Tsuba was a Chūnin from Kusagakure. He and Midori were the personal guards of the Grass Daimy� during the Chūnin Exams. They were assigned to make sure Gaara lost to Sasuke Uchiha, making their daimy� win a bet with another daimy�. Gaara was quite mad and killed them both, which saved Naruto and Shikamaru from the same gruesome fate. (Source: Narutopedia)