"That's it, keep going my youthful students. I'm sure if you just keep trying you'll get there eventually." Gai sensei told his four students as they stood before him panting like anything and all cut up. Before all four of them there was a thick log, their task was to destroy it but that wasn't easily done. Once they had done one it was placed in a pile behind them and they were given another one to do. They weren't allowed to use ninjutsu, only taijutsu. It was meant to strengthen their attacks and build stamina but they had been at it all day and Akane was nearly at her limit. She couldn't take much more of this, her body was aching all over and by the looks of things Tenten wasn't doing to well either. Lee looked a little tired but as always he kept pushing on. His pile of destroyed logs was massive with Neji's coming in a close second. With the Hyuga's fighting skill he was excellent at taijutsu and Akane had learnt that morning that he was also Lee's rival. That much had been obvious after Gai sensei told them their task and Lee instantly shouted out that he would not lose to Neji and if he did then he would run around the leaf village 500 times on his hands. Akane looked back at her own pile, it was about the same size as Tenten's but Tenten wasn't a taijutsu fighter. She was a long range fighter, using her scrolls to summon all kinds of weapons. Akane though was just weak but she had made a vow that morning to try her best at everything, so she could become stronger. It was clear to her that she was the weak link in the group and the last thing she wanted to do was hold her new comrades back because she wasn't fit enough. Akane looked at the log in front of her, panting hard she raised her fist and brought it down on the log hard, focusing her chakra into the part of her hand that struck the log. It snapped in half.

"Good work Akane, that's your 68th log you just broke." Said Gai sensei and then he picked up another and set it out in front of her. "I honestly didn't think you'd last this long but your determination is admirable." Gai sensei flashed Akane his nice guy smile whilst giving her the thumbs up.

"Thank you sensei." She replied through pants and wiped her face. She felt Neji's eyes on her but ignored them. He probably knew that she had reached her limit a long time ago and if she looked at him he might tell her that she shouldn't push herself too much. Honestly she appreciated his concern but she didn't need to be babied.

"You're doing better than I am." Said Tenten as she bent over trying to catch her breath.

"I would say we're even. Plus you're a long range fighter right? You're not used to this." She reassured her.

"Yeah but the same goes for you. You use wind style and you're not used to doing this much exercise."

"I guess. In truth I should probably stop."

"Then why don't you?"

"Because I need to be stronger. I don't want to hold this team back."

"Is that really how you feel Akane?" Asked Lee's sudden voice from behind her. Akane turned to see the three males looking at her, she hadn't realized they had been listening in on her conversation.

"It is. I know I only met you guys yesterday but it doesn't take a genius to see that you're all strong in your own right and the way I am now...let's just say it's not good enough to be on a team as skilled as this one. It will be a lot of work I know that but I want to get stronger, physically I mean and to make my wind style stronger, as well as carrying on trying to master my fire style."

"But you are strong. I mean what you did yesterday was amazing." Said Tenten.

"Thank you but I cannot rely on my kekkei genkei...on either of them and I refuse to use my voice command unless it's an absolute must. It's because of that that I'm at a slight disadvantage so I need to be stronger."

"Why would you refuse to use your own Kekkei Genkei?" Tenten questioned her.

"Several reasons that I don't wish to get into right now."

"If you continue to work this hard then I'm sure you'll get there in no time Akane. Don't forget though that you have me and your three comrades to help you with anything you might need. This team grows stronger together and we look out for each other." Said Gai sensei with a smile. Akane nodded.

"I'll try to remember that." She said.

"Well I think we should stop there for today. You can all return home and get some rest, we'll carry on tomorrow morning." He told them. Akane looked over at Tenten who sighed in relief, to be honest Akane was glad to hear those words too. She was tired and sweaty, she really just needed a shower right about now...and some lunch. She was hungry again.

"Gai sensei, I wish to stay and train some more. I am not done yet for the day." Lee announced.

"If you insist Lee then you and I can carry on."

"Actually I wish to stay as well." Neji said butting into the conversation.

"Fine then let the competition continue." Lee said pointing at Neji.

"I wasn't taking part in your silly little competition in the first place." Neji told him with a very un-impressed face.

"What about you two? Will you stay as well?" Gai sensei asked looking at the two girls.

"Gee, I'd love to but I think I'll pass. So will Akane." Said Tenten answering for Akane. Akane thought about protesting but she knew that she wasn't really up to it.

"Alright then we'll see you tomorrow, bright and early." He told them and they turned to leave.

"See you tomorrow guys." Akane called back to the guy's as she and Tenten left.

"Goodbye Akane and Tenten." Lee replied waving them off while Neji didn't look at them, not wishing them a goodbye. He stood with his arms folded, ready to restart his training.

"Tenten why is Neji always so grumpy?" Akane asked when the two were far enough away not to be overheard.

"Neji has a bit of a complicated past." She answered.

"Can you tell me about it?" She asked her, the conversation peaking her interest.

"Well everyone in the village refers to it as 'the Hyuga affair.' Do you know about the Hyuga clan being split into the main branch and the other branches?" She asked.

"Yeah Neji told me that the other branches were responsible for the protection of the members of the main branch."

"That's right. Well the clan is run by a man named Hiashi and he has a daughter called Hinata and a few days after her third birthday there was an attempted kidnapping of her by the head ninja of Kumogakure who wished to learn the secret of the Byakugan. Like any father would Haishi killed the head ninja to save his daughter but when the word got out that he had done so the Kumogakure ninja's were very upset about this and demanded that the Hyuga clan have the one that killed their leader be killed too."

"But they were the ones that attacked them in the first place." Akane stated.

"I know but they denied all accusations of the affair."

"So did this Hiashi die then?"

"No instead his twin brother paid the ultimate sacrifice. His name was Hizashi, he was also Neji's father."

"But if Neji was the niece of the leader of the clan then why is he not a member of the main branch?" Akane asked her.

"Because his Father wasn't chosen to lead the clan because he was seen as weaker than his twin brother. Neji however is one of the strongest members of the Hyuga clan but not being a member of the main branch holds him back. He is bound by something called a cursed seal to protect those in the main branch even though he harbours a deep hate for them after what happened to his father."

"Cursed seal?" Tenten nodded.

"It's located on his forehead but you don't see it because of his head band. I've only seen it a few times, it's green with an x in the middle and wavy lines coming from it, extending over the whole of his forehead. His Father had one too, it was place there to remind them both of their status in the clan but it also means that when they die it destroys the Byakugan meaning no one can learn it's secrets."

"So that's why Neji's father went in place of his twin brother?"

"Party yes but also because it was part of his duty. Neji says that he can only be free from the mark in death. In other words that cursed seal makes him free trapped and it has lead him to believe that everyone's fate is predetermined and nothing we can do can change it. He's takes everything seriously but that's just the kind of person that he is. He's a great comrade though."

"Yeah he sure is powerful, handsome too." Akane said it before she even realized it. Tenten flashed her a surprised look as Akane's face went bright red.

"Wait...what?"

"O-oh it's nothing."

"No you just said Neji was handsome. You don't by any chance have a crush on the guy do you?"

"No of course not. I only met him yesterday plus...I wouldn't know what it feels like to have a crush...I've never had one before."

"You've never had a crush before?" She repeated.

"Well no. When you're me you don't tend to get out much."

"Right I forgot you were locked in a room by yourself.' Tenten wrapped her arm around Akane's neck. "That doesn't matter though because you've got a crush on Neji."

"No, no please don't say things like that." Akane said while her face was bright red.

"Oh don't worry I won't tell him. You and I have to look out for each other anyway, we're the only girls on the team. It's me and you against Neji and Lee so I've got your back. Plus if you ever need advice or anything you can come to me."

"So you've had crushes before then?"

"Of course I have."

"Do you have one on Neji?" She asked suddenly.

"What? No way, Neji's not my type. Too gloomy, don't get me wrong here I have a lot of respect for Neji and I look up to him but that and love are very different..."