Chapter Ten

When I got to the training area Sushi-san was in meditation and Itachi was at his back in the same position.

Deidei only led me to the area then walked back inside.

I didn't know what to do so I walked closer to them, they seemed really concentrated so I decided to pop a squat near them and stretch, it was a nice morning and I wanted to start out right.

After stretching my arms till I was loose I did a few leg stretches and back twists.

When I finished I sat with my legs crossed waiting for instructions.

When I started to think they were asleep Sushi-san opened his eyes. "You're up first Itachi"

Itachi slowly opened his eyes and looked to me.

I sat eagerly waiting instructions almost bouncing out of my seat.

"Do you know about chakra?"

"Wow really? I keep forgetting that we have to start her at basics" Sushi-san stated in response

"Um, …what is chalk rah?"

"Not chalk rah, chakra. Spelled c-h-a-k-r-a. It is what you manipulate to make attacks and control it for defense, stability and other uses like walking down that hill."

He pointed to the hill we walked down when we first came here that he had to help me so I wouldn't fall to my doom.

"I think this would be more productive if we got her some lessons. We need to get her some scrolls, that way she can study on her own time and put it into practice with us."

Itachi didn't respond to Sushi-san but he stood up and made some hand signs and slapped the ground, a raven appeared who had a bag tied around its shoulders between its wings.

Itachi took the bad off of the bird and made another sign and it disappeared.

I sat there in amazement that an animal appeared then disappeared just as quickly.

Itachi opened the bag looking through it for a moment, then handing it to me.

"Learn these by our next practice"

I looked at the bag eyes wide, 'what is he a straight A student who graduated years before his classmates?!'

I took the bag and placed it on my back so I wouldn't set it down or misplace it.

I looked back at Itachi but he and Sushi-san had already gotten up and started walking back inside.

"What are we doing now?" I asked while running up to them.

"We are going to show you where to not go and how to get back to your room kid."

"Really? Thanks Sushi-san! I don't like having to ask for directions." I scratched my head again and smiled.

I don't remember why I picked up this habit, but I learned it from that boy I met at Ichiraku Ramen.

He was really nice and always had a smile on his face.

I was so lost in thought I only caught the end of a sentence Sushi-san was telling me "..and you better not go in there" he was looking at a door at the end of the hall.

I put it in my memory so I wouldn't go in.

We walked up the stairs to the end of the hall, even though I knew what it was I let him explain anyways "This is where leader is, you don't go in unless someone is with you or until he thinks your ready to do something on your own, never just go in without being called or given permission."

We started walking back down the stairs. We went past the main level so I knew we were most likely going to where my room was. We went down the hall, the rooms all looked alike in this building I was surprised at myself when I stopped and opened the door.

"Looks like she knows her own room already. That was fast." Sushi-san spoke up.

I looked inside and spotted my flute by the bed, I turned around and waited to see if they were going to show me anything else. I wasn't ready to stop for the day, I was anxious because I was so weak and I wanted to learn fast to get their approval.

Itachi wasn't looking at me but down the hall, so was Sushi-san. I looked in the direction they were, there was a door open at the end of the hall where two figures were walking out of a room. I heard metal clanking then the door shut behind them as they walked towards us.

"Deidei! How are you?" I smiled when he came into view.

Sushi-san turned to me in a flash "Deidei?!"

"Not any worse than Sushi-san, un!"

"Are you going somewhere with Sasori-san?"

"We are headed out on a mission, un! Have to check up on an old member, not a very easy one to find, un."

"I'm sure if it's you and Sasori-san you'll find them." I smiled and they started to walk to the stairs.

"Seems we don't have to introduce them to you, when did you meet them?"

I looked at him, when did I meet them?

"I first met Deidei when I got here remember? He was at Leader-sama s office. And after Deidei showed me my room Sasori-san just happened to be walking by." I said with a smile. "We talked about art. It was fun."

Sushi-san looked at me then looked at Itachi, looking back to me he said "It would be best to avoid art conversations with those two."

"Why? They seemed to understand art very well. I think they must both be really good at what they do. Is this where we split for today?"

"Kisame will retrieve you for dinner."

"Why me? Can't you do your own lousy job?"

Itachi shot a look at Sushi-san that I couldn't see. "Fine, fine. I'll take the kid to get food at dinner." He was shrugging as he said this.

"I guess I better get to work" I turned around and set the bag on the table, when I looked back at the door it was closed, it was probably locked too. I wondered why it was locked. Where would I go? I was trapped in a valley surrounded by walls that I wouldn't be able to scale, not yet at least.

I pulled the scrolls out of the small bag. I took a look and knew this would take awhile. I sat down and began reading.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH! My brain is gonna melt!" I tossed my head back and scratched on each side hoping to catch the pieces falling out of my ears.

I looked down at the papers and started to get antsy.

'Better take a shower before I go nuts'

After taking a shower I came back refreshed and looked at the papers. I grabbed a few scrolls and set them on my bedside table.

I grabbed some paper and a pencil so I could write stuff down to help me memorize and set them with the scrolls.

When I came back from dinner I would study some more.

As if on cue a knock came at the door. I ran to open it and low and behold it was Sushi-san.

"Hiya" I smiled a hello.

"-Sigh- Come on. Let's get you some food."

I followed him down the hall the opposite way from the stairs, after turning a few corners we stopped at a double door that was open, inside was a very large kitchen, it had anything you could ever need.

The large box of cup ramen was the first thing to catch my sight.

He must have noticed "The cup ramen is usually for missions but since you just got here go ahead and have one if you want it."

I turned to him a giant smile on my face and glomped him then ran to the noodles, looking at all the types.

"Think you can find your way back?"

"Yes, two lefts a right and it's the fifth door on the left."

"Wow, you really good with directions?"

"Nope, just counted steps carefully" I smiled at him again.

He was shaking his head and walked out the door headed the opposite direction we came from.

As I looked the ramen I found the one I wanted.

I went to the stove looking in the cabinets nearest it for a pan, no luck. 'Leave it to men to place things it the most difficult places to find.'

I searched up and down for a pan, I couldn't find it anywhere.

I thought I might have missed it so I started searching more thoroughly in the same places.

"You should check over the fridge! That's where Tobi found the pans when he came here!"

I looked above the fridge thinking 'ugh-oh' the fridge was tall enough without having a cabinet above it. I looked to the table determined. I ran to it grabbed a chair and heaved it to the fridge.

The chair was very light so I knew it might not be sturdy but I thought it would hold for a moment or two while I grabbed the pan.

I climbed up on it on a mission to find the pots, I open the door to the cabinet and there they were. So clean they sparkled, or maybe it was just my wanting to find them so badly they sparkled like treasure.

I reached in to grab one when I heard a loud crack and the masked man named Tobi say "Oh no! Look out! It's falling!"

I felt myself falling backwards towards the floor. I was in the middle of the fall when Tobi caught me in mid air, holding me above him with his hands holing under my arms.

It was so fast I was stunned for a moment, he set me down "Are you ok?! That chair attacked you! The evil chair!"

I laughed "I'm sure it was getting back at me because the only thing it's allowed to touch is our butt and feet."

"Tobi thinks it's that and dog paws!"

"There are dogs here?"

"Tobi is pretty sure he saw one, it was tall and had long blonde hair" he said motioning long hair that fell over the face.

"That's not a dog."

"It's not?"

"That's a Deidei."

"Deidei? Tobi didn't know it was a Deidei."

I laughed happy to have someone nearby who I could talk to without feeling awkward or embarrassed.

"I'm Kyuubi by the way. It's nice to meet you To-chan"

"Tobi likes Kyuubi-chan, she is nice. Everyone else picks on Tobi."

"That's not very nice" I said with a stern look "They must not know you very well"

"The don't! Like Tobi's life goal!"

"What is that?"

"To be as cool as Deidara-sempai! Tobi thinks that he is very cool! Tobi wants to know what your goal is!"

I thought about it for a moment "I'm not sure if it's a life goal but I want to be of use to someone, not just in the way like I usually am, but to be someone that is needed for something only I can do"

"Ooooooo?! Amazing!"

"Tobi" A voice from the door came, it was scary.

"Leader! Tobi thinks it is a surprise to see you here! Is Leader coming to eat with us?"

"You are supposed to have been in my office an hour ago."

"Oh no! Did Tobi forget to do something?!"

"You better go with him To-chan, he sounded mad." I whispered to Tobi.

"Tobi thinks Kyuubi-chan is right, Tobi hopes to see you again!"

He basically trots out of the kitchen and follows Leader down the hall towards the stairs.

I sighed that the only one who would talk with me was taken away. At least he helped me to not fall and hurt myself.

I looked back at the chair. The chair was in pieces, I decided it best not to use the chairs to get it pans, I walked over to where I had found a spatula and used it to fish a pan from the cabinet.

When the item was retrieved I made myself cup ramen.

As soon as I was done eating I put my cup in the trash near the table and the pieces of the chair near it.

I headed for my room, tired from my studies and the new environment.

I got to my room quickly and got dressed for bed.

I turned on the lamp and turned the main light off. I had shut the door because I knew someone would probably be by to lock it later anyways.

I crawled into the bed and started reading the scrolls a little more, if Itachi was going to help me learn I wanted to learn as fast as possible.