__Sara Pov__

There was dead silence for a split second after the Hokage said one sentence. Of course, that always depends on the sentence. This time the sentence happened to be:

"We'll have to have preliminary rounds before the third round starts."

Dead silence. Which was of course followed by the storm of questions from us genin. I stayed silent in my spot next to Neji.

As if reading my thoughts he said, "the silence before the storm."

I smirked a little at that. It was just something he was bound to say. If he hadn't taken the opprotunity to make some proverbial sentence, I would have been worried.

Once the crowd was settled a proctor walked forward to explain in greater detail.

"From now on... it will be... each person for themselves... no more teams," each break in the sentence being a cough or two let out. He either had a serious cold, in which case he shouldn't be proctor-I didn't want to get sick-or he lived with that cough his whole life. I would bet on the latter, because the Hokage isn't so cruel as to have a sick man as judge.

"Now that that is all... cleared up. Is there any...one that would like to... drop out?"

"What!? The prelims are starting now?" I heard one girl yell out. Not sure quite who it was.

"Yes. If anyone feels... like they can't battle... they should drop out now. It won't affect... your team anymore."

There were some disscussions amongst the crowd. In all Kabuto, another girl, and an entire team dropped out. Next to me was Huroin's team and there was a furious fight going on. I couldn't catch what it was about, but it involved a lot of arm waving and pointing of fingers. At last it seems they came to a decision.

"I'll be dropping out!" Lang proclaimed.

 Kairili raised her hand as well, "I'm leaving too."

For some reason this surprised me a lot less than you would think. I knew Huroin was strong in his determination, but after our team beating their team, seemingly effortless, their conviction was shaken. They would come back in another 6 months, and at that time I had no doubt that they would become chunins.

The proctor looked us over. After seeing no one else contemplating dropping out he nodded briskly. "We'll move on to... the matches then." A board uncovered and the names began to shuffle around. After a few seconds it settled on two names. "Sasuke and Yoroi. If everyone else wou...ld make your way... to the veiwing area."

Everyone filed up the stairs calmly. I stood next to my team and Hitomi quietly slipped in to stand behind us. We were on the opposite side from Naruto and Sakura, standing next to the sand ninja who had threatened Kono and Dai.

The matches progressed smoothly until it came to Naruto's match. Before now all of the matches showed great skills each possessed as ninja. Naruto had to break the trend by winning with a fart. Granted it was classic and I almost fell from the balcony-like stands from laughter, but still. Very uncool.

After the shuffling of the board my name popped up. I was fighting Takeo. I guess that fighting my own teammate wasn't surprising anymore. Not after the first two parts of the test.

__3rd Pov__

Takeo and Sara hopped down calmly into the ring. They didn't say anything for a moment, but finally Sara spoke.

"I guess we can finally solve our mystery from earlier." The spectators looked down confused, but it was obvious that there wouldn't be any elaboration.

Takeo considered that. "Hadn't we already figured that out?"

"Takeo, we both know you went easy on me. If you want to become a chunin though, you'll have to come at me without reserves." She glared at him a little. It wasn't a cold glare, more playful if anything.

Takeo openly smirked, "what will you do if I hold back?"

Dead serious now she looked him in the eye. "I'll forfeit if you hold back." A small frown flitted across his face, but it was quickly surpressed.

Nobody else said anything and the match was started.

Without hesitation Takeo slit his wrist. There were screams from one or two of the spectators *cough* Ino and Sakura *cough* which was somewhat understandable as Takeo was slightly good looking. As blood didn't drip to the floor though there were murmurs of confusion. Takeo's eyes glowed red and he completely ignored them.

As everyone was focused on Takeo they didn't see what Sara was doing. In fact, when they finally remembered her they could no longer locate her where she had been. Takeo looked equally surprised, only having averted his eyes for a moment.

Sara must have made a slight sound however, because Takeo quickly turned and held up his hands so they almost crossed. Sara started her downward strike and everyone stood in confusion and worry. Takeo didn't move. As the crowd got even more worried they would be seeing a death two blades shot into the boy's hands. They clanged as they crossed. The sword hit them and there was a hiss of steel on steel as the two weapons pushed against eachother trying to force their way through. Though Takeo had the advantage of two blades, he couldn't remove one without a great loss of force. Sara, on the other hand, had gravity on her side with the downward motion.

With her left hand free she grabbed Takeo's wrist and using it as a focal point, pulled his arm down, swinging her legs up to land a solid kick to the jaw. As the kick made contact she released his hand, letting him fly backwards.

Sara was almost too late to dodge his follow up attack of blood. When she had landed the kick Takeo had allowed some of his blood to spatter the floor. Now with a movement of his finger it created spikes that shot towards Sara. Almost unconcious of the motion she jumped up into the air, flipping in the process. It was a lucky move on her part, for when she flipped she saw the spikes change direction. Twisting even more in the air she managed to dodge and the blood flew past her.

Landing on her feet, Sara dashed off to the left, dodging the blood spikes as she went. Like missiles they tracked her, keeping her constantly busy. The crowd was in an awed silence at the high level of the fight before them. Or perhaps it was because of the boy who clamly stood there controling blood as if everyone did it. In all fairness, his family did.

Sara gradually made her way closer to Takeo. When she was close enough that he couldn't keep up the speed and not harm himself he stopped the blood spikes. Her sword screached against his knife on the left. That means his right arm, which held another knife, was left unaccounted for. The crowd gasped, completely caught up into the fight, as the knife curved a shimmering arc towards her side. Sara, for her part, simply blocked down. Her forarm made contact with the edge of the blade, but when they seperated again there was no sign of blood.

Unseen by everyone she had actually had a striker against her forearm, quickly putting it away afterwards. In that sense it was a good skill to have, pickpocketing that is. It kept the hands fast, and the mind sharp. That was what Sara thought, which was why she was constantly stealing Kakashi's book or trading cigarette packs for suckers on Asuma.

Takeo, who had yet to know of Sara's skill with her hands looked to her in confusion. "How are you not cut?"

"Quis scit?" There were murmurs at what Sara had said. No one on the stands had heard the language before, not even the Hokage.

Sara put her sword away, but Takeo kept hold of his knives. Everyone thought she was a little odd, for she had the upper hand with the sword it seemed. The general consensus for those who didn't know her was that she was about to give up, but team 7, her new team, and the ones she had worked on knew better. Sara never gave up.

They continued the fight. Sara stepped in close, too close for the knives to be of much use. If he had trained more with his knives, Takeo probably would have used the hilts, but as it were the thought left his mind. Sara quickly sent a stunning elbow to the side of the jaw. His head snapped to the left, dazed. Using the moment she grabbed just over his hand near the hilt of the knife on the right. Her left hand came up and hit his elbow, extending it past normal, as she kicked him in the stomach.

In a cry of pain he loosened his grip on that knife, and she quickly stole it from his grasp. The kick sent him stumbling back a little and now they faced eachother on equal terms, knife on knife.

Takeo quickly moved the knife from his left hand to the right, favoring his dominant hand. Now the knives were held as if the two were looking in the mirror. Sara, through training, had become ambidextrous and it no longer mattered which hand held a weapon.

There was a quick knife fight, which ended with Sara kicking the knife from his grasp. Now disarmed he stood a ways away from Sara and started to manipulate the blood again. Expecting this she dropped her knife and moved in closer. Throughout the taijutsu battle, Sara weaved her handsigns, making sure Takeo didn't catch her doing so.

Eventually the handsigns were finished and the jutsu activated.

Sara landed on her feet a pace or two away after assuring the jutsu had activated. In a mockery of Shikamaru, Sara said, "Doton: Te no Ryuchi no Jutsu seiko." There was a few snorts from the stands, and Sara smirked.

Takeo struggled against the bonds holding his hands a moment before he realized he was stuck fast. He drooped a little, seemingly in defeat.

"I didn't know you had this jutsu."

"Never had to use it until now. Training paid off it seems." Sara smiled at her captured teammate.

The smile faded as she noticed the blood gathering towards him. Almost as if in anticipation she began her handsigns. The blood flew at the stone around Takeo's hands, cutting through and freeing him. The judge, who had been about to call the match, backed off again. The crowd was beyond being shocked. There was a stiff silence that hung about the air, nobody cheered, as if when they did the fight would be ruined.

As soon as his hands were free, Sara's next jutsu was activated. It wouldn't make it in time to stop the next attack however, and as the blade of blood was thrown towards her she neatly spun to the side. The attack wasn't completely dodged however, and she held her shoulder while hissing in pain. Takeo was now utterly trapped in Doton: 4 Kabe no Hakodzume no Jutsu, unable to move even his finger.

The audience relaxed again and an audible sigh was let out from the release of tension. The proctor was about to step forward again, but a hand held out by Sara stopped him. The crowd already chatted about the match, assuming it was over. Though Takeo had been using his fingers to control the blood, that was only to make certain that it was accurate. Now that he no longer had movement in his fingers, he resulted to the next best thing. His eyes. The one thing, who's motion Sara was unable to stop.

Fully aware, when the blood went whipping up to break the barrier once again, Sara was already in motion. The bonds that held him broke, once again shattered as they were buffetted by Takeo's blood. He glanced around, catching sight of the veins in Sara's body. Too quickly for his eyes to follow Sara stepped, stopping behind him and pushing a nerve that Neji had shown her. Even without Takeo holding back on the ocular power of his eyes, she had beaten them with her speed.

Takeo sank to the ground, unconcious. The fight was finally over, though almost none of them had seen that final move, distracted as they were. Sara was declared the winner and Takeo was taken away on a stretcher. Moving quickly Sara followed after them to get some bandages for her shoulder.

The matches progressed as normal, until it reached the last fight after Choji's. The match was Huroin against Ryota. Though he fought bravely Ryota could soon tell that against Huroin he was no match. Huroin moved and changed direction like a dragonfly. The unpredictability soon overwhelmed Ryota. Almost two minutes after the begining of the match, Ryota calmly held up a hand in a gesture saying stop.

Huroin regarded him cautiously until Ryota spoke. "I'm outmatched, I forfeit."

"Then the win...ner is Huroin," declared the proctor.

All the fights over, the genin who had won gathered before the Hokage. Drawing lots it ended up so that Sara would fight Huroin, the winner fighting against whoever won the Naruto vs. Neji match.

"You will have a month to train. Those who have shown all of their skills can use this time to gain new ones. Others who have some tricks up their sleeves can train to sharpen those. In a months time, the feudal lords will have gathered to watch the final fights. Show them the best fights you can, until then you may do whatever." The Hokage waved off the genin and they quickly departed.

Some went to the hospital, being admitted and laying down to heal injuries. Sara, after stopping by the house, went off towards the training grounds.

"It's nice to see you Sara, how have you been? I see you survived the Forest of Death." 

Sara faced Kari, who's back was turned, a smile playing over her face. "Easy for you to say. In all likelyhood you already knew I would."

"I may have taken a little peek." Kari admitted with a small smile. Her hair blew in a sudden wind, revealing a mark that had been hidden on the back of her neck. A simple design, using grey and gold. It was a swallow, flying towards the left. It was completely gold, save the shading here and there with a light grey. Her husband would have a matching swallow in the same location.

"Now that we both know that you're a cheater, would you help me in my training?"

Kari stood for a moment, as if considering it, "I'll help you, but not with the training you have in mind."

"What will we be doing then?" Sara looked at her, prepared for anything. After what Kari had shown and told Sara the last time they talked, Sara was sure nothing would surprise her. How wrong she was.

"We'll be regaining all of your memories."

Sara didn't quite know what to say. For the longest time she had felt incomplete without her memories. Bits and pieces here and there had begun to come to her, but it was a sad compromise. To have all her memories. The sentence floating through her head made her giddy with the thought. She could finally tell Shikamaru her past.

"Sara!" speak of the devil.

Kari flitted off into the trees. Sara pretended to have been throwing kunai at a target. She turned, with a look of innocence on her face, to look at him.

"Heya pineapple." Sara stood up straighter and walked over to him, "Glad we both made it to the third round."

"Yeah, what will you be doing during your month?" Shikamaru looked at her interestedly. In all honesty, aside from team practice, he had never seen her training.

Sara looked deep in thought, "not sure yet. I'm hoping to find someone to teach me. Who knows, maybe I'll go out of Konoha and travel a little."

"Speaking of travel, what did you say during your fight? I don't know that language."

"Oh! Who knows," Sara said it as a statement, but it came out sounding a little like a question.

Shika looked at her slightly annoyed, "You know don't you?"

"Yes, why else would I say it?"

"Then what does it mean?"

"Who knows?"

Slightly annoyed, both of them shot a little glare at the other.

"I'm just asking what it means." Shika stated in a calm manner.

"And I'm telling you!" Sara was exasperated by now.

"So what does it mean?"

"Who knows?"

"You do!" Now Sara let out a little laugh. "What's so funny?"

"This entire conversation is," Sara stated truthfully.

"I just want to know what it means. What does quis scit mean?"

Sara was just barely holding in her laughter, "Who knows?"

Finally unable to hold it back, Sara full on laughed. Shika's retort was lost as he gazed at her in confusion.

"Will you just tell me what quis scit meant?" Shika looked down at her. Sara finally regained her composure.

"Pineapple, quis scit means 'Who knows?' I was telling you the whole time." There was a slight blush that fluttered across Shika's face in embarresment. Sara smiled knowingly.

"Never speak of this." Shikamaru said seriously.

"Well, at least now I have something to blackmail you with."

Shika hung his head, realizing Sara would use it too. He looked back up with a slight smile tugging at his lazy expression though.

"Sometimes I wonder if you plan these things, or if most of it is coincidence." Shika looked at her, trying to ascertain which it was.

Sara still smiled, "I guess you'll never really know. After all, a magician never reveals their secrets."

"So now your a magician?" Shika looked at her in doubt.

Sara smiled knowingly. "Indeed I am. For example, without using my newfound blackmail, I will now make you pay for my dinner."

Warily Shika opened his mouth and asked, "How?"

"By using your wallet of course!" So saying Sara held up the wallet she had swiped from his pocket.

Shika just simply sighed and started to walk off. Sara trotted over and fell into step next to him.

"Should I have you buy me groceries as well?" Sara glanced at Shika from the corner of her eye.

"Please no. I don't want to be broke," Shika pleaded with her. It wasn't much of a plead because his tone was the same as always, but it was close enough.

"Not even a pineapple?"

"Not even a pineapple."

"Fine. I just thought you would. In honor of your name and all," there was a sly smile on Sara's face.

"I don't know what goes through that head of yours, but right now I'm not sure I want to."

"My mind is fairly simple pineapple. For most people, it would be confusing thanks to my genius, but you might follow my thoughts."

"Glad to see you're humble," Shika had just the faintest hint of sarcasm lacing his voice.

"Now you're going shopping with me. I'll pay, but you're carrying all the bags."

"What a pain."

Shikamaru and Sara spent the rest of the day together. Shikamaru even stayed over at Sara's new house for dinner. For the next month they would do nothing but train, and it was nice to have one night where they just relaxed.

At the door Shikamaru turned to face Sara before leaving. "What language were you speaking before?" He looked to her in interest. In all the studying, none of the countries spoke that language.

"Oh. I guess you could call it... latin."

"Where did you learn that?"

"Traveling when I was younger."

"Will you tell me of your travels one day? Sounds like you remember fairly well."

"I'll make you a deal. If you can wait until the day before the third round of chunin exams, I will promise to tell you my entire past. During this break I'll be regaining my memories."

"I can wait until then," Shika nodded fairly. Then he looked up curiously, "Could you say something in latin again?"

Sara nodded. "Amicum meum es."

"What does that mean?" Shika looked at her curious. Not knowing the language he found it completely fascinating.

Sara smiled evily, knowing this would drive him crazy, "I'm not telling."

Shikamaru's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "How about a hint?"

"I said meum."

"That's a fact."

"It's as close to a hint as you're getting."

Shika sighed in frustration, though only a few would be able to tell. The sigh sounded more bored than anything else.

"Will you tell me later?"

Sara looked as if to be considering it. "Perhaps."

"Troublesome woman," he said it in an accepting tone though.

When Shika finally left and Sara was finally fading off to sleep the sentence flashed through her mind again. Maybe she would tell him one day, but for now she had too much fun leaving him hanging.