I skidded back along the ground; wincing from the blow that Sensei had landed on me. We were doing an exercise for ambush training with. Sensei had agreed to soften her blows, since she didn't want to kill us, but they still hurt like hell. I withdrew three needles and tossed them at her. She went to dodge, but froze, eyes on the sky. I glanced up at the sky, picking out a blurred dot above. I realized it must be a bird, sent from the Hokage's office.

Sensei picked my needles from her shoulder absently. "That's a call-all signal, meant for Chunnin and above." She said, worry in her voice. She glanced down at us. "You three, come with me." She ordered briskly.

"But Sensei, where not above Chunnin rank." Kawa complained.

"I'm making an exception!" Sakura-sensei snapped. We charged off after her, joining in the stream of ninja's over the rooftop. Soon we gathered in front of the Hokage's tower. Tsunade, the fifth Hokage of Konoha, stood atop it, looking grim.

"Ninja of Konoha, I have grave news." She spoke loudly, making herself heard over the nervous crowd. "Earlier I received news from the Land of Stone and the Land of cloud, that they and their allies have declared war on us and our allies." A gasp ran through the crowd, and I could see fear on everyone's faces. "Just now, I received confirmation from the Kazekage that he also received this message. I do not know why this war has been declared, or what makes them think they can defeat us. But they are wrong! This war could be long, and will undoubtedly cost us a large amount of lives. But we will pull through this. Prepare ninja. We have perhaps three days before the first major strike." With this the Hokage turned and strode back into the tower. I understood why. There was nothing left to say.

-x-

"What does this mean for us, Sensei." Taiyou said, indicating the team. It was a good question. As the apprentice to the Hokage, she was held in high regard, and would have less time to tutor us.

"I don't know." she said, truthfully. "But I won't leave you guys hanging. Normally I would get to know each of you and devise a training schedule so everyone can improve both individually and as a team. Then we could start taking missions together. But in a wartime situation, everyman will be used, even fresh Genin like yourselves." Sakura-sensei sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Okay, you guys go. I recommend training at something your bad at, or practicing your clans stuff. Meet back here tomorrow, I'll have figured this whole mess out then." I nodded, Kawa and Taiyou agreeing with me.

They they both turned and headed in opposite directions, I hesitated glancing at my sensei, who had her eyes closed. With a slight sigh, I dug into my backpack and got out some feverfew. "Here Sensei," I said holding out a large handful. She looked up, and seemed surprised I was still there. "It's for headaches," I explained, brew a little in your tea, but only a little or else it might numb your entire brain, I would also add a bit of mint. Feverfew tastes disgusting, especially as tea."*

Sakura-Sensei blinked at me and took the leaves. "Um, thanks Mogi. But if I only need a little, why did you hand me so much."

I glanced down at the ground. Even without 'looking' I could sense the green chakra of plants be pushed aside by people streamed through the secret tunnels under Konoha.

"I have a feeling your going to need it. I'd also advise giving some to your sensei." I turned. "see you tomorrow Sakura-sensei."

"Yeah," Sakura-sensei said,..."see you tomorrow"

-X-

flashback

Jariya frowned, "You want to know the properties of Natural chakra? Whatever for?"

Tsunade glanced around, "A few years ago, a Kakashi's team caught a young boy running from a few bandits not far from here. Sakura knocked him unconscious and we had to suck a large amount of poison from him. When he woke up he was extremely hostile. The bandits claimed to have kidnapped him a couple years prior. When I offered him an escort home, he claimed that his entire village had been wiped out. I didn't pay much attention then. I figured it was just a child's was of exaggerating the fact he didn't have a family. Anyway, I offered him residents in Konoha and he asked to become a ninja. He passed all the security checks so I let him." Tsunade went silent as a young couple walked past him.

Jariya spoke up when it was safe, "Whats this have to do with natural chakra?"

"I was getting to that," The Hokage snapped, "Anyway, he graduated a few days ago and nearly killed Sakura during the second Genin test. And he wasn't even looking. A tree root just ripped itself out of the ground and defended him. Later he claimed it was an accident, and that he was from a clan of people who had free control over natural chakra. I have never heard of him but he claims his family went into hiding during the first ninja war. I'm not sure how much I want to believe, so I came to you, the toad sage."

Jariya's brow wrinkled as he thought, "Nothing springs to mind, but that stories gives me a feeling of dejevĂș. " Finishing off his tea, he stood. "Lets head to somewhere more private. I know just who to ask..."

They left to a training ground near the Hokage tower. Once there Jariya didn't pause for explanations. He instantly went into a series of hand seals that ended with him biting his thumbs.; Tsunade stepped back, unsure of who he was summoning. She needn't have worried, in a poof of smoke three small toads appeared. "Hi, Ma, Pa, Gamakichi" Jariya greeted formally.

"Hello Jariya," Ma croaked respectfully. "What do you need dear?"

Jariya motioned towards Tsunade. "We have a few questions to ask you , about a clan of people with full control over natural chakra."

ma blinked a surprise and Gamakichi mouth dropped open. Pa snorted, an odd sound. "why do you ask about them Jariya. " He asked carefully, "because it's you I won't lie and tell you they never existed. But I still need to know why you ask."

Tsunade stepped forward, "A young Genin in my ranks claims to have that ability and I'm not sure weather to believe him. Why would you claim they never existed?"

Ma looked up with sadness deep in her eyes. "Because they asked all the summons they could to. During the first of your Shinobi wars they went into hiding, and wished to be forgotten by the world. They wanted no part in the violence. But it doesn't matter now, they were found, and slaughtered, years ago.

Everyone was silent for a moment. "I don't know..." Gamakichi spoke up for the first time, "Can't you two feel it? Perhaps it's my imagination." Ma and Pa tilted their heads and went silent.

Meanwhile, Jariya was thinking. "That's why it seemed familiar. It's an old ninja legend, about a clan that could control nature itself."

Tsunade was a bout to reply, when Ma cut her off, "Jariya, what did you say this child name was?"

The Hokage answered for him, "It's Mogi, Mori Mogi"

"The three toads looked at each other and took off in one direction. Surprised, Jariya and Tsunade followed without a word.

End flashback

-X-

End story