AN: This is a story based on several songs that I've been listening to over and over in my free time, the most influential being "Cowboy and the Ballerina" by Mitch Malloy. If you haven't heard it, it's a pretty good song. Other inspiration came from various songs on the Bon Jovi CD "Have a Nice Day." Don't worry, I'm not referring to the one that the radios have been sucking the greatness out of. I'm talking about some of the others, feel free to guess.

Also, since this is my first crack at a Naruto fic, I have a few rules for you guys:

Don't expect this to be a great story. I say this every time I try writing for something I haven't worked with yet. I've only on occasion gotten anything close to a poor review, but I still say don't expect greatness.

If you are going to criticize me, have a proper reason. I, like most people, don't have any appreciation for flamers, but unlike some, I will listen to something that makes proper sense.

This is my most important rule. Read it, enjoy it, and then review it. That is my goal, giving you something that you can enjoy, and getting you to review. If that is what you do, you always have my gratitude. And who knows, if you do like it, and ask politely, I may be inclined to update ahead of schedule. By schedule I mean having all current works finished before I go to college.

Well, now that formalities are out of the way, let me first apologize for the long hello, and on with the show.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anything related to it aside from this fic. I do however watch the show. Manga people, don't kill me… please. I'm about to slaughter some names, and probably words too.

Cowboy and the Ballerina

Introduction

Preparation For The Exams

The Leaf Village was the site to several important events that year. Some had already come and gone, others were on their way. But there were two pressing matters at the moment that had to be seen to immediately.

The first was the final preparation for the upcoming Chunin Exams. This exam would determine who would be promoted from the rank of Genin, the lowest of ninja ranks, to the respectable level of Chunin, the middle ground that made up the bulk of the various villages forces.

The Hokage, leader of the Leaf Village sat quietly in his chair, smoking his pipe. All of the arrangements had been made, the exam styles chosen, the proctors selected, and most of the villages had sent their candidates to the village. All that remained was for the hosting village to select its hopefuls.

"Let us begin with the Jonin from the rookie squads," he said, addressing the small group in front of him. They were all instructors of a sort. Senseis and former senseis to the young ninjas who were still Genin. Then, addressing the three Jonin in charge of the rookie squads, he asked, "Do you recommend any of your Genin for the Chunin exams at this time?"

Surprisingly enough, all three Jonin recommended all of their students. Even Naruto had gotten the ok from Kakashi, who was by far one of the most demanding Jonin to ever have a squad.

However, the recommendations didn't go un-objected. Iruka, who had instructed all nine of the rookies in the Ninja Academy had severe doubts. "I know their abilities better than anyone, and I know they are not ready," he protested.

But at the same time, there was the one thing that not even Iruka could argue against. Kakashi's piercing wisdom. "They are no longer your students," he said, his voice as cold as the truth he spoke. "You don't know them as well as you used to. They have all grown up to meet the challenges that ninja face, and they have changed greatly since they last sat in your classroom."

Though Kakashi had been asked to stop, he didn't. He knew what his team was capable of, and in the end it came to a temporary, but personal stalemate. Kakashi challenged Iruka to test any of the rookies in any way he saw fit. If they passed, Iruka would be forced to acknowledge his error and would concede to Kakashi's truth. Despite the outcome of the challenge, the rookies would be given the choice to compete.

The rest of the recommendations came in without protest, or hesitation. Nearly every Genin from the Leaf Village would be participating. It was a show of force that would prove the strength of their ninja. At least, that was what they were hoping for.

"Now that that is taken care of, what of our visitors?" the Hokage asked, looking over to the two young men sitting off to the side. "Would you like to participate in the exams?"

The arrival of the two visitors was the other great event that was going on during the exams. Not long ago, a trading ship had somehow gotten lost on its way to port and sailed straight into one of the unknown corners of the western world. When they finally hit land, they found themselves far from home, and in strange, almost alien territory.

They had stumbled across a new continent. New, that is to their eyes. It was indeed inhabited by people, but other than that, there were few similarities. They had described it to their superiors as a land that never slept, where night could be at times brighter than day, and noise was everywhere. The only real cultural similarities were found in the ninja who lived on this strange continent of light, and even those were very small ones.

In the end, through many long and tiring negotiations, representatives from both the eastern clans and the clans of the western continent came to an agreement. They decided to send two envoys from the west to the east and two more from east to west. The official reason was to promote peace and understanding between the east and west, but both sides knew that there were also several unspoken and unofficial reasons that were better left unsaid, even if both sides were aware of the other's mutual understanding.

The two young men, nearing their midteens, were the western envoys. The first, sitting on a couch, was short compared to the other, and was all muscle. He wore a red t-shirt and blue sweat pants. He clearly didn't know much in the basics of effective camouflage. His entire physique screamed of hours without rest, working to the goal of lifting, throwing, and breaking the biggest, toughest, and heaviest things he could. His long, stringy black hair was tied back in a ponytail and his face dared anyone to make fun of it.

"Sounds like fun," he said in a meaty voice. "Count me in."

The second, was standing and leaning against the wall. His physique had few similarities to that of his counterpart's. Where one was hulking muscle, the other was lean but with a clear definition in his well toned body. His clothing was fairly simple, a somewhat loose black sleeveless and matching pants and boots. His calm eyes took in everything slowly and deliberately. His dark brown hair was cut short, and his chiseled features betrayed nothing. He was only thirteen and he already looked like a skilled shinobi in every way.

"Before I give my answer, let me just say that I know why you're offering," he said coolly. "First, I do understand it is an attempt to make my… colleague and I feel welcome here, and I appreciate your hospitality. However, I also see the other reason for the offer. So far, you don't know what competent westerners can do, so you want us to enter these exams in hopes of seeing what we are capable of. It is a thinly veiled effort but since the only other way is trying to kill us out right, it's the best you've got to work with. So, my answer is yes, for the same reasons you want me to enter. But I intend to enter alone. I don't want any teammates."

"Are you certain?" the old man asked. "These exams are known for their dangers. It is often very, if not extremely difficult for even the best Genin squads to simply survive what is thrown at them."

"That's all well and good," the younger said, "but I don't feel like working with someone I don't trust to watch my back."

"I've gotta agree," the muscular one said. "We're better off working alone and separate from everyone, including each other. It's just the way we were trained."

"Really?" Kakashi said more than asked.

"If you can't trust your comrade, it means two things," the lean one said. "First, it means you can only trust yourself. Second, it means you may as well kill your comrade so you don't go paranoid."

"Very well," the Hokage agreed. "The foreigners may enter alone."

Hinata, of the prestigious clan Hyuga stood quietly on a bridge, looking into her own reflection in the river below. Her sensei, Kurenai, had just told her and her squad mates, Kiba and Shino, that they had been given the opportunity to participate in the Chunin Exams. That had been great news at first, but then Kurenai gave them the details.

"These exams test every aspect of being a ninja," she said sternly. "Combat, knowledge, strategy, and teamwork are all tested to the very limit. There are many unexpected occurrences in these exams, sometimes planned by the proctors, and other times it's a random twist of fate. You must be ready for anything.

"You each have the option to take the exams, but if one of you chooses not to, none of you can participate. Decide carefully and be sure it's what you want."

She could still see Kiba's face, he had instantly gone into one of his primal moments. He was practically licking his teeth. Akamaru had looked equally excited. Shino, of course, had been his usual unreadable self. He hadn't even raised an eyebrow at the news. But deep down, Hinata knew that he would accept the chance at advancement.

That was two votes from her teammates for entering the exam, but Hinata was still unsure. She didn't want to disappoint Kiba or Shino, but she also didn't know if she was ready to take the exams. Despite her special training under her father, and her constant training, she was still the weakest member of her squad. The only thing she was truly useful to them for was her Biakugan, and even that put a strain on her. Despite everything, she was still a failure…

Then, interrupting on her thoughts, she noticed someone coming toward her. He was a young man, barely old enough to be called that, looking like he was in the latter half of his thirteenth year. He was dressed in all black, and was wearing boots instead of the usual combat sandals that most ninja wore and had short brown hair. He was also quite tall, and handsome in a hard, chiseled way.

"Good evening," he greeted her in an almost cheerful manner and with an unfamiliar accent.

"Um… hi," she replied in her normal shy manner.

"Name's Jordan, you?" he said.

"Um… Hinata," was all she could find herself saying.

"Do you mind if I join you here?" he asked.

"Um, sure, I don't mind," she replied.

"Do you say um for a reason, or is it just habit?" he asked.

"Um… well… habit, I guess," she managed, a bit surprised at the question.

"Sorry if I came off a bit rude," he said in a tone that sounded sincere. "I'm an anthropologist, so rude questions are sometimes my job. Not that I ever get used to them myself."

"Oh… That's alright," she whispered. "I um… I wasn't offended."

"Thanks," he replied, then looking at her headband he mentioned, "Y'know, I usually see that around people's heads, not their necks."

"I know, but I ah, like it this way," she replied.

"Then forget I mentioned it," he said. "So, you planning on entering those uh… Chunin Exams?"

"I don't know yet," she said.

"Really, why's that?" he asked. She didn't answer at first. "You don't have to answer the question if you don't want to. I don't mean to barge in on you and start asking a bunch of weird questions… then again, that's my job so I guess I do mean to. Sorry. But you still don't have to answer. We could change the subject if you like."

"No, it's okay, it's just, well… you know… I'm not a very good ninja," she explained.

"Really?" Jordan said with slightly curious smile. "Why's that?"

Why was it indeed? Hinata hadn't asked herself why she was so poor at what she did. But then she remembered what she'd heard time and again from her father, and before she could even begin to stop herself the words tumbled out, "I'm a failure."

Jordan started looking at her oddly. At first with fascination, then skepticism, and finally recognition. After the cycle of faces ended, he bent over the guardrail and started laughing hysterically. When he finally regained his composure, he said, "Sorry, it's just that you reminded me a bit of myself a few years back."

"Wha… what do you mean?" she asked.

"About eight years ago," he began, "I was starting my schooling at this expensive prep school my parents had sent me to. I hated every day there. My lessons never made any sense, and my teachers called me the greatest failure in the school's history.

"Then, about five years back, this legendary alumna came by looking for an apprentice to train. The entire school wanted to earn the title of 'His Apprentice' and I was just as ambitious at the time as any of the older students. A competition was held so he could decide more easily. I managed to do better than the worse, but that was about it. I only did better than the youngest students because I had managed to learn a few things they hadn't, but I was clearly the worse student there despite everything. And after the competition was over, when he clearly had better choices at his fingertips, he chose me.

"The first thing he taught me was the key to the door that was blocking my way. I told him what my instructors had said about me, and he said that they were wrong. 'Failures were never humans, they were a breed all of their own. Infamous for their inaction, and inability to do anything right when actually trying, the Failures were driven to extinction by humans who acted. Today, Failure is merely a term for those who need to work longer and harder than others. Sometimes they must also learn to act. But the important thing is this: Failures don't exist in this world.'

"After that, my studies became my life, and two years ago I was given my first assignment. I pulled it off without breaking a sweat. I've even outdone some of the top graduates at my old school."

By the time Jordan was done with his story it was already very dark out. "Oh my, this late already?" he said, looking up at the stars. "I'm sorry, but I must be going. So much to learn, so little time. Will you be alright alone?"

"Oh, um… yes, thank you," Hinata replied.

"Hope my story was helpful," he said as he walked away.

"Th-thank you," she whispered, knowing he wouldn't hear.

"You're welcome," he called back.

After he left, Hinata went home, and went to bed. At first, she couldn't sleep and kept thinking about Jordan and what he'd said. "Failures don't exist," she repeated his words. But if that were true what was she? Did she really need to work harder than she already was? Or maybe she needed to learn to take action. She knew she was shy, and that it often stopped her from saying and doing a lot of things, but was that really such a bad thing? What was she thinking? It had gotten in her way so many times, but she couldn't help it.

But she could try to change. Hinata decided that she would participate in the Chunin Exams, in the hopes of changing herself for the better.

Before sleep took her that night, Hinata realized one last thing. Jordan reminded her of Naruto… a lot. Not in a hyperactive joker way, but he had seemed so sincere. For some odd reason, Hinata hoped she would see him again after she could finally see the change in herself, if only to let him see what he had helped her become that night.

AN: That's the intro. Heh, kinda long for an intro, don't you think? Oh well, that's what it is. Oh well, please review. Tell me what you thought of it. What you liked, what you hated. And before you say it, I know that I probably misspelled a lot of the names and such, so if you know the correct spelling, please tell me how they're supposed to be spelled so I don't screw up anymore than I already have. Thanks much, and Laters!