Summary: The Jounin Exams have finally arrived; signaling the start of what could be the biggest trial in their lives. Will they have what it takes to continue on their idle, pseudo-romantic relationship and make it out alive? Sasuke/Sakura.

Pairings: Sasuke/Sakura

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, at all. All the characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi-sensei. The only thing in this story that is mine will be the OCs and the plot itself.

Appraisal of the Diamond
Chapter Two – The Opening Ceremony

"It's been seven long years since the Jounin Exams have been held. Finally, we have a reason to show off the greatest Chuunin in our respective villages, Tsunade-dono" spoke one of the men inside the room, his green and white hat resting in front of him.

"Sadao-dono, our villages never had enough Chuunin ready to hold one in those seven years," replied Tsunade patiently, leaning back into her chair. "And I hope the accommodations that have been prepared for you meet your standards."

"The Cloud is much appreciative of your concern for our… wellbeing," said Sadao, a thankful tone in his voice. The Cloud and the Leaf had never been in good terms to begin with, the wound growing deeper when one of their Jounin had been out to kidnap the young Hyuuga heiress. Now was one of the few chances Tsunade had to try and lessen any chance of war between the two powerful villages.

"And fair Tsunade-dono, the accommodations and hospitality you have given to those of the Mist are nothing short of spectacular, for this we thank you," said a man clad in orange and white. He was relatively new, appointed to the position only one year back since the passing of the Yondaime Mizukage.

"It pleases me to know you are pleased, Ryuuji-dono," replied Tsunade, a cryptic smile plastering itself on her face. Politics was such an incredibly difficult game to play, needing much time and practice in order to excel in it. Saying any word, no matter how ambiguous, forced the speaker to walk closer to the line and flirt with danger even more.

"Those of the Stone are gladdened by the rather mountainous scenery close by to our inn. It reminds us of our home," spoke the Tsuchikage, a rare and sincere smile appearing on his face. Tsunade had tried her best to assign the inns of the five villages to things that would remind them of home, easing their growing tension.

"It's the least I can do for such strong shinobi you have reared in your village, Nozomi-dono. Though I would have preferred that inn for my own, I saw that your shinobi would have been far more delighted than mine while staying there," explained Tsunade, a polite look masking the amused gleam in her eyes. "You should have the chance to appreciate the scenery there while you stay here as my shinobi and I live in this village."

"Tsunade-sama is much too kind for her own good," spoke the Kazekage, his black-ringed green eyes adding more menace to his aura than it already had. The other three Kage shivered in fear and apprehension, their eyes focused on the only other known Jinchuuriki, Gaara of the Desert.

"And you're much too worrisome, Gaara-kun," said Tsunade with a slight laugh. Gaara had allowed her that, being the youngest of the five Kage as well as Tsunade being an important ally to the Sand as well. Had it not been for her, he could have died at the hands of the Akatsuki two years ago.

The room remained silent after Tsunade had spoken, the familiarity at which she spoke with Gaara stunning them. His trust was the hardest to attain, guarding himself and his village with the highest priority but Tsunade had it in the palm of her hand and she had no intentions of abusing that trust. The bond between their villages was sincere and strong unlike the bonds of the Cloud, the Mist, and the Stone with any other village.

"The opening ceremony tomorrow will be early. You should all rest now, the night growing deeper and deeper after all," suggested Tsunade, rising as she silently offered to personally lead them to their quarters. "We will meet here before ascending up to the roof deck where it will take place."

"Tsunade-dono, there is no need for you to bring us to our quarters. Our honor guards will assure our safety," spoke Ryuuji, his words eloquent, as he rose. Taking his hat from the desk, he placed it on his head, completing the look of the second to the youngest Kage in that room.

The Raikage and the Tsuchikage were somewhat relieved to hear Ryuuji say that, preferring to walk back to their chambers in the presence of their subordinates alone. The bond and the familiarity that the Godaime Hokage and the Godaime Kazekage displayed to them was going to be something tough to break, a warning to all those who wished to war with either village.

They would break their alliances and turn their backs on their former friends if that was the way to assure them of a higher position in the future. However, with the strings of fate that had attached themselves between the Sand and the Leaf, born between the latter's war with the Sound five years ago, proved that neither of the two villages would do such a thing to a highly revered ally.

"If you insist, then I will leave you to your own devices," replied Tsunade, submitting to their wishes. It was courtesy for her to offer to bring them there, showing utmost respect if she did so. However, she put herself in such a dangerous position if she led one Kage ahead of the other, all inns equally distant from the Tower after all. All her apprehensions were erased when they expressed that they wanted to go home with their honor guard.

"I bid you good night then, fellow Kage. I will see you here in the morning," said Ryuuji, a tone of finality in his words. Though he was young and the most inexperienced of the five, he was learning the game of politics among the hidden villages very well.

Silently, the Kages left the room, approached by their honor guard and were led to their quarters, first the Mizukage, then the Raikage, and finally the Tsuchikage. Only Gaara and Tsunade were left in the room, an odd silence enveloping the two.

"That was a tricky game they were playing, any slight mistake leading to their downfall in this discussion, right, Tsunade-sama?" asked Gaara, facing the older woman, his arms crossed. He preferred to keep silent, waiting for the right time when enough information was in his hands to use as a weapon to prevent bloodshed and to uplift the status of the Sand even more in the eyes of the feudal lords.

"Yes, a game very well played if I must say so myself. However, much leads me to say that I have confidence that two new Jounin will rise from the ranks of the Konoha Chuunin this year, at least one from your village," replied Tsunade, looking out at the open window into the empty streets below.

"Two," corrected Gaara, a rare smile on his lips. Tsunade looked at him, eager to know the identity of the two Chuunin who caught the eye of their Kazekage. "Takamura Aoi and Fuyuzuki Niza. They have far surpassed many of the Chuunin of the Sand. From yours?"

"Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura," replied Tsunade confidently, an amused smile on her lips. The names took a while to register in the mind of the Kazekage but when they did, a slight chuckle escaped his lips. "It would do you well to hope they become Jounin, for they will make strong comrades for you."

"As will you to hope that Aoi and Niza become Jounin. They are the best I have seen since I became Kazekage," said Gaara, looking out as well into the streets. It was only five years ago when he stepped foot into Konoha in order to start its destruction. Now, he was the Kazekage and was working with Konoha to strengthen both his village and his ally.

The Next Morning: In front of the Hokage Tower

The Chuunin participating in the Jounin Exams crowded in front of the tower, grouped together with their fellow villagers and forming a column. News had been passed that their village Kage had arrived the night before, holding a meeting with the Hokage herself before retiring to their chambers. In the next few moments, the five Kage would signal the start of the Jounin Exams, the first exam taking place the next day.

Within the five columns, the Chuunin were whispering amongst them, excited to see their own Kage within the Hidden Village of the Leaf. It would greatly boost their morale, seeing their beloved leader watching their progress from a distance. They had each hoped to bring pride to their village and earn some glory for themselves. This was hitting two birds with a stone.

The whispering only grew louder when five thin shadows loomed over them, one on each column. The shinobi looked up, some of them having wide, awestruck eyes, others having uncaring and expressionless ones. They were there.

On top of the Hokage Tower were the five Kage, assembled for this highly auspicious event. While Tsunade and Gaara wore only the hats given to the Kage of their respective village, the other three were more formal, wearing the full robes as well.

It was rare to see the five of them gathered and when they were, it usually meant there was something big happening. Tsunade the Hokage, Gaara the Kazekage, Ryuuji the Mizukage, Sadao the Raikage, and Nozomi the Tsuchikage were there to signal the start the Jounin Exams.

"As the Godaime Hokage, I welcome you all to Konohagakure no Sato. May you find the accommodations and facilities in this village to your standard, as this will be your home throughout the duration of the Jounin Exams," spoke Tsunade, her voice loud and clear, as she looked down, her tawny eyes sharp with excitement.

"Shinobi of the Sand, many of you have been here often enough on missions either requested by Konoha or missions that have required the skills of both Leaf and Sand shinobi alike. Today, you are here for one reason and one reason alone, that is to bring pride to the Sand by becoming a Jounin," spoke Gaara, his voice carrying within it a dangerous but proud tone. Those under him looked up to the Godaime Kazekage, bearing all hardships for the sake of his village.

"Shinobi of the Mist, this is a land not ours, totally separate from our island country but a part of our world nonetheless. With great pride and honor, carry yourselves well while in the midst of these continental ninja, never letting them forget that though you are island shinobi, you are as strong, no, even stronger than they are," spoke Ryuuji, the words flowing easily off his tongue like a hot knife through butter.

"Shinobi of the Cloud, there has always been very little information about us in the countries which are not our own. Let us seize this chance and showcase our greatest skills, showing no mercy and taking the glory of having Jounin rise from our ranks and no other. Let us forge in their minds that though we may be the most hidden of the five main villages, we are the strongest," spoke Sadao, his eyes gleaming with hidden power.

"Shinobi of the Stone, though we are surrounded by lesser villages, it doesn't mean we have sunk into their level. In this Jounin Exams, let us show them that our skills and people mark us as one of the five main villages, nothing less but certainly with the potential to be called the best of the villages to have ever existed," spoke Nozomi, his voice strong and sharp.

"Shinobi of the Leaf, we have undergone many trials since the creation of our village: the death of the Yondaime in order to save us all and the death of the Sandaime at the hands of the traitor Orochimaru among others. Yet, we should never allow ourselves to be dragged down by these events, letting them only forge us into stronger people and the strongest shinobi this world has ever seen," spoke Tsunade, her voice filled with as much fervor as the other Kage had, her words finishing the opening ceremony.

The crowd below erupted in joy and excitement, another worrisome time in Konoha starting. The opening ceremony had always involved the five Kage saying something inspiring to their Chuunin, often making their village the center of the five strong military forces in the world.

After the Ceremony: Down at the Streets

The five columns had already begun to disperse, leaving few Chuunin left. Those who were mostly wanted to wander around in that area, looking for what they could do. To the green eyed shinobi's delight, Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura were still there, about to leave perhaps but were there nonetheless.

"Gaara-san!" said Sakura, surprised, as the insomniac shinobi approached the two. Still he could not sleep because of the Ichibi, Shukaku, which was sealed inside of him. "I'm surprised that Tsunade-sama hasn't monopolized your time here in Konoha yet."

"She'll let me have my fun and talk with you," replied Gaara, crossing his arms as everyone was accustomed to seeing him. When he said you, the plural meaning was the one he was emphasizing but Sasuke didn't seem to think that.

"You're Kazekage. Aren't you supposed to be doing something about your shinobi instead of talking with us?" asked Sasuke, acid coating his voice like caramel would an apple. The dull green eyes of the Kazekage landed on the Uchiha, an amused look on his face.

It had been so long since he had last seen the Uchiha; both of them still ignorant Genin. Even now they were ignorant of certain experiences but the past five years had changed them both. They still wore that same haunted look from running away from the past but they weren't the same anymore. Gaara had been spending his time and energy as Kazekage and taking care of the Sand, Sasuke was still yearning for more power. For what, Gaara could never know.

"I'm only seventeen. I'm easily younger than Ryuuji-san by a good ten years," spoke Gaara, a small trail of sand escaping his gourd and going to his clenched right hand. "Seventeen year olds have a different definition of fun. Besides that, I doubt the Cloud, the Stone, and the Mist will stay quiet for long. The Sand and the Leaf are powerful and closely bonded allies, after all."

"Aren't the Cloud and the Mist allies as well?" piped in Sakura, a curious note in her voice. "So they should be an equally formidable group of shinobi to go against." Gaara's lips curved up slightly, as if he was about to reveal a secret to the pair.

"That may be so but they remain allies because they both benefit greatly from the partnership. If you think about it, there are very little benefits either of our villages get from our own alliance but we keep it because the bond between the Sand and the Leaf was cemented five years ago, after the attack of the Sound," explained Gaara, looking up into the sky. "And wouldn't our two villages want to keep the relative peace we've had for the past few years? It's been like this since our alliance."

"True, that's very true," replied Sakura softly, her own green eyes watching the Kazekage in somewhat rapt amazement. This red haired shinobi before her was only seventeen, like she was and like Sasuke would be, but since becoming Kazekage, he had been so transformed into an adult. He had a mature mind trapped in a teenager's body.

"What do you want, Gaara? I highly doubt you walked up to us for a simple chat," asked Sasuke abruptly, a dark and dangerous tone in his voice craftily hidden by the young prodigy. The Kazekage looked at the dark eyed boy in front of him.

"Did you suspect that all along? How perceptive of you," spoke Gaara, a rather wicked smile hidden beneath his mask. Sasuke shrugged, a frown decorating his face, as he watched Gaara warily. "Do you remember five years ago during the Chuunin Exams?"

"How could I not? You were the same bastard who was about to destroy Konoha because of Shukaku sealed within you," replied Sasuke tartly, unafraid of insulting the Kazekage. To him, he was just the same Gaara of five years ago in terms of power. He could and would defeat him, had he that second chance.

"Then let's battle," suggested Gaara, uncrossing his arms and revealing his right palm. On top was a swirling mass of sand, the grains big but still too small and fast for the naked eye to concentrate. "I've always wanted to finish that fight that we started five years ago. It's a shame to let this opportunity slip us by."

"Gaara-san, the Jounin Exams will start tomorrow!" said Sakura in shock. Though Sasuke had that chance to beat the Godaime Kazekage, he would not leave that battle unscathed. He would be suffering injuries that even the best Medical Specialists in the village would have a hard time healing.

"It doesn't matter. I won't let him wound me," hissed Sasuke, his onyx eyes flickering from black to red to black again. "My blood is screaming to start a battle with him. Why not right now when Gaara-sama is offering a chance?" Sarcasm was something that never escaped the Uchiha.

"Don't rush yourself, Uchiha. I am not a simple Chuunin, or Jounin-to-be, like yourself. This battle can start things that I would not wish to happen, a misunderstanding between our two villages being the greatest consequence of them all," spoke Gaara, his dull green eyes glimmering slightly, reviving themselves for even just a moment.

"Then when? Do you expect me to stand here knowing I could have very well started to kick your ass but was stopped merely because you hold the title of Kazekage?" asked Sasuke hotly, his eyes staying red longer than the usual intervals.

"After the exams, we can fight after the exams. I will talk to Tsunade-sama about it and inform my honor guards that this is a friendly battle. You're not attempting to assassinate me nor am I attempting to assassinate the last sane Uchiha in these lands," replied Gaara, turning around and releasing the chakra that held the sand on his hand together.

"You have better not disappoint, Gaara. Otherwise, I will personally hunt you down for this chance of ending what started five years ago," hissed Sasuke, his Sharingan activated. Sakura shuddered when she saw the blood Sasuke's eyes spelt.

"Good day and good luck to you both, Sakura-san, Uchiha," said Gaara without turning back, effectively ending their conversation. "I will be watching you from the stands, waiting for the time when you both will become Jounin. It will be a pity for either of you to die this early in your lives."

As Gaara walked away, Sasuke's fist clenched tighter, his nails digging into his skin so hard that they punctured, blood seeping out from the crescent-shaped wounds. It seemed that though Sasuke and Gaara were relatively equal in terms of skill as a shinobi, Gaara was much better at pacing himself and evading what could and would have been a bloody battle.

"Gaara…" growled Sasuke, his blood red eyes watching as the figure of the Kazekage became smaller and smaller. "You will regret dangling a chance at battle in front of me today while you may have beaten me. When I become a Jounin, though you are Kazekage, I will have far surpassed you."

"…Sasuke-kun…" whispered Sakura, her lower lip quivering. Sasuke's killing intent was so strong that she wanted to fall down and remain frozen. He was not even a Jounin yet this was just how strong his will to fight, to live, and to possibly even kill was.

A monster lurked deep down in the heart of Sasuke, she had always known that. What she didn't know was the extent of its terror and power. She now had an idea of the devil that was hidden in the shadows of the being of Uchiha Sasuke.

Tsuzuku…

And so comes out the second chapter of Appraisal of the Diamond!

Just to make sure you guys remember, and if there are any new readers to this trilogy, you should read Past Peripheral Vision before Appraisal of the Diamond, seeing as that is the first installment of the Vision Trilogy.

I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, seeing as the themes in it are incredibly mixed. There's politics, there's drama, there's tension, and there's romance. This wouldn't be a SasukexSakura fic if it didn't have romance, right?

And in your review, if you don't mind, tell me if you would prefer that the fight between Sasuke and Gaara be a chapter on its own or an epilogue. If you choose the former, then, most likely, I will write a different epilogue. If you choose the latter, this fic will end when those certain Chuunin will be promoted to the rank of Jounin and the fight will be the epilogue, the beginning of Sasuke's life as a Jounin.

Thanks a lot everyone for the 32 reviews that chapter one had garnered and I hope your support will remain as strong!

Though this is a minor edit, thank you for those who pointed out that Gaara is the Godaime Kazekage instead of the Yondaime Kazekage as I had mentioned. I just always thought his father was the Sandaime Kazekage.

This chapter is dedicated to my, in her words, neglected beta reader, Michelle! You know who you are and here's to your sixteenth birthday on May 26! May you be gifted with abundant blessings for another year of living!

Next Chapter: Chapter Three – Stage One

Chapter Preview: Ibiki let a sadistic smile appear on his face as the haunting silence in the room grew even more haunting. Any time he would be asked to proctor the Chuunin and the rare Jounin Exams, he jumped at the chance. The thrill was simply exhilarating.

While he could walk around and breathe down their necks as he loomed over them, the Chuunin were jittery and jumpy. They couldn't screw up this chance, adding to their already long list of reasons to be nervous. What disappointed the Konoha Jounin, however, was that there were a few who refused to be affected by the tension in the air. This year, there were three, perhaps four, Chuunin who were unaffected.