Author's Note: Yea! I finally got Sahlhi to fight! This is actually a chapter I had to change a lot after I had written it. I had told a friend I killed off Kakashi and he blew up on me. So I promised him I'd change it and I'm a man of my word, still, I letting him sit in his grave a bit longer.

Disclaimer: look at any other chapter, except for 21 and up.

Chapter 25 The Chuunin Test

A week later, Zev, Utsuha, and Leta were all sore and tired. Kuro went with them to the training grounds where the tournament was going to be held. Why is this called a tournament? We're the only team to pass the exam, Kuro thought.

Why ask me? I have no idea? Zev thought back.

The wolf gave what Zev thought was a shrug, I guess because there are two exams each year.

Only a few people were there when they arrived, among them was the Hokage and his wife. Zev looked around. There was a black monument. Zev walked over and looked at it. It had a long list of names. A few that stuck out to Zev were Hatake Kakashi, and Maito Gai. He heard someone walking up behind him. He turned around and saw it was Sakura, she was holding hands with Saskue, "That monument… is for those who died. Our sensei is on there."

"May I ask how he died?"

"He… he and Gai, went after a few ninja who had attempted an assassination. They told us to wait," she stopped as she started crying, "They should have take us with them, they wouldn't have died then," her tears started flowing freely.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan," Zev looked at the speaker, then he looked back at the monument, "It happened five years ago," Saskue continued telling Zev, "I wasn't there. The Hokage at that time had sent me on a mission."

"You know five years is long enough for that to work." The wolf inside of Zev told him.

I can't use that technique, my limit is too low. Besides it's forbidden.

"I was just telling you, and with Saken you might be able to skip the consequences of the technique."

"Saken?" Zev said aloud.

"There is no possible way you could know I was here!" he heard him say.

Zev turned around, Saken was there behind him, as was Sashii, "What are you guys doing here?" he asked them.

"We came to pick up Sahlhi." Sashii said. She looked at Sakura who was still crying about her mentor's death, "what's wrong with her?" she asked Zev making sure Sakura couldn't hear her.

"She's mourning her sensei's death. It happened five years ago but time can't truly heal all wounds…."

"Perhaps we should leave them for now?" Saken purposed.

Zev nodded and led them over to where a small crowd was forming. Utsuha was standing in between three ninja. Two of them were Hyugas. One wore all white, "Kashiko leave her alone! She's more than capable in a fight!" Utsuha shouted at the one in white.

"She still shouldn't be in this, she won't last," the other one said.

"Kashiko… Riyoku…," Leta mumbled.

"Besides, there's no way you can win," the third said, "please, we're just making it easier on all three of you."

Zev saw a chance to step in, "So you're planning on withdrawing? That will save quite a bit of time so we don't have to beat your sorry ass."

"What was that?" the one Zev guessed was Riyoku said, "I think someone is trying to pick a fight."

"You started it!" Utsuha shouted at him, "You were picking on Leta!"

"She isn't qualified," he said monotonously.

"You pick a fight with her, and you're picking a fight with me," Zev said stepping in front of Leta.

Kashiko stepped up to Zev, "Do you think you can beat us? We're your seniors."

Zev felt a strong impulse to see how well she could fly, "Hold on!" he heard Lee shout, "The fighting is about to begin. We want all the fighting to be done in a match. So please, control your selves!" he pointed over to a joinin who had a bag in his hands, "Riyoku pick your first opponent."

He smiled and walked over. He drew a name. Zev noticed the veins popping out of the side of his head, "Our opponents are Zev Alcido, Leta Uzumaki,"

Leta Uzumaki? I thought she was considered a Hyuga because of her kekkei genkai, Zev thought. He noticed Leta turn away when her name was called.

"And Utsuha Uchiha." Riyoku finished. Everyone felt sorry for the combatants, some for Riyoku's team, some for Zev's, but all felt sorry for some one who ever was going to lose, badly.

"Kuro, stay out of this fight. I want to beat them on my own," Zev told the wolf. Kuro thought along the same lines of Zev and didn't argue. He wanted to see Riyoku's face when he lost.

"I think I'll keep Sharu out as well." Utsuha stated. Leta fidgeted a little, she was afraid.

When the match was started, Zev took Riyoku. He caught him off guard with his speed. Utsuha took the third ninja. Leta didn't take Kashiko, rather, Kashiko took Leta. Riyoku activated his byakugan and tried to fight Zev. Zev was much faster than Riyoku. Riyoku was not doing well. He wasn't getting beaten too badly because he could see Zev coming but he didn't have enough time to counter-react, Damn he's fast… I need to level the playing field…I know! He created a three Shadow Clones.

"Only three? I can top that!" Zev began making the hand signs for the jutsu. He found out it was much harder to do when trying to block attacks from four different people at once.

Utsuha was able to match speed with the third man, "You're pretty good," he told him.

"Thanks, you too but you haven't seen anything yet," he threw a punch at Utsuha. Utsuha caught his punch. He laughed, and made hand signs with his one free hand. Utsuha felt the air chill around him. He jumped out of instinct, which saved him a world of hurt. His mouth dropped open in shock as he saw hundreds of needles of ice hit where he just was, "My name is Haku, I was named after the ninja who the Hokage faced as a young man, and I learned a kekkei genkai."

"That's impossible."

"I thought it was too but as you can see," He made more hand signs more needles shot out, "I did."

Zev looked over at Utsuha. He saw Utsuha jump for no apparent reason. Then he ducked and began ducking imaginary missiles. What is he doing? Zev wondered.

"He's trapped in a genjutsu." Riyoku said, "But you should pay more attention," Zev ducked a kick.

"Maybe," Zev admitted.

Riyoku tried to kick him again, "Quit moving!" he shouted at him as Zev simply stepped.

"So you can hit me? I don't think so."

Leta involuntarily stepped back as Kashiko went to her, "Give up," she ordered as Leta stepped back, "You can't win. You're weak. More suited to follow than to lead. You need someone to protect you. You're not even strong enough to call yourself a Hyuga. Your father tried to keep you in the clan, but we no longer want you."

Leta stepped back again, "No, y-you're wrong! I- I- I can-"

"No you can't, Leta. Just make it easier on your self."

"Leta, you can do it!" A voice told her. It reminded her of Zev's it was calming and quiet, but Leta was too scared to hear it.

"I- I- I-"

Zev ducked another kick from Riyoku, "Leta really likes you, I wonder what happens if we put you two together."

Zev suddenly realized there was only two of Riyoku. He felt one of them grab him from behind. He saw another grab Leta. Riyoku pushed the two of them together and their lips met. Riyoku lost control of the jutsu because he was laughing so hard. Leta's eyes rolled back into her head and she fell over. She was still beat red on the ground. Zev turned to look at Riyoku, who was still rolling on the ground. He wasn't shaken up at all.

He just kissed me! Leta thought. She pretended to faint because she was so embarrassed. She could still feel her face blushing a deep red, I can't believe he just kissed me!

The Hokage leaned over to his wife, "She's just like you, Hinata," Hinata blushed a little and giggled.

Kashiko kicked Riyoku not taking her eyes off the undaunted Zev, "What? Oh…" he said as he stood up.

Zev was slightly surprised at how calm he was despite what happened. Zev figured he should hurry this up and wake up Leta. He used a Relatzer no jutsu to kick Riyoku, who went flying across the field. He turned and kicked Kashiko who went flying into the third man. Utsuha stood up as the genjutsu was suddenly broken by a flying Kashiko. When the two of them landed the third was on top of Kashiko with their lips touching. Zev got a slight victory as he watched the Kashiko faint. The third stood up his face beet red. He turned and saw Utsuha marching towards him, cracking his knuckles. He looked at Zev who was checking Riyoku. He was unconscious. He made a wise decision and decided to forfeit.

Utsuha was slightly disappointed that he didn't get to knock him out. He walked up and asked, "Is Haku really your name?"

He shook his head, "No, actually it's Kisho. I told you it was Haku to add to the illusion."

"I should have used Sharingan… then I would have been able to see through it," Utsuha said as he smacked himself in the head for forgetting.

"Actually that was part of the illusion. I was using the illusion to block your thoughts of using sharingan."

"I have to admit that was pretty good."

"Thanks, you weren't so bad yourself. It was difficult to stop you from using the sharingan."

"It looks like this whole tournament is working out well," the Hokage said to his wife, "It looks like everyone's gaining a new respect for each other."

"I'm more interested in Leta," Hinata said, putting her hand into his, "that's a little more interesting don't you think?"

Zev walked over to Leta. She was still red, "Leta?" she moved a little but didn't get up, "Leta the match is over."

Leta sat up slowly. She still was red, "Did… did we win?" she knew the answer but she was hoping it would make it look like she really was unconscious.

"Yeah, we did," Zev told her.

She stood up. Her face still hadn't stopped blushing, "Uh… um… well…um…."

Zev put a hand on her shoulder, "Why don't you go sit with your mother? She's right over there," Zev told her pointing at Hinata.

"Uh…o-okay…."

Zev walked over to Saken, "Should we go see Sahlhi?" the shinobi nodded and took off. Zev was close behind. Zev was vaguely aware of Sashii behind him, So Saken might be a key to performing the jutsu without sacrifice? How would that work? Zev thought. "Saken, that kotsujin no jutsu is a forbidden jutsu, correct? How do you get past the cost for it?"

Saken turned and looked behind him, "Yeah, it is. I'm not exactly sure how, it just happens. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing in particular, it's just that there is a jutsu in my clan which is forbidden. The user has to sacrifice a life to perform it. So it's never been used but everyone knows it."

"You're not talking about Kyuchiyose Edo Tensei are you?" Saken asked shocked.

"No," Zev said shaking his head emphatically, "It's called Junsui ten Tensei, and unlike Kyuchiyose Edo Tensei the summoned people are themselves. They aren't controlled by the user."

"What made you think of that?" Sashii asked from behind.

"It kind of popped into my head when I was looking at the monument."

Everyone was quiet as they ran the rest of the way. When they got to the hospital they found Sahlhi outside waiting. Sand was swirling around him on the ground. He wore a jacket with the kanji for wind on it. His shirt underneath his jacket also had the same Kanji on it. He also had a black bandana around his neck. He waved to Saken, "It's about time you showed up! I was getting bored."

"Sorry I got caught up in the chuunin testing they're doing right now."

"It's all good." Sahlhi said shrugging, "Actually I'd like to see how it's going myself."

"I'll show you to the place then," Zev said turning.

"Wait, Zev," Saken said pointing to Sahlhi. Zev turned and saw Sahlhi make a floating board of sand. He stepped onto it and sand went over his feet connecting him to the board. He made two others for Saken and Zev. Saken stepped on the board He motioned to Zev to get on, "Trust me your going to like this," he said.

Zev shrugged and got on. When the sand covered his feet, Sahlhi took the lead. The boards went much faster than they would have went running. Saken was right, this is cool! Zev thought as they were passing the half way point to the field. Zev could hear another fight finishing as they neared. When they got to the field, the sand boards disappeared.

Utsuha was waiting for them as was Leta, Leta wasn't blushing a deep red anymore but she seemed to go a shade darker as Zev neared. Utsuha ran up to Sashii, "Hey, how's it been?" he asked her.

"Good," she said brushing back her hair, "how about you?"

"I'm a bit better now," Utsuha said smiling. Sahlhi looked at Sashii, who was smiling back.

He raised an eyebrow and Sashii looked at him, "What?" she asked.

He shook his head and smiled, "nothing…," a wall of sand shot up in front of him to block a ninja who was competing in the tournament. Sahlhi blinked, Zev wasn't sure if that was a flinch. The sand fell down and the now unconscious shinobi fell with it.

Leta walked up behind Zev, "Zev, um… could we…uh… talk?" Zev followed her to a spot away from the fighting and everyone else, "Um… about that kiss…," she started.

"It's okay," he put a hand on her shoulder, "you don't have to worry about it."

"It's not that," she said as she took his hand and held it, "I was… just… wondering if-"

Zev kissed her, Leta felt her lips tingling as Zev broke off from the kiss, "Does that answer your question?" Leta could not have been a darker shade of red.

Sahlhi was trying not to laugh watching Sashii and Utsuha, they make a cute couple, he thought, I guess a lot has changed since I've been in my hometown, he looked back at the match, after this one Zev's squad will be up, he shrugged as Zev and Leta came back. He noticed they were holding hands, and Leta was a little red. He watched as another shinobi went flying from a punch to the midsection, "That wraps that up," he said aloud. He walked over to the Hokage, "Honorable Hokage, I ask that you let me, my brother, and Sashii participate."

He's Garra's son right? This might turn out ugly but he doesn't seem like Garra when he was that age… he allowed them to fight the victors of the last match. Saken ran over to the center of the field. Sashii got up slowly from where she was sitting next to Utsuha.

When they all got to the center of the field Sahlhi said, "Eye of the gods."

When the match began Sashii took flight. Saken performed the summoning jutsus for snakes and insects. Sahlhi cupped his hands and Sand surrounded him and Saken. From inside the sphere, Saken performed Kotsujin no jutsu. Using all three ocular jutsus that the trio could perform, they fought with out being able to be touched.

The Hokage blinked and missed a good portion of the fight. Zev, Leta, and Utsuha were up to fight the Sand ninja. Kuro wanted to join in on this fight so he went with them. Sahlhi smiled as the sand sphere around him dissipated. He laughed as he saw Zev smiling, "Eye of the gods again."

When the match started up, Saken summoned his creatures and hid with Sahlhi in the shell of sand. Kuro howled at the shell. The black wind blasted away part of the shell but new sand came up from the ground and repaired it, You're up Zev, the wolf told him.

Zev smiled again. Sashii was blinded by the flash of light. She felt like someone threw something at her. As thunder boomed there was another flash of light. Sashii lost control and crashed into the ground. Saken and Sahlhi both looked in between them and saw Zev standing there, "Hi guys," he said as lightning jumped out of the ground near him and Sahlhi and Saken were paralyzed.

When Sashii looked up as another clap of thunder rolled she saw the sand shell around Sahlhi and Sashii blast into dust. Lightning was jumping in between Saken and Sahlhi. She stood up to take to the sky again when she was pushed back down by a giant claw. She looked up and saw Sharu pinning her down.

She sighed as she realized she and her team were beat. The lightning stopped and Sharu took his claw off of Sashii. He put his head down and lifted her up. Sashii smiled weakly at the giant creature. She looked at Leta, Leta hadn't moved from the start of the match. She was open mouthed. Sashii thought about how long the match was, That couldn't have been more than thirty seconds, she mentally did a double-take, we got beat in that short of time?

The Hokage started clapping. He was surprised at how quickly that happened. He would have bet on the sand team after watching them in the first match. He started an applause from everyone else watching the fight. Sashii went over and helped up Sahlhi and Saken. They had some difficulty standing after the lightning had coursed through them. Sahlhi used his sand to make himself a pair of crutches. Saken used Kotsujin no jutsu to create two skeletons, which helped him off.

The Hokage walked up to Zev, "are you sure you don't want to become a joinin now?"

Leta walked up next to Zev and put her hand in his, "I'm sure. I want to spend some more time with a certain Uzumaki," Leta blushed.

"Sure where does that leave me," Utsuha muttered a little louder than he wanted. He realized that as the trio looked at him, "what?" he said holding up his hands defensively.