Inoke woke up with a loud yawn going to stretch only to realize she couldn't move. Eyes snapping open all sleepiness gone she tried to analyze the situation. 'Stay calm there should be an Anbu or two lurking around.'

She saw her torso wrapped in wood her water firm below it acting as a shield. Some good it did since she still couldn't move. 'Okay, breathe concentrate on your chakra feel the water' Once she felt connected she tried to make it obey, only to find out using just her mind was a lot harder than the exaggerated hand gestures she always used so far.

Control.

Her chakra hummed in the cursed water.

Focus.

Mind not straying from her sole objective. She was in a trance only focused on her water she barely registered anything else.

Keep trying.

It responded although a bit sluggishly at first. Then it was moving and slashing against her bonds. The wood didn't bend to her waters will at first staying firm if a bit bend. She tried and tried only managing to chop off a thin layer. Shoot!

Think.

'I can't have that need to do better' Then it hit her maybe if she lent it more chakra. She did know how to cut off the flow now. 'It's worth a try' She channeled chakra to her hand's which were covered in water like the rest of her body. The water started glowing and buzzing. 'alright, this should be enough.'

The now bright blue water slashed at the wood hacking it off her body in a single motion. She leaped up to her feet position defensive scanning the room. 'There's no one here?' No that's not right. A quick scan of the room her eyes, not straying on any spot longer than the other.

Someone was there alright in the ceiling to her left. Undisguised chakra. Probably a genjutsu. Using her new control she sent a spear of chakra laced water to the spot with just a twitch of her finger. A puff of smoke then-

'clap, clap, clap'

She turned her head sharply towards the doorway there casually leaning against of the door was a man she recognized immediately. The man wearing Anbu styled clothing, no sign of the happuri-styled head protector yet, calm brown eyes gazing at her almost merrily gave her a shock. 'What is this guy doing here?'

Chuckling a bit the young man walked forward making to extend his hand then dropping it as she looked at it in confusion.

"Hey there, you're Inoke-chan, right? That was some performance a bit slow but that's expected of a five-year-old." When he saw her still looking at him quizzically he quickly added. "I'm your new sensei you may call me Tenzo."

Oh. 'Wow! This is so cool! I definitely wasn't expecting someone I knew to train me. Alright, I technically didn't know him. but still how much better can it get?'

"Nice to meet you Tenzo-sensei" I bowed low enough to show respect. "what are we going to do today?"

"Since it's your first day out of the hospital there will be no strenuous training. We'll share information about your abilities and try to figure out ways to control it." His voice was calm.

I gave him an easy smile nodding. He motioned for me to follow him and we walked to the arena in silence. His steps were steady, pose relaxed I knew this shinobi was dependable. I knew Yama-oops Tenzo-sensei was the perfect teacher for me already.

We sat down in the middle of the arena.

"Okay, how much control do you have over your suiton?" And so the questions begin.

" I just figured out how to move it trough my mind alone but it's still a lot easier to use hand gestures." He hummed motioning for me to go on.

" I can't do any jutsu with it yet, but I can make shapes with it though there is little detail. I think I can send it about 3 meters from my body." I thought about it, tapping my chin. What else to say?

I blushed "If I'm not focusing on it, the water moves on its own. Um, if anything gets close to my body I can't control it." I looked down hating this fact, embarrassed. It's because of this that I can't be near my family.

"That's why we're here. Don't worry we'll get this fixed. I'm not going to lie it might take years to control it and many more years to master. I remember trying to master my mokuton." He said this in a firm tone. His voice made me believe it was possible.

"Um," I gave a sheepish smile. " I might have an idea to appease the water and stop it from directly attacking everyone." I was thinking of Gaara sand armor.

I was thinking of Gaara sand armor. Maybe the water could make me safe without trying to eliminate everyone who stepped too close. I could also copy Gaara's gourd for the rest of my water. I also knew I needed to learn to suck out the chakra from the water. It would be painfully obvious carrying it around all the time. But as far as I knew that was impossible for now.

Blinking from my thoughts I looked up at the face of my new sensei. His gaze was curious.

"I've been thinking if I could make some of the water stick to my skin like a full body armor it might become less aggressive. The amount of training this will take should also help me learn to control it. My goal is to subconsciously control the water. I need it to bend to my will at all times. I can't risk it getting out of control. Ever." Maybe I said too much?

"You aren't a normal kid are you?"

"Ugh.." I had no answer for that.

"It's alright Inoke-chan, I was just teasing. Your idea sounds good, but I think you might need to up your chakra control for that to work. We'll start with the most simple exercise." Then out of nowhere, he pulled out a leaf. This would be fun! wasn't the next step tree walking? 'I can't wait!'

"Stick this leaf to your forehead using your chakra." Okay, I got this!

"Hai, sensei!" Tucking my hair behind my ear I placed the leaf on my forehead trying to channel my chakra just right, it slipped off. Again and again. Putting more chakra it flew off. My new sensei left shortly after my first attempt telling me he'll be checking in on me in two days. I tried to stick the stupid leaf to my forehead until my stomach growled seeing it was around midday I made a break for a simple meal. I was unsurprised to find the kitchen fully stocked a cookbook for dummies laying on the didn't know the only problem with cooking was my short a satisfying meal, I went right back to the leaf exercise.

I was close I knew it. Just a little more-swoosh' The leaf flew off. The water around me whirled dangerously resembling a whirlpool. I was angry at the water. Angry at the leaf. Angry at myself! Then I felt sleepy. My eyelids closing on their own. "W..What?" I muttered out before I blacked out.

Waking up I grumbled inwardly at the uncool act of blacking out all the time. I looked up seeing an Anbu hovering near me. I was still in the arena.

"Please control your emotions Yamanaka-san. We can't always be near to cast a genjutsu. You could have damaged the building." I blinked, damaged the building? Seriously that's what they worried about?

"I apologize Anbu-san," I said in a flat unapologetic tone "I will be more careful."

He did have a point. I needed to control my emotions damn it. I am not a child anymore. Okay, let's take a break from the stupid leaf exercise. Why was it so damned hard anyway? I could control my water better than my own chakra. This sucks. Where was I? Oh yeah, calming down. I guess meditation will be the best method, right? I mean Tou-san did mention it a few times. Everyone praises it so let's try it!

Meditation... was hard. It was very hard to think of nothing. Always acknowledging and dismissing thoughts over and over. Whenever there was nothing an idea popped up. When all was blank bad memories came back. When I was trying so hard to think of nothing I only managed to sort trough everything. I managed to blank my thoughts for 5 minutes by the end of the day. Oh, joy. My father could do this for hours, how was that even possible?

I did make progress on the leaf sticking exercise managing to make it stick for a few minutes when I was calm and concentrating real hard. It wasn't much but I tried. I want to make it stick for ten minutes before Tenzo-sensei comes to check on me.

Tenzo-sensei. I was so glad to meet him. The calm thoughtful personality made me calmer too. I needed to be calm and stoic like him. Eh, hopefully, it will rub off on me.

I went to bed tired thinking about why this was so important. Why I needed all this. Why being isolated here is so important. I will protect my family. Kaa-chan and Ino-chan will be safe. I can't protect my father. I know that and accept it. He doesn't need someone as weak as me protecting him. I will become strong. I need to become good before everything goes to hell. Before the chunin exams.

I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of snakes and the spinning Sharingan eye.

The next morning I got up still dreams turned to memories somewhere during the night making me tremble. I saw the accusing faces of my past family members, yelling at me for killing them, abandoning them, betraying them.

My older brother the teasing carefree fool he was with his passion for the violin and love of anything sweet. My sweet caring sister so happy and lively dancing around our house and bringing smiles to our faces with her boisterous actions. My baby sister the one I cared for and cherished as my own daughter when our family was taken. The cute angel with the purest singing voice and gentle ways. Wiping the tears from my eyes.

Wiping the tears from my eyes. I made my way to breakfast not hungry but knowing it was necessary. I managed to make myself an omelet with some toast and tea. I chewed slowly trying to dismiss my sour mood. It would be no help for my training. Training for my new family.

Now determined I made my way to the arena. The leaf laying there seemed to mock me. I narrowed my eyes I could do this! But first- I needed some exercise.

I stretched my body going trough basic stretches then moving on to katas. After that, I started running laps around the arena running until I could no longer stand. That's when I folded my body into position and begun I could successfully hold it for 7 minutes I stopped. Now for the leaf sticking exercise, it wasn't that bad actually it worked for about 5 minutes now. Much better than yesterday. Maybe it was the meditating? I have been at it for a few hours. I decided to take a break from training with the leaf.

First I went to get some food. I was hungry and it was around noon anyways. I ate quickly and headed out to explore.

I went around the tower searching trough the rooms and found something interesting. The place that caught my attention was the library. It was a small room with two desks and about four bookcases. It was enough for me. I knew I needed any and all knowledge I could gain.

I left the library with a scroll for the three academy jutsu happy. This was something I wanted to try! But first I needed to master the leaf sticking exercise. Glaring at the leaf I went back to work. I finally managed to get the leaf to stick without any trouble and repeatedly for ten minutes.

I was so happy I skipped trough the tower humming " You are my friend aa ano hi no yume..." making me chuckle madly. I think the Anbu doesn't like me judging by the way he jumped at my mad laughter.

After dinner, I skipped to my room still happy. Jumping into the shower letting my water react with the inferior one was cool. Feeling satisfied with my accomplishment(truthfully a rather small one) I couldn't sleep yet.

I played with my water shaping it into many different animals and flowers until I drifted off to sleep eagerly awaiting tomorrow.