What were you doing when you were 15? Not many if any would answer running a country.

Suna hadn't hosted the chunin since the times of their First Kage, Reto. When Gaara offered his village he didn't do so to eradicate the drought, that's not what occupied his thoughts. When Tsunade mentioned their motives to reopen such a vital occurrence in the Shinobi World after the disaster that turned out to be the last one, Gaara was definitely attentive, having to be part and perpetrator with his village of that mentioned mess. A mess which prelude was his father's assassination.

Tsunade and Konoha's claim and motives were unsettling at best, but so were his. They wanted to awaken the till now dormant five great villages, to cause a simple reaction, a stir, and to investigate Akatsuki's movements. That was the part he was yet to understand. They already knew what they were after.

He understood that in a mass celebration such as this, faces could be lost in the crowd, but he didn't think that it was a wise decision to bait those members. Not when the bait was this one. As he looked down at his papers, he could see the report of one shinobi from Takigakure, Fū. If Jiraiya's information didn't fail him, what he was seeing right now was the file of another Jinchuriki, one that was going to partake in the exams.

The bait of two them in the same village at the same time was a far bigger risk that he was willing to accept, outside of the one he was already taken, a Sunagakure internal related quandary. To his luck, there was nothing he could do about it since he had been given this report way after he proposed to organize this event. After the deal was already closed. The deal that established doing these exams in cooperation with the Leaf and host the two last parts of the exam. The second one in the Demon Desert and the elimination rounds in their crumbling coliseum.

Was his plan of bringing out the traitors within his ranks worth the precarious situation he was to put himself into? He did think so at the time, but doubt was creeping in.

Two of the three great villas had already rejected appearing in the exams. He was expecting it from Kirigakure, having just ended a small civil war after the passing of Yagura, leaven the country shattered. Kumogakure was another story, honestly, he was thankful they didn't come, with them having two of the five remaining Jinchurikis, without counting Fū and himself, of course, and those who were already caught and killed. The chance of simply one of them coming… They would be a giant, for now flimsy, target in a dartboard placed at arm's length. Everything set up for the Akatsuki just to swoop in and take at least one of them.

Iwagakure accepted, funny enough if some of their shinobis made it past the first two exams into the finals he would probably get to meet Onoki, the Kage of their almost neighbor country that had yet to communicate or respond to any of his scrolls, sent in the sake of approaching their figurative positions in terms of policies and trade.

The chunin exams were designed to test the strengths of the villages and gather information, nothing more. Nor a way to interact and reunite the villages in combat that symbolizes times of peace, that's a fallacy, nor it was even designed as a way of venturing the everlasting violence between the villages without the need of war, so they could see the spectacle of beating the shit out of one another, cheering viciously were one of their members to win. The common spectator present conception. It was none of that. Those who believed otherwise were wrong.

That role of intel gathering was relegated to the Jonin that were sent with the participants, who ought not to be in the field as pretended genin, the same thing with Chunin. The exams were a setting where violence was allowed and death could be given, stipulated within the norms that all villages agreed to. Were you to kill someone and resentment will rise, there's no doubt about that, but there won't be a war after that. If it were a Jonin or a chunin to participate and purposely target other villages genins… We are talking about a different thing right there. Dishonor would be an important claim also, but vain in comparison.

Besides, he had already made it clear to the supervisors of this exam to elude any deaths that were to occur.

What worried Gaara is the lack of intel in some of these villages' ranked members, were it for one of those cheating shinobis to go by their radar. His worry was that Akatsuki manage to infiltrate someone in the exam through one of this less known villages.

Where did Akatsuki operate from? Could they really send someone to participate? If so and they targeted this Fū girl, they would end up inadvertently undercovering themselves.

Overthinking and analyzing was as common and natural for a Kage as breathing. Was nothing ever simple in their world?

He could recall rumbling like these about a week before the first exam took place. Thankfully Temari stopped him by giving him a briefing about how many were participating overall in the exam. 45 from the Leaf, 30 from the Land of Earth, 12 from the Rain, 9 from the Grass, 6 from the Frost, and 36 of their own. A total of 138 participants, a decrease of fifteen shinobi. Taking into account the lack of trust after the previous fiasco and the circumstances that were happening in certain villages, plus the exclusion of Otogakure from participating, and you could say with ease that it was not that big of a fall from the last one taken in Konoha.

Now what Gaara was waiting for was the incoming report of the results of that first exam, just so he could know how many people they were going to host. A simple update of that first report, for those remaining participants will arrive tomorrow.

He didn't have to wait long.

Two knocks wear heard, it was due time.

"Come in" Said Gaara, loud enough. Temari entered the room.

"I have a briefing on the final numbers. Would you like to hear them?" Asked his sister only for Gaara to shake his head saying there was no need, to give him the paper instead.

Of those first participants remained 24 from both the Leaf and the Wind, 15 from the Earth, 6 from the Rain, the Grass and the Frost. 81 remained from those 138 that were initially partaken in the exam.

"Quality over quantity". Said inadvertently Gaara out loud, seeing the high rate of failure among the great villas in comparison to the nonexistent in the case of the Frost. The Frost? He had completely forgotten that Shimogakure was here.

He was glad that two-thirds of his shinobi made it past, a better rate than Konoha and Iwa. He guessed that coming home to do the remaining of the exam was motivation enough. The advantage of knowing the desert in the second facet of this test will mean the world for them.

"Huh?" Said Temari, who hadn't catch what he said.

"Nothing". Gaara looked outside his window at his village, with luck there won't be any sandstorms in the incoming week. "Is everything ready?" Asked Gaara.

Temari simply nodded.

"Tche! Imagine having to live here and having to put up with this overbearing heat every fucking day". Claimed Ino, giving voice to all of the shinobi of Konoha concomitant thoughts before emulating her friend. "What a drag".

Choji laughed, the Suna Jonin that was guiding them, not so much.

Sakura meanwhile was chatting with Hinata as they all approached the entrance of Suna. Konoha's traveling party, the delegation, was composed of 8 genin teams with all their respective senseis. None of the younglings were looking forward to fighting under this heat in the desert.

If weather acclimatization was to be translated into a ranking, given the advantage that it was, Konoha wouldn't be by no stretch of the imagination in that upper tier. Their winters were hellishly cold at times, for as oxymoronic as that may sound. The rest of the seasons were mild, never reaching this temperature. Nowhere close.

All the other villages for that matter would probably rank above them, excluding the Frost of course. Those ought to be suffering.

The whole travel, the three days, and the accommodation to the facilities that Suna put in place for the participants, where to rest and eat before the second exam, was smooth, stress-free. It was well organized and had proven safe for now.

The participants were to remain in one building while their teachers stayed in another, close. All shinobis in hunger for a promotion, who at the moment were just about to start their dinner, together for a few hours before they got to see each other as enemies with the sunrise.

Cheering, carefree nature, ease… Those pleasing social environment adjectives didn't reign over the room during the dinner. There wasn't that much chit chat between members of the different hidden villages, whether or not reign sincere animosity among them, in between them, was another thing. There wasn't chat even between the sand and the Leaf, who officially were allies. Hell… Even the teams from Konoha didn't venture much into talking with another member that they didn't previously know.

"What do you think? Like walking back again into that room back then". Said Ino to Sakura as she thought of the classroom where they took the first chunin exam, ever. They were more easily scared back then.

"You guys made quite the scene back then, try to not draw all the attention to us". Recalled Tenten, back them they didn't know them and as far as first impressions went, theirs wasn't the best.

"Don't worry, we didn't bring Naruto, so there are no chances of one of us shouting out that we will beat everyone else". Mentioned Ino as her stare turn to Kiba, just in case. "Right?" Kiba was looking somewhere.

"I wouldn't be so sure. There's some chick from Iwa that hasn't taken her eyes from us since we got here". Said Choji.

"She probably likes what she's seeing. Can't blame her". Braggingly utter Kiba, that were he was looking after all.

Ino laughed in response, Hinata could only smile.

"Yeah, no please, go talk to her". Ino claim with a smile, showcasing certainty. "I didn't fall on the fact that she was looking at us with lust until you said it. Now I'm certain. Go after her, wild boy". Ino stifled a laugh. A shoulder found its way to her ribs, Sakura's, who warned her that she played too much.

Shino had to stop Kiba from actually going, if Kiba actually thought that there was desire in those eyes… He was going to have problems that Shino foresaw he would probably have to save him from.

The tension and desire were palpable. One wrong move and it could be highly conceivable that a small brawl could start.

There was one outlier in what refers to attitude, though.

"Will you two relax, let's be amicable. We've come here to make friends!" A couple of people heard Fū's shouting, looking at her in disbelief. The two official jonin, for now, genin, that accompanied her, to protect her, warn her.

"No, we are here because you didn't give Shibuki-sama another chance". Yōrō mentioned. She was spoiled to no avail. 'You knucklehead'

"You know that this ain't no playground, Fū. No matter how you pretend to see it, it ain't. Look the part of the Shinobi you are, for god sakes". Added Kegon. They were only here so she could get out of the village for once. She was no genin either, already a highly regarded chunin. Kegon was already worried enough as it was, wondering if she could go after the Kazekage and shout out who she was and who she carries.

After her speech of friendship, it was hard to pinpoint who could know of her, suspect, and who could subsequently go after them in the exam. Why? Because many if not all had focused their stare on her, not that she cares. Notwithstanding, Kegon and Yōrō had a possibility in mind. Since they arrived there was this one boy from the Land of the Frost that constantly, periodically, turned to look at Fū.

The look of them wasn't that menacing. A squad of three, teenagers for the looks of them, boys. Not especially tall nor muscular. Plainly looking. From left to right, brown, grey, and actually white-haired. The most extravagant or particular thing to point about them outside their white clothes was the oversized goggles that one of them wore indoors, handy if a sand storm was to arrive. If the one that was currently happening was to last. That and the huge scroll he had seen him carry before.

"Hey, chill. They've their eyes on you. You're practically telegraphing our intentions and movements. Just look at the plate or creep on somebody else in what little remains of the evening". Said the last-referred shinobi, the one with the goggles.

"Sorry".

"Just eat. Don't do anything else, for now, we have all we need. All you need to do is to follow the drill. Eat up and once we are done we go to bed and rest.." Said the last figure to open his mouth of this squad. "We need to be at our best tomorrow, sharp. The sooner we leave the fewer chances any of you have of doing something stupid".

That was a good recommendation that did not need uttering out loud to be in the minds of the participants, one that all followed shortly after the Shimogakure's shinobi left. As they walked through the corridors to their beds, the members present of the Konoha 11 wished each other great luck for the impending day. They had had a pleasant evening, all things considered. They raised awareness of the fact that despite having succeeded in the previous exam, they were to not slack off in this one. That it was not a given that they will get through again.

Some of them thought back to when they realized that their generation had a simple nickname after it was mentioned out loud during that conversation. Just about the time one of them was leaving, waiting for him to do so in the doorstep to their village.

Flashback…

Naruto went with the flow, although he was asked before if he had something in mind to say, he didn't plan anything at all. He went with the chaotic course of things. When he reached them, he smiled and put his hands behind his head, in his classic manner. Easing up the tension, if there even was one.

"This is it, huh?" Wondered Choji

"Yeah, guess so." Stated Naruto, eager to see what they all will become. Laughing and roughing the back of his hair with one hand while he put the other one in his waist.

"By the time we meet again we won't recognize you." Claimed Ino.

"Are you kidding? Between his loudmouth and those whiskers, it's impossible to miss him." Said coherently Shikamaru, they were indeed distinctive features.

"Not many blondes for a matter of fact in this village." Mutter a silent Ino besides Naruto, who smiled in a bidirectional approval of their uniqueness.

"Let's hope he loses the clothes, that truthfully is the most calling and distinctive thing of yours." Neji of all people then proceeds to one by one progress thought the colors each was wearing. "Going from white to green, to black, or dark fades of variant colors, to your eyesore bright orange is quite the experience."

"Hey, orange is the best color there is!" Defended Naruto

"It so isn't" Claimed Kiba with provocative intentions. Obviously, being him, Naruto didn't last a second before being in his face and daring him to state that once again.

"You want a piece of me!" Naruto shouted back. Facing one another.

"Be warn Naruto, when you came back, I will already be a Jonin" Kiba continued his provocative stream. Naruto steps back and laughed a bit, not taking seriously the mutt's claims. Kiba's eyes twitched as Naruto's mouth formed a smirk.

"What a manly thing to say." Utter Lee in the background.

"You wish dog breath, you will be a genin till death." Said Naruto, now it was Kiba who wanted to fight.

Before any of them made a single step Choji stepped in the middle and tried to establish some peace.

"Come on boys, a peaceful and temporary farewell, please? You will not see one another in years. Make amends." Utter Choji.

"Three years, huh? You better train hard Naruto or you won't catch up." Said Tenten.

"I think some have to catch up to you." Said Sakura, silent till that moment. Her voice and presence open through the crowd. Naruto felt capable of only staring at her.

"Sakura-Chan." Said Naruto, in an unequivocally caring manner. That seemed like a compliment, something that rarely happens when coming from Sakura.

"Do you guys know we have a name? All of us, as a generation." Pointed out Kiba, just in case some of them still remained clueless of the fact.

"Seriously?" Said a couple of voices at the unison, somehow unaware of it.

"Yeah, after the success we had all in the exams, with Naruto, Shikamaru, Neji, and Sasuke going all the way to the final rounds, they decided to name us all the Konoha Eleven." Stated Tenten.

"We did pass all the first two rounds despite being crazy young!" Said Ino.

Sakura and Naruto looked at one another, realizing that when proclaimed there was no sadness in their eyes, no true hurt or feeling of sorrow, rather Kiba's eyebrows showcasing brief anger. Yearning wasn't introduced into the pool of emotions. It shouldn't be an 11 but rather 12. It didn't matter if they didn't share their views. They knew what they had to do.

"I guess then that as a group we ought to have a motto." Said out of the blue Shikamaru.

"Shikamaru, leading already, who would have taught." Claimed Ino, to the laugh of everyone.

"Troublesome" No need to put who mentioned that.

"How about growing stronger and protecting one another." Pronounced Sakura. It did seem simple yet powerful.

"Yeah, It doesn't have to be anything more than that." Said Shikamaru, nodding all in agreement while chuckling and laughing at each other antics.

With that, the collection of motley personalities and stories established a common ground of affinity and respect outside of the one they were socialized in, the mere fact of being shinobis of the same village. To grow and fight for one another. Which while seemingly common for all ninja, was especial to them due to how many times they have dealt with animosity with one another in their short lifespans (them a bit clueless of the struggles that came with the bloodshed of war that previous generations faced and the bonds that came with it, among those that survived). The great majority of them knew each other since they were born or since they were four, mostly. So yes, their bond was one that knew of a special category outside the comradery of all Leaf Shinobi.

'Naruto' Thought Sakura, 'what wouldn't you do to be here?' The desire that he had to win the first exams was obvious, who knows what could have happened if they continued, chances were that he would likely be in the final. One step towards his dream.

This instance was one where she could prove something to herself, that she had already taken a step.

"Ready?" Asked Ino.

"I think we all are. By the time this ends, we will all make it". Claimed with confidence Lee. "Let's give it our best!"

The long-haired Hyuuga meanwhile was recalling on who they were to take their chances tomorrow, who they ought to fear or elude if they wanted to aim low so they could keep their strengths for the finals. They had long decided to not fight against one another, meaning the other members of the Konoha Eleven, the remaining five times teams of the Leaf could be another history.

Unbeknownst to him, he wasn't the only one doing so. Kiba, funny enough, of all people, caught something that the Byakugan couldn't, a smell, a trace that he didn't discern during the first exam. Inuzuka's sense of smell was unique, not only could it track smells but remember them with precision, something didn't add up with one of the participants.

Day 1…

On top of the walls that rose from the desert, shielding the fighting field, where the participating teams, all located at great distances of one another. The second exam was about to start. The objective remained what it was a year and a half ago. Being capable of retrieving two scrolls in three days and carrying them to the central tower, where they were monitoring the exam.

With only one in their possession, teams ought to fight for another one that didn't resemble their own.

Simple enough. Earth and heaven scrolls. One of each, reach the tower and you are through.

They were all eager for the signal, ready to jump into the vastness of the Demon Desert, the equivalent to Konohagakure's Forest of Death, both in size and in risk, but all manifested in unique ways and with a climate factor that was not present in the mentioned Forest, where water and food were easily found, should you know how to catch it and not be caught by it. This was another kind of challenge.

"What the hell are you doing in that position? Do you think it's the time?" Asked one of the Shimogakure shinobi as his partner sat down. He didn't respond. "Hello! Someone there."

"Let him be".

As the mentioned figure stood, he uttered with certainty.

"I've got her".

The signal was heard all around, the time had come.

"You know what we must do". Claim one voice commandingly. "Let's go".

All of the members of Konoha Eleven, the nine that were taking the test, went towards the title they pursued not that long ago. All grown up and with newfound abilities.

Afternoon arrived sooner than expected for most teams, even for the upper chunin level of Tanagakure, who right now were the focus of one vital conversation.

Like expected, they were found out. The Sand wasn't characterized by their intel, yet it wasn't that hard of a task for once. Those two who accompanied Fū were Jonin.

Aware of who they were and with full intentions of getting to the bottom of it, Gaara thanked those under his command for their briefing and told them that he would take care of it himself.

What objective could another village have sending their one and only jinchuriki to his home? Did they even know the turmoil they had sent such an important figure to?

'Fū'. Gaara thought as he departed to the field. Why was she here?

He was stopped once again walking through the corridors.

"Gaara-Sama!" Shouted a running shinobi that approached Gaara in the hallway.

"Yes?" Gaara incites for him to speak up what he so adamantly needed to.

"The shinobis from the..." Ishimitsu, the shinobi, was interrupted by an already informed Gaara.

"I was already briefed that the members of the Cascade are Jonin, Ishimitsu". As Gaara said that Ishimitsu's face showcased confusion.

"The Cascade, what? No, Kazekage-Sama, the members of Shimogakure are..."

The three shinobi's from Shimogakure moved within the dessert under the ruling path that set their leading figure. Tirelessly and at a fast pace, they were in pursuit.

Were you to even care for their names, just know they were Higashi Sora, Watanabe Katsu, and Miyagawa Tadashi.

"We are not alone." Said Higashi, a rather petite teenager with white hair and green eyes as he stared at a trio of shinobi that were doing they're best to catch up with them. "They seem focused on us. Should we engage them?"

"No, I sense them. There's a team waiting for an ambush in that rock structure up ahead. We will simply elude them and drive them to it. The team from Tanagakure ought to be in that direction". Katsu said pointing away. "We are only to engage with someone so we don't lead any of them to Fū's team."

"Are you certain that she's in danger?" Sora asked.

"No, but we are not going to take a chance. Be ready for every contingency!"

"How do we elude the ambush?"

"Easy. Up with the speed". While on the move Katsu made three perfect copies of each of the members. Copies who went in the direction of the trap. "They do not need to even venture into that ground to fall into the trap. They have set up a field 20 yards before it, so by the time you enter it you have already fallen. It may be genjutsu. Nonetheless, let's lose them, we will encircle this area."

The other two figures nodded.

Little by little, they rested that distance to the point where they were poised 250 yards away from Fū's team and there they remained, without suspiciously going to close and being noticed. Many things were happening at the time, yet none matter to them.

Day 3…

Sakura was panting, tired to no avail, trying with surgical precision to use all the chakra she had left to heal her partners. She had to elude Ino's attacks and Choji's as they were controlled by a puppeteer. After two days, and a full morning of fighting, with three major clashes, she was exhausted, drained.

When both Ino and Choji rose they deservingly thanked her. Attributing her with the merits of them still being in the race. One bad fall at this juncture and all they had worked for could mean nothing. They were in a no mistake allowed timezone.

The had already handled the hardest part of the exam. Yesterday, after two battles that didn't lead to anything, amidst the nightfall Ino managed to obtain a scroll. She tracked a team of Iwagakure. With ease, she was capable of entering in one of the member's mind. It was child play.

She was no Suna shinobi, what she could puppeteer were beings of flesh, with conscious minds. A skill she conceived as being more complex, if she said so herself. Within this shinobi's body, she asked his team if they could lend "him" the scroll, after noticing that she didn't aim so greatly and this boy didn't have it. Once she was given it, with the great fortune that it wasn't similar to their own, Earth, she runs away with the body of their partner and their scroll, into the night.

The others naturally went in pursuit, into a trap where both Choji and Sakura waited. They didn't have any problems with them, once she left his body she beat the one she was in herself. Ino had a cunning plan and the confidence to pull it off and what do you know? She could.

They just had to reach the tower...

Team 8 was too in the same point of the exam, none went through this without a scratch and none got them in a similar manner. They faced total defeat once after being beaten, the possibility of not getting through, with their scroll being taken. Showcasing valor and character, they did not give up and with their tracking ability catch up with the ones who had their future promotions in their pockets and face them once again. Making that previous defeat a one-off instance. The enemy was capable and actually weird but they managed to improvise and ultimately they raised victors.

Team 9 was a different story. Two brawls, 2 scrolls and they still had to obtain one. Both they had were Heaven, so unless they traded it with someone that was to be that kind they still had another battle to fight to pass.

Sakura looked at a structure up ahead. They were in no shape and form to fight anyone and it could house them for the next hours till they could get up to speed. While it was already day 3, they could without a doubt take a break. It was only noon. Signaling her comrades she led them to the shelter.

She led them, an occurrence that should be pointed out. For once she was in command, this once her comrades' life were on her hands and she delivered. She stepped onto the plate and not only defeated the enemy by herself, forcing them to retreat, but she also did it with a clear number's disadvantaged, five against one, counting Ino and Choji...

Against those odds she did that without losing track of the objective, not losing either one of the scrolls or their provisions, chiefly their water.

She smiled to herself, she did have many reasons to.

Matter aside, they all could hear an attack far away, it was a distant rumble. With no capacity of fighting at the moment, she pressed for her team to take shelter as quickly as they could.

Just a few minutes ago…

"So far so good". Mentioned Sora with a clear lack of enthusiasm. He was not eager for action, quite the contrary actually. The thing was, like Tadashi mentioned, that it would be weird to go through all this trouble for nothing. Just thinking of the first exam was soporific.

They've had some, not much. Actually to be more accurate, a single 5-minute fight. He couldn't say that they didn't break a sweat because under this heat cause a single move in it already warranted that. They already thought about it, there was no chance that they went through this thing untouched. A sole fight proved welcoming.

Tadashi remained in the tail of Katsu like Sora. Katsu's abilities had proven useful, it was thanks to him that they had till now such a pacific stay on the desert, it was thanks to him that they were currently on the trail of their objective.

As they ran, among the dunes Tadashi saw a man standing still. He thought it was a mirage because while he only caught a glimpse of him for a time span of less than a minute, he didn't see him move once, nor blink, nor hide from this heat, nothing.

He quickly left his mind, if anything that man was just in shock. Good luck getting out, Tadashi thought.

As they continued advancing the most surprising thing happened, he saw him again, in the same position, in the same place or somewhere with a similar shape. It simply couldn't be.

"Guys wait!" Said Tadashi with the loudest tone he could manage so they weren't caught. Sora and Katsu did, the last one with reticency, not wanting to lose the trail of their objectives, he formed three clones, two of them just looked out, so they did not have a blind spot, while the other one simply sat down. Kneeling with Tadashi, both look at him with questioning faces. He motioned them to slowly crouched down and follow him so they could see the figure at the bottom of the dunes. "I saw that guy in the same position just a few miles back. Standing there undaunted."

"Why didn't you said it sooner?" Asked Sora baffled. To which Tadashi replied with an apology, he made a mistake and didn't see him as a threat.

"Genjutsu?" Questioned Katsu.

"No, don't think so. I could have eluded it with ease". Confidently pronounced Sora.

The other two looked at the man once again, he didn't seem to move. Just because, they decided to not trust Sora overconfidence and released some energy.

"Kai" Releasing it, the trio felt nothing. Nonetheless, whether it was or not, the important matter at hand was that when they looked back at the man he was no longer there.

'The hell'. Thought Tadashi.

Just a whisper, a light trace of sound blew past them, not fast enough for one of them to not notice, hoping himself to react in time.

'Not this time'. He thought in the back of his head as his lower body turns with enough speed to carry the upper one with strength as he launches his punch towards the center they all three encircled.

His knuckles reach in time, punching the hell out of the figure as he was sent away from the force that Katsu put on it.

'Fast'. Thought Sora. Thanking in the back of his mind that Katsu was aware enough.

Awareness and ability allowed for them to not have been caught with their backs turn, ill-luck lead to such flying man to clash against Tadashi, leading him out of the reach of his companions.

Out of the sand jumped 10 shinobis. Sora, Katsu, and Tadashi immediately caught sight of who they were fighting against, Sunagakure's shinobi.

Sora with a whip-like gadget that he just summoned was able to pull Tadashi towards them. Katsu had no choice but to do one jutsu, recalling the signs as he did them at lighting speed, 'Saru Ushi Inu Ne'.

"Wind Style: Whirlwind Shield" As Katsu ended those words, enveloping the three comrades was a small tornado. Covering them completely.

All the kunais that were incoming were repelled and rode the currents of winds that were suddenly generated by Katsu's chakra, spreading at great speeds through the field. Being in the environment they were in, as Katsu did that, so did he repelled the sand that everlastingly surrounded them. As the sand that surrounded them disappeared, they sunk a little as the sand naturally rearranged. Looking down to the ephemeral deeper standing ground they were laying on,

Sora could see something different among the homogenous sand, a worm he thought at first. Just after blinking, he realized they were fingers, shortly fully hands. In his mind, he shouted that they somehow were underneath the ground.

They went to grab them. Only being Sora the one to jump in time as Katsu's technique faded.

"Underneath, fuck!".

"Get the fuck off me!"

To the best of his capabilities, Sora did his own signs.

"Water Release: Water Cannon Technique". Sora spits substantial water out of his mouth that lands in between his companions, Katsu manages to free himself as his captor loses the hold on him, perfectly aware of what these two were up to.

The soil was wet enough to be a good enough conductor.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Release". Bolts emanated around Tadashi, freeing however was on the turmoil, jumping out the now mud.

The three were capable of eluding this first combined attack. What they didn't dare to forget was on who's turf they were fighting on.

"Why the hell are they..." This wasn't the time for talking. Sora had to be reminded of that by an impending kunai that he had to evade.

Katsu was looking around, searching for the puppeteer, if there was one. His three clones already defeated. Eleven enemy shinobi remaining against three. He had already gathered all the energy he needed. As he opens his eyes again he searches for any other signs or traces of chakra, searches for a thread. There were none. It might be their lucky day, for he didn't know how to handle a puppeteer.

Katsu made two clones that left the formation at raging speed, surprising their enemy. They were so fast that by the time they surpassed the first line of them, they did not notice. The second one, surprised, inadvertently braced themselves. To their amusement they passed them by, going strictly for a head to head taijutsu combat with the man they originally saw, the one that ought to have orchestrated this. The one who felt like he was in control.

No more.

The mysterious man of the dune was comfortable in facing them until they were at arm's length, rather sooner than he imagined. One of the clones went straight ahead for him and with a simple move eluded his attack and with ease destroyed his upper body, made of sand.

The sand clone dispersed, Katsu forced the original to come out with the help of some paper bombs that he led to falling in his surrounding area. He had no choice but to come out and when he did, someone was waiting for him.

The target cleared his eyes, the second clone wasn't on sight.

A kunai, a simple kunai was thrown from above as the man rose from the sand, the Suna shinobi couldn't elude it, he tried to duck, to get out of the direct path. The best he could do was for it to land on his clavicle.

Rather than simply piercing through the flesh and bone lightly, the kunai sunk so deep that it came out under his side, under the armpit. He was lucky that the angle didn't have the precision to hit his organs, not any vital ones. The hole, though, could be a deathly wound, Katsu just disabled his enemy's left side.

Before any of the remaining ten shinobis could aid, who by now the Frost team could say with certainty was their leader, the first clone moved in front of their path.

Not only was he on their path but so was the fear of Sora and Tadashi water and lighting affinities, as they try a similar combo but with different techniques, making them elude rather than advance.

'Got you'. Thought Katsu as two other clones he just made jumped into the middle of both hollows were the shinobi were dispersed. As they tried to move up, Katsu started flinging the sand to the sides creating an avalanche that made them slip towards the center of that hollow where the clones where. Instead of inviting the chance of going ahead for Katsu, seeing him briefly in action, they decided to distance themselves to search for options. The shinobis were forced to jump to get out of there.

They were in danger, in mid-air, the perfect target. Given the precarious situation, one of the shinobi resorted to what he knew, to his style.

"Fire Style: Fire Breath Jutsu"

As the fire approach and with them all still, in the process of falling, Katsu smirked.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough" After Katsu did that the flames turned with increased heat, feed with the oxygen in that air. Wind was by nature weak against fire, regardless, the difference in chakra between Katsu's technique and that of his opponent was such that he did not put out the fire, but feed it so it could kill his breather as its path change by the force of his wind style. He rearranged its rout.

The user who used that jutsu was burned in his own flames, together with a partner who he didn't do any favors to, one in comparison to this fatal materialization just burned his leg. The degrees and severity of burns decreased in comparison for the rest. Those who were injured, in succinct disarray, more focused on the fire and within Sora and Tanabi's range were killed, distracted.

The count and the numbers printed in the signboard for the fight were redesigned to be truthful to the current fight. Now there were seven of them remaining against three, with their leader dying from blood loss. The guy with the burning leg won't be much of a partaker either.

The Shimogakure's shinobi went into close formation again only to struck seconds after, relentlessly. Not giving the enemy time to breathe and for the momentum to change.

Katsu threw another kunai with the strength he previously had, only that this time that Kunai wasn't traveling alone.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique". Only one managed to get hit and it proved this time to be deadly. Six remaining.

"They're no genin!" Mentioned out loud one of the remaining members as they looked at them like they were in a standoff.

They had already beaten two clones, the ones in between them and their leader, not before being injured in the process. They formed around him, to protect him. They were in no shape to fight, they were shocked against their previously overconfident sentiment. Shimogakure's team had barely a scratch on them.

It was time to finish them…

They were all so focused on each other that none of them notice the unmistakable and predominant thing to fear at the time, approaching at the distance with an unstoppable pace. Only one of them didn't miss it.

"Oh shit!" Shouted Tadashi, pointing behind the backs of their enemies to the new arriving. "Sandstorm!" Just when things were going their way.

As they all looked ahead, they could see the sand rise up to the clouds above and beyond, a scary-ass wave. A phenom they ought to elude. Tadashi ordered them to retreat. They knew that when the storm arrives, day will turn to night and that of the two clashing sides, they were the ones less prepared to fight.

Katsu formed five clones who stood in between both sides, all performing the same hand signs while the original already turn to run as they escaped away from it. He was fearful that his wind style wouldn't be enough to prevail against such a sudden occurrence. To protect his partners.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough"

They run in the opposite direction of the sandstorm. Of those five clones, three jumped out of the picture, each running to another direction in order to independently cover more ground in hopes of finding shelter, the other two remained so they would not make the foolish mistake of turning the back against their enemy. Yet they didn't play well their cards.

"That one ain't natural. It came out of the blue". Thought out loud Katsu.

"May as well be. Doesn't matter, let's move". Responded Tadashi. The nature of it didn't matter that much in this instance.

When Sora look back to see if they were pursuing them, to his surprise they were. With so many injured he expected them to retreat long before. They were indeed persistent, he would not deny that.

Looking to his partners, who too were aware, he just was about to nod to motion them to move, but…

"Argh!" Sora shouted in pain, as it arose when two shurikens landed on his back and one on his leg. He knew he had to keep moving and for that he needed cover.

Tadashi wasn't aimed at. Katsu got the memory of one of his clones as it dispersed and manage to have the reaction time to defend himself with his kunai of the round coming his way. Shame that he didn't get those memories with enough time to warned Sora.

Katsu turned to protect their rear, filling the vacancy left for the other two he left back then, who were defeated. Only two shinobi were in their pursuit. Both shinobis went straight for him, or so Katsu thought. To his surprise having fought against them earlier, one of them surpass him. He feinted that he was going to clash against Katsu, but he disappeared from the immediate picture under the sand, Katsu not having time to react as his enemy's partner did indeed come for him.

Out of the two bulges of sand that they were clashing in between came out another two clones in ambush, that was Katsu's plan. They didn't have much trouble killing one of his pursuers, but he underestimated the other.

Critical mistake.

"Look out!" Shouted one clone. They turned around too late.

Tadashi was aiding Sora, giving him a shoulder where to rest while they continued moving. As he turns with Sora to look, the enemy shinobi had already come out of the sand within five feet of them, with his sword drawn. They could see his bloodlust stare as the grains of sand trickled down his head. With one arm occupied as the support for Sora's body, Tadashi was not fast enough to draw a weapon against the impending sword.

Fully expecting to get hit, he closed his eyes and tried to braced Sora. Tried because it was Sora that made the move prematurely and manage to get in between the sword and Tadashi, getting an ugly cut on his back.

Katsu fluently moved, in the approach of the enemy. Eluding a fire technique he knocks on his doorstep. He was faster than his enemy. He eluded an incoming blow with his right, ducking the incoming left, predictable. He got in and out of his reach and after managing to punch him in the face he took advantage of his shock, to unbalance his enemy by kicking his support foot and drive him to the sand with a kunai in his chest. Burying him in all the sense of the word. As he took his weapon out of him, he realized he couldn't see but the feet of the corpse. A trail of his hair as he was devoured by the dessert.

Aware that no one was following, he went to his partner's aid.

"Sora!" Shouted Katsu, Tadashi was giving him first aid on the ground, Sora was breathing and awake. "How is he?"

"We need aid. The vest and the mesh took the majority of the impact of the sword. I don't know about that wound, it needs to be closed, he ain't bleeding much. As long as we manage to get him to patch up, he will be alright." Tadashi briefed. "He won't be able to fight in his condition, that's for sure"

"Come on then, look ahead. There's a shelter". Mentioned Katsu as he stood from his knees and tapped Tadashi's shoulder three times, to hurry him. One of the clones that went to scout found a place where they could be shielded from this thing.

"Give me a second".

"We don't have one". Responded Katsu looking at the sandstorm.

There was no arguing, the phenom that was presented in the distance before was minutes away from reaching them and they could not get caught up in one with Sora in his condition. Tadashi, being the strongest and bigger of them all, lifted Sora to his shoulders, a fireman's carry. That's what the technique is called. Given that all his injuries were on his back, it seemed like the better option.

They run as fast as they could surrounded by a formation of clones that had to be summoned for protection after their previous careless fuck up. It took them up to five minutes to get there.

The shelter was big enough for them, nowhere in their minds matter that it could be occupied, they had other problems.

Katsu reached the entrance and leaned against the side of it, he waited for his partners to enter, encouraging them to do so quickly.

"Come on! Come on"

Fortunately, they made it. Tadashi and Katsu entered as they looked at the storm go by, enveloping everything in its path. Sora was looking instead at the shelter and thought wisely to mentioned what he noticed in no time.

"Ehem. Guys, turn around".

"Who are you?" Said Choji with a menacing tone.

'Shit' Simply thought Tadashi. Meanwhile, Katsu ought to be thankful that he was wearing goggles, for his expressions were something to marvel.

Meanwhile in an unknown part of Otakagure…

Sasuke remained in his bed, with an arm bandaged from a mistake he committed in his training yesterday. He was looking back at a humorous occasion in his life. Not by nature of where it was framed, but how.

He had to look far back in his memories for the first time he learned a fire technique with his father. Tired to no avail he remained still on the ground, with no force to continue. Unlike the many occasions where his father would reprimand him with a disapproving tone, this one was comically actually, mockingly.

"Laying down is not something you should be working at Sasuke, it's not like your gonna lose a step. Laying down is the only skill you get better at every year that you're alive." His father said, he could recall him pausing before adding, "Eventually, you master it."

There was a microscopical chuckle in the face of one of the two remaining Uchiha, were there to be anyone with him in his room, and he or she wouldn't notice. The next time his father told him that joke, with no memory of ever telling him before, he added after that "master it" a speech of war and death and how he was going to die if he didn't do what he told him to, in the times he mentioned to do them at. He was wired that way. Sasuke didn't slack off, so something he did install.

The shadow that his brother cast over him at the start was also very different from the one that now prevailed. He had nothing but love and admiration, there was no jealousy at the prowess of Itachi as he went through the ranks at a quicker pace than any before. He was in awe.

It wasn't until his father made him live up to that that his view changed. Where once remained hopefulness for emulation, after prevailed impotency and frustration.

His father's hunger for excellence hurt him. His obsession with valuing him after the fact, after he accomplishes this or he manages that, hurt him. Itachi excelled his father's expectations, but Sasuke didn't, he was not in the same place that Itachi was, fructifying in his father always saying Itachi could, so should you, reprimanding him when he didn't. Everlastingly seeming like he loved Itachi than he ever did him. Success warranting a type of love in his household.

Nor her brother nor his mother lived under that predicament, that why he cared for them the most. The people he held most dear.

There was resentment with Itachi because he didn't help him grow as a shinobi due to his schedule, nor his intentions. He didn't understand that. The many times he called for a bit of training, only for a muted response to be utter with two fingers against his forehead. That was his only complaint, the only demand, and protest that he had about him, and it emerged in the previous year before that occurrence. He was actually a laudable big brother. That reality seems from another dimension, right now.

When he lost them all… To whom he lost them too. There was no introspective process, no usual memory searching or soul explorations, no search of mental health. There was one memory, a sense of loss, that permeated everything he was or could be. The only moment that gave his biographical narrative sense was to eliminate a timeline, to finish a process. The one where his family ever remained after the fact, by killing his brother.

His personal identity was forged into selective narratives that could fuel that fire, that hate, that hunger for power to eradicate Itachi from this world. Those were his selective memories, others like friends or many of his family had no place.

He couldn't see his honest growth in Konoha, nor when his reference went from being Itachi, the prodigy of the Uchiha, to a loudmouth that couldn't be conceived in the same world as he was as a Shinobi, in the academy. What growth could he had if that blonde dumbass could surpass him and defeat foes he couldn't. That wasn't his place. He was better than Naruto and yet he was catching him before his eyes. Sasuke was faster, taller, stronger, had better control, technique, and yet... Sasuke was disoriented to say the least, when Naruto of all people was metaphorically ahead of him...

In some of those important fights, he once again felt somehow helpless, incapable of changing the course of them. When Gaara happened he was once again that boy in that corridor, awaiting death. So was the case in his first fight against Zabuza. Fights in which he had to protect people, deter the opposition from killing those he called comrades. Obstacles that at times deter him from using all his force with no care for collateral damage.

That didn't happen when he fought for himself. When he could only see the battlefield. That flame was awakened and fed when he faced Orochimaru, and it prevailed now that he was facing him during his training as well everyday. He had no care for others, ought to not have to to accomplish what he desired. All were obstacles in a road that he would run through, whether he died on it or live through it matter not if he managed to kill Itachi.

Far away were his hopes of restoring the Uchiha…

When he defeated Naruto he eradicated the first nonsense in his life. He restored the natural order, where Naruto was behind him, no other picture needed. Where the only person who fed his desire to surpass him was once again only his brother, as Sasuke looked up to the chance of standing above him as Itachi's cries died out with his putrid life.

He did question for a second if it had to all come to this? Once again that not occupying much of his thoughts, for they deter him from focusing on his training. Notwithstanding, he questioned if it needed to come to it with Naruto, to take it as far as it was. If he had only left him alone….It was a moment worth of been in a dramatic tale, a before and after in the lifespans of those that clashed in it. With a climax that leads to unconsciousness, Naruto's. That's what that was. A slumber that was within seconds of being eternal for the blonde if Sasuke was to land a fatal blow, something that nearly happened.

There were many things he despised about Naruto, one he was glad to shut up was his pretension of understanding his pain, his motives. That alone begged him to shut him forever, but he decided against it, against his brother's wishes.

He defeated Naruto thanks to Orochimaru's power in part, installing his desire for more of it and the honest belief that no price was too high, that was to not be paid, except his life, which he was not going to give up. Not to someone who he himself could defeat, seen daily his deteriorating steps. The closer to the day where Orochimaru was to take his body the better, for the more ready he will be and the weaker his opponent.

Long had he stood up, now walking towards the mentioned snake office. As he approaches it he hears him and Kabuto rumbling.

"We have a mole, find it or I will kill everyone here except Sasuke-kun, making sure that mentioned traitor is no more". Mentioned with his hissing voice Orochimaru.

Sasuke knocked on Orochimaru's open door.

"Sasuke-kun, what are you doing here?"

"Let's continue with the training." Imposingly claimed the Uchiha.

"Kabuto recommended you to rest Sasuke-kun, it's better to follow what he says in this case". Claimed Orochimaru, hoping to take care of his future recipient.

"When it comes down to it, I might have to fight with something more than a bruised bone." There was no doubt in his words. "We are training".

"All right, all right, stop shouting. Calm down". Mentioned Tadashi, with Sora still in his shoulders. "We are here only for shelter".

Ino and Sakura stood, rose in a defensive stance. They knew perfectly that against these conditions the exams took second place. What they also knew was that they were on the last day and unlike other teams, they had both scrolls. They did not know each intention.

Katsu put things simply with a question.

"Any of you knows Medical Ninjutsu?" He questioned as he helped Tadashi put Sora down.

"Yes, what of it?" Asked Sakura as if the answer wasn't obvious, as if there wasn't any clearly injured individual here. She was unmistakably testing.

Tadashi shot her a look.

"Could you heal our teammate?" Asked Tadashi.

"For your scroll, we will". Quickly said Ino, that wouldn't create much affinity. Sakura's look was of surprise, Katsu rather smirked. So far for the axiological vows of medicine.

"You bitch" Almost muttered Sora from the ground, coughing. It was heard.

"It's fair". Mentioned Katsu as he searches for it in his pockets, catching it and throwing it to Sakura. Tadashi knew they didn't matter to them, still, to give them away. "This is for sharing the shelter. Now, could you please forget the foulmouth of my friend and heal him so he doesn't have any lasting effects and at least. can get out of this desert. Afterward, I promise you that he will be more grateful and well mannered".

Ino remained doubtful, not being able to look this guy's eyes while he spoke did nothing to decrease that mentioned distrust.

"Believe us, we have no intention of facing you. Even less now that we need you. We are only asking for a place to rest from the storm. If you even want we can share some provisions. You know we can't go out there, we won't willingly, sorry. Again, we don't have anything against you. Sandstorms usually last hours. We will leave the second it ends. We will even wait for you to check that we have stolen nothing from you. Okay?" Suggested Tadashi.

The three members of Konoha looked at one another and nodded.

"Okay". Said Choji for that word to prelude those of thankfulness from the shinobis of the Frost.

"Thank you".

After that negotiation, Sakura went ahead to heal Sora under Tadashi's careful stare. There were some nasty cuts in his back. Lying with his head down, Sora resorted to this kunoichi's knowledge so he could be healed and not be a liability for the remaining of his mission. Katsu meanwhile left his things on the ground and sat down, in the Lotus pose, to the incredulity of those who weren't looking out for Sora. Ino looked at his companions not trying to ask what called for him to do that, but Tadashi motioned with his hand to leave him alone, they didn't understand either.

Katsu wondered what to make of all this. He didn't understand the laws of the desert. The randomness of this occurrence. If it was random and recurrent, or, again, redundantly, simply unpredictable. What he understood was that this may be no accident and that it could be induced. He was going to test that. His mind momentarily forgot about the rest, about the fact that they were attacked.

Those shinobi weren't after them, what they might have figured out it's that they were going after the same person.

With them being from here, maybe they could somehow operate under these conditions. They, as in them, the Shimogakure's shinobis couldn't, and if forced to act they will perish by their incapability to deal with the conditions. How many more teams were out there? He knew that Gaara was not hunting Fū, so who were they going against? Under whose command? Maybe it was Gaara the target, after all, it was a chance. Suicide in this climate and field but a chance.

Sakura was on the verge of ending her procedure on Sora. She sighed. Just when everything seems to be going their way... The sandstorm and now this. It was out of luck that they found this place and she thought that within that good momentum they will manage to have a pleasant rest, unobstructedly, and go after the tower. Ready of course if things went sour.

Now here they were, with other shinobis from another village who didn't pose any opposition nor frustration to the idea of giving them their scroll. She had a hunch, not a bad one, but a hunch regardless. One that told her that something else was going on.

"Do you think they will suspend the exam?" Asked Ino, starting the small talk.

"They've got to". Responded Tadashi as he looked at the blond. "These conditions are far away to unique to this place to ever be extrapolated or matter in other settings. No chunin related aspects will be showcased here. These conditions are far beyond any ninja's ability".

Choji nodded in agreement, hoping that it was the case. Sakura doubted it, who was there to say that they won't come back to fight in Suna someday.

"It's time to eat! We were about to. If you would like to accompany us... " Said Choji. Tadashi nodded alone.

Sakura had to help Sora to approach them in order to eat something before he got to rest. To gain some strength after such an effort.

Katsu remained in his world.

Tadashi cringed at the thought of having to talk by himself with this bunch from Konoha.

"So, how have you've fare up until now? Not that it would matter much if the last day is postponed". Asked Choji again to Ino disbelief at the theme he had set. They were not to share information with one another.

"Choji!"

"No, it's okay". Said Tadashi as he searched within his ropes and showed another two scrolls. All looked at him. "Yeah, despite the fact that we have given you one, we have enough."

"Why go after three?" Asked Choji, suddenly seeming curious and chatty.

"To be honest we didn't even go after them. A team with two scrolls of the same type went after us rather and they were left with none after they thought wise to take that chance". Said Tadashi as he pulled out the original one and played with it, moving it like a drumstick between his fingers. "How many have you got?"

"Three". Ino put simply to the surprise of Tadashi who thought that she was driving a hard bargain out of desperation for the second scroll necessary for the exam.

"I was going to say greedy, but it's smart actually. Could have mistaken you for being merciless." Tadashi had a report on the girl. Actually, all of the brats from the exams of Konoha years ago had one. She didn't resemble the profile at all. "You seem set on eradicating any chance of not passing". Claimed Tadashi with respect.

Meanwhile, Katsu rose, ignored the voice of his comrade as he looked outside, giving him his back.

"What's up his ass?" Wonder Ino.

"Grandstanding aspirations. He is just calling for attention with that thinking pose of his. Forget him". Mentioned Sora as he made the effort to eat something.

Katsu could feel the chakra of the storm, it was a technique. That confirmed his thoughts, he couldn't trace where the signature ended, how long till the storm passed. It wasn't within range. The rescue corps were though. And so was, far away from them, the one who they ultimately all responded to.

'Gaara's on the field' Thought Katsu. 'They weren't going after Fū, they were organizing a coup'. Not that much of a surprise to be honest. These changed their plans. Unless they were both together they would have to decide after which one they would go. He had to wait for the storm to end and for Sora to be healed.

Either Sora was in enough shape to continue or Katsu would leave them alone and go by himself.

How could he grasp that the thought rescue corps weren't the shinobi that previously attack them? Easy, they had a different signature and he could at least recall with precision one of them. He was glad that they didn't pursue them much longer back then, meaning like an hour ago.

This exam was about to be postponed, no harm in sharing it with Konoha once they needed to know, meaning almost an hour after the moment he realized it, after they had already eaten and the exploration group was in their doorstep.

"The exam will be postponed". Mentioned Katsu out loud. Everyone seems to be focused on him now, having just spoken his tenth word maybe since arriving. "There's a Sunagakure squad heading our way with teams that were lagging".

"How do you know that?" Asked Sakura, nothing could be seen outside, did he have a Byakugan under those familiar shaped goggles? Katsu just pointed through the door. Both Ino and Choji stood up to catch a glance.

They didn't need to wait even 2 minutes for that mentioned team to make their appearance, with robes up to their eyebrows, they didn't seem to know who they were.

As soon as one of them disrobe a bit so the least they could do was see her face, they reacted.

"Temari!" Mentioned Ino relieved.

"Oh. Hello guys, glad to see you made it". Temari mentioned as she turns to ordered around those who were still behind her. "Come on, everyone inside! You will remain here until the storm is over".

"They are all already in the shelter, Temari-san". Mentioned one of the shinobis under her command. She simply nodded.

"All right, listen up!" Said Temari out loud so she could have the attention of everybody. "The exam will be postponed to tomorrow at least. While all that is secondary, my partner here, Tamahide, will be left here in charge of you while we search for the remaining participants. No funny business, he will take notes on the number of scrolls each team has, if anyone tries anything they will be expelled. Am I clear?" When she said that there was little room for doubt, many nodded. "Good, we will come back for you, till then remain here. It's cozy but there's space for all of you". She proclaimed as she left.

"Temari wait..." Ino said as she tried to reach for her.

"Right now no Ino, whatever it is it will have to wait". Clarified Temari as she left.

8 more people now resided with them. Katsu approached Tadashi and Sora so he could whisper something to them. Giving both of them a pat on their shoulders and mentioning them to approach him.

"I will continue this mission alone. All right?" As Katsu said that Tadashi grabbed his arm, forcefully.

"No it's not alright, no funny business remember?" Tadashi clarified. "You represent us all. If you leave now it would be a blatant transgression".

"I will leave a clone. I'm not taking chances, Tadashi. I'm going to search for Gaara and Fū and I'm not capable of tracing them from here". Briefed Katsu.

"And how do you plan to do that without anyone noticing, getting suspicious..." Sora's tone change during those last words as he fell on something. "You have already done it, haven't you?" Sora raised his hand to his forehead, facepalmed.

"What?" Tadashi asked, not having heard that last part.

"He is a clone, Tadashi. Katsu has already left". Explained Sora while Katsu apologetically smiled.

It took all the restrain in the world for Tadashi to not smack Katsu's clone, making it disappear.

The storm had passed 10 minutes in since that last talk.

Without the storm clouding his vision, lashing out on him, Katsu was able to move at ease. He was running out of time. He could sense something, a huge amount of chakra.

It had to be them. Both Fū and Gaara. He runs as fast as he could.

In the distance, past the dunes, he saw a green circle. He had no ability to… The time for sensing had run out. It didn't matter, he knew where he had to go.

"Run brat, run".

He didn't bother to ask why, if he of all people advised that, it meant he ought to be arriving soon, that there was trouble.

He accelerated even more. Running in the sand was fucking difficult, whether it was in the dunes or in these rock elevations. With a big jump he rose to a small elevation, from there he could see everything clearly.

His mind was so caught up in the effort of arriving that he hadn't thought of what scenario he will face once he reaches their position, yet he was indeed bemused by the picture before him. Quite anticlimactic rather. All this running...

Gaara and Fū were free, without harm from the appearance of them and in control of the situation. On the floor remained a bold guy that Neji was guarding. Lee, Tenten, and Fū's companions were also there.

He could even see three jonin figures approach. The worst part seems to be long gone and he had missed it. He was not conflicted with the fact that he was not needed, one less fight for him and two perfectly healthy jinchuriki to celebrate for it. He was thankful and disappointed that he could have arrived too late to save or protect the person in question, mainly Fū, like they were ordered.

'Thank god' Katsu though. Out of the corner of his eye he caught…

Yasunaga was shocked and frustrated. He and his two companions were fearful of the consequences of their failure. Earlier today their squad had lost a battle against some Shimogakure genins. A team of twelve shinobi was defeated by three fucking children! They thought.

Not being able in consequence to support the other squad that was to divert the attention while Hōichi completed his Dharma Power Sealing Technique: Sen no Rikyū, one technique strong and capable enough to be able to forcibly extract two tailed beasts at once.

They had just arrived, cursing their luck. Had they done it sooner and they could have been capable of aiding and protecting Hōichi long enough so that he could have killed that monster. Stopping the Konoha shinobi.

They had to hide after this failure. Chances were that they were killed by their superiors.

Yasunaga heard to grumbles, the sound of something falling in the sand twice. Turning he saw the bodies of his two remaining comrades on the floor, unconscious. Before he could utter plead or express fear, before he was even capable of rising his head and see the two perpetrators, sharpness caresses his neck.

"Don't you even try to move a muscle". Katsu mentioned with a menacing tone that promised death were he to disobey. "We are gonna meet your Kage so that he could express his gratitude for your protection".

Yasunaga feared the worst.

"You have my thanks, Neji. Imagine, being saved by you." Thanked Gaara.

"Is everyone alright?" Questioned Lee.

"Yeah, we are okay now". If it wasn't for who said those words, Fū, Gaara could already be dead. Without her Cocoon stopping the extraction, slowing it down at least, maybe Gaara could be already dead.

The question that remained was of safety, were any more attacks to occur they had the numbers to stop them.

"Was he alone?" Wondered Kurenai, who previously laughed at the pride of Guy for his team's success. It was touching actually.

"No, he wasn't". All turned to track that approaching voice. They caught sight of one Suna shinobi, looked handcuffed, by a Shimogakure ninja. With two clones of mentioned ninja behind him carrying another two of Gaara's compatriots. "They were with him and even attack us earlier".

Yasunaga crumbled under the undaunted stare of his Kage, who had yet to utter world. Not maintaining his glance, he looked at the side at a still breathing Hōichi. "Questioning will have to wait for later, right now what we ought to do is get back to the tower." Gaara didn't need to question the Frost shinobi how did he know if those were disloyal soldiers, the look of disappointment at his still breathing by one of them was proof enough. "Thank you, who are you again..." Gaara was about to finish that question, raising his head to look at the shinobi, actually noticing him for the first time, he wasn't the only one.

Kurenai for example knew just by looking at the captor that he was using a transformation technique, unlike her, Gaara knew who he really was. Which didn't bother Katsu one bit, what he was hoping for was for Neji to not notice him, to not dare use his Byakugan.

'What are you doing here?' Thought Gaara. This could be the biggest surprise he had had all day, and that was something.

"Gaara-Sama?" Questioned Matatsu, seeing as Gaara had gone somewhere. Bringing him out of his stupor.

"Sorry, like I was saying, let's get back everyone". He ordered some of his men to take the prisoners to be interrogated.

During the whole way back Gaara had the urge to ask what he was doing here. It was a shock that Fū hadn't done it already. She seemed to be occupied thanking Neji and offering him, for him to be her friend.

Once they arrived and after a couple of orders, Gaara ordered his guards to take a break, now of all times, after an assassination attempt. He asked them one last thing, to bring Watanabe Katsu. It took five minutes to arrive.

Once the door was close he just couldn't help but ask out loud.

Finally, after dealing with the main traitor, Fugi, the mind behind it all, who ashamed committed seppuku after hearing from Gaara himself of his failure and his defeat. After hearing of the plan for Suna that Gaara had and upon whom he made judgment with no knowledge of where it was to lead, not bothering to get to know him in order to know if he could carry it out. Fuji opposing him with the prejudice of what he was and what remains of it.

Finally, after all that, he could ask.

"What are you doing here, Naruto?"

Flashback…

"Suna? Why are we going to Suna?" Naruto asked. His tone was not of disbelief but of doubt.

Jiraiya looked at the boy and laughed, the least he expected him to be was excited. After all, Suna was the Land of the Wind and they honored it by being the best wind style users in the world. The idea of meeting Gaara too should incite excitement, yet Naruto didn't showcases what he thought.

"The chunin exams are about to take place". Mentioned Jiraiya for Naruto's now effervescent elation. 'So now you are excited, huh?' Jiraiya honestly felt bad for what he was about to do. "But you won't be participating in them".

Naruto tripped and fell to the floor. 'Now that was a face of disbelief' thought Jiraiya. Naruto went from zero to a hundred real quick and went back to zero at the same speed. From smiling and jumping to crying and pouting.

"What do you mean I won't be participating?" Why say anything then, that was mean, thought Naruto.

"No, you will…. It's a bit more complex than that". Jiraiya was wondering how to best explain it to him. "All right, give me a second. You will partake on them, on the second exam rather, only that you won't do it with Konoha". Was that a good enough start? Jiraiya didn't think so once he saw Naruto's face.

"Then with whom?" Asked Naruto, confused.

"With Shimogakure". Jiraiya was about to restart, he hadn't managed to make thing clear until now, time to start. "Okay, let me explain. You won't be participating in the exams to go up the ranks, to be upgraded to chunin..." Naruto was about to protest when Jiraiya raised his hand for him to not do so. "... Let me end. As I said, you are not going there for any accolades. You will replace a genin from a team from Shimogakure and partake on a combined mission. Your focus will be to not be caught and, once you entered the Demon Desert protect Fū, the jinchuriki of the Cascade, the seven tails."

Naruto now was interested, beyond the withered disappointment that he had. Fū was in his age range and for what he read, far beyond more advanced in handling her powers than him and Gaara.

This mission sounded unique, he will give Jiraiya that.

"The thing is, that once I was informed that she was taking the exam I offered the one in command, someone named Shibuki or something like that…" Jiraiya was interrupted.

"Shibuki is the leader of a village?" Questioned Naruto. Jiraiya looked at the boy.

"You know him?" The response was implied.

"Yes, we were in a mission with him". Naruto said, Jiraiya, for now, didn't need more details, he didn't care much for that now.

"Well, now you're doing a mission for him rather, one that I offered so we could protect her and manage to get the two of you together so you can speak with one another, now that she's allowed to leave her village." Which was something quite reckless given the times. "I told him of her situation and warn him about the Akatsuki, offered him to aid her so she could get safely home and he gladly accepted. The thing is that I've got business to attend to and I can't go into Suna without being noticed, ergo, I send you with another village that no one cares about so you have the best chance of going unnoticed while you make sure that there aren't any outside forces of the exam that attempt anything against her life. Once you managed that you and the team you will be with will accompany her to the border. I will be waiting for you there, then the Shimogakure shinobis leave, and you and I, together with the Cascade delegation will travel with her so she reaches her home and she ain't caught."

As Jiraiya spoke, after the ergo, his speech suddenly got faster and faster to the point Naruto had to look at the elder in search of any heart condition. He made it all seem simple and easy, nearly understandable.

"Also training you in one of the few things you are yet to deal with, stealth and deception". Jiraiya was breathless as he ended his pitch.

"Why not ask Konoha?" Asked Naruto, Ero-sennin seem to have gone overboard for this.

"Can't. Konoha actually cares about the exams and there's no genin team that I trust could pull this off. You don't understand how bad things are in Suna, there are leaks and interest in killing their Kage and the chances of infiltration are quite high. Shimogakure on the other hand measures their shinobis progress by a different system, an age-related system. You cannot surpass certain ranks at certain ages. So while you will be fighting with two genins, we are talking about two with Konoha's chunin type of experience and abilities. Therefore not violating any rule." Jiraiya said. "And not to be greedy nor seem crazy, but the stealth thingy I mentioned was maybe the second biggest factor. I want to test you and your abilities by challenging you to ignore and deceit those you uphold your ninja way to. To understand that there are things that came way before her, Naruto".

¿Shouldn't Fū's safety take priority over that? For the best to be the ones to protect her. Maybe these Shimogakure's genin were older and far better than Konoha, but the difference in numbers, how many did they take to the exam? Three, maybe?

"And how did you get Shimogakure on board?" Naruto asked.

"Some small villages bet on information as a source of power given the lack they have of everything else. The military one let's just say. I offered Konade many things that could feed that power and she accepted. Told her certain things about their neighbors, came clean with many things of our own, and gave her a couple of scrolls of advanced fuinjutsu techniques that are utilized to create a sensing field within the village where you are able to notice everyone that comes to your shore. Handy if that person is unwanted or unregistered in times of war. Being a sensor herself, she loved the gift…" Jiraiya didn't realize how mundane he sounded while he spoke about matters of international dimension, Naruto couldn't believe that he was saying all this like it was a routine chore. "In the end, she even saw the benefit in participating, I think they've only done it once or twice at most in history. She claimed that the experience could be also beneficial for her genin, testing their level against the other villages".

Naruto was baffled. Jiraiya continued, he hadn't shut up in the last 10 minutes.

"The deal was signed with a clause, an obligation for you to be recalled of the fact that your actions represent their village, knowing what that entails and to act the part. You will replace this boy" Jiraiya said as he handed him the picture. "His name is Watanabe Katsu and he will take the first exam in Konoha for you, we don't want you to go home yet. After that, you will be him. Let's hope that in his name you don't do anything that he can't live up to".

Jiraiya looked at Naruto and saw a new face, one he didn't see before. Could it be admiration? Jiraiya thought. Celebrating his own existence.

"What?" He questioned.

"No nothing. It's just that I'm so used to see you doing the buffoon role, some stupid and perverted stuff, that at times is easy to forget you are actually a Sanin and capable of managing to organize something of this magnitude." Naruto answered before being pursued by Jiraiya himself for calling him buffoon.

Back to the present...

Gaara looked at Naruto, as he undid his technique and greeted him with his now more mature face. His more seasoned face. He is He is clearly and unequivocally, Naruto. He had grown much, besides his hair. Despite the obvious features Gaara didn't know if he was looking at the same person anymore. That was until he brought his hands to the back of his head.

The wardrobe was no technique, he truly wore a Shimogakure style of clothes.

"It's good to see you too, Gaara". Naruto said with honesty before answering his question, seen as he was in Kage mode and not in the mood for a bit of friendly chatter. Naruto thought that there wasn't anything wrong to omit some of the truth. "Do you want the long version or the shorter one?"