Chunin Exams 2

"We should go to the public bath after, Sasuke. I don't mind it since we'll be training, but we're still a little dirty and sweaty from the mission..."

"D-do you really think we should?"

"Of course! We should go!"

Bathing with a girl her age seems immoral. I've been making a lot of excuses to avoid going to the public bath house with her, but I cannot think of anything at the moment.

Like she said, we're dirty and sweaty from the mission. We're going to train too, so it's only logical for us to go to the bath together and clean ourselves after. Knowing that, making an excuse now will only make me look suspicious.

I start to panic, and I begin to look around in search of help. I could at least try to change the topic and buy time to decide what to do later.

"Hm? That person is..."

A silhouette of a person hanging up-side-down on a tree came into view up ahead. The shadow appeared huge, only when I came closer that I realized that the person creepily hanging on that tree was merely a kid.

"Gah!" I screamed in shock.

That red hair, that crossed-arms pose, and most importantly, that tattoo on his wide forehead and the humongous gourd on his back...

"Gaara!" I accidentally mumbled out his name.

I clasped my mouth right away, but just when I thought he didn't hear my voice, his head creepily turned towards me and our eyes met.

"Do you know that guy, Sasuke?"

"N-not at all! I wonder who that person is?"

"Right? He's so weird hanging up-side-down on a tree like that..."

I decided to ignore him and pretend I didn't notice his stare. Together with Sakura, I awkwardly walked past him.

"You..."

"Eep!"

I was so tensed that I jumped up a little when I heard his voice.

"You said my name... Do I know you?" he asked.

"Did I...? Perhaps you're just hearing things?"

"I'm sure of it. I heard you call my name," he said, assured of himself.

"I'm sorry, but I really didn't... Uhm, we're busy, so if you don't mind..."

I tried to excuse myself and walk away, but just as I did so, Gaara immediately jump off the tree he was onto and blocked our way.

"You're a Genin from this hidden leaf village, aren't you?" he said, taking a simple glance at Sakura and then staring intently back at me again.

"We are," Sakura answered. "You look like a ninja too... That headband... So you're from the hidden sand village?" she concludes after seeing the iron plate tied on his gourd's strap.

"You have keen eyes, but I'm not talking to you. I will prefer it if you remain quiet."

"Talk about rude!" Sakura protested.

"Now, you with the black hair... You seem to know my name already, so then, why don't you introduce yourself and tell me yours too?"

"It's Sasuke. Uchiha Sasuke."

There's no reason for me to hide my name, so I did not hesitate to give it to him.

"I see... Sasuke, is it? You're interesting. As you seem to know already, my name is Gaara of the sand."

Crap! He clearly has his eyes on me now!

If my memory serves me right, the Gaara in front of me now is still the murderous rebel who would not hesitate to hurt someone. I don't want him preying on me!

"I'm quite busy at the moment, so I won't be poking at you right now, but we'll surely meet again if you're going to take the chunin exams. Until then."

Just like that, he walked away and leave.

"Hmph! What was that guy about?" Sakura pouted.

Haha... I thought it would happen soon...

What should I do? Gaara appearing in the village means that the Chunin exam is finally starting.

W-will I survive the chaos ahead...?