Disclaimer: If you're reading this, it means I don't own Naruto.

Authors Note: I dream of a world where chickens can cross the road without their motives being questioned, and Self-Inserts don't suck. Alas this time is yet to come, so for now you must entertain yourselves with this meager substitute. Enjoy.

Chapter 8- Dead Last

My body felt stiff as I made my way back to consciousness. I sat up slowly and looked around the room I was in. I didn't recognize it. It was a plain room with only the bare necessities. I assumed I had been brought to the hospital, and the familiar beeping noise of a heart monitor confirmed my thoughts.

So I had fainted. Why? Chakra exhaustion? I didn't feel exhausted, but I guess that's why I'm at the hospital. Maybe it was an affect from using nature chakra. I don't think my body was able to handle the strain that it put on me. And after using my chakra again so soon on such a large scale it made sense.

The nature chakra. It was amazing. After only one taste of the power it gave me I could already feel myself craving more. It was like an addiction. But I can't use that. It's not safe, especially without being taught how to use it properly. I should stop thinking about things that tempt me. It won't get me anywhere in the long run.

If I can super grow plants and kill plants what else can I do? Maybe I can control how they grow. Instead of taking in their chakra if I just attach it to mine and bend it… it could work but I would need to experiment, and before I do that I need to get out of the hospital. With thoughts of tomorrow I closed my eyes and went to sleep.

The next time I woke up my room had a lot more people in it. My whole family as well as a doctor had squeezed themselves in my room. As I sat up in my bed all conversation stopped as everyone turned to look at me.

"If you ever scare me like that again young lady you will be grounded for so long that your grandchildren will be stuck in the house as well," that's a nice greeting. Love you too mom.

"Sorry," I mumble and my father sighs as he explains a little.

"Yamanaka-san came home yesterday without you and said you collapsed in the field. He told us he brought you to the hospital and the doctors said you had fainted due to a large strain on your chakra system," he stumbled a bit over the chakra part. As a civilian he didn't really know much about it.

"What were you doing that caused your chakra system to go on the fritz like that?" I didn't know how to answer Kotetsu so I just shrugged my shoulders. He narrowed his eyes at me and then turned to Izumo. They seemed to have a silent conversation before they both nodded their heads and looked like nothing had happened.

That made me kind of nervous. It probably meant they would question me later. So now another two will know. I can't keep it a secret from them. Plus they had every right to know. I sigh heavily as the doctor takes me off all the machines.

"Your chakra isn't stable yet and won't be for a few more days. We will send you home today but I expect you to refrain from using it. Even the smallest chakra control training can affect your system again. In three days you will come back to the hospital again for a checkup. If everything comes out clean then you will be able to train again. But only after you get the okay from a doctor," I think he was half expecting me to refuse. How often do they get stubborn ninja who refuse to go a day without training? Must be a common thing.

I just nod my head. This doesn't seem to comfort him at all so instead he turns to my parents for confirmation. Sneaky. He made sure my parents would stop me from doing anything. Not that I was planning to go against him. If it wasn't safe I wasn't stupid enough to do anything. Besides I could feel my chakra and it was a little wonky right now. I could use it but I wouldn't know if it would blow up in my face or not.

Then it occurred to me if I couldn't control my chakra then everything would start growing. Oh man. The yard will be overgrown by the nights end. Poor Yamanaka-san. He will have so much of a mess to clean up tomorrow. I couldn't feel too bad though. Right now Yamanaka-san wasn't on my nice list. I wasn't angry at him per say, but I was frustrated at him. He most likely spoke with the Hokage already. I wonder what they decided on.

I tried to rush home because every time I took a step grass began to poke through the dirt. I didn't want to stay long enough for it to really start growing. By the time we got back to the house it was raining cats and dogs. Frankly I was glad for the excuse to stay inside. Even if I couldn't do chakra training I could still do my physical exercises but right now I really wasn't in the mood.

My whole body felt weird. The nature chakra had done something and I didn't know what. It felt as if my chakra was confused, like it didn't remember where to go and was revolting against itself. My chakra was spiking and flaring inside me as if fighting a war under my skin. It was unsettling to say the least.

I needed to think so I began to make my way up to my room where I could comfortably settle in my workshop. That is I was going up the stairs until I was intercepted by a very serious looking Kotetsu. Without saying anything he grabbed my hand and led me to his room where an equally serious Izumo sat on the bed. Kotetsu went over to join him before speaking.

"Explain," I glared a little at the curt tone he was using.

"Please," he added, rolling his eyes. Rather than argue I just sat myself down on the floor. I took my time settling down causing Kotetsu to tap his foot in impatience. Finally comfortable I looked up at them.

"A few years ago I discovered the Green Disposition," their confused faces were hilarious. Even during such a serious conversation I couldn't give up the opportunity to pick on them.

"The what?" Izumo finally inquired. Sighing as if it were the most troublesome thing in the world I explained.

"I discovered that when I am in close contact with plants of any type, they grow. Over the years the area that would grow when I was around grew. I've been working on my chakra control so that I don't accidentally run the village over with flowers. I spent the last few years learning to control the growth. I have gotten to the point where the ones near me barely grow at all and the ones in contact with me only grow as much as I let them,"

They were both staring at me with wide disbelieving eyes before Kotetsu started glaring.

"So you're the reason we have to mow the lawn twice a week! I can't believe it. Do you know how annoying that is?" my only response was to laugh. Trust Kotetsu to be the one to focus on something as petty as extra chores when learning something like this. It was rather relieving really. I was happy that learning this didn't change how he felt about me. I was still waiting for Izumo's reaction.

"So you can super grow any plant with just a touch. That's rather interesting. But that doesn't explain what happened yesterday," I hesitated a moment, not quite sure how to proceed. I just decided on the truth. Well, the modified truth.

"There was an incident at one of the Yamanaka farms. Part of their harvest was destroyed. Yamanaka-san knows of my Green Disposition and I offered to help so that the loss wasn't as bad as it could have been," they were both nodding, keeping up so far.

"When we got there we still had to wait for the man who would be fixing the ground for the re-planting. Is sat down during the wait and decided to experiment a little, I wanted to see if instead of giving the plants my chakra would I be able to take theirs," they both frowned a moment before Izumo brought up what was bothering him.

"If you were to take a plants chakra wouldn't that kill it?" I shrugged in response causing Kotetsu's frown to deepen.

"I thought you loved plants. Why would you intentionally do something that could kill them?"

"I didn't know for sure until I tried, that's why it's called and experiment. You're testing something to figure out the end result. In this case the end result was the death of some grass," he seemed kinda pissed at my curt reply.

It did bother me that I killed that grass. I was able to feel it wither and die. I was rather irritated with them for just assuming that I didn't feel for it because I had done the experiment knowing what could have happened. I sighed in annoyance before continuing.

"I needed to test my limits. And I'm glad I found out what I did when I did. The chakra I pulled in was weird. It messed with my system and that's why I fainted later when I tried to grow things on the farm. I like knowing about this now rather than in a few years when I'm in a battle. The result of that could be disastrous," he looked down avoiding my eyes.

He probably felt guilty now. The part of me that was still annoyed wanted to let him wallow in his guilt but I knew I would feel bad later. Instead I got up and sat on the bed next to him. It was then that I did something very out of character. I gave him a hug.

"You didn't know," I murmur quietly.

"We were worried about you. We got back from our mission only to find out you had been hospitalized," Izumo's voice trembled for a moment. It occurred to me that they must have been scared out of their minds, to come back from a mission and hear something like that.

What thoughts must have run through their minds? The two of them, like me, had a habit of over thinking when it wasn't necessary. By the time they got to the hospital they must have thought I had a stroke or something. I felt guilty for worrying them as I reached out and grasped his hand to comfort him.

"I'm fine guys. I'm sorry I worried you,"

"You should be. Just for that you have to do my chores for a week," the blank look I gave Kotetsu was enough to have him repeal that statement.

"Well if you won't do my chores you should at least do something- and again with that look! If you have something to say, say it to my face," so after some uncontrollable giggling on my part, I did.

"I love you guys. You know that, right?" they both turned tomato red at that causing me to laugh even harder.

"Well I'm pretty tired still so I'm going to go lay down," and with that I made my great escape. Finally: a moment of peace. Sorta. It was hard to feel peaceful with my chakra acting like this.

My workshop was a wreck. The trees surrounding the clearing felt suffocating, and the plants were all overgrown and giving roots off in all directions. At least the chair was still comfy. I sat quietly and watched as the plants tried to figure out how to grow properly. Nature chakra was off limits. I wasn't going to take the risk of trying to use it properly. Not now and maybe not ever. It depended really. How strong I got was definitely one of the variables.

I needed to decide if I would use The Green Disposition in battle or not. Right now I was a painfully average child; the advantage of The Green Disposition would be helpful. But I know for a fact that Orochimaru has spies in Konoha. If he gets wind of this it would be right to the lab for me. I'm nowhere near strong enough to protect myself and I know I'm not useful enough for the village to do much about getting me back.

The safest time for me to use it would have to be after I got on a Genin team, but by that point the chances of being good enough to get a good team would be low, maybe even low enough to fail the Jounin exam. If I played my cards right I can get on a team, at that point I would just have to use the Green Disposition to convince the Jounin sensei that he wanted to pass us.

If I could get that far, far enough to have a Jounin watching my back and training me, maybe, just maybe, I would be alright. If not then I guess I just die. It may seem weird but the whole 'do or die' mindset works best for me. I can be very lazy even with my life on the line, but the extra push it gives me is worth it.

If I wasn't so scared about the future I'd probably have ended up as a Shikamaru wannabe. I will still need a teacher to motivate me. Without one I will just end up getting depressed and start slacking on my training. I need someone who will force me into it. Maybe I could convince Yamanaka-san. If not him then I'm sure I could get Izumo and Kotetsu.

As my thoughts became less and less progressive and more garbled I eventually fell asleep. By the time I woke up dinner was already being cooked. And boy was I hungry. My chakra was exhausting itself inside my body making my appetite sky rocket. The fact that I hadn't eaten since breakfast may have also been a factor.

The dinner conversation was quiet; that is it was, until I saw Izumo elbow Kotetsu in the ribs. I raised my eyebrow at him in question but he just shrugged it off. That was strange. I guessed I would have to wait for Kotetsu to finish chewing to find out what that was about. I didn't have to wait long.

"In a month Izumo and I are going to Suna," he states bluntly. Izumo smacked his head and with a resigned sigh decided to elaborate for my confused parents.

"Our teacher thinks we are ready for the Chunin exams. The next one is being held in Sunagakure in a months' time,"

"Chunin already? But your only fourteen!" my mother sounded worried.

"I wanted to be entered last time but sensei said we weren't ready. And fourteen is plenty old enough. Some people become one at twelve,"

"Just because other children are ready earlier then fourteen, doesn't mean you two are. I'm going with you tomorrow. I'd like to speak to your sensei," I tuned out the following argument. So they were going to Suna. I have no doubt that when they come back they will have made it to Chunin.

Their announcement had caught me by surprise though. I knew I shouldn't be worried; their teacher will be spending this whole month training them in preparation. But they were my brothers, how could I not worry? I convinced myself to get over it and be happy for them; and I was. They were both excited for this chance to prove themselves, and as ninja that was never anything they wanted to give up.

The next few days passed slowly as my chakra system began to fix itself. I was relieved when the doctors gave me the 'okay' so that I could use my chakra again. Aside from the fact that school picked back up soon, I really wanted to try some of the new things I'd thought of.

My second idea would only work if my first one did so the moment I got back I went straight to the backyard. Looking around I spotted a thriving honey suckle vine. Perfect. Resting a hand on it, instead of just imagining it grow, I imagined it grow at me. If I could get it to listen then it would be very helpful in a battle. I may not be fast but if I could restrain an enemy long enough to launch a successful attack then I could make it work.

I could barely suppress my happy laughter as I opened my eyes. The vine was growing slowly, but it was growing up my arm. That's all I needed. I could work on my speed now that I knew it worked. If I get it fast enough it will be perfectly applicable in battle.

It would take a few years to perfect. I would be inventing my own fighting style that would only ever work for me. But it was so exciting. Thoughts of being weak and unable to protect myself didn't occur to me right then because at that moment I felt like I was finally making progress. I was finally doing something to get me to my goal. Whatever that was.

When school started up a week later I found my first friend. Her name was Hana Inuzuka. She was nice, if a bit rowdy but I was alright with that. It made her the perfect sparring partner. She was really nice and was a good sport. I have a habit of insulting people. It's my form of joking sometimes and a lot of the kids didn't like me because they thought I was mean.

It was nice to talk with someone who took my insults in stride and gave back as good as she got. I miss verbally sparring but now I may get the chance to practice again. It had been so long I was getting rusty. Classes were just a bit more enjoyable with her next to me.

Now that the majority of our class was seven we were old enough to begin chakra control exercises. The first one we were introduced to was Leaf Concentration. We were told to put a leaf on our forehead and use our chakra to make it stick. The only problem was every time I put a leaf to my forehead it began to grow. It got to the point where I was switching leaves every time the teachers turned their backs.

That worked fine until they started inspecting how each of us did individually. I didn't want people to know about my Green Disposition yet so I did the only thing I could at the time. I pretended to fail. Every time I put a leaf to my forehead I would repel it with my chakra so that it would fall to the floor.

I got lectured a lot for that one, but most of the other students found it amusing. I'm glad someone enjoyed my misfortune. It was really embarrassing, especially when I could probably do it with paper or something else. They never let me try though and I got the reputation as this year's dead last.

I wasn't; in fact I was almost at the top when it came to most of the academic classes, the only thing holding my back there was my reluctance to do homework. And even though I was an average taijutsu user I wasn't the worst. But because of my supposed lack of chakra control and my bad luck that had me pitted against the top of our class when we sparred, I was known as the dead last.

This year I learned about more of my classmates and imagine my surprise when I finally realized Itachi Uchiha was in my class. I had spent so much time worrying about myself and my problems that I didn't even know my class well enough to realize he was in it. I felt terrible. Here was a chance to make even the smallest difference and I wasn't paying enough attention to take it.

I wanted to approach him but I had no idea how to do that. Plus he would probably hate me. I had a reputation as the dead last, and I was a girl. We were seven and half the class was already in love with him. Sometimes it really made me want to bang my head against a table. Not knowing how to approach him I decided on my default: I was going to wing it.

"Would you spar with me?" the look he gave me was hilarious. I had found him when he was alone and just gone right up and asked him. We hadn't had any interactions yet. He probably thought I was one of his fangirls as well. After his initial shock wore off he looked kind of irritated. Maybe this was a bad idea… oh well too late to back out now.

"Fine," was his curt reply as he headed towards an open area. He then proceeded to beat me into the ground. It hurt. But I got up over and over. I blocked where I could and dodged when there was a chance. I almost landed a hit and was so proud of myself that I caught his next punch right in the stomach.

The outcome was predictable but it felt good to go all out like that. In normal spars we stopped when the winner was apparent but with him just now I was able to go until I truly felt like collapsing. It felt so good to give a fight everything you have and I couldn't stop the smile as I thanked him. That caught him off guard again.

He probably thought I had asked to spar so I could spend time with him, I did, but not as a fangirl. Now he looked really irritated. I don't think he likes being caught by surprise, especially by the dead last.

"Why are you thanking me?"

"I really needed that. It's nice to go all out. We don't get too during the official spars and my brothers never even try. I hope you spar with me again," and with that I left a very bewildered Itachi at the school practice field. He probably thought I was a masochist.

By the time I got home I was sporting some impressive bruises. He really hadn't been going easy on me. I don't usually bruise and it just shows how strong he is at such a young age. I remember that he graduated early but I don't remember how old he was. Well I guess I'll find out eventually.

My mother was less than pleased when she saw my face that evening. My father just laughed and said I looked like a panda with my black eyes. The boys said I looked like I got into a bar fight and that the other guy better look worse than me. I laughed with them but didn't mention that Itachi had gotten away unscathed.

The next day I caught him on his way home from school and asked for a spar. He gave me the same irritated look as he did yesterday but didn't pass up the chance to kick my butt. The result was pretty much the same as the day before. I had originally asked him to spar because I thought I should try to change something. I didn't have a plan and ended up fighting him.

By this point I no longer saw sparring with him as a futile way to change the future, but as a challenge. I love a good challenge. Every day I would find him. Before class or after, even on lunch break. He would always fight me either because he wanted to fight or because he just plain hated me by this point I didn't know. But I was having fun.

Every day I had to find him and I knew he was trying to hide from me, some days more than others. The days he tried to hide and I still found him he beat me extra hard. I didn't mind though. As much as it hurt, as outclassed as I was, it felt so freeing that I didn't want to stop.

We never talked. He would be walking (presumably away from where he thought I was,) and I would pop up in front of him. He would scowl and head to an open area and we would fight. He would then leave me gasping in the dirt and be on his merry way. Over the weeks I got a bit better at predicting his moves. My only mistake is that I would stop what I was trying to do. This usually left me open enough for him to knock me on my butt.

My extra training, or as I like to call it Bonding Time with Itachi, became one of the highlights of my day. I got so focused on my spars with Itachi that I didn't realize I was improving in the regular class spars. It wasn't by a lot but it was something. Being better in class was no longer my focus. Hitting Itachi was.

I was thrilled the day I went to find him only for him to be in a clear area waiting impatiently for me. It seemed he had accepted our daily spar as unavoidable. He didn't seem to like that. That whole week I was beaten hard but it was worth it because he no longer tried to get away. That was really the most I had expected which is why I was surprised one day when he spoke.

"Your footing is all wrong," I looked down to check and he decked me on the cheek.

"You get distracted too easily," so I tried to keep my eyes on him and he got me with a roundhouse kick.

"You need to pay attention to your surroundings," this time I just glared. Now he was messing with me. I was proven right by the smirk on his face. The rest of our fight went as usual but he again surprised me as I prepared my stuff to go home.

"See you tomorrow," I turned so quick I accidentally hit one of my newest bruises. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from cursing as I looked for him, but he was already gone.

"Bye," I bite out rather bitterly. But I couldn't stop my grin. Tomorrow then.

Longest chapter yet. I hope it gets more reviews than the last one… *hint hint* Anyhow please come again.

ToeGirth,

Signing Out