His eyes opened and he looked around the stark white room. He was alone and he sat up, trying to make sense of the jumbled images in his head. A battle, a bomb, Ryuu dying... RYUU! Shinjo threw back his covers and swung his legs over the edge of his bed. Gingerly he put weight on his feet and groaned and clutched his bound ribs as his body protested his movement.

He stumbled to his door, leaning heavily on it as he caught his breath. He listened to ensure no one was coming and opened his door and slipped out of his room. Shinjo remembered that Ryuu wasn't far and he heard a woman giggle from a few doors down.

He made his way to the room and paused to see a peach haired medic-nin giggling as Ryuu was talking to her quietly as she sponged him. She finished her task and his fingers gripped her chin lightly as he brought her face towards his. Just as their lips were about to touch Shinjo cleared his throat.

The medic-nin blushed and stood quickly to leave the room. As she left, Ryuu glared at Shinjo, "this close, man. This FUCKING close..." He ignored him and walked over to his bed and sat down at its edge, gripping his ribs. Ryuu's eyes softened and he moved over a bit so Shinjo could sit more comfortably. After a minute of silence Shinjo spoke, "did you dream of anything in your genjutsu?" Ryuu thought for a few seconds before replying "you can't dream in a genjutsu. The caster puts you in whatever world they want." "Then why did I 'dream' of our last target as a Ryōshi?"

"Wait...wait... You remember that? Wasn't that the mission that Zuko-sensei died on? But he sealed us so we couldn't crack under interrogation... Goddamn Taki assholes" he finished, his voice getting quieter with each sentence. Shinjo looked at the ceiling before sighing and rubbing his eyes. "I couldn't see all of it but I'm certain it was that mission." "The real question is why are we remembering? Is the seal weakening? Before you ask, no, I can't remove it. It's beyond my skill level. This is Minata's level and I couldn't hope to beat her fast ass..." Shinjo chuckled at Ryuu's frustration; Minata Namikaze had beaten him once and she had died before Ryuu could have a rematch.

"We need to find someone to break it. We need to know what all this means" Shinjo reasoned. "WE don't need to do anything except destroy Kiri, Konoha and Suna. And maybe get laid" Ryuu said. "When do you think you can travel?" "Hmmm Doc said a few more days to fully heal. Why? What kind of asinine plan is forming in your mind?" "Nothing at the moment but just be prepared when we're cleared to go" he said as he got up and walked to the door. Ryuu watched him leave, closing the door behind him, and lay down on his pillows thinking about what they had talked about.

Why were memories trying to resurface? And through a genjutsu? He closed his eyes and let his mind cast back to the First Shinobi War, when they were on the cusp of teenage-hood and working for themselves, the Ryōshi.

"Ryuu!" A tall man with a long black ponytail and shaved sides said as he landed next to a lanky redhead who was twirling his mask on his finger. He fumbled at the sound of his name and his black and red mask fell to the ground. "Never reveal your face!" Zuko said while smacking his head. Ryuu rubbed where he had been smacked and pouted. "Where is Jo?" Zuko asked. "Here, sensei" a strong looking tanned teen said as he gracefully landed next to them. "Report?" "Area is clear. Ryuu has set up the ambush and the battle is flowing nicely into the area" he stated, lifting his purple and black mask so he could see his sensei clearly.

Zuko listened to the battle, the many clans fighting for honour, land and their little fiefdoms, all things Zuko scorned. Why bother to set down roots when shinobi are supposed to be free? he often asked his students.

Ryuu's eyes moved behind his eyelids, almost as if he was watching a movie. Before he could finish this memory, another butted in.

His grip on the borrowed sword was sure and steady and he could feel her arms weakening. She fought hard to push him back but his lanky frame belied a lean strength that was crumbling her defence. She looked at him, pleading with her teary eyes to not follow through, to not deliver the final blow. "Ryuu...please" she begged. His usually warm green eyes were cold and steely and he grit his teeth in determination. "I'm sorry Sinon. I wish you happiness in the Afterlife" he said to the girl he had chased after for two years and whom he had finally gotten to kiss just the other day. Her final word died on her lips as he plunged the blade, down to its hilt, into her chest so forcefully that its tip buried itself in the concrete floor.

He let go of the sword and cradled her lifeless head in his hands, cupping her cheeks and kissing her forehead softly before lowering her body to the ground. He stood and turned to face his last opponent, the one who stood in his way of becoming a Ryōshi: Shinjo.

"So it's down to us, eh?" He asked trying to lighten the situation. Corpses covered the floor and their blood made the floor slick. It was graduation day; after two years of training it was time to test the recruits. Only the strongest, fastest, smartest recruit was allowed to join the ranks and go on missions for the Hunters.

Shinjo twirled his blood covered sword and blew a stray strand of hair from his face. He focused his chakra to his feet and quickly lunged at Ryuu whom disappeared in a cloud of smoke when Shinjo's blade pierced his chest. Skidding to a halt, Shinjo looked around and blocked a hail of senbons as Ryuu leaped down from the ceiling, weaving hand signs and sending flaming ropes at Shinjo. Shinjo cut them down and threw a kunai at Ryuu's head which forced him to dodge. A foot connecting with the back of his head forced Ryuu's face into the concrete floor and he laid there while Shinjo leaped back to give himself defensible space.

Ryuu shakily got to his feet, spitting blood and bits of concrete from his mouth. "I'm out of weapons and low on chakra...just finish this" he panted as he swayed on his feet. Zuko watched closely to see what Shinjo would do. Shinjo hesitated, took a step and stopped before walking slowly over to Ryuu.

He stood in front of him, his sword at his side, and looked at the tired boy in front of him. His mentor and friend for two years and the one person who understood and accepted who he was. Shinjo tightened his grip on his sword and raised his arm. Ryuu closed his eyes and calmly accepted his fate.

Instead of a sword strike that killed him, the sword clattered to the ground and Shinjo's arms wrapped around him. Ryuu breathed a sigh of relief and returned the hug. Zuko smiled, "we have two graduates today. Get them cleaned up and have them report to me later" he said as he left the room.