This chappy is dedicated to CeresMaria (see! I promised!) because thou art an avid Might Guy fan and therefore...

BEHOLD!

MORE MIGHT GUY!

PS: Kurotiger: Pairings... Hmm... Maybe :P Just wait and see :D

PPS: Kenegi: Oh... hehe... my bad. And Akani kind of pulled a Tsunade, but read and find out :)

ONWARDS!

"Akani-chan!"

My eyes shot open and I squealed, flailing a little as my bed sheets wrapped around my body like a cocoon. I wriggled so much I fell off the bed and landed hard on my hip. I hissed in pain before sending out my echolocation and flaring my senses, growling up at the beaming face that was quickly becoming the bane of my existence.

"What the hell do you want, Guy?"

If possible, his smile became wider. "It is time for training!"

I answered with an intelligent, "Huh?"
"Training, Akani-chan! Today is the day for something new, and that is always a good thing! We must celebrate the dawn of this new day with youthful vigour and manliness!"
I opened my mouth to tell him off – since I was most definitely not a dude – when something occurred to me. "Guy?"
"Yes, Akani-chan?"
"… How do you know where I live?"
"I followed you, of course!"
"Of course you did," I grumbled, twisting myself free from my bed sheets. "Don't you think it's a bit inappropriate to randomly break into a girl's apartment?"
I didn't have to see his face to know he was blushing. "Um… Perhaps I did not think this through! I shall do one hundred push-ups as penance for my unyouthfulness!"

I sighed, used to his antics by now. 'Youth' was quickly becoming his favourite word and I wanted to stab something – preferably Guy – whenever he thanked me for 'putting his dreams into verbal form.'

"Whatever. Let me get dressed and I'll come and train with you."
"Hai, Akani-chan!" He jogged out of my room – which was more like an extension from the living/dining/entrance but separated with a bamboo screen – and began his push-ups.

I rolled my eyes. "Get out Guy."
He paused between push-ups twenty-two and twenty-three. "Oh! Of course! Forgive me, my ever youthful training companion! I shall leave you to your privacy!"
I growled a little as he left. Being called 'youthful' just reminded me of how young I was. Given, I'd be seven soon but still a baby to some. Namely one chunin jerkface.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. No use getting so worked up before the day even started. I stifled a yawn as I dressed for training in simple shorts and shirt. There was no use having a shower just yet, or eating for that matter since today was the day Guy was upping my training to a more intense regime.

We'd already ruled out quite a few taijutsu styles, and he said he might have had an idea of one that would suit me. My days were full, what with training in the morning with Guy, then the Academy and then lessons with Kushina – sometimes featuring Jiraiya, though rarely – in the afternoon. My body was getting used to the schedule, though, so I suppose that was a plus.

I slept the whole night too.

Another plus.

I slipped my sandals onto my feet and exited my apartment, taking care to lock up after myself. Not that it did much good in a village full of ninja, but it was the thought that counts. I paused as the cool air brushed my skin. I turned woodenly towards Guy who had just finished his obligatory push-ups. The smile on my face might have been a tad predatory.

"Guy… what time is it?"
He gave me a broad grin and thumbs up; his trademark 'nice guy' pose. "It is a mere hour before dawn, Akani-chan! Why do you ask?"
My eyebrow twitched.

Was he insane?!

No, scratch that.

Of course he was.

And now he was my pseudo-sensei.

Goody.

No matter what life I had, I still wasn't a morning person.

"Guy… I'm going to murder you."

He let out an unmanly 'Eep!' before I tried to claw his face off for waking me at such an ungodly hour.

I'd have a caffeine addiction like Tia in no time if this kept up.

I rotated my sore shoulder, glowering towards Guy. "Again."
"You must not push yourself, Akani-chan," he chided, serious for once.

"I know my limits, Guy. Again."

Without another word I sprinted towards him. Before we could crash I deftly twisted and bent to avoid a flying kick from the taijutsu prodigy. I hadn't been able to land a hit just yet but I was getting close. This style – Crane Style – was more graceful than the Academy stance, and suited to my flexibility but some part of it didn't feel quite right.

As evidenced when I was knocked roughly on my ass once more. I groaned as I sat up, my body creaking in a way that couldn't be natural. "Damnit!" I moaned. "I almost had you!"
No.

I didn't.

Guy was better, faster, stronger… he was just more awesome than me at taijutsu. Which sucked for me since taijutsu was my failsafe if enemies got too close so I didn't have the option of going for something else. As a sensor – and a damn good one – I would be kept behind varying platoons of skilled combat shinobi and relay information on the enemy's whereabouts to the tactical squad. But if an enemy broke through the ranks, I'd be a hindrance. I didn't want others protecting me.

I was trying to be strong so I could protect myself and others.

I clenched my fists and stood on my own, ignoring the hand Guy offered to me. "Again!" I barked.

"Akani-chan, perhaps we should-"

I whirled on him, scowling. "No! I have to get this, Guy! I refuse to be deadweight! I need to get stronger!"
"And you will, but these things take time, Akani-chan."
He wasn't getting it. He didn't understand. "Please, Guy," I pleaded. "I have to become strong. I have people to…" Protect. Cherish. Manipulate… "I just have to do this. I won't let them down."
"Them?"
Mother. Father. Tia. Sakumo. Kakashi. Obito. Kushina. Minato… Naruto… I shook my head. "I have to protect my precious people, Guy. I have to be strong."
He was silent for a long time, and I was sure he would simply turn and walk away from me, just like Kakashi had done. Just like my cellmate and first friend had done. I hadn't heard anything from him since being in the village either. I would fight to hold onto the people that were alive and with me, and fight to make my parents proud.

I couldn't let anyone down.

It wasn't just my life at stake, here.

"We'll try something different," Guy stated with a determination that made my chest warm. "Various aspects of certain styles seem to come naturally to you, like the flexibility of Snake, or the slashing motions of Tiger Claw and the sweeping speed of Crane. We'll make an entirely new style based of components of each but mix that in with your chakra enhanced strength."
That last bit confused me. "Chakra… enhanced… strength?"
"Hai. You don't think the training log dissolved into splinters because it felt like it, did you?" he teased.

I shrugged helplessly. "I… didn't even realise I was doing it."
"Tsunade Senju-hime has a unique taijutsu style based off her monstrous strength," Guy pointed out. "Unfortunately I do not know much about it as I have yet to witness it personally."

A light-bulb went off and I face palmed. Why didn't I even think to ask Jiraiya about that when he was still in the village? He was her freaking teammate, after all. He was due back sometime soon, but because of the war he had to check his spy network a lot more often. My elemental training was supposed to be starting soon under his tutelage, but alas, Jiraiya was a lazy ass and left me to read up on the basics most of the time, as evidence by the scrolls he palmed off to the Hokage who in turn gave them to Kakashi who gave them to me in the hospital. He was more of a 'sit back and let the student figure it out' sensei, whereas Kushina was a 'learn through physical pain and hands on experience' type of sensei. Nothing like each other, but they taught me well enough.

My brain hurt just thinking about all the lessons I had gotten, and was going to get in the near future.

I shook my head clear before fixing Guy with a stony, determined expression, my body shifting into a beginning stance. "Again?"
His grin was bright as he ducked into his Strong Fist stance. "Again."

I fell asleep at my school desk.

Muta didn't even bother waking me up.

I think he's cranky with me because I haven't been hanging out with him as often.

Shouta-sensei wasn't amused.

He chucked the black board eraser at my head and I fell into a heap on the floor.

I didn't wake up.

But I had another bruise to add to the collection.

The nap I had in the Academy seemed to perk me up since I was practically skipping all the way to Kushina's house. I wasn't flaring my chakra, so I didn't even think she would have company over. I flung open the door.

"Honey! I'm home," I yelled, only to freeze, wide eyed as Kushina shrieked in alarm. I flared my senses and wished I hadn't. "Argh! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen!"

"Cover your eyes, Akani-chan!" Kushina yelled, pushing Minato off of her and fixing her skewed clothes.

I did as I was asked, but then frowned, dropping my hands. Kushina was horrified.

"Akani-chan!"

"I'm blind, you idiot!" I yelled.

Kushina tugged her shirt back into place, pausing for a moment. "Oh, yeah."
I huffed, crossing my arms. "Acting like wanton teenagers in the presence of a child. Barf. Have you no shame?"
Kushina growled, forgetting about Minato to begin an argument with me. The awkward atmosphere broke for us two Uzumaki. Not so much the fidgeting, blushing blonde attempting to make himself melt into the furniture.

"You should have knocked, you brat!"

I waved my arms around comically. "How was I supposed to know you were sucking face on the couch with your boy-toy, huh?"
"You should have sensed him!" She was too embarrassed to care about my language at the moment.
"Shoulda, woulda, coulda… but I didn't. Gomen, blondie," I tossed towards Minato, who froze in his foiled attempt to escape through the kitchen window.

Kushina growled and stomped towards her boyfriend, tugging him back inside by his ear. Whether she ignored his protests, or simply didn't hear them I would never know.

"Akani-chan, meet Minato-kun. Minato-kun, meet Akani-chan."
I gave Minato a bright grin, almost letting my hero-worship show. "Hi!"
"Nice to meet you, Akani-chan," he said warmly and my cheeks started to hurt from how much I was smiling.

"Ano, can I touch your face?"
Minato blinked. "Eh?"
Kushina sighed. "She's blind and even though she should know what you look like with her echolocation she still paints clearer pictures through her tactile senses."

Minato blinked again. "O-oh, okay then." He approached me slowly, as if not to startle me and knelt down to my level.

I rolled my eyes behind my glasses before reaching up and touching his face. He was exactly how I pictured him; pointed chin, smooth skin and princely features. His hair, however, was even softer than mine and that made me pout a little. I smiled at him again. "You're very pretty."
I could feel his cheeks heat a little under my fingers as Kushina chuckled, thoroughly amused and used to my randomness. "He is, isn't he?"

I dropped my hands and Minato stood, having regained his dignity.

He turned towards Kushina. "I suppose I should be going now and let you teach your student, Kushina-san." I rolled my eyes as he bowed slightly to her before turning to me and ruffling my hair. "Pleasure to meet you, Akani-chan. Don't let Kushina-san scare you too much."
"Great. Now you tell me, after I've been mentally scarred for life," I grumbled, making him laugh. My red-haired sensei simply ignored me.

He turned and left, but I perked up and ran after him, stopping just outside of Kushina's apartment. He was gathering chakra to flicker away. "Wait, Minato-san!"
He paused and turned back to me with a smile. "Hai, Akani-chan?"
"You're teaching Kakashi Hatake, right?"

"… He is a current apprentice of mine, yes. Why do you ask?"
I grinned viciously. "Mind if I join you for training sometime? I haven't caught up with Kashi-chan for a while and I'm finding myself missing my nearest and dearest best friend."
Minato seemed a little wary of how I worded myself, but I didn't blame him. No doubt at this age the words 'Kakashi' and 'best friend' didn't usually go together. 'Stick' and 'ass,' however…

"Um… sure, I suppose."
"Great!" I chirped. "But can we keep it a secret? I want to surprise him."
"S-sure."
My smile was something along the lines of 'the cat that got the canary' but I couldn't care less. Kakashi needed to lighten up, and I knew a certain youthful spirit that would be more than glad to help me with that.

"Arigato, Minato-san! I promise to knock next time you and Kushina-sensei are sucking face!"

He quickly flickered away and I cackled madly, ducking back inside Kushina's apartment. I didn't notice the chilly atmosphere until I closed the door behind me.

By then it was too late.

My smile turned a little hesitant as I looked up into Kushina's twitching face. "A-ah… greetings, Kushina-sensei. I'm… here for… my… lesson?"

"Akani-chan?"
I paled. Dear Kami, the sickly sweet tones…

"Y-yes?" I squeaked.

She filled her hands with a variety of sharp, pointy and painful tools.

"… Run. Fast."

I didn't need to be told twice.

Obito was waiting for me by my apartment door when I got home. I kicked him, since he'd fallen asleep leaning against my door.

He was startled awake and leapt to his feet, hands out front as if to ward off an attacker. "Huh? Whaa? Akani-chan! About time you- why are your clothes all holey?"
I tried to smile, but given how Obito took a step back I must have failed. "Training," I answered simply, shuddering a little as flashes of clanging metal and chakra-chains flitted across my memory.

"What kind of trai-"

"Just drop it, Obi!"

He pouted, but didn't ask anything else as I led him inside.

He emptied out most of my fridge and dirtied most of my dishes as he made himself dinner. He didn't make any for me since once I cleaned myself up I was out like a light on the threadbare couch squashed into the corner of the room.

He was courteous enough to clean up after himself and lock the door behind him as he left, though.

I wasn't exactly a happy camper when Guy came knocking on my door a few hours later and pulling me out towards the training grounds.

I fell asleep in class again.

Shouta-sensei didn't even bother to wake me up this time.

Rin did a good enough job for him.

I had another bruise to add to the collection.

"But why?" I whined.

"Because you've been slacking off on the technical side of it."
"Have not."
"Have too."
"Have not."
"Have too times infinity!"
I pouted, crossing my arms. "That is so childish. Besides, everyone knows it's 'times infinity plus one.'"

Jiraiya scowled, shoving a handful of leaves towards me. "Whatever you say, bratling. Now turn these leaves to dust in your right hand, and into soggy mush with the left, just like the scrolls I gave you outlined. I'm out."

He turned on his heel and I threw the leaves in the air like confetti. He twisted towards me with a grimace. "I can always find another quasi-student. You're making this very difficult you know."
I grinned brightly. "I know! Which is why you're going to stay here and properly teach me how to use my elemental affinities."
"Oh yeah?" he drawled, hands on his hips as he gazed mockingly down at me. "And what's a shrimp like you gonna do to stop me from leaving?"
I casually inspected my nails, buffing them on my shirt. "Oh, I don't know. Perhaps tell Kushina-sensei you were peeping on her just last week. Minato-san won't like that, I'd imagine." I snapped my fingers, ignoring his spluttering. "Oh! I know! I'll tell Hokage-sama how you were spying on his daughter the week before that!"
Jiraiya paled, going stock still. "I'll do anything," he stated quickly.

I smiled. "I know! Now sit," I demanded. He obeyed. "And pass me that leaf." Again, he obeyed. "And walk me through the process of crumbling a leaf to dust, or turning it to mush."
Jiraiya grumbled, but did as he was told.

My entire argument was a bluff, since I'd only sensed his chakra signature around the general vicinity of the hot springs when Kushina-sensei and the Hokage's daughter were there at any given time during the day.

But Jiraiya didn't need to know I had no concrete proof.

His willingness to teach me to shut me up was proof enough.

I broke out into evil chuckles randomly that made the Toad Sage a little nervous.

And I didn't even care.

I glared down at the leaf resting in my palm, willing it to turn to dust with my useless eyes.
Sadly, it remained plump and full.

It had been almost two weeks since Jiraiya gave me an incredibly detailed lesson on converting my chakra to the earth nature, and then transferring that to the leaf in my hands but I still hadn't made any progress. Any other time I activated my earth nature, it was purely by accident. Both times I'd been aggravated, and both time's I'd been punching something.

Water surprisingly came easy. The leaf had been soggy and sloppy after a few days of trying.

I needed control over both of my elemental affinities, but the stupid leaf wouldn't cooperate.

It was such a snob, not doing what I wanted.

I shredded the stupid thing in a fit of anger, much to the amusement of my recently arrived onlooker.

"Can I help you with something, Minato-san?" I asked while searching the ground for another leaf. I found one and set back to work, nose wrinkled in concentration.

"Kushina-san simply sent me to ask if you were alright. She mentioned you'd been working very hard lately."

I paused in my ministrations, my mouth popping open. "Oh crap! My fuinjutsu lessons!" I scrabbled to my feet and looked at Minato with a pleading expression. "I'm late and Kushina-sensei is going to kill me and since I'm too young to die I was wondering if you, Minato-san, boyfriend of my forever beautiful and hopefully humble and forgiving sensei will take me there in record time since if I die because I'm late I'm totally blaming you and I'll haunt you forever and ever!" I inhaled sharply to replace the oxygen I just rapidly expelled as Minato looked at me blankly.

Had he been able to follow any of that?
He was known for his genius and speed, so…

I hoped so.

I twiddled my thumbs as he stared.

Then he smiled brightly. "Okay!"
I blinked. "Eh-"

I was cut off as Minato grabbed my shoulder and I was squeezed into a tight ball and shot through a tube. Quicker than the flicker my feet met the ground but it was no less disorientating. Minato stood quietly beside me.

A noise made me flare my chakra and the cry of 'Surprise!' had me flipping backwards to latch onto the wall with chakra, two training kunai in my hands. I blinked as my fight-or-flight response settled down until I recognised Kushina, Jiraiya, Minato and…

I glowered as I slid from the wall, landing neatly on my feet.

"Kakashi-san," I greeted stiffly.

"Akani-san," he replied, equally as frosty.

Everything was deathly quiet.

No one dared to move.

No one dared to breathe.

Kushina wasn't 'no one.' She broke the tense atmosphere with an awkward chuckle as she approached me. "Happy seventh birthday, Akani-chan!"
I blinked. "My… birthday?"
"You can't even remember a simple date?" Kakashi asked dryly.

"Shut up, jerkface!" I snapped. "Why are you even here?"
"Minato-sensei made me come," he growled.

I rolled my eyes. "So sorry for your busy schedule to be put out," I drawled sarcastically. I pointed over my shoulder towards the door since we were in Kushina's living room. "You don't have to stay. Don't let the door hit that stick in your ass on the way out."
"Akani-chan! Language!" Kushina shouted from across the room.

"Gomen!" I called back sweetly before turning back to Kakashi. "I want my friend here for my birthday Kakashi, and I want you to stay but I won't force you to stay."
"You can't force me stay," he said smugly.

I raised my clenched fist in his face, taking a step forward. "Wanna say that again, jerk? I've been training, you know!"

He sniffed, grimacing beneath his mask. "Are you sure you were training and not rolling around in a pig sty?"
"Why I oughta-," I growled, only to be cut off by a loud knock at the door.

Kushina frowned and went to answer it, grumbling about not expecting anyone else. The door swung open to reveal the Hokage… flanked by a fidgeting Obito and grinning Guy.

"Hokage-sama," Kushina blurted, a little shocked. "What can I do for you?"
He merely smiled and looked straight at me. "Just passing through to say my well-wishes to the birthday girl and happened to pick up two rather lost boys on the way."
Guy and Obito both laughed nervously as the focus shifted towards them.

"Akani-chan?" the Sandaime asked. I tilted my head in question. "Would you mind a private word with this old man, please?"

Everyone ignored Jiraiya's happy crow of 'finally he admits it!'
"U-um, okay, Hokage-sama."

I glanced hesitantly around the room before following the Hokage into the entry-way, Guy and Obito being ushered inside by Kushina.

I shifted my feet awkwardly. "Um… how are you, Hokage-sama?"
His lips twitched in amusement. "I'm very well, thank you Akani-chan. I have been told you've been training quite hard lately. How is that going?"
Ah.

I see.

He was simply checking my progress, using my birthday as a cover. The genin exam was only a measly five weeks away, and I absolutely had to pass it.

I gave him a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "Oh, you know, as well as can be expected I guess."
"Hm."
My smile faded a little around the edges before dying, my expression turning into a frown. "I'm worried, Hokage-sama." He didn't say anything so I took that as an invitation to continue. I was confiding in him, after all. Just like he told me to. "I can't do henge or the basic clone, and my elemental training isn't quite coming along but my taijutsu is so far my best ability thanks to Guy, only second to my sensing and echolocation. I'm… I'm not sure if I can pass the test, Hokage-sama."
"My dear… you're thinking too laterally. Exceptions for shinobi who have certain… inabilities are taken into account."
I paused in thought. "So… the instructors will take my blindness into account?"
"Yes."
"But… won't that affect my scores?"
"I think you'll find that Shouta-kun can be quite persuasive when he wants to be, especially when it comes to getting the exams to go the way he wants," the Hokage stated, amused.

"Shouta-sensei? What's he got to do with the genin exam?"
The Hokage sighed wearily and I felt incredibly stupid for even asking. "Shouta-kun will be the one testing you, Akani-chan. He knows of the expectations placed on you, and he knows of mine."

"Oh."
Translation: he knows the Hokage needs me to pass. Maybe not the 'why' but Shouta-sensei was a retired shinobi and knew a lot about the inner workings of the village.

He knew that I was training in fuinjutsu, and that I was an incredible sensory type, therefore a benefit to the village. He'd probably design my own test around my strengths, but also challenge me enough to point out my weaknesses.

He was the sensei for a reason.

The Hokage simply observed all the emotions flitting across my face before giving a small nod, happy with whatever conclusion he apparently came to.

"I will leave you to your party, Akani-chan. Once again, happy birthday."
I gave him a warm smile. "Arigato, Hokage-sama."
I re-entered the living room to the sound of absolute anarchy.

Kushina had burnt the birthday cake and was yelling at Minato for not warning her sooner as Jiraiya merely laughed at them in the background.

Guy was doing leg squats in the corner next to Kakashi, bumbling about youth or something and Obito – not one to be left behind – was struggling to keep up, growling at the sideways cocky glances and snide remarks Kakashi was sending him.

Two different generations, but somehow they both made me smile.

Best birthday so far.

I ran over to my three friends and glomped Obito, sending him tumbling into Kakashi who in turn landed in a heap upon Guy.

I heard Kakashi groan and try to shove Obito off as Guy's voice was muffled by the carpet shoved in his face.

I merely grinned down at the older boys who'd become a large a part of my life.

Yup.

Best birthday ever.

Jiraiya gave me a beautiful calligraphy set, complete with a special chakra ink and pot.

Kushina gave me sealing scrolls – much neater than what I could ever hope to do at my level.

Minato gave me a Braille scroll on a sealess water technique. He'd apparently asked Kushina what my affinity was.

Kakashi deferred to his blonde sensei who sighed in exasperation and said the scroll was from both of them.

I simply rolled my eyes, but thanked them all the same.

Obito promised to treat me to dango since he simply tagged along with the Hokage.

Guy – much that same as Obito, who also didn't know it was my birthday – took off his training weights and legwarmers and gave them to me, shouting about how 'youthful' his protégée was when I accepted them with a (fake) smile.

The smelled overly like Guy, and I made a mental note to scrub them clean before wearing them.

Nevertheless my resolve to become a kunoichi hardened into an attainable goal that seemed closer to being achieved than it did that morning.

Somehow, after everyone went home, I felt that everything was going to work out, no matter what happened.

I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

Four weeks until exam:

The spray from the waterfall misted my skin as I stood on top of the turbulent water in front of it. The scrolls the Hokage, Jiraiya and Minato had given me lay tucked safely against a rock on the shore, out of the splash zone should I happen to blow the jutsu up.

I'd practiced enough with a small bucket of water in the training grounds Kushina took me to but it was time to move onto bigger things.

It was time to bring the awesome.

I cracked my knuckles and concentrated, my fingers flying through handseals as my chakra molded how I wanted it to. My palms slapped the surface of the water.

"Water Style: Water Wall!"

I pumped my chakra into the liquid beneath me and it exploded upwards in front of me to form a three foot thick barrier almost six feet high and eight feet wide. I immediately felt the chakra drain, but it wasn't as much as I thought since it was an affinity.

My chakra was unique, after all.

I grinned and let the wall fall.

Jutsu one; success, though there was always room for improvement.

I jogged back to shore and stood on the edge of the water, left hand dipping into the rushing stream. This one was sealess, though difficult to get the hang of since you had to mold your chakra just so.

I filtered my chakra through my fingers and grabbed at the water, compressing and tightening until it was latched onto my digits. Gingerly, I lifted them into the air, the water staying in beads on my fingertips.

I almost grinned until my control almost slipped, then I became the picture of concentration once more. I aimed towards a large boulder by the sides of the walls and pushed.

The water bullets sped from my fingers and collided with the rock, chipping away at it from the force. With practice the bullets would slice straight through the rock, especially at such close range.

I sat back on my rump with a huff, slightly drained but beaming all the same.

Jutsu two; success.

I didn't even sense the pair of eyes watching me from the trees.

Three weeks until exam:

I wasn't lost.

Nope.

No siree.

I was just… going on an extended adventure… in an unknown part of the village… which I'd never been to before and…

Yeah, okay, I was lost.

I wouldn't be, though, if Obito hadn't taken off with my backpack after the Academy was let out. I was fast, but Obito was wily and I was too exhausted from my full training days to search for his chakra signature. Ergo, I was now lost and late for my fuinjutsu lessons with Kushina-sensei.

"I think he came this way," I mumbled, sidestepping a rather ominous looking plant. Rin was better at looking for herbs than I was, since they all looked the same to me. Misty blue outlines of leafy shrubs. 'The plant with the purple under-sided leaves' meant nothing to me, and I gave up trying to understand herbal remedies within the first half hour.

Rin bopped me on the head for that, too.

I pushed a large bramble aside, only to sigh with relief as a building loomed ahead. I could ask for directions.

I went to take a step forward but let go of the branch, forgetting I had pushed it away, therefore it only had one way to go. Back towards me. It swung back and smacked me in the face. It was like a spring, shooting me backwards end over end until I landed upside down against a tree trunk.

"Ow, ow, ow," I whined, flopping onto my front. I didn't get up. I hurt everywhere. "What's the number on the guy who hit me?"

"Well, it certainly wasn't me," a new voice intoned.

I 'eeped' and scrabbled to my feet, slipping into a sloppy taijutsu stance in my panic. Then I registered the laughing.

"No need for that, little one. Are you the delivery ninja Hokage-sama sent?" the man – elderly and short – asked me.

I blinked. "Eh? Oh, no I'm not a ninja. I'm lost."
The older man chuckled. "Well, 'Lost,' you can call me Io!'

I blushed. "S-sorry, I'm Akani."
"Ah," the man said sagely. "A prettier name than 'Lost.' So, Lost, you're lost?"
I pouted. I was apparently amusing this man to no end. "Hai. I was chasing my friend since he stole my stuff as a prank but I got lost."
"Ah," the man repeated. "Young love. Takes me back."
"E-eh?" I spluttered. "I-I'm seven! I'm too young to be in love, you crazy geezer!"
The man patted me on the head hard, making me wince and glower since he was only a few inches taller than me. "A word of advice? Don't deny it so heartily. Must makes you look like you're lying."
"Whatever, ojiisan. Do you know the way back to the village or not?"
"Hai."
I waited. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Are you going to tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"Directions to the village?!"
Io laughed heartily and I grew a twitch in my eyebrow. "Oh, that's easy!"
After a few moments of silence occasionally broken by my grinding teeth, I snapped. "Are you gonna tell me or not old man?!"
Io tilted his head in confusion. "Tell you what?"
"That's it!" I yelled, gripping my hair in frustration. "You senile old fart! Tell me which way back to the village!"
Io laughed. "Oh, that's easy!" he repeated, but didn't elaborate.

I lost my temper and charged, sweeping in with the style I had yet to perfect with Guy's help. I wasn't thinking. I was frustrated and my temper was incredibly short since I simply knew Kushina was going to punish me by using me for target practice.

Imagine my surprise when the man deftly dipped under my clawed hand swipe, and subsequent follow through kicks and punches.

He deftly flipped away to land on a tree branch high above me, hand on his chin in thought. I remained on the ground, huffing and trying to get my anger under control. My palms were almost bleeding from my nails by how hard I was clenching my hands.

"Flexibility very good, but still young and more of a close to mid range fighter," Io mumbled to himself. I crossed my arms and tapped my foot, simply listening to his break down of my movements. "Judging by faint taint of chakra in the air, I would think some sort of sensing jutsu to make up for a disability…" He saw me stiffen slightly and I mentally cursed for being so see-through. "Correction; disability a certainty. Probably to do with the eyes?"
It took me a moment to realise he was talking to me. I blushed, and gave a slight nod. Io jumped back down to the ground, a small smile on his face.

"Forgive me, Akani-chan, but I didn't introduce myself fully. My name is Io the Weapon Inventor."
I raised a brow. "Weapon inventor?"
"Hai. Most of my creations are somewhat… volatile, so my workshop is here on the outskirts of the village in case something blows up. Minor setbacks though, I assure you."

"O-okay," I said. So… what now? I fidgeted, feeling more than a little awkward. "Gomen, Io-san, for attacking you."
"Why would you apologise for something I wanted you to do?" Io chuckled.

"Oh… wait, you wanted me to attack you?" I asked, shocked. "Why?"
"So I can get a read of you and make you something. Duh?"
The casual reply stunned me into silence for a few moments. "Why would you make something for me? I… I don't have any money to pay for anything you make."
Io simply waved that off. "Feh. I've been waiting for a challenge, and besides… think of this as an apology for forcing your hand."
I felt incredibly uncomfortable at that moment. I didn't know this man, yet here he was offering to simply give me a custom made weapon. I didn't know what he would make, but I guess I had to trust him. He was the expert, after all.

"Arigato, Io-san."
He patted my head again, this time a little more softly. "No worries, little one. I should have something for you in two weeks, give or take a few days. The village is about half a mile south-east through the forest path."
I glanced southeast and, sure enough, there was a path leading through the trees. I gave Io a smile and bow in thanks before running off to either find Obito and kill him, or beg Kushina for mercy.

I would prefer to do both, but life sucked sometimes.

I thought of Io and his amazingly random offer. I smiled.

Well, maybe it didn't suck all the time.

Io watched the young one go with a smile on his face.

She would never know the Hokage – an old friend of his – had him commission something special for the child.

He chuckled a little before coughing, a small cloud of ash erupting from his mouth as a result of one his more… explosive creations.

"Well, time to get back to work! Gihihi."

Two weeks until exam:

"Ne, Kushina-sensei, I looked up some laws the other day."
"Oh?"
"Hai."
"And what did they say?"
"That using a child as a human pincushion is illegal and considered child cruelty," I deadpanned, dodging a flurry of kunai. It should have worried me how second nature this was by now, but I didn't even think about dodging anymore. I simply did it.

"Huh," Kushina said, twirling a kunai around her finger. "I don't think it applies here though."
"How so?" I asked, dodging the sharp projectile. I flipped out of the way of a rather large, chakra laced stone.

"Because you're an Academy student, and therefore wanting to become a kunoichi."
"You're poi-eep!" I barely ducked a surprise attack of shuriken.

"Get used to it, brat!" Kushina cackled. She was enjoying this a little too much. "You think an enemy will care if it's considered child cruelty?"
"No, but you're not an enemy!"
I knew as soon as the words left my mouth I'd said the wrong thing. Kushina was across the field one moment, and in front of me the next, hoisting me up by my shirt collar.

It took a lot of effort to not react in any way at all.

"I can turn on you in an instant, you know," she snarled, but I didn't show any reaction. I couldn't. Her presence was almost suffocation. "I'm a jonin, and you're an Academy student. I'm your superior in every way, just as the people who are stronger are superior to those weaker in every way." She dropped me and her presence faded as if it never was. "You wanted to protect your friends, right?"
"Y-yes," I whispered hoarsely, rubbing my sore throat. My shirt had dug into the tender skin.

"So don't complain about my teaching methods. There's a reason I do what I do, Akani-chan, and your job is to learn, not complain. Understood?"
I stood as graciously as I could but didn't show her any weakness other than the slight trembling in my hands. For a moment, Kushina wasn't my sensei. She was the incredibly dangerous kunoichi with the Kyuubi sealed in her gut and its power at her disposal. For a moment, I was terrified of her.

But she didn't want me to be.

That was the point.

I gave her a sharp nod. "Understood, Kushina-sensei."
She gave me her customary bright grin, twirling a handful of shuriken around her fingers as she did so. "Good!" she chirped. "Now start dodging, brat!"

She let the metal fly, and I deftly dodged like the good student I was.

One week until exam:

I glared at Jiraiya with my hands on my hips. I had been happy moments before, but the perve shot down my happy mood.

"Why?" I huffed.

Jiraiya simply shrugged, fiddling with the telescope I knew was hidden in his shirt. "Don't have the time, shrimp."
"Well," I bit out. "Make some time, ero-baka."
"Oi! Don't call me that, shrimp!"

"I'll stop if you teach me this jutsu!" I countered.

"No."
"Why not?" I whined. I lifted my hand and showed him the dusty remains of the leaf I'd finally managed to crumble. "I killed that leaf good! Teach me, teach me, teach me!"

Jiraiya sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I just had to get a girl," he mumbled.

I stiffened. I hated being underestimated, especially for something as trivial as my gender. I took a menacing step forward, uncaring that I was about to threaten a man who could kill me with an afterthought. I didn't notice the ground crack underneath my feet as I did so.

"What was that?" I growled. "Something wrong with me being a girl, ero-baka?"
"N-no," he stuttered, in shock.

I frowned at his response, my ire ebbing until I followed his gaze to the ground. "Hey, what happened to the ground? Was there an earthquake or something?"
Jiraiya facepalmed. "Kami, you're denser than the earth you're trying to control, you know that?"
I sighed, slumping a little. "Yeah. So I've been told."
"Don't act so bloody depressed all of a sudden," Jiraiya said. I still moped, sniffling a little. He shuffled awkwardly. "Hey… don't cry, alright? Kami, I hate it when girls cry. Just…" A tear slipped down my cheek and he began to freak out. "Will you stop if I teach you that jutsu?"
My tears miraculously dried and I smiled up at him. "Promise?"
"I… I just got played, didn't I?" the Toad Sage mumbled.

"Like a harp," I sang. I trembled my lower lip exaggeratedly. "'Cause ero-baka's just so mean and he didn't wanna teach me, even though he promised."
He bopped me on the head, forcing me to the ground. I rubbed my sore butt, glaring up at him but he simply grinned down at me. "See? Mean. No wonder you're still single."
"Oi! The ladies love the Gallant and Great Toad Sage, Jir-"

"I don't care, ero-baka," I cut off.

He slumped, head hanging. "You never let me finish my introduction."

I snorted. "Thank Kami. God forbid you incorporate a stupid dance into it too."

I shuddered and was reminded of when I got Guy hooked on 'youth.'

I felt like I had just done something that people would want to punch me for in the future.

I glanced fearfully towards Jiraiya and, with some trepidation, I saw him in a deep thinking pose. "H-hey, I was just kidding. Now show me this jutsu or I'll tell Minato-san and Hokage-sama about your peeping."
Jiraiya snorted. "That information is at least a few weeks old, brat."
My grin was sinister. "You know that, and I know that. But they don't know that." Jiraiya was silent. "So… teacher gonna teach, or what?"
He grudgingly did so, though I went home dirty and bruised.

Luckily I got the jutsu down pat after the first day, though.

The morning of the genin exam dawned and I woke after a restless night sleep. I couldn't help it. I'd been so focused on training for it, and learning new jutsu and taijutsu that I didn't have time to panic. Now, however, I was.

I was shaking so hard that I put my shirt on inside out and back to front and the wrong shoes on the wrong foot. I spilled my breakfast on said backwards shirt and had to grab a new one which, thankfully, was put on the right way.

When it came time to leave for the Academy, Obito was nowhere to be found. He was probably helping Junko-obaa again. I had the pleasure of meeting the little old lady who gave me a hard candy she seemed to have an endless supply of whenever I saw her out and about the market place.

I made my way to the Academy alone, greeting Muta with a nervous, shaky nod. My usual chair seemed extra uncomfortable today.

"Nervous?"
The soft yet familiar voice made me jump and I turned towards Muta. "W-what? Psh. No. Why would I be nervous?"
"… Your shirt is inside out."
My face burned as I banged my head on the desk. "Is… is it noticeable?" I whispered, knowing he'd hear me.
"Your shirt, or your nerves?"
I shrugged helplessly. "Both, I guess."

"… You hide the latter very well. The former…" He trailed off and I tilted towards him, raising a brow in question. "Hold still."
"What-"

There was a metallic shearing sound and Muta's hands were gone from near my collarbone in a flash. He'd cut the telling tag off.

I gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks, buddy."
He gave me a stiff nod in reply but his chakra was quivering a little. He'd made himself uncomfortable to save me face and I wouldn't forget it. I rested my cheek against the cool wood and simply listened. The others in my class, like Obito and Rin were nine or eight like Muta. I was the baby of the class, and I felt the pressure. I'd come out of nowhere and was considered a smarty-pants and a hard worker. I hoped I'd done the Hokage proud by doing the best I could. My grades had started to slip a little, what with all my training, but Rin helped me greatly with that.

I waved back to her without lifting my head as she sat down towards the front of the class with a few other girls she was friends with long before I came. She knew I was a sensor and my spatial awareness was incredible, but she didn't know I was blind. If I had it my way, she'd never know.

Rin was the motherly type, and if she knew of my blindness she'd treat me like a china doll.

I didn't want that.

I liked her slapping the back of my head whenever I said or did something stupid, and telling me to 'watch' where I was going. People tended to get weirded out when someone made light of their disability. The adults didn't care because they'd seen weirder stuff than a blind sensor kunoichi.

Shouta-sensei slid the door open and entered, making his way towards his desk. His chakra thrummed with sadistic happiness as the class went completely silent and the air became tense. He slapped the files in his hands on the desk with a loud 'thwap,' chuckled darkly when a few kids jumped.

"Good morning, class," he greeted a little too happily.

His freak-out tactics were definitely working. I could only barely choke out a 'Good morning, sensei' along with the rest of the class.

He opened his mouth to say something else when someone crashed and tumbled through the door. I facepalmed as Obito leapt to his feet and dusted off his clothes with a happy grin.

"I'm here! Have no fear!" he cried, finger pointed to the sky.

Silence.

Obito chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head.

"Obi!" I hissed, gaining his attention. I ignored everyone else. "Read the situation, idiot!"
"Oi! Don't call me an idiot, Red," he snapped back, huffing as he made his way towards a spare seat in front of me. He completely ignored Shouta-sensei currently glaring holes in the back of his head. "You're so mean to me, Akani-chan and why is everyone looking at me?"
My forehead met the desk with a loud 'thunk.'

"Thank you for joining us for the genin examination, Uchiha-san," Shouta-sensei drawled.

"Genin… examination?" Obito asked before the lightbulb clicked on. "Oh! Right! Heh… sorry I'm late sensei. There was this little girl who lost her kitten and I had to help her out, you know?"

I banged my head on the desk repeatedly, hoping that somehow I could beat out Obito's stupid for him. Incredibly amazing friend, but completely oblivious to changes in atmosphere. Either that, or he purposefully ignored it.

I couldn't really tell.

"Not a very imaginative excuse, Uchiha-san, but I suppose since you're here I'm going to assume you actually want to become a shinobi," Shouta-sensei sighed.

"Hells yeah!" Obito yelled, fist pumping. I leant forward and slapped the back of his head, my hand meeting his goggle strap. "Ouch! Akani-chan!" he whined, turning towards me. He was about to say something else when I silenced him with a glare. He sulked in his chair.

Shouta-sensei's lips twitched minutely. Everyone missed it and I would have too had his chakra not shivered in amusement.

"Since we are all ready now," he said, instantly serious. Everyone's backs straightened subconsciously. "You will all be participating in the genin examination. When your name is called you will come into the classroom next door and I will give you a series of tests. But first…" His smile turned downright evil as he whipped out a ream of test papers. "The written exam."

I paled.

Written… test?
I was freaking blind!

How was I supposed to do this?!

My head met the desk again, only this time I didn't lift it.

Shouta-sensei simply rested my test paper over my head, not at all disturbed by the obstacle my face was causing.

Once all the tests were handed out he flickered back towards the front, his crazy half-grin still in place.

"Begin."

So... I'm pretty sure it's just the 'notification high' but I love everything right now...

Especially *YOU* :3

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND OTHER USELESS JUNK:

I don't eat chocolate that often. I know. I'm a girl so therefore I'm weird right? :/

I often wonder if people even read these things... I know I don't most of the time. I see BOLD and think 'Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.'

Koala's (an indigenous Australian mammal) have fingerprints that are unique and so close to humans that most often they can't be told apart.

The Emu and Kangaroo are the animals used to represent Australia because they cannot go backwards. The National Anthem is titled 'Advance Australia Fair,' so both animals make sense because of this.

:)