• I gave Shino a thoughtful look. He gave me a bemused one back. "What?" He asked.
    "What do you look like without sunglasses on?"
    I could almost see his eye twitch. "Why?"
    "Just curious."
    "Be curious about something else, then. I'm not talking them off." he said irritably.
    I sighed, folding my arms. "come on. It'll only take a few seconds."
    "No."
    He slid his hands into his pockets. I looked away with a huff. "Fine. Be stubborn."
    "I will."
    irritated, I glanced around, trying to think of something interesting. But there wasn't really anything. I tried to imagine what Hinata was like...hopefully she was nice. But i would be ecstatic either way, just at having another girl on the team! I hurried to walk alongside Neji and looked at him expectently. He glared at me. "What?"
    What an odd sense of deja vu, I thought bitterly. "You know Hinata, right?"
    "Yes. She's my cousin."
    "Oh. Neat." I nodded, and reached up to pull Momoko into my arms. "What's she like?"
    "Shy. Weak. looks like me but with shorter hair. anything else?"
    I felt my stomach drop at his hateful glare. I shook my head and smiled weakly. "I was just curious. Um...bye, then." I left Neji's side and returned to walk alongside Shino. The walk was in silence - only broken by Akane and Lee's talking, Kiba's juggling -he decided to juggle rolls of bandages -, and Guy's youthful sayings. Shino finally broke the silence.
    "Why are you moping?"
    my face flushed. "I'm not moping."
    "You look like it."
    "Well, I'm not." I glared at him. "Says Mister broods-a-lot."
    kiba laughed loudly. "You got burned, Shades!"
    Shino shot him a glare before turning to me. He opened his mouth, as if to make a comeback, but he turned back towards the road. After a few seconds he leaned towards me. "Don't alarm anyone else. But I think someone's following us."



    I grinned again, thinking that it was kind of funny at what he said. "Yeah that's great! You know what Lee I haven't seen what you do for jutsu's. What type of jutsu user are you anyways?" I questioned seeing as I haven't seen him fight, and I've only spoken to him a couple of times. He started to look at the ground, after the question.
    "You might find it weird," Lee paused seeming as to see if I'd question him further. "I can't use any Gen, or Nin jutsu's, only Tai Jutsu. It pathetic isn't it?" He questioned himself in the end. Looking at him for a moment, I thought he must've been made fun a lot during ninja training when he could only use Tai jutsu, but not the others.
    "I don't find that weird at all," I said, his head lifting up with hope. "That's actually really awesome that you alone could become a ninja with just tai jutsu. It's pretty inspirational," I said as his grin grew wider with each sentence.
    "Heh, yeah right," I looked up towards the front to where Neji was walking a head of us. "It's not inspirational," Was the next thing I heard come from his mouth. I ran to catch up with him.
    "Yeah why is that so? So you think it's cause he's not as strong as you, or is it you think he can't change what will happen for him the future?" My last remark sparked something in him.
    "The last thing yes," He stopped, and directly looked at me. " You cannot change destiny, it's chooses it's path for you, and there's nothing you can do about it," I glared at him. Why were some people like this? I started to walk back to Lee.
    Before I was out of earshot, I told him something. "You just wait someday you'll meet a person who'll change your thoughts on destiny, and your going to look back on the things that you thought were wrong, and figure out that it was the right thing to do," After finishing my little talk, Lee's face looked totally surprised. "What is it Lee?" My tone of voice had totally changed while asking the question.
    "Your maybe on of the first people to stand up to Neji like that, that I've seen," I just kept smiling on, when I started skipping next to Lee.




    I gaped at Shino, barely resisting the urge to glance around at my surroundings. "Why do you think that?" I whispered, walking closer to him. He barely glanced at me.
    "I'll explain later. Just stay on your toes."
    I nodded and tried to face the front, neck pricking constantly.
    We walked for about two hours, stopping only about twice to sit and rest and nibble on the little snacks that Guy had packed for us. Each time we stopped I waited for someone to jump out and attack me, so I hoped Kiba and Shino didn't find it wierd when I sat with my backs to them. It made me feel safer to have a teammate behind me instead of the dark forest. After our second break we walked for about a half hour, before we reached the large gates to the village. I immedietly moved to walk inbetween Kiba and Shino, feeling anxious. Kiba glanced at me oddly.
    "Why're you so jumpy?"
    "First mission nerves, i guess." I said, hugging Momoko tightly. He wriggled a bit, chittering in annoyance. Kiba patted my back hesitantly.
    "Well, at least it's seven of us Genin instead of just three. Then it would be really freaky."
    "Yeah." I nodded.
    We entered the town and made our way towards the Kage's building, all of us gaping at the surroundings so different from Konoha. Finally we reached the building and passed through the doors, shrugging off multiple suspicious glances as Guy held up the mission form to guards and glaring Jonin. When we reached the floor where the Kage was supposed to be, there was only the Elder, flanked by five Anbu Blackops. I stared at them in awe. These were five real, in the flesh Anbu Blackops! This was my future!
    "We're here to escort the Elder," Guy said, handing the mission form to the head Anbu, who scanned it and nodded to his colleagues, which turned and left.
    "Best of luck," The head anbu said, before leaving himself, returning the mission form. the Elder approached us. A wrinkled and bent old man with a scraggly gray beard, he didn't seem as noble or refined as I would have expected. He tapped his wooden cane impatiently.
    "Let's be off then." he croaked.
    Guy nodded. He turned to us. "Tenten, take the left side. Lee, take the right. Akane and Neji in the front, Matsuo and Shino in the back, and Kiba, you can come up here in the front with me."
    "Why?" Kiba asked grumpily.
    "i have my reasons." Guy said, flashing a dazzling grin. "Now, let's move out!"
    We took our assigned places around the Elder and left the village    .


    Glancing at Neji I began contemplating on if I'd make it with him, since he'd either be quiet, or start making some insult to me. I took my position in front with Neji and we began our journey back to the Leaf. Everything was going smoothly as nobody had even tried to attack us yet, even though I knew it might happen. Everybody seemed to be getting along except for Neji and I. Thinking over something about how I might try to be nice to him, I decided to see if he'd be willing to become friends.
    "Oaky I don't want us to be so stuck up while on this mission, Neji," He only glanced at me not saying a word. "I'd think it be easier for both of us if we just made up, and stuff. Friends?" I put my hand out in a shaking gesture.
    He looked at the hand in a considering way but then turned away. "No," was the only word he said. After that I knew he wasn't going to cooperate, unless we had to fight together. Looking back at the Elder we were escorting. For an old man, I thought he didn't look very tired since we've been traveling for while. My mind shifter back when I heard Miki say she smelt something. Becoming aware I told both of my ferrets to keep their senses keen. I'd tell Guy if I heard anything unusual.


    On the walk back to the village, the elder constantly swiveled his head around to look at me and Shino warily. When he did it for the tenth time, I finally asked hesitantly, "Um...sir...why do you keep staring at us?"
    He wagged a finger. "I'm just making sure you two aren't smooching when you should be guarding me," he said, turning back around.
    My face flushed, and, glancing at Shino, I saw his ears go red. Tenten snicekred slightly, covering her mouth with her hand. Suddenly Momoko let out a strange squealing sound and leapt from my shoulder, dashing into the woods. "Momoko!" I yelled. "Momoko, come back!" I took a step towards the woods, but Shino suddenly grabbed my arm. Just then, there were multiple blurs of black, and we were surrounded by enemy ninja. The symbol of the Sound Village was on their forehead protectors.
    "Sound Ninja!" Guy yelled. "Assume the defensive position!"
    I glanced around in confusion, until Guy's team (excluding Akane, who was probably as confused as I was) turned their backs to the Elder, crouched, and reached for their kunai. Shino and I hurried to copy this, and I pulled out my two emerald fans.
    Suddenly, my chest tightened, and the things around me began to blur. I took a hesitant step back, feeling sick to my stomach, and leaned on one of my knees. I looked up at one of the ninja.
    And saw my father's face.


    It was all a blur to me as the sound ninja appeared in front of everybody. Turning I found Matsuo on the ground when I got into my stance. They began to attack, and a kunai was thrown at Matsuo, her not even noticing it, like she was in a daze. "Sho transform!" I yelled causing my ferret to transform into my chained weapon. Whipping the blade at the kunai I blocked it from hitting her. "What's wrong with you?" I yelled trying get her out of the daze, she was in. Transforming Miki into my black chain blade I whipped her at the same person who through the kunai, hitting him directly in the stomach, causing a giant cut to happen.
    "Akane!" I heard Guy yell at me.
    "What?!" I yelled back frustrated at what was happening now.
    "We need a shield of some sot can you do that with you magma style?" He questioned fitting off ninja.
    I threw a guy over my shoulder when I answered back. "Yes I can, but I'm not so sure you guys will like how hot it is once I get it up!" I made a couple of hand signs, and then lava flew up quickly around our group and cooled as fast once it molded around us.


    At Akane's yell I straightened, and looked up. ten men with my father's faces, just staring at me. Violet eyes gleaming - one stepped forward. "Hand over the elder," he said softly. I stared.
    Shino yelled something at me. I turned. My father's face was there, too!
    It's a genjutsu, some tiny part of my brain screamed. It's a gen- suddenly pain exploded in my shoulder, and i turned to see a kunai lodged there. I reached up and tugged it out, and looked up. Now the faces of my father were gone - now it was only the faces of angry ninja. the kunai had disrupted my chakra flow enough to break the genjutsu! I hurriedly made some handsigns. "Earth Control Jutsu!" I yelled, before snapping open my fans. The enemy ninja launched shuriken at the elder - I stabbed my right hand downwards, and a wall of brambles slid over from the forest to rise up in front of the elder.The shuriken lodged there with a series of quiet thuds.
    Hearing Guy's yell, I glanced back. Akane was starting her magma control jutsu. I turned away and and, as a windmill shuriken spun at me, ducked and threw my hands upwards. Roots broke from the ground and rose, wrapping around the shurriken before it could get close to the elder. Still in my crouch, I slid my right foot forward, along with my fan. The roots dropped the shuriken by my feet, before rushing at the enemy ninja, who scattered. One made a quick handsign, unfurled a scroll, and summoned a huge scythe to his hand.
    "That does not look good." I muttered to myself. The man's eyes gleamed and he lunged at me, stabbing at my chest. I twisted away, pushing at him with my fans. more roots shot up and wrapped around his torso - which was suddenly a log. I turned, throwing up my fans just in time for the scythe blade to hit it with a loud 'cling', sending up sparks. I shoved the blade to the side and launched myself at him, ramming my elbow into his chest. he stumbled back, and the scythe blade slashed the air barely an inch from my ear. As he regained balance, I crouched and threw my right arm up, keeping the left one down (it was the left shoulder that the kunai had hit). A large mound of earth, supported by large roots, came up and enveloped the Sound ninja. His scythe hit the ground with a clatter.
    I sighed and turned back to the other Sound Ninja, who were slowly making their way towards the Elder.



    Matsuo had came out of her trance once Shino yelled at her some more. I was getting really sick of these ninjas so I'd thought I'd have some fun. Distracting a couple of them, I began herding them into a little group. For Chunins or higher they were pretty dumb. Making a couple more hand signs I created another lava flow below them causing their feet to become immobile for them. Everybody was still fighting, and there was another ninja sneaking up on the elder. "On no you don't you little snot wad," Snot wad, hehehe, the best thing I could come up with. After the little thought I threw my blade at him, missing the elder by about a foot. The elder started looking from the unconscious ninja then back to me.
    "Why you little insolent girl, you almost hit me," The elder said now just noticing how my blade hit the guy behind him.
    "Yeah, but you would have been dead if I didn't. Now wouldn't you?" I said while questioning him with a sweet smiling on my face. He looked at me like I was crazy. Running back into battle I spun around letting go of the blades, so the chains extended causing the blades to fly out and hit unexpected enemies, to either kill, or knock out. When I stopped a ninja in front of me threw senbon, which had little bells on the ends. Thinking nothing of it I dodged, but something didn't feel right, once I heard the toll from the bells. I became nauseas, and started to become dizzy. 'The bells?' I thought remembering how I learned right before I came here that sound ninjas manipulated sound waves, and other things, causing balance, and other senses to become blurry, to which they were able to take out their opponents. "Everybody be careful!" I shouted, when I felt my balance disappear. Making a couple quick hand signs, I had an earth shield around me.



    Hearing Akane's cry,along with the sounds of bells, I grabbed my headband and jerked it upwards, so that it was like a bandanna that covered my ears and nose. With the sounds of battle muffled I had to be sharper, see more...suddenly a ninja lunged at me with an upraised kunai. I rose my fans to shield myself, but the ninja toppled to the side unexpectely with a strangled yell. I looked, surprised, to see Momoko, clawing at the man's back, growling ferociously. "Way to go, Momoko." I thuoght to myself, turning. Feeling my jutsu begin to wear off I made the appropriate handsigns and poured more chakra into the fans. They were basically the major part of my Earth Control Jutsu - well, not just the fans. I needed a weapon to direct the use of the jutsu, and fans were just so...convenient.
    seeing a kunai shoot at me, I dodged, and lashed upwards. It richoted off of my fan and clattered to the ground nearby.
    I glanced back at the elder. he was doing okay.
    I glanced at the others. Everyone was doing okay, as well. I turned back to one of the sound ninja and, as they ran at me, jabbed outwards with my left hand. Immedietly roots shot up, wrapping around his ankle. As he stumbled, and lurched towards me, I slid out of the way and jabbed to the left. The roots shot up high in the air, and when I closed the fans, they let go of the ninja, who flew over the elder's head and crashed into one of the other sound ninja. They tumbled to the edge of the forest and, using the same technique as I had the other ninja, made earth come up and enclose them tightly so that they couldn't move. I turned to the Elder.
    "Are you alright?" I called.
    "Of course I am, what do you think I am, eighty?" the elder snapped, before turning away and muttering something about rude, inconsiderate twerps.
    I turned, and saw a sound ninja scoop up Momoko, raising up a kunai as the tanuki struggled to free himself. Forgetting my jutsu, I tugged out two kunai and threw them. one hit the man's elbow, and the kunai fell to the ground. as he spun, looking for the attacker, I grabbed Momoko and, having the earth come up to secure my left foot, rose up and planted a high kick right in the man's chest. He fell backwards, letting go of Momoko. I set the tanuki down and tore my foot out of the rock, looking for Akane. Instead, there was a wall of earth. I frowned in confusion, and turned back to the ninja. Almost all were disposed of. (that sounds so malicious, doesn't it?)
    Suddenly a kunai was launched at me - I twisted out of the way and hurried to find the perpetrator. Other concerns would have to wait until the fight was over.


    Everything had become silenced, when the shield was made. Hating to retreat, once the side affects had disappeared, I opened my shield back up to only find a couple of sound ninja left. Seeing as one had it's back turned in my general direction I jumped on his back. He started struggling till he got a good grip on my vest and heaved, next thing I knew I was lying on the ground still holding onto the guys shirt. 'That was kinda fun,' I thought after I was thrown. I heard two puffs of smoke some from where Miki and Sho, just turned back to their animal forms. "Get'em," I told them as they began to hiss at the sound ninja to which he turned round to see only two ferrets, tearing at his face. I turned, still hearing him still screaming in a girly way. "Oh get over it," I said over my shoulder, to the guy who ran off, and to see my ferrets jumping back on my shoulders. Checking back on the elder, he was still unscratched, and not kidnapped to my disappointment, sort of, since he always complained about how we didn't treat him right, but we needed him to be successful to our mission. I heard a shriek come from the forest, which sounded oddly familiar to Matsuo's. Wait Matsuo's? Beginning to run to the forest I found her cornered up against, a giant mushroom by about five other sound ninja. "Hey!" Only one turned and looked at me.

    "Look another girly here to save the day," It was a woman who spoke. "Beat it before you get burnt," She said.
    The heat from the sun started to make it even hotter outside. "I wouldn't be talking!" Next thing the Kunoichi saw was hand signs. "Your going to be the one burnt," I said allowed, as a plume of hot lava began to flow.