Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Flowers in the Sand ❯ Chapter 4

Chapter 4

 

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. “You want me and Gaara to come? That'll make this a five-man squad.”

 

Akamaru barked.

 

“Six,” he corrected himself. Kiba grinned, petting the dog on the head.

 

Naruto kept his gaze locked on Gaara. “You don't have to go if you don't want to,” he told his friend quietly. “But I must go. I can't let what happened to you happen to anyone else.”

 

Temari and Kankuro exchanged worried glances. Gaara's head was down, his short red bangs managing to conceal his black-rimmed eyes.

 

Shikamaru picked up his equipment bag from where he had set it down when he had arrived. “Land of Grass, you say?” he asked as he secured his bag. “They're not all that friendly. It will be really troublesome to slip in and find this girl undetected.”

 

Neji nodded. “It was hard enough to find her the first time- she's living near the border of the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain- deep in the forests there.”

 

Shikamaru scowled. “You think she's moved since then?”

 

“It was only about a week ago that Konoha got the report and Hinata and I were dispatched to observe her.”

 

Kiba rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Unlikely that she's moved too far in only a few days. Still, if Neji can take us to where she last was, Akamaru and I can sniff her out.”

 

“Right.” Shikamaru looked at Temari. “Don't forget.”

 

She gave him a smug look, but her teal eyes were soft. “You either.”

 

The dark-haired Jounin nodded and headed out the door, followed by Kiba, Akamaru, and Neji. That left Naruto and Gaara.

 

For a long moment neither said a word. Finally, the sand-master spoke.

 

“They'll kill her, won't they.” It was a statement, not a question.

 

“Even though they don't have Itachi or Orochimaru to lead them anymore, Kabuto is still searching for the remaining Biju. He's already captured four of the nine and killed at least two Jinchuriki in the process.”

 

“Including me.” Gaara finally looked up.

 

“Including you, my friend.”

 

Gaara got the familiar deadly-serious look on his face. “They will come for her?”

 

“Undoubtably.”

 

“Then we will annihilate the remaining members of Akatsuki when they come.”

 

Naruto looked alarmed as he followed his red-headed friend out the door. “Gaara! There are only five of us! There's no way we can wipe out the remaining members of Akatsuki by ourselves!”

 

Gaara paused long enough for his sand to bring him his gourd, which he strapped to his back. “They will pay,” he said, looking and sounding exactly like his old, merciless self. His sand swirled and spun around him, creating a menacing cloud ready to do some slaughter as it reacted to his well-hidden fury.

 

“They will pay.”

 

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“It's been a while since I've seen Gaara look so…” Temari commented as she watched her brother and her husband race off into the desert with their comrades.

 

“Like how he was before?” Kankuro shook his head. “Yeah. I know. He's no longer as heartless as he was when Shukaku was inside him, but when it comes to Akatsuki…”

 

Temari glanced over at her sleeping daughter. “I hope they reach that girl before those bastards do.”

 

“Worried about your lazy husband?”

 

The blonde Jounin gave her brother an amused half-smirk. “He may be lazy, but he's one of the most brilliant strategists I've ever encountered. Better even than me.”

 

“That's saying a lot, big sister.”

 

Temari sighed, reaching down to brush Akina's cheek. “If anyone can figure out how to get in, get the Jinchuriki and get out with the least amount of trouble, it's Shikamaru.”

 

“Which reminds me,” Kankuro said thoughtfully. “What are you not supposed to forget?”

 

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“Yo! Shikamaru!”

 

He turned to Kiba, the usual uninterested expression on his face. “What's bothering you now?”

 

“What isn't Temari supposed to forget?”

 

Shikamaru actually smiled as he turned back to their route. For a long time he was quiet, with only the woosh of the wind making any sound.

 

“That I love her.”

 

Three heads turned toward him in surprise. He snorted. “What? You think I married her just because she's a troublesome pain in the ass?”

 

Naruto rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, a stupid smile on his face. “Well, knowing you…”

 

Neji glanced at Gaara, who was staring at their destination with a grim gaze. “I'm surprised your brother-in-law hasn't squashed you flat with his sand for calling his sister a pain in the ass.”

 

Gaara flicked his aquamarine eyes at the Hyuuga clan leader. “I happen to agree,” he said as if commenting that the desert was dry.

 

Naruto beamed at his friend. “There's the Gaara I know and annoy! I was wondering what happened to you.”

 

The corner of the Kazekage's mouth curled up slightly as if in a smile. “Trying to hide from you.”

 

“Nah! I'm too much fun to ignore.”

 

Shikamaru held up a hand to silence them. “We're nearing the border of the Land of Grass,” he informed his companions. He turned to Neji. “Where was she last seen?”

 

“Closer to the forest that borders the Land of Rain,” he replied. “If you wish…”

 

“Yes. Do so.”

 

“Oi!” Naruto grumped. “Who's in charge around here?”

 

“Not you, apparently,” Gaara murmured. Kiba snickered.

 

Keji closed his eyes for a moment and opened them abruptly. “Byakkugan!”

 

His specialized vision swept across the landscape, brushing past grasses and small foliage until it reached the forest where he and Hinata had observed the girl previously. “I don't see her in the same position,” he said, “but that doesn't mean she's not nearby. I'm at the limit of my vision- I can't go further to see if she is there.”

 

“Take us there,” Naruto said, determined to retain command of the mission. “But keep your eyes out for Grass ninjas.”

 

The three Konoha Jounins nodded and headed out, opting to move in the same formation as usual- Kiba and Akamaru in front, to use their noses to scent out enemies and traps, Shikamaru behind him, Naruto in the middle, Gaara next, and Neji bringing up the rear, using his Byakuugan to look for enemy ambush.

 

“I do not see how having Neji in the back has him lead us to this girl,” Gaara commented to Naruto as they raced across the grasslands.

 

Naruto grinned. “It's his scent, rather, that will lead Kiba and Akamaru to the forest. Although it's faint, their sensitive noses can still follow the trail that the other scouts left when they were here last.”

 

“As long as we skirt Kusaga, we shouldn't have too many problems,” Kiba pointed out.

 

“Agreed,” Shikamaru nodded. “If we can get to the forest undetected, we can find some shelter for the night and look for the Jinchuriki first thing in the morning.”

 

“No need,” Niji interrupted. “I see her.”

 

“What?” came a trio of voices. Gaara narrowed his eyes.

 

“She's resting- near a waterfall, no less than half a kilometer to the northwest of us.”

 

Akamaru sniffed the air as they ran, having jumped high into the trees as they appeared. He whimpered softly, slowing his pace slightly. “What's wrong, Akamaru?” Kiba asked his long-time friend.

 

The white dog paused on a rather wide branch. The remaining males landed next to him, perplexed. Akamaru whuffed and whined, looking at his partner. The rest of the group looked at Kiba for a translation.

 

Kiba's black eyes went wide. “You're kidding me,” he said, awed. “This might be a problem…”

 

“Out with it!” Naruto nearly exploded, dying of curiosity.

 

Kiba turned to his companions. “She's strong,” he explained. “That's why Akamaru stopped.” He glanced at Gaara. “He says she might even stronger than you.”

 

Neji shook his head. “Impossible. She was observed for several weeks and not once did she show any evidence of ninja training- genjutsu, ninjutsu, taijutsu, nothing. She hunted using an ordinary knife- not even a kunai.”

 

“Nonetheless,” Kiba replied seriously, “the last time Akamaru felt like this was when he first came upon Gaara and his siblings during the second part of the Chuunin exam all those years ago. She's powerful, even if she hasn't shown it yet. We should proceed with caution until we know her abilities.”

 

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. “I'm impressed. Usually you just run in first, regardless of the situation. I'm glad to see you've matured.” He glanced at Naruto. “Unlike some people…”

 

“Oi!” Naruto grumped. “I've matured…”

 

“This is true,” Neji admitted. “You are nowhere near the talentless dropout you used to be.”

 

“Wow,” Kiba muttered. “Another compliment from Neji. The world must be about to end.”

 

The white-eyed Jounin shrugged. “Perhaps my words are simply truth, finally spoken to the one who needs to know.”

 

Shikamaru snorted softly. “That's too deep for me. Let's just find this girl and finish this before trouble starts.”

 

“Let me go first,” Gaara volunteered. “If need be, I can capture her for interrogation.” He glanced at Naruto. “The sooner we have her, the sooner we can use her to lure the Akatsuki to their deaths.”

 

Naruto sighed. He glanced at Shikamaru. “Your thoughts, strategy-brain?”

 

The shadow Jounin pondered that for several moments. “That seems to be the best course of action. We don't want to harm the girl or scare her. Speaking with her first and trying to convince her to come with us would be the first course of action, but if that fails, then Gaara will be ready with his sand.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Although I wonder why we haven't run into any Grass shinobis yet.”

 

“Perhaps they are afraid of the Jinchuriki,” Gaara murmured, his aquamarine eyes as hard as diamonds.

 

A long silence followed this observation. Surely it was true- after all, both Naruto and Gaara had first-hand experience with the fear from others about the Biju sealed inside them. This girl was surely the same.

 

“Let's go,” Naruto said quietly. Kyuubi stirred, uneasy about something. When questioned by his human host, the Nine-tails wouldn't respond. Something was definitely odd.

 

-------------------------

 

The five men and the white dog stood on various branches overlooking the small clearing around a delicate waterfall. A slender figure in tattered white robes knelt by the river, doing something in the small pool at the base of the falls. Her brown and gold hair was pulled back in a loose knot at the back of her head. She was quite obviously alone. Neji used his Byakkugan to observe her once more.

 

“She is washing clothes,” he whispered to Naruto, who stood next to him.

 

The girl sat up, looking straight at the trees where Neji and Naruto were hiding. Impossible, Neji thought. Surely she couldn't hear us from this distance…

 

The girl turned back to her laundry, scrubbing the material brusquely against some rocks.

 

“I can hear you and smell you,” the woman called out, her voice rising above the rush of the waterfall, blending beautifully with the sound of the water. “What do you want?”

 

Naruto exchanged glances with his companions. Shikamaru nodded and they all dropped down from their perches to land at the edge of the clearing.

 

“We are shinobi from Konoha and Suna,” Neji said politely, since he was the most well-spoken of the group. “We wish to speak with you.”

 

The woman didn't turn around nor cease in her washing. “You lie.” She picked up another piece of clothing. “You're here about Gobi.”

 

Naruto and Neji looked surprised. Shikamaru crossed his arms. “You are aware that you have a Biju sealed inside you?”

 

“It's rather hard not to be aware of sharing your body with another being,” she replied.

 

I hear you, Naruto thought wryly. Kyuubi grunted.

 

“Not to mention the fact that none come here except to try and kill me,” she continued, whacking her laundry against the rock in front of her again. “Which, I presume, is why you six have come.”

 

The five men all looked at Akamaru, who was lying flat against the ground, looking like he wanted to shiver. Why would she include the dog in their numbers? How could she know he was a ninken?

 

“We have not come to kill you,” Naruto tried to explain, holding up a hand in a peaceful gesture. “We've come to help you.”

 

The woman stopped her washing and sat up. After a moment she stood up. “Help me?” She laughed, hollowly. “I've heard that before.” She turned around and gazed at the five assembled men. “Your kind of help involves destroying the Five-tails inside me.”

 

Four of the men fought a collective gasp as they looked at this woman up close. She was lovely, just as Neji had said, but it wasn't that which made them gasp. Her eyes were the same as Gaara's, minus the black marks around them. They were sapphire blue where his were pale aquamarine, but they, too, lacked pupils.

 

And they were hollow. She looked at them, but it was more like she looked through them. As if they were merely creations of her imagination and not worth noticing. Naruto and Gaara both recognized those kind of eyes.

 

Sasuke used to have them. Gaara used to have them. Naruto used to have them. The eyes of sheer loneliness, of complete abandonment. Only hers didn't hold the same hatred and loathing that Sasuke and Gaara had felt. Hers only held emptiness.

 

Anger they could deal with. But a woman who seemed to have lost all hope? How were they supposed to deal with that?

 

-oOo-oOo-oOo-

 

A/N: Byakkugan- “White eyes” (the 360 degree vision thing that the Hyuuga clan bears)

Biju- basically, one of the nine “tailed demons” like the Nine-tailed fox inside Naruto or the One-tailed tanuki (raccoon) inside Gaara

Jinchuriki- human host of a Biju

Ninken- ninja dog