The next day, Team Ebisu was on its way to The Village Hidden in the Sand. They had to be given a document by Lady Tsunade, so that they could enter the Sand village. The village had become very uptight about security after the Kazekage was kidnapped. From the point that Team Ebisu left to the point that they got to Sunagakure, it took them exactly two days and seventeen hours, leaving them seven hours to rest before the exam began the next day. They were escorted by an ANBU to where they would sleep for the night. "They're so uptight! He wouldn't even let me use the bathroom." Konohamaru grumbled. "They only want to make sure we're safe, Konohamaru." Udon stated. "I don't feel safe with them around." Moegi replied. "Alright that's enough. You three need to get your rest so that you will be ready for the exam tomorrow." Ebisu said. "Ebisu sensei, can you give us a hint to what the Chunin Exam will be like." Konohamaru asked. "I'm afraid I can't." Ebisu said blankly. "Why not?" Moegi asked. "When I took the Chunin Exam, it was in the Leaf Village. I don't think that the exams will be the exact same and I don't want to give you the wrong idea." Ebisu replied. "But...,""Come on, Konohamaru we need to go to sleep." Udon interrupted. They then slept.
Back in the Leaf village, Lady Tsunade was preparing to go see the up and coming ninja from other villages. "Shizune, pack your bags so that we can leave shortly." Tsunade ordered. "Yes ma'am!" Shizune said. "Sakura!" Tsunade called. A beautiful woman with brilliant green eyes and silky pink hair put in a pony tail came into the room. "Yes, Lady Tsunade?" Sakura answered. "Go and retrieve Shikamaru, and if he tries to avoid you, tell him I'll tell his mother to kick him out of the house." Tsunade said. "Yes ma'am!" Sakura said as she left. "Same old Shikamaru." A voice said from behind Tsunade. "Kakashi," She said as she turned around. ",I was just about to send for you. I'm putting you temporarily in charge while I'm gone." She said. "Yes ma'am. There is something else I wanted to talk to you about though." Kakashi replied. "Hmm? What's that?" Tsunade said unattentively. "The other villages are beginning to find hosts for the tailed beasts again. My recent mission to find Naruto or his body was a failure, and we still don't know whether Naruto is still alive or not, but we do know he's not here. My team while on our recent mission did however locate the location where the Two-Tailed beast resides. I suggest that we find a host for it in the Leaf village to maintain power balance with the other countries." Kakashi said. Tsunade paused for a moment and thought about it, but before she could give an answer, Shikamaru and Sakura came in the room. Shikamaru had been made an ANBU member after the war. "You called?" Shikamaru asked as he removed his mask. "Oh, um yes. You're going to be my bodyguard during my trip, along with Sakura. I hate to admit it, but I'm getting old, which makes me a seemingly easy target to rogue ninja." Tsuande said. "Oh ok. We should get going then." Shikamaru said. "We'll finish our conversation when I get back Kakashi." Tsunade said. Tsunade left the village and Kakashi was left in charge. "I don't know if we can wait until you get back." Kakashi said as he walked off.
In the Sand Village, it was almost time for the exams to start. Udon, Moegi, and Konohamaru entered a large building where they waited in a room with many other ninja. Many of the other genin were much bigger than any of Team Ebisu. "Wow, these ninja are pretty big." Moegi said scared. "I'm not scared of them." Konohamaru boasted. Udon remained quiet. Many of the other ninja glared at them. "What are you looking at?" Konohamaru said angrily. "Konohamaru, don't taunt them." Moegi said. Udon remained quiet. Just then, some doors opened and a man in black clothing with many face tattoos stepped out. "Everybody in the room." The man said. All the genin filed into the room. "My name is Kankuro and I am the proctor for the first part of the exam. This part of the exam will be the written part. One simple rule: No Cheating! Or you will be disqualified. You may begin." Kankuro said with a grin.