IF you like BNHA check out my ongoing reader insert story called Fight or Flight!

I knocked on the apartment door, rocking back and forth on my heels while waiting. There were some loud crashes followed by a loud string of curses that would make a sailor blush. I giggled at the sound. The ruckus stopped and the door was thrown open. I glomped the tall bulky man, knocking him slightly off balance.

"Zabuza-senpaiiiiiii!" I shouted. Zabuza grunted in extreme annoyance; yet, he wrapped his large arms around me and held me up.

"Fucking brat, waking me up when I finally got to sleep. What the hell do you want now." Zabuza growled out. Since its like 2:30 and he was sleeping, he must have been on a mission and just got back. After intense interrogations and testing of his loyalty, plus the vouching of Kakashi and my father, Zabuza was put on the assassination squad for Konoha to make money, and was placed as my protector when he proved himself to my father, something about the clan princess needing protection. Which is pretty sucky since I still always have people watching over me, but with Zabuza, my 'hidden' Hyuuga guard duty is shrinking.

"You can sleep soon. Guess what sempai! I passed the second part of the Chunin exams. There is a month for me to prepare for my battle against one of the strongest Genin, he's at my level. I need you to train me for the third part of the Chunin exams. I still have so much to learn from you, I need to perfect my water style and you are one of the best to teach me. Pleaseee!" I gave Zabuza my best puppy dog eyes, knowing threatening him would only make him laugh at me, then attack with his sword. Zabuza's demonic glare was still on his face, but I knew he was cracking and would give in, mainly so he could enjoy the torture of a month straight of training me into the ground.

"You really think you can handle my training for a month. I'm not going to hold back, if you really want to be the best at water ninjutsu, I will beat the skills into you. You will listen to everything I say, no arguments. I didn't take it easy on Haku, don't expect me to take it easy on you. Training with Kakashi will seem like child's play compared to what I have in store for you. I'm going to run you into the ground." Zabuza had a dark sadistic energy surrounding him, he let out a dark booming chuckle.

I pushed myself out of his arms, a bit creeped out at the pure excitement he was showing on being able to 'run me into the ground.' If my dad's punishments were hard, this might actually kill me. There is one thing doing physical training until you drop, but doing chakra training until you drop, that is a form of exhaustion that could be considered torture. It feels like your life force is actually drained from your body.

"Hai Senpai, I will kick your training's ass." I said determined. Zabuza chuckled a bit, and it was at that moment I knew... I fucked up.

"You got guts kid, now I get to see the skills you've been hiding from me. Training will be everyday from 4:30 am to 6 pm. I'm not Kakashi and I wont be late, and I don't want my strength to be dragged through the mud from a weak protégé so I will not tolerate lateness or complaints. You will see why they call me a demon very soon. Now get the hell out of my sight and let me sleep." He slammed the door in my face and I fist pumped, ecstatic that I get the full attention of Zabuza in training me. This way I can finally hone my water ninjutsu and help work out the problems Shika and I can't solve. I left Zabuza's complex and headed to Shisui's house.

I raised my hand to knock on the door, but before I could, it was slid open revealing Shisui standing there with a proud smile on his pale Uchiha face. His sensing skills have become as good if not better than Hizashi's in his blindness. He knows exactly who and where people around him are without effort, when I try to do that good, I have to concentrate really hard. I was enveloped into a hug, and I quickly melted into his large frame, his familiar chakra: a bright hum of excited, yet peaceful water brought me comfort. I always wondered why a fire user had more water reminiscent chakra, it probably has to do with his name.

"Imouto, Sasuke came home and told me everything. You did such a good job against that Snake freak. I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you, I know he's scary, I know. I'm so proud of you, I'm so proud. You did so good, you don't have to be so strong and stubborn anymore." All the fear, self loathing, and sadness I was suppressing since Orochimaru showed up was surfaced with Shisui's words. I had to be strong for Sasuke, but I finally broke down. My whole body was shaking wildly so Shisui tightened his grasp and ran his fingers through my hair. His scent and large body, like my father's made me feel at home and safe.

"I froze, he was so scary, I tried to be strong and fight him but I was so scared. I feel so weak, I couldn't stop him from hurting Sasuke. Why am I so weak, why!" I cried out into Shisui's chest. Shisui enveloped his chakra around me. It was warm and kind similar to eating cookies on a snowy day. My body immediately stopped shaking at the comfort he provided me and I allowed myself to cry all of my pain away, getting myself lost in the feelings of his embrace and his chakra running across my skin.

He repeated how proud of me he was, and after half an hour, I was calm enough to tell him my side of the story, the pieces Sasuke was incapacitated for. His chakra flow became agitated as I told him what Orochimaru said to me, something was wrong with the situation but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what. Shishi must have had an idea, but refused to tell me.

"Ok ok, enough with this emotional stuff, so tell me. Whose butt are you kicking in the final round of the exams. I feel really bad for whoever it is, haha the poor soul. You might be worse to fight that 'tachi-chan was, he was at least silent and didn't trash talk his opponents." Shisui teased. I looked up and saw Shisui's familiar shit-eating grin. "I mean, you just never stop, always finding a way to insult your opponent no matter how strong they are. Naruto just talks them and annoys them, but through that he can change people. You just aggravate people through indirect insults, especially when you emasculate men. Maybe Zabuza will beat your loud mouth out of you."

Shisui let out a super masculine giggle. "Ohh, I can just imagine your adorable face pouting, trying to look angry." I turned around in his embrace and tackled him into the ground, punching his chest over and over, hard enough to feel but not enough to hurt.

"Shisui-nii, you asshole, It's not my fault I can't stop, you taught me all that I know anyways, so basically it's your fault."

"Nope, you were a genius and already had a big mouth, I just honed in on your skills." I pouted, which soon turned into a happy smile as Shisui continued his laughing and incessant taunting. After a while, we stopped and decided to go out to eat, having both of us cooking would end poorly and when Sasuke got back, he'd murder both of us for using his stuff. We sat down at a small civilian cafe that has the best Dango in Konoha. Shisui, like always, ordered a crap ton of Dango and was acting like a little kid getting candy for the first time. We were chatting about my training with Zabuza when Shisui's face tuned into one of his devious smirks.

"Soo Imouto..." Shisui sang out. I tensed a bit, knowing nothing good can come when he's in his mood. I mean last time I ended up on a supposed date with Sasuke. "Have any of your lovely suitors confessed yet? Zabuza-kun and I have a bet going and I'd really like to win 10,000 yen."

"What the hell are you talking about, I don't think I have any suitors, except maybe Gaara. And Itachi was the one even close to a suitor and that's because he had to." Shisui's smile widened in a mocking way. "And stop betting on my love life. Gah, thats soo weird." Shisui took a massive bite of his dango and patronizingly pat my head. I swatted his hand away.

"My sweet little genius, you are such an idiot sometimes. How you can read people so well, except when it comes to romance, eludes me." He teased, laughing in the expense of my confusion and annoyance. I'm not that oblivious... am I? I know I don't know that much about romantic love, but I thought I'd at least be able to tell if somebody liked me. I mean, the only reason Itachi kissed me was to piss off Sasuke so he'd kill him.

"Whatever." I huffed, "soo.. who'd you guys bet on?" I leaned forward eagerly, maybe if I know who supposedly likes me, I can figure out the signs.

"I bet on the lazy genius Shikamaru, you obviously spend a lot of time together and he's been crushing on you since you guys were little. One day he's going to get annoyed with the troublesomeness of not telling you and will confess. Zabuza bet on Naruto, he has no filter and once he figures out he likes you, Naruto's going to confess. It all depends on who does it first. There's still always the chance Sasuke gains his confidence and confesses." Shisui's grin just seemed to get bigger and bigger. My eyes widened in shock at the statement.

"Wow, you guys really put a lot of thought into this." Shisui laughed out. Something clicked though, Shikamaru is a low chance, he wants a non-troublesome wife, that is not me. But Naruto, with him they might be on to something. When we were in the forest of death, when he realized he didn't like Sakura, was he talking about me? I mean, fuck it...this is definitely a future Hinata problem.

And then there is Sasuke, I mean Sasuke and I are really close and everything, he always likes to touch me and stuff, but I thought that was just because we were best friends. I kind if assumed he was asexual, and only had a kid to continue his lineage, but maybe he's just emotionally stunted.

"Oh Fuck!" Shisui began laughing loudly and obnoxiously, lots of peoples eyes turned to us in confusion. My brain seemed to shut down for a second. I guess, I never thought about dating or romance, I've been to focused on getting stronger and saving people. What the fuck am I supposed to do. I don't know if I like anyone, or what if I like more than one person. Aghhhhhh. You know what, save my precious people first, think about romance later. An unwanted blush dusted my cheeks pink. "My brain is combusting. Shisui-nii, you dick!" Shisui just continued laughing, thoroughly enjoying my embarrassment.

"Now now, that is not the language fit for the Byakugan Princess, what would your boy toys say to that." He said condescendingly, with a massive amount of teasing. I just huffed, but then smiled, happy that Shisui kept my mind off of anything negative for the time being. I got a piggy back ride from Shisui to his house, and took the rooftops back home to mine. Daddy should be home from his mission and I've been missing Hanabi.

I flickered into the compound and went directly home. When I slid open the door to my families estate, one of the branch member maids came to take my stuff and welcome me back home. I heard light footsteps pitter pattering down the hallway, and the short brown pixie haired head of Hanabi appeared before me. Every day she grows to look more and more like mom.

"Nee-chan! You're back! Did you pass the second part of the exams?" She asked, a cute shy blush on her face, her round eyes looking up a me in wonder. She had an adorable smile on her face and once again, all of my worries melted away at the sight of her.

"Yes hime. What about you, how has the academy been?" I asked, a large smile on my face as I lifted her up and put her on my back. She quietly giggled in happiness, playing with my hair.

"It's really fun. I'm the best in Kunoichi classes, Lady Seiko says I have the poise that rivals a real princess. I am also the best female student alongside Moegi-san. K-Konohamaru-kun is the best male student." Her face blushed brightly, awwww. My heart swelled with pride, I knew she was going to be the best in Kunoichi classes, all of the elegance and grace I lack, she makes up tenfold.

Father doesn't push Hanabi nearly as hard as he did with me, she was groomed to be the perfect princess; however, she did train and was very talented for her age. She wanted to be a ninja so that she could be a mother strong enough to protect her children. Her grace was already apparent and she had the clan wrapped around her fingers already. They saw her as a perfect wife to a clan head, I'm not sure if I like that, but she seems to like it. Whatever makes her happy is ok for me.

All of the clan business drives me crazy anyways, the political aspect of it all is hard for me to swallow, as soon as I fix more important matters, I'm going to rebuild my clan and make it less of a detestable clan. Hanabi and I chatted about her life on our way to dad's office. I slid open the door and was greeted with Dad, his long hair in a tight bun, glasses on his face, surrounded by paperwork all pertaining to clan business and mission briefings. His face was pulled into the ever-familiar scowl. When he looked up at us, his scowl stayed, but his eyes softened.

"Neji said you passed the second stage and the preliminaries. I will be training him as the male head for the clan. What are your plans for the month intermission?" He asked, I could hear the unspoken good job and held back from running into his large body and hugging him. Throughout the exam, when I was scared, I thought a lot of how I wanted my dad there.

"Thank you papa. Zabuza-senpai promised to train me everyday, no breaks." Dad's body was still very tense and he activated his Byakugan scanning over me intensely.

"Acceptable. Hanabi." Dad didn't take his eyes off me as he spoke. "Leave us. Goodnight child." Hanabi scrambled down my back, gave a hug and a bow to dad, and quietly left the room. Dad got up from his kneeling position and walked over to me, bringing be to sit right in front of him. "You encountered Orochimaru correct?" He asked, his voice full of tense anger, thankfully not directed at me.

"Yes."

"I see no worrying physical injuries; however, your chakra is still recovering, you used a deadly amount." He stated, his jaw clenching tightly. He pulled me into him and once again I had to recount the experience. Thankfully, his time I didn't cry. Something about the experience made dad have the same uncomfortable look in his eye that Shisui had. Something was extremely off and for the first time, I don't have the slightest clue to what it is. I knew what dad was trying to convey, he didn't have to say a word.

He was worried for me, yet proud I survived. I relaxed into his massive frame more, basking in the comfort of my dad. He picked me up, carrying me like he did when I was a small child and brought me to his desk. For the next hour I sat and did non-confidential clan paperwork sitting in his lap like I did when I was small. At some point, I fell asleep and he brought me up to Hanabi's room, allowing us to sleep together before I had to leave for my early morning training.

I woke up at the ungodly hour of 4:30, not taking Zabuza's threats lightly. I know I cant be late, no matter how much I hate being up this fucking early. I slowly removed myself from Hanabi's grasp, tucking her back under the blanket for warmth. I trudged out of the house and made my way to the lake. Zabuza arrived shortly after I did, moving silently, looking menacing even without his usual sword. Sadly, he still is wearing the ugly cow leg and arm warmers.

"Mmm...morning Senpai." I yawned, raising my hand in greeting. I only got a growl/grunt in response. I guess he's not a morning person either. Haha, at least he can feel bad with me.

"I will be training you on two things. You are going to master the water ninjutsu's I teach you, and I will help you solve your water control issue you could not figure out. You are strong, buy you rely too heavily on your eyes, especially with the Byakugan. If that is ever taken away, you would become a liability, so I will beat using your other senses into you. You will not bitch, complain, fail, be late, and question my decisions. I am your master now and you will do exactly as I say or I will not personally train you any longer.

You are going to become a weapon of mass destruction, student under the Demon of the mist. You may not have to kill your whole class, but I expect that same level of deadly determination. Are you prepared or are you going to be like the other weakling Genin and quit." Zabuza barked out, sounding like a super strict commander. I steeled my nerves, pushed the sleep out of my body, and stood up straighter, looking him in the eye. Gone was the fun asshole Zabuza, here was the demon, my deadly sensei.

"I'm prepared for whatever you give me. I will not let you down." I said, my voice strong and unwavering. The intense training sessions with Fugaku, dad, and Lady Seiko came to mind. They pushed me to never talk back, to be the strongest I can be, to be confident in what I do. I sued that to not be intimidated and to make sure I succeeded in my training, if I want to keep up with my teammates I have to be strong, stronger than I am. Zabuza's eyes looked proud, like a father looking down to his daughter, I hadn't seen that look since Haku.

The first step of training was for my senses. My nose was nothing special, so the only time it was useful was if there was enough blood in the air for me to smell the metallic scent. We didn't spend much time on it. Zabuza's specialty was the silent kill technique, he had better than perfect hearing, and although he wasn't a chakra sensor, he could use his chakra to specifically pinpoint one person if they are in close range. The first stage of learning to use my hearing better was Zabuza would cover the training area in chakra laced mist, so I could not even attempt to sense him. I was not aloud to activate my Byakugan and could only use my hearing.

Starting out, I was terrible, Zabuza would attack and get to my kill points before I could stop him, I was only able to hear him when he was really close, and then I was too late to react. To even be able to hear him at all, I would have to stand completely still and tune out the sounds of my own body. The ruffles of the leaves, and the ripples of the water still made it more difficult to hear him, so I had to train extremely hard to tune out sounds, other than the sound of Zabuza's heartbeat. His footsteps no matter what were dead silent, so I could not hear him moving, the only sound he ever made was his heart beat and thats what I zoned in on.

It took almost the whole month before I could track Zabuza while I was moving too, it's one thing to be still and listen, but when moving its 10 times more difficult. Each person's heart beats at a different tempo and to be able to single out one person, I had to concentrate solely on their heart beat. To enhance my hearing, I had to continuously apply chakra into my ears and allow it to basically stretch out and locate a persons heart, making my chakra beat to the same tempo as their heart, making me 'hear' it. When fighting more than 4 people at a time, I couldn't do my technique that well, but it was proficient enough that Zabuza was impressed.

Doing that training was very difficult, not the worst I've ever done but some of the most frustrating. Every time I would miss hearing Zabuza, or would react late, I would be hit by the incoming attack. My body was basically a punching bag, getting hit over and over again. I had deep bruises spread across my body that ached to the core. I got knocked down more times that I could ever dream to count, and there were so many times when I thought I couldn't do it and just wanted to give up, but I forced myself to keep going.

Thank god he wasn't using any weapons, I would have probably bled out. I had nothing to protect myself from Zabuza's attacks with, all I was permitted to do was dodge and try to counter. We decided I can't use the silent kill technique for offense like Zabuza does, it is solely a last resort defensive measure. It's basically impossible for me to use it in offense, I cannot hear and predict moves like Zabuza can, its basically like echolocation for him, all I could do is hear when my opponent gets closer and I have to decide the best way to dodge an attack so it's not fatal.

I truly understand why Zabuza is so feared, when he trains Naruto, Sasuke, and I; he holds back. I know him and Kakashi do, but I really got to see how skilled he is, even without a sword. Every one of his attacks is quick and precise, there was no mercy, he never let up and seemed to have an endless amount of physical stamina. In just brute force, he is so much stronger than I am, probably than most people are if his rippling muscles have anything to say about it. Every spar we had when I was blindfolded, there was no chakra aloud.

I got beat down time and time again, I was faster and more nimble, but he was still very fast and his movements were so controlled and calculated, he was ready for my attacks right as I readied them. I was also not aloud to use Olympic style, so he was training me in honing in on my physical strength, to counter an opponent bigger than me if I have no chakra left to use.

Zabuza and I spent most of training working on water ninjutsu. My affinity for water is higher than even Zabuza's, I would probably equate it to the level of Tobirama Senju, but I don't have the control that he spent so many years perfecting. I don't really like his decisions, he's sexy, but a huge fucking dick and he kind of screwed the Uchiha clan over, leading to the coup and the massacre, but that's besides the point. He's a genius with water and to be on his level is one of my life goals. I may not be Hashirama and Madara like Naruto and Sasuke, but I want to latest be Tobirama.

Zabuza ferociously drilled water control into me into me. I spent a few hours explaining my training already, and what I want to accomplish. I told him how I can move myself in and out of chakra with relative ease, now that I finally completed stage 1. I also showed him how I can lace my chakra and have it continuously flow a small steady amount into the water to get it to move at my will.

I added those two skills together and can ride water like my own form of transportation. The problem that I was having still was getting massive quantities of water to move and take form, water is heavy and I cant figure out the proper ratio of my chakra in the water to get larger amounts to move. Tobirama could pull a freaking ocean out of his ass and I needed to be able to do that, but then make it even more of a weapon.

Zabuza started by making me learn more than the 3 water ninjutsu's I know and then perfect those. I learned the water dragon, water clone, and water jaguar. Sadly I'd need more than a month to learn the explosive water shockwave and stormy blockade. Making a water clone was easy for me and it took little to no effort to create one. Water dragon was similar to the Snake's mouth jutsu, the difference was that instead of forming a snake and having it eat the person and basically drown them, it was used as a battering ram, hitting the opponent with enough force to knock them down if not out.

It also moved a lot faster than the snake's head, and because it was a cylinder of densely packed water chakra, it took a lot more hand seals to get the chakra flow to make the dragon more than just a splash of water. The 42 seals was exhausting and I messed them up quite a few times, so I decided to limit the seals, Tobirama used like 4, so I'm going to use as little as possible too.

I had Zabuza do the water dragon as many times as he could each day, and I used my Byakugan to focus on the flow of his chakra, the direction of the flow that each hand seal makes. A lot of the hand seals were just to continue flow in a specific direction, there were only 6 key one's that actually changed the direction, input, and flow of the chakra into the water to create the dragon.

Zabuza and I figured out that with my chakra control being so good, and my high affinity for water, also being able to watch how chakra flows for ninjutsu, we worked hard on me getting the dragon jutsu into 6 seals. We could only practice this jutsu every other day because I went into borderline chakra exhaustion when trying to perfect it with so little seals.

Doing the water jaguar was similar, but instead of it just being a worm of water, meant for impact, the water jaguar had a distinctive jaguar shape, and was made to move and attack like a panther. I had to work a lot on making the water have distinctive shape in form for this, molding a body, legs, making it move and attack like a jaguar.

It took a lot less chakra because it wasn't as densely packed and powerful as the water dragon, but it took more control to make something as free flowing as water into a solid shape, not just a wormy like dragon/snake. Whenever I wasn't working on the water dragon or water panther, I was solely working on becoming one with the water. I would train on top of it, sit on it and have it move me around places, and work on getting more and more of my chakra to meld with the water to move as I want it to.

Zabuza had me train with water so often, and until the point of me passing out. I was out cold by the end of training every day, he didn't let me rest until I passed out or perfected a stage of the jutsu. Imagine the feeling of your blood and soul just slowly pouring out of you until you pass out, that's what going into chakra exhaustion is like. And because I never fully hit chakra exhaustion, I would have that feeling every single day of training.

Physical training, your muscles hurt, it sucks, but chakra training, especially to a level I didn't know was possible, was worse. The inside of my body every day hurt, it didn't just hurt it felt extremely weak but the end of the night, like I was nothing left but bones. I honestly can't explain the exhausting and just utterly uncomfortable feeling of using my chakra in such a way continuously every day.

My training was not just me getting beat down and dead tired, there were results. Not only was my sensory skills better, as well as my evading, my skill in water ninjutsu increased tenfold. Zabuza said I am on my way to being the best water user ever, and am close to being classified to a water specialist. Training in water control also helped me come up with my own ninjutsu idea, it will definitely take years to accomplish, but with the help of Zabuza theorizing it now, and Shikamaru and Kakashi's help later, I think I can make one.

I know that I would not have made it this far without previous knowledge, awesome sensei's, and being a Hyuuga, but I still feel proud of myself. I feel like I can get closer and closer to accomplishing my goal of saving people who should have a second chance. I used to want to save everyone, but that's Naruto's job, I am going to do my best to make everyone's lives better and to save those who many think are too far gone. I spent a lot of time with Zabuza, and we got to really know one another.

His life was super fucked up, how he was basically groomed and taught by society from the day he was born to be a cold blooded killer. He told me more about Haku and how Haku was like the son he would never get to have. Every night, Zabuza would take me home, carrying me like a sac of flour, and wait until I woke up then feed me. He was brutal and showed no mercy during training, but was kind in his own way at night, though he refuses to admit it.

(3d POV)

Not only was Hinata training extremely hard, most of her friends were working right along side her. Sasuke was putting in great effort learning the Chidori and getting his speed up to almost match Lee's. He would train from dusk to dawn, until his body couldn't handle it. His clothes did not make it through the training and until the Chunin exams, he was stuck wearing some of Kakashi's old clothes. He was training to be stronger, to be able to protect his precious people, to bring his brother home, and to kill those who were so eager to ruin his brother's life. He'd become a Uchiha worthy of continuing his family lineage and worthy of holding the the girl of his dreams in his arms.

Naruto was training hard with the Pervy Sanin, learning the Summoning Jutsu after he signed the contract with the toads, as well as some more seals. Naruto like his teammates spent as much time training as he could, he did not want to be the dead last ever again, and he wanted to be the strongest ninja, Hokage, so he could protect everyone and prove his worth. He would not let down the people who believed in him most, he would not let her down, he would be so strong and beat the teme so she'd realize her love and jump into his arms.

Shikamaru begrudgingly trained hard with Asuma Sarutobi and sometimes his teammates joined in. He was working on strategy after strategy to compete against the wind user. He also worked in increasing his melee combat skills as well as his chakra capacity. He needed his shadows to last longer and move quicker. He wanted to lay on a hill and watch the clouds, but he also wanted to prove himself as a man. No way was he going to let a girl always be stronger than him and protect him, no matter how much of a drag it really is

Neji was getting the most brutal training of his life from Hiashi. When he earned the respect of Hiashi, and both let go of their grudges, Hiashi agreed to train Neji in the main family clan techniques. Neji was more adept at learning them than Hinata, and was well on his way to mastering all of them. Neji was being groomed to carry on the legend of the Hyuuga as well as be an important high standing member alongside Hinata in the future (even if the elder council has no idea that the branch is going to be merged with the main).

Shino was training with his bugs, growing their loyalty to an even greater extent and how to successfully execute more specialized ninjutsu. He also trained with Kiba, working on his speed and close combat, Shino knows that he would be a liability in close quarters if he did not increase his taijutsu skills. Shino wanted to bring honor to his clan and show his true friends that they supported him for a good reason. He was ready to destroy his competition and show everyone that although he is silent, he is a deadly Shinobi and then maybe he will be less forgotten.

Kiba was training to restore his pride from the ass kicking he took from Naruto. He worked on increasing his speed, as well as his coordinated attacks with Akamaru. They were good but he wanted them perfect. Kiba worked on Fang Over Fang, including dynamic marking so that when they attacked, it was on target and even more painful. He trained with Shino, changing taijutsu lessons for lessons on how to keep his cool and strategize better. Never again was he going to underestimate someone, and never again was he going to be a week Genin, he wanted to be up there with his friends, his rival, and those who passed from other villages.

Choji was training hard, not only because of the motivation of food, but because the determination he saw in Shikamaru. He got swatted away like a bug, that was not going to happen again. Choji knows his heart is kind, but he decided to use that kindness and become stronger to protect his family, friends, and blossoming crush for a teammate. He wants to stand tall and impress everyone, showing them the strength of the Akimichi clan.

Kankuro was fine tuning his puppet skills, adding more deadly weapons to their arsenal so that when the invasion comes, he won't lose. He spent time training but mostly stargazing with his sister and Baki. They needed the plan to go off without a hitch and with Gaara being an extreme wild card right now, he was paying more and more attention on what to do to survive and succeed. He was going to follow his village even if they are wrong, and make his asshole father proud.

Temari was not training, she was confident in her abilities to beat the shadow user and fight against the leaf ninja. She saw the strength a few of the leaf Genin had, it was impressive and she probably wouldn't win, but she knew she wasn't facing them. So instead, Temari turned her worry to the invasion. Gaara was acting weird ever since he was with the Hyuuga girl and she did not want the plan to go awry because of his wildness. Little did the sand Genin know, the plan was changed and they were not informed. Gaara was too much of a wild card, they needed the beast, not the boy.

Tenten was training with her weaponry, she was angry and embarrassed that she got defeated by the Sand Kunoichi so easily. Wind may be one of her biggest problems, but she was determined to find a way around it. There was no more time for metaphorically sucking off Neji and riding her title as top Kunoichi of her year, it was time to take Might Gai seriously and train to prove herself once more. She was not going to sit and watch as her team flourished, she was going to do it with them.

Sakura sometimes trained with Kurenai Yuhi, she did not want to get muscly from training, so genjutsu training was perfect for her to keep her week girlish figure. Her aptitude for genjutsu was very apparent and although she was still head over heels in love with Sasuke, she wanted to become a strong and beautiful Kunoichi like her sensei. She trained, using her skill at chakra (especially since her reserves are still too small for ninjutsu) control to produce and manipulate elaborate genjutsu, casing layer upon layer to make difficult to break illusions. She still harbored ill feeling toward Hinata, and her relationship with Ino was rocky, but it was no longer her sole focus, other than Sasuke of course.

Ino was shocked to see how she was equals with Sakura, and how far behind she was from Hinata. She was even more shocked to see her teammates, the laziest and chunkiest Genin, training so hardcore. It made her realize how useless she has been, she was part of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation and dammit, she did not want to be the weak link. She was supposed to be the alpha female. Ino trained on furthering her mind control jutsu, beginning to learn the mind destruction and mind link jutsu. She decided that if she was going to be strong, then maybe Saskue, or any other strong boy, would spare her a glance like they do Hinata.

Gaara spent no time training, he was supposed to meet in with his team and plan out the destruction of the leaf village, but after the meetings with Hinata, the girl who promised to show him what love really was, he no longer wanted to take away her home. The beast inside him still begged to be set free, but now Gaara had an anchor, a reason to kill other than himself. He wanted her for himself and was not going to do something as stupid as harming her home, he would only kill those who harmed her. He spent his days watching her work herself into the ground because she wanted to save people like him. He never stopped watching her, the way the sun reflected off of her hair, her white beautiful grin when she succeeded, the pout she wore when she was struggling. All of it was beautiful to Gaara, and all of it was his.

Kabuto was a special case, acting as a triple agent, and being up to Jonin/ANBU level, he did not need to train for the exams. He knew he was going up against a ninja that could rival him, if not beat him at some point, but his job was solely to showcase her skills to both of his masters. He first analyzed her chakra when he was healing her and putting her to sleep, he loved it, it was pure ecstasy to feel her chakra. All Kabuto wanted to do was dissect it further and feel her chakra more.

The information he gathered was given to his master Orochimaru. Whom was very interested in her, Kabuto had yet to figure out what she was necessary for, but either way, he wanted her to join them. Then with the analysis he got from Orochimaru on some of her skills, he gave those to his other master, the puppet. Sasori was interested to say the least, and decided that he wanted to see the girl fro himself, getting permission from the 'leader' of the Akatsuki, a possible new recruit if they could play their cards right.

(A/N Kabuto is a freak and we all knew that, I think he should be addicted to her chakra more so than herself, kind of like how he was with surpassing Orochimaru)