A/N: It's been a while since I've posted another chapter and I'm sorry. I've been in a sort of funke. But I finished this chapter so hear it is. Enjoy:)

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the Naruto characters.

Training

We left early that morning. The sun had not yet risen from over the horizon, so we crawled through the thinning shadows towards the gates of the village. The Kazekage was waiting for us at the exit, and the whole Suna army was outside also. We merely exchanged nods as the first rays of sunlight broke through the crisp dawn. I took one last look of my hometown before I followed the army into danger. Sarafu didn't give me any time to mope though, as soon as Gaara left us to lead the front of the march, she immeadiatly began her training.

Misa, can you walk on your hands?

'Yeah. I'm a gymnast. Have been since I was four.'

Good, from now on, I want you to walk on your hands, and you're not allowed to walk on your feet until I say so.

'Are you crazy?! There's no way I can keep up with everyone at this pace!'

Well, you're just gonna have to hurry it up then. Now do it. This is nothing compared to what I'm gonna make you go through. 'Experience the most difficult first and everything else is easy.'

'Do I hav-'

Now!

I grumbled a few choice words before I flipped over onto my hands, my feet dangling above me. I took my first step, tumbled a bit, but soon regained my balance. I moved my other hand forward. I soon got the hang of it and continued my slow march along with the rest of the army.

Ok, while you're doing this, I'm gonna teach you the basics. Do you know what chakra is?

'No.'

This is gonna take a while. Anywho, chakra is the energy that resides in all living beings. It is the source of power for us. Chakra is pure energy, so therefore it cannot always be seen, but if it is concentrated enough, it can be compacted into a plasma-like form. The typical color for chakra is blue, but its colors vary. The stronger the ninja the hotter its color will be.So, warm colored chakra is quite powerful and purple is the weakest. The most powerful color chakra is white. Remember that, Misa. If you ever come in contact with white-colored chakra, you get the hell out of there, or tell me. Even I may not be strong enough to fight them, now that I don't have the Moon Dragon.

Chakra is utilized from the body for jutsus through handsigns. There are 12 handsigns for each of the years of the Zodiac.I'll teach you those later, when you're hands are free. Hand seals are just like magic words for a spell. They release your chakra to perform the jutsu. Usually, the more hand seals the more complicated the jutsu is. Although just doing the handsigns is not enough. You need to focus and maintain your chakra. The simpler jutsus don't require much focus, but for a beginner like you, it might take a while. The first jutsu I'll teach you will be the Transformation jutsu. It only requires one handsign and minimal concentration.

Now, Misa, don't think you can just work on your chakra during training. A ninja must hone the body also. There are three basic types of ninja fighting. First, is ninjutsu, which isb asically any and every jutsu that requires chakra, but there's a special type of ninjutsu called Genjutsu. Genjutsu is the basis of illusionary techniques to fool an opponent. Now, although its playing tricks on the mind, it can also cause extreme pain to the victim. The third is Taijutsu. Taijutsu doesn't require chakra, so therefore it doesn't require handsigns. Taijutsu is hand-to-hand combat, but it can be enhanced with chakra. This is why we must train your body also. One can win a battle with just taijutsu. Sometimes, taijutsu is the only thing that can save you.

'Am I gonna have to meditate or anything?'

Hahahaha. Funny. No, meditating is for monks and hippies. A ninja is a tactical weapon of flesh and blood. Its an occupation but it can also become a hobby. I'm not going to sugar-coat it. A ninja is an assassin. You're going to have to kill someone in the near future.You must shed your childish innocence and become a lethal weapon.

'Am I really going to have to do all of this?'

Yes. I'm sorry to make you go through all of this, but the world is in danger of Akatsuki. I must protect it at all costs. I'm not just thinking about my own comfort level when I stole your body.

'For some reason, I don't find your words sincere. Something tells me you just want to protect Gaara, not the world.'

That's true, but I really do want to save Konoha and Suna. I have a lot of friends there, and I want to save them. But you're right. It is mainly to protect Gaara. For him. . .For him, I would do anything, even if it hurt someone else.

'Aren't you suppose to be a good guy?'

Only when Gaara is.

I sighed. 'I'm not exactly sure if that's love or obsession.'

By the end of the day, I knew all the handsigns and could manipulate my chakra at an "elementary school level" by Sarafu's terms. Walking on my hands has caused me to fall so behind of the marching army that I always have to run and catch up during the evening when they are resting for the day. On the third day, I had learned how to transform myself into anything I wished. Gaara-sama was greatly impressed by my progress. He said I was a natural, a "genius." Of course, when he said this, Sarafu's oppressive jealousy was radiating all day and it only caused her to train me harder. I was taking great precautions from now on to avoid the Kazekage.

On the fourth day, we reached the border line for Wind Country. From here on out, we were in Rain territory. The Hidden Rain Village, Ame, was on the other side of the small country, but not too far off. They were close enough to sense a massive Sand army coming their way.

"Suna's not exactly on good terms with Ame," a man named Baki told me. He was fairly tall and muscular. He wore the traditional uniform for jounins and had a once white cloth wraped round his head like a turban, excapt some excess wrapping hung down the side of his face, leaving only half of it visible. He gave off the vibrations of a martinet and had narrow slits for eyes, but he had a sense of restriction in his head, and wasn't as oppressive as most people thought. "I wonder if we'll be able to pass through the country peacibly."

It was on this night that I endagered the entire army of Suna. Being the weakest out of all the army, I was sent out to gather sticks for firewood. There was a light mist from the small shower we had in the afternoon. Apparantly it rained a lot in this country.

Great. Now all the wood is wet. There's no way we're going to be able to find firewood after some rain!

'Does the wood need to be dry?'

Of course! Can't burn wet things! Even if it is wood!

'Sorry. I've lived in the desert so everything burnt easily.'

Many minutes had passed and the sun was dipping behind the horizon. I was beginning to head back when I heard foot steps coming my way. Hurry! Hide behind a tree or something! Without even questioning her, I ran behind the nearest tree and peaked quietly from between its branches. A young boy, just a little younger than me, maybe, was walking around in warm clothes and an umbrella. I noticed something on his forehead that reflected the fading sunlight.

'A forehead protector. He must be from Rain. What's he doing all the way over here?'

This is his country. Its not unusual for him to be walking around here. We're the unusual ones. He's probably on a mission or something.

I held my breath as he slowly drew closer, and then suddenly he stopped, and looked around. Afraid that he had noticed my hiding spot, I quickly ducked behind the tree.

Calm down. He can sense your nervousness.

Like a wave, complete calm and focus drifted over me from Sarafu. A sighed quietly and stood back up to spy on the ninja once again. He appeared confused, but then continued his plodding towards us. Sarafu fought to suppress my rising tension.

Calm down, Misa. It's ok. Transform into a little girl, and make yourself look poor.

I nodded and put my hands together. Usually there was a poof of smoke, but Sarafu gave me the command I needed to make it as silent as possible. I walked out from behind the tree as a small girl around the age of six or seven, with a thin and weathered kimono made of rags and bruises on my knee and elbow. I had big, round, greyish-blue eyes and a deep black mock of hair on my head. I walked around sheepishly, like a frightened child. The nin noticed me, but didn't appear hostile. "What are you doing out here, little girl?"

"I-I was looking for some sticks for a fire," I spoke in the cutest voice I could muster. "Mommy said to. But, I'm lost now and don't know which way is home."

The Rain nin knelt down so he was at the same height as me. "Where do you live, little girl?"

Tell him you don't have a house. That you're too poor.

"I don't have a house. Mommy and I live in the woods. Mommy says we don't have enough money for a place to live, so we try to make by in the woods."

The Rain ninja radiated with pity. "I'll try to help you find your mommy again." He picked me up and sat me on his shoulders. He held onto my legs to keep me steady and my heart sank. I was trapped.

Dammit. He'll figure out we're fakes when he's searched the entire forest and there's no 'mommy.' I didn't want to have to do this, but...Misa. Put your fingers on his head and concentrate your chakra into his brain and then whisper 'Nemuri.' I'll try to help you.

I followed her commands and whispered "nemuri" into the ninja's ears. He obviously recognized the word and was about to give a shout, but then he grew limp and fell crashing to the floor, with me along with him. The collision with the muddy ground caused me to loose focus, and undo my jutsu. I was back to being my original self, but with a sleeping Rain ninja along with me. At first, it took a while to register the thought into my brain, but then I gave a shout of victory and danced around.

Congratulations on defeating your first opponent, but this is not a good time to celebrate.

'Why not?'

Sooner or later, this ninja's comrades will notice he's gone missing, and when he wakes up and they find him, he's gonna tell them that we attacked him, and there's nothing we can say against that. Rain will declare a war against Suna.