Summary: Kissing, student teaching, assassins, and strip poker. Guess who's doing what.

Disclaimer: The Naruto characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This story was written for personal enjoyment.

JOSTLING WINDS

Jostled by Motives

Sunagakure

Team Baki walked through the gates of Sunagakure finally free of their mission to Konoha. Upon the installation of Tsunade as Hokage, the Suna nins had delivered not only jewels to pay for reparations resulting from Suna's aborted invasion, but also the Suna nin who had killed Hayate Gekko. In exchange for helping Shikamaru's team return alive, Konoha had granted an Inquisition rather than immediate execution of the Wind Sword. The event had left Baki physically weakened and still fighting the mental backlash of painful memories, but alive.

Baki walked directly to the xeroscaped garden of the cliff house while his team went to their rooms. Gaara intended to add a crystal fish to his aquarium while Kankuro was anxious to check his puppets, but Temari suddenly deviated from the route that would take her to her room to follow the Wind Sword out to the garden.

She found him sitting quietly, but not in meditation. Baki simply seemed lost in thought as he stared at the desert rose planted in the shelter of the large rock in the garden. Temari knelt and inserted a crystal flower bud by the desert rose and patted the soil around the stem as she gathered her thoughts.

Temari had assumed Baki's evasive behavior with her was simply that he didn't want her to see him weak. Now she felt as if he had been deliberately pushing her away. She sighed at the tension that clung between them because she didn't want it to fester, so took advantage of her brothers' absence to pose her question.

"Baki, are you going to isolate yourself from all women now or is it just me? You didn't say two words to me on the trip home."

"It's nothing, Temari," murmured Baki, but in fact, he was haunted by rather disturbing images of the girl since the Inquisition. They made him uncomfortable to be near her, but he preferred to avoid the issue rather than confront it.

Temari raised her hand to touch his arm, but Baki stood quickly and stepped out of reach. He was further relieved when he heard the door open to let her brothers into the garden. "I better go. I'm sure the Ruling Council will want to chew me out in the morning."

"You survived the Inquisition; the Ruling Council is a pack of squawking chickens compared to that," called Kankuro as he stepped forward. "Man, I think we deserve a break after that mission to Leaf. I could use some free time."

"We rested at the Crystal Caves," observed Gaara as he sought his perch on the large rock in the garden. The boy referred to a brief respite on the trail back from Konoha at the Crystal Caves with the Shugyoku clan. The Sand siblings were forming a strong bond with Kagami, a master of glasswork, and her Uncle Houshou. With the feminine horde of Kagami's younger cousins, the detour had been almost like visiting family for them.

"Come on, Gaara, you can't tell me you want to get back to the paperwork waiting for us?" prodded Kankuro. Then he suddenly turned to Baki and asked, "Hey, do you think the Council will be ticked off enough to drop you as Chief Administrator?"

"One can only hope. I assume you're going to follow me to the Council chambers tomorrow?"

It was Gaara who answered for them all. "As your advocates or bodyguards, depending on the Council's actions, we stand behind you."

Sunagakure Council Chambers

"So, what's the verdict?" asked Temari as soon as the door to the Council chamber opened and the tall jonin stepped through.

"Like you couldn't hear?" asked Baki.

"They removed you as the Chief Administrator of the Suna Ruling Council," muttered Gaara. "Does that mean no more paperwork?"

"No more administrative paperwork."

"Great!" Kankuro pumped a fist, but noticed the chuckle rumbling from the jonin. "What? Wait. No! Ah, man, somehow this means more work for us, right? "

"They said yes to the Academy?" queried Temari. At Baki's nod, she cast an I-told-you-so look to her brothers.

"The Council agreed that Suna would benefit from an academy based on the academic year rather than just the annual meetings we call an academy to test students. We have a week to establish its viability," assured Baki. "We have to acquire a building, lay claim to the training grounds, define the curriculum, set up a schedule, write the rules--"

"Sounds like a lot of work," grumbled Kankuro.

"At least the teaching staff is already designated," assured Baki.

"What will I do while Temari and Kankuro teach?" asked Gaara suddenly.

Baki looked at the boy and tilted his head as if it should be obvious. "Gaara, all of you will be teaching."

The boy blinked in response, but said nothing further.

"You can't abandon us, bro," declared Kankuro as he pinwheeled his arms to get the kinks out of his limbs. "Between us we have Sand, Wind, and Chakra strings covered. We make a great team whether it's missions or teaching rugrats."

"It will be good for you, Gaara," assured Temari. "It will help people see you being, er, useful instead of, er--"

"Menacing?" injected Baki. Gaara turned to gaze at his sensei as the man continued. "Temari has a good point, Gaara. Your work with the Suna Academy will be important for allowing the Council to see you as a person, not just a demon vessel."

"I'll be present," was all Gaara would concede.

"Hey, what if we suck at teaching?" asked Kankaro with a frown. "I like Kagami's little cousins well enough, but most kids are a pain, you know."

"Don't worry, I won't let you loose on Suna yet. You can test your pedagogical skills with guinea pigs from the Leaf," said Baki cryptically.

Kankuro's head snapped up. "Guinea pigs? Leaf? Baki, are you sure the Inquisition didn't leave you addled?"

"Konoha has invited Suna to send a contingent of student teachers to its Academy," explained Baki patiently after tossing a stern look at Kankuro who merely shrugged. Baki shook his head and added, "Konoha is still short-handed and their teaching staff has been reduced as chunin are assigned missions. It's a good trade-off. You get experience teaching and they get free labor for a week."

"But we just got back to Sunagakure!" wailed Kankuro. "We were in Konoha just a week ago!"

"I don't want to get my sand wet again," declared Gaara.

"Ugh! I bet Shadow Boy is teaching at the Academy, isn't he?" grumbled Temari. "I swear I'm going to hurt him if I have to work with him again."

"You haven't killed him yet, Temari. I'm sure you can exercise restraint for a little longer," observed Baki.

"Hey, what if run into the Panther who tried to kill you at the border?" asked Kankuro.

"Don't provoke any Leaf nins, especially Yugao Uzuki," cautioned Baki. "You're going to Konoha on a peaceful mission and I expect it to remain just that."

The jonin waited until he received a confirming nod from the three siblings.

"While you're doing your student teaching, I can take care of setting up the academy here. Now get packing so you can meet your ride. Lady Tsunade is summoning a real condor so you'll be in Konohagakure by tonight. And I expect reports on alternate days while you're there from each one of you."

Konohagukure Day 2

Temari's Update: Baki, I spent ten hours (count them—ten!) at the Konoha Academy every day and then have another hour of grading scrolls at night. You're lucky I am such a dedicated student teacher because I am sooooo tired right now. I thought these kids would be less work than babysitting Taro and Jiro, but it seems trying to find ways to accidentally kill yourself extends well into childhood. The students want to grow up too fast. Can you believe a ten-year old boy was hitting on me? But the girls all giggled when I put him in his place. They have some really strong girls here; most of them want to emulate Lady Tsunade.

And for your information, I did not harm Shadow Boy. I just used him as the target for my wind jutsu demonstration, a bright point of my day. I never realized how much work this takes—patience, communication skills, trying to engage students, your own confidence in your jutsus. How did you ever manage to survive with brats like us? Must be that obstinate work ethic of yours. And don't think you can pull a fast one on me. Hiroko will tell me if you're not getting sufficient rest while we're here.

Kankuro's Update: Yo, Baki, this teaching deal ain't so bad. Sure, it's a long day, but something is always happening in the classroom. Do they think their teachers were born yesterday? I can tell who's gonna be a problem-- and how-- within 5 minutes of entering a class. I think it's that gleam in their eyes—Hey, is that how you could tell we were up to something? Never could pull a good prank on you. Must give this further thought. Be very afraid. BWAHAHAHA (cough, cough…dammit! Stupid mosquito flew down my throat. Too many bugs here.)

Most of the kids thought the whole chakra string manipulation was cool. Of course, I had to demonstrate that they could be used on humans when some brat called Karasu a doll. Heh, I don't think discipline will be a problem at all. Teaching might be a piece of cake. I kinda see what you get out of it. Later.

Gaara's Update: Green and humid. Demonstrated sand jutsus. Did not kill anyone.

Konohagakure Day 4

Temari's Update: Baki, I will always wonder at how you kept your temper and didn't bash our brains in when we were younger. I think I understand how you must have felt at times. And I also understand how in the next instant, you think your students are geniuses when they get the point of the lesson or perform a perfect jutsu. It makes me feel as if I'm pretty cool. I even overheard Shikamaru mutter to his teammates that, "She's troublesome, but good at explaining things I guess." Looks like he does have some measure of intellect after all—if horrid taste in hairstyles.

I'm getting to know some of the Leaf nins better, especially the girls. Tenten, my opponent in the chunin exams, got to spar with me to demonstrate long range attacks. It wasn't a real match, but I had to admit to her that she'd be a formidable opponent now. I figured she'd take my comment the wrong way, but she just smiled and dragged me to lunch with her teammates. Maybe that was my torture, come to think of it, because I wound up stuck between the Jolly Green Jonin and the Little Green Sprout. And don't you ever make a botanical reference about me! Succulent desert flower, indeed! (shiver) I hope you're cringing as much as I did.

Kankuro's Update: Hey, Baki, things are still flowing like a cool breeze. The rugrats here are pretty sharp. Some of the older guys are a bit arrogant, but the nice looking girls are a good trade off. Get this. I actually saw the Panther the other day. Yeah, she was following us, but never confronted us. The Panther obviously wanted us to know she was watching us, though. I mean, as ANBU she would have hidden her movements if she didn't want to be spotted, right?

I'd say she's definitely still interested in you. Wow, that sounds like a potential date—well, it would if you didn't have that death penalty hanging on you if you set foot in Konoha. Or the fact that you killed her boyfriend. Or that you whipped her as-pirations to get revenge at the border. Or that her shoulder is wrapped up from the wound you gave her. Yeah, I'd say she's still after your blood. Man, I hope I avoid your luck with women.

Gaara's update: Green and damp. Sand remains dry. Killed vermin, of the eight-legged kind.

Konohagakure Day 6

Temari's update: Baki, it's been a good experience, so I'm glad we had this little stint at the Konoha Academy. Shikamaru will see us off at the gates tomorrow morning and we'll intercept a condor outside the village for a quick ride home. Look, if you get wind about the 'incident', then please just keep an open mind until I can tell you my version of events. It'll be good to get home.

Kankuro's update: Whoa, Baki, now, don't get all upset, but, I can explain the little 'incident.' Really, it's not anything too troublesome (I know I've been in Konoha too long when I start sounding like Shadow Boy). So, I'll just shut up now and wait until I see you. Teaching has been a blast. I'm looking forward to working in the Suna Academy.

Gaara's update: There was an incident.

Konohagakure Gates

Temari gave her last taunt to Shikamaru at the gates of Konoha and turned to walk away with her brothers.

"That was an interesting escort," muttered Gaara.

"You think Shadow Boy was making sure we left the village?" asked Kankuro.

Temari gave a nervous laugh before she asked, "What makes you think that? Now let's move it so we can catch our ride."

Kankuro and Gaara avoided looking at her and each other. Each one thought the 'incident' had fallen under the radar of the other siblings. They walked on quietly, each wondering how Baki would react.

Sunagakure

Baki reread the last notes he had received from his team and rubbed his chin. He had decided not to meet them when the condor landed at the training grounds, but he had left specific instructions that he wanted to see the Sabaku siblings from youngest to eldest. He preferred to get the bad news immediately and predicted that the 'incident' involved Gaara.

Tap. The sound was so quiet, Baki almost wondered if he'd heard it. "Enter."

Gaara closed the door behind him and merely stared as the jonin remained seated at his desk.

"Gaara."

"Baki."

"I know my name. I want to know about this incident you mentioned."

"You think I killed someone." Gaara crossed his arms over his chest and blinked.

Baki steepled his fingers before him and said, "No, I'm sure the Hokage would have notified me if that were the case, but obviously it's something that upsets you. Even Kankuro and Temari referred to an incident."

Gaara frowned slightly and murmured, "How did they know?"

"What was that?" asked Baki.

"I was alone when I was attacked, just like the last time I was in Konohagakure, midnight, sitting on the roof by the fish with the wind chimes."

"An assassin," said Baki, then leaned forward as he realized, "And you didn't kill?"

"I didn't kill the assassin." Gaara was silent for a moment before adding, "The legs are broken, but I didn't crush the body."

"But you didn't kill." Baki sat back in his chair and realized he was laughing. "That's it? That's the incident?"

"I summoned Captain Morino who said he'd take care of it."

Baki nodded. "Did you check the bingo book to see if you could identify the assassin?"

The slight change in Gaara's expression indicated he had not thought of it. "No."

"Well, I shouldn't be surprised. Typically there's not enough left to identify. I'll contact Morino on the matter. Is that all?"

"Teaching was—interesting," admitted Gaara. "Kankuro should be here after he puts away his puppets."

"Good. That's all," said Baki, but as Gaara turned around, he added, "And welcome home."

Gaara nodded and was gone. Baki stood up to look out the window and spent a little time marveling at how much the boy had grown.

Rapity, rap. The jonin turned and summoned, "Come in, Kankuro."

"Man, it's good to be home," said the Puppet Master as he sauntered in and threw himself across the chair while the jonin remained standing. "Hey, Baki, you look like you've got your color back."

"It's been restful with you lot off in Konoha," admitted Baki as he walked to stand by Kankuro. "So, you want to add any details to the incident?"

Baki was surprised to see Kankuro—blushing? It was incongruent with an assassination attempt on Gaara.

"Uh, well, you know, she asked for it!" declared Kankuro as he sat up.

Baki frowned. A female assassin was not the norm, but then he had personal experience with a woman who was after his blood. Baki leaned on his desk and asked, "The assassin was a woman?"

Now Kankuro blinked and asked, "Assassin? Hey, did someone try to kill Gaara while we were in Leaf?"

"I thought that was the incident you referred to," prodded Baki, then realized it had to be something different. "All right, spill it. What girl are you talking about and what did you do?"

"Hey, it's not like I hurt her," defended Kankuro. "Really, I only fight with Temari. She'd think I was ignoring her if we didn't get into our tussles."

"Kankuro, quit evading the question. What did you do?"

Kankuro turned a way and mumbled, "Ahksstr."

"You what?"

Sigh. "I kissed her."

"Temari?"

"No, ew, that would be sick, you know? I mean I kissed—hell, I forgot her name. The blonde who's Shadow Boy's teammate. Family runs a flower shop. Always bitching at Shikamaru."

"You forced your attention on a girl and you don't even know her name?" Swat.

"Ow." Kankuro rubbed the side of his head where the dope slap fell. "Hey, it wasn't like that. It's just, she was making fun of my face paint, saying how it would be horrible to kiss, and then she began bad mouthing Sand nins, calling us violent hoodlums, saying we know how to make war but wouldn't know how to make love…So, I thought I'd shut her up."

"So you kissed her?"

"It worked! Even Shikamaru applauded my actions, until she said I was a better kisser than he was," smirked Kankuro. "But then, Shikamaru protested that they'd been ten at the time and confessed that he hadn't liked her mango flavored lip gloss which is when I made my escape while she was beating on him."

Baki pinched the bridge of his nose. "I hope this is an isolated incident?"

"Well, yeah, I mean, I just sort of wanted to see if kissing would be different with someone other than Kagami," admitted Kankuro quietly.

Swat!

"Ow!"

"What the hell are you, a kissing bandit?" demanded Baki.

"Look, I didn't force myself on Kagami, either. It just sort of happened when we were at the Crystal Caves. We were just curious, you know. Besides, that one was all your fault!"

"My fault? I don't recall telling you to start kissing any girl who comes in your vicinity, especially not one who is part of a powerful clan and ally!"

"So it's all right for you to kiss Temari but not for me to share a kiss with my friend?" queried Kankuro.

Baki suddenly tensed. He'd really kissed Temari? "I thought that wasn't real. Wait. Was it…"

"Lips to lips, dude, none of this peck on the cheek business," informed Kankuro.

"Damn." Baki seemed to grow pale, but then wondered if Kankuro wasn't pulling one on him. "How did you find out?"

"Well, cameras in the Inquisition chamber recorded it and Captain Morino was making you like a pervert to the Hokage until I stepped in to save your hide by explaining that Temari is like the most important woman in your life. It was the best I could do without mentioning, you know, that whole betrothal contract that you were forced to sign."

"That's a moot point since it's been destroyed," murmured Baki as he shook his head. He failed to notice the flash of guilt in Kankuro's expression as he continued, "Still, how can she trust me? I should apologize to Temari."

"Temari didn't act traumatized," assured Kankuro. "She probably thought it was just the effects of the Inquisition and not that you've suddenly become a lecherous old goat."

"How reassuring," said Baki sardonically.

"Look, it wasn't like you shared a suck-your-face-off kiss." Kankuro leaned back as he explained, "The kiss looked, well, sweet, if you want to use a girly term. It made me wonder what it would feel like, except I wouldn't want to kiss Temari."

"And this behavior inspired you to use Kagami to appease your curiosity?" asked Baki.

"Kagami was curious, too. When we were shooting the breeze, the subject of kissing came up."

"You didn't tell her that about my kissing Temari, did you?"

"Hey, I haven't even talked to Temari about you kissing Temari. Think I'm stupid? Hell, I'd rather face Gaara's Shukaku."

Baki exhaled in relief. "Smart move."

"Damn straight," agreed Kankuro. "Kagami was the one who brought up kissing because one of her little cousins was planning on trying to ambush Gaara for a kiss before Kagami stopped her. So we talked about this first kiss stuff and, man, I never realized how important that is to girls. Anyway, I didn't want Kagami to worry that no guy would ever want to kiss her; she has enough hang-ups as it is."

"Kagami does carry her own burdens," admitted Baki, but a part of him wondered if he had been Temari's first kiss. Damn! Now he felt even more guilty.

Kankuro ended his explanation. "So, we kissed and now Kagami can't say she's never been kissed and now I know that kissing girls isn't like eating dumplings where any dumpling will do."

"A word of advice. Don't refer to women as dumplings around Temari," offered Baki.

"Gotcha," agreed Kankuro as he rose. "And I'm not about to become some Romeo. You can't just kiss any girl, can you, and have it feel right?"

Baki looked at the youth and shrugged, "Some men are just more discriminating. It looks like we share the same trait where women are concerned."

Kankuro rose and stretched. "As long as I don't have to share your bad luck with them. Now I'm gonna find some real dumplings and indulge."

The Puppet Master waved lazily and walked out the door, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Kagami. They had been sitting near the pond having a water fight with their bare feet, talking about growing up and things she couldn't experience being so isolated at the Crystal Caves. This had led to her revealing her cousin's plan to ambush Gaara for a kiss. It had been innocent curiosity that had initiated the act, but there had been that warm tingling feeling upon its execution. That feeling had been conspicuously absent when he'd kissed the Leaf girl. Kankuro continued walking, lost in his thoughts about his first kiss.

Back in his office, Baki closed his eyes to try to capture the memory of kissing Temari. He was fairly certain there had been no groping, although he remembered caressing her cheek. At least, he hoped that was the right memory. And he fervently prayed that was all he did because if he really thought about it, there was definitely more that he would want from Temari than a kiss.

He wiped his hand across is face and pushed aside those feelings as disgusting. Baki had done everything in his power to prevent marrying the girl, much as her father wanted that outcome. The Kazekage had offered her as a bribe to ensure Baki's capitulation to becoming their sensei, had tried to get him to agree to an early marriage while the girl was barely into puberty, and finally had forced the Wind Sword to sign a betrothal contract before the Chunin exams in Konoha.

Baki had managed to evade these plans and had even told Kankuro to destroy the betrothal contract when they had found it after the Kazekage's death. He didn't have the right to think of Temari as his wife and the more distance he put between them, the easier it would be to show her the kiss was just a fluke. That would be better than submitting them to an awkward apology.

He took a deep breath and felt ready to face Temari. But then he wondered about the incident she had mentioned. Was it the assassination attempt on Gaara or Kankuro the kissing bandit? But why would she have her own version of either event? He frowned at this puzzle.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Temari?"

Baki saw a slender hand on the door, then Temari slipped in and closed the door behind her with a rather sheepish look on her face.

"All right, this has to be bad to have you looking like you were ten again," observed Baki.

Temari took a deep breath and started to say something, then shook her head, mumbled something under her breath, and then said brightly, "You're looking well, Baki. I suppose you've found time to rest as well as work on the academy project. Did Hiroko get a list of students to contact? Was Yura amenable to our using the jonin barracks?"

"Nice try, Temari, but your tactics aren't going to work." Baki crossed his arms over his chest and demanded sternly, "What's this incident you mentioned in your letter?"

"Well, you see, it involved, er," Temari couldn't look him in the eye, but instead murmured. "Sake."

"Sake?" Baki had never known the girl to drink.

"Sake," confirmed Temari. She cleared her throat and added, "And, um, strip poker."

"Sake and strip poker," repeated Baki with an incredulous note to his voice.

"See? That's why I wanted to explain my version of things—"

"Who were they?" asked Baki, but now his tone held a note of fury. He didn't give a damn about the death sentence on his head. He was going to Konoha to unleash the Wind Sword on the fools who had taken advantage of the girl. Maybe he'd even bring Gaara along to crush their bodies into pulp afterwards or let Kankuro impale them in his puppets for good measure.

"Who? Oh, um, Anko, Shizune, Kurenai,--"

"Those are all women," inserted Baki. This made no sense. Temari wasn't interested in other women, was she?

"Well, yeah, Shizune was having a girls' night at her apartment. She was upset when Anko showed up with bottles of sake, but soon they were passing it around and, well, I could barely even get a sip down my throat. Nasty stuff, I don't know how you can drink it."

"It can be an acquired taste," admitted Baki. "But I don't understand how strip poker fits into this unless you, uh, have certain preferences."

"Oh, normally don't like card games, but I felt I needed to investigate," replied Temari with a confident nod. "You know how I can't back down once I've made up my mind."

"Indeed." That was all Baki could think of to say. Temari stripping down with the four women—No! He wasn't going there and scowled at himself.

Temari noted his expression and urged, "Don't be mad at me when I explain, okay? I had good reasons for doing it, but each woman had to come up with a transformation jutsu of a man who would, you now, lose a piece of clothing with a lost bet."

Baki actually blinked. What? He spoke hesitantly, "A transformation jutsu?"

"Well, of course."

"That's not how strip poker is usually played," he muttered.

"Really? Well, I'm starting to realize I've led a pretty sheltered life," murmured Temari, but then she smiled and said, "So you understand why I did it."

Baki nodded then shook his head, "No, I have no idea why you would."

"But you're the only man I know well enough for a detailed transformation!" Temari rocked back on her heels as if her explanation was obvious.

Baki rubbed his temple and tried not to wince at the implications. "Are you telling me that taking part in this strip poker required that you create an image of me?"

"Yes," assured Temari.

"And that for every bet you lost, this—image—of me lost a piece of clothing?"

"Yes!" Temari seemed pleased at Baki's level of understanding.

"And did you manage to win more than you lost?" asked the jonin tentatively.

"Oh, I lost almost every time," declared Temari, "but it was worth it."

"I can only hope I was in good company," sighed Baki.

"Actually, there was an interesting assortment of men, but they were used because they had been the last man to get the woman angry."

"Ah." Baki nodded. Oddly enough, he was beginning to see the point in this version of strip poker. "So the woman could get revenge on the man by manipulating aspects of his image when she transformed."

"Precisely; I think Anko was brilliant to think it up," confirmed Temari.

"Her mind certainly works in interesting ways," agreed Baki.

Temari nodded and explained, "Anko conjured Captain Morino who had chastised her for summoning her snakes in the village, so she warped every limb of his into snakes. Shizune had trouble deciding, but finally settled on Genma Shiranui because she had to chase him down for his checkup, so obviously he wound up looking like a pincushion. Kurenai used Kakashi because he had interrupted a sort of date she had with Asuma, so she made him literally look like a scarecrow. And you should have seen the fish lips she gave the Copy Ninja when she removed the mask! Oh, and Yugao Uzuki—"

"Wait. The Panther was there? Conjuring an image of—her dead lover?" Baki could not imagine such behavior.

"Yes! No! I mean, that's why I joined the party in the first place. The Panther had been stalking us and when I heard Shizune telling Anko that Yugao would be at their girls' night, I made sure I got invited. And, no, she called an image of some bounty hunter named Sazanami who found her pinned at the border gate. I think she's almost as angry with him as she is with you considering all the slashes she gave him."

"Temari, it could have been dangerous for you. Just by association with me, you could have been a target."

"Heheh, funny you should mention that," replied the girl as she scratched the back of her head. "We did sort of get into it but Shizune wound up nailing both of us with her senbon before it was more than a shoving match."

"Temari, even a wounded ANBU is no one to provoke. You were lucky that Shizune had the sense to intervene," admonished Baki.

"But I had to find out why she was stalking us and she finally admitted she wanted to get a message to you. Yugao wanted you to know that Hayate's sword is now buried with him, but that she hoped to meet you in the Kendo Masters' Tournament when it comes around."

"I see," said Baki with a nod. Typical. The only interest he generated in a woman was to spill his blood.

When Baki remained silent, Temari added, "Isn't Suna supposed to host it next?"

But Baki's silence had been provoked because he realized he could use this episode as an excuse to distance himself from Temari. He maintained a cold expression as he asked, "So this little catfight was the incident you referred to in your note?"

"I was worried that Shizune would report it to Tsunade," admitted Temari as she began to feel uncomfortable. His impassive face prompted her to add, "If I wasn't worried about Yugao hunting you down in Suna, I wouldn't have bothered with the girls' night."

"I am not some witless boy, Temari, nor am I without my own resources. Don't you remember that I specifically told you not to provoke Yugao Uzuki? Iruka sent a message to me about Yugao burying the sword; it was waiting for me when we arrived. You should have gone to him with your concerns, not used me as an excuse to indulge in a frivolous escapade."

Temari stood in shock as he berated her. Yes, she was accustomed to a stern word now and again, but never had Baki used such a condescending tone with her! "But, you didn't tell us about—"

"It was none of your business," declared Baki with deliberation.

Temari drew back. She had never considered that; Baki was an important part of her world. "I was only trying to--."

"You engaged in hostile behavior against an ANBU and put our alliance with Konoha in jeopardy. Furthermore, you couldn't use an image of some Leaf nin for your games, you had to choose a Suna Marshal to ridicule."

"It wasn't like that!" protested Temari. "I didn't alter anything about you when—when…" Her voice dropped off as she realized how the whole venture would seem to a man and indeed, the others had all been the butt of a joke.

"Just how much of my body did you reveal during the poker game?"

Temari shifted uncomfortably. Considering all the layers of clothing, wraps, and weapons Baki typically wore, it was easy to keep most of his image covered. Still, she admitted, "I got no further than, ahem, a bare chest." She then quickly said, "But I didn't uncover your face, I swear."

"Ah, but that was one feature you could have altered for improvement, but you didn't think of that, did you? And you can't even claim drunkenness as an excuse for being so witless."

Temari could barely make herself reply to his caustic tone. "I was trying to protect—"

"You have neither the age nor experience to claim to protect me, Temari," asserted Baki. "Your behavior was very disappointing; I would not have expected this level of disrespect from you."

He saw Temari stiffen at his tone before she offered him a deep bow. He could see that she was blinking away tears generated by his harsh tone, and she sounded subdued when she said, "Forgive me, Sensei. I will serve whatever punishment you see fit for my actions without complaint."

Baki had to think quickly to improvise the penalty, but there was no change in the censure of his voice. "You will personally clean out the jonin barracks that we will be using for the Academy without the help of your brothers. Furthermore, we will not speak of this again. I will attribute this incident to your immaturity, but I forbid you to use me in these childish games in the future."

He told himself she wasn't brushing anything away from her cheeks. He told himself it was for her own good that he drive a wedge between them.

But as Temari walked out the door, Baki would have given anything to have had the ten-year old tomboy back rather than the beautiful kunoichi she had become. In truth, Baki would forgive Temari anything, even a lethal wound to his heart, but he couldn't let her know that now or ever.

End Chapter 1

Author Notes:

It's been quite a few months since I last posted a story, so I was trying to add enough into this to jog the memory. The earlier stories are Dry Winds, Forceful Winds, and Howling Winds that take the reader from Baki meeting his genin team, to the Chunin exams and its aftermath, to a return trip to Konoha where Baki undergoes an Inquisition.

Because the anime of Naruto shows the Sand sibs at the Konoha gates with Shikamaru where he thanks them for helping out at the Academy, I felt justified in sending them back to Konoha for a quick lesson. And it challenged me to think about what could happen if left to their own devices, hence the assassin, the kissing, and the strip poker.

I was stuck for a while for what would be Temari's 'incident' and then thought of the strip poker—but of course, there had to be a twist to that. I love Anko's imagination! But don't put anything into Kankuro kissing Ino because it was what it was and nothing more. His kiss with Kagami, on the other hand….well, there is a reason I developed her as an original character. Those scenes worked best from Kankuro's memory rather than starting the story at the Crystal Caves. And of course Gaara is mostly concerned about avoiding wet sand.

Folks will recognize why Kurenai made Kakashi a scarecrow and gave him fish lips. I leave it to your imagination how many of Ibiki's appendages got the snake treatment from Anko. As for Sazanami, he is the bounty hunter who was a swordsmith wrongly accused of murder in the anime fillers. The story between him and Yugao is, well, for another story, but you can find my ideas about a Genma/Shizune pairing in the story Hidden Hearts of the Hidden Leaves set as a future fic.

I decided I needed to address Baki and Temari's relationship in this, but if you disapprove of that pairing, don't fret too much. This story will focus on how the Sand sibs become jonin rather than romance, but I felt I needed to push the two in the next step of reviewing each other as Temari finishes growing up. In the meantime, I have to set up for the rescue Matsuri arc!

As always, thanks for reading. Reviews aren't necessary to get me to finish the story, but they are warmly appreciated.