Sorry people I reread my last chapter, and realized I didn't catch two mistakes, first during the last part I said Adara first, but I meant Zaki and I said Zaki right after, And then I got Keiji's mother's, name wrong, cause I changed it and forgot I changed it so, yeah…sorry bad writing on my part :C His mom's name's Kaya, NOT KRISTI! I'm soooo sorry. This is another long chapter, hope you all enjoy it :D
Mayuri sat next to his grandson on the hill just outside of Konoha. The boy's breath was steady, and there was a peaceful look on his face. His purple hair, reminded Mayuri so much of his daughter. The boy needed to find his spirit protector. For his daughter it was losing her two team mates, for him it was Viola. Things change in a person that makes them different. That makes them worthy.
"Mayuri!"Saratobi smiled at him, he was waving at his taller team mate. Mayuri rolled his eyes and slouched over to his friend. "What are you doing?" The other asked he hated banter like this; it was one of the curses of being on their three month domestic missions. Then you have your 1 month break then your 3 months at the front. The 1 month break was the worse; people wanted you to 'socialize then'. Mayuri was not one for socializing.
"I'm going to go train," he huffed. The shorter boy smiled at him genuinely. Mayuri rolled his eyes again, that happened a lot.
"You should come with us, were going out to that new ramen bar in town."
"And we would be?"
"Danzou, Kechi, and I"
"Oh"
"COME ON MAN! Do you have any sense of fun in that over grown body of yours?"
"No"
"Please?"
"No"
"Are you sure"
"Yup"
"You know there will be a bunch of girls their"
"No, last time I let you drag me out to go look at girls, they all ended up trying to rip some of my clothes off."
"And YOU think that's a bad thing?" Sarutobi exclaimed incredulously.
"Yes, they tore my only good pair of pants. Do you know how expensive those are at my height?"
"I do…not understand you. You have women throwing themselves at you at a regular basis, you're known as the hero of the marsh fields, and the second Hokage is thinking of naming you successor. ENJOY IT WHEN YOU CAN!"
"That's, just a rumor, the second has no intention of naming me his successor, and anyway I'm not interested." Mayuri mumbled to himself. His Sensei had hinted at it more than a few times, and he had stopped the conversation there. Mayuri did NOT want to have anything to do with being a shinobi after the war.
Sarutobi breathed in through his nose in frustration, "FINE, I didn't want to do this, but I will. If you come have fun with us, I will…pay for your meal"
That got Mayuri's attention, if there was free food involved. He guessed it wouldn't be That bad of experience. And anyway Sarutobi came from a rich family, he didn't. "ok, I guess I'll go"
Sarutobi smiled congenially at him and wrapped an arm around his elbows. There were the tallest part of him Sarutobi could reach. "Let's go!"
The stand was somewhat small, only a bar to sit at. There was already a small line of people waiting. "How are we supposed to have a nice dinner and 'pick up girls' with so little room to chat."
Sarutobi smiled at him like he was a child. "we can just offer them our humble laps to sit on."
Mayuri rolled his eyes. Suddenly two other men about his age appeared. One had dark hair and a severe square jaw with what seemed like a permanent scowl .Danzou seemed to be as happy as he was to be there. The other had light brown hair and one downward triangle on each cheek. The triangles really gave him away as an Inuzaki, but most people didn't really need to see Kechi to figure out what clan he was from. All you really needed was a little sniff. He was a lot happier to be their than Danzou.
"How long's the wait?" He asked Sarutobi.
"Not long Kechi only about 10 minutes, Where's Jango?" Sarutobi asked, looking for Kechi's nindog.
"he decided not to come" Mayuri glanced toward Danzou, at least somebody else found this as foul as he did. The line seemed to go on forever.
After 10 minutes of torture, they were finally seated. oh how he hated…people. "So remind me Saratobi why are we here again?" Danzou asked.
The brunette smiled at him, "Girls, and Food"
Danzou blinked twice, Mayuri didn't think the scowl could get deeper, but apparently he was wrong. "I see how we get the food, what about the girls, there are no empty seats for them to sit down."
Kechi scooted farther away from the counter hands gesturing to his lap, "we provide them with the seats."
"Hey Ladies!" Saratobi gestured to a group of gaggling girls, they all giggled in response.
Mayuri hated giggling."You girls want to come get some seats, if you don't mind sharing that is?" Sarutobi said. All the girls giggled more. They whispered to each other, one or two of them seemed reluctant to go the others seem excited. Finally the later of the group won the argument and they cut in line to join them. There were five girls. There were two identical blonds that had large bosoms, one was wearing a pink tank top and short blue shorts while the other was wearing a blue tank top and short pink shorts. They giggled and bounced towards Sarutobi.
The next was a red head with green smoldering eyes, her shirt was Chinese style and her hair was up in a bun only a few ringlets falling. She strutted over right to Danzou and sat down on his lap. Her head snapped up at Danzou. "I'm going to sit here. Don't get frisky." He scowled in response but didn't respond.
There were two left, they were both uneventful, one had chestnut brown hair and glasses. She was sniffling into a hanky that looked more like a rag. She wore a black peasant skirt and a long tie-dye nylon shirt. She seemed the most reluctant, and didn't know where to go. The girl beside her had long blond hair that was partially back off her face. She seemed the youngest out of all of them, and the most awkward. Her hands were playing with silver bracelets at her wrists. She was wearing an apple green top that had a little rap that ended with a bow on her side. She was also wearing khaki pants. She looked at Mayuri, and flinched a little then she looked at Kechi, she seemed to take a step closer to him. Then…
She sniffed the air, and took a step away from Kechi. Her counterpart blew her nose vary loudly beside her. The blond then whispered something into the glass's wearing girls ear. The girl responded loudly, "NO, I can't smell anything with this cold." Her nose had just turned a little redder. And then the brunette sniffled a little more. The blond squirmed a little realizing that Kechi and Mayuri were both listening. She whispered in the other's ear again. The sniffer turned to look at Mayuri, he made sure to scowl at her. Then she faced the blond and nodded. The brunette headed toward Kechi. The blond walked over to him.
The girl stood there a while looking at Mayuri questioningly, Mayuri was too busy eating his pork ramen to really notice. She cleared her throat, and he did nothing. She continued to stand next to him. Her feet started tapping the ground. Mayuri ignored her. Finally after about 30 seconds of tapping. The girl spoke. "Excuse me" He looked up, making sure to slurp the noodles right in front of her. The girl seemed to get over her shyness in her annoyance. "may I sit down." It was a statement, not a question. Mayuri blinked, well if he said no, he could quickly eat and then ditch her and let her have the seat all to herself, and he would get over the socializing. The older boy looked over at the blond. She was nervously stroking her hair behind her ear. Her face was pointed to the ground, she quickly glanced at him.
Her eyes caught his attention, they were blue-green, like a marsh. It was like lightning striking him quickly as her eyes caught his. And his heart started to race. His palms were getting sweaty. And he felt 7 times bigger than he actually was. His mouth seemed to work by itself in that instant. "Yes, sorry" He scooted so she could sit on his lap. She was a lot lighter then she looked and her body seemed so fragile as his arms encircled her to make the sitting more comfortable for them.
He looked over at the other's. Kechi and the brunette seemed to be sitting there awkwardly, there seemed to be a nervous giggle between them about something. Saratobi was sitting comfortably with the two girls on his lap, laughing and squishing together. Danzou and the redhead were both sitting their eating their ramen like the other didn't even exist. Then there was the small blond sitting on his large frame. Her back was stiff and shoulders straight. Her breath was quick and made her small chest rise up and down very quickly. "What's your name" He asked hoarsely, it seemed that his voice had forgotten how to speak.
"Mary Viola Watanabe but everyone just calls me Viola, and, and yours" Her voice seemed to be a lot quieter to, and the annoyance she once showed him was replace with nervousness. He Shifted their position a little so she was a little farther up on his lap and much more comfortable. The girl tried to hide her blush. She scooted farther away, her pants were made of slippery material.
He leaned down and whispered directly in her ear."Keitaru Mayuri." Her breathing quickened and he could feel the goose bumps on her arms. Mayuri got a sick pleasure on seeing the girls reaction. Her face seemed to be turning more and more red as the conversation went on.
The girl pulled her hair back behind her ear again, and gulped, "you mean, like the, one from the marsh fields?"
Mayuri pursed his lips, and decided not to respond to that question. The girl looked back at him, her eyes met his and widened. "I apologies Keitaru-san I didn't know, it was you. I can get up if you want." The girl started to get up, but his left arm kept her there on his lap. He scooted her up closer to her back was pressed towards his chest. She really was no longer breathing. When she started slipping Mayuri held her still by an arm across the waist, and one across the chest. Her breast were a nice average size, and her nipples hardened under the fabric. After making sure she was nice and close Mayuri removed both arms. The boy came and gave her, her ramen. She thanked him with a nod. Her hand went to pull back that strand of hair. Mayuri seemed to be possessed with some sort of demon, for he brushed the hair back for her.
Leaning down towards her ear again, "Is that better?" He asked. She nodded and looked down at her hands. Her face wasn't anything special, he had seen Konoichi's that would blow this girl out of the water. But he liked her better than those konoichi's. They tried too hard, the girl seemed a little more humble. "By the way," he blew softly into her ear. "You can call me Mayuri, Viola."
The girl seemed to start breathing again, it was still a bit heavy. And gradually she started eating her ramen. After a meal of silence and polite talk, Kechi yelled across the bar "So Mary it's your birthday is it?" The girl in Mayuri's arm nodded.
As though being forced to talk she opened her mouth, "I, uh, I'm uh am 18 now…" Sarutobi was looking down at her and smiled, "You're legal?" He asked, the two blonds in his arms nodded and whispered something in his ear. Mayuri's eyes widened, he was nine years older than this girl. Mayuri looked down at the row, danzou looked bored as the red head talked to Kechi, and the girl on his lap in a conversation. The two blonds were talking to each other, and Sarutobi was eyeing up Viola.
Kechi stood up, and the girl on his lap slid off, they both giggled. "Let's go to the bar and really celebrate." he said The two blonds nodded, so did the red head.
Viola seemed hesitant, "I don't know guys, mom and dad they want me to open up shop and…"
The red head interrupted her "I'll open up shop tomorrow, this is your 18th and the only day when its okay to get drunk of your ass."
"Well, I don't know, Yuka's sick"
Finally the nasally one clasped her hands together "Please Viola, let's go have fun."
"Fine"
Everyone seemed relieved at her decision. "So were all going to the bar then?" Sarutobi asked.
"I'm leaving, thanks for the food Sarutobi." Danzou said, he waved goodbye and the mood lightened up considerably.
"I'm assuming you are probably leaving too then Mayuri?" Sarutobi, explained. Everyone looked at him to answer yes.
Mayuri looked at the girl still sitting on his lap, then at Sarutobi who was defiantly eyeing Mayuri's girl up, yeah no way that was going to happen. "no I'll go with you guys." The girls eyes widened and she got off his lap. Her hand pulled her hair back behind her ear again. Mayuri looked at everyone else, "what are we waiting for let's go."
-k-
Shikaku looked down at his hands. He hated the guests bed. He had really dug himself into big hole. It seemed that he had said words he really didn't mean. He had overreacted at something. And his daughter retaliated with another overreaction. He had never had that type of problem with Shikimaru. He would just tell his son, that he was being a lazy dumbass that need to get his ass out of those dam clouds and into that training field. Shikimaru would grumble, then he would train for the next 4 days, then he would just have to give him the talk again. It really was a nice simple system, and if shikimaru ever gave him lip he smacked him upside the head. But with Adara it was, he was in a whole new universe. She was a whole new animal. She took everything out of context. He wasn't expecting her to be shikimaru, but if he treated her different she blew up at him. He didn't understand. Shikaku had always heard the saying that women are from Venus and men from Mars, but he had never truly understood it until Adara hit puberty. He heard feet going down the stairs and knew they were Adara's. She was probably trying to sneak out. The door closed and she was gone. She must be going off to blow some steam. It wasn't a bad idea after all. After waiting a few more seconds Shikaku took off, as he was heading out to the back door. He stopped his wife was in the kitchen her eyebrows raised in expectation. Before they were dating, he had found that stare incredibly attractive. But then again before they were dating he really never paid attention to why she was making those faces at him. He paid attention to her legs. But now after 22 years of marriage he knew exactly what that face was for. She wanted him to do something.
"I know your planning on following her, actually talk to her Shikaku, " Yoshino scolded.
Shikaku scowled at his wife, then with a sigh he turned and left.
Following his daughter was relatively easy, she wasn't really trying to mask her chakra. Or if she was she was doing a piss poor job. The sense was heading for the training grounds, was she meeting somebody? Maybe that Keiji boy, he was probably a distraction to Adara. He always had been, if she hadn't wasted her time helping him to study she could have been head of her class. And again today she blew of her training to help the boy's grandmother. She needed to stop caring about boys and start caring about her training. Now he was going to have to talk to her. Like actually talking. Shikaku hated actually having conversations. They were unpleasant, and usually ended up with somebody angrier at him than before the talk.
Inoichi got off easy, that stupid Sasuke prick left Konoha for most of Ino's intense training…that was actually a great idea! He should have Keiji thrown out of Konoha. That would solve all his problems. Shikaku, turned back to go home, his wife's face flashed before his eyes. Oh crap, she probably wouldn't agree with the plan…she liked the boy for some reason. In no time at all Shikaku was approaching the training grounds. Climbing into a tree nearby he peered down at his daughter.
She was doing some advance dodge and throw exercises, Neji must have taught them to her. They were some of Gai's favorite's. She was doing okay hitting 8 out of the 10 targets, but still it wasn't that bad. Her release could be quicker, but the form was there. Adara sprang a back flip, the form was perfect and she was defiantly more flexible than shikimaru. But then something happened he didn't expect. She released a kunai and aimed straight at him. Shikaku jumped to avoid it, she landed her stand and six more Kunia were in her hand as she stood silent waiting for him to move.
"I know you're out there, you can come out now!". She yelled, Shikaku realized that the jig was up so he stepped into the clearing. On instinct once he started moving Adara pivoted around and threw two kunia's one went three hundred yards to the left, the other was straight at him, Shikaku easily caught it at its tip.
"Is that how you say hello to your father?" He asked her. His girl's eyes widened.
"Dad?" She gasped as she dropped all the rest of her kunai. Shikaku was now on the training ground, Adara scrambled to pick up all her kunai. She seemed surprised that he was there.
"Yes…who did you think it was?" He asked, the girl's eyes, that looked so much like her mother's widened and she rubbed her nose.
"No one!"
"so you could have been attacking a squirrel for all you knew." He hadn't been hiding at his very best, but it wasn't obvious either, he had it masked enough for a person not really paying attention not to notice. But not enough to mask it all the way. But then again why was she trying to sense anybodies chakra in the first place. "that's a little hypersensitive."
The girl turned around and started throwing straight at the targets. "Sorry, I sensed a chakra of a human just sitting there in a tree, watching me. In the middle of the night! What was I supposed to do just ignore it?" there was a lot attitude in that voice.
"Hey don't use that tone with me young lady, you could have attacked a shinobi just passing by," Shikaku had a feeling that this lecture wasn't going well.
Adara snipped back, "but I didn't did i?" She was getting frustrated, missing easy shots. After missing a third shot in a row she pivoted towards him, "what are you doing here anyway?"
"I came to see where my teenage daughter was going in the middle of the night."
Adara pursed her lips, "so your spying on me now," rolling her eyes and turning back towards the targets, "That's great, not only do I have a dad that thinks I'm incompetent he also doesn't trust me. Thanks dad!"
Shikaku gritted his teeth, he shouldn't take that kind of talk from his daughter, a part of him wanted to yell at her. But that would not solve anything. Taking a deep breath, he tried to continue calmly, "I just wanted to talk about what happened, after you got home. I think we both have some explaining to do."
Adara turned towards him and crossed her arms, "Ok, go on."
"Maybe you should go first." Shikaku said, he really didn't know how to start telling his daughter that she had changed into a horrible hormonal monster.
"I SHOULD GO FIRST? No dad I think YOU should go first."
Shikaku took another deep breath, this was going to be hard not starting a fighting match. "Ok, I don't know how you want me to act. You skip training for a day, you only have 29 days left. I get upset with you and then you act like I'm the bad guy because I treat you differently than your brother. I realize this, hence why I wanted you training, so you could get better and become a chunnin." Adara closed her eyes and shook her head.
"That's just it, you assume that I need more training than Shikimaru, that Shikimaru will just understand everything instantly, but goodness gracious I need all 29 days because I'm so slow and dumb!"
"I didn't say you were slow and dumb."
"But that's what you meant by different right? That I'm not as good."
"You always say you want me to recognize you as you Adara, I'm doing that! I'm not expecting you to be your brother, your brother is…"
" THAT he's a genius and I'm just dumb old Adara, he doesn't need to train as hard so if he misses training once a week, 'o well'. But if Adara misses training once got to scream and yell at her or she will fail."
Shikaku took another deep breath this wasn't getting anywhere, "Adara, I'm sorry, but it's the truth. Shikimaru is a genius he doesn't need to work as hard. I'm not saying you can't do it."
Her face fell from being angry to almost about to cry, and Shikaku's heart burst. Her eyes roamed around the clearing, they were getting watery, Shikaku could tell. "I'm always going to be second best. I guess I should just accept that." Shikaku walked over to give her a hug but she pulled away.
"I didn't mean for you to take it that way." Shikaku confessed.
Adara was starring at his shoes intently and just nodding, "okay"
"you can still do it, you just need a little extra training."
"Okay"
"there's nothing wrong where you are now,"
"Okay" Shikaku, now was just talking to a wall, Adara had completely shut down.
"Are you going to say anything else?"
Adara looked up at him, "what do you want me to say?"
"maybe what you're thinking."
"that I'm never going to be good enough for you. That I was a mistake to begin with, and that your only hope for me is that I don't embarrass the family name." his daughter's tears fell freely from her face as she wiped them away. Shikaku took her into a big bear hug.
"hey, hey calm down now, that's not true, you are fine they way you are."
"NO I'M NOT," she cried into his jacket. "I'm not a human calculator, I'm sorry I can't think 200 steps in front of my opponents. I'm sorry I hate Shogun, I'm sorry , I'm sorry I'm not good enough to make you happy."
"Who say's that? You are good enough Adara, I just know you have to work harder than your brother, when I yelled at you…I was out of bounds to have, over reacted about you missing one day of training. I guess I was worried, about you growing up to fast, and not really worrying about training…just boys."
Sniffling and wiping the last of her tears away, she looked up at him, "Of course I worry about training, but today, I just thought you wouldn't really care, cause you know, you never care when shikimaru does it, and if you do, you just scold him a little…wait" she looked up again, "what boys, you mean, Keiji" Her eyes rolled in her head, and she broke up the hug, "you're not still on that are you dad. He's my best friend, it's not going to change. I'm going to continue hanging out with him," Shikaku opened up his mouth to say something, "but he will not interfere with my training! I promise." He shut his mouth.
"Are we good?" He asked his daughter, pulling her into another bear hug.
"yeah were good," she told him, finally cracking a smile at him. Shikaku hooked his arm around her neck.
"Hey Addy, let's go home. I'm tired"
-e—s-s- -
Max rubbed his eyes, he had tried to get some sleep, going to bed right after he got back. And took a shower to get the smell out. A kunai factory job, 5 a.m. most people didn't get there till 9 , he would probably just be cleaning something. He just hoped that it wasn't high risk. Barking out a laugh as he finally got out of bed he couldn't believe himself, high risk. It was just standing in line and pressing a button or setting a mold. He knew lots of people who worked there, Kunai were important in Konoha. A third of the population were dependent on them, That just counting shinobi, not any of the other guys that go into making a kunai. Hey and not all of them were line workers, some did other jobs. Maybe he got a manager's position. Max went to his dumpy little mirror in the bathroom. The grime had built up over the last two weeks. It's not like he ever had a reason to use it. Wiping away the soot then washing his hands a, max looked at himself in the mirror.
His hair wasn't that greasy, he could go without another shower; maybe a little shave, the stubble that had been collecting around his chin and cheeks was getting long. Max had never really had nice facial hair, just peach fuzz that was longer than normal. Max smiled back remembering when he was 15, he had actually tried to grow a beard. Drove Zaki crazy, he would snuggle up to her in the morning and rub a raspberry all over her face. She woke up swearing and cursing him to hell. That was when he was still um seeing clients for money. He stopped maybe oh a month before Zaki turned to a gennin. He had contracted a case of the clap. IT was easily fixed with some medicine, but still really embarrassing. Max liked not having sex, it was a lot less pressure.
Looking at himself in the mirror, Max did not feel 18, or 19 or how ever old he was. He felt 40 with all the stuff that's been going on. Now he was actually getting a job, becoming a tax paying member of society. Wasn't he just the most upstanding citizen. All clean shaven now. His dirty blond hair falling around his face in a somewhat organized mess. Parting it in the middle he pulled it back so most of it but the bangs were out of his face. He could probably put it in a ceremonial bun to make himself look more professional, but then he would look like a pansy.
Max wasn't going to lie he was actually very attractive. The square chin, sunken cheeks, scalding blue eyes. He did very well for himself when he started…taking clients. They hadn't cared that he was only about 14 at the time. He was an attractive young man with an impressive stamina and overactive imagination, and most of the ladies who paid him. Were really just lonely, most of them were housewives with husbands always away for something. There were a number of justifications for hiring him. But those were all just a cover up to how lonely these people were. In the end Max wasn't popular because he was attractive or imaginative. Max was popular because after it was all done, he would stay and hold the clients till they were fast asleep. He enjoyed that more than the sex.
Drying off his face with a towel, he went in to prepare for the job. He didn't know what the job was so he had no idea how to prepare for it. Should he impress a boss? Should he go for comfort, or should they be crappy clothes? He would just try to play it safe, Max grabbed a pair of baggy and torn black pants. They were loose so they were comfy, and formal cause they weren't blue jeans. Then grabbing a hunter green shirt, it was a button up so it was formal but still crappy enough to be ok if he ruined it.
The morning was crisp and cold enough to show your breath. The closer he got to the cement building the higher the dread became churning in his stomach. Nasty acid rising from his intestines. All of his life he had never gone in there. Something just wasn't right around the place. It stunk of something, and just everything was wrong. His bodily functions started to go into hay wire, and Max found himself Dry heaving the closer he got. As he got to the entrance a convulsion hit him, and bile burned his throat as it rose like molasses to the back of his mouth. Grimacing Max swallowed it back down, then the bile seemed to take on new life spewing out of his mouth. After a couple more heaves he steadied himself, all of a sudden he felt a hand on his back. "You all right kid"
Max jumped up to face a man. The man was a little shorter than he was, a little older also. "Oh sorry didn't mean to scare you" The shorter man smiled at him, there was something weird about that smile. Or maybe the man's grey hair just reminded him of Zaki. The green eyes made him seem ancient. The man took out a cigarette. "Just saw you heaving away and wanted to make sure you were ok. What are you doing here so early."
Max opened his mouth to speak, the man seemed fuzzy around the edges of his vision. "Thanks" Max replied, "Uh um here I'm …" Max blinked again to steady his vision it still seemed blurry for some reason. "just, for a… job at the uh" Max pointed at the door behind him. Where did he know the man?
"Oh you'll be working with ok Delton." The man paused and looked at Max like he was choosing his words carefully, "Watch out when your around Delton. Want a cigarette?"
"No, I stopped smoking, it's bad for you, you know." The grey haired man laughed. Max looked at him "who's Delton?"
The man continued to smile that …smile, but then he stopped and sucked in his lips, as his eyes wondered all over looking for something to say. "Max he's, well he's right behind you." Max snapped his head backwards to look at the man called Delton, he saw a man walking to the door from the other side of the window. Wait a second…how did the grey haired man know his name. Looking back to ask the man how, the grey haired man was gone. A shiver ran down his spine, as he turned back to the other man walking towards him.
The other man came closer, Max peered through the door window. Standing there and waiting for the other man. As the other got closer his shoulder blades started itching. Then the man opened the door. The first thing Max notices were the huge scalding blue eyes. There was a freighting cynical air about those eyes. Maybe it had something to do with his shoulder length scraggly hair. It looked like it was supposed to be a light brown but it seemed that for some reason his hair seemed to have died suddenly. The persona was topped off with a huge scar across his sunken cheeks. "You the guy Jr. sent?" The man asked. His voice surprised the blond. He was expecting a deep gruff voice like an old shinobi, but it sounded like light tenor, an odd swing to his words made them sound almost like a melody.
Realizing he was just standing there looking confused max decided to say something. "Uh, Yeah, and um uh I'm max…your name?"
The man squinted his eyes at him, "Call me Delton, come in before people see you,"
The blond was so confused, where had that guy gone, what the "Hey did you see where that guy went ."
"what guy?" his future co-worker/employer maybe said in a harsh whisper. As Max entered the door, Delton looked outside, nodding to somebody in the distance he looked back at max questioningly. "There was no guy,"
"I…uh must have just imagined him in my mind then"
Delton took the lead and Max patiently followed. After about 5 minuet's of walking Delton turned to him with a smile. And it showed that he was once attractive, many years ago. "Hey sorry about that kid. Have to be kind of hostile with the eyes always watching. But right here in the hallway and the bathroom are safe from the eyes, just so you remember." The man was talking faster now as though he knew he was rushed. "Ok let me give you the 411of what we are doing here. We are," pausing Delton put up his hands in air quotes " 'officially' here to warm up the machines hence why we are here before everyone else." Delton looked around again in a panic, "did you hear that?" Max shook his head. "Oh well back to business what we are really doing is making shipments of faulty Kunai, they want about 1 shipment a week from us which is only about 400 kunai got it?"
Max blinked twice, what the hell? Faulty kunai, wasn't that sacralige. Konoha was the best weapon mass producer, a lot of its economy was based off of the sales. Why would they… "I'm confused."
Delton rolled his eyes, "I'll explain it when we are working cause we have to start." He was lead to a catwalk, Max looked down, huge steam machines of some sort were down there. "Those are the makers, we only have to deal with those at the end of the week. For the next days we will just be making our molds and mixing our steal. I'll show you the ways, to make most of the faults undetectable, I've gotten really good. Only a master weapon's maker can detect my flaws." Delton told Max with pride in his voice. Max looked around the room they were in now it was dark and creepy, the room was lined with some sort of grey block, Delton went to the back wall and started taking some of the blocks from a stack at the far wall. "So here are the un molded molds for the Kunai, the ones on the left wall are the ones the actual Kunai makers have made. Those are the ones that the peons who work for the factory make every day. Don't touch them, don't do anything with them. The ones on the right wall are the old molds that have been deemed unfit for just general use, like the broke or something, those are going to be broken down by somebody else to make fresh molds like the ones I have in my hand. I sometimes go and scavenge through them to get some inspiration for the job." Delton took the four he held and headed further down the room, where there were more grey blocks. At the end of the room was a door. Max was looking around and again he had to fight the bile down from his throat again. "Could you get the door from me Max?" Delton asked.
Max stood there watching the door until Delton asked again. Getting out of his stomper, Max brushed past Delton to the door and opened it. Behind the door was a small room with a tacky orange couch and a avocado chair. A small coffee table was between them and the room stunk with cigarettes. It looked like an employee lounge. "This is where we get to do the work. Just sit down and I'll demonstrate a simple fault." Delton sat down on the chair and put a grey block in front of him and pulled out what looked like a sculpting kit. As he spread all his tools out Delton started to explain all of them and their purposes. "Ok so this bigger one is the initial gouger, careful all these instruments are super sharp." Delton stopped for a second and stared at the instrument in his hand and looked at it like he was talking with it. Max took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on all that was being said to him. His stomach kept on sinking, and he felt like puking again. As Delton kept on talking and max stopped thinking about anything, his thoughts just became one cloudy thought of grey. And a questioned lingered in the air as he started on his first mold. What was he getting himself into?
- -9-
Yamato woke up to the smell of coffee, and bacon, his nostrils had never smelled such wonderful delight. Getting up in a trance he wondered to himself if he was under a genjutsu. But the smell was so wonderful he really didn't care. As he opened the door to his kitchen, he heard the glorious sizzling of bacon grease. And his thoughts consisted of two words and a sound, mmmmm coffee mmmmmm bacon.
"Oh great you are up!" A chipper voice said, Yamato opened his eyes to look at something that made the smell seem average. Standing by his oven was Moses in orange baggy boxers and a black tank top. Her red hair was pulled up in a low bun. The light from the window in his kitchen shined just right the way it hit her. She leaned over the stove and turned the burner back to low, before bouncing over with a cup of coffee in her hand. "Here's your coffee," Yamato looked at the cup and smiled.
"You didn't have to do this for me." Looking up Yamato realized she was already by the oven again, scooping some scrambled eggs on to his plate.
"Well I wanted to thank you last night for all you did, I mean taking me to my meeting so I wouldn't be late. That was just so nice of you, and plus you are letting me stay here for free. I was going to thank you last night, but by the time I got back you were in the shower. So I thought I would wake up early and make you breakfast. I hope you like your eggs scrambled." She set him down his plate that had beautiful scrambled eggs with bacon on the side. Yamato tasted the coffee in his hand, it was marvelous. This had to be a dream. Mosses sat down on the opposite side of the table and started eating. "To tell you the truth they are the only type of eggs I know how to make." Yamato was drinking more of the coffee. Hearing a ding Yamato looked around.
"Is that a toaster?" He asked, Mosses blinked at him and shook his head, she then got up and went to the counter. "I have a toaster?"
"Yup I found it hiding in one of your cupboards," He felt like the dumbest person ever, he had a toaster and he didn't even know it! "I got some rhubarb and strawberry jam for the toast. Would you like some?" She asked, Yamato nodded his head. She then came and set the buttered and jam toast on his plate with the eggs.
As though the words were birds flying out of his mouth, Yamato blurted out "I love you." Mosses stopped and he felt her eyes widened, He looked at mosses who looked concerned. "…just kidding! I…uh…meant the uh…coffee." Yamato forced himself to laugh, it sounded so fake. And to his surprise she forced out a laugh too.
"I got it last night from the store too, with the jam"
"Yeah….umm great coffee love it,"
"do I need to give you some alone time with the coffee?" She asked, then they both laughed for real.
"So uh what's on your schedule for today?"
"A meeting at twelve, you? "
"I'm going to training grounds with Naruto…and I'm not sure if Zaki is going to show up…"
"That's the girl you were telling me about before right?"
Yamato looked at his plate, it was delicious…but he suddenly lost his appetite. "yeah, I uh not sure what's going to happen with that." And again flying word syndrome hit Yamato "I'm afraid I failed her as a teacher. And that thought just the thought of failing one of my first students petrifies me. I mean I've gone on plenty of scary missions but this one matters." Yamato shut his mouth after that, he shouldn't have told Mosses about the thing with Zaki. It was personal matters of Zaki's and Yamato's mosses had no right to know.
Mosses took a bite of eggs and chewed slowly as though she was picking her words carefully. "well, don't think you've failed Zaki, I think she had problems before she even knew you. She probably learned not to trust people at a very young age. You can't really do anything about it." mosses stated diplomatically, "Now eat up, you have a big day ahead of you." Yamato breathed deeply and continued to eat.
After the meal Yamato felt better and he was nicely stuffed. "Thank you for the terrific breakfast it was amazing Mosses."
"oh it was nothing, I mean I got a lot out of the breakfast too. I mean for one," Mosses paused and smiled at Yamato, taking a sip of her coffee. " I didn't know you were a fan of superman, or that you have daffy duck slippers."
Yamato's face blanked as she said that, he looked down quickly to clarify the fact he was only wearing his superman boxers and his daffy duck slippers. He had been shirtless the whole time…and he hadn't noticed. Yamato looked at his white plain ceiling, he really should have a shirt on. Anybody looking in on Mosses and him would draw unwanted conclusions. He heard Mosses' laugh from across the table. "Your face is sooooo red" She laughed harder as he looked at her. "Geesh if we're going to be roommates, we are going to have to get used to each other in our pajama's. Who knows we might actually see each other in less," Yamato chocked on his coffee, spitting a little out. Mosses pressed her lips together and blushed a little also, "I meant by accident…"
"I think I should go get ready, do you need to use the bathroom? Or else I'm going to use it if you don't"
"Oh no go ahead, I don't have to go anytime soon."
Yamato got up and walked quickly to the bedroom shutting the door behind him. That was unbelievably embarrassing.
-s-f-
Kaida opened her eyes to see the grey and cracking ceiling of her home. When she grew up she would live in one of those nice houses you see by the school in Konoha the ones that have tire swings hanging from the tree in the yard. The one's were kids didn't have to worry about the bills and didn't care what money was. Kaida was always painfully aware of her parents money position. They tried to hide all their problems from her. She wasn't stupid, she knew something was wrong, with the work her father was doing especially. Too many shinobi were watching her these days. She was used to it cause when ever her dad had translated something for them she had been watched. But it seems as though lately more of them were watching. Or maybe she was just noticing more of them because of her training. Kaida turned around and saw her mother's face nuzzling the nape of her father's neck like usual, he had his arm wrapped around her shoulder's. Kaida didn't have much as far as material positions were concerned. But at least her parents were happy together. She had read books were parents would get upset and split up and leave the kid between them. She would never have to worry about that, and secretly Kaida hoped that if she ever had children they wouldn't have to worry about that either.
Kaida closed her eyes again trying to fall back asleep, it had only been may when their first meeting was held. She had been a gennin for 7 months, and was already going out to be a chunnin. That was impressive. It had taken Itachi two years, but he had also started out younger than her. Kaida started shaking remembering what happened during that mission. Every part of her told her she should just forget about it, that lots of shinobi go through that experience. She should just get over it. then another part of her would start screaming inside, telling her that she shouldn't have had to go through that. Nobody should go through that, they should make genjutsu illegal or something. It was too effective, When a person can just get in your mind like that it's just wrong. Getting up Kaida went to their bathroom to take a shower. On one of their kitchens chair was a broken Yo. His fur was leaning to the left, and the seams in his back were all ripped out, with the stuffing hanging out. Yo had taken a beating during the chunnin exams. Thinking back to the chunnin exams reminded Kaida of Kiba. And she could feel the blush heating her cheeks. He was so cool. Kaida wished she could be that cool one day.
The shower was small, but Kaida was also small so it worked. TenTen wanted her at training soon. She liked her new sensei, she was very intense. Kaida loved Yamato, and she felt safe and comfortable with him, but TenTen she was defiantly going to push Kaida much more. Kaida never felt challenged enough in Yamato's training. It was hard, but not hard enough he slowed down for Zaki and Keiji. It was frustrating knowing she could do more but not being able too. She was the ones who carried them through the exams so far. They had no plan of action when they got into that forest, Zaki was practically hypertonic , and Keiji…bless his soul wasn't exactly a planner. Plus she helped every other team out with the huge explosion! It might have been a little much but still it really cut down the teams that got through. But did ANYBODY thank her? NO she was just sweet little Kaida, there for amusement, and a gennin out of pure luck. She couldn't handle herself she was only 8! It was ridiculous how some people looked down on her. They should respect her she was one of the most talented people of her generation. But no all they told her was to slow down appreciate what she had. She wanted to make Anbu before she was 16 she had to work to do that. Nobody told Hanabi that they treated the Hyuuga girl like a prodigy.
Kaida was just as talented if not more so! Why did Hanabi get the special treatment? Because Hanabi went to that school and was first in her class? Kaida didn't even go to that stupid school and she was ranked first in the exams. Zaki didn't even go to the stupid school either and she still got at least mid-range on her exams! And poor Keiji was last on his exams and he went to the school every day. So the school was defiantly not set up properly, if a home school kid and a flunky who had no idea what was going to happen scored higher than a poor diligent student who had prepared for months.
Kaida stepped out of the shower and dried herself off, the towel wasn't very good. Why was she always stuck with crap? All her life she had to deal with second hand clothes that were tattered and torn and houses that were falling apart. Why? Cause her parents barely made anything. And when they did get some cash, it went to paying their bills getting all the stuff they absolutely needed like food, then the rest went to her mother's stupid soup kitchen. That freaking thing that she used to have to help at, where drunks and druggies too lazy to make a living went to get food. And what bothered Kaida the most was that her mother thought she was helping! Her mother chose to run a stupid charity for people who didn't deserve it. Her mother used to have everything, she used to be a daimyo's daughter, but she decided to what? Marry a traveling minstrel and barely get by? She could have married a successful shinobi and had a comfortable living in Suna.
Kaida took a deep breath, it wasn't fair, she shouldn't be mad at her parents like this. She shouldn't feel so angry every time she had to sew up her clothes. She used to never feel like this, it used to never occur to her that there was any other way to live. But then she used to be a naïve idiot, Kaida got to see what everybody else had. Like Adara or Keiji, they lived in such nice houses and always seemed comfortable. Kaida wanted that. A noise from the bedroom shook her out of her rant. It was her father, he was just getting up. Kaida looked into the cupboard and took out the loaf of bread they had…they were running out. "Hey Kaida what are you doing up so early?" He asked groggy in his morning stupor.
"I have training dad, sorry."
"NO need to apologies" Kaida didn't feel like looking at her dad, she would just start feeling angry again. "Hey come over here and give your dad a hug, I feel like I never see you anymore," Her father said. Kaida rolled her eyes and turned around, her face was set in a frown. She really didn't feel like going through this with her dad. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing"
"Come on there must be something, you've been kind of moody lately. Has training been going well?"
Kaida smiled with her lips together, "I'm just a little worried about the 3rd exam that's all. I want to do really well, especially sense most of the family is going to be there." Her father smiled at her and gave her an affectionate peck on the forehead.
"Whatever happens I will be proud of you, and you have your whole life a head of you, if you don't get Chunnin this time it won't be that big of a deal. You have plenty of time."
Kaida frowned again, "why is everyone assuming that I won't get chunnin?"
Her father smiled at her again, "just promise me that you will wait until your fully finished with puberty before trying to become a Jounin?"
She felt her face go blank, "Dad, the average female does not fully complete puberty until she's 15 or 16 depending, that's like 7 -8 -8 years! Dad I can't wait 8 years; that's like forever!"
"Believe me Kaida it will go a lot faster than you can imagine. Now go finish your breakfast, and get going. I'm sure your new Sensei would be mad if you were late for training."
-a- s -
Viola looked down at the dish she had cleaned four times already. She hated these nights, she hated them when Keiji had to go through them, she hated them when Kaya went through them, she had never seen Mayuri go through it, thank god. She heard the front gate creek opened, the old women breathed a sigh of relief. The first to amble to the steps was Keiji, he had the same look he always had after an incident, a mixture of anger self loathing and disappointment. Viola stood in the kitchen door and looked at Keiji, "Go upstairs dear, you have to go to training in a few hours and you haven't slept at all." Keiji ambled up to his room, viola didn't start breathing until she heard his body hit his bed with a kerplunk. Viola went back into her kitchen. She had never been a konoichi, the only job she had held was being a cashier at her fathers grocery store. She wasn't powerful and strong like the men she lived with. She didn't command any respect in the political arena. But when she was in this kitchen, when she was cooking or cleaning even fixing a leaky faucet Viola felt she was in control. This house was her domain, it was her sanctuary, it held all her secrets and didn't tell. Viola knew everything that went on, with the people who lived there, and frequently visited. So when Mayuri stayed in the kitchen door frame, viola knew exactly what he was thinking about. He wasn't the least bit worried about Keiji, even though she was petrified for her grandson.
"A penny for your thoughts," his gruff voice echoed through her kitchen.
Viola sighed and turned around, "I really don't know how you can be thinking about sex at a time like this." Mayuri stopped leaning on the doorframe and gave her a skeptical look. Then with more grace then most people would deem possible for a man his size he walked over to viola and put his giant arms around her.
Leaning in to her ear he whispered, "you worry too much," Viola circled her arms around her husband. She leaned her head in so it was leaning by his stomach and sighed again. She felt his big hands start stroking her hair. "I was just thinking about the night we first met." He told her, Viola smiled. "do you still not remember that night?"
Viola's eyes grew larger as she recalled the white lie she told him that next morning, "I remember everything that happened before the twins and Sarutobi left the bar." Even after all these years the memory of that night still made her toes curl and her face blush. Feeling strong arms lift her up into her husband's arm bridal style she gave her Mayuri the look. "aren't we a little old for this?" His wolfish eyes gleamed at her in response and he kissed her temple.
"When I need help to make love to my wife, then we will be too old. But seeing as I'm having no problem now, the answer would be a no." and Mayuri leaned forward to devour viola's lips as her mind went to the morning after.
-s-
Zaki was off to a good start that morning, she had decided to show up to training today, Yeah her! It really wasn't her fault that she didn't show up, she had shit to take care of. And she didn't like that Naruto guy, something about him gave her the willies. She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was defiantly something. Now Yamato was cool, she respected him, the creep had even grown on her a little, but he would want to talk about the incident. Which she didn't want to talk about. She would just act as though it never happened, and if he brought it up, she'll just pretend she didn't understand. It was an easier way of not dealing with it.
Getting to the ramen shop was easy and the glares from the old owner wasn't like it was new to her or anything. The blond idiot was already there, scarping away his food like he didn't even give a crap about how it tasted. The noodles were wiggling side to side as he slurped them to their untimely doom. The broth was getting all over his face from the upward movement of the noodles. It was disgusting, how he ate. The obnoxiously blue eyes glanced over at her, and they didn't light with disgust as she suspected, just recognition. Zaki took a deep breath and stayed there waiting for another reaction from the huge ridiculously blue eyes. He then had the audacity to smile at her. "Hey Zaki you want to sit down?" the goofy grin asked. Why did he annoy her so much?
She raised her lips up to wrinkle her eyes, it might just be a smile. "sure." She sat down next to him and twitched.
"So where have you been? You've missed training, that's kind of sloppy!" just like you're eating Zaki thought to herself.
"I've had personal matters to attend to." She replied.
"And you couldn't fit in a couple hours of training?"
"you wouldn't understand," Zaki told him, her voice cold, she knew she shouldn't say what was coming next. "You've never had family." Naruto physically retracted from that, and the temporary win didn't make up for the horrible sick feeling she felt afterward. Naruto was a nice kid he didn't deserve her being a bitch. But she defiantly wasn't going to apologies.
"Hey Naruto," Yamato's voice came through the doorway, so her sensei finally showed up. Naruto beamed and looked back at him.
"Your late, Zaki and I have been waiting forever, do you need breakfast?" He said her name as though they were the best of friend. How can a person be that cheerful, he must be a fake. She might have been a freaking loser but she was a real loser.
"No thanks I had breakfast before I left," Yamato said as he stepped in, stopping as he noticed Zaki, "I didn't know you were coming today."
"I thought I would stop by so you know…I didn't totally fuck up during the final exams," the old man behind the ramen bar scoffed at her language. She hated people who did that, she really did. What made them so freaking special that had them say one word was better than the other. Fuck them. She could feel his eyes on her, judging her, Yamato was also looking at her trying to figure what she was up to. And Naruto continued to slurp down his ridiculous ramen having the broth splatter everywhere like a bad crime scene. How can somebody be so oblivious?
"So when are we going to start this bitch of a training session?" she asked with fake enthusiasm.
Yamato blinked at her, he was trying to figure something out, probably how to act, there was an elephant in the room, and it wasn't Naruto's stomach.
-s-
She was standing right in front of him, he should say something, but in front of the others? Maybe during a break or something, he should say something. "When Naruto's finished."
When hearing this Naruto's slurping increased and he was finished within moments. "I'M DONE!" Naruto exclaimed. He jumped up and started running towards the training ground.
"Did you get breakfast?" Yamato asked, she looked pale, and a little gaunt.
"I'm not hungry."
"you won't be able to concentrate during the session, having a little breakfast would do you good…" Yamato didn't know what to say, "You're going to have to fight Naruto today, he might be dumb but he's not a pushover, you are going to need all your strength to do so. You can't do that on an empty stomach."
"And Naruto's going to get a massive stomach cramp before he even gets to the training grounds."
"Even so…not even a little to eat? You don't look well, do you have enough food at home?"
"slow down their bud, we got to go catch up to the crazed blond." She quickly darted out of the ramen shop. Yamato followed the grey haired girl, her hair seemed different, more frazzled than usual.
"Hey is everything all right?" Yamato grabbed her elbow gently to slow her down.
She shook him off, a frown graced her face, "What's with the 3rd degree? I'm fine Yamato."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure." Zaki finally stopped and looked at him "I've been going through a rough patch lately…" her eyes averted away from his, "but…I think I'm going to be ok, sensei I would take it as a kindness if you didn't ask any more questions." She turned around and continued walking.
She had never called him Sensei before.
Maybe things were changing.
As they got to the training ground, Naruto was already there waking at a stump. "Ok Zaki warm up a bit, I think you and Naruto will have a quick fight before you guys realize what you two can do for each other."
Zaki scoffed and muttered under her breath, "the only thing we can do for each other is to stay away from each other."
"LETS DO THIS!" Naruto yelled making a fist and raising it over his head. Zaki rolled her eyes.
"SHADOW CLONE!" about 1 hundred shadow clones of Naruto appeared out of thin air.
"well…shit," Zaki breathed. Yamato saw her nose scrunch up, as the shadow clones charged at her. She took in a breath, and breathed out a gust of wind that stalled the clones and whipped out about a quarter of them. During the time of staling Zaki quickly hid in the forest. The 75 Naruto's quickly scattered throughout the forest. Yamato made himself a perch to watch the proceedings violence.
Zaki had made herself 6 shadow clones, each hiding and setting up quick traps, Some of the Naruto's were already stepping into them. She defiantly was avoiding direct confrontation with him. And it's no wonder, Naruto was a typhoon of chakra, compared to Zaki's slight breeze. His mass amount of chakra gave him the advantage over Zaki. But Zaki's ability to manipulate other peoples chakra will come in handy, if she uses the mass amount of wasted chakra Naruto uses to make his clones she could beat him. Yamato spotted the real, Zaki up in a tree behind most of the clones, she had her eyes cloths and were performing the hand sign of wind. When a shadow clone died she used some of her wind chakra to have it come her way and then she would reuse the chakra. Yamato had showed her that technique, a couple of weeks ago. He was glad to see that she had nearly gotten it down. She still caused to much wind in the initial gust for an attentive person to figure out what was going on. And Naruto had just picked up on it, a smaller group of clones were heading right for her.
Zaki was right to observe that Naruto was oblivious during meals, but she had never seen him during training. In a fight Naruto had the attentiveness of shikimaru. She was underestimating him. It would cost her this fight. Suddenly she realized someone was coming that way, she hadn't realized that she was already surrounded though. So she headed east away from the sound, right where Naruto wanted her to go. When she got to the clearing again 20 clones attacked her at once.
Avoiding most of the obvious blocks from Naruto she started her hand signals behind her back, moving fast enough so Naruto didn't notice. She managed to kill 3 of the clones by just dodging and kicking. There was suddenly the puddles of mud on the ground rose up, to form one quick razor motion taking out about 10 but failing to realize the real naruto was already on top of her. Naruto's signature punch got Zaki right in the face. Causing her to fall down and form a small crater. Zaki was finished.
-a- s- -d-
Keiji met Hinata at the Hyuuga training grounds. They were large and gorgeous, almost like gardens. Is this where Hinabi grew up? It seemed so intimidating; seeing his petite sensei he quickly jogged over to her. Bowing he greeted her "Hello Hinata-sensei"
"Hello Keiji-san, how was your night?"
"restfull, and yours?"
"Fine also thank you for asking, now the first thing we are going to do today is study"
Keiji felt like his grandfather had just knocked the wind out of him, his face palled. He took him a while to read, and the words got all screwed up and made him feel dumb. "Wh-wh-what for se-sensei?"
"We have a lot of scrolls and books on old clans that nobody uses any more, there is some very interesting reading on your clan, it's easier for me…" her hands went up and her fingers started to form a triangle, was she as nervous as him? "It's easier for me to understand a theory before actually trying to do it, I thought….well I thought it would be helpful"
"uhh…ok," Keiji couldn't lie to her. "I'm, not very good at reading, I usually had to have my friend Adara help me during school, it takes me a long time to write mission reports…."
Hinata smiled at him kindly, "well It's a good thing we are reading then, the only way you can better is practice, don't worry I will help you."
-a-d-d-
Kaida finally stopped her 1000 round kicks for warm ups, oh TenTen was a tough teacher. Kaida felt her legs wanted to give out, but she bent down and steadied her knee's. "Good" TenTen barked. "Come over here for your 10 minuet breather, your body needs short breaks every once in a while."
"thank you sensei"
Kaida went over and sat next to Tenten stretching herself on the way down. "How do you think your team mates are doing?" Kaida scoffed, she didn't know how they were doing, this month was about preparing her for becoming a chunnin, not team building. TenTen was examining her with those chocolate eyes, and Kaida wasn't sure what she wanted to hear.
"Well…" Kaida looked at her sensei, "If Zaki shows up for training she's probably getting the crap beat out of her by Naruto, and if Keiji is training he's probably still doing basic chakra control." TenTen's face didn't change. She continued to be silent and Kaida felt like she had to start explaining, "Don't get me wrong, Keiji and Zaki both are very strong in some aspects. It's just they have major flaws…so do I? I'm not very good at throwing stuff, but isn't that why you are my Sensei? He he he" TenTen's expression didn't change.
"Come this way," Her silent sensei finally told her. Kaida followed the taller brunette all the way to the river, TenTen knelt down besides it. Kaida fallowed, TenTen put her hands warmly around her neck, she stiffened a little. Until TenTen shot down some warm chakra loosening the little girls spine. "Thank you Sensei"
"No problem, Kaida? There is a lot you have to learn about team dynamics."
"No; I understand team work, and leadership. Leadership is when you can know and understand each person's ability and make a plan that relies on their strength. Team work is following the plan to the best of your ability." Kaida chirped. TenTen smiled at her and tightened her grip on Kaida's neck.
Suddenly Kaida's head was jerked down and splashed into the water, she tried to pull her head back but couldn't, the ice cold water of the stream making her face numb. Kaida again tried to pull up but TenTen's hand was keeping her there, panicking she gulped the water down oh god she couldn't breathe, what was happening? Finally her head was jerked back up and air flowed through her lungs. "wha-"
Her head was snapped back down again before she could catch a good breath, what was happening? Why was her Sensei doing this? It seemed like it was never going to end, the second time she was pulled up she was crying, she was going to die drowning.
The third time, she was allowed to catch her breath. Kaida couldn't look TenTen in the eye, what was that about?
Then TenTen's melodic voice leaked into her ear "That it what happens when a mission goes wrong, it's like your drowning, and there is no plan only panic; trying to survive. During those time, it's not about plans or leadership, it's about connection. And if you don't have respect for your team mates, if you don't see them as your equal. They won't pull won't be able to pull you out of that water, and you won't be able to pull them out; so you will all end up drowning." TenTen stood up and turned her back to Kaida, "catch our breath, I expect you to run 6 laps of Konoha before 10"