I took another step forward.

"What did I just say. . Genki?"

The man said looking out the corner of his eye at me. Stunned, I ready myself.

"Who are you?" I say to him.

The man begins to heal the kunoichi, with medical ninpo, the girl relaxes.

"I'm your squad leader, and this is one of your teammates" he replies.

"Was this a test?" I said to him as I put away my sword once again.

"Something like that, I personally didn't plan it, but it served it's purpose" He replied.

"What purpose?" I asked as I relaxed a little more.

'The opportunity to learn about one another."

Finishing, he stood up and walked toward a tree.

"Today you met your first swords woman Corrine here learned not to overestimate her abilities and underestimate her opponent's" he retorted.

The man stopped pacing and looked at Corrine, she faced away, towards her companion, guilt washed across her face.

"If you're are squad leader why would you let this happen, who are you for that matter?" I asked riled by his unconcerned attitude.

I gestured toward the male that lie burned from my double I could only assume he, was my other team member. This entire thing seemed like one big mess, with a bad leader in the thick of it all.

"I know what your thinking and your wrong. Hozukimaru over there" the man points to the crispy ninja. "He's not a part of are team he's just a victim of his heart. No your other team member has been stalking you two this entire time." He replied casually.

His words made me nervous, how is it possible that this person went unnoticed for this long. Then I remembered feeling an uneasiness when I entered the forest.

"That's what it was" I think to myself as I try to find the person without being obvious.

I continue talking to remain composed.

"You never told me your name" I said as I lean against the nearest tree arms crossed.

"Jikokuwa, Hien." He replies, as he looks toward the sky seeing the shadow of a bird overhead.

It was a clear sky the sun shined beautifully into the forest and reflected pleasantly off the leaves. My heart sank.

"Jikokuwa! They don't exist right. . . RIGHT?" I thought urgently to myself.

"Your joking right Jikokuwa. . that's a myth they don't exist?" I felt like I was pleading with him.

He merely looks at me, I get a good look at his eyes. . . I fall to the ground. Fear makes it hard to breathe, I'm not sure why maybe, because I'm looking at a ninja that is from a clan that is rumored to use time jutsu.

"Did you seriously believe we didn't exist" Hien asks.

I can do nothing but nod my head, I don't know what to do I've always been told when i was younger to kill a Jikokuwa if I were to meet one. Our clan's are sworn enemies but, having never seen one, nor anyone else I know, I thought it to be a fairytale. Here I am though, now what?

I regain my composure, and stand to my feet, I'm nervous

"Should I strike? No, he may know it's coming, if that's the case then he already knows what I'm gonna do next and will counter before i do it. I could already be dead or trapped in some sort eternal loop. . ."

I drive myself half crazy thinking of the possibilities. As I stand holding my head in disarray, I feel arms wrap around me and a voice.

"Calm down." it says soothingly.

My fright at once boils over into rage, I break free, turn and slash with my sword at whatever touched me.

"If I'm gonna die, so are you!" I yell breathing heavy.

"What are you doing?" I hear Hien say behind me.

"No way. . he's already behind me?" I think to myself.

"You alright Suri?" Hien asks as he moves in front of me.

"You gotta be more careful, about that kinda thing. Look at you, you got yourself cut up and now your all exposed." Hien says as he exams the girls chest.

"I'm confused, I injured her pretty good I'm sure. . but, from where I'm standing she looks fine, her boobs are hanging out too." I think to myself with a grin.

"I can assure you Sensei I don't need any medical care I'm fine I heal fast" Suri reasoned with Hien who continued to examine her exposed breasts.

"I don't know these. . I mean this scar could get . . uh . . infected, yea, definitely i better check them for volume make sure they haven't lost. . uh. . any mass. You know medical stuff, you understand? Hien said with a concerned face as he looked Suri's chest up and down.
This girl is actually considering it. . .

"Fine, if it. . ." Suri was interrupted.

"IDIOT!" Corrine roars as she rams past me.

Knocked to the ground, I see Hien getting his face stomped in, while Corrine scolds Suri for being "stupid enough to let us look at her tomatoes" as she put it. First time I heard that one, Suri finally decides to cover her self as Corrine fixes her top. Who carries throwing knives, shuriken, a katana and a sewing kit. Hien fixes himself wiping away the bloody nose, I lean against a tree in disbelief.

"I think I just wanna go home now" I said aloud.

"Ah, relax Genki we can't be serious all the time,"

Corrine chimes in "or as perverted as you."

Hien laughs as he slaps me on the back repeatedly, I don't really like being touched. Smacking his hand away.

"How do you know me?" I said as I gave him a serious look.

Hien glances at all of us then walks toward a tree, his back to us

"I may have looked into your past." He replies.

This raises an eyebrow, and just as I'm about to ask how.

"What, What do you mean?" Suri interrupts.

"He jumped back in time to stalk you. . " Corrine teased before being cut off.

"I was observing the three of you, so I could learn each of you." Hien said turning to look at us.

"And, what did you learn?" I asked agitatedly.

"Enough, mentioning anymore would be pointless."Hien said unconcernedly.

"That seems unfair, we don't know anything about you Sensei?" Suri says with a concerned look.

I find myself getting tired of Hien, and Suri. Hien's dangerous, but he acts innocent, and Suri acts so caring, but I know better. I don't buy it at all.

"Is that all you can do, go backwards in time?" I ask Hien.

"Concerned?" Hien says as he leans in my direction. I narrow my eyes at him.

Corrine checks her work holding it up to the sunlight, a look of gratification on her face as she hands the top back to Suri. Corrine looks at me

"He's obviously afraid of you Sensei, for good reason though." Corrine said with a smirk.

"Is this how loser's get revenge, how pathetic." I said as I look away and laugh to myself.

"What'd you say, I'll take you on at anytime you bastard! Do you hear me, look at me!" Corrine yells and hops up and tries to run at me while Suri holds her back.

Corrine looks back at Suri only to see she hasn't put her top on.

"PUT THE DAMN THING ON, STUPID!" Corrine yells as Suri eyes begin to water.

She finally put's the top on, I continue to laugh to myself, Hien chuckles while his back is turned.