A/N: Chapter 4 (which is actually the long part I chopped from chapter 3) is here. I wasn't sure whether to skip the travelling and go into the mission right away or take a few chapters and throw some more background into the story. I ended up doing the latter, so it won't be until Chapter 7 that they arrive for the mission (for those who could care less about their backgrounds and just want to get into the action).

KC Evans: First, thanks for the reviews. I rewrote the Katsugan part of Ch. 3 to try and better describe theability as I see it. It's nowhere near as good as Byakugan; it basically amplifies normal vision (see farther and clearer, kind of like telescopic eyes). I was trying to think of good techniques for a ninja archer and vision-related ones seemed to fit.

And as always, please don't hesitate to leave reviews.

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Chapter 4

"The Black Bear"

As the trio reached the dense forests just outside Konoha, they swiftly leapt up and continued their journey hopping between the tree branches. Though the heaviest of the three, Kintarou was moving the fastest and came close to leaving Takeo and Kaori behind more than a few times.

"Hey, Kintarou," Takeo called. "I know you're excited, but maybe we should slow up a bit. You're going to burn yourself out."

"I'll be fine," Kintarou replied with a grin. "Thank you for the concern, though."

"He's just impatient Takeo-kun," Kaori suggested. "Once the adrenaline rush wears off, I'm sure Kintarou-kun will slow down a bit."

"Somehow I doubt it," Takeo sighed.

Speeding through the shaded forest canopy, the group traveled in silence for hours, each apparently lost among their own thoughts. Kaori's usually warm and inviting face was anything but, replaced by a stoic expression and eyes filled with intense determination. She brushed an occasional twig out of her sandy-blonde hair, which danced wildly behind her as she flew. Takeo, as usual, displayed his calm and carefree demeanor, though every minute or so his brown eyes darted around the trio as they traveled. Kintarou, leading the ANBU hopefuls, was smiling ear to ear and displaying unusual grace for someone his size as he hopped between branches.

"It's been a long journey, hasn't it," he said suddenly.

"What?" Kaori asked.

"From when we were all just Genins," Kintarou explained. "It just seems like a long time ago."

"Yeah, I guess sometimes it does," Takeo agreed. "But when you start thinking about it, though…makes it seem like yesterday."

"That's true," Kaori said, her eyes looking off elsewhere as she started to remember her Genin days.

"Yes," Kintarou nodded. "It's been a long and rough journey…"

"Hm?" Takeo replied.

"Oh, I was just thinking," Kintarou said. "Let's keep moving. We should be able to cover a few more miles before noon."

Continuing to contemplate his words, Kintarou soon found himself recalling those eventful days…

(FLASHBACK) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (FLASHBACK)

Amidst the gloomy drizzle of afternoon rain, a crowd of children excitedly hurried outside of the Academy and into the eager arms of their waiting families. Each student found his or her parents and immediately began bragging about their success. Trying to squeeze his way through the mob, a tall chubby boy with spiky black hair waved when he finally spotted the portly woman awaiting him with open arms.

"I did it mom," he said, accepting her embrace.

"I'm so proud of you, Kintarou," she replied. "And on your first try, too. Your father didn't even pass on his first exam, you know."

"Really?" Kintarou smiled.

"Yes."

"Wow," he replied.

"Oi, Kintarou," a boy called. "You want to come celebrate with us?"

"No, thanks," he yelled back. "My mom's here, so-"

"Go ahead, Kintarou," his mother prodded. "I'll be at home when you're finished, making you a special celebration dinner."

Kintarou nodded before hurrying over to join his fellow graduates. He didn't say much, keeping the same serious expression as his mother warmly smiled at him. As he and his friends celebrated, Kintarou found himself wishing he were back at the Academy. He had training sessions to lead for the younger students and felt he couldn't afford the time off. Eventually, however, he settled in with his classmates and began to feel at ease until the time came when the other students had to leave. Sadly, Kintarou rose to head home and meet his mother for dinner. As soon as he arrived and opened the door to their small apartment, the inviting aroma of barbecued pork and grilled vegetables greeted him. Trying to savor the delicious meal his mother had prepared, Kintarou ate slowly as he and his mother spoke about the momentous day ahead. As his mother washed up after they had finished the meal, Kintarou raced off to bed early, anxious for tomorrow to come.

The following morning, Kintarou found himself impatiently waiting with the other students inside the busy classroom to be assigned to their teams. When the sensei finally returned and announced them, Kintarou was less than enthused to learn who he'd been teamed with: his annoying friend, Daisuke, and a shy, auburn-haired girl named Reika, who hardly spoke a word to anyone. As the three of them gathered together to talk, a wiry Jounin appeared before them in a puff of smoke.

"Yo," he greeted, as he adjusted the black bandana around his shaven head. "I guess you three are mine."

"Are you our sensei?" Daisuke asked with disappointment, rubbing his unruly blonde hair.

"Yep," he replied, folding his arms across his green Jounin vest. "Nagara Jun. And you are…ah, Sataki Daisuke."

"Um, yeah," he nervously replied.

"It's an honor to learn under you Jun-sensei," Kintarou bowed.

"Ah, then you would be…Kazumo Kintarou," Jun pointed. "That leaves Hikachi Reika."

The petite girl hidden behind Kintarou slowly raised her hand.

"Excellent," Jun nodded. "Tomorrow morning at seven, in the open field near the Hokage monument…I'll see you there for training."

Before Kintarou or Daisuke could reply, he was gone in another puff of smoke. The three of them stood around for a moment before agreeing to split up for the day. When the sun finally rose the next morning, Kintarou was already waiting beneath the stone faces of the Hokages. His navy blue shirt was moist with sweat as he nervously awaited the rest of his team. When Daisuke and Reika finally arrived, the three sat around together and waited for their sensei. An hour later, Kintarou was losing his patience.

"Where is he?" he lamented.

"Maybe he forgot," Daisuke joked. "He seemed a bit scattered, you know."

"I hope nothing happened," Reika mumbled.

Kintarou angrily stood and pounded a fist into his palm.

"I'm tired of waiting," he exclaimed. "I'm going to see what's keeping him. You guys coming?"

'I'm with you," Daisuke nodded.

"Okay," Reika agreed timidly.

"Yosh!" Kintarou cried as he turned to leave.

"Wait!" Reika suddenly shouted.

Kintarou stopped just before a streaking kunai hit the ground at his feet. He froze as he and the others spotted a hooded man hidden among the leaves in a nearby tree.

"Oi, watch it!" Kintarou shouted.

The man said nothing. Then, in an instant, he leapt from his perch and thrust both arms out wildly. His gloved hands flew open, releasing a half-dozen shuriken that spun rapidly toward the stunned Genin below. Daisuke and Reika were both unable to move, their fearful eyes entranced by the deadly projectiles approaching them. Thankfully snapping out of his paralysis, Kintarou immediately dove and tackled his teammates, knocking them all out of the way. The three hit the ground with a loud thud as the shuriken pierced the soil where they had just stood.

"You okay?" Kintarou managed to ask the other two as they gingerly got up from the ground.

"Fine," Daisuke meekly replied. "W-Who is that?"

"Don't know," Kintarou replied, trying to catch a glimpse of the shinobi's face beneath his oversized hood.

"Do you think he has something to do with Jun-sensei being late?" Reika nervously asked.

"It's possible," Kintarou nodded.

"What do we do?" Daisuke questioned.

Kintarou sneered. "We fight."

The hooded shinobi stood some twenty yards away, still staring at the three with his shadow-covered eyes. Suddenly, he withdrew a second kunai from behind his back and charged.

"Daisuke!" Kintarou said.

"Okay."

Daisuke quickly fumbled through the equipment pouch at his waist until he felt them. With one swift motion, three spinning shuriken were flying straight towards the oncoming attacker. Bringing his kunai up to his covered face, the man easily swatted them away with the edge of his blade. As the deflected shuriken scattered in different directions, Kintarou rushed ahead and prepared to attack with his own kunai. Daisuke and Reika could only watch as the two blades fiercely collided. The sound of metal against metal resonated through the small open field as tiny sparks flew from the force of the opposing strikes. Both Kintarou and the mysterious shinobi were knocked back a bit, but Kintarou recovered immediately and again charged headfirst towards the man. Kintarou blocked a slash attempt and with a loud cry, drove his own blade into the man's shoulder.

"Hah!" he yelled victoriously.

Kintarou's enthusiasm vanished along with the wounded man, who disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving a log in his place.

"A substitution," Daisuke cringed, quickly scanning the area. "Keep your eyes open Kintarou! He still has to be in the area somewhere."

Beads of sweat began pouring down the three Genins' faces. Kintarou carefully pulled his kunai out of the wooden log and joined Reika and Daisuke in anxiously listening and glancing around. The only sounds they heard were the gasps from their own heavy breathing and the pounding from their racing hearts. Then deathly silence filled the air.

"Kintarou, behind you!" Reika cried.

Kintarou spun around in time to see the man diving down upon him from above. He confidently dodged the man's rapid kicks and surprised him by grabbing each of his wrists.

"Got you this time," Kintarou growled, clutching one of the hooded man's arms in each hand

To the shock of his teammates, Kintarou began pushing the man back, and then in one swift movement turned and tossed him over his shoulder. An agonizing groan escaped the hooded shinobi's lips as Kintarou drove his body into the earth, sending out small shockwaves that shook a few leaves off of the surrounding trees. Kintarou collapsed to his knees, panting as he tilted his sweat-soaked face back in exhaustion. Reika and Daisuke ran to congratulate him, but froze as the man rose and quickly seized Kintarou by his collar and lifted the large boy into the air. Kintarou struggled and thrashed about, but the man easily avoided any blows.

"Kintarou!" Daisuke and Reika cried simultaneously.

"Yield if you wish to save him," a muffled voice ordered from within the veil of darkness inside the hood.

Reika and Daisuke glanced at one another and then at Kintarou, who was still trying to break the man's grip on him. Daisuke nervously bit his lower lip as Reika tensely shuffled through her equipment pouch.

"Yield," the man repeated. "Or this boy-"

"Never," Kintarou snarled, glaring at his teammates. "Don't…stop…"

Kintarou roared out in anguish as he clutched the arm holding him up and began to twist.

"Argh!" the man yelled, releasing Kintarou, who hurriedly rolled away.

Kneeling momentarily, Kintarou tried to gather himself. His eyes shot open when he caught sight of a kunai flying straight at the hooded shinobi's back just as the man turned towards him. Kintarou smirked as he caught his gaze, but it quickly faded into a scowl as the man caught the kunai without so much as a glance behind him. Daisuke looked stunned as Reika stood beside him, her arm still extended out in front of her. A small smile spread across her pale face. The hooded shinobi caught sight of her grin and then noticed the glowing talisman wrapped around the handle of the blade. He hastily tossed the kunai away, but not before it exploded and sent him flying. Right on his heels, Kintarou charged and delivered a punishing spear to the man's midsection with every ounce of strength he had left. The man groaned in pain as he smashed into a large tree trunk and then fell in a heap to the ground. Kintarou, Daisuke, and Reika regrouped and stood over him. They trio exchanged joyous nods and smiles, until the man's body vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving a straw dummy in his place. The group turned immediately, only to find a pair of kunai inches from their throats. The hooded shinobi glanced at the three children before slowly lowering his weapons.

"Not bad," he chuckled, removing his hood and tossing it to the dirt.

"Jun-sensei!" Kintarou and Daisuke exclaimed.

Minutes later, as the three rookie Genin were recuperating from the brief battle, Jun began explaining his guise.

"So it was just a test?" Daisuke lamented.

"I'm afraid so," Jun smiled. "But you three did well. Haven't had a team knock me down twice in awhile…well, not me, but my dummy self…you know…"

"But we passed our final exam, right?" Daisuke continued. "Why test us again?"

"Most Academy students know the basics of being a ninja," Jun explained. "But only a few are mature enough and confident enough to use those skills in real life situations. For example, a student may excel at a technique under the safe environment of the Academy, but what happens out in the field? Not everyone is able to duplicate the same feats in the heat of battle as they can inside the school. Others, however, who may have struggled under the pressure of their peers watchful eyes, may perform well under the stress of real-life situations."

Jun winked at Reika, causing her to turn away.

"Also," he continued. "Teamwork is a vital quality in a Genin. You guys are rookies and, by yourselves, know very little compared to a Chuunin or a Jounin. But when you combine your knowledge and strengths by working as a team, your power is much greater. Placing each of the teams in various tests determines just who is capable of it."

"I see," Kintarou nodded.

Jun smiled. "Kintarou, you have natural leadership instincts. Your teammates seem to follow you faithfully and defend you well. And it would appear you've inherited your father's raw power and strength."

Kintarou's eyes widened as he heard him mention his father.

"But," Jun said with a sigh. "You still need to learn to control that strength. You can't simply charge into battle roaring like that. More often than not, it'll get you killed. Daisuke, you showed quick reactions and thinking as well as concern for your teammates. However, your confidence is shaky at best. You too, Reika, though I'm glad to have seen the keen mind and brave face that I'd heard you possessed."

A blushing Reika and grinning Daisuke nodded along with their sensei's criticism. Kintarou, as usual, was still very serious.

"Well, I guess that's enough," Jun smiled. "I'll meet you all again tomorrow."

"Wait, meet us where?" Daisuke stopped him.

"Here," Jun replied. "Sunrise."

Daisuke and Reika nodded and both turned to leave. Kintarou stood motionless and stared thoughtfully at the ground.

"Jun-sensei," he started. "You, you said I had my father's strength. Did you know him?

Jun grinned as he stepped past him.

"Yep," Jun nodded.

Immediately, Kintarou raced over to his sensei and walked beside him.

"Kenta and I were in the same rookie class," Jun began. "Even at 12 years old, your dad could stand up to most of the examiners when it came to raw strength. None of us rookies were even in the same league."

"Wow," Kintarou replied.

"But like I said," Jun sighed. "You two share that strength, and unfortunately, you apparently share your dad's battle strategy, too. Rush in, fight, and fight some more until it's over. Kenta was an expert in Taijutsu and was able to master several Ninjutsu techniques of his own style giving him an edge when he charged into battle. Though you aren't there yet, I could definitely see some of your dad in you."

"Th-Thank you, Jun-sensei," Kintarou responded.

"You still have a ways to catch up with the famous Black Bear of Konoha though," Jun laughed.

"Black Bear?" Kintarou asked with a puzzled look.

"Your dad…thought you knew that," Jun explained. "Kenta was relentless in battle, you know…tick him off and he'd charge at you, maul you, and rip you to shreds…"

Kintarou gulped.

"Not literally," Jun chuckled. "Anyway, because of that, and because of your dad's black hair and beard, most of us started calling him the Black Bear…"

"Wow," Kintarou said awestruck.

"Yep," Jun smiled. "But unlike you, Kenta knew when to take a break from all of this. I've seen your records, Kintarou. For someone barely twelve years old, you've got a hell of a lot of stuff on your plate. All the extra training classes and after school sessions you put in may help you during a fight, but they won't do you any good outside of one. Be a kid for a while. Smile…laugh…you know, as fierce of a shinobi as your dad was, he still had one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen."

Kintarou laughed, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly.

"There you go," Jun nodded. "Keep it up. I'll see you, er…tomorrow, Kintarou."

Jun leapt up and vanished in an instant, leaving a smiling Kintarou alone with his thoughts.

(END FLASHBACK) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (END FLASHBACK)

"The Black Bear, huh?" Takeo smiled. "Hehe…definitely suits you, too."

After the three had stopped for a quick lunch, Takeo and Kaori had noticed Kintarou's unusually silent behavior and quickly prodded him about it until he finally snapped awake from his daze. With a few warm smiles from Kaori, Kintarou happily regaled his teammates with the tale of his first day as a Genin.

"You think so?" Kintarou eagerly asked.

"Sure," Takeo nodded. "We've both seen you fight many times, right, Kaori?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "You definitely act like a wild animal sometimes."

Kintarou grinned. He had heard the same remarks from Daisuke and Reika numerous times as the three grew up together as Genin. It had only made him even more determined to continue his training. Jun had agreed to help Kintarou master control over his strength and had even taught him a few of the techniques made famous by his father. As the years passed and Kintarou was promoted to Chuunin, it was Jun who had also led him on the path to ANBU. Kintarou leaned his head back against the boulder he was resting against and gazed off in the distance.

"Kintarou-kun!" Kaori repeated

'Hm? Oh, Kaori-san, I'm sorry. I wasn't listening," he frantically apologized.

"Ha," Takeo chuckled. "See, I'm not the only one who doesn't."

"Hush," Kaori barked, elbowing him in his side.

"Right," Takeo sighed. "Ready to continue, oh fearless leader?"

'Yes," Kintarou nodded. " Ready when you are, Noppo."

The three speedily cleaned up their things and set off again on their journey. Kintarou continued to lead the pack, all the while thinking back on all the help Jun, Daisuke, and even Reika had given him. And now, he was this close to making all of their efforts pay off. He was this close to joining ANBU and living up to his name as the son of the famous Black Bear of Konoha.

"Oi, Black Bear Cub," Takeo sighed as Kintarou again raced ahead. "Try not to lose us..."

"Right," Kintarou laughed, grinning happily as he always seemed to be.