"Akamaru, what's wrong?" asked Kiba as you all watched the six shinobi stare each other down. He whimpered, then barked quietly.

"He says that big guy's bad news..."

You watched as a battle quickly ensued.

"Is it just me, or does that boy look familiar?" you asked, pointing to the mahogany haired kid.

"No, I can't say I've seen him before...ugh, that kid's about to be skewered by senbon!" said Kiba.

"I can't watch..." you squeaked as you closed your eyes and turned away. There was a loud boom, then you felt somebody tap you on the shoulder.

"Huh? Shino?"

He shushed you and pointed. "Look." The boy was encased in sand.

"Wow...sand? That's different..." said Kiba. Sand wrapped around the big guy, and the boy unfolded one of the fallen senbon umbrellas.

"What's he...?" you began, but you were cut off.

"Sand Coffin! Sand Burial!"

Through the downpour of blood and sand, you saw something in that boy's eyes. Regret, angst, fear...you couldn't quite put your finger on it, for it had merely flickered, then vanished.

i'What is this? What's this...connection...I suddenly feel?' /i

The boy's eyes were lifeless, his face a composed mask as he snuffed the lives of the other two shinobi.

"Let's get outta here, quick! Before he sees us!" whispered Kiba frantically. Suddenly, the boy turned towards you and your team, ready to attack. After a frantic argument with his frightened teammates, who happened to be his brother and sister, they left.

"That was way too close." said Kiba after the silent trek to the tower. Akamaru was still shaking. You sat on a bench.

"It's still only the first day. We have a long wait ahead of us." you told them. The sound of echoing footsteps was rapidly approaching.

"How long do we have to wait here?" complained the girl you had seen in the clearing. The team from Sunagakure waked by, staring your team down. The sand boy's jade eyes narrowed upon you as he stopped.

"Gaara? What is it? What's wrong?" asked the girl. Without realizing it, you'd taken a step towards him.

"Excuse me, but have I met you before? Maybe...a really long time ago?" you asked him.

"No...never..." he replied quietly. Gaara turned and walked away, his siblings following close behind, their startled gazes switching between you and their brother.

"Ai?"

Hinata slipped her hand into yours, trembling.

"It's...it's nothing, Hinata." you reassured her.

Returning to your bench, you waited out the rest of the exam. When the other teams finally arrived, you proceeded into the main hall, where Lord Hokage and your sensei awaited.

"We are going to have a preliminary match, since there are still too many ninja left." explained Anko and Lord Hokage.

"It will be a randomly drawn, one on one match, and it will take place right now."

Several people protested.

"If you wish to leave, do so now."

That white haired guy with the glasses, named Kabuto, left. The rest of you turned to climb the stairs towards the balconies, but you were stopped by a hand on your shoulder. It was Lord Hokage.

"What is it, sir?" you asked.

"There is an odd number of contestants, so we're going to have you fight first. Whether your opponent wins or loses it matters not, for they will have to fight again later. You, on the other hand, need to win in order to advance. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage. Thank you for letting me participate."

He smiled, then went to sit with the observers as a man named Hayate took his place.

"The first match will be Ueda Ai versus...cough..."

Everyone watched the screen with excitement and anticipation.

"...Gaara."

Your team uproared.

Kiba jumped up. "No, Ai, don't!" Grabbing his teammate and pulling him down, Shino yelled, "Forfeit!" Hinata ran out from behind him, grasping the guardrail and crying out, "Ai...please!"

Your teammates' protests were quickly forgotten as Gaara appeared before you.

i'I can't let everybody down. Besides, I'm sure I can get past his sand.'/i

You took your hat and tossed it aside. Gaara's eyes narrowed again.

"Begin."

You lunged, extending your claws by 15 cm. Cutting through the sand erupting around you, you aimed a blow at Gaara's chest. WHAM! He hit you in the stomach and sent you flying backwards. Twirling in the air, landed on your feet. A burst of sand rushed at you. Dancing around it, you aimed another blow at him. When he ducked, you jumped to the side and slashed at his arm. BAM! You were smashed from above, collapsing onto the ground. As you fell, you rapidly made hand signs.

"Shadow Capture Jutsu!"

Hands reached out from within the sand's shadows and wrapped around Gaara. SPLISH! He used Substitution Jutsu with his sand, then appeared behind you.

i'The shadows of his sand are connected with his own. Time to end this.'/i

You melted into the shadow cast by the crushing pillar of sand. You swam up behind Gaara and emerged.

i'Gotcha.'/i

You slashed his back.

"Whoa. What?" you exclaimed. His sand armor cracked and fell on the ground. He turned to face you, his expression livid as sand repaired the armor. He smiled wildly.

"I haven't had ths much fun in years!" he growled. You quickly backed off, sand erupting everywhere.

i'Uber scary! Eeeeep! Gotta end this quick...I'll just have to pierce his armor. Not even diamonds can withstand the Neko Toboe.'/i

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

There were now five of you dancing and twirling lithely around the sandstorm. Your four clones attacked at a distance, extending their claws across the battlefield. They slashed through the sand, and ultimately, the armor. It cracked and began to fall apart, but repaired itself so quickly that attacking seemed futile. You extended your own Neko Toboe to 30 cm.

i'Just like I thought - I have to pierce it.'/i you thought as you went in for the final blow.

i'I'll position my fingers so I don't hit any of his vitals.'/i

You dashed almost invisibly past the battlefield's distractions, always staying just out of Gaara's line of sight. Appearing before him, you watched his eyes grow wide.

"Game over, Gaara!"

SKLSH! You looked down. Gaara had mimicked you, forming stone-hard sand claws over his fingertips. His hand, protruding from your stomach, was lost in your gushing blood. Everything became numb, and the world itself began to move in slow motion. You heard a scream and indiscernible cries from the distant crowd. Your knees gave out under you, and as you fell, your gaze locked onto Gaara's eyes. They were contracted with what seemed like fear. That unnamed emotion you'd seen earlier played across his face, it's power tenfold. His face disappeared, fading into the darkness...