Author's note: this is my first time ever submitting a story to fanfiction.net, so please be nice. Also, read and review!
disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way!!
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah...she'll be alone. I promise."
"If you say so..."
"Before you go..."
"Hmm?"
"Remember, we never met."
"Heh...it's like that, huh?"
"Just get out of here!"
"Whatever..."
==========
Elsewhere, three familiar figures are walking out of a small village.
"Pft! A search and retrieve mission! Are they joking?"
"Your right, Kankuro...but, the pay isn't too bad."
"It's always about the money, isn't it?"
"Of course not!"
"Silence," a voice commanded the other two.
Both Temari and Kankuro went silent. Their gazes shifted over to their younger brother. Tension seemed to build up. Temari looked as though she was struggling to say something; Kankuro, on the other hand, appeared worried.
"We will split up. Cover more ground. The mission will be accomplished faster," Gaara told his siblings in a very calm voice.
With that he began to walk along the same road, leaving Temari and Kankuro still pondering about the situation. The sky was nearly clear, a few clouds dotting the infinite blue. The sun was positioned high in the sky, signaling that half the day still remained. Grass swayed gently with the wind, imitating the movements of their larger brethren, the trees.
Children frolicked and played in the field alongside the gravel road. Looking at them brought Gaara painful memories of his own childhood. He looked away, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. Thinking of the past is useless, he thought. Afterall, he was no longer child; he was a young man. Five years ago he had met Uzumaki Naruto, and since then he had changed, not greatly, but enough to make a difference. All the hate and despair he had once felt was no longer as strong as it had once been. However, resisting the demon was a much more difficult task. Yes, he was strong, but all those years up till now have involved his struggle with Shukaku. He was able to utilize Shukaku in various ways, his control also strengthening. Temari and Kankuro finally decided to follow. The three sand siblings walked along the road in silence. They were no longer genin, but very skilled and powerful chuunins. Temari still carried her large fan, and Kankuro his two puppets. The sand gourd still was transported on Gaara's back. Temari's blond hair swayed slightly with the wind. Her blond locks were cut short, barely past her chin. The bangs were slightly longer, and the tips of her hair were curled slightly up and outward. Kankuro still dawned the burgundy face paint and desert-like head veil. He was the only one out of the three that actually wore his chuunin flak jacket. Gaara still looked pretty much the same. Temari wore a low neck black shirt that had fishnet sleeves and chest coverings; but over her shirt was a kimono- like dress. It was blue, sleeveless, and reached mid-thigh, fastened with a lilac sash at the waist. She still wore her usual fishnet on her one thigh, having worn black short shorts underneath.
As they moved further away from the village, the trees became dense, forming patches of forests here and there. Gaara stopped, and glanced around at the surrounding forest. Temari and Kankuro also stopped, and wondered what got Gaara so intrigued. Their green eyes also scanned the surrounding forests.
"This is it," Gaara finally said. "We will split up here."
Sand began to seep out of the gourd, and whip about Gaara. After only a moment, Gaara vanished. Temari looked down at the small whirlwind left behind by Gaara as it dissipated. A small sigh escaped her lips.
"There are two of them to find. We better start searching," Temari suggested to her brother. She took a step forward, walking towards the edge of the forest.
"We'll meet back here," Kankuro told his older sister.
Temari nodded in response, and disappeared leaving dust unsettled in her wake. Kankuro looked out onto the landscape. He shook his head back and forth slowly.
"Damn kids...I hate them," he said to himself.
============
Gaara walked through the forest, keeping an eye open for either of the two girls that they were sent to find. He stopped, and looked around. His verdant eyes shifted up to the canopy of leaves above him. The branches stretched out to each other, preventing the sun from flooding the forest floor in light. Sun seeped through open spots, giving the forest an ominous atmosphere. The birds sang and chirped, flying from one branch to another. It looked as though they were playing tag, or that's what it looked like to Gaara. Even the wildlife brought him a pang of hatred; even it reminded him of the past.
A sound emanating from a nearby brush broke his stare and state of concentration. He looked over to the little patch of bush, squinting his eyes slightly. The small branches began to quiver and shake. Still Gaara remained still and as usual, absolutely calm. The commotion failed to stop, and Gaara was curious as to whether it might be the girl. He turned slightly to face the brush. At last, the culprit emerged. Small chipmunks scurried out. He watched them run out of sight, as they plunged into another brush.
This moment did not last long. The shifting sound of the sand attracted his attention. He was caught slightly off-guard, but his sand was not fooled. The sand shot out his gourd and caught the shuriken that Gaara failed to notice. His head quickly turned to the direction the blade had come from. The forest looked empty, no sign of disturbance. The trees looked calm, and the little forest creatures were still scurrying about. Still Gaara did not need his eyes to spot the person that had thrown the weapon at him. Whoever it was, they had no patience. The person attacked again, and still from behind Gaara. Unlike before when they had taken a long-distance approach, this time they attacked head on.
Gaara did not look affected. He looked over his shoulder at his attacker. The assailant wore a plain white mask, a dark hooded cloak, and wielded a staff. Gaara began to look annoyed. The stranger's attacks were relentless, but to no avail. At last, Gaara decided to end this useless meeting. The sand reached out and grasped the stranger's wrist, pulling him down to the ground. A muffled yell came from within the mask. With their free hand, the assailant pulled back his hood. Long dark hair fell forward, over the shoulders. The person continued to struggle, scratching at the sand.
"Let me go!" the person demanded. The voice was obviously that of a girl.
Gaara looked down at the girl, wondering if she was the one he had to find. The girl ripped off her mask; her eyes were shut tight. The sand brought the girl closer to Gaara. He stood, his face emotionless. Her fists were clenched. Gaara was curious; why did she have her eyes closed? Maybe the girl realized she could not escape; she ran forward, towards Gaara, her free hand formed into a tight fist. She threw herself forward, with the intent of hitting Gaara with all she could muster. The sand blocked the attack. Gaara still stood, looking at the girl. Her fist was still embedded in the sand. He reached his hand out, into the sand, and clasped his hand around her fist.
The girl was breathing heavily, having tired herself out. Gaara still held onto her fist, but she made no effort to get away. She was leaning against the wall of sand.
"Are you Kohana?" Gaara asked.
A/N: Look out for the second chapter....also, I always looking for suggestions.
disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way!!
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah...she'll be alone. I promise."
"If you say so..."
"Before you go..."
"Hmm?"
"Remember, we never met."
"Heh...it's like that, huh?"
"Just get out of here!"
"Whatever..."
==========
Elsewhere, three familiar figures are walking out of a small village.
"Pft! A search and retrieve mission! Are they joking?"
"Your right, Kankuro...but, the pay isn't too bad."
"It's always about the money, isn't it?"
"Of course not!"
"Silence," a voice commanded the other two.
Both Temari and Kankuro went silent. Their gazes shifted over to their younger brother. Tension seemed to build up. Temari looked as though she was struggling to say something; Kankuro, on the other hand, appeared worried.
"We will split up. Cover more ground. The mission will be accomplished faster," Gaara told his siblings in a very calm voice.
With that he began to walk along the same road, leaving Temari and Kankuro still pondering about the situation. The sky was nearly clear, a few clouds dotting the infinite blue. The sun was positioned high in the sky, signaling that half the day still remained. Grass swayed gently with the wind, imitating the movements of their larger brethren, the trees.
Children frolicked and played in the field alongside the gravel road. Looking at them brought Gaara painful memories of his own childhood. He looked away, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. Thinking of the past is useless, he thought. Afterall, he was no longer child; he was a young man. Five years ago he had met Uzumaki Naruto, and since then he had changed, not greatly, but enough to make a difference. All the hate and despair he had once felt was no longer as strong as it had once been. However, resisting the demon was a much more difficult task. Yes, he was strong, but all those years up till now have involved his struggle with Shukaku. He was able to utilize Shukaku in various ways, his control also strengthening. Temari and Kankuro finally decided to follow. The three sand siblings walked along the road in silence. They were no longer genin, but very skilled and powerful chuunins. Temari still carried her large fan, and Kankuro his two puppets. The sand gourd still was transported on Gaara's back. Temari's blond hair swayed slightly with the wind. Her blond locks were cut short, barely past her chin. The bangs were slightly longer, and the tips of her hair were curled slightly up and outward. Kankuro still dawned the burgundy face paint and desert-like head veil. He was the only one out of the three that actually wore his chuunin flak jacket. Gaara still looked pretty much the same. Temari wore a low neck black shirt that had fishnet sleeves and chest coverings; but over her shirt was a kimono- like dress. It was blue, sleeveless, and reached mid-thigh, fastened with a lilac sash at the waist. She still wore her usual fishnet on her one thigh, having worn black short shorts underneath.
As they moved further away from the village, the trees became dense, forming patches of forests here and there. Gaara stopped, and glanced around at the surrounding forest. Temari and Kankuro also stopped, and wondered what got Gaara so intrigued. Their green eyes also scanned the surrounding forests.
"This is it," Gaara finally said. "We will split up here."
Sand began to seep out of the gourd, and whip about Gaara. After only a moment, Gaara vanished. Temari looked down at the small whirlwind left behind by Gaara as it dissipated. A small sigh escaped her lips.
"There are two of them to find. We better start searching," Temari suggested to her brother. She took a step forward, walking towards the edge of the forest.
"We'll meet back here," Kankuro told his older sister.
Temari nodded in response, and disappeared leaving dust unsettled in her wake. Kankuro looked out onto the landscape. He shook his head back and forth slowly.
"Damn kids...I hate them," he said to himself.
============
Gaara walked through the forest, keeping an eye open for either of the two girls that they were sent to find. He stopped, and looked around. His verdant eyes shifted up to the canopy of leaves above him. The branches stretched out to each other, preventing the sun from flooding the forest floor in light. Sun seeped through open spots, giving the forest an ominous atmosphere. The birds sang and chirped, flying from one branch to another. It looked as though they were playing tag, or that's what it looked like to Gaara. Even the wildlife brought him a pang of hatred; even it reminded him of the past.
A sound emanating from a nearby brush broke his stare and state of concentration. He looked over to the little patch of bush, squinting his eyes slightly. The small branches began to quiver and shake. Still Gaara remained still and as usual, absolutely calm. The commotion failed to stop, and Gaara was curious as to whether it might be the girl. He turned slightly to face the brush. At last, the culprit emerged. Small chipmunks scurried out. He watched them run out of sight, as they plunged into another brush.
This moment did not last long. The shifting sound of the sand attracted his attention. He was caught slightly off-guard, but his sand was not fooled. The sand shot out his gourd and caught the shuriken that Gaara failed to notice. His head quickly turned to the direction the blade had come from. The forest looked empty, no sign of disturbance. The trees looked calm, and the little forest creatures were still scurrying about. Still Gaara did not need his eyes to spot the person that had thrown the weapon at him. Whoever it was, they had no patience. The person attacked again, and still from behind Gaara. Unlike before when they had taken a long-distance approach, this time they attacked head on.
Gaara did not look affected. He looked over his shoulder at his attacker. The assailant wore a plain white mask, a dark hooded cloak, and wielded a staff. Gaara began to look annoyed. The stranger's attacks were relentless, but to no avail. At last, Gaara decided to end this useless meeting. The sand reached out and grasped the stranger's wrist, pulling him down to the ground. A muffled yell came from within the mask. With their free hand, the assailant pulled back his hood. Long dark hair fell forward, over the shoulders. The person continued to struggle, scratching at the sand.
"Let me go!" the person demanded. The voice was obviously that of a girl.
Gaara looked down at the girl, wondering if she was the one he had to find. The girl ripped off her mask; her eyes were shut tight. The sand brought the girl closer to Gaara. He stood, his face emotionless. Her fists were clenched. Gaara was curious; why did she have her eyes closed? Maybe the girl realized she could not escape; she ran forward, towards Gaara, her free hand formed into a tight fist. She threw herself forward, with the intent of hitting Gaara with all she could muster. The sand blocked the attack. Gaara still stood, looking at the girl. Her fist was still embedded in the sand. He reached his hand out, into the sand, and clasped his hand around her fist.
The girl was breathing heavily, having tired herself out. Gaara still held onto her fist, but she made no effort to get away. She was leaning against the wall of sand.
"Are you Kohana?" Gaara asked.
A/N: Look out for the second chapter....also, I always looking for suggestions.