The Pantheon of Nine

By: Finn Mertenz

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.


Chapter 111: The Stone Of Gelel! A Family Reunion.

Monday 9:12pm, July 26th 58SSP.

Basked by a moonless night sky, the Land of Wind was shrouded with an endless blanket of clouds. Dampened by the sound of waves crashing against rock, an ocean-filled breeze polluted the air.

Soon, an array of sparks briefly pierced this darkness, magnified by a gushing spew of black ink. Staining a section of poorly-crumbled sand, a limp shinobi of Suna fell to the ground.

Adorned with a waist-length flak jacket, this ink-covered fabric perfectly matched the nearby earth. Promptly crushed by an armor-plated foot, this corpse was swallowed by sand.

Stumbling across the ground, a mask-covered samurai casually deflected a barrage of shuriken. Overwhelming these projectiles with one swing of his katana, this nameless warrior could barely stand.

Defined by a crimson collection of full-bodied armor, this samurai was surrounded by a group of Suna shinobi. Positioned on the edge of a sand-littered beach, these warriors were illuminated by a distant campfire.

Charging forward, this masked samurai swung his curved blade through the air, bisecting a pair of opponents. Blinded by a geyser of ink, a Suna shinobi leapt atop this foreign samurai.

Shoving a tantō blade through the back of his unknown enemy, this Suna shinobi breathed a sigh of relief. Exposed by distant flames, this ninja was partially concealed by his ankle-length tan cape.

"Are you alright?!" Glancing at his friends, this shinobi was impaled by a bloody katana.

Instead of leaking blood, this limp ninja expelled a toxic gas, protruding out from his cracked wound. Eventually, his skin became warped and blistered, erupting into a shockwave of wooden splinters.

Undaunted by this lethal gas, the battling samurai reached out with one hand, grabbing his stiff opponent. Magnified by the abrupt chattering of a wooden jawline, this Suna shinobi began to twitch.

Revealing an iron pipe, this hollow tube slid into view, launching a geyser of chakra-filled flames. Sprawling across the night sky, this fire swirled like a vortex, scorching sand as it approached.

Consumed by these spiraling flames, this fighting samurai and puppet were both concealed from view. Followed by the footsteps of Kankuro, this elite shinobi was crouched behind a large boulder.

"Where did he come from?" Kankuro mumbled.

"He walked right out of the sea! After we set up camp!" Baki cut in.

Characterized by his sand-colored skin, this 31 year old shinobi was dressed in a full-bodied grey jumpsuit. Over this, Baki wore a tan flak jacket with prominent shoulder-pads, jutting out from his torso.

The left side of Baki's face was completely hidden by turban-like headgear, held in place by layers of linen cloth. This brought attention to the distinct red markings across Baki's face, contrasting his black eye.

Leaping through a tundra of loose terrain, Baki's blue shinobi shoes suddenly slid across hardened rock. Startled by the chaotic crash of nearby waves, Baki clapped both hands in front of his face.

Alarmed by his sensory abilities, Baki weaved through the Tiger, Rabbit and Dog seals. However, before Baki could preform his technique, dozens of samurai ruptured out from the ocean.

Rustled by a gentle gust of wind, Baki's visible eye began to bulge, empowered by his grinding teeth. Inspired by a gradual increase of wind, Baki jumped through the air, landing on a pillar of stone.

Suddenly, a volcanic swirl of wind rippled across the sand-littered shoreline, launching debris in all directions. Pulling rock, sand and clumps of loose armor together, these gusts soon merge into a chakra-filled tornado.

Engulfed by this violent vortex, several samurai were dragged and thrown through the air. Slammed against a distant cliffside, these strange warriors ruptured into an explosion of armor.

"Can I have one night of peace? If I don't get my sleep, it's hard for me too stay calm." The familiar voice of Temari spoke out.

Lavished with a fluffy pair of ankle-length black pajamas, this fabric deeply contrasted Temari's Kage robe. Partially unzipped in the front, Temari's naked stomach could be seen, matching her pale face.

Denoting her status as the 5th Kazekage, Temari's green-colored hat was strapped against her petite waist. Also, Temari had the kanji for 'five' sewn across the back of her outfit.

Propped against a human-sized iron fan, Temari easily handled this rod with one hand, despite her small stature. Yawning with half-opened eyes, Temari's bare feet wiggled atop a pile of sand.

Poorly-combed and hastily tied into a bundle of loose ponytails, Temari's sandy blond hair was sprawled against her face. Releasing a dramatic scoff from her mouth, Temari blew the hair from her eyes.

A 14 year old girl, Temari was an expert in Tessenjutsu, the perfect compliment for her liberal use of Wind Style. Enhanced by her massive reserves of chakra, Temari was a source of pride for Suna.

An isolated nation built in the dunes of an endless desert, Suna constantly struggled for resources and power. Scarcely littered with forests, rivers and mines, Suna's main resource were their sandmasons.

Severely crippled by the manipulation of Orochimaru, combined with the loss of Gaara, Suna barely survived. Placing all their faith into the children of Rasa, Kankuro and Temari were both elevated.

"So... That means you never sleep, right?" Kankuro sighed with a faint chuckle.

Adorned with a black bunraku jumpsuit, this attire was commonly wore by the puppeteers of Suna. Defined by a pointy-eared black hat, the headband of Suna was sewn into this fabric.

Sprawled across his pale face, Kankuro was covered in a crooked array of purple face-paint. Protruding on from both eyes, this paint created a distinct zig zag pattern.

Enthralled by Kankuro's voice, Temari maneuvered her giant fan with one hand, gripping the hilt of her weapon. Sweeping this fan open with a casual snap, Temari unleashed a barrage of chakra-fill wind.

"Oh no! It was just a joke!" Pinning both arms in front of his face, Kankuro was blown away by Temari's attack.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Baki was standing in the foreground, shaking his head from side-to-side. Stepping over a crumbled corpse of sand, Baki approached his Kazekage.

"Their description matches our report. Strange warriors have been terrorizing our coastline for weeks." Baki proclaimed.

"The village of Sukami is the hardest hit, several citizens and traders have gone missing." Pulling a stack of papers from his satchel, Baki shuffled through them.

Wrinkling her tiny nose in response, Temari snapped her fan shut before glancing over her shoulder. Gazing off towards a moonless horizon, the nearby ocean resembled a stark abyss, stretching without end.

Using her fan as a cane, Temari rested one elbow atop her closed weapon, sighing with boredom. Twitching in the background, Kankuro was partially buried under a pile of rocks.

"We're stuck in a disadvantage at sea... And it's too dark to investigate." Mumbling her words, Temari crossed both arms in front of her prominent chest.

Jolted by a continuous ripple on the ocean's surface, Temari narrowed each of her teal eyes. Humming with interest, Temari soon gripped her tiny chin, scratching the side of her nose.

"Send up a flare, I need a better view." Nodding with agreement, Baki pulled a crude firearm from his satchel.

Raising his weapon to the sky, Baki launched a glimmering orb of chakra-filled flames. Piercing the eerie horizon, this flare eventually ruptured into a fiery shockwave, spreading in all directions.

Exposing an iron vessel atop the ocean's surface, this ship was constructed with green-tinted metal. Propelled by pillars of manipulated steam, this strange contraption was adrift without sails.

"What's that? I've never seen a boat like that before." Baki mumbled, crouched beside Temari.

Without warning, this odd vessel unleashed a bombardment of chakra-filled projectiles. Startled by these approaching orbs, Temari gasped with panic before fully opening her fan, exposing three purple circles.

"This just got serious!" Snarling with haste, Temari swung her fan through the air.

Cracking nearby rock under the weight of her chakra, Temari's outfit was violently rustled by gusts of air. Spewing geysers of sand across the earth, various tornado's surged into existence.

Engulfed by a barrage of pulsating cannonballs, Temari's technique shrouded everything with an aura of sand. Squinting each of her teal eyes, Temari's kage hat was blown through the harsh air.


One day later.

Leaned against an iron railing, Naruto was resting his chin in one hand, glancing at an ocean-filled horizon. Illuminated by sparkling rays of sunlight, the sky was a radiant tone of blue, devoid of clouds.

Dampened by the distant squawks of Shisui, Haku tip-toed behind Naruto, eventually standing beside him. Exposing his feminine face, Haku displayed a gentle smile, beaming with kindness.

"It's good to see you again. It feels like just yesterday, you and your friends saved my life." Haku grinned.

Waiting for a reply, Haku was instead met by an awkward silence, fueled by the blank expression in Naruto's eyes. Distracted by his own thoughts, Naruto didn't even hear Haku.

"But I have to admit... When I saw your bounty in my bingo book, even I was shocked." Rubbing the back of his head, Haku continued to smile.

"If your bounty gets any higher. They'll put you in the five great nations bingo book, and all shinobi will chase you down." Speaking with sincerity, Naruto wasn't even paying attention.

Adrift in his mind, Naruto's Rinnegan were hazy and blurred, giving him a far off expression. Forcing his spiky blond hair to rustle, a breeze of ocean water sprayed against Naruto's face.

"Also, you're a jinchūriki... So your actions will taint the reputation of Konoha." Roused by these words, Naruto's eyes abruptly twitched.

Stretching both arms with a dramatic yawn, Haku exhaled an icy breath through the clear sky. Tilting his head to the side, Haku popped several joints in his neck, struggling to wake up.

"The great nations can't blame Konoha, because they don't even care about their own jinchūriki." Naruto mumbled.

Disturbed by the rapid squawking of Shisui, this violet-eyed raven was soaring after Snowball. Playing a friendly game of tag atop Koyuki's ship, these Rinnegan-wielding animals chased each other.

"They can't single us out if we all stay together." Wiping the water from his whiskers, Naruto ignored a screeching Shisui.

"Yes, Gaara of the Sand. He's in my bingo book too." Haku cut in, clasping both hands in front of his stomach.

"I've also heard that other tailed beasts have been disappearing..." Speaking with a hushed tone, one hand was held over Haku's mouth.

"Is that why you left Konoha? To gather the tailed beasts? The shinobi villages will blame you for everything." Glancing at the sky, Haku was interrupted by distant footsteps.

Charging across the wooden deck, Tayuya's naked feet stomped without pause, trailed by Karin. Physically pulling Naruto from his thoughts, Tayuya and Karin ran circles around him.

"Give me my glasses! I can't see without my glasses!" Karin shrieked, blindly shoving Naruto to the side.

Reaching out to catch his falling friend, Haku was promptly tripped by Tayuya, falling to the floor. Crushed by Naruto, these startled shinobi accidently kissed, forcing Tayuya to squeal with envy.

Using this moment to her advantage, Karin snagged her glasses before sliding them on. But then, Karin also fell into panic, blushing with a mixture of jealousy and lust.

Rushing forward, Karin hesitantly pushed Naruto over the railing, knocking him into the ocean. Fuming with rage, Tayuya kicked Karin off the boat, before being dragged in after her.

Creating a geyser of water on impact, these battling kunoichi were completely swallowed by the ocean's surface.


One minute later.

"That was totally uncalled for..." Karin mumbled, rubbing her arms with both hands.

"Shut up! You started it by shoving my boy!" Tayuya snapped in response, dripping water from her hair and Anbu robe.

Squeezing the liquid from her fluffy panda hat, Tayua draped this object across Naruto's head, waiting for it to dry. As this occurred, Karin was wiping the water from her glasses, straining to see.

"Technically, you started it by stealing my glasses." Karin corrected.

Shaking the water from their outfit, Karin and Tayuya were both frozen by a frigid ocean breeze. Grabbing Haku and pulling him away, a trail of water dripped from Karin with each step.

Glancing from side-to-side, Tayuya snuggled her back against Naruto, using him as a generator of heat. Directing her favorite boy, Tayuya shoved Naruto's hands against her backside, giving her a nice warm butt.

Groaning with relief, a faint blush spread across Tayuya's face, partially obscured by strands of wet hair. Making sure no one saw her, Tayuya cuddled even closer to Naruto.

"Do you want me to squeeze it? Or something?" Muttering with confusion, Naruto played with Tayuya's butt.

"N-... No! I'm just trying to get warm! Hug me, loser!" Stuttering her words, Tayuya was promptly enveloped by Naruto's arms.

Basking in his warmth, Tayuya hummed with content, resting her head against Naruto's shoulder. Swelling with comfort, Tayuya smacked her lips before falling asleep, taking a short nap.


Twenty minutes later.

Snoring without a care in the world, Tayuya was drooling against Naruto's bare neck, staining his outfit. Startled by the faint smell of nearby flowers, Tayuya's tiny nose began to wrinkle.

"So... Our mission is to find the Stone of Gelel?" Gaara muttered.

Strolling through a narrow canyon, Haku, Naruto and Karin all journeyed beside Gaara. Illuminated by rays of sparkling sunlight, these traveling friends had just entered the Land of Wind.

Docked on a sand-covered shoreline, Koyuki's ship was looming in the background, battered by ocean waves. Safeguarded by Suigetsu, Isaribi and Jūgo, this group of friends all stayed on Koyuki's ship.

"Yes, Zabuza has become very obsessed with it... A single pebble would fill Kai's treasury for a hundred years." Haku explained.

Dramatically walking down a dirt-filled road, Karin held both hands against the back of her head. Humming a consecutive tone under her breath, Karin stomped her feet with each step.

"If this rock is so rare, how are we gonna find it?" Karin cut in.

Yawning into Naruto's ear, Tayuya drowned out the rest of the world, cradled like a baby. Smothered by her favorite boy, Tayuya stretched her naked feet like a kitten, curling her toes.

"It has a different property aswell, much more valuable." Naruto spoke, holding Tayuya with both arms.

"If injected into the skin, it permanently stops the aging process. Halting the growth of cells." Covered in drool, Naruto wiped the saliva from his neck.

"Orochimaru spent years trying to find a concentrated supply. But it's too rare." Dampened by Shisui's squawks, this raven soared through the air.

Holding both arms in front of his chest, Gaara trailed behind each of his friends. Swallowed by the prominent sleeves of his Anbu outfit, Gaara's face was the only visible portion of his body.

Defined by the ornate gourd on his back, this was Gaara's first trip home since becoming a rogue shinobi. Walking through the same nation that mocked and hated him, Gaara was already eager to leave.

Approaching an elderly bridge constructed with wooden planks, this contraption was tied in place by worn rope. Suspended over a rushing current of rapid water, this bridge stretched from one canyon to another.

"I've been here before... If we cross that bridge-..." Gaara tried to speak, but Karin interrupted him.

"Alright! Let's go!" Karin cheered for joy, charging across a puddle of mud.

Running with haste, this ancient bridge shook under Karin's feet, eventually falling through the floor. Squealing with panic, Karin clung to a loose board with one hand, dangling for her life.

"I was wrong! And I regret everything!" Slurring her apology, Karin was soon saved by Haku.

"Gaara was trying to say that if we cross that bridge, it'll be dangerous." Haku chuckled, holding Karin's wrist with both hands.

Pulled onto the quaking bridge, Karin chattered her teeth with fear before crawling atop Haku. Contorting her entire body around his slim torso, Karin resembled a twitching leech.

"Yea, duh! I knew that!" Biting her own tongue by mistake, Karin screeched.

In a completely different world, Gaara was looming in the background, distilled by a far-off expression in both eyes. Glaring towards a cloudless horizon, Gaara didn't even hear Karin.

"Damnit! Shut the fuck up! I was so comfortable!" Roused from her nap, Tayuya sprang from Naruto's arms.

Stomping against a partially rotten plank of wood, Tayuya snarled with anger, baring her white teeth. Pulling her panda hat from Naruto's head, Tayuya slid this cloth over her hair.

Taking several minutes to recognize her surroundings, Tayuya refocused all rage towards Naruto. Gripping the collar of his Anbu robe, Tayuya relentlessly screamed at her favored boy.

Oblivious to this rapid shouting, Gaara continued to quietly stand in the background, capturing Karin's attention. Jumping from Haku's shoulders, Karin sprinted towards her distant friend.

"What's gotten into you? You're more quiet than usual." Karin mumbled, trailing Gaara's hazy eyes.

Drawing attention to an isolated village on the horizon, Karin was forced to squint both eyes, straining to see. Shrouded by dense foliage and lush tree leaves, this village was known as Sukami.

"It's a remote farming town for Suna. They use the soil here to grow crops, before shipping them back to the village." Gaara proclaimed.

Casually violating Gaara's personal space, Karin was eventually stopped by streams of sand, pushing her away. But instead of reacting, Karin was too distracted by her own thoughts.

Humming with confusion, Karin inquisitively grasped her chin, pushing her glasses up with one finger. Staring at Sukami with her crimson eyes, Karin became as quiet as Gaara.

Slowly poking her dramatic face over Karin's shoulder, Tayuya glared at her rival with steam-filled eyes. Snorting a gust of wind against the back of Karin's neck, Tayuya breathed through her nose.

"What's you're problem? You usually never shut up." Tayuya blurted out, displaying an odd sense of concern.

"That village over there... Doesn't it seem kinda strange?" Karin stuttered her reply.

Obscured by fields of wheat, Sukami was the main source of internal food for Suna. Despite its distance from the capital, Sukami was highly prized because of its fertile soil.

Infact, Sukami was usually protected by highly skilled shinobi of Suna, a known realization for Gaara. So crucial for Suna, the Kazekage regularly visited this remote town, a sign of good will.

"Strange?! Are you on your period again? You can't borrow any of my pads." Tayuya snarled, but Karin didn't even hear her.

"It's a farming village, and it's almost noon... But no one is working the fields." Karin murmured.

"But also, look at this bridge. It rained yesterday and I'm the first person who tracked mud across it." Wrinkling her nose, Karin grabbed her tiny waist with both hands.

"This should be covered in mud, from traveling farmers. But no one's used this bridge in days." Gasping with shock, Tayuya's brown eyes bulged.

Yanking her hat off and scratching the side of her neck, Tayuya stared at Karin with newfound respect. At the same time, Shisui soared through the air, casting a distinct shadow over Naruto.

"Ya'know… That's a very brilliant deduction." Tayuya complimented her friend.

"Thanks, I try!" Karin beamed with joy.

"Normally, you're just a loser who talks too much. But right now, I'm actually impressed." Finishing her compliment, Karin faceplanted the floor.


Ten minutes later.

"Why did I get stuck with you?" Complaining without end, Tayuya was crouched beside Karin.

Hidden atop a bushy tree branch, this pair of red-hair kunoichi were scouting the country side. Exposing a perfect view of distant wheat fields, these ninja glimmered under sunlight.

"Well, obviously, it's because of my superior abilities as a sensory type kunoichi." Karin mocked with pride.

"Whatever... Your strange village is beyond that forest." Tayuya scoffed.

Rolling both eyes in response, Karin sprang to her feet, striking her head against an overcast tree branch. Groaning with agony, Karin rubbed her skull, screaming a bundle of insults under her breath.

Startled by her own senses, Karin tackled Tayuya to the forest floor, narrowly dodging a heavy iron mace. Battered by a harsh gust of wind, Karin was briefly blinded by her spiky hair.

"Get off me!" Shrieking in protest, Tayuya shot onto her feet.

Gasping with shock, Tayuya gazed upon a charging band of mask-covered samurai. Defined by a glowing array of red eyes, these warriors stumbled and twitched with each step, straining to stand.

Stomping her foot with contempt, nearby rocks instantly morphed into vibrant coral, impaling the earth. Piercing the mindless samurai, these masked soldiers were completely undaunted.

Breaking free with a jagged twist of their limbs, these lifeless opponents forced Karin and Tayuya to disperse. Running through the tree-line, Karin squealed like a nervous wreck, flapping without control.

"This is ridiculous! I'm still a Genin!" Karin fumbled.

Sliding through a hollow log, this aged wood was crushed by a wooden mace, barely missing Karin. Rolling out on the other side, Karin hastily crawled under a mossy covered boulder.

Bombarded by a barrage of kunai-shaped coral, this rampaging samurai was impaled by dozens of projectiles. But instead of dying, this red-eyed warrior didn't even notice Tayuya's attack.

"Wh-... What the fuck are you?!" Tayuya stuttered.

Caught off guard, Tayuya was suddenly gripped by her ankle, promptly thrown against a distant tree. Cracking the bark on impact, Tayuya's fluffy panda hat was knocked to the ground, stained by dirt.

Leaping back at the last moment, Tayuya hastily avoided a massive iron axe, cutting several strands of her hair. Stomping her naked feet against the earth, Tayuya propelled herself through the air.

Flipping over a hostile katana, Tayuya kicked the attacking samurai in his mask-covered face. Launching herself against the side of a titled tree, a barrage of kunai flung past Tayuya's face.

Lined with explosive tags, these kunai lodged themselves inside the approaching warriors. Erupting into chakra-filled flames, chunks of burnt armor spewed out in all directions.

"I could've done that!" Tayuya spat.

"Geez... I'm a ninja too." Karin mumbled with a downcast face.

"Barely." Hearing Tayuya's voice, Karin sank onto both knees.

Masked by lingering smoke, Karin soon twitched before raising her glass-covered eyes. Gazing off into the forest, beads of sweat dripped from Karin's face, streaming down her neck.

"Hmm?" Moaning with confusion, Tayuya glanced through a cloud of smoke.

Pierced by a distinct pair of sparkling white boots, these plates of armor shuffled across the ground. Shrouded by a waist-length red cape, another strange samurai captured Tayuya's attention.

However, unlike her previous opponents, this new warrior was adorned with a full-bodied armor of white. Covered with a nose-length helmet, a pale human chin jutted out into view.

Partially obscured a teal scarf around his neck, this fabric deeply contrasted his shoulder-length blond hair. Extremely spiky and protruding out in various angles, this hairstyle was a weird mixture of Naruto and Karin.

In truth, this odd warrior resembled a foreign knight, instead of the iconic samurai from Tayuya's continent. Scratching her head with confusion, Tayuya growled as the cloud of smoke finally dissipated.

"What are you supposed to be? A knight in shining shit?" Bumbling her words, Tayuya rolled both eyes.

Raising his gauntlet-covered hand in response, this white knight pointed his thumb towards the ground. Enthralled by the condescending smirk on this warriors face, Tayuya charged forward.

Side-stepping this red-haired kunoichi, Tayuya completely missed her target, stumbling atop both feet. Catching herself with one hand, Tayuya swung each of her naked feet through the air.

Deflecting these attacks with ease, Tayuya was kneed in her stomach by the strange knight, flung against a distant tree. Looming in the road with a constant smirk, this knight sparkled like a diamond.

"You're really pissing me off." Spitting her words, Tayuya's teeth became chipped under her chakra.

Dampened by the snapping of her own bones, Tayuya's eyes swelled with a reddish tint, matching her hair. Exposing a blood-covered scrape on Tayuya's hand, this wound was instantly healed by coral.

Unleashing a chakra-filled shriek, Karin nervously hid after sensing Tayuya's chakra, too dark for her own good. Shattering the earth under her feet, Tayuya mindlessly lunged at the foreign knight.

W-... What?! A single thought echoed through Temujin's mind, characterized by his white armor.

Reaching beneath his cape, Temujin unsheathed a duel-edged blade, constructed with foreign metal and ore. Drawing attention to an oddly-shaped hilt with a golden cross-guard, this sword was from a completely different world.

Shifting into a defensive stance, Temujin's concealed eyes widened with an emerald green aura. Leaking out from the visor on his helmet, this green light soon engulfed Temujin's whole body.

Spreading to his strange sword, Temujin raised this glimmering blade towards the sky, sundering his feet into the earth. Sweeping this weapon against Tayuya's coral-covered fist, Temujin's cape violently rustled.

Polluting the air with a mixture of chakra and Gelel energy, a shockwave of debris tore Temujin's helmet off. Revealing a unique pair of ripple-patterned green eyes, Temujin was just a 14 year old boy.

Startled by the demonic hue across Tayuya's face, Temujin staggered backwards against a fallen tree log. Losing his grip, Tayuya disarmed this foreign knight before howling with rage.

Defined by her jagged fingernails, Tayuya hastily grabbed Temujin before slamming their skulls together. Launching a geyser of crumbled earth towards the sky, the ground began to collapse.

Jumping to safety, Karin watched as the entire plateau slid into a neighboring canyon, falling beyond sunlight. Pulling the fields of Sukami in after them, Tayuya and Temujin both fell into the abyss.


Meanwhile.

Jolted by the sudden disturbance of distant earth, Gaara, Haku and Naruto all froze atop a lush tree branch. Obscured by a retreating flock of birds, the tree-line was littered with feathers.

"Oh no... What did Tayuya do now?" Naruto muttered.

Interrupted by the frantic squawks of Shisui, this one-eyed raven flew circles around Naruto's head. Trailed by a chakra-filled bubble of soap, this drifting orb ruptured against Naruto's nose.

Spraying soap across Naruto's face, this thick liquid drenched his whiskers, forcing his Rinnegan to widen. Stuck in this moment of suspense, Naruto didn't even hear the voices of his friends.

"Wh-... What happened here?!' Gaara gasped, gazing upon Sukami.

Littered with craters of debris and crumbled houses, poorly-dried blood stained the broken wood. A stark depiction for Gaara, this red-haired jinchūriki glared upon a pile of limp children.

Leaping to the forest floor, Gaara ran through the streets of Sukami, quickly trailed by Haku. Torn by his own dilemma, Naruto fell onto both knees, clenching the soap on his face, a final message from Utakata.

"Wait! Don't run off by yourself!" Haku pleaded.

Shrouded by an overcast shadow, Haku narrowly avoided an iron mace, plunged into the road. Landing against the collapsed ruins of a slanted wall, this surface was promptly crushed by a mace.

"Please, go away! I don't want to hurt you!" Speaking with sincerity, Haku spoke to a mask-covered samurai.

Throwing icy senbon at his opponent, Haku pierced this foreign armor from various angles. Flipping through the air, Haku landed on the helmet of this strange samurai. shoving a frozen dagger into his back.

Tossing him to the ground, this twitching soldier didn't even react to Haku's attack, exposing his crimson eyes. Lumbering forward, this hulking samurai stomped across the earth.

Clapping both hands together, Haku created an icy spear in mere seconds, twirling the frigid weapon. Lunging out, Haku used this weapon to strike the samurai's mask, knocking it loose.

Exposing a blank void of air, this foreign warrior was completely headless, defined only by the glow in his helmet. Left speechless by this odd revelation, Haku was punched through a distant tree.

Struggling to stand, Haku's headless opponent bent over before snapping his mask back on. Held together by an amalgamation of Gelel-infused armor, this samurai didn't have a body to lose.

"Di-... Did you even feel that?" Muttering his words, Haku crawled onto both feet.

Charging without control, this mindless samurai swung his mace towards Haku, accidently striking a tree. Groaning with discontent, this foreign warrior was abruptly frozen inside a dome of ice.

Gently landing on this slippery surface, Haku moved with the grace of a gazelle, aided by his wooden sandals. Obscured by drifting snowflakes, these frigid sickles perfectly matched Haku's mist-style kimono.

"Where is she?! Where is she!" Gaara screamed with panic.

Using streams of sand to search the devastated village, Gaara's breath became frantic and rapid. Inspired by this extensive search, a poorly-stacked pile of trash tumbled to the road.

Twitching with fear, the 14 year old outline of Matsuri was covered in a layer of chipped splinters. Characterized by fair-skin and chin-length brown hair, various bangs hung in front of her black eyes.

Adorned with a teal blouse that hung from her left shoulder, this loose attire exposed her black bra strap. A perfect match for her black short skirt, Matsuri wore a pair of thigh-high stockings.

Protected by wooden sandals and black gloves, Matsuri's most prominent feature was her bright yellow scarf. Stained with dust and debris, Matsuri recoiled at the sight of Gaara.

Running without pause, Matsuri limped down the road before hiding behind Haku, shrouding her face from view. Glaring at the road with downcast eyes, Gaara was traumatized by Matsuri's voice.

"Keep him away! Keep him away from me! He's a monster!" Shouting these words, Matsuri cowered behind Haku.

Glancing at this newfound girl, Haku stared at Gaara with confusion, tiling his head to the side. Before long, a gust of sand-filled wind rippled through the air, polluting Sukami with crumbled grain.


Five minutes later.

"What happened here?" Haku spoke out.

Standing in the center of a debris-filled road, Haku, Matsuri and a nervous Gaara were gathered together. Surrounded by partially collapsed buildings, this group of teenagers were adrift in a war-torn village.

"I-... I don't really know, I had to hide." Mumbling her excuse, Matsuri rubbed one arm.

Gripping his feminine chin with one hand, Haku released an inquisitive hum through the air. Passively glaring at a distant wall, Haku didn't even notice the stark expression on Gaara's face.

"They came so fast... Before sunrise." Hiding from sight, Matsuri could barely speak.

"I have to go, something's come up." Naruto cut in.

Stuttering to reply, Haku gasped as Naruto instantly vanished from sight, stranding his friends in Sukami. Jolted by this sudden disappearance, Haku fell into an awkward silence, slurring under his breath.

"Well... That's weird." Haku murmured, rubbing the side of his head.

Distracted by his own thoughts, Gaara didn't even recognize Haku's voice, staring at the road with a downcast face. Stepping away from Gaara with each moment, Matsuri staggered against a wooden wall.

Turning around and running away, Matsuri rushed to find safety, searching for a hiding spot from Gaara. Using this silence to his advantage, Haku strolled around his troubled friend.

"Do you know what happened? I think she hates you." Roused by Haku, Gaara narrowed each of his pale eyes.

"I came to this village for my first assignment as a shinobi." Gaara proclaimed.

"My father wanted to see if I control Shukaku… And this town was my test." Clenching his fists, Gaara swelled with regret.

Brushed by an abrupt gust of wind, Gaara's crimson hair rustled in the breeze, exposing his pale face. Also, the loose sleeves on Gaara's robe continuously wavered against the wind.

"I just couldn't help myself... Her parents, they called me a freak... And I-I lost control." Straining to speak, Gaara was battered by chakra-filled air.

Magnified by Ninja Art: Windstorm Jutsu, a spiraling mixture of sand and wind fused together. Surging through the streets of Sukami, clumps of sand clung to every corner.

"A sandstorm?! Now?!" Haku panicked, holding both arms in front of his face.

Startled by this revelation, Gaara's green eyes widened with shock, glancing over his left shoulder. Swallowed by colliding bursts of chakra, grains of sand were flung across Gaara's face.

Sundering the earth, a six-armed wooden puppet ruptured from below, collapsing a small house. Launching a detached fist towards Gaara, this hovering projectile was frozen into solid ice.

Shattered into a bundle of icy shards, this barrage of hail rained down upon Sukami, piercing the strange puppet. Trailing his frigid bombardment, Haku phased atop a pillar of wood, engulfed by mist.

Undaunted by Haku's icy senbon, this foreign puppet casually unhinged its jawline, dampened by a wooden snap. Exposing an iron pipe, this hollow tube expelled a swirling vortex of flames.

Ignoring this distant clash between fire and ice, Gaara leapt atop a floating cloud of sand, soaring to the sky. Rustling under a chakra-filled breeze, the cork on Gaara's gourd popped open.

Standing in the middle of a dirt-filled road, Temari held her large fan with both arms, using it as a shield. Left speechless by this realization, Gaara's mouth fell open, causing both hands to tremble.

Irradiated by rays of sunlight, Temari's blond hair glimmered like a pale star, contrasting her green-tinted Kage robes. Strapped against her waist, Temari's iconic hat violently wavered in the breeze.

"You won't get away. Not this time." Swishing her fan like a spear, Temari unleashed a barrage of wind, concealing everything from view.