Thanks for all the reviews!

. . .

Takashi stared at me from his place across the table and crossed his arms over his chest, "What's he teaching you, anyway?" he demanded.

I huffed out a small breath, "Well, if you must know," I snapped, "He's teaching me to control my chakra better so I can learn his fighting Style."

"Chakra strings?" he questioned.

"Yep," I answered flatly.

Takashi sighed, then looked down at his lap, unfolding his arms and clasping his hands together, "Sorry," he mumbled, "At least you're learning Suna's specialty technique. And I know Rin-san is a good shinobi, so at least I can be at peace knowing you have a competent instructor teaching you."

I nodded, "Yeah, Rin is a good shinobi, but he's really ill."

Takashi's eyes sharpened, and he leaned forward, "He's like you then," he concluded.

I didn't answer him, but neither did I confirm or deny what he had just said, "He was Tou-san's best friend, and he was supposed to teach me when I was younger." I then stared at Takashi with an appraising eye, "Who taught you then, Onii-chan?"

"When I was your age, I was mostly self-taught," Takashi admitted with a sigh, "But when Otou-san saw that I held an interest in the shinobi arts, he taught me himself. Of course, Okaa-san didn't want that life for her only child, but by then, it was too late. I was already a Genin, and then..."

"The war happened," I concluded.

Takashi huffed out a small, bitter laugh, "Yeah," he agreed derisively, "The fucking war happened. After that, of course I wouldn't want my little sister to endure the horrors I did. But, as I said before, you've chosen your path, and there's nothing I can do but support you with everything I have."

Even though Takashi had been a jerk about it all, I could understand where he was coming from, and I was touched.

I was touched that he cared deeply enough to want me to be safe, and now that I was a ninja and had a little brother of my own, I understand even better now.

The both of us wanted to see Akito safe, and we would do anything in our power to make that wish come true.

"Akito can never become a shinobi," I said softly.

Takashi scoffed, "You think that'll stop him?" he questioned harshly, "Not even when it could stop you?"

"He's too young," I answered automatically.

Takashi rolled his eyes, "You were three years old when I introduced you to chakra," he pointed out, "He's going to want to learn sooner or later."

"Well, I'm not teaching him shit," I retorted, "Besides, he'll probably try to figure it himself anyway; he's too smart to not at least try."

"The marks of a prodigy," Takashi spoke softly, "If anyone in the village were to get wind of this, he would be carted off to training faster than you could hope to stop them."

"He might be smart, but he's not a prodigy," I said defensively, "Besides, he's just a baby."

Takashi snorted, "Yeah, right," he muttered, "But I'm right. Even if he's so young, he'll be forced to begin training. 'For the good of the village'," he quoted sarcastically.

I shifted uncomfortably, but Takashi continued on, "I hate this village," he hissed venomously, his hands clenching into fists, "First it forced me to fight in that fucking war, then it took my father from me, and now it's going to take my little sister and brother away. Damn it, I'm supposed to protect you, but all I can do is watch as you fall farther and farther away from me!"

I was stunned at his words. I had no idea he felt this strongly about me, Akito, or even of his hatred of the village. Sure, I knew he was haunted by the war, but I had no idea his wounds ran so deep.

I smiled though, and at my smile, Takashi's breath stuttered.

I leaned forward over the table and placed my small hand on his shoulder, "I'm not going anywhere, Onii-chan," I whispered.

His green eyes darkened, "You can't promise that," he retorted harshly.

I squeezed his shoulder, "Does it look I'm going anywhere?"

Takashi's shoulders relaxed at that, and he heaved a great sigh, dropping his chin to his chest, "Sometimes I just want to burn this village to the ground for what it did to my family," he admitted softly.

"But you won't," I conceded, and when he looked surprised, I continued on softly, "You might hate the village, but you would never do anything to harm one of its people. Though, unlike you, I love Suna. I love that I was born here, that Tou-san was a strong shinobi that also loved this village. I love my friends, I love my family, and I feel honoured to be a shinobi of Suna."

"You're just like Otou-san," Takashi commented off-handedly, "He, too, was soft and abhorred killing. He wasn't suited to the life of a shinobi at all. In fact, whenever he killed someone, he reacted badly as well. He was too kind."

"And what's wrong with being kind?" I argued, "I think that was the best part of him; that he didn't mindlessly kill. Why can't you be more like him?" I blurted.

I froze as Takashi's eyes darkened to a near black, resembling cold, icy pits of nothing, "The difference between you and me," he started, his voice cold and so unlike him, "is that I'm not innocent." He stared at me coolly for a few moments, before continuing, "And that's why I can't be more like him. I'm not a good person, Yūmaru."

Before I could reply, Takashi got up from his seat, "I'm going to go train," he muttered.

He brushed past me, and I stared at his retreating back in silence.

I huffed out a small breath, "Well, if he's going to train, then I am, too."

. . .

"Teach me the chakra strings," I declared.

Rin stared at me dubiously, "Your control isn't at the required level, Yūmaru-chan," he answered finally, "So, no. I can't teach you chakra strings yet."

Despite myself, I pouted. Yes, pouted.

"Then what do I have to do to get myself to your level?" I questioned.

"Practice," Rin said, "A lot of practice. Two days of training isn't going to get you to my level, Yūmaru-chan, so please be patient."

Rin's voice held a scolding tone, and I bowed my head, thoroughly chastised, "I know," I mumbled, "But everyone else is so much stronger than me. On my last mission, I froze in battle. I just shut down. In battle. I was less than useless. Yashamaru and Sasori even had to carry me because I was stupid and injured myself."

"The past is the past," Rin answered, his voice unusually soothing.

"But... I'm so weak," I retorted, staring down at my bandaged fingers.

"Enough," Rin said firmly, and when I opened my mouth to protest, his eyes flashed, "Dwelling on the past and what you could or could not change isn't going to help anyone. You want to become stronger, yes?" At my nod, he continued, "Then let go of the past and learn. Learn that you weren't strong enough to change anything, but also, do not forget, you are a seven year old child, Yūmaru-chan. Of course you're going to freeze in your first battle, of course you're going to shut down after your first kill. Men my age can hardly deal with the trauma, let alone a seven year old little girl."

I was utterly silent as he spoke, and when he was finished, I was numb.

He was right. Completely and utterly right.

I couldn't change the past, and now that I look back on it, I don't think there was any other way I could have dealt with the situation.

I had killed a man, puked my guts out, then was trapped in a genjutsus by a teenager with a creepy face, who was evidently miles ahead of me in strength. Genjutsus wasn't my specialty, so the only way I thought of to get out of it had been to inflict physical harm onto myself.

I had had nightmares since, but that was typical of any major trauma, I guess.

But I couldn't back out now.

I was in too deep.

I put the bravest face I could manage on, and looked straight into Rin's eyes, "Will you teach me, Rin-sensei?"

His eyes glimmered and, apparently satisfied, he replied, "Of course, Yūmaru-chan."

. . .

The first thing Rin showed me was a simple chakra control exercise, which I already knew from the academy.

By the time his explanation finished, I showed him what I could do.

I easily stuck the leaf to my forehead, and when he merely stared at me, amused, I grinned back at him, "That was one of the first things I learned at the academy. It's probably the easiest thing to do in terms of chakra control."

"You think I don't know that?" Rin retorted, "In order to perfect chakra strings, your control has to be no less than perfect. You must be able to channel chakra to the tips of your fingers and let it stick to objects from a distance."

"I have to extend the chakra," I breathed.

"Yes," Rin answered, somewhat smug.

"Well," I muttered, staring down at my fingertips, "That'll take a while."

"Not at all," Rin dismissed, "If you can stick a leaf to your forehead, than you should be able to stick a leaf to your fingers. The sooner you achieve that, the sooner I can start to teach you to control your chakra the way you want."

I stared down at the leaf, then grinned, "Okay," I replied, "I can do that, easy."

I placed the leaf over my fingertips and focused on the feel of my chakra, willing the sickly warm flow to channel to my fingers.

I could feel a tiny tingle in the tips of my fingers, and I grinned again, holding my hand up.

The leaf stayed stuck to my fingers, not budging even with the harsh wind blowing through Rin's training ground.

Rin simply appraised my accomplishment with a curiously blank face. I narrowed my eyes, and we continued that stare-off for a few minutes, all the while the constant stream of chakra to my fingertips grew unbearable.

A minute later, I closed my eyes and huffed, "How do you do this?" I asked.

"Practice," Rin answered simply.

His lips curled into a smirk at my obvious discomfort. He waved a single pale hand at me dismissively, "It took me five years to concentrate my chakra enough to attempt chakra strings."

My jaw dropped open in disbelief, "Five years?!"

Rin eyed me serenely, "Correct. I was five years old when I began my training."

"That's a bit young," I muttered.

"That was the custom back then, I'm afraid," Rin said, "If a child showed a lick of potential in the Shinobi arts then they were taken straight to training."

I looked down at my hands; they weren't bandaged, and I could clearly see every scar, callouse, and burn that I had inflicted on myself in my effort to become stronger.

My mind went to Akito. I pictured his cheerful grin, his bright onyx eyes and his spiky red hair. He was so innocent.

He was also incredibly intelligent for his age.

He could speak in near-perfect sentences and could already read rather well for his age.

He wished to become a ninja; more importantly, he wanted to become a jōnin like Dad.

I also knew Takashi would never train him. He never even wanted me to become a ninja.

I also didn't want that life for Akito. I had taken a life, and I knew if Akito ever did, he would probably be ruined.

But who was I to know?

Akito was turning four in a few days; he was still so young.

If he asked, I don't know if I would stand in his way. Because, in the end, it was ultimately his choice.

"Sensei," I said suddenly, making Rin's eyes narrow in interest, "If, say, my little brother wanted to become a ninja, what would I say to him?"

Rin appraised me for a few moments, before finally saying, "I would think that would be his choice alone; however, you must consider the fact that he understands what he's getting into. Once you're in, there's no backing out. I made sure Hiroshi understood the consequences of his choices, yet he still wished to become a Shinobi."

"That seems so strange though," I said quietly, "Hiroshi-kun is so gentle and kind."

"The boy idolizes his cousin," my sensei said softly, "Yet, Hiroshi does seem too kind to be a shinobi. I fear if he kills for the first time, it will utterly ruin him."

"It nearly ruined me," I muttered, and when I said my next words, I looked up and smiled, "But it didn't. Because I had you and my team and everyone else. If that happens to Hiroshi, then he'll always have me."

"That gives me some peace," Rin said quietly. He closed his eyes and clasped his hands behind his back.

"I'm glad," I smiled.

Rin then cleared his throat, "Very well. Anyway, Yūmaru-chan, I want you to practise this chakra control exercise in your spare time. For the time being, I want to focus on building strength in your upper body and increase your speed."

"Am I going to be running laps?" I questioned, shuddering at the very mention of running. The last time I had done that hadn't worked out for me. I had been out of it with a fever for days.

"Yes," Rin answered, "Laps, push-ups, sit-ups- anything and everything to increase the strength in your body."

I clasped my hands in front of my chest, "When do we start?"

. . .

I huffed out a breath, narrowing my eyes at the smug figure standing in the centre of the training ground.

My lungs were burning from lack of air; it was my fifteenth lap around the training ground, and I was already starting to tire. Rin had ordered me to run until I dropped, and I was seriously considering doing just that.

I chanced a look at Rin, relief creeping into me when he held up a single pale hand in an indication for me to stop.

I did so gladly, kicking up dust as I came to a stop in front of him.

"Your stamina is abysmal," Rin said bluntly.

My smile faded at his words, and I looked down at my sandals, "I know," I muttered.

"But," Rin said, "that is something we can fix."

"How?" I questioned.

"Weights," Rin answered simply, "You'll wear them at all times, even on your days off."

I considered that, "Okay," I said, "Sounds fine to me."

A few minutes later, I was all decked out in a number of weights, all around my arms, legs, and waist.

My muscles ached almost immediately from the strain, but I forced a grin to my face, "So these'll make me faster?"

Rin eyed me with an amused look on his face, "Indeed."

I huffed out a breath, "You don't sound very excited," I pointed out.

Rin suddenly smirked, surprising me, "This is the most unpleasant part of the training, Yūmaru-chan. You will be aching by the end of it, but, for today, I'm going to send you home. I think you have trained enough for today."

I attempted to walk, my muscles straining from the effort.

"It'll be a million years before I get home," I joked.

Rin's face smoothed out, "Then you had better start walking," he answered.

My lips tugged downwards, "So heartless," I muttered.

I stared at the entrance to the training ground and began to walk towards it, wincing with every step.

"Now, how to do this."