"Kakashi-sensei, teach me that new jutsu you were talking about." Naruto came by to the hospital, requesting for Kakashi to guide him once more. Itsuko was sitting beside Kakashi who was sitting on the bed, his back leaned against the bed frame while he held Itsuko's hand under the blanket.

"Why? Finally found out that you can't beat Sasuke?" Itsuko teased, hitting the jackpot. A gloom immediately flushed onto Naruto's face.

"Hey, don't beat yourself over it." Kakashi said, but before he could go on, Yamato, Sakura and Sai entered. Yamato briefed Kakashi with the situation, the mission and about Sai as Sasuke's replacement.

Sai greeted Kakashi before he turned over to Itsuko. "What does Itsuko Uchiha has in relation to the team?"

"Itsuko-sensei is part of us from day one." Sakura said, clinging onto Itsuko's arm, forcing her to get up from her chair, breaking her connection with Kakashi. Itsuko sighed in annoyance, glaring at Sai. "Got a problem?"

"Aren't you Anbu Captain?" Sai raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a smile of his. It ticked her off, his smile was always so fake.

"I was until The Fifth decided it'd be fine to replace me." Itsuko answered, narrowing her eyes, clearly not approving of Sai as part of the team.

"But Captain, the Anbu won't last without you." Yamato said with a worried look. Itsuko gave him a calm look, "I know Tenzo, she'll realise it eventually."

"Yes, captain." Yamato replied obediently, backing out.

"Kakashi-sensei can we start the training already?" Naruto whinned impatiently. Kakashi got up from bed, "Let's go then."

-

"Naruto, come here." Itsuko said, gesturing Naruto over after Kakashi finished his explanations. Naruto looked at her oddly, jogging over.

"Kurama, could you help me absorb some of your other's chakra? Wouldn't that prevent him from using your chakra?" Itsuko asked, waking Kurama up from his sleep.

"Only for awhile. My chakra would replenish soon enough for him to use again." Kurama growled, answering.

"It's fine, help me out?"

"Fine." Kurama grunted, brightening up.

"Thanks, Kurama."

"Itsuko-sensei?" Naruto asked, confused. Itsuko have him a reassuring look, placing her hand on his seal. She pulled her hand away with the other, extracting a red string of chakra before she absorbed it herself. "You shouldn't be going wild anytime sooner."

"Itsuko, have you mastered adding your chakra nature to your Rasengan?" Kakashi came over asking.

"I can't even do a normal Rasengan. I can show you but I don't think it'll be much of a help." Itsuko replied truthfully. Naruto looked at her with sparkly eyes, excited. "Show me! Show me!"

Itsuko sighed, placing her left hand on her right wrist before she proceeded to forming her Rasengan. White strings of chakra rotated around it like it did during her first try, it continued rotating, adding on speed without pause. It only vanished when Itsuko's left hand pressed against her chakra point, temporarily stopping chakra flow. She took out a role of bandage, wrapping it around her palm which had bruises and cuts.

Naruto stared in amusement before he thanked them, running off to practice.

"Itsuko, can we have a word?" Ibiki suddenly appeared. Kakashi gave her an odd look before leaving them to themselves. Itsuko glared at him mercilessly, "What do you want?"

"Don't be like that, sunshine. I came to look for you." He gave her a warm smile, angering Itsuko. "There's a line you shouldn't cross."

Ibiki looked downwards, guilty. His hand massaged the back of his neck as he gathered confidence to look Itsuko in the eye. "Could we perhaps start over? I was blinded by things around me back then, I didn't realise what I was losing."

"You lost your only chance back then. Besides, I have a boyfriend already." Itsuko replied, her last words putting a smile on the edge of her lips. Ibiki's smile vanishing, he left along with it.

"Itsuko-sensei!" Sakura came running, much to Itsuko's annoyance since they were coming one after another. "I realised we never asked you but have you seen Kakashi-sensei's face before?"

"Of course I have." Itsuko answered without thought, slowly walking towards the bench Yamato made for Kakashi which he was sitting on. Sakura's eyes sparkled, "could you describe it?"

"What's wrong?" Kakashi asked just as they stood in front of him. Itsuko gave him a smirk, "Sakura asked whether have I seen your face."

Yesterday's occurrence immediately emerged in Kakashi's head, causing him to blush excessively. Itsuko leaned forward, whispering into Kakashi's ears, causing him to blush even more. "Only the most handsome face I've seen."

"Well Sakura, I believe the description of his face can't really be put into words. You'll understand when you see it yourself." Itsuko said mysteriously, walking off. "I have to leave, see you around."