A/N: Wow, talk about long time no speak! I haven't updated in AGES!! Hope you guys haven't been fretting too much! And I can definitely say, the waits are only going to get worse... But moving on...
I've had a few comments and messages regarding the last story. Seems I made a little mistake in the letter part, I am working on fixing that, but what i'm going to do is release the edited chapters all at the same time, just makes it easier and I don't get confused, LOL. Next chapter is going to be a doozy, but i'm still trying to clear up a few 'time line' issues... so I wouldn't expect another update till around mid-May. So sorry for the wait!! But on my homepage I do have evidence to what I've been up to in the last few weeks. I worked at a Vet for a week and got a behind the scenes look at the Perth Zoo. Yes I got to play with Trisha, the giraffes, the zebras and the Rhinos. Pics in the new section, all welcome! Alright, you know the drill, reviews very much welcome and chats more than loved! Cyas!
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Gaara glared down from the rafters as the sun broke over the Hokage monument. Damn that sun is bright... He focused on his elder siblings below him, his teal-ish eyes glinting in the pale dawn light that shone like razor blades, through the open window. The faint sounds of snoring drifted out of Baki's room accompanied by the smell of liquor, of some kind. Gaara's nose twitched and he lept down. The rafters had become his private run at the moment. He slept, ate and contemplated amongst them. He walked among the rugs and blankets until he came to his own gourd. The etched symbols seemed to come alive at his touch...sensing his fretting. All had been fine last night, except the recalling of a certain encounter. The lone Uchiha seemed to be searching for advice, but possibly also defending... Gaara shook his red locks and tiny grains of sand tinkered to the floor. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed a good bath.
Memories of his mentor's care came flooding back to him. He stopped, eyes hiding what little emotion escaped. He couldn't let himself think like that, all those caring thoughts would only hinder the invasion plans. Stretching as tall as his body would go, the shafts of sunlight danced across his tanned skin. Temari shifted behind him, grunting as she flattened Kankurou, who swatted her and cuddled closer to the chest at the foot of the bed. Hehehe...bakas. So helpless... As a custom, the elders gave up their bed for him. They were merely pawns of war, he was the king, the prime playing piece.
He let another smirk play across his lips before padding silently towards the window. The sun had almost risen now, almost fully clearing the huge monument next to the Hokage quarters and the various trees in which the youngsters listened to the Jounin's lectures. He scanned the streets below, watching the vendors below, loading their carts full of fresh produce; exotic fruits, fresh fish and various trinkets... He jumped through the window, doors were merely a nuisance to him. The villagers looked over towards the prowling beast then continued as he stalked off towards the training grounds, in pursuit of early morning prey.
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Sakura frowned as a shaft of white light filled the room.
"Sakura! Time to get up! The other one is waiting outside for you!". She almost fell out of the covers. Ohh My God!! I forgot about training!! Inner Sakura screamed. She gt up and opened her windows, looking out into the street.
"Ohio Gozaimasu Naruto-kun!!", she called down to the blonde boy standing in the street. He looked up lifted his chin slightly in greeting, then lowered it again. He's still upset over yesterday... I don't blame him... She knew though that in her heart, she only saw him as the sweet baka from Ninja Academy... Easily upset and easily angered, but still adorable. She look at him as she did with Sasuke but she saw both of them, really, on the same level. Sasuke had his faults, and where Sasuke failed Naruto triumphed... but that was only when Naruto wasn't showing off and being the biggest baka in the world...but she loved them both.
She remembered the scene in the forest... Sasuke lying limply in her arms and Naruto holding off the great snake, red eyes glowing...Surely it had been a trick of the mind. Nobody's eyes should glow that colour...And the marks on his cheeks had gotten darker, she was sure. But she'd shaken the eerie possibilities from her mind ages ago. She'd been so focused on the injured Sasuke that she'd barely noticed Naruto hanging out with the Nara kid. Now he was weird... She twirled around and headed towards the bathroom...
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Gaara leaned back against the tree trunk, disgusted at the fight the crow had put up. The demon still paced agitatedly in its mental prison. It required a target with a little more attitude... Trudging footsteps suddenly came trudging out of nowhere..
"Temari! We're meant to be following father's instructions! Not perving at Konoha boys!", a pre-teen voice chirped. There was a loud snort.
"Says he who was perving at that blonde bimbo, Ino!", the accompanying female snapped back. Gaara shook his head and slipped around the huge trunk. Both of the teens gasped in fright, then reluctantly relaxed a little.
"What, you're scared of little me? How pathetic...", Gaara smirked evilly. Temari blushed in anger.
"I'm not scared of anything Gaara, you know that!", Temari hissed. Gaara scoffed. In truth, his siblings were wetting themselves in fear of him. His own brother was almost killed by him all those years ago, and Temari regarded him as the 'spawn of Satan'...his father...looked at him as if he were just a tool, nothing more...
"So what's this all about? And why were you talking so loudly...you'll give us away..".
"So sorry Gaara... Um, nothing you'd understand. Don't worry about it", Temari said subduedly. Gaara just stared from one, to the other. This mission will be over before sunset, bet you...
That really wasn't smart pup, I am the king of bets! You owe me five cookies if I win...
Remember what I said about that Chouji kid...
And your point would be?
Are they always this stupid or am I just sensitive to it today, 'cause they're pissing me off?
One, they're always this thick. Two...when don't they piss you off? They're your siblings remember.
The only thing we have in common is a bastard father, and a dead mother...
Ooo, we are angry today aren't we?
And you just have to stir the pot, don't you?
That's my job... Gaara huffed angrily. Between the demon and his elder siblings, he couldn't decide which one made his life the worst... On second thoughts, the siblings can be eaten...the demon, was everlasting torture. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the two staring blankly at him, like stunned sheep.
"I-it's talking to you again isn't it?", Temari whispered in hushed tones. Gaara smirked showing a full set of tiny fangs..
"It always does...", he hissed.
"Shit, it's full moon again soon isn't it?", the younger of the two swore. Gaara looked up at the pale blue sky, flecked with wispy, rain clouds on the horizon...
"It is full moon, Kankurou...". Kankurou swore again and Temari nervously shuffled.
"G-G-Gaara, remember what Father said...no killing till he signals". The eldest whispered warningly. Neither of the two elders had enough power to really do anything to stop him. He did exactly what he pleased, but the problem of Orochimaru's allegiance with the Sand meant that he had to stick with the plan, otherwise, Orochimaru's forces would take over Suna. But heck, why should he give a damn about them, they were more than ready to kill him when he was younger... But no, he had a duty to his country, no matter how they treated him. He was a weapon of war, and nothing more...
"Really, I couldn't care less", the elders suddenly took a sharp intake of air, " but, the sooner this is over and done with, the better. I hate Konoha...". Surprise, lingered on Temari and Kankurou's faces for a few seconds as Gaara stalked off. Temari put her hands on her hips, a perfect imitation of any mother... I wonder if there's something here he's gotten attached to? Couldn't possibly be a girl could it? A beast like him, falling in love with some beautiful Konoha girl? Never... She smiled and turned to follow Gaara down the dusty path back to town.
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Sakura was exhausted. Kakashi had put them through hell, to train Naruto. He techniques Kakashi had helped him with still weren't sinking in...and the second rounds were just weeks away... and the possibility of stronger opponents still had Naruto jumping for joy, but Kakashi till insisted that he practice. Ino and her had come a draw in their match, the examiner declared it a loose-loose match and they'd both been knocked out. But the fights that had happened during the course of the first round had been amazing.
The new bloodline limits that had been uncovered made hers look weak. The sharingan in full force, the wind-goddess incarnate from the sands, the weapons master on Konoha, the Green Beast, the puppeteer and the mysterious sand master... He seemed to lose all control...but what was it that drew her to him? She snapped back into reality just as Naruto flung six sharp kunai at her. She gasped and flitted out of the way, as five bit deep into the tree trunk, but the last one skimmed her kimono, slightly splitting the skin beneath as easily as butter. She swore under her breath as Kakashi stalked towards her.
"Sakura! Pay attention! I cannot afford for you to get all cut up!", Kakashi barked. Naruto jogged over.
"It's not my fault that i'm tired! You've worked us all day Kakashi-sensei!", Sakura snapped.
"Sakura! Sakura! Are you alright! I'm so sorry! Gomenasai! Gomenasai!!", Naruto fussed, taking her whole arm in his hand and checking her shoulder. His finger danced over her cut briefly and she yelped, shoving him away from her.
"Baka! Stop it!", she screamed and started to walk off. Kakashi darted after her.
"Sakura, stop being childish! I need you to help me teach Naruto", Kakashi insisted. Sakura spun on him, thinking twice about kicking him in the chest...
"DO NOT TELL ME I AM CHILDISH KAKASHI-SENSEI! I AM NOT IN THE EXAMS ANYMORE THEREFORE I'M GOING HOME!", she screamed, then darted off onto the dust road out of the training fields.
"What's her problem?", Naruto whispered to Kakashi. Kakashi just stared after her growing dust trail.
"Nothing Naruto, she probably didn't get much sleep last night...the exam incident scarred her a little", Kakashi said soothingly. Naruto nodded.
"So she's in pain like me? She's worried about Sasuke?".
"It seems so. Now, let's not dwell on that issue, we have that technique of yours to perfect...".
"Then ramen?", Naruto suddenly chirped. Kakashi stared down at the little kitsune and laughed.
"We'll see! We'll see! Depends on how much you progress today". Naruto's expression brightened significantly.
"Hai! Sensei!".
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Gaara could feel the rage before she darted out in front of him. A bright pinky-red aura stretched out from the tree trunks as she stormed out. He stopped ,intrigued by the colours she was throwing off.. Vibrant oranges, pinks, reds and purples...What had her this mad? He slipped behind a trunk before she whirled around, his blood-red locks just making it behind the charcoal-brown bark. He swore he saw flames in her eyes as she searched the all-too-abandoned track...
She really is something, hey?
What in the world happened to her? She's got that angry aura, not like her usual greens and blues...i'm impressed...
Wow, the great demon master impressed? I think you do like her...
No shit...
Wow! I knew it! I knew it! Your father definitely isn't gonna be pleased with this!
He's not going to know...Plus it's probably...oh what the hell does Temari call it...an infatuation...like she has with that Nara boy...
How long have you know about that and not told me?
A while now...she kept coming home late, so I investigated and saw her with Nara...
You perve...
Oh shut it...
So your going to do what? Let that bastard take her or make her your own?
We'll see what happens... Suddenly her was aware of two objects hurtling towards him from the center of the road... And the pink-haired ninja charged...
A/N: Okay there we have it! That's all I can manage tonight, and yes the suspense shall remain until I can write again! If I get my English crap up to date tomorrow I swear I'll try my best to update the next chapter! YAWN, alright, I am VERRRYYY sleepy so I better go! Toodles everyone! Read and Rate! Thankyou!