Ch. 3 - Where is Kakashi? The Beginning of the Chuunin Exam!

*Yeah, my own take on how I think the exam shoulda been (still intact for the most part, but I'm doing things my way, storyline and all); maybe this is just because I'm in the middle of exams.. But if the Chuunin exam is to begin, what will Ryu do? He can't very well test on his own. He can't very well test without being a Genin either! This of course also means the other Genins will be arriving, guess who immediately pisses off Ryu. And what about the mission? Read on, all this and more will be answered!

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"Damn, we've been here for almost three hours! What the hell could he possibly be doing!" Ryu growled as sat down and pulled out his guitar. A few moments later, the soothing melody (soothing to him anyway) of "Evil Ways" was drifting through the air. He even began to sing the song. If anybody wanted to protest, they didn't.

"You got to change your evil ways, baby. Before I stop lovin' you; you got to change-" He stopped as he heard rustling in the nearby bushes and turned his head to see what it was. Naruto emerged from the bushes scratching the back of his head and smiling like an idiot.

"I had to go to the bathroom." Sakura growled, walked over to him, and hit him over the head hard. He groaned and rubbed his head.

"What was that for?"

"We didn't need to know where you went or why! We've got more important things to do!" Sasuke smirked at them, and Ryu looked over at him.

"What're you smiling about? You like seeing those two at each other's throats."

"They're children." They both turned when they heard a voice from behind them. There stood a very pale young man with short, brownish red hair. On his back he wore a large pot, and he had some kind of symbol drawn on his forehead.

"No worse than you, I'm sure." Sasuke smirked as he took a step forward, but cried out in surprise when Ryu pushed him out of the way. He toppled to the ground as Ryu glared daggers into the mysterious young man.

"What's your problem?" Ryu grunted in response to his question.

"You. Why don't you get lost? It's not like anybody invited you to join us." Sasuke looked wide-eyed at the young man. He had sneaked up on them without making a sound and none of them had sensed his arrival, not even him!

"Ryu, don't-"

"Shut up!" He spat back at Sasuke. He was having one of his bad feelings; this guy in front of him was definitely up to no good. The dark presence permeating from his body further proved that. Ryu himself was no saint, but he was certain this guy would not hesitate to kill them all. And he couldn't allow that.

"Get lost before something bad happens." He hissed through gritted teeth. The young man just glared at him with his pale green eyes. Taking the brief stand-off to his advantage, Ryu quickly placed his guitar back in the case and slung it onto his back.

"If there's one thing I hate its guys like you who act like they're better than everybody else, which is exactly what you're doing. And anybody ever told you just how unpleasant it is to look at your eyes? Bug off already!"

"Shut up." The young man said calmly, his arms crossed over his chest and his gaze unwavering. Ryu took in a surprised breath and growled at him.

"Why don't you make me!" Without a second's warning Ryu leapt at him and spun, sending the back of his fist towards his face. His fist contacted solidly with the young man's palm. Stunned, Ryu jumped away and growled again.

"Idiot, I'll kill you." The mysterious opponent raised one hand and sand particles began to levitate above his palm.

"Gaara, please stop. We don't want to get in trouble so soon!" He looked back at the blonde haired young woman, taking his eyes off Ryu to do so.

"Shut up, he started this." She backed away, not wanting to protest any further in fear of her own life.

"Yeah, you should probably listen to her. That was only a warning shot, next time you won't be so lucky." Gaara turned back to him. Ryu fell back in response to his icy gaze.

"That's enough from all of you." Kakashi commanded as he appeared between the two, his eye immediately falling on Gaara and the other two behind him.

"So, you three are from the Village of Sand. Leave, the exam has not yet started." Gaara glared at him, but did as he said. The three Sand Genins left as quickly as they had come.

"You're late." Ryu grumbled and crossed his arms. Kakashi closed his eye and his mask seemed to tug upward in a smile.

"I got lost." Ryu almost fell over at the response. He took a step forward and looked Kakashi squarely in the eye.

"How the hell do you get lost in your own village!" Kakashi rolled his eye.

"Look, I don't have to answer to you anyway since I'm the teacher here. Anyway, the mission is being held off for the time being." Naruto pulled away from Sakura, who was busy pummeling him, and yelled at him.

"What! You can't just postpone the mission!" He closed his eye and nodded at Naruto.

"Yes I can, and I have. We have more important things to worry about."

"Like what?" Ryu asked as he stepped away from Kakashi. He opened his eye again and answered.

"The Chuunin Exam." The answer caused Naruto to begin jumping up and down like a child in a candy store.

"The Chuunin Exam!" Sakura looked over at him, rolling her eyes.

"Do you even know what that is, idiot?" He scratched his cheek as he thought about it. Naruto stopped jumping and shrugged.

"I dunno, but it must be important if we're postponing the mission for it." She sighed in exasperation before turning her attention to Kakashi.

"Did you really sign us up for the exam?" A nod was her only response. Sasuke smirked as he pulled himself back up to his feet.

"When does it start?"

"Tomorrow morning at the school. Third floor." He nodded and began to leave.

"Sasuke-kun, where are you going?" Without a word he continued walking. Ryu placed a hand on her shoulder and almost jumped back when she pulled her fist up to hit him, thinking it was Naruto.

"You shouldn't worry yourself so much about Sasuke. It's not healthy. Besides, you should probably get ready for this exam, you guys are gonna need to be ready for it." Naruto blinked twice at him then looked at Kakashi.

"Sensei, what about Ryu? He's not a Genin, so he can't enter the exam."

"Don't worry, you and Sakura run along while I have a word with him," The two complied, leaving Ryu and Kakashi alone. It was a solid two minutes before either spoke, they both just glared at each other.

"Look, I don't know what you have planned, but I don't need to take any damn exam. I don't plan on sticking around that long, I'm gonna find Yugo and I'm gone." He nodded at his answer.

"That is understandable. However, this is the mission." Shocked, Ryu's eyes shot open.

"What? But you just told the others it was postponed." He nodded.

"Yes, because I can't let them know. I said you were important to this mission, and this is why. Our informants have told us that the target is entering the tournament. We need a spy to find him and track his progress through the tournament. Of course, only Genins will be allowed to enter the exam, we've already worked that out as well." Kakashi pulled a headband like the one the others wore from his pouch and handed it to Ryu. Ryu looked it over before securing it on his forehead with the plate facing sideways (a la Zabuza).

"It has also been taken into account that you need a team to enter with. This is also taken care of." He turned his head and nodded as a young man and woman stepped into view. The girl introduced herself as Lina and the boy as Gado. Lina was an attractive young woman, short white hair that reminded him for a moment of Yugo's, red eyes, and a devilish smile on her face. The shirt she wore beneath her over-shirt was form fitting, as were her shorts. Gado looked to be the type that was all business; buff, pants that had been torn down into shorts, and a gray vest. His hair was orange and very short, his eyes a dark green. Neither of them was informed as to why they were joining with him, all they knew was that he was replacing their deceased leader.

"These two will be your teammates, you have all the rest of the day to become acquainted and learn each other's strengths and weaknesses. You may not like it, but teamwork is the key to your survival in this. Use what little time you have wisely, I will leave you to train for the rest of the day." Kakashi vanished in the split second Ryu had looked away from him.

"Now that you two have introduced yourselves I'll do the same. I'm Ryu Tanabe, heard of me? I didn't think so. Anyway, like it or not, we're stuck working together. So let's all do our best to pull through this and 'win one for the team' so to speak." Lina raised an eyebrow at him and smirked.

"Is that your introduction speech?" He shrugged. Gado grunted but otherwise stayed silent. His mind was quickly changed when Ryu gave him a menacing glare.

"I could kill you without blinking, so I suggest you act a bit more like a team player Gado. If you won't, me and Lina will gun it without you." A growled escaped his throat and he nodded reluctantly. Like it or not, he was stuck with Ryu. Even worse, he had to take orders from him.

"This is how I operate, usually its stay outta my way or face the consequences. But, as Kakashi-sensei put it, we have to work as a team to make it through. Therefore, I will not be dictating orders to you guys. Instead, we'll do this as a team, as it should be right?" Lina nodded.

"That sounds good, Ryu. Where should we start?" Ryu sat down and thought about that.

"Let's get to know each other a little better. You know, tell each other our hobbies and stuff. I'll start. My name is Ryu Tanabe, I enjoy playing guitar and keeping to myself. I have a serious dislike for people who believe they are superior to me and I like to be around outgoing people like Naruto, weird I know. I also have an attraction to quiet girls, not that you'd care about that Lina. My goal in life is to start a band, if that doesn't work, oh well." Lina smiled at him and pushed her hair behind her ear.

"Quite a lengthy introduction you have there. I guess I'm next. I'm Lina and my last name is not any of your business. I have a severe dislike for Sasuke and Naruto. They are both full of themselves. I enjoy spending my time reading or practicing my Jutsus. One day, I would like to have children and raise them to become the top ninja's of the village." Ryu nodded. The part that stuck with him the most was her dislike for Sasuke. He felt the same, but for other reasons. More of a friendly rivalry, in his eyes anyway. They both turned to Gado and he reluctantly gave a short and sweet reply.

"I'm Gado, I hate having to take this Chuunin Exam and I don't like much of anything. My dream is to become a powerful shinobi so I can put people like you in their place." Ryu raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"A little bit of hostility I see. No matter, we can work around that. Now, we should get to work. Both of you are more than a little familiar with how to use your Chakra I hope." They both nodded.

"Good, how about we start out with some stealth exercises then? I'll be the target, both of you try to sneak up behind me and take this from me." He held up the pick for his guitar, which he never used, and placed it in the back pocket of his pants. A grin crossed his features, he was certain neither of them were good enough to do that.

"Easy enough." His grin faded as he turned around to see Lina smiling at him and holding the pick in her hand. Perhaps they weren't half bad.

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The rest of the day went well, the three eventually became able to predict the attacks their teammates would use and in what situation. Likewise, they became able to pick up on subtle signals, such as when to attack and when to hold position, by moving their eyes just slightly. Leaps and bounds, which was how quickly they had improved and become a decent team. The sun slowly slipped over the mountains and Ryu called the other two in from their individual practice.

"I'd say we did well today, and I'll see you both bright and early tomorrow morning. If I don't, the one who doesn't show up on time gets a very severe punishment. Got it?" They both nodded before going their separate directions. Ryu had never worked that fast, he was surprised he had gained their trust in only a day's span. Trying to be a leader when your teammates hate you is not pretty. Amazing, here he was a completely anti-social person. Yet, he was a natural leader. A yawn escaped him as he stretched and slowly began his trek back into Konoha to get some sleep. These kinds of thoughts could be put off for now, the Chuunin Exam awaited, as did his target. How he was supposed to know who his target was would be impossible to find out alone, perhaps. He would ask Kakashi after the first exam; sleep came first.