Chapter 9

"Hey Rin," said a familiar voice. 

I spun around, "Hi Genma, what are you doing here?" 

He smiled, "I was… uh… I was wondering if you wanted to spar with me for a bit?"

I looked up at him. "Sure! Now?" It would be good for me to see my skillsets and maybe Genma's too. After all, he'll end up being a member of Minato's hokage guard and one of the strongest Jounin in canon. 

He nodded, "Now."

I reviewed what I knew about him. He was talented at ninja tool throwing and he obviously had to be fast or Minato probably wouldn't have chosen him. We were both the same age, but he was male, so physically, he was probably stronger than me. On the plus side, I could already use Flying Thunder God, but that was my trump card, I wasn't going to use it now. Plus, it wasn't really good. Maybe I should practice it… I shook my head and prepared. 

We took our positions on opposite sides of the training field. "Three," we said together, "Two…" My hand inched towards my kunai in my ninja pouch. "One!" we ran at each other, grinning. 

CLANG! Our kunai it each other, causing sparks to fly through the air. "You sure about this?" teased Genma. 

I glared at him as we both jumped back. Swoosh! The kunai in his hand flew towards me and I blocked it. It fell to the floor. He was moving again, another kunai in his hand. He body flickered towrads me. 'So fast!' 

I slashed at him, barely fast enough to make him jump away from me. My hand moved, pulling two shiruken out of my pouch and threw it at him. Poof! Damn… he got me… replacement technique. 

That was a basic technique for a genin, but it was useful. I looked left and right, trying to find him. Then I sensed him. Above! I jumped out of the way as Genma slammed down from above me, causing dust to fill the air. Cough… cough… 

I flew at him, kunai in hand. I aimed for his head and… he caught my wrist. Damn boys… why are they always physically stronger than girls? 

I dropped the kunai and quickly caught it with my free hand, plunging it towards his stomach. He released by hand and kicked me away. I flew back and landed… hard. "Ow," I gasped, clutching my stomach. 

"You good?" he asked. 

I nodded and stood up. He looked at me worriedly and I grinned. "Wha-" I ran at him. 

"Hey!" he yelped as I caught him off guard, "Thats dirty!" 

"On a battlefield," I said while swinging at him, "You're opponent is going to try and kill you, especially when you're off guard." 

My punch hit him square in the chest. He grunted and somersaulted backward. Swoosh! Something cold slid quickly across my cheek and hit a tree behind me. What the… 

I touched my cheek were a thin trail of blood was begining to drip down. "You are completely right," said Genma, standing up, and smiling. 

Damn his senbon, I forgot he had one in his mouth. I preformed hand signs quickly and touched a finger to my cheek, glowing green with chakra. The cut healed as Genma came at me again. 

I put my hands into a quick rat seal. 'Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique.' 

Kaa-Chan had made me practice it. It was a D-rank, but some what effective. Genma froze, his eyes blank. "Sorry…" I muttered. 

I wanted to see how well it worked on an actual ninja my level. Using it on Kaa-chan hadn't been useful at all. She broke free in literally point one seconds. I couldn't even tell it had worked. I walked around him. Then, suddenly, his hands came up. "Kai!" he shouted and stumbled backward, landing on his butt. 

"You good?" I asked, holding my hand out to him. 

He glared at me but took my hand. "Ack!" I yelped as he pulled me onto the floor, next to him. 

"What was that for?" I asked. 

"That," he gasped, "Was for the genjutsu." 

"Sorry," I said. 

"It's fine," he replied, "In a real fight, I would have been dead. Want to try again?"

I nodded and we both stood up. 

…

We fought until both of us were lying on the floor, panting. "Oh…" gasped Genma, "We should do that again."

"You'll have to wait," I replied, "I won't be back for a while." 

"You're going somewhere?" asked Genma. Was it just me or did he sound disappointed? 

I nodded, "I'll be off to train for a bit in a bout a week." 

He nodded, "Well, when you get back, we'll training together? I'll be stronger my then and I know you will be too." 

I grinned. Then, his stomach growled. "So hungry…" 

I laughed and stood up to grab my bento box. "Want some?" I offered, holding out an onigiri. 

He grabbed it, "Thanks!"

I grabbed one too and we started eating and chatting. "Did you make this?" he asked, "It's really good!" 

I smiled, "Kaa-chan made it… She's an excellent cook!"