"Your eyes change colour when you lie. I can see it I'm not blind, yeah. Your eyes, they sparkle in the light, but in the dark I see the true colours of your heart." - Your eyes, black coffee ft. Shekhinah
Temari stood before the jail cell with her hands on her hips and a smirk painted on her face as she looked down at Kiba who was sitting on the jail cell bed. Kiba looked back up at her with a relieved expression. She still didn't have all her memories, but she had enough to know Kiba was her friend.
And besides Neji was his comrade and she owed it to Neji to help his comrade. She also owed it to Shikamaru, she knew he cared deeply about all his friends and comrades. So she'll help Kiba in the place of Shikamaru and Neji.
"Are you sure about releasing him lady Temari? He is a enemy ninja from the leaf after all." One of the guards with her asked.
"If I wasn't sure why would I have gone through all the trouble of coming down here?" Temari snapped back at him.
"Why would you release an enemy ninja lady Temari?" The other guard asked confused.
Temari knew most of the ninja in this village was weary of her and didn't trust her at all, but they had good reason not to. They all saw her giving the title of Tsuchikage over to Orochimaru, but the thing that made them trust her even less is that they all saw her fighting with Konoha against Iwagakure.
She betrayed them and she killed their fourth Tsuchikage. That's what made them weary and afraid of her.
Even so, she wasn't planning on staying in this village to run it or to regain their trust. She was here simply to lend Kiba a hand. And the easiest way to get him out of jail without causing a political uproar was to regain her short lived title of Tsuchikage. Luckily she wasn't as unlucky as Kiba.
She woke up on a mountain overlooking the whole village two days prior to Kiba, who woke up in the damn center of the village. They immediately dragged his sorry, unconscious ass to jail.
"Because this man right here was my bug in Konoha. He constantly leaked information of Konoha to me as well as help me infiltrate Konoha's ranks." Temari lied convincingly, Kiba raised an eyebrow before he realized it was an act and played along.
Kiba had to make a mental note that Temari was a good liar.
"My apologies Lady Temari, I was unaware." The man said embarrassed.
"That's because it's above your pay grade." Temari growled back.
"Now unlock the damn door, a Iwagakure spy should not be locked behind bars." Temari said in a firm tone while Kiba nodded.
"Yes ma'am." The other guard said as he unlocked the doors.
"Finally." Kiba exclaimed glaring at the guards.
"Took you long enough to talk some sense into them." Kiba said looking at Temari who smirked again slightly.
"You can give your Konoha headband to me then, since your mission is over." The guard said as Kiba walked past.
Temari saw the small scowl on his face. That headband was precious to him. He wore the mark of his village proudly on his forehead. That headband showed where his loyalties lied and he worked hard to obtain that headband. So Temari decided to interject.
"Who said his mission is over and who said you could take that headband? Who's the Tsuchikage here?" Temari said firmly as she held out her hand to Kiba who's scowl faded from his face and was replaced by thankfulness as he removed the headband from his forehead.
"You are ma'am." The guard said looking down.
"Exactly, now let me do my job." Temari said as she took the headband that Kiba placed in her hand and switched it with a Iwagakure headband in her ninja pouch.
Kiba's eyebrows lifted in surprise. She had two... Temari smiled at his surprise and handed the headband to Kiba who tightened it around his forehead.
"But ma'am he's not from Iwagakure. He has the marks of the Inuzuka clan from Konoha." The guard interjected, again.
Temari sighed in irritation. These guards love questioning her...
"As I was saying it's above your pay grade. Do you see a dog with him?" Temari asked annoyed.
"No." He answered in a unsure voice.
"It's because he defected from Konoha and that's all you need to know." Temari said in a firm voice.
"Now stop questioning me!" Temari said, irritation evident in her voice.
"Sorry lady Temari, it won't happen again!" The two guards exclaimed in fear as they bowed respectfully.
"Let's go Kiba." Temari scoffed as she walked out the prison with Kiba following her.
They walked out the prison and through the village towards the Tsuchikage's office. They received strange looks and glances filled with distrust as they walked through the village towards the Tsuchikage's office, but neither one of them said a word, not even Kiba or Temari. They were cautious, afraid someone might overhear their conversation if they spoke.
However they finally reached the Tsuchikage's office and closed the door behind them. Temari placed the Tsuchikage hat on the desk and removed her fan from her back as she leaned it against the desk. She fell into the chair from tiredness with a loud exaggerated sigh while Kiba removed the Iwagakure headband and placed it on the desk.
"You know how much trouble you caused me by appearing in the middle of the village?" Temari said exaggerated as she also removed the headband she wore around her neck and placed it on the table while getting Kiba's headband from her ninja pouch.
"Well excuse the hell out of me! It's not like I chose where I vanished of to." Kiba exclaimed with a pout as he crossed his arms.
"Don't talk so loudly! There are ears everywhere in this damn village." Temari hissed as she looked around while handing Kiba's headband to him.
"Don't put it on." Temari said as he took the headband and placed it in his ninja pouch.
"Who's ears?" Kiba asked seriously.
"There's some shinobi in this village that still defies me~" Temari started with a sigh.
"You sound like a tyrant." Kiba laughed as he interrupted her.
But he stopped laughing when Temari threw him with a book that was on the desk.
"Can you be anymore childish? This is serious." Temari said while glaring at him.
"And by the way, just so you know, I'm not a tyrant." Temari scoffed with crossed arms.
"Anyway, I'm not worried about this village's shinobi. The people I am worried about are Kabuto and Minoru." Temari sighed.
"But they won't try anything while you're Tsuchikage, will they?" Kiba asked doubtfully.
"You can't be more wrong Kiba. That's exactly when they'll try something. Kabuto doesn't want someone he can't control as the Tsuchikage that's why we're not staying." Temari said.
"We're not?" Kiba asked, he didn't know if he was surprised or not.
"You didn't honestly think we were going to stay here? This place is probably the worst place for us to be at the moment, especially for me, since Minoru and Kabuto already know I'm here. They'll be coming here to take the title and possibly kill me." Temari said seriously.
"How can they possibly know that?" Kiba asked.
"They're irritating little parasites with spy's in this village. They knew I was here the minute I sat foot in this village." Temari sighed, she was so tired of all these things happening.
She just wanted a break from all this.
"By the why how did you manage to be Tsuchikage again anyway? And where did you get those headbands?" Kiba asked curiously with a raised eyebrow.
"I never officially stepped down as the Tsuchikage. I was still Tsuchikage before the war even started and the elders new it. So when I went to the elders they had no choice, but to let me be since the village was in chaos and they had no Tsuchikage. However they didn't like it at all and I'm pretty sure they're behind the assassins that are trying to kill me. Damn hags. As for the headbands, I stole them from two unsuspecting Iwagakure ninja that was making their way back to the village." Temari said smirking, but she rolled her eyes at the mention of the elders.
"Must be rough." Kiba said sympathetically referring to the assassination attempts.
"Not exactly. It gave me a opportunity to make a public point so the other shinobi would get off my back." Temari said scoffing.
"Tyrant." Kiba coughed under his breath.
"What was that?" Temari asked glaring at him.
"Nothing." Kiba said innocently as he looked away.
"We should start moving. I have no idea when kabuto and Minoru will arrive." Temari said seriously.
"What about the Tsuchikage title. Are you just going to leave it for Kabuto?" Kiba asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No. I can't to do that to these people again. I have someone in mind that I'm going to make my successor. He's a good guy and his mind won't get corrupted by power. He'll be a fair Kage. He's loyal to this village and he loves the village and its people. He'll do anything to make it prosper." Temari said with a small smile.
"I hope for this village he's as good as you say he is." Kiba said.
"You'll see for yourself. He'll be here any minute." Temari said.
"That's good. Because if what you're saying about Kabuto is true, then we should really start going." Kiba said seriously.
Just then a knock on the door came. Kiba turned his head towards the door as his guard came up while Temari sat upright and propped her head on her hands as she rested her elbows on the desk.
"Come in." Temari said with a strong voice.
The door knob turned and the door opened slowly. A man with white hair and dark eyes stepped in calmly. He turned his head while he entered and his eyes met Kiba's.
"You!" They both exclaimed in unison as they growled at each other, well it was mostly Kiba who growled.
The white haired man was more surprised than he was angry. Kiba however look like the guy had stolen candy or something from him. He was glaring and growling at him the whole time. The white haired man went by the name Toshio. He was a calm man who was never really riled up. He thought his actions through before he acted. Toshio wasn't an impulsive man, he was smart and strategic. He was a great leader, plus he was strong. He also looked deeper into situations and didn't just see the surface details.
That's why he didn't attack Kiba. He was looking deeper into what was going on. He didn't judge a book by its cover.
"You two know each other?" Temari asked surprised.
"I won in the fight with him in the war against Konoha." Toshio said amused which made Kiba even angrier.
"You just won because I wasn't ready." Kiba scoffed with a pout.
"Oh, I see. Did he bruise your ego Kiba?" Temari asked with a smirk that was laced in amusement.
"Shut up Temari! Nobody asked your opinion!" Kiba exclaimed angrily at a amused Temari who laughed.
"Careful, that's our Tsuchikage you're talking to." The man warned, making Kiba scoff and pout again.
"You're glad I showed mercy and didn't kill you. Pouting like that doesn't help you find your dignity." The man laughed, Kiba was so mad now you could literally see him turn red from anger.
"That's it! I'm going to kill you!" Kiba exclaimed as he launched for the man, but he was shot back by a blast of wind when Temari clapped her hands together.
"That's enough Kiba! Calm down and sit down!" Temari yelled at him.
"I'm not a dog." Kiba said glaring at her, however he still complied to her orders.
"Could've fooled me." She smirked back making Kiba growl at her.
"In all due respect lady Tsuchikage, why is this man here?" Toshio asked calmly, he was probably one of the only shinobi in this village that wasn't trying to kill her.
"I think you already know what's going on." Temari said as the air grew serious.
"I know the basics, but not everything. However maybe you should've left him in prison to not raise more suspicion." Toshio said with his hands in his pockets.
"It's wrong keeping an innocent man in prison." Temari said.
"He's not that innocent. He waged war against us." Toshio replied.
"Wrong. We waged war against them. He only defended his village. Do you think we should keep a man who protected his village in prison?" Temari asked gently.
"Probably not." Toshio answered with a small smile.
"Toshio I'm retiring as the Tsuchikage and I'm making you my successor. I have discussed this with the elders. Yet the old hags are still trying to kill me." Temari said, but she mumbled the last part under her breath.
"Why me?" Toshio asked with slightly widened eyes.
"You're strong, smart and not impulsive. You'd make a good Tsuchikage. You survey a situation and choose the best action to take." Temari answered.
"What makes you say that? You haven't seen me on missions." Toshio asked curiously.
"You were the only man in this village who found out why I killed the fourth Tsuchikage and became the fifth Tsuchikage. I never wanted to be the Tsuchikage." Temari said with a sigh at the end.
"Why retire after just two days?" Toshio asked.
"You waited two days before busting me out of jail?" Kiba asked outraged.
"Shut up Kiba! The grown-ups are having a conversation." Temari exclaimed at Kiba who sat in the corner.
Kiba glared at her as he mumbled extremely rude things under his breath.
"I don't have the right to be Tsuchikage. It's not right. It's your village not mine. Don't act like you're not glad I'm stepping down." Temari said with a smile, however her smile turned to a amused smirk at the end.
"I see." Toshio said smiling.
"But be warned Kabuto is on his way to take the title back. Don't let him have it." Temari said with a smirk as she stood up and took the Tsuchikage hat.
"You can count on me Lady Temari." Toshio said with a smirk as well, while Temari placed her fan on her back.
"It's just Temari." Temari said amused as she placed the hat on his head and walked towards the door.
"Why are you leaving so soon?" Toshio asked turning around to watch her.
"I'm sorry I can't stay and show you the ropes, but Kabuto is after me and I need to get out of this village. It's already hard to beat him as it is. It'll be even harder with a whole village trying to assassinate me." Temari said seriously.
"It's a shame people only saw the surface of the situation. You're actually a decent person Temari." Toshio said calmly.
"So I've been told." Temari said as she opened the door with Kiba following her.
"Take care of yourself Temari." Toshio said with a reassuring smile.
"Same to you. Make this village proud and show them a Tsuchikage greater than they ever seen before." Temari said with a smirk before she left the room with Kiba and closed the door.
"Let's go home." Temari sighed while Kiba smiled as they walked away from the Tsuchikage office Leaving the brand new Tsuchikage in his new office.
She felt a little bad not being able to help the poor guy at his new job. Being a Kage is not easy.
But she had faith in Iwagakure's sixth Tsuchikage.
xXx
Another day was ending in the land of warriors. Lee had travelled with Chon all day scaring unsuspecting commoners shitless as they pass by. They were now extremely close to the border of the land of warriors and the land of void. However lee decided to make camp in the land of warriors as the sun settled behind the horizon.
Lee could've made it to the land of void, but then night would already have been upon them and that was dangerous for someone who had no ninja background like Chon. Plus Lee noticed his tired eyes becoming vigilant again. Like he was worried someone was after him. When the sun descended Chon's alertness raised.
Therefore Lee stopped for the day and made a fire to cook some food as well as keep them warm from the ruthless cold that reared its head with the moon. Lee sat on the opposite side of Chon and watched him watch the flames intensely. Until his eyes filled with anger as well as a hint of sorrow, but after a while his eyes grew empty and detached. His eyes seemed to have forgotten to stay vigilant. It was like the flames triggered a unpleasant memory he wasn't especially fond off.
"What's wrong my youthful friend?" Lee asked breaking the silence as he watched Chon closely.
Chon stayed quiet for a long time like he was contemplating whether to answer or not, and for a moment Lee thought he wouldn't answer. However Chon's eyes turned alerted again as they found an answer, but his eyes never left the blazing flames.
"The more distressing the memory, the more persistent it's presence seems to be." Chon said looking at the flames, Lee frowned at his answer.
It seemed so out of place and context. He didn't fully understand why a youthful boy would give a answer like that. However Lee did realize that the answer probably came from his troubled background.
"What makes you say that?" Lee asked anyway.
"The fire... Its flames look exactly like those that swallowed my village, only smaller." Chon said his face contorting to grieve that he tried to keep from appearing on his face, but he was only a boy.
A child cannot fully keep his emotions in check and his face empty. They don't have that control yet, but as they grow older their hearts grow stronger. However Lee knew that sometimes, even though the heart grew stronger, it turns to stone as well sometimes. And when a heart turns to stone, its ability to love cease as well. Lee saw that all too well with Sasuke...
His hardships grew too much for him so his heart turned to stone to protect his mind. But somehow in the process of petrification, the mind lose its sanity somewhere along the line anyway. However Lee knew why...
A person cannot bare being in isolation. People need love and kindness in order to maintain their sanity.
Lee feared that Chon maybe treading down a dangerous path. He knew this because he saw Sasuke dancing at the exact same place Chon was right now.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" Lee asked worry creeping in his eyes.
"No." Chon answered in a softer tone he usually spoke with while Lee simply nodded.
A/N: OMG it's the 25th chapter! (the previous one doesn't count cause it's not part of the story). I feel like 25 is a significant number that has some value, but I can't remember why so yeah...
I also had something important I wanted to say, but I also can't remember that. *sigh*. I'll probably remember in like 5 min after I posted this chapter, but then I'll just forget it again before I post a new chapter.
Stupid memory of mine...
Anyway I love you guys to bits! Comment! Vote! And enjoy your Saturday!