The four genin all sat around Kakashi once they were settled in Tazun's house thinking about the previous battle.

"This is dangerous, Zabuza will be coming back for us once he's at full health. We need to be prepared for his next attack." Ko thought as she glanced at each teammate.

"Look, Kakashi isn't waking up anytime soon. Let's get some food and rest." Sasuke suggested breaking the silence between them

Everyone nodded and headed downstairs into the kitchen where Tazuna's daughter Tsunami, made them a meal. They all ate in silence still shocked at the days events until Tazuna spoke up.

"I must say kids, you've impressed me. I didn't think you could actually fight. Specially you kid," He said looking at Naruto, "didn't think you could do anything."

Ko got up from the table catching everyone's attention. "I'm going to get some rest," she announced.

"Take the room upstairs on the left. There's a bed and a cot for you girls."

"I call the bed!" Sakura shouted.

"Alright,"

"Hey Ko," Sakura called making her stop in her tracks. "That was amazing what you did back there. You didn't look scared at all." Naruto nodded in agreement thankfully not talking with his mouth full.

"I was scared," she admitted, "but I had to ignore it for the mission."

Ko went upstairs and into the room where she changed into her pjs then went up on the roof. The air was cool on her pale skin making her shiver a bit. She wove seals, bit her thumb slamming her hand on the ground to summon a snake.

"Yes master?" The little brown garden snake bowed in respect.

"Any word from Orochimaru?" She questioned getting right to the point. Ever since she arrived at the Leaf, she hasn't heard from her father directly; only through Kabuto and even then she didn't hear much.

"No ma'am."

"You may go," she sighed

Ko stayed up on the roof laying down enjoying the peace and quiet of the night. She activated her Subete Miru to look at the area surrounding her; everything still looked strange to her with it activated. She could see everyone downstairs eating and making small talk but they, along with everything else, was red. Her eyes scanned for Zabuza and his little friend who were nowhere in sight thankfully. She saw Sakura heading up to the room, so Ko jumped back inside and laid on the cot placed on the floor. Sakura entered, quickly changed and plopped on the bed.

"Ko, how were you able to do that on the battlefield? Those moves you did with your sword and being able to dodge Zabuza."

"I didn't train for no reason Sakura. Being a ninja means you are going to run into a battle, you can't be afraid to fight for your life. Emotions such as fear cloud your judgement and body making it impossible to fight back." Ko said staring at the pinkette.

"O-oh," she responded turning away from Ko processing her words.

Sakura became silent for a while and soon they were both asleep. The next morning everyone went downstairs to eat breakfast then went to check on Kakashi. When they walked into his room, they saw he had his blanket covering the bottom half of his face.

"Are you alright sensei?" Tsunami questioned seeing he was awake.

"Yeah, I just can't move for a week or so." Kakashi replied only gazing in their direction.

"The Sharingan is incredible but if it puts that much stress on the body, I guess you have to think before using it." Sakura explained making Ko roll her eyes. "Who was that masked kid?"

"That's the mask worn by the hidden mist special hunter-nin team. They are also known as body erasers. Their duty is to completely dispose of the body without a trace. A ninja's body has within it secrets of the Village's ninjutsu information on different chakra types, herbs, and other things that will reveal things about the village." Kakashi explained as he slowly started to get up. The genin leaned in closer anticipating to see his face but when the blanket fell, his mask was already in place.

"But sensei, he didn't dispose of the body on the spot. I thought they do it right then and there?" Ko questioned already knowing the answer but a normal genin wouldn't put the details together.

"No way," Sasuke gasped finally figuring it out.

"Exactly, yeah." Kakashi admitted rubbing the back of his head.

"What?" Sakura, Naruto, and Tazuna questioned.

"Zabuza is alive," everyone gasped at his statement.

"What the hell do you mean? Kakashi sensei, you checked and said that he was dead!" Naruto shouted in disbelief.

"The sebon could've hit certain nerves that put him in a state of death." Ko pointed out looking over at Naruto who had a scared look on his face as he stared up at their sensei hoping she was wrong.

"Exactly, unless it hits a vital organ, it has a low chance of killing your opponent." Kakashi confirmed making Naruto's face drop.

"Aren't you thinking too much? Hunter-nins are supposed to kill missing-nins." Tazuna interjected.

"Whether Zabuza is dead or alive, there's no assurances that Gatou hasn't hired an even stronger shinobi." Kakashi attempted to support himself with one arm but it gave out making him rest on his back.

"But you can hardly move," Sakura gasped.

"You guys will receive training."

"I don't think that will do much," Ko crossed her arms knowing a few days of training will do nothing for her teammates.

"Who saved me while I was struggling? You guys are growing rapidly. Especially Naruto! You've improved the most."

"How long do we have?" Sasuke asked getting right to the point.

"A person put in a momentary death situation. It should take a while before their body returns to normal, so we'll train until then." Kakashi explained just as Tsunami's son came in saying they were going to die and being doubtful of their abilities.

"This kid doesn't have any hope. He's defiantly seen something."

Kakashi then led them out to the forest nearby. He made a hand sign then proceeded to walk up the tree with no hands amazing the three genin.

"You understand now? Gather your chakra in the bottom of your feet and climb up a tree. This is something you can do once you can use chakra well." He then threw kunai at their feet, which each grabbed and wielded.

"Use these kunais to mark how high up you make it. Then use that mark as your goal and try to surpass it. You guys won't be good enough to just walk up first so run towards it first."

They all ran towards the tree. Naruto didn't use enough chakra and fell, Sasuke used too much and also fell. Ko ran up a little further than the boys and jumped off the tree, landing on the ground not wanting to show off. Sakura was the only one who made it to a branch.

"This is pretty easy!" Sakura shouted from above them.

"Looks like the best at controlling chakra right now is Sakura.

"Looks like the closest to Hokage is Sakura unlike a certain someone. I guess the Uchiha clan isn't worth much either. I see someone is going to make her parents proud."

Ko glared at her sensei, "that's low Kakashi."

Ko was planning on not showing off but she hated the fact that Sakura looked more superior so she ran up the tree landing on a branch a few feet higher than Sakura. Flashing her a smug smile putting her in her place.

"Scratch that, looks like the girls are the superior gender in this group. Sakura and Ko, you both may go to the bridge and protect Tazuna."

Sakura and Ko spent hours just sitting down and watching the bridge being built. Ko was meditating while Sakura watched in boredom. Ko had to admit, this was even more boring than the academy.

"Where's that blonde kid and the other one?" Tazuna asked as he approached the two carrying a few large boards.

"They're training." Sakura answered.

"You don't have to?" Tazuna looked down at the girls thinking they weren't much if the boys were off training while they sat around doing nothing.

"Since I'm so superior Kakashi sensei asked me to protect you." Sakura boasted feeling proud of herself indicated by her placing her hands on her hips.

"What about her?" He motioned with his free hand at Ko who was trying to tune them out but it was unsuccessful.

"Well she didn't need the training either, but I finished first." Sakura's remark irked Ko making her want to throw her over the bridge but she remained calm pretending not to hear them.

Sakura turned to dark haired girl who was still attempting to meditate. "Hey Ko?" She questioned.

"What?" Ko responded harshly making Sakura flinch a little not expecting that type of response.

"What are you doing? Sleeping?" Tazuna questioned not believing the same girl who took on Zabuza was sitting here doing nothing.

"I'm meditating," she opened her red eyes to look up at the man who could see the irritation in her eyes. He scoffed rolling his eyes and continued to do his work leaving the girls.

"Why are you meditating?" Sakura questioned making Ko sigh.

"It helps me,"

"With what?"

"I can focus on my chakra and strengthen my mind."

"What?"

"Ugh," Ko uncrossed her legs and turned to Sakura. "Meditating strengthens the mind which you critically need when in battle. If your mind is also strong you can defend against most genjutsu. You train your brain just like your body. It also helps me control my emotions."

"Oh, I didn't know you have to train your mind."

"No one really does. It's just like the Sharingan or Byakugan. Their eyes are trained to see through genjutsu. Us of course do not have that ability since we can't really deflect a genjutsu with our eyes unless its weak but if your mind is strong, you'll easily get out of it."

"How do you know all of this?"

"I read a lot."

"Why do you need to control your emotions?" Sakura asked which made Ko smirk.

"It's helping me not throw you off this bridge right now because of your stupid questions." Ko answered which made Sakura's face fall into a worried expression. She cleared her throat then turned away from her teammate ending their conversation.

"Come on girls, we're going home." Tazuna called once the sun started to set.

The girls got up to follow Tazuna to his home then helped set the table for dinner while waiting for the boys to come back from training. Just after the boys arrived, dinner was ready so everyone dug in.

"Wow it's been a long time since we ate with so many people." Tazuna laughed as he looked around the full table.

"More!" Sasuke and Naruto shouted holding out their bowls, food still stuffed in there mouth.

Just after their demands, they both threw up on the floor.

"You both are wasting food if you're going to throw it up." Ko scolded knowing how starved this country was and would kill for this food.

"If you're going to throw up then stop eating!" Sakura shrieked grossed out by the throw up on the floor.

"No, I must eat." Sasuke stated as she shoveled more food into this mouth.

"Yeah, we have to no matter what. Because we have to become stronger." Naruto agreed.

"Well I'm going upstairs, I've had enough of watching the two of you puking." Ko announced pushing her chair away from the table proceeding to the sink to wash it then headed up the stairs.

Edited March 18, 2020