Kumo was surrounded by darkness. Much darker than he had fallen asleep in. No moon or form of light illuminated his surroundings and the absolute blackness. The floor beneath him felt cold and hard like stone and the only sound to be heard was that of dripping water. Then he heard it a small whimper in his ear like a whisper. The ice cold chains in his hands became evident and the figure struggling beneath him started to claw at him with long feminine fingers. He tightened his grip on the chain and continued to pull until he heard the neck snap.

Kumo snapped awake in a cold sweat. After twelve hours of laying traps and spying on the three students as they struggled to make their way back to Konoha. So far there pace was slow and choppy. Having to struggle against the elements and carry there wounded teammate certainly managed to make a three hour hike last all day and well into the night. He decided to give the students a few hours of freedom from his torment and traps and give himself a few hours of rest. He now regretted it. Ino and Tsunade had both told him that a little post-traumatic stress would be normal after everything that had happened to him while imprisoned by Itami. Even after all that had happened his tongue would still move and feel for where his molars had been shattered. Tsunade had suggested he see a professional and try talking about the details. But in the end with everything going on between his possible new job as a teacher his upcoming wedding and having to sort through his usual duties supporting Tenten and acting as a godfather for Eri. The last thing he wanted was to waist more hours of the day talking to some shrink about events impossible to change. He'd already told Ino everything that had happened in that dark dungeon. As far as he was concerned she was the only one who needed to know what happened to him. And as long as Ino was there sleeping beside him when the nightmares came, then he knew that eventually they'd fade away.

"Awake I see." A deep electronic voice called to him from the shadows just outside the cave he had taken refuge in away from the elements. He reached for his trench knife taking a defensive stance. Upon closer examination he could see that the masked figure standing before him was nothing more than a genjutsu. And not a very skilled one at that. The heavy snowfall was passing right through the illusion. Even if it hadn't been for that the figure was standing right in the middle of one of his traps. The question was whether this amateur mistake was made accidently or intentionally. For his guess intentionally. If anyone was planning on attacking him during this little outdoor test this was the last place anyone would want to do it, I'd be more convenient to ambush him when he was out hunting the kids and distracted while he was setting his traps. It was more likely this was just some form for him to communicate.

"What do you want?" he asked activating his Byakugan just to be sure no one was trying to work through his many traps he had set up to secure him while he slept and that his three students were in fact safe taking a small break in the woods huddling around a small fire.

"Just to talk." The cat faced ANBU replied stepping closer just outside the mouth of the cave. "I think the two of us can come to an agreement."

There was a pause as the ANBU waited for a response from him but Kumo just stared quietly for him to continue.

"I want you to help me subdue and capture Nenshō Kinzoku and transport him out of the Land of Fire. We're willing to pay you handsomely for this and give you a high ranking position in our organization."

The ANBU explained calmly. "You really think after all that's happened I'd cross the lines I've drawn?" Kumo said not letting his defensive stance drop a single millimeter, he didn't truly believe he was trying to recruit him, not willingly at least. He kept his Byakugan up making damn sure no one was moving through the snowstorm outside.

"I understand now that Itami's efforts to threaten you into betraying your friend were completely in vain. Something I should have expected from a student of both Ibiki and the legendary Zabuza. You cannot be threatened with your own wellbeing so we're going to try a different tactic with you, negation. You don't fear for your own wellbeing. If you don't cooperate with us we'll be forced to put the wellbeing of others on the line."

Kumo tightened his grip on his knife as thoughts of an endangered Ino, Eri and Tenten flashed through his mind. "Oh I won't touch your friends Kumo or your bride to be either. Vulnerable as they are I'd just rush you to their side to defend them and warn the whole village of the impending danger. But I'll discuss the details once you're not busy torturing the Genin brats, I'll speak to you again once you've spoken to Nenshō about your mother." He said grimly.

"My mother's dead." Kumo hissed. "She's been dead for almost ten years now."

"Has she?" He asked, despite his hidden face Kumo was sure he was smirking beneath his mask. "Seems there's plenty you don't know about your friends and your teacher. I'll talk to you soon Kumo and we'll see where you stand after you have that little talk." With that the Genjutsu released and the illusion faded away. Kumo felt a thousand questions and theories run through his mind. His mother was dead killed at the orders of the fourth Kazekage. He had seen it happen right in front of him. Or had he? He had been only ten years old when it happened nowhere close to being as smart or skilled as he was now. Could it have been an illusion? Something to make him think she was dead?

Kumo sheathed his trench knife and forced the thoughts to the back of his head. He couldn't focus on that right now not until this test was over.

Isao crawled through the bushes; he just barely spotted the wire Kumo had placed and cut the metal thread. Big mistake. Kikyo grabbed his ankle and pulled him back as a log fell from the trees crushing the large bush in front of him. The branches snapped and they saw it before them. The lights of Konoha before them just barely a half hour away from them. But at the rate of speed they had been crawling through the forest it was likely to take them four hours at minimum. And by then the sun would rise over the horizon and they would fail there test. Isao clenches his fist. Now it was do or die no room to hold back.