Such a bad habit' a Leaf ninja observed quietly as he walked down the street. He had a naturally happy grin on his face, his eyes were softer than most velvet, and his posture suggested a laid-back attitude. In such, he was completely identical to the person he was impersonating. The only thing that hadn't changed was his brain, which coldly tracked a person's behavior and habits, no matter how minuscule.


Mornin', Gansaku... Asuma said gruffly, puffing on his cigarette. Gansaku grinned back in return. Good day to you, Asuma! How goes training?


Asuma replied, and to emphasize, drug a limp Choji and Shikamaru on his shoulders. Ino was using Asuma's waist as a crutch, every now and then glancing at her shadows to tell the time. Gansaku made a note of this, and smiled wider. Well, it should be better on, like a gorgeous, evening sunset, Gansaku bowed, and let Asuma pass. Asuma just shrugged and headed towards a barbecue restaurant, called the Maruyaki.


When Asuma disappeared, Gansaku turned and walked down an alley.


Such a nasty habit. If push comes to shove...' Gansaku thought. Smoking would quite literally be the death of him'.


Find anything... useful?


Gansaku grinned, and didn't look up to hear the voice that was speaking to him from on a roof overlooking the alley.


Quite useful... Gansaku replied, in his native voice. Everything is stated the way you said...


Gansaku pushed up on his spectacles, and looked up.








Chapter 1: Lesson 1 - You Are Weak




 Choji groaned, and weakly lifted his fork. So... tired....


Man... It's a pain just keeping my eye's open... Shikamaru moaned. And to a lesser extent, breathe...


Asuma looked like those two comments took the wind out of him.


We only ran one lap... he said in exasperation. Choji, however, managed a retort, One lap up Hokage mountain, under the lake, over a swamp, through every street, while carrying a hundred pounds? Man, cut me some slack...


Jeez... that's pathetic if your already tired... In real combat, you'd be carrying that and dodging many various objects that somehow share the intent of poking holes in you.


No kidding... Shikamaru muttered. I thought all they wanted was a hug...


Choji sniggered at Shikamaru's sarcastic remark, and even Asuma put on a sardonic grin. I guess I deserved that.


Reenergized, Choji grabbed a menu, flipped open to page, and cheered. AN ORDER OF EVERYTHING ON HERE PLEASE!


Holy katana, this kid is a severe drain on my money' Asuma thought sadly.


Mmm? Ey, Ino, what's up? Shikamaru asked. Ino flipped open her menu and was going through the list thoroughly, which confused Shikamaru. Usually she'd come up with the excuse that she was on a diet, and not eat anything. So seeing her browse the menu was something out of the ordinary. Ino, however, was so concentrated on what she was doing, that she didn't hear him. Shikamaru then decided it was a waste of energy getting her attention, and muttered he'd share with Choji.


Waiter! Some pork ribs and shredded beef please!


The other three blinked in surprise at Ino's loud order. Ino, this is a first. What's the occasion?


Ino shrugged. Hungry. Why?


Asuma puffed on his cigarette, and gave a weak shrug. No reason, I guess... If your hungry, your hungry.


Ino gave him an insincere smile, then returned to staring at her fascinating spot on the table.


Hmm... Ino got foods high in protein...' Choji noted. Not only that, but they are great energy boosters too. Odd.'


Before Choji could ask, however, three waiters carrying a massive plate arrived.


ALL RIGHT!! TIME TO EAT!! Choji roared, and dug in, his observation quickly put out. Shikamaru grabbed some chopsticks, and with little dart-like movements, quickly got what he wanted before Choji inhaled it all. Ino and Asuma just looked on in awe of the portly ninja's incredible eating prowess. Ino looked more disgusted than anything, while Asuma looked tired.


Your food miss, the waiter politely informed Ino and set down a plate half-full of her order. Ino nodded, and began eating as fast and delicately as she could.


Asuma sighed. Well, if you are all so tired that Ino is eating, I suppose it wouldn't hurt for another day off. It seems to me that we need to build your stamina the most. So, take a day off, then the day after tomorrow, we are going to train, very, very, hard.


Shikamaru groaned, Choji paused briefly to belch, and Ino frowned.


Gotta be done, kids.


Ino didn't reply, and chewed her last bit of shredded beef.


I'm gone, gotta do some things before I get my deserved beauty rest, Ino said vainly, got up and went out the exit to the Maruyaki.


Tch, what's her problem? Shikamaru asked dully, casting a lazy eye towards Choji.


Mmm... *urp* I dunno. Bet it's strenuous. She got energy food, Choji replied.


... You noticed too? Asuma asked, and looked where Ino disappeared.


Huh...


Another order!


THANK YOU!!


Argh! Choji!




=============


Impossibilities that arise

Such complications

I wonder how I keep together

With all these gears running


=============




Idiot.


Shino absently scratched his head. He was partially glad he remembered his little appointment, but only partially. The other part of him wanted to continue meditating and cancel it. He figured that part was the childish part of him.


He found both his mature and childish sides incredibly irritating. The mature side of him was pleased at Ino's interest, even as a tutor. Having someone, not just a girl, actively seek out someone so drastically different than other, , people, in this case, having insects living inside of him, that it was paranormal.


He sat cross-legged in a clearing in the park, and looked toward the mottled sky.





Don't crush that insect, please... Shino asked quietly. He was sitting on a swing, looking at the three boys determined to make his day bad.


Eh? Shut up, stupid! the middle kid stepped forward, crushing the insect in the process. You liked the little bug? he asked with a hurtful childish voice. Shino just stared at him, his black glasses glinted dangerously in the sunlight.


Hey, I'm talking to you moron! the kid tried to shove Shino off the swing, but Shino clutched the chains tightly.


The other two kids stepped up, but gave a start when their leader let out a scream and stumbled backwards, holding his arm out.


It was covered in Kikai Bugs. All around the insects, were large welts that could visibly be seen rising and turning an awful purplish color. The boy in question started to sob uncontrollably and started to run as fast as he could. The other boys, unnerved, walked slowly away from Shino, until they spun on their heels and ran away.


Shino reached down and picked up the beetle. It was still alive, and Shino could somehow feel it's gratitude from his palm.


The next day, everyone left him alone.



Freaks.


That's what everyone thought. What everyone will think.


Such a relation, no matter how pleased his mature side would be, with Ino is impossible. Ino thought he was a freak. End of story.





Speak of the devil...


Shino looked down and saw Ino waving slightly at him. He nodded once. He had an idea of how to do today's training. He got up, and Ino walked up to him. He noted that she kept a considerable distance from him.


Are you prepared? Shino asked.


Prepared? He talks like it it's the last thing I'll ever do...' Ino thought.


Yeah, I guess.


Very well. Kill me.


Ino stared at him.


Come at me with all you got. Try to kill me.


Ummm... ok, Ino gave him a strange look. Shino inwardly sighed. This will take some work' he thought whimsically.


Ino broke into a run at him. Well, that's a somewhat decent start. Though no one ever attacks from the front. Let's see if I can do this with one arm...'


Shino blocked Ino's punch with his left arm. It wasn't a hard punch, persay, but it was harder than he expected. Ino, however, wasn't done yet, and brought her knee up to hit him the stomach, which Shino deflected by angling his elbow down and grabbing it. With Ino in an awkward position, he brought his left shoulder down and rammed her hard. He felt the dull thud of the impact and Ino went soaring a few meters back.


Shino looked at where he stood. He hadn't moved an inch. He suddenly wondered about the benefits were in doing this great a project.


Ino, in the mean time, got up, and dusted herself off. She was slightly mad, then charged up to Shino again, and got the same result, with addition of a busted lip. And again. And again...


For the sake of repetition, let us just say that they did this for about an hour, and Ino gradually became worse for wear. Shino every now and then would be taken aback at something Ino would do, and move a bit. Otherwise, nothing much happened, until Ino had enough.


WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM!? she screamed at Shino, who shrugged. AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING ME?!


Well. Stop complaining and make me help you, Shino said.


Ino lost it. She shoved her hand in her pouch and brought out a kukri, which was like a kunai except slightly larger and more curved, and with a scream, tore towards him, running at a speed abnormal from the kunoichi.


She's coming at me with killing intent' Shino noted. It appears she finally took this seriously...'


 Ino was screaming towards him. Let's wrap this up and begin training' Shino concluded.


To the ordinary onlooker, the sight of Ino's face would be scary when she was in this fit of rage. So angry, they would have thought Shino would be in trouble. Alas, when Ino was in range, he grabbed the arm holding the kukri, and spun it around, throwing Ino off-balance. Then, seizing the same arm, he moved behind her and pressed the blade to the back of her neck.


Shino began, You came at me with the intent to kill for the first time. Well done. You are also quite weak.


Ino made to speak, but Shino kept on going. Let me be crystal clear. I am not here to be nice or say untrue things. You are weak. You want training, you are going to have to be broken down and rebuilt. Honestly, I am very surprised at your weakness. Shino released her, and Ino started to pant heavily, kneeling in the grass.


Are you serious in becoming a full-fledged kunoichi? Shino asked, and Ino nodded an affirmative. Well, in order to become stronger, you are going to have to give up on your vanity. That means no more perfume. No more idiotic diets, Shino said, looking at Ino's unusually thin body. You are going to have to work hard. You will work hard when I am your tutor. Unless you are quite happy just the way you are. You can go back to your trivial life-style, and we could forget this ever happened.


He looked at Ino's suddenly still body. What say you?





Here... this is your ribbon...


From now on, we are rivals...






Ino got up on her weak legs, and turned her head towards Shino.



I am willing to make sacrifices to my life, she said coldly. I want to continue my training.



Shino looked at her, and nodded. Very well. Same place, but in the morning tomorrow. We will start another session.


He sat down. Get some rest. You will need it.


Ino swayed for a moment, then slowly walked away, using a nearby stick to help her walk.



I meant to beat her down so she'd say no...' Shino thought. I underestimated her resolve. There wasn't supposed to be a next time...'


And the mature part of him was pleased, which annoyed him to no end.



===================




I'm home mom... Ino called tiredly.


Welcome home, swee- oh my, what happened to you?! her mother shrieked as Ino came in. With a black eye, a split lip and dirt all over her face, she was quite the sight.


Training with my tutor... Ino replied, and made her way up the stairs. Training or fighting? her mother replied anxiously. Training... It's pretty rough...


Who's the tutor?!


...Shino... I'm going to bed now mom, so tired...


And Ino went into her room, dove head first into her pillow, and started to sleep.


Meanwhile, her mother spun around to look at Inoshii, whose face paled.


Aburame Shino? Ino's mother asked acidly.


Dear, are you still on that? Inoshii asked, smiling weakly, but his wife paid him no mind.


HER TUTOR IS THE SON OF THAT BITCH?!


Inoshii suddenly looked alarmed. Dear, that was years ago, we shouldn't drag Ino in it-


I WON'T STAND FOR IT! Ino's mother screamed, and slammed the plate to the ground.


Oooh boy..' Inoshii thought. No one knows a grudge like Genna'




=============








Shino looked at him from the door to Kiba's house.


I want a favor. Can you come to the park tomorrow in the morning?


Kiba grinned. Yeah, why?


Shino shifted his shoulders. Just a training exercise.





---------------------------

I suck with action scenes -_-

In any case... yeah, Mizuki is back. And... first person who tells me what Gansaku means will get a 500 word fic on a coupling of their choice...

Thanks for the reviews ^_^ Much love.


NT13 signing out.

Next Chapter: Lesson 2 - Retreat May Be Necessary