A Strange and Backwards Relationship
Chapter Two: Coming Home
Crzy1emo1chick
POV: OC – Shi
We were just steps away from the village gates and I was afraid. Of what? I can't be certain. Aki saw my internal struggle, took lead and led us into town. There were people doing their daily chores, walking, and some just standing around talking to others. The first few people we had to see were Asuma, who was always like a brother to me, and Kakashi, our former sensei. But where could they be at this time and day? Naoko thought we should check out the academy or the main hall. I was anxious to see them again. What would they think? Do they think we're dead? How have they changed? And why is the burn on my nose itching again?
I rubbed my nose through the scarf like mask and Naoko shot me a glare. Aki shook her head. These two were overprotective. Yeah, sure, I am the youngest...and shortest, and I get hurt...a lot, but that's because I try to keep them out of danger! Often times, I do get hurt, but it's not life threatening…usually. But I'm a big girl, and I can protect myself…And it's their idea to go along with my dumb ideas that usually get us in a mess, so I'm not the only one to blame. As I had my mental rant, we ran into a fight that was waiting to happen. Just our luck, we get back and already there is a fight.
Damn runt, I'll show him-His thoughts were loud. My kekkei genkai let me read other's thoughts. It didn't turn off, so I was glad that it didn't use chakra. The other part of my kekkei genkai…that was a different story.
Up ahead, there were about four ninjas and three kids, most likely academy children. By Naoko's thoughts, I figured she wanted to step in before things became ugly. Aki knew her sister well and skipped up ahead with a giggle. A tall, possibly well built, male, in a black, baggy full body suit held a smaller child by his shirt, in a menacing way. His hood was up and what looked like cat ears, both which covered his hair completely. Next to him, stood a female, probably older, with blond hair up in little pigtails, she shook her head in annoyance. She was dressed in a light purple dress the fell halfway down her thighs and black fishnets covering odd parts on her legs. I was only able to see the back of both.
I raked their thoughts and grinned, it seems Kankurō has quite the temper. On his back was a large…object covered in wraps. The female, Temari, Kankurō's sister, also had a large object on her back. Gah, it was horrible not being able to tell what they are. At the time, neither of them were even thinking about it.
Standing across from them were the other two ninja, and two children. I was able to see the front of these strange people. The male ninja, genin rank, was in a crouch, ready to fight, he wore a blue and orange jumpsuit with his blond hair spiked up. What kind of retard wears an orange jumpsuit, goodness, he looks worse than…Guy-sensei, well, almost. Naruto, his name, stood next to his teammate, Sakura, a female with bright pink hair and green eyes, dressed in a red qipao dress. She stood back from Naruto, shaking a little, with shock in her eyes. The two kids stood back with her, both staring at Kankurō and the kid he held.
Aki ran ahead of everyone and skidded to a halt directly in front of Kankurō and grinned.
"I do not believe that that is how you hold a child." She shook her finger at him.
I rolled my eyes, as Naoko and I slowly caught up. Naoko pulled her sister back and glanced up at Kankurō. Her eyes raked over him and a small smile appeared on her face, which immediately changed into a grimace. Her thoughts showed an interest in this ninja. I grinned. Naoko sighed.
"I apologize for my sister's rudeness."
"Who the heck are you three?" He questioned, totally ignoring Naoko.So these are the Leaf Village's genin…
She didn't like this. "Excuse me, I was talking to you!" She had to look up at Kankurō, with him being half a foot taller than her. As he looked down at her, a smile spread across his face. So small, so innocent, I'll teach her not to mess with me.
"Don't you ignore me! I can kill you faster than you can even think of grabbing a kunai!"
Naruto used this distraction and ran at Kankurō but tripped. Kankurō…used his chakra to trip him, nice. He looked back at Konohamaru and smiled. "You're annoying, all of you. I don't like runts or any other scrawny weaklings, so when a wimp like this starts shooting his mouth, I just want to break him in half."
"Okay, whatever, I'm not in this." Temari sighed.
Just as Naruto ran at Kankurō again, a pebble came flying at Kankurō's hand, causing him to drop Konohamaru. Aki leapt for him and caught him before he hit the floor.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Aki? Shi? Naoko? You guys are back!" He wrapped his arms around Aki's neck and held her tight.
The others looked up at where the rock came from and noticed another ninja. I ran through his mind and let out a gasp. This is Kakashi's new team? What the heck! They are just…horrible. I thought Kakashi was better than this.
I looked over at Naruto who was shooting daggers at this new comer, who goes by the name Sasuke, as he sat on a branch in a nearby tree. My eyes widened, Uchiha? That must mean… I smiled. Well, Kakashi, better than I thought…
"You're the kind of pesky little snot I hate the most. All attitude and nothing to back it up." He pulled the wrapped object from off his back.
Temari gasped. "What? Are you going to use the Crow for this?"
"Kankurō, back off."
That voice…I shuttered. That voice was so smooth, so ...suave. Yet, where did it come from? I looked at where Sasuke sat and beside him stood another shinobi, standing upside down from a tree limb. The look in his eyes…I bit my lip.
"You are an embarrassment to our village." He muttered.
Kankurō let out a shaky laugh, "Hey Gaara."
Gaara…cute.
"Have you forgotten the reason we came all the way over here?"
"Uh, I know…I mean, they challenged us. They started the whole thing really…It was like this-"
Gaara interrupted Kankurō, his brother. "Shut up…Or I'll kill you." The way he spoke, it made me believe that he actually would kill him.
"Uh…right, I was totally out of line…I'm…I'm sorry, Gaara. I was totally out of line."
"I'm sorry…for any trouble he caused."
I grinned, the way he controlled them, the fear in Kankurō's eyes, such power Gaara had over his siblings. I felt the wetness pool between my thighs; is it bad that such control he had turned me on? I just hoped the others didn't know how I felt at the moment. Though things never really turn out my way.
I thought this weirdo was strong, but I was wrong…this one…this one we have to look out for. Aki thought grimly.
Naoko just scoffed.
Such control. Such power. But why? He's the youngest out of the three so what makes him so…wonderful? I ran my tongue over my teeth as I thought.
"Let's go, we didn't come here to play games." His body dissolved into sand and reconstructed itself into him crouching down on the ground just feet away from his siblings. Before they could turn away, though, Naoko spoke up.
"What are you three doing here? Y'all are from…" Naoko glanced at Kankurō's hood, "Sunagakure, the Land of Wind…the Village Hidden in the Sand. So why are you here?"
Sakura nodded, "the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind are allies, but no shinobi can enter another's village without permission." She said proudly. "So state your purpose and it better be good."
Wow, Kankurō was right…so far, these Genin are snot-nosed brats. Would it have been so wrong to let him pound some sense into her, or at least manners, I wasn't finished talking! Naoko hissed silently.
I giggled softly.
"Really? Have you guys all been living under a rock or what? You don't know what's going on, do you?" Then she pulled out her pass. "We have permission. Of course you're correct, we are Hidden Sand Genin, our home is the Land of the Wind, and we're here for the Chūnin exams."
Of course…that would explain it. Is it really time again for that? Ah, the good ol' days. As Konohamaru explained to Naruto what the Chūnin exams were - is there something wrong with that picture? - Gaara spun around and began walking off. Kankurō and Temari followed behind, but Sasuke stopped them.
"Identify yourself!" He said as he jumped to the ground.
"Who, you mean me?" Temari said, as she fluttered her eyes.
I rolled mine. So full of herself.
"No, the guy with the gourd on his back."
Gaara stopped once more and turned to face Sasuke. Before he could speak, I lowered the mask covering my face, though the bandages still showed. "Gaara of the Desert, sixteen, blood type…"
AB. His thoughts gave me what I needed.
"…AB. Birthday…"
January nineteenth. Ha, I laughed to myself, even Temari was helping, without her knowledge. Unknowingly to them, they were helping me with what I needed. Unconsciously, most people will think of the answer to a question, if they know the answer, whether the question was directed at them or not.
"…January nineteen."
Aki and Naoko shook their heads. Know-it-all. Naoko thought to me. I smiled in return.
"How did you…" Kankurō stopped himself. How did she know all that? "How do you know this?"
"Kankurō, Temari." I nodded and turned to the other shinobi that stood there in shock. "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, it was nice meeting you all. I am sure we will see each other soon enough." I smiled and walked away. Naoko shook her head.
"What's with…"
Aki stopped Sakura. "Shi…Shi is like a walking dictionary. She knows everything about everything. She'll know whatever you know, as you think it, before you say it, before you even know you know what you know."
"You don't make sense sometimes." Naoko sighed. She grabbed her sister's arm and pulled her along.
We left the others with a look of shock still on their face. This is fun, we just returned and messing with the genin was helping me get through the jitters.
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Naoko led us into the academy building, I think, but then again, I wasn't paying attention…I was thinking about Gaara. On the other side of the door we could hear talking.
"Nine months…Tomorrow will be nine months."
"I should have gone with them."
"Hell yes you should have! It's your fault they aren't here!"
A different voice joined in, this one female. "Guys, every month or so, you two have this argument. It's not Kakashi's fault, they are old enough and strong enough to take on missions like this by themselves. They were actually supposed to go separate, but unlike the other Jounins, they have a bond. And Asuma…if you were so worried, why didn't you go after them?"
"Kurenai is right, had you been that worried, you would have tried to come find us." Naoko snickered.
All three heads turned toward us.
"It's-"
"But it can't be…"
"But it is…"
I stayed behind the girls. I couldn't do this. They'll question what happened. It's too soon to explain…I pulled up my mask where it was covering my mouth once more.
"Shi…is that you?" Asuma muttered.
I stared at Asuma with one eye, my other still covered by the headband.
"Shi…" Kakashi stepped forward, but Asuma was quicker. He held me in his arms, tears running down his face. I tried to take a step back but Asuma wouldn't let me. I couldn't control my shaking, but I also couldn't move my arms, so I was unable to use my kekkei genkai. As I had said, my kekkei genkai has two parts to it: to be able to invade someone's thoughts but also to take over their mind. There aren't many left in my clan, and I am the only one that has the gene for this, because I received it from my father, and the rest of his family has passed.
When Asuma pulled back, I rubbed my arm as I felt tears spring to my eyes. Asuma stared at me and finally took in my appearance. "What's with the change of…what happened?"
Both Aki and Naoko had no idea what to say. I glanced over at Kakashi and couldn't help but giggle. Both I and the one I looked up to so much, and learned pretty much everything from, look alike now. He shook his head.
Are you trying to copy me?
The giggling turned into full out laughter. Kakashi sighed. "Have a seat, all of you, and explain." He sat in the chair across from the three person couch. Asuma sat next to me with Kurenai next to him and my teammates on either side of my legs. Aki and Naoko pulled their knees to their chest and wrapped their arms around their legs. Asuma held his cigarette in his hand as he stared at me, waiting to speak. I sighed and grabbed the cigarette from his grasp.
"Smoking is bad for your health, you know…" I chuckled and pulled the right side of the mask downwards ever so slightly. Placing the cigarette to my lips, I took a deep drag then passed it back to him.
"After…what happened, you're still going to smoke?" Aki asked.
"You said you were trying to stop." Naoko butt in.
"One; I said that two months ago. Do you really think I stopped cold turkey? Two; smoking is a hard habit to break…and it isn't going to happen with me. Three: stay out of this, both of you. Now, shut up so I can get on with the story." I rubbed my right eye then after a moment, I reached around and pulled the rest of the mask down.
Aki shook her head. "When we left nine months ago…we were faced with other ninja."
"The battle went…bad" Naoko continued. "Twelve to three, we tried to make it even…but Aki and I couldn't hold off, let alone fight off, four each…not with their strength."
"Some were able to get through…as they saw that Shi was a main threat…Too bad her mind control can only reach out to one person."
For now,I thought, Someday, I will be able to control several people…A crowd…"It went out of control…A fire started and things became worse."
Aki smiled. "She was able to save us though, but at the risk of her death. We did win…but yet, in a way we lost."
"Naoko wasn't affected much, nothing life threatening…maybe, scaring of the lungs, but I doubt it, she wasn't near in the smoke long enough. Aki suffers from some burns on her legs." I continued.
Aki smiled sadly. "But Shi-chan…she was the one hurt the most. She now suffers from burns and scars left across her entire body, because she saved us."
As Naoko continued after her sister, I removed my flak jacket and stared at my noticeable marks just under the fishnet shirt. "She's still very beautiful, but she won't admit it. She's become very self-conscious, thought, I think being back home could change that. Shi has returned to her shell, and neither of us want her like that." A smirk filled her face.
"After the incident…the burns that attacked over seventy percent of her badly…she was in critical condition. They said her heart stopped for a moment, but you know Shi. She's a fighter, and she won't give up."
"I had things I had to do. It wasn't my time to go." A smile crossed my face. "Besides, if I were gone, who would have protected you on your way back to the village?"
Asuma stared at me, with a sad look in his eyes. Aki chuckled. "And two months ago, we were captured, but they couldn't hold us for long. We stayed some time, practiced a little, became stronger, and slaughtered them." She punched the air with her clenched fist.
"Don't you mean Shi slaughtered them?" Naoko snickered. "When it came to fighting them, you nearly fainted."
You…you killed them? I didn't think you had it in you. Kakashi thought. Both Asuma and Kurenai's thoughts went along that line.
I shrugged. "I only did what I did for my team…their thoughts…broke something inside of me. Who would have thought…that I would have enjoyed killing them so much?" It became into a bloodlust, a need to kill.
Everyone was silent for what seemed like eternity. Then Asuma let out a laugh. "Well, since you three returned at this time…would you like to help out the Chūnin Exams?"
I blinked. Onto a new subject already? Well, why not? Participating in the Chūnin Exams once more could be fun. It means I…er, we get to see Gaara again.
"Can we pretend to be students from another village?" Aki questioned.
"No." Asuma, Kakashi, and Kurenai said in unison.
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