Ok, I'm running out of things to talk about up here. Then again, I don't know if you're reading this... so why am I bothering. Habit, that's why. Anyway, Jemiul you're going on my permanent thank you list too. Your reviews are always a wonderful treat. Finals are this week and this is my only outlet for stress and my excuse for not studying, updates may be a little late. Ok I'm done, just start reading and ignore the author in the corner sucking her thumb from studying too much for finals. Is that grey stuff leaking out my ear what's left of my brain? Ew... someone got a mop?

Chapter Seven

The sun rose slowly into the sky as I did my morning exercises. The birds had begun to sing their quiet songs of love and the cicadas gave way to the fading moon. I looked up at Kakashi, who was sleeping in an oak tree.

One of his legs was hanging down and his entire body was at angle, I'm not going to catch him if he falls, it would be his own fault.

I slowly breathed in and out, moving my arms like the waves on water, slowly turning about, trying to get my rhythm. It was difficult considering my injury was still very fresh. I closed my eyes, focusing my spirit. My spirit had been unsettled for a very long time, it almost seemed like it wanted to jump out of me lately.

Concentrate on your breathing Lian and allow yourself to become calm.

Whoosh... I quickly opened my eyes.

I didn't see anyone, maybe it was the wind. I looked up to Kakashi; he was still asleep in the same position.

Whoosh... it's not the wind.

I raised my hands into the tiger position and listened to see where my unseen enemies would strike. Something came from above me. Without even thinking, I grabbed my opponent's leg and threw him into the nearest tree. He landed with a loud thud and slowly slid down the tree trunk.

"Naruto! Oh, gosh I'm so sorry!" I ran over to the fallen young ninja.

He sat up slowly, rubbing his head, "jeez, even without your swords you're awesome."

With a big grin, he pushed himself up.

"You shouldn't do that; I could have really hurt you. The martial arts I know are just not for defense, but also to kill. One blow can kill you," I said in an angry tone.

"I know, but I wanted to see what you could do."

He didn't get it. I slapped my forehead, "please for your sake and what's left of my sanity promise me you won't do that again."

"I thought you didn't have any sanity left," a sarcastic tone came from the tree above me.

"Like you have room to remark Kakashi," I answered in the same tone.

Kakashi jumped down from his high perch, "what are you doing up so early Naruto?"

Naruto scratched his and grinned, "I wanted to have a bout with Lady Lian. That's if you're up to it." He gave me a big grin.

"I don't think that..."

"Now, now Kakashi. I could use the practice."

Naruto was nearly jumping out of his skin with excitement.

"Hey what about us?" A familiar female voice came from behind the bushes that lined the small clearing.

"Ya ok, but I want to take it easy. So no weapons, just hand to hand and one at a time."

Sakura and Sasuke emerged from the green foliage. Kakashi shook his head in disagreement, but he sat down underneath the oak tree anyway.

It's too early to teach, he thought as he closed his eye.

The sound of fist on fist action began to sound in the air, he could tell the difference between Lian's heavy blows and his students' weaker ones.

Whoosh... that would be Naruto flying into another tree. Thud... and that would be him landing in the tree trunk.

"You're up next Sasuke," she called in a taunting tone.

Kakashi opened his eye lazily, Sasuke was in an offensive position and Lian was on the defense. She motioned for him to attack. He ran towards her, but his charge was met with a quick sidestep and grabbed of his wrist. She brought his hand up behind his back. With a small push, Sasuke was on the ground with her on top.

"Had enough," she whispered into his ear.

"Never," he pushed her off and twirled around to meet an attack, but Lian just stood there, waiting for him. Sasuke gritted his teeth in frustration.

Kakashi closed his eye again; at least he's doing better than... Whoosh... thud... never mind.

"Alright Sakura, your next," she said in a gentler tone.

"Umm... I think I'll pass," Sakura said in an unsure tone.

Kakashi opened his eye one more time, Naruto and Sasuke were on their heads at the bottom of a near by tree. Wonder if I should jump in... Na, I just embarrass myself.

"It's alright Sakura, I'm tried anyway. I should let your lazy Sensei over there teach you guys," I glared over Kakashi.

"It's too early for that," he lazily called from under the tree.

"Ok... then I guess... I'll just do some breathing exercises. Hey, are you two ok over there?"

Naruto and Sasuke were finally right side up and rubbing their heads and joints.

"Ya, but I want a rematch... but not now," Naruto said with a big smile.

Sasuke stood up and began to brush himself off, "I'm fine."

I shook my head, they weren't sure of my movements, their use to stances and actions of other ninjas.

I sighed and sat down on the soft grass. Folding my legs into the lotus position, I closed my eyes and I began to breathe deeply and exhale softly.

"What do you do that for," Naruto came up next to me.

Without opening my eyes, I said, "it helps to settle my spirit, attune myself to what's around me and allows me to get the rhythm of my body."

"Oh... that sounds boring," he said as he lay down next to me.

"Actually that sounds very relaxing," Sakura sat down on my other side.

I could hear her trying to fold her legs like mine, "need help?"

I opened my eyes to see it wasn't Sakura having problems, but Sasuke and Naruto trying.

I don't think male bodies are suppose to bend like that, I thought as I held back my giggles.

"No guys, it's like this," Sakura unfolded her perfect lotus position and showed the boys how to do it.

With a few tries, they eventually got it.

"Alright, so what do we do next," Sakura asked as she got back into the lotus position.

"Well... first you close your eyes, next you start breathing in and out in even breathes and then of something that's relaxing, like a pool of water or..."

"My posterior," Kakashi called from his spot.

Yet another shoe landed in Kakashi's face.

"This is going to be a running joke, isn't it," he asked in an indignant tone.

"Yep, but remember you keep asking for it," she answered as she closed her eyes.

His students began to breathe in and out like Lian was. Naruto was right, this is boring, Kakashi closed his eye. He really didn't feel like sleeping, but teaching this early didn't sound good either. He released a sigh and got up.

"Mind if I join."

"Sit down and learn my friend," she whispered.

Kakashi sat down next to Sakura and began to do as everyone else.

This is really relaxing; maybe I should do this... crack. Kakashi whipped open his eyes, "everyone be on alert, we're not alone!" With one movement, Kakashi and his team were on their feet, surrounding Lian in a tight circle.

She slowly got up, "where are they?"

I couldn't tell where the cracking noise came from, but it was close. "The trees if anything stay close to me."

Kakashi reached into one of his pockets and drew out throwing stars.

Crack...

"OVER THERE!"

Kakashi threw several stars into the trees, "AGG!" Someone fell into the clearing, Kakashi's stars sticking out of him; his black clothing was turning red from his blood flow.

"It's a ninja from the Village Hidden in the Wind," Kakashi said as he drew his kunai.

"These little wound won't stop me and my ninja brothers in collecting the reward on her head," the ninja glared through his mask.

The sound of light footsteps began to play about the trees, then a something went whizzing past my head.

"Get down Lian," Kakashi moved in closer to me.

I may not have my swords, but I'm not useless.

Kakashi moved closer to Lian, I can't let her get hurt again.

Whoosh... another throwing star went pass her head.

"I said get down," he began to push her down, but she wouldn't allow him to.

"I will not back down," she said through her teeth.

With one bound, she was outside the protective circle and up the nearest tree.

What do you know, samurai can jump, Kakashi thought as he followed right after her.

He stopped on the branch where he saw her last, but there was no sign of Lian.

Where did she...

"Watch out down there! Unconscious ninja coming through!" Her voice rang out as a lifeless body almost fell on Kakashi.

His body landed with a loud and gut retching thud.

"One down, one to go," Lian called from a higher branch.

"You stay there, I'll handle the other. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura take care of the first one."

"Alright Sensei," one of them called back.

Whoosh... the other ninja made his presence known.

Alright where are you, Kakashi scanned the trees, but couldn't see where the other ninja was.

Crack... Kakashi whipped around and grabbed the ninja's wrist before he could stab him. With one strong throw, Kakashi threw the ninja down to the ground. He landed on his follow ninja.

"Nice, I couldn't even follow his moments," Lian said as she jumped down to Kakashi's perch.

He looked rather pissed off as I straighten myself up.

"You should have stayed down there and out of enemy fire," he glared at me with an intense eye.

Yup, he's defiantly pissed off. "Well I'm not dead or injured further, so it's ok."

He shook his head, "just get down on the ground please." He jumped down and I followed, with some reluctance.

Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were tying up the first ninja and the other two were still lying unconscious.

"That's not the point, you're still very injured and then you go and jump up a really high tree and knock the crap out someone. No, it's not ok. Ok?"

I narrowed my eyes, "look, I'm a warrior. I fight, I kill and I'm damn good at it. So get..."

A kunai came flying at my head. I caught it three inches from my making contract with my left temple.

"Do that again and I will slice your stomach open and show you your guts," I threatened.

The ninja's eyes nearly fell out of his head as he fell into a swoon.

"Wimp," I threw the kunai into the ground and began to walk away.

"Where are you going," Kakashi came up behind me and grabbed my shoulder.

"I'm getting out of the open," I said angrily.

I wasn't in the mood to deal with him right now; he had made me mad enough. He should know better then that, a samurai doesn't back down, even when their injured. I held my stomach in pain, I had almost forgotten about that.