Chapter twoooo, thank you for the review hyper-active-naruto-lover :-) extra glompiness for you!
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Sakura groaned in the heat. For some reason September had decided to have a heat wave and her job wasn't making it easier. As her training had made her physically stronger than the other applicants Sakura had been designated to carry water to the training fields. Every week Sensei's would apply to have water brought to where they trained and pay a fee for the privilege. Sakura was currently carrying a yoke with two buckets of iced water on each side. Around her waist were many flasks attached to a special belt. Sakura was coping…just.
"Ohio Sensei" she called out to her first customers she inwardly groaned as they crowded her the boys pushing each other out of the way trying to get her attention and lighten her load as they put it.
"No thanks…I have others to see!" she called detaching herself from one who had put his hands around her waist somehow. She carefully stood on his foot before walking away with a sigh. "See you tomorrow" they called after her "ugh" she replied
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Hinita turned dead white and pressed herself against the wall. Staring at her were 31 pairs of eyes. All staring and waiting, waiting for her to move or speak.
Hinita gulped then slowly reached out. "1 + 1 2" she wrote carefully on the blackboard the teacher smiled encouragingly and Hinita took a deep breath "C, can anyone tell me what would happen if we added another one?"
"Me, me sensei!" Hands shot up from the 30 pre-scholars who were sat in the classroom. Hinita smiled.
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"Hello there welcome to the Hokage tower, do you need any assistance?" Ino asked a grim looking man who entered he shook his head and walked away. Ino sighed she was bored. She was incredibly bored. The door opened and closed, Ino looked up into the eyes of a red haired man.
"Hello!" she said with a smile. The man seemed taken back but nodded at her and she continued "May I assist you in any way?" the cute way he was startled made her smile even more genuine
"I am looking for the guest rooms and then the Hokage's office" his voice was smooth and deep. Ino smiled even more when she realised he did actually want her help. "This way please!" She chirped as she walked to the bottom stairs. The man just stood there openly staring at her.
Ino noticed and blushed "Um…. have I something on my face sir?" she asked nervously
He shook his head "No, please continue"
They began to climb. "Have you been to Kahona before sir?" Ino asked intrigued by the man, who had kohl around his eyes, as if he comes from somewhere where the sun shines and he needs to protect his eyes she thought
"I have been once or twice" on the fourth floor both stopped to rest out of breath on benches that were put there for the soul purpose of saving guests from dying from the climb.
Ino gasped and noticed the man staring at her again "Sorry" she panted out "Geesh you'd think I never got any exercise the way I'm going on!" she leant back totally relaxed and totally breathless.
The stranger was taking deep breaths too but seemed to recover quickly. "Are you alright?" he asked awkwardly
"Oh I'm fine! I'll probably get used to the stairs!" she grinned sheepishly
The man looked at the stairs then at her "How far up is it?"
"Another 7 floors, but don't worry I can make it!" she said the jumped up as he started for the stairs "Sir! I…please let me accompany you…." He looked at her oddly so she gave her reasons "I, I can't just leave you – what if you got lost?" at that he smiled "Come on then…I'm going to cheat though."
Ino was coaxed closer and when she was within arms length he grabbed her arm "Er…what are you doing…. hey where did all this sand come from…wah?….argh!" The last words were said as Ino and the man were lifted up on sand and taken up the stairs. For the first 2 floors Ino held onto the mans arm staring, then she relaxed. "T, this is amazing," she said smiling at the man again
This seemed to fluster him a bit "You are enjoying it?"
"Yes! Oh sorry" she let go of his arm, which had white marks on it from where she had grabbed it. Kneeling down she placed a hand on the sand where it sifted as it climbed the stairs beneath them.
"What are you doing?" he asked in that deep voice of his, not sounding mad – just curious
"It's so smooth" she said grinning at him before standing "Sorry"
He didn't answer but instead looked away his lips tightening. Then the sand deposited both of them on the tenth floor. Ino stood and dusted off her knees.
"Do you know what room you are in sir?"
After showing the man to his room Ino took him two floors down to the Hokage's office before she left she bowed "I hope to see you again Sir"
Gaara frowned from his position facing the Hokage's door, he turned and saw the blond woman's face was honest and held out his hand "My name is Gaara" he said
Ino cocked her head, "I guessed…I haven't heard of anyone who uses so much sand"
Gaara got over his shock enough to notice Ino had placed her hand in his "I hope your stay is fun…. please ask if you need help. With one last bright smile she was gone running down the stairs…. but not in fear while Gaara watched her go s, she isn't afraid of me?
