Kabuto could use the Mystic Palm by like eight, either he is a pure genius, it isn't a hard jutsu or both on some level. I am using Kabuto as my inspiration.

I went too fast early on, but I sort of like it. It feels like Mika was dissasociating. Also I had no idea how to go about the story, I do now.

"And this is the visceral fat!" Shu, Mika's mentor in healing, said as he sliced through the line of greyish yellow fat around the organs of the woman they were dissecting. They had been dissecting for the last two hours, cutting up bodies so that one day Mika could help undo the bodies of their enemies and allies. The goal was to ensure that if nothing else, he could assist in bounties as he developed his skills.

It was a gruesome process, but one he dived into with intense dedication. He was good at reading people. Danzo was evil to his core, that was clear from the first moment he met him. His own safety would always come first, no matter the cost. To hammer his dedication home, he took diligent notes, asked poignant questions. He paid extreme attention and mastered all he could.

The lessons shifted over the course of days, and soon he met his first ROOT ninja besides his teachers. It was boy about his age, with extremely pale skin and a near bowl cut, named Sai. He was cut from Shin, his "Brother", who carried a blade at all times.

With extremely difficulty, Mika put his glowing green hands over Shu's as they healed Sai. It was an old trick, to add chakra into a person's jutsu to learn the flow of energy needed to maintain the jutsu used. He was learning the feel as much as he could. The trick, developed by Tsunade of the Senju and Sanin, was a useful one. He loved it, he knew it would take him much longer to learn the jutsu otherwise.

"You need to be faster, Sai." Shin said, his tone cold but not without love. It was a false sound, one that Mika could tell was forced. He knew well enough, from reading the propaganda used by ROOT, that is their mission to blot out emotions in their ninja. It was a impressive that someone as old as Shin had any emotions left, he was about twelve years old, if he was there for years...

His emotional strength was massive.

"I try to be, but you're so good, Shin!" Sai said, with a soft sweetness. The boy was not dead inside either, but his softness spoke of less trauma and forced emotionless.

Mika said nothing, just listening until Shu said. "Shin, speaking of that speed, you will be training Mika in kenjutsuand overall combat for the next six or so months. He learns fast, Lord Danzo expects results."

Shin nodded, eyes cold but a flicker of worry filled them. "Yessir, I will make him worthy of his ROOT status."

"See to it that you do. In fact, Mika, you will spend each morning from five to twelve with Shin. Rest for an hour, to read and recover, then you are with me until seven. Do not fail Lord Danzo, either of you, or there will be consequences." The man gave a fake smile. "Speaking failure, you Mika have a new comrade. A girl named Kin, she will be your training partner for the next six or so months."

The look of terror really hit Shin's eyes then, but faded away fast. Mika vowed to ask why,... but first. "I would be honored to work alongside her, if Lord Danzo says it will be a wise choice."

:::

The Next Morning

Like Mika, Kin was small. She brown hair and brown eyes, and she looked more stoic than he was. "Nice to meet you, Kin." She had just walked towards them after Shin watched Mika go through his Katas for an hour.

The girl grunted, and he saw a small tooth sticking out, a snaggle tooth. "Whatever."

Turning to Shin, who seemed nervous, Mika offered a smile. "Kin, you are an Inuzuka, why don't you show me what you can do with your taijutsu, give me a feel of where you are?"

As she walked away, Mika whispered. "Why are you so nervous?" Shin froze. "I know you aren't absent of emotion, but I cannot tell why you are so scared."

The boy sighed. "To become a true ROOT ninja... You are going to have to kill Kin one day... and I... Sai."

Mika sighed. "Then I won't get attached, but you already love Sai, don't you?" Shin said nothing, wisely. "I wish you well, then... and one day, if I can, I will avenge whomever dies."

Shin smiled, it was gone fast but it was there. "Good job, Kin, but you are too wild. You need more control, Mika's all about control but he could use your raw power. That is why you were put together. Why he is your partner."

That word, partner, made Kin look broken and Mika knew why,... or at least he guessed. She had no Dog, no partner... like all Inuzuka. It had probably been killed when she was taken.

And that just made ROOT suck all the more.

Like the lack of freedom, the fear of death, the fear of torture, the literal abductions...

Even the more sheltered, so far, Mika knew that this place was one of evil... and it would one day burn by his hands...

Until then however...

"Kin, I want you to spar with Mika, let's see how your styles go up agaisnt each other." Shin said, and Mika readied himself away from Shin.

Kin was fast, her body moving with twice his own speed, she was well trained. Mika was used to fast people, even with only three months of training, diving under her strike, he kicked her knee hard. She whimpered and turned, only to get kicked in the face with a donkey kick. He was weak, so it really wasn't that strong, but enough to get behind her and put a kunai to her throat.

Shin clapped. "Good... Kin, this is why I want you to focus more, to learn more control. With your raw power, you could tear him apart if you could control your moves and focus that power. Mika, you won't always have control to rely on, power is vital as well. I want Kin to work on Mika's strength, and Mika help Kin with her control. Rely on each other, and bring out the best."

And like that, Mika knew the full reality of why he had Kin as a partner. To bind their hearts together, and then break it to break the survivor... it was devious and cold, but it was almost perfect... and he hated it.

'I am sorry Kin, I will make sure your name is remembered, but I cannot die here...'

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a blast to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.