Scroll 4: Death and Surprises

"Then let me feel it!" Gaara's eyes went wide as he moved – twitched – towards them.

"That's enough!" A new, older masculine voice cut through the building tension like a hot knife through butter. The four turned as one towards the door to see the muscular man.

Black, bowl-shaped cut hair along with what had to be the bushiest eyebrows in the village came into view. A broad face and large semi-flat nose off-set the frown on his lips as the experienced ninja stepped into the room. The man stood at five feet; plus he had an extra ten inches, making him an average height for a jounin. A green shirt and body suit was worn under a moss green ninja vest that had a large collar that stood up and went around the neck. Six pockets were sewn in on the chest of the vest; probably contained scrolls or summoning ink.

Two flaps came over his darker-green clad shoulders to hold up the main part of the chuunin vest, as it was called. A zipper divided the garment in two, symmetrical pieces. The vest curled up at the end; which was at waist level. The lower half of the older ninja was green jumpsuit; which allowed comfort and maneuverability. The sleeves ended two inches above his wrist, allowing his hands to be unhindered. The common, ninja-issued sandals were on his feet as well.

It was easy to see the similarities between Lee and his sensei: Maito, Gai. The kid in the bed had the same, bowl-hair cut and bushy eyebrows; and the same black, easy-going eyes that told of their hard, physical endurance and work. Lee idolized his sensei; which was something Yukari never fully understood. She hated her own sensei, Jamaru, for ignoring and treating her cruelly.

"The final fights are tomorrow, so don't get antsy." Gai-sensei, as was his nickname, spoke calmly to defuse the tense situation. "Or do you want to stay here starting today?"

Yukari exhaled in relief and turned to Lee, walking to the other side of his bed, not daring to move next to Gaara. If the ninja moved more, she could always lunge across and tackle him to the floor, allowing her comrades to act. She watched as Gaara clutched at his head again, staring at Gai-sensei.

Naruto and Shikamaru looked at one-another, then at Yukari and Lee and finally at Gai-sensei. Gaara snorted and slowly walked out of the room, the once-looming sand seeping into the gourd on his back. He stopped at the door and stared at the ninjas in the room.

"Just wait; I'll definitely kill you guys." With that said, he was gone.

The three ninja looked at the door, before turning their gaze to the stout Gai-sensei. Yukari was avoiding the situation by staring down at Lee's bushy eyebrows. She felt the heavy stares of the three male shinobi, causing her face to turn red under the scrutiny.

"Shikamaru-san, please tell me what has happened here." The uplifting voice of Gai-sensei rang through the silence.

"I don't know; Yukari saw it all." Shikamaru snorted and jammed his hands into his pockets. "You should ask her."

Yukari heard sounds of shuffling feet and body movement. She looked up to see both Naruto and Shikamaru at the door. The blonde boy gave her a grin and spoke.

"Yukari, it's ok, we'll be right outside the door to protect you."

She inhaled indignantly and flipped Naruto the birdie. He laughed and was gone from sight. Now the only people in the room were her, Lee and…Gai-sensei. The jounin looked sternly at her; his gaze making her fidget with her hand against her kunai pack. For some unknown reason, most jounin made her very nervous. Perhaps the nervousness was because her own jounin sensei was cold as ice towards her; or the crush she had on Naruto's own sensei.

"Uh…look, I didn't start anything, Gai-sensei. I was just looking out for Lee-san, that's all. Gaara came in here and I didn't know anything about him! I protected Lee! But the sand trapped me and Gaara was going to kill Lee-chan so I freaked out." Yukari blushed furiously as she spilled the story. "Then Shikamaru and Naruto came in and trapped Gaara. I was going to get more help, but things were too interesting to leave!"

"Yukari Uzaruki, is that your name?" Gai-sensei placed a hand on her shoulder and allowed her to calm down. "Do not worry, Uzaruki-san. I heard most of what was said. I offer my extreme apologies to you for any damage that has befallen you."

Yukari looked at Gai-sensei and nodded slowly. Gai-sensei didn't seem to scare or intimidate her anymore. She looked over at Lee's sleeping form and released the breath she was unaware she had been holding.

"Gai-sensei?"

"Yes; Uzaruki-san?"

"What exactly happened to Lee-chan to hurt him so bad?" Yukari asked finally; letting her shoulders relax.

Meanwhile, the Suna Sand Nin was standing in an empty room. His pale fingers were placed lightly against his left eye. His jutsu, Daisan no Me, or Third Eye, was spying on the room he was just in.

The kunoichi; the girl with the red eyes haunted his memory. She was the only thing on his mind as Gaara continued to spy on the scene in the med-room he had left. She was the second person to physically touch him in six years. Gaara had let down his defense when he entered the medical room to kill the ninja that had harmed him during the preliminaries. He had not expected anyone to be in there.

Gaara grunted as he continued to watch the conversation between the large jounin and the petite genin, as what she had to be. Her normal, feminine frame was relaxed and muscled. Short, black hair hung just around her neck; making her look like a boy; if it wasn't for the open-back that had a medium sized red tattoo; showing off her feminine back. But it was her eyes that caught Gaara's own. Her red, red eyes: the color of fresh-split blood; made his spine shiver in delight. He licked his dry lips once and stared down from where his sand-made eye was placed. This kunoichi…he had to taste her blood; he had to see how spicy it was. The beast inside him stirred. Yes. Gaara would play with her first; then kill her before anybody else. He would enjoy seeing her die.

Yukari sighed to herself as stepped outside the room; leaving Gai-sensei in there with Lee. She faced the others, Naruto and Shikamaru, and grinned fakely, trying to hide the fear and shock of the information that Gai-sensei told her about Lee.

"Well! That sure was interesting! That Gaara sure is something else. I say we go pick a fight with him and make him bleed for what he did to Lee-chan, right Naruto!?" Her red eyes turned towards the smirking teenager as the other male sighed tiredly.

"Man, what a drag." Shikamaru slapped a hand to his forehead. "We could have gotten killed back there, Yukari."

"But we didn't, Shikamaru-san, I say we forget this ever happened since Lee-san is ok. Gai-sensei said he would stay there and watch Lee-kun." Yukari tittered from behind her hand. Shikamaru knew this was a visage for her emotions. The girl was scared witless.

"Whatever, Yukari." Naruto snorted out in words. "I'm hungry, let's go eat ramen."

"Sorry, Naruto-san, I have errands to run. I was told to get things ready for the Chuunin Exams tomorrow. I would love to stay and flirt with you two GENINS, but I've really got to be going!" Yukari waved her hand at an annoyed Shikamaru and flicked Naruto a raspberry.

"Man, Yukari's a drag." Shikamaru sighed as the red-eyed girl vanished around the corner.