Delicate in every way but one (the swordplay)

God knows we like archaic kinds of fun (the old way)

Chance is the only game I play with, baby

We let our battles choose us

As we were walking one day Sensei handed me an envelope. There was a rather devious look on his face. For the first time since our trip had started I felt like things were starting to normalize. He was obviously still stressed about our addition. Kinoe didn't go anywhere without Sensei knowing. Part of me felt bad for him, but at the same time I was now paranoid as hell.

"Wait until you're alone to open those." Sensei said. Instinctively I glanced around to check where everyone was. Sarutobi-kun was no where to be seen. The moment we left the safe zone around the village he'd taken to scouting in a serious way. The only times I ever saw him was when he checked back with us every hour, and when we were settling for the night.

Misao stayed near the donkey, and was telling a joke to the guy holding the reins. Of all of us he looked the most relaxed. I knew better. He didn't look around constantly like I did. Instead I would catch him every ten minutes or so counting the senbons in his pouch or glancing through his pack of medical stuff. Kinoe trailed behind the wagon bringing up the rear. Occasionally Misao would drift back and strike up conversation, but for the most part the Chuunin was very quiet.

Sensei and I always took point walking a good ten feet or so ahead of our little caravan. Despite his annoying habits, specifically the hair ruffling, I enjoyed his presence quite a bit. We didn't talk much. When we did he was normally pointing something small out to me. Mostly birds. The man really knew his birds for some reason.

Eventually we settled down for the night. I walked off a bit to look for some wood. With me I took the envelopes. When I was absolutely positive no one was near me, fifteen feet or not the Byakugan did have some perks. In the envelope was exactly what I thought would be there. Two faces smiling at me. I had a mission, and that was to eliminate my team mates.

Something evil sparked in me.

Sarutobi-kun better watch out.

Two days later I made my move. Misao made it enough. He slept like a freaking rock. Part of me felt bad for getting him in his sleep, but another part of me was terrified. What if something really happened while we were sleeping. Not all attacks were opened with explosive tags. Sometimes the enemy didn't make any noise at all. I definitely was not the best at being stealthy, and the fact that he didn't wake up with me fumbling around in the dark was even scarier.

Glass clinked delicately as I thumbed through his satchel o medical stuff. Squinting in the darkness I looked over his god awful handwriting. Finally I managed to find a topical ointment. A numbing agent from what I could read of the scrawled letters. Pocketing the goopy looking stuff I closed the satchel and snuck back out.

After waiting another hour for Michi, the older woman traveling with us, to wake up the rest of my plan started to unravel. Michi was a well versed cook, and woke well before everyone else to get breakfast started. Humming happily to myself I followed her around like a little puppy dog. Essentially I was waiting for the perfect moment to just sneak some of the numbing agent into the food. Michi never let me out of her sight.

"Girl, what on earth are you doing." she snapped at me when she almost ran into me again. I had to duck to avoid getting hit by her elbow as she spun around to poke the fire.

"Just.. w..watching." I fumbled. She raised an eyebrow at me and continued to encourage the fire to hotter temperatures.

"Well make yourself useful than. I've no time for nosy children." the corner of my eye twitched at that comment. She had to know that I could end her existence with ease. I mean thats what we were trained to do. For her to call me a child…

Sometimes I forgot I still was.

"O..okay!" I recovered feeling oddly invigorated by her snappiness. Not to mention I could use this to my advantage. After giving me a rather unconvinced look Michi handed me a rather large wooden spoon. "What do you need me to do."

"Well spoons are made for stirring, or did they not teach you that in your fancy ninja school." at first I thought there to be poison in her tone, but then she shot me a sideways look. "Don't just gawk! Get to stirring! I'll not be the one to explain to the others why their breakfast is burned."

So the morning went on with this greying woman on my heels. Stir faster! Watch the meat. Don't let the liquid boil over. Her constant harping reminded me of the times I had trained with my father. She was meticulous, and had the eyes of a hawk. I was unable to slip the numbing agent into the bowls until the last minute.

Honestly, I was starting to despair. I'm pretty sure she knew what I was up to. In fact she gave me a rather pointed look before turning her back. A few drops in everyone's bowl. Well, into the bowls of my fellow shinobi. I definitely didn't want to involve any of the civvies.

Now to just contain my glee.

Michi rolled her eyes as I all but skipped towards the fire where my teammates were sitting. With the exception of Kinoe they looked pretty tired. Neither Sarutobi-kun nor Misao were morning people. I found it amusing. Balancing bowls of miso soup on my arms I walked to where everyone was sitting. Michi followed behind me with a platter full of little rolled omelets.

"M..morning!" I practically chirped. Sarutobi-kun groaned in response. He was laying face down on the ground. Misao gave me a weak smile and rubbed his eyes. After a few nudges with my feet I got Sarutobi-kun to finally sit up like a normal human being.

"Why are you so happy? Why are you ALWAYS so happy in the morning." Sarutobi-kun whined. I gave him a bright smile and offered the two of them bowls.

"E..early bird g..gets the worm." I said in a corny manner. He accepted the food and rolled his eyes.

"And giant bags under their eyes." he grumbled. If I wasn't determined to succeed in my mission I would have dumped the soup on his head. Misao grabbed two bowls and shifted away from him slightly sensing my irritation.

"Don't ask. Just look away." he advised Kinoe who appeared out of no where next to him. With a small thanks Kinoe took one of the bowls.

"Y.. know if you k..keep saying things like th..that you'll never get a g..g..girlfriend." I shot back.

"Yeah, but you're Yuri-chan. I don't have to worry about those kind of things with you." a small explosion happened in the back of my brain.

"Not very bright are you, brat?" Sensei plucked the last bowl from my hands and took a seat. "Keep that up and she'll kill you in your sleep."

"What? What did I say?"

"J..just eat your f..food." I grumbled.

Sarutobi-kun shrugged his shoulders and lifted the bowl to his lips. Butterflies danced in my stomach. Glancing at Misao I watched him do the same. A grin tugged at one side of my mouth. Who knew that 'killing' my team mates would be so gratifying. Pupiless eyes slid to Kinoe who was examining the food uncertainly.

"Y..you better like it, I m..made it." I said with fake cheeriness. Kinoe looked up at me and then down at the bowl.

Just a bite

Just one little bite.

I want extra credit damn it!

"Sorry Hyuuga-san, I'm just not feeling well right now." Kinoe said politely. Misao and Sarutobi-kun froze. Shrugging my shoulders I waved my hand in the air.

"D..don't worry about it."

Stupid head.

Ruining my plans.

Sensei outright laughed and dumped the contents of his food on the ground. That confused me just a little bit. I hadn't told him what I was doing. How in the world could he possibly know. Out of habit I tilted my head to the side just a little bit.

"It'd be more believable if you were eating too." he said unfolding a map. I tapped myself on the head. How could I forget a tiny detail like that?

"Make what more bewievable?" Misao asked. His speech distorted, and humming happily I watched his mouth twist into a frown.

"Wub are you tubbing abu….wha.. meh tounge." Sarutobi-kun's reaction got my giggles started. He flailed his arms and began stretching his mouth. "I can' feeb meh moff!"

I died.

I began laughing so hard my stomach started to hurt.

Understanding lit up in Misao's eyes. Dropping his bowl he turned and began sifting through his med pack. After about thirty seconds he turned and looked at me with wide eyes. Holding my hand out I showed him the empty container. Sarutobi-kun still looked confused.

"Congratulations! Y.. 've b..been poisoned!"

Needless to say the boys were a little grumpy after my deception. Sensei patted me on the head and mussed my hair. While he didn't say anything he seemed to approve, and that oddly made me really happy. I'd only ever tried to impress two people in my life, and that was Mama and Otou-san.

"That was a really good idea." Kinoe's voice made my ears turn red. I automatically found myself staring at my shoes as we walked. We'd been walking for about two hours at this point. I didn't know what to really say to him. He didn't seem dangerous, but sensei said…

GAH

Why did things have to be complicated.

"T..thanks." there we go. An easy non-committing reply. Hopefully he would go away. Glancing to my right I saw him walking flat footed next to me. He definitely wasn't going away. We walked in silence for a few minutes.

"I'm sorry if I offended you the other day. I, uh, don't mean to be nosy. I've just… I've never seen anyone do what you did on the water." he said awkwardly. It was almost cute, but I was still really uncomfortable with his presence.

"Y..you're okay. M..most people don't understand. Hyuuga's aren't exactly k..known for water jutsu. N..now my g..gran-" I stopped myself. I just about let out some really sensitive information. Even if Kinoe knew there was no telling who could be watching us. Kinoe leaned forward to get a better look at my face.

"I'm sorry Hyuuga-san, I didn't catch that last part." my mouth opened and closed like a dying fish.

A distraction would be great right now

Where was something shiny when you needed it?

An explosion caused us both to jump. Not the distraction I was looking for. My heart attempted to punch a hole in my chest, but no one made a noise. From her place in the back of the wagon I saw Michi's face drain of all color before she pulled the cover down. Shimura-sensei made a small gesture with his hand, and we closed in tight around the wagon.

"Brat." he pointed at me. "Do the eye thing."

"But…"

"Any vision is better than no vision." his voice was incredibly calm, and for some reason that terrified me. Nodding my head I flew through a few hand signs.

"'yakugan!" I whispered. The world around me lit up. For a brief moment I felt a little disoriented. I really should use my eyes more. I circled around the caravan trying to see as far into the forest as possible. Everything was quiet. I saw a few birds, but no people.

"Don't go any further than that." Sensei said as I stood at the edge of the dirt road. He didn't have to tell me twice. I was so scared. Another rather large explosion shook everyone, and I found myself covering my ears. Not because the sound hurt, but because it scared me.

Suck it up, princess.

"Where's Kenji?" Misao's voice trembled as he spoke. Ignoring the voice in my head I worked on calming my nerves. Forcing my hands off my ears I took a deep breath.

"Just wait." Sensei stayed calm. How was he staying so calm.

"He could be hurt!" I started to panic.

"And we are no good to him if we go crashing through the woods and get hurt as well. Now stay still, and stay calm." the commanding tone flipped a small switch in my head. While my fear came no where near to disappearing it lessened just a bit.

After what seemed like forever something caught the corner of my eye. Sarutobi-kun came crashing our way. He had a hand on his arm, and there was a weird jerk to his run. Worry swelled and despite Sensei's warning I ran to my team mate. Blinking once I deactivated my Byakugan. Relief flashed over his face. In a moment I had my arms around his shoulders and was guiding him back towards the caravan.

"There's three of them! I wasn't paying attention. I triggered a tag. The second one.. I don't.." his voice trailed off and an odd feeling settled at the base of my spine. Sarutobi-kun's head snapped to the side, and he shoved me rather forcefully to the side. A scream bubbled in the back of my throat as a blade came down, and imbedded in the ground where we had been standing.

Holy shit

I almost died!

"You have to be fucking kidding me." a voice growled. Shaking my head I turned to find myself staring into dark eyes. "They're just kids!"