Thanks to hakuisagirl and PiecieshateScorpios for reviewing so far! I really appreciate it. And thanks to everyone who favved and alerted. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

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Title: Genin

Rating: K

Summary: Sasuke's not ready yet.

Time Setting: About the middle of the time skip.

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Sasuke's greatest joy in a while (though he didn't show it; he rarely showed much of anything anymore) came when he was able to single-handedly ambush three ANBU scouts. He surprised them and knocked them out almost before they knew what was happening.

But he didn't kill them. He thought maybe he should have, but Sasuke had decided years ago that he was not like someone he knew in that respect: he did not kill helpless people just to measure his abilities. He decided it was enough to know that he could have killed them after he knocked them unconscious.

But three ANBU wasn't good enough. Sasuke knew he wasn't good enough, yet. Because the ANBU were not as good as Itachi, of course, by a long shot. Itachi had been made a captain of the ANBU when he was only thirteen, after all. And that was nearly seven years ago.

So Sasuke decided (no, he already knew) that he needed more training. And once Orochimaru had taught him everything he could, Sasuke decided that it would be a good test for himself to kill the overgrown snake. (That would be all right, because Orochimaru was far from helpless.)

And once he killed Orochimaru…well, he would be well on his way to being ready to kill Itachi. He would not be ready after just killing Orochimaru, no, because Orochimaru was not as good as Itachi, of course, by a long shot.

Sasuke decided, though, that a Legendary Sannin was not a bad addition to the list of foes—and friends—he had defeated, among ANBU, now, too. After all, he was still only a Genin. Sasuke almost found himself laughing bitterly at the thought (though he didn't show it; he rarely showed much of anything anymore).

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End. Thanks for reading!