Chapter 22- Just when a day couldn't get any worse

Third Person's POV

"A temporary member?", Guy asked, placing his fingers on his chin, thinking deeply.

"Yes. It's irrational to leave that child alone to waste her talent. She would be temporarily placed in your genin squad for the time being so, we can think on which team she would be greatly compatible with. I hope it won't be a bother for you.", the third hokage patiently waited for a reply from the taijutsu expert.

"This child we are talking about, who is she may I ask?", Hiruzen slid a file on his desk towards Guy who walked up to get the said file.

As Guy read the content from the brown envelope, the Third began explaining. "Although her grades from the academy are average, she graduated at the top on her taijutsu class. She's very well suited to be on your team. More than that she's a kenjutsu specialist."

"So, she's both good at weapons and taijutsu...hmmm...and she's a former member of team 13...let's see..."

"I hope you don't mind taking care of her for a little while, Guy.", the said jonin looked up from the file he was reading before flashing his signature smile with a thumbs up.

"Leave it to me, hokage-sama! Although our time with her may be short, I will do my best to train her as much as I can!", the old man smiled before looking towards the door.

"You may come inside now.", as soon as he said that the door opened revealing the girl they were talking about earlier.

"You called for me hokage-sama?", she closed the door behind her before eyeing the third person in the room her eyes widening clearly recognizing the man who would be regarded as the strongest by the great Uchiha Madara.

"It's good that you're finally here, Alexa. Meet Maito Guy, he would be your teacher for a little while."

The girl was baffled for a moment before smiling, excited to learn from him. She wasn't expecting to learn under Guy, the man who reached beyond what a shinobi is capable of.

Guy grinned at her and the girl smiled back. "It would be a fresh new adventure for such a youthful flower to join my team!"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Guy-sensei."

"We shall take our leave now, hokage-sama.", Guy turned to Lhexi after receiving a nod from the third hokage. "Then shall we go, Alexa?! We must not let the others kept on waiting!"

The two left the hokage building running towards training ground number nine. On a clear area from a certain forest, three particular genins practiced individually, honing their skills as they wait for their teacher who was unusually late.

Tenten flicked her hands throwing 10 shuriken weapons at the same time at such a fast speed, hitting the center of the board cleanly before giving a satisfied smile. She turned around to see her two male teammates having another spar again, her bowl cut friend in a green spandex trying his best to beat the Hyuga genius.

Neji aimed an attack on Lee's shoulder, to which the latter ducked and tried to sweep him off his feet. Neji immediately see through this and jumped in the air twirling around before landing a clean hit on Lee's chest causing the boy to roll on the ground, coughing a little bit.

He stood up and run towards Neji who took his defensive stance, jumping in the air he raised his leg. "Konoha Whirlwind Kick!", Neji used his Byakugan to see Lee's chakra pathway and in a split second, he blocked three of his tenketsu points before Lee could even hit him.

Lee felt the numbness in his leg as he fell down on the ground trying to regain his balance with only one leg. He knew he already lost but, he did not want to accept another lost so easily. Gritting his teeth, he placed his right hand behind his back then his left infront, as if taunting Neji to continue their fight.

"Stop it already, Lee. You have already lost.", Tenten said with a tired tone. Ignoring the girl's words, Lee faced the Hyuuga who looked at him. "Let's continue the fight, Neji!"

"Mou, you never learn. Neji is a genius, there's no way you would be able to defeat him."

Neji turned around leaving them as he heads to a wooden pole continuing his practice ignoring the shouts of his teammate. "What's the matter, Neji?! Tired already?!"

Sighing, he resumed his practice hitting the pole with his palms, continuously. Before Lee could even shout again in protest, Neji spoke with his usual cold voice. "Another failure is not worthy of my time."

Lee gritted his teeth and was about to step forward only to fall on his knees. Just then, Guy arrived with the girl behind him watching the scene in front of them, Guy creased his eyebrows already aware of what transpired.

"Guy-sensei! You're late!", Tenten shouted in an angry tone. Neji and Lee turned around to see their sensei and immediately took notice of the girl beside him. "Wait, you're...", Tenten trailed off as she points her finger on Lhexi.

Alexa turned towards her and gave a smile. "We met again, Tenten-san."

"You know each other?", Tenten nodded at Guy's question.

"Yes. But, why is she with you, sensei?"

"Well, gather up everyone!", Neji stood beside Tenten. Lee tried to stand up, his one leg supporting him. "From now on, she would be a part of Team 9! Welcome to the team, Alexa."

The girl bowed, their eyes never leaving her. "I'm Takeda Alexa, feel free to call me Lhexi. It's a pleasure to be on your team." She flashed a smile and Lee was awe struck he forgot his left leg wasn't working.

"Please be my girlfriend, Lhexi-san! I'll protect you with my life!", Tenten and Neji deadpanned.

What a great way to scare her off on the first day.

"Before that, shouldn't we treat your wounds first? ", she caught them off guard for they thought she would immediately say no.

"You're right! I completely forgot!"

Guy eyed the Hyuuga who was looking at the girl talking to Lee. "Neji!", the boy turned towards his sensei who called him, completely aware of what he has to do. Walking towards Lee, he reactivated his Byakugan before striking Lee's tendons, opening his blocked tenketsu points.

"I'm Rock Lee! And this is Hyuuga Neji!", Neji stood straight and was about to deactivate his dojutsu when his eyes widened when he saw something in Lhexi's chakra pathway. In her kenkirakurei was a black fire swirling around her heart, about to burst out any moment.

He wondered why it was black, when chakra was supposed to have the color of blue. It was unstable, nothing he have seen before.

"-ji! Neji!", he was thrown back from his thoughts to see Lhexi looking back at him confused. His teammates were yelling at him multiple times already, he only noticed it now.

"Is there something wrong, Neji?", Tenten asked slightly worried about the boy.

"Nothing.", he deactivated his Byakugan and he was only able to clearly see her face when he did so. She was pretty, with her intoxicating beautiful purple eyes and innocent face, he wondered if she was truly capable as a shinobi, it felt like she was a princess. Her black wavy hair was tied up in a high pony tail, letting her bangs fall over her forehead protector.

"Take good care of her, minna!", their sensei shouted with vigor.

Neji looked away after realizing he was staring at her for far too long. He looked back at her again to see her smile at him, his heart skipped a beat.

'What was that?', he asked himself as he turned his back on them placing his hand on his chest.

Lhexi turned her attention on mini-Guy who was looking at her with entranced eyes.

"Lee-san, you have a bruise on your cheek."

Tenten laughed at the boy who placed his hand on his swollen cheek more likely from the spar earlier. "Let me.", he stepped back a little shy when Lhexi walked close to him holding his right cheek. He felt heat rushed to his face. Tenten watched the scene unfold, with a smirk on her face.

"P-Please wait for me, Lhexi-san! Its yet too early to get married!", Neji turned around curious about what was happening only to set his glare on Lee. The girl chuckled at the embarrassed boy. Tenten and Guy gaped when Lhexi's hand glowed green healing Lee's bruise. Lee was too preoccupied thinking about his future with Alexa, he did not notice she was healing him.

Alexa removed her hand revealing his bruise now gone, before stepping back. "There all done."

"That's amazing Lhexi-san!", Tenten screamed bewildered. "You can perform Iryo Ninjutsu!"

"How did you learn about Medical ninjutsu, Lhexi?", Guy asked.

"Huh?", Lee asked, unaware of what was happening nor why was Neji glaring at him.Lhexi scratched the side of her neck at the questions and curious glances thrown at her. "Well, my Grandfather taught me."

"Since when?", Guy was curious. Iryo nijutsu takes a lot of time to learn. This girl just graduated the academy barely three months ago and yet she already knows how to heal. More than that she either have perfected it or just good at it.

"Since, 4 years ago."

"Ever since you were eight?", the girl nodded.

"I don't know what is happening but, it must be amazing, right? Guy-sensei?", Lee asked.

"Lee it's not just amazing...", Guy trailed off. "It's FLABBERGASTING!"

"Is that so, Guy-sensei! Yosh! I should take note of this!", he took out his pen and notebook writing Guy's words down.

"Listen up Lee, learning Iryo ninjutsu is something...uhhh...very outstanding!"

Neji and Tenten sweat dropped, although they have been teammates for almost a year, they can't help but still be bothered at the erratic personalities of the two. Neji secretly believed they were father and son by their mirrored behavior.

Tenten turned to Lhexi who apologized for their eccentric teacher and also their teammate.

However, Lhexi was the least bothered. "It's alright." She watched 700 plus episodes of Naruto to always see the two with their funny and extraordinary bond.

"Now then!", Guy pulled out a green spandex out of nowhere and presented it to Lhexi. Before he could even say something, Tenten beat him to it, dragging Lhexi far from them. She's not gonna let them try their disgusting outfit on their new teammate.

Lhexi was excited for the few days to come not yet realizing the horrors to come.

Alexa's POV

My movements were torpid for my body was numb from running continuously without stop. My breathing was ragged, as I try to take another step before I stumbled faceplanted on the ground, sweat dripping on the ground. I took numerous breaths, trying to even my unsteady breathing. My lungs were burning and I think I'm gonna puke out any moment now.

"What's the matter Lhexi? Giving up already?", I looked to the side to see Guy-sensei who was walking using his hands, beside him was Lee who was also doing the same which was ten times harder than running on feet. Neji and Tenten were ahead, looks like they were already used to this kind of training. It's a good thing I enhanced my endurance or I would end up passed out.

"You can do it! Lhexi-san!", Lee cheered. If I can't even twitch my lips up, how would I even run now?

Gathering the remaining strength in me, I tried to stand up only to fall again. Guy-sensei and Lee were tolerant to not go ahead of me as they shout words of encouragement. They were doing push-us while waiting for me.

'How much stamina does these guys have?'

I tried multiple times, failing each time.

"Come on! Lhexi! You can do it!"

I prompt myself up on my elbows wondering how I can even do that at the state I was in.

"Go Lhexi-san! Just a little bit more!"

Grunting as I push myself to surpass my limits, I found myself running as If my life depended on it. The two were behind me still cheering out for me while walking upside down.

Not long after, I was vomiting everything I ate this breakfast, Tenten was patting my back, feeling sorry for me.

'I probably look like shit now.'

"There there, Lhexi."

Tenten supported me to stand up properly before letting me rest under the shade of a tree.

"Tenten-san...", I placed my arm on my eyes, blocking the sunlight from penetrating my eyes.

"You did well, Lhexi. Far better than I was before. Don't worry you'll get used to it soon."

"How many...times do you have to do...this?", I asked.

I can't keep up with them.

"Hm? Pretty much every day.", I visibly paled and she giggled. "It's our morning exercise."

Before I knew it, I used the language I hadn't spoken for years with my eyes close. "Oh Lord, take me now."

She probably thought I was speaking gibberish, she chuckled at my antics. I opened my eyes and watch them train separately. Tenten smiled at me before returning back to her post. My legs were wobbly standing up. I stretched my numb arms and legs before heading towards Guy-sensei who was training Lee.

"Oh, Lhexi-san!", they were doing sit ups at such crazy speed.

'Is this their morning exercise?!'

"Lee don't lose focus!"

"Yes! Guy-sensei!"

"As for you, Lhexi! For the moment, start kicking for 1000 times. I'll check on you later."

"Yes!"

Now I was standing in front of a wooden pole. I raised my leg up in the air before giving a kick at the center of the target. It felt hard and painful against my skin. A small crack appeared on the log and I continued sending all my energy to every attack, counting numbers in my head. Bids of sweat rolled down my chin, falling in drops on the ground.

I didn't know, I was this left behind. I threw another kick, not noticing the blood staining my black clothes. Training for four years wasn't enough. I thought I was proficient at Taijutsu but, when compared to the others, like Lee and Neji even Tenten, I was far weaker.

I can probably win if I have my sword but, what if I don't have it? I was dependent on it thinking I can win against anyone. Hours passed and I was still at it, kicking and kicking with my left leg determined to finish at least 1000 kicks at the end of the day until I heard a crack. I fell down on my butt, reaching for my leg that hurts like hell.

Removing the bandages rolled around my lower leg, I felt something wet on my black garment. I quickly raised the hem of my pants to see a large black bruise with blood oozing out everywhere. I sighed before channeling healing chakra to my palm.

"Oh my God. What happened?!", I turned to Tenten who rushed to my side.

"Guy-sensei instructed me to throw a kick a thousand times.", I hissed when I touched the bruise.

"Lhexi you idiot.", she smacked me on top of my head, I was surprised I didn't see that coming.

"Hai...?", I rubbed the spot she hit me.

"You should have stopped."

"But--"

"What if you broke a bone? What if you spent your days in the hospital when you could have used them to train?", I blinked my eyes slightly taken aback. "What are you going to do, huh? Even with your medical ninjutsu, you should not break yourself any more than this. Training also has limits you know?"

"Sorry...", I spoke in a soft and weak voice.

She was right.

She sighed again before helping me, as she takes a bandage from her pouch because the bruise was so, deep I couldn't heal most of it.

For some reason, it felt like she was a worried older sister. "Arigatou...Tenten-san."

She grumbled. "Just take better care of yourself next time, okay?", I nodded.

"Can you stand up?", I took her hand as she pulls me off the ground.

"So wanna spar?", she asked and I grinned.

"Sure."

We took our stances atleast 5 meters away from each other before we nodded at each other. She threw shurikens at me and I took out my kunai blocking them.

'I'll try to win this fight without my sword or any ninjutsu.'

We run forward towards each other before we both threw punches, I was able to avoid most of her attacks but, it doesn't change the fact that she hit me a couple of times. My attacks were no more than just attempts; she was quite fast as she dodges all of them.

She launches a spin kick at me and I blocked her leg with my arms crossed.

"Not bad, Lhexi."

"I can say the same, Tenten-san."

We leaped away from each other and she took out a scroll before summoning more than 20 kunai knives. I took a defensive stance, twirling the kunai on my hand. Our eyes never left each other as her weapons rain down on me.

I used the kunai in my hand to block them, one kunai went past me and I backflipped to dodge the knives that were chasing me around.

'Is she trying to kill me?!'

Forming hand signs, I quickly replaced myself with a log before one kunai even hit me.

"A substitution jutsu?", I heard her ask to no one in particular, as I sneak behind her and placed a kunai on her neck.

"You lose.", I said and she smirked.

"I can't be so sure.", she taunted as I felt a sharp tip on my stomach.

"Alright you two can stop there now.", we simultaneously turned to Guy-sensei who was watching us all along.

We both hid our weapons away before we sheepishly smiled at him who has a frown on his face.

He placed his hands on top of our shoulder before giving us a wide grin. "You two did well!"

We were both surprised before we laughed it out.

"Tenten, you have improved on your summoning! Lhexi, I'm quite surprised you were this good. And where did you learn that substitution jutsu? It reminded me of my eternal rival!"

I tried to hide away the scowl from my face when he talked about that man. I quickly plastered a fake emotion on my face.

"I learned by the book.", sparkles shimmered in his eyes.

"HOW YOUTHFUL!", he shouted.

Tenten raised a question. "Anyways sensei, when is our next mission?", Guy crossed his arms thinking about it deeply.

"Tomorrow morning! Now then, we shall resume our training!", Tenten and I groaned in slight annoyance.

Guy-sensei forced us to carry weights and run laps around the village once again together with Lee and Neji who looked like he wanted to murder his teacher for doing so. The day was practically a living hell, when you worked your ass out only to receive more training exercises. I must say I was improving as Lee helped me with Taijutsu while Tenten helped me with weapons.

As for Neji, we never really got to talk with each other, he was the loner and the unsocial type among us, well who could blame him when his clan forced him to hate the world and his so-called cursed faith. The day ended with me throwing up again. My clothes were in tatters, dirt was all over me, bruises and small cuts decorated my skin, my hair was a mess including that of my face which looked like I did not sleep for ages.

Shikamaru stared at me for a moment with the usual lazy look. "You look like shit, Lhexi."

I smiled meekly. "Thanks for pointing the obvious.", I was tired and Shika could see that just by my peculiar actions and responses.

"What the hell happened?", he asks and I just sat next to him on the grass field staring at the sky that was slowly turning a shade of red.

I don't even know how I ended up here.

"Don't ask me.", I shrug my shoulders before wincing.

"Must be hard.", I tiredly closed my eyes.

"hm...", my consciousness was drifting away. I was so tired not even nightmares can possibly wake me up.

He just let me fall asleep beside him only to get waken up the next moment.

"Hey, Lhexi, it's almost nighttime.", I heard Shikamaru grumble. "You have been sleeping for an hour now."

I quickly sat up and he helped me stand. We parted ways in the streets and I was so exhausted from the hellish training, my sleep barely doing any good. To think about tomorrow makes me wanna puke up again. I don't even want to know what predicament Guy-sensei would throw at us. The street lights flickered in the dark alleyway I was walking in.

I was so weary and limp, I let my guard down, not noticing the silver haired man who suddenly appeared in front of me in a swirl of leaves. "Yo!", he gave me a salute.

To say that I was frozen in fear and shock was an understatement.