"Another rainy day...I hate the rain!" A young girl about the age of nine sat on the muddy ground, trying to catch her breath. "Of all days, Sensei picked today to torture us!"

"Stop complaining, Youko!" A boy around the same age as the young girl walked over to her sat down down. "You wanna be a shinobi, right? Well you have to train, and train HARD. No matter if it's rain or shine. I hate the rain just as much as you do but...we gotta just tugh it out."

"Yeah...I guess you're right. But still, sometimes I get so frustrated with myself because I'm so weak..."

"No, that isn't true, Youko! You're the strongest out of us all! I heard Sensei say it himself so so himself when he was speaking with the Hokage."

"...Really?"

He nodded. "Really." He stood, brushed off his clothes and held out his hand to help Youko to her feet. "C'mon...we should get back to our training before Sensei finds us here slacking off..."

Youko firmly grasped his hand and pulled herself up. "Yeah...wait...speaking of slacking off; where's Umino?"

"You mean Iruka? I'm surprised you even know he exists. This actually the first time I've seen you having a conversation with someone."

"His 'reputation' proceeds, to say the least...you know, we've been in the same squad for almost a month now, yet I don't know your name. Kinda silly isn't it?"

He laughed lightly and brushed his silver toned hair from his face. "It's Hatake Kakashi. And speaking of Iruka, what do you think of him?"

"Well...he's alright. I just wish he'd stop hitting on me. Oh well...I guess he just doesn't get it. There's only one guy for me." Youko smiled and walked over to a tree covered in horizontal slash marks.

"Is that so? And who's that exactly?"

"I'm not telling you, Kakashi!" She stuck her tongue at at him and laughed. She then pulled her kunai from out of the tree. Ok...all I have to do is focus my chakra to the bottom of my feet, just like Sensei said... Youko held her hands together infront of her and began to meditate. A few seconds later, a small ring of energy flashed around her feet, then dispersed. This time...I'll go straight to the top. She then charged at the tree at full force and began to run up the side as if she were still on soid ground. It had begun to rain harder and the wind had picked up, considerably. But she still continued to climb higher and higher up.

Youko had nearly reached the top when suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck the tree, knocking her clear off and on a collision course with a large, bulky tree. Whilst in mid-air, she began to focus her chakra to her feet; the tree becoming dangerously close.

She closed her eyes and tried to relax. I've only got one chance to make this work...or I'm a goner. When only seconds away from colliding head-on into the tree, she turned over, feet front, and planted herself firmly onto the side of the tree. When she had opened her eyes, she saw Kakashi looking up at her in astonishment.

"Youko...you did it!"

"I did? ...I DID! I knew I could do it!" Youko jumped down and brushed herself off. "This calls for a ramen party!"

"Well...who's paying?"

A tall man in a Jounin uniform stepped out from behind a tree and walked over to Youko. "I will...you two deserve it. You both have been training very hard and I've decided that you both are in fact ready for the Chuunin exams coming up."

"R-really? No way! You mean it!" Kakashi jumped up and ran up to him.

"Wait, Sensei, what about Iruka? He has to do the Chuunin exam with us also but he hasn't done anything at all!"

"I know that. But the Hokage has made an exception. So it'll be just you two. Iruka is going back to the academy, and will start all over..." Sensei pointed over his shoulder at Iruka who was dangling upside by one foot from a tree.

"That isn't fair, Sensei! I'm way better than Kakashi and Youko! I deserve to take the Chuunin exams!"

"C'mon guys. Let's go get something to eat. You two must be starving..." Completely ignoring Iruka, Sensei turned and walked off. Kakashi smirked in Iruka's direction and ran in behind Sensei.

Youko walked up to Iruka and cut him down. He hit the ground with a thud and screamed in pain. "Damnit! Couldn't you have atleast caught me!"

"Yes...but you deserved it, since you're too lazy to put your heart and soul into becoming a true shinobi. Iruka, you're so talented...yet you don't take seriousness into what you're doing, and...I don't understand why."

Iruka looked away from her and sat up. "I'm tired of trying to prove myself...I give up on being a ninja."

Youko sighed and shook her head. "I'm sorry to hear that. You would've been a great shinobi, Iruka. But none the less, I had fun hanging out with you and Kakashi...well..whenever you were actually around. I guess I'll see you later..." Youko kissed him lightly on the cheek and ran off to catch up with Sensei and Kakashi.

He blushed a deep red and watched Youko and the others until they were out of sight. You would've been a great shinobi, Iruka... Those words rang throughout Iruka's mind while he walked deeper into the forest. "I'll try again...Just for her sake and mine. And this time, I won't fail..."