It was Sunday. Usually that meant that I have an off day, but not anymore. Wars don't rest on Sundays. Assassins don't rest on Sundays. Shinobi don't rest on Sundays.

I was at a training ground where I was supposed to meet today's rotational team, but something was wrong. They weren't here. Nobody was here. I kept checking and checking the schedule but I definitely wasn't mistaken. If that was the case, then where were they? Could four people really be this late? Is this team basically four little Kakashi's? I didn't understand.

I chose to wait a bit instead of running straight to the Hokage. In the meanwhile, my mind replayed last night's events over and over. Ibiki had been upset. It was almost midnight when I returned home, so after the lecturing I got I could only guess how Shikamaru's mother was. Poor him.

Shikamaru and I had debated quite a lot of our views. It had started with the meaning of life, which held no answer in the end, and turned to trivial things. These were things like what our favourite colours represented, how our favourite animals represented our souls and even how shooting stars are cigarettes which the angels threw away before God could catch them. When it turned to questions like regrets, family and nightmares; I decided to stop. I trusted Shikamaru, far more than anyone else, but I didn't want him to know that part of me.

Whatever image he had of me, I didn't want it to be tarnished even more.

The team still wasn't here. What was going on?

I decided to head towards the Hokage's Building, seeing as standing around wasn't going to help me anything. I walked up to the secretary, in hopes that she had any idea of what was happening. After the shinobi registration, I realized that this woman was quite on point with her work.

"Excuse me?" she peered up at me curiously. "I'm looking for..." I quickly cast my eyes down to the scroll in my hand. "Might Guy?" I questioned.

"Oh! Certainly! Team Guy is at the Mission Collection office right now," I frowned at this and quickly thanked her, heading through the building to the office. They weren't scheduled for a mission. They had training on their regiment for today. Who was 'Team Guy' anyway and why didn't they have a number like the rest of the teams?

I awkwardly knocked on the door and heard the Hokage grant me access. I entered the room. Inside I saw the strangest of teams. The jounin as well as one of the genin looked almost exactly the same outfit, which was basically a green version from what I was wearing except they wore legwarmers and had long sleeves. The strangeness of these guys...

Furthermore, a kunoichi with two buns and a guy with long hair and a scowl on his face. This was certainly a strange team, just from looking at all their hairstyles. I especially examined the long-haired boy's. Did it not get caught when fighting? It was longer than Ino and Sakura's, and they at least pinned it up using a hair tie or their headband.

Why was I examining his hair? I looked curiously at the Hokage who chuckled at my expression.

"Team Guy, meet your new rotational partner: Kumiko Ikeda," even though he had introduced me, that still didn't ease my confused expression any less. "She's the one I told you about earlier," he added. I rose the scroll with Guy's name on it to eye level.

"Will this be needed then?" I questioned. The Hokage shook his head 'no' so I threw the scroll over my shoulder, still irritated that I had waited so long for these people who didn't show up. The scroll hit a painting behind me on the wall. It clattered to the ground and with a sickening smash, the glass broke. I sighed and covered my eyes with my palm. This wasn't going well.

"Anyway," thank the Hokage for saving my dignity. "Team Guy will be given a B-rank mission, per request in preparation for the chuunin exams. The mission entails reconnaissance and collection. Three days ago a mafia group raided the Village of Lilies and stole the village's sacred gems from their shrine. They want you to discover the mafia's headquarters and take them down in order to receive their gems. They requested an experienced team, but couldn't afford chuunin. You are the most experienced genin we have. Kumiko?" I blinked in surprise.

"Sir?"

"Watch your back. I'm sure that Team Guy will be able to show you everything you need to know," I nodded in confirmation.

"You don't need to worry about anything! I will help you!" the younger version of the green-duo spoke with a bright smile and a lot of excitement, his words directed at me. I nodded promptly. He looked to be quite friendly. The girl also looked quite welcoming.

The last one? Not so much.

I noticed that his eyes had no pupils, but that didn't necessarily mean anything to me. It was just a fascinating observation. Hinata had no pupils, and now that I thought about it, neither did Ino. Huh.

"Alright then! We'll meet at the gate tomorrow morning at six," Guy said with a nod and a smile. The Hokage nodded with positive judgement. I went to follow behind the other three, but was stopped.

"Kumiko? A word?" it was to be expected. Guy closed the door as he left. I made myself comfy on the couch the Hokage had in his office.

"How have you been doing lately?" knowing what type of things he wanted to discuss, I nodded.

"Everything's been going really well," I said with a smile. It was true. For the last few days, there wasn't particularly any lingering issues.

"And Ibiki?"

"He got me a piano," I brightened up. I could see that the old man enjoyed my excitement. I rarely had any fun as a child or found anything amusing.

"I would love it if you played for this old man some time," he chuckled. "Do you think you'll be okay on a B-rank mission? It's a bit of a jump," I shrugged my shoulders.

"If you think I have it in me, then who am I to question the Hokage's judgement?" I said with a small smile.

"The report I got back from Asuma yesterday was positive and in general D-ranks aren't really your forte, I would guess. From what Hideki told me, you've been holding yourself back recently?" I frowned at his peculiar statement. "He's been set on the task of examining you to discover a training regimen," I nodded at this.

"I do it subconsciously, I think. I don't want to hurt anyone but really, I think you're overestimating me. I'm not that strong," sure, I had ways of getting the upper hand in fights but that didn't mean I would have won them, truly. Both Shikamaru and Choji held back on me. Would I have won in an all-out battle?

It was contemplating. I couldn't make a valuable case to myself.

"Well, I didn't notice until now how quickly it's been catching up but in six weeks is the chuunin exams. Unfortunately, only teams of three can enter. Usually genin fresh out of the academy wait a year before they actually compete, like Team Guy had done, but I am doubtful of this age group. Nevertheless, I think that you should definitely compete," I frowned at this.

"Why?"

"Because you have an honest chance of being promoted. I don't think being a genin for a year would be good for you. I'm telling you this now so that you can make the most out of this mission. Learn everything you need to know now because you have to make up for that experience," I thought over his words and nodded in understanding. "Also, because genin usually don't compete so quickly after graduating, it usually doesn't matter how early we put the exams then. That means that we're a little time-strict here. The B-rank mission, I suspect, might take up to two weeks. That means you have a month to prepare when you get back. I'll have Hideki figure out a schedule for you but the real issue here is that for two weeks you'll stay with Team Guy. They're bound to notice something," oh. Oh no.

"What should I do then?" my eyes furrowed in absolute worry. He sighed deeply and buried his face into his hands.

"I would prefer if you take some nutrition with you, because should you get injured and need to heal, you might not always have the chance to sustain yourself from an enemy. Furthermore, I think you should eat before you leave and I think it would be best if Guy is informed of this," my eyes grew ide at this.

"But we can't tell him! I don't trust him yet!" I was shocked at the possibility.

"I understand how you feel, but I think you should at least tell him something. Call it specific nutrition you have to take, that you have an illness; or that you have an allergy to other things. I would call it an eating disorder but then I fear that he might force you to eat then. This isn't something you can keep from him," I thought about it for a few seconds before nodding. It would be for the best. Otherwise, if I kept it secret and they discovered something, it would be so much worse on me.

Damn it.

"Alright. I'll go figure something out," he nodded in confirmation and allowed me to leave after a few 'good lucks'. This was going to be an utter pain.

The first stop I made was at the Intelligence Force. Ibiki wasn't going to like this. I entered his office with a sheepish smile, and he gave me a look that screamed utter confusion and disbelief.

"Already?" he sounded with a gasp.

"Actually, I'm going on a mission and was advised to take some along in case I can't... you know, the enemy," Ibiki sighed deeply.

"A C-rank? Already?"

"B, actually," he seemed conflicted by this.

"With which team?"

"Team Guy," his eyes immediately furrowed, his fist balling subconsciously.

"Never liked him,"

"I can guess why," Ibiki sighed in frustration and ran his hand over his face.

"This is going to be hard to pull off," but I only nodded. I had never expected something like this to happen; or, at least, not this early. I knew that inevitably, there would come a time where I would be revealed and some hard choices were to be made. I didn't expect it to be so quickly after graduating.

"Alright. I'll see who we have in storage. I'll have them processed into food pills," I nodded again, my mind starting to work on what I would need to take with me. "I'll bring them with me tonight," I nodded again and after thanking him, I slipped out and headed towards Team Ten's training ground where Asuma has said they would assemble before missions. The off chance they hadn't yet left, I could at least inform Shikamaru and Choji of my disappearance. I didn't want to leave without telling them.

As expected, they had already left.

Luckily, I knew where the Nara, Akimichi and Yamanaka clans were stationed in their barricaded clan grounds. I had been there with Shikamaru and Choji before, the guards at the entrance hopefully familiar with me. Once I reached the walls surrounding the three clans, I came face-to-face with someone else.

"Ikeda?" a laid-back voice interrupted my thoughts and I nearly jumped, turning to address the man.

"You..." I was confused for a second before I recognized him completely. "You're Shikamaru's dad?" he nodded, not much enthusiasm in his action. "You know me?" of the times I was at the clan, never was Shikamaru's dad at his house. It was to be expected, though, with his important job in the village. Also, we tended to prefer Choji's house, Shikamaru having a peculiar woman for a mother.

"With the amount of times Shikamaru has talked about you, I ought to recognize the girl who's peaked his interest," he sighed, scratching slightly at his head. "He has respect for you," a gentle blush dusted my cheeks, but I forced through it.

"Do you know where he is?" but Shikaku Nara had no idea. "Oh, I see. Can you then deliver a message for me?" curious, the clan leader nodded in confirmation. What was he doing out at this time anyway? Did he not have work?

"I'll be leaving on a B-ranked mission for two weeks. Can you just tell him I won't be here?" at this, Shikaku's brows furrowed deep into his skull.

"B-rank?" he was suspicious, but I knew how the Nara's had to make sense of everything they came across.

"The Hokage believes it would be more on par with my... abilities," although I tended to disagree. I would much better prefer to go on a normal mission with a team than this. It didn't feel just.

"Abilities?" I merely nodded, not realising the hole I was digging for myself. "Shikimaru tells me you're a good opponent. Please, continue to be just that," and without any other word, Shikaku continued on his own journey. Sighing, I quickly left for my own home to pack for the trip. Two weeks outside the village, with not one pillar of support.

I had to face this childish fear.

I sealed several clothing pieces and weapons into scrolls, Ibiki having taught me the art at an early age. I began to feel insecure about the Hokage's trust in me. This mission obviously entailed fighting, and with that walked death hand-in-hand. How powerful was my will power? Would I be able to control myself?

I've never been to the point of where I couldn't keep myself in check.

"Do you want something to eat?" I had been playing on the piano when Ibiki suddenly entered. I frowned in confusion. "It might be better to eat more now so that you don't have to do so later," he was holding a scroll, probably carrying the food pills. In the other hand, a slightly bigger scroll that was dripping blood. I scrunched my nose a bit at the sight.

"Did you walk around with it like that?"

"I'm the head of the Torture Department. Nobody asks questions anymore," he tossed the scroll with the weak seal towards me and I caught it skilfully. I headed into the kitchen where I unsealed it on the counter top I could easily clean. Inside was an entire torso, indicating that Ibiki was a little apprehensive about the entire B-rank thing and that I would get into trouble at some point.

That just made me more anxious.

"Tell that idiot Jounin that I prescribed a strict diet for you in order to deal with your terminal illness. Anything that has not been processed by me can set your healing back by years. He's idiotic enough to believe that," Ibiki told me in thought, preparing his own dinner.

"That sounds absolutely terrible," I commented. "And if we're going with that, then we'll have to stick for it for the rest of my life," I shrugged in thought, digging my fingers into the torso to break it up in more manageable chucks. My hands were now licked in blood, but I hadn't showered yet for the day so I didn't care all that much.

"If you considered being a ghoul, it's not that hard to wrap your mind around it. Besides, nobody knows your parentage nor your background. It ought to work out just fine," I laughed nervously at his monotone voice.

"Ought to...? You don't sound too sure about that," Ibiki sighed at my words and turned towards me with a serious face.

"Honestly, I had expected you to give up on being a shinobi when you were little so I regret not planning ahead," he sighed and shook his head.

"Do you not like me becoming a shinobi?" I questioned, tilting my head to the side in question as I stood there with bloody guts on my fingers. He shook his head.

"On the contrary: I'm glad you continued to pursue your dream. I am one proud parent, I'll tell you that," a smile came onto my face and I launched myself at him, burying my head into his chest. "Don't get all emotional on me with blood on your hands. It's uncalled for," he huffed but had a smile on his face, patting my head. "Now I'm full of blood. Great," I chuckled and stepped back from him.

"When are you not?" I turned away from him and placed the guts into another container to separate everything. "I have time tonight. I think I'm going to cook it," I thought out loud.

"Cook the meat? Have you ever done that?" I shook my head.

"You humans seem to like cooked meat more than raw, so I'm thinking I'll try some," Ibiki shrugged his shoulders, not really caring. He instructed me how to cook meat and had met get out a pan.

Of course, I had never before used any sort of cooking utensil so this was quite the experience. Also, I was glad I did so, because it ended up being one fun bonding experience for the both of us.

And I learned how to use a stove. It was like taking out two birds with one stone.

"Just let it sit for a bit to get softer. Now, go take a shower. You look dreadful," I stalked off and quickly took a shower and threw on my sleepwear: a simple tank top and shorts. With my shoulder completely revealed, one can faintly make out the scar from my mother's devouring of me. Although the skin had healed, you could still see the teeth marks. They were, after all, made from a ghoul.

On entering the kitchen, I saw Ibiki remove the large slab of meat I had cooking in the oven.

"Wow! The coffee rub looks amazing," I bounced over and took a look at it, feeling myself grow needy just at the sight. Ibiki took the meat and placed it on one large plate, knowing I would finish it all in one seating. This was me we were talking about, after all. He got his own food and we headed towards the dining table, something we didn't usually do.

As you would expect.

Throughout the entire dinner, he kept giving me tips and things to look for on the mission in order to make it a success and still keep my identity a secret. Not the best dinner conversation, but I was grateful for the input.

"Just... think before you speak, okay?" was the last thing he told me, even though I thought it self-explanatory. I nodded and went to finish packing, including the food pills, whilst he cleaned up. After I was sure everything was in order, I released a breath of relief.

Suddenly, I was swooped off my feet and was carried to my room.

"Is this necessary?" I huffed.

"You're the type of person who'll stay up the entire night because you're so anxious. So, I guess I'll just have to make sure you fall asleep," I rolled my eyes but allowed him to tuck me in, the feeling of nostalgia overtaking me.

"Sleep," he ordered, watching me with strict eyes. I sighed and nodded, closing my eyes in an attempt to sleep. Even though I couldn't fall asleep for a while, Ibiki knew when I finally fell into a deep sleep and only then, did he leave me alone for the night.

He, himself, was feeling a bit anxious about my trip.

But he was allowed to, after all, he was my dad.