Yugao paused the spar as she noticed a hawk circling overhead before nodding to herself. Isamu didn't know why she had stopped, but he gladly took a breather and tried to stem the blood flow from some of the larger gashes. He couldn't even blame Yugao for the cuts as she always fought just a bit above his level and only nicked him when he made a rather large blunder. He was just glad that it was only a few cuts instead of his body being covered like it had been when he first started training under her. It didn't make it hurt any less though.

"Right then," Yugao said and Isamu tensed up for another round. "That's enough for today as all jonin and above now have a meeting with Lord Hokage. I want you to remove your weights and not put them back on until Anko tells you to. You have the rest of the day off as does Yakumo and Anko will be able to find the two of you if she needs to. Have fun!" With that she vanished and Isamu was left staring bemusedly at the spot his sensei had vanished. It wasn't like he didn't know what was happening, Anko having told them all the signals for the approaching Chunin exams weeks ago.

Sheathing his swords, Isamu made his way to the village gate. With the chunin exams only a few days away, foreign teams would be arriving soon and this was probably the best time to gather data on the visiting teams before they put up their guard. "Hey Isamu," Yakumo said as she slid up to him, "You going to the gates as well?"

Isamu chuckled while nodding, "I think Anko's lessons have been taken to heart by us and she has firmly started us on the path of nonfunctioning members of polite society. Maybe Temari and Kankuro will be here as well." The four genin had hit it off in the days the Konoha team had been in Suna and exchanged letters every week. Nothing deep and meaningful was shared as they were still just new friends and everything was screened when it came from shinobi.

"Oh yes, me and Kankuro can't wait to watch the two of you ogle each other every chance you get," She teased her friend who turned a decent color of red. It was true that Isamu had a rather large crush on Temari and all the signs pointed to her reciprocating those feelings, but for now it was just fond gazes sent their way. Isamu was only twelve and while the mentality of a shinobi was much different than a civilian's there were some unspoken limits to what you could and could not do. One of them was dating before you were around the age of fourteen and/or a chunin.

Shrugging to try and regain some control and pushing his teammate, the two continued their way to the gates. Just as they were about to turn the last corner before the main entrance, they heard a very familiar voice and decided to see just what type of problem he was causing. When they arrived, the two noticed that their new friends from Suna were there as well as Naruto and Sakura along with Konohamaru. A second glance also revealed Sasuke in the tree branch blow them and who they assumed to be the Sand Siblings third teammate.

Switching over to a sign language that was unique to the two of them, they discussed what they saw. 'So Kankuro is already scouting the competition?' Isamu queried.

'It seems that way,' Yakumo answered. 'I don't see how else he could be so stupid as to attack in broad daylight.'

'True, I'm still impressed with his acting skills. Though with who their father is, I really shouldn't be. Can you sense the bloodlust coming from the redhead?' Isamu signed.

'It's impressive to say the least. Sensei has let us feel her own, but to be able to form so much at such a young age, it's no wonder that we didn't see him while we were in Suna. It seems to be contained as well, behind a calculating mind. Much different than Anko's pure bloodlust.'

"You two can come down as well," The red head called out and surprised the two. They weren't actively trying to hide, but it was rare that a chunin spotted them if they were not drawing attention to themselves and a genin was unheard of so far.

"I see you two are making yourselves at home," Yakumo smiled as she landed in front of the team from Suna. The two also shared smiles and Temari sent a look towards Isamu that had Kankuro shaking his head. "But really, attacking the Hokage's grandson?"

Kankuro shrugged as he unceremoniously dropped the young boy to the ground. "Anyone would have worked just fine, but this was convenient. I do have to wonder about your village security however if this is his grandson and there are no guards around."

"Down boy," Yakumo said, "They're all probably following the senseis. But, since you are here we can exchange the same curtesy you showed us while in Suna. Any place you particularly wan to see?"

Team Seven had been forgotten by this time and while Sakura was perfectly fine with this as Team Eleven constantly made a mockery of the team every time they had joined them for training. Plus, the newcomer terrified her for some reason that she truly could not understand. Unfortunately, that did not extend to her male teammates and Naruto was the first to make his displeasure known. "Hey wait a minute. Who the hell are you people?" He asked pointing at the Sand Siblings, "And why are you so nice to them?"

Isamu stared at the blonde for a moment as he continued to shove his finger in their face before speaking, "First of all, it is extremely rude to point at someone so I'll ask you to put your finger down before you lose it." Naruto quickly complied. "And though it is none of your business, we met two of the three while we were in Suna the first time. Although I haven't officially met Gaara yet, the offer is still open to him." Although Team Eleven was uneasy with being around the redhead, they could grow used to it for their new friends.

"I could use a bite to eat," Temari volunteered and then looked to Gaara for his input. Temari could admit that she was scared of her little brother as was most of Suna. It was just his constant output of bloodlust unnerved everybody and while he didn't go out of his way to find someone to kill, if he was sufficiently annoyed there would be little left to identify the victim.

"Seafood would be preferable," Gaara said in his usual monotone. Even though he was a bland insomniac he would not pass up an opportunity for what could be considered a delicacy in Suna.

"Then have we got a restaurant for you," Isamu smiled, glad that he had been able to break the ice with the last of the Sand siblings. "So Temari, have you learned how to fly yet?" He asked as the group of five made their way further into the village completely ignoring Team Seven and Isamu's cousin. While Sakura was relieved and Konohamaru didn't care, the two male genin seethed at being ignored, which was one of the first things they had agreed on.

==Finding a Name===

"You all know why you are here, the Chunin exams has once again come to our village. Your assignments will be handed out shortly, but before we get to that, are there any nominations from our genin teams for this year?"

A few of the older genin teams were nominated as did Gai before they reached the rookie teams. Bets were exchanged between the other jonin as there was always one rookie team that was nominated and they usually always ended up worse for wear. "I nominate Team Seven, consisting of Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Naruto Uzumaki." Before the money could change hands though both Kurenai and Asuma spoke up and nominated their teams.

"Well this is a surprise, but if you firmly believe they can compete then it is best that they have their first time in their home environment so to speak. Well if that's all the genin teams then-"

"Wait Lord Hokage, you did not allow me to nominate my team," Anko said politely, though she was fuming on the inside. Already her team was being shortchanged in the missions department and she would be damned if she let the Hokage stopped her from volunteering them for the exam. They were more than ready for the test.

"I am sorry Anko, but I thought with only two genin that you might wish to wait until they are better trained up. Surely you don't want any harm to befall them," He said in his usual easy going tone.

"If that is what you think Lord Hokage then I highly recommend you keep the other three rookie teams as well as Gai's out of the exam as well. My team regularly trounces each of these teams when they go through various exercises." She delivered this in a calm manner, but on the inside she was laughing smugly. It would be almost impossible for the hokage not to give permission now that that little tidbit was out there for the rest of the jonin.

"Very well," Hiruzen nodded and marked another note down on his paper, much to the visible displeasure of Iruka. The scared chunin wouldn't say anything this time however, as he was scared of Anko and the hokage had made his opinion known. "If that is all, then your assignments…"

==Finding A Name==

"Alright brats," Anko said as she waited for her students the next morning at their usual meeting time, "You both know that the chunin exams start in three days and you both know that I plan on nominating you two to take the tests. However, I want to be absolutely sure that you can handle what the exam is likely to throw at you. To do this, we are having a spar this morning, without any of your weight holding you back and no restrictions on your attacks. I want you to come at me with the intent to kill, otherwise you won't survive."

It was a few minutes later when the two genin from team eleven faced their sensei in the open part of the training ground and both were a bit nervous in anticipation. Anko had tested them a few times of course to gauge their progression, but it was always with the knowledge that she would limit herself to a level only just above their own. Now, they knew that she would be pushing the boundaries of what could be considered a decent chunin and might move to the boundaries of chunin and jonin.

There was no signal for the fight to start, but they all moved at the same time when each had reached a certain zone in their mindset. It was a straight taijutsu fight at the start of it and the two genin were reminded just how good their sensei really was. While they were two and proficient at taijutsu, neither focusing heavily on the subject, Anko was able to dodge and block their attacks easily, giving her own when she felt like it.

In a tandem attack that partners train years to achieve and the two genin were extremely lucky to replicate, Isamu managed to land a glancing kick to Anko's midsection. That seemed to be the signal for the next portion of the spar to begin. Instantly all three began forming handsigns for their own jutsu. Anko was finished with her handsigns faster than her students, but only just and the earth walls from the genin sprang up just in time to block the decently sized fireball. With the small dust cloud giving them a brief respite, the two genin sprang into action. Isamu quickly drew his swords and snapped them into what was becoming his signature weapon while Yakumo wove a small illusion over the two that would put their perceived position six inches to the left. It was an easily broken illusion, but something that gave them a few seconds that could be the difference in battle.

Just as the genin finished their preparation, Anko burst through the dust and sent a dozen pointy objects at the two. Yakumo simply dodged while Isamu added a bit of wind chakra to his blade, having passed a few of the basic exercises, and knocked the weapons away. They had learned the folly of blocking the weapons close to their body when under an illusion and now it was simply instinctive to do so. This didn't even phase Anko as she once again moved through the motions of a fireball jutsu. Luckily, Anko had taught them both a few simple jutsu from each element so they wouldn't be caught off guard and Yakumo took the initiative to douse the flames with a water jutsu. This gave Isamu time to run towards his sensei, keeping in mind that he was supposed to be six inches to the right, and right through the area that the two jutsu collided.

The steam was hot, there was no questioning this in Isamu's mind, but it wasn't any more scalding than the hot springs and although he despised water that hot it was easily brushed aside. Anko was a bit farther than he had expected her to be as he passed the collision point, but he was ready for this. With Yakumo coming in from the right Anko was forced to dodge the blade by moving left and actually stepped in the way of the blade. His sensei wasn't a jonin for no reason however and managed to avoid a possibly fatal blow, but not enough to completely avoid the blade. Isamu was able to land a cut, shallow as though it may be, and the exercise was called to a halt by Anko.

"Well done brats," She smiled at her students, "Although you two still aren't up to a high chunin level individually, I have no doubt you'll be able to progress to the third stage with no problem. So, here are the forms," She said handing them what was needed, "Fill those out and show up in two days to academy room 301. Tomorrow is a day of rest and the most I want you to do is your daily run, without weights, and prepare for a week long mission. I'll be rooting for you brats."

Isamu and Yakumo took the papers and looked up to their sensei with a smile on their face and a fire in their eyes. They would do this.

A/N: It's the next chapter guys. I didn't put a meeting with Gaara in Suna, because I don't want to change canon too much until after the second part of the exams. However, I did change Gaara from a blood crazed psychopath to a blood crazed calculating psychopath. I just don't see how Suna didn't kill Gaara if he was really as bad as the anime depicted him as, since a couple of jonin and the kage should have taken care of him. Let me know what you guys think, especially the fight scene at the end.