Aceso felt herself falling off the rope once more, she headed straight for the water, then before she was even halfway there, she felt someone catch her bridal style and they landed on the ground. She looked up to see Rock Lee. His eyes were closed from smiling really big. In the short amount of time, he's gotten out of the hospital, he's gotten stronger at a rapid rate.

" Thanks, Lee," Aceso thanked him.

" I'm here to protect," Lee laughed as he tilted his head.

" What are you doing here?" Aceso asked.

" Gai-sensei said Kakashi-sensei and you were training here today," Lee answered as he opened his eyes. " We just finished up training and thought to stop by."

" Where's Tenten?" Aceso asked.

" She's done with training for today," Lee answered as he finally put her down. " We are going to continue."

" But first chow time," Kakashi instructed before getting out of the tree. They all gathered around, sat on a fallen tree trunk ate food that Gai-sensei and Lee brought. 

" What kind of training are you doing today Kakashi?" Gai asked.

" Balance," Kakashi answered as Aceso looked up at the rope.

" How youthful," Gai laughed

" I would like to train on my balance as well!" Lee proposed as he raised his hand. " It will help me become a splendid ninja."

" Excellent idea Lee!" Gai said with a smile, his teeth shined. After they finished eating Aceso and Lee start on two separate ropes side by side as Gai and Kakashi stood on the two separate tree branches observing. Lee started off the way she did, kept trembling and falling over. Aceso had got back on her hands and was able to balance.

" Now walk," Kakashi ordered. Aceso breathed took a breath, and picked up a hand letting the air out, she immediately fell over. After she resurfaced from the water, she on the edge of the river and stared up at the ropes catching her breath.

" It's become more difficult hasn't it?" Kakashi asked.

" Yeah," Aceso breathed as Lee splashed into the water. She looked back at their teachers.

" With the power of youth, you shall balance on one hand in no time!" Gai shouted, he gave a thumbs up and a smile. Aceso looked back up at the rope, one hand...seemed impossible.

" Not giving up are you?" Lee asked. Aceso looked to see that he was next to her, staring up.

" Strategizing," Aceso answered. The two went back up, Lee finally managed to get totally balance, now he trying to balance on one hand, Aceso was still struggling major with it.

" I say that's enough for today," Kakashi said.

" We are not done," Lee insisted as he was dangling from the rope with one hand.

" A good night of rest will embrace more youth to use tomorrow during training," Guy informed.

" YOUTH!" Lee yelled as he let go of the rope and went into the water. They went in for the rest of the night, Aceso lay in her bed staring out the window. All she had to do tomorrow was make medicine, but what she really wanted to do was train more. She got up and walked over to her cabinets and pulled out the things she needed. 

" Balance," Aceso said. " Balance is keeping both sides even, both sides at peace, if it's uneven then everything falls." Aceso's hands accidentally knocked a jar off the shelf, it fell onto her and she fell onto the floor. " Ow." She looked back at her bookshelf and saw that they were being held up by each other. She took the jar off her and crawled over to the bookcase. She carefully removed the books so only two stood up.  

" What are you doing awake?" a voice asked, she jumped. She looked over to see Lee opening her window.

" You are one to ask," Aceso said as he plopped on the bed.

" You should be asleep," Lee said as he laid back on the bed.

" Tomorrow...we should hold each other balance for a minute," Aceso suggested.

" Huh?" Lee asked as he lifted his head.

" Well, these books are holding each other up, and one is taken away," Aceso began, she took away one book. " It stays up."

" We can try that in the morning," Lee suggested.

" More like afternoon," Aceso corrected. " You have your normal team training and I have work to do here."

" So we shall take this time and embrace the power of youth in our sleep!" Lee declared before falling asleep, snoring loudly.

The next day Aceso was dropping a few things off at the Hokage's office, when she walked in she saw Sakura in the room as well.

" Lady Hokage, Sakura," Aceso greeted.

"Doctor Matsuba," Tsunade greeted. " Dropping off the usual papers?"

" Yes," Aceso answered. " How's your training going Sakura?"

" It's coming along," Sakura answered. " Can you help me today?"

" I am sorry, but I am going to have to pass," Aceso apologized.

" WHAT!?" Sakura explained as she held up a fist. 

" I'm doing training of my own later today," Aceso answered in a panic.

" You're the youngest Doctor at the hospital what more training do you need?" Tsunade asked.

" Not medical training," Aceso denied. " Though I'm sure this can help with it. Kakashi-sensei is having me train with the ropes."

" Kakashi-sensei is training you?" Sakura asked.

" Um, yes," Aceso answered. " He used to train with me a long time ago, but a lot has changed since then."

" So when can you help me?" Sakura asked.

" Tomorrow morning," Aceso answered. 

" I suggest you girls work out a schedule," Tsunade suggested. " Sakura wants to become a medical ninja and fast."

" Yes, my lady," the two agreed.

" Make it now," Tsunade ordered. The two then sat down and worked out a schedule, it took a bit longer than Aceso would have liked. She was now bolting to the practice area to find the other three already there.

" Aren't I supposed to be the late one?" Kakashi asked.

" I get it from you," Aceso shot at him, and Kakashi laughed.

" We each have to go on a mission, so I suspect you two are to get some training down," Kakashi instructed.

" Use that power of youth, embrace the prime of it!" Gai added. "I expect perfection when we get back!" He chimed a smile at them.

" Yes, senseis," the two said. The two adults took off leaving the students alone. They immediately went to train, they had to take a break due to an emergency at the hospital. 

After they went right back to training. They stood on the ropes balancing, they stood side by side. The bottom of their feet touched each other, lining up with each other. Slowly they pulled their feet back, they started off really well standing on one hand before falling over into the water.

" Progress," Lee breathed once they resurfaced.

" Again," Aceso breathed. By the end of the day, the two had managed to be able to balance on one hand. They ended up falling asleep in the trees, being too tired to actually go to their homes. The next morning Aceso woke up to find Lee already on the ropes, he was balancing better.

" Lee?" Aceso asked he looked over at her. " What time is it?"

" Almost 8," Lee answered.

" I gotta go," Aceso said as she shot up onto her feet.

" What about training?" Lee asked as he turned his body, he lost balance and fell over, he grabbed the ropes in time.

" I'm helping out Sakura train to become a medical ninja," Aceso answered. " I'll be back!" She jumped down and bolted towards the infirmary, she opened a door to find Sakura waiting for her.

" LATE!" Sakura roared as she arched her arm back.

" I'm sorry!" Aceso squeaked as she put her hands up. " I overslept!"

" You live upstairs," Sakura reminded her. " On the top floor, with the sign that has your name on it."

" Wow, I really wish everyone didn't know where I lived," Aceso said as she lowered her head. 

" Where have you been?" a voice demanded angrily, she felt someone really close behind her.

" Late," Aceso answered as she slowly turned to see Tsunade glaring at her.

" And why were you late!?" Tsunade demanded as she put her hands on her hips. " Don't try to lie to me, I had just swung by your room."

" I fell asleep at the spot I was training at yesterday," Aceso answered. " I must've been too tired to come home."

" This is your one and the only pass," Tsunade warned.

" Yes, my lady," Aceso sweated nervously. She immediately went to Sakura and began to help her and Tsunade left to do work in her office.

" I thought Kakashi left to go on a mission," Sakura brought up after two hours.

" He did," Aceso confirmed.

" Did you lie to Lady Tsunade?" Sakura asked.

" No," Aceso denied. " I'm training with Rock Lee." Sakura glanced at Aceso, for the first time she saw how weary the young doctor looked.

" You've been training really hard, haven't you?" Sakura asked.

" I've been training as hard as you are training to become a medical ninja," Aceso informed. " Balancing shouldn't be much of training, but ....it's gotten a bit challenging. A lot more challenging than I thought it would be."

" How is Lee doing?" Sakura asked. 

" His recovery has been amazing," Aceso answered. " Almost as if he was never injured in the first place." She looked at Sakura's hands. " Turn your left hand a little." Sakura did as she was told and the process went easier. 

" Thank you," Sakura said. Aceso was taken back, for the amount of time she knew Sakura, she's never been this decent to her. A few hours later, the two finished their session, and Aceso went off back to go train. When she got back to the sight as she saw that Lee was just showing up as well.

" Ready?" Lee asked as he held out a thumbs up and smiled.

" Yeah," Aceso answered as she mimicked him. " Are you?" 

" YOUTH!" Lee shouted, the two went back to training, two hours into the two were able to balance on one hand, on the left and right. " What's next?"

" Walking," Aceso answered as she lifted her hand and put it in front of the other one. The first step was a success, then she felt something wack her on the front and she fell over, she splashed into the water. She resurfaced and saw Lee face down in the water. She turned him over, he spat water up. 

" I have to do pushups," Lee breathed without opening his eyes. " I have hit you and must punish myself."

" It was an accident," Aceso pointed out.

" 2000," Lee came up with a number as his eyes finally opened. 

" Push-ups?" Aceso asked as he went over to the edge.

" And crunches," Lee said as he got out and started to do pushups.

" It's alright," Aceso said as she got out. " Not like you meant it."

"50," Lee counted. She shook her head and went back up. About three hours later Lee finally finished his punishment pushups, he sat down and stared up at her. She had transferred to putting her ninja shoes back on her feet, everything seemed to come easier. 

" Are you going to be down there all day?" Aceso asked.

" As soon as I've accomplished 2000 kicks," Lee answered as he got up.

" How about 2000 steps on the rope?" Aceso asked.

" Even better!" Lee giggled as he shot up. He began to walk across the rope, he lost balance and his arms flailed, he was about to fall over, when she felt some grab his leg and hook it. He looked down to see Aceso holding him steady. Her leg interlocked with his. He then turned bright red and fainted.

" Hey! Snap out of it!" Aceso squeaked as she taped his face. He went a darker shade of red and melted. Hours later, the two had mastered walking across the rope, Aceso made it so the ropes were right next to each other. She pulled out a few more ropes and put them right next to each other. They then sat down on the ropes, sitting back to back as the sun went down. He was much taller than her, even sitting down.

"Any more steps?" Lee asked as he panted.

" One more," Aceso said as a thought popped in her head.

" What is it?" Lee asked.

" That's a surprise for later," Aceso answered. The wind gently blew, and the head of a flower landed on Lee's leg, it was yellow.

" For you youthful flower," Lee said as he picked it up and held his hand back.

" It's pretty, thank you," Aceso smiled as she picked up the flower. She leaned forward and turned her head to get a better look at him. " Were you carrying this around all day?"

" No," Lee laughed as he turned to look at her. " It landed on me a few seconds ago. " He closed his eyes and smiled brightly at her. Aceso saw how the sun was giving Lee a warmer presence, it was as if it was making him glow. Her cheeks started to heat up, and she then quickly turned back around.

*****

The following day the two met up in the area they'd been training for the past couple of days.

" So what is it you want to do?" Lee asked as he balanced on his rope.

" Spar," Aceso answered.

" WHAT!?" Lee exclaimed with wide eyes as he jumped up. " But-"

" I need to be prepared for anything, so I want to spare while we are up here," Aceso insisted.

" Are you sure?" Lee asked.

" Positive," Aceso assured. " In a way, we're both getting stronger, embracing the prime time of youth." She held up a peace sign. 

" Don't use that method on me," Lee warned as he crossed his arms.

" Please," Aceso requested as she looked up at him, her eyes piercing into his.

" Okay," Lee said as he started to melt a little.

" This isn't a time to melt," Aceso scolded him, the two backed up and then charged at each other and started to fight. Aceso's fist shot passed his arm and then gently stopped before his chest.

" You shouldn't let personal feelings get in the way," Lee advised.

" Then don't go easy," Aceso fired back. She jumped back, and then two went at it again. He elbowed her and she flew back a bit. 

" I really don't want to hurt you," Lee insisted.

" I'll be fine," Aceso assured as she got back up on her feet. They went back to sparring, every once and a while one would lose balance and they'd both fall into the water.

Lee spun to kick. "Leaf--Woah!" His arms flared back causing him to fall, causing Aceso to fall after him. They both resurfaced panting, Lee looked over to see Aceso's braids had disappeared, he looked to see two ponytails floating past him, and he quickly grabbed them. 

"Let's go again," Aceso said as she looked at him. Lee swore his heart was about to rip through him, her hair was down, and the way the sun shined on her at the moment...Lee looked away to hide the blush coming onto his face. They both went back to spar. A few hours later, down below Kakashi and Gai both walked over, they looked up to see their students/kids going at it.

" Who do you think is pushing who?" Gai asked.

" If anything, they are pushing each other," Kakashi said. Back up above, Aceso jumped back, she stopped glanced back, and saw the two senseis.

" You're back!" Aceso explained as her face lit up. Lee glanced down.

" GAI-SENSEI!" Lee cried out with happy tears. The two jumped down and happily reunited with the adults.

" How was your mission?" Lee asked.

" Went without a hitch," Gai answered with a smile.

" Any trouble?" Aceso asked.

" What mission goes on without trouble?" Gai asked. "Only shows that it wasn't challenging enough!" 

" I see you two had been hard at work," Kakashi noted as he pointed up.

" All while enjoying the prime time of our youth!" Lee said as he gave a thumbs up.

" This calls for food at Ramen Ichiraku," Gai announced as he held out his thumb and smiled so big his teeth shined.

The next morning Aceso was up on the rooftop folding clothes and hanging up sheets with Sakura.

" This is part of medical training?" Sakura asked, not feeling totally convinced.

" Technically no," Aceso answered. "Though, if you plan on working on here at the hospital at some point. You should help out with the small things as well. Plus, it's nice sometimes to get away from everything going on inside the building." The wind was blowing gently.

" I want to get stronger not fold clothes," Sakura pointed out.

" It helps take a load off my shoulders when I receive help," Aceso admitted. " Last time I got help with the laundry was during the Chunin exams from Gaara."

" Then I am glad I could help," Sakura smiled at her. " You must be bonded with Gaara a lot back then."

" Very much," Aceso answered. " Now I can bond with you more, and I am happy with that." Sakura gasped.

" But I've been so mean to you," Sakura pointed out.

" Water under the bridge," Aceso shrugged. " Holding a grudge can really affect you." She put a sheet over a line and straightened it out, then pinned it. 

" I challenge you!" a voice shouted, they looked to see Lee on the roof in a fighting stance. Aceso threw a wet shirt at him, it hit him and he fell over the edge. 

" Ah!" Lee yelped, there was a thud. " I'm okay!"

" Why does he want to fight you of all people?" Sakura asked.

" Well, yesterday I had him spar with me up on the ropes," Aceso informed. " I got a little mad at him for going easy at first."

" You know Lee is strong right?" Sakura asked. " I don't want you getting hurt."

" Good thing I have you to patch me up," Aceso smiled.

" He's strong," Sakura reminded her. "Like really strong." They looked over to see Lee climbing over the edge with the shirt on his back, which still looked clean.

" I'm aware," Aceso said as she observed Lee a bit more. 

" There you two are!" a voice chimed. They looked over at the door to see Lady Tsunade and Shizune.

" Naruto, Kiba Akamaru, Hinata, and Shino have all come back from their mission," Shizune informed.

" How did it go?" Sakura asked with hope.

" Did they find the Bikochu beetle?" Aceso asked.

" Yes," Shizune answered.

" But it was a complete failure," Tsunade groaned in annoyance.

" Huh?" the two girls asked as Lee hung up the shirt.

" They have found the beetle...but when it hatched," Shizune began, she wasn't so sure how to explain.

" Naruto let out some gas and now there is no way to get the beetle to train the scent of Sasuke," Tsunade explained with uneasement.

" He did what?" Sakura asked getting angry.

" Hey, little sister!" a voice cheered, they looked to see Naruto squatting on the edge, waving at her with a big smile. He then loses some happiness. " Oh, hey Sakura."

" You blew the mission by doing what!?" Sakura growled as she grew even angrier. Aceso took a small step away from the pink hair girl. Naruto started running away from her. " Hey, get back here!" They jumped from building to building.

" Ah!" Naruto screamed out as the others went to the side and watched. 

" So you failed the mission because you did what?" Sakura asked as she chased him.

" I hope she ends this quickly, I was really liking the help I was getting," Aceso wished.

" I'm just glad I'm not Naruto," Lee gulped as he walked up to Aceso. 

" These clothes aren't going to fold themselves," Shizune brought up. " And Lee don't you have some training to do?"

" Oh right," Aceso nodded as she went back to putting up freshly washed clothes.

" Then we train," Lee insisted.

" I'm busy today," Aceso informed.

" But training," Lee insisted. Aceso picked up a basket and handed it to Lee. 

" Find Tenten, along with Neji and go gather so ingredients for medicine for me," Aceso requested. "  A personal mission from me." She took out a paper with a list and put it in the basket. 

" On it!" Lee agreed before taking off. Tsunade and Shizune looked at each other questioningly and then looked back at Aceso and smiled.