*

{Later That Night:...}

We finally reached the tower where we all supposed to meet up at, being grateful to be in a tracking team. With our coordination of teamwork, it was like we were balanced with what skills we are strongly good at. Still a little shaken from the sudden attack, Gaara's eyes was all I could see. The air grew chillier, making me rub my arms trying to gather warm from friction.

"No ones here," Hinata glances around, as it was completely empty.

Kiba laughs, "We're the first!"

"No, I'm sure that I sense someone here a little while ago," Shino spoke up, making me nod feeling the aura of familiar chakra left over.

"I agree with Shino, I sense them,"

Hinata's attention soon turns to little Akamaru, "More importantly, is Akamaru okay?" she pats the small thing, that was tucked inside Kiba's jacket. "The poor little guy has been scared for so long."

"Come to think of it, what did Akamaru say before?" Shino asks Kiba.

"Well, I guess he must've been saying that bigger ninja wasn't trouble, because that little pipsqueak was gonna kill him," Kiba replies, slightly irritated that these ninja's scared poor Akamaru. My hand touches my aching throat, still feeling the raw bruising lightly swelling up.

Grimacing quietly, I bite my bottom lip.

Soon voices were heard suddenly, hearing these guys been here already. Half a day in fact, which caught me off guard. Just then their footsteps walk in, only to see the very three that caught me earlier. The taller ninja with the purple markings soon notices our presence, as my eyes lock with his.

"Hmm........looks like the little Senju found her squad," he comments, while I clench my jaw tightly trying to remain strong. "Too bad, I could've brought her down so easily!"

Yet, why do I feel unsettled? I'm not scared of anything, but why him? That one with the gourd on his back?

"......."

However Gaara side-glances our way, with a dangerous glare that could only kill. The look he gave me, when he tried to kill me earlier today. I could sense my squad quietly holding in their unsettled whimpers, before they kept passing by us. Once they were out of our sights, I quietly exhale before trying to clear my head.

"Well, it's best to get some rest," Kiba spoke up. "Kimi was injured, and we're all a little shaken...."

"Yeah, sounds okay," Hinata agrees, softly still looking a little afraid.

*

We all found a spot to rest up while I decided to take a look around, still feeling a little cautious and anxious. Never really showing my anxious side was something no one knows I have, especially with the bigger world. We all have flaws, we all have something we preferred to keep hidden.

With Hinata already still shaken up, I left her with Kiba and Shino knowing they need to rest up.

With conserved energy left, I couldn't allow myself to rest yet. Deciding to take a breather, I headed out before they could see me. My hand slowly drifts to my aching neck, to the point that it was difficult to speak properly. He really pressed against my vocal chords, trying to swallow thickly, at least try to ease the pain. The sound of crickets were buzzing their tune, allowing the night to grow silent for a while.

"Kimi,"

Turning around Kiba was walking up to me before wearing a scolding expression, "What's wrong?"

"Tch, don't go walking off like that," He hisses lightly, before approaching me closely. He pauses for a moment, while I fold my arms gathering some warmth. "Those guys could hurt you when you're alone again, so.....next time you leave....tell me, please?"

Chuckling dryly I rub my sore throat, "I'm okay, I'm alot stronger than you think," placing a soft smile, not noticing his cheeks turning slightly red.

He walks over and ruffles my snow white hair with a sigh, "How about we go outside?" he suggests, noticing Akamaru wasn't around. Glancing around, he seemed to notice looking for someone or something. "Akamaru is with Hinata, he fell asleep......"

"Right,"

Without hesitation he took my hand and pulls me out to a verandah outside, seeing the night was fully bright. Finding a spot to sit down, he sat rather closely but enough to keep one side warm at least. Kiba was a friend I've always felt comfortable around, but we do have some differences. With arguments, I tend to finish and claim my side to be true. It was only fun and games, especially when you tease him.

How I love teasing him is amusing to watch; he just has a short temper kind of guy.

"How is your neck, will it be alright for the next test?" he breaks the still silence, while I nod with assurance.

Humming softly, "Yeah, seriously.....stop worrying Kiba, you're gonna add another wrinkle to your forehead the more you worry,"

Flicking his temple playfully, he growls lowly with a small pout.

"'Stop worrying', my ass," he murmurs, while being a crouchy dog.

Silence soon falls between us again, but this time I had a lot on my mind. It was finally drowning up my brain, that it was overflowing. My hand was tightening with every single thought, that another hand rests upon my own. Lifting my head Kiba looks at me with concern, while I gave him a dead-panned look.

Raising an eyebrow, "You're worrying again Kiba, just stop,"

"No,"

Lifting my head up my eyes widen, "Kiba..."

"Just listen okay, we're a squad..........we worry for each other," He began firmly, before holding both my hands seeing determination in his eyes. "If one member of our squad falls, the rest pick them back up........we must work together."

His words were true, but still I don't want them to worry.

"Also...." my head lifts up, shifting to see him scratching his cheek. ".....you're like a leader to this group, but--"

"I'm gonna hold your word for that," I smirk, as his cheeks burn redder than his markings.

He growls, "Come on.....I just....would never admit it to the others," he averts his eyes from mine, while I sneak a glance his way.

Nudging his shoulder playfully I chuckle, "Alright grouchy dog, your secret is safe with me,"

He rolls his eyes sharing the same smile, baring his canines.

"Tch, whatever,"

*

NEXT DAY

Standing in seven rows were all the genin ninja that survived the second test, being said, I was quite surprised by how many did survive during the night. Standing up front of my squad, my eyes rest upon our mentors that stood right at the large hand sign monument, along with the Hokage at the very centre.

"First of all congratulations and finishing the second exam!" Anko announces, seeing Kurenai-Sensei nod towards me as I send a warm smile back. I still can't believe seven teams with twenty seven are left as my team was the only four man squad.

" Alright now pay attention! Lord Hokage is going to explain the third exam to you, you better listen carefully maggots!" Anko angrily snaps, with such an aggressive tone before she turns to the Hokage. "Lord Hokage, they're all yours."

He nods, before stepping forward.

"First before I tell you what the third exam entails, I want to explain something about the test itself," He began, clearing his throat. "Listen closely now, it's something that all of you need to understand. I'm going to tell you the true purpose of these exams, why do you suppose our country holds these exams in conjunction with our allies? To raise the ability levels of the shinobi, and increase friendship between allied nations to be sure. But it's important that you understand it's true meaning, the exams are so to speak......there are representation of the battle between allied nations."

Furrowing my eyebrows, "What does that supposed to mean?" murmuring to myself.

"Now, if we look our history all the countries that we're currently allied with," He began. "Were once neighbouring nations, that continuously fought with each other for power. In order to avoid destroying each others military strength meaninglessly, those nations picked champions to do battle on behalf of their countries and are mutually selected location. That was how the chunin selection exams originally began."

"Well, that's great, but why do we have to go through these exams?" Naruto questions, unsure the very reason. "I mean like it's not like we're doing this to pick chunin to go fight."

The Hokage's eyes slightly avert from him, "Well actually there is no question that part of the point of these exams is to select shinobi that are worthy to becoming chunin, then that's just not the whole story," Hokage replies. "These exams also allow for a place where shinobi can carry the pride of their nation on their backs, and fight against other ninja for their very lives. Many leaders and people are prominence from various countries are invited to attend this exam as guests and also possibly to seek shinobi to work for them."

"Talk about a gambling on skills," I murmur, folding my arms.

"This exam could determine the course of your ninja work, from here on out. And more importantly, those rulers will watch your battles and take note of the strengths that each ninja and each nation is developing," The Hokage continues, smoking his pipe slowly. "If there is a gap in power between the countries, the strong nations are annotated by job requests for their ninja. And conversely the request to countries that are deemed weak decline, therefore the stronger our nation is the better our position when it comes to negotiating with neighbouring countries, so it's important to show how much military strength has."

"Okay, but even so....why is it necessary for us to risk our lives?" Kiba questions.

"The countries strength is the village's strength, the villagers strength is the shinobi's strength," Lord Third replies. "And the true strength of the shinobi is only achieved with it's pushed to it's limits such as a life and death battle. This exam is a chance for each nation to display the strength of the shinobi and hence the strength of the nation itself. It's because this is an exam where your lives on the line, that it has meaning. And it's for this very reason, and for the strength of the nation that your four runners has fought for this exam. It's truly a dream worth striving for."

"But then why, did you use the expression friendship before?" I hear a girl question.

"But you've only remembered half of what i said, you also mustn't have the wrong idea of the exams meaning!" The Hokage continues, while I narrow my eyes trying to process his explanation. "This is a custom on which balance is preserved by fighting and dying. In the world, the shinobi that is friendship. The third exam is a fight for life with the pride of your village and your own dreams at stake."

Naruto smirks proudly, "Well he sure convinced me,"

"Any test is fine, just tell me what the details of the exam are already....I can handle anything you throw at me," I hear the death staring sand shinobi, Gaara I'm assuming. His voice was always so rough and hoarse, it was like sandpaper rubbing against his vocal chords.

The Hokage closes his eyes with a nod, "Very well then, now listen closely!" He began. "I'm going to tell you exactly what you all will be doing on the third exam."

However just before he explains the third exam, a shinobi jumps down before the Hokage. Raising a questioning eyebrow, I soon recognise the shinobi with his back facing us. "Lord Hokage, before you do....please allow me Hayate Geko appointed as proctor of the third exam to speak first?" The proctor asks.

The Hokage nods, "So be it,"

The proctor turns around finally getting a glimpse of his tired gaze, "It's nice to meet you all *Coughs* there's something I would like all of you *Cough* to do before the third exam," He began, turning to us. He seriously needs to get his health checked out. "Uh....we have to have a preliminary exam before we can move onto the real one."

"Preliminary?!" Shikamaru exclaims, seeing the most emotion in the lazy ninja in a while. "Just what do you mean by that?!"

"I'm sorry, sensei excuse me but i really don't see the point," Sakura questions. "What's this preliminary all about? Why can't we just move on to the third exam?"

Hayate reaches to scratch his cheek, glancing at all of us nonchalantly.

"Uh....well you see, the first and second exams might've been too easy," Hayate replies. "The fact is, we never expected so many of you to still be here. According to the rules of the chunin exams, a preliminary round can be held at any stage. In order to reduce the number of candidates remaining."

"But, is that unfair?"

"It's just at this stage, we have to speed things up abit," He replies. "It's lord Hokages said, a lot of important guests will be watching. We can't afford to waste their time. They've come to see only the best, so if there are any of you who feel you're not top physical condition, now is your chance to *Cough* sorry about that. As I was saying, any of you who don't feel up to this, now is the time for you to bow out. The preliminaries will be starting immediately."

"Come on, you mean right now?!" Kiba argues out loud.

"We just finished barely surviving the last exam don't we get a break?" Ino whines.

"Man what a drag,"

The proctor's head lifts up, "Oh yeah, the winners will be determined by one on one combat sudden death so like i said," Hayate began. "If there is anyone who doesn't feel up to it, now's the time to raise your hand."

Silence soon fills the building knowing full well not one wanted to back down, as we risked our lives getting this far. Kiba places a hand on my shoulder making me turn around, "I'm not back down, you?"

"Neither, we're going all the way," I smile gently, seeing his eyes widen with my determination.

"Cub......" he whispers.

Just thinking we all weren't back down a hand raises in the corner of my eye, slightly turning my head my eyebrows knot with confusion. "Kabuto? Why him?" whispering to myself.

"Okay, you got me....I'm out," Kabuto dryly smiles.

"Um...well..*Cough* Kabuto Yakushi of the leaf village, right?" Hayate questions him, earning a nod. "Okay you can go on and step back."

"Gotcha,"

Without another word he turns on his heel and heads out, leaving us standing there with confusion. Naruto yells out to him, questioning why he called quits so easily, as he clearly explains he was still having trouble having it hard to hear.

"*Cough* now then....does anybody else wanna quit?" Hayate questions, scanning his eyes across the squads.

No one replies, which made it easier to continue further.

"Alright then, we will now begin the preliminary round. This round will consist of one on one individual combat at full battle intensity. This is not an exercise, there are twenty one of you remaining," he starts, glancing at the board in hand. "So that means we will need ten matches, and an extra one whoever can take that person down. The surviving candidates from these ten and extra matches will advance to the third exam."

So really we're still have too many candidates?

But, I must make it to the last test! This was my goal to become chunin, to allow some purpose in my life to keep moving......

"So that means we will need ten matches, and an extra one whoever can take that person down. The surviving candidates from these ten and extra matches will advance to the third exam!" he announces. "As for the rules, there are none.......you will fight until one dies or concedes defeat, or is rendered physically incapable of continuing the contest...............Naturally those who are losing concedes to defeat promptly to avoid a fatal outcome........Furthermore, as Proctor I'm given a certain amount of leeway judging the matches. I might occasionally intervene if a match seems hopeless, to save as many lives as possible.............Now it's time to reveal what fate has been chosen for you."

Hayate nods towards Anko, as she nods back.

"Open the panel,"

Our eyes trail up to see the panel opening up slowly, before revealing a black large screen high above the wall.

"The names of each pair of opponents, are chosen completely at random," Hayate explains. "Before each match, these names will appear on the display behind me. As there is nothing more to say, let's begin. In a moment, the names of the first two opponents will appear."

Look up to focus on the screen I could feel the uneasy nerves, especially just by detecting their own chakra. Some were a little confident, while I could feel some were concerned.

"Alright now, those whose names have been drawn come forward," Hayate instructs. Sasuke and another leaf ninja steps forward slowly, "You have been chosen for the first match, Yoroi Akado and Sasuke Uchiha. Are there any objections?"

"None here,"

"No,"

However when I glance Sasuke's way, I noticed him slightly grimacing in pain. He was look rather off lately, especially when gripping his neck with some firm pressure like easing a wound. Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I sensed something much darker chakra. My eyes slowly open, knowing he was keeping something hidden from his superiors.

But what was this dark chakra? Because I've never sensed this from Sasuke before.....

"Alright then! Let's begin the first match," Hayate coughs, trying to cover his mouth while doing so. "Okay, everyone other than the two opposing candidates, will now clear the area and move to the upper level."

Reluctantly we all start following his instructions, making our way to the stairs to watch from the side. Reaching a spot I lean against the railing, with Kiba and Hinata on either side of me with Shino behind me. Quietly thinking to myself, I continued to question who will be my opponent.

It better not be someone from my own village, because I would hate to face them later on. Well, then again someone came in filling in for Kabuto, which they slowly snuck in. It seems our mentors and the Hokage didn't mind at all, especially when Kabuto's hearing almost went deaf.

Brushing it off my eyes eagerly rests on the two first fighters, knowing Sasuke will beat Yoroi for sure.

We may not be close friends, but I know his capabilities that he will take them to the ground. Soon the timer begins, signalling the two to begin. My eyes snap in either direction, all eyes focused on the match. Everything was going so fast, noticing Sasuke's skills have become far more greater than I expected. I guess with the high ranked missions he's been going on, no wonder he's changed. My toes curl with anticipation, wondering who will be taken down.

"Wow, Sasuke has gotten better," Kiba comments, in awe. "But......I will give it my all!"

Nudging him teasingly, "Right, we'll see,"

-------------------------------------