"Morning, Kankuro-niisan, Temari-neesan, and Gaara-san!" Yoko waved as she walked into the training stadium. Her greeting was ignored, however, by all of them. Temari and Gaara were busy sparring each other while Kankuro pretended not to see her.
That guy yesterday was weird... Telling me and Gaara not to fall in love with Yoko like that... And she was right there! Kankuro was practically screaming inside. Wait, why did he ask such a thing in the first place!? I just answered like that because of instinct, but, but... No! I don't like her in that way! Why should I like her in that way?! Wait, why am I even worried about something like this-
He froze, startled when something poked his arm. Kankuro slowly turned towards Yoko who glared up at him with a pout. He couldn't help but let out a silent scream. She's here!
"Kankuro-niisan, what are you doing?" Yoko asked, tilting her head to one side. She poked him again with her finger.
How should I respond!? Why am I so nervous around her all the sudden?! Wait, what am I doing?!
The girl gave up on starting a conversation about him and looked over at Temari and Gaara who were still sparring. She demanded, "Why are they training like this so early in the morning? Did something happen?"
"Uh... well..." Kankuro paused and cleared his throat. That's right, Kankuro! She's just a kid! Nothing to freak out over! "The chunin exam is coming up, so they want to get ready for it."
"A chunin exam!?" Yoko cried out, her eyes practically sparkling. She turned towards Kankuro again and grabbed his arm, pumping it up and down. "I wanna go! I wanna go! I wanna go!"
"O-O-Oi!" the boy exclaimed, his cheeks becoming a bit pink. Let go!
"But you don't have a proper team," Gaara said as he walked up to them. He and his sister had stopped training after being disrupted by Yoko's voice.
Temari also approached them and sighed, "You again, Yoko? What Gaara said is right though... Our village didn't have an academy for you to graduate from and somehow, you didn't get placed in a three-man squad."
"B-But... I want to join!" The genin started to flail her arms, but was knocked down by a book that smacked the back of her head.
The man behind her slid the book into his coat pocket as he blew smoke out of his mouth. He played with the lit cigarette in his fingers and muttered, "You're so noisy."
It's him! The gay med-nin! Kankuro started to freak out again on the inside, but he made sure to keep his face straight.
"Tama-chan! You didn't need to hit me like that! Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka!" Yoko yelled, jumping onto her feet.
Tamaki bluntly ignored her complaints and said, "It is practically impossible for her to enter the Chunin exam by herself and come out alive, or even make it through the first round, but... Konoha and Suna have this treaty, right? Isn't there a genin in the Hidden Leaf who needs a partner?"
"Now that I think about it..." Temari nodded, "There is someone in that village who could possibly help us out. Her teammates are both not present..."
"Sakura Haruno..." Gaara added. "She might be willing to help us."
"Alright, then! You kids go to the Hidden Leaf and..." The med-nin smiled and before he could continue, somebody called out for him.
"Tamaki-san? Is that you?"
The five of them all turned to see Baki slowly approach them. Tamaki's smile stayed frozen on his face as he shooed the genin away, "Have a safe trip!"
"Let's go, Kankuro-nii! Temari-nee! Gaara-san!" Yoko giggled as she led them out of the training grounds.
Wait, did she just take out the "san" when she said my name? She still calls Gaara by "san" though... Kankuro couldn't help but feel a bit happy about that fact until he glanced over at Gaara, who glared back with a cold deadly stare. Gaara is still scary as heck...
"So... Where are we going?" Temari asked.
"To Konoha so I can meet this Sakura Haruno person!" the girl replied with a grin.
Gaara and his sister exchanged looks before shaking their heads. The younger sibling said, "Temari and I will continue training somewhere else. I want to be ready for the Chunin exam."
"Why don't you take her, Kankuro?" Temari suggested.
Her little brother stammered, "M-me!? Why!?"
What's wrong with him? She shrugged and replied, "Yoko obviously doesn't know who Sakura is, so help find her and get permission from the Hokage before informing our council about it."
"I-"
"Okay!" Yoko answered for him and grabbed his arm, starting to drag him away. "See you later, Temari-nee, Gaara-san!"
Kankuro's face grew pale as his siblings' figures became smaller. W-Why me?
"Long time no see, Baki. Looking as gloomy as ever," Tamaki greeted the jonin.
"And you're still putting up a fake front," He replied, not very amused by the med-ninja's humor.
Tamaki shrugged and sucked in a long drag from his cigarette before blowing it out in puffs.
"It has been three years since you left the village," Baki continued, slowly backing away from the smoke.
Noticing his reaction, the med-nin smacked himself on the forehead, "That's right. You don't like the smoke. Sorry." He turned away from the jonin and said, "I was going to come back last year, but didn't have the chance to. Sorry I couldn't visit you earlier."
"You mean you were planning on returning after the Kazekage's death, right?" Baki demanded, giving him a calculating glare.
Tamaki didn't reply and started to play with the cigarette with his teeth.
"You... You still bear a grudge towards the former Kazekage? About Karura-sama and Yashamaru-san? Were you relieved when you found out that the Kazekage was dead? Are you now aiming for his children?"
The med-nin dropped the stub at his feet and crushed it with his foot, smearing the ash on the ground. He placed his hands in his pockets and replied, "I never said anything about that. Nothing about Karura-sama, Yashamaru-senpai... and those kids. Maybe you're right... about me being relieved about that bastard's death. I have to admit, I really hated him... no, I still do."
Baki clenched his hands, "Don't even think about hurting the Kazekage's children. You should know already that even though you were formerly a well respected ANBU member-"
"Did you just say that they are the children of a Kazekage?" Tamaki chuckled, "Don't joke around. I heard about the foolish attack our... no, your fellow ninja tried to make on Konoha. That bastard was an idiot for trusting Orochimaru, and he died an idiot. He was not a Kazekage. He was a brazen fool who caused the death of his wife and his brother-in-law. He doesn't deserve such a title like Kazekage."
Baki sighed and folded his arms across his chest, "Your hatred really runs deep."
"Why wouldn't it?" The med-nin snarled, no longer smiling. "Not only did he cause trauma for his family, but for Yoko, too. Being killed by a former Akatsuki member like that is fitting for him."
"So, your love for Karura-sama and Yashamaru-san in the past has nothing to do with this?"
Tamaki glared at Baki and pushed his glasses a bit farther up the bridge of his nose. He growled, "You should stop digging your nose in my business, Baki. If you dare continue with your arrogance, I will kill you."
The jonin froze on the spot as the med-ninja's cold eyes gazed at him, seeming to stare right into his soul. His orange and turquoise eyes seemed to gleam with fury and bloodlust. A smile crept across Tamaki's face and he laughed, reaching out and patting Baki's shoulder.
"Sorry, sorry... Did I scare you a bit?" He rubbed Baki's head next. "But, hey, show some respect for me, will ya? I am a year older than you."
"That's right..." Baki muttered, managing a small smile. "You were quite intimidating even before you left the village." He could feel cold sweat sliding down the back of his neck.
"Ah, well, gotta go home now," Tamaki nodded. "I have to read this BL novel I just bought." He flipped out the book he hit Yoko with earlier and made his way past Baki as he left. "Later, Baki!"
"Later..." The jonin replied.
Temari and Gaara slowly slid away from the entrance to the training grounds as the med-ninja walked out. The two genin stared at each other with wide eyes, both of them surprised by what they saw and heard.
Who... Who is that man? Even Baki-san was scared stiff of him! Was everything we just heard true? Temari thought to herself as she turned to gaze at Tamaki's departing figure.
"We're finally here!" Yoko squealed, jumping up and down with excitement.
Kankuro let his shoulders drop and sighed. That girl can sure talk... She was talking the entire way here... and we were going at top speed too! For practically no reason! When he glanced over at her, he noticed something gleaming in her hand and asked, "Uh... What are you holding?"
"Oh, this?" she held it up and said, "It's a camera! Tama-chan gave it to me just before we left!"
Oh... I see... to take pictures of Neji... He smacked himself on the forehead. That's right... That med-nin is gay... he might also be interested in Hyuga... But... does Yoko really like him that way? I'm just going to make sure... Kankuro turned to her and stammered, "I, uh, um... About Neji Hyuga... do you... have..."
"Hm? What are you doing here? You're... Kankuro-kun?" A pink haired girl slowly approached them.
"Sakura!" He greeted, "We were just looking for you! Yoko!"
He spun around to see Yoko muttering to herself, "Where's Neji-kun? I want to see Neji-kun?" as she waved the camera in the air.
"Uhm... who's she? What do you need me for?" Sakura Haruno questioned, one eyebrow raised.
"You see... the chunin exam is coming up and that brat over here doesn't even have a proper three man team, so we were wondering if-"
"Hi! Are you Sakura Haruno-san?" Yoko interrupted him as she bounded over. She had finally given up on looking for Neji for the moment and returned to her original task.
Kankuro smacked her head and growled, "If you had been listening to me since earlier, you would've known!"
"Ow! That hurt!" Yoko pouted and looked over at the pink haired genin who was watching.
"I'm Sakura Haruno! Nice you meet you!" She smiled. Is she... an idiot?
"Nice to meet you too... Haruno-san..." the other girl trailed off.
Kankuro could practically feel annoyance bubbling up inside of him. He continued, "As I was saying, Yoko here needs a new partner, but all the other genin at her level have their own teams already."
"I see... Well, I don't know..." Sakura shrugged. "I'm alright with it, but we'll have to see if it's okay with the Hokage first."
"Alright," Kankuro nodded, "We were planning on confronting Lady Tsunade about it before getting permission from our own Council."
"Let's go see Tsunade-sama then-" This time, it was Sakura who was interrupted by the Sand kunoichi.
Yoko dashed forward at top speed, yelling, "Neji-kun spotted!"
Why is it always... always Neji!? Kankuro snarled, "Oi! Come back here!"
Ignoring him, the genin pounced on her victim, "Neji-kun! It has been a while since I last saw you!"
Neji, who was on his way back to the Hyuga mansion from training alone didn't even try to evade the attack. He sighed as the girl hugged him, "Nice to see you again... Yoko."
"That's right!" Yoko cried out as she abruptly let go of him. She flashed out her camera and started to take pictures at an incredible speed, going from every angle. "Pictures, pictures, pictures, pictures, pictures, pictures, pictures, pictures..."
Kankuro sped over to them as fast as he could and snatched the camera out of her hands, "That's enough!"
"Eh!? But...!"
"We have t-to go see Tsunade now! We can't waste time like this!"
"Hmf!" Yoko huffed and folded her arms across her chest. She turned her back to him, her head held high.
"Why... you...!" he growled.
Somehow, my feminine instincts tell me that... Sakura giggled softly as she watched them. It's one-sided!
"So, you want a joint team for the chunin exam?" Tsunade asked as she eyed the three genin in front of her carefully.
"Yes!" Yoko replied with a chirpy voice, "I really want to take the chunin exam with Haruno-san!"
You don't even know how I/she fight(s) or whether our/your teamwork will work out though... Kankuro and Sakura thought as they glared at the girl.
"I'm fine with it. In the end, it will be an individual test anyway. The chunin exam will be hosted in this village... you know that, right?" The Hokage said.
"Yes!" The three of them answered in unison.
"Alright, then, off you go."
"Thank you very much!" the genin bowed and left the room. As they walked out of the building, Sakura quickly glanced at Yoko, wondering how she fought and with what style.
Noticing the pink haired girl's calculating gaze, Kankuro spoke up, "Do you want to see what Yoko can do before we go back and get permission from our Council?"
"Eh? Uhm..."
"I want to see Haruno-san's fighting style, too!" Yoko smiled, balling her hands into fists and pumping her arms up and down.
She's.. pretty cute. Sakura grinned back and nodded, "Okay, then. Let's try sparring for a bit at the training grounds over there," she pointed to a forest near the far end in the village, "This way, we'll learn each other's capabilities faster."
"Okay, then! Let's go!" the other girl shouted and bounded off in that direction. When Kankuro tried to chase after her, Sakura grabbed him by the shoulder and smiled strangely.
"What... what is it?" the boy demanded, not having a very good feeling about her smile.
"Ne, Kankuro-kun... when are you going to confess?"
"Confess?" Kankuro raised one eyebrow, not really understanding what she meant until a few seconds later. His entire face blushed a bright red, "Wh-Wh-What!? To whom!? Confess!?"
"Yoko-chan... who else would it be?" Sakura chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll help you guys out..."
Damn... was I that obvious? The Sand ninja smiled weakly. Somebody... HELP ME!
"Hey, you!" Temari called out. She glared at the med-ninja who slowed to a stop. Gaara stood by her side, gazing at the same person with cold eyes. The two of them were behind Tamaki, who was about to climb the stairs to the second floor of Yoko's apartment.
Tamaki looked up at the sky and chuckled softly, "You heard everything from before, didn't you? You kids... did you think I wouldn't have noticed? You two are just like Baki and that bastard... not showing a shred of respect for me."
Even though the sun was shining brightly and the village was in the middle of a desert, Gaara and Temari could feel a cold wind passing through them, followed by a chilling aura that came from the older ninja.
"Hey, sorry, but I don't have much time to talk to you kids," Tamaki nodded, still not turning to them. "Like you heard earlier, I have to read my BL novel..."
"Yoko..." Gaara demanded, "What relationship did my uncle and Yoko have? What did you mean when-"
"You... don't have any right to know," Tamaki snarled, and slowly turned to face them. His eyes were extremely dark and full of malice, and bloodlust radiated from his expression for a moment before his smile returned. However, his eyes were still like daggers. "Hey, stop it, now, okay? I'm just her guardian! I have no clue about her love life! If you really really wanted to know, why don't you ask her yourself?"
He face away from them and continued on with his ascent to the second floor of the apartment building. Tamaki flipped out his keys, fumbling with them for a bit, then said, "Now stop bothering this old man and let him have time to enjoy some BL. I want to know how creative this author can get." He waved his novel in the air again before walking into the apartment and closing the door shut behind him.
Gaara clenched his fists, wanting desperately to break into the building and viciously attack the med-nin. He glanced over at Temari, who had the same frustration and annoyance written all over her face. He let out a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. That man... I can't trust him at all... He's smiling and joking around one second, then has a murderous intent the next. I have no idea what his abilities are, but I know that he's definitely dangerous!
"Argh... RAH!" Sakura yelled as she slammed her fist into Yoko's weapon.
The other genin struggled to keep her cannon up and continue to block the pink haired girl's attacks. Wide craters surrounded them, and the clearing was littered with burnt trees.
Yoko kicked against Sakura's chest, using her like a springboard, then jumped back a couple meters away. Raising her beaten up Dragon Head cannon, she shouted, "Fire Dragon Blast!"
Quickly recovering from the blow, the Konoha kunoichi dropped to the ground just in time for the fireball to whizz over her head. She lightly sprung back to her feet and punched at the ground next to Yoko, making her crash into Kankuro, a bystander, from the impact.
She giggled, "Oh, I'm sooo sorry."
"Sakura, you idiot!" Kankuro exclaimed, his face a bright pink. The younger girl lay on top of him. "What do you think you're doing!?"
"I'm sorry, okay?" she shrugged and shook her head. He's blushing...
"Yoko, are you alright?" The puppet style shinobi lightly pushed her up.
Yoko just blinked a few times before helping him up and smiled, "I'm fine!"
She's not affected by it... Kankuro thought to himself, feeling a bit down after realizing that fact.
"Anyways," Sakura said, "It's starting to get a bit late. I think we've tested our skills enough. I'm impressed, Yoko, your attack power is pretty good!" Everything else sucks though...
"Really!?" She beamed and squealed, "Thank you! You're really strong, Haruno-san! Your brute strength is amazing!"
"Thank you! Oh, I'll walk you guys to the main gates!" she replied and lead the way.
As they approached the village's entrance, the Yamanaka's Flower Shop came to view and as soon as they passed by it, Sakura yelled, "Neji!" and pointed to the opposite direction.
As expected, Yoko immediately made a response and turned that way, looking for the victim. "Where, where, where?" she asked.
While the other genin was distracted, Sakura, grabbed Kankuro by the hood and dragged him into the florist shop. Ino, who was at the counter playing with her hair, looked up and her eyes widened with surprise.
"Sakura? Kankuro? What are you two doing here? Don't tell me you two are dating-" Ino was cut off by her friend's hand, which covered her mouth. Sakura pointed at Kankuro, then at Yoko who was outside, spinning around in circles as she tried to look for Neji. Understanding the basis of the situation, Ino grinned at Kankuro mischievously and rushed over to a small bouquet of a mixture of flowers for sale and handed it to him. Not giving him time to retort, the two of them pushed him out the door and waved goodbye.
"Bye, now!" They said in unison.
Kankuro glared at them, "Why, you...!"
"Kankuro-nii, is something wrong?" Yoko demanded, tilting her head to one side.
The boy quickly hid the bouquet behind him and shook his head, "N-nope! Let's get going! Temari and Gaara must miss us!"
Not able to sense the mood or notice what was in his hands, she shrugged, and the two of them left the village. As they walked down the path towards the Land of Wind, Kankuro took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly, his face blushing red again. His hands were getting sweaty and it was starting to get harder for him to actually make a move.
Gathering all the courage he could muster, Kankuro muttered, "Uhm... Yoko... About Neji Hyuga..."
Yoko stopped and turned to him, "Yes?"
"Do you... like him? In the romantic way?" As soon as he asked that question, he wanted to dig up a hole and hide himself in it. That's way too direct! Wait, but she's an idiot, so I guess this is okay? No, what am I doing!? This isn't like me!
The girl laughed, "No, I just really admire him. My heart was taken by him when he helped me when we both fought against Spider-san. I don't like him in the romantic way... I think that I was just really moved by him. But... Why do you ask, Kankuro-nii?"
He froze on the spot, a bit startled by her question and started to squirm. "Uhm... I uh..." he shut his eyes and thrust the flowers in front of Yoko. Let's just get this over with! "I... I like you, Yoko! Please go out with me!"
"I like you, too, Kankuro-nii," Yoko smiled.
"No, I mean, I like you in the romantic way!" Kankuro said. That hole should be ready for me to dive in!
The girl's expression turned into one of surprise and her entire face grew pink of embarrassment, "K-Kankuro-nii!?"
This is.. the longest chapter I've ever written... EVER *gasp* *pant*
I'm so proud of myself... over 3k 500 words! TT^TT *tears of joy*
I added a pairing in the description~ KankuroXOC~ XD
Didn't expect this, did you? *wiggles eyebrows* Please review!
A short extra part...
Ino smiled at Sakura as soon as they were gone and asked, "Hey, you're... going to pay for those flowers, right?"
Sakura beamed back and yelled, "Hell, no!" before racing off at the speed of light.