I Am Ninja:

What would you become if you woke up tomorrow a ninja in the world of Shinobi? What would you achieve. Would you be great? Would you be born to a powerful clan. Think about it, give yourself a few minutes. Are you thinking? Now consider this. Consider all the problems life has added to your existence, your current life, take into consideration what it really means to be a ninja. The Danger, the Life, the Experience, it all amounts to what it is to be ninja. Every aspect of the life you live is calculated and monitored for the possible threat that is your existence. Social acceptance is key, for if your peers resent you your village will turn against you and your comrades will spurn you even in the heat of battle. A mistake equals death, in school and in life we always make mistakes from small to big but for a ninja a mistake means injury and often death. Your friends/abilities/reputation determine your life, if you just so happen to be born into the wrong clan/village/blood-limit it could mean being hated and feared… until they kill every last one of your bloodline. Simply being a powerful ninja means that you are a bigger target, hated because they fear you and feared because you could be a threat even to your own village.

This is the life of a Shinobi…

and In the life of a shinobi, there are many faces, many techniques, and much that can go wrong. Imagine the power, the energy flowing through you from birth, the power of a Kami not wilfully given to her children. All the blessings of been born with an extra advantage over the rest of humanity, all the consequences and war drawn on by the exploits of this very same power. This is the journey we face as ninja, this is the life of a shinobi, and in the world of the Shinobi even the most talented are vulnerable to the quick hand of death.

Like the fall of a die, chance decides your fate on this world and only through happenstance and great need does change come about. The gifts we bare nothing more than an accident of fate, even for the clan born, life is unpredictable. Dedication often falls short of the gambled powers destiny binds us to, and what is destiny really but an uncharted road leading to an end. For it is unknown what will become of your fate, born to fleeting flesh and binding blood, not even the eternal spirit knows what is ahead.

Will you be clan born only for your family to be shattered with betrayal and death? Will fortune line your pockets with gold and an undeniable birth right never to be defeated in battle, only for you to fall before your time due to an incurable disease? Has destiny chosen you as its champion? Has fate selected you out of the millions to bring about change, or are you destined to be the mediocre ninja who can't even get dying right? Still worse, are you a ninja or are you an Inter-village ninja?

The Inter-Village Ninja:

"You should be glad, for you alone will know what it means to be an Inter-Village ninja"

Argies frowned in his lack of understanding but continued to jog, his breath staggered and his body hunched over as he listened to his guardians while he trained.

His Aunt continued drawing meaning to her words "…In the choice between inter-village ninja and ninja, the kami smiled on you by granting you the title of inter-village ninja"

"*Huff*But why Aunt Anisue?" The young inter-village ninja Argies asked perplexed, his words sputtered between huffs of breath that could be seen in the early morning light. "Aunt Anisue you know Inter-village ninjas are given the worst… most degrading jobs… like delivering messages and helping construction workers as cheap labour... Why would you want me too…" His throat hit a lump and he struggled to process his words, his mind and his tongue operating on different mediums from that of his soul and heart. "We aren't considered real ninja, just chakra adapt citizens" He cough, his voice sore, he had been jogging since before morning through the chilled air of the night, but that wasn't the reason his voice wavered.

His Uncle and Aunt jogged alongside him, one to his either shoulder, lecturing him on life. It had come turn for his Uncle to divulge his knowledge by lifting Argies up from his stooped over jog forward, "The threat is not in a ninja's ability" and in lifting Argies up his Uncle Reno produced a blade to threaten Argies posture straight. "Neither is it in a ninja's weapon" As quickly as it was there the blade suddenly vanished. "No the real threat is the ninja's life, their breath means your death and only by ending their existence do you insure your persistence and retain the ninja spirit within you." As Reno had said this Argies exhaled, and the vapour steamed from his mouth signifying his breath… his life.

There was much meaning in his Uncles words. The hand he pressed against Argies chest to lift him up, straightened his resolve, because as his uncle said it 'The threat is not in a ninja's ability'. At that Argies gained confidence that even though he was an inter-village ninja with no abilities he was still a threat. Then in the dagger pressed at him as he ran he realised he could not allow himself to lose sight of the reality, as a ninja there was always a weapon at his throat, he was always a target. Then the final verse, which meant many things to Argies, one truth struck through. "The real threat is the ninja's life" even as Argies said it in his mind the apostrophe 's' fell away. 'The real threat is the ninja life'

…

Another walk back from the academy, I stared at the ground in thought to scattered pebbles as I skimmed my ninja sandals over the dirt and stone. That seemed to be all I ever did, skimmed over what it was to be a ninja… never truly qualifying, not by choice but by chance despite my need and my burning dedication. Happenstance would never let me be.

It had been a year since I left the ninja academy, at least that is since I left the normal classes anyway. Inter village ninja still had to attend an extra year of class to learn about all the degrading work they had in store for them. Funny, when you sign up to be a ninja no one ever tells you that there is no turning back. As long as you just about manage to pass into Genin, you are stuck as a ninja for life. To this point I've done so many inter-village missions, missions I am sick of. Sure there were some missions that were ok, a few construction missions where I found appreciation from the community for saving the lives of unlucky contractors during a building collapse. Still, Inter-village missions meant that we weren't allowed to leave the Leaf, or even if we were sent on long message carrier missions it was always a there and back task never to confront the enemy even if they were in our path. It meant as 'ninja' we weren't really ninja at all, but rather we were simply convenient labour for work that villagers might otherwise take longer to do. We are an embarrassment hidden from the active duties a real ninja is expected to handle, because in a way we can't play ninja we can only pretend.

My Aunt seems to believe me lucky in becoming an inter-village ninja, she says that this gives her more time to personally train me in hand to hand combat and endurance training. I think Aunt Anisue is just happy that my ninja status gives her plenty of opportunities to torture me with routine. No away missions for me, no wondering when I will get back, no hospitals preventing her from laying on more lessons.

Uncle Reno didn't say much, only that it was expected of me. Great, so they knew I would fail. Wonderful! Just when I thought my mood couldn't get any worse I hear that they never thought I could make it anyway. Perfect!

Well what was I expecting? That just because I happened to be part of 20% of the population lucky enough to be born with a significant control and capacity for charka, that somehow that would mean I would be the best Ninja to ever live? I have chakra so what! I have chakra so… what? We always get the wrap, we are always called out for our lack of a ninja ability. That we are the part of the group no one really can call ninja, like a colour that doesn't really qualify. Everyone else got picked, but not us…

What would I do on a real ninja mission anyway? Run around really fast, super human maybe but not super ninja. Throw around kunai while everyone else is shooting crazy lightning out of their hands like it doesn't hurt. Let's face it, it is probably for the best that I didn't make it. I wouldn't have survived very long, maybe not even a year and that would be while hiding behind better Shinobi.

Unless you are born with a unique orientation, there is just no way you can compete with clan born; Kids like Shikamaru who can use third tier elemental jutsu before they reach the age of nine! Hell I wouldn't mind just knowing one element, just one jutsu I can call my own. One jutsu I don't have to craft out of ninja wire and kunai but instead pull it out with a pop of chakra like a pro. Tenten has that going on quite well, though she is also an expert in just about every weapon. I can't even afford as many weapons as she has and she is an orphan. How does that work?!

Well looks like I should head home and see what my guardians want, maybe there will be an extra lesson of training today… yeah, joy, no not really.

…

Kneeling down to a cold cup of tea my Aunt Anisue dropped a stack of metaphoric paper bombs. "Your Uncle and I have decided to enter you for the Chunin exams" Her expression did not falter, she isn't joking… she never jokes.

What! The Chunin exams! Why! I'm going to die, I don't even need to think the worst and I know I'm going to die. Just why!

Reno looked down on me searching for an answer. He isn't joking either and by the chill I receive from how stern his expression is… I get the impression that the answer better be yes.

"That sounds great" Fake smile Fake smile Fake smile, hold…. Turn release … I'm so dead

…

Time passes and Argies finds that things haven't ended with one foot in the grave, no, he is in a much better place now and he didn't have to die to reach it. Still the inter-village life proves to be beyond compare, a truly unique kind of torture.

…

Finding her way to their secret training spot, Kazumi curled her eyebrows up into a frown. "Hey Argies!" She ran up to him in excitement at first seeing him but then on his silence she paused. "Is everything alright?" Argies said nothing, with his back to her he continued to punch the only post available for taijutsu practice.

It was unusual for the young boy to be found so late within their training grounds, they liked to take turns using the small place because it would be too crowded to use otherwise. Inter-village ninja weren't provided with the resources that proper ninja exploited for their training. Argies and Katsumi were merely lucky to happen upon the training field they loved so much. It wasn't much, it was small and unkempt with tall grasses and shattered posts used for target practice, but it was Kazumi's turn that afternoon as Argies preferred to use the grounds in the morning. Despite this however Kazumi was glad to see her friend but taken aback by his silence.

"Rude" Kazumi turned to face away from her fellow inter-village ninja. "You know just because you made it to the final rounds of the Chunin exams, doesn't mean you are exempt from asking for permission. You don't out rank me just yet, besides I would have been glad to take the grounds for the morning. You know, if you asked." She warmed her hands up by rubbing them together, the air was frigid and the sky overcast. "Hey! Are you listening to me?" Katsumi walked closer, the long tuffs of grass rustling as she planted each foot. "Argies are you ok?" She raised a hand to his shoulder. "Hey Argies?" She whispered inching closer to pull him out of his drone of repetitive fist knocking again with repeated thumping against the padded pinewood platting.

"That's not who I am" Argies brooded as he was turned away from the post, his knuckles raw and red.

Kazumi grimaced looking past him to the focus of his anger. Stretching a hand to the post her fingers momentarily paused "What is that? Is, is that you?" she plucked the small piece of paper off from the post, the crinkled page dusted with blood and dirt.

"That is not who I am" Argies repeated as Kazumi read over the paper. He stood with his mind in another place his eyes seeing only red, and his hands tightened with frustration.

"Betting number 04." Kazumi looked up from the page to her friend, the focused rage in his eyes. She gritted her teeth. "Is this for the Chunin exams? I didn't know they made bets on the contestants." Her fists tightened as well "Don't people sometimes die in these matches?" but her anger was focused elsewhere.

As quickly as rain falls to pitta patter the world wet, their moods were sullied with a throng of negativity. Their minds shaded with memories that would not persist to remain buried. They each had their thoughts darkened with clouds of regret, hiding the light of their accomplishments with mere moments that would continue to lament. Down their path life would endure their passage to curse their steps with days journeyed through thoughts left to ferment.

"When did this happen?" Kazumi lifted Argie's chin, her own shoulders weighed heavy and her words but empty empathy for one who hurt the same as she. "Did they do this to you." She stated not as a question but as a fact of their lives, it happened again.

…

Argies could hear his own feet against the ground, the beating up of dust as he ran from the throng that followed after him. It had been another day, another of those days.

Early morning. Feeling accomplished he found himself in idle chatter with a few village kids, they were inspired by his sudden scale up the ranks all the way into the final rounds of the Chunin exams. From being an unknown ninja, suddenly there was a spark of interest into 'Who is Argies?'.

"What were the Chunin exams like?" One of the kids dangled herself from the railing, swinging as she asked another question in excitement. "Weren't their monsters in the forest… my brother said that they were very scary" She just about answered her own question, but Argies was glad to be included regardless.

"Is your brother in the Chunin exams too?" He smiled warmly, never had he thought anyone would look up to him with anything that looked like admiration. Now as a group of admirers they flocked to him from the playground, the children gathered around to hear his tale, all with a spark of imagination playing in their eyes.

"My brother was in the Chunin exams" The girl bit her finger and giggled, making it very clear that he didn't exactly make it.

Argies established, granted that she wasn't crying or sadistic.. her brother didn't die. He wagged his finger in good nature saying. "The Chunin exams are no joke, they are VERY scary, and there is no one to run to when the boogieman attacks!" Argies held out his hands as if he was ready to pounce on the kids and they all played along and mocked a shriek of fright. "There are big and small monsters, ones with sharp teeth" Using his index fingers he gestured the length of their fangs as if they protruded from his own mouth. "Others with a poisons bite, some are so small you can only hear them buzzing… that is until they get you" He poked at a few kids pretending as if he were the bite of a poisonous insect. Again they let out a giggle and cry of laughter to the imaginary attack. Argies didn't want to frighten them but he also didn't want to leave them with the impression that it was easy. "The biggest secret is" He whispered so that they would pay attention and quiet down. "It is not the bugs and animals that you have to be afraid of, it is the two legged monsters that you really have to watch out for."

Then falling into Argies ploy a boy held up his hand like he was in class asking his teacher that momentous question "What is the too legged monster Argies sir?"

"The too legged creature is just like anyone of us, but they wear a fake smile and pretend to be your friend when what they really want to do is…" Argies paused and as he did so they leaned in closer to hear with curious ears as he tempted their attention. "Stab you in the back" Suddenly his mood had set a mute tone, and the wonder in their eyes died a little. "Never trust a ninja, not even your friends, because a ninja is what the two legged monster is and they are the most deadly and most scary monsters of them all."

Gulping quite audibly a little boy turned up his watery eyes to Argies. "You aren't a monster are you? 'Cause I want to be just like you when I grow up" He tugged on Argies sleeve, pouting as he did. "Don't be a monster Argies sir, be a friend… please."

The other kids hearing this, chimed in as well. "Please Argies"

Squatting down to reassure them that he wasn't a danger, Argies lightened his mood. "Ok you scamps" He smiled finding it hard to break his good mood now that they had set it in place once again. "But remember, this" He pointed at his smile. "Doesn't always mean friend"

The boy still holding onto his sleeve, wiped his snivelling nose. "We'll remember" Fixing his face with a smile he started to pull on Argies Arm. "Come on let's play ninja!"

…

Playing Ninja…

Man for a six year old this guy tugs real hard. I bet he will make a great ninja when he grows up to about the age of nine. Konohagakure despite having the title of the Friendliest ninja Village, has a few rules that I wouldn't mind changing. For one we are the only Village that recruits nine year old Genin to be sent out into war or even out of the Village. I believe it was the Cloud Village that once said that we send out children to do the work of Jounin, which is probably just about true. Though than again I wouldn't want to be part of any other Village, they don't have inter-village ninja like we have here. The Land of Mist is the worst, or at least they were, academy students had to fight to the death to be proved worthy of being called a Genin! Luckily here all that happens to ninja who don't make the grade is a life of mediocrity. If I don't make it to Chunin I guess I wouldn't mind simply being an inter-village ninja for the rest of my life, that is as long as they don't take up the blood Mist Villages approach to things.

I suppose the only reason we are one of the strongest nations is because we have inter-village ninja. While real ninja see action in the field, using all their powerful Jutsus to reduce the number of the enemy, we see to all the homework. Running corporations like the intelligence gathering department, or medical facility, tracking unit, and some other lesser known operations, don't require the use of powerful Jutsus at all. Meaning that in actual fact all ninja Villages need a few extra hands in running their Village. I guess if I don't make the Chunin exams I will at least find solace in the knowledge that I'm not totally useless to my Village, and I got the added bonus of learning a few Family techniques my Guardians were hiding up until now.

Meeting in the centre of the playground the children all stopped at once waiting for something. I vaguely remember playing ninja, it probably was only a few years back. My family wasn't always in the Leaf Village but I was still young enough to play ninja when we moved in. For a few second I wondered if I should do something, were they expecting me to start the game?

Standing under the shade cast by a big tree that made up the centre of the playground, a few older kids appeared. Chakra bursts. They were probably still academy students but by the looks of things they ran the ninja game moderation duty. I recognised a few of them as not all of them were academy students it seemed, in fact some of them I know from the Chunin exams.

"Hey" I greeted them with a casual flick of recognition, tilting my head up sharply. "I recognise you" I walked over. The moderators picked out three children to play the role of the defenders while the rest of the kids would play the attackers or invading force. Quite an odd game for little kids to be playing but then again this is a ninja village and who doesn't like killing people with imagination.

With the thudding of a kunai flung into the earth, the kids began the game and scatter everywhere…

After a moment "Ninja attack!" The defenders shouted, alerting the others that they would chase after them now but in reality it was a strange rehearsal for the possibility of an invasion. Defenders sounding alarms to the coming of enemy ninja attacking their Village. The older moderators looked up to me now that they had begun the game, while a few of the younger moderators chased after the defenders to make sure they weren't cheating and played the game properly.

"Hey, you're that kid that made it into the Chunin exams." The ninja who addressed me as 'that kid' was around my age, which only made me furrow my brow when he asked "Aren't you?"

"Uhm… yeah…" I held up a hand not sure whether to extend it into a hand shake or a wave, so awkwardly I gave a half wave from my waist. "I guess I am that kid but lots of people made it into the Chunin exams"

Another of the three tilted her head like she was inspecting me "What makes you so special anyway? I heard that team Komugi didn't make it, their whole team. You don't even have a squad leader and you make it! No way that is right."

I squinted, "That sounded a bit too much like an accusation. What are you implying?"

"She's saying you cheated, what are you thick?!" The last of the three stepped forward and a little bit of an intimidating atmosphere was added with his sudden verbal attack.

I straightened myself to my full height, I can take these guys. They all look like flunkies… just like me. "I-m pretty sure you can't cheat the Chunin exams" My voice came out a little less than firm, not the quality of demeanour I was hoping to imply.

The Konoichi of their group stepped forward a few paces to my left, retrieving the kunai that she flung earlier. I'm beginning to get the sinking feeling that these older kids want to play Ninja as well. While I focused my attention on her, yet still at the same time keeping my vision wide enough to capture them all, she continued the attack. "You're a ninja, and ninja cheat… you've just got to tell us your secret or else"

Now I understand, these three must be part of a squad… a squad that failed. "Still feeling a little sore from losing the exams I see" I added my own taught, seeing as they started it first. "Want to see what a real ninja can do?" they gritted their teeth, waiting for my next word to set them off to attack. "Well too bad, I'm not a ninja at all. I'm just drifting through." That lowered their guard, they were expecting me to punch holes in their confidence but I'm not interested in all with that. I started walking away when…

"Hey, aren't you that ninja" Another group of Chunin wannabes appeared, equally aggressive.

…

It all happened so quickly. With his back turned to them, his arms were held behind his body while his head was taken in a half nelson. The third of the first group started taking free shots at his gut while the second group was quick to join in. His body bent over as they wrenched him straight again for yet another blow. His muscles contorted and bulged in his defence, but to no avail, he was exposed and they took full advantage of that.

When it came turn to change guard, for the next to have their chance at his inability to hold back their attack. Argies made his own strike. Lifting himself up he kicked at the next ninja to take their place in front of him. Instead of blows being cast at him he used the momentum from kicking off at the boy in front of him to hit down the two holding him up. Like a wounded animal he found a kunai in his hand as quickly as he could, and from his kneeled position on the ground he snarled at all of them as he bore the cold metal blade like a fang.

"Back" he cleared his voice to say, the blood and spit foaming at the sides of his mouth making his voice sound alien even to him. Gulping down the bile threatening to weaken him further, he stood up slowly "There is no secret to surviving in this ninja life. You are all fools for thing otherwise, the only way to remain alive is to keep away from everyone and remain hidden. As a ninja it is our central ideal, to go unseen." He thought of himself as he said this, the trouble only began because they knew who he was. 'That kid'. Now he was determined never to be 'that kid' again.

He stood up and began making his slow retreat out of the throng of ninja, but when he saw them remove their kunai from their holsters he bolted.

…

I had been running for so long away from the sound of their taunts and shouts after me, a few kunai were thrown along with their insults, it had always been like this. As an inter-village ninja in class the other ninja shunned us for being less than them, as a ninja without a sensei the missions we were assigned were never grand. Everyone found it as their duty to degrade our existence. We were never allowed in through to the proper ninja assignment desks, instead we were led in through a side door for our less than second-rate duties. Our missions went undocumented for who would want to record the life of an inter-village ninja, nothing we did was deemed worthy enough to write a mission report over.

I stopped running when I could only hear the sound of my own feet stamping the ground and my breath leaving my lungs. My mouth so dry that on the first sounding of my voice through a throaty sigh, resulted in a wheezing cough. My lungs were burnt up. It happened again, I was attacked by our own ninja. The Leaf is not my friend.

Stopping before a crowd of people I recomposed myself while staring into the nearby central fountain of water. The clear waters reflecting the damage they did and the cut to my lip. The cold waters were kind to my tempered flesh, but my ears burnt on hearing my name.

…

"What about this Argies fellow, I've heard nothing about him and he's listed to verse a Hyuuga!" The burly man leaned back to allow the waiter to lay down his brew of fomented wheat.

Bubbling and frothing to the top of the jug, their conversation continued on with their speculation and the slam of a hand. "Probably just dead meat to start the match off with a bang" The lady stated, the bang of her hand on the wooden irori (hearth/fire-pit covered by table frame) matching the impact she believe the games would start off with. Argies death added as if it were just the salt spicing the crackling meat of the event that was the Chunin exams.

Clearing his throat after a considerable gulp of brew, the larger stocky man planted his mug down on the table with another bang. "They didn't even bother to fill out his full name, 'Argies'. His obviously not a clan ninja, without a family name, there is no way his going to make it against the clan born"

Speaking out from behind the man's large shoulder, a somewhat less bulk of a man asked "He can't be that bad, he made it to the Chunin exams alive after all… right?" He asked unsure of himself and his statement on a whole.

Sitting opposite the two men the lady leaned forward almost sympathetic to Argies plight. "His not even part of a clan Jougo, he doesn't stand a chance."

Jougo looked at Argies Bingo sheet and the picture held in it. "I don't know, I have a feeling this one will make it far. Call it dumb luck but if he could make it to the Chunin exams then he still has a chance at winning"

Jougo's attention turned to the Konoichi of their group, she realised that she was his deciding factor. "True a little luck helps but you have got to look at their skill sets too. Tactics. That sort of thing helps you earn the big bucks" She advised, despite gambling being a game of chance she had a valid point. A fools luck was no good, but these were no dogfights they were betting over. Losing the battle might mean losing your life, and it was Argies head on the chopping block.

Jougo looked at the half smile Argies held within his picture, his ninja profile picture staring back at the man while he decided his bet. "'Sometimes you have got to go small in order to win big'" he quoted.

While the larger man guzzled down another pint the lady at the table poked fun at their mate Jougo. "Oh Jougo, now which pretty young women said that to you?" She held her thumb apart from her index finger to give a measure of small, and then in her other hand she rubbed her thumb with her fingers to signify money. "Go small in order to win big"

The larger man instantly spat out his drink in a spray that arched across the table, then only for the air to be cleared with his laughter along with Jougo's pleas. "Stop it you guys"

Recovering the larger man wiped the fizz off his chin and re-joined the conversation in earnest. "Did you even have a look at his bingo profile? He has got no ninjutsu, only one C rank and a skill set of dash. This kids going to die the second that match starts"

Jougo merely stared, his eyes wide in memory and shock.

"Come on Jougo, pick a better ninja and I'll buy you a pint." The lady in their group looked at Jougo who seemed quite despondent about this whole disagreement. "That kid is not you Jougo, these bingo books have been drafted for all the Genin who survived preliminary rounds. You were there with us, you saw his fight. When we were that young we would have been lucky to have the choice of entering the Chunin exams, instead of the war. No one should have to suffer that. Looking at this ninja's mission history and lack of special abilities, it is no wonder his estimated odds are so low." Leaning across the table she took his hand in hers, tearing Argies page from his bingo book. "Come now Jougo, I'm sure we can find a better candidate" The page hung loose in her hands, and then with a sudden breeze it caught flight.

Flying in the wind, Argies page drifted through the air to land at his feet. In the dirt. 'Betting number 04, six percent chance of winning the games.'

…

"That is not me Kazumi" Argies wipe away at his dry eyes, there were no tears to be felled but a heart heavy with sorrows saw its own reassurance. "I'm not the six percent contestant" He gripped his sore hands, his knuckles raw from repetition in striking his own bingo page, he wanted to erase what they thought of him. "They don't know me, they never wanted to ever know us." With anger in his voice Argies sated his breath with held up fists in hatred and pain. "I feared nothing entering the preliminary rounds, stared on by all those faces, because they didn't know me! They don't care if I failed them, I couldn't feel shame in losing so I never lost heart and won." His pupils shook as the rage subsided to his only then realisation "We can never fail our Village because to them we never existed. How can they judge us when their hearts are so full of revulsion." His skills weren't listed, he might not have had an offensive ninjutsu but Argies held pride in his ability to make traps. An ability they didn't mark down.

Reaching out a hand Kazumi's fingers quivered as if the air were brittle, but then she found heart and caught Argies in an embrace. "They will never know us Argies until you show them what you are capable of as an inter-Village ninja, and as a Ninja." Speaking over his shoulder, with Argies arms folding around her in a shallow embrace, she brought reassurance to his heavy heart. "When you enter the tournament people won't see you as an inter-Village ninja, our Nation might still outcast us but remember. Every one of those ninja fear the unknown. You shouldn't think of your bingo profile as an insult, no, what your bingo profile says is that you are a mystery and a challenge. How do you face the unknown, how do you prepare to fight what you cannot plot down on paper. There are no strategies created to fight an inter-village ninja, because no one knows us and that is our strength. For what we are truly capable of isn't known until they face us in battle."

Silence stretched but Kazumi held tight until Argies put to word his mind. "Do you really think so?" Kazumi released her hold and nodding her head, Argies took a deep breath in, the air entered his lungs in one steady flow. His worries settled. "Thank you Kazumi. You are right and I promise, they will see exactly what we inter-village ninja are capable off. For you, for me, for every one of us. I will train harder than any other ninja. Within this month of training I won't stop for a single day, there won't be an hour in the day were I don't progress some facet of knowledge or improve a skill." He paused for a second, and then with strength returning to his form he held up his arms ready to fight. "In fact, let's start right now. Both of us, we can train together"

…

An hour into training, the longest they had ever sparred together, the two twelve year old genin were both beyond the point of exhaustion. It was rare for ninja to be caught in battle for so long, ninja fights a thing of speed and technique. Battles were often decided not by tactics but by one ninja being more adept at handling their opponents techniques. Fires extinguished in water, fists crushed in the spell of genjutsu, weapons shattered by the greater defence, however in the battle between Kazumi and Argies there were no ninja techniques between their blows and no weapons to cut open wounds in a comrade.

To each other they were a Village, divided by their peers and unified in their pain. Unlisted, unqualified, unknown, a union, a bond, a tie stronger than any certification. They each had their problems and they would face them together. They were a team of necessity. Nonetheless, even this the gamble of life would rip away.

"Ready to go at it again?" Kazumi lugged a hand over her bent knee, collapsed to the grassy floor and tired, she was spent yet determined to help her friend impress his feeling on the contestants of the Chunin exam.

"I bet I'm going to regret all this training tomorrow morning" Argies sat up with a half-smile, his body too warm from use to feel the pain in his overused muscles and ligaments. "Then again regret will probably kick me tomorrow if we stop now." He held out a hand to help up Kazumi, holding fast to his half smile even as his reach trembled in front of her "As long as you are ready"

"Hey I might be entering the Chunin exams next year…." The Konoichi took the hand offered to her and in one rush, lifted with a shuddered exhale, she continued her thought. "When I start my crazy training routine I don't want to hear any complaints from you"

"Fair enough" Argies readied his stance but it was Kazumi who whooped the first swing in which Argies quickly dodged. "Hey not fair!" He jumped back before coming closer to start again. "I guess not fair won't even factor into the Chunin exams, ninja don't exactly follow rules do we?" He added his own attempt which Kazumi was alert enough to avoid as well.

"Hey, at least they let you join the Chunin exams, even if you don't have a sensei." With a sly twinkle in her amber eyes she swung a kick under her opponent, which Argies laughed off. "I couldn't get in because unlike you I didn't even have a team" She held her face askew, catching spite in Argies laugher and his scale up into the exams.

Retreating Argies empathised "Don't worry Kazumi, if I fail the Chunin exams this year we can always sign up with some other ninja next year. A three ninja squad" Argies looked up proudly, imagining the possibility. "I wouldn't have even joined the Chunin exams if my Guardians didn't jump me with it. I think personally they just needed me as the third man in their squad so that they could graduate"

Punching Argies lightly in the gut, though because of his earlier injury he took longer to recover, they paused before the resume after first contact. "I know, I guess I just missed out is all… we just missed out" She lashed out with another punch, striking Argies again but this time with a difference… she quickly pulled back. Turned away Kazumi whispered "It is happening again" her words loud enough for Argies to overhear her worry. Grabbing her hand her eyes fading into black, she whipped her head over her shoulder with alarm, staring back at him and the shock in his eyes "Stay Away Argies!" her voice tipping between warning and command.

"It is ok Kazumi." Argies crept forward, his footsteps pressed silently as not to worry the wild fright in her eyes. "I'm right here, I'm not like the others… I understand" In this last word he pressed a hand on her shoulder, a reassuring touch but in the sudden comfort of his hand and expected wrath. Kazumi lashed out in defence.

"Get back!"

Silence stretched as she hid her face from the cruel world that blanketed into darkness around her. As her skin stretched white, black arteries cracked lines across her complexion and around her eyes. Her vision blurred to nothingness in the bright light that only made her blackened eyes sting and shut. Her hands, which she held to herself to both hide and shelter, now sharped with razor claws that protruded extending her reach. In her mind's eye she saw only cruel faces, heard only ugly laugher, and felt her flesh pelted with stones that left pin pricks of pain all over her body. Then, as her vision began to clear once again. The pain leaving her. The deafening laughter subsiding. She could hear shallow drops, warm beads of fluid, fall to the shifting grasses. Blinking, she tilted her head up to the source of this gush of liquid that filled the air with a sickeningly familiar smell.

"It's alright…" Argies said numbly, his face pale, his jaw grimaced in throbbing agony and his left arm clutching on to his shoulder torn with pain. He smiled offering her reassurance but in finding none available to be bared his masked emotions faltered. Seeing how much blood poured out of him and the fear in his eyes, Kazumi's heart raced and with it she ran away while Argies shouted after her "Come Back…!"

…

Kazumi ran away, looking for help, but where would she go? Her hands and feet were misshapen claws, her skin as pale as death… "My skin!" She suddenly realised. All over her body the black arteries which were there before, now only added to her horror. For now her skin was also dotted with open sores. Thousands of wounds, thousands of holes all slowly expanding… pain ignited across her flesh. She collapsed and hugged her knees, her breath staggered with panic, she prepared for the worst and then….!

She screamed in pain. Something grew out of her, out of one of the many pores that spotted her body. In repulsion she pulled and yanked the first abnormality off from her body, blood spat out the open wound, but like a weed more began to sprout. Caught in panic stricken mania she uprooted her fears, though the terrors were part of her and every sprout she removed hurt her severely.

This was her fate

…

Staggered, Argies made his way home but with every step his head grew faint and his footsteps heavy. In his mind he speckled his forehead with anxiety. 'How will my Aunt and Uncle react? What will they do… it wasn't her fault. Why did this have to happen, why couldn't I have listened to her! I hope they don't think Kazumi caused the injury to my lip or the bruising all over my body, maybe I shouldn't tell them. Oh no I wonder if I will make it back home, maybe I should look for someone else... for help' He looked around but could find no one. He had already begun traveling on the pathway to his home, he and his guardians lived far away from the central hub of the Village. They were a secretive people and enjoyed their privacy, but in Argies returned he realised how Isolated that made them in times of trouble as he struggled to reach them himself.

It was Kinjo he first encounter, out in the grasslands a distance before their home, Kinjo their family cat only Kinjo wasn't a cat at all.

"Master Argies…" Kinjo titled the boy not out of respect or reverence but as an address befitting Argies prepubescent age. The demon cat sniffed the air, and taking in the blood, Kinjo's eyes narrowed to Argies wounds. Five gouging tears in his flesh that were poorly bound in his open hand. "Your wounds, where are your bindings, your preparedness, do you lack the basic understanding of medical application?!" Kinjo hissed, scorning Argies not for the severity of his wounds but instead for the boy's poor self-preservation.

Argies didn't have energy to argue, gingerly falling to a knee he unstrapped his ninja pouch to retrieve a single rolled bandage. "I forgot about you…" He said to the bandage, turning to the summons he pleaded. "Please don't tell Aunt Anisue I walked all the way here like this." He began binding his wound, his right arm already quite lame and his left hand stiff from holding his shoulder tight for so long. Managing to cut off the blood supply to a slow trickle, he assessed where to go from here but was interrupted by a curious question.

"What will become of your family ninjutsu?" Kinjo stared up to the boy the cat summons directed the question to, with narrowed eyes it shut the world out focusing on the boy's answer.

Finding it strange that Kinjo chose this moment to interrogate him with such a puzzle of a question, Argies answered with an inquiry of his own. "What do you mean?" He suddenly felt a jolt of pain from his shoulder, reminding him that the wound was still there though the lack of circulation reduced the severity of the hurt. With his left hand on his shoulder once more he stared at Kinjo speechless, wondering if the demon cat's question held him prisoner here.

Seeing that the boy would not answer Kinjo clarified "Your family jutsu is but a tool, as are all techniques, you must find your own path and make it your own. What will you craft with the tools that have been taught" Again the demon cat's eyes shut, waiting for an answer.

"What will I craft with my families technique?" Now it may have been his loss of blood, or the worry that if he didn't answer that his cat wouldn't run ahead and get help, but Argies instantly thought about the whole of his day. Chased by fellow ninja for his ascension into the Chunin exams and his sudden recognition, would he develop the family technique into an attack? Over hearing that he wasn't a worthy bet that he was money better spent elsewhere because of his feasible death in the tournament, could his family jutsu become his healing art? Attacked and unintentionally injured by his friend Katsumi, might he use his family jutsu as a defence?

This had become the deciding factor for him. Argies mind was set. He would use this month of training to develop his own ninjutsu, employing his family jutsu to help him meet that goal.

"I will find a way that no matter how I am attacked my opponent suffers injury while I gain only strength." With these words leaving his mouth, there was no way to undo his commitment. He was unwilling to go back now, now he would be a ninja no matter the cost. "I am Argies Ages, I am an inter-village ninja but nevertheless I am ninja" With that Kinjo ran off and Argies proudly put one foot ahead of the other, determined never to give in… never again.

No more running away.

…

In the month leading up to the final tournament of the Chunin exams, Argies never knew what happened to Kazumi. His unofficial teammate, his inter-Village friend, simply disappeared. For the first few days he was glad that he didn't see her, though he was concerned for her this was an opportunity to use their training grounds without interruption. He thought he would eventually see her closing in to the few weeks before the exam but she never showed. Coming to their training grounds had become less and less for training and more for the hope that he would find her there, but she was gone. He had little time to search for her, but even so he tried, he mourned her loss and yet it drove him to push himself further. He would do this for her, for himself, for all inter-Village ninja, that they are never shunned again. Never ostracised and belittled to the point that they would run away, hurt themselves or leave the Village.

He was alone now. Without a friend, without a team mate. He was alone and worried for what had become of her, and so in his isolation he trained to cast his mind off the possibilities.

Isolating himself from all other ninja he trained and focused his chakra to the point of manipulation. Honing the flow and concentration, the focal point and transfiguration, he listened to the sound of only his charka. He thought a lot on his words to Kinjo, developing a ninjutsu which would work to his benefit no matter how he was attacked. Every three days as his muscles recuperated, he spent his time studying every book he could find on Chakra and strategies. Applying all the lessons he learnt. Adding his next week's read into his back pocket for whenever he couldn't train.

Taking in what his Aunt Anisue knew about taijutsu, the two practiced while his Uncle watched with critical eyes. Every weak point, every opening, every opportunity to cause pain, his guardians would not rest until he understood proper form and technique. They were very strict but supportive, his Aunt pouring him cold herbal teas while his Uncle on occasion rubbed down his muscles with a brisk massage. He felt very close to them in these moments, very much loved, but he knew it was only his determination that would decide a victory. Luck, time and chance were now his enemies.

His Uncle offered to train him in Genjutsu, which he learnt only the basics from. Genjutsu was focused on the repetitions of the mind and knowing your enemy in an instance. Skills that Argies simply lacked, his basic understanding of people limited because he could not see why people could be so cruel. Still he learnt how to dispel a Genjutsu which was all he really needed, but maybe he would reconsider his uncle Reno's mind game jutsu when he was older. He also learnt a very basic understanding of knowing your opponent in battle, learning from their reactions to toy with their emotions and possible gain the upper hand.

He felt ready but knew he could not let feeling stop him from training. There would be no end, not while Kazumi is missing, not while the Leaf treats their Inter-Village ninja so poorly, not while he is ninja.

"For them, I will find power I can call my own"

...

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Disclaimer:

All The characters created by the Author of Naruto belong solely to Masashi Kishimoto every other character belongs to I and those Authors that have lent me their characters.

Do not replicate or reproduce any of my works or the works of the artists that have lent me their ideas, original characters, writings.

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