"I have an... activity for today," I announced.

I was met with various levels of enthusiasm. Aisa remained staring off to the side, Kento perked up and gave me a curious look, and Michiko gave me a hesitant, nervous smile. Normally Aisa would be asking me for all the details immediately, Kento and Michiko backing him up with inane questions. This time, however, they all remained silent.

I sighed quietly. Their confidence had been shot by that mission, and now that the worst of their punishment was done, it was time to build them back up from where I'd torn them down to.

"I often have you fight one another or have all of you fight me," I tell them. "Today, I've arranged with another sensei to have our respective teams fight." When none of them reacted much, I added dryly, "That means you."

Michiko, ever the strategist, is the first to speak. "Can you tell us which team and when?"

"The exercise will take place at training ground three in one hour," I replied. "Senseis, of course, will not be assisting. As for with whom you'll be squaring off... have any of you kept in touch with your fellow graduating genin?"

My students shared unsure glances, only now realizing how removed from their old lives they've become. I hide a smirk. "I mean..." Kento began uncertainly, "We may have passed by them at some point? But we haven't... met up with them?"

"You've kept us busy training and doing missions all the time," Michiko waved the question down. "When would we go to hang out with old classmates? Or want to, for that matter?"

I puff out a short breath of laughter. "Fair enough. But you'll be facing off against your old classmates Usui Sugi, Matsuo Komi, and Nakayama Tadahisa. They're taught by Utada Goro."

Michiko narrowed her eyes, and I hid a grin as I saw her scheming begin. "Are we allowed to use any weapons? What'll be the rules?"

"The other sensei insisted on no use of lethal force." I rolled my eyes. "He also would prefer if all genin refrain from maiming one another. The object of this is to capture the enemy's flag while protecting your own."

Aisa finally spoke, and when he did it was with a disparaging tone and crossed arms. "Your idea of training is capture the flag?"

Michiko and Kento froze, watching Aisa from the corner of their eyes. They weren't happy with the turnout of the last mission, either, but they at least were being somewhat adept at controlling their emotions. Aisa, on the other hand...

"Yes," I answered smoothly. "Is my training not good enough for you?"

Aisa backed down a little, but continued to speak up against my training plans for today. "I'm just saying sensei, you didn't become powerful by playing capture the flag, did you?"

Michiko slid in front of Aisa, and held her hands up in an apologetic manner. "He didn't mean it like that, sensei. He means to say, thank you for putting so much effort into training us," she sent a warning look at Aisa, "Right, Aisa?"

He grudgingly looked away, but held his tongue. Most likely in fear that he would ruin the day for the entire team. I ignored the byplay and continued, "The other sensei and I have agreed that the exercise will take place in one hour. Prepare however you think best."

I stepped back, and Michiko immediately turned to Aisa and Kento. "Do you guys have the scrolls?"

I raised an eyebrow as all three nodded. Scrolls? My questions were answered as they pulled out the scrolls and showed one another. They each held two scrolls: one that would contain enough rations for a week long mission and one that held the standard konoha issue of spare kunai and shurikan. I smirked. They were learning. Always be prepared.

"How much did that cost you?" I asked casually.

Michiko, Aisa, and Kento spun toward me. "A bit," Kento admitted, watching me warily. "Why?"

I shrugged. "I'm not great at sealing myself-I can only do the basics-but I know enough to teach one of you how to make your own small sealing scrolls like those. No need for you to waste your money buying premade ones."

"Oh," Kento replied. He glanced at Michiko and Aisa, who both nodded, Aisa's more sullen than Michiko's. "Thanks. We'll keep that in mind."

"Now, don't let me keep you from your scheming," I smirked. "I know you're planning on scouting out your competition. Go. Have fun."

There's something in my voice that makes the genin pause, glance up at my smirking face, and smirk themselves. "Sensei," Michiko asked sweetly. "You've given us so much information, so much time to prepare. Do you really, really want us to win or something?"

I sniffed. "I've given you no more information than the other sensei has given his genin."

Kento's smirk grew into an amused grin. "You haven't referred to Goro-san by name since you told us he was the other team's sensei. Did he do something to bother you?" He asked innocently.

I held their gazes for several seconds before deciding to tell them. It would make the victory all the more sweeter for them. "Utada Goro's team is currently considered the best team of your graduating class by the other jonin," I informed them. I decided against telling them that the only reason they weren't considered the best was probably because I hadn't been showing them off and wasn't exactly the most social with other jonin senseis. "And Goro-san was so very welcome to the idea of his team beating you three, and he was more than willing to give me tips on how to train my team, seeing how I'm a "brand new sensei" and "only seventeen years old" and all that."

"So he thinks he's the best, thinks his team is the best, and talked down to you?" Michiko clarified.

I nodded.

"Don't worry, sensei," she assured. "We'll beat his team's ass."

"I expect no less."

***...*.*.

Aisa had questioned my training methods, but he was too inexperienced to realize that this exercise was exactly what the team needed. A little competition, fun rivalry to lighten up their spirits, but also a chance to go all out, so that I would be able to evaluate their current levels.

They also needed to see my support and that I did have confidence in their skills and abilities. The last mission had caused a severe drift between the genin and myself, which needed to be restored once they had learned their lesson, and learned their place as my subordinates.

I masked my presence in the shadows of the trees, and crouched down on a branch, analyzing the match as it played out. The two teams were set up on opposite sides of the training grounds, with dense woods separating them. Not as dense as the forest of death, of course. My training last week would prove very efficient In regards to the terrain in this exercise.

My team had been very decisive with their tactical approach. Michiko would stay behind with the flag and defend their grounds, as she had the most defensive power play on the team- genjutsu, which I'd been keeping tabs on.

I was never much help to her in that area, but I did have a talk with Kurenai, who being pregnant, had the spare time to train Michiko.

And Michiko worked hard- spending all her time between missions and team training, with Kurenai, as often as Kurenai would let her. I assumed it had something to do with her father being completely out of the picture, and her mother, barely. Not with all the guys that she slept around with.

I was interested in seeing how far she had progressed since she had started her intensive genjutsu training. I made the sign and created a shadow clone to observe and collect information in my place.

Aisa and Kento, the two offensive players, briefly discussed their strategy, before starting into a run in the woods. They would have picked their opponents based off of the intel they had gathered within the hour prior to the start of the training. But they would also be prepared to face off against any of the genin on the other team.

I leapt forward, curious about the other genin. When I landed silently on the last branch, I studied them. They were all still centered around their flag, having yet to make a move. These were the best genin of their class?

The other sensei's three genin were bickering with one another, discussing where they should go and where my team would be heading and overall being loud, idiotic, naive little genin.

On the other hand, there were my genin. Aisa and Kento stood silently, communicating in glances and hand signals, and were currently observing the other team suspiciously. They were worried it was a trap, because in their minds there was absolutely no way that a ninja team could be acting the way the one below them was acting. So carefree, and dumb.

A combination that would get a team killed almost instantly, in the real ninja world. I wondered how exactly Utada trained them.

I watched as it dawned on my genin that this wasn't a trap at all. This was how skilled the average genin team was.

And I watched as they also realized just how far above average they were, how far above average I had made them.

They analyzed the situation, communicated with each other, and lunged swiftly at their targeted opponents, allowing one to get past them intentionally, knowing that Michiko would be pissed if she didn't get her share of fun as well.

Like I said, this exercise was exactly what they had needed.

***...*.*.

"Brilliant," I complimented my team. They had taken down their opponent and accomplished the objective by seizing the flag- all under 5 minutes. I wasn't one to easily dish out praise, but the team deserved it.

I kept a smug look off my face as I faced Utada and his three defeated genin. "Good match," I lied smoothly. While I was curious of his training methods, and how he could so... inefficiently train his team, it wasn't vital to know. It didn't matter. I doubt I'd have much to do with Utada in the future.

His face was slightly red as he accepted the unexpected (to him) outcome of this training exercise.

"Sensei's, why don't you have a practice match?" Michiko called out innocently.

I sent her a sharp look. "This exercise was to assess your strengths in battle. There's no logical reason that I should battle Utada," I explained, knowing exactly where this would lead, and Michiko's intentions.

She smiled as she observed Utada's face, and his genin who were craving petty satisfaction. Sure enough, Utada waltzed into her little trap. "On the contrary, as your senior I have such to offer," he said slyly. "You could learn quite a bit from a practice match with me—unless you're afraid to be shown up in front of your subordinates, that is," He ended casually, challenging me.

This guy clearly did not know who I was.

Or rather, who I used to be.

I rolled my eyes at him. I was so much better than being baited into a fight. However, this could be beneficial for me. Seeing their sensei battling on their behalf, and defeating their opponents' sensei would raise my genins' spirits and increase their faith in me- another thing that had been lacking since the last mission. Judging by the three's smirks on the sideline, they wouldn't say no to a front row seat to me beating up a cocky jonin.

"No rules to apply?" I asked, touching the grip of one of my twin blades in bored anticipation. He shook his head once, analyzing my small movement.

I did the courtesy hand symbol which signaled the start of a practice match. He copied the movement parallel to me, and lunged forward, kunai at the ready.

I countered the knife with the inside of my blade and engaged in a short battle with Utada. It wasn't much of a battle, however. I was faster, stronger and over all, better than him. He was a jonin of the leaf and in the end of the day, it was the only acknowledgement he would receive from me.

In one swift movement, I swept Utada's leg from underneath him, grabbed his torso with one hand, and twisted, slamming his body into the ground. It seemed like a simple movement to the naked eye, but only my strength and speed enabled me to take down a jonin with such a move.

I went straight for the pressure points in his neck, and pressed harder than I normally would have. He let out a sharp noise, probably more from surprise than pain. After all, most ninja use taijutsu, genjutsu or ninjutsu in their fighting styles.

Me? I've always had a thing for pressure points. I pressed my blade against his neck, drawing a small amount of blood.

"You've been made a temporary quadriplegic, and I could slice your throat this instant, if I so desired. What was that you had to... offer?" I asked sarcastically, feeling him gulp beneath me.

"Wow sensei! That was under 3 minutes," Michiko exclaimed for dramatic effect, smirking at the opposing genin who now held horrified expressions on their face.

I smiled a bitter sweet smile. "Thank you for training with my team today. We'll be taking our leave now," I withdrew my sword and placed it back into it's sheath, motioning to my genin to move out.

Warm up for training today, complete.

***...*.*.

"You're dismissed," I tell my genin at the end of the late night training. "Good work."

Michiko and Kento grin at me and turn to leave. They glance back when Aisa doesn't move, but then a look of mutual understanding passes between them and they walk away.

I turned back to Aisa, who was staring at the ground. "What's up."

"You're strong," Aisa told me. "Really strong."

"...thanks?" I stared at him, trying to figure out what he was getting at.

"You're really strong," he repeated, and when he looked up there was a sheen of tears on his cheeks and his lip was wobbling and his eyes were shining. "So why wouldn't you help?"

Understanding rushed through me, and my shoulder slumped as a sigh escaped. "You think I didn't want to?" I asked, running a frustrated hand through my hair. "It was a shitty situation. It sucked. If it was just me out there, I would've done something. If the situation was different, I would've done something, Aisa."

Aisa was sobbing now, not even bothering to hide it, staring at me with desperate eyes. "Sid died. She died and I could've stopped it or you could've stopped it but you didn't, let me, and—"

He fully broke down, sobbing hard and gasping in ugly breaths, and before I knew it he'd hurled himself at me, wrapping his arms tightly around my midsection. "I'm sorry, Cashile, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" He sobbed. My hands hovered awkwardly above him before finally settling on his shoulders. "I'm sorry we disobeyed, we were just trying to do what was right, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorry, sorry."

I kept my hands awkwardly on his shoulders, getting the feeling that he was apologizing to more than just me for more than just disobeying. He sobbed hard, and I stood there, and it seemed to be enough.

***...*.*.

I entered Aiden's apartment practically dragging Aisa behind me. His eyes were half closed, clearly exhausted, and full from the ramen he'd forced me to treat him to.

Aiden stood and walked over when I entered, easily scooping Aisa up despite his growing, gangly limbs. "Everything alright?" He asked me as he walked towards Aisa's room.

"Yeah, actually," I smiled slightly, closing and locking the door.

Aiden glanced over his shoulder, smiling softly at me. "I'm glad."

I turned away, ambling toward the kitchen to grab a glass of water before collapsing on the couch, finally acknowledging the fatigue that had set into my limbs.

Aiden returned, arms crossed with an amused smile on his face as he looked down at my sprawled form. "When did you last sleep for a full night?"

"Full night?" I repeated. "Dunno, before the team exercise in the Forest began."

"Of course," Aiden shook his head, fond exasperation clear on his face. "Scootch," he commanded, and I only moved slightly just so I could watch him roll his eyes at my antics. He sat down half on top of me, and I gave in, moving my feet out of his way.

Casually, easily, Aiden threw and arm over the top of the couch, curling around my shoulder, and I froze for a moment, wanting to rip myself from his arms because he would limit my movement if I was attacked.

Instead, I slowly lowered my heavy head until it was resting on his shoulder. I felt Aiden glance over to me in surprise.

"You're warm," I defended, pressing myself closer and refusing to open my eyes or otherwise acknowledge him. Aiden turned his head, kissing the top of my head and smiling into my hair.

He didn't mention that there was a blanket at the end of the couch, not two feet away.

Sometime later, when I was more asleep than awake, I felt Aiden begin to shift away from beneath me. Without really thinking about it, I reached across him, arms locking him to the couch, clutching at his shirt. "Don't go," I mumbled, because I didn't want to lose my source of warmth.

His chest shook beneath me in quiet laughter. "I'm still here, Cashile," he assured me. "But I really have to pee."

"Hmm," I pondered muzzily. "Okay, I guess."

"Glad I have your permission," he replied, amused, and worked his way from my grasp. I curled up in the spot of warmth he left in his absence, reaching up blindly to grab the blanket and haphazardly wrap it around myself.

When Aiden returned, I'd drifted back to more asleep than awake, but was aware enough to recognize when he adjusted the blanket so it unfolded and wrapped around me more securely. He sat down and I shifted closer to him, pressing my face into his neck. He froze as my lips brushed against his skin, but I was too tired and too far into the realm of sleep to actually catalogue or analyze his actions.

Instead, I let go of the last vestiges of consciousness and fell asleep with the feeling of his heart beating beneath my cheek.

_\|\\_\|\_||_|\_\|_\_|\\\_|\_|~{\\||\_\|\_|

Hi guys! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and happy that we're getting these chapters out faster! thanks for all the motivation. don't forget to comment!

-S

Hey guys! A fast chapter update and longer than usual chapter! Hope you enjoy

I'm visiting relatives and moving in and dealing with utilities and getting furniture this week so there's a lot of driving to be done and maybe not a lot of time to write but we'll do our best to get another update out to you ASAP!

How did you like this chapter? Hope you enjoyed!

Comment long and inspiring comments for us!

gaara119

Comment, Vote, and Fan!

Ja ne!

Insomniac_Lullabies