Chapter 4, blah blah blah. I really suck at intros, can't you tell? Anyway, I'm sure you'd much rather find out what's going to happen next. Oh yea, Hinata comes in this chapter! (stares starry eyed) (recovers) As do many other people… So… onward!


Hyuuga Hinata was in the middle of enjoying a day off with the other members of her cell. The three of them, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino, had recently come back from a mission so Kurenai was kind enough to allow them a breather before beginning preparation for the upcoming exams. Akamaru was perched on top of Kiba's head, sniffing this way and that, investigating the usual crowd. Suddenly his ears perked up and he barked a warning to Kiba.

Kiba glanced up. "What is it, boy?"

Akamaru barked a few more times before staring pointedly off down the street, ears twitching a bit. Kiba peered in the same direction.

"What is it?" Hinata asked nervously.

"Akamaru says someone's coming and in an awful hurry too," Kiba explained. "I just can't make it out through all this crowd… Ah, there it is!" He pointed to a rapidly advancing cloud of dust.

Other people in the street had noticed it as the dust cloud approached. They began hurrying to clear a path for it, not in the least anxious to meet whatever the cloud signaled the arrival of. The three Genin and dog were left utterly alone in the middle of the street. Hinata glanced around at the deserted street. "Um… Shouldn't we get out of the way too?" she suggested.

Kiba set himself in a fighting position in the middle of the street as Akamaru jumped off his head, landing beside Kiba and growling. Kiba smirked. "Are you kidding? Everyone else backed off, but no way we are. 'Sides," he winked at Hinata. "I was getting bored."

Shino watched impassively. "I think it's foolish to go into battle with an opponent you know nothing about."

"That's what makes it fun," was Kiba's cocky response.

Shino sniffed a little at him. "Come, Hinata, we will observe what happens from a safe location and assist if necessary." He walked to a nearby alleyway and knelt in the shadows, watching. Hinata looked from Shino to Kiba and back, but eventually decided to join Shino.

Kiba went back to looking at the rapidly approaching dust cloud. "I guess it's our show then, eh Akamaru?"

Akamaru's nose twitched a second, and then he barked another warning at Kiba.

Kiba straightened up. "What, are you serious?"

Akamaru didn't have time to respond because by that point the dust had reached them. Both were bowled over, the dust cloud passing right through and continuing up the street. Shino and Hinata came out to join the two. "What was that?" Hinata asked, staring off at the retreating cloud.

"Not what," Kiba corrected and he stood up. "Who. Akamaru recognized the scent just before he reached us. That was none other than Rock Lee."

"But why would Lee be running so fast?" Hinata wondered.
Kiba shrugged. "You know Lee, always pushing himself."

"Here come more," Shino warned as another group came following Lee's path, not so fast though. This time the four of them moved out of the way and watched as Kakashi, Sakura, and Gai passed.

Akamaru barked again. Kiba raised an eyebrow. "You don't say…?" He stood up. "C'mon, you two. Let's follow them and see if we can find out what all the fuss is about." Shino and Hinata nodded and the four set off.


Sakura and Lee sat silently in the lobby of the hospital. Kaio had been signed in and immediately taken up to a room. There was no word yet on his condition. Sakura was still slightly in shock about the whole thing. One moment the two of them had been walking through the woods together, a few minutes later Onaki had tried blasting her with fire and Kaio jumped in the way and now… She stood up and began pacing anxiously. Lee watched her for a moment before speaking. "You would do well not to wear yourself out from worrying," he advised.

"I can't!" Sakura finally said, exasperated. "He's in there because he jumped in to protect me!" She sighed and sat back down next to Lee. "I never should've let that Onaki get to me…" she muttered.

Lee smiled a little. "It was not your fault. Onaki probably would have found some excuse to attack. And in any case, he got what he really wanted."

Sakura looked up surprised. "You mean he meant for Kaio to do that?"

Lee nodded. "More likely than not. Onaki still bitterly resents him. However, Kaio still hopes that he will see the light." Lee frowned. "But now I think that hope may be in vain."

"Are you and Kaio friends?"

Lee nodded again and stared off toward the hospital entrance. "He is one of the few I have met that believe I can fulfill my dream and he has helped me all he can." Lee turned back to Sakura and smiled warmly at her. "Kaio is a true friend. He is always there to back you up no matter what. And he likes to pull pranks," he added, rubbing the back of his neck. "On me in particular." Sakura giggled. Lee smiled a little and then went on. "So I would not worry about Kaio. He will most likely walk out here in a few minutes and laugh about the whole thing."

Sakura nodded, smiling. That would be exactly like Kaio. She felt extremely grateful to Lee for trying to cheer her up. "Thanks, Lee," she said.

Lee's smile brightened. "It is my pleasure."

At that moment, Kiba and the others arrived outside the hospital and spotted Sakura and Lee inside. They rushed in and went over to them, Kiba leading the way. "What was all the rush before?" he demanded. "And who was that other guy Kakashi-sensei was carrying?"

Any further investigation was forestalled by the arrival of Kakashi, Gai and a medic. Kakashi explained the situation. "Kaio's going to be fine," he began and an immense sense of relief flooded through Sakura. "He has to rest here for tonight but should be free to go tomorrow. His arms might be a little tender though."

"What about the exams?" Sakura asked. "Will he be alright for them?"

Kakashi deferred to the medic on this one. "That will up to him," the medic said.

"Alright, wait a second!" Kiba interjected. "Just who is this Kaio guy?"

"He's my new teammate," Sakura explained quickly. "Or at least he's one of them. The other one, well…"

"Is right here," a voice said from the direction of the hospital entrance. Everyone looked to see Neji and Tenten arriving with a fuming Onaki held between them.

Lee made as if to go after Onaki, but Gai beat him to it, striding purposefully toward the trio. Gai nodded to Neji and Tenten and they released their hold on Onaki's arms and stepped away. Onaki remained glaring at the ground. Gai crossed his arms. "Well… what have you got to say for yourself?"

Onaki looked up and sneered at him. "Nothing to you." A look of fury appeared on Gai's face and he clenched his fist. Onaki continued staring him down defiantly. "What're you going to do about it, huh? You're not my sensei anymore."

Both Sakura and Lee started. They both cried out at virtually the same time. "He used to be on your team?!"

"Gai-sensei, is this true?" Lee asked in disbelief.

Gai stared at the floor, fists clenched. "Yes," he answered. "Onaki was on my previous team, before you three. But that team broke up soon after the incident with Onaki at the Chuunin exams."

Lee began to ask what that was about, but Sakura took him aside and explained it to him. "Kaio caught Onaki-san bribing one of the proctors at the Chuunin exams so Onaki was banned from the exams for the next five times they were held. That's why he's not friends with Kaio anymore."

Lee walked back over to the group glaring at Onaki. "He deserved what he got," he said. "Kaio-kun was right to turn him in."

Onaki sniffed at him. "Feh, I expected as much. You're all the same, just like Kaio. Weak little goody-two-shoes. Pathetic!"

Lee had reached his breaking point. "Kaio is not pathetic!" he shouted. "And neither am I! Leaf Hurricane!" Lee launched a furious kick at Onaki before anyone could stop him.

A smirk appeared on Onaki's face as he ducked the initial kick before going into his own attack. "Fire Spin!" Lee was caught by a backwards sweep kick, a trail of fire following Onaki's foot on the ground forming a circle of flame. Lee tumbled over backwards, landing in a heap on the ground. Onaki laughed and headed out the door. "Just like I said, pathetic! How can you even hope to pass the exams? Later losers!"

Lee made as though to go after him, but Gai stopped him. "Don't waste your energy. He'll get his eventually…"

"Gai-sensei, that move: It was…"

Gai nodded gravely. "Yes, it was. Onaki took the moves I taught him, the same moves I taught you, Lee, and added his own Fire Style to it."

There was a brief silence, broken by Kiba. "Not to be rude or anything, but we should get back on track. That Onaki guy kinda threw us off."

Sakura instantly remembered what they had been talking about before Neji and Tenten had arrived with Onaki. "Oh right! Can we go see Kaio, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Of course. He was already asking for you," Kakashi replied. Any further talk was cut off by Sakura dashing off through the hallway. "Funny…" Kakashi muttered. "And she doesn't even know where his room is." He sighed. "Well, I need to go inform Hokage-sama of what happened. See you later, everyone." He waved in farewell and set off out the door.

Kiba watched him go. "I guess we'd better pull out too, now that all the excitement's over with." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Hey, I caught a peek of some of the files that medic was carrying. It turns out this Kaio guy is a Hyuuga. You know him, Hinata?"

Hinata shook her head. "No…" she said honestly. As they walked out, she caught a glance of Neji glaring at her as if knowing what they were discussing. She quickly turned away, following her teammates out the door.

Soon only Team Gai was left. "Well, that was certainly interesting," Tenten remarked. "Are you alright, Lee?"

Lee nodded. "Gai-sensei, may I go and see Kaio as well?" he asked, trying to hide the eagerness in his voice.

Gai smiled at him. "Alright, Lee, but once you're done come back to the training ground. The Chuunin exams wait for no one!" With a wave of his hand, the rest of the team headed out leaving Lee to walk toward Kaio's room.

In the meantime, Sakura had dashed around for a bit, after realizing she had neglected to find out which room Kaio was in. Then she had the presence of mind to ask a passing nurse, before dashing off again in the direction they had pointed out. Before long she came to the room. Kaio was sitting up in his bed, smirking at her. "'Bout time," he said, motioning for her to come sit on the edge of the bed. Sakura noted that both his forearms were heavily bandaged. He caught her looking. "Hey, I'll be back in no time. Doc even says I could leave tomorrow if I felt like it."

"Do you…?" Sakura asked tentatively.

"I dunno…" Kaio put on a mock thinking face. "Feels nice bein' away from you guys for once…" He caught Sakura's disappointed look and grinned at her. "Aw, I'm just joking. Truth is, I've only been in here for a few minutes, and I'm dyin' to get out already. Hospitals are boring… 'sides we got the exams next week."

Sakura smiled at him. "Nothing keeps you down for long."

"Hey, it's how I live," Kaio said, shrugging. "Why focus on the negative when you've got other stuff that it's better to think about?" He winked at her, causing Sakura to blush and turn away. As she did, she caught sight of someone else in the doorway. "Oh, Lee! When did you get here?"

Kaio saluted at him from his bed. "Heya, Lee."

Lee waved back, but seemed to be a bit distracted by something. Sakura noticed his hesitation. "Are you OK?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes, I am fine. I just remembered something I need to do." Lee waved off a little unenthusiastically. "I will see you later." With that, he walked away.

Sakura watched him go. "What was that about?" she asked.

Kaio shrugged. "Oh, you know Lee. His mind's probably on the exams and he just remembered some complicated training he has to do."


Meanwhile, Kakashi had arrived at the Hokage's office and had just finished relating the event to Tsunade. Tsunade sighed and stood. "You know that I assigned them to you so something like this wouldn't happen."

"Yes, I know." Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess it just slipped my mind for a moment."

Tsunade turned and looked out the window. "Is that all you came to talk about?"

"Actually, no. There is one more thing." Kakashi produced a rolled-up packet of papers. "These are from the medic who attended Kaio. He wanted a second opinion on something he discovered."

Tsunade accepted the packet and began idly flipping through them. "And what am I supposed to be looking for?"

"The medic said there was something strange in the pattern of the burn marks on Kaio's arms and face. He said that it was though something was blocking the flame for a moment or two," Kakashi explained.

Tsunade came to a photograph of the specified areas. She peered at for a moment. "Yes, I see," she finally said. "The difference is only very slight, but the outer edges are burned a little more." She glanced up at Kakashi. "Did he have any ideas for what might have caused this?"

"That's just the thing. The only thing I could think of him doing to block the fire, considering his lineage, would be the Palms Rotation, but that would've been very obvious, and Sakura didn't mention him doing anything other than putting his arms up. So if he did do something else, she couldn't see it. But I do have one clue… or two if you like." Kakashi took out two large blackened splinters from his pocket. "These got stuck on me while I was carrying Kaio to the hospital. Most likely they were stuck on him before that."

Tsunade laid down the papers and took the splinters, examining them. "But they could just be from the forest. You did say that Onaki had been burning a lot of trees before they arrived. Still…" She turned back to the window. "I do wish we knew more about Kaio. His history is a complete blank except for a few years ago. But before that and over the last couple years… And he just shows up and requests that he gets put on the same team as Onaki…" She spoke over her shoulder to Kakashi. "Thank you for informing me of this and next time, stick closer to them. That is all."

Kakashi nodded and headed out the door. I guess I should try to find out more about Kaio's history… But then again, most things reveal themselves in time.


So what is Kaio's background? Well, that's just one of the great mysteries of this story. And also something I'm just bursting to tell you all. Dang, I wish I could just get to the 3rd exam already… Oh well, 1st exam starts next chapter!! WHEE!! So time is running out to get those OCs in. 'Till then, stay tuned and review! Later days!