Wind and Leaves
Chapter ten
A tiny hand reached up and grabbed a doorknob. Slowly it started to turn until it couldn't turn any more. The door was pushed open as a little girl stepped inside a pure white room. She looked around as she saw eyes of the medics drift to her. They stared her down as if to push her out of the room as she stepped forward.
She came to a semi circle around something but couldn't make it out. She tugged on one of the white coats that was wornas if telling it to move. When the person didn't budge she squeezed her little body through the giant legs around her. She pushed herself to the other side landing face first on the floor. She looked up to see something that made her eyes widen in horror.
In front of her was deep red puddle of blood. Using her arms, the girl pushed herself back as far as she could from the liquid, her back hitting the bodies behind her. Her eyes followed the puddle to a trail that lead to a black clothed figure. He turned to her, a bundle in his arms and a smirk on his face. Stretching out his arms, the bundle rolled out, revealing what was in it went as it went. A small red haired child sat only a few feet away from the girl.
It used it's hands to climb to it's feet as it started walking over. With each step it seemed to enter a different phase of life.
Baby...toddler...kid...teen...
Standing in front of her, it's hand reached out, sand crawling around the petrified girl and surrounding her body. She tried to get up but found she had no space to do so. She watched as the sand closed in around her face, cutting off her air supply...
---
"Nooo!"
Temari shot up in her bed, breathing heavily. Her body was coated with a layer of sweat as she placed a hand on her forehead.
'It was only a dream.' she thought. 'Only a dream.'
She glanced over at the clock on her bedside table. Three. She let her body fall back onto her mattress. This was the third time she was awoken by a nightmare since the night began. She let out a sigh.
'Maybe a bath will help.'
Throwing off the bed sheets, Temari slid off her bed and headed for the bathroom. Her ears perked to the sound of snoring coming from another room. A small smile crept onto her lips as she entered quietly to her destination and closed the door. She turned the water on, putting the hot water on full without turning on the other faucet. The small room filled with steam, the mirror fogging up as she striped her clothes off and received a wash cloth.
Turning off the water she dipped her hand in the steaming tub feeling the sensation that danced through her fingers. Slowly she dipped herself into the rather large tub, not wanting to spill any water onto the floor.
She lowered her head into the water, her face the only part not exposed to the liquid. Her cheeks were tickled by the ends of her hair that floated about. She watched as the steam from her bath drifted off into the ceiling with her mind.
"What's happening to me?" she asked to herself aloud. "What're these nightmares about? Am I being haunted?"
Closing her eyes, Temari let her memory run free of all that had in that past month. She became a village run out, was found and trained by a whole different ninja (not related to Konoha in any way), found a place where she was accepted for being her with a new family that cared about her. And that was all put to rest when she finally cleared the misunderstanding up with her little brother.
What could it be?
She squeezed her eyes tighter. 'Think deeper. Think deeper.' she told herself, not finding an answer in what was just reviewed. 'Think, Temari. Think.'
Her mind was pitch black as nothing came to her mind.
'Oh well.' she thought as she grabbed the soap and started to lather her body. She didn't want to dwell on it too much though it was troubling her all at the same time. If she thought about it too much who knew what would happen. Besides, she was suppose to be relaxing.
But these nightmares weren't making it easy.
She rinsed off herself and pulled the plug on the drain. The sound of the water running down the drain filled the bathroom as Temari reached for a towel. While she dried herself off she noticed her skin was puffy and red.
'Maybe I used too much hot water.' She thought as she dried her hair. Wrapping the towel around her somewhat damp body she headed for the door, walking past the mirror. Grabbing the doorknob an image of a small hand doing the same motion entered her mind. She pulled her hand away as she closed her eyes and placed one on her forehead.
'I just need to relax.' She told herself. 'I just need to relax.'
Removing her hand she opened her eyes and took a quick glance in a the foggy mirror. Her eyes slowly trailed back to it as they began to widen. Under that coat of fogginess she could see a reflection, but it wasn't her.
Using her hand to wipe it away she saw a beautiful woman staring back at her. Blond hair and a soft smile that resembled Temari's face. Her purple eyes looked deep at Temari as if she was expecting to see her. Temari's eyes widened after she blinked to find that the image was transformed into what looked like her final moments.
Her mouth was open as if in a yell. An angered yell.
Temari blinked again only to find her own reflection in the mirror. She reached with her hand and slid it down the mirror as if it was a portal to another world.
'That woman...' Temari started to think. '...She looked just like me.'
---
"I'll see you later, okay?"
"Yeah, sure."
Temari stood at the door of the apartment, sending off Naruto to his training. She would be leaving soon, as well, heading off to the Hokage's building.
Naruto cocked his head to one side as he stared at his sister. Though they weren't very visible, he could see black lines forming under her eyes. Did she get enough sleep last night?
"Are you sure you're going to be alright, Temari?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, yes. I promise you I'll be fine." Temari assured her brother. "Now hurry up, before your late."
"Like that's gonna happen!" Naruto yelled as he started to run off to the training grounds. "See ya later, Nee-chan!" Temari waved, a smile on her face.
As soon as her brother was out of sight in the distance she closed the door and headed off in the opposite direction. Her mind was deep in thought, wondering what was happening to her body.
All those visions. So many faces. What looked like faded, unfinished memories.
Temari wanted answers, but she didn't know how to find them. And she didn't want to talk to anyone about this either. They just wouldn't understand.
She stopped for a minute, placing her hand on a wall and leaning on it. Looking up at the new morning sky she let out a sigh.
'I wish you didn't leave.' she thought.
---
The Hokage watched his granddaughter as she ran all over his office, straightening this and fixing that. He didn't realize how unorganized he was after Temari left until now. He took a sip of his morning tea while papers were neatly stacked on his desk.
"There." Temari said with a smile. "And don't forget, you have a meeting this morning after you finish discussing how the first half of the chuunin exams are going to go." she reminded him as she flipped through her clipboard. " And these papers have to be read and signed before the discussion. And..."
He listened to her ramble on as he took another sip of his tea. He always found it amazing how she was able to keep up with things like this but it always worked to his advantage. He never turned in anything late or was ever late for a meeting when she was around. His little daily planner.
"-And this, all done after lunch." Temari finished as she placed another stack of papers on the desk.
"Thank you, Temari. Your always a big help." the Hokage told the blond in front of him.
"It's no trouble, Jii. I'm just doing what I can." she told him. "Oh, and I have to run these down to the academy real quick. Will you be alright while I'm gone?" She held up a small group of papers.
"Yes, I'll be fine. You go on ahead." the Hokage assured her.
"Alright. See you when I get back." She walked off, exiting through the door and heading downstairs.
Once outside, she happily started off toward the academy, herself in a good mood. She seemed to bounce a little as she walked, her mind not even remembering what she was so worried about earlier. She rounded another corner only to collide with someone her papers flying in the air.
"The papers!" she cried as she scattered to her feet collecting the papers before they hit the ground.
"Allow me to assist you!" the person told her. Temari watched as a blur was running all around her, gathering the papers faster than she had. After a few seconds the papers were all back in the pile.
"Thank you for helping me." Temari told her helper. "And I'm sorry for bumping into you."
"No, it was my fault and I'm sorry."
Temari's eyebrow slowly raised as she got a better look of the person. A boy with black bowl-cut hair wearing a green spandex jumpsuit topped off with a hiate-ate tied around his waist being only a little taller than herself.
"Are you alright, Miss?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. Are you?"
"As fine as ever. Fine and youthful!!" he replied to her. Temari sweat-dropped. Who was this guy? "Where are you off to on this youthful morning?" he asked.
"Oh, I'm off to deliver these to the academy." Temari told him.
"Would you mind if I joined you?" the guy asked.
"Not at all." Temari replied, trying her best to give a friendly smile. "I'm Temari."
"And I am Rock Lee. The Handsome Blue Beast of Konoha!"
---
"So you're going to be entering the chuunin exam?"
"Yes. My cell and I have been preparing for this event for a long time now."
The two had walked in silence since their encounter until Lee finally decided to end it. Despite his appearance, Temari thought he was interesting to talk to. He seemed like he was always in a bright and cheery mood. She had never met anyone like that before. She liked it.
"Are you a shinobi by any chance?" Lee asked her as they walked.
"Yes I am." Temari replied. She forgot that she didn't put on her hiate-ate before she left. "And I also help around in the Hokage's office."
"So, you have already taken the exam, I assume?"
"Well..." Temari started but her mind started to drift off. "...no."
"No? Your still a Genin, then?" Lee asked trying to clear up everything.
"Not exactly...Let's just say that I don't pay much attention to the ranking system." Temari told him.
"Why is that?" he asked getting a little confused.
"My teacher...my sensei, he didn't pay much to the system either. He told me it was pointless and was only there to help weaklings see where they were. But I disagreed on that." Temari thought for a minute. Why was she telling these personal details to a guy she just met?
"But if I had to say, I'd probably be between a chûnin and Jônin."
"Oh." Lee responded trying not to let the blond know he was still confused. The two approached the academy. They watched as children poured into it, heading off to their home rooms.
"Well, here we are." Temari said turning to Lee.
"Yes. That was a nice morning walk. I guess I should be heading off to the training grounds to meet my team." Lee told her.
Temari looked a little disappointed. "Alright." she agreed. "I hope to see you again sometime."
"We shall." Lee said giving her a smile and a thumbs up before heading off.
"Good luck with you training!" she called to his back.
"Same to you!" she heard him call back. "Farewell! And stay youthful!!" Soon, he disappeared in the distance.
'I hope I see him again.' Temari told herself as she went inside the building. 'He's really nice and good to talk to."
---
The morning seemed to fly by after Temari returned from the academy. She was scrambling from place to place. Copying this, delivering that, but she didn't seem to mind. It kept her mind busy. She entered her grandfather's office, handing him a few papers and scrolls.
"Your second meeting is going to start soon, Jii. Is there anything else you need?" Temari asked.
"No, dear. I think that's everything." the Hokage told her, standing up at his desk. "You can go on and leave for today."
"Oh no, I couldn't do that." Temari told the old man.
"Don't worry. I think I'll be in that meeting will last longer than you think. Besides, you done so much already." he insisted, going to the other side of his desk and placing his arm around his granddaughter. He led her to the door.
"Well, if you insist, Jii." Temari said.
"Go on. I'll see you later." he said to her. He planted a small kiss on her forehead.
"Bye, Jii."
She gave him a hug and went on her way down the hall. She took a glance at one of the clocks. 'Naruto should be on his way home by now.' She thought. 'I'll go meet him.'
---
"If your so sick of being in my debt, why don't you get better than me?"
Naruto glared Sasuke down as there was silence between his cell and sensei.
'I don't know what happened.' Sakura thought. 'But it seems like their on worst terms than before.'
'I hate this.' Sasuke told himself, not taking his glare off Naruto. 'There are guys out there who could be challenging me, but I'm stuck doing pointless assignments with this twerp.'
Skree Skree
Kakashi looked up from his book. He watched as a strange bird flew by them high in the sky. He didn't even notice Naruto stick his middle finger up at the Uchiha.
"Alright." he started to his team. "We'll call it a day right now. I've got to go hand in my report on today's mission."
"Then I'm going home." Sasuke said as he started to walk off.
"Hey Sasuke! Wait up!" Sakura called to him. "I was wondering if... you know...you and I... just the two of us...could work together on our teamwork?"
"Your just as bad as Naruto." Sasuke told her. "Why are you always wasting your time flirting when you should be practicing?"
Sakura felt a heavy load hit her. 'I am NOT like Naruto.' she thought.
"Even his skills are better than yours." Sasuke continued.
The load got heavier. 'I'm WORSE than Naruto?! NO WAY!!'
Sasuke turned back around and started walking home again.
'He's right...' Sakura thought, her mind in the gutter. 'It doesn't matter what our mission is. They're all the same to me. I'm always the weakest...the one with on special talents...'
"Hey Sakura!" Naruto called. "Forget Sasuke. You and I can train together!!"
Kakashi just disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
'Where did Kakashi go?' Naruto wondered. 'Is he giving us some alone time? Doesn't matter!! There's only one thing ahead of me and that's training!!'
Getting the feeling that he was being watched, Naruto turned around to see some kind of rock behind him. He took a few steps forward, watching from the corners of his eyes, that rock was following him.
"Ah-Ha!! Got you rock!!" Naruto yelled, pointing ti the object behind him. "Little hint, no rock has perfect angles, perfect corners, and eye holes!! Kind of a big clue!!"
The rock shuffled a bit, but then lifted. Three kids crawled out. "Leave it to the man I acknowledged as being my equal!" Replied one of them, a long scarf tied around his neck and goggles on his forehead like his friends. "Your skills rival my own!!"
"Oh." Naruto said to them. He put his hands behind his head. "Hey Konohamaru. What are you guys doing here? And what's with the goggles?"
"Well, your our idol! We're copying that old style you used to wear." Konohamaru told Naruto.
"Righhhht." Naruto dragged out.
"What do you mean 'right'? Suddenly too cool for school, boss?"
"What do you guys want from me?" Naruto asked.
"We'll show you!!" the little girl said. "Come play with us, boss!!"
"Nope, sorry! I have to train!" Naruto exclaimed.
"But you promised to play Ninja with us!!" the three children cried.
"Oh, was that today?" Naruto asked. 'Crap. If I play with them, even a little, they'll waste the whole day!'
"So..." started the pink haired kunoichi to her blond teammate. "What is a ninja doing 'Playing Ninja', hmm?"
Konohamaru took a good look at Sakura. "Hey, Boss, who's the babe?" He took another look at her and got his idea.
"Hey Boss, with how you are and all, I can tell..."
"Huh?" Naruto replied.
"I can tell you and she are...you know...right?" He stuck up is pinky finger and gave a light pat on Naruto's back.
Naruto blushed a little. "You know, for little guys, you catch on quick."
"WRONG!!!" Sakura yelled, beaming Naruto in the face causing him to fly into the fence with a loud 'thud'.
"Boss!!" Konohamaru yelled. He ran over to help him. "What did you do that for?! You Hag!!"
Sakura cracked her knuckles. 'Let me at 'em!!!' her inner self yelled inside.
---
Temari followed her ears to the sound of pain being brought upon someone. She turned a corner to see Sakura storming away from a small group. She tilted her head a bit to see a mess of blond hair pounded into the ground. 'He did it again.' she thought with a small smile on her face. She headed over to the group.
"Naruto!" she called when she got close enough. Her brother looked up to see her.
"Oh, hey Temari. Your -ow- early today." He rubbed his face.
"Temari-chan!!" Naruto watched Konohamaru run up to the other blond as he embraced her. "Temari-chan! How are you?"
"Hello Konohamaru. I'm fine, thanks." Temari replied gently as she patted his head. She waved to the other children and they waved back. "How are you guys?"
"Awful!" Konohamaru answered. "We were just attacked by a broad-browed, firebreathing hag!!"
Sakura stopped dead in her tracks. She slowly turned around, an angry expression on her face. She charged at them, causing Konohamaru to run out of Temari's grasp with the others behind him. Sakura ran right past Temari who started after her.
The chase lasted awhile until Konohamaru collied with someone. He looked up getting a clear view of who he ran into.
Older than him. Tall wearing a black outfit. Purple markings all over his face. A pointed hat that made it look like he had cat ears. Some large bandaged thing on his back.
"Hey!" he said in a deep, yet frightening voice. Konohamaru cowered as he was picked up.
"Konohamaru!" Naruto yelled.
"That hurt, punk." the stranger said with a smirk.
"Oh, please." started a red haired female beside him. She wore what looked like a hat that covered her head and a very low-cut outfit. Light colored clothing covered her shoulders, traveling down over her breasts, but still giving a good insight of them. The outfit stopped at her mid-thigh. It seemed snug on her body with fishnet under it. "Knock it off. He isn't even worth it."
"It was my fault." Sakura told them. "I was fooling around." The girl shot her a dirty glare. 'Who are these people?' she wondered.
"Put him down you big JERK!!" Naruto yelled.
The stranger glimpsed at Naruto's hiate-ate. 'These must be Konoha Genin ninja.' he thought. "I just want to play with him a little...while we're waiting for the nuisance to get here." he said.
Naruto broke out in a run towards them. "YOU SON OF A-" The boy in black moved one of his fingers, causing Naruto to stumble backward. "What the heck was that?!"
"What a wimp." the stranger said. "Is this the best Konoha's Genin can do?!"
'They're foreigners.' Sakura concluded. 'But, why are they here?'
Konohamaru trembled as he felt the fist under his chin through his scarf. "Hey! You in the black pig suit!" Naruto called out. "Release him now and I'll go easy on you!!"
'IDIOT!' Sakura called out in her mind as she pulled Naruto back. 'You want him to kick your uranus?!?'
"Your starting to annoy me." the stranger told the group, a smirk still on his face. "First off, I'm allergic to 'shrimp'. Bad enough that you're a short little kid...you're disrespecting your elders. You make me want to kill him!"
The group gasped.
The female let out a sigh. "I will not be held responsible for this, you know."
'This is not good!'Sakura thought.
The stranger cracked his knuckles. "I'll finish with this tiny shrimp and move on to the Jumbo one over there." He brought his fist back and shot it forward, his aim right on Konohamaru's face.
"Konohamaru!!"Naruto yelled. There was a blur and the stranger's fist...stopped.
"Put. Him. Down. Now."
The stranger felt a strong grip around his fist. He couldn't move it.
"I said put him down."
Turning his head, the stranger saw a blond, four pony-tailed girl, tightening her hand around his fist. If any tighter, she would break it, but that wasn't what he was surprised about. He dropped Konohamaru who ran behind Naruto. Temari didn't loosen her grip on the fist.
"Y-Your alive!" the stranger said to her. He turned to face her causing her to let go of him.
"I don't know what your talking about, but no one treats my friends like that." Temari told him. Her voice dark and her eyes in a death glare. "Not while I'm here."
"Temari! Don't you remember me?"
"I said I- wait, how do you know my name?"
"Temari." he started as he grabbed her shoulders and stared deep into her emerald eyes. "I'm your brother."