The snake always bites back

Temari went back into the room as soon as she had finished her dinner. She shut the doors tight, asked her servants to leave her alone and sat there. She sat for hours, not moving a muscle.

Now that Shiho is back, she would have one more thing to worry about. She needed to get rid of her, before she produces a legitimate heir for the Nara clan.

She ruffled her hair and stood up.

Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. "Temari it's me," she heard his voice. Temari said nothing. "Temari, let me in." He said after shaking the door.

She slowly walked towards the door, and unlocked it. He pushed and saw her. She was curtseying at him, "Nara-sama." She said. Although seemingly obedient in her form, he could hear the anger hidden in her voice.

"What's with all the formalities?" He shrugged, reaching out for her. She retreated and kept her head down. "I must not go further than my position, I am nothing but a lowly servant." She hated herself for saying that. She vaguely remembered Lady Kaori saying something like that when her father started to favour another concubine.

Shikamaru held her hand in his, she tried to withdraw her hand, but his grip was firm.

"Are you scared about Shiho?" Shikamaru smiled. "How troublesome you are," he pulled her into a hug. Temari said nothing, slowly she wrapped her arms around him.

He sighed and planted a kiss on her forehead – he secretly liked the fact she was jealous and wanted him for her own. "No one could ever replace you."

She smiled secretly to herself. She was putting on such a drama, but nevertheless he fell for it. This was over the top, she thought. Yet deeply in her mind, she wanted him to be hers and hers only.

"You said you have a gift for me?"

"To be exact, two gifts." He signaled her to turn around. She obliged and he fished a necklace, putting it on for her.

She stared into the mirror, and nearly lost her breath.

It was the golden fan necklace given to her by Lady Kaori.

Her face turned into a sheet of white. She looked at herself in the mirror.

Has he discovered the truth? Is the second gift a trip to the executioner's axe.

"Thank you," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "It was a lovely gift."

"I remember that you have a thing for fans." He smiled, and clapped his hand. She was frightened, and decided to reach inside her robes for her dagger.

When she saw two servants carring a long rectangular object, she relaxed and returned to her original poise.

"This is for you," he smiled, as the servants opened the rectangular object. She could not believe what she saw.

It was her battle fan.

The fan spanned, showing all three purple stars. She soothed the paper, the metal frame; she could feel he tears welling up. She wiped her eyes.

"Thank you," she said, starting to choke.

Shikamaru smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "I thought it would be fitting as a decoration." He kissed her on the cheek. "Still mad at me?"

Temari turned around, and kissed him.

Shikamaru hugged her tightly. She grabbed his hand and directed it to her breasts.

He looked at her, as she pressed her lips onto his, He returned the kiss. Tongue to tongue, lips to lips, body to body; they entwined together wildly like snakes.

She does not care, he is hers.

That night, she sat up on their bed, and stared at the fan, placed near the end of the bed. It stood as the constant reminder as her duty to her country.

She stared at it for minutes, before lying down with her head on his chest.


Temari woke up the next day, and took Shikadai strolling around the gardens. She looked as he took wobbly baby steps around the garden.

She loved him: he is her son, her child; the thought that she might leave him here one day, when their countries go to war is extremely saddening.

She could not help to look at the sky, the sky was full of fluffy white clouds.

She wondered what the sky look like in Suna now, she has not set foot in the desert for years.

"Temari-san," she suddenly heard her voice. She turned around to see Shiho. She stood there, dressed in a pale green kimono. Temari nodded at her. "Shiho-san."

She picked up Shikadai. "Auntie." He murmured. Shiho stared at the child for a second and smiled at Temari. "Your child bears great resemblance to Shikamaru."

"Why of course, he is his father." Temari looked at her with a sarcastic smile. "Is there any thing I can help you with?"

"I just want us to be friends…" She stepped forward as Temari backed down.

"Huh," Temari sneered. "I don't think it is necessary, Shiho-san. Our distance is quite enough." Then she left with Shikadai in her arms.

She needed a way to get her our of the way. She saw the way she looked at Shikadai; as innocent as she looked, she was jealous of her.

With Hidan in jail, she could not kill her just yet. She left Shikadai in his room, ordering the guards to let no one in. Then she headed to the library.

She searched around: the Nara Library was full of books on medicine; she searched from shelf to shelf, and after endless searching she found what she seeked.

In one of the old medicine books, she found a recipe for a medication, which would jeopardize any chance of a healthy pregnancy. She copied the recipe with a piece of paper, and took it back to her room.

I would never let her get what she wants, she thought to herself. She would wish that she had died that day. No, she would wish that she had never been born.


The autumn leaves crisps in the cool dry winds. The palace was decorated with red lanterns; the pillars wrapped with red satin and flowers. Naruto sat in his room, his servants dressing him in orange and black robes, a swirl-his family emblem at his back. He stood there tall and proud.

"Here," he servants bowed. "Your Majesty is ready."

"Very well, I shall go to the Royal Medical Towers."

Naruto then stormed out of the doors, leaving his servants befuddled.

He walked to the tower and knocked on Sakura's door.

"Your Majesty," she smiled and curtseyed. "Congratulations."

"Cut the formalities, Sakura-chan," he said, pouring himself a cup of tea.

"If that is what you wish," she smiled. Then she turned and hit him on the shoulder. "It's about time you grow up and get married!"

Naruto yelped. "Ow!" Sakura laughed heartily.

"I have told you to marry me since we are kids," he said. "You just never agreed."

"I told you, I will only marry Sasuke," Sakura said sweetly. "I am happy for you Naruto, Hinata is a really nice girl, too good for you really."

He shrugged and grinned, ruffling his hair. "Aw you are messing up your hair!" Sakura reached over and fixed it for him.

"Tell me when you change your mind, okay?" Naruto insisted. Sakura knocked him on the head.

"No," she grinned. "Now go back to your room, it's your big day."

He puffed his face and went back.

He is but a child. Sakura thought and smiled. It's time for her to change for the banquet.


Temari stared out of the window as the fireworks erupted in the Palace. Naturally, as his advisor and friend, Shikamaru was invited to the wedding. Shiho went with him, leaving her and Shikadai at home. She was rocking Shikadai in his cradle.

"Little baby, from where mummy came from, they also have fire flowers in the sky just like this," she whispered, a drop of tear rolled down her cheek. She raised her hand and wiped it off. Shikadai was soon sound asleep, snoring quietly.

Temari left the nursery and headed to the study. She quickly found the military reports and copied the things she needed: the most recent military graphs, the locations of the camps, number of soldiers …

She quickly got to the messenger tower – the guards were drinking and having fun with all their colleagues. Tipsy, they did not see her as she went up and sent the messages off into the dark sky.

She sneaked to the kitchen next. She saw the cooks, half drunk, lying atop the kitchen counters. Shiho's medication was brewing on the stove. She went and added her mix of herbs into the medication and stirred.

She sneered and went back to her room. It has become her routine – she would sneak into the study to access the documents, send them off and then add her mixture of medication into Shiho's: she drinks them for her poor nerves.

She felt the satisfaction sinking in, as she slowly fell asleep.

Never try to befriend a woman as beautiful as a poisonous snake, it will always bite back. She thought as her eye lids were shut tight.

"I am not drunk!" Naruto yelled, as he tumbled around the crowd. Shikamaru tried to help him on his feet. He only downed a few cups himself. Half of the crowd was drunk while the other half was drunkenly asleep. He escorted Naruto to his room and left. He could hear him snore and murmured illegibly words, while Hinata's voice shivered and ordered the servants to help the Prince to his bed.

He met up with Shiho, who was obediently waiting for him at their seat.

"Let's go," he said, and helped her onto his horse. He sat behind her and whipped the horse.

As they rode, he remained quiet. Shiho looked down at the horse's mane.

"You know earlier today, I talked to Temari-san."

"Oh?" That name piqued his interest.

"She doesn't like me," she said softly. Shikamaru shrugged.

"Women," he sighed. "Well, who knows, you might get along?"

"When… when did you became … acquainted?"

"That," he said, tightening his grip on the ropes, "was before I met you."

Shiho remained silent for the rest of the ride. She thanked him briefly before returning to her room. He scratched his head and shrugged again. "Women."

He headed to the study, and studied for a while. He drafted a document, urging Hidan's immediate execution - he could not risk him escaping, a snake will always bite back given the chance. He scribbled, ruffling paper after paper.

As the candle burn itself out, he slowly fell asleep among his pile of books.


In the sandstorm, Gaara's army surrounded the Konoha patrol. The roaring storm covered the bloodcurdling screams of the dying men.

"Four carts of grain, my lord." He nodded at his men's report. He asked twenty of them to escort the carts back to valley. His eyes were on the prize – an outpost just ahead of him. Temari have gave him the information, the outpost was located near the oasis, and on the grain supply route of the Konoha army in Suna. He planned to take it.

As they approached, he suddenly realized they were outnumbered three to one.

He looked at his men, and asked them to stay behind the sand dune; he approaches the outpost alone.

"Who are you? Get lost!" The guards yelled, pointing his spikes at him.

Gaara looked at him coldly, as the sand behind him started to transfigure, turning into a giant fist and shoved the men aside, burying them in the yellow, raging sea of sand. His shadow turned into that of a gigantic monstrous raccoon. The soldiers tried to flee, only to be engulfed by waves after waves of sand.

The outpost was empty, after an hour.

He signaled his men to come forth and disguise themselves as Konoha soldiers.

He planned to keep the outpost up and running, for the time being.

"Lady Yukihanu has given birth, my lord." A scout came running in and smiled as he reported the good news.

Gaara looked at him with a puzzling look. He stood up, and for the first time in years, he smiled. The arch formed on his face was small, but evident. His soldiers stared as his eyes narrowed from his smile.

He must rebuild the empire.

For his family.


Shikaku Nara was preparing for the handing over of power – the Queen Regent Tsunade would retire, and Prince Naruto would be granted more power, however there would still be a regent in place, and that would be Hatake Kakashi, a white haired fellow with a patch covering his left eye, mask covering up his face, revealing only his right eye. He was a formidable general and king's guard back in the time of Naruto's father. He was Naruto's teacher.

The council meeting has been more frequent and he had not seen his family for quite some time. He leapt off his horse and headed to the dining room.

"Grandpa!" Shikadai ran towards him, he lovingly picked him up.

"Grandpa, guess what I did today! I painted a picture for you."

He handed over a sheet of paper with a scribbled deer on it.

"That is very good," he replied. He stared at Shikadai, realizing that he had not take a good long look at his grandson for a long time.

He looked at him, Shikadai had black hair, his eyes, however, are teal coloured and almond shaped with a long slit – just like his mother's, only rounder.

Then suddenly it struck him.

It was twenty years ago.

Suna and Konoha still had normal diplomatic relations.

As ambassador, Shikaku was sent to Suna to discuss matters with the King.

He remembered entering the palace, and paying respects to the King.

He welcomed him and invited him to tea in the Royal Greenhouse.

In the Greenhouse, he remembered seeing her amongst the lush greenery.

A girl aged around four to five, chasing butterflies. She walked and tumbled around, and finally, as she was about to grab one of them from atop a tall rock, she slipped and began to fall.

Immediately he rushed and caught her mid air.

"Thank you." The girl looked at him, although just fell from the rock, she looked unafraid.

He remembered her eyes, long, teal and almond shaped; her hair blonde like the sky of the desert.

It reminded him of someone. Someone, he just needed to remember who it was.

Who was she?

Author's note:

Here is another chapter! Read and review!

V.S.V