8:48 a.m.

Gaara and Hayai open the doors to see everyone in a line and sees sports cars lined up, but there's only a certain amount of those cars. Hayai blinks at this, wondering why there isn't a car for everyone. She turns to Gaara, who doesn't look at her back solely because he senses someone there besides their principal. They go down the steps and line up with the other students. Itachi clears his throat before saying, "As you can see, there's only a certain amount of cars for everyone. Now then, we shall have a little race. Two against each other at a time, the one who fails to win… is out of this school and back to America. If they let you and trust you to keep this hush, hush. Which I think not." Hayai makes a face of fear, and her heart stops just for a long, long second. Why did I agree to this?! Oh Buddha, why did I choose this? Is it my love to Gaara that I decided to join? That I was lonely? Or, or what?! Hayai thinks with fear and regret, she swallows and looks at Itachi with fearful eyes. Itachi makes a smile and says more, "These cars are for the ones who win; those two ADR Engineering ADR3 shall be the ones you're going to use for this race. Any questions?" No one says a word, but their eyes are filled with determination… all except Hayai. She looks down, her heart races with fright of being put to "silence" when she loses. She then imagines herself being put to the sword, and everyone laughs at her… all except her three friends who'll just watch in fright.

"Hayai."

The silver-haired teen turns to Gaara, who is still looking at Itachi. He makes a little sigh and says, "You better stop it, it's annoying me to say the same thing over and over. Stop being so afraid, try using some of that rage into better use." Hayai makes a sad face, Gaara has been a good friend to her… even though he's mysterious and a bit creepy in some cases. But right now, Hayai is still scared, she's not used to this. NO ONE HAS! But Gaara is right in many cases, but right now… right now Hayai has the right to be afraid in every which why. Scared of losing, scared of death…

Right?

Itachi takes out two pieces of paper from a box on a stand that was next to him the whole time they were out there. He makes a sinister smile and says, "Well, well… it seems my baby brother and his lovely friend, Suigetsu, are going first." Everyone looks at Sasuke and Suigetsu, which the snow haired boy looks nervous.

"Uh, Sasuke? This looks bad!"

"Hn! For you maybe."

"Huh?! Sasuke?"

The raven haired boy goes to one of the ADR and gets in, while Suigetsu just looks at Sasuke with shock. He then makes a face, and promises himself to beat Sasuke and after he was done he'll slap Sasuke into New Year's! He gets in the over car and they start roaring their engines. Hayai swallows, knowing this won't end well. Itachi makes a smile and says, "Now, just follow the arrows along the city that Tobi willingly did for us. Oh, if you have enough common sense, I wouldn't follow every arrow." Hayai swallows hard, this is so crazy… but then again… it makes little sense to her.

After a series of races, it's the final race. Hayai swallows, then looks at Sakura… who is her challenger. They get in the rather beat up ADR cars, and start their engines. Hayai swallows, she hopes she doesn't become like Shikamaru… who disappeared in the middle of the race and is believed dead. She closes her eyes, not going there. He's not dead, she would've felt it! They all would've felt it, Kiba and Naruto are not being themselves for the news of Shikamaru being "dead". Hayai opens her eyes, and thinks, I-I-I'll d-do this f-f-for you, SHIKAMARU! Tears escape her brown orbs, down her pale face, and onto her shirt. Then, the lights turn from red… yellow…

GO!

Hayai and Sakura step on the gas, and speed toward the road at high power. As they go, Gaara just watches them drive off carelessly. They don't even know that the police are now on their guard. Gaara thinks, hoping for the best… hoping. He then turns to his brother, who is just chuckling.

"That pink haired bitch, she's going to win. Poor Hayai."

"Don't assume, there's always that… hope."

Kankuro turns to his brother, "Gaara?" He asks, but his little sibling ignores him. Kankuro makes a face, what is up with his brother and this girl? What makes her so special to Gaara? Gaara has never acted like this, obviously, but this is different. So different, that it's making Kankuro feel so… annoyed.

On the road

Hayai is being chased by the local Tokyo Police, her heart races and tears roll down her eyes. Why did she accept the offer? Why was she being so careless? Hayai swallows and turns a street… to see a barricade! Her eyes widen and she wishes to stomp on the breaks, but something stops her from doing so.

Keep going, my daughter.

A voice was to be heard, but Hayai doesn't know who the male was or why he called her "daughter". She looks around, seeing no one but her inside the car. Hayai looks ahead to the road, seeing a tiny gap between two cop cars. Suddenly, Hayai feels pumped. She makes a smile, then a full grin. I don't have to follow the rules, for not at least. I feel so… so… ALIVE! Hayai steps onto the gas, and crashes through the gap. She speeds off onto the road and follows the arrows that make sense, she then turns down a corner to go toward the school. Hayai makes a sigh, letting go of her grin. She then drifts to the left, for a cop is being stubborn on letting her go.

"YOHSHIDA GANG! STOP NOW!"

Hayai makes a face, "Yoshida Gang"? She thinks with uneasiness. Hayai then sees another barricade being formed, and so she drifts a half circle and rub against the cop car. She then turns right, not wanting the school and everyone in danger.


A/N: I DON'T OWN NARUTO! Anyway, sorry for the long wait. Here's a chapter for you!