Hey Everyone, I haven't had a computer to type a chapter on all summer, but here is an update :D.

Everything was ok now. Adara was back, she was safe, she was going to pass this exam and show everybody who thought she wasn't as good as Shikimaru. Keiji smiled as he talked to his best friend, who seemed a little agitated about something. "Excuse me, but I'm going to go by my team mates now." A cool and icy voice came from behind him. It was Isis, Keiji was surprised that she was still here, he had forgotten about her when after he introduced Adara. She didn't seem like the light hearted girl he was talking to earlier, but the girl who broke Zaki's skateboard because it annoyed her.

"Bye?" He replied. Adara didn't register the girl walking away. Adara was trying not to be gloaty that Keiji didn't give that sand skank the time of day. She seemed not so cheery and nice and flirty once she realized that Adara was not just stopping over to say hi. Keiji didn't even register any of her horrible flirting attempts. "So what's with Zaki being all Anti-social?"

"Well she just doesn't like Isis that much," Keiji tried to explain.

Adara rolled her eyes, "I wonder why?"

Keiji looked a little befuddled, "Well for some reason after another little accident with the skate board making everybody fall, Isis came over and broke it right in front of Zaki's face. I don't know why, she seemed really nice and friendly when I was talking to her before."

Adara didn't know how to reply to that comment, why would he even be talking to Isis if she broke Zaki's skate board? Realizing her mouth was gapping a little bit in confusion she shut it. "Did you guys see Parker's team any wear?" It was safest to change topic.

"No I haven't I was hoping you guys would have seen them being in the forest for longer. We were the first ones to get here you know," Keiji smiled, He was so cute when he smiled it was so sweet and, oh back on topic! Earth to Adara Earth to Adara, she screamed to herself.

"Really you were the first to get here, that's great Keiji!" She told him. Keiji wondered if she realized how cute she looked when she smiled. Why was she asking after Parker? Did she like Parker? He was really good looking and first in their class all the time. NO she was just asking after Kristi, Kristi and her are friends right? "Yeah, we didn't see Parker anywhere." Something growled inside him at the mention of Parkers name. "I hope they are all safe." Another bigger growl had to be suppressed from the pit of his stomach.

"I'm sure they are safe and sound." Keiji added to the conversation, he had no reason to act that way towards Parker, its not like he liked Adara or anything. She was just his best friend of course he was going to be protected.

----- ---v—

Gaara finished his paper work for the evening, in the morning he would be heading towards Konoha, the second exams would be over tomorrow, and the extra month before hand gave him time to have more meetings about Border tariffs and the such like with Tsunada. Not that he was looking forward to those, but it would be a good excuse to spend some time with Zakuro, and Naruto. He wondered to himself if they knew each other? Would they get along? Probably Naruto got along with everybody. Sighing to himself in annoyance and anticipation he got back to work.

--- - --

Max was still at the Zoo with only Allie, he had been their sense the start of the exams and was proud that he only had 3 drinks all to appease the ever present woman in his head. He never knew Sara that much when she was alive, he had gotten to know her too well after her death. Allie was wiping the counter in a nervous silence. Well for her silence for Max nagging time.

"Why are you just sitting here, you should get my daughter something to congratulate her. Like flowers I always loved flowers, roses, roses are romantic. Yellow roses, no Red ones, no those really cool white ones. But I guess white ones would be a little weird considering white means death! But yes go over to the flower shop and by some roses." A little breath in between her speech. "on second thought don't get her flowers get her chocolates. Flowers never last, but chocolate doesn't last either, but you can eat chocolate." Sara continued to talk but Allie spoke up so he tried to pay attention to the live one, despite the ever present buzzing in his ear.

"You think she made it to the end of the two exams?" Allie asked, wringing the rag in her hand absentmindedly, the dirty liquid plopped back on the fake wood counter a little pitter patter erupting from the drops. The woman closed her eyes and raised her head to the ceiling to give a monumental sigh. The bags under her eyes seemed more promenade than ever in that light. She looked like something had drained her of all her fight. Allie had been looking like that ever since the funeral. Her mind seemed to be elsewhere. She seemed less alert more confused, As Max looked at the older woman he could see her suppressing a shudder.

"You ok their Allie?"

Allie gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "oh no I'm fine, I just seems to keep dawning on me how hard being a shinobi is."

"Oh she never made that big of a fuss when Gai went to the Chunnin exams, it never crossed her mind that he might fail." Sara chirped in. "But maybe that's cause she doesn't believe in my daughter as much!"

"Shut up," Max murmured to Sara under his breath. She seemed to like accusing Allie of never being their when it was her that was never there. "You didn't go through this with Gai?"

Allie's head snapped at Max, her eyes narrowed to little slits as she examined him, then her face softened and she dipped her rag in the ruddy water, giving another heaving sigh. "No, back then I just hid it better. You can do that when you're younger, hide feelings, it gets to tiresome after a while." Allie shook her head her brunette hair clingy to her damp face. She whispered something to herself that Max could barely make out. "He was never so young."

---- --

Allie stood outside the fence of some government building waiting. The exam was supposed to take four days. It was the last day, Allie waited with baited breath. She wondered if he would come out as beat as some of his missions. "Here they come." Zack said leaning into the fence next to Allie. Sara came and leaned her head against his shoulder.

"I don't see him." Sara said. "Wait a second, there is that horrible haircut we gave him." Sara said pointing to a bowl cut head.

"Shut up he looks good." Allie defended. She pushed on the fence making it wobble, "GAI! OVER HERE!" Zack and Sara soon joined her yells to get his attention. The bowed bowl haircut looked up and scanned the horizon, seeing them Gai Smiled and waved. His attention was quickly averted by a Konoichi around his age who started talking to him. She was pretty had blue eyes and red hair, she smiled at Gai and Gai smiled back. Jealousy ran down Allie's spine but she quickly shook it away. This was Gai that they were talking about not some philandering teen. After talking to the pretty girl for a while Gai nodded goodbye and headed towards his friends outside of the gate. When he got nearer Allie noticed the swollen lip and the bruised chin accented with the nicely blackened eye.

Gai was out on their side of the gate what seemed like forever. Allie rushed over to him and flung herself into his open arms. At the time they seem so strong firm like they would never break. They melted together completely for a while basking in the other person's scent. Allie went on her tip toes and rested her head on Gai's shoulder. He kissed her forehead.

"Hey Might!" A guy shouted from the other side of the fence, he had jet blue hair and coal black eyes, he wore a blue shirt that had a fan on it. "I'll pay 3 dollar's for your mom." Gai's eyes went cold and Allie could feel his muscle's clench from under her.

Gai started to say something "You…"

"I know that is rather a high price," The Uchiha said snidely, rubbing his chin and inspecting Allie and Sara. "Tell yah what, throw in those two little dishes yah got with yah and we will call it even. A dollar for each seems totally fair don't it." Allie clung to Gai's clenched arm, his whole body was ready to spring.

Allie looked over towards Zak, Sara was literally pulling him away from the Uchiha, The boy behind the fenced laughed. "Wanna go Scum?"

"Let's just go guys." Sara Pleaded, Zack stood his ground and looked at Gai. If Gai was in for a fight so was Zack. Every muscle in Gai's arm was tensed and it dawned on Allie just how built he was.

"Come on Gai, we don't need to mess around with that trash." She whispered into his ear. Gai closed his eyes and took one wide breath. Finally turning around.

"Don't worry Might, I'll have that piece on your arm sooner or later." The Uchiha yelled after him. Gai wrapped his arm around Allie's waste.

Later in that day, the four of them were hanging out in Allie's apartment above the zoo, her vinyl record was on and they listened to it and passed the sake around. After 3 rounds Sara and Zak excused themselves to go take care of some business. When the other two left the apartment Allie smiled and straddled Gai's hips. "I think we should take care of business too." She whispered seductively planting soft kisses around his jaw line. Gai stole a long passionate kiss from her lips and before she knew it her jacket was off. She soon felt his huge hands skimming the top of her stomach and side, just barely touching above her rib cage.

Letting out a breath of contentment allie ran her hands through Gai's hair. Taking in all of his musky scent. Her top two buttons on her shirt were quickly undone so Gai could start planting kisses on her collar bone. "Never" He muttered as he nipped her neck leaving a little love bite. She shuttered under his tender touch. "Never." He repeated to himself as he nipped at her ear lobe. Allie took his head and forced him to look up, that didn't stop his wondering hands though, one was on her lower back steadying her and the other one was massaging her thigh through her pant.

"Never what?" She asked her breath a little shaky as she felt her bra being undone. Gai returned to kissing and nipping her neck.

"Never going to let that son of a bitch lay a finger on you." He explained nuzzling her neck.

Allie backed off his lap a little so he would look her in the eyes. "Is that what this is about, that nothing back there?" Gai looked away; Allie took his chin and let their faces get close feeling pleasure in the fact that his breathing was heavier then hers. "Look, I'm yours Gai, only yours I've always been yours, nothing is ever, and may I repeat ever, going to change that." Allie let herself take time in taking off his shirt and tracing his abbs before discarding her own shirt, and letting their bodies melt together again. "I love you gai." She breathed as his hands reached the zipper of her own jeans. In response he devoured her lips in his.

--- ---

"Hey guys thanks for meeting me on such short notice," Yamato said to Ten Ten and Hinata. Both of them nodded and took their ramen's from the server.

"You are welcome Yamato-san," Hinata replied with a head bow.

"Hey a free meal was included, why wouldn't I come?" Ten Ten replied digging her chopsticks into the bowl.

"Well like I was saying on the way here, My gennin team just passed the first two exams. And the month of training is coming up, and I can't teach all of them one on one combat when I have to teach all of them so if you guys would be temporary sensei's to two of my students that would be great."

Ten Ten chewed her ramen thinking about it and Hinata's eyes looked away into the sky at the offer. "What they like?" Finally came out of Ten Ten's mouth.

"Um well Kaida, she's 8 and very …feisty? She's got a lot of gumshin and drive in her, A little red headed firecracker." Yamato said his mind turned to his tallest student, "Keiji, can be a little slow on the uptake. But he works harder than most and will give his hardest if he thinks hes right. His ugh Kekkei genkei can be a little hard to control but I think it will be fine with the byakugan," Yamato explained.

"Hmmm, sounds like fun, won't have a decent sparring partner any way cause Neji will be busy training Hinabi. I'm in Yamato, thanks for the lunch." Ten Ten said getting up and strolling away a kunai twirling in her hand out of habit.

"Are you sure you want me…there is no other choice better for the boy?" Hinata asked.

"There are others but I think you will help him the most." Yamato said trying to choose his words carefully. Hinata bit her lip thinking.

d

"well…I guess if you have no one else too, yeah I'll do it."

"Arigato."

---- ---- -- - -

The day went by like a sloth and the night went too fast. The next day there was very little milling about with the other teams. Today was the last day before they told them who they were going to be fighting during the first round of the third Chunnin exams. Kaida scanned around the room trying to size up all the people who she might be fighting. The Sand kids she had no idea about, what they did, how they did it.. Kaida would have to get a little more information. But they didn't really scare her all that much. She doubted any gennin would have a technique that could get through her Kekkei Genkai.

Adara would be no problem if she had to fight her. Kaida had sparred with the bruenette before, she would just have to stay out of shadows and get close to her quick. Lee from what Adara had told her of was average, an average student that didn't really make any waves. Kaida could beat average.

Hinabi scarred her though. It took a while for her Kekkei Genkai to come to full power And if any of her main chakra points were closed she wouldn't be able to get to the next form. If some of her arm points were closed she could get around that there would just be some spot in her armor that would be more susceptible to getting hurt. Hinabi was a hyuuga she specialized in chakra attacks, Kaida would have to get her quick cause if that fight took longer than ten minutes she would probably lose.

The proctors started coming into the room, first that blond girl whose name was Temari and then the first proctor, last was a guy she didn't recognize, his hair looked like a black pinnapple on top of his head and he was wearing the regular Chunnin vest, he looked positively bored. "Everybody line up in one line from wall to wall in front of me, the Hokage will be coming soon. " The blond ordered, "We have 5 minuets till the end of the exam."

Where were Kristi and Parker and the others? Adara wondered feircly as they lined up they weren't going to make it. The line was silent Adara could hear every breath she took.

"3 more minutes." Temari announced.

"2 more minutes"

"1 more minuet." Suddenly a loud clang came from the door's, there was Parker standing their with Micah and Kristi on either side of him. The whole of the hall stared at them as they all strutted in. Adara thought that they prolly dallied so they could make a dramatic entrance. The stood in line right by the three kids from the sand. Isis gave them a scorching look.

Kaida was right in between Keiji and Zaki, Zaki being on one of the end of the line and Keiji standing right next to Adara.

Adara stood by Keiji and Lee with baited breath, who was it going to be? Who would she have to face Keiji, would she be able to even get up the strength to hit him, let alone beat him in the exam? Adara looked towards Shikimaru, he was calmly examining her through the corner of his eye. Looking as lazy as ever. The Hokage walked in, looking not to please to be there.

"Ok everybody listen up, Morino will be coming over with a box full of pieces of paper that have numbers on them, take a piece and report it back to him." Tsunada said her face in a scowl. Morino started at the far side near the Parker's squad.

Adara # 1…

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.

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Keiji #4….

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Kaida # 6…

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Zaki #12…

After a couple minutes of Morino scribbling something out on a piece of paper h nodded towards the Hokage. "Ok everybody so Morino will read off your first match."

"1st Match Nara Adara vs. Sacmas Thoth,"

"That's the one in the baggy cloths." Keiji whispered in her ear.

"Yamagouchi Kristi Vs Keitaru Keiji." Keiji looked over towards Kristi, she had just smirked.

"Geiger Micah Vs. Mitsu Kaida." Kaida just widened her eyes in surprise, she should have been trying to keep up her little girl rutine but had forgotten, hopefully the sucker still falls for it.

"Hyuuaga Hinabi vs. Vang Lee." Adara could feel Lee stiffen up next to her, and almost swear to see some emotion cross the hyuuga's face before quickly replacing it with a block of stone.

"Parker Pop Vs. Bes Isis"

"And last, for that day will be Nefertiti Aepep Vs. Naruko Zakuro." Keiji looked over towards Zaki she smirked finding out who she was going to fight. It was the sand kid with the really tight pants on, the one who had given her all the crap before. She was going to kick his ass.

--- --- -- --

Yamato walked towards the meeting place. He looked around at the day sky so cheerful and blue. He started whistling down the path, putting his hands in his pockets and admiring the clouds.

"SHIT!" a voice said from behind him, looking around he saw that a woman 's grocerie bag had just busted open.

"Here let me help you." Yamato said as he bent down to pick up a bunch of carrots. "I know that grocery bags can be a bit…" In mid sentence he stopped as he caught the eye of the woman he was helping, her eyes was a deep blue and her hair was a flame red that fell out of her high ponytail in luscious curls around her face. She was wearing a long blue peasant skirt and a white billowy blouse. She smiled at him, showing a cute gap between her two front teeth. "Hi, I'm Yamato," He told her holding out his hand out for a shake just to realize it had a bunch of carrots in his hand. She chuckled at him taking the bunch of carrots.

"Thank you Yamato, My names Moses." She tried to extend one of her hands but they were too full with groceries.

"I can take half of that for you." Yamato said grabbing things out of her arms.

"Oh no I mean I don't want to make you late for where ever you going."

"No trouble I wasn't in a hurry." They walked for a block a while in silence.

"So, I haven't seen you around Konoha before, are you new?" He asked trying not to seem like he was prying.

"Well I really actually travel a whole lot, I've been here before though, I used to just come in here twice a week for like 4 whole months so I know Konoha pretty well." Moses explained, Yamato noticed a small dimple forming around her cheeks when she smiled.

"do you travel, I mean what I uh Why do you travel?" Nice dork he screamed at himself. Do you travel? She just told you she did!

"Well, I'm kind of a troubadour; you know traveling around playing my fiddle."

Stop stairing at her and reply dumbass he told himself. "Oh that's really cool, is that all you do, I mean play the fiddle."

"Mostly I play the fiddle I can play the pipe and other instruments of such, I sing too depending on my mood. I kind of do what ever you know go where the wind takes me. What do you do, I mean besides being a shinobi."

"Well I'm…wait how could you tell I was a,"

"Head band, kunai, it would be kind of weird if you weren't a shinobi and had those things."

"Yeah that would be really weird." You are such an idiot Yamato. "But yeah basically I'm just a a shinobi, I'm actually on the way to meet my team. Are you here for a while in Konoha or are you just you know visiting for a couple days."

"Actually I'm going to have to be here for a month and a half cause, I'm organizing my family reunion and well it's a big job." Moses stopped and looked at yamato Who stopped and looked at her…He stared at her for a while. "This Is my stop, I'm getting supplies to a friend." Yamato stopped and stared at her for a while mouth open thinking of something to say.

"Oh well here are you food, I mean, see yah around sometimes…maybe…I mean if you need anything done I mean shown you around Konoha, I'll be free so you know…"

"Yeah, it was nice meeting you, maybe I'll see yah around, bye." She turned around and opened a door Yamato didn't know what even there until then; she closed it gently behind her. Yamato stood there for another couple of seconds. God he was a dork!

Hey hope you enjoyed this over due chapter, here is a little hint the more you review the faster I will write the next one.