Hannah immediately recognized the reed-like man with the yellow skin, sunk in emerald glowing eyes, greasy dark blue hair, the man she had knocked out when the seven had tried to rape her.

Instead of his usual filthy hobo suit, he was wearing a high collared maroon sweatshirt with the black number seven embroidered on his chest and ebony pants with red strips running down either leg. The head band to his nation was badly scratched, but hung around his waist.

The American guessed he was Rako's replacement for the two months he had quit.

In 7's hand was a Desert Lupine. He spindled it fondly between two fingers, smirking down upon the crowd that had gathered.

He tossed his flower into the air. "Goro."

Big-and-Hairy, also gussied up, had his dark orange turban, piggy green eyes, bare tanned chest puffed proudly, baggy dark orange pants…he just resembled an overgrown bully genie. A golden six was stitched on his left pant leg.

His black, thick eyebrows rose and fell as he plucked a flower of his own from his turban. It was a Devil's Claw. He too, threw it into the crowd. "Daiki."

A blond with lustrous hair and navy eyes wearing a black mask, a cobalt whip attached to his belt. Blue bellbottoms, ebony boots, red sleeveless undershirt with an unzipped blue jacket over. The undershirt had a yellow five.

He tossed a Yellow Beeplant. "Tamaki."

"Hisoka," a purple haired man with black eyes announced, wearing a normal shinobi outfit. Hannah found it amusing number four merely dropped the silver Cholla cactus straight down pessimistically with no emotion on his face.

Number Three had iron grey hair and a pair of technological eyes that roved over the audience. He was scarred from many battles and missing an arm. All his garments were a hue of gray. Desert San Verbena fell from his hand. "Iwao."

Hannah shivered as his eyes froze on her for a moment before passing over.

Number one stood, arms crossed arrogantly, smirking. His hazel eyes had been focused on her the entire time. He flicked his wrist, producing a red Desert Flower from 'thin air', but Hannah knew it had come from up his sleeve.

He tossed it and the red Desert rose landed at her feet. "Leo Kioshi." The American scowled, grinding the beautiful flower into the dirt with her heel. This was the one whose lips had touched her leg. She would not accept anything from him, except pleas to stop her from torturing him.

The new leader had brilliant orange spiky hair, hazel eyes, wore a normal navy tee shirt with a bold one and green cargo pants. He frowned almost playfully at her response to his gift, eyes alit with desire, until Iwao nudged him.

"Citizens of Suna," he announced in a loud voice, eyes lingering slightly on the sullen American, "We are here to reap our revenge on our fallen comrade, Masaaki, known as number two."

Hannah stifled a giggle behind her hand. Number two. He doesn't know how…'dirty' that sounded. She chortled even more at her own pun.

The Seven glared at her and the villagers nearest to her inched away as if fearing she was a contagious disease.

A kunai with an explosive tag landed at Leo's feet. The Seven leapt back in synchronization onto another rooftop as it burst.

"You will be brought to justice." Hannah recognized Yuri's gravelly voice. "You shall leave and do no harm to the village or villagers."

Tamaki smiled. "The villagers are quite safe, paint shop owner."

"Masseuse," she retorted.

"Touché," the blonde, who worked at the massage parlor, smirked.

Goro suddenly yelled as sand engulfed him. He tried to claw his way out as he sunk further and further into the growing mass of yellow. Leo made a hand sign in the fallen number seven's direction and inside the sand was a muted explosion.

The other five looked on impassively, although Tamaki frowned faintly and Daiki growled.

"What a waste," Hisoka said tonelessly, glancing at the orange-haired leader.

"He was trapped with no escape, and a neophyte," Leo shrugged. "We could always get another member."

"Kazekage-sama," Yuri greeted. The villagers cheered as they spotted their leader standing on a roof opposite of the Seven. Hannah knew Gaara was ill and glanced between both elevated platforms. More and more sand guards were arriving.

The red head and Leo exchanged a glared contest. Gaara won.

Leo's hazel eyes shifted to the gray clad Iwao, who gave a bare nod. Iwao threw an explosive tag note on a kunai toward the crowd, who screamed in terror. The weapon was blocked by a matching kunai, causing it to blow harmlessly in midair.

"Clear the streets," one of the smarter guards yelled.

"Flee this block," another encouraged.

The effect of the words was disastrous. People panicked, scattering in every available direction, tramping one another. Daiki, Big-and-Hairy, and Iwao snorted at the chaos.

Hannah was jostled around. Someone's elbow jammed into her stomach and she fell onto her knees. Frightened villagers tripped and stepped on the American. She held her breath, and covered her head with her hands.

Iwao cursed. "I've lost the target."

Leo swore, "Ksoh! Find the contestant!"

At a gesture from Gaara, the ANBU and shinobi began to attack the Seven while the Kazekage busied himself with using his sand to save those getting trampled. Half retreated into a circling ring around his feet for defense as the other half saved lives.

The battle began in the Sand's favor, but more and more shinobi were cut down.

Gaara's sand found a bloody Hannah. Two of her fingers were broken, blood ran down a part of her head, dust coated her thoroughly bruised body. The Kazekage set the American on the rooftop near his feet. "Daijobu deska?" he asked quickly as he could spare.

"Hai. I'm fine," she coughed weakly. Personally, it felt as though she had been beat by a horde of ogres with clubs and boulders, inside and out. A child curled in the form of a ball plopped onto her. The child wrapped his arms around her and buried his face into her chest, wailing about his mother and sister.

Hannah felt a twinge of maternity and nestled the boy, curling herself around him to make him feel more secure. Any harm that would be wished upon him would go through her first. Her green-grey eyes roved his frail body for injuries.

"I see her," Iwao muttered to Leo, slicing through another shinobi with his laser eyes. The crimson laser beam was actually made of chakra stored in a suppressed 'bead' on his left ear for years.

Leo very nearly sighed with relief. The assassin promised her to him. He was just picking her up. "Where?" he asked.

"By the Kazekage," the man in grey said wryly.

Leo Kioshi cursed every foul oath that came to mind under his breath, venting his frustration on those who leapt in his way. He was even angrier when Hisoka was taken down by a pair of clever shinobi with a deadly trap.

At a silent signal, the remaining four retreated.

"That was foolish," Iwao berated Leo.

"I know."

"We lost another skilled member," Daiki grunted. Hisoka had been a close companion of sorts to the big man. His death was a blow.

"You still have me," Tamaki smiled cheerfully, causing Daiki to snort, "Don't be gay."

"Next time we isolate her and I shall seduce her away," Leo murmured to himself. The orange head could see her waiting for him, sleeping on the bed…hair laid out over the pillow…unclothed body half covered by the sheets…

Leo came back to reality, smirking. Yes, Pallid Obscurity, you shall be mine. I know who you are.

P-p-P-p-P-p-P-p-P

Hannah handed the boy into the arms of the relieved mother. His identical sister smiled, tugging on her mother's clothes, calling for her brother's attention. The American accepted the profuse thanks with a plastered smile. Every inch of her hurt like hell.

Contestant seven surveyed herself, not able to move two of her numb fingers. They were broken, oddly not hurting. She guessed that would come later. A trip to the hospital was in orthodox.

"Girl."

Hannah ignored the voice. There were plenty of girls around. Even if someone was referring to her, her name was not 'girl'.

"Girl!" The voice sounded more annoyed, angrier.

The American limped on, eyes trained in the direction of the medical center. She was so not looking forward to having her fingers hea-

"GIRL!"

Hannah jumped as the gravelly female voice roared behind her. The American gave a terrified squeak, leapt and grasped onto a sign hanging from a building. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Yuri in her ANBU suit and mask glaring up at her.

Competitor seven sighed. There went another decade of her life, another notch up on the likelihood scale of getting a heart attack. Hannah let go and fell onto the dirt with something between 'oomph' and a 'sigh'.

"Daijobu deska?"

All that just for one question?! "Of course," she answered sardonically, glaring up at her demonic employer. "Peachy keen. Healthy as a horse."

"No one likes a smart ass," Yuri snorted, helping her employee up.

"A smart ass is better than a dumb ass," she grinned.

Yuri swatted the American's shoulder. "Shut up and get to the hospital. I want you to run twenty laps around Suna for not participating in the battle. Another ten in the armor for not getting away from the battle because you were not battling, and thirty push-ups over candles for your sarcasm."

"Wh-what?" Hannah stammered, gaping. She felt faint.

"You have got to get it in your head," the ANBU scolded, pushing her toward the medic center. "Haiyaku (hurry)!"

Groaning, the teen limped to the center to escape Yuri's 'goodness'.

P-p-P-p-P-p-P-p-P

"Do you have any idea which contestant they are targeting?"

"Competitor seven."

"How do you know?"

"The leader couldn't keep his eyes off her."

A pensive pause. "Hai." Another tranquil period of minutes. "Keep her under strict surveillance. Double patrol the borders. Transfer her to another, more secure location."

"Where?"

There was a moment of silence.

"You're not serious, Kazekage-sama!" gasped the figure, recoiling slightly.

"I am."

"Yessir," the figure answered in a subdued, unhappy tone.