It's been a while since I've written in the Naruto genre but to be honest I've never had the best luck here. Hopefully this will go better then it's predocesors. To put it simply this is a product of high level of sugar during a long drive home from college and my over active imagination going "What if?" If you do not like oc's please do me a favor and leave now. There is one oc in this story and yes she is Naruto's older sister though to be fair Naruto isn't even conceived yet. I simply think that the Yondaime would've spoiled his daughter (if he had one) to pieces, especially if she looked like her mommy. Unlike most of my fics there is no romance in here other then the oneside Kakashi/Rin/Obito love triangle thingy they had going on and Minato/Kushina. Hope you enjoy!

I do not own Naruto. Only Mariko

Chapter 1: The Mission

It was a beautiful day in Konoha. Birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and the joyous sound of children's laughter filled the air. On the bridge overlooking one of Konoha's crystal clear blue lakes were two young Genin. A young short haired brunette with bright brown eyes and two purple rectangular markings on her cheeks leaned leisurely against the bridge's railing hands clasping behind her back. Her gaze was directed upwards at the passing clouds save for the few times they drifted down to her silent companion.

Kakashi Hatake was well known in her class for being aloof, supremely intelligent, and a stickler for the rules. However it was his cool loner like demeanor that had almost every girl in the village tripping over themselves to try to catch his attention. There probably wasn't a single female under the age of twelve that didn't have a crush on him and Rin was no acceptation to this. Unlike her fellow counterparts Rin didn't throw herself at him or giggle profusely over anything he said. Her mother had suggested that she simply try to befriend the boy before trying to woo over his heart. 'Course this was easier said than done. Becoming friends with Kakashi Hatake was like befriending a wild wolf. Suicidal and dangerous.

Kakashi stood completely stone still directly opposite of his new teammate. Arms were crossed over his chest and two dark eyes were staring straight ahead towards the direction their sensei would most likely be coming. He had arrived a good ten minutes early to their meeting point this morning was ready for whatever task Minato had for them.

"Ah so you two are here already great!" Both young Shinobi swirled around to see their tall blonde Jonin instructor standing before them with his normal smile on his face.

"Obito's late…again," Kakashi stated coldly.

Minato smiled benevolently, "It's alright. We actually have to wait a few extra minutes for two very special people to join us before I can give you the mission for today."

Barely a minute or so later the one and only Obito Uchiha came rushing up the bridge panting like crazy.

"S-s-sorry, I was helping…a little old lady cross the road."

Rin had to bite her lip from giggling at the obvious line that Obito had come up with on the spot. They died in her throat quickly though when she noticed Kakashi's blank stare.

"No worries Obito!" Minato reassured his young student clasping his shoulder lightly, "We're actually waiting for you mission to arrive right now."

All three young Genin looked up at him like he had grown another head.

"What are you talking about sensei? I thought you said that we were waiting on someone?" Rin asked confusedly.

Minato smiled, "We are. Your mission is for the three of you to work together to take care of a very important person until noon."

"So we're babysitting," Kakashi deadpanned already unimpressed.

"Hmmm I would consider it more along the lines of being a bodyguard for the day!" Minato insisted brightly.

Obito didn't seem any more appeased by this then Kakashi did. Rin looked between her two sulking teammates before looking to her smiling sensei. There was no point in being upset about this. So she was determined to keep an open positive mind.

"So who are we protecting?" she asked.

Minato motioned behind them, "Here she comes now."

The three teenagers turned around to see a young woman more than likely the same age as their sensei heading towards them with a young girl no older than five or six holding tightly to her hand. Both females had the exact same plum colored hair which was to be honest the only noticeable trait any of them could pick up on right away. When the woman joined them on the bridge they noticed that once again both of them had the same violet grey eyes. It was overly obvious that the two of them were mother and daughter. A sweet smile spread across the woman's face as her eyes took them in.

"So your Minato's team. We've heard a lot about you all haven't we Rabbit?" the woman looked down at the child giving her a gentle poke eliciting a giggle.

The child nodded enthusiastically making her high pigtails bounce with her animatedly. Then a bright dazzling smile akin to sunshine spread across her face as she reached her arms out to Minato.

"Daddy!"

If it was physically possible for jaws to hit the ground all three Genin would be eating dirt at the moment the child yelled out 'daddy' to their sensei. Minato ignored them as he swiftly took the tiny girl into his more than willing embrace. A smile matching her own spread across his face. After settling the child into his arms he noticed the shocked expressions on his students' faces. It amused him slightly. Even Kakashi looked shocked.

"Team I would like for you to meet my wife Kushina and our daughter Mariko," he wrapped an arm around Kushina's waist drawing her into his free side while he balanced Mariko on the other.

"You're married!" Obito half gasped half screeched in shock.

Minato smiled slightly while Kushina giggled slightly, "Yup! Have been happily for five years now." When none of his students commented he's face went serious, "Don't tell me you thought that just because I'm a Jonin doesn't mean I don't have a life."

Kakashi quickly recomposed himself a little ashamed that he had let something like this lose his composure. It just wasn't right. Rin was the next one to snap out of her stupor. Being a girl she was able to pick up on the subtle way that her sensei held his wife and how she leaned into his side. It was obvious by the looks in their eyes that they were happily in love. Which meant it was possible for two shinobi to find love together without misery or death following. Her gaze flickered over to the now stern faced Kakashi before looking to the little girl. After looking a little more closely she noticed that while she had her mother's coloring Mariko looked a lot like Minato in the face. But the way her violet grey eyes sparkled and the dazzling little smile on her face made her look like a little angel. She was just too cute!

"Alright let's get down to business!" Minato suddenly declared all serious, "For your mission today the three of you are going to have the life of someone defenseless and totally dependent on you for protection in your care." He sat Mariko on her feet giving her a gentle nudge forward, "At noon we'll meet at the ramen stand and see how you three did for the day."

"WHAT!"

All three Genin gapped openly at their instructor once again. He had to have lost his mind this time!

"You're leaving your four year old daughter with us for three hours!" Obito yelled in pure shock.

"I'm five," Mariko corrected a little coolly arms across her chest.

Minato patted her head gently as he looked at his team with his normal smile in place, "I have complete faith in you three," he shared a glance with Kushina as they interlocked hands, "We have complete faith in you." Letting go of his wife's hand he bent down focusing all of his attention on Mariko, "Remember what we talked about last night Rabbit."

Mariko smiled angelically at her father as she reached out to hug his neck, "I remember Daddy. I'll do good! Promise!"

Minato chuckled as he hugged her back, "I know you will. I know."

After being released from her father's embrace the five year old went over to her mother hugging her legs tightly, "Love you mommy!"

Kushina smiled down at her daughter as she patted her head, "I love you too sweetie. Don't be too much of a handful for them, ok?"

Mariko giggled as she released her mother's legs, "Silly mommy."

Skipping over to Rin the child beamed up at the older girl reaching out a tiny hand to hers. While her inner Rin was squealing in absolute adoration at this simply adorable little girl, Rin managed to keep her composure merely smiling softly as she took the offered hand.

Kushina and Minato exchanged knowing glances before looking back to the four youngsters.

"Remember work together," Minato reminded them as he took Kushina's hand again, "Have fun!"

With that the two disappeared in a flash leaving the three Genin unsure on how to proceed. None of them had ever had much experience with young children. Rin and Kakashi were only children and while Obito came from a large family, he was one of the youngest (in the immediate) and a boy so none of his cousins or anything was placed in his care. Ever. As they stood there trying to figure out what to do Mariko detangled herself from Rin's grasp turning to face them all.

"I want to play a game!" the five year old declared.

Kakashi had to restrain from rolling his eyes. Protection duty his ass. This was babysitting pure and simple. The next three hours were going to go by horrifically slow.

Obito was trying a different approach then his more stoic comrade. Giving the girl a small smile he did just as his sensei did kneeling down to look her in the eyes as he spoke.

"Ok Mariko. What game do you want to play?"

Mariko smiled at him, "Hide&Seek. I'm real good at that."

This time Kakashi did roll his eyes.

Rin smiled at the girl, "I think we can do that, don't you guys?"

Obito nodded in agreement.

Three pairs of eyes turned to Kakashi waiting for his yay or nay.

"Whatever…,"

With all three willing to play her game a smile spread across Mariko's face. Not the angelic smile that they had seen when she was with her parents. It was more mischievous now…slightly evil even. Her violet grey eyes sparkled with a wicked little gleam that had all three wondering what they had gotten themselves into.

"On your mark get set…go!" she yelled before disappearing in a single movement leaving three stunned Genin glued to the bridge.

"Wh-wh-what the heck just happened!" Obito stuttered looking very similar to a fish out of water.

Rin was on the brink of an epic panic attack. There was absolutely no sign of Mariko anywhere. Not even the tiniest traces of her chakra, "We just lost our sensei's daughter and we're not even ten minutes into a mission!"

"MARIKO!"

"MARIKO COME BACK HERE!"

Kakashi sighed as he followed after his now frantic teammates at a much more leisurely pace, "This is going to be a long afternoon."

Flame me if you wish just now that karma's a bitch and will have you for being a witch. ^.^

Kaiya: *facepalm* wow your…wow…just…wow.

I know I'm so clever!