Death Of A Legend:

The war was a battle fought of only two, in the end although he fell, he was victorious. Hokage, you will be sorely remembered in our hearts as the greatest of us all.

All the leaders of the Leaf whisper as they mourn, they understand the burdens carried in authority. Now they find themself under the strain of command, heavier because their Hokage is gone. Those whispers, they bit in as we mourned. "What will we do, how are we to recover…" not every mind was the same, many of us mourned for the times ahead, but, the village was broken, and some of us chose to focus on what could be done.

I was on my way to the medic core, many of our ninja were still injured and I wanted to go where I could help.

"Arjies! Ergh…Hey Arjies, where are you going?" An uncertain voice took me away from my curdled thoughts. It was Hinata, she was injured even before the conflict, though that and the pressures of battle did not prevent her from helping the Village.

"Hinata, are you going to the hospital too?" I smile as she stretched her neck up to look at me. It was an early morning; the sun hadn't yet warmed the still air. I could hear our footsteps on the coble road and there weren't many others around.

"My father said I should get my wounds treated so that I could be of better use to my team" she didn't falter as she said this, I was something that was normal for her to hear.

"I don't know, I your condition, I'm sure you could still defeat a few genin…hmm strange, I would have thought your clan had its own medic team?" Hinata almost fell over, her feet stumbling on the pebbles that scattered all over the ground.

"Do you really think I could?!" she looked to me for an instant hoping, but then quickly answered my question. "My clan does have a physician unit of its own but they are all helping aid the medic core with the injured"

"Well, good thing we are headed in that direction than… and it looks like we're just about there" Approaching the centre, I could smell the scents of different medicinal herbs and flowers. There was so much activity, people visiting with blossoms and presents, and all the different medical experts.

…

"Hello, could we make a book in to have Hinata's wounds looked at?" The lady leaned over the desk to look at Hinata.

"I see, although we have many patients, the majority sustained chronic injuries which don't need constant care. I'm sure staff will be happy to help you" The lady behind the desk indicated a direction in which a porter medic stood waiting; an escort to find a room for Hinata's inspection.

The porter medic unfroze his expression from formal to surprise. "You're that kid, and you're alive! I thought you died when I couldn't find you, I was so worried, you… you little brat!" it was the medic from before, the one who told me to go to the shelters but I never did.

"I-I… " I didn't know what I could say to justify myself so all I did was lower my head. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to get anyone worried. I should have said something, told someone, but at the time I couldn't stand the thought of hiding in a cave" The medic was about to speak when Hinata shouted out.

"Stop it! We shouldn't be arguing, not when so many people lost their lives" a tear rolled down her face. It reminded me of all the rain that day, the Hokage died and so many were lost, a black night and a bleak mood… so many families had to continue on with suffering hearts and broken memories of happy times with loved ones who existed only through thought.

The passage way stopped; all the people there stood motionless.

"Everyone is hurting, we all made choices that day. It feels so long ago." The porter medic's voices paused in sorrow for a moment, briefly, before continuing to speak. "The only way forward now is to do what we can. Help those we can and do our best to maintain what we have, the kinship and love our village has always possessed" The medic's speech returned everything to normal; everyone continued on with their duties and meetings. He and I held the same opinion, that we still possessed that quality and could still assist the Village back to power.

Eventually we found a room for Hinata's examination. I still wanted to talk to the medic, but first I wanted to see Hinata well.

Opening the door, the medic looked to Hinata before looking to me "Arjies, Hinata's injury is of a personal nature. Wait outside while I review her condition."

…

"Hinata is going to be fine, just a small injury. All she needs is a few short days to rest her stretched ligaments and tired muscles. Please follow, it will be a while before they are done binding her wounds." The medic cleaned his hands off into a cloth at his waist, there was blood but he was right, nothing serious.

"Sorry about before, I do appreciate the support you and the other medics provided while I was in recovery" However short that recovery was, due to a factor of many things.

"When I found you out of bed I was surprised but even the bruising to your face had heal and with your bandages removed I could see many of your injuries had vanished. The question I have is, why? Do you possess some greater medical knowledge or is it due to your body's metabolism?" He grabbed hold of my arm, prodded me, an almost determination to solve the mystery.

"Hey! I can see you're eager to get to the point… Ouch! Hey, I'm perfectly happy to run an experiment and answer question, but could you slowdown" The medic pulled out a knife and I had to jump back not to get cut.

"Woe! I don't even know your name. You could at least get to know me before stabbing me. Woe, hey, HEY!" I stood off against a door frame in the passage, the freakish look in the medics eyes made me worry…

"A sample of your blood, some cuts of your flesh, some sinew, bone and some muscle, will tell me all I need to know" Ok, now this was getting scary… I thought medics were meant to help people, but he sounds ready to cut me open and see what makes me tick.

"No way! Get your medical implements away from me. I'm saying no, no way! I'm… I'm just going to go now" I tried to hurry away, my back turned to bolt, but the medic grabbed my hand and started to talk sense.

"…I'm sorry I'm fairly passionate about my work. Sometimes it can be overpowering. You must understand, manipulating jutsu for the use of healing can go only so far. Answering all anatomy's questions and deciphering every biological problem by entirely learning all sources of treatments, is my ambition" I still didn't know his name, but now I felt I understood him better. I and he were on the same journey, discovery.

"I-see, you are my elder. If you feel you could learn something from studying me, then I am willing, but I am not a thing I am a person. You do not need to make holes into my flesh in order to know the answers I already possess" I grabbed hold of my arm as a little bit of inhibition crept in. I still wasn't feeling overly comfortable with the idea.

"My names Tensue, if I'm going to study you I feel you should know my name. That way you can properly complain when I do something wrong." I wonder how this will work out? I'm guessing a lot of pain.

"Yes, I'm sure I will reply in a respectful manner when you begin to cause further harm. As I am sure your intentions are focused on removing pieces from my body" Tensue smirked at my remark, even though the smirk didn't seem innocent, it was strangely comforting.

"Come, the passage way is no place for talking" Tensue stepped ahead of me and we joined the flow of traffic headed to the foyer.

…

Conversation was pleasant, yet Arjies was glad once Hinata returned from treatment to break dialog.

"Arjies! They said I have to halt my training for a few days!" Hinata cried out to me. With the speed she ran, I thought it was something devastating, but as the meaning of her words collected I felt to reprimand her. Her plush figure collided with a dense impact to my form and I could not help but encircle my arms around her in comfort.

"Oh Hinata it's only a few days, besides Tensue has already discussed the matter with me. Your body needs to heal, ready it's self for the distant days of training ahead. You will still be able to practise chakra control, think of it as a blessing. You are given the opportunity to meditate these few days and forget about training." Tensue stood nearby, providing some privacy but not willing to leave; he still had other plans for me.

"Right!" Hinata gave an affirming nod. "Thank you Tensue, sorry I took up so much of your time, I'm fine now" She Bowed gently to Tensue, It was sweet, Hinata often put herself down like this. She didn't value her own concerns. It made people over look her, something that played to her advantage in battle. If only she were more capable.

"Tensue, I have a question for you! That milk infusion, how is it prepared. I know very limited uses for herbs, a collection of random facts. I would like to know more than simple preparations. I would like to develop my passion for its ingenuity. I can tell you I know of alcoholic infusions and oil based extractions, but milk… never quite occurred to me" I get the mental image of pulling out a tongue at how smart I sound. I'm just so perfect.

"I have a feeling you aren't ready for what I have prepared for you." he said in a creepy way, raising an eye brow to my anxiety. "And I cannot ask you for what I want to take without perhaps an offering. I will teach you medical herbs, if that is all you want to learn, but in exchange endure as my subject" A flash of crazy gleamed in his eyes before he returned to the normal semi-professional he was.

"What choice do I have, I would like to learn both. I want to know more about my abilities and learn new talents. Though, the choice is still up to me. I'm not going to willingly enter some contract that robs me of control. I agree that you should train me in herbal remedies, but even so, I still own possession over my body and can and will end any daunting procedures" Tensue gave a defeated sigh and Hinata looked from each of us in total confusion.

"Guys, what is this about?" Hinata's voice broke the silent with a nerves inquiry.

"Very well, here, take this book and find 4 of each herb. This book provides locations to where the herbs can be found and what they looks like on every season, it's a 'healing herbs guild'. In emergency situation we give these out to runners, who then go to the locations and hunt for the herbs, without knowing the basic knowledge of plants this book helps them identify the right medicine." I took the book, handed to me, in both hands. It was something precious to me, a beginning to a new aptitude learnt.

…

"Arjies what were you and master Tensue discussing before?" Me and Hinata were bend over in the fields, parting the grass trying to look for a special plant that only possesses a flower(no stem, no leafs, only a flower)

"ergh.. nothing" I didn't want to think about what Tensue wanted to do to me, something that made me cringe with the possibilities. Hinata remained quiet for a time, I could hear her beginning to murmur, unsatisfied with my answer.

"Master Tensue? I don't know how to address him formally but why would you say master" something different from our topic, but I was interested to know why and happy to distract her from the subject.

"Tensue called you his subject" I winced at that, he was already calling me that, I could just imagine myself tired up and being pulled to pieces.

"Let's not think about that, let's just enjoy what we are doing now… Found it so that's 3!" Tensue wrote uses for the ingredients in cursive script, I couldn't read cursive, which was unfortunate I guess.

"Hinata? Can you read cursive? I see all the writing here is cursive, including this flowers name." Hinata simply nodded and continued to search for the flower.

Arjies darted his eyes to one side "Could you read it for me, it's not that I can't read it's just that I never learnt to read cursive… NO really" Hinata stared at him before turning her head and giving a sympathetic smile; she didn't believe him.

As they traded hands, their fingers met. A light brush, a comforting embrace as the texture of the two hands met, but then the moment passed.

Hinata picked a flower from her pouch, gently rolling it between her fingers, reading the text out loud "It says here this plant's name is 'Naked lady'"

She gave an embarrassed whimper before continuing, "The plant can be used to treat gout and has anti rheumatic, cathartic, and emetic properties. It also says that the flower is extremely poisonous and only to use the roots and seeds. I'm sorry Arjies, I really don't know what any of this means."

The young girls face suddenly turned red with realisation. "augh!" Hinata dropped the flower back into the pouch and rubbed the green of her fingers onto her cloths, having felt stupid for smearing the poisonous plant all over her hands while Arjies only laughed.

"I'm so glad you discovered that before me, I was already considering eating a petal to see what it would do… in this case, nothing good. I wonder why Tensue would want us to find such an odd plant..." Hinata stared off at Arjies, having never seen him maintain a smile for so long, and then she too began to giggle.

"O Arjies, I've never seen you so happy before. I've seen you keep your half smile, but now I can see how you look when you're actually happy" Hinata's smile quickly vanished to a stunned expression, she had forgotten something. "No, I'm going to be late, father is going to be so disappointed. Arjies another time ok, I enjoyed it!" She lifted the pouch from around her neck and put it over Arjies, giving him a kiss good bye before even realising the intimacy of what she had done.

…

Arjies didn't know it but by the end of the day returning to Tensue, he discovered that the collection of herbs were all needed. He was helping collect supplies for the Medic core without even knowing it, helping as his true intention happened to be.

Hours had passed and Tensue's lessons continued. "This herb is for healing wounds faster, by removing moisture and creating a seal over the damaged skin, and yet this herb also heals wounds faster, by stimulating a richer supple of blood to the area and providing the nourishment our bodies need to regenerate" Tensue presented 2 different herbs, both healing yet healing in different ways. Arjies was struggling to understand the purpose of such an exercise.

"Why would you need both when you already have one that works?" The ingredients were laid out on a table in front of Tensue, one a damp bark and the other a fleshy leaf. The lecture consisted of a number of herbs with the same elements, each time continuing on to the next element. Arjies remembered picking each of the ingredients and where he found them, he could picture himself collecting them whenever Tensue told him their use and demonstrated application.

"Many medics believe plants with the same healing properties bound together make stronger solutions, but through research I have found that it is not their common alignments but because they are different that they heal better, faster. Combining these two herbs results in wounds that heal sooner and bind better together, meaning even the scared tissue is repaired" Arjies looked around the room he was in, it was dark. Peculiar vials sat up on high shelves and many other things that seemed strange to him hung drying from ropes dangling down parts of the ceiling.

"It's becoming clearer to me, I believe I understand it now."Arjies realised. "By looking at how different remedies work, you can combine them to get the best results. A mix of different herbs to make a wound heal in many ways, dried so it was safe from infection, sealed to further defend against rot and to prevent reopening of the wound. Some herbs aid the body in repairing the damage naturally, increase blood flow, increase the bloods saturation, and thickening the blood to prevent bleeding out. While others provide elements that may not be available to the wound, further protection in the form of a sheath over the opening or even to tighten the fabric of the wound but binding the tissues tighter" Arjies thought how this could apply to his life, after all he was a warrior of war, his hands were made rough for killing, not for healing. He needed something that would do damage to his enemy.

"Yes, that is correct. You're a fast learner, but how well do you do as a teacher?" Tensue's more volatile nature seemed to take over and Arjies was very worried and confused by the Question.

"No, no no! I've feared this moment all day… just do it quickly" He was ready, Exposing his injured shoulder to be objected to whatever cruel torture was planned.

"Na au-augh! It's not going to be that easy, you said there would be questions I ask and answers you provide." I thought for a moment then to take the nearest thing to me and bash his head in, but I was to weirded out to do much but stare.

"Awe, come on now… I won't prick your flesh unless you ask me to" In a dark room, In a daunting dark room. "but, then again, it's only your blood I'm really after, well, your blood and flesh, bone, sinew, tendons, hair… nails, an assortment of things really" I thought I blacked out for a second and had to remind myself I was a skilled fighter… was, I mean AM!

"I believe I know why I healed that day at a rapid rate." I began, finding some conclusion to distract him from his plans. "I've been manipulating my blood in many ways trying to develop my own jutsu. Condensing it, so that more could fill my vessels, trying to teach my body to produce more of it, I've tried so many things by the time I found the solution. When I condensed it, I found I was breathless in training, I think it was because my blood was too thick to absorb the proper levels of oxygen. Forcing my marrow to generate more blood only made my bath room breaks more urgent as my body found other ways to release the extra capacity, considering urine is a by-product consisting mainly of blood. There were many other things, all inadequate or inappropriate for battle, but finally I found a solution; Prolonging my bloods life span, with that my blood could hold more chakra as the cells were saturated longer within my body. I can only guess that it is possible, that in prolonging my bloods life span I have saturated them not only in chakra but in nutrition. Which is why my bruising healed faster and I seem to regain my stamina earlier" Tensue seemed dissatisfied, perhaps because now he had no excuse to puncher holes in my flesh for his, 'research' cough cough torture.

"I must…" there was an eerie pause and I could hear the silence of the dimly light room, spider webs told me that this guy didn't often invite in guests, or did he, but they just didn't live long enough to complain. "entomb this knowledge in a book so I can draw back the pages for future research" This guy said he was passionate, I'm not too sure you can call this sort of thing a positive ambition, but I'm getting out of here before I end up on those pages as in test subject piece 'A', piece 'B'...

…

After escaping the mental medic, I got home and had myself some sleep. My uncle and aunt were baking bread for the next day, they had many crafts, but baking was one they enjoyed together.

Permitted leisure Time:

When I woke up the next day, early in the morning, I began my usual training. A long distance walk, it built endurance and warmed the muscles for the exercise coming back. It was something I enjoyed, the company made the strain of working out forgettable. Today was different however…

I guess I found it hard to adjust to the fact that Rock lee wasn't available to accompany me on the returning jog. I don't seem so long ago that we last went for that jog.

…

I always trained in privacy, I found myself to be the best judge of how much effort to put into it. Every week I would keep to the same routine. Monday endurance and fitness, jogging and walking, Tuesday strength and flexibility, weight lifting and stretching, Wednesday durability and self-control, body hardening and chakra control. This would be how my training continued; studies and research took up a lot of my days, but then I meet Rock lee one Monday morning. Rock Lee and I had always been distant but favourable to each other, so when I saw him that day steadily catching up to me, I did not reserve conversation.

"Rock Lee, nice to see you today, I generally don't take this route, but I've been growing too accustomed to the same detour" Rock lee looked around at the trees and listened to the brush of the wet grass at his feet, all in wonder too dazed by its glory to concern himself with my speaking.

"Isn't it great to breathe the morning air with your own two lungs!" Rock Lee's voice of enthusiasm and cheer made me smile as I breathed in the air in revelation of what he said.

"What time did you wake up? I thought I would get up a bit later today, but I think I've gotten into the habit of early jogs" I looked out to the cold morning sky, it was still dark. I could tell that he wasn't as sleepy; I could still feel the tightness around my face from yawning through the exercise earlier.

"I do not know, I was still asleep when I realised I was jogging on this path, but it feels good to be here now" I had seen it before, he truly could sleep train as some legendary Ninja had claims to in song and tavern tales. He must have been jogging for hours and even though I had run for less time he was already over taking me. I'm not going to let him beat me, every time he gets ahead of me I'll run even further ahead of him!

That was how they existed to one another, a strange partnership. Rock Lee, or as Arjies had grown into the habit of calling him 'Lee Child!', often training could hardly ever be found resting. There was a kinship between the two, not a friendship but more a fondness they had for one another. They shared this fondness but could make nothing more of it, all they were able of doing was to train together because they knew nothing exist between them. As a strange admiration for each other, they kept an interest for the other's life.

….

I was jogging back now. Lee child was no longer around to overtake me so my speed seemed to drop as I realised I was only competing with myself. Competition always motivates me, I struggle to train otherwise. Excitement and passion are just not at hand when you compete against yourself, which makes waking up, a little less… worth the effort.

"Lee Child!" I shouted out like an idiot, but I didn't care! I'm so happy to see him, even if his still in crutches and unable to join me. This time I'm going to join him, support my friend a bit.

"Arjies, I knew you would come through here. The bridge has always been our favourite place" He was right, I liked using the bridge as a tactic, only one of us could run through it at a time so who ever got there first took the lead.

"O it feels so good to see you man" I grabbed hold of Lee child and crushed his arms within my grip; bear hug!

"Your hugs are the best" he declared, the words squeezed from him. I let go of him leaving him a bit unbalanced, finding his feet on the ground and having to support his own weight once again. It made me consider all the time when it was only he and Gai who would share support of one another, it wasn't right.

Both our stomachs growled before I could even ask the now impotent question, "Hungry? We should head to the market place… before Naruto gets there" I whispered the last words, hoping it didn't somehow curse us with the chance that he was awake.

"…Naruto Left with Master Jiraiya on a mission to find the new Hokage" He seemed troubled, perhaps it was a memory of the Old Hokage that discouraged him of the good news.

"That's Great! It means more Ichiraku Raman for us" Rock lee lifted his head with that cheerful appeal to his eyes; obviously encouraged by my words, in agreement with my statement.

…

After the meal and conversation, we went for a short walk. It was about time I got to know him a bit more. The conversation spoke of many things, Lee was a person who didn't seem to have a past… not a mentionable one. I wondered how he became the person I knew, but my flow of thought stopped when I noticed Lee Child staring off at something... a banner.

The banner was against a wall, near the fountain which trickled off in the centre of town, a place of meeting. There were many banners, plastered all over, many people were reading them, it must be important news.

The Banner read;

'Abridged defence rule has been enacted. Until a new Kage is appointed no ranks higher then Genin are allowed to leave the Village, only ranks not assigned on missions will be granted free will access. Those of genin and lower are permitted leisure time and are free to explore areas outside the Village. These rules have all been governed by chief members of the Leaf Village'

"War times and they are letting us do what we want, doesn't seem very smart to me…" Arjies looked pasted Rock Lee, it was Kiba and a few of the others. They were overjoyed with the news, Arjies couldn't help but feel angry. Everyone around him seemed to be smiling at the posters, ripping them off as trophies. "Leisure time" He said as he felt his anger raging, but then he looked to Rock Lee, who wasn't smiling. Rock Lee didn't seem angry, he seemed upset. Arjies felt his hands unclench and his heart ache as he saw Rock lee's gentle face turned down.

"The one time the village needs me the most and I am unable. Why did I train all this time, why did I injure myself at that exact moment when they needed me? I'm crippled, I can barely walk and it was because I wanted to prove myself. My whole life all I've ever wanted to do, was be the best; I was selfish. Now they are allowed to leave the village to their own desires and now my only desire is to help the village and I cannot" This was what I wanted to know, who was Rock Lee now. The Rock lee I knew was defeated, now he was someone who wasn't driven alone by self-determination, but by the love and passion he holds for everyone.

"…And what am I supposed to do about it! Don't you think I feel that pain too. I don't want to see you like this, get over it Lee!" Arjies watched his friend sadly limp away into the distance after what had been said.

…

Arjies felt anger and arrogance. His desires for what could have been and what was, mixed and confused. He felt hurt and hate. His heart pierced twice by Lee's words and by the fate he now faced, a ninja with crippled dreams. His sorrow pressured him to tear, but anger consumed his heart with other considerations.

Ya I was a bit hard on Lee Child, but come on that dude is insane. Who's going to risk their body in a bet basically? It's just retarded, and really I don't give a pack of wolfs about that guy anyway. We could have been brilliant fighting buddies otherwise, I mean if he didn't go destroying his future.

"I made a mistake didn't I…" he softly spoke to himself but sooner washed the thought from his mind, flooded by other concerns.

I was walking away from the leaf Village as I thought. I thought about Rock Lee, sure, but I also thought about "*Sigh", everything. My guardians wanted more from me, losing the tournament didn't prove me of any value. They were happy I developed my own Jutsu, so there was that, but it was a standard among my people so they weren't overly impressed.

It was part of our journey, creating our own abilities, learning new crafts; discovering ourselves.

Then I wondered about our dying Village, the leaf Village. It was crippled! Naruto was off finding a new Kage with Master Jiraiya, but until then we're weak. Trade was good, but that was when we were on top, now we're trading more out of need then want, grovelling to our neighbouring countries. Not good. Besides the economy of our village, there was the military power. We have shown our enemies that we are strong and can survive a powerful betrayal and merged attack, but now what did that mean for our mission assignments? The land of fire and the feudal lord would not be pleased that our ranks as ninja and defenders of the land, are weakened by a single attack. Maybe that's why the abridged defence rules have been enforced, to seem stronger than we are, undeterred by our losses.

Other powerful villages like the Cloud Village and Sand would be looking to us to see if we could recover from losing our leader. Scrutinizing and attacking any weakness, leaning on every opportunity to grow their own strength among the Five Great Nations.

Meaning our choices of assignments would be limited to necessary, vital missions for our Konohagakure(village hidden in the leaves).

"All these cracks in my path; a curse, when all I ever want to do is get stronger."Argies sighed letting the weight and added up difficulties slide from his shoulders, uttering his mantra "Care a little less" Easing himself into comfort only to be suddenly drawn back into trouble; his ears were perked to the distant rustle of something nearby.

The Grasses were dry, it was a warm comfortable type of day, leafs of all the different trees gathered and clung to the base of trunks. In the fields an elder stark boy knelled down at the base of a tree, looking for something through the leaves. With Arjies approach the young man stood, with some leaves clinging to his clothing. A glass vile lay to the floor, stuffed filled with crushed leaves.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was firm, a sense of purpose wondered in the air after they were said, but Arjies had the feeling that somehow the stranger was the one who wasn't supposed to be there. Still, the stranger was an elder and Arjies had to remain compliant… for now.

"Abridged defence rule has been enacted. Within this period we are given time to Leisure freely outside the forests" Arjies did not recognise the man, if he was of the Leaf Village he did not know him, but it was possible that he could be anyone of any village... He didn't wear a head band.

"And you chose to walk alone?" It was a curious question, mangled by the tone of his sinister voice.

My casual breathing changed as a sudden breath engulfed me "I lingered in thought and lost myself among the forests" I paused, staring at the man for a moment "I should be getting back, there are other things to do." As I turned away the man kneeled down, returning to what he was doing, and just then I saw it, what was tucked in his kimono.

"Life Blood Siphon!" A cut was made. Argies shouted out his Jutsu technique, blood gushed from his hands and sprayed out across the trees and sounded against the brittle leaves. The man was gone!

I still held tight to my kunai, my fingers pressed painfully to the wound on my other hand as I balled it into a fist. Where is he, no ones that fast!

"You! Enemy of the leaf Village, show yourself" His glass vile was still on the ground, the leaves around it covered in my blood.

"You are going to leave kid, or you are going to die" I could not see this voice but hearing was enough. Right that's it.

Arjies through off his Kunai to the voice, he couldn't see the man, but for the corner of his eye he saw the shadow. The man was fast, but speed was not his speciality, he escaped Arjies gaze through other means. Arjies looked around, frantic but not anxious, then he noticed something… the trees were bending, warped.

As I looked around, I noticed that the world seemed to shift with me. It was as if the trees were having difficulty keeping up with my observation as I turned my head to either side. This was genjutsu. I remembered my training, I had not used my genjutsu release in a while, but his genjutsu wasn't that good.

"Kai, release" The world shimmered and faded back to normal.

"Defiler, you traitor, you destroyed out village! Now you pick at our leaves too, for what, to take away our foliage too?! I want to know why! Why did you kill our Hokage! An alliance could have been forged, now, you're only going to be an enemy?" Why isn't he attacking? He probably knows? I'm waiting for his attack, waiting so I can counter attack.

"Please, as if I care about your Hokage, I had nothing to do with him, but if you persist I will kill you. Earth-Wind style, debry storm" The ground at my feet murmured and dust began to gather out from the grass. My reactions were slow compared to the speed of the ground, which whirled around me. A torrent of dirt and wind lashed as if possessed by an unhappy spirit.

I struggled to free myself, dragging each foot ahead of the other through the thick sands and wind, but I managed to get out of the blinding storm to my astonishment, and there he stood. The band he hid, now prominent on his head, a member of the Sand! He hid his head band because he was entering enemy lands, but now he wears it in preparation, fight!

The storm still blasted behind Arjies yet none of the dirt clung to him. It was as if that sand was part of the storm, remaining there to blast on. Arjies held an arm up, clutching a kunai, for when he was within the torrents of Wind and Earth; it was all he could do to shield his face. His eyes were open now, yet he still half shut them to the sound of the gale behind him. With his vision narrowed, he looked to his opponent and noticed something.

"You hold an odd stance, odd to a point of meaning, like you carry a weapon… but you do not. All I see of you is a head band and open fists" I leaned my shoulder back, readying it to launch a punch.

Fist meets air, the punches thrown off so smoothly yet met with only nothingness. The wind strikes off against the strengths of the attack, as Arjies twists in method and cuts forward with impact, until a final strike hits.

I woke up from the blur of attack and defence and saw that my first had caught something… his palm. The stranger held onto my fist as his grip tightened, the weight of my attack turned in against his chest, but with a hand he stopped the power of my attack instantly, as if of no contest.

The stern faced stranger glared at his opponent as muscles flexed in a silent warning of peril. Arjie's grew harder and his muscles became like steal, and then he exhaled from his nostrils thick mist like blood. The red vapour fumed and blistered off the stranger's skin, who retaliated with a knee to Arjies mid; knocking the wind from him.

"Augh!" He shoved me back with disgust, "Blood again!" he regained his balance, put off by my attack, bringing his arms back into a fighting stance, "not how I imagined it. Getting your blood all over me, but, after I'm done. "He smirked" People won't know the difference"

I coughed trying to regain my breath, stepping back from my opponent, but the gap between us would soon fade again. The world winds were down now, the leaves had returned to settle on the green land once again, and the distance between us was sooner met.

It was a fool move, for him to get so close to me, close enough for me to drain him of his chakra. I've got the upper hand now, I just need to keep close to him.

"It was true what you said before, I fight with a weapon, but regardless" he throw another devastating kick at Argie's mid and remarked "you are no match for my taijutsu!" The Sand ninja fiercely gripped Arjies, quickly raising up a killing blow to end the attack.

The brut ferociousness of the attack faded, and the grunt of fury dissipated to a wain in power. With the arm that had risen up now crumbling down in fatigue.

The blood faded in the air, accumulating in return once again to Arjie's life flow. Renewed and rejuvenated, with the Chakra that flowed between him and his now incapacitated opponent, Arjies had won.

"What were you doing here in enemy lands in a time of war?" These were questions that needed to be answered for the village, but questions I needed to know personally out of interest.

"People have been behind these walls so long that they have forgotten what it is to be free." He looked to the ground as he spoke, his words vibrating in the air. "The war has changed many things but the worse of it is… we no longer know how to be free. Creativity is an inspiration for life and living but when people fear the outside world; their creativity inspiration motivation just becomes black like darkness." The effort sapped from the sand ninja, his voice shook with the words of an empathy for all people, however I could not understand it.

"I have never seen a Village without boarders, a people without walls or some form of protection. The rivalry between Sand and leaf, is still new, and these 'walls' have aged longer than any conflict" Argies paused to sum up his words "These walls have been here long before any war began, so what war do you speak of?" I looked around at the nature about me, the 'walls', I've never thought of it, a time without boundaries.

"The Great Shinobi Wars when the Five Great Countries crumbled and many suffered as heroes were made. The wars that formed our Kages, the 'walls' and our forgotten freedom" from under my gaze the now defeated ninja looked up at me.

"You're not going to kill me are you?" he looked quite disappointed; bring a knee up for support as he lifted himself from the ground. "*Sigh* What's your name" he held out a hand, "If someone defeats you and lets you live, you should at least get their name"

I held out my hand.

Arjies's extended his hand, clasped it with the Sand ninja the hated enemy, and felt his forehead harden in confusion.

"My names Arjies… ha ha, your grip is pretty tight. Uhm what's your name" I could feel the bones in my hand and the stone of his. I struggled to let go.

"Naoki Yamane, ha ha, you're not the only ninja that fights through contact." He smirked and looked to our hands. "Have a closer look, that's a special kind of hand shake" Naoki let go but Arjies could still feel the stone grip.

"I let our fight extend a little longer. You wouldn't have survived the 'Earth Storm' if I wasn't interested in your unique abilities. It was an inspiring fight but in the end I was always going to win." Naoki turned his palm up, a bit of earth shifted in his open hand before falling away.

"This was a mistake, on your part!" There was nothing I could do now, other than make empty threats, struggle, step back and be entombed in stone; my feet as well were hardening in sand.

I pulled a kunai free from my pouch before it too was covered by earth, my hand free hand now with kunai in hand hardened before I could do anything with it. Naoki explained his trap, seeing now that I could do nothing. "The Earth feeds off your own Chakra, collecting to the point of contact and then hardening into stone. A special kind of hand shake, just like your blood jutsu, it works through contact. Don't worry, I'm not going to kill" He stretched his mouth, perhaps yawning, and then said "actually I'm feeling HUNGRY!" His neck snapped as he broke from my eye sight, the stone now consuming my whole body; making me once again bound to tight to move.

I heard a scuffle in the leaves nearby and then nothing, he must have run off. I would hang my head in shame, being in the situation I'm in, but you guessed it I can't.

…

"Nom NOm NOM, this rabbit is delicious. Better put the rest of this over a flame." His back! It wasn't an hours but it felt like it. "Ever eaten a liver while it's still warm from the kill" I could hear his 'Nom' munching sounds as he bit into something particularly crunchy. "Heart and kidney too, mmh this is good, all the juices. This rabbit is going to taste great once it's cooked and packed" I could hear some stones being gathered and a fire started with flint.

"Are you going to smoke that rabbit? With all the leaves around, it wouldn't be too hard" Just how am I going to get out of this stony situation.

"Yep! That's the idea, smoked meat lasts longer then right up and cooked. Aagh now that's some good smoke, this rabbit is going to be… Agh it's so perfect I can't even say it! My mouth's watering just thinking about it." The leaves rustled as he waded his way towards me. "Pretty neat trick don't you think, it's something I discovered while studying in the Sand village 'academy'." He paused to lean a hand against my shoulder. The Rock firmly secured to the ground, I was moving nowhere.

"An elder taught me how to harden sand into stone, how it becomes easier to harden the sand once the reaction starts. It's a difficult talent to master because it uses too much chakra and very few students have enough to practise the art more than twice a day. It was a useless talent that very few taught, but it was still used by some, my master included, to train chakra control. Starting with one grain of sand you pour chakra in, till that grain can no longer hold any more energy and energy jumps to another grain. See I learnt why it's easier to harden earth once it started to set" He paused to yawn again, stretching his mouth as if to consume me. "…because by then it isn't a matter of choice. You're no longer feeding the earth, instead it's taking what it needs and feeding off you. Feed anything chakra and it comes alive" Naoki walked to where I first saw him, again he filled the vial with crushed leaves.

"Maybe you can explain what you are doing, now that… well now that I can do nothing about it." Naoki crushed more leaves and added them to the vial, he seemed to be particular to what type of leaf he added and how shaded they were.

"I'm collecting material so I can make a Giant pencil, the missing weapon you mentioned earlier. These leaves are the last ingredient I need to make my chakra erasing rubber. The leaves of the Leaf Village are unique, because they were made from chakra and by a powerful Ninja" Naoki put a stopper in the small vial that fit between his fingers. The leaves stuck to his black kimono but fell away with a single swipe of his hand. Although Naoki's character had switched to a lighter mood, this was not a ninja to underestimate. Simply by stance and the way he held in the clothing he wore, this was a serious ninja, years of training and battled hardened skills could be instantly recognised in a glance.

"I've heard of ninja using homemade scrolls and even drawing with chakra in the air to create a series of effects, however your method seems a little extreme and excessive don't you think?" The stone had gathered up to my chin and was still spreading, although it had slowed down since my chakra had depleted.

"Ha, I see it's becoming difficult for you to talk. I feel like that most of the time, war and other things." He looked away, perhaps thinking about those 'other things' before responding to my question "Excessive and extreme are exactly what you always consider during battle, if it's not going to devastate what's the point." He looked back to where I could hear the fire sizzling. "The rabbit should just be about ready" He walked to me and tapped my casing, "Looks like your just about ready too" he lifted his eyebrows and chuckled out of sight.

The smell of roasted Rabbit drifted in the air towards me, it smelled good. Like maple leaves and oak trees, that aroma mixed in with the smell of freshly cooked meat, cooked to a chewy consistency.

"I'm not going to kill you and I'm not going to let you go." I could hear him lifting the leaves from the roast again; the sound of steam collecting and sputtering on the hot embers. "I want you to come with me, back to the sand"

I responded quickly. "Any particular reason for taking me along" The rock was extending beyond the point where I would be able to talk, stunting my speech.

"If I let you simply wonder off back into the Leaf Village, well that would be a risk. The Leaf wouldn't let an opportunity like this pass, a chance to raise the morale of their troops, send a squad out to eliminate one of the enemy and show they are still strong" The rock around Arjies cracked yet remained firmly concrete to the earth with him still in it.

I looked a sound me thinking shortly before speaking, with options few."My choices seem little and I fear I have little time to argue the matter, not that I would be able to convince you otherwise. This earthy tome has sapped me of my strength and we have a long journey ahead" The front half of the shell crumbled and I was able to fall free, leaving a carving of me behind. "That's going to make a great story, when I get back."

"Would you like some rabbit?"

"I have no answer for that question, I know my mouth would rather be satisfied before I could reach a word of conclusion. With that said, NOM NOM NOM"

….

Disclaimer:

All The characters created by the Author of Naruto belong solely to Masashi Kishimoto every other character belongs to I and those Authors that have lent me their characters.

Do not replicate or reproduce any of my works or the works of the artists that have lent me their ideas, original characters, writings.

All content is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from the author. Naruto Belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.