Hatake Kakashi: Fascination

Hatake Kakashi: Fascination: Part V

“Hai, Hokage-sama,” They all responded in unison, although Kakashi, Oriko and Ebisu were quick to bow and Oriko first out of the office – but both she and Kakashi were feeling apprehensive for their own reasons.  Oriko wasn’t looking forward to having to put up with three youngsters she considered still ‘children’ (although Izumi was ok with her) and Kakashi wasn’t looking forward to have to give up his comfortable bed for the next few days.  As Oriko made it to the door, with her slender fingers at the handle, she heard Tsunade’s voice one last time,

“Please wait a moment, Kakashi,”

--//--//--//--

Oriko appeared at the east gate of Konoha with, by her watch, a minute and a half to spare, noting that the other team she was supposed to work with had already arrived.  Oriko wasn’t by any stretch of the imagination religious, but she prayed for Kakashi not to be too late, so that she wouldn’t have to talk to the other team and that the mission would begin and end sooner.  She walked towards the edge of the gate, the leader noticed her and subsequently, his students followed,

“Ohayo, I’m Ebisu, what’s your name?” He pushed his glasses a little further up his nose as he spoke,

“Oriko,” She responded politely,

“Ugh, I can’t believe we have a girl in our team!” One of the boys commented, crossing his arms – looking the perfect brat,

“Asano, was it? Why don’t you take this as an opportunity to improve your teamwork?”  Kakashi interrupted, sort of defending Oriko, “Why don’t we introduce ourselves, then we can get going.” As Oriko turned around, she noticed that Kakashi had beside him their client the Hokage spoke of,

“I’m Hatake Kakashi,” He spoke with a grin, before holding out his flat hand, palm up pointing at his student, who replied at first, with a sigh,

“I’m Oriko,”

“I’m Ebisu,” He again pushed his glasses further up his nose, as Oriko eyed his arrogant smile and his casual look (lacking a flak jacket as well as his headband worn as a bandana) – she took an immediate dislike to him, however unfair it was.

“I’m Kichida Asano, this year’s number 1 rookie,” The boy exclaimed boldly, a proud smile on his face, Oriko looked quickly at Ebisu, whose arrogant smile seemed to broaden,

“Nakano Tsanashi,” The second boy continued, looking bored with his eyes averted from the group, but with an overall confident posture,

“A-and I’m Akiyama Izumi,” The final boy responded, his eyes finding their way to Oriko, who flashed him a half-smile in reassurance;

“I am a junior priest Kobayashi Shuuichi,” The pleasant and polite voice of their client reached everyone’s ears, prompting more than a few pairs of eyes to look towards him, “Thank you for looking after me,”

He bowed low and politely, a warm, unassuming smile not leaving his face the entire time.  He was young, perhaps early to mid-twenties, a similar age to Oriko, Kakashi and Ebisu by the look of it; he had the kind, relaxed face of a man twice his age, but the inquisitive expression of a child.

“Excellent, now that we’re all introduced, perhaps it’s time we left,” Kakashi again interrupted, he seemed, at least to Oriko, more talkative and…friendly somehow than she knew him to be usually; as a resounding ‘nod’ of approval Kakashi flashed his classic closed eye smile towards their client, before turning towards Ebisu,

“Would you like to lead the way?”

“Yea!” Asano answered for his sensei, as the three young boys lead the way, although Tsanashi and Izumi were a little less exuberant than their team mate, they fell into line relatively easily, as Ebisu followed easily alongside the priest as Kakashi followed him and Oriko set off last, wanting to keep as much distance from Ebisu’s team as possible.