alchemest1

General ideas:

-Ryouko portrayed as the villain, putting him under suspicion.

- Ryouko buys time for the others to catch the real assasin, nearly dies. Retreats to mountains with his student.

-Ryouko's student is murdered/vegetable, Ryouko's sanity questioned

-Ryouko and Kiba form opposing teams to find the security threat to the village. (Team composition: Kiba, Wolf, Kyno vs. Ryouko, ???)

-Kiba and Ryouko have their showdown, ending in 'death' for both, though Ryouko survives.

-Ryouko creates a jutsu to revive Kiba

Sure, I'll write something up and post it on your profile.

I like that. Ryouko could have a grudge against Kyno then. ANd it would add to your 'team' later on. Let me see...so it would be Near (Kiba), Rester (Wolf), Gevanni(Kyno) vs. Mello (Ryouko) and ??? (Either Halle Lidner or Kal Snyder, depending on gender)

If we go the sword route, then I think we need a short scene showing why it's so dangerous. I mean, Kiba hasn't flinched in the face of danger, why would he freak over a sword imo. So, in my fics, Katsuyori releases bursts of chakra through a sword (I termed it 'Suitoru-to', the absorbtion blade, but I prob won't go to all the trouble for one scene, lol), maybe we show him working on that with Ryouko while Kiba is spying or something...

Ryouko would definetly take every measure to save katsuyori. having him fail at that, too, would be an added bonus. I'll make it a point (if we go this route) to have Ryouko pay attention to the fact that Katsuyori is incapacitated beyond all repair. Something like:

Ryouko: (Thoughts: ...He's watching me train, like he used to. Did Kiba destory his memories, too? I hope so...it would be more merciful that way...I know Katsuyori well enough- if he was like this, but had his mind, he would want to die traditionally...but I can't be sure he's lost his mind...damn it...)

Let's see, partners I came up with:

Sakura: Previous mentioned connections

Tenten: I've had her harbor a secret desire for Ryouko in my fics because of how he humbles Neji at one point, but isn't above humbling himself. (He surrendered to Neji to protect his students once, when Neji attacked one of them.)

Genma: He's the complete opposite of Ryouko: Confident and naturally talented.

Raito: He and Ryouko were the Third's protector's at the chunin exams and have similar work ethics.

Someone from outside the village, since Ryouko's mistrust has grown so much? Temari, maybe?