I barely slept last night.

After we'd finished the exam, we'd met up with Kurenai Sensei, who told us where we were meant to meet Anko. It hadn't been very pleasant to hear, to say the least. I had nightmares about it.

I glare up at the huge fence, blocking us from the site of our next Exam.

"The Forest of Death," I murmur, leaning back against a tree. "Sounds just like the kind of place I'd love to go."

Anko is talking to the other Genin, including the rest of my team. Hinata had noticed my fatigue, and suggested I rest over here until the start of the Exam. I only too happily agreed.

It's not just the lack of sleep that's bothering me, anyway.

Yesterday, Kiba was complaining about having to fight some mysterious Ninja a few days before the last Exam. Hinata and Shino had agreed with him, saying they'd encountered similar oppenents. I hadn't been able to contribute to the conversation, as I hadn't met with any strange Ninja.

I asked Kurenai Sensei about it, and she let it slip that Iruka had been around, disguised as an enemy, to test his ten rookies. He wanted to make sure they were ready for the Chunin Exams.

Somehow, I got skipped over, and it's been pissing me off ever since.

But I guess it's not important right now.

I grip the water jug on my hip to reassure myself it's still there. If the Forest of Death is as horrific as its name suggest, I'll need this water.

"Tired?" a voice asks, making me jump. I look up, only to see Temari sitting on a branch a little above my head, grinning down at me. "How you'd guess?" I ask, stifling a yawn. "I know the signs. Gaara doesn't sleep... much, either," she says, shrugging her shoulders.

"Him and Kankuro, they're your brother's, right?" I ask. It's something I meant to ask yesterday, but never got the chance to. She nods. "Yup, my younger brothers."

"Isn't it, I don't know, odd that the three of you ended up on the same team together? Siblings aren't usually even in the same year."

She shrugs again, eyes on the Genin still gathered around Anko. "Our father, the Fourth Kazekage, wanted us to be together. He calls us the Sand Siblings. And Gaara won't work with others. They're... too afraid of him."

I choose to ignore the part about Gaara. "You're father is the Kazekage?" I ask. She blinks at me. I can see it in her eyes that she knows I'm deliberately forgetting Gaara's involvement in this conversation. "Yes," she says, swinging her legs. "That's right."

"You guys must not get to see him a lot, then," I say, a little wistfully. They might now get to see him often, but as least they get to see him.

Temari catches it immediately.

"Why that tone?" she asks. "What's wrong?"

I lean my head back against the bark, sighing, my eyes closed. "I've never met my father," I say quietly. I don't usually tell people this. My team knows, and Kurenai Sensei. But no one else. I don't like admitting I've lived my entire life without knowing my dad. It feels awful enough without people's pity.

But Temari offers none. "That sucks," she says, jumping down to the ground beside me. "But at least you don't let it bother you much, right?"

I nod, grinning. I'm starting to like Temari.

"Hey! Akari! We've got to get going!"

It's Kiba who's shouting. No surprise there.

"I guess we'll meet up at the end of this thing," I say to Temari. She smiles. "We better," she says. "Don't go off and die on me, ok?" And with that cheery thought, she walks off to locate her teammates.

I join mine in front of a gate, where Kiba hands me a white scroll, with the word "HEAVEN" written on it. He tells me all about the rules, how we have to have an Earth Scroll before we can enter the tower in the middle of the forest and end this part of the Exam, and how we only have five days to do it. He also tells me that there are basically no rules about fighting, so we'll be fighting for our lives out there.

Great. Just what I needed to hear right now.

A few minutes tick by, the four of us growing more impatient by the second.

Then, the gates are opened, and we hear the sound of other Ninja making their way into the forest. We join them, racing in the branches.

***

"This should do it!" Kiba announces proudly.

He and I have been setting traps around the clearing we've opted to wait in. Hinata and Shino are back in the clearing, keeping an eye out for other Ninja.

I slap Kiba a high-five, as we grin at each other.

I look around, making sure our traps are invisible to the naked eye. Someone with Byakugan or Sharingan might be able to spot them, but the normal Genin won't. Perfect.

Back in the clearing, Hinata tells us there are enemy Ninja hiding in the trees. She isn't sure which scroll they have, but she thinks they'll attack us very soon.

"Let's give em a show, eh Akari?" Kiba says, nudging my ribs with his elbow. I nod, my eyes shining with a strange sort of glee. There's nothing like tricking your enemy into thinking they've got you, when the opposite is really the case.

"So we're looking for an Earth Scroll, right?" I say, a little too loudly. But I just want to make sure the people in the trees can hear us. I myself don't know where they are, but I trust Hinata completely. If she says they're there, they're there.

"Y-yes," Hinata says, sitting down on a flat rock like she can't take another step forward.

"We'd better find one quick," Kiba says, joining her, fake-wincing as though he's sore and tired. It's weird, because we haven't even been out here for an hour. If these Ninja take this bait, they really shouldn't have passed Ibiki's test.

"We've already been ambushed," Shino adds, hands in his pockets. "It would be most unfortunate if we were to fight another team at this point."

"Totally," I agree tiredly. I don't have to fake this one; I'm still worn out from my sleepless night.

And then it happens.

There's a rustling in the branches above us, and a Ninja appears out of the shadows, a smug smile on his face.

"We'll be taking that Heaven Scroll of yours," he says nastilly. "So just hand it over nice and easy, so we don't have to hurt ya, ok--"

His threat is cut off as he, and his two teammates, are caught in Kiba's favorite trap: The good ol' net.

They swing wildly, and something comes loose from one of their weapons pouches, dropping to the ground.

I stroll over to it lazily, picking it up and grinning. "Yup! We got it, guys! An Earth Scroll!"

I turn around, sticking my tongue out at the three Ninja who were so easily dooped by us. "Thank you," I say cheekily, before I and the rest of my team leap back into the trees.

"Hey don't leave us here!" the Ninja shout frantically.

I shrug my shoulders at Kiba. "Not a good idea, right? They might try and take back their scroll."

He grins, showing off his pointed canines. "Let em squirm!" he decides. Akamaru barks, agreeing with his partner.

"Alrighty then!" I exclaim, shooting ahead of Kiba and ending up beside Hinata. "On to the tower!"

We hear the Ninja screaming as something roars from somewhere behind us.

***

"Lucky for us that group had an Earth Scroll, huh?" Kiba says excitedly from his position in front of me. "Right, Akamaru?!"

The little Ninja Dog yips and barks.

"You said it buddy!"

Kiba turns to grin at the rest of us. "At this rate, we'll be the first to the tower!"

Shino looks at Kiba sternly. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," he says seriously, in his monotone voice. "That's dangerous. Let's be cautious and not draw the enemy's attention. That's dangerous. Even the smallest insect, in order to protect itself, will always--"

"I know that!" Kiba barks, frowning. "Why do you always talk about insects, you bug freak! And stop acting like the boss. I'm team leader!"

I'm tempted to smack him upside the head, for claiming to be team leader again, and insulting Shino. He's only joking, and I know that. But we're teammates. He doesn't need to be so rude.

"B-But," Hinata stutters. "I think Shino makes a good point."

"Alright! Geeze," Kiba mutters, leaping from branch to branch on all fours.

Hinata, beside me, keeps her eyes on the ground as we move. "I hope Naruto is alright," she murmurs softly. I nudge her arm and smile at her worred expression. "That knucklehead has Sasuke on his team. He'll definitely make it through this."

She smiles slightly. "Thank you, Akar--"

"STOP!"

I almost collide with Kiba's outstretched arms, as he and Akamaru stop moving suddenly. They both have their noses in the air, sniffing madly for something.

Hinata and Shino look at them questioningly. I just narrow my eyes, wondering what they've caught wind of.

"We should be cautious and not draw the enemy's attention, right?" Kiba asks, standing and turning to us. "Then Hinata, can you take a look about one kilometer in that direction?" He points to his right, our left. Hinata stands as well, her eyes focused on the trees in the distance. She makes a handsign, closing her eyes. When she opens them, she's got her Byakugan activated.

After a moment's pause, she says, "Oh, people are fighting over there..."

Shino, with his ear pressed to the branch he's standing on, adds, "Seems like... there are six of them."

I still crouch on the branch. Something about this situation feels wrong. And the look in Kiba's canine eyes isn't helping. "Kiba," I begin. "I know what you're thinking and--"

"Ok! Let's go check it out!" he exclaims, cutting me off.

I sigh in defeat. He's not going to change his mind.

"Kiba, what are you saying?" Shino asks. "We shouldn't."

Kiba spreads his arms, smirking at the rest of us. "The examiner just said to bring both the Heaven and the Earth scrolls. She didn't say we could only bring one of each. So, if we get more now, then we'll less teams to worry about later."

Despite the fact that Kiba is making sense for once, I still don't want to go. There's a familiar chill creeping up and down my spine. I don't like this at all.

"B-But--" Hinata tries to reason with him. But Kiba is one of those people who makes up his mind and sticks with his decision no matter what, as long as he sees no harm in it. Nothing we can say will deter him. "C'mon," he says. "Let's just check it out. If it looks bad, we won't fight."

He takes off into the trees again, shouting, "LET"S GO!"

Shino sighs, shaking his head in a way that tells me he'll be reminding Kiba of this ridiculous decision long after we've seen the consequences. With a shrug, he goes after Kiba, with Hinata just behind him.

I take a moment to gather my courage. Something about all this... It's freaking me out. Maybe it's just the scenery; it's not the most uplifting place to be. But I can't let my teammates go on without me. With a last deep breath, I shoot after the others.

***

"What's wrong Akamaru?" Kiba asks in a hushed voice, a hand on his partner's shaking back.

We all drop to the ground beside him. Shino asks, "What's wrong? Why did you stop?"

You know, he's been a lot more talkative since we've gotten into this forest. It's freaking me out more than the giant snake I saw a while back.

"Akamaru just started shaking..." Kiba explains. "W-Why?" Hinata asks. She watches with nervous eyes as Akamaru scurries into Kiba's jacket, whimpering lowly.

"He can smell out enemy chakra," Kiba reminds us. "And sense their strength. But for him to be shaking this much... These guys fighting ahead of us, aren't average guys."

I creep forward a bit to peer through the bushes that now surround us. The scent of green, living things distracts me for a moment. The smell is different here than in the forest outside the Village. It's more... malevolent.

Through the thick foliage, I can make out three Rain Ninja, two of them wearing wide hats and the one in the front with bandages covering one eye. He's talking to somebody I can't quite see.

"Sand brat," he spits. "Challenging us head on like this."

Sand brat? B-But... there are no other Sand Ninja but...

I slowly inch to the side, wanting to see them for myself. Sure enough, it's Gaara and his team. From behind me, I hear Kiba whisper, "That midget... Messing with guys like that. What's he thinking?"

"Don't underestimate him, Kiba," I growl without turning around.

"Do you know him, Akari?" he asks, sounding confused.

"You were talking with that girl earlier, weren't you?" Shino adds thoughtfully.

I shake my head. "I've only seen that boy with the red hair, Gaara, once before these Exams started. He nearly crushed my ankle without any reason at all. With that sand of his."

"Sand?" Kiba echoes, as Akamaru starts whimpering again. "What's that, Akamaru?" Kiba asks, sounding distressed now.

"What's he saying?" asks Shino.

"He says... he says that big guy's in trouble."

I turn my attention back to the ridiculously stupid Rain Ninja in the clearing before me. The big guy in front smirks at Gaara, who doesn't even blink. "You'll die," he warns the red-head.

"Enough talking," Gaara commands. "Let's do this, old man from the Hidden Rain."

The man's eyes widen in shock, before narrowing in disgust and hatred. He seems to be readying an attack.

Kankuro speaks up from beside Temari, saying, "Gaara, it's best to get some information first. If we both have the same scroll, then there's no need to fight. Pointless fighting is--"

"That doesn't matter," Gaara interrupts.

My heart beats faster and faster, hearing his cold voice again. I haven't heard it since the day we met in the street. It's still as harsh and uncaring as it was back then.

"Those who meet my eyes," he says lowly. "All must die."

Kiba and Hinata gasp behind me, but I can't. I predicted this. I said he'd be the one to kill without needing to, to feed some sick desire of his.

The Rain Ninja suddenly whips several... umbrellas from his back, spinning them around with lethal-looking speed. "Bah!" he shouts. "Then let's hurry up and do this! Here I come!"

He throws the still-spinning umbrellas into the air, where they linger above Gaara and his team.

"Die brat!" the Rain Ninja shouts.

Needles shoot from the spinning umbrellas with rapid speed and precision, cascading all around the clearing, and all around the Sand Ninja.

"Flying needles?!" Kiba gasps.

Directing the needles with his chakra, the Rain Ninja makes sure they all head towards Gaara, showering him and the others with deadly weaponry.

Dust shoots up around them, obscuring all our views. When it settles, I'm not even surprised a little. The sand, spilled from the gourd on his back, is surrounding Gaara almost completely, shielding him from every single needle that was aimed at him.

"Is that all?" he asks, arms still crossed over his chest. He sounds bored, an almost normal emotion that sets my teeth on edge, hearing it come from him.

The Rain Ninja is shocked beyond reason, eyes wide and mouth agape. He says slowly, "No way... Not a single one? He came out unscathed? Impossible..."

Setting his mouth in a determined, hard line, he makes another handsign, attempting to attack Gaara once more with his chakra-controlled needles. Again, the sand shields him, and not a single needle pierces his skin. Narrowing his eyes dangerously, Gaara says, "A rain of needles, eh? Then, I guess I'll make it rain blood."

And I have no doubt he means it.

I can't tear my eyes away from the Sand Genin who is so clearly superior to everyone in this forest. I can hear my teammates making noises of surprise and fear, but it isn't enough to make me turn around to face them.

"What huge chakra," Kiba mutters, his voice strained. "Plus that sand has a pungent odor."

"Odor?" Shino questions.

Kiba doesn't respond at first. It seems to me like he can't get the words out. Then he says, "A strong odor of blood."

"Ugh," the Rain Ninja grunts. "A wall of sand?"

"Yes," Kankuro responds. "A sand based total defense. The sand is packed into the gourd with chakra. It protects his body and the surrounding area. A jutsu only allowed by Gaara. Plus it all happens regardless of Gaara's will. For some reason, it takes place automatically. Basically, against Gaara, all attacks are useless."

"That's not possible," the Rain Ninja breathes. His voice is desperate and furious. "Those needles have the power to pierce five millimeters of steel."

Apparently, Gaara's sand is much more powerful, much stronger than steel. As if he wasn't terrifying enough already.

"Damn," the Rain Ninja mutters.

"You cannot defeat our Gaara," Kankuro says. But he isn't smug about it. He is the picture of resentment and fear. I have no doubt he hates his brother, for the "monster" that he is.

"SHUT UP!" The Rain Ninja suddenly charges forward, as Gaara' wall of sand now lies around his feet. Gaara doesn't react, except to make a handsign. Then he thrusts one hand forward, fingers claw-like, palm facing forward and twisted almost upside down. "Sand Coffin," he says coolly.

The sand on the ground wraps around the Rain Ninja's ankles, stopping him in his tracks. It locks onto his arms as well, quickly entrapping him in a cocoon of deadly sand. Everyone besides the Sand Ninja gasps in surprise. I remain motionless and silent, too afraid to do anything but watch with wide, scared eyes.

The Ninja's umbrellas drop to the ground, embedding themselves deep in the dirt.

"The sand in the air and on the ground can be controlled by Gaara," Temari explains, eyes locked on the dead-man before her.

The Rain Ninja struggles to speak. "This is... ugh..."

"Shut up," Gaara commands. "I can cover your mouth and kill you." He picks up one of the fallen umbrellas, opening it wide in front of him. "But that's just too pitiful." Moving the umbrella above his head, he stick out an arm, his hand in the same position as before, for his Sand Coffin technique.He slowly crushes his fingers together in a fist. "Sand Burial!" he says, and the sand crushes the poor Rain Ninja to death, splattering his blood everywhere in thick, black globs.

I swallow hard as some of the blood lands on my sandals.

Gaara, under his umbrella, is unaffected by the torrent of blood pouring down on him. He slowly lifts the umbrella, just enough so that the other Ninja can see his demon eyes. "No suffering," he says. "Because I killed him so quickly, he didn't have time to experience it."

He pauses, watching the horrified expressions of the other Rain Ninja.

"The blood mixes with the flowing sand," he says coldly. "And grants more power to its killer."

A shaking Rain Ninja pulls something from a pouch, placing it on the ground. His words barely understandable through his quavering voice, he says, "We... we'll give you the scroll. Please... let us go."

But Gaara only throws the umbrella aside, freeing up his other hand. His head down, he throws out both arms, hands in the same crushing motion as before.

The sand quickly wraps up the other two Ninja, who cry out.

"NO!"

"PLEASE NO!!"

As the sand covers their faces, and Gaara moves to close his hands, Temari calls out cheerfully, "Bye bye."

More blood covers the clearing.

"Let's get out of here, guys!" Kiba whispers fearfully and urgently. The three of us are only too happy to agree with him. But Gaara's voice stops me cold.

"I haven't had enough yet."

His eyes turn towards the bushes where we're currently hiding. My team, having made to move out, has their backs to the scene, but they've heard him too. Their eyes widen, sweat dripping down their foreheads.

"Gaara!" Kankuro complains. "This is too dangerous for me and Temari. We only need the one scrolli anyway, so let's just go."

"Are you scared?" Gaara asks. "Coward."

Gaara looks as though he's ready to kill his own brother, hand ready for another powerful jutsu. "Don't tell me what to do, you piece of trash," he says, eyes staring straight into Kankuro's. Kankuro looks like he's scared out of his mind, but it doesn't show in his voice. "Give it a rest sometimes," he says, putting his face in Gaara's. "Why don't you listen to your big brother Gaara?!" he demands.

Gaara replies, without a trace of feeling in his voice, "I've never once thought of you guys as my siblings. Get in my way and I'll kill you."

Gaara and Kankuro are locked in a staring contest, a test of wills. If something doesn't break this tension soon, I know there will be one less Sand Ninja participating in this Exam.

"Gaara," Temari pipes up, a weak smile on her face, her eyes closed. "Stop alright?" She holds her hands up in a placating gesture. "Don't say such cold things. Please, listen to your sister, ok?"

Her eyes shift to the bush we're crouching behind, and her eyes lock with mine. She's known we were here? For how long, I wonder?

"Gaara!" Temari shouts in dismay, as Gaara'a hand, facing us, begins to close into a fist.

My teammates whirl around in panic, breathing harsh and erratic.

But Gaara's only retrieving the cork for his goard. "Fine," he mutters, turning away towards the opposite end of the clearing. Temari, with a last look at me, goes with him, Kankuro on her heels.

"So that's what you meant," Kiba breathes, as Gaara's retreating figure moves out of earshot.

"What is it?" Shino asks, terrified but determined not to show it.

"Akamaru was saying that that big guy was in trouble, that he was going to be killed by that kid. Anyway, that kid from the Hidden Sand, he is way too dangerous."

I cannot agree more.