Chapter 35

First.

Add a pinch of Zombie with one litre of insomnia. Bake for 48 hours on the couch as you watch the daylight break and the Duckling descend to the living room to make breakfast. Take note to nod then ignore the ramblings of said overprotective teammate.

Second.

Pour smidgens of attention to visitors, Sunshine, Kakashi Sensei, and Shikamaru. Beat furiously at the brush on the scroll papers whilst defending against continuous threats of if-you-don't-rest-now-I'll-knock-you-out-myself, from a multitude of individuals. Bury nose into scroll, nibble Ducklings sandwich and make a pleased sound praising his cooking to appease his angriness. When all fails, feign ignorance.

Third.

Let the head splitting headache cool for indefinite minutes by doing complicated arithmetical linguistic juggles and attempting one of the hardest feats of Fūinjutsu- soul transfer. Let the stress and hopelessness escalate to create the finished product of one mental breakdown.

The last thing she remembered was Sasuke and Shikamaru double teaming on her forcing her to sleep. Her eyes felt dry as she blinked them-propping up on the sofa with crazy bed hair and smelling like parchment.

Cautiously she looked up and surveyed the area. The surrounding area of Sasuke's living room had a strong smell of ink and an explosion of scrolls as she sat in the middle of it all. She starts rummaging for a brush and scroll again and froze as a voice behind her said,

"Siata. Spar with me."

Come now or I'll rip your scrolls to shreds.

"O-kay, just let me-"

Cue Ducking's glare of entitlement for reprimanding irresponsible team-mate.

Her fingers twitched towards the scroll parchment and slowly turned to point at the kitchen.

"-have some breakfast?"
I love your cooking Duckling. I would never be irresponsible with my health. Please go easy on me in the spar.

"Hn."

Answer to question1: it's a given. 2: I don't trust you. 3: you deserve worse.

Siata slumped.

Duckling made his way to the kitchen and clattered some dishes and carefully set up the food, signalling for her to come. She obeyed and ate heads down. Eyes flinched slightly from the groans of her inner zombie acting up again. Sasuke just watched silently with nothing to say, and simply finished up doing the dishes.

After the massacar and becoming the only blood relative they now had in the village, this somehow made eachother become a more special person towards eachother. Even just that the other person was alive and moving around in each others space was quietly relaxing.

It was a poor shadow in comparison to the families they once had before. But just that lone person that was your true blood relative- that they were alive, made eachother feel like they weren't so alone in the world. Like they had someone to fall back on and go to when things got really bad – a family member you can rely on.

She felt it more when she saw Shikamaru's perfect family-Naruto probably felt similarly to her when he saw the Nara's. Kakashi sensei who was like the official caregiver or parent for us, she could tell they were really growing on him as part of his family too. She was sure all of team 7 all felt the same. That was also probably why the team bonded together- because they really were each other's family- and had no one else.

She smiled slightly as she listened to Sasuke quietly wash the dishes, watching his back.

He turned noticing her stare and turned his head back

"What?"

"Mnn nothing. Just appreciating you in my life. Carry on."

Duckling flinched, his eyes flickered and died with some unknown emotion. She noticed his slight redness and smirked recognising it for happyness. Then he turned to continue to do the dishes. After a long silence he said.

"-on't play fair sometimes."

Siata stopped in the middle of several bites into her tofu "Mphfm?"

"…I meant… thank you."

She perked up and grinned but didn't reply. She knew if she tried responding to it he'd clamp up and get all uncomfortable- the Uchiha in him would start rolling on the ground from an anaphylactic seizure from too much emotional exposure.

She simply finished her breakfast then took the dishes to him and nudged his side with hers. Splitting a grin. He blinked and gave a small smirk back.

Then glared at her to go outside and train for a breather instead of holing up inside his living room couch.

She groaned flicking around to find Kakashi sensei patting the seat next to him already ready to help her through the arm exercises, sensory practice, and after that, tanto exercises.

When he was through with her, she went to practice the soul dispersal alone while Kakashi sensei continued to perfect Sasuke's techniques on the Chidori.

The background noise of the Zombie skill made her shudder at times but for now she'd have to deal with it.

She took a break. Sasuke cooked lunch.

Absently she remembered something while thinking of Naruto. She summoned Toto.

"Tell Naruto to give medicine to Hinata and invite her to eat and train with us as well."

There. She was so proud of herself that she'd remembered them. Afterall she had a keen sense about these kind of things. Romance. Seriously Naruto was hopeless in this department. To the point she often wondered. How could anyone be so thick?! He'd need the master to step in. Herself. Honestly what would the little Sunshine do without her.

She beamed proud of herself further when a few hours later Naruto arrived with a blushing red about-to-combust-and-faint Hinata.

More training happens. Food happens. Siata converts back to working on her scrolls and endless calculations and puzzles.

That's how Shikamaru finds her at dinner. In Sasuke's living room inside a pile of scrolls mumbling over something to herself wearing a crumbled yukata, with smudges of ink on her cheek arms and legs. She looked up from underneath her unruly hair.

"Shika," Her face brightened up when she saw him.

He was caught off guard by the sudden smile, stopping then stared. How could this hermit of a girl inside this pile of mess make him this way. It was hopeless. He forgot what he'd planned to ask her as his heart dashed into a sprint.

Shikamaru managed a smile back and barely tore his eyes away to slowly roam his eyes around the entire mess she's made. She explained.

"I ran out of scrolls, so I've been staying at Sasuke's for supplies. He has a bigger training ground for like 5 teams anyway so it's convenient."

Siata shrugged and looked towards outside where Shikamaru nodded seeing Naruto and Sasuke training with Kakashi.

Then paused. Realising something.

"…did you sleep over at this house last night?"

"Hmm? Yeah."

"…"

Shika temporarily lost his words again while Siata continued to glare at a particular part of the seal and scribble something. Oblivious to the shadow looming over her.

"Are you going to stay here tonight as well?"

"Hmm. Yeah."

"How long are you planning on sleeping at Sasuke's?"

"Hmm. Yeah."

"Siata."

Sensing his tone shift, she looked up- attentive and curious.

"Yeah?"

"How long. Are you going to stay over at his place?"

She blinked like she had never thought this through. Like staying over at Sasuke's house for an indefinite amount of time was never a question in her mind to be conflicting over. Let alone be wary of.

"Hmm. Well I'm not leaving until I complete this. I need to complete the soul transfer seal ASAP…"

She leaned into him a bit when Shikamaru came to hold her from behind. He rested his head on her shoulders.

"Hey, don't worry Shika."
"Oh? And what does my Siata think I'm worried about?"

Siata turned to him with a serious determined look.

"Obviously you think I'm attempting the impossible by trying to complete my unique soul transfer jutsu. I get it. I'm green, and I admit I'm getting angry and disappointed at myself for failing so many times. But I just need to take one more step and another one slowly and I'll get this Shika. Believe me. I'm going to finish this seal no matter what. I don't care how much I fail anymore. Or how long it'll take me. I'm just going to keep trying."

Shikamaru was stunned. Stunned.

How could this girl miss the point so completely. But also be so incredibly detailed and focused at the same time. All he could to was take a moment then give in to the fact that- this. Was just Siata.

"I know. I know you'll make it through." Shikamaru said.

"You…do?"

"Yeah," he tightened his arms on her stomach and didn't say anything for a while. Siata relaxed into him pleased, and continued to scribble.

Shikamaru finally seemed to decide on something.

"…you know I was thinking. You said this place is big enough for five teams?"

Shikamaru found Sasuke's training grounds very accommodating, to the point where he felt he must sleep over as well.

As well as his entire team.

Then promptly decided to invite his said entire team to come train here as well- and mass training happens. It almost felt like a special training camp.

Sasuke's private training grounds were just that big. Big enough for everyone to train. Ino drills through some taijutsu, while Choji does his muscle training. Shikamaru sparring with Sasuke while Naruto spars with Hinata as they rotate. Meanwhile Siata scribbles away some more at the soul transfer seal.

Later on, their irrespective teachers- Kakashi, Asuma, and freaken Jiraiya, comes and they decide to teach them here since the atmosphere is nice. Instead of going away somewhere to train.

Siata sort of can't help staring at Jiraiya in real life. He's much more intimidating in the force of his presence than the anime portrayed him. His movements were polished and seasoned. She had the honour of having him look at some of her seals as well as the current one she was working on.

"Impressive- this is a new sealing language you've created? Engurish was it?" Jiraiya stared at the soul transfer seal that was making no progress.

"I can give you some tips," said Jiraiya.

Siata beamed wide in excitement and watched over Jiraiya's shoulder- star struck and completely honoured, while cuddling Naruto. Whispering to him about his incredible sensei and thanking him.

She watched Jiraiya's every move and hung on his every word and logical explanation on things. His guidance, resources, and ideas were ridiculously helpful in restructuring her work so far and cutting out the unnecessary tangents she'd gone into- making her able to effectively start working on the parts of the seal that would truly make some progress.

And now? It was starting to make more and more sense to her what she needed to do to complete this. She almost cried in happiness that she'd received this priceless feedback.

She thanked Jiraiya in full sincerity, who bellowed wide and gave her an encouraging pat on the head. And she squished Sunshine into another excited thank you again.

Naruto laughed and snuggled in, happy he'd helped. That was the thing sometimes. Naruto and her, they had such different tastes and personalities.

She was calmly serious (unlike Duckling who was angsty serious- big difference). And casually humoured herself and others, while Naruto was an excited ball of energy clusters that slammed out laughter and smiles by the tonnes.

Despite this they always seemed to connect to each other in some way – it was awesome. And a kind of warm feeling. They were family afterall. And both of them liked snuggles- unlike the Duckling who she knew secretly did but wouldn't stand for it on a day to day basis.

Hinata was also doing quite well- she had some very impressive taijutsu moves that the boys had trouble over. Hinata smiled a bit amazed and a bit more sure of herself at that last punch she did. Then got into position again as Kakashi hummed and sparred with her a while longer.

Everyone trains until night and sleeps there at Sasuke's house- the clan heads compound was afterall- massive and easily accommodated team Kakashi, team Asuma, Hinata and Jiriya. It really did feel like a high school sports 'training camp'.

At night she chatted with the girls and felt she got a lot closer to Ino and Hinata. There was a different kind of comfort to being with girls that you didn't get when surrounded by a male dominated team.

They got washed up together and shared about what creams they were using. Complimented eachother and fell down on the futons close together in the dim room smelling like soap and sighing in relief as their muscles relaxed.

They chatted about their training and goals and how their family was doing and what their teachers were like as well as many many other things into the night.

And still, when the moon rose, Siata couldn't sleep and quietly slipped away from the bedrooms. And downstairs to the living room again. Plopping herself down in the sofa with a brush and scroll in hand. She need to finish this soul transfer scroll fast.

The night went on and Jiraiya who tried sneaking out to peek on some ladies found her and helps out more.

Jiraiya also put on a restriction seal on her so that she was more separated from the other Soul's consciousness and could mentally black out it's groans, giving her some peace of mind.

After that some time passes. Shikamaru somehow finds out and comes downstairs with the wind following him. He tells her to go to bed and she wants to badly but tells him she was so close. No distractions and refuses him, scribbling away.

"Sorry" Siata added on weakly, feeling so tired.

"Mnn.. you can do it." Shikamaru said quietly hugging her, and Siata's heart jolts a bit. She nods and leans into him grateful, giving him another rare warm smile. He leans in and watches her scribble away some more until it gets too late and then he starts nodding off on her shoulder stubbornly refusing to let go of her hips when she nudged him to go and rest.

When his eyes start drooping she chuckles and supports him upstairs to sleep. He tries groggily pulling her to bed with him, but she gives his hand a small clench for strength instead. Then she carefully walked downstairs again to work on the seal and somehow end up falling asleep.

The next morning they all eat together and shower.

"Thank you Sasuke-kun. The food is delicious." Hinata smiled kindly and Sasuke nodded.

"Yeah the miso is high quality!" Choji burped entirely satisfied.

"You're the best Sasuke-kun! SOOOOOO talented you'd be a perfect husband someday!" Ino smiled wide and ate her portion.

"Hey Sasuke, can I have seconds?" Naruto held out his rice bowl.

"No dobe. That's your fourth bowl."

"Teme! Can't you tell I've been training so hard on my summoning Jutsu?! I need food!"

"Jiriya also gave me a snake summons to work on so we're in the same condition dobe. My house my rules. And I'm going to form a contract faster than you." Said Sasuke

"No way! I'm gonna!" Naruto slammed the table

That was another thing that had changed. Jiriya probably saw the resemblance of Oruchimaru in Sasuke and had rummaged through the old archives in Konoha that belonged to the Sanin and conjured up a snake summoning scroll for him. Now Naruto and Sasuke were in a competition- motivating themselves to summon a great summons first.

Siata chewed on her piece of fish and sat beside Shikamaru who yawned and scratched his back while eyeing the food. She gave him some seaweed to wrap his rice with and he thanked her.

He was definatly not a morning person she split a grin entirely amused as Shikamaru fumbled to pick up his anchovies with his chopsticks for the fourth time.

She quietly thought the Uchiha compound probably had never been this loud and bustling with chatter and laughter and friends from different clans and backgrounds before.

Siata caught Sasuke's eyes as he glanced around his kitchen table in a sort of quiet content and realisation. When our eyes met he knew, and she knew they'd been thinking the same thing and grinned. It was good to have friends. It was nice the hauntingly silent house wasn't so silent.

Soon afterwards, the Sensei's were ready to start, and training began again. But this time Yugao and Hayate sensei's are here for her once-every-two-days-training again.

Training just got crazy to another kind of level.

Crazy intense.

Siata wasn't a star genius. She wasn't even that smart compared to her family members. The training- was brutal. And her sensei's had her working up a sweat, crying tears from every pore of her body and gasping while trying to make this training regime work as the days went by.

Throw merge jump attack Throw

She was at one of the secluded sections of Sasuke's training grounds. Drilling combos under Kuro's teachings. Self-discipline was a must to get stronger, Kuro said.

Dodge parry dash illusion stab dodge parry dash

Hayate trained her in the basic moon style. Wouldn't dare lose focus or answer when he asked if she was getting too tired. He'd increase the speed like last time she'd admitted a yes. Best thing that could have happened to her. Being slammed into the ground over and over felt great now that she was lasting longer against her sensei.

Deepen sense pull taste chase! Freeze.

Was she talentless? A pathetic kid playing ninja? Thats the 50th time Siata had chased and found the wrong target. Red? It was blue. Way off, Yugao said as Siata rolled in the dirt. Yugao grinned and said her one and only favourite word. Again.

Time will tell she told Siata, if you're really the real deal. Siata simply huffed bleeding sweat. If she mastered this she'll be one of a kind. Siata wheezed and got back up again. By how slow she was progressing she'd be one of a kind in 100 years. Yugao shouted. Again!

Dodge dodge dodge dodge slash! Dodge trip dodge dodge

FREAKEN HELL. FREAKEN. SDFLNSLFGFDLJN. You Suck! Yugao screamed. Move move move! Faster! Elbow angle Siata. Hayate corrects. Siata barely manages to dodge their strikes while practicing using the sword with both hands. Only way to conquer her weakness in injury- was by raw practice enough to rip her muscles and grow new stronger ones.

I CAN BARELY LIFT THIS SENSEI! The weight seal swords felt like two beds. Watch your blind spot said Hayate. His wooden sword smashes ribs. Right hand violently trembling from impact. WHAT WAS THAT?! WANT TO ADD ANOTHER SEAL? No sensei- Arg!. THEN LIFT IT!

Siata jumps over, then switches parrying with her left hand- one swing from Yugao and the practice sword goes flying. PICK THAT UP! Yes..! Trying..! Scrabble, grip to lift, arm is cramping. DO I CARE?! WILL THE ENEMY CARE?! LIFT IT! LIFT! Devote everything to this fight! Yes sensei. Siata yelled and charged at them.

Eating dirt. Rest. Breath. Breath. Breath.

There was just too many things to work on in such a short period of time. No wonder everyday felt like a living hell. Daily they advanced in their ninja arts. For her she felt as if she struggled to master even the barest basics. But Yugao and Hayate sensei was pleased with the speed of her progress which saved her.

Each day she was dismissed and each day she was the last to go to sleep in Sasuke's training camp/house. The crosses on the calendar nearing them closer to the tournament day, coldly reminded her that all of this effort would become meaningless if the Hokage wasn't saved.

Good job today Siata.

Thank you Yugao sensei... Hayate sensei.. Siata muffled out in the dirt. They carried her back to Sasuke's, upstairs and kindly dumped me in the bath then left.

In the dead of the night, when the moon shone the brightest. Finally. Finally she finished the seal. She worked on the final touches of transferring the Zombie to the seal with Jiraiya's careful supervision until afternoon-ish.

They discovered the Zombie could be summoned from the seal and made to follow her instructions. She tested a few moves with the Zombie, adjusting the seal she found she could split the seals to create multiple copies of the zombie.

Fascinating. Jiriya stared at the Zombie as is 'Arrr-ed' away but attacked the nearby tree when she asked it to. It had quite a bit of speed and strength, tearing up the tree bark and chunks of the trunk with its bare hands.

She tested a slight injury, and then Jiraiya cut off a limb and found it regrew on the Zombie. Because it's nature was basically a soul, the seal is what gives its physical body. This allows it to regenerate by simply copying the template from the seal. Siata nodded at Jiraiya's explanation then tentatively stared up at it.

She stilled when the Zombie lifted one darkness-oozing-muddy-finger and poked her cheek.

"Eeee…aaahhhrrr…tttaaaa… Seeeee…aar"

"Hmmm. Yes yes. That's me. I'm Siata. Thank you.. for warning me in the exams by the way. Your soul does feel happier outside compared to when you were trapped in Oruchimaru or me. Let's get along." She split a grin.

"Aaaaarrrrgg." It growled.

But it felt like a good growl, so she nodded. It's form was still something hard to get used to. A human figure the size of an adult male but covered in a sort of oozing darkness like mud. When Zombie touched things the muddy darkness would ooze off to other things but since even the 'mud' was part of its soul it simply turned translucent and disappeared.

Still, she couldn't stop herself trying to shake it off fast enough. She hoped that didn't hurt it's feelings and tried to do it when she thought the Zombie wasn't looking.

At this point, she was very sleepy though. But she has an idea to add to the flexibility of her magic circle seal now and had to work on it while the idea was still fresh and clear in her mind- not to mention Jiriya-sama was still here.

After she ran the idea over with him he raised his brows and thought it could work in theory and gave her some additional ideas and some directions as to how to tweak the magic circle seal.

Authors Notes:

Hello everyone, I just wanted to say I've been feeling truly grateful for the support I'm getting from being able to write, to all my readers and everyone's comments. Currently the line ups for the finals are-

A secret. As I planned to from the beginning, to reveal them on the day of the finals. But one more chapter to go and we'll be at the finals! :)

Thank you everyone and I hope your having a merry December and holidays.