Difference

HUGE AUTHOR'S NOTE

Well, here's the deal. I've decided to post the rest of the chapters that I was working on for some time. I was going to finish the story and then post the first chapter but I was way to anxious to see how it would do. I found out that my character is a Mary-Sueish girl. Thus, I have decided to edit and make adjustments. So basically I'm going to take down the story in a week or so. This is your LAST chance to read the original. So after a week, you'll be able to read the hopefully IMPROVED version of Difference. The storyline will change a bit and character traits may change as well. I really can't go into detail. The title will also stay the same. So I have to say, thank-you to all that helped me along this journey. I hope that I shall give readers more enjoyment than this story. Well, thank-you so much!

HUGE AUTHOR'S NOTE

A few months had passed for Team B. Sierra had developed more skills and could handle her Sharingan. Toro had become increasingly proficient in genjutsu. As for Derno, what can you say? He was loud as ever. Speaking for his talents, his defense became almost impenetrable and his attacks became superb.

"Orikawa-sensei, I have a request that I need to ask of you," Toro replied one day after training.

"What is it?" Orikawa asked, wondering what Toro would need of him.

"It's nothing you have to do. I would just like to go out into the country for a few weeks. When Sierra always leaves, she becomes stronger. So, if it's okay, may I take leave of training for a while?" Toro asked.

Orikawa sighed and replied after a few minutes of silence, "Toro, you know it's still dangerous outside Sebir."

"I know…" Toro mumbled but then asked with determination, "If the Chuunin exam is really coming up, I need to become stronger!"

"Then you know…" Orikawa spoke and placed his hand running through his tangled hair, "Well, if you really would like to, I suppose you can. Just try not to abuse the privilege of being able to go out of Sebir's borders freely. We are one of the very few villages that let their inhabitants to travel. However, you must come back in three weeks."

Toro smiled and nodded, "Oh, by the way, I'm pretty sure Sierra already left because she knows about the Chuunin exam as well. So, don't be surprised if she's not going to be at training."

"WHAT!" Orikawa yelled.

Derno looked around and frowned, "Everyone's left. I wonder what I can do?"
"Yo," Orikawa appeared in front of him and waved, "Well, I suppose you know that your other two teammates have left and gone traveling."

Derno nodded and looked to the side.

"Which is why I need to tell you to do the same," Orikawa replied.

With a shocked face, Derno asked, "But—why?"
"Well, usually when a shinobi travels to other lands, they can find their competition and learn how to counterattack their attacks. Also, you may meet new people that may help you to become ready for the Chuunin exam," Orikawa answered and smiled back to Derno.

"Chuunin exam?" Derno asked confused what it was.

Orikawa slapped his face and muttered something inaudible, but clearly concerned Toro and his explanations, "Don't you want to become a Chuunin?"
However, by the time Orikawa asked, Derno was halfway down the road going to pack his clothing, food, and whatever he needed to travel.

"Excuse me, do you know this man?" Sierra asked to a traveler, pointing to a picture of a man in vagabond's clothes wearing a sword. He was covered in bandages and muscular.

"He just past this village a few days ago, miss," the foreigner replied, pointing to the direction in which he left.

Sierra sighed and wrapped up the scroll with the picture of the man, "Thank-you."

She began running in that direction and spoke out loud, "This is going to take a while. I only have three weeks to do this."

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO PACK!" Derno yelled out of frustration, looking at the pile of clothes, food, and weapons.

He suddenly dropped and laid on his back, "I wonder where Toro and Sierra are…"

"Excuse me," Toro replied and politely tapped a woman's shoulder, "Which way is the Village of Konoha?"

"Follow the trail on the right, and I'll make a guess that it's about ten miles from here. Are you training for the Chuunin exam?" the foreigner mysteriously asked.

"Why yes, actually," Toro replied, however concerned as how the person knew, "How did you know?"

"When I was a jounin, I allowed my subordinates to travel around to prepare for the Chuunin exam," the jounin explained, "There's a famous dojo here. Why don't you go and try it out? I guarantee you that you may find an opponent there or an accomplished master."

Toro thought about it and replied, "Why not? I wasn't sure what I was going to do in Konoha anyways. Where's the dojo?"

"Right behind you, actually," the foreigner replied.

"So, tell me, Sierra, what brings you here?" a wheezy voice asked.

Sierra spoke, breathing heavily between words, "Was that some kind of test to try and let me track you down?"

The wheezy voice laughed and took off his bandages. Underneath the bandages was a heavily scarred body over what would be a handsome and muscular body, "So you've finally mastered the Sharingan—a bit slower than Uchiha Sasuke."

Sierra stared hard into the unreadable eyes and replied, "He's alive, Makoto-sensei?"

"I thought you would already have found out. You do realize he is this year's number one rookie," Makoto explained.

"I could care less about his placement, even if he ranked dead last," Sierra explained and spat to the side. She sped quickly to her master and began an attack.

Makoto sighed and replied, "You know, if you were a bit more ladylike and tried to fix up in the morning, a lot of boys would like you."

"WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH NINJA TACTICS?" Sierra screamed and punched Makoto.

With ease, Makoto dodged the punch and kicked her in the stomach—making her go to her knees and clutching her stomach, "Your defense is poor. I think I have an idea of what I should work on with you at the moment. I just spoke with the Hokage earlier this week, and I know who will be contending. I'm not going to tell you who they are but you should have a pretty good idea. Also, don't depend on your Sharingan. There's more bloodline techniques in there too—so don't get cocky."

Still clutching her stomach, Sierra winced and asked, "What are they?"

"Well, there's the Byakugan," Makoto began but realized he was giving out too much information, "That doesn't matter. Anyways, I'm going to help you release your own Byakugan."

"It's my father's side, isn't it?" Sierra asked with a slight mournful tone.

Makoto sighed and realized what she must be feeling, "Yes, it is."

Toro stepped into the dimly-lit dojo. The only visible light came from candles in a dark hallway.

"Go forward," the mysterious person responded, "At the end of the hallway, you'll see the training room."

"Who's the master here?" Toro asked, wondering if he was walking into a trap.

"You'll see," the person answered, smiling mischievously.

Toro sighed and decided to follow the instructions. At the end of the hallway was a large room. There were several people that seemed to be monks due to the constant chanting. Their faces were hidden due to the oversized cloaks they wore.

"The master is sitting up there," the person pointed out. The master was the largest person there. His cloak was extremely enormous, and he was the only one not chanting.

"Welcome, Toro," the master greeted.

"How did you know my name?" Toro asked, worried that he had just walked into an ambush.

"You're not in an ambush, and I have been expecting you for some time. You're very cautious for someone so young," the master answered and began his speech again, "However, caution should be used very often when you are in the Chuunin exam—especially in the forest. That is where caution should be used the most."

"The forest?" Toro asked.

"You'll find out later," the master replied and snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, Toro saw the people who had spoken chants had risen and stopped chanting. The room became silent in an eerie way.

"I would like to test your skills—taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu," the master replied and ordered a person on the left of Toro to commence.

The person that was ordered threw his cloak to the side. With a smug look on his face, he greeted Toro by saying, "My name is Makawa, the person who will test you on taijutsu."

Toro bowed and went into his fighting stance, "So tell me, what level are you for a shinobi."

"I would be a jounin," Makawa answered without any signs of emotion, "Thus, I would expect that you must defend yourself."

"Don't worry, I'll survive if that's what you're thinking," Toro replied.

"I like your attitude," Makawa replied and sped as quickly as lightning towards Toro.

"I FINISHED PACKING!" Toro yelled out of glee and sped towards the borders of Sebir.