Chunin Exams... Take Two please (Part three)

The next day at dawn, sand and leaf jonin stood shoulder to shoulder with Gaara, Natsuko having left the previous night, or rather the shadowclone jutsu she was using ran out… Temari standing in front of them, as they stood on a tower in front of the chunin hopefuls.

"I'll be explaining the second round now." Temari said, her hands on her hips, as she looked out at the crowd. Her ash blonde hair was in four pigtails behind her head with her headband tied to her forehead, her black fan secured to her back as she wore a short sleeve black dress with a red belt. She had fingerless gloves on her hands. On the end a sand jonin stood, wearing a wrap over his hair with his sand headband over his forehead as he wore a dark brown and tan jonin outfit of the sand. Next to him, Kurenai stood, her black hair down around her shoulders as her red eyes looked out at the genin group, wearing her white wrap dress with her right sleeve red, paired with detailing that looked like vines, chain armor resting underneath the dress as she had her leaf

headband tied to her forehead and a shuriken holster on her right thigh. Next to Kuranei, Asuma stood, his black hair kept out of his face by his leaf headband tied around his forehead, he wore a black ninja outfit paired with his dark green jonin vest on top, his black beard brushing his chin. Next to him, Kankuro stood, he wore a black ninja outfit with a black hood which held the sand symbol on the metal sewn into the fabric, on his back three scrolls sat, holding his puppets. His facepaint back on his face, next to Kankuro, Gaara stood, wearing the Kazekage kimono, a white kimono with a blue fabric down the middle with the white cloth overtop, paired with the Kazekage hat. Next to him Gai stood his hair in a bowl cut around his head, as he wore his jonin vest overtop his green jumpsuit, his leaf headband tied around his waist.

"It's a competition for scrolls. It'll be held in The Demon Desert. The ultimate survival battle." Temari said from the top of the tower, bringing her hand up which held two scrolls, one a dark blue with a light purple wrapping around it, the kanji for earth written on the light purple wrapping in dark purple. The other a light tan, with a

light violet wrapping around it, the kanji letter for heaven, written overtop in dark purple.

"There're two scrolls. Heaven, and Earth. Half the teams will be given heaven scrolls, the other half, earth scrolls. But you need to have both, to pass. The objective is to obtain both the heaven and earth scrolls, bringing them to the base located in the center of the demon desert. There are 72 hours to complete this. Food must be found on your own. There'll be fatalities from here on." She said holding up a paper before continuing

"So each team member must sign a consent form, when you turn in the team consent forms, you'll recieve your scroll. Also, to avoid confusion, each team is starting from a different location. So get to your starting points quickly." She finished.

"The second round, finally." Lee said as he and his team made their way to their starting point.

"Make sure to stay on your toes, we don't know what to expect." Neji reminded them, the two nodded,

"Oh, I hope we pass." Yuki said as her ino and Choji got to their starting point,

"How could we not? We're all so amazing. But we should keep our guards up now." Ino said and Yuki and Choji nodded in agreement.

"Tch… this'll be a piece of cake." Sasuke said he Sakura and Sai making it to their starting points.

In the central building Gaara stood in his office with Temari and Kankuro, looking towards the window with one eye shut, as he looked out at the sand, watching over the exam from the window. Well, more that he created his third eye, connecting the optic nerve to see more of the examinees. In time to see Fu from the hidden waterfall as she ran through the desert. Her comrades telling her to return to the central tower, Fu ignoring them in favor of wanting to make at least 99 more friends.

"I just want to have some more fun before this is over." Fu said, the red pack on her back moving with her movements as her light blue hair moved in the wind. Her orange eyes kept her focus forwards as she ran ahead of the two others with her.

"Don't forget, we're here to make a name for the hidden waterfall." One of the two behind her yelled, his headband tied around his forehead as his dark almost gray hair fell overtop, wearing a light purple long sleeve shirt paired with a darker purple vest with red and green scrolls contained on the pouches overtop. His pants were a gray color as he wore bandages around his shins going into his ninja sandals, his shuriken holster on his right thigh

"We may not beat the 97 minute record set by lord Kazekage, but we should still take first place." The other one said his headband also tied around his forehead while his ashy hair longer than his comrades hid the straps from view. As he wore a light violet long sleeve jacket overtop a gray crop top, paired with gray pants with wrappings around his shins going into his ninja sandals, his shuriken holster on his right thigh as he held arm guards on his forearms.

"Whooo hooo!!!" Fu shouted right after, grinning as she ran,

"She's not listening to us." The jonin said, as they became irate with Fu's antics, since the start of the exam. As they groaned, before taking a breath.

"Stay calm." The guy with the longer hair said the other guy sighing with him as they closed their eyes a moment.

"Yeah.." he said

"Fu, you know the village chief would be disappointed to see you now." He yelled to her and Fu looked up a moment, frowning,

"Shibuki?" She asked

"Yeah, you know bringing glory to the hidden waterfall is Lord Shibiki's greatest wish." the other stated Fu huffed a moment as she thought of the chief back at her village. Same age as her with long brown hair going down his back, he wore a lime green kimono with a light blue haori overtop, paired with a red scarf. His black eyes usually holding such seriousness, though he always made time for Fu and made her feel heard.

"Consider his feelings about this, please." The jonin said and Fu sighed, as she turned around, her hands on her

hips,

"Okay… geez, I get it you guys. Guess there isn't a choice" She said, It was a smart play… Lord Shibiki's wishes are always Fu's top priority. For whatever reason, she listens when his name is mentioned. The jonin thought looking towards each other and sighing, Fu taking off once more, attempting to head towards the central tower, when the two jonin pointing the opposite direction, causing Fu to stop mid run and fall onto her face. Back in the central building Gaara opened his eyes, standing from where he'd been sitting in a tan chair in front of a tan desk with red detailing, and a potted plant. Wearing his red tunic with gray detailing on the chest and black pants. Temari and Kankuro standing across the desk, Kankuro had his arms crossed over his black long-sleeved shirt, paired with black pants, his cat eared hood over his head, with the sand symbol on the metal sewn in the fabric his back holding three large scrolls with multiple puppets on each, as Temari stood next to him wearing a short sleeve black dress with a red fabric around her waist with her black fan strapped to her back, as her ninja headband was strapped around her forehead, her ash blonde hair in four pigtails. The sand eye posses no danger to him physically, but without him changing his mind… Kankuro thought as he watched his younger brother walk back over to the window, Temari and him standing on guard, we can't let our guard down even just for a moment. She thought, concerned for her brothers safety.

"Gaara, lets get some dinner." Kankuro said as Gaara turned around, Temari nodding

"I agree, it's getting late." She said

"I'm okay." He said turning back

"Alright…" Kankuro said

"He snubbed us" Temari said

"Yep." Kankuro replied, Gaara ignoring the two in favor of looking through his sand eye. He saw Matsuri, and Yuki's teams running across the desert. Those teams were headed towards the central tower as well.

"I'm glad we were both able to get both scrolls, without having to fight each other." Yuki said as they ran towards the central tower

"I knowwww! It's lucky we ran into those two teams that both had earth scrolls that we needed." Yutakata said as she looked over, and Yuki nodded,

"So you were taught by the kazekage? Matsuri?" Yuki asked, Ino and Yukata talking as did Choji and their third teammate.

"Yep. Lord Gaara is the best." Matsuri said and Yuki hummed

"I think Natsuko sensei and lord Gaara are on same level.. I mean they're both the youngest kage ever." She said,

"Natsuko was chosen for Kage at 12, so she still holds the title as the youngest kage, and first female hokage in the leafs history." Ino said and Yuki looked over,

"Is this route we're taking safe though?" Choji said and the sand team all hummed,

"It's the quickest, but there are quicksand pits, so watch out for those when we get out closer." the boy said A man walked onto the rocky cliff behind the group, a biwa strapped to his back with a white strap, his bald head bare of a headband, as he wore a dark gray kimono with the right sleeve missing, his sand plate sitting on the dark blue fabric covering his left arm. There was a scar going over the bridge of his nose stopping under his right eye, and going across his other cheek. Towards his ear as his brown eyes looked disinterestingly out at the desert. While Fugi stood with his white kimono with the gold trim his magenta colored pants as he clapped his hands together, both he and the other jonin focusing on Matsuri's back as the groups ran. The advisor looked

over the sand with his dark purple eyes as he remembered meeting the bald man. Hōichi. He was younger than Fugi had thought, though he had studied the power of Priest Bunpuku molding currents.

' "You said Bunpuku?" Fugi asked, clarifying and Hōichi nodded, in confirmation as they stood across from each other under the light of the moon in front of a circular statue.

"Gaara was chosen to become Kazekage. But he's still a threat to the village." Fugi said, annoyed that Gaara had been chosen over his older siblings, which he felt would be a better choice for Kazekage. Since Gaara's history.

"Many fear his abilities, what he could do. Measures must be taken, to control that fear, I believe." Fugi said bowing his head before looking up, his purple eyes looking directly at Hōichi

"The Chunin exams are the perfect chance to extract Shukaku. The one tailed beast he holds. Though that means that Gaara must die." Fugi said Hōichi who stood across from him, seemed unfazed,

"Yes." He stated simply,

"We must make sure the kazekage's alone. Luring him towards the tower. Then I'll release the barrier that obstructs long range sensory abilities. It's called the Demon Desert in part because of the massive deadly sandstorms, which offer little chance of escape for those trapped." fugi stated'

Fugi moved his arms, calling forth a massive sandstorm in order to disrupt the exams. Neji, Tenten, and Lee turning back from where they'd noticed a dust cloud coming towards them,

"What is that?!" Neji said

"What could it be?" Lee replied, unsure

"It doesn't look good whatever it is." Tenten said, over with the two teams of the sand and leaf they also turned towards the dust cloud,

"A sand storm!" Matsuri said and Yuki looked over,

"Whaa, should we hide somewhere?" she asked and Ino nodded,

"I remember Temari saying in a sand storm going out is deadly, so staying in one place is a must." She said and the groups ran faster towards the tower, hoping to find shelter along the way.

"We'll need to get the participants to a shelter, they'll be hell to pay if everyone dies." Temari said looking at Kankuro who huffed,

"Man… what a bunch of losers." he said before turning to the nine jonin behind them,

"The second exam is on hold. Ensure the kazekage does not leave this building." Kankuro said

"We'll get the participants to shelters." Temari said and the jonin nodded

"Right!" They said

"Teams 1-3 with me." Kankuro said as he and Temari walked down a hallway, both wearing their white cloak's with the fabric for their nose and mouth around their necks, Kankuro carried the scrolls for his puppets on his back while Temari carried her

fan the two walked up to the double doors on the other side of the hall, Temari reaching for the handle

"The rest with me. Lets go." Temari the jonin nodding, as they split off into the storm. With Neji's team, all three of them covered their faces with their arms as they struggled to see.

"What's happening?" Tenten said,

"It is a sandstorm" Lee said back and Tenten looked over at him

"That's not what I meant Lee!" She said the three of them squinting to try and avoid getting sand in their eyes

"So this is what the demon desert giant sand storm is like… we need to find shelter." Neji said squinting with one eye shut as his black hair moved into his face from the force of the wind. With Fu and her team they were blocking the sand from their faces stuck in place

"This is bad!!" One of the ninja said and the other looked over

"Yeah! This is why I was saying we should go to the central tower first!" He said and Fu looked forward, before ducking quickly

"Look out!!" She said as an object flew towards her, instead hitting the ninja behind her, knocking him backwards into the

sand,

"You okay?" Fu asked and the jonin nodded,

"Fine." He replied, Choji, Ino, and Yuki had split off from the sand genin accidentally, getting turned around in the sand storm,

"A sand storm of this magnitude?" Matsuri said

"Haven't seen on this bad in a while, hope the entrants are okay.." The jonin said as they stood guard outside of Gaara's quarters, each holding a spear in the right hands and turbans on their heads paired with a white cloth behind their heads, with their ninja headbands tied around their forehead. While the guards talked, Gaara had created a sand clone and had snuck out into the storm. Going unnoticed by the guards. Okay, so some more training may be needed later. But for now, I'm grateful they haven't discovered my clone. Gaara thought, The wind whipped the sand violently outside, causing everyone to be unable to see very far in front of their faces.

"This is just sand. We can overcome it with gutsiness." Lee said and Neji hummed

"Buyakugan… this will take more than Gutsiness, lee." He replied, as the three held their arms over their head to try and keep the sand from their nose, mouth, and eyes.

"Look around, find somewhere to wait out the storm." Neji said the other two nodded

"This is so scary… I didn't know sand storms could get this big? You guyssss do you see anywhere we can stop?" Yuki asked as they walked, their cloaks on over their body's,

"We'll keep moving till we find one." Choji said, and the girls nodded,

"This came on so suddenly." Sakura said and Sasuke nodded

"I agree… too sudden." He said

"This is too much, my eyes sting, I can't keep them open." A leaf genin said, falling to the ground as he shut his eyes,

"I agree, this is so much." his teammate said, before a white cloth was offered in front of their faces,

"It's a sand cloak." the sand jonin said, offering it forward as Kankuro stepped forward, a cloth covering his nose and mouth,

"The second exam is postponed, I'll lead you to a shelter. You really gonna give in to a sandstorm like this, what would the Hokage think?" he said, as he squinted his eyes, the leaf Genin paled

"You…you're not gonna tell her are you?"

"Yeah her training is hell…" The other one said and Kankuro hummed, remembering when he'd met Natsuko, Yeah, I can see it. He thought

"Wind Scythe Jutsu!!" Temari said clearing a path in the sand storm for the other leaf gening to get to the shelters,

"Hurry up!" Temari yelled, a cloth also covering her mouth and nose. The genin were becoming more and more turned around Matsuri's group had also gotten lost in the sand storm when Yukata collapsed unable to move any further.

"I can't keep running.." She said,

"We're almost there." Mikoshi said and Matsuri looked forwards

"You keep saying that! But we aren't are we!" She said,

"We're nearb…woa--ahhhh!!!" Mikoshi said as he fell into one of the hidden quicksand traps,

"You see it?! I was right!" Mikoshi said as he looked towards the girls

"That's what your concerned with?! Quick! Yukata! Grab on!" Matsuri said as she used her rope javelin to grab Mikoshi's wrist.

"Right!" Yukata said and Yuki and her team ran back up to them, having been completely turned around,

"Earth style! Mudwall." She said placing a half Mudwall in front of the girls so they wouldn't fall in as well,

"Thanks, Yuki!"

"Expansion Jutsu!" Shoji said going to grab Mikoshi before he also slipped,

"I c...cant hold…this." Yuki said, as she moved her other hand out, stopping Choji from falling into the pit as well, Ino pulling him back,

"Are all sandstorms like this? It stings to open my eyes" Yuki said,

"Not usually.." Matsuri said

"I'm still sinking!!! Pulllll" Mikoshi yelled from the pit Yuki panting,

"I can only use Earth and water release, I'll be training more diligently after this is over." Yuki said

"Can you make a rope of water?" Ino asked and Yuki glanced over

"The air's too dry. There's no moisture in it. I can't." She said before the wall she was holding onto started to crumble, the girls sliding forwards. Before the platform they were standing on completely crumbled. The groups yelling out in surprise. Their screams caught the attention of Fu who was reminded of the time their village chief saved her life. And showed her more compassion than anyone in their village ever had, even though she'd been selected as the jinchuriki to Chomei. More importantly, it reminded her of a conversation the had after Shibuki saved her from being killed.

' "Why'd you save me, Shibuki?" Fu asked as the two sat on a branch on one of the massive oak trees in the hidden waterfall village she wore her light purple spaghetti strap cropped top with chain armor underneath paired with a matching short skirt

with chain armor shaped like shorts underneath, her light violet arm bands on both arms with her water fall headband sitting on her upper arm, her light violet ninja sandals on her feet as she sat with her knees up, her arms sitting overtop in a relaxed position as her pale blue hair fell over her face lightly. Shibuki sat next to her, the sun casting it's light on both of them as his left leg was outstretched with his righ bent upwards his right arm folded overtop, the two looked towards the ground as Shibuki wore a light green kimono top paired with gray pants, black ninja sandals and a dark green haori and red scarf. His brown hair cascading down his back, as he turned to Fu.

"Why? Because your precious to me of course. That's why you've got to protect those dear to you as well. If people could just bond with each other more, there would be no more wars in this world. The first step is making 100 friends." Shibuki said and Fu smiled nodding'

Fu stopped, remembering that memory,

"Why'd you stop, Fu?" one of them called, confused to her sudden stop,

"The central towers that way…" the other called, and Fu hummed, glancing between the place she needed to go and the people that so clearly needed help.

"Fu, you listening?" One of the jonin called before Fu dropped her cloak, flying towards where the screams came from, worried for her friend

"I'm sure Shibuki will be pleased with what I'm going to do!" She said with a smile on her face as her orange eyes looked forwards flying towards the sand pit, she sent out a net from her palms, catching the sand and leaf genin,

"Fu!!!" Yuki said

"I've got all you! Stay still! Here it goes!" Fu said lifting the massive net, pulling it upwards as she flew above the pit, dropping them on the ground, the groups becoming encased in a light green glow, an after affect of the netting. All of them laying on the ground,

"Yuki, are you okay?" Fu said before what looked like a wall of sand came out behind Fu, before Gaara jumped down

"I am Gaara, the kazekage of the Sand. The Hokage is a close friend of mine" He started, walking towards Fu, and Yuki who'd started to regain consciousness, looking towards the sand and leaf genin that Fu'd saved

"I'm Fu from the hidden waterfall." Fu replied,

"Why save them, you're taking the Chunin exams as well, right?" Gaara asked, and Yuki looked over

"It's something Shibuki, our village chief said to me once," Fu said turning away

' "Shibuki?" Fu asked, as they sat on the branch of the great oak tree and Shibuki looked over,

"Listen. There may be people who don't understand you, but even still, you must hold dear the people that surround you. Always do your best to help them. Then someday…" Shibuki said, looking at the girl, his brown eyes meeting her orange

"I'll get to have 100 friends, right?" Fu said, smiling at the chief who looked shocked for a moment before chuckling, smiling as he looked at Fu

"Yes. Exactly." He said '

"He said if I do stuff like this, one day, I'll have 100 friends. I mean I've already got one. So only 99 to go." Fu said grinning,

"Natsuko-sense…I mean the hokage's my teacher and she always is saying if you save you enemy it might work out better than pushing them to the bear. If you fight someone you have to face them head on, otherwise

there's no honor in their defeat… Also we have both scrolls so theres no need for us to fight anyone anymore." Yuki said before looking between Gaara and Fu, hiding her face,

"I understand. That's why you two stepped in to help." Gaara said and Fu hummed in confusion,

"Observing your behavior, Fu, I'm reminded of one of my friends, now I can see why." Gaara said,

"What do you mean?" Fu said moving her arms out,

"He's a lot like you, actually. Long ago I was forced to face him in battle. He taught me we can learn to understand the pain, sorrow, and joy of others." Gaara said simply,

"Wow, for real? He sounds like the kind of guy I wanna be friends with." Fu said smiling, before the sand and other two leaf genin regained consciousness, while Fu talked to them, Yuki stood and wandered over to the sand wall,

"I…I have a… oh why is talking so hard… you.." Yuki started before letting out a cry of frustration and walking over to Ino and whispering something,

"Oh, yeah I don't think that'd offend him, you should ask." Ino said and Yuki looked over,

"I tried,"

"Hey what scrolls do you guys have?" Fu asked the sand genin who looked at her

"We've got both, thankfully." Matsuri said,

"Fu!!!" waterfall ninja called,

"Oh man, I'll be in big trouble if I'm caught, so… see ya." Fu said, waving,

"What did you want to ask?" Gaara said quietly, and Yuki looked over, going to speak before shutting her mouth again,

"The… the thing on your back. Isn't it heavy? Wouldn't a smaller one be more beneficial?" Yuki asked before turning away

again,

"Perhaps. But I've always carried this gourd so just habits I suppose." Gaara said and Yuki nodded, as Fu began to fly off. Yuki turned her head quickly

"Someone else is here…" Yuki said, before a sand rat scurried through the sand, causing Ino to shriek.

"Relax, Ino. it means you no harm. One of the scouts we sent out earlier when we encountered them before the storm.. Remember." Yuki said and Ino looked at her,

"Why rats? Why not…"

"Less chance of them being discovered. And um… I think they're kinda cute." Yuki said Matsuri and her team walking over,

"So you can converse with animals." Mikoshi said humming, and Yuki nodded,

"It's more complicated.. But um… yes?" She said before looking at the rat allowing it to crawl on her palm, her hand becoming encased in a white sort of glow,

"Woah, really, your sure. Two people?" Yuki said before looking over towards the sand,

"There's two people, one controlling this storm, at least that's a theory, and another… has a biwa?" Yuki said outside the sand

fort, the sand crumpled around Hōichi where he stood, gaining a full view of Gaara, as he brought his pic against the strings of the biwa

"Prepare to die, Gaara." he said

"Legendary sand storm from the land of wind.." Gai said as he, Kuranei, and Asuma stood on the outskirts of the demon desert, all wearing their travel cloaks,

"I heard rumors but this… this is in sand." Gai continued

"Pausing the second exam was a wise decision." Kuranei said as she stood in between Gai and Asuma

"Agreed. One careless move, and you're dead." Asuma said looking at the storm before they were surrounded by sand shinobi,

"Are you three the emissaries from the hidden leaf?" one in front asked, they all wore tan cloaks with their

noses and mouths covered with white turbans paired with a white cloth going to their shoulders hiding most of their hair from view

"We're here with a letter from Lady Hokage to Lord Kazekage." Gai said looking at the sand ninja,

"It's a very urgent matter." Asuma said, backing Gai up,

"We'll deliver it." the sand ninja said holding his hand out and Gai hummed

"Sorry, no can do. We have orders to hand it directly to Lord Gaara himself." Gai said

"Will you please allow us through." Kurenai asked, moving her head to the side as her red eyes looked over the group,

"We cannot. The second exams underway and under the Sand's jurisdiction." The sand ninja in front of them stated, and Gai moved his arms out

"That's unfortunate. I guess we'll just have to return to the leaf." Gai said and Asuma agreed, Kurenai looking between the two You two would benefit from acting classes… Kurenai thought before her hair was whipped violently back and forth, followed by their cloaks as the sand storm landed on them, causing her to gasp out,

"Bye." Gai said as he, Asuma, and Kurenai ran into the storm, pulling their hoods up,

"Don't let them get away!" The sand ninja called,

Inside the demon desert a group of sand genin were caught in the middle of the storm, one of them complaining about not being able to continue, his eyes shut tightly, with the sand protector sewn to a bandana tied tightly around his forehead.

"You wanna rot out here?!" His teammates called,

"No… but." The teammate said back before a large creature, with large red eyes made it towards them, salamander, one of Kankuro's puppets. The sand genin put their hands up

"Relax. Geez. It's me, Kankuro, I'm one of the proctors for the second exam." Kankuro said as he stood on top of the puppet.

His hood and cloak whipping violently in the wind,

"I've come to get you out of here. Let's go," he continued

"You actually came to rescue us personally, sir Kankuro?" one of the genin said and Kankuro rolled his eyes,

"Just follow me." he said. another group of sand genin were crouched in a crater unable to move any further,

"Listen to me." Temari said after she moved the sand and wind away temporarily, the sand genin looking at her,

"Think of this as part of the exam. Get through it." Temari said harshly and the genin smiled

"Lady proctor! Woah no way!" One of them stated,

"If you end up crying over a sandstorm like this, you'll never make it as a sand shinobi." Temari stated matter of factly

"Talk about exceeding expectations. Wow. I've never seen this big of a sandstorm before." Asuma said as they walked through the desert. Gai blocking the sand and wind with his gate of life, the three running through the storm. Back where the Kazekage was supposed to be staying, another jonin walked up to the two guards posted outside of Gaara's door, a clipboard in his hand.

"I have a report for lord kazekage." he stated simply, the guards moving aside to allow him access to the room, the jonin walking to the door, knocking loudly three times,

"Excuse my Milord." He said opening the door and walking towards Gaara's desk, standing before the kazekage sitting in the chair,

"The rescue teams have sent status reports on the sandstorm." The jonin continued, lifting his clipboard,

"Nearly all of the participants have been evacuated to the shelter." He said looking at Gaara who didn't respond

"Kazekage?" the jonin asked before letting out a yell of surprise as Gaara had almost completely crumpled to sand. The guards running in,

"What's wrong?" he asked and the jonin looked at them

"Did you guys fall asleep on duty or what?" the jonin asked firmly, before Gaara's clone crumpled to sand completely.

"*gasps* a sand clone?" one of the guards said confused

"Where's lord Kazekage?" the jonin said firmly, the two guards unable to answer.

Gaara put sand around the two teams to protect them from the sand storm until it blew over,

"Thank you." The two teams said,

"Don't thank me. Thank Fu of the hidden waterfall." Gaara said and the teams nodded

"Oh right…" Matsuri said grinning,

"Now go, the exam should be starting again." he said, the sand genin running off, while the leaf stayed,

"Yuki what is it? We should try and get to the central tower now that the storms passed." Ino said and Yuki hummed, looking around for a moment,

"That person's back." Yuki said her midnight blue hair falling over one of her light teal/white eyes. Her ninja headband tied loosely around her neck

"The biwa player you said you heard?" Choji said and Yuki nodded before a biwa could be heard playing,

"Interesting. Yuki can you tell where the music is coming from?" Gaara said and Yuki looked over,

"This way." she said before running off in a direction,

"Yuki wait!" Ino said, Yuki stopping a moment, turning,

"The sand genin are in trouble again. We have to hurry." Yuki said before the tempo to the Biwa picked up,

"The songs changed…" Gaara said, Ino and Choji nodding while Yuki grabbing her head, before falling forward,

"Yuki!" Ino said catching the girl,

"The Biwa must be messing with her abilities." Gaara said, he opted to continue on, telling their group to go towards the tower instead, where the medical ninja were stationed. When a yell came from the sand genin. Gaara turning, heading towards the noise once more. Sitting on his sand he made three sand clones to go after the genin, that were currently being strangled by their own shadows, running through the desert's valley. Before the shadows released the genin, going for Gaara instead. Hōichi casting a Dharma sealing jutsu, as Gaara brought out Natsuko's Kunai,

"Return to the second exam. Now!" Gaara said urgently, as he tried to convince the sand shinobi to leave him there as what looked like chakra chains came from the lines drawn onto the mans skin. Sending them forwards towards Gaara, Gaara putting up sand walls to block, but a break in his wall allowed Yorichi to pierce him with the chain in his stomach. This is unlike Natsuko's chains. He's zapping my strength. Not just blocking my chakra. He thought as he grunted, the sand falling, as he continued to painfully, stand his ground.

"Lord Kazekage!" Matsuri said concerned for not just her teacher, but her kazekage as well. The three trying to pull the chain out but ending up electrocuted instead,

"Go, I'll handle this." Gaara said, looking at Matsuri, who looked back at him,

"Lord Gaara.." Matsuri said,

"That is an order as Kazekage. I order you to immediately withdraw" he said the sand genin leaving, though they didn't want to.

"We need to make the way to the tower, for help." Matsuri said and the team nodded, as they continued to run across the desert, Yukata falling as she could no longer continue, Matsuri opting to continue on, alone. Gaara unable to grab the kunai once more, to drop it on the sand, calling for Natsuko's help. When Fu showed up, aiming for the chain stuck in Gaara, getting elctrocuted

"Are you alright?" Gaara asked urgently, and Fu groaned from her place on the ground,

"Y..yes I think so" Fu said,

"Take this kunai, and stab it into the ground so it sticks straight up." Gaara said and Fu looked at him, grabbing the kunai from his hands, before she could stab it into the ground, she was stabbed in the back with another chain, stabbing the kunai into the ground a moment later, Natsuko appearing in a puff of smoke.

"I didn't think you'd actually call for help, Gar. yeiii what happened to you two?" Natsuko said looking at the chains a moment,

"Don't touch them. They'll extract your chakra." Gaara said and NAtsuko nodded,

"Well, duh. Thanks sandman." Natsuko said grinning, before moving her hand up,

"I don't know who you are, but you're not hurting my friends. You know. I'll lead Kankuro and Temari over here." Natsuko said holding her hand in the air,

"Fire dragon!" She said a giant dragon coming from her palm, splitting into two before speeding off,

"Earth style Mud wall" Natsuko said knocking the Biwa player back a moment, before he began playing faster, Fu and Gaara grunting, Natsuko turned to the two of them, moving a gold chakra chain from her back,

"Gaara. Fu. Not that you have much choice, but, don't move." Natsuko said Gaara humming in amusement, before NAtsuko brought out two chakra chains,

"Shadowclone jutsu." Natsuko said, as the two chains moved quickly around the three, before creating a protective dome,

"You use chakra chains too?" Fu said and Natsuko nodded

"These are a bit different. Let's see… I'm gonna try removing them but it might be impossible without the byakugan." She said looking pointedly at Gaara, who sighed,

"Really.. Natsuko, Now?" Gaara said and Natsuko hummed, moving two more chains from her back

"Okay there is a very distinct possibility that this will fail miserably and I end up also getting electrocuted, or you guys end up electrocuted, okay? Okay cool ready set go." Natsuko said wrapping both chains around the ones stuck in Fu and Gaara, Gaara nodding, as Fu looked between the two of them, her orange eyes widening for a moment

"Wait what?!" Fu said

"Uzumaki art. Mummy wrap." Natsuko said tightening the chains and pulling as purple lightening

surrounded her,

"Lightening style to avoid them being pulled out, well.. You can have it back." Natsuko said sending

the lightening back through her chakra chains as she pulled,

"It's… no good, they… won't budge. Natsuko said before turning her head slightly, disappearing from view, reappearing two the left of Fu,

"So fast." Fu said

"I am the red flash of the leaf. I heard you've got speed as well. Fu of the hidden waterfall, beat out my fastest team to make it here. Impressive. You guys work on… well trying to remove the chain, I can't but… I have been told I'm distracting." She said before disappearing again as the chain came closer,

"So, are you just bad at aiming?" Natsuko asked, before disappearing again, Gaara and Fu taking the opportunity to try and pull the chains out,

"Over here." Natsuko said behind the biwa player who turned, Natsuko running literal circles around him bringing up a dust cloud, before jumping back,

"I can't get close, theres a field of some sort." She said,

"Well thats a problem.." Gaara said and Natsuko nodded,

"Natsuko! Behind you!" Gaara said and Natsuko jumped into the air, landing backwards before teleporting away.

"Hey, so, what's your name? Hey wait, that biwa, ohhh so that's the technique your using, that's interesting." Natsuko said as she continued to jump from spot to spot on the battle field, grabbing out two kunai,

"Wait Natsuko!!" Gaara started before Natsuko was blown backwards,

"I didn't sense the barrier. That's.. New." Natsuko said right now all she really could be was a distraction, which seemed to be working, he'd been more focused on trying to catch her rather than seal away the tailed beasts inside Fu and Gaara, which'd been her plan.

"Cocoon." Fu said using her ninja art. Causing Natsuko to hit the back wall of it, falling to the ground. Panting,

"So, full discloser. I literally can't move anymore… this your ninja art, Fu?" Natsuko asked and Fu nodded

"Yeah, I thought it might block him from stealing our tailed beasts." She said and Natsuko hummed from the ground,

"Perfect timing…" She said looking at the walls,

"Chakra chains work as a sort of battle of wills, the stronger your opponents will, the stronger the chakra chain will be and the harder it'll be to remove without outside help. Blocking the chakra flow, though that can usually be difficult." Natsuko said from the ground

"That's possible?!" Gaara said and NAtsuko looked over,

"Yep. but it's not something I can do. But I sense Neji and his team nearby alongside Matsuri, and… two others

but I'm not sure who they are." Natsuko said from the ground

"The calvary for the calvary is here." Natsuko said, Neji entering the cocoon a moment later, moving the iridescent green walls aside as he walked up to Gaara and Fu,

"I can block the chakra flowing into the chain, may I?" He said to Gaara who nodded,

"The real fight begins once the chains are removed. These chains, unlike mine are specifically designed to steal chakra. Tailed beast chakra at that. Once that source is removed, it will likely go after that Biwa player." Natsuko said from the back of the cocoon, standing, before Neji activated his byakugan, hitting his abdomen where the chain was flowing into him, having to do so a few times the flow completely stopped,, before doing the same to Fu, the chains falling out of Fu and Gaara, causing

Hōichi to become flustered from where he sat in the barrier, Lee, Matsuri, and the two waterfall ninja surrounding him. The chains coming flying out of the cocoon a moment later,

"You said the chains would turn on the owner is there a way to stop them do you know?" Gaara said

and Natsuko hummed, before looking at Neji

"These chains work by attacking chakra points, more accurately they work against tailed beast chakra specifically, the sealing technique Bunpuku, I've read about it… I don't know if there's a way to stop them." Natsuko said before, blocking the chains with her own, from hitting Lee and the waterfall ninja,

"These are… Lady Natsuko's chains." Lee said as they faded from existence. The deep purple chains changing to black as they rwrapped around Hōichi's body, causing the Biwa player to fall to the ground, immobilized as several chakra points were hit at once, thanks to the tailed beast chakra he'd sealed within himself. Causing the man to tumble from the hill he'd been sat on, alongside his Biwa.

"May I ask a favor, Neji?" Gaara said as he approached the teen, who turned to look at him curiously,

"Spare him" Gaara said and Neji nodded

"Of course." Neji said walking forwards towards Hōichi who was still trapped on the ground, hitting the chakra points that were blocked

"Get him to a medical team immediatly." Neji said and Matsuri nodded

"Right. I understand." She said, Neji walking back to where Tenten, Gaara, Fu, and Natsuko stood,

"I thank you, Neji, never thought you'd rescue me." Gaara said Natsuko hitting the back of his head, Gaara looking at the girl, who's hair was raised

"We're friends right, that's what friends do, when ones in trouble the others come help. Geez you can be so dumb sometimes Gaara." Natsuko said shaking her head, as her hair fell around her shoulders Neji smiling softly as he shook his head, Lee walking to stand next to him,

"Are you two alright now?" He asked referring to Fu and Gaara

"Yeah!! Never better" Fu said

"Lady Natsuko, what are you doing here, though?" Lee asked and Natsuko hummed putting her hands behind her head

"Well, you know, I was in the area. I was pretty useless in that fight though" Natsuko said rubbing the back of her head as she laughed,

"Lord Gaara, Thank goodness your safe, we were worried." Matsuri said as she approached, Neji stepping aside

"Matsuri and the others did a wonderful job.." Neji said looking at Gaara, who nodded, agreeing.

Nearby, Gai, Kurenai, and Asuma stood ready to assist when needed, as they'd just arrived. Standing on a nearby rocky ledge

"Great, we find them, only for them not to need any help." Asuma joked

"Well, we were a bit late." Kurenai said and Gai nodded in agreement as they looked at the group,

Fu grabbed Neji's wrists moving them with her hands.

"My name's Fu from the hidden waterfall, and my goal for right now is to make 100 friends, so you gotta be my friend, please please please." She said shaking Neji who looked at the girl, Natsuko laughing quietly from where she stood next to Gaara

"You can't say no, okay." Fu said and Neji looked at her as he tried to pull his arm back without hurting the girl

"Okay, okay, yes. I understand, just let me go." Neji said Lee and TenTen laughing,

"Awww you made a friend, good job Neji." Natsuko said, causing the teen to look at her, glaring with no real heat behind the gaze, Natsuko putting her hands up as she laughed

"Neji this is great news." Lee said

"Wahoo!! Only 94 more to gooo" Fu said dancing in place.

"Well, Gaara, I've gotta get back to the leaf, but try not to have any more deadly dances, mmmkay?" Natsuko said once the teams left, Gaara chuckled a moment, looking at his friend,

"Yeah.. how's the Hinokami Kagura training going?" He asked and Natsuko paled

"On second thought… you want some company back to the… observatory place?" Natsuko asked and Gaara scoffed,

"You'd better get going or Lady Tsunade'll have both our heads." He said and Natsuko nodded,

"Such is a life of a Kage, well, so long partner in crime" Natsuko said jokingly as she disappeared in a puff of smoke, while Gaara continued across the desert, heading back to the main tower. Where a frenzy had started, Jonin yelling left and right that Gaara wasn't in any of the wings, or on any paths. Standing on the balcony, five jonin were discussing where he could

possibly be with no luck, Gaara stepping out of the shadows,

"The sandstorm seems to have passed…" He said as he came into view, his teal eyes looking over the group, who looked both startled and shocked to see him, as they'd just been looking for him. 'Okay, I'll admit it. Scaring them like that, was kinda fun' Gaara thought, amused though his face remained unchanged as one of the jonin looked at him,

"Lord Gaara." one of them said

"What's with the commotion?" He asked, knowing full well it was due to his absence,

"Please focus, and resume the second exam." He said looking at the five in front of him

"Yes sir." the head jonin said, sending the joning to do just that. Gaara's advisor, Fugi, sat on a rocky surface in the demon desert, his legs crossed. His black hair flowing down his back a teal band secured near the bottom. Hoichi hasn't sent a message yet? Unusual.. He thought as he glared at the ground before him. Sand could be heard, pouring next to him as Gaara appeared, standing next to him. Fugi getting to his feet,

"Lord Gaara…" He started and Gaara looked over

"Fugi, I've been wanting to speak with you." Gaara said, walking to the rocks edge, Fugi looked over at him, a smug look held on his face,

"Well, what did you wish to speak about?" Fugi asked and Gaara hummed as he looked out at the demon desert.

"I've always considered you to be a highly regarded citizen of the hidden sand village." Gaara started, not turning towards Fugi,

"Even now, I do." He said Fugi bowing slightly,

"I thank you for the kind words." He said, and Gaara let both arms fall to his sides

"In my past, words like citizen and friend, were just words that held no meaning for me." Gaara said watching as a hawk circled in the air

"For a long time, after being born, I understood those words, but they weren't part of my existence." Gaara said and Fugi looked over, a confused look on his face

"I see…" He said unsure of where Gaara was going with his spiel.

"When'd these concepts become real to you?" Fugi asked and Gaara hummed

"When I infiltrated the hidden leaf village, to destroy it. There, for the first time, I met two people I could call friends. Ironically, both were enemies at the time. The girl, her eyes were identical to mine, though she continued to show kindness towards me, and my siblings. The boy, shed tears for me, as we fought, and our energy drained. The three of us shared comparable circumstances. Unlike me, he was always able to empathsize

with others. They could share in others pain. They could sympathize with happiness and with tears. It was

thanks to them I realized how precious and important the concept of friend really could be. It made me want to become more like them. A human who's valued and needed by others." Gaara said turning, Fugi lifting his head

"My lord, there's little doubt you'll always be an individual who's indispensable to the hidden sand." Fugi said

and Gaara looked towards Fugi, understanding clear in his teal eyes

"All this time, I've been considered a weapon to be feared. That face continues to instill unrest, and fear in the people of the hidden sand village." Gaara said and Fugi gasped, shocked at the revelation, Gaara was on to him

"But that's not---" Fugi started and Gaara brought up his hand, looking at it a moment

"It's true. If it were not, then my own father would not have tried to kill me six times." Gaara said bringing his hand close to his heart as he continued to stare down at it, his fist clenched against his red tunic. Before glancing over at Fugi

"I'm aware there are many who oppose me. When I was asked to be Kazekage, it was a hard choice. To accept or not, was a real dilemma." Gaara said

' "So you were offered the Kazekage position, and you don't know what to do?" Natsuko said as she sat with Gaara, Natsuko having come to the sand to drop something off personally with the one in charge, when Gaara'd asked her to a restaurant in the sand, to discuss something he considered troubling. Natsuko ordered a typical sand meal with no modifications, her hair was in a ponytail over her head, her headband tied tightly to her forehead, as her hokage cloak sat on her back, her lightblue ninja outfit paired with the skirt, her jonin vest sitting overtop of that, with her shuriken holsters on both thighs, her black ninja boots on her feet with a white cloth peering overtop the boots,

"Yes exactly. Can you tell me, why'd you accept the position of Kage?" Gaara asked, clearly stressed about whether or not to take the position and Natsuko hummed

"Well, gramps third hokage had been making subtle hints here and there, I thought about Naruto, as well as the people of the village. What would truly be best for them, would I be, or would someone else. I accepted it, because I have something to offer that the previous hokage lacked. A, I was young, B a *whispered* jinchuriki, and C a girl. I have a perspective to offer that the previous hokage didn't. Plus I wanted to protect the village to the best of my ability, what better way to do that, then being kage." Natsuko said, before taking a bite of her food,

"There will be people that don't accept or don't like that you were offered the position, but your completely different from back then, your eyes hold a light they were missing before, you know. ' Si sigues tu corazón, no puedes equivocarte.' it means 'if you follow your heart, you can't go wrong' though I mean mostly when it comes to the decision you've gotta make regarding taking the position, and less towards decisions on village affairs." Natsuko said and Gaara hummed,

"I think… to reach the hearts of my people, the people of the hidden sand village, I'll accept the position. It's time we heal from the past" Gaara said and Natsuko let out a small cheer'

"I thought of my friends, two hidden leaf shinobi, one, had already become Hokage before me, they both taught me of friendship, and decided, I wanted to try and heal the hurt caused by me towards everyone else." Gaara said turning away,

"But, it's been difficult to get the people of the sand to believe me, truly." Gaara said standing looking out at the demon desert once more with his hands by his sides,

"There was a time when I thought the wounds I'd inflicted on my own people, would never heal. I thought about disappearing from the sand. Because the fear would disappear with me. I found that despite my past, there were some who accepted my feelings and believed in me without prejudice." He thought, memories of training Matsuri coming to mind, Shira's training with him.

"These shinobi trust me and come to accept and rely on the guidance provided." Gaara said

"Who're supporters?" Fugi asked curiously, and Gaara continued to look forwards

"The promising power of the young, the future of the sand. They've no preconceptions and can see with clear vision. Those who wish to kill me, may do so. However, they shouldn't let those youths, become involved. I don't want them tainted by hatred, and vengeance, as I once was." Gaara said looking back at Fugi.

"There've been many times where I've doubted myself as Kazekage. But, after meeting them, coming to know them, I realized, perhaps, even someone like me, can accomplish something… I've been reborn, I want to erase hatred from the Hidden Sand, and create bonds with people I can call friends who understand and share

eachother's pain. If you object to that, then you can take my head, but leave them out of it." Gaara said before dispersing to sand once more, as he stood behind Fugi yes, he'd known the person behind the rebels the entire time and had invited him to his office on more than a few occasions. Fugi stood alone on the rocky edge, the wind moving his hair and tunic to the right as he stood against the midday sun. Overlooking the demon desert.

Matsuri, Yutakata, and Mikoshi walked across the demon desert, the tower in the middle coming to view. When they stopped a moment.

"Well, I don't think we'll pass this year, lets worry about doing so… next year." Mikoshi said and the girls agreed, before Matsuri turned to them,

"Well, before we head to the tower, there is one more person, whom I want to fight. Just this once" She said and the two looked to her, shocked a moment,

"He received the same training as I did." She concluded, Shira of the sand, that was who Matsuri wanted to fight. Rumored to be a skilled taijutsu user, though with no skill in ninjutsu or genjutsu, his journey was quite different from her own. Still, they both trained underneath the lord Kazekage, they were to carry on his will to the next generation and so on, did they deserve that right? Matsuri couldn't help but wonder, hence why she wanted to fight.

Shira and his team reached the edge of a rocky terrain, Shira overlooking the demon desert, the tower slower coming into view, his teammates, Yome and Sen stood off to the side a moment. Yome's brown hair kept in two pigtails on either side of her head with her sand headband wrapping around her forehead, she wore chain armor underneath a cropped tan tank sleeve shirt. White-gray fabric over her elbows, with blue shorts that held a white and red belt overtop, she wore purple thighhigh socks paired with her shuriken holster on her right thigh. She wore black sand ninja sandals on her feet as she ran up to Shira who was overlooking the demon desert.

"We did it! We made it!" Yome said jumping up and down in her excitement, her orange eyes looking forwards, as Sen walked up behind the two, her ash blonde hair kept in a poofy ponytail behind her head with a few strands framing her face, falling over her sand headband, as she wore a red sleeveless dress that stopped at her thighs with chain armor underneath creating sleeves that stopped at her upper arms, paired with pants underneath the dress, she wore silver shin guards on both shins with her shuriken holster on her right thigh, black ninja sandals on her feet. Her dress had a blue belt around the waist, which held both her fans that she used for genjutsu, she had purple gloves on both hands, as she walked forwards.

"We may've reached the tower, but we still don't have both scrolls." Shira said looking down,

"There's nothing to be done, Shira, we've just reached our physical limits." Sen said looking at him and Yome also glanced over, Shira was clearly upset, he'd wanted to use this as an opportunity to prove himself.

"If I hadn't stopped for a personal fight, maybe…" He started remembering the fight with Rock Lee of the Leaf village, and Yome turned to him

"Hey, don't say that Shira." She started and Sen moved out her arms as she smiled softly

"That's right, we've done all we can for now. There'll be another try, I'm sure of it." She said putting her hands down as Shira shot them both a grateful smile.

"Thanks a lot." Shira said before gasping as he turned, Matsuri standing behind him as Mikoshi and Yutakata landed behind her, the two teams standing barely a meter away from eachother

"What do you want." Yome asked coldly, as she looked at the team, they also bore sand headbands, but were they going to attack their fellow sand shinobi, as they'd done previously? Matsuri looked forwards a determined look on her face as her black eyes met Shira's light brown.

"Shira. I want to face you in battle." Matsuri started, before grabbing her heaven scroll out of her back pocket, holding it up as a prize,

"You can have this heaven scroll if I loose." She said and Shira looked at it a moment, Yome grinning as she looked at the scroll, grabbing the one held by Shira.

"It's senseless for sand to fight sand." Shira said as Yome continued to look at the scroll in her hand, before she

looked over at him,

"Besides, we've already made a decision." Shira said, turning and grabbing the scroll from Yome gently,

"This scroll's useless to us. Take it." Shira said holding out the scroll,

"What? Oh wow!" Yutakata said before going to take the aforementioned scroll

"You're a real life saver, you know." She said before stopping as Matsuri put her hand out. A determined glint in her eye, they had to earn the scroll, and to do so, she had to face Shira in battle, alone.

"To be honest, we don't want the scroll. I just wanted to use it as an excuse to fight you." Matsuri said looking at Shira who now stood confused a moment.

"What for?" he asked, looking at the girl

"We both trained under lord Gaara, he taught us almost everything we know. We're the ones who'll carry out his will, we're going to support the Hidden Sand in the future, I want to make sure we deserve that right… truly." Matsuri said Shira nodded

"Alright, lets do it." He said before turning back around towards his team handing the scroll back

"Okay?" He asked and Yome looked forwards

"If this is what you want Shira." Yome said and Sen nodded, both looking towards Shira who nodded.

"Thank you, truly, Shira." Matsuri said, a determined, yet gentle smile on her face as she looked towards Shira. The two moving to stand face to face their teams standing behind them on either side, as they prepared to face eachother in battle. A small breeze moving through the demon desert, moving their hair and clothes lightly. The two going hand to hand in Taijutsu before Matsuri brought out her rope javelin. Swinging it around her head before sticking it into the rocks, causing multiple rocks to collide, the two began to run around eachother, landing and blocking blows, dust and debris being kicked up as Shira and Matsuri continued their battle, Shira activating his Seven Heavens Breathing Method. Matsuri's rope javelin thrown from her hands, causing the girl to gasp a moment, before falling to the ground, sitting on her butt. Shira turned, grinning, even though she'd lost the battle, they'd both proven that they indeed, had earned the right to carry out Lord Gaara's will. He held a hand out to Matsuri,

"Come on." He said, and Matsuri turned around, her eyes looking at him a moment, before grinning softly, she'd lost, but she'd been able to justify something to herself. Which is what she'd been after the entire time.

"Thank you very much Shira." Matsuri said, looking at the teen who smiled back as they shook hands,before she grabbed her heaven scroll out of her pocket, offering it forwards, Yome and Sen looking at the scroll and gasping before taking out their own heaven scroll, sighing

"Well, that won't work." Sen said and the group laughed, Matsuri grabbing the earth scroll out of her other pocket and offering it forwards instead, though, Shira refused it. The group laughing it off.

Fugi sat in the same spot as before, as evening began to set on the demon desert, his hair moving lightly with the wind, as he smiled softly towards the ground Lord Gaara's matured, seems, the worries carried by us old soldiers were baseless. He thought assured by Gaara's words and his actions, as he looked out at the desert a moment, a serine look on his face as his hair continued to move in the wind. We must let the horrible memories of the past fade to darkness, and leave the next generation to build a new future, a brighter future. Fugi thought, unsheathing the blade he'd brought along with him, Fugi looked into the metal, his reflection staring back at him as he moved the sheath aside. I take full responsibility for everything. He thought before plunging the sword deep into his ribcage, his body falling to the rocky ground shortly thereafter, his hair and cloak continuing to move back and forth wildly in the wind.

The contestants of the second exam made it back to the central tower, handing their scrolls over to the proctors, the genin began talking amongst eachother, Yuki talking with Fu as Ino and Choji talked with Sakura and team seven, Fu showing Yuki and odd dance she'd come up with, seeing if the girl would repeat it. Lee tried to convince one of the proctors to accept two heaven scrolls, to no avail.