21 – To Speak in Vain
When she emerged back into the oddly quiet arena, she tilted her head curiously to the side, wondering if she'd missed something. Everyone in every direction, as far as she could see, was asleep.
She heard a pop from behind her and ran back to the room Kabuto had fought her in, eyes widening as her jutsu faded and all that was left in the room was a puff of smoke. She grit her teeth in annoyance. She had been fighting a clone.
She ran out of the room a second time, hurrying back to the main part of the arena, and was met by a scene of chaos. A couple of Jounins were fighting ANBU members while some sort of sealed barrier contained an impressive battle where the two Kages had been. Everyone in the spectator's seats were slumped down, unconscious, just as the people in the hall had been.
Her gaze snapped to the left as she heard an explosion in the woods. Gaara. She felt the overpowering chakra even from where she stood. So Shukaku had broken free. She had to stop him.
Not waiting to be given orders, Ryoka sprinted away from the arena, closing her eyes. If she focused hard enough, she might be able to travel from one shadow to another, increasing her speed dramatically. All it consisted of was a slightly different version of her Kageni jutsu right? She concentrated and formed the three seals in rapid succession.
She melted into the nearest shadow and once again was in the grey world of the shadows. She heard every rustle of the leaves, and every sure footed step of the shinobi, some Sand and some Konoha, some fighting each other and some pursuing different goals.
She glided into the next shadow and her skin tingled. The shadows were thin, but all of the tree's shadows were overlapping, so it was definitely possible. She raced straight forward, not having to worry about obstacles in the soothing emptiness of the darkness and before she knew it, was standing in the shadow of a chaotic battlefield.
She pulled herself out of the shadow, taking cover in the nearest tree to observe the fighting scene. Sakura was slammed up against a tree, a giant claw pinning her unconscious form there. Sasuke was collapsed on a branch, cursed seal marks creeping up his neck and face as they oozed poisonous chakra.
And Naruto, well Naruto was sitting up on top of a giant frog, facing off with Gaara, or rather, Shukaku. Even stranger, the frog was drawing a sword, several times the length of your average human being. Number one ninja to do the unexpected indeed.
She eyed Shukaku warily. Was this what it was like when a tailed beast got out of control? Would this happen to her if she ever lost control? She scanned Ichibi, looking for signs of a weakness and the beast reared back, roaring joyfully.
"I'm finally out of here!" It screamed out, almost like a chant. It pointed at the frog. "And I've found someone I wanna kill!"
Ryoka tilted her head slightly, pondering the words of the demon. He seemed to have a personality that crossed between Guy-sensei and something sinister. She tried to imagine Guy sensei crossed with a malevolent raccoon, and then her eyes turned to the Ichibi.
Yes, that about summed it up.
She watched closely, searching for a sign of Gaara, and spotted him quickly. Gaara was connected to the beast's head, asleep. She had never seen his eyes closed before. She heard a gasp behind her and whirled around to see Sakura struggling to breathe. Her ribs would break if the claw around her tightened anymore. Ryoka scaled the tree Sakura was pinned to and slipped a hand into the sand. She shuddered. It was soaked with so much blood it was wet to the touch and slid through her fingers. She could sense the chakra imbedded in the sand, and knew it wouldn't budge no matter how much force she applied to it. She eyed Sakura as the hand tightened, and heard a quiet snap. Sakura coughed, and blood spattered the sand, only to be absorbed immediately.
If she couldn't destroy the sand, she would just have to destroy the tree. Ryoka gathered all the chakra she could, and her hands flashed through her seals.
Shadow Release: Kage Torappu. The shadow of the tree, much larger than that of a person's snaked up the trunk and limbs, wrapping tightly around it. Ryoka increased the pressure, and a bead of sweat rolled down her face. The shadow clenched, and small pops could be heard within the tree. Tighter, Ryoka willed, closing her eyes with the effort. The pops increased, and some of the smaller branches began to split under the force of the strangling shadow. Ryoka poured on the concentration, and with a groaning pop that seemed to shake the forest, the shadow crushed the tree, sending splinters of wood flying in all directions. Ryoka darted forward and grabbed Sakura as the hand slammed into a fist around air where the pink haired girl had been moments before.
Sakura inhaled with a gasp. The claw of sand dropped like a stone and the tree followed more slowly, hitting the ground with a deafening crash that seemed to draw the attention of everyone in the fight. Ryoka slipped an arm under Sakura's knees, catching her before she fell and landing gently on the ground. Sakura's eyes fluttered open.
"Ryoka…san?" She murmured weakly. Ryoka met Sakura's eyes, trying to think of where she was needed most right now. Sasuke needed help as well, but as far as she knew there was no way to get rid of the seal. As long as he stayed where he was, his physical injuries would heal. She looked back at the battle between Naruto and Shukaku and her heart stopped as another tailed beast appeared to have entered the fight. The nine tails.
Why on earth would the kyuubi be there all if a sudden? She watched in awe as the fox lunged towards Shukaku, sinking its teeth and claws into the raccoon beast. Suddenly there was a puff of smoke and the frog had returned, Naruto leaping off of him.
Ryoka blinked. That had been a transformation technique, of that she was sure. She watched in mild surprise as Naruto punched Gaara straight in the face, dispelling the sleeping technique and waking the boy. Gaara angrily retaliated, but the frog protected him.
Someone who didn't quite fit in, and seemed isolated. She remembered Naruto, on the first day of the academy, asking her to be his partner. Of course. Naruto was the kyuubi's jinchuriki. And unknowingly, when he had asked to be her partner, it had been from one jinchuriki to the other.
Ryoka tried to think past her revelation, forcing herself to focus on the problem at hand. Sakura was on the edge of consciousness in her arms, Sasuke was half dead, his seal sucking the energy out of him like a leech, and a jinchuriki battle was taking place far above her head, where she would likely only interrupt the rhythm if she interfered now.
Naruto suddenly looked behind him, his eyes locking with hers. He saw Sakura in her arms and his expression lifted slightly. She offered him a nod and a thumbs up, confirming that his companion was alive and well. He grinned and returned the gesture before plunging back into the battle.
For the sake of the landscape around them, she hoped the encouragement would motivate him to end the fight quickly. As if on cue, Naruto released a yell of concentration as a fiery orange jutsu surrounded him.
That wasn't an illusion or transformation technique. Ryoka felt her own dark prisoner stir. That was the real kyuubi's chakra. It set her nerves on edge. She turned her attention to Sasuke, who turned his head to glare at her.
"Y-you," he snarled weakly. She resisted the urge to scowl. She wasn't exactly fond of him either. She placed her left hand on his neck and transferred clean, pure chakra into his system. He grit his teeth for a moment at the intrusion, and then relaxed, letting out a sigh as the symbols eventually retreated back to his neck.
She watched as Naruto rushed forward and crashed his head into Gaara's. The raccoon's form crumpled and cracked, returning to sand.
Ryoka saw Gaara falling from high in the air, and pulled her hand from Sasuke, recognizing that she was finally in a position to help. He slumped tiredly when she took her hand away. She gently laid Sakura on the ground and leapt from tree to tree, jumping into the air quickly and catching Gaara before he hit the ground. The air rushed out of her lungs as his full weight hit her and it was all she could do just to safely lay him down on the grass before quickly backing away and concealing herself again. Gaara was unpredictable and could just as easily kill her as he could thank her. She'd rather not gamble.
A moment later, she saw Naruto edging towards Gaara, both of them completely battered and beaten.
"D-don't get near me!" Gaara snarled at Naruto, eyes wide. He looked like an injured animal, desperate and wild and vulnerable, and Ryoka flinched at the sound. Naruto didn't stop, lifting his head to meet Gaara's eyes.
"The pain of being alone... Is completely out of this world, isn't it?"
Gaara's eyes widened, and from where she remained unseen, Ryoka twitched.
"I don't know why," Naruto continued, "But I know what you're feeling so well it actually hurts." His voice was hoarse, but it was thick with emotion. Ryoka wished she had known he was a jinchuriki back when they were in the academy. She remembered how his smile had faltered when she flinched at his touch. Guilt welled up in her stomach.
"But I- I have people who are important to me now," Naruto continued, his blue eyes burning. "I won't let you hurt my important people. If you do... I'll stop you even if I have to kill you!"
And I'll stop you, if you try to kill Gaara. The thought entered Ryoka's mind, surprising even herself. When had she decided that saving Gaara's soul meant protecting the boy's life? She shifted uncomfortably. Naruto's words were having a strange effect on her, and from Gaara's expression, she could guess they were having an impact on him, too. She turned her piercing stare to Naruto. Maybe he was just the miracle Gaara needed.
"Why...?" he rasped, his voice little more than a hoarse whisper. "Why would you do so much for strangers?!"
"Being alone is hell." Naruto's voice was shaking. "Those strangers… My village, they saved me from it and acknowledged that I exist." His voice grew firmer as he spoke, still trying to approach Gaara by slowly but steadily sliding forward through the dirt. "They're important to me."
"You can stop now, Naruto," a familiar, chilling voice cut through the warm moment. Ryoka glanced up quickly to see Sasuke sitting next to the blonde boy. He was scanning the trees, seeming to be looking for something… or someone. "Sakura is fine now, and he has to be out of chakra," he continued quietly, nodding at Gaara.
"I see," Naruto managed to whisper. His eyes met Gaara's and he smiled, white teeth flashing in a bright grin. "I'm glad." Then his head fell to the ground and he was unconscious just as Temari and Kankuro ran into the clearing. They took one look at the scene and quickly moved in front of Gaara, taking defensive stances. Sasuke tensed, stepping in front of Naruto and shifting Sakura behind him.
"Don't fight them," Gaara ordered, his voice oddly subdued. "Let's stop this already."
Temari and Kankuro turned to face their brother, surprised.
"Gaara...?"
Sasuke scanned the forest one last time, before addressing Gaara.
"Your fourth member," he said slowly, his eyes locking with the red head's. "Where is she?"
A blank look crossed Temari's face.
"Nadeshiko? We left her at the stadium when the siege began."
Sasuke's expression darkened.
"Don't lie. She protected Sakura and healed me."
Shock and apprehension flickered across the sibling's faces.
"She was here?" Kankuro asked urgently. Temari held up a hand, stopping him.
"She wasn't in on the plan," she told Sasuke calmly. "Whatever she did she did of her own accord. She's not one of us."
Ryoka winced. It only made sense that they would feel that way, being from another village, but it still hurt to hear Temari say it out loud. She had unknowingly formed a sense of comradery with the Suna team.
"…I see."
He took Naruto and left, vanishing into the trees. Kankuro was about to help Gaara to his feet, but the red haired boy stopped him.
"Go," he said. "I will catch up later."
Knowing better than to argue, they nodded and left. Once she was sure they were gone, Ryoka relaxed.
"You're here, aren't you?" Gaara's voice brought her back to reality. She considered simply slipping away, but she was somehow repulsed at the idea of just leaving Gaara alone. She hesitantly emerged from her place in the foliage, walking toward him slowly. He leaned his head back, looking up at the sky.
"I still feel like I'm missing something," he confessed. "If I don't need to prove my existence by killing, what is it that Naruto has that I don't?"
She watched him silently, surprised that he already seemed so calm after a battle that so horribly agitated him.
He clearly didn't expect an answer, and for a while, she didn't have one for him, aimlessly scratching in the dirt until she realized she had written her thoughts in the soft earth.
Someone who isn't afraid? Had been scratched out by her finger. His eyes moved downward, following the line of her hand, and she hurried to wipe out the words, not sure how he would take the message. In a flash, caught her wrist, stopping her. Her heart pounded.
"Someone who isn't afraid?" he read aloud, and his eyes grew thoughtful. Her cheeks flooded with heat. He still hadn't released her wrist, and she winced when his grip tightened unconsciously. He noticed her slight pain and released her immediately, sharply looking away. They sat in awkward silence for a moment, before he spoke again.
"You don't fear me." It wasn't a question, but she felt like it was a statement that required a confirmation or a denial.
She found herself opening her mouth to answer, and his eyes widened slightly. Then she started coughing, covering a hand with her mouth, and for a moment felt like she was going to be sick. He watched her with an unreadable expression.
"You tried to speak."
She swallowed, trying to soothe the sudden burn that had erupted in her throat at the effort of using her vocal chords. She was suddenly very aware that he was watching her, and she struggled to regain her composure, taking several deep breaths.
"Do you fear me?" Now he was uncertain, not sure whether her failure of speaking had been an attempt to deny his claim. Knowing better than to make a sound, she shook her head.
The tension left his jaw and he relaxed slightly.
Ryoka was telling the truth, too. She saw nothing to fear from powerful people. She never gave anyone a reason to make her an enemy, except perhaps Kabuto, and if she was truly honest with herself, she didn't care if she died.
It sounded horrible when she faced that truth, but all Ryoka had left in the world was her little sister, who was safe with a family that loved her as their own. Life had no true purpose for her, so dying didn't seem like such a frightening thing. So no, Gaara, despite all his death threats and sadistic comments, did not frighten her.
He seemed content with her reply, so she stood and crouched down, pulling one of his arms around her shoulders and helping him to his feet, staggering slightly under his weight. If he was surprised, he didn't show it, but he did watch her, and she was uncomfortably aware of his stare as she slowly walked forward with him. He seemed twice as heavy as before, now that his gourd of sand had reformed on his back.
"Thank you."
The whisper was so faint, so quiet, she might have only imagined it as they made their slow journey back to the village, but a smile tugged at the corners of her lips regardless.
Once they finally arrived back at the gates of Konoha, several sand ninja approached him, including Temari and Kankuro, all curious. Ryoka released Gaara and vanished just as they approached.
"Gaara, how did you get back by yourself? Aren't you hurt?" Temari asked, quickly checking over him. He turned his head quickly to the side, but Ryoka was gone.
"…Fine," he answered eventually, once he confirmed that the golden eyed girl was indeed nowhere in sight. They returned to a small series of huts just within the walls of the village.
"Konoha has agreed to allow us to remain in an encampment by the gates to recover," his sister told him, "But they want us to leave as soon as possible. They know we were manipulated, but they lost their Hokage, so they aren't exactly feeling generous."
"Kinder than we would be," Kankuro answered. "Temari, you heard what that kid said about Shiko. I thought you lost her back during Gaara's fight."
Temari nodded. "I tried to follow her but it was like she disappeared. I haven't seen her at all this entire time."
Gaara remained silent, listening to the two of them.
"Think she'd come with us back to Suna?" Kankuro asked, sitting down in a chair with a tired sigh. A medic hurried over to him, but he waved her off.
"Wasn't she born there?" Temari asked. "That's what we were told. She may return anyways."
"I don't know. She didn't seem desert-born. I overheard that silver haired Jounin talking to the weird guy in a green leotard, and they said she was dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Temari repeated. Kankuro nodded.
"Yeah, said she was too smart for her own good; that she kept too many secrets."
"Well she doesn't speak," Temari returned haughtily. "Of course she has secrets."
"She can't speak," Gaara corrected quietly, before returning his gaze to the sky.
"Gaara?" Temari watched him for a moment, but he didn't say anything else.
"Let's just find her before we go, and tell her to come along," Kankuro sighed, closing his eyes. "All this debating is pointless."
Temari was quiet for a moment. "I guess you're right."
Gaara opened one eye, watching his sister for a moment. She noticed him staring and smiled nervously.
"I-Is something wrong, Gaara?" she asked kindly. He closed his eyes.
"She won't come," he told them, his voice flat. Kankuro and Temari exchanged a bewildered glance.
"W-what do you mean?" she asked.
"You said she wasn't one of us. Why would she come?"
Temari was at a loss for words. At the time, she'd been trying to protect Ryoka, thinking that if she told the Uchiha they were affiliated, they would punish their fourth teammate. But if Ryoka had been there, as the Uchiha had said she was, and had happened to hear, what would she think?
Temari had a feeling, and her heart sank as guilt filled the pit of her stomach, hollow and empty.
You said she wasn't one of us. Why would she come?