Chapter 7: Alliance

A/N hey everyone I'm back! Sorry it took so long as I had writer's block and went to do two other stories, 2nd attempt and series of naruto fairy tales. Both under naruto category. This chapter will be from the point of view of Temari mostly. Enjoy! and don't forget to review.

Clouds sailed across the sky with the most graceful movements. The wind picked up a series of scents. The upper portion of the world seemed to be at rest, but the lower half was immersed in utter chaos.

On the outskirts of Goldenrod city, the serene grass was trampled and the edge of the forest was almost destroyed. Three broken puppets with its fragments scattered about. Sand poured around the grass. A tattered fan lay nearby. The three sand ninjas lay facedown, struggling to get up.

Gaara had awoken and joined in the fight with his siblings. No matter how united they are, spirits high to fight, they were after all, facing the most dangerous ninjas of the ninja world. Gaara had refrained from releasing the Shukaku, hence he was way off his limit. Kankuro had been poisoned again. Her brothers are in grave danger, no matter how tired she is, how much damage she had taken, she must protect her brothers, no matter what.

"Looks like you are the only one left." The cloaked figured sneered. "We need the monster, so he'll live. We have no need of the puppeteer, besides the poison will kill him in three days. And lastly, you."

Temari's eyes filled with horror. She forced herself up. Her weapon, the magnificent fan was destroyed, even if it was made out of the best metal. How is she going to fight, she had no idea. She crouched over her two brothers and wept. Her most trusted weapon is gone, the fan she used to fight countless enemies, completed many missions with it, fought the one she loved with it. The one she loved. Shikamaru automatically came to her mind.

"Where are you? Shikamaru?" Temari thought in her broken heart. At that moment, it felt like the world has come to an end, all her loved ones are gone, her brothers, the village, Shikamaru… She was all alone… her mind was filled with memories of her life. How she grew up, she trained, all the way till the time when she finally stood in the arena, awaiting Shikamaru to begin the Chuunin exam.

She fought with her fan against an empty-handed Shikamaru. All the while thinking that she'll win with her ferocious winds. In the end she was caught unguarded by a shadow.

Then it reminded her of the time when she went all the way out to the open to rescue Shikamaru against the sound nins. He was tired out of so many battles, yet she taunted him with sarcastic remarks. But she fixed the situation by a summoning jutsu and a smile.

Then the last time was when she arrived at the stadium to aid Shikamaru in his fights. (Master's tale plot) She sent him into the air with her winds, with every intention of fighting the enemy instead of him. And she amended the circumstances by riding on her fan and saving Shikamaru. Then he escorted her and her brothers back to their village, their first star gazing, the wind and sand watching, the dilemma, the reunion, the cloud watching, the kiss…

"Humph, fancy that. A ninja crying." The cloaked figure laughed evilly. Temari is weeping hard. She spun around abruptly and faced the three, cloaked figures. She wiped off her tears and looked at them with determination.

"I'll protect them, even if I have to die!" Temari announced, her pride coming back to her. She looked at her trusty companion, and back at the three figures. She raised her hands and summoned the last chakra she had.

"Dai Kamaitachi no jutsu!" she cried as she flung her hands out. Huge torrents of wind headed for the three nins in different directions. It was seen that the three figures were trapped inside the torrents. Temari thought she had succeeded. She sank into the ground out of tiredness.

Then from the torrents came another torrent of wind. One of the cloaked figures had repelled back the torrent, sending it in Temari's direction. The rest of the wind was reduced by the two other figures. Temari tried to stand up to block the torrent but was too tired to move. She knew it was the end.

"Sayonara, Shikamaru…" Temari let one last tear flow down her cheek. Her mind was filled with the most beautiful memories she shared with Shikamaru.

Far away, Shikamaru just managed to catch his enemy with his shadow. A huge gust of wind picked up. He had a bad feeling.

"Temari!"

WHAM!

Temari jerked open her eyes to see what the loud explosion was. Strips of scrolls wrapped around the torrent of wind and reduced it. The scrolls headed for the cloaked figures. They countered the attacks by dodging and blocking.

"Who's there?" one of the figures shouted.

The scrolls retreated and spiraled in front of Temari and her brothers. The scrolls then took form to a figure wearing white, the familiar hair billowing in the wind, hand raised.

"You've got guts, really." The figure groaned as if a troublesome matter had looked her up.

"Raiin!" Temari exclaimed in relief. An ally, a strong and reliable ally.

Raiin cast a concerned look at Temari.

"You ok?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. But why are you here?" Temari asked. Raiin threw up her hands and complained.

"That damn Lance… Drag me all the way to Goldenrod City for nothing. Just a little trouble with some hooligans who were in support of the former evil organizations." Raiin cursed. "But, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here." She turned and faced the Akatsuki members.

"So you are the famous Scroll Ninja of the Leaf? We're in luck today, we'll have a monster and three sacred scrolls." One of them laughed.

"Buy one get three free? No such bargains in the world." Raiin said sarcastically. "I'm here to help my friends. Or rather, taisetsu no nakama. (precious friends)."

"Another one of the childish leaf beliefs."

"Oh yea, whatever you people are up to, I've no interest in knowing. You are after Gaara, I'll over look it. But you were hurting my subordinate's girlfriend, and my other subordinate's secret admirer. And most importantly, we leaf's most important friend." Raiin's voice turned cold. "That, I cannot allow."

Then without another word, she did many complicated hand seals.

"You can't fight them all three at once!" Temari shrieked. She doesn't want to see another friend in trouble. Raiin was her first friend from Konoha.

"No…" Raiin said as three lights of purple, green and yellow appeared out of her body and took form in front of her. "Nobody will be fighting."

Then she started chanting. Temari heard three different sutras filled through the air. Raiin made fast series of hand seals. The three glows hovered for a while and sped towards Akatsuki.

"Humph." The cloaked figures laughed as the glow surrounded each of them. Then they slowly melted into the lights.

"What…" Temari uttered.

"Not yet." Raiin said. The chanting became louder and louder. Then there were shouts coming from the glow. "Damn…"

Temari knew. Raiin had just gotten the third scroll recently. The three sacred scrolls of the world. Matenkyomo (Sacred Demon Scroll), Seitenkyomo (Sacred Heaven Scroll) and the new addition to the family, Mutenkyomo (Sacred Void Scroll). Since young she had trained with two scrolls. Though Raiin was talented, activating the three scrolls all at once in such a short period of time is out of question. Temari wished she could help as she watched helplessly as her new found friend struggled.

But as usual, there is always something. Raiin forgot one last weapon she had. She gritted her teeth and continued chanting. From behind, Temari saw a strange black mark spreading across Raiin's body.

"That!" Temari screamed. It was Orochimaru's cursed seal. (A/N in master's tale, oro was killed by Raiin and just before he died he gave all his life long efforts to her.) Raiin's body then began to glow.

With one loud cry of agony, Raiin released the power of the scrolls.

The trapped figures were pierced with series of pain so intense and repeatedly that after a while of struggling, they reached their end.

Raiin fell onto the ground as the three scrolls returned to her and the curse markings disappeared.

"Well, that takes care of things!" Raiin choked as she stood up shakily and headed towards Temari. The sand Kunoichi was still at shock. "Gaara will be fine,"

Temari looked at her youngest brother and smiled, which faded as her gaze landed on the other brother. Raiin saw the sadness and reached out to her pouch she carried. From it she took out a bottle and handed it to her.

"Antidote." She said simply. Temari took it from her gratefully and fed it to Kankuro. While waiting for him to recover…

Beep Beep.

Raiin reached out for her Fame Checker and flicked it on. It was her apprentice.

"What?" Raiin said, a little annoyed.

"Shishou, I've reached the village." Regan's face appeared in the little screen.

"And then?"

"The village was attacked. But by the looks of it, things were resolved." Regan said happily. "It seemed like the other villages of the ninja world sent their best army to help with the assault. Tsunade-sama said that the Sand was also attacked, but the arrival of out teams and the others from other village did the job of stopping the Akatsuki members.

"My village!" shouted Temari as she shifted towards Raiin.

"Oh hello, Temari-sama." Regan said. "The villages have consolidated power to deal with the problem, don't worry, it's over already. What about your side, Shishou?"

"Everything is fine," Raiin said.

"Oh yea, the teams who went to the sand village have returned." Regan said.

"Ok, get the checker to Shikamaru!" Raiin said with a tone of calmness and authority. Within seconds, another face appeared in the little screen. Raiin thrust her checker to Temari.

"Shikamaru!"

"Temari, are you alright?" Shikamaru sounded horrified at the sight of his love being defeated. Temari, now a fully feminine kunoichi cried.

"I thought I would never see you again!"

"Temari…"

Beside, Gaara and Kankuro awoke to the crying. Raiin looked up and an idea hit her. A perfect yet simple idea. She took the checker from Temari.

"Shikamaru, get Tsunade-sama." Raiin said quickly.

"Temari…" Shikamaru protested, he was relieved that Temari was all right and wanted to talk to her more, to comfort her, to console her…

"Just do it!" Raiin practically shouted. The screen showed Shikamaru retreating and the Hokage came into view.

"Tsunade-sama." Raiin greeted.

"Is everything ok?" Tsunade asked.

"I rushed here after getting your call. It's over now." Raiin answered. "And I've a suggestion."

In Konoha, the ninjas gathered around Regan's Fame Checker while Raiin placed hers in a position such that Gaara and her is visible to Tsunade.

"It's great to hear that the other villages came to our aid when we needed. Alliance is an important factor." Raiin stated.

"True." Tsunade said from the other side.

"So, I have a proposition to make. To strengthen the alliance of the Sand and Leaf." Raiin continued.

Everyone was shocked. Strengthen alliance? Their heartbeats increased as they await the next sentence.

"Through?" Tsunade asked, even though she knew the answer already as she was smiling.

Raiin took a breath before uttering the word.

"Marriage."

From all around, ninjas were shocked. They turned round and mumbled among themselves. Marriage to strengthen the alliance. A traditional way, but throughout history, such marriages were forced and ended up unhappily, though the alliance was there, help was given, but with reluctance. So what is Raiin suggesting?

"And who are you suggesting?" Tsunade laughed, as she knew this was coming. Ino was as cheerful, but also anxious for Raiin's answer.

"The sand will send over a kunoichi, and we'll do the same. But for the time being, the one from our side will have to wait a little." Raiin said, her lips curving into a smile. "Although I must say, they are still not of age to get married, but I would really hope that the Sand's kunoichi will live in Konoha. Of course, she's allowed to go back home anytime."

The two leaders of the villages were deep in thought.

"So?" Raiin prompted, tilting her head and raising her eyebrows the way she always did whenever she did something out of the ordinary. The two kages looked at each other through the little device of communication. Then Raiin saw Tsunade smiled.

"Deal."

Raiin gave a broad smile and handed the fame checker back to Temari. Tsunade did the same by giving it to Shikamaru. The two stared happily at each other before holding the device close to their hearts.

Raiin stood up; the wind was strong, as the grass was being blown to one side. Feeling strength coming back to her, she opened her right hand. A purple scroll appeared. With a swift moment, she opened the scroll and surrounded the four of them with it and chanted. A brilliant light filled the place…

Then the next moment, the grassland was bare again, not the slightest trace of battle was seen. The world, once again, returned to normal.

Raiin landed outside of the giant gates of Konoha. The sand nins landed behind her as she kept her scroll with another graceful movement. This time she really reached her limit. The gates opened and she staggered in. The village did not suffer serious damage. People are already filling out, restoring the place. Behind her, Temari and her brothers supported each other as they entered the village. Then, just outside the great entrance of the Hokage's residence, under the stone figures of the hokages, stood a few figures. One by one they turned to face them. Two figures rushed forward. Raiin was happy for her friends. Ino went forward, and in tears, reprimanded Kankuro for his rashness. Tsunade and Shizune went over to tend to the Kazekage.

Shikamaru ran forward and took Temari in his arms. The two embraced like long-lost partners, saying vows that are only audible to themselves. Temari lost count of how many times she let her tears flowed. Everyone looked at the couple either in envy or feeling happy for them. Though it was only a short time of battle and separation, the two have proven that just by the power of love, they can conquer everything under the sun. Love is the strongest power a ninja can ever get.

Shikamaru looked up to the sky. It was as clear as usual, with a few clouds. They will have a great time together again.

A/N ok, I got a little off track with Raiin today. Sorry about that. This is supposedly the last chapter of the story, but there'll be an epilogue coming up. I'm stuck at it cos I have two ideas, so I'm still putting it up for readers votes.

Wedding of the two couple in a few years time?

Or

Just another time of normal day at konoha?

Cast your votes in your reviews. Oh yea, school started already so I will have less time to write, but I'll try my best not to keep you waiting. This was really the best fic I've ever written and I really enjoyed doing it. Review please!