Prologue
Kakashi arrived from his last mission early in the morning. It had been a terribly dull night, no one to talk to, not that he did much, no one to give any order to, or nobody to fight against with even.
"Take care of our shinobis from afar", Hiruzen had said as if talking about the weather, and that was how Kakashi began to understand that his days as an Anbu elite member were finishing. The Sandaime would never send him only to check on some shinobis on exchanging paperwork, but as always had been since ten years ago, he was no one to complain, so he obeyed, even if things were evident in his mind.
He would scream that he could instead be dead than out of service. After all, wasn't that what everybody thought about him? That he was seeking the dead in every corner? Of course, that was not entirely true. Kakashi didn't want to die, but living a life with no risk was not his thing, not after everything he had done to the others and himself. What would he do now? Be the doorkeeper? A bodyguard? A civilian?
However, he didn't say anything, and with a bow, he accepted the mission as he would accept his destiny as soon as his sentence would be announced. So here he was, coming back home only wishing for a shower and a long, long nap. But first things first. He should handle the report to the Hokage if he wanted the rest of his day free.
Kakashi arrived at the Hokage's office and knocked on the door twice. As usual, after being invited to enter, he vowed with one knee on the floor and his gaze straight to the floor. He didn't notice the second pair of silent eyes regarding him.
"Hokage Sama", Kakashi began still looking at the floor; he wasn't feeling like facing his immediate future. "I have the report..."
"It's Ok, Kakashi", Hiruzen interrupted him. "I already know how the mission went. You did well" the Hokage's tone was so paternalistic that it bothered Kakashi.
"Then, I think I should go and check the Anbu's quarters Sandaime" Kakashi needed an excuse to still be helpful there.
"You are not coming back as captain of Anbu Kakashi".
Kakashi was speechless. He was swallowing all his anger, even if deep inside he had seen this coming, even if maybe, just maybe, it was good for him. He felt so empty; he didn't have anything besides Anbu, missions, battlefields, and blood. That was his life.
"What..." Kakashi was finding it difficult to speak, even to breathe "What do you want from me Hokage Sama?"
"You already gave us everything you have Kakashi, but I have one more mission for you before your retirement." Kakashi greeted his teeth. Retirement... he was barely in his twenties.
"What ever you want Hokage same" If Kakashi were a ma of tears, he would be on the verge of them.
"I need you, and only you to train her" Hiruzen said, pointing for the first time to the silent figure standing next to him "at the same time, she will train you".
Kakashi lifted his head for the first time. There she was: a young woman, probably around his age, dark hair, pale skin, not a kunoichi, dressed half as an Anbu, half as a dancer? Her toned legs indicated hard training but certainly not that of a Shinobi. Very thin, somewhat fragile, distant, cold perhaps?
"I'm sorry Sandaime, but I don't understand" Kakashi spoke, now standing in his full length. Hiruzen Smiled.
"This is Tiān'é, she is my new recruit", The Hokage began ", she is a ballet dancer, and is about to enter the Anbu. She is an orphan too".
Great, Kakashi thought, another orphan that nobody is going to miss.
"You will have to teach her how to fight, how to move, how to be invisible, invincible, how to be a warrior" The Hokage proceeded "I think the delicacy and subtlety of the ballet will make her an agent that will never be seen. I want you to teach her to go unnoticed, to deceive, to seduce, to use the tools that only a woman can use".
Kakashi blushed at the last statement
"Why don't you ask one of the many kunoichis in the village Hokage Sama? Why me?".
Hiruzen Laughed heartedly.
"Because if she remotely has a chance to succeed with you, then she will succeed with anyone."
Kakashi blushed even harder.
"What do I learn?" Kakashi asked; Hiruzen talked about him training too, and he wasn't sure how this woman could train him "Wich one is my training Hokage Sama?"
"You, Kakashi" Hiruzen spoke in his knowing all tone "will learn to endure and grow up... endure and grow up".