V 2 ch 5

Trust

He breathed hard, panting. His sensei wasn't anywhere to be found. For a moment, he wondered where his other teammates had gone. That's just like them. It's bad enough they don't like me. We're supposed to be working together. Ryu slid down against the back of the tree. He crossed his legs as he sat on the branch.

He touched his forehead with his hand. He was having a lot of trouble catching his breath. Ryu shook his head trying to clear the star lines from his vision. Their training exercise for the day was to find Sasuke outside the village and retrieve successfully. The training exercise was supposed to teach them teamwork, trust, tracking, and strategy. Ninja were supposed to be like shadows – neither seen, or heard.

Ryu was bitter at being deceived by his teammates. They had instructed him to check out an area while they formed a plan. Hideki and Mia had told Ryu that they had tracked Sasuke to a specific hideout and wanted him to keep an eye on their sensei. Stupidly, Ryu had fallen for it. His two teammates were gone and now he was the one in trouble.

Mia and Hideki, more than likely, had came up with a good tale to tell Sasuke so they wouldn't get in trouble. He didn't trust them. Ryu was fed up with all of it. He wanted to quit and bail out of the team. He looked off into the distance at the clouds through the trees. It was getting late. It was bad enough he was practically lost. Sasuke is going to lecture me to no end. What good is it when you can't trust your own teammates? Man, what is my mother going to say? Ryu closed his eyes. He felt worthless.

Sasuke looked down into the abyss below him. His arms were crossed as he kept an eye on his student. A few hours ago, he had learned from Hideki and Mia that Ryu had departed the group and given up on the exercise. However, by watching Ryu, he had found out that that wasn't the case. His student was fatigued – that told Sasuke Ryu had tried to do the exercise by himself. He was highly concerned about Ryu's self blame. It was starting to weight the boy down immensely.

Ryu stood up, angry with himself for being tricked by his teammates. He was fuming at the core. Teammates were supposed to work together; be there for each other – like friends. His teammates were more like his enemies. They hated working with him and found any reason, or form of trickery, to avoid him. Ryu turned around, punching the tree with all his force. The bark cracked as he winced in pain. His knuckles were bleeding. "What did I do to deserve this? What did I do? Huh?" Ryu looked at the twilight clouds, yelling to the top of his lungs, anger seeped into every word, "Am I not good enough to be like you? Maybe I don't want to be! Have you thought about that? I'm tired of being compared to you! I'm not you!" Ryu laid his head on the tree, closing his eyes. "I'm not you, Kakashi," he said softly.

He's blaming himself, again. And he's angry at his father for setting the stakes so high. It's not wise to let him know I'm here yet. Ryu might feel ashamed if he knew I heard all of that. I just need to keep an eye on him. I'll let him know I found him after he cools off. Sasuke sat down. He needed to get advice about Ryu. Teams were decided by the Hokage. In saying so, it was Naruto who could give him insight to why Hideki and Mia had been paired with Ryu. He sighed. I owe it to Kakashi to do everything I can for Ryu.

Ryu moved his gaze to a tree off in the distance. Someone was there. He stood up, his hands clenched. Whoever it was must have heard him yelling. Great. If it was either one of his teammates, Ryu would be the laughing stock of the whole village. "Hideki, or Mia – if that's either one of you, I'll kill you," he said angrily.

"Ryu, we have to talk," Sasuke said as he showed himself. "I know they ditched you." He watched as Ryu turned his back on him.

"I don't want to talk about it," Ryu said as he heard Sasuke get closer. "I don't want to be in this team anymore!" His fists were clenched.

"Ryu, listen to me, for once! I'm trying to help you overcome the problems you have, but I can't guide you if you don't tell me what path you're on," Sasuke said as he tried to talk some sense into the boy. "I refuse to let you wallow in self-pity. You have to be stronger than that, or everything is going to get at you and destroy you!"

Ryu didn't turn around. "I don't know what path I'm on, Sasuke sensei. It keeps changing under my feet. The more I try to stay on one path, the more I get thrown. No one tries to see the paths I'm on – why are you noticing them?" He looked behind at his sensei.

"The ones that don't see something, are too blinded by their own goals, Ryu, or simply put, they don't care. I see the struggles you are having because I've gone through them, too. I understand how unfair it is to be thrown off your feet when you have to keep regaining your balance."

"Then what is the point of trying to stand up? Answer me that, sensei. Why bother if it's not possible," Ryu said feeling like he was running out of options.

"It is possible, Ryu, but you're not letting anyone help you. I can only hold out my hand. I cannot make you take it. The foundation is crumbling under your feet because you're not stable. Whether you realize it or not, you let your mind control every aspect of your life. Plain and simple, you think too much."

"What else is there to rely on," Ryu said defensively. "My teammates want nothing to do with me. I have no one who'll listen to what I have to say and I'm never taken seriously."

Sasuke hopped to the branch Ryu was on. He stood behind him, watching Ryu's posture. His posture told Sasuke Ryu didn't have any confidence or faith in himself. "Why do you think I'm out here? If I thought you were a waste of existence, I defiantly wouldn't be here, at this hour, trying to talk some sense into you."

Ryu didn't like how personal this was getting. He wanted to keep his problems his own. Yet, he knew if he did that they wouldn't go away. It seemed all of his troubles were molding together. He didn't know what to do. Why was Sasuke trying to help him? He didn't understand.

"I can't make you stay in the team, Ryu. If that's your decision, then I'll have to replace you," Sasuke said. He wanted the boy to keep fighting – to realize what he was saying. Ryu wasn't giving him a decisive answer. "Come on, we need to head back."

"I can get there by myself," Ryu said not wanting to be led like a child.

"Then lead the way, smart alike. Which way is it," Sasuke challenged. He watched Ryu point off to his left, not looking at him. Sasuke exasperated. "Wrong, Ryu. That's how you get to the Hidden Sand Village. We live in the other direction."

Takeru worked on his homework in the family room. He was lying on his stomach, concentrating on the material he had to know. In a few months were the finals. He wanted to do well so his father would be proud of him. No one really knew what the finals were going to be on. When his father was his age, he had to perform the Shadow Clone Jutsu to pass. Times had changed since then.

The Sixth Hokage made the finals harder, in order, to prepare the students for the unknown challenges ahead. They had to pass a written exam that tested them on their knowledge of other countries and basic strategy techniques. Not only was the written exam hard, but Takeru had to perform three jutsus of his own choosing. He didn't know which was worse: having to perform three jutsus successfully, or having to do them in front of the Hokage and Kurenai sensei. Takeru felt overwhelmed. He flopped onto the floor.

Izumi looked over at her son. He seemed to be stressed over the material he was learning. "Takeru, just do your best. You'll get there." He groaned. "You're such a funny kid. Sasuke's been helping you at night. Try not to worry so much."

"It's nerve racking to do anything in front of Kurenai sensei," Takeru said. "How am I supposed to do all of this in front of Naruto, of all people? If I mess up, I won't pass."

Izumi whispered something to Onari. The girl tilted her head trying to figure out what she was learning. Izumi pointed to Takeru smiling. She lightly pushed Onari towards Takeru's direction.

Onari slowly crawled over to the boy lying on the floor. She tilted her head a few times. What was she supposed to say to him again? Onari glanced at Izumi who was waving her hands at her. She lay on the floor beside him. He couldn't see her. "Ta.. ke.. ru, do your best," she said, hoping she said it correctly.

Takeru turned his head. Onari was looking at him. He blushed. "Mom, you made her say that." Takeru reached up, poking Onari's nose. A thought occurred to him. He sat up quickly. "I have an idea!"

Onari scampered back, her heart racing. What happened? She looked around wildly, half-expecting someone else to be in the room.

"Takeru, you scared her," Izumi said as she wrote onto a scroll, in order, to help Onari learn their language.

"Huh?" Takeru looked at Onari who was looking at him wildly. "Sorry, Onari."

"What is your idea," Izumi asked as she drew a flower on the scroll. She was hoping Onari would learn through pictures and do well. It was going to be difficult getting pronouns across to her.

"If dad wants Onari to train, why don't I teach her what I know first? Then when she gets more advanced, he can train her with me?" Takeru was proud of his idea. He could use Onari as a study partner to help himself with techniques and also help her, in return.

"That's a really good idea, Takeru," Izumi said proudly. "Do you think Onari trusts you enough to be alone with you?" She looked at him. Takeru sulked. "You won't know unless you try to get her to respond to you."

"Onari only hangs around you and dad. She looks at me like I'm fixing to attack her, or something," he said. "Kind of like how she is now."

Izumi laughed. "Takeru, you have to trust her first, before she'll trust you. You're standoffish towards most people. The reason she looks at you like that, is to know what your intentions toward her are. You have to understand that we're the first people she's been around constantly like this, since her parents died. Just try with her. Don't get disappointed so easily."

Onari tilted her head. She understood little of what was being said. Takeru was unhappy about something. He seemed to be troubled by her. She kept hearing her name. "Boy no like Onari."

Takeru instantly met her gaze. Onari said it like a true statement. There was no hesitation in her voice, no emotion. She went strictly to the point. "Onari, I don't dislike you. You're just hard to understand."

"Onari no understand boy," she said as she pointed at him. She couldn't help it if Takeru hardly knew her. The boy was gone during the day and spent most of his afternoons training until dinner. They weren't around each other a whole lot. She spent most of her time with Izumi.

Takeru narrowed his eyes. Was this girl accusing him of something? She's just like all of the other girls I know. He got up. "Just forget it. I don't want to train with you," he said putting her down.

Onari stood up at that. She heard the defiance in his voice. Body language was everything to her. Actions were the most essential to a person who didn't understand language very well. She narrowed her eyes back at him. This boy was something else. He acted like he wanted to be around others, but was putting up a line of defenses to ward everyone off. They were both alike, and yet, different regarding the same issue.

"If you want to say something say it – if you can. I know you know more than you're letting on," Takeru said bitterly.

"Onari not know words," she said with anger.

"Try me, then," Takeru said. "I'm more intelligent than you think I am. I can figure out what you mean." He watched her stare back at him with no facial expression.

"Takeru afraid Onari know more than Takeru. Onari not stupid! Onari big learner! Onari learn more than Takeru," she said aggressively.

"Are you challenging me? You are, aren't you? You think you can take me on, foreigner? I train at the Academy with others and with my dad every day. You train with no one."

Izumi knew about Onari's abilities. Sasuke had confided in her about what had happened during the winter when they had brought Onari back. It often wasn't wise to challenge an opponent without tricking the person into showing their skills, or by using observation. Takeru was going to have to learn to control his anger. "If you two are going to fight, take it outside."

"You heard mom, Onari. You want to challenge me, then say it. I have no problem fighting a girl," Takeru said.

Onari turned her boy sideways, keeping her eyes meeting Takeru's. He was serious. She lifted her hand and waved, issuing for him to come at her. "Onari challenge Takeru."

"Thanks, Hinata," Sasuke said as he took the cup of tea off of the tray.

"You look stressed, Sasuke. Are your students giving you trouble," Naruto asked.

"One in particular is, but I don't think it's entirely his fault," Sasuke said sipping the tea. It was relaxing. He let his posture go. Naruto and he weren't exactly formal with each other. They had known each other too long.

Naruto blinked. "I'm going to take a wild guess and say it's Ryu."

"Naruto, why did you put Ryu with Hideki and Mia? And why have me train him?" Sasuke looked at his best friend seriously.

"So I take it Ryu isn't doing well," Naruto said laying his cheek against his hand. "I wanted him to be motivated, but I see that's proving to be difficult for you, Sasuke. I'm sorry. I have been watching his progress since he was at the Academy and he's always slacked off. In a way, it reminded me of myself, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Chouji. I was really hoping that if he found the strength in himself, that he would try harder."

Sasuke shook his head. "Actually, Ryu tries what he can with what he has to work with. He is often alone on the exercises because his teammates ditch him. At first, it wasn't like that. They did work together, but as time passed, they started to go their separate ways. Right about the time that I got leaked out who Ryu's father is."

"I honestly wish I knew who let that slip. I know Kurenai wouldn't have said anything to a student about it. That's personal information. Parents shouldn't reflect their children, but as it is, they do whether they are alive, or dead," Naruto said aiming some of what he was saying at himself and Sasuke.

"Ryu wants to bail out. I overheard him practically cursing Kakashi this afternoon. He's so burdened by what others think about him, that it controls his motivation and defenses. I don't, honestly, know what to do for him. I've tried to talk to him – even offer a helping hand, but he rejects all of it." Sasuke sighed.

"Maybe it isn't your hand he wants. You're an adult. We ought to know from experience, Sasuke, that kids don't trust adults so easily. That's very apparent with Ryu."

"So what are you suggesting, Naruto? You want me to give up on Kakashi's son? I owe that man my life," Sasuke said regrettably.

"No, I'm not saying 'give up'. We need to find a different outlet for Ryu; and also a different strategy. It seems he doesn't have any interest in training for himself. I wonder how he would fair if he was responsible for others? It's not easy growing up and it's about time Ryu got a rude awakening." Sasuke only looked at him. "This is my plan for Ryu: Continue to train him as if he's part of the team, but once the Academy exams are over in a few months, demote him – hold him back."

"Demote him," Sasuke repeated.

"Yes, I'm fixing to change things with the teams. There's always room for improvement. Instead of you, Shikamaru, Lee, and Kiba having full responsibility, I'm going to let you guys train, but at an angle."

Sasuke didn't understand. "I don't see what you're getting at."

"Are you serious? Your grades were always better than mine! Don't tell me your mind has gone sappy like an old man's," Naruto said laughing.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Naruto, get to the point," he said annoyed. His eye twitched.

"Alright. I've came up with this idea. There will still be trainers for training purposes and exercises; but there is also going to be a team leader for each team. I won't pick the leaders. That will at the sole discretion of the trainer. The student can be the strongest out of the group, or the weakest. You guys need to use your judgment on this.

Obviously, your job is to prepare the students for missions and to work together. I want the students to respect each other and be close. If they cannot, at least, get along with every student on each team, then there is no bond. As Shinobi, they need to trust each other. It's what holds the village together – it's what holds all of us together – like a large family."

Sasuke looked at the floor. "Isn't that how the Fourth Hokage viewed his position and everyone under him?" Naruto nodded. "So you do listen."

Naruto smiled. "If Ryu won't protect himself, or his current teammates, then we'll simply change his perception a bit. It will take some time for him to learn how to interact with others, but it will be worth it. He won't be fighting his demons alone; Ryu will even be helping others with their own."

"I see. So we're going to increase the emotional burden on the kids. I wonder if that's wise," Sasuke said.

"Nothing is a burden if it's for someone you love, Sasuke," Naruto said. He turned his gaze away, and then sipped some tea. "In fact, it's only an obstacle. By overcoming their obstacles with each other, they will gain something much more important – something we cannot teach, or force."

"Trust in each other," Sasuke said, understanding.

"Exactly."

A young boy with blond spiky hair and white eyes burst into the room. He stopped short. He was awfully excited. "Dad! Guess what jutsu I learned to do," Masaru exclaimed.

"Oh, so you've been practicing! I was wondering why I haven't seen you in a while. It's great that you're trying really hard! So which jutsu did you master," Naruto asked.

Sasuke turned around and looked at Masaru the moment he said 'The Sexy Jutsu'. He spit out the tea he was sipping. "Se-Sexy Jutsu?" It was the same technique Naruto had used in front of the Fourth Hokage and Iruka sensei.

Masaru heard the spewing of tea. He noticed Sasuke at that point. His eyes became as wide as bowls. "Ah! You didn't say Uncle Sasuke was here!" He turned on his heels and fled the room.

"Eh-heh. What's wrong, Sasuke," Naruto asked as Sasuke came within a few inches of his face.

"Naruto.. You've been teaching that boy that technique? You pervert," Sasuke said putting his friend in a headlock.

Naruto coughed as he put his hands on Sasuke's arm to try and lighten the choking. "Sasuke, it's just a joke! I didn't think he'd actually go do it!"

"That's not the point! Here you are giving me advice and you turn around and act like a pervert," he said as he started to choke him more.

"I'm the Hokage! You're not supposed to treat me like this," Naruto said complaining.

"I'm telling Hinata," Sasuke said as he let go. He was instantly jumped by Naruto as he tried to leave the room. "Get off of me, you pervert!"

"Don't tell Hinata! She'll make me sleep in the office! It's cold in there at night! Have mercy, Sasuke! I'll tell him not to do it," Naruto said pleading.

"If I promise not to tell, will you get off of me?!"

"Yes," Naruto said his body pinned to his friend's. "I'll get off and even do whatever you ask if you don't tell Hinata!"

"I promise not to tell on you," Sasuke said annoyed as hell. Geez..He hasn't changed. I can't believe he would even tell Masaru about that. Naruto got off of him. "I'm going to go and pretend this never happened." Sasuke left rolling his eyes.

"Thanks, Sasuke," Naruto yelled after him.

Sasuke scratched the back of his head. "Whatever." He's so annoying. I'm glad Izumi doesn't act like that. Or anyone else, for that matter.