Meirloud on deviantART drew this fanart for Shadowed Sun. Thank you, once more. :)

Time passed on once again, and after our argument I was quick to apologize. Sasuke seemed a little temperamental about it, but Naruto and I talked to Grandfather the same night; after Grandfather gave us his blessing, we both explained everything to Sasuke. Surprisingly, Sasuke was very open-minded about it, and very pleased that we told him.

We had taken one more C-Rank mission and once again, it escalated into a B-Rank, but nothing really truly noteworthy happened during that time. It was then that I began to wonder if Team 7 was cursed to receive mis-ranked missions forever, actually. After that mission, we were stuck on D-Ranks for another few weeks.

Once we finished our missions, we trained together for a little while—Sasuke actually stayed longer to train with the team than off on his own. During the weekdays we stayed together till pretty late in the day, but on the weekend, we were left to our own devices to train. Kakashi had pretty much kidnapped Sasuke to train his Sharingan—much to my disappointment—so I was left to either train on my own or with my brother.

All of us mastered the ninjutsu that Kakashi had taught us at Wave. The Gale Palm, for Naruto, and the Discharge for me and Sasuke. The Gale Palm was a simple C-Rank technique that had the user slam his palms together to condense wind-chakra before releasing it forward. It was strong enough to knock someone back, but not powerful enough to really do any damage. It was mostly used to enhance the damage and speed of projectiles, but Naruto seemed to have fun knocking people back.

The Discharge was a rather risky (to teammates) C-Rank technique. The user only gathered up lightning-chakra throughout his body before releasing it in a single, wild and uncontrolled burst. It was a last-resort; like, if enemies surrounded you on all sides. Useful, but Kakashi forbade us from using it during spars as it was too uncontrollable.

My genjutsu had vastly improved since I joined Team 7. The scrolls Sasuke gave me were immensely helpful. My taijutsu had improved as well—my flinching lessened considerably. Naruto seemed to have improved in that regard too; his taijutsu was superior to my own now, though his genjutsu skills were sorely lacking. Sasuke was the same in that regard, as well.

After another day filled with D-Ranks, I decided to attempt to reserve Kakashi for myself on the weekend. I desperately wanted to improve my tracking skills and—and okay, I kind of missed our one on one training sessions. We hadn't trained one-on-one since Team 7's formation. I was fine with it at first, but when Sasuke activated his Sharingan and kind of stole Kakashi's attention away from the team to focus on him... I was left behind.

I understood perfectly well how Sasuke needed his training and don't get me wrong, I wasn't mad or upset at him for needing Kakashi's help. I wasn't even really all that jealous. I was just feeling a little... lonely? Ignored? Whatever I felt, I didn't really like it and wanted to change that.

So after we had turned in our mission, I stayed behind the others, tugging at Kakashi to stay with me.

"Mm?" Kakashi inquired. "Something up, Miwako-chan?"

I nodded slightly, unreasonably feeling nervous. "Kakashi-sensei, do you think you could help me train more this weekend? I wanted to try this new tracking style I had read about, but I wasn't sure—"

Kakashi patted my head, ruffling my hair. "Maa, sorry, Miwako-chan, but I'll be training Sasuke-kun again. Maybe later?"

With that, Kakashi turned on his heel and continued on his way, leaving me behind... and a little stunned.

After a minute of processing his words, I couldn't help, but feel a little... hurt. It was silly. Kakashi didn't belong to me, but still... he was the first person that I had bonded with outside of my circle and I wanted some time with him, as well.

Sasuke, who had stayed behind to watch the exchange, glanced at Kakashi's retreating back. Naruto had long since left.

He stepped forward, eyeing me. "I don't remember Kakashi ever training you in tracking before."

"I—um—ah—mm-hmm... He was my Shisho before the team formed," I answered quietly.

Sasuke's lips twitched down. "... I see."

I shook my head, sighing through my nose. "O-Oh well. He said later, so..."

"Maybe."

I chose to ignore that.

"Are you jealous?"

I almost instinctively reacted—saying no almost immediately, but I paused. At the start of this team I had preached about honesty. No matter how much it pained me otherwise, I would be a hypocrite if I lied now.

"Yes," I answered, looking down. "I'm a little jealous of the attention he gives you. Only a little, though, because I know you need help with your Sharingan and he's the only one who can presently help you."

Sasuke nodded at my answer, accepting it. "... I know how you feel. I... used to feel the same with my Tou... someone else." Sasuke cleared his throat. "What I'm trying to say is that I understand how you feel."

I knew that. Sasuke probably knew better than anyone else how I felt. He strived desperately for his father to just acknowledge him. But his father paid him little heed, choosing to favor Itachi instead.

In a sense, I was that younger Sasuke and he that Itachi, with Kakashi respectively as that father. But there was a difference between Sasuke's situation and my own. I knew Kakashi wasn't playing favorites. Kakashi was training Sasuke out of necessity.

That was all there was to it. He hadn't abandoned me. When I needed him, he would come.

Are you so sure about that? Kurama's amused purr echoed in my head.

Of course, I retorted confidently. Kakashi isn't like that.

Kurama only snickered.

I don't know... you sensed his guilt, how he still flinches when he looks too long at you and Naruto. You're a constant reminder of his failure, and we both know that man is a coward. It sounds like to me... he's avoiding you.

I didn't reply.

"Thank you," I said, surprising myself by honestly meaning it. It was nice... to have someone sympathize. To sincerely sympathize.

Sasuke only shrugged before turning and heading away.

('･ω･')

Two more weeks passed and Kakashi still hadn't trained me—or even attempted to train me one-on-one. Sasuke had stopped asking Kakashi to train him in the Sharingan for reasons unknown, but Kakashi still ended up stealing him away right after practice. For whatever reason, Sasuke would always glance guiltily at me when Kakashi did this.

But at the end of those two weeks... did a single event happen.

Naruto and I were on our way home - with Sasuke trailing behind us at a more sedate pace - to grab lunch before heading back to the training grounds, when Konohamaru had run into us. Naruto and the little boy both decided to start up a game of tag; Naruto was the first person 'it.' Sasuke had sighed with exasperation before heading his own separate way, and I followed behind Naruto, who chased after Konohamaru.

I turned around a street corner and kept going until I saw a most interesting sight...

It looks like the exams are here, Kurama commented.

Kankurō held up Konohamaru with a sneer plastered on the puppet user's face. Naruto growled at the boy while I shuddered at the scene, a cold sensation crawling up my spine.

I eyed Kankurō disdainfully.

Scared, little girl?

Yes, I admitted shamelessly. One word: Chucky.

Kurama paused at this, shifting through some of my memories before coming across a specific one of the old movie.

My sister and her friend had snuck into one of the hospitals I was staying out, bringing the horror movie along with oodles of popcorn and soda. I was ecstatic then—it would be like my very first sleepover. Little did I know... Little did I know... It was Halloween night when this happened, you see. And big sister wanted to give me a memorable night.

After watching the horrifying movie (I was seven at the time, give me a break), her friend had kept the lights off as she and my sister pulled out their very own Chucky-puppets and pretended they were possessed by him...

Needless to say I was wary of puppets ever since.

Disturbing little things.

I could sense Kurama nodding his head. Fair enough...

I moved to make my presence known to Kankurō and Temari, sniffing the air delicately before locating Gaara.

A smile placed itself on my face as I sniffed again, this time more loudly. "Oh! Nii-chan!"

Naruto paused at his threatening at Konkurō to turn to me. "Eh? What is it, Miwa-chan?"

"My jinchūriki senses are tingling," I chirped happily, turning my head to look up at Gaara directly. "Hi there!"

Temari and Kankurō stiffened considerably, paling.

Gaara slowly presented himself to us, dissolving into sand before reappearing before us. He stared at me impassively before looking over at Kankurō. "You're a disgrace to our village. Drop the boy or I will kill you."

Kurama cackled at this. Oh Kami, you were right, brat! This boy is a ticking time bomb. Even I can feel Shukaku's energy leaking from him. His seal must absolutely horrendous.

Probably, I agreed. Maybe after all this is over he'll agree to let Jiraiya look at his seal or something...

"Hi!" I exclaimed, remembering to stick solely to the plan. Or one of the plans. Really Kurama and I couldn't really decide on which plan we wanted to rely on. Better to just prepare for all of them. Then we could adjust and choose as we go along... "I'm Uzumaki Miwako and this is my big brother, Uzumaki Naruto."

Gaara stared at me, his pale eyes seeming disturbingly interested.

"You're a jinchūriki too, aren't you?" I leaned forward, whispering this to him as if it were a secret only the two of us held. But it was loud enough for others to hear as well. "You have Shukaku, right?"

Gaara blinked at me, surprise momentarily coloring his features. "... Too? Does that mean... you are... like me? You are a... jinchūriki?"

I puffed out, beaming at him as if I was proud. I gestured to Naruto and myself. "We both are."

Temari and Kankurō paled even more so while Kankurō gave Naruto a frightened look.

"You... are?" Kankurō asked, his voice holding a higher pitch towards the end.

"Is that an issue?" Sasuke asked, appearing at Naruto's side while eyeing the Suna shinobi. Naruto gave a startled shout at Sasuke's sudden appearance, but otherwise remained quiet.

"You don't care?" Temari asked, whirling towards Sasuke, her eyes wide.

"Do you?" Sasuke retorted.

Temari gave Gaara a quick glance before her eyes roamed over to Naruto and myself. "... No."

"So you two... are like me?" Gaara asked, his voice holding an almost eager tone to it.

I snickered at that. "Don't be silly. No one is like anyone. We're all individuals. We're alike when we consider that the three of us are jinchūrikis. Other than that, though? Nah. Well, Naruto and I are twins, so... But now the three of us are family as well! We're bijū-siblings."

Gaara continued to stare at me, the eager light in his eyes slowly diminishing and to an almost apathetic look. "... I do not understand."

I patted his head affectionately—ignoring the flinches from Temari and Kankurō, as well as the stunned look on Gaara's face—before saying, "We're siblings now. We're supposed to look out for one another. So if you need any help, don't hesitate to come to me or Naruto, okay?"

Gaara took a step away from me, eyeing the hand I had used to pat him like it was a grenade or something.

Kurama snickered at that thought.

"Temari. Kankurō. We're leaving," Gaara said in a low tone.

"See you later, Nii-chan!" I exclaimed at their retreating backs.

"... Was he really a jinchūriki?" Sasuke asked.

"Mm-hmm. Kurama confirmed it," I hummed. "Kurama is the Kyūbi; that's what I call him anyway. My puppet-senses were tingling, too, from that Kankurō guy."

Naruto nodded his head, accepting this. "Figures."

"What?" Sasuke gave us both a blank look.

"Miwa-chan's petrified of puppets," Naruto explained.

I nodded my head empathetically. "They're evil. Pure and utter evil."

Sasuke only shook his head, sighing. "... Why were they here anyway?"

"Probably for the Chūnin Exams," I said.

"The what?"

Sasuke gave Naruto an annoyed look. "Idiot. Didn't you pay attention at all in the academy? The Chūnin Exams are exams held twice a year. Experienced Genin from every village come together to take it in order to earn the right for a Chūnin promotion."

Naruto's eyes lit up. "So then are we signed up?"

"Dunno," I lied. "We would have to ask Kakashi-sensei."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

('･ω･')

"So this is where the first test is?" Sasuke mused, walking beside me. Naruto eagerly and happily took the lead for the team, marching straight through the halls. When we had reached the first block (the genjutsu placed over the door) Naruto surprisingly didn't bat an eyelash at it, continuing on his way.

"And where do you think you're going?" the first proctor asked, sneering down.

Naruto stepped over Lee—who was playing injured on the floor—before pointing behind the proctor. "Up the stairs."

"What's that supposed to mean?" the second proctor attempted to mock.

"We can count," Sasuke said dryly, stepping over Lee as well.

Naruto nodded. "That and Imouto placed us under so many genjutsu that the one you have on the sign is kind of laughably weak."

Sasuke snorted in agreement and I felt very pleased with myself.

"Go on through," the first proctor said, moving back.

"Wait."

The three of us paused to look back at Neji, who was eyeing Sasuke. "You there. What's your name?"

"It's common courtesy to give your own name first," Sasuke said in a dismissive tone before turning away and heading on. My lips twitched in mild amusement at Neji's glower before I grabbed Naruto's hand and followed after Sasuke. Naruto was snickering at the exchange.

"Any idea what the first test will be?" Naruto asked excitedly.

"Probably something relatively simple," Sasuke replied. "As the tests go on, the difficulty of it will escalate."

I nodded in agreement. "The exam is broken down into three tests. What the tests are usually vary on where you're being tested. All of the exams, however, have the last test as a one-on-one tournament. For a majority of the villages, the second test is always survival. The first test, however, varies on which village you take it in, as well as who's the proctor."

Naruto hummed in acknowledgement.

"You there!"

We paused in unison, glancing up at Lee who stood above us on the balcony we had just descended from.

"I am Rock Lee!" Lee exclaimed, staring intently at Sasuke. "And you are Uchiha Sasuke, correct? You said it was common courtesy to give a name first."

Sasuke gave Lee an almost disdainful glance over. "... Your point?"

"I wish to challenge you!"

"You know who I am and yet you want to challenge me?" Sasuke snorted.

"Isn't it against the rules to start fights with other participants in the exam without a proctor's permission?" I asked curiously. "Furthermore, why on earth would you want to? You're not only allowing the enemies to see your abilities and moves, but you're always straining them and yourself. Not to mention it's quite rude."

Lee seemed to deflate at mention of breaking rules and even more so at the rude comment. "... I see."

"If you want to challenge me so badly then just make it to the tournament," Sasuke instructed. "If you can't even make it that far then you aren't even worth my time."

"Yosh! I will! I will make it to the tournament and defeat you, Uchiha Sasuke!" Lee exclaimed, fire alight in his eyes.

"I'm sure you'll try," Sasuke said, placating.

Naruto pouted. "First that white-eyes guy and now this guy. Why doesn't anyone ever want to fight me?"

"Because you're a chakra power-house?" Sasuke muttered rhetorically.

"Is that an indirect compliment I hear?" I teased him.

Naruto perked up considerably at that, grinning brightly.

"No," Sasuke said immediately. "But if it makes you feel any better, dobe, I wouldn't mind fighting you. Maybe."

Naruto's grin widened.

"How cute," I said sardonically. "Aren't you two such a happy couple?"

Naruto lost his grin while Sasuke blanched.

"Well, you two did already kiss—"

"That never happened!" Naruto shrieked, a desperate edge in his voice.

"Twice actually, if you count that one mission—"

"Never. Happened," Sasuke hissed.

Kurama, meanwhile, was laughing loudly at their reactions and their obvious discomfort.

"You know, I bet if your fan girls knew, they would probably give up on you," I teased.

Sasuke paused, suddenly looking very thoughtful, much to Naruto's absolute horror.

"But then you'd gain new fan girls that are even crazier in hopes of supporting your bishie love," I finished.

"It never happened," Sasuke said seriously. Naruto nodded empathetically with him, looking at me with a pleading look in his eyes.

I inwardly giggled at their faces.

"Alright," I said with a slow smile, "but do know that I will now definitely use it as blackmail now that I know how you two really feel about it."

They both frowned at that, but I continued on my merry little way to the exams.

It didn't take long before they followed after me.

('･ω･')

Once inside the exam room, it didn't take long for the rest of the Rookie Nine to find us. Naruto greeted them all with such wide and happy faces, but I couldn't help but feel awkward in their presence. Some part of me wanted to accept them too. Wanted to act happy in their presence, to laugh and joke like Naruto was, but I couldn't. I just couldn't bring myself to force such a fake feeling.

So I stood in the back of the group for a while longer, my eyes restlessly roaming the room. It didn't take long before I found my excuse to escape the group. With a quick goodbye towards Naruto and Sasuke, I practically sprinted towards my excuse.

"Hi, Nii-chan!" I chirped to Gaara, smiling widely at him.

Gaara stared impassively before me.

"I didn't catch your guys' names, though. How rude of me," I said, turning towards Temari and Kankurō and smiling at them as well.

"Temari," Temari demurred.

"Kankurō," Kankurō muttered, eying me warily.

"Nice to meet you," I said. "How do you three like your stay in Konoha so far?"

"The climate is quite different from Suna," Temari supplied, offering me a small smile. "Way more humid."

I nodded my head in agreement. "That it is. What's Suna like? I've never really been there before."

"Drier," Kankurō muttered. "Not to mention... the atmosphere is different."

"What do you mean?" I asked, frowning and tilting my head curiously.

Temari spared Gaara—who was still staring at me impassively—a glance. "... Not as laid back."

"Oh," was all I said.

"Why are you here?" Gaara suddenly asked.

I turned to him. "... I'm assuming you're asking in the way of why did I come over here? Not just the 'meaning of life' question? Like... why are any of us here, type thing? Right? Right. I came over here because I wanted to hang out with you, of course."

"Aren't you're friends over there, though?" Kankurō asked, pointing towards the Rookie Nine—and now Kabuto.

"Nii-chan and Sasuke-kun are there," I agreed. "But I can hang out with them any time I want. I don't get a chance to make other friends that often. Not to mention it's really awesome to meet another jinchūriki."

"Make... other... friends," Gaara muttered, his eyes narrowed. "Are you implying that..."

"You are a friend? Uh-huh."

"I will kill you," Gaara told me.

I almost flinched that. If it wasn't for Kurama's amused chuckle at that, I would have, most certainly. The thought of a mere one-tailed jinchūriki actually taking on and defeating his jinchūriki amused Kurama to no end.

And when I thought about it for a second, I could definitely understand why he would be so amused. I've seen Gaara at his strongest in this point of time—unleashing the Shukaku, I mean. But compare that to Naruto releasing, I don't know, even his four tailed mode?

And with that in mind, I recalled that I could reach that mode (maybe. Still haven't found the differences between our seal and the Canon!Seal) and that made me feel a bit better—safer, almost.

So instead, I choose to hold onto Kurama's amusement and transform it into my own. In a light tone, I asked, "Can you wait until after the exams then, at least? Or at least until we face each other in the tournament? That way it'll be like, this awesome-epic showdown. And I can, you know, die in a more epic way."

Gaara stared at me. "... I will kill you... but I am willing to wait. It will only make your death that much more savory."

"... Right."

But I wasn't really worried. I was pretty sure that the examiners rigged the tournament matchups . Because honestly, what were the odds Sasuke and Gaara's match wasn't rigged? Or Sasuke's first match with that chakra-sucking guy? Orochimaru probably rigged the preliminary matches for Sasuke somehow, to force the boy into using the Curse Mark. Not to mention the whole Neji vs Hinata match. That was just... That just had to be rigged. There was just no way it wasn't.

So Gaara and I wouldn't be facing off in the tournament (if I made it that far... hopefully I would) and by the time we would have, Naruto would already be using his Therapy-Jutsu.

You're relying heavily on the chances that the matches were rigged.

Do you honestly think for a second they weren't?

No. I believe they were rigged. But still. What makes you think they wouldn't place two jinchūrikis against each other in the tournament?

... I doubt they want the arena blown up or the civilians slaughtered as bystanders. You don't just pit two power-houses against each other in the middle of your own damn village.

But wouldn't that benefit Orochimaru? How can you be sure he won't rig it?

... Grandfather would probably overrule it and come up with some silly long-forgotten-but-is-remembered-conveniently rule to save Konoha.

... True enough.

"Alright, you maggots!" Ibiki shouted. "Enough with the pansy-ass bickering. It's time for the exams to begin!"