Learning the ways:

"Listen to your Chakra; Feel its warmth. This is your body; it is only a vessel. You are Chakra, your body only a bowl holding that Chakra that is you. Listen to the sound of your soul. Listen, and hear your soul burn. Listen, and feel it burn; to warm the bowl that is your body" Reno extended his voice and I could hear it through the chill and rushing cold, the shadow and freezing ice. The water churning, biting, numbing, cold on my head, cold on my shoulders, cold on my chest, cold that ran through me.

Under the Waterfall, Argies could barely take a breath, so cold was he that he trembled taking in air and dreaded releasing his heated breath. The will of fire was his obedience to his Uncle and his reverence for his aunt, but there was something stronger that held him in the cold…His driving determination; ambition for his own strength.

Strength I could claim 'my own'

"Feel the burn of your Chakra. Feel it heat you! Arjies, do not let your body fault you!" Reno, a stern elder, I have never seen him so… motivated to do anything related to me. I've always only seen him disappointed, or content. Both of them really, they never show warmth, not like parents or guardians. They've only shown me strict love and disciplined emotions.

I guess that's why I'm such a blunt critical person myself. I actually do enjoy my personality though, I can't imagine being any other mind set then my own, Pffft, the thought of it… no not me, I couldn't dare think of that. Shudder.

"His adjusted to the cold, let him out" Anisue didn't open her eyes, didn't shift from her concentration. Reno agreed.

I stepped out of the cold. Walking over to the sun, letting the light bring colour back to my skin. The numbing of the cold and the light from the sun; brining feeling back and a pleasing revitalising sensation.

"I should not have to remind you to return to the cold." Reno silently warned me "Argies!" He commanded and I had to reply.

"Why am I doing this?" I hesitated, already ducking my head down because I had spoken out of term. The place around me echoing my complaint. This scene would have been funny to any other family… Lucky bustards

"What! Have you spoken ahead of your time" I felt I should reply, but feeling at the same time that speaking now would not be wise. "I am lenient, I am more than considerate, but if you do not get back in that water…" I felt a chill run up my spine and my legs in motion, the harmful intent already in the air emanating off his chakra.

Back to the cold. I under stood the theory of it. Something of another means of Chakra control, they didn't really explain. They told me how but not why.

'Sit on this stone; meditate Arjies'

'Yes Sir!'

'Stand under the water Arjies'

'Yes Sir!'

'Focus on the image; 'You are a bowl, your Chakra is a fire''

'Yes Sir'

'Recite to yourself mentally; 'My Chakra burns with fire''

'Yes Sir'

"Now come to me" Reno turned away from me to stand beside the stone next to the stream once again.

I had been under the cold for so long doing all that they asked. In patiently, only because I knew nothing of this test, what challenge this maybe or what lesson was to be learnt. If they were anybody else, I would have thought it was a trick, something to bring humour to them but shame to me. These were not the traits my guardians possessed, things were done for reason.

Reno tapped the rock with his cane"Climb onto the rock"

"Meditate" He said flatly, even though I had done this before.

"Focus on the bowl that is you and the fire that is your Chakra. Focus and say your mantra; My Chakra burns with fire" Again that flat instruction, he asked me to meditate the first time I stood up on the rock, now a second time, but now I am to focus on my mantra and imagery.

My Charka burns with fire…

I thought on the images: 'A bowl that is my body and a fire that is my chakra'. The heat off the flames sucking me into the warmth, my Body a bowl holding Chakra; the fire contained within me.

"Feel your Chakra burn to warm the bowl that is your body" Reno spoke, his voice sounding distance, my mind focusing on the fire. The darkness when I closed my eyes consumed by the image of heat and the bowl that held it. My body was still cold; the icy chill and freeze of the breeze in the air not leaving me, my wet cloths, clinging to me, a persistent draining of heat.

I remained on that thought imagery and from within me I felt a fire burning, warming. Warmness on my face, a glow from within like a hot coal fanned into a flame; slowly it grew. My whole body, covered in warmth.

"Open your eyes young one" Anisue stood beside Reno, both of them not smiling but in agreement of satisfaction.

What I could see of it? I could see a haze of the place about me. I didn't understand it. The warmth, the heat, the smoke around me…

"What is this!" Arjies stood up thunderstruck by the affect about him. His hands his feet, his body was emitting a purple smoke that turned black before fading out of existence.

"That is a secrete of our people, known by many names." Anisue said proudly

"You should give it a name of your own" Reno stood by his wife, a look of pride on his face as well.

Arjie's studied his hands, looking at the smoke as it came off out of his body like a giant incense stick "What does it… do?" He turned his head ahead to look at his guardians and broke his eyes from their disgruntled mood.

Oh! No! It would have been better if I had just smiled and said, 'O cool I'm smoking', unh why did I have to ask!

"Come now, we have other lessons ahead. Plenty of time to find just punishment for him" Anisue turned to Reno the smile gone from her face. It was her turn to teach Arjies, and he knew a difficult lesson was ahead.

Gulp!

Death Forest part 2

"…Yes yes but what of the recourse?" I had just finished up my aunts training, trying to catch my breath while listening in on their discussion. They called me in with a wave. "Yes I agree, Arjies, come here" My aunt was being 'nice' again, meaning something unpleasant or difficult was ahead. Hmm, I wonder which one it's going to be…?

My uncle focused his attention on me, "Arjies" he called me with command as if I wasn't aware to the instruction to listen, "tell us what the invigilators will expect of our ability?" I hated being told to do what I was already doing, like it wasn't my choice anymore when I had already been committed to the task all along, like they were commanding me and I was begrudgingly now submitting to the task…It just made me so angry!

"Arjies are you listening" my Uncle asked again, already pressed far beyond his ability to contend with my treachery of disobedience. I nodded my head and slipped back into my thoughts, where is this conversation leading pleasant or difficult? "What do the invigilators expect of our ability?" my uncle repeated and the answer rung bells in my head.

…and the winner is! Unpleasant conversation, judges tell the contestants what they have won!

"What do you mean uncle?" please be wrong, please be wrong!

"There would be a standard that is expected of us elders. Young genin are very limited in what abilities they learn, those with Clans often learn only their clan jutsu. Of our age…" This is going to be such an amazing conversation… NOT! "They will believe us to be limited to only a few techniques"

I broadened my expression into a big straight faced bogus smile, lightened my tone and tried my best to sell it. "Well, both my uncle and aunt are Great ninja, I would expect every invigilator to know that by now" Yes I was avoiding the inevitable, but it hurts a lot less then jumping head first into a concrete pool.

"Have you personally told them this?" Anisue gently put a hand to my arms, I had folded them unintentionally and as a ninja I should have realised it was an obvious defensive behaviour. I need to keep track of these things for next time I try and get out of 'nice aunt behaviour' events.

"Isn't it kind of implied?" I tried "All ninja elders are Great ninja or at least fighting fit." They're facial features were already hardening, a way of saying their awaiting an answer and not a gentle dance around the details.

"Ok, from my understanding. In the Ninja academy the elders that attend genin level training are the parents of or guardians of none ninja clan students, although there are also eccentric civilians that just want to learn ninjutsu out of amusement or passion." There are those people that just learn things for fun, besides most civilians do not understand or believe the ninja arts. I guess that's why parents with first generation ninja attend the academy to understand what their children are learning.

I continued apprehensive of the looks I was receiving. "There maybe a few elder academy students that just want to learn jutsu types of an area that was off limits to them akin to the studies of sealing jutsu like you intend to learn." I shifted my weight thinking further. "Others like ninja armourers are looking for ways to make money off experience and knowledge that is only available to higher ranks, but do not intent to be actual ninja" There was a silent conversation between my elders as they listened to my full explanation; perhaps reasoning where I got my knowledge from.

"Yes, genin of my age limit themselves to clan jutsus. Orphans and students with no ninja family history learn village jutsus; Earth Wall style and other elemental styles, basics that form the root of stronger techniques." I took a breath, it wasn't easy talking with the look they were giving me, 'care a little less Arjies'

"Finally I have to say. Genin of my age learn a maximum of 3 abilities. Defence, attack, evade. If your trying to fool the invigilators that you're nothing more than 2 old eccentrics, then stick to 2 jutsus. Any other answer I could give would be based largely on rumour which in the leaf village has proven to be nothing more than a spell of wasted time" Ok, that wasn't so bad. I ended up telling them what they wanted to know and it looks like they didn't catch on that I called them old and weak.

"Old weak strange ninja hey!" Reno voiced and my aunt agreed with a crack of her hands and an opening of her stance. Everything is a shogi game for these people!

"You're my guardians, I know you're going to prove them wrong regardless of how limited your abilities" I reluctantly widened my stance, readied for the scuffle, they both seem eager to test out their new limitations.

…

They were weaker, slower and less willing to offer me the slack they provided before. It meant more than just that they weren't holding back, it meant that there wasn't much of their capability too hold back. They were simply, much weaker.

"Yes, I believe we are ready for the challenges within these forests" Reno picked up the last of his kunai that seemingly vanished while still within his hands.

….

Anisue lifted her head from the scroll she was writing in, I had never seen such symbols before and I thought this an odd place for my aunt and uncle to reveal so much of themselves. Anisue looked around herself, something had changed.

"Our genjutsu has been dispelled!" she said, pulling a kunai free from her pack "We are no longer hidden" I pulled a kunai free as well.

"Come Arjies, closer to your uncle" Reno called me to himself, he put away their scroll and now held his cane.

Before I reached my uncle, birds lifted from the trees giving direction to the coming threat. I turned around to face whatever challengers there maybe.

Ninja from the land of Rain!

They're distinctive large hats and deadly wax paper umbrellas. I had heard about and seen only a few of their kind in battle. I knew of their senbon(needle) arts and their down poor of metal seal release. They were sealing jutsu users, using needles like rain and concealment techniques as defence. From the Assassin Village Amegakure, village hidden by rain, they lived in an area Dominated by the various Shinobi wars because of their location between three of the Five Great Shinobi Countries. Paranoid, devious, and treacherous ninja, likely as a result of their history, they isolated themselves from other ninja villages, creating an almost impenetrable defence and continue to develop unique jutsus to both defend against and eliminate any threat.

"I told you they would be here Shigure." One of the Amegakure ninja said gritting his teeth at the man named Shigure, who stuck out as a leader. "We should have been cautious. We don't know their ability. Genjutsu users" He was arguing the matter unhappily, their team leader didn't seem too concerned.

My Aunt reminded them that conversation was not the place of battle. One short movement and their Leader blocked the kunai with his umbrella, a parasol to be more correct, it was their weapon of choice.

His voice opened into the clearing, "The lands are covered in sky, the rains fall from up high. This is the nature of things." Shigure dipped his words in philosophy, lifting his hand to remove the kunai that was thrown in at his throat. "We are hidden rain." He sounded like a well-educated man, or brainwashed scholar. "Where there is land to conquer, we must collect, until our puddles become our streams and those streams become the Flood Rivers of our victory"

His parasol, now free of the kunai, shot into the air and opened. "Senbon shower!"

…

I can't stand this guy, he keeps quoting philosophy and flattening my attack. All three of them really, they just throw their parasols in the air and then we have to deal with the possibility of being skewered by a 27 senbon. Even retaliation is ridiculous, try throwing one object at a target while hundreds of objects fall down on you and it. My guardians were just using this as an excuse to train, a challenge like it's a game for them, or maybe a test. Hmm… maybe it's a test

I took the opportunity, that it was a test, and made my assessment. "We have to flank them, the field is great for them because it's open but if we fall back to the trees we can circle around them" I shouted to my aunt, the ringing out of steel on steel making sound hard travelled.

"We will fall forward, closer to the target making their spread of senbon less lethal" It was a stubborn statement but I kind of liked that nature in my aunt. She ran past me, flinging a few senbon out of the air that would have struck me in my distraction, handing me a food pill in the process.

It's one of the talents my aunt has, she mainly focused on cold teas and I enjoyed her teas but her food pills were far more concentrated. I took a bite down on the rolled ball, wondering what it might do to me; what might it enhance.

I jumping around impatient for the pill to take effect, avoiding the senbon and deflecting where needed. I could feel it working as my eyesight shimmered becoming far better, like a focusing lens was placed over my eyes. It was something I would never admit, but for a ninja, I had bad eye sight.

Great, thanks Anisue, a confidence downer was really what I needed just after almost being turned into a human pin cushion. I slanted my eyes at my aunt.

"Forward Arjies, do not look at your aunt like that, or she may not stop the next distraction." Reno burst forward in a blur of chakra speed, both my guardians were 'being themselves again'. Treat me like a weak ninja and I might not save your butt. I replied in my mind. It was going to happen sometime, one day I'll save their lives I'm sure.

I took out both kunai, deflecting all the senbon I could. Moving forward with short jumps and as few dives as possible; the ground staked with needles I didn't want in me. The Rain village ninja kept up their barrage of needles, their leader stepping forward now noticing our ploy.

"The darkness falls from the sky, because we shield the light, lands are ours to take under shadows might" A number of hand seals were made and by the time It took to perform them I could tell they were new to him and possible a very powerful jutsu. "Fierce Raining of Will" The sky above the small patch of open ground we were on, began to pour down a fine rain, darkening the heavens before ending. His hands began to form seals for a second time, difficult techniques once again, but this time they faltered.

Shigure turned his head speaking over his shoulder "You were right, these ninja are far more powerful than us" The look of shock on his face alerted the other ninja. They all began to form hand seals now, difficult ones. "Water clone" their leader shouted before grabbing his parasol, leaping away from the battle, a water clone of him took his place. "Mist Servant" another of the amegakure ninja said and a few clones formed, this time made from a black oil, he also ran away. "Flower Ninja Art: Black Smog" petals were release before the area that there were in faded into a thick smoke.

The last of the Senbon rained down, the ground was covered in them, but now our combatants were gone.

My guardians jumped into the smoke and I could hear the water clone being dispelled along with the oil clones. "What happened to them, I mean why did they suddenly run" I said when seeing my aunt and uncle step out of the smoke, equally mystified.

"Why is a very important question Arjies, it is the start of the answer." Reno began, resting a hand on his chin. My aunt walked around salvaging their senbon, any material you can find is an advantage.

I summed up my thought and spoke. "If I were to guess, I think it has something to do with that rain their leader cast" I remember him faltering after he cast the rain, it was more than just the difficulty of the jutsu, it was like something was wrong.

"I have never heard of the jutsu, it sounds a new technique." Anisue pulled out their scroll, again writing down in a language I couldn't understand. I leaned in closer to study the scroll. It was, different, old, it had its own unique designs, nothing like any of the leaf scrolls I've seen.

"Do detractions often pull your mind from current tractions" It was a verse my Aunt and uncle liked to use. Their version of curiosity killing the cat, when I was doing something I wasn't supposed to or when a secret was right in front of me but my guardians didn't want me to know it.

"uh hmm." I pretended not to be spying on their scroll and continued my thoughts "Well that technique of theirs. It could have been some sort of sensory ability. I know for his water clone he needed water, which could be partly the reason why he used the rain cloud ability, but why did he falter than" When they first entered to attack, their leader seemed confident, but then why run away.

"That encounter was a strange one and I have a worried feeling about that ability Arjies mentioned." Reno had broken from thought, now he paced about. "Attacking us was intentional, they sensed and dispelled our genjutsu and then found us soon after" He stopped to pull free his cane, pressing the butt of it in the ground. "Anisue, we must follow them, until we know this ability our secret may not be safe. Drifting in Mist, wondering in Wind" again the phrase was uttered, a secret my Uncle did not want exposed, reminding them to stay dedicated to secrecy.

"There are far too many in the forest to track a single target unhindered. What will become of the boy?" Anisue was talking about me, they both spoke like I wasn't there, so I wondered off to sit down. "Where are they?" my Aunt asked

"The spore has shown they are there" My uncle pointed in a direction, not the direction that they fled in. He looked at his cane like it was a seeing stick, before picking it free from the earth. "Arjies, follow, we haven't the time to lose track."

…

"Come on, this way!" Neko and Yori kept falling behind me and Katsumi. If Katsumi and I were going to catch this scroll thief, we had to run faster. Earlier we managed to ambush a team who carried a 'haven' scroll with them. They were one of the scroll thief's prior attempts. It was smart what he did for our encounter. 'Haven scrolls are bonus items which give additional points to squads. Peel seal here to replenish party; one time use only!' It promised a reward for later rounds, 'points', and some kind of aid if you were wounded or tired. It meant that teams would be reluctant to throw it way. It's was also ugly, asking teams to only use the scroll when they were hurt; it meant they would be twice as vulnerable, puking and injured. The team we ambushed had just recovered from the poison; they weren't in any condition to resist and instantly offered us their scroll. They probably thought we triggered the trap.

"Hold up Arisu, we can't run as fast as you" Yori just about managed to say between gasps for breath, he held on to Neko who was resting his arm against a tree.

"Ya slow down…" Neko was breathless too. "Why do you want this guy so bad anyway?" I flickered my eyes onto him with a second of killing intent; I didn't like what he implied.

"Katsumi, let's have a break here." I squinted at them baffled that they didn't want revenge too. "No point in finding the thief when the first thing Yori does is ask him for some water and Neko for an address on my behalf." Byakugan expert and puppet master, what a joke, these two can't even keep up with their weakest member.

"Think about what that guys team is going to be like. He already outsmarted us on his own." Neko had a point, but he was a puppet master. I'd heard him talk about it, how puppet masters come up with counter moves to the strongest opponents and toughest challengers, now it seemed to be just all talk.

"There must be easier targets than that guy" Yori's Byakugan had so far proven useless at tracking down other teams. He could see what scrolls they had, but by the time we get there the teams are gone. Probably because these two are so slow.

"I just noticed something about you two." Katsumi perked her ears, sensing the tension in my pause. "You're both really great at complaining, instead of coming up with ideas." They're raised their eye brows at me but said nothing. "You know for ninja who are supposed to be gifted with the talents you guys have, you're really quite useless"

"Hey! Wait a minute Arisu." Yori's light hearted tone couldn't supplement my tempest mood today. "You know both Neko and I are doing our best" Neko coughed and nearly choked on Yori's words.

"Actually Yori, I think Arisu's got a point" I nodded my head at Neko's amendment "We both haven't really added any of our abilities to the team. Ninja chop sticks man, I haven't even bought out my puppets yet" Neko pulled on his ruck sack, opening it slightly to reveal his puppets. It was a bit of an exaggerated statement, but true. Why hasn't he used them? Undoubtedly because of the damp in the forest, rust probably a deterrent for a puppet master, wimp!

"True, we haven't really found anyone I can use my abilities on either. Well, since you're looking for ideas Arisu, why don't I use my byakugan to see if he has his squad with him" Cause we couldn't battle him along with his team, weaklings! Yori looked ahead, his eyes twisting in their sockets like he was walking a path with them; it was eerily looking at. It took a while for his eyes to travel the journey, casting your vision out must be hard work, but eventually he stopped; the veins around his eyes returning to normal. "His alone. Seems like his team's gotten in a bit of trouble, their injured, senbon, a rain ninja attack. They are being chased by another squad not rain ninja." He calculated "If we attack now, he won't have his team around to help him"

Neko clapped a hand against Yori's shoulder. "Congratulations on becoming helpful to the team, now let's get going" He already had his puppets out, not active but ready to use, for when we confronted the stranger.

…

"You know, I bet things like this happen to Naruto's team all the time" Arjie's spoke off to the darkness. It was a bad idea to go after ninja in the shade of the forest. The rain ninja were able to shoot off senbon in the dark, and injure Arjie's guardians. Then they were attacked by eager squads who could sense injured pray.

"Know what, I'm not going to get unsettled by this. This is the forest of death and I'm in my element in the dark, setting traps." His guardians told him to say in the shadows while they handled the squads who slowed progress to the rain ninja. Arjies knew it wasn't the case, this was bad, very bad. His aunt and uncle were much weaker and now they were actually not invincible.

He recounted the events of the forest. In a space of minutes, the first encounter, his squad had to battle the wild life itself. Then reaching further into the forest his guardians began their meditation ritual, allowing Arjies to slip away, this being within the first 20 minutes of the forest of death. An hour later and Arjies returned with the scroll of earth they needed. From there they were attacked and followed after the Rain ninja. In all only 2 hours had passed, yet Arjies already felt like the strain and liberty found in the forest was over bearing. The time there seemed to stretch an eternity.

"If I set up traps, we will have this safe ground for a time to rest and bandage wounds." He looked up to the sound of a hound howling. "…and hopefully my guardians come back soon." Arjies knew this was bad. They weren't fighting; rather they were leading threats away, hopeful that peril would be lost in the chase.

"Some ninja wire here… a set of kunai her… perfect. Now to do the other side" Arjie' let his mind slip into bliss, ignoring the fact that his guardians could be dead right now. While securing some ninja wire to a tree, his fingers fumbled letting out the tension in the cord. "What a pack of wolfs, I shouldn't have let them leave without me" He pulled the wire tight again, making sure it would decapitate anyone who ran into it, hoping he didn't make a mistake.

"Tired of being left out of the fight" Kinjo laughed, a purr and fang tooth laugh all in one scary cat eyed stitch of amusement. "You Arjies aren't worried for them are you. Their ninja nature is different from others, they would be hard to track in the dark. Your ninja way is, still young and you have yet to master suppressing your chakra and hiding" The summons cat purred again, overjoyed, watching as Arjies struggled with another trap.

"They could have at least taken you with, just in case and after all I'm in no need of you… other than conversation" Arjies looked around, the camp was secured enough, at least for a temporary hid out. "Kinjo help me out, you say I need to improve on masking my existence. Why don't we take the time to learn." Arjies felt his words were a bit blunt before, and sought to make it up to his summons.

Kinjo stalked up to Arjies and formed into a shroud around his head. "Hiding is stalking in reverse. When we stalk prey, we want to sneak closer unnoticed and leap on the food when unexpected." Arjies got the hint and started stalking the invisible prey in the field. Once again, the spell of Kinjo taking effect, turning Arjie's movements into more a cat like form.

"Concealment is in remaining motionless when the prey is moving, when they are watching." Arjie's froze to match as his summons taught. "When they move you stop, when they put their eyes off you, you move." He crept forward, slowly learning the talent of being creepy in the dark. "This is how the chakra works too. You sense the air around you, the chakra resonating in the area. You feel the density of it, you slow your chakra till it's flow matches the natural aura around you." He tried this also, it was too difficult for his level and like Kinjo said, he was too young.

"I sense something, about the air. Is someone coming Kinjo?" Arjie's got up and then he froze, he was alone; he needed to try concealment and avoid attackers. He made his way slowly to a tree, hiding with his back to the trunk. "I'll wait here for them" he whispered to his summons.

Three figures tapered from the forest, a single file, they were in formation. They were trying to be hidden as well, but they were stalkers not prey. The level of their chakra, threatening, even with Kinjo there was no way to defeat them in a one on one battle. For a moment Arjies thought they might be the rain ninja, but they had no parasols and those ninja were long since passed by now.

The Three figures looked around and sensed something, but it was not Arjies. Bordering the area he had chosen as his camp grounds a battle began. As he watched their shadows, the dimly lit forest, he saw the three figures that threatened him, slaughtered. A cloud of black shimmered and wafted up from the earth, striking down the ninja, crushing bone and sucking in blood. Their screams delighted the mystery jutsu which only grew more volatile in response, killing them slowly, toying with them as they cast defences were broken without effort. The last of the three stood alone, covered in his comrades' blood, he shivered in fear. A single silhouette stepped forward, a ninja must smaller than the man who coward in blood in front of him. Gaara of the sand, from the darkness Arjies could see the symbol on his forehead that marked him, 'A demon loves only himself', the meaning and the maddened joy on the face that bore it; Horrified. The last cry was the loudest, but it came from the killer not the death.

Sweat dripped from Arjie's forehead, he clung to the tree trying to remove the spaces between him and it. The air around him felt filled with danger, of threat. Panic perforated his breath and though he wanted to shut his eyes from the danger, he couldn't and instead gapped. Slow your chakra till its flow matches the natural aura around you. Taking a deep yet silent breath, he tried to control his fear. Each intake of air, he quivered with his breath, but with release his panting lamented some of the worry.

Control and resonate with the chakra around you

He felt the dread leave off the surface of his skin. The rush of blood, telling him to run, now calming and bringing sense back to his mind. The danger was gone, both Gaara and his squad, and Arjies gave a great sigh of relief.

A creaking slow release, sounded alarms in his head. Someone stepped into his trap. The cold night with all its sounds of chance breeze, and worrying leaves, was filled with a sickening crack and whipping smack as kunai flung from taut branches into exposed flesh.

"Yahaar" The body fell, blood splattering onto open ground.

I heard the sling released, I knew any cover in concealment was pointless now. They would be on a higher sense of alert at this moment; wanting retribution for any injuries or death. I slipped away from my tree, switching to stalking instead.

"Leave now, before more traps are sprung" If I wanted to die, I would have spoken sooner, but I didn't want to die a coward running away.

It wasn't the threat I expected, it wasn't Gaara, but an elder man. "You're just some kid. I can't expect you to know what camaraderie is." He looked back down, on her, the injured ninja in his arms. "I can't just leave, not when you've done this to someone so close to us" he looked up to the other ninja standing beside him. "Take her, go, I'll deal with him"

I stepped back, into the clearing. It might have been smarter to fall back behind another of my traps, but the way he spoke cut my pride. "Ninja games, I'm sorry for the injury but it was my intention. I can't claim I didn't want that to happen" He circled me.

"Larger clans, larger lands. Fighting for power, fighting for rule." He spoke, diving in and punched me in the gut before I had a chance to react or make sense of his words. "They never see the nameless clans, who are washed away before truly forming" I bent over, the wind taken from me, he took the opportunity to lift me up and slam me to the ground. "They worship their leaders, the wars they start a blessing of wrath, a chant for more, the chant made by all king" I lied there on the floor, coughing up dirt and blood, my face slammed into the earth cutting my lips. "You are so cruel to developing ninja who have no hand book of encouragement" He swung his leg, and milled the attack into my ribs. "We hone our skills, burning with the only desire we hold, a need to defend our villagers and those who are murdered and persecuted for the little wealth we have." He pulled his clothing into order, his face turned up to look away from the damaged he had done.

He swung around to walk away so I spoke to mark his pride too, "You chose these ninja games, no titles are needed to defence." I coughed turning to a knee. "You could have stayed in your 'nameless village' and no one would have cared if you were chunin or genin" I stood up, reasoning 'why' made my expression venom. "You only want rank, for the wealth, not for any measures of security for your people" the pain I felt through my injuries making the words on my lips bitter.

"You're wrong. I want the title so that I can study here in the leaf" He walked away, out of sight, and I wondered if that was true, or even possible. The things he said, they warped my perception of the world outside the leaf of being a happy one. I stood motionless for a moment, twisted in the words he said, contradicting my own conviction; and guilt set in.

"It must be hard, outside where there is no proper defence. I can't imagine it, a smaller settlement, rather than villagers as great as the Leaf. It must be hard" I tested my steps, my side was sore and my head no better off. I felt rattled, emotionally and physical.

A girl and dog rustled and broke from the bush. "Found you!" she said

Another "When are my guardians getting here, this is beginning to become tedious" I remarked in hushed breath.

The crook looked hurt, which was perfect. "Ha! Not so smart after all thief." I looked around, there was something strange about the large clearing he was in. "Hand over the scroll" I don't even need the others to catch up, his mine.

"My names Arjies, it's only polite to get the name of the person you beat" He spat his words in my direction, he still believed he could take me.

"Arisu, and this is Katsumi" I smirked, there was no way he could beat me and Katsumi.

"A dog. Great, that should make things interesting at least." He opened up his stance, he looked too injured for fast attacks, like he was begging me to attack without kunai which would require him to dodge and leap out of danger.

"Ranged was never really my thing, Katsumi attack!" Katsumi ran in and leaped, the obvious jump and bite routine giving me the opportunity to circumvent and strike his side with a sharp kick for the ribs. Instead predicting my attack, he swept under Katsumi and my leg flung into her instead.

"Your attack is sloppy; you draw too much attention to yourself before you throw out. It's like telling a person your moves before you play" I felt like saying, 'well maybe I intended to do that' and punching him in the face. I was worried more for Katsumi though, running over to her side to make sure she was ok.

"Try to pull your punches and kicks, so that if you miss they can be retreated before they hit." Oh no, he was teaching me how to fight, how embarrassing. "Keep limber, make your attacks bounce back on their own even when hitting the target" he throw a few shadow punches at the air, striking and brining his arms back in like a rebound effect.

"Ugh! Why did I have to fight the worst ninja." Katsumi moaned too, "Attack him low, I'll attack him high" Katsumi barked and ran off to the task.

"Don't stay in one place, keep moving your feet and keep weaving" He shifted his body, dodging at punches that weren't there, I hadn't come in to make them yet. Back, he kept moving away into a retreat.

"Fine! You want a lesson in boxing. I'll turn you into a punching bag!" I launched my fist right at his head, but he swerved under it, coming back up with a hard crack at my ribs. I reeled away from the attack, trying to bat him off with a few strikes in my recovery.

"I hadn't hit back yet because, you're a girl, then again I thought, you are fighting someone injured, and losing Hahaha!" His laughter rang like the round was ended in his favour. He kept moving his feet back and forward, hopping about in method, avoiding Katsumi as well as myself.

"I can't keep this up all day you know." He smirked throwing punches at me playfully. "You're going to have to learn something before it gets late and I fall asleep" He said it like he was serious. OH no He was enjoying this.

"I want my scroll back." I throw another punch, he seemed surprised by the comment, but still managed to avoid the attack. "You may have speed but I have the stamina to continue till morning"

"This place isn't safe, 'The Forest of death', you… we shouldn't really be doing this here." He looked around at the shadows "I'm probably crazy for thinking I could fool around in a forest full of animals and plants of every variety of ways to kill." He scratched his head, it looked swollen. "But I'm willing to do it if you're really interested"

"I was just going to beat you. You're the one that started 'THIS'" Katsumi barked 'Arf Arf, rrrrArf' and I agreed with the statement, "That's exactly my point, just take a punch so I can leave."

"I've had enough of this, I give up…" I was stunned, why? What convinced him so fast. "I'm injured and this contest has lasted for only a few hours and already I've drawn upon so much reserved energy" He jumped back and crouching down on the floor, opened a pouch in front of me. "This fight isn't worth keeping"

"And you're vastly outnumbered" I heard Yori's voice and I looked back to see Neko's puppets two.

"Six against one" Neko stated, including his 2 puppets, Yori, Katsumi and myself; Arjie's stood no chance.

He held up his scroll, 'earth', offering it to me. I looked around at my companions. Am I willing to just let him give me the scroll, after the struggle to find him and take this opportunity. It didn't feel right to me.

"No, I'm not just going to take your scroll from you. I'm going to eliminate you from the competition" The mood became very serious to what I said. Yori and Neko looked to each other and then at me, wondering what I wanted in this turn of events. "I'm taking both your scrolls, Heaven and Earth"

He stood up, strapping the scroll onto his waist and opening his stance. "Do you really think even with your team and my injures, that you can best me." He favoured his left arm, his face was bruised and cut, he bent over slightly to an injury to his mid. He was a great liar.

"Yori, Neko. Attack!"

…

A blinding flash, a blur of chakra speed and sparks of kunai on steel, Arjies moved fury in his step. The clash stretched into minutes, kunai and broken puppet parts littered the field. The wounds on Yori and the blood on Neko showed how they depended and trusted in each other's protection.

Arjies hardened his hand into a fist, shouting out his words only when he knew his knuckles would strike home "Impact Density punch!" He bellowed the words taught to him by his Aunt, and his fist blazed forward in speed and chakra fuelled impact.

The strike made to Arisu's chest, hit and expanded far beyond the size of Arjie's fist. The damage done amplified the magnitude of the hit. He held up his hand, the chakra that formed around it making his hand a fraction bigger.

"There is no way of defeating me, but this fight costs me too much for the effort you purpose I waste on you." The light from his own chakra stretching angered shadows across his face.

Katsumi snarled and bit at the air, standing in front of her master. "Arf!"

"Can you see now, there is no way of defeating me, or should I waste more of me on you." He pulled free a kunai, expecting them once again to refuse a concede to defeat.

"You arrogant fart horse. Don't you get it, I can't just give up, what kind of a ninja would I be if I simply let myself take the scroll. No I need to prove I am a ninja and earn it" Arisu bit her lip and held her fist up to make her proud statement; her constitution.

"That's stupid." Arjie's scoffed "There is no way of beating me, just like there is no way I could suddenly challenge a Jounin ninja and live. Not if I only use bruit force and relied on acting instead of preconceived incite and tact. No, planning is the only way to defeat a stronger foe, no speeches or strong will could conquer that." He looked down on Arisu, holding onto her hound. He considered how easy it would be for him to simply kill her and the rest of her squad and be done with them, as opposed to what he was doing; teaching.

"Here, take my scroll." He offered the earth scroll once again, but this time he offered up inspiration too. "A ninja isn't willing to let fear govern their actions, nor let the judgment of any other, but their own, direct their choices into what they see as wrong" With his words quoted from a book of ninjas, Arisu took the scroll into her possession and then her party vanished.

Unbeknownst to them, the finishing piece from that chapter resounded in the words that Arjies spoke next. "A ninja must complete the mission, accepted onto them, no matter what" For it was common knowledge among the Anbu that once a mission was accepted, provided it still fit under the parameters of the mission assigned, a ninja was not allowed to break from completing their task.

"Do you think it was a little harsh quoting ninja theory and bouts of lessons, only to hand them a trap scroll?" He asked his summons.

"They must grow out of playing ninja at some point. The forest of Death may be the stunner tool they require for the aid of that purpose." Kinjo meowed before breaking into evil cat laughter and Arjies struggled to resist, breaking into laughter together with is summons.

…

Finally when night had come, my guardians returned. The seemed tired and glad that I had caught the little prey I could find to roast over a quite fire.

"What happened to the rain genin?" I asked showing my joy on their return

Anisue pulled free her scroll to catalogue the events of the day or list the powers ninja possessed. I decided that must be the purpose of their scroll, so even if they hide its intention I at least was satisfied with my theory.

Reno pulled free his cane to rest himself besides the fire and explain where they had been."…We tracked down the rain ninja to a clearing near the strong hold in the middle of the forest, before we could act a ninja by the name Gaara attacked and killed the 3."

"Did any ninja find you here?" Arisu said, not looking up from her scroll

I began, all offhand and calm. "In total I've seen 12 ninja and confronted 4 of them. Not including 2 puppet jutsus and a wolf hound. Only one of the ninja was able to injure me but I am fine now, thanks to the Kinjo state and on a whole thanks to Kinjo"

"Aagh." My aunt ringed with satisfaction "What a skilled apprentice we have raised"

Reno turned to me, a flat expression on his face. "You show promise Arjies, let us hope you continue to impress us for the remainder of this trial" a statement that summed up a challenge, not a complement.

I attended to their wounds once the roast was well cooked, the injuries I could see to them were an element of different things. Fire, steal and water. They had to deal with a lot of incidents within the forest, troubles that I was lucky to avoid, I was glad they told me to hide and at least they didn't have to deal with sand.

The thoughts of the demon slipping in to the past haunting reflection on the scream I heard last, why did his scream sound so sad to me, so horrifyingly sad?

...

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