Hello all, sorry for the wait.

To make it up to you all this chapter is a bit longer.

Enjoy xoxo

"Well what do you guys want to eat?" It had been twenty minutes since we finished two missions. One walking dogs and one catching some ones cat. You know the real ninja stuff ...

Using the clones we finished rather quickly and so I offered to treat the crew to lunch before we went off to train. The problem is no one knew what they wanted. "If you guys don't make up your minds I'm going to lose it." I said with a small death threat to my voice.

"Not Ramen."

"Ramen"

"Not Ramen."

Naruto frowned in defeat. "How about this BBQ place." I said ushering them in. At this rate I was never going to get to training and there were a few things that I wanted to try out today. One being, I wanted to open the scroll Sasuke gave me.

"Hey Sasuke-kun!" I winced a bit at a loud voice from inside the restaurant. Look up I saw a girl with long blonde hair waving like an idiot. She was sitting with two other guys. One who looked like he was in heaven here at the restaurant and the other like he could care less if he was eating or sleeping. Preferably sleeping.

"Sakura. Naruto." She added in with less enthusiasm. I wasn't sure if I was going to like the girl at all. But hey the more the merrier, I guess, "Hey Team seven." The tired looking one with the high pony tail said eyeing me up and down for a second.

"We had heard you guys got a 4th teammate is this her?" The blonde asked trying to seem friendly but for some reason it didn't sound sincere. "Yea this Suiren-chan. She is awesome." Heat made it way to my face Naruto sure had a way with words.

"Nice to meet you my name is Ino. This is Shikamaru and Choji." I bowed my head; I didn't really think I was going to meet more people so soon. I forgot that were weren't the only three genin ninja around.

I was feeling weird but I swore I was done being a hermit. I was going to face this head on just like everything else that was thrown at me. But I still felt awkward, I tried to shove that feeling deep down so no one would notice. My hair was down since I had washed it this morning and if I had braided the damn thing it would still be wet. I always felt out of place when my hair was down. My eyes glanced around. "How are your missions going?" Sakura asked as Ino moved to invite us into their booth. Naruto slide next to her much to the girl's glares and I was forced to plop next to Shikamaru glaring at Sasuke's hand on my shoulder.

"Thanks dad." I mumbled as he took the seat next to me and Sakura next to Naruto. It was a large semi-circle table that fit us all well.

"You guys better not think about touching my food." Choji said grabbing 5 pieces of pork off the grill with his chopsticks. I stiffened a laugh behind my hand which I guess caught Shikamaru's attention. "He sure loves his food that one." He said softly. I guessed he was usually a soft spoken male.

I watched Sakura and Ino shove Naruto out of the booth so they could sit next to each other. The poor poor boy. I observed everyone talking. Ino going on about a mission with Sakura and Choji, who was barely listening. Naruto asking Saskue what he was going to get only receiving a glare.

"You're new to the village right?" I glanced at the male to my right and nodded. "Yes. Arrived about 2 weeks ago. Shikamaru right?" I wanted to make sure I didn't mix anyone's name up and look dumb.

"Shika is fine. So two weeks and you're already doing missions on a team? What a drag." I smiled a bit taking a sip of my tea. "It is a drag." But it wasn't at the same time. I did really like my team after all.

The rest of lunch went on this way. Talking about mission and each other's Senseis. These guys must have been friends for a while now. Must have been nice. I tried to learn how to interact with people as easily as they did. It was like an art. I found it was easy with my team because we had been forced to fight together. Forced to protect our lives together. After that it was all downhill. This, sitting here was more difficult. So I observed all I could, mentally taking notes.

Shika continued to make small talk. Nothing to crazy but I guess he could sense how weird I felt about everything. "Suiren do you have a boyfriend." I tensed and looked up at Ino. Her eyes danced watching my every expression. I couldn't exactly put my finger on why she was asking because her tone made it seem like she really didn't care that much. My mouth opened and closed again. I was trying to figure out her intentions. I knew there was nothing pure about them. I think she was just being mean for the sake of being mean and I didn't really understand it. "Is that a yes then?" My cheeks flushed bright red. "Or a no."

"Shut up Ino." I clenched my fists under the table when Sasuke opened his mouth with something other than a hn or a baka directed usually toward Naruto. Shika coughed beside me and Choji actually stopped eating for a second. Sakura glanced between the two and before Ino could open her mouth he spoke again, "what and who she does is none of your business." I was ready to leave, my heart was thumping. It was as though he could read my mind because he got up and stepped aside to let me get up.

Naruto was up next and Sakura followed to. I fumble with my money and left enough to pay for both of the bills. My ears were red. I could feel it. I just wanted to get out there as soon as possible. Ino looked like she about to explode. I bowed my head down at the three. Part of me was sure they were going to dislike me from this point on. "Why are you leaving Sakura, you're really picking her over me?"

"Maybe you shouldn't be so mean Ino. She's my friend and my teammate."

"Oh yea billboard brow?"

"Shut your face Ino-pig."

I could hear the girls banter while I left. Once on the street I leaned forward with my hands on my knees. I was breathing really hard but trying my best to focus inside myself. "Are you okay?" I tried to nod but I couldn't I was having a panic attack and I wasn't sure how to stop it. I tried digging my finger nails into the palms of my hands but that wasn't working either.

"What's wrong with her? Sasuke do something!" My body shook and I was about to wrap my arms around myself and curl up into a ball. "Suiren look at me." My eyes darted up at Sasuke his eyes roaming my face trying to figure out what was wrong.

Blinking I watched his eyes change to those red ones and my breathing started to slow down. "You need to relax and breathe." He said taking a few deep breaths with me. It wasn't long before the panic was gone and I just felt stupid. Embarrassed actually. "Let's go." He said looking at the other two. I felt Sakura grab my hand as we walked out of the village to the training grounds.

"Are you alright Suiren-chan?" I nodded a bit and sighed as we finally got to the open clearing. The space and fresh air really cleared my head. "Yea I'm fine. Sorry about that." I mumbled and the three eyed suspiciously. They wanted to ask I could tell but they didn't want to push me. "I—I told you guys. I'm not used to people and well … I'm prone to getting panic attacks when put into situations I don't know how to handle." My voice got softer and softer as the words left my mouth. I felt like a child.

"Panic attacks?" Before Sakura could punch him in the head I nodded, "Yea, it happens every so often since I was small but they have been happening a lot as of late. I can just assume because everything is different here. I'm trying my best to adjust." I forced a smile which seemed to satisfy the blonde.

"Well I'm sorry that she did that to you." Sakura said forcing her lips into a straight line. She seemed genuinely pissed at Ino and I just shook my head, "Really not a problem, I'm sure I over reacted."

I tried to put the ordeal behind me. Taking my back pack off, I leaned it against a tree and stretched. "I need some hand to hand." I said grabbing two bracelets out of my bag.

"What's that?" Naruto asked me poking at the little black balls. "It's for training. I can add and remove weight to it to help me get faster with my taijustu." I could see Sasuke eye me a bit but I turned my attention to Sakura who sat down and pulled out a text book. It looked like it was about Medical Ninjustu. That was interesting.

"Okay who's first?" I asked taking a few steps into the clearing. "Me, me, me!" I held back a giggle as he ran out to join me. He was to funny. "I'll take winner." Sasuke mumbled leaning against a tree waiting for his turn. "Rules?" I asked taking a fighting stance. "Rules .." He looked confused. He was so clueless sometimes.

"Like you want to do first to 5 solid hits or till someone taps out?" I could tell he was thinking about, his lips curving into a big smile, "I guess till I make you tap out Suiren." He said putting his hands together raring to go.

I smirked, he was over confident; had he not realized on my own I had been training to? "Bring it." I muttered, I sent off burst of Chakra to my feet and dashed toward him, I knew those seals all too well my friend. I knew when he put his hands together he was going to start with that Justu.

"Shadow clone - " Before he could mutter the rest of the words my Kunai lay lazily at his neck, "How did you?" He said as I shook my head back and forth.

"Naruto, Naruto you can't just go into a fight with out using your head, especially when your opponent already knows your most favorite Justu." I said removing the knife and tossing his hair.

I saw Sasuke tenses a bit; it would have gone unnoticed had I not been spending my evenings talking about nonsense the last few nights. "I'll give you one more chance to redeem yourself." I said before his pout reached the floor. At that his ears twitched and his smiled grew. "Alright!" He yelled and I got back into my fight stance and so did he. "Let's GO!" He yelled running to me throwing 3 kunai. I blocked them with my own and jumped back when he came at me with a punch.

Blocking another I threw two of my own that he blocked, sinking down I swept his legs which he noticed and jumped to avoid. I took my chance while he was in the air and kicked up making contact with his chest. I watched him fly back but after two tumbles he pulled himself back up.

"Shadow Close Justu!" At least he did rush it this time. Ten Narutos where coming at me fast. As quick as I could I did a few hand signs of my own, "Fire Style, Fire ball Justu!" Blowing in the direction of the clones I smirk as I saw pop after pop of smoke.

I noticed the kunai a little late and when I dodged it, it still slit my shirt. Through the smoke 5 shadow clones emerged. I was able to take care of three of them with kunai and the other I had to dodge two punched before delivering one in his gut causing him to disappear. I saw one of the clones left his leg up for a kick and I slide between his legs hitting him in the back with a shuriken.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the real Naruto. My hands had to be faster, " Fire Style: Dragon Flame!" Naruto was able to dodge the frontal attack with ease but I took my chance while he was distracted, in the midst of the fire and smoke to do a few other hand signs. Ones I was just learning.

Hiding in the tree I watched as my water clone fought off another wave of about 5 Narutos. I looked at her through my bangs. I can't believe it actually worked. I was reading in one of the books that Sakura gave me that about having a primary and secondary elemental chakra affinity. When I asked Kakashi about it he told me about chakra paper. At first I thought it was just dumb, I mean water and fire. I knew it my heart fire was all mine but water, even as a secondary it was just strange but there I was looking at my very first water clone.

She wasn't doing too badly either. Just as I planned Naruto had been shifting slightly as my clone moved and he was right below me standing under the branch I was hiding out in. He threw a shuriken that went straight through her and I took my chance and jumped down landing right on the kids back, kunai to neck. "Tap out?" I said with a smug smile. He looked shocked, peering up at me and back to where my clone had been. Nothing but a small puddle of water in the grass.

I helped him up and waked over to the other two. "How did you make a water clone?" Sakura, her nose out of her book looked up at me. I shrugged my shoulders. "Practice. That's actually the first time it worked." I chuckled a bit rubbing the back of my neck.

"I never even saw you make one and hide. You're too fast Suiren." I stuck my tongue out and gave him a thumbs up. "But don't you worry, you just got lucky, next time I'll win for sure, believe it." At least he wasn't a sore loser.

I gasped when a kunai grazed my cheek landing on the tree next to me. I looked over glaring at my moody teammate. What the heck was he thinking, "You ready yet." He mumbled looking bored but I could see the small tremor in his body. He was excited. I was ready to punch him in his stupid face. Wiping the small trickle of blood from my cheek I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. "What the hell was that fo—" I put my hand out to block Naruto from stepping forward.

"I got this." I mumbled stepping into the field.

We just looked at each other for a few moments. Sizing each other up. I still remember that day in the land of waves, when he asked me what other fire Justus I knew and I told him he would have to fight me to find out. Who knew it would be this long since we actually spared. I saw his hand twitch over his pouch and I back flipped when he threw two shuriken. I knew those were only distractions. He always did that with Naruto when they sparred, it was almost mechanical. Quickly a blocked a kick from my right side.

We jumped a good distance apart, I was distracted for a moment when his eyes went red. I dropped my weight as fast as I could when his hands started to form signs. His fireball barreled passed me with crazy speed. The heat licked my face as I tucked and rolled to dodge it but he was back in my strike zone instantly.

Facing him he threw 2 punches which I blocked and threw 2 of my own. Punch, block, punch, block. He was a second or two faster than me and I was going to have compensate for that. I barely blocked a high kick to my shoulder blade pushing him back. He smirked knowing he almost got me. Coming back it me with two more punches I pushed a bit of chakra to my hands. Punch, Block. Punch, block. I bent down and swiped his legs and he jumped. I couldn't help but smirk myself, kicking up aiming for under his chin; he black flipped and avoided it.

Two feet away we locked eyes for another second before we clashed again. Kick and punches all being blocked. I huffed and puffed. I was starting to get worn out. I had to figure this out. I had to get through his defense, trip him up. Pulling back I gather as much chakra as I could muster up into my arm and went for a straight punch to the face.

"Thought you could make contact with a frontal attack?" He asked blocking my punch crossing his hands together like an x and pushing my wrist up. I couldnt help but cock my eyebrow; confusion littered his face as I pushed the gathered chakra that I held in my arm to my fingers and then, flick.

The hit wasn't hard but the amount of chakra I hit him with was enough to send him flying back on his butt. I could hear a gasp from Sakura and an awkward cheer from Naruto who I think mumbled questioning if I got him or not.

Grabbing my last kunai I sent burst of chakra to my feet and barreled into him. I felt bad for tackling him but it was affected enough to get my kunai to his neck "Tap out?" I said my chest heaving up and down. I was tapped out that was for sure. Before he could even said anything I rolled over, back on the grass. "Because I sure as heck tap out."

Out of the corner of my eye I could see him cross his arms over his chest in a huff and faced me, "that was a cheap shot." He said looking up to the sky before back down at me. I couldn't help but put my hand over my mouth to hide a chuckle that threated to pass through my lips. "What?" He said trying to sound upset but I thought I could see a hint of pink on his cheeks. He had a little lump on his forehead where I flicked him.

"Suiren-chan that was great! You beat Sasuke!" I glanced at the blonde hair boy and gave him a peace sign from the floor. The grass never felt so comfortable.

"Hn." Mumbling Sasuke got up, "You just got really lucky this time." After a second hesitation he put his hand out and help me off the floor. My legs felt like jelly and I was sure that the two of them could still go another round or more. My stamina was shit.

"uhuh." I said rolling my eyes at him, "Sore loser. A win is a win you know." I couldn't help but taunt him. He just brushed me off.

I stretched a bit, "I can't believe you actually beat him with a flick to the forehead." A smirk graced my face again, I might not be the strongest yet but at least I have the element of surprise.

I Kind of wished I hadn't used so much chakra because I had really wanted to get into that scroll but I guess it would just have to wait till tomorrow. I really did need to get faster because using my chakra to speed up and enhancing my Taijustu was not really good considering that I needed it for other stuff.

I had parted with my team and opened my front door. "Hello?" I said knowing quite well no one was home, I could sense it but still I asked. Walking into the kitchen I saw a plate of food cover in plastic with a note.

Out with Friends.

Be home late.

Here is some food

-K

I smiled a bit, it was nice of him to let me know. He really didn't have to. I took the plastic off the food and tossed it in the trash. I took the note and my food up to my room. I pinned the note to my cork board. I knew it was dumb but I was starting a collection. I never really owned that much stuff and these memories were important to me. Looking at the coupons I made up my mind that I wanted ramen tomorrow. Grabbing the plate off my desk, I was shoving rice in my mouth way to fast but I was just so hungry.

Air caught in my throat when I felt metal on my neck. I couldn't help but drop my plate; it was now all over my floor, "Tap out?" I small growl grew in my throat and I threw my elbow back making contact. I turned around, "Baka! What the hell was that for?" My face was red and it was getting redder as I looked at the mess of rice and glass pieces.

"Pay back?" He said taking a seat on my bed rubbing where I had hit him, he leaned against my head board. I huffed and got on my knees putting everything in the little trashcan that I had.

Once it was done I clapped my hands dusting off anything that might have stuck to them and placed them on my hips. "You're a jerk you know." I said eying him as he flipped through the pages of another one of my text books.

"You're just too easy to scare." He said glancing up at me. I rolled my eyes. "Don't be a sore loser." He mumbled. Grabbing a shuriken off my desk I tossed it at him. Moving his head a bit it lodged itself in my head board. Great.

After I felt I had gotten some rage out I let my body fall next to him. I didn't realize how tired I was till I made contact with my bed. I slide down a bit so my head was on my pillow. His presence still beside me. He hadn't said another word to me nor I him but that was alright. As usual the silence was comforting. It lulled me to sleep before I had a chance to catch him leave.

Updated: 1.20.19