Hi everyone!
I am so sorry that this chapter came so late. I kinda forget about this story for a while, since I've been working on my other ones. But at least now I can pick up where I left off.
If there are any spelling mistakes, I very much apologize for that.
So please read and if at all possible leave some reviews.
Onwards folks!
His first real mission with the regular forces had been somewhat simple. Lately there had been a ban of rouge chunnin and some jounin terrorizing citizens in small bordering countries in the Land of Wind. The mission was to find and if possible take them all out. But this was going to be anything but simple.
Gaara knew that the moment he had decided to join the regular forces that things were never going to be easy. But what he didn't expect was this feeling of anxiety in his chest.
Every single one of them was giving him the death glare. If looks could kill no doubt he'd already be long gone. But he avoided eye contact, choosing instead to focus on the ground. Gaara knew that he'd lose his nerve if he so much as glanced at one of them. He couldn't afford to be shaken up before a mission; this was going to test his mental capacity in more ways than one. For the first time he wasn't going to be relying on his brother and sister for back up like usual. He was completely on his own for this. If it was a regular person they wouldn't have been able to handle it. But Gaara would never be like the common people; he was different from the others. Still, that didn't mean he wasn't scared. Before attending to the meeting place, Temari had given him a furious lecture about how important it was to watch his back at all times. She had been correct; even now he could feel their eyes burning holes in the back of his head. It almost made him want cringe.
As much as Gaara tried to listen to the instructions, he could easily hear the muttering among the forces. It wasn't anything he wasn't used too by now he had grown accustomed to it. That didn't mean it wasn't getting to him.
"Fucking monster I wish he'd just die".
"How disgusting! He'll never be human no matter how much he tries".
"We don't need him here".
"Shhh not so loud if he hears us we'll be dead".
From deep within the confines of his mind he could hear Shukaku growing lowly. He knew that his tailed beast was livid. He hadn't killed in quite some time and needless to say, the beast inside of him was not pleased about that. However Gaara had gotten better at controlling Shukaku and he sent a mental jab to his beast warning him not to interfere with his mission. The Shukaku growled a little louder before retreating as quickly as he appeared.
Gaara was very much relieved when he was finally allowed to be dismissed with the regular forces. He had made it to the village entrance without breaking a sweat. But now the real test would begin as soon as he stepped foot outside the safety of his home. Once out there, it would be a survival test. Should anything happen his siblings wouldn't be there to help him. He'd have to do it completely on his own. Gaara actually felt a little uneasy as he began to run with two people on his far side. Secretly he was hoping that this mission would end well. He wasn't going to back down from his resolve no matter how dangerous the road ahead looked.
"Ano? You are Gaara-sama right?"
The timid sound of a voice snapped his thoughts back into reality and he shifted his attention to a young male, perhaps maybe two or three years older than him at the very least he looked like he had just recently become a chunin. There weren't any striking features about him, he was wearing the typical Sunagakure ninja outfit, and the only distinctive thing about him was the scar that ran across his left cheek.
"I had heard that you were going to join the usual forces. But I didn't think it would be true".
Gaara didn't say anything as he continued to stare at the male who had worked up the courage to speak to him. To say this was a little surprising was a bit of understatement. Hell, it was downright shocking. It wasn't like he was a very approachable person to begin with; but the fact that this young male had chosen to speak to him from his own free will was an almost welcoming relief.
"I…I was a-assigned to s-serve under you. I j-just want to say that I p-promise to do m-my best".
Gaara raised an invisible eye brow. This was interesting, he hadn't really been paying attention when the groups were gathered for the mission but he didn't think that he'd get a subordinate so soon. Having a companion probably wouldn't be so bad though. At the very least he wouldn't have to fight by himself, even if these rouge ninja were no match for him to begin with.
He nodded "Very well then".
"T-thanks I a-appreciate that".
"Kanaku stop pestering him".
Gaara tilted his head to the other man beside him. A man looking to be in his early thirties with blue eyes was giving the one he called Kanaku a scolding look.
"H-hai, I'm sorry".
The man turned his attention to Gaara "Forgive him, my student tends to overlook the fact that shinobi are not to show their emotions. He's still young after all".
Choosing not to say anything, Gaara simply nodded his head once more; before picking up the pace just a little bit. He had twenty four hours to complete this mission, but he would rather get it done as soon as possible. They were almost to the halfway point when Gaara noticed that for a while now the older man had been staring at him. In the past he would've just ignored it, but this time for some reason it felt different. Even though he hadn't looked over he knew that this was not the gaze of hatred or fear that most of the villagers gave him. No, the gaze that he was given was more along the lines of curiosity if one could even call it that. It was like this man was testing him for something. It shouldn't have mattered to Gaara to begin with. But there was something about those blue eyes he couldn't quite place his finger on. It was almost as though he recognized them from someone else.
The trio suddenly stopped in their tracks. They had reached the halfway point. Now it was time to go over the details once again.
"I'm sure your both aware of what is to be expected".
Kanaku looked a bit nervous but otherwise gave a sharp nod to show that he was listening. Gaara could only keep a stoic face as he stared at the older man. He was still giving him that same expression, why couldn't he understand what it meant?
"I don't know how many they'll be. But regardless we must take them all out".
He turned his head to the younger male "Kanaku you will accompany Gaara-sama. Do not be a hindrance".
"I understand Ro Sensei".
The shinobi now known as Ro drifted his eyes back to Gaara. "I will go in the northwest direction. You will continue heading straight. We should meet each other again before nightfall….good luck to you both".
"I hope that he'll be alright".
Gaara looked over to Kanaku his form was starting to shake a bit. "Are you alright?" it was a general question. One that he didn't think he needed to say, but still thought it to be necessary.
"Uh…I guess".
"Tell me, you seem rather reluctant why that is?"
Kanaku was giving him an almost weird look. Like he couldn't believe that Sunagakure's ultimate weapon was asking about his well being; well shit, what was he expecting he didn't even think that he'd be doing the same mission with Gaara.
"They all said you were a monster who cared only for himself. Yet you ask me if I'm okay. Forgive me if I come across as rude but what compels you do so?"
Gaara should've expected that this would happen. After all not everyone was convinced that he was a changed person. A good chunk of the villagers still very much feared him. But since this young chunin was asking with good intensions there was no reason that he shouldn't be given an explanation. They were working together for this mission, might as well try to at least look friendly.
"Not long ago I fought with another who was like me. On that day my eyes that had once been blinded suddenly were made to see. I decided to change myself so that I could have a future and that is why I'm here now".
Kanaku looked impressed he wasn't even trying to hide the admiration on his face.
"Let us go. We shouldn't wait around too much longer".
When the pair started moving again that's when Kanaku decided to speak once more.
"You asked me why I was reluctant, the truth is that this is my first mission as a chunin and I want to impress Ro sensei".
The red head made a small sound to indicate that he was listening as they continued to run "To be honest I don't really think I'm cut out to be a ninja, only reason I became one was because my family expected it. Sure, I have what it takes and I proved that I could do it by ranking as a chunin but still…I just want to prove to myself and to everyone that I can be strong".
Briefly Gaara was reminded of something similar that Naruto had said to him in the past. He had learned that strength doesn't come from simply relying on yourself, but also from learning to rely on others around you. He resisted the urge to smile even now in the midst of a mission he was still being reminded of what Uzumaki Naruto had taught him not to long ago. It was bittersweet.
"Strong huh? I have a hunch that you are already strong".
"Come again?"
"For this mission you are my subordinate. I will rely on your strength just as you will have to rely on mine. When the time is right I have this feeling that you will show me your strength. Do not belittle yourself from doubt".
Even though Gaara couldn't see it, a faint blush of awe had made itself known on Kanaku's cheeks. He wouldn't say it out loud but he felt rather touched that Sabaku no Gaara had given him encouragement to believe in himself. Somehow that put all his fears from the rumors he'd heard at ease. Smiling a bit in gratitude the pair continued their trek through the desert steadily getting closer to their destination. By the time they reached the hideout, it was already dusk. As promised Ro was waiting for them keeping a low profile so not to give away his presence; but it didn't take that long to find him. He was still a safe enough distance so that the other two would notice him.
"Ro Sensei".
"Kanaku you've arrived".
Blue eyes turned to Gaara and once again he was given that same look from earlier. But he knew better then to try being intimidated. This mission wasn't done just yet.
"Now that you're here we can proceed. Kanaku and I will go in first. You will back us up".
Gaara didn't say anything as the two in front of him made their move. The sand in his gourd shifted around waiting for the moment when it would be useful, already from inside the hideout he could hear the sounds of battle. Deciding to take the chance Gaara was quick to make his way inside, it was a small group. About thirteen it seemed like, they were most likely all chunin but that didn't mean they weren't weaklings. His sand flooded the room, blocking off incoming attacks and making use to subdue the enemy.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Kanaku was having a bit of a hard time since he was fighting two at once. Seems as though Ro had noticed too since he was about to intervene when he saw the opponent that Kanaku was currently fighting drew a dagger from his pouch.
"Kanaku behind you!"
Instantly Gaara reacted to the threat his sand made quick work to fling the man away into the nearest wall knocking him unconscious. It then wrapped around the other one squeezing hard enough to at the very least break a few bones. This was not an assignment to kill, rather to capture instead.
Gaara barely had to move as the rest of his sand finished the job with the remaining ninja. Once they were all disarmed and tied up that was when several other shinobi from a different team arrived to take them into custody.
"Gaara-sama?"
"Hm?"
Kanaku gave him a sheepish smile. "Thank you for what you did back there. I was kind of struggling by myself".
The red head felt a warm feeling spread in his chest. What did this mean?
"I guess I still have a ways to go".
"I would like to thank you as well".
Turning around he noticed Ro. But this time the look in his eyes was somewhat different.
"What?"
"I was the one that requested you be put on my team for this mission. They said that you couldn't be trusted I wanted to see if it was true".
"I…I don't understand".
A small smile "I had heard that you gained the favor of my daughter and I wanted to make sure that you could be trusted around her".
Daughter? Wait, did he mean…Gaara raised an invisible eye brow "You wouldn't happen to be-"
"Satsu's father? Yes, I am".
What was he supposed to feel? He just learned that the man in front of him was the father of the same little girl that became his friend. There was a bit of black expression on Gaara's face as he stared still a little confused at the man before him.
"Why would you want to do this? I am-"
"I know what they all say about you. To be honest I was no different, but then you made my child smile from a simple act of kindness. I didn't want to believe it, but the more she talked about you the more I found myself wanting to put it to the test".
Gaara could only nod slowly. Still not really sure of what to make of the new turn of events; at least he had gained the approval of the man before him. That was always a plus; he figured that as long as he could remain Satsu's friend then all would be well. That little girl was quite special to him in more ways than one. Ever since she had said those three innocent words to him from their last encounter, he found himself thinking about the meaning more and more. He still didn't know what she meant to him on a deeper level. But he did consider her to be his friend. It wasn't much, but for now it was a start however small it was.
"We've done our part. Now let us go".
This was how he spent his time on the journey back, just thinking about that small girl that fascinated him to no end. Why was that? Was it because she was the first person that actually wanted to be with him as a person? Or what is something else completely?
So caught up in his thoughts that he barely noticed a familiar voice calling his name as he walked down the almost completely empty streets feeling relieved that he could have a quiet walk back to his home, at least that he thought would happen; he stumbled back a bit from the impact of something hitting his body before trying not to fall over with the child who had run into his legs. Satsu was smiling up at him, her blue eyes shimmering with happiness. Seeing the person that she admired most in the world always left seemed to leave her with a deep sense of peacefulness that she wanted to hold onto. She didn't care of what others thought of Gaara, he was the most special person to her.
"Gaara-sama! I'm so happy your back. Papa told me that you had been wonderful!".
He smiled as he patted her head. Somehow this child always knew whenever he was around. Knowing that she had gone out of her way to wait for him to come back made him feel appreciated.
"What was the mission like? Did you have a hard time? Did you defeat any villains?"
Gaara carefully answered all of Satsu's questions regarding his first mission with the regular forces. In the back of his mind he knew that his brother and sister were waiting for him and they'd that be curious to know what had happened; he had promised them before that he'd always tell them every detail so that they'd help him with progress. But they could wait, at the very least he could spare Satsu a few moments of his time.
"Gaara-sama do you think I'll be a good ninja someday?"
"Yes, with hard work and determination you can become a fine ninja".
Satsu squeezed his hand a bit "But I want to stay with you. If I become a ninja what will happen then?"
"You'd still be able to see me. We'd just have to find time to do so".
The small girl chose to give him a small smile. She trusted his words completely, she may have been young. But Satsu was positive what her feelings for Gaara were.
"I want to stay with you for always Gaara-sama".
He smiled at her, causing her cheeks to flush. He always seemed to smile more whenever he was around her. She made him feel at ease, and he gave her the warm fuzzies. One might say their relationship was a bit of an odd one. The innocence surrounding them was pure, but nonetheless neither of them seemed to mind.
She squeezed his hand again "I'll stay with you forever Gaara-sama".
The red head have her hair a slight ruffle, amused by her choice of words. Since she was still a child part of him knew that she was possibly humoring him; but there was one part of him that actually believed that what she was saying was true. She just looked so sincere with her words that his heart couldn't help but beat faster.
"I appreciate that Satsu".
As he walked her home, Gaara couldn't help but wonder if the future would be brighter for him. He spared a quick glance at Satsu who looked content simply by being in his company. He smiled yes, in time things would fall into place. He could only hope that it would be sooner rather than later.
Finished for the moment.
Since it's been a while, I have to do some thinking about where I want to take this story. But hopefully next time I'll have something. I'm somewhat satisfied for now about this chapter but I know that I can do better.
Please review if possible.
Till next time!
