Chapter 2 of the re-editing process. There's quite a bit that I'm changing, mostly because I'd like this story to progress much faster than the original.
Anyway Tsuki-chan doesn't own Naruto
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Information Retrieval On the Demon Of the Sand
A pounding noise roused Hitomi the next morning; however it took two additional minutes before she became fully aware to the sound. Rising it occurred to her that the racket was coming from the entryway. The sound of knocking connected in her mind and dressed herself in a robe before making her way to the door. There she was greeted not only by a messenger nin of Sunagakure; but a blast of sunlight that stung her eyes.
"Shimizu-sama; the council of elders requests your presence in one hours time." The male spoke bowing slightly.
"Right." She nodded, squinting as the ninja left. Hitomi shut the door and tried to regain her vision. She quickly showered and left, leaving her with enough time to walk to the council hall. Entering the council room she was greeted by thick silence, only a few members bowing their heads in greeting. Following suit the kunoichi returned the bow.
"Did you visit with Sabaku no Gaara?" One of them asked; his voice scratchy with age; Hitomi nodded thinking about the previous night.
"What was your initial impression?" Another less mature voice spoke.
"Considering his treatment by the citizens of Suna; he's obviously withdrawn… He was unwilling or unable to treat me pleasantly" Hitomi replied her gaze set on the elder that spoke; she fought the urge to scratch her ankle which was rubbed raw from the sand.
"Very well, after today you'll be expected to report in once a week." The council agreed, Hitomi bowed in understanding leaving in silence.
"Wake me up at 8 in the morning… I'm so sleepy." Hitomi yawned as she left the seniors to their business. She wandered around lazily; half tired and half baking in the desert heat. She decided to head back to her apartment and take a nap; however as she passed through the market she was confronted by a figure who was perhaps an inch or so taller, and a pang of hunger.
"Hitomi right?" The girl stared back for a minute before realization set in; it was the blond from yesterday that had introduced herself as Temari.
"Yes, you're Temari?" Hitomi replied smiling when the other nodded.
"What are you doing this early?" The blond asked; placing a hand on her hip.
"I was reporting on my mission." The girl replied yawning sleepily again "I get a message this morning requesting my attendance and they only needed me for 5 minutes. Senile old bastards." The Suna kunoichi laughed a bit. "I don't mean to pry Hitomi-san but… What did they want to know?" She was worried for her brother but could understand the secrecy of a mission.
"They wanted to know if I'd met Gaara-san already.. that's all for now." Hitomi assured the kunoichi; waving her hand absently. "Anyway where is a good place to get some breakfast?" Hitomi glanced around the market; everything looked appetizing but most of it required cooking, a trait that she'd never really picked up.
"Well there's a bakery on the far corner of this road; they sell really good sweet breads. There's also a bunch of small café's scattered throughout the village; the nearest one would be one street over." Temari pointed in the various directions; Hitomi nodded; taking note of locations pointed out.
"Actually where's the Akiyama restaurant?" Hitomi suddenly remembered; her voice changed into a slight excitement as she asked. Temari raised a brow; that had certainly been an odd selection for breakfast. Temari explained the directions and Hitomi was on her way.
"She's weird." Kankuro joined his sister after the girl had walked away.
"Very odd; but she seems nice enough." Temari replied; returning to her shopping. Kankuro separated when they reached the weapons shop; he needed to pick up more kunai for one of Karasu's traps. After they finished what needed to be done; the two sand siblings returned home; greeted by silence, they knew Gaara was either out training by himself or meditating. However the young red head was doing neither; he was perched atop the Akiyama restaurant using his 'Daisan no Me'. The boy was watching the kunoichi of Tsukigakure as she ordered and awaited her meal. She never noticed the eye which was hidden above her only granting him an aerial view. 40 minutes later she finished her meal and went to exit but was stopped by a tall young man perhaps in is late 20's.
"You're Shimizu Hitomi right?" the male asked; the white apron he wore indicated he was a cook. Hitomi nodded trying not to raise a brow "I knew it; you're Itsuki's and Mitsuki's teammate." The girls eyes widen with a sudden realization.
"Shin-san?" Hitomi smiled as he nodded; She knew he was a familiar face; having the same opaque blue eyes as his brothers. "How have you been?" the kunoichi asked adjusting her posture to stand a little taller.
"Fine; Tou-san is really happy he decide to open a branch in Suna. Its really successful here." Hitomi nodded as Shin explained. "Are the twins here?"
"No I'm on this mission alone." Hitomi thought this a good time to begin her investigation. "Have you heard of Sabaku no Gaara?" the girl narrowed her eyes when the former Tsuki resident flinched; just a tiny bit.
"Hard not to have heard of him. All I know is that he's some kind of demon according to the villagers." Shin tilted his head curiously; noticing that her focus was not on him anymore. Hitomi stared intently at the shadows above the table were she'd been seated; she could just barely make out a small round circle. Seeing the shadowed body her senses identified the chakra; the same one that had welcomed itself into her apartment
"Alright, thanks Shin-san." Hitomi turned on her heel and left; outside the structure Hitomi stopped not turning in any particular direction.
"You're still following me? Fine but I'm doing reconnaissance on you… So if you want to hear what these people think of you then go ahead." Her tone was surprisingly cold and a little more than hinting towards annoyance. She walked away; casual but was almost immediately distracted by several fashionable mannequins behind a pane of glass. She smiled happily and proceeded inside; where there was no direct sunlight and cool air circulating via fans on the ceiling, Immediately the girl set her eyes on a pair of black cutoffs; unlike her baggy Capri's these were slightly more formfitting; feeling the material it was somewhat stretchy but not enough to wear when she fought. Replacing it the girl made her way to the exit. Raising her eyes she spotted the redhead atop a building, she glared for a moment and turned away continuing down the road she stopped to view some fresh produce under a canopy; a girl around her age was managing a customers order when Hitomi entered.
"Mashi-mase." It was still early but the girl already sounded very bored. Hitomi nodded in return finding that this stand carried tea, the only thing she could cook. Selecting a months worth of dried green tea leaves Hitomi queued into the line that consisted of an old woman and her granddaughter purchasing the usual vegetables needed for stew. Handing the item to the girl she waited as the price was totaled. Paying Hitomi raised her eyes to meet see the girls features more clearly; faded brown hair pulled into a high ponytail her gold eyes had the appearance of an irritable woman.
"I have a question." Hitomi cocked her head slightly; the girl took notice of the Tsuki hitai-ate thinking it was probably for directions the girl agreed.
"What do you think of Sabaku no Gaara." Hitomi watched the tin of dried leaves spill to the floor; lifting her gray eyes the kunoichi was sure she'd never seen a more terrified face.
"He's a monster. Whatever you're planning you should just forget it or you'll die!" Reaching for another tin of the expensive commodity the brown haired girl thrust the item towards the kunoichi. She backed away becoming familiar with the sight of redhead standing on the opposite roof. Meandering beneath several more canopies Hitomi became aware of two things; the first was the fact that Gaara had solidified himself a terrible reputation, leaving her to wonder if was his idea to become 'the demon of the sand'. The second was that his presence was starting to annoy her, that glare he gave made her feel as though she were the one following him around. As she about-faced to the left and took a step she disappeared from view. Narrowing his eyes Gaara searched around unable to find any sign of the kunoichi. She appeared near him her eyes settling over the market street.
"Alright listen up," Gaara remained aloof but listened carefully "I don't have to ask every citizen of Suna to understand that all these people are going to say the same thing, so I've had enough with information gathering. I still need to perform the ceremony to ensure your seals are in order... but that can wait. I need a bit of your trust for it to work right." Hitomi spared a glance to the redhead, so furrowed his brow refusing show he was listening. The girl walked off the roof landing with a shinobi's grace, she waited for no reply, wanting only to return to her home.
Tsuki-chans After Thoughts+
Chapter 2 is down. Its still going so slowly but alas.
