Hi guys, long time. (Almost 10 years ) well I found the draft for this chapter today randomly in my phone and thought why not upload it and see if anyone's still interested. I appreciate we're all grown up now so our mentality probably has changed but I hope I can make the kids of this generation as happy as I was with fanfiction. Thanks

Kokoro and Luna completely mind blended, Kokoro looking out from Luna's eyes. Luna ran forward as fast and as far as she could. About one mile later, she stopped, and stepped forward cautiously. Soon, both Kokoro and Luna's heads began to hurt, and Kokoro said., 'Owww! Stop, Luna! Let's not mindblend, let's work on ,mindtouching.'

'No! The Wise One said we were supposed to practice!'

'We've been practicing all morning! My head is hurting!'

'Oh alright. We can take a breather.'

It was 3 months after they had started fight training with the Wise One, and Kokoro and Luna were beginning to find things more than a little dull.

At the Academy, every new lesson was learned quickly and hungrily, and then, for the rest of the week, she and Luna and Shun had nothing to do.

Okumaru would also finish his lessons quickly, and then concentrate on his medical studies. Whenever the three of them could hang out, he would chatter on about this person or that person. He seemed to be mostly interested in a person called 'Lady Tsunade' a genius medical ninja, he would say. Kokoro thought that if Okumaru ever met Lady Tsunade, he'd probably ask for her autograph…

Kokoro and Luna found 'some' challenge in their lessons with The Wise One. He would train them hard and long, and these things, he said, were the basics! Kokoro and Luna dreaded to think what the 'serious' techniques were, the basics were 'so' hard.

Shun trained whenever he could with his father in his clan jutsu's but just like Kokoro and Luna, he too was learning the basics and these were proving to be difficult for him as well.

Okumaru was so engrossed with learning medical ninjutsu that many a time Gramps had to kick him out of the house, or he would have to spend the night, which he did many times, increasing his and Kokoro's friendship. To Kokoro, Okumaru was like a brother. Absolutely annoying, and fun to tease.

Kokoro, Luna, and Shun fought frequently, often ending in a tie. The first time Shun won, he did cartwheels whooping loudly. When he looked over at Kokoro, she smiled encouragingly at him and said, "Good job!" His excitement dampened immediately. Kokoro….

Kokoro also found her sword fighting lessons with Ryu exciting and invigorating. Everyday he taught her something new, and she worked on practicing it so furiously that Ryu was taken aback and had to literally 'force' her to get some rest.

Luna and Kokoro trained together and gradually they learned to fight as a team. When the Wise One saw them training, though, he would shake his head and mutter something about them having to fight as 'one'.

By now, Kokoro was technically a ten year old, since Okumaru and Shun, and all of her other classmates had turned ten, or would turn ten this year. It was now April, and Summer was fast approaching. There had been a late Winter, and Kokoro and Luna reveled in the warmth the first rays of spring brought them

Kokoro and Luna had lunch, and then decided to walk back home. It was a beautiful spring morn, and the birds were singing loudly, as though celebrating the end of Winter.

Kokoro sighed to Luna, saying out loud, "Aaah, This heat feels good after that long Winter. We could hardly go out to see The Wise One, and it was 'so' boring to be stuck inside all the time. Remember when we sneaked out in our full Winter clothing (Luna had a scarf tied around her kneck, and, much to her embarrassment, one of Kokoro's shirts on.) in a 'snowstorm' and almost got frost bite?"

Luna purred in amusement and said, "Yeah, Ryu got so mad he cancelled all of your sword lessons for a week, and when he did start them up, he was still fuming and trained you extra hard."

Kokoro smiled, and then sighed again. "I wish we could have gone in the Winter though, we might have been able to get 'past' the basics, and onto the secret techniques and stuff. Oh well. It's still fun learning all this stuff, though. Guess what. I mastered my Tiger eye technique. See?"

She leaned down in front of Luna and closed her, eyes opening them again suddenly. Her eyes had turned a very light green, and her pupils were still the same. It was obvious that Kokoro had not mastered the technique, and most likely wouldn't for a long time, and Luna said so.

Kokoro pouted and turned them back. "Shun asked me whether I wanted to train with him tomorrow, when you were using the bathroom. I agreed, and he asked whether he could invite Miyu and Daisuke and Kaisuke from the class. I agreed. Do you think our training session will be to crowded?"

"Nah. Come on, we're home. Race you to the front step."

"Hey, that's part of our training!" Kokoro complained, running after the lithe tiger.

"So? That's good, isn't it? Slowpoke has to wash the dishes!"

"Sure!"

Only when Kokoro won ( 'the jutsu' gave her speed equivelent to a tiger about Luna's age) did she realize something. "Hey, you don't have thumbs! And we have company tonight!"

The next day, Kokoro and Luna met everyone at the training grounds. Daisuke and Kaisuke were joking around, and Hana seemed to be reading a book. Shun was doing some exercises in the middle of the clearing. When the two arrived, everyone turned to look at them and said dryly, "You're late."

'It's not my fault! Luna tricked me into washing 'all' the dishes last night, and Ryu had company!" Kokoro pleaded. "You know what Ryu's 'company' is like. He practically invited one fourth of the village! Plus, you all were there."

Everyone nodded. Ryu sometimes went overboard or under board when having people over. Once he invited two people for his birthday, and the next day, for a picnic, he invited three families of 7 and some singles, and some of his classmates and…. You get the idea.

Miyu got up, putting her book away. She turned to Kokoro and said, "Let's do it like this. Kokoro against me. Daisuke against Shun. Kaisuke against Luna. Agreed?"

"Agreed." everyone answered, a little surprised at her straight forward attitude.

"We'll go first." said Shun, and he and Daisuke slid into defensive.

They attacked and after a long battle, Shun won. Okumaru, who had come sometime during the fight, hurried forward eagerly. He checked Shun and Daisuke carefully, and seemed a little disappointed to find no injuries.

Kaisuke slapped him goodheartedly on the back and said, "Isn't it good that they're not hurt?" "Ow! Kaisuke! You don't know your own strength." Okumaru winced. " Of course it is. I just wanted to try my healing skills on someone. Oh well. Can I join you?"

"Sure." Shun answered. "You can fight the winner off- the next round?"

Luna and Kaisuke were next and they nodded.

Everyone sat in the sidelines, and watched eagerly. Luna snarled and leapt for Kaisuke's throat. He ducked, and threw several kunai at her. She leaped into the air, aiming for his throat once more, but he blocked her, and rolled away. Luna's claws sheathed, she batted at Kaisuke body. He black flipped into the trees and Luna followed. After what seemed like ages to the others, the two came out, Kaisuke yelling, "I admit defeat!" This time, Okumaru was able to use 'his healing skills' on Kaisuke, who had a nasty scratch on his arm.

Luna kept on apologizing, and licking at the wound. Kokoro translated for her. "I'm so sorry Kaisuke! It was an accident, I'm sorry!"

Kaisuke, looking serious, said, "I will never forgive you Luna, for hurting my delicate body!" Then he grinned, and said, "Of course I know it was an accident."

"Yeah!" Daisuke's head popped over Kaisuke's shoulder. "It was probably all this guy's fault!" He bonked Kaisuke on the head, and skipped away when his brother tried to get him.

Miyu smiled at their childish antics and said, "Let's start our battle!" to Kokoro.

Kokoro nodded, and removed a small, old sword that Ryu had given her. It's blade was dull, and it was perfect for training.

Miyu smiled and removed a sword of her own. "Cool! We're both sword users!"

Then they charged. Klang! Kokoro blocked a strike from Miyu, and threw one in of her own. They weaved in and out, blocking, striking, leaping, running, charging, their movements blurring into each other, their skill with the sword so evident and deadly that all those watching gasped in awe. Shun's mouth was open so wide a fly flew in. Suddenly, They stopped, Kokoro's sword at Miyu's throat, and Miyu's at her own.

But then, Kokoro dropped her sword and said, "You win."

They all just stared, and then Shun said, "Kokoro, it was a tie. Why'd you drop your sword?"

She turned to him, and Luna walked to her side.

"Miyu is much more skilled than I am with the sword. She has trained with the weapons mistress of this village, and is much stronger than I am with the sword. She cut me some slack in this fight. If she had gone all out, then I would have lost in half the time it took for this fight."

Kaisuke and Daisuke, serious for once, nodded. They had seen their cousin's skill with weapons before. Kokoro had been no match for her.

Miyu said softly, "Yes, I have trained with the most skilled weapons mistress in this village to become as I am, but-" here she pointed to Kokoro with her sword, "You are training under Ryu Kiryu , the most skilled swordsman in all of here and many other villages, if not Konoha. You will soon pass me in skill with the sword, if not in other weapons."

Kokoro smiled cheerily. "I sure hope so! You're 'so' strong Miyu! Was that the Lesser Dragon Strike? I'm still learning it, but I can never get the grip right, and Ryu was too busy with his missions last week to teach me. Could you show me how?"

"Sure! It's all in the wrist. See, you hold-" the two walked away chatting, and everyone sweat dropped and took a lunch break. What had happened to their serious attitude? They would never understand girls..

Afterwards, Luna fought Okumaru and lost (Okumaru used some sort of medical technique that made her go stiff for a few seconds) and Shun fought Miyu and won. Then, Shun and Okumaru fought, and Shun lost because of a moments carelessness.

By then it was night time, and everyone went home. Okumaru went with Kokoro and Luna to their house ( he was sleeping over, Gramps was going to show him some sort of special plant you can only gather at night.) and the two talked all the way there. On the path through the forest to Gramps' house, it was pitch dark.

Kokoro mind touched Luna and said, 'Can you feel it?'

'Yes. There're people following us.'

'How many?'

'Five. Okumaru already knows they're there.'

Suddenly, something grabbed Kokoro, and before she could retaliate, pressed a cloth to her mouth, knocking her out. A sickly sweet scent filled her nose and mouth, and darkness overwhelmed her, and all she could hear was Luna's panicked screech. "Kokoro? Kokoro!"