A.N.: So here comes another chapter. Good news: I got over one of the troublesome spots so the slowing down of releases won't be as drastic as I originally thought. Oh, and thanks to everybody who bothered to send me a review.

A.N.2: Now reposted with less grammar and spelling errors.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I don't understand why I have to repeat it constantly, everybody can tell I'm not Kishimoto.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Infirmary~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Osamu was walking through the halls of the medical facility like a man who knew where he was going and who was supposed to be there five minutes ago, so please don't bother him with anything. The outfit he had procured from a storage closet was feeling a bit odd, not because Suna and Iwa medical outfits differed too much, but because he couldn't find one in his size at such a short notice. He couldn't risk anyone catching him and asking him uncomfortable questions. It wasn't often a medic received an S-rank mission and he was determined to fulfill it.

He flipped through the notebook he found in his new outfit's pocket, pretending to study the diagnosis of the patient he was about to treat. He suppressed a smirk at the thought of exactly what treatment he was going to give him. He always carried vials of poison along with medicines wherever he went. It wasn't hard to choose which one he would use today. It was one of his better creations, slow, but nearly undetectable and lethal once it entered the bloodstream. Even he didn't have the antidote. And what was better, it made the death seem like a natural heart failure. Only a medic of the highest caliber would be able to recognize the truth.

He reached the door to his destination. He didn't pause to listen whether there was anybody inside. Such behavior would be suspicious in a doctor and he wanted to avoid that at all costs. He opened the door and paused. There was the target lying still on the bed, unmoving, unconscious and utterly defenseless. His teammates were lying on other beds in the room, out of it as well. So far so good.

What wasn't so good was that their sensei was in the room as well, perfectly alert. What was even worse was that what seemed like the whole Konoha entourage was there, including the Hokage. And a Konoha medic was standing above his target, checking his vitals. It wasn't good, but he wasn't one to back off easily.

"Excuse me," he said, drawing everyone's attention to him. "I have to administer medicine to the patient."

"Which one would that be?" the Hokage asked.

"Uzumaki Naruto," Osamu answered.

"I've taken over his care," the Konoha medic interrupted. "I can decide myself what medication he gets."

"But can you decide in time for the next dose?" It was the only thing Osamu could think off. His mind was racing, but it was going in circles.

"Next dose of what?" the Konoha medic raised an eyebrow. "So far I found nothing but painkillers in his system and they are hardly vital."

"Since I worked on him before I think I can tell what he needs," Osamu said forcefully.

"Since I am his physician for several years I can tell it better," the Konoha mednin answered in an equally decisive tone. "And now please leave, I would like to conduct my examination in peace."

Osamu cursed inwardly. This wasn't going well. He wracked his brain for something to change the medic's mind, but the glares the other occupants of the room were giving him made it very hard.

"You should get out," a giant black dog with an eyepatch suggested. "I don't like the way you smell."

The false Suna medic almost jumped at the sight of a talking canine and it wasn't only due to the rows of sharp teeth that were revealed.

"I'll be going then." He backed out of the room and closed the door. This mission failed, but at least they couldn't blame either him or his village for anything. He sighed. He really wasn't looking forward to reporting to the Tsuchikage.

Inside the room the Konoha delegation looked at each other.

"What was that about?" the youngest of them, Kiba, asked puzzled.

"He smelled of deceit and fear," Kuromaru clarified. The only one of the Haimaru triplets currently awake barked in confirmation.

"Somehow I don't think he really was a Suna medic," the Konoha medic said.

"I agree," Sarutobi nodded solemnly, "but there isn't much we can do about it. We are only guests in this village and he didn't actually do anything. But from now on there would be at least two guards in this room all the time."

The elderly Hokage hoped it would be enough. If this really was an assassination attempt, he would bet he knew who was behind it. Hell, even Tsunade would win such a bet. And he had put such high hopes in mending their relationship with Iwa. There still was tomorrow's banquet, but a miracle would have to happen to make Oonoki forget his wounded grandson. And if he was suspecting something, it would be downright impossible. Once again, Sarutobi was reminded that he was getting too old for this crap.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A few rooms away~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I see," Oonoki said frowning. "Your incompetence caused us quite a problem. Now get lost." Osamu bowed deeply and left the room as fast as was polite. The Tsuchikage ignored the look of relief on the medic's face. The man caused him a lot of headache.

Why couldn't that man finish that blond brat? A quick flick of the wrist and a poisoned needle was all it would take. But perhaps he was being too harsh. With old Sarutobi there (and who are you calling old, you fossil, he thought), he would have been caught before the senbon would leave his hand and even if he could hit, that little jinchuuriki had already survived what should have been a fatal wound. Then not only nothing would be gained, but they would start a war with Konoha. And he couldn't afford that now. Not when Akatsuchi was still lying here unconscious, defenseless, hostage to the peace. He couldn't afford to do anything before he got his grandson safely to Iwa.

He sighed and rubbed his temples. This was getting to him too much. If he could just drop the responsibility on someone else, he wasn't getting any younger. But he didn't have anyone he would trust Iwa with. There were strong ninja in Hidden Rock, but with every one of them there was a sound reason why he shouldn't become the Yondaime Tsuchikage. If only his son was still alive… but he wasn't and the Sandaime remembered exactly whose fault it was. He scowled. He was Ryoutenbin no Oonoki and he never backed down from anything. And while he might be old, he was far from useless. He was going to deal with the problem, one way or another. He needed only a plan and he was always good with those. He started plotting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Naruto's mindscape~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The world around him was dark, and wet, water dripping from old rusty pipes. He recognized the corridor he stood in. Normally he wouldn't be excited to visit this place, but now he didn't mind. He wanted to have a few choice words with the Kyuubi anyway. He strode down the desolate hallways determinedly, soon reaching the cage housing the demon. He could see the giant kitsune curled on its side, tails wrapped around its body, obviously sleeping.

Naruto scowled. He was wounded and bleeding and that infernal furball was sleeping? Wasn't he worried he might die at all?

"Hey, Fox!" No response. "I'm talking to you, Fuzzball!" The kitsune stirred. A huge red eye opened and locked with Naruto.

"So you're back," the demon growled. "Have you come to accept my offer?"

"As if!" He shouted defiantly. He was angry and he wanted the demon to know it.

"Then there's no reason for you to be here," the Kyuubi replied, curling back to sleep.

"I'm talking to you," the blond yelled.

"Well, I'm not talking to you," the Nine-tails responded closing his eyes.

"Don't you fall asleep on me!" Naruto screamed. What little patience he had was running low. "Tell me what was today supposed to mean! Why didn't you heal me?"

"And why should I?" The creature asked cracking one eye open. "You made it perfectly clear that you want nothing of me, so I gave you nothing. How do you like it? It's quite a change feeling so weak, isn't it?"

"Bastard," Naruto uttered. "Have you forgotten that if I die you would too?"

"No, but you weren't in danger of dying today." The creature looked completely unconcerned. "It was a perfect opportunity to prove my point. So do you accept my offer now or are you still adamant on being stubborn?"

"And just why should I do anything you say?" The jinchuuriki scowled. "And besides, the Iwa girl seemed dead-set on killing me."

"So you noticed?" It looked like the Kyuubi was raising an eyebrow, despite having none. "Then perhaps you should consider what does that mean for you."

"Like what?" Naruto had the distinct feeling he was missing something, but for the life of him he couldn't put a finger on what it was. He didn't like that one bit.

"Cannot you tell? For a moment I almost thought there was a lone brain cell in that tiny head of yours. Obviously, I must have been mistaken." The Kyuubi's voice sounded even more taunting than usual.

"Do you have to be so enigmatic?" Naruto's supply of patience was almost out now. "Why can't you simply say what you mean?"

"I do," the monster replied. "It's not my fault that you are unable of processing complicated information."

"Smartass." The young blond was fuming now.

"Thank you." The kitsune actually looked pleased.

Naruto scowled. "You're not helping any."

"That I'm not," Kyuubi grinned. "I'm a demon, remember? Since when are demons supposed to help anyone?"

"You're an overgrown plushy," the child muttered under his breath. "And what were you talking about earlier?"

"What makes you think I'll tell you after you just called me a plushy?" A dangerous low growling resounded through the chamber.

"You're insulting me all the time!" Naruto paid no heed to the demon's dangerous mood. He was, after all, the one behind the bars.

"I'm not. I'm merely stating the facts," the Nine-tails replied calmly. He kept his voice even only because he knew it would piss off his jailor more than any temper tantrum.

"I hate you." The child was glaring daggers at him. He decided he liked his powerless rage very much.

"I don't care," he shrugged in the most bored tone he could muster. "And now get out. I want to sleep."

"You can sleep all the time in here!" Naruto yelled. "Why do you have to sleep now?"

"I don't have to," he corrected. "I want to."

"Bitch." The kit's pout was really hilarious. He almost started laughing.

"I'm not female," he pointed out calmly.

"That's not what I meant," the boy replied.

"I know." He was really enjoying this.

Naruto saw the conversation was going nowhere. "So are you going to heal me or not?" Demanding little brat, wasn't he? But it changed nothing.

"Are you going to accept my offer or not? You should know by now that nothing is ever for free, kit."

"That's not for free," the blond nuisance stated. "You're getting to live a little longer for it."

"In this nice and comfortable dwelling?" Kyuubi looked pointedly around his prison. "That's not nearly enough for having to deal with such a rude brat as you."

"What were you hinting at before?" Naruto changed the topic. "About that Iwa girl. Do you smell trouble ahead?"

"Why should I tell you?" The fox cocked his head sideways. "Go and figure it out for yourself. You fancy yourself a smart boy, don't you?"

"So you do." Naruto said triumphantly.

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to." The genin smiled. "Bringing it up was enough. And if there really is trouble ahead, don't you think you'd have a better chance of survival if your host is healthy?"

"Even though this is correct, I didn't say that there was that much trouble ahead," the demon drawled.

"But you think there is." Once Naruto decided on something, it was hard to convince him otherwise.

"I think you're trying my patience." He growled to punctuate his words.

"Really?" the blond asked sarcastically. "I almost didn't notice."

"You really shouldn't be doing this, brat." The Kyuubi leaned closer to the bars. "You already got a taste what it means when I'm mildly displeased with you. Do you want to find out what I do when I'm angry with somebody?" Naruto suddenly realized that he really, really didn't want it. Too bad he forgot to talk to Tenzo about the demon's deal. Now he had no idea what the implications of accepting would be.

"You know what?" the Konoha genin sighed in exasperation. "We obviously aren't getting anywhere. So let's just leave the things as they are and let's see who of us is bothered more: I for being weak or you for being stuck in a weak host? Call it a game of chicken, if you want, but this is how I'm going to do it."

"How dare you?!" roared the Fox. This didn't go as he wanted. Naruto paid it no heed. He swiftly left the mindscape.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Infirmary~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Naruto woke up, everything hurt but he could move without hindrance. 'Does it mean that my wounds weren't serious or did the furball really chicken out?' He didn't know and he definitely didn't want to ask.

He surveyed the room he was in. His whole team was there, the girls sleeping on their beds, Tenzo on a chair, one ANBU standing near the window. He wondered what had happened to them. He had been out during their semifinal battles and he had passed out before he could ask. Speaking of his own match, he couldn't remember its ending, so that meant he had lost. He was a bit disappointed, but not too much. He had never expected to win the Chuunin Exams Tournament anyway. Simply getting into the Final was more than enough. 'I wonder who made chuunin,' he mused. 'I really wish the girls succeeded. And perhaps even me?' He wasn't sure what he felt about it. On one hand it was an accomplishment few ever achieved and something he could brag, if he had someone who would listen to him, on the other hand he knew that being chuunin was a lot harder than being genin and he wasn't sure whether he was ready.

He sat up and hissed in pain. His wounds obviously weren't as healed as he had thought. The sound roused Tenzo. The jounin opened his eyes.

"Awake already?"

"Yes," Naruto answered and grimaced. Speaking hurt.

"That's good, because I want to talk to you." 'Uh-oh,' Naruto thought. Those words said in that tone never bode well. "What was that stunt yesterday supposed to mean?"

"What stunt?" Naruto asked trying to look innocent, even though he knew very well what his sensei was referring to.

"I mean the final match," the jounin clarified. "What did you think, going out there wounded? And why didn't you quit when you were hurt?"

"Uh…" Naruto tried to look as small as possible. He didn't have an answer for that, certainly not one his guardian would accept.

"You didn't think, that's why," Tenzo scolded. Naruto looked guilty. "I thought you had more common sense that this, but obviously I was mistaken. There are a lot of lessons about rushing headfirst into danger needlessly coming in the future."

"I'm sorry," the blond peeped.

"And don't try the puppy dog eyes on me," the Wood user scolded. "They don't work anymore. Should I lock you in a cage again?"

Naruto sighed. He wasn't getting off the hook this time. "I have to talk to you about something as well."

"Oh?" His guardian raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Does he have to be here?" Naruto eyed the ANBU suspiciously.

"I'm afraid so," the jounin answered. "Hokage's orders."

"Why?" The blond was startled. "Does he fear we'll try to run or what?"

Tenzo sighed. He didn't want to burden his charge with such matters, but it was important for Naruto to know, otherwise he'll do something stupid again.

"While you were asleep, a suspicious man came here," he began. "He claimed to be a medic who should administer your medicine, but there was nothing about it in your card. And our own medic was looking you over at the time. There wasn't much we could do about it besides sending him away. We can't investigate it but we suspect he was an assassin."

"But why me?" the blond asked seriously unsettled. In the moment he looked like lost young child.

"Can't you tell?"

Naruto had a few ideas, why some people would try to kill him. "Is it someone from Suna? I thought they were too scared. Or perhaps Iwa? I didn't get the boy that bad, did I?"

"I heard he was in coma and it was doubtful whether he would wake," Tenzo explained.

"Oh." There was nothing to say to it. Than he remembered a small snippet of gossip he heard in the finalists' booth. "Isn't he related to the Tsuchikage?"

"He's his grandson," the Mokuton user explained.

"Oh. Crap." The jinchuuriki thought about the implications.

"Crap indeed," the former ANBU agreed. "So you understand why you shouldn't wander off alone again?"

"Yes," Naruto nodded.

"And would you stay where I tell you to stay like a good boy or do you want to have disobeying Hokage's direct orders on your record?"

"No," the genin answered not spotting the trap.

"What? You wouldn't do what you're told?"

"No! I would!" Naruto protested.

"Now that's it," Tenzo nodded contentedly. "So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Nothing." His eyes once again strayed to the ANBU guard in the corner. He felt uncomfortable talking about the Kyuubi even when they were alone, he didn't think he could do it in front of a stranger.

"Really?" The jounin prodded. "But you said there was something."

"It's not that important," the boy shrugged. "I can tell you later."

"Well then, but don't forget about it."

"I won't," Naruto promised.

"Oh, and one more thing," Tenzo said. Naruto instantly went on alert.

"What is it?"

"Your friend was asking for you."

"Gaara?" The blond perked up. "He was here?"

"Yes," the older man confirmed, "but you were still in the surgery. Where are you going?" Naruto was already out of the bed. Tenzo grabbed him and put him back in. "You aren't going anyway. You can see him this evening on the banquet."

"What banquet?"

"The banquet, where the results would be announced," the former ANBU explained. "So would you be a good boy and rest so you'll strong enough to attend or would you try to run and miss it because you'd be stuck in the hospital?"

"I'll be a good boy," Naruto decided.

"That's good to hear. And now go back to sleep."

Naruto muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "no fun," but didn't argue any further.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Infirmary~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Both girls woke up during the afternoon. When they realized they were supposed to attend a banquet with foreign nobility in only a couple of hours and they were still in their hospital gowns, dirty and bloody and their hair matted and knotted, they went frantic. They both tried to get to the nearest bathroom to clean themselves up, much to the chagrin of the nurses. They tried to get their wayward patients back to their beds first by reasoning and when it failed then force, but Hana set her dogs on them. Even if only one of the Haimaru was able to respond to her command, it was enough to drive the nurses away. Then Tenzo appeared and dragged them bodily to they beds, saying that they wouldn't go to the banquet at all if they reopened their wounds. That made the girls calm down, but they still looked distinctively unhappy. Then their things were delivered and they remembered they didn't take anything sufficiently formal. Hotaru wanted to hit the shops at the last minute, but Tenzo told her a resolute no, much to her chagrin. Then the rest of the Inuzuka family showed up and Tsume took command of things.

Then, even though it seemed unbelievable, everybody managed to prepare for the grand occasion. The girls still grumbled that they weren't dressed up nice enough and they didn't have time to make their hairdo's elaborate enough and their make-up still needed some more work, but they admitted they were all presentable now, though barely. It might have been because Tsume threatened to set Kuromaru on them if they didn't stop complaining. Naruto couldn't see what their problem was. In his opinion they both looked beautiful.

They made their way to the Kazekage's manor. It took them a long time, with all three genin being wounded, but their legs were still in working order so they managed. They quickly mingled into the crowd of formally-dressed people inside the richly-decorated room, looking for any acquaintances, exchanging some last-minute taunts with fellow chuunin hopefuls. They tasted the delicious food prepared on the side tables, but their hearts weren't really in it. They were only waiting for the results to be announced.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sunagakure's hospital~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A figure was lying motionless on the bed, various machines beeping as they monitored its life functions. Two guards were standing nearby, listening to the soft sounds the hospital equipment made, trying to fend off the boredom. They didn't think anybody would try to harm their charge, but they didn't want to even think about what their Kage would do to them if they failed their duty.

Suddenly the door opened and the two guards straightened. Finally something to break their monotonous routine. It was only a doctor. He probably just came in to check on the patient and wasn't dangerous, but orders were orders and they wouldn't dare disobey them.

"Halt," one of the guards said. "Show me your identification."

"Do I have to?" the medic grumbled, but started digging through his pockets, encouraged by the fierce scowl on the guard's face. "Where did I put it? I would have sworn it was here. Or was it my other coat? Look, do I really have to go back and search for it? I'm supposed to administer the treatments now."

"Yes." The guards were now suspicious. The man looked like a textbook example of somebody, who was trying to sneak somewhere he wasn't supposed to be. But on the other hand, they never ever saw anybody actually use such poor excuse. So maybe this really was only a doctor who had forgotten his identification?

"Either show us your identification now or leave," the second guard ordered stepping forward.

"Oh, here it is," the medic smiled as his fingers reached something in his inner pocket. The guards stiffened. Wasn't he trying to pull out a weapon? But no, it was only a regular identification card. One of the guards inspected it closely.

"It seems alright," he decided.

"I'm glad you say so," the medic replied with a hint of sarcasm. "Can I treat the patient now?"

"Yes, of course." The guard waved him in. The doctor presented no danger. They relaxed. Big mistake. In the next second they both died.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kazekage's manor~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gaara was making his way towards the place of celebration. The people around were giving him odd and frightened looks, but nobody tried to stop him. The sand whirling around his feet let them know it would be a bad idea. The guards at the door looked like they did want to stop him, but one look sent them scurrying out of his way.

He entered the ballroom. He stopped near the threshold and observed the people mingling around. He had never been to a celebration before so everything was new for him. The sound of multiple voices, the sight of ornate dresses, the smells of rare and expensive food. It also happened that there wasn't anybody from Suna in his vicinity so his appearance didn't cause immediate panic, the foreign dignitaries not knowing who he was. Shukaku demanded their blood for the insolence. Gaara paid him no mind. He was getting used to ignoring his tenant, though it was still hard.

He would have indulged in the novel sensation longer, but then he spotted a familiar figure. He quickly made his way over to him.

"Hello, Gaara," Naruto greeted with a smile.

"Hello, Naruto," the redhead replied with his usual impassive face.

They exchanged a few pleasantries, or at least tried to, because Gaara was still socially awkward. There were loads of things they wanted to discuss, but didn't want anybody to overhear. The looks some people were sending their way didn't help any.

They found a place near the corner of the room. Fewer people were around and they could talk in relative privacy without violating Tenzo's orders of not going anywhere alone.

"There' something I don't understand," the tattooed youth started. "Why didn't you just use your tenant's power to crush your opposition? Your sensei said something about an order, but I don't think that's the real reason."

Naruto paused for a moment. It wasn't that he had to think about the answer, but because he didn't know whether he could afford to say it aloud. His eyes flickered around the room. Anybody around could be a spy. On second thought, everybody around who happened to overhear anything would happily report it to their respective superiors, so it didn't matter which one of them had espionage as their main occupation.

"You're right," he answered. "The main reason is that He is difficult to deal with."

"How difficult?"

"He cooperates only when he gets some benefits out of it," Naruto explained. "He saves my hide, because he's also saving his own, but his only concern is getting out. He's always trying to convince me to do something to weaken the seal and gets pissed when I refuse. He threatens to withdraw his support to show me how much I depend on him. That's why I don't use his power if I don't have to. The supply can be cut anytime and then I'm in trouble." He didn't think it would be wise to admit that it had already happened.

"Hn." Gaara looked thoughtful. "Shukaku never does anything of that sort. He's always eager to help, as long as he gets some bloodshed out of it."

"They have different priorities then," Naruto deduced. "Though Kyuubi loves bloodshed as well, but not as much as he would love getting out."

"Strange thing," the tattooed youth mused, "Shukaku is never concerned with this."

"Strange indeed," the blond agreed.

They spent more time talking, until they called the finalists to gather, so the results could be announced.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The banquet~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The atmosphere in the room was heavy with politics. It couldn't be any other way with so many nobles and dignitaries present. Every single one of them had their own agenda and they were relentless in pursuing it, as long as they followed the proper protocol, of course. Talks were going on, conducted in proper diplomatic language, comprehensible only to those concerned.

In one corner of the room the three Kage were standing. Their discussion was perhaps the most underlined by tension. Not only were the stakes the highest, it wasn't purely about politics anymore.

On one side the Hokage was tying to make peace. He was willing to make quite a lot of concessions if it meant soothing the Tsuchikage's temper. Opposite him was the Tsuchikage, who was quite content to take any offerings the Hokage made to him. He had already devised a plan of getting rid of Konoha's little yellow menace and anything else gained would be a bonus. In the middle was caught the Kazekage, who was trying to make sure the other two didn't try to kill each other and prayed they wouldn't start the Fourth Great Shinobi War within his village. By the way they were unable to come to any conclusion the possibility didn't seem too far off.

Finally his nerves couldn't take it anymore. Even dealing with Gaara wasn't as stressful as this. He interrupted the two bickering, eh… negotiating, Kage and said that the Chuunin Exams results would be announced soon. He prayed the brief reprieve would allow them to calm down, because if not, things might turn very ugly very soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The dais~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally the moment everyone was waiting for arrived. Eleven of the twelve finalists were lined up near the dais, waiting to hear whether they earned their promotions. Who could was standing, but several of them were still injured and had to sit down. Opposite them the three Kage and several Daimyo were standing or sitting.

Everybody was tense with expectation. There were those who knew they had performed poorly, but there was a shard of hope in each of them: what if it was enough after all? There were those who were certain they did well, but a sliver of doubt lingered in their hearts: what if it wasn't enough after all? Then there were those who were neither too bad or too good and honestly had no idea whether they made it or not, but they still hoped. And there was one person who didn't care either way.

Kurotsuchi had lost any interest in promotion the moment her brother was wounded. Since that moment, she cared only about his health and avenging him. She shot a glance to her left. There was that blond brat, standing like he didn't have a care in the world, while poor Akatsuchi was wasting away on a hospital bed. She was so mad she couldn't get him in the final, but that stupid puppeteer had to hit her with his poisoned senbon. Maybe she should exact her revenge on him as well. She restrained herself from gritting her teeth. Only her grandfather's assurance that he had already planned how to deal with the yellow menace allowed her to remain outwardly calm. That and the thought of her brother.

They couldn't really do anything until he was safe in Iwa. But then, then everything would be a different matter. The Tsuchikage told her that he had already planned how to do so. Just make them leave the safety of their village. It would be easy. He had studied the specialization of their team and decided what kind of situation to create that they would be sent to deal with it. And then she would have her chance at revenge. Grandfather had already promised her to be a part of the team that would lay in wait for them. Her musings were cut short when the Kazekage started speaking.

"Greetings to everybody who came here today. In front of you stand the outstanding young shinobi, who were competing for chuunin promotion. The results will be announced now." He made a dramatic pause. The gathered guests were quiet during his speech, so the sound of door opening was heard clearly. Many people turned to see which latecomer was disturbing the occasion.

Kurotsuchi thought her eyes were deceiving her. She blinked, but the image stayed the same. Yes, it was Akatsuchi standing in the doorway. She would never mistake his huge figure for anybody else. He was once again dressed in his usual ninja gear, which was completely improper for such event, but this time she didn't even think of reprimanding him. She was so glad to see him up and about that she almost forgave the one who had hurt him. Almost. He still had to pay for scaring her so.

Akatsuchi started walking towards them. A huge grin spread on Kurotsuchi's face. It was all she could do not to squeal like a little girl and run and hug him. But she was the Tsuchikage's granddaughter and she had to behave in a dignified manner no matter the circumstances.

Akatsuchi walked closer. She noticed he was moving a bit oddly, but she chalked it off as result of his recent injuries. Then her brother was near the dais, but instead of standing near her and Kageromaru, he headed over to the Konoha team. Kurotsuchi's smile froze on her lips. What was he doing? Why didn't he even greet her?

Then Akatsuchi attacked.

A.N.: The end for now. Do you know the saying about what does it mean when everything seems to be going right?

Next time: A banquet with surprise