I do not own Naruto. This is unfortunate.

In The Beginning…

Twelve year old Saya Ryohei walked silently down Konoha's dusty streets thinking about the upcoming Chuunin Exams. Her dark brown shoulder length hair was pulled back into a pony tail. She had not wanted to participate in the upcoming event. To her, showing off power for the delight of others was a sign of arrogance. She wanted no part of it. She kicked a rock off the dirt road, keeping her head down as she walked. The sound of commotion brought her to look down a small alleyway. There she saw Naruto, Sakura, and Konohamaru. She was about to walk away when she saw two people she did not recognize. The guy stood, holding Konohamaru by the neck of his cape. He had too much make-up on in Saya's opinion. The blonde girl with four pigtails was yelling at him to just put the kid down. The guy wasn't listening. Saya thought he needed an attitude adjustment. She made her way down the alleyway taking calm, cool strides as she walked. Just as she got there, a pebble flew down and hit the guy's hand. Now the guy was pissed and he looked around. Saya looked up and saw Sasuke Uchiha. She knew him well. He didn't talk much and she didn't care much. Naruto was yelling at him not to interfere and Sakura was looking at Sasuke like he was her savior. Saya stared at the two strangers. No one really knew she was there yet-

"Sai-chan!"

She spoke to soon. Sai-chan is what her friends called her. She guessed Naruto was what you could consider a friend. He was okay in her book. So were the others, Sakura and Sasuke. They were her friends too. She was just different from them. She didn't understand their ways sometimes. All she knew was that they all worked well together as a team. Yep, that's right. They were the only four squad team in Konoha. She was added onto their team due to Kakashi's request to the Hokage. She and Kakashi were close. He looked after her like a daughter. She lived with him for a while after the…accident…with her family. He was in Anbu Black Ops back then. He saved her life and she was grateful to him. He raised her well. She went to school with the others and earned the Konoha headband but she asked not to participate in the Chuunin Exams, to the shock of Iruka-Sensei. It wasn't her style. When Kakashi heard he was furious to say the least.

Flashback:

"Saya, why did you not consult me about this first?!"

She looked down at the floor. She hated it when he was angry with her.

"I thought it would be better this way…I mean, if I did participate then the teams would be uneven…which would make it unfair."

Kakashi looked at her softly.

"That is not your problem. I trained you like I trained the other three. I've known you for six years and in those six years I have taught you a great many things. One of those things is responsibility. You have a responsibility to your village and to your Hokage. Share with the world what you know…the arrogance would be to keep it all to yourself."

Saya's green eyes finally met his black ones.

"I do not wish to be arrogant Kakashi-sensei."

He had smiled at her then.

"Good, because you are anything but arrogant. Try to rub some of that off onto your teammates. Two of them in particular."

She flashed a small smile and left. She would fight in the Chuunin Exams…and she would do her best to succeed.

End Flashback.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Naruto's face very close to hers. Her eyes widened a bit. She must have looked like an idiot just standing there daydreaming.

"Sai-chan, are you okay?"

Saya nodded once and looked at the scene before her. There was another person now. A red headed boy about her age with turquoise eyes stood next to the two other strangers. Sasuke had come down from the tree. She had apparently missed a lot considering Konohamaru was now on the floor behind Naruto unharmed and the three strangers were leaving. Sasuke spoke up first.

"Hey, what's your name?" he said to the red head.

The red head stopped and Saya finally saw the headbands strapped to his gourd, around the blonde girls' neck, and around the make-up boy's forehead. They were sand ninja. He turned around and stared at Sasuke.

"Sabaku no Gaara."

Saya's eyes widened. So this was Gaara of the Desert. He didn't turn around, but instead stood still, as if waiting for something. Sasuke must have realized what he was waiting for.

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke."

Gaara turned and looked at Saya, again waiting. Saya's eyes widened a bit. He wants to know my name? Saya mustered up her voice. She wasn't scared but the kid was awfully cute.

"Ryohei Saya."

With that said he turned back around and began walking away. The blonde girl looked at Sasuke with hearts in her eyes.

"My name is Temari and this is Kankuro," she motioned to the guy with the purple markings.

Then they left down the road. Naruto huffed loudly.

"And my name is Uzumaki Naruto!"

Naruto shouted down the road after them. Then he turned to Sasuke.

"I had it under control Sasuke!"

That's when the bickering started. Saya remained staring down the road after the sand ninja. He wanted to know my name…and I didn't even do anything to grab his attention. Saya turned to walk away. There was nothing to do and she was quite bored. Naruto turned towards her.

"Sai-chan, let's go get some ramen!"

Saya stopped in her tracks. Naruto knew ramen was just as much her favorite food as it was his. He grinned almost evilly. Saya whipped around a big smile on her face.

"Will it be your treat Naruto-kun?"

Naruto took out his wallet, which was shockingly full, and smiled.

"Sure, it's my treat!"

Saya grinned and they ran to the Ramen Shop quickly. Sasuke turned around and walked away, with Sakura close behind. The Chuunin Exams were going to be interesting.