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I held a cup of green tea between my hands. Lazily looking at the flower arrangement in the middle of my table. It was pretty, really pretty. Ino was good at what she did and if she decided she didn't want to be a ninja she had something to fall back on. The scent from the stems of lavender made its way all the way to my room. It was lovely and the only reason I had decided to sit at my table, probably the first time I've just sat in this empty house since the Chunin exams started.

I could almost still hear the laughter from the girls from the night before. Like they where trapped within the walls of my house. It was a good feeling and a small rock chipped off my shoulder now that things with Ino where - Better. Sakura made Ramen. We sort of teased her wondering if she learned to make it for Naruto but secretly I knew she had learned to make it for me. I had told her about my uncle and his amazing ramen, it was one of the things that made me home sick for that little house in the forest when I had first come to the village.

It was a good meal. I needed it after the meditating I had done with Gai-sensei. He had me standing on a moving stream on one leg while meditating, there was a moment where I was sure that I preferred the running. Ino was as chatty as ever. I started to understand why her hair was so long, I was sure it was full of gossip. I didn't mind though, it was things that didn't hurt anyone.

I didn't even mind the portion of the night where the two ganged up on me and forced me to put on some make up. My lashed still caked with something that made them look longer, causing my eyes to look even bigger then normal. They asked me about Shikamaru and about Sasuke. We talked about the exams and the finals. Overall the night was a success. It was something I had never done before but the two of them wanted to start to make a habit out of it. Sakura's house next time.

Sighing I took my last sip of tea. I was to meet Gai in about two hours, right about lunch time. He had a surprise for me. I knew better then to be excited about his surprises. I knew he took it easy on me physically yesterday. I was sure it was because today was going to be a drag. I big big drag. That and I think he didn't want to kill me knowing I was hanging out with Ino and Sakura for the first in a long time. He wouldn't admit it though.

I washed the single cup and filled it with water making sure to keep the flowers that Ino gave me wet. I went upstairs and changed into my standard training attire. Sakura had told me we would go shopping soon so that I could get some new stuff. My pants starting to loss some elasticity. I pulled my hair back and braided it into a single braid. I asked Sakura if she would cut it a bit for me and Ino freaked out saying it was a thing of beauty. It seemed everyone just wanted to me to trip and fall over it during battle. Maybe I could hide needles in it or something to at least make it into a weapon.

Grabbing two bananas I put my back pack on and left the house. I had a ration pack this morning and so I was feeling pretty good. It had been a while since I felt this way. The exams tore me down, I didn't think I would ever recover.

The sun was bright and the clouds were thick and large, not even being moved much by the breeze. They looked fluffy and soft. I was at the meeting spot early, at the bottom of the waterfall. My brain buzzed when I remembered the intense meditation from the night before. Some how I felt no closer to opening the first chakra gate. I frowned softly. I didn't have much time. A week at most and somehow I didn't feel faster. I still couldn't land that hit.

"What's with the long frown? Smiling increases ones youthfulness ten fold!" I cracked a smile, how could you not. The green beast was starting to grow on me and I could see why Kakashi trusted him so. "So are you ready for your surprise little bud?" I gulped but nodded dropping my back pack to the floor.

Oh well damn! I grunted when I was hit by bright orange weights. I held them tight against my chest as I skid a foot or so back from the force of his throw. I didn't want to drop them on the floor like a baka. "What the heck is this?" Once I was balanced I lifted them up. They looked like sleeves or some sorts. "You're kidding?" I looked between him and the orange weights and back at him again. "Orange?" I whined a bit. I realized now that those orange leg warmers that him and Lee wore were weights. No wonder they are so fast.

"Orange is the color of youth!" I snorted a laugh. I bet it was, no wonder why Naruto was so obsessed with it. "I think im youthful enough." I put my hand inside the sleeve and located the zipper. I took of the orange and promised him I would at some point wear it. With the now black weights on I puffed my cheeks out. These were heavy. "Are you ready bud?" He looked me over as I lifted my feet up doing a few knee highs, trying to adjust to the weight. "As ready as I will ever be Gai-sensei." I noticed a odd look on his face. It was only for a moment but I caught it. I had to remember to go back to the hospital and see how Lee was doing.

I didn't think about it to much but it must be hard on Gai. Lee was his student and they had a tight bond. For Lee to never resume being an active Shinobi was heart breaking. I had to try harder, for Gai and Lee. "Alright, ill give you a ten minute head start." The corner of his mouth turned up and my heart thumped. I hesitated only a second longer before I took off.

My muscles screamed. I had been up for a half hour and I still couldn't get myself out of bed. I told myself I would go to the hot springs today. I needed to recover faster, I didn't have time to take a day off from training. I took a few deep breathes. One, two ... Damn. damn damn. I floor was hard. This was the first time in a while I just wanted to cry from sheer pain but I could do this. I had to do this.

Yoga was tough but helpful. I was able to get through even though I had fallen a few times, well maybe more than a few times. I had somehow gotten dressed and was able to shove a ration pack and two pears into my body. Rummaging through the cabinet I popped a food pill into my system. I really needed it if I had any hope of walking around today.

I had a cup of tea and was relieved when the pain was slightly dulled, only slightly but it was some type of relief. I cracked my neck and made it outside. I debated on asking Sakura if she wanted to come with me but it was so much of a walk to her house and out of the way. I wasn't sure if I would make it there. Breath Suiren, Breath. I had to keep reminding myself. One foot in front of the other. I could do this.

A thirty minute walked ended up taking me an hour. I was sweating and sticky when I got to the hot springs. The smell of the water made its way to my nose and I already starting feeling some relief as I clung to the side of the door frame to steady myself. "Lady Suiren, are you alright?" My muscles tensed at the word lady. I wanted to cry because this brought on a new wave of pain. I turned slightly to see Neji, behind him was his cousin Hinata and a small girl who I didn't know and between them an older man. I forced a smile. "I'm alright. Just been doing a lot of training." I felt pricks of heat rise to my arms. I wasn't comfortable around these people cause I didn't know them. It was clear they were all from the Hyuga clan.

"If you train to hard ... you'll hurt yourself." I gave the girl a small smile. "This is my father and my sister." I didn't feel to bad around her even thought we hadn't spent much time together. She gave off a bright aura. Almost like Naruto did. "My name is Suiren." I said glancing at her family. Her father eyeing me in a way I wasn't found of. "It is good to formally meet you Surien Uchiha." I flinched at the formality. "Likewise Sir." I mumbled softly. "If you will excuse us." Neji was acting, odd in a way and I could only assume it had to do with the older male. I was glad for it though. I didn't like the tension that grew in the air.

The three went inside the the building, I assumed to use the hot springs as well. "Do you um need some help?" Hinata lingered behind and talked once her family was inside. I noticed a small decrease in tension from her shoulders. "I think I'm alright. Gai-sensei is just really kicking my butt these day." Her eyes were wide for a moment. Her arms in front of her as she played with the hem of her shirt. "At least let me carry your bag inside?" I looked at her, really looked at Hinata Hyuga for the first time. She was a small thing, soft spoken and careful with her words and her tone and her actions. I didn't know much about the Hyuga clan but only from what I read. I knew they were strict and very controlling of their younger clan members. Very much into the old traditional way of doing things.

"Sure. Thank you." I let her grab my bag. If she was putting out the effort then so would I. We went inside and changed before heading out to the springs. The hot was just what my body needed. I sunk into it with just my nose and above out of the water. Hinata wasn't far away from me, watching my carefully. I blew some bubbles from my mouth and sat up so I could at least talk to the girl. "So what have you been up to?" The girl looked startled for a moment and I instantly regretted talking until she smiled at me. " Healing up from the preliminaries mostly." I scrunched my nose. That's right. Sakura had told me how Neji had almost killed the girl. I was such a jack ass for bringing it up here. It must have been awkward for the two to be around one another. "How about you? How is your training?"

I couldn't get over how soft spoken the girl was. I had so strain to hear her, almost decided to pump chakra to my ears to make sure I didn't miss a thing. "It's been alright." Truth was I didn't really know where to start. "I've been training a lot, every day with Gai-sensei since I've gotten out of the hospital." Even beneath the water I could tell she was fiddling with her thumbs. She was shy, almost as socially stupid as I was. "You look different." My eyebrows furred together and I couldn't help but look down at myself, "How so?" Her eyes rolled to the left thinking about what she was going to say before she answered me. "You're skin is slightly tanned, your body more toned and your eyes are um, well your eyes are troubled." Troubled. She was the second person to say that to me. I nibbled on the inside of my cheek. "I'm s-sorry." She shied away from me for a moment and I snorted a laugh. She jumped at the sudden noise. "Don't be sorry. Your the second person to tell me that."

She turned toward me with a frown on her lips, "You know you don't have to be troubled alone." I nodded and mouthed a thank you before sliding down a bit into the water and leaning my head back. I let my muscles soak and expand, the thought of training later only made me tremble. Yesterday Gai had chased me around the village, I knew for sure he wasn't going as fast as he could have. When he finally 'Caught me' we spared a little and if I thought I couldn't land a hit before there was no way I could now. It was like trying to fight with your feet cemented into the ground.

I must have took a small snooze because before I knew it Hinata was tapping me on the shoulder. "You don't want to stay in to long or you'll become faint." She was already wrapped in her towel, I looked around trying to figure out how long I had been out. I joined her and we changed before walking toward the exit. The hair on the back of my neck stood up thinking about seeing Neji and Hinata's father. "Do you like tea?" I cocked an eyebrow, for a second I thought I had made those words up in my mind but when I saw her facial expression I knew they had come out of her mouth. "Yea I love it." I said letting my lips curve into a smile. "Maybe you can come over and have some tea. I have a garden and make the tea myself." I could tell how proud she was of it. Her eye lit up and her face soften. "That sounds wonderful." I was glad to see we were outside before the others. "Well I have to go it's almost time for me to train."

Hinata shook her head softly. "Don't train to hard Suiren. Sometimes the best training is good rest." I let a chuckle pass my lips before I waved and left. She wasn't the first person to tell me that either but I didn't have time to rest. My body ached but I pushed forward because my spirit was strong, uncrushable.

"Again." I huffed and puffed looking at Tenten. She had two buns on the sides of her head and a mean way with weapons. She glanced at me silently asking me if I was ready and I nodded. She grabbed four kunai in each hand and turned. I was ready for a another wave of senbon and other various items. I jumped and dodged, flickering and blocking each thing that came my way and let me tell you everything came my way. The leg weights felt as though they were pulling me to the ground trying to get me hit but I wouldn't let them. I noticed her reaching for a scroll and I gulped. My eyes were on but straining because my body couldn't keep up with everything.

Jumping up the girls scrolls fluttered open, "Twin Rising Dragons!" It was like a tornado of objects being hurled all at once. I dodged and moved, flickered and jumped and contorted my body to miss anything that came to me. I reached for a kunai of my own and hit one out of the air that I knew I couldn't doge. Landing I ducked and rolled. A slight gasp escaped my mouth. It was becoming to much. My hands found their way together and I flickered. Again and Again. Again and Again. Again and Again. The last time I did I tried to hide behind a tree but I couldn't stop my self from smashing into it and landing on the floor. My salty sweat made the dirt muddy and damp. "Are you alright!?" I pushed my self up on all fours trying to catch my breath and that's when I felt it.

The little push I needed. It was right there with in reach. I could feel it warming me from my neck, slowly seeping its way into my body. "Tenten get back." I heard Gai but I couldn't register him. My heart thumped and I felt a rush of adrenaline. It was intoxication and I wanted to drink up every last drop. I opened my eyes and saw the wisps of putrid purple. "No, no, NO!" I fell back on my butt and shuffled back till I hit right into a tree. My eyes off I desperately looked at my hands, the purple gone, the power gone. Nothing left but just me, for now.

I glanced up to see Gai-sensei kneeling down to check on me. "I think that's enough for today." I clicked my tongue on the roof of my mouth but said nothing. " Tenten thank you for all your help. You're free to go." She looked at me for a second longer before nodding and leaving. "I-Im sorry Sensei. Give me another chance." I tried to stand up but he pushed me down again. "There is no reason to be sorry bud. This is something even the strongest of Ninja wouldn't be able to deal with." I frowned a bit. "I can do this." I whispered. "Please I can do this." His eyes showed turmoil. I new he was probably right. I should have stopped but I didn't want to. I didn't have time to stop. I put my hand out and he grabbed it pulling me up. "Alright Lotus bud." He cracked a smile and gave me a thumbs up and a wink. I took a deep breath. All or nothing, better to have sore muscles then lazy bones.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto only my OC.