It was strange to be back in my Jonin uniform so often, looking passive and slightly severe as I acted as one of the Proctors for the second part of the exam. With my hair put up and my fringe swept to one side I kept my gaze situated firmly ahead with my hands clutched behind my back. I was constantly fighting against the innate feeling inside me that Naruto and Sasuke were in danger. I worried about them and I wanted nothing more than to simply run to their aid and protect them, but this was their exam and I absolutely could not do such a thing. Feeling the sensation again it came as a stabbing pain which was enough to make me hiss and grip at my heart, breaking focus and Kakashi immediately looked over to me.
"Yume what's wrong?" He demanded to know, turning towards me as several other Jonin did the same, recognising the bright flash of my hair.
"It's nothing, I can just sense each time the boys are in trouble. They're fighting pretty hard out there." I winced again, taking a deep breath to calm the sensation before standing up again. "I'm alright." Kakashi did not look convinced and made a point to stand next to me thereafter, constantly glancing towards me with each movement of discomfort I made. Even the old man noticed and as everyone else murmured their quiet conversations he rose up from his seat and approached me so I quickly recovered myself and stood upright. "Lord Hokage." I bowed politely however he waved off my politeness with a flick of his hand.
"You don't have to pretend to be formal, young Uzumaki. We've long since established that you have the manners of a goat." He told me bluntly and I couldn't help but giggle.
"You're right old man Hokage. Sorry to be a disappointment." I told him however his grave expression continued to observe my face quietly until finally he spoke.
"This connection you have with Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, is this the source of your physical pain?" He questioned me and I stopped for a moment to think before giving a casual shrug.
"I've always known when either of them were in danger, old man, I can feel it right here." I pointed to my chest where I could feel that lingering ache within. I hope they're fighting together and staying strong, if I have to go hunting through the woods to find them clinging to life, or worse, death, then I shall never forgive myself for failing them. "Call it a habit developed out of necessity. It helped me keep Naruto safe when he was younger and it helps me still."
"Hmm." He hummed in thought, wrinkled and aged features continuing to watch me carefully. "Be wary of your condition, Yume. You may have incredible stamina and endurance but even you have a limit to how much pain you can tolerate. Do not allow this to fester and destroy you from the inside out, especially concerning the Uchiha boy." He stated and I was taken aback by his rather severe sounding advice. "That boy carries around intense rage and bloodlust with him, unless you are able to disconnect your feelings with his, you run the risk of assimilating." I had not expected him to ever say such words and I immediately rebelled against them, wanting nothing less than to break away from Sasuke since I had promised to always be there for him.
"I heed your words, old man, but you'll forgive me if I do not act upon them." I told him gravely before then offering him a smile, glowing warmly as I thought about my boys. "It may be true Sasuke is one who carries a lot of anger and grief, but I'm no different. Besides, I know that he holds a great deal of love within him too, it'll take some time but I know he'll prove himself to everyone, I'll help guide him all the way if I have to." Pulling back my shoulders I continued to level my gaze with the old man before finally he cracked a small smile.
"As you wish Yume. Just remember to be wary." He advised me again before moving away, making ready the preparations for when the last of the Genin would return from their exam and advance to the next stage though they still had five days to do so. It had only been a couple of hours. After the old man had moved away, I felt Kakashi place his hand upon my shoulder.
"You're right about Sasuke, I think between us we can smooth out his rough edges. He'll be a fine ninja one day, as will Sakura and Naruto." I smiled to him, reaching up and leaning into his hand affectionately before suddenly I felt a heavy sensation drop through me, my body going momentarily cold before I disappeared in a puff of smoke and reappeared upon the two seals of the Earth and Heaven scrolls which one of the teams had already acquired and brought to the final location of the exam. Impossible, it had been less than five hours! This was incredible, I was seriously impressed and once the smoke cleared I faced the team from the Hidden Sand Village.
"Congratulations upon finishing part two of your Chunin exams." I greeted with a smile, hands clasped behind my back. "I am here to greet you, answer your questions and explain the riddle."
"We already know what the riddle means, it is basic." Gaara announced coldly, eyes of hatred pounding against me though I rebuffed them with my same smile. "And we have no questions."
"Very well, then I shall have to ask that you remain here inside the tower until the completion of the exam. I can show you to your accommodation where you'll be provided with everything you need." I explained to them as I relaxed my stance and walked forwards, allowing my hands to drop to my sides. "It's nice to officially meet you, allow me to introduce myself. I am Yume Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf Village, Jonin rank."
"Gaara." The russet haired boy with dark shadows under his eyes answered stiffly, still glowering at me like he wanted nothing more than to impale me.
"I'm Temari, this is Kankuro and we're all from the Village Hidden in the Sand." The girl introduced herself and the final companion, looking rather nervously between Gaara and myself. Suddenly the boy's expression darkened, bloodlust rising to the surface as he pulled open the huge sand canister he carried upon his back and it began to pour forwards, creating a dune on the ground as the wicked lines of his face deepened.
"I'll kill you, you smile too much." He wants to kill me because I smile too much? He was an odd one, he was. I was saddened by the fact that he was so easily willing to take someone's life, the life of someone that he didn't really know but as the sand shot towards me I withstood the onslaught of the scratching claw like grains that peeled away my skin and began to suckle at the blood it drew like ravenous animals. I walked forwards, easily pushing forwards against the sand with a small build up of chakra. Gaara frowned, watching as I lifted a hand and with a burst of light, made his sand fall uselessly to the ground as I limited his jutsu with a few quick hand seals before touching his shoulder.
"Seal of the Pentagram." I spoke softly and a five pronged star with black lettering appeared upon his skin underneath his clothes, making his eyes widen before suddenly his eyes slid shut and he slumped completely so I caught him in my arms, steadying the boy as he fell asleep.
"What have you done?!" The girl shrieked. "He can't sleep! The monster inside him will gain control!"
"Not with me here." I assured her calmly as I took off the huge sand canister and lifted Gaara into my arms, carrying him like a small child with his head resting against my shoulder. "I suspect Gaara is the reason I was assigned to watch over your team. You see, my clan the Uzumaki are renowned for their sealing jutsu and I am more than capable of keeping this one under control." I explained to them both as Kankuro's expression widened.
"You mean…he can sleep? He's never slept before, the thing inside him won't let him. You're sure? He can really sleep?" I heard a hint of concern at the edge of their voices, though whether it was for their teammate or for their own safety I was uncertain.
"Yes, as you can see he's asleep right now. Follow me and I'll show you to your room, I hope it's comfortable." Giving a bright smile I lead the way, all the while making sure that the seal would hold for a few hours to give Gaara the rest he deserved as well as placing a few more sealing jutsu to further lock away the beast inside of him, though I soon figured out that Gaara had very little interest in sealing away the monster he carried as the two had almost completely merged into one, the monster slowly taking over the boy's mind. I am not allowing that to happen. No chance in hell. I did what I could there and then but it was very little. Unless Gaara cooperated with me, I wouldn't be able to completely seal away his demon so that it wouldn't be able to hurt him any longer.
Reaching the room I placed Gaara down on the nearest bed, making sure he was comfortable and lifted one arm to rest it over his stomach. One of his teammates had picked up his sand canister and leaned it close to him against the wall, watching me in silence and no small measure of bewilderment. "Why…why are you being so nice to him? He's not from your village, why should you care?" Temari demanded to know icily so as I stood up and dusted my hands off from sand, I gave her a tiny smile.
"Because I'm just like him. I'm a vessel to a rather nasty spirit that was corrupted with malicious energy. Inside me, I carry part of a monster too." I doubted that this was the answer they were expecting but I did not hang around to answer any more questions, having things I needed to do. "It is preferable if you do not wander around too much in case you should run into any other teams. Fighting between participants is forbidden, meals will be brought to you and should any of you wish to leave, you must be escorted." I didn't know exactly how many of the rules these kids would follow but it didn't hurt to tell them what they were. I glanced towards Gaara, making sure that he was still asleep before finally slipping away, still angry that he had been twisted into such a corrupted being.