Chunin Exams... Take Two please (part one)

"So the Chunin exams are being joint hosted by the sand and leaf this year?" Shikamaru said as he stood in the hokage office, Natsuko sitting behind the desk as she looked over at him, before nodding,

"Yup, and guess who's in charge of them." Natsuko said grinning wide, as she held her arms up gesturing. and Shikamaru looked over, his eyes widening for a moment, before he narrowed his eyes

"No…" He said and Natsuko grinned

"Surpriseeeee, it's you. Well, you and Temari." Natsuko said, gesturing towards the teen standing in her office and Shikamaru put his hands behind his head as he looked towards Natsuko, his black hair in a ponytail behind

his head as he wore a dark green Chunin vest overtop his black ninja outfit with his shuriken on his right thigh, his kunai pouch on his back as he stood in Natsuko's office his ninja sandals on his feet. The wooden floor underneath his feet, with a dark blue rug on the floor on the other side of the room, underneath the black couch, and the previous hokage's portraits. Behind Natsuko's wooden desk was a wall of windows, letting light into the room. On the other side of the room, bookshelves full of jutsu research, laws and charters on the leaf village, etiquette, as well as a few medical ninjutsu, and history. All of which had already been read by Natsuko. On her desk she held three photo frames, one of her and Naruto, the other with them and their friends, and the third of Kushina and Minato. While a stack of papers sat front and center in front of Natsuko's arms. Her hair was in two French braids going down her back sitting overtop her hokage cloak, she wore a black knee length sleeveless Yukata with black leggings and chain armor underneath, paired with a red belt, the yukata was decorated with red and blue flowers, her ninja headband tied tightly around her forehead, with the tattoo from the anbu on full display on her left upper arm.

"Mann… what a drag." Shikamaru said Natsuko laughing lightly, as he grabbed the offered papers off her desk, before exiting the office.

Kakashi stood in the rain as he walked across the bridge towards the hidden rain village, his white rain cloak had the hood pulled up over his white hair as his ninja headband was hiding his left eye from view. His blue facemask covered his mouth and nose as he made his way closer, his chunin vest peeking up over the collar of the cloak, he wore a dark blue ninja outfit with his shuriken strapped to his right thigh, he had bandages wrapped around his shin going to his ankles, going into his ninja sandals.

' "Oh, Kakashi sensei, your already here." Natsuko said her light red hair in a high ponytail, making her look exactly like Kushina, so much so that Kakashi had to do a double take. Her ninja headband was secured around her forehead as she wore a blue jogging outfit paired with her chunin vest overtop, her blue ninja sandals on her feet, as she sat behind her desk. Kakashi had just stepped into the room, when he looked towards both her and Shisui who was sitting in the room as well,

"Yeah, what's up? I heard you were looking for me, Lady hokage." Kakashi said and Natsuko nodded,

"Well the Chunin exams are gonna start soon, Gaara and I agreed to host them jointly, you know, so I sent out invites to the stone, waterfall, mist and cloud. The waterfall being the only one to accept. But there was one more village I was hoping to invite alongside gaining some intel on the Akatsuki." Natsuko said and Kakashi looked over, his black eye peering at her a moment

"The hidden rain, where pain is said to be. Right? That's the info Itachi sent?" Kakashi asked and Natsuko nodded

"Correctamundo. So, I was wondering if you'd be willing to deliver the note in person, if Pain has taken control of the hidden rain, and killed Hanzo the salamander, I wonder how they're able to keep up the façade.. The mission is a relatively simple one, deliver this note from the hidden sand and leaf, directly to Hanzo. Avoid a confrontation if possible, If you happen to see anything suspicious while your there… well, just let me know how it goes." Natsuko said and Kakashi nodded,

"Understood." he said grabbing the green scroll on Natsuko's desk as it was offered,

"Thanks a bunch Kakashi sensei," Natsuko said,

"Wouldn't it make more sense to ask Jiraiya?" Shisui asked and Natsuko hummed

"If the hidden rain has been taken from Hanzo, Pervy sage would stand out immediately and be recognized, since it was Hanzo the salamander than made him, granny Tsunade and the snake man Sanin. So it's unlikely they'd be led directly to Hanzo. Kakashi sensei though, as far as I know, has no ties to the hidden rain, so delivering the letter shouldn't be an issue, you know. Oh, but if there is an issue where a fight breaks out or something, here." Natsuko said passing over a two pronged kunai with her flying Raijin on the blade, Kakashi taking the offered weapon and placed it in his pouch.

"Leave it to me." He said smiling and Natsuko nodded, returning the grin,'

"Halt! Who are you!" A hidden rain ninja said as Kakashi approached. Five total in their group each wearing straw hats and forest green cloaks, all wearing the same dark brown ninja outfit with wrappings around their forearms and shins. All held similar looking spears, as the one in front looked at Kakashi glancing at his headband which was visible under the hood.

"You're a leaf ninja?" He asked and Kakashi nodded,

"I'm Kakashi Hatake of the hidden leaf village, I've been sent here by our leader the hokage, to deliver a joint letter from the leaf and hidden sand." Kakashi said pulling the aforementioned scroll holding it tightly in his right hand.

"I'll accept it." The hidden rain ninja said holding his hand out and Kakashi shook his head,

"Sorry, but my orders are to deliver this directly to Hanzo the salamander myself." Kakashi said and four of the group went even more on edge, holding spears to his throat, as they questioned him.

"You will not. Why do you want to get close to lord Hanzo?" They said the leader keeping his spear held in his left hand at his side. Kakashi glanced at the group, this is definitely odd behavior he thought,

"Threatening me is the same as threatening the hidden leaf and hidden sand. Is that a smart decision to make?" Kakashi said simply, glaring forward while also looking bored. One of the ninja holding the spear to his neck gasped before hardening his expression. Their leader, putting up a hand and getting the other ninja to put their spears down. Standing at attention

"Alright… I'll inform Lord Hanzo." The leader spoke and Kakashi hummed. The hidden rain village was a small village, made mostly of large towers and such near the ocean, but the way it got it's name, the hidden rain. Was because of the constant downpour that the village seemed to find itself in, the rain hit every crevice in the village. Kakashi stood in front of a fancy looking house with a large front porch with cement stairs leading inside, three ninja behind him wearing the iconic face masks of the hidden rain, with dark blue cloaks paired with a brown ninja outfit paired with wrappings and ninja sandals, a ninja stood in front of Kakashi on the platform wearing the same outfit, standing underneath the purple traditional Japanese roof. Honestly, the building more resembled that of a shrine.

"Lord Hanzo will see you now. Surrender all weapons to enter" The ninja said looking at Kakashi who nodded Seems the rumors weren't falsified, there are strict rules to enter this nation. Kakashi thought, before doing as asked, he was brought ot a room where three ninja sat on the floor their legs in a butterfly stretch as their hands rested on either knee. Their hair was all in a ponytail behind their heads as their rain headbands were tied to their foreheads, each wore a gray cloak paired with a tan ninja outfit and purple arm bracers, they sat on a rug in the middle of the room, each guarding a corner of the room sitting behind them. Inside the room, Kakashi kneeled on the wooden floor, with the letter on the floor in front of him, his travel cloak, shoes, and weapons left at the door. Two ninja sat behind him in a similar position to the ones right outside as they sat straight, to attention. Airtight security.. Kakashi thought glancing back

"Kakashi Hataki." A man spoke from behind another set of doors, Kakashi looking up,

"Thank you for coming. You may place the brought message over there." He continued, noting the metal tray in front of the letter and Kakashi. Kakashi placing the letter on the metal tray in front of him, a ninja coming and collecting the tray, delivering it to the sliding doors on the other side of the room. Kneeling in front of them which opened a small bit a hand reaching out, and grabbing the offered scroll.

Pain stood, or more accurately, Tendo Yahiko stood overtop the statue of a salamander, overlooking the hidden rain village in the torrential downpour. His Akatsuki robe clear as day as was the headband on his forehead which contained the hidden rain symbol with a line crossed through it. Which held back his orange hair. His eyes held the rinnegan, as he also held metal bars in his nose, and ear, allowing Nagato to control and speak through him as he pleased. Konan using a paper jutsu to flutter in behind him, dozens of paper butterflies filled the area before coming together to form Konan. Whos purple hair held a paper flower in the bun. as she also wore an Akatsuki robe, with dark violet leggings, on her legs, to her ninja sandals. As she stood, before she held up the letter she'd received from Kakashi.

"The leaf's invited us to the Chunin exams they're sponsoring with the sand. It's likely to be a ploy to gather all villages, and spy." She said and Nagato hummed

"Hanzo sent many genin before, to represent the village in the previous Chunin exams." Konan continued, her orange eyes looking at the back of Yahiko's head

"We shall send a few teams this time as well. Let them believe Hanzo is still around. While we gather intel on Jinchuriki." he said

"Alright." Konan said breaking apart into different sheets of paper scattering in the rain. Before gathering back in front of the

genin of the hidden rain. The group bowing before her.

"Everyone present?" Konan asked as she used her paper jutsu to create wings and float above the group.

"A letter, from Hanzo of the Salamander." Shisui said, placing the paper on the red surface of Natsuko's desk, she grabbed the offered paper,

"Hmm…" Natsuko said opening the letter, before humming

"Seems he's sending genin to take part in the Chunin exams as well. As done previously." Natsuko said and Shisui hummed,

"You think that means the rumors were false of him no longer being the leader of the hidden rain?" Shisui asked and Natsuko shook her head,

"Not necessarily, anyone could have written the letter, besides, it could be a ruse you know. So we'll have to wait and see" Natsuko said,

"I couldn't agree more." Tsunade said as she walked into the office, noting Natsuko sitting in the blue chair behind the hokage desk as she had her arms behind her head, her hair in two French braids falling behind her back, as she wore a black jogging outfit with her Chunin vest overtop with her hokage cloak sitting overtop of that, with her ninja headband tied tightly to her forehead.

"So, when the genin from the rain arrive, we need to keep a very close eye on them. Especially if Itachi's intel is correct." Natsuko said

"Right." Shisui and Shizune said.

"So the hidden waterfall sent just one team?" Shizune said as Natsuko read the letter, before looking up, nodding.

"Yuppers, guess its a super strong team you know. So cool. We're gonna need to close the registration soon" Natsuko said,

"Oh that's right, we have teams 8 and guy already registered, as well as team 7 who'll be competing with Sai instead of Naruto. So it's just team 10 that needs to submit, right?" Tsunade asked and Natsuko nodded,

"But they're down a person, since Shikamaru was promoted last time, so I don't know if they'll be able to compete… unless, do you think she's ready to compete in the Chunin exams?" Natsuko asked

In the hidden sand, Gaara stood overtop the Kazekage mansion, wearing his official kage attire save the hat, as he looked out, his red hair moving lightly in the wind,

"You're not actually planning to supervise?" Kankuro asked as he stood behind his younger brother, who nodded,

"Yes, I am going to oversee the finals of the second round. To avoid fatalities." He replied, Kankuro stood behind him, his brown hair free from his hood as he wore a black jumpsuit, he had purple facepaint on his eyelids as well as a line going across the bridge of his nose towards either cheek with lines connecting to that and going towards his neck with his chin having a small triangle of purple face paint his lips sharing the facepaint as well.

"You'll solve this by outing the rebels?" Kankuro asked, remembering when Tsunade had to put a secure detail on Natsuko, much to her displeasure, due to the rebels in their village going for her head. And now, the same thing was happening to his little brother, and he was trying his best to protect him, but damnit, Gaara was not making it easy.

"No." Gaara replied simply,

"Then why? Why face the danger head on like that?" Kankuro asked Gaara hummed,

"My feelings remain unchanged as last time." Gaara spoke and Kankuro moved his arm out

"You want to try and bond… with the rebels? You and Natsuko are too naive. You may be kage, but Gaara, that's impossible. They wont listen to you " He said,

"Even so, there's no harm in trying." Gaara said as Kankuro sighed

"You sound like Natsuko." He said and Gaara hummed a small smile on his face

"Well, she's right. And this is exactly what he's doing. Naruto's working hard to forge bonds with others. I wont give up either. Not until I can share emotions with others. My first true test as Kazekage, of the sand." Gaara said Kankuro rubbing the back of his head, Man he's made up his mind, it's impossible for me to change it.. Damn Kankuro thought, as he closed his eyes. Before smiling at his younger brother

"Sand's sending same as before, 9 teams, with 27 shinobi. Hidden rain is sending 15, the hidden grass has sent 6 teams. While the hidden waterfall, has sent just one team. The hidden cloud, land of water, and hidden stone have all stated they won't be participating." Natsuko said from her desk, jonin and chunin in front of her, with Shikamaru and Naruto in the back, Tsunade and Shizune standing near the door, as Shisui stood to the right of her desk.

"Since we're hosting it's expected for us to send the same amount of participants as last time. We've already got team Kuranai, Gai, and Kakashi ready to compete, the rest of you are to submit a list of the genin you supervise along with your

Recommendations." Natsuko said the jonin around nodding,

"Naruto, you can't compete in the exams." Natsuko said, in the office the next day,

"Besides you'll be way too busy training to watch, or did you forget you're starting tailed beast training again today. Without interference from Natsuko." Jiraiya said and Natsuko nodded, putting her hands up as she stood from the desk

"Alright alright, get going." Natsuko said and Naruto nodded, he and Jiraiya taking their leave.

Temari walked next to Shikamaru as they walked through the leaf. her ash blonde hair in four ponytails as she wore a black kimono with with chain armor on her shins and ankles into her ninja sandals, a red belt around her waist with her fan also strapped to her back. With black fingerless gloves on her hands. Who sighed,

"There are two teams… or I guess one team without a player. Mine. man, What a drag.." Shikamaru said and Temari hummed. Back in the office Natsuko was going over the list of genin,

"So, team 10 needs one more person in order to compete." Natsuko said, and Asuma nodded,

"I'd like to recommend Yuki to compete in the Chunin exams." Tsunade said and Natsuko hummed looking over the file,

"I agree.. I've been working with her as well, I think she'd benefit greatly. Especially with team 10. She's so shy, I think Ino and Choji would be great at helping her open up more. That was your thought process?" Natsuko asked and Tsunade nodded,

"She doesn't have a team yet… so I'll leave it to team 10 and Yuki on whether or not they compete together. Any thoughts?" Natsuko asked as she looked back over Yuki's file, everyone shook their heads, Natsuko setting down the papers,

"Alright." Natsuko said,

"We'd like to compete as a team." Ino said later that same day with Yuki and Choji standing behind her. Her blond hair in a high ponytail while her bangs covered her right light blue eye completely, as she wore a purple sleeveless cropped top paired with a matching skirt with her shuriken holster on her right thigh, her kunai pouch on her back waist. She wore chain armor over her knees and elbows, paired with black ninja sandals. Natsuko hummed her elbows on the desk as she looked at the three of them.

"Yuki, Choji, you both agree as well I assume." Natsuko said and Yuki, seemed to squeak, her light teal/white eyes seemed to have snowflakes dancing within as she looked at Natsuko, her midnight blue hair in a braided crown around her head with her ninja headband around her neck. As she wore a white ninja jacket with matching pants, her shuriken holster on both thighs, as she wore a kunai pouch on her back waist. Her black ninja sandals on her feet as she wore chain armor on her hands and ankles.

"Y…yes Natsuko Sensei. I think so…" Yuki said, Natsuko nodding, as Choji did the same he wore a red tunic with gray detailing with the Akamitchi clan symbol overtop the gray detailing on his chest , his long red hair flowing down his back stopping at his waist as he wore a red ninja headband around his forehead. As he wore gray bracers on his hands and forearms with black ninja pants paired with bandages wrapped around his shins going into his ninja sandals.

"Alright, I'll submit the applications. Was that the only thing?" Natsuko said

"I think so, we wanted to come see you about it asap since today's the deadline right?" Choji said and Natsuko nodded,

"You guys have grown alot, since the last Chunin exams. Yuki you've improved leaps and bounds since moving here last year. I'm eager to see you all compete, or at least… hear about the competition. So do your best you know." Natsuko said grinning, Yuki nodded,

"So we should coordinate our strategies, what can you do?" Ino asked and Yuki looked over,

"I um.. I specialize in water style jutsu. I'm resistant to genjutsu.. And I can use rasengan, oh also I can… Natsuko sensei explained it but I still don't get it. I have a connection to most animals, and can usually get them to listen to me, but I'm not very good at it, um your from the yamanaka clan, right? Um, so mind transfer jutsu and um your from the Akamitchi clan so expansion jutsu, r-r-right?" Yuki asked and the two nodded, they sat on one of the training grounds,

"Exactly. Hey wait, you're the hokage's student, right? What's that like?" Choji asked and Yuki nodded,

"She's so nice. I don't want to embarrass her in the Chunin exams, oh but I'm so shy I don't think I'll be a lot of help." She said and Ino hummed,

"I don't think you could embarrass her if you tried, her twin brother, Naruto, does that enough." Ino said and the three continued to work on their battle strategies before heading to the exams. The exams being held at the ninja academy, team 7 lined up behind team 15, as team 10 made their appearance.

"Alright, take a lot and go to the corresponding room." Izumo said as he held up a bucket of lots, Kotetsu doing the same.

"Remember our strategy for this. This is what we were practicing for this afternoon." Choji said and Yuki nodded,

"So, Yuki is Natsuko's student?" Temari said looking at the screens, Yuki sat in the room with her paper in front of her, before tapping her pencil against the desk four times, Shikamaru hummed, she hadn't spoken since walking into the room, neither had Choji or Ino, a direct contrast to how those two extroverts usually were.

"Yep, she moved to the village last year. Super shy, actually, I'm surprised Ino and Choji were able to get her to compete in the Chunin exams, Natsuko and Tsunade are usually the only people she talks to." Shikamaru said before looking as Choji and Ino tapped the same pattern on their desks, before writing something on the papers,

"Hey hey hey, hey you wanna be friends? I'm trying to make 100 friends. What do you think?" Fu said as she stood in front of Yuki's desk,

"Okay" Yuki said before Shikamaru was forced to give a hint as a few people in Neji and Ino's room as well as lee's room was

getting irate.

"So did you figure it out, did you, the paper? That's what you were writing right?" Fu said and Yuki nodded, Fu's light blue hair was cut short sitting on her shoulders held back by orange clips, as her orange lights peered at Yuki's light teal/white eyes. She wore a light violet sleeveles croptop with chain armor underneath, with matching sleeves which started at her wrists stopping at her upper arm, with her waterfall headband sitting on her right arm. She wore a matching short skirt, with chain armor underneath with white ninja sandals. She carried a large red pouch on her back, the pouch reaching from her neck to her waist, the fabric straps

crisscrossing over her chest.

"So cool, your smart… what's your name? Mine's Fu." Fu said and Yuki looked up,

"Yuki." She replied quietly, after the buzzer went off, Shikamaru spoke into the microphone once more

"Alright, now flip your papers over for the final question. I'll give you a scenario, you job is to figure out the correct answer. 'Your team is on mission, and gets spotted by the enemy. To shake off their pursuit, one teammate, must act as a decoy. Who will you choose, knowing the decoy faces certain death?' write down your answer on the back of the paper. To pass all team members must write the same thing. The teammate labeled as the decoy will be considered killed and eliminated from the exams. 3 minutes to decide." Shikamaru said as the timer appeared, Yuki humming, ironically this had been one of the topics Natsuko talked about during their ninjutsu lessons,

'"Remember Yuki, when your a ninja, every member of your team, including your own life is very precious, so you mustn't toss it aside carelessly." Natsuko said as they stood in the training grounds, Natsuko and Yuki taking a break from ninjutsu training,

"But then, if it comes to either the team, or the mission, how do you choose?" Yuki asked, and NAtsuko hummed

"Oftentimes.. You don't. But if it does come down to a life or death situation, anyone who would throw away the lives of their comrades are worse than scum. You know." Natsuko said, as she corrected Yuki's stance and the girl hummed quietly,

"So like, lord third did for you, when he sacrificed his life to save the village, is that what you mean?" Yuki asked and NAtsuko nodded,

"Don't go looking for life or death situations, your main goal should always be to make it out alive, every time. Your teammates too." Natsuko said as she blocked a punch from Yuki, sending a hit of her own that Yuki blocked,

"So.. um.. Should I be on a team?" Yuki asked and NAtsuko hummed

"I should have one available after the chunin exams you know." Natsuko said and Yuki nodded,

"Okay." She said softly,

"Do you understand what I'm saying? Yuki?"

"I think so.. So when I'm in a life or death situations, I shouldn't offer up my teammates lives?" Yuki said and Natsuko hummed before nodding

"Exactly. Just as your teammates wouldn't offer you to death, you shouldn't offer them to death." Natsuko said blocking Yuki's leg,' Yuki hummed thinking of that past conversation, before simply writing down 'Me.' On the paper, Ino and Choji doing the same. As Ino used her mind transfer to relay the message to both her and Choji. Just as the buzzer sounded and a jonin opened the door in the back,

"I'll be collecting the papers. Wait for them to be graded." He said and the genin all breathed a collective sigh of relief as he collected their papers. Yuki put her head on the desk in front of her. As Fu came back over

"Heya elders, where's the fire? You haven't come down for a while" Natsuko said as she sat in the office chair having completed some more paperwork

"We need to inform you of intel we came across…" Kotaru said and Natsuko hummed, looking at the two before placing her pen down, as Kankuro walked in. Kneeling before the desk

"No proctors from the leaf at the second exam?? How come?" Natsuko asked

"Nope, sand wants to handle everything ourselves. It's because the site of the second round is known as the Demon Desert, it's dangerous even to those familiar with the terrain. For security's sake. We ask you understand." Kankuro said and

Natsuko hummed, putting her hands up near her chin as her violet eyes looked at Kankuro

"There's something else, isn't there Kankuro. You wouldn't have wasted a trip just for that, it's written on your face. Who's security are you referring to?" Natsuko said and Kankuro hummed

"It's for the participants' security." He insisted please drop it Natsuko, I cant say more than that, come on. Kankuro thought, and Natsuko hummed narrowing her eyes a moment he's hiding something. I'll ask him about it when the elders leave… she thought

"What if the jonin from the exams accompanied them to the hidden sand, and then just didn't go to the demon desert? Would that work?" Natsuko asked and Kankuro nodded

"That's fine." He said and Natsuko nodded

"Sweet. Oh and i had something for the sand, after I'm done with the meeting here can I give it to you?" She asked grinning

and Kankuro huffed

"Sure, I'll wait around for it." He said and Natsuko nodded,

"Thanks" She said grinning Kankuro letting out a small smile you and Gaara man. You guys are changing the world. First two jinchuriki kage. Kankuro thought before leaving through the violet door,

"Seems suspicious.." Homura said and Natsuko nodded

"I'll talk to Kankuro again and find out what's going on or I'll just send a letter directly to Gaara." Natsuko said

"That may have to wait, we were going through some of Danzo's old notes. and noticed a pattern." Kotaru said and Natsuko hummed, looking over

"Every month he would receive and write a letter back to Hanzo the Salamander. Until two months before his trial and subsequent execution, when the letters from Hanzo abruptly stopped." Homura said and Natsuko gasped as her eyes widened,

"The rumors are true. We must be incredibly wary of the hidden rain participants." Kotaru said and Natsuko nodded

"Agreed. We'll have to increase security." She said

"And think of the sand." Kotaru said and Natsuko nodded

"I'll inform the jonin in charge of the winning teams, and Gaara personally about all of this." Natsuko said as she put her hands behind her head

"Smart plan, lady hokage." Homura said and Natsuko hummed

"Gaara's being targeted. Isn't he." Natsuko said when Kankuro came back in, the elders gone back to their office, leaving Natsuko alone in her office, Kankuro seemed to bluescreen before sighing

"Shouldn't be surprised…" Kankuro said and Natsuko narrowed her eyes.

"Who. A bunch of rebels?" She asked and Kankuro nodded, Natsuko digging in her drawer a moment

"Oh here it is. If a tight spot, here it's got my Raijin formula on it." She said passing the kunai over, Kankuro grabbing it out of the air, nodding

"There wasn't actually a message for the sand… was there?" Kankuro said and Natsuko hummed,

"No, no there was… but the situation changed, had nothing to do with earlier, err… well it had nothing to do with what you said earlier. The elders informed me of something incredibly troubling… I've got some more digging to do, but keep a close eye on the rain genin. Somethings not right. Once I finish or get close to finish with the digging I'll come by and tell Gaara myself, it'll be before the 2nd exams." Natsuko said looking at Kankuro who hummed

"Gaara's still planning to oversee the second exams?" Natsuko asked and Kankuro nodded\

"Despite trying to talk him out of it." He replied and Natsuko grinned

"Good. The best way to stick it to the rebels is to show he's unbothered. If he were to quit, it'd be like saying 'hey, if you put enough pressure, I'll cave to what you want.' you know. It's how I got the rebels to stop here. You'd be surprised at what could be solved with a conversation." She said shrugging,

"Everyone standing before me has passed the first rounds." Shikamaru said Yuki who stood near Ino and Choji breathed a sigh of relief

"I thought we would lose for sure" She said

"You've gotta think more positively." Ino said slinking an arm over her shoulders, Yuki looking over

"I'll try." She said

"Neji you sent that signal through the walls right?" Lee said

"Yeah, it's cause of you we passed" Tenten said and Neji hummed

"Actually it was the sand genin."

"Hey wait, how did the three of you make it through?" A genin asked next to Ino choji and Yuki and Ino hummed

"Oh, well um, he didn't say we had to write a name down. So we wrote 'me'." Choji said and the genin blanked a moment

"That was an option?!?!" He said and Yuki nodded

"In the ninja world, those who don't value their comrades are worse than scum. That's what Natsuko-Sensei told me." Yuki said quietly before gesturing around, at the 3 man squads standing in front of Shikamaru and Temari in the leafs academy training grounds. Neji and his team walking up as Yuki hid from the genin

"You little! Are you calling me scum?!" The genin asked and Yuki squeaked

"I didn't mean it like that you know. I'm sorry." She said, Neji walking in front of the genin,

"Considering sacrificing one of your teammates at all, was the wrong answer." He said simply as the genin turned towards him

"Damnit" He said as Temari slammed her fan into the wooden panel in front of her foot, successfully getting everyone's attention

"I'm Temari of the sand, I'll be in charge of round 2 of the exams. Too many teams Passed first round. So to narrow it down further." Temari said

"What do you mean." The sand genin asked

"Round 2 is also a team battle, any teams with less than three people is disqualified. Furthermore, the upcoming round will be held at the hidden sand village. It will take three days to travel. We've dispatched a messenger hawk with a message that anyone after the first thirty are disqualified. No fighting en route, that's it." Temari said

"Lets go you guys." Choji said and Yuki nodded

"Right. I can get us to the forest near the sand from here." Yuki said and Ino and choji put their hands on hers, the group teleporting out, Neji and his team following shortly after with Sakura, Sasuke, and Sai going right after.

"Quick witted." Shikamaru said watching Neji run off

"What are you all waiting for? I said that's it." Temari said and more teams began to move towards the hidden sand.

"Good work Yuki! We'll be the first ones there!" Ino said and Yuki nodded as they jumped towards the sand moving quickly.

Team Gai on their tails. As they jumped behind Fu and her team. Shocking Neji and his team. Yuki letting a small smile grace her lips.

Two messenger birds arrived in the hidden sand, one from Temari letting Gaara know of the first results and that the participants after the first 30 to arrive will be disqualified. The other from Natsuko to inform him of what she'd learned of the hidden rain.

"Lord Kazekage, a message from Lady Temari, it seems the first rounds have completed and the genin will be here in three days." a jonin said kneeling before Gaara's desk the jonin wore a bandana with the sand symbol on the metal plate in front, he wore a tan and brown ninja outfit with his jonin vest overtop. Gaara who nodded,

"I see. Prepare for round two." he said standing, as he wore the white kazekage kimono with the blue fabric going down his torso. Next to his desk Fugi stood, wearing a long sleeve white tunic with a gold trim, buttoned up to his neck, with violet pants and black ninja sandals, his black hair flowing down his back.

"Lord Kazekage, a message from the Lady Hokage." Another jonin said and Gaara looked over,

"What is it?" Gaara asked, and the jonin hummed her ash blonde hair down behind her head, as her ninja headband was tied to her forehead tightly, wearing a similar outfit to the first jonin she had her shuriken holster on her left thigh,

"The Hokage said she had urgent matters to discuss with you and as such She's sending a shadowclone to do so. She apologizes for the short notice but apparently it's not something that can wait. She'll be arriving with the jonin leaders of the teams that passed the first round." She said and Gaara nodded.