Invasion - 1

Tama watched ninja scrambling to remove Sato from the arena below, while Gaara was tackled by his not-so-thrilled teammates. She had honestly believed that Sato was going to win.

Another truth, however, was that she did not very well know the extent of power his opponent possessed; or most of the other competing genin for that matter, 'I was so sure he was going to do it…he tried so hard. It's as if he's been attacking a brick wall all this time!'

Miserable over his defeat and more so over his injuries, Tama stood and proceeded to scoot down the aisle, not wanting to see any more of the upcoming fights.

'Sato didn't deserve to be beaten like that! I just don't understand it…' She was halfway up the stairs to the second level when she heard a cry from the crowd, followed by a deafening crash from where the Hokage and Kazekage had been seated.

Tama stumbled, knocked over by the force of the nearby explosion. She could only see a cloud of smoke and dust from where the Sandaime had been, but it was then she felt her heart begin to beat frantically in her chest, 'Something's very wrong! Relax. Stay calm and just keep moving. Whatever's happening the Leaf ninja will-'

She frowned at the soft, misty feathers drifting in front of her face, making her eyelids feel heavy. It reminded her of the irritating genjutsu Sato would practice on her just to get on her nerves when he was bored, "Release!" She had muttered it with a seal in annoyance, not sure where exactly it had come from.

The black haired girl brushed off her pants and proceeded up the stairs with a huff, somewhat nervous, not overlooking all of the people in the audience who were nodding off as she passed by.

"Was it a…sleeping genjutsu?" Tama asked herself quizzically, not comprehending it, "Why would they put the whole audience to sleep if the exam isn't even close to being finished? Unless it had something to do with that blast…"

She planted her feet on the second level and rolled up the sleeves of her shirt. The ice blue color clashed with the tan of her skin, making her very noticeable, 'Am I the only one who's awake? Just what is going on here?'

She felt like a sheep separated from its flock, except that the flock was asleep while she wandered about trying to find an explanation for it.

In the back of her mind Tama was aware that some sort of attack was beginning. Even if she lacked the knowledge of who was responsible and what the goal of the raid was, she knew that if she stayed she'd soon be in no better physical condition than Sato.

Trying not to panic, she trotted down the empty overhang, searching for signs of any other Leaf shinobi. To her dismay, she saw no one who was awake.

"Over there! He missed one!" Tama snapped her head around to see a ninja garbed in dark attire pointing at her from his position concealed within the audience, "Get her before she leaves!"

A moment later she was running full-out down the hall, keeping track of her pursuers as they appeared in her peripheral. She doubted she'd get away if they followed but she wasn't yet frightened.

Three of them blocked her path and one stopped behind her once she halted. Tama felt her stomach do a flip at the sight of their head bands, "Sound ninja? What is it that you're planning?"

"Be a good girl and go back to sleep now, what do you say?" The leader, it appeared, didn't seem interested in fighting. He crossed his arms in amusement, "You don't have anything to worry about…"

Her fists balled automatically and she leapt. The Oto nin on her far right reacted the fastest, moving to counter her. She tripped him with no effort and let his head connect with the nearest wall, while delivering a pitiless uppercut to the leader who followed. She could hear him gag as he bit his tongue off.

The last two attacked in unison, and she took an offensive stance, her face composed, "Maito Diversionary Tactic!" She leapt up and they skidded to a stop, unable to evade as her hands swept down and knocked their heads together.

After that she chose not to loiter. Tama continued running, knowing they'd be following her again soon enough. She wore a smug smile at the fact they hadn't realized she could fight, 'Sexist bastards! I hope they don't forget they got their butts kicked by a girl!'

Her heart sank as another Sound shinobi appeared ahead of her, drawing out kunai. Instantly, her hands went to her sides, ready to counter with her own knives, yet she had none.

'Well duh!' She mentally slapped herself, ready to strangle her parents for telling her it was impractical to carry weapons around, 'From now on I bring them, even if it pisses them off!'

Tama put her arms up in front of her, preparing to block the projectiles that were coming at her, except that they didn't hit. Gai exploded onto the scene with a valiant cry, knocking the Sound ninja out instantly with a flying kick.

"Uncle Gai!" She was relieved to see a familiar face, and scurried over to him.

He gave her an expectant look, "This is no time for games, Tama-chan. Our village has come under attack!" Her onyx eyes were wide at the news, "You must leave the stadium immediately, these ninja are treacherous!"

"But I…I don't have any weapons with me!" Tama felt her voice crack nervously, "Do I have to go alone?"

Another Oto nin approached and Gai knocked him out and tossed him down the nearby stairs, "You will join Lee and Tenten once outside, understood? I've sent them there already and they will be waiting for you."

Tama crouched down over one of the ninja her uncle had pummeled, examining his holsters, and taking what weapons she pleased, "Okay, I'll find them…what about you?"

"I must defend this place for now. I will find you when I can," Gai gave her a reassuring grin, "Now go!"

With a compliant nod she departed, continuing down the walkway. She ran past Kakashi who was courteous enough to dispose of a lone Sound nin who began to follow her.

Tama hadn't exactly planned an escape route, but thankfully, she was a frequent visitor of the arena and knew its layout well. She turned right into a closed stairwell and jumped over the railing, landing silently on the floor below. After verifying the coast was clear, she proceeded to slink down the nearest hallway.

Every sound that echoed in the hall had her on edge, even her own footsteps had her wary of her surroundings.

She peaked around a corner and pulled her head back, waiting for a sentry Sound ninja to pass by. Tama took a deep breath and then moved ahead, sneaking down a small, easily overlooked corridor where an emergency exit was closed off by a lock and chain.

With Maito-strength, she pulled one of the double doors off of its hinges as quietly as possible.

Once outside, Tama abandoned the exit and fled for the cover of the nearest tree, from which she planned to keep lookout for her uncle's students. She balanced on a branch thick with leaves, hoping it would be enough to keep her out of sight, 'Where are they? He said they'd be here!'

Even though she had only waited a grand total of two and a half minutes, it was more than she could bear. Her anxiety had her legs itching to guide her to the nearest safe place, which was probably no longer safe.

'Maybe they've already gone ahead without me, I don't blame them…I can barely stand still myself!' There was no sign of them, and Tama decided it would be wiser to keep going, 'They couldn't have gotten far…'

Tama dropped down from the safety of the tree and after a short prayer she bolted.

She had known it was risky, but she hoped she would not be spotted immediately when she ran for it. Luck, it seemed, was not on her side today.

'More of them?' Her heart was in overdrive, frenetically delivering blood to her legs as a small squad of Sound nin chased after her, 'This is just ridiculous!'

Taking a leaf out of Lee's book after seeing him fight earlier, she opened one of her own chakra gates and ran pell-mell down the street in a blur of pale blue and black.

They notified a group just around the corner, much to her disgruntlement, and she decided it would be better to improvise than to let them herd her farther into the belly of the town where the remainders of their units were most likely waiting.

On her way past a sign with directions to the nearest shopping center, Tama reached out and grabbed the pole, letting her pent up momentum swing her around, back in the direction of her pursuers.

She grinned like a madwoman as she soared past them. The squad leader angrily told his cronies to about-face. They did so with startling speed and followed her as she disappeared down into the side streets.