A.N. Hello, my amazing readers! I'm sorry I'm a day (almost two, as it's 11:10 at the time of writing this note) late, but things have been a little crazy! But, never fear, a new chapter is here!

NOW:

'A little anticlimactic, but an interesting technique,' Tsukiko thought ruefully, watching the Akimichi boy being helped up after being defeated by the Sound genin in under two minutes. Maybe not the most thrilling of battles, but the preliminaries were finally over, and that was something to celebrate!

Below, Hayate gestured for Tsukiko to join him down in the arena, tapping his clipboard.

Obligingly, she leapt down and handed him her notes on all the battles and fighting styles of the "allied" genin.

Taking the papers, he nodded before tucking them away and walking to the center of the destroyed floor. "And with that match," he announced, raising his hand. "The preliminary rounds for the Third Exam are now finished."

He paused, turning to the Hokage, who nodded his head firmly.

"Would all of the finalists please come down to the arena?" Hayate asked, joined by Ibiki on his right, and Anko on his left. Tsukiko stood by Anko, smiling warmly at the genin (predominantly Leaf) who were to advance.

"I commend all those who have advanced to the finals for the third level of the Chunin Exams," Hayate said formally, once all ten genin stood before him. "Well, there's one person missing, but still...congratulations."

'Sasuke…' Tsukiko glanced up at Kakashi, her unspoken question obvious.

The grey-haired male said something to Sakura, waving cheerily before vanishing, no doubt to inquire as to the state of his student.

The Third Hokage, standing on the slightly raised platform behind the proctors, suddenly spoke up. "So, the results are here. Including the absent Sasuke, we have seven ninja from the Leaf Village, three from the Sand Village, and one from the Sound Village." Holding the brim of his Hokage hat, he smiled. "And now, I shall begin the explanation of the final rounds."

The entire arena became so silent, the drop of a pin could be heard clearly. Every genin listened with rapt attention, the final test of their worth about to be revealed.

"In the Third Exam, each of you will put your battle skills on display," the old man began, his voice ringing out with an energy that belied his age. "You'll demonstrate the power and control that you've achieved in your respective disciplines. Accordingly, the final battles will commence one month from now."

And of course the first voice to interrupt was Naruto's.

"Wait, we're not going to do it right here and now?!"

"This is to provide a suitable period of preparation," The Third Hokage explained.

"What do you mean by that?" Neji now, spoke up.

"Simply this—in addition to announcing the conclusion of the preliminary matches to each country's leaders, we must also have some time to prepare and distribute the summons for the final selection. Not to mention that you examinees are going to need time to prepare for something that is this important."

"Look, I don't really get what you're trying to say," Kankuro interrupted rudely. "What's the point of this?"

The Hokage leveled a knowing gaze at the young puppet master. "I mean that to know your adversaries and prepare yourselves, you need time. Even though up to this point, all the battles have been real battles, as I'm sure you can all attest—they were conducted on the premise that you were fighting an unknown enemy. But that's no longer the case now that you've battled each other."

'And seen the fighting styles and tactics of each of your opponents,' Tsukiko added mentally. 'The advantage goes to the one who plans out every situation, figures out how to counter each of the others.'

"So in order to make the finals fair and just, we're giving you this month. Each of you must embrace the opportunity to practice hard and learn some new tricks. Because by now, everyone here knows your techniques. So using your old, tired tricks is a sure way to lose in the finals. And remember to get some rest as well."

"Train well, and show us what you can do," Tsukiko added, meeting each of their eyes. "You have the pride of your villages at stake."

Lord Third nodded, taking a few steps forward. "Now, with all of that behind us, I'd like to begin winding things up. But before we can bring this to an end, first there is one more important matter to take care of for the final rounds."

"Let's get on with it!" Naruto shouted impatiently, shifting from foot to foot. "I mean, how long do we have to wait until we start training?"

"In a calm, orderly fashion," the old man continued as if he hadn't heard the interruption. "All of you are going to take one slip of paper from the box that Anko is holding."

Anko produced an orange box with the hole at the top. "Everyone just stay where you are," she ordered. "I'll come to you." She walked over to the Sound ninja, standing on the right end of the line. "Just take one."

Moving down the line, each ninja took a folded piece of paper out of the box.

'Interesting…' Tsukiko thought. 'The pairs are actually random this year…' Probably for the best, as there was an overwhelming number of Leaf genin.

"Good," Ibiki spoke up, a pen and clipboard in hand. "Now, going from right to left, tell me the number that's written on your slip of paper."

"I've got nine," Dozu, the Sound ninja said slowly.

"Number one, of course," Naruto announced cockily.

Temari was next. "Seven."

Then Kankuro. "Five."

Gaara. "Three."

Shikamaru. "Eight."

Neji. "Two."

Shino. "Six."

Chiyo. "Eleven."

Midori. "Ten."

"And that means Sasuke will be number four." Ibiki marked down the numbers quickly.

"Now, I'm going to tell you about how the final selection tournament is going to work." Lord Third grinned, obviously enjoying himself.

"Is that what the numbers are for?" Shikamaru asked, his tone accusing. "Drawing lots?"

"Ibiki, you may reveal which ninja have been paired up."

"Yes sir!" Turning his clipboard around, the interrogation officer presented a chart for how the matches would be played out.

The first match would be Naruto vs Neji, followed by Gaara vs Sasuke, then Kankuro vs Shino, and Temari vs Shikamaru. Things got a little complicated after that, as there was an odd number of genin. Chiyo and Midori would have to fight, then the winner of that match would fight Dozu, the Sound ninja, in order to move on. Not ideal in the slightest.

Tsukiko frowned, several worries emerging from this lineup. Chiyo and Midori would've probably fought against each other sooner or later, but them being in the first tier was unfortunate.

'Although,' Tsukiko thought, amused. 'Chiyo doesn't look too upset about it…'

Indeed, Chiyo was practically bouncing with excitement. Midori seemed calm in comparison, but her smile and bright eyes gave away her own feelings.

'So, they've been wanting to try their tricks against each other...Now that I think about it, this is actually a really good thing. They'll be able to see what they can do, and learn about each other's strengths and weaknesses in the process.'

The only real concern she had now was about Sasuke. He'd have to fight against Gaara, who'd already shown his lethality in full force. If Sasuke had any chance of beating him, his Taijutsu and speed would need to increase exponentially.

'Maybe I'll just keep throwing rocks at him until he can dodge anything that comes his way.' Either that, or she'd have to show off her own speed, which was nothing to scoff at, and beat the crap out of him. Either way, between her and Kakashi, Sasuke was going to be far to busy to even think about that slithering creep's power.

Shikamaru raised his hand, interrupting her thoughts. "May I ask you a question?"

The Third Hokage inclined his head. "You may."

"Alright, If this is a tournament, does that mean there's only going to be one winner? I mean, only one of us is going to be able to become a chunin, then?" His eyes narrowed at the thought, obviously thinking it wasn't worth the effort.

"Actually, it's quite the opposite," the old man corrected. "There are going to be several judges for the final rounds, including myself, the Shinobi Leaders, the Kazekage, and the lords from various countries that ultimately will be assigning your missions to you." He paused to let that sink in. "Through this tournament, the judges will be able to make a thorough evaluation of your abilities. They will then decide whether any or all of you possess the qualities required of a chunin. Even if someone loses the first round, they could still become a chunin."

"So there's actually a chance that every one of us who competes in the final selection could become a chunin," Temari summarized.

"Correct. But conversely, there's also a chance that none of you will be chosen. The advantage in fighting more rounds is getting more chances to display your talents in front of the judges who decide your fate." He turned his attention back to Shikamaru. "Does that answer your question, Shikamaru?"

The boy nodded, completely unenthused by the upcoming event.

"I thank you all for your patience," Lord Hokage announced, his voice carrying to those waiting on the catwalk. "Now let us adjourn until next month."

Tsukiko's fists tightened, her own excitement building. 'One month to get my girls in the best shape of their lives, and to show off my own abilities to Sasuke.'

Still, there was an uneasy feeling in the air, the sense that a storm was approaching.

'We need to be ready…'

THEN:

"I saw the lineup for this year's Chunin Exams," Danzo started abruptly, in front of Hiruzen, seated in the Hokage's chair. "It seems that Itachi Uchiha and Tsukiko Amaya are not on the list once more."

Hiruzen lifted his eyes from the papers on his desk to look at Danzo curiously. "Now that you mention it, you went out of your way to speak to those two when they graduated, didn't you?"

Danzo's face gave nothing away. "I felt I should lay eyes on the faces of the academy's top graduates of all time."

"I had no idea you were so fixated on the members of the Uchiha clan." The Third Hokage's gaze became more searching, his perceptive intuition not yet dulled by his old age.

"It is a loss for the village to make those with such promising futures waste several years."

Hiruzen frowned. "But they can't take the Exams without the recommendation of their supervising jounin."

"But their supervisor, Yuki Minazuki, is below average among the jounin." The corners of Danzo's mouth abruptly shot up. "He's likely jealous of Itachi's and Tsukiko's abilities."

The Third Hokage was quick to defend his fellow shinobi. "Yuki's not that sort of—"

"He is that sort of man," Danzo asserted, as if to beat back Hiruzen's opinion. "Perhaps you are unaware, but that man has already sent several genin more talented than himself back to the academy. He can't do that this time, because that pair so obviously excels. Their names are already well-known throughout the village."

"That's ridiculous," Hiruzen protested, uncomfortable with the idea of one of Konoha's own acting in such an unprofessional and jealous manner.

"He normally doesn't show it," Danzo pressed, driving the point home. "But deep down, Minazuki has a dark nature."

A member of the Foundation had investigated him. The secret Anbu training division under Danzo's direct control, the Foundation had a vast network within Konoha. The thinking, the philosophies of every ninja in the village, what kind of tendencies they had—the Foundation had looked into everything very diligently. All for the security of the village.

If the Uchiha clan's Konoha Military Police Force was an organization to maintain public order on the village surface, then the Foundation was something like a secret police force that maintained order from the underground. Inheriting the undiluted version of Danzo's ideal of protecting the peace with darkness, the Foundation leaned even more strongly in that direction than the Anbu, which was under the Hokage's control. In other words, the Military Police Force and the Foundation were two sides of the same coin.

Sighing heavily, Hiruzen slowly opened his mouth, reluctance to pull rank making him hesitate. "If Yuki won't recommend them, we can simply promote Tsukiko and Itachi to chunin through an official decision."

"It's better for the village to have them take the exams," Danzo said patiently, trying not to give away the victory he could feel in the air.

"Hm?" Hiruzen brought his pipe to his lips.

"The Chunin Exams is a time where the officials from all the countries come together in the same room," Danzo continued. "Which is to say, it's an opportunity to display the future fighting potential of each land. If we demonstrate their exceptional abilities there, it will enhance the threat our village poses to other countries."

"Tsukiko and Itachi are indeed gifted ninja, but do they really have that kind of ability?" The Third Hokage had only seen the surface evaluations of the mission results, which is why he could ask such a question. The only time he'd seen them in action was when he'd granted permission for the two to remain together on a team, and that was before the boy had awakened his Sharingan.

"How could Itachi or Tsukiko demonstrate their true abilities on mission where they are forced to go along with a supervisor and teammates so clearly inferior? Keeping those two buried out in the fields any further will be a loss to the village, such that we may never recover."

Now the Hokage paused, the intuition that had guided him for years beginning to prickle uneasily. "I'm surprised you value the Uchiha clan so highly." Both children were from a clan that, up till now, Danzo had taken every opportunity to force out of the light. To place two members of that same family put in the open was...suspicious.

"They both have precisely such value," Danzo said, an unpleasant smile flashing briefly across his stern features. Hiruzen had no idea of his true intentions, even if he was at least aware that Danzo had ulterior motives. Even the astute Third Hokage would not realize just what those motives were until it was too late.

Konoha and Uchiha. A trump card, to sever the link that had continued since the establishment of the village.

That was what these two talented children were.

But, a lingering question remained. How to get them under his control, to separate them and forge them into his own personal weapons?

That was the issue.

"We're home!" Tsukiko's bright voice called out happily as she sat down just inside the door. She and Itachi had been training rigorously to make up for the lost time, and it had been a grueling, but wonderful day.

"Itachiii! Tsukikoooo! You're home!" Small hands hugged first Itachi's back, then Tsukiko's as they took their shoes off. "Is your mission today over?"

Itachi stood, smiling warmly as he patted his four-year-old brother's head. "Uh huh."

"You tired?" As always, Sasuke seemed overwhelmed by his desire to talk to his two siblings. Taking Tsukiko's hand, the smaller boy took great, swinging steps and followed his brother as he walked down the hallway to the room they shared.

"A little," Tsukiko answered, glancing at Itachi with a wry smile. The other day, Lady Mikoto had gushed about how, from the minute they leave the house each morning, Sasuke is waiting for them to come home. Itachi had been embarrassed, but also delighted, and Tsukiko had been ecstatic that Sasuke loved her just as much as his actual brother. They both, however, felt a little self-conscious, suddenly taking more care that the ever-watchful eyes of the young boy only saw the best of themselves.

"I wanna go on missions too!" Sasuke announced, practically bouncing on Itachi's heels as he dragged Tsukiko along.

"Still too early for you," Itachi replied, laughing as he walked.

Tsukiko giggled, trying not to accidentally step on either of the Uchiha boys as she was pulled forward.

Their conversation came to a screeching halt when the sliding door to their right opened suddenly. Lord Fugaku's room.

"You're home?" His voice, sour in tone, reminded Itachi of those hateful meetings he'd been attending.

"Yes," Itachi replied, losing all expression. He took a step back, unconsciously trying to block Tsukiko and Sasuke from his father's view and words.

Lord Fugaku came out of the room with a calculated look on his face, standing in front of his son.

Tsukiko, unaware of Itachi's protective stance, scooted past Sasuke to stand next to the older Uchiha boy, curious as to what Lord Fugaku was going to say.

"Lord Hokage called me in today to talk about the two of you." The strange way he said "Lord Hokage," and the visible bitterness on the older man's features made Tsukiko glance uneasily at her partner.

"About us?" Itachi spoke quickly, keeping the attention on him instead of the confused girl to his right.

"On the recommendation of village officials, he wants you both to take the Chunin Exams this year. The other examiners will of course be working in groups of three. Naturally this will put you in a difficult position, but…" Fugaku closed his eyes and lowered his face for a moment, before lifting it again to look straight at Itachi. "I told Lord Hokage you would both take part."

"Th-Thank you…" Itachi stammered uncharacteristically, overwhelmed by this sudden development.

Tsukiko, on the other hand, practically lit up. "Thank you, Lord Fugaku!"

For so long now, she'd endured a disappointment she couldn't completely push aside, no matter how hard she'd tried to force herself to accept the situation. But those days were finally coming to an end. Privately, she'd wondered how many more years she and Itachi would have to continue as genin, stuck on a team that never improved. But Itachi had been right! The village had noticed them! Already, she could see the shroud of heavy clouds over her heart clearing away.

Impulsively she hugged the older man, her excitement getting the best of her.

Fugaku's face betrayed his surprise for a brief moment, but he quickly recovered and returned her hug, a fondness in his eyes. "The village officials recommended you two directly, instead of your supervising jounin. So make sure you do it right." He smiled.

Tsukiko nodded firmly, looking back at Itachi with bright eyes. "We will!"

Itachi relaxed, proof that his father, at least, didn't hate the young girl putting him more at ease. It was easy to forget that that hateful atmosphere hovering over the meetings didn't necessarily follow him around.

"Hey, what's happening with Ita and Kiko?" Wanting to be a part of the conversation, Sasuke wedged himself between them and looked up at his father.

"You hurry, and be a brave ninja like your brother and Tsukiko, too," Fugaku said, reaching down to lift his younger son up into his arms.

Sasuke's smile wavered slightly for a short moment. "All right!"

"Good boy." Sasuke's innocent grin brought another smile to Fugaku's face, before he turned back to the older children, his voice purposefully casual.

"Apparently, it was Danzo Shimura who pushed hard for you to take the Chunin Exams."

'Danzo Shimura…' Tsukiko's mind conjured up the image of the shadowed face she had seen on the day of their graduation. She shivered, feeling a lingering chill just from the memory of that man.

"What do think of the Anbu?" Itachi asked carefully. In his father's voice was a darkness, out of place with his sunny grin.

Tsukiko felt her smile begin to wane, her uneasiness returning. It was almost like Lord Fugaku and Itachi were speaking in a code of some kind.

"Boys! Tsukiko!" Lady Mikoto's voice came from the opposite end of the hall. "It's almost supper time!"

"First, the Chunin Exams," Lord Fugaku said cheerfully. "As long as you show off your true abilities, you'll get through them without any problem. We'll talk after that." Still holding Sasuke, the older man disappeared toward the dining room where Itachi's mother was waiting, leaving his ominous words hanging in the air.

Itachi took a step forward, prepared to follow his father, his mind far away.

Tsukiko had the sudden impression that the hall was split at the end, light and darkness awaiting on the path that stretched out into the future. Before Itachi could take another step, she caught his hand, hit with the awful feeling that she and Itachi would someday find themselves on different sides.

When he turned back to her, she forced herself to smile. "Let's go together," she said cheerfully.

The young boy nodded, understanding that she wasn't talking about going to the dining room. "Together."

And so, the two children began to walk down the hallway, one filled with determination to follow the other, no matter the path, and the other's mind filled with grim resignation.

NOW:

"Separate training?" Chiyo asked, cocking her head in confusion.

The two genin and their teachers were out in the woods, in the clearing where they'd done most of their training up to this point. It was the day after the preliminary rounds had concluded, and both girls were refreshed and ready to go, the only signs of their ordeal being the small cuts and bruises that littered their arms and faces.

Tsukiko nodded. "The way it stands, you two are going to be fighting against each other. It would defeat the purpose of training if you both saw what the other was doing." She stretched her arms, cracking her neck. It was stiff after sleeping awkwardly on a chair in Sasuke's hospital room, but she'd refused to leave after hearing that Kabuto, that genin whom she knew wasn't trustworthy, had tried to either assassinate or kidnap Sasuke from his room on Orochimaru's orders.

To say she'd been pissed was an understatement, and the nurses, being too scared to make her leave, had no choice but to let her remain. The sight of her, glaring with red eyes at anyone who entered the room, seemed to convey the message that she would not be leaving any time soon.

In fact, it was only Kakashi's arrival and solemn vow that he wouldn't be leaving Sasuke's side that allowed Tsukiko the freedom to be here, training. They'd decided that Kakashi, as Sasuke's official teacher, would take over the bulk of his training this month. After all, Tsukiko had her own responsibilities.

"That makes sense," Midori nodded her head thoughtfully. "I wouldn't want Chiyo to see my new moves before I get the chance to try them out."

"Exactly!" Masuko grinned and pulled out two small pieces of paper. "To that end, we need to see what your primary chakra nature is. Once we know that, we can start working on advanced Ninjutsu. I noticed some of our opponents are using really high-level stuff, so we can't fall behind!" She handed a paper to Tsukiko. "For example, I primarily use water chakra, so when I run my chakra through the paper…"

The paper in her hand suddenly became wet, like it had been dipped in water.

"Lighting nature will wrinkle, Earth will crumble away, Fire will burst into flames, Wind will cut, and Water soaks," Tsukiko explained.

"What does it do when you use your chakra, Tsukiko-Sensei?" Midori asked with wide eyes.

"I'm glad you asked." Tsukiko held up the paper and waited.

The page tore down the middle, one side wrinkling before it exploded into flames, and the other side getting wet before crumbling away.

"I have every nature in me, splitting my chakra into five distinct categories. As such, I can't use advanced Ninjutsu, with a few exceptions, like Summoning. But, I can still work with you girls on perfecting your chakra control and working with the jutsu you have to make them stronger. So, go ahead and take these." Tsukiko handed each genin a chakra paper. "Try it out, and see what happens."

Chiyo concentrated, her brow furrowed. A few seconds later, her paper began to crumble away.

"Earth!" She shouted excitedly, turning to Midori.

The blond girl held up two perfectly sliced pieces of paper, grinning. "And mine is Wind."

"Hmm…" Masuko rubbed her jaw. "Wind is pretty scarce around here, so you'll be working with Tsukiko, Midori. As for you, Chiyo, Earth happens to be my second chakra nature, so we can definitely do some heavy training." She gave her a thumbs up. "Time to get to work! I want you guys to fight like you've never fought before!"

Tsukiko grinned, giving Midori a wink. "While those two run around throwing boulders, we'll be working with Wind. I have several ideas about how we can incorporate it with your chakra threads…"

Midori nodded, hesitating slightly. "Okay, sounds good."

The white-haired jounin smiled understandingly. As excited as she was to take part in the tournament, Midori was a healer, not a fighter. It would be difficult for her to advance if she didn't get over that.

'The Third Exam has officially begun!'

"Alright, Chiyo!" Masuko straightened clapping her hands together as she stood in front of her student. "Now that those two are gone, let's get to work!"

"Yes ma'am!" Chiyo shouted, clenching her fists with excitement.

Masuko smiled, marveling once again at the fortune she'd had. Never did she believe she'd find herself in a community as warm and happy as the Leaf Village. It wasn't perfect, not by a long shot, but it was so different from the fear and blood that seemed to permanently permeate the Mist Village.

After Kisame and Zabuza had abandoned her, she'd all but given up on having a happy life like she'd talked about. She hadn't wanted much, just some comrades she could depend on, a home of her own, maybe a few kids someday, once the Mist settled down and the bloodlust began to fade.

So when she was betrayed by the Mizukage, an ironic gesture, as Yagura had zero tolerance for betrayal against him, she had been ready to accept death.

'Hmph, Yagura….' She'd been told that he'd been killed recently, not that the Mist was very forthcoming with information on the death of its leader. And maybe the "Bloody Mist" would be able to regain its strength now that the little tyrant was dead. Still, she was surprised to find that she had felt a passing regret at his loss, the lingering traces of her alliance rearing its head. The Mist had been her home, and she had several fond memories of the place. It was only after Kisame left that things had really gone wrong.

'That bastard.' One day he'd just left, amidst accusations of trying to overthrow the government and proof of several assassinations of important leaders in the Land of Water. There was no goodbye, no warning, no anything. He'd left, taking Samehada with him, and leaving behind a stupid girl who couldn't forget about him.

And then came Zabuza's little scheme. There was suspicion in the village that the Mizukage was being controlled by someone, and Kisame's abrupt turn had only strengthened this idea. So the idiot had tried to assassinate the Mizukage and failed, leading to yet another of the Seven Swordsmen being lost. Of course, being friends with both traitors had ruined Masuko's reputation, and erased any possibility that she too might be granted one of the infamous weapons of her village.

The rest was history. She'd been ambushed by her own people, her father's katana snapped by the damned Anbu, and would've been killed, had she not stumbled close enough to Land of Fire territory, getting the attention of a passing Leaf squad on return from a separate mission. It truly was a stroke of luck.

And now, she had nearly everything she'd ever wanted. A home, comrades, students of her own...it seemed too good to be true, like any moment she would wake up, and she'd be back there, bleeding out in that damned forest, surrounded by masked faces exuding barely-concealed hatred. But, until that moment came, she was going to protect this peaceful little village with her life, making sure that the ninja of the future weren't subjected to the horrors of her past.

And that began with the grinning girl before her, so full of life and ambition. It was hard not to be motivated when someone like that admired someone like her. It made Masuko want to be a better person, to never let her students down.

"First things first," Masuko began, cracking her knuckles. "Let's figure out what kind of fighter you want to be." Holding up three fingers, she quickly explained. "There's the long-range weapon specialist, which would work well against someone like that Temari girl. Dodging her fan is easier from far away, but you have to be careful, as Tenten discovered. Temari has trained to get up close and personal."

She put down a finger. "Mid-range fighting is like Kakashi and Sasuke. The Sharingan works best with a little distance, and a mid-range fighter can also become a short-range fighter easily. Take Tsukiko for example. Her elemental control is most effective from further away, but get too caught up on that and you'll miss when she comes in for the kill." Masuko grinned, the memory of their first fight flashing briefly through her mind. "Mid to short-range fighters have the most fluid skill sets, and are usually sneaky bastards."

Another finger went down. "Finally, you have fighters like me. Short-range, up close and personal. Naruto, Lee, the Hyuga boy, all of them are close-range fighters. For me, I like a good sword fight or weapons clash. Not very ninja-like, fighting out in the open, but definitely the best way to inflict the most damage."

Chiyo nodded slowly, frowning. "Let's see…" she murmured, crossing her arms. "Midori uses her chakra threads to fight, but she had trouble in the forest when people got inside her range. So that means short-range tactics are the best against her. And if I want to beat Gaara, I'll need to get past that sand somehow, meaning, again, I'll need to get close. So, the answer's pretty obvious." She smirked. "I'll follow in my teacher's footsteps."

Masuko fang glinted as she smiled evilly. "Good choice, considering I already taught you the basics of my chakra armor. And using Earthstyle, I have a few tactics that'll boost your speed as well as your punches." She cocked her head critically. "I don't have the time or the patience to teach you how to use a sword without stabbing yourself through, but you seem more like a brawler anyway."

The younger girl's cheeks darkened. "Yeah, I've always been pretty good with my fists over any real weapon."

"Sounds good," Masuko agreed cheerily, sliding into a crouch, her fists up. "Now, pay attention, because I'm about to get serious!"

"So, Windstyle is fast and cutting," Tsukiko began, her eyes turning gold. "I primarily use it for reading signatures and movements around me, but it also helps to sharpen weapons, or add an extra burst of speed to projectiles. And that's the part I want to focus on today."

Midori nodded, looking uncomfortable. "Okay, how do I do that?"

Tsukiko smiled warmly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. What I have in mind will help with your medical jutsu as well."

The blond genin brightened slightly. "Really?"

"Of course," Tsukiko replied, crossing her arms. "As you know, healing and fighting are opposites on paper, but there can be some overlap in practice." She pulled out a kunai knife, purposefully pricking her finger. "This knife is deadly sharp, but it can do a whole lot more than just kill. What if it's cutting a projectile out of someone, or being used in a surgery? A sharp tool is a necessary item for a healer, and your Windstyle will ensure that you're never without one."

"Yeah…" Midori paused as she thought about what Tsukiko was saying. "I've never really seen that side of things. My weapons can also be tools for saving people…"

To the older woman's relief, Midori seemed to relax, more comfortable with the idea of training. "Okay, so you're going to show me how to sharpen my kunai knives?"

Tsukiko shook her head. "Nope. Instead, we're going to be working on sharpening...your chakra threads."

"What?!" Midori took a step back. "But I can barely control the threads as they are! If I have to worry about keeping them sharp, I'll never—"

"Stop doubting yourself, Midori," Tsukiko interrupted gently, frowning at the panicked girl. "I've been training you for months, and I know your limits. Yes, your threads aren't as small or as invisible as you'd like them to be, but you know the basics, and you control them well! Think about it, if you can sharpen the threads, which will make them finer, then your Chakra Stitching technique will become faster and more medically efficient. The threads themselves will be your needles!"

Midori paused, her doubtful expression betraying how little she believed in her own abilities. "Okay, Tsukiko-Sensei, I'll try."

The older woman smiled, nodding her head. "That's all you can do. If you want to beat Chiyo, who will almost definitely be training in close-combat hand-to-hand, based on her nature and Masuko's skill set, then you'll need to use Windstyle to sharpen and speed up your threads. That is how you can win, and move on to fight the others."

Midori nodded, determination overtaking her fear. "You're right! Besides, there's someone I want to fight against…"

'So, she wants to impress Neji, does she?' Tsukiko bit her lip to stop herself from grinning. 'Atta girl.'

"Alright," she said aloud, gold eyes flashing. "In that case, let's get started!"

Then:

"You have one hour to complete the test," the proctor, a man with sandy blond hair and a stern expression explained. "Begin!"

Sitting in the room for the First Exam, a written test, Tsukiko's eyes scanned the document in front of her with growing excitement and relief. This exam was easy! The proctor had insinuated that the point of this exam was to use ninja skills to cheat without getting taught by the examiners, but Tsukiko's talents weren't just physical.

Ever since she was little, she had devoured books and scrolls from the academy and Lord Fugaku's library with perfect clarity. That habit had only intensified in preparation for this exam, along with her normal training. So Tsukiko had all kinds of knowledge and data memorized, partly in preparation for becoming a strong shinobi, but mostly just because she was interested in this world of theirs.

The entire history of shinobi, beginning with the Sage of Six Paths. Alliances, treaties, laws of uniformity among different lands, chakra fundamentals, advanced techniques, practical strategies in fighting, Taijutsu theory, Ninjutsu uses and hand signs, Genjutsu control and awareness, kekkei genkai, Tailed Beasts, ninja beasts, Summoning, overview of Sage barriers and natural energy fundamentals, and a variety of documents, books, theses. These were all subjects Tsukiko and Itachi had studied in order to realize their dream.

Thus, there was no need for either of them to cheat.

A balance between brain and brawn. This was the most important element of an ideal ninja.

When there was first a clear mind, superior physical abilities could be amply shown off. But no matter how skilled in ninja arts the body was, if a shinobi was unable to make appropriate decisions, failure was almost inevitable. And in the world of the ninja, failure was directly linked to death.

Tsukiko paused, Tenma's face flashing briefly in her mind. Biting her lip, she wiped nonexistent dirt off her paper, banishing the unwelcome reminder that, smart as she was, she'd already failed her team once. Her test was already ninety percent complete, and she finished quickly, blocking out any further distraction.

A few minutes later, she flipped the page over, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Itachi, who was still writing something on the last question. Tsukiko grinned victoriously. She'd won again.

'I wonder how everyone else is cheating…?'

Sitting back, Tsukiko examined her fellow genin as one after another was ordered to leave, having been caught. Slowly blinking her now golden eyes, she concentrated on the wind currents, sending her chakra out around her like a bubble. It was a new technique she and Itachi had been working on, and allowed her to get a mental picture of her opponent's movements.

Several were using tools, or sending out their own chakra to influence/spy on each other, while others were using sneakier methods, like tapping out answers, or using ninja beasts. There were a few other Uchiha genin present, their Sharingans activated as they copied hand movements of hidden chunin. Tsukiko took careful note of the three Uchiha other than Itachi. They were her ideal opponents.

And everyone else was an obstacle, or rival. If she and Itachi, who was now complete and studying the others as she was, could figure out and counter their skills now, they would be able to choose the most advantageous circumstances for a fight.

Everyone else was in three-person groups. They only had each other. It was quite plausible, a near certainty even, they they would end up in a three-against-two situation. By using this time to gather information, as well as build up chakra, Itachi and Tsukiko had already begun fighting their way out of that unfavorable situation.

"Time!" The proctor called out, nodding approvingly at those left, about half of the original entrees. "Put your pencils down. Everyone still here, go to the Second Exam. The results of the test will be announced once the Second Exam is complete."

"Question!" One of the test-takers raised his hand, waiting for the proctor's nod of approval to continue. "Does that mean that even if we pass the Second Exam, we won't be able to proceed to the Third Exam, depending on our score on the First?"

The proctor crossed his arms, nodding firmly. "That is what it means, yes."

The examinees all began protesting at once.

"Quiet!" The proctor roared, glaring at them. "You are on the road to becoming chunin! And once you are chunin, you will be in the position of leading a team. Not all missions yield immediate results. There will sometimes be cases where you will turn all your mental energies toward the job at hand, while you're waiting on another result. During this exam, you should have expended every effort. In which case, trust in your own abilities, and fight in the Second Exam with all your might!"

The rousing cry of the jounin left the genin speechless, each confronted by the reality of the Chunin Exams, and the careful meaning behind each test.

Seeing the resolution in their faces, the stern proctor's lips twitched upwards. "Good. Now, off you go to the Second Exam."

Tsukiko stood obediently, waiting for Itachi while the words of the jounin echoed in her ears.

"Not like you two can surround all three of us," the boy said with a grin. He stood, blocking their path with two teammates behind him in a triangle formation. The boy had short black hair that covered one eye and a cocky grin as he stared down the children that didn't even reach his shoulders. The headband glinting at his forehead marked him and his teammates as genin from Kirigakure.

Itachi glanced back at Tsukiko, who was smiling calmly, a scroll in her hand. As her eyes registered their headbands, her smile hardened and her fists clenched.

'Bad luck that they're from the Hidden Mist,' he thought sighing. 'For them, anyway.'

Those who would become chunin were scattered about the area known as the forty-fourth training ground, nicknamed the "Forest of Death." The scroll in the white-haired girl's hands had the character for "Heaven" written in on it in bold, black calligraphy.

"Taking the chunin exams with just the two of you is suicide!" A different boy shouted from behind his leader. This one had short, spiky brown hair and a fresh cut on his cheek.

And then the ear-splittingly high-pitched laughter of the girl came, her shoulder-length brown hair bouncing.

Itachi looked at the boy standing in front of him, the most assertive of the group, maybe fifteen or sixteen. He was definitely the leader.

"If you hand over the scroll like a good girl, we won't kill you," he began smugly, his attention on Tsukiko, standing a step or two behind Itachi. "But if you're gonna fight back, then I can't promise anything." The boy had the black "Earth" scroll that paired with Tsukiko's in his hand.

The goal of the Second Exam was to reach the tower in the center of the training ground, with both Heaven and Earth scrolls in hand. In small squads of three-person cells, the genin were given one of these scrolls and sent scattering throughout the training ground, with the mission to relieve another team of the opposite scroll that completed the set. After getting both scrolls, they had to make it through the Forest of Death, with its man-eating beasts, poisonous insects, and all manner of dangerous creatures, to reach the tower standing in the center.

The time limit was five days. In other words, the examination was challenging enough that this time limit provided yet another obstacle.

Yet, on the very first day, Itachi and Tsukiko were suddenly attacked by the enemy, the Mist shinobi before them. Which was, of course, according to plan.

Rather than making the foolish move of searching for the matching scroll, the young pair had decided to head straight for the tower. Just as they wanted an Earth scroll, their opponents wanted the Heaven scroll. If they moved toward the tower, their enemies would surely come to them.

The Kirigakure ninja had already confirmed that Tsukiko was holding the Heaven scroll—she had deliberately held the scroll out in the open as they walked to the tower, just for that purpose. No, rather than the other way around, it was these three who'd fallen into Itachi's trap.

"So, three against two. Be good, and—"

"The usual rule in order to qualify for this test says that you must be on a three-man team." Itachi's calm voice cut off the boy in front of him. "So why is it just the two of us?"

"Maybe your teammate ditched you," the girl called out from the left, like she was making fun of him. The boy on the right laughed.

Tsukiko scoffed, turning her head slightly to look at her. "The other one is waiting in ambush. Can't you figure out that much, at least?"

Careless smile still on her lips, the girl's face grew pale.

"Relax. It was just the two of us from the start," Itachi said, his gaze never leaving the leader. "But it seems that the only conclusion you can come to from this three-against-two situation is that it's to your advantage. As a leader and as a chunin, you're a failure."

"Y-You watch your mou—"

"You're even using our childish appearances as fuel for your carelessness." Itachi was goading him, using a psychological attack before the actual fighting began. If the enemy already believed they had lost, then it would be so once blows were exchanged.

"Hey, Kiruru, let's just finish him already," the boy in the rear called, sounding uneasy.

The leader, Kiruru, swallowed with a gulp the saliva building up in his mouth, sweat running down his forehead.

Now Tsukiko spoke up. "Why doesn't it make you uncomfortable that we're here alone? Why haven't you considered the possibility that there's a reason two nine-year-olds were allowed to compete with you? Don't you think there's some meaning behind the fact that we were walking around in plain sight, not even trying to hide our scroll?"

She stared at him unblinkingly, that same calm smile in place. "Didn't you consider…" Her eyes turned red. "That we might be dangerous?"

"Kiruru!" This time it was the girl, trembling.

The Mist genin were starting to lose themselves in an unfathomable fear.

"G-Get them!" Kiruru half-shrieked, half-shouted, and shuriken were launched at Itachi and Tsukiko from three different directions.

In the next instant, the leader ran at his right, the other boy at his left. The girl leapt up above, aiming for Tsukiko's head. They were caught in an attack from both sides, and if they fled upward, the girl would attack.

'Physical Fundamentals for the Three-Person Cell, chapter one, paragraph three. Such a childish move.'

Neither of the Leaf genin moved.

The shuriken hit both of them with a sickening noise, countless black handles stabbing every part of their bodies.

Without pausing, the two boys on either side slammed into the two children, forcing new kunai deep into their bellies.

Blood jetted out of Itachi's mouth, and he turned his head to see the same thing happening to Tsukiko, her eyes wide with pain and surprise.

The two boys yanked their knives out and took a half step back. Instantly, the girl landed on Tsukiko's shoulders and plunged a dagger through the crown of her head.

"Got her!" She cried out happily.

Itachi and Tsukiko burst open.

Each and every one of the black fragments scattering in all directions turned into crows. In a cacophony of caws, they started to peck at the heads of the three older ninja.

Itachi watched for a while from the top of a remarkably tall tree nearby, observing the silly way his enemies were being taken down, all three frantically trying to beat the crows back, while covering their faces with their arms. For a brief moment, he felt pity for the older genin, but then he remembered the victorious look on the girl's face as she "killed" Tsukiko, and the feeling passed. They were his fellow shinobi, and he should respect them as such by not holding back.

Tsukiko, watching from a neighboring tree, seemed to be concentrating on something. She gave Itachi the signal that she was ready to go.

Silently, he dropped down in front of them.

"Release!" The crows disappeared at his cry.

Not understanding what was happening, the three ninja stood, dumbfounded, their eyes finding Itachi at once.

"Be good and hand over the scroll." With a slight smile at the ironic role reversal, Itachi held out his hand toward the leader. "If you do, we'll let you go."

"D-Don't underestimate us." Kiruru dropped to a crouch and began weaving signs. The boy and girl to his left and right also wove the same signs. "Got it?"

Itachi sighed. Already, they had forgotten Tsukiko, still up in the tree. And, focused as they were on Itachi, they didn't hear her approach from behind.

"Right!" Kiruru's teammates responded.

"Water Style!" The Mist genin shouted, and that's as far as they got.

The wall of flames that abruptly materialized before them, twisting like a living creature to enclose the small group, scared the three senseless, to the point where they actually forgot to activate their own techniques.

At a speed four times that at which the three were weaving signs, Itachi had used used Firestyle: Fireball Jutsu, to create a massive flame that Tsukiko had taken control of. He'd used the chakra that he'd been building up the whole time, during the First Exam, to the start of the Second, and the result was that the field of view of the opposing team had been swallowed up by flames in an instant.

His only concern was that Tsukiko, having seen a Mist village headband for the first time since her parents were killed, would overdue it and accidentally hurt someone. But, he needn't have worried. Tsukiko wielded the fire with such control, that it remained far enough away that the Mist genin didn't get hurt. The flames were only meant to be threatening.

This was a test. There was no need to kill or even injure anyone. All they needed was for their opponents to lose heart.

And, at the sight of the white-haired girl merely waving her hand to walk through the circle of flame, her eyes glowing red, they did indeed feel fear.

Itachi found himself watching the way her hair reflected the orange light of the fire, the brightness in her eyes, and genuine smile on her face as she spun, extinguishing the flames with one graceful movement. Her exhilaration for controlling the elements so flawlessly never ceased to make him feel an appreciation for his own skills and abilities, but watching her now, Itachi felt his cheeks darken, and the now-familiar warmth in his chest.

"Sorry to startle you," Tsukiko said, grinning at the older genin. "But my friend and I are kinda in a hurry. I'll take your scroll, please."

Legs trembling, almost giving out from under them from fear, the three still managed to stay on their feet somehow. A thin veil of tears welled up in the eyes that stared at Tsukiko.

"If you still want to fight, I don't mind." Itachi closed the distance between them, moving to stand by Tsukiko. "But if you do, then this time, I'll be forced to pull out my trump card."

"Wh-What?" Kiruru asked, looking about ready to burst into tears.

Itachi stared at him and focused his chakra into his eyes. His field of view was colored red, and the waves of chakra flowing through the bodies of the three before him began to hazily come into view.

"Sh-Sharingan," the boy next to Kiruru muttered.

The threatened tears began to spill down the cheeks of the stouthearted leader.

"I don't know if you've seen eyes like this before, but if you're a ninja, you should know what they are," Itachi said.

The girl moved her pointed jaw up and down several times. The Mist genin found themselves completely ruled by the fear of death.

"Your techniques don't work on me."

"H-Have mercyyyyyyy!" Kiruru pressed his forehead to the ground, and then reached a trembling hand into his bag, digging around for something.

Itachi stared at him for a moment, his expressionless face not revealing the distaste he felt with himself as these three ninja cowered for their lives. While this was better than hurting him, breaking down an opponent in such a manner felt like he was the bully. Itachi's only consolation was that he at least took no pleasure in these proceedings.

Finally, the boy thrust the Earth scroll at him, his wide eyes pleading.

Itachi took the scroll slowly. "As long as you all understand." He handed the scroll to Tsukiko before sending a little chakra into his legs. Body Flicker Technique. Itachi appeared behind Kiruru and brought the edge of his flat hand down on his neck. "I can't have you attacking us from behind. Take a little nap here."

Kiruru collapsed on the ground, and Itachi swiftly moved behind the girl and the boy, delivering similar blows to each of them.

The two Heaven and Earth scrolls were together. Now they just had to head for the tower at the center of the training ground.

Tsukiko's eyes turned green, and she brought her hands together, creating a tent-like structure out of rock for the three to rest under. "There we go. Now hopefully the animals and bugs won't bother them too much."

She turned back to Itachi, taking his hand in hers. "Come on! I want to be the first one finished!" Her gaze turned sly. "You know, like how I was for the First Exam…"

Her laughter at Itachi's unamused expression echoed through the trees for several minutes after the two had already left in a blur of motion.

A.N. Phew! Done! And did these flashbacks line up well or what? In the next chapter, a reunion with an old friend from Tsukiko's past, some insight into Chiyo, and the start of the final rounds! Now, bear with me on those. I'm not going to write out each one like I did for Gaara vs Lee. I'll just go back to my summaries, until Midori and Chiyo fight. And of course, the Tsukiko of the past has to have her fight as well!

Expect the next chapter in two weeks at the latest, and please review!

Thanks for reading!