The evening before still lingered in the minds of the students, though none spoke of it, mostly because no matter how much either of them tried none of them could remember what happened for certain the previous day.
Some of the more perceptive guessed that they had been caught in a genjutsu, the problem now was discovering who did it.
In that regard there were some that were almost certain of who did it. Many suspected of Daiana, she was the most gifted in illusions, her reputation in it was well known among her peers.
The most troublesome part of it all wasn't being put to sleep by someone, but rather it was the fact it was when the sand demon had appeared.
They trained in silence the next morning, the air sharp with unease and tension that had not fully faded with sleep, instead it had only intensified even further.
Just then instructor Baki walked in, his arrival pulling order over the entire class, causing it to grow silent in an instant.
Following Baki was a small person in dark, loose-fitting robes shifting softly with each step, the fabric marked by long years of wear, the sun having leeched its color into something that belonged to the desert itself. A veil of fabric, drawn from her turban, shaded one side of her face.
Her features bore the sharpness of age shaped by years of heat and wind. The once-fine lines of beauty had hardened, lips thinner, jaw more angular, yet there remained a dignity in the structure of her face that time had not erased.
The desert had left its imprint: skin darkened and lined, eyes narrowed against light, hair the faded white of salt streaked through dust.
Stopping in front of them, the old woman surveyed the gathered youths with neither warmth or disdain.
"You stand here as students of our prestigious academy. After today, that will end."
Although a stir spread through the class at the old woman' words, some stiffening in determination while others swallowed in unease. Yet neither of them moved and stood still like stones in their places, discipline, fear and pride all blending into stillness.
"Isan. Shira. Daiana. Temari. The four of you are to follow us."
"Yes sir!", the four of them immediately stood up and followed right behind Baki and the old woman, as they were brought to the training yard.
The ones left behind couldn't even start to murmur about this development as the instructor in charge of them, that morning, immediately brought their attention back to the class at hand, as they were going to learn about history of their village.
In the training yard, the four of them stood in front of Baki and the old woman, that learned was an elder of the council, named Hana.
"I know a lot about the four of you, supposedly you are the best of your year... though that remains to be proved. No matter how good the reports of youngster Baki is, I rather witness all of it through my own eyes."
Baki that was right beside Hana, blushed a little at being called youngster, especially in front of his students.
On the other side, Temari and Daiana exchanged quick glances, fighting back the corners of their smiles, though the trembling of their lips betrayed them.
"You will demonstrate your skill.", Baki said. "Individually and against each other. Genjutsu, ninjutsu, taijutsu. Precision and endurance. You will not stop until you are told."
Baki gestured toward the wide expanse of the training ground. Targets had already been set at varying distances. Dummies filled with straw stood arranged in rows. A ring had been drawn into the sand for sparring.
The tests began swiftly, without further words.
Daiana stepped forward first, weaving seals with ease, her chakra flaring briefly as a perfect clone formed beside her.
Temari and Isan followed, each producing cleanly executed clones, while Shira stayed awkardly in his place scratching a little his chin while looking at Baki and the old woman with a little smile.
"So you are that oddity... if you can't even perform the most basic jutsu, what is the point of even attending this academy?", Hana said flatly, as she had been and was one in the council against Shira admittance to the academy.
A awkard silence fell on the whole training yard, as Shira stopped immediately smiling and scratching his chin. Closing his eyes and breathing deeply he was about to speak, when Baki signalled him to stop.
"Lady Hana. Shira is-"
"He is not a shinobi. That is what he is not. Save your words, Baki. I came to see if this class holds any worth in graduating so early, as ordered by the Kazekage. Not to hear your excuses."
Anger stirred in Daiana and Shira at her dismissal, their bodies tense. Even Temari shifted uneasily at the elder's words.
She, and everyone else for that matter, knew that Shira couldn't perform ninjutsu or genjutsu but his potential in taijutsu was so big and incredible that it overshadowed that part of him.
"Lady Hana, may I?", just as the tension was becoming suffocating and unbearable, a voice called out to the elder.
All turned to see Isan kneeling toward the elder.
"You are... Isan, right?"
"Yes, lady Hana."
"I have heard much praise of you from Baki. It seems he holds you in a high regard."
"I am glad that instructor Baki holds me in such regard, but I believe there is someone here more deserving of such. Shira."
At the name, the elder's expression hardened.
"That boy?", her tone cut the air like a knife.
"He cannot mold chakra. You would waste my time with excuses for his weakness?"
"Not excuses, Lady Hana. The Truth.", Isan's voice did not waver under the pressure elder Hana was beginning to exert over him.
"Shira entered in the academy far later than any of us, yet he proved himself by standing here today."
Shira's lips pressed into a line, his eyes fixed on the grains of sand gathered at his feet.
Isan continued, his words carrying across the yard.
"At the desert trial, I can confidently say that without Shira, the challenge would have been harder. In fact, he was the main reason why so many returned alive from that.
A ripple stirred through the silence. Temari shifted, her lips tightening as she nodded faintly. Daiana, though she said nothing, met Hana's eyes for an instant and then looked away.
"Shira cannot perform ninjutsu or genjutsu, that is true. That is exactly what sets him apart.", Isan's voice steadied. "A shinobi who can crush enemy formations and lines apart without a single hand seal is not a weakness. He is an asset Sunagakure cannot afford to throw away."
He knelt, bowing his head in finality.
"Lady Hana, you asked to see our worth with your own eyes. Then look at Shira as he is, but don't subject him to the same standards as us. Tha is my plea."
"Then show me. Show me why you place so much trust in him."
"Understood, lady Hana.", nodding lightly at the elder, Isan turned towards Baki, who immediately felt that he wasn't going to like what Isan was going to say.
"Instructor Baki. I would like to ask of you to spar with Shira."