Ch. 7 - Sudden Realization.

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"What's wrong? Afraid of a snake?" Ryu growled and leapt away as the huge beast snapped at him. This was a very unlucky situation.

"Well when it's bigger than my house, yes." A very pale man appeared standing atop the head of the reptilian monstrosity and smirked down at Ryu.

"I had heard about you." Ryu pulled a kunai from his pack, twirled it on his finger, then threw it at him.

"Bet you have, get away from me!" There were few things that really bothered Ryu, but he had never been a snake person. The weapon was flung to the side as if it were nothing. Of course, next to this enormous snake it was almost nothing.

"You don't really have any skill do you?" Ryu blinked at the question and looked up at the man.

"What's that supposed to mean!" The man chuckled.

"You never really beat Sasuke; you only caught him by surprise. The same thing can be said for how you escaped from Gaara of the Desert with your life. You may have a few impressive abilities, but you lack the true skill of a ninja. Only one thing keeps you alive, and that's luck. And why are you so quick to violence?" Ryu growled and lunged forward, completely forgetting about the snake for the moment.

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"Sakura, come with me." Sakura looked up from the small river and over at Sasuke. What could he want?

"What is it Sasuke-kun? Is there something wrong?" Sasuke disregarded the question and lead her away from the river. What they found was an enormous snake much like the one Naruto had fought off. Sakura gasped and stepped behind Sasuke.

"Don't worry I don't think it's going to attack us. But listen carefully." She did as he said and tilted her head in curiosity as she heard muffled guitar chords coming from inside the belly of the beast.

"What is that Sasuke-kun?" A smirk crossed Sasuke's face as he took a step forward.

"The idiot got what was coming to him. Come on." As they approached, the sound got louder. When they were standing next to the snake it was almost deafening.

"I guess when he can't be heard he portrays his feelings through his music." Sakura guessed. It sounded like a good answer. It was extremely loud, even from inside the reptile, and sounded like it was just being thrown together.

"Yes, maybe we should just leave him in there." They heard a muffled cry from inside.

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"Damn!" Ryu dropped the guitar when he felt a burning sensation in his arm, and then growled in frustration when the insides around him contracted and pulled his guitar away. He sighed. Though he hated to admit it, that guy was right. He was no ninja, and he definitely had a lot to learn. Suddenly, he was becoming very hot. The first thing that came to mind was that he was being burned by the acid from the snake. However, from the spastic movements of the creature, he guessed there was another answer.

"Are you okay kid?" Ryu looked forward to see a gaping hole in the snake's side and a very familiar face look at him from it. A few minutes later he had worked his way back out of the snake. At length, Ryu finally spoke.

"I guess I owe you." Sasuke glared at him. Ryu couldn't tell if he was annoyed that he was helping him again or if he was laughing inwardly at the pathetic ninja in front of him.

"You should leave. You don't have anything it really takes to be a ninja. You rely on basic skill and luck. Without proper training and personal ability, you won't pass this exam." Ryu held up the scroll he had taken.

"I got this didn't I?"

"From a bunch of weaklings." Without warning, Sasuke grabbed the scroll.

"But, I'd like to see you try to get it back from me." Ryu growled and balled his hands into fists. He lunged forward and growled again when he fell onto the ground as Sasuke dodged with ease. The would-be ninja picked himself up and made a sweeping motion with his leg. Sasuke dodged easily and sent a fist into Ryu's face. Ryu fell back, grunting in pain as he picked himself up again.

"It was luck that you caught me in that water prison last time. I let my guard down because I believed you were no threat. You aren't a threat, but you are a nuisance." Ryu began to speak when Sasuke vanished. Ryu spun in time to see Sasuke move again.

"Never let the enemy get behind you multiple times. Idiot." Before Ryu could move again he was sent to the ground. Sasuke grunted and let his arms fall to his sides as he turned to leave.

"I was wrong to view you as anything other then a nuisance. You'll never amount to anything. Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of, rookie." The scroll struck Ryu in the face as Sasuke tossed it to him and left with Sakura. Ryu groaned and pulled himself up to a sitting position.

"He's right. I'm no ninja. I'm just a hot-headed teenager with no real purpose." He picked up the scroll, opened it up to take a peek at it, and then tossed it away.

"What was I thinking? What was Kakashi thinking? How could he see me as the only one qualified for the job?" Something caught his attention and he looked up to see Kakashi standing over him.

"The examiner said not to open the scroll until you reached the tower stupid." Not wanting to make eye contact, Ryu lowered his head.

"Like I care? I don't have any reason to be here anyway. What do you want?"

"You aren't a ninja." Ryu glared up at him.

"I know that already. No need to rub it in." Kakashi shook his head.

"No, that's my point. You aren't a ninja. That's why I chose you to take this mission." Ryu looked back over him again, trying not to stare at his lazy eye.

"What the hell do you mean? I'm not even qualified to be a Genin."

"Of course you aren't. It's amazing you have enough Chakra to perform some of those techniques, but you are far from being a ninja. You lack many things a ninja needs, especially discipline. But you are the only one who can take this mission because you are the only one directly tied into the trouble the target has caused." Now, it was Ryu's turn to shake his head.

"What does that have to do with anything? I'm tied to the target, big deal. I don't have the ninja know-how I need to take care of the target."

"The target doesn't have the ninja know-how to be a proper threat. That's why it works out. He is very strong, as are you, but you both lack proper training. Don't worry, I will have Sasuke and Naruto ready to take over should you fail." Ryu growled.

"Damn Sasuke, why does he have to be right about me? For once, I'd like to be able to take care of myself." The idea suddenly struck him.

"Kakashi, I have a question to ask." Kakashi's gaze had wandered away, but he brought his eye back to Ryu.

"Yeah?"

"Can you teach me the true ways of a ninja? I mean, actually teach me. I want to become a ninja! I want to prove that I'm more than just a nuisance. I want to become a ninja!" Kakashi's eye moved in no way, though he smiled inwardly. It was just as he hoped. The young man had serious potential, and needed proper training to become a proper ninja.

"I'll make deal with you Ryu. If you can finish this mission before the second exam ends, I will make sure you get the training you want." That was motivation enough, it sounded like an excellent idea to Ryu. He would complete this mission, no matter what. Because now, he had a strong desire to become a great ninja and wanted to do whatever was necessary to become one.

"Yes, sir. I won't let you down. But could you do me a favor and point me in the right direction?"

"Go back to where you started, you should find some clues there. Just do yourself a favor and keep your temper under control." Ryu nodded and stood.

"Thanks, I'll do my best. You better be ready to train me though, because I'll have this mission complete very soon." Ryu left without another word, as did Kakashi.

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"Iruka." Iruka looked at the old man standing before him. He had been called here for something, what he didn't know yet.

"Hokage-sama?"

"Come sit down, I have something I want to speak with you about." Iruka nodded and sat down at the small wooden table.

"What is it Hokage-sama?" The Hokage sighed and closed his eyes for a moment.

"Kakashi has made a request." Iruka looked at him curiously.

"A request?" He nodded.

"It seems he wants you to do some special training with a new student. He specifically asked for you to take the student." He looked back at Iruka.

"So, will you?" Iruka looked at the Hokage as he thought about it. After a few moments, he nodded.

"Yes, I'll take the student. When will we begin?"

"Whenever he returns from the mission Kakashi put him on." Iruka's eyes widened slightly.

"You mean to say that Kakashi sent an inexperienced ninja on a mission? What was he thinking?" Hokage sighed.

"I don't think he was. That's why you're going to withdraw him from the Forest of Death before he gets killed. I respect Kakashi, but I believe he went a little too far this time. When can you leave?" Iruka blinked.

"I will leave immediately Hokage-sama." Hokage the Third nodded and watched as Iruka left for the Forest of Death.