Aoi stood calmly amongst his teammates as Kakashi explained what they would be doing. It was the day after Kakashi had awoken, and they had already discussed how Zabuza was alive.

"Today we'll be climbing trees." Kakashi said happily, "without hands."

All of them, excepting Aoi, looked at Kakashi as if he were a complete idiot. "That's impossible, believe it!"

"Not with chakra it isn't. This is training for controlling chakra." Kakashi nodded to Aoi. "Aoi will demonstrate. First you gather your chakra to the souls of your feet. Then you simply," A vague gesture was thrown at Aoi as he took a step or two up the tree, "Climb."

All of them stared in shock as Aoi walked calmly up the side of the vertical tree until he was about halfway up, then he just stood there. "How are you doing that!?" Naruto shouted, pointing.

"You're so cool Aoi! When did you learn that!?" Sakura squealed in a fangirl moment.

When Aoi looked down, his hair was out of his face for once thanks to gravity. His sapphire eyes shone out dully as he raised his voice slightly in answer. "Chakra. I learned it when I was younger."

Sasuke turned to Kakashi, "We can already use chakra though, why do we have to learn this?"

"Because you aren't using chakra to the best of your ability. In the middle of battle, you'll lose control and focus, so this training will help. It will also help to prevent you from using too much chakra in your techniques. The bottom of the foot is said to be the hardest part to gather chakra to, and climbing trees requires a steady supply." Kakashi looked at Sasuke, and the boy just humphed in acceptance.

"Um... What's catra?" Naruto finally spoke up.

"It's chakra Naruto!" Sakura accompanied this with a hit to the head. "Didn't you pay attention at all in class or when Aoi explained it at the academy?"

"I slept during the hard lessons."

After a brief explination of chakra, the three got to work. Aoi walked back down the tree and stood next to Kakashi, watching them. After a while, Kakashi spoke.

"You've been training for as long as you can remember, correct?" At a nod from Aoi, Kakashi continued. "How many jutsu have you mastered in this time?"

After brief thought, Aoi responded with, "187 jutsu."

Kakashi's eye widened slightly at the number, but he didn't show any other sign of surprise. "What elements do you have?"

"I was born with water and fire, but I was trained with wind as well." Aoi glanced over, "Why?"

"Because even though you are a fighter on par with me, I'm still your sensei for now. I'm rather curious as to your level, that's all." There was another silence that stretched for quite a while. Kakashi broke it again with a command, "I want you to train as well, but you can't be found out by the other three."

"When am I expected back each day?"

"At dinner. Start training tomorrow, and I'll watch you for an hour or so." Aoi nodded and sat down where he was cross-legged.

_+_

That morning they were all sitting around the table for breakfast when Sasuke, of all people, spoke.

"How did you climb the tree so easily Aoi?"

"I had already learned it." Aoi tilted his head to the side slightly.

"Where?" Was Sasuke's next question.

A silence stretched in the room as Aoi stared at Sasuke from shadowed eyes and Sasuke leaned forward into his hands staring back. Without a word, Tsunami stood from the table after a moment to do the dishes. Tazuna slid out of his chair headed toward the hallway that contained the bathroom. Inari had already excused himself sometime ago, shutting up in his room reclusively.

Kakashi had barely noticed sweat dripping down the side of his face as he looked on at his two students. Sakura and Naruto had caught the atmosphere and were looking between the two, their expressions ranging from curiousity to sensetivity to Aoi's supposed situation. The silence stretched for what seemed like hours, but no answer appeared to be forthcoming.

Sasuke spoke again, "How did you find us so quickly after we seperated?" Again the silence stretched. "How can such a shinobi, who passed Kakashi's test before us, trip and fall into a bush like a clutz?" No answer. "Why were you able to carry Kakashi so easily? And why didn't you join the fight at all before that?" The silence that stretched after this lasted until there was an audible flush of a toilet and Tazuna reappeared.

"Well, it's time we I started work on the bridge for today." The atmosphere shattered as all eyes turned to Tazuna. "Who amongst you is guarding me?"

Kakashi shrugged off what had happened for the moment, "Sakura will guard you today. All of the boys still have training to do today."

"Let's get going then girly." Sakura stood and followed him out of the house.

"I won't forget about this. Your story doesn't add up Aoi, and somehow Kakashi-sensei is in on it too." Sasuke glanced at the two before standing and walking out the door to train.

After a few minutes, Naruto finished scarfing down food and ran out the door to train as well. Without so much as a glance, Kakashi and Aoi stood together, walking off in the opposite direction the other two had headed. After a minute or so of walking, there was the faintest spark of chakra trailing behind them. Aoi glanced at Kakashi, knowing that he too had felt it.

"Kakashi-sensei..." Kakashi glanced down at the young teen, nodding slightly. Moving in sync, the two made their handsigns, a pair of clones appearing, one on the left and the other on the right. A moment later, both were walking where their clones had been, the clones walking on as if nothing had happened.

The clones passed the spot where the two had stopped, and after a few moments they saw a figure flit through the trees after them. Nodding to eachother, the two took to the trees in utter silence. They followed the indistinct shape through the half-light the morning fog caused. Every so often, they would see a flash of hair, the pale white of bared skin, or a shining gleam of a headband. Nearing a half hour later, they heard the clashing of metal ahead of them, the sound of kunai being thrown off by another weapon.

 Both increased their paces, and if one didn't know the reasons behind their speed, it would appear they were in a race. Aoi pulled ahead, but waited for Kakashi when he reached where the sound had been emitted. Looking over, Aoi saw Kakashi sigh slightly and shake his head.

Talking in just above a whisper, "Aoi, go ahead and release your clone."

As soon as the clones were dispersed, memories flooded into the two. The clones had continued to walk on in silence as their pursuer had kept a steady distance. When they had been attacked, it was because the person had finally grown fed up and decided to confront them. Even though kunai had been thrown, there was no follow up attack. For the past few moments where Kakashi and Aoi had been catching up to their clones, said clones had been standing back to back until the clone Kakashi had set a hand on the clone Aoi's tensed shoulder.

Even though Aoi was incredible at being able to sense chakra, he wasn't very good at remembering chakra signatures or the like. So saying, he was able to know someone was there, but not who it was. Kakashi on the other hand had just been too lazy to identify the person. Now the two jumped over onto the branch where their attacker was. Before the person could notice, Kakashi had pushed them and they fell the ten feet to the ground. The two followed and stood on either side of the person.

Sitting up, the person spat dirt out of their mouth and glared at Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, that was uncalled for."

"Aoi, take note. This is what Sasuke looks like when he is angry at someone." Pulling out a notepad from the pouch on his back, Aoi did exactly as Kakashi had told him to.

Crouching down by Sasuke, Aoi spoke with a tilt to his head, "Sasuke, how does anger feel? Could you put it into words?"

"Hn, what are you? A therapist?" Sasuke turned his glare on the blue haired boy near him.

"Therapist... Is that in any way connected to... the rapist?" Aoi asked as he flipped through the notebook. There was the slightest of snorts that signaled suppressed laughter from Kakashi as Sasuke looked at Aoi confused.

"Not really I guess," Sasuke finally answered.

"Hmm... what does a therapist do?" Aoi's pencil hovered over the paper expectantly.

Sasuke just stared at Aoi rather incredulously as he answered yet again, "They ask you questions about how you feel and try to fix your mental state and such."

"So you called me a therapist because I wanted to know about your anger?" Aoi's head was tilted when he looked Sasuke in the eye. By now Kakashi was having serious trouble not laughing at the two.

"Hn, I suppose so."

"What does your anger feel like? You never answered." Aoi looked back down at his notes.

That seemed to shake Sasuke from his trance of actually answering questions and he remained silent. Aoi noticed and tapped his pencil against the pad of papers again before putting the two objects away. Standing back up, Aoi proffered a hand to Sasuke. Sasuke ignored the offer of help and stood on his own. Kakashi had recovered from his imminent laughter and looked over the two.

"Sasuke, why did you attack Aoi with kunai?" Kakashi regarded his student seriously.

Said student looked Kakashi in the eye before answering. "Because you said he was a good enough ninja to not need testing. I however wanted that proven."

Kakashi only nodded slightly. "I imagine you got an answer." Sasuke just grunted out a response. "Now then, why did you really follow us?"

Eyes widening only slightly from his shock, Sasuke spoke. "I want you to answer my questions. What isn't Aoi telling us, and what aren't you?" He cast suspicious eyes at the two males.

Aoi remained silent, letting Kakashi respond. "We don't have permission to tell you. If you must, talk to Hokage-sama when we return."

"Hn." Was the only response after that. Sasuke glanced untrusting glances at the two before walking off into the trees for his own training.

_+_

Kakashi watched in a silence heavy with awe as Aoi trained. Standing in the center of a small clearing, Kakashi had barely seen the flicker of his hands before every tree surrounding Aoi had at least one kunai in it. Looking closer, Kakashi also noted that the kunai were hilt deep and all at the average height of an adult males' heart or head.

Aoi made two clones, one transforming into a sword. The clone took up the sword and Aoi held his si in a relaxed grip that said he had been training with that weapon for years. The clone Aoi charged and faked a downward cut, but quickly switched, with a flick of his wrist, so that the sword was now aimed to cut into Aoi's right side. Aoi brought up the si, and there was a slight ringing as the two weapons crossed.

The sword landed exactly where the two weapons had been crossed, but before either could make it a contest of strength, the clone spun his body to kick Aoi's legs out from under him. Widening his stance, Aoi prepared for the move. When the clones leg struck, it was completely ineffectual. The kick stopped at Aoi's right leg, which stood unmoved from the impact.

Now that the clone was off balance, Aoi held the right si where the sword was, still, and the left dropped down. Only for an instant however, because just as quickly as it had dropped, the weapon was against Aoi's forearm. Raising his arm, Aoi thrust down with the si, trying to strike the clone where it's heart would be.

The clone removed a hand from the hilt of his sword. It caught Aoi's arm, using the momentum to drag Aoi down as well as flip up and over, landing behind Aoi. As soon as the clone landed, it pushed off towards Aoi, who was regaining his balance. The clone thrust the sword in a straight line, but as if with some sixth sense, Aoi turned. Both si were against his forarms now, and as he turned the left blocked low and the right high. The sword hit the left si as Aoi turned and the thrust was thrown off. Before the clone could react, Aoi had whipped the right si into a regular grip, using that same momentum to strike the clone on an exposed vein in the neck. On an actual human, the vein would have internally ruptured and the person would be dead within minutes, but the clone simply vanished.

Kakashi sat in the tree appearing bored, but in all honesty he was more than shocked at this point. The fight hadn't lasted long at all, and what Kakashi saw were the pauses, only blurs of the actual movement, but he hadn't been using the sharingan. Taking a mental note, Kakashi decided the Aoi was just as deadly with the sword as he was with the si. He had an itching feeling that the same went for most weapons that would be handed to the boy.

Aoi sat in the center of the clearing, not even breathing hard as he looked up at Kakashi, head tilted slightly. Kakashi got the point. With that movement, Aoi had practiacally shouted, "What should I do next?" Kakashi regarded Aoi before deciding how to answer.

"You know fire and water based jutsu, right?" Aoi nodded simply in answer to the question. "Show me the first fire jutsu you learned." Aoi's handsigns were barely even visible, and soon his hands came up to his mouth and a ball of flame burst forth, shooting out at high speeds. It slammed against a tree and instantly five were alight along with it. Aoi had spent a month with the original jutsu to make it the same as the water.

"Now water," Aoi nodded, forming the handsigns no less quickly. Again a ball shot forth, made of water. It too slammed into the trees and put them out, some water splashing back on the two almost like rain. "Let's see your others now." Aoi set to the task, displaying jutsu after jutsu.

Once Aoi had done enough of his jutsu for Kakashi to be satisfied, said man stopped him. "You said you had been practicing wind style?" Aoi nodded in agreement, "How many jutsu do you know for that?"

"Three jutsu," Aoi said immediately, not needing any thought on the answer.

"Show me."

Stepping back a pace, Aoi made his handsigns. To the naked eye, it appeared like nothing had happened, but suddenly trees were carved up as the jutsu fully took effect. Having used the jutsu Kaze no Yaiba, the bark of trees was now marred from the near perfection it had been.

Aoi went right into the next technique, making handsigns and performing Futon: Kazekiri no Jutsu. An amazing force was shot forward, felling at least a dozen trees. Kakashi appraised the power that the jutsu had, though it would need work to reach the full potential he knew Aoi was capable of. Looking back at Aoi, he saw him already in the middle of his handsigns for the final technique.

Instantly recognizing the handsigns that were left, Kakashi quickly jumped away as the technique was released. Having gotten out of range just in time, Kakashi watched as Aoi's Futon: Shinkuha took affect. The trees a radius of 10 meters around Aoi were weakened and chipped away by the blast, some even toppling to their final resting places where they would decompose.

Kakashi came back and stood rather awkwardly in front of his student, a little ticked at the lack of warning and near death experience. He reeled in his emotion, keeping his lazy mask in place. "Good job Aoi. I don't think you'll need any more training for a while yet. I don't know any wind techniques myself, but when we get back into Konoha, I'll see what we can do about that." Aoi nodded at the information, having nothing to say himself. "Since it's like this, I guess from now on you'll guard Tazuna as well..."

"Why not have Sakura train more?" Aoi tilted his head slightly.

"That's a good suggestion, but she already has very good chakra control. Her main problem is stamina, and that can't be rushed into a week. When we get back, I'll have her training for that." Kakashi pulled out his ever present book. "Let's go check on your teammates."

No conversation spanned the gap between them, but every once in a while, Kakashi would steal a glance at Aoi. His emotion was still well hidden, but if you knew Kakashi well, you could tell that he was wondering at the boy and his past. Sasuke wasn't the only one curious about the silent boy, and he might not be alone in asking the Hokage.

_+_

Hey everybody! So a filler chapter of sorts I suppose, but what did you expect? I'm fairly excited to get this going, especially past the chunin exams, but everything in its own time, right? Thank you to all who are reading this, it makes me extremely happy to be honest. ^-^

So I have nothing to say this time... I'll wrap it up then... Comment/vote/fan/add/pet a puppy! I wish I could pet puppies, T-T

-Nicky~