumbled, before turning her head to regard the former rival of the Sandaime carefully “If you’re here…” she noted “then that means one of the new team members…must be from ‘Ne’…the very foundation of the ANBU division.”

“But of course.” Danzo supplied, hobbling over to stand before the councilors and Tsunade, earning a wary glance from Shizune, who hadn’t heard of the war hawk’s involvement “You can rest assured that I have selected one of the finest from the group, those that are of the same age as Naruto that is.”

‘Don’t want to risk exposing your more experienced members I see.’ Tsunade muttered, glaring angrily at the old man while listening in on the conversation between him and Koharu ‘I just hope that Naruto and Recca keep their guard up.”

“Well now…” the pale skinned youth noted, smiling disarmingly at the volatile redhead as he held her off with his weird sword, although judging from his trembling muscles, it was doubtful he could do so for much longer “Such strength and ferocity, are you sure you’re a girl?”

“I’M A MAN JACKASS!” Naruto snarled, leaping back, putting some distance between them before slamming her sword into the roof tiles, sending them flying towards the smiling prick in a hail of flying, jagged shrapnel “DORYUUSEN!”

“Temper, temper!” the pale teen chastised, that damnable smile still adorning his face as he calmly flipped over the hail, pulling out a scroll and pen in mid-air “There’ll be time enough to get better acquainted at our next meeting, Naruto-kun.”

“Who the hell are you?!” Naruto snarled, glaring up at the freak as he vanished in a swirl of ink, cursing as her sense of smell and hearing failed to detect him ‘Damn…whoever he is, his shunshin is almost as good as Kaka-sensei’s.’ the redhead noted, slowly sheathing her katana behind her as she stood up ‘Can’t smell a thing, and from the looks of he isn’t anywhere nearby.’

“Who the heck was that guy?” Shikamaru muttered rising to his feet with a scowl, having missed his chance to snare the prick when he’d noticed the shadows reaching out for him “I don’t recall seeing him around, but he knew about my shadow abilities…and he’s wearing a Konoha Hitai-ate…and he called Naruto by NAME.”

“Chouji!” an irate voice called out, the boys turning to find Yamanaka Ino, who’d clearly developed over the past two years, walking up to her teammate with an annoyed frown on her face “How’d I know I’d find you here?” the Yamanaka muttered, looking up at the big lug with a sigh, offering a polite hello to Recca, who reciprocated “C’mon, quit distracting Shikamaru from his job,” she insisted, tilting her head over her shoulder back the way she came “Asuma-sensei’s looking for you.”

“Sorry,” Chouji offered, the portly Akimichi looking over at his teammate, and apparently a little more if rumors were correct, in apology as he turned to face her “We just got attacked by this weird guy a few seconds ago and…”

“Weird guy?” Ino repeated, looking past her teammate’s considerable bulk to squint at the distant, redheaded figure on the rooftop “Isn’t that…yeah! The girl that almost neutered Kiba!” she cheered excitedly, waving a hand “S’up Girlfriend!”

“Ino…” Chouji muttered dismally, a bead of sweat sliding down the groups collective foreheads as they watched the blonde medic-nin/Interrogations & Information gathering minor wave energetically at the distant teen “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard…?”

“Hmm? Heard what?” Ino asked, the unchallenged queen of the Konoha gossip grapevine looking around in confusion as her teammates shook their heads in exasperation “What? What’re you all looking at me like that for?!”

Needless to say, after a brief re-introduction and explanation, the supposedly unopposed queen’s throne felt a little less secure.

‘Damn those old farts…’ Tsunade grumbled, glaring at the list of ANBU that had had the Sandaime’s complete trust she’d compiled herself, not trusting anyone else to do so at the minute. Shizune’s expression when she’d snatched the documents out of the medic’s hands without a word had been hurt and dismayed, even more so when Tsunade had coldly ordered her out of the office, but considering how the medic had gone behind the Hokage’s back, albeit with the best intentions, the Godaime wasn’t about to pay that any mind now.

After all, even the Buddha had his limits, and Tsunade was sure as hell no saint.

‘What I AM is the Hokage.’ She muttered, nodding as her eyes landed on one file in particular, nodding in approval as she read the operative’s details over carefully, noting a few, interesting tidbits that made him more than qualified ‘And it’s time those old farts and that war hawk knew who they’re dealing with.’

“You wished to see me?” a polite voice asked, Tsunade not reacting to the shadow that had formed behind her, as she was used to the more…eccentric habits of the ANBU by now. They took the whole, ‘living in shadows’ thing to heart.

“I did.” She replied, watching as the shadow faded, even as the tiger masked ANBU rose out of the hardwood floor before her “I have a mission for you…one that requires you fill in for your predecessor.”

“Kakashi-sempai?” the masked nin queried, a hint of intrigue in those polite tones, as well as a hint of eagerness unless Tsunade's ears were playing tricks “Those are some pretty big shoes to fill, I’m honored you think so highly of me.”

“Understand that this is NOT an ANBU mission,” Tsunade informed him, looking over the figure before her regally “As such you will remove your mask, and for the duration of the assignment be assigned a codename.” She nodded as the ANBU proceeded to so, revealing a man slightly younger than Kakashi, with short, spiky brown hair and black eyes that seemed oddly wide “Your codename shall be: Yamato.”

“Understood.” The recently renamed ANBU captain confirmed, smiling slightly as he lowered his mask from his face, revealing unusual black eyes and a face that was probably only slightly younger than Kakashi's, only to pause as his leader regarded him “Hokage-sama?”

“One other thing…” Tsunade muttered, her solemn tone revealing just how on edge she was to the unmasked ANBU captain “A member of ‘Ne’, the foundation of the ANBU division, has been assigned to team Kakashi…” she narrowed her eyes “Watch him carefully…Danzo PERSONALLY selected him for the assignment, before I’d even gotten round to it.”

“Might you be over-reacting, Hokage-sama?” the ANBU captain queried, though he knew from his own time in ANBU just how underhanded the former director could be…especially since the Sandaime passed away.

“Probably…” Tsunade allotted, looking behind Kakashi’s stand-in as the door to her office opened, a smile forming on her face “But better to be safe than sorry…especially considering who the final addition to your new, five man cell, is.”

“I…understand.” The captain muttered, though quite frankly he didn’t see how this so-called ‘final addition’ required his special attention. Or even why she’d been assigned in the first place if he was completely honest with himself.

“Are you ready for this?” Tsunade asked, looking over the new arrival with a stern, albeit concerned frown “Truth be told I’d rather assign Sakura, who’s been through my personal regimen longer than any of her other trainees…”

“I’ll do my best!” the arrival chirped, pulling off a cute salute, only to yelp as she put to much effort into it, stumbling backwards and tripping over one of the many stacks of paperwork that had built up in the absence of Shizune to organize them “Kyah!!!”

‘On second thoughts…’ Yamato muttered, sweat dropping along with the godaime as the girl knocked the whole, infamous stack over with her antics, several documents fluttering idly in the air like leaves. It seemed there was a reason for him to watch out for the girl after all.

And thus my 'Devious Bastard Syndrome kicks in, requiring that I take my daily perscription of reviews before continuing any Fiction-related activities.

Halibel: You review-whore.

Kyugan: Guilty, as charged.

Kakashi: THAT'S AN OUT HOLE! AN OUT HO-.............(sound reaches a pitch beyond human hearing)!

Sun-Sun: Oh my...he was right.

R&R for the new team kakashi, now with 40% more artists!

No peniz jokes plz.