Last night was a relief. Despite the awful revelations it confronted and absolved a past that always troubled me. When I was an inter-village ninja, when we were ostracised and when Kazumi disappeared, it was a hard time but it was a time that brought out the strength in us. Now I could look to my past and smile at how bright my future, my present has become. In all of it there was much to feel accomplished for. My friend Kazumi wasn't dead but an elite ANBU, though she suffered as a child she was independent as an adult and her powers had fully developed to reveal her as an owl not a spirit or demon. She commended me on my team, that they loved me as I loved her, that though we were alone as kids at least now I had a team and she had an ally in me.

I looked in the mirror before my big day out, our team eat out, and wondered. "When will I see you again my old friend?" In it, peering into my reflection I thought of her yet I also thought of myself. 'I have grown just as you have though our new strengths are different we are the same'. During the Chunin exams I developed my technique and my reputation as a ninja, but now with my past mended and the memory of my old friend smiling once more, I have grown internally. My inner self knows that you are strong, that I am strong, that the boy I see standing in front of me isn't hiding the child I have hidden within because that child and that boy are Ninja in their own right. "Thank you my old friend."

Kazumi was now on a secret mission to infiltrate an unknown organization. I could no longer utter her name. When we reunited last night we were protected by a genjutsu I was shielded from. A vortex of small feathers surrounded her in her flight, helping her escape the Leaf unseen just as our meeting had been. Our conversation was private between her and I, not even the Hokage could have seen her through the spell she cast. She was smart and her owl blood limit powerful, though I wonder if the Byakugan which is known for its ability to see through illusions could see through her jutsu. After all I am being tracked too, Neji's warning has always been in the back of my mind. That they are watching me, only the Great Kami knows just how closely. On the other hand if Kazumi's words were true, then the Hokage sent us to our deaths on that mission. She would not have expected us to survive; there would be no need for the Hyuuga to spy on a corpse.

Washing my face off of these thoughts I prepared for our day out. Strapping my Kunai Holster and ninja pouch to my leg and hip, we were going to train after, I headed out. If all goes well I want to see Kosuke to discuss my blood jutsu absorbing the emotions of my enemy as well as their chakra. As the oldest Genin in the Leaf, and secretly a member of my clan, he would know what to do and he wouldn't hold any prejudges against me for the sinister abilities of my blood. Kazumi's emotion easily overcame mine, so much so that my instinct wasn't to jump in front of Hakari but to save myself. The emotions of an Owl spirit I thought then, a hatred for everyone and her rejection fuelling her certainty that no one could understand her, make me care only for myself. I should have jumped out in front of Hakari, even if I wouldn't have been fast enough, thankfully Nari was there. Hopefully Kazumi is in a better state of mind now.

Out the door and down the road, Nasantot here I come…. Oh Wait! "Shippuden!" I forgot to tell Hakari and Amoroto where we are going to eat out, so much for waiting for them to arrive, well looks like I'll just have to go to them.

…

Argies, Chakra Kyuin Jutsu user of the Leaf, walked to Amoroto's place with his head held high. Ages taking his journey there first, though they excluded Amoroto often for last, because the younger boy was more likely awake. Making a Judgement considering their last early encounter, it seemed like Hakari enjoyed her sleep, though Argies had visited her at four in the morning. This time however their schedule was founded in reason, unlike Tensue's test confounded in madness, Argies reached Amoroto's house at the not too early time of half past six.

"*Knock Knock Knock* Morning anyone up?" he knocked on their vine covered door, their home looking as if it wasn't lived in but Argies wasn't there to offend. Stepping back from the door, because he knew what Amoroto's grandmother was like, he waited for a response.

"Who be a-knocking on my door?" It was the old lady Argies had figured was Amoroto's grandmother; though in hearing her elegant voice you wouldn't be able to distinguish her age, but Argies had remembered her hands… they were wrinkled.

"Argies Ages, Chunin Of The Leaf." He declared wondering how strange it was that when someone shows disrespects for you, you, being a normal person, compensate by show as much respect you can for them. "I'm here for Amoroto. If you would allow?"

"You be the one who promised to part a distance between he and his training, yet later to bed he be then before." The lady behind the door was talking about that night, that night Argies had came to her to find Amoroto's training spot. The disapproval in the ladies voice spoke of how thankful she was in her grandson's late returns home, thankful in that she wasn't at all pleased. Argies stood Hopeful that this wouldn't make her reluctant to open the door. "My grandson be traveling here soon, only wait and your need be gone."

"Your grandson? Who might that be and where is Amoroto, I don't see him around?" Argies looked around like a fool, taking in the Large mushrooms that clung to the bark of a nearby tree and the open path that passed by her home. It was evident that she did not see many visitors, and those who took the path past her home took it with reluctance or an ignorance never to pass that way again.

"It a fool or a trick of the mind?" She spoke to herself from behind the door, facing away from the Chunin on the opposite end as she cursed. "Youth, Amoroto is my grandson." Even though her words where slightly harsh, a hint of kindness could be felt in them.

Smiling and seeing the opportunity it was, Argies relaxed speaking more friendly than formal. "Agh so you are Amoroto's Grandmother, Granny Shizukana." He added Amoroto's surname hoping that this could be how he would address her.

"Agh… Shizukana" She said she thinking it over. "…and Ages it be is a family name?" The Chunin hummed with agreement. "Then I will call you child Ages." He could not be sure but he heard a smile in her words, delegating an understanding between the two.

"Funny enough Granny Shizukana, I have a friend I called Lee Child…" When she made no comment to concur with Argies reminiscence he corrected himself. "Yes I would like this, I will call you Granny Shizukana and you can call me Child Ages." The sudden reflection on his pet name for Lee brought to mind his friend, the ninja no more. Perhaps there would be time in the day for his friend Lee child, perhaps his surgery is already done and perhaps he is doing well.

Turning around from thought and the pleasantries Granny Shizukana was suddenly so interested to exchange, Argies heard the tune of a whistle coming from a familiar little ninja. "Amoroto!"

"Argies-san!" Amoroto held a bowl in his hand; he was collecting a strange assortment of mushrooms and herbs but he quickly put them down to greet his friend with an odd shift between hand shake and hug. Undecided on which to take Argies took the opportunity to welcome him into the morning with a bear hug, recalling that day so fresh in his memory. The day Lee Child had seen Argies on my jog through the village, that day Lee could not join him but instead watch with a plea, crippled by pride.

"Ok, finish up here and get ready. We are going to meet up with Hakari before going off to my favourite eating place." Argies picked up Amoroto's bowl of herbs and handed it to him. "Afterwards we'll do some training which I'm sure your Granny Shizukana won't mind." he winked at no one in particular, with no assurance she was even behind the door to catch at his joke seeing as she didn't like her grandson training …or whatever her mysterious hatred was...

"Agh Child Argies!" Granny Shizukana intoned disgruntled but again her smile could be heard, which made Argies smile and think in turn 'I wonder how I won her over.'

…

The next place for Argies to visit was his last stop. Hakari. Their home was always busy with activity, even before Amoroto and Argies got near they could hear the sound of breakfast being made.

With the door opened Hakari was already on her way out. "Hey Argies!" She beckoned cupping her hand and opening it in a cute mini wave, while Argies looked past her welcoming smile to the disapproval in the faces' of her brothers.

Not willing to meet the confrontation of their cupped fists' Argies remained formal as best he could. "Good morning Hakari Kessho, it pleases me to see you are up so early for our team arrangements."

"Ergh what?" Hakari followed Argies gaze, catching on to his sudden formalities with a smirk. "You Argies Ages said we would meet at seven 'o clock in the morning but you did not give us a destination to this point of meeting." She touched Argies nose with the point of her finger as she walked past "Silly goat." Which instantly make the young Ages blush and turn to face away from the audience of her family.

With that they were off, following the lead Argies made, the trio arrived at the soup shop of Nasantot.

"…And here we are, my favourite food place." Argies announced swaying his hands open to displace the glory of it. Still early in the morning there were only a few goer byes. An old couple sipping soup rather loudly seated behind one of the few tables setup outside the small shop. Some Bukijutsu ninja with their grimy weapons rested up against the counter after a morning bout of training, and most prevalent of all steam rising up from the hot cooking pots Nasantot prepared.

Looking over the scene unimpressed Hakari was about to open her mouth when the wafting smell of cooked meats and steaming vegetables hit her lips and cause her mouth to water."Mmm" She could not help to say, driven by the aromas she ignoring Argies and took a seat behind the counter in wait to order something warm to eat.

…

"Ha… agh I couldn't have said it better myself, come Amoroto lets join Hakari. Nasantot you have some good advertising here." I smiled at the soup chief who beamed a wide grin in my direction, swooping a ladle to open his arms in welcome.

"Agh if it isn't, Argies, Chunin of the Leaf." I couldn't help blush, I though only I said that. "Come, I have many treats prepared for today. Many, your friends will enjoy." He smiled at my present company, glad to have more customers. "Come, Order!"

I sat down with Hakari on my left and Amoroto on my right. "I'll have the sticky bean bun dumplings with extra mulberry sap, and ergh… Hakari what will you be ordering?"

Hakari looked at me rather sharply biting her lips. "Sticky Bean Bun Dumplings!" Her head shot back to look up at Nasantot, her expression fully animated. "I would like to order Sticky Bean bun Dumplings too, hmm but wait." She thought to reconsider suddenly looking very disappointed. "Could I have the bean dumplings to go instead. Right now I want a filling meal of Sweet and sour Chicken, beef and Broccoli with rice and chow main noodles." She settled back into her seat, her enthusiasm suspiciously squelched.

"Hmm" I hummed in question, eyeing Hakari before turning too Amoroto who looked blue in the face, he obviously didn't like ordering meals. I should have taken that into account given his shy indecisive personality. "Amoroto what would you like?"

"Are slugs on the menu?" Amoroto asked and I could not help but frown, he seemed genuinely concerned or interested… I wasn't sure which it was with the expression he had on his face, the way his lips curved they looked ready to quiver breaking the levee resulting in him breaking into tears. He caught my gaze and like a cat he dropped his head to peers his eyes over the counter up at me, too afraid that he had asked the wrong question and earned my disapproval. I couldn't help but imagine him saying Peekaboo and pouncing, so I thought it best to just ignore the weird behaviour of my team mate and pretend I couldn't see him.

Nasantot with a proud smile on his face, stooped down behind the counter and retrieved a frozen parcel "Slugs, yes, on the menu no. I will make something, special, just for you my friend." Nasantot got to work preparing our meal, the slugs popping as their met the heat of the frying pan.

At this Hakari turned a shade of green so I rested a hand against her shoulder and snorted. "Are you alright?"

"I'll be ok as long as Amoroto keeps them on his plate." She seemed recomposed from her earlier bean bun exasperations, which died down as quickly as they came… what was that?

Deciding that I couldn't simply ignore their sudden peculiarity I took my place as level headed leader. "Well this is defiantly a change, who knew my team mates were such weirdo's." I pulled Amoroto up by his jacket so that he was seated behind the counter rather than hiding under it and I squinted at Hakari, inhaling as I did…I thought she would be the sane one.

"Pssh" Hakari admonished "Don't think I haven't noticed all your quirks, you're basically the blood version of Shino. You talk funny and you are plan creepy."

She struck me with a back hand against my rips, which forced a jolt of air out of me that sounded like a laugh. Only I didn't find her accusation particularly funny, yet despite this a different insight distracted me from shunning her offence. "Ha, so you do know other people." I clicked my fingers with recognition. "Other ninja I mean. I mention Tenten the other day and you had no idea who I was speaking about."

"Tenten who?"

"Agh come on!"

"I know Tenten Argies sir." Amoroto spoke up. "She was an inspiration for me. Like her I didn't know any ninja skills until I developed my family jutsu later, but until then I battled to be of any use to my team. When she developed her own unique ninja style, her sealing arts and weapon expertise, she inspired me to train harder and strive to achieve my dreams."

Hakari blinked at Amoroto before punching him on the arm from behind my back, "Well, what are they? What are your dreams Amoroto?"

Amoroto rubbed his bruised arm, his cheeks turning a light shade of red. "I've always dreamed of being in a powerful team. To be the best Konohagakure has to offer."

I blushed slightly as well, Amoroto by his own words considers us a strong team. "Tss no need to feel embarrassed about that Amoroto. During our Sensei Test, when we introduced ourselves, you weren't exactly forthcoming with your personal dreams and inspirations. I am glad to see that you are confident enough in us to share them now." I nuzzled his hair with a hand and he pouted up to me clearly not enjoying the experience. "Hakari? You didn't reveal your dreams either did you?"

"Dude that was so long ago, like four days ago, how am I supposed to remember that junk?" Hakari brushed away at some none existent dirt on her shoulder before saying sheepishly. "Besides, you didn't exactly tell us your dreams did you."

"Ha so cute." Trying to wipe the smile off my face I dodged a punch, she did remember. "Well my dream is to gain power I can call my own. When my Guardians used to train me they would always account my progress as their hard work and my determination as the only attribute I possessed of my own free will. Now that they are gone…" I paused for a moment to find Hakari's hand fall softly on my shoulder, with a sigh I found the courage to carry on. "When my guardians left I promised I would gain strength so that I could find them with my own skills and determination combined."

Both Amoroto and I looked to Hakari expectantly, she couldn't leave us empty handed on this cliff hanger. Hakari failed to hide her smile eventually saying. "Alright alright, but no laughing." She looked at us dead serious, making sure we understood. "When I was younger, the only girl in my family of many brothers, I always wondered what it would be like if everyone was like me. Not in a narcissistic way but I wanted to find more people with the same ideals and feelings I had. I felt that if everyone was like me how much better would things run? As I got older that idea grew and developed into my dream. My dream is to be the leader of my own Village, to look after my people my way and to develop my own unique solutions to problems. I don't want to follow the same mistakes other ninja villages have made. I will not close off my boarders but instead I will invite in anyone willing to contribute, and so help them if they decide to take advantage of my kindness!"

I bulged my eyes. "Wow Hakari, that sends chills down my spine. Not just the full on tyrannical feel of it but the fact that your dream is so big! You make me want to dream bigger in a way I never thought of dreaming before. Not just thinking of myself or my village, but thinking outside of the walls of the Leaf. To gain power I can call my own and not for it to be taken advantage of by the Village that Rules me. If you go ahead making this Village, I want to be one of the first ninja you invite in. I want to contribute."

"Will you let me be a part of your Village too Hakari san?" Amoroto asked in doubt.

"You guys are so easy, of course I'll let you in. You are part of my team, you're like family." Hakari got in closer, scooting over onto my seat. "Come here you guys!" She bear hugged us into a team snuggle, to which Amoroto and I were in agreement in.

"Can't… breath…grip too… strong!"

"You babies are so cute when constricted." She let go, shrinking back down to her normal size… or at least that is how I pictured it, still recovering sense to my vision after the blackout inducing pressure.

"Shippuden you are strong, no wonder you can make men burst into flames just by looking at them."

"Did that really happen Hakari san?"

Hakari turned to face Amoroto, an evil grin on her face "Yes!" to which Amoroto gulped causing Hakari and I both to burst out laughing.

…

With the team in high spirits, Nasantot turned from the hot coals of his wood burning cooker with their meals ready. "Meal is real, come, eat and enjoy." He plated their foods right in front of them so that they could see the seasoned sauces and spicy herbs leave his cooking woks and lament delicious in front of them.

Hakari had her sweet and sour chicken crisped by the heat of the flames as they licked at the sides of the sugary sweet and lemony sour batter. Her rice and chow main noodles soaked in the taste of salted beef and broccoli creating a synergy of warmth that enhanced the meaty flavour.

Argies had his bean dumplings and freshly backed buns drizzled over with the thick white sap of a mulberry tree, the intoxicating aroma of steaming bun and creamy sweet tree sap mixed together the bite of hot paste beans and dumplings with a satisfying sizzle.

Amoroto's slug surprise presented a variety of mixed flavours, plated around their reverence of the dipping sauces at the centre of his plate. Crackling with the sound of morning bacon, salted creamed and buttered, it was a selection of flavours presented for a ninja with an uncertain variety of tastes for the delicate and soft buttery meats that slugs provided.

Before they could all dive in Nasantot held up his ladle ready to share his own personal traditions, "Ah my friend, I believe this is your first time you have brought your team here with you. Now it is not my mind to decide, but I would feel it trouble me if you did not ask the great Kami to bless your food before you eat together… under the roof of my shop, your first time. It is a ninja who never knows when they will see their friends or the light of day again."

Hakari and Amoroto looked to their leader and he without tribulation silently accepted the role. "Oh Great Kami, you who have created all things for us and allowed us life, we thank you for this food and the company of friends. Please bless this food, bless this team and grace us with the fruition of our dreams and in your mercy hear and answer our pleas if ever we are to fall in battle." Looking around at his team, who had their hands pressed together and their heads bowed Argies concluded. "Let it be."

Together they cracked their chop sticks apart and thanked Nasantot with gratitude, "Thank you for the meal." before digging in as they initially intended. Nasantot, with his hands on his hips, smiled before turning back to prepare further meals for the rest of his customers. In his mind he knew the truth of death in battle and he was glad he interrupted them and that Argies had asked the Great Kami for mercy. For too few ninja teams survive outside the walls of the Leaf long enough to be able to enjoy their retirement together, and Nasantot preferred his customers' to have happy tales to tell.

"Hey Argies?" Hakari asked between a bite of noodles and beef, her noodles still in the process of being slurped. "How did you learn to pray so well?"

"Egh" Argies cracked his left wrist unsure. "I don't know, just in the moment I guess? The only knowledge I have of the Great Kami is in a book I found."

"Hahaha" Hakari shut her eyes in laughter, the noodles making an effort to come out of her nose in the process. "You should introduce us to these books of yours, they keep popping up in conversation."

"It's quite an interesting read. It basically says that the Great Kami is dead, but it also explains where Chakra comes from and why not everyone is able to use it." Argies felt awkward speaking between his two team mates, feeling he had to share the conversation between them turning his head from side to side as he spoke. "Do you guys make research part of your ninja training too?"

Hakari stirred up another clump of noodles in preparation for slurping, enjoying the sound of it as much as the taste. "Not really, but I enjoy reading the odd book or two. I don't mind if it is fiction or none, as long as I have an interest in what I am reading." She summed up the general idea of reading, which was not an attack on Argies research ninja training but rather a statement of her likes. "I read for fun."

Amoroto took a break between bites to dip a particularly big slug in a cheesy sauce, trying each unique combination one by one; giving the chance for the flavours to soak before opening his mouth. "I read a lot" His voice quivered as he cracked it into conversation. "When I was still learning my clan singing technique I had to study all our family songs. There were many powerful songs I couldn't sing but I learnt most of the ones I don't carry, off by heart."

Argies voice turned a rock hard serious tone. "You mean to say there are more powerful songs than the ones we have seen you use?"

"Yes why?"

Argies cracked his wrist again in his right hand, bringing his left hand up in front of him to partly hide his unease. "That reminds me, we are going to spar after this meal. Before then we need to set the rules on what goes in an all-out fight. Amoroto since you only have your song ninjutsu as your ninja technique, how can you insure us you won't kill everyone with a spelling mistake?"

Amoroto gulped down the large slug steeped in the marinade of their conversation. "I have passive songs, my pray seals are already written and most of them are none lethal. When I empower them with chakra they activate just like a ninjutsu technique without me having to sing."

Hakari hummed before slurping down the remainder of her noodles. "What about you Argies? Your technique isn't exactly ally friendly."

Argies bit his lip before taking a bite out of a bean dumpling, thinking on their reaction if they knew he had already used his blood on them during their Sensei's test. "My technique only burns the skin when I absorb a lot of chakra, in a spar it would be unlikely that that would be the case. What of your instant combustion technique, don't tell me you didn't find it a little strange that guy burst into flames right when you were looking at him?"

Hakari looked away before looking back, confronting the situation. "I don't know, maybe a team spar is a bad idea after all we are still exploring our powers. Maybe instead we should practise on straw dummies?" Hakari out of the group wanted to spar the most, but she was level headed as well, she would not risk the accidently injury of a team mate.

Amoroto looking at the disappointment on Hakari's face and the unease on Argies, straightened and perked up his personality. "Hey th-at will be fun!" He choked on saying, he was willing to cheer up his team mates but his shy personality conflicted with his desire, still he continued on. "We, we could make a g-game out of it to see who can kill the most straw men the fastest?"

At this Hakari smiled mischievously and Argies washed away his concerns of be taken out of existence by Amoroto's song; they finished off their meals in a hurry, eager to meet the challenge.

…

It was a long journey to their training grounds, not because the conversation wasn't free flowing but because their training grounds were so far into the forests it was an unusual distant from the Leaf. This had been the very same reason why Argies was suspicious of Tensue's Sensei test, that perhaps the crazy medical ninja's intentions weren't at all to train them but to dissect them as part of his studies. When they arrived they found many warning signs posted in the ground and pinned to nearby trees, so many signs that they began to fear that perhaps they were in the wrong place.

"This is the correct path to the Training grounds, right Hakari?" Argies asked over his shoulder as he surveyed all the many signs stung down their path and across the stretch of woods.

Hakari, who had remembered to bring a map to the location, squinted at the Northern point marked on her map and the position they were according to her compass and visible land marks. "Yes this is the place Argies, according to the map and if my memory is anything to go on I remember us taking this path on the way out, but…" She looked around at the signs. "These weren't here before, maybe something's changed. It could be that this area is restricted now." Argies made a dismissive sound, surely unhappy about that possibility and what it meant for their teams training grounds.

Amoroto stepped in to take a closer look at one of the many sign posts. He decided to read it out loud as it seemed that his team was oblivious to the warnings. "'These areas are restricted to only medical ninja. Please leave the area at once and respect our privacy'" He turned his head up to see if anyone was listening, but his team seemed more concerned about their restricted training grounds and where that left them. Walking over to another sign he read out loud again. "'Medical Ninja Only. Trespassers will be molecularly disembowelled'" Finding another sign. "'It is imperative that you do not approach the grounds when you can hear the sound of conflict or the continuity of battle.'" Deciding his conclusion was sound Amoroto drew the attention of his team. "Argies san, Hakari san, these signs, I think they were written by our Sensei. 'Medical ninja only', isn't that why Tensue wanted us? Aren't we medical ninja?"

Argies frown, his mind stumbling to find his hand on his chin in thought. "No ergh… we. Tensue. Hmm you may have a point."

"Tsh" Hakari concurred, shaking her head incredulously. "Tensue said he wants to train us to be medical Ninja, even though we don't have any healing arts he is a medical ninja." Hakari walked over to flick Argies nose, gaining his attention. "I'm blaming you, you said his weird and dangerous but you never said he was crazy."

Argies mockingly cracked his nose back into position. "Ow" Pinching his nose his voice waned with the sound of congestion. "Well… training it is then, at least this way we won't be disturbed."

Hakari pushed him aside with a laugh but then said in all seriousness. "Now who brought the training dummies?"

…

We ended up making our own poorly constructed dummies, out of the lot I think I succeeded at making the worst dummies while Hakari's and Amoroto's at least had that distinct human shape. I supposed it could be because I didn't have much use for training dummies. My abilities were to absorb chakra from blood not straw, still it gave me the chance to use the enhanced impact density chakra punch my Aunt taught me. Maybe this time I could develop it into a kick or something more.

We each had our own individual army of dummies in front of us in a triangle formation that thickened out towards the rear. Knocking them off row by row would be fun.

"Alright everyone ready?" I held my hand up like we were standing before the beginning line of a tracking hound challenge. "Get set…GO!"

Instantly I jumped to the first straw dummy, fisting it to pieces. Looking around at the others I was lagging behind, so for the next dummy I chakra burst the short distance to it and punched it to death too. The next straw figure and I was at least two corpses behind everyone else. I flared up my impact density punch, which increased the radius of my punches but slowed down my speed, and one shot it to death. Straw flew everywhere as we attacked our motionless opponents, so much straw was flung up that it partly blocked the sun and filled the air with the faint odour of dry grass.

In total we each had sixteen dummies and I was doing a poor job of eliminating them all. Deciding I couldn't lose I tried forming the impact density punch around my feet instead. Creating a film of chakra to unnatural thicken the impact area of my kicks, I tried the first dummy. Lifting my leg to kick its head off, but found that the wind resistance throw me off balance. I tried it again but this time I only formed the chakra enhancer moments before my foot hit the head. Yes that is it!

I should have known that was the trick to forming it, Anisue taught me to only use the enhancer when I knew my punches would be successfully met with the enemy. That is what I have to practise; having the intuition to activate the enhancer the Nano second I know my attacks will succeed.

…

Argies san and Hakari san are both very strong but I know I can show them I have strength too. I won't use my song styles; I'll show them that I can be a ninja just like them without relying on writing songs before battle. I can't delay while they destroy their targets, I have to rely on my passive songs, my pray seals. They are right, they can't wait for me to write a song before I attack. I have to show them that I can perform quick attacks. I am a ninja of the Shizukana family, a ninja of the Leaf, of my team I have the most field experience inside and out the Village.

I can do this, I know I can, but what if… and then… they will never respect me again… oh no what Have I done! I should have never encouraged them to play this game, but it's too late now.

Why me.

"Alright everyone ready? Get set…GO!"

Empowering one of the pray seals at my hip, the thread floated up in front of me and began to chime with a translucent blue. I targeted my first dummy and began boxing at the wind in front of me. My fists, though they did not make direct contact with the straw man, impacted the straw dummy and he fell. I used my chakra to latch onto the next man, he was further away and it was a little harder to find him with my chakra. Again I dismantled the frame of the straw body, assaulting the figure until it fell to pieces. It was easy enough for me to take apart the first row one straw man at a time, but the next row was further back. I couldn't see my chakra until I hooked it around a dummy and the straw gained a light glow of chakra blue.

This would be my challenge, I might not be able to beat my team but the least I can do for them is improve who I am as a ninja. I will improve my ability to use my pray seals and I will learn better focus and control over my inspiritment of others. I can't fail my duty to my team, I just can't… not again.

In all the other teams I've ever been in I was always treated like the genjutsu ninja. Reserved from fighting but used in order to thin out the number of the weaker enemies. That was what Genjutsu was for, it was a very useful technique in that it could eliminate weaker shinobi so that your team wouldn't have to waste their energy on them. At the same time it would help a team quickly identify stronger threats who were able to overcome the spell of illusion techniques. Argies and Hakari san didn't think of me that way because they see me as weak, yet it is in this weakness that they have granted me a freedom no one else has. They are treating me like a normal ninja, they want me to fight with them, they aren't excluding me from battle. They don't think I'm too precious to lose and that is the greatest kindness any team has ever showed me. Now I can train to be a real ninja.

…

It is not easy being the strongest in the team, Argies might thing he is the leader but on the front line I'm the only hand to hand combatant he's got. Argies is a midrange shinobi, even though his taijutsu isn't half bad it didn't have enough speed to beat Neji. Amoroto, though we haven't seen much of his skill yet, seems to be the special kind of shinobi typically reserved from the battle field for special long ranged assaults. Me? I'm definitely the kind of girl who gets in your face and smashes it in, though I could do long range easily with my crystal style.

"Alright everyone ready? Get set…GO!"

With my crystal in hand, I swung it off my back and crushed my first target! Who said I can't use my crystal rock as a weapon in on itself, at least this way I can conserve a little chakra. It would be cool if I found a way to mould the whole thing into a Giant sword, but nah let's leave that for another day. Pitting the ground I slammed my crystal into the earth and used it as a dais in order to mould my special kind of explosives. Casting out my crystals into my targets; A barrage of crystal rock all grouping off and selecting single straw figures, collided and began to glow. Kaboom!

When I charge my crystals with a special tune of charka, they become unstable, adding more crystals to the mix sets off an explosion. I've never been able to use it on a real enemy, shippuden D rank missions, but if I could it would mean double damage for my victims; getting stabbed and then death blown when the reaction goes off. Still it is nothing more severe than getting hook knifed by a kunai strung to paper bombs. As a comparison paper bombs would actually be better because every kunai would have one, resulting in more than just a single explosion. Crystal in my opinion are still good though, for one the enemy wouldn't expect them to explode, ninja chop sticks they probably wouldn't expect that they could be thrown! Giving me a massive advantage at the beginning of a fight, and because I'm a tricky vixen I could use it as an unexpected trap. Just when the enemy thinks they are lucky it will turn out they aren't.

Boom!

Exactly, I don't have to aim directly for my enemy and the resulting explosion will still kill them anyway. The only thing I have to worry about now is friendly fire, can't have a stray shard of crystal killing Argies or Amoroto before I get the chance. Focused grouping that should do the trick.

Kapow!

That's a little better but I can do even better, the more focused the impact it seems the greater the chance that there is no crystal to spit out; just pure boom. I should probably work on a name for this technique before I win the game, but until then I might as well concentrate on improving this new skill. This will be my challenge, saving up enough straw figures in order to perfect my crystal explosives and maybe not kill my comrades in the process.

Growing up in a family as large as mine wasn't easy, but I'm not complaining. I might not be as cool and resilient as I am if it wasn't for the crowd at home. There are many benefits being the only girl too, first off it is easy to get anything you want with just the right amount of pout and eye lashes. Second is the fact that for some reason boys think that you are incapable of doing anything for yourself. I learnt from a young age that the fault in a person's estimation is an asset to you. That is how I developed quite a notorious career as a tracker of the ninja hospital patients. They might have been way above my rank but their underestimation of my ability made their escape tactics worthless. It helps that our family has a broad understanding on what makes a good ninja. My brothers all branched out on their own personal endeavours into their ninja careers, taking up tracking, poisons, trapping, ninja hounds, special ninjutsu and the likes of the obscurest techniques around. It was a given understanding in my family that if you could make a skill work it didn't matter how out of the ordinary it was. That in a way is what I am, I'm out of the ordinary and I'm going to keep on learning new and different skills to prove it.

…

Transfixed by the beauty in her eyes, the sweat on her brow, the arch of her back as she stood drawing breath in and the steamy red touch to her face, I lay wasted in a field of stray straw. Both Amoroto and I had collapsed after our challenge was done, overwhelmed by the quick over exhaustion our small game played into our bodies and chakra. Nothing more than a parting break between invigorated and spent, it was a rush to a victory we each had accomplished in our own way. The glaives of downed leaves and swaying grass lands hushed to the sound of our pant for the breaths we laboured for. The victor, Hakari, still stood though her hands were on her knees and yes it was true she was tired as well.

With our men of straw scattered to the wind and our team left idle to catch lost breaths, Hakari huffed to say. "Hey that was great, *Pant* now that we have proven we can kill straw men without any friendly casualties, how about a team spar but without chakra?" I suppose she added that limitation seeing as we had confirmed our earlier suspicions. There was no easy way for ninja to test their ninjutsu without possible maiming or killing their opponents.

I watched from the corner of my eye, the morning light, the orange glow of the sun, and Hakari with her hands on her knees recovering her breath. "You can't be serious?" She turned and shot me a glare, a passing wind blowing browned leaves through the wake of her ferocity. "Ok a team spar, but could we have a break first?" She nodded and walked off to her pack. Out of her ears' reach I turned to Amoroto who lay flat on his back staring up at the sky in exasperation with his fatigue "Well Amoroto, seems like Hakari is determined to kill us with these training exercises."

Not facing me he said to the sky. "It is better her Argies sir than the enemy VS an unfit ninja."

I couldn't help chuckle to Amoroto's remark, in a way he was challenging my authority. "Agh I see, so you think I'm unfit hey?" Instantly he turned to me, worry in his eyes, but I jumped up and ignored his worry. Instead I offered him a hand "This is a good challenge Amoroto, it means you are growing to be a ninja in your own right. I would never discourage you from follow the heart of your own desire. In battle it is your will that drives fear into the hearts of the enemy, only you can express your determination to victory."

Amoroto looked away from my hand offered, seeming lost to my logic or maybe just a little embarrassed to admit any offence, but finding I held no grudge against him and with no way of avoiding my hand he took my offer. "Thank you Argies san."

…

Hakari settled her back against a tree, sitting down she cleared a place for them all to sit. "Hey get over here!" she shouted once their picnic spot was set.

"Well looks like the boss is calling." Argies scoffed in whisper to Amoroto but then grinned just as quickly with a bead of sweat running down his face. "You don't think she heard do you?" his voice quivering nervously to let out a sigh of relief in sight of Amoroto shaking head. "Good"

"What's good Argies?" Hakari asked, making Argies jump.

"Nothing, nothing at all!"

"Right…"She dragged. "Well then get over here silly we can share the dumplings you bought. I didn't order take away for nothing."

"Agh I was wondering why I had to pay that extra bit of yen, and here I thought my grudge was with Amoroto and his slugs." Argies looked down on Amoroto who shrunk despite the humour in Argies voice. "At least now I know exactly who will be paying for the next team meal." Sitting down he grabbed a bite of bean bun to find Hakari's rock under his bottom. "Ouch! Hey you did that on purpose!"

Hakari smiled patting the ground next to her, assuring Amoroto he wouldn't find the same surprise. "I'm not denying or confirming anything, besides I didn't have to share my buns or this glorious tree sap with you." She poured a little of the bottled sap into her mouth and shivered with the ecstasy of its sweetness.

Removing the rock from his posterior and feeling out the ground for any more, Argies plotted revenge. "Hakari, you and Amoroto were acting pretty strange today… or is that just how you two normally react to bean buns and menus?"

"I can explain" Hakari pouted breaking eye contact, looking quite guilty for no apparent reason. Finally she said with pride. "I am like a jack rabbit on roids when I take anything with sugar. Most restaurants know me by name and hid the sugar sashays when I arrive. Sugar highs are my best friend and that concludes my team confession. Amoroto it's your turn, what is your deal with slugs?" She was quick to pass the truth stick which she quickly picked up off the ground as to match her sudden gist of things. "Truth stick you turn Amoroto!" She declared as if to wash away any questions they might have and rush to the next topic.

Amoroto's reaction however was quite obvious, reacting to the stick handed to him like it was on fire. He wasn't looking forward to his confession but conceded to futility. "Ergh well I the thing is... but you… and I and that is why." He looked around, seated as they were with Argies on the other side of Hakari it wouldn't be as easy to pass on the burdens of his confession as she had. Defeated he let out a heavy sighed. "I ordered slugs to help heal any damage to my throat that singing may do, you see the slug slime has healing agents and…" He paused since Hakari let out a small squeak but continued. "Although none of that slime would make it to my vocal cords it is thought to be for good health and healing throughout the body; Preventing ulcers from forming and preserving the singer's voice."

Making it easier on Amoroto Argies slipped in closer to form a circle, taking the stick that was quickly shoved into his lap. "Team confession hey, sounds good. Well it's my turn now and although I can't reveal every secret I have I will tell you the ones just about me." The others looked at him with a squint of distrust in their eyes, ignoring this, Argies continued. "Every ninja has their burdens, if my burden has to be secrets then let that be. Now you guys might not have noticed this but of all of us I ate the least. This is my confession. My blood ability not only absorbs more chakra than the average ninja but also more nutrition. My body is able to hold greater reserves of fuel and as a result I don't eat much, hence why I only ordered the bean buns."

"Every secret you have?" Hakari chuckled. "It would be a good idea never to repeat it like that again Argies, it makes it sound like you have a lot to tell. Some people might not be able to resist the temptation and end up torturing your for answers."

Reflecting in his mind Argies remembered the torture expert Ibiki, dragging out the wait before his reply to Hakari's jest "Hmm. If I read between the lines, doesn't that mean you want to torture me for answers? That is awfully disconcerting confession Hakari-san." He concluded with a formality which made Hakari fold her arms and squint in objection to his jest.

"Hugh!" Hakari added in good humour. "So what I like torture, you have a problem with that…"

"Does that mean Argies sir that you can absorb nutrition from ninja too?" Amoroto interjected

"I have"

"That's a little gross" Amoroto's face turned a shade of blue and green.

"So is using your blood as a weapon" Hakari added, which only made Amoroto look all the more colourful.

"True true" Argies gave his half smiled. "I've got so many off putting qualities about my ninja ability that I've lost count, all the more reason for them to avoid me in a fight."

Amoroto recovered from the thought of how Argies abilities work, only to look distant as he said. "You know despite being a team we know very little about each other"

"Well, what do you want?" Hakari leaned back retrieving more bean buns, her brows bunched. "We've already done the whole introduction thing."

Taking the food handed to him Argies grimaced. "I suppose it will just take time to get used to all the little quirks."

Taking the comment off hand Hakari grabbed another bean bun for herself saying. "Quirks are what make a person unique. They make us us. Hey the way I figure it, the more quirks a person has the more personality they really have. There's nothing more to it."

"I suppose"

"Think about it, what would Amoroto be if he wasn't so fractured"

"Hey why did you have to use me as an example!"

"See what I mean, that sort of behaviour would be normal from anyone else but when Amoroto does it he says it with a courage that the brave can't buy. Being meek is like his blood limit, his Kekkai Genkai."

"What about you? Short stuff, doesn't that conflict with your desire to be a ninja?"

After dishing out a punch Hakari considered it. "At first yes, being short was a pretty evident flaw when I was still in the ninja academy, but… There are advantages to it too that I bet no other ninja can afford. For instance because of my crystal style I don't need to relay on my body creating and storing chakra, all the chakra I need and use is right here with me in the form of my crystal rock. Sure that can be lost like in the encounter with the HFO(Human Faced Owl) but it also means I don't get chakra exhausted as easily as the average ninja. Probably why I beat you guys in our competition" She grinned.

"Huh, well then I concede." Cracking both his wrists Argies stood up. "Quirks are a good thing, if they mean you can grow and develop a different approach to being a person then yes they are very useful. In our ninja life being distinguished as being different likely means no one knows how to counter us in battle. A good thing indeed, however outside of battle that just leaves me with a very confusing bunch of friends and a lot more work needed for us to form a healthy relationship."

Taking Argies hand Hakari stood up saying with confidence. "A few more bumps and thumps and I'm sure we will turn out great." Which only made Argies shudder, they were making him regret being promoted to Chunin.

"Ready for the team spar?" Hakari asked Amoroto and Argies as she leaped back into the clearing.

It was then in that moment that barks of an unexpected party met to confront them.

"Hey! What are you doing here? This area is restricted to Medical ninja only!"

"Fresh out the academy and breaking the rules already, I'm sure we can find a suitable punishment."

"Yeah, I think it's time to teach them a lesson."

…