Chapter 5

It caused a strange pain I hadn't felt before. It was like I couldn't feel as well as I could before, though I knew my nerves were still intact.

I quickly ran through my head on what I might know about the Hyuuga Clan's genkai kekkei Some kind of Genjutsu…and a defense involving fists.

I remembered what I had seen at the Chunin exams. The two Hyuuga's, the cousins. They would strike at joints in the arm, parts in the abdomen. Important parts. Important…points. And then opponents couldn't use chakra.

Chakra points!

Her second hit came fro my belly button. I side stepped and jumped, flipping my body up and over hers, till I was basically doing a hand stand on her shoulders.

She froze, my hair slightly in her eyes and my braid hanging down to her hip. "Na…" she looked up, now face to face with me. I did a quick smile, but she continued to lean back and I had to fall forwards so she wouldn't be hurt. "…ni?" she finished quietly.

She looked uncertainly to Inuzuka and Bug Boy. "I…barely felt her on my shoulders."

I looked at Bug Boy through the corner of my eye. I saw Inuzuka had as well. Akamaru had decided to stretch and bask in the hot sun. The clouds had gone with the morning, and Bug boy had let his hood fall, showing dark, spiked up hair.

"You're fast, and light, but to qualify as a Taijutsu-ist, I'm going to have to see how strong you are as well."

Inuzuka decided to throw in his two cents just then. "Yeah. All we've seen you do is dance around, avoiding hits. Anyone can avoid."

My eyebrows rose, but my eyelids stayed half closed and bored. "Oh yeah?" I flashed above Akamaru, slow enough Inuzuka could see me but fast enough he couldn't get me.

My elbow bent, fist prepared to strike the dozing dog, I saw in my peripheral Inuzuka reach out towards me in almost comical slow motion, fists ready to push me away from his partner. But his chest was open for my kick, sending him to the edge of the trees, a good 50, maybe 70, feet away.

He had slid all the way on his back, and when he stopped he moved into a half sitting, half sprawled posture, breathing deeply.

Bug Boy's head was turned to the fallen Inuzuka, and I think I heard him curse. Hinata was staring at me, and it looked like awe was spreading on her face.

Some hair had fallen along my nose, so I blew up after I plopped down on the ground next to Akamaru. He didn't move, just blinked at me then turned to his master, and once he saw that Inuzuka was okay, swearing, he moved his head and nudged my hand.

I reacted by scratching below his ear, where he leaned into it and grumbled happily. Inuzuka had just gotten back and stared at us. Then he gave Akamaru the 'traitor' look and walked to the nearest tree, leaning with one foot on the trunk, and watched us through half lidded eyes.

Bug Boy walked over and just stared at me. I wasn't exactly for the whole silent stare thing so… "What the fuck are you looking at," I snarled, glaring at him.

"You're easy to underestimate. I can see how you've been successful on your own, though you don't hold back when you're angry, which could jeopardize certain missions."

"Was that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Now I want to understand your team fighting skills. Kiba, you're with me. Hinata, team with Ume-chan."

My eyes were huge. "Whoa, wait, I am NOT going against Bug Boy."

"Hey, what makes you think we want to fight him, either?" Such a brave dog, that Inuzuka.

Bug boy sighed. "What if I won't use my bugs? Would you fight with Hinata then?"

I pursed my lips and squinted at him, but I couldn't tell if he was lying or being serious, all I could see was a barely raised eyebrow behind the glasses. So I nodded.