Hey it's Black (fanfiction won't let me type my whole username, help?) with the seventh chapter of Dance of An Eternal Lotus and woot! I updated again today. This chapter reveals a bit of what will be important for the rest of the fanfic and I hope you enjoy it!

Diclaimer: Don't own Naruto...sadly.

Chapter 7

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Harsh breathing came from Azami's mouth as she narrowed her eyes; what seemed like determination shined in them. Moving her right foot and tilting her toes to the left and her left foot out to her side, the teen lifted her right arm in an arch over her head and kept her left hand by her stomach. Azami nodded as she looked in front of her, what resembled a smile made its way to her face. "Please, again!" the kunoichi said to her teammate. "I can still continue."

Kado, who was standing a ways from Azami nodded in agreement. Rushing forward he sent a punch to the girl's shoulder which she blocked with her left arm. Spinning, Azami brought her left knee up and struck Kado in the thigh making the teen lose his balance and then brought her raised arm down to jab him in the cheek with her elbow. Yet Kado managed to bring his right hand up and grab Azami's elbow before jumping back away from her. Wiping sweat from his forehead, a small smirk appeared on his lips.

In the Hashigawa heir's eyes he could see that something in Azami had changed. It wasn't only her concentration in training, but in her attitude also. The silver-haired kunoichi seemed to be more carefree and not worry about every little thing; also her taijutsu style had become more assertive, and had also begun to show a unique grace and elegance that was hidden under Azami's nervousness. In short, the kunoichi was improving. Focusing his attention back on Azami, Kado saw that the girl was tired, "lets take a break," he said coolly. His teammate's stamina was something she would have to work on though.

Azami rested her hands on her knees and smiled at Kado, she was happy to have him as a sparring partner. She knew he wouldn't go easy on her just because she was his teammate, "you just have to believe in them," Azami thought thinking of the words a brunette kunoichi said to her days prior. As the teen went to say something to Kado she stopped as she saw her partner turn his head to the backdoor or their current residence. At the same moment she felt a familiar chakra pattern, she turned her head also. Green eyes seemed to sadden in confusion as Azami saw who was standing in the door, "Akio-sensei," she murmured.

The jounin had a tense look on his face as he stared at two of his students. In truth Akio hadn't seen much of his team in the last week for an important reason he knew he would have to reveal. Scratching his fingers through his short spiky hair, Akio looked to the side. "I need you two to come inside," he said.

Both genin looked to each other before looking back at their sensei, they both nodded. Walking up the back porch steps, Azami followed by Kado made their way into the house. As the kunoichi watched her sensei walk into the living room she did the same, but stopped at the door. Taking her eyes off of her sensei she looked to the couch to see Tanjiro sitting there. Azami could see that something wasn't right by his expression and made her way over to her teammate. Raising her hand she went to put it on his shoulder, "Tanjiro-kun are you-"

"-Don't touch me!" Tanjiro snapped, slapping the girl hand away, Azami took a step back. Sure, the Takashima was mean to her but he had never laid a hand on her before. Seeing him do this made the kunoichi worry, she looked to her teacher.

"Akio-sensei? What's going on?"

"You two should sit down," the jounin mumbled, his steel gray eyes watched as Kado took a seat on the couch next to Tanjiro and Azami sat on a chair. Akio crossed his arms, "as you know we're here for the Chuunin Exams," he began, "and that puts a strain on all the villages to show their best genin." Akio closed his eyes, "but as you all should know there is also another strain between Kumogakure and Konohagakure."

"The broken treaty," Kado answered, they had learned of what happened in the Academy. "Nine years ago the two villages had signed a treaty after the war, but the head ninja from Kumogakure broke it by trying to steal the Hyuuga heiress, I believe."

"Hyuuga…" Azami thought to herself.

"Correct," the jounin responded, "what happened back then shouldn't have happened but it did. It cause a lot of grief for the Hyuugas, Konoha and ourselves." Reopening his steel gray eyes, Akio looked at his students, "and now the current Raikage wants to right that wrong."

Azami's eyes widened with realization, "Konoha and Kumo are going to try and sign a new treaty!" she said shocked.

Letting out a sigh Akio nodded, "yes, the Kumo council has already agreed with the Raikage on this," he said. "Yet there is so much he can do from Kumogakure. Both Kages from the villages have to be present when the treaty is signed. A lot of rouge shinobi would try and get their hands on the treaty scroll if it was signed in one village then delivered to the next. We don't need to have one of our own lost because of that."

Blue eyes narrowed slightly, "so that means….."

Akio nodded knowing what Kado was going to say, "hai," he murmured. Putting his shoulder against the doorframe, the jounin looked to Azami. The girl was staring back at him with almost confused eyes, but he knew deep inside that his younger student knew what was going to happen. Closing his eyes once more, Akio let a breath pass through his lips. He grumbled something, but every one in that room heard it loud and clear.

"The Raikage is coming to Konohagakure."

Azami leaned back into the soft chair she was in, she felt as if a thousand bricks were now on her chest. Nervousness was welling up inside the kunoichi and it took every fiber of her being to keep herself from running out of the room. Intertwining her fingers together, Azami closed her eyes. "Will he be staying for the Chuunin Exams?" she asked softly.

"Hai, along with Suna's Kage I think," Akio said. "He wants to see how the future of our village fares in battle."

"Right," the teen said softly as she reopened her eyes and looked at Tanjiro. "I know how you feel," Azami thought. Though she and Tanjiro didn't fit, they were in the same boat. Both knew there was another reason why the Raikage was coming to Konoha.

The room seemed to go quiet for a moment as the shinobi just sat there. Yet soon Kado opened his mouth, "when will he be coming?" the genin asked.

Akio stopped leaning against the doorframe, "probably the day of the Chuunin Festival, two days before the actual Exams." The jounin looked to the ceiling, "another genin team may be coming with him as well." Akio looked back at his students as he saw their heads lift up, "I don't know who it is," he said reading the looks on their faces.

Azami let out a soft sigh as she freed her fingers from each other; slowly the girl got up from her chair and looked at her teacher. "Akio-sensei, is it alright if I go to my room for now?" she questioned.

The gray-eyed man looked at his student's face, he was surprised that she was retaining a calm look. Slowly he nodded and moved out of the doorway, "sure," he answered gruffly.

Nodding to Akio, Azami proceeded to walk out of the room but stopped when she got to the doorframe. Placing a hand on it she looked back at her teammates, "I know we can make it, even with the Raikage watching us," she spoke quietly. She didn't bother to look as her teammates and sensei gave her a surprised glance as they heard her. Azami just continued to walk down the hall and to her room. A small click was her as she opened the door and another two were heard as the kunoichi closed and locked the door.

…Anyone who knew Azami well could tell the girl had a lot to think about…

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Well there's the chapter and it's somewhat suspensfulness. Yeah, I'm changin up the orginal naruto plotline and I'm sorry for those who like to stick with the plot but I'll try to make this fit in as best as it can. Umm, Please review because constructive critism or commments are very nice. Also your opinions matter, I WANT to know what you think of this fanfic and Azami and how I can improve. Well, that's it and hopefully I'll be updating soon, tata for now!

Black