Off To The World!

Unlike the initial plan where Kanako will return after her two year training, she had decided to run off to see the sights for a while.

After all, once fully integrated into the official shinobi system ... have you ever seen a ninja that is not retired take a holiday?

Well, except for the three sannin's and kunoichi on maternal leave, of course.

Anyways, I had a chance, so I took it.

I had Chii deliver the letters to Kaa-chan, explaining my plan, and intention, to her and the others.

She can just imagine their faces.

•

Back in Konoha …

A rumble happened in the Senju compound.

Minutes later, Tsunade was seen stomping into the hokage's office, letter in hand.

*bam*

Said letter was bashed into the table, creating a small crevice.

"She said she wants to explore outside of Konoha first, before coming back to register and start taking missions."

A few sighs can be heard in the room.

"Well, might as well let her be, till around the actual age for genin team sorting anyway", Minato said.

Tsunade kneaded her forehead. "Currently our only contact to her may be her red panda summons. Do the toad's from Mount Myoboku have any way to get to them?"

Minato nodded, "I'll ask Gamabunta later on."

"Right, then -". Tsunade started to walk off, but paused halfway. "Ah, she left letters for the Hatake kid as well, pass these on to him." She fished out a small stack of letters and left it with Minato, before going off.

"Kitsune."

A silver-headed ANBU appeared, kneeling towards the Hokage.

"Here", Minato passed the letters to him.

Kitsune took the letter stack before bowing to him in thanks, and disappearing off once more.

•

Kakashi POV

He felt fidgety.

Feeling the stack of papers tucked into his flak jacket made him want to get off work early, so he can get to reading them.

After his active post was taken by the next ANBU, he went home in a hurry.

Refreshing himself from a day's work, and fixing the meals for his pups. Only after that then did he settle down on the dining table with the letters in front of him.

The stack of papers is almost two times the height of the 'Icha Icha' book that Jiraiya-sama had stuffed into his hand ... em.

He gingerly opened the first of the letter's dated back to about more than a year ago, six months after she first left to train, to be exact.

Dear Kashi, I initially thought my training will be like the other three great summons - the toads, snakes, and Katsuyu-sama, on nature energy, and maybe some combat strategies with their kinds ... and the like. But never did I expect that the first training I'd do is to learn their ways of life? I guess it isn't different from what Jiraiya-ji said about living on worms for all his meals at Mount Myoboku ... Talking about meals, I think by now I'm sorta indoctrinated into becoming vegetarian. Not becoming of a healthy ninja? Well, it's either nuts, berries and fruits, or rats. I COULD take the rats, but not for two years. Don't worry, I'll count on you to treat me to ramen and BBQ when I return. PS. Reserve your wallet for me.

Kakashi snickered at the letter.

Well, at least she had the choice of food, he thought. Thinking back to when he went over with Pakkun to their land, his only choice were possums, fruits, or rats.

He continued with the successive letters.

Dear Kashi, today Chii took me over to the edge of the land. Did you know that despite bordering other hidden lands, apparently there are clear borders? Like either rivers and lakes, or even ravines and craters. I also saw one area covered in clouds like in a genjutsu ... probably another summon land specializing in genjutsu?

Hey Kashi, when writing this letter now, I'm actually coming back next week, but something hilarious happened. Did you know ...

Dear Kakashi, today ...

Wait. Kakashi?

He blinked once, then twice. Then thrice. Wondering why not 'Kashi'. He looked at the date on that letter.

Weird. When she came back that time, she still called me Kashi ...

Kakashi continued reading, enjoying Kanako's letters on her daily life, her adventures, and training.

Yo Kakashi, did you know? Although it did not happen during my sage mode, I can activate the ears and tail on me anytime!

...

*cough* *cough* *cough* *sputters*

Ears ... and tail.

Fluffy ears and tail.

His mind wandered off to one certain chapter on 'Icha Icha' ...

No! Stop!

That is Kanako you're talking about!

... But to be fair, he's a healthy seventeen year old male.

Guh! Stop!

He went to the kitchen sink and splashed his face with cold water.

After ten minutes of calming himself, he went back to continue reading, selectively skipping Kanako's description of the fluffy ears ... and tail.

Dear Kakashi, I have about three more months before the two year plan. To be honest, by now, I've actually completed my training. The red panda sage said that I have learnt everything they could teach me. And now, I only have to further my strength. Of course, it has to do with age as well. I'm only eight now, so no matter how strong I am, in no way I can get stronger without hurting myself or stunting my growth. Don't worry, I growing really well~ You'll see. Also ...

Hi Kakashi, this probably will be the last letter till I return back to the village, or until further notice. I am now at the borders of Seikatsu Forest. I won't say where I'm going next, since I know either you or Kaa-chan will chase after me. Don't worry, I'll be traveling as a normal citizen. I also won't be wearing my forehead protector. Since I technically did not even have my photo taken or my name registered into the shinobi registry yet ... it's no biggie offence that I'm not declaring myself a shinobi of the leaf, because I'm really not one yet. Don't worry again, I plan to be. I just want to see the world first. And then ...

Kakashi sighed. It's going to be a long wait.