WE'RE BACK! Kinda.

As the two Hyuga landed on the ground floor, Naruko leaned forward, arms resting against the railing. "This will be interesting."

At her words, Sasuke nodded, while Sakura asked, "What do you mean sensei? Shouldn't it just be his win?"

It was Sasuke who spoke up his eyes trained on Hinata. "You're wrong, even if your reasons are correct. Neji is older, taller, and a genius. By every account, he should win this match. But - there's something strange about Hinata. There always has been."

Naruko nodded at that, while Sakura still looked a bit confused, but focused on Hinata. "Watch Neji's body language, watch Hinata's. They're about to confront each other." Just as Naruko finished speaking, down on the battlefield Neji opened his mouth.

"Hinata-sama." His voice was carefully blank, eyes staring not quite directly at Hinata.

"Neji." Whereas Neji's voice was clearly artificially blank, a careful mask, Hinata's was not. It was blank - but not from a mask. It was cold, hollow, and empty. It held regality within, as if she was above everything. There was a moment of silence the audience quieting down as the two clansmen spoke so few words to each other before it was broken, "You disgraced the Hyuga clan with your team's foolish actions before the first round."

"Hinata-sa-"

"Enough. Get ready." Hinata did not get into a fighting position, her Byakugan did not activate, and yet the reaction was obvious. Neji's hands instinctively raised, his Byakugan activated, and as he did so - many members of the audience, particularly the Genin, shuffled. Hinata's chakra did not raise, she did not release killing intent, there was nothing, yet it was in that nothing that any trained Shinobi would instinctively react.

The notion that something should have changed as Hinata stared at Neji with disdain, yet nothing did. It was aberrant, something against every Shinobi's carefully trained instincts. It was within this duality of preparation versus no preparation, that the match was called to start. "Hajime!"

As the proctor's voice echoed out, Neji went on the offense. He was fast, faster than many Chunin could ever hope to be, and his blows were seemingly accurate. Both palms went to carefully selected hard-to-defend locations, filled with chakra. Yet, Naruko's muttered words broke the silence, "He's lost."

At this point Neji was merely a blur for most of the Genin in attendance, his blow seemingly about to connect with Hinata. "Maah... how scary." The muttered words of Mamashi echoed out right after Naruko's confirming her words. 

It happened in a split second. Hinata's muscles did not tense. They did not flex. Her eyes didn't even track Neji as he moved towards her. By all accounts, as his hand was mere millimeters from her, it should have been impossible for her to react, move, and then strike.

Neji went flying out, back arched from the foot that had been planted directly into his stomach. Before he could even slam into the wall, Hinata appeared behind him in mid-air, the other foot connected with his back, and slammed him in the opposite direction, back towards where the original blow had taken place. 

Next to Naruko, Sasuke's eyes widened as his Sharingan had long since been activated, with each blow, he twitched trying to strain and track them. 

At once, the Kage-level spectators came to the same conclusion independently of each other. Space-Time Ninjutsu. Apart from two. Naruko and Hiruzen.

'Kurama.' 

'I see it.' 

At once, Naruko and Hiruzen's gazes locked, and an entire conversation took place with one look. Two of - if not the two greatest masters of the Elements Shinobi had ever produced simultaneously came to the exact same conclusion. It was within this silent conversation a question was asked. For they both had realized, this was no Ninjutsu. This was no Bloodline technique. This was not something a 12-year-old Hyuga heiress should be able to use.

'Shinjutsu.' Inside Naruko's mind, a deep growl escaped from Kurama, titanic claws slammed into the bars of his cage as he added another word. 'OTSUTSUKI!' 

Yet, Naruko did not focus on the Biju's wrath, instead - her silent conversation continued, and then it finished. The conclusion? Hinata Hyuga would live, and be observed. For now.

-Orochimaru POV- 

He licked his lips, snake-like eyes easily tracking the Hyuga girl slipping through space as if she were a fish in water. 'Fufufufufufu. How interesting.' The fight was brutal, excessive, and completely unfair. Orochimaru did not care for the excessive waste for the purpose the Hyuga girl wished to enact upon her clansmen - but each to their own.

No, he was far more focused on her movements, not her actions. 'Interesting, Interesting! I'll have to get her DNA. I wonder, is it something from her body, or her soul? It'll be difficult if it's her soul... If it is, I'll have to grab it during the invasion. The breakthroughs I can have with this! My scientific understanding of space and time will advance by decades because of her!' He ignored the looks filled with fear that were subtly sent by his subordinates, why should he care? He had more important things to think about!

For SCIENCE would soon be rapidly advanced!

-Sasuke POV- 

The fight had been quick, but once more it had reminded him of how far he had to go. Hinata, that Gaara and a few other people who were in this exam were flat-out stronger than him. Perhaps, in another life that would have enraged him.

But, as he looked at Sakura, then Naruko, and thought of Sai, that rage never built, never emerged. Sasuke only felt confident and anticipation grew inside of him. For he knew he would get stronger, his team would get stronger. He would surpass them all, and then face that man. 'However...' As he gazed at Hinata who arrogantly walked back up to the balcony, Neji having hurriedly been sent to get medical attention, his eyes narrowed. She reminded him too much of that man. 

His pulse quickened for a brief moment, but a slow exhale calmed him. 'He isn't worth it. Remember he isn't worth it.' Calmed down, his eyes widened as he saw what was on the board.

Sasuke Uchiha versus Gaara of Sunagakure 

A deep frown appeared on Sasuke's face as he stared at the board before a soft hand landed on his shoulder. "Do your best, and we'll be proud, y'know?" Looking back, Naruko was looking at him with a smile on her face, instantly understanding his hesitation. "You've more than proved yourself to me, Sakura, and Sai. Just do your best here, and be careful. 'Kay?"

"Yeah! Do your best Sasuke!" 

As the words from Naruko-sensei and Sakura washed over him, for a brief second a smile appeared on Sasuke's face, before instantly disappearing. "Tch. Who says I'll lose to him?" Vaulting over the railing, he landed solidly on the stone ground floor and was met with the pale blue-green eyes of Gaara. The famed Sharingan for once was fearlessly met by a non-Dojutsu user straight on, and for once, that person did not fall immediately under Genjutsu.

 "Surrender Uchiha, you stand no chance." The words of Gaara were deeper than any person of his age should have been, his words were filled with grit, and yet there was no emotion in them. Once more, this lack of emotion was different. It was not carefully controlled, nor was it a regal heiress overlooking everyone. Instead, it was the uncaring tone of a monster who simply did not care.

Sasuke continued to stare directly at Gaara, unwavering. He had nothing to fear. Perhaps Gaara was stronger than him, his titanic and dense chakra nearly drowning him. Perhaps he was more skilled, and perhaps he held one of the Nine within him. Did that matter?

He was Uchiha. He was a Konohagakure Shinobi. He was the student of the soon-to-be greatest Shinobi who ever lived! His Sharingan eyes narrowed. 'You may be stronger than me, but that isn't enough to make me give up!' Tensions grew as Sasuke refused to audibly answer, the air thickening in anticipation and preparation of chakra. Before...

"Hajime!"