Here we go. The next chapter. Yay. Anyway, I know there's some curiosity about the girl with Gaara, Rei, but there hasn't been a good opportunity to answer those question. Don't worry though. Some answers are coming in the next chapter. Just be patient a little longer.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, Sasuke wouldn't have been so stupid as to join Orochimaru (obviously since I rarely write a story where he did...only two I think. I'd have to check to be sure).

Ch. 10: The Attack Begins

The next match was supposed to be between Sasuke and Gaara, but since Sasuke wasn't there yet, the Kage's decided to delay the match a little longer. Which meant that Kankuro's match against Shino was up. To the surprise and disappointment of everyone, Kankuro chose to forfeit rather than fight.

"What is he up to?" Sakura wondered. "He didn't strike me as the quitting type."

"I don't know," Naruto replied, just as curious as she was.

The proctor nodded in acceptance as the crowd continued to complain. Temari apparently seemed irritated by the berating and flew down on her fan. She gave the proctor a cocky smile and said, "My turn then."

"Then I guess all we need is Shikamaru Nara," the proctor answered, looking up at the contestants.

Shikamaru wasn't quite eager to jump in the ring, but Naruto didn't give him much choice. With a loud laugh and encouragement, Naruto thumped the lazy ninja on the back, sending Shikamaru down to the ring. Despite his unwillingness to work, Shikamaru decided to take the fight seriously. He caused a bit of an upset by coming very close to winning only to forfeit. Even though he quit, everyone knew that Shikamaru was the winner in the ways that counted.

Of course, this only left one match. Sasuke vs Gaara. The problem. Sasuke still wasn't there. Sakura watched the counting clock. If it hit zero before Sasuke got back, Gaara won by default. Sasuke would hate that.

Just as the clock hit zero and she'd given up hope, the whirl of wind entered the arena. When it cleared, Kakashi and Sasuke stood back to back. Sakura cheered and raced down with Naruto to greet him. She raced past Shikamaru, who was still standing in the ring, and threw her arms around the Uchiha.

"Sasuke!"

"Oof," he grumbled, but kept his feet under him and didn't ask her to let go. Instead, he placed a very hesitant arm around her.

"You almost didn't make it," Naruto informed his teammate a little irritably. "What took you so long?"

"It was a long trip," Kakashi answered. He turned a sheepish expression to the proctor. "We aren't too late, are we?"

"You barely made it on time." The proctor shook his head in resignation. "Should have known you'd be late. We delayed the match twice for you two."

Sakura finally let Sasuke go and smiled up at him. "I'm so relieved to see you."

He smirked. "I wouldn't have missed this chance for anything."

"Will everyone but Sasuke leave," the proctor ordered, deciding he'd given them sufficient time to greet each other. His eyes moved up to the contestants. "And, Gaara, come down here for your match."

Sakura wished Sasuke luck one last time before turning to make her way up the stairs. Naruto was right behind her. Over his shoulder, the blond ordered, "Don't lose, Sasuke."

Sasuke merely nodded, his dark eyes burning with determination.

Naruto and Sakura began making their way up the stairs with Shikamaru right behind them. The lazy ninja was just now getting around to leaving the ring since his match had just finished moments ago. As they walked up the steps, they heard some chunin threatening Gaara on the stairs. Rather than responding to the threats, Gaara merely attacked them with his sand. The three leaf genin dove out of sight, not wanting to be one of Gaara's targets. Sakura swallowed hard as she listened to the chunin scream for mercy.

"Gaara?"

Sakura perked up a little. That had been Rei's voice. The girl that seemed to care about Gaara and he seemed to listen to her. Maybe this wouldn't end too badly for anyone.

"What are you doing here, Rei?" Gaara's voice would have been a monotone if not for the small hint of irritation.

"I got worried because you hadn't made it to the ring yet." Her voice was calm and unruffled by whatever was going on up there. "I guess they attacked you, or at least threatened to."

Sakura risked peeking at the scene. The two chunin were still wrapped in Gaara's sand. Rei stood next to Gaara, here eyes as calm as the rest of her. She didn't seem concerned with the whimpering chunin or the homicidal rage in Gaara's eyes.

The girl merely said, "You should probably put them down so that you can get to the ring. Wouldn't want to be late for your match with Sasuke." Her brown eyes drifted to the chunin wrapped in sand. "Besides, I think those chunin got the message not to mess with you again."

For a moment, everything was silent except for the whimpering. Finally, thuds echoed as the two chunin hit the ground. Gaara shot them a dark look that sent them running for cover.

"You should return to the stands," Gaara ordered Rei, his voice cold.

"I will." She hesitated, then added, "Gaara, be careful."

He said nothing more as he made his way down to the arena. Once Rei had walked away, the three leaf shinobi released the breath they'd been holding. Sakura stood wondering just what was wrong with Gaara. Suddenly, the world around her faded away and she found herself standing in a forest. Someone was fighting. She looked up and saw a huge sand monster fighting an enormous toad. Then she noticed someone standing on the toad's head. Naruto. A shout behind had her spinning. Sasuke was standing on a tree branch fighting with clawed hand made out of sand as if his life depended on it. Someone was trapped in that hand, but before she could see who it was, someone grabbed her shoulder.

"Sakura!"

Her eyes focused, and she realized she was back in the stairwell with Naruto and Shikamaru. Both of them were looking down at her with concern. She looked at Naruto. "I did it again, didn't I?"

He nodded. "Fell right over once it started."

"Something bad is going to happen, Naruto," she said, forcing herself to her feet. "We have to find Kakashi-sensei. Now."

They raced off with a very confused Shikamaru right behind them. It took what felt like hours to find Kakashi and by the time they did, someone in the ring was screaming in agony. Forgetting about everything but checking on Sasuke, Sakura spun to look at the arena below with a prayer ready. Sasuke was fine, but there was blood on the ground. Gaara's blood.

Then the dome of sand that was around Gaara melted away, leaving the two combatants in the ring. She felt something strange begin to happen then. Feathers seemed to fall out of the sky, and her eyes began to droop. Wait. This felt like a genjutsu. She placed her hands together and said, "Release."

She heard several thuds as several fell over in sleep, including Naruto and Shikamaru. All around, chunin and jonin, who recognized the genjutsu, stood. Their eyes scanned around, looking for an attack.

"Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked.

"I don't know yet." Kakashi looked just as ready as the rest of him. "Release Naruto and Shikamaru from the genjutsu. You and Naruto go to Sasuke. Shikamaru will take care of his own team then assist you."

Sakura nodded then ran over to wake the two genin.

Naruto came to slowly, his eyes blinking away sleep. "What..."

"I'll explain at the bottom," Sakura snapped out as she turned to Shikamaru. Something exploded above where the Hokage was. She didn't look. Couldn't look. There wasn't time. Instead, she focused on Shikamaru. His eyes twitched. She glowered. "Don't tell me you're awake, Shikamaru."

He didn't move.

Sakura smirked a little then punched him in the gut.

"Oof," he managed as the breath whooshed out of his lungs.

"Get up and help your teammates," Sakura ordered. "Then join out team down below."

With that order, she grabbed Naruto's hand and jerked him down towards Sasuke. The Uchiha was standing in the arena still, watching Gaara and the sand genin.

"Sasuke," Sakura called out as she and Naruto joined him. "Are you alright?"

He nodded without taking his eyes off of Gaara.

Naruto was looking around in confusion. "What is happening?"

Before anyone could say anything, a sand jonin appeared in front of them. With great timing, the proctor of the exam moved so that he stood between the leaf genin and the sand jonin.

The sand jonin barked orders at the three sand genin behind him. Just as they ran off, the girl called Rei came running into the arena. "Gaara! Wait!" Her angry eyes turned to the jonin. "What did you do, Baki? What is wrong with Gaara? Where are Temari and Kankuro taking him?"

"This is none of your concern, Rei," Baki replied dismissively. "You're just a civilian. Gaara shouldn't have brought you here."

Her eyes narrowed. "If what you're doing hurts Gaara so help me, I'll show you what a civilian is capable of."

The proctor said, "Team 7."

"What?" Naruto asked instantly.

"I hate to say it, but the exams are over. It's time to put your training to use." His eyes ever left Baki. "Go after those sand genin. Don't let them complete their mission."

Sasuke nodded. "Alright. Time to go to work guys."

"Right," Naruto agreed, ready for action. Then again, he always was ready.

"We're right beside you, Sasuke," Sakura told him with a smile.

The three raced towards the wall.

"Wait! Please."

Sakura paused and looked at Rei.

"Please, can I come? Gaara..." Rei hesitated then continued with determination burning in her eyes. "No one else cares about his well being. I have to know that he'll be okay."

Sakura looked at Sasuke and Naruto with a plea of her own. She could sympathize with this stranger. It was always hard knowing that you couldn't do enough for the one you loved. But, you couldn't stop trying anyway.

Naruto caved first because at heart he was a big softy. He turned and offered to carry Rei on his back. Smiling and thanking them, she accepted his offer.

Sasuke realized that he would have given in too because he couldn't deny Sakura, which sent him for a loop. Since when had that happened? When did he go from being able to tell her no, to knowing he never could now? Or at least rarely could? He shoved those thoughts away for the moment. Now was not the time.

The team raced off once again for their first A-ranked mission since the Land of Waves.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm working on the next one as we speak...well, right after this since I can't type on two things at once. Let me know what you thought.