The bridge was complete. I missed the funeral of Zabuza and Haku, because I was passed out. I woke up in time to leave, but I couldn't move, so Kakashi had to carry me. I hated feeling so helpless. He was surprised that I even woke up before we left. Kakashi also told me I wouldn't be moving for another three days.

It takes about one and a half days to get back to Konoha, so I should be fine by then. Quick healing rocks. We were currently standing at the end of the bridge, ready to start our journey home. "We could never have finished the bridge without you." Tazuna admits gratefully. "I can't tell you how much we're going to miss you." 

"Do be careful!" Tsunami smiled.

"Thank you, for everything," Kakashi nods.

"Now now, don't get all choked up. We'll come and visit real soon!" Naruto promises. 

"You swear you will?" Inari whimpers. 

Inari and NAruto had a little crying contest, seeing who could hold off the longest. Boys can be so pathetic! Sakura thought. I rolled my eyes. To true.

We began to walk away. I held myself stiffly in Kakashi's arms. I didn't want to be a burdan. "Relax, Keira. You aren't heavy at all. You're actually really light. Do you eat enough?" Kakashi murmured in my ear.

"Have you seen how much I eat? Ask Naruto, I definitely eat enough." I say, but relax in his arms a little more anyway.

He chuckles lightly. "Keira..." 

I look up at him, catching his eye. "Hm?"

"I just want to say... I'm very proud of you." My stomach drops, but not in a bad way. I... I've made someone proud? "You handled yourself well out there. You protected the bridge builder, protected Naruto and Sasuke, and brought Sasuke back to life. How many genin can say they've brought their teammate back from the dead?" 

"I was to slow," I disgree, "I should have gotten to Sasuke-kun before he was hit by the needles,"

"But that didn't matter in the end. You protected your teammates with all you had in you... and that's what counts." It was silent after that, and I thought arefully about what he said all the way home. Have I found people worth protecting?

We arrived back at Konoha. "Ah, I think I can walk from here." I say. 

"Nonsense, you can't even bear you weight for another day at most. Naruto can take you home, you're neighbors, right?" I nod. But the moment I'm in Naruto's arms, I hit a pressure point, making them go slack for a moment. 

I land lightly on my feet. "See? I can bear my own weight." I stuck my tongue out at them and sprinted away, slamming my door behind me. I collapsed on my chair at the kitchen table. I'm STARVING!

I make myself some fajitas out of the chicken I froze. I at four fajitas until I felt somewhat full. I was relaxing on my chair when I suddenly sat upright quickly. Yes! I jump up on the counter, curse my hight, And reach around the top of the cupboreds.

There! I knew I had some! I smiled at the package of pocky and Hello Panda package. I love these simple sweets. Yum. I eat them all, then go to take a shower. I glance at the time. 10 p.m.

I grab my stone bracelets and anklets from the counter and fill them with half my chakra. Most of my chakra had been replenished over the journey. I do that, write music, and try to create jutsu's for the rest of the night.

I came up with one jutsu, though it still needs to be tried out. It's a mix of my mind control and singing. I simply sing, inserting my will into the words, and it helps me control their mind. It puts people in an almost trance like state.

Well, that's what I hope it does.

I glance at the time. 5 a.m. Time to get ready to go. I'm mak'ng breakfast when I hear Naruto's thoughts. Left the milk out... again. Man, just bread for breakfast. I look at the fourteen waffles I made. I could easily eat them all my self. 

With a sigh, I put four on one plate and keep the ten on the other plate. I pour two glasses of milk, then head over to Naruto's. I knock with my foot, hands full. "Whaaa?" Naruto opens the door, eyes closed from exhaustion.

"Um..." He snapped his eyes open at my voice, "I brought some pancakes and milk... I thought we could maybe share... cause i made to many..." I lie, making anexcuse for sharing. I could easily eat all these. And I want to.

"Huh? Er, sure! Come in! Sorry for the mess!" I look around. Clothes are strewn across the floor. How does one person make such a mess? Most people could walk into my apartment and think that nobody lived there!

I eat quickly, finishing before Naruto, who seems to be savoring his. I push more chakra into my bracelets and anklets, and feel them get heavier. I begin walking around, cleaning up after Naruto.He doesn't even notice, to caught up in eating.

About five minutes later he's finished. I walk up and take his dish, turning to the sink. "No, no you don't need to do--" He fell silent as he viewed the room in awe. The clothes were sorted, clean cloths folded, dishes cleaned and in the drying rack...

"How did you do this so fast?" Naruto asks. 

"Living alone does that to you," I laugh,"I'm surprised you haven't picked it up, yet," 

He grins and we leave. I set my clean dishes in my cupbored, then lock the door behind me. We nod at eachother than head towards our meeting point with the team.Me and Naruto arrive after Sasuke and Sakura.

We run up to the bridge together. "Hey, good morning Sakura-chan, what's up?" Naruto asks.

"Good morning, Sakura-chan, Sasuke-kun." I say quietly, nodding to each of them.

Sakura smiles at me, then we both look back and forth between the two glaring boys.Good grief, not again. They've been like this ever since the fight with Haku. Cha! Hurry up Kakashi-sensei, or you'll have it!

"Ugh, you said it Sakura-chan," I agree without thinking.

"Hm? I didn't say anything," She raised her eyebrows. I just shake my ahead, angry with my mistake and sit beneath a tree in its shadow. Hours pass. 

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late. I'm afraid I got lost on the path of life." Kakashi smiled.

"LIAR!" Naruto and Sakura both yell.

"Hm? Where's Keira?" Kakashi asks. 

Sasuke had been playing around with his sharingan, and currently had them on. "She's underneath that tree." He pointed.

"Teme, you've gone crazy. No one's under there.," Naruto said. I looked at Sasuke in surprise. He can see me. Now I can't get up until the look somewhere else. Kuso. 

"No, look, I see her clearly. She's right there, dobe," Sasuke insisted.

"Well, I don't see anything," Sakura disagrees, "But if Sasuke-kun says it, it must be true!" Sasuke began walking over. KUSO! I make a handsign, and a clone poofs into existance sitting on the bridge side.

"Guys, I was behind you the entire time," I hear the clone say. I smile and slide behind the tree as Sasuke turns away. That was to close. Oh well, might as well ditch now. We are only going to have crappy missions after that the C-that-was-actually-B-or-even-A-ranked mission.

I wander around town, just waiting until I can be sure the missions will be over. When I saw a huge explosion over at the mine fields, I decided  to head over. Sakura and Sasuke were supporting Naruto, and my clone was lingering behind. 

I release the jutsu, quickly replacing my clone. "You're hopeless, Naruto." Sakura sighs.

"Hn. You really are just one big problem." Sasuke smirks.

I sighs. Teamwork isn't looking very good. Sasuke goes to train by himself, after insulting Naruto. Naruto offered to work with Sakura but she declined. I walk up behind her. "Sakura-chan, let's train together. Maybe go shopping or something after?"  I offer.

She smiles. "Thanks, Keira-chan! I'd love to!" I noticed a box creeping up on Naruto, and peer around him to look at it. Some kids poof out, and after a long conversation, insult Sakura's forhead. Oh, you've done it now.

She began chasing them down, and I jumped from tree to tree, keeping up. Konohamaru slammed into a boy wearing a black jumpsuit with cat ears. A pretty, tomboyish looking girl with blonde hair in four pigtails stood next to him. She had a fan on her back, and the boy had sum mummy wrap thing. 

I tilt my head slightly. Have I seen them before? I catch sight of there headbands. Sunagakure. I've been there before, long ago. I shake my head. Chances are I didn't know them.

"Do you need something?" The boy asked.He grabbed Konohamaru by the front of his shirt. What a jerk. 

"Konohamaru!" Naruto exclaimed.

"So... does this hurt, punk?" The boy asked, tightening his grip. Konohamaru grunted. 

"Put him down Kankuro, or you know you'll pay for it later!" The girl said.

Sakura apologized to Kankuro and the girl, all the while wondering, who are they? 

"You better take your hands off him right now!" Naruto shouted.

So these are the leaf village's genin. Kankuro thought. "We got a few minutes until he gets here, let's mess with these punks, eh?"

"Let go of me you jerk!" Konohamuro shouted, kicking Kankuro. Maybe I should save him now... but then I wouldn't see any of there skills. 

"Heh, you're feisty, but not for long," Kankuro teased

Naruto sprinted at Kankuro. Here's my chance! I lean forward eagerly, ready to see his skills. Naruto fell backwards as he was tripped... by chakra strings! So, we have a puppet master, huh? "You're a leaf genin too? Looks like your village is full of wimps!" Kankuro taunts.

"Hey.. cut it out... it hurts!" Konohamuru complains. 

"You're annoying. All of you. I don't like runts, or any other scrawny weaklings." He creates a fist. "They make me want to break them in half!" 

The girl sighs. "Heh. Fine. I'm not involved in any of this, okay?" She gives in. Kankuro prepares to punch Konohamuru. I look to the side and see Sasuke in the tree. He nods, and I nod back. I jump down, grab Konohamuru and jump back to my team. Sasuke throws a rock at him, hard enough to stop him from punching.

"You're a long way from home, and way out of your league," Sasuke murmurs.He crushes the rock. Well well. Local hottie. The girl thinks. 

"Oh, great, another wimp to tick me off." Kankuro mutters. I'm smirk, perfectly fine with him not noticing me. 

"Get lost," Sasuke orders, unclenching his fist and releasing the crumbled rock. 

"Hey, punk, get down here," Kankuro calls. "You're the pesky kind of snot I hate the most, all attitude and nothing to back it up.He pulls of his mummy, which I realize now is a puppet. 

"Why should I come down when my teammate could finish you off easily? You didn't even realize she grabbed the boy from you, huh? She's that fast," Sasuke scoffs.

"What? Are you going to use the Crow for this?" The girl asks in alarm, staring at Kankuro and the mummy.

I look up, sensing a new presence. What? How did she see me? My chakra was hidden. The boy hanging upside down from the branch thought. His voice joins the fray. "Kankuro... Back off," The boys voice was raspy, emotionless, monotone. Kind of like mine once was, and somtimes still is.

"You're an embarrasment to our village..." The red head continued. Everybody seems shocked, the girl and Kankuro seemed terrified. 

"Uh, hey Gaara..." Kankuro greeted nervously. So, his name was Gaara. 

"Have you forgotten the reason we came all the way here?" Gaara asked.

"I-I-I know! I mean, they challanged us!" Kankuro tried to shift the blame, "You see, here's what happenned--"

"Shut up," Gaara said uncaringly, interrupting, "Or I'll kill you," Bloodlust and sincerity dripped from his voice.

"Uh, right, I was totally out of line, I uh, I'm sorry Gaara, I was totally out of line," Kankuro practically fell over himself to apologize. 

Gaara ignored him, turning his head towards Sasuke. "I'm sorry for the trouble he caused," Gaara apologized, sounding bored. He then dissapeared into sand, reappearing on the ground. He turned away from us, "Let's go." He commanded.

Sakura stopped them, accusing them and demanding to see there I.D cards. Idiot. "Really. Have you been living under a rock or what? Even your own teammate looks embarrased of you," She said, pointing at me. I quickly made my face emotionless.

Such control of her emotions, Gaara thought.

"We have I.D's. And we're here for the chunin exams." I ignored the rest of their talk. I had caught Gaara's eye. I glared. Something about him... I don't even kow what... made me hate him with every fiber of my being.

I can't help but hate her. I want to kill her! Gaara thought. He turned away with a scoff.

"Hey! You! Identify yourself!" Sasuke demands.

"Hm? You mean me?" Temari blushes. I saw her name on her I.D.

"No. Him. The guy with the gord on his back," Sasuke clarifies.

"My name's Gaara... of the Desert. I'm curious about you too. Who are you?" He asks. I'd ask the girls name as well, but it doesn't matter. Because I'm going to kill her. Similar feelings, Gaara. Similar feelings.

"I am Sasuke Uchiha." Sasuke smirks.

"Hey! I bet you're dying to know my name!" Naruto shouts.

"I counldn't care less," Gaara scoffs. They all turned to leave.

I hated Gaara. I would kill him as soon as I could. Just being around him was painful. I turn, sensing the presense of three more. I catch there eye and glare. Their eyes widen in fright and they jump away.

Hm... things are getting interesting.

______________________________________________

Done! She saw Gaara!

This is for you, @supermassiveblckhole! (You better send me that excerpt!)

Can't wait till the next chapter!

Comment! Vote!

Bye! gaara119