Chapter 9
Leaves blew around Konoha. The summer had turn to fall, and Ume had been absent for a month. So far, Tsunade had only gotten one report from the Kazekage and it was a general notice on her health, but nothing personal. Her own spies were covering the personal.
They brought back news that the two were seriously dating, and, from what they could see, were in love. Tsunade chuckled to herself. "So the Kazekage finally found love." She laughed and propped her feet onto her desk. She had a hard time believing it at first, but she eased into it and was enjoying the fact they had made an alliance with the two through her.
A hidden door opened above and four ANBU members jumped down. They gave a quick bow and then stood up straight. "Hokage-sama, there are a hundred Sound-nin gathered around the Sand's borders."
"What!" Tsunade stood and slammed her hands on the desk. She had no clue what Orochimaru was planning, but it couldn't have been good. "Get me a team of 25 ninja within 3 hours. Preferably jounin and elite chunin. Go!"
The ANBU made a quick list and bounced off to find the ninja. The member in the cat's mask went looking for four specific members first. He knew exactly where to find them. It wasn't like they weren't making enough noise in the first place.
"Kakashi!" He yelled and the former ANBU member turned around. He smiled and waved.
"Yo."
"I need you, Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru to follow me."
"Is there trouble?"
"Yeah." He started jumping up into the trees. The four followed leaving Ino and Chouji behind. Ino was silently fuming at the fact the Sakura was chosen instead of her. Chouji w as just glad he could finish his food in peace.
The ANBU member that Kakashi and his team were following picked up a few more people before they reached the gate. When they got there the Hokage started briefing everyone on what was happening. She herself was going to lead them. When she finished, they began the daylong journey to Suna.
"Gaara!" Kankurou yelled while rushing through the main buildings. New had come about the Sound slinking around their borders, and he didn't like it. "Gaara!"
"I'm right here." Gaara said calmly from his office. He had been leaned over a stack of papers trying to stuffy them, until his brother interrupted him. "What is it?"
"Sound-nin on the borders. Some even say that Orochimaru is with them!" He looked over and saw Ume was reading a book until Kankurou came in.
"Damn it, I hate Sannin."
"Sannin?" Ume asked.
"There was a team from Konoha once that was under the care of the third Hokage. Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya. The first ended up being a psychopath, the second a drunk Hokage, and the last a pornographer."
Ume was a bit mad that Kankurou had called her master a psychopath, but she let it slide. She was surprised to hear about the Sound massing at the borders. She excused herself and hurried to her room. Her cat, Yoshiro was sitting on the windowsill licking his white paw when she came in. Otherwise, he ignored her presence.
The kunoichi made a few hand signs, and her favorite snake appeared. "What is Orochimaru doing?" She asked it.
"Taking over Suna."
"What?"
"I said-"
"I heard you the first time. Why is he taking over the Sand Village?"
"They're the Leaf's strongest ally, so they must be gotten rid of. Orochimaru requests that you go to him at once to fight."
"Later." She said shakily. She needed time to think.
"Alright, but he won't be happy. He wants to begin the assault tomorrow at sunrise."
"Alright, thanks." The snake disappeared, probably to report to Orochimaru. She didn't care. She had to find Gaara.
Ume ran out the door and towards the offices. When she got there, she slammed the door open. Kankurou and Gaara were going over a map. "They're coming tomorrow at sunrise!" She informed them.
"How do you know that?" Kankurou asked.
"I just do." She shot back and her looked at her skeptically. There was a lot of noise from below, and the three hurried to the window. Ninja from Konoha were setting up all around the lawns of the government buildings. Tsunade herself was climbing the steps towards Gaara's offices at full speed. Only seconds later she burst into the door.
"What is it with women and slamming my door?" Gaara asked aloud and Tsunade cocked her head to the side. "I take it you're here to help us defend from the Sound?"
"Good you knew then." She went over and looked at his plans. "How many ninja do you have that can fight right now?"
"Only 50. Many are away on mission."
"Damn. We only have 75 total. We need to get working on defense then." She walked over to the door. "SHIKAMARU!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm here you troublesome woman." The jounin muttered while he came through the door. "From what I saw around your city, here's what we'll do." He and Gaara began to discuss tactics with Tsunade cutting in every few sentences. Temari appeared at the door looking exhausted. She had only gotten back from her punishment mission a few days ago with a bad cold. She didn't need a war to fight now.
Tsunade noticed her, and then turned to Ume. "Take Temari downstairs to the medic's tent. Sakura should be they're getting set up. She'll get rid of her cold faster than the wind can blow." Ume nodded, and escorted the blonde out. Temari sneezed, and Ume handed her a tissue.
When they got outside, the camp was noisily waiting the arrival of the Sound even though it was just past midnight. The medic's tent was easy to identify because of the red roof. Temari started running towards it eager to get rid of her cold. Ume quickly followed, catching her whenever she stumbled.
"Sakura!" She yelled into the tent and the pink haired kunoichi rushed forward. "Do you have and anti-cold treatments? Temari-kun is miserable."
"Of course, give me a moment." She charge chakra into her hands, and then placed a finger on Temari's forehead. The blonde tried to sniffle a sneeze, but Sakura encouraged her to let it go. A small ball of black came out but it was trapped by Sakura's chakra. She took the ball, put it in a small container than turned around. "All done."
"Thanks." Temari sighed. She stretched and looked over at the pair. "Hey, Ume are you going to fight?"
"Why wouldn't I? You'll need as much help as you can get." 'Especially if Orochimaru and Sasuke are there' She added to herself. She had chosen her side, and that was the side of the Sand and her possible future.
Temari looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Gaara won't be happy. He'll probably beg you not to go because you'll get killed."
"Who said I'm getting killed? I'm not weak."
"We don't even know your strengths!"
"I know my strengths. I haven't been training for nothing." She shot back, and went to go to the Suna storerooms. She needed more kunai and shuriken. It was busy inside, but she managed to grab weapons and store them in the hollisters around her thighs. She also managed to get her hands onto a Sand Village forehead protector.
Ume headed back to her room, but on the way she ran into Gaara. "You're not going to fight." He said stiffly.
"Yes, I am." She shot back. He noticed the forehead protector in her hands and gently pulled it away.
He held it up, and rubbed the Sand's insignia. "You're joining us, not the Leaf?"
"Yeah." She breathed. Gaara pulled her into a hug, and rested his chin on the top of her head. The side of her face leaned against his chest, and she hugged him back. "Don't worry, I'll be fine." She muttered.
"I will worry. If you're killed then who knows what could happen. The Badger will probably take over my body and kill anyone within three miles, and all for you."
"I'll keep that in mind." She muttered. They pulled away, and her eyes danced. Gaara leaned down to give her a quick kiss, then hurried away. He didn't need to be distracted.
He rounded the corner to find Temari smirking at her. "Have a nice episode?"
"I've told you a million times. Ume and I are not sexually-"
"I never said that you were this time. It took you long enough to say goodbye."
"You should get a few hours of sleep. It would be good before the battle."
"Nah, I work better on sleep deprivation. Plus I have to help the civilians get into the caves and et cetera. I'm too busy working."
"Fine. Just hurry up. We have three hours until the attacks begin."
"No worries." She smiled and walked away. Her brother had softened ever since Ume got to the San Village, and the same went for her. She was happy to see her brother and leader so comfortable with life for once.
Yea! I finished this chapter in three hours! I had no clue how to spell Jiraiya's name, so I had to go downstairs and kick my sister off the computer to get it. Thank god she loves Naruto too otherwise I would have had a lot more trouble. Next time is the war, but since I suck at writing fights then it might take a while because I'll be redoing entire scences over 12 times. Yucky. Oh well.
Also, I'd like to thank the three people who have left me a comment. So thank you. Can you people believe it? Out of 590 hits I've only gotten 4 reviews. Everytime you don't review Neji gets hit by a bus. Remember that.
Thanks.