Ch.13 The First Test

Midori sat on the rooftop on an overhead building as the Kage's passed through the village. His chakra identification cards lit up when a powerful individual showed itself. He couldn't get much information besides that the ninja was needed to be watched out for but it would do for now. These things were hard to make but came in handy right now, he needed to now if the other ninja posed a threat. At first he couldn't believe how many people attended this exam, around two-hundred in total this year, including the ninja Kohona. Then again, it was the Chunin exams and with the new village awaking they had to show off their skills. He counted the numbers again as his feet dangled over the rooftop. Fifty from Leaf, fifty from Cloud, fifty from Stone, forty from Mist, seven from Rain, and three from Whirlpool.

'Things don't look good for us.' He turned back to his cards, 'and a lot of my cards went off. This isn't good, I hope that good will is on our side.' He had read over the rules of the exams tenfold. He knew that the village couldn't support this many ninja alone, he was glad to read that when the ninja lost they were to return to their own village with their team. His attention turned back to the Kage's.

Ay and his guards Bee and Darui, all lightning users and one being a jinchuuriki. Ay was a large man, made up of muscle, dark in skin tone and with white hair that was slicked back, along with a small mustache and beard. He wore a white robe that showed his chest, gold bracers on both wrists, black shuriken tattoos on both shoulders, a gold belt with a boars face engraved on the center.

Killer Bee, the host of the Eighttails, first Midori was surprised that he was even allowed to come as his brother doesn't let him out much. He has a dark skin and a muscular build, white hair and a goatee. On his right shoulder is a kanji for 'iron', he wears oval shaped sunglasses and a white-colored forehead protector. Wearing a one-strap-over-one-shoulder flak jacket, a long red rope belt tied around his waist, hand and shin guards, white ninja sandals, a white scarf around his neck, and finally he carries seven swords on his back, each smaller than a normal sword.

Darui was a dark skinned man, white hair that hanged over one eye, a large cleaver on his back, and wearing a leather armor set.

Mei, Ao, and Chojuro, a Seven Swordsman and a Byakugan user didn't make things easy on his mind but neither did this vile succubus.

Mei is a slender built woman, green eyes, fair skin, and ankle-length auburn hair with a top-knot tied with a dark blue band, and bangs that covered her right eye. She wears a long-sleeved, dark blue dres that falls below her knees. It is closed at the front with a zip, underneath is a mesh armor, and wearing shorts in the same color as her dress, mesh armor leggings, and high heel sandals.

Onoki, Akatsuchi, and Kurotsuchi, Midori scoffed at their power level. He could probably defeat his guards of them on his own, at the same time no less.

Onoki was a very short, old man with a triangular beard and a moustache, a rather large red nose and thick eyebrows. The top of his head is bald with white hair on the lower half of his head. Wearing a green and yellow coat with a red collar. Underneath he wears a light green flak jacket and mesh armor, and ninja sandals.

Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, this guy had become Kazekage in less than a year. If the rumors meant anything, he was one to watch out for no less being the host of the onetail.

Gaara is slightly shorter than average, due to his premature birth. He has fair skin and short, spiky, auburn hair, pale blue-green eyes with no distinctive pupils or eyebrows, along with that he has black rings around his eyes, and the kanji for love carved on the left side of his forehead. His hair is parted on the left side, making the kanji more visible. He wears full-length dark pants, with laces on each leg, a long-sleeved crimson coat with slits down the lower half of the front and back. A grey holster vest held in place by a single strap over the left shoulder, a few worn belts, dark sandals, and a large gourd made of sand on his back, due to his power of controlling the element.

Temari, Gaara's older sister. She is a rather blunt individual from what Midori had heard, becoming a Jounin at the same time her two brothers did. She has teal eyes, and blonde hair, which is gathered into four ponytails, fair skin as well. She wears a black dress that reaches down to her legs, with slits for a revealing neckline, a red sash around her waist, black fingerless gloves. Her massive fan attached to her back, a strange weapon of choice but he shouldn't be one to judge.

Kankuro, Gaara's older brother. Although he is protective of his siblings, he has no special feelings for outsiders save for Naruto. He wears a black outfit consisting of a long top and pants with a red sash around the waist, hooded in which it hides his hair. Wearing also purple face paint, one thick line running through both of his eyes horizontally, then another across his lips, then running down the center towards his chin. Along with that he carries three scrolls on his back, made for carrying his three puppets Crow, Ant, and Salamander.

The one that truly captivated his attention was the Rain's village head. He had searched for every bit of info on the man but came up short. He supposedly defeated Hanzo of the Salamander, one of the strongest ninja known. If that was any indication to his power he was maybe above a Kage level. A weird man he hid his face and head but he could clearly see his orange hair and metal piercings on his face. A woman walked by him, with blue hair and what he swore was paper attached to her. He radiated a power beyond anything he had witnessed yet. Not many noticed, hell not even the Kages did probably but in the shadows there were at least five other ninja following him. They all wore dark robes, stretching down to their feet.

He grew cautious about him, but he was also not worried about him but to this 'Danzo' as well. 'He couldn't have given up Naruto that easily, I must watch out for him who knows what could happen?' Yes the rest of the team had heard about Naruto's 'marriage' personally he might have not thought it all the way through, Kasai however was happy for him. He actually pitied Naruto when he had to explain to Hinata's team that he was going to marry her and meet her father. 'What I would give to see that.'

"Lord Pain would wish that you don't spy on him."

He turned to be met with five other ninja, they all looked similar in two traits, orange hair and metal piercings on their faces. jThen they all differed in gender, height, weight, he couldn't place how they all looked similar but yet different. 'When did these guys get there?' Midori played coy "what can't collect info before a battle?"

A giant of a man walked forward "not on him."

'Damn, now I really want this info.' He held up his cards "sorry but this is my property."

"Then you won't mind fighting for it."

He turned behind him to be met with 'Lord Pain' and his associate. As he saw the man had orange hair and multiple piercings on his face. The captivating thing was his eyes, purple with rings circling the pupil going outwards. Something seemed off about that, might want to check into it later. "Pain are you sure about this?"

"Yes, if he wants it so badly he can fight for it."

'Oh great look at what you have gotten yourself into, well he is certainly Kage level and I have handled the old man in a fight so.' "Sure, where to?"

The woman turned to Midori as if he had signed his death warrant. He seemed puzzled at this when Pain nodded "follow me."

They vanished from the village as several Ame ninja turned to the group "he is so going to die."

Midori stretched as he gave himself time to study his opponent 'ok by his selves he might have a blade or something in there. The piercings seem to be a connector between the ninja, maybe as a way to communicate beyond words. By his posture he is skilled in Taijutsu and mid-range Ninjutsu, don't know about any Genjutsu so let's worry about that later.' The forest waned as Konan turned to Pain "he is just a boy, let him be."

He shook his head "I will try to keep the others at bay, I will test him, take the info, and we will be on our way."

"He is a Uzu ninja, we can't kill him."

"I know, but I will make him feel Pain." He turned to Midori "are you done yet?"

Midori sighed reaching into his pockets "yep."

Pain was gone in a flash, his fist sent Midori flying as it crashed into his stomach. Standing back up he regained his senses and threw out multiple kunai making a handsign "Chakra Release: Sword Rain!"

The kunai multiplied and turned into the celestial blue blades as they headed towards Pain. "Almighty Push!"

The force of gravity shifted around Pain as the swords hit the barrier made of air, his smirk disappeared when the blades passed right threw his defense. He barley dodged another blade being wielded by Midori 'huh, this guy's Almight whatever is like Kenshi's defense.'

With a slight hand movement, a black rod shot from the man's sleeve, as he gripped it like a sword. Pain pulled his Chakra Disruption Blade from his other hand and swiped at Midori. The blades connected but the sheer force of the attack sent Midori flying again. He got back up and readied his blade, only to see that it was cut in half. 'The hell, these things are made of pure chakra nothing can slice through it. Unless those rods disrupt chakra! Well there goes all of my jutsu.'

Pain rushed again as Midori quickly threw out kunai two sacks full of kunai. Midori smirked as they flew past him "Chakra Release: Devil's Heart!"

Pain stopped as he felt the amount of chakra by him. He looked around to be surrounded by the blades in every direction "fall into pain!" He quickly activated his Rinnegan and summoned another disruption blade and went to work, spinning the blades around him the celestial blades clashed and dissipated as they hit.

Midori was already on the move as he made handsigns "Chakra Release: Fire Golem!" Several pairs of blue hands spawned out of the ground as the beasts charged Pain, smashing the entire area they went through. He jumped back as he blocked both the blades and the Golem attacking him. 'Even with the Rinnegan he is keeping me on my toes. He certainly is a strange one.' Pain dodged a giant fist as he continued to slice the swords by him. He eventually had to call Animal and Asura path as they defended Pain from the attacking Golems. "Enough! Almighty Push!" He jumped into the air and the force of the blast slammed the chakra constructions into the ground, dissipating them. Midori sighed 'this is becoming a problem.'

Asura path charged and Midori recoiled, Taijutsu was not his thing Midori realized as he was sent back by a powerful kick from the path, if only he had put on the gloves when he had the chance. Midori launched himself off a tree from the force, crashing head first back into Asura sending the path tumbling back. The rest of the paths charged as Midori readied himself. Two blades materialized in his hands as the first paths attacked. Twisting his body he dodged the attacks as his swords went through their bodies cleanly. Launching himself with impressive speed he attacked the rest of the paths in a Kenjutsu battle. Every time the poles struck through his swords he quickly repaired it as he couldn't probably survive without them. He was surprised when the ninja he hit got back up as the swords never hit them.

Pain watched as the battle intensified, neither the paths nor the child making any stable ground on one another 'this child, is truly something'. As he was distracted by one path Asura grabbed him by the skull and threw him in the air. Midori's eyes widened as he saw the rest of the paths materialize in the air ready to pin him into the ground with the poles. Even the Rinnegan couldn't follow the speed of the handsigns next "Chakra Release: Funnel Launch!" A giant whirlpool appeared from Midori's hand as it sucked in the paths in air. Then in a burst of chakra sent all of them flying in separate directions, but mainly infront of Pain.

He twisted his body as he barley blocked a strike from a rod from Lord Pain. A kick in the sternum sent him back into the air, the area around them sounded with a large crack as multiple ribs broke in Midori's body. 'This is bad, my chakra release won't touch him with those blades, I can't believe I am going to have to use this.' In the air he made handsigns at a speed that even Kakashi couldn't copy. "Fallout! Chakra Release: Molecular Beam!"

Konan's eyes widened in horror of the impending attack "Pain move!"

A shining beam shot out of Midori's chest as it headed for Pain. All Konan could see was white as the attack hit. Midori fell towards the ground and collapsed onto the ground as the beam died down. The entire area where the beam hit was gone. Nothing stood where Pain once did, as did the forest behind him, for several miles. Midori chuckled under the dust "didn't mean to kill the guy."

"You didn't."

A foot slammed into Midori's back as he cried out in pain. Pain released the pressure on the boy as he spoke "where did you learn that?" Even under the pain he knew better than to not answer the question "I based it off of the Stone's Dust Release."

He slowly got back up as he drew a kunai, Pain put up his hand "no more, you have earned that info." Midori chuckled "I feel like you got more out of this fight than you would have by looking at me." Konan turned to the boy 'he is smart, already knowing that his attacks would be useless he tried his trump card.'

"But don't worry, you don't have all the info on me." Konan turned towards the boy in confusion "you mean that isn't all that you had?"

"Nope, that wasn't even my strongest attack."

Pain glared at the boy "why didn't you use it then?"

"I didn't want to spark a war by killing the village head."

Pain still glared at the boy "I hope that you prove yourself worthy in the exams, and this little 'skirmish' never happened."

Midori nodded as Pain took off with the five other nin and Konan turned to him "you should count yourself lucky, he would have shown you pain."

"Lady, I already know pain."

She stared into his green eyes as they gave off sadness as he seemed to smile under his mask "I look forward to meeting you again."

Konan left leaving Midori as he sighed 'god that sucked.' He held his head in pain as he dashed off towards the village leaving a very confused Zetsu in his wake. 'Why would he fight the boy?' 'Who knows, he didn't die but he left the boy with more info on Pain than desired. He may need to be eliminated early.' Zetsu nodded as he slowly sank back into the tree leaving the forest in its destroyed state.

"Explain what happened again. Slowly this time."

Kasai hovered over Midori as she healed his broken bones while Kenshi and Eiyu screamed at him. "Like I said I was collecting info on the contestants this year when the village leader of the Rain challenged me, I said yes, almost died, and here I am."

Eiyu could have beaten the snot out of the boy if he wasn't needed "do you realize how bad that could have been? Did you use 'that' jutsu?"

Midori shook his head "I'm not that stupid, I did use Molecular Beam though, OW!"

"YOU DUMBASS! Do you realize how much damage you could have done by killing that guy? Or if he killed you, for freaking info?"

Kasai exploded on him as Kenshi and Eiyu mentally face palmed. Kenshi sighed "well at least this 'Pain' guy seemed to let him off. Don't let up your guard though."

Midori nodded as Kasai stopped healing "you're good, just let the bones sit for a couple of hours."

He swung his arm around as pain shot through his system. Ignoring it he turned to his sensei "did you look at the cards?"

In confirmation Eiyu picked up one "this year is going to be difficult."

Kenshi took the card as he grimaced "just don't do anything stupid like that again, alright?"

Midori nodded as he and Kasai walked out of the room. A discouraged Kenshi turned to Eiyu "this Pain guy strikes me as someone to watch out for."

"I agree, we will need to be on our toes just in case." This did nothing to ease Kenshi's mood 'I don't like what is to come.'

Nagato lifted his head as Konan entered the cave. He had almost forgotten how she looked, the years had been difficult on his mind. They way he looked now, he must have been so different to her. His eyes were purple, with rings emanating from the pupil. His skin was pale, and bones stuck out as he was so skinny. The thing he sat in now was the only reason he could move, a large mechanical chair-like thing. It was held to the ground by four pistons and with the rods that emanated from his back. They hurt, but it allowed him to control Pain. His mind was heavy with the thoughts of past pain. He never forgot his old friend, his first pain. Now with the appearance of his home, it has made things increasingly difficult with him. A saddened face was on his friend as she faced him "are you sure about this? I mean-?"

Nagato stopped her "if this is what needs to be done, then so be it. I will not let eternal pain come to the world because I couldn't control my emotions. This is for the good of the world, I will not back down now."

"Then why did you challenge the boy? You would have known that you would win anyway."

"I have been separated from my family for all of my life. I at least want to see who they are."

"But."

"I know. And I hate it all the same."

The two sat in silence as sounds of Nagato's machinery echoed off the cave's walls.

Danzo hovered over Sasuke as he sat up in the hospital bed. In all of his years he would have never thought that he would have been so stupid as to not use his bloodline against a Uzumaki. He was lucky that there was a full staff of medical nin ready to assist or the Genjutsu along with his injuries would have taken him over. One that he had already warned was dangerous. Sasuke grimaced "I could have beaten him."

"Key word 'could have'. You were trapped in that retched Genjutsu for a while, you are lucky your mind is intact. Don't worry though, this will not stop our plans."

A great nervousness drove through Sasuke like a sword "there is something you are not telling me."

Danzo merely turned towards the door and left, leaving Sasuke to question the man.

"You are going to get yourself killed next time Midori."

He smiled as he wrapped an arm around Kasai's neck "oh so someone is worried about me?"

"No I am just worried about needing a replacement if you die."

Midori shrugged as he walked through the village with the woman. Dozens of different ninja walked throughout the village as they called out different villages when each one passed. Not many people paid much attention to them as they continued on their way.

They both stopped as a chakra pulse was sent through the village and a giant Tsunade appeared above the village "all teams participating in the Chunin Exams, report to the forty-fourth training ground in two hours!" The two nin turned towards each other, then headed towards the training field.

Naruto, Kenshi, Kasai, and Midori stood in the midst of the two hundred ninja infront of the training field. Naruto could still feel the horror off this place from the last time he was here. He pitied most of the ninja here, some didn't even look like they should have even been considered if their looks were any connection to their skill level. Not their clothing mind you, but the way they stood, acted, they were afraid and they knew it. Even some of their Jounin sensei didn't look up to the job.

Naruto scanned the area and saw some of his friends. Lee and TenTen were their own group along with Guy as their sensei. Hinata and Kiba with Kurenai, Choji and Ino with Asuma, and unfortunately Sasuke and Sakura, his sensei was an unfamiliar man with dark orange hair. He seemed like a ANBU but with a bit less, emotion.

Anko walked to the front of the gate as she turned to the ninja "alright, everyone shut up!"

The group did as requested as the snake mistress continued "alright, this exam is going to be tough I will not lie to you. It is projected to get rid of about eighty percent of you or more."

A rush of whispers went through the group as Anko continued "it will take place in here, the forty-fourth training ground or the 'Forest of Death'. If you were here last year you know how aptly named it was. But since its partial destruction in the Sound invasion it has been enlarged from forty four gates, to sixty six. And the area is wider to, so it will take longer to get to the center tower."

She held up a white paper seal with a chakra tag on it. "This is what you will be hunting for. Each team will be given one of these, your goal is to get at least ten of these in any way possible. From attacking other teams to other more resourceful methods." The ninja shivered at what she meant "once you have your ten, proceed to the center tower and present your tags. A Jounin will be waiting there to confirm the tags. Don't try forgery, if you do we will find out and you will be disqualified from the exams."

Anko pointed towards a booth set up by the front gates "you must sign a waiver over there. Be noted that some do die in these exams, if you don't have the stomach, don't participate. You have two days to complete this. Oh and by the way, if you lose all of your tags, you automatically lose this portion of the exam. Where if you had one or twenty if you lose them all you lose. Good luck."

Naruto pushed past some of the ninja as his team quickly signed the waver and got their gate number. Kenshi grumbled "gate thirty three, not a good one, a ways away from any natural food and water so be careful."

Midori took the number "we should be careful, I don't want to get into fights that might tire us out. We should not wait it out either, if we encounter weaker teams we should give them the option to surrender, I rather not kill."

Naruto crossed his arms as the metal sounded from the touch "I would also like to avoid teme if at all possible, I would like to not destroy this entire place from our battle."

Midori gazed over in Hinata's direction as he caught her ogling Naruto "we could also see if we can strike an alliance with other teams."

Kasai sighed "but that would just mean more seals for us to collect, we should do this on our own."

The team stopped and headed for their area as the signal was given for the teams to head for their gates.

Onoki turned to the Hokage as they watched the teams line up for the start "so, any favorites this year?"

"Not in my village."

Eiyu chuckled "voting for Naruto?"

She nodded as Ay turned to the hooded man that was the Hidden Rain's village head "so care to introduce yourself?"

"I am Pain."

The intent off this man was insane but Ay choose to ignore it "Pain huh? Kind of a weird name." Meanwhile Gaara stood silent as he watched his friend stand by his gate 'Naruto Uzumaki, show us what you can do now.'

The team was already on the move when the gates opened. Quickly, they found a place to camp in the middle of the forest. As Kasai looked around she noticed that there were barley any resources to work with the turned towards them "uh, should we go somewhere else?"

As Midori hollowed out a tree for shelter he called out to his teammate "nope, other teams wouldn't think of camping somewhere without any resources so it would be better here."

Kasai nodded as a large chunk of the tree came out from a strike of one of Midori's Golems. The creature quickly took the tree away as Naruto called the two over to a poorly drawn map of the area in the dirt. "We should split up. I will place seal's on you guys so that way we can notice if any one of us is in trouble and be able to get to them in a short amount of time. Kasai, you need to carry the seal with you. They are already gunning for me, and the Rain might go for Midori since his little fight with the village head, so you should carry it. They might be fearful for the unknown."

Kasai nodded as she took the paper seal and placed it in one of her pouches. Midori grabbed a stick as he pointed towards the map "alright, I will go to the west and south west. Naruto should go to the east and south east, Kasai will go to the south. We'll meet up and head to the north, hopefully by that time we have got the ten seals and we will be done with this."

Naruto spent several minutes painting the seals on all of their bodies. He had a few shadow clones help but 'you can't rush Funinjutsu, it takes time'. The old man had literally beat this stuff into his mind, there was no seal he couldn't do so this was a piece of cake. After connecting the seals and placing a few more at the camp he turned back towards the group "let's get this done as soon as possible. Good luck."

Midori shrugged as Kasai laughed gently "we will be able to get this done, we didn't train for two years strait for nothing."

The group nodded a final time before heading out their separate ways.

Midori was never a, outdoorsman. Nature was never his friend as he more found out when Jiraiya had tried to train him in the sage arts. To put it bluntly, nature hated him. Another bug landed on his face as he turned into a Taijutsu master before swatting the bug away. He sped through the forest as he caught the sight of the few ninja trying to make a fire 'well this will be easy.'

"Ugh, come on fire burn!"

"Why can't we just use a fire jutsu?"

"Because we will burn the forest down idiot!"

"Who are you calling idiot!"

"I swear if you both do not shut up I will rip you a new one, now just use a fire jutsu."

"You could always use flint and steel."

They turned to see a skinny ninja, dressed in a mask and wearing a proctor of the Uzu village. One of the Kohona nin laughed at him "ha, the Whirlpool village? You guys are a joke, you first get destroyed then reappear two years ago and think you are the best?"

The ninja shrugged "never said I was, but thanks for the complement."

He raised his fist in anger "it wasn't a complement!"

His two partners turned to him "let's just take this guy's seal and be done with it."

The ninja sighed "I came to take yours I don't want a fight."

The ninja laughed as they pulled out kunai and charged. They fell down as the kunai leapt from their hands and towards the ninja "if you can't even keep ahold of your own weapons, how can you win?"

They stared wide eyed as the kunai turned to bright blue swords and hovered the ninja's form "now, seal please."

Unfortunately for them, they decided to charge Midori anyway.

Kasai sat in a clearing of the forest, unlike Midori she was somehow calm in nature. 'I have been searching for a few hours, I should rest.' She crossed her legs as she sensed the area around her. A team was quickly approaching behind her but they were barley Chunin level, she knew she could take them.

She saw Choji and Ino not to far away taking care of a few teams of Kumo nin that tried to take their seal, the ninja weren't winning. She also saw Hinata and Kiba, they had already gotten three seals and were already on the move not too far from her. There were other teams but none that required her attention at the moment.

"Well, well what do we have here?"

Kasai turned in the clearing as she found a group of three nin, from the Stone. Two of the ninja wore gas masks and pale jumpsuits, the third wore some sort of black robe and an umbrella on his back. One of the gas masks chuckled "so beautiful, want to hand us your seal?"

She laughed "you really think you can take me?"

A bit surprised by her reaction the one with the umbrella stood forward "we aren't afraid to kill you if we must now, die!"

Kasai dodged a kunai as the three ninja charged. She never reached for her lance as they tried to hit her. Grinning as she did, none of their attacks hit. Toying with the ninja as they tried their hardest to even touch the lance wielding ninja. Jumping, ducking, she never once made a move against the ninja, making them groan in desperation after each missed hit. One ninja tapped her lance and received a kick to the face as she launched herself off another's chest sending him tumbling back.

Ducking another fist she went for a low blow as the man whimpered from the pain and kneeled holding his now, sore area. Pulling her lance from her back the blunt blade knocked away the other nin easily as they tried again and again. One mask ninja got cocky "Fire Style: Fire Plume!" A fire pillar shot out of the ninja's hand as Kasai smiled "Water Style: Water Dragon!" The dragon shot out of her lance as it absorbed the pillar and hit the ninja square on sending him crashing into a tree, knocking him out.

The last ninja pulled the umbrella as he jumped into the air "Fire Style: Sun Rain!" Millions of kunai, charged with fire were sent from the umbrella to Kasai. She smirked as the lance twirled faster and faster "Lightning Style: Flower Blossom!" The lance, now spinning on its own stood infront of Kasai as it launched a full array of lightning from every direction, destroying every kunai it touched.

The ninja charged as he used the handle of the umbrella as a sword. Clashing Kasai had to actually try to defend against him. A blow was sent to Kasai stomach as the ninja retreaded and bit his thumb "Summoning Jutsu!" A wolf appeared beside the ninja. It wore a Stone proctor over one eye and wore a flak jacket. It seemed to nod towards him as he made a few handsigns "Merge Form!" A bright light enveloped the two as Kasai turned away. She looked back to see a humanoid form. It was the ninja but his teeth grew along with his height and muscle build. Two fangs stuck out as he also grew a tail.

With impressive speed he charged Kasai. Blocking his claws Kasai tried to back away but was stopped by the ninja's now insane speed. As she sent a kick towards the man, he grabbed her foot and threw her across the clearing. She quickly made a few handsigns "Afterimage!" The man's eyes widened as a blow sent him flying towards Kasai. An uppercut sent the ninja in the air as Kasai and her clone jumped upward. The clone grabbed the ninja, holding him in place as Kasai flew further upward before positioning her lance to crater the man "Lightning Style: Crashing Bolt!"

She charged her lance as it glowed blue. The chakra released as a large lightning bolt came from her lance, striking the man and sending him towards the ground. Rubble was sent flying as the man and clone hit ground. Kasai landed as the ninja seemed now more human in appearance and a wolf was by his side.

She calmly walked over to the still kneeling nin as she pulled the seal from his pouch and the ninja seemed to disappear from the area in smoke "huh, so that is how they are eliminated immediately." She smiled as she held the seal 'wonder how well Midori is doing?'

Midori wiped the blood from his fist as he noticed Kasai reentering the field. He waved as she held up a seal "I got one!"

Midori held up two as Kasai sighed in defeat. Naruto landed in the middle of the group holding three in his hand "sorry guys, I win."

Midori sat back up looking at the sky "it is getting dark."

Kasai turned to the sky as she now noticed the stars gleaming in the sky. Naruto nodded as he turned towards the tree "I got the most, you guys can figure out who gets first watch."

Midori sighed "I'll take it, you will win anyway."

A smile showed on her face as she followed Naruto into the hollowed out tree and quickly fell asleep.

An irritating feeling sat in Kasai's stomach as she woke up. The nightmare, it infected her mind again. Although she had long been rid of the anger, it sill remained. Looking outside, she now only realized how much time she had spent sleeping, not a thing she wanted to do. She turned to Naruto as he slept and sat up to find Midori, it was her turn to watch anyway. Slowly she exited the tree not finding her friend in sight 'where is he?' Smoke came from the ground where the fire used to be, so she figured he couldn't be far. She looked up as feet dangled from a tree overhead. The man always had a thing for heights, maybe it was more silent up there as well. A better view.

A laugh escaped her lips as she quickly climbed the tree to find her friend. A mischievous thought struck her mind as she snuck up on her friend. She quickly went behind him and grinned widely. With a quick motion, his shoulders were grabbed and shook violently "hey-."

A gasp escaped her as he was pushed violently a ways away as Midori put back on his mask, faster than what she could tell. His eyes locked on to hers, but they were full of pain "you should have told me you were coming up."

"I didn't know-."

"Don't, you knew."

"I would have let you put back on your mask if you-."

"It's not about the mask!"

Taken aback by her teammate's anger she took a step back. Midori gripped his forehead "I'm sorry, it's just difficult."

She walked up to her friend as she gripped his shoulder "you don't have to live with this pain alone."

Midori gazed at her as she quickly turned away. He could have sworn that there was a slight tint on her cheeks. He quickly shook this thought from his head and nodded "I will go to bed, I am sorry Kasai."

She nodded as he took off. Her eyes went to where he sat as she smiled a warm smile. In his place was a kunai, bright blue and pulsing with chakra. Picking up the blade she felt a familiar chakra run through it. Holding it close as the stars burned brightly above.