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Hibiki-chan- Glad you enjoyed now please enjoy this next chapter! -hug-
Genji Maeko- I'm cool? How awesome is this latest development? lol I couldn't bring myself to make Kankuro an idiot. I mean as the story goes on he's going to have his moments but I like him smart it fits him better. And thanks much -hug-
RuyTheRaven- Hey! Thanks much for favoriting my story I hope you enjoy. -hug-
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I like hugs...
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Disclaimer Time! -draws name from hat- ... WTF Kisame again! How many times did you put your name in there!
Kisame: 5...
No! -draws another name- Hinata its your turn.
Hinata: ...Um... well... Tsuki-chan doesn't own... um... N-Na-Naruto or any of its characters featured... just hers...
Good job Hina-chan! A bit rough at the beginning but you did a great job... Hinata...
Hinata: -Passed out at the thought of owning Naruto-
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ONWARD!
The Riches of the Province Tsukigakure.
"Honestly Hitomi." Team Baki had been given rooms and now the young kunoichi was as the mercy of her mother. A cotton swab with stinging antiseptics pressed against the open wound.
"Ka-san, please. I've done nothing wrong." Hitomi sighed; trying not to sound annoyed.
"Don't take that tone with me." The girl had apparently failed; but breathed a sigh of relief as the older woman set the alcohol aside. Despite the fact that Hitomi was like a younger version of her mother there was one thing they didn't share; as far as appearances. Hitomi's gray eyes widened in horror as her mother took up a long needle.
"I need to suture the wound; or it will keep opening." Her mother's blue eyes were flecked with a rust color, expressing the understanding of her fears. "Itsuki did do a good job of stopping the bleeding though." Hitomi cringed as the needle was moved over her cut; yet the former medic ninja of Kumogakure used a simple jutsu to numb the nerves. Her grandfather entered; sighing as he also inspected the wound.
"How did this happen?" The man raised a brow; though they shared grey eyes, his were laden with age. Hitomi explained afterwards receiving nothing more than a gentle scolding for her carelessness.
"And your mission?" Her grandfather asked helping his granddaughter stand up.
"Not now Hiroshi." The woman said as they climbed the stairs to her room. Bidding the girl goodnight Hitomi found it easy to change and fell asleep in silence; her mind and body tired.
The following morning the Suna siblings followed Hitomi out of the temple; having no desire to stay with strangers they chose to see the sites. As they began the tedious journey down the stairs a boy no older than 7 came running across the bridge yelling for Hitomi. Turning around the girl's eyes lit up as the boy tried to tackle the teen.
"Nee-san I want a hug!" The boy yelled as Hitomi held him back; her palm on his head. Much like their mother; his eyes were tinted blue with odd flecks of a brownish rust, like an explosion on his iris's. His hair was at the waist and braided, tied so that the bottom looked like a lions tail.
"Masahiro I told you Hitomi was injured and not to surprise her." The mother of the two had followed her son. Hitomi laughed and crouched to her brothers height.
"How have you been Masahiro-chan?" With the Suna siblings watching it was slightly embarrassing as he hugged his sister tightly.
"Good! I've moved on to the next level in Jii-san's training." The young boy released his sister and made a fist showing his vigor.
"Thank you for your hospitality Miyoko-san." Temari bowed her head; the two males nodded their heads as well.
"Of course. Don't come back too late so you can join us for dinner." Miyoko replied; smiling warmly at the three as she took her son's hand. Leading the way Hitomi carried on down the steps.
"That was cute... I didn't know you had a brother." Kankuro teased lightly; seeing the tiny smile on her lips.
"Why would you? He's not anyone important." She tried to hide the pity in her voice "He knows it too... Thats why he's not going to become a ninja; he's studying all exorcism... to try and have the 'honor of standing in my shadow'; he told his friends once." The rest of the trip down the mountain was silent; and only when the Akiyama twins joined them at the base did the conversations pick up.
"Hiyo! How's that wound Hitomi-chan?" Itsuki said after waving to the Suna genin. Hitomi glanced over; she still hadn't forgotten.
"Oh I'm fine now... although I need a new shirt," she commented to the now white tank top under her cut-sew sweater. "...and I had to dig through my supplies to find another ribbon long enough for my arm..." She trailed off snapping her head over to the boy who made a strange noise and backed away several paces; one thing he learned is that when Hitomi's gray eyes flashed, someone was going to pay.
"Heh... Hitomi-chan don't be rash now." Itsuki tried surrendering with his palms out. The glint flashed again and the boy took off. The kunoichi ran off after him; leaving the three Suna and the lone Tsuki chuunin at the edge of the village, the multitude of villagers watched the trail of rising dust.
"I think she's going to kill him." Kankuro stated; turning back to Mitsuki who didn't look the least bit concerned, he actually looked blessed that Itsuki was taking the fall.
"He's going to run to Nozomi-sensei for salvation; she can handle it better than I can." The choppy haired boy shrugged "If she comes back without him then I need to worry." Kankuro nodded; a slightly entertained yet disturbed look on his painted features. A short walk led the 4 to a large estate surrounded by high walls; the gate was already open and as they turned into the entrance they saw the two. Itsuki was hiding behind Nozomi making a number of faces at Hitomi who was sitting Indian-style on the ground getting a scolding from the geisha.
"Further more Hitomi-chan how do you expect to win this competition with that wound?" Regardless of her expression and those ever piercing eyes Nozomi sounded calm as ever.
"I'm not worried about-" "You should be; Reika-san is already a maiko. Her skills have gotten much better while you've spent this entire time gloating." This was a worse scolding than the one her grandfather had given her; only because it was the truth, the other incident had happened when she least expected it. Gaara's sand has worked without his need to even flinch; it amazed her and she had been distracted. Hitomi huffed; she wasn't concerned about it, if the twins had made Chuunin there was nothing stopping her. It was then that the Geishanin noticed the 4 teenagers at her gateway.
"Good morning Mitsuki-kun," Nozomi bowed her head lightly receiving the same notion with a smile in return. "Good morning Temari-san, Kankuro-san, and Gaara-san." This bow was lower; the two older siblings bowed in return; yet as the red head only nodded the geisha smiled lightly.
"We're going to be conditioning until the end of the week; you are welcome to either join along or explore the village." Nozomi offered; the three Suna ninja the latter of the options. They left the kunoichi to her training and went off to explore the wonders of the hidden village.
The week continued this way; Hitomi would disappear in the morning and return sometimes even later than when the Suna siblings would. It wasn't until the day before her fight that Nozomi eased off the intense physical training; focusing on clearing Hitomi's mind of that ever expanding arrogance. The room of the Saikyou Daitoku was built in a tower that overlooked the area; as she shut off the light she pulled open one of the wooden panels on her blinds. The blue-ish light of the full moon lit up the terrain and she could see on the bridge that lead to the temple a figure that she instantly identified as Sabaku no Gaara. Contemplation occurred and the girl pulled on an old red kimono robe; she wasn't tired and wanted to talk, part of that urge was to talk to him. She silently exited her room, traveled down the stairs, and exited via the thick ebony stained doors at the front. With bare feet she made it only into the moonlight before her presence was sensed. Gaara hated feeling that blasé chakra; it only meant that the kunoichi was near, and his opinion of her had yet to change.
"What do you want kunoichi?" Gaara spat; this full moon was making his temper shorten, thanks to Shukaku.
"You are in my home Gaara-san, don't forget that." Hitomi calmly stated keeping a respectful distance from the boy. This statement angered both him and the beast sleeping in him.
"Shimizu scum...!" Gaara clutched his head for a moment and the girl watched placidly as the boy's right eye darkened; from the pitch a yellow pupil emerged. Hitomi assumed this was Shukaku.
"I'm scum...?" Biting the skin of her left index finger Hitomi produced a small stream of blood. "You're the one who needs to reside within this boy, otherwise you're just a rusting teapot." With quick and intentional movements Hitomi completed her task. The low feral growl that emitted from the mouth of the boy became a heaving noise. Glancing up at the girl he saw that her calm features weren't lost, feeling warmth on his right cheek his fingers reached for it.
"Leave it." Her tone a little more expressed than she wanted "At least until it dries." Gaara narrowed his eyes.
"What is it?" He asked heatedly; retracting his hand.
"Its a separation of emotions... Because Shukaku exists in your mind on a subconscious level he has more of an impression on you. He can turn sadness to anger, happiness into a fleeting memory, or fury into blind hatred; '気' that symbol calms a spirit down. If you leave it there until it dries it will totally stop his influence on your feelings." Hitomi explained leaning against the railing that he was sitting on. Gaara was uncertain he understood but could feel a part of his persona recessing giving way to a clear mind.
"You'll decide how you feel from now on..." She stood up taking several steps back towards the house. "Maybe you won't be so grouchy now..."
"Did he hurt you?" Her thought was forgotten as Gaara asked that question; Hitomi turned her head slightly allowing the boy to notice the smile on her lips.
"No; although he might be a bit sore... I told him that without you he'd be nothing but a rusting teapot." Hitomi turned around at the mildly surprised look on Gaara's face; perhaps he'd never heard it put that way.
"Can I ask you a question?" Hitomi granted herself steps towards him again; standing beside him he was only taller because he remained seated on the railing. Gaara didn't respond indicating that she was allowed to inquire.
"My father always told me that the Jinchuriki don't know that they have one of the Bijuu living in them... but I can tell by the way your chakra flows and when I touched you just now that you are an exception. You've always known haven't you?" the kunoichi glanced up; an expression that could have easily been taken for concern was etched across her features. Gaara nodded backing away from those eyes; they made him uncomfortable.
"Because I don't sleep." The response had surfaced before he had a chance to stop it. Hitomi nodded; she was aware of this, the file she'd been given at the start of her mission outlined all the obvious points about Sabaku no Gaara.
"Well don't forget that Shukaku is the one sealed inside you..." Hitomi began heading back again stopping only for a moment. "You're seals are all in order; your ability to draw out the Bijuu chakra is astounding." the girl waved this time; blending in with the shadows at the end of the bridge, tomorrow she was going to battle for the right of the Chuunin title. However Gaara could measure her chakra and the ability she had to control; she could easily pass for Jounin, he wondered for several brief moments what was stopping her from doing so.
-----------------------------------Tsuki-chan's After Thoughts---------------------------
Whoa this chapter is short! I'm sorry but I promise that the next one will be way longer. I'm starting to think of this a filler chapter just cause very little happens; but to make it up. I thought it was time to demonstrate Hitomi's abilities as an exorcist before her big fight. I sure hope this doesn't send you over to the dark side of Sue-dom Hitomi-chan... T-T
I also don't think Shukaku would have liked to make his appearance like that... I didn't want to transform Gaara (I thought about it) But went with the whole full moon makes Shukaku bloodthirsty so he pops out to pick a fight with Hitomi... I didn't word that the way I wanted too.
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FYI
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Geishanin – I've already used this one I think... but its basically the term (I made up) to refer to the geisha in Tsukigakure who practice ninpou. They have three major fighting styles that will be explained in the next chapter.
The kanji on Gaara's Cheek – 'ki' it means spirit; mind; chi. It seemed like the best single kanji to use because all my other ideas needed two
