Next chapter of Blood is Thicker than Bone. As The Exams are about to start, Jiraiya looks for some last second clues. Haku, disgusted and having enough of the tactics and methods used by Raiga and Orochimaru, prepares to strike a blow against Sound and halt their plans, and Naruto prepares himself for his fight against Neji Hyuga.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

A beggar huddled against the slums of the small town, wrapped in his meager clothing and rubbing his hands together to keep warm, upon examination most would never give him another look as he was just a homeless man and of no importance. The hunched over man huddled his hands together as the cool wind blew across the town. The man lifted his head up and down appearing to be asleep as his face was covered.

The sound of footsteps was slowly heard and a pair of eyes opened and he weakly held out a hand begging for Ryo, the two men paid him no attention as they walked past him. The one in the front appeared to be the leader as he had Silver Hair and glasses and wore a Hitai-ate of the Leaf as he looked around keeping a sharp eye out for anyone suspicious as the two men the other wearing a Hitai-ate with a melody note on it walked through the slums.

The glasses wearing man stopped near a fence and glanced around to make sure no one was watching and secretly reached over and pushed down on one of the boards which gave way and the two went through the man sized opening and the board slid back into place.

Unknown to them the beggar had been watching their every move with a keen eye. Slowly he got up and made his way to the fence and doing like the Ninja before pushed down on it revealing the secret entrance. He went through it going quietly as it lead him to a narrow passageway. On guard the beggar looked around for any potential traps and ambushes as he made his way through it. When he reached the end he say that the two where gone and there was nothing but a well. However not believing it for a second he went over to it and peered down. It was dried up and a bit of a fall about fifty feet to the bottom but there was a ladder ten feet down it.

He reached towards his clothes and began removing them and revealed a white haired man wearing a hitai-ate with the Kanji for oil on it. Jiraiya looked down it and thought back to previous events as to what lead him here.

Flashback to the previous morning…

"Naruto if you know anything now's the time to tell me." The Toad Sannin said to the Blonde. "Anything at all that can help me and Sarutobi will be of use." He said to him as the two where at the Hot Springs. "Trust me, you're only hurting yourself and everyone in Konoha if you don't tell anyone what's going on."

Naruto looked at him and slowly nodded. "I managed to overhear something recently. I saw two men, one I've seen before and another a Green haired man." He explained to him.

"Did the older man have a pair of swords?" Jiraiya asked him and Naruto confirmed that. Jiraiya frowned as it was exactly who he thought it was, that Mist Swordsmen from before who attacked him back in Rice's borders. "What where they saying?"

"I couldn't make it fully out, but it was something about using the Sound Team in the Exams and using them as a sacrifice and the first one was protesting it, the green haired guy threatened to kill him if he didn't do it." Naruto said remembering Haku and Raiga arguing. It sounded serious whatever it was. "They said it had something to do with a Snake."

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed at that. "Edo Tensei…" He muttered in disgust and Naruto looked at him confused. "A forbidden art and Jutsu, by sacrificing a person you can resurrect another person who had died before." He explained and Naruto looked disgusted at that.

"Who would do such a thing?"

"A man with no sense of good or morals or humanity left in him, unfortunately I've met my fair share of them in my lifetime. Even the ones I once called friend." Jiraiya responded to Naruto. "Listen Naruto, if you see those two again or Tayuya, or any other Sound Nin around here or near the woods don't confront them. Go and tell Kakashi, Sarutobi, or any other Jonin immediately. If they don't believe you tell them I sent you." He said and stood up. "I'm afraid something's about to go down."

"Where are you going?" Naruto asked him as he was getting ready to leave.

"I got things to do, important things that might determine what happens in the next couple of days." Jiraiya answered. "Focus on what we last worked on during your training, and also keep working on your Rasengan, it still needs some work in its spiral."

"Are you going to be back for the Exams?" Naruto asked him as he had hoped he would be there and watch him on from the stands. He had grown to like the man despite his perverted habits and being a cheapskate.

"I'll try to be back in time for it," Jiraiya said with a smile. "Do well in them, and I might give you a quarter of the profits I receive."

"You betted on me?" Naruto said to him frowning remembering those goons from before who tried to get him to drop out.

"Yeah, you are labeled as a three hundred to one odds of beating Neji and seven hundred to one odds of becoming Chunin, that's a risk worth taking in my book, as I wagered a thousand Ryo that you'd win against the Hyuga kid." Jiraiya said with a smirk. "Don't get upset, you can beat Neji as your skill and power's gone way up since we started a month ago."

"Thanks a lot…" Naruto said dryly as a part of him thought about losing on purpose to get even with him.

"I'll see you during the finals, keep up your training." Jiraiya said and left the blonde.

Flashback ends…

That had lead him here to this town in Fire Country about a half day away from The Leaf Village, rumors had reached his ear and so he went looking for clues and he believed to have found what he had been looking for.

Jiraiya peered down the well and got in it and fell and grasped the ladder and began climbing down, making his way down and when he got to the bottom he saw a tunnel and began walking down the dimly lit room. Bringing his hands up he formed hand seals and they began to glow with chakra forming a makeshift torch which lit up the area as he looked around the tunnel as he made his way.

He walked for a mile and reached what appeared to be a dead end but he examined his surroundings and could feel wind blowing from one of the walls. He pressed against it and it gave way and he looked around and found himself in a building. No one was around as he looked and saw a door and he was guessing that was where the other two ninja had gone. Near it was a window and at the end of the room was another door. He stealthily made his way forward and pressed his ear against the door and listened in.

"At long last he shall have his revenge against the Leaf," A voice said. "I'm trusting you with this report to give to him. I shall meet up with him during the Exams. By then they shall have forgotten I tried to take Sasuke with all the setup of the Finals." The voice said as Jiraiya listened in. "Orochimaru-sama's plans must not be foiled or found out in anyway do you understand?"

The Toad's eyes widened a bit in surprise at what he was hearing.

"Our Suna allies and The Kurosuki family will aid us during it, everything will be going according to plan. The Leaf are unexpecting of what will happen. His time has come, after this we shall then wipe out Suna as well as they have outlived their usefulness to him, The Kazekage was murdered the previous night. He shall pose as him during the Finals."

Jiraiya listened in not believing what he was hearing. Suna had allied themselves with Orochimaru, and The Kazekage had been killed? He wanted to find out more when he heard footsteps coming towards him.

The doorknob was twisted and the door was opened and Kabuto Yakushi stepped out with The Sound Nin. Kabuto looked around and turned to the ninja.

"Give Orochimaru the report I gave you, do not fail me or him." He said and mentioned for him to leave and the Shinobi left.

Outside Jiraiya was on the rooftop listening in and looked on as the Sound Nin exited the room. Jiraiya ran across the roof and saw the ninja exit the building and got into the crowd blending in. Jiraiya followed after him quietly running across the roofs and keeping him in sight.

The Sound Nin walked through the crowd keeping to himself yet constantly looking behind him to make sure he wasn't being followed as he went through the markets, paying no attention to the merchants and buyers.

Jiraiya watched him and moved on up ahead analyzing where he would go next and got ready to make his move. The Shinobi made his way through the bazaar and came to an empty alleyway. Jiraiya perched up above on the rooftops saw him and leapt down.

The Shinobi glanced up at the last second and saw him and rolled out of the way as Jiraiya landed on the ground. He pulled out a pair of throwing knives and tossed them at Jiraiya who dodged them. The ninja charged the Sannin a Kunai in hand and slashed at him and the Sannin evaded the attacks. Jiraiya pulled out his own secretly and dodging his attack stabbed him in the arm, the ninja cried out but did hand symbols with his other arm and let loose a loud burst of Sound at him surprising Jiraiya.

The Ninja slugged at him but Jiraiya blocked his attacks and turned and ran with the Sound Nin giving pursue. Jiraiya charged the wall and ran up it and landed behind the Sound Nin and kicked him in the back of the leg making him kneel. He batted the Kunai out of his hand and forced him to the ground on top of him his own to the Shinobi's throat.

"What are your masters plotting?" Jiraiya asked him who remained silent. "Speak! I swear I will slit your throat." He warned and pressed it against his neck.

"My secrets aren't yours to have, see you in Hell." The Ninja replied and went to cut his throat against it but Jiraiya was the faster and pulled it away and punched him in the face and knocked him out.

"You're coming with me…" He said as he would get the information out of him.

Meanwhile…

All the inhabitants of the village and the members of the Clan had gathered inside the building, looking on at what was going to happen. Mothers hushed their excited children as the entire village was inside the building. Delegates and visitors from other countries and villages had come to witness what was happening, those even from Mist and the Land of Fire.

At the front of the room was a red headed woman who looked around and smiled at the scenery, looking at everyone who was in the room as they watched. She looked over and smiled at her beloved sister and her husband, The Yondaime Hokage of Konoha and with them was their son as well as her nephew. All of the Clan members had gathered here for this important event.

The doors opened and in stepped a figure. The crowd moved to the side as they let him through. He walked through and many of the crowd bowed in respect towards him as he made his way to the front of the room, wearing the Clan Leader's robes that the head of the Kaguya Clan would wear signifying him as the Head of the Family. He passed by his cousin and smiled at him and his Aunt as he walked up to the room and to the woman standing at the front a smile on her face as her son stopped in front of her.

He reached out and hugged her and the woman returned the hug wrapping him in her embrace a tear going down her face. She gently kissed his forehead and smiled.

"Go," She mentioned and he nodded and walked past her and to the front of the room and ascended up the stairs where a chair was at. He got to it and turned around and looked back at the crowd. Slowly he sat down taking his position as the new Leader.

"Kimimaro, may you like your ancestors before you lead the Kaguya Clan to prosperity and greatness." Ayako Uzumaki said and she bowed and kneeled before him in front of the crowd and behind her so did the rest of the Clan and the other members of the village did so as well as His Aunt and her family.

Kimimaro looked around and a smile graced his face as he felt as if everything he had ever wanted was his.

A pair of green eyes opened and slowly took in his surroundings. He was inside a small damp cell with a dim light bulb overhead. He lifted his head and saw that no one was around.

"A dream…" He muttered to himself. It was all just a dream. His mother was gone, his clan was dead, and his Cousin was now in mortal peril. Kimimaro was in one of Orochimaru's bases in Otogakure, being held there for now. It reminded him of his youth being locked up by his father. The bars where wired to explode should he try to escape and break free, even if the explosion didn't kill him it would alert everyone.

Tomorrow was the day of the finals and he was being forced to go to Konoha against his will. Orochimaru forcing him to participate in the attack. He had refused but Orochimaru had used the seal against him to make him submit. The previous night he had forced him to participate in the murder of the Kazekage.

Kimimaro looked around and saw an empty cell, that cell was where another person he knew would be occupied in. The only person he was able to calm down at times, had been moved to another base or so the Snake had said.

Seated down on the cot, Kimimaro only let out a sigh as he sunk into despair wondering just how this would all end.

At Konoha…

Sakura Haruno looked around as it was the eve of the Chunin Finals, The pink haired girl looked around the sight as everything was getting setup for it. She saw Ino helping her father with the flower shop and snapping at Choji telling him to quit stuffing his face and help her set things up. She looked on as everyone was busy getting ready for it. She let out a sigh as she looked around.

She hadn't seen Sasuke or Naruto recently very often, Sasuke had been busy training with Kakashi for the month and so had Naruto as well. She hadn't seen them since the hospital as she had been doing some private training herself. She had gotten better working by herself but she knew she had a long way to go if she was ever going to be taken seriously as a ninja by them and everyone else.

"You should've spent more time improving yourself," She heard Kin's voice in the back of her head "If you had you wouldn't be in this position!"

She frowned and narrowed her eyes, she had to get stronger. If only there was someone here she could also train with, Kakashi despite teaching how to harness chakra and use it to walk on trees and use it to power her attacks just didn't seem to fit her and no way was she going to train with that pervert who was Naruto's sensei for the month. She needed to find someone of her own to teach her and find her own path.

But who? Asuma wouldn't fit her either and not in a thousand years was she going to wear one of those jumpsuits that Lee and Might Gai wore and proclaim herself the Pink Beast of Konoha. Just visioning that made her shudder. Kurenai probably wouldn't mix with her either as Genjutsu wasn't her actually strong suit. No she needed someone else to train her but who?

As she walked she noticed that she saw Sasuke and Kakashi and with them Naruto, the three where at a training area and two targets had been setup. Intrigued she walked to it and Kakashi seeing her mentioned to her.

"Ah Sakura glad to see you, you're just in time to watch." He mentioned to her and to the boys. "Naruto, Sasuke, I think its time we test to see how far you both have come in the past month. As you see I have set up two training dummies and each one is made of solid oak. Regular and even chakra infused attacks won't do as much damage to them as they are stronger and thicker than your average ones. The purpose of this is that you'll both get one attack on each target. Use your most powerful Jutsu and attack on them and we'll see who deals the most damage, Sasuke you'll go first."

Sasuke walked forward to the one in front of him and activated his Sharingan. He then prepared himself and electricity started to charge from his hand as the sound of what appeared to be dozens of chirping birds resonated from him as electricity formed around his arm. The group watched on as he focused it, drawing all of his chakra into one attack.

Naruto watched on wanting to see just how strong Sasuke had become over the past month.

After a couple of moments Sasuke finished charging and ran towards the target.

"Chidori!" He shouted and thrust his hand forward and fired the attack which hit it directly in the chest and parts and pieces of the dummy blow off from the impact of it.

"Hmm, a one hit kill…" Kakashi noted as that would kill a normal man. His dummy had lost part of its chest which would've have been directly in the heart if that was a human he had hit. "You've mastered the Chidori Sasuke, but only use it twice in a battle." He said to him warning him of the risks of using it multiple times in a fight.

"Think you can top that Naruto? I doubt you have your own A class Jutsu dobe." Sasuke said to him with a smirk.

"I have a few tricks up my own sleeves Sasuke." Naruto responded and stepped forward.

"Begin when you are ready." Kakashi said to him as the others looked on.

Naruto thought over which one he should use, he could use the Rasengan but he hadn't fully perfected that just yet. Instead he opted to go for a different move.

He reached into his arms and pulled out two swords and then threw them up into the air and created two clones who leapt up and caught them and he pulled out his own bone sword. The two clones then moved over to the side at a blind spot and at once they attacked.

"Dance of the Crescent Moon!" Naruto shouted as all three jumped and attacked simultaneously at once on the target, the pattern and elegance of doing so similar to a moon in crescent shape. The three attacks hit it and each one left a deep slash in the dummy cutting through it, not as deep as Sasuke's attack but each one would've been a serious wound to an opponent.

"Impressive." Kakashi said. He didn't think Naruto would've known that Jutsu. And he had performed it flawlessly as well.

"So who's the stronger?" Sakura asked him. He paused and thought it over for a long minute.

"Both Jutsus are lethal and deadly. While the Chidori is a one hit kill, you have to hit your enemy and you can only use it a limited amount of times, but with the Dance of the Crescent Moon you are on the offensive and attacking from your opponents blind side as well, even one attack could be potentially fatal and if all three hit at the same time it's over. Due to that, I give the edge to Naruto." He announced.

"What?" Sasuke said in disbelief surprised at what he heard. "But sensei you claimed that that was the strongest attack I could learn from you this month and would help me be able to defeat Gaara in the Finals."

"It will most likely do that and be able to get pass Gaara's defenses, however Naruto's move is more innovative and versatile."

Sasuke didn't say anything and looked over at the Blonde who stared back at him as the Two genins looked at each other eye to eye staring each other down.

(No, I can't be falling behind. I have to get stronger, it's the only way I'll ever defeat him.) Sasuke thought to himself as he was taking this as a sign that he was weakening, that he would never achieve his goal of revenge.

"I will get stronger." Sasuke said and clutched a fist in determination.

"Power doesn't mean everything Sasuke." Naruto said to him. "You only use your chakra believing it to be a weapon and nothing more." He said surprising Sasuke. "It's not a weapon, you fight with it, not as its master. That's why even no matter how much strength you have, you will be defeated." He said to him remembering his lessons.

He then turned and left leaving a confused Team 7 behind.

Naruto walked for a while not really minding or caring where his feet took him. He made his way through it when he came upon somebody training.

The person was Hinata Hyuga and the shy girl was taking a break from her training. She wiped her forehead with a towel and looking behind her spotted him. She immediately turned her body around and tried to get an apology out. Naruto only snickered and mentioned for her to calm down as a shy blush was on her face at being discovered.

"I'm facing your cousin tomorrow," He said to her as she twiddled her fingers together. "I suppose you won't root for him since he beat you down pretty badly."

"Um…M-May I a-ask you s-something?" She said to him nervously. He looked at her and nodded. "W-When you f-fight, don't f-fight h-him in anger. Or else y-you'll w-wind u-up just l-like him." Hinata said to him. "H-He wasn't always the w-way he is. O-Once he w-was my closest f-friend." Naruto raised an eyebrow at her. "W-When I was l-little, I w-was nearly kidnapped, and my U-Uncle, his f-father sacrificed his o-own body to g-give to Kumo. A-After that was w-when he b-believed everything w-was fated."

"I see," Naruto said to her understanding a bit why Neji acted like he did. "This whole fate nonsense he blabs on and on about, is his way at lashing out at those who took his father away."

"I t-think if h-he loses t-tomorrow, m-maybe he'll realize what he's d-done." She said to him.

"I wouldn't count on that but most likely a good blow to the head is what he needs." Naruto mentioned with a smirk. "I'll do what I can when I fight him tomorrow. See you around Hinata." He said and turned and left her to continue her training.

That night…

Haku made his way to the door of the room where the Sound Trio was staying at in the Hotel. He knew what he had been ordered to do by Raiga but having served him for so long and seeing enough of what both him and Orochimaru had done he had decided it was time for him to go.

Disgusted by their tactics he had decided to throw a wrench into their plans. He would be the Wild Card they hadn't counted on.

He reached the door and opened it.

"Haku?" Kin Tsuchi said in surprise seeing him enter the room. This past month he had never come to their place as he had always met her whenever she was training.

"Tch, your boyfriends back." Zaku Abumi said dryly earning him a glare from the Kunoichi.

"You must leave at once." He said to all three of them. "Neither Konoha nor Otogakure is safe for you right now."

"What are you talking about?" Zaku said his arms in casts still from the damage he received from Sasuke in the Forest. Dosu Kinuta on the other hand narrowed his eye at his words.

"Tomorrow during the exams, Sound will attack The Leaf…and Orochimaru will use you three as sacrifices in Edo Tensei."

Looks of shock appeared on the Trio's faces at what he just said.

"WHAT?" Zaku shouted in disbelief.

"I knew it…" Dosu said as ever since the Forest he had expected they had been setup and used as pawns by their master. Kin had a look of fear on her face at what he told them.

"You must come with me if you want to live. I'll get you out of Konoha." He explained to them.

"No way! Your lying!" Zaku exclaimed "He won't do that to us! We have a loyalty to Orochimaru-sama."

"Orochimaru cares nothing for you!" Haku shouted back surprising him. "He has poisoned your ears with his twisted words! He will kill all of you!" His words seemed to take the bluster out of Zaku who didn't say anything. Haku looked over at Kin who looked at him not knowing what to say. "Why hasn't he congratulated his students on making it to the finals? Why has he not come at all whatsoever to see any of you, he doesn't care about you, loyalty to a man like that will only wind up in your deaths." He said to all three Sound Shinobi. If you want to stay here fine, I won't force you to come. But I'm leaving, as I'm through working for him or Raiga." He said and turned around.

"Wait…" A voice said and Kin stood up and walked towards him. "I'm going with you, I want to live if what you say is true. There's nothing in Oto for me to stay for." She said to him and he smiled glad that she was coming with him.

"I'm going as well." Dosu Kinuta said and walked forward. Ever since the events in the Forest of Death Dosu had realized that they had been setup. He and Zaku had argued over what had happened for the past month. Dosu was loyal to Orochimaru but after realizing what had happened his loyalty to a man who had discarded him like a pawn in chess was no more.

Haku nodded and The group looked back at Zaku who sat on the chair not saying anything his eyes on the floor, he lifted his arms and looked at the holes in them, The Air Cutters having been surgically implanted in him by the same man who had offered him an opportunity of a lifetime after he grew up in the slums.

"Are you coming with us?" Haku asked him. He lifted his head up and he saw the pained look in his eyes.

Suddenly Dosu heard footsteps coming and the bandaged nin turned around and readied himself.

A group of Sound Shinobi and Kurosuki Family members burst through the door, Dosu was ready and activated his Melody arm and sent Sound Waves at them which stunned some of them but more kept coming in.

"What are you doing? We're Sound Nins as well!" Zaku shouted. Amongst the group was Kabuto's teammates as well.

"You failed in your mission," Akado Yoroi said to him.

"And the penalty for failing Orochimaru-sama is death." Tsurugu Misumi said as well cruelly smirking.

"Bastards!" Kin shouted and threw Senbon at them who dodged it. The men swarmed the room as they attacked.

Haku did hand symbols and activated his Kekkai Genkai and aiming at the floor. "Frozen Ground!" He said finishing the Jutsu and the floor became covered in Ice causing their attackers to trip and slide across the room, but still they come on.

Dosu dodged an attack and punched a Kurosuki member in the face. Five of the group got on top of each other forming a tower. "Black Tornado!" They shouted and began spinning and tore the room apart with their attack narrowly missing him and Kin.

"Traitor!" Karashi shouted and charged Haku but the more experienced ninja stepped aside and kicked him from behind out of the way and into a wall.

"Tell Raiga that I quit." Haku said to him

Kin threw her needles at the walls and she activated her bells and they started ringing loudly as she activated her Genjutsu. Despite it they still came on.

Zaku was the only one who wasn't fighting, he still just sat there looking on what was happening, as if his body had shut down. Nothing was in his eyes as he looked on realizing what was happening and all he had been told was a lie.

Haku did hand symbols prepared to finish it. "Freezing Wa-" He was suddenly grabbed by the throat by Yoroi.

"Enough of that," He said and activated his special ability and began draining him of his Chakra and absorbing it. Misumi grabbed him as well to prevent him from struggling as his body twisted itself to hold him still.

"Orochimaru-sama could use a fourth sacrifice, provided your boss doesn't bury you first." He taunted Haku who struggled.

Dosu and Kin where starting to be overwhelmed by the others as they couldn't help him.

Haku squirmed but found himself unable to break free as he sunk to one knee.

"Slicing Sound Wave!" A gust of wind hit both Yoroi and Misumi knocking them off of him. Haku looked and saw Zaku his arms pointed forward having done that.

A look of rage was on his face, pure unbridled anger. "100% Air!" He shouted channeling it all to power. "Decapitating Airwaves!" He shouted and fired full blast at them and knocked the two and the others through the walls and out of the hotel.

Haku looked around and saw Dosu and Kin a bit shaken up but unhurt. The four where alive.

"Let's get out of here." Zaku said to them all.

They got ready to leave when Haku saw Karashi who hadn't been knocked out standing in the doorway blocking them. "Get out of our way Karashi, you're not a fighter." Haku said to him and the boy gulped as he in truth was actually a coward. "I won't hesitate to kill you if you don't move." He said warning him and the boy quickly turned and fled.

The group of defectors quickly fled before anyone could find and discover what had happened. Each one looking for a new purpose.

By the time The Leaf discovered what had happened, they where long gone.

The next day…

"What is he planning?" Jiraiya asked to the bound man on the platform. The man didn't say anything and Jiraiya nodded to two man who turned the levers and the man let out an anguish cry as he was being stretched out on a rack. "Tell me."

Jiraiya had been interrogating the Sound Shinobi he had caught yesterday. Manipulation and Bribery hadn't worked on him so he had decided to do it the old fashion way as the man was being tortured.

He mentioned for the men to stop as the Sound Shinobi breathed in hard gasps of air.

Of course he wasn't really being tortured, he had just placed him in a Genjutsu making him think he was being tortured as it was all in his head and once he had gotten the information from him it would deactivate.

At The Finals…

The group of Shinobi stood in a line, of them all only seven was there as Dosu Kinuta and Kin Tsuchi had not showed up and Sasuke was running late.

The seven ninja where TenTen, Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara, Temari, Neji Hyuga, Naruto Uzumaki, and Gaara. Sasuke wasn't there yet but since his match was last he would have until then to appear. The other two had been disqualified as there had been no sight of them.

Sakura looked on in the stands along with Ino and several others watching on as Sarutobi gave his speech to the group. After doing so the new proctor Genma announced that TenTen and Shino would face each other in the first match due to their scheduled opponents not showing up.

Jiraiya looked on as the Sound Nin was ready to talk.

"During the exams…our forces will be positioned…ready to attack when the signal is given."

"What is the signal?" Jiraiya demanded him.

"A sleep Jutsu will be cast on the crowd…knocking them out and rendering most of Konoha's ninja helpless."

"When?"

"During…the match between…Sasuke Uchiha and Suna's Jinchuurki…Gaara." The ninja said to him and Jiraiya's eyes widened.

Back at the exams Shino had defeated TenTen his insects blocking her attacks and had sapped her energy and chakra winning the fight.

Naruto looked on from the stands as Temari and Shikamaru where prepared to face each other.

"What of Orochimaru? Why did he kill the Kazekage?" Jiraiya asked him and when he did not answer mentioned for the men to do it again when he spoke up.

"So he could pose…as him and get close…to the Hokage." The ninja said out betweens gasps of pain.

As he spoke this was happening as a man dressed in the robes of the Kazekage of Sunagakure walked towards Sarutobi and bowed respectfully to him and sat beside him as they watched on.

"And then?"

Temari had won her match due to Shikamaru forfeiting, Shikamaru had avoided her attacks and traps with several cleverly laid out plans that seemed to only delay the inevitable. As the fight progressed it seemed he was about to lose when he activated his Kage Mane and trapped her shadow as he had done it on purpose waiting for the day to go on and the shadows to lengthen so he could get her.

But for him, his chakra had gone on low and he didn't have enough to use so he could defeat her, so he had forfeited the match although he was being applauded for his tactics and genius by the crowd.

"When the attack begins…The Sound Four will cast a Jutsu around the area to trap him…" The Sound ninja slowly said. "Then…The Sandaime…will die…"

Jiraiya cursed as it was as he feared. He had to hurry!

Naruto made his way down to the Arena as most of the onlookers jeered him although he got a few cheers. Neji made his way as well as the two stood across from each other.

Jiraiya ran out of the town and moved as fast as he could using his chakra to boost his speed. He had to get back to Konoha before it was too late! He had to get there before Sasuke's match!

Naruto and Neji glared at each other as all attention was on them.

"Are you ready?" Genma asked them and each didn't say anything as they both got into a fighting stance.

The Kazekage looked on a dark grin appearing on his face underneath his mask.

Elsewhere, Kimimaro could only look on helplessly as he was chained up outside of Konoha with the Sound Force and unable to do anything as it would begin any minute.

Jiraiya ran as fast as he could, knowing if he didn't make it in time it would be disastrous. His only hope was that the matches before Sasuke's where long and drawn out.

Naruto and Neji prepared to do battle each one waiting for him to announce it.

"BEGIN!"

A/N: That's it for this chapter. Review please.