Why do I have to come? My team doesn't have to. Maybe Lady Tsunade's going a bit cuckoo... I thought ninjas were supose to do missions in squads.

I had been summoned to the Lady Hokage's office for a mission without my team. It was a very strange experience for a brand new Chunin. I was standing in front of her desk at attention while she boredly read out what missions she had assigned to me.

“Well? Which one do you want?” she asked, her tone very dry. She looked as if she hadn't done anything but paper shuffling since she became the new Hokage.

How should I know, you dork? You're the boss.

“Whichever you see as the more urgent, Lady Hokage.” I replied with a deep bow. Little did she know that she had a long way to go if she wanted to be a real Hokage. All she ever does is complain about the work. She should have never succeeded as Hokage. I don't care how good she is. She is nothing compared to all the others.

A small twitch at the corner of her mouth gave away her true feelings about me. She hates me. It's not my fault she has to keep all the people she doesn't even like in line.

“Here,” she tossed a mission scroll and fliked her hair out of her face. “Take a look.”

I caught it gracefully and carefully read over the mission.

Hmph. Seems pretty straight forward... What's the catch?

“It says here that I need a Jounin partner.” I stated clearly as I peered over the scroll to look at her properly. She sighed and rubbed her eyes tiredly.

“Yes. And he's late. Again.”

She whispered something to her maid Shizune and she disappeared in a puff of smoke. A few moments passed and Shizune returned in a cloudy haze, her fingers tightly latched on to the ear of Kakashi Hatake.

Not this clown...

Lady Tsunade had her eyes lowered, her cheek resting on her fist and her fingers lightly drumming on the desk.

“Kakashi! You're late!” she bellowed, making the clerks jump in fright. Shizune let him go but not before screwing it a little harder and huffed back to her place with Lady Tsunade. I tried very hard to keep myself from smiling at the funny scene that was unfolding before me.

“Well,” Kakashi said straightening, smiled and scratched the back of his head. “A black cat crossed my path and-”

“-You had to go the long way.” Lady Tsunade cut in. “Honestly Kakashi, you'd think you would say something different this week.” She was clearly amused and I suspected that she looked forward to seeing Kakashi just to hear his lame excuses. He continued smiling and glanced around the room until he saw me.

“Oh? Where's your team?” he asked, pocketing his magazine.

“They weren't summoned. Just me.” I replied, studying the floor.

Wonder why he wears a mask? It's kinda weird.

“This is the Jounin that will be accompaining you. Make the most of it. He's the only available for a short while. Dismissed.”

*

BANG, BANG, BANG!

“Hurry up, Neji! Wake up!” I was about to enter his room when he wrenched the door open and gave me his deadliest of glares.

“What the hell do you want?! Do you know what time it is?!” he yelled in a grumpy rage. I smiled and gave him a one-armed hug and tugged him to the kitchen.

“Sorry, but you really need to be up in time for breakfast. I just got my first mission as a Chunin.”

“Is that all,” he yawned and stretched. “You could've told me later.” he said reasonably.

“Tch, tch, tch,” I waved my finger in his face just to make him mad. “Looks like you've been hangin' out with Tenten again.” I teased making him blush.

Not many people know this but he really does like Tenten. I'm not sure why but it might be because she's the only one that actually listens to him besides me. She always rants on about destiny just as much as he does. It's always fate this, fate that. I believe in it to a degree but unlike Neji, I think destiny is something you need to create for yourself and because of that we don't always see eye to eye.

I explained that for my mission, I had to retrieve a precious stolen item, catch the criminals and escort them back here to the Leaf Villiage. I also told him that my squad only consisted of myself and Kakashi Hatake.

“At least you'll be relatively safe with him around.” Neji said as he sipped the freshly brewed tea. “Might as well make the most of it.”

I sighed because I knew he was right. Kakashi may not be the most punctual of all people but he does his job well.

“Besides,” he said placing his teacup on the table, “He taught Naruto.”

“Why can't my best friend just agree with me that he's a drongo...” I wailed and hid my face in my hands. Neji chuckled softly and petted my head affectionantly.

“Just don't read his magazine. And never get in the crossfire when Gai Sensei tries to challenge him.”

*

Where the hell is this jerk? He's always late.

I checked my watch for the millionth time and sighed. Four o'clock. I was leaning against the wall outside the Leaf Villiage, tapping my foot impatiently. I crossed my arms and closed my eyes.

Just for a little while...

“Looks like someones sleeping on the job.”

I jerked awake and my eyes flew open. “You're late.” I yelled. Kakashi's only respons was to smile mockingly. I could see his eyes crinkled at the corners.

“You see, I-” he began.

“- I don't care. Lets go.” We set off down the path that lead through the forest and the way to the Land of Waves. I heard Kakashi fumble around and turn pages. I glanced back and he was reading Make-Out Paradise.

Good grief.

*

“Here we go,” Kakashi pulled out an ear piece and attached it to my head. “We'll keep contact with this. If you need help, radio in.” He adjusted it to fit properly and smiled.

He's actually a nice guy.

I nodded and gave a small smile of my own. The sun had just set and the torches had been lit for everyone that was still out and about. I crept into the hideout that we tracked the thieves down to and kept out of sight. The house was quite large- more like a castle- and I went room by room, searching for the item.

And all this trouble over a neckace?

Static sounded in my earpiece. “How're you doing?” Kakashi asked.

“Fine. First floor was a no go. Searching the second floor now.” I whispered.

“Roger that.” And he was gone. I was smiling like an idiot and I had no idea why. I quickly climbed the stairs and opened the first door.

“What the-” a man jumped down from his bed and came straight at me with an angry war cry. I quickly turned on the balls of my feet and used his momentum to push him into the door, knocking him out. The crash made a big racket and the fool had roused everyone from their slumber.

Damn it!

“What's all the fuss?!” someone yelled, running from the other end of the house. I put him back on his bed when another man came in, breathing heavily.

“Who're you?” he demanded suspiciously.

I took a wild guess and told the man that I was a new recruit.

“New recruit, aye?” he eyeballed me and looked me over. “Haven't seen you before.”

“I just got here. I'm from Tanzaku Town.” I lied, smiling, letting him think I was on their side.

“Oh yeah? You must be pretty good. We only went there last week.” he laughed and elbowed me in a friendly way.

“Hehe... Yeah. I just checked on him because I thought I heard a bang. He fell outta bed.” I said joking around with the man.

“Hohoho... Well, better let you go then. See ya 'round!” and he walked back to his chambers, completely unaware that I was about to find their loot and take them out. I sighed with relief and went around extra cautious. I was in the attic checking out a desk when I stepped on a loose floorboard.

Bingo.

I pulled it off and quickly went through all the papers that were there. Turns out they had already sold all the loot but they recorded who they gave them to and where they were. I pocketed the documents and jumped out the window to met up with Kakashi. I gave him the papers and he read over them carefully.

“Okay. Go round up the culprits and lock 'em up. We'll send word for escorts.”

*

“Wow,” Naruto had taken the last of the criminals and put them in a cart. “You took them on all by yourself?”

“Yes she did, Naruto,” replied Kakashi, reading his magazine again. “Maybe you could learn something from her.”

I handed the necklace to Kakashi, who pocketed it and draped his arm lazily around my shoulders. I felt my cheeks burning up and I was finding it hard to breathe.

What the hells wrong with me?

“Hmm? You okay? You feel a bit too warm.” he asked, craning over to look at me properly.

“Uh huh, I'm fine.” I replied, my knee beginning to feel weak.

“Good.” he replied, stretching. “Let's go back.”

*

“I'm very happy with your progress,” Lady Tsunade told me as she read our report. “Kakashi said you nearly did the whole thing without a hitch. Not bad for a Chunin.” I smiled shyly inspite of myself. I bowed deeply and murmed my thanks and returned to my place by Kakashi.

I hope she does grow into being as great a Hokage as the others.

She placed the report aside and yawned.

“I'vegot a killer surgery tomorrow. Scram.”

We bowed once more and left the office. Kakashi motioned forme towait a secondandtold mehe wanted to treat me to Ramen.

But Naruto's probably there...

After we had eaten, Kakashi asked if I had figured out the true objective of that mission. I thought for a moment and nodded.

“It was to teach me not to be so judgemental.” I replied, absently playing with the chopsticks.

“And why is that important?” he pressed on, pushing his bowl aside.

“It could get me killed if I don't read people properly.” I said, choosing my words carefully. “First impressions aren't everything.”.

He petted my hand warmly and smiled. “Good girl. C'mon, I'll take you home.”

The walk was short because I lived only a few blocks away from the Ramen bar. I was dissapointed when we arrived at my apartment but he was reading that stupid book. Carefully, I tapped his right shoulder and dodged to left taking the magazine from his grasp.

“Hey! Thats mine!” he yelled after me as I ran up the stairs leading to my place. I laughed and released the trap jutsu I had placed on the front door. He came barreling through unamused and really quite angry.

“What's up, Kakashi? Pissed that I got you're precious mag?” I taunted and flicked through a few pages.

“NO!” he streatched out and reached for it but too late. I had seen what was inside. My eyes went wide in surprise and my mouth fell open. I looked from him to the book then back to him again. A small smile crept into my face and I looked at the picture, grossed out and yet fascinated.

“She's pretty flexible.” I finally said. Kakashi came up behind me and peered over to see what I was talking about.

“Oh yeah, that one's kinda freaky.” he said, scratching his head.

I thumbed through the rest of the book, laughing at some of the things that I had read. It was very rude but most of it was just funny. I got to the back cover when a picture caught my attention. I looked closer, squinting.

“Oh my god,” I brought it up closer to my face. “She looks like me.” I showed it to Kakashi.

“That is you.” he said after closer speculation.

It was me all right. Caught in the bath house.“Know what?” Kakashi asked,takingthe book on off me and placed it carefully on the coffee table. “It's kinda turning me on.”

“It's a good picture.” I replied, liking the idea he was putting into my head.

“It's a great picture.” he retorted, hugging me close, allowing me to feel what he really wanted.

With that I turned to face him and carefully pulled his mask down.

“Don't tell anyone about my face.” he whispered in my ear, making me shiver with agreement. He scooped me up and dumped me on the bed.

“Hope you don't mind losing a lot of sleep.”.