Three of Konohamaru's clones pulled out kunai and threw them at the Cloud Genin, initiating the fight. Two others remained stationary next to him. But, to Konohamaru's dismay, all three kunai went toward the ninja wearing the sunglasses and hit his metal suit. Even though this was not his intention, Konohamaru's clones went with it and began attacking the Cloud-nin. One clone crouched down as another ran toward it. The running clone jumped on the back of the crouching clone and was launched into the air. The crouching clone then dived in the direction of the enemy. The third attacking clone, in the midst of the attention drawn to the others, managed to get behind the other ninja. The kunoichi of the group noticed this. "Ikazuchi. Handle it." She commanded. "I've got this!" The crazed, blue hair ninja said. "Moegi, get ready!" Konohamaru instructed. "Wind Style: Thunder Clap!" Ikazuchi exclaimed. He clapped his hands together and a burst of air nullified the attacks of Konohamaru's clones, destroying them in the process. The jutsu made caused a loud, thunderous rumble to resonate through the desert air. Before the Cloud-nin had a chance to boast about their defense, Moegi threw a large shuriken at Ikazuchi. Ikazuchi tried to dodge the shuriken, but when he did, it transformed back into Konohamaru and punched the ninja wearing sunglasses in the face. The ninja's glasses broke, revealing even more intimidating dark red eyes. The other Cloud Genin seemed to be stunned that their teammate was hit. "Rasengan!" Konohamaru called while they were distracted. Konohamaru and his last clone charged at the ninja with the broken glasses, sharing a Rasengan as he could not yet handle it on his own. The Rasengan was grinded into the chest of the ninja and sent him flying backwards several feet. "Jishaku!" The kunoichi called. "I'm fine, Ame." Jishaku said as he struggled to get up. "Quick, while my jutsu is still in effect, throw some kunai at that brat." He continued. Both Ikazuchi and Ame instantly threw kunai at Konohamaru, who instinctively jumped out of their way. But, instead of the kunai continuing on their path, they followed Konohamaru and struck him in the chest. Konohamaru fell to his knees and coughed up blood. He then fell to his back and lay their. "Oh, Konohamaru..." Moegi began to cry. Ikazuchi walked toward Moegi chuckling. "You're the only one left." Ikazuchi laughed as he held Moegi in the air by her neck. "I'll kill you quick, so you won't feel pain okay?" He laughed. Suddenly there was an explosion sending both Moegi and Ikazuchi flying. However, Moegi was caught by someone, whom she did not know because of the smoke. Then smoke cleared and the person their was no mistake. "Udon.." Moegi said blankly, her tears stopping.
Ikazuchi lie in the sand unconscious next to Ame. "Don't you dare attack my friends." Udon stated. Moegi stared at Udon because their was something different about him. It wasn't just that Udon's eternal runny nose had finally stopped, Udon seemed like a changed person. "How dare you try to give me orders you brat! I'll kill you!" Ame yelled, enraged. She ran toward Udon and attempted to kick him in the face, but he suddenly was no longer in front of her. "You're slow." Udon said from behind Ame, startling her and Moegi. She then shook it off and tried to attack him again. Even though her aim seemed to be dead on, she missed. Udon then grabbed her wrist and snapped it backwards, producing an unpleasant cracking noise. Ame screamed, cried, and writhed in agony in the desert sand. Moegi was confused as she didn't see anything happen. "Come on, Moegi. Let's get Konohamaru and hurry to get out of here before she realizes it was only an illusion." Udon said as he took the kunai out of Konohamaru's chest. He picked up Konohamaru and carried him on his back and they ran. They ran through the night, especially when the screaming stopped. Early the next morning, they had to stop because Moegi hadn't slept in two days. Udon pulled out a canteen for Moegi and put it beside her while she slept. Konohamaru then woke up with a dazed look in his eyes. "Wait a second, what?" Konohamaru said confused. He looked into the distance as if he saw something causing Udon to think the Cloud ninja had caught up to them. He quickly noticed that there was no one there though. "It can't be." Konohamaru said in disbelief. Udon looked again, but as before he saw nothing causing him to become confused. "Naruto is that you? It is you Naruto! You're not dead!" Konohamaru said as he got up and ran despite his wounds. Udon looked and saw that Konohamaru was referring to and, consequently, running toward a cactus. Udon ran at Konohamaru and tackled him. "Stop, Konohamaru, stop! It's a mirage!" Udon said as Konohamaru struggled. Konohamaru then stopped struggling as he stared blankly at Udon. "Are you a mirage?" Konohamaru asked. "No." Udon replied as he laughed. "Does that mean you're a ghost?" Konohamaru said, suddenly seeming scared. "No." Udon said, this time not laughing. "A zombie?" Konohamaru asked, becoming really scared. "No! I'm not dead, I never was." Udon said becoming angry. Konohamaru then hugged Udon tightly, causing Udon to dispell all anger. Konohamaru then fainted in Udon's arms. "His wounds are still too deep. He needs some water." Udon said to himself. He pulled out a canteen and forced Konohamaru to drink the water. Udon stood watch while his teammates slept that night.
Back in the Leaf Village, Kakashi took the large jar and put it in a secret cellar below the Hokage's Mansion. "Kakashi, we have the perfect host for the beast." An ANBU member said to him. The ANBU whispered the name in Kakashi's ear. Kakashi paused and nodded. "First thing's first. We need to talk to Tsunade about it before anything. And even after that, you need to line up some back-ups for the potential host because her mother might not consent to it. The ANBU nodded and disappeared. Kakashi then left the room as the temperature began to rise.
The next morning, in the Desert Basin, his teammates woke up and they set out to find the temple again. "This is the last day we have before the second portion of the exam is over. We need to find that temple." Udon said. "We've been out here six days. There is absolutely no way we're going to find that temple." Konohamaru replied. "Don't say that, Konohamaru. We'll make it." Moegi said. "Ok. By the way, how did you survive that fall Udon?" Konohamaru quickly asked. "That's a story for another time. Right now we need to focus on getting to the temple." Udon quickly replied. "I definitely didn't miss that about you." Konohamaru muttered. "I didn't miss your mouth either." Udon shot back. "What did you just say?" Konohamaru yelled as he got in Udon's face. "You heard me!" Udon said getting back in Konohamaru's face. They began to wrestle and roll around in the sand. "Um, guys?" Moegi called. They continued to wrestle, ignoring Moegi. "Guys?" Moegi tried again patiently. Again they ignored her. "GUYS!" Moegi yelled at the top of her lungs. They then stopped wrestling to listen to her. "Thank you. I see the temple, guys." Moegi said. "No way!" Udon said in disbelief. "It's probably just another mirage." Konohamaru said. "Wow, you really are stupid. If it were, we wouldn't all see it." Udon replied. "Well then, why are we still standing here? Let's go!" Konohamaru said as he took off for the temple. The team made it to the temple just at noon. Inside they saw two Mist Village genin, two Sand genin, two Grass genin, one Sound genin, and one Rock genin. Team Ebisu seemed to be the only team that still had all three members left. They all waited in the room, no one speaking to each other. They watched the clock and waited for midnight. At 11:57 pm, Jishaku, one of the Cloud genin, walked into the temple. Three minutes later, the lights in the temple came on and a red-headed Sand ninja was in the center of the room. "Congratulations. You've passed the second portion of the exam. I am the Kazekage, Gaara of the Sand. The next and final portion of the Chunin Exam will not start for a month. This is a resting and training period before you have to fight in a Chunin Tournament. These fights will not necessarily be based on who wins, but the skills of the ninja. So, it is possible to lose and still become a Chunin. The opposite also holds true. If you win, you still may not become a Chunin. Understood?" Gaara asked the genin. They all nodded. "Good. Follow this tunnel and it will lead you back to the Sand Village. Good luck to all of you. You'll need it." Gaara said with a sinister grin and disappeared. All the genin then went back to start their training.