Getting home from my training with Kosuke, I couldn't help but feel excited for today. Today I was going to finally learn more about sealing arts. Quickly jumping out of my sweaty cloths and running warm water over my body, I couldn't help fantasize about Fuuinjutsu while I listened to the shower steam vistas of excitement all around me. Fuuinjutsu had always been surrounded with an air of mysticism. The fact that it wasn't taught in the academy made it all the more thrilling, and enthralled my desire to study and learn it. My guardians said that they would be granted more access to seals on receiving the rank of Chunin, regrettably they never had the chance but now I have that access. I myself haven't looked into the secret ninja libraries, Shikamaru told me he visited and found that it was nothing more than hand outs. That the library wasn't a tome of knowledge but rather instead of teaching it provided. Adding on to the seals you could use but not really teaching you how to add on to it. These things did not bother me, I stepped out of the shower with a smile on my face, they only made the gift of my guardian's 'Ages' scroll all the more valuable to me. I had an opportunity no other Chunin had, to learn Fuuinjutsu seals not just be granted assess to them.

I pulled the scroll out from the chimney dusting off the ash that had settled on its outer covering. The last time I looked at it I had reached a section where they spoke of hand seals which coupled with the types of Fuuinjutsu. While practising the hand seals Hatari had interrupted me for our mission together with Naoki, this time I had no fear of that and read into detail the purpose of the hand seals. Knowing that because of the allowance time between missions there would be no duty intermission and now I could relax and fully delve into the mystery of Fuuinjutsu.

The scroll read out:

There are various types of sealing constituents, of the most basic and most used is the Container seal. Manifested as a single circle, the container seal accepts one element and generates another. These container seals can be coupled together to create various types of constituents and bridged together elements from two containers can combine to form a new element.

Container: As mentioned in the introduction of seal constituents, is a single circle that accepts one element and generates another. The element generated by the container is revealed as the symbol within the centre of the container, those elements accepted by the container are any bridged to it.

Binder: A seal constituent which consists of two or more containers joining to form a new element, manifested as a container which is bridged to its donor containers.

Exception: A constituent which holds only one container yet accepts many elements in order to generate its new basic element or compound. This exception to the standard rules of energy manipulation results in a penalisation in the form of extra chakra requirements.

Barrier: A constituent which is manifested not as a circle but rather a shape of equal proportion, angle and dimension. Barrier seals consist of walls affiliated to a particular element which releases a charge that is equal and opposite to that of the charge of its opposing walls, cancelling each other out, thus creating an area of neutrality in which no element exists. When a foreign charge passes into its walls it adds to that of which ever elemental wall matches this new charge and triggers the seal. Therefor we can say that the seal is effectively off until a foreign charge activates it.

Capacitor: A constituent which consists of a single container which draws an element or pushes out an element. Unlike a normal container, a capacitor does not generate one element for the sacrifice and conversion of another but instead represses or expresses an element.

Seal: A constituent which locks away an element until the work/requirement of the seal is done, manifested as an empty container accepting in one element and generating nothing.

It was a lot to absorb in all at once and there is a lot of it I don't think I'll understand until I begin the process of making seals. I felt the eager smile fall from my face and my arms grow weak from my position on the floor examining the scroll on the table. I was a little fazed by the depth of knowledge my guardians had and weren't sharing with me, and by the technicality to the words written in this scroll. It felt out of my league, that is was a skill my guardians didn't think I could master and that the more I read the more the wonder of it turned into thwarting. Still the knowledge was there, and I would not be the fool to turn away from wisdom when she called me. Even if I don't understand it now, it is there for me to turn back to and look up whenever I needed it. I took a deep breath in and looked at the next set of diagrams and illustrations. It was the hand seals I was practising, new hand seals that had never been taught to us in the academy… because they were Fuuinjutsu hand seals. This fact flooded my vision with memories and I found myself thinking back through the recollections of a not so distant past.

That day when I came back from the Academy, Kinjo was playing in the sun and I felt so young back then, when Anisue told me that they had registered me for the Chunin exams.

I was so baffled and frightened, how would I survive who would be my team? My Aunt and Uncle were there and despite their hard nature, they supported me and believed I could do it; I believed in my ability.

When I was interviewed by Sakura on the interview retake, because they didn't interview me during the Chunin exams since I was an unknown ninja, Sakura expressed her feelings on my growth. That I had become something more because of the trials of the written exam and forest of death, that even though I lost to Neji I had become Chunin; and gained strength through my frailty.

The message sent by Kinjo, the scroll that unfolded and burnt into an apparition of my guardians last words to me. 'Learn from the leaf while they still value you as a friend, then come to us when you are stronger'; Learn to be stronger.

All these memories taught me that I should believe in my ability, gain strength through my frailty and learn to be stronger, and that brought the wicket half smile back to my lips.

I read on through the scroll and it visited a word that rang a bell in my head, but I just couldn't scratch the itch of where I heard it before.

The eight Trigrams; the fundamental principles of reality:

Chakra and all the elements of creation and existence are composed of Yin and Yang; Opposites. Like the five basic elements, all energies have an opposing energy which is equal in strength and opposing in nature; Water and fire, light and darkness, life and death. In all of these opposites there is only one true principle of all realities; the eight Trigrams or the four forces of yin energy and the four forces of Yang energy. These forces coincide with the five basic elements but are not limited to the five basic types of chakra, they governor the movement of chakra and are the basic building blocks of seal creation.

strengthens it

penetrates it

withdraws from it

stills it

invites it

moves it

clings to it

releases it slowly

These were the eight hand seals I had to learn, the eight ways of manipulating chakra in seals. They had a further understanding next to each of the hand seals and I formed my hand into each one as I practised them out loud.

" , palms together fingers in temple formation"

" , palms together index finger curled in, other finger temple formation"

" , index and ring finger curled in, middle finger little finger and thumb touching"

" ,index and middle finger curled in, others touching"

" , little finger and thumb touching, others curled in"

" , ring finger and middle finger curled, others touching"

" , middle finger curled, others touching"

" , index finger curled, others touching"

Ok from my understanding seals use the internal chakra of our organs; the chakra that our organs use and generate. When I supply a seal with chakra it in actual fact manipulates my body and through my chakra network gains access to the chakra in my organs to mix the different elements in them in order to create the desired effect.

AND!

With the constituents of seals I basically have a hand book of different instruction I can give to my body in order to produce the desired recipe of jutsu execution.

I read further into the sealing scroll and learnt more of the terminology until I was comfortable with it enough to use them in turn. Eventually I found myself speaking out examples that were only illustrations with no wording what so ever.

"The container of fire accepts only chakra and pours out only fire, hmm" I studied on, looking at an example of what the Ages scroll called a paper bomb yet didn't look anything like the standard ones they gave out. "The container of explosion accepts only earth and lightning and pours out explosion, hmm" I twisted my finger exasperated a little by the study but with the frown lifting from my brow I slowly began to develop and understanding. "Uh… When lightning and Earth mix, it results in an explosion. It's just like when water and fire mix, it results in steam, they creating a new element… but now"

I retrieved a paper bomb from my discarded ninja pouch, I was going civilian style today, holding it up next to the illustration. They didn't look anything alike, only one similarity remained. The centre container was still explosion. Suddenly the epiphany came to me with the snap of my fingers. "This must be an exception seal." I looked back and read it out loud. "Exception: A constituent which holds only one container yet accepts many elements in order to generate its new basic element or compound." That made sense, paper bombs were used by civilians too. Not everyone could use chakra and in fact not even ninja could use it all the time, which meant that a paper bomb needed to be versatile in execute. I studied the paper bomb closely, it had the symbol of fire and chakra on it, meaning it could be burnt in order to detonate as well as triggered by chakra.

Ok so we are getting somewhere; now let's see about some Fuuinjutsu seal creation. I think it's best to start by making a seal directly copied from this book. I still don't know what might happen if I make a seal incorrectly and since it uses chakra inside my body I don't think it would be anything good. I explored further along the scroll to where I remember there being a few Fuuinjutsu seals my Guardians either created or copied/stole, eventually I found something that sounded harmless enough.

Fire!

It was a seal for creating a small flame that could burn on any surface because it used chakra not wood in order to stay alight. It was used for starting campfires or light, that sort of thing, or at least that is what the scroll said.

I created the container seal on the stone floor, far far away from the table might I add, then I made the hand sign of fire which is tiger. The symbol of fire appeared in the centre of the container, now I needed to create the flow of chakra going into and out of the container. This required the hand seals of yin or yang, in the scroll it showed for this particular seal it required chakra to strengthen fire and fire to cling to whatever the seal was on. Now I hadn't looked into the formulas for how to power seals or for how long, so I tried the four seconds you use to pre-set the paper bombs for later remote detonation.

The mark on the ground at first did nothing, for a moment I felt dishearten that possibly seals weren't as simple to make as coping them down. Then the very centre of the seal began to burn, then the flame expanded outward and outward; the light engulfing the room in a bright blaze of orange and red.

…

Panicked Argies stood from his kneeled position next to the seal, it rapidly growing larger to take up the ground he had been on. The sudden growth of the blaze had taken him aback, he hurriedly rolled the Ages scroll and hid it away from the flames that crept ever nearer. Realising that he could not afford his home to burn or for this catastrophe to draw attention to him, he gathered his courage to oppose this unnatural flame. While the flame still burnt on the empty fuel source of stone and chakra alone, Argies swiftly brought his hands into action in the form of a pail of water. Dousing the fire the expected relief and calm did not wash away his panic, as the inferno steadily grew higher and more threatening. For a moment he stood, watching the flame lick at the nearby table and engulf more of the stone unendingly.

The principles of making fire spinning into his head like a world wind of confusion; fire needed heat, air and fuel to survive. He counted off the source of heat as being enough to sustain the fire as it singed his hair, the air in the room supplied him with enough breath to breathe and it dawned on him that the fire did not smoke or suffocate, the source of fuel was missing but that did not stop the blaze. Finally, he gazed into the fire as he stared into his mind for a solution.

"This is a seals flame it needs nothing but chakra to survive and I have already supplied it, the only resolution is…" He struck his hand to the ground creating another container constituent, pouring into this container his chakra so that it might generate water. Then forming his hands into the seal of phoenix he penetrated the blaze and bridged the container of fire to form a third container of steam. "Strengthened fire is doused by penetrating water!" He formed the seal of confrontation and supplied his new Fuuinjutsu with chakra, four seconds later, the blaze erupted in a cloud of steam emanating from the epicentre of his binder seal.

He vented his relief in laugher and wiped the collective of mist and sweat from his face, and not a moment later an alarm of alert panic rung at his heart.

*Knock Knock Knock*

…

My living room was covered in steam and everything was either damp or hot, and there was someone at the door! What could I say, what will I do… how do I pretend that I didn't almost burn down my house in an unnatural fire?!

…

Argies opened his door with a mop in hand and a bucket not too far off. "Neji!" He exclaimed near slipping from the jolt of surprise and wet floor. "What are you doing here?" he gulped, his skin turning pale and his ears redden for shamed to be mock cleaning when Neji the astute shows up.

"Argies" Neji squinted passed him at the mess he was poorly trying to hid. "It has come to my attention that you have continued our lessons of leaf walking… without me?" His expression did not change or falter from its brooding calm, but it was clear that his meaning was offence and he glared forward to clarify that message.

Argies darted his eyes away from the attack as if the piercing sight would take advantage of his direct eye contact. "Yes" He throw the mop into his home and shut the door so that they both stood outside. "I admit I have been practising with Naruto without you, yet it is only because the Uzumaki persists."

Neji took his time in answering, staring down at the ground for a moment before diverting the offence from any party and instead defusing it. "'It is said a closed door offers no privacy from a Hyuuga', and, 'A close friendship offers no protection from betrayal.' It is the persistent that thrive and the vigil that prosper." He focused his eyes on Argies offering no forgiveness or pardon in an expression of request or proposal. It was a face that meant nothing yet said the terms of his words were a clear ground that could be planted with any crop. He was giving Argies the chance to decide what became of their relationship as friends.

"Neji" Argies felt the moisture in his eyes well around his lids even though he did not know where the sudden compassion had come from. "I will not deny you and I will not cast aside your wellbeing, I would not have thrived and succeeded as Chunin without your charm and character to combat against in the tournament of the Chunin exams. I value your company for more than your talent, your wit or your ability to make time well spent. The fact that you are here brings me so much joy…" He felt his face warm as well as his heart as he lifted a hand to Neji's shoulder, like he did before to Sasuke though Susuke turned away that opportunity of friendship.

"Argies what is this admission…" Appalled Neji's stepped away from the hand rested on his shoulder. "You… your value me?" His lips twisted with disgust.

"Yes I do." Argies look at Neji and then righted himself on finding he had cupped his hands to his heart. "Come, I have said too much." Argies cleared his throat and took to step, not before locking his door. "I look forward to training with you, while Naruto is away"

…

We set the field out like Naruto had shown me, grading the ground with an array of leafs thickening to a gradient determined by the length of the area we had to work with. The first thickness was of small limber leaves and thus less likely to crunch when stepped on. The second was of slightly larger leaves… and so the degree of difficulty was lain out into segments of thickening leaves, with the fifth having twigs and the sixed other materials that would either crumble or snap under an imperfect control of chakra. The sun had reached its zenith but because of the time of year there was no heat to taint its welcoming light. The fresh grasses brushed under our soles to release the scent of an earthy forest of pine and aster.

"Neji!" I squatted down looking at the long line of leaves at an angle, measuring the degree of difficulty by the divisions I had set out in my mind. "I have already seen Naruto's progress, please." I outstretched a hand to the lane of leaves "Show me how you have progressed alone."

Neji, who had quietly helped not full realising the value of this method, stepped forward to begin his test. On to first there was no sounding from the leaves as he passed, second the same, third he struggled but pressed on to fourth and then fifth. Sixth he faltered and the twigs and pebbles in it could be heard breaking and grinding together.

"I have also made it only this far." I got up from examining the leafy ground under foot of Neji. "It is interesting, to study the earth below you as you concentrate your chakra under every step." Again I swayed my hands politely offering Neji the chance to watch me in his place, and he in mine.

"If I may Argies" Neji watched, with an irate eyebrow, from his position on the ground. "I see little point in this… training." He sighed, but then that sigh got caught in surprise with mystery and wonder written across his expression. "With each step, when entering new levels of difficulty, the area of depression caused by your chakra decreases" A smile found my lip to the joy in my friend's eyes and tone of voice.

"Ha, why yes so it does." I slowly neared fifth and sixth which I could never pass before. "As the leafy ground thickens it becomes more and more so like earth; soil, rock and compost. Meaning less of our chakra needs to be expended in order to keep our falls from breaking the surface of soft debry." I said this not knowing if my theory was even right, but I persisted passed fifth and stood on sixth to further my now justified theory. "There are less of the leaves to crumble in sixth, more air is filled with stone sticks and soil and as such this ground is in less need of reinforcing, thus less of a charge of chakra need be sustained under foot."

Neji stood from the ground "When I began my journey to meeting with you Argies. I did not expect any progress to be made." He offered out a hand to show his agreement with my being there, but I extended out another offer instead.

"Nope not happening!" I stepped off from the uneven ground and collided myself to his form, embracing my friend Neji in a hug rather than the shake of hands he expected. "I shouldn't have I guess, Agh… no need to kill me." I pulled out from the Kunai pressed in at my diaphragm. Embracing without warning was not something Ninja did, I guess an embracing is very threatening but I felt compelled? "Hmm, sorry, I don't know what came over me." I looked down and felt very guilty about myself.

"We should spar." Neji's answer made me worry and the single drop of sweat creasing down the side of my face showed it.

"I didn't m-mean anything by…" I stepped back on to the leaves, my muscle memory instinctively activating the chakra leaf walking art we were developing.

Neji stepped onto the leaves as well "Yes, we should spar on these leaves to test the effectiveness of this technique in battle." I looked down around us, the ground already had a good curtain of leaves about, bringing my eyes back up I noticed Neji still had his kunai out…. *Gulp

"Ok I see, just a friendly spar hey?" My question didn't go answered, so I pulled out a reserve kunai just in case. It was the kunai I always kept on hand, for reassurance, in the event something like this happened when it was my day off.

Neji flared his chakra and somehow added more leaves on the clearing of the floor without moving from his place. "Although it is a silent ability which will likely never be used for anything other than the silent killing techniques, it would be a proper test of our ability in mastering it to be able to keep it in control over our steps whilst in combat"

Neji was the first to move, throwing off kunai like a flash of lightning, he was always faster than me along with all of team Gai although I had never versed Tenten before… and yet she did throw me to the ground mercilessly when in her parents store, hmm. I stood my ground conserving my chakra to let Neji attack me, knowing he knew I could always activate my gentle breeze technique where he could only hit me when he did his special jutsu.

Collecting the steel that fell around me in my defence, I throw off Kunai swiftly. Finding my accuracy and speed had increased since Kosuke's training just as he said it would, concentrating with a single minded determination just as I had with that bolder. Jumping aside when Neji got to close and I feared I would not muster my genital breeze in time, I managed to tap a hand against him showing him I had a clear attack at his ribs.

I jumped away from my quickly pressing retreat into the tree line, and offered commentary on our spar. "Is your concentration lapsing because of the Leaf walking or has it been a lapse in your training which has led to this slack in your form." I jested curtly.

"You misread me" Neji's mouth curled at their sides. "I was merely testing my opponent" I looked off to where his eyes were. A kunai stuck from the tree I had just been at, a paper bomb hanging from it; thankfully not activated.

"A bit daring don't you feel Neji, I would be ambushed but you would be dead." I jumped ahead to confront him, but the Neji standing in the clearing dropped out of existence and a block of wood stood in its place.

Neji's voice projected from a place I could not determine. "The Hyuuga do not teach substitution justu because it is useless against the Byakugan." Kunai darted from the tree line and the real Neji appeared. "However, you are not a Hyuuga and I have learnt to forget about seeing myself as an opponent, instead I work with the advantages we have over you." Neji was speaking as a clan, it was oddly heart-warming now knowing that he was accepted among the Hyuuga despite being of the branch family. It was also obvious to me that his use of the substitution jutsu now, was because previously before he honed his skills only for vengeance against other Hyuuga; forfeiting any use in a substitution.

I tilted my head in congratulations. "Well that's one point to you than, and a point to our leaf walking ability because I didn't hear you leaving the clearing. Perhaps there is use for it in battle after all." My dreaded half smile reappeared and I cut forward with chakra speed. Diving my fist forward, I aimed a punch at his chest, but he avoided the blow effortlessly slipping through the arch of my attack. Even though my assault was unsuccessful, I did not lose heart because in truth I didn't expect to make contact with Neji, instead I expected him to hit me… he didn't.

"I have learnt from your abilities Argies." Neji announced a distance away from me. "It is not always wise to attack your enemies directly, and with your ability to retaliate with a counterattack grown stronger by receiving any enemy contact, I will find other ways of dealing with you indirectly."

"Huh" I thought out loud, and since it was just a spar I didn't mind admitting it. "That's going to be a problem for me, most of my strategies are built around being injured." I reflected through my thoughts for any hope of disrupting Neji's counter strategy, but then I realised... "I guess that is what sparring is good for, I would hate for this to be a real fight only to realise I'm out matched." I cut the palm of my hand lightly; it wasn't good to be such a hematophage for a mock fight even if I did love the sight of my own blood, especially when someone else was covered in it.

Neji smiled and I think for the first time that it looked to me to be a genuine smile, not a smirk or a jeered humour but just a smile. "I have heard Shino say it to be good to express your worry to a friend." He pulled free another kunai from his pouch. "But I highly doubt he meet his words to be thought of when battling said friend." He approached and for once I had no idea what my next course of action was going to be.

"Life blood Siphon Jutsu!" I leaped forward breaking the gap between us, extending a palm I surged my hand with chakra sending blood spraying out in a fine mist.

Neji on the other hand, not being able to avoid the molecules of blood in the air, instead formed into his rather special and coincidently named technique "Eight Trigrams, Palm rotation!"

I immediately stopped fighting, "Neji?" I called out. The bubble of Neji's jutsu agilely coming to a stop with Neji crouched, his hand held high in the technique. "What is the eight Trigrams, do you know?"

"You speak as if you know" Neji's words came out stern, the smile on his face set into his neutral mask once again.

I kicked at a pebble on the ground to divert my eyes away from his scowl. "No… ergh, I've just always wondered is all." I tried to keep my voice cherry but in truth I felt shaken that he might find out, that this might be the deciding point that tipped the balance and finds my head on a pike.

"I suppose I could tell you a little." Neji cast his eyes about and I felt the heavy sense that what he was about to tell me would be wise to keep secret. "The eight trigrams are derived from the four states of yin and yang chakra. It how the Byakugan user is able to release chakra from all their tenketsu in order to develop the palm techniques, but it only possible for the Hyuuga for no other ninja clan has ever been able to perform it."

"Ten-ketsu?" I broke the word down as it felt odd in my mouth, bringing a buzz to my lips in how unfamiliar it was.

Neji noticed my disassociation to the word and his shoulders shook an apparent ease of a tension that hadn't been there before. "Yes, these are the pressure points we Hyuuga use in order to control the chakra networks in our enemies bodies. I had thought you would know some semblance of it since your ability, 'the gentle breeze' show many similar characteristics to my rotation."

I thought back if I had ever mentioned the name of my technique to him or anyone, the side of my lips quivered a smile. "You read the newsletter article about me?" following after the interview retake, I remember the article they posted on our abilities, I was utterly shocked that they listed them according to versatility and weaknesses…. So bad for a ninja.

Neji shied away a smile stepping closer to me since we had been talking over quite a distance, still in the mode of battle. "Yes it was quite the article in the Hyuuga family, many were 'interested' in you and your families abilities." I tried not to think on what that meant and the possible implication of the Hyuuga family as the ones responsible for my guardian's disappearance.

I bound my cut palm into a fist, sealing the wound that was still dripping faintly. "Neji, I would like to know more about controlling my yin and yang natures. I recently found it has something to do with my abilities, but not my gentle dance which is the actual name of that technique." I hummed with the back of my left hand pressed against my lips as I bit a way the pain in my right, waiting for Neji's answer.

Neji took time in his answer but eventually he turned his head up and glazed into my eyes with his lavender washed pupils. "There is little I am willing to teach. As a branch member of my family I do not know which of our arts are forbidden for those outside the Hyuuga clan, but I do know that yin and yang are not limited to that of the Hyuuga and have a basic knowledge known to all." With that he sat down on the ground with his legs folded and his hands formed into the confrontation seal.

I planted myself on the ground in front of him, folding my legs to match his and my hands to confront his seal with the same.

"Yin and Yan," Neji began the lesson with his tone thick with wisdom. "These are the principles of ascending and descending natures." Lifting an open hand to demonstrate a raise and lowering that hand to show a decent. "All elements have an ascending nature and a descending nature. When one masters only one aspect of an element, they can form a new jutsu entirely. This is what is responsible for the palm release, we are able to release all yang and all yin energies into a force field that repels every nature and all techniques"

"..." I stared forward at Neji's closed eyes puzzled as to what he was talking about "Does that mean when you are in that orb of chakra, not even Shikamaru's shadow possession can get you?" I wasn't sure if I was anywhere close to the truth, but I was pretty sure no one could avoid something as intangible as shadows.

"Yes that correct." Neji opened his eyes and they startled me for some odd reason, I kind of felt like he was in a trance and I didn't expect him to be so alert to my staring at him.

"But how would… ergh, how would someone like me learn to use yin or yang alone?" I twisted my lips and placed a hand on my knee while staring up at the canopy of trees above us, trying to find a better way to ask my question. "How could I strengthen my ability to focus yin and yang?"

"That is something not even a Jounin could tell you" Neji hummed for a second and I eagerly nodded my head for him to continue on. "I do not know how to express this but I feel your ability to release chakra in your gentle breeze, is somehow connected to yin energies… although I can only say this as an inkling because your chakra breeze is too slow a release to be distinguished from Natural chakra." I squinted at him and cocked my head. "When I used my Byakugan in the tournament, I was only able to see your chakra dropping rapidly. I could not see anything of your chakra breeze which is why your blood jutsu caught me so off guard. Your gentle breeze is unique in that it cannot be seen even by my Byakugan, just like I cannot see the other yin natures when they are indistinct from natural chakra."

"Huh, well that's an advantage." I thought about it, how I could use this new insight to form strategies that could counter Neji's counter of avoiding direct contact. Then I thought of something else. "Does that mean all yang natures can be seen by the Byakugan?"

Neji Stood from the ground and offered me a hand to my question. "I suppose since I have told you this much, I can confirm, yang natures always take the form of an augmented change in nature and become physical embodiments of that change." I took his hand and stood up with his aid, just as I believe I had aided him in augmenting a change in his nature.

The time had grown late and the sun had tipped its self on the horizon. Neji cast his gaze off to the distance now noticing the dim light to the world. He turned back to me and I felt an absents as if his presents was already missing.

"Thank you Argies for sparing time for my lesson" Neji's gratitude wrinkled my forehead with confusion to whether he was speaking about the leaf walking or of his teaching on yin and yang. "I have a council meeting with the rest of the Hyuuga to attend."

"Thank you, I likewise enjoyed the lesson" I bowed politely and was rushed in with an embrace, but before I could be stunted by the sudden show of affection, my heart started racing for a different reason.

"The Hyuuga family is investigating you Argies Ages by order of the Hokage." I gapped to Neji's voice at my ear, his words petrifying my body. "You should hide all your scrolls below ground or else a Hyuuga might read them, we rarely look below for secrets." I gulped and then in a burst of speed Neji was gone.

…

Argies hurried back home immediately, fearing that his scroll would be discovered and missing. He rummaged in the chimney looking for the scroll only to find his hand black and empty. He stood silently screaming at the open door, fearing the outside world would flood in. Quickly closing the door to stave away the feeling of venerability returned like a chilling cold piecing at bare skin, he stared back into his house as if it had become an intruder and he was now locked in. Feeling the weight of his mistakes crashing down on him, shattered like glass to the floor, his arms cast around his legs to rock away the pending dread. The panic swelling in his throat until he found himself choking on the agony, the lumping sorrows gathered, growing to suffocate him with regret. His breathing so fierce with terror that his throat began to burn raw and his mouth foamed and his body perspired. His eyes budged with an animal like horror, and he felt his senses lost to him.

Until!

He noticed the bucket of water and the mop he used to justify the moisture everywhere. 'Cause of the blaze'. He thought to himself, the fire which made him hide the scroll in a different place.

Hastily he picked himself off the floor and searched for where he had hid the scroll. Almost fearfully he pressed his hands into the hiding place, his fingers hesitating when finding what they searched for. He gently plucked the scroll from hiding and removed the outer covering to confirm that it was truly still there. It was…

Relieved but now lost. Where could he go that the Byakugan could not? Surly if they were watching his home they would be watching him too, at all times! Who could he ask for help, with this secret his guardians told him to tell no one about? NO ONE! He could confided in no one, he could trust no one with it. He couldn't summon Kinjo could he? They already knew of Kinjo because of the Chunin exams, surely it would not be a revelation for him to summon Kinjo in his home?

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Kinjo entered into existence on the touch of Argies hand. The cat like creature looked startled to be summoned in the home, and the fur on its back stood on end on gathering the state of Argies.

"Crr!" The cat like creature arced its back as it hissed. "Why have you summoned me here and from where does this trepidation arise?" the summons ears flickered about to sounds Argies couldn't hear, which only made his nerves more on end.

"Quickly Kinjo, take the scroll… I'm being watched" Argies looked round, as if saying those words would make more eyes peer his way.

Kinjo puffed a pouch into existence, hanging from the cat's side. "Place it in here, where it can only be unsealed by your hand." Once the deed had been done Kinjo looked at the distress in Argies and bowed solemnly to perhaps the last time he would see this child of Ages alive, before puffing out of existence.

Argies hands shook, alone and afraid, he crashed to the floor. He had no prospects of hope for his future, the salty tears of his sobs only reminded him of what bitter times he had ahead.

…

The next day Argies realised he could not walk about like he was guilty of anything, and he certainly could not give in to his depression. He had plans to work through, and the first agenda on his list was to find and form his team. He spend most of the night overcoming his instinctive erg to find a place of hiding, but when he had settled his pains he found a new determination take over these shallow concerns. His driving force was never to be afraid but offended; he was not in the wrong, 'I am not the one who should apologise' he reaffirmed in himself. That he was not the party at fault, that he was not a spy and they should not be so mistrusting of his loyalty. As ignorant as he knew it was, it was a comfort to him and a powerful motivation that spirited all his actions to progress ever further to prove his believes as right.

His first target was the crystal user, her family home was marked out on her ninja profile and she was the most likely to be of use in his team. Making his way over to her home, Argies made sure he was fully equipped with his ninja gear. Neji's spar caught him off guard on his off duty day. He did not want to be found unprepared again, especially not now.

On approaching the crystal user's home, Argies double checked the street address and home number. His concern rapidly doubled on hearing the number of shrills in laughter and play. He was confident he had reached the right house, but now his assurance swayed to whether the ninja file was accurate or not. Still he made his bargain to follow through, he must check who is home and where might he find the crystal user.

"*Knock Knock Knock*" Argies struck the wood of the door rather hard, determining that the volume inside the house must be much louder from behind the door "Hello!" he called.

The door opened and a tall man stood blocking the way. "Hello, and who might you be?" The man asked staring down from his height at Argies who now felt very small.

"Hello, I'm looking for…" Argies could not help put stare past the man at the three elderly boys playfully fighting in the background. He shook himself and continued with business. "Do you know where I might find Hakari?" Because in Argies mind she couldn't possibly be living here, this place seemed to him to be some sort of wrestling club and not a home.

"Hakari!" The man called back inside the house. "Your boyfriend is here!" he then walked away down a passage.

"What! No…" Argies instantly flustered by the accusation, pressed a hand on the door frame and shouted in back after the man. "I'm not her boyfriend!" This roused the attention of the three elder boys who shot evil eyes at Argies while huffing and dripping with sweat from their games.

Argies froze and the eldest boy approached. "So you're our sister's boyfriend hey?" he leaned an arm against the door frame, his armpit reaching the height of Argies face.

"No, I didn't say that!" Argies protested holding up a fisted hand in annoyance.

Another of the boys approached "Hey, no need to get so upset little guy." He reached out and ruffled Argies unkempt hair, much to Argies repudiates who turned tomato red.

The last of the elder boys took up the space of the entrance. "Arrr look at that. You've made him twice as cute." Argies inhaled a breath to the impertinent remark.

It was in that moment when Hakari descended the stairs to the right of the entrance, her mother following after her daughter. Argies mixed emotions turned into bafflement once he realised that all these people were only one family. His mouth hung partly open and without thinking he rested a fist to his chin in thought.

Hakari squeezed past her brothers and then pulled back when recognising who it was "Hey its…" she refrained from her confusion when she noticed he too held a similar expression. "…And there is more when they're not on missions." Recognising the shock on his face as one most guests adopt when meeting her family. She chased away her brothers at the fan of her hand and her mother and father took their place instead.

Argies astounded at the number in this one family, is so utterly shocked that his thoughts resound in their explanation. Hakari's farther spoke first. "We realise that there is a standard of two children per a family…" he spoke with his hands, showing a shining embarrassment to how long Argies held his incomprehension.

Her mother smiled warmly , patting a hand against her husband's arm, she continued "We just really wanted a girl." she concluded and Argies inclined his head almost involuntarily to the remark.

"Mom, dad… let him talk." Hakari looked up at her parents whose expression began to show a mute offence to Argies speechlessness. "Why are you here?"

"Forgive me" Argies amended. "It is rare to see a family that celebrates life so well." He cleared his throat, of his flattery, to take on more of a formal address. "I am Argies Ages and if I may I would like to script your daughter into my team."

"Well." Hakari's father said rather mundanely, not convinced by Argies words of flattery. "You will have to ask my daughter that question."

Hakari's warmed her hands to the chill in the air, the awkward silence replaced by such an unusual request. "It's ok I can handle him from here." She said to her parents stepping forward and forcing Argies off the door step.

"Very well honey, just shout if you need us." Hakari's mother said closing the door behind them.

Hatari took a breath in and out, her chest heaving and her lips turning cherry red. "What's the catch?"

Argies shock his head. "No catch, I've been scripted under a sensei but without a team." Ascertaining that it wasn't really an explanation he hesitated and continued further. "Ergh… I want a team, should I say. I have been told I will be able to learn under my sensei but I feel little value in training alone. Joining me on this team will mean you will no longer be an inter-village ninja, you will be freed from D rank missions and we will be able to fight together on missions."

"Wh-ha-where do I sign" She laughed like the bemused wind had been knocked out of her. "I'm sorry its just that this is too good to be true, who gave you the authority?"

"Na, complicated" Argies dismissed feeling at ease now that her brothers and parents had disappeared. "Why don't we try a trial period, I don't know what you might be capable of that's not part of your ninja file."

It was just then that a messenger hawk flew overhead calling all stand by Chunin to the mission desk.

Hakari hears the call too and arcs an eyebrow at Argies. "Shouldn't you be going? In my mission to detain you they labelled you as Chunin, but after your capture I have my doubts." She curled a smile.

"It was too easy wasn't it." Argies reflected her smile back and asked a likewise question. "Are you coming?"

Hakari jumped in her place. "Will they allow it?" straightening to attention.

Argies leisurely made sure his kunai pouch was strapped to his leg before answering "I'm a Chunin aren't I, I can script whoever I want." He cracked his knuckles showed an air of dominance over the Leaf he didn't really have.

"So cool" Hakari toyed "Hang on I have to get my chakra!" she ran back up the stairs she came down from.

"Huh? What do you mean get you chakra!" Argies called after and when she returned a moment later he translated it to. "…Your big rock?"

…

With Hakari's child sized rock strapped to her back, Argies leapt off with his duo to the mission desk. Flashing his ID card to the guard at the entrance of the Ninja Academy, he made his way in with Hakari in toe. This would be the first mission he received an assignment which wasn't given to him from the Hokage's office. Since the details were unknown to him, he knew to report here instead of directly to the Hokage.

The room they entered was expansive, with wide open spaces and six high ceilinged windows. Argies tried not to look as if this was the first time he had entered the room, but he couldn't help gazing up at the Kanji saying 'Shinobi' on the ceiling and the print on the mission desk which said 'Mission assignments this way'. His line of sight was interrupted by a not too impressed Hakari who had picked up on his bewilderment; he smiled shyly to the remark on her face.

The mission desk was reserved for real ninja, and not the inter-village ninja that Argies was previously. Inter-village ninja were ninja who either failed to find a sensei willing to train them, or had failed the test of their sensei. Argies recognised that it was Hakari's first time too. She, like he, passed all the tests of the Academy but was unable to find a willing sensei who would partner her with their team. This inspired Argies further; that he would find her a squad, that he would be the squad formed from the inter-village ninja who others deemed insignificant.

At the mission desk were three Academy instructors Argies recognised and two officials from the council. The Hokage wasn't there but Argies could understand that she wouldn't always be there in order to hand out missions, even those called to by messenger hawk.

One of the instructors stilled the air with his voice as Argies and his companion approached the desk "I assume you are a Chunin to be entering here after the Hawks call?" It was Suzume, one of the ladies responsible for teaching the Konoichi how to pass themselves off as normal women when in disguise or in enemy lands.

"I recognise them" Iruka interjected light heartedly while Argies stammered with ire. "That one there, ergh, took a class with me last year I think. Argies wasn't it?"

Again before Argies could speak another of the instructors interposed their insight. "Yes I recognise that one." Daikoku, Argies second year Instructor who dealt mainly with inter-village ninja training yet didn't identify Argies immediately on entry. His teachings weren't to develop his students into better ninja but instead to help them settle into being a low grade D-rank Shinobi for life. "I also remember his role in the tournament. Hey, didn't you lose?!"

Argies felt his words fail him and his throat seize up, but on looking at the hope die in his team mate he directed his attention back to the desk. "Ergh… I suppose I did lose, but I still attained the rank of Chunin." Unconvinced the Shinobi behind the mission desk said nothing, so Argies spited their revolt. "My flank jacket and ID card both mark my rank. In fact I am on par with you in rank." He stood defiant, folding his arms, and it was clear to them the Shinobi in front of them was a Chunin.

"Very well, let us begin." They looked from one to another before breaking to open the mission assignment. "Get me the ninja profile of Argies Ages and…?"

Argies stepped forward to clarify. "I would like to script Hakari for this mission, I believe she is capable." He handed out her ninja profile which he quickly unsealed from a scroll, before stepping back in line with Hakari.

Suzume reaffixed her glasses taking the profile from Argies. "Are you sure? You haven't even heard the mission details yet."

Iruka handed her a copy of Argies profile. "Now Suzume, give Argies a chance. I'm sure he knows what he is doing; besides the mission is probably over by now."

"WHAT!" Hakari blurted but then straightened and remained silent.

"Very well let us conclude this assignment." Daikoku said, a stocky ninja wearing a flank jacket with a bandana over his head. "Argies Ages and Hakari Kessho, you have been called here to complete a B rank mission."

Suzume, who was a lady with long curly hair, wearing a pink uniform and glasses, picked up a stack of papers and continued the assignment, "A little over an hour ago an unknown Shinobi attacked archive ninja and stole an artefact from the records room."

"…" Iruka who opened his mouth to speak, said nothing and instead looked to his fellow instructor.

Daikoku Held up a finger whilst reading through Argie's Ninja profile. "It says here you recently were given a medical ninja as a sensei, Tensue. Having read this, I understand that you are a Chunin and all yet I must ask." He took his eyes away from the profile to shift them on Argies. "Do you believe you and your team are capable of handling a B rank mission?" The doubt hung heavy in the air and the sense of their ability to perform the task, measured in the weight of the words and actions to follow.

Argies stepped an unsteady foot forward and his mouth hesitated, but then courage returned and his voice boomed with a confident prominence. "If you look at the missions assigned to me, you will see many of them are marked A rank and secret. I am not a ninja who turns away from danger or a ninja who isn't willing to inflict damage. All the missions that have been assigned to me, have been completed successfully."

Iruka concluded, "Your orders are to find and capture this ninja and retrieve the item or items he stole."

"Yes!" Argies and Hakari confirmed that they understood and with the snap of a finger they were off to the task.

…