A new evil has emerged in a supposedly peaceful time.
Its' name: Kariki.
Its' goal: Complete annihilation of the Blade clan.
Redemption of his long ago defeat by the clans' ancestors was clear in his mind. He had a thirst for blood and it needed to be quenched.
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Garaa, Temari and Kankuro made their way through the streets of Konoha. Tsunade had summoned them about a mission.
They entered the room and bowed respectfully. She nodded to them and began to speak.
"The mission that has been assigned to you is one of protection." She rasped.
Someone hit the sake hard last night Temari smirked to herself.
"A demon has sworn to spill every last drop of blood belonging to the Blade clan. Your mission is to protect the last two surviving members. You have been assigned to this mission because the demon is unaware of your abilities, giving you the element of surprise of sorts." she struggled to say before having to rest her aching throat again.
"Who are we protecting?" Garaa's emotionless voice broke the silence. She motioned for one of the guards to bring the Blade clan members into the room. He returned with Sai.
"Where is the other one?" Tsunade asked, her raspy voice betrayed none of the annoyance she felt. The blank looks on the guard and Sai's face were enough of an explanation. Suddenly a commotion was heard from behind the door. The door burst open to reveal 5 guards dragging a girl. She struggled, and two of the guards lost their grip. She kicked one in the ribs and the other in the face; they both fell down unconscious. But no matter how much she struggled the remaining 3 held firm.
"Why won't you do what you're told?" Tsunade sighed rolling her eyes.
"Because it's pointless." The girl spat.
"Why is it pointless?" Tsunade raised her eyebrows
"Because I can take care of myself! I don't need anyone to protect me!" she shrieked still struggling against the guards.
"Well if you can take care of yourself so well then how come you were taken in by a mere 5 guards?" Tsunade asked smugly
"Why? Because you placed a seal on my powers and got them to ambush me you BITCH!!" the girl lunged at Tsunade, the guards tried to grab her but failed. She turned to them, palming one upside the head, punching one in the stomach and spinning to kick the last. They also fell to the floor unconscious. She turned to Tsunade.
"Now TAKE THE SEAL OFF ME DAMMIT!!" she screeched. Tsunade turned to the Sand Sibling and pointed to Sai and the girl.
"These are the two you are going to protect." She smirked.
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After numerous arguments about the seal being removed it was decided the seal on the girl would be changed to a different one. After the seal had been changed the girl revealed her name was Katana and then she fell silent, so any questions of what the seal did were left unanswered.
Tsunade turned to the Sand Siblings.
"Sai and Katana are the last surviving members of their clan; you must ensure their fortification. Their clan's future relies on them. Now remember that you're enemy is fast, intelligent and probably knows more than we know. We will give you more information soon but until then I suggest you find an asylum of sorts. And make sure they don't die."
"Hai." They chorused
"Good luck." She said as they left the room.
The group made their way down the street.
"So do either of you know why this demon is trying to kill you? Temari asked the Blade siblings.
'Apparently it wants revenge. Our ancestors defeated it long ago and sealed its soul into a painting." Sai said
'A painting?" Kankuro laughed. Temari smacked him over the head.
"Yeah a painting, but somehow he managed to break the seal and now it's on the warpath." Sai said quietly.
For the remaining member of a bloodthirsty clan, he seemed very withdrawn Temari thought to herself.
"So where are we going to go?" Sai asked them
"There's a place in the forest, an old wood hut, not many people go there so it should be safe." Temari said
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Eventually they reached the wood hut.
"You sure it's safe out here?" Sai asked
'Of course it is!" Kankuro smiled
"Idiot." Gaara said smacking him over the head
"Why am I an idiot?" Kankuro looked hurt
"If they were safe anywhere they wouldn't need us to protect them would they? As long as that demon is after them they are in danger and so are we." Gaara said narrowing his eyes towards his brother. Kankuro backed away fearfully.
'"Wow you can feel the love in this family." Katana muttered sarcastically. She hadn't spoken since the seal had been changed.
"We do trust each other." Temari said defensively
"No, you and Kankuro trust each other. But you're both afraid of Gaara." Katana pointed to Gaara, a slight smile on her lips. Gaara glared at her, no one challenged him.
'Remember Gaara, we're supposed to protect them." Temari squeaked seeing the murderous glint in Gaara's eye.
"I wasn't challenging you Gaara of the Sand, I was merely making an observation." Katana said nonchalantly as she walked into the house. The others followed.
The next morning the group arose early, just after daybreak.
"We'd better get some supplies." Temari remarked looking through the cupboards. It didn't look like anyone had lived there in years.
"It'll be easier if we split up." she said taking charge "You guys go and get some fire wood and Katana and I will go and get some food."
'Yeah well make it quick, I'm starved!" Kankuro whined
Gaara, Kankuro and Sai set out to find some firewood, they moved uphill and began collecting a few dry logs.
"Man the forest is dry as hell." Kankuro said
"Yeah, one spark this place could go up in flames." Sai commented wiping the sweat off his forehead.
'Hey speaking of fire, do you smell smoke?" Kankuro asked, sniffing the air.
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Temari breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at the girl she was protecting. She seemed right at home in the forest with her tangled black hair and tanned skin jumping from tree to tree. Suddenly the girl stopped, her bright green eyes became thoughtful and worried.
"What's wrong?" Temari asked,
"We need to get to the river. Now," she pulled on Temari's hand.
"What? Why? I don't understand." Temari said
"Fire."
Gaara, Kankuro and Sai ran in the direction of the house. They'd seen smoke from the hill. The girls had been downhill from the fire.
"Kankuro, get some water from the river. We'll look for the girls." Sai said.
Gaara glared at him and considered killing Sai for ordering him around. But then he realised he was just worried. Kankuro made sure that Gaara wasn't going to kill Sai before running towards the river.
Kankuro ran down to the river and saw Temari and Katana there.
"Tem!" he shouted, "Tem are you alright?"
"Yeah fine! Where are Gaara and Sai?" she asked
'Oh shit!" Kankuro said as he dashed to get Gaara and Sai
Gaara turned as Kankuro burst into the clearing.
"Idiot, you forgot the water." he rolled his eyes
"Found the girls." Kankuro said breathlessly "They're safe. Where's Sai?"
Gaara sighed and grabbed Sai by his collar and dragged him towards the river.
"You okay?" Sai asked the two girls. They nodded.
"How?" Kankuro scratched his head.
"It's thanks to Katana." Temari beamed at the girl who was now transfixed by a bird. "She said that there was a fire and we had to come here." Temari said
Gaara, Kankuro and Sai stared at her.
"Anyway, we'd better head back. It looks like the fire has died down maybe we could put it out.." Temari began
"No." Gaara interrupted "The fire was deliberately lit, that means the enemy knows we are here. We leave, now."
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The group entered Konoha for the second time in two days. They had decided to see Tsunade and ask if she had any more information on the demon.
"I'm going to make this quick." Tsunade snapped
'Someone's cheerful' Temari thought to herself. Tsunade was never very happy.
"The demon, Kariki, already knows more about the ways of Konoha. He knows all the main hiding places that we would use and all the alliances we could use. SO we had to do something... drastic," she said
"Like what?" Sai asked
"Understand that we did this for your own safety………We're hiding you with the Akatsuki." a thump was heard as Sai feinted
"HAHA! Man, sucks to be a Blade today." Kankuro laughed.
"Although the Akatsuki have sworn allegiance, we believe that we should take measures, so Temari, Gaara and Kankuro will be going to." Kankuro stopped laughing. It took then a few moments to realised he has feinted too.
"Idiot." Gaara muttered.
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