well well another late monday/early tuesday.. which ever you prefer to look at it.. i is 3:00 a.m lol just to clarify lol.. so i decided to put up another duuu du du duuuuuhhh chapter!! hurrah! the big number 10 as well! so what is kawako going to do for the big ten shes gunna make she she gets in those double digitd with power and a big bang! :D lol hope you guys are enjoying the story as much as i am writing it!and of course in about 24 hours if any of you readers are into my newest (no surprise!) naruto story.. it shall be coming up then :) another kawako story! but different living conditions :) leave reveiws!! :P

Me and the team went to report to Tsunade. After getting a lecture about running off from the team, and how it's a danger to everyone and myself and yadda yadda yadda.. I could re tell this lecture off by heart by now. I asked her to give me a break from missions for a month. With my current distraction she agreed so I could learn how to stay with a team. I wanted to train and master a couple more of my jutsus. I went home, unpacked my things, then re-packed it with senbon needles, kunai, and other projectile weapons I will practise with for the next week. I was over flowing with weapons, even some I've never used before. I don't know how Tenten does it. I felt fat...

I woke up bright and early. I washed and dressed then headed out to the lake just by the village walls. It's where I usually train. I put up a hand seal.

"Water Clone Jutsu!"

5 water clones of me spread out and nodded. I closed my eyes and they took off. I counted to 100 and then opened my eyes. Time for kunai tag. I ran through the forest by the lake. There was always a downside to using water clones. They are weaker and have a limited amount of area they can leave me. They did use less chakra which is why I'm not using Shadow Clones. I plan on doing this for many hours. I need to preserve my chakra. I heard a slight rustle and threw a kunai south east of where I was running. I looked over and a clone sprung out from behind the tree and started to run. I took off the same way. I hid a couple senbon needles between my teeth. I looked to my right and spit one. It hit one of my clones right in the head. It turned back into water. 4 left. I was still chasing my original target. It threw back a exploding tag a couple feet in front of me.

"Water Replacement."

The tag exploded and a puddle was left. I reappeared back at the lake. I let myself form underwater.

"Water Style: Underwater Motion Technique!" I propelled deeper into the water and closer to the edge where my clone should be running by soon enough. I sat waiting. It ran by I propelled forwards and up. I jumped out of the water and threw a kunai hitting my target. 3 to go. I jump out of the water an stand there, thinking. I run the opposite direction from last time. I catch a watery chakra trail and follow. A twig snaps and I hear metal clicking, I look up to see kunai falling at me, I jump onto a nearby branch out of the way, I see fire and jump a few more branches back. Wow, my clones can even set up decent traps. I begin my chase but looking around extra careful. A sparkle catches my eye. I throw a kunai at it and it cuts a string. A tree falls down replacing the string. I catch sight of my clone, I chase after it full speed. We reach a clearing. Perfect.

"Water Style! Ripping Torrent!" I shoot three orbs of water in a line from my hand, one of them hitting my clones leg. It trips and I throw a kunai. 2 left. I run back towards the lake. I noticed another slight trail heading south east. I ran following the trail, it lead me back to the lake. I walked towards the lake. Looking all around.

I heard spurting water from behind me, when I looked back a jet of water slammed into me sending me underwater. I let myself slowly float to the surface while I did a string of hand seals. Fortunately my clone was stupid enough to be in the same spot.

"Serpent Stream!" I jump up and send the snake like current at my clone, to my surprised it jumped out of the way, sending bullets after me. I dodged them and started running at my clone.

"Water Sword!"

My clone runs at me with a kunai, our weapons meet. I spit a senbon needle at it but it deflects it with a kunai in its other hand. I smiled. Jumping ducking, striking and stabbing. A sword of water against two kunai. Equal skill, but one was stronger, I push my clone back with my sword and throw a kunai at it. It hits it right in the stomach and splash, back to a puddle it goes. 1 left. I stood on the lake, and did a string of hand seals.

"Water Style Liquid Memory!"

A large amount of orbs of water were floating all around me. I held up my last hand sign and concentrated. The orbs shot out over everywhere, whipping around through the forest searching. A group of orbs formed and imprisoned the clone. I ran to catch up. I threw a kunai and hit the clone in the back. The clone and all the orbs fell to the ground, seeping into the ground.

"Tag. You're it."

It was getting late so I decided to head back to make food and go to bed. I had another week of chasing clones with kunai. Tomorrow it's throwing kunai at moving targets. In other wards, clones are going to run around in circles and I have to hit them. Instant ramen. Life's greatest fast food. I downed it, washed up, then went to bed. It's going to be a very long month.

Two and a half weeks later. I finished my target practise and working on evading. I have ninjutsu and taijutsu left to practise. I had just finished a training session but wasn't completely tired, I went up to my hide out. The sun had just set and the stars were creeping through the dark blue cloak of a night sky. I laid there counting stars and thinking over training. I have been trying to keep the cloaked men out of my mind. Telling myself I'm training to help Naruto and that's it. I'm not training to fight a S-ranked scorpion. I sighed.

"It's been a while."

I looked over through one eye.

"Shadow. How are you?"

"I'm good. Being a Chuunin is troublesome."

"Really? All it's done is put me on jackassed teams."

"Still a replacement?"

"Yeah. With Naruto gone, Sakura training, and Sasuke being a idiot, I have no where else."

"The village isn't the same without all you guys together. It's quiet, peaceful."

"Jerk." I smacked him in the leg since he was standing over me. He laid down beside me.

"So what's got your head?"

I looked over at him. "Hm?"

"You've been training none stop for 2 and a half weeks, from dawn to dusk. You never try this hard."

"What you saying I'm weak and lazy?" I knew he wasn't but I wanted to avoid the subject. I can't lie to this kid.

"No, you never needed hard training, it's like you have Sharingan but without the creepy eyes..." We both chuckled at this. "... and lazy.. Yeah, you kind of are."

"Says the boy who just sits and watches clouds go by."

"Anything else is troublesome. Plus watching the clouds and stars is peaceful, and calming."

"True.. True.."

"You really think I would forget the original topic?"

"A girl can dream."

He laughed. "What's on your mind?"

"Just trying to be accepted, and prove something to myself I guess."

"Still having trouble with the villagers?"

"Yeah. One team even left me behind, when I caught up the one guy tried to pick a fight with me."

"Why did you get left behind?"

"I got bored so I took off down a different road."

We both laughed.

"Troublesome."

"What? Walking down one road for so long gets boring."

"It's getting late. I'm going to hear about not coming home for dinner..." He got up and walked to the ledge. "...Get some sleep Crow. You have training in the mourning." He waved then jumped down.

I stared up at the sky some more, and smirked. Hiruko, you have some fine competition coming soon.

3 weeks later, Tsunade is actually quite proud of me. She said if it wasn't for my lack of ability to hold my tongue, my distractive mind and lack of motivation I could become a Jounin. I laugh at that fact. Me a Jounin, being able to boss around those mouthy little Genin and Chuunin. Thinking about it more.... I am a mouthy little Chuunin.

I've been on two C rank missions and still no sign of Hiruko. I can't seem to get a mission by myself. I never give up, so I'm on my way to convince Tsunade to give me a C-B mission on my own. I knock on the door.

"Come in!"

"Hello Lady Tsunade."

She give me a strange expression.

"What do you want now Kawako?"

"You look at me like I want something that's going to get you into trouble or something." I smirked.

She smirks. "What is it Kawako?"

"A favour. You said I was Jounin level. I was wondering if I could have a mission by myself."

"What?"

"Just a C or B rank mission. Delivering a letter or escorting somebody."

"Kawako you know-"

"Please Tsunade! You know as much as I'm accepted in my academy generation and younger. But everybody else doesn't want me here! I'm sick of having to deal with them. Please, one mission just to prove myself. I'll have water clones with me at all times."

She sighs. "I really don't know about this Kawako.. How am I going to know if you're alright or need help?"

"You won't. You can trust me for once."

She sits there her hands in front of her mouth, staring at me.

"Fine. Deliver this to Kumogakure. We still aren't total trust worthy of this land but, we are still trying."

I saluted the Hokage and smiled.

"It's a far journey are you sure you want to go alone?"

"Yes ma'am!" I smiled more.

She put on a light smile and nodded. I left, and went to pack my things. All the way to Kumogakure that should give me plenty of time to search for Hiruko! I got my things and quickly washed up before I headed out. I was anxious it was easy to tell. Missions were never a thing for me, I always lugged around being all down and grumpy. I never really was a happy child, more sadistic and sarcastic. I never understood why, being around Naruto you think happy would rub off. It seemed to come natural to me like everything that went through me. I was finally through the gates, jumping from branch to branch. I had a hunch, and I planned on seeing if I was right, I went left, even though Kumogakure was right of the gates. I had a smile hidden on my face. I was ready. I was confident I will find out the puppeteer's name.