39

The following day.

It was nearing sunset when Akira finally saw the tall, silver-haired man walking casually towards her, whistling a low tune. It took all of her patience to not blast the said man away. Akira forced herself to calm down and ease her breathing. It proved to be more difficult as each of the man's lazy steps neared.

Finally, he was in front her. Akira glared daggers at Kakashi.

"Yo."

"DAMMIT! You said after my class! You said afternoon! It's five-fucking-thirty!" she bellowed, unable to control herself.

Instead of being offended at her rudeness, Kakashi merely nodded. "Yes. Well, I had to assist an old lady— "

"I've already heard of your excuses!"

Kakashi cocked his head to one side. "Oh? How?"

"From Naruto, who else?!"

"Ah."

His nonchalance moved the Satsuna to anger. "I hate late people! I was here on time!"

Behind his mask, Kakashi sighed. He had been briefed by Tsunade and Iruka about the kunoichi's temperament, with Iruka even letting out a defeated sigh and a well-meant 'good luck', so it didn't really surprise him that the Satsuna reacted the way she did. In fact, Kakashi took the opportunity to assess the girl's personality. He had deduced from their previous mission that she had similar traits with Naruto, but back then, the girl was usually polite towards him, even bordering to aloofness.

A stark contrast to the intensity she's showing at the moment. 'Well, that's expected, I suppose,' Kakashi thought. 'She was unfamiliar with my...quirks...after all.'

"Well, since you've been here earlier than me, I assume you used your time wisely," said Kakashi as he pocketed his novel.

Akira frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you didn't just twiddle your thumbs while waiting for me, did you?" he said, voice light with teasing. "Because I'm sure you know, a shinobi is resourceful and is never idle."

This made the kunoichi feel a little uneasy and she shrugged in an attempt to hide it. "Y-yeah," she said. "I mean, I did try some target practice..."

His gaze went to a nearby tree where several kunai were stuck. 'Some target practice. I bet she was merely throwing them mindlessly,' he thought. He sighed and looked up at the sky briefly.

This arrangement by the Hokage proved to be challenging, even before he started with his planned training regimen for the girl. Tsunade insisted to maintain Akira's instructor status in the Academy instead of placing her on temporary leave of some sort. That means Akira still holds classes in the morning and then meets up with Kakashi for training in the afternoon. While it appears to be of no problem, it is actually problematic for both of them. Aside from time constraints—especially for some jutsu that require prolonged concentration in order to grasp even its principles—Kakashi anticipates that by the time the kunoichi arrives for their training, she'll have less stamina and energy left to perform some exercises. Therefore, Kakashi has to come up with some way to hasten the process.

If the kunoichi was anything like Naruto, then the use of kage bunshin will be useful. But then again, Naruto has a timeline to follow, meaning he has to catch up to the ticking bomb that was Sasuke and Orochimaru. Akira meanwhile, is in no hurry, seeing that the next Jounin promotion exams are still months away.

But then again, the only constant in shinobi world is change, and that may come any time soon, if reports of increased Akatsuki and Orochimaru activities are to be believed. There's no telling when he could be summoned to a mission, and so he has to start now.

Kakashi knew he had to know more about the Satsuna before he could start teaching her. Her records showed minimal information: mission stats are abysmal, although she's quite impressive to have a natural affinity to all five chakra natures due to the beast she harbors. It's just a matter of mastery, and Kakashi highly doubted her file when it said: "has mastery of all five chakra natures." The only person who has mastery of all five is the Third Hokage, and that is due to his extensive training and experience. Akira is a mere chuunin, albeit jinchuriki, and so Kakashi is skeptical.

He stepped closer to the girl. "As per tradition, I will measure your abilities with a specialized test. I want to know your strengths and weaknesses." He took a small square box from his pocket and from it revealed two bells. "You have to get these from me. Since you're Chuunin and a junior academy instructor, there is a time limit of only an hour and I will not hold back. I expect you to do the same."

A gust of wind blew, making the bells chime, as if taunting Akira that Naruto and Sakura had managed to get the bells upon the Uzumaki's return from a journey with the Toad Sannin. Naruto was supposedly a mere genin, while Sakura is a Chuunin herself.

'But they were trained by Sannin, for fuck's sake,' Akira thought. 'There's no way I can match them.'

Kakashi took out a small clock and placed it on a nearby tree stump. "You are free to do anything, any jutsu, so long as you get the bells. Do you have any questions?"

Akira shook her head.

"Perfect. Let's start."

~~~~~~~~~~

Neji frowned and glared at the trio of women that had been staring at him from behind the rack of fresh produce. He crossed his arms impatiently, willing himself to remain calm once more. In front of him, Tenten seemed to be unbothered by the unwanted female attention her companion was getting.

"Thanks for accompanying me today, Neji," the kunoichi said as she picked up a loaf of bread.

"Hn."

Tenten only shrugged, understanding that his monosyllabic reply went along the lines of "it's nothing but I'd rather we leave now". She walked away from the rows of pastries and glanced at the tall shinobi. "Well, it's also a good thing that I helped you out with your new apartment. Guess you owe me one."

Neji sighed. "Isn't this already payback?"

"Barely. You're enjoying yourself."

Neji once again glanced—more like glared—at the trio of girls (now four) that are ogling at him and exchanging giggles. He sighed. "Are you done?"

Tenten merely shrugged and continued to walk away from that section of the supermarket. She glanced at Neji. "Well, I still have some...oh!" She looked up to see that the small crowd of females had inched closer to them, such that there was only a few paces that separated her and her companion from the adoring girls.

Neji could no longer hide his irk. "We better go now." He held the kunoichi by the elbow and ushered her to the cashier, and after paying hastily, they went out the supermart. Neji looked around briefly before leading the way back to the apartment complex.

He had been putting off refurbishing and tending to his own apartment unit, until this morning when he received a letter from the landlady, informing him that the reservation period is up and asking if he still intends to move in; otherwise his room will be rented to someone else. Neji pondered whether to keep the unit or not—it was free after all and was issued to him when he became jounin—and eventually he decided to keep it for times when he wants to simply detach himself from the clan. The idea seemed brilliant for him, until he saw the unit itself and realized that the only furniture is a bed and some drawers.

He set to work immediately and transferred some of his personal effects from the Hyuuga compound to his new "home" (although he won't be staying in the apartment permanently). He brought clothes, toiletries, sheets, towels, some shinobi gear. It was when he realized he needed a few items for cooking and furbishing did he finally admit he needed help.

His first thought was to approach Tenten, but for some reason, he felt uneasy seeking her assistance. While training with Tenten brought him some sense of normalcy from the chaotic events that had been plaguing him lately, their exchange had an undercurrent of awkwardness that wasn't there before. It seemed to Neji that the kunoichi is distancing herself from him. It was evident in the way she averts her stare and the lack of the usual invitation to a snack or other activity besides training. It bothered Neji, but before he could initiate a deeper conversation with the weapons mistress, they were summoned by the Hokage for a two-man mission for tomorrow. After a short discussion of the mission details, the two shinobi left.

That was when Neji attempted to speak with the Weapons Mistress. Fortunately, Tenten agreed to help him with the move, and that is why they were in the supermarket, picking out groceries for his new pad. On their way out, he asked if Tenten would join him for dinner.

The kunoichi turned to look at him, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Are you asking me for a date, Hyuuga?"

Neji smirked. "I simply want to repay you."

"With a date."

Neji sighed. "Call it whatever you want. Do you want to go with me or not?"

Tenten laughed. "Hey, I'm not one to turn down a gentleman and free food. So yeah, deal."

"Good. Let's just drop these off in my place and then we go."

Together, the two shinobi walked towards Neji's new apartment. His unit was located on the topmost floor. He had the luxury of a veranda and no noisy neighbors due to his room being the last unit. Tenten sighed in envy.

After dropping off the supplies, Neji and Tenten walked to the village's food district. As the afternoon sun hung low on the horizon, casting a red hue, he briefly thought of Akira and wondered what the kunoichi's up to—whether she's at home cooking, or still out with the wolves training. His heart clenched with fondness at the remembrance of the girl. And then he felt guilty that he isn't spending the day with her, rather, with someone else.

But that "someone else" happened to be his teammate, his comrade, his friend. Tenten is someone he couldn't just ignore. And in spite of the awkward interaction they had during their morning spar, it seemed that it had dissipated after the Hokage had summoned them for a mission. Neji shrugged it off. Maybe it was just because they hadn't been in constant contact for quite a while now.

In unspoken agreement, they went to the curry place, their team's favorite restaurant. They ordered the usual fare: Tenten with pork curry and shredded cabbage while Neji had the grilled salmon and vegetables. The pair ate and chatted lightly on missions and anecdotes of Lee and Gai. For a moment, Neji felt that everything is back to normal and he felt at ease with Tenten's company. He noticed that the kunoichi felt the same too, for the usual cheerfulness was back in her eyes and she laughed like she had not a care in the world.

After dinner, Tenten invited him for dessert.

"The curry's still hot on my tongue," she reasoned. "I think ice cream is the best way to combat that."

Neji shrugged. "Hn."

"Oh come on! I'll pay for yours!"

That is why even if Neji isn't fond of sweets, he found himself holding a small cup of vanilla ice cream. He glanced at Tenten who was happily licking a chocolate flavored popsicle.

"You're welcome."

"Hn."

The kunoichi rolled her eyes at him and pointed to a nearby public bench. "Let's sit there." Neji followed her wordlessly and they sat side by side.

Silence ensued between the two shinobi as they ate their sweet treats. The same awkward and uneasy feeling crept within Neji once more and he glanced at Tenten. He decided to confront the kunoichi.

"What's wrong Tenten?" he asked.

As expected, the kunoichi smiled, although Neji could see clearly in her eyes the lack of mirth. "I'm cool, nothing's wrong," she replied.

Neji wasn't fooled. "There's something bothering you." When Tenten remained silent, Neji sighed and said, "We're going on a mission tomorrow, so it's important I know what's bothering you lest this becomes a hindrance to our success." He studied the kunoichi's features. "Is this about—"

"No," Tenten interrupted him. "This isn't about Lee or Gai-sensei or even you." 'Liar'. "It's just, umm, it's...really, it's nothing."

But it wasn't nothing to Neji. He saw the way her eyes darkened, how her brows furrowed, her shoulders slumped and lost confidence. This happened rarely and so these subtle changes in Tenten's affect is not lost to the Hyuuga. He shifted to face her fully.

"Tenten," he said gently.

It took several seconds before the kunoichi sighed, closed her eyes for a moment, opened them again and looked at him.

"It's... my mission...."

And the words poured. Tenten told him of her first solo seduction mission and how it seemed to go well until the last minute when she was about to extract the scroll. Neji felt his gut clench at the enemy—'How dare he touch Tenten like that!'—and he felt bile rise up his throat when the kunoichi got to the part where she struggled desperately. Neji avoided the kunoichi's eyes then.

"I know it's my fault that I've become dependent on Gai-sensei, Lee and you to get me out of such situations," Tenten said, her voice trembling slightly. "I called out and... no one came for me..."

Her voice lowered to a whisper and a wave of guilt washed over Neji. He remained silent, Tenten's next words echoing in his head like a broken megaphone.

"I know it was a silly thing to do but, you guys have always been around. Well, even though it was extremely painful, I managed to kick him hard and then he fell off me. I then grabbed my kunai and slashed his neck and stabbed him several times."

She paused to look up at the dark sky. "I got the scroll and on my way out, some of his men must've learned that I killed their boss so they pursued me. I wasn't able to run very fast because of my wounds but eventually, I managed to kill some of my pursuers.

Hokage-sama and the medic nin assigned to me decided to keep me off-missions for a while to allow me to heal." She managed a rueful smile. "And I'm all patched up. But I told the Godaime that I won't be taking any seduction missions anymore, especially solo ones." She turned to him, a small smile on her lips. "I've finally decided to heed your advice, late though it was."

He could see her trying to act cheerful and strong, and Neji felt conflicted. He closed his eyes briefly, and felt guilty that he wasn't there for her when he needed her. He felt like he failed Tenten, who was his teammate and friend, the one person who persevered and stayed by him in spite of his flaws. A surge of protectiveness rushed within him and he opened his eyes to look at the kunoichi.

"I'm sorry."

Tenten's brown orbs widened. "Neji, it's not yo—"

"No. I should've been there for you," he said. "I should've—"

"There's nothing you can do," said Tenten. "I mean, I truly appreciate it but there's no way you could've come for me. It was a mission assigned by the Hokage and there's no way to circumvent it. Besides, it's high time I catch up with you and Lee, don't you think?"

Neji shook his head. "But not at the expense of your safety!" He heaved a deep breath. "You're important to us, Tenten. Team Gai won't ever be the same without you."

Tenten felt her cheeks blush at the intense stare the Hyuuga was giving her, and her heart began to beat faster than normal. "I...t-thank you. But I've always felt like I'm falling behind you and Lee. He's continuously improving, especially in controlling the Gates...and then there's you. You're Jounin and...and I'm..."

This insecurity of Konoha's Weapon Mistress is not unknown to the members of Team Gai. She had told them once about it and as expected from a sensei, Gai had been supportive. He and Lee also gave their fair share of encouragements. Back then, he thought Tenten had overcome it, but apparently, she still hasn't.

He reached out to touch her shoulder and he saw Tenten's eyes widen for the second time. Again, the image of the red-haired kunoichi resurfaced in his consciousness when he recognized hers and Tenten's similarities, but Neji pushed it at the back of his mind for now.

"Tenten, you are not inferior to me and Lee. You have your own unique set of skills. As Gai-sensei said, you don't have to compare yourself to us because we are not the standards you must follow. Your standards must come from your heart."

Tenten stared at him for a while, before breaking into a soft smile, the mirth back in her eyes. She chuckled lightly.

"Wow. I never knew you actually listen to Gai-sensei's lengthy speeches."

Neji smirked, hiding his relief that the kunoichi has resumed to her previous countenance. "Hn."

"So, you'll be wearing the green spandex soon?"

"I'd die first."

Tenten laughed, and Neji found it difficult not to smile back. However, despite of the warm company that Tenten provided, Neji found himself thinking of a certain redhead's embrace.

Guilt—bitter and painful—washed over him once more.

~~~~~~~~

The Satsuna cursed under her breath. The sun had completely gone down, bringing along her chances to get the bells from Kakashi.

While the decreased visibility posed no threat to the wolves, it does to Akira. It meant her accuracy in terms of long-range assault had dropped by 10 to 15%. A minute amount but still critical especially with a foe like Kakashi who has a Sharingan and outranks her by much.

Akira focused her chakra on her arms and feet and began to scale up a tree. She perched on a branch and observed Kakashi from afar. From this angle, the man was strategically placed in the middle of the clearing. She saw him observe the tree line and Akira heaved a sigh of relief that there is no full moon tonight, giving her the advantage of darkness. But then again, the dark is a double-edged sword. If he can't see her, she can't see him well too.

She has no experience fighting a person with the Sharingan but if the books are correct, that means that the dark bears no debilitating effects to its wielder, as it can see through any jutsu and attack as easy as it does during daytime. Akira also knows that this eye power can predict moves, see through most genjutsu and can also replicate any jutsu. That means she's screwed, big time.

From her hiding place, Akira sighed. She had gone through different tactics in her head, thinking of ways to beat Kakashi and get the bells, but none of her plans seemed to be good enough. Trying to distract the Jounin with taijutsu would be stupid because he only has to open his eye and he can already predict where her next kicks will come from.

Just then he dashed, with alarming speed, into the forest.

Akira mirrored his movement and she dashed from tree to tree as quietly as she could, making sure to land squarely on her feet without much disturbance. She kept her senses heightened. She saw Kakashi crouched behind a thicket, tensed and eyeing the surroundings with focus. Akira breathed slowly. There's no way about it but to confront him directly, unless she finds his weakness.

In the dim light, she saw the bells glint enticingly.

Pressing herself close to the tree branch, she whistled lowly and prayed to the gods that her wolves are within her range to pick up the tune. She didn't want to risk alerting Kakashi by using a summoning jutsu.

"Ookami?"

"I'm on my way, Hime-chan!"

Akira heaved a sigh of relief. 'Thank kami it's Yuudai.' Sachiko and Akai always causes a ruckus whenever they arrive compared to the rest of the pack. "Approach with caution, Yuudai. I'm training with Hatake Kakashi. Once you're within 20 meters of the training field, stay close to the forest and await my orders."

"Hai, Hime!"

She continued to analyze Kakashi's movements. She saw him leave the bushes and head north. Akira followed. 'What could he be planning now?' she thought. He was moving away from the forest and towards the river. As Kakashi neared the river bank, Akira stopped in her pursuit and finally understood.

He knew she was following him in the trees. The forest edge ended where the river began, and there are no more trees to conceal her. If she wanted to continue following him, she would have to reveal herself.

Akira felt panic slowly creep in, making her spine tingle.

There's water nearby, so she could use Kishi against him. But then he's the famed wielder of the Raikiri, and if he overpowers her... Akira frowned. 'But I could use lighting jutsu as well. I can use Kuroi and...'

'But that Sharingan is a problem! Argh!'

And as if to make things worse, she's running out of time.

'Shit!'

Akira watched Kakashi remain by the riverbank. There must be a reason why he decided to move near a water source. Whatever his reason may be, she must move him back to the clearing.

'Here goes.'

She heaved a deep breath before leaping towards the Jounin. Kakashi whirled just in time to block Akira's kick. The kunoichi sprung backwards, drew shuriken and threw them at Kakashi. He easily deflected her attacks with a kunai. Undaunted, she rushed back at him, fists ready and engaged him in taijutsu. He blocked her punches and a left hook hit her square at the jaw but Akira ignored the pain, steadied herself and ducked another of his punches. She then swept his legs but Kakashi was too nimble and avoided it by leaping backwards.

"I'm in position, Hime-chan!"

Akira drew her katana, rushed at Kakashi and charging it with wind chakra, slashed the jounin. The attack sent Kakashi backwards against the forest edge.

She smirked in victory. She had managed to pull Kakashi away from the water, just in time for her and Yuudai's coordinated offense.

"Now Yuudai!"

At her order, the wolf barreled from the thick forest, all 200 lbs spinning rapidly like a loose cannon. Akira smirked as Yuudai slammed against the Jounin. The earth rumbled beneath her from Yuudai's Gatsuga. When the smoke cleared, she approached the area to survey the result of her wolf's attack. She gasped.

There was no Kakashi. Yuudai growled in frustration.

"He used Kawarimi!" Akira exclaimed. She kicked the pieces of logs that Yuudai smashed. 'That was incredibly swift! Damn!'

She looked around her and surveyed her surroundings for the Jounin. She should've known that it won't be easy to defeat him.

Just then, Yuudai started barking. "Ahead of us!"

Akira turned, just in time as a barrage of shuriken was thrown at her. She dodged and deflected several with her katana.

"I was looking forward to seeing you use that sword," Kakashi drawled. "Oh, and in case you forgot, you only have ten minutes left."

Akira growled as Kakashi tapped the bells that hung at his hip. Rushing forward, she slashed at the shinobi. Screw the Sharingan, she has to prove her worth!

She continued with the offense, her body moving with practiced grace as she attempted to slice off the Jounin's extremities. Kakashi countered her attacks with kunai on each hand. Their blades clashed.

"Eight minutes."

With a snarl, Akira leapt back, putting ample distance between him and Kakashi. She glanced at the gray wolf. "Get the pack."

Yuudai howled. Smirking, Akira charged towards Kakashi once more, channeling chakra to her katana. She slashed but the Jounin evaded her and kicked her square on the torso. Akira skidded but swiftly regained her footing. She turned clockwise, promptly blocking Kakashi's kunai. Her blade caught his arm, making him bleed, which caused approval to gleam in his eyes. Akira backflipped, switched her katana to reverse-hold, and swung the blade in a horizontal swipe. As expected, Kakashi leaped back to avoid the blow. When Akira saw him move, she grinned.

Because at that precise moment, Kakashi found himself surrounded by Musha Ookami, eyes glinting, snarling in aggression. There was a blur of movement and all five wolves pounced on the Jounin.

Akira didn't get the chance to gloat in victory however, because Kakashi disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"A clone?!"

Before she could react, the cold tip of a kunai tickled her neck and a strong arm had her pressed tightly against a firm torso.

"Fuck!" she muttered.

She felt the cloth of his mask rub against her cheek as he spoke. "Language, Satsuna. Someone might hear and get the wrong impression."

Akira breathed slowly through her nose, calming herself. She was trapped by Kakashi and a mere cock of her head would send his kunai deep into her jugular. Aside from that, his hold on her was vice-like, leaving no room for even the tiniest movement. Her arms were pressed tightly against him, strategically preventing her from drawing her katana or making seals. This meant defeat.

But Akira was determined to get the bells, no matter what the cost. She wants to prove to him that she's not just an average shinobi. She can be jounin and is worthy to climb the ranks.

The wolves had circled them, and Akira caught Yuudai's eyes. She blinked, and it understood.

Yuudai lunged first, his jaw wide open, fangs bared and aimed at Kakashi's neck. Kakashi twisted clockwise, bringing Akira with him, away from Yuudai's line of attack. Unfortunately, a wind jutsu, courtesy of Sachiko, hit both Akira and Kakashi, causing them to skid and hit the trees. The jounin's hold on Akira loosened and the kunoichi took this opportunity to free herself from his grasp. She rolled away from the Jounin but as she was about to stand, she felt a strong tug and she was back to the ground again. Instinctively, she tried to kick him away. A brief scuffle between her and Kakashi ensued, with the bigger and taller jounin overpowering her. The Ookami rushed to her aid—a fire jutsu by Akai, which Kakashi countered with a water technique. Seeing the water, Kuroi let out a stream of raiton energy but Kakashi only side-stepped, and rapidly performing seals, created several bunshins and engaged the wolves in combat. That left Akira alone with the real Kakashi.

Somehow, she found herself upright again, evading his punches which seemed to become faster as she was pushed to the defensive. She was able to summon another katana and using a jutsu that Hayate taught her, she managed to hit Kakashi. However, the jounin matched her skill with just a kunai and managed to disarm her. Kakashi slammed a palm to her chest and her body moved reflexively against his strikes. She jumped away, once more putting distance between her and Kakashi.

Akira performed seals: "Raiton: Raiju Tsuiga!"

Her hand cackled with pure raiton before taking the form of a wolves. Three wolves made of lightning rushed towards Kakashi.

In response, Kakashi lifted his hitaite to reveal a crimson eye before mirroring Akira's technique. Slighty nerved by Kakashi's imitation of her jutsu, Akira channeled more raiton chakra, determined to overpower Kakashi. Unfortunately, the man was several leagues ahead of her and her wolves dissipated.

In a bout of panic, Akira leapt away from the line of attack and swiftly weaved seals: "Doton: Doryuheki!"

A massive earth wall rose from the ground, shielding her from Kakashi's attack. Her mind went to overdrive, trying to come up with a strategy to get the bells from the jounin. Her mind came up blank.

"Hime-chan, look out!"

Sachiko's distressed call roused Akira just in time as a Lightning Cutter shattered her earth wall. She gnashed her teeth and braced herself for the impact.

In an act of desperation, she rushed head-on, recklessly meeting Kakashi's Raikiri with her own katana infused with lightning chakra.

The scarlet gaze of the Sharingan pierced her green eyes.

All at once, it was as if every system and organ had stopped in her body. Her jutsu cancelled out, and Akira was plunged into the darkness.

She opened her eyes and blinked at the nothingness. There was a deep growl and Akira instinctively looked up.

A pair of demonic red eyes met her stare and the entity grinned menacingly, teeth bared in a feral growl.

"We meet again, Satsuna."

~~~~~~~~

"Akira. Wake up."

The firm but gentle voice echoed in her head and Akira slowly opened her eyes, blinking wearily at the blurred images. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Kakashi's face came into focus.

Gingerly she sat up and looked around. She saw her wolves watching her wearily, and she noticed immediately Sachiko's singed fur. The rest of the pack looked worse for wear too.

"What happened?" she asked.

Kakashi dangled the two bells in front of her. "You didn't get the bells."

The evening wind blew, making the bells chime tantalizingly, but their peal made Akira somber. She remembered the sound of the Kageboshi and then nothing else. It only meant one thing. She sighed and bowed her head in defeat.

Just like that, her dream of becoming Jounin and proving her worth, was gone. She bit her lip, careful not to show her disappointment and gloom to Kakashi. She felt tears rise up her eyes but she clenched her eyes shut to prevent them from falling. There's no way she'll cry in front of Kakashi.

There was a pregnant pause between Akira and Kakashi before the kunoichi spoke. "I failed."

Kakashi sat cross-legged in front of her. "No, you didn't."

"Huh?" She looked back at him in surprise.

"Technically, you failed to get the bells," said Kakashi. "But this was merely an assessment test and not the Jounin exam." When the kunoichi still looked confused, Kakashi continued, "I designed this test just so that I can gauge your skills on one-on-one combat. So, even if you failed to get the bells from me, you still performed well based on my assessment."

Akira pondered on the Jounin's words. "Okay. So...what now?"

"Well, the Hokage wanted me to teach you to master your skills," said Kakashi. "And I learned that you have several unique ones. While they may look good in your files, I'm afraid they're not utilized enough in real-life battle. Tell me, how experienced are you in reconnaissance?"

"Not much," Akira admitted. "If I were to grade it from A to D, I'd say B-C."

"Infiltration?"

"B."

"Espionage?"

"C to B." Akira sighed. "I know, I suck."

Kakashi shook his head. "Not entirely. Our spar today showed that you can hold your own during one-on-one combat. You are highly proficient with Kenjutsu, but I expected that since you're Gekko's student. Your Taijutsu is seamless too, though it could still be improved. I did not see you use Genjutsu but I was told you can use them on weapons?"

"Not every weapon. I can only channel it through projectiles and some blades and staffs. The range is also limited, as well as duration."

"Hmm. Then we'll have to work on that too. Another thing that needs much work is your Ninjutsu. Is it true you can use all five chakra natures?"

Akira nodded. "Yes, but to say that I am a master of all is wrong."

"Yeah, because you'd have to be the Hokage to gain mastery of all chakra natures." Kakashi glanced at the dark evening sky. He shook his head lightly before looking at the kunoichi once more. "At least you have the theory and affinity down pat, that'll make it a little easier for us. Anyway, I am sorry to cut this discussion short, Akira, but I have some errands due early tomorrow." He stood up and offered a hand to the kunoichi. "We'll meet again here at 1600H."

Akira took his hand and with his help, stood up. "Hai, Kakashi-san."

Kakashi chuckled. "It's Sensei now."

"Oh." Akira blushed and looked away. Kakashi only nodded curtly at her wolves and then with a last look, disappeared in a jutsu.

The Satsuna remained in the training ground, still slightly confused at how her training with the Jounin ended. She remembered seeing the Sharingan, and then the Kageboshi... was that just a genjutsu?

'But it felt so real.'

She shook her head as if to clear away the grisly memory and turned to her wolves. "Ookami, are you okay?"

"We're fine," quipped Sachiko.

"Just hungry," said Kuroi.

"And tired," Kishi said.

The kunoichi smiled wryly. "Me too. How about you guys go on ahead while I grab something to eat? You can meet me at home."

The wolves were more than happy to comply. Akira wanted to ask them how they find training with Kakashi but her stomach had growled quite loudly and she was feeling ravenous. After a brief goodbye, she dashed out of the training ground, eager to meet her basic need for food and eventually retire for the night.

It had been a long, long day, and all she wanted was the comfort of her bed. She hoped that her exhaustion brings her no nightmares tonight.

~~~~~~~~~~

Neji looked up at the faint sound of wolves howling. He noted the dark sky and turned to his companion.

"I think we should go," he said.

Tenten pouted. "It's still quite early," she protested.

"We have a mission tomorrow."

"Fine, Taichou!"

Neji shook his head and stood from the bench. "You know you don't have to call me that," he said. While he is indeed the leader for their mission, it makes him uncomfortable to hear Tenten call him with the title. It sounded stiffly formal—and unnecessary.

The kunoichi followed his lead and she stood up as well, stretched a little, and together they walked back to the general direction of their homes. On the way, they resumed their conversation, with Tenten relapsing into jovial stories. Neji answered with his monosyllabic replies.

The cold, evening air blew. Beside him, Tenten shuddered and huddled closer against his side, looping her arm loosely around his. Although the small action seemed innocent and common among them as long-time comrades, Neji stiffened at the sudden contact. He glanced at the kunoichi. He was about to say something when a familiar chakra signature caught his attention.

Tenten had stopped walking too. It didn't take long for him to realize why.

He raised his eyes and there, a few steps ahead of them, was Akira.

Their eyes met—green and lavender—and suddenly, it felt to Neji like the atmosphere had dipped into something heavy and cold.

The pale light that came from the streetlamp illuminated the Satsuna's tall form. Tenten cleared her throat and waved.

"Hello, Akira!"

The other kunoichi merely gave her a clipped smile and a curt, "Good evening." Confused, because she and Akira are usually on cordial speaking terms, Tenten glanced at the Hyuuga beside her, and noticed that he has a rather intense look about him as he regarded the Satsuna. This made Tenten even more baffled, to the point of being worried, that something is happening. Strangely, Tenten felt as if she's an outsider of some sort between the Satsuna and the Hyuuga. The tense atmosphere that clouded Akira and Neji were not lost to the Weapons Mistress.

"Satsuna," came Neji's brusque tone.

Akira raised her eyes to him but did not answer. There was an awkward pause between them three, and it bothered Neji how placid and emotionless Akira seemed. Even her usual turbulent eyes were strangely calm and her face devoid even of its usual scowl. He saw her eyes dart from him to Tenten and finally settled on their linked arms.

Neji removed his arm from Tenten. The small movement caused the brunette look up at him in confusion, but he refused to meet her eyes. Instead, he kept his focus on the redhead. He caught the slight wavering of her gaze, before resuming its previous countenance. The dark emerald stones were upon him once more, before she stepped aside and continued her way. It took all of Neji's strength not to turn around and follow Akira.

He stayed rooted to his spot for several seconds, listening for the Satsuna's footsteps as she walked away. Tenten's voice brought him back to the present.

"Neji?"

The Hyuuga turned to the brunette, saw the concern behind her brown orbs. He heaved a deep breath. "I'll meet you tomorrow at the gates, 0700H." He tried to smile but all he was able to muster was a brisk nod. "Good night, Tenten."

~~~~~~~~~~

She turned off the lamp, pulled up her blankets and closed her eyes.

But sleep did not come easy. Instead, her mind continued to whirr.

"I guess breaking you from the inside wouldn't be so difficult at all."

'No! Stop!'

She had finished eating a hearty dinner, and although she was tired from her spar with Kakashi, Akira felt content with how her day went. Exhausted though she was, she felt like she was finally headed in the right direction.

She exited the restaurant and was on her way home when she felt him. Akira quickened her pace, a smile on her face. She wanted to see him, tell him of the latest news and simply spend just a few minutes with him. But when she drew closer, she realized he wasn't alone. Someone was with him. She recognized the twin buns, but it wasn't who he was with that made her pause in her steps.

It was the proximity of the two shinobi to each other, the intimacy in their features. Akira felt her throat constrict and her heart skip several beats.

She studied him for a few seconds and noted how his eyes looked at his companion fondly, and how the Weapons Mistress returned his gaze.

Like old photographs, the Hyuuga's actions recently flashed in her mind, and she remembered how he looked at her, the words he said, the things he did. And right then, she realized, 'What exactly are we? What am I to him?'

Something dark, angry and painful made her heart clench as she continued to watch them. Confused by her own reaction, Akira tried to ease her heart's erratic beating and schooled her features into a passive mask.

"Foolish girl."

Akira reluctantly raised her eyes to the demon wolf. The dark entity was grinning maliciously.

"Only a stupid, naïve girl like you would believe in love." It prowled in its cage, dragging its heavy chains across the floor. "Did you really think that Hyuuga brat cares for you?" The Kageboshi laughed jeeringly at the Satsuna. Its fur bristled with dark humor. "Did you really believe that he loves you?"

When Akira did not answer, the Kageboshi laughed once more.

"I knew it. Just like your pathetic mother, spreading her legs open—"

"Shut up!" Akira finally mustered the courage to answer back, although deep down, she was trembling. "Shut up, you demon!"

In response, the demon wolf roared ferociously, sending Akira to the ground with the force of its breath. It barked in hate and indignation.

"You do NOT order me around, Satsuna! You are nothing but a chunk of meat for me to live in!" The beast let out another growl, and its chakra rose to shroud it. The heat from its power caused Akira's skin to be marred with painful blisters. The girl screamed in pain.

"You delusional little bitch! Nobody will ever love you, nobody will ever accept you! That man you fawn over just wants a quick roll in the hay! He doesn't want you, he doesn't love you back! Ugh! You humans disgust me!"

They soon caught sight of her and there was a tense exchange between them. Akira's eyes were drawn to their linked arms, at the comfortable way the other kunoichi leaned against him, and how none of these things seemed to affect him in contrast to the way it affected her.

Their eyes met, and when she saw that his were oblivious to the turmoil of confusion, insecurity and doubt within her, Akira turned away, wanting to escape into her thoughts, hoping to find answers there.

"Isn't it obvious yet, Satsuna scum? That boy wants you for the only thing you are good at..."

The physical pain brought by the Kageboshi's assault had started to ease, but its emotional and mental torture persisted. The demon wolf retreated into the darkness of its chamber, its voice lowering to a deceptive whisper.

"He only lusts after your flesh."

Akira snapped her eyes open, breathing heavily as she sat up and gripped her head. Her heart thumped madly, sweat trickled down from her temples and her skin tingled with the Kageboshi's assault.

You are nothing but a chunk of meat.

...the only thing you are good at.

He only lusts after your flesh.

She willed herself to calm down, and schooled her thoughts to pleasant memories with him but the voice in her head was persistent.

Were those words the Kageboshi's?

Or her own?

~~~~~~~~

Author's Notes:

Akira's first encounter with jealousy, the romantic type.

I'm sure it's evident by now that between her and Neji, Akira is the more... "vulnerable" one, in the sense that she was the first to acknowledge and confess her feelings and dropped the "L" bomb, to which Neji hasn't reciprocated. Also, Akira has no previous experience on romantic relationships that is why she doesn't know how to deal with this feeling. So when she sees Neji and Tenten quite cozy together, her first reaction was to feel angry and hurt, and then become confused because she acknowledges that Tenten and Neji are friends but the intimacy that the two show is something Akira does not approve of. Aside from that, we saw in the previous chapters how Neji had been acting towards Akira, and this made Akira assume that Neji loves her back (although to his defense, Neji had never-- at least, verbally-- returned Akira's confession). And then she sees him being intimate with Tenten (again, to his defense, Neji had not actually done anything romantic to Tenten other than try to reassure her that she's not a substandard kunoichi). This confuses Akira more because she's on cordial terms with Tenten. Due to those conflicting feelings, Akira reacted negatively, and add the long-standing conflict in her heart and mind, this is what the Kageboshi took advantage of.

But then, were those really the Kageboshi's words or Akira's own subconscious? I'll let you decide.

As usual, I appreciate your reviews on my story and if there's anything you wish for me to improve on, please tell me so that I can work on it. Your inputs are truly valuable.