Pov: Ino

  "(Whisper) Why is she sadly watering flowers?" Dad asks mum.

  "(Whisper) Don't you remember this morning?" She replies.

  "Ohhhh~" Dad responds... a little too happy at my sad state... obviously he didn't want me to date Kenzo too...

  "Stop that! You know how excited she was!" My mother whisper yells at him and I hear him chuckle with worry.

  "Sorry, sorry..." He replies and I hear him approach and kneel down next to me.

  "Ino... lets leave this to your mum alright? You are drowning the flowers... lets go eat some ice-cream" Dad picks me up and I drop the watering can.

  "I don't want ice-cream, I will get fat" I reply sadly and hug him.

  "Ino... a small bowl then?" He asks and I nod.

  We leave and enter into our dining room, dad pces me down and goes into the kitchen.

  "May I ask why you liked that boy so much?" He calls out and I y my head onto the table.

  "I don't know..." I respond.

  *Clink*

  He drops a bowl of ice-cream next to me and sits down.

  "I know you know Ino, you inherited my smarts after all" He chuckles and pats my shoulder.

  ...

  "I don't remember at all... I only have a vague memory of him entering the shop for the first time and him calling me cute" I tell dad and he rubs my shoulder with warmth.

  "Yes, I remember that day- you gave him some special flowers then as well, I never knew he called you cute... didn't think he could speak with the state his mind was in..." Dad mumbles.

  "His mind...?" I ask and start eating some ice-cream.

  "Yeah, came in for my help if I remember correctly- his mind was locked in and focusing on a set action and he couldn't break from it" Dad tells me and I look up to him.

  "What? Why?" I ask with confusion and wipe away my previous tears.

  "Never understood, from what I was told he often meditates and puts himself through torture of his own making within his mind" He responds.

  ...

  I never knew that about him... what else didn't I know about him?

  "Thanks for the ice-cream" I ask and finish up my ice-cream... maybe I missed something and wasn't as close as I thought...?

  "No worries Ino, we can handle the shop today- why don't you get some fresh air or maybe get some rest?" Dad stands up and takes my bowl to the kitchen.

  I get up and walk outside... fresh air sounds nice.

  Maybe I was just being dramatic... I don't know that much about Kenzo at all, I juts know what flowers he likes, his favourite colour... what he does in his spare time... he does do a lot of training... maybe he isn't interested in me? Is there someone else in his css that he likes?

  No... he said I'm too young...

  Wait- does that mean he would say yes if I was older? How old? Did I give up too easily?

  Maybe Naruto is right in how he asks Sakura out all the time! If I just keep asking him maybe he will tell me! And if I keep pestering maybe he will say yes! He didn't say no! He said we were too young!

  Just wait Kenzo! I will cim you!

  ---

  Pov: Kenzo

  I am dangling from the ceiling, rope ties my legs and hands so I cannot resist, a few spiders and insects crawl around my body and inject me with poisons that burn... not as much as the Mana injection, and that pisses of Danzo so I am all smiles.

  "Stop smiling" Danzo orders and my tongue twists and turns in pain.

  "Stop... being... pathetic" I slowly articute my words to Danzo.

  "Add the centipede" Danzo orders and a Root ninja pces a Centipede on my face.

  "Open your mouth" He demands.

  ...

  Fuck this. What does this have to getting stronger? This is just btant torture again- not as bad as Oorochimaru- damnit why do I always have a 'not as bad' with Danzo's torture sessions, I always forget that I am little maniac who tortures himself in his spare time...

  Haaaa-

  I open wide and feel the centipede start to tip tap his legs down the corner of my lip and into my throat.

  ...

  I want to vomit.

  *Gak-* *Whroo*

  I make horrid noises as it stumbles through my throat and blocks the air from flowing freely.

  It stops midway... staying within my throat in the most annoying pce possible.

  I'm going to kill this man one day, just like Oorochimaru and just like his assistant- they will all break under my boot and I will get my vengeance.

  "Quite the stare you have on you- shame it doesn't work on me" Danzo mocks.

  "Do not compare a gnce to my stare... you can push through the small bursts yes... but my stare? A genuine stare that would st more than moments? You would not st" I spit back and struggle as I desperately want to scratch at my throat.

  "Oh? How impudent of you to think yourself on my level- you are barely a genin child" Danzo grabs tea from his ninja and sips on it as he responds, now looking away from me.

  "After two more hours of this you will spar with the three as usual, and doing ps for every hundred losses, have fun child" Danzo chuckles as he leaves with his tea and I dangle from the ceiling and close my eyes.

  Haaa-

  I take steady breaths and feel them wash over the centipede... focus on something else... focus on a stare.

  I stare at the root ninja but they remain behind me.

  Then lets stare at the wall, focus on every speck of dust floating throughout the room.

  Breathe...

  Blink.

  Twenty minutes...

  Breathe...

  Blink.

  One hour...

  Breathe...

  Blink.

  Two hours...

  "Times up, lets spar" And just like that the torture is over, I remain calm as the centipede crawls back out and the various insects and arachnids fall from my body and back to one of the Root who then leaves.

  I am untied and get up from the floor after falling... *Smack* *Swish* *Sp!* and immediately am assailed with multiple blows from two root ninja- I block both blows and jump backwards.

  *Woooosh!*

  Fmes burrow forward from a third Root ninja who performs a ninjutsu.

  I dodge out of the way and snap my fingers.

  *Snap!~*

  This is going to be a long sparring session.

  -One hour ter-

  *Ssh!*

  "437" I back up and reset to my starting position.

  Haaa- ran out of chakra already... how am I supposed to defeat these guys with only taijutsu and luck?

  I widen my stance and the three rush me- I block the first kick and the second punch but the third elbow hits my side and they take the opportunity to hit me with a combo- I barely take the hits before inevitably getting another hit at the neck and losing.... *Smack*

  And there we go- wait a minute- I blocked that attack! I charge my elbow into the root ninja and swipe the legs of another one before getting hit in the stomach by the one in front of me.

  I get beaten bck and blue don't get me wrong- but I also deal damage back to them.

  *Shhh*

  A tanto gets unsheathed by the one on my left and I lean down to jump over the one on my left, I grab his mask and pull on it- *Grip!* he fumbles backwards as I pull onto him and stand on his upper back.

  *Swish* *Sm!*

  He throws me to the floor and I roll away to the left- dodging the middle ones stomp that would have hit my skull.

  *Pat* *woosh!*

  I sp the concrete below me and push off of it- a tanto sshes down where I was and I spin out of the way.

  *Kick* *Sm!* *ssh-* *Swing!*

  I get kicked in the thigh and buckle to my knees- I get hit in the shoulder and grip it tight- a tanto swings at me and I punch his wrist and he accidentally stabs one of his pouches- *Scatter* caltrops spill onto the floor and I grab the bag to throw them around everywhere and at there eyes.

  I [Walk] over them without injury and taunt the Root ninja.

  *leap!* *Ssh!*

  One root ninja leaps over the scattered caltrops and sshes down his tanto once more- but I remember all that Danzo has taught me and lean back, I grip the bde and take the blow into my palm before grabbing his colr with my free hand and smming his face into the spiky metal now scattered onto the floor.

  I then raise my foot and sm his face into them.

  *Woosh!*

  The two others decide to just walk over the caltrops and attack me- there shoes take all the damage but fortunately tear and break due to the sharpness.

  They rush me and knee me in the stomach before the next one balls up his fist and sms into the back of my skull.

  My head throbs and I clutch it.

  "438" A root ninja mutters and they all walk away while I walk over the caltrops head pulsing in pain and then falling to the ground in exhaustion.

  Damnit.

  ---

  Pov: Kakashi

  "So you have monitored him, any thoughts? He may not be the kind of child you would train but he may be a good start before you take in the st Uchiha and Naruto" the Hokage offers and I look over his report.

  I was watching him during css today and a bit past that to understand what kind of child he is- I was surprised to find that he could indeed feel my gaze like the reports said.

  Lord third has asked me to take in a team and graduate them to Chunin level before the end of the year in preparation for accepting Naruto, Sasuke and whoever else they stick on the team.

  ...

  I was a bit reluctant however I did accept to look and see if I would be interested in anyone specific... Kenzo is not as I would have thought him to be- a major difference from his orphanage self.

  Constantly training and pushing himself to a degree that Gai recommended he cut down on- in fact the Academy is considered a break from his normal training, he constantly looks worn out and never seems to be in the right headspace for normal activities.

  Oddly enough he disguises it well- very, very well.

  The reports state that he calms down on the weekends to spend the entire day with Naruto and often buys flowers on the regur... I just witnessed him reject Inoichi-sans daughter so probably no flowers for a while.

  So not totally a training maniac... I just wish he showed... more.

  He is Naruto's self adoptive brother now and I wish he showed something a bit more to help him... some talent or skill to hone.

  But he is stuck with Genjutsu and his frightening stares according to the report.

  Who could train this child to be a good ninja? He barely breaks through to the top of the Academy with an already filled schedule so how is he supposed to be trained by me?

  "You should get someone else Lord third, Asuma, Kurenai, Shikaku or Inoichi even... perhaps Ibiki if he wishes to work under him in the future..." I shake my head and pce his report down on the table.

  "Kakashi- maybe you are denying this far too quickly, Kenzo has another year till he graduates from the Academy, this could be great for him and you... worst thing that could happen is that you leave him to work as a genin under Ibiki if you fail to make him a Chunin in time" Lord third gives me a warm smile.

  ...

  "Why did you want me to train him?" I ask.

  "Haaa- the boy has been through a lot and I wished to have him taken under the wing of one of our most trustworthy ninja- Oorochimaru, Root and himself have all taken shots at his safety... you could help him find himself and be better" He responds.

  ...

  "As a first attempt before I take Sasuke under my wing?" I raise my brow.

  "No- I didn't mean to make it sound so... Kakashi, I want Kenzo to do well in life and I am sure you would love to train the boy that Naruto looks up to" Lord third sighs and I divert my gaze.

  Maybe... I have time to think this over and get used to normal assignments again... I will think about ter.

  "If it helps tip your favour- Danzo has pced a suggested Jonin for his training and he already has enough of a grip on Kenzo" Lord third tempts me and I sigh.

  "Maaa~ I will think about and get back to you" I respond and Lord third smiles warmly.

  "Good" He responds.

  I nod my head before flickering away into the roofs of Konoha...

  Kenzo... maybe... probably not- Gai would love to have him though.

  ...!

  I suddenly stop and see Kenzo walking through the woods alone... did he just get back from Danzo's training? I watch as he shifts his face in my direction and I roll my eyes remembering he can feel my gaze.

  That took five hours? Five hours for him to get back from training under Danzo of all people? I don't like that. Not one bit.

  ...

  He leaves the woods and enters into the streets of Konoha- I shake my head and pull out Icha-Icha to read... *Flicker!* Gai suddenly shunts into the space next to me as I read and tree hop.

  "If it isn't my eternal rival Kakashi!~" He yells out and I look up.

  "Oh, when did you get here?" I ask.

  "As cool as ever Kakashi! I heard you are applying for a Genin team- well it seems great minds think alike! So am I~" He procims.

  "Oh, well congratutions but I am only thinking about it- don't know if I would fit as a Jonin teacher" I respond while looking through my book again.

  "Nonsense Kakashi- you would fit any situation! Speaking of any situation- would you like to compete once more!~" He yells and I look up and think about it... why not.

  I shut my book and pce it within my pouch.

  "how about a simple game of hide and seek- you hide first" I eye smile and chuckle.

  "Oh no you don't Kakashi! Last time you never sought me out! Lets do something like a race!" He procims.

  "Hmmm... no chakra and no hands- first one up the Kage mountain and back twenty times wins" I respond and he shouts with vigour.

  -Twenty minutes ter-

  "Hahaha! Another win for Might Gai!" He strikes a pose as he stands above the mountain.

  I climb the final stretch with ease and sigh at his antics- maybe I shouldn't of taunted him halfway through.

  As I dust myself off I turn and look down the cliff... something catches my nose, a familiar scent- Kenzo? Didn't he just get back home not so long ago?

  I turn my gaze and follow the scent to find him just about to start climbing the mountain about two hundred feet away.

  ...

  More training? Maybe Lord third should pce him far away from Gai... give him to Asuma or Kurenai to handle and keep calm.

  "Hm? What's gotten your attention my eternal rival?" Gai looks over and scans the mountain.

  "Ah- the friend of Rock Lee! I remember seeing him train together, what a ambitious young child full of youth- to be training at this hour" Gai mumbles.

  "Rock Lee? And yeah, that's the kid Lord third wants me to train" I tell him.

  "Yeah a kid with an indomitable spirit! I saw him practicing and he is mainly the reason I am going to grab a few genin to train!~ gd to see that your grabbing someone just as capable- their rivalry could just like ours!" He yells out and I raise my eyebrow.

  ...

  Hmmm.

  Someone needs to look after him.

  Someone needs to help him be better.

  ...

  Lets hope Kurenai is ready for a team after her recent promotion... or that Asuma is okay with a team after just getting back... or if... Shikaku would grab team despite his ziness... or Inoichi would train the kid who rejected his daughter.... oh no... its either me or Danzo's pick isn't it?

  Damn.

  Thanks for reading :)