Woot! I'm back after finishing my college trig class! I should have more free time lest I take to gaming, so if you want updates sooner than soon, spam me or something. I'm cool with that. Just no cray cray shiz, and we're bro's. Also, thanks to Kazekage of Suna for being awesome and reviewing. Go check out her stories! They are hysterical! Onwards...

It was a dark night that four figures happened upon Konoha. Cloaked in dark robes, they stopped at the gates in order to receive the pass into the city. The pass to participate in the chūnin exams.

The hotel they were staying at didn't really appeal to Amida. He was tired, and the Land of Fire lived up to its reputation. Sweat dripped from every pore on his body.

"Why are we even doing this again? This is one of the most ridiculous missions we've been on yet." Amida whined.

"Shut your mouth." The harsh reply came from the most intimidating of the three. Sitting in the corner, Kaida kept her mask and heavy robes on. "You know nothing of heat. This mission is worth more than your life. Now keep to the script."

Amida rolled his eyes and turned to the smallest of the shinobi. "Tuki doesn't like being here. As a matter of fact you're thinking of running away again, right?"

Tuki was in blunt words, a coward. If faced with difficulty, she panicked and ran. The only good thing that came of it was that she was quick on her feet.

"I...I won't run. Don't worry about me, worry about yourselves. This...isn't a game. I don't like t-this...", Tuki trailed off.

Kaida sighed. The night had always bothered her, and now it made the itching frustration in her head grow. She slid the door to the room quietly shut, not pausing to look behind her at her colleagues shocked faces.

It was better to take to the forests. It was rare to see trees in the Land of Earth especially as far north as she lived. Eventually the rocky terrain became covered with snow, and the difference between day and night meant nothing.

It was important to learn how to fight in the forest because that would be what the second trial would consist of. At least, that's what Sensei told them.

The thing about trees, she noticed, was that they were easier to break than rocks. Small twigs and leaves fell in her wake, leaving silence to be desired. She would have to care just a tad more in order to not leave a trace behind.

In some time, she saw the approach of a clearing. Slowing her steps, she paused to take in her surroundings. It was not wise to be seen, cloaked, or not.

The first thing Kaida noticed was a small, blonde boy. He had been training for awhile it seemed, he was exhausted, and various weapons surrounded his pliant form. It would be too easy to kill him now, so she slid back into the shadows. It was better to wait for the chūnin exams in order to finish him off. Better to not draw attention at the murder of the boy.

Continuing deeper into the forest she saw teams of other countries practicing with fervor. Some even looked decent. However, there was no others from the Land of Earth, let alone Iwagakure. Good, no one shall know of their deception. There would be no other variables.

Finishing her rounds quietly, she went back to the hotel in order to get some much deserved rest. Tomorrow would bring dealing with other people, and involuntary twitches of the face. Joy.

Gaara liked to distance himself at night. At night he could lower the frail mask of humanity that he wore during the day, and blend into the darkness.

He hated a lot of things, but listening to the breathing of people sleeping, people who were not like him, was nearly too crushing to bear. Shukaku would laugh gleefully, until he had to escape before he exposed himself. He had to lay low here. He had to force himself not to kill. It was like going off an addiction.

And like all addicts going off an addiction, his senses were heightened, and his heart pounded with blood. Edgy, he stayed in the shadows, focused on getting a lowdown on the competition. Especially that Sasuke Uchiha, now that would be a mildly interesting opponent.

The trouble was the fumbling idiot he couldn't hear above. Someone was crashing through the forest without a care in the world, and Gaara was of the mind to put them out of their misery before someone else did it for him. Nevertheless, he followed them. 'This fool won't be missed too much', he thought.

That's about when the noises subsided, until silence was around him once again. It was strange, almost as if they were moving too fast for him. Either that, or they sensed his presence.

Keeping himself on guard he crouched low on a branch. He was ready to crush them with the sand that rose in his defense, but first he would wait and see who could possibly think they could thwart Gaara of the Sand.

It was daybreak before he admitted defeat. Using his sand to transport him to the hotel room he shared with his siblings, he woke them up in an unusually grotesque manner.

It was a rare thing indeed to see Gaara livid. Temari and Kankurō looked even more fearful on exam day.

It was truly interesting to see people squirm. Specifically, Kaida loved to watch these Konoha rookies squirm.

They had obviously been tripping, if they thought they were in the slightest intimidating. Every space was filled with ninjas from various countries. They were dressed to the nine, masks, bandages, and cloaks all concealed deadly intent. The energy was thrumming through Kaida, and she could hardly wait to take the whole room down.

Unfortunately, this was the written part of the exams. There couldn't be anything more boring, or truly dreadful than deciphering codes, and using advanced trigonometry to solve where a shuriken would go. Kaida knew where the shuriken would go if this test lasted any longer. Straight into the proctors scarred face.

After staring at the pages for five blank minutes, she finally looked up only to feel a light brush on the back of her neck. Dang it, as cool as the robes looked, they were itchy and hot. Even Kaida had to admit, it was too much trouble. It was important however, to intimidate the enemy, so Kaida managed to focus on something else. Specifically, the way grains of sand hung in the air around the room.

Worry squeezed Kaida's soul. He couldn't be here, he was too young. A voice, perhaps her long lost conscious reminded her that she too was only twelve. It didn't matter though, she was prepared to meet anyone in battle if it came to it. If she had to...she'd let him roast on a pit with s'mores. Oh Kami, s'mores...

The fire! The light! Kaida jerked back to the waking world with minutes left. She'd have to make this work. Looking up into the ceiling lights that lit the room, she could see the reflection of Tuki and Amida. They were in separate seats, with Kaida being the furthest back in the room. Perfect.

Gathering chakra, and performing the proper hand signs, she moved the reflection to point towards that pink haired leaf girls test. The girl had been literally salivating when handed the test, so Kaida took her chances.

Releasing more chakra, Kaida magnified the reflection on the light bulb. It was only too easy now to copy the answers from the literal screen she had created.

Now to get them to Amida and Tuki. Glancing about the room Kaida could spot at least three special eye technique users alone. Funsies. There was even one using a mirror, another just being a copy cat, as well as a weird shadow kid. At least they were trying. Now.

Kaida really didn't want to give away her abilities. Therefore, she had to be discreet, and docile. Kaida wasn't docile.

Concentrating a fair amount of her chakra, she was able to shine a faint light onto both of her teammates papers, outlining the correct answers. They would pass even if she had to drag along Tiny and Rockhead. Yes, this mission could not be failed.

Satisfied with herself, she took the down time to look around the room. Many of the competitors were still sitting frustrated, while others were obviously cheating. Poor saps. They were kicked out along with the rest of their team.

There were some sound ninja here and there. It was almost comforting to see them in strong force. However, they all wore the mask of intimidation well. It wouldn't surprise Kaida if they turned on her. Ninja were ninja.

The sand Kaida had seen earlier had disappeared. Apparently whoever had been using it, was done as well. Kaida was not stupid enough to look behind her, no that would've been asking for those creepy chūnin to drag her and her team out of this decrepit village. No, reflections would have to do.

Focusing her chakra again, Kaida had just enough conscious not to scream when something gritty grated past her hand. Looking down below the desk, she was surprised to see an eyeball looking back at her. It was formed of sand, and clearly could belong to only one person.

"Gaara."

Kaida hadn't even intended for the name to slip out, except now everyone in the room stared at her. Oh sweet and holy Kami...

"Ninja 145..."

Kaida panicked. Her outer self remained as calm and expressionless as ever though. She wouldn't show this proctor anything.

"Ninja 57!"

A chūnin screamed out in a frenzy. One of the sound ninja had decided to spray the room with kunai as though that would get them anywhere. Wait...

"You and your team! Out this instant!"

Yes, they were covering for her. How nice. Apparently they had gotten the message Iwakagure had sent out about her lineage. No risking Kaida at all costs.

As the sound ninja walked out, the taller of the three turned to look at her. "We expect greatness from you. Idiot." It was said in the lowest of whispers.

Kaida's blood boiled. They knew as well as anyone in the know did what she was capable of. Maybe she would take care of them later. After all, it wasn't like they were her allies as much as Iwakagure's allies. She could rip them limb by limb and watch the blood flow...

"Time. Now we are ready for the tenth question."

Kaida's train of thought was derailed as the rules were explained. It was a do or die question, once it was answered there was no going back. How perfect. It was time to be serious now. Of course, there was that silly blonde kid from the forest in the front, and...Gaara...behind her. Her concentration was spot on though, and fear wasn't in her vocabulary. She stayed.

That was all it took. Kaida did have to appreciate the trick. When her teammates and her walked out of the classroom, the only thought in her mind was the impending annihilation of the Leaf.

FOREST OF DEATH AND DOOM AND SNAKE BALLS UP NEXT...