A day later the rest of the participants for the new Chunin Exams had arrived in Sunagakure "I swear there's more than last time" Shikamaru commented from his position, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity among the genin candidates.

Sakura wasn't going to take any chances for something happening apparently "Really….perhaps one or two more teams that I can count" Kimimaro noted, Shikamaru frowned in response but it was the pinkette on the opposite roof who understood.

"Orochimaru ordered you to infiltrate the exam didn't he, maybe not during the written round but you were definitely part of the survival round am I right" Sakura said, easily guessing the part that hadn't been said aloud.

Kimimaro nodded looking guilty "Look there's the genin from Iwagakure the Tsuchikage said that he was going to send" Jugo pointed out, gesturing to the two genin teams from Hidden Stone that had been sent to take part in the exam.

There was even one from Hidden Cloud, along with Hidden Rain and Hidden Waterfall, Hidden Grass there were no Hidden Mist participants however nor any from Hidden Sound considering who ran the village of course they'd be barred from entering the event.

Half an hour later all the contestants were gathered for the first round of the new Chunin Exams, which meant they needed to get a move on and head for Demon Desert "You guys go on ahead there's an idea I want to run by Baki-san" Sakura called suddenly.

Upon jumping down into the street and stretching from sitting in a crouched position, with no choice Shikamaru, Jugo and Kimimaro left leaving her to find Baki "Weren't you supposed to already be on your way to the desert" Baki frowned.

Concerned about what the pinkette was doing there "Don't worry Baki-san I'll be heading that way as soon as I run this idea I had by you, would it be alright if I used my henge disguise, remember" Sakura inquired.

Really hoping that the Jonin hadn't forgotten "I don't have a problem with it, but why did you suddenly decide that you wanted to be in disguise" Baki shrugged, seeing the perks of the idea, no one would know it was Sakura until the last moment and by then it'd be to late.

At his question Sakura's expression darkened "Just a precaution Baki-san, in case someone does come intent on causing trouble I'll be ready for them" Sakura answered before waving at the man and vanishing in a flurry of purple cherry blossoms.

In order to reach the others faster, Shikamaru nearly jumped a foot in the air at her sudden appearance "So what was your idea Sakura" Jugo asked kindly, wishing that he could hold her hand but they didn't want anyone other than those that already knew knowing.

Until they were ready at least "Ah well basically I'm going to disguise myself….like this, transform" Sakura explained, forming the hand signs and then in a poof of smoke she was in her Hideki form who still looked like a child to her chagrin.

So she went through the hand signs again, concentrating to make her disguise a little taller, with slightly longer hair tied up at the nape of her neck "There, while I'm like this call me Hideki not Sakura alright" Hideki requested in a much deeper voice than her companions expected.

Once the smoke had dissipated "How did you do that and you even altered your chakra signature so that it's not recognizable" Shikamaru questioned, looking the teenager over and not seeing anything about him that would connect Hideki to Sakura at all.

Hideki smirked "Practice Shikamaru that's all there is to it" Hideki informed smartly, leaving Shikamaru stunned at how different the pinkette was while in her disguise, Hideki even had his own unique way of walking.

"Can I ask why you decided to change Hideki-san" Kimimaro asked, trying out the name and finding it actually suited Sakura in a way, if she really were a male that was anyway but what he wanted to know was why she decided to use a disguise in the first place.

Orange irises glinted with wariness "It's a precaution, even with everything that's in place to ensure nothing happens I don't want to be recognized easily just in case someone does come intent on causing trouble" Hideki admitted.

Something Kimimaro could understand "Your worried about Kabuto trying something aren't you" Jugo guessed and Hideki tensed in response indicating that was the main reason for transforming in the first place.

"And if he does happen to show his face Yakushi won't be escaping with his life this time" Hideki pounded his fist into his hand with a growl, causing a shudder to crawl down Shikamaru's spine as he realized Sakura was serious about ending someones life.

Not long after they reached Demon Desert and with a nod at one another split up to take up their positions around the wall, the others probably already on the inside of the Desert that was equivalent to the Forest of Death.

It wasn't long after that, that Sakura remembered no one else knew that she'd undertaken a disguise so radioed in with the communicator to everyone that for the days they'd be patrolling they were to address her as Hideki instead of Sakura.

Though confused everyone agreed to her request so with nothing else to do Sakura scaled the wall and took a seat on the edge in order to keep an eye on things until the written round of the exam ended and Baki radioed in to those keeping guard that the participants were on their way.

Sakura did one better and sent a clone in order to make sure no funny business happened while the genin were brought to their next destination it took a total of three hours but nothing happened to her relief as the second round got started.

Later on as the evening began coming to a close Gaara appeared "Go take a break, I'm on night watch" Gaara explained not batting an eye at Sakura who was in a males disguise from where she was sat high up on the wall surrounding Demon Desert.

With the order Sakura hopped up and jumped down to land neatly on her feet before him "Be safe Gaara and goodnight" in a poof of smoke she was Sakura again then she was gone in a burst of purple petals.

To Shikamaru then Jugo and Kimimaro all three of them having been positioned nearby "Sure is chilly, do any of you have fire nature so that we can get a fire going before I freeze" Shikamaru shivered and rubbed his arms trying to warm himself up.

As the temperature dropped "None of us do Shikamaru-san but you don't have to worry Sakura can start one without use of a jutsu" Jugo chuckled, seeing that the pinkette had already started piling sticks on top of each other in a pit that she'd dug.

In just a couple minutes she had a fire going that warmed them to Shikamaru's relief as he remembered that she'd done so on their walk to Suna, Sakura wasn't done however as she immediately got started on making a late dinner for the lot of them.

Even Madara and Kagami who were lured over by the smell of food considering they'd also been relieved of their duty for the night "Your use to cooking outdoors aren't you" Kagami said noting the ease in which Sakura prepared a meal for them over a fire.

"I am actually, the first experience I ever had with cooking outside was when my summons took me off for training in her cave, I caught my first boar and cooked it there, it was disgusting and from then on I only got better" Sakura smiled fondly.

Remembering when Aimai had kidnapped her, Sasori had been completely beside himself but she'd completed the training in two weeks something he'd been proud of her for "You should ask Tsunade to let Katsuyu take you to Shikkotsu Forest" Madara commented.

Sakura tilted her head and thought on the idea "I'll think on it later, right now I have other priorities to focus on" Sakura stated as she declared dinner ready and dished it out for everyone so that they could eat.

Then afterwards, after putting out the fire to Shikamaru's chagrin only to have a thick blanket shoved into his face the six of them laid down and went to sleep for the night only to return to their posts the following morning as they were woken by Kankuro.

Back in her Hideki disguise Sakura decided to do a little patrolling around the outside of the desert instead of sitting like she had yesterday at the start of the survival round "Hideki right" Asuma waved when the rosette wandered nearby his position.

Carrot orbs focused on him "That's right Asuma-sensei, hows everything going, there haven't been any signs of trouble have there" Hideki inquired calmly, relieved that she didn't have to do any explaining.

Asuma shook his head "None to take note of" Asuma informed, inwardly amused, but he was also pleased that Sakura taking her duties seriously as she nodded her head in relief and turned to head back to her own position.

Only to do the same around noon in the opposite direction "Come to check up on me did you" Madara checked seeing Sakura in her disguise meandering towards him at a brisk pace until she was near enough to speak without having to shout.

"Yes I just don't want anything going wrong is all" Hideki answered, Madara couldn't blame the girl considering the trouble she often got into without it even being her fault ninety percent of the time even.

Five minutes later while nibbling on some jerky Sakura was back in her spot and sitting atop the wall once more that surrounded their destination until Gaara came to relieve her of her duty for the night again.

Shikamaru sighed "Ugh how many days are left before this round ends I'm about to go mad I think" Shikamaru groaned when Sakura was among their group once more, with a couple of extra's joining them that night.

Hayate, Asuma and Genma "Three days so suck it up Shikamaru cause I doubt all that will pass will be able to make it to the center of this place in three days or less" Sakura snorted at the Nara heir while digging a fire pit.

Next to him Asuma chuckled under his breath "It's been awhile since I've gotten to taste your cooking hasn't it Sakura" Asuma commented, changing the conversation as he watched Sakura prepare and then light a fire without use of fire jutsu.

Though Madara and Kagami were standing right next to her obviously eager to help "Huh oh yeah it has, hasn't it Asuma-sensei, you'll be surprised I bet at how better I've gotten" Sakura grinned as she remembered back to that C turned A rank mission.

"I have no doubt about that Sakura-san, by the way how are your parents doing" Hayate coughed with a smile before asking the question he'd been wanting to ask for awhile but he hadn't seen the pinkette who had gotten increasingly busier since their return from retrieving her parents.

Sakura paused for a brief moment "Doing great Hayate-sensei, their even thinking about making their own products to sell in the compound with permission from Fugaku-sama" Sakura answered brightly and resumed making dinner for them all.

Genma was the only one confused at the calmness she exuded "So I hope you four aren't slacking off on the job or anything" Genma said, unsure of what else he could say as he eyed the four Chunin providing security with them.

Kimimaro scoffed "Of course we aren't, Sakura wouldn't allow us to slack off in the first place anyway" Kimimaro rolled his eyes, said pinkette smiling sweetly at him and he had to suppress the shudder that crawled down his spine at the sight of that smile.

It was anything but sweet, he also wasn't the only one to notice as Shikamaru edged away from the rosette in response to her smile "True, she does take her duty seriously which in turn inspires us to work equally as hard as she does" Jugo nodded.

Probably the only one not affected by Sakura's smile "Yeah I have to agree with that" Kagami said, watching the soup closely, he had no doubt that Sakura was doing to same even as she added a couple more ingredients to it.

Until she decreed the soup ready to be eaten "Here you are" Sakura smiled, passing around bowls oldest to youngest and got hers last, after dipping her spoon into the bowl she blew on it gently to cool the soup down and started eating.

"Mm I think this is better than last nights dinner" Madara complimented, being warmed from the inside now as he ate his bowl of soup, likewise the others did the same until every last bit of soup had been eaten only then did they lay down and go to sleep for the night.

Two days later Sakura was feeling pretty good about things and didn't feel as if anything bad was going to happen, unfortunately Sakura didn't know how wrong she was about things and so on the last day of the survival round she certainly wasn't expecting a frantic call for help from Madara.

Followed by a massive explosion "Roger that Madara-san, I'm on my way" Sakura radioed in to the man and started weaving hand signs in order to body flicker and reach Madara faster on the last sign however.

She was interrupted before she could complete the set and had to duck out of the way of a kunai that was thrown at her head "I don't think so your not going anywhere Sakura-san" a familiar voice that she hadn't heard for four/five years informed.

And she craned her neck to see Itachi "I'm afraid you have the wrong person, I'm Hideki" Sakura answered, forcing her heart to calm down, as Itachi stopped five feet away, leaving her space to get away if things came down to it.

Itachi shook his head "You are aware that Sasori-san was part of Akatsuki correct, then don't you think he would have spilled your secrets to us of the organization, cut the act Sakura I already know its you so you might as well drop the disguise" Itachi declared.

Confident in that much at least "Why are you here" Sakura demanded returning to her original form and putting a hand on her weapons pouch ready to fight if she had to just as another explosion came from where Madara was positioned.

Reminding her that he'd asked for backup "Kabuto mentioned that he'd be willing to spill secrets if we of Akatsuki helped him capture you Sakura so I was sent, on that note I'll be taking you with me now" Itachi announced.

Flying through hand signs and loosing a water release jutsu at point blank range in hopes of knocking his mission objective out nice and easy "Don't think so, I'm not going anywhere with you" Sakura dodged, going through her own hand signs.

In a poof of smoke there were five water clones of herself as she stood back and built up chakra in her fist while waiting for the opportune moment to escape, immediately the clones rushed Itachi who took them out easily.

Before looking to her again and started coming closer "Give up Sakura-san you won't beat me" Itachi requested not really wanting to hurt the girl who was extremely important to Sasori but he didn't have a choice, orders were orders.

"Here's what I have to say that NOT A CHANCE CHA" Sakura glowered at him and punched the ground for a moment nothing happened and then he had to leap back as it exploded beneath his feet followed by a smoke bomb being set off and all trace of Sakura's chakra disappeared.

Which meant that she'd masked her presence from him, outwardly he showed frustration but inwardly Itachi was glad that Sakura had managed to escape from him, meanwhile said pinkette was on her way to help out Madara.

Who was glad to see her arrive "Sorry for being late, I had my own complication to deal with in the form of Akatsuki" Sakura appeared in a cyclone of cherry blossoms only to become further enraged at the sight of Kabuto.

And stood behind him were two familiar people the First and Second Hokage "Did I not tell you Shodaime-sama, Nidaime-sama that someone would come help him, she's a traitor just like Madara" Kabuto said.

Launching into a prepared spiel most likely "Fuck you Kabuto the only traitor here is you, you bastard, you who lie and manipulate people to do your dirty work" Sakura snapped, disappearing and reappearing in front of Kabuto.

To deliver a crushing kick to his side sending Kabuto flying "Sakura careful" Madara called out and she had to duck under a punch from the Second Hokage "Listen to me Hashirama, I am not your or Leaf's enemy, just ask her" Madara focused his attention on the First Hokage.

Hashirama looked torn on the matter of who to believe while the girl and his brother engaged in a glaring contest "Their lying, they'll say anything at this point to get you to believe him" Kabuto returned a second later.

All healed "Shut your mouth or I'll shut it for you permanently you bastard" Sakura snarled, practically seeing red when the Second Hokage moved to stand protectively in front of Kabuto, her most hated enemy.

Madara felt lost and unsure of what he was supposed to do in this situation "Tobirama even if you still hate me at least let her go, Sakura-san is innocent, she cares for her village greatly" Madara pleaded suddenly.

Vermilion orbs narrowed in response "Leave our only business is with Uchiha" Tobirama jerked his head to the side at the girl before him, Sakura glanced over her shoulder and met eyes with Madara who shook his head.

That's when she realized she was outmatched anyway, Kabuto however was unwilling to let her go "What are you doing Lord Second, don't let that brat leave no matter what Madara says she's just as guilty remember" Kabuto shouted.

Intent on getting what he wanted no matter what it cost him, Tobirama acted reflexively "Suiton: Explosive Bite of the Water Dragon" Tobirama weaved the hand signs to quick for Sakura to follow and the jutsu slammed into her.

"SAKURA-SAN" Madara yelled watching her get thrown through the air like a rag doll where she slammed into the wall surrounding Demon Desert before crumpling to the ground in a near unconscious heap.

By some saving grace she was still awake even though her entire body hurt like hell "Okay I've had enough of your fucking bullshit Yakushi" Sakura forced herself back up onto her feet as she wiped her mouth free of blood.

And focused her entire attention on her tormentor in a torrent of cherry blossoms she was behind Kabuto, gripping his arms and yanking backwards, with a sickening snap both were broken "Tell them the truth NOW" Sakura demanded.

Pinning Kabuto to the ground, grip tightening every few seconds as she put a knee in the middle of his back so that no matter how he squirmed Kabuto wouldn't be able to escape this time but he remained stubbornly silent.

"I'm warning you Kabuto if you don't want to have every single bone in your body broken beyond repair speak" Sakura hissed furiously past the point of being nice because she was so sick of being afraid to even leave the village for fear of him coming after her.

Kabuto flinched when she started putting pressure on his spine "Alright, alright I lied to Lord First and Second when I found them wandering around, Madara has proven himself as a trustworthy Konohagakure shinobi upon his return from the dead" Kabuto answered hastily.

Sakura nodded "There you have it Nidaime-sama, Shodaime-sama now if you would so kindly radio in to Baki-san, Madara-san and have him come collect this bastard that would be great because as it stands I'm about ready to kill him" Sakura requested.

"And you were so ready to kill me last time Sakura, what changed, don't want my blood on your hands, admit it, the thought of my blood covering you body turns you on doesn't it" Kabuto craned his neck and smirked at the pinkette.

Who practically vibrated with rage at his lewd insinuation "Don't test me asshole" Sakura sneered in disgust as Madara did as requested and fifteen minutes later Baki was there, along with the Kazekage and five minutes after that Kabuto was in chakra suppressing cuffs and being taken away.

Upon their departure Madara walked over to her "Are you alright, can you heal yourself Sakura" Madara knelt as Sakura remained in a crouched position, she didn't answer, instead flopped forward unconscious.

Immediately Hashirama rushed towards the duo while Tobirama stood back looking guilty "I've never seen someone take one of Tobirama's jutsu's like that at point blank range and still get back up on their feet" Hashirama commented.

Hands glowing green "Yeah well this girls kind of special, she's your granddaughter's apprentice and no matter the kind of pain she's in, Sakura would never allow herself to pass out before the situation was resolved" Madara admitted.

Feeling bad for putting Sakura in this kind of situation in the first place "What but that's insane…even if it was my fault, had we just listened, Anija and I could have taken that man out so she wouldn't have to" Tobirama grumbled.

Clearly not happy "Yes what a fine job of listening you did Tobirama, even you Hashirama, the old you would have at least given me the benefit of doubt and not simply believed what someone else had told you without knowing the whole truth" Madara scoffed.

Reaching out to lift Sakura as Hashirama pulled back only to stop as Sakura woke "Ugh Shishou's gonna bash my head in for passing out on the job like this no matter my reasoning and everyone else is not going to be happy about it either" Sakura groaned.

Sitting up and putting her head in her hands "It would have been nice if you'd told me that you would go off the deep end at the sight of that man" Madara said, helping Sakura up onto her feet once she was finished being sorry for herself.

"Kabuto should feel lucky I didn't simply kill him" Sakura huffed, dusting her yukata off before eyeballing Tobirama warily for a moment until she realized that she had no one to blame but Kabuto for his actions.

With a sigh she walked up to her Second Hokage and held out her hand "Truce" Tobirama nodded understanding what she was doing after a moment and shook the girls hand firmly but lightly because he didn't want to hurt her anymore than he already had.

Hashirama couldn't help but clap "Wonderful now could we please get out of this desert, I think I've had my fill of it for the last week" Hashirama asked as Baki returned to find out what had gone on.

Madara began explaining that Kabuto had approached and provoked him into attacking before gesturing to the First and Second Hokage's, followed by him radioing in to Sakura "By the way, why were you late" Madara frowned.

Sakura sighed again "Kabuto employed Akatsuki into helping him try to kidnap me again, he told them that he'd spill secrets about Leaf I guess and so they sent Itachi Uchiha to try and capture me for Kabuto hence the reason I was late" Sakura relayed to Baki.

Inwardly vowing to have a talk with Sasori about what Itachi had said "If that's the case, how did you manage to get away from him Sakura-san" Baki questioned, spreading out his senses but the rogue was long gone.

"Distracted him with water clones and then I punched the ground followed by using a smoke bomb and then I masked my chakra and scent before body flickering, he didn't follow me here so I assume he just left to tell the Akatsuki he'd failed" Sakura explained.

Baki frowned "Weren't you in your disguise, that was your reasoning for using it wasn't it" the Suna Jonin asked, wondering how Sakura would explain how she'd been easily recognized by the rogue of her village.

Here she grit her teeth "He knew it was me even though I'd altered my chakra signature to not be recognized, Itachi knew" Sakura growled under her breath, extremely irritated with her redheaded sensei who was back in Leaf still.

"In any case, the survival round is over so you lot can start making your way back to the village" Baki informed, only to chuckle when Sakura was gone in a cluster of purple cherry blossoms, Madara simply rolled his eyes.

Then gestured to the First and Second Hokage and began walking, Hashirama and Tobirama on his heels "So Madara how long have you been back in the world of the living and how did you meet Sakura" Hashirama asked.

On the walk back to Sunagakure "About seven months at this point and I met her on the night of my return, I woke up in her room, she managed a good shot on my stomach before I got her calmed down" Madara rubbed his stomach.

Vividly remembering that night "Oh the great Madara Uchiha taken down by a little girl that's hard to believe, that man was one thing but you shouldn't have been as easy for someone to hit" Tobirama quirked a disbelieving brow at the Uchiha.

"Believe or not but it's the truth mostly because I wasn't expecting it nor did I expect such power behind her punch, you can't deny that she's strong especially after witnessing her kick Yakushi and I know she didn't hold back like she did with me" Madara pointed out.

Tobirama had to grudgingly agree to that "Why would she hold back against an enemy" Hashirama frowned in confusion, wondering how his friend who'd returned to how he use to be would answer that.

Unfortunately it was taken out of his hands as the girl appeared with three others on her heels "I wouldn't Shodaime-sama, if someone is fool enough to attack me out in the open you can bet I will be using my full strength against them" Sakura informed.

Chartreuse orbs glittering dangerously "What I can't believe is that Kabuto would attempt something like that practically on his own, he was just asking to get captured this time" Kimimaro frowned.

Worried that the man would find some way to escape "Neither can I, which makes one wonder what he has planned" Jugo mused aloud, knowing that Kabuto wasn't the type of person to go down so easily.

"Either way lets just be glad nothing else happened and take a nice break once we're back at the hotel" Shikamaru declared, ready to laze about for a month while the contestants once the preliminary round was over were training for the final round of the Chunin Exams.

Sakura narrowed her eyes on Shikamaru "If you think for one minute Shikamaru Nara that you'll be allowed to be lazy and slack off, you better think again, just because our initial job is over doesn't mean the exams are and we have to kick things up a notch" Sakura informed.

Shikamaru stared at her in horror "Wha…but Sakura that's just cruel….fine troublesome woman…ack" Shikamaru groaned only to get whacked for the second time, this time he managed to stay on his feet however.

As the pinkette shook her fist at him "Don't you troublesome woman me Shikamaru, you don't even want to know what Tsunade-shishou will do to us if we even think about taking a break" Sakura grimaced.

Just imagining the training session the woman would put her and the others through but given that she was the woman's apprentice she'd probably take the brunt of the attacks "Your being serious about that aren't you" Shikamaru grimaced.

On either side of Sakura, Jugo and Kimimaro nodded "Unfortunately, we're the ones that have been patching her up after every training session with Hokage-sama" Jugo said, though recently Sakura had been improving, he still tended her injuries.

An act that would be all the more intimate to them now that they were a couple "Hokage-sama, are you saying Tsuna-chan is the Hokage, let me guess the Fourth one right" Hashirama perked up excitedly.

"No the Fifth, the Fourth was Minato-san wasn't it Sakura, Naruto's Father" the alabaster haired teenager glanced at Sakura who nodded "He was also returned like you three but didn't wish to take back his position that way he could spend time with Naruto-san" Kimimaro elaborated.

Before taking note that they'd been joined "Tobirama-sama good to see you again" Kagami greeted, engaging the Second Hokage in a conversation since they obviously knew one another quite well.

A couple hours later they finished their trek back to Sunagakure, marched through the gates and down the streets to the inn, took showers or baths, found a restaurant to eat dinner at since it was so late and headed to bed early for the night, so they'd be ready for whatever tomorrow would bring them.