It has been five days since my... relocation. Instead of going to train an hour early like I had been the last few days I instead decided to study a bit. The book I have been studying on Chakra is dry and uninteresting. The terms used in the text are so jargony that piecing together information for notes is a mentally laborious task. For a change of pace, I open the book titled "Basic Theory on the Application of Chakra for the Purpose of Ensnaring the Senses".

Despite my initial misgivings about it being overly academic, the text is, well, basic.

Of course, one can use Chakra to create constructs as well as force it into physical elemental forms.

I note that down for later research, "elemental Chakra" sounds interesting.

Chakra in its raw mental form, however, can be used to influence the perceptions of others. Smell, taste, sight, balance, hearing, touch, indeed all sensations can be fooled through either directly impacting certain portions of a target's brain or Chakra Network. Techniques that deal with tricking any or all those senses are known as Genjutsu. Of course, those sensations are false. If a Genjutsu is obvious it can be countered by simply disrupting one's Chakra system (see notes on page 502 for more on this technique) or from feeling actual pain.

A basic introductory Genjutsu is an auditory Genjutsu. The technique is called "Disruptive Sound Waves". It causes the target a severe form of tinnitus. It impacts the Chakra Network Tenketsu located above the ears by agitating it. While it...

"Hmm..." I continue my note taking for the remaining hour.

-xxx-

"So, Zaku?" I turn to face Zaku as we eat the lunch he prepared. For a meal with only rice, chicken, and vegetables, it's quite tasty.

"Yeah? What?" He doesn't look up from his meal.

'Ugh. Rude.'

My eye twitches in annoyance. "So! After lunch do you want to spar together?" I didn't feel like getting caught off guard like that first day again. Preparing myself for those situations will be paramount to my continued survival.

Zaku pauses in his eating. He places his chopsticks on top of his bowl and sends me a withering glance. "Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself?"

"What?" Taken aback the food I was chewing falls from my mouth. "Who do you think you are!?"

"Oh boy. Here we go." Dosu turns to Sensei. "Sensei, do you think we could be clear of the destruction radius this time? I do not want to be involved with these two idiots more than I have to be."

"Dosu, every battle is a learning opportunity. Even witnessing a battle that has skills you don't personally use can tell you more about alternate fighting styles." Sensei doesn't seem too taken aback by this turn of events.

I'm kinda ticked off by all this nonchalance. Deep in my soul I know I have to prove myself to these people.

'I have to beat Zaku!'

"Zaku! I'm going to kick your ass!" I stand up and grab him by his collar.

"Kinnnnnn. C'mon... You know you can't beat me."

I shoot a glare at him. "When I'm done you're going to regret saying that."

'What is wrong with this kid!?'

-xxx-

We face each other off in a clearing without many rocks at all. To be honest, it looked like an inconspicuous area of hard dirt.

"No fatal blows. Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu are allowed. Keep at it until knockout or surrender."

I eyed my competition for anything I can exploit. If I can beat him I'll have some respect around here. If not, well, Sensei did say it would be a learning experience.

Zaku continues with his vexing nonchalant attitude, by being gross and picking at something in his nose. 'He isn't taking me seriously at all!'

"Begin!" Sensei darts back a few meters in a single jumping motion.

'I gotta get the upper hand.' I throw some of those knives (apparently they're called kunai) at his legs. I decide that a circumspect route would offer me the best chance of taking him out. I run an ovular path to his left side.

Right when my kunai are about to connect he steps to the side closer to me! "Ha! Big mistake asshole!" I prepare myself to dash the last few meters between us.

Zaku holds up the palm of his left hand.

'That's a confusing block.'

Undeterred by that, the nanoseconds draw out longer as I close the distance. Then without warning, a powerful gust of air catches my abdomen. I grunt and stop in my tracks, doubled over.

Zaku doesn't hesitate, he checks the side of my face with his other elbow and follows up with a kick to my knees. I drop to my knees in pain. I attempt to grab onto his clothes to bring him down with me but he effortlessly dodges my swipe. Before I know it, he has a kunai to my throat.

"It's over. Surrender already, Kin."

Hot embarrassment rises on my face. I feel like a house of cards about to be knocked over.

"I..."

I swallow and feel the cold steel against my neck.

"I give."

He withdraws and I'm left kneeling on the ground. 'I wasn't even a challenge for him.'

"Hey, Kin?" Zaku offers his hand to help me up. Despite my embarrassment, I take the offer of reconciliation.

"Yeah, what?"

"How come you didn't use your bells?" Zaku looks puzzled. "We both know the fight would have been much more even if you even attempted a technique."

"Ah, I guess I forgot."

'Why would bells be useful for fighting?'

I can't help my wonder at the strange weapons these people use. Though if there is pretty much magic in this world... hand cannons and using bells in combat probably isn't even slightly strange here.

"How do you forget to use your most important techniques?" Dosu slides over to join us.

"I figured if I rush him down he wouldn't expect it." It's the truth.

Sensei claps once to grab our attention. "Well, this is a good learning opportunity for Kin. When in combat it's best to first use what you're familiar with then move into a more... experimental fashion as combat conditions evolve. Keep this in mind, everyone."

"Yes, Sensei." We chorus in harmony.

'I need to figure out what Kin would use those bells for...'

The list of Things to Know seems to be growing by the hour. Scratch that, it is growing by the hour.

'Sigh.'

-xxx-

We thankfully didn't have to clean up a lab for our mission today. Instead, we were instructed to gather medical supplies from a warehouse then deliver them to around thirty labs.

"We should split up once we arrive at the warehouse." Dosu is leading the way to the warehouse, which is a good kilometer from our training ground. We have until sundown to complete the mission so none of us are in a particular rush.

Once I realized what he was saying I miss a step. Thankfully, I'm trailing behind so no one noticed. 'I have no clue how to get around. Crap.'

'How to go about asking for help? There's no way I could get lucky enough to deliver each item to ten separate locations and then find my way home. Unless...'

I concentrate on Kin's memories. Flashes dance across my vision.

"I don't understand why you-"

A great green field of flowers dancing in the breeze-

The horrible feeling of loneliness and danger-

A house- A room- An old man setting a campfire-

I clutch my head by the temples. I breathe in, I breathe out slowly, purposefully. 'That's not happening.'

Plan B, ask an adult. Or in this case, Dosu.

"Um, Dosu?" I feel a flutter of embarrassment, which I quash. I don't like asking for help but I have to rid myself of such compunctions.

Dosu turns his head to regard me. "What is it Kin? Do you dislike the plan?"

"No! No, it's not that... but... do you have a map of the labs I'd have to take the supplies to? I can't really remember where they are, you see..."

"Who are you and what have you done to Kin?" Zaku whirls. I blink, shell-shocked surprise overtaking my countenance.

"Um. Zaku?" I scratch my right cheek.

"You aren't Kin. There's no way she'd ever ask for help like that!" Zaku digs his feet into the ground, he's tense. 'Does he think I'm going to attack him? I gotta defuse this.'

"You've been acting weird this entire fucking week. You didn't even attempt a clone in the spar, you haven't been half as prissy about your hair. You even smell, like, fuck! Take a shower already! I gave you the benefit of the doubt, maybe it's some weird girl stuff, I don't know. But Kin, the real Kin, she has the best sense of direction on this squad. Even better than Sensei-hardass!" He pulls out a kunai, brandishing it towards me.

"Who the fuck are you?"

In desperation, or perhaps habit, I dig in my pockets for a tool to use. I used to carry screws and nails on the off chance something needed repair. The motion of searching causes him to tense further, and as I'm about to utter something my hand brushes some paper.

'What is-?'

Slowly, to ensure I'm not attacked, I pull out a scrap of paper in my pocket. I look it over but it's unintelligible smeared ink. Though, the word "Genjutsu" in their native writing is legible. Thinking back to my reading, this may very well be the perfect excuse. I level Zaku's intense stare with a stare of my own.

"Well, uh, you were kind of right about before."

Dosu, who was taking this whole exchange in stride, somehow, decided that was an incorrect response. He turned and got into a battle-ready stance, raising his arms up and positioning the metal holes to me. "If you are not Kin, then who are you? You are clearly the worst infiltrator devised to blow your cover so blatantly."

"Infiltrator? What? I'm, no, I'm Kin."

'God damn it, why couldn't I get the gift of gab that would be useful right about now.'

"I don't believe you." Zaku looked about ready to attack.

'I only had a few responses left before this situation becomes unsalvageable.'

"Well, to tell you the truth. I don't think I'm really Kin anymore. But this is still Kin in front of you." It is the truth.

Dosu regards my stance, searching me. "Yes... we are talking to Kin. But you are not her, clearly. Your behavior from the last few days indicated a severe personality change. What happened to you that morning?"

I take a step forward and they hackle. I turn the paper to them, pointing to the only legible word.

"Genjutsu."

They weren't expecting this. Zaku blanches and Dosu narrows his visible eye. 'Okay, next step of my elaborate lie.'

"I think I was experimenting with a Genjutsu that night, maybe even that morning since I puked. Ugh. This technique must have caused me to forget a lot of things and, apparently, it changed my personality. That must be why I didn't use my techniques, and why I seem to be having issues with grasping some concepts."

Zaku looks to Dosu, at a loss of what to do or say about that. Dosu blinks once. Looks considering, and blinks again. "I see..."

"So, uh, you see why I haven't quite been myself lately. I seem to be fine now though! You don't need to worry about me!" I hasten to add that last point.

'The last thing I need is a person doing medical tests on me around here. That would be a horrible idea.'

"Seriously, Kin? How irresponsible can you be!? Why didn't you tell anyone!" Zaku stamps his feet, about to go into a temper tantrum.

"Zaku, if she couldn't answer you immediately then that point is moot. She couldn't have possibly known."

He levels me with a dry look, "I hope you learned your lesson about experimentation regarding your own mind. I am sure if you applied for it, you could have even gotten a used test subject."

"I, well, I thought I was fine, to be honest. I've dealt with worse, Zaku." I cross my arms and look to the ground. Like that time I died and was reincarnated. "Yeah, I was clearly reckless... I'll keep that in mind, Dosu." Dosu looked to be somewhat placated at that admission.

Zaku huffs. "Yeah... I guess. So, what do you remember?"

I grimace. "Theoretically, I remember everything from before that morning. In practice, however... the memories are too disorienting to rely on. I've just been going off instinct and guesswork these last few days."

Dosu places a hand on Zaku's shoulder. "We shouldn't worry about it, Zaku. Besides this version of Kin is far more bearable."

Zaku bristles at that. "How can you say that! She's a totally different person! How can we trust her to work in combat situations like this?"

Dosu sends a glance at me. "If we were to help you, would you be able to relearn your techniques without endangering yourself or others?"

I consider the point.

'I had learned basic Chakra control exercises I was sure that Kin would have used. Not very well, but the ground work is there.'

"Yes. I relearned how to use Chakra, and had no issues."

Dosu looks pleased with that. "Well, that's that then!" He immediately turns to continue our mission. "We should stick together to reacquaint Kin with the area. Would you not say, Zaku?"

Zaku continues to look pissy. "This is fucking complete and utter bullshit."

"Aah. Sorry to trouble you Zaku." I give him a weak smile.

'Way too close of a call.'

Zaku sends me a glare.

-xxx-

After completing the delivery mission Zaku declared that he was "tired of our stupid fucking faces" and stalked off to his home. At this point, I was completely expecting his reaction. I can't blame the kid, right?

Dosu turns his gaze toward me. "We must inform Sensei tomorrow." That simple statement causes me to freeze up.

"Are you sure he has to know? I'm sure I can manage on my own."

"While the basic reading I introduced you to will be sufficient in shoring up the basic knowledge-"

"But..."

Dosu looks irked. "Do not interrupt me. I am indeed team leader in any and all absences of Sensei, so coming to me with this... medical issue... is appropriate. But Sensei is our direct commanding officer. Any and all abnormalities must be reported to him at the earliest possible time. I am sure he will not be happy with the fact that we were all left in the dark. But considering the circumstances... it will be understandable, if annoying."

I shift my weight from side to side and fiddle with my hands. "So tomorrow..." I fail to finish the thought so Dosu picks up the line of reasoning I started.

"Yes, tomorrow we will tell Sensei of your entire situation Kin. In the meantime, care to explain exactly what you do know?"

'Holy crap that conversation can go so bad. Please let there not be any mind readers in this world. Worst of all let Sensei not be a mind reader.'

"I know of Chakra and the theory of its essential nature and use. I can call it up and manipulate it, even if my control is probably very poor. I have no knowledge of my techniques. But, I know how to use Taijutsu and throwing weapons through pure muscle memory."

"Hmm. Not much. But not as bad off as expected. Can you do the basic three?"

I give him a confused look. Dosu sighs, "I guess not then. Okay, so the basic three Jutsu are as follows: Henge, Bushin, and Kawarimi."

"Okay. And those are specifically?"

Dosu looks amused. "At their basic form, they are the same technique with three different targets. The Transformation technique allows the user to change their appearance at will. It is indistinguishable from the real thing. Though, very specific abilities allow people to see through it. The Clone technique is similar, a Chakra clone construct. It is able to take the form of anything, but is non-physical. Clones are not able to use independent thought. And, thus, the movement of the clones must be controlled by the user through their Chakra. The Body Replacement is a body-switch technique. The user chooses an object and distorts the space between them, causing a switch. It is extremely useful in combat scenarios. In summary: target oneself to change, target nothing to create, and target another to change places."

"Holy crap Chakra is OP."

"OP?" Dosu gives me a blank look of confusion.

"Ah. I mean overpowered. I mean, even one of those techniques completely breaks the rules."

Dosu considers this point but doesn't seem particularly put out. "I suppose you are correct, in a way. Though, every single trained Shinobi and Kunoichi would have mastered those techniques." Dosu then looks amused. "'OP' sounds like an interesting term, perhaps I will start to use it."

I feel amusement break across my features. "Don't overuse it though. Otherwise, it loses its meaning, you know?"

"Indeed."

-xxx-

"Ex-excuse me, Sensei." The next day, as Sensei arrives, Dosu and I approach him. I am shaking. 'Please let this go well. My nerves are totally on edge!'

Sensei regards us, his expression placid. "Yes, Kin? Are you having trouble with the new Jutsu?" He places a hand on his hip.

"No, well... yes. But this isn't really about that..." I cast my gaze to Dosu, who was flanking my right side. Dosu gets the hint.

"Sensei, Kin is having some issues with her memory." Well, that was entirely bland and uninformative. He flicks his only visible eye to my face.

'Now it's my turn, I suppose.'

"Yes, I seem to have made a... mistake... with a Genjutsu."

Sensei looks troubled. "I see... I take it there is more?"

Zaku, who was blasting stones apart with his weird aircurrent Jutsu, snorts at that. Sensei flicks a glance at him but returns his attention to me immediately.

"Yes. To be more specific about my issue... I cannot practically remember anything before that morning I missed training, a few days ago. I mean, well, I can remember things. But the memories are so disjointed and... foreign... feeling that it physically pains me to recall anything prior to these last few days. So you see... that's why I've been so strange these last few days."

Sensei looks nonplussed at my (lie) admission. We three stewed in that silence for almost five minutes. Before Zaku decides to put his entirely not helpful two-cents.

"She's not even the same person anymore, Sensei. I don't think we should allow her to go on missions with us anymore." He casts a glance at me. "Just look at her. She'll be totally useless."

"In Kin's defense, she has shown that she can relearn quickly with little input or help. While, at this time, I would not recommend she be sent out on any mission above D-rank. If she were to keep up her current pace of improvement she will be caught up to her original level by the end of the month."

Sensei looks considering. "That's only three weeks Dosu."

"Sensei, I will not be a burden. I will work hard every day to ensure that I am not dragging anyone else down." I bow low. "Please teach me, Sensei."

"I will take everything I heard today into consideration. If, by the end of the allotted probationary period you do not show marked improvement: I will immediately petition your removal from this squad. Is that understood?"

"Thank you." I maintain my bow. "I will not let you down."

-xxx-

A/N: Hey, thanks for reading and your reads/reviews/follows/favorites! I'm not sure about the etiquette about answering reviews in the body of the text or via PM, but I will say thank you again nonetheless. It's about to blizzard out here in the midwest, so I'm excited (and preparing) for the first storm haha. Plans are to release the next chapter on December 10, titled Empty.