14 – To Return to a Village
Ryoka silently followed Temari and Kankuro through the gates of Konoha. Gaara was nowhere in sight, though she could sense his chakra nearby. It was hard not to. It reeked with bloodlust. Thanks to Tsunade's 'preparation' over the last couple of months, Ryoka had memorized most of the participants and their abilities prior to arriving, but it had still surprised her that she would be on the same team as the kazekage's children. The same Kazekage that had thrown her out of Suna. Oh the irony. It was probably going to get her killed.
She had been more surprised than she'd liked to admit when she'd learned they were siblings. She began to feel for Gaara. Her own sister had accepted her whole heartedly and hadn't even batted an eye after the demon was sealed into her body, but Gaara's siblings went rigid every time he so much as spoke. It was no wonder the jinchuriki had lost hope. His own sister and brother had given up on him. He was alone. Really and truly alone, and Ryoka tried not to let her dislike for Temari and Kankuro show because of it. Gaara was their younger brother and they abandoned him. She'd rather die than reject Kyoka. It repulsed her, and she wondered if they would treat her the same way if they knew. If they knew she was like him.
"Security sure seems loose here," Kankuro muttered as no guards prevented them from entering.
"That's because we have travel passes," Temari replied easily, waving it in the air as if he were stupid. He scowled at her. They rounded a corner and walked down the path, stopping to determine which direction to go next.
Ryoka tried not to look like she'd been to Konoha before. She had been worried that Temari would recognize her as the little girl who had escaped Suna, but Temari had only seen her as the girl Gaara almost killed long ago.
"What were you doing out there?" the blonde had asked, shaking her head in exasperation. "Were you just lost?" Ryoka had just nodded, deciding that would be the easiest explanation.
"Nadeshiko, give this alert to the Hokage. He should know we have arrived." Temari's voice cut through the memory, and Ryoka's eyes snapped to Temari, unsettling the blonde for a moment.
Ryoka nodded, accepting the slip of paper, and vanished. Not wanting to be separated from the group, she made a shadow clone, quickly passing the message on to it and sending it on its way. Shadow Clone Jutsu and Substitution Jutsu were the only two techniques she had mastered on her left hand, deeming the other more basic ones unnecessary.
She returned quickly, stopping in a tree, up high in the branches. Glancing down, her heart almost stopped when she saw Gaara standing there, upside down on the branch she was resting on. He looked at her, but kept his arms crossed, black rimmed eyes shifting down to focus on what was happening below. She wondered if he remembered their brief meeting all those years ago, but then dismissed the idea as ludicrous. If she had lived like he had suffered, there was no way she would be able to remember the faces of every person she hated.
Temari and Kankuro had stopped, standing still as a boy wearing a long scarf and goggles ran forwards without looking, straight into Kankuro, who didn't move an inch. The kid bounced off and fell to the ground with a startled shout. Kankuro crossed his arms, glaring down at the kid.
"That hurt," he said icily, his voice dark. Ryoka frowned slightly, her dislike of the siblings growing. So they both were cowards in regard to their brother, but bullies to those weaker than them?
"Eh? What's going on?" Naruto's voice cut through the air, and a familiar affection rose in Ryoka at the sound of the excited blonde's voice.
Ryoka watched in mild surprise as Naruto and Sakura approached with two other kids, looking slightly shocked and concerned. They had grown. Sakura's hair had gotten longer, though she still seemed hesitant and shy, while Naruto basically looked the same, except for the Konoha forehead protector that replaced the goggles he had previously worn.
Kankuro picked the boy up by the shirt, a smug smile on his face as the kid struggled.
"Konohamaru!" Naruto exclaimed.
"That hurt, brat," Kankuro repeated.
"Stop it," Temari cut in, turning her head to the side. "We're going to get scolded later."
Sakura clasped her hands hands together worriedly.
"I'm sorry," she apologized," we were just joking around, so..." She trailed off, her eyes afraid.
Naruto balled his hands into fists.
"Oi! Let go of Konohamaru!" He yelled angrily. Kankuro's smile widened.
"Heh. But I want to play around before other people come," he smirked, his eyes moving to the struggling child in his grasp. The kid, Konohamaru, kicked out at Kankuro.
"Let go!" He managed to spit out, his hands trying to loosen Kankuro's grip to no avail. Kankuro's smile faded slightly.
"You're pretty energetic, kid," He said darkly. Ryoka frowned slightly from her place in the tree, but didn't interfere. She would step in if things got bad, but so far nothing was too serious.
Naruto was shaking in anger.
"Why you...!" He charged Kankuro head on, and Kankuro's confident smile returned, his eyes dangerous. He twitched a few fingers and the boy went down, falling over his feet and landing on his back a few yards away. He sat up quickly. "What was that?" He demanded. Chakra strings, Ryoka guessed, sensing the thin lines of energy retreating back to Kankuro and remembering Tsunade mentioning something about puppets in reference to the Purple Painted Man.
Kankuro smirked. "Konoha's Genins are weak." Ryoka took slight offense to that, as she'd graduated from the Academy here, and decided she wouldn't mind if Naruto or one of the others put Kankuro in his place during the exams.
His grip tightened on Konohamaru, who cried out. Naruto leapt to his feet.
"Oi! If you don't let go of him, you're going to get it from me, you freak!" He shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Kankuro. Sakura grabbed him in a headlock from behind, pulling him back.
"You're the idiot, Naruto!" She exclaimed. "Don't provoke him!" Ryoka took back her previous assumption about Sakura still being shy and quiet. Clearly the girl was much more open around her comrades.
Ryoka sighed quietly from her branch. They were all idiots, actually. She glanced down at Gaara, who was still watching emotionlessly. Her gaze shifted to the other side of the tree as a silent figure landed on another branch. She frowned. Sasuke. He hadn't noticed them. He sat there, watching the display below, his eyes dangerous.
Kankuro's eyes shifted to Naruto and Sakura.
"You're annoying," he said darkly. "I hate short people anyway, and you're so impertinent for someone younger than me."
He curled his hand into a fist. "It makes me want to break you."
Naruto and Sakura gasped at his words, and Ryoka almost rolled her eyes. Kankuro was obviously enjoying this.
Temari sighed.
"I'm not going to be responsible for what you do," she said indifferently, closing her eyes and looking away.
Kankuro smiled at Konohamaru.
"After this short kid," he promised, "the short kid over there is next." Naruto clenched his teeth, shaking in anger.
Kankuro drew back his fist and Naruto charged him, angrily yelling for him to stop. Ryoka frowned slightly, thinking. Maybe she shouldn't let them find out how young she was... Or that she was shorter than all three of them. Should she wear high heels? But that would just slow her down. She wondered if there was a jutsu for making you taller. She really didn't want to end up on the other side of Kankuro's fist.
The punch never hit its mark.
Ryoka glanced to the side as Sasuke grabbed a pebble and threw it with perfect accuracy. It sliced across Kankuro's arm and he dropped Konohamaru, holding his injured wrist with a snarl on his face.
His eyes widening, Kankuro looked up into the tree, where Sasuke was tossing a second pebble repeatedly into the air, catching it before it fell each time. Ryoka smiled slightly at Kankuro and Temari's surprised expressions. It was about time they learned they weren't the only big shots in the exam. Ryoka knew Temari and Kankuro couldn't help feeling superior. After all, they had been raised as the Kazekage's children. It was natural for them to act confident. She just wished they'd be a bit smarter about it. At least Gaara had the power to back up that confidence. He didn't need to say a word and people would tremble and scurry away.
Sasuke frowned slightly.
"What do you think you're doing in another's village?" He questioned darkly. Sakura looked delighted at Sasuke's presence, while Naruto looked less than pleased.
Konohamaru ran to Naruto's side and Kankuro swore darkly. "Another kid that pisses me off," he growled.
Sasuke crushed the pebble in his hand to dust.
"Get lost," he said, eyes narrowing. Ryoka wondered why they didn't already know about the exams being hosted in their own village.
Kankuro turned to face Sasuke.
"Oi, come down here. I hate kids like you who think they're so clever." Sasuke just glared back staying right where he was. Kankuro reached over his shoulder, tearing the wrapping off of the bundle he wore on his back. Temari gasped slightly.
"Oi! You're going to use Karasu?!" She looked shocked. Kankuro looked dead serious.
Ryoka glanced at Sasuke, who tensed, ready to fight.
"Kankuro, stop," Gaara interrupted suddenly, his voice deadly. Everyone turned their heads in shock. Sasuke stiffened in surprise, his head slowly turning to see Gaara standing upside down behind him a few feet away.
There was a silence as the shock registered. No one had sensed Gaara's presence at all. Now Ryoka was the only one that remained hidden. She stayed silent.
"You're a disgrace to our village," Gaara voiced the insult in monotone, his accusatory glare boring into his brother, who immediately swallowed, raising his hands in a placating gesture.
"G-Gaara," he laughed nervously. "D-didn't see you there…"
Gaara watched Kankuro for a moment, and then his eyes slowly shifted to Sasuke, making the Uchiha tense, before returning to Kankuro.
"Why do you think we came to Konoha," he questioned, the words sounding more like a statement than a question.
"L-listen, Gaara," Kankuro stuttered nervously. "...these guys started it-"
"Shut up," Gaara interrupted, his eyes narrowing. Kankuro's eyes widened in fear. "I'll kill you." The threat was genuine.
"I-I was at fault," Kankuro stammered, raising his hands in front of him and taking a step back. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."
Gaara turned his head to Sasuke.
"Excuse them," he apologized, but even the apology sounded like a demand. They glared at each other for a moment, and Ryoka was slightly impressed that Sasuke didn't show an ounce of fear. Gaara disappeared in a swirl of sand, reappearing in a crouch in front of Kankuro and Temari. He stood and turned.
"Let's go. We didn't come here to fool around," he told them.
"I know," Kankuro answered quickly, clearly relieved that they had finished a full conversation without bloodshed. "Where's Nadeshiko?"
Gaara looked up at the tree expectantly and Ryoka stepped forward cautiously. Everyone but Gaara stiffened in surprise for the second time.
"Another one?!" she overheard Sakura whisper.
"We're wasting time," Gaara told her coldly. She nodded, swinging down from the tree and landing next to them.
"Wait," Sasuke called, swinging to the ground. Both of you. Who are you?"
Temari paused, much to Gaara's displeasure.
"Who are you talking to?" She asked with a frown of disapproval.
"You with the gourd and you with the mask," he clarified, putting his hands in his pocket.
"It looks like Kakashi-sensei's," Naruto whispered loudly to Konohamaru, almost painfully obvious. "I wonder if she knows Kakashi-sensei."
Gaara and Ryoka paused, but only Gaara turned to face Sasuke. Ryoka didn't want them to recognize her, so she remained staring steadily ahead, despite curious glances from Temari and Kankuro.
"Sabaku no Gaara," he said. "I am also interested in you. Who are you?"
Sasuke smiled slightly, clearly pleased.
"Uchiha... Sasuke."
Sasuke turned to Ryoka.
"And you?" Ryoka's eyes narrowed slightly.
"She doesn't speak," Temari called, when the silence stretched out awkwardly.
"Really," Sasuke replied thoughtfully, his expression dark and suspicious.
"Do you know them?" Kankuro asked. She shifted her gaze to him slowly.
"What's your name?" Sasuke asked.
"It's none of your business," Temari replied for her, and Ryoka actually felt grateful for the blonde's quick response.
"I'm asking her. Not you," Sasuke answered, somewhat snappily.
Ryoka smiled slightly. Some people never change. She glanced at Gaara, who had paused, looking over his shoulder at Sasuke.
"Let's go," he repeated. Ryoka turned and followed Gaara, Temari and Kankuro close behind.
The four of them continued walking, turning a corner and vanishing.
"This exam's gonna be a breeze," Kankuro sighed, putting his hands behind his head.
"There'll be stronger Genins than them," Temari argued. "The exam isn't what we need to worry about anyways. Let's find where we're staying. I'm exhausted."