"We will now begin your training, Naruto," said Hatake Kakashi as he and the blond lad stood inside the training room used exclusively by the Starlets alone. "By the end of our exercise, I expect that your chakra control would be more precise, your mind and body's agility improved, and most importantly, you would be able to find your own 'ten' or heaven, since your 'chi' or earth is already there."

"Ten? Chi?" The boy looked dumbfounded.

"'Ten' represents the mind of the warrior. If a person has 'ten' already, he must run towards the field and search for 'chi', or physical strength. On the other hand, a person with 'chi' already, like you, must look for 'ten' and secure knowledge that would be able to help him in analyzing situations and events that would be relevant to his life as a shinobi." Kakashi scratched his head. "Don't tell me Iruka didn't teach you the decree that all genin should obey?"

"Well, basically, he told me to keep my ass out of unnecessary trouble."

"Um…that's a good summary of the general rule any warrior should follow."

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Chapter Eleven

This chapter is dedicated to Jiri again (Get well soon too! [goes into Gai mode] Don't worry—no cough will crush our blazing fighting spirits! We shall not be defeated by a bunch of viruses! Life is good, life is great, life is a four-letter-word so don't spell it five. There is more to life than cough, cold, and flu. They are but temporary obstacles to the achievement of the best life—the nirvana that the Buddhists sought for. Child, everything will be fine. Just keep your chin up, face tomorrow proudly, and drink the medicine.)

Corrections on the last chapter:

1. Sakura will go to Mist kingdom, not Sound.

2. Sasuke was standing by the c-a-r-r-I-a-g-e, not courage. Yes, my typing skills proved yet again how exceptional they are.

Shortcuts:

Hikariko: yes, Neji and Hinata are cousins here. I don't really support incest save for Hao and Yoh…joke!

RSMB: Opo, pinoy po ako Wag po kau mabahala dhil nde ko po itotodo ang romansa (ala na bang ibang salita para dun na nde doble ang kahulugan? ;;) ng sasusaku. Alam ko pong ala ng kiliti kung ang pag-iibigan nila ay mala-Miaka at Tamahome. Maligayang araw ng kalayaan nga pla, kababayan!

If you guys want to ask me something, may it be related to the fic, me, or just about anything you are curious about, as long as it's answerable within the bounds of my capability, I will reply through the A/Ns

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"Our first exercise…" Kakashi held out his comic book. "Take this from me."

Naruto gaped at the cover of the book. "I'm not interested in reading those sort of things. Thanks anyway."

The Starlet grinned. "No, you have to take this from me. If you accomplish that, you have the rest of the day off."

"Oh, I get it," said the boy, nodding slowly. "Alright, so we can cut this session short." His hand moved quickly to swipe the novel, but to his shock, his fingers managed to touch only air. The next thing he knew, the book was on the other hand of the man. He quickly stepped back and reached for it, but again, Kakashi was able to cleanly hold it out of reach.

"This guy moves faster than my eye…" Naruto smirked. "…but let's see how he does with more than one pair of eyes." He pressed his hands together. "Kage Bunshin Technique!"

Kakashi smiled at him expectantly as the Narutos made their move towards him.

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"Welcome to the Mist Kingdom," greeted the Mist soldiers politely as Lady Sakura and her party stepped down from the coach. She flipped her long pink hair behind her shoulders and smiled cordially at them. She then turned her attention to the Lord Zabusa who was standing by the soldiers, holding a bouquet of flowers. He handed it to her politely and bent down to kiss her hand. "I am grateful that the beautiful Lady Haruno Sakura has found time to grace the occasion with her presence."

She nodded. "The Hidden Leaf kingdom is always ready to cooperate with the Mist kingdom, especially with the advancement of quality ninja training even at young age." She turned her gaze to the newly built Ninja Academy. "Is the edifice being used already?"

"Not yet. We are still in the process of gathering the children who would enroll under us." He led the way into the building. "Nevertheless, we are eager to show our neighboring kingdoms the kind of erudition we give to our young warriors."

"The Uchiha court sends this small token of congratulations, Lord Zabusa." Sakura turned to her maid, and Hinata took out the sapphire-cut scroll statuette enclosed in a frosted glass casing. "This was created by our best jewelsmith, and the kingdom hopes you would like our gift."

"It is very lovely. Thank you, Lady Haruno." The court lord took the figurine and handed it to the soldiers behind him. After instructing where the sculpture would be placed, the man turned to her again. "It's getting chilly once more. Please come in, Lady Haruno. Excuse me for forgetting my manners earlier."

Sakura nodded and followed him into the Ninja Academy building.

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Kakashi easily evaded the attacks of the Naruto clones, to the boy's surprise. He quickly made a u-turn and dashed back to him. Kakashi smiled and prepared to avoid his tackles again, but it wasn't what was on the boy's mind.

"Gyaaaah!" The Narutos dove towards him, securing  every part of his body with their tight hold. Suddenly, Naruto appeared in front of him, grinning. He aimed a strong punch on the teacher's face. "Take thisss!!"

"Ugh!" Blood spilled into the air.

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"Neji, what the hell is your problem?!" snapped Tenten as soon as he stopped dragging her. She fixed her hold on her cane and tested her knees. Wobbly, but Kabuto did say not to force her legs too much yet. It was barely the third day since her sprain.

"I can never imagine how you could stoop THAT low, witch," he hissed. If looks could kill, she was sure she was already lying on the floor, mouth frothing. She silently wondered what she did now to earn this much ire from the Hyuuga earl.

"What? What exactly did I do to stoop THAT low?" she asked, mimicking his voice intonation.

"Hmp. Don't bother to feign innocence, witch. You are anything but that." His grip on her shoulder tightened, and even if he was starting to hurt her already, she didn't speak out loud. No boy could ever make her admit pain and weakness, especially someone who detested those things like so.

"It's not innocence, Neji. It's cluelessness. You see, I still couldn't think of any reason why you would suddenly abduct me and then spit curses at me when you won't even explain why you are doing this," she said, rolling her eyes.

"You don't think hard enough, witch." His face lowered towards her, breathing in sharp intakes. She knew he spelled danger, but her stupid, stupid heart couldn't keep still. She was strangely excited by his nearness, despite the mockery in his voice and the hurting grasp he had on her arm. "Listen, witch. I do not know why you keep on chasing someone like Rock Lee whose heart is yearning for someone else, but let me tell you that I do not intend to sit around and watch you do that."

"Do what?" she asked, exasperated. "And what has Lee got to do in this situation?"

His jaw tightened. Normally, he lived by three rules.

Never entertain emotions.

Never involve emotions.

Never feel emotions.

He threw Rule Number One out of the window just because of his uncontrollable urge to strangle Lee and her because of what he saw in the laboratory. He was angry, and it wasn't good. What happened was not enough reason to feel resentment. It was not half as significant as his hatred towards the Hyuuga Main family.

Rule Number Two followed when he ended up expressing the disgust he felt at the girl in a silly confrontation. How in the world that he, Hyuuga Neji, who watched in triumphant silence as the Decree of Kin Unification was passed; who used pure cold verbal tactics in court debates, and who executed his duties with glacial detachment, got himself into this kind of ridiculous situation—having to drag an injured woman with him just to yell at her face—was beyond his comprehension.

And now that his face was just inches away from hers, his wit rapidly depleting as his primal Adam instincts started to take over, he could sense the nagging feeling that Rule Number Three was in danger.

How did it happen so quickly, and to a girl he would see everyday and argue with?

Threatened. Because he was threatened. Because she was starting to move.

"Well, why won't you talk?" asked Tenten, eyes flashing in annoyance.

"Because I don't want to." His mouth twitched. "I want to do something else with your mouth, witch."

She gulped, and her eyes widened. Apparently, she was stunned by what he said.

"N-No," she hissed. "I refuse to submit to your cold-bloodedness, Hyuuga Neji. Once is enough!"

"I think I should decide that." He was starting to feel entertained by the fire in her eyes. How she delivered her carefully planned speeches in court debates pale ever so wholly with the stubborn blaze in her almond-shaped eyes. "He can never excite you this way, my little witch," he murmured. "He could never kiss you the way I could."

She felt all her blood rush to her face. She hated his arrogance—she hated him! "And I should be the one to decide on that, Earl Hyuuga Neji!" she snapped.

Silence.

"Is that so?" His gaze scorched the very depths of her own orbs before he roughly pulled her and kissed her punishingly, intent on hurting her the way she hurt his ego.

When he became the Earl of the Hyuuga Court, he had promised himself invincibility. His memories in the branch family had helped him toughen his belief in himself and his granite-like character.

And not someone like his childhood rival could change that.

Even if…

He abruptly pulled away, smiling coldly. "How's that for a comparison, witch?"

But he felt his lung stop breathing.

The mage was touching her lower lip tremblingly, a small trace of blood on her fingertip. She was breathing audibly as if forcing herself not to sob, but her shaking eyes said it all.

He hurt her.

Was he happy now?

She untangled herself from his arms, and he made no move to stop her. He too, suddenly felt exhausted.

"You are a grade-A asshole, Hyuuga Neji." She looked at him with eyes crinkled in fury for a moment before she limped away, holding on to her cane for support.

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Naruto grimaced when he saw his clone's bleeding nose.

"Oi, Naruto, what are you aiming at?" Kakashi was standing beside him, grinning affably.

"Gaaah!!!" He quickly rotated one hundred eight degrees to the left and kicked him, but the man swiftly avoided his lunge.

"Sir Kakashi, stay still!!!" yelled the blond boy.

"It's not something to say to your opponent, Naruto." Kakashi grinned at him.

"I'll get that book, Sir Kakashi! Even if it's the last thing I do—oof!" He knocked another of his clones down.

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Sakura fought the urge to yawn as the speakers of the Mist court took their turns making the diplomatic speeches on the ties between the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Mist. Really, she had not much interest on the age-old co-existence of the two kingdoms since she had already studied this in Kurenai-sensei's class ever since she was six.

But she had to look interested and socially aware, out of respect and etiquette.

Ah heck, why did she have to take the invite seriously anyway?

Because she was bored. She wanted to get away from the court and the people she everyday meets but do not really know at all.

And she wanted to rebel against her conservative father who thinks his daughter would serve her purpose best as a throne decoration.

She tightened her fists into a ball. I promise…I'll show Father that I am more than just a court lady. And Sasuke-kun too. I will help in lessening the tension in the kingdoms.

She heard the court lords and ladies applaud, so she quickly clapped along, determined to be the perfect ambassador of goodwill for Hidden Leaf.

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Aburame Shino straightened when he heard the footsteps behind him. He dropped his weedcutter and turned his attention to gathering the mass of wild plants into his drum.

"You're not yet finished with the chore?" At first glance, the question may seem so innocently pertaining to his gardening job. But Shino knew better. After all, he was talking to one of the most formidable spies in the underground of the ten kingdoms.

"The mist." It was enough for him to get across the message to the man standing beside him.

"What is the lily flower doing there without protection?" The man crossed his arms. "And you were supposed to be the gardener."

Shino's frown deepened. "You are not ordering me now, are you?"

"No, I was stating facts." The man knelt down beside him, shaking his head. "Remember our bargain. The Court of Aburame awaits when the Hidden Leaf kingdom collapses," he whispered into his ear, audible enough only for him and his insects to hear.

The man was long gone, but the gardener was still staring off at space, particularly on the lily flowers that floated aimlessly on the pond.

Water Lily. The flower that symbolized the purity of the heart.

"Hinata…"

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"So as Father's political strategist, you should be able to come up with sure-fire ways for the prince to notice me."

Shikamaru banged his head on the table top where the picture frame of him, Choji, and Ino sat. They were all wearing their winter clothes—Choji was holding a mug of hot chocolate, his other hand aiming for the rice cake Ino was holding. The girl, on the other hand, was beaming cutely at the camera, a peace sign on her cake-holding hand and her other arm draped around his shoulder. He, on the other hand, was yawning—he just woke up from sleep when Ino burst into the butlers' room and asked for a winter snapshot.

His eyes focused on the grinning Ino, and he groaned for the nth time. "It's my fault anyway. Why did I fall for a blind, dense girl?"

"All I know is the chance to finally seize the elusive heart of the Prince Sasuke has finally come!"  

He wearily looked up and gazed at the picture of the girl of his dreams and nightmares, and waking hours and everything in between. The girl who meant everything to him.

As if suffering in silence was not enough. Why did he have to be the one to be tasked to push her into the arms of someone else?

He traced the face of the girl idly with his finger, sighing. "Look my way, even just a glance. Then I'll be happy." He was no prince, he was not as drop-dead handsome as him, but he loved her. Wasn't that enough?

"Why are you settling for that when the real thing is downstairs?"

Shika nearly fell down from his chair. Choji was looking down at him curiously.

"I-It's not what you think," he said, cursing himself for his stutters.

"Well, either it's Lady Ino that you're caressing, or it's me." Akimichi snickered. "Don't tell me you have a deep, dark secret about your identity that you haven't revealed yet, eh? We share the same room…"

"That's what happens when you eat too much. The cholesterol floods your brain," he said sourly.

Choji suddenly looked very self-conscious. "I'm trying to not eat too much nowadays…"
Right. You used to eat twelve pancakes. Now you eat eleven and a half," said the shadow master, rolling his eyes.

"Which reminds me. Lady Ino sent me here to tell you that if you want to eat brownies that her mother made, you can go down."

"No thanks." He raised his quill. "I'm brainstorming. I need plans on bringing Ino and the prince together. No time for snacks."

"That's horrible!" Choji patted his shoulders. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Shika grunted. "Look, it's not about her, ok?"

"Never said it was. I feel sorry for you because you lost time for food." His assistant smiled wickedly. "But then again, you gave me another reason to feel sorry for you. Self-denial is self-destruction."

For the life of him, the political strategist suddenly found his mind vacant for a retort! In the end, he just decided to ignore his food-loving friend.

He felt him leave the room, but as soon as the door closed, it opened again. Ino came in, hands behind her back. "Shikamaru, I can't believe that you are too lazy to move even for food!" she admonished, sitting on his bed.

"I'm working," he explained. "I still have an assignment, remember?"

"Oh come on, it's still weeks before winter ends. Lighten up!"

Shikamaru turned to her, eyebrow cocked. "So what can I do for you? To whom do I owe the honor of this visit?"

"Don't get all sarcastic with me, Nara Shikamaru. You know I hate that." She got up and revealed what she was hiding behind her back. "Tsaraaan!"

"Chrysanthemum?"  He looked surprised. "What's this for?"

"These are feverfews, Shika." She pointed to the white rays of the flowers.  "They used to make this into medicinal teas, you know."

"Yes, but…" He scratched his cheek. "Why did you give me this? I'm not sick."

"These flowers mean that you are a wonderful friend, silly." She grinned. "And since these are white, it means I'm telling the truth."

His heart skipped a beat. "B-But why…what's the occasion? T-This is not for my funeral or something, right? Because I'm sure as hell that it's not my birthday today… Ino, I know I may not be the ideal butler and I often tease you and annoy you but--"

"What?" Ino rolled her eyes, wondering why the topic shifted to funerals and birthdays.  "Occasions? Oh silly Shika!" she laughed and placed the flowers on his hands. "I care for my butler…no, my best guy friend deeply, and I am sure he cares for me too because if not, he won't bother to overcome his character laziness just to do work. We care for each other, so is that not a reason to celebrate?"

He thought he heard the angels singing in his ears, especially when she clasped his hand and made it hold the flowers.

"I can never thank you enough, Shika. But I am doing my best!" She waved before leaving the room, leaving him in a daze, still clutching the flowers.

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The sun had finally set down. Kakashi was starting to wonder what time he could finally sit down—he had been avoiding the boy's attacks for the whole day already.

He eyed the lad discreetly, fascinated. Such endurance…and fighting spirit too. I can already see what kind of devastating opponent he may be. He can make the walls collapse by his mere grit.

 Naruto, on the other hand, was exhaling audibly already. Fatigue was threatening to seize his consciousness, but he was determined to not back down from his promise—that he would get the book no matter what.

I can't keep attacking him blindly. I need a gameplan…

His eyes then lit up.

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"Thank you for coming to the Mist Kingdom." Lord Zabusa said before she boarded the carriage. "I am aware that there are rumors circulating around, but I'm glad that your kingdom is sensible enough not to pay attention to them."

"Of course, Lord Zabusa. Our hundred years pact of peace would be put to shame if we let silly trivial buzzes ruin our friendship." Sakura gave them a final wave before the carriages of the Hidden Leaf strutted off.

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Zabusa smiled malevolently as the Leaf party left the gates of the Mist kingdom. "Alert Haku's men. The plan is now about to commence," he ordered the head of the guards.

"Yes, Sir!"

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"Are they here yet?" asked Sasuke, his eyes on the indigo atmosphere giving way to the dark night skies.

Kurenai and Asuma shook their heads.

He clenched his fists. "If she doesn't arrive in half an hour, send a party to fetch her."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Damn it, Sakura. Where are you?

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Kakashi watched, amused when he saw that the boy still had the energy to perform Ninjutsu. "I wonder…."

Suddenly, smoke filled the area. His eyes alertedly roved the grounds, but the smoke cleared already.

"Sir Kakashi!!!" Voices called in chorus.

He blinked. Kage Bunshin again? But he knows that it won't work on me—

Then he halted.

Multiple Maito Gai clones were surrounding him, and at the same time, they launched on an earth-shaking gleaming grin.

And before he could react, a Gai had appeared behind him and grabbed the book.

"What the—" Kakashi realized that the book was already on the boy's hand. Naruto was perspiring heavily, and he had collapsed on the ground, a victorious grin on his face.

He felt himself smile back. It wasn't the technique that fooled him—his sharingan was there for a purpose—but the never-say-die spirit of the blond boy. He would never have expected that he still had the chakra to copy off clones, let alone make an attack from behind.

This boy is definitely going places…

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to be continued

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post-speak:

this chapter is supposed to contain the omake—a Snow White play that I promised you guys. However, I had to write this chapter before I forget what I want to do with the plot ;; The omake will appear one of these days anyway.

Sneak preview:

"I see. So no one wants to be the antagonist in the story." Hatake Kakashi, the scriptwriter for the play, scratched his forehead. "Well, what kind of a story would it be when there's no villain?"

Silence. The kids looked at each other as if hoping one brave soul would volunteer to be the wicked stepmother who hates Snow White.

"I'm going to be the princess!" said Ino loudly.

Sakura looked down, biting her lip. Deep inside, she was hoping to be the princess too.

"Alright, let's put it this way. Whoever becomes the antagonist in the story will get the highest grade in Math for Kurenai-sensei's class."

All hands shot up in unison. All except for Tenten and Neji, who were exceptional students in that subject. And Sasuke who was busy looking outside the window, eyes on a certain tree in the nearby courtyard.

Kakashi sighed. This was going to be harder than he thought.