Trees are now officially my most disliked object on earth.

That and the ground that kept giving me bruises.

I glared angrily at my feet.

Stupid feet. Can't stick to the stupid tree. Can't even walk without making me bump into at least two things daily.

"You done murdering the tree?" Sasuke's cool voice snapped me out of my stupor.

"Shut it duck ass," I replied angrily, shifting my glare onto him, "I'm too tired to deal with your shit today."

Control your emotions, I heard Rin whisper in my head.

I purses my lips angrily to keep from yelling out loud.

Well, have you got any tips genius? I replied sarcastically.

I heard Rin sigh in my head. You're getting tired. Here, I'll lend you some chakra.

The familiar cooling sensation travelled throughout my body, filling me with a strange feeling of power.

My eyes softened, Thanks Rin.

You're welcome, she replied, now try to imagine two balls of ice forming at the soles of your feet. Imagine the balls of ice rooting into the tree, and the roots growing and extending into tree.

I closed my eyes, and concentrated. I imagined two fairly large balls of ice forming at my feet. I then placed one foot onto the tree and envisioned the ice rooting into the tree, holding me up.

I placed my other foot onto the tree and envisioned the same thing. When my feet didn't detach from the tree, a smile crossed my face. Instantly my feet slackened a bit.

Careful, Rin warned, Don't loose focus. Just concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other.

I cautiously took a step forward, then another, and another.

About fifteen seconds had passed when I heard Rin's voice in my head again.

Be careful, you've reached the top of the tree. Try to rest onto a branch or something.

I slowly opened my eyes, not daring to look down as I spotted a nearby branch and walked onto it. When I was finally settled onto the branch, I looked down to see how far I'd gotten up.

Big mistake. My head suddenly felt dizzy and my mouth went dry.

Remind me again why I chose such a high tree.

My heart seemed to got into overdrive as I stared at tiny figures of Naruto and Sasuke down below... Way, way down below. My hands were sweaty as I fumbled with the kunai, shakily slitting a line across the bark.

Don't look down, just don't look down...

I heard Rin sigh in exasperation in my head. I forgot about your fear of heights.

I took a sharp intake of breath as I closed my eyes, "It's not heights! It's just... Falling," I whispered shakily.

Rin shrugged, Same difference.

"Shut up," I snapped, "Besides, can't you just create ice stairs or something?"

Yeah, but you should really overcome your fear right now.

My fingers trembled as I squeezed my eyes shut.

I can't do this...

Yes you can, Rin argued.

No I can't-

All of a sudden a cracking sound was heard and my face paled.

"Oh please no," I pleaded, and my heart stopped as I noticed a big crack on the branch I was on.

You have to jump! Rin warned me.

I shook my head vigorously.

Crack.

I squeezed the branch with all my might as I started to plummet.

Dear lord, I know I haven't been the best child. I once froze all my mother's undergarments when I was ten, and I occasionally steal money from her wallet. But please have mercy, I-

Suddenly I hit something. Something...soft? That's it I died. I'm in heaven aren't I? Well-

"Hn, you can open your eyes now."

Huh? Did Sasuke die too? Poor Kakashi, he's now missing half his team. Shit, they're going to get creamed by Zabuza.

"If you don't get up I'm dropping you," Sasuke warned.

I frowned, what did he mean?

I didn't have time to process this, because exactly two seconds later, my butt was met painfully with the hard ground.

My eyes flew open immediately as I yelped, cradling my sore backside and ribs. It took a couple seconds, but I finally took in my surroundings.... Only to find that I was still in the forest; with a very much alive and annoyed Sasuke glaring down at me.

"I'm alive," I stated dumbly.

"No really? I didn't notice," Sasuke drawled sarcastically.

I gave him an unamused look.

Then Sasuke's frown morphed into an arrogant smirk. "Hey," he said haughtily, "That's not way to repay me for saving your life."

I snorted loudly at this. "My hero," I drawled sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

Sasuke smirked and walked away.

What an arrogant bastard. Well, at least I actually finished the task.

Ha, loser.

Humans... Rin sighed.

-------------------------

"You're going to die."

My eyebrows shot up; talk about a heavy conversation with an eight-year-old.

Naruto gained an irk mark on his forehead, "What did you say ya little brat?"

Inari crossed his arms and looked away, huffing. "You're going to die," he repeated, "You're obviously no match for Gato."

Naruto's face reddened in anger, "Why you-"

"Aha," I laughed nervously, clamping a hand over Naruto's mouth. "Listen kid, err- Inari," I started, "What Naruto's trying to say is that we're fully fledged ninja, you shouldn't underestimate us, you know." I finished with a closed eye smile while Naruto struggled to remove my iron grip from his face.

I sweatdropped and quickly removed my hand, "Ah, sorry Naruto I kind of forgot my hand was still there."

Sasuke rolled his eyes at me, and I ignored him.

"Inari!" Tsunami scolded, entering the living area, "Don't talk to them like that! These ninja brought your grandfather home safely!"

Inari turned to his mother with a blank face, "But Oka-san, they're going to die."

Naruto brought a clenched fist forward, "Do you even know who we are? I'm going to become the Hokage some day! So that people will look at me as a hero-"

"Heroes don't exist," Inari retorted.

"Yeah they do! Listen up brat, we beat Zabuza once, and we're gonna do it again! Got that!?" Naruto pointed his index finger at Inari.

The said boy sniffed and turned away, "Whatever, I'm going to go watch the ocean." And with that he disappeared down the hallway.

"Well," I started, "Isn't he a ray of sunshine." I finished sarcastically.

-------------------------------

"Damnit!" I cursed as I once again as I froze the water once more. "Rin remind me why I have to learn to walk on water?"

Didn't you forget that you're battling on a bridge? And usually, bridges are situated over water. And if you fall off the bridge, you'll land in the water and then-

"Okay, I get it, I get it!" I cut her off, annoyed, "But seriously, what's wrong with just freezing the water?"

Well for starters, you haven't yet gotten used to the ice manipulation, so you'll probably freeze the water before you land, resulting in serious injury or death. Secondly, you can't just freeze the water, you'll freeze all the boats and everything. How will people go fishing?

I sighed irritatedly, "Okay, mom."

Just keep practicing.

~2 hours later~

"Ah mother-!" I gritted my teeth as my feet froze themselves into the water.

Rin sighed, I think we should just call it a day, you aren't going anywhere with this.

"Gee, ya think?" I muttered under my breath as I struggled to yank my feet free from the ice.

Would you quit it with the sarcastic remarks? You've been at it all day.

I finally yanked my feet free from the ice, the momentum sending me tumbling into the dirt. I pushed myself off the ground and sighed, "Sorry Rin, it's just the training and the stress of everything is just getting to me."

It's fine, you should just learn to control your emotions, Rin advised me, Come on, let's get back to Tazuna's house, it's getting dark.

I looked up to the darkening cloudy sky, flinching as a droplet of rain landed on my nose.

"Yeah," I whispered, "We probably should."

And with that I started making my way through the forest. Until I realized something.

"Uh, Rin, do you remember which way Tazuna's house was again?"