Chapter 1 - Welcome To Konohagakure!

WELCOME TO KONOHAGAKURE!


“Where the hell is our sensei, anyway? All the others have theirs!” Naruto complained loudly. Patience never HAD been the orange-clad Shinobi’s specialty.

“He’s an hour late!” Sakura added. That stupid diet I’m on, I haven’t eaten all day! I’m starving

Predictably, Sasuke had nothing to say on the subject. Also predictably, Naruto got fidgety and decided to punish their new teacher. With a devilish snicker, Naruto grabbed an eraser from the dustbin and placed it in the slightly-opened sliding door, near the top. When the teacher opened the door, it would fall right on his or her head. The perfect crime in the eyes of the twelve year old prankster, who began to giggle, while musing that “This is gonna be great! I can’t wait!”.

“Come on, Naruto, grow up!” Sakura commented. Inner-Sakura felt different. Hell Yeah! This is the best! This’ll teach him to be late!

These three were ninja today, for the first time. They were genin, low ranked, or apprentice, ninja. They were waiting for their jonin (a ninja of a very high rank) instructor to show up. They had no idea what the guy was like, aside from that he was horribly late.



Higher up in the auditorium-like classroom, another new genin fingered his new headband, eyes down. He had tucked himself away in a dark corner on top after class. Just sitting in the shadows, he had a lot going through his head. He was vaguely aware there were three others in the room. His mind was in the past. Just the thought made him squeeze the headband tighter. So many of the burdens they call ‘emotions’ ran through him.

I left my dojo six monthes ago…They’ll never understand why. They’re content to get their belts, and their medals, and call themselves martial artists. I want to call myself a warrior. I don’t want to be some Saturday-morning fighter. I’m lucky I’ve found a place that I love…

At this, the boy’s lip curled into a smile. No one could see it under his mask. In fact, you couldn’t see much of him. Fingered black gloves, a gray, chain mail shirt, that had wrist tape around the forearms, an open black vest, and long black gi pants that were taped up at the end. Finally, shoes-wise, he disdained the sandals most wore. Instead he wore tabi boots (Boots with the big toe separate from the others). Finally, he put on the bandanna hitai-ate on over his bushy brown hair and tied it tight. With his eyes half-lidded, and the bags under them, you would think the boy hadn’t slept in monthes. Strictly speaking, that wasn’t far from the truth. Every night, for hours on end, the boy had devoured every scroll, book, or paper on the subjects on Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, or Taijutsu. Every sensei, it seemed, had been questioned about something. Even stranger, the boy had a white scroll of his own. Every time a scroll was laid out in front of him, you could bet that the white scroll would be with it. Detailed notes on everything from striking points on human and animal anatomy to jutsus were added to the ever-growing scroll. Doujutsu, and even bloodlines were recent additions. The Sharingan was a fascinating topic.

The boy looked up, dark eyes, with bags under them (Not to the extent of Gekkou Hayate’s, but visisble), hearing the sliding door being opened. Even his sardonic mind couldn’t deny that it was funny watching the eraser bounce off the jonin’s head. Something about the jonin’s expression, what little you could see, made it hilarious!


Poof.


Kakashi stopped dead, only half in the room, as the eraser bounced off his head.

“Haha! I gotcha!” Naruto declared, pointing at the sensei. He continued to laugh and point at the silver-haired jonin. The jonin looked like he had just woken up.

“I told him not to, sensei,” Sakura said earnestly.

This is our teacher? Sasuke thought. Naruto took the words from his mouth, er, mind.

“You’re supposed to be our teacher? You couldn’t dodge that eraser, how are you going to dodge kunai!” Naruto wondered, laughing loudly.

The sensei finished walking into the room. He stood in front of his students. If he hadn’t been leaning forward, he would have been a tall man. Right now, he was slumped over, and his eyes were half-closed, like he was bored, or almost asleep. When he talked, he almost SOUNDED asleep.

“Based on my first impression…I’d say I hate you guys…” the jonin drawled, half-lidded (visible) eye surveying the three.

The black lines of doom ran down the three student’s faces. Kakashi smiled inwardly, knowing exactly where he would go with this. He didn’t feel hatred for these three, really, he felt a challenge, and even felt that the three might be talented enough to meet the challenge. When he looked up, Kakashi noticed the other boy in the room, away from the others. Apparently, he was hard at work. Making hand signs, while saying their names aloud in a barely audible whisper, then nodded or shaking his head, making rapid notes on a scroll.


“Tora, Ushi,…” The boy stopped upon realized he had garnered attention. He slowly looked up, meeting the gaze of the sensei that had just walked in. This wasn’t one he had met before. For some reason, Ryouko felt that it would be appropriate to at least offer his name. He got up, carefully rolling his scrolls up, and walked down the stairs.

Naruto and Sakura nearly jumped. They had seen this guy around before, but didn’t really know him, except his name from class. How long had he been there? Sakura shot a glance at Sasuke, who apparently didn’t care that this guy had been here so long. Sakura decided she didn’t care either, although something about his eyes made her want to say something.
He looks so sad…I wonder what’s wrong?

tok. tok. tok.
The boy ended his journey in front of Kakashi. Up close, Kakashi realized this boy was new to Konoha. Not only that, he was older than most of the academy students. He LOOKED young, but the way he moved, his posture, and what facial features Kakashi could see said that the boy was roughly fifteen.

“I’m sorry for interrupting,” the boy said immediately, in a raspy tone. He bowed crisply, respectfully.

“I can’t say I’ve seen you around Konoha. My name is Hatake Kakashi, and you are…”

“Kaguya Ryouko,” the boy replied, now standing up. His neck was bent slightly forward, something that came from studying too long every night. He resolved to have a doctor look at it when he found time.

“Isn’t your sensei here yet?” Kakashi asked kindly. I kind of wish I had this one…a hard worker would be great. So far I’ve got a screw-up knucklehead, an infatuated teenage girl, and a moody boy with a nasty past.

Ryouko unconsciously felt his headband. “I don’t have one, Kakashi-sensei. I was the newest in class, and I graduated unexpectedly early, so I was the odd-numbered genin. So, it’s just me for now, no team or sensei.”

Kakashi patted the boy on the head. “Well, you’ll do fine when you get one. What jutsu were you working on up there, anyway?” he asked.

“Dragon’s Ember Jutsu, sensei.” The boy’s reply seemed hesitant, and Kakashi instantly knew why.

“I’ve never heard of that. Is that one you created?” Kakashi made sure his tone was encouraging.

“It is. I hope that’s alright…” Ryouko’s voice still held tones of trepidation.

“As long as you understand chakra, and don’t actually use it-” Immediately, what little you could see of Ryouko’s face reddened slightly.

“You- can already perform it?” Kakashi asked. I already know the Uchiha clan boys can, more information than Sasuke knows leaked out after their slaughter…but this kid can’t possibly use a jutsu, it takes too much chakra. Unless…those two scrolls he had…

“Yes, sensei. I hope I didn’t break a rule or something in the process. It just kind of happened. I was trying a genjutsu, and I switched the ‘dragon’ handsign for the ‘dog’ handsign. It was really late, and I was tired, but I was almost done with that part of the scroll, and I wanted to finish. So, I just kind of stumbled across it by mistake the first time, and I’ve been polishing it for the last three monthes or so.”

Kakashi indicated for his new team to sit down. They seemed suddenly interested. Sasuke did, anyway, which caused Sakura to become interested.



“Would you mind demonstrating it? I’ve never seen someone so young come up with a jutsu, accident or not.” Kakashi angled himself away from all but Sasuke and then raised his headband.

Sasuke turned to look at their sensei for instructions. That’s when he saw the silver-haired jonin lift his headband and-

Sharingan? Is he an Uchiha? I thought all but two of us were dead! What is he? How did he get the Sharingan? Sasuke decided that maybe this sensei WOULD be worthwhile.

Big brother…It won’t be long now…


Ryouko was a little surprised at being asked to demonstrate, but he did so. For someone so young and inexperienced, Ryouko’s handsigns were fast and smooth.

“Dragon’s Ember Jutsu!” he called. He made a striking motion with an open hand in a nukite (palm facing in) jab. From his hand, tongues of fire shot out. It continued until Ryouko closed his hand, which ended the jutsu. It had been blazing, scorching heat, and such intensity. The air, Kakashi noted, wasn’t littered with chakra, as was the case with most genin who didn’t understand chakra control, and wound up wasting a lot of it.
Kakashi was impressed. It seems he’s got a natural talent for this…I wonder just how strong he is…he mentioned genjutsu, let’s see if he can recognize one.


Ryouko saw a swirl of leaves in front of him. Genjutsu…you know this one, it’s that…ah, the “Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique”. Is this sensei testing me? At any rate, I’d better break it. God only know what my mind would conjure up…

Ryouko clasped his hands together. “Release!” he said aloud. The swirling leaves faded, and the classroom returned. Ryouko didn’t drop his guard just yet. Instead, he felt for his forearm. Under a thin layer of wrist tape that was wound around his forearm were throwing needles. These were short and pointed on one end, in that way different than their cousin, the equally-dangerous, double-sided, longer senbon.


Kakashi was surprised that Ryouko threw off his genjutsu so quickly. He hadn’t used anything close to full force, but it was still impressive. As Kakashi was thinking it, Ryouko spoke it:

“I’ve studied almost every night, for hours, usually until three or four in the morning. Every jutsu I could, every exercise I could do, to be stronger, faster, better. It’s not like I have a social life to sacrifice, I left that behind at my old dojo. That’s the only reason I had any clue what was happening. I’m not really talented, I just have no life aside from studying.”

Despite the success, Ryouko didn’t sound happy, and didn’t boast, as Kakashi thought he would.

“I see. Well, the best of luck with your studies, then. If you have questions, feel free to ask me. For now, I’d better take these three out for training.” Kakashi indicated Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, who were all wondering just what happened. Sasuke especially.

The Uchiha clan specialized in fire techniques, and he stumbles across an original one by accident? Sasuke couldn’t help but wonder how, and think that it was a little unfair that someone so new just had a jutsu fall into his lap, no matter how hard he worked.

“I will sensei, thank you. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura- good luck,” Ryouko offered.

“You too!” Sakura said perkily.

“I don’t need luck! I’m gonna be hokage, believe it!” Naruto shouted, standing on a desk, not far from Ryouko. Ryouko smiled just a little. He couldn’t help envy Naruto at times, being so carefree. He envied Sasuke for his natural ability. He didn’t envy Sakura, but he felt warmth toward the kunoichi nonetheless.

“Somehow, I don’t doubt it, Naruto.” Ryouko gave a small wave over his shoulder before walking back to his spot at the top of the classroom.




About two hours later, Iruka was walking by the classroom. It was starting to get dark, and part of his job was making sure that everything was locked up. He uttered a small sound of surprise/curiosity upon seeing a classroom door open, and a light on.

Who would be here at this hour? It’s almost 7:00, the academy has been out for four hours!

Iruka walked in, a kunai at the ready, just in case. Though why a robber would be going through a classroom, or what a spy would be looking for, was beyond him. Upon seeing who was occupying the classroom, Iruka put the kunai away. He wasn’t surprised. He had heard stories about Ryouko, studying on rooftops, or at home, through all hours of the night. But he didn’t believe it. No student would work that hard. Unless his encouragement had sunk in?


“Ryouko?”

At the word, Ryouko looked up. “Oh, hi, Iruka-sensei. I lost track of time, do you need me out of here?”

Iruka couldn’t help but smile. “You just graduated this morning, you aren’t sick of the place yet?” Iruka joked.

Ryouko shrugged. “I’ve got no place better to be, sensei. Besides, this is fascinating stuff.” Ryouko indicated the scrolls in front of him.

Iruka walked up to where Ryouko was sitting. He looked at the scroll Ryouko had written, it’s size and contents impressive, and even moreso upon considering that this was the new kid in the village.

“It was strange…are most new genin unable to do jutsus?” Ryouko asked suddenly, thinking of the silver haired Jonin. Hatake…Kakashi, that was it.

“Huh? Why do you ask?” Iruka wanted to know, still looking at the scroll.

“Well, this jonin…Kakashi …I showed him one of my jutsu, and then he tried a genjutsu on me, so I-”

“He used a genjutsu on you?! Are you alright?!” Iruka was going to have to talk to Kakashi about this. Students aren’t guinea pigs, Kakashi! What would Lord Hokage say? Not to mention testing that technique on a brand new genin!

“I’m fine sensei, the “release” technique worked. It’s just…he seemed surprised that I had created a jutsu, and that I could use it. Is that uncommon, or wrong? Did I break a rule or something?” Ryouko asked. There was no panic in his voice, but his eyes were more alive. The first week he had been in the academy, Iruka thought the kid would be a failure. He certainly LOOKED asleep. But he had turned out to be one of the most hardworking, applied students, and was compared to Hyuuga Neji by other instructors. Most agreed Neji was better, but that Ryouko had potential. He had graduated tied for second in the class (with Haruno Sakura), second only to Uchiha Sasuke. For only six months of studying, that was an impressive feat. Not quite as impressive as Naruto graduating period, but still.

But if he’s creating jutsus…I should see this, to make sure he’s not hurting himself.

“It’s kind of rare for someone so young and inexperienced to create a jutsu. How about showing it to me? I’ve got to meet Naruto in a few minutes, but I’d like to see this jutsu.”

Ryouko got up and made the handsigns, faster than last time. Once again, he called it:

“Dragon’s Ember Jutsu!” Ryouko made the striking motion. This time, though, his thoughts were on training. Last time you held the jutsu for ten seconds…let’s try fifteen…next time, 30 seconds…

Iruka watched the stream of fire come out of the boy’s hand. He didn’t seem to be hurting himself, and he was only showing slight fatigue. He’s got great chakra control…and that scroll of his would have taken two years to complete! The stories must be true about his studying. It’s rotten that I have to tell him the bad news, especially when he’s worked so hard.

“That’s really impressive! Listen, Ryouko, I would have told you this at the ceremony tomorrow, but since you’re here…There aren’t any jonin or chunin available to be your sensei. I’m not sure what Lord Hokage will do with you, but you won’t have a team…probably for some time…” Iruka didn’t want to tell Ryouko this, and knew he Ryouko didn’t want to hear it. He looked Ryouko right in the eyes when he said it, to see the genin’s reaction. There was no change. Ryouko’s expression hadn’t revealed anything.

“Will I get any missions?” Ryouko questioned.

“I’m not really sure, we haven’t had a situation like this before. Why don’t you ask for an audience with Lord Hokage? Just give him this (A small scroll) and tell him you’re a new graduate, okay?”

“Okay, sensei. See you at the ceremony tomorrow,” Ryouko said. He rolled up his scrolls, then looked up again. He had meant to ask this during class, but had forgotten in his semi-excitement of passing his finals.

“Sensei, do you have any notes on chakra control I could borrow?”

Iruka gave an encouraging smile, showing why his forte was teaching. I can’t wait to hear what Kakashi thought of him.

“Sure. Hold on a second, I’ve got one in my desk,” Iruka rummaged through a drawer, finding a diagram and an accompanying scroll.

“Thank you. I’ll have it back to you by tomorrow, hopefully,” Ryouko said, bowing to Iruka, then leaving the room, absent walking down the corridor, studying the sheet as he went.

Iruka shook smiled a little. Just the opposite of Naruto. But, interesting. Chakra control, huh? Seems like he can control it just fine, at least at a genin level. He’s still a little wasteful with his chakra, and he doesn’t have the biggest amount to draw from. But still, he’s really made good strides in such a short time. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t go far. With or without a sensei, though I don’t doubt he would benefit from one’s advice.

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