Disclaimer: This has officially been disclaimed.

Authors Note: I am terrible at fight scenes. I'm working on it but dont expect many in depth fights for a while. And here I present you… The next chapter!

Chapter 9- Just Another Day

"Stop," Itachi's command surprised me.

"Why?" I ask, confused.

"You're not paying any attention," he was right. Izumo and Kotetsu had left for Sunagakure yesterday. I hadn't realized how distracted their absence made me. I smiled sheepishly up at Itachi.

"Sorry," he just sighed at me and got back into a fighting stance. During my spars with Itachi I found that by trying to stick to a certain style I hindered my progress. When facing an opponent I try so hard to remember what I'm supposed to do that my movements become slow and hesitant. When I get into a fight and just fight, I usually do better.

At first it made me feel like a street brawler, but I soon learned the advantages of not being limited to the moves I knew. Instead of just punching an enemy I can shove them as well. It may seem underhanded but really, I'm training to be a ninja the epitome of sneaky and surprising. It had surprised Itachi when I did that the first time and I almost knocked him off balance. I never caught him off guard like that again.

Ever since that moment of frustration I began incorporating things like that into my regular battles. I had gotten in trouble the first time I had used these tactics in an official class spar. They told me I couldn't fight like that and I had to use the taught materials. So when I was in class I did. When I was with Itachi was a whole other story.

He seemed amused by my almost desperate way of fighting. I say desperate because if it came down to it I would use my own teeth and nails to win. I was never above a good kick to the nuts. Training with Itachi wasn't the only thing I did to amuse myself while my brothers were gone.

I spent long hours in the forest working on my speed when it came to growing my plants to my will. I was getting faster but I had soon noticed a flaw in my plan. How was I supposed to use vines or roots to trip and distract an enemy if there weren't any in the area? And so I found myself knocking on the Yamanaka's front door.

"Hello Ino. Is your father home?" she nodded and smiled brightly. She ushered me inside and began chatting as much as a three year old could. She was a very pretty child, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a smile so wide it could melt the coldest of hearts.

I would play with her every now and then and she seemed to like me. But then again she seemed to like anyone who gave her the time of day. She led me to the flower shop where her father was setting up a new flower display.

"Suikazura, what brings you here?" I was hesitant in answering. I have always hated asking for favors. I hate feeling like I owe someone anything. It was even more awkward when we hadn't been the happiest with each other when we last spoke. It had been over a month ago and he hadn't spoken to me at all about what he told the Hokage. We had seen each other since but he hadn't brought up that day in the field.

I'm fairly certain that Yamato was in the ANBU by now and wouldn't be able to teach me anything like Yamanaka-san had suggested. Perhaps he had been told to just continue watching me. Either way I plucked up all of my courage, which admittedly isn't a lot, and voiced my reason for being here.

"Would you be able to help me?"

"What do you need help with?" I glanced sideways at Ino who was watching our conversation with rapt attention. Even at such a young age she was already so nosy. Yamanaka-san seemed to catch on and turned to face his daughter.

"Ino why don't you go help your mother out by the counter," he may have phrased it as a suggestion but it was clearly an order. Ino, understanding this, pouted prettily at him before turning and leaving. Yamanaka-san rolled his eyes at his daughter before turning to face me.

"Come. Let us go to the greenhouses out back," we left the shop and as soon as we entered the greenhouses he shut the door behind us.

"Now tell me what it is you need," so I told him about my predicament. About how I was trying to turn my Green Disposition into a fighting style I could use. I told him how I couldn't do anything if I don't have plants at the ready. He leaned against the wall a moment, watching me.

"Why have you come to me with this?" I just continued to look at him, my expression confused.

"Why haven't you gone to any of the teachers about this? Why me?" he didn't sound upset, just curious. I sighed before explaining my reasoning to him, choosing my words carefully.

"At the academy I am not considered one of the more talented students," he quirked an eyebrow at me and I glared.

"Okay, so I'm the dead last. None of the teachers would consider helping me worth their time. They have already started considering me a lost cause," I was frustrated. It wasn't fair of them to single out who they thought would succeed and spend their time molding those children. But they wanted to weed out the weak now so they don't waste time on the ones who won't make it too far.

"Have you told them about your, ah… Green Disposition?"

"No. I don't want their help if they would only give it to me because they thought I was special," I was a little bitter about that at this point, and my stubborn streak wouldn't let me accept their help.

"I'm asking you because I know that you would help me out of actual concern for my well being," he gave me a long assessing look before he nodded.

"Alright, what did you have in mind?" I grinned as I explained my theory to him. I had considered how I would fight without the proper resources and had come to the conclusion that I would always need them on me. If I were to carry around packets of seeds then I could have endless resources on hand.

Since the packets would be small I would be able to have a variety of plants to choose from. He seemed to like my idea and soon had me set to work. We discovered that it was easier for me to grow a plant a certain way if I moved my hands or body in a similar fashion of how I wanted said plant to grow. We set up different stances I would move between and I would have to make the plants keep up.

I had to start off really slow until they were able to keep pace with me. He also told me to try this in my normal exercises. He wanted the plants growth to become instinctual to me. When I had approached him for help I hadn't expected him to become so dedicated. Truth be told, we were both having fun experimenting with and pushing my limits.

It was both thrilling and humbling to have someone as smart as Yamanaka-san helping me out. Never before had I made such progress in one week. Even Itachi noticed. When moving from one position to the next, I had to make my movements long and flowing. If they were jerky I would lose my connection with the plants. I would have to stretch and bend in all directions, keeping my body nimble.

Though I still fought like a brawler my movements were becoming more fluid and precise. I had become so giddy with my success that I didn't notice how out of it Itachi was one day until I landed a lucky punch. I paused, surprised and giving him a chance to knock me on my butt in retaliation. When I got up though, I didn't get back into a fighting stance.

"Is something wrong Itachi?" he seemed to be torn over something before he replied.

"Today will be the last day we spar together," surprised I just say the first thing that comes to mind.

"Why?" he glares a little at my blunt attitude but replies all the same.

"The academy has decided to move me up to a class more suitable for someone of my skill level," I just blinked at him. It wasn't arrogance that he spoke with. In fact he almost sounded bitter.

"So? What does that have to do with our spars?"

"The class I will be attending does not get out for another two hours after our current classes," I still give him the same blank look.

"So? What does that have to do with our spars?" I repeat. He was openly glaring at me now.

"I don't mind waiting. Besides I don't want to give up any chances of bothering you. You always get this funny tick in your eyebrow-ah just like that! That's the one-"and the fight was back on.

We didn't say anything more and just continued our fight. He was still pretty out of it but that didn't hinder him at all. When we were both preparing to leave that day I found him looking at me. It was as if he wanted to say something but didn't know what. I raised an eyebrow at him in question and waited for him to figure it out.

"Thank you," he looked me in the eye and I couldn't stop the grin that graced my lips.

"No problem. See you tomorrow Itachi," and with that we both turned our separate ways and left the school grounds.

My daily routine shifted a little but was for the most part the same, just a bit busier. When I woke up in the morning I would do my strength and stretching exercises before going to school, often adding in my plant movements as Yamanaka-san had suggested. After school I would go home for a snack before going back to spar with Itachi.

By the time I would get home I would eat dinner and then meet Yamanaka-san in the backyard. He wasn't always available; sometime he would be on a mission, or up at T&I headquarters. For the most part though, he would watch my progress and instruct me on how to better my stances. It was a tiring routine and for the first few days I would be out like a light the moment my head hit the pillow.

Eventually, like always, my body began to adjust. It felt good. I had never been this healthy before. In my old life I had always been an active child. I would hike and swim as much as I could, be outside as much as I could. Being in school eight hours a day had limited my chances to be active and eventually my will to move had just died.

By the point in my life that I had finally had the time, I just didn't want to do anything. I couldn't help but wonder how I could have given this up so easily. Every day I felt good. I felt optimistic, that even if my body grew the way I knew it would, that I'd be alright.

It had been two months since the boys left for Suna when we received word of their homecoming. My mother was so excited and planned on making their favorite foods to welcome them back. I liked that idea until she sent me out shopping. I soon found myself wandering around the market place, idly looking at the produce and finding the ones in the best shape.

I was actually rather surprised when I ran into Itachi. He didn't really strike me as the shopping type. Usually I would just move away before he saw me. We weren't really close and, if two people who know each other meet outside of their usual meeting areas, you're usually supposed to talk to them. That can get really awkward sometimes. Too late. I smile and wave to him and am slightly surprised that he wasn't alone. So that's Sasuke. I really wanted to pinch his cheeks, but I refrained.

"Hello Itachi. Who is this?" I think that was the first time I saw Itachi smile. He looked happy and proud as he introduced Sasuke to me.

"This is Sasuke, my little brother," it was heartbreaking. To see him so attached to his brother, when I knew it wouldn't last. I bend over and smile at Sasuke.

"Hello Sasuke. Are you having fun with your big brother?" he was grasping tightly onto Itachi's sleeve. After a moment he squints his eyes at me as if sizing me up. But then his face relaxes and he smiles and nods in reply to my question.

"Well I have to finish getting my groceries. My brothers will be back later this week and my mom and I are making a feast. I'll see you tomorrow Itachi. It was nice to meet you Sasuke," so it wasn't the longest of conversations, but I was starting to feel overwhelmed again. Itachi just nods and little Sasuke waves goodbye at me.

The Uchiha massacre. There was so much involved in it. I feel sickened at myself because I know that I won't do anything to stop it. It would raise too many questions about how I knew anything. There is also the rebellion to think about. Konoha really can't risk a civil war so soon after the Kyuubi attack.

I hate the thought of innocent women and children dying. I hate that I can't stop it. I hate that on some level I agree with the elders. The rebellion had to be put down. Leaving women and children would have sown hatred so deep we would reap the results in the much too soon future. But I still felt like there could have been another way.

It may just be my conscience. I'm not directly involved so I appease my guilt by telling myself if I could stop it I would. But I honestly don't know what I would do, had the decision been mine. Perhaps have all survivors swear allegiance to Konoha, but there would still be such unrest. Leaving people alive would have the villagers and other villages that we do missions for questioning us. It could lead to complete poverty.

As a hidden village much of what is earned by the ninja goes towards the village. If the people who hire us don't trust us we would eventually loose clients left and right. Our village would slowly die. There is always another answer but I don't think the elders, with Danzo's persuasion, cared to find one.

A different path would have been difficult to find and execute. It would take years to repair the trust lost. I think they chose the death of the Uchiha clan because it was easy. I felt disgusting for even understanding their point of view. By the time I got home I was really depressed.

I spent extra time in the shower that night, meticulously washing every tangle out of my wavy hair. That night my dreams were riddled with death and half remembered flashes of the massacre, playing over and over in my head. It was all just so unnecessary. It made me want to scream out in frustration. I wouldn't say Itachi and I were friends, but I liked him.

He was fun to mess with, and a good sparring partner. He was trustworthy and loyal. I didn't want to see him torn apart by the village and his clan. I didn't want to watch Sasuke grow up twisted by hate. But it was going to happen; there really wasn't anything I could do to stop it. So instead of getting hung up on it I was going to mope for a bit and then be as good a friend as possible for Itachi.

Kotetsu and Izumo returned later that week. They both looked really tired but happy all the same. It was nice to have them back; the house seemed too quiet without them. I hadn't realized how much I had missed them until they both wrapped me up in a suffocating hug and started bragging. I had really missed this.

We had a quiet family dinner as they began explaining everything they went through in the exam. I could tell they were skimming over the more dangerous parts so as not to worry my mother. In the end they had both passed with flying colors and would begin work as Chunin of Konoha at the start of next week.

"So what did you do while we were gone Suikazura?" I grinned.

"Come with me to one of the training fields and I'll show you," Kotetsu looked interested now.

"Is that a challenge?"

"Only if you think you can handle it," I reply completely at ease. Our parents roll their eyes at our antics and remind us to clean up dinner before going. I knew I wouldn't be able to beat either of them, let alone pose any type of challenge. However, I could definitely catch them off guard. I was also looking forward to the chance to use the Green Disposition in an actual fight.

I had been working on it for two months now, and though it was far from perfect, I couldn't expect it to be so without actual experience with it. It was a bit too cold to be going around barefoot, but I didn't want to give up the advantage it gave me. I fought with Kotetsu first, starting slow to warm up. As we began to pick up our pace I switched from standard academy taijutsu to my own style.

It threw him off for a moment but he wasn't a Chunin for nothing and quickly adjusted to my current fighting style so as to have an easier time counteracting it. I began to fall into the familiar stances for my Green Disposition, forcing him to back up. It took him a moment to realize why his footing was becoming more and more treacherous. When he did notice he smiled proudly at me as he decked me in the stomach, successfully ending our spar.

"That was smart. Where did you learn to do that?" Izumo sounded eager to hear about it.

"As soon as I stop dry heaving I'll tell you," I reply, panting slightly. I have a small habit of over reacting every now and then. My brothers would disagree and say I overact all the time. My fake tears usually only ever proved them right.

"I didn't hit you that hard. Don't be such a wuss," I rolled my eyes at him.

"Yamanaka-san and I came up with it shortly after you two left. I figured that it was a pretty good tactic, and I guess I was right,"

"It was so subtle at first that I didn't notice it for a while and I wasn't even fighting. And where did you learn to fight like that?" I smiled widely at the thought of pestering Itachi into to fighting me every day.

"I had a friends help with that one. But they never let me fight like that at the academy. It's really annoying. How am I supposed to perfect my strengths if no one lets me use them?" Kotetsu snorts at the last part.

"Strengths? More like oddities. Most shinobi prefer a certain style rather than a full out brawl. But if it works for you, than I guess that's good. And if you think your finally up to it, Izumo and I can spar with you anytime," that was a huge compliment. They always instructed me and would show me how to do things, but they never sparred. They were too afraid they wouldn't be able to hold back and would hurt me.

If Kotetsu thought I could handle myself in a spar with them then that meant I had gotten a lot better. It would be a long time before I would ever pose a threat to them, but at least now I wasn't too weak to try. I smiled brightly at them, and nodded in reply. Izumo and I had a quick spar after that.

He had the advantage after having seen my fight with Kotetsu. It was a lot harder to catch him with my vines because now he was on the lookout for them. He easily beat me but not before I went all out. He couldn't stop laughing at my crazy fighting, saying I was much more like Kotetsu than he had first thought. I took it as a compliment. Kotetsu is a good fighter, if a bit on the wild side, and was beginning to get efficiency with most weapons that were surprising almost everyone he knew.

It was with a happy smile that I went to bed that night. By the time winter truly came around I thought I would have to put off my Green Disposition training. Yamanaka-san thought differently. He said it was the best time to train, because I had to get used to using it with shoes on. I wasn't happy about this but trained with him anyways.

It was so much harder to use the Disposition when there was a thick layer of plastic between me and the ground. I felt like I was starting all over again. The connection I had with the plants was so much weaker, so I had to move slower and concentrate more for them to keep up. The first time I complained about having to wear shoes my father looked at me weirdly before shaking his head and pretending he didn't hear me.

Izumo said I would be one of those shinobi who have weird habits if I kept refusing to wear shoes. I was okay with that. People thought ninja were crazy anyway, why not rub it in and have a little fun? By the time my parents deemed it warm enough to go out barefoot again I was thrilled.

It had been a long winter and I couldn't wait to get my toes in the ground again. Kotetsu laughed when he found me trying to dig my feet into the ground up to my ankles. He stopped when a few well grown vines pulled him flat at my feet, then it was Izumo's turn to laugh. When my birthday came with May I realized that the school year would be over soon.

Itachi was going to be graduating this year, and be put on a team starting this summer. I frowned slightly at the thought of this. I would really miss our spars, and without him I was scared my taijutsu would come to a standstill again. I had Izumo and Kotetsu to fight with but they never went all out on me.

Hana would go all out but she didn't out-class me enough to really push me to do my best. It was a little depressing, I was happy for him of course, but the academy wouldn't be the same anymore. Hakuna Matata, I told myself, no worries. I set the matter aside and decided that I would eventually find someone new to spar with.

The academy graduation wasn't a very big celebration. There was always the chance of failing the Jounin exam so they didn't want to get people too excited. Once he was free I gave Itachi his graduation present. It was a very poorly drawn depiction of how our spars usually go. He glared at me but I expected that.

"Thank you for helping me this past year. I know you will be busy with your team from now on but if you're ever free and want to find me, I'd love to get my butt beat," he gave up on glaring and just rolled his eyes at me. For a moment I thought he would throw the picture away, it was really bad. But he carefully folded it and slipped it in his bag.

I smiled at him and watched him go to where his family was waiting. I moved so that I could catch a glimpse of his parents. His mother looked like a nice woman but his father looked like a jerk. He stood stiff, and didn't smile at his son even once. Sasuke was there too and when he caught me watching he waved a little hesitantly in my direction. I smiled and waved back but as soon as Fugaku noticed me I quickly made my way in the opposite direction.

I did not want to get in a conversation with him. With my business at the graduation over I made my way home, walking slowly and enjoying the cool spring breeze. My thoughts turned grim as I thought about the path Itachi would soon be following. I could practically feel the cogs of fate begin to turn faster as all the pieces fell neatly into place.

Thank you and come again.

ToeGirth,

Signing Out