The Pantheon of Nine

By: Finn Mertenz

A/N: Ultimategenius - It means I'm a fucking retard. You deserve better, I'm sorry.

Anonymouse47 - If you're curious to know, check the index in chapter 1, it has the timeline, summary and every arc listed in order. There will be 4 seasons in total, and we're currently in season 3. (Each season has their own specific Antagonist)

That's why I killed Choji in the very first arc for season 3, to symbolize that shit has hit the fan. I've spent enough time building the world, now I have to burn it.

Ditusian - There are four Avatar references in total (five if you count the cabbage guy). Chapter 14 (Tales of Konoha) Sasame vs Kagerō (Land of Sound) Makapu Village (Land of Steam) and Tayuya's Dreamworld (Land of Snow)

I have two more Avatar references that are planned, for Karin and for Konohamaru. However, most of the recent references are Family Guy, Teen Titans, or Neon Genesis Evangelion.

The similarities between Tayuya and Asuka are pretty distinct and noticeable. They're almost the same girl.

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


Chapter 112: Eruption: Sand Vs Wind! The Power Of Gelel.

Tuesday 11:53am, July 27th 58SSP.

"That's a nice move... But my Sushi Samurai is way better." Shuffling through a handful of cards, Jūgo sat in front of a wooden table.

Surrounded by Isaribi and Suigetsu, this group of friends were all relaxing atop Koyuki's ship. Ignoring the violet-eyed silhouette of Snowball, this lazy cat was yawning in the foreground.

Slamming his card against the table, Jūgo was playing a friendly game of Shinobi Wars. A popular game amongst the five great nations, these cards were regularly collected by fanatic fans.

"If this is the life of a criminal, then I'm a crime lord." Suigetsu chuckled.

Resting both feet against the nearby table, Suigetsu was leaning back in his chair, wrinkling his pale nose. Defined by the shark-tooth grin on his face, Suigetsu pulled one card from his hand.

"Do you think Tayuya is still mad at me?" Isaribi stuttered, nervously holding her cards.

"Don't worry about her, she can be such a bitch." Suigetsu sighed, hanging his head.

Displaying a confident smile, Suigetsu threw his card on the table, crossing both arms in front of his chest. Shocked by this revelation, Jūgo dramatically gripped his skull with both hands, dropping his cards.

"Is that a Bacon Bijuu?! They only made ten of those! How did you get one?!" Marveling at Suigetsu's card, Jūgo's orange hair wavered under his grip.

"Well... Being a rogue shinobi has its benefits." Suigetsu chucked with a toothy grin.

Reaching out with both hands, Suigetsu hoarded a poorly-stacked pile of shinobi cards. Stopped at the last moment by Isaribi, this petite girl twirled one card between her fingers.

"I feel kinda bad about this, but..." Whispering her words, Isaribi timidly pressed her card against the table.

Forcing each of their jawlines to fall open, Jūgo and Suigetsu both shot up from their chair, knocking them to the floor. Leaning over the wooden table, Jūgo and Suigetsu loomed over Isaribi.

"The Sage of Six Food Groups?!" Jūgo and Suigetsu stuttered in unison.

"The one-in-a-million card that promotes a balanced breakfast!" Speaking with disbelief, Suigetsu waved both arms through the air.

"I've never even seen that card before." Jūgo admitted.

As these shinobi continued to awe and drool over Isaribi's deck, this purpled-haired girl displayed an anxious smile. Ignoring the loud voices of her friends, Isaribi soon downcast her face, distracted by memories.

-Flashback-

Rushing down the wooden hallway of Koyuki's ship, Isaribi's blouse was loosely tied and hung open. Exposing her pale-skinned stomach, Isaribi wore a fuzzy pair of purple pajamas.

Stomping her bare feet across the floor, Isaribi held both hands over her groan, pinching her legs together. Running to the bathroom, Isaribi woke up in the middle of the night, racing to pee.

Blindly charging through the dark, a door was flung open, forcing Isaribi to faceplant the wooden surface. Falling to the floor with a heavy thud, Isaribi rubbed her sore nose.

"Watch where you're going." Tayuya spat her words, walking out from the bathroom.

"S-... Sorry." Stuttering her apology, Isaribi pinned both knees against her small chest.

Enthralled by Isaribi's voice, Tayuya gripped the bathroom door before slamming it shut. Grinding her teeth with rage, Tayuya pulled her fluffy panda hat from her head, throwing it at Isaribi.

"Don't be such a push over! Stand up for yourself! Do something!" Growing more harsh with each word, Tayuya clenched her fists.

Instead of raising her face, Isaribi twirled her fingers together, tapping her foot with a nervous twitch. Because of this, an awkward silence polluted the hallway, pierced only by Tayuya's iconic growl.

"What should I do? What's your problem?" Isaribi murmured her question.

Reaching out, Tayuya snagged Isaribi by the collar of her blouse, exposing a large amount of her chest. Undaunted by this revelation, Tayuya snarled like a rabid ferret, baring her teeth.

"Nothing pisses me off more than a weak girl!" Tayuya shrieked with disgust.

"I don't have time to babysit you! Stop acting like a child! Grow up!" Shouting her words, Tayuya's knuckles popped under her rage.

Dropping Isaribi to the floor, Tayuya brushed the hair from her face, dampened by an angry snort. Gripping her petite waist with both hands, Tayuya's flat chest fluttered with each breath.

"No one will ever notice you if you're quiet! You have to stand up for yourself! Scream, scream and shout!" Speaking with experience, Tayuya stomped one foot in protest.

In the past, Tayuya was just like Isaribi, she was quiet, nervous and she frequently hid from view. That's why Tayuya hated Isaribi so much, because she reminded her of everything that she used to be.

"But I don't want anyone to notice me..." Isaribi muttered her reply.

"Is that why you're so loud? Are you trying to get attention?" Whispering under her breath, Isaribi crawled onto both feet.

Displaying a brief flash of red in her eyes, Tayuya used one hand to grip the nearby door-handle. Tearing the bathroom door from its hinges, Tayuya hurled this debris against the wall.

"Shut up! You don't know anything! I know exactly who I am, and who I want to be!" Tayuya foamed at the mouth.

"I don't want money and I don't need fame! I don't do love and I don't do friends! Because I'm just trying to win!" Dragging her nails across the wall, Tayuya glared at Isaribi.

Standing in the hall with a nervous twitch, Isaribi stared at the floor with a downcast face. Concealing her black eyes from sight, Isaribi continued to twirl her fingers together.

"You don't have too. Winning isn't everything, if you fail, you won't just fall apart." Isaribi argued.

Despite her complex nature, Tayuya had a one track mind and a one track heart, she hated the idea of failure. She had too be loud, brash, violent and stubborn, because that's the only way Tayuya could win.

"Is this some kind of stupid test? Cause I always feel like I'm the worst, so I have to act like I'm the best." Tayuya grunted.

Beating her tiny waist with both hands, Tayuya stroked her invisible cock, mocking Isaribi. Without another word, Tayuya turned around before stomping away, allowing Isaribi to finally pee.

-Flashback ends-


Meanwhile.

Leaking tears from her eyes, Matsuri ran through the streets of Sukami, looking for safety. Tripping over her own feet, Matsuri faceplanted the ground, smearing dirt across her cheek.

Frightened by a distant clash of fire and ice, Matsuri cradled her face with both arms, acting like a baby. Laying in the middle of the road for several minutes, Matsuri didn't even notice the shadow above her.

"A kunoichi shouldn't cry." Baki proclaimed, holding both arms in front of his stomach.

Glancing up, Matsuri was briefly startled by the tan cloth across Baki's face, concealing his left eye. Also, his constant frown gave Baki a stark appearance, a veteran of war.

"He killed your parents, didn't him?" Strolling forward, Baki crouched beside Matsuri.

"Gaara is a demon, a demon of the sand. No one loves him and no one trusts him." Speaking with experience, Baki narrowed his visible eye.

Roused by these words, Matsuri wiped the tears from her face, propping herself up onto one knee. Mesmerized by Baki's stern expression, Matsuri fell completely silent.

"But you do have a choice. You can avenge your parents, and your village. If you come with me." Reaching out, Baki offered a helping hand.

Ignoring the harsh sound of shattered wood in the background, Matsuri's black eyes widened with interest. Extending her trembling arm, Matsuri grabbed Baki's hand, begging for a second chance.


Meanwhile.

Obscured by colliding currents of wind and sand, Temari leapt from rooftop to rooftop. Sweeping her large fan without pause, Temari sundered the skyline with each strike.

Battered against an ever-present wall of sand, chakra-filled wind spewed across the village of Sukami. Dislodging chunks of debris, these broken projectiles were launched towards Gaara.

Crouched atop a cloud of shifting sand, this red-haired jinchūriki clapped both hands together. Erupting from the earth, Gaara summoned a tsunami of sand, engulfing half of Sukami.

Gritting her teeth in response, Temari slid each of her sandal-covered feet across the road. Twisting her fan with both hands, Temari summoned a spiraling vortex from the sky, fueled by green chakra.

The result of Wind Style: Sea Dragon, this technique summoned a fierce tornado from the sky. Sundering the clouds as it approached, this swirl of chakra and wind surged towards Gaara.

Spewing grains of sand across his face, Gaara held both arms in front of his squinting eyes. Shrouded by an overcast shadow, Gaara's sand was swallowed by Temari's vortex.

Adrift on a sandy cloud, Gaara's hair violently wavered against the wind, framing both sides of his face. Forced to flee, Gaara leapt to the collapsed rooftop, narrowly avoiding the harsh tornado.

Swelling with chakra, Temari's shifting wind grew more fierce with each gust, uprooting entire houses. Demolishing Sukami, Temari was too enthralled to care, staring at her brother.

Startling by these approaching buildings, Gaara hastily scrabbled to form a wall of sand. Scattered by Temari's vortex, Gaara rolled across the earth, sliding behind a wooden wall.

"Come out! I want to see it! I want to see your face!" Temari screeched, dampened by her own attack.

Dispersed by the sudden snap of her fan, Temari's tornado dispersed into a gust of chakra-filled wind. Knocking planks of wood to the ground, this gust also forced Gaara's outfit to rustle.

Clapping both hands into the ram seal, Gaara tore a massive section of rock from the earth. Flinging this crumbled stone through the air, Temari bit her lip with frustration, gripping her fan like a sword.

Slashing out, Temari sliced through this approaching rock, spewing chunks of debris past her face. Sprinting across the ground, Temari flung her fan like a spear, barely missing her brother.

Using sand as his shield, Gaara deflected several of Temari's thrusts, polluting the air with dense wind. Cracking the road with each strike, Temari grinded her teeth together.

Gripping her fan with both hands, Temari swung this weapon like a large mace, breaking Gaara's shield. Knocking her brother through a distant wall, Temari quickly chased after him.


Meanwhile.

Splintered by a dome of ice, shards of wooden debris spewed across the floor, littered with bodies. Resting on this road with six limbs, a chakra-filled puppet twitched and chattered.

Known as Karasu, this iconic puppet was Kankuro's favorite tool for battle, defined by spiky brown hair. Also, Karasu's torso was partially concealed by a tattered black cape.

Dashing across the side of a collapsed building, Haku outran a barrage of poison-tipped senbon. Stomping his ornate sandals against this wooden surface, Haku flipped through the air.

Connected by an array of chakra thread, Kankuro ordered his puppet to advance. Soaring through the sky, Karasu was brushed away by Haku, using a spear of ice as his shield.

Using his surgical precision, Haku hurled a barrage of senbon at Kankuro, severing his chakra threads. Cut off from his supply of movement, Karazu fell to the road, promptly pierced by Haku's spear.

Snapping his neck with a wooden click, Karasu's jawline abruptly slid open, revealing a mouthful of iron. Heated by chakra, this pipe expelled a torrent of flames, consuming Haku's silhouette.

"Heh... Looks like I did a job, well-done." Kankuro smirked, laughing at his own joke.

Standing atop a crumbled pile of rock and debris, Kankuro held his waist from one hand. Using chakra-infused thread, Kankuro yanked Karasu through the air, pulling him to his feet.

Staggered by a distant clash between sand and wind, Kankuro fumbled across both feet. Struggling to stand, the entire village began to shake, forcing Kankuro to visibly gasp.

Jolted by a spear of ice, this frozen sickle surged past Kankuro's face, rustling his pointy-eared hat. Sweeping his hand out, Kankuro used Karasu like armor, wrapping several wooden limbs across his torso.

Grabbing a barrage of senbon in midair, Karasu protected Kankuro from harm, deflecting various attacks. Creating a cloud of dust as he ran, Kankuro's feet were partially obscured from sight.

Pretty good, for a girl. Kankuro concluded, oblivious to Haku's real gender.

Startled by sundered earth, the ground below was completely frozen into an icy plain. Phasing out from this surface, Haku's hand gripped Kankuro's ankle, spreading ice with each touch.

Straining to free himself, ice slowly enveloped Kankuro's feet and legs, sparkling like a crystal cocoon. While this occurred, Karasu leap to a nearby wall, chattering his jawline with a rhythmic tone.

Without warning, Kankuro erupted into a chaotic explosion, launching chunks of debris and wood in all directions. Left speechless by this realization, Haku was standing in a dense mist.

A puppet master? I've never fought one of them before. Thinking these thoughts, Haku vanished into his own mist.


Meanwhile.

Opening her eyes, Tayuya quickly sat up, exposing a bundle of linen bandages across her skull. Ripping this fabric off without a second thought, Tayuya's crimson hair draped against her shoulders.

Resting inside a fuzzy sleeping bag, Tayuya was positioned in a narrow tent, held up by sticks of wood. Glancing to the side, Tayuya noticed the unconscious silhouette of Temujin, sleeping beside her.

Snorting with disgust, Tayuya leap to her feet, using one arm to wipe the drool from her mouth. Pulling her panda hat from the floor, Tayuya slid this fluffy cloth over her head.

Yawning with vigor, Tayuya promptly noticed the array of bandages across her naked torso. Tearing this fabric from her body, Tayuya snagged her Anbu robe from a wooden chair, sliding it on.

"Up already? You're a tough one." The elderly voice of Kahiko spoke out, sitting outside.

Enthralled by this voice, Tayuya rushed out of the tent, tearing the curtain aside with one hand. Looming over Kahiko, Tayuya wrinkled her pale nose, illuminated by a nearby fire.

Characterized by a swollen red nose, Kahiko had neck-length white hair, matching his pencil thin moustache. Also, Kahiko had a chest-length white beard, paraded in front of his torso like a rope.

A 53 year old man with snow white skin, Kahiko was an aged member of the Gelelian clan. A foreign family from across the Dense Sea, Kahiko was forced to flee from his power-hungry brother, Haido.

Adorned with an ankle-length brown tunic, this attire deeply contrasted Kahiko's blue-fez hat. Defined by a pink feather, this flamboyant style of hats were frequently worn by Gelelians.

Instead of asking for an explanation, Tayuya promptly kicked Kahiko off his chair, disturbing the nearby fire. Disrupting the peace in the air, Tayuya towered over Kahiko, grinding her teeth with rage.

"Did you undress me?! Fuck you! You disgusting pervert!" Tayuya snarled.

"Please don't blame my dad. I took your clothes off." Emina spoke out, a 13 year old girl.

The daughter of Kahiko, Emina inherited her fathers snow white skin, a stark contrast to her black eyes. This brought attention to her shoulder-length black hair, obscuring her nose with a spiky bang.

Dressed in an ankle-length pink kimono, this cloth was held in place by a blue sash around Emina's waist. Similar to her father, Emina wore a pink-fez hat, strapped with a blue father.

"It's my fault. When I saw your chest, I thought you were a boy." Speaking with sincerity, Emina pinned both arms against her stomach.

Inspired by these words, Tayuya dramatically faceplanted the ground, gagging on a mouthful of sand. Taking several minutes to regain her composure, Tayuya slowly crawled onto one knee.

"You hit your head pretty hard. I thought you would be out for a few hours." Kahiko cut in, rubbing his elderly back.

Distracted by the smell of roasting meat, Tayuya's tiny nose repetitively sniffed the air. Staring at the nearby fire, Tayuya finally noticed an array of cooking food.

"I'm glad you're okay. You fell into the river with Temujin." Muttering her explanation, Emina offered some food.

Snagging this meal without a care in the world, Tayuya shoved this steamy meat into her mouth. Feasting like a wild animal, loose strands of Tayuya's hair became rustled in various directions.

Ignoring her surroundings, Tayuya sat down in the center of a small camp, nestled inside a steep canyon. Hidden from sunlight, this traveling caravan was all that remained of Kahiko's ancient clan.

"Okay?! Do I look okay?!" Shrieking these words, Tayuya swallowed a mouthful of food.

"Your bitch boyfriend got all up in my way! I don't even know where I am!" Leaping to her feet, Tayuya glared up at the distant skyline.

Left speechless by Tayuya's language, Kahiko shook his head from side-to-side, pinching his swollen nose. At the same time, Emina tilted her head to the side, nibbling on some fried fish.

"Boyfriend? You mean Temujin? You're crazy." Emina chuckled, using one hand to hide her blush.

Scoffing in response, Tayuya narrowed each of her brown eyes, pulling more food from the fire. Chewing without pause, Tayuya was briefly startled by the loud squawking of Shisui.

Soaring through the darken ravine, this violet-eyed raven casually perched himself atop Tayuya's shoulder. Shedding a clump of black feathers, these shafted remains were scattered across the ground.

"He's a loser." Tayuya yawned, completely ignoring Shisui.

Roused by endless screaming, Temujin poked his head into view, illuminated by ripple-patterned green eyes. Revealing his bare torso, Temujin was extensively covered with linen bandages.

Walking with a limp, this realization caused Tayuya to laugh with a mouthful of food. Combing one hand through her hair, Tayuya tossed several strands over one shoulder.

"Serves you right! Next time, don't mock me!" Spitting her words, Shisui squawked into Tayuya's ear.

Rolling his rippled eyes, Temujin tore the bandages from his chest, forcing Emina to deeply blush. Afterwards, Temujin promptly slid into his breastplate, sparkling like a white diamond.

"Those knights were after me. You had no right to intervene." Temujin declared.

Stomping her feet in protest, Tayuya's teeth became cracked under frustration, chipped with rage. Pointing at Temujin with an accusatory glare, Tayuya took one step forward.

"After you?! Bullshit! I'm the one who kicked their ass!" Shouting her argument, Tayuya used one sleeve to wipe her mouth.

Approaching his freshly-dried armor, Temujin adorned himself with gauntlets and white-plated boots. Gripping his cape, Temujin dramatically tied this fabric against his shoulders.

"Don't worry about him. He can take care of himself..." Kahiko muttered, stroking his lengthy beard.

"After all, he's the last living member of the Gelelian royal family." Undaunted by this revelation, Temujin stomped away.

Yanking an ornate lute from behind his chair, Kahiko strung a bundle of chords, piercing the sky with a melody. Soothed by this sparkling sound, Tayuya breathed a sigh of relief.

"What do you mean? I've never even heard of the Gelelian clan." Tayuya slurred, sitting down before grabbing more food.

The word Gelelian held various meanings, representing Kahiko's clan and his home country. Derived from the Stone of Gelel, Kahiko's entire lineage was dependent on the sacred ore.

"Heh... I'm not surprised, our kingdom doesn't trust shinobi." Kahiko chuckled, tuning his lute.

"We regularly trade with the Land of Sand, and the Land of Demons. But, we try to avoid the five great nations." Plucking his strings, Kahiko erupted into song.

Tapping his feet in perfect unison, Kahiko hummed under his breath, swishing from side-to-side. Displaying a wide grin across his face, this expression quickly morphed into sorrow.

"Until Haido attacked... That changed everything." Breaking a musical cord, Kahiko was flung into an awkward silence.

The younger brother of Kahiko, Haido was a rebellious warlord from the Kingdom of Gelel. Plunging the foreign nation into a civil war, Haido personally murdered Temujin's father, the former king.

A loyal advisor to the king, Kahiko saved Temujin from death before sailing for safety. Arriving at the Land of Wind, these Gelelian refugees were followed by Haido, bringing war to Gaara's home.

"My brother is an ambitious man, he wants to reunite the ancient Sage Empire." Listening with glee, Tayuya was eating in the background.

"With the Stone of Gelel, nothing would stop him. But he can't find the stone without a royal family member." Glancing to the side, Kahiko glared at Temujin's distant silhouette.

Pinning both knees against her flat chest, Tayuya scratched the bridge of her nose before burping. Sneezing without delay, Tayuya violently sniffled for several moments.

"So, that's why bitch boy is being hunted? Cause he's royalty?" Rolling both eyes as she spoke, Tayuya rested her chin against her knees.

"Yes... In truth, he's the only hope my country has. I must take care of him." Kahiko murmured with a downcast face.

Abruptly nuzzled by Shisui's beak, Tayuya continued to ignore this raven, blowing the hair from her face. Staring at the nearby fire, Tayuya's eyes became distant and far-off, drifting into thought.


Meanwhile.

Leaping from tree branch to tree branch, Naruto surged through the countryside of Yu. Traveling through the Land of Steam, Naruto held Utakata's bamboo pipe in one hand.

Chasing after a faint trail of Utakata's chakra, Naruto landed on a dirt-filled road. Sliding across this pebble-littered surface, Naruto's feet were briefly obscured by clouds of dust.

Startled by a soap-filled jug of bamboo, Naruto picked this container up, hiding it inside his sleeve. Afterwards, the dirt-stained fabric of Utakata's orange sash came into sight.

Sprawled across the ground, Naruto hastily snagged this tattered garment, wrapping it around one hand. Observing the scorched remnants of a high-level battle, Naruto studied a burnt bush.

Fire Style? Pondering his environment, Naruto scratched the side of his head.

Jolted by the sudden squawks of a red-eyed crow, this black bird landed in front of Naruto. Flapping both wings in unison, this crow was soon joined by a large flock, soaring through the tree-line.

Merging together, these bundles of black feathers became a distorted blob of Itachi's face and torso. Hovering mere inches above the ground, Itachi was engulfed by a constant swirl of feathers.

"Sasuke would love to see you." Speaking with a faint scoff, Naruto's Rinnegan became narrowed.

Instead of responding with words, Itachi's three tomoe Sharingan were hazy and blurred. Glancing at Naruto with distant eyes, Itachi encouraged him to follow, erupting into crows.


Meanwhile.

Sundered by a bombardment of ice, the streets of Sukami were pierced, cracked and shattered. Evading this endless barrage, an eight-limbed puppet surged with extreme finesse.

Known as Kuroari, this puppet wore a tattered black cape, concealing his latch-covered stomach. Jutting out from his skull, Kuroari was defined by a pair of red horns, drawing attention to his bucket-shaped face.

Detached with a crooked snap, Kuroari launched a pair of wooden fists through the air, dispersing nearby mist. Guided by Kankuro's chakra thread, these fists soared towards Haku, deflected by an icy dome.

This collision between wood and ice continued to pollute the air, spewing shards and splinters in all directions. Eventually, sharpened scythes protruded out from Kuroari's severed wrists.

Parried by a frozen sickle, Haku flipped, skipped and twisted around this attacking puppet. Clapping the earth with his ornate sandals, Haku moved with speed beyond Jounin-level.

Crouched behind a distant wall, Kankuro directed his puppet from a safe distance, struggling to hide. However, this debris-covered surface instantly collapsed under Haku's feet, kicking it over.

Rolling for safety, Kankuro accidently staggered against a mound of dirt and trash, tripping over his own feet. Recused by his puppet, Kankuro narrowly avoided a handful of icy senbon.

"I don't know who you are! But I got unsettled business with Gaara!" Kankuro shrieked.

Obscured by chakra-filled wind and gusts of sand, these battling shinobi were completely swallowed. Exposing the distant outline of Temari, this elite kunoichi used her fan like a sword.

Striking out against her red-haired brother, Temari was continuously parried by streams of sand. Scattered under the weight of dense chakra, Temari cratered the earth with each attack.

Breaking Gaara's unbreakable defense, this young jinchūriki was flung across the road. Knocked in front of a lifeless corpse, the sight of these dead eyes forced Gaara to gasp, traumatized by his own childhood.

-Flashback-

A cloudless blue sky sparkled down upon the sun-baked village of Suna, encircled by sandy stone walls. The capital of the Land of Wind, this isolated village was constantly bombarded with natural sandstorms.

Positioned outside the Kazekage's office, a 5 year old Gaara was shoveling sand into a wooden bucket. Surround by a 7 year old Temari and a 6 year old Kankuro, these children played inside a public park.

Reaching out with a timid hand, Gaara created a miniature palace of sand, adorned with a fancy bridge. Pushing a pair of wooden toys into this castle, Gaara make sword-fighting sounds with his mouth.

Awed by this display, Temari and Kankuro both dropped their jawlines in shock, laughing like children. Glancing at their own castles, these poorly-stacked clumps were nothing compared to Gaara's art.

"Can you do a little army?! Like a battlefield?!" Kankuro questioned, crawling beside his brother.

Nodding with agreement, Gaara slid both feet across the shifting ground, littered with endless grains of sand. Empowered by Gaara's will, a miniature army of sandy samurai surrounded his castle.

Led by a horse-mounted samurai, Gaara directed this mobile army to attack, revealing another army inside. Clapping his hands with joy, Kankuro watched as these chakra-filled armies fought each other.

Watching from the background, Temari was defined by a sincere smile across her fair-skinned face. Standing up, Temari brushed the sand from her outfit, strolling beside Gaara.

"Temari! Kankuro!" The harsh voice of Rasa spoke out, stomping his foot against the earth.

Adorned with the iconic green-tinted attire of a Kazekage, Rasa's brown hair was partially hidden by his hat. Pinning both arms against his chest, the loose fabric of Rasa's outfit wavered in the wind.

"Get back home, it's getting late." Looming over his children, Rasa narrowed both eyes.

Without a second thought, Kankuro nodded with approval before running through the playground, dashing home. At the same time, Temari became frozen with hesitation, standing between Gaara and her father.

Staring at his sister with pleading eyes, Gaara begged her to stay, shrouded by Rasa's overcast shadow. Swollen with delay, Temari eventually downcast her face, staring at her fathers shadow.

"But, dad..." Temari whispered.

"Get back home, now!" Interrupting his daughter, Rasa's stern face was exposed by a sand-filled breeze.

Anxiously turning around, Temari glanced over her shoulder, catching one last glimpse of Gaara before walking away. Without another word, Rasa also turned around, leaving his youngest son alone in the park.

-Flashback ends-

Roused from his thoughts, Gaara noticed the distinct sound of footsteps, stomping towards him. Plunging her fan into the ground, Temari reached out with both hands, picking Gaara up by his collar.

"Suna is dying without you, Gaara! You left us!" Temari screeched, promptly gripped by sand.

Enthralled by these words, Gaara's pale eyes twitched with rage, revealing his racoon-like teeth. Gripping Temari's ankle, Gaara's sand flung his sister through several walls.

Dragging her without pause, this sand repetitively battered Temari against the road, staining her outfit. Hurling his bruised sister against a wooden wall, Temari's ponytails were knocked loose.

Racing in front of his sister, Gaara's hands trembled with each breath, panting for air. Fueled by the same insanity with his childhood, Gaara could feel a familiar taste for bloodlust.

"No! No! You left me!" Gaara howled like a rabid animal.

"I never wanna go back! I won't go back! Never! Never!" Wrapping both hands around Temari's throat, Gaara growled like a raccoon.

Choking his sister like a mindless criminal, Gaara's green eyes bulged with prominent veins. Magnified by his constant twitch, Gaara lost all sense of self control.

Ignoring the dirt on her face and the hands on her throat, Temari smiled at Gaara, disrupting his hostile eyes. Inspired by this sight, Gaara's trembling grew more prominent, dampened by a dramatic gasp.

"I know... I left you there, all alone with no one to hold. But I'm here now, Gaara." Cleaning the dirt from her face, tears streamed from Temari's eyes.

"So do whatever you're gonna do, because I won't leave you again." Choking for air, Temari's voice was distorted by her wounds.

Disturbed by the rampart sound of swirling propellers, the sky overhead was suddenly polluted by a large airship. Constructed with green-tinted metal, this hovering fortress starkly contrasted the blue sky.

Unlatching an array of chakra-filled cannons, this foreign airship launched a barrage of pulsating projectiles. Dropping his sister to the ground, Gaara hastily clasped both hands together.

Forcing dozens of sandy pillars to rupture from the earth, Gaara shouted with vigor, funneling all chakra to his defense. Bombarded by an endless attack of chakra-filled orbs, Sukami collapsed under the weight.

Concealed by chunks of debris and sand, Gaara's hair violently rustled in the breeze, disappearing from sight.