So the last chapter ended really abrupt because it ended up being fourteen pages long.

I couldn't do that all in one go so I split it up.

Makes it easier to read.

I hope you guys like this and as always, your reviews are always welcome!

"Kai-san!" came Naruto's annoying voice. "Kakashi-sensei says you need to wake up or we're going to be late!"

I groaned rolling over and snuggling deeper into my covers. Hell sent nightmares had tortured me through the night, making it nearly impossible for me to sleep. "No!" I cried. "I'm still tired. I'm gonna sleep! Go without me!"

Not even ten seconds later someone jerked my blankets away. I curled up into a tighter ball, scowling.

"Kai, I'm serious," Kakashi said. "Get up. Now."

"No," I whined. "I was up late. Let me sleep. I'll meet up with you guys later. I swear," I told him slowly drifting back into sleep.

"That's your fault. You need to get up," he growled.

I sat up, looking at him funny. "What's your damage?" I asked. "I'm a big kid. I'll make it there when I feel like it. I'm tired and need to sleep sometime. Please, Dad."

He made a face. "Look," he said. "You know I hate to stress and I hate to hassle you but I'm serious. The Hokage would be all over me if you don't show up today. Not only that but those kids need your support because mine only goes so far."

I groaned. "Daaaaaaaaaaaadddd!" I whined. "I don't wannnnnaaaa!"

He threw my jacket at me. "Get up, get going, and get over it."

I sighed exasperatedly. "Fine." I growled, pouting.

I got up and started changing as my father left. After pulling on things that appeared to be both clean and matching, I met the rest of my team in the living room.

"Here," I said presenting myself, my arms spread. "Happy?"

Kakashi gave me a sarcastic look. "Extremely," he said, rolling his eye. "Let's head out and get this over with."

We walked together to the test taking area. The first part was written. After the Genin had been called in, I told my dad, "I'm going home to try and get some sleep. Call me when they're almost done with the test taking thingy so I can be back and look like I've been here the entire time."

"How about this: no." he said taking hold of my arm. "I know you're exhausted but the Hokage gave me strict orders to make you stay here the entire time and not to let you go off alone. He told me not to let you out of my sight. He's very worried."

"Oh my Jesus Christ!" I cried angrily. "I'm going to kill that old man and when I do, I will not feel sorry about it. He's being so overbearing! How does that old codger expect me to do everything and be everywhere when I can't get any sleep? I promised to be a good little ninja but he still assigns me a babysitter? This is ridiculous!"

Kakashi sighed, hugging me. He always had done that ever since I was little. It still calmed me down a little. "I'm sorry, Kai. Why don't we sit and you can lay down on the bench and sleep or the floor or something? They'll be in there for a while."

I sighed. I wasn't really mad at him. Just cranky from lack of sleep. Instead of fighting with him, I sat and waiting, dozing in and out but never truly falling asleep.

A few students here and there trickled out, looking very irritated. Finally, the exam was over. Squad Seven came barreling out.

"Hey, how did it go in there?" I asked, getting tackled in hugs.

"Really good!" Naruto said happily, jumping up and down, gripping me in a death hug. "We passed!"

"That's great! As a special treat Dad will treat us all to lunch!" I laughed.

"Hey!" Dad objected.

Before he could really launch into his objections, the proctor, Ibiki, called to me.

"Could you come here for a second Kai-san?" he asked. Like most people in the Leaf Village, he regarded me as a Sannin which meant that, regardless of my age, I was supposed to be addressed with a certain amount of respect. I thought it was foolish tradition and I hadn't exactly earned it but I got tired of trying to correct people after a while.

"Sure!" I called back. "Go ahead without me. I'll catch up with you later," I told my dad and friends.

I walked into the room with Ibiki. He closed the door behind us. In his hand, he held two test papers. He handed the first to me.

"Look at this and tell me what you see," he requested.

I looked it over, reading each question and the answer given for it. "It looks like someone answered every question right to me," I stated, looking at the name. "Well of course. It's Shikamaru Nara's paper. That boy's a genius. I bet he did this in no seconds flat and slept the rest of the time," I teased looking up at Ibiki. I read the look on his face like a book. "Oh. I'm right."

"Completely," he growled stiffly. He handed me the other paper. "Now, look at this one."

"It's totally blank. What's the p-" I stopped staring at the name. "This is Naruto's paper. He said he passed the test. How can he have this not even filled out and still be going on to the next round of the exams?"

"He passed my test on sheer guts. All of your Genin basically did."

"You used the old question ten trick didn't you?' I asked. "I'm sure someone told you that your luck would run out with that eventually."

"Yes. They're something else. That's for sure."

I gave his papers back, sighing. I leaned against the window. "They'll be the best but they have a lot to contend with and a long way to go. It isn't going to be easy for anyone and I first have to see if they can survive the Chunin Exams. If they can survive the rounds and the bedlam that's promised to ensue during or afterwords, then, they'll be worth my time."

"Kai-san, you scare me," Ibiki said.

Just then, the door opened and a Chunin named Jiro Mitsuguya came in. "Kai-sama," he said taking a knee. He was panting and very breathless. "I've urgent news delivered to you first before the Hokage, as you ordered."

"Go for it," I told him.

"We have learned some very vital information on the Orochimaru situation," he said. "It's apparent that he is already in Konoha impersonating a ninja from another village. And it also seems that he has spies in the exams to gather information on the Leaf village."

I frowned. "This could be a problem. Okay, here's what I want you to do Jiro-san. I want to you keep this from the Hokage. Don't tell him anything. Then, I want you to deliver a message to the Kazekage. Tell him I want to meet him for dinner tonight at Ichiraku's Ramen at seven thirty. You will mention this meeting to no one. Understand?" I asked.

"Yes ma'am," he said, rising to his feet. "As you order." Then he left as quickly as he came.

I turned to Ibiki.

"You want to meet with the Kazekage because?" the proctor asked.

"Because I know Lord Kazekage fairly well and if he is the impostor I might be able to notice it right away. If he is being impersonated that means he's probably dead or captured – most likely dead. I want to stop Orochimaru before he can do anything, if I can. I just don't know how well that's going to work out."

"But why aren't you telling the Hokage?" he pressed.

"I don't need that senile old fashioned fool getting in my way. He may have been a great Hokage at one time but that's long past now. He can't help me much. I don't have the time to follow protocol right now. Not that protocol applies to me," I explained.

"To be honest, I'm beginning to become slightly afraid," Ibiki admitted.

I gave a sarcastic laugh. "If you don't mind I'd like to be alone to think for a while," I requested.

Ibiki bowed. "Yes of course."

He left and I slid down the wall to sit on the floor. I leaned my head back, glaring at the ceiling. What am I going to do? I wondered. How am I going to figure out all of this? I mean, I know Orochimaru and he's no fool. If he's impersonating a ninja, especially the Kazekage, he's done his homework. This isn't going to be easy, even for me. I know I'm smart but I'm not sure I'm up to Orochimaru's level yet. I don't even know if I'll be able to spot him before ti's too late.

The next day or so passed without everything totally falling apart. I had my suspicions about the Kazekage but I didn't have anything very concrete to go off of. They would have to wait anyway as it was the final round of the Chunin Exams. It was time for the remaining Genin to fight it out.

"Kai," Sasuke said. "Who are those kids?"

I looked to see who he was pointing at. It was of course the three Sand Genin. "They are Temari, Gaara, and Konkuro of the desert. They're the Kazekage's kids. I've known them for a while so listen closely when I tell you this. If you ever see Gaara and you're by yourself – run away. I mean fast too. Don't let him catch you or that will be the end of you. He's unstable to say the least."

"Well don't look now but they're headed our way right now," Sakura squeaked.

I turned. Sure enough the siblings were headed our way.

"Hey, Kai," Temari greeted me with a smile. "How's it going?"

"Oh, it's going," I said nonchalantly. "Glad to see you guys. Even you Gaara."

He gave a classic go to hell look, not that I expected anything else from him.

"So, who are your friends, Kai-girl?" Konkuro asked.

"Oh, this is Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki and my boyfriend Sasuke Uchiha. They're on Squad Seven with me. They're taking their exams too. Guys, meet Temari, Konkuro, and Gaara of the desert."

Temari and Konkuro smiled and greeted my teammates. Gaara just grunted at them a little.

"You should really show us around town Kai," Konkuro suggested, nudging me in the ribs. "I mean, after all of this tournament business is over. I heard you guys have a great hot spring out here."

"But we wouldn't want your make-up to run Konkuro," I teased. "If I have time I'll show you around but I seriously doubt that we make it to the hot springs before you have to go."

He gave me a dejected look and I patted his head.

"Oh don't pout. Maybe next time," I told him. "You guys need to get going. The rounds are about to start."

"Alright," Temari said offering me a smile. "See you later Kai."

"Bye," I said.

They left and I faced my team. "Listen to me guys, this is going to be the hardest part of the exams,
I told them seriously. "Whatever happened in the Forest of Death has nothing on this. This is the part where you die. Promise me you'll be careful. Naruto, don't run your mouth. Sasuke, don't be an egomaniac and Sakura, fight back for once. Do you understand what I'm telling you? It's best to just duck your heads, fight and come back and when I say come back, I mean come back alive. I know you can."

They nodded. I smiled.

"Good. Now get your asses out there and win this thing."

Gaara vs. Sasuke. Sasuke vs. Gaara. That was an omen and I took it.

I made my way up to sit with the Hokage. Even though we regularly go under each other's skin, I couldn't forget all the time I spent terrorizing his office as we watched me while Kakashi was away on missions. We were actually quite close which was why he was often entirely too lenient with me.

"Well hello Kai-girl," the Hokage said calmly as I walked up between the two chairs. "Can I help you?"

"Nah, I just wanted to watch the Chunin exams with you," I told him, smiling.

He smiled at me with his grandfatherly smile. "Sure." he looked beyond me. "Lord Kazekage, I'm sure you've heard of Kai Tetsaiga."

The Kazekage had an evil look in his eyes, though I wasn't sure if the Hokage caught it. "Yes. We've actually met a few times. She took me to dinner the night after I arrived."

"Ya, the Kazekage and I go way back." I said nonchalant.

"Yes. How old were you when we first came into met? It was so long ago, it seems."

"About seven or so."

"Enough of that. The match is starting. Kai, if you would, evaluate these fighters. Since you know them both," the Hokage ordered softly.

Distraction much? I thought, turning my eyes to the fight. "Well, Sasuke is fast. He's been using his sharingan and mimicking Lee's style since it seemed effective in their match. Gaara's sand may be faster especially since he's been going with it a bit longer. His defense is good, but that's just what is style mainly is. He keeps them back long enough and wears his opponent out then gets them in one big monster move. With Lee he couldn't do that and very nearly lost the match. Sasuke has high endurance and with the sharingan, eh, well, maybe. But it's really too close to tell."

The Hokage nodded approvingly. As did the Kazekage but there was something weird about his nod. I was beginning to get very paranoid.

Suddenly, there was a whirlwind and we were at the top of the building, the Kazekage standing, very literally, on top of me. He had the Hokage in a loose head lock.

"Still not above hurting children are you, Orochimaru?" the Hokage said relaxed. So the bastard knew the whole time and kept his mouth shut.

I went rigid. "Orochi... I knew it!" I said.

Orochimaru ground is foot into my spinal cord and I cried out.

Orochimaru chuckled darkly. The sound made my stomach turn. I thrashed, knocking him off balance. I tackled him to the ground.

I was in a fit of anger. I didn't care how bad I hurt, as long as I killed or brutally beat Orochimaru, it wouldn't matter. I punched him so many times, my knuckles started bleeding. Orochimaru bucked me off of him and snapped my right leg in half, literally, with his two bare hands. He wasn't a Sannin for nothing and in the ninja world you didn't live as long as he had by sheer dumb luck. I knew better but my common sense wasn't working.

I screamed and the last thing I remembered was his sandal colliding with the side of my head.

I awoke in pitch blackness.

"Kai," came the strangled voice of the Hokage. He sounded like he was talking with a mouth full of water.

I forced my eyes to adjust quickly and when I did, I was awed by the sight I saw. There was a sword threw the Hokage, he had Orochimaru by the shoulders and they seemed to be in some sort of battle of wills.

"Wha..." I breathed, my heart clenching in my chest.

"The Reaper Death Seal," the old idiot explained. "I'm taking him with me."

"You crazy old codger!" I screamed but it was too late. I could curse and yell at him but once the seal was set, there was no way to stop it. So, I did the only thing I could.

I forced myself to my feet and started toward Orochimaru. I was going to demolish him. He'd taken everyone from me, tortured me, and then he had to take the Hokage too? Admittedly though, the Hokage was a total senile old fool that should've stayed retired and we butted heads often, but he did not deserve to die at the hands of scum like him.

Orochimaru used the last of his chakra to make three shadow clones. They easily over powered me and went to simply beating me senseless. The stomped on my back, arms, head – anywhere they could. He was basically adding insult to injury.

The Hokage muttered something that I couldn't hear and Orochimaru started screaming profanities His shadow clones vanished.

I tried to get to my knees but my vision tunneled and I collapsed forward onto my hands. All I could do was watch helplessly as Orochimaru got away. I crawled over to the now lifeless body of the Hokage. I laid my head on the old man's chest, tears springing to my eyes.

This wasn't happening. It couldn't. Why was Orochimaru always WINNING?! No! My best efforts couldn't be this fruitless! No. No! NO!

Someone touched me and I nearly came unglued, swinging my arms as I turned to face the person who touched me.

"It's okay," Dad's familiar voiced said softly, as if the loudest sound might shatter me. It made me think of the way Master Jiraiya addressed me before coming back to the village. "It's over."

Carefully, he pulled me into a hug. I clung to him sobbing.

No, this is not the end. It's just starting.We have yet to begin the real battle.

Whew, that was exhausting and exciting! Kind of dramatic maybe? I dunno. Orochimaru is such an ass. Hope you liked and please review!