The Good Die Young

Nara Shikamaru looked out across the desert. He stood with both his wife's siblings, upon the balcony outside the Kazekage's office, all three men watching the sun sink slowly. Soon it would be dark, and they were sure a new wave of attackers would arrive with the night. Gaara turned his back on his brother and brother-in-law.
"Where's Shinju?" he asked as he walked towards the doorway.
"Temari told her to go rest for a while. I think she's in her room." Kankuro answered.
Gaara nodded once, leaving the others quickly.

*

Shinju sat across the table from her uncle. He poured her a cup of green tea, and raised his eyes to hers.
"I think you should go back to Konoha."
"W-what do you mean, uncle? I want to stay here!"
Gaara shook his head.
"It's too dangerous. I'm glad your brother is going back to Konoha. I think my sister was wrong to bring you to this war zone."
"Gaara-san! I'm a chuunin, I can look after myself."
Gaara smiled; a genuine smile. It still felt alien to the muscles in his face. The birth of his nieces and nephews bought him more joy than he had ever experienced in life, and he hated the thought of that joy escaping him. Holding Kohana, Kankuro's daughter, for the first time had been amazing, if a little scary. Kohana, and her little brother Akiyama, were the first people in Gaara's life to meet him with no misconceptions, having heard no stories about him. They had not been around for his troubled past. Kankuro's wife, Ima, was hesitant at first, about letting Gaara spend time with her children. But soon, there were no worries. When Yukio and Shinju came along too, Gaara felt his life was full, his family closer. His heart filled with love, something he'd also found hard to experience in the past. The children's innocent laughter made him happier than he had ever been.
And now, one of those innocent, beautiful people was in a dangerous place. He didn't want Shinju to be hurt. From reports he'd received, Suna was the only place under such a brutal onslaught. Konoha was untouched. Shinju would be safer there, where her brother would be. He watched his niece take a sip of her tea, eyes silently watching him as he thought. She wouldn't go easily, that much he knew. But she couldn't stay in Suna, not with this war raging.

*

Ichiru ran behind Akane, watching her hair stream out behind her. Akako ran alongside her, growling. The Uchiha felt the air around him crackling with activity. There were shouts and screams from every direction.
"I have to find my group. They must have run away. Most of them have never been in a serious fight before. Konoha's been at peace for as long as I can remember. Oh god, what if they were…" Akane shouted over her shoulder.
She stopped running at the foot of the Hokage Mountain. The sounds of battle were further away now.
"This is where all civilians are taken at dangerous times. I'm hoping all the genin are here too." The girl said, grabbing Ichiru's hand and leading him towards the entrance. Two chuunin guarded the passageway, but let Akane and Ichiru through upon seeing they were no threat. Akane called the names of the missing genin in a shrill, panicky voice, hurrying through the passageways, and up the winding stone stairways. Half the village had already been evacuated, and her voice echoed throughout the still, empty halls.
"Morio-kun! Taya-chan!" Akane yelled, stumbling on a step, "Seiji-kun! Are you here? Are any of you here? Nariko-chan! Please answer me?"
Ichiru heard her voice grow more and more hysterical as their search proved fruitless. He reached out, and took her hand, pulling her gently to him.
"If they came through here, they'll be long gone by now anyway. You're no use to anyone getting worked up like this. We need to go and help the village."
"But they were m-my responsibility!" Akane stuttered, sounding so like her mother years before.
"I'm still here. And you're responsible for me." Ichiru replied, squeezing her hand.
Biting her lip lightly, Akane nodded, stroking Akako's loyal head as she stood by her. The two ninja turned to leave, preparing for the battle they knew awaited them.

*

Temari held Shikamaru close to her, her breath warm on his neck. He pushed her away a little, poking her nose playfully.
"That tickles." He said.
"I know." She replied, sticking her tongue out.
"You two are like teenagers!"
Gaara approached the couple, who had been standing at a lookout post together. His sister smiled at him warmly, not letting go of her husband at any point. Shikamaru nodded at his brother-in-law, as a mark of respect to the Kazekage.
"I needed to talk to you about something, I'm glad I found both of you." Gaara lifted his gourd from his back as he said this, groaning slightly as he was relieved of its weight. "It's about Shinju-chan. I want you to send her back to Konoha. As soon as possible."
Temari dropped Shikamaru's hand as her brother said this.
"Gaara! My only son is out there as we speak, god knows where, and I don't know if he's still alive. I'm sorry, but I want to keep my family together as well as I can. Shinju will be safest here, with me! I know you're doing this because you're worried, but really… Shinju is my daughter, and I assure you she is an extremely talented ninja."
Her husband placed a hand upon her shoulder, and she realised she'd adopted her fighting stance without even realising. Her brother stood calmly in front of her, his face almost expressionless, apart from the twitch at the side of his mouth, meaning he was trying not to smile. Sometimes he infuriated her so much! Now he walked closer to her, and put his own hand on hers.
"I know how talented Shinju is. Remember all those summers I spent helping train her and Yukio? I am as concerned as you are for your son. But I cannot have my niece in danger too. As Kazekage, I wish for her to be taken back to Konoha, where she will be safe, and with her friends."
Temari nodded slowly, knowing her brother had made his mind up, and there was no way of stopping him now. He was still as stubborn as she was.

*

Hyuuga Neji stood by his daughter's bedside. He watched her chest rise and fall slowly. Painfully slowly. Snatching his eyes away, he glanced out of the window and saw the columns of smoke rising from the entrance gates. He knew this was where the enemy had broken in.
"I'm sorry, Hoshi. I have to leave you for a little while. But I'll be back, I promise you." He said softly.
He left the room, turning once to look at his daughter. It looked as if she was just sleeping. If only that was the case.

*

Tsunade rubbed Tenten's back soothingly as she pushed one final time. At last, the newest Hyuuga was introduced to the world, born in the midst of a raging battle, Konoha in flames around him.
"Hello, Hyuuga Hirokazu." Tenten whispered to the tiny bundle, as he squirmed in her arms.
An explosion nearby made Tsunade jump to her feet, quickly taking little Hirokazu from his mother.
"Tenten, get dressed. As you may be aware, the village is under attack. I'll escort you to the Hokage Mountain. You and your son can escape that way."
"How can I leave my daughter behind? And Neji?"
"Right now you need to think of yourself." Tsunade said, holding the tiny baby close to her as another explosion sounded outside, this time closer.
In no time, the two ninja were on their way, Tenten now cradling her son in her arms. They made their way quickly and silently towards the mountain as daylight faded.