-Kenzo age 10-

  Pov: Neji hyuga.

  Kenzo.

  One of the better students within the same css as me, he started out as another nobody destined to be a genin forever, but has slowly trained his way up through the css with effort piled onto effort- it is a shame he is destined to remain at the bottom.

  His various disabilities stack up against him and will inevitably be the end of him, no ninjutsu and basic chakra techniques, being blind and always hanging around with other losers who have no potential.

  What has made me annoyed however is his total belief in himself and others who are not cut out for the shinobi life at all- I often hear him prociming to his friend about putting in more effort or overcoming obstacles all the time.

  And no matter how many times they face me in spars they don't stop grinning like an idiot and saying 'next time lets do this' or 'I have to improve that', they aren't ninja. They do not have the capability to be ninja- they never will be capable ninja.

  Genjutsu can be impressive but within this world? A world where the Byakugan sees all? Its merely a fantasy to become a genjutsu master when all others are thriving in talent and Dojutsu.

  ...

  I would have ignored the fools in my css and focused on my own training... but recently my eyes have seen something interesting, while training my Byakugan I noticed that Kenzo has quite the unique Chakra system... I assumed it was his defect that I had heard about but when looking closer my eyes found something interesting enough to cause confusion in me.

  His chakra points have shrunk...

  Does that mean anything? To anyone else- no, but to the hyuga and their gentle fist? That's a different story, I can still hit them but one would have to extra precise and not be off by even a millimetre, it has made all our spars make so much more sense as I never noticed his exhaustion half the time my gentle fist hit.

  So I trained... and trained until I could hit his points without failure- and I managed to strike all of them in our most recent spar that went on for some time.

  He looked unaffected- he has never weaved a genjutsu during spars before... but even so, when ones chakra points are clogged one should feel intense exhaustion and pain due to the rushing chakra.

  I scanned him with my Byakugan that entire fight and he had all of his point clogged, he had every line stuffed full of chakra with nonpce to go... and yet he moved just as fast as before.

  His Chakra is so little and his pathways are so thin it doesn't matter if they flow or not, chakra will not build up as there is no amount for them to build up in the first pce.

  He is entirely immune to the gentle fist...

  Its just a shame he is destined to be nothing more than a desk ninja.

  ---

  Pov: Ino

  "You look exited Ino... anything happening today that I should know about?" Dad asks me as we eat breakfast... I am admittedly rushing through it to get to school as quick as possible.

  Today is indeed a very important day, I have finally decided to gather up my courage.

  "I... am going to ask Kenzo to be my boyfriend" I smile brightly at my father who drops his toast.

  "Wait what...? Hold on Ino you are far too young-" My father speaks up in a worried tone but my mother speaks over him.

  "That's amazing Ino! Why today? Anything happen recently~" She smiles back at me.

  "Nope- I just decided... also my friends all said I should..." I decre and finish my meal.

  "Wait a moment Ino, couldn't we-" Dad keeps speaking and my mother talks over him again.

  "That's great- tell us how it goes will you? Wishing you the best for today~" She wishes me luck and gives me a warm smile as I get up from the table and walk to the front door.

  "Wait! Ino!" Dad yells desperately but I hear Mum 'Sh' him.

  I take a deep breath and walk to the Academy... I can feel the butterflies in my stomach and I giggle in glee, almost skipping down the street.

  Today is the day! Mum said so and so did my friends! I arrive at the academy gates and enter into it, eventually sitting on my usual spot next to Sakura... who likes to sit next to Sasuke.

  I gnce over to the brooding boy and understand why Sakura would go for him... but I prefer someone who compliments me whenever I see him and is cool on top of being pretty!

  "Hey Ino!" Sakura sits down next to me and I smile to her she giggles.

  "So are you going to do it?" She asks hopefully.

  "Yep" I decre proudly and puff out my chest.

  "Do what?" Naruto sits down behind us near Shikamaru and Choji.

  "None of your business" Sakura chirps back.

  "Probably something stupid..." Shikamaru yawns.

  "No its not!" Sakura decres.

  "Please stop being so loud" I ask her and see that Sasuke next to her agrees silently with a sigh.

  "Come on~ let me in on it" Naruto smiles with excitement.

  Kenzo caught him skipping css two months ago and he has bored out of his mind due to the extra homework and being stuck in a seat- definitely smarter and more social for it though.

  "I am going to ask your brother to be my boyfriend" I let him know and blush a little.

  He winces at that.

  "Well... I mean... are you sure..?" He asks hesitantly.

  "You cant comment on anything Naruto!" Sakura yells.

  "Its true... your brother should not have given you that book on pick-up lines... troublesome..." Shikamaru shivers at the time Naruto started decring his love for Sakura in all manner of ways... yeah even he agrees it was a bad day.

  "Well- enough about that! I'm talking about O here! Are you sure he... is going to give a positive reply...?" He asks again with that grimacing face.

  I frown in thought...

  "Why? Do you think he doesn't like me?" I ask in worry.

  "Its Kenzo" Naruto states and nods his head sagely.

  "What does that mean?" Choji asks.

  "Its... Kenzo? O? Dattebayo...?" Naruto confirms.

  "Is that bad? Should I not confess??" I ask him in a more panicked tone, I already told my parents I would confess! What happens if I don't..!?

  "... good luck Ino... speaking of confessions, Sakura-chan would you-" Naruto gives me one st awkward look before turning to Sakura who shuts him down immediately.

  "No" She utters with a frown.

  "Damnit... hundred and thirty seven times the charm Dattebayo!" He yells to the roof.

  Ever since confessing earlier this year he has been getting more confident and blunt with his confessions... he seems happy anyway.

  "Settle down! We will be going over the basics of Genjutsu today!" Iruka-sensei enters the cssroom and we all turn to face him as he hands out our homework from st css.

  "You were tasked with this st time and I am gd to see positive results and great answers from all of you- especially Naruto who got a perfect score on this one" Iruka-sensei smiles at Naruto who cheers loudly behind me.

  "Nice! O would never let me live it down if I failed this one" Naruto decres and Sakura raises her eyebrow.

  "You managed to get a perfect score? How? What did you put for question seven, that's the one I didn't get" Sakura shows her homework and it seems she was one away from a perfect score too.

  "Well Kenzo always spars with me and him being a Genjutsu specialist has made this homework so much easier! I put down 'To bind and entangle foes'" Naruto answers her and she nods.

  "So your brother is a gejutsu specialist? I didn't know..." Shikamaru adds.

  "He says that a good genjutsu specialist should look like a Taijutsu specialist... because who would think they are under a genjutsu when facing a man built like a Titan" Naruto proudly decres.

  Choji ughs at that and nods his head while Shikamaru puts his unfinished homework away and rests his head onto the desk.

  "Lets start with the next few sections on Genjutsu and at the end of today I will be handing out homework based on it- Naruto do not run away early this time or I will give it to Oto-san so he can give it to Kenzo, I cannot track you down all the time" Iruka-sensei continues and we all pay attention.

  ...

  I'm still stuck on what Naruto said before... 'Its Kenzo' what does that mean? Is he messing with me because I refused to help him with Sakura before? Or is it because I keep inviting Kenzo to hang out and never invite him as well!??!?

  Its Kenzo... what happens if he doesn't say yes? Oh no... oh no... will he? I was in my head so much I didn't even think about that- I was just thinking about all the things we could do if I asked him out.

  ...

  Maybe I shouldn't ask him out...

  Maybe Naruto is right...

  Stupid Naruto... getting in the way of my love! How am I supposed to ask him out when I am so panicked like this! I decided that today is the day! So no more waiting!

  ---

  Pov: Kenzo

  "Again!" Oto-sensei calls out and I get up to go through the obstacle course once more, we are weaving through some intricate walls and hazards.

  I run to the start and leap onto the first few logs- thin and wobbly just above a pit of mud, testing our bance.

  I jump over them and into the next section which is a giant pit we have to leap over- easy for the other kids but for me who cant enhance their leap with chakra... I have to make sure that the previous jumps give me enough momentum to- *woosh!* *sp!* my feet hit the ptform.

  I scan the next obstacle and hear the swinging wooden balls attached to wires from above, if we get hit by these we have to restart, and the only ptform is a thin wire that connects to the next area- tight rope walking across and accurately dodging each and every attack from the dangling balls.

  I arrive at the next obstacle... its a simple wooden wall that extends to ten feet up, simple for other students due to chakra... annoying for me once more, I take a breath and sprint forward- *Step* *Step* *Reach!* I reach upwards as I attempt to run up the wall- *Grip!* my fingers wrap around the tip of the wall and I pull myself up quickly and jump to the other side.

  The next obstacle is a spinning wheel... imagine a ships steering wheel id onto its side and made extremely big- it spins fast and I take a few breaths before timing my jumps and... now! I leap onto it and take careful jumps on the side, it propels me forward and I roll onto the st ptform.

  Monkey bars... but resting students attempt to hit you with rubber kunai and there is only one bar... you have to use that bar and connect it into the next slot to move on- Oto-sensei resets it each time.

  ...

  I listen to who is resting right now... and focus on their voices... I hear Tenten talking and I sigh... she always hits- I thought she would have started this obstacle course by now but it seems Oto-sensei wanted to train her aim today.

  I leap upwards and grab the bar, immediately pushing upwards and furiously moving forward, listening for any thrown kunai- unfortunately rubber kunai are harder to hear than metallic ones.

  *smack*

  Damnit. I drop to the floor after getting hit and walk away.

  "Kenzo! Rest!" Oto-sensei calls out and I walk over to the side and pick up some Kunai.

  "You failed that much? I can barely see you under the mud" Tenten ughs.

  "I remember someone pushed me into the mud... someone who smelled just as bad as it" I reply.

  "Oi!" She smacks my shoulder and I ugh.

  "Tenten! Emi! Again!" Oto-sensei calls and I listen intently for the next person to try the bars... *Clink!* metal bar hits and I throw a kunai at that direction.

  *Smack* "Lee! Again!"

  Sorry Lee...

  Danzo has taught me to throw kunai blind and it helps- he told me to not use kunai unless necessary but it is great to learn and use.

  In fact Danzo has been focusing on more blindfolded fighting recently instead of normal training- or what Danzo refers to as normal at least.

  "Alright! Days over! Stand over here if you are covered in mud!" Oto-sensei calls out and some of us walk over to where he said... his hands woosh quickly as he performs a jutsu and- *WOOSSSSSH!!* water sprays us down and we are no longer covered in mud... a few seconds ter and- *WOOOOHHHH!* Wind bsts away most of the water and dampness.

  "Make sure to heat up quickly when you get home and wash yourselves properly" Oto-sensei tells us and we all walk away.

  I find my jacket, happy to have left it behind the minute I noticed mud was in py and put it on.

  I comb my hand with my hair and sweep the damp strands from my face, the rest behind my ear as I walk outside the Academy training grounds and head for the exit.

  "Kenzo! Over here!" Ino calls as I leave and I turn left to follow her voice.

  She stands just outside the Academy and my ears pick up both Naruto and Sakura hiding nearby... I heard them due to Sakura hitting Naruto.

  ...

  I will choose to look past that- no sense in getting angry at a child.

  "Need something Ino? I have some training this afternoon sorry" I ask her and hear her feet shuffle awkwardly, she takes a big breath.

  "Will you be my boyfriend!" She squeals out in one breath.

  ...

  What.

  Sorry.

  What.

  Sorry.

  What.

  I blink slowly and take a breath... I mean... I never realised that she had feelings for me... this is... awkward...

  I'm like so much older than her... even if I never spent lifetimes and decades within the skill training... I was in high school before I reincarnated... oh gods... I am older than everyone here... am I going to die alone due to my massive age gap? Wait- back on track. A girl barely out of the Academy just asked me out.

  The answer is obvious.

  "No... I am sorry Ino but you are far- we are far too young for that kind of thing" I decre sternly, I have to nip this in the bud so she doesn't think anything about me anymore... I am going to need to find another flower shop for a while wont I? I liked filling my vase too...

  "Oh... uh..." I hear her voice crack and I wince... this is painful to listen to.

  "I am sorry Ino. I just don't see you that way" I say clearly... maybe I am being a bit too blunt.

  "Hey! Why do you have to be so mean!" Sakura unches out of the hiding spot and decres to me.

  ...

  "Wait- Sakura-chan- I told you guys" Naruto says in annoyance.

  "Uh... I- sorry for taking your time..." Ino says weakly and starts speed walking away, Sakura follows her and Naruto walks up to me.

  "Did you have to be so blunt?" Naruto scolds.

  "I panicked... not really... I never knew she liked me like... like that" I answer.

  We start walking home and down the streets of Konoha- there was an amused stare above in the tree a few moments ago... I wonder who was watching? Oddly enough they where only using one eye... never knew I could detect how many eyes are on me exactly before...

  "Why did you say no?" Naruto asks me.

  "She is too young" I reply.

  "What? You like people in your css?" Naruto tilts his head.

  "No- I meant she was in the academy, that's young" I reply again.

  "So... if she asked you three years from now..?" Naruto asks.

  "No" I answer.

  "Why not? You are way too confusing O" Naruto grumbles.

  "Because- look, I am not into girls- I am into dies" I respond and cringe at my own words, what the hell happened to this conversation?

  "Ladies..??? Like the granny down the street?????" Naruto asks with concern and I face palm.

  Naruto... how did you jump from children to the elderly so quick? I swear you can be so wise sometimes... and yet have so little intelligence.

  "Sure" I accept with a deadpan face so we don't have to talk and Naruto nods seriously.

  ...

  Damnit. I should have continued the conversation- I forgot Naruto has a rge mouth, and I am an idiot.

  "Don't-" I turn to correct myself and Naruto is gone.

  ...

  Well that's just splendid.

  That amused stare again? Who the hell is watching me? I turn to face the stare and hear the flipping of a book near me, the man looking at me leans against a building... I cant tell if he is a ninja or not- no he is... usually a ninja has a certain weight they pull around when they move while civilians have a lighter load, this man is almost eerily silent to me, I can only hear what he wants me to hear.

  Should I ask why he was staring at me? Wait a minute- he is definitely looking for me specifically, people will often overlook me when trying to find something interesting due to my new title.

  Now why does he want me? A test from Danzo perhaps? He has been awfully quiet recently... I wouldn't mind a spar... I hope its not a real fight as this man is clearly capable of sneaking past my ears without a problem.

  ...

  Nothing is happening? I assumed something would have happened by now..? I start walking again and keep a steady pace down the streets of Konoha... every now and then I feel the stare on my back.

  Why? What do they want from me?

  I shake my head and have a shower, grabbing some clean clothes and heading out the door to find Danzo's training ground.

  ...

  The stare goes away as I leave... I will find out what that meant ter... hopefully nothing terrible.

  Thanks for reading :)