The world outside the mountain was silent. It was quiet but fear made them remain within the labyrinth. It had been over two days, and none had approached since the day of the attack. With her right middle and index finger upright as the rest of her fingers folded and eyes closed, she focused on the area just outside the sanctuary.

Her wider sensory barrier had been shattered in her distress, and she had been unable to work up the energy to create a new one, so she focused on sensing the space around their hiding spot. The air was breezing, mostly relaxed, but there was the smallest strain in the wind and when the air snapped her eyes shot open with a gasp. Someone was here.

Gaara halted and turned around to give Ryuichi and Gihei the chance to catch up. He was impressed that they had mostly matched his slowed pace during their half a day journey and they weren't too out of breath. They would become great warriors if they honed their skills more.

"Why did you stop? It's just past here." Ryuichi pointed to the clearing at the base of the mountain that was visible through the trees. Gaara looked over his shoulder at it, saying nothing, his senses tingling.

The trio entered the clearing slowly, taking in everything. The mountain sanctuary was rather high up on the mountain while Shinrin resided at its base, but it held an incredible oasis, with lush desert trees running across the space. Huts were scattered across the area and Gaara could see holes indicating caves scattered across the mountain face. What detracted from the beauty was the horror of bodies dispersed around. The damage here was definitely worse than what had been done to the guard village.

"How awful..." Gihei muttered, taking in the tragedy with haunted grey eyes. Ryuichi was silent as he swallowed, looking at the base of the mountain where it seemed as though an avalanche had occured.

"It...doesn't seem like there are any survivors." He murmured, feeling his heart clench.

"...No. There are survivors." Gaara eventually spoke up. Surprised, the young men turned to him.

"Well then, where are they?" Gihei asked, the sight of the dead beginning to get to him. Gaara lifted a hand and pointed to the area where all the rocks were gathered.

"In there."

"What should we do? Are there more enemies?" There was a quiet buzz as people deliberated on the best course of action. Not just the girl, but many of the Tenrei pupils with earth affinity had sensed the newcomers on their land. There was fear amongst the Kinzan people, but anger bubbled stronger.

"Why should we hide anymore? We've recovered ourselves and we're ready now for anything. We should fight and reclaim our home!" The same youth as before said, his blue eyes set in determination. Many of the other Tenrei trainees nodded. They too were tired of hiding, but the young woman was not so sure that this was a good idea, and she knew several others felt the same way.

For some reason, the dream she had on the night of the attack had plagued her since. Every time she slept, she saw those eyes looking into her soul. Some dreams had the shadow with the sea foam gaze reach out to her before she fell into darkness, others had him walking away into a light that blinded her until she awoke. But even in those dreams where she was alone save for the shadow, her heart felt comfort, in spite of her guilt.

In her distraction, she failed to pay attention and it wasn't until she physically heard the wind whistle loudly through the caverns of the labyrinth that she realised her people no longer had the luxury of time to debate what to do next.

Easily shifting the rocks away, Gaara was able to reveal the entrance to a cave. As a sensory type, he could sense a unique kind of energy, something that wasn't solely chakra, emanating from this cave.

"Stay behind me, and stay close." He instructed before moving in, Ryuichi and Gihei jogging to catch up to him. They moved deeper into the cave, leaving behind the light of the evening sun as they followed numerous twists and turns.

"Isn't this some kind of maze?" Ryuichi asked, beginning to sound worried. Gaara said nothing, but silently, he attached some grains of sand onto the boys. This way, he would be able to find them if they were at any point separated.

He continued to follow the energy signatures, even though they remained as faint as they had been when they entered the cave and stopped suddenly, barely having time to think before he raised his sand to shield himself and the two young men from the fire that came their way.

"What's happening?" Ryuichi cried out, shocked by the sudden light and heat. Gaara heard the drawing of what sounded like a sword from behind him. Gihei had drawn a sword and stood poised just off to the side behind Gaara.

Making a peeping hole through the shield, the Kazekage saw that his attackers were a group of seven people wearing a kind of uniform. Two of them stood just behind the five, holding up balls of light that illuminated the whole space, revealing more dark shadows and dips further in the labyrinth.

"We are not here to fight." He tried. His words fell on deaf ears as another surge to heat, hotter than the last, blasted upon them.

"Why did you attack us?" One of the five that were firing at them, a young man with serious blue eyes, demanded. Gaara blinked at him.

"We didn't-"

"Don't lie!" Another wave of fire came upon them, and Gaara felt his patience take the smallest hit. Could this guy just let him speak? Just as the five were getting ready for another attack, a flurry of peach blonde hair ran out of what Gaara had assumed was the cave wall and came to a stop just in front of the five, arms spread out.

"What do you think you're doing, Ami?" The serious youth questioned, his tone irked. The girl exhaled and lifted her head, green eyes meeting a sea foam gaze she had come to know too well.

"Do not attack. I know this man." She declared. Gaara felt his eyes widen in surprise as Ryuichi, Gihei and all their attackers turned to him in shock, Gihei lowering his sword quickly.

What did she say?