Disclaimer: I do not own NARUTO.

WILL OF STONE

THE FIRST TRIAL: "With Both Eyes Open"

Kankuro was whining again. "So let's get this straight. The Lock in the Watermill is a fake, the real Lock could be anywhere in Iwa, and to find it we got to somehow steal information from fourteen other villages, most of which, I remind you, are trying their damndest to kill us?"

His negativity could have given Shimura Anake a run for his money. Anake rose to the occasion. "They're all trying to kill us. Konoha and Suna included. Or else why would we be here?"

"Because you signed up," Chouji pointed out.

The Sarutobi twins, Hiraru and Kanetsu, chortled loudly. Anake only shrugged. "A momentary suicidal impulse."

"The peace of death can be so alluring," said Ino, smiling sweetly. "Of course, knowing you, Anake, you'd kill yourself and then spend the rest of the afterlife complaining that you died."

"You know me too well."

Temari looked bored. "If you two boys are done whining, we have work to do. The other genin teams are spread out all over Iwa. We'll need to split up and coordinate our information gathering efforts. Kankuro?"

"Sure, sure, I have it." Kankuro pulled out a handful of tiny devices from his belt pouch. "Radio transmitters. Just put it in your ear."

Both of the Sarutobi twins were scratching their heads, obviously baffled. According to rumor, neither of them was exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. The Narutos of the new graduating class, thought Sakura fondly. Every class has one.

"But, uh, how do we get the other villages to tell us where their Locks are?" asked Hiraru.

"Aren't they, like, a secret?" added Kanetsu.

Sakura was very used to explaining things. She'd been Naruto's teammate for an entire year, after all. "The first thing is, you can try to eavesdrop on their conversations. Maybe you'll hear them talk about the Locks. Second, you can make a deal. We're all trying to find the real Lock. They might have some information we need, and vice versa, so negotiation is possible. And third, you can fool them into thinking you're on the same side. Use a transformation to mimic another genin from their village."

"Like this," said Temari. "Transformation Technique."

In a puff of smoke, she became the waterfall-nin Misain Sebi.

"Who's that?" asked Kanetsu.

Clearly, neither of the Sarutobi twins had read the chuunin exam databook. Anake sighed. Temari-as-Sebi glared up at Kanetsu. His hair was a tangled red, streaked with blue, his face still round with boyish fat. But his deep blue eyes were as sharp and cold as ice. A perfect imitation, of the boy Sakura had seen at dinner at the Overlook.

"That's Misain Sebi," said Sakura. "He's the one who killed a grass-nin we found earlier, by igniting the blood in his heart."

"He's just a little kid," said Kanetsu. "Like, ten or something."

"Twelve. Pre-puberty."

"And a complete psychopath," Kankuro added, grinning. "Throws puppies in the river and then lights them on fire, for fun. Not to mention the other rumors."

Chouji was paling fast. "What rumors?"

"It's said he still drinks milk from his older sister's breast. They're on the same team, you know. Misain Sebi and Misain Rei. A match made in hell."

Takigakure had been the most beautiful place that Sakura had ever seen, when she had visited it as part of the United Countries Embassy. It was built atop the legendary Torrentrage Falls itself, rising up from the roaring water like so many spires of silken ice. But Sakura had learned not to trust first appearances. In reality, the hidden village of Waterfall was ruled by the burning Mizuho fist of Misain Seve. Beneath all the glorious architecture lay one blasphemous truth.

Misain Seve was the father of both Sebi and Rei. He was also their grandfather, and great-grandfather. And the nineteen-year-old Rei was his latest wife.

Their family is even more fucked up than the Sougon clan, thought Sakura.

Temari pointed at Sakura, with Sebi's fingers. "You'll transform into Misain Rei," she said. "Kankuro will transform into Onira Kawai. We'll pretend to be Team Dayu and infiltrate the genin in the Confederacy. Waterfall, Earth, Water, Swamp. That's four different Lock locations. As for you, Team Ranka"—she pointed at Sarutobi Hiraru, Sarutobi Kanetsu, and Akimichi Auni—"you need to find the other teams from the United Countries. Wind and Rain. That's two more Lock locations. And as for Team Asuma—"

"—Our job is to infiltrate the neutral villages," finished Ino. "Got it. I even have an idea for who to transform into first. I saw this really cute cloud-nin boy in the Zoo yesterday. Did I tell you, Sakura? Kirazu Raiki is so dreamy." She giggled.

Chouji very much did not giggle. "Um…so… that's the plan?"

"That's the plan," said Temari. "Any other questions?"

No one had any. They put the wireless radio receivers in their ears, preparing to split up. The night hunt was beginning again.

The last word belonged to Shimura Anake. "Make sure to take a piss before you leave, guys. Because there ain't gonna be no more time for bathroom breaks. Or anything else." He almost sounded excited.

Team Tsunade, disguised as Team Dayu, ran across the quiet terraces of the Onden district back towards the main population centers of Iwa.

It was not long before they encountered a group of stone-nins.

The stone-nins were led by a large hairy boy with the name of Noatari Chusei, of Team Jidaei. Chusei had a suspicious cast of mind, and did not seem to like waterfall-nins very much.

"Team Dayu," he spat. "What do you want?"

Kankuro cleared his throat, an odd gesture, since he was supposed to be made of black thread and stitches. "We've been tricked. The Director fed fake Lock locations to each of the different villages. We've got to triangulate all the information to find the real Lock."

"I know," said Chusei. "Sosano told us."

"So? How 'bout you show us your Lock, and I'll show you mine."

The stone-nin hesitated. "How do I know you won't lie?"

"Hey, we're allies, aren't we? One happy Confederacy family."

Temari stepped in. "Tell us now, or I'll burn you cock to a crisp!" she declared, in her best imitation of Misain Sebi's boyish squeak.

"Easier said than done, waterfall-nin." Chusei stepped back warily. Something about his face began to change; his entire body. He's turning into stone, Sakura realized. She'd heard about the famous Stone Form jutsu, but never seen it in action. Noatari Chusei looked like a granite statue. His stone body was slower and heavier, but impervious to physical attacks. This is bad… we don't want to fight them now.

"Hey, hey," Kankuro protested. "We're not allowed to fight, remember? We'll be disqualified."

"Only if we cause property damage. The Director didn't say nothing about killing."

"Sakaicho Prison," said Sakura quickly.

Chusei frowned. "What?"

"Sakaicho Prison. That's where our Lock is."

Chusei looked at his teammates, then back at the disguised Team Tsunade. "Fine," he said finally. "Our Lock's in Katsu-ji Temple, by the Shiva moon goddess statue."

"Thanks." Kankuro grinned brightly, the stitches on his face cracking open to reveal slithery black threads underneath. "Good day to you, friend!"

Afterward, when they'd traveled some distance away, Sakura rounded on Kankuro. "Good day to you, friend? Onira Kawai is a notorious torturer, you think he talks like that? It's a wonder Chusei didn't see through us right away."

"Aw, I was just having a little fun." He shrugged. "Why'd you pick Sakaicho Prison?"

"Farthest place in Iwa I could think of."

Kankuro laughed. "Well, that was pretty easy. Sort of."

The next one really was easy.

They obtained the information from Team Osamu, a team of waterfall-nins running across Tsukai Gardens in the Shitamachi district. Team Osamu was not suspicious of them at all. In fact, Team Osamu was downright terrified, especially when Temari glared at them with Misain Sebi's sharp blue eyes.

Evidently, Sebi had a reputation in Takigakure.

Team Osamu had no idea about the fake Locks. Temari simply asked them where they were going, and their leader Rokusho Fuu responded that they'd heard the Lock was hidden under Walking Stick Hill. Temari thanked the waterfall-nins for the intelligence and sent them on their way.

"You think they're wondering why we're not following them?" asked Kankuro.

"Let them wonder."

They moved on. Kankuro checked in with the others, buzzing in updates through the radio transmitter in his ear. Other teams had achieved results, too. Ino said they'd stolen a Lock location from the cloud-nin—the library next to Chuunin Exam Stadium in the Aoyama district. Team Ranka had made contact with Team Pou of Rain, who claimed their Lock was on top of the Spider Bridge in Kuramae.

Sakura reminded everyone to double-check. "There's got to be people like us too, spies and infiltrators. The other teams could be lying."

"If you hear Sakaicho Prison," Kankuro added, "ignore it."

Just then Temari pointed. "Hey. Look."

Down below them, huddled in a dark alley, was Team Tsunade.

Kankuro chortled. "Well, well. It's us."

"I wonder who they are?" asked Sakura.

"Let's go find out."

When they dropped down next to the fake Team Tsunade, the reaction was unpleasant.

Fake Sakura glared at them, pulling out twin kunai. Her disguise was very good. I might've been fooled, if I wasn't the real Sakura. "Team Dayu," she hissed. "What do you want?"

"Oh, my," said Kankuro. "You don't seem to be very friendly tonight."

"Don't you know who we are?"

"Of course. The beautiful Haruno Sakura, and her loyal Sand Sibling companions. You kissed me yesterday, don't you remember? You came to my room and you whispered that you loved me. Me, Kawai the Dashing."

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Liar," insisted the fake.

"You're breaking my heart, Sakura."

Behind Fake Sakura, Fake Temari swallowed. "Um… I think they're on to us."

"Okay." Fake Sakura paused. "Run."

They ran quite fast. The real Team Tsunade gave chase, Kankuro dropping his disguise to release his twin puppets, Karasu and Kuroari. The puppets tried to capture Fake Sakura by ambushing her from either side, but Fake Sakura dodged, leaping onto the roof of a nearby building. Temari used her War Fan to draw out a thin flowing strand of wind, trying to lasso another of the impersonators, but that was dodged too.

"They're escaping!" said Temari.

Time to see if my new jutsu works. Sakura stretched out a hand toward the closest fleeing impersonator. "Amnesia!"

Fake Kankuro stumbled, the Amnesia chakra-flow loop slamming into his brain, cutting off his memory circuits. He looked around, utterly confused, unable even to remember his own name.

"Kabure!" shouted Fake Temari, turning back. Sakura hit her with an Amnesia genjutsu as well. Then, just for good measure, Sakura followed up her attack with Binding, freezing all the muscles in both Fake Kankuro and Fake Temari's bodies.

They fell backwards onto the roof, and turned into wave-nins.

"Hey, that genjutsu is pretty useful," said Kankuro. "You know… if you can't kill 'em instead."

Fake Sakura had circled back, obviously unwilling to abandon her teammates. "You got us." She stuck out her tongue, grinning. "Should've known better than to run from you. Well, I mean, before I thought you guys were Team Dayu. Didn't realize you were disguised, too." She tossed her pink hair, with both eyes open, pale green in the crescent moonlight. "Sakura."

"Who are you?" Sakura demanded.

The fake made a hand seal, releasing her transformation in a puff of white smoke.

It was Unchiku Nonou, of Team Narumi.

Sakura had seen the girl before, during their dinner at the Overlook. Nonou was roughly the same age and build as Sakura herself, with frazzled red hair and a deeply freckled face. Unquestionably plain, her wide mouth, sharp nose, and large green eyes gave off the impression of a perpetually startled horse. Her genin uniform was dark blue striped with orange, spandex combined with mesh armor. Her forehead protector gleamed with the symbol of Namigakure: a sharp point that curved from right to lift, like a crashing wave.

The Village Hidden in the Waves had been founded only a year ago. Sakura recalled that the instability of the Wave Country had caused Kirigakure to move in and establish a small satellite village there, under the leadership of the ex-Mist ninja Uchiku Sarashina. The new Wave village was a close ally of Kiri, though it had remained neutral in the political struggle between the Confederacy and the United Countries. I wonder why… could they be looking to Konoha for support?

Temari did not seem pleased. "I have questions for you."

Nonou's voice was brash and confident. "Free my team, then we'll talk."

Sakura did so. Nonou's teammates, Unchiku Ouji and Yasui Kabure, got up and dusted themselves off, grumbling all the while. The wave-nin girl ignored the complaints. "I wanted to talk to you at the Overlook," she told Sakura, "but I didn't get the chance. What you said at dinner—about our lives not being a game—I thought it was totally right. I admire that." She grinned. "I guess the stories Inari-kun told me about you are true."

That surprised Sakura. "You know Inari?"

"Yeah. Our village is located right in Kishimon, you know, by the bridge you protected from Zabuza the Bonebreaker. Inari loves to come over to chat, and we love to have him. He's a cute kid, right? You're part of the reason that the Unchiku clan moved to Wave to set up Namigakure. After you brought down Gatou, new leadership came to power in the Wave Country, and they decided they wanted a ninja village of their own. So we moved over here. It's not much yet, but it's something. We're bringing the country order. A lot better than what it was before."

Sakura hadn't thought about the Wave Country for a long time. That was the first real mission I ever went on. Any of us, Sasuke, Naruto. They'd met Inari and Tazuna, they'd fought Zabuza and Haku and saved the country from Gatou's oppression. We became Team 7 during that mission, truly. But that had been a lifetime ago, and Team 7 no longer existed.

"That's good," she said.

Temari broke in. "A touching reunion. However, we've more pressing matters."

"I know you want to know where the fake Locks are," said Unchiku Nonou. "Let's work together. Wave is a tiny village… we only have only four teams in the exam. You guys are the leader of the United Countries. We're no threat to you. But we can help."

"You just impersonated us," Kankuro pointed out.

Nonou smiled. "Imitation is the highest form of flattery."

Sakura said, "If you want us to trust you, tell us what you know. First."

"Amegakure's Lock is on top of the Spider Bridge, if you didn't find out already. Our village's Lock is at the far eastern end of Shinjuku Burial Ground in Onden."

Sakura looked at Temari. "They're not our enemies. If we can bring them into the UC…"

"Fine."

Sakura told Nonou all they knew, for which the wave-nins thanked her. Meanwhile, Temari pulled out the map of Iwagakure to study. They had the Lock locations from six villages now: Konoha, Iwa, Taki, Kumo, Ame, and Nami. With a few more they'd be able to triangulate an approximate location for the real Lock. With fourteen villages in the exam in total, there seemed ample opportunities.

However, some of the villages were so small they were unlikely even to run into them. There was only team from Glacier in the whole exam, for instance, and only six for Steam. Their best bet seemed to be to stick to the original plan of infiltrating Swamp and Mist, the remaining members of the Confederacy.

"I saw a bunch of mist-nins heading toward Aoyama," Nonou volunteered. "Somewhere around the Zoo, I think."

It was the best lead they had. Team Tsunade again transformed into the likenesses of Team Dayu, while Team Narumi also disguised themselves as waterfall-nins, this time Team Osamu. The six of them raced across the rooftops of Iwagakure. It was growing late; the sickle moon having already reached its zenith in the sky, beginning its inexorable descent toward dawn.

It was Kankuro who first spotted the corpses.

Three of them lay sprawled in a gutter in a stone courtyard, dismembered in a gush of blood and guts. They were genin, sand-nins by the looks of it, their beige nylon uniforms and white cloth head-wraps drenched in steaming wet blood. Sakura bent down by the nearest corpse. Multiple holes had been bored through the boy's skull and through his mouth into his insides, as if stabbed apart with slithering tentacles.

His body was still warm to the touch.

"Damnit," said Temari, her voice a barely restrained fury. "What happened here?"

Sakura had a very bad feeling. "I think this was—"

A little boy laughed behind them, a sadistic little piercing shriek.

It was Team Dayu.

The real Team Dayu.

"Well, well." Onira Kawai cocked his head to one side, the black stitches across his pale white face making him look like a patched doll. "I wonder who these imposters could be."

The little boy Misain Sebi grinned excitedly. "After we burn up their corpses, let's find out."

Next: THE FIRST TRIAL: "Tower of Ghosts"