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Ann continued to practice the clone jutsu under Zabuza’s gaze. Each time Ann made the clone, it became easier to form and the clone started to take a step or two before collapsing.
Zabuza~Alright, that’s enough. That’s as good as you’ll get today.
Ann~How many can you make, Zabi?
Zabuza~As many as I need.
She came to him and sat by their bag, digging in it to find water.
Ann~That doesn’t sound like a lot.
Zabuza~If I get attacked by ten enemies I can match it if needed.
Ann~Why would you get attacked by that many people?
Zabuza~People don’t like me.
He pushed her away from the bag and gave her a water bottle that she was trying to find.
Ann~I like you.
Zabuza scoffed. His own sister didn’t like him. And yet she still chose him to watch after Ann. And she only likes him because he’s never given her a reason not to.
Ann~Uncle Zabi
They both cringed.
Zabuza~I don’t like that.
Ann~I don’t either. Sorry…
Zabuza~It’s…It’s fine, Ann. Let’s eat. It’s almost bedtime.
Ann~Yes, Zabuza

They sat together and ate in relative silence. Zabuza considered if he should inform her of what he had discovered about the Mist. Some of the missions he was being assigned to were getting questionable.
Ann~Zabi? Are you okay?
Zabuza~Yeah, brat. Did you need something? Bathroom?
Ann~No…You just looked…scared…
He immediately hit her
********!
He hit her again, harder, making her shout
Zabuza~Quit swearing. That’s three times today already. I’m not letting you get away with it anymore
Ann~Okay! Okay!
She rubbed her head and pouted
Ann~That really hurt…More than usual…
Zabuza~Remember the lesson. Don’t swear. I don’t want Ane to kill me for this. Finish eating already. It’s late.

The next day Zabuza pushed her to keep practicing the water clone jutsu. As soon as she was able to hold the clone and put her hands down, Zabuza came over to inspect the two of them.
Zabuza~Not bad, brat. It’s stable, and you’re still standing.
Ann~Is that good?
Zabuza~Good enough for step 2
Before she could ask, Zabuza had punched the clone, making it and Ann collapse
Ann~What was that?!
Her chest hurt from where Zabuza had punched the clone. She was just as surprised when he helped her up instead of just pulling her to her feet.
Zabuza~You’ll get used to it…That hurt to see…And now I need to keep doing it for her training…
Ann~C-can…Can we take a break?
He nodded and they walked back to their things. Ann touched her chest where the feeling still lingered.

Once they sat, Zabuza gave her another onigiri for a snack.
Ann~You said I’d get used to it…Does that mean you felt it too the first time?
Zabuza~Yeah. With enough practice you won’t notice it anymore. Get used to the feeling with one clone. Once you’re able to make more and they all get attacked at once, you just might pass out if you don’t.
Ann~Yeah right!
Zabuza scoffed~You fell though
Ann~I didn’t know it’d happen!
Zabuza~All the same. If you’re a ninja, it’s expected to happen.
Ann~What do you mean?
She looked at him weird.
Zabuza~It’s normal to get hurt on missions and in training. The pain you felt from me hitting the clone is just the beginning.
Ann~Is there any way to not get hurt?
Zabuza swallowed hard. He saw Ann look at him, waiting for an answer he wasn’t sure how to say.
Ann~Zabuza?
She touched his knee. He placed his hand over hers. Ann looked at him confused and worried. She’d never seen him like this before
Zabuza~If you don’t want to get hurt, you’ll need to get strong. You can’t let emotions get the best of you. That’s when it could hurt you the most.
He held her hand. It was still small in his own hand. He almost missed her baby hands.
Zabuza~Being a shinobi means you can’t show weakness. You become the blade that’s needed and endure. You can’t avoid it forever, but everyone tries.
Ann squeezed his hand back as she thought about what he said. Then she stood up
Ann~Train me to be strong.
Zabuza studied her face. There definitely was determination in her eyes, and recklessness.
Zabuza~Make sure you fight every bit of the way.
She might not understand what she’s asking him to do, but he’ll help her do whatever the hell she wants to do.

They continued the clone training. Ann continued to make stronger and stronger clones while Zabuza struck each one down in different ways and different spots. He was impressed at her resolve and tenacity. She took each phantom feedback with stride, and flinched less with each clone he broke. He was surprised that she wanted to skip through lunch, but had to stop her when it started to get dark. He didn’t want her to pass out before she got to eat.

He watched her fight exhaustion to eat dinner. As soon as she finished, she laid down and finally gave in to sleep. Zabuza ran his fingers through her hair and watched her breathe. He frowned when he realized he barely felt her chakra. If she didn’t recover most of it by morning, he’ll need to adjust tomorrow’s training to make sure she had enough rest.

By morning, Ann woke up groaning. She was sore all over, and she felt drained. Then she remembered what Zabuza said yesterday, and forced herself to at least sit up.
Ann~Zabi?
Zabuza~I’m impressed you managed to get up.
Ann~Really?
Zabuza~Yeah. Really. Your chakra’s still recovering. Eat.
He gave her a bento with a spoon. Hopefully she won’t argue with him for chopsticks. He watched her nod and start to eat.
Ann~No training then?
Zabuza~Nothing with chakra. We’ll go over anatomy to warm up. Then internal organs.
Ann groaned and rolled her eyes. She didn’t know why she had to learn this. Her body worked just fine not knowing what a kidney was.
Zabuza~Start with the head and neck. What do you remember?
Ann~Brain, eyes, sinus, ears, stapes, throat–
Zabuza~Not throat.
Ann~Ugh…uhh…voice box?
Zabuza~Better. Starts with an L.
Ann~Lynx? Lira…Larynx!
Zabuza~Keep going. I want two more.
Ann~Come on!
Zabuza~Makes your blood boil, huh?
Ann~Oh! Jugular vein and carotid artery.
Zabuza~Start thinking about the torso and abdomen next. Finish eating.
He would've laughed that she picked up on his hint, but seeing how easily she remembers it all means it's only a matter of time before she connects the lesson to practical use without his instruction. She might not like it. Too innocent. He let her stay innocent for too long.

After breakfast, Zabuza helped her stretch and used it as an opportunity to teach her more muscle groups.
Ann~Why do I need to know muscles?
Zabuza~So if you’re injured you can tell me where and I can hopefully fix it. What’s this here?
He made her lean her head to the side and applied gentle pressure on her exposed neck.
Ann~Upper trapezius. Why hopefully?
He repeated the movement to the other side
Zabuza~The body can only handle so much damage. If you sprained your ankle, that’ll heal within a week. If you get cut deep enough to slice muscle, you’re lucky if it heals and you get full mobility back.
He pulled her up
Zabuza~Shake it off. How do you feel?
Ann jumped a few times and rolled some joints
Ann~Much better. Thank you, Zabi.
She sat across from him
Ann~What do you mean full mobility?
Zabuza~Do you remember how much you could move this morning compared to now?
Ann~Yeah, I could barely move.
Zabuza~That feeling could be permanent if you’re damaged enough without properly healing. Learn your limits. Read incoming attacks.
Ann~How would I read incoming attacks?
Zabuza~By sparring. We’ll have a match tomorrow.
Ann~So we’ll fight?
Zabuza~Come at me with everything you got.
She smiled and giggled. Maybe she could finally get back at him for hitting her two days ago. Zabuza eyed her
Zabuza~Tomorrow. For now, internal organs. Start with the chest.
Ann~Heart and lungs.
Zabuza~Functions?
Ann~Heart pumps blood. Lungs circulate oxygen and junk to and from the blood.
Zabuza~”And junk”? Really?
He gave her a look. She gave a nervous giggle.
Ann~Well…the stuff the body doesn’t need is junk, right?
He rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Zabuza~That’s…You’re not wrong. It’s primarily carbon dioxide, brat.
Ann~That’s what it was…
Zabuza sighed~Moving on…What’s the muscle that separates the torso and abdomen?
Ann groaned, but answered him anyway. They continued on, reviewing what Ann remembered before Zabuza continued to teach her the functions and systems of the various organs.