I yawn and stretch my arms over my head as my eyes flicker open. The rough bark of a tree presses into my back as I look around. The first thing I see is Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke snuggled into their sleeping bags next a fire. I wonder where Kakashi is. Probably keeping watch. My eyes search the trees above me until they rest on the familiar form of my sensei reading his perverted book.

Standing up I send chakra to my feet and climb up the tree. "Hey Kakashi!" I say, startling the silver haired man.

"Tora! You're awake!" He says. "What happened to you out there? You just passed out!"

"Did the Hokage tell you about my visions?" I ask.

"Yes, but it was hard to understand. All I got was that because of Orochimaru you have visions of people's pasts."

"Well," I say with a sigh. "Whenever I touch someone I go into a vision, they only last for the blink of an eye. I can normally control it, but people with extremely sad pasts are a challenge. When I'm in battle I can keep out visions with some effort, but in Haku's case I was unfocused because I was pissed at Sasuke."

"Do you always black out after a vision?" He asks.

"No. I used to, but not anymore. The only reason I passed out this time was because I wasn't expecting a vision."

"So, I don't have to worry about you blacking out in the middle of a fight?"
"Nope," I say popping the "p".

"Good," he sighs. Now that I take a closer look, he looks exhausted.

"Why don't you get some sleep and I'll take over watch?" I suggest.

"No, I'm okay. You go back to bed." He says.

"Kakashi, I just woke up. There's no way I'll be able to go back to sleep." I say walking over to him. "Now go get some rest." I give him a shove and take the space he was previously occupying.

"If you insist," He mutters. "Oh and before I go, you should know that Sasuke got his Sharingan while fighting Haku."

"Good for him." Shit, now that he has it he's a potential target for Orochimaru. I'm going to have to watch him from now on. I watch Kakashi jump off the branch and get into his sleeping bag. Stupid Kakashi thinks he's invincible. I sigh and settle back against the tree and wait for the sun to rise.

"Finally home," I sigh as we pass through the gate.

"Hey Tora, come here." Naruto says and I drop back to talk to him.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Well," he says with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I was talking with Sasuke and Sakura and they don't think you can steal Kakashi-sensei's book from him."

"Oh really?" I ask raising an eyebrow.

"I tried to tell them that you could, but they didn't believe me."

"Then why don't we make a bet out of it? Sasuke! Sakura! Come here!" I yell and they both fall in step with Naruto and I. "So I hear you don't think I can steal Kakashi's book."

"So?" Sakura asks.

"So, I wanna make a bet. If I steal Kakashi's book you each owe Naruto and I 40 yen each." I say with a smirk.

"What! No way!" Sakura says.

"Sure, whatever. It's not like you're gonna get it anyway." Sasuke says. Once Sasuke agrees Sakura immediately changes her mind and says she's in. I hold out my hand to shake. Sasuke takes it and squeezes hard. A message that if I get the book, he'll kill me for making him lose 80 yen. Sakura shakes it lightly and just like that we have a deal.

"I have to go file a report for our mission," Kakashi says as he turns to face us.

"Okay," we all chorus. He nods once and begins to walk away.

"Wait! Kakashi, I'll come with you. I need to tell you something." I say and with a wink to my teammates I run after him. "So…"

"Forget it."

"Forget what?" I ask innocently.

"That stupid bet. There's no way you're going to get my book." Kakashi says and glances at me.

"Damn, you foiled my plan to jump you and steal it," I say with mock disappointment. "But seriously, I did need to tell you something."

"What?" He asks.

"Thank you for finding me after I blew myself up." I say quickly and before I can lose my nerve I give him a quick hug. He face shows complete shock. A slow smile begins to form under his masks.

"I'm your sensei," he says. "Of course I came to find you. Besides you're the only one on this team I can count on. The team would be unbearable without you."

"Thanks Kakashi. Well, I should probably go now and make sure Sakura hasn't killed Naruto." He just chuckles as I turn and race away. Once I'm far enough away I pull out his book with a triumphant smile. I can't believe he didn't notice me grab it when I hugged him! Time to find Naruto.

I search the area for his chakra and find it not too far away. I take off at a sprint and maneuver my way through the maze of backstreets. I fly around a corner and see what looks like a wall. My arms instantly come up and chakra emits from my palms. I break through the barrier only to run into a body. My sight blurs as I'm sucked into another vision.

A little boy with blood red hair sits on a swing with a teddy bear. Near by a group of children are playing and their ball gets stuck on a roof. A pile of sand floats up and brings the ball down to the little boy. He offers the ball to the children, but they all run away screaming. He flings his arm out as if to tell them to wait and the sand lashes out grabbing a girl's ankle. He stares in horror at the sand before dropping his arm and releasing the girl who runs away.

The scene changes to the boy trying to cut himself with a knife, but the sand blocks it from touching his skin. The door of the room flies open and a man with sandy colored hair rushes in. He takes the knife from the boy and his lips start to move, but like with most of my visions I can't hear what he's saying. He points to the boy's chest right where his heart would be and smiles and the boy returns it.

The scene changes again and the boy is sitting on a roof top staring at the sitting which I'm guessing is the Hidden Sand Village. A ninja appears behind him throwing kunai at him and his sand flies up to block them. The boy turns around with a panicked look in his eyes as he sends his sand at the ninja enveloping him in it. The boy closes his hand into a fist and the sand crushes the body of the ninja. The boy slowly makes his way over and with a shaking hand pulls the veil off of the ninjas face to reveal the man from before. He says something to the boy and tears stream from his sea foam green eyes and down his porcelain colored face.

The man opens his vest to reveal a bunch of paper bombs and the boy's sand rushes to protect him as a flash of white light fills my vision. It subsides to show the boy unharmed as anger takes over his face. The sand begins to swirl around him at a fast pace and it attacks his forehead. The sand calms and falls to the ground, lifeless. The boy's body rises and falls at a rapid pace and when he looks up I can see the kanji for love cut into the left side of his forehead and there's a murderous look in his eyes.

I open my eyes as I return to the present and blink rapidly to clear the tears that had begun to form. My breath hitches in my throat as I stare into a pair of shocked sea foam green eyes. I feel as if I'm being sucked right into them and stare at them a little longer before I realize I'm lying on top of the owner. Quickly roll off the person and stand up while trying to hold back a blush.

"I'm so sorry!" I say and look down at the red head from my vision. "I was in a rush and wasn't watching where I was going. Are you okay?"

The boy just stares at me silently with a slightly murderous look in his eyes. "I'll take that as a yes," I say awkwardly.

"Tora! Are you okay?" I hear Naruto yell. I completely forget about the red head as I turn to smile at Naruto.

"Better than okay. Look what I got," I say holding up Kakashi's book with a smirk and Naruto gives me a huge smile.

"How did you?" Sakura asks in shock.

"Doesn't matter," I say walking towards them. "Pay up."

Sakura groans as she pulls out the money and hands it to Naruto and I. "Sasuke," I say and turn to him.

"Hn, no way." He says.

"Fine, I guess we'll do it the hard way." I'm behind him in a flash and he turns around with his fist flying to punch me. I catch it easily and turn. Tugging on his arm I flip him over my shoulder. He lands on the ground with a thud and I place my foot on his chest to prevent him from getting up. "Gonna pay now?"

"No." I press down hard with my foot, making it hard for him to breath.

"How about now?"

"No…way," comes his strangled reply.

"Naruto."
"Yeah?" He asks.

"He keeps his money in his weapons pouch. Grab it for me."

"Yes ma'am," he says reaching down into the pouch. He pulls out a wad of cash and tosses it to me. I pull out the money he owes and hand it to Naruto to put it back.

"Can I get up now?" Sasuke asks annoyed.

"Huh? Oh, yeah." I take my foot off his chest and grab his arm to help him up.

"Um, guys? You're making a bad impression," Sakura says nervously.

"What do you mean?" I ask. She points down the path to the red head and two other people that I didn't notice before.

"I mean Naruto and Sasuke get in a fight with the guy with the face paint and you smack into the guy with red hair and just forget about then to fight with your own teammates. Where are your manners?" She lectures.

I roll my eyes and turn to the strangers. Sand Shinobi, ugh. And the guy with make up looks like a puppet master and his hat reminds me of cat ears. The girl has her sand colored hair in four spikey ponytails on the back of her head and it reminds me of a poodle. But what really pisses me off about them is they give off this 'I'm better than you' vibe.

"I'm sorry for anything my teammates have done," Sakura says. "They didn't have anyone to teach them manners as kids."

"In my defense, I did grow up with parents who neglected me and then lived with S-ranked criminals before being held captive by a psychotic bastard. I think I have the right to be rude and I did say I was sorry for running into the guy." I say.

"Just don't let it happen again punks," says face paint. "We don't have time to deal with weaklings like you."

"He's dead," I growl. No one calls me weak! I go to run at him, but am held back by all three of my teammates. "Let me go!"
"He's not worth it," Sasuke says. "The only reason he said that was because he knows we're stronger and he can only use words to hurt us."

"That actually makes sense," I say calming down.

"What did you just says punk!" Face paint says about to advance on us.

"Enough Kankuro, we're leaving." The red head's deep voice interrupts and shiver goes down my spine. The three sand shinobi start walking away.

"Wait!" Sasuke yells. "What's your name?"

"Who me?" Says the girl with a blush. Oh Kami, not another Sasuke fan-girl.

"No, the one with the gourd on his back." My brother says.

"I am Gaara of the Sand," he says. "I'm also curious what your name is."

"Sasuke Uchiha." My twin says with a smirk and I roll my eyes at him.

"And your name," Gaara says pointing at me.

"Well don't I feel honored," I say sarcastically. "My name's…"

"TORA UCHIHA! I want my book back!" My eyes widen as Kakashi's voice comes from somewhere behind us. Shit, he sounds close.

"Tora Uchiha nice to meet you. Now I gotta go before my sensei kills me!" I say quickly and take off past the sand ninja. "Oh and if Kakashi asks, you NEVER saw me, got it?" I shout over my shoulder to my team.

My chest is heaving by the time I make it back to my apartment. Damn Kakashi chased me through the entire village. I unlock my door and step inside. I toss his book on the bed and head to the shower. The warm water feels good as it washes the dirt from my body. I get out and dry off before running a brush through my hair and pulling it into a ponytail. I pull on a pair of long black pants and a black tank top with red clouds on it, like the Akatsuki cloak.

As I walk to the kitchen to get some food the cold steep of a kunai is pressed against my throat. "I want my book back, Tora." A menacing voice whispers I my ear.

"How do you know I have it? I could have easily given it to Naruto or Sasuke to hide," I say with a smirk. "Besides Kakashi, you really shouldn't read such perverted books. And I already got my money, so go ahead and take it back." I feel the kunai lower from my throat and Kakashi steps around to face me.

"So you looked in my book?" He smirks.

"No, I stole one from another Akatsuki member a few years ago. Never before have I wished to unsee something so badly," I shiver.

"Where is it?" He asks.

"On the bed." I answer.

"Are you hungry?" He asks as he walks over to my bed and picks up his book.

"Starving." I say dramatically. "Why?"

"A friend of mine wants me to meet him and his team at the barbeque restaurant and he wants me to bring my team. I figured I'd just take you, because the rest of our team is…"

"Stupid?"

"I was going to say immature, but stupid works too."

"Before I say yes, does this of yours wear green spandex and have a mini-me?" If it's that crazy guy then there's no way I'm going!

"Don't worry it's not Gai." He says.

"Okay! Then I would love to got out to eat with you, your friend and his team!" I say brightly and grab my key. "Can we teleport there? I'm feeling too lazy to walk."

"I guess," Kakashi sighs. He makes a hand sign and disappear and reappear in front of the restaurant Sasuke and I were at the day of the bell test. We walk in and a man with a cigarette waves at Kakashi.

"I take it that's your friend?" I mutter.

"Yup. Hey Asuma! Where's your team?"

"They're on their way, I came ahead so that I could order." The man, Asuma, says. "This must be one of your students."

"I'm Tora Uchiha, nice to meet you." I say with a smile as Kakashi and I sit down across from him.

"So you're the infamous Tora Uchiha. Kakashi here talks about you often. He says you're strong enough to be a jounin." Asuma says. "So where's the rest of your team, Kakashi?"

"My brother's too cool to come, Naruto's an idiot and can't eat anything but ramen, and Sakura's probably trailing my brother around," I say to cover up the fact that Kakashi didn't ask them to come.

"Sounds like you've got an interesting team," Asuma says.

"You don't know the half of it." Kakashi sighs and I giggle.

"Hey Asuma-sensei!" A cheery voice says from behind us. "Sorry we're late. Shikamaru decided to walk extremely slow." I turn around to see a blond girl with her hair in similar style to mine. Behind her is a lazy looking kid with pineapple hair and a chubby guy that looks like he's about to drool from the smell of food.

"It's okay." Asuma says. "Come and sit down." They walk over and the blond stops short when she sees me.

"You!" She exclaims.

I cock my head to the side, a confused expression on my face. "Do I know you?"

"No," she says with a glare. "But if you continue to get chummy with MY Sasuke, I will make your life a living hell!"

I burst out laughing. She thinks I like Sasuke! How stupid can she be? It's obvious that we're siblings, I mean we look exactly alike! I'm laughing so hard that my stomach hurts.

"What's so funny?" She demands.

"Oh a number of things," I say between giggles. "That fact that my life is already a living hell, the way you think you have a chance with Sasuke, that you think I like Sasuke and that Sasuke's my twin brother!" By now everyone at the table is laughing except for the girl who's face is extremely red. I can't decide if it's from anger or embarrassment.

"Team this is my friend Kakashi Hatake and one of his students Tora Uchiha. Why don't you guy introduce yourselves." Asuma says.

"I'm Chouji Akamichi," says the chubby kid.

"I'm Shikamaru Nara, man this is such a drag," says pineapple head. Even his voice sounds lazy.

"Ino Yamanaka," the blond says in an annoyed tone.

Shikamaru ends up sitting next to Kakashi and I while Ino and Chouji sit on the other side with their sensei. "So, I didn't know Sasuke had a sister," Ino says.

"Most people don't. Unlike my brothers I wasn't the 'Pride of the Uchiha Clan' and the barely let me out of the compound. After the massacre my older brother, Itachi, took me with him when he left. I only recently returned to the village." I say.

"Oh," she says. "I'm sorry I went off on you earlier."

"No problem, you didn't know. It wouldn't be the first time. I though Sakura was going to tear me to shreds the first time we met because Sasuke gave me a hug." I laugh. The waiter comes by and places platters of uncooked meat in front of us. My mouth starts to water as I place some on the grill. Once it's done I take a piece and place it in my mouth. I'm instantly transported to heaven as I swallow piece after piece of meat. When I finish I look up to see everyone staring at me. "What?"

"I think she at more than Chouji." Ino says in disbelief.

"Where does she put it all?" Asuma asks.

"I don't know," Kakashi answers.

"How did you eat all that?" Shikamaru asks me.

"I like meat," I shrug. Ino's eyes widen as she looks behind me.

"That's a scary looking bunch of people." She says and I turn around to see Gaara and his teammates enter. As they walk past our table the cat guy notices me and smirks. One they get to their table he whispers something in the girl's ear. She nods and I feel my body start to move of it's own accord. That damn puppet master! He attached chakra strings to me! I get up and star walking towards them. "Um, Tora? What are you doing?" Ino calls from behind me.

"I'm not really sure," I yell back. "I'm not exactly in control of my body right now. But don't worry I can handle it. This isn't the first time this has happened."

I reach their table and glare at the cat guy. "You know it's not nice to control other people's bodies." I say.

"Really?" He asks sarcastically.

"Oh Kami. Not a Sasori junior," I mutter under my breath. Sasori may seem emotionless, but the guy seriously knows how to use sarcasm and his favorite pass time was controlling me with chakra strings.

"What was that, sweetheart?" He asks flirtatiously.

"I said go to hell," I reply sweetly. "Did you want something?"

"Playing hard to get I see." He says. "I just wanted to know if you would go on a date with me, cutie."

"I'd rather be burned alive." I retort.

"Hn, doesn't matter. I'm not letting you go until you say yes."

"Then we're gonna be here for a while."

"Kankuro," Gaara says emotionlessly. "Let her go." His empty eyes meet mine and I see a flicker of emotion in them, but it disappears quickly.

"Fine," Kankuro says and my body becomes mine to control again. "Will we be seeing you seeing you at the Chunin Exams?"

"Chunin Exams?" I blink. "Hey Kakashi! Am I going to the Chunin Exams?" I yell to him.

"Oh, yeah! I for got to tell you that I signed the team up." He calls back.

"Yes, I will be at the Chunin Exams." I say to Kankuro. "So you better watch your back, because first chance I get I'm kicking your ass."

"Feisty, I like it. I'll see you there then," he says with a wink. I give him the finger and walk back to our table.

"I'm gonna head home." I say to Kakashi. "See ya later." I turn and walk towards the door.

"Don't forget about the exams!" He yells.

"I'd be a bit more worried about Naruto!" I shout back and begin the long walk home.

Two chapters in two days! I'm so happy! And Tora got to meet Gaara! The sad part is that I had their meeting planned out since I started this whole thing. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

~C.S.