Gemini bounced backwards, using the force from the meeting blades to push herself back. Before she had even stopped moving, she was darting forward again. Instead of making a strike, she dropped and slid under her opponent as if she were stealing bases, then twisted up onto her knees to thrust her blade upwards into Artunia's back.

Naruto nodded. "I'll bet. There are a lot of nice people in Konoha, especially the civilians. They're all decent people who take care of each other...that's why we shinobi are so determined to protect them." He said proudly.

Artunia was surprised by the maneuver that Gemini did and received a light scratch on her back because of it. It wasn't enough to draw blood though.

"True, but it's still nice to know that there are people out there that just see us for us, and not the burden we hold inside," Yugito replied as she saw the old lady come back with the plates of sushi.

Up on her feet again, Gemini spun, bringing her blade up to her left shoulder, and swinging it down towards her right hip. If done correctly, this maneuver would cut an opponent in half, or at least leave them with a very large, probably fatal gash.

Naruto nodded. If anyone knew the truth of that statement, it was him. "Yeah...it's a good feeling." He said.

Artunia forced the pain from that stinging wound away before pivoting on her foot, dodging the fatal slash. Seeing that Gemini was now open due to missing the attack, the swordwoman attacked swiftly and precisely, giving the vixen a wound that matched her own. She had a feeling that it would heal thanks to the blood within her, but the pain would still register all the same.

"It certainly is," Yugito replied with a smile on her face as she saw the food coming towards them.

Gemini hissed at the pain the wound left, but recovered quickly enough. She lunged forward, relentless, and feinted with a swipe to the left before quickly spinning in place, using the momentum to drive a stab to the right.

Naruto stayed quiet as they were given the food, though he thanked the woman before she left.

Artunia went on the defensive as Gemini went on a relentless attack, using her sword to parry any blows and dodging the rest. Once she had finished the stab, the swordswoman took the time to go on the offensive and started delivering her own relentless, yet calculated, strikes.

"You're quite welcome Naruto. As long as you keep Yugito-chan happy, you will always be welcomed here," the old lady said with a smile, causing the female feline to blush.

Gemini switched easily from offense to defense, like water flowing around a corner. She spent several minutes on the defensive before their swords met with a ring of metal on metal, and Gemini didn't back off this time. She pushed hard, trying to break Artunia's defense through sheer force.

Naruto blushed as well and looked down. He mumbled something polite, but couldn't really think of anything to say at that moment.

"Not bad," Artunia said as a smirk appeared on her face as she met the sheer brute force of Gemini's with her own. Now it was just a matter of strength, and who could hold out the longest.

Yugito hid herself behind the cup of tea that was given to her as well, hoping that her blush wasn't too bad. She never would have thought the old lady that ran this shop with her husband.

Gemini smirked. "Thanks." She said, just before sliding her blade to the side so that Artunia's blade came swinging forward. In a risky move, she jumped up fast to land briefly on her opponent's blade, then leaped off the blade, into the air, and came down directly above Artunia, her own blade pointed down and ready to skewer the other woman. Not that she actually would, since it was just a practice match, but in a real battle it would have been a fatal move.

Once the old woman was gone, Naruto sighed in relief. "So, um...I was wondering if you'd go with me to visit Sasuke-teme at the hospital. I heard he's finally awake now." He said.

((Figured we'd start the Sasuke retrieval ark, that way there can be a little reunion and Kurama can give Gemini "the talk."))

(Sounds like a plan. And then we can also have Gaara use a bastardized version of his Sand Sword lol)

Artunia saw what Gemini was about to do, but was only able to move her body a breath out of the way. She still felt the attack as Gemini landed next to her, but none of the damage. "Enough, I think I have a handle on your abilities. I thought I had you until the very end, not bad," she praised. "Though I think you should get a secondary blade, something a little bit more flexible than a katana.

"I don't see why not, though I have a feeling the staff there will be difficult," Yugito replied as she finished her sushi and tea.

((lol sounds perfect!))

Gemini stood up and sheathed her blade, panting. She bowed respectfully to her opponent before smiling. "Thank you, I really had to pull out all the stops. It's been a long time since I worked that hard." She said. "I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with double blades, though I'm willing to try it. My katana will always be my favorite."

Naruto shrugged. "Maybe, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem." He said, finishing his own meal.

"I understand, but still be ready for anything," she said before sheathing her sword.

"True"

Gemini nodded. "Okay, I will. Thank you."

"Well, let's get going then."

(It's the Fox of Death, run for the hills!)

Yugito laughed lightly at that. "Yes, let's." she said with a smile on her face.

((lol))

Naruto smiled and nodded, heading out of the restaurant and towards the hospital.

After checking with the nurse at the front desk, Naruto led Yugito up to Sasuke's room.

((Okay, Wolfie's going to admit that she doesn't remember what happens at this point...she only knows that they end up fighting on the roof.))

Gemini turned to see how Gaara was doing in his lessons.

(kk)

Yugito followed Naruto to the hospital. Once they were inside, she saw the nurse scowl at them, especially since they wanted to see 'Sasuke-sama' 'God did that feel sick' the feline thought to herself once hearing the prick being called that. Once they headed to the room, she stood in the back as she heard Sasuke whine and bitch about her boyfriend having the power that he deserved. That, of course, brought team seven plus herself up to the rooftop. Naruto was going to fight Sasuke, and she just knew this wasn't going to end well.

Gaara was getting the hang of the sword, though he had to admit that it was tougher than it looked. Then again, he had a feeling that would be the case and wasn't going to give up just because it was hard. His former self might have, but not the person that he was right now.

Facing off against Sasuke, Naruto knew he couldn't lose this fight. Not just because he had to put the Teme back in his place, but because Yugito was watching, and he couldn't lose in front of his girlfriend. The two boys started fighting, and the violence quickly got out of hand, until each of them was flying at the other with their strongest attacks ready.

Gemini smiled as she watched Gaara, feeling proud of him. Being a long distance fighter, she knew that trying any close combat style would be difficult for him. She also knew from experience that sword fighting was terribly difficult, so seeing her boyfriend trying so hard and actually making progress was great. "Good job, Gaa-kun! You're doing great!"