Time flies by remarkably quickly.

Days blended together into weeks, weeks became months, and before I knew it, Konoha was preparing to host the Chunin exams.

Rather easy to tell, actually. A careful eye would reveal how the number of patrols in the village had increased. An even more careful eye would show how the number of ANBU had seemingly doubled.

Of course, that was just an illusion.

In reality, their numbers had tripled.

But that was currently irrelevant.

There were other, more important things to note than the ANBU.

Things like the gigantic mass of hatred, malevolence, insanity and psychological issues slowly making its way towards the village.

"A minor curiosity on my part," I started, appearing from the shadows inside Hiruzen's office. It was empty, of course, I'd been waiting for the moment that Hiruzen was alone, barring the ANBU. "But you do know that there's another Jinchuuriki in the village, yes?"

"Gaara, the host of the Ichibi." Hiruzen looked up, a small smile on his face. "I am aware, yes."

I nodded. "Good, because that kid has problems." My head tilted to the side. "As in, 'I sensed him coming 40 kilometers away' problems."

I walked over, taking a seat in front of Hiruzen's desk. "I'm actually rather surprised that his Bijuu hasn't broken out of its seal, yet. It feels like it's barely there, if the way the Ichibi's emotions and Chakra are leaking out are any indication."

Hiruzen nodded. "I am aware of the rather dismal state of the boy's seal."

"That somehow doesn't surprise me. You already have a plan in place for dealing with that, don't you?"

"Of course."

Gaara has issues.

Gaara has so many issues.

His Heart was a mess. Rage and Hate were prevalent, mixed with loneliness and fear, all four exacerbated with the tinges of insanity. His Soul seemed fragile, near-cracked and distorted.

I wonder exactly how much of that came from his Bijuu. And how much of that came from his childhood.

The Kazekage certainly wasn't going to be earning any father of the year awards.

I trailed after the kid, out of sight and almost completely invisible. Neither Gaara, Temari, or Kankuro suspected anything.

Temari and Kankuro were... well, they had problems too. Fear -of Gaara- warred with familial Love -also for Gaara-, leading their Hearts to seem all kinds of fucked up.

All four of them had issues. Not just the three humans, but the Ichibi, too.

Now, Gaara's a mess, but the Ichibi...

God damn.

I rarely see a Heart so completely fucked up. So much Darkness, so much pain, so much anger, so much hate.

So much loneliness...

I guess it was a little too much to hope that the Ichibi would be like the Sanbi, whose Heart was much more at peace.

But no, instead, it was like the Kyuubi's, in turmoil and chaos.

And what a shame that was.

"I'd let him go if I were you."

"Let him go?" Kankuro seemed amused by the very thought. "Why the hell would I let this annoying little brat go, after he ran into me?"

Naruto stared back at him, his signature smile in place, and his eyes narrowed. "Well, if you really want to know, I could tell you about how the 'brat' you're holding is actually the Hokage's grandson."

Kankuro dropped him like he was made of lava.

Konohamaru promptly ran to Naruto's side, glaring at Kankuro. "Jerk!"

Naruto's fist promptly slammed into his head, causing the young boy to help. "Don't be a brat, brat. And apologize, you did run into him."

"But-"

"Konohamaru." Sasuke cut him off.

He didn't say anything else, but Konohamaru slumped a few moments later, turning to Kankuro and letting out a mumbled "Sorry."

Sasuke smirked, while Naruto turned back to Kankuro and Temari. "So, here for the Chunin Exams?"

"Of course." Kankuro grinned. "Why else would we be here?"

"Well, I can think of a lot of reasons why the Kazekage's children would be in Konoha." Naruto's head turned, looking at the tree that both Gaara and I were hiding in. "By the way, are you going to come down or not? It's kind of creepy to just stand up there and glare at everybody."

Kankuro, and Temari, promptly paled, the looks on their faces turning to fear in an instant.

Gaara, of course, chose that very moment to drop down from the tree, staring at Naruto.

"G-Gaara!"

"Shut up."

Gaara continued to stare at Naruto, and I couldn't help but notice the slightest flare of recognition in the Ichibi's Heart.

And, in turn, the rise in contempt from the Kyuubi's.

Up in the trees, I shifted.

This would prove to be interesting.

"You. What's your name?" Gaara demanded, still staring at Naruto, who remained utterly unflappable.

"Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto said, smiling back.

"Uzumaki Naruto..." Gaara glared, bloodlust igniting in him, his eyes gaining an odd, dangerous malevolence. "Mother wants your blood."

Temari and Kankuro paled more, before Gaara turned around and began to walk away. "And mother will have it."

"Nice to meet you too, crazy psychopath guy!" Naruto called out after him, before letting his voice drop as he turned back to Sasuke and Sakura. "Be careful around him. I get the feeling that we have something in common." He said, patting his stomach.

Sasuke adopted an oddly severe expression, while Sakura looked a bit concerned.

So he does know.

The first day of the Chunin Exams came by all too quickly, so Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were up bright and early that morning.

I trailed after them as they entered the Academy, and watched with amusement as they walked right past the large crowd of Genin to continue onto the third floor.

"Those idiots know that this is only the second floor, right?" I overheard Naruto say to Sasuke and Sakura.

"Apparently not." Sakura whispered back.

I watched as they were greeted by their sensei, who promptly told them why he was there, and then let them go in.

Just before they went inside, I 'spoke' up.

"Good luck, you three..."

I was gone long before they turned around.